A godly and wholesome preservative against desperation at all times necessary for the soul: but then chief to be used and ministered when the devil doth assault us most fiercely, and death approacheth nighest. Be sober, and watch, for your adversary the devil as a roaring lion: walketh about. seeking whom he may devour, whom resist, steadfast in the faith. 1. Pet. 5. The preface. THis preservative (gentle reader) is prepared for thy profit: that thou reading it at leisure mayst choose out such comfortable sentences as may both stay thy own conscience in the time of temptation: & also quiet others when the Devil shallbe busy with them. 2. Cor. two. For we be not ignorant of the thoughts of satan, how he continually furnisheth himself, to bend his ordinance against man. And now with the consideration of the greatness and multitude of sin: Now with the terror of death & damnation, Eph. 6. do labour to beat the buckler of faith out of our hands, i. Tess. 5. to strike the helmet of hope from our head: Eph. 6. And to wrest from us the sword of the spirit, which is god's word But here christian reader is thy sword and buckler delivered unto thee, here is thy helmet put upon thy head, here thou shalt find such armour, and weapon, whereby thou shalt both be able to withstand the force of cure comen enemy the Devil: and also (by thy council) to rescue others that they perish not. Yea, here thou shalt find choice of most comfortable sentences, whereby man's conscience may be staid from damnable desperation. i Co. xvi. Watch therefore, stand steadfast in faith, play the man, and be of good comfort, jaco. iiii. Resist the devil, and he will flee from the. Not for fear of thy own power, strength, or holiness: but for fear of Christ: in whom by faith thou art engraffed. For it is christ through whom god hath given i Cor. xv. us victory against sin, death, hell, & the devil. Acto. iiii. Nether is there any other name under heaven given unto man, wherein we may be saved, but the name of jesus Christ our lord. To whom with the father, and holy ghost, be all honour and glory. AMEN. A preservative forsomuch as the diseases of the body and corporal death, doth so trouble man's mind, that we commonly trimble and quake at the only mention of them: How much ought we to fear the sickness of the soul and death of the same, than which, there can no greater, nor more fearful calamity chance unto man. And seeing that every man doth avoid (so much as in him lieth) the pain, miseries, diseases, and death of the body: how much more ought we to decline and eschew, the causes of these evils, which be sins and offences, and fear the ire of god, which we so (by our enormities) do provoke. If we be never so little sick in our body, by and by we send for the physician, we spare no cost, we seek for medicines and remedy, though they be never so chargeable, & all to patch and clout up this earthen vessel of our body, which do we never so much can not last long. And why use we not like diligence in desiring, & seeking remedies against the diseases of the soul? which like as they be more grievous: even so they bring with them (without comparison) infinitely more danger. For what can it profit a man though he have all the riches in the world, though he live a thousand year, and that in such health & pleasure, that he is not once touched with sickness or grief: his soul in the mean time being poisoned with sin, being captive to satan, having God displeased with him, and damnation ready for him after this life. For truly this life must once have an end neither know we when, where, after what manner, or how soon. Therefore saith Christ watch for ye neither know the day nor hour when the son of man will come. Mat. xxv. And lest we this short time of our abode (omitting things most weighty and profitable) should follow trifulles, & things of small price: he hath vouchsafe to prescribe us an order and as it were a breve, certain and sure way: to come unto true felicity saying. Seek first for the kingdom of god and righteousness thereof: Math. vi. and all things shallbe added unto you. Care for living, care for riches, care for worldly dignity, worldly favour, worldly estimation and such like transitory things (which in deed doth little profit but many times be cause both of filthy vices and also of grievous calamities) doth busy, doth vex, doth trouble, doth even defatigate us both day and night, but in seeking for and procuring of godly & heavenly things: we be most negligent, most slack, most dull, most forgetful. And I pray you, what can be a greater blindness or a more dangerous madness? whiles we be lusty, whiles we be in health, whiles we be in prosperity we scarcely think upon any life to come, we remember not once that we shall die. But when we be in peril, and danger by sickness, and death beginneth to knock at our door. Even at that same hour when we should play the men and fight against our enemy (being sufficiently armed & weponed afore) then begin we first to think upon our armour to think upon our weapon, to think upon mending of our life. These things declare us to be smallly exercised soldiers to be men of preposterous judgement, and very weaklings in faith. God be merciful unto us. Amen. But yet though a man be never so old, though the day be never so far passed, so he amend whiles he is here: ear it be night, his repentance cometh not out of season. Nevertheless it were to be wished, that no man should differ his repentance to his last & most dangerous conflict For even they shall have much a do to stand & to defend themselves from the assaults, the guiles, & invasions of the enemy: which in the time of their health prepared & armed themselves, what then shall come of them which not fearing god neither minding once repentance hathled a dissolute filthy and naughty life? how shall they fight? how shall they be able to withstand the force of satan? ¶ seeing therefore the multitude of people is great, and the ministers of the gospel very few, neither able to be every where to do their office to every man: I having a will to help all men: have gathered together, & written out of scripture, a certain brief form how to admonish, instruct, and comfort such as be sick, that they either reading these things, or hearing them red by others: may conceive certain hope & perfect consolation, lest in this most dangerous conflict they faint, give over like cowards, & so be overcomed & perish: For this is certain, when soever a man is taken with extreme sickness & is in danger of death, he is assaulted with divers many, & grievous tentations. First it is a grievous and vehement tentation, when he seeth the most terrible image of death afore his eyes, when he seeth, he must leave this light, leave this life, leave friends leave lands, goods, kinsfolk, father, mother, wife, children, all things, wherein he had here either pleasure or comfort. Then such sins as he against the will and pleasure of god hath committed shall show and present them selves, and shall appear more in numbered, and more grievous than ever they seemed afore, and so shall wonderousely vex and torment the conscience. Then death, judgement, hell, damnation, as it were in a plump, shall assault and lay siege with divers dangerous engines against the old man of ours. In these Agonies, except a man be armed with a sure and constant faith: it is to be feared, lest he be wearied, tired, and at last overcomed. For these tentations which chance unto men lying in extremes: appear most huge, fearful and dangerous, and that for by cause our faith is very slender, and wavering: neither yet able to see, perceive or apprehend, the incomprehensible and inestimable riches of the children of god, which be remission of sins through christ, resurrection of the flesh, communion of saints, everlasting life, and all these given unto us in Christ and for Christ. In these articles of our faith we must daily exercise ourselves. These we must diligently revolve and earnestly expend in our minds. For though all the articles of our faith are diligently to be remembered and without all wavering believed: yet in the agony and point of death, these four (that is) the communion of saints, remission of sin, by the blood of Christ, the resurrection of the flesh, and everlasting life: are chiefly to be minded expended, and inculcated. For like as death is the pain & stipend of sin: Roma. 6. even so for sin God doth commonly punish us with divers diseases and plagues, As it is to be seen in divers places of scripture. Io. 5. Ps. 88 Deute. 28. 2. Reg. 24. Nevertheless afflictions be many times laid upon us, that our faith may be tried: For than is it easy to be perceived how much we love GOD, what faith we have in him, how we trust him, when we be pressed & grieved with adversity. In this case therefore we must bewail & acknowledge our sins, for the which we have justly incurred gods displeasure, and deserved most grievous pain. We must turn to God with true repentance in all our heart & mind, without all feigning and conterfaitinge, we must have recourse unto the Gospel where we shall find most bountiful consolation i absolution or remission of our sins which christ hath instituted in the church Io. 20. Receive (saith Christ) the holly ghost whose siftes ye forgive they are for given. This inestimable treasure is daily opened & offered unto us. When remission of sin is thus desired, & obtained: undoubtedly then the pain of sin which is the disease or affliction shall soon cease and leave us, or else according to the most beneficial will of our heavenly father: shall turn to the profit and soul health of him that is diseased or afflicted, For this may we be sure of, that the pain and affliction of the body in this world (seem it never so grievous a burden or heavy yoke to the flesh) is commonly nothing else but a fatherly rod, Psal. 88 wherewith god doth draw us his children from sin, and call us home to him. Truly our heavenly father doth love us most fervently, he bearithe us good mind, and doth all things for our amendment and profit, Heb. xii. for whom God lovithe, him he chastiseth, and correcteth us temporally here: that we should not be punished in hell everlastingly. 1. Cor. xi. Though he seemeth angry: he lovithe singularly. Nether is his Ire the Ire of a tyrant or tormentor desiring our perdition: but of a father seeking our amendment and safety. First therefore we must cry God mercy desire pardon & forgiveness of our sins (but by christ, but with a heart truly penitent) that we may be at one with God, and have him merciful unto us. This done we may then desire GOD to deliver us from the Imminent and present affliction and disease. For so teacheth ecclesiast. Ecclesi. 3 Son in thy infirmity neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord: and he shall deliver the. Also in the Ps. Psal. 70. remember not o lord god our old iniquities but let thy mercy speedily prevent us: for we be very miserable, help us God our saviour. Lord God of power turn us how long wilt thou be angry? show thy face and we shallbe saved. Here we be taught first to desire remission of sin, that we may so be at one with god: and after that to have his wrath, and the tokens of the same, taken away. But when soever we desire to be delivered or to be eased of the cross that presseth us, we must alway annex this addition. Mar. vi. Thy will (o heavenly father) be fulfilled. Neither know we so well what is profitable unto us. Nether can we so well provide for ourselves as our most loving heavenly father. Which is both of infinite power: and also of incomprehensible wisdom which never turneth his eyes from us, which careth continually for us, which knoweth the number of our heres, which doth quicken nourish, fede, keep, defend provide for all his creatures much better than they can wish or desire. But to draw to the more particular temptations, & to show what things do most fiercely & dangerously at the time of death assault us. And how we shall withstand them. ¶ There be three things, which at the hour of death doth wondrously vex, trouble, & fear our minds (that is to say) sin, death, hell or damnation. Sin. WHerein we have ungodly misspent our life, whereby we have grievously offended god and our neighbour: This coming to our remembrance when we lie upon our death bed, doth drive us to a wondrous fear, Roma. two. pensiveness, and anxiety. As saint Paul saith, wrath indignation trouble and anguish against every soul of man that doth evil. A medicine against sin vexing and troubelinge. our conscience. LEt us call earnestly to remembrance that the son of God came down from heaven, became man, took up on his back the sins of the world, died for them upon the cross, there making satisfaction for us and paing our debts. This most precious blood of christ was shed also for us, and of this death we be also partakers so we rightly believe in Christ, Nether need we to doubt but Christ died aswell for us, as for Peter and Paul: Rom. 6. For we be baptised also (as saint Paul saith) in the death of Christ. This aught to comfort us, this aught to erect and stay our minds. For seeing we be baptised in the death of Christ. Christ's death bringeth also unto us health and salvation. By Christ's death we be also dead to sin: by Christ's death we have also certain and sure remission of our sins, by Christ's death we be raised also to a new and everlasting life. For baptism is a covenand betwixt God and us. And a sign of his grace and favour toward us wherein we be reconciled and made at one with god again, so that we may now have a joyful and quiet conscience, for so much as our sins be forgiven us, through the resurrection of jesus christ. Yea christ also in the institution of the most blessed sacrament of his last supper speaketh also to us saying, that his blood is shed for the remission of sin. Now although we have not lived alway innocently neither led such a life as we ought to have done: Yet we may not despair, but without delay resort unto god, by true repentance, call faithfully upon his name, and we shallbe saved. Rom. x. Ye let every one of us with a meek heart burst out in to these, or like words and say O most merciful God, father of all mercy, father of our LORD jesus Christ, be merciful unto me a wretched sinner, make speed to deliver me, for the most bitter (but most precious) death, and passion of jesus Christ thy only begotten son, our redeemer, and only saviour: Amen. Enter not (o lord) in to judgement with thy feruaunte, handle me not according to my deserving, neither do unto me after my iniquities: but according to thy infinite and bottomless goodness & mercy take me unto the. I a miserable and wretched creature am in thy hand, I am in thy debt & danger, thou mayst do with me what it please the. O most merciful father forsake me not, neither cast me of. I am thine all that I am. There can no man comfort, no man help no man deliver me, but thou alone. Thou art the true comfort, the most present help, the surest bulwark in all necessity. Thou god art my refuge, my strength, my help in all trouble. Thou art my Lord in thy hands resteth all my chance and affairs. Show thy loving and merciful face upon thy servant, save me in thy mercy O lord: but in any ways in our extreme sickness and affliction, let us beware we look not to earnestly neither to long upon our sins. But rather let us have the image of Christ's most healthful and precious death before our eyes. Let us fix that in our mind and be fully persuaded that Christ is now bourdened with our sins, that he hath now taken them upon his own shoulders and so hath satisfied for them and washed them away, that he will never charge us with them, but freely forgive us them as we profess in our Crede. when we say Credimus remissionem peccatorum. we believe the remission of sins. Here it shallbe meet that in our sickness we call to remembrance such places of holy scripture as testifieth of remission of sin purchased by Christ of the which some be here subscribed. Io. i. BEhold the lamb of god which taketh away the sin of the world. We are bought with no gold, i Pet. i. nor silver, neither any corruptible price, but with the precious blood of the unspotted and undefiled lamb jesus Christ. So god hath loved the world that he gave his only begotten son to th'end that we so believing in him should not perish but have life everlasting. Io. iii. I come not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance. Mar. ix. Come unto me all ye that labour and are laden and I shall refreish you. Lo he calleth all, he refuseth, Math. xi. he excludeth none, we must includ also ourselves within this word (All) we must resort to him, and he will receive and refresh us. God setteth forth his love toward us. For Christ died for us, Rom. 5. when we were yet sinners, much more now therefore we being justified by his blood shallbe sauffe from wrath by him. i. cor. i. Christ jesus is becomed unto us wisdom, righteousness, holiness & redemption. Here let us comfort ourselves that though we have be never so great sinners, let us confess and knowledge our sin, let us call for mercy and pardon, let us unfeignedly believe Christ to be our only health justice, and redemption: and strait way he is so, he will by and by cover and put away our sins in such sort that we shall need fere no peril nor danger two. co. v. Him that knew no sin, hath god made sin i a payment of sin for us, that we should become the righteousness of god by him. Gala. i. Christ gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present wicked world according to the will, of god our father. In Christ we have redemption through his blood, Ephesi. i. even the remission of sins according to the riches of his grace. Christ jesus is come into this world to save sinners. i Ti. i. Christ jesus hath given himself a redemption for all men. i Ti. two This let us constantly believe & undoubted we be of the number of those that shallbe saved. For when he is come a redemption for all, these things that he hath suffered pertaineth no less to the & me, & every one of us (so we believe) than to Peter or Paul. i Pe. two. Christ hath borne our sins in his body upon the cross. Christ died once for our sins the righteous for the unrighteous. i. petr. iii The blood of jesus christ cleanseth us from all sin. i Io. i. If any man doth sin we have a advocate with the father even jesus i joan. two Christ the righteous and he is the atonement for our sins: Not for ours only: but for the sins of the whole world. By these places and such like we may see how god the father (which will not the death of a sinner, but that we should turn and live) for that most fervent & burning love that he beareth toward us, hath eased us of the burden of our sin, & hath laid it upon the back of his most dear beloved son. which his son hath so taken, borne and suffered for them: that they can never condemn us. For god taketh and reputeth the death of his son for a full satisfaction & payment for all our sins, so that we truly believe in him: For seeing that our sins thus laid upon Christ could not overcome him, detain him in death, nor damn him (for why he rose again) undoubtedly a full satisfaction is already made for them, the justice of god is fully answered, and they be utterly hid and forgiven. Let us believe this and we shall not perish everlastignly. For Christ is now become ours, with all that he hath with his death, with his resurrection, with his ascension into heaven, with his life, Qui proprio filio suo non pepercit. his merits his glory. As saint Paul witness. Rom. viii. wherefore Satan hath now no title to us, he can not meddle with us, he hath no power to hurt us. Forsomuch as we be justified by christ, purged from our sins, and made the children of god by Christ who hath reconciled us & wrought our peace, we must therefore be of good comfort. For seeing we be in the hands of god, that is omnipotent, who is now our best most loving, & trusty father we be in a sure port, we be with our danger, there can no incommodity nor adversity hurt us, for we be environed with the custody of god, & the guard of angels, out of the hands of this heavenly father can no creature by force pluck us When we be at an end by death of this cross and corporal affliction then have we ended our journey, then have we finished our war: Christ hath borne the same cross, Christ hath passed the same way, he hath suffered like death, he is our head we must be like to him, we must suffer with him, if we intent to reign with him, we must leave this corporal life, ere that we can enjoy life everlasting. Let not our sins trouble us, let them not torment our conscience, as though they could not be forgiven. They are already forgiven, if we repent and believe: Christ is all ours as much as he is. He by his innocency hath covered and taken away our sins. As Christ can not be dampened, even so we can not be dampened, if with a right faith, we cleave unto him. As sin, death, and hell, had no power against christ so have they no power against us so we be in Christ, and christ in us. If the matter had be left and committed to us to have borne our own sins, and to have satisfied for them, they would have be to heavy for us, we had not be able to stand under them they would have pressed and sunk us down to hell. But christ both god and man hath (of his own free will) offered himself for us. he hath taken our turn, he hath played our part, and paid for us all that we ought. As it is in the Psalm spoken in the person of christ, I paid that I ought not. We had trespassed, we were the debtors, so far behind hand, that all that was in us, was not able to pay the lest some we ought. Christ became our surety, paid for us, acquitted us, and set us at liberty. yea, made us coheirs with him of everlasting glory. If it were possible for one man to commit the sins of the whole world, so he truly repent and cleave by true faith to Christ, he can not be dampened, his sins be sufficiently and abundantly by Christ satisfied for. For Christ (as touching his godhead one in substance with the heavenly father As touching his manhood our very flesh and blood) hath purchased, and truly bought grace and pardon for us. For Christ became man for us, was borne for us, died upon the cross for us, rose from death for us, ascended into heaven for us, and hath accomplished and performed all things meet for our salvation, for us. If therefore we believe in christ we are become partakers of gods favour we are eased of the pack & burden of sin, we are made the heirs of god and coheirs with Christ for ever, and that by Christ and for Christ. For without Christ there is no consolation, no health no hope, no help. In Christ alone is all comfort, all health, all hope, all succour, all refuge, all grace and mercy more abundant more plenteous, more excellent than any man is able either to comprehend or to wish. God grant us therefore a true and a constant faith. In this form or in like sort we must comfort ourselves in our sickness or calamity, and our brother being visited. But in any ways and with all diligence it is to be foreseen, that we withdraw our mind from the fearful and terrible contemplation of sin, death, and damnation. And that we fix these of our mind and whole thought upon Christ only, that we cleave unto him, that we call upon him, that we commit ourself wholly to him. For in Christ we shall espy nothing but innocency, justice, life, salvation, which all be derived from Christ into us, so that we will acknowledge him, & receive him for the author of our salvation and only redeemer. if we have christ crucified afore our eyes: if we imprint him in our heart, if we flee to him with our faith: if we wholly cleave to him. Then shall hell gates nothing prevail against us, then shall we be able to withstand all the forcible assaults of Satan, though they be never so sore, never so fierce, never so terrible. Let us call to remembrance with what lenity, what gentleness, what humanity, what clemency Christ (as it is in the evangelical history) hath called unto him and received all such sinners as hath repent them, and desired his help. We shall find Mary Magdalen, the sinner that hung upon the right hand of christ crucified, the publican, zache, with other more whom Christ most lovingly receiving pronounced clear from sin, (though they had sinned greatly) and the children of salvation, Christ is very grace, mercy, help, comfort, life, joy, and salvation to all those which look for these things at his hands: and put their trust in him. And all these things hath God (who is truth itself & can not lie nor will not deceive) promised unto us for Christ's sake. finally when death approacheth we must do as Christ did upon the cross, we must pray for our enemies and forgive them with our heart. If we have offended any man we must be heartily sorry for it, we must desire forgiveness. if we have injured any man, we must make him amends, or take such order that amends may be made unto him. if it passithe our power to make restitution and amends: it shallbe enough that we desire forgiveness. And with our hearts forgive others which hath hurt us either in name, body substance or estimation. For if we truly forgive: god hath promised we shallbe forgiven as it is in the sixth of Matthew. It is very necessary also and profitable for the confirmation and strenghteninge of our faith to receive the most blessed sacrament of the body and blood of our saviour christ which we are commanded to receive in remembrance of his benefits, that hereby, we may be truly certified in our conscience his body to be given for us, and his blood to be shed for remission of our sins. death OF our flesh & frail nature is so feared & abhorred that when he approacheth, man's heart is filled and laden with such sorrows, pangs, and anxieties as tongue is not able to express. A medicine against the fear of death. WE must call to our remembrance death to be overcomed and abolished by Christ. So that now the souls of so many as trust in Christ, can not die nor perish: but departing from the body goeth strait to christ. For thus was it said to the thief at his hour of death. This day shalt thou be with me in paradise. The body though it rest and pause for a while yet we be in certain hope that at the last day it shallbe raised again to immortal and everlasting life. And therefore scripture calleth the death of the body but a sleep, for that this same frail, week, vile, mortal and corruptible body, which we carry about, which lieth sick & sore diseased, which shortly shallbe put into the earth, burnt to ashes, devoured with beasts or fowls, drowned in water, the same self body (I say) shall be raised again incorruptible, glorious, beautiful, strong, i. cor. xv. pure immortal to possess a new and everlasting life: where there shall neither be hunger, thirst, heat, cold, sin, death nor any kind of calamity, but justice, innocency, life, joy, bless, world without end. For as the body of Christ laid in the grave rose again the third day never more to die. Even so shall the bodies of all that believe in christ at the later day be resuscitate to a life, after which shall follow no death. God who is of infinite power and infallible truth hath promised these things, they must therefore needs be so. And here it shallbe profitable to call to remembrance such places of scripture as treatith of the resurrection of the flesh, which be the words not of man but of god. who is able & will certainly fulfil what soever he hath spoken. No man can change his will, no man can alter his purpose. No creature can frustrate, let, or tarry his sentence. He is omnipotent, he is true, he is faithful, his goodness and mercy is inexplicable. Let no man therefore doubt of the truth of his words let no man doubt of the performance of his promise. Hereafter folowithe certain places of scripture witnessing the resurrection of the dead according to this article of our faith wherein we say we believe that this flesh shall rise again. john. vi. THis is the will of my Father which sent me, that whosoever saith the son & belevithe in him shall have life everlasting and I will raist him up again in the last day. The hour comithe wherein all they that be in the graves shall here the voice of the son of God and shall go forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life. johan. v For if so be that the spirit of him which raised up jesus from the dead dwell in you: Rom. viii even he that raised up jesus Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies because of his spirit that dwelleth in you. God hath both raised up our Lord jesus Christ and shall also raise us up by his power. i Cor. vi. Christ saith Lazarus was but a sleep where in very deed he was dead and buried. johan. xi But Christ is the resurrection and life (as it is in the same place) so that he that believeth on him though he were dead he shall live, In verefienge whereof he raised straight way Lazarus being four days dead and stinking. And because we be naturally in the agony of death very fearful, weak and faintherted: to th'end that we might be the easilier persuaded in the article of resurrection: Scripture maketh mention of many which in the time of the prophets, Christ, and thapostles were called from death to life, Luc. 7. Christ raised the widows son. Luc. 8. He raised the ruler of the synagogue his daughter. joa. xi. He raised Lazarus. Act. ix. Peter restored to life Tabytha. Act. xx. Paul raised again Eutichus. iiii. Re. 4. Elizeus the prophet called again to life his hosts son. iii. re. xvii Helias raised the babe of the woman of Sareptanie. God took also unto him out of this frail and transitory life, Gen. 5. 4. Reg. two. these two excellent and holy men Enoch and Helias quick both body & soul, to give us (as it were) a taste and representation of the true life to come, lest after the opinion of the ethnics and epicures we should think there were no world, nor being after this wretched & miserable life. Let us not forget what christ jesus lord of life, & death, saith in the viii of Luke, weep not, the maid is not dead but a sleep. Reason not comprehending the mysteries of god, neither perceiving his power doth laugh this saing to scorn, but christ proveth his saying true, he raiseth by & by the dead maid to life. The xu chapter of the first epistle to the Corin. is replenished with most godly pleasant and pithy consolations. truly it is more precious than any gold. For in that Chapit. saint Paul doth so annex and couple our resurrection to the resurcection of christ as though they could in no wise be separate or divided after this form. Christ is risen from death (which thing is certain) ergowe all so shall undoubtedly rise. For christ is our head and we his membres: This head is neither without neither will forsake his membres. Then it followeth that where christ is, there shall we be. For why, we are the membres of his body and even of his flesh and bone, Ephesi. 5. what tongue, what pen, what wit is able to set forth (as it is worthy) this ineffable, & inestimable glory of the mercy and grace of god, that God hath vouchsafe so low to humble himself as to become mortal man that this feeble and frail nature of man united and knit to the divine nature by the power & efficacy of the godhead, might be enhanced & promoted to immortality. For truly the nature of all faithful men which either were before christ, hath be since, are now or shallbe to the worlds end: undoubtedly in christ very god and man hath obtained imortality. The consolation therefore that riseth of Christ's resurrection is of great efficacity, As when saint Paul saith to the Corinthians: Christ, i Cor. xv, is risen again from dead, and is the first fruits of them that sleep for by one man truli came death & by one man cometh the resurrection of the dead. And as all die in Adame: even so shall all be made alive in christ, but every one in his order. The first is christ. Then they which are Christ's which hath believed in his coming. And saint Paul doth add a similitude taken of natural things where by he doth set forth and declare the resurrection of bodies. The similitude is taken of seed which cast into the earth by the husbandman dieth as it were and rotteth. Never the less it is not utterly lost but at length springeth & cometh forth of the earth, goodly, beautiful & pleasant. So our bodies shall rise again not feeble, vile, corruptible, mortal: but strong glorious incorruptible, immortal never to die again but ever to live The way in to true and everlasting life to our long home (as they call it) and country is by corporal death. Flesh and blood being corruptible and mortal can not inherit the kingdom of god where nothing is but life. Therefore this corruptible body must put on incorruption, & this mortal must put on immortality. Ore. xiiii. Esa. xxv. Than shall the saying that is written be fulfilled. Death is swallowed up in victory. They that believe in Christ hath now overcomed sin, death, and hell. Therefore not fearing death but strong, bold, and well hearted in Christ: they may say death where is thy sting? death where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be unto god which hath given us the victory through our lord jesus Christ. Let us hear also more sentences full of godly and mighty consolation. He that hath raised up jesus shall raise us up also with jesus. two. Cor. iiii Phili. iii. Our conversation is in heaven from whence we do look for the saviour our lord jesus christ which shall change our vile body that it may be like fashioned unto his glorious body according to the working of his power, by the which also he is able to subdue all things unto himself. Col. iii. Ye are dead and your life is hid with christ in god, but when christ your life shall appear then shall ye also appear in glory with him. i. Tesso. 4. We would not (brethren) that ye should be ignorant concerning them that sleep, that ye sorrow not also as other do which have no hope. For if we believe that jesus christ died and rose again: even them also which are a sleep, through jesus shall God bring with him. two. Tim. two Saint Paul also doth comfort Timothe with the article of resurrection saying. Remember the the lord jesus Christ being the seed of David rose again from the dead according to my gospel. And if we be dead with him we shall also live with him. If we suffer patiently we shall also reign with him. It is written also to the Hebreus that Christ tasted death for all men, Hebre. two. and that he was partaker of flesh and blood i became very man that he might destroy him which had the rule of death (that is) the devil, and that he might deliver them which were in bondage all their life time, by the reason of the fear of death. God hath delivered us, two. Tim. i. and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works but according to his purpose & grace which is given us in Christ jesus before the time of the world but is now made manifest by the appearing of our saviour jesus Christ which truly hath destroyed death and hath brought life and immortality to light by the gospel. i Io. iii. We know that we are translated from life to death because we love the brethren. i Io. 4. In this hath the love of god appeared in us, because God sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through him. job. nineteen. I know that my redeemer doth live, and in the last day I shall rise again, and again be wrapped in my own skin. And in my own flesh shall see God, whom I myself shall see & these my eyes shall behold and none other: These places of holly scripture and such like, if we diligently remember & faithfully embrace: we shall perceive great consolation and comfort, Phi. iii. And even with saint Paul rejoice, that we know christ and the power of his resurrection, whereby death is overcomed. Nether is there now (to these that believe in Christ) any thing in death terrible or to be feared, saving only the Image and outward form, hurt it can not. Like as a deed serpent keapith still his old fearful shape and form: but to sting or do harm he hath no power at al. And like as by the brasin serpent which Moses by god's commandment set up in desert when it was looked upon through the power of god's word men were delivered from danger of the lively and venom serpents so our death is made harmless and we delivered from the fear and danger of it, so oft as with the eyes of our faith we do behold the healthful and medicinable death of Christ. In conclusion death is now become but a Image and shadow of death, yea the entrance and gate to life. For Christ who is truth itself saith. If any man keep my word, Io. viii he shall never see death, For a man trusting to the mercy of God, through faith, which he conceiveth by hearing of Christ's gospel: is so unite and knit to christ his lord and master, that he can not be plucked nor separate from him. The body in deed for a time is separate from the soul but in certain hope of rising again to everlasting life. And so he that belevithe in Christ doth not see nor feel the everlasting death of body and soul, which is everlasting damnation, For the death of good men is nothing else but a departure from this transitory and mortal life: to immortality to christ, to his angels and saints. Hell and damnation DOth offer itself at the hour of death, so that many times man doth greatly fear lest he be abject from the favour of god and appointed to everlasting pain: The devil (which seeketh by all means how to devour us) steringe up in our minds many dangerous and troubellous thoughts, concerning our election and predestination. A medicine against the fear of hell and damnation. WHen the devil goeth about to cause us to despair or to doubt of our election: whether we be of the numbered of them that are appointed to everlasting life or no, In any ways let us not be to bold in coping with him, let us not enter disputation against him (for he is to subtle and expert for us) but say shortly unto him Away Satan with sorrow, it is written, thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God, For seeing that god as a most loving father hath not only given us life. fed and preservid us, to this hour: but also hath endued and even laden us from time to time with his singular benefits. what madness were it contrary to our former experience, now to doubt of his mercy? He hath received us in to his flock by baptism. He hath sent us the gospel of his grace, wherein he hath promised to become our father. we have be fed with the flesh and blood of his son our saviour CHRIST in remembrance that our debts be paid and we acquitted, why should we now then doubt of the good will of GOD toward us? let us not therefore admit the doubtful and dangerous Imaginations of our predestination which the devil like a crafty and malicious merchant doth labour to iustill. But let us think upon such sentences as God would have our minds occupied withal, which Chryst himself hath prescribed, as john iii where he sayeth. GOD hath so loved the world, that he hath given his only begotten son, that whosoever belevythe in him shall not perish, but have life everlasting. Loo here we see that he which belevithe in Christ, which faithfully acknowledgeth christ, to be his sanctification, justice, redemption and satisfaction: can not be dampened, but is assured of everlasting life. So many as conceive faith by hearing of God's word: and so trust steadfastly upon the mercy of christ: Undoubtedly they be of the number of those which be chosen to everlasting bliss, known before in CHRIST predestinate, and written long sith, in the book of life. These things be most certain, and most true, God can neither deceive nor be deceived. Rom. viii Such is his good will, so hath he purposed and decreed afore the world began, what things soever therefore our enemy the devil (spyting our salvation, and seeking our destruction) shall put in our mind contrary to this doctrine. Let them not move us, let them not make us afraid, but let us trust truly in christ: and so shall he become ours, and we become his, who being our good LORD, we can not perish nor be dampened. Io. x. For he will lose none of those that his father hath given him. we must fix our eyes upon christ, we must flee to him, we must cleave to him. He is our only and true saviour, who must be apprehended and embraced by faith, if we look to be saved. For they that believe rightly in Christ, they are predestinate to everlasting life. Here we must diligently remember and earnestly expend the godly exhortation of saint Paul which he writeth in the xii to the Hebrews, whose words be these, Let us run by patience unto the battle that is set afore us, Herald xii. looking unto jesus, the auctore and finisher of faith, which when the joy was set afore him, suffered the cross, and despised the shame, and sitteth at the right hand of the seat of GOD: Furthermore all the grievous tentations and afflictions that CHRIST suffered, he suffered them for our sakes. As saint Paul saith also in the iiii. to the hebrews. Herald iiii. We have not a high priest that is not able to have compassion on our weakness: but such one as was proved in all points without sin, let us therefore with boldness go unto the seat of his grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need: Let us in any ways consider, and deeply imprint in our hearts, christ to be given unto us, not only to th'end that we might be redemid, reconciled & made partakers of everlasting salvation: but also that in him we might have an example, both how to live, and also how to end our life. Nether can any man live, suffer or die well: unless he look upon and follow the life, suffering and death of Christ. if therefore we desire to end this life well and godly: let us consider and remember how Christ behaved himself in that bitter and smart agony, when hanging upon the cross, he was assaulted with divers fyersse and most grievous temtations, and pray that we may have grace to follow his example. First he was tempted with sin, when being hanged betwixt two thieves as a notable & heinous sinner: it was said unto him if thou beest the son of God, mat. xxvii come down from the cross. By this contumelious voice what do they signify else, but that they judged him a noughty and ungodly person, such one as by craft subtlety, falsehood, sossery, and other unlawful means had deceived the people, had blinded the world, and to be nothing less than the son of GOD. Even in like manner at the hour of death doth the devil tempt man, what soever man hath committed against god, all the sins that ever he did, he showeth unto him, he doth exaggerate them to the uttermost, to th'end that the multitude and heinousness of them considered and perceived, man should doubt of the mercy and favour of god, and so fall into desperation. Here we had need to stand sure. And every one of us had need to answer our enemy, thus tempting us after this manner I knowledge myself to have sins above all numbered, and measure but Christ, who never sinned, in whose mouth was found no guile. who is that very innocent lamb, hath suffered death for my sins, he hath washed them away, he hath satisfied abundantly for them, Esa. liii. how many and how great so ever they were. Christ's death pertaineth also to me, he was wounded also for my iniquities, he was bruised for my ungraciousenes, by his stripes I am also healed. All my sins hath CHRIST taken to himself, so that now I have none (thanks be to CHRIST) who hath satisfied for them in his own body. CHRIST was tempted also with death, when it was said unto him: he hath saved other, Mat. xx7 but he can not save him self. (As though it should been said) he is now at appoint, he must die, there is no remedy, he can not escape. Thus doth our old and irreconcilable enemy labour to fear us with death but let us hold out the buckler of faith in Christ against him. Let us remember that Christ our Lord, king of glory, and prince of life, could not be overcomed nor holden of death, but though he once tasted of death: he now liveth and reigneth for ever. This LORD of ours will not leave us, nor suffer death to execute any tyranny against us, that after he hath suffered us to be tempted a while he will also that we die corporally: all that is wholly for our wealth. Neither could we other ways come to everlasting life but by temporal death. We must therefore leave this present life, ere we can inherit the eternal life. Also this corporal death bringeth this commodity that by tasting the bitterness and sourness of it: we have experience and know the exceeding love that Christ bore toward us, and the inestimable benefit the he did for us, in cleansing our sins, in abolishing of death, in breaking up of hell gates, and all by his death. Other ways we could never have known the power of christ in abolishing of death, we could never have justly esteemed the excellency of this benefit, we could never have seen how just cause we have to give thanks, to christ our lord and redeemer. Christ living truly, we shall also live. and this corporal death to us shall be nothing else but a sweet and wholesome sleep, an entrance and gate in to the true & blessed life. For after this transitory life then begin we first truly to live. THirdly Christ was tempted with hell, or everlasting damnation, when it was said unto him, he hath trusted in GOD let him now deliver him if he will. As though they should say. Now it appeareth that he hath hoped in god in vain. For god will none of him, he hath forsaken him, he liketh him not, he doth abhor him, he will cast him down to hell & perpetualy condemn him. When therefore the temptor shall lasche at us which like temptations, we may not shrink, we may not be afraid, we may not be discouraged but commend ourself, wholly to CHRIST, hang upon him, who is wholly ours, who hath given himself wholly to us, so that sin, death, nor hell, hath nothing to do with us. CHRIST with a inestimable price, his own blood hath delivered us from the tyranny of the devil, and ever lasting damnation, he is become our innocency, our life, and our justice. Let us take heed in any ways that we turn not our hearts from CHRIST crucified, If we cleave to him, we are set upon a sure and inexpugnable rock, against the which all the power of hell is able to do nothing. So that we may boldly exclaim, and every one say with CHRIST I provided the Lord afore my eyes all way, Psal. xvi for he is at my right elbow, that I should not be moved, therefore my heart hath be glad and my tongue hath rejoiced, moreover my flesh shall rest in hope. By faith in CHRIST we become the sons of GOD, the brethren and coheirs of Christ, and partakers of everlasting life, by this faith departing hence, we shall go to the kingdom prepared for the elect, afore the beginning of the world. And if in the ferventness of these temptations our faith begin to waver, if we do not bear patiently the will of our hevinlye Father, if our love toward god wax faint and cold, if our hope begin to be feeble & weak: and therefore we begin to fear, lest god and we be not all at a full point, but that he is yet displeased with us: which tentation (surely) is very grievous, painful, dangerous, and hard to overcome: we must call to remembrance Christ to have suffered for us so intolerable and invincible tentations: that there appeared no help, no comfort, no refuge, wherein GOD and the whole world: seemed to have forsaken him, and to be against him: In somouche that he exclaimed, O my god, o my GOD why hast thou forsaken me. Oh here was a grievous tentation, A sharp and a bitter death that CHRIST suffered for us, and all to make the way of the cross and death easy unto us. Therefore seeing that, CHRIST of his own free will, cast himself into the feeling of so intolerable pain, calamity, and anxiety (GOD our most loving Father being therewith content) undoubtydlye he knoweth and considereth our infirmity, undoubtedly he will not deal with us according to the rigour of the law, but will bear much with us and pardon many things, to our infirmity. Doth not CHRIST speak to all men? doth he not call men, when he saith: Come unto me all you that do labour and are laden and I shall refresh you? how can there be any greater consolation? how could CHRIST speak more mercifully to us. There be many things that pinch, vex, and trouble man grievously: but what thing is it that can trouble the conscience of a sinner, more than when he doubteth of the mercy of god, then when he feareth least GOD will cast him of, then when he can not persuade himself to conceive any trust of god's mercy, but Imagine that as a withered member he shallbe cut of and cast away. Here we had need of Christ's present help, here we had need of speedy comfort, lest this violent tempest overwhelm and drown us. But let us not fear, CHRIST is no dissembler, he will stand by his word, he will perform his promise, He will help and refresh. Therefore when we begin to tremble and fear in our conscience, when we begin to doubt of god's mercy, when we perceive our faith to be feeble. Let us forthwith call upon GOD, and that fervently, and that indesinantly, leaven from the bottom of our heart, that he turn not his face from us. Let us power before him all that doth trouble us. Let us disclose, to him our misery, our imbecility, our incredulity. Let us cry with the disciples, lord increase our faith. Luc. xvii. And with the Father of the Lunatic. Lord we believe, help our incredulity. And with the prophet. Marci. ix Lord make haste to help us. For thy mercy is above all thy works. O most loving, O most merciful father, lord god of our health, Ps. lxix our only help and refuge. Enter not into judgement with thy servants. Christ is our justice, our redemption, and innocency, he for us hath suffered most bitter & cruel death. Let these things move the o father of mercy. For this thy son our saviour Christ's sake have mercy upon us, confirm and strength our heart in faith, comfort us with the consolations of thy holy spirit, that we may finally obtain joy everlasting, through jesus christ Amen. After this sort if we (labouring, wresting, and striving with our imbecility, accusing afore god, & lamenting our pusilianimity and incredulity) do catch hold of christ and cleave fast to him, earnestly and fervently desiring his help, that he will vouchsafe to take our place & to supply that is lacking in us. These things if we do surely all things shallbe well, we shall avoid and escape easily all danger & peril, we shallbe safe enough. For these two, to believe in Christ and with heart to desire faith, doth not much differ the one from the other. For though we feel yet great weakness and imperfection in ourself, yet this aught to comfort us, that god willeth & commandeth that he should be called upon, that he hath promised to here and help these, that call rightly upon him. Now as nothing is more justly or necessarily desired than true faith, even so god hearith no prayer sooner or more gladly then when man finding no goodness in himself, doth acknowledge his own infirmity, his own misery, his own beggerlines, doth accuse and lament his own incredulity, & with deep sighs, & hearty desires calleth for faith. These sighs, these desires, these prayers, this little spark of faith is the very sede of GOD, wrought in us by him, which saith of Christ by the Prophet Esay, that he shall not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed. Therefore let us steadfastly believe, or at the least earnestly and heartily pray that we may believe, bewailing afore god our lack of faith, which things if we do, we need not doubt but we be accepted of god, we be taken for his children. For it is not for nought, nor in vain that he hath laid our imbecility and sins upon his only begotten sons back. In Matthew Math. v. it is said blessed be those that mourn, for they shallbe comforted, blessed be those that hunger after righteousness, for they shallbe satisfied. These words are spoken all so to us, they may justly be applied to us, we mourn & are sorry in our hearts that we have misspended our life paste. We wish and desire, yea we even hunger & thirst after righteousness. Let us be of good cheer, we shall obtain our desire, we shallbe comforted, we shall be counted just afore GOD, for CHRIST our saviour his sake. Finally let us after the example of Christ and saint Stevin commend our souls into the hands of GOD our heavenly father, saying every one after this manner. O Most merciful father I commend into thy holy hands my spirit, yea thy spirit, for thou hast create it, thou haste committed it for a time to the body, thou haste given it thy own Image and similitude. Thou haste sent for the redemption of it, thy own most dearly beloved son to shed his blood. This the spirit, I resign into thy hands, O GOD of all mercy, I am thine all that I am, I beseech the refuse not thy own but receive, keep and place me in everlasting glory for the sake of jesus Christ, thy only begotten son Amen. ¶ Imprinted at London by james Burrel, dwelling without the north gate of Paul's in the cornor house of Pater noster row opening in to cheapside Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.