every-days SACRIFICE.  
Wherein are comprehended many comfortable Prayers and Meditations, very necessary for all Christians.  
ALSO, Many comforts for the sick which are afflisted by the sight of their sins and the terror of death; Written by D. M. Luther, a little before his end.  
With most true comforts out of holy Scripture of the knowledge we shall have of one another in the world to come.  
Translated by, W. R. S.  
LONDON, Printed by Humphrey Lownes, for john Parker, and are to be sold at his Shop in Paul's Church yard at the sign of the three Pigeons. 1624.   

The Translator to the Reader.  
IT pleased Almighty God (gentle Reader) in his last great visitation 1603. (amongst a great multitude of others) to take to his mercy all my Children, to the great grief and sorrow of my heart, which caused me to remember the saying of our Saviour jesus Christ in his holy Gospel: If these things be done unto a green Tree, what shall be done to a dry? And therefore it beseemed me, rather to prepare for myself, that I might be ready when it pleased God to call me, then to lament for them which are at rest with Christ. All which considered, caused me to read over diverse comfortable Books; and at last light upon this, which as it appeareth in the beginning of this book, was first penned for the comfort of one that was in great affliction by reason of sickness; who, besides a great number of others, received great comfort of the same; for which cause it was first penned. The like comfort hath it, by the goodness of God, effected in me; which moved me to undertake the publishing hereof in as plain and fruitful manner as I could, for the good of every Christian, without any borrowed phrases. And therefore such as it is, I commend to thy favourable acceptance, praying God that it may work such comfort in thee (and in all other that shall read it) as it hath done in me, for the glory of his holy name: unto whose most mighty protection I commit thee.   


Exhortations to make the sick desirous of death.  
WE be but strangers and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on earth also are but as a shadow, and there is no abiding.  
The days of man are the days of an hireling, yea wind and nothing.  
We are made as dust, and must return to dust, as a leaf that is carried of the wind, dry stubble, and a garment that is motheaten.  
Man is burdened with many calamities: he cometh up, & is cut down like a flour, and he lieth as it were a shadow: short be his days, and the Lord hath appointed him his bands, which he shall not pass.  
Where is there any man that liveth, and soeth not death?  
Our days pass away swiftly, and we are gone.  
A man in his time is but as grass, and flourisheth as a flour of the field: fo● as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone, and the place thereof knows it no more.  
Man is like to a thing of nought: his days pass away like a shadow.  
Every thing hath a time, yea, all that is under heaven, hath his convenient season. There is a time to be borne, and a time to die.  
Death doth not forget himself.  
By one man, death entered into the world, and went over all men; and through one sin of one man, all men are subject unto death.  
All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man is as the flower of grass.  
Our life is even as a vapour that appears for a little tune, and then vanisheth away.  
Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  
Whatsoever hath been borne since the beginning of the world unto this day hath been subject unto death: and whatsoever is yet alive, or shall be born, must needs die every-while.  
Whosoever receiveth life, must also suffer death remediless.  
On this condition camest thou into the world, that thou shouldst leave it again.  
Thou hast been sure of death, ever since thou wast conceived in thy mother's womb.  
Whatsoever thou hast lived over the first day of thy birth, is superfluous and too much; and God hath suffered thee to live long enough.  
There is no remedy, but that thou must needs die, and no man can save thee nor defend thee: for, thou art dust, and must be turned into dust again.  
Think none other in thy mind, but that the end of thy life is comen.  
This misery geeth not only ever thee: for, great and small, rich and poor, young, old, Lord, servant, man, woman, and all men must take this journey in hand.  
This debt hast thou owed a great while, and thou must needs pay it; the sooner the better.  
If thou shouldst be put to death or execution, with a hundred more besides thyself, what should it avail thee, whether thou were the first or the last.  
He that is first dispatched, is soon rid out of his pain.  
Thou hast full well deserved at the hand of God, to die a worse and a more sudden death: wherefore thou art bound to thank him, that he handleth thee so graciously.  
This life is short: childhood flows away like water: youth and manhood are full of sin and labour: age is full of infirmities, although not one among a thousand doth attain to it.  
This life is but a prison, full of heaviness, calamity, bondage, encumbrance, painfulness, labour, travails, unlustiness, sin, diseases, temptations, yea, 'tis nothing but a cross. From all which miseries, death doth deliver us.  
The day of death is better than the day of birth.  
In the day of birth, thou art put to cold, heat, hunger, thirst, tediousness, sin and wretchedness. In the day of death art thou delivered from all bodily impediments.  
Therefore do job and jeremy curse not only the day of birth, but also him that brought the message to their father, that a child was born.  
The bitterness of death which is sent thee, passeth all the pain that ever thou dibst seel in all thy life: but it lasteth not long, and it is soon done.  
Through the grace & help of GOD canst thou wade through this danger, & drink this cup.  
Thou didst never truly feel the passion of Christ in all thy life: wherefore now in the hour of death thou shalt patiently feel and taste.  
In case the devil by force, for his last feat, would prove himself upon thee; then been thou sure, that he is a mightless enemy, and is overcome by Christ, and can get no more at thy hand, but only as much as thou fearest him, and doubtest in Christ.  
If there happen unto thee any fearful temptation, give thanks to God, that he handleth thee so graciously: for, thou art worthy to have a more grievous punishment.  
The wicked spirit which tempted Christ, will not leave thee untempted: but he cannot prevail against thee; for, he hath nought in Christ, nor in thee.  
Many temptations shall assault thee, which thou must patiently suffer; thinking, that the Lord might justly send thee greater temptations, which nevertheless he leaves undone of his mere mercy.  
When thy conscience doth lay before thee thy manifold sins, and sendeth thee to good works; then remember, that Christ hath paid for thy sins upon the Cross.  
Let not unprofitable thoughts trouble thee; as, If God would lengthen thy life, thou wouldst think to become more holy, and more apt to die: for, although thou mightst live yet (which is impossible) an hundred years, thou canst deserve nothing with thy holiness before God.  
Although all creatures were against thee, yea, although God himself should lay before thee his fearful indignation and terrible judgement, and show himself none otherwise than as though he were thine enemy, & although thou shouldst see nothing but devils about thee, yet care not for it, whatsoever thou feelest: shut the eyes of thy mind: take hold of faith, and trust in the Gospel. There is no Devil so strong, that is able to overthrow it. Trust to God, and fear not. Cast all thy care on the Lord, and he will provide and preserve thee.  
Hitherto thou hast been as dead, but now shalt thou first begin to live: for, death is a do●● of life, a beginning of resurrection, and a departing from sin and pain.  
Forsake the world, and receive death (which is seat unto thee by the grace of God) willingly: for, it is thy own, and must also serve thee for thy wealth.  
This smart and pain is ordained for thee of God, and he doth not chasten thee because he hateth thee, but that he may preserve and receive thee as his son. Therefore faint not, seeing thou art chastened of the Lord.  
No manner of chastising for the present time seems to been joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness unto them which are therein exercised.  
The afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shall be showed upon us.  
Tribulation, anguish, persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, sword, death, life, Angels, rule, power, things present, nor things to come, height, lowness, neither any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God.  
If thou didst truly remember and consider the unfaithfulness, falsehood, blasphemy, and the Antichristian conversation and life of this world, truly thou wouldst not covet to live any longer.  
A thousand lives (if it were possible) oughtest thou to lose, only because thou hast heard and tasted the gospel; namely, that thou hast obtained redemption and forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ, and not through thine own merits.  
Thou hast prayed daily, that it would please GOD to take thee out of this evil world into his Kingdom, and that his will might be done. Wherefore, seeing he will now, through his grace, bring thee into his Kingdom, thou oughtest (as his son) willingly and gladly to obey, and to rejoice with all thy heart, that thou, out of the devil's Kingdom, out of this valley of misery, and out of this wretched life, comest to thy Father, and all his Elect in everlasting Paradise.  
The Heathen, which notwithstanding were without hope, did, for the love of the life to come, destroy themselves: and shouldst thou, being a Christian, to whom so much comfort, hope, and everlasting life is promised, despair in death, and desire not to die with all thy heart?  
The jews die merrily, which nevertheless have crucified Christ, and are damned for ever: and shouldest not thou, being a Christian man, be more earnest and bolder to die; to whom such joy is promised, as the eye hath not seen, the ear hath not heard, neither hath entered into the hart of man? and wouldst thou now give place to the miscreant and cursed Heathen and jews, in bodily dying?  
The servant is not above his Lord, nor yet the Disciple above his Master. Christ thy Master and Lord suffered and died for thee: thou must also suffer and die.  
All they which are baptised to die, are baptised: thou art baptised, therefore art thou also baptised to die.  
For God's sake art thou killed, and art counted as a sheep appointed to be slaine. What were a slaughter sheep, if it were not slain? or what were a Christian man, if he should not be assaulted, suffer, and die?  
Faint not in this affliction, to which thou knowest thyself to be constituted.  
Now will Christ thy Saviour and Redeemer prove whether thou wilt stand by him or no, whether thou wilt for his sake valiantly abide death, and be like unto the shape of his passion, or not. Therefore suffer now as a good warrior of jesus Christ, and think not to be crowned, unless thou fight valiantly: for, if thou die with Christ, thou shalt also live with him, thou shalt also triumph with him.  
Unfaithful and without honour is he counted before the world, that giveth-over his hold in his dominions: & shouldst thou not be without honour, if in the necessity of death thou shouldest shrink from Christ thy Saviour?  
Take up thy Cross and death, and follow him.  
Knowest thou not, with what great joy and desire all the Apostles and servants of Christ have shed their blood for Christ's sake, and have gone even to meet death?  
For Christ's sake hast thou not yet suffered any special thing. Therefore give thyself willingly and joyfully unto death, as a sheep, for Christ's sake.  
God is by thee in thy trouble: he will pluck thee out of it, and bring thee to honour; and he is at thy right hand, that he may help thee.  
Put now thy trust in God, and thou shalt be helped.  
Be of good comfort, and bestow thy stinking carcase▪ which is but wormsmeat, upon Christ thy Redeemer and Saviour, and trust only to him and his holy Gospel, which is the power of GOD to salvation to all that believe.  
Abide the Lord, and let thy heart take sure hold.  
Commit thy cause unto the Lord, and trust in him: he shall order it well enough.  
Be sober and watch: for, thine adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, will go about thee, seeking how he may denoure thee; whom resist, steadfast in the faith.  
Ye wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rule, against power, and against worldly Rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spirits of wickedness, yea, against sin, death, hell, and the devil. For this cause, behave yourself as a Christian champion, and take unto you the armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand perfect in all things. Stand therefore, and your loins girt about with verity, having on them a breastplate of righteousness, and shod with shoes prepared by the Gospel of peace. Above all, take unto you the shield of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD. And pray always in all manner of necessities.   

¶ A short instruction of the confession of sins.  
FIrst, because all mankind by the laws of GOD: Secondly, and also out of the sorrow of death, the cruel martyrdom and bitter death of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, by reason of our sins which he took upon him: Thirdly, and also out of the fearful examples of holy Scripture, how God always punisheth the unrepentant, which continue in their sins, and are bound to confess the same, if they will be quit thereof, and die happily.  
Therefore should we poor creatures, with the great fearful miseries and woes, wherein we (alas!) through sin are grievously fallen, repair unto our dear God with hearty sighing and weeping earnestly call for mercy, as the holy Prophet David did also; Enter not into judgement with thy servant, O Lord. And let us take heed, that we blanche not our sins, as the Hypocrites and the Pharises did, Luke chapter 18. For, the Cherubins and Angels of GOD, which are wholly holy, do cover their faces and feet, that is to say, all their glory, works, and doings, and will not been praised; but do sing with their voice, their Gloria, la●●, and Gloria in excelsis Dee; to the end that GOD the Lord only may been acknowledged for holy, honoured, and praised.  
But in such confession of sur, let us not creep into corners, as Adam did, Genesis the third chapter, but call upon God from the bottom of our hearts for grace and forgiveness, through the worthy deserving of Christ jesus, as jeremy the fourteenth chapter: Lord, we acknowledge our wickedness, and the misdeeds of our fathers. For, we have sinned against thee: and the offences wherewith we have angered thee, are great. But, for thy name's sake, let us not be brought to confusion. Let not the throne of thy glory be mocked. Remember yet, and let not thy Covenant with us cease. Thou art yet the Lord our God, on whom we hope: for, thou canst do all this. So did David pray in the 25 Psalm; Remember not, O Lord, the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: but think upon me according to thy mercy, for thy goodness sake. And in the two and thirtieth Psalm he speaketh very comfortably: I said, I will confess my transgressions, and thou forgavest me the wickedness of my sins. Likewise Daniel in his ninth chapter prayed, Lord our God, etc. we have sinned, & have alas been wicked. O Lord, for thy right ousnes sake turn away thy wrath and anger for our sins sake, we are blamed of all them that are round about us: and now, our Lord & God, hear the prayers of thy servant, & his complaints, and behold with favour thy holy place which is destroyed for the Lords sake. So likewise should every Christian comfort himself, & believe with his heart, that he for Christ's sake, through such faithful prayer, shall surely obtain God's grace and forgiveness of his sins, as it is said and promised to all the faithful, john 16. Verily, Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever you desire of the Father in my name he will give it you ●id jeremy 14 saith Thou art the Lord our God, and canst and witted do all this same, Amen.   

Hear follow certain Prayers, how a man should call to God for grace, and forgiveness.  
O Almighty and Everlasting God, most gracieus and merciful Father, I poor sinner acknowledge from my heart, and confess it also before thee with my mouth, that I am (alas) a great sinner, concevied, borne, and grown up in sin: and so have many times transgressed thy holy commandments, with evil, sinful, unclean, and unseemly thoughts, wo●●●, and wicked deeds. All which I do repent from my very heart, and pray and desire thee of thy Grace, O heavenly Father, endue me with the Grace, and forgive me all my sins, in the name of thy dear and only Senne, my Lord and Samour jesus Christ, in whom thou hast promised me comfort, and remission of all my sins. I comfort myself with this gracious promise, john 6. where thy dear Son saith; Who eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood; That is, Who believeth on me, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  
Such godly and gracious promises of thy Son, do I trust unto and believe, and am certain, that I, through such saith, have forgiveness of my sins: and shall be a child of thy Kingdom, and remain so for evermore, Amen, Amen.  

Another Prayer.  
O Thou Almighty and Everlasting God, Father of our Lord jesus Christ, maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all Creatures, I poor, miserable and sinful creature, come here before thy divine Majesty, full of sin and unrighteousness, and fall down at thy feet before thy glorious Majesty: for I have mightily offended thee my Lord and God, and sinned against thy commandments and done against thy godly will.  
But because I cannot other wise be quit and free from this my heavy burden, but only through thee my Lord and God: Therefore do I now from my very heart complain unto thee my woe and misery; and especially what I have at this present franed in, and have accomplished the same against thy godly will: besides all other (alas) which I daily commit, with deceit, in show and false heart, with negligence, evil lusts and otherwise: whether it be with evil thoughts, words or works, wittingly or unwittingly, secretly or openly; whether it be against thee, or the love of my neighbour: All which I acknowledge unto thee, and confess it also from the bottom of my heart; and pray thee, that through thy grace thou wilt graciously and fatherly forgive me all my sins. Have respect only to the bitter death, Martyrdom, and bloodshedding of thy only dear Son, in whom thou art pleased, who innocently died for me poor sinner. O my Lord and God, look upon thy dear Son, and especially on the great love which he shown unto us poor sinners, when he went so patiently and willingly to death. O look upon the great obedience which thy dear Son hath ●us●●red for our sakes, and h●●●bled himself upon the er●●●●, de●th, grave, and hell. O look also v●on the great gl●●● to, wherewith thou hast adorned thy Son, in th●● thou hast made him Lord over all. For which ●our, 〈◊〉 b● on ●ee, and ●●o●y, ●●ou wouldst graciously ●e●●●●ue me this day's offence whereinto I, by temptation, 〈◊〉 s●llen, with all my former same's which I have done from my youth: For in sin was I conceived, borne, and brought up, and yet do live therein without ceasing: So that sin hath gone through my whole body, marrow, and bones. Therefore I beseech thee most graciously to remit and forgive me all such sins, to cast the same behind thee, and never think more on them, nor punish my body or soul, either in this world, or the world to come: for thou art rich unto all that call upon thee. And because thou wilt not the death of a sinner, but rather that he turn from his wickedness and live: therefore do I pray thee to give me a good meaning to amend my life, especially in that thou hast promised me also, through thy dear Son, to give me whatsoever I ask in his name.  
Therefore do I pray thee through Christ, thou wouldst forgive me all these my sins, and pour thy holy Ghost into my heart, that I may constantly abide in a godly life. All which grant unto me for thy dear Son's sake jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, Amen,   

Another prayer to our Lord jesus Christ, the everlasting Son of God, for grace, and forgiveness.  
O My dear Lord jesus Christ, I confess unto thee from the bottom of my heart, with great sighing, that I am, alas, a poo●e sinner, conceived and home in sin and iniquity, to have lived wickedly against thee and thy holy Word, with  and unthankful heart, for which I am hearty sorry.  
But I am comfored in my heart, that thou wilt not the death of a sinner, which thou hast sworn and confirmed with an oath: That thou wilt not be angry with me for ever, nor yet for ever punish me. Thou dost call and entice all them that are weary, oppressed, comfortless, sorrowful bearts and consciences, to thee and thy holy Word: and namest thyself A heavenly Physician, which takest upon thee our woes and miseries (wherein we through sin are fallen) and bringest to us thy everlasting help and refreshing, by Preaching of thy holy Gospel, wherewith we may be helped for evermore: upon such thy gracious promises come I to thee, and pray thee from the bottom of my heart (O my Lord God and Saviour) to be merciful to me poor sinner, like as thou hast promised such mercy, for the love of thy own grace & merits: Amen, Lord jesus Christ, Amen.   

The Lord's Prayer contained in a short form.  
ABba, dear Father; we thy unworthy children call upon thee in the name of thy beloved Son jesus Christ, through thy holy Ghost, uphold us by thy holy Word, give us honest and true Teachers and Preachers to distribute the same amongst us: Release us quickly out of the Devil's kingdom; bring us to thy Kingdoom of Grace, and to everlasting life: And give us thy holy Spirit, that we, as the Angels of God, may live holily, according to thy will and pleasure. Nourish, bless, and preserve our households, Wives, Children, and Servants, in this life: cover our trespasses and of fences, and give us a loving heart, to forgive all those that have offended us. Let us not consent unto sin, nor fall from thy only Word of salvation, but keep us from the evil Fiend, and from all his deceits. Thou art a most mighty King, powerful to rule; thou canst, and wilt grant us all these things: For which we will give thee thankes, and praise thee for ever, Amen.   

A Prayer (wherein the confession of our Christian Faith is simply contained) wherewith a man may call upon God for strengthening of his faith.  
O Almighty and everlasting God, which art a Father of all grace and mercy, and a God of all comfort. for us poor sinners, which I and all Christians (through revealing of thy Word) do acknowledge and believe for certain, Therefore do I land, honour, and praise thee, dear Father of heaven, for such thy unspeakable love, wherewith thou hast graciously had respect to us thy enemies, transgressors of thy commandments, and damned creatures: Namely, in that thou hast not spared thy only Son our Lord jesus Christ, who is equal with the God head, and with the holy Ghost: Especially that thou hast let him be incarnate for our sinful nature and doings, with our actual misdeeds: and howsoever we have thereby deserved, and into manifold horrible reproaches; and finally to yield himself to the shameful death of the Cross. And so of pure fatherly love, hast ordained him a Lamb, to carry my sins, and the sins of the whole world upon the Cross, and to be a perfect Oblation therefore, and dost proffer, proclaim, and promise the same throughout the whole world, commandest also the same to be believed, upon pain of losing everlasting salvation: for thereby, and by no other means, must it only be applied and impropriated to me, and to all the faithful, and to been our own.  
Therefore, dear Father, do I constantly believe, according to the same revealing of the holy Gospel, all this same, and doubt not thereof any thing at all, as I thy Child am bound, and will do, not respecting my unworthiness. In Christ thy only Son, are all my sins, and all which believe, and boldly trust unto it, sufficiently punished, corrected, spent, and through his perfect obedient death of the Cross, all killed and taken away: And that I am, and also all Christians, through such faith, planted in the Kingdom of thy dear Son (as the holy Scripture saith) by whom we have redemption through his blood: namely, remission of sins.  
I believe also verily, that in the death of Christ thy dear Son, my death is overcome, that it shall never hurt me nor consume me into damnation, (as the Scripture saith) Christ hath ●a●ed of death for all; hath taken into his power, and brought to lighten untransitory life and being, through his Gospel.  
I believe also, that the destroying of ●●ell, which was done by thy dear Son, is destroyed and torn asunder for me and all faithful; that the same cannot consume or devour me, nor any of the right believers, as the Scripture saith, ●●ll, where is thy victory▪ And in another place; The gates of Hell shall not prevail against the right Believers. And The Prince of this world is judged.  
I believe also, that thy Commandments, with all the power thereof which they have, have no more right over me, although I cannot absolutely keep them: For the Lord Christ thy dear Son hath through his obedience perfectly kept the same for me, and taken from them the right and interest which they had in me: wherewith thou almighty, Everlasting, and Merc●full God and Father, art satisfied.  
I believe also, that the resurrection of Christ thy dear Son, is a new life unto me, and to all faithful, unto everlasting life.  
Finally, I believe also (as the Scripture saith) that he is ascended into Heaven, and hath taken rule on the right hand of his Father: and answereth for me and all the faithful, that henceforth the Devil and all his power is taken, must be subject, and lie at the feet of me and all the Faithful.  
Therefore I pray thee, O Lord GOD, thou infinite Fountain of all grace, that through the power & working of the Holy Ghost, thou wilt give me such faith and acknowledging this day and laways, to the end of my life.  
And I pray thee also, my Lord jesus Christ, which art true and perfect GOD with the Father and the Holy Ghost; forasmuch as thou hast put thyself under the tyranny of the Law, which (by reason of sin) it had towards me and all mankind, and hast taken on thee my sin, Death, Hell, and damnation, which I by all reason, right, and rigour thereof should have borne; that thou wilt help to still and pacify these great misdeeds between GOD our heavenly Father and me, especially in my conscience, which continually disquieteth me, through the power of God, & of the Holy Ghost, which thou hast promised to send us from the Father. 〈…〉 so said, 〈◊〉 m●● 〈…〉 ●●●ek▪ th●●, bu● th●●● 〈◊〉 the●▪  
Thou art the only ever last 〈◊〉, ●●vas●parable truth: There 〈◊〉 do I steadfastly beleeu●, by knowledge of the S●●ty●u●e●, that thou art to m●●●●●●●o all Ecleevers a 〈◊〉 h●pnest, a seat of Grace, and A●uacate so thy heavenly Father and I believe verily, (notwithstanding that reason is astonished thereat) that through no other Oblation works, or means, either in Heaven or on Earth, our sins, Death, Hell, and damnation, is overcome and taken away and we at agreement with God thy heavenly Father, but only through thee jesus Christ; whereon I will trust, and also die thereon. Thereto help thou me, thou dear God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.   

O LORD jesus Christ, which with the Father and the Holy Ghost a●● one unseparable Essence, and a Fountain of all Grace: I thank and praise thee always, that thou hast also revealed unto me thy grace for my better comfort, as thou hast endued thy dea●e Mother Mary, and also other Saints, with great grace, and wrought wonderful works in them. I pray thee therefore hearty to look upon on me with the eyes of thy mercy, as thou didst look upon the evil doer, which was hanged upon the Cross by thee, and didst open his heart that he confessed his sins, and was mightily afraid of them, but yet despaired not, but confessed, & desired thy grace and mercy which thou gavest to him willingly and plentifully. Also Saint Peter which denied thee: and Mary Magdalen in her sinful living: And hast also respected Matthew the Customer in open estate, Saint Paul a raging and earnest persecutor of Christians: Also in the old Testament David, King Manasses the Tyrant, and other sinners more, which thou didst bring to repentance and confession of their sins; and of pure love, grace and mercy (which thou didst reveal unto them by thy holy Word) hast placed them with thee in thy Kingdom. Therefore dear God and merciful Father, will I strengthen myself so much the more, and doubt nothing thereof.  
These, and other godly people of worth, which thou of thy grace hast taken out of this sinful life to righteousness, are a comfort and example to me, and all beléeving Christians, that thou wast merciful to them, and so wilt be to me, and to every sinner which reputes, according to thy own pure love, which the holy Ghost, through faith in the Gospel, worketh in us both gracious and merciful, and grants us a happy end in such acknowledging of thy Name. Which, help thou me with, and all Christians (dear God) Father, Son, and holy Ghost, which art in three inseparable persons, one only and everlasting GOD, for ever, Amen.    

Here follow certain Prayers, to call upon God for strengthening of our faith.  
O LORD ●ESUS CHRIST, strengthen me also with thy holy Spirit in my fear and quaking. And admonish me, that I think upon thy sacred Wounds in my last end. And let not thy holy and bitter Passion be lost on me poor sinner, thou which art therefore come, that thou mayst destroy the Devil's work, and pay and counterpoise my sins with thy hard and painful labour: and thou which hast sworn, Thou wilt not the death of a sinner. Strengthen my weak faith, and keep me through thy Spirit of grace and of prayer, unto a happy end, Amen.  

A Prayer.  
O Lord jesus Christ, I confess unto thee my great and manifold sins, and the righteous wrath of God, and everlasting punishment which I have deserved. But I comfort myself with the great love and pure mercy of thy Father; and pray thee (seeing thy blood is more than the sins of the whole world, and thou art our Mediator and Advocate) that thou wilt be Intercessor for me to thy Father, that my faith do not diminish, and that I never despair of thy mercy for my sins, Amen.   

A Prayer.  
O Lord jesus Christ, increase my faith and trust in thee, that I despair not of thy gracious mercy, nor in my greatest sin perish in unbelief. O Lord, preserve for me thy promised grace in the holy Gospel: let it not come out of my heart. Thou art my only comfort and hope: stand to me in this my sorrow. Let not my poor soul come into the hands of my horrible. Adversary, and give him no power over me. But show me thy goodness at this present: for thou art my Saviour and Redeemer, Amen.   

A Prayer.  
O Lord jesus Christ, I pray thee, through thy goodness and mercy, that thou wilt strengthen my soul upon thy holy way which lieth before me, into thy heavenly and everlasting Kingdom.  
I believe, that thou diedst for my sake, hast of thy grace and mercy forgiven me my sins, and that everlasting life is promised to me. Of this my faith, O Lord, shall thou be witness, and all thy Elect: and in this faith shall be my last Will to die therein (O Lord) in thy pure mercy. And although I through grief, want of sense, or other troubles, should fall off from the same yet (O Lord) let m●e not die in unbelief and blasphemy: but strengthen and increase my faith, that neither sin, hell, nor devil, hurt me. Thou art stronger, and of more power than all they: whereunto I will trust. Lord, let me not be confounded, Amen.    

A comfort out of holy Scripture against the fear of sin.  ESAY 12. 
Behold, God is my salvation: I am safe, and fear not: for, God the Lord is my strength, my Psalm, and my salvation.  

The first Comfort.  
How a man should comfort himself against sin, and the just anger of God, out of the comfortable promises of the holy Scripture.  

The first comfortable sentence.  GENESIS 3. 
The Seed of the Woman shall tread down the head of the Serpent.  
THis is the first Evangelicall Doctrine of the everlasting Son of God in Paradise, revealed unto the fallen and damned mankind; whereby he might be released again from death, God's wrath, Sin, Hell, and power of the Devil, and might obtain, through belief in these words, Comfort, Grace, Remission on of sins, and everlasting life.  
And with this Promise, have all the holy men comforted themselves, until Abraham, two thousand years long: for, here doth GOD tell us, that he, even of pure love and mercy, will send unto us (poor damned sinners) his only and dear Sount, borne of a virgin, to take upon him mortal and humane flesh and blood; who should, with his absolute Obedience and Passion, pay the ransom of our sins, pacify GOD's wrath kindled by reason of our sins, destroy Death through his death; and with his victory, and rising again, restore again righteousness, resurrection, and euerlastin●g life.  
This comfort should we conceive with faithful hearts, and be certain thereof, that the Devil's works are destroyed for o●r sakes, and all his power taken away; that we never need to been afraid of sin, death, hell, or God's anger; but, through jesus Christ our Lord, true God and Man, have gotten again righteousness and everlasting life. Do did an honest Christian at ●reiberge in Misnia, in the year of our Lord 1547, comfort himself with this sentence, and got victory over the devil, who did trouble him by reason of his sins, and GOD's wrath.  
For, as he was troubled in his sickness, the devil came to him in visible form with Ink and Paper, and sat him down besides the sick man, and said; He should rehearse his sins: he was therefore there to write them up, and to give sentence upon them. The sick man was afraid: but yet he remembered himself of this sentence, answered the devil, and said he should write, The seed of the Woman should tread down the head of the Serpent. Straightways the devil vanished away, and left such a stink behind him in all the house, as if he would haue choked them all.   

The second comfortable Sentence.  GENESIS 22. 
Through thy Seed, shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed.  
THis is the second Promise and Preaching of the Lord jesus Christ. All other mankind, from the first Adam until the last, were by nature full of wickedness. God was angry with them, and became their enemy: for, there was no blessing with them, but cursing, because they were sinners.  
But through this Man jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, the only Son of the Father, full of Grace and Truth, is the only right Séed of Abraham; wherein all the Nations of the earth must be blessed, if they will attain unto everlasting salvation.  
In this Sentence, behold what Saint Paul writeth to the G●lat. 3. where he saith, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law (for, it is written, ●ursed is that man which hangeth on a tree); that the blessing of Abraham might come among the Gentiles in sesus Christ; And we do receive the promised Spirit through faith.  
In this place Saint Paul placeth these two words one against another; First, the curse; and then, the blessing.  
All men are of themselves poor, cursed, and dam●ed sinners: For, as the fouretéenth Psalm saith, They are all gone astray: there is none that doth good; no, not one. Against the which, this blessed Séed bringeth the blessing unto us, and redeemeth us from the curse of the Law, in that he was a curse for us: for he as the only immaculate Lamb of God, hath taken our sins upon him; and, as S. Peter saith, Offered our sins himself with his body on the Cross. We should henceforth be quit from sin, and live unto righteousness; or, as Saint Paul saith, To come to the blessing by him, and to receive the Holy Ghost, and be the children of God. In this bespoken blessed séed did Abraham trust, and was happy. Abraham believed always on God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.   

The third comfortable Sentence.  ESAY 43. 
Thou hast made me labour with thy sins, and hast made me weary with thy misdeeds: I will wipe out thy transgressions for my name's sake, and will not think upon thy sins.  
IN this comfortable saying the Lord jesus Christ teacheth us, that he only hath paid the ransom and satisfaction for our sins, with his bloody sweat, bitter passion & death; and that he through his own merits hath forgiven us all our sins, in such sort, that they shall be wholly put out, and clean wiped away before the face of God, and cast into the bottom of the sea, as though they had never been, and shall never be thought upon.  
Therefore let us not be afraid of the greatness or multitude of our sins, that we despair not of God's mercy, as ●ain & Lucas did; but comfort ourselves with the ●●ssion & satisfaction of our Lo●d I●sus Christ, and some upon th●s● words.  
So did king Ezec●●●s comfort himself, Elay 3●. in his great tribulation, by reason of his sins and the wrath of God; where he saith, Behold, I was much grieved for want of comfort: but thou hast hearty accepted of my soul, that it do not perish: for, thou castest all my sins behind thee; that is, thou wilt no more know nor think upon my sins. Likewise did King David also pray in Psal. 51. Wash me from mine iniquiry, O Lord, and cleanse me from my sins: then shall I be whiter than snow. For no other washing of anointing on earth can help.   

The fourth comfortable Sentence.  EZECHIEL 33. 
So sure as I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the ; but rather, that he turn from his wickedness, and live.  
HERE the everlasting Son of GOD, our only Lord and Rock, sweareth an oath by himself (because he hath no greater), as true as he is a living, eternal, and almighty GOD, he will not that a sinner die, and been damned for ever; but that he, in acknowledging of his sins, and sure confidence of Christ's blood and merits, in true invocation and good pretence turn unto GOD, so shall he surely obtain remission of sins, everlasting righteousness, and the Holy Ghost, with eternal life. Upon this dear, constant, and true oath, should we have respect when we are troubled by reason of our sins, and God's wrath, and also in our last end: and say or think, I care not now how often, and how greatly I have sinned, and angered my Lord God: but I look upon the oath, and comfort myself, that the true GOD hath sworn (and he cannot repent it) he will not the death of a sinner: so will he not also, that I be damned, but for his Son's sake will forgive me all my sins, and take me with him into everlasting life. So did the holy Apostle S. Paul comfort himself and others; as, in the first epistle to Timothy, and in the first chapter: It is certain and true (saith he) that jesus Christ is comen into the world to save poor sinners.   

The fift comfortable Sentence.  JOHN 3. 
So God loved the world, that he gave his onely-begotten Son, that whosoever believed on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.  
THis is one of the chiefest Say in all the new Testament, which JESUS CHRIST (whom God the Father from heaven command's us to hear) did himself bring out of the bosom of his Father, and preached the same to his loving C●t c●●● 〈◊〉 scholar Nichodemus.  
Wherein he teacheth us his Father will, what the eternal GOD is determined towards the world, that is, towards all great sinners as ever were in the world, or yet may be; that he loveth them, and will not have them lost.  
And this great love did he show and set forth unto us, when-as there was no other means whereby the sins of the world might been taken away, God's wrath pacified, death and hell vanquished: then spared he not his only Son, but did let him take humane flesh and blood upon him, and to fulfil all which was impossible for us to observe, and suffer all pain and punishment, which all the world with their sins had deserved.  
Whereby God's righteousness might be fully accomplished, and we released from the curse of the Law.  
This purchased treasure, through the only perfect oblation, the Holieghost doth put into the Word of the Gospel, & into the holy Sacrament, and causeth to been preferred to the whole world.  
All that believe, that is, which do acknowledge this only Saviour, and comfort themselves with hearty resuge to his demerits, shall not be lost, but have eternal life. Therefore, let us out of these words, learn to know Gods gracious will and fatherly love, and comfort ourselves against all tribulations, against sin, and against the Lords an●er.  
These sayings the dear and godly man Master Doctor Martin Luther, and the mighty Prince john Frederick, Duke of Saxon, of godly memory, have had in their last hour, for a happy comfort; and so departed both of them happily, and with merry and quiet consciences.  
And even so did the poor Publican comfort himself in the Temple, Luke the eightéenth chapter, when he did pray unto the Lord, God be merciful unto me a poor sinner: that is to say, a wicked creature am I, and the most part of the world: but I do recomfort myself with the fountain of pure mercy, and endless love of my most dear God, which he hath manifested unto me in the passion and oblation of his only begotten Son our Redeemer jesus Christ the Righteous, who hath paid and satisfied the ransom of my sins and ●a●ous transgressions, and hath pacified God's wrath, and hath given unto me everlasting life.   

The sixth comfortable Sentence.  MAT. 11. 
Come unto me, all you that labour and are ●eauie laden, and I will refresh you.  
WHat can we hear more kindly, yea or more lovingly, than that the everlasting Son of God calleth unto him all that be weary and oppressed in heart, and troubled for their sins: and biddeth them come to his holy word, naming himself a gentle and humble Teacher?  
Let every one rejoice in his heart, that God hath sent such holy comfort and refreshing upon earth; and promiseth in plain words, that all, whether they be poor or rich, young or old, shall surely find by him, rest, peace, joy, refreshing, ease, help, and assistance, shall be comforted in their souls, and be made alive again.  
Therefore, when any is tormented by reason of his sins, that he feel his heart troubled with sorrow, and almost overthrown with discomfort: Let him not creep into a corner, or run away from the people, as Adam did, Genesis 3. but let him run to the Lord Christ, and to these, and such other the like comfortable words, which we shall find in the house of God before his face, or where God hath apppointed, in remembrance of his name: that is, in preaching, in the holy Sacraments, and in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles: for, so soon as we seek Christ, he will meet us▪ as he saith in the first chapter of Zacharie, Turn ye unto me, then will I turn unto you So doth the Lord meet Mary Magdalen, a poor troubled sinner, from whom our Lord and Saviour had before cast out seven devils, and maketh himself known unto her soon after his resurrection, and comforted her hearty, when she sought him, john 20.   

The seventh comfortable Sentence.  ROM. 5. 
But where Sin is mighty, there is Grace more mighty, through jesus Christ, etc.  
Here doth S Paul meet with a great tribulation, and heavy thoughts. When we do often think, My sins are too great: Oh, if I had not such great sins upon my heart, then would I hope I should be saved:  
There doth Saint Paul answer, If Sin be great, yet Grace is greater, and exceedeth fare all our sins: that is, one drop of jesus Christ's blood is greater, more glorious, powerful, yea and stronger than all the greatest and fearfullest sins of the whole world: yea, as a little moat in the Sun, is not to be compared towards Heaven and Earth: so is the whole world's sin not to be compared to the precious blood of jesus Christ.  
And as the clear Sun darkens all the stars of heaven, that they cannot be seen in day time (although they do stand in the firmament): even so, when the right Sun rising shineth from above, all sins are quenched. Whosoever with hearty faith catcheth hold on the blood of Christ, his sins are all covered before the face of GOD, that GOD will never see them: and is reckoned so clear and holy, as if he had troubled no water all his life time.  
For the blood of jesus Christ, the Son of Almighty God, purgeth us of all our sins.  
So did the holy Prophet Esay comfort himself and his people, in the first chapter, where he saith, Though your sins were like Purple, they shall be white as Wool.  
Likewise David the Prophet, a man after Gods own heart, in his deepest hell & tribulation comforteth himself thus, with the Lord is mer●ie and much redemption, as in the hundred and 30. Psalm: for the more sins that Christ forgiveth us, the more is his praise, honour, and glory: as he himself teacheth in the seventh chapter of Saint Luke's Gospel, where he doth speak of the great and open sinner; To her are many sins forgiven, because she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.   

The eightth comfortable Sentence.  PSAL 16. 
I thank the Lord that hath counselled me.  
WHenas the first man (through the craft of the old poisoned and fiery Serpent, and through their disobedience) fell into sin, God's wroth, and justice, which after succeeded upon all Adam's Children; there was no comfort, not counsel to finde, except the help and redemption of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ.  
But through the wonderful counsel of the high and godly Majesty, at the intercession of the only and everlasting Mediator, our Lord Christ, it was concluded, that the Son of almighty God, borne of the Father everlasting, should take humane Nature upon him, pacify Gods fierce and just anger, and bring us out of the Devil's power, and ever counsel and help us, from whence he carrieth the name: so that Flay the Prophet, in the ninth chapter (amongst other glorious names) calleth him a Counsellor.  
Now when we are overwhelmed by reason of our manifold sins and transgressions, then let us cause such help, as a hearty and true counsel, to be brought before us, by preaching of the holy Gospel.  
And let it be preached unto us, that through confidence of his gracious help and redemption, we shall be quit of our sins, released from death, and obtain his grace, righteousness, and everlasting life.  
This is such a true counsel, that in all tribulations we may stade, and have some comfort therein: which David did acknowledge, and thereforre saith, Had it not been for thy Word, I had perished in my misery, Psal. 119. and here he giveth the Lord hearty thanks for all such mereifull comfort and help: I thank the Lord my GOD, which hath counselled me  
For, this is also a counsel of such power, that if a man should now departed out of this life, and that neither goods, friend's, riches, money, or gold, nor any other temporal matter or thing, wherein he had peradventure here to fore put his trust, can counsel or help; yet hath he here by Christ's word, a sure and certain comfort, and a powerful counsel, whereby he shall be r●ght and well, yea prosper and be helped for evermore.  
This dee the poor Christians acknowledge in 〈◊〉: Therefore, when they should departed out of this miscrable life, and leave all that is temporal, they do take hold of this happy comfort and counsel of the holy Gospel in their hearts, and die therein happily Thus Saint Peter comforted himself, john 6. Thou hast the word of life. And the Apostle Saint Paul, in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, The Gospel of Christ jesus, is the power of of God to salvation to all that believe.   

How a man should comfort himself against sin, and Gods just indignation. Other general comfortable sentences.  ESAY 1. 
IF your sins were red like blood, yet shall they be white as Snow: and if they were like purple, they shall be like wool.  Esay 2. 
The Lord will not judge according to the sight of his eyes, nor punish according to the hearing of his ears: But will with righteousness judge the poor.  Esay 6. 
Thou kéepest continual peace, according to sure promise, for man relieth upon thee: Therefore rely you upon the Lord always, for God the Lord is an everlasting Rock.  Esay 27. 
God is not angry with me.  Esay 38. 
Thou hast hearty accepted my Soul that it perish not, for thou hast cast all my sins backward behind thee.  Esay 40. 
Comfort my people (saith your God) speak fair to leru ●ale●r, and preach to her, that her warfare is at air end, her misdeeds are pardoned, for she hath received double from the hands of the Lord for all her sins.  Esay 44. 
Israel, dye not forget me, I drive away thy misdeeds like a cloud, and thy sins like a mist. Turn thee unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Rejoice, ye Heavens, for the Lord hath done it.  Esay 53. 
He was wounded for our misdeeds, and beaten for our sins: The punishment was laid upon him, that we might have peace, and through his wounds are we healed.  Esay 53. 
Through his knowledge shall my righteous Servant make many righteous, for he beareth their sin.  Esay 64. 
Thou Lord art our Father and Redeemer; from the beginning hitherto, that was thy name.  Esay 66. 
I have respect to the wretched and him that is of a lowly spirit, which is afraid of my Word.  ●zechiel 33. 
So sure as I live, I will not she death of a sinner, but that he turn from his wickedness and live.  Dan. 9 
In the Lord our God is mercifulness, and forgiveness.  Zachary 9 
Thou redeemest also through the blood of thy Covenant, thy Prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.  Micheas 7. 
Who is such a God as thou art, which forgivest sins, and releasest misdeeds?  jerem. 
He is merciful, he will take pity on us again, put down our wickedness, and cast all our sins into the bottom of the Sea.  jonas 4. 
I know that thou art gracious, merciful, long suffering, and of great goodness, and repentest thee of evil.  Psal. 13. 
I hope upon thee, because thou art so merciful, my heart rejoiceth that thou so willingly helpest.  Psal. 25. 
The Lord is good and gracious, therefore directeth he sinners upon the right way.  Psal. 22. 
I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord: and thou forgavest me the inquity of my sin.  Psal. 31. 
I rejoiced and was glad in thy goodness, that thou didst consider my misery, and know my soul in his need.  john 3. 
God hath sent his Son into the world, not to judge the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be judged.  john 3 
Like as Moses sifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, to the end that all which believe in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.  john 1. 
This is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.  john 6. 
This is the will of him which sent me, that whosoever looketh on the Son, and believeth in him, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  john 6. 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever believeth on me, hath everlasting life.  Math. 1. The Angel saith of Christ. 
He shall save his people from their sins.  Matthew 9 
I am come to call sinners to repentance, and not the righteous.  Luke 24. 
Thus it is written; and so must Christ suffer. And in his name do they preach Repentance, and forgiveness of sins amongst all people.  Acts 4. 
There is no other salvation, nor any other name given to mankind, whereby they should be saved.  Acts 10. 
Of Christ do all the Prophet's witness, that through his Name, all they which believe in him, should receive remission of sins.  1. Tim. 1. 
This is a true and worthy Saying, that jesus Christ is comen into the world to save poor sinners.  1. Tim. 2. 
There is one GOD, and one Mediator betwirt God and man; namely, the Man Christ jesus, who gave himself for us, to the redemption of all.  1 john 2. 
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with GOD the Father, jesus Christ, who maketh us righteous, and he is the atonement for our sins.  1 john 4. 
GOD hath loved us, and sent his Son for a reconciliation of our sins.  1 Peter 2. 
Christ hath offered up our sins himself with his body upon the Cross; to the end we might be free from sin, and live unto righteousness: through whose wounds you are healed.  1 Cor. 1. 
Christ is made to us from God, for righteousness, glory, and redemption.  1 Thes. 5. 
GOD hath not appointed us to wrath, but to attain salvation through our Lord jesus Christ, which died for us.  1 Pet. 1. 
Ye are not redeemed with transitory silver or gold, but with the most precious blood of Christ like a guiltless and unspotted Lamb.  1. john 1. 
The blood of jesus Christ maketh us clean from all sin.  Mat. 9 
Be comforted, my son: thy sins are forgiven thee.    

The second comfort against sin, and the right wrath of God, out of examples of holy Scripture.  
BEsides these merciful promises, God hath caused many comfortable examples to be written in the sacred Scriptures; how he hath taken the greatest sinners to mercy, when they have meekly acknowledged and confessed their sins, believed in jesus Christ, and amended their lives; and all for the comfort of us poor sinners.  
For, when sin and God's wrath is rightly felt in our hearts, some man is sometimes so troubled therewith, that no comfortable Say will enter into the heart: but he thinks always; Ah! GOD speaks not of such great sinners as thou art.  
But, that the merciful God not only promiseth forgiveness of all great and manifold sins, but showeth also indeed, what sinners and wicked people he hath justified; he hath set down diverse examples, which in our fear and despair we may set before us for a singular comfort.  
First, as these: first, Adam and ●●e, the greatest sinners, blasphemers, and murderers of all mankind; by whose sins and disobedience, all sin, shame, death, and everlasting damnation, came over all men: and yet GOD made them pure and holy, after his own Image.  
Then when they were fallen into sin and disobedience, GOD shown this mercy unto them, and received them again, for the promised blessed Seeds sake, as the first Evangelicall Promise was given to them for a comfort, Genesis 3. which they beséeved, though they had no example of the forgiveness of sins.  
Secondly, Abraham was an idolatrous man, and served the idols of Vr in Chaldea: to him did GOD give the Promise of the blessed Séed, and made him a Father of all Beléevers, that is, as Esay in his fortieth Chapter reporteth; Comfort my people, saith the Lord: for, their offences are forgiven, and they have received double from the Lords hands for all their misdeeds.  
But this is double; that GOD first remitteth to us the sin, and releaseth to us the punishment of the sin, and after giveth us withal everlasting righteousness and salvation, that we may live and reign with him in everlasting righteousness, joy and glory.  
Thirdly, David, though an abominable wedlock-breaker and murderer, hath forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake, and is saved for ever.  
Fourthly, Manasses, the cruel and raging tyrant, who with a Saw caused the holy Prophet Esay to be cut in sunder (when he had preached eighty years in great pain and labour) and spilt much innocent blood, set up all heathenish idolatry, letting his own son pass through the fire; and lastly, offered him up alive to Moloch: then, when he was in prison, he turned and humbled himself unto God, and prayed him with tears; the Lord God did hear him, and brought him again to jerusalem, to the earthly and heavenly Kingdom, 2 Kings 27.  
Fiftly, what a great sinner was the thief on Christ's right hand, and other intolerable Usurers & Publican sinners!  
Sirtly, how grossly have the dear Apostles ofttimes gone astray! How horribly fell Saint Peter, when he denied his Master, in taking-upon him so much, & cursed himself!  
What innocent blood did Saint Paul help to spill, when he was a persecuter of Christ his Congregation! For all these Christ prayed, forgave them all their sins, and saved them for ever. Also through them he did much good in Christendom.  
Seventhly, Christ also had many sinners in his kindred, and are so registered, which were his Grandfathers and Grandmothers according to the flesh; as, juda the bloodthirsty, Rachab the common Harlot and Heathen at jericho; to show thereby, that he was comen into this world to save sinners.  
These examples hath Almighty GOD (through the holy Ghost) written up for the learning and comfort of us poor and wretched sinners, that we should believe, God will forgive us all our sins for his Son's sake, as often and as horribly as we have offended, not that we should think ourselves safe, and presumptuously sin on such mercy of the ●ord, but that we might have a sure comfort and consolation against sin and damnation, that we despair not by reason of our sins, or flee away from Christ: which is the only sin whereby the world was damned, john the sixtéenth Chapter: As the Apostle Saint Paul also showeth us this profit, 1 Tim. 1. where he writeth thus: This is a true Saying, that jesus Christ is comen into the world to save sinners; among which, I am the chief.  
But mercy is showed to me in this respect, that jesus Christ hath showed patience on me for example, that all that believe in him, should have everlasting life. Therefore to God the eternal king, the untransitory, invisible, and only wise God, be all praise and glory for ever, Amen.  

A Prayer.  
O Lord jesus Christ, thou only Fountain of all grace and mercy, thou never didst deny thine endless mercy, neither to Matthew, nor the Publican, nor Mary Magdalen, nor the lost son, nor to Peter nor Zacheus the Tole-keeper, nor to the Thief on the Cross, nor yet to any mankind. Thou hast spoken with fatherly & comfortable speeches, Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy▪ laden, and I will refresh you. O take care of me, and look upon me with thine eyes of godly compassion, even as thou didst look upon Peter,  
I, a poor and unworthy sinner, do stand before thee, laden with so many great sins and offences, that, by reason thereof, I cannot look up, being both abashed and ashamed before that godly Majesty whom I have grievously offended, and know not what to say. O Lord, be merciful to me a wretched sinner: turn away thy wrath, and impart thy mercy with me. Which I do desire with hearty tears, through the merits of Christ jesus our alone Lord and Redéemer.    

The third comfort against sin and God's wrath, out of the holy Sacrament.  Esay 4. 
THe Lord shall wash away the filthiness from the daughter of Zion, and shall purge the bloody sin from jerusalem by the Spirit of judgement, and by the Spirit of burning.  Esay 12. 
With joy and consolation shall you draw water from out of the Well of Salvation.  Zach. 13. 
At that time shall the house of David, and the Citizens of jerusalem, have a free and open Well against sin and uncleanness.  Mark 16. 
Whosoever believeth, and is baptised, shall be saved.  Acts 2. 
Peter saith, Repent, and let every one been baptised in the Name of jesus Ch●ist our Saviour for the remission of sins.  john 20. 
Christ saith to his Apostles, Receive the holy Ghost: whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.  Mat. 26. 
Christ saith, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  
BEcause oftentimes tribulation & grief is so great, and sorrow with the combat of death so overtakes us, that we cannot hastily, and in such great weakness, remember ourselves of any sentence or example; and that a man gins often to despair whether God hath forgiven him his sins, and will be merciful to him, and if Christ's blood especially be shed for him also: so: there hath the Lord, of his great love, not only given us his holy promise, and set down comfortable examples, especially the holy and worthy Sacraments; that is to say, Baptism, and his holy Supper: which he hath instituted and ordained for remission of sins, especially to all them that are baptised in his blood, and absolveth every one of all their transgressions, that he may been sure he is also clear thereof in heau●n before the face of God; and feedeth every one severally with his Body and precious Blood, to the end he may be assured, Christ's Blood was shed for his sins, and his Body offered up also for his misdeeds, and giveth the same to every one that receiveth the same (in true Faith, acknowledging his sins, and in good pretence) all and what soever he hath earned and obtained with his Obedience, Death, and Passion.  
With this holy Sacrament should we admonish and comfort ourselves, when sorrow, and the combat of death, is at the greatest, that we cannot remember any thing else; and think and say thus much in our hearts: I am baptised; whereby God the holy Trinity, hath made an everlasting covenant with me, that he will been and continue my GOD, and hath not grounded the same upon my goodness, but upon his infinite mercy, the merits of his only Son, and upon the grace and power of the holy Ghost. So am I absolved through Christ, and have oftentimes received the holy supper of the Lord according to his institution: therefore I am certain of the forgiveness of all my sins, God's grace, and salvation of my soul.  
For, if the everlasting, merciful God, and my Lord jesus, with the holy Ghost, would not have me saved, or taken me to mercy, he would not have suffered me to be baptised, or called me to his Kingdom through his holy Gospel, nor let me so often receive the holy Sacrament.  
Therefore should we have these worthy Sacraments in great estimation, and often resort to the holy Communion of our Lord, using the same in right worthiness for confirming of our faith, and comfort against sin, and the wrath of God in our last end.  

A Prayer.  
O Thou everlasting, true, merciful God and Father, I thank thee through jesus Christ thy dear Son, in the power and unspeakable sighing of the holy Ghost, that thou hast suffered me to be baptised in the name and power of the holy Trinity, and taken me up for thy child, and through power of the keys hast absolved me from all my sins, and fed me with the body and blood of thy dear Son, for the strengthening of my faith, and forgiveness of all my sins.  
And I pray thee, dear Father, that thou wilt vphould me through thy holy Spirit, in true saith and confidence to my end, that I may sleep in peace like to holy Simeon, and rise again with the righteous to everlasting glory, through jesus Christ thy dear Son, our only Lord and Saviour, Amen.   

A Prayer to be said, when a man will receive the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.  
O LORD JESUS CHRIST, thou living Son of God, which before thy Death and Passion didst institute and ordain to all Christians a new Testament of the most worthy Sacrament of thy most holy Body and Blood: which I poor sinner am not worthy to use, or take thy holy Body and Blood into my unclean mouth, or upon my sinful tongue: and that thou, being so great a Lord, shouldest come under the cover of my house, or into my unprofitable Body, I am (alas!) not worthy. But I pray thee (O dear GOD and Brother) open thou my mouth, touch thou my tongue, and purge thou my heart from all sins, and make me thy poor servant worthy of thy most holy Testament, that I may receive, take and use ' thy most worthy body, and pure dear blood of thy Sacrament, to the health and salvation of my soul, strengthening of my faith, amendment of my life, in burning love towards thee, true love towards my neighbour: and bring me to everlasting life, Amen.   

A Prayer of Thanksgiving.  
O Almighty and everlasting God, I praise and thank thy godly mercifulness, that thou hast fed me with the flesh and blood of thy only Son jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, and do pray thee most humbly, thou wilt with the Holy Ghost so work within me, that I which have received this blessed Sacrament with the mouth, may also with constant faith, conceive and always keep fast thy godly grace, of remission of sins, and justification with Christ, which is therein showed and promised, and everlasting life through our Lord jesus Christ thy dear Son, who with thee in unity of the holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one true God for ever and ever, Amen.     

A godly confession of the dear and worthy man M. john Stoliz.  
MY sins do trouble me.  
God's grace joyeth me.  
Two things know I,  
A poor sumer am I,  
God is mereifull:  

The first, acknowledge I;  
The second, believe I.   
O God been mereifull to me poor sinner.  
God giveth.  
Christ meriteth.  
Faith conceiveth.  
Works do witness.  
Come to help me, thou good God; weak is man's help in tune of need.  Esay 42. 
The bruised Reed shall be not break, and the glowing Tow shall ●ee n●t quench out. O Lord strengthen & increase our faith, Amen.   

Of God's gracious and ever lasting Providence and Maintenance, a most true comfort.  Psalm 37. 
WHen I have but thee (my Lord jesus Christ) I care not for heaven or earth. When my body and soul fail me, yet art thou always God, the comforter of my heart, and portion.  Zachary 12. 
OVer the house of David and over the Citizens of jerusalem, will I pour out the Spirit of Grace, and of Prayer, for they shall look upon me, whom they have pierced.  
Here doth the Lord promise to send his Holy Ghost to us poor sinners, as Saint john in the 15. and 16. Chapters, often maketh mention of this promise: for because we are weak and of little faith, when sin and God's wrath do terrify us, to the end our faith cease not, then shall the Holyghost (as a true Comforter) strengthen and comfort us, and be witness to our hearts, that our sins be forgiven, and that were in grace, and she children of GOD, and shall help us to sigh and pray with unspeakable sighing.  
Therewithal also shall the How-ghost for the comfort & strengthening of our faith, admonish and show us the holy wounds, whereby we may acknowledge, that he was wounded and pierced for our sins, and his blood shed for the cleansing and washing away of all our sins.  II. Esay 54. 
SO have I sworn, that I will not been angry with thee, nor yet reprove thee: for the Mountains shall remoone, and the hills shall fall away; but my Grace shall not, ●oe away from thee, and the Conenant of my Peace shall not fall away, saith the Lord thy compassioner.  
GOd the Almighty hath (through Christ, his hest beloved Son) erected a Conenant of peace with us, and confirmed the same with an doth, That if we do believe in Christ, he will not punish, nor yet concernne us for evermore, but continue our dear and loving Father eternally.  
Such promise is so certain, that the Mountains shall fall down; yea Heaven and Earth shall pass away, before such words fail.  
A very glorious and comfortable cause doth the Prophet set héereunto. The Lord thy Compassioner hath said; that is, God is so merciful, that he will not condemn you for your sins: Whosoever believeth in Christ with a faithful heart, shall rest in grace, and he will for ever release and help him out of all misfortune.  III. Esay 54. 
Fear them not, thou shalt not been ashamed. Be not weak, for thou shalt not been mocked.  
THESE are fair and comfortable words. The Holy Ghost seethe how flesh and blood do forment us Christians; for although they have exceeding promises, and sure comfort, yet is this weakness continually by it, that their hearts be fearful, and weak. They are astonished at the devil's power, and are afraid by reason of their unableness: for because examples do stand before our eyes, how God doth sometime let the godly fall, therefore fear they the like will happen unto them: but God comforteth them, they shall not be ashamed nor mocked: that is, God will not let them die or perish in their sins, but he will redéene them and help them for ever. For, to be ashamed is nothing else in the Scripture, but when hope faileth and is in vain.  
So the Rich man hoped in his money & goods, but he was ashamed thereby; for a thousand things may happen to them, where neither money nor goods will help at all. So must therebe ashamed, who hope upon I clatrie, & their own goodness. But they which set their hope on God, that he will, for Christ's sake, been merciful, and help, and save them, this hope is sure, ●letteth them not be ashamed. So did David comfort himself, Psalm 31. Upon thee do I trust, let me not be ashamed, release me through thy righteousness.  III. Esay 54. 
Thou shalt been prepared through righteousness Thou shalt be fare from force and wrong, that thou needest not been afraid thereof, for it shall not come near thee.  
Here must thou not apply these words, force, wrong and fear, temporally; for with Christians here it shall not been otherwise, but that they shall been oppressed, and sundry ways made afraid, as Experience showeth. And Christ saith, In the world you shall have sorrow.  
But the Holy Ghost speaketh of Force, Wrong, and Fear, that is ever and eternally; from which Christians are fled away through remission of sins (which they believe through Christ) for they know that GOD is their Father: although he let them suffer corporally, they comfort themselves with his help and grace, and know, whilst they have Christ, they cannot miss.  V Esay 49. 
Zion saith, The Lord hath forsaken me: The Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her Child, that she take not pity of the son of her body? and although she should forget it, yet will I not forget thee: Behold, I have marked thee in the very hand.  
When the Lord God a little suffereth us to fall into apparent need, cross, and sufferance, and helpeth not quickly; then faileth oftentimes our comfort, and we think God hath forgotten us. In such tribulation, he showeth us a comfortable Image to look upon, and to learn thereby to strengthen our faith.  
Thou art (saith he) a father or mother, & hast loving children: tell me, if thy child should be for a while from thee, couldst thou forget it? Oh no, it is impossible for any that are in their right wits, or that have any reason or understanding: for children come from the heart, and go to the heart again.  
But to me, saith the Lord, it is more impossible, for my heart is not so sickle as man's, neither is my grace so short or narrow.  
I have an eternal grace and mercy; therefore can I as little forget my Christians as mine hand, they are noted in my hand.  
I think on them continually, they are always before my godly eyes, that I must see them, and cannot forget them, yea & do uphold them also, through the right hand of my Righteousness, so that no man, neither Sin, Hell, Death, nor Devil, can by any means pull them out of my hand.  VI Psal. 8. 
Thou hast put all things under his feet.  
We poor Creatures are afraid of this vile naughty world, the Turk, Death, and his beggarly sickness, and of the very Devil, and are afraid of his tyranny and hellish power, which is natural: but when we acknowledge our Lord jesus Christ, and what power and might he hath, wherefore need we be afraid? As the Church singeth very comfortably out of the six and forty Psalm.  
If all the world fell devils were, and would us all devour:  
Yet need we not then for to sear, of us they have no power.  
For this Champion, which is always our Saviour and Emanuel, is always by us, and hath such power to defend us, and to uphold us, that he will be our steadfast rock and bulwark against all our Adversaries, Sin, Death, and the Devil, and preserve us evermore: for God the Father hath put all things under his feet.  
And this saying must not be understood of Sheep, Oren, wild beasts, and Fishes of the Sea, but by this word (All) understand all Devils, all hellish rabblement, Turks, and Heathens: In summ●, the very gates of Hell▪ all sickness, Plague, Pestilence, etc. is all put under Christ's feet, that is to say, under his power.  
Therefore is it a sure comfort unto us, that we have a strong courageous Lord to defend us. For all the Devils (how horrible soever they seem) with all their armies and hellish power, are no● able to make a Christian die, without the will of the Lord jesus Christ, they must all acknowledge him to be ●he ●●●rd, and now the k●ee before him. When dare not once s●●re, recept 〈◊〉 be ●is will; much less, seeing he hath with his own blood bought us to his everlasting Kingdom, and will not hinder us of our salvation.  
This comfort should every Christian been sure of, that he may say, I believe in jesus Christ our Lord, etc.  
I am certain that jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and Earth; yea, of all in the water, in the depth of Hell: that he hath all in his hands, in his power and command, in such sort, that all the Devils, Hell, and Death, how raging soever they be, cannot crook a ●●ire of me, or of any member of Christ.  
Also, all diseases, sickness, or pestilence, without his will, cannot poison one little vein in me: But if it do happen with his will, then must it not be hurtful unto me, but a furtherance and serviceable to my salvation.   

A prayer.  
O My God, my Lord, and Father, show unto my poor soul, that it may perceive thou art my rock, bulwark, shield, tower, treasure, defence, trust, help, refuge, protection and goodness; that I in this my great need and tribulation, may, through thy godly grace, have help and assistance against my adversaries, and be preserved for ever.  
Lord, upon thee do I trust, let me never be ashamed.  
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my Spirit: O Lord, thou true God, release thou me, Amen.   

General comfortable Sentences, wherewith a man may comfort himself with God's eternal preservation.  Esay 41. 
THOU shalt been my servant, for I have chosen thee, and cast thee not away. Fear not, I am with thee. Go not aside, for I am thy God, I strengthen thee, I help thee also, and I preserve thee through the right hand of my Righteousness.  Esay 43. 
Fear thou not, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy Name, thou art mine.  Psalm 31. 
Lord, on thee do I trust, let me never been confounded, deliver me through thy righteousness.  
Item.  
Be comforted, and not dismayed, all you that tarry for the Lord.  Psal. 32. 
The  hath many sorrows, but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be compassed with goodness.  Psal. 91. 
Though a thousand fall at thy side, and ten thousand on thy right hand, yet shall it not touch thee.  Psal. 91. 
Upon the Lion and Adder shalt thou go, and tread upon the young Lion and Dragon.  Psal. 23. 
Goodness and mercifulness shall follow me all my life time: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for evermore.  john 14. 
In my Father's house are many dwellings: if it were not so, I would have told you: I go hence to prepare the places for you.  john 14. 
I will not leave you fatherless: I live, and you shall also live.  john 14. 
I will come again, and take you unto me, that you may be where I am.  john 12. 
Where I am, there shall also my servant be.  
Item.  
When I shall be lifted up from the earth, then will I draw them all unto me.  john 10. 
I know my sheep, and am known of mine: and no man shall pull them out of mine hands.  Rom. 8. 
If God been with us, who shall been against us? who also hath not spared his only son, but hath given him for us; how can hes not but give us all with him?  Rom. 8. 
I am sure, that neither death nor life, neither Angel nor principality, nor power, neither things present, nor to come, neither height, nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ jesus our Lord, Amen.   

A Prayer.  
LAud, praise and thankes, be unto thee, my Lord jesus Christ, for thy holy incarnation, for thy martyrdom and litter passion; out of which I acknowledge, that thou art my Redeemer and Saviour; and do believe, that thou hast overcome sin, death, hell, and the devil, that they cannot hurt me. With this only do I comfort me: héerupon build I: there standeth my hope: there will I been found. Only be gracious and merciful unto me, as I doubt not of thy sure promise. O Lord, let me not sink or despair in this my great tribulation and necessity, but preserve me happily by such sure comfort, Amen.  Esay 49. 
Thou shalt understand that I am the Lord; of whom they shall not be ashamed, which tarry for me, etc.   

A comfort for poor sick people, which are troubled by reason of their grievous sickness.  Psal. 118. 
THe Lord thastiseth me, but giveth me not over to death.  Psal. 119. 
It is good for me that thou hast chastised me, that I may learn thy Laws.  
WHen any outward misfortune, cross or sickness falleth upon us, then are we sundry ways assaulted: we behave ourselves impatiently, and do comolain and weep for it. Such impatience is a great torment to a Christian: for, when the devil can do nothing else on him, then cometh he with impatience, that many in their miseries do snarl and pout.  
But if we could remember this only word, as David saith, It is good, Lord, that thou hast chastised me; we should rather weep and cry when we are without crosses, sickness, or other adversity. But, what prosit or goodness this Cross is of, should every Christian earnestly think on in all his temptations.  
The chiefest profit of the Cross, is this: First, that thereby fleshly lust and desire may been hindered, that it be not lascivious, and throw us not into damnation, as our noerest enemy which we daily carry in our bosoms: for, as a man must spur a Horse, and hold him with the bridle, and bring him forward, Psalm 32. so must the Lord God also spur and bridle our old Adam through the Cross; without which correction, we shall never come there, whereunto woe through the Cross have cause.  
2 Then shall we thereby be driven to the Word, and to Prayer, and brought also to be penitent, as the Prophet Esay saith; Only mischance and tribulation teach us to mark the Word; or (as David chastised me, that I might learn thy Laws.  
3 If it should always been with us according to our own carnal wills, than should we be proud and insolent, etc. But when God catcheth hold on us with sickness or any other cross, than we acknowledge our disability.  
4 We shall be thereby occasioned to esteem and acknowledge Gods gracious and almighty help; that he is to us a Rock, a Bulwark, Defense, Protection, Help and Strength in all our need and necessity; without which gracious help, we despair of all things, and must be without comfort. Now, when the devil, with his poison, pestilence, and beggarly sickness, is worst-minded towards us, and scattereth his plagues and sickness among us, yet then have we Christians GOD for a sure comfort: we are under his godly protection & defence, and do trust always on God's help; therefore shall we never be ashamed.  
5 Then, when we have obtained and gotten GOD's help, others shall in like manner be therewith strengthened and comforted, that they, in all their tribulation and need, may set their comfort & hope on the Lords gracious help.  
6 Although the Cross do bring such profit, that many more causes might be rehearsed; yet the greatest comfort under the Cross is, that we be thereby assured, that we are the children of God for ever, and so shall remain; seeing that every father correcteth his dear child, if he take it up (to the end it may been kept in kindly obedience) Hebrews 12 Proverbs 20.  
And here it goeth after the common Proverb, as often as the honest Parents do say before their Children,  
O dear Rod,  
Thou makest me good:  
Thou makest me gentle to be,  
That the Hangman  
Be not troubled with me.  
Such causes, how fatherly soever our Lord God means, that he layeth so many kind of crosses upon His; and withal, the great bountiful goodness and profit that the same tribulations bring unto us, let us earnestly think upon, when we are in misery, sickness, or other calamities, and not murmur against GOD: for, he knows his creatures best, and can tell what is good and profitable both for soul and body. So did the Lord jesus well see before, the tribulation that his Disciples should have after his death and passion: but he comforted them, john 16. It is good for you that I go hence: for, if I go not, the Comforter will not come to you; but, if I go hence, I will send him to you.  
Therefore should we set our will to GOD's will, as Syrach in the 2 Chap. admonisheth: My Child, if thou wilt be God's Servant, then prepare thee to tribulation: lean thou unto God, and shrink not, that thou mayst be always stronger. Suffer whatsoever happeneth unto thee, and be patiented in all thy troubles: for, like as gold is tried in the fire; so shall they whom God pleaseth, be tried through the fire of adversity.   

I. Against the first assaulting under the Cross. God esteems us not.  Esay 27. 
I The Lord do keep my vineyard, that is, my Christians, and water it quickly that his leaves do not whither: I will preserve it day and night.  
Here doth God the Lord comfort us, that his Christians should not be grieved with the Cross: for, he compareth his Christendom to a pleasant Vineyard that standeth open on all sides, that every one may come in; and no man keeps it, but lets it lie, yea, that it wants rain, and all will whither and be dry. So do we also think under the Cross, that God careth not for us, else should we he better. But it is certain, that God himself will be Guardian over his Christians, and will send them the rain of grace & comfort in all their temptations, as he here saith, ●●●e Lord do keep it, and will quickly water it. I will keep it both day and night, that no man hurt it: that is, My Christians shall not meet with any evil, so graciously will I watch and ward them. But ho●● is such watching and warding, and yet a man doth not see it?  
Although it seemeth, God h●th no great respect with his guarding of temporal things, and whatsoever is corporal (whilst they belong not to his Kingdom), yet must the world and the devil let it alone, and not do all things as pleaseth them, seeing the hairs of our head are numbered: As we have an example thereof in Mat. 8. that the devil, without Christ's leave, could not go into a filthy Swine. And such do the Histories sufficiently show. But the right guard and protection of us Christians, goeth inwardly to the heart; which, God with his holy Spirit and Word puts into us, and day and night keeps us, that sin grow not quite over us, and that Satan be not too mighty for us.  
Of such guard speaketh he shortly after. The sin of jacob shall thereby cease, that is, through the Cross God defends us against sin, and mortifieth the old Adam.  
Many a one doth lie in his bed; who, if he were well, would do all mischief. Many a one hath another assaulting, which driveth him to Sermons and Prayers, and to amendment of his life; who, if that were not, would care nothing at all for God or his Word.  
Against such assaulting, should we earnestly think upon this defence of our Lord God: for, the world doth not see it, and the Christians also sometimes do forget it in their need, and think, God doth not regard them, he hath forgotten them. So did David comfort himself, Psalm 32. Thou art my defence: thou wilt keep me from sorrow.  

A Prayer.  
O Lord, thou keeper of Israel, which dost neither slumber nor sleep, and hast promised to thy faithful that lift up their eyes toward heaven to thee, and tarry for thy godly grace, comfort & help, that thou wilt keep them day and night in their tribulations, and with the comfort of thy holy Spirit wilt moisten their hearts, and graciously accept of them, which is easy for thee to do: I pray thee, let me not forget thy watching and warding in my adversity, nor be weak in mine own cause; that thou wouldst keep me from trouble. O keep me from all tribulation. O keep me from all evil. O keep my soul and deliver me: let me not be ashamed. O keep thou my going out, and coming in, both now & for evermore, Amen.    

II. Against the other assaulting, God is our enemy.  Esay 27. 
With me is no anger.  Lamen. 3. 
The Lord troubleth, but he hath compassion again according to his great goodness: for he vereth not nor troubleth man from his heart.  
O God, whosoever could believe this, should yet be merry although he were ill. But all sorrows and complaints come of this, that we think, God is angry with us. Therefore he giveth us in Esay a pleasant similitude: I cannot be so angry with my Vmeyard, that is, with my Christians, because I attend the same so diligently. It is a dear jewel unto me.  
Therefore do I dress it, I hack it, I cut it; not that I hate it, but because I love it, and will further it, that it bring forth fruit; which otherwise would not come forth, if I should not in such sort hack it, and cut it: for, although it seem not friendly, that the hedger standeth over the Vine with his knife, and cutteth it, hath the Mattocke in his hand, and heaweth it with all his might, yet is it but for the good of the Vineyard, that it bear the more fruit.  
So shall you, my dear Christians, saith the Lord, understand it sol kewise, and hold it for a certain, that I love you, Proverbs 3. when I come over you with the Cross, with the Wine-hook and Mattocke, cut and hack you.  
Another fine similitude giveth he afterward of ploughing, in chapter 28. Harken with your ears, and hear my voice: When a Husbandman breaketh and ploweth his field, it seemeth that he doth much harm, especially when he oftentimes in the year, yea, three or four times, turneth it over, and ploweth through the same. Wherefore doth he it? It goeth here after the common Proverb; The fourth kind bringeth the fourth Sheaf.  
Therefore doth he not let it rest after ploughing: but when he hath ploughed thorough his field, he soweth it; then followeth fair and goodly fruit. So, saith the Lord GOD, do I also. I blow you with the Cross, and send one thing after another; now poverty, than sickness; etc. which doth grieve you: but it proceedeth not of anger, as if I were your enemy: it is done for your good, that the stones and rocks may be rooted out, and the ground made ready for fruit. Therefore do I chastise you thorough right and doctrine.  
Likewise doth leremy in this place also comfort: The Lord troubleth me, &c For that is his work, as Psalm 4 saith. He dealeth strangely with his Saints, he thrusteth them first unto hell, and lets them come into need, before he do help them out: he lets one bee first sick, before he make him whole.  
But, in such Crosses and Tribulations, doth he leave them helpless? No; but hath such a heart as is full of love and compassion. Therefore is he merciful again according unto his great goodness; and showeth himself like a helpful GOD, and beareth a fatherly heart toward us. For, like as a father doth carry an heart towards his dear child, in that he restraineth him, to the end he come to goodness, and may see both joy and honesty in him: So in GOD's heart towards us also that he vexeth not, nor troubleth us men from his heart, but that he may preserve us his dear children to his glory, kingdom and everlasting life.  
Here of hast thou a fine example of joseph, which prayed a long time: he was guiltless, and cast into Prison. God heard him not so soon, else had he come home to his parents, and been a poor shepherd all his life time: but afterward God took pity of his misery, released him of his imprisonment, and made him a great Prince over all the Land of Egypt.  
So will God also do with us his dear children: a certain time will he leave us, to been troubled in misery: but afterwards will he accept of us, and take pity with his everlasting mercy, will perfectly rejoice us, preserve and bring us to everlasting glory.  

A Prayer.  
O Lord God, heavenly father, which of thy fatherly well meaning, wilt keep me thy dear Child here on earth under thy rod, to the end I may been like thine only Son, both in passion, and afterwards in glory: I pray thee comfort me in my tribulations and crosses, with thy holy Spirit, that I despair not; but according to the promises of thy Son, do take sure hold of this comfort, that the crosses of me and all faithful, be but a little, and that thou wilt with thy grace, accept of us again in our troubles, with everlasting pity, that everlasting joy may follow; That I (through this hope) may with patience overcome all misfortunes, Amen.   
Lamen. 3. 
It is a precious thing for a man, that he carry the yoke in his youth.  
MAny a one doth GOD lay his cross and yoke upon, betimes in his young blood and youth.  
Although our flesh and blood do shrink for it, and would gladly forbear it, yet should we know, that it is a costly thing for a man, that he be exercised from his youth under the Lord's yoke, and been rocked with the dear Cross, for thereby teacheth he, not only to esteem much of God's help, but also to thank God from his heart: for his gracious care hath kept him thereby from so many terrible sins (which the Adversary in his youth did trouble him with.) And because he is from his youth used to the Cross, therefore is he patiented, for he knoweth well, that he shall find no better life here. Therefore hath he is mind and longing to another world, and occasioned to pray unto GOD, for the gracious co●●●ing of his kingdom.  
For such and the like causes, will GOD preserve us always under his yoke.  
For when one cross is scant passed, there cometh soon another. And here must 〈◊〉 tell an example of a Christian Pastor and Preacher, which soon after the beginning of the Gospel, did preach in the precinct of Weida. This honest and godly man (without doubt) loved the Lord GOD and his holy Word entirely, therefore was the Devil his sore enemy. And GOD the Lord (through many afflictions) did try his faith.  
For first, not only he, but his whole household, wife, and children were taken with a long lasting sickness of the French disease, on which his wise and children died. Not long after, the horrible plague of Pestilence fell upon him: in the time of which sickneg, the wildfire kindled in o●e of his arms, that he was forced to have the same sawed off: and was after wards bereft of his senses, that he was kept in chains. Upon whom the Lord shown himself so gracious and merciful, that he got his senses again But shortly after, when he sound himself very ill and weak, he called on his dear God, with these and such like words.  
O Dear God, I thank thee for thy gracious help, and everlasting Redemption, which thou hast showed to me poor sinner, through thy dear Son jesus Christ, and let so happen unto me, that thou mightest preserve me in the same thy everlasting grace and mercy. Oh, how many tribulations and sicknesses hast thou laid die upon me from my youth, hast visited me with the French disease & Pestilence, hast let my wife & children die, sent the wild fire into my arm, to be bereft of my wits and memory, and hast given me the same again: O my dear GOD, what wilt thou do more with me, and what is thy pretence?  
Even at that hour, as he thanked his dear GOD for his everlasting help, that he had so hearty accepted of his Soul, and yielded him further to GOD'S will and pleasure, without doubt for dissolving of this life, praying with Saint Paul with his heart, the falling sickness took him, by the means whereof he departed out of this life, but was perfectly heard.  
As God now dealt with this Christian, in sending him one sorrow after an other: First, on his wife; then shortly after upon his children, and his own body, etc. So will he often times do with his Christians in this life, from their youth, and it shall stand us in good stead. For, nothing can be dannable to them which been in Christ jesus.  
This same is somewhat a horror for our senses to hear: but a Christian should yield himself with patience unto God's will and pleasure, as this Christian man did. For like as the Lords yoke is a very costly thing; so again is it also a costly thing to bear the same with patience, and tarry for his help.  
Therefore, whosoever is subject under the Lord's yoke and cross, let him here learn with the Prophet David, to comfort himself, and to pray thus:  
O dear God, behold how I am here in subjection under thy yoke, with many miseries and troubles. I know (if it been thy will) that thy right hand can turn away all. But if it been not thy godly pleasure to help me bodily (as thou knowest what is best) then give me the comfort of thy holy Spirit.  
I rejoice, and am glad of thy goodness, that thou hast respect of my misery, and knowest my soul in adversity, Psalm 31. I hope upon thee, for thou art merciful.  
My heart rejoiceth, that thou so willingly helpest.  
Therefore (O dear God) although thou kill me, and let me die under thy yoke and cross, yet will I not doubt nor despair of thine everlasting help.   

A Prayer.  
O Lord jesus Christ, the flesh is weak, and unpatient. O dear Lord, burn, hue, strike, and plague me how thou wilt; I only pray thee for patience and meekness, Amen.    

III. Wherefore God layeth the Cross upon us.  Esay 48. 
Behold, I will cleanse thee, but not as silver, but I will make thee selected in the Furnace of Affliction, for my sake will I do it.  
WE poor Creatures have often gone away from God, and forgotten him. Therefore it is needful that he do cast us into the melting Quen, like unclean and falsified silver, to been cleansed and purified, to the end he may again have a pleasure and delight in us: And so we, delivered from sin, and comen again into the fear of God, may keep his word.  
This is (for all that) no evil thing, but the chiefest pretence and means, that God spareth thy Soul, taketh a while thy body, thy goods, wife, and children, etc. Therewith he thrusteth thee into the furnace of affliction, that thou mayest thereby learn to acknowledge thy sins, to be sorry for them, to humble thyself before GOD, and pray for God's grace, etc. whereas otherwise (if thou didst not stick in this furnace) thou wouldst always go forward in sin, and more and more fall into damnation.  
But now, whilst thou dost convert, God hath a liking to thee, and taketh thee again to his mercy, for his Names sake, that is, only therefore, that he will through Christ be merciful unto us, to the end we acknowledge his Name and Mercy, and praise the same.  
1 Cor. 11. 
When we are judged, then shall we be chastised of the Lord, that we be not damned with the world.  
Here doth Saint Paul show the cause why God doth lay the cross upon his people.  
He doth the same, that we may attain unto his holiness. For it is certain, if GOD should give to us all that we would willingly have, we should been safe, and have no regard of our sins, neither think on the Word or Prayer.  
But when all goeth over and over, and now one affliction, and then another happeneth, then hath a man cause to hasten, not only to prayer, but also to think, how we with our sins have well deserved such correction: And therefore henceforth to prepare ourselves more earnestly, for amendment of our lives: As it is said in the Epistle to the Hebrews: Our Father in Heaven doth chastise us for our good, that we may attain unto his holiness.   

A Prayer.  
O Dear and heavenly Father, who of thy well meaning and love, to keep me under thy childly obeisance for obtaining of thy holiness, and to make me selected, hast laid so manifold corrections upon me: Take pity on my Soul, and come to help me in these mine afflictions, occurrences, and temptations of the raging Devil.  
Deliver my soul in this great need from the hellish dogs, Amen.   
Lament. of jeremy 3. 
It is a costly thing to been patiented, and to tarry for the Lords help.  
MAny men do often fall under the cross, into Impatience, and Despair, for they know not yet what the good God meaneth towards us with the Cross: and this impatience is a great affliction of the Devil, by which the unfaithful are brought, either to seek means that be forbidden, or through despair (when a had conscience meeteth with it) do run their own heart out, do poison, drown, hang, or kill themselves, etc. for they have no comfort in their hearts. It fareth with them, as the Prophet Micheas in the 7. Chap. saith, When the day of thy Preacher cometh, they shall not know what to do.  
Against such afflictions doth jeremy here strengthen us: O (saith he) what a terrible & woeful thing it is, when a man will not acknowledge, what a loving heart God hath towards him? He gins to be impatient, murmureth against God, and despaireth: against which, if any do think thus in his heart, I know I have a merciful God in heaven, who esteemeth of me, as of other his dear children; and will through these my afflictions, sickness, woes, and miseries, etc. put me in mind of my sins, and admonish me to repentance, that I may be more godly, and shall keep me from sin: These are precious and happy thoughts, for they are the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and worthy to been praised.  
For whosoever hath such thoughts in his heart, is patiented under the Cross, seeketh help by GOD with prayer, and hopeth for the Lords gracious hour of help, and is of sure hope that it will come; if not corporally, yet the Lord will perfectly hear him: Therefore tarrieth he for his help with patience.  
So did the Prophet Abacuk comfort in the 2. Chap. The promise shall be yet fulfilled in due season, and lastly come to light, and not tarry away. Though it linger, tarry you: it will surely come, and not stay.   

A Prayer.  
O Heavenly Father, give me thy holy Spirit to strengthen me, that I may bear thy will with patience, that both in good and evil, I may always break my will, offer and mortify myself, and not murmur against thee, although I think it goeth otherwise with me, than I gladly would; I would rather that it went always after my will, that I might be without Crosses: but O Lord, do thou thy will upon me, and give me obedience and patience in all Crosses and Afflictions, Amen.    

FOUR God will also deliver from the Cross.  1 Cor. 10. 
GOd is trusty, who will not let you be tempted above your ability, but maketh the temptation to get an end, that you may bear it,  
Here doth Saint Paul encounter with two great afflictions which greatly hinder our faith, especially when we groan & lie bedrid: The first, that we think the Cross to been heavy, and too great, and fear we must under it go to the ground: The second, that we see no way nor means whereby we may be helped; then we make account we are undone, and begin to doubt and to despair. Therefore doth Saint Paul here comfort us: Why should you so despair under the cross? you have yet a true merciful God, which layeth upon no man more than his ability, yea, he himself giveth strength and power to them which be not able, and maketh the affliction a gracious means and end, that how heavy soever the same seemeth, yet those which are his, do go through with it, and bear it: for the cross is to a Christian but a slight burden, and a light yoke, Math. 11. under which the Lord himself did put his godly arm, neck and shoulders, and will comfort them, as he promiseth, Esay 51. I, even I am your Comforter, etc. And how long or endless the cross seemeth to our understanding, yet shall there be a happy end, and but a small thing, as the Lord himself reckoned his suffering, that it was but little, john 16.  
So also the Lord GOD comforted his Christians: Yet a little while, then shall my anger for thy sins, and my displeasure have an end, Esay 10. Hear doth the Lord give a fine comparison, john 16. of a Woman in Childbed, with whom it seemeth also, as if the Cross were importable, both Mother and Child must go together. The poor woman can do no more, but yields herself in such smart and deadly pain, unto God's will and pleasure, and saith: Whether I live or die, I am the Lords.  
Now when the pain is at the greatest, and no power more to bear: behold, it goeth then after the common proverb, Where man's help endeth, there God's help beginneth, It is but for a little time, and then in stead of death, two lives are brought into the world, and the woman thinketh no more on the pain, for great joy that she hath brought a merry birth into the world. Likewise should we also comfort ourselves, that it is but a while, then shall Gods help be unto us; and in stead of sorrow, joy and comfort shall be found.  

A Prayer.  
O Thou most true and good Lord GOD and Father, give me, for thy Son jesus Christ's sake, through thy holy Spirit, a strong trust in thee, that I may assure myself, and go thorough with all the afflictions of the Cross; and steadfastly believe (although the Cross, to my thinking, and to all men's reason, seemeth too heavy and importable, and withal endless) that it press me not down, but been unto me a light burden, and a light yoke. And lend me likewise strength and ableness, in putting-to thy holy arm and help to bear, it till I (through thy godly help) shall with patience overcome the same; and that thou wouldst send to me a happy end, and hour of help, with grace, Amen.   
Rom. 8. 
I am assured, that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory of God, which shall be showed to us.  
Here Saint Paul the Apostle puts all the miseries of mankind together, what name soever they have; All diseases, plagues, sicknesses, crosses and passions, and how heavy and great such woes and miseries do seem unto us; and saith, If all the troubles of this world were heaped together, yet were all much too slight to be compared to God's glory. Why wilt thou then complain so much of troubles and man's miseries? It is but a little times: and then shall follow to every Christian Beléever, an unmeasurable and everlasting glory.  
Here in this life let no man think that it will be better with him, as Christ himself saith; In the world you shall have troubles, etc. For we are here in the devil's house: if thou hold not with the host, thou shalt have small favour in thy lodging. Many a one thinks he will go to another place, and flee away from the mischief: but wheresoever he cometh, he finds the host at home. Look what great dangers the Apostle Paul endured, as in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, and eleventh Chapter: but, the hope of everlasting life, and glory to-come, carried him thorough, that with patience he overcame all.  
As it is true, that No eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor ever came into the heart of man, uhat joys, habitation, and glory is prepared for Christians, and shall be revealed unto them:  
So is it most certain, that they shall have holy, clear, immortal and powerful bodies; and therefore need not fear any humane miseries, death nor devil. And all these great gifts shall they have through Christ for evermore. All shall be Gods, and have enough. A poor scabbed boy or wench, a poor scholar, a despised beggar, etc. which put their trust in Christ, shall have more, and been more rich, th●n all the Emperors and Kin●s in this life: for, they shall possess the everlasting glory; in which, the Lord jesus Christ shall crown them with his unwithered Garland of honour, to everlasting heavenly honour; as we use to set Garlands on for an honour. All worldly honour shall been but children's play to such honour and glory: for, there shall the Christians in glory he like the Son of GOD himself; yea, Lords over all tyrants and persecuters, over the holy Angels, who shall been their servants, shall stand about them, and wait on them; and shall in such honour and glory have a merry, constant, and quiet conscience: where no misfortune more shall overthrow their joys, their everlasting righteousness, innocency, and salvation. Of which glory we all should comfort ourselves in all our afflictions: then may we, through such hope, with patience overcome the Cross.  
So doth Saint Peter comfort us: You shall rejoice in the salvation, who were a small time in sorrow. Likewise S. Paul saith, 2 Cor. 4. Our small and slight troubles cause to us a far more excellent and an eternal weight of glory: for, we look not upon the visible, but on the invisible things.   

A Prayer.  
O Dear and heavenly father, I acknowledge, that I, for my sins sake, have well deserved all woes and miseries, wherein I do stick, besides everlasting punishment. But I thank thee with all my heart, that thou hast (through Christ) redeemed me from such everlasting woes; and do believe, that these my sorrows and troubles are but small, and that upon the same, shall follow to me and all the faithful, an everlasting, and above all measure, an exceeding glory.  
I pray thee, that thou wilt preserve me in this poor troublesome life, which is so full of woes and miseries, through comfort of thy holy Spirit in sure hope and patience, to thy everlasting honour and glory, for thy dear Son Christ jesus sake, his redemption, death, power, resurrection, life and glory, Amen.  
Set thou thy cause on God indeed.  
He will thee help in time of need.  
For, he that God doth trust,  
Speed well always he must,  
Help thou, Lord God, every where;  
The body here, and the soul there.     

A COMFORT against the fear and terror of Death, and the Grave;  
BEING An Exposition of Doctor MARTIN LUTHER, written a little before his end.  
LONDON, Printed by H. L. for john Parker. 1624.   

An Exposition of D. MARTIN LUTHER, written a little before his end.  JOHN 8. 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If any keep my word, he shall never see death.  
HOW incredibly is this spoken, and against manifest and daily experience, in that we see one carried away, and buried!  
Yet it is true, when a man seeks after God's Word with his hart, believes on him, and upon the same sleeps or dies; he sinks and goes hence, before he might see death, or beware thereof, and is for certain saved by the Word, in that he believeth, and determineth to departed from hence. Therefore should we Christians not be afraid of death.  john 5. 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, shall have everlasting life, and not come into judgement, but shall pass through death into life.  
THis may be called an excellent comfort, and ratified with a solemn Oath, That we Christians, when we only believe in jesus Christ, and that the Father sent him for our righteousness; then need we take no care for dying, nor been afraid of damnation, but do pass through this temporal death to everlasting life: that is, so soon as we are dead before all men's eyes, we are, in the twinkling of an eye, with God in everlasting life. Who would then fear to die? O unbelief, O original sin, that thou shouldest so hardly believe so many Promises, so many Miracles, and such solemn Oaths of the true Son of God, made unto the Saints and children of Christ.  john 11. 
I am the Resurrection and life. He that believeth on me, shall live, although he die: and who liveth and believeth on me, shall not die for ever.  
IN this Saying, the Lord teacheth us for what cause death is no death to us, but a beginning of eternal life: for, our Lord jesus Christ liveth, and is the Resurrection and the life, because we are members of Christ's Body, incorporated to him in holy Baptism.  
Therefore shall we live with him for ever, as sure as he our head liveth; only because our life is hidden with Christ in GOD. But when Christ our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory, Colos. 3.  
O Lord, strengthen my faith.  1 Thes. 4. 
For if we believe, that jesus Christ is dead, and risen, so shall they which do sleep in jesus Christ, be carried away with him, etc.  1 Cor. 11. 
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep.  
THE Holy Ghost hath a strange speech; who calleth that a Sleep, which the world nameth Dying; and the dead, sleeping.  
With these words doth the holy Ghost declare unto us in a familiar comparison, that the death of Christians is no death, but a life; and describeth to us the temporal death of the faithful Christians, after the friendliest manner.  
For, even as there is nothing tearer or pleasanter to a sick body upon the earth, than a sweet sleep, when he stretches himself in his body, and tumbles himself certain times to and fro upon his bed, and feeleth grief, as if a man's head did ache. But before he been ware, a soft sleep falleth upon him: there sleepeth he, and knows not how or when. He heareth nothing, nor knoweth he any thing: he sleepeth away both thundering and lightning; neither can he tell how long he hath slept. When he awaketh, his weariness and sickness is gone, and he is as if he were new borne: which every one hath tried oftentimes in his sleep. So, saith the Lord God, is it also with the death of every Christian.  
When we have wrought ourselves weary upon earth, and have suffered and lived, and oftentimes tossed ourselves to and fro upon our groaning bed, by reason of our bodily sickness (for Christians must also, for their sinful flesh sake, have their bodily sickness and grief); then when, in the last combat, the sinful flesh and blood is killed, and the heart hath yielded itself prisoner, that we may be spun new and holy (which is not done without grief), a sweet sleep cometh upon us, where all griefs and afflictions do cease. There a Christian doth not know how he fell asleep: he is not ware of any death, nor knoweth he of any, but liveth in the Lord GOD. And in this sleep shall we sleep out all sin, defects, miseries, sickness, woes and necessities, and shall awake at the last Day, and rise again in a new, holy, spiritual, immortal, effectual, and clarified body, and shall behold GOD and his glory face to face, and whole Christendom in everlasting joy. And although one have slept five thousand years under the ground, it shall been as if he had slept but one hour; as the Christians in old time were wont to describe unto children, and to the simple, with example of the 7 Sléepers. With these words should we comfort ourselves against the fear and bitterness of death: whereas we also believe, and with Simeon do sing with peace & joy, I hence departed: in Gods will my heart is comforted, being quiet and still; as God hath said, Death is my sleep, I am not afraid.  
O Merciful God and Father, I pray thee, through the death and resurrection of thy Son, when I have lived and groaned me weary, and that mine hour is comen; grant me, O Lord, a sweet sleep, and take my soul into thy hands, Amen.  Dan. 12. 
Many which have slept under the ground, shall awake: some to everlasting life, some to everlasting reproof and shame.  
THe Prophet Daniel useth here to speak after an Evangelicall manner, and calleth death also a sleep. As Christ speaketh of the illuminate School master's daughter, The Maiden is not dead, but sleepeth: And nameth Death, a sleep. And without doubt the Holy Ghost had respect here to the death and Resurrection of our Lord jesus Christ, by whom all power is taken away from death, Esay 25.  
Therefore should we Christians remember such friendly, kind, and comfortable speeches; That we speak not jestingly of the death of them that sleep, as the wicked and rude people do: He is gone into the old World: He is gone into the old Market: He is at Trores: His spoon is fallen down: No, it is called, fallen asleep. S. Paul nameth it a departure, to been dissolved; Saint Peter, to put off his Tabernacle, etc. But in what manner such sleep is, can we not perceive or understand, more than of temporal sleep know we perfectly: As for example, In the mother's body, the mother knoweth nothing till it stir: So we in bodily sleep can do nothing; what can we know of the sleep of the Holy Ghost? But Christ instrueteth us that believe, of such sleep, Luke 20. They live in God, saith he.  
And here it is to been noted, that not only Christians have their sleep, but the wicked also: but it is an unlike sleep, a soft and sweet sleep, against an unquiet and heavy sleep. As when one is sick, he hardly sleepeth: but he which is in health sleepeth sound. But the  do dream always of the devil, as the Richman. Esay 66. Vermis eorum non morietur: But the Christians do rest in Christ, quietly and peaceable, like a little innocent Chilue, which often sleepeth so sound (as a man saith) Like a vong Hare. The same did D●uid acknowledge, therefore saith he, Psal. 4. I will lay me down and sleep quietly; for thou only, O Lord, makest me to dwell in safety.  
From such sleep shall be also a waking to all them which believe on Christ, and have holden with his holy Word and Sacraments, and they shall been comforted. They shall rise again to everlasting glory, and receive the everlasting garland of honour, the Heavenly, everlasting and immortal Crown, and escape everlasting judgement and shame.  
But the  which have done evil, forgotten the covenant of their Baptism, and not believed on Christ, they shall awake to everlasting reproof and shame.  
A fair similitude of hoth resurrections have we, Gen. 40 on loseph, the Butler and Baker: They were all three laid in prison, and came to liberty again, which signifieth the Resurrection. One of them was set free, came to honour and to his Office again: The other was also quit of his troubles, but cometh to the Gallows: joseph signifieth our Lord jesus Christ, who was also put into this prison, but guiltless. The Butler signifieth all honest Christians which acknowledge their sins, and with hearty repentance and sorrow, have believed on Christ: they shall at the latter day be placed with him in everlasting glory. The Baker signifieth all the : they shall be also quit of their prison (that is, their Graves) but to everlasting damnation.  
Surely, surely, the grave is a very soft resting bed for Christians, which the Lord jesus hath before warmed for them, that they need not be afraid thereof: Therein have they a good, soft, and quiet sleep. There shall they always dream of the Vine. For the Vine signifieth Christ; and the Grapes. the sweet doctrine of the holy Gospel, as i●t Matthew 7. appeareth. Do men gather Grapes on Thorns? john 15. Ego sum vitis vera, etc. There dream the Christians in death and Grave, always on the Lord jesus Christ, and of his swée●e Doctrine. And in such soft dreams rest they so soft, that they think many thousand years be as though they had scantly slept an hour.  
But the Baker (that is the ) dreameth always of the Devil, and how the birds do eat his Bread out of the Basket. The Birds are the Devils, which eat away God's word from him: Such eating and gnawing must they feel for ever; whereof we have a similitude, which our Elders feigned of Prometheus, that the Eagle did eat out his heart, and the heart did grow within him again, and the eating never had end. The same do the wicked feel truly, as the woeful tragedy of the Rich man showeth.  
That there are two resurrections, whereby all men may direct themselves, God causeth to be preached unto us in the time of Grace: Therefore, whosoever will escape such everlasting gnawing eating consciences, hellish pain and torment, let him take hold of the sweet doctrine of the Holy Gospel, and in the Sacraments, put therewith comfort into his heart, trust, and believe, as God's word doth plentifully show him; for so it must been, as Christ very comfortably promiseth, Mark 16. Whosoever believeth, and is baptised, shall be saved, Amen.  

A Prayer.  
O Everlasting God and Father, which art not a God of the dead, but of the living: For in thee do all they live, which rest under the Earth in their Chambers:  
We pray thy fatherly goodness, that thou wilt not let the thinking of death, or of his sting, be a fear unto us; but wilt through grace of thy holy Spirit, keep us in she right faith of thy dear Son, who is the truth and life, and give us a good conscience, that we may live Christianly, and departed happily out of this vale of misery, sleep in peace and joy ' and rest quietly, until thou open our Graves; And through the sound of the trumpet, been waked again to life, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   
1. Cor. 15. 
It is sowed a natural body, etc.  
Here the Holy Ghost useth another word, and calleth Dying, To be sowed, which is a friendly similitude: we are the Wheatcornes (as Christ himself saith. joh. 12) Now is the séed which the Husbandman soweth glory, and bring forth much fruit, whereon God the holy Trinity shall have everlasting joy and pleasure. Therefore should we not been afraid of death.  

A Prayer.  
O Lord jesus Christ, come and sow us and our Children in thy Churchyard, that we never need to be afraid for any trouble, need, wars, or heart's sorrow, Amen.    
Luke 2. 
The old man Simeon singeth.  
Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant departed in peace.  
THis old Christian Simeon calleth Death, a Departing in Peace, which is also the saying of the Holy Ghost: for there is nothing in our whole body upon earth, but unrestfulnesse and disquietness, one after another.  
But when we, our Lord and GOD, shall go out of this vale of misery, and come into our everlasting Country, then come we unto Peace. What man would not then once have also such peace and rest?  Philip 1. 
I desire to departed, or to been dissolved, and to be with Christ; which is also much better.  
Here Saint Paul calleth Death, A Dissolving or a departure: for here we are bound to sinful flesh, to pains and labour, and cannot sooner be quit thereof, then through the happy hour.  2. Pet. 1. 
I know that I shall quickly put off my Tabernacle.  
SAint Peter nameth Death here, the Going out of a poor, ruinated, sinful, and woeful Habitation, and to be removed into a glorious paradise, or to put off an old worn gown, and to put on an immortal and heavenly apparel, whereof we ought by good reason to rejoice.  Esay 26. 
Go hence (my people) into a chamber, and shut the door after thee: hide thee awhile, till the indignation be overpast.  Esay 57 
The righteous are plueked away from their misfortune; and they which have wandered righteously, do come into peace, and rest in their chambers.  
HOW friendly and joyfully speaketh the Holy Ghost of the death of Christians, and giveth the same five beautiful names!  
First, Dying, he calleth, Going into a Chamber, to go into a pleasant Parlour, as oftentimes a man buildeth a pleasant room for himself, where he would willingly héee alone, and be quiet from his children and household.  
Secondly, he nameth death, Hiding one a while, till God's wrath and punishment be overpast, as when one stands underneath for soul weather, or hideth his daughter, when an army passes thorough, so doth the Lord God lay us up, that no misfortune hurt us.  
Thirdly, Death is called, Plucking away from misfortune: for when GOD will punish the World for their sins, he taketh first his Christians away, gathereth them together, removeth them into a place of safety, that they be not hurt.  
Fourthly, it is called Departing in peace, as Simeon did.  
Fiftly, Resting in their chambers: for else upon earth will be small rest or peace.  
But the Grave of the Christians he calleth, our Chambers and resting beds, wherein no man shall disquiet us, or awake us, nor any man can drive us out,  
There would many a one also have gladly a resting Chamber upon Earth, and buildeth often with great charges in quiet places, even where he heareth no knocking or running, especially when he is sick; but all is to no effect, for on Earth is no such fléeping Chamber to been had: we are awaked with care, sorrow, need, world, and Devil.  
So are our Chambers upon earth but hired Chambers: although we have bought them, we know not when we shall go forth of them. But the Chambers in the Churchyard are quiet, and our own. There shall no care, sickness, nor Devil, make us unquiet, neither shall any man drive us out, till the Lord jesus awake us to everlasting life.  
This is comfortably and joyfully spoken of the death of Christians, and of the Grave: He that believeth it, will béeglad from his heart for the hour.  Philip. 1. 
Christ is my life, and Death is my gains.  
SAint Paul giveth Death here, a fair name, his greatest and best gains: for there he layeth in exchange a mortal, needful, defective, sinful, weak, sick, and unperfect body, and taketh for the same again, for usury and gains, an everlasting, immortal, holy, strong, and spiritual body, which may be called a Gains: who would be afraid to die?  Psal. 116. 
The death of his Saints is precious in the sight of the Lord.  
BEfore the world and our five Senses, nothing is more horrible nor terrible yea, nor more dishonourable, than death, and a dead body.  
But before the face of Almighty God, the Death of Christians is the fairest Relic.  Gen. 15. 
God saith to Abraham, Thou shalt go to thy Fathers with peace.  
Here God himself nameth Death, a Going home into his Country, and to come to his Parents and Friends; And withal, upon the journey, to be conducted with peace.  
As a child that hath been long amongst strangers, rejoiceth in his heart, that he may once go home, so should we also rejoice, when our death's hour approacheth, that we may go home into our everlasting Country, and with all Christendom, have an everlasting Nuptial day and joy.  Genes. 25. 
Abraham was gathered to his people.  
SO doth the Holy-Ghost speak of Abraham's death: For here on earth we are among a sort of evil degenerated people, with whom we shall been plagued and martyred; as the Children of Ifrael were of the Egyptians, and of their Taske-maisters.  
This Sentence of holy Scripture, should we conceive and keep: wherewith we may in dangerous times learn to prepare us, and to comfort ourselves, and pray with our hearts for an happy hour.  
And when we see death before our eyes, or think thereof, not to be afraid.  
Upon these sentences out of holy Scripture, have the honest Christians always had goodly words, wherewith they have comforted themselves against Death: Of which we will rehearse some.  
Cicely, a godly Christian woman of Rome, when her kindred would persuade her she should deny our Lord jesus Christ, and what she did mean to make such light account of her body and life, the highest treasure and best pawn we have? She answered, If it had concerned only our life, we should not willingly lose it. But I believe another better life, which lasteth for ever, of which JESUS CHRIST hath preached unto us.  
This true Martyr and Confessor of the true Christian faith, did take hold on the right comfort. She was not afraid of the horrible Death: for, she knew, that this temporal Death was a beginning of everlasting life.  
Item, whereas wee Christians do say and confess, Miseria hominis moritur, non homo: that is, Of a Christian dieth nothing but his wars and miseries: he dieth not. And it is true. No ioyfuller hour can happen unto us Christians upon earth, than the happy hour of death: for even in the twinkling of an eye, all our woes and miseries do 〈…〉 incessantly, death's sting and sickness: but when we are dead in the sight of the world, then do we first live, and do never feél any more either danger or death. For, our temporal death is an end of death, and a beginning of life.  
Item, whereas the Christian saith, Without the knowledge of Christ, death 〈…〉 sin: 〈…〉 ledgeth Christ, to him is temporal death the best remedy for sin; whereby finally sin is scoured quite out of our flesh and blood, body and soul, that we never sinne more.  
Therefore we should (by good reason) be glad of death, that we may been once rid of that shameful sin, wherewith we are plagued and tormented day and night: as Saint Paul cryeth out over this prosecuting sin, Romans 7.  
Now, as honest Christians have out of God's Word, for their comfort, spoken friendly and familiarly of death: so have they also given comfortable names to the Graves, and to Burials.  
Prudentius doth call the Grave, Our Lord God's jewell-house; wherein he hath his dear Gold and Relics, and halloweth the Ashes and Bones of his Christians, and will at the last Day demand them again by weight.  
The holy Scripture nameth the Buriall-place, A House of the Living, who dwell there alive indeed. All other dwellings upon earth (although they be built of pure Cypress and Marble) are but Pest-houses, where men do sicken and die. Only the Graves of Christians are the Houses of the Living.  
The Latin Church calls the Churchyard, A sleeping house. The Dutchmen call it God's Field, wherein God soweth us, as hath been said before.  
Besides all these, Christ our Lord was buried: he hath hallowed and warmed the grave for us, and left his linen clothes therein. And the holy Angels dwell in the grave, do watch and keep us in our resting bed.  
Now, he that is so instructed in God's Word, and believeth, desireth from his hart to be out of his groaning bed of sorrow, and to be in his resting bed.  
Whereupon, the Lord jesus Christ help us, through grace of thy holy Spirit, Amen.  Rom. 14. 
Whether I live or die, I am the Lords.  

A Prayer.  
O Lord jesus Christ, all they which are baptised in thee, are baptised in thy death. I am baptised in thee, therefore am I also baptised in thy death. I will with thy help die merrily and willingly; hoping, that as I have been partaker of thy troubles, I shall be also partaker of thy glory.  
O Lord jesus Christ, thou hast prayed upon the Cross, Father, forgive them: So, Lord, do I forgive all that have done against me, that thou mayst pardon me of all my sins.  
O Lord jesus Christ, thou hast called upon the Cross, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Lord, leave me not at the point of death.  
O Lord, thou hast said upon the cross, Either, into thy hands I commend my spirit: even so, Lord, do I commend my poor soul into thy hands, Amen.  Psalm 31. 
Into thy hands I commit my Spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord GOD of truth.    

An Epitaph of Gasper Huberin.  
Oh a sinner! Born, alive, and dead am I  
Christ my Lord, Renew, forgive, and wake me up.  
I am faithful. Preserve, make clear, and save me.  Psalm 4. 
I laid me down, and slept quietly, for thou only (O Lord) helpest me, that I dwell in safety.   

How we in the everlasting life to come, shall see and know one another.  
I believe a resurrection of the flesh, and an everlasting life.  
WHen one preacheth of the resurrection of the dead, and hath heard how the dead do rise; there ariseth a question amongst many; If we also, in the everlasting life to-come, shall know one another, as we do here? Of the Resurrection is no doubt; thereof are we certain enough: and withal we know, that, if any have a defect or want on his body, that he halted, were lame, or a Cripple, and had not all his limbs, the same shall be all taken away in the resurrection of the dead, and shall be altogether whole, and have all his members wholly. But shall we in another life know one another? Héerto do the learned men give this answer: Yes, we shall know one another there. Seeing that God will make the whole man alive again with flesh and bones, shall knowledge and memory be gone? Nothing at all.  
Therefore shall you here learn, that we shall know all; not only those which we now know, but those which we knew not, nor in our life time had ever seen, the same shall we see, and know how to call them, and they us again.  
The Learned also do say, that the Christians shall not only know one another, but the  also: and the wicked shall know them whom they have here oppressed and persecuted, Sapience, chap. 5. There shall the wicked say with repentance, Are not these they whom we have mocked? Oh how are they now reckoned among the children of God   

I. Testimony of Scripture.  
THe first proof they take from Adam. You know, that God made Heaven and Earth, with all the Creatures: and Adam was made last of all. Then GOD let all that Beasts pass by him: and when he saw them, he knew every Beast, and his property, and gave to every Beast his name according to his property. As Adam now named them, so must they been called at this present day. If Adam then in the natural body, and before the Fall, had such sharp eyes, that he could see the Beasts in his heart; as for example, what the nature and property of the Stork is, which hath a natural born love to the old ones that have brought her up: shall not we much more in the new spiritual body, which shall bear the Image of Christ, be a thousand times wiser, and know all? This is a right good argument.   

The II. Argument.  
THis is like the first, that Adam knew Eve so soon as God brought her to him, when he had made her of his ribs, before GOD said one word unto him. There it is rightly said, Ille est felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas. Therefore said Adam (according unto the Hebrew speech) This is mercifulness: she shall have a true hart, and shall be called Woman, etc.  
Whilst Adam in his natural life had such sharp eyes: shall we not much more in the spiritual and everlasting life, have much sharper eyes, that we know one another, and also those which in this life we have not known? I cannot find any thought in me, to withdraw it from me, that it should not be.   

The III. Argument.  
THe third proof they take from Christ, when Mary Magdalen met him in the garden, who (being yet in her sinful body) did quickly know him by his speech, and likewise the Apostles also: much more shall we know one another, when we shall have pure clarified eyes.   

The FOUR Argument.  
CHrist layeth before us the Richman and poor Lazarus, which is no similitude, but a true History acted; although it been wonderful and strange unto us, that in another life they shall both know one another.  
In brief: There shall be a right perfect knowledge, that we shall also know the high Majesty of God, and see him face to face, as job comforted himself, chapter 19 I shall see God in my flesh.  
Such knowledge shall happen unto us, as the custom was in old time amongst our Elders, when they kept the hallowing of their Church, when all the friends and kindred came together once in a year, which had in a long time before not seen one another, as they use often at Easter and Christmas to visit their good friends. There are they known amongst the kindred: Is not that my Uncle? Is not this my Aunt? Are not these also my cousins and friends? So that they know one another with great joy. Then know, that at the later Day shall be the right renewed day, that right Church Holiday shall begin; where all Christendom shall come together, make themselves known one to another, and shall have an everlasting Church-Feast, a perpetual Easter-Feast, and a day of eternal joy.  
These things should a Christian remember: for, they serve to this end, that many a one may been comforted therewith, when he must departed from a good Friend, Father or Mother, Brother or Sister, goeth far off, and knoweth not at his return if he shall find them in health.  
Or else in the time of mortality, when we should departed one from another, then may one comfort himself in thinking thus: I shall not yet lose him altogether: I know, that our Lord God hath appointed a Church-holy-day, where my dearest children, brethren, sisters and good friends, come to me again: there will we consult together for ever.  
The same is a notable comfort, when his father, mother, and kindred be dead, that he be not discouraged, but know that they be but gone before him. And therefore it is called thus: 
Coming again makes me sure,  
That I esteem not departure.   

A Prayer.  
O LORD jesus Christ, which art the conductor of life, thou through thy death hast overcome everlasting death in victory, made sin and death to be nothing, and confirmest with a double oath, that we which keep thy word steadfastly in our hearts, shall not see death eternally; dost comfort and promise to us thy faithful, that we shall be for ever in the height of joy and salvation where thou art.  
Therefore we pray thee from our hearts, O Lord jesus Christ, that thou wilt, through the grace of thy holy Spirit preserve us constantly in such faith, that thy Kingdom may quickly come, that we may be delivered out of this vale of misery, that we and our faithful Children, Parents, Brethren and Sisters, all our kinsfolks, and all godly people (through thy spiritual grace) may be brought one to another, as thou didst bring to the widow of Naim, her dear son in bodily manner. That thou wouldst also (as thy Word comforteth) graciously grant, that as Adam in the state of innocency knew Eve, of whom he before did know nothing; and as thou, after thy holy resurrection, didst make thyself known, we likewise may see and know one another in the highest joy of thy salvation, and to thy laud & praise, may consult together everlastingly. Amen, Lord jesus Christ, Amen.    

Here after follow godly Say and Prayers, taken out of the Psalms of David, to be used in the extreme necessity of death.  
O Lord, rebuke me not in thy Indignation: neither chasten thou me in thy heavy displeasure.  
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: my soul also is sore troubled, but Lord, how long?  
Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul. O save me for thy mercy's sake.  
O Lord my God, in thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.  
Have mercy upon me, O Lord: consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the very gates of death.  
O Lord, thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb: thou wast my hope, when I hanged yet upon my mother's breasts.  
Go not from me then: for, trouble is hard at hand, and there is none to help me.  
I am poured out like water: all my bones are out of joint: my heart in the midst of my body, is even like melting wax.  
My strength is dried up like a potshard, my tongue cleaveth to my gums: but be not thou fare from me, O Lord, thou art my succour, haste thee to help me.  
Tarry not long (O Lord) for I am very faint.  
Quicken my soul (O Lord) and bring me forth in the way of righteousness, for thy name's sake.  
Unto thee (O Lord) I lift my soul, my God, I trust in thee. O let me not be confounded, lest mine enemy's triumph over me. For all they that hope in thee, shall not be ashamed.  
Thou art the God of my salvation.  
Call to remembrance thy tender mercies, and thy loving kindnesses, which have ever been of old.  
Remember not the sins and offences of my youth, but according unto thy mercy think upon me (O Lord) for thy goodness.  
For thy Names sake (O Lord) be merciful unto my sin, for it is great.  
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and oppressed.  
The sorrows of my heart are great. O bring me out of my troubles.  
Look upon mine adversity and misery, and forgive me all my sins.  
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in thee.  
The Lord is my light, and my salvation: whom then should I fear?  
The Lord is the strength of my life: of whom then should I be afraid?  
Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid: and though there rose up war against me, yet will I trust in him.  
O hide not thou thy face from me, cast not thy servant off in displeasure.  
Thou art my succour, leave me not, neither forsake me, O God my Saviour.  
The Lord is my strength, and my shield: my heart hopeth in him.  
In thee, O Lord, is my trust: let me never be put to confusion.  
Bow down thine ear to me, make haste to deliver me.  
Thou art my strong hold, and my castle. O be thou my guide, and lead me for thy Names sake.  
Into thy hands I commend my Spirit: deliver me (O Lord God of truth).  
O Lord, consider my trouble, and know my Soul in adversity.  
My hope is in thee (O Lord) thou art my God.  
Show me the light of thy countenance, help me for thy mercy's sake.  
Let me not be confounded (O Lord) for I call upon thee.  
Thou art my defence, in the trouble that is come about me: O compass thou me about also with the joy of deliverance.  
Strive thou with them (O Lord) that strive with me, fight thou against them that fight against me, and stand up to help me.  
Awake, Lord, and stand up: avenge thou my cause, my God and my Lord.  
Thou art my helper and redeemer, make no long tarrying, O my God.  
Arise, O Lord, help me, and deliver me for thy mercy's sake.  
Have mercy upon me (O Lord) after thy goodness, and according to thy great mercies do away mine offences.  
For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me.  
Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight.  
Cast me not away from thy presence.  
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hide not thyself from my Petition. Take heed unto me, and hear me, and preserve my soul.  
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.  
Be merciful unto me (O God) be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee, and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge.  
Hear my crying (O God) give heed unto my prayer: for thou art my hope, a strong Tower for me against the enemy.  
Take me out of the mire, that I sink not.  
Hear me (O Lord) and turn thee unto me, according unto thy great mercy.  
I am poor, and in misery, haste thee O God for to help me: For thou art my help, my Redeemer and my God: oh make no long tarrying.  
In thee (O Lord) is my trust, let me never be put to confusion: For thou art the thing that I long for, thou art my hope even from my youth.  
Forsake me not, O Lord, when my strength faileth me: for mine enemies that lay white for my soul take their counsel together.  
Go not fare from me, O my God: my God, hast thee to help me.  
O remember not mine iniquities, but have merey upon me, and that soon.  
Help me (O Lord my Saviour) for the glory of thy Name: O deliver me, and forgive me my sins for thy Name sake.  
Comfort the soul of thy servant: for thou Lord art good and gracious, and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.  
In the time of trouble I call upon thee, turn to me, have mercy upon me, give thy strength to thy servant.  
Thou (O Lord God) art full of compassion, and mercy, long-suffering, great in goodness and truth.  
The snares of death compassed me round about, the pains of hell got hold upon me.  
I found trouble and heaviness: O Lord deliver my soul.  
Thy mercy (O Lord) endureth for ever: despise not the work of thine own hands.  
Enter not into judgement with thy servant (O Lord) for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.  
Bring my soul out of trouble, for I am thy servant.   

A Prayer.  
O My God, my Lord, and Father, now show unto my poor soul, that she may perceive, that thou art my strong rock, castle, shield, tower, defence, hope, succour, refuge, defender and goodness, that I in this great trouble for mine enemies, through thy godly grace, help and assistance, may be preserved. Lord, in thee I put my trust, let me not be put to confusion. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: deliver me, Lord God of truth, Amen.   

A Prayer.  
O Father, receive again the thing which thou hast created. O Son, receive the thing which thou hast governed. O Holy Ghost fetch the thing which thou so bountifully hast preserved. Three persons and one very God, I beseech you remember not mine offences for ever. For I cry, Lord God and Father, mercy. Lord God Son, mercy, Lord God Holy Ghost mercy, Amen.   

When thou departest from a sick person, say unto him.  
IN your trouble and necessity, call unto the Lord and cry unto your God, and he will hear your voice, and your crying cometh before him in his ears: And God which called you unto his eternal glory by Christ jesus, shall his own self, after you have suffered a little affliction, make you perfect, shall settle, strength establish and save you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  
FINIS.