¶ A MEDICINE FOR the soul, as well for them that are whole of body as for them that be sick, most necessary in the bitterness of death, and in these last most daungerous seasons.  
DIseases vexing the bodies, and this corporal death, with very great rear do shake our minds, that even at the re●●●●●● of them we often times dreadfully do tremble. For su●●y the nature of man, which had rather not be at all, then to be in an evil case, cannot but wax pale& be sorrowful, when these evils do grievously oppress him. But undoubted, no misery can chance unto man more rigorous, none more horrible, none more fierce, then the sickness of the soul& the death of the same. Ther is none but doth detest, none but most speedily doth fle from& abhor the punishments, torments, infirmities& this death of the body: much more then the causes of these griefs, which are our sins and offences, we should eschew and avoyde: and the anger of God, which with so many trespasses we heap vpon us, we ought to be afraid of. For the pain of the diseased body; in al hast we run to the physician, no cost herein can be to dere, all things are neglected, so life may be saved. with much money remedies and medicines are prepared, whereby this earthly vessel and this potshard( which nevertheless shortly after shall fall in pieces) may be patched up together. why do we not with like study& careful endeavour to heal the sores of the soul far more grievous and perilous, ordain& seek out remedies? For what profit should a man take, if that he had all the riches of the world, and might sung his life a whole thousand year, enjoying continually the most exquisite pleasures of this life, nether should be punished with sickness or any other kind of calamities, but nevertheless( the soul in the mean season being infected with the detestable fault and venom of sins and oppressed by the tyranny of satan) should haue god displeased, so that he might most certainly know that after the end of this life he should both of body and soul suffer eternal death& damnation? Therfore Christ monishyng us, saith: watch ye, for ye know not the day nor the hour in the which the son of man shall com●. And that we should not( the hetter and far more {pro}fitable things despised) covet after light things, freuolous, and vile, he sheweth us a most compendious, certain,& sure way to attain to the perfit felicity, where as he saith, seek first the kingdom of god and the iustice of it,& al thing is shal be cast unto you. Both day and night business about our living, about the establishment of our goods,& about other things also, oftentimes found brikle and transitory, turmenteth& werieth us: which very little do profit us, yea many a time surely at the occasion of most grievous calamities& filthy vices. But in searching out and obtainyng the heavenly treasures, what thing is more slothful thē we are, what more recheles, what more unmindful, what more dull? what maner of blindness and madness I pray you can there be more to be abhorred? whilst we live in health vneth at any time of the life to come& of this our death of the body, a light remembranc● entereth in to our thoughts. But when we lying in our beds are febled with sickness▪ death now knocking at the yates, at what time we should stand stoutly in battle& fight, there then at the last with what weapons we might contend against satan, and of the amendment of our life we begin to imagine. This is a sufficient argument, that we haue a very weak and slendre faith,& that very faintly we haue exercised ourselves in the warfare of Christ. God haue mercy vpon vs. Amen.  
But assuredly every age is apt to amend, and no repentance is to late, so that it be done before the end of this life. yet notwithstanding I counsel and monish earnestly, that no man sung& defer to do repentance until this last most terribil contention. For very hardly even they, which being in good health& lusty throughout all their life, haue provided and made themselves redy against this hour of departing, do stand steadfast: yea and with much ado scantly can defend themselves against the deceipts, the snares, the ingynes, and the assaults of that far most cruel and crafty enemy.  
What then shall chance unto them that being destitute of all fear of God, and knowing not how to repent, haue lived a soul dissolute and naughty life? how I pray you shal they make war? how shall they resist? Now therfore, seeing that there is an infinite sort and multitude of men in all places,& ministers of the gospel every where are not present, neither can they to all men at all times give their attendance, I with a good& godly mind to help al men most redy haue written this way& form of comforting, teaching,& exhorting the diseased, gathered out of the word of God, for their sakes especially, which as yet are ignorant, neither against any such● casualties are instructed with sentences of the holy scripture, that hearing the sered may conceive a steadfast hope and true comfort, least in the most horrible pangs of death they casting down their minds, should despair and perish.  
¶ faith chiefly is necessary to a sick person, whereby he may take patiently the griefs of the body,& the temptations wherewith he is oppressed.  
Therfore a man dreuen to keep his bed by the extremity of sickness, and being in despair of his life, with diuers and grievous temptations wherewith he must manfully fight, is assaulted and overwhelmed. And first of al this is a most sharp●& bytt●● temptation, whereas( the most sorrowful image of death standing be●ore our eyes) we call to remembrance that we must forsake the most pleasant& acceptable light of this life, all our kinsfolk& familiar friends, and to be short al other things that ar most dere& best beloved forthwith also our sins committed of us against the will& commandment of god no show themselves, and with a great violence forcyng vpon us, ar fully renewed and wered raw, and do seem much more in number and more heinous, then they appeared before at any time, and wonderfully do grieve, vex,& turment our conscience. hear death the judgment of God, hel, damnation, fearfulness& dread as it were making an host, do invade our old man with the most ragious and troublesone, storms of bytterest sorrows& fears, and with most rigorous ingynes of dolour and lamentation do shake& strike our hartes.  
In these agonies except with a mighty and constant saith our heart be established, it shalbe a indemnify lest being wearied and made faint with the multitude and huge greatness of temptations, we despair in our minds. For those thingis do seem, which chance unto us in our infirmities of all most terrible and violent: and that for no other cause then that our faith doth waver and is very feeble, neither as yet so able, that trusting in the word of god, can apprehended those large& inestimable goods and riches of the sons of god, undoubted the forgiveness of all our sins by Christ, the resurrection of the body, that desired and sweetest society of all the elect, and the life that ever shall endure,& all these things freely to be given in Christ& for Christes sake.  
In these articles of our faith we should practise ourselves daily, these being diligently examined and weighed of us, we ought steadfastly to fasten in our minds. Often times also the communion or that holy table we ought to come unto, but being thoroughly {pro}ued before, exactly instructed and made ready. For that thing chiefly ought to be taken hede of, that we handle not with defiled hands& souls that most precious sacrament of thankes giving. A thing to be lamented truly and an vnworthi, that now many a year ●his sacrament of the body& blood of Iesus Christ, is vnreuerently and nothing to the dignity of it handled& min●stred and after such a sort of certain heretics utterly despised. how sorely and dreadfully herein it is transgressed, the present punishments do bear sufficient witness. And saint paul also hath sore spoken it, in the first Epistle to to exercise and bear in mind all the articles of our catholic faith: but in the vexacions of death principally and diligently these four must be examined& poured into us, that is to say, of the communion of saints, of the remission of sins by the blood of Christ, of the resurrection of the body, and of the life everlasting  

¶ diseases why they are sent unto us from God.  
EVen as death therfore is the reward of sin, so likewise also diseases many a time are sent unto us from God by the occasion of our sins. which this by many testimonies of the scripture doth evidently appear. joan. 5. Psal. 88. duty. 28.2. Reg. 24. we are afflicted also often times, that our faith might be proved. For then at the last it is to be seen how we do love god, how much confidence we put in him, when we are thrust down& troubled with some painful adversity. wherefore here before al things take heed, that all thy whole hart, mind,& all thy senses being turned vnto-God, vnfaynedly thou dost repentance:& that before god thou dost bewail& confess thi sins, for the which we haue all deserved even the most just anger and grievous scourge of God. But the most plentiful consolation, and that which they call absolution, or the forgiveness of sins, which Christ instituted in the church thou shalt learn out of the gospel of s. john, the xx. chapter. This mighty great treasure is daily opened and offered unto the: receive ye saith Christ, the holy ghost, whose sins soever ye remit, they ar remitted unto them, and whose sins soever ye retain, they are retained.  
Now when we haue desired pardon for our misdedes& haue obtained it, without doubt the pain and infirmity or affliction which resteth vpon us, either will cease and leave us, or else through the far best will of God, shal turn to the salvation of th● diseased. For this thing safely persuade with thyself and of this doubt nothing, but that the same punishment or cross( how great soever a yoke and burden it seemeth to the flesh) is certainly a fatherly fatherly rod, with the which God draweth back& pulleth from sin the his son being called& alured unto him. verily with a most ardent affection of love God doth embrace us, from his heart willeth he well to us,& doth all things to this end, that he might amend us, and that they might be profitable unto vs. For whom loveth he, him doth he correct, and him here he chasteneth& scourgeth, that he might not after this life be tormented in the everlasting pain of hel. Neither shalt thou doubt, but most certainly conceive with thyself, God to be a father that loveth the best& is most desirous to do for thee, how angry soever he shal show himself to be. This is not the anger of a tyrant& a mankyller but as a father entirely loving us, which will not that we should be lost, but amending should repent and attain to salvation. This thing is more true then ever was oracle of Apollo, if that we being endowed with so slender a faith, can yet so much as believe it. first of al therfore ask remission& forgiveness for all thine offences, but by Christ and with a heart truly bent to do repentance: that thou and God may well agree, that thou mayest win& haue him merciful unto the. After that, thou mayest desire also, that he would deliver thee from thy vehement grief. So teacheth us Ecclesiasticus in the xxxviii. chapter. My son saith he, in thine infirmity despise not thyself, but pray unto the Lord& he shall make the whole, so prayeth david also in the lxxix. psalm.  
O remember not our old sins let thy mercies prevent us and that sone. help us O God our saiuiour. Lord God of hostes turn us again, how long wilt thou be displeased? show the light of thy countenance& we shal be whole.  
first he prayeth for remission of sins, that he might be justified through the grace of God. Then after he entreateth that the anger of God might cease. And thou praying for the deliverance and easement from the pain oppressyng thee, always shalt put unto this clause, thy will be fulfilled far most holy and precious. For we cannot provide better for ourselves, then he our father, being most trusty& of an infinite power, wisdom and goodness that cannot be diminished: who no where turneth his eyes from us, who taketh care of us with chiefest diligence, who quyckeneth all things, maketh to flourish, nourisheth, defendeth, bringeth up, tendeth and keepeth from harm: who forseeth all things and provideth for them much more and better, yea then any creature is able to wish.   

¶ three things there be, which in the bitterness of death most grievously& fearsly do turment us,& with a vehement terror do move our mindes, that is to say, sin, death,& hell or damnation.  
sins, wherein we haue vnthriftely& wretchedly passed over our life, wherewith both God& our neighbour we haue most heinously offended, these when they come to our mind lying sick in our beds, we ar stricken with the greatest fear and grief, as S. paul saith to the romans. 2. indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguyshe vpon the soul of every man that doth evil.   

¶ Death.  
Adam and this our flesh most vnwillyngly dieth. when death therfore beginneth to approach with such great sorrow and vexacions as no tongue is able to express, the heart of man is weakened and made faint. For the fearful nature& the fleshly man of ours is in miserable dread least ones being dead& stopped into the earth, he should never return and be relieved again,& even now he doth think himself al together to be cast away.   

¶ Hell and damnation.  
These when they appear in sight, there then man feareth least he should utterly be rejected from the presence of God,& no other thing doth he see but eternal death. Here he had need to quicken his spirites, here he bad need of a stout courage, that no place might be given to faint hart and desperation.  
O most merciful God, oh most favourable father grant I be●eche the and help that as yet we having our welfare and being in health might learn the fear of thee, embrace& love thy word, set thee before our eyes as a mark of al our doings,& that we being myndeful ever of this most bitter brunt, might defend& arm ourselves so that we might be saved, that being holy and dreadyng thee, might direct al thing belonging unto us to thy glory,& finally enjoy the life eternal. so be it.   

¶ when our sins do burden our conscience, what is to be done.  
think that the son of god came down from heaven to the lowest places, and being made man, hath laid vpon him thy sins and the sins of the whole world,& for them of his own accord dyed vpon the cross, for every of them hath been a full satisfaction, suffering most bitter pains for our sake. This blood of Christ most precious was  shed also for thy salvation Of his death even thou art partaker, if thou wilt believe Christ in like case to haue dyed for thee, as for Peter& Paul. Neither oughtest thou to doubt any whit, but that he suffered death as well for the as he did for paul. For thou art baptized to die with Christ. This should comfort the, this should stir up and strengthen thy mind. For seeing that thou art baptized to die with Christ. The death of Christ shall heal and help the. By the death of Christ thou shalt die unto thy sins. By the death of Christ thou shalt receive a sure forgiveness of all thine offences, furthermore by the death of Christ thou shalt rise again to a new and everlasting life. For baptism is a promise, a covenant, and a token of the grace& favour of God, in the which thou art adjoined to God, that by him thou mayest haue a merry and quiet conscience, because thy sins ar forgiven thee by the resurrection of Christ. Of a surety to the also Christ speaketh in the institution of his supper, where he doth profess& testify his blood to be  shed for the remission of sins. Now therefore albeit for the most part thou hast passed over thy life, neither altogether innocent, neither on every side unspotted, there is no cause why thou shouldest despair But no delay made without cessyng call vpon the name of the lord,& thou shalt be safe Ro. 10. And brast out into these words O most merciful god, o father of all pity, the father of our Lord Iesus Christ, be favourable unto me being a sinner, aid me a wretch with thy speedy help, extendyng thy mercy for that most sharp& yet most glorious passion and death of thy onely begotten son Iesus Christ our onely redeemer& saviour, so be it, so be it. Enter not Lord into iudgement with thy servant. deal not with me according to my deserts, neither reward me according to my unrighteousness, but for thine infinite& vnceassyng goodness& mercies sake receive me. A wretched& a feeble creature am I in thy hand In thy powet& in thy debt I am. O most meek, O most mighty God, O father most redy to forgive, leave me not, cast me not away as a wretch forsaken.  
thine I am altogether. None there is that can comfort, none there is that can deliver, none there is that can help me, but thou onely. Thou art the true remedy to put away mischief, thou art the surest and presentest aid help, stay, and bulworke in al necessity, thou art a tower of chiefest defence. Thou O GOD art our refuge, thou art our strength, thou art he which delivereth us out of tribulations. In the O Lord do I trust, let me not be confounded. Let me never be ashamed, being led with a vain hoop, but through thy iustice save me.  
bow down thine ear unto me, make hast to deliver me, be unto me a God of defence, and a house of succour that thou may make me safe. Thou art my fortitude and my refuge. Thou art my Lord. My lots are in thy hands, show the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant, save me through thy mercy O Lord. Furthermore chiefly this thou art to be admonished of, which art pained with sickness, that thou thinkest not of the sins that thou hast doen, but rather behold the image of the holsom& most precious death of Christ being set before thine eyes, print that thoroughly in thy mind,& {per}suade thyself steadfastly, with thy offences that thou hast committed now not the but Christ to be bourdened, al those to be laid vpon the shoulders of christ: which hath purged them being turned vpon him,& hath paid the price of them for our sakes: so that he will never impute them unto us, but forgive them all freely, as in our creed we say, I believe the forgiveness of sins.  
¶ Here testimonies of the scripture ought diligently to be declared unto the sick person, of the remission of sins by Christ whereof we haue hereafter rehearsed some, that they might be in readiness.  
joan. 1. Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.  
1. Peter. 1. Not with corruptible things, as with gold and silver we ar redeemed, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb undefiled& without spot.  
These sayings, brother, most deeply let sink into thy mind; let this stir up& comfort the. There is no cause why thou shouldst doubt of the forgiveness of sins. For certainly if thou hast professed the name of Christ, and puttest thy confidence in his mercy, he will take away thine offences also. And if thou wilt shrynke nothing, but constantly believe this thing, even now thou art delivered from al thy misdedes, even now thou art made the son of God. There is no cause why thou shouldst waver, there is no cause why thou shouldst be afraid. But hear the testimonies, and hear them so, that thou mayest print thē in the bottom of thine hart. joan. 3. So god loved the world that he hath given his only begotten son, that none that believe in him should perish, but should haue everlasting life. He that believeth on him, shall not be condemned.  
Math. 9. I came not to call the just, but the sinners to repentance. Math. 11. Come unto me all ye which labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. He calleth al unto him, dere brother, he forsaketh none, he abjected none. In this word( all) thou shalt include thyself also& thou shalt call vpon his mercy,& he will refresh& receive the. Ro. 5. God setteth out his love that he hath to us, forasmuch as while we were yet synners, Christ died for vs. much more then now( being justified in his blood) shall we be saved from wrath through him.  
This gospel full of the chiefest consolation, to thee also good brother, would God the father haue denounced, which loveth the most entirely, For even to the Christ was sent, to the also dyed he. believe onely,& betake the to Christ thy saviour and thy revenger.  
Roma. 5. If when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son: much more seeing we are reconciled, we shalbe preserved by his life.  
1. Corin. 1. Christ is made unto us of God, wisdom, and also righteousness, and sanctifiyng, and redemption.  
Here dearly beloved brother take a good courage, how great a sinner soever thou art, there is no cause therfore why thou shouldst be faint hearted, but confess and acknowledge thyself before Christ to be an offender. Call vpon the mercy of Christ, ask pardon& believe Christ to be thy onely saviour, Christ to be thy salvation and iustice, and he will be incontinent thine,& will cover& wipe away al thy sins, that thou needest fear neither danger nor harm thereby.  
1. Cor. 5. he hath made him to be sin for us, which knew ●o sin, that we bi that means should be that ryhgteousnes which before God is allowed. Gala. 1. Christ gave himself for our sins, to deliver us from this present evil world, through the will of God our father.  
Ephe. 1. By Christ we haue redemption, through his blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.  
1. Timo. 1. Christ Iesus came into the world to save synners. This thing brother, trust thou for also, put thy faith in these words as S. paul did, then thou shalt be saved& justified.  
1. Timo. 2. Christ Iesus gave himself a ransom for al men. This believe steadfastly, and now thou art one of thē which shal be redeemed without all controversy.  
Hebre 10. we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Iesus Christ ones for all.  
Math. 26. Thou hearest Christ in his supper talking with thee, feeding thee with his body, offering unto thee that thou mayest drink his blood to eternal life, where as he saith: take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in my remembrance After the same maner he took the cup when supper was done, saying: this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is  shed for you in remission of sins: this do as oft as ye drink it in the remembrance of me. These words thou shalt think to be spoken to thee and most inwardly shalt fasten them in thy mind. For where as he speaketh unto al he speaketh also unto thee: all things shal profit thee,& turn to thy health and commodity, which Christ hath suffered, no less thē they haue helped sanct Peter& sanct paul.  
1. Peter. 2. Christ his own self hath born our sins in his body on the three.  
1. Peter. 3. Christ hath ones suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, for to bring us to God.  
1. joan. 1. The blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. 1. joan. 2. If any man haue sinned, we haue an advocate with the father, Iesus Christ which is righteous, and he is a mercy stock for our sins. Thou mayest gather more sentences or fewer, even as thou shalt se the f●ble person to be disposed.  
Thou hast hard here well-beloved brother, the words not of a man, but of the holy ghost, which do testify plainly, that God the father, which will not the death of a sinner, but that he be converted& live, for that most fragrant affection of love that he beareth toward thee, hath eased thee from the burden of thy sins,& hath laid them vpon the shoulders of his most entirely beloved son. He hath born and suffered them in his body, that they cannot comdemne the at any time, For God doth repute and take the death of his son in the place of a full and sufficient repentance, satisfaction and redemption for all thy misdeeds, so that thou wilt believe in Christ. seeing therfore that thy sins being cast vpon Christ, could not keep him in death, overcome and condemn him, in very dede now it is satisfied for them, and they all even now are forgiven thee. believe this& thou shalt live for ever. Christ himself hath born thy sins, and hath dyed for them but he is risen again, and the sins of them that believe, by Christes death abundantly are ransomed and purged. And so the strait and severe iustice of God for sin is pacified,& al that more then enough by Iesus Christ. Christ now is thine and believers, with all his riches, with his death, with his resurrection, with his ascension into heaven, with his life, with his merites,& with his glory. Ro. 8. wherefore Satan hath no power over thee, he can do the none injury, seeing that thou art justified by Christ, seeing that thou art delivered from all thy trespasses, seeing that thou art the son of God, God is thy father loving the most intyrely, for Christes sake, which hath reconciled the. Therfore be of good cheer,& rejoice in the lord, for seeing that thou art in the hands of almighty God,& saylest in the haven of thy most trusty and best father, thou art without all jeopardy, no incommodity, no adversity can happen unto the: for thou art hedged about with Gods custody and with a garrison of angels.  
Christ is thine al together, he covereth and wypeth away all thy sins by his innocency. None can draw the out of the hands of thy heavenly father. As sone as this cross and corporal punishment( which forseth being compared to the eternal life, is a most light& short thing) thou hast suffered and swallowed up, the victory is thine. Christ was in the like, yea in far more sharp& horrible pain. He went before thee, he is thy head, to whom it is necessary that thou be made like,& die to thi sins,& put of this life drenched and defiled with vices, that thou mayst live with Christ thy lord in the true everlasting life. Let not thy sins grieve the, there is no cause why thy conscience should be afflicted for them, seeing that they are now taken away& abolished. That evil spirit which imagyneth destruction to our souls, is vanquished, is utterly destroyed unto thee. God now hath a respect unto the, taketh charge of thee, defendeth and keepeth thee, all the multitude of angels& fellowship of saints regardeth the also. And as Christ cannot be dampned, so neither thou canst be dampned, if that thou cleuyng unto Christ wilt believe with all that confidence of thy heart. If that sin, death, hel, can do thy lord Christ no harm, neither can they harm thee, if that thou art in Christ& Christ in thee. Therfore thou canst never be dampned. But if thyself shouldst bear& cleanse thine own offences, then in dede thou couldst by no means be fyt to carry so heavy a burden, thi sins would far ouerway thee& swallow thee down, drowned to the deep pit of hell. But Christ being very God, and the same also very man, hath offered of his own accord himself for thee, and hath placed himself in thy rome, paying the price of al for thee, as in the lxix. psalm he saith: I am fain to pay the things I never took.  
Thou undoubted hast committed trespasses against thyself, but those Christ hath wiped out and purged for thee, and hath set thee at liberty,& made the partaker of the life that ever shall endure, if that thou wilt believe this glad tidings. although beloved brother, that the wickedness of the whole world should lie vpon the only, yet there were grace and mercy enough to be had at Gods hand yea& more then were sufficient. God hath {pro}mysed thee in Christ blessing and grace, and the same in Christ thy lord is confirmed, and established, full and perfit. Thou canst not but be saved, if that thou wilt cast thine eyes vpon Christ. nothing is more certain then thi salvation. For Christ is the natural son of God, concerning his substance the divine truth itself: concerning his humanity our blood and our flesh. Of whom shall we be more sure of the giving and performyng the promise of grace, thē of this Christ? whose own self is the truth of the same promise, who loveth us most fervently and vehemently so that he himself had rather suffer death, then to deceive us of any promise. wherefore if thou wilt believe in Christ, even now thou art made a copartener of the heavenly blyssyng, even now thou art loosed from the burden of thy sins, even now thou art the heir of God, and the coheir with Christ for ever. For heaven& earth shall pass, but the word of the Lord abideth evermore. believe ther fore brother, and with a good hope stir up thy spirit, and doubt not but that most mighty& best God, for the also, that is to say, for thi salvation was made man, yea was born for thee, died vpon the cross for the, rose again from the dead for thee, and ascended into heaven. And all those things which were promised unto us, he hath performed and given willingly. All the promises of God in Christ are, yea, and are in him. Amen.  
2. Cor. 1. wherefore require and look for none other thing of God then more grace and mercy& the same for& by Christ. For surely without Christ there is no delight, no health, no hope, no help. In this Christ alon● is all comfort, all refreshing, a● aid and defence: and to be brie● all the way to our salvation, all grace and mercy is in him, much& without measure more great, more plentiful,& more high, then any man is able either to comprehend or desire. God vouchsafe to grant unto us a steadfast and a constant faith: After this sort, or with a longer or shorter exhortation, even as the opportunity shal require, thou shalt comfort the weak person. And I monish the brother in the lord, that with as great endeavour& study as thou canst, thou with draw thy mind. from that dreadful and terrible beholding of thi sins& of death, and that thou direct all thy thoughts vpon Christ alone, look steadfastly with the eyes of thy mind vpon him cleue unto him with al thy hart receive him into the, with a full confidence of thi mind call vpon him, and betake thyself unto him wholly. For in this Christ thou shalt finde none other thing, then chief innocency, iustice, life,& soul health: which all being bestowed vpon thee by Christ, are now thine, if that thou wilt onely aclowledge Christ, as the author of thy salvation& thy redeemer. wherefore very often I exhort thee,& no less often I beate it into the( neither that unadvisedly) that thou renew not in thy mind the remembrance of thine offences, and weighing the multitude and greatness of them, thou afflict thyself. Thy sins being far banished from the, only Christ crucified set before thine eyes, print him in thy heart, vpon that be all thy study& thought, with a perfect trust flee unto him with al thi might stick to him greedily.& as one not possible to be dissolved from him. By this means thou shalt prevail& stand stoutly against the yates of hel, although they be never so vengible, fierce, and horrible, call to thy remembrance with how great kindness, with what wonderful clemency, with what unspeakable meekness and benygnitie Christ in the story of the Gospel hath accepted and handled al those synners which being landmen with repentance haue asked forgiveness, and lamentably besought him of his help. Thou shalt finde Mary Magdalene, thou shalt finde the robber which which was hanged on the right side of the cross, thou shalt find the publican, thou shalt finde zacheus and diuers other, who being received by a singular favour, he hath pronounced free from all their sins how loathsome soever they s●med to be.  
For Christ is the very grace itself, mercy, help, consolation, life, gladness and health to all those which do look for these things at his hands, and put their trust in him. God hath promised all those things for Christes sake, which is the truth and cannot lie. Therfore he never deceiveth us, he never disapointeth us, he never forsaketh vs.  
Furthermore when thou art in that case that thi life lieth in hazard, it shalbe rife in thy memory, if thou at any time hast harmed or done injury unto thy neighbour, as for example, if thou at any time hast by theft or force taken any thing away, or defamed the good name of any person. Here thou shalt do the same that Christ did vpon the cross, thou shalt pray for al thy evil wyllers, and forgive them even from thy heart all their offences. If any thing of thine be stolen from the, thou shalt not ask it again with violence. If thou thyself hast conveyed any thing away wrongfully, restore it again if thou canst, or at the least se that it be restored: neither must thou keep close any thing but confess and be sorry that thou hast sinned, and desire forgiveness. But if by reason of poverty thou art not able to make restitution of that which thou hast taken unjustly, it shalbe sufficient if thou forgive other, which either unto thi goods or person haue committed harm& damage,& by detraction haue stained thine honest report. I say if thou wilt from the bottom of thine heart forgive, there is no cause why thou shouldst be careful, comfort thi self,& doubt not but god also will pardon the thine injury which thou hast done unto other. Neither can he of a surety do any other but release him of his faults, which forgiveth his neighbour. For he himself hath taught us this means of requityng& releasyng.  
Math. 6. If ye forgive other men their trespasses, your heavenly father shall forgive you.   

¶ Whether the diseased may lawfully desire the help of the Physicions and use the remedy of medicines or no.  
LEt the patient neither set at nought the aid of the physicians, neither reverence it to much. His chief confidence let it be fixed in god, who like as alone planteth the soul in the body, so alone he plucketh it out even when his will is. sometime yet notwithstanding the physician is to be sent for, least we should seem to tempt God. For where as medicines by themself can neither bring health nor breed diseases, yet when they are ministered of a physician knowing the nature of things, and well practised in the precepts of reason, they may lawfully be called the hands and remedies of God, herophilus being witness. which thing also the holy scriptures do testify, for it is written: honour the physician: because of necessity god hath created him. The lord hath created medicine of the earth,& he that is wise will not abhor it. Sothsayers Charmers& Coniurours, with false prayers and charms will heal the infirmed, as plagues ar to be avoided and driven away: for they are the venomous hands of the evil spirites, not of al mighty God, by whose word and power all things ought to be ruled and governed.   

¶ When death putteth us in fear what is to be done.  
Thou shalt think that death is vanquished& utterly destroyed by Christ And except Christ having pity on us, had suffered death for us, the fear of death should haue vexed us with a mighty and vehement grief and with torments vnpossyble to haue been sustained. But death being now ouercommed& put to the worse by Christ, the souls of thē that believe in Christ cannot die and perish, But after the departing out of this body, they go the right way unto Christ, even as the thief heard being at the point of death: to day thou shalt be with me in paradise. In the mean season the body lieth a quiet in a sure hope that it shal rise again at the last day to that most blessed everlasting life, with noble glory, renown and honour: that being renewed and purified together with the soul may live for ever with Christ and all his elect: among whom also there shal be found many, which were joined unto us in this world, either by the bonde of amity or kindred. And therfore the holy scriptures call the death of the righteous a sleep. For this same very transitory, brikle, weak, mortal& corruptible body of ours in the last day shalbe raised even as a man is stirred up from his sound sleep,& immediately death being extynguished& abolished, it shal show itself incorruptible, glorious, bewtyfull, strong, fresh, immortal, whole, pure, sound, and spiritual. 1. Cor. 15. Therfore the 16. psalm saith: How precious is the death of the saints. These things, brother, way in thy mind, be not seduced with the world, which doth fantasy us to die wholly, that the body& the soul together doth decay and perish,& that nothing of us doth remain after the disseasyng out of this life. But it erreth far from the truth. At no time our body is so vile& so much despised before the face of god: his honor, glory and health is prepared and appointed for him. For this self same body wh●che we carry about, which lying in bed is scourged& disquieted with sickness, I say this self same body being made new again and glorified, together with the soul shall live for ever. But if we should lese our bodies, and never recover them again, nothing precious and goodly, but base, horrible, and most filthy were the death of the saints. wherefore ponderyng these things with diligence, thou shalt under prop with sentences of the scripture thy wavering mind, strengthened with a sure hoop, believe them and doubt nothing. They are certain and most true that Isay. even as the body of Christ lying buried unto the iii. day, the third day revived unto a new and everlasting life, never to die again, So also th●… bodies of all them which hath slept in christ, that is to say, which hath believed in Christ, do rest in their graues to the time onely of the most joyful& pleasant resurrection with a most steadfast hope to rise again in that last day to a new& perpetual life, where there shal be neither sin, nor death, nor any calamity at all, nor any other thing then iustice, innocency, life, gladness, blissednes& health for ever and ever. God hath promised these things, which is of an infinite power, which is the truth itself. They shall come to pass therfore without controversy. give credite to his promises, well-beloved brother.  
Furthermore the testimonies of scripture as touching the resurrection of the flesh, ought deeply to be pondered& thoroughly poured into thy mind. Sanct paul teacheth us this thing, that we establishyng one an other mutually with such like talkynges of the resurrection, may put our minds in a good comfort. Neither can there any more certain or more plentiful consolacions be given, then those that we learn out of the scriptures concerning the resurrection. We do not pronounce the words of man but of God, who without fail& that mightily will perform those things that he hath spoken. No man can change the will of God, no man can let or hinder his purpose& intent. His power is infinite: He is true& trusty, his goodness and mercy is unspeakable and never ceasing. Let no man therfore hault at this thing.   

¶ testimonies of the resurrection of the dead.  
Math. 13. The just shal shine as the son in the kingdom of their father.  
joan. 5. verily, verily I say unto you: he that heareth my word,& believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shal not come into damnation, but is scaped from death unto life. joan. 6. This is the will of my father that sent me, that every one which seeth the son and believeth on him hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  
joan. 8. verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death.  
joan. 11. Christ saith that Lazarus doth sleep, who notwithstanding had yielded up the ghost, whose corpse also already was laid in the grave. But Christ doth restore the dead to life,& calleth those things which ar not, that they may be. Roma. 4. Therfore he saith after, I am the resurrection& life, he that believe in me although he be dead shal live. forthwith after these words he raiseth up Lazarus which had lain there iiii. daies now being putrefied and eu●l sauouryng.  
And forbecause in these conflicts by nature we are weak spryted and faint hearted, that we might haue the more furtherance to believe that there shalbe a resurrection. Many are called from death to life in the time of the Prophetes& of the Apostles. christ styrreth up from the dead the son of the widow( luke. vii.) he raiseth from death the Rulers son of the synagogue.( luke. viii.) And he renyueth Lazarus( joan. xi.) Peter also bringeth again Tabitha to life( Act. ix). and paul restoreth Enrycus.( Act. xx.) Eliseus the Prophet calleth to life his hostesses son( 4. Reg. 4) and Elyas the Prophet, the deade child of the woman of Sarepta. 3. Reg. 17. Also God took up to him those two most notable and holy men Enoch.( Genesis. v.) and Elyas. 4. Reg. 2. alive both body and soul, drawn by force out of this frail and wretched life: that by thē he might show some token of the true life that is to come: lest that we also( according to the iudgement of the Ethenykes and Epicures) should believe nothing of us to remain after this sorrowful life.  
Beside al this thou shalt put the impotent sick person in mind that he may remember, what that most great and mighty lord of life and death Iesus Christ doth say luke. 8. weep not, the wench is not dead, but she sleepeth. Vnbeleuyng reason nor perceiving the mysteries of god doth skot at these things. But Christ adjoining fidelity to his words, together with this say●ng restoreth to life the dead damsel. This same lord Iesus Christ will receive thy soul& keep it, and in the last day will deliver again the body to thy soul, and couple them together to the life that ever shal endure  
joan. 5. The hour shal come, in the which al that are in the graues shall hear his voice,& shall come forth, they that haue done good, unto the resurrection of life.  
Roma. 8. But if the spirit of him that raised up Iesus from death, dwell in you: even he that raised up Christ from death, shal quicken your mortal bodies, because of his spirit that dwelleth in you.  
1. Cor. 6. God hath raised up Christ the lord, and shall raise us up by his power.  
The 15. chapter of the first to the Corinthians is stuffed with most delectable and wholesome comforth, therfore no gold to be judged worthy wherewith it might be esteemed. In the same chapter. S. paul doth so knit& fasten our resurrection to the resurrection of Christ, that it can not be separated and severed from it: by this sentence christ is risen from the deade( which is most certain) therfore with out controversy we also shall rise again: For christ is our head, and we be the membres. this head is not without his members, neither hath he left and forsaken his members. Where christ is, there also shal we be: for we ar the members of the same body, of his flesh and of his bones. Who can sufficiently to the dignity of it publish that unmeasurable glory of inestimable and unspeakable grace and mercy, that god humblyng himself from heaven to the Lowest places, vouchesafed to become a mortal man, that this transitory and frayl nature of men vnyted to the nature of god, should be exalted to everlasting life, being made partaker of the celestial kingdom, through the infinite and incomprehensyble power and myghtynesse of the deite  
If that we believed so great riches to be given unto us, and so blessed a kind of life to be prepared ready for us, after what sort, I pray you, could we be overthrown& vexed in mind? The nature of all the faithful which both were before and after Christ and shal be, without doubt in Christ very man& very God hath put on immortality. It is therfore a most full and effectual comfort of the resurrection of Christ, wherewith S. paul doth stablish the heartes of the Corinthians, where as he saith: Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that sleep. For by a man came death, and by a man came the resurrection of the deade. For as by Adam all die: so by Christ, shall all bee made alive, but every man in his order. The first is Christ, then they that are Christes.  
Sanct paul addeth here unto a similitude of natural things whereby the resurrection of the bodies clearly and manifestly may bee perceived and opened. The simylytude is taken of the seed, which being cast dry in to the ground of the husbandman, doth as it were die and rot: yet bestowed in the earth doth not perish utterly: but it springeth out of the ground new and fresh with a pleasant goodly& delectable form and shape: so also our body shal rise again, not corruptible, transitorye, frail, feeble, and mortal as it is now, but fair, comely, deautyfull, mighty, of perfect strength, and immortal, into the everlasting life. This is the way by this bodily death into the true and eternal life, into the native country. flesh and blood cannot attain unto the inheritance of the kingdom of God, in the which there is nothing but life. And therfore this corruptible body must put on incorrupcion,& this mortal body be endued with immortality. Then that saying shalbe fulfilled which is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. they that believe in Christ even now haue ouercommed syn, death& hel: Therfore thou despising death and being now stout and courageous in Christ, shalt say: Death, where is thy sting? hel where is thy victory? the sting of death is sin? the power of sin is the lawe, but praise be unto God which hath given us victory, through our lord Iesus Christ. We will rehearse also other sentences full of most plentiful consolation.  
1. Cor. 4. He that raised the lord Iesus Christ from the dead, will raise us up also.  
Phil. 3. Our conversation is in heaven from whence we look for the saviour, even the lord Ies{us} Christ, which shal change our vile body, that he may make it like to his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able also to subdue all things unto himself.  
Colos. 1. ye are dead,& your life is hid with Christ in God. whensoever Christ( which is our life) shall show himself, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  
1. Tessa. 4. I would not brethren that ye should be ignorant concerning them which are, f●llen a s●eape, that ye sorrow not as other do which haue no hope. For if we believe that Iesus dyed and rose again, even so them also which sleep by Iesus, will God bring again with him. Sanct paul also comforteth Tymothe his disciple with the artikle of the resurrection, by these words: remember that Iesus Christ of the seed of david, rose again from death, according to my gospel. If we be deade with him, we shall also live with him: If we bee patient, we shall also reign with him. 2. Timo. 2.  
To the hebrews 2. he saith: Christ by the grace of God for us to haue tasted of death. And in the same place he affirmeth that Christ was made partaker of flesh& blood, that is to say, was very man, that through death he might expel him that had lordship ouerdeath, which is, the devil,& that he might deliver them, which thorough fear of death were al their life time subdued unto bondage.  
2. Timo. 1. God hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling: not according to our deeds but according to his own purpose and grace: which was given us through Christ Iesu before the world began, but is now declared openly by the appearing of our saviour Iesu christ, which hath put away death, and hath brought life& immortality unto light.  
1. joan. 3. we know that we are translated from death to life, because we love our brethren.  
1. joan. 4. In this appeareth the love of God to us ward, because that god sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through him.  
job. 19. I am sure, that my redeemer liveth, and that I shal rise out of the earth in the latter day: that I shall be clothed again with this skin, and se God in my flesh. yea I myself shal behold him, not with other but with these same eyes.  
These testimonies of scripture he which attentyuely doth ponder, cannot but be moved with the greatest comfort& exceeding much gladness. Of that thing sanct paul may be a most evident example unto us, who being merry from his heart, doth rejoice to himself, that he hath known Christ and the power of his resurrection, whereby our death is vanquished. Now therfore death unto them which believe in Christ, is dead, ther is now no terrible thing in death that ought to be dreaded and feared beside the image and form, even as a serpent destroyed doth keep that his old& dread full shape, but as to hurt, he hath no power in him. And in like case as by that brazen serpent erected in the wilderness by Moyses, through the divine power of the word when it was looked vpon, lively serpentes dyed, neither could the Iewes be poisoned with the venom of the living serpentes: so also our death dieth,& is made harmless& nothing to be feared, if we will behold with the eyes of our layth the wholesome death of christ. To be brief, death is like the image and shadow of death, yea rather the beginnning and entre into the true life. christ which is the truth itself, doth say: If any man will observe my words, he shall never see death. Howe I pray you cometh this to pass? I will show you. A man trusting in the mercy of Christ, thorough faith learned out of the gospel, is so incorporated( if I may so say) with Christ his lord, which is the true life, so knit and copled, that he cannot be divided and sundered from him. This body therfore is partend from the soul, in a perfect hope of a glorious resurrection unto life everlasting. For within a little space of time, the body is restored unto the soul again, that it may enjoy the endless bliss. And so believing in christ, the eternal death of the body and soul, that is, everlasting damnation& very death in deed, he doth not see. For undoubtedly the death of the righteous is a passage and a going out of this mortal, into an immortal life, to Christ, to the Angels, and to al the saints.   

¶ When hel and damnation everlasting coming to mind do fear vs.  
THat malicious spirit doth cast in to a man a marvelous carefulness of his predestinacion, prompting him with these cruel& horrible thoughts: what if thou didst not please god? what if he hath rejected the? how knowest thou that thou art in the number of them whom god hath chosen to eternal life. These& like long temptations are most bitter,& most fiercely do freat and turment the mind. wherefore it is needful hear that thou stand( as they say) on both feet, and steadfastly in this brunt that thou defend thy partes. Also if thou wilt win the victory in this conflycte, thou must set vpon him with this policy& this art. immediately when these temptations are thrown into the of Satan, see that thou fall not in disputation with him, see that thou meddle not with him, and answerest him of the contrary part: but with these words or thoughts him deferred drive from the: Get thee hence Satan avoyde with evil speed. It is written, Thou shalt not tempt thy Lord God. Where as God always of his fatherly affection toward me hath replenished me with the greatest& most infinite benefits, where as he hath endowed me with this life,& hath nourished& preserved the same hitherto, where as he hath heaped me with all kind of good things, what madness were it to doubt any thing of his mercy? where as he hath imputed me in the number of the christians being received by baptism into his flock, where as he hath called me to the gospel of his grace, in the which he hath promised me that he would be my father how should I not look for the b●st things from him,& promise to myself the chiefest good things of him? howe should not his will be most ready and at hand,& most inclined towards me? what need many words? It is a most foolish and daungerous thing, to follow these fantasies of destiny. Furthermore thou shalt overthrow and prevent these thoughts with other, wherewith God will that thy mind bee occupied: undoubted with these which Christ himself hath appointed where as he saith: he that believeth in Christ doth not perish but hath everlasting life.  
dost thou not hear that he which believeth in Christ, which doth aclowledge christ to be his sanctifycacion, health, and iustice, cannot be dampned? and that he shalbe a partaker of salvation and life eternal? As many therfore as do trust in the mercy of Christ without controversy ar of the number of them which are elected to everlasting life: in christ fore known and predestinate, being long syns written in the book of life. But they that ar predestinate to eternal life, are made like to the image of Christ. faith whereby they are accounted just before God, they receive not but out of the word of God. By this faith therefore, that is, by a sure confidence of mercy, granted freely for Christes sake, they are saved. These sayings are most certain and far most true. God can neither be deceived nor deceive any man. This is the counsel of God the father being most meek, and a lover vnfaynedly of mankind. These he hath so from the beginning purposed, so fore known, so determined. Ther is no cause ther fore, that those things should hinder or make the agayshed, which that enemy envying our welfare, and devising ruin to our soul, do●h instruct thewith and object against these things. Take hede onely that thou believing in Christ, dost comfort thyself with the hope of his mercy, and there shalbe no peril at al. For if thou dost put thy hope& confidence in Christ, Christ is thine& thou art Christes. he redemyng the, thou canst not perish and be dampned by no means. For in very deed they that believe in Christ, are drawn by the father unto Christ. By the same Christ he will them to b● saved, neither any of them to be cast away.  
wherefore see that thou be of a bold courage, se that thou believe firmly, and conceive a good hope of Christ. whosoever they be that believe in Christ, the same ar predestinate unto life everlasting. Our eyes therfore ought to be bent toward Christ, we ought to flee unto him, this our onely and true saviour must be apprehended with faith, if we intend to bee saved. Here let every man diligently ponder that wayghty exhortation of s. Paul whose words are these: Let us run with patience unto the battle that is set before us, looking unto Iesus the captain& finisher of al our faith, which( for the ioy that was set before him) abode the cross, and despised the shane, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. Furthermore every temptation where with( being most intolerable) Christ was vexed, for our sake and for us he suffered, the same sanct Paul to the hebrews the .iiii. being witness: we haue not an high priest which cannot haue compassion on our infirmities, but was in al points tempted, like as we are, but yet without syn. Let us therfore go boldly unto the seat if grace, that we may obtain mercy, and finde grace to help in time of need. These things brother, print in thy heart. christ was given unto us, first for this cause, that he should redeem us, reconcile us and make us parteners of everlasting salvation: next, that he should be an example unto us, to lead and pass our life holily. Therfore if thou dost covet to depart out of this world devoutly and blyssedly, see that( Christes death being put before thine eyes) after his example thou end thy life. For Christ is set forth before us, an example to follow, in life, in all affliction, in death.  
No man shal live virtuously, no man shall endure tribulations, no man shal die happily, except he will endeavour himself to follow the life and death of Christ being put before him. By Christes death, the death of all the godly people is swallowed up& clearly extinct. wherefore thou shalt consider and way attentively what kind of death he suffered, howe he behaved himself in that far most sore contention, when hanging on the cros he was oppressed with most heinous temptations. Be a follower of this Christ, calling for the help of God.  
first he was tempted with death when it was objected unto him: he hath saved other, himself he cannot save. As though they had said: now is he lost, he must needs die& perish utterly No man shal deliver him out of our hands. After the same sort that enemy also of ours unpossible to be reconciled unto us, will strike the fear of death in to vs. But be thou the more stout on the other side. life up thi stomach, and confirm it with a good hope. Christ hath destroyed that conquered enemy. Thou shalt overcome him also by Christ. Direct the buckler of faith in Christ. Thy lord Christ king of glory, and the same lord of life, is not made subject to death. but he liveth& reigneth. This lord and thy champion living& reigning, will not leave thee destitute, nor suffer that death may execute vpon the such a tyranny. He cannot disappoint the, neither death he lie, seeing that he is the truth. conceive this trust in him, promise to thyself the best things of him,& thou shalt live with him for ever. truly whereas he would haue the tossed with temptations, and feel the death of the body, that altogether is done for thy love. Neither forsooth is there any other way to go into that true and endeles life, then by the death of the body. Therfore this life is to be forsaken and laid aside, if thou wilt attain to the everlasting life. So after this life thou shalt begin at the last to live in dede. Furthermore this corporal death availeth to this thing, that the sharpness and sowernes of it being tasted, thou mayest haue the porfe and knowledge, how burning the zeal of Christes love toward the hath been, what an inestimable benefit he hath bestowed vpon the, when giving himself to death for thee, he payed with his body and wiped away all thy transgressions, death being wholly blotted out and annulled, the yates of hell cast down, overthrown,& shaken in pieces. For thou couldst never otherwise haue tried and understood howe mighty the operation and power of life in Christ had been, who hath devoured our death, neither shouldst thou haue known the greatness of the benefit, neither haue yielded thankes so fervently to christ thy Lord and redeemer. wherefore christ living, thou shalt live also:& this death shalbe unto the a certain happy and wholesome sleep, an access and a wicket into that perfect and most blessed life.  
secondarily, Christ was tempted with sin, as an evil doer, and one guilty of a most heinous offence, when it was cast unto him as a reproach: If thou art the son of God, come down from the cross: Thou hast saved other, why dost thou not save thyself? These spytful words what other thing do they import, then that they judged him to haue beguiled men by fraud, deceipts, subtlety, guyles, and naughty crafts: And to be nothing less then the son of God, yea rather a most wicked ungracious,& vengeble ma●. In like case Satan temptyng man being now in hazard of his life, what soever at any time hath been committed of him against god, he layeth afore him,& invadeth his mind with whoale cart loads of sins,& heapeth them up into an huge greatness, whereby he may bring him to desperation, wavering in the mercy& forgiveness of god, through the bitterness& heavy bourdeine of his sins. And here thou resysting mightily with a stedye foot, shalt put back thy so assautyng the, with ●hese words: I grant that I am a most great and grievous sinner: but Christ guilty of no sin, that innocent lamb in whose mouth there was found no guile for my sins hath t●sted cruel death, by him all are appeased, how heavy& how many soever they be, for them al plenteously satisfaction is made. The death of christ also is a pacifying sacrifice for my sins. Christ truly hath born my weakness, Christ himself in very deed hath sustained my sorrows, he was wounded for mine iniquities, he was torn for my wickedness: by his passion I am saved. He hath turned all mine offences unto himself. I now know none I thank Christ, which hath acquitted them all with his body.  
readily, he was tempted with hel or eternal damnation, when they laid to his charge he trusted in God, let him deliver him, let him save him now, if he will haue him. As though they had said: all the confidence that he hath in God shall deceive him: God turneth himself from him and abhorreth him, and being thrust down into hel, will condemn him for ever. when that t●mpter shall provoke the also with like temptations, see that thou ones move not thy foot.  
There is no cause why thou should●st tremble: bee nothing dreadful. Let them not stir thee at al, how sore soever they seem to be that he sheweth thee. Put out of thy mind& annoyed far from thee, as well sin, as death& hel. They haue no rule over thee, if thou wilt behold christ with thine eyes. lay hand vpon him, betake thi self wholly to him. Christ is thine, christ bequeueth himself all together unto thee. He from the tyranny of the devil and everlasting damnation, with an inestamable price hath ransomed thee. This Christ is thy innocency, thy life,& thy iustice. Beware onely that thi heart be not withdrawn from christ crucified by any kind of temptation. If thou wilt cleue to this Christ, even as though thou were placed vpon an high, most sure, and inuyncible rock, thou art safe from all the yates of hel: that thou mayst with Christ cry aloude: I haue set God always before me, for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall. wherefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced, my flesh also shal rest in hope. Thou shalt show me the path of life: in thy presence is the fullness of ioy and at thy right hand is pleasure for evermore. By such a faith in christ thou art the son of God, brother& coheir of Christ and a partaker of life everlasting. This faith belieth the just, that is to say, believers in christ. For this faiths sake thou art the blessed son of the celestyal father,& passing from hens, thou shalt take the way into the kingdom of heaven, prepared for the elect children from the foundation of the world. But if thy faith in temptations doth staggar and waver, And when thou takest not the will of God the father patiently& soberly enough, when thy love toward God is some what cold, when thy hope is feeble and slender, and therfore art in fear lest God and thou shouldst mysagree, or lest thou shouldst haue his wrath kyndeled against thee: This doubtless is a most weighty, a most laborous, and a most difficute temptation. But thy thought& persuasion to thyself shalbe, dear brother, that christ hath abode for thy sake an intolerable and an invincible temptation, wherein there appeared no help, comfort, aid, or defence at all, wherein both God& the whoale world seemed to be most fierce and most utter enemies, when he cried out: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Oh this most dreadful& sore temptation? Good God, how sharp, how painful, how hard, how sour was that death, which he became subject unto for our sakes, that he might make the way of the cross easy unto us? Therfore seeing that christ of his own accord hath submytted& humbled himself to these so horrible& intolerable griefs and calamities( our most loving heavenly father willing the same) without all peradventure he knoweth and wyteth our weakness also, no doubt he having pity vpon us, will not handle us according to the rigour of the lawe, but will bear much with our infirmity.  
Doth not he, calling every each one unto him, say: Come unto me all ye that labour and are laden, and I will refresh you?  
what fuller, what larger comfort, I pray you, may be given at al? Many and exceeding weighty things of truth, do afflycte and ●reate mankind.  
What more grievous thing can there bee to fray, what more cruel thing can there bee to discruciate& turment the conscience of man soused in sins, then when he doubteth in the mercy of God, when he dreadeth lest god be against him& casteth him up, when he hath no power to receive this faith or confidence of mercy,& doth fantasy himself as a wethered member to be cut of& rejected? Here O Iesu christ be redy with thy present aid and help: Here there is need of refreshinge, lest this, black, outrageous,& rough tempest of waves do drown thee miserable vanquished man. But there is no cause why we should be inconstant: christ is not vain: he maketh his promises to take effect, he will recreate and fortify vs. At what time therfore that thy faith is not stable enough, at what time that thy hart is landmen with fearfulness and dread, at what time that thou feelest thyself to faint in the mercy of God, and to be as it were endowed with no faith, straight way call vpon God, beseech him of mercy,& bewail thine incredulity, crave his succour with earnest requests, and he will strengthen& help thee, and from thensfurth thou shalt glorify and praise him. He hath taken vpon him to perform the same, and he will accomplish it: Thou onely beware that thou ceassest not to call vpon him. With out intermission cry unto that father of all consolation with sighs, slowing from the bottom of thy stomach, that he may not withdraw his countenance from thee. Poure into his bosom thine imbecility, yea and every each thing that grudgeth and paineth thee: cry aloude with the disciples, Lord increase my faith: Also with the father of the lunatyke: I believe lord, fulfil that that wanteth in my belief. Lord make hast to help me, before that I sink being made to stoupe with this so huge a burden. Thy mercy is above all thy works. O most merciful, O most benign father Lord God of my salvation, my defence, and my refuge, enter not into iudgement with thi servant. Christ is my iustice, and my redemption, and mine innocency, who for my love hath been content to abide the most displeasaunt and most rigorous death. Let these things move thee O father of all mercy. For this thi son Christes sake haue compassion vpon me: confirm and fortify my heart with faith in Christ, stir me up with the comforts of the holy spirit, that I may euerlastyngly possess the perfect joys in Christ. so be it. In this maner thou labouryng, wrestling and striving with thy weakness, blaming and bewaylyng before God thine vnbeleif and faint courage, if thou shalt lay hold vpon Christ, and being caught adjoin thyself fastely and greedily unto him, asking and praying for succour with flagrant and contynr al desires, that he supplyinge thy room may make that perfect that wanteth in thee: If thou shalt do these things, then all thing frameth to the best: then is it well and very excellently with thee, there is no danger at all, the matter is safe. For these .ii. things, to believe in Christ, and to desire faith with fervent requests, differ not much in sunder. Although thou art feeble& adorned with a weak spirit, let this nevertheless comfort& encourage thee, that God commandeth and willeth himself to be called vpon,& that he hath made a covenant being called vpon, to incline his ear unto us, and assist us with his help. Furthermore as nothing is required of God more justly, then a true faith, so he heareth no prayer sooner or more gladly, thē that which a man finding no goodness in himself, knowledgyng his infirmity, his poverty and misery, bewailing and cursing his incredulity, doth poure out before him, coveting faith with careful& often accustomend sighs, and most vehement requests. These requests, these sighs, these prayers, this faith how small and little soever it be, surely is a goodly and a devout spark, the seed of God, which springeth not forth except that God worketh and be effectual in us: who by the prophet Esay saith of christ. Chap. 42. The smoking flax shal he not quench& a brosed rede shal he not brek. wherefore se that thou constantly believe in Christ, or at the lest pray with ardent desires that thou may believe, lamenting before God thy want of faith. If thou wilt do thus, thou needest to doubt no whit that thou art reputed of God to be just, to bee his son: who not unadvisedly nor in vain hath laid vpon Christ his onely begotten son our frayeltie and our offences. In the v. chapter of s. matthew Christ himself saith: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  
Blessed are they that morn, for they shal receive comfort. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shalbe satisfied. These words are pronounced to thee also, most loving brother, these agree properly unto thee. Thou sorrowest and art pensise for thi life evil passed over, from thy heart thou lamentest, thou thirstest and hungerest after righteousness: believe, be of good cheer, the things that thou covetest thou shalt receive,& now thou art righteous before God by Christ. After this, by the example of Christ and sanct Stephan thou shalt commit thy spirit into the hands of God the father, by these words: Into thy hands( O most merciful father) I commend my spirit, yea thi spirit rather, seeing that thou hast bequeued it me for a time graffed into this body, seeing that it is thi proper image and similitude made unto thy likeness, seeing that to redeem the same thi only begotten son hath shed his most precious blood. This thy spirit( I say) often times I commend into thy hands, O most favourable father, O God of all compassion. thine I am all wholly, receive I beseech thee, preserve and due with eternal life me thine own, for Iesus Christes sake thy onely begotten son our Lord. So beit, so be it.   

¶ Of the making of the last will, and of the confession of sins.  
When as yet a perfect mind existeth in the body, their testament ought to be ordained, which haue of their own to bequeue and may lawfully make their will: lest that if they sung that business unto the last moment of life, they be prevented with death. Therfore let him which hath lawful heirs be counseled, that he betake to thē all the charge of his testament. And if he hath gotten any goods wrongfully, or be in debt to any person, let him declare that openly and see that his debts be discharged. These being finished, let him put apart from him all such as are bent to trouble him with any worldly matters, wherein very many do offend without measure, which to him that no we lieth at the point of death, do cast doubts of his testament& of outward matters, and sometime do compel him to subscribe, yea and that withdrawing himself, vnwyllyng,& abhorring their importunity by whom he can not be suffered quietly to depart. Thē the which friends, what can therebe more vnfrendly? Afterward if the kind of the disease doth suffer, let him endeavour himself, before that he goeth in hand with his body, to heal his soul by a short confession, but sincere& without falsehood, and receyne of a priest the remedy of penance with aful faith and greatest reverence, from the bottom of his stomach let him call vpon the mercy of god and purpose with himself to amend his life if it fortune him to be recovered of his infyrmitie. But if it chance that a priest be not at hand, let him not forthwith( as certain supersticions folk are wont) tremble and cast down his mind, but to god himself from his heart let him disclose his vnrighteousenesse, who of his clemency will vouchsafe too accept the intent of the mind for the act itself, and fulfil of his singular grace, that that wanteth in the outward signs of the sacramentes, for bi him all the sacramentes take their effect, which after a sort are tokens of his godly beneficence towards us: but the same god without signs when need shall require hath a respect to mannes safeguarde, onely that neglegence and contempt of the sacraments be absent, and faith with a prompte good will be presently redy   

¶ Of the communion, and of extreme unction.  
The mind being purified by a true and perfect comfession justly made unto God and the priest, let the patient with al his might desire the most reverent sacrament of the body and blood of Christ to be brought unto him. And let him in especialli beware that he come not unto the communion or that sacred holy table with defiled hands. For it is not to be supposed those most grievous thretes which are mentioned of s. Paul to be frustrate. Therfore after that he hath prepared himself according to his capacity and manners, let him devoutly ponder and pronounce these words: Lord thou art the viand of our pilgrimage, wherewith we are recreated and nourished as long as we travail in this wild world and run in this race. lead me therfore O lord by this receiving of the body into the land of the living, into that country of the living, where I shall behold thee face to face in the glory of the father. When he hath made an end of these sayings, let him receive the sacrament of ●he body of Christ with a plentiful saith in the remembrance of his death and passion. The lords supper being finished, if the sickness be judged curable by no art of Phisycke, let the priest pray over the diseased, a●oyntyng him with oil, not by ●●ttyng to any charms as the Ethenikes are accustomend) but by calling vpon the name of our lord Iesus Christ, thē the which there is no kind of enchauntment more effectual. Let a sure confidence also be annexed to the prayers, thē god will hear thē,& save the sick person. Ia. 5. Neither only the health of the body shalbe restored unto him( if that shalbe profitable for the sick) but also if he hath committed sins( as for the most parte the infirmities of the body spring of the il dispositions of the mind) they shalbe forgiven him at the prayers of the elders, if that faith commendeth both those that do pray and him for whom they pray.   

¶ That sorrow should be measured by the right rule of reason, which for the death of their parentes& friends of very many is taken more then ought to be.  
AL measure and reason set a side, to give himself wholly to weeping, belongeth not to a christian man but rather to an Ethinike: which neadeth no further confirmation then this onely reason, that with no lamentation( though it be never so great, and frequented never so many yeres) they that be mourned for, can be restored again to life. Therefore these tears are in vain& of no force and such as bring forth neither fruit nor profit: whereof king david hath left us a notable example: who as long as the infant born of Bethsabee syckened sore, fasted and wept pytiouslye, and going in, lay vpon the earth, praying unto the Lord for the health of the child. But as soon as he understood by his servants whysperyng together that the child was deade, he cast of the mourning and filthy garments, and clothed himself with more cleanly apparel, washed his face and the table being spread did eat with a cheerful countenance. His servants merua●lyng at that thing( thinking that he would haue vexed himself sorer, hearing of his chyldes death, who whilst that it yet lived, after such a sort wasted himself with fasting and tears) and asking him the cause thereof, he answered: for the child while it was yet alive, I fasted& wept: For this I said: who can tell whether the Lord will give me him, and the child may live? But now seeing he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him again any more? I shall go to him rather, he shal not come again to me. By the which words david sheweth wisely, that we should not bewail or be sorrowful for him, which cannot be recovered and called again. And S. Cyprian also in his sermon of the mortality of mankind, protesteth himself often to haue ben admonished by a holy reuelacion, yea& commanded of God, that he should openly teach and preach unto al men, that those brethren ought not to bee lamented for, which by a divine calling do vanyshe out of this world: and that this wailyng is abhorred of God,& nothing acceptable unto him. yet lest we should seem to be hard& stony hearted, or else to haue loved our friend departed, but slenderly and after the commune sort, it is meet that we should pardon him, which wepeth of a godly zeal and a sincere affection of pity, so that he passeth not the bonds of reason. For Christ our lord, the most absolute image of all virtues, lovingly bewailed Lazarus being deade:& h●s devout sisters Mary and Martha highly are commended in that they lamented their brothers funeral. Also those seruisable women, which stood diligently by christ, suffering the greatest extremities vpon the cross, are not unworthily praised, in that they mourned for him being dead& butted with much weeping. Furthermore we red in the acts of the Apostles of. s. Stephan the first martyr, that devout men( as touching the funerals which were done in the burial) dressed him,& made great lamentation over him. Beside these, Ecclesiasticus also advertiseth us to weep for the dead, but not immoderatlye, neither for a long season, saying: when one death make lamentation for him, because the light faileth him. Make but little weeping for the dead, for he is come to rest. Also very many epistles of the holy father S. jerome conforting those that are alive vpon the death of the discessed, do wonderfulli make to the confirmation of the same matter which we now entreat of. For they enforce both by authorities of scripture and also by pythy arguments, that they ought not to bee lamented for without measure, which haue changed their life for death: As that epistle, which is written to heliodorus of the death of Nepotian: and that which he sent to Paula of the sleep of Blesylla hir daughter: and that which is written to Tyrasius concerning the departing of his daughter: And dyvers other Epistles of the same most blessed father touching the like matter.   

¶ An exhortation to all that profess the name of Ch●ist.  
NOw I desire and beseech ●ou for the mercy of god as many as are name christians, that sometime at the last forsaking this old hateful darkness& error, you would return to a more thrifty kind of life,& hear the wholesome word of god received with most earnest endeavour& holynes of mind, and knocking without cease, you would pray unto the father in heaven through Christ that he would instruct us, and open unto us the true knowledge of Christ: that ungodliness and worldly lusts being laid aside, we may live soberly, ryghteously, and devoutly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and appearance of the glory of the great God and our saviour Iesus Christ: who hath given himself for us, that he might redeem us from al iniquity and make clean unto himself a peculiar people, a follower of good works.  
The word of grace, light, and all comfort hath shined unto us by the mighty benefit of god, we haue excellent and very many examples in holy scripture witnessing the inconsumable goodness, long sufferringe, and meekness of god towards us: whexeby it may be sene, howe God will not that we be lost, but that we turn and live: howe sone also his most just wrath is appeased: howe lightly he pardoneth our deserved punishment, at what time we ernestlye repentyng do think to amend our life. We being moved with these things brethren, let us also fle unto god in al adversity, let us crave of him with continual prayers, that all our sins, being mercifully forgiven, he would vouchsafe for his dearly beloved sons sake Iesus christ, to keep, nourish, defend,& comfort us,& to be speedily at hand with his present help in al necessity. david being cast into extreme peril, when that for his offence by the violence of the plague. 70. thousand men died within a few dayes incontinently as soon as he had resorted unto God for succour, opening his fault, asking pardon, beseeching god of his mercy,& rearinge up an altar in the threshinge floer of Areunah the jebusite had offered burnt sacrifices& peace offerings, GOD was appeased with the land( saith the scripture) and the plague ceased from Israel. ii. Regum. xxiiii.  
By the example of him, you like wise dear brethren confessing your sins, call for the grace and mercy of God, rendering unto him an acceptable sacrifice of a penitent and contrite heart,& he will be ready with his help unto you, neither will give you over at any time. In like case God sending jonas doth threttē to destroy niniveh a city most full of people and most famous: But incontinently after the ninivites had done repentance at the preaching of jonas, God extendyng his pity vpon them, the trespass being forgiven he withdrew the punishment.  
The example of these men put before you, brethren, to follow. mistrust not the mercy of God, for not as yet truly the