The Solace of the Soul Against the Bitter Storms of Sickness and Death
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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
The solace OF THE SOUL AGAYNST the bitter storms of sycknes and death, greatly encouragynge the faithful, patiently to suffer the good pleasure of God in all kind of aduersite, newly set forth in Englysshe by Thomas Becon.
Prouerbi. iii.
Anno. M.D.XLVIII.
TO THE REDER.
VERE notable is this saying of our LORD and savior Jesus Christ he that continueth unto the ende, shall be safe, for it declareth unto us, that though the most and greatest parte of our life seemeth to be spente both faithfully, and godly, yet if we persevere not in tha • faith and godliness even unto the last breath, but let slyppe our hold, that we have had heretofore of faith and godly conuersatyon in Christ Jesus, all the labors, pains and trauayles, that we have sustained in the former parte of our life, are frustrate and vain. For noman that putteth his hand to the Ploughe and looketh back, is mete unto the kingdom of God. And it is written in the Reuelatiō of saint John. Be faithful unto the • eath, and I shall give the y • crown of life, the crown of life is prom • sed. But to whom? verily to those that be faithful even unto death, as saynte Paul saith. Noman is crowned except he stryueth laufully, to strive laufully, is not to play the cowarde in the battle of Christ our captain, & to give place to our adversaries, but at all times valeauntly to fight agaynt them with the strong and mighty shylde of faith, and so to continue even unto the ende. And albeit this conflycte between the faithful Christyanes and there enemies be at all times ieoperdous and full of peryl, yet in in the time of syckenes, and when death beginneth to draw nigh, it is most dangerous. In health and prosperite Satan's assaults seme to be but tryfles and things of daliauns, but in aduersite, trouble, sycknes and death, they appere most vehement, grievous, terrible and not able to be resysted, at which time, if we give place, we are undone, if we manfully resist, the victory is ours. We must therefore (godly reder) against this so perilous time of sycknes and death, so furnyshe our selves unto this battayll, that we be not put to flyghte, ever remembrynge that our strife and fyghting, is not against blood and flesh, but against Rulers, against powers, against the lords of the world, the Governors of the darkness of this world, against spiretuall subtilities or wylynesses in heavenly things, I mean Satan with all his infernal army and deuellysh warryours. And forasmuch as our pryncipal conflycte and chief battle is in y • time of sycknes & pains of death, and seeing we have then most need of consolation and comfort, that we be not overcome nor subdued of our enemies, but know how we shall both take the cross of Christ, appere it to y • flesh never so painful, & put our adversaries to flight & so continue faithful to the ende: I have translated this lytel treatise following, wherein y • shall • find most sweet & present comfort both for thyself & other, an armoures or wepens to defend thyself against all thyn enemies, that not they over the, but thou over them mayst full gloriously triumph, & get the victori through Jesus christ our grād • captain, this lytyl work I wish • to be in the hands of all the faithful at all times, but specially in y e time of there sycknes, y • thei might learn • unfeignedly to rejoice in tribulatiō and valeātly to strive against th • enemies, the flesh, the world, y • diui • hell, syn, death and desperatiō. Yea • I wish y • all the faithful in the tim • of there sickness might have this tr • atyse red unto thē, ether of there cu • rates or of some other faithful Christians: so should thei w t out all doubt fin • e exceeding great comfort, patiently & thankfully bear the cross that god layeth vpō thē, & with glad hearts wish with S. Paul to be losoned frō this wretched body and to be with Christ in glory. Farewell good Reder, & pray that the Gospel of our health, which is the mighty power of god unto saluatiō for every one that believeth, may have free passage emonge us unto the utter subuersiō of Antichrist & his kingdom. Pray also, that we may so lede our lyfes in all things conformable to the will of god, that through our godly manners & Christian conversation we may garnyshe & beautifye the doctrine of our savior & Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the father and the holy ghost be all glory praise and honor, worlds without ende.
THE SOLACE OF THE SOUL.
T HOV SHALTE Euer be at this pointe (o thou Christiane) which art sick and dyseased, faithfulli to believe that thy punishment & trouble cometh not unto the by chauns or fortune, but by the appoyntmente, council and sufferauns of God. What soe • er syckenes, calamyte or myscry chaunchethe to the godly, all that come to pass at the appoyntmente, will & pleasure of God. For in him we live, move, and have our being. He hath made us, and not we our selves. Nether shalt thou doubt, but that of a right good and very fatherly mind he sendeth the what so ever dysease thou hast, not to destroy the, but to call the unto reap̄tauns, and to exercise, prove, try, and store up thy faith. For afflyctions are the sure signs & undoubted tokens of God's high mercy, and syngulare good will. Whō he loveth, him he correcteh, saith Salomō. He scourgeth every son, that he receiveth: that thy moste tender heavenly father, which so dearly loveth the, according to his singular good appointmēte, & of an ernest bent good will toward the, with this thy aduersyte even as it were with bonds doth pluck back, refrain, and mortify thy old man, that y • mayst crucyfye with Christ the gladlier & more cherfully thi body & offer it as a sacryfice: this thy di • ease therefore, wherewith thou art vexed, is a fatherly chastysemente laid upon the, not that thou shuldest be distroied, but that thou shuldest be amended, quickened & made a new man. Paraduenture God the the father seeth, that thy old Adam is fearse, stobborne, froward unruly take his pleasure, liveth more licenciously thē becometh him followeth his awn carnal affects, & can keep him self in no good order, therefore doth he cast this as an halter upon him, snarl him with this fetters and chenes, spearethe him in this prison & dengden, overcometh him with this punyshment, that he may brydle him, knock him down and keep him under awe, that he cast in to perell & put in extreme ieoperdye thy most noble and precious soul: flesh and blood reign and bear more rule in the, thā the spirit: here is god present with thy spirit, & helpeth her stryuing against the fearse vnrul • and rebellious flesh, that she may overcome, subdue and tread under foot the flesh. If that were in good health and in bodily prosperite now, peradventure, the flesh (as it is always naturally disposed, pro • e and bent unto y • devil) should deceive the and cast the into many and grievous sins against God wherewith God being dyspleased thou shuldest be in danger of cursyng and dampnatiō: that thy heavenly father preuentyng this incōmodite and perell, and prouidynge for the and thy health, bryngethe under and kepethe down thy flesh, which with all main and ferse waxeth wood against the spirit, and is evermore contrary to it, that it be not waloued forth into y • most stinking and filthy pudle of sin, but be subject and obedyent to the spyrite: forasmuch than as this is the pleasure of thy most loving Father, again seeing that all thyngesturne unto thy cōmodite & wealth, take hede dylygenlye (O brother) that thou dost not strive against the good will of God but, suffer & pray y • the will of thy father may be done in the, that he may handle the as he thinketh best, and that thou mayst not wysshe covet or desire any thing, but that he shall think good, that all things may turn to the glory and praise of god and that he may assyste the with his grace, that thou mayst patiently and thankfully bear the cross that is laid upon the: for patience bryngethe experyence, experyence bringeth hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. Here hast thou an occasion to exercise and learn patience in all thi troubles. Fyrst thou lernest that God of a fatherly mind punisheth the, and this dost thou learn by experyence, for except thou dedyst prove in very deed, how health full it were to give over thyself wholly to God, to obey his will, (as David saith, it is highly for my profit, that y • hast punished me) thou couldest not conceive a certē and sure hope of him, having no experyēce before that a mind so fatherlye and wonderfully desirous of the high hid under this cross and rod. But seeing thou hast learned that before by experience, and haste now some taste of that thing, thou dost not despair in any trouble, but thy hope increaseth streyghtewayes, seeing thou hast before oftentymes proved▪ the help of God prese • t. And although he wynketh at the matter, and sometime suffereth the for a certain space to styke & stand fast in the mire, yet at the last he retcheth forth his helping hands, delyuereth & saveth the: he suffereth the to swymme for a certain space, yea & to be overwhelmed with waters, but he sufferethe the not to be drowned. Hereof mayste thou gather a sure hope, that he will never leave the socou • les nor cast y • awai, seeing he hath preserved the being so often in ieoperdye: in aflyctyons and trubles therefore dost thou learn to conceive and nouryshe a good and undoubted hope of God, that even in the most grievous afflyctions of all, where no help at all appeareth, thou mayste trust unto him, being now thorouly taught his custom in deliuerynge and saving his people, thou haste learned that afflictions be sent not of dyspleasure but of a Fatherly love. Whyche thing thou believing and having experyence thereof, dost pacyently abide his help, neither dispayrest thou, but trustest steadfastly, that he at the last will help the, although he delayeth it never so long, hydeth and kepethe him self secrete. And thus at the last dost thou know and understand that thi disease or trouble is not sent unto the for this purpose that y • shuldest be destroyed, bu • that the glory of God may be set abroad, & that all things may turn unto thi health & saluatiō: he y • can give him self over & wholly cōmyt him self to god on this manner, and put all his aff • auns & trust in his promises, truly that man never dieth: which thing Christ him self even with an ooth, because we should not doubt, affyrminge the same, saith, Verily, verily, if any man keep my word, he shall never se death. And in another place he saith. I am the way, the truth, and the life: he that believeth in me, shall live, although he be dead. And he that liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die: these words of christ (o brother) loke that thou depely repose thē & with all diligence keep them in thi mind, and whā soever y • perceivest y • • hi mind waver or is tr • bled, vnderprope & lyft it up with this sweet and comfortable sayings: he that beleuethe in Christ, shall not taste death: he that believeth in me, hath everlasting life, saith Christ: this is ever lastyng life, to know the even the true God, and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ. Euerlastynge life is begun in this world: for he that hath Christ, hath the true life, for Christ is y • life: he is also the truth therefore will not he mock us, butal the {pro}mises of god ar in hī, ye & ar in him Imē. And that y • shuldest doubt nothing, but that God will abide by his promises, he hath bond him self unto the with a certain peculiar couenaunte and sign put unto thy body. For when he being gratly desirous of thy health sent his son in to the world to offer him self unto the death for thy sake, he ded make and stryke up a bargē of grace before y • christ, in whō he hath promised, if thou wilt believe and be Baptysed, that he will give the everlasting life freely, and never forsake the, yea that he will be thy father, and crown the with grace and mercy: thy baptysme is a sign of this couenaunte. Now is it necessari for the, that thou cleuest with tothe and nail to the promises, which are added to this sign. For God hath given this sygue, that thou shuldest nothing doubt of the grace or favor that he hath promised, nor yet of his faith concerning the faithful perfyrmans of the same: thou art baptized to die with Christ, as Paul saith, that his death should be thy death, and that he should puryfye all things for thy sake, yea thou hast put him on in babtisme, that thou shuldeste be whole in him, and he in the.
Baptysme therefore is a couenaūte, which lyfteth up, chereth and maketh quiet thy conscience before god (as Peter testifieth) that he will never dampne the for thy sins. For thou being justified by faith, hast peace with God: a quiet, clear, and pacifyed conscience is the true peace Thou hast perceived a most sure sign as a certain seal of this justification and remission of sins, • uen Baptysme, that thou shouldest believe for a certente, that God for Christ's sake will have pytye on the, preserve and deliver the.
Now seeing than that God fauo • eth the, and will be thy father and never forsake the, seeing also that thou haste an vndeceauable sign and wit • es of this thing, loke that thou dost commyt and wholly give over to him both thyself and all that ever pertain unto y • ▪ thou must also obey his will, and pacientlye suffer his hand, whether he will that thou live or die, that his will, which is ever best, may be done unto the glory & praise of him, although it be impossible, that though • shuldest be dampened, if thou dost faithfully trust on the mercy which he hath promised for Christ's sake and consecrate thyself wholly to him, obeynge his moste godly will in all partes. For he hath promised, that he will be thy father, and forasmuch as he is true, when thou knoweledgest him to be thy father, and dost hope and loke for all good things of him, he can none otherwhyse but be thy father and save the, although he handle the for a certain time never so hardly. Seynge thā that he hath promised to be thy father, and thou dost trust on his {pro}mises, without doubt he will care both for the and thine at all times: wherefor thou shalt commend to him not only thy body, but also thy wife and children, thy kynnesmen and friends, to be short, all that ever thou haste, and doubt not but that • e will be a true Father, a true husband, a true kynnesman and freēde: for he hath hitherto used the in these things only as a stuward and dyspensatoure: But now seeing he is minded that thou shouldeste leave of the functiō and use of this office, he will appoint another in thy room, which like a good stuwarde shall both faithfully and dilygently loke upon them. If thou hopest this thing of him, and lokest for it with a full trust of heart, it is no doubt, but he will do that I have spoken: wherefor put out of thy mind, all sorrowful care of worldly things, and commend it to God. Rather take thought for thyself, how thou mayste provide for thy soul, and send that unto God. And seeing that God hath forgiven the all thy sins freely for Christ's sake, he requireth nothing at all of the, for this exceeding great and in estimable benefyte, but that thou shuldest again forgive even from the very heart them that have done the wrong: for he promysethe that he will forgyne us our offenses if we forgive men there offenses, therefore when thou haste forgiven all offenses even from the very heart, yea and that so, that thou never remembreste them afterward, pray also for them that have hurt the according to the doctrine and exa • ple of Christ, yea and if ever thou recouerest, help so much as lygheth in thy pour them that have need of thy help. If that thou hast a mind void, of dissimulation, preuy dyspleasure, envy, malice, ill will and wrath, thou haste also a sign and earnest token that God hath forgiven the thy sins: for faith wherewith thy heart is puryfyed, stretchynge out her self, and bringing • orth her fruits for the infynite benefits of God can none otherwise then forgive again and to do well to her neyghboure. Thys fruit of charity beareth the witness and maketh the sure, that thy faith is true and lyuishe, seeing it bringeth forth true and good fruits: Thys meaneth Peter, where he commaundethe that we should make our vocation and election fyrme & sure with good works, for he signifieth and plainly meaneth, y • this works ar testimonies and signs that thou art elect of God, and purchased to be his son unto the joys of everlasting life. Nether is there any cause (o brother) that god should forgive the thy sins, for the greuousnes of thy dysease & cross: for there is none other satisfaction, none other recōpense for thy sins, than the only death of Christ. God beholdeth none other thing in this cause he accepteth none other thing here than his only begot̄ son: he is y • lābe of god which taketh away the sins of the world: He is the sacrifice & oblation sufficient, absolute and perfect for the synnts of the whole world: thy disease & pains cā not satisfy before God for the lest syn that thou hast committed, much les are they able to deserve health & everlasting saluatiō, as Paul testifieth, saying I do not think that the affli • tions of this life are worthy of the glory which shall be shown upon us. No creature nether in heaven nor erth, no angel was able to apease, mytigate & swage the wrath of the father, much les shall this thy disease & short trouble pacyfye it. For he that should aswage that wrath and reconcile God to man, he must needs be both god and man, seeing he must be an intercessor and advocate between god being angry and man condemned. Therefore was it conuentente for the son of god to become mā, that he sh • lde apease the wrath of God the father by suffering pains in his awne body, and so preserve us from it, as the Prophet testyfiethe, saying: He hath taken upon him our dyseases, and borne away our sorrows. God hath laid y • unrighteousness of us all on him: For the wickedness of my people have I stricken him. Aud Peter saith: By his strypes were we made whole: therefore for this Christ thy Lord are thy sins forgiven the, and for none other thing neither in heaven nor in earth, not for thy good works, nor for any afflyction, although never so hard and bitter, Christ is our only ryhhteousnes, health, redemption & satisfaction: God made him syn for us, which knew no syn that we might be made righteous: wherefor if thou believest, thou art the son of God all ready: if thou be the son of God than art thou also the heir of God, and fellow enheritoure with Christ: if everlasting life be enheritaunce and the gift of God, as Paul calleth it, certes then shalt thou not deserve it with the sorrows of thy dysease: but God would have the punished with this sickness, that thou myghtest repress break, restrain and mortyfye thy old man, that it may ones cease to sin, that shall come to pass at the last by the death of the body. And for this cause must we die, that our soul may depart hence unto everlasting salvation: for this death is a gate and entrauns unto eternal life, there at the last are we delivered from all wretchednesses, miseris carefulness, dysquietnes, from all errors and iuglynge castes of the dyuill, neither shall we anymore be defiled with the most stinking fylthynes of sin, neither shall we be seduced and led away into heresys or errors, nor yet be thrown hedlonge into desperation. For an ende of all euylles, adversities and incōmodities is then come, yea thē shall we rest in the Lord and enjoy eternal life and pleasure without ende. Death therefore is not to be abhorred nor feared, yea it is rather most fervently to be desired, seeing by that we pass hence unto eternal joys. Uery true is y • , which Paul saith, to the godly all things work for the best: Death in the sight of the world is a thing of all things most odyous, most hateful, most loathsome and moste horrible, yet to the faithful it is most sweet, most acceptable and most pleasant. And although it be so, that our old • Adam treēbleth at it, excheweth and abhorreth it, yet the inward man i • ready and wylling to suffer it, for as much as he perceyueth & knoweth that by it he is delivered from all fylthines of syn, vice, & wretchedness and departethe unto everlasting joys.
How they are to be comforted, which are in parell of death.
THE best God and thy most loving father having pytie on the (o Brother) calleth the from this most wretched & miserable life, willing to remove the unto him, and to carry the into y • perpetual joys of the heavenly life. Therefore yield, give over & cōmende to him wholly thyself, & all that ever thou hast, & what so ever his will is let thy will be the same, and say, let thy will be done o father God, and not mine: cry unto Christ with the thief fastened to the cross, remē ber me, o Lord, when thou comeste into thy Kyngdome: erye with the Publican, Lord be merciful to m • wretched sinner cry instanstly with that earneste woman the Canaanite, o son of David have mercy on me. If thou criest thus, Christ will hear the, doubt not, he will have mercy on the, he will forgive the thy sins, yea thou shalt be with him in paradyse: therefore lay hand on this Christ, cleue to him with tothe and nail, commyt thy soul unto him: cry with this christ crucifyde unto God the common father, o Lord my trust is in the, let me never be put to confusion, but rydde me, and deliver me thorough thy righteousness: Bowe down thine ear unto me, make haste to deliver me. Be thou my God and strong hold (whereunto I may alway flee) that thou mayst help me, for thou art my strength and refuge: thou art my defender: Into thy hands I cōmende my spirit: cry also with David: o Lord thou art my strenghte, my sure hold, my refuge and my delyuerer. O my God thou art my helper, my defēder, and the horn of my health and my protection. Unto the o Lord, lift I up my soul: o my God my trust is in the, let me not be driven to shame: dyrecte me in thy truth, thou art the God my sauionre, Remēber, o Lord thy tender mercies, and thy pyteful compassions, which thou hast ever used: Remember not the trespasses of my yonghe: Accordynge to thy mercy remember me for thy goodness sake: for thy names sake (o lord) forgive my sin, for it is much: loke on me, and have pytye on me, deliver me from my necessities: forgive me all my offenses keep my soul, and deliver me: Lette me not be put to confusion for my hole trust is in the. If on this manner thou wilt call for the help of God with and hole heart, god will surely help • the in time convenient, and he will say unto the that, which is in the Psalm. Forasmuch as he hath put his trust in me, I will deliver him: I will defēde him because he hath known my name: He hath cried unto me, & I will favorably hear him. I am with him in his tribulatiō: I will deliver him & glorify him. Wherefore (o thou Christiane) fight here a good fight, strive valeaūtly & with a good corrage, as it becometh a true christeā man: take hede, y • givest not over, take hede, thou turnest not thy back: there is no danger thou stryueste not here alone, but Jesus Christ the king is thy guide in this agony, this thy guide & captain shall be thyn auen ger, & in this battle he shall defend and deliver the frō all the enemies of thy soul, frō all perell & from all misery and wretchedness: follow this captayn going before the in this cōflicte and battle: he is a king not like to other but of an exceeding and infinite pour: he hath already overcome and thrown under the foot for thy sake: death, Satan and hell death is swallowed up into victory Christ died for the: Therefore everlasting death hath no power in the Christ went down for the unto hell, that he might deliver the from this everlasting darknesses therefore be on a lustye and bold • mind, and with a valeaūte courage brast into the army. Put away all fear, there is no danger in this behalf: there is no cause why thou shuldest fear the fierce and streyghte judgment of God. Christ Jesus is a mediator before God, the same is an advocate, yea and thy Patron, defender, Byshoppe and Preeste: He hath reconciled the to God, and hath restored to the his fafatherly mind, which before was estranged from the for thy sins, God for Christ's sake is now thy father, he taketh charge of the, he entierly loveth the as his most tender son. Now seeing that so noble a king standeth on thy side, who shall put the to any business, who shall be bold to assayle the or ones fight against the? who I pray the, shall do the any wrong? what danger cā there be? hear Paul: If god be on our side, saith he, who can be against us? which spared not his awne son, but gave him for us all, how is it possible, that with him he should not give us all things? who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that cā condemn? it is Christ that died, yea which rose again, which also is at the right hand of god, and maketh intercession for us: Who shall sepa • ate us from the law of? God I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor • yghenes, nor depenes, nor any other creature can separate us from tha law of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore seeing that Christ is given, to the with all that ever he hath, so folowethe it that his righteousness, innocence, health and everlasting life is given to the, as Paul witness the, saying. Christ is made of God our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemptiō. Therefore put all thy hope, trust and confidence in this Christ, which is the head cornerstone. Thys stone is a valeaunte, strong, stedfaste and sure foundation, whereunto thou mayste safely trust and commytte thyself. No tempest although never so black and horrible, no showers, no storms cā shake and topple ever this foundation: In this Christ, I say, let all thy hope and confydence be set. Caste thyself wholly on him, yield thyself altogether to him, cleue to him with strong faith, let no trouble or temptation pluck the frō him, although all things seme never so much to the go to havoc, although flesh • and blood yell the never so much the contrary, and reason thynkethe far otherwise, yea although th •• Deuyll sometime whysper in thy mind that thou art utterly undone, that God is an extreme enemy unto the, and that thou haste deserved the punishment of hell fire, and therefore thou must needs be dāpned▪ For faith is a sure confidence and • looking for of this things that are to be hoped, that is to say, promised, and a certain • e and euyden knowelege of those things tha • do not appear with that holy 〈◊〉 Patriarch Abraham thou must believe under hope against hope: thy faith and hope must needs resyste and set them selves against all those things, which ever blind reason doth Imagyne, or that most sutle, and crafty enemy do bring to remembauns and work against the: wherefor thou must thoroulye learn what cu •• tme, God doth keep in saving his: whom he will lift up into heaven, him he bryngethe down first unto Hell: Whome he will • uycken, him doth he first kill, upon whom he will exercise his exceeding Mercye, him will he first try, and make asthoughe he would dampne him. And this is that unfeigned purgatory and that true purgyng fire, into the which God castethe his Seruauntes and prouethe them as Golde in the fire: wherefore when thou fealeste none other thing then moste present death, when God • emeth to be most angry with the, to be gone away most furdeste from the, and to have forsaken the utterly, yea when he semethe that he hath cast • the away and will condemn the even then think thou most certainly that he is most nyhhe unto the, that he will defend the and deliver the, yea that he then moste entyerly loveth the, and carethe most of all for the: for when he doth lay • afflyction and trouble vpō the, th • doth he remember his mercy, as • the Prophet saith. He is not angry forever: as the father hath pytye of his sons so hath the Lord • compassion of them that fear hi • for he knowethe our making, and remembereth that we are but dust • The mercy of the Lord endureth ever and ever: The Lord is a tender fauorer and merciful, he is longe suffering and full of compassyon. Wherefore spare the eyes of thy senses, caste away the judgment of reason, and submyt, yield, give over, and commend thyself wholly to Christ, and take it to good worth, howe so ever he handleth the: esteem not death and the dredefnlnes and sorrows thereof after the judgment of the eyes, senles or reason, but after the word of God. David say the, precyons is the death of Saints in the sight of the Lord. Agayne, Blessed are the ded, which die in the LORDE. Christ also saith, he that believeth in me, shall not taste • eathe. Therefore if any things come to remembrance, which go about to turn the from Christ, and to • aste the into desperation, cast them all out of thy mind: cleue to the lively word of God with tothe and nail, have thy medytation in that and ever be whettynge of that in thy mind: For thou shalt never by the perspycacyte and quyckenis of thy reason perceive, howe it may be possyble, that by Deathe thou shouldeste goo unto the true life, howe when thou gyueste up the Ghoste, thou shouldest depart unto a better state, howe thy soul should be kept in the Lord, and reaste unto the last day, again, howe thy body being rotten, consumed and eaten of worms, may rise again at the last Iudgemente, and come forth in a new godly form, shape or fashon. Thys cannot reason comprehend. Faith alone is able to do it. Therefore call to thy remembrance continually the artycles of thy faith, and boulte out every parcel of them dylygently, and weyghe them earnestly in thy heart.
Howe he is to be spoken unto, which is ready to give up the Ghoste.
O Brother in Christ, now loke that thou fyghteste a good fight, loke that thou abydeste in the faith valeauntly, and steadfastly. Infyxe and depely engrave in thy breste, the Promyses of Christ thy redeemer. I am the resurrection and life, saith Christ. He that beleuethe in me, shall live and never die. Christ toke the nature of man upon him suffering many iniuryes and wrongs, and when he died, he offered him self a sacrifice for our sins on y • altare of the Cross, he with his holy bloudthorowlye and in all points cleansed the sins of all mankind: this Christ will not forsake the, this Christ will not leave y • socourles, this Christ careth for the: Christ saveth the & defēdeath the, so that no ill or misery shall chauns unto the: the foundatiō of God standeth sure having this seal. THE LORDE KNOWETH, WHYCHE ARE HYS. Christ saith, my sheep hear my voice, & I know thē and thei follow me, & I give thē ever lastynge life, neither shall they perish forever, nor yet shall any man pluck thē out of my hand: my father which gave thē to me, is greater then all, & noman can pluck thē out of my fathers hand: I and my father am one. Wherefore (o brother) in Christ, cōmende thy soul to God the father, which loveth y • so dearly, cry with Christ thy brother, when he honge on the cross, o father into thy hands I commend my spirit God the Father of all mercy, moughte lede the into everlasting life, and save the unto that most ioyefull resurrection of the last judgment AMEN.
Virescit vulnera virtus.
A prayer to be said of the syckman, being in perell of death.
O Most mercyf • ll God, o father of all mercy the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful to me a synuer, have pytie on me, and quyckely help me poor wretch for thy most bitter and most precious passion and death of Jesus Christ thy only begoten son and our only redeemer and sauyoure. Amen. Entre not into Iudgemente with thy servant, o Lord handle me not according to my deserves and merits, neither reward me after mine iniquytie but for thine infynite and immeasurable bounte and exceeding great mercy receive me. I miserable and weak creature am in thy hand, I am thy bond servant and thy debtor. O most gentle God, o moste favorable Father, forsake me not, cast me not away pore wretch that I am, I am thyn with all that ever I can make. Noman is able to confirm me, noman is able to deliver me, nomā is able to help me, but y • alone. Thou art the true helper in aduersite, y • are the moste sure & present comfort iu all necessity, y • alone art our help, our buluarke, our fortress, & our most mighty & stronly defense fence tower, y • o god, art our refuge, thou art our strength, thou art our helper in all our tribulations: In the o Lord, do I trust, let me not be cōfounded, let me never be put to shame let me not be deceived of my hope, but preserve me for thyn righteousness. Bow down thin ear unto me, make hast to deliver me. Be my defēder, o god, & my strong hold that thou mayest save me: for thou art my strength & my refuge, yea y • art my god, & my destenies ar in thy hands Lightē thy coūtenaūs vpō thy servant, save me for thy mercies sake, o Lord. And forasmuch (o sweet Father) as it is thy godly pleasure to call me from this miserable life and wretched world, I most entierly beseech the so to defend me in this agonye of death, that Satan nor his ministers prevail against me, but that I continue faithful and constante unto the ende in the confession of thy holy name, looking for full remyssyon of all my sins in the precyons blood of thy well-beloved son and my savior Jesus Christ, and that I departynge in this faith and perfect trust may be placed emong thy blessed saints and heavenly spirits, so forever to remain wy • h the in glory. Grant this o most merciful father for thy son Jesus Christ's sake. Lord recyue my spirit. Father into thy hands I commend my spyrit: for thou that art the God of truth haste redeemed me. To the be all glory and honor.
The articles of the Christian faith.
FYRST, I believe in one god Deut. vi. And father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ii. Cor. i. The which is the Lord of heaven and earth. Luke: xit. And creator of all, creatures. Hebre. i. Yea he is father of us all, and: Epe. iiii. The which hath elected us to be his children through Jesus Christ. Ephe. i. And therefore shall we all him worsh • ppe only, and beside him have none other gods. Deut. vi Also we shall fear him as one almighty God. Psal. xxxiiii. And as mercy full father we shall love him with all our hearts, with all our soul, and with all our power and mind Math. xxii • And upon him must stand all our hope. Hiere. vii. For he is the father of light. Jacob. i. Of the which all mankind leueth Aetu. xiii. And receiveth both bodelye goods. Prouerb x. And enerlastynke salvation. Psal. xxxvii Togyther with all perfect gifts, which come and descence from him alone. Iacobi .i. Furthermore I believe in Jesus Christ, the son of the living God our lord. i. Cor. vii The which is the very bryghtnesse of his fathers glory, and the very image of his substance. Hebre. i. Yea he is the only begotten son of the father. John. i. Come forth of the mouthe of the moste hyeghest God. Eccles. xxiii. Fyrst boren before all creatures. Collos. i. Thorow the which all things are created. Hebre. i. In whom we have redemption, namely remyssyon of sins thorough his blood. Col. i. With the which he hath washed us Apo. i. And hath also reconciled us again to his most holy & glorious father. Ephe. ii. That were afore enemies to God. Roma. viii. For after the time that God had made man, after his image and symilytude, he seat him in Paradise that he should eat of all the fruits in the gardyn of pleasure, exceptynge him the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Gene. ii. But man dysobeyed the Lord his God, and transgressed his commandment. Gene. iii. Thorow the which disobedyence and transgressyon of the godly commandment, death and curse is come over all mankind. Roma .v. And when there was no help, nor comfort for man whereby he might have been redeymed, or delivered out of Satan's power, then hath God the merciful Father pytye upon mankind, and Promysed them a seade, namely Jesus Christ, his only begotten son, the which should tread upon the head of the Serpente, and overcome the Dyuyll, and restore us to life again. Genesis. iii. And likewise as God is ryghtuouse in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Psalms. clv. And true in all his words. Psal. li. So hath he kepet all his promises tree • lie. And as the time was fulfilled. Gala. iiii. God leat his word descend in to the womb of the virgyn Mary, and by the working of the holy ghost became flesh: As John witnesseth saying: The word became flesh, and dwelt emong us and we saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten Son of the father, full of grace and verity. John. i. Also this only begotten of God became like unto us in all things except syn. Hebre. ii. He hath suffereth death for our sake. Isaiah. liii. And hath taken away Satan's power, and restored life in again. i. Timothy. vi. Yea he is made unto us wysdō, and rightwysnes, sātifyeng, and redemption. i. Cor. i. And likewise as he died for our sins. Hebre. ii. So is he risen again through the power of his father. Roma. vii. For our ryghtuousnes. Roma. iiii. And as he oftentimes shown him self after his resurrection: unto his dysciples. Actu. i. So is he ascended unto heaven in there presens. Luke. xxiiii. And sytteth at the right hand of the almyghty father. Rom viii. Above all rule and might, and dominion, and above all that may be named, not only in this world: but also in the world to come Ephe. i And hath subdued all things under his fete. Hebre. ii. To be brief he is a Lord above all lords, and a king above all kings Apoc. xix. Yea he is an almighty God with his father. Apoc. xxii. John. x. And nevertheless he is our aduocat, & mediator. i. John. ii •• . Timot. ii. Our only hye preiste. Hebr. v. The saceifice that he hath done for our sins, abideth for eueermore of valure. Hebre. x. Furthermore likewise as Christ is ascended up in to heau • n, so shall he come again from heanen. Actu. i Wyth the dominion of his father, and with the angels. Mach. xxv. For to give every man reward after his works, yea for to judge the quycke and dead. Act. x. i. Tim. iii.
I believe also in the holy Ghost equal god with the father & the son which holy ghost is a teacher of all christē. John. xiiii. and he doth cloth thē with his gifts, & giveth every one the measure of faith after his awne will. i. Corin. xi • . And keepeth thē vnmouable in one faith for he is a ruler of the Christian congregation. Aet. xx. He is also the anoinmente .i. John. ii. Wherewyth all Christian are anointed, and of that behalf are called the anointed of the Lord. Psal. c. iiii. So is this holy ghost given unto the Christian as an ernest of there inheritance to there redemption, and they again be his awn to the pryse of his glory Ephe. i. To be shor • it is impossible without this holy ghost to know God truly .i. Cor. ii. Or withal the hope of the heart to believe upon him .i. Cor. xii Or to call upon him as a father. Romanorum. viii.
And therefore doth God pour this his holy Ghoste upon his children, whereby they may treuly know him, and treuly believe him: and as a true father call upon him Gala. iiii. This is my believe in the father, in the son, and in the holy ghost, which tree I knowledge to be one god. Deut. vi. whous seat is the heavē, and the earth is a benche of his fete. Isaiah. xlvi. Yea y • which is an everlasting .ii. Mach. i. and almighty God. Psal. c. xlv, The which alone will be worshipped, and served. Dent. vi. For he can alone help us. Isaiah. xliiii. which he doth for his names sake, & not for our righruousnes sake. Esa. xliiii.
Furthermore as I have said. that all they that do belene ar joined together, & through the holy ghost knytte in unity. so is there a loving christē church the which is builded of living stones .i. Pet. ii. which church is the house of god. Hebr. iii And the house of God is the congregation of god .i. Timo. iii. And the congregation of god is the body of Christ Eph. i. And seyngy • all right Christians are one body .i. Corin. x. In the which they all thorough one spryte are baptized. i. Cor xii. So must there be a congregatiō of saints, namely that all saints or true beleners ar also joined together in faith, as the members of one body Roma, xii. And in this communion of saints is remissiō of sins, and that without it is no syn forgiven, nor any hope of saluatiō. Ephe. ii. yea as it is impossible that a menber can live which is not in the body, so it is impossible that any man may live in his soul, and cā be rele • ced out of death by remission of syn, the which is not a menber of the body of Christ: for Christ hath recōcileo us all unto god his father in one body Ephe. ii. And therefore must all they stand in var • aūce that at no menbres of this body, of the which Christ is the head. Ephe. i. To the which he giveth salvation. Ephe. v.
Now must we also know that albeit, that god alweyes forgiveth synnis. Isaiah. xliii. yet hath Christ given unto his cōgregatiō power to bind & to loose, which shall not be understand after y • Antichrists doctrine. The bishop of Rome which challenge • h power to remyt sins, but the Christ̄ congregatiō whose head is Christ, & not the Romish antichrist, and his ruled of the holy ghost, & not of the fornicatish spirit of the prophetess Jezebel. This cōgregatiō I say hath power to bind and to loose, that is to say, all what she bindeth other looseth is done by the poweh of our Lord Jesus Christ i. Cor. v And thorough the holy ghost as a ruler of the christē cōgregatiō. Actu. xx. so is there is the Christian congregation remissyon of sins.
Ther shall be also a general resur rectiō of the flesh, namely that all they that ar dead, shall rise again, some to everlasting life, & some to everlasting pain & dānatiō. John v. And they y • shall live & remain until the coming of one lord Jesus Christ, they shall be changed in the tīkeling of an eye at the time of the last truēpeth .i. Cor. xv. For the trumpet (saith Paul (shall blow, and the dead shall rise incorruptible, & we shall be changed. for the corruptible body must put on vncorruptibilite and this mortal body must put on immortality. Cor. xv. At the last is there also one euerlysting life, John xvii. which all they shall receive that believe on Jesus Christ. John. vi. and steadfastly abyd in good works seeking praise, honor, and immortality. Roma. ii.
Thys is the sum of my belief yea & a true Christ belief, thorough the which faythal rightuouse live Aba. ii. And without the which belyefe no man may please god. Hebre xv. Therefore must the everlasting God be blessed, that our ofr his immesurabl mercy and grace hath given us this thorough Jesus Christ Ephe. ii. To whom with the fafather and the holy ghost be praise, honor, and glory, for evermore.
Apoca.
Imprynted at Loudon in Paul's church yarde at the lygne of the Hyll by Wyllyā Hyll, and are tobe sold at the West side of pauls under Peter college by John Casse.