The Sick Mans Salve — Thomas Becon

The Sick Mans Salve · Thomas Becon

Ep.

But I shal neuer more se thē, nor hauehave y^e cōpany of thē, y^t we may reioyce & be glad againe together.Of knowing one another after this life.

Phi.

If your frendes liue in the feare of God, & depart in the christē faith, they may be sure to come thither, wher you shalbe, euē vntounto y^e glorious kingdō of God, wher you shal both see them, know them, talcke with them, and be much more mery with thē than euer you were in this world.

Chr.

Many doubt of that.

ph.

Why so? Shall y^e knowledge of Gods electe and chosen people be lesse in the kingdome of God, then it is in this world? We beinge in this corruptible bodye know one another, whan we see not God but with the eies of our faith,ii. Cor. xii. i. Iohn. iii. & shall we not know one another after that we hauehave put of this sinfull body, and se God fac… to face in the sight of whom is the knowledge of al things? We shall be lyke the glorious Aungels of heauē,Math. xxii. whiche know one another, can it than come to passe that one of vsus may not knowe an other? Shal we be equal with y^e angels in other thinges,i. Iohn. iii. Hebr. i & inferiour vntounto them in knowing one an other? We shal know and se Christ as he is,Roma. xii. whiche is the wysdome, image and brightnes of the heauenly father, and shall the knowledge of one another be hyd from vsus?i. Cor. xii. Collos. i. Ephe. ii. Apoc. xxi We are members all of one body, and shall we not knowe one another? we know our head which is christ & shall we not knowe our selues? we shalbe citezins of one heauenly city, wher continuall light shall be, and shall we be ouerwhelmed with suche darkenes, that we shal not see and know one another?Psal. lxxxiii. Apoc. iiii.v They that in this worlde be synging men continuing together in a place but for a season know one an other,Apoc. iiii.v.vii.xi.xii. and shall we, which for euer shall continue together synging praysing and magnifying y^e Lord our God, not know one another? They that are in houshold & serue one Lorde or maister, know one another in this world, & shall not we know one another, which in the kingdome of heauen, shall continually serue the Lorde oure God together with one spirit, and with one mind? There is a certen knowledge one of an other here in the earth, euen among the vnreasonable and brute beastes, and …hall our senses be so darkened in the life to come, that we being immortall, incorruptible, and lyke …nto the angels of God, yea seing God face to face, shall not knowe …ne another? We shall know God as he is,…. ii▪ & shal we not knowe one another? Adam before he synned, beyng in the state of innocencie, knew Eua, so sone as god brought her vntounto hym, and called her by her name, and shall not we being in heauen, where we shalbe in a… muche more blessed and perfecte state then euer Adam was in P…radise, knowe one another? Shal our knowledge be inferiour to Adams knowledge in Paradise… Whē Christ was transfigured i… mount Thabor, his disciples, Pe…ter, Iames, & Iohn, did not only know Christ, but also Moses and Helias,Math. xvii. whiche talked there with Christ, whome notwithstanding they had neuer seene nor known in y^e flesh.Mark. ix. Luke. ix. Wherof we may learne… that when we come to behold th… glorious maiestie of y^e great God we shall not only know our sau… our Christ, and such as with wh… we wer acquainted in this world, but also all the electe and chosen people of God, whiche hauehave bene from the beginning of the world, as the holy Apostle saith: Ye are come to the mount Sion, and to the citie of the liuing God,Hebr. xii the celestiall Hierusalem, and to an innumerable sight of aungels, and vntounto the congregation of the first borne sonnes, which are writtē in heauen, and to God the iudge of all, and to the spirites of iust and perfect men, and to Iesus the mediatour of the new testament. &c. When we are once come vntounto that heauenly Hierusalem, we shal w^t out al doubt both se and know Adam, Noe, Abrahā, Isaac, Iacob, Ioseph, Moses, Samuel, Dauid, Iosias, Ihon Baptist, Mary the Mother of Christe, Peter, Iohn, Iames, Paule, and all the moste blessed cōpany of the Patriarkes, prophets, apostles, martirs, with al other the faithful. As we are al members of one body, wherof Iesus Christ is the head: so shall we knowe one another, reioyse together & be glad one with another. Moreouer the history whiche we read of the rich vnmercifull man and of Lazarus,Luke. xvi. declareth euidētly, y^t in the lyfe to come we shall know one an other. In that we se that the riche glotton beyng in hel did knowe bothe Abraham, and Lazarus, being in ioye, and that Abraham also knew that vnmercifull riche man, although the one was in glory, the other in pain. If that they whiche are in hell, doth both se and know them that are in heauē, and they whiche are in heauen, know thē also that are in hell, the one place beyng so far distant from thother: muche more do they knowe one another that be Citezins in one City, fellowe heirs of one kingdome, members of one body, and fellowe seruants in one houshold seruing one lorde & God. If there be mutual knowledge, after this life betwene good & euil, much more shall y^e sainctes and the holy ones of God knowe one another in the kyngdome of our heauenly father.Math. xix. Our sauiour Christ said to his disciples: when the sonne of man shall sitte in the seat of his maiestie, you also shall sit vponupon the .xii. seates, iudging the .xii. tribes of Israell. If after the generall resurrection▪ and at the iudgemente one shoulde not know another, how shal thē the apostles iudge thē vntounto whom thei preached? They can not iudge nor be witnesses of the condemnation of them, whome they knowe not. Hereof also it manifestlye appeareth,Iohn. xxi. that after this life one of vsus shal know another. After y^e Christ was risen again & had a glorified body, thapostles knew him, yea, & that so perfectly, y^t none of thē neded to saye vntounto hym: what art y^•? For they knew well y^t he was the Lord. Hereof also may it truely be gathered, y^t the faithfull shall as perfectly knowe one an other in y^e life to come, as the apostles knew Christ after his resurrectiō ▪ or as Peter, Ihō, & Iames, knew Moses & Helias in the moūt Thabo…, whē Christ was trāsfigured.Math. xvii. Many other thinges might be alledged out of the holy scripture to declare y^t we shall know one another after this life, but these for this present may seme to any indifferent person aboundantly to suffice. If I shuld reherse to you all the sayings both of thancient & late writers concerning this matter, I shuld spēd a great part of this day & to much t…ouble you, notw^tstanding I will reherse one saying of s. Gregory in his Dialoges, & bid al the other farwel.Lib. 4. cap. … There is a certain thing (saith he) in gods elect & chosen people, which is to be marueled at, for they (being in heauē) do not only know thē, whom they knew in this world, but thei know also the good people, whō thei neuer sawe, euen as perfectlye as though they had afore both sene & known thē. For whē thei in y^t euer lasting enheritance shall se thancient fathers, they shal not be vnknowne to thē in sight, whō they always knew in work. For when al there, w^t one clearnes do behold God, what is it, that they shoulde not ther know: where they know him that knowe all thinges?

Epa.

This is a cōfortable hering.

Phi.

No les true then cōfortable.

Epa.

I trust then within fewe houres to se al the faithfull, whiche before me hauehave departed in the Lord, my children also and all my other acquaintaunce.

Phi.

You shall both se them, know them, reioyse and be meary with them.

Eu.

I maruell y^t any man shuld doubt of thys doctrine, beynge so clearlye set forthe both by the authority of the holye scriptures, and by the testimonyes of the godly wryters: seynge that the very heathen, which knew not God a right, beynge parswaded … the immortality of the soule, neuer doubted of it, but were thorowlye resolued that such as lyued in this world iustly and vprightly, and deserued wel of the common wealth. whan so euer they departed from this life, should go vntounto the blessed company of the immortal Gods, & there not only se & know the gods, but also all those noble, good and vertuous parsons, that euer liued in this world, as wel suche as they neuer knew, as also those, whome in this world they dyd moste perfectly know. And they beyng thus perswaded, desyred deathe, at the leaste when the tyme of theyr departure came, they toke their deathe the more ioyfully and paciently, I wil rehearse vntounto you y^e wor…es of …ne or two of them. I hauehave … desire (said Cato the elder) …o se your fathers,Lib. de sence. whom I honou…d and loued. But I wish not on…y to talke wyth them, whome I hauehave knowen in thys worlde, but with such also, as of whom I hauehave …eard and red, yea and I my selfe …aue wrytten. If I were once go…ng thitherward, I woulde neuer …aue mynde to retourne hyther a…ain. Againe he saith, O that no…le and pleasant day, when it shall …e my chaunce to come vntounto that …eauenly company and blessed fe…owship, and depart frō this troublous & stincking world. For the… shall I go not only vntounto those mē … of whom I spake vntounto you befor… but also vntounto my Cato, whiche was as worthy a man as euer liued, and as noble. And it is written of Socrates, y^t when he wen… vntounto his death amōg many other thīgs he said, y^t it is a most blessed & goodly thing for thē to come together, which hauehave liued iustly & faithfully: o saith he what a grea… pleasure thinke you it to be, frēdl… to talk w^t Orpheus, Lib. 1. …us. quest.Musaeus Home…rus, Hesiodus, & such like? verely I wold die ful oft, if it were possibl… to get those things y^t I speake of Thus se we y^t many among y^t very Heathē, which wer perswade… of thinmortality of y^e soul, beleue… y^t they whiche in this world liue… godly, iustly, vprightly & honestly should al go vntounto a ioyful place o… rest, & ther hauing y^e blessed comp…ny of y^e immortal gods, they shul… know one another, talk & reioyce one w^t an other.

The.

As touching y^e Ethnickes, which in this world led a iust & vpright life in the sight of mē. I pronoūce nothing, but leue thē vntounto gods iudgmēt, but as concerning the faithful christians which beleue in God, feare & louelove God, are perswaded of their saluatiō in Christes blud, & frame their life vntounto the vttermost of their power, according to the cōmaundements of God, as they shall al obtain one glorious kingdome & be Citezins of one Citie: so likewyse shal they se & know one an other, talke, reioyse, & be mery one with another. This is my belief.

Ph.

I agre w^t you in opiniō concerning this matter. Therfore good neighbor Epaphrodit. be of good …here, take a good hart vntounto you, faynt not, nether feare you death. For y^e time is at hand, that you leauing this wretched worlde and the inhabitantes therof, shall come vntounto that most glorious and heauē ly kingdom, where you shall hauehave the sight and knowledge not only of God and of his holy angels, but also of al Gods elect and chosen people. Al your dear frendes, which are gone afore you, shal glo…riously come and mete you, ioyfully receiue you, gladly present you vntounto the maiestie of God, and so shall you altogether remain in al glory and ioy for euer and euer.

Epa.

Amen. God graūt.

Chr.

Sir how do you?

Epa.

As God wyll.

Chri.

I truste you do remember, what my neighbour Philemon hath sayd vntounto you.

Epa.

Yea right wel, I thanke God.

Chr.

Then sir I praye you be of good comforte.

Epa.

I am well content to forsake the worlde and all that is in the world, and to go vntounto the lord my God.

Eu.

I trust y^t there is none other thinge that troubleth you.

Epa.

Yes, not outwardly but inwardly.

Eu.

Inward trouble is y^e greatest griefe in the worlde. Declare I pray you what it is, & we will doe the best we can to quiet your mind.

Epaph.

Let me alone a little, and pray for me.

Euse.

Well content. Neighbours, let vsus commend this our sicke brother vntounto God with our prayers. For he desireth it.

Phi.

God commaundeth vsus by his holy Apostle,Iacob. … saying: If any be diseased amonge you, let him call for the elders of the congregatiō, & let thē pray ouer him, & annoint him w^t oyle in the name of the Lord. And y^e praier of faith shall saue the sicke, and the Lorde shall rayse him vp, and if he hauehave committed sinnes, they shalbe forgeuen him. Knowledge your fautes one to another, and praye one for an other, that ye may be healed The prayer of a righteous mā auaileth muche, if it be feruent. Let vsus therfore knele downe and praye.A praier. O Lorde heare our praier.

Eu.

And let our cry come vntounto the…

Phi.

O almighty and euerlasting God, which lightnest al men that come into this world: we besethe thee lightē the heart of this sicke, weake and diseased persone, with the beames of thy deuine grace & mercy, y^t al his thoughtes, wordes & workes may so be directed, that he may be acceptable to thy godly maiestie in true faith and perfect louelove, thorow thi only sonne Iesus Christ our Lord & sauiour.

Chr.

A…men.

Phi.

O eternall and merciful God,A praier. loke down from heauē, and visit this thy weake seruaunt, as thou diddest visit Toby & Sara, Peters wiues mother & the Captaines seruaunt. Blesse hym as thou didst blesse Abraham, Isaac and Iacob. Behold him, O Lord, with the eies of thy mercy. Replenish his hart with all ioye, & kepe from him al sinful thoughtes and wicked imaginations. And sende downe thy angell of peace, that he may kepe and defend him in euerlasting peace through Iesus christ thy deare sonne our Lorde & sauiour.A prayer.

Eu.

Amen.

Phi.

O Lord Iesu Christ, thalone sauiour of y^e world and the true phisitiō both of body and soule, we most humbly besech thee, mercifully to behold this our sicke brother,Collo. …. which is a mēber of y^e mistical body, wherof thou art y^e head and a braunche of the which y^• art the true vine.Iohn. xv. Be thou vntounto hym that moste louing Samaritane.Luke. x. Poure wyne and oyle into his woundes, binde them vp, la…e him vponupon thy beast, & neuer leaue him vntill thou hast brought hym into that Inne, whiche is the glo…rious kingdome of thy heauenly father Remoue from him all vnfaithfulnes and mistrust, & graue in his hart true & earnest faith in the & in thy moste precious bloud. Suffer him not to dispaire, nor to doubt of thy godly grace. Let y^e remēbrance of thy most mercifull promises, setforth in thy holy gospel neuer be out of his hart. Suffer not Satā to preuaile against him. Let not his conscience be cō bred with the terrours either of sinne or death. Be thou his strong castell and mighty fortresse. Assist him now in this his greuous affliction, let not his soule be a pray vntounto his ennemies, neither geue thou him ouer into the cruel handes of hys terrible aduersaries▪ but shewe vponupon him presently thy bountifull goodnes, that he thorowe thy helpe hauinge the ouerhand of Sathan, may finishe his course with ioy, and so after his departure from this troublous world, come vntounto the blessed hauen of quietnes, where thou with the father and the holy gost liuest and raignest one true and euerlasting God, worldes without end.

The.

Amen.

Epa.

O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation, nether chasten me in thy heauy displeasure. HaueHave mercy on me,Psalm. …. O Lorde, for I am weake, heale me, O Lord, for all my bones are sore troubled, yea my soule is greuously vexed, but Lord, how longe? O how long wilt y^• defer thy helpe? Turne the (O Lord) & deliuer my soule, (oh saue me for thy mercies sake.

Phi.

O neighbour, how is it with you?Remedies against desperation.

Epa.

Nowe that I had thorow your godly exhortations well digested my departure from this world, & was well content to go hence, whēsoeuer the Lord my god calleth me: now am I so troubled in my conscience, that I begin almoste to dispayre of Gods mercy toward me, yea and wish y^t there were no God, nor no life after this.

Phi.

Gentle brother faint not in your faith, neither dispaire you of the great mercies of God, but cal on the lord your God with strong faith, and he full gratiously will send present remedy for you frō his holy temple.

Epa.

O my cō science is greuously vexed, troubled, & disquieted, while I behold the fearce wrath of God againste sinne, and consider how wicked a life I hauehave led, & how oft I hauehave broken Gods holy commaundemēts.

Phi.

Fear not dear brother, for though you be neuer so sinfull: God is mercifull. Though youre synnes be great: yet are the mercies of God muche greater. God saueth not vsus because we are righteous and withoute synne:Tit. ii. but for his merciemercy and promyse sake, when he seeth vsus repente, beleue and seeke for remedy at his hande for Christes precious bloud sake.

Epaphrod.

Sathan nowe in this my sicknesse doeth so moleste and trouble me, that me thinke I fele a very hel within my brest.

Phile.

The manner of Satan,Remedies against the tē tatiōs of Sathan. which is the common aduersary of all men, is,*Note. whē any mā is greuously sicke & like to die, straightways to com vponupon him at the beginning very fearcely, & to shew him selfe terrible vntounto him, & to cast before his eies suche a mist: that except he taketh hede, he shall see nothing but the fearce wrath, & terrible iudgement of God against sinners, again, synne, desperatiō, death and …el, and whatsoeuer maketh vntounto vtter confusion of the sickmans consciēce.

Epa.

So is it now with me.

Phi.

Feare not. It is his olde propertie. If you had led as holy & as perfect a lyfe, as euer did man in this world, yet would he deale on this manner w^t you. He knoweth right well, y^t the tyme of your departure is at hande, & that God will shortly call you from this sorowful & mortal lyfe, vntounto a blessed and immortal lyfe: therfore laboureth he vntounto the vttermoste o… his power, to plucke you from so ioyfull a state, and to make you his pray. But be you not afrayde. For whome of Gods elect hath he let pas vnassailed, vntempted, or vnproued?Math. iiii. He feared not to assay the sonne of God, after he had put on our nature: and thincke you to escape fre? His nature, disposition and desire, is to destroy: maruel… you therefore, if he goe aboute to seke your destruction? His proper…tie is to disquiet: wonder you therfore if he trouble you?Iohn. viii. He is a lier: what truthe therfore can come out of his mouth? If he saye vntounto you that God is angry with you, and wil destroy you, know him to be a lier, and whatsoeuer he sayth against your saluation, beleue it not: but knowe it to be a lye. He is a murtherer: what lyfe then can come from hym?Iohn. viii. He is an accuser of the brethren, how than can he speake anye good or comfortable thyng vntounto you?Apoca. xii. He is your vtter enemy: how thē is it possible, that he may be your frende, and seeke your quietnesse? Feare hym not therfore,i. Pet. v. He is but a cowarde and a very slaue. They be but brags, whatsoeuer he threatneth. He may well hisse at you, but he can not styng you. He may loke vponupon you with a terrible & fearful countenāce, but he cā do you no harme. He may go about to tēpt you, but to ouercome you, it lieth not in his power.Iacob. iiii. Hear what s. Iames saith Resiste the deuill, and he shall fli… from you. Drawe nie vntounto God, & he shal draw nie to you.

Epa.

Yea, but how shal I resist y^e deuel.

Phi▪

Not as the supersticious papistes were wont to do,How to resist the deuell. with casting o… holy water about your chamber… w^t laying holy bread in your window, with pinning a Crosse mad… of halowed Palmes at your beds head, nor with ringing of the hallowed bel, or such other beggarly superstitious, Popishe, & deuelish ceremonies.Of Faith.

Epa.

How then?

Phil…

With faith, with prayer, and with the word of God.

Epa.

Howe with faith.

Phile.

Cast the eies of your… mind with strong faith on the sed… of the woman, which hath trode… downe the serpents head, and destroyed his power, as he saieth by the Prophet:Osc. xiii. O hel, I wyll be thy destruction,Hebr. ii. which by death hath put him to flight that had Lordeshippe ouer death, euen the Deuill, that he might deliuer them, whiche throughe feare of death were all their lyfe tyme subdued vntounto bondage, whiche also (as the Apostle saith) hath spoyled rule & power,Collo…. i. & hath made a shew of thē openly, and hath triumphed ouer them in his own persone.i. Iohn. iii. So shal you be sure to escape his greuous assaultes. For the sonne of God apeared for this purpose, euen to destroy the workes of the Deuill. Christ was figured by that brasen serpent, which God commaūded Moses to set vp in the wildernes, adding this promise vntounto it,Num. xxi. that whosoeuer beyng stricken of the firy Serpentes did loke on that, he shoulde be healed. After this maner, is it betwene Christe and vsus. If that firy serpent the deuill hath striken and wounded vsus, let vsus loke vponupon Christ with stronge faith, and we shal surely for Gods promise sake be made whole, as Christe him selfe testifieth, saying: As Moyses lyfted vp the serpent in the wildernes:Iohn. iii. so must the son of man be lyfted vp, that all that beleue on hym should not peryshe, but hauehave euerlasting life. For god sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the worlde, but that the world shold be saued through him. If Sathan therfore hath either wounded you already, or els goeth about so to do, feare not, repare vntounto Christ, loke on him with the eies of your faithe, so shall you be fre from his venomus chause. For as you are nowe tempted,Hebr. xi. so were al godly men, but they ouercame y^e tēpter through strōg faith in Christ. Therfore saith s. Peter. Be ye sober and watche, for your aduersary the deuill goeth about like a roring Lion,i. Pet. v. seing whome he may deuoure, whome resist ye strong in faith.i. Iohn. v Saint Iohn also saith, this is the victory, which ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith. Not only all godly & faithfull men were tempted, but also our sauiour Christ.Math. iiii. And this is a great comfort for vsus. For in that it fortuned him selfe to be tempted,Hebr. ii. he is hable to succour them, also that are tempted. Christ being tempted, ouercame his temptations to get vsus the victory ouer the tempter.Note. His triumphe is our victory, and his victory is our triumphe. Whatsoeuer he did & got in his humanitie, he did and got it not for him self, but for vsus. And God is faithfull (saith the apostle) whiche will not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength,i. Cor x. but wil in the mids of the temptation make away, that ye may be able t… beare it. Beleue therfore in Christ & you are without al danger.Mark. ix.

Epa.

I beleue, O Lord, help thou min… vnbeliefe.Luke. xiii. O Lorde encrease my faith.

Phi.

Fear you not, but God both will & doth hear your prayers,Psal. cxiv. for y^e Lorde is nie vntounto all thē that cal on him in truth.Of prayer.

Epa.

You made mention also of praier, saying that y^t is also a mean to resist… Sathan.

Phi.

I reioyse greatly & I geue God moste harty thankes y^t in this your sicknes your memory cōtinueth stil stedfast & perfect.

Epa.

I praise God for it.

Phi.

That prayer is a necessary remedy for the auoyding of Sathans temptations, the holy scriptures teache manifestly in diuers places. Our sauior Christ saith,Math. xxvi. watch & pray, that ye fal not into temptation. Againe. This kind of deuils is not cast out, but by prayer & fasting.Mark. ix. To represse y^t temtatiōs of Satā all godly men euen frō the beginning fled vntounto faithfull praier, as a mighty & sure defence againste sathan and al his crafty assaultes. And God hath commaunded vsus to pray, whensoeuer we are troubled, and doeth also promise vsus, y^t he wyll both heare and helpe vsus. Call on me,Psal. …. sayeth he in the tyme of thy trouble, and I wyl delyuer thee, and thou shalt honoure me. The Lorde is nie vntounto them that are of a troubled heart,Psal. xxxiii. & he wyll help thē that be broken in spirite.

Ep.

Now good neighbors pray for me.

Ph.

Uery gladly. Let vsus knele down together and pray.

Chr.

Lo here are we.A prayer.

Phi.

O heauenly and moste mercifull father, we moste humbly besech thee for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord, hauehave pitie vponupon this thy creature, and succoure him in these horrible assaultes and temptations of the de…uill. Deliuer his soule in these extreame necessities from all the internall army. Sende him downe strength from aboue, that he may be able to resiste his ennemy, and to stande stedfaste in the tyme of this his temptation. Be thou his strong rocke, castell, shield, tower, and defense, that he in this greate trouble being preserued from the tyranny of his ennemies▪ through thy godly grace assistence & helpe: may continue in the true and christen faith vntounto his liues end, and afterward be receiued into thy heuenly kingdome, through Iesus Christ our Lord.

Euse.

Amen.

Epa.

Now will I pore & wratched sinner offer my prayers also vntounto the Lord my God in Iesus Christes name, trusting and beleuing vndoubtedly, that he gratiously wyl heare me, and defend me against mine enemies.Mark. xi.

Phi.

These are the words of Christ: What things so euer ye desyre whan ye praye: beleue that ye receiue them, and ye shall hauehave them.

Epaph.

Out of the depth do I cry vntounto thee,Psal. cxxx. O Lord O Lord hear my praier. Saue me O God,Psal. lxix. for the waters of trouble are come in euen vntounto my soule.A praier. I stick fast in the depe myre, where no groūd is: I am come into depe waters, so that the …loudes run ouer me. Take me out of the myre that I sinck not. Oh let me be deliuered from them that hate me, & out of the depe waters. Let not the water floud drown me, nether let the depe swalowe me vp, & let not the pit shut her mouthe vponupon me. Heare me, O Lord, for thy louing kindnes is cōfortable: turne me vntounto thee according vntounto the multitude of thy mercies, & hyde not thy face from thy seruaunt, fo… I am in trouble, O hast thee, and hear me. Draw nie vntounto my soul, and saue it, oh deliuer me because of mine ennemies. For y^t knowest my reprofe, my shame, and my dishonoure. Mine aduersaries are ful in thy sight. So shal I, beyng deliuered from these great miseries through thy gratious benefit prayse and magnifie the name of thee my Lord God for euer and euer.

Chr.

So be it.

Epa.

Neighbor Philemon.Of Gods worde.

Phi.

Here sir.

Epa.

As I remember, you told me, that besides faythe and prayer, the word of God also is a goodly help and a strong fortresse against the cruell assanites of the Deuill.

Phile.

It is truthe.Luke. xiii. For so are we taught in the holy scripture. Our sauioure Christ, when the time of his Passion began to drawnie, knowing that his Disciples shoulde for his …ake be greuously tempted bothe of the deuill, the world, & the flesh: commaunded thē to bie a sworde. This was no materiall but spirituall sword,Ephe. … ▪ as S. Paul declareth vntounto y^e Ephesiās, saying: aboue all thinges, take to you the shield of faith, wherwith ye may quenche all the firy dartes of the wycked. And take the helmet of saluation, and the sword of the spirit, which …s the word of God. And praye alwayes with all manner of prayer & supplication in the spirit.Math. iiii. With …he worde of God Christ droue away Sathan and resisted all his wicked temptacions.Rom. i. For it is the power of God to saue so many as beleue. In the word of God plēteous & present remedies are founde against Satan, and al his subtile suggestions. Therfore said y^e psalmograph. I hauehave hyd thy spea…hes, O Lord in my heart,Psal. cxix. that I might not sin against thee.Iohn. xv. Now are ye cleane sayde Christe, for th… word, whiche I spake vntounto you. Hereto parteineth the sayinge o… the wyseman.Sap. xvi. Nether hearbe, no emplasture hath healed them, O lord, but thy worde which healet… all thinges. Like vntounto this is … sentence in a certaine Psalme,Psal. cvii. h… sent his word, and deliuered the… from destructiō.

Epa.

God deliue… me from destruction.

phi.

Enar… your self w^t faith, praier and wit… the word of God, & doubt ye not For these kyndes of armoures o… weapons, sathan can by no mea…nes abide.

Ep.

The Lord preseru… and defend me. Neighboures, I wil pray once againe vntounto y^e Lord my God, while I hauehave time.

Chr.

It is a godly exercise.

Epa.

I per…ceiue Sathan to be still busy, and to seke my dānation.

Phi.

Striu…fully, & you shall hauehave the crowne of glory▪

Epa.

How long wilt thou forget me (O Lord) for euer?A praier. How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?Psalm. xiii. O how long shal I seke councell in my soule, and be so vexed in my heart? How long shall mine enemy triumph ouer me? Consider & here me (O Lord, my God) lighten mine eies that I sleepe not in death, least myne ennemy saye, I hauehave preuailed against him. If I be cast downe, they that trouble me will reioyse at it. But my trust is in thy mercy, & my hart is ioyful in thy saluation. I againe for this thy louynge kyndnesse, wyll prayse thy holy name.

Euse.

So be it.

Ep.

Unto the wil I cry, O Lord my strēgth,Psal. xxviii thinck no scorn of me, …east if thou make thee,A prayer. as though thou heardest not, I become like them, that go downe into the pit. Here the voyce of my humble pe…icions when I cry vntounto the, whē I cry vntounto the, whē I hold vp my handes toward the mercy seat of thy holy temple.Psal. xxvii O hyde not thou thy face from me, nor cast thy seruaunt awaye in thy displeasure. The sorowes of death hauehave compassed me round about,Psal. xviii. and the ouerflowings of vngodlines made me afraid, The pains of hel came about me, y^t snares of death hauehave ouertaken me. Be not thou farre from me▪ Psal. xxiiO Lord, thou art my succour, hast thee to helpe me. Delyuer my soul from the swearde, my dearling frō the power of y^e dog. Saue me from the Lions mouth. So shal I declare thy name vntounto my brethren, and in the middest of the cōgregation wil I praise thee…

Euse.

I doubte not brother Epaphroditus, but y^t God hath heard these your moste humble prayers & lamentable supplications, and will, (when he seeth conuenient… time,) send you remedy, and geue you a ioyfull and mery hearte, so that you shall leape vpō Sathan, and saye: The Lord is my light & my saluation,Psal. xxvii whom then shall I feare? The Lorde is the strength of my lyfe, of whome then shall I be afrayde? Though an hoaste of men were layde against me, yet shall not my heart be afrayd. And though there rose vp war against me, yet wyll I put my truste in hym.i. Cor. xv. Again, death is swalowed vp into victory.Ose. xiii. Death where is thy stynge? Hell where is thy victory? The sting of death is synne, and the strengthe of synne is the lawe. But thankes be vntounto God, which hath geuen vsus the victory. through our Lord Iesus Christ,A praier.

Epa.

O whan will the Lord hauehave mercy on me, and deliuer me from the greuous assaultes of mine ennemyes, O Lorde, why hast thou forgottē me?Psal. xlii. Why go I thus heauely, whyle the enemy oppresseth me? Up Lord, why sleapest thou? Awake,Psal. xliiii. and be not absent frō me for euer. Wherfore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest my miserie & trouble? My soule is brought low euen vntounto the dust, my belly cleaueth vntounto the grounde.Psalm. xxvii Arise and help me O Lorde, and deliuer me for thy mercies sake.

Chri.

Fainte not, nether despaire you of Gods mercy, but take a good heart vntounto you & abide the Lordes pleasure. Be of like mynd with him, which praid on this manner vntounto God, saying: Unto thee lift I vp myne eies,Psal. cxxii. thou that dwellest in the heauens. Beholde, as the eies of seruaunts loke vntounto y^e hande of their maisters: and as the eies of a maiden, vntounto the hand of her mistres: euen so our eies wayte vponupon the Lord our god, vntil he hauehave mercy vponupon vsus.Thren. iii. It is good to be quiet saith the Prophet, and pacientlye to abide the sauing healthe of the Lord▪ For y^e Lord wyl not forsake for euer, but though he punyshe you now, and suffre satan to trouble you a little while, for the triall of your faith, yet according to the multitude of his mercies will he receiue you to grace again, & not cast you out of his heart for euer. He is a father of mercies and God of all consolation.ii. Cor. i. Psal. cxliii. He wyll not be alwayes chiding, neither wyll he for euer be angry with vsus. For like as a father pitieth his owne children: euen so is the Lord mercifull vntounto thē y^t feare him. For he knoweth whereof we be made, he remembreth that we are but duste.

Epa.

Lorde be thou mercifull vntounto me.A prayer. Hide not thy selfe in a cloude, but shew me thy louing and gentle countenaunce, that I may be saued. Send me present helpe frō aboue,Ephe. vi. or els I perysh. For I wrastle not against bloud and fleshe, but against rule, against power, against worldly rulers, euen gouernours of the darcknes of this worlde,Math. iiii. against spirituall craftines in heauenly thynges. This greuous conflict, O Lord, is with such an ennemy, as feared not to assail thee, whom thou thy self callest the Prince of this world,Iohn. xiiii. and the holy Apostle tearmeth hym, the God of this worlde. Arise therfore O Lorde,i. Cor. iiii. and take my part. Be thou, O God, my defender, my house of defence and my Castell. Deliuer me out of y^e snare, whiche myne ennemy hath layde for me, that I being set at libertie, maye syng prayses to thy blessed name, and magnifie thee my Lord God for euer and euer.

Theo.

Amen.

Phi.

Neighbour, take a good hart vntounto you, and you shall shortly see the wonderfull working of God.Psal. cxvi. For behold, he that kepeth Israell, doth nether slomber nor slepe. The Lord him self is your keper, the Lord is your defence, the lord shall preserue you from all euill: yea, the Lord shal kepe your soule. For as he casteth down, so lifteth he vp againe. As he killeth: so he quickeneth.ii. Cor. i. As he nowe for a little tyme suffreth Sathan to disquiet you, for the exercise, probation, and triall of your faythe: so likewyse will he deliuer you oute of this agonie, & geue you againe a ioyfull, mery, and quiet conscience. For the nature and property of God is to woūd:The propertie of God in his elect. before he healeth, to throwe downe: before he lifteth vp, to kyll: before he quickneth, to condemne: before he saueth. Therfore feare not. For the lord dealeth none otherwise with you, than he doeth with his other saincts. This your trouble he wil turn to ease, and this your sorowe wyl he turne to ioy, as he sayth in the Gospell,Iohn. xvi. verely verely I saye vntounto you: ye shal wepe & lament: but contrariwise the worlde shall reioyse. Ye shall sorowe, but your sorow shall be turned into ioye. A woman when she traueleth hath sorow, because her houre is come, but assone as she is deliuered of y^e childe, she remembreth no more y^e anguishe for ioy that a mā is born into the world. And ye now therefore hauehave sorow, but I wil see you againe, and your heartes shal reioyse and your ioye shall no man take away from you. In this your heauy cōflict God semeth to hauehave withdrawn the glorious beames of his fatherly grace frō you, but he will straightways lighten his godly countenaūce vponupon you, and worke suche ioyes in your heart, through his holy spirit, as heretofore you felt neuer the lyke. And this your ioy, shall neuer be taken from you. Therefore whatsoeuer sathan that old canckred ennemy of mankinde goeth about to perswade you,i. Pet. v. beleue hym not, but resiste him with strong faith, euer remembring that he is both a lier and a murtherer. You are a member of that congregation,Iohn. viii. whiche is built vponupon the rocke Christe,Math. xvi. againste whome the gates of hell, shall not preuayle. You are a lyuing stone of the blessed building and spiritual house,Math. vii. wherof Christ is the head corner stone, though y^e windes blow, the shours of raine descend, and the cruell tempestes …eate on the house, yet it falleth not, for it is grounded not vponupon y^e and,Luke. xxii. but vponupon the rocke. Sathan …n this temtation hath desired to sifte you, as it were wheate, but Christ hath praied for you, y^t your faith failed not. You are one of the shepe,Iohn. x. whiche God the father hath geuen to his sonne Christe, therfore can you not peryshe, neyther shall any creature plucke you out of his hande, but he shall geue you euerlasting life.

Epa.

Now per…ceiue I most gētle neighbor Philemon, that to be true, whiche I hauehave many tymes heard the godly preachers rehearse in their most comfortable Sermons.

Phile.

What is that I pray you?

Epaph.

That one faythfull Preacher, which is able with the swete promises of the holy scriptures to cō fort the weake and desperate conscience: is better then ten thousande mumbling Massemongers whiche promise with their Massinge mountaines of golde, but perfourme molhilles of glasse. I hauehave also many times heard it saide, that though the companye of a learned man be good and profitable at all times, yet chiefly in the tyme of syckenesse, and whan the weake creature is ready to depart from this wicked worlde, for asmuche as than Sathan is most busy and without ceasing laboureth to disquiet the conscience of …he sickman, that by this meanes he may driue him to desperation, and finally to damnation.

Phile.

What meane you by that?

Epa.

I thanke God moste hartelye, that suche a learned man as you are, hauehave nowe vouchedsafe to visite me in this my sickenesse.

Phil.

No learned man, but a louer of learninge, and suche one, as hathe a good will well to doe, and enuieth no man that can doe better.

Epa.

In the tyme of this your godlye communication had with me, the Lord my God be thancked for it I felt the heauines, trouble, and disquietnes of my conscience, by little and little to goe away, and certaine swete mocions of true & inward ioye to arise in my heart▪ so y^t nowe Sathan with his wicked temtations semeth to hauehave taken his flight, and the holy ghost… with his most godly and comfortable inspirations to hauehave entred into my breast. Wheras before m… thought, I was in hell, nowe m… thinck I am in heauen so great… quietnes, rest, ioy, and confort do I finde in my conscience. Sainc… Paule wysheth not in vain to th… Philippiās this tranquilitie and quietnes of conscience,Phil. iiii. saying: th… peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding kepe your hearts and mindes in Christ Iesu. Again t… the Collossians.Colloss. iii. The peace of god mought rule in your heartes, t… the whiche peace ye are called in one body. For no man knoweth what a precious Iewell and heauenly treasure this peace of con…cience is, but suche as fele it. Ne…her can any man feele it a ryght, except he hath felt afore the grief, …ain, and disquietnesse of conscience. I may now right wel say w^t …he Psalmograph:Psal. xxxi. O howe great and plentifull is thy goodnesse, which thou hast laide vp for them …hat feare thee, and that thou hast …repared for them that put theyr …rust in thee?Psal. …xxi. O what great trou…les and aduersities haste thou …hewed me? And yet thou diddest …urne & refresh me, yea, & brough…est me from the depe of the earth …gaine? Thou hast broughte me …o great honour, and cōforted me …n eueryevery syde. Therfore wyll I …raise thee and thy faithfulnes, O God.

Phi.

Here see you that fulfilled in your selfe, whiche you ha… full oft red in the holy Scriptur… The Lorde killeth and make… aliue,i. Reg. ii. bryngeth downe to hell, an… fetcheth vp againe. Great are t… troubles of the righteous,Psalm. xxxiii but t… Lord deliuereth them out of the… all.

Chr.

The holy man Toby … his praier vntounto God,Toby. iii. saieth: Wh…soeuer loueth thee & serueth thee … right: is sure of this, that if his li… be tempted and proued, it stāde… in the trying, & if he endure in pa…cience, he shal hauehave a reward, an… be highly crowned, and if he be i… trouble that God (no doubt) sha… delyuer hym, and if his lyfe be i… chastning, that he shall hauehave le… to come vntounto thy mercy. For tho… hast no pleasure in our damnat…on. And why? After a storme tho… makest the weather fair and stil… after weping and heauines tho… geuest great ioy. Thi name O go… of Israell be praysed for euer.

Ep.

Amē.

Chr.

The Psalmograph also saith:Psal. cxxv. They that sowe in tears, shall reape in ioye. He that nowe goeth on his way weping, and bereth forth good seede, shall doubtles come againe with ioy, & bring his sheues with him.Psal. cxxiii….

Epa.

If the Lord him selfe had not bene of my side, when Satan rose vp against me, he had swalowed me vp quik. But praysed be the Lorde, whiche hath not geuen me ouer for a pray vntounto his teeth. My soule is escaped, euen as a byrde oute of the snare of the fouler: the snare is broken and I am deliuered. My helpe standeth in the name of the Lorde, whiche hath made heauen and earth. But neighboure Philemon, it is good in the tyme of calme to prouide for tempest. We are taughte of Iob,Iob. vii▪ that a mans …ife in this worlde, is a warfare or knighthode, and that we therfore ought to watche & praye,Math. xxvi. tha… we fail not into temptation. The scripture declareth, that after Sa…than had tempted Christ, & was confounded by the worde of God… the deuil departed from Christ for a season.Luke. iiii. Wherof we may learne▪ that he returned afterward vntounto Christ, and tempted him. I feare also, least that Sathā will shortly returne vntounto me, and assaile m… with newe temptations.

Phi.

In…dede the propertie of Sathan is… whan he can not get his purpose one waye, to attempt some other meanes.Of the lawe. But whereof are ye afraid?

Epa.

Christ saith in the Gospel:Math. ix. If thou wilte enter into lyfe… kepe the commaundementes. Again, do this,Luke. x. and thou shalt lyue. He speaketh of fulfilling the lawe. And s. Paule saieth.Rom. ii. Not the hearers but the doers of the law, sha… be iustified before God.Deut. xxv…. Moses also pronounceth thē cursed, whiche abideth not in all thynges that ar written in the lawe. What if Sathan should lay the lawe againste me, and proue euidently that I hauehave not fulfilled the law of God, and therfore I can not enter into eternall life, but must neades be dampned?Remedies against y^e curse of the lawe▪

Phi.

The holy scriptur of God consisteth of two partes, of the lawe and of the Gospell. If sathan obiect y^e lawe against you: laye you againste him straightewaies the Gospell.Iohn. i. For the lawe was geuen by Moses, but y^e Gospell, that is, grace, fauour, remission of sinnes, truthe, faithfulnes, and euerlasting life, came by Iesus Christe.Of the lawe and the Gospell. The lawe maketh afrayd: but the Gospel comforteth. The law troubleth: but the Gospel quieteth. The law vttreth sin, but the Gospell pardoneth, and forgeueth sinne.Rom. iii. The lawe declareth the fearse wrathe of God againste synners:Gala. iii. but the Gospel… preacheth the great and exceding mercies of God toward peniten… synners. The law woundeth, bu… the gospel healeth. The lawe maketh sicke:ii. Cor. ii. but the gospell maketh whole and stronge. The law driueth to desperation: but the gospel ministreth consolation & comfort. The lawe killeth: but the gospel quikneth. The lawe throweth downe to hel: but y^e gospel lifteth vp to heauen. Therfore if Sathā be busy and lay the lawe agains… you, and that vntounto you death… and dampnation, aunswere him with the Gospell, which bringeth lyfe and euerlasting saluation. For the law was not geuen vsus o… God to iustifie and saue vsus,why the law was geuen. but to be a doctrine vntounto vsus what w… should either do or leaue vndone and to be a scholemaister to leade vsus vntounto Christe,Gala. iii. that of hym we might obtaine that, whiche by no meanes may be gotten of y^e lawe, I meane, the grace, fauoure, and mercy of God, remission and forgeuenes of sinnes, the quietnes of conscience, a newe life, the gift of the holy ghost, and euerlasting life. Flie you therefore from the heauy burden of the lawe, whiche depresseth and wayeth downe the conscience, and take on you the swete and comfortable yoke of the gospel, and so shall you finde reast vntounto your soul.Math. xi. For the yoke therof is easy, and the burden light. After this manner euen from the beginning hauehave all the godly in the conflicte of conscience fledde from the doctrine of the lawe vntounto the mercifull promises of the Gospel,Act. xv. as blessed Peter testifieth saying: Now, why tempt ye God, to put on the disciples neckes, the yoke, whiche neither our fathers nor we were able to bear. But we beleue, that through the grace of the Lorde Iesu Christ we shal be saued,Iohn. vii. as they were. Our sauioure Christ said vntounto the Iewes, hath not Moses geuen you a law, and yet none of you kepeth the lawe? The doctrine of the law is such a burden, that the holiest that euer liued (Christ alone except) was neuer hable to bear it.Rom. vii. No maruell, for the lawe is spirituall, but we are carnall.Prou. xx Who among vsus all is able to say, my heart is cleane, and I am free from sinne? The holy scripture pronounceth vsus all sinners, and oure owne consciences beare witnes of y^e same.Roma. iii. And how commeth it to passe? but only that we do not obserue the lawe of the Lord our God,Psalm. xi. but rather ar trāsgressours & breakers of that same, in so much y^t if our sauiour Christ had not come in the fleshe & fulfilled the law for vsus▪ euen to the vttermoste, & so pacified the fathers wrath, we had bene dampned for euer and euer.Rom. viii. But Christ is come and hath fulfilled the lawe with suche perfection as the law requireth,Roma. x. euen at the full, and his fulfilling is our fulfilling.Gala. iii.iiii. i. Cor. i. Whosoeuer beleueth this, & taketh Christ to be his wisdome, rightuousnes, sanctifying and redemption, he cannot pearyshe but hauehave euerlasting life.

Epa.

I pray you declare vntounto me some comfortable sentenses out of the holy scripture, that my conscience may be ascertained of Christes fulfillyng of the lawe for me.

Phile.

Christ saieth in the Gospell.Math. v. Thinke not that I am come to destroy the law or y^e Prophetes, no. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. All we are destroyers and breakers of the law, but Christ is a perfect fulfiller of the same, not for him selfe, but for vsus, and his fulfilling, is our fulfilling. The holy Apostle in his epistle to the Romaines, sayeth. There is no damnation to them,Rom. viii. whiche are in Christ Iesu, which walke not after the fleshe, but after the spirite. For the lawe of the spirit of life through Iesus Christ hath made me fre from the law of sinne and death. For what the law could not do (inasmuch as it was weake because of the fleshe) that parformed God, and sent his sonne in the similitude of synnefull fleshe, and by synne damned synne in the fleshe, that the righteousnes of the lawe might be fulfilled in vsus, whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite. Here see you, that where as none of vsus was able to fulfyll the lawe, Christ the sonne of God hath fulfilled it for vsus, and by this meanes deliuered vsus frō the lawe of sinne and deathe.Rom. x. Againe in the same Epistle, Christe is the perfect fulfilling of y^e lawe to iustifie all that beleue. So many therefore as beleue, are iustified, and for them Christe hath fulfilled the lawe to the vttermoste. To the Galathians he also saieth,Galat. iii. Christ hath deliuered vsus from the cursse of the lawe, in as much as he was made accursed for our sake.Deut. xxi. For it is writen. Cursed is eueryevery one that hangeth on a tree. &c. It Christ by his death and passion hath deliuered vsus from the cursse of the law, how than can the lawe condemne vsus? Item, in the same Epistle, when the time was full come,Galat. iiii. God sent his sonne made of a woman, and made bonde vntounto the lawe, to redeme them, which were bond vntounto the law, that we through election might receiue thinheritaunce that belongeth vntounto the naturall sonnes. If Christ became mā and was made bond vntounto the lawe, to redeme and deliuer vsus from the lawe: what power than hath the lawe ouer vsus, that it may condēpn vsus? If we be through y^e fre choyse of God admitted to be the sonnes of God: thē are we no more slaues vntounto the law, nor any more bound to the subiection thereof, that it may cast vsus away as wicked trāsgressours and heirs of eternal dā nation. For it is fulfilled for vsus in Christ.Ephe. ii. To the Ephesians he writeth on this manner. Christe is oure peace, whiche hath made of both one (he speaketh of y^e Iewes and Gentiles) and hath broken downe the wal that was a stoppe betwene vsus, and hath also put away through his flesh the cause of hatred euen the law of commaū dementes contained in the lawe writtē. &c. Here hauehave we the cause why god was angry with vsus. Uerely because we fulfilled not the law. Now is Christ come, & hath put away the cause of this anger and hatred, that is to saye, he hath fulfilled the law for vsus, and recō ciled vsus vntounto God, so that nowe the father for his sake hateth vsus no more, but loueth vsus, is no more angry, but wel pleased with vsus, & accepteth his fulfilling of the law, as our own fulfulling.Collo. ii. Also to the Collossians, Christ saith he, hathe put out the hand wryting y^t was against vsus contained in the lawe written, and that hath he taken out of the waye, and hath fastned it to his crosse, and hathe spoyled rule and power, and hath made a shew of them opēly, and hath triumphed ouer them in his owne person. If Christ hanging on the Crosse, hath by the vertue of his passion & death put out the hande wryghting that was against vsus contained in the lawe than is our bond made frustrate and voyde, & we set at libertie, forasmuche as Christe by his bloude hathe bothe paid our debt vntounto God y^e father, and also subdued and brought vnderunder fote al our ennemies.Hebr. vii. The authour of the Epistle to y^e Hebrues, hath these wordes. The cōmaundement that went afore, is disanulled, because of weakenes and vnprofitablenesse. For the lawe brought nothynge to perfection, but was an introduction to a better hope, by the whiche we drawenie vntounto God. Here ar we taught also, that forasmuche as by y^e lawe no man can be made perfect (for who amōg vsus fulfilleth the law?) we hauehave our perfection in Christ… …y whome for our sake the law is fulfilled, and remission of synnes and euerlasting lyfe is frely geuē vntounto vsus. This is the hope, profit and libertie, whiche so many as beleue, receiue in Christ. Let therfore the terrours and cursse of the lawe neuer trouble you, though Sathan do neuer so muche lay it vntounto your charge: but remember what the Apostle saieth: ye are no more vnderunder the lawe,Rom. vi. but vnderunder grace. Againe. Now are we deliuered from the law,Roma. vii. and dead vntounto it, whereunto we were in bondage, that we shoulde serue in a newe conuersation of the spirit, and not in old conuersation of the letter. For if righteousnesse commeth by the law, then died Christ in vaine.Galat. ii. But we know, saieth the Apostle, that a man is not iustified by the dedes of the lawe, but by the fayth of Iesus Christ. And we hauehave beleued on Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the faith of Christe: and not by the deedes of the lawe, because by the deedes of the law, no flesh sha… be iustified. Againe: as manye o… you as are iustified by the lawe, a… fallē from grace. We loke for and hope in the spirite to bee iustifed thorow faith.Gala. v. For in Christ Iesu… neither is circumcision any thing worth, nether yet vncircumcision but faith, which worketh by louelove▪ Comfort your selfe, neighbour E…paphroditus, against the assaults of Sathan with these swete sayinges of the holy scripture, and s… shal nether the feare nor the curss… of the lawe hurt you.Remedies against sinne.

Epa.

God b… thanked, I trust, I am nowe we… enarmed against Sathan for this matter. But what, if he laye my sinfull life vntounto my charge, and so burden my conscience with that, that I know not what to do, but am like to fall vntounto desperation? What shal I aunwere? How shal I escape? For I confesse vntounto you that I hauehave bene all my lyfe time a very greuous sinner, and hauehave greatly offēded the Lord my God.

Phi.

Discomfort not your selfe, but take a good heart vntounto you. You are in this behalfe in none other case then all the sainctes and faithfull people of God hauehave bene before you,Roma. iii. & are at this daye. For all hauehave sinned, and want the glory of God.Esay. liii. All hauehave gone astraye lyke lost shepe. We are vnprofitable seruauntes.Luke. xvii. Esay. lxiiii. All our righteousnesses are as a clothe defiled with menstrue.1. Iohn. i. If we saye we hauehave no sinne, we deceiue our selues, and the truthe is not in vsus. But if we confesse our sinnes, God is faithfull and righteous to forgeue vsus our sinnes, and to clense vsus from al vnrighteousnes.

Epa.

What … I do than, that synne may be … clog vntounto my conscience?

Phile.

Repentance.Let it repēt you, that euer you of…fended so louing a father, and s… gentle a Lord. Be hartely sory fo… your misdoings. Lament and in…wardly bewail your wretchednes…ses, which so wickedly hauehave trans…gressed & brokē the holy cōmaun…dements of the Lord. For this ha…ty and vnfained repentaunce is a goodly preparatiue to saluation▪ and without it none can be …aued Therfore Iohn Baptist,Math. iii. Christ & his Apostles begā their preaching of repentaunce.Mark. i. Act. iii. Math. ix. Esay. lxvi. For whosoeuer is not brought into the knowledge of hym selfe, he shall neuer hauehave delyghte to come vntounto Christe▪ For suche as thynke them selues whole, hauehave no pleasure in a phisition, but they that are sycke.

Epaphr.

And will God accept this my repentaunce?

Phi.

Hear what God saith by the Prophet Whom shall I regard? Euen hym that is pore and of a lowly troubled spirit, & standeth in awe of my wordes. The Psalmograph also saith:Psal. li. A sacrifice vntounto god is a troubled spirite, a broken and a contrite heart: O God, shalt thou not despise. Again:Psal. xxxiii. the Lord is nie vntounto them that are of a troubled heart, and he will saue them that are of a broken spirite.A prayer.

Epa.

O Lord take away from me that stony heart, whiche can not repent, and geue me that fleshly heart, which gladlye and willingly lamenteth her synnes and miseries,Ezech. xi. and vnfainedly delyghteth in a newe lyfe. But what? is repētance ynough?

Phi.

As you ernestly and from the very heart do repent you of your former sinnefull lyfe:Confession of sinnes vntounto God. so likewyse hūble your self in y^e sight of God, and confesse your selfe vntounto him a moste wicked & miserable sinner Crie in your heart with Dauid, & say: hauehave mercy vponupon me, O God after thy great goodnes. Accor…dinge vntounto the multitude of thy mercies, do away myne offences Wash me thorowly from my wic…kednes,Psal. li. & clense me from my syn For I knowledge my fautes, and my sin is euer before me. Against thee only hauehave I sinned, and don… euill in thy sight. O turn thy fac… from my sinnes, and put oute al… my mysdedes. Make me a clean… heart, O God, and renue a righ… spirite within me. Cast me not a…way from thy presence, and tak… not thy holy spirite from me. Cry… with that lost sonne and say:Luke. xv. O fa…ther I hauehave sinned against heauē and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne▪ Cry with the Publicane and say:Luke. xviii O God be merciful to me a sinner. Cry with the Leper and saye:Math. vii. O Lord, if thou wilt thou art hable to make me cleane. Cry with the blinde man and saye:Mark. x. O Iesu the sonne of Dauid, hauehave mercye on me.Math. xv. Cry with the woman of Canane and say…: hauehave mercy on me O Lord thou…ne of Dauid: My doughter is greuously vexed of y^e deuil.Math. v…. Cry with the Centurion & say: I am not worthy that thou shouldest entre vnderunder my rofe, but speke the word only, and my sōne shalbe heled. But vntounto this your harty repentaunce & humble confessiō of your sinnes, you must put mighty & strong faith, beleuing y^t God y^e father for his promise sake made vntounto all penitent sinners in Christes bloud,Faith. wil frely & merci…ully forgeue you all your sins, be …hey neuer so manye or greuous. for without this faith all y^t euer you do, is nothing worth, as thapostle saith.Roma. xiiii. Whatsoeuer is not of faith,Gene. iiii. is sinne. Cain repented and confessed his fault, saying: my sin is greater, then I may deserue to be forgeuen. But because he wanted faith, he fell into desperation & was dampned:Math. xxvii. Iudas repented & confessed his sinne, saying: I hauehave synned, betraying the innocent bloud, yea he also made satisfaction: suche as it was, but not with…standinge because he added no… faith vntounto his repentaunce, con…fession and satisfaction, all was in vaine. Peter his fellowe disciple… sinned also greuously,Math. xxvi. but becaus… he earnestlye repented, and als… faithfully beleued to hauehave remis…sion of his sinnes by the precious bloud of his maister, whome he … fore had both denied & forsworne he was forgeuen, and receiued i… to fauour againe.Ephe. i. For by faith ar… we made of the children of wrath, the sonnes of God.Iohn. i. By faith are we maried vntounto Christ.Galat, iii. By faith are our hartes purified. By faith sathan is ouercome. By faith the world is vanquished.Ose. ii. By faith we are preserued from dampnation. By faith we are iustified & made righteous.Act. xiii. i. Pet. v. By faith the wrath of God is asswaged. By faith we worke the will of God.i. Iohn. v. By faith our praiers are heard, and our requestes graunted. By faithe we please God.Rom. v. By faith we be made the children of light. By faith we are borne a new of God.Iohn. vi. By faith we are made the temples of the holy ghost.Mark. xi. Roma. xi. By faith we vnderstand the misteries of God.

By faith we preuaile againste the gates of hell.Iohn. xii i. Iohn. iii… i. Cor. iii. Math. xxvi Rom. viii. By faith we are made the heyres of God, and fellow heyres with our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesu, of euerlasting glory.Lib. de fide ad Petrum. Faith, as S. Austen saith▪ is the beginning of mans saluation. Without faithe no man can reache or come vntounto the nomber of the sonnes of God. Withoute faith al the labour of man is frustrate and voyde. Faith, saieth S▪ Ambrose,Lib. de Cain & Abel. is y^e rote of all vertues▪ and whatsoeuer thou buyldest o… this foundation, that alone profiteth vntounto the reward of thy work… frute and vertue. Fayth, saith he▪ is ritcher then all treasures: strō ger then all corporall power: and more healthfull then all Phisitions. Therfore loke that you hau… this true faythe in you, and tha… you cleue both toth and nayle (as they vse to say) to the merciful and comfortable promises of god: So may you be sure to hauehave remission and forgeuenes of your synnes.

Epa.

I beleue, O Lord, helpe tho… my vnbelief.The sick mās confession of his sinnes. Mark. ix. Luke. xvii. O Lord encrease my saith, O heauenly father my God and my Lorde, I with an assured perswasion of thy goodnesse toward me, most humbly besech the for Iesus Christes sake, mercifully to behold me a moste miserable sinner, and clearly to forgeue all those sinnes & wickdnesses, which I wretched creature hauehave committed against thee my Lord God from the houre of my byrth vntounto this present tyme. Forgeue me all my sins for thy names sake,Psalm. xxv they …e bothe many and great. Oh remember not the sinnes and offen…es of my yougth, but accordynge vntounto thy mercy thynke vponupon me, O Lorde,Psal. lxxx…. for thy goodnes. Oh remember not mine old sinnes, but …aue mercy on me, yea and that …ghtsone, for I am come to great …iserie. Helpe me, O God of my …luation, for y^e glory of thy name. O deliuer me, and be merciful vntounto my sinnes for thy names sake. So shall I geue thee thankes for euer, & magnifie thy blessed name worldes without end.

EU.

Amen▪

Phi.

Doubt not neighbour Epaphroditus, but that god hath graciouslye heard this your humble sute, & also graunted your request▪ He hath forgeuē you al your sins He will neuer laye them to your… charge. He hath cast them away… behynd his back, so that he wil n…uer remember them more, as h… saith by y^e Prophet,Iere. xxxi. I will forgeue their misdedes, and wil neuer remember their synnes any more▪ Againe.Ezech. x…iii. If the vngodly wil tur… away from all his sinnes that h… hath done, and kepe all my com…maundementes, and do the thin… that is equall and right: doubtle… he shall lyue and not die. As for … his sinnes that he did before, th… shall not be thought vponupon, but in his righteousnes y^t he hath doone, he shal liue. For hauehave I any pleasure in the death of a sinner, saith y^e Lord God, and not rather that he conuert and liue? Item. Repent, & turne you from al your wickednesses: so shal ther no sinne do you harme. Cast away frō you al your vngodlines that ye hauehave doone. Make you new harts, and a new spirit. Wherfore will ye die, O ye house of Israel? seing I hauehave no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, sayeth the Lorde God. Turn you then: and ye shal liue. Therfore feare not good brother: but cōtinue faithfull & repentant vntounto thend, & ye shall surely be saued.

Epa.

Sinne is an heauy burden,Of sinne. Psal. vi. & very displeasāt vntounto the lord our God, and maketh sinners to …le frō the face of God, forasmuche as they know that God hateth sin and al thē that do commit it.

Phi.

Esay. iii.I confesse synne to bee an heauy burden and displeasant vntounto God yet as heauy as it is,Math. viii Christ hath taken it on hym and born it away as the Prophet saieth, he hath taken on him oure infirmities, and borne oure sycknesses.i. Pet. ii. This witnesseth. S. Peter, sayinge. Christ hym selfe bare oure synnes in his body on the tree, that we beyng delyuered from synne, should liue vntounto righteousnes. And where as ye say that synne maketh sinners to flie from the face of God, I answere. It driueth in dede the obstinat and desperate sinners from God, but not the penitent whiche repent in faith, and turne vnfaynedly vntounto the Lorde theyr God, being perswaded that he is a father of mercies and God of al consolation,…. Cor. i. and that he for Christes sake wyll forgeue them. Doe they whiche fele them selfe sick and diseased, flie and run away from the phisition? They rather make hast vntounto the Phisition, being nothing afraid of him, because they ar sick & diseased, but rather somuche the more doo they desire to come vntounto him, to shew him their woundes and to disclose their diseases, that they may be made whole. Now is Christ a phisitiō,Math. ix. & all we through sinne are diseased, shal we therfore runne away from Christ, and not rather make hast vntounto him? what Phisition is so ready to heale the body, as Christe our Phisition is to heale the soule? Who euer came vntounto him with a faithfull and penitent heart, and was refused? Who euer sought remedy at his hand, and was not holpen? Who euer opened vntounto hym his disea…es, and was not cured? he calleth all without exception, be they neuer so diseased and loden with th… burden of sinne vntounto him, and pro…miseth that he will ease them of their burdens, & make thē whole, & is it to be thought, that he wyl… refuse sinners, when they come vn…to him?Math xi Come vntounto me, sayth he, al ye that labour and are loden, & I wil refreshe you. Take my yoke vponupon you, and ye shall find rest for your soules. For I came not to ca… y^e righteous, but sinners vntounto repentance.Math. ix The sonne of man came to seke and to saue that was lost. How frequented he the cōpany of synners,Luk, xix when he was in this world, & that to this end only, tha… he might call them through his godly sermons vntounto repentance,Math. ix vntounto the fauour of God, and vntounto the felowship of the sainctes, in so muche that he was called a frend of open sinners and whores?Mrth. xi.x How defended he alway the humble & penitēt sinners against the proud and stifnecked Pharises and Iusticiaries?Luke. vii When Zache being a sinner & the Prince of the Publicans sought to see Christ,Luke. xix. how louingly did Christ speake vntounto him and frendly came into his house, eat & dranck with him?Luke, vii Whē Mary Magdalē being a greuous sinner came vntounto Christe, he refused not her company, but talked most gently with her, cōforted her, receiued her into his fauour, quieted her cōsciēce, healed her diseases, & gaue her euerlasting life.Luke, xvii Whan the poore Publicane, whiche had both ofte and greuously offended the Lord his God, came into the temple to pray, and in his praiers hūbled him self before the maiestie of God, and cōfessed him self a sinner, was he not ioyfully receiued into the fauour of God, and pronounced more righteous euen by the mouth of Christ then y^e proude▪ Pharesy for all his glistring workes? How ioyfully was that vnthrifty,Luke. xv. prodigal & wastfull sonne receiued home again?Luke. xxii. What frēdship founde that theif, whiche was crucified with Christe, at the hand of Christ, when he saide, Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome? Did not Christ straightways aunswere him and say: This day shalt thou bee with me in Paradise? And yet was he both a thief, a seditious persone and a murtherer. Christe refuseth none although neuer so greuous a synner, if we come vntounto hym. Turn ye vntounto me,…acha. i. and I wil turn vntounto you, saith the Lord of hostes. Thou disobedient Israel.Iere. iii. Turne again (saith the Lord) and I will not let my wrath fall vponupon you I am mercifull (saith the Lord) and I wil not alway bear displeasur against thee: but this I will y^e thou know thy great blasphemy, namely that thou hast vnfaithfully forsaken the Lord thy God, and hast made thi self partaker of straunge Gods vnderunder all greene trees, but hast had no wil to hear my voyce, saieth the Lorde. O ye disobedient chyldren, turne againe saieth the Lord, and I will be maried with you. &c. O ye disobedient childrē, turne agayne, saying: Lo, we are thyne: for thou art the Lorde our God, and so shal I heal your back turninges. Who wyll not boldely come vntounto so mercifull a Lord & most louing father, seing he so gē tely calleth all men vntounto hym, be they neuer so greuous synners, & promiseth that he wyll not refuse them, but louingly receiue them, neuer lay their offences vntounto their charge: but to forget them and cast them behinde his backe, that he wyll neuer ether remember th… or loke vponupon them more.

Theo.

Ioel. iiThe Lord is merciful, gentle and louing, pacient, long suffring, & o… muche kindnes, and ready at all tymes to forgeue, yea euen wha… he is at the poynt to punyshe. Th… Lord is louing vntounto eueryevery man,Psalm. cliiii & his mercy is ouer all his workes▪ The lord is good and gracious, & of great mercy vntounto all them that call vponupon him.Psal. lxxxvi The Lord is ful of tender compassion and great mer…cy, long sufferyng and of muche goodnes.Psal. ciii. He wil not alway be chi…ding, neither kepeth he his anger for euer. He dealeth not with vsus after our synnes, neither rewardeth he vsus accordyng to our wickednesses. For loke how hie y^e heauen is in comparison of the earth: so great is his mercy also toward them that feare him. Loke howe wide also the East is from y^e west: so far hath he set our sinnes from vsus. Yea lyke as a father pitieth his owne children: euen so is the Lord mercifull vntounto thē that feare him. For he knoweth whereof we be made, he remembreth y^t we are but dust.Psal. cxxx With the Lorde there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeme Israel frō al his sinnes.

Phi.

The great kindnes & dere hearty louelove of God toward vsus, appeareth not only in this, y^t he both willingly and gladly admitteth and receiueth synners, whensoeuer they repent and tourne vntounto hym, but …n that he also most diligently seketh them vp, fetcheth them home again, and geueth them grace to repent and turne, that they maye …e saued.Luke. xv This thinge is verye …yuelye described and set forthe in …he parables of the straid shepe,Luke. x. of the lost groat, and of the wounded man. Herein is louelove, saith S▪ Iohn,i. Iohn. iii. not that we loued God, bu… that he loued vsus, & sent his sonn… to be the agrement for our sinnes Saint Paule saieth:Roma. v. God settet… out his louelove toward vsus, seing tha… while we were yet sinners. Christ died for vsus. Much more thē now… we that are iustified by his blud… shalbe saued from wrath throug… him. For if when we were enne…mies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne: much… more seing we are reconciled, we shalbe preserued by his life.

Epa.

I beleue y^t God is a mercifull father for Christes sake to all them tha… do truly repente, beleue and con…uert vntounto him, but is it not to be… feared, that my repentaunce and conuersion is to late?Remedies against late repentaunce & cōuersion vntounto God.

Phi.

Be on good comfort neighbor Epaphroditus, there is no repentaūce and conuersion to late in this worlde▪ so that it be true & proceadeth frō a contrite heart & humble spirite. For at whatsoeuer hour a sinner dooth mourne and lamente for his sinnes,Iere. xxx… ▪ God promyseth, that he will so forgeue him his iniquities that he will neuer remember thē more.Ezech. xv… ▪ And Christe saithe.Math. v. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shal be comforted. In the holy scriptures God doth very often call vsus vntounto repentaunce, but he appoynteth not ether this or y^e time, day & hour, but he willeth vsus to repent, and promiseth that whensoeuer we returne vntounto him, we shall bee safe and escape from death vntounto life.Math. … Our sauiour Christ also biddeth al that are diseased, come vntounto him, and promiseth that he wil ease thē, but he assigneth no time, but at all houres he promyseth grace, mercy, fauour, help, and cō …ort. Christ is a sauior for al ages, & refuseth no cōuersion, although neuer so late. If we come in childhode, in yougth, in middle age, or in olde age, whensoeuer we come, we shall be receiued. Only let vsus come. It is better late then neuer. God is a like merciful, in al ages. Christ is a sauiour able inough to saue at all tymes.Math. i. He ceaseth not to be called Iesus, that is to say, a sauiour: niether ceaseth he at any time to saue, as y^e Apostle saith, Iesus Christ yesterday & to daye,Hebr. xiii. and the same continueth for euer. If Christ were appoynted of God the father a sauioure for certaine times, & not for all times: so shuld he be no perfect sauiour.… Note. If he could not as effectually saue at the hour of death as at the hour of the birth: he were vnworthy y^e name of a sauiour. But he abideth a sauiour for all ages and for all kind of people, so that they vnfainedly repent, beleue, and turn. Set before your eyes the parable,Math. xx. whiche we read in the gospel, of them that were hired to worke in the vineyard. Some came early in y^e morning, some about the third hour, some about the .vi. and .ix. houre, and some about the .xi. hour. And when night once came, that they shuld receiue their wages, all had like reward. Whē they that came first saw that they that came laste & wrought but one houre, were equal vntounto thē, whiche had borne y^e burthen and heat of the day, & receiued like reward: one of thē murmured & grudged at y^e matter: but it was answered. Frend I do the no wrong. Take that is thine and go thy way. I will geue vntounto this last euen as vntounto thee. Is it not lawful for me to doo as me listeth with mine owne goodes? Thus se you that they, whiche came at the latter end of y^e day & wrought in the vinyard but an hour, were not refused but receiued the lyke reward with thē that came first. Only let vsus be labourers and no loiterers, only let vsus come into the Lordes vineyarde, and not runne away backward, and at whatsoeuer hour we come, we shalbe welcome, & receiue our reward with the first.Luke. xxii. Againe the history of the thief, that hanged on the righthand of Christ, whiche thief was full of wicked dedes, & neuer turned vntounto God vntil the very hour of his death, declareth manifestly that there is no conuersion in this life to late, if it bee accompanied with true repentaunce and vnfained faith. The thiefe hangyng on the crosse, & at the poynt of death only said vntounto Christ: Lord remē ber me, when thou commest into thy kingdom. And Christ wel accepting his conuersion, saide vntounto him: Truly I saye vntounto thee: this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Who will now dispaire of the good wil and fauourable mercy of God, seing that this thief cō uerting at the very last houre of his death, was not of Christ reiected: but receiued, & made a fellowe citizin with Christ of ioyfull Paradise?

Epa.

But I hauehave many times greuously offended the Lord my God, and broken his holy cō maundementes.

Phile.

This is no let vntounto your saluation, so that your conuersion be vnfained.Prou. xxiii The righteous man sinneth .vii. times in the day.Eccle. vii. Psal. xiii. Math. xix Who liueth & sinneth not. All go astray. There is none good but God alone. All our righteousnesses ar as a cloth polluted with mēstrue.Esay. lxiiii, If God shuld deale with the moste holy and most per…ect accordinge to their desertes, they should find nothing in them selues but worthy dampnation▪ Dauid with other very many of the old Testament oftentimes sinned and offended God with theyr wicked actes,ii. Reg. i. Gen. 2.9.19 20.27.36.31 34.37. Exod. ii iii. Reg. xi Mat. xx.xxvi yet forasmuche as they repented and vnfainedly turned vntounto God, they were receiued into fauour and saued. The Disciples of Christ, Peter and his felowes were sinners also, and many tymes did that, whiche is not righteous in the sight of God, yet they be wayling their miseries, & truly returning vntounto God, were admitted into the nūber of gods elect.Math. xviii. God is that Lord, which forgeueth not only one talent but the whole debt of .x. M. talentes, if we come truly vntounto hym & knowledge our beggary, yea our nothing. If God would y^t we should forgeue one an other, so oft as we offend, doubtles God wil also forgeue vsus whansoeuer we offend, if we vnfainedly turn vntounto him, be our sinnes neuer so many and greuous. Mary Magdalē sinned ful oft, yet was she forgeuen, as it is written of her:Luke. vii. Many sinnes are forgeuen her, because she hath loued much.Luke, xviii The Publican was w^t out doubt a very greuous sinner, and had many times broken the cōmaundemēts of god, yet so sone as he humbled him self before the throne of gods maiestie, & apealed vntounto his mercy: he was receiued …nto fauor & pronoūced of christes …wn mouth more righteous then …he Pharisy for all his glistring workes & outward holines of life. …ing Manasses in his praier con…essed vntounto God, that he had syn…ed aboue the nomber of y^e sandes …f the sea, and that his iniquities …ere innumerable, yet after he returned vntounto the Lord, they were all forgeuen and he receiued into fauour. If there be not dayly remission of daily synnes at the hād of God for Christes sake,Math. vi. why are we commaunded daily to pray for the forgeuenes of our sinnes?Luke. xi. If the fauour of God be promised at all houres to suche as vnfainedly turne vntounto their Lorde God,Iere. xviii. Ezech. xviii. and .xxxiiii. and seke him in singlenes of heart, thē followeth it, that sin we neuer so oft and neuer so greuously: yet if harty repentaunce come, there is hope of remissiō of sinnes through the bloud of Christ.Psal. cix. If Christ bee an euerlasting Bishop, than is he able at all tymes to saue euen at the full those, whiche come vntounto God through hym.Hebr. vii If Christ go forth to be called Iesus,Math. i. that is to saye: a sauiour, then ceaseth he not to saue sinners.Rom. viii. If Christ be our intercessour, mediatour and aduocate vntounto God the father euen vntounto the worldes ende,i. Tim. ii. then may we be sure thorow him to hauehave remission and forgeuenes of all oure sinnes euē vntounto thend of y^e world,i. Iohn. ii. yea & that at all times, sinne we neuer so oft & greuously, if we repent, beleue and amend. Therfore though you hauehave many times greuously offended y^e Lord your God and broken his holy commaundementes, yet despair not but turne again vntounto the Lord your God, & he will turn vntounto you▪ deliuer you & saue you.ii. Cor. i. For he is the father of mercies & God of all consolation. He is riche inough for all thē that call vponupon hym.Rom…. x. If you doo thus, though your sinnes be as read as scarlet, yet shall they be as whyte as snowe. And though they were lyke purple, yet shall they bee as whyte as woll. Heare what God saith by the Prophet: Commonly whan a man putteth away his wife and she goeth from him,Iere. iii. and marieth with an other, then the question is: should he resorte any more vntounto her after that? Is not this field then defiled & vncleane? But as for thee: thou hast plaide y^e harlot with many louers, yet turn again to me, saith y^e Lord. &c. and I will not let my wrath fall vponupon you. I am mercifull, (sayeth the Lord) and I will not alway beare displeasure against thee. O tourn again and I will be maried with you. Whō wold not these words encourage to come againe vntounto the Lord his God, and throughly to be perswaded of gods louing fauour toward him, and of the forgeuenes of his sinnes, be they neuer so many and greuous, if he repent, beleue & amend?

Epa.

These thinges comfort well my weake conscience. But one thinge dothe …reatly discourage me.

Phi.

What …s that?Remedies against y^e want of merites.

Epa.

I hauehave no merites, nor plenty of good workes, wherwith I may make God fauorable …o me, but I am a barren fig tree …oyd of all good fruit.

Phile.

The wāt of merits ought not to pluck you from comming vntounto god.Tit. iii. For God saueth not vsus for the righteous works, which we hauehave done, but for his mercies sake. If oure saluatiō came of works & merits: then were grace no more grace.Rom. xi. If euerlasting life were gotten by deseruinges:Rom. vi than were it not the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord.Ephe. ii But the Apostle saieth.

By grace are ye saued thorowe faith, and that not of our selues. It is the gifte of God, and commeth not of workes, least any mā should boast him self. If rightousnesse come of the lawe:Galat. ii. then Christ is dead in vaine. Christ came not to call the righteous: but sinne… to repentance.Math. ix. And we are taug… in the Gospell, that ioye shall be … heauen ouer one sinner that rep…teth,Luke. xv more then ouer ninety an… nine iust persones, which nede … repentaunce.Luke. x. What had the wou…ded man deserued, that he shoul… be healed?Luke. xv. What had y^e strayshep… merited, that the shephard shoul… so louingly fetch her home again… What good works brought Mar… Magdalen,Luke. v…. when Christ receiue… her vntounto grace & forgaue her, he… sinnes? And so likewyse of diuers other. If God shoulde saue vsus because of our merites & good workes, so should we chuse god by our works and merites, and not God vsus by his fauor, grace and mercy. But Christ saith,Iohn. xv. ye hauehave not chosen me, but I hauehave chosen you.Iohn. iii. And S. Iohn wondring at this great mercy of God, brasteth out …to these wordes▪ and saith: Be…olde, what louelove the father hathe …hewed on vsus, y^t we shuld be called …he sonnes of God.i. Iohn. …. Againe herein …s louelove, not that we loued God, …ut that he loued vsus, and sent his …onne to be the agrement for our …nnes. And S Paul saith, God y^e …ather hath chosen vsus in Christ,Ephe. i. …efore the foundatiōs of the world …ere laid. God therfore did chuse …s by his grace, and not we hym …y our workes and merits:Exod. xxxiii. I wil …aue mercy, sayd God to Moses, …n whome it pleaseth me to hauehave mercy,Roma. ix. and I wil hauehave compassiō, …n whō it is my pleasure to hauehave compassion. It lieth not therfore …n a mans will or running, but in …he mercy of God. And the Psal…ograph saith,Psal. xvi… speaking of God, … of him self: he hath saued me, be…ause it was his pleasure to hauehave …e.Psal. lvi. Againe he saith: Thou shalt saue them for nothynge: what … to say,De verb. Apo. serm. 15. saith S. Austen, thou sh… saue them for nothing? but y^e th… findest nothing in them wherf… they shuld be saued, and yet sau… thou them.Lib. 2. contra Pela. Frely doest thou ge… frely dost thou saue. And s. Iero… alledging y^e same sentence agai… the Pelagians, saith, that y^e rig…teous are not saued by their ow… merites, but by the tender merc… of God. If we shall consider ou… merites,In Ioan. cap. 3 Home. 25. saith Chrisostom, we a… not only worthy no reward, b… we are also worthy punishemen… Let all mens merits, which per…shed by Adam be still and kepe s…lence, saith Saint Austen,De predest. Sanctorum. and l… the grace of God reigne, which raigneth through our Lorde I…sus Christe.De vocat. Gene. lib. 1. Cap. 5. The redemption … Christes bloud should waxe vi… and become of no price, sayth S… Ambrose, if y^e iustification, which commeth by grace were due vntounto merites going afore.Psal. ci… Dauid sath in a certayne Psalme, prayse▪ the Lord. O my soule, and all that is within me, praise his holy name. Prayse the Lord, O my soule and forget not his benefites. Whiche forgeueth all thy sinnes, and healeth al thine iniquities. Which saueth thy life from destruction, and crowneth the with mercy and lo…ing kindnes.*… Note. All good men from the beginning hauehave attributed & geuen the whole glory of their iustification and saluation, not to their own merits and good wor…es:i. Cor. xv. but to the free grace and vndeserued mercy of God,i, Cor. i that God maye bee all in all, and that he, whiche reioyseth, should reioyse in …he Lorde. For the contentation and quietnes of your conscience …n this behalf, remember y^t Christ …ame not to cal y^e iusticiaries, but sinners vntounto repentaunce. Remē …ber that the sonne of man,Luke. xix. came t… seke and to saue that, that wa… lost. Remember that Christ is … Phisition,Math. ix and that the who… hath no nede of a Phisition, bu… suche as are sick.Math. xi. Remember tha… Christ calleth vntounto him al such a… are diseased & loden with the bu…den of sinne.Math. i. He requireth no m…rites, only come, remember tha… Christ is called a sauiour to y^e end that he should saue them, which otherwise should perish.Luke. ii Heare al…so what God saith by y^e Prophe… Come to the waters al ye that b… thirsty and ye that hauehave no mony Come,Esay. lv. bie, y^t ye may hauehave to ea… Come bie wine and milk withou… any mony, or mony worth. Wher…fore doo ye lay out your mony fo… the thyng that fedeth not, & spen… your labour about the thing tha… satisfieth you not? But harke… harken rather vntounto me, & ye shall eat of the best, and your soul shall hauehave her pleasure in plenteousnesses. Encline your eares, and come vntounto me, take hede (I say) & your soul shall liue. Our sauiour Christ also saieth.Iohn. vii. If any man thirst, let him come vntounto me and drinke. Againe in an other place, I wyll geue to him that is a thirst, of the well of the water of lyfe.Apoca. xxi He that ouercommeth shall enherite all thinges, and I will be his God, & he shalbe my sonne.Apoca. xxi… Itē. Let him that is a thirst, com. And let whosoeuer wyll, take of the water of lyfe, fre. Here is the fauor of God, remission of sinnes, the gift of the holy ghost, quietnes of conscience, and euerlasting life promised frely without merits or deserts to so many as wil come vntounto Christ w^t a repentāt hart & faithfull minde.Esay. ixi. For Christe was sent of God the father to preach good tidings vntounto the pore,Luke. iiii. that he might bind vp the woūded hartes, that he might preache deliueraunce to the captiue, and open the pryson to them that are bound, declare the acceptable yeare of the Lord, and comfort al them that are in heauines. He came into this worlde to saue sinners.i. Tim. i. Therefore let it not dismay you, though you find in your self plenty of sinnes & good workes very few. Cast rather y^e eies of your mind w^t strōg faith on Christ & on his righteousnes, on his merites, passiō, & death, on his blessed body breking, & his precious blud shedding.Cor. i. Iere. ix. Beleue him to be ordained of God the father to be youre wisdom, & righteousnes, your sāctification & redemption, that as it is written, he y^t reioyseth, shuld reioyse in the Lorde.Phil. iii. Count all your merites, good works, & righteousnesses, vile and of no price, for the excellēcy of y^e knowledge of Christ Iesu our Lord. Labour to winne Christ, and to be found in him, not hauing your owne righteousnes, which commeth of the law, but y^t that, which is through y^e faith of Christ euen y^e rightousnes whiche commeth of God through faith, y^t you may knowe him and the vertue of his resurrection and fellowship of his passions. He y^t through true faith hath gotten Christ, put him on his back withall his righteousnes and holines, he is not altogether without merites, neither walketh he naked in y^e sight of God.Rom. xiii. Unto this exhorteth S. Paule, when he saieth. Put ye on the Lord Iesus Christe, that is to saye. Clothe your selfe throughe saith with al the merits and workes of Christ. Take his righteousnesse, holinesse, perfection, praying, fasting, watching, law fulfilling, miracles working, preching passion, death, resurrection, assention, and al that euer he hath to be yours. Beleue him to be geuē you of God, withal that euer he hath. Christ is yours, all therfore that euer Christ merited in his flesh is yours also, as the Apostle saieth. God spared not his owne sonne,Rom. viii. but gaue him for vsus al, how can it be than, that with him he shoulde not geue vsus all thinges also? If you on this manner put on Christ his merites and good works thorowe true faith,Math. xxi you shall not appeare before God an vnfrutefull figge tree, neither shall the cursse of God fall vponupon you. Hear what S. Austen saith:In mantali. Cap. xxii. All my hope is in the death of my Lord. His death is my merit & my refuge, my helth life and resurrection. The tender mercy of the Lorde is my merit. I am not without merits, so long as that Lorde of mercies fayleth not. And if the mercies of the Lord be plenteous, then am I also plē teous in merites. The mightier that he is to saue, the better is my state and condition, and the more fre am I from all daunger. Here se you that this godly man. Saint Austen knoweth none other merites that may doo him good, but the merites of Christes death and passion. He counteth Christes merites his merites, and saieth that he is not without merites, so long as that Lorde of mercies fayleth not.Lib. medit. Cap. 14. In an other place he also sayeth, all my hope, and assuraunce of my whole trust is in the precious bloud of Christ, whiche was shed for vsus and for our saluation. In that is all my comfort, and reposing the whole affiance of my saluation. In that I desyre to come vntounto thee (O heauenly father) not hauing mine own righteousnes, but that righteousnes, which commeth by thy sonne Iesus Christe our Lorde. Item. Brethren, that we may be healed from sinne, let vsus beholde Christe crucified. For as they that did beholde the brasen Serpent in the wyldernsse, did not die through the stinging of the serpentes: so lykewyse they y^t do loke vponupon the death of Christ with faithe, are healed from the bitinges of sinnes. Here to agreeth the saying of saint Barnarde,In cantica. what is of so mighty force & great strength to heale the woundes of the conscience, as the diligent remēbraunce of Christes woundes? Again, when I am troubled and put in feare of my sinnes, than do I hide me in the bloudy woundes of Iesus Christ. Loke y^t you therfore likewise flie vntounto the merites of Christes death and passion, and so shall neither sinne, death, hell, desperation, lawe, or anye other thing hurt you.

The Sick Mans Salve, Text (4 of 5)