The Solace of the Soul Against the Bitter Storms of Sickness and Death, Part 1 – Prayer
¶How they are to be comforted, whyche are in parell of death.
THE best God and thy most louing father hauyng pytie on the (o Brother) calleth the from thys most wretched & miserable lyfe, wyllyng to remoue the vntounto him, and to cary the into y• perpetual ioyes of the heauēly life. Therfore yelde, gyue ouer & cōmende to hym wholly thy selfe, & all that euer thou hast, & what so euer hys wyl is lette thy wyll be thesame, and saye, lette thy wyl be done o father God,Mat. x and not myne: cry vntounto Christ with the thefe fastened to the crosse, remē ber me, o Lorde,Luce. … when thou comeste into thy Kyngdome: erye wyth the Publican,nc. xviii Lorde be mercifull to m… wretched synner cry instanstly with that earneste woman the Cananite,…ath. xv o sonne of Dauid hauehave mercy on me. Yf thou cryest thus, Chryste wyll heare the, doubte not, he wyll hauehave mercy on the, he wyll forgyue the thy synnes, yea thou shalte be wyth hym in paradyse: therfore lay hande on thys Christe, cleue to him wyth tothe and nayle, commyt thy soule vntounto him: cry wyth this christ crucifyde vntounto God the comon father,al. lxi. o Lorde my truste is in the, let me neuer be putte to confusion, but rydde me, and delyuer me thorowe thy ryghteousnes: Bowe downe thyne eare vntounto me, make haste to delyuer me. Be thou my God and stronge holde (wherunto I may alwaye fle) that thou mayst helpe me, for thou arte my strenght and refuge: thou art my defender: Into thy handes I cōmende my spirite: crye also wyth Dauid:Psal. vxii o Lorde thou art my strenghte, my sure holde, my refuge and my delyuerer. O my God thou art my helper, my defēder, and the horne of my health and my protection. Unto the o Lord, lyfte I vp my soule: o my God my truste is in the, let me not be dryuen to shame: dyrecte me in thy truth, thou art the God my sauionre, Remēber, o Lord thy tender mercies, and thy pyteful compassions, whiche thou hast euer vsed: Remember not the trespasses of my yonghe: Accordynge to thy mercye remember me for thy goodnes sake: for thy names sake (o lord) forgyue my synne, for it is muche: loke on me, and hauehave pytye on me, deliuer me from my necessities: forgyue me all my offenses kepe my soule, and delyuer me: Lette me not be put to cōfusion for my hole trust is in the. Yf on thys maner thou wylte call for the helpe of God with and hole hart, god wyl surely helpe… the in tyme conuenient, and he wyll say vntounto the that, whyche is in the Psalme. Forasmuch as he hath put his trust in me,…sal. xc, I wyl delyuer him: I wyll defēde hym because he hath knowen my name: He hathe cryed vntounto me, & I wyll fauorably heare hym. I am wyth hym in hys tribulatiō: I wyll delyuer him & glorifie hym. Wherfore (o thou Christiane) fyght here a good fyght, stryue valeaūtly & with a good corrage, as it becometh a true christeā man: take hede, y• geuest not ouer, take hede, thou turnest not thy backe: ther is no daunger thou stryueste not here alone, but Iesus Christ the kyng is thy guyde in thys agony, thys thy guyde & captaine shal be thyn auen ger, & in this battel he shal defende and delyuer the frō all the enemyes of thy soule, frō all perell & from all misery and wretchednes: folow this captayn goyng before the in this cō flicte and battell: he is a kynge not like to other but of an exceding and infinite powre: he hath alredy ouercome and throwne vnderunder the foote for thy sake: death,Hebrc. i… i. Cor. x… Oze. xiii Satan and hell death is swallowed vp into victory Christ dyed for the: Therfore euerlastyng death hath no power in the Christ went down for the vntounto hel, that he myght deliuer the from this euerlasting darknesses therfore be on a lustye and bold… mynde, and wyth a valeaūte courage brast into the army. Put awaye all feare, ther is no daunger in thys behalfe: ther is no cause why thou shuldest feare the fearce and streyghte iudgement of God. Christe Iesus is a mediatour before God,i. Tim… the same is an aduocate, yea and thy Patrone, defender, Byshoppe and Preeste:i. Iohu. Hehre. He hathe reconcyled the to God, and hathe restored to the hys fafatherly mynde, whych before was estraunged from the for thy sinnes, God for Christes sake is nowe thy father, he taketh charge of the, he entierly loueth the as his most tender sonne. Nowe seynge that so noble a kyng stādeth on thy syde, who shall putte the to any busynes, who shall be bolde to assayle the or ones fyght agaynst the? who I pray the, shal do the any wronge? what daū ger cā ther be? heare Paule:om. viii Yf god be on our syde, sayth he, who can be agaynst vsus? whyche spared not hys awne son, but gaue hym for vsus all, how is it possible, that wyth him he shoulde not gyue vsus all thynges? who shal lay any thyng to the charge of Gods electe? It is God that iustifieth, who is he that cā condemne? it is Christ that dyed, yea whych rose agayne, whyche also is at the right hande of god, and maketh intercession for vsus: Who shall sepa…ate vsus from the law of? God I am sure that neyther death, nor lyfe, nor …yghenes, nor depenes, nor any other creature can seperate vsus from tha law of God, whych is in Christ Iesu oure Lorde. Therfore seynge that Christ is gyuen, to the wyth all that euer he hathe, so folowethe it that hys ryghteousnes, innocency, health and euerlastynge lyfe is gyuen to the, as Paule wytnesse the,i. Cor. i. sayinge. Christe is made of God oure wysdome, ryghteousnes, sanctification and redemptiō. Therfore putte all thy hope,psal. cxv… truste and confidence in thys Christe, whyche is the heade cornerstone. Thys stone is a valeaunte, stronge,i. Pet. ii stedfaste and sure foūdation, wherunto thou mayste safely truste and commytte thy selfe. No tempest although neuer so blacke and horryble, no showers,Math. vi… no stormes cā shake and topple euer thys foundation: In thys Christe, I saye, let all thy hope and confydence be sette. Caste thy selfe wholly on hym, yelde thy selfe altogyther to hym, cleue to hym wyth stronge fayth, let no trouble or tēptation plucke the frō him, although all thynges seme neuer somuche to the go to hauocke, althoughe slesh… and bloude yell the neuer so muche the contrary, and reason thynkethe farre otherwyse, yea althoughe th… Deuyll sometyme whysper in thy mynde that thou arte vtterlye vndone, that God is an extreme enemy vntounto the, and that thou haste deserued the punishment of hel fyre, and therfore thou must nedes be dāpned▪ For faith is a sure confidence and … lokynge for of thys thynges thatebre. xi are to be hoped, that is to saye, promysed, and a certen…e and euyden knowelege of those thynges tha… doo not appeare wyth that holy … Patriarche Abraham thou must beleue vnderunder hope agaynste hope: thy faythe and hope muste nedes resyste and set them selfes agaynste all those thynges, whych euer blinde reason dothe Imagyne, or that mooste sutle, and craftye enemye doo brynge to remembauns and worke agaynste the: wherfore thou muste thoroulye learne what cu…tme,deu. xxx God dothe kepe in sauynge hys:i Reg. ii. whome he wyll lyfte vp into heauen,Tobi. xii hym he bryngethe downe fyrste vntounto Hell:Sap…e. xv Whome he wyll …uycken, hym dothe he fyrste kyll,Psal. c. xi… vponupon whome he wyll exercyse hys excedynge Mercye, hym wyll he fyrst trye, and make asthoughe he woulde dampne hym. And thys is that vnfained purgatory and that true purgyng fyre,The true Purgator into the which God castethe hys Seruauntes and prouethe them as Golde in the fyre:…pien, iii wherefore when thou fealeste none other thynge then moste presente deathe, when God …emeth to be mooste angry wyth the, to be gone awaye moost furdeste from the, and to hauehave forsaken the vtterlye, yea when he semethe that he hathe cast … the awaye and wyll condemne the euen then thynke thou mooste certenly that he is mooste nyhhe vntounto the, that he wyl defende the and delyuer the, yea that he then moste entyerly loueth the, and carethe moost of all for the: for when he doth lay… afflyction and trouble vpō the, th… dothe he remember hys mercye, as… the Prophete saythe. He is not angry for euer: as the father hath pytye of hys sonnes so hath the Lord… compassion of them that feare hi… for he knowethe our makynge, and remembreth that we are but duste… The mercy of the Lorde endurethsal. c. ii euer and euer: The Lorde is a tender fauorer and mercyfull, he is longe sufferynge and full of compassyon. Wherfore spare the eyes of thy senses, caste away the iudgemente of reason, and submyt, yelde, gyue ouer, and commende thy selfe wholly to Chryste, and take it to good worth, howe so euer he handleth the: esteme not deathe and the dredefnlnes and sorowes therof after the iudgemente of the eyes, senles or reason, but after the worde of God. Dauid say the, precyons is the deathe of Sayntes in the syghte of the Lorde. Agayne, Blessed are the ded,Psal. cxv… whych dye in the LORDE.Apo xii Chryste also saythe, he that beleueth in me,Iohu. vi shall not taste …eathe. Therfore yf any thynges come to remembraunce, whyche go aboute to turne the from Chryste, and to …aste the into desperation, cast them all out of thy minde: cleue to the lyuely worde of God wyth tothe and nayle, hauehave thy medytation in that and euer be whettynge of that in thy mynde: For thou shalte neuer by the perspycacyte and quyckenis of thy reason perceyue, howe it maye be possyble, that by Deathe thou shouldeste goo vntounto the true lyfe, howe when thou gyueste vp the Ghoste, thou shouldest departe vntounto a better state, howe thy soule shoulde be kepte in the Lorde, and reaste vntounto the laste daye, agayne, howe thy body beynge rotten, consumed and eaten of wormes, maye ryse agayne at the laste Iudgemente, and come forthe in a newe godly forme, shape or fashon. Thys can not reason comprehende. Fayth alone is able to do it. Therfore call to thy remembraunce contynually the artycles of thy faythe, and boulte oute euerye parcell of them dylygently, and weyghe them earnestly in thy harte.
¶Howe he is to be spoken vntounto, whyche is redy to gyue vp the Ghoste.
O Brother in Chryst, now loke that thou fyghteste a good fyghte, loke that thou abydeste in the faythe valeauntly, and stedfastly. Infyxe and depely engraue in thy breste, the Promyses of Chryste thy redemer.Iohan. x I am the resurrection and lyfe, sayth Christ. He that beleuethe in me, shall lyue and neuer dye. Chryste toke the nature of man vponupon hym sufferynge many iniuryes and wronges, and when he dyed,Hehre. x he offred hym selfe a sacryfyce for our sinnes on y• altare of the Crosse,Iohn. il. he wyth hys holye bloudthorowlye and in all poyntes clensed the synnes of al mankynde: thys Chryste wyll not forsake the, thys Christ wil not leaue y• socourles, this Christ careth for the: Christ saueth the & defēdeth the, so that no yll or misery shall chauns vntounto the: the foundatiō of God standeth sure hauing this seale. THE LORDE KNOVVETH, VVHYCHE ARE HYS. i. Tim. iiChriste saythe, my shepe heare my voyce, & I know thē and thei folow me, & I giuegive thē euer lastynge lyfe, neyther shall they peryshe for euer,ohan. x. nor yet shall any man plucke thē out of my hande: my father whych gaue thē to me, is greater then al, & noman can plucke thē out of my fathers hande: I and my father am one. Wherfore (o brother) in Christ, cōmende thy soule to God the father, which loueth y• so derely, crye with Christ thy brother, when he honge on the crosse,Luc. xx o father into thy handes I commende my spirit God the Father of all mercye, moughte lede the into euerlastynge lyfe, and saue the vntounto that most ioyefull resurrection of the last iudgement AMEN.
Virescit vulnera virtus.
A prayer to be sayde of the syckman, beynge in perell of deathe.
O Most mercyf…ll God, o father of al mercy the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ, be mercyful to me a synuer, hauehave pytie on me, and quyckely helpe me poore wretche for thy mooste bytter and moost precious passion and deathe of Iesus Chryste thy onelyonly begoten sonne and oure onelyonly redemer and sauyoure. Amen. Entre not into Iudgemente wyth thy seruaunte, o Lorde handle me not accordynge to my deserues and merites, neyther rewarde me after myne iniquytie but for thyne infynite and vnmesurable bounte and excedyng great mercy receyue me. I miserable and weake creature am in thy hande, I am thy bonde seruaunte and thy debter. O most gentle God, o moste fauorable Father, forsake me not, cast me not away pore wretche that I am, I am thyn wyth al that euer I can make. Noman is able to confirme me, noman is able to delyuer me, nomā is able to helpe me, but y• alone. Thou art the true helper in aduersite, y•are the moste sure & present cōfort iu al necessite, y• alone art our helpe, our buluarke, our fortresse, & our most mighty & stronly defence fence towre, y• o god, art our refuge, thou art our strenght, thou art our helper in al our tribulatiōs: In the o Lord, do I trust, let me not be cō foūded, let me neuer be put to shame let me not be deceyued of my hope, but preserue me for thyn righteousnes. Bow down thin eare vntounto me, make hast to deliuer me. Be my defēder, o god, & my strong holde that thou maist saue me: for thou art my strength & my refuge, yea y• arte my god, & my destenies ar in thy hādes Lightē thy coūtenaūs vpō thy seruaūt, saue me for thy mercyes sake, o Lorde. And forasmuche (o swete Father) as it is thy godly pleasure to call me from thys myserable lyfe and wretched worlde, I moost entierly beseche the so to defende me in thys agonye of deathe, that Satan nor his ministers preuayle against me, but that I contynue faythfull and constante vntounto the ende in the confession of thy holy name, lokyng for full remyssyon of all my synnes in the precyons bloude of thy welbeloued sonne and my sauyour Iesus Christe, and that I departynge in this fayth and perfecte trust may be placed emong thy blessed saintes and heauēly spirites, so for euer to remayne wy…h the in glory. Graunt this o most mercyfull father for thy son Iesus Christes sake. Lorde recyue my spirite. Father into thy hā des I commend my spyrit: for thou that arte the God of truth haste redemed me. To the be all glory and honoure.
Amen.