A Fruitful Treatise, Treatise

A Fruitful Treatise · Treatise

¶ A frutefull treatiſe and ful of heauenly conſolation againſt the feare of death. Wherunto are annexed certeine ſweet meditateons of the kingdom of Chriſt, of life euerlaſting, and of the bleſſed ſtate & felicitie of the ſame. Gathered by that holy marter of God, Iohn Bradford.

¶ Peruſed corrected & augmented according to the originall, & Imprinted in Fleteſtrete neere to ſaint Dunſtons Churche by William Powell.

Eccleſiaſti, 5. MAke no taryinge to turne vntounto the lord, and put not of from day to day: For ſuddenly ſhal his wrathe come, and in the day of vengeance he ſhall deſtroy thee. Stande faſt in the way of the lord: bee ſtedfaſt in thine vnderſtandinge, and followe the word of peace and righteouſnes.

¶ A treatiſe agaynſt the feare of death.

BEING mynded, through the helpe of God, for myne own comfort and encouraging of others, to ſpeake ſomething of Deathe (at whoſe doores thoughe I hauehave ſtande a great while, yet neuer ſo nere, to mans iudgement, as I do now) I think it moſt requiſite to cal & cry for thy helpe, Oh bleſſed ſaut our Ieſus Chryſte, whiche haſt deſtroyed death by thy deathe, & brought in place thereof, life and immortalitie, as by the goſpell it appereth: graunt to mee true & liuely fayth, wherethrough men paſſe from deathe to eternal lyfe, that of practyſe and not of naked ſpeculation, I may ſomethynge wryte cōcernyng death (whiche is dredful out of thee & in it ſelfe) to the glory of thy holy name, to myne owne comfort in thee, and to the edifying of al them, to whō this writing ſhall come, to be red or hearde. Amen.

¶ There be .iiii. kindes of death, iiij. kindes of death.one whiche is naturall, an other which is ſpiritual, a third which is temporall, and a fourth which is eternal. Concerning the firſt and the laſt what they be, I nede not to declare, but the ſecond and the third, perchaunce, of the ſimple (for whoſe ſake eſpecially I Spiritual death what it iswryte) are not ſo ſoone eſpied.

By a ſpirituall deathe therfore, I mean ſuch a death as the body lyuing the ſoule is dead. Wherof the Apoſtle maketh menciō in 2. Tim. 5ſpeaking of widdowes which linyng daintely, being a liue in body, are dead in ſoule. Thus you ſee what I meane by the ſpirituall death. Nowe by a temporall Temporal death.death I mean ſuch a death, wher throught the body and affections therof are mortified, that the ſpirite may lyue. Of which kynde of deathe the Apoſtle ſpeaketh in Cols. 3.exhorting vsus to kyl our mēbers. And thus muche of the kindes of death: wherin the iudgement of the worlde is not to it approued, for it careth leſſe for ſpiritual dea the, then for naturall deathe: it eſtemeth leſſe eternall death then temporal death, orels wold men leaue ſyn, which procureth both Sinne is the cauſe of death.thone and the other (I mean ſpiritual & eternal death) and choſe temporally to dye, that by naturall death they myght enter into the full fruition of eternall lyfe: whiche none can enioy nor enter into, that here wil not temporally dye, that is, mortifie their affections, and crucifie their luſtes and concupicences: For by obeying them at the firſt came death, as we may reade Geneſis the. 3. If Eue had not obeyed her deſire in eatinge the forbydden fruite, By what meanes death came into the world.wherby ſhe died ſpiritually, none of theſe kyndes of death had euer come vntounto man, nor ben knowen of vsus. Therfore (as I ſaid) we muſt nedes here temporally dye: that is, mortifie our affectiōs, to eſcape the ſpiritual death, and by naturall death, not onelyonly eſcape eternal death of ſoule & body, but alſo by it, as by a dore, enter into eternall life, which Chriſt Ieſus our Sauiour hath procured and purchaſed to and for al that be in him, tranſlatinge eternall deathe into a ſleepe or rather into a delyueraunce of ſoule & body, from all kinde of myſery & ſynne. By reaſon wherof we may ſe that to thoſe that be in Chriſte: that is, to ſuch as do beleue (which beleuers I meane, are diſcerned frō others, by not walking after the Roma. 8.fleſh, but after the ſprite) to thoſe I ſay, death is no dāmage, but a vantage: no dreadfull thing, but rather deſierable, & of all meſſengers moſt mery, whiles he is loked vponupon with the eyes of faith in the goſpell. But more of this hereafter.

Thus hauehave I briefely ſhewed thee the kyndes of deathe, what they be, whence they come, and what remedy for thē. But now̄, for as muche as I am purpoſed hereafter to entreate onelyonly of the firſt kynd of death, that is, of natural death, ſomthing to comfort Naturall death.my ſelf & others againſt y^e dreade and paynes of the ſame: I wyll ſpeake of it as God ſhal inſtructe mee, and as I accuſtome with my ſelf to muſe on it now̄ & then, the better to be prepared againſt the houre of temptation.

I hauehave ſhewed howe that this naturall death came by ſpiritual death y^t is, by obeying our affectiōs in y^e trāſgreſſiō of gods preceptes: but through the benefite of Chriſt, to ſuch as be in him, & Death what it is to chriſtians.die temporally, that is, to ſuche beleeuers as labour to mortyfie their affections, it is no deſtruction, but a plaine diſſolution both of ſoule and body, from all kynde of perils, daungers, & miſeries, and therefore to ſuch is not to be dread, but to be deſired: as wee ſe in the Apoſtle, whiche deſired Philip. 1. Luke. 2.Phil 1Luke 2to be diſſolued: And in Simeon which deſired to be loſed, ſaying: diſmiſſe or loſe mee, O lorde, By whiche wordes, he ſemeth plainly to teache, that this life is a bō dage, and nothinge to be deſired, as now I wyll ſomthing ſhewe.

Firſt conſyder the pleaſures of This liffe is not to be loued in reſpect of the pleaſures ther of, beinge nothynge elſe but vanitie.this life, what they be, how long they laſt, how painefull we come by them, what they leaue behind them: and thou ſhalt euen in thē ſe nothing but vauitie. As for example: how long laſteth the pleaſure that man hath in the acte of generatiō? How painfully do mē behaue theym ſelues before they attayne it? how doth it leaue behind it a certaine lothſomnes and fulnes? I wyl ſpeake nothing of the ſting of cōſcience, if it be come by vnlawefully. Who wel ſeinge this, and forecaſting it aforehād, woulde not forgoe the pleaſures willingly, as farre as neede wyl permyt & ſuffer? If then in this one, wherunto nature is moſte prone, and hath moſt pleaſure in, it be thus: alas how can we but thincke ſo of other pleaſures?

Put the caſe that the pleaſures of this life were permanente during this life: yet in that this life What this lyfe is, marke here, and learne.it ſelfe is nothing in comparyſon, and therfore is ful wel compared to a candell light, whiche is ſone blowne out, to a flower, whiche fadeth away, to a ſmoke, to a ſhdowe, to a ſleepe, to a runnynge water, to a day, to an houre, to a momente, and to vanitie it ſelfe: who wold eſteme theſe pleſures and commodities, which laſte ſo lyttle a while? Before they be begonne, they are gone and paſt awaye. Howe muche of our tyme ſpende wee in ſlepyng, in eating, in drinking, and in talking? Intancie is not perceiued: youth is ſhortly ouerblowen: middle age is nothyng: olde age is not long: and therfore (as I ſaid) this lif, through the conſideratiōs of the pleaſures and commodities of it, ſhoulde little moue vsus to louelove it, but rather to lothe it. God open our eies to ſee theſe thinges, and to wey them accordingly.

Secondly, cōſider the miſeries of this life, that if ſo be the pleaſures and cōmodities in it ſhuld moue vsus to louelove it: yet y^t miſeries This life is more to be loched for the myſeries, thē loued for the pleaſures ther of. The myſeries of this life concernīg the body.might counteruaile and make vsus to take it as we ſhoulde doe: I meane, rather to deſier to be loſed and diſ…ſſed hence, then otherwiſe. Loke vponupon your bodies, & ſe in howe many perils and daū gers you are. Your eyes are in daunger of blindnes and blerednes: your eares in danger of deaf nes: your mouthe and tongue of cankers, tothache and dumnes: your head in danger of rewmes & megrims: your throte in danger of horſenes: your handes in daunger of goutes & palſeys. &c. But who is able to expreſſe the nūber of diſſeaſes, wherto mans body is in daunger, ſeynge that ſomme hauehave written y^t more then ¶ ¶ ¶. diſeaſes may happen vntounto man? I ſpeake nothing of the hurte that maye come to our bodies by priſons, venemous beaſtes, water, fier, horſes, men. &c.The miſeries of this life concernīg the ſoule. Bylokīg on our olde falts & tēptatiōs, and other mès falts we maye ſee what daunger we are al wais ready to fall into.

A gayne, loke vponupon your ſoule: ſe howe many vyces you are in daunger of, as hereſie, hypocriidolatrye, courtouines, idlenes, ſecuritie, enuie, ābition, pride. &c. Howe many temptations maye you fall into? But this ſhal you better ſe by lokinge on your olde falles, foily, and temptatiōs, and by loking on other mens faules: for no mā hath done any thinge ſo euil, but you may do the ſame. Moreouer, loke vpō your name, and ſe howe it is in daunger to ſciaunders & falſe reportes. Loke vponupon your g…o…es, ſe what danger they are in for theues, for …. &c. Loke vopon your wyſe, children, parents, bretherne, ſyſters, kinſfolkes, ſeruantes, frendes, and neighbours: and behold howe they alſo are in daunger, both ſoule, body, name, & goodes Great & weighty cauſes for vsus to be ſadde and heauy, & lyttle to ioy in the pleaſures of this lyfe.as you are. Loke vponupon the common weale and contrey, loke vppon the churche, vponupon the myniſters and maieſtrates, & ſe what great dangers they are in: ſo that if you louelove them, you can not but for the euyll whiche may come to them, be heauy and ſadde. You knowe it is not in your power nor in the power of any man, to hinder all euyll that maye come. Howe many perils is infancie in danger of? what danger is youth ſubiect vntounto? mans ſtate is ful of cares: age is full of diſeaſes and ſores. If thou be ryche, thy care is the greatter: if thou be in honour, thy perilles are the more: if thou be pore, thou art the more in daunger to oppreſſion. But alas, what tongue is abie to expreſſe the myſerablenes of this lyfe? the which conſidered, ſhuld make vsus little to louelove it.

I can compare our lyfe to nothing An apte cōpariſon betwene a ſhip on the ſea, & the lif of man: for what daungers are ſo great? what ſo like?ſo fytly, as to a ſhyp in the middes of the ſea. In what danger is the ſhippe and they that be in it? Here are they in daūger of tempeſt, there of quicke ſandes, on this ſyde of pyrates, on that ſide of rockes, now may it leake, now may the maſt breake, nowe maye the maſter fall ſicke, nowe may diſeaſes come amongſte the maryners, nowe maye there diſſenſion fall amongſt them ſelues. I ſpeke nothing of want of freſh water, meate, drinke, and ſuche other neceſſaries: Euen ſuch an other thinge is this life. Here is the diuyll, there is the world, on Beholde the greate miſeries & miſchiefs that this life is in danger of, on euerye ſyde.this ſide is the ſleſhe, on that ſyde is ſynne, which. thurowly cleaueth vntounto our rybbes, and wyll do ſo long as we be in this fleſh, and natural life: ſo that none but blind men can ſe this life to be ſo muche & ſo greatly to be deſired: but rather, as the men that ſayle, are moſt glad when they approch to the hauen, euen ſo ſhould wee be moſt glad when we aproch to the hauen, that is death, whiche ſetteth vsus a land: whoſe commodities 1. Cor. 2.1 Cor 2no eye hath ſeene, no toung can tell, no harte can conceiue in any poynt, as it ſhoulde. Happy, oh happy were wee, if wee ſawe theſe thinges accordingely: God open our eies to ſe them. Amenſ

If any man would deſire teſtimonies of theſe things, although experience, a ſufficient miſtres, is to be credyted: yet wyll I here marke certaine places, wher vntounto the reader may reſorte, & finde no leſſe then I ſaye, but rather much more, if that with diligēce he reade & wey the places. Iob the .v. calleth this life a warfare. Iob. 5. Iob, 8.Job 5In the .vii. chapter he paynteth it out ſomething liuely, vnderunder diuerſe ſimilitudes. Saint Iames Iaco. 4.compareth it to a vapour. Al the booke of Eccleſiaſtes teacheth it to be but vanitie. Sainct Iohn Iohn. 8. Pſal. 91.John 8Ps 91ſaith, it is altogether put in euill. Daniell ſayth, the beſt thynge in this lif is but vanitie, labour and ſorow. But what go I her about How ſhort tranſitory and miſeraſeinge that almeſte eueryevery leafe in the ſcripture is ful of the breuitie and miſerie of this lyfe? So that The life of man is, the ſcriptures doe euerie where declare.I think as ſainct Auguſtine doth write, that ther is no man y^t hath liued ſoo happely in this worlde, that wold be content when death commeth, to goo backe againe by the ſame ſteppes, wherby he hath come into the worlde and lyued, except the ſame be in diſpaire, and looke for nothinge after this lyfe but confuſion.

Thus I truſt you ſe, y^t though the commodities of this life were The breuitie, vanitie, and miſerie of this life, ſhoulde cauſe vsus little to regarde it.ſuche as could cauſe vsus to louelove it: yet the breuitie, vanitie, and miſerie of it is ſuch, as ſhould make vsus little to regarde it, which beleeue and knowe death to be the ende of all myſeries to them that are in Chriſt, as we all ought to take our ſelues to be, being baptiſed in his name (for our baptiſme requireth this faith vnderunder peyne of damnation) although we hauehave not obſerued our profeſſion as we ſhould hauehave done, if ſo be we nowe repente, and come to amendment. To ſuche I ſay as are in Chriſt, death is to be deſired, euen in reſpect of this, that it deliuereth vsus from ſo miſerable a lyfe, & ſo daungerous a ſtate as we now be in. Do that I maye well ſay, they are ſenſeles, without wyrte, voyde of louelove to god, voide of al hatted & ſenſe of ſinne 1. Pet. 7 Apoc. 7.Rev 7(wherwith this life floweth) that rather deſire not to departe henſe out of al theſe miſeries, thē here ſtill to remaine to their continuall greefe.

But if theſe thynges wyll not moue vsus, I would yet wee beheld: the commodities whervnto death bryngeth vsus. If we be not moued to leaue this lif in reſpect of the miſeries, wherof it is full: yet we ſhould be moued to leaue The commodities wherto death bringeth vsus, ſhoulde make vsus wylling to forſake this lyfe.it in reſpecte of the infinite goodnes which the other lyfe, wherto death bryngeth vsus, hath moſte plentifully, Men, though they louelove thinges, yet for things whiche are better, can be contente to forgoe them: euen ſo we now, for the good things in the lif to come (If we conſider them) ſhall and wil be content to forgoe the moſt commodious thinges in this preſent life. Here we hauehave great pleaſure in the bewtie of the worlde, and of the pleaſures, honours, & dignities of the ſame: alſo in the company of our friendes, parentes, wyfe, children, ſubiectes: alſo in pientie of ryches, cattel. &c. and yet we knowe that neuer a one of theſe is without his dyſcommoditie, The commodities of this lyfe mixed with diſcommodities, leſt we ſhould louelove them to muche.which god ſendeth, leſt we ſhuld louelove them to much: as if you wyl weye thinges, you ſhal eaſly perceiue. The Sunne, though it be fayre & cherefull, yet it burneth ſometimes to whot. The ayre, though it be light and pleaſant, yet ſomtimes it is dark and troublous: and ſo of other thinges. But be it ſo, that there were no diſcommodities mingled with the commodities: yet (as before I hauehave ſaide) the breuitie and ſhorte time that wee hauehave to vſe them, ſhoulde aſſwage their dulcetnes.

But if this were not alſo, but that the pleaſures of this lif were without diſcommoditie, permanent, and without peril (wherof they be ful) yet are they nothing at all to be compared to the commodities of the lyfe to come. What is this earth, heauen, and The pleaſures of this life what they are, in cō pariſon of the pleaſure of the life to cōe.ſhape of the worlde, wherin beaſtes hauehave place, and wicked men Goddes ennemies hauehave abyding and lybertie, in compariſon of the newe heauen and earth, wherin righteouſnes ſhal dwell? in compariſon of that place where Angels and archangels, and al gods people, yea God hym ſelfe hath his abiding and dwelling? What is the company of wife, children, &c. in compariſon to the company of Abraham, Iſaack, & Iacob, tſte Patriarkes, Prophetes, Apoſtles, martyrs, confeſſors, virgins and all the ſainctes of God? what is the companye of any in this world, in compariſon to the company of the Angels, Archangels, Cherubins, Zeraphins, powers, thrones, dominations: yea of god the father, god the ſonne, and god the holyghoſt? What are the ryches and pleaſures of this lyfe, in compariſon of the felicitie of euerlaſting lif, which is without all diſcommodities, perpetuall without all peryll and ieoperdie, without all griefe and moleſtation? Oh the myrth and melody: Oh the honour, and glory: The bleſſed ſtate of the life to come.Oh the ryches and bewtye: Oh the power and maieſtie: Oh the ſwetenes and dignitie of the lyfe to come. The eie hath not ſeene, the care hath not hearde, nor the 1. Co. 2.1 Cor 2harte of man is not able to conceiue in any thynge, any parte of the eternall felycitie, and happy ſtate of heauen. Therefore the Sainctes of God hauehave deſired ſo earneſtly & ſo hartely to be there. Oh how amiable are thy tabernacles ſayth Dauid? My ſoule Pſal. 84.Ps 84hath a deſire to enter into y^t courtes of the Lord: my hart and my The vehement deſire and lōging of Goodes ſainctes to be diſſolued and to be with god.ſoule reioyce in the lyuinge god. Bleſſed are thoſe y^t dwell in thy houſe, that they may aiwayes be prayſing thee: for one day in thy courtes is better then a thouſand els where. I had rather be a dore keper in the houſe of my GOD, then to dwel in the tentes of vngodlines: For the lorde god is a light and defence. And againe, as the Hart deſireth the water brokes, ſo lōgeth my ſoule after thee Pſal. 24.Ps 24oh god. My ſoule is a thyrſt for god, yea euen for the lyuing god. when ſhall I come to appere before the preſence of god? And my ſoule thirſteth for thee: my fleſhe Pſal. 63.Ps 63alſo lōgeth after thee in a barren and drye lande, where no water is. They (gods peple I meane) deſier the daye of their redemption, & they ſtill crye, let thy kingdome Roma. 8.come: they crie, come lord Apoc. 22.Rev 22Ieſus, come: they lyft vp theyr heades, loking for his appearing whiche wyll make their vile bodies like to his own glorious and immortall body: For when hee Philip. 1.Phil 1ſhal appeare they ſhalbe like vntounto hym. The angels wyl gather Math. 24. 1. Theſ. 4.Matt 241 Thess 4them together, & they ſhall mete hym in the clowdes, and be alwayes with hym. They ſhall Math. 2…Matt 2heare this ioyfull voyce, come ye bleſſed of my father, poſſeſſe the kyngdome prepared for you from the begynning. Then ſhall they be lyke vntounto his Aungels: then ſhall they ſhyne lyke the Sunne in the kyngdome: then ſhall they Apoc. 7.Rev 7hauehave crounes of glory, and be endued with whyte garmentes of The glory and felicitie of Gods children in the kingdom… of God. Death y^e Hauen of eternall life.innocencie and righteouſenes, & palines of victorye in their handes. Oh happy, happy is he that may with them, ſe that imusrial and incorruptible inherytaunce, which thē we ſhal enioy for euer.

Thus you ſe (I hope) ſufficiently, that in reſpect of heauen & eternall blyſſe (wherunto by the hauen of death we land) this lif, though there were no euyll in it, is not to be loued: but rather we that he pilgrimes in it, ſhould deſier with Paule and Simton, to The miſeries and dangers we paſſe, and thebe loſed and diſſolued, that wee might be with god. Here our bodies (as before is ſpoken) are in daunger of innumerable euilles but there our bodies ſhall be, not onelyonly without al daunger, vutalſo be like the glorious & immortal Phil. 3. Mat. 13. Dan. 12. Mat. 17.Phil 3Matt 13Dan 12Matt 17body of the lord Ieſus chriſt. Nowe our bodies be darke: then ſhall they be moſt cleere & lyght, as we ſe Chriſtes face dyd ſhyne in his tranſfiguration like to the ſuane. Now our bodies be vile, miſerable, mortall and corruptible, but then ſhall they be gloryous, happy, immortal and incorruptible. Cor. 15. Io. 3.John 3wee ſhall be lyke vntounto Chriſt our ſauiour: euen as he is, ſo ſhal we be. As we hauehave borne the image of the earthly, ſo ſhall 1. Cor. 151 Cor 15we beare the image of the heauē ly. Here our ſoules are in greate Now foliſh & ſenſles are thei which in reſpecte pect of ſo glorious a ſtate will not gladly forſake ſo miſerable a lyfe?dearknes and daungers of many euyls: but there they ſhall be in great light, ſafe ſecuritie, and ſecure felicitie: we ſhall ſe god face face, where nowe wee ſe him but as in a glaſſe, thorowe a darke ſpeaking. There ſhal we behold him euen as he is, and be ſatiſfied without lothſomnes of his preſenſe: yea we ſhalbe endued with moſt perfecte knowledge. where now we know but partly, there ſhal we know as we be knowen. Here our commodities are meaſurable, ſhorte, vncertaine, and mingled with many incommodyties: but there is myrth without meaſure, all lybertie, al light, all ioye, reioyſing, pleaſure, healthe, wealthe, ryches, glorye, power, treaſure, honour, triumphe, comforte, ſolace, louelove, vnitie, peace, concorde, wiſdome, vertue, melody, mekenes, felicitie, beatitude, and all that euer can be wyſſhed or deſired, and that in moſt ſecuritie and perpetuitie that may be conceiued or thoughte, not onelyonly of men, but alſo of aungelles, as wytneſſeth hee that ſawe it, (I meane Paule) who was caryed 1. Cor. 2.1 Cor 2vp into the thirde heauen: The eye hath not ſeene (ſaith hee) the tare hath not heard, neither hath entred into the harte of man, the felicitie that God hath prepared for them that louelove hym. There the archangels, angels, powers, thrones, dominions, cherubins, Seraphins, Patriarkes, Prophetes, apoſtles, martyrs, Virgins, confeſſors, and ryghteous ſpirites ceaſe not to ſinge nyghte Apo. 44.and day, Holy, Holy, Holy, lord God of hoſtes: honor, maieſtie, glory, impery, and dominion be vntounto thee, oh lord God the creator: Oh Lord Ieſu the redemer:

O holy ſpirit the comforter. For the light of the moone ſhalbe as the The claritie and brightnes of Gods children in his kingedome, aboue the ſeuen told brightnes of the ſū ….lyght of the ſunne: and the lyght of the ſunne ſhalbe ſeuen folde, euen as the lyght of ſeuen daies in his bleſſed kyngdome, where and when he wyll vinde vp the woū des of his people, and heale theyr plagues. Oh that we might hauehave ſome liuely ſight hereof, that we might reioyce ouer the vndefyled & unmortall inheritaunce, whervnto God hath called vsus, & whiche he doth kepe for vsus in heauē: that wee might heare the ſweete ſonge of his ſaued people, crying ſaluatiō be vntounto him that ſitteth on the throne of our God, & vntounto the lamb: that we might▪ with y^e elders and Angels, ſing and ſay: praiſe and glory, and wyſedome, and thankeſgeuing, and honour, and power, and might, be to thee our god for euermore: that wee mighte be couered with a whyte ſtole, & hauehave a palme in our handes, to ſtand befort Gods throne night and day, to ſerue him in his temple, and to hauehave him dwel in vsus: that we might heare y^e greate voice ſaying from heauen: behold Apoc. 22.Rev 22the tabernacle of the lord is with men, and he wil dwel with them and they ſhall be his people, and God hym ſelfe wil be with them, their god. Oh happy were they that nowe myghte hauehave a little ſhe we of that holy citie, new Ieruſalem, deſcending from heauen, Apoc. 21.Rev 21prepared of god as a bride decked for her huſband, which he ſhewed to his ſeruaunt ſaincte Iohn. Trewely this ſhould we ſe if we were with him in the ſpirite: but this can not be, ſo longe as wee are in the fleſhe. Alas then and well away, that we louelove this life Lacke of fayth is y^e cauſe whi we do ſo lyttle deſire to be out of this ſynfull lyfe.as we do. It is a ſigne we hauehave lyttle faith, for els how could we but night and day deſire the meſſenger of the lord (death I mean) to delyuer vsus out of all miſeries, that we might enter into the fruition of eternall felicitie?

But here wyll ſome man ſaye: Oh Sir, If I were cerrayn that I ſhould depart from this miſerable An obiection procedinge of the ſenſe of ſynne & reaſon, whiche is an aduerſary to fayth.life, into that ſo great felycitie, then coulde I be right glad and reioyce as you will mee, and byd death welcome: but I am a ſynner, I hauehave greuouſly tranſgreſſed and broken Gods wyll, and therfore I am afraide I ſhal be ſent into eternall woe, perdition, and myſery. Here my brother thou doeſt wel that thou doeſt acknowledge thy ſelf a ſinner, & to hauehave deſerued eternal death: for doubtles, if wee ſay, we hauehave no ſinne, wee are lyars, and the 1. Iohn. 11 John 1trueth is not in vsus. A chylde of a nightes birth, is not pure in goddes ſyghte. In ſinne were wee Iob. 25.Job 25borne, and by birth or na…re we are the chyldren of wrath, and her brandes of hell. Therfore confeſſe our ſelues to be ſinners, wee needes muſt. For if the lord wyl obſerue any mannes iniquiries, none ſhall be able to abide it, yea we muſt nedes all cry: enter not into iudgement, O Lorde, for in Pſal. … Pſal. 141Ps 141thy ſyghte no fleſhe, nor man lyuing can be ſaued. In this point therefore thou haſt done well to confeſſe that thou art a ſynner.

But now, where thou ſtanteſt in doubte of pardon of thy ſinnes Thre thinges wher by the afflicted conſciēce may be aſſured of pardon & forgeuenes.and thereby arte afrayde of damnatiō, my deere brother, I wold hauehave thee anſwere mee one queſtion: that is, whether thou deſireſt pardon or no: whether thou doeſt repent or no: whether thou doeſt vnfainedly purpoſe, if thou ſholdeſt liue, to amende thy life or no. If thou doeſt euen before god ſo purpoſe, & deſireſt his mercy, then harken (my good brother) what the lord ſaith vntounto thee: I am hee, I am hee, that for my Eſay. 43.Isa 43owne ſake wyll doe away thyne offences. If thy ſinnes bee as Eſay. 1.Isa 1redde as ſcarlet, they ſhalbe made as whyte as ſhow, for I hauehave no pleaſure in the death of a ſinner. As ſurely as I lyue, I wyll not Ezech. 33Ezek 33thy death, but rather y^t thou ſholdeſt liue and be cōuerted. I hauehave ſo loued the worlde that I wold not ſpare my dearelye beloued Sonne, the Image of my ſubſtaūce, Iohn. 3.John 3and brightnes of my glorye, by whome all thinges were geuen: but gaue hym for thee, not onelyonly to be man, but alſo to take thy nature, and to purge it from mortalitie, ſinne, and al corruption, and to adorne and endewe it with immortalitie & eternal glory, not onelyonly in his owne perſon, but alſo in thee, and for the: wher of nowe by faith I woulde hauehave thee certein, as in very dede, thou ſhalte at length feele and fully enioye for euer. This my ſonne I Philip. 2.Phil 2hauehave geuen to the death, & that a muſte ſhameful death euen of the croſſe for thee, to deſtroye death, to ſatiſfie my iuſtice for thy ſins: therefore beleue, and accordinge to thy faith ſo be it vntounto the. Harken what my ſonne himſelfe ſayeth vntounto thee: Come vntounto mee al Math. 11Matt 11ye that laboure, and are laden, & I will refreſhe you. I came not into the worlde to damme the Iohn. 3.John 3world, but to ſaue it. I came not to call the righteous, but ſinners Luke. 5.Luke 5to repentance. I praie not (ſayth he) for theſe mine Apoſtles only, but alſo for al them that by theyr Iohn. 15.John 15preachīg, ſhal beleue in me. Now what prayed hee for ſuche? Father (ſaith he) I will that where I am, they may alſo be, that they maye ſee and enioye the glorye I hauehave and alwaies had with thee. Father ſaue them and kepe them in thy truth. Father (ſaith hee) I ſanctifie my ſelfe, and offer vp my ſelfe for them.

Loe, thus thou heareſt how my ſonne prayeth for thee. Marke nowe what my Apoſtle Paule ſayeth: we know (ſaieth he) that Heb. 5.Heb 5oure Sauiour Chriſtes prayers were hearde. Alſo this is a true ſaying that Ieſus Chriſt came 1. Tim. 1.1 Tim 1into the worlde to ſaue ſinners. Harkē what he ſaieth to y^e Iaylor: beleue in the Lorde Ieſus & Act. 16. Heb. 9.Acts 16Heb 9thou ſhalte be ſaued: For hee by his owne ſelf, hath made purgaciō for our ſinnes. To him (ſaith Act. 8.Acts 8Peter) beareth all the prophetes witnes, that whoſoeuer beleueth in his name ſhal receiue remiſſiō of their ſins. Beleue man, pray, Lorde helpe mine vnbelefe, lorde Mark. 6. Luke. 17.Mark 6Luke 17increaſe my fayth, aſke and thon ſhalt hauehave. Harken what ſ. Iohn ſaith. If we confeſſe our ſinnes, 1. Iohn. 11 John 1God is righteous to forgeue vsus al our iniquities, and the blood of our lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhal waſh vsus frō our ſinnes. For if we ſin, we hauehave an aduocate (ſayeth he) with the father, Ieſus chriſt the 1. Iohn. 21 John 2righteous, and he is the propiciation for our ſins, Harken what Chriſte is called: Call his name Ieſus, ſaith the Angel, for he ſhal Luke. 1.Luke 1ſaue his people from their ſinnes: So that where abundance of ſin Rom. 5Rom 5is, there is abundaunce of grace. Say therefore, who ſhal lay any thinge to my charge? It is god y^t abſolueth me, who then ſhal condempne Rom. 8.Rom 8me? It is Chriſt which is dead for my ſinnes, yea which is riſen for my righteouſeneſſe, & ſitteth on the righte hande of the father & prayeth for me. Be certayne therfore and ſure of pardon of thy ſinnes: be certain and ſure of euerlaſting life. Do not nowe ſay in thy hart, who ſhall deſcend into the depe? that is, dobute not of pardon of thy ſinns, for that is to fetch vp Chriſt againe: neither Rom. 10.Rom 10ſay thou, who ſhal aſcende vp in to heuen? that is, doubt not of eternall bliſſe, for that is to putte Chriſt out of heauen. But mark what the lord ſaith vntounto thee: the worde is nighe thee, euen in thy mouth and in thy hart, and thys is the worde of faith which wee preach: If thou confeſſe with thy mouth that Ieſus Chriſt is the lord, & beleue with thy hart that God rayſed him vp from y^e dead, thou ſhalt be ſafe. If thou beleue that Ieſus Chriſte died and roſe againe, euen ſo ſhalt thou be aſſured (ſaith the lord god) that dieng with chriſt, I wil bringe thee agayne with him.1. Theſ. 4.1 Thess 4

Thus deare brother, I thought good to wryte to thee in y^e name of the Lorde, that thou fearinge death for nothing els but becauſe of thy ſinnes, mighteſt be aſſured of pardon of them, & ſo embrace death as a deare friend, & inſulte againſt his terrour, ſtinge, & power, ſayinge: death where is thy ſtinge? hel where is thy victory? 1. Cor. 15. The greateſt diſhonor to god is, to dout of his mercy.1 Cor 15Nothinge in all the worlde ſo diſpleaſeth the lorde as to doubte of his merciemercy. In the mouth of two or thre witneſſes, we ſhoulde be content. Therefore in that thou haſte hearde ſo many witneſſes, howe that in dede, deſiring mercye with the Lorde, thou art not ſente empty a waye: geue credite thereto, and ſaye wyth the good Virgin Marye, beholde thy ſeruaunt (Oh Lorde) be it vntounto me Luke. 1. in y^e word only, wee beholde gods louelove & fauoure towardes vsus, & therfore wee ſhold geue credit to it againſt al our ſenſe, reaſō, and iudgmēt.Luke 1according to thy word. VponUpon the which word, ſee thou ſet thine eie only and wholy: For otherwiſe, here thou ſeeſt not god thy father but ī his worde, which is y^e glaſſe wherin now we behold his grace and fatherly louelove towards vsus in Chriſte, & therfore herewith we ſhould be content, and geue more credit to it then to all our lenſes, & to al the world beſides. **Iohn. 12John 12The worde (ſaith our Sauiour) ſhall iudge. According to it therfore, & not according to any exteriour or interiour ſhew, iudge both of thy ſelfe & of al other things els. Concerning thy ſelfe: if thou deſire in dede Gods mercy, and lamenteſt that thou haſt offended, loe it pronounceth y^t there is mercye with the lord for thee, & plenteous redemption. Pſal. 130Ps 130It telleth thee which wouldeſt hauehave mercy at y^e lordes hand, that the Lorde willeth the ſame, and therfore thou art happy for he woulde not thy death. It telleth thee that if thou acknowledge thy faultes vntounto the lorde, he will couer them in his mercye. Againe, concerning death, it Deathe what it is by y^e word of god.telleth thee that it is but a ſleepe: that it is but a paſſinge vntounto thy father: that it is but a deliuer āce out of miſery: that it is but a putting of of mortality & corruption: that it is s putting on of immortalitie & incorruption: that it is a putting a way of an earthy tabertabernacle, 2. Cor. 52 Cor 5that thou mayeſt receiue an heauēly houſe or māſiō: that this is but a callinge of the home from the watching & ſtanding in the warfare of this miſerable life. According to this (… worde I meane) do thou iudge of death, & thou ſhalt not be afraide of it, but deſire it as a moſte holſome medecine and a frendly meſſenger of the lordes iuſtice & mercy. Embrace him therfore: make hym good chere, for of al enemies he is the leaſte. In ennemy quod I? nay rather of all frendes he is the beſte, for he bringeth thee out of all daunger of ennemies, into y^e moſt ſure & ſafe place of thy vnfained frende for euer.

Let theſe things be oftē thought whi death oughte to be premeditate and thoughte often vpōvponupon. Let death be premeditated, not only becauſe he commeth vncerteinly (I meane for the time, for els he is moſt certeyne) but al ſo becauſe he helpeth much to the contempt of this worlde: out of y^e which, as nothinge wil go with thee, ſo nothinge canſte thou take with thee: becauſe it helpeth to y^e mortifying of the fleſhe, whyche when thou fedeſte, thou doeſt nothinge els but feede wormes: becauſe it helpeth to the well diſpoſing & due ordering of the things thou haſte in this lyfe: becauſe it helpeth to repentaunce: to bringe thee vntounto the knoweledge of thy ſelfe, that thou arte but earth and aſhes, and to bring thee the more better to knowe God. But who is able to tel the cōmodities that come by the often and true conſideration of death? whoſe time is therefore lefte vntounto vsus vncertein and vnknowen (although to god Iob. 14.Job 14it be certein, and the bounds ther of not only knowne, but appointed of the Lorde, ouer the whych none can paſſe) becauſe we ſhould not prolonge and put of from day to day y^e amendement of our life, as dyd the riche man, vnderunder hope Luke. 12.Luke 12of longe life. And ſeinge it is the ordinance of god, & commeth not but by the will of god, euen vntounto a ſparrow, much more then vntounto vsus, which are incōparably much more deare thē many ſparowes: and in that this wil of god is not only iuſte but alſo good (for he is our Father) let vsus, if there were nothing els but this, ſubmit our ſelues, our ſenſes, & iudgements vntounto the pleaſure of him, beynge content to come out of the roume of our ſoulderſhip, whenſoeuer he ſhal ſend for vsus by his purſeuant death. Let vsus render vntounto him, that whiche he hathe lente vsus ſo longe (I meane life) leaſte we be …ounted vnthankful. And in that death commeth not but by ſinne, in that wee hauehave ſinned ſo often and yet the Lorde hathe ceaſſed from exacting this tribute & puniſhment of vsus vntil this preſēt: let vsus with thankefulnes prayſe hys pacience, and pay our det, not doubting but that he being our father & our almighty father, can & will, if deathe were euil vntounto vsus (as god knowech it is a chiefe benefite vntounto vsus by Chryſt) cōuert & turne it into good. But deathe being (as before I hauehave ſhewed) not to be dred, but to bee deſired: let vsus lift vp our heades in thinking Luke. 11.Luke 11on it, and know that our redemption draweth nigh. Let our The .iiij. laſt Artycles of the fayth oftē to be meditate and thoughte vponupon.mindes be occupied in the conſyderation, or often coutemplation of the four laſt articles of our beliefe: y^t is the cōmuniō of ſaincts, or the holy catholike Church: remiſſion of ſinnes: reſurrection of the fleaſh: & the life euerlaſting.

By faith in Chriſt, be it neuer ſo ſaint, little or cold, we are mē bers in very dede of the catholike & holy church of Chriſte: that is, we hauehave cōmunion or feloweſhip with al the ſaints of God that euer were, bee, or ſhalbe. Wherby we may receaue great comforte: For though our faith be feble, yet the Churches faith (wherof our Sauiour Chriſt is the heade) is mighty enough: though our repē tance be littel, yet the repentance of y^e churche, wherwith we hauehave communion, is ſufficient: though our louelove be languiſhinge, yet the louelove of the church & of the ſpouſe of the church, is ardent: and ſo of al other thinges we wante. Not that I meane this as though any man ſhold think that our faith ſhoulde be in any or vponupon any other, then only vponupon god the Father, the ſonne, & the holy ghoſtener ther that any ſhonide thinke I meane therby any other merits or meane to ſaluation, then onelyonly the merites and name of the lord Ieſus: but that I would the pore chriſtian conſcience, which by baptiſme is broght into gods church and made a member of the ſame thorow faith, ſhoulde not for hys ſinnes ſake, or for the want of anye No ſynne or wante of anye thynge, what ſo euer it bee, ſhoulde cauſe vsus to diſpaire of Gods finall fauour and mercy.thinge he hath not, diſpaire: but rather ſhould knowe that he is a member of Chriſſes church & miſtical body, & therefore cannot but hauehave communion and felowſhip of both that is of Chriſt himſelfe being the lord, huſband, and heade thereof, and of all that euer hath ben, bee, or ſhalbe mēbers of it, in al the good things that euer they hauehave had, hauehave, or ſhal hauehave. Stil doth the church pray for vsus by Chriſtes cōmaundement: forgeue vsus our ſinnes, leade vsus not into temptation, deliuer vsus from euil: yea Chriſt himſelf doth pray for vsus, being members of vys bodie (as we vsus in deede) if that we beleue, though it be neuer ſo litel. God graūt this faith vntounto vsus al, and increaſe it in vsus. Amen. Out of this church no Pope nor prelate can caſte vsus, or excōmunicate vsus in dede, although exteriourly they ſegregate vsus frō the ſocietie of gods ſainctes. But enough of this.

As I woulde hauehave vsus often to muſe vponupon the catholike Church or cōmuniū of ſaints) wherof we That we are partakers of this communion & felowſhip wee maye not doubt beinge receued ther vntounto by baptyſme.may not doubte, in what ſtate ſo euer we be, vnderunder payne of damnatiō, being baptiſed in the name of the father, the ſonne, and the holy Ghoſt:) ſo woulde I hauehave vsus to meditate vponupon the other artycles folowing: that is, remiſſiō of ſinnes: reſurrection of the fleaſh: & life euerlaſting. It is an article of our faithe to beleue: that is, to be certayne, y^t our ſinnes are pardoned: therfore doubt not therof, leſte thou become an Infideil. Though thou hauehave ſinned neuer None ſo greate or grenous a ſinner but there is mercy for him wyth the Lord.ſo ſore, yet nowe deſpaire not, but be certayne that god is thy God: that is, that he forgeueth thee thy ſinne. Therfore (as I ſaid) dout not thereof, for in ſo doinge thou putteſt a ſallet on the heade of thy ſoule, that the dew of gods grace can not in dede droppe into it, but Cantic. 5Song 5ſlippe by as faſte as it droppeth. Therefore without that ſallet or ſoule nightecap bee bareheaded: that is, hope ſtill in the mercy of the Lorde, and ſo mercye ſhall compaſſe thee on eueryevery ſide.

In like manner, the article of the reſurreiction of the fleſh, hauehave often in thy minde, beinge aſſured by this, that thy carcaſe and body ſhalbe rayſed vp againe in the laſt day when the Lord ſhall come to iudgement, and ſhalbe made incorruptable, immortall, glorious, ſpiritual, perfect, light, and euen lyke to the gloryous body of our Sauiour Ieſu chriſt: for hee is the firſte fruytes of … Philip. 3Phil 3dead, and as god is all in all, ſo ſhal he be vntounto thee in Chriſte. Loke therfore vppon thine owne eſtate: for as he is ſo ſhalt thou be. As thou haſt borne y^e image of the earthly Adam, ſo ſhalte thou 1. Cor. 151 Cor 15beare the Image of the heauenly: therfore glorifie thou nowe god, both in ſoule and body. Wayt and loke for this day of the lord with groning and ſighing. Gather together teſtimonies of this which I do omitte for times ſake.

Laſte of all, hauehave often in thy minde, life euerlaſting, wherunto thou art euen landinge. Death is the hauen that caryeth thee vntounto this lande: where is all that can bee wiſhed, yea aboue all wiſhes and deſires: for in it wee ſhall ſee god face to face, which thing now Exod. 34Exod 34we can in no wiſe doe, but muſte couer our faces wyth Boyſes & Heltas, tyll the face or foreparts of y^e lorde be gone by. Now muſt we loke on his backe partes, beholding him in his worde, and in his creatures, & in the face of Ieſus Chriſte our mediatoure: but then we ſhal ſe him face to face, & 1. Cor. 131 Cor 13we ſhall knowe, as we are knowen. Therfore let vsus often think on theſe thinges, y^t we may hauehave fayth, luſtely and cherefully to arriue at the happy hauen of death, which you ſe is to be deſired, and not to bee dread, to all thoſe that are in Chriſt, that is, to ſuche as to beleue in deede: which are diſcerned from thoſe that onelyonly ſaye they do beleue, by dyeng tēporally, that is by labouring to mortify Roma. 6.thorow gods ſpirite, the affections of the fleſh: not y^t they ſhould not be in thē, but that they ſhould not raigne in thē, that is in theyr mortal bodies, to geue euer them ſelues to ſerue ſinne: whoſe ſeruaunts we are not, but are made ſernauntes vntounto righteouſneſſe, being nowe vnderunder grace and not vnderunder the lawe, and therfore hath god mercifully promiſed that ſinne ſhal not raigne in vsus:

The whych he continually graunte for his truth, power, & mercies ſake

Amen.