The summe of mans felicitie is to contemplate and prayse his maker , redemer , & gouernour . To this end is man created . This felicitie of man is oftentymes disturbed by the weakenes of this body , which we cary aboute , subiecte to so many necessities , to so many euyls , to so many peryls . In like wyse also saynt Paule , accombred with the carnall habytation , pytyfully syghynge crieth . O I vnhappy man , who shall delyuer me from Rome . 7. this body of deth ? For he saw them in high blysse , whiche dwelled in the house of the lorde , pray synge hym worlde without ende . Of this affection be men of the ryght holynes , of whome though the bodyes kepe in erth , yet their treasure , harte , and conuersation is in heuens . But few men haue this perfection and strongenes of mynde : It is not gyuen to al men to say with Paul , Christ to me is lyfe , and to dye is a lucre . And , I couet to be dissolued , and be with Christe . We beinge our selues weake , prepare this consolation to them that be weake , vnto whom yet th examples of the perfyte lyuers be , as who saith , prickes and prouocations , to obteyne the strength of the spirite . Wherfore this meditation of dethe is through out all the lyfe to be exercysed , and euer amonge the sparke of feyth is to be styred vp , that it may encreace and gather strength , to whom charytie annexed , shall drawe vnto it hope , whiche neuer maketh his maister ashamed . But we haue none of these oure selfes , but they be the gyftes of god , with contynuall prayers and vowes to be vowed for : if they lacke , and if we haue them , to be augmentid that they may encreace . The stronger that feyth accompanied with Hope and Charitie is , the lesse is the tremblynge . For that most part of vs thus abhoire from the mention of death , it commeth commonly of the vnstedfastnes of fayth . But on the promises of god ought man to haue moste certain trust . For he is onely he , whiche of nature true , can not deny hym selfe . To whom the noble psalmograph syngeth , Euerlastingely lorde thy worde abydeth . In heuen & worlde In aeternia dne pmanet . &c. without ende is thy trouth . which also in the Euangel pronounceth of hym selfe , Heuen and erthe shall passe , but my wordes shal not Coelum & terra transibunt . &c passe . What hath he promysed ? He hathe promysed vyctorye of deathe , vyctorye of fleshe , of the worlde , and of the dyuell : He hath promysed remission of synnes , he hath promysed an hundrede tymes as moche in this worlde , & euerlastyng lyfe in the next . But in what wyse hathe he promysed ? By our owne ryghtwysenes ? No truely , but by grace of faythe , whiche is vpon Christ Iesus . And to the entent we shulde be the surer , he hath annulled & cancelled that fyrst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 handwrityng , whiche Adam vnhappily had described vnto vs , naylynge it to the crosse : and hath giuen vs his handwriting of grace whiche he hath scaled with his owne blod , and hath confirmed it with innumerable testimonies of prophetes , apostels , martyrs , and virgins , whiche with their blode alsoo haue subscribed . And the vnyuersal church of Christen men , and holy fathers also haue subscribed . He hath more ouer added the erneste penye of the spirite , that our truste shulde wauer in no part . And the goodnesse of god not contented with these , hath vouchesafed to shewe vnto all men an euidente and notable example in his onely begotten sonne . For that he hath ouercome , vndoutedly he ouercame for his membres sakes , on whome he holly bestoweth hym selfe . For what were we sely wormes of our selues ? Christe is our Justyce , Christe is our vyctorie , Christe is our hope and surenes , Christe is our tryumphe and crowne . He was borne a chylde , but ( which Esai omitted not ) to vs he was borne , to vs he was gyuen . In lykewyse for vs he taughte , for vs he healyd diseases , caste forth dyuelles , for vs he hungred and thyrsted , for vs he was blasphemed , for vs the time of deth approching , he was striken with heuynes and werynes of lyfe , for vs he swette bloud , for vs he was bound and beate , for vs he dyed and reuiued , fynally for vs he sytteth on the ryght hande of the father . Whyles he toke vpon hym all euyls due vnto vs , he delyuered them vnto vs , that we shulde ouercome theym . Nowe that he hathe broken theyr strengthes , & hath added the strongenes of spirite , according to the measure of our afflictions . He hath shewed vs the way howe to ouercome , he hath added a desire of fighting , to the fyghters he ministreth help . So he ouercometh in vs , if so be that we tary in hym . We tarie by faithe and charitie . If ye aske where this chyrograph or handwrytynge that assureth vs , remaineth : I answer in the canonicall scriptures , in whiche we rede the wordis of god , not of men . To these no lesse credence is to be youen , than if god had spoken theym vnto the , with his owne mouth , yea I dare boldli say somwhat more largely . For if god had spoken vnto the by some created lykenes , perchaunce , accordinge to th example of certayne good men , thou woldest haue doubted , whether there were any disceite in the thynge . But al this doubte the perpetuall consent of the catholyke churche , hath cleane take away frome vs . Than in this handwriting to studye all our lyfe , is the best preparation to dethe . As th apostle sayth , that by pacience and consolation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of scriptures we maye haue hope . Agayne ; if a man demaundeth , how and whan Christe ouercame these , I answere , he ouercame the flesshe , and shewed vs the maner of ouercomynge , where as he fearynge and abhorrynge deathe , accordynge to the nature , which he toke vppon hym , sayth to the father , But yet not as I wyll , but as thou wylte . And in an nother place he wytnesseth of hym selfe , sayenge , I came not to do my wyll , but his that sent me . Nothynge is soo horrible to mans nature , that by the helpe of Christe is not ouercome , if we commytte and submytte vs hole to goddis wyl : and in our moste greuous stormes of tribulations haue all tymes in mynde the sayenge of the good father and kyng Dauyd , It is the lord , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let him do that semeth best in his eyes . These wordes be not magicall , but they be stronger than all enchantementes , whiche who so euer pronounceth with his hart , and continueth with this trust , he can not despayre , thoughe the hole route of euyls with al the diuels in hel shuld inuade him . Almyghty is he , that fyghteth for vs , and which speketh in the Psalme , with hym I am in tribulation ; I wyll plucke hym oute , and I wyll gloryfyen hym . Whan thou herest , with hym , doo not prayse thyn owne strength , but haue an eye to the power of the helper . Whan thou herest , I wyll plucke hym out , be not desperate of mynde , thoughe thou be somwhat longe in tribulations . He wyll do withoute doute , that he promysed : and he knoweth whan it is expedient that thou shouldest be lyghted of thy euyls . Whan thou herest , I wyll glorify hym , be thou assured , that as thou were felowe with Christe of the Crosse , so thou shalt be felowe with hym also of glory . But remember what went before , He cryed to me . It is thy part to crye & to crye to the lorde , not to the succours of this worlde , not to thy strengthes and good dedes , but to the lorde , which onely maye delyuer the frome these euyls . Nothinge is frayler than man , and yet no man can expresse , with how many and how outragious euyls and fearefull myschefes he is besicged . For to omyt thunders , erthquakes , see rages , grounde openynges , warres , robberies , wytchecraftes , who can recken vp all fourmes of diseses ? And amongest these how many be there , so horrible , and so paynefulle , that a man shall quake for feare , to here them but named : of the which sort be the fallynge syckenes , the palsey , the flayinge of the bladder , the fransye . I wyll not speake of the often inuasions of Pestilences , which dayly springe not only newe and newe , but also worse and worse against all the remedyes of the Phisitiens : so that it is most truly spoken of the Poet. ¶ Mille modis leti miseros mors vna fatigat .

Onely death with his cruell dart ,

By thousand meanes make man to smart .

¶ How is it possible , that we so weake both of bodies & of myndes , can be able to match & be good ynoughe for so many outragious stormes ? vtterly we were vndone , though the burden of synne were away , yf the hand of the lorde helped not oure imbecillytye . Nowe remayneth an other myschefe , that is to wytte the worlde , whiche bringeth to good and godly persones , no small batayle . I call the worlde , the olde man , with his actes and concupiscences . Howe be it vnder the name of worlde , ye maye , not vnconuenientely vnderstonde menne gyuen to this worlde , which neuer haue ceassed , nor neuer shal ceasse , with their vttermost power , to warre against Christ and his disciples .

But vnto this batayl Christ armeth vs , sayeng , Be bolde , I haue vanquyshed the world . But howe farre strange he was frome the Ioan. 19. concupiscence of worldly thynges , he declareth , whan he sayth , The sonne of manne hath not where to reste his heed . For therin Luc. 9. euerye manne resteth his heed , wherin his mynde is in quyete , and as it were slepeth . And how violent and croked this world is , they knowe , whiche ernestely go about to lyue vertuously in Christ Jesu . He toke vpon him our concupiscence , but none otherwyse thanne he toke synne , suffrynge for vs punyshement , whiche was due for our affections and actes . But all engyns and ordynaunces that this worlde had , it threwe vppon our lorde , as shame , sclander , awaytes , myght , tourmentes , deathes . What dydde not this worlde , to the entente it myght vtterly quenche the name of Christe ? And so he lyueth and flouryssheth bothe in heauen and in erth . Our lorde hath ouercome , not that we shulde nowe slepe , but that we shuld not despayre . He hathe delyuered vnto vs our enemye , not vtterly dead , but broken & vanquyshable , to th entent that we by oure fyghtynge maye haue a crowne of glorye prepared for vs . If thou askest , howe this worlde maye be vanquysshed , John the inwarde disciple of Christe teacheth . This is , quod he , the victorie which ouercometh the Ioan. 5. worlde , your Fayth . Fyght than faythfully , castyng all thy trust in the lorde : nor doubt not , but throughe his fauour and ayde thou shalt be a conquerour .

¶ Now resteth synne , wherein vnhappily we were borne , and after baptyme more vnhappely fallen into agayn , an heuy burdein , and suche a burdeyne as causeth alsoo the soule to synke downe to the bottome of hel . This burdeyne whiche was to vs importable , our lorde vouche safed to take vpon him , as Esay prophecied , The correction of our peace vppon hym , and by his wounde we be Cap. 53. healed . Also th apostle , God made hym , which dyd no synne , to be a synne forvs , that 2. Cor. 5. we might be made the iustice of god through hym . Synne is thouely thynge that gendreth hatredes betwixt god and man , as Esay testifieth . But the mercyful father , whan Psal. 59. no sacrifyce coulde be founde sufficient and stronge ynoughe to wasshe of the synnes of mankynde , sent his sonne , a lambe without blemyshe or spot , with this most pure oblation of sacrifyce , reconcylynge the worlde vnto him . A man wyl here say : If by Christ synne is taken awaye , how is it than , that al the lyfe of manne is thus replenysshed with synne ? For nowe I speke of good men to . He toke not clerely away syn , but he brake the strengthes of it , not that there shuld be no synne in vs , but that it shulde not reygne in vs , as it reygneth in them , whiche haue not fyxed the ancore of their hope , in the lorde Jesu , but serue and folowe their sensuall appetites . And therfore Paule aduertyseth vs to beware , that synne reygne not in our mortall body . There is left vnto vs a mattier , wherin to fyghte , but yet armours & weapons be ministred vnto vs , with whyche we beynge defensed maye ouercome . So we be made the iustice of God , not by our owne workes , but through the grace of god . By whom ? By hym , whom he made a synne for vs , and of synne condemned synne .

¶ Yet remayneth Satanas , the parent both of synne and of deth , & prince of these darknesses , whose power and malicious craftes neuer ceassynge , the children of lyght fere , cryenge with a tremblynge herte to the father , Ne nos inducas &c. Leade vs not into temptation , but delyuer vs frome that euyll myght . This is that temptour and accusor of brethern , which after the sayeng of saynt Peter , renneth about as a rorynge lyon , sekynge 1. Pet. 5. whom he may deuour . But the lorde hathe not onely ouercome , but alsoo hathe taught vs to ouercome the assaultes of this euyll also . He oftetymes assayled our lorde , for that may be gatherid of Lukes wordis , which sayth , And he departed from hym for a tyme , but he departed alwayes vanquysshed . How vanquysshed ? With the bucklar of scriptures repelled , with the swerde of goddes worde stryken throughe . Wherfore so ofte as he maketh suggestion , and attempteth vs to the thynge , which is merely contrary and repugnant to the wyll diuine , expressed in the sacre and holy volumes : cast a foyne at hym with the swerde of goddes worde , and accordynge to the ensample of , kynge Dauyd , with fyue most clere and radyant stones , gathered out of the ryuer of scriptures , fel the knaue down to the grounde . But before we ioyne handes with this gyaunt Solyath , let vs first caste frome vs the armours of Saul , which is the cote armour of pride , that is the truste of worldly wysedome , the confydence of our strength and merytes , whiche lade vs rather than arme vs , let the staffe of faith be sufficient for vs , whiche comforteth & steyeth vs in this our peregrination , and the fyue wordes , which Paule speaketh in the churche . If he be to busy , and call vpon the to importunely , byd hym auaunt Satanas , and stande abacke . It 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is more right to obey god , callynge to euerlastynge felycitie , rather than the , entysing to eternall destruction . Here dothe faythe playe the chiefe and principall parte . And therfore saith Peter , Whom resyst ye strong in fayth . Gyue credence to scriptures , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. repose thy holle trust in Christ , and victory is at hande . But there is a kynde of dyuels , which is not cast forthe , but by prayer & fastyng sayth Christ . To here thou hast other two weapons . It is probable , and a thynge lykely , that Satanas , where as he so ofte had assauted our lord in vayne , in the crosse assayed and moued al his craftis , subtilties , and engens , whan he sawe hym approching to his deth . For this is the last conflict and batayle , by the profe and chaunce wherof , eyther eternall triumphe is hoped and loked for , or a perpetuall shame is awayted . For he sayth , The prince of this world came Ioan. 14. vnto me , and in me he founde nothinge . Nor it is no doubt , but that which he entreprised vpon the lorde , he dare entreprise also vpon the membres of the lorde . But in lykewyse as he was vanquyshed of hym , so throughe hym he shall be vanquyshed in vs . For whan he assayleth them , in whom Christ by fayth and charitie doth inhabite and dwel , he maketh batayle with Christ hym self , in whom so longe as we perseuer and abyde , he shall take a fowler fall , and be more shamefullye vanquysshed of vs , than he was ouercome of our lorde hym selfe . All thynges can I do , Omnia possum in co qui me confortat . quod the Apostle , in hym , which enstrenghteth me . Satanas , with whom our conflict is , is called the prince of this worlde , not that he hath any auctorite or iurisdiction ouer any parte of the creature , but bycause in a maner he raigneth in those , which be lo uers of this worlde . But he whiche protecteth and defendeth vs , is lorde of heuen & of erth , which with his onely becke can do more than all the swarmes and rabyll of dyuels , with all their instrumentis & lymmes . Onely he coulde entre the howse of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stronge one , and bynde hym hand and fote , and bereue hym of his vessels .

¶ What temtations do yet remayne ? Deth death I saye , at whose mention all thynges waxe heuy . This neyther with force can be shyfted of , neyther with fleynge eschued , neyther with craft and subtyl meanes dalyed awaye . The firste affection of nature is , that euery thinge shuld defende it self . But death against this affection of nature , thretneth destruction , which so moch is the more detestable and to be abhorred , that it diuydeth . ii . which be most conioyned and knyt togyther . For there is no strayter copulation or knot , than is of the body and soule . This horrour and fere also , our lord of his moste tender mercye , hath mitigate and asswaged vnto vs . First in that he for our sakes , dysdayned not the horrour and tremblynge of death : and death it selfe , yea and that sclanderous and shameful , and also bitter , to take vppon hym . Nor he wolde not , that any of his sayntes , & of the holy men , were they neuer so excellynge in vertuous lyuynge shulde be free , and be enfraunchysed against deathe , not Abraham the faythfull , not Moyses famylyarly beloued , not Dauyd a manne accordynge to his harte , not any of the prophetes , not John Baptist , of whom remaineth so noble a testimonie of our lord hym selfe , not his mother sin gularly beloued , not so moch as that one of his disciples , whom before all the reste , he loued entierly . Euen from the fyrst man , vntyll the consummation and ende of the world , it was ordeined and by fatall destenye prefixed , euery man ones to dye . And therfore the grekes call dethe in theyr langage moros , whiche cometh of the verbe miro , that is to say , to allotte , bycause it is allotted , distributed , and appoynted to all men alyke and indifferently , to kinges , bishops , dukes , erles , barons , knyghtes , esquiers , gentylle men , yomen , and beggars . What impacience is it than , a man not to fynde in his harte to suffre that euylle , whiche is common to suche , so greatte , and soo many ? Doste thou flee , with all the holye men to submytte thy selfe , and surrender that thynge , whyche wyll thou or wyll thou not , must be rendred and repayed to nature ? He that of nature was immortall , for the became mortall . And dost thou , which art borne to dye , and haste deserued deth so oft , require besydes all other men to be had immortal ? Wherfore recount thou here with thy selfe , howe many , and what felawes of this sort and condition thou hast : and so doinge thou shalt beare more euenly and with a more quyete mynd , thin allotte and state . Otherwise if thou do , vndoutedly thou shalt seme no lesse proude and presumptuous , in disdainyng that thou shalte dye , than if a man wold dysdayn , that he is borne , or that he is created a man , and not an aungelle . This is the fyrst asswagement of dethe , whiche in my conceite , is not smalle . And it shall be made stronger , yf we iustely accompte with our selues , what maner thynges tho be , whyche we haue lefte here behynde vs . For many feare deth , only hauing regard to the commodities , whiche they leaue here behynde . Than come in mynde , the swete sight of the sonne , the moste goodly ordynance of the fyrmament , the pleasant hewe of the springynge world , playes , feastes , wyfe , chyldren , house , gardeynes . But thou must open the other eie , wherwith thou mayst beholde , how moche more of euils and incommodities thou leauest behynd , than of plesures and commodities : and in very those , whiche appere good and commodious , howe moche calamitie and bitternes is migled therwith . Reuolue in mind all the degrees of lyfe , consider howe foule the conceyuing is , howe perillous the bearyng , howe myserable the delyueryng and byrthe , in how many dangers of hurtes the infancie is , in howe great ieopardie of iniurie and wronge is chyldhode , howe spotted with vicious lyuyng is youth , with how many cares distracte is the mannes age , in what myserie and wretchidnes is olde age , and this thinge seriously reuolued in memo rie , I stande in doubt , whether a man canne fynde any one person so happily borne , that if god wolde graunt vnto hym to begynne and come vp agayne , by the same steppes , euen from his conception , through oute all the hole proces & cours of his former lyfe vntyll age , to enioye lyke pleasures , and to suffre like displeasures , wold take this proferre , annexed to suche condition . What notable blyndnes is it than , so greattely to be troubled , whan that thynge is to be surrendred , which if it were lauful for vs to begin a new , we wold refuse ? I omit now the euils in which this life is so wrapped , that certain hethen men iuged nothing to be yeuen to man of the goddis , to speake after their maner , more liberally & bountifully , than that they haue addid vnto him a power & liberte to be reue him self of his life , so ost as shal be sene vnto him : And that noble poete douted not to pronounce , no liuing thing more wretched than man . Than if th autoritie of the hethen prophet be light , Ecclesiastes that godly & Ecclesiast. holy person feared nat to write , that Better is the day of deathe , than of the byrthe .