Of the preparation to the crosse, and to deathe and of the comforte vnder the crosse and death, two bokes very fruictefull for deuoute people to rede, translated from latyn to englysshe, by Rycharde Tracy.

¶Baptisme is a comforte in the poynte of deathe. Cap. vi.

SVCHE as be at the poynte of deathe, ought to take comforte and be stronge, in that they know, they carye with them bothe letter and token, which is baptime: wher by theyr death is incorporate with the deathe of Christ, and that it is not theyr deathe, but the deathe of Christe. Wherfore let them suerly truste, that they shall ouercome,

as the deathe of Christ hath ouer∣come. For baptime is a sure token of the passynge ouer from deathe to lyfe. And as we knowe suerlie, that Christe passed through death to lyfe: So let vs not doubte, but that we shal suerly passe throughe deathe to lyfe. Christe hath ouer∣come synne and death: Let vs no∣thynge doubte, but that we shall ouercome synne & deathe. Synne shal not beare rule ouer you.* 1.1 a Fi∣gure of this thynge was the pas∣synge ouer the see, whiche was the passynge ouer from deathe to lyfe. So in baptime we receiue a token of deathe: that by death of the bo∣dy, we myght trust suerly to come to the trewe lyfe. In baptime Pha¦rao, with all his hoste, dyd lye vn∣der foote to vs, that is, throughe fayth in the worde of promyse: we

haue escaped the tyrannye of the prynce of darkenesse, with all vy∣ces: so that the lorde wyll not im∣pute them to vs, nor they can not take awaye from vs the entree or goinge in to the kyngdome of he∣uen. But yet not withstandynge, synne dwellyng in our fleshe, doth not reste in the meane tyme, to as∣saulte vs, that is, vncleane affec∣tions, whiche muste be put awaye with dayly mortifieng of the flesh∣ly desyres, vntyll our baptime be fully cōplete and finished in deth. So greately the hope of all chry∣sten men dothe stande in baptime, and so beginneth from death: that deathe to vs is wynnyng, that is, an entraunce to lyfe.* 1.2 Be you igno∣rant, that all we, whiche be bapti∣sed into Christe Iesu, are baptised into his deathe? For we be buried

together with hym by baptime in to deathe, that as Christe was rei∣sed vp from the deade, by the glo∣ry of his father: euen soo we also shuld walke in a newe lyfe.* 1.3 You be buried to geder with him through baptime, in whom you are also ry∣sen agayne with him.* 1.4 Who so euer of you be baptised in Christe, haue put vpon you Christe.* 1.5 Baptime is the promyse of a good conscience towardes god, wherby we be sure, that god is pleased with vs. It is therfore a token, that we be dely∣uered from the dyuel, and a sygne of our translation from the kyng∣dome of Satan, in to the kynge- of Christe, that we be reconsyled vnto god, it is a token whiche bea∣reth wytnesse of the good wyll of god towardes vs. Therfore re∣member, that thou arte baptysed,

that is, that thou hast receyued re∣mission of synnes: that thou haste made a couenaunt with god, that thou arte delyuered frome the dy∣uell, deathe, and synne, reconsiled to god. This is a great comforte agaynste deathe, the dyuell, and synne. So the promyse made to A∣brahā, of the sede to come, had ben sufficiente: yet god dyd put therto circumcisiō, that Abraham might haue a sure token of goddes good¦nes towardes him, that he was ac¦cepted of god. So baptime is a to∣ken of goddes fauour and good wyll towardes vs, throughe the worde of promyse, wherevnto is knyt an ernest bargaine of a good conscience with god. For fyrst god maketh promyse with vs, that he wyl forgyue vs that faute and ble¦myshe, whiche we haue drawen by

originall synne, from our forefa∣thers, that he wyl receyue vs into his fauour, and that he wyll not onely forgyue vs our synnes, but also not ley or inpute them to our charge. We agayne do bynde our selues to god by lyke reason, that we shall mortifie our fleshe all our lyfe tyme, and purge out our olde leuen, our concupiscence, desyres, and dispositions to do synne, and vtterly to cast out all the dregges: and to wrestel agaynste and vtter∣lye forsake the worlde, the dyuell, and al theyr pompes: Therfore if thy conscience be troubled and vex¦ed with the borden of synne, thou mayst pray on this maner. O lord god, remembre thy promyse, that thou haste made to vs: thou haste promysed to vs in baptime, remis∣syon of synnes and eternall lyfe,

when thou dyddeste saye:* 1.6 He that beleueth and is baptysed, shall be saued: nor do not make voyde thy couenaunt, nor let not thy wordes be in vayne, whiche haue passed thy mouthe.* 1.7 Thou shalt performe that thou hast promysed, thou cāst not deny thy selfe, neyther our in∣firmitie, or infidelitfe, or any other thynge can make voyde thy feyth∣full promyse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 6.
• * 1.2

  Roma. 6.
• * 1.3

  Colo. 2.
• * 1.4

  Gala. 3.
• * 1.5

  1. Pet. 3.
• * 1.6

  Marc. 16.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 89.