The safegard of the soule Declaring sundry soueraigne salues tending to the comfort and saluation of the same: very necessarie to bee learned and obserued of all men, and at all times, but chiefely in the extremitie of sicknes, and grieuous pangs of death. Composed by Lawrence Bankes, preacher of the word of God: and parson of Staunton, in the county of Glocester.

Consolation against dam∣nation.

IT is most certaine (good Brother) that when wee lye sick in the pangs of death, then presently our

sinnes committed against the holy Will and Com∣mandement of God, doe present themselues vnto vs, rushing in vpon vs with great violence: Then wee can behold nothing but Gods Iudgement aboue vs, hell beneath vs, damna∣tion before vs, and our sins within vs; then there is no∣thing but feare, trembling, and horror on euery side vs. All our enemies are now gathered together to assault vs with sorrow and heauines: now we had need of a strong faith and a good courage in this case: for no doubt, our old enemy

Satan will now play his part in tempting of vs; hee will with boldnesse present vnto vs all the sinnes wee haue committed all our life time, hee will heape toge∣ther whole VVain-loads of our trespasses in great a∣bundance, to the end, to dash vs out of counte∣nance with God, and to make vs doubt of Gods mercy, and so to fall to des∣peration; heere now wee stand in more need of god∣ly counsell and comfort, then euer we did in all our life time: wee are now put to our plunge, and forced to seeke shifts, for Satan

will then presse silly soules with feare and perplexity, that they cannot tell how to winde themselues out of his clawes, he will make of euery mole-hill, a moun∣taine; of a Flye, an Ele∣phant; and of euery light sinne, a deepe wound in our conscience, which breedeth such hurly-burly within vs, that we can be at no rest with our selues: when it it is day, we wish for night, and when it is night, we would haue it day our meat doth vs no good, our sleepe is vnsound, our heart cannot bee merry, sorrow ouerwhelmeth vs, all com∣fort

forsaketh vs, there is no ioy nor pleasure in the world that can delight vs. And thus the Deuil, which before allured vs vnto sin, writeth vp all in his booke, and in the time of danger, or towards our death, when hee commeth to ac∣cuse, hee will bring the whole reconing, and then turne all our former plea∣sure into present paine; then the pearcing sting and wofull worme of our con∣science pricketh and biteth vs in such fearefull sort, that many men haue beene for∣ced euen openly with trem∣bling flesh and sorrowfull

soules to cry out of their sins: now thē being broght to this wofull case, what is to be done? The next way is, to seeke for remedy; when wee lack our bodily health, and are pained with sicknesse, we straight∣way post, yea we runne and we ride with all speede vn∣to a Physician, we let for no labour, we spare no cost to procure medicines, and re∣medies for our earthly bo∣dies: why doe wee not then with like diligence seek out remedies against the noy∣some diseases and infecti∣ons of the soule, being much more grieuous and

more dangerous then these of the body?

Now therefore (deare Brother) to apply these words to the comfort of your carefull conscience, and wearisome body, be∣ing afflicted inwardly, and pained outwardly: Are you desirous of saluation? would you willingly dye in Gods fauour? would you bee receyued into his hea∣uenly Tabernacle? do you desire to bee blessed with old Iacob? And do you co∣uet to be a Citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem? then giue eare and take good heed vnto such cōfortable

counsell, as by Gods gift and grace I shall minister vnto you.

First, prostrate your selfe before the diuine Maiesty of God: Let your sinne be a griefe vnto you, but let it not grieue you to confesse it: for of all other things, our sinnes doe bite the soa∣rest, and pearce our soules the deepest, because they are aggrauated with all the threatnings of Gods ven∣geance, which maketh vs loth to haue them search∣ed or knowne to the world, or any way touched by the Word; we had rather haue them plaistred with sweete

promises, and bathed in the mercies of God, where∣as it is more safe to haue them pricked and made manifest by the rigour of the Law, although it bring both shame and blame.

Therefore (my good Brother) if you bee asha∣med of your selfe, and of your sinne (as all men may be) yet for all that, be nei∣ther abashed or ashamed to acknowledge it and craue pardon. If you see no worthinesse in your self, but the world accusing you without, and your owne conscience within, yet des∣paire not vtterly, but lift vp

your eyes to heauen, and there behold Iesus Christ your Sauiour, sitting on the right hand of God, as a Mediatour, making inter∣cession for you to his hea∣uenly Father: he was a Sauiour on earth, so he re∣maineth in heauen. Iesus Christ yesterday, and to day, the same also is for euer.

Yesterday, he called to sin∣ners, & said: Come vnto me, all yee that are weary and la∣den, & I wil ease you. And to day hee cryeth and calleth in like maner, and will do to the worlds end: Yesterday he said, I came not to call the iust, but sinners to repentance.

And to day hee saith the same. Yesterday he forgaue ten thousand Talents to one debter; his arme is not shortned to day, he is the same God he was. Yester∣day he forgaue the prodi∣gall sonne, his sinne in lea∣ding a lasciuious and lewde life, and to day he doth the like to many moe.

Yesterday hee forgaue Peter his periury, Paul his blasphemy, the sonnes of Zebede their pride, Mary Magdalene her whoore∣dome. As hee was a merci∣full Christ yesterday, so he is to day, and will bee to morrow. Yesterday hee

came to saue sinners, and to day he comes to saue, & to morrow he will come, and for euer hee will not reiect them, if they repent.

Therefore, Satan, what canst thou say, or alledge a∣gainst mee? or how darest thou presume to charge me or any one of Gods Elect? If God will saue, thou canst not condemne: If Christ will shew mercy, I defie thy cruelty.

It may bee, thou wilt ob∣iect against mee, and say, These are particular exam∣ples, and they became holy men afterward. This ma∣keth nothing for you, but

against you: you are no such man, neither are you to expect such mercy. But I say vnto thy teeth, Satan, Thou art and hast beene a lyar from the beginning. Gods VVord and his pro∣mise are stablished in Hea∣uen. And this one sentence is sufficient to comfort me, and conuince thee: Iesus Christ yesterday, to day, and the same also for euer: Al∣wayes one and the same, he cannot deny himselfe: he is mercy it selfe; by nature mercifull; by office merci∣full; in his life mercifull; in his death mercifull. Hee is no changeling: I may

change, the world may change, but he is immuta∣ble, and cannot change. He still continueth alwayes alike mighty, alwayes alike liberall, alwayes alike mer∣cifull: A Sauiour yesterday, a Sauiour to day, & a Saui∣our to morrow, & so to the worlds end, & after. There∣fore auoid and away Satan, tempt mee no longer, doe not threaten mee damnati∣on. For I know and be∣leeue assuredly, that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus. O how sweet is this blessed name Iesus, which signifieth a Sa∣uiour, to the pensiue soule

of a sinner! O how much and how deepely are wee bound to God our heauen∣ly Father, for our saluation wrought by this his deare and onely Sonne, in whom he acknowledgeth himselfe to be fully satisfied and ap∣peased for our sinnes! This testimony proceeding from Heauen, is so certaine, that all the Diuels in hell, and enemies in earth, shall neuer be able to withstand it; for no creature but Christ alone, hath power to remit sinnes. He it is alone, that hath taken vpon him our sinnes, and borne our paines. They that are strong, need not

the Physician, but they that are sicke. Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Our names are written in heauen, and re∣corded for euer in the Book of Life. For God so loued the world, that he hath giuen vs his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life. For God sent [unspec 17] not his Sonne into the world, that hee should condemne the world, but that the world through him might be saued. These are comfortable words to all those that are clogged in conscience: these are generall words vt∣tered

to the wide world, by him that came to saue the world; by him that hath promised & will performe; by him that calleth all, and exempteth none, as appea∣reth by that generall Sen∣tence, which cannot too often be recited: Come vn∣to me, all yee that are weary and laden, and I will ease you. This comfortable call and cheerefull cry of Christ, should bee printed in our hearts, & ring in our eares as an alarum night and day, they should awake vs out of the sleepe of sinne, and mooue vs to come at the first bidding. You see how

friendly and fatherly wee are called, no place or coun∣trie is excepted, no time prohibited, no sinner reie∣cted, but to all hee calleth, and dayly hee calleth, Come, Come.

This word may serue for the first Call in this world, and warne vs of the last Call in the day of Iudge∣ment; for the Iudge shall then rehearse the same, Come, ye blessed. If you will obey the first Call here, you shall heare the second Call hereafter to your great ioy and comfort. VVe are all heere laden with sinne, we are all weary of the burden,

it is too heauy for the best to beare. Therefore let vs come to Christ our Lord and Master for ease, hee hath already borne the bur∣then of our sinnes vpon his owne shoulders, and nailed them fast vpon his Crosse. VVhen we are most loden, then lifts he for life: when we are most in misery, then hee is most mercifull and mighty: when we are falne flat to the earth, & brought low to hell gate, then hee stretcheth out his long and large arme of mercy, and plucketh vs out of all dan∣ger, deliuereth vs from the dunghill and danger of the

Diuell, and so leadeth vs ready by the hand to his Fathers Kingdome. Thus he doth to all (there is no respect of persons) bond and free, Iew and Gentile. He refuseth not Publicans, as Zacheus: no not VVhore∣mongers and murtherers, as Dauid: not Drunkards, as Noah and Lot: not great sinners, as Mary Magdalen: not the Thiefe, hanging on his right hand: not perse∣cutors, as Paul: no, not swea∣rers & forswearers of them∣selues, as Peter: but most tenderly and louingly hee accepteth their repentance, embraceth them with the

armes of his mercie, and forgiueth them their sinnes.

Now therefore (good Brother) in the time of this your tryall and Visitation, I would wish you to apply these comfortable senten∣ces and examples to your selfe, for the better safety of your owne soule. Are you iniured by your enemies? Come to Christ, he is able to redresse it. Are you false∣ly accused or slandered? You are the more like to your Master Christ Iesus: for hee was so handled be∣fore you. Are you troubled by mighty men? Come to Christ: for he pulleth down

the mighty from their seat. Are you forsaken of your friends? Come to Christ, for he forsaketh none, ex∣cept they first forsake him. Art thou tormented with bodily sicknes? Come to Christ, for he smiteth and healeth. Art thou in dan∣ger of death? Come to Christ, for hee is the life that shall neuer haue end. Doe you feare hell & dam∣nation? Come to Christ, who hath deliuered you from hell, and wrought your saluation: who defy∣ing the Diuell, hath said by his Apostle: O death, where is thy sting? O hell, where is

thy victory? Let vs clap our hands, reioyce at heart, and say, Thankes be vnto God, [unspec 57] which hath giuen vs victorie, through our Lord Iesus Christ. VVe may now bold∣ly say with iust Iob, the faith∣full seruant of God, I am sure that my Redeemer liueth, and hee shall stand the last on the earth. And though after my skin, wormes destroy this body, yet shall I see God in my flesh. Whom I my selfe shall [unspec 27] see, and mine eyes shall be∣hold, and none other for mee, though my reines are consu∣med within me.

So that neither death, nor dānation is terrible to

those that behold Christ a∣right with the eyes of their Faith. A sure faith obtai∣neth any thing at Gods hands: as for example: The woman of Canaan cryed, O sonne of Dauid, haue mer∣cie on me, and her Daughter was healed.

The Publican cryed, God be mercifull vnto me a sinner, and he went home iustified. The Centurion beleeued, and his sonne was restored. The Master of the Synagogue prayeth, and his Daughter was reuiued.

The Apostles cry, Saue vs, O Lord, wee perish: and they are saued euery one.

Not one person can perish, no, nor one hayre of his head, without Gods diuine prouidence and permission. For although our heauenly Father try vs by troubles in this world, as the gold is tried in the fire; yet after the time of tryall hee is ne∣uer the further off. But the more grieuous our sicknes is, the greater our afflicti∣ons be, and the more heauy our hearts waxe, the more we ought to reioyce, see∣ing our reward is great in heauen, as Christ hath said, whom wee ought to follow with our crosse on our backs here on earth, if wee

meane to raigne with him in heauen.

Therefore (good Bro∣ther) in your griefe and a∣gony, hold vp your hands, and lift vp your heart to heauen, despayre not at all, feare not too much, but be of good comfort. And as Saint Augustine faith; Ille solus diffidat qui tantum penare potest, quantum Deus bonus est: that is, let that man onely distrust or des∣payre, whose sinne excee∣deth Gods goodnes. But the Diuell himselfe, and all our iniquitie is lesse then Gods mercie: and there∣fore the greatest sinners in

the world, ought not to des∣payre, if they repent, seeing his mercy is aboue all his workes: for of his mercie there is neither number, nor measure, nor end. The mercy of the Lord embra∣ceth vs on euery side. The sentence of Ezechiel is sure and sealed vp in Heauen: That God will not haue the death and damnation of a sin∣ner, but rather his life and conuersion. Wherefore wilt thou perish, O Israel? And wherefore wilt thou des∣payre, O sinful flesh? Come to God: Come to his belo∣ued Sonne Christ Iesus: the Master calleth thee, he offe∣reth

thee his mercy; hee promiseth thee forgiuenes: Come thou early, come thou late, if thou come at all, (whether it be at noone day, or at night) thou shalt haue thy penny, as well as hee that came in the mor∣ning. The thiefe on Christs right hand was called the last houre, and came, and cryed to Christ, that hee would remember him. He knocked so hard at the doore of Gods mercy, that Christ promised him that day, to haue the doore of Paradise opened vnto him, and to enter in with him∣selfe. This gate shall bee

open to vs, if we doe as hee did. For it is shut to no man but of himself; neither is it open to any, but by Christ Iesus. If wee beleeue in this Christ Iesus, that he is a Sauiour, and that hee dyed for our sinnes, and did rise againe for our iustifica∣tion, we need not to dread either death or damnation, the gates of hell shall not preuaile against vs: because Christ is our foundation, our corner-stone to leane vnto, our buckler & shield to defend vs from our ene∣mies, our head, our good Shepheard, the Bishop of our soules, our only Master,

and mercifull Redeemer. Let vs therefore be of good cheere: Let vs trust in his mercy, whose merits haue purchased our saluation with God the Father: And so we may with safety of our soules depart from worldly troubles, to heauenly rest; from death, to life; from damnation, to saluation; which God of his goodnes vouchsafe to giue vs in Christ Iesus our Sauiour: to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all ho∣nour, power, and praise, world without end.

Amen.

Notes

• Heb. 13. 8.
• Mat. 11. 28.
• Mat. 9. 12
• Mat. 18. 27
• Rom. 8. 1.
• Mat. 3. 1••.
• Esay 53. 4.
• Mat. 9. 12, 13.
• Luk. 10. 20
• Ioh. 3. 16,
• Mat. 2. 28.
• Gal. 3. 28.
• Luk. 19. 5.
• 1. Cor. 15. 55,
• Iob 19. 25,
• 26,
• Mat. 15. 22
• Luk. 18. 13
• Mat. 8. 13.
• Mar. 5. 23.
• Mat. 8. 25.
• Mat. 10. 33
• Mat. 5. 12.
• Aug. sent. de Poenit.
• Ezec. 18. 32.
• Luk. 23. 42