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.

Two Examples prouoking.

VVOrks are of more worth thē words, and the life of any person, especially of a Preacher, is more regarded then his Doctrine: the reason is, be∣cause mē are more moued by Examples which they see with their eyes, then by naked and bare Precepts, which they heare with their eares: For wee count words, bee they neuer so good, but a lip-labour, or as a blast of winde, that entreth in at the one eare, and passeth out at the o∣ther.

When the old Crab said to the yong, daughter, goe forward (for the na∣ture of the Crab is to goe backward:) The yong an∣swered againe, I prae, se∣quar: that is, Goe you be∣fore (you are my elder) and I will follow after. As the old Cock crowes, the yong learnes: and all the world is bent to follow the examples of their elders or betters. Therefore we cōmonly say, Such a Ma∣ster, such a Man: Such a Fa∣ther, such a Sonne: Such a Mother, sach a Daughter: A good Iack makes a good Gill: a good Husband, a good wife:

a good Father, a good Sonne: a good Mother, a good Daugh∣ter. A vicious Father can∣not make a vertuous Son: a sluttish Mother can ne∣uer make a cleanly Daugh∣ter: a rude Mistresse shall hardly make a mannerly Maid: neither can a negli∣gent or ignorant Schoole∣master make a diligent or learned Scholler. I will not deny, but words may somtimes perswade a man to beare the burthen of aduersitie, and to be pati∣ent therein: but examples of others doe more moue vs.

We reade in prophane

Histories of diuers, which for their constancy in their profession, and for their patience in affliction, haue willingly suffered many torments.

Some haue beene bur∣ned by Arrians.

Some stripped naked, to the shame of the world.

Some hewed in pieces and cast to Hogges.

But my purpose is not to name or recite any out of prophane Authors. We haue Christians good store (God bee thanked) that haue in their life time both learned, and borne the burthen of Christs

Crosse, which haue be∣gunne with Christs crosse from the A. B. C. continued vnder it all their life long, and ended with it at their death.

Among infinite exam∣ples, I will rehearse but some speciall persons, whereof I haue warrant in the Word.

First, I will begin with [unspec 1] old Abraham, the father of the faithfull. When Abra∣ham, that good old man, was commanded by Gods owne mouth to offer vp his onely Sonne Isaac, his greatest ioy vnder God in this world: for so sayth the

Text; Take thine onely Son,* 1.1 whom thou louest, and there∣fore his present death must needs be the fathers griefe: It is a wonder to see how faithfully and patiently he went about that woful worke: Hee riseth vp early, saddled his Asse, and went to the place appointed: hee doth neither stagger nor study at the matter; nei∣ther doth he murmure or grudge against God, say∣ing, Is this Gods promise, that said hee would blesse all Nations in my seede? Hath he giuen me a sonne past expectation in my old dayes; and shall I now go

cut his throate with mine owne hands? I would to God I had neuer begotten him. How can God ful∣fill his promise to mee? No, no, wee must debarre all Howes? and Cans? if we haue to deale with him, with whom nothing is vn∣possible. Neither must we match mans reason, with Gods wisedome. And therefore Abraham makes no doubt, but regarding Gods will, maketh haste with his sonne, to the place appointed, without stay or delay. And there he binds his obedient sonne, hand and foote, stretching forth

his owne hand with the knife to cut his throate: But that good God, who is alwayes at hand in our extremities, sent forth his Angell to restraine that bloudy fact; who called vnto him from heauen, saying; Abraham, Abra∣ham:* 1.2 Stay thy hand, lay not thine hand vpon the Child for any worlds good. For now* 1.3 I know that thou fearest God. And therefore hee cryed vnto him the second time from Heauen, and said, By my selfe I haue sworne* 1.4 [unspec 16] (saith the Lord) I wil mul∣tiply thy seede as the Starres of Heauen, and as the sand

which is vpon the Sea shore, &c. Let old Abraham therefore, for his faith and patience, be set in the fore∣front to leade the way.

Well, who shall bee* 1.5 next? Surely some of his seede, but they are innu∣merable as the Starres of Heauen; and therefore I must skip a great number, or else weary my selfe in writing, and you in rea∣ding or hearing. Oh, re∣member now another old Abraham, or at leastwise one of his seede; whose pietie and patience, nei∣ther man, nor the Diuell could moue, do what they

could. And who is that, I pray you? Wee will fol∣low him by Gods grace, if wee may but know his name.

It is iust Iob, one that fea∣red* 1.6 God, and eschewed euill. Whose mouth is able to vtter the suffering and pa∣tience of Iob, the mirrour of meekenes, who hath the name at this day, and shall haue to the end of the world, of patient Iob? Neither hath he his name for nought, for he well de∣serueth it: who being sud∣denly cast downe from the highest top of earthly felicitie, to the very dust

and bottome of calamity: when God had taken away his Oxen and Asses, a great part of his wealth: when he had burnt vp his Sheepe and Seruants with celestiall fire: when he had taken away his Camels by the Chaldeans, and his children by sodaine death: when the Messengers came hastily with these heauy newes, and that, thicke and threefold, one in the necke of another; so that this godly man could not haue any time to breathe himselfe in, God heaping losse vpon losse, and sorrow vpon sor∣row;

and that in fearfull manner:

Notwithstanding all these calamities: What doth this Man of God? What bee his words? or what answere giueth he to the Messengers in this his misery? Doth he despayre of Gods goodnes? Doth hee grudge at his losses? Doth he fret and fume in himselfe? Doth he chide the Messengers for bring∣ing so bad tidings? Doth hee rage, or blaspheme God? No, no: Iob did no∣thing, spake nothing, ima∣gined nothing, vnfitting or vnseemely a patient and

perfect person. In all this* 1.7 did not Iob sinne, nei∣ther doth he charge God foo∣lishly, as the wicked doe: But hee humbled himselfe, fell downe to the earth, and worshipped. And then hee cryed, and said: The Lord hath giuen, and the Lord hath taken it: Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Thus this innocent and iust man is content to sucke vp his owne sorrow in silence; confessing God to be gra∣cious, albeit he had laid his heauy hand vpon him and his: for after all losses and crosses, Iob himselfe was smitten with sore

Byles, from the sole of his foote, vnto his crowne: Hee sate in sorrow vpon the dunghill: his Wife al∣so* 1.8 rebuking him, who* 1.9 should haue relieued him. Neuerthelesse, Iob regar∣ded* 1.10 not her words, but re∣maineth righteous, and saith, Thou speakest like a [unspec 10] foolish woman. What? Shall we receiue good at the hand of God, and not receiue euill? As though he should say, Shall wee taste of the sweet, and not of the sowre?

Shall wee alwayes bee merry, and neuer sorrie? alwayes laugh, and neuer

weepe? Should wee al∣wayes liue in health, and neuer bee sicke? Alwayes haue plenty, and neuer feele penury? Then should we be like Angels in hea∣uen, free from all aduer∣sities; and not like men on earth, subiect to many mi∣series.

Behold heere a plaine picture of patience; take him for an ensample of suffering aduersitie, and of long patience. His suffe∣ring was intolerable; his patience vnspeakable; and, except Christs, incompa∣rable. Let no man there∣fore excuse himselfe, and

say, I cannot be quiet, I cannot forgiue, I cannot be patient; The iniury of∣fered is so great: Such slanderous words, & hard dealing, is able to prouoke any man to impatiencie, if he were a Saint. Soft a little (good Brother) stay thy selfe: Remember iust Iob, let him bee an en∣sample to thee. I pray thee, had not hee an oc∣casion of impatiencie? Yes truely, and of vtter blasphemie, had not Gods grace preuented mans strength. Iob had the whole world, Sun, Moone, and Starres against him:

heauen and earth against him. For first and for∣most, God himself seemed for a season to forsake him, and to haue no care of him. The Diuell in the meane season neuer cea∣sed to tempt him, and that in sundry sorts. His Wife that lay in his bo∣some, and should haue bound vp his head, and comforted him; shee dis∣dained him, and vpbrai∣ded him euen with his good deeds. Shee coun∣selled him to renounce God, and to blaspheme him euen to his face.

What should I speake

more of this man? With∣in him, he had heauinesse of heart; without him, his kindred and friends dis∣couraging him; on euery side him, signes of sorrow. His Goods were spoiled, his Cattell destroyed, his Children sodainely killed, his owne body pitifully plagued, and no whole part of him from top to toe free from filthy sores and Byles: which way so euer hee turned him, hee could finde no rest, but wallowed in woe, and lay in extreme misery: Not on soft Downe, but on the stinking dunghill,

tossing and tumbling his loathsome and blistered body in the ashes, scraw∣ling and scraping his scur∣uy and scabbed skin with potsheards. O miserable man! O meeke minde! O wofull wight! O rufull and pitifull sight! And O spite∣ful Serpent, what hast thou done? whom hast thou stinged, and so dolefully wounded? Doest thou know whom? Couldest thou finde no other to spit thy spitefull poyson a∣gainst, but iust Iob; and ho∣nest man, an vpright man both in the sight of God, and man; the singular Ser∣uant

of God, and the pa∣tientest man that euer the earth did beare?

O cruell and cursed Wife, where is thy natu∣rall affection towards so louing and godly a Hus∣band? And O vnnaturall Cousins, & fained friends, where is your comfort and compassion towards your poore afflicted Kinsman? But O iust Iob! O constant creature! O perfect pi∣cture of long patience! In all this did not Iob sinne with his lips, but manfully brideled his affections, committing himselfe and his crosse, to him that sent

it, and suffered it. And so ought wee to doe in all extremities, & miseries, be it of body or minde, losse of goods, losse of friends, losse of lands, or losse of life; which is so deare and sweet to some, that I feare, they neuer looke for any other life; they are so wed∣ded to the world, and the vanitie thereof, as it may easily appeare by their im∣patiencie, if God deale with them, as he did with his Seruant Iob: that is, if hee doe but once touch their goods or bodies ne∣uer so little.

VVe reade also of god∣ly [unspec 3]

Tobias, notwithstanding* 1.11 his innocent life, his truth, almes-deeds, iustice and friendly goodwill in bury∣ing the dead, with perill of his owne life: Yet for all that, he was led captiue to Niniue, where hee was sought to bee slaine, and had all his goods confis∣cate and spoiled: So that in heauinesse of heart, and sorrow of soule, hee was forced to weepe. Yet for* 1.12 all this, he continued con∣stant in his goodnes, made graues, buried the dead, if not by day, yet by night; patiently suffering the mockes and taunts of his

spitefull neighbours, and nothing fearing death, in so good a cause; but meekely abode the repro∣ches of his owne Wife, who cast him in the teeth, saying, Where are thine almes, and thy righteousnes? This moued Tobias no* 1.13 deale, but hee praised God, and gaue himselfe to Prayer, confessed his sinnes, and most worthily in all these assaults, acknowledgeth Gods iustice, his mercy, and truth.

There bee infinite o∣thers, Men, Women, Old and Yong; of all sorts, and of all ages and de∣grees,

which being simple and silly sheepe (and yet the faithfull seruants of GOD) haue had their bloud sought and suckt; whose milde mindes, the wicked haue vexed; whose godly conuersation, they haue falsely slandered; whose liues they long lay in wait for; and whose bodies in the end, they haue most maliciously murthered, racked and tormented, and that with∣out all mercy, and mea∣sure: As Abel, Esau, Ie∣remie, &c.

But I will not trouble the gentle Reader, nor

weary the attentiue Hea∣rer, with many mo exam∣ples. I will therefore passe ouer the Old Testament, and come to the New, and there among many, set downe one or two, for our further instruction.

And here I may not [unspec 4] forget, neither omit the pietie and patience of Saint Stephen, whose ex∣ample of suffering, may bee a glasse to looke our selues in.

This holy man, and Martyr of God, when he should bee slaine of the Iewes, and cruelly stoned to death, what doth he?

Doth hee reuile his ene∣mies? Doth hee vvith∣stand his persecutors? or doth hee blaspheme his Maker? No, no, He pati∣ently taketh his Martyr∣dome. He doth not curse or desire vengeance from heauen to light vpon his Aduersaries: but most humbly falleth downe vp∣on his knees, praying for his persecutors, and say∣ing, Lord, lay not this sinne* 1.14 to their charge.

Behold heere an exam∣ple of a witnesse, and true Professor of Christ Iesus; a Martyr of such mode∣stie and meekenesse, as

seldome or neuer hath bin seene.

This Disciple had both learned and recorded his Masters lesson: Resist not* 1.15 euill, but loue your enemies: Blesse them that curse you: Doe good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute you. See how neere this man followeth his Masters manners. Christ cryeth in the mid∣dest of his enemies: Fa∣ther, forgiue them, they wot not what they doe. Stephen cryeth in the middest of his Stoners, Lord, lay not this sinne to their charge.

Christ said in his Passi∣on,

Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit. Ste∣phen* 1.16 said in his stoning, Lord Iesu, receiue my Spirit. Christ beeing crucified, meekely gaue vp the Ghost: Stephen being sto∣ned, [unspec 60] sweetly fell on sleepe. Here the man followed the Master at heeles, yea, euen to death. Well, in the extremitie of their suf∣ferings, they both haue pa∣tience; they both pray; they both forgiue; they both resigne themselues and their soules, to him that smiteth and healeth. I say no more, but God grant wee may tread in

Stephens steps, and doe as he did, and then wee shall haue that hee had, that is, in the end of our suffering heere on earth, wee shall haue heauen opened vnto vs, see the glory of God, and* 1.17 Iesus standing at the right hand of God.

But what should I stand [unspec 5] longer to repeat the ex∣amples of men, who are mortall? if I should pro∣ceede, I should be weary in writing, and you in rea∣ding the examples of those which were neuer weary of suffering. There re∣maineth one Prophet: VVhat, did I say a Pro∣phet?

Yea, and more then a Prophet, of whom all the Prophets haue pro∣phesied: The Prince of Prophets, the Prince of Peace, and the Prince of Patience: VVho as he is most commendable, euen so he is incomparable. I neede not to name him, he was named of the An∣gell in his mothers womb, before he was borne into this sinfull world. You know whom I meane: the King of Glory, the Head of the Church, the Saui∣our of the VVorld, Christ Iesus the innocent Lambe of God, who patiently

suffered death for our sins: Of whom S. Peter repor∣teth, saying, Christ suffered* 1.18 for vs, leauing vs an exam∣ple, that we should follow his steps: VVho being his Fa∣thers best Beloued, in whom* 1.19 his soule was well pleased, yet suffered hee continuall crosses. He that did many good deeds, suffered many euill. He suffered the Di∣uell to tempt him, his owne Disciple to betray him, the Iewes to deride him, the malicious to blas∣pheme him, and his ene∣mies to slander him.

Againe, beeing spitted vpon, beaten backe and

side, buffeted on his face with fists, whipped on his bare body, cloathed in purple, crowned vvith thorne, &c. hee behaued himselfe as meekely as the Innocent Lamb, or shiftles sheepe vnder the hand of the shearer. His aduersa∣ries cry alowd: Cruoifie him, Crucifie him: Christ crieth as fast, Forgiue them, forgiue them. They cry a∣gainst him: Hee prayeth for them. Hee that might haue commanded all the Angels and Saints in hea∣uen, and haue had them at a beck to reuenge his quarrell, and defend his

innocencie; was so farre from requiting wrong, that hee sharpely rebuked the rash enterprise of Pe∣ter, that drew his sword, and gaue but one blowe; and hee healeth the partie whom he neuer wounded. Hee cured the vnthanke∣full▪ he gaue place to those that laid in wait for him; and refused not to kisse the venemous lips of Iudas that betrayed him. Hee despised no mans person, were hee neuer so poore; he refused no mans house, were it neuer so homely; and yet for all this, his doc∣trine was contemned, and

his person persecuted. He that giueth victorie to those that ouercome, was beaten on the face vvith rods. He that gaue hea∣uenly and wholesome meate to others, had bit∣ter gall offred to himselfe: He that gaue the water of life, had vineger giuen to drinke: He that was Inno∣cencie it selfe, was coun∣ted among the wicked: Hee that healed others, was wounded himselfe: Hee that was the Truth, was condemned by false witnes: And he that must iudge all men, was iudged of man.

And when his blame∣lesse and innocent life drew neere to an end, and he ready to suffer a most shameful and bitter death, the death of the Crosse; How meekely he tooke it: how modestly hee answe∣reth: how patiently hee suffereth: how feruently he prayeth; and how freely he forgiueth: it is a matter worthy to be noted, and printed in the perpetuall memory of man, and to be an example to all posteri∣ties.

Art thou a Christian or follower of Christ in his crosse? Art thou slande∣red

and handled as hee was? Then follow him, looke vpon him, and take him for an ensample of suf∣fering aduersitie, and of long patience. Hee was not crowned before hee was crucified, and thou must not be crowned be∣fore the victory. If the world be iniurious to thee, Christ is a rewarder, cleaue to him, forsake thy sinne, and take vp his crosse and follow him. Forsake the world, and feare neither the Diuell, nor affliction; set Christ naked, whipped, crow∣ned and crucified continu∣ally

before thine eyes. See how hee was bought and sold, hated, slandered, and reiected of his owne.

The Iewes cry, Away with him, let him bee cruci∣fied: that is, let him bee tormented and hanged. What euill hath hee done, saith the Iudge? I finde no fault in the man. He hath committed nothing wor∣thy of death, I take him to bee an innocent or sim∣ple man; Let vs therefore whip him, and send him packing. O no (say they) if thou let him goe, thou art not Caesars friend. The Iudge seeming still to fa∣uour

his innocencie, ma∣keth another offer: You haue (saith he) a custome to let one prisoner loose vnto you: We haue one Barabbas who is in for a Bird, and fast in hold; a Thiefe, a Murtherer, and a seditious fellow: yee shall hang him, and save Christ aliue. Ah no (say they) Barabbas is a good fellow: Deliuer him, and Crucifie Christ.

Well, if there bee no remedy (saith Pilate) I will* 1.20 wash my hands here before you all, in witnes that I am innocent from the shedding of the bloud of this Iust

Man. This protestation of the Iudge, and cleering of Christ, might haue bri∣dled them and their affe∣cted crueltie. But alas, they were as the world is now, and euer will be, peruerse and wilfull. No reason could rule them, no coun∣sell could moue them, no words could perswade them. They runne head∣long on their owne de∣struction, saying, His bloud* 1.21 be vpon vs, and on our chil∣dren.

The more that Pilate seemed to fauour him, the more they seeke meanes to murder him. To be short,

they haue their desire, they preuaile in their suite, The Sonne of Man is deliuered vp into the hands of sinners; the Sheep to the Wolfe; the Lambe to the Lyon: the wicked worke their will with him, there is no way but one with them: suffer he must, die he must, and he is content to sub∣mit himselfe with all mo∣destie that may be. It is no asking any reason or cause wherefore. Vnreaso∣nable men can yeeld no reason of any thing they doe, but that which is ty∣rannicall; Sic volo, sic iubeo, &c. that is, So we will, and

so we command: let will in place of reason stand. If hee* 1.22 were not an euill doer, wee would not haue deliuered him vnto thee. Well, well, be∣hold the end of this dea∣ling: In the meane season, they take him, they blind∣fold him, they bob him and box him about the eares, they spet in his face, they wagge their heads, they make mowes and iest at him, they make them∣selues sport with him, tos∣sing him to and fro, as it were a Tennis ball.

All these reproches he patiently abideth: he run∣neth not from them: he of∣freth

no strokes: he giueth them not one foule word. At last, when his enemies had euen wearied them∣selues in their wickednes, they proceede forward, they cause him to carrie his owne crosse on his weake and feeble body to be hanged on. After sen∣tence of condemnation, he is brought to the place of execution. He is crow∣ned with Thorne, which was himself the Crowned King of the Heauen, which came to crush the sharpe and bitter thornes of our sinnes, and crowneth Mar∣tyrs with eternall Glory.

Hee is fast bound hand and foote, which freeth o∣thers from their fetters. He is pearced heart and head, which healeth the sinnes of the people, and saueth their soules from destruction.

I would aske one que∣stion of thee (gentle Rea∣der:) What could these villanous Iewes, & sworne enemies of our Sauiour Christ Iesus haue done more against him, if hee had beene the vilest crea∣ture vpon the earth; the arrantest thiefe in the world; or the greatest di∣uell in Hell? I admonish

thee therefore (good Bro∣ther) apply Christs suffe∣ring to thy soule, and fol∣low his patience.

Now what saith Christ to this geare? or what dooth Hee to his Tor∣mentors? Doth hee goe roundly to worke with them? or doth he handle them in their kinde? that is, Doth he cause the earth to open her mouth and swallow them vp aliue, as vnworthy men to liue any longer therein? Or doth hee command fire from Heauen to destroy them as they well deserued? Or doth hee of himselfe con∣demne

them presently to hell fire, as he could if he would?

No verily, no such mat∣ter, hee suffereth them thus farre forth: He bles∣seth, and yet curseth not: he seeketh still to saue, and not to destroy.

O mercifull Christ! O Prince of Peace, and pat∣terne of patience! VVhat man is hee this day that beareth breath in his body (if he be flesh and bloud) that is able to suffer such torment, without offering any stroke or one froward word? Christ doth nei∣ther, which might and

could haue done both: but he came to suffer, and not to smite: for his death gaue life to his enemies; yea, they that shed the bloud of Christ, were sa∣ued by the bloud of Christ. Such was his loue, such was his patience, that he suffered all these things for our sake. His Righte∣ousnes couered our filthi∣nesse; his labour, lightned our loade; his shame, was our ioy; and his damna∣tion, was our Saluation.

But O stiffenecked Iewes! O cruell Crucifiers! O corrupt Iudge! O wicked world, that wrought this

woe vpon him, that suffe∣red for thy sinne! Is this thy thankefulnesse for so great a benefit? Is this thy reward for the worke of Saluation?

Tell mee one thing, but tell me truely. Hast thou any reason to wound him, that healed thee; to binde him, that loosed thee; to condemne him, that sa∣ued thee; to deride him, that redeemed thee; and to hang him that helped thee? Let Heauen, let Earth, let Hell it selfe cry out against this crueltie. O wicked Nation! O proud Citie Ierusalem, and O in∣nocent

Christ! his death declared his innocencie. The earth trembled there∣at: the Elements were troubled: the Starres were abashed: yea, all the pow∣ers of Heauen were mo∣ued: the Moone gaue no light. the Sunne shined not: but darknes closed vp the light of the day, lest the Sunne should bee for∣ced to behold the bloudy and cruell fact of the Iewes. The Temple rent in twaine: the stones claue in sunder: the Graues ope∣ned, and the dead bodies did rise: insomuch that the beholders of his Passion,

and some of those which consented to his death, and wished that his bloud might light vpon them, and their children, are now so wounded in heart, and pricked in conscience, that they now change their minde, sing a new song, and confesse indeed hee was the Sonne of God. They now become blanke, which before were so bold. They now accuse them∣selues, which before con∣demned Christ. They now wish him aline againe with a wring by the eare, which before crucified him. They now lament,

which before laughed. They now mourne, which before mocked. They now knocke their brests full of heauines, with teares in their eyes, water on their cheekes, and sorrow in their hearts, which before shaked their heads, spet in his face, called him wretch, and cryed fie vpon him. I will say no more, eyther of Christ, either of any Prophet before him, or Martyr that shall come af∣ter, as of late there haue been many: but conclude all that haue beene, are, or shall bee, in one round Ring, seemely Circle, and

sure Seale. viz. Qui patitur, vincit: that is, That man whatsoeuer he be, that suf∣fereth aduersitie patient∣ly, in the end hee ouer∣commeth and getteth the victory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 22. 2.
• * 1.2

  11,
• * 1.3

  12,
• * 1.4

  15,
• * 1.5

  ••.
• * 1.6

  Iob 1. 1.
• * 1.7

  Iob 1. 22.
• * 1.8

  Iob 2. 7,
• * 1.9

  8,
• * 1.10

  9,
• * 1.11

  Tob. 1. 3.
• * 1.12

  Tob. 2. 7.
• * 1.13

  Tob. 3. 1.
• * 1.14

  Act. 7. 60.
• * 1.15

  Mat. 5.
• * 1.16

  Act 7. 59.
• * 1.17

  Act. 7. 55.
• * 1.18

  1. Pet. 2. 21
• * 1.19

  Mat. 3. 17.
• * 1.20

  Mat. 27. 24
• * 1.21

  Mat. 27. 25
• * 1.22

  Ioh. 18. 30.