A riche storehouse, or treasurie, for the sicke, full of Christian counsels holesome doctrines, comfortable persuasions, and godly meditations, meete for all Christians, both in sicknesse and in health. Wherevnto is annexed a comfort for poore prisoners, and also an exhortation to repentance. Written in Dutch, by Gaspar Huberine, and Englished by Thomas Godfrie, esquire, late ... fruits and ... at the request of his dangter Marie, wife ... Iohn French, gentleman of the Inner Temple

Fiftly, if the partie lye long in a traunce: For I haue many times seene, that some haue lyen a long time (as it were) in a traunce, and af∣terward haue begunne againe to speake, and haue said, that they very well heard and did vnderstand what hath then beene said vnto them. Therefore they that will, may rehearse

to the sicke, this short exposition of our be∣leefe.

I put all my trust, hope, and comfort, onely in the méere grace and mercie of God, that he onely himselfe can helpe me, and none other creature (howe holy soeuer he be) in all my néede and trou∣ble. And séeing he is my father, I be∣léeue stedfastly, that he with all his hart will gladly helpe me, neuer forsake me neither in this world, nor in the world to come. And because he is almightie God, I beléeue that he can defend me, and kéepe me, from all that is against me: For he onely is strong ynough for mine enimie, by reason of his almightie power. And séeing he is the creatour of heauen and earth, I beléeue he can com∣maund all other creatures, that none of them shall haue any power ouer me to my harme, without his fatherly good will.

Therefore do I looke for onely from this almightie God, father, & creatour, all good things and euerlasting life. For all thinges come onely from him, and

are giuen vnto him: for he will giue himselfe wholy and fully vnto me, with all that he is, and hath with heauen and earth, with al creatures, that they must serue me, and profite me, and further me toward euerlasting life.

I beléeue with all my heart, that Ie∣sus Christ the onely begotten sonne of the father, from the beginning, hath for my sake taken vpon him mans nature, and that he was conceiued of the holy Ghost, and borne of the holy virgin Ma∣rie as a right naturall mother, and that that man is very truly God as an euer∣lasting and vndiuided person of God and man. And that this sonne of God & Marie, our Lord Iesus Christ, hath for me wretched sinner suffered, was for me crucified, and dead. Wherby he hath deliuered me from sinne, from death, and from the euerlasting wrath of God, by his innocent bloud: whiche in his owne person suffered the pangues of death, and hath tasted euerlasting hell, and ouercome it, to the intent that I should be reconciled with God, and be

made Lord ouer al mine enimies. I be∣léeue, that except the death of this sonne our Lord Iesus Christe, I could neuer haue atteined vnto Gods fauour, and my saluation, neither by works, nor by any manner of desert.

I beléeue that Iesus Christ my bro∣ther is risen from death for my righte∣ousnesse, and hath for my sake taken death and hell prisoner, that they can neuer hurt me. For I confesse, that I shuld haue dyed for euer, if Iesus Christ had not come to help me, and taken vp∣on him, as an innocent lamb, my sinne, faults, curse, and euerlasting death, and hath satisfied for me by his passion, and hath taken away the curse for me. I be∣léeue, that he doth daily like a faithfull & mercifull Mediatour, Sauiour, and on∣ly Priest, and Byshop of my soule, ap∣peare and intreate for me.

I beléeue, that Christe with God e∣qually ruleth and fulfilleth all thinges, and that he is of equal power and might in heauen and in earth, Lorde ouer all Lordes, King ouer al Kings, and aboue

all cretures in heauen and in earth, and vnder the earth, aboue death and life, a∣boue sinne and righteousnesse. This King and Lorde shall goe before me in my passion and death, shall hold battell, and fight for me, so that I with him shal be a Lorde ouer all mine enimies, for e∣uer and euer.

I beléeue that Christe crucified, shall come againe at the last day, and shall iudge and condemne those that will not beléeue on him, but will defend me, and all faithfull from the terrible iudgemēt of damnation perpetuall, and say vnto vs, Come ye hyther, ye blessed of my Father, inherite the kingdome, whiche is prepared for you from the beeginning of the worlde, & coet.

I beléeue in the holy Ghost, whiche with the father and the sonne is one ve∣ry God, and is procéeded from the father and the sonne euerlastingly, and yet in one and the same godly being, and na∣ture, an vndiuided person. I beléeue that I by him shall be adorned with faith, as with a liuing, euerlasting, god∣ly

gift and reward raised vp from death made frée from sinne, and in my heart made merrie, comforted, and frée, and safe in conscience. For this is my reioy∣cing, that if I can finde in my hart such witnesse of Gods holy spirite, that then God will be my father, forgiue me my sinne, and reward me with euerlasting life.

I beléeue, that the holy Ghoste will help to beare mine infirmities, and in∣treate for me with vnspeakable sigh∣ings, strengthen me, and light my hart, that I may knowe the excéeding riches, fatherly mercy that he hath giuen me, & rewarded me with, of méere grace, w^t∣out all my deseruinges, onely through Christ his beloued sonne, by whome the father hath rewarded me with those his giftes. But the holy Ghost teacheth me to knowe all these thinges, he kindleth my heart, and lighteneth me, that these giftes come from aboue, as Christe hath promised vs, where he saith, Iohn. 7. He that beleueth in me (as the scripture saith) from his bodie shall flowe streames of liuing

waters.

I beléeue, that there is vpon earth one Christian church, that is the congre∣gation or number, or assemblie, & mée∣ting of all Christians: in which there is one God, one Lord, one holy Ghost, one faith, one baptisme, of which Churche Christ onely is the spouse and husband.

I beléeue, that this Churche is the spirituall body, and that Christ onely is her head. I beléeue, that Christ is the sa∣uiour of this his body and Church, and hath giuen him selfe for her, that he might make her holy, and hath cleansed her through the waterbath of his word, that he may haue for him selfe a speciall congregation, that neither hath spot nor wrinckle, or any other infirmitie, but that she may be holy, and without fault, a piller and foundation of trueth.

I beléeue, that in this Christian con∣gregation, and where so euer it be, that there also is forgiuing of sinnes. There is the kingdome of grace, and right par∣don, and that there is no saluation nor forgiuing of sins, w^tout Christendome.

I beléeue, that no man can be saued, except he be in this congregation and Church, as a liuely member planted in his owne body.

I beléeue, that in this kingdome, there is not only once forgiuing of sinnes, but as oft as we require and aske it. For Christ is such a maister of the hospitall, that doeth nothing else then looke to the sicke, helpe them vp, strengthen them, and maketh them whole, and as Esaie saith, He will not breake a brused reede, nor he will not quench the smoaking flaxe.

I beléeue also the rising of the body, that my body, whiche the wormes shall eate, shall arise againe, euen as it was before. For Christe at the last day shall raise it vppe, according to his promise, where he saith, Iohn. 6. This is the will of him that sent me, that whosoeuer seeth the sonne, and beleeueth on him, shall haue euer∣lasting life, and I will raise him at the last day. And, Whosoeuer eateth of my flesh, and drinketh of my bloud, hath euerlasting life, and I will raise him vp at the last day.

I beléeue, that after this life, there

shal be an euerlasting life, so that I shal liue with Christ for euer, according to his promise, Iohn. 5. where he saith, Ve∣rily verily I say vnto you, who so euer hea∣reth my worde, and beleeueth on him that sent me, he hath euerlasting life, and com∣meth not into iudgment, but he passeth clean through death to life. And, Whosoeuer bele∣ueth on the sonne, he hath euerlasting life. And, Ʋerily verily I say vnto you, if any mā will keepe my word, he shall not see euerlast∣ing death. Item, I am the breade of life, (saith Christ, Iohn. 6.) which is come from heauen, whosoeuer shall eate of this breade, shall liue for euer.

Nowe welbeloued, séeing your time draweth on, stand stedfast vpon the only rocke, Christe our Lorde. Then can no storme, no whirlwinde: yea, hell gates them selues can not remoue nor ouer∣whelme you. For whosoeuer beléeueth vpon our Lord God, shal neuer fall, nor be ouerturned, but shall abide for euer. Therfore call vpon our Lord God with your whole heart, for he is rich ouer all that call vpon him, and he will be nigh

to all them that pray to him, to al them that call vpon him with their heartes, and graunteth all thinges which they that feare God do require, heareth their cry, and helpeth them. Therfore cal vp∣on God the most highest, in the name of Iesus Christe, that he will shewe vnto you his great plentifull mercy, and po∣wre out vpon you in the time of grace, richly his mercy. For séeing that our Lord is the spring it selfe of Gods mer∣cy, and Christ his onely begotten sonne is the pipe & conduit, wherby such plen∣tie of grace and mercy floweth, and is conueyed vnto vs, take yet againe fast hold, in this your extreame néede, of the ouerflowing and floud of Gods grace, specially Iesus Christe, the scrine and casket wherein Gods mercy is locked vp: for Christ is ful of grace and truth, Ioh. 1. For the euerlasting sonne of God hath brought with him such great plen∣tie of grace, that he hath therewith ful∣filled the whole worlde: for heauen and earth is full thereof. And also Christe is full of truth, so that he is not alonly the

truth it selfe, but also meaneth heartily and truly with vs, and will take to him selfe your soule, with great veritie and earnestly. Therfore be of good comfort, that your name is written in the booke of life: you are fully cleansed with the bloud of Christ, and annoynted with the holy Ghost: The same holy spirite assu∣reth your heart, that you also be one of the very children of God. And albeit it doeth not as yet appeare what you be, yet knowe you, that when it shall ap∣peare, then ye shall be like vnto him, Iohn. Chap. 8. For ye shall be parta∣ker of the godly nature. Pet. 2. Chap. 1. specially when Christe our sauiour shall come hither from heauen, and glorifie your miserable body, and make it like vnto his glorified body, after his mighty power and working. Phil. 3. Christe Ie∣sus is the onely refuge of all poore peni∣sent sinners, he onely is your strength, your comfort, hope, and strong tower, in all néede and aduersitie. Therefore goe without feare into the danger of death. Christ, in the twinckling of an eye, be∣ing

your euerlasting king, will plucke you out againe, bring you to light, and make you righteous and liuing. Wher∣fore giue your self ouer valiantly from this life vnto death, and be not afraide, séeing that death hath lost all his might and strength on the faithfull. Christ the victorious conquerer hath taken from death al his strength, so that from hence foorth he can no more hurt, wearie, or deuour any Christian. Wherefore will ye then be dismaide or afraide, for suche a shadow or visar of death? Death may for a litle while roare & whet his téeth, but he can do no more: for Christe hath taken his sting from him, and likewise is Gods euerlasting iudgment, through the Sauiour of the worlde, taken from you. And Christ the only sonne of God, hath appeased the iustice of God, & layde the same farr enough out of your way: So that from hencefoorth you shall ne∣uer be called to appeare before the iudg∣ment seate of GOD, nor you shall not néede to appeare, neither aunswere for your sinne, bicause Iesus your sauiour

hath made you frée from it. Therefore chearefully appeale from the iudgment seate, vnto the throne of mercy, which is Christ your deliuerer, call earnestly vpon the stoole of grace, whervpon gods mercy resteth and dwelleth in Christe Iesus, the sonne of the highest, therfore can no complaint come against you, ne∣ther sinne, death, hell, nor sathan him selfe. Christ is the true Lion of the tribe of Iuda, which for your sakes hath sub∣dued vtterly all your enimies, wiped & blotted out all sinne, and swallowed vp death: so there remaineth now no more, but that the body must suffer and abide only one litle shiuering and shrinking, after that you shal be perfectly safe and sure. Fight therefore manfully as a va∣liant Rutter or Capteine, against the dragon and hell gates, then will Christ with the hoast & armie of heauen, méete you, and receiue your soule, to carrie it with him into euerlasting ioy and feli∣citie. Amen.

Notes

• ••ohn. 7.
• ••ohn. 6.
• Iohn. 5.
• Iohn. 6.
• ••••hn. 1.
• Iohn. 8.
• 2. Pet. 1.
• Phil. 3.