A medicine for the soule as well as for them that be sick, most necessary in the bytternes of death, and in their last moost daungerous seasons.

¶ An exhortacion to all that professe the name of Ch••ist.

NOw I desire and beseche ••ou for the mercy of god as manye as are named christians, that somtyme

at the last forsakyng this olde hatefull darkenes & errour, you would returne to a more thrifty kynde of lyfe, & heare the whol∣som word of god receiued with most ernest endeuour & holynes of mind, and knocking without ceasse, you would pray vnto the father in heauen through Christ that he would instructe vs, and open vnto vs the true know∣lege of Christ: that vngodlynes and worldly lustes beyng layde aside, we may lyue soberly, rygh¦teously, and deuoutly in this pre¦sent world, loking for that bles∣sed hope and appearance of the glory of the great God and our sauiour Iesus Christ: who hath geuen him selfe for vs, that he might redeme vs frō al iniquitie and make cleane vnto him selfe

a peculier people, a folower of good workes.

The worde of grace, lighte, and all comforte hathe shyned vnto vs by the mighty benefite of god, we haue excellent and verye manye examples in holy scrypture witnessing the incon∣sumable goodnesse, long suffer∣ringe, and mekenesse of god to∣wardes vs: whexeby it maye be sene, howe God wyll not that we be loste, but that we turne and lyue: howe sone also hys mooste iuste wrath is appeased: howe lightly he pardoneth oure deserued punishment, at what tyme we ernestlye repentyng do thinke to amend oure lyfe. We being moued wyth these things brethren, let vs also fle vnto god in al aduersitie, lette vs craue of

him with continual praiers, that all oure sinnes, being mercifully forgeuē, he wold vouchsafe for his derely beloued sonnes sake Iesus Christe, to kepe, nourishe, defend, & comfort vs, & to be spe∣dely at hande wyth his presente helpe in al necessitie. Dauid be∣ing cast into extreme peril, when that for his offēce by the violēce of the plage. 70. thousād mē died wythin a fewe dayes incōtinētly assone as he had resorted vnto God for succoure, openinge hys fault, askyng pardon, beseching god of his mercy, & rearinge vp an aultare in the threshinge flo∣er of Areunah the Iebusite had offered burnte sacrifices & peace offerynges, GOD was appeased with the lande (sayeth the Scip∣ture) and the plage ceassed from Israel. ii. Regum. xxiiii.

By the example of him, you lyke wyse deare brethren confessyng your synnes, call for the grace and mercy of God, rendring vn∣to him an acceptable sacrifice of a penitent and contrite heart, & he wyl be ready with his helpe vnto you, neither wyll geue you ouer at any tyme. In lyke case God sēdyng Ionas doth threttē to distroy Niniuie a cytie moost full of people and most famous: But incontinently after the Ni∣niuites had done repentance at the preachyng of Ionas, God extendyng his pitie vpon them, the trespasse beyng forgeuen he withdrewe the punishement.

The example of these men put before you, brethren, to fo∣lowe. Mystrust not the mercy of God, for not as yet truely the

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