Of Luther, My heavenly Father, God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, & God of all comfort, I give thee thanks that thou hast revealed unto me thy son Jesus Christ, whom ⟨p. 165⟩I have believed, whom I have professed, whom I have loved, whom I have praised, whom the Bishop of Rome and the whole company of the wicked persecuteth and revileth. I pray thee my Lord Jesus Christ receive my poor soul: my heavenly father, though I be taken from this life, and this body of mine is to be laid down, yet I know certainly, that I shall remain with thee for ever, neither shall any be able to pull me out of thy hand. Of Hooper, O Lord Jesus son of David have mercy on me and receive my soul. Of Annas Burgius, Forsake me not O Lord, least I forsake thee. Of Melanchthon, If it be the will of God I am willing to die, and I beseech him that he will grant me a joyful departure. Of Calvin. 1. I held my tongue because thou lord hast done it. 2. I mourned as a dove. 3. Lord thou grindest me to powder ⟨p. 166⟩but it sufficeth me because it is thy hand, Of Peter Martyr, that his body was weak, but his mind was well: that he acknowledged no life or salvation but only in Christ, who was given of the father to be a redeemer of mankind: and when he had confirmed this by testimony of Scripture, he added, This is my faith in which I will die: and God will destroy them that teach otherwise. This done, he shook hands with all and said, Farewell my brethren and dear friends. It were easy to quote more examples, but these few may be in stead of many: & the sum of all that godly men speak in death is this: Some enlightened with a prophetical spirit foretell things to come, as the Patriarchs Jacob and Joseph did;1 and there have bin some which by name have testified who should very shortly ⟨p. 167⟩came after them, and who should remain alive, and what should be their condition: some have showed a wonderful memory of things past, as of their former life, and of the benefits of God; & no doubt it was given them to stir up holy affections and thanksgiving to God: some again rightly judging of the change of their present estate for a better, do rejoice exceedingly, that they must be translated from earth to paradise: as Babylas Martyr of Antioch, when his head was to be chopped off,2 Return (saith he) O My soul unto thy rest: because the lord hath blessed thee:
Of Luther, My heauenly Father, God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ, & God of all comfort, I giue thee thanks that thou hast reuealed vnto me thy son Iesus Christ, whom ⟨p. 165⟩I haue beleeued, whom I haue professed, whome I haue loued, whome I haue praised, whome the Bishop of Rome and the whole companie of the wicked persecuteth and reuileth. I pray thee my Lord Iesus Christ receiue my poore soule: my heauenly father, though I be taken from this life, and this bodie of mine is to be laid downe, yet I know certē ly, that I shall remaine with thee for euer, neither shall any be able to pull me out of thy hand. Of Hooper, O Lord Iesus son of Dauid haue mercie on me and receiue my soule. Of Annas Burgius, Forsake me not O Lord, least I forsake thee. Of Melancthon, If it be the will of God I am willing to die, and I beseech him that he will graunt me a ioyfull departure. Of Calvine. 1. I held my tongue because thou lord hast done it. 2. I mourned as a doue. 3. Lord thou grindest me to powder ⟨p. 166⟩but it suffi•ceth me because it is thy hand, Of Peter Martyr, that his body was weake, but his minde was well: that hee acknowledged no life or saluation but only in Christ, who was giuen of the father to bee a redeemer of mankinde: and when hee had confirmed this by testimonie of Scripture, he added, This is my faith in which I will die: and God will destroy them that teach otherwise. This done, he shooke hāds with all and said, Farewell my brethren and deare friends. It were easie to quote more examples, but these fewe may bee in stead of many: & the summe of al that godlymē speake in death is this: Some enlightned with a prophetical spirit foretell things to come, as the Patriarkes Iacob and Ioseph did;1 and there haue bin some which by name haue testified who should very shortly ⟨p. 167⟩came after them, and who should remaine aliue, and what should be their condition: some haue shewed a wonderfull memorie of things past, as of their former life, and of the benefits of God; & no doubt it was giuen them to stirre vp holy affections and thanksgiuing to God: some againe rightly iudging of the change of their present estate for a better, doe reioyce exceedingly, that they must be translated from earth to paradise: as Babylas Martyr of Antioch, when his head was to be chopped off,2 Returne (saith he) O My soule vnto thy rest: because the lord hath blessed thee:
- 1Gen. 50, 24.
- 2Ps. 11 6, 7.8.
