FRAVNCIS SPERA▪ a Lawier and famous aduocate, borne in the Castell of Citadell: a man aboute fiftie ye­res He had a te­die mynde to vnderstande y ^e scriptures. of age, hauyng a wife and .xi. children, worldly goodes, offices, and promotions aboundauntly: After he had receiued the giftes of the holie ghoste, through the vn­speakeable grace of GOD, and had fully knowne the Lorde Iesu Christ our [...]a [...]i­our, by the reuealyng of the whole scrip­ture, and being illuminate with the light of the holy ghost, did confesse Christ one­ly, and preached that wee had saluation▪ giuen vs onely through Christ the sonne of God, and that by Christ onely we wer iustified, and ought not to putte affiaunce in any workes or merites of men [...] and [Page] yet not withstandyng, ought to doe good workes, to the ende we might obey God, and liue iustly and godlie. And finally, af­ter hée had attayned aboundaunt know­ledge of the trueth, through faith, by the manifest testimonies of the holy Scrip­ture, tastyng in the meane season in his har [...], with much quietnesse, pleasure, and comfort, the giftes of the holy Ghoste, a [...] faith▪ hope, charitie, méekenesse, gentle­nesse, and all maner of quietnesse and tranquillitie of the minde, as he that d [...] possesse▪ Christe, and had the fruition and pleasure of Christe: this wretched m [...]n (alas too too wretched) beyng, through the pricking for ward of his enimies, sommo [...] ned to appéere at [...]eny [...] before the Legate of the chiefe Bishop, and there being accused of her [...]e, grieuously [...]aunted and threatned: & [...] constrained through f [...]re, either of corporal death, or con [...]is [...] ti [...] of his goodes▪ vtterly abiured and denied the doctrine whiche hée tofore ha [...] preached, hauing commaundement to returne into his countrie, and [...]exan [...] hi [...] professed doctrine, in the place of Cita [...] wher he before had manifestly to [...] [...]ort, declared and taught the same, and [Page] there to contente the people and Mini­ [...]ers of the Church, with a minifest and [...]lempne recantation▪

This wretched man béeyng dismissed from the Legate, and prepared to his [...]urney to execute the commaundement of late giuen hym, concernyng his abiu­yng, began diuersly to reason with hym­ [...]elfe, whether he should returne to Ci­ [...]adell, to confirme his recantation: either [...]houlde forsake all his goodes, and goe to The holie ghost inspi­ryng. [...]me other place to repent. As he went in his iourney, the spirite of God cōtinually [...]ame into his mynde, and the pricke of Cōscience is a thousande witnesses. [...]onscience prouoking him to repentance, and councellyng hym alwaies not to goe [...]o abiure: but rather to forsake Wife Children, and the whole world: yea, and [...]o suffer present death▪ rather than to ab­ [...]re and recante the truthe whiche he [...]newe.

The spirit said, Frauncis, [...]e ware least The [...]utter in remem­braunce of our inwarde thoughtes. [...]hou confirme the Recantation whiche [...]o [...] heretofore haste made, take h [...]ede [...]ast thou confirme and [...]eale with the s [...] ­ [...]et of thy hart, that Epistle which thou [...]st signed with thy simple hande: thou▪ Christian li­bertie. [...]t frée yet Frauncis, and haste escaped▪ [Page] out of the handes of men, forsake not the Doe not be­come the ser­uauntes of menne. truth▪ stand and fall no more, repent, and God wil haue mercy vpon thée: the fraile­nesse of the flesh hath moued thée to this, beware least the wickednesse of the spi­rite come after. All these thinges and ma­nie The war­nyng of the spirite. other (as Frauncis tolde vs) did the Spirite, and his conscience continually bea [...]e in his heade, the whiche spirite be­yng at lengthe reiected, and his hearte beyng hardened, he decréed with himself, to preferre his wife, children, offices, pro­motions and temporall goodes, before the truth which he knewe, and to confirme his abiuration which he before had made, that he might inioy his temporal goodes, in worldly quietnes. And vpon this pur­pose, entring into the towne of Citadell, offered hymselfe to the Maior (who was aduertised of the same, before by letters) to be ready to satisfie the people and con­gregation, and to abiure the doctrine whiche he had preached before: and thi [...] d [...]n, he departed home, the same night came to hym a Priest bringyng hym a certaine Copie of the recantation whiche be should make the next daie before al the people, and the same night, the wretch [...] [Page] man tooke no sléepe: the next mornyng followyng beyng Sunday when Masse was done: this Frauncis rising vp did ab­ [...]ure the doctrine whiche hee before had mainteined, before the whole multitude of the people▪ whiche he reported to be a­bout the nūber of two thousand persons, in the presence of the Maior, officers, and other his friendes, and there did recant al whiche he before had taught, confirmyng Merites, af­fianceof wor­kes, freewill Purgatorie, intercessions of Sainctes Pardons of Bishops, sa­tisfactiōs. &c▪ the merites of men, affiaunce of workes, free will, place of purgatorie, intercession of sainctes, pardons, satisfactions: and fi­nally, all things which he before had con­futed by the testimonies of scripture, af­firmyng with open protestation, that he did erre and was deceiued, but now was returned to the waie of light and truthe, and into the bosome of the holy Churche of Rome.

This done, he was appointed to paie a [...]ne of thirtie Crownes, of the whiche he paide fiue to the Priest, that brought him the Copie of his recantation, the other xxv. he gaue out of hande for a receptacle or Tabernacle of the Sacrament of the Auter. And so was dismissed of the ma­gistrate, and was restored to his wife, [Page] children, goodes, and promotions. Ano [...] Whosoeuer denieth me be fore men, I will also bee ashamed of hym. this most wretched man and most vnluckie of al other, perceiued the terrible sentence of the righteous GOD, to lighte [...] and glister against him: and did most euidentlie knowe that the wrath of the Almightie God was fallen vppon his head▪ By and by he lost all the giftes of the holy Dooe not make the ho­lie ghost sor­rowfull. Ghost, and Christ was separated from hym: All the benefites of Christ, all comfort vanished awaie▪ his heart was filled with hatred, confusion, cursing, and blasphemie. And immediatly came in his mind a heape and remembraunce of all the iniquities and faultes, from the dai [...] of his natiuity What should I say mor [...] ▪ By and by christ departed from him, and the most swéete peace of Christe. And i [...] their place came death, Sathan, horro [...] feare, confusion and dispaire.

And thus this wretched person conti­nuyng in this most miserable estate, by [...] He recanted thē in Maie. space of sixe Monethes, came at the lēgth (in these latter daies) with his wife children and houshold vnto Padua, when daily falling into worse estate and wors [...] and striken continually with greater [...] fusion, feelyng also the terrible indig [...] [Page] [...]n of God against him, fell at the length to vtter desperation. And so laye doune his bed, without any feuer, léesing all [...]e vse of his body, except his spéeche: nei­ [...]er desiryng, nor eatyng any thyng, nei­ [...]er digestyng that whiche was put into [...]m by force, nor voidyng any thyng, but [...]ely drinking, and troubled with an vn­ [...]iable thirst, as though he would haue [...]onke vp Hister and Nilus But in coun [...]aunce Hister & Nilus be greate ri­uers. and visage, well liking, in mind [...]d vnderstandyng, most constant, moste [...]ong of remembraunce, neuer repea­ [...]ng one worde twise, receiuyng all that [...]ne vnto hym, and vtteryng learned, [...]aue, and sober communication, that he [...]as condempned by the rightous iudge­ [...]ent of God, that he was already in hel, continuall torment, that he was voide [...]d destitute of all hope and fauour of GOD, that he ought not▪ to looke for the [...]ercie of God, for that hee had sinned a­ [...]inst the holy ghost, and that his fault [...]s vnpardonable, that the merites of He [...]led th [...] knowē truth for the peace of menne. [...]riste did auaile hym nothyng, that he [...] no maner faith or hope left, wishyng [...]e in the place of Iudas or Caine, that looked for nothyng els daiely, but the [Page] horrible sentence of the iust God, and t [...] the mercie of God, did farre surmount [...] the sinnes of the world: but yet could [...] auaile him any thing, for that he was [...] probate from the beginnyng: neyt [...] He knewe hymself to be foreknowne. written at any tyme, in the booke of ly [...] that Christe neither suffered nor pra [...] for hym: but for the elect onely, that t [...] iudgement of God was declared, and [...] iustice fulfilled in him onely.

Finally, that within shorte space, [...] horrible ende should come: that he mi [...] The princi­pall ende of this matter. giue an example to all the elect, of his [...] iuration. When hee had vttered all the thinges, and many mo, moste euiden [...] and in perfite mind, in the presence of that were assembled, about thirtie p [...] sons in number, with the reuerend L [...] Bishop Vergerius: the same Verge [...] began to comfort hym by all meanes.

And when I amongst other, was a [...] to speake: the reuerend Vergerius s [...] vnto hym▪ Deare Maister Frauncis, [...] [...]s that Doctor Gribald that in this [...] uersitie of Padua▪ professeth the la [...] godly man and faithfull, who co [...] You bee wel­come: and I ill founde. to see you. Then he in his mother t [...] said. Sia lui [...]l ben venuto, et io il mal [...]

[Page] [...]ato. Then did I directe my communica­tion towardes hym, and saide. Maister Frauncis, this is the illusion and moc­kyng of the Deuill, that euidently doth trouble your minde. Wherefore with all your hart turne vnto the blessed GOD, who is readie to haue mercie vppon you. Doe you not knowe that the earth is full of the mercy of God? and that, if all the [...]nnes of the world were in one man, yet [...]ould thei not bee compared to the smal­lest sparke of the mercy of God, who said. As oft as the sinner shall mourne, I will remember his iniquities no more. Consi­ [...]er Peter that denied Christ thrise, and [...]hat with an othe, with whom he had li­ [...]ed so long familiarlie, of whome he had [...]eceiued so many benefites, so many to­ [...]ens of loue: and yet notwithstandyng, [...]e moste mercifull God pardoned hym. Consider the theefe that neuer had done [...]y good dede, but had bestowed his whole [...]e in mischiefe, how he, through one m [...] ­ [...]n of his harte, and power of faithe, [...]as receiued into fauour. Knowe ye not [...]at the hande of the Lorde is not yet [...] [...] whose propertie is to pardon and haue mercie▪ Call vpon hym a little [Page] with your hart, and aske for his mercie▪ And I promise you assuredly, that he is most readie to haue mercie vpon you, and to receiue you into fauour, through Ie­sus Christ his blessed Sonne▪ Haue a su [...] confidence Maister Frauncis, and rise [...] and doubt ye not at all, God hath already mercie vpon you, and hath pardoned yo [...] through Christe, all your offence. They saied he, I doe not beleue. And I answered againe. Maister Frauncis, I haue knowne many by face and acquaintance that haue bene both moste grieuous sinners, and possessed of the Deuill, and in farre worse estate than you are, brougt into extreame desperation, and yet the rowe the grace of God, by the exhortati [...] of their faithfull frendes, haue turned in to hope and fauour, and died in peace a [...] quietnesse, what should let you then, b [...] that ye may direct the smallest sparke [...] your hart to so oboundant mercie of God with an affection of your heart to call vppon hym in hope and faith. When I h [...] saide these, and many other thinges: t [...] reuerend Lord Vergerius tooke my [...] by the ende, and saide. Ah swéete Mai [...] Frauncis, and my moste dere Ma [...] [Page] Frauncis, vnderstand the wordes of this [...]octor, who is both faithful and the Mes­ [...]nger of God, whom God hath sent vnto [...]u, to ascertaine you of his mercy. Why [...]e ye not beleue this? Will ye not that [...]od should haue mercie vppon you? He [...]ill out of doubt haue mercie vpon you, [...]d pardon all your offence, howe can he [...]nie you any thing, that hath graunted [...]u Christ his blessed sonne? Be of good [...]éere, and lifte vp your hearte a little in [...]pe and trust. Will ye that wee saie the [...]rdes praier togither from the hearte? [...]ee aunswered to this: I beleue all that [...] saie: yea, the Deuils beleue and are a­ [...]yde, but all this auaileth me nothyng. [...]y sinne is to death. Certes I woulde [...]ndly attaine the mercie and fauour of [...]d: but hee will not. All the power of [...]th is taken from me. For the Lord had [...]spect vnto Peter: but he hath no respect [...]to mée. He was elect, and I am repro­ [...]te, He doeth al­ledge his re­probation or refusyng. I will praie vnto GOD with my [...]gue, and will quickely say whatsoeuer [...] will haue me to saie. But my heart is [...] of hatred, cursing and blasphemie. I [...]eue and feele that God is against mee. [...]d as he spake thus, a flie came fliyng [Page] before his face: Lo (said he) nowe Belza­bub calleth mée to a feaste, ye shall per­ceiue mine ende to approache, to the ex­ample of many, that the iudgement and iustice of GOD, maie openly be declared vpon me. And when he had thus saide, he turned his face awaie from vs, turnyng himselfe on the other side, then saide the reuerende father Vergerius. Ah deare master Francis, turne your face vnto vs. I would wee praied to God togither, and saie. Our father. &c.

Then he turnyng him, began to say the lordes praier in his mother tongue, with suche grauitie and deuotion, that all wee did wonder: and this vttered, hee added these woordes. I haue saide it with my mouth, but my hearte is cleane from it. God hath taken all his grace from mee. My heart is vtterly hardened: Ye labour in vaine. And when we had spo [...]ken with hym all these wordes, and many other, we had hym farewell. And so departed all thence with the Lord Vergerius, to pray vnto God for hym, entendyng to returne on the morow, if the blessed God woulde vouchesafe to shew hym his mercie.

The next daye we came to the wret­ched The seconde daies worke. [Page] man, saluting him as the maner is, to whom the reuerende lorde Vergerius sayde. Right welbeloued Maister Fran­cis, is it any better with you, by the grace of GOD? haue ye receiued no comforte in your hart? haue you conceyued any good hope? to whome he aunswered no­thing at all: but rather cōtinually worse, and worse. Then began we to demaunde of him many questions, and especiallye what time he fell first into that cōfusion and desperation, and when that vnquen­cheable worme did firste begin to burne his conscience, then recited he vnto vs the whole order and processe of his first and seconde abiuration: as we haue de­clared in the beginning. Which abiura­tions made, by and by he perceiued him­selfe to be smitten wyth the mightie hād of God, not with any affliction or infir­mitie of the body (which he right gladly would haue acknowledged for the cha­sticement and correction of sinne, and would not vtterlye haue cast away hope and trust:) But the most wretched felow from that houre, and that sodainly, par­ceyued himself to be stricken in heart, spirite and conscience, for God from that [Page] houre, sente into his harte a gnawyng worme, an vnquencheable fire, that so­dainely he might be filled with errour, confusion and desperation, which worme and fire, neuer since forsooke hym: in so much that hée confessed himselfe to be in farre worse estate, than if his soule were deuided from his body, and he with Caine and other dampned persons, desiring ra­ther to be in the place of any deade and damned soule, than so to lyue in his body, and that death shoulde be much more welcome to him.

Then wéeping he began to declare vn­to vs horrible visions, how that he per­ceyued since that time cōtinually Deuils to come to his chamber, yea, to his bed, making a noyse and businesse, putting him in feare and sheauering, sticking pinnes in the pillow vnder his heade, and sayde, that he cōceyued not these thinges by a false or corrupt imagination, but euen as truely as he sawe vs all aliue, and speaking with him.

Then sayde the reuerend Lorde Vergerius. Ah deare Maister Frauncis, yo [...] spirite vtterly corrupt, representeth [...] to you these erronious illusions and f [...] [Page] imaginations. But returne a while vnto the spirite of truth, and direct your hart with hope and affiaunce vnto the blessed God, mercifull, and full of goodnesse, and without doubt he will be good and merci­full vnto you, he wyll cast from you all horror and confusion, haue sure cōfidence swéete M. Francis: we all haue good hope of you, through the infinite mercye of God: and (if it please you) let vs saye to­gither from the heart the Lords prayer.

Then sayde he in Latine the whole prayer, with plētifull teares, so deuoutly and grauely, and wyth such inwarde af­fection, as we thought, that all we that stoode by, did wéepe wyth hym, And when I behelde both the teares, the repentance and contrition of the man: I sayde Mai­ster Frauncis, the blessed God be pray­sed. Now are not these the tokens of vt­ter refusyng or castyng awaye. You [...]ourne, ye cal for the fauor of God with [...]ar [...]est desire. Doe not vtterly dispaire of his pardon, and say not with a despe­rate minde, that God is against you, and that ye beleue that yée were reprobate and refused from the beginning. For no [...]a [...] can know, as long as he is in this [Page] mortall lyfe, whether he bée worthie the hatred or loue of God, through the righ­teousnesse of workes. And when we ear­nestly exhorted him, that in no case he shoulde fall from all hope and trust, and that euerie man that is borne (although Eccle. ix. he had committed all the sinnes of the whole worlde) ought yet to haue some hope of the fauour and mercy of God, whose goodnesse & mercie is muche more plenteous, than mannes vnderstandyng can perceyue: and that if any of vs were fallen into suche miserie, yet shoulde he not dispaire of the mercie of the high and good God. To the which hée aunswered: I knowe all this, and I beleue that the infinite mercy of God, doth farre sur­mount all the sinnes of the worlde, and that euerye man that beléeueth and hath fayth, eastlye obtayneth pardon of all the sinnes of the worlde. But this hope, thys faith, is the gifte of God. And this one Faithe is the gift of God. thing wante I, that I can neyther hope nor beleue of the fauour and mercie of God towardes mée.

And I would God that he would graunt me this one thing, that I coulde conceyue neuer so little hope and beliefe [Page] of forgiuenesse and pardon.

But this is euen as possible as to take the whole water of the sea, in one spoone, and to drinke it vppe at a draughte. If Salomon had bene in suche case as I am, and had some what knowne those thinges, which I prooue nowe by mani­fest experience, hee woulde neuer haue vttered that Sentence. But I doe be­léeue (and this I knowe most assuredly) that there was neuer any man that had more manifest experience in his lyfe, of the hatred, wrath and indignation of the righteous god against hym, then I haue.

I would I were in the place of any damned person. You that are in blessed estate suppose thys an easie thing to be done, that a sinner reknowledging his fault, may lift vp himselfe to hope and faith towards God▪ and therefore ye ex­hort me, for as much as ye sée me repen­taunt and sorowfull, that I would con­ceiue some hope and trust to rise againe▪ The helthfull hath no néede of a Phis [...] ­tion: and he that is whole, can soone giue councell to the sicke. But herein am I tormented: this is my hel, this is my con­fusion and desperation, that I knowe all [Page] grace to be taken from me, that I féele my heart hardened, that I can not be­leue nor hope any thing at all of the at­tonement and mercie of God. Fewe Fewe chosen there be whome iust Iupiter hath loued. We comforted the miserable estate of this desperate man, by such meanes as we coulde: & promising that wée woulde praye to God for him, bad him farewell, and departed thence with the reuerend Lorde Vergerius.

And thus doth the wretched man liue The state of the desperate manne. in his body. A certaine strong man there is, that when he intended to giue him meate, doth binde his armes and shoul­ders with handes, bicause he shoulde not resist wyth his handes. And so opening his mouth by force, putteth thinne broth into his mouth with a spoone or other instrumēt. And yet doth he let it as much as he can, stopping it with his tongue. But it can not choose, but that some of the broth must néedes fall downe by his gaping into the iawes and palace of his mouth, and so thence into his stomake. And thus with much a doe, he is [...] ­shed twise a daie, but auoyding nothyng. But euer he desireth to die, and to go to [Page] hell with all spéede: lookyng euerie houre for the terrible sentence of God: as he most euidentlye and openly doth declare by his communication.

The thirde daie came wee vnto hym, The iij. da­yes woorke. with the reuerend Father Vergerius, and did salute hym as the maner is: and began againe to comfort him: Notwith­standyng, he saide nothyng, but shuttyng his eyen like one a sléepe, with pain gaue aunswere. Then came there a certaine a­ged man, from the place of Citadell, as­kyng hym whether hee knewe hym his friend: whom the wretched man behol­dyng with his eyen, did scarce acknow­ledge.

Then saide he: Maister Frauncis, I am Anthony Fontanina Priest, who was with you, the same day that ye came to Venis: about seuen or eight monethes past. Then saide Frauncis with pittifull grone, and sighings. Alas that cursed daie. Alas that cursed daie. I would I had ne­uer gone thyther, or else had dyed at that present.

Then began we to demaunde him ma­ny questions, specially of his olde fayth, and whether hee had at any tyme, any [Page] stedfast or perfite beliefe: and how he fell so miserably from that faith▪ for as muche as it was vnpossible that he that had once perfitely and firmely beleued should fall from the whole. For it is written: that Roma. xj. the giftes of the holy ghoste, are without repentaunce. Then aunswered hee. Cer­tes, I did beléeue that Christ was the sa­crifice that appeased Gods wrath toward Christ onely iustifieth. vs, and that it was he only, by whom we did attaine saluation and righteousnesse, neither doubted I at any tyme in this. But I did not reknowledge the benifites He had not true charitie. of Christe, and (to saye the truth) I neuer loued hym againe with perfite hart. But rather tooke the fayth of the Gospell, to the liberty of the fleshe, and so did abuse that faithe, to vnlawfull licence to sinne: Often error. and did neglecte the whole studie, desire, and meane of Godlinesse and religion.

By and by, turning him vnto certaine yong men that stode by, he said. My Son­nes hearken to my words. I say not this for that I woulde plucke any thing from the holy Gospell (whiche I knowe to bee moste true: (but that ye should not set is muche by youre faithe: but that also [...] should doe good workes, beléeue me, that [Page] haue proued it. And then oftētimes with teares and sighynges, he did commende aboue all the scripture, the worthie Epi­stle of Peter, chiefe in deede of all the A­postles: ij. Peter. which exhorteth all faithfull chri­stians to Godlinesse, chastitie, holinesse, and cleane life: and to prepare an vn­spotted Temple to God.

But I (saied he) where as I bothe did presume that I had attained perfite faith and also boldely preached to other: and had in a readinesse all the places of Scri­pture, yet liued wickedly and vngodly.

And behold the manifest iudgement of God, who hath sodainely taken me in his anger and furie, not for any amendment, but to perfite damnation,

Then rose there vp one that was there present, a man excellently learned, and long exercised in holy Scripture, and said Maister Frauncis, we doe not altogether allowe this your exhortation, wheras ye councell vs not so muche to yelde to the faith of y ^e Gospell: but that we should also embrace and commende the affiaunce of works. For we know that there are two kindes of righteousnesse, outward and in­warde. Outwarde righteousnesse, whiche [Page] is of workes, and which the worlde doth commend, the same iustifieth not before God, neither auaileth to saluation. For Socrates, Cato, and Arestides, right well perfourmed that righteousnesse: wherby they gate muche prayse and glorie in this worlde. But the inwarde righteousnesse The rightu­ousnes which is in Christ, iustifieth. is of God, whiche doth regenerate vs by grace into hope, faith and charitie: and by this faith fréely graunted vnto vs, doe we liue and are iustified, and God imputeth not oure sinnes vnto vs, without the whiche, neuerthelesse, we can not be, as the scripture saith: if we saie we haue no sinne, we beguile our selues. But blessed is hee to whom the Lorde imputeth not sinne, and whose sinnes are couered.

Wherefore, there is no cause that ye should sende vs to outwarde workes, as to the Anker and refuge of saluation and righteousnesse. Than saide I: Sir, May­ster Francis words are not to be taken so precisely or exactly, as though he would compare the outwarde righteousnesse of workes, to the faithe of the Gospell, and inward righteousnesse: But he exhorted the yong men after this sort: bicause the most parte doe wickedly turne the liber­tie [Page] of the Gospel into the vnlawful liber­tie of the fleshe, and without aduisement [...]buse the gift of faith, and whereas they [...]all themselues faithfull, yet denie faithe [...] their déedes. Therefore Peter in his Epistle (whiche this man so muche com­ [...]ended, as ye haue hearde) and Iames also teache almost nothing else, than that we shoulde declare our faithe in our out­warde woorkes, as Sainct Peter saieth. Wherefore brethren, doe as much as ye [...]n to make your election certain by your [...]ood works. And Iames also saith. Shew [...]e thy faith, and I will shewe thée mine [...]y my workes. Therefore this man bla­ [...]eth himselfe greatly for this cause, that [...]hereas he professed that hee had the in­ [...]ard righteousnesse, alwaies neglected [...]e outward.

Then began wee earnestly to dispute The begin­nyng of a di­sputation. of the matter, and of the estate of this [...]retched man, and diligently to searche, [...]heter his trespasse were mortall, or no. for the whiche, accordyng to the saiyng [...] Sainct Ihon, wee ought not to praie. [...]nd that well learned man beganne to [...]spute learnedly and excellently of the [...]nue against the holy Ghost, and of resi­styng [Page] after the truthe▪ is knowne, and made a plaine distinction (as we thought) of all the kindes of sinne, againste the ho­ly ghost. And the wretched man harkened to all these thinges with attentiue eare: to whom the Lord Vergerius said. Wel▪ beloued Maister Francis, when ye heare these thynges disputed so godlye and de­uoutly, and the places of Scripture, in whiche ye haue excelled) to bee brought forth, take you in the meane season n [...] comfort and recreation with vs? And spe­cially, seyng that you for your capacitie▪ declare the Scriptures so eloquently, w [...] are not without all hope of your saluatiō and suppose that the spirite of God is no [...] cleane taken from you, to whom he aun­swered. What comfort can happen to cursed and damned man? yea, whatsoeuer I speake, heare, see, tast, or féele: all [...] turned vnto my confusion and cursse, to whom the Lord Vergerius said. Ah dea [...] Maister Francis, why should ye not hop [...] of the goodnesse and mercie of God? Do [...] not the Lorde leade doune into Hell, and bring backe againe? Consider Dauid the Prophet, who beyng brought downe [...] Hell, and to death: yet praied vnto G [...] [Page] with gronyng and teares, to graunt hym the renuyng of harte and spirite. And hee made aunswere: Dauid was alwaies e­lect and in Gods fauour, and although he fell grieuously, yet the spirite of God ne­uer departed from hym: Yea, hee praied vnto God, that he woulde not caste hym from his face: and that he would not take the holy ghoste from hym. But I am in farre vnlike estate, neither elected, nor in Gods fauour, but haue béene alwaies reprobate and cursed: neither can I pray [...]nto hym, not to take awaie the holy Spirite from mee, for hee is quite taken awaie alreadie, and neuer shall be resto­ [...]ed. I know that god doth raise vp again, [...]hose that are bodily dead, and restoreth to [...]fe, those that are brought vnto hell: that [...], to their Sepulture: as Christ raised vp [...]azarus, and brought hym againe from [...]ll. But I that am condemned to eter­ [...]ll death, haue no hope left of bringyng [...]gaine: but so that I could conceiue neuer [...] little hope or trust of the mercy of god: would moste gladly those to liue ten [...] [...]ousand yeres and more, in all the pai­ [...]s and torments of hel, so that at length might hope for some ende. But I dooe▪ [Page] moste firmely beleue, that I shall thus long remaine in life, and in al cursing and desperation: that the iudgement of God may be fulfilled in mee: that I maie be an example to all the worlde, of Gods ven­geaunce and iuste indignation againste a reprobate man: would God I were dead▪ and in the place of any dampned person. Then said I, Maister Frauncis, here me a little, I cannot vtterly dispaire of your saluation. For I dare take it in good part▪ that the blessed GOD hath so grieuously tormented you in this present life, and hath not reserued your punishment to a­nother worlde: so that I haue some hope▪ that God will haue mercie vpon you. And he made aunswere: Nay, I knowe moste assuredly my refusing and reprobation▪ and that he hath not corrected my synne with corporoll punishment: but rebuking mée in his anger and furie, hath condemned my soule, harte and spirite, with per­petuall hardnesse and confusion. Wou [...] God he had sodainly vexed my body, and had left my spirite frée.

What shall I say more? We talk [...] with him, till it was night of manye [...] ces of Scripture, and of the marueyl [...] [Page] iudgemēts of God. Amōgst other things, I demaunded of him what he thought of The place of soules. the sleeping of soules. And he aunswered. Although a certaine Doctour of Germa­ny supposeth that this is not manifestly ynough declared by the scriptures: yet I beleue that the soule of the elect doth [...]raight way ascend into the place of e­ [...]erlasting blisse, and doth not sleepe with the buried body. Then the reuerēd Lorde [...]ergerius, taking his tale by the ende, [...]f this (sayde he) ought we in no wise to [...]oubt. There be for this many places of [...]ripture: as, this day thou shalt be with [...]e in Paradice: and it is also manifestly prooued by the story of Lazarus, and the [...]h man, and Paule desired to bee dead, [...]at he might be in heauen with Christ. [...]t the length, beholdyng the vncurable [...]ague (as me thought) of this desperate [...]lowe, I was so bolde to aske him thys [...]estion. Maister Frauncis, I praye you answere me: for as much as through [...]er desperation, ye saye, that in this [...]e ye are worse, than if ye were with [...] dāpned folke in hell: and for as much I sée you cōtinually to wish for death, [...]t ye might go to hell, as though now▪ [Page] bothe your body and soule were in more painefull torment, as yée doe opēly wytnesse. I demaūd of you, if ye had a sworde in your hande: would ye kyll your selfe (as all desperate persones for the moste part doe) that haue sticked themselues with weapon, or strangeled themselues by hanging. Then saide he, giue me a sworde, and ye shalt see what I will doe. Nay (sayde I) I doe but desire you to shewe vs your will: I can not tell (saide he) neyther can I saye what my will t [...] should be. And when he had thus saide▪ the reuerende Lorde Vergerius obtay­ned of him againe with much a doe; [...] saye the Lordes prayer. But he sayde [...] no more with such affection of hart, as he was woont to doe. Moreouer▪ he did protest that his heart was quite from God and that he called hym not father with his heart, but rather curssed and blasphemed him: and therfore he sayde▪ there was no cause why wee should labour any more in vaine, to comfort and bring him home againe. For it was euen as possible to bring him to any hope or trust [...] the mercie of God, towardes him, as [...] was possible to fill the whole worlde [Page] with one grain of Mill. Then all we ho­noring Mille, is a small seede. the wonderfull iudgemēt of God, hade him farewell and departed. And for as much as his kinsfolke had prouided a Chariot, & were purposed the next daye to conuey him from Padua, to the place of Citadell: we gaue them warning in no wise to forsake him, but continuallye shoulde get him the companye of godlye men: that the blessed God (if it were pos­sible) by the continuall prayer and com­fortyng of good men, might vouchsafe to graunt him his mercie.

The next day after, when the wret­ched The .iiij. da­yes woorke. man was readie to take his iorney, and hauyng his apparell on, was brought from his bed, he behelde all the chamber with a fierce and cruell countenaunce, & horrible eyen, and by chaunce espied a Woodknife liyng vppon the table, which by and by, he snatched to sticke hymselfe. But his two sonnes that were alwaies by him, tooke him sodainely by the hand, and plucked the knife from him: wherby we maye plainly knowe what we maye vndoubtedly thinke of that demaunde whiche we asked him the day before, of kylling him: to the which he would make [Page] none aunswere, [...]yding his intent. And this did the reuerend Lorde Vergerius signifie vnto mée, as an enterprise wor­thy to be noted, being aduertised of the same by his forenamed kinsfolkes.

Thus was this miserable man con­ueyed to his house at Citadell. But howe he doth, and what ende hee hath, I shall by all meanes go about to vnderstande: That maye ye see in the Preface. and being aduertised of the truth, I shall by Gods fauour, declare you the whole▪

Fare yee well. From Padua, the xxvij. of Nouember. 1548.

These things haue we séene, and sen­sibly knowne, and haue thought good to write them vnto you, to the praise and glorie of the high God, whose kingdome we earnestly desire to be openly knowne to the whole worlde.

¶ Here followeth a godly Prayer against desperation.

FOr as muche as the diseas [...] of the bodye and corpor [...] death, doth so trouble ma [...] minde, that we commo [...] tremble & quake at the o [...] mention of them: Howe much ought [...] to feare the sicknes of the soule and dea [...] of the same, then which ther can no gr [...] ter nor more fearefull calamitie chau [...] vnto man.

And seyng that euerie man doth a [...] (so much as in hym lieth) the paine, [...] ries, diseases, and death of the bodie: h [...] muche more ought wee to decline and [...] chewe the causes of these euils, which [...] sinnes and offences, and feare the yre [...] God, which we so (by our enormities) [...] prouoke. If wee be neuer so little sicke [...] our body, by and by we send for the P [...] sition, we spare no cost, we seeke for me [...] cines and remedie, though they be ne [...] so chargeable, and all to patche and cl [...] vp this earthen vessel of our body, whi [...] doe we neuer so muche, can not last l [...] And why vse we not like diligence in [...] siryng and seekyng remedies agains [...] [Page] diseases of the soule, which like as they be [...]re grieuous, euen so they bryng with [...]m (without comparison) infinitely [...]re daunger. For what can it profite a [...]nne though hee haue all the riches in [...] world, though he liue a thousand yere [...] that in such health and pleasure, that [...]s not once touched with sicknesse or [...]e: his soule in the meane time being [...]oued with synne, beyng captine to than, hauing god displeased with him, [...] damnation readie for hym after this [...] For truely this life must once haue [...]nde, neither know we whan, where, [...] what maner or how soone.

Therefore saithe Christ watch, for ye Matth. 25▪ [...]er knowe the daie nor houre when [...]onne of man will come. And least we [...]short tyme of our abode (omittynge [...]ges moste waightie and profitable) [...]d followe trifles and things of small [...]: hee hath vouchsafe to prescribe vs [...]der, and as it were a briefe, certaine [...]re wa [...]e: to come vnto true felicity, [...]g.

[...]eke first for the kindome of God and Matth. 6. [...]ghteousnesse therof: and all thinges [...]e added vnto you▪ Care for liuyng, [Page] care for riches, care for worldly dignitie, worldly fauour, worldly estimation, and such like trāsitorie things, which in déed [...] doeth little profite, but many times by­cause both of filthie vices and also of grie­uous calamities (doth busie, doth vexe, doth trouble, doth euen defatigat vs both day and night) but in séeking for and pro­curing of Godly and heauenly thinges▪ we be most negligent, most slacke, moste dull, most forgetfull. And I praye yo [...] what can be a greater blindenesse, or [...] more daungerous madnesse? whilest w [...] be lustie, whilest we be in helth, while [...] we be in prosperitie, we scarcelye think [...] vpon anye life to come, we remember not once that we shall die. But when we be in perill and daunger by sickenesse, [...] death beginneth to knock at our dore, Euē at that same houre when we should play the men and fight against our eni­my, beyng sufficiently armed and wea­poned afore, then begin we first to thinke vpon our armor, to thinke vpō our wea­pon, to thinke vpon mending of our lyfe. These thinges declare vs to be smally exercised Souldiours, to bée men of pre­posterous iudgement, and verie weake­lings [Page] in faith. God be mercifull vnto vs. Amen.

But yet though a man be neuer so olde, though the daye be neuer so farre past, so he amende whiles he is here, ere it be night, his repentance cōmeth not out of ceasō. Neuerthelesse it wer to be wished, that no man should defer his repētaunce to his last and most daungerous conflicte. For euen thei shall haue muche a dooe to stand and to defend them selues from the assaultes, the guiles, and inuasions of the enemie, which in the time of their health prepared & armed them selues, what thā shal come of thē whiche not fearyng God, neither mindyng once repentaunce, had ledde a dissolute, filthie and naughtie life, howe shall thei fight? how shall thei be a­ble to withstande the force of Sathan?

Seing therefore the multitude of peo­ple is great, and the ministers of the Gos­pell verie fewe, neyther able to be eue­rie where to doe their office to euery mā: I hauing a will to helpe all men: haue ga­thered togither and written out of Scri­pture, a certaine briefe forme, howe to admonishe, instruct, and comfort such a [...] [...]e sicke, that they either reading these [Page] thinges, or hearyng them red by others: may conceiue certain hope and perfite consolation, least in this most daunge­rous conflict they faint, giue ouer like towards, and so be ouercomed & perishe: For this is certaine, whensoeuer a man is taken with extreme sickenesse and is in daunger of death, he is assaulted wyth dyuers many, and grieuous temptations▪ First, it is a grieuous and behement tē ­taption, when he séeth the moste terrible Image of death afore his eies, when he séeth he must leaue this lighte, leaue this lyfe, leaue friendes, leaue landes, goodes▪ kinsfolkes, father, mother, wyfe, chil­dren, all thinges wherin he had here ey­ther pleasure or comfort. Then suche sin­nes as he against the wyll and pleasure of God hath committed shall shewe and present themselues, and shall appeare more in number, and more grieuous thā euer they séemed afore, and so shall won­derously vexe and tormente the consci­ence. Then death, iudgement, [...]ell, damp­nation as it were in a plumpe, shall as­sault and layd siege with diuers daunge­rous ingines against the old man of ours▪

In these Agonies, except a man be ar­med [Page] with a sure and constaunt faith: it is to be feared, least he be wearied, tired, & at last ouercommed. For these tempta­tions which chaunce vnto men liyng in extremes: appéere most huge, fearefull, and daungerous, and that for bycause out faith is verie slender, and wauering, ney­ther yet able to see, perceiue, or appre­hende, the incomprehensible and inesti­mable riches of the childrē of God, which be remission of sinnes, through Christ; resurrection of the fleshe, communion of sainctes, euerlasting life, and all these gi­uen vnto vs in Christ, and for Christ.

In these articles of our fayth we must daily exercise our selues. These we must diligently reuolue, and earnestly expēde in our mindes. For though all the arti­cles of oure fayth are diligently to be re­membred, and without all wauering be­leeued: yet in the Agonie and poynt of death, these foure (that is) the commu­nion of sainctes, remission of synne, by the bloud of Christ, the resurrection of the fleshe, and euerlasting life: are chiefly to be minded, expended, and inculcated.

For lyke as death is the paine and [...] ­pende Rom. 6. of synne: euen so for synne God [Page] doth commonly punishe vs with diuer [...] diseases and plagues, as it is to be seene in diuers places of Scripture. Iohn. 5▪ Psal. 88. Deut. 28. 2. Reg. 24.

Neuerthelesse afflictions be many ty­mes laide vpon vs, that our faith may be tryed: For than is it easie to be perceiued howe much we loue God, what faith w [...] haue in him, how we trust him, whe [...] we be pressed and grieued with aduersitie. In thys case therefore we must [...] wayle and acknowledge our synnes, fo [...] the whiche, wée haue iustly incurred Gods displeasure, & deserued most grieuous paine, we must turne to God wit [...] true repentaunce in all oure hearte a [...] mynde, without all fayning and counterfeyting, we must haue recourse [...] the Gospell, where we shall finde [...] bountifull consolation. First, absolutio [...] or remission of our synnes, which Chris [...] hath instituted in the Church. Iohn. [...] Receyue (sayth Christe) the holy Gho [...] whose synnes ye forgiue, they are for [...] uen. This inestimable treasure is day [...] opened and offered vnto vs. When [...] mission of synnes is thus desired and [...] tayned: vndoubtedly then the paine [...] [Page] [...]ynne whiche is the disease or affliction [...]hall soone ceasse and leaue vs, or else ac­ [...]ording to the most beneficiall will of our [...]eauenly father: shall turne to the pro­ [...]te and soule helth of him that is disea­ [...]ed or afflicted. For this may we be sure [...]f, that the paine & affliction in the body [...] this worlde (séeme it neuer so grie­ [...]ous a burthen or heauie yoke to the [...]eshe) as commonly nothing else but a [...]therly rodde, wherewyth God doeth [...]aw vs his children from synne, and call Psal. 88. [...]s home to him. Truely our heauenly [...]ther doth loue vs most feruently, he [...]eareth vs good minde, & doth all thinges Heb. 12. [...]r our amendemente and profite, for [...]home God loueth, him he chastiseth, & [...]rrecteth vs temporally here: that wee 1. Cor. 11. [...]oulde not be punished in hell euerla­ [...]ngly. Though he séemeth angrye: hée [...]eth singulerly. Neyther is his yre the [...]e of a Tyraunt or tormentor desiring [...]r perdition, but of a father seeking our [...]endemente and safetie. First there­ [...]e we must crie God mercie, desire par­ [...]n and forgiuenesse of our synnes (but [...] Christ, but with a hart truely peni­ [...]t) that we may be at one with God, [Page] and haue him mercifull vnto vs. This done we may then desire God to deliuer vs from the imminent and present affli­ction and disease. For so teacheth Eccle­siast. Sonne in thy infirmitie neglect not Eccle. 3. thy selfe, but praye to the Lorde: and he shall deliuer thee. Also in the Psalme, remember not O Lorde God our olde Psal. 70. iniquities, but let thy mercie speedily preuent vs: for we be verie miserable, helpe vs God our Sauiour. Lorde God of power turne vs? shewe thy face and we shall be saued. Here we be taught first to desire remission of synne, that we may be at one with God: and after that to haue hys wrath, and the tokens of the same taken away. But whensoeuer we desire to be deliuered or to be eased of the crosse that presseth vs, we must alwaye annexe this addition. Thy wyll (O hea­uenly Matth. 5. Father) bee fulfilled.

Neyther knowe wee so well what is profitable vnto vs. Neither can we so well prouide for our selues as our most louing heauenly father. Whiche is both of infinite power, and also of incomprehensible wisedome, whiche neuer turneth his eyes from vs, whiche careth cō tinually [Page] for vs, whiche knowethe the number of our yeres, whiche doeth quic­ken, nourishe, feede, keepe, defende, pro­uide for all his creatures muche better than they can wishe or desire. But to drawe to the more perticuler tempta­tions, and to shewe what thinges doe mooste fiercely and daungerously at the tyme of death assaulte vs. And how wee shall withstande them.

Amen.