THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE IN DEATH Diuided into eight coÌ„ferences 1. Volume Whereby are showne the diuerse Skirmishes that are betweene the Soule of Man on his Death-bedde and the Enemies of our Saluation Carefullie digested for the comfort of the Sicke By Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of Gods Word at Glasgow IOB 14. Vers. 14. All the dayes of mine appointed tyme will I 〈…〉 my changing come I liue to die that I may die to liue Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of ANDRO HART 1629 C. R. HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DONEC·PAX·REDDITA·TERRIS· TO THE MOST SACRED AND Mightie Monarch CHARLES King of Great BRITAINE FRANCE IRELAND Defender of the FAITH MOST DREAD SOVERAIGNE It was wisely said by the Royall Preacher The memorie of the Iust is blessed But the name of the wicked shall rot To haue a good name both in this life and after Death is a blessing promised vnto the Righteous But as for the vngod lie their names become mouldie and rotten Qui injuste 〈◊〉 omâ—…tur just damnantur This consideration should rouse vâ—… all men to the doing of that which is good but chieflie KINGS and PRINCES whose liues are to bee seene in Chronicles by all ages which come after While other mens names within a little space are buried in obliuion the Chronicles the Registers of times cry vnto the World Read and consider vvhat sort of men such and such haue beene Of Saul it is writter that his sinne of rebellion in sparing Agag was as the sinne of Witch-craft that his stubbornnesse was as idolatrie His enuie against Dauid his consulting with the Witch at Endor shall bee manifest to all Ages to come Dauids Vertues and his Vices are penned Solomons vvisedome his folies Rehoboâ—…ms contemning of the olde counsellers A habs and A haz his wickednesse Iosiah and Iehoshaphats goodnesse shall bee to bee seene and reade so long as this world shall last Oh that Kings would consider how in a short life they may soone plot the euill which shâ—… staine â—…heir good name to the worlds end Manie may Flatter a Prince while hee liueth But so soone as hee is gone Trueth which while hee liued was warded then commeth out and plainelie declareth to the world whether hee was a wise man or a foole There is no sinne so secret but God in his owne time shall bring it to light If King CHARLES rule well and bee truelie godlie like Nathanael without guile An hundreth yeares after this Great BRITAINE shall blesse the Name of King CHARLES yea and that till God end Time in Eternitie * The seuen Stars of the Charles Waine are not so glorious as shall bee the seuen Letters of CHARLES in GODS Booke which is the Booke of Life Though your Maiesties Bodie after Death lye rotten in the Graue yet shall your Royall Name as if it were perfumed enbalmed haue a most sweete sauour like these Garments wherein Iacob got his Fathers blessing the smell whereof was as the smel of a field which the Lord had blessed Seeing there is nothing more powerfull to moue a man to liue well than to remember that hee must die and after come for to reckon with his God For this cause haue I penned this Treatise of Sicknesse bringing vnto death where your Maiestie may see the most fearfull Skirmishes which are betweene the faithfull Soule the enemies of our Saluation For this cause haue I called it THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE Loe this wee haue searched so it is heare it and know it for your good Let it please your Maiestie to looke vpon these my Workes with a fauourable eye and to take them into your Royall Protection They were brought foorth in the Land of Your Birth euen in your olde SCOTLAND Whereof your Maiestie is now the hundreth and ninth King The particular place where this Booke was penned is your owne GLASGOWE a Citie once greatlie beloued of great King IAMES your Maiesties Father of blessed memorie * A Citie that looketh for the like fauour from your Royall MAIESTIE My chiefest spirituall desire is that this may bee comfortable to sicke Soules My first temporall wish is that your Maiestie would daine it with a blink of your Fauour Let it obtaine your Royall Approbation which shall bee to it as a Passe-port which neither Pride nor Enuie shall bee able with Reason to reiect If anie man be contentious I heere appell vnto Caesar. Let mee bee so bolde as heere to aske a Petition from your Maiestie which granted I will atcount a sufficient recompence to all my Labours This is it That it would please your Religious Maiestie to take a specall care that the prophanation of the Lords blessed and hallowed day bee remoued from this Land It is come to such a custome and that chieflie betweene Edinburgh and Glasgow that by no meanes the Church is able to refine it except that by your Royall authoritie their Market dayes bee changed The abuse is so great that if your godlie Maiestie knew it yee could not indure it The keeping of this Precept is the onelie one which hath a memento before it and yet it is most forgotten It is the verie Key of Religion Let it please your Maiestie to consider what good Nehemiah did for the reformation of such an abuse I contended said hee with the Nobles of Iudah and saide vnto them What euill thing is this that yee doe and prophane the Sabbath day Did not your Fathers thus and did not our God bring all this euill vpon vs vpoÌ„ this Citie Yet yee bring more wrath vpoÌ„ Israel by prophaning the Sabbath See what Nehemiah did It came to passe that when the gates of Ierusalem beganne to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should bee shut and charged that they should not bee opened till after the Sabbath And some of my Seruants set I at the gates that there should no burden bee brought in on the Sabbath day So the Merchands and sellers of all kinde of ware lodged without Ierusalem once or twise Then I testified against them and said vnto them Why lodge yee about the wall If yee doe so againe I will lay hands on you What wrought that From that time foorth came they no more on the Sabbath Afâ—…er he had done this good worke hee looked vp to God by prayer saying Remember mee O my God concerning this also and spare mee according to the greatnesse of thy mercie I pray God that your Maiestie may reforme this great abuse with that good Nehemiah If this yee doe I am assured that Your God shall remember You concerning it and that hee shall spare You according to the greatnesse of his mercie One thing I desire earnestlie that your Maiestie once at least in the day would carefullie consider these weightie wordes of
thinges to worke to the best of these that loue him Gods corrections are good directions With one crosse hee can worke two cures first a correction for by-past corruption and after a direction for times to come If God should not scourge vs betimes the reigning of the flesh should proue the ruine of the Spirit This was the vtter ouerthrow of the Sonnes of Eli God would not correct them because the Lord would stay thē As for that which ye speake concerning the changing amending of your life your resolution is good But seeing the houre of death is vncertaine it is good that yee bee presentlie prepared Death commeth vpon mā with stealing steps Let no man put far off the day of his death There is great danger that any man sooth himselfe with the vaine hope of this mortall life No man can tell how soone hee shall be arraigned to compeare before Gods Barre None said a Pagane is assured to liue vntill the morrow Nemo tam diuos habuit faventes Crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri It is good therefore daylie and hourelie to bee vpon our Watch-Tower preparing our selues for death which shall either be the end of all our miserie or the beginning of our euerlasting woe delay to prepare for death is a strong threed in the Deuils net A man will not die the sooner that he prepare himselfe to die If a man bee prepared to die and yet die not hoc sibi ponat in lucro that preparation is great aduantage vnto him But if hee die hee hath done that which hee should haue done What a dangerous venture is this to a man to delay to prepare himselfe to die because it may bee that yet hee may liue But may it not also bee that hee die It is a dangerous thing to perrell our Saluation vpon a may be which may as well no bee It is fearefull to bee hanged ouer Hell with the euill twined threed of a life that must end none can tell how where nor when No man is exeemed from this necessitie The post Pale Horse wherevpon Death is mounted caries his Rider thorow all Nations Cities and Houses pulling out of their beds Princes Prelats and priuate men without any respect of persons thus are their hopes cropped in their fairest flower It is good therefore that wee euer bee vpon our gard God offereth grace to day To day if yee heare his voyce But who promiseth to morrow well is him that feareth alwayes The sicke Man O the terrours of Death and of the Graue mine heart quaketh while I remember of these last strugglings that are in death It was not without reason that the Pagans called it terribilium terribilissimū of all fearefull things the most fearefull The Pastour If men knew what Christ hath made of Death the liuing would not be so afraid with the feare therof Isaiah saith that hee hath put it into his Stomacke hee hath swallowed it vp in victorie A wife man will not swallow ouer that which hee is not able to digest Christ hath swallowed Death and hath digested it perfectlie Nowe Death after Christs digestion hath lost all its poyson and is turned into a sleepe The name thereof is changed for to tell vs of the change of its nature Dead Lazarus in Christs language is called sleeping Lazarus Lazarus Our Friend sleepeth said Christ speaking of his death Hee that liueth and beleeueth in mee said Christ shall neuer die Death is not death to the Friends of Christ but a sleepe to their bodie a translation of their Soule from a prison to a Palace As by the grace of God it is made an Exodus of miserie so is it a Genesis of a better life the corruption of one thing beeing the generation of another What is this that men should so feare Death which is the end of the foule cōbersome way of our Pilgrimage Hath not God made death like a Chariote to a wearied man for to carie him to his euerlasting rest This was seene in a visible figure when Elijah in a firie Chariot went vp by a whirle wind vnto heauen The sicke Man All that is true Sir But yee know that death is fearefull to all flesh So soone as it commeth it maketh a Soule lyable to yeeld an acoūt for all the actions of the by-past life The bodie and the Soule are of olde acquaintance and haue not wil to part one frō the other I cannot expresse what a worsling I finde within mee there is such a working feare about mine heart that I tremble to thinke vpon it This maketh my words to wade in teares mine heart is cut with sobs of sorrow O death the enemie of Life is there no comfort against thee Is there no Balme in Gilead Of force then must I die The Pastour The woman of Tekoah said verie well Wee must all needes die and are as water spilt on the ground which can not bee gathered Death is an vnauoidable passage there is none entrie vnto Heauen but by it I will striue to let you see before that yee enter in at the doores of Death that your Soule hath no such cause to be afraide Indeed I confesse that death to these that know not Christ is indeede a most fearefull thing according to this Sathan said Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath he will giue it for his life See how a Naturall man would bee content that his skinne were pulled off him if it could bee a ransone for to saue his life Such is the feare of death that for to bee free of it a man would giue his skinne Agag called it a bitter thing Surelie said he The bitternesse of death is past The wilde Gourdes shred into the Prophetes pottage for bitternesse were called Death So soone as they had tasted them all cryed Death is into the pot The bitter torments of Hell are called so great a Death Dauid speaking of the pangs of death calleth them waues The waues of death cōpassed me See how death is compared to a raging Sea with rolling waues To this Dauid subjoynes The snares of death preuented mee Death indeed is fearfull armed with waues snares We in our weaknesse make it also fearfull painting it with bare bones with a skul girning with its teeth and with its sting like a flooked Dart for to pierce thorow the heart of man It is true that death is bitter in it selfe but hee that made sweetnesse to come out of the strong and meate to come out of the eater can bring both meate and sweetnesse out of death for the Christian Soule though no thing bee stronger than death the greatest eater of the world One saith well that there is in death but one bitter morsell to swallow The cheefe course that wee haue to tak for to win to
No man liuing Sir may absolutelie desire to be dissolued but vnder condition that it bee for the glorie of God and the Saluation of his owne Soule For two respects a man may desire to be dissolued First for to bee deliuered from the bondage of sinne which the Apostle calleth A bodie of death Secondlie for an earnest desire to bee with his God a man may desire to bee dissolued But for no reason must a man dissolue himselfe that were selfe murther If we may not kill our Neighbour whoÌ„ we should loue as our selues neither must wee kill our selues who are the rule and square of neighbourlie loue Man in this world is as a set Watch hee must not remoue till it please him by whom hee was set to command him to come Though lawfullie wee may desire death that we may bee deliuered from the bodie of death which is sinne for to bee with Christ which is meekle better for vs yet wee must not cry for death for some triflles of worldlie troubles as Ionah did for the lossing of his leafes Our desire of Death should bee chieflie grounded vpon a desire to bee with Christ and to bee fredde from the spirituall bondage of our sins well is him that can sincerly say from his heart Miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this bodie of death That Soule is happie whose desire is vpon that which is meakle better for it To bee with Christ in Scripture stile is called meakle better What say ye now Sir doeth not your heart grone vnder this burden of sinfull death Doeth not your Soule long to bee out of this bodie for to bee with him where it shall bee meakle better for you The sicke Man I take vp the matter better than I did I see by your reasons that there is no reason wherefore a man should desire to die but for to bee with his Christ and to be deliuered from the bodie of bondage which is a death But alas The Pastour I see you yet Sir into a plunge I heard that word Alas Wherefore say yee Alas Yee looke yet as one who desireth to liue My wordes are not gifted with perswasion yee seeme to be afraide at that word dissolued What aileth you There bee doubtlesse some thing within that troubleth you The sicke Man I am sorie to goe out of this world wherevnto I am chained by diuerse respects In the cutting off of my dayes I will mourne with sicke Hezekiah in the words of his doole I am depriued of the residue of my yeares c. The Pastour I see Sir that yee are taking vp the Lamentations of Hezekiah I will striue to make answere to euerie sentence apart Yee are depriued saye yee of the residue of your yeeres Hee is not depriued that hath changed for the better The residue of your few yeeres shall bee turned into eternitie Hee who seeth many yeeres seeth many miseries and which is worse contracteth many sinnes the cause of all our woe Moreouer what is a residue of life Death is not farre when it is farthest The sicke Man But if I die I shall not see the Lord euen the Lord in the land of the liuing The Pastour This is your ignorance What can man see of the Lord in the land of the liuing What can a sinner see of that great IEHOVAH here What is to bee seene on Earth but the Backe-parts of IEHOVAH Into the Heauens wherevnto yee now approach yee shall see that great and glorious IEHOVAH face to face What are all men on Earth but a number of wormes crawling and creeping vpon a clat or clod of clay But againe what is this that ye call the land of the liuing What is all the Land yee see but a dead lump of earth where the most part of men are dead in their sins Doe not the best part die daylie vnto Sin which death is our best life and yet laden with a bodie of death Can ye now call this earth the Land of the liuing Call me not Nahomi pleasant said Nahomi but call me Marah that is bitter for the Almightie hath dealt verie bitterlie with mee So may the Earth say Call mee not the Land of the liuing No rather call mee a dungeon of death a place for the burying of the dead a place where all must needs die and bee as water spilt vpon the ground which cannot bee gathered vp againe The sicke Man But alas if I die I shall behold men no more with the inhabitants of the world The Pastour This heere is your griefe that death will strik you with a blindnes so that yee shall not bee able to see any more the faces of these whom yee loue best into this world as of Wife Children and of Friends of your old acquaintance This is your dâ—…lour theÌ„ that ye shall see them no more Let such thoughts Sir moue these to mourne who know not Death better than that Pagan who speaking of a slaine man said In eternam clauduntur Lumina noctem That is Death closeth mans eyes for euermore This is most false A true Christian knoweth that though both his eyes should sinke â—…owne into his head or droppe out like blobbes or droppes of water yet that with these same eyes runne into water hee and none othér for him shall see his Redeemer Though after my skin said Iob wormes destroy this bodie yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not another Lay this comfort to your heart Though your eyes were eaten out with the wormes if you die in the faith of Iesus yee shall see God and none other for you and that with these same eyes yee now looke vnto meeâ—… If yee bee perswaded that yee shall see your God in the Heauens in whose face is fulnesse of Ioye yee haue little cause of doole that yee shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the world What are all the creatures of thiâ—… World but things that dwell in dâ—…st The Sainctes and Angels that dwell into these vpper Chambers whose feete are aboue ouâ—… head are so faâ—… in glorie aboue all the glorie of the world as the Heauens are aboue the Earth As Zebah and Zalmunah said of Gideons brethren so may we say of all these that dwell there euerie one of them is like the Sonne of a King What are all the Creatures below but beggerlie things The sicke Man But alas if I die mine age is departed and remoued from me as a Shepheards tent The Pastour What is your doole It is all then that yee must quite your shepheards tent Now poore man What haue yee lost Yee shall change a poore shepheards tent for the most pleasant Palace of your God a life mortall for a life that is eternall
before the Lord Let vs all humble our selues heere before our Maker A Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD prepare our heartes to prayer Let vs not be rash with our mouth nor hastie with our heart to vtter any thing before Thee O glorious GOD and all mercifull Father which art the true Physicion both of Soule and bodie we must humblie bend our knees before Thee intreating thee to be with thy seruant heere whom thou hast now laide into this bedde of languishing Let not his sinnes whereof hee hath beene guiltie from his youth vp prouok thy wrath any more against him Knit them all in a bundle and cast them all behind thy mercifull back burie them al into the bottomlesse sea of thy compassions that they neither bee able to accuse him any more in this worlde nor yet to condemne him in the world to come Though his sinnes LORD were like Scarlet and Crimsin there is vertue into the Blood of thy Lambe to make them white like woole and whiter than the Snow For thy Sonnes sake remoue all his transgressions as far frō him as the East is from the west Hell LORD Destruction are before thee how much more the hearts of the Sonnes of men Thine All seeing Eye pryes most clearelie into the in-most closet of mans heart Look with the Eye of thy compassions within the Doores of this wearied heart of thy Seruant Looke in and proclaime mercie and pardon vnto his sillie Soule Let him know that neither Death nor Life shal be able to separate him from thy Loue O LORD assist him and stand fast by him in this houre Desert him not in his greatest last agonie Let thy Spirit possesse him so fullie that there be none entrie or roume for Satans temptations whē the Temper is bufiest let thy Spirite bee strongest Arme him with all Pieces against the last conflict of this bloodie battell Honour him with the Lawrels of victorie Let thy strength be made perfect in his greatest weak nesse Doe the turne by thine owne force and take all the glorie to thy selfe By the vertue of thy Christ crucifie into him the olde Man and his vvorkes Make him to die into him that hee may liue to Thee vvho to all the Faithfull is aduantage both in life and death Hee is now LORD walking betweene thy Mercie and thy Iustice through many-temptations Gouerne thou his steppes vvith such vvisedome that the feare of Iustice may keepe him from presumption and the hope of mercie may preuent despaire Increase his patience vvith his paine Sanctifie his Sickenesse make it as Bellowes to thy graces that thereby they may be kindled and blowne vp to a greater flame Enamour him vvith the loue of thy goodnesse Powre in the oyle of thy mercie into his bruissed hearte which hath bene filled with mournfull groanes And seeing now thou art calling him to repetitions to see vvhat hee hath profited in thy Schoole cast into his rememberance all the good things that hitherto hee hath heard or meditate for to comfort this houre Bee strong in him now in this time of tryall Applye vnto his wounds the Balme of Gilead Hee is weake and therefore O LORD forbea◅e him in thy mercie O pittie this wounded man as did that Samaritane Powre Oyle into his wounds bind them vp and take him to thine Inne For thy mercies sake remember him Forthy Sonnes sake pittie him For thy promise sake forget him not Free his Soule f◅ the maze of all worldlie cares Inspite into him the life of grace with a most fresh vigout and feruent heate of zeale to thy Glorie Hee LORD in his most piercing paines knoweth not what to doe but his eyes are on Thee In thine handes is both Life and Death Thou bringest to the Graue and bringest backe againe In thy greate mercie O LORD make all his bedde in his sicknesse make his bedde to be a Schoole vnto him wherein hee may not onelie learne the hudgnesse of his owne miserie but also the greatnes of thy mercie Let neither Death fright him nor the Graue grieue him Let him knowe that Death is but a sleepe for the friendes of Christ and the Graue a bedde for the resting of their wearied bones Let not the weight of mortalitie beare downe his Spirite frō minding the things which are aboue Make him content to quite gladlie all earthlie pleasures and contentments for to goe dwell with Thee his GOD in immortalitie Let neither the sweetnesse of the Figge nor the grapes of the Vine nor the fatnesse of the O liue hinder his desire to reigne in heauen Against the feare of death comfort him with hope of the glorious Resurrection Assure his Soule though his bodie goe to bee eaten of the wormes that hee in that bodie againe shall see his Redeemer and none other for him Furnish him with spirituall courage vnto the end Giue him boldnesse to march without feare thorow the valey of death for to come to Thee yea to run were it thorow Hell for to come to Thee in Heauen Tell vnto his Soule that his paines dismay him not seeing his trauell is to bring foorth eternall life Let thy Iustice seate trouble him no more seeing Christ hath payed his debts Let him not bee afraide to come before the Face of his Iudge seeing the Iudge himselfe is his Brother who hath both cut cancelled that hand-writting of the Law which no flesh was able to performe Pittie him LORD pittie him for loe hee is nowe in thine handes looking pittifully vp to Thee for thy mercie Some of thy setters are yet vpon him none can loose him but the hands which haue bund him Pittie good LORD and pardon set vnto this Soule the seale of thy pardons by the Spirit of adoption Heale and sweetlie close vp the wounds of his Spirit by the vertue of thy most blessed Blood This is our confidence that thou who hast stricken him is able to heale him and will also doe it if it bee for thy glorie and his well if not Lord in judgement remember mercie If it bee his best that after some dayes sicknesse he depart out of this mortall life let these paines which hee suffers nowe bee like Ionathans arrowes which were not shot for to ◅urt but to giue warning Giue him grace that like an obedient Childe hee may as w◅ll kisse thine hand while it beateth as while it blesseth If thy decree be come foorth that hee must remoue from this World assure him of a better place where pleasures are in greater number th◅ the starres Teach him by thy Spirit that by death hee shall change a mortall habitation a dungeon of darknes◅◅ cage of corruptions for euerlasting T◅bernacles most heauenlie sacred M◅sions where constant peace vnmi◅ joyes remaine Weane his heart from the loue of all things that are vnder the Sunne Let the beautie and glorie of the Heauens whereof hee hath heard at length this day
whereby he may be shielded from the bloodie blowes of a most cruell aduersarie Put on him Lord the compleate armour of God that hee may bee able to with-stand in this euill houre and hauing done all to stand Before this Battell end make him with stomacke and courage to runne all his enemies throgh with the two edged sword of thy Spirit Haue now Lord a speciall care of him Hemme in all his thoughts within the compasse of thy will Possesse him so with the fulnes of thy presence that in him there be found no roome for any ill motions Furnish him with the supplie of all these graces which thou knowest to bee wanting into him Let thy Spirit make residence in his heart as in an house of God Now Lord while it is time to saue saue the Soule of thy Seruant which is now readie to remoue Open vnto it that euer-flowing fountaine promised to the penitent of the house of Dauid for to tak away sinne and vncleannesse O Fountaine of Grace wash him and wash him throughlie with the blessed Blood of thy satisfaction After that thou hast made him perfectly cleane hold out thy succouring helpful armes vnto this Soule and take it into thy bosome Let it there taste of the honie of thy Compassions In this time of gloummines darknesse of death inlighten his Soule with the light of thy countenance Turne thy face now vnto it Hitherto it could see nothing but the Back-parts of Thee that Great IEHOVAH which bringeth joye but in parte From such parts now bring him vnto the fulnesse Turne thy selfe vnto this Soule that it may fullie see thy face wherein is fulnesse of joye And seeing no man can see thy face liue let this thy Seruant now see thy face and die that after death hee may liue with thee for euer in the Heauens Let neither the loue of life nor the feare of death turne his eyes from the prize of the high calling of God Make him now with a long steppe from the earth to the heauens to step in into immortalitie Now Lord engraue deepelie this Soule into the palmes of thine hands Set it as a seale on thine heart Wrap it within the Mantle of thy mercie warâ—…e it within the bowels of thy loue lappe it in thy bosome with that vnspeakable joye which Christ hath purchased with vnspeakable paine euen through the bloodie merites of his most bitter passions His wordes now are failed Square thou all his thoughts by the rule of thy Spirit of grace Lord make these our weake prayers to mount vp lik Pillars of smoke parfumed with the mercifull merites of thine onelie Sonne To him with thee his Father and with the Spirit of Grace be all Glorie Praise Power and Dominion for euer AMEN The spirituall Friend O deare Friende whome I haue seene a sorrow beaten sinner Rejoyce now in your Sauiour whose mercies haue beene the Bane of all your sinfull miseries Cleaue still fast vnto your Sauiour Let not him goe whom your soule loueth till ye come to Peniel where yee shall see him face to face The Lord refresh your wearied soule with the soft sweete breath of his Spirit The Lord kned into your heart these spirituall meditations which are of the purest straine O Father of mercies giue vnto this soule a most sure Infefâ—…ment of heauen by the hand of thy Spirit Make some drops of thy Myrrhe to enter in by some litle creuice of his heart Put in thine hand by the keye hole of the doore that his bowels may bee moued for thee Let such a strength now repare from thee vnto him that the world may see that thy strength is made perfect in weaknesse It shall bee expedient that nowe yee his Pastour in a short prayer recommend him to God againe Behold him now at the last gaspes his eye stringes are broken The water of death trickleth downe ouer his cheekes His life is now drawen to an haire O Lord while bodilie sight and senses faile make spirituall sight and sense succeede in a greater perfection Make a spaite of thy grace with a mightie streame to carrie him to glorie O deare Friend vp with your heart to your God Nowe all your sins shall die with your sicknesse The Rocke of your Saluation Iesus hath shiuered them in pieces There is 〈◊〉 condemnation to these that are in Christ who out of the pangs of loue suffered that paines of hell for mans RedeÌ„ption His Angels Sir are heere waiting vpon your Soule for to carrie it to pleasures for euermore Yet a little while and loe yee shall bee at the vpshotte of all your woe Yee are nowe vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of hell euen vpon the borders of euerlasting pleasures vnmixed pleasures which shall turne all your teares into triumphes The Pastour Now Sir Gird vp the loynes of your minde make haste to your God who shortlie shall put into your haÌ„d the palme of victorie Sathan is chained vp now for doing you anie more harme The night of your trouble is past Christ that blessed Day spring hath brought a morning mercie vnto your Soule His graces in you hath shined more and more and so shall doe vntill the perfect day euen vntill your Soule carried on Eagles winges reach the hight of Heauen where without teares or tediousnesse are pleasures for euermore Though your tongue now faile you Sir let your heart be busie with God in prayer hee will hearten and encourage you in all the businesse Your taske is at an end Heaue vp your heart to Christ crucified with vs and that with sighes and sobbes the groanings of his owne Spirit Though your bodie now be cold the Spirit of Iesus shall by a free and vitall operation maintaine the heate and vigour of your Soule The Spirit of comfort conueye vnto your soule the warmest blood that euer heated the heart of Iesus Let vs pray The last prayer for the sicke Man in the verie jawes of death O LORD whose mercies are aboue all thy workes it was neuer thy custome to send away a broken heart without comfort Now heare the secret gâ—…oanes and sighes of thy seruant whose soule is ready in this gasping agonie to come out of its Tabernacle for to coÌ„peare before thee Thou who hast giuen him thy Son for a ransome giue him thy Spirit for a pledge Furnish him with force for to fight and finish this Battell in victory As thou hast bene at the beginning of his beeing euen the beginner of his beeing so now bee thou the ende at which hee aimes euen the ende of all his woes And seeing hee is now in the narrow throat of death helpe him by thy power till hee hath past this passage Put now into him a fresh liâ—…e that in a strong vigour hee may runne with the feete of the Hinde till hee come to thee in eteâ—…nitie Make him now supple and nimble
an happie death is that aboue all thinges wee striue to make our acquaintance with Christ the Lord of life Till a man know Christ who hath disarmed Death by taking away its sting and its dart hee will tremble at its buzze A Bee that wāteth the sting will afray a Childe with its buzze but the man of vnderstanding is not afraide for a sound I am assured that the excessiue feare of Death in a wicked man is a most powerfull meanes for to make him die before his day that is sooner than by course of Nature hee should haue died Though a mans day bee set yet God vseth meanes Death is a distresse vnto the wicked Let him thē that would die in peace make his peace with his God No man cā be willing to die before his Conscience bee at quiet till God and his Soule haue shaken hands beene friended A man that is at feed with his God will say to death Gods messenger as Ahab saide to Gods Prophet Hast thou found mee mine enemie But as for the godlie mā whose Soule is prepared to meete with his God he will say to Death welcome Friend take my Soule by the hand and draw it out of this prison Oh but it is wearied O but it longeth to be free from these bonds of mortalitie combersome clogges of claye Hee that is assured to goe to Christ cannot die vnwillinglie what careth hee to die an houre for to liue for euer I will neuer feare Death saide a Father which can doe no more than restore me to him that made mee To change a life that is mortall for an that is eternall is an vnspeakable profite The sicke Man But alas By what way may I come vnto that Life The Pastour I am the way said Christ None commeth to the Father but by mee This way is thorow the valey of death In this valey yee neede not to feare if Christ bee with you In the valey of the shadow of death said Dauid I will feare none euill his reason was this that God was with him For thou art with mee The sicke Man I finde my selfe Sir exceeding weake and that I drawe neere the doores of Death I take great delight to heare you I requeast you to continue your comforts I intreate you to call to remembrance these speciall comforts yee haue had either by your owne experience or by reading or by Meditation I am assured that yee haue some laide vp in store for your selfe against the houre of temptation Let me heare I pray you what yee thinke best to be said to a man in his greatest feares The Pastour First of all that yee may bee capable of comforts striue to bee patient in your trouble Acknowledge in this sicknesse the great mercie of your God In this affliction hee hath giuen to you the wish and choise of Dauids chastisement You are not fallen into the hands of men whose compassions are cruell but in the hands of God your Father whose bowels are full of mercifull remembrance Though a Mother should forget her Childe wee are printed vpon his Palmes It is true that no afflictiō for the present seemes joyous Yet afterward the bitter seed of sorrow bringeth foorth the sweet quiet fruit of righteousnes If yee would bee armed against the feare of Death my counsell is that aboue all things in the tempest of your temptations yee haue recourse vnto the bloodie wounds of Christ wherein as in the holes of the Rocke your Soule like a Doue may find a place of refuge His wounds well may I call The secret of the most High He who lodgeth there is vnder the shadow of the Almightie An afflicted Soule is like a Bee in a tempest tossed to and fro Frae once the Bee hath winne to its Hyue-hole it entereth into rest The poore Soule of a man for a space will be wonderfullie tossed with tempests and long will it wrestle But so soone as it can once win in at the holes of Christs wounds then it enters into Rest Out of these wounds as out of its Castle and fortresse it will boast the Deuill Death the Flesh and the World In these woundes is the Soules strongest Tower the secret place of the most High where none enemie of mans Saluation shall bee able to reach vnto it for to hurt it Let your chiefest care bee to creepe in into these wounds Againe after that yee haue shaken hands with Christ and made him your friend consider well what hee hath made of Death Christ hath made it a friend of a foe Is not Death now a sleepe Christs friends sleepe Sleepe as yee know is our great friend Hee must bee a great friend without whose friendship we can not liue As wee can not liue without Sleepe neither can we liue without Death Except that wee die on Earth we can not liue in Heauen Thou foole said S. Paul That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die The whole course of a Christian is contained within the compasse of these wordes I liue to die that I may die to liue If man will not resolue to liue for to die hee shall not die to liue The course of a Christian is from a good life to an happie death and from thence to life yea to life eternall Well is the man that runneth not without this compasse The sicke Man But alas O my God take mee not away in the midst of my dayes Alas Sir must I die so soone The Pastour The Apostle saith That we die daylie Tunc quoque cum crescimus vita decrescit It is certaine that so soone as wee beginne to liue wee also beginne to die What are all the dayes of our life but a progresse vnto Death which is the putting off of our Tabernacle What is this body but a mire of mortalitie Hominiquid vita cylindrus What is mans life but a rolling thing The sicke Man But will the Lord take mee away in the midst of my dayes Hath not God promised to the godlie man that his dayes shall bee long in the land Long life is a thing whereof God hath made promise vnto these whō hee loueth The Pastour I answere that such a promise is vnder two conditions First of Gods glorie secondlie of mans well If God loue a man dearlie hee will whiles take him away in his youth that hee may haue him neere to him selfe Moreouer God seeth that which no man can fore-see viz. the euill to come The righteous saith Isaiah is taken away from the euill to come God hath indeede promised many dayes to the righteous man But if God shorten them and take him away sooner what wrong hath he done vnto him If a Lord should giue to one of his seruants some cottage house of clay with some little piece of
nothing but ignorantlie The sicke Man Knew yee euer in Scripture or out of Scripture any that fell into that sinne The Pastour In the Old Testament Saul fell into it and therefore the Lord discharged Samuel to mourne for him * In the New Testament Iudas was guiltie thereof and therefore Christ would not pray for him While hee prayed his holie Father to keepe through his owne Name the other Apostles he would not speak a word for the lost son of perdition In that hee practised his precept There is a sinne vnto death I doe not say that hee shall pray for it The sicke Man Is this sinne so great that Gods mercie cannot bee able to ouercome it The Pastour Some thinke that it is called irremissible because that it is forgiuen with exceeding great difficultie But certainelie there is no remission for it The cause is this God will not bee mocked with men neither will he suffer his Iustice to perish for the saluation of anie for seeing hee that despised Moses Law died without mercie vnder two or three witnesses Of how much sore punishment suppose yee shall hee bee thought worthie who hath troden vnder foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the Blood of the Couenant wherewith he was sanctified an vnholie thing and hath done despite vnto the spirit of grace The sicke Man I desire to know how men fall into such a desperati niquitie The Pastour Such men hauing receiued some generall graces of God in a reasonable great measure first vnconscionablie beginne to neglect them suffering these sparkles of goodnesse to die out after that they haue shaken out of their mouth the Bridle of restraining grace while it is cast loose lying vpon their maine they plod on from one sinne to another till shame bee past the shedde of their haire so that they bee passed all feeling The Spirit being often grieued and the heart made hard with a custome of sinne whereby as with a canker the noble buds of the Spirite are fretted and blasted at last the Lord in his justice rolleth vp the sinner wrappeth him into a reprobate sense Thus men by neglecting the inward secret checkes of the Spirit and by harbouring priuie inward r◅pinings boiling lustes murmurings grudgings and vnthankfulnesse the craftie empoysoners of grace as at last come to this point that all the good things they seemed to haue are most licentiouslie dissolued into a publ◅ck prophanitie whereby they vpbraid the Spirit of grace to his face and that with base and scarrell jests yea and often with most filthie belghes of blasphemie That once done all their grace clearelie melteth away like snailes lik the fat of Lambes or lik the winter yce which once beeing thawed floweth away and is seene no more All such thinges bee fore-runners posting before the prince of sinnes euen the sinne against the holie Ghost which is among all sinnes like Beclzebub among the deuils Obserue againe I pray you how the vnquencheable fire of this vnpardonable sin is kindled While man suffereth diuers sins to lye dispersed in his heart at their naturall libertie without controlement Sathan most craftilie by some cunning slight as by an hollow burning glasse so concentrats and vnites them together like fierie beames that they set on fire the whole bodie of mans corruption whereby as by a pouder plot the Soule is blowne vp in blaspheming euen vp vnto the very bosome of the prince of the aire Well is the man who from his youth is sensible of all appearance of euill Let vs then take heede and consider how this sinne againe the Spirit of grace creepeth in sensiblie vpon the heart of man ordinarly this sinne followeth a long custome in sinning as the head vncurable Scirrhus in the leuer affected with the dropsie cummeth after many surfites Thus according to that olde saying though a created testimonie Sero medecina paratur Cum mala per longas invaluere moras O happie they who curbe their corruption in time before they get edge and vigour The sicke Man While a man is in this life may it not bee knowne if hee bee guiltie of this sinne The Pastour Verie hardlie for as Agrippa was almost perswaded to bee a Christian and yet neuer came from almost vnto altogether so will a man almost fall into this sinne and yet bee rescued as a man will bee for a space in the hight of a feuer that ye will neither know whether he be dead or quick Many haue bene reuiued at the putting on of their winding-sheete Euen so it will be in the sicknesse drawing vnto this sinne which is a sin vnto death Some will seeme to bee dead in it as a man into an Apoplexie yet it will be sene that they will arise and repent Of this assertion I take Manasses for a warrand for after that hee had knowne the trueth had persecuted the known Trueth making the streetes of Ierusalem to runne blood yet saith the Scripture while hee was taken among the thornes and bound with fetters and carried to Babylon In his affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himselfe greatlie before the God of his fathers A mans flesh whether on his cheeke or hand cutted to atacke being taken in time while the flesh and blood are yet warme will againe sticke to and receiue the life almost lost If such be the force of Nature how much more powerfull are the workings of grace except thē that a man after knowledge be as Paul was in his ignorance exceedinglie mad in the persecuting Trueth I darre not define his sinne to bee past remeede The sicke Man Indeed Sir these be verie cleare similitudes which illustrat our purpose wonderfullie But seeing as yee thinke no man can certainelie know the particular man that is now guiltie of this sin how is it that we are forbidden to pray for such a man If any man saith S. Iohn see his brother sin a sin which is not vnto death hee shall pray for him but there is a sin vnto death I doe not say that he pray for it so soone as such a mā dyeth without remeed he must in all post haste gallop from the land of the liuing vnto the abhorred region of euerlasting death To what end serueth this inhabitation if no man can know assuredlie who is guiltie of this sinne The Pastour The opinion of the most learned is that in the time of S. Iohn the gift of discretion was giuen vnto the Church whereby both sooner and surer they might discouer the damnable sin As for vs wee can hardlie well perceiue it but by finall impenitencie and most fearefull dispaire whereby such miserable Apostats who haue reuolted from the Trueth declare at last with Iulian that the God of Galilee hath fullie and fearefully ouercome them Till that appeare let vs beware to judge rashlie seeing Peter speaking
bee judged By this it would appeare that all the sinnes which they in their life did commit vnder the curtaine of darknesse shall then bee set in open view O the deepe displeasure of our God Happie they who are highlie in his fauour I would gladlie know what a blacke bible is that which is called the Book of the wicked The Pastour When Christ the Ancient of dayes sitting vpon his Throne readie for to judge the wicked shall bee vpon the touch of their tryall the Books of accounts shall bee laide open The Book of the Godlie is but one Book called The Booke of the Lambe and the Booke of Life But as for the wicked while the Scirpture speaketh of them it speaketh of Bookes in the plurall number The Bookes were opened saith S. Iohn And the dead were judged out of these thinges that were written in the Bookes By these Bookes some vnderstand the Law of God and their own Conscience Their bosome Booke like Vriahs Letters containing their own death Let mee also add◅ vnto these two a third Booke ei◅en the Booke of the Gospel First of all the Lord shall open his Law Book vnto the wicked where they shall see what they haue done that God hath forbidden and what they haue not done that hee hath commanded At the breach of euerie command they shall see curles of Woe woe woe annexed like the reekie taile of a Comet which are nothing but the smoke of Gods wrath After that with sore sighing griefe of minde they haue read through all the Book of the Law haue clearlie seene what filthie breaches they haue made to them shall bee presented the Booke of the Gospel wherein they shall see that they haue sinned against the reemeede of sinne by refusing grace offered vnto them and by treading vnder their vncleane feete the precious Blood of the Lambe the price of their Redemption Thogh the wicked shall indeed be judged according to their workes yet the maine cause of their condemnation shall bee because they would not belieue in the Son of God For this cause the Gospel which is that Book of Faith shal be Gods chiefe Booke of Iudgement according to this S. Paul plainelie saith That in that day God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ according to my Gospel Nowe lest the wicked should thinke God anie wise to bee vnrigh teous while hee judgeth the third Booke like Iosephs Cup where by hee did diuine shall bee produced euen their bosome Booke the Booke of their owne Conscience the Booke of Nature and of Nations which euerie one of them had in keeping within their brest since they could discerne good by euill What euer they haue spoken wrought or thought there shall they finde it written in most black Characters as it were subscribed with their owne hand so that they shall not be able to haue a face for to deny no more thā a man can denye his owne hand write The Letters of that Booke shall be printed with so great a Character that all the Godlie who shall bee Christs Assessours in that Iurie for to passe their Verdict vpon them shall see easilie a farie off all the shame of the wicked which was once closse couered vnder vanished colours of great godlinesse O in that day all their filthy thoghts and craftie conueyances and secret conspiracies and hidde murthers and adulteries and all other mischiefe the vnhappie cockle darnell of their heartes whereof they were secretlie guiltie shall be sette in open view before GOD Angels and men All their faces shall be couered with the filthinesse of their menstruous clouts All their sins both knowne and secret shall God set in order before them that all eyes of men and Angels may beholde their abominations O short so◅r sweete pleasures with long euerlasting tailes of sorrow O but the Saintes of God shall wonder in that day to see so manie whom they while they liued iudged in Charitie to bee godlie and well set persons O say I but they shall wonder to see them in ba◅e bondage among the blacke band hauing the Books of their Consciences blotted with so many Items of i◅lle and wicked thoughtes which in this life could neuer be taken within the walk of humane justice After the Items of their vile thoughts shall appeare the Items of idle and wicked words After all shall bee seene the most filthie Items of their most vile abominable works which they thought had beene buried in eternall obliuion The dashing tempest of Gods wrath shall wash out all the varnished paintings of their hypocrisie Mercifull GOD what shame in that day shall come with confusion vpon all the faces of the wicked When such secret sinnes as hid murthers by Sword or by poyson hid adulteries incest stollen inches false weights all other such iniquities whereof this world is full and that vnder a faire colour and shewe of godlinesse when all these hid sianes say I shall bee singled out and shall come to light the Godlie whome they once reputed precise fooles and simple Fellowes shall wonder at the sight thereof Then shall they point at such persons saying among themselues Fye fye out vpon him out vpon her Ohshame who could haue thought that euer hee had beene such a man or that shee had beene such a woman was this the life that these dapper delicate persons did leade vnder the faire colour of such a glorious profession Ah stinking hypocrites formall Pharisees with your sodered shewes to whom poore poore Publicans seemed to bee no bodie because while yee sinned God kept silence yee thought that hee was altogether such a one as your selfe But now hee shall reproue you and shall set all your sinnes in order before you It shall bee clearlie proued vnto your faces false hearts that ye were but painted Tombes and whited walls The Lord in his furie shall hurle you out of your place Hee in his rage shall push you all downe like a rotten and tottering wall Nothing shall bee able to dazele or deceiue the eyes of your Iudge The sicke Man The Lord bee mercifull to my sillie Soule The Lord cast all my sinnes behind thy backe and burie them in the bottome of the Sea It is euident then as I see that all secret sinnes shall come to light in that day and shall bee seene written with Letters great like mountaines for to be seen by the eyes of all these that euer tooke life and that to the euerlasting shame and infamie of these who in the dayes of Gods patience turned his grace into wantonnesse The Pastour It is most certaine that there is nothing which shall not bee seene that day All the closse corruptions where with the wicked were stuft and swelled shall bee sette in open view all the wicked shall be known yea euerie mothers sonne of them shal be
her Consider well I pray you If the beholding of the glorie of an earthlie Prince so rauished the heart not of a rusticke that will easilie wonder at any thing but of a Queene yea and so that no more spirit remained in her what should it bee if we should get but as through the graâ—… one sight thorow the heauens of that great God of Solomon sitting vpon his Throne If but for the quarter of an houre wee might see the meate of his Tablâ—… and the standing of his seruants the attendance of his Ministers Saincts Angels casting downe their Crownes at his feete if I say wee could see these things as they are this our Spirit shuld be caried toward him witâ—… such a strong bent affection thaâ—… 〈◊〉 should not tarie within vs but being rauished should runne out of this body of clay for to goe abide with him that made it among pleasures perfectlie abstracted from paine If God as hee is should appeare vnto vs were it neuer so little the bonds of our bodies should not be able for to fetter so our Soules but at the first sight of God they with a most flagrant desire should flutter out of sinfull clay for to enjoye his most amiable presence wherein are pleasures exempted from all hazard of surprysall That which I say giueth some light to these wordes which God said to Moses No man can see my face and liue As for the wicked I giue this interpretation that the sight of Gods face shuld kil them as light killeth darknes or as the day is the slaughter of the night But God who killeth not but quickeneth the killed of his owne chosen if by them hee were seene in the face on earth they shuld dye not a violent death but they should die for loue to bee at him At the first sight of his Face their Soules would not remaine any more in clay but loathing their bodies they should make haste for to flie to their God So soone as Steuen saw the Heauens opened the Son of man standing at the right hand of God his Soule tooke post to the heauens Albeit the Burrios thought that they chaised it out with stroakes and with stones yet it is certaine that fra once hee got that sight his Soule was more desirous to bee out of his bodie for loue of Heauen than the Soule of the most wicked man can bee desirous to abide still within for feare of Hell There is such an attractiue loue in Gods countenance that if the Soule in flesh could once see it the bodie should not bee able to keepe it any more within no not for the space of a moment As the load stone draweth vnto it the yron by a secret and vnspeakable draught so in the face of God there is such an attractiue force that of neede force the godlie Soule at the first sight of it must flie vp vnto it As the Sun by the force of his beames raised vp the vapours towardes heauen euen so if God would but turne his face to anie Soule with the least blinke thereof hee should draw vp that Soule vnto himselfe like a vapour raised vp by the force of the Sunne Consider how the sight but of his backe partes maketh many a well resolued Christian to cry vp vnto him Cupio dissolvi I desire to bee dissolued What is that but the faithfull Soule haling like an Hawke for to flie from the mortall heart as from the hand of a stranger for to come home to her Lord in eternitie O thrise happie hee whose name is in the Booke and whose Soule is in the bundle of life O the gaine that wee haue by the mercie of God in the fall of Adam In Paradise man might liue or die On earth hee now liueth and must die But in Heauen wee shall so liue that wee can no more die O blessed life of eternitie neuer to haue an end into that other world Oh that wee could spend this life in a sacred violence in pursute of that celestiall crowne of immortalitie Happie is hee who keepeth a narrow watch ouer all the stirringes and imaginations of his heart in consideration of that day Happie is hee who maketh all his joys pleasures and all his best beloued thinges below to bee by standers waiting on the seruice of that one thing which onelie is necessarie The sicke Man My Soule is so rauished with youâ—… speach that it flutters within mee â—… haleth to bee away from this mortalitie for to goe dwell into these heauenlie Mansions with the God of glorie Our best thinges below in their verie quintessence are defiled with the moode of home bred corruption All haue neede to be renewed in the verie spirit of their minde Let it please you Sir yet to continue in describing the beautie of Paradise The Pastour If man oâ—… Earth could belieue the beautie of the Heauens to be in any measure such as it is hee would bee glad at his heart to forsake the moulding cottages of clay Seeing the out-sid of heauen is so glorious what must bee the in side Solomons Temple was a type of Heauen The further a man went in he saw the greater beautie In the out most Couâ—… was but an Altar of brasse for the sâ—…crificing of beastes Into the inward Court stood an Altar of Gold for offering of incense of sweet persumâ—…s But that which was in most viz Sanctum Sanctorum the Holie of holies was all full of Glorie There God himselfe was heard in a voyce beetweene the Cherubins There was the Ark called The Glorie wherin were the Tables of Gods word Aarons flourished Rod the Manna There was the Word for the instruction of the Soule There were the Almond floorishes like a pleasant Spring for rejoycing of the eye There also was Mannah for meate the type of that euerlasting Soule feast in the Heauens Behold a compend of the three most pleasaÌ„t seasons of the yeare First there was the seed of the word after that the Summer flowers of pleasure in the flowrishing Rod And last there was the fruitfull haruish of Manna for meat In a word in that Holie of holies the figure of Heauen was the Mercieseaâ—… the speciall place of Gods residence But all the beautie of that Temple were not sufficient to expresse the shadowe of these that are aboue the starres S. Paul after that hee had beene rauished vp to the third heauens got a charge from God that hee should not tell what hee had heard or seene there Onelie this hee declared after that hee was come downe that vp into Paradise hee had heard vnspeakable words which no tongue of flesh could bee able to pronounce But though such words had beene speakable the Apostle declareth that it was not lawfull for a man to vtter them Alas what can the earthlie low creeping worâ—…s of our highest eloquence expresse of these
dreadfull visitatations of Conscience His Soule hath bene sore racked with the pitifull perplexities of a vexed minde Now death is approaching Sight senses all are failing but thou Lord will neuer faile him While the naturall eyes of his bodie beginne to growe dimme then cleare thou the spirituall eyes of his soule that hee may with Stephen see the heauens opened and the Sonne of man readie to receiue him And alwayes Lord as the time of death shall approach so let his Soule draw nearer vnto thee that while sicknesse shall take away the vse of his tongue his heart may cry to thee Come Lord Iesus come in thine hands I resigne my Spirit Nowe Father of mercies seeing thy Girnels are prepared for him by the power of thy grace fanne this Corne cleane from its chaffe that it may bee treasured vp therein Put his life in a readinesse that hee may giue thee a chearefull account of all wherein hee hath imployed thy Talents Let him heare these words of joye Faithfull seruant come and enter in thy Masters joye Long hath his Soule beene wooing the heauens with weake fluttering desires Nowe open the window of thine Arke and let in this wearied Doue crouding for thy Rest Manie depthes bee betweene vs and heauen One deepth calleth vpon another deepth for flesh and blood there is no possibilitie of passing thorowe But Lord that which is impossible with men is possible with thee Let therefore the vertue of thy death be to him like a Bridge for to sette him safe ouer all the gulfes of miserie In his journey to thy Kingdome remoue all rubbes out of the way O Lord listen to our cry Put these our vnworthy prayers into thy golden Censer Perfume them with the incense of thy righteousnesse and offer them vp to thy Father vpon the Altar of thy diuinitie And thou Fatherof mercies for the merites of thy Son his all sauing death which hee hath suffered for al repēting sinners Receiuein mercy this Soule which Sathan hath sought to sift Receiue the deare price of the Blood of thy Son Let thy Iustice say I am satisfied Let thy mercie so smile vpon him that it may bee the health of his countenance and the comfort of his Conscience While hee shall finish his course finish thou his Faith with perfection whereby hee may die hauing a settled assurance of that blessed Inheritance and massie Crowne of immortalitie which Christ hath conquised by his bloodie merites To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace bee all Glorie honour dominion and euerlasting power for now and euer Amen The sicke Man Lord heare thou in Heauen O blessed God and Father of eternity seeing my time nowe is short giue mee grace to manage it well Shute not thine eares to my sighes while my tong in the jawes of death shall cleaue fast to the roofe of my mouth O follow me with thy fauours euē thorow the valey of the shadow of death O Lord because thou art faithfull cannot lie I look shortlie to receiue in hand that which I haue in hope O come now and put an ende to the dayes of my vanitie The Pastour Blessed magnified be the Lord of eternitie for such wonderfull mercies towards you He most powerfullie most wonderfully hath brought you back from the corrupt course of Nature as a Boat rowed against the streame by the force of Armes and of Oares Behold now ye approch vnto your Heauen Be of good heart Sir ye are neare vnto your rest the place of pleasures for euermore Nowe seeing the ende draweth neare yee haue to remember well if yee haue anie grudge against anie that before yee decease they may be fetcht and friended with you The sicke Man I wish all men to be well I hope that no man wisheth otherwise to mee My desire was neuer either to reuile or to reuenge I am readie to satisfie where I haue failed and to forgiue where I haue receiued the greatest wrong Mans wronges against mee are but light in comparison of my wickednes against God Hee is not worthie that God shuld forgiue him his sinnes who will not forgiue his neighbour an injury My good God hath forgiuen mee all As hee hath forgiuen mee so I forgiue all men and desire the lik to be done by others vnto mee My Soule abhorreth these words of ranckour I may forgiue him but I will not forgete him The softning Spirit of God cannot dwell where there is such stonie steelie hardnesse of heart O Fountaine of Grace powre the powers of thy Spirit within my breast that my Soule may bee refreshed with thy blessed balmie comfortes of sauing grace Draw vp my spirit toward the Tabernacles of immortalitie O when shall I come and appeare before God! Put to the Spure to this dull jadde of my foggie flesh that I may make more haste in my journey The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen Seeing God hath blessed you with Wealth I doubt not but that ye will doe some thing for the well of Colledges Hospitales Colledges are the Seminaries or seede-plotes of vertues out of which come these who become Rulers of the Church Common-wealth Hospitals are shelters for the poore the friendes of Christ Christs counsell to the rich is that they make friendes of the Mammon of vnrighteousnes Such words were not spoken by our Lord without great and weightie reasons The sicke Man All these things were done in my Testament while I put mine house to an order I haue not forgot that point of duetie Hee is not worthy to be called a faithfull man who leaueth not behind him some fruits of his Faith That Faith which cannot justifie a man by good works before men will neuer justifie his soule before God Remember mee O Lord cōcerning this wipe not away my good deedes which I haue done for thy glory Let men dreame of Saluation as they please S. Iames his precept is that men shewe their Faith by their workes Though Pharisees doe all that they doe for to bee seene men must not in mens sight forbeare to doe well Because Hypocrites come to preaching prayers publicklie true Israelites for that must not sitte at home The Godlie must not bee so base in heart as to abstaine from all publicke good because the wicked worshippe but outwardlie Shewes without substance in some should not bee able to banish the shewes of substance from others The Pastour Indeede Sir yee speake wiselie As the tree is first seene in the budde and then in the flourish and after in the fruite so muste the life of man bee Because the barren figge tree had nothing but leaues the fruitfull tree must not grow bare the leaues of the tree haue their owne vse among the fruites So haue godlie shewes good vses when they are joyned with true substance The Faith of a Christian should not think shame to shew
custome of God as we see to put his dearest Ones to the hardest proofe as wise Builders put the greatest timber and the heart of the Oake to the greatest stresse Manie thinke that Heauen standeth hard by their Bed-side and that a light Lord haue mercie will make the doore of Heauen to goe wide open to the wall no not Through man◅e tribulations we must enter into that Kingdome As Aprill showers goe before the May flowers so must our teares trickle before our Triumphs Wee must smert before we smile and grone before wee glorie All Christian Soules like Christ himselfe must enter by the port of paines vnto the palace of pleasures for euermore No co-reigning without a co-suffering O let vs consider what paines this godlie man hath suffered in this fierie tryall since this Battell beganne O with what difficulties hath hee swimmed thorow so many temptations If the righteous scarcelie bee saued where shall the vngodlie and the sinner appeare O sowre Apple of Adams pride many teeth hast thou set on edge The Sparrow by wandering the Swal low by flying may escape but where sin hath beene once there must also be sorrow before that the sinner can come to joye It is not so easie as manie men thinke to winne in at the doores of heauen as though one Gods-mercy were enough for to doe the turne Before that a man be able to winne in at the straite gate for to enter into his euerlasting rest hee must be buffeted with diuerse temptations and broken with sorrowes till his heart become contrit that is grund bruished small as if it were corne in a Querne There is none entrie into rest for man before that in great griefe hee hath pluckt out his right eye euen his dearest darling best bosome pleasure Hee that would lodge with God in eternitie muste heere lay holde on his Kingdome with an holie violence What wonder that he auen be hard to win seeing with all the infernall powers of darknesse legions of our owne corruptions combined oppose might maine the grouth of Gods graces in our Soules Manie foolishlie in the idle rowings of their braines content with a blush of zeale thinke that Heauen may bee winne with wishes and therefore in their life skippe wantonlie ouer the threatnings of the Law in hope that easilie at death they may catch at the promise of the Gospel But who had seene this holie man of GOD vpon the painefull racke of repentance would count all the perishing pleasures of sinne too deare bought pleasures Sinne at the beginning is like poyson in perfume pleasant at the first but not long after it worketh deadlie except that it be repelled with some stronger Antidote The way to heauen as wee see is not like the way to great ma◅ket Townes easilie discerned by the multitude of footesteppes Our good Friende is nowe in the verie panges of death A patient and Lambe like death is this His life is on his lippe This wearied Traueler is nowe neare the ende of his journey Seeing that the ende of a worke crowneth it let vs conceiue a Prayer whereby wee may lay his Soule into the bosome of his God who shall refresh him with euerlasting comforts O Lord by the vigour of thy Spirit giue wings to our groueling prayers A Prayer for the sicke Man approaching vnto Death O GOD of mercle and of mans Saluation who thinketh nothing too deare for a repēting soule were it to giue it a draught of the heart Blood of thy Sonne wee heere vpon the knees of our hearts humbled againe before the foote-stoole of the the Throne of thy Grace put vp to thee our most humble sute for this thy seruant who is nowe comming to thee His words now faile him but thou Lord wilt neuer faile him In stead of wordes let the crouding sobbes the Turtle finde roome into thine eares Heaue vp his heart to thy mercie seate with the requests of thy Spirit in sighs which cannot bee expressed O charitable Almes giuer open the hand of this Begger and thrust the money of thy mercie into it Seale fast vp in his heart the remission of all his sinnes in the blood of Iesus Burie all his transgressions in Christes Burial Establish thy free Spirit within him Take from him all dulnesse and deadnesse of spirit all secure and hardened thoughts all that may hinder him from comming vnto thee Continue his comfortes begunne Bee thou the ende and the ender of his worke Lorde disapoint Sathan who by his charmes and cunning traines hath gone about both by force fraud to catch this Soule of thy seruant Now Death is approaching To thee belongeth the issues of death Thou killest thou makest aliue thou bringest downe to the graue and againe thou raisest vp Now as euidentlie appeareth thou art for to remoue this thy seruant from the Land of the l◅uing and thy will must bee done Wee could haue wished the continuance of his Christian fellowship with the lengthening and enlarging of his dayes But most humblie wee submitte all our affections vnto thy good pleasure and will O Father of mercies in whose boundlesse bowels are moste pittifull compassions without anie passion shew thy selfe mercifull louing and kinde towardes this Soule which in the dayes of its fleshe hath beene with thee but a stranger and ◅ sojourner His Soule now is saying to thee with Iohn his two Disciples Rabbi Master where remaineth thou Answere it as thou answered them louinglie Come and see and after that tak it home to thine own house as Iohn tooke home thy Mother O deare Father of our Sauiour by Nature O our dearest Father by adoption bee fauourable to this thy seruant euen for that blood wherewith thou art passing lie pleased Forget and forgiue all his sinnes whatsoeuer Lay now thy louing Armes about him Claspe him hard to thy bosome and keepe him fast till hee be surelie and softlie placed into the heauens Now Lord thou hast begunne to loofe this Soule out of its prison Let earth goe to earth and his Spirit returne to thee that gaue it Place it into one of these heauenlie Mansions which thy Sonne is gone to prepare for these that are thine Strengthen him now at the last and highest point of his tryall O Great IEHOVAH who neuer hucketh to giue mercie to heart broken sinners let him finde more and more that thy bowels ouerflowing with mercie are readie to receiue him In the bottomelesse sea of thy mercie make his sinnes all to bee choaked and his Soule deliciouslie to be bathed with euerlasting comforts And because Sathan in his last assaults is most furious bee thou most powerfull in him by the vertue of thy Spirite Blunt so the edge of all his temptations that they bee not able any more to wound his Spirit Let thy secret loue bee vnto his Soule lik a Secret or jack in this bloodie battell
ground for Colewort or Cabbage for to liue vpon saying This will I giue thee for thy life-time But if afterward this Lord should say Fetch mee my good feruant out of his clattie Cottage and bring him to my Palace that he may eate at mine owne Table for euer Tell me if by the change that seruāt hath lost Would that seruant think yee say No Lord I will not come to thy Table for thou hast promised mee this Cottage-house for my life-time What Lord in the Land was euer troubled with such an answere And yet indeede it is so that God doeth with his faithfull seruantes when they die into the midst of their dayes When men are departed from this life it is the Lord that hath sent his messenger Death for to fetch their Soules from their bodies which Scripture calleth Tabernacles of clay vnto his heauenlie Mansions there for to banquet eternallie at his Table with Abraham Isaac and Iacob Now tell mee O man what haue yee lost for to goe from the Earth to the Heauens Is there any thing in this world of such worth that should make you desire to liue for to stay from your God but an houre The sicke Man That which yee say Sir is verie true But how few are these who in this world can gladlie condescend to depart out of this life The life is sweete The Pastour I confesse indeede that euery one hath not attained vnto this high degree of grace as to say with S. Paul I desire to bee dissolued c. Yet all the godlie will subscribe to this that all the faithfull are happie who are dissolued Though euerie man can not wish to die yet euerie man of God will say That Death is better than life Death is a salue which healeth vs of all our sores Is not Death Gods messenger sent for to pull the troubled Soule out of this sinfull world as Gods Angel pulled Lot out of S◅dom Is not our life heere a warfare Are we not here as Daniel was in the Dungeon among Lions Are not vvee here with Ieremie sticking fast into the myrie clay Are not wee heere with Israel into the House of bondage ouerburdened vvith sinne as they vvere vvith bricke Are we not heere with S. Paul vnder the bodie of Death And with Ioseph in the stockes not of tree but of sinne If it were well tolde a man what is heere and what hee may looke for in the life to come if hee had but a graine of grace as great as of Mustard seede hee should easilie discerne vvhereof to make choise Is not our life heere a wind and a vapour of vanitie But which is most of all to be considered Is there not heere a necessitie of sinning laide vpon all the liuing Who should not bee glad to bee fredde and ridde of these sinfull bondes Is not this life continuallie sicke of the filthie flooxe of sinne a most lothsome disease When wee seeke our daylie bread wee must immediatelie subjoyne forgiue vs our sinnes First as wee see heere wee must begge our bread and then pardon What then are wee heere but daylie beggers for the bellie The King must begge his bread from God In the Heauens there shall bee no begging but thanking of God for his benefites Who should for all that he can beg on Earth desire for to liue out of Heauen but one houre Are we not all heere vnder a corruptible burden a burden of corruption vnder which the Soule is pressed as a Cart full of sheaues So long as wee are heere our Soules are laden with sinnes A Soule burdened with such baggage runs on wheeles as it were downe an hill all post haste except that God stay it it shall neuer cease till it arriue in Hell where God shall breake it in sunder by the tempest of his wrath The sicke Man But Death is the wages of sinne who shall not feare The Pastour Indeed Death is such of the owne nature But God in great mercie hath made death to the godlie like the Raine-bow which being naturallie a signe of present raine by Gods Couenant becommeth a perpetuall signe of faire weather to come after that raine As throgh Death Christ wrought our Life so must wee bee killed for to bee made aliue The glorious Resurrection must bee through dust and corruption Our paines must goe before our pleasures and lashes before our laughters After that in come pleasures for euermore If wee had the faith of God wee should not much feare the smart of death which by Christ is made transitus ad vitam a passage vnto Life Let vs once passe thorow this Iordan and behold wee are in an instant in Canaan The sicke Man All that is true Sir No man can controle you yet naturallie all loue Life The Life is sweete The Pastour How sweete is it I pray you Is not our whole Life trouble and wearinesse What is our sleeping our resting our eating our drinking but a seruitude to the flesh Who should not desire to bee rid from such seruile necessities who for to bee free of such bondage should not renounce his deare selfe and all the loue of this irk some life To bee with Christ is it not our best Yea is it not our rest what shame is it for Christians to dote so after this present life who should haue learned to long after the life to come Christ came downe that wee might goe vp If wee desire not to goe vp wee know not wherefore hee came downe Hee came downe to bee a Seruant wee goe vp to bee Lords Hee came downe to bee hungrie wee goe vp to a perpetuall Feast Hee came downe to bee banished where hee had not wherevpon to lay his head we goe vp to dwell in Palaces of pleasures into euerlasting Tabernacles In a word hee came downe to distresse to sorrow to paine to miserie to fight against our enemies Deuils Death and temptations yea hee discended vnto Hell we goe vp to Ioy to Honour to Light to Life to Libertie to our Father to our Friends to our Sauiour and Comforter What shall I say more Euen to vnspeakable Glorie in Paradise with God his Angels What a folie is this that a man should desire to bee depriued of such Comforts for a puffe of breath Bee glad Sir to quite the ranke Onions of Egypt for that heauenlie Manna Sweete like Wafers made with honey The sicke Man If a man could bee fullie perswaded of that which ye say I think that hardlie could hee with-hold himselfe from putting hands into himselfe that so hee might change for the better If all that be why should any desire to stay from God but an houre If I may desire to bee dissolued why may I not dissolue my self The working out of a lawfull desire cannot bee vnlawfull The Pastour
Let no man blesse himselfe with Micah because hee hath gods at home Though men by manie meanes may become rich and think that they shall leaue great wealth vnto their children God can by as many meanes disapoint them as by blood by shipwracke by fire by water by warre by banqueroupts by plea and by piracie c. He who to day was swaggering in his Silkes and swimming in his wealth speaking of nothing but of thousands within a little space behold him againe and loe all is changed The poore man he goeth and no man regardeth him he is hungrie nacked and colde but not so colde as the charitie of these that may helpe him These who were wont to eate at his table desire no more to see him The thoughts of olde obligations are to them lik letters of Caption for to enforce thē to giue some what to their olde distressed friend But cold are such comforts Heere beholde Sir as in a glasse what vanitie into these transitorie things which men think to make permanent to their posteritie But let a man be rich till he die After that he hath spoiled others to make himselfe wealthie shall his children bee his Heires No not The wealth of the sinner is laide vp for the Iust See how God maketh a Worlding to be as it were a drudge or a packe horse for to gather with the sweate of his browes that wherwith the righteous man may bee sustained As hee made the Rauens to flee and fetch flesh for the nourishing of his Seruant Elijah Some tims also it wil befal otherwise that thewe alth of the sinner shall be laid vp for one worse than himselfe that all the world may see and beholde what vanitie there is in such carking care O wil some say if hee that is dead saw such a man in his house Master of all his labours What would hee now thinke Thus God in a manner making deboched bare men like leane Kine prey vpon the wicked who while they liued wold not with the Oliue leaue their fatnes for to be Kings in Heauē letteth the world see what folie it is to put their trust in such transitorie trashes What say yee now Sir Are yee now free of such earthlie temptations The sicke Man I am miserablie vexed with this world Worldlie things doe what I can runne euer into my minde and trouble mee with carking cares The Pastour So long as a mans heart is clogged with this clay hee hath no power to stirre hand or foote to heauen-ward There is both gall and guile in earthlie mindednesse Well is him whose Soule can sore farre aboue this Region of corruption for to minde aboue all things the things that are aboue The sicke Man My minde alas is like Martha busied about manie things or rather buried in manie things The Pastour But Christ said One thing is necessarie Hee that said it is that which hee said euen that One necessarie thing Wee may passe to life eternall without any other thing But there is such a necessitie in Christ that without him wee can doe nothing Without mee said hee yee can doe nothing Christ is that Best part Maries choise Well is that Soule that maketh him its part He is onely that which shall neuer bee taken from vs But what worldlie thing is that that as yet troubleth you The sicke Man Mine heart Sir is ouer-burdened with the weight of manie cares concerning this Life The Pastour Our Sauiour hath set downe a particular Precept concerning that Take heede said hee to your selues least at any time your heartes bee ouercharged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life Such cares may snow downe white haires vpon our hairie scalpe But it is onelie the godlie care the care of the Life to come that worketh Repentance neuer to bee repented of But come to the pārticulars The sicke Man I haue latelie bought some heritage my seruants are plowing it before I die I would wish once to reape the fruites thereof The Pastour To bee worldlie minded is death The command is gone foorth ' none can plead ignorance Loue not the world nor the things of the world Well is him that so liueth heere that he may be counted worthie to enjoy that world It is no time now Sir to thinke of ploughes yee must now leaue all for to follow Christ like Elisha who left his plowing for to follow his new vocation Take now a kisse of your dearest friendes and follow this great Elijah the Lord Iesus the Chariot of all his chosen and the Horse-men of his Israel The sicke Man My Lands are laboured the Haruest draweth neere there is a plentifull croppe vpon the ground Cornes and wheat and all abound The Pastour There is no solide comfort in Wheat or in Corne but onelie in Gods countenance I compare all worldlie things to the Tallow of a Candle and spirituall thinges to the flamme thereof If the Candle bee right set that the flamme bee vpmost the Candle will shin clearelie and giue light But if yee turne the Candle and holde the flamme downe it shall at once drowne in its owne tallow Euen so if the Soule of man bee well set that spirituall thoughts bee vpmost and worldlie cōsiderations sanctified which haue beene melted strained from their drosse be vnder that Soule will shine in holie life before men But if the flamme of the Spirit bee turned downe it will drowne vnder the droppes of such earthlie tallowe By this at last all our light dyeth out like a Candle so that our hearts that were once enlightned become lik a dampish dungeon I confesse so long as wee are here the fire of the Spirit within the best of vs is like ignis in materia fire in an earthlie matter from whence commeth euer some filthie reeke But when once wee shall bee aboue all places wherevnto no reeke can reach this spirituall flamme abstracted from all earthlie matter shall shine most clearlie into the presence of God for euer Are yee not yet Sir resolued Is not your desire now to bee dissolued The sicke Man The world is yet still in my mind I haue takē much paines into it am now but beginning for to get some ease I haue builded an house gladlie would I dwell some space into it Mine heart is sore yea it bleeds for to leaue this Lodging and neuer to come to it againe I had trimmed it for my pleasure and now behold shall I bee disappointed The Pastour There is no great matter of griefe Sir when a man changeth for the better What are all the sieled Palaces of Princes on earth but like the house of a Spider How soone are they all sweept away with the besome of vengeance when God is angrie What are all our dwellinges on earth but Dungeons in a dunghill Let not your
if ye were once dead yee shall beholde man no more with the inhabitants of the world Yee are far beguiled into the sight of the wo◅ld wherewith yee are so rauished Change your Spectacles and all that is below shall seeme to bee of another colour If your Soule could once sore vp towardes Heauen the loue of the Earth and earthlie things would fall from you as did the Mantle of Elias when he was rapt and rauished vp vnto glorie The sicke Man But ye know Sir that it is verie hard not to bee sore grieued to goe out of this world Non amplius visur us neque videndus neither for to see anie more nor yet to bee seene Who without teares can say his adewes to all his joys pleasures and contentments that are here Whē I once shal be caried out of my house yee shall see mee no more Hencefoorth yee and I will speake no more together I departing from you must goe to the place of silence among stinke wormes Who can-without displeasure say to all worldlie joyes farewell The Pastour It is best that ye turne your backe vnto such naughtie things as Hezekiah turned his backe to the stocke and his face to the wall that hee might conferre with his God It is great folie to bee so fond vpon such transitorie trashes What is so pleasant in this world that should allure vs to it Are not all thinges inconstant heere below There is nothing that standeth at a stay but either it is comming in or going out like the Tyde There is no creature but while it beginneth to waxe it also beginneth to waine A child of the age of a day hath lesse time to liue at Eauen than hee had in the morning Since hee came out of the bellie from the morning vnto eauen hee hath made a dayes journey in the way to his graue In ipso ortu vergimus ad occasum Our arising vp is but a course to our fall The degrees of a mans life are as as manie stepp vnto his death All that wee see below is in a continuall whirling from a beginning to an end The course of all the Creatures below is in a trance of transitorie trashes I can but teach you with vvords as Iohn baptized with water It is onelie the Lord vvho can perswade The sicke Man I take delight to heare you I pray God to perswade mee Continue I pray you into that discourse concerning the vanitie and inconstancie of vvo◅ldly things ripe them vp and open them wider that I may see them within the bowels The Pastour The vvisest among men preached Vanitie of vanities and all is vanitie All things are vaine and all things cry vnto vs that wee are vaine So vaine a thing is man The Trees the Herbes the Flowrishes the Fruites the Fishes the Beastes the Spring the Summer the Haruest the Winter the Aire the Water the Earth the Heauens are all appointed teachers by God to tell man of his changing Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world All that haue eyes eares may heare read their doctrine that heere is nothing permanent One creature calleth to another Let vs leaue this World See wee not how vvee melt away by droppes for to bee dryed into dust Moses saith that wee spend our yeares as a tale that is tolde a strange speach for to declare the vanitie of lōg life so much desired while a tale is in telling it seemeth to bee something but when a tale is once told these that haue heard it will in end say That it is but a tale So long as mans life is lasting it is like a tale that is in telling But so soone as Death the end of all commeth it is but like a tale that is tolde Thus as yee see all mans life in Scripture language is called but a tale All the times of our life past present and to come are turned at last into a fuimus wee haue beene Wee that liue now let vs remember our case Ecce tempus nunc futurum quo dicen◅ nos fuisse The time shall bee shortlie that man shall say of vs that wee haue beene And thereafter a time shall come that none shall know that euer wee had a beeing Our life is like a sparkle fleeing out of the fire which dyeth out into the flight it failleth before it falleth The sicke Man These bee wordes of great power I finde now some working thereof within mine heart I pray you continue The Pastour Wee haue none abiding heere We all both yong old post swiftlie away to the graue the last bed wherein euerie man must sleepe we are long of comming to But how soone are wee pulled downe Our strength saith Moses is soone cut off and wee flee away Wee are like the Yee which thaweth sooner than it froze This is the Law of all flesh Prince People Poore and Rich all must goe to Golgotha The Preacher saith plainlie There is no discharge in that warre Though a man in the morning bee proude like a Peacocke with lifted vp feathers if Death come before the night come hee must lay downe his head among dead mens Skuls What a thing is this that within an hundreth yeares not one of vs all that are heere shall bee left aliue no not in this great Citie wherein wee liue Are wee not all as water spilt vpon the ground which can not bee gathered vp againe What memorie is now of these tha◅ are past And what shall bee said o◅ vs when wee are gone It is o◅ farre best then to follow our God and to turne our backe vpon all suc◅ lying vanities The sicke Man I requeast you Sir not to be wearied Proceede I pray you into tha◅ purpose that I may learne what vanitie is into this life which is so much desired The Pastour Mans life into this world is but a Pilgrimage and a race not of great length for man that is borne of a w◅man hath but a short time to liue Iacobs answere to King Pharaohs question concerning his age was few and euill haue my dayes beene What is man saith one but Vermis crasti◅ moriturus a worme that will die to morrow Dauid putteth the length of his dayes betweene his little finger his thumbe My life said he is like a span long some get but an inch consider well I pray you Sir seeing it is so what is it then of your life which is but of the length of a span what thogh it were an ell of length Is not Methusalah with his many hundreth yeeres as well in dust as as hee that liued but a day Other haue giuen place to vs and we must also giue place to others To mee to day to thee tomorrow There is no lodging
for immortalitie vpon the Earth The sicke Man My Soule rejoyceth to heare you Sir proceede I pray you The Pastour Wee haue no great cause to desire to sojourne on earth What are we heere on earth but like poore beggers shute downe to the lowest chambers of the world This low contrie may well be called Cabul as Hiram by disdaine called the dirtie cities of Solomon Be glad noâ—… Sir for to leaue this earth a dirtiâ—… dwelling Step vp the Staire eueâ—… the Ladder of Iaacob that yee may mount vp to your God for to see what hee is doing aboue Well is you who shall heare shortlie the musicke of Angels into that Palace whose pauement is the roofe of alâ—… mortall dwellings O if yee kneâ—… what is there Fye on our ignorance The ChildreÌ„ of God in this worlâ—… are like Lords children sent out to bee fostered into little Cottages oâ—… clay when they are sent for by sicknesse and death their Fathers messengers they weepe to come home to their Fathers Palace because they know not these many pleasant Mansions that bee in their Fathers house But after that they haue once tryeâ—… what it is to bee in Heauen with their God they shall wonder 〈◊〉 their childishnesse Be not Sir lâ—… these fort of men that cannot abidâ—… to heare speake of Death but euen sicken at the name thereof or waxe wroth at the speaker as Ahab fumed at the Prophet because hee spake not good thinges vnto him The sicke Man Hezekiah spake more wiselie while hee was threatned by the Prophet Good said hee is the word of the Lord I pray you to continue your purpose concerning death It is good that wee remember our latter end The Pastour Indeed Sir the thoghts of Death are helpefull and healthfull to the Soules of men to bee corrections for their corruptions Such thoughts keepe euer God in our sight They are like a strainer wherthrough the thoughts wordes and workes of men are purified Hardlie can a man thinke of a shoâ—…t life and thinke euill as hardlie can hee dâ—…eame of a long life thinke well All the sinnes of Gods Church in Icremâ—…es dayes vvere imputed vnto this that shee remembred not her end Wee for the most part deceiue our selues vvith the opinion of long life and so did they vvho are dead alreadie O how gracious vvould one day bee to these novv who vvhile they liued did scorne at these vvordes Redeeme the Time But their maâ—…ket time is now past Gods Faire vvas ended before they could vnderstand vvhat it vvas to buy without money Well is the man vvho vvhile he hath time so liueth to dye that hee may dye to liue If our life be good our death cannot be euill To the godlie man death is a comfort as beeing a medecine for all his diseases a cure for all his cares a restâ—… from his labours But in this is his greatest joye that by it the filthie flooxe of sinne is dryed vp into an instant * By it also the prison doore is opened that the Soule like a Doue may flie vp to its God The consideration of such things made Solomon to preach The day of death is better than the day that one is borne Hee spake the trueth for the one is the beginning the other is the ending of all our woe and miserie Now Sir before that I proceede any further I pray you to tell mee what yee thinke now of this world In this as I remember was your last temptation grounded that going out of this world yee should no more see nor bee seene I haue let you see as in a glasse what vanitie is in it yea that all is but vanitie of vanities the verie abstract of an abstract or for to speak so vanitie fined and quintessenced out of vanitie which I may call the spirit or quintessence of vanitie Now Sir tell me what ye thinke of this world wherin gods must die like men No worldlie thing below in the day of neede will bee able to keepe touch vnto vs. The sicke Man Fye fye on my faultes and my folie I foolishlie once thought that I should feather a nest into this world that should neuer bee pulled downe Mine heart hath beene so bent toward this vanitie that I haue neither moued foote nor finger toward eternall Life It is true that I haue beene nourished and brought vp into this world like a Child into a rurall cottage I like a Child thought that there was no better Ionah was angrie for to quite his Gourd The greatest pleasures that are heere beeing well weighed are but like the shadow of that Gourd euanishing and worme-eaten pleasures All such comforts are but slender they faile man in his greatest neede The Pastour Though worldlie pleasures be sweete for a space to these whose portion is into this Life yet as Abner said of the deuouring Sword to Ioab It will bee bitternesse in the latter end In all the gourdes of worldlie pleasures are wormes of paine which shall make them to wither The sicke Man That is most certaine well is him that hath turned his backe to all such lying vanities So long as a man is in nature not reformed by grace hee is but a stranger from heauen The loue of the world in his heart like a moth cats out all liking of Heauen I haue beene too long alas sucking the breastes of this Nourse whereout of I haue drawen nothing but the swill of wickednesse Blessed bee my God who hath sent this affliction for to waine my Soule from the loue of all things below I beginne now to incline for to returne to my Fathers house in Heauen where as I heare it shall bee much better for mee Oh forlorne Sonne that I am who haue wandered so farre from my Father The Pastour I thanke God Sir for these good motions flesh and blood cannot teach such lessons But one word I haue obserued into your speach yee haue said that ye beginne to incline to goe home to your Father Are ye not as yet fullie resolued Desire yee not indeede presently to be dissolued Is it not your greatest desire to flitte fâ—…om this bodie which is but a Booth a Shoppe or Tabernacle of clay Is not your Soule wearied to sojourne into such a reekie Lodge Is not your heart panting after God lâ—…ke an Hart panting after the water brookes He are yee not your Soule crying within you O when shall I come and appeare before God A small feeble inclination to goe to God is not sufficient ye must now come to a stedfast resolution He who is not resolued is not readie for to be dissolued Taâ—… courage bee not dashed into this danger declare your mind freely be not nice there bee none heere but friendes The sicke Man I am so pyned with sicknesse that hardlie can I
of his Throne make Mercie and Trueth goe before his Face Blesse His Royall Match make thy mercie to bee shed abroad in Her Heart Cloth Her with the Royall apparell of Christs Righteousnesse Let readinesse to heare the Preaching of the Word bee Her Eare-ring and good Workes in Her Hand like golden Rings vpon Her Fingers Write vpon the Tables of Her Heart the Loue of true Godlinesse The LORD bee mercifull to the Common-wealth of this Land protect It from the rage of forraine Enemies Let neuer thy protection depart from this Land Let it bee like that Bed of Solomon Threescore stronge men are round about it of the valiant men of Israel They all handle the Sword and are expert in warre euerie one hath his sword vpon his thigh for the feare by night The LORD be gracious vnto vs all whō are heere vpon our kneees before Thee What wee haue said to Thee on earth LORD heare Thou in Heauen Let this afflicted Soule haue a proofe of thine own Trueth that the effectuall prayer of the Righteous auaileth much LORD hea◅ vs for the sake of him who is righteousnes it selfe in whose most perfect Prayer we close vp allour sutes saying Our Father which art c. The Peace Grace and Mercie of our GOD bee with you Sir for euer I hope that by Gods Grace I shall see you earlie in the Morning The sicke Man The LORD render to you according to his gracious promise made to all these that serue him in sinceritie A great blessing requireth great thankes I neuer deserued such kindnesse at your hands The lesse deseruing bee in mee the more deeplie doe I hold my selfe bound vnto your loue I pray you Sir be as good as your word come againe earelie in the Morning The Spirit of IESVS goe with you THE SECOND DAYES Conference Of spirituall temptations The Pastour GOD saue you Sir How haue yee rested this Night Haue yee found any working of Gods Spirit within you since our last conference Is your minde so at quiet now that yee may boldlie say with Simeon Now let thy seruant depart in peace The sicke Man Alas Sir Satans temptations are like that Serpent of Lerne called Hydra which had fiftie heades whereof one beeing cut off two sprang vp in the place thereof I take that serpent to haue beene but a fable But that which I say may bee written for an Historie Many heads of temptations haue yee cut off with the sword of Gods word But now I think that for euerie head cut off two are sprung vp in the place thereof All my temptatons hitherto haue beene but vpon the skin like the scratch of a pinne wrinkles but not woundes All my troubles hitherto hath beene but matters of trifles viz. Feare for my Life feare for my Children feare for the Graue of this our muddie mortalitie and for other such trifles and trashes vnworthie for to trouble a couragious Spirit The Spirit of a couragious man said Solomon will beare his infirmitie But the wounded spirit who can beare it well is the child of God in his ◅orest sicknes for while his bodie is sicke his Soule is sound His God in great loue will make all his bed in his sicknesse and strengthen him into the bed of languishing Hee whom God loueth is armed with Faith and patience all his troubles are but outward scrappings vpon the skinne The temptations wherewith I am lashed are spirituall woundings for my sinnes which neuer troubled mee before I heard oft-ten of such troubles but I neuer knew before this time what such things did meane Thinke ye Sir that the Spirit of a godlie man can bee thus wise troubled I heare Dauid crying in his mourning There is no soundnesse in my flesh neither is there anie rest in my bones But what reckes of flesh and bones if the Spirit were free The Pastour The most godlie that euer liued haue suffered spirituall woundes Christ the Captaine of our Saluation said That his Soule was sadde euen vnto the death Iob cryed that h◅s Spirit was drunken vp with the poyson of Gods arrowes The arrowes of the Almightie said hee are within me the poyson whereof drinketh vp my Spirit See how that holie man of God complaineth that his Spirit was like a drinke drunken vp by the poyson of Gods arrowes By this yee see that spirituall wounds are alloted to the dearest of Gods Elect so that they are not exeemed from inward blowes Trouble of Conscience is the disease of the innocentest Soule The sicke Man That satisfieth mee not As for Christ the blowes which hee suffered in his Soule were blowes of satisfaction for the sinnes of others As for Iob these blowes were blowes of probation of tryall for to let the world see that he was not an hypocrite that serued GOD for rewardes as Sathan did alledge But it is not so with me who am a bond slaue of corruption I suffer for my sinnes which are euer before mee The fainer I would forget them they flow the faster into my rememberance The voyce of my Conscience followeth mee with hue with cry Though God hath spared thee long thou hast not beene bettered looke now for vengeance after so long delayes I can make no answere I can not denie but God hath spared mee long In this is my greatest feare The higher a stroake bee fetcht the longer it is in comming But the higher it bee lifted the heauier it will fall The Pastour I answere to that which yee said first viz. that Christs sufferings are no comfort to you because they are blowes of satisfaction The afflictions of Christ were of diuerse vses first of all for to make payment to Gods Iustice for our sinnes Secondlie he suffered that by his own experience of sense hee beeing expert what it is to suffer might assure vs that hee is both a mercifull and a faithfull high Priest For in that hee himselfe hath suffered beeing tempted he is able to succour thē that are tempted Thus the Apostle declareth plainelie afterward Wee haue not said hee an high Priest which cannot bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities But was in all pointes tempted like as wee are yet without sin This experience which he had of our miserie is called his learning Though hee were a Sonne yet learned hee obedience by the things which he suffered Hee also suffered for to bee an example vnto vs. The sicke Man I vnderstand not well these words that Christ learned obedience by his sufferings The Pastour The words indeed seeme obscure The most Learned think that Christ is said to haue learned obedience by his sufferings because while he suffered hee felt indeed how difficile a thing it is talem obedientiam Deo praestare to yeeld such obedience vnto God others say that by his suffrings hee joyned to his diuine
of temptations If your temptations bee great heere is matter of joye yee haue a God who knoweth how to deliuer you There is no temptatiō so deadly but God knoweth how to cure it A touch of the garment of Christs righteousnesse will anone dry vp that flooxe of blood The sicke Man I am so tossed that I am not able to touch it I am like a shippe in a tempest seeking its Hauen but cannot come by it whiles I am bl◅wen to this side and whiles to that side Thus beeing driuen hither thither as with contrarie Tydes mine heart quaketh and my conscience is in a qualme The Pastour Christ who in the dayes of his flesh rebuked the windes will calme such qualmes that your conscience may bee at rest * Though the rolling sea rage so that it make the Mariners to reele to and froe stagger like drunken men yet when they cry vnto the Lord Hee maketh the stormes a calme so that the waues therof are still Hee who can still the waues of waters can calme the most stirring surgesse of temptations It is written of the Mariners that while in the temptest all their cunning is gone their last refuge is to their prayers Then they cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble and hee deliuereth them from their distresses If your distresse Sir bee like the tempest which cannot bee with stood by care or cunning runne to your God by prayer confesse fullie and freelie your sinnes Suffer no starting holes or hollownesse in your heart But worke it to sinceritie vse all meanes for to bee friendes with your God Seeke earnestlie from God for the sake of his Chirst the peace of Conscience The sicke Man So I doe But alas while I seeke peace I heare from God as it were that voyce of Iehu to Iohoram horse-man saying to my Soule What hast thou to doe with peace get thee behinde m◅e What wonder that God bee angrie with mee who was neuer carefull to please him My Soule like a Night-Owle hath hated Light and loued darknesse Such is the weight of my transgression that I am like to finke thorow the sward of Gods wrath This checketh mee sore that while I sinned I stroue to ouermaster my conscience arraigning mee for my wickednesse When I thinke of this ◅ thinke shame to face the Sunne and the Moone The Pastour The more yee bee ashamed of your sinnes the lesse yee neede to feare euerlasting shame The Pharisee thought no shame of him selfe but bragged of his worth the Publican could not face the Heauens for shame Your part shall be with the Publican who returned justified vnto his house Hee who condemneth himselfe shall goe home to Heauen with the justice of his God Cry vnto the Lord in your trouble The sicke Man I am not able to speake the force of temptations is like to shiuer me in pieces All that is within mee is in a fearefull vproare O how fear◅full is the racke and gibbet of an euill conscience The blacke scrole of my sinnes which of before seemed to bee enroled is now vnfolded laid open wherein euerie letter seemeth huge great like a mountaine Euery day is a death vnto me all my counts are out of order there is not a string in mine heart in a right tune What are sinners but stubble Gods sentence is Burne them Alas that while I sinned I weighed not the following woe I haue brewed my griefe and now I must drinke in sorrow The Pastour One thing I perceiue Sir that your griefe must haue vent till yee haue disburdened your selfe with teares and complaints yee can not admit anie comfort The sicke Man There is no doloure lik to my doloure The arrowes of the Lords wrath are within mee whereof my Spirit drinketh the poyson The Pastour These arrowes are not arrowes of wrath but of vvarning like the arrowes of Ionathan shot for to driue Dauid frō the furie of Saul Heare the Spirit crying with Ionathan Are they not beyond thee Gods arrowes are flowen ouer you are they not beyond you There is no danger The sicke Man My sinnes which once seemed little like mots begin now to swell and to become thicker than mountaines I haue no peace within In my Soule is kindled an vnquenchable fire in it is the fewell of euerlasting burnings Often haue I posted off my sinnes in the lumpe vvith a slubbert generall confession Now resteth nothing within mee but feare distrust qualm◅s of Conscience The Pastour Bee strong in God Sir Hope in his mercie belieue in him though he should stay you If yee will not belieue saith Isaiah surelie yee shall not bee established While the woman of Canaan vvas making request to Christ for her Daughter shee found Christ at the first to bee verie harsh and sowre in calling her a Dogge But that little blast beeing once blowne out for the humbling of her Soule she heard incontinent these words of comfort O woman great is thy Faith Bee it vnto thee euen as thou wilt Gods face may seeme grimne for a space but there is but a moment in his wrath though he should slay you yet must yee trust in him In your hurt yee must hope for his helpe The sicke Man My strongest hope is but a stinging feare My greatest confidence is but trembling of conscience It seemeth to mee that there is one knocking at the doore of mine heart and crying in a voyce Is Faith heere Is loue within Is one called the feare of God into this place Is the Spouse of Christ in this heart Alas what can I say hauing such an ouglie Soule within mee Can Christ the Spouse of the Church loue such a Soule as mine which is like a bleare or squint eyed Leah can the dark night beguile him that hee should take such a loathsome Leah for a beautifull Rachel If Death now ouertake mee I looke for fire and faggot the fuell of euerlasting burninges Oh my Faith fainteth and mine hope houereth What say yee Sir Doeth not your heart pittie to see mee in such a plunge Yet for all this I must justifie God All this is righteouslie come vpon mee though his wrath should so settle vpon mee that thereby my bones should bee crushed like these eighteene who were slaine vnder the tower of Siloe to God should belong righteousnesse but to mee open shame and confusion of face The Pastour Shame of face for sinne is the beginning of grace in a sinner waite vpon the Lord a little and hee shall make his mercie to appeare like a morning light at the breake of day all the night shadowes of temptations shall flee away and Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shall arise and shine vpon your Soule with his blessed beames This shall make your Soule like a Bird on a bush well-comming the morning with a
to hand I am stricken with such amazednesse that I know not where to finde any true refreshment This maketh death to mee as a King of feare All the sinnes that euer I did commit seeme to mee malicious blowes which I haue set vpon the face of my GOD Hardlie can I thinke that such a Cain or cursed Cham as I cā euer enter into Canaan Thinke ye not this to be true I find this to bee trueth There is no peace saith my God to the wicked The Pastour These bee but temptations of Sathan who is seeking for to fift you as wheate Pray Christ that hee would pray for you that your faith faile not There is full power in Christ for to locke vp the jawes of that roaring Lyon Hee at last shall discouer vnto you those Gun-powder plots The sicke Man I know that there is sufficient power in Christ for to saue mee but I doubt of his will If Christ were minded to saue mee would hee not giue mee an assurance to bee saued This temptation passeth through the barke to the bone The Pastour Our assurance is not perfect into this life Wee are all heere like a Shippe tossed with contrarie Tydes into a raging Sea As the weather beaten Barke is driuen with many contrarie courses before shee can winne her Hauen so hath the Soule manie toes and froes before it pierce to the Skes for to enter into Heauen God giueth to no man heere all good things at once but some wee receiue in hand and some in hope This hope is the Christian Soules plight anchor in the swelling Seas of temptations While all that is present is full of trouble Hope fetcheth comfortes from the times to come While it is foule wee hope it shall bee faire While wee are sicke wee hope for health While we prouid for our Children wee hope they shall doe well While men write Bookes they hope they shall doe good While the Mariner saileth thorow the raging waues hee hopeth to come home againe hee hopeth for vantage While the Sower casteth his seede from him hee weepeth but Hope comforteth him that hee shall receiue againe a plentifull increase The hope of the pleasant Spring is a comfort in the colde Winter The hope of the Day is the long Nights comfort Deaths speciall comfort is in hope that we shall all meete againe Well then Sir seeing it is so the comfortes which wee haue not receiued as yet in hand receiue them in Hope waite vpon God and vvaite vpon him still While all your senses are silent Hope shall come with Helpe assuring you that at last yee shall preuaile Let the deuill doe his worst to dismay you sticke yee fast by this Hope which shall neuer faile you yea though God himselfe should seeme to bee your enemie yet say to him with Iob Though thou should slay mee yet will I trust in thee The sicke Man That Sir is of verie hard practise For if the Lord of Life put out the life who shall put it in againe mine Hope is small if it be not lost I feare to feele shortly that which shal be without either end or ease All sorts of temptations come haile shot vpon mee I am laide open to all the blowes of Gods wrath I am lik a wind-waued tree loose at the roots Mine heart quaketh my Soule panteth my conscience is in a qualme What can such torments bee but verie Postes and fore-runners of euerlasting paines What can they bee but the verie smoke of Gods wrath comming before a fire that shall burne to the bottome of Hell The feare of this clogeth so my Conscience that I cannot thinke but such terrours bee the verie earnest of eternall woe This maketh my liuer to rolle in my bodie O that mercie might bee Bartered for Money The Pastour Indeede Sir such terrours are such of their owne nature euen the smoke of a kindled wrath neuer to bee quenched But vnto the godlie their nature is changed by grace Such tremblings and shakings such thunders and earth quakes feares and fires are but the preparations of the Soule for to meete with its God into the still and calme voyce After this maner as ye know the Lord came vnto his Seruant Elijah Before he came to him he prepared his way by three fearefull Messengers First by a winde which rent the mountaines and brake in pieces the Rockes Secondlie by an Earthquake which made all to shake vnder him Thirdlie by a fire All these came before for to terrifie the man of God that by that meanes hee might be the better prepared to meete with his God in the calme Before Christ would shew himselfe to the world hee sent two austere Messengers before him First Moses with a fierie Law and last the Baptist like a Carpenter with a sharpened Axe in his hand for to hewe downe euerie fruitlesse tree that marred the ground After them came the meekenesse of the Lambe of God crying Come vnto mee all yee that are wearied and laden and I will ease you God will not be mercifull to proud selfe-sufficient men Take Sir these blastes of temptations to be but the Lords wind of preparation These heart-quackes are but earth quakes All your other fierie temptations are but fire from Heauen Posts from GOD in haste for to giue you warning of his comming By such warnings the Lord will waken you lest with the wicked in the slumber of securitie ye should sleepe still in your sins or with scorners should smooth them ouer and jest them away as thogh the sins of men shuld neuer be sentenced nor their life examined Bee of good comfort Sir your sharpest temptations which Sathan hath whet vpon the whet-stone of his malice by Gods grace shall bee to you like the Baptistes Axe for to hewe downe all superfluities of wickednesse within you It is good that God snedde the vnfruitfull and rotten branches of our life that in our hearts a way may bee prepared for the King of glorie Yee must also know Sir that such troubles and tempests are but a preface of Gods presence as Hearken and take head Israel was sette before the Law Suffer therefore patientlie the Lords rebukes Let the righteous smite mee said Dauid and it shall bee a kindnesse and let him reproue mee and it shall bee an excellent oyle which shall not breake mine head These feares Sir that trouble you are nothing but Gods reproofes * Take them as a kindnesse yea as an excellent oyle which shall neither breake head nor heart for your hurt The nature of oyle is not to break but rather to heale that which is alreadie broken God by such trubles intēdeth to refine you Haue patience but a little in your griefes Yet a little while and they shall bee
absent yet be not for that disquieted his Godhead is present Hee himselfe hath said concerning his bodily presence that it was expedient for vs that hee should goe away As for the weaknes of your Fa◅th pray God to strengthen it Faith though it bee little yet it is of great force a graine of it will cast a mountaine into the sea The Sicke Man Let mee see I pray you Sir anie particular example of a weake Faith sauing anie man The Pastour Of this in Scripture wee haue a cloud of witnesses I shall let you see two one in substance the other in type or figure That of Peter in the New-Testamēt is substantiall Christ called him a man of little Faith and yet by that Faith though little hee was saued The other is in the old Testament in the type and figure When the Israelites were bitten with the fierie Serpents their onely refuge and remeede was to looke vp to the brasen Serpent This was the verie type of a Soule stung with sinne beholding Christ with the eye of Faith Of these who behelde that Serpent of brasse some were bleared and other some had weake eyes But the weaknesse of their sight could not hinder the cure Nay the old man with his dimmed eyes beholding as through a mist that type of Christ was as soundlie cured as hee whose eyes were in their greatest vigour The meate taken with a paralitique and trembling hand will not refuse nourishment to the bodie no more than if it were taken with a stable hand Obserue Sir what I say Faith is the eye of the soule wherof the Israelites eyes were but a figure Christ is the trueth of the brasen Serpent Though this eye bee dimmer in some yet if it see the Soule shall bee saued Faith is the hand of the Soule Christ is the foode Though this Faith tremble Christ trembleth not The palsie is not into the foode Bee of good courage Sir feare not this trembling feare the worke of Saluation cannot bee wrought out but with feare and trembling When the worke shall bee ended all trembling shall cease and Faith shall bee stable then the Soule shall be made free from all palsie paine The sicke Man Oh that I were but sicke of such a palsie paine Oh that I were assured to haue anie graine of true Faith Alas I am vndone This wretched heart of mine is so wrung with wrath that there remaineth not within it so much as a droppe of grace All my spirituall moisture is spent all the faculties of my Soule are so racked that my tongue cannot vtter my griefe and smart Is there no Balme in Gilead for a sorrow beaten sinner Oh through excessiue paine my Liuer is rolled within mee If I finde no remeede my Soule shall shortlie bleade to death my paines exceed my sorrow is extreme thorow the tortours thereof my Soule is compelled to roare Oh Lord turne thy wrath in mercie and thy Iustice seat in a Throne of grace and pardon the sins which more and more ripen thy wrath against mee Mine heart is rent and harrowed with griefe what salue can I finde fit for such sinfull sores The more I thrust griefe out the more it throngeth in The Pastour The soueraigne salue for such sores is to get a sight of Christ who bare all our sinnes vpon his battered backe which was torne with mercilesse strippes Christ in that plight is the most fit object for the eye of a troubled Soule There is no salue for the sore of sin but the sight of him who is the trueth of that brasen Serpent the object of the faithfull eye This remeede among all others is like the master Bee the best of all the hyue * Though yee bee like Zacheus a man of little stature so that yee cannot see Christ ouer the multitude of your sins yet run before climbe the tree of the Crosse and behold him No rather behold him now vpon the Crosse fixed vpon a mount high aboue that all may see him euen vpon mount Caluarie Behold him there treading death vnder his feete * Though there be a mount of dead mens scules there is no dead scule so high but Christ may bee seene aboue it Christ is euer nearest in the hotest skirmish He is the sea the seate of mercie If yee can seeke yee shall finde no scant of mercie into him ye shall wonder at his loue when yee shall relish his kindnesse To Christ then yea to Christ alone must ye runne and forsake all as the Mariner while all his cunning is gone runneth to God in the tempest In him is Balme for all wounded spirits there is no gash so deepe but his blood can cure it As all riuers lead to the sea so should all comfortes guide vs vnto Christ While hee was in the dayes of his flesh there was no miserie that could with-hold sinners from him neither lamenesse nor blindnesse nor deafenesse nor deuils could stay any from him nor stay him to doe them good hee healed them all Neuer a man came backe from him saying I haue sought to this God in vaine I came to him but he could not helpe me Or as the father of the lunaticke said I brought him to thy Disciples and they could not cure him To him may all heart broken sinners say with the Prophet My flesh and mine heart faileth but thou art the strength of mine heart and my portion Flesh and friends health and wealth and all will faile vs but Iesus will neuer faile vs Mans extremitie is his opportunitie By him alone the Soule of man hath light libertie and life All other helpes and hopes are but vaine As no water could wash cleanse the leprosie but one lie Iordan so nothing can wash away the leprosie of sinne but the Blood of Christ the Lambe of God which is a spirituall Iordan for washing of leper Soules In a word in all our stormy troubles Christ Iesus is a firme Rocke of refuge which repelleth and turneth into froth all the waues of most tēpesttuous temptations By his Blood alone our Soules are both healed hallowed vpon the right of your redemption sute the remission of your sinnes Bee not abashed hee who hath Christ needeth not to feare The sicke Man If I were one of Christs would he leaue mee thus wise comfortlesse He is the Sunne of Righteousnesse in whose beames as in a spring time I was wont to rejoyce But now hee is gone downe My Soule is benighted and I am affrighted with grudginges of despaire Oh that mine eyes of flint were melted into teares O smite my flintie heart with the rod of thy mercie that it may make teares the water of repentance to gush out at the Conduite pypes of my mourning eyes O what
that God can loue you who is so vnworthie to bee loued I thinke it verilie and I am perswaded God I confesse cannot loue sinne in man but hee may loue man in sinne God inuiteth not these whom hee loueth not Come vnto mee saith hee all yee that are wearied Your wearinesse cryeth vnto you that which was said to the blind man Bee of good comfort arise the Master calleth thee an humble confession in the mouth is the speach of contrition in the heart God hath sworne that hee liketh not a sinners death Hee is more glad to finde vs for to helpe vs than we can rejoyce to find him for to be helped by him Who can thinke but hee is glad to finde vs that tooke such paines to seeke vs that not caring for the vnwholesome and noysome night aire came to our doore hauing his head full of dewe and his lockes full of the droppes of the night which is more such was his loue and liking of vs that for to saue our life hee would die a cursed death The last wordes of your complaint are that yee are one who is vnworthie to bee loued * I had rather heare a sinner calling himselfe wretched and vnworthie with the Publican than boasting of his worthinesse with the Pharisee The swelled hydropie words of thankesgiuing that we are not lik other mē are a sure toking of a deadlie incurable disease Man naturallie goeth about to lessen impaire his faultes yea oftē rather than he will cry guiltie hee will fasten his follie by consequent vpon his Maker Adam said The woman which thou gauest me gaue me of the tree made me to eate Many are caried down the muddie streame of ouerweening their owne worth Our greatest worthinesse is in the sense of our own vnworthinesse and in the seeking of Christs worthinesse That man is worthie before God who findeth himselfe vnable to doe that which is worthie and vnwilling to doe that which is vnworthie The verie strife and battell betweene grace and nature in theregenerat is a victorie in Gods eyes A broken imperfectiō if it be sincere without guile is put vp in his merciful count book for a perfectiō indeed such is the mercie of God while we mislike our selues These were the wisest words of Agur in Gods account when hee said I am more fool◅sh than any man S. Paul was neuer more dearelie beloued of God as when hee hating himselfe called himselfe the first of sinners Cast your eyes off your selfe and looke vnto God your strength your stay The Name of the Lord is a strong towre the righteous runneth into it is safe The sicke Man O that I could practise your precepts O that my God would inspire mee with such a blessed and liuelie vigour of his Spirite that might quicken my Soule to euerlasting life O that it would please my God stronglie to refresh mee with the comfort of his countenance But alas out of this most filthy puddle of my heart arise such filthie vapours which so ouer-cloud the Sunne of righteousnesse that I am not able to behold his face while he did shine vpon mee his most bright and vnspotted beames were fullie darkened The more the heate of his word did beate vpon mee the more my conuersation became stinking and loathsome like a carion cast out before the Sunne this I cannot denie at the rememberance thereof I finde my selfe charged afresh vpon the Conscience with terrours and vexations O the dead slubber of securitie wherein I haue sleept vnto this houre my custome euer was to post ouer my sinnes in the lump with a generall slumbert confession There is nothing within me but matter of feare I feele my faith fainting I feare my sinnes I feare the wrath of God I feare the force of Sathan the king of feare I may be well bee called that which Ieremie called Pashur viz. Magor-missabib that is Feare round about yea I not onelie feare but I feele a fearefull wrath My stubburnesse and stonie heart hath brought vpon my Soule Gods brasen hands Now is hee doing to mee that which of olde hee threatned against these that were like mee If yee walke stubbornlie against mee I will walke stubbornlie with you In my youth I was guided by the guise of times my delight was to goe with the droue now I am lost beeing cold dead frozen in the dregges of my vncleannesse The Pastour The force of temptation wringeth such words out of you as thogh yee had none hope at all Your Soule Sir is like the Moone into an ecclipse There bee darknesse and changing of collours for a time because your sinnes like an earth come betweene you and the beames of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse I haue seene the Moone in her ecclipse for a space as though shee had not beene at all into the heauens but as shee darkened by little and little so after the greatest darknesse was past the light returned by degrees Despaire not Sir of an infinite mercie let not your heart be wasted with wearinesse Though the earth of your sinnes which in comparison of Gods mercie is but a point ouershadow the Soule for a space while it is in this low region the time shall come that God shall mount your Soule aboue the circle of the Starres wherevnto the shadow of such an earth is not able to attaine Thogh God for a space walke stubbornlie with you hee is not stubborn Whē yee shall beginne to walke humblie with your God God shall walke no more stubbornlie with you but shall deliuer you from all your feares Build your selfe vpon your holie Faith The sicke Man I may well say with Iob My stroke is heauier than my groning Whereon can my Faith lay hold God is armed with wrath and Sathan is armed with despight I see nothing for the present but blowes and bloody battels most dreadfull feares teare in pieces mine heart strings sucke out the inmost of mine heart blood The Pastour Though there be many aduersaries yet Christ is with you Make all your boast of him who is the Captaine of your Saluation Hee hath winne the field he hath tread vnder foote principalities and powers and hath ledde Captiuitie captiue Hee whose Faith is founded vpon him shall neuer bee confounded His fresh bleeding wounds are cuer filled with compassions * Though God by our sinnes bee moued to shew some wrath heere is our great comfort There is no condemnation to these that are in Christ Belieue yee not the Scriptures I know yee belieue If Christ bee with vs who shall bee against vs These who thinke that their sinnes ouer-reach Gods mercie make the Centre to compasse about the Circumference Though hee should receiue a world of sinners in the bosome of his mercie it will not for that
infer that God hath not heard you at all Waite on a little with Daniel till God thinke it time to send you a Messēger for to tell you that he hath heard you yea that hee heard you at the beginning of your prayer till th◅s Messenger come depend whollie vpon Christs good will Let all your trust bee in him who is your most faithfull Aduocate for to plead your cause Hee will bee a Guide to all these that seeke him and a light to all these that see him and life to all these that loue him Though a Mother should forget her Childe the Lord will not forget his owne whom hee hath printed vpon the palmes of his hands Many Mothers thinke it enough to beare and bring foorth their Children that done they send them out a fostering vnto others But Christ not onelie is as a Mother beareth and bringeth vs foorth by the second birth but also feedeth and fostereth vs vpon his owne breasts as a louing Nurse I haue said he caried Ephraim as a Nurse in mine armes Bee of good comfort Sir let the joye of Christ rellish all your sorrowes hee was the man of griefe that he might bring joye to the world he was beaten with stripes that of his stripes hee might make physicke for sicke Soules by his stripes wee haue health In a word his flesh was pierced and bored that in these holes there might bee a Citie of refuge for sinfull Soules pursued with the tempest of Gods wrath the auenger Woe to him that maketh an idole of his own sufficiencie as the Thunder chieflie beateth the highest steeple heades so doeth the fire of Gods wrath strike at the hight and top of proudest spirites The Sicke Man By the most part of your speach Sir I thinke that your chiefe comfortes against Death and all other troubles are grounded vpon Christs Blood and his wounds The Pastour That which I say Sir is true When as all things will forsake vs fall frō vs Christ will sticke stand fast by vs that I speak truelie I darre be answereable for it in the presence of my God As yee must one day make a reckoning to God of that which yee heare so must I that selfe same day giue an account of that which I teach My Sermons must be read before him that sent mee to preach for he will know how I haue fedde his Lambes * If I build vpon Christ the fundamentall Stone the perles and precious Stones of Christes passions I shall get a reward But if I builde vpon him Stubble Hay or Wood Because I holde fast the foundation he will saue my Soule when hee shall trye my Doctrine with the fire and light of his word But because I builded vpon him the combustible light Stubble and Hay of humane words of wordlie eloquence I shall bee saued verie hardlie as by the fire of great affliction For this cause knowing the great danger I wish that all my comforts to you and all others bee onelie of Christ who is both our suretie and our Sauiour Hee in loue swallowed the bitter pill of death the cure of all our diseases After that for our cause his face had beene couered for our blasphemous spittle his backe battered with bruises hee continued in his loue and for our cause would bee hanged vpon that stinking l◅ll Mount Caluarie suffering a death which God had blasted with a curse I will tell you plainlie Sir that there is no meditation so comfortable to a wearied Soule as that which is concerning the bleeding wounds of Iesus the vanquisher of hell His wounds are as many windowes wherethrow wee may see the vnspeakeable aboundance of our Lords loue Let men runne from East to West from South to North they shall finde no place of auoydance from the fie◅ie wrath but onelie into these his woundes which well may bee called The refuge or Sanctuarie of a troubled Soule Heere is libertie for a Soule that is enfolded into the snares of Gods judgements Heere is a hiding place against the euill day Heere is the hole of the Rock the window of the Arke where poore Soules like Doues that can finde no footing may enter in * Heere is a Citie of refuge for chaissed sinners The people that dwell therein shall bee forgiuen their iniquitie There bee wide boundes within the compasse of his compassions Seeing Christ is such an One runne and hie you as fast as yee can vnto this Rocke of refuge Hee who shall bee founded thereon shall neuer be confounded Take vp all the matter in a word the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus purchased vnto vs by his Blood is the onelie cure and couer of our sinnes All other things are but like fig-leaues too short and thinne a couer like these cutted coats of Dauids seruants which couered not their buttockes How darreanie rotten stinking attainted flesh attempt to attribute anie worth vnto it selfe in the atchieuement of that Pearle peerelesse work of mans Saluatiō wherof Christ Iesus is the only Author actor Manie who would seeme in this world to carie away the Garland of godlinesse are hanged in this snare Away with such a pang of pride and eleuation of Spirit The sicke Man I see now Sir that Christ is onelie the Salue which is able to heale the sores of the Soule the blisters and bitinges of our Conscience I see that his Blood is the onelie liquour of that Fountaine of Dauid for sinne and vncleannesse But I am so defiled with wilfull wallowing in the puddle of sinne that hardlie thinke I that euer hee will daine to looke vpon such a bemired Dogge as I am who haue followed the swing and the sway of the most filthie Of mee it is written Let him that is filthie bee filthie still The Pastour Let not that discourage you * Yee cannot bee ignorant in what estate he found his Church At the first before hee maried her he found her in her first birth a cast away a bloodie brood a misshapen creature with a long Nauell vncut vnsalted and not swadled lying in the open field to the lothing of her person in the day shee was borne Yet all that made not him to loth her But after that by two cōmands of life he had bidden her Liue liue whereby she got strength hee decked her and sware vnto her and entered into couenant with her and shee became His Behold and wonder at the loue of our Lord the Spouse of our Soules All our filthie and bloodie deformities could not scarre him from the loue of our Soules If any bee defiled with sinne and vncleannesse let them come to him who will not refuse to wash them Hee is the onelie lauer of the Church There is nothing pure but that which he hath purged It is he alone who hath repaired all our
wicked will refraine from outward scandals yea they may preach yea prophecie with Saul Cajaphas and Iudas so that they will bee wondered at like Soul among the Prophets or lik Simō magus to whom the world for a space gaue heede from the least to the greatest saying This man is the great power of God Manie hauing but this superficiall glistering of grace applaud and content themselues thinking that they are wise while they indeede are fooles By this Spirit also they will taste the good gift of God but an one they spite it out againe * Meate tasted in the mouth onelie and not let downe to bee digested in the stomacke is vnprofitable for nourishment By this same Spirit also they will bee inlightened so that they will loue the deare Sainctes of God and will reuerence them as King Herod did Iohn But heere is their stay they haue euer an Herodias which they will not forsake Some one reigning sinne or other like pestilent canker cleaueth fast vnto them and beareth rule into their mortall bodies Either one sinne or other secret or publicke must be their Darling And this againe like a mother sinne must haue a dancing daughter called Hatered of reproue whose chiefest sute is that the preacher were he an Iohn either want the head or else bee silenced This is the verie border of the wicked mās progresse with all his might and maine in the way to glorie Further I cannot see that hee can winne but onelie to a taste in the mouth of the goodnesse of Gods giftes and to a certaine or rather incertaine liking of that which is good which at last shall losse the head with the Baptiste before hee losse his pleasures with Herod Thus as ye see manie are deceiued with the false flashes of an euil grounded assurance that they are in the readie and right way to Heauen when as indeede they are but faggots prepared for euer lasting burnings The sicke Man There bee one passage in Scripture which hath often affrighted my Soule in it I see a Reprobate to ma◅ such a progresse in the way to Hearen that hardlie can I thinke that euer I did match him The Apostle saith 1. That hee will bee inlightened 2. That hee will taste of the heauēlie gift 3. That he will be made partaker of the holie Ghost 4. That hee will taste the good word of GOD. 5. That he will taste the powers of the world to come And yet for all that hee shall fall away so that hee can not bee renewed by Repentance and so shall die a Reprobate and last after death shall bee caried with the wicked into the same streame till he fall downe into the gulfe and poole of perdition I intreat you Sir to giue mee some light for the clearing of these wordes for often haue they troubled my Soule and dryuine it deepe into the dumps * At the first view of these wordes it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen and yet thereafter bee diss◅ised by some sinnes and iniquities and depriued of all hope of eternitie The Pastour The Lord inlighten my mislie minde that I may cleare these your doubts to your well and contentment I confesse that at the first sight of these words I my selfe was amazed so that I did wonder how all that could bee Indeede at the first view as ye say it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen and yet thereafter bee diss◅ised by one sinne or other whereby all his former vert◅es shall losse their grace But let a man lift vp his heart to God in prayer and thereafter consider well the words and weigh them in the Ballance of the Sanctuarie hee shall easilie perceiue that a Reprobate may bee endewed with all these giftes and after all bee debarred from entering into glorie In the words ye haue obserued fiue difficulties vnto which God willing I shall make answere seuerallie First of all it is said that the Reprobate who is but a Bellie blind will bee inlightened For to stād vnder this yee must first cōsider that into that place of Scripture the Apostle speaketh of Apostats that is of men that haue forsaken the true Religion which once they did professe for to become professors of lyes mē who haue reuolted from the Trueth after that the windowes of their Soule were shute close for to barreout the Light and that willinglie and of set purpose First then it is said That they were inlightned that is once they knew the Trueth For knowledge is light But because that hauing light they wanted loue God sent them strong delusions to belieue lyes S. Paul speaking of these that had but the light of nature the twilight of reason said That they were inlightened in such a sort that thereby they knew God But because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankefull but became vaine in their imaginations how grieuous was their punishment A little after both their sinne and their punishment is more plainely ser downe Euen saīth hee as they did not like to retaine God in their knowledge God gaue them ouer in a Reprobate minde That is hee put out and quenshed that little light of Nature which once they had as hee tooke the Talent from the idle man that rolled it vp into a napkin The greater that light bee within a mā if it be abused the greater is the punishment which is for to ensue But to come to that Light wherewith a Reprobate brought vp in the Church may be inlightened The Light of knowledge within a man who hath not the loue of the Trueth is but like the light of a blazing Comet which shortlie dyeth out and filleth the world with a pestiferous stinke An Apostate on earth is lik a Comet in the heauens a star but in appearance Such men with all their apparent eminences of zeale and dazeling shewes bee but blazing starres such as the Dragon is said to sweepe downe with his taile * S. Iude calleth them wandering starres they keepe not their Station They are Planets in their motion and Comets in their substance not fixed in the heauens but kindled meteores in the aire which seeme to bee in the heauens and therefore they losse at last their light so that as S. Iude saith To them is reserued blacknesse of darknesse Such may haue the spirit of illumination for the good of others without the Spirit of Sanctification for the good of their own Soules Though they haue some light of knowledge yet in loue and life they walke by the darke side of the cloude with the Egyptians There is Loue and Light in the life of all true Israelites whose course is by the light side of the fierie Pillar The wicked for the most parte are with the Sodomites either stricken with blindnesse or if they see they
may the Lord send a change He can make the fruite of all his labours to be like an vntimely birth for whome the Mother hath suffered many woes and yet could neuer enjoye a sight there of aliue The greatest glorie of this world is like Hills which seeme highest a farre off Men in their solie may sav as Dauid said in his prosperitie I shall neuer be moued But O folie There is nothing permanent heere Man is tossed vp and downe as the Locust either with discountenance or disapointment breaking into foame his projects vpon the rocks of disgrace All is turned about with a continual change There is no Time but it passeth there is no Day but it darkneth there is no Fruite but it rotteth there is no Flower but it faddeth there is no Force but it faileth there is no Strength but it weakeneth there is no Beautie but it withereth there is no Garment but it weareth yea the Heauens themselues waxe olde as doeth a garment Behold how all that is aboue vs beneath vs about vs is full stuffed vvith vanitie this at last shall worldlings know to bee true when their laughter shall be madnesse in their owne eyes It is a wonder how men are so blind in this glorious Noone tide of the Gospel All that is most esteemed in this world the fooles Paradise is chieflie of those 1. Strength 2. Honour 3. Riches 4. Beautie 5. Pleasure 6. Wisedome 7. Children 8. Long life of these things may no man say with Niobe Excessere metum mea jam bona I neede not feare to losse them The sicke Man I desire to heare you discusse the vanitie of these eight thinges seuerallie for which men straine the vtmost vaine of their wits as if in this region of corruption such thinges were able to stretch themselues vnto eternitie The Pastour All such thinges are but broken staues of reede not to be relyed vpon To naturall eyes indeede such things are so glancing that they like a starre new created in the Skye will make them to gaze yea often it befalleth that the prosperitie of such things enjoyed by the wicked will not onelie drawe the eyes of the Godly vpon them but will bee eye-fore vnto them I was enuious at the foolish said Dauid when I saw the prosperitie of the wicked Let vs relish these eight thinges a little and orderly try what is their worth 1. STRENGTH As for Strength if Samson the strongest now could speak out of his Graue hee would teach the liuing that it is but a vaine thing What a vaine thing is this which in the highest degree that euer was in man might bee shauen from him with the lockes of his haire Let a Feuer but seaze vpon the strongest that euer breathed before it leaue him it shall teach him to know that all the force of flesh is vas nitie Reuben who was called by his Father The man of his might and the beginning of his strength and the excellencie of power is in the verse following called vnstable as water The Philistims great man the strength of Philistia the terrour of Israel was felled downe with a stone out of a Shepheards scrippe and slung There is no solide strength in flesh but hee who is strong in God of him shall bee said as was saide of Ioseph His bow abode in strength and the armes of his hand were made strong by the hands of the Almightie GOD of Iacob 2. HONOVR What is Honour which men in the hight of Spirit desire with the strongest straine What is it but like a King in a play when the play is done the ornaments are takeÌ„ from him To day man is a King and to morrow a Carrion The greatest pompe of King Agrippa his of Queene Bernice is caâ—…led in Scripture language a meere phantasie or euanishing shew Hee came downe with his Queene saith S. Luke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is he came downe with great phantasie As honours are changeable like a phantasie so often change they men so that they become phantasticke Honores mutant mores Honours change manners but oftest to the worse If men knewe the vanitie of this point they would not so eagerlie hunt after that wherein there is no contentment After that Alexander had fished the whole world with his herrie water-net what found he but follie euanishing shewes wherof the most pleasant rellish was like the white of an Egge wherein is no sauour Kings which are the most honourable men of this world are gods in name but not in Nature I haue said Yee are gods but yee shall die like men-King Herods flatterers cryed that he was god but Death belyed them crying that hee was but a man a god that could not resist the wormes often that which is highlie esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God God liketh not euer best these to whom hee filleth a full cup of temporall felicitie He whom God hath elected to bee a King in Heauen is often hidde like Soul among the stuffe or like Corne among Chaffe I haue obserued in reading the Booke of God that few Kings either of Iuda or of Israel receiued any great praise from Gods penne which can neither faine nor flatter Trueth will yeelde no ground thogh it should meete a Tyrant in the face O fainting flatterer who darre not preach but to pleasethy Prince Who art thou that thou should feare a mortall man which shall bee made as grasse By a wise graue godly reproofe thou might haue saued his Soule in whose blood thou hast embrewed thy selfe either by fearefull silence or flattering eloquence O how dangerous is the high estate of Princes vnto Princes themselues They are followed with such applause that often they are made to forget what they are I haue called you gods is the flatterers Text he cannot passe this point his Glasse is run and Time is spent before he can winne to the other part of the verse But yee shall dye like men Let vs heare what God himselfe speaketh of the Monarchs of his owne people Except a verie few there is not one but hee is either branded with this And hee did euill in the sight of the Lord or with this And hee followed the sins of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat which made Israel to sinne Honour will not abide with Kings except that they abide with God While Nebuchadnezar was boasting of his Buildinges euen while the word was in the Kings mouth there fell a voyce from Heauen saying O King Nebuchadnezar the kingdome is departed from thee No King standeth so strong in his prosperitie but God can shake him and lay him on his backe King Dauid of this got an afterwit In my prosperitie said he I said I shall neuer bee moued But so soone as God beganne to hide his
whomsoeuer if it bee without true Godlinesse is l◅k a faire woman wanting Discretion whom wise Solomō compareth to a jewel of go◅d in a Swynes snowte This all flesh will either subscriue or put their hand to the Pen in token of consent except these that look vpon such outward things with the vnhallowed eye of prophannesse But to leaue all particulars What is all the glorie of Nations If all their glorie and excellencie whatsoeuer were put in one Scale of the Ballence and Vanitie in the other Vanitie should weigh them downe Dauid in his time put them in the weights together after hee had well considered the matter hee gaue out sentence saying Surelie men of low degree are vanitie mē of high degree are a lye if they bee laid in the Ballance they are altogether lighter than Vanitie See howe Vanitie is too heauie a weight for men of low and high degree If ye would mak euen weight out of vanitie must bee sought that which Habakkuke calleth verie vanitie euen Solomons vanitie of vanities Put in that lightest vanitie into the one Scale and men of all degrees in the other then shall the tongue of the Ballance stand euen What then shall wee say of the glorie of all Nations It is well compared by the Prophet vnto the droppe of a Bucket and to the small dust of the Ballance To tell vs that no worldlie thing can be balast in Gods Ballance no more than the lightest dust can bee of weight into a Scale of mans Ballance which is most easilie blowne away with the least blast of breath Great is the vanitie of the greatest From the Throne the King himselfe must come downe by death for to goe sleepe in slyme To Gods God hath said Yee shall die like men Thus as yee see all earthlie Honour for which is so much strife debate all worldly pompe and glory which mē so hungerlie hunt after is but like dust driuen away with a pu◅t of breath Let men in Honour bee in his best estate Man in his best estate is altogether vanitie The whole course of mans life is but a Myne of miserie and a verie fardle of vanities That thereof which is most stable is but a flash and away Let Gods vine trees keepe their wine and his figges their sweetenesse and his Oliues their fatnesse but let the Brambles catch crownes This was the euent and issue of the Parliament of Trees at the crowning of their King Well is the man that may line and lurke Who knoweth the weight of Crownes the lodging of greatest Honours would neuer daine to desire them 3. RICHES Now let vs come to Riches what are they a swift vanitie which with winges flie away like an Eagle I compare the most parte of rich men vnto Spiders which spend their verie bowels in weeuing a web wherewith they may catch a flee What is all the glorie of Riches but like a feast in print all sortes of meat are there all sorts of wine are also there but onelie words lines There is nothing there indeede that can either flake the hunger o◅ quench the thi◅st of the wearied man no not after that hee hath laboured night and day might and maine to attaine contentment This world is rich in pr◅ffers but of petit performance Man for a space like a Shippe before the wind are rich laden may glide gladlie ouer the sea of this world with a full saile Hee may get Ladies sailing as wee say and that in a wonderfull quietnesse but a little after such calme Alcedonian dayes are past euen while he is swimming in his wealth blessing himselfe as who but hee vp getteth a tempest and downe commeth a blast beholde a little from the Shore in sight of the Hauen in the hight of his hopes and hee is tumbled head-long downe to the bottome of the Gulfe Let this bee a lesson vnto all not to say with Dauid in his prosperitie I shall neuer bee moued Shall this bee mans felicitie which daylie is in reuerence of Winde and Waue Pyrats and Perrels Certainlie it is none happinesse for man heere to haue this wicked world at will It is Gods custome to giue the fatnesse of the Earth to the men of this World These onlie be the things whereof they haue an assigned liferent vvith that rich man in the Gospel to whom Abraham after his death cryed downe Remember that in thy life-time thou receiuedst thy good things At Abrahams requeast GOD refused not to make Ismael vvealthie in this world Concerning Ismael said the Lord I haue heard thee Loe I haue blessed him and will make him fruitfull and will multiplie him exceedinglie Twelue Princes shall hee beget The bitter teates of prophane Esau were comforted with the fatnesse of the Earth with the dew of heauen from aboue Christ cast first the bagge vnto Iudas and after gaue him a sop for to lette the world know that neither money nor meate are sure tokens of Gods fauour The wicked men of this vvorld are content with such thinges because their heauen is vpon earth they haue their portion in this life As for the Godlie though with Iacob they haue but a staffe in their hand for to goe out the vvay they will bee content if so bee that GOD will giue them bread to eate and clothes to put on * Alas that vvee cannot consider that by such heaped vp treasures men often heape vp to themselues treasures of wrath against the day of wrath Happie they vvho lay vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obtaine eternall life If vvee could with a fixed and sanctified eye behold all these things for which men doe vnder goe such paines by afflicting their Soules wee should easilie perceiue our earthlinesse vvhen vvee losse such things which we loue and who can keepe them it breaketh the verie heart of all our contentments What are all such thinges I pray you euen while most pleasinglie and plausiblie they are enjoyed to the full in the most fertile plaines of plentie pleasures of this vvorld These vvhose cuppe doeth ouerflow in vvhose coffers are wadges of Gold can best if they vvould declare the vanitie of such transitorie things they know vvith vvhat cumber they are conquered and vvith vvhat care they are kept Nay man keepeth not them but they keepe the minde of man in care Cura facit canos Care changeth haire A peeuish worldling is a warded Wretch entangled with golden fetters his Palace is but a prison of carking cares in scraping together hee taketh pleasure into paine before his end hee cannot perceiue his follie But still he gads by Sea by Land seeking vpon the Sea and vpon the Earth an heauenlie felicitie till at last frustrate of all his hopes hee falleth downe into the Graue with
like wole light like Belshazzar But his paines should be foūd to be like Pharaoh his Armie that sank downe like Leads in to the might it waters Such light pleasures are soone ouerswayed with leadē paines Too great pleasure in Children is but a childish pleasure The best of it is of ten laden shortly after with a lumpish crosse vvhich hath neede of a Simon for to beare vp the end of it for the helpe of the bearer Alas the hearts of most men are too too much taken vp vvith that which may bee termed the sicknesse of Eli or fathers follie vvhich hardlie can suffer controlement or contradiction They are so in loue with their Children that though they by a leud life mak themselues vile they vvil not restraine them Their minds are so giuen to them that they are grieued to grieue them with fathers reproofes But at last out-commeth the voyce of judgement When I beginne I will also make amend 8. LONG LIFE Last of al if there be any thing that wold seeme to be desired it shuld be long lif all that a manhath he will giue it for his life Though these be the vvords of a Lyar yet most men will put their hand to the pen and subscribe the trueth thereof All that most men haue as Strength Honours Riches Beautie Pleasure* Wisedome Children and all will they giue for their Life But vvhat is this life were it neuer so long but a season wherein poore men is tyred with toyles What is it but a long martyr dome and a stormie time of teares What is this life Let S. Iames answere It is said hee but a vapour Nubicula est cito evanescit Nascimur flentes morimur gementes It beginneth with teares and endeth vvith groans What is life Let Iob answere Mylife saith hee is wind What is life Let Isaiah answere It is but a breath in our nostrile What is life Cry said the Lord to Isaiah What shall I cry said Isaiah Cry All flesh is grasse * What is life A tale that is tolde saith Moses What is it A flitting shaddow a bubble in the vvater a deceiueable dreame the working of a weeuers Sh◅ttle which by winding heere and there vnwindeth it selfe to an end Our life like the shadow on the Dyall insensiblie stealeth away See what it is of the vanitie of this life It is begunne with weeping and maintained by sweatting and at last endeth with a gaspe Mors vltima linea rerum Thus mans life like the beautifull Apple of Sodome so soone as it is toucht is turned into dust What should moue a man to desire many dayes While a man desireth many dayes hee desireth that vvhich hee desireth not viz. olde Age What is olde Age but manie dayes Are not the old mans dayes called The euill dayes and the yeares of which he saith I haue no pleasure in them What hath hee then vvill ye say if hee hath no pleasure All sorts of paines olde Age sets on foote all the sortes of diseases The Guts and the Grauels and diuerse Defluxions with many other maladies run vpon him and write a Kalender in his bones vvherin his pain full itchings like Astronomers declare to him vvhat weather it will bee to morrow Thus as ye see manslife is but an irksome occupation an houre of tediousnesse to be short a verie compend of miserie casie to bee vnderstood without any commentarie of long discourse if wee were schollers willing to learne May not men see how all that is below is sicke of the fluxe for nothing is permanent Hee onely fitteth sure who can say with Dauid Mine heart is fixed O Lord. What shall I say more of this whole world Let men thinke of it what they will this is the constant trueth of an vncreated Testimonie this present euill world It is so euill that it is said to lye in wickednesse The Lord neuer suffer out Soules to bee its Bed fellowes such a Bed is a bloody bed like that of Iezabel A nest wherein is no rest but terrour of Conscience Before I end this point concerning long life let vs roll a space this short meditation in our minds What is in this world so worthie that it should bee so eagerlie desired Continuallie while wee liuewee are in feare of Death for this cause seeke wee Physicke Mirth and Musicke and all for to b◅rre Death to the doore And yet fooles that wee are cerius out citius soone or since wee must all draw neere to the doores of Death There is no discharge in this warre Euerie man in this life hath his appointed time wherein night and day he must waite till his a◅ange come Mens dayes are distributed vnto them like houres seuemilie diuided vpon the Horologe Some must liue but till One another vnto Two another vnto Three The Palme turneth about with its finger pointeth at the houre So soone as mans appointed houre is come whether it bee the first second or third there is no more biding for him Nec prece ni◅ precio neither by pryce not prayer can Death bee moued to spare him but an houre no not As the sound of the Clocke Bell ringing his last houre passeth away with all speede and turneth not againe so must the poore man at Death with all haste packe him out of sight and no mo◅e be seene vpon the land of the liuing His houre beeing sounded hee must with all haste remoue that another might take place One of whom none can surelie say Hee shall bee a wise man or a foole Then all that the sillie man had painefullie prouided must bee giuen to him whom the father often in his life beholding said with a sigh within himselfe Beholde him for whom is all this drudgerie behold him for whom is all my toyle and turmoyle Who knoweth whether hee shall bee a wise man or afoole yet shall hee bee master of all my labours Now happie and thrise happie they whom GOD in mercie remoueth in time from seeing heart-break of follie and deboched manner of their godles posteritie Scripture accounteth this for a singulare benefite to the Righteous when he is remoued that hee should not see the euill day to come The sicke Man Alas of our follies While wee should seeke GOD and our Soules Saluation with the strongest straine and power of our Soule by the corruption of our Nature wee are caried on the by We liue heere in a sinke of sinne The older the world groweth it groweth the worse Euery Age in its foolish dotage commeth in with the own guise scorning former phancies with greater follies yea with foolish phrancies of which this predominant that the wisedome of God which in all times seemed follie to the wicked did neuer seeme such a follie as it doeth now from the vpper brimme of sinne the world
is come to the dregges The image of the worlds vanitie is like that of Nebuchadnezars all gold and siluer in the vp most parts but in this last most corrupt age wee are come to the clay If wee bee wise we must seeke a new world in this olde world for this will neuer grow a better As the loue of Venisō wan Isaac to blesse one for another so if we loue this world with a blind loue for a morsell of its Venison wee will preferie it to Gods blessing All the dayes of this wretched life wee remaine in a fooles paradise But I leaue this I desire your earnestlie Sir that yee would let mee heare something more concerning olde Age which is a thing that euery man desireth to come vnto as if it were the best time of life The Pastour In this point appeareth the vanitie of man the weaknes of his wit Euery man would liue to be old and yet no man desireth to bee olde Let men say what they will I speake of naturall men all men desire to liue long which is to bee olde and yet they desire to remaine young * Their wrinkles their gray haires the companions of olde Age the end of their desires are vn welcome vnto them Then would they turne backe againe that with the Eagle they might cast their Bill whereby they might renew their youth Heare old Nestor who as Poets record had liued three ages a surfet of yeares Heare him with his wish O miht praeteritos referat si Iupiter annos Like a foolish Pyla◅ while hee is at the mouth of his Harberie hee would raise vp the Sailes for to turne to the tempestuous sea againe See howe the olde man if hee get but a faire Sunne blinke of a weekes health after cloudes returning after the raine how hee will rejoyce as though it shuld neuer be foule weather againe Men may pyne themselues with desire of dayes But doe what they can their life is like one that saileth whether hee standeth or hee sitteth whether hee watch or sleepe hee is euer vpon his course The sicke Man Let it please you Sir to continue in that discourse The Pastour Solomon in the last lecture of the Booke of his preaching letteth the young man see the vanitie of many yeares In that place is most clearelie set downe how olde Age the end of our appointed time is enwrapped with a cloud of miseries as beeing a time wherevnto like waues in a Sea one trouble ariseth vpon the necke of another the latter beeing euer worse than the former till at last fluctus decumanus the last and the greatest waues of Death come and sweepe the man away The imaginarie sweetenesse of all earthly contentmentes is closed and concluded with a bitter Farewell In that Lecture the Preacher bringeth in the old man like a Skellet whereat in the presence of all yong men hee pointeth out all his infirmities saying vnto the young Ones Beholde if such a life bee so much to bee desired First of all hee pointeth at his dayes calling them The euill dayes 2. Hee toucheth his yeares calling them Yeares without pleasure 3. He speaketh of the moyst raw rainie winter of his colde old Age the dayes of sorrow vvherein clouds returne after the raine As one defluxtion hath rained downe another is arising like a cloude 4. Hee pointeth out all the imperfections of his bodie When olde Age is come then the keepers of the house tremble that is the handes which keepeth the bodie become sicke of the palsie they tremble so that they can not carry the cuppe to their heade Then the strong men bow themselues their legges are not able to beare them Then the grinders cease their teeth rotte and become mouldie so that they can eate no bread Then they waxe darke that looke out at the windowes their eyes become bleared and blind Then the doores shall bee shut in the streetes when the sound of the grinding is low when the teeth the mouthes grinders are rotten the lippes which are the doores of the streete of the mouth are shut so that the old man cannot speak so distinctlie as of before Then shall hee rise vp at the voyce of the Bird olde men cannot sleepe hee muste rise so soone as the Birds beginne to sing or his sleepe is so vnfound that the chirpe of a little Bird will w◅ken him Then shall all the daughters of singing bee abased neither can an olde man sing himselfe for lacke of voyce neither can hee heare others sing for deafenesse so both his wind pipes and his eares the daughters of singing are abased Thē shall he be afraide of the high thing he dar climbe no more hee is no more for Stares and vpper Chambers * Then feare shall bee in the way while they walke they tremble as one that is afraide to fall Then the Almond tree shall flourish their gray haires growe white like the flourishes and blossomes of an Almond Then a Grasse Hopper shall bee a burden they are so weake that they can beare nothing their knees are weak as water so that they are a burden vnto themselues See howe the weight of a grasse hopper which is little greater than a Bee is a burden to the man of yeares Then shall the siluer cord bee loosed and the golden bowle shall bee broken his Sinewes shall become slacke and his Gall shall breake Then shall the pitcher bee broken at the well the vaines shall draw no more blood out of the well of the Leuer Then shall the wheele bee broken at the Cisterne his Lightes become so ◅otten and riuen that he can no more draw any breath with his broken Bellowes See howe Death stealeth vpon vs with insensible degrees Behold O young man the anatomie of thy selfe when thou shal◅ haue gottē thine hearts wil of years Heere is thy portrature drawen before hand Painters can portray but according as they see but tymes to come are present vnto God Heere is thy portrature for the dayes of olde age that is to come Beholde thy selfe in it before hand a receptacle of maladies See there thy balde head and thy bleared eyes and thy deafe eare and thy wrinkled face and thy rotten teeth and thy stinking breath hauing thy body bowed and crouched with thy third foote into thine hand Of thee may bee put out a Riddle What is it which hauing three feete walketh with one foote into its hand I shall assoile it It is an olde man going with a staffe To this let mee subjoyne another What is it that hath his stomacke into a Booste and his eyes into his pocket It is the same viz. An olde man fedde with boost Confections or cured with cōtinuall purgations hauing his Spectacles his eyes of glasse into a case His dayes are dayes of drousinesse
subject vnto changes lik the Moone Crownes haue their composse triumphs haue their tombes All our sweetest thinges in end proue but honied poyson Thus all that yee see heere below is vnconstant The greatest kingdomes are turned about as with whirling wheeles The Kinges vpon its spokes are marked vpon this dittâ—… 〈◊〉 Regnabo regno regnam suâ—… 〈◊〉 sine regno One Prince is lying vpon his backe another hath a spok in his hand climing vp the Wheele The third is vpon the top The fourth is fallen hauing his heeles vp his head down All the things of this world are diuided into foure Either they lye low or they climbe they stand or they are fallen The poore man is lying vpon his backe without any helpe or hope Another is fall of climbing conceits The third beeing there where all would bee euen vpon the toppe the higher hee is mounted the greater is his fall He then falleth that another may stand in his place while hee againe is lifted vp hee must stand with feare and heare Let him that standeth take heede lest hee fall At last also to him the haÌ„dwritting commeth foorth that in Gods ballance he is found wanting that therfore his kingdome must bee taking from him Then all the pleasures of his wine of his whoores then all his feasting his mirth and his Musicke is turned into a trembling feuer which maketh all his joyntes to shiuer and his knees to smyte one against another Beholde and consider how the glorie of Kings the gods of this world is brought to destruction Though their heads bee golden their feete are but of clay like Nebuchadnezars image Gods litle stone cut out without hands is able to bruise grinde in powder their Golde Siluer Brasse Yron and Clay for the allaying of the pride of their peacocke feathers Hee can let them see the blacknesse of their feete None of them can stand before the winde of that voyce Returne ye ChildreÌ„ of men Though their honours which they doe broach with so bold a face were reared aboue the highest cloudes and exalted aboue the starrie Skie yet must they descend at the Euening of their life and make their bed with the beggers in the dust Thus after they haue drunke vp the pleasures of this world as Behemoth the Riuer of Iordan they at last find all to be but vanitie and change When their houre is come they must quite all and make resignation of all into the hands of a new succession for to goe dwell in the Land of darknesse and shadow of death Who knewe the weight of their Crownes they would neuer be so sicke for them as King Ahab was for Nabothes vine yarde If of any man may bee said this is most true of him who is in highest places While his flesh is vpon him hee shall haue paine and his Soule within him shall mourne After that for a space hee hath feasted with Belshazzar and fatted himselfe against the day of slaughter with Wheat Wine and Oyle at last shall hee know but too late that no Feast is continuall but that of a good Conscience * Oh that great men while their minds with Dauid are beastlie would with Dauid goe to the Sanctuarie of God for to learne that if great men be not good men though they were Kinges they are sette in slipperie places Seeing Kings and Kingdomes are but vanitie what is that on earth that is not vaine There is nothing that can stretch to eternitie below In this world all men are strangers in their birth Pilgrimes in their life at last lik combersome guests by death they are thrust out at doores The language of Tabor was that It is good for vs to bee heere But the language of heaueÌ„ proclaimed that Peter knew not what he said Striue to keepe euer your heart loose from the earth The glassie sea of this vvorld is neuer without tempests Hee that would haue his Soule wained from the loue of this world let him remember but these sixe things 1. What hee is in himselfe 2. What is within him 3. What is aboue him 4. VVhat is beneath him 5. What is before him 6. What is behind him Man in himselfe is but dust and ashes a cage of corruptioÌ„ Thrise with one breath is he called Earth earth earth Earth by creation sustentation and corruption saith Bernard Within him is a blind minde a peruerse will and most vile affections yea so that euerie imagination of the thoughts of his hearte are onelie euill continuallie Aboue is a weightie vengeance hanging by a small twined threed of Gods patience Below him is a fierie fornace and the smoking brimstone gulfe of euerlasting burnings Against him Sathan and sinne with their legions posting to and fro so that when one departeth it is but to fetch seuen others worse than himselfe Before him is nothing but miserie volumnes of woes and lamentations Those bee his Day-booke Behind him pale Death followeth with stealing steppes See vvhat a masse of miserie like an hudge armie besetteth and besiegeth the whole course of the life of man till death at last come with the dead stroke and separate the Soule from the lumpish heauinesse of clay Then they that die in the Lord are blessed yea saith the Spirit That they may rest from their labours But because the day is alreadie spent yee shall now carefullie thinke vpon that which hath beene said It was a speciall propertie required in Sacrifices fitte for God that they could chewe the cude I leaue that which ye haue heard vnto your nights meditations I pray God that by his Spirit he would conuoy into the substance of that which your eare hath receiued Before I leaue you let vs all bend our knees vnto God in prayer that it would please his Highnesse to blinke downe vpon you with a reconcealed face His boundlesse and bottomelesse mercies did neuer yet know how to breake a bruised reed or quench a smoaking flaxe Let vs pray A Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD the GOD of the Spirits of all flesh the preseruer of men in whoÌ„ is both power for to saue and to destroy Thou art the true Teacher of Israel Thou hast the keyes of Heauen of Hell and of the Graue Come and cast the armes of thy mercie about this sorrow-beaten sinner Rejoyce him with the comforts of thy Spirit Inspire him with holy motions and with the life of Grace till hee bee made partaker of the diuine Nature Thou hast alreadie made his heart to melt within him at the sight of his transgressions Thou hast sette all his sinnes in order before him This is out of thy great mercie wherby thou wold not suffer him to freeze in the dregs of his corruptions Now at last LORD after thou hast refined him in the fierie fornace of temptations send him
is verie formal 〈◊〉 beheld said hee till the Thrones were cost down and the Ancient of dayes did â—…ite â—…base Garnâ—… was white as snow and the Haire of his Head lik the pure wool 〈◊〉 Throne was like the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his wheeleâ—… as burning fire A fieâ—…e streame issued and came foorih from before him thaâ—… sand thousands ministred vnto him 〈◊〉 ten thousand times 〈◊〉 thousand stood before him S. Iohn faith that the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousand 〈◊〉 thousands Let these brutish 〈◊〉 phemers here by 〈◊〉 way â—…ak a 〈◊〉 son who say That if many be damâ—… ned God shall ride with a thinne Court words 〈◊〉 to bee scourged with a thousand hels Away yee barking blasphemers God hath no neede of you nor of your like Hee who could of stones raise vp seede vnto Abraham and make stones to cry Hosanna Hosanna needeth not waÌ„t multitudes of these that will sing his praises But hath he not Angels in Heauen alreadie who are in number tenne thousand times tenne thousand and thousands of thousands But though they were none but himselfe is hee not that great SHADAI God al sufficient who hath neede of none of whome all haue neede If I were hungrie said hee I would not tell thee for the worlde is mine and the fulnesse thereof The sicke Man This would I learne of you viz. If when the Trumpet of the resurrection shall blow these that are then liuing shall die first The Pastour The Scripture saith That they shall bee changed This change which shall bee into the twinkling of an eye shall stand vnto them in steade of death In that is the word fulfilled It is appointed to all men once to die The sicke Man Thinke yee that these that then shal be aliue shall win first to Christ It would seeme that they haue a fore start of these who are rotten in the Graue The Pastour The Scripture is plaine This we say vnto you by the word of the Lord that wee which are aliue and remaine vnto the comming of the Lord shall not preuent them which are asleepe Some gather vpon these wordes that these who are dead shall preuent them who are aliue and shal be sooner at Christ than they viz. That Adam and Eue shall bee with the first and in the first ranke and so that at that Conuention these who first were dead shall preuent them that shall bee aliue But that hath no sure ground in Scripture for though it bee said That these who shall bee aliue shall not preuent these which are asleepe it will not follow that these which are asleepe shall preuent these which are aliue The Apostle himselfe saith That we shall all be caught vp together in the Clouds As for who shall bee formost Dies Domini revelabit The day of the Lord shall declare it The sicke Man I see theÌ„ that your opinion is that all flesh that day must arise and compeare before God and that none must be excepted But how is it that the Godlie onelie by Christ are called The Children of the resurrection By that it would appeare that none shall arise but the members of Christ The Pastour It is most certaine that all shall arise All that are in the graue shall heare his voyce and shall come foorth they that haue done good vnto the Resurrection of life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of damnation As for the Godlie indeede properlie they are the Children of the Resurrection because they shall arise willinglie out of their beddes and because by the vertue of Christs Resurrection they shall arise hee being the Head and they the members which must follow after that Head As for the wicked they shal be scourged out of their Graues the force of wrath shall draw them out that as Malefactors they may come heare their doome pronounced against them The sicke Man I heare you say according to Gods worde that all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and shall come foorth If that bee where shall the little Children that died without Baptisme bee The Romane Church teacheth that such goe to a prison where they shall neuer see the face of God Shall not their bodies come out of their Graues If the Heauens and the Earth passe away what part can they be in where they shall not see Gods face The Pastour Indeede Sir your reason refuteth that errour sufficientlie For certainelie their bodies must come out of their Graues It is not possible but in that day they shall see Christ. Truelie to put such into an euerlasting prison for such a cause were to blame the Lord himselfe of injustice The Lord hath said The sonne shall not beare the iniquitie of the father What if the father by negligence shall neglect to cause baptize his Childe shall the Childe for his fathers negligence be clapped vp into euerlasting prison If that were should not the prouerbe bee true The fathers haue eaten sower grappes and the Childrens teeth are set on edge It was well said by Bernard Non privatio Baptismi sed contemptus damnat That is not the want but the contempt of Baptisme condemneth If any condemnation bee the Father who contemneth and not the Childe who contemneth not shall bee damned S. Ambros speaking of Valentinian who disceased before he culd come to him for to bee baptized said Quem regeneraturus eram amisi sed ille non amisit gratiaâ—… quam poposcit That is I haue lost him whom I was for to regenerate but hee hath not lossed the grace which he sought None but baptizers of Bells will be against this trueth The sicke Man I am well satisfied in that point I wonder much howe men should goe so farre astray Where shall these bodies of little Children bee in the day of the Resurrection if they shall not compeare before Christ the Iudge I thinke this argument can hardlie bee answered vnto Another difficultie heere may be moued concerning Baptisme which the Apostle taketh as an argument to proue the Resurrection What shall they doe saith hee which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all why are they then baptized for the dead The wordes seeme verie difficle The Pastour Indeede Sir they want not difficultie Some interprete the words for the dead That is Vice loco mortuorum The custome was among the Christians as S. Ambros recordeth that if any dyed without Baptisme some of the liuing came to the bed where they were dead or to their Graue and there were baptized for them Chrysostome and Epiphanius declare that this was a custome among the Marcionites which they reproue as a vaine inuention Others interprete these wordâ—… of these who on their death-beds were baptized that thereby all by-gone sinnes might bee purged away Others interprete To be baptized for the
terrours shall most violentlie rush vpon their Soules standing in an heauie dumpe waiting on their dreadfull doome While they liue heere the stone of their heart is like an grauell stone so bedded in the bladder that it cannot be painefull Little dreame the wicked now that such fearefull and hellish horrours are preparing for them But O their euerlasting woe is presentlie in hatching and hammering It is neerest to the birth while the wicked are most secure Sudden destruction is neerest while the preaching of peace are doubled by crying Peace and saftie Happie is the man to whom the Lord doeth vouchsafe the grace in this world to waken out of the drousie slumber of sin for to repēt in time Woe to these in whose hearts the long forebearance of Gods wrath hath wrought a more frozen coldnesse presumptuous securitie wherein being lulled they are carried in a most sweete and sound sleepe to places where their eye-lids shall neuer bee refreshed with rest any more O how shall they fling and cry when they shall feele themselues stung galled vpon thesore After that the Lord hath brow-beaten them with the biggest lookes of his wrath and hath terrified them with his piercing eyes of fire and after that he hath disclaimed all interest that euer hee had into them hee shall cause take these Foxes that spoiled his vines That done he shall vnsheath the flamming sword of his vengeance with these most fearefull wordes of excommunication Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fyre prepared for the Deuill and his Angels In that fire like dry chippie burne-wood they shall burne but in this they shall bee like Salamanders that they shall neuer bee consumed By that moste fearefull blast of wrath the LORD shall chase them all away from before his face as the chaffe of the mountaines before the winde and like a rolling thing before the whirle wind The mightie Lord lowring with a darke and cloudie countenance shall then in great furie lay about him with the heauie hammer of his judgements and that with full weight With one stroke without any iteration of strokes from the best strength of a diuine Arme Hee shall bring downe their hairie scalpes to the lowest dungeon of Death euen to euerlasting burning brimstone beames which no mercie shall be able to coole or quench There shall they drinke in cuppes of wrath for euer If these miserables could bee put out of paine vpon the sudden they should not be altogether comfortlesse But the mercilesse vengeance of Gods wrath shall adde leasure and lingring to their dying life and liuing death that sensiblie they may feel death in a life of vntollerable sufferings No mercie no pittie no regard shall bee had vnto them no not but the Lords justice shall charge the edge of his flamming sword vpon the heads and heartes of these doolefull creatures of infamous ranke These fearefull blowes of Iustice shall bee without any mixture of mercie He who created them without any labour shall destroy them without any losse Snaires fire and brimstone in that day shall raine downe vpon the hairie scalpe of euerie one which in their life-time did goe on in their sins without ◅emorse In this perplexitie anguish besieged with judgements both felt feared shall they slād before their Iudge all trembling and waiting vpon the sentence of that doolefull doome The sicke Man What shall become of the wicked after that the Lord hath dischairged them his presence any more by commanding them to depart The Pastour So soone as the Lord hath pronounced these words of euerlastingexcommunication they shall all incontinent goe downe to Hell in heapes for to bee scorcht parcht with the euerlasting burninges of a deuouring wrath They who haue bene intrapped in their sins shall be entombent in Gods plagues There shal be no more abiding for them in his presence they shal be chassed frō their God vnto euerlasting exile in dungeons of Deuils and of darknes where they shall bee pestered with vnspeakable doole in floods of fire wherin they shall waile and yele for euer Gods most heauie vengeance lik a Barley Loafe tumbling from aboue shall thrust them downe and crush them altogether like the Tents of the Midianites Sathan then with all the spight he can shall lay on load with milstones of miseries hung about their neckes Hee shall drawe them down with chaines of curses to the dungeons of darknesse Thus Hell with a gaping gulfe shall swallow them all at once They shall goe downe most fearefullie with grappling Deuils with squeeles roaring voyces which beeing heard by the blessed in whose eyes and sides they once were prickes and thornes shall rouse vp their hearts wonderfully to rejoyce and sing with such an high tune that shall mak the whole world to resound with a reboūding noise Mine heart trembleth to thinke vpon these torments which the wicked shall suffer into the fierie Lake after their departing from before their Iudge All wordes faile mee I finde my conceptions too weak in thinking vpon that infinite wrath O then these who enjoyed once all the pleasures which could bee purchased on Earth shall want all the good which they can desire and receiue all the euill which they can deserue They shall for euer be dying in a life which shall neuer end that they may dye continuallie and that in vtter darknesse where Sunne neuer shined where Day shall neuer dawne because that in the days of their flesh on earth they wold not so liue to die that they might die to liue they shall for euer in the Hell dye to liue that they may liuing to dye a liuing death a dying life a life death of woes These miserable creatures shal be so perplexed that they shall both grieue to liue and feare to dye They shall desire absolutelie neither death nor Life yet in a manner shall they wish for both but all in vaine The full bended Iustice of God shall giue no truce to their teares nor place to their plaints Vnto all these terrours of Gods wrath shal be joyned another feare euen Sathan the king of feare hee in most bitter spight shall besiege these trembling Soules with vnspekable terrours For he shall stare them in the face with most grizlie formes and terrible representations Hee in great furie shall hunt out vpon them most fearefull gnawing wormes which shall feast on their Consciences The thoughtes of such thinges should pierce as I thinke euen vnto the verie center of leared Consciences O but the assurance of happinesse in many is false and misgrounded Obstinate sinners whose hearts are hard paued with obstinate rebellion think now that they shall neuer see that day because God now keepeth silence they thinke that he is lik vnto them But the slower Gods hand be in comming on the fadder and ◅orer shall his stroake bee While the wicked most securelie snort in
the earth in the Spring to grow greene and the Cornes to come vp at the first with small green points and after to shoote vp to the shot bled after that to come to the Seede that at last beeing cut downe in a white ripenesse it may be lay◅e vp into Girnels Euen so the Gospel like a Sunne shining from the heauens commeth after the colde frostie season of the dead Winter of our Nature and by its Beames warmeth vs and wakeneth vp the seede of grace sowen into our heartes by the good hand of God After that with its heate by little and little it ripeneth these sowne graces at last while wee are ripe and while the graces of God in vs are come to their perfection the Lord sendeth his seruāt Death to cut vs downe with a sickle After that by Death we are cut downe the Lord treasureth vs vp into euerlasting Tabernacles the Girnels of the Prince of Heauen farre from the keene rasors of lying tongues Now seeing the day is f◅r spent here I shall pause leauing that which hath bene said to your nights meditations By that grace of God I shal returne in the morning earelie He that made Peter safelie to walk vpon the swelling waues vphold you so that ye sinke not at the rising of any boisterous blaste of temptation Gods Children in this world are lik these three Children in the fierie furnace though such fire seeme to bee a consuming fyre it shall not bee able so much as to sindge their apparell The sicke Man But before yee goe Sir according to your good former custume by your deuote prayers committe my Soule to the armes of my Sauiour I euer feare that my false heart giue mee the slippe As God hath giuen you a diuine tong so Lord giue me a sanctified eare the sweetest spirituall musick and harmonie of Gods seruice Oh that with Peter I could gird my coate and swimme thorow all the swelling seas of temptations that I might come vnto my Lord. Offer vp I pray you Sir for mee the Christian sacrifice of prayer Resigne my Soule into his mercifull hands Oh that I could with you homage mine heart vnto God in feruent supplications wee are not able as I see to stand a moment in the right way without Gods vnderpropping hand Alas Sir I finde in my prayers great distractions which wonderfullie blunt the edge of my deuotion while my mouth is speaking to God my minde is speaking with follies and phansies If a man speaking vnto a Prince should nowe turne him vnto this man and now to that man would not that Prince at last commaund him silence enjoyning him with all speed to packe him out of his presence as being a man who knoweth not what is matchable to such a Majestie Many a time alas haue I at prayer babled out with my lippes many sauourles words which haue wrought nothing but the sadding and grieuing of Gods Spirit O Lord make this meditation of mine owne vnworthinesse bee like a whet-stone to my prayers that by helpe thereof I may pray better than euer I did before Giue mee grace at all times but speciallie in prayer to keepe watch and ward ouer my thoughts that I neuer let loose the bridle vnto them as most foolishlie often I haue done rushing my Soule ouer head and eares into the myres of earthlie mindednes Now good Lord make mee fresh and nimble in my Spirit for prayer Oh for that Spirit of spirituall groans which maketh intercession for the Sainctes according to the will of God I desire your helpe in prayer The night is noysome I lye downe I say when shall I arise and the night beginne I am full of tossing vnto the dawning of the day The Pastour I rejoyce with my Soule to heare you I know no surer token of Gods Spirit within a man than a ben◅nes to prayer Reprobates with Herod may gladlie heare Preachers But they all in Scripture are branded with this blot They call not vpon God Desire of conference with God is a most sure token of friendship betweene God and man Can two walke together except they bee agreed Can two speake together except they be friendes Hypocrites I knowe will make long prayers which are but lip labour which our Lord calleth much babling But their heartes in their prayers wander from God goe to worldly toyes so that while they are speaking one thing with the mouth their hearts are vpon another subject Thus Scripture calleth A drawing neere to God with the mouth while the heart is farre off * God cannot bee scorned but knoweth howe much is behind though Ananias would seeme to bring all Hee who can pray from his heart by his prayer as with a piercing keye is able to vnlocke the celestiall treasures of God where out of hee will draw comfortable cordials for distressed Soules in their gasping agonies Let vs now bend our knees most humblie before our Maker and worship him both with heart mouth the most pleasant harmonie of a Christian Soule The Lord set all our hearts rightlie on worke For the heart of man in prayer is most bent to play reakes in wandering from God A Prayer for the sicke Man O Great and Omnipoten◅ GOD whose Eyes are ten thousand time brighter than the Sunne at Noone Day Our sinnes cannot bee hidde from The◅ Faine would wee confesse them but alas for this hardnesse of hear◅ Smite O LORD smite these our hearts of yron soften them with the fire of thy Spirit till my sighs sobs they melt within our boweles O◅ LORD who shall not feare thee to whom is giuen all power both in heauen and earth When we remember thy last Sessions which shall bee in that great last judiciall day it maketh all the haires of our head to start vp Wee are instructed by thy diuine Word that the fashion figure of this world shall passe away and that all Thrones shall bee remoued that that most Royall glorious Throne may bee erected for the comming of the Son of man O LORD in that great and terrible day all thinges must compeare naked before Thee Then shalt thou bring to light the things which were hidde in darknesse and shalt make manifest the most secret counsels of mens hearts From thy face nothing shall bee able to procure escape Happie shall that Soule be on whom in that day thou shalt bleink with a reconcealed face O gracious GOD whose goodnesse is bottomlesse and greatnesse immeasurable Now speake home to the hearte of thy seruant heere who in his fainting weaknesse hath desired me to powre out this prayer for him All his desires are toward thee stampe vpon his Soule the Image of thy selfe Giue him a pawne and a pledge of thy fauour make him assured that in that day hee shall finde thee a fauourable Iudge who shall cry on him among the rest of thy Children Come
some glimpse of joye may yet more clearlie appeare for the recreating of my wearied Soule O deare Redeemer no tong can tell how much poore sinners are beholden vnto Thee who with a strong Arme hast brought them out of a dry pitte wherein was not a drop of comfort O that deepe and darke dungeon of sinne that I haue beene into O these blessed beames which my Soule fealeth comming from his countenance O the Light of that Face which putteth more joye into mine heart than all the worlde can haue when their Wheat Wine and Oyle doe most abound O infinite weight of glorie O pleasures euer to be spoken of though vnspeakeable O joyes euer to bee thought of though none heart bee able to conceiue them O pleasures most pleasant to the eye though eyes below cannot see them O O euerlasting mirth of Musicke O yee celestiall Tunes most worthie to bee heard though eares of flesh cannot heare you O Tree of Life most sweete to the taste though sinfull tongues may not taste of thee O Crystall River proceeding out of the Throne of God and the Lambe when shall my soule drinke of thee with a full Cuppe Mine heart like an Hart panteth brayeth after these water brooks Oh when shall I come and appeare before God O my God keepe mine heart vnder some spirituall serise of these blessed delights till perfectlie I enjoye thee into the armes of my Soule with the contentment of all contentmentes then which there can bee no greater The Pastour It is the Lord who with the Eye-Salue of his grace hath enlightened your minde He hath taken out the mots of temptations which of before did mak the eyes of your Soule so to water till they become drumlie Now Sir yee know full well what it is of God and his goodnesse in the Heauens where faithfull Soules shall be fed with the bread of Angels and feasted with the daintiest delicates that are aboue The wicked in this world are like blinde men which eate many moats and flees They eate them because they cannot sec to discerne them All the knowledge of the wicked is but â—… carkase and carion of knowledge To know God his Son Christ him crucified is the verie marrow kernell of true happinesse A Soule whose eyes the Lord hath enlightned with grace can no more rest off its God than an element out of its own place It may well bee detained with-holden from its place by some stronger power but no power can make it to rest till it be there where God hath appointed it to rest Your Soule now Sir is drawing neere vnto its Rest The neerer 〈◊〉 bee vnto it let your motion towards it bee the swifter In this Grace is like Nature swiftest at the end of the motion which tendeth vnto rest Vp still with your heart rejoyce in your God Happie are yee who now are flitting from this worlde wherein the sillie Soule as a Ball in a Tenice is tossed from wall to wall scourged with the Racket of diuerse temptations which by course one after another are readie to catch it at euerie rebound Let your Soule now altogether rejoyce in your Sauiour That is the only joye which shal neuer be taken from vs All other joyes are but liâ—… flying moats in the aire toyle and toyes toylesome toyes For euen in laughing the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse The sicke Man Blessed bee my Lord for euer I finde now the beginning of these joyes which passe all vnderstanding My Spirit hath receiued the earnest of immortalitie I finde now my Soule in the kindlie temper of a spirituall constitution which as I am fullie perswaded shall neuer bee troubled with anie moodie mixture of distempered mortalitie if once this Battell were ended O the blessed beames of that righteous Sun which shine so brightlie vpon my Soule They shall neuer be intercepted by any earthlie interposition of sinfull shadows Hence foorth nothing shall bee able for euer to â—…et God my Soule at oddes O now nothing shall bee able to affright my Soule any more with dreadfull distempers to God alone belongeth the glorie Well may I say If the Lord had not helped mee it had not failed but my Soule should haue beene put to silence I esteeme all the joyes which I feele to be a Cluster of Canaan which my faith lik a trustie Spy hath broght vnto mee that thereby I may know the goodnesse of that Land But because I cannot tell what assaults my Soule may yet suffer for I finde my former joyes a little ouerclouded I pray you Sir to conceiue a prayer to God for mee that the assurance of his pardons may more and more be sealed vp into mine heart that death bee not vnto mee as a king of feare but rather as a passage and an entrie to life eternall Make earnest requeast for mee that I die not as the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath hauing their Soules goared with sinne the sting of Death O Lord bring mee an Out law by Nature within the bounds of thy Sheep-folde Fill nowe my Soule with spirituall and heauenlie inspirations I haue alas the most parte of my life beene like roustie yron vnfitte for anie worke It hath fared with mee as with the Eye which seeing other thinges seeth not it selfe nor the face wherein it is fixed In knowing other things I haue remained ignorant of my selfe a great stranger at home into mine own bosome from my youth my Soule sicke of â—… spirituall dropsie did swell in a conceit of its owne excellencie Now Lord wound this pride of life within mine heart wound it in the head and craze it in the braine Separate all iniquitie from mee that nothing wherewith thy Spirit may bee grieued may harbour in mine heart Vpon this earth there hath beene none hoe with my desires which lik the sore crauing Horse-Leach culd say nothing but Giue giue Now Lord make my Soule to loath that which I haue too much loued prepare my Soule emptie it of all that is euill before it come before thy Face wherein is fulnesse of joy for all Saints and Angels which are aboue Now Lord after that thou hast cleansed mee by the fierie tryall by beating and battering mine hard heart let the workman-ship of thine holie hands be to refine me more more till I become perfectlie a newe creature O powre this heart into the calmes of thy compassions that therein as in a mould it may receiue thy liuelie Image Weede out of mine hearte all carnall and earthlie desires The Pastour I blesse the Lord for such working of his Spirit According to your desire wee shall bend our knees to God in prayer While wee are praying lift vp your heart vnto God and pray with your Spirit Set now all your affections in bensell
water but it is God who giueth the increase The best of all Preachers are but like Iohn the Baptist the voyce of a Cryer who could not make all the crooked straight nor the rough plaine If any good bee conuoyed vnto your Soule by mee I am but the Instrument or Channell wherethorow the Spirit of Iesus hath made his Graces to flow vnto you To Him alone belongeth the Glorie and the Thankes It is not humane eloquence which conuerceth Soules One word quickened and enliued with his Spirit is more fruitfull than all the glorious eare-pleasing pompe of mans wordes which like Agrippa and Bernice are full of phantasie All the good that man can doe either by word or worke is like the honie in the combe gathered out of many flowers But the euill is lik the Spidders webbe drawne out of our owne bowels The griefes of your heart Sir haue bene very great but now ye are mercifullie comforted Manie in this world plod on from sin to sin marching merrilie feareleslie towards the plagues of Hell But O how much are yee beholden vnto your GOD who in all your wearisome mazes hath supported and sinewed your Soule by his sauing Grace Because Sir there be here diuerse of your Friendes and other acquaintance vnto whom it may be ye wold desire to speake I giue place to them that now they may learne something of you The last words of a godlie man are verie forcible vnto the liuing And therefore Sir while ye haue breath spend your short time vpon this that by your good counsell yee may doe good to these that are for to liue after you That once done commit your Soule to God as a faithful Creator He himselfe hath said I will not leaue thee neither will I forsake thee A speach of the sicke Man to his Friendes And now yee my trustie Friends whose age God hath crowned with ripenesse of judgement I turne my selfe to you But first of all let mee speak vnto you my spiritual special Friend who in my deepest plunge while I was fast sticking into the myrie clay did vphold me with your comforts Your counsell to sende for my Pastour hath prouen a speciall salue for my sore God by that man of whom yee spake hath now healed my Soule of all its harmes O blessed be that vnspeakable mercy of my God Though Sathan had bereaued mee of my puritie he could not bereaue my God of his pittie The Lord of light hath brought my Soule out of that long and loathsome night which is in the valley of the shadow of death in comparison whereof the most palpable darknesse of Egypt might haue beene esteemed to bee day O that pleasant Sunne-shine wherewith my Soule is nowe inlightned O my God breath more more into my Soule the life of grace The spirituall Friend Glorie bee to God for his wonderfull mercies towardes you The Lord now set your Soule on wing that swiftlie like an Eagle it may flie vp to its God Many a sore assault haue yee suffered since I spake with you at the first Satan his temptations with the world the corruption of Nature had gathered themselues against you like Gebal Amon and Amaleck against Israel Of them may yee well say nowe They compassed mee about like Bees they are quenched as the fyre of thornes To Sathan may yee now say Thou hast thrust sore at mee that I might fall but the Lord hath helped mee When I mette with you first yee were compassed with a chaine of calamities one linked into another To mee yee appeared to bee hanging ouer Hell by the slender twined threed of a lifelesse hope Yee were plunged deeper downe than Ionaâ—… was when hee went downe to the bottome of the mountaines where the weedes were wrapt about his head Now let your Soule say with Ionah I will sacrifice vnto thee with the voyce of thankesgiuing I will pay that that I haue vowed Saluation is of the Lord. The sicke Man Blesse the Lord O my Soule and all that is within mee blesse his holie Name Blesse the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his benefites Farewell my trustie Friend Now as for you mine other friends I turne my selfe to you Hee that is conuerted with Peter should labour the conuersion of others Hee whose weaknesse the Lord hath helped should strengthen his brethren It is nowe time to take our last good night Heere in your presence I say Farewell O world wherein I haue liued which I haue too much loued Learneye in time to set your affections vpon God None of you can tell if God shall giue you such laiser to repent as he hath granted vntome If yee forsake not in time the sweete pleasures of your sins feare lest at last that that be found true which Abner said to Ioah Knowest thou not that it will bee bitternesse in the latter end There is no sinne so sweete to man in his life but before his death it shall bee dissweetned and turned into gall and wormewoode within the bellie of the Conscience I speake by experience as one who hath knowne the terrours of the Lord O my deare friendes looke ouer your shulder back to your bygone life and consider how grieued yee shall bee for the sinnes of your pleasures when yee shall bee warded into your death beddes readie to compeare before the great Iudge of the world As yee see mee this day so shall others see you ere it bee long I haue often beene glad among you Yee see now by mee what it is of all worldlie â—…oye With a little blast of sickenesse such comfort like chaffe are chassed away Your time is fast comming Your Glasse is running my sicknesse cryeth vnto you Learne of the estate of this your olde Friend to make your selues readie for another world To mee to day to you to morrow Where the tree falleth there shall it lye Whether the Glutton and the Begger are gone thither must wee all that is either to 〈◊〉 hams bosome or to the Deuils 〈◊〉 The death of one is like a 〈◊〉 charging all others to bee readie 〈◊〉 flitte and remoue Happie yea thrise happie is that man who in these 〈◊〉 and desperate dayes is not dulde with securitie Blessâ—…d is hee who is forâ—… warned striue to bee forewarned Blessed is that man who is eueâ—… vpon his watch hauing his loineâ—… girded and his Candle in his hand waiting for the comming of his Lord. A dew my louing Friendes Seeke in time the friendship of your God Striue to be worthie the stile of Abraham that was called The friend of God O my deare Friends let mee now tell you what the Lord hath done to my Soule Hee hath at last beene sensiblie gracious to my poore Soule which Sathan hath long hunted vp downe like a Patridge on
are boiling in it reigne and rage vnhallowed heate and passionate distempers which except they bee repressed with the strength of grace breake out into the thunders and tempestuous stormes of vncleannesse of ryot of drunkenesse and such like which make most fearefull breaches and deepe gashes into the Conscience Beware therefore at the first to sinne lest at last ye sinne by custome The hardening custome of sinne is in Scripture called An yron sinew in the necke and a brasen brow If custome of sinne make you impotent in well doing it shall at last mak you impudent in euill doing Hee who manteth or stammereth in his speach while hee is young will in all appearance speake so vntill his dying day Fooles dreame that man is like March if hee come in with an Adders head they thinke that hee shall goe out with a Peacoks taile as if an euill beginning were the way to an happie end Bee wise in time my deare hearts from your youth consecrat your selues Nazarites vnto the Lord that is Bee pure and holie touch no vncleane thing giue not prouocatiō to the flesh but rather abstaine from all fleshlie lustes which warre against the Soule What shame for Gods sons to bee sinnes slaues If ye wold liue long liue well The wicked saith Solomon shall not prolong his dayes which are as a shadow because hee feareth not before God For this cause it shall be your best to take the first handsell of time for well doing Resist the Deuill in the beginning of sinne Fight against iniquitie as against a foraine enemy at the borders of your heart euen at the first landing before it get fitting in fast and stable groūd While it is fleeting fight it off the shore Sinne is like a Cockatrice it must bee killed into the shell before it come out with piercing venemous lookes Satan in this last and most corrupt age hath with manie blots branded earelie holinesse As for you my counsell is that with great care yee striue to beginne well earely in the morning of your age and that thereafter yee constantlie goe on till like a Sunne yee come to the Noone of grace in glorie In three times of our age wee should striue to three degrees of holinesse In Child-hood wee must bee good in Youth head wee must grow better in olde Age wee must bee best Hee who is not best at last in mine opinion was neuer good at all In all Ages tak heed to all your ways be neuer wedded vnto any sin thogh it seeme like Zoar but a little one There is no sin so base that it wil goe alon without a Page at its back while yee heare of others faults practise Plato his Precept Numquid ego tale Haue I done any such lik thing my selfe Striue in all your affaires to be vpright before God and man Be euer of these that stand on the Lords side for the good cause Let no consideration of profite or preferment mak you to stiffle the voyce of your owne Conscience Shute not your eares at its cry like the Adder at the voyce of the charmer Bee not loth to know your selues trye and examine well your inward parts Doe neuer with great confidence that which yee can not doe with a good Conscience If yee sinne delight not in sinne such pleasures are too deare bought at too high a rate In your whole like reuerence your Pastour though subject to manie infirmities for wee faile all in many things Elias refused not his meate because a Rauen an vncleane fowle brought it vnto him Best men often are signes and wonders euen in Israel Oh that I had words of motion that might stirre you vp to all Christian dueties Beware I exhort you to follow anie euill example giuen by mee Striue by grace to bee better than the Rocke wherout of ye haue beene hewen Manie a time haue I started aside and stumbled in the way It is a rare mercie of God that hath brought mee thorow this world with honesty It is only Gods guarde euen his sauing grace which hath kept my life from scab scandale for in trueth I speake it to my shame that God may haue the glorie I haue beene like a foolish Flee that flutters about the Candle It is by the meere mercie of my God that the winges of my profession haue not beene scorched with the flammes of some one temptation or other which should haue beene to me the cause of some filthie downe-fall A scandalous sinne is like a dampe which quencheth the bright Candle of a glorious profession Let these that are forwarned striue to bee forearmed Happie is he who in time beateth downe his own corruptions and tameth his wild heart like an horse whom the Ridder breaketh that hee may trauell him the parts and the pace as he best desireth It it onelie Gods mercie which hath stopt the torrent of my corruptions Learne therefore of mee to passe the time of your sojourning heere in feare The euill which man least feareth he is nearest to fall into Take heede my deare Children and giue eare vnto my counsell * Where euer yee bee thinke shame to commit that which yee would think shame to confesse In all things striue to have a cleare Conscience toward God and man Respect more goodnesse than greatnesse and its sway Bee alway courtesse Cut not a man in the current of his speach bee not selfe conceited but bee little in your owne eyes Striue rather to bee good than to seeme to bee so Obey your betters hearken to the wise reuerence the gray haires found in the way of righteousnesse Suffer rebuke patientlie for it is better than secret loue faithfull are the wounds of a friend Haunt euer the companie of the godly In all affaires be like the Bee such out of all things the best and leaue the worst seeke out the honie leauing the venome to the Waspe Let euerie day bee to you as your last day Before you goe to bed at night make your score euen with your Iudge Be daylie carefull to fit your count so shall ye haue the lesse to account for at your finall reakoning In all things be vpright and doe well for as Iehosaphat said The Lord will bee with the good If ye would dye the death of the righteous striue first to liue the life of the righteous If ye would come to the end ye must not leape ouer the meanes While yee are young kill your sinnes in their youth euen in their first motions while they touch but the spirit of the minde before they bee hatched out from vnder the affections Breake betimes the Cockatrices egge lest at last it breake out into a Viper Beware to conceiue mischiefe lest ye bring forth iniquitie By the corruptiō of our corruptions is the generation of our regeneration Pamper not the Carion
thee in righteousnesse in judgement in louing kindnesse in mercies come now and perfect the marriage in glory before the Sainctes and Angels that are aboue where pleasures are for euermore The Pastour Amen Amen The Spirit of God Sir is with you within you Continue in such holie and heauenlie thoughtes Contemne still the transitorie triffles of this world that gladlie yee may desire to goe dwell with your God Naturallie all men are so stiffe-necked and so steele hearted that they cannot submit their will to the good pleasure of their God O that men would bee wise in time and could consider how they must bee accountable for euerie houre of time they haue imployed in their life Our Soules alas are so sensuall that they will not knit into acquaintance with Right and Reason but like factious ligged lieges rebell stifelie against their Lord Hardlie will mans heart rander vnto that petition which is often in his mouth viz. Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen The pride of mans heart perketh it selfe aboue the Lawes of humble obedience Blessed bee God whose mercie hath made you a resolued man such wordes as I haue heard of you were neuer teached in the Schoole of Nature Nature cannot speake the language of Canaan We haue nothing to rander vnto God for his working mercies but the mites of praise O but ye are much beholden vnto GOD who hath endued your Soule with his loue subdued the raging power of temptations whe◅with your Soule at the first was caried lik chaffe or dust before a gale mightie winde O but your heart at the first was fearefullie hacked and mangled with most terrible temptations O but the Spirite of Iesus hath wrought wonderfullie within you Now by him are ye made free from all the terrors of temptations which like venemous hornets did flie in your face The sicke Man I finde now all that to bee true Glade is my Soule that euer it knew that Lord Full welcome is his Spirit to me Christ is now my Loue mine hearts delight Hee hath ridde my Soule of all mine heauie-hearted thoughts By his blessed Spirit hee hath perswaded mee that my Soule hath a true and reall enterest in these blessed tidings of peace and Saluation which hee by his Blood hath bought and broght from the Heauens O the mercie of my God! O the Ocean of his compassions which hath swallowed vp the most hudge mountaines of mine iniquities O what a redemption is this to bee deliuered from so great a death wherin the damned must die so long as God shall liue O death of torments without anie end O life of continuance without anie ease O the immortalitie of that death wherein sinners shall euer bee dying but neuer dead wherein the least touch of paine cannot bee counteruailed with the millions of pleasures O the tumbling and tossing that shall bee there where the wrath of God shall infinitelie burne Now Christ the Lord of life hath made mee free of all these fear◅s I hope shortlie to bee with him I rejoyce in hope of the glorie of God To him will I say as hee said to Zacheus Today I must bide with thee I long to bee out of this state of strife My bodie is weake and mine ◅eart fainteth within mee O Lord recreate and refresh my Soule with the blessed Blood of the Lambe orientle streaming thorow the channell of his wounds Giue mee a constant assurance that all my sinnes are blotted out of thy Register Where no woode is there the fyre goeth out Where sin is taken away there wrath ceaseth to bee O Lord conduct the Ruther of my Soule till it hath sailed thorow al the seas of sorrows and become to the Port of pleasures for euermore The Pastour Take courage and continue so Lift vp your head with the eye of Faith behold the other Shore euen the Land beyond the riuer The Land of vprightnes Canaan which is aboue Bend vp all your heart-strings with hauenlie desires Fixe fast your eyes vpon that Crowne of immortalitie Let now all your thoughts claspe fast about the mercies of your God Hee nowe imbraceth you his hand is a sure hold fast which neuer letteth slip that which it once hath seized on In al appearance your Battell is neare an end Waite stedfastlie vpon the Lord Christ shortlie with a soft hand shal loose the knot of your life that your Soule may goe free to the place of its rest your Soule alreadie by the mercifull Arme of Iesus hath beene deliuered from the painefull racke of repentance and now is sette vpon the rocke of your Saluation The gracious God hath beene your Father Feeder and Defender Your desirs which of before were grappled to the ground now only aspire to things which are aboue Afflictions to the Soule is like the gade to the Oxe a teacher of obedience Finde ye now the tempest of your Conscience so allayed as yee would wish Is all calme and at quiet within I hope that the blessed droppes of the Lambes Blood haue quenched that wilde fyre wherewith once your troubled Conscience was enflammed Yee as I esteeme are no more troubled for your sinnes as though God neither would nor were able to forgiue I pray God that yee may boldlie say with a godlie Father What shall I returne vnto my gracious God that I darre now looke my sinnes in the face and not bee afraide The sicke Man My sinnes I blesse God fright mee no more O the rich bowels of Iesus wherein is a Myne of mercie I remember now of a sweete saying of a godlie mā on his death-bed When mine iniquities saide hee are greater than thy mercies O God then will I feare and despaire The comfortes of my God now refresh my Soule lik the Riuer of Siloah that watered the Citie of God I blesse God for all my try all troubles which hee hath made to worke together to my well Grace in the heart is often like fyre in flint insensible vntill it bee beaten It is good for vs that wee bee afflicted The bluenesse of the wound purgeth away euill My Saluation now is surelie sealed by the hand of the Spirit By his seale it is made sure and authenticall O how my Soule hath with a bright eye discouered the fauours of his face O if God forsake a man hee will shortlie with Iudas passe from the horror to the halter O the mercies of God towards me The Pastour O how much are yee beholden vnto God who by his Spirit hath so directed your heart and mouth with wordes perfumed with the sauour of life vnto life yee haue refreshed all our Soules as with a sweete breath If the Spirit of Grace guided not our tongues in our temptations our mouths to our euerlasting shame should breath out stiffe and stinking blastes of blasphemie against the Lord our
Nowe graunt that the hope of that glorie which is to bee reuealed may bee so strong in his Soule that it may shield and fence him from the force and furie of the last assaults The nearer he draweth vnto death inlarge the chanell of thy graces like a Riuer which is broadest towards the end of its course Make his heart in the ◅orest pangs of death to bee still lifted vp towards thee And seeing Death and the Deuill mans two last enemies are euer busie the one for to fright the other for to tempt Prepare him Lord and furnish him so with thy Graces that hee may proue victorious in this last assault O gracious GOD assist him by thy force against the most violent blustering winds of the last and most fearefull temptations If Satan looke in at the doores of his heart seeking for an entrie let him neuer get so much as one chamber-roome set a part for his sojourning Make thy grace vnto him like a Sunne like a Bridegroome comming out of his Chamber to disperse the darknesse of his mistie minde Vnto his last gaspe direct him so by thy good Spirit that his Soule may cleaue so fast vnto thee that neither sinne nor sicknesse life nor death may bee able to separate him from thee Thogh thou shuld slay him yet wil hee trust in thee Faile him not now in time of neede vphold his heart in this heauie houre Let his Soule lurke vnder the winges of thy mercie till the tempest of wrath bee calmed past ouer Bee thou to him a shelter against the heauie showers of the last agonie O gracious Lord in wrath remember mercie In the multitude of thy compassions blot out his transgressions and that for the dearest drops of that sacred Blood that gushed vpon the cursed crosse Rinse and cleanse his heart from all vncleannes Giue him courage in his greatest fears Let not Death bee vnto him as a king of feare nor hee as one of the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath O Lord let thy Name bee vnto him like a strong tower for to hid him into the time of trouble Let this bee the cleare candle of his comfort neuer to bee quenched that Christ by his death hath for him and all the Faithfull ouercome Death and disarmed it of its sting Declare by the inward motion of thy Spirit to his Soule that the nature of death by the death of Christ is changed into a sleepe vnto all the friends of Christ who by the infinite power of his diuine Nature hath swallowed it vp in victorie and hath so digested it that now the bitternesse thereof is past As the Arke was to Noah and Zoar vnto Lot so bee thou a refuge to this faithfull Soule fighting thy battels not onelie against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the gouernours of darknesse of this world and against spirituall wickednesse in high places Let thy strength bee made perfect in his weaknesse As thou hast vp holden him hitherto by the strength of thy Spirit so continue with him vntill the end The battell is the Lords fight Lord for thine own cause euē for this Soule one of thy redeemed Ones obtaine thou the victorie and take the glorie to thy selfe O God both of grace and glorie seale surely vp in his bosome the pardon of all his iniquities Perfect the comfortes which thou hast begunne say vnto his Soule That heauen is not so high nor hell so low nor the world so wide as are thy mercies towards him All thy creatures haue their owne dimensions but thy mercie Lord like thy selfe is without measure Out of these infinite compassions make this sillie Soule partaker of the dearest mercies that euer rould together the relenting bowels of thy tenderest loue Heare vs Lord in all these our sutes and that for the sake of thy best beloued and onelie begotten Sonne the Lord Iesus Christ in whose Name and at whole command wee powre out our heartes to thee in that prayer which by his own sacred and most blessed mouth hee hath taught vs Our Father c. The sicke Man Lord heare thou in Heauen Blessed for euer be thy Name for such spirituall comfortes for so manie mercies I can rander nothing but the little mites of praise and thankesgiuing Mine heart is filled with songs of Gods mercie If his Spirit of grace had not vpholden mee in my first feares while as I thought I was wrapped into an infinite wrath I had certainelie beene swallowed vp with ouermuch sorrow But now blessed eternallie bee the Lord who hath made the earth to swallow vp all the floodes of temptations and tribulations which that red Dragon the Deuill a bloodie murtherer hath cast out of his mouth after mee for to carrie my Soule down head-longs to perdition Now finde I Gods word to bee true that hee is ouercome by the Blood of the Lambe Except that the Lord had beene on my side O in what a dumbe dumpe had my poore Soule beene driuen into ere now The Pastour Hee who followed Adam thorow the thicke bushes and Ionas in the bottome of the sea Hee who blessed the crooked man and made the barren fertile and the dumbe to speake the deafe to heare and the blind to see hath made his grace perfect in your weaknesse He best feeleth the pulse of our heartes and the force of our life Loth would hee bee to breake the bruised reede or to quench the smoking flaxe All men by nature are but like an vncleane Dung-hill of drosse their heartes at the first are but a den of Dragons But so soone as the Spirit of grace hath begunne to drawe the draughts and lineamentes of Gods image within the soule of a man nothing shall bee able to deface or mangle that liuelie image To all sorts of temptations Gods wisedome shall finde an out-gate Neither the traines of Sathan nor the treason of our bosome sinnes nor the terrors of hell nor the trashes of the world shall euer be able to preueale against Adirim Gods excellent Ones According as Zacharias filled with the holie Ghost prophecied It is granted vnto vs that wee beeing deliuered out of the handes of our enemies may serue him without feare The sicke Man I blesse God for such inestimable comforts Sathan hath shrewdlie assaulted mee but could not preuaile My corruptions haue beene subdued and awed by the Majestie of the Spirit of Iesus My Soule rejoyceth in GOD In the merites of Christ as in a glasse I see him a meeke a mercifull Father I am not now afraide to come to a tryall at his Tribunall I am no more dismayed for the vnquencheable flammes of the fierie lake I thinke certainelie that there was neuer a man so much beholden to my God as I am Truelie may I sing with the Psalmest I waited patientlie or the Lord and hee inclined vnto mee and heard my cry Hee
him And because I haue deferred my repentance till this houre whereby my Saluation is cutte off if I should die suddenlie Loe how my God in his mercifull prouidence to preuent my destruction calleth mee by a lingring sicknesse which stayeth till I bee readie and prepareth mee to mine ende like a preacher and maketh mee by wholesome paines wearie of this beloued world lest I should depart vn willing like them whose death is their damnation So hee loueth mee while hee beateth mee that his stripes are plasters to saue mee therefore who shall loue him if I despise him This is my whole office nowe to strengthen my bodie with mine heart and to bee contented as God hath appointed vntill I can glorifie him or vntill hee glorifie mee If I liue I liue to sacrifice and if I die I die a sacrifice for his mercie is aboue mine iniquitie Therefore if I should feare death it were a signe that I had not Faith nor hope as I professed but that I doubted of Gods trueth in his promise wh◅ther hee will forgiue his penitent sinner or not Hee is my Father let him doe what seemeth good in his sight Come Lord Iesus for thy seruant commeth I am willing helpe mine vnwillingnesse Heere is the end of that godlie mans speach As at that Brydell in Cana the best wine came last so shall it be heer◅ After the words of a godlie man I shall let you heare the words of God spoken by a man inspired by his Spirit euen the last words of Dauid the man whose praise is this that hee was a man according to Gods owne heart The last words of Dauid Dauid the sonne of Iesse said and the man who was raised vp on high the a◅ointed of the God of Iaacob and the sweete Psalmist of Israel said The Spirit of the Lord spake by mee and his words was in my tongue The God of Israel saide the Rocke of Israel spake to mee Hee that ruleth ouer men must bee just ruling in the feare of God And hee shall bee as the light of the morning when the Sunne riseth euen a morning without cloudes as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine Although mine house bee not so with God yet hee hath made with mee an euerlasting couenant ordered in all things and sure For this is all my Saluation and all my desire although hee make it not to growe But the sonnes of Belial shall bee all of them as thornes thrust away because they cannot bee taken with hands But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with yron and the staffe of a speare and they shall bee vt◅er lie burnt with fyre in the same place Alittle before his death at the inauguration of his Sonne Solomon he spake manie notable words among others these bee of great weight O Lord wee are heere but strangers before thee and so◅ourners as were all our fathers Our dayes on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and of Israel our Fathers keepe this for euer in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people and prepare their heartes vnto thee That hundreth and two Psalme is excellent It is intituled a prayer of the afflicted when he is ouerwhelmed and powreth out his complant before the Lord. Heare my prayer O Lord and lette my cry come vnto thee hide not thy face from mee in the day when I am in trouble incline thine eare vnto mee In the day when I call answere mee spe◅dilie For my dayes are consumed like smoke and my bones are burnt like an hearth c. Seeing as wee see that nothing is stable in this world but as it is in that Sermon of the Preacher vanity of vanities and all is vanitie wee haue to intreate the Lord earnestlie as Moses did a little before his death That hee would so teach vs to number our dayes that we may applye our hearts to wisedome and to well doing All things below wither and decay our best beauties are w◅ithed and wrinkled by time But the beautie of the Lord is of euerlasting continuance Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs. O the beautie of the things aboue O the beautie of the Firmament O these azured Curtaines spangled with stars of light What jewels of joy are within no mortall tongue can tell Looke vp nowe Sir with the eye of your Faith and visite these heauenlie Mansions and blessed buildinges for immortaltiie Yee are shortlie for to change for the better So long as our sillie Soules are here they are but poore Soules reading and meditating the mercies of God within a cottage of clay hauing nothing to see with but the weak light of the small Candle of grace a light dimmed and darkened with the reekie smok of our sinfull corruptions But so soone as wee shall bee dissolued by Death we shall come to the euerlasting Beames of a Sunne which by nothing is able to bee ecclipsed alight which knoweth no darknesse euen that Light which bringeth light out of darknesse Now Sir vp with your heart saile out your course Be like the Pylot who while hee hath hand on the Helme hath his eye fixed on the heauen Take now the Cuppe of Saluation the great Mazer of his mercie and call vpon the Name of the Lord Hee is worthie to bee praised for his vnspeakable fauour toward you He in great mercy hath toward you turned all the sharpe corrasiues of the Law into most sweete cordials of the Gospel He hath now made you free of all these terrours whereinto yee found your selfe once lyable Oh Lord how did once the sharpe edge of thy Law laide to his mourning heart cutte him thorow the verie gall But blessed bee thou who in thy great mercie hast cut the Cartropes of his sinnes where with hee was once kept fast vnder the most heauie bondage of Hell What say yee now Sir How is it of all Haue yee heard all these words and laide them vp into your minde The sicke Man I haue heard them all that with great comfort now mine heart is in heauen Christ by the vertue of his vnualuable Blood-shed hath takē away the gall of my guiltines Now my bodie is wholly dead to its paine and my Soule is whollie aliue to its glorie I see a Crowne of immortalitie which my Soule would not sticke to fetch thorow the brimstone beames of hell My Soule seeth the face of its Redeemer Christ with a soft hand is now loosing all the bondes of my miserie His most sacred Blood hath melted my marble heart Nowe come Lord Iesus come Long haue I looked for thy Saluation Nowe let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy Saluation O my deare Soule I summond thee with all thy powers and faculties to
bee thankfull vnto thy good and gracious Lord O what tribulations am I come thorow O with what balmie comfortes hath the Lord asswadged the dolours of my Soule O my Soule I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hynds that thou haste thee vnto thy God in thy strongest affections Keepe nowe tryst with the Spirit of thy God who is now here waiting till thou bee readie The Pastour My Soule and all that is within mee praise the Lord for the powerfull working of his Spirite within you whereby hee hath made such a change as is wonderfull This particula◅ remembereth mee of a certaine Martyre who beeing condemned to bee burnt could feele no working of the Spirit within his hearte till hee came neare to the stake But beeing once come there with a cry hee clapped his hands and crying out amaine said O Austen hee is come hee is come The Martyr was called Master Goner The sicke Man By the grace of God I hope shortlie to say as much My Soule is readie bent waiting for his comming O come Lord Iesus come Let this mine hungrie Soule win in now at the ports of thy Palace for to get a share of the mariage supper of the Lambe in hope already I feast vpon the joys of eternitie In my Soule is now the Charter of my Saluation sealed with that most pure and purifying Blood of the immaculate and spotlesse Lambe that came to take away the monstrous and menstrous sin◅es of the world In the vertue of his Blood is my strongest comfort and highest resolution By it alone all my blacke and bloodie sinnes are clensed from their crimsin colour The Pastour Indeede Sir it is onelie that Lambes Blood that can purge away sinne and iniquitie Though man should wash himselfe with nitre and take him much sope yet for all that shall his iniquitie bee marked before God except that hee bee bathed into this blood of sprinkling Seeing now your Charter is well sealed hold fast these writtings that nothing aboue or belowe no not principalities and powers bee able to wrest them out of your hands Happie is your heart now wherein is that white jewell of the Reuelation euen the white stone wherein is a new name which no man can knowe except the receiuer O the boundlesse bleeding bowels of Gods compassions O that infinite store-house of Christs merites and mercies which no sinne were they neuer so hainous can bee able to stint or restraine before the repenting sinner get a parte of that purchase Neither Death nor Life things present nor to come shall be able to with hold a mourning sinner from a share in our Lords dearest compassions Christ now Sir is readie to receiue ◅ou Make your selfe readie for him Lift vp your hea◅ for your Redemption draweth neare The ende of your time and toile is fast comming The Angels of God are here waiting vpon your Soule which is now looking out to Christ as the morning faire as the Moone cleare as the Sunne and terrible as an Armie with Banners Wherevpon is your minde nowe fixed The sicke Man All mine affections are bended toward God O what shall bee able to hold or hinder me from hastening to my Lord the repairer of life the destroyer of death the conquerour of Heauen the vanquisher of Hell O my Sauiour come neerer yet vnto mee let my Soule creepe in by thy wounds euen to the verie bowels of thy mercie Warme it like a Chicken vnder the vvinges of thy loue The Pastour In Christ alone is Saluation Out of his side did issue the water that hath quenched the vnquencheable fyre of Gods wrath with the Blood that taketh away the sinnes of the world His holie Heart was racked his Armes of compassiō were stretched out vpon the Crosse for to declare to all repenting sinners the infinite widenesse of his mercies His sacred Head hang down bowed for to giue eare vnto the gronings of his prisoners His blessed Bowels rumbling with compassions rolled together made him to proclaime that Oyas of mercie Come vnto mee all yee that are wearied and ladened with sinne and I will ease you Much hath hee suffered for our cause Like a painefull labourer hee powred out sweate not onely of water but of blood at the working the great worke of mans Saluation At last by laying downe that Life of loue hee achieued the victorie ouer Sathan flesh the world all the enemies of mans Saluation Them all hee hath crushed and trodde vnder foote Stand fast by Iesus In Faith and Hope thrust your heart vpon him What now Sir thinke ye vpon The sicke Man Christ hath bund vp all my woūds he hath perfectlie closed them with the blessed Balme of his comfortes Now at the end of mine appointed time I am waiting earnestlie till my changing come I hope ere it be long to bee translated from grace to glory The Pastour O Lord set this Soule as a seale vpon thine Hearte and as a seale vpon thine Arme Out of thy great loue make this Soule beautifull as Tirzah comelie as Ierusalem terrible as armie with banners Thou Lord who crownest the yeare with thy goodnesse tak in thine hand the crowne of immortalitie in this Soule crowne thy graces with thy glorie Now Sir yee are neare the borders of Canaan three or foure steppes more would set you in that Land of life and loue The sicke Man Mine heart like an Hart braying after waters panteth after God O when shall I come and appeare before him Now mine heart shiuers within mee I am so sicke that I feare to faint The Pastour O Lord now be mercifull shew fauour toward this thy seruant Distill thy graces into his heart vvith a blessed influence from the Spirit of thy loue pull in all his spirits to Thee and thrust out all distractions O Lord of Life and Loue breath into his soule the life of immortalitie Take heede now vnto him ye who are neere about him for death now approacheth with its last assaultes in all appearance Looke well to him for hee seemeth to bee fallen into a sowne THE SICKE MAN IN A SOVVNE A SOLILOQVEE Or a priuie conference betweene the Soule and the bodie of the sicke Man lying in a sowne The Bodie MY Soule desireth thou now to leaue mee that haue borne thee about mee so manie yeares If thou goe from mee I must no longer remaine among the inhabitants of the world but incontinent after thy departure I a vassell of death must bee hid vnder the dust among crawling wormes farre from the eyes of the liuing These who were once glad to kisse my mouth shall abhorre to see my face Is not the Graue a Babel a place of confusion Doe not Iim and Zim resort there Doe not the Satyres and the Fairies daunce there Mine haire startes all vp for feare while I
thinke vpon these solitudes and mansions of silence I faint at the verie thought thereof Oh my deare Soule wilt thou abide with mee no longer If thou depart my Beautie my Colour my Conference my Companie and all is gone Oh shall all my senses now bee closed vp shall I speake no more heare no more see no more than if I were a stone Must I nowe goe remaine into the myre of mortalitie the place of silence Must I abide the long nights among the Graues places fearfull to the liuing where men make no resort O wretched weakling that I am by Death as I see I shall bee grapled to the ground where I shall bee forced to make my bedde in the da◅ke The Soule My Bodie bee not thou disquieted I am but for a little space going before thee for to take seasin of Heauen for thee and for mee Though I bee absent for a space I shall neuer forget thee In Gods appointed time I shall come againe and fetch thee out of the muddie moulde of mortalitie At the first blast of the last Trumpet I shall come downe shall enter into thee and quicken thee againe At that time God shal cleanse thee from all thy corruptions and shall mak thee like an Angel of God My sillie Bodie wee haue taken much pains together for to get a rest which we haue looked long for but culd not find now goe to thy rest till come againe for to bring thee to eternall repose If thou were cōmanded to goe to labour to pains thou should haue some cause indeede to whine and to shrinke as one hampered in a snare But the Lord is now desiring thee like a wearied man to goe to thy rest for to sleepe soundlie into a bedde wherein thou shalt no more bee disquieted with dreames or with visions When thou shalt once awake thou shalt bee still with Iesus If in mercie hee hath made mee to preuent thee in the possession of eternitie let not his fauour toward mee worke in thee anie heart rising against that Majestie who as the Potter doth with his clay may doe with all his creatures what hee pleaseth The Bodie But O my Soule the Graue is fearefull It is a retired solitude and a place of silence a place of filthie stinke I abhorre to thinke of it how that in that dungeon of darknesse and denne of corruption I must lye downe naked implunged in myrie slime among wormes a lumpe of most vile and lifelesse clay Alas my Soule The Soule My Bodie bee not discouraged The Graue is a place where the bodie must lye till with the Eagle there it cast its Bill a meanes for to renew its youth So soone as once there it hath cast the old slugh of Nature incontinent thereafter it shall become a new creature Except saide Christ that the corne of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone Haue patience but a little New corne will come at the day of the resurrection The dayes of mans mortalitie are the Lords seede time The bodies of the Saincts are his seede the Church yard is his fielde Suffer now the Lord to sowe his owne ground Bee not disquieted nor cast down with griefe It shall bee thy gaine to goe downe to the graue There shalt thou be sowne in corruption but thou shalt bee raised in incorruption Thou shalt be sowne in dishonour but thou shalt bee raised in glorie Thou shalt bee sowne in weaknesse but thou shalt bee raised in power Thou shalt bee sowne a naturall bodie but thou shalt bee raised a spirituall bodie See what by Gods mercie shall bee the great gaine of the Graue After that the Graues of the godlie shall bee ripe the Lord by an infinite power shall make all their bodies to bee taken vp for like fine wheate to bee laide vp within his heauenlie Girnals When thou shalt arise it shall bee to an immortall happie life Haue patience for a little space and bee not crabbed Yet a little while and I shall not see thee and againe a little while after the resurrection I shall see thee when thou shalt bee transchanged into the blessed estate of glorious immortalitie Then shall I dwell in thee without anie spot or wrinkle Let the hope of this temper thy present griefe Let not the Graue afray thee my deare Body for it is the last bed which euerie man must sleepe in Lye downe into it gladlie Bee content with the silke worme an argument of the resurrection to bee enwrapped for a space in thy Winding sheete till the chill colde winter-tide of this mortalitie bee pas◅ At the glorious spring of eternitie at the returne of the Sun of righteousnes so soone as the heat of the beating beames of Gods loue shall pierce in vnto thy Graue in a moment in the twinkling of an eye thou shall be quickened and raised vp yea renewed and refined from the sinfull dust of corruption and after that carried aboue the brightest azured skies vnto the place of immortalitie among pleasures for euermore The Bodie I cannot but lament and waile to bee depriued of thy companie My dearest Soule full deare art thou to mee If two strangers had beene but some fewe dayes in their journey together they will haue a certaine regret for to leaue one another What wonder is it then that wee two who haue beene of such olde acquaintance mourne at this last and long adew The Soule As thy loue is great toward mee so is mine also great toward thee my Bodie But seeing it is the will of him who married vs together that nowe wee bee put asunder wee must submit our selues vnto his good pleasure This separation shall be but or a little space and that for the well of vs both The husband will saile the seas and goe farre from home in hope to returne with aduantage The same hope encourageth his wife to liue lik a vvidow for a space At last the husbāds returne with expected profite is welcomed with greater joyes thā was his former presence It shall bee so with vs my deare Bodie At my returne in the day of the Resurrection there shall enter such a joy into thee as eye neuer saw eare neuer heard yea which neuer could enter into the heart of man As the long dark night maketh the morning seeme sweete to the wearied watch who hath long looked for it so shall our little absence be a certaine commendation of that presence which after the great day shall bee for euer Cease in time I pray thee to stick at such earthlie conceits I may no longer tarrie with thee the Crowne of immortalitie is alreadie in sight The Bodie But alas howe is this that thou should goe to glorie before mee and leaue mee in the dust of death a peace of moulding clay Haue I done anie wrong but by thy counsell and direction What haue I beeene but the instrument of thy
vp nowe to the Heauens Thou hast alreadie past all toyle and turmoyle The way that rests vnto the Kingdome is both smooth euen without anie rubbe of opposition thou shalt enter into immortalitie O the showres of grace and mercie which raine downe vpon vs both Farewell till that desired day of the Resurrection come The Pastour His eyes stirre a little they are full of teares the tribute of Repentance He beginneth to shake he now seemeth to bee wakened out of his traunce I will inquire what his minde is set vpon What meditations are these Sir that yee are vpon Yee seeme to haue beene in some good motion The sicke Man My Soule Sir and my bodie after a blessed agreement haue beene taking their adewes one from another They haue bene blessing each other beâ—…ause they haue serued God together they looke to bee one day both glorified together A sea of comfortes hath rained downe vpon my Soule from the Heauens in most sweete and pleasant showers The Pastour Surelie that is a worthie exercise Such good motions are plants of God and impressions of his finger Happie are the Soule the bodie that can serue God together with one shoulder At that last day they shall haue a joyefull meeting they two shal be clasped together in loue with such contentmentes as tongues of Angels are not able to expresse But O when the vvicked soule shall returne from hell to take vp its bodie for to carie it to euerlasting torments then shall they curse each other with manie a woe for their Fornications Adulteries Lyes Deceits Ryot Drunkenesse Then would the bodie if it could haue intelligence of the soules comming wish that a rock or a mountaine would fall vpon it for to hide it from the Soule that beeing voyde of life it might bee free of feeling But the decree is come foorth of necessitie they must bee joyned together O but they then shall looke one to another like Lyons Their feede shall receiue none agreement no not They shall neuer agree in anie thing but in this to 〈◊〉 together that their comfortlesse dolours may bee doubled This is a deare pennie-warth so little pleasure for so much paine In that day all the wicked shal bitterlie repent such barganes Now happie is your Soule Sir and your bodie both that are so well resolued to depart Yee are certainelie blessed that euer yee were borne Behold nowe yee rest in hope of the resurrection which shall bee in that great day of Gods generall assemblie when all that euer tooke breath shall compeare before Christ the Iudge of the World for to receiue that which they did in the flesh bee it good bee it euill Now Sir seeing yee are an inrolled Citizen of Heauen and an adopted haire of God vp still with your heart towarde that heauenlie Heritage with sighes and grones beate on still at the doores of Gods mercie God giueth vnto prayer victory against himselfe Nowe the time draweth neere Sir your houre is come to a quarter fight out the good fight fixe the eyes of your Faith vpon the bloodie wounds of Iesus Lay hold on him listen to his voyce ere it bee long yee shall heare these words of joye Come faithfull seruant and enter into thyÌ„ Masters joye O Lord the giuer of grace and of glorie out of the blessed bowels of thy mercie bath and wash this Soule with that arteriall blood which sprang thorow the pierced filme of the heart of his Redeemer At the beginning of this Battell Lord thou did see howe his poore Soule was scorched with the flames of hellish temptations which did burne the verie marrow out of his bones this is thy ordinarie dealing with thine owne Hell on earth is for the heires of Heauen But heauen on earth is the portion of the heires of hell Now Lord from his hell bring him to thine Heauens Mak his Soule more clearelie to look vp toward the blessed bloodie wounds of his Sauiour wherein hee may perceiue the props of his protection Make his Soule now to be fullie possessed with an entire loue to the fairenesse of thy face wherein are pleasures for euermore The sicke Man Lord Iesus make clay againe with thy Spittle for to anointe my dimmed eyes that clearelie with Simeon my Soule may see thy Saluation We in our life receiue but the first impositioÌ„ of handes like the man that saw men walking like trees Now Lord at death giue mee the second imposition that I may see thee euen as thou art The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauenâ—… Maintaine the life of his loue towards thee Now vvater the seede vvhich thou hast sowne Weede out the tares vvhich Sathan hath sowne Pittie and pardon Lay all his sinnes vpon the Sonne of thy loue Now let his feete be shod for the journey which hee is making to a better place Inspire his Soule with the spirit of grace till his life bee expired Saue him by thy blood which saued theÌ„ that spilt it The sicke Man I finde Death besieging my heart with seÌ„sible blowes O bring out my Soule out of this bricke of bondage of the bodie Mine heart stringes are so racked within mee that they are like to breake The hope that is deferred is the fainting of the Soule Lord helpe mee in this heauie houre The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and satisfie his hearts desire The sicke Man Pray pray that the Lord vphold mee in the throng of these throes wherewith mine heart is gripped lest I be whollie swallowed vp of despaire The Pastour O Sauiour of mankinde who out of thy meere mercie and loue came vnder the charge of his accounts Mak now answere for him as his Aduocat before that high Tribunall before which his poore Soule is now arraigned to coÌ„peare Turne all thy wrath in mercie and thy Iustice-seat in a Throne of grace Call home all his wandering thoughtes settle and them vpon thy selfe Maintaine the life of his loue Make death to him a Messenger of mercie and his paines a meane to bring him to thy pleasures O Captaine of his Saluation vnder whose bloodie banner hee hath in his life made warre against the enemies of thy glorie at death ouercome thou all the enemies of his Saluation With thy Trumpets and Lampes terrifie all these merciles Midianites Make them like a wheele as the stubble before the winde Graunt the victorie vnto thy weake Seruant heere that in the Heauens thou may crowne his Soule with glorious garlands of immortalitie Lord heare vs for the sake of thy Sonne vnto whom with thee and the Spirite of Grace bee all glorie and honour Amen Now Sir vp with your heart to the Father of mercies Fight out couragiouslie the fight of Faith Christ now is holding out the Crowne your Saluation is sealed yee neede not feare yee haue your warrant vnder the Broad Seale of the King of Heauen The sicke man O My deare
hee had time hee liued in pleasures and feasted while others fasted His seuen yeares of plentie are past now let him smart vvith the Glutton into hell Let him there bee refused of a drop by him to vvhom heere hee refused a crumme Can God looke vpon his iniquities and not kindle a consuming fire in his vvrath against such a varnished hypocrite vvhose vvhole religion vvas in a mouth filled with great swelling words of vanitie In such deceitfull cunning colouring hee among all did carrie away the Bell. The Angel Michael God will neuer looke vpon his iniquities for hee hath cast them all behind his backe God beholdeth none iniquitie in Iacob neither doeth hee see peruersenesse in Israel The Lord judgeth not his Children by the remnant of their olde corruptions but by the beginnings of his renewing grace The mercifull God is more pleased vvith a dram of grace then prouoked with a pound of iniquitie Sinnes are not sinnes before God except that they bee done vvith pleasure That which I say is from that trueth Hee that is borne of God sinneth not Auoyde Sathan Thou art euer couered vvith rage as vvith a rayment When thou seest anger kindled thou art euer readie to adde tinder to that fyre Thou art cunning and craftie to clok thy bloodie massacres vvith pretences of seeking justice Sathan What say I but trueth His whole delight vvas in sinne While he was in health and strength he did weare my Liuerie Who did euer see him beare Christes cognisance All his godlinesse vvas but cloake and colour vvithout life and vigouâ—… Thogh hee sinne not now there vvhere hâ—…e lyeth he hath not left sin but sin hath left him If his tongue could speake hee could not for his heart denye it Scribitur in facie Beholde his fierce and kill-bucke countenance While he had youth and vigour hee obeyed no lawe but his lawlesse appetits Was hee challenged Then hee fathered his sinnes vpon mee The Angel Michael Thou in thy fond humour hast euer byting corrasiues for bleeding Consciences In his members I confesse there was a lawlesse law indeed but in his minde vvas Gods Lawe warring against the law of his members From his heart hee hated that law of his members But his whole delight was in the Law of the Spirit After that hee had sinned he 〈◊〉 cast the first stone at him selfe Sathan All these be but faire cloakes and couers for to hide his transgressions But they will not preuaile The heauens know that he was but the carrion of a Christian aglozing hypocriâ—… hauing the carkase of knowledge without the life of loue the power of practise euer fickle lik a Chameleon Hee is nowe in his good moode but if he shuld yet liue a space all shuld soone see that in his heart is nothing souÌ„d settled sincere what need I more this Soule must bee mine hee hath sinned and therefore hee muste bee cursed and so hee must bee mine Behold his Band and Obligation By the Lawe of God hee is mine Now must hee runne into ruine Let mee giue him a girke with my rodde The Angel Michael Avoid that bloody Bande hath bene cancelled by the blood of God that Obligation long since hath beene â—…uen with the nailes of the Crosse of Iesus That which the Law had 〈◊〉 hath beene loosed by the Gospel What his workes could not doe Gods grace hath perfected By fauour the mercifull Lord hath chosen him out of the lost masse of mankind Seeing his ransome hath cost God his blood all accusations must bee sealed with silence In despite of the vtmost rage of all infernall force this Soule shall bee saued Though all the powers of hell prodigiouslie madde should rage rampe and roare they shall not be able to vnâ—…ye the knot of Faith and Loue where with hee is vnited vnto his Sauiour Sathan I feare fore now that hee slippe the collar and goe from mee At least seeing in his whole life I haue beene his Master let him bee diuided let mee haue any part and let God take his choice in the partner-ship The Angel Michael Auoyde Sathan with thy wittie wickednesse whereby woluishlle thou woulde worrie this redâ—…emed Lambe Thy shaire is not with God Thou hast neither parte nor lot in this matter The whole man is Christes who hath bought him with a price Away with thy gun-pudered humour Attempt no more to touch him Thou shalt neuer grippe him any more within thy cruell clouthes nor inwrap him in thy snaires Woâ—… to that Soule that serueth thee It is like a Bird on a bush which is smitten in her song of the Archer for whom shee had tuned her song In the vtmost of all crueltie thou hast discharged the vtmost of thy gall vpon this wearied heart I will enter no more in parley with thee Now come our thou fillie Soule vnto him that breathed thee in that bodie Come to thy rightfull owner Come into mine armes that I may carrie thee vp the Ladder of Iaacob vnto blesse Christ thine Advocat hath pleaded for thee and hath winne the cause Come now Soule out of that body flie like an Eagle vp to the blessed Carcase of thy Lord where is constant peace vnmixed joye and blessed immortalitie Now thou art Christs Christ is thine HearkeÌ„ heare the cry of thy Spouse Rise vp my Loue my faire One and come away Rejoyce wearied Soule lift vp thine head Saluation is come The Heauens are opened goe enter into thy rest The Battell of the Soule is now ended Now deare Soule come out to eternity come out to thy Bridegrome who now calleth thee Bee clothed with royall apparell Put on the massie bright crowne of immortalitie with the glorious Garland of celestial Lawrels spangled with Iemmes of joye Come out wearied Traueller from doole dolour and distresse for to enter into pleasures for euermore FINIS A COMFORTABLE Speach for the Widow of the defunct M. WEE daylie may see the trueth of that in Iob Man that is borne of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble Hee commeth foorth like a flowre and is cut downe He fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not Of this is a necessitie For it is appointed vnto all men once to die The decree is come foorth against all flesh All flesh is as grasse c. The grasse withereth the flowre fadeth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth vpon it Surelie the people is grasse All must goe to the vast gulfe of the Graue Be cause all haue sinned all are mortall without exceptioÌ„ of persons prince people great and small all must goe to Golgotha To great men God hath said Yee are gods but yee shall die like men What man is hee said the Psalmist that liueth and shall not see death Were a man Monarch of the whole world Iob saith That his dayes are determined the number of his mâ—…neths are with God Hee hath
appointed his boundes that hee cannot passe As the enemies of Christ could not laye handes on him till his houre was come neither Death the 〈◊〉 enemie touch the Sainctes till the houre of their change come As for you M. whom now the Lord hath made a Widow yee haue to take patience and holde your peace with Aaron Dauid said to God I was dumbe and opened not my mouth because thou diddest it A Widow in the holie tongue is called Almanah from a worde that signifieth dumb a word warning her to lay her haÌ„d on her mouth for to seale it with a reuerend silence because God hath done it Let his decease prouoke and enkindle your desire to goe to him for hee will no more come to you God M. hath not left you comfortlesse for now happie is your Husband who hath drunke of deaths cuppe so peaceablie euen a sleeping drinke wherewith hee hath gone to sleepe with these righteous who are said by the Prophet to rest in their beddes The friendes of Christ die not but softlie with Lazarus that friend of Christ they sleepe in their Graues where they lye still and are quiet Trauell M. with your owne heart that it bee silent O but yee haue to blesse God who hath dealt so mercifullie with your dearest hearte whome hee hath so powerfullie vp holden in so bloodie and bitter a Battell against the enemies of his Saluation wherein by the strength of God in his weakenesse After bitter bickeringes hee hath obtained so glorious a victorie which hath made all the heauens torejoyce Now assuredlie M. yee may say My deare Husband the desire of mine eyes is now a Prince in heauen crowned with the euer greene Lawrels of immortalitie Hee hath changed a fraile life a wind in a worme for eternitie of Glorie Faithfull Iob patientlie blessed God by whose permission Sathan in a whirle-wind crushed all his Children together vnder the ruines of an house howe much more comfortablie may yee say The Lord gaue the Lord hath taken away blessed bee the Name of the Lord. How manie good and godlie persons haue their Husbands taken by Pyrates pyned in Galleyes rotting in prisons slaine by poysoÌ„ stobbed in duells murthered by Traitours killed in warre drowned in Riuers sunke downe in Seas with their whole substance and diuerslie taken away in most doolefull manner But be hold which may blunt the edge of your dolours your husband peaceablie deceased in his bed hauing his eyes closed with the finger of a Friend Though all the sortes of death of Gods beloued Ones be precious in his sight yet it is most comfortable for the liuing when these whom they loue best are remoued in this outward peaceable manner both spirituallie and temporallie comforted This Iob calleth to die in our nest If God had done otherwise to you in the rigour of his Iustice who durst controll him This also ye must remember for the settling of any druÌ„blie mood of impatiencie that may be in your heart that hee was but lent vnto you for a space and so contracted yee at the first to tarrie but a space together for if yee will take leasure to reade your Contract of mâ—…rriage yee shall finde that therein is made mention of the death of you both Let mee yet come neerer after hee had taken you by the hand before the 〈◊〉 on your marriage day your handes a little after few wordes spoken did goe asunder againe euen for to tell you that none immortall knot can bee had of any things heere below happie shee whose hearte is plyable and obsequious to the will of her God I confesse that yee cannot but mourne beeing depriued of such 〈◊〉 pleasure the fairest jewell of all your worldlie joy the staffe of your estate on whoÌ„ your greatest comfortes did depend what woÌ„der for many days haue ye bene glad together so that it is no possible were ye neuer so saÌ„ctified but your heart must be deeplie wounded Why not Gods will was neuer against anie moderate mourning for the dead * Grace maketh noâ—… men and women Stoicks and stockes that cannot bee moued for anything Nay God permits vs to mourne but not to carke care as these which haue none hope who â—…ugging out their haire and downe their cheekes powre out their roaringes as waters beeing swallowed vp of discouragement hauing none hoe in their griefe they some out myre and dirt It is permitted to mourne when Gods hand is gone out against vs It is naturall True grace is not against it but against its corruption in excesse In the Olde-Testament Abraham mourned for Sarah For the death of Deborah Rebeccas Nurse was sore weeping for which cause yâ— Oak-tree vnder which she was buried was called Allon Bachuth the Oake of weeping Iacob wept exceedingly for Ioseph whom hee thought by some wilde beaste to haue beene rent in pieces After that Iacob had gathered vp his feete yeelded vp the ghost Ioseph fell vpon his face and wept 〈◊〉 him and kissed him Naomi after shee had lost both Husband and Children would no more bee called Naomi that is pleasant Call me not Naomi said shee that is pleasant but call mee Marah that is bitter For the Almightie hath dealt verie bitter 〈◊〉 with me I went out full and the Lord hath brought mee home againe emptie Why then call yee mee Naomie seeing the Lord hath testified against mee and the Almightie hath afflicted mee These all were interested and therefore they mourned beeing pinched with the smart Behold M. how in the Olde-Testament God by taking away by death hath afflicted his dearest Ones for to vse Naomis words hath testified against them consider also how they haue mourned In the New-Testament Christ himselfe groaning in himselfe wept at Lazarus his Graue The wordes are these And Iesus wept The sight of Christes death was by Simeon foretold to his Mother Marie This Simeon called a sword which shuld pierce her thorow the Soule Thus as yee see a Christian heart is not a Marble heart but a melâ—…ing heart furnishing teares the tribute of our loue appointed for the funeral obsequies of our best beloued whose appointed monethes of life are expired Indeede where grace is it stayeth at the course stoppeth the â—…ent and the streame of Natures blind and bold corruptions bringing our most violent affections into an holie compasse of an humble submission vnto Gods will But it neuer dissalloweth a tempered Turtle crouding for the absence of our dearest comforts Such cleare crystall teares the Lord will put vp in his Bottels But as for these drumlie and barmie teares of fierce and vnrulie passions comming from the muddie fountaine of an vnhallowed heart the Lord will not respect them no more than 〈◊〉 regarded the sacrifice of Cain Sucâ—… teares are like the waters of jealousiâ—… to the whoorish woman which madâ—… her thigh to rotte
Iudge his Consistorie The day of this life wherein onelie wee can worke declineth a pace The fearfull night cloud hath taken post So soone as it shall come man shall bee discharged to worke any more It is good often to consider le◅ wee should dote and dreame of Immortalitie heere that the short threed of this life will bee soone drawne out to an end that by such thoughts we may learne in time not to bee taken vp with abortiue earthlie pleasures which perish in the budde What is this earth but a muddie myre What is poore mans life on this earth but a map of miserie The best of it is white and blacke checker work mixed with paines pleasures lashes and laughters Euen in laughter the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse This godlie mans death should bee warning for vs Death knocking at our neighbours doore should remember vs of our mortalitie There is no case of humane calamitie but it is insident to all In this our old friend wee may see and reade that we haue none abiding heere Hee is nowe gone to his long home by the way of all flesh Aboue the rolling circumference of heauen hee hath found the center of his rest Natures necessitie subjecteth all flesh to mortalitie Hee is gone before vs from the land of the shadowe of death thorow the valey of the shadow of death vnto euerlasting felicitie and we all soone o◅ since must all treade the same way Let vs prouok our watchfulnes with this that wee shall goe to him but hee shall no more come to vs Let vs worke while the day lasteth Before wee bee benighted by death let vs wot where we shall get a lodging So long as wee haue breath and being let vs like Moses bee instant with God in prayer that hee would so teach vs to number our few and euill dayes that vvee may apply our heartes to vvisedome and to vvell doing Wee haue all great neede to goe to this Schoole for the learning of that lesson because death in this narrow passage of mortalitie stealeth vpon vs all with insinsible degrees The course of our dayes is like the course of the Sunne the ruler of the Day whom our owlish eyes cannot perceiue to moue though hee rejoyce as a strong man to runne a race we know him to be more swift than winde yet while wee behold him in his course wee cannot perceiue his motion It is euen so of our life Our dayes runne fast away but wee perceiue not how It is not long that wee stand but when wee beginne to fall wee are like the Yce which thaweth sooner than it froze Our life like smoke or chaffe is carried away as with a gale winde and yet we cannot consider Oh that this meditation like the Rowell of a Spurre could pricke vs forward in our voyage from grace to glorie Nature hath taught the ◅sillie Birdes the Cranne Storke and Swallows our winter strangers to know their seasons As if they had numbered the dayes of their absence they come precisely at their appointed Spring The Salmons also in their season returne to the place where they were spawned They like skilled Airthmeticiens number well the dayes of their absence and for no rubs in the way will they be moued to cracke their tryst All this haue they learned in the Schoole of Nature But men who should haue grace with Nature forget to desire to returne to their God who at the first spawned or as Scripture speaketh breathed within them their liuing Soules Men are often worse than the beasts who wold faine know their duety but cannot Many mē can but will not lik these whom S. Peter calleth Willinglie ignorant The God of grace giue vs wisedome that before our day bee spent and our Sunne set wee may weigh well and consider how wee may so liue to die that wee may die to liue Happie is the man whom God his white man hath in this life marked with the mourning marke The way to Heauen is not so easie as manie dreame Oh how many lets bee within vs and without vs Oh howe manie weightes hang ◅o fast on whereby the vnstable Soule of man is tossed and swayed hither and thither Seeing this holie man of God such a strong Oake hath beene so sore shaken what may we poore little shrubs expect O but we haue great neede to coffer vp some comfortes against the euill day All worldlie helpes depart from vs when we depart out of this life but Gods fauour faileth neuer When all thinges haue forsaken vs then onelie hee will stand by vs and at last will draw vs out of this myrie lake of miserie Happie and thrise happie is the man that is holie heere whome the Spirite of God may point out with an Ecce Behold a true Israelite Such a man after death shall obtaine a name which shall giue him after death a second life O thrise blessed is hee whom God in mercie remoueth in time that his eyes should not see the euill to come The world now is come to its dregs From little to little our zeale is come to its last gaspe Now if euer the Church is a Lillie among the thornes Our sinnes are become like Oakes but our vertues are pinched smal lik graines of mustard seede Wee look in drumblie waters and therefore we cannot see our sinfull blots and blamishes Lord teach vs to grow better that so long as we sojourne in these mansions of dying wightes wee may striue without guile to glid thorow this world that at last following this our olde deare friend wee may come to him and to all the Sainctes into to that celestiall Palace a place of plentie peace and pleasures for euermore Another discourse of the same sort O How hard a thing is it for the liuing to remember that wee are but weedes of a day fading and flying vanities Wee are all heere like poore Trauellers who haue farre to goe and little to spend In our most constant estate below we are like Ionahs gourd that sprang vp into a night withered into another euen a ◅oish vanitie This life said a Father is miserarable Our death is vncertaine If it surprise vs vnawares whither shall wee goe where shal we learne that which wee haue neglected heere Men for the most part wallowing in their sins while they looke most for life are by their expectation surprised of Death But Oh then whether shall they goe Alas that we cannot consider while we haue time and breath Man naturallie is so dull and dumpish that hee cannot imagine that he is possest with a melting mortalitie The best of vs in spirituall matters are pure blind Wee cannot see farre off no that which is neere euen this mortalitie among vs yea within vs That which hath breath can
hardlie thinke of buriall A morning mementomori is not able to waken vs so fast are wee lulled asleepe in carnall securitie euen while the dead Bell soundeth wee forget o◅ niortalitie The House of mourning is become an house of drinking of snuffing and of sneuelling with Tobacca Though wee bee warned wee are not wiser In Solomons dayes the liuing in such places laid such thinges to their heart But alas euen while in the thoughts of the gastlie visage of death we are carrying others to the graue our hearts are not molten and liquified for sinne the cause of our mortalitie While wee put our hand to the Beire wee may get some light sudden flashes of deuotion but anone we forget that within a short time as wee doe to others so shall bee done to vs Euen while wee walke with the dead to the Graue wee dreame of immortalitie forgetting our borrowed dayes If there bee any heate of zeale in our hearts how soone is it cooled Mans heart is like water which as the Learned obserue becommeth more cold after the heating than it was before Such heate because it is not naturall and kindlie but forced by fire it cannot continue but must bee foorth-with extinguished Man is like an Horse that naturallie ◅rots though by industrie hee bee broken and made to ◅mble for a space yet euer and anone hee preaseth to goe out of his amble for to enter into his trot While we are at the Beire and the dead corp◅ in sight an ambling sorrow for a space may make the bowels of our bellie to wamble But haue wee once turned our backe vpon the Graue and wee anone to the olde trot of our former folies While wee should learne to die wee plant our selues in the face and glorie of the world Wee are so troubled with Marthas many things that wee forget Maries best par◅ Many come to their death-bed before that they had euer earnestlie thought of their life They die euen then whē they thought to begin to amend their life Thus as ye see they die deceiued in their delayes they die before they know wherfore they liued Their Sunne setteth while they are entering on the journey The euening of their life is the morning of their task By by base respects their mind◅ are caried on the by Foolish fancie◅ creepe in by stealth slilie insinuate and winde in themselues into their heartes wherein beeing once fast cogged they keepe the minde musing on vanitie till the Sunne of their life bee set While their time is thus spent they can doe nothing but lament the losse of that which they cannot recouer Vitae summa brevis spem Nos vetat in choare longam A short life is not for long and large projects Poore man is sent vnto this world for a great businesse to bee done in a short time Hee must first of all glorifie his God and in that doing hee must worke out the great worke of his Saluation All the time alloted to this businesse is but threescore and ten yeares or foure score at the most But alas most men sleepe both the morning and noone of their life And yet which is worse euen while they see their Sunne going downe and posting to the west they haue no care to redeeme the time At the comming of death their assigned businesse is scarchlie well begunne Most men are so miserablie muffled that they cannot see the sand of their houre glasse in a continuall course Oh that we were wise to bee forearmed for death whereof wee are forewarned As the Cananitish woman picked comfort out of the reproachful name of Dogge so out of all thinges should wee without daintie nicenesse bee storing vp comforts for to vphold vs in our last and most heauie houre But Oh where is the man who in time is carefull to redeeme his euill idly spent houres O foolish man fye vpon thee shall the sickle follie of an houre cost thee the lose of that glorious immortalitie Wilt thou not thinke in time that grimme Death shall come at last like an armed man for to bereaue thee of thy Soule thou neither can tell how when nor where Happie is that man whose journey time businesse and breath are finished together Happie shall that t◅yst be when these foure shall finish in immortalitie It is good that in time wee set all the powers of our Soule vpon Christ that out of his Sacred person wee may suck the influence of his goodnesse whereby wee may bee saued from the traines treasons of the Deuill He is euer readie to strik fyre with his frezell and his flint if wee will find him tinder Oh that our hearts continuallie could minde things that are aboue All things below are vnconstant as water they sl◅d away but Gods fauour is more fixed than Mount Syon What an heart-scald should this bee vnto vs that wee haue so long neglected this best part not remembering our latter end Let vs now therefore consider in time that wee are all into this world but Tenants at will Prince people great and small all must leaue this Cottage of clay at the first warning Pale Death at its first approach will anone change the copie of their countenance Stat sua cuique dies Euerie mans day is set None can transgresse his appointed houre God absolutelie at Death must bee obeyed None by force or fauour may sit his summonds Wee by the death of others are all lawfullie forewarned to flit remoue All things aboue vs beneath vs about vs cry vnto vs that wee must shortly leaue this world for to goe sleepe in slime No contentment of man below can out-last the date of foure score year◅s O Lord open our eyes that we may see how the sickle figure of this world passeth away Happie and thrise happie is hee who after the bitter and bloodie Battell of this life is with olde Simeon departed in peace As the life of the godlie is gracious so is their death precious This wee learne in Scripture Precious to the Lord is the death of his Sainctes But as for all the wicked who while they liued did justle out of their hearts all feare of God they shall be so wrapped in his wrath that their hearts shall bee slitted with sorrow While the godlie with Elias shall bee princelie carried into Gods royall Coach vnto heauen the wicked Ahab shall be sent into a bloodie Charet vnto hell depriued of all these comforts which they on earth did most eagerlie desire All their princelie pleasures shall be followed with pinching paines Such will boast boldlie before death come but at the slight and light touch of a Feuer or Fluxe they quickelie plucke in their snailes hornes like Ahab lowring in sacke-cloth When sicknesse beginneth to lay siege to their noble parts they weakly waile womanly lament Then know they but too late that
mans life is but a winde in a worme * O happie is that man in whose heart Christ hath grauen deepe the shape of himselfe in this world when Death shall come then shall he know what blessed treasures of contentment God hath stored vp for his beloued When the Soules of the faithfull which on earth haue beene endued with a matchlesse concurrence of diuine graces shall come out of their bodies Christ the Father of mercies shall cast the armes of his cōpassions about their necks At their first entrie into Heauen hee shall giue them the comfortable kisses of peace Lord soften our stonie hearts enlighten our mistie minds that all our joye may bee in enjoying thee in whom is fulnesse without dislike O satisfie vs yearely with thy mercie the fairest flower of the Garland of thy Majestie While wee remember the death of others make vs carefullie to studie vnto newnesse of life that in this life wee dying vnto sinne may after death liue vnto Thee and with Thee vnto the vtmost bound of the euerlasting Hills AMEN FINIS A. H. THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE IN DEATH 2. Volume Carefullie digested for the comfort of the Sicke By Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of Gods Word at Glasgow Bernard in Serm. Novissima sunt quatuor MORS IVDICIVM GEHENNA GLORIA Quid horribilius morte Quid terribilius judicio Quid intolerabilius gehenna Et quid incundius gloria Idem Senibus mors est in ianuis Iuvenibus vero in insidijs Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of ANDRO HART 1629. TEMPVS TO THE MOST EXCELLENT PRINCESSE ELIZABETH Queene of Bohemia c. MADAME IN corporall troubles let vs seeke for spirituall Comfortes Dayes of sorrow are dayes of drousinesse For the remeede of such sorrowes heere followeth a Discourse of heauens Happinesse with diuerse other Christian comforts which I must humblie and heartilie dedicate to your Majestie If MADAME I were more able to present your Majestie with some matter◅ of greater worth my will should not bee deficient to mine Abilitie Thus presuming out of your Royall bountie that this little Offer from One of SCOTLAND your Majesties natiue Soyle shall bee graciouslie accepted I most humblie present it to your Majestie for to bee receiued and shrouded vnder your Royall safe-gard and louing protection After manie feruent and vnfained prayers made to God for the esta blishment of the Crowne vpon your Majesties Royall Heads and also for spirituall Graces to bee aboundantlie powred vpon you and vpon the rest of these Royall Plants which by the great mercie of God haue branched from You both I humblie take my leaue Your Majesties most humble and most obedient Oratour and Seruant M. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of GODS word at Glasgow From Glasgow the 12. day of Februrie 1629. THE QVEENES Lamentations for the death of her Son O But GOD is most terrible when hee is angrie He hath called as in a solemne day my terrors round about surelie against mee is he turned hee turneth his hand against mee all the day My flesh and my skinne hath he made olde hee hath broken my bones Hee hath builded against mee and compassed mee with gall and trauell He hath set mee in dark places as they that bee dead of olde Hee hath hedged mee about that I cannot get out Hee hath made my chaine heauie Hee hath turned aside my wayes and pulled me in pieces He hath made me desolate He hath bent his Bow set me as a marke for his arrowes He hath caused the Arrowes of his Quiuer to enter into my reines Hee hath filled mee with bitternesse Hee hath made mee drunke with worme-wood The verie Sea monsters are carefull for their young ones They drawe out the breast to giue them sucke How should I bee like the vnnaturall Ostrich which leaueth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foote may orush them or that the wild beast may breake them Shee is hardened against her young ones as though they vvere not hers God hath depriued her of wisedome neither hath hee imparted to her vnderstanding Alas alas the joye of our heart is ceased our dance is turned into mourning The crowne is fallen from our head Woe vnto vs that wee haue sinned for this our heart is faint for these thinges our eyes are dimme Wherefore Lord doest thou forget vs for euer forsake vs so long time Thou hast vtterlie rejected vs Thou art verie vvroth against vs O that mine eyes were a liuelie Spring of teares which day and night might trickle downe for the lamenting of my losse O yee Daughters of Britaine my natiue Soile Conueene your selues together Come all and joyne your sorrowes with mine Come contribute teares in aboundance that wee may deplore our domage Come come and helpe mee to mourne for my first Borne It is Gods will it is Gods commandement that yee mourne with these that mourne With whom will yee mourne if yee refuse to mourne with mee O noble Ladies of Britaine think vpon my sorrows My griefe is great mine heart is broken mine eyes doe faile with teares Come yee all and condole with mee Cast off your Rayments of joye And thou BOHEMIA with the PALATINAT mak to your selues new Robes of doole Fill al the Lāds with mourning like that mourning in Zacharie The mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon for the death of good Iosiah Mine heart is sore gripped with griefe Iam lik the Pelican in the vvildernesse Mine eyes doe faile with teares my bowels are troubled my Liuer is powred vpon the earth I was at ease but hee hath broken mee asunder Hee hath also taken mee by the necke and shaken mee to pieces and set mee vp for his marke His Archers compasse mee round about Hee cleaueth my reines asunder and doeth not spare Hee powreth out my gall vpon the ground Hee breaketh mee with breach vpon breach Hee runneth vpō me lik a Gyant My face is foule with weeping and on mine eye-lids is the shadow of death My Friendes scorne mee but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God When a few yeares are come then I shall goe the way whence I shall not returne The Lord hath made me as a by-word of the people Mine eyes are dimme by reason of sorrow and all my members are as a shadow Know now yee all that God hath compassed mee with his net Hee hath fenced vp my way that I cannot passe and hee hath set darknesse in my pathes Hee hath stript mee of my Glorie and taken the Crowne from mine head Hee hath destroyed mee on euerie side and I am gone and mine hope hath hee remoued like a tree His troupes come together and raise vp their way against mee and encampe round about my Tabernacle He hath put my brethrene far from mee My Kins-folke haue failed and my familiare friendes haue forgotten mee Haue pittie vpon mee O yee my Friendes for the hand of God hath troubled mee
O my Sonne my dearest Sonne is gone Hee is lost where shall I finde him O FREDERICK my Son where art thou Shall I see thee no more Shall I neuer kisse thy mouth againe Once did thou lye in my bellie neere vnto mine heart but now alas thou lyes sleeping in slime Now thy bedde is made among the crawling wormes Thy Princelie Bodie now lyeth in the place of silence O where is thy Coloure now Where is thy Countenance Long shall it before I see thy smilling Face and twinkling Eyes My deare Heart FREDERICK Long may I cry before that thou make answere How haue I lost Thee How past thou from mee When said thou thy last adewes What were thy last adews what were the last words thou spake vnto me Where saw I thee last Oh if I had knowne when I last saw thee that I would neuer againe see thee aliue Then would I haue kissed thee then would I haue more constantlie considered thy countenance I would haue said in my selfe Is this the Face that I shall neuer see againe Is this the Mouth that shall neuer speake againe Are these the Eares that shall neuer heare againe Are these the Eyes that shall neuer see againe That Mouth that Nose these cherrie Cheekes and lillie Lippes these Eares and Eyes would I haue kissed tenne thousand times kissed and ouer againe Alas that I should haue so journed so neere vnto the Waters Alas that euer I knew that mercilesse Element O cursed Waters O Waters of Marah full bitter are yee to mee O Element which of all others shall bee most detestable to my Soule I shall neuer wash mine handes with thee but I shall remember what thou hast done to my best beloued Son the Darling of my Soule I shall for euer be a friend to the Fire which is thy greatest foe Away Riuers away Seas Let me see you no more If ye were sensible Creatures my deare Brother CHARELES Prince of the European Seas should scourge you with his Royall Shippes with his thundering Cannons hee should pierce you to the bottome O Seas of sorrowes O fearefull Floods O tumbling Tempests O wilfull Waues O swelling surges O wicked waters O dooleful deeps O peartest Pools O botchfull butcher Boats was there no mercie among you for such an hopfull PRINCE O that I could refraine from teares and that because they bee salt water like vnto your selues Away with you Seas of sorrowe for yee haue robbed mee of my dearest Darling of account hencefoorth yee shall neuer bee able to repaire my losses O my Sonne FREDERICK my Son my Sonne FREDERICK would God I had dyed for Thee O FREDERICK my Sonne my Sonne A. H. TEMPVS mine or the water took away the life of my Children than that a bloodie Herod should cutte all their throats most cruellie embrewing himselfe in their blood While Dauid was in a great strait doubting of what plague to make choise at last hee resolued saying Let vs fall into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great and let mee not fall into the hand of man O but will your Majestie say To die and to be suffocate in the waters that is a matter of great sorrow If he had died in a Battel honourablie that had affoorded mee some comfort Then would I haue heard of his valiantnesse The Colonels and the Captaines others of Martial Spirits had beene the Trumpeters of his praise so should hee haue died with great honour Let it please your Majestie to wiegh the matter well in the Ballance of the Sanctuarie Indeede MADAME to die in a Battell is by men accounted honorable To die fighting with a bloodie Sword in the hand is by men called The Bedde of honour But in my judgement it is better for the Soule to die in water than in war For in the one man is often in a rage thirsting like an Horse-leach after the blood of his Brother At that time there is nothing sound or settled within him All his thoughts are in an hurlie burlie If instantlie hee die the Sunne of his life goeth downe vpon his vvrath His whole desire is bended for to destroy his Brother But in the water his chiefest desire is for to saue himselfe To die in war is to die by the hand of man but Water is like the Pest which that great Warriour called The hand of God O but alas will your Majestie object such as die so get not space once to cry Gods mercie God forbid MADAME that our Saluation should depend vpon the last words of our life or vpon a prayer at the last gaspe Our Saluation is better fastened than so There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus Your Majestie knoweth that the day of Iudgment shall come in an instant vpon both the Godlie and the wicked Then shall they all bee changed in the twinkling of an eye Not one of all the men and women then liuing vpon earth shall get so much time wherin they might but say these few words God be mercifull to me a sinner yet for all that shal we think that that suddē change shall bring any prejudice to the Saluation of Gods Elect chosen ones God forbid Whom God loueth hee loueth to the end His giftes and graces are vvithout repentance I know that your Majestie would haue earnestlie desired that hee had bee found aliue and that a Preacher by a prayer had commended his Soule into the hands of his Sauiour For answere I am assured that that young Prince was so well trained vp by your Majestie in the Schoole of pietie that morning euening hee was accustomed to be earnest at his priuate deuotion It is the opinion of learned Diuines That who carefullie in the morning hath cast his Soule into the Armes of his God shall thereafter all the day finde the vertue of that prayer preuailing with God though at the moment of death hee bee not able with his tongue to speake vnto GOD The prayers that were conceiued before cry vp to God at the last gaspe for mercie peace grace and reconciliation through the blessed blood of Iesus which cryeth for better thinges than the blood of Abel Now seeing that without any doubting your Majestie is assured of his Saluation consider these joyes of heauen which his Princelie Soule now enjoyeth These joyes haue I described as I can in this second Volume of the Last battell which I haue dedicated to your Majestie There yee shall clearelie see that hee hath changeth for the better While hee was aliue hee was but a Prince on Earth and now the Lord hath made him a crowned King Thus intreating the most High to send vnto your Majestie the COMFORTER himselfe who can most cunninglie cure the wounded heart I humlie take my leaue Your MAIESTIES most humble and most obedient Seruant M. Z. B. From Glasgow the 12. of Februarie 1629. TO THE QVEENE Of BOHEMIA OVR