on our children The more that Pilate seemed to fauour him the more they seeke meanes to murder him To be short they haue their desire they preuaile in their suite The Sonne of Man is deliuered vp into the hands of sinners the Sheep to the Wolfe the Lambe to the Lyon the wicked worke their will with him there is no way but one with them suffer he must die he must and he is content to submit himselfe with all modestie that may be It is no asking any reason or cause wherefore Vnreasonable men can yeeld no reason of any thing they doe but that which is tyrannicall Sic volo sic iubeo c. that is So we will and so we command let will in place of reason stand If hee Ioh. 18. 30. were not an euill doer wee would not haue deliuered him vnto thee Well well behold the end of this dealing In the meane season they take him they blindfold him they bob him and box him about the eares they spet in his face they wagge their heads they make mowes and iest at him they make themselues sport with him tossing him to and fro as it were a Tennis ball All these reproches he patiently abideth he runneth not from them he offreth no strokes he giueth them not one foule word At last when his enemies had euen wearied themselues in their wickednes they proceede forward they cause him to carrie his owne crosse on his weake and feeble body to be hanged on After sentence of condemnation he is brought to the place of execution He is crowned with Thorne which was himself the Crowned King of the Heauen which came to crush the sharpe and bitter thornes of our sinnes and crowneth Martyrs with eternall Glory Hee is fast bound hand and foote which freeth others from their fetters He is pearced heart and head which healeth the sinnes of the people and saueth their soules from destruction I would aske one question of thee gentle Reader What could these villanous Iewes sworne enemies of our Sauiour Christ Iesus haue done more against him if hee had beene the vilest creature vpon the earth the arrantest thiefe in the world or the greatest diuell in Hell I admonish thee therefore good Brother apply Christs suffering to thy soule and follow his patience Now what saith Christ to this geare or what dooth Hee to his Tormentors Doth hee goe roundly to worke with them or doth he handle them in their kinde that is Doth he cause the earth to open her mouth and swallow them vp aliue as vnworthy men to liue any longer therein Or doth hee command fire from Heauen to destroy them as they well deserued Or doth hee of himselfe condemne them presently to hell fire as he could if he would No verily no such matter hee suffereth them thus farre forth He blesseth and yet curseth not he seeketh still to saue and not to destroy O mercifull Christ O Prince of Peace and patterne of patience VVhat man is hee this day that beareth breath in his body if he be flesh and bloud that is able to suffer such torment without offering any stroke or one froward word Christ doth neither which might and could haue done both but he came to suffer and not to smite for his death gaue life to his enemies yea they that shed the bloud of Christ were saued by the bloud of Christ Such was his loue such was his patience that he suffered all these things for our sake His Righteousnes couered our filthinesse his labour lightned our loade his shame was our ioy and his damnation was our Saluation But O stiffenecked Iewes O cruell Crucifiers O corrupt Iudge O wicked world that wrought this woe vpon him that suffered for thy sinne Is this thy thankefulnesse for so great a benefit Is this thy reward for the worke of Saluation Tell mee one thing but tell me truely Hast thou any reason to wound him that healed thee to binde him that loosed thee to condemne him that saued thee to deride him that redeemed thee and to hang him that helped thee Let Heauen let Earth let Hell it selfe cry out against this crueltie O wicked Nation O proud Citie Ierusalem and O innocent Christ his death declared his innocencie The earth trembled thereat the Elements were troubled the Starres were abashed yea all the powers of Heauen were moued the Moone gaue no light the Sunne shined not but darknes closed vp the light of the day lest the Sunne should bee forced to behold the bloudy and cruell fact of the Iewes The Temple rent in twaine the stones claue in sunder the Graues opened and the dead bodies did rise insomuch that the beholders of his Passion and some of those which consented to his death and wished that his bloud might light vpon them and their children are now so wounded in heart and pricked in conscience that they now change their minde sing a new song and confesse indeed hee was the Sonne of God They now become blanke which before were so bold They now accuse themselues which before condemned Christ They now wish him aline againe with a wring by the eare which before crucified him They now lament which before laughed They now mourne which before mocked They now knocke their brests full of heauines with teares in their eyes water on their cheekes and sorrow in their hearts which before shaked their heads spet in his face called him wretch and cryed fie vpon him I will say no more eyther of Christ either of any Prophet before him or Martyr that shall come after as of late there haue been many but conclude all that haue beene are or shall bee in one round Ring seemely Circle and sure Seale viz. Qui patitur vincit that is That man whatsoeuer he be that suffereth aduersitie patiently in the end hee ouercommeth and getteth the victory Three Reasons alluring THe precepts going before and the examples propounded may of themselues seeme reasonable to perswade most men if they be not void of reason to suffer aduersitie and to be patient For the Lord himselfe is patient Psal 145. 8 and mercifull slow to anger and of great goodnes Hee beareth with our sinnes and patiently expecteth our amendment And therefore wee must beare one with another The Husband must beare with his Wife as with the weaker vessell the Master with his seruants and the Creditor must haue patience with his Debter c. But the greatest reason to mooue a man to suffer aduersitie and to bee patient therein is the reward after suffering for being made like to Christ by suffering we shall in the end bee made partakers with him in glory Who after his patient suffering was so exalted of his Father that hee hath giuen him a name Phil 2. 9 10. aboue euery name that at the name of Iesus should euery knee bow both of things in heauen and things in earth and things vnder the carth If therefore we suffer Rom. 8. 17. with
the enemy haue none aduantage of him Nor the wicked once approch to hurt him Be vnto him O Lord a strong tower From the face of his enemy Grant that hee may dye the death of the righteous And be made partaker of thine inheritance Receiue his soule O Lord into thy holy hands And place it with thy Saints in heauen Lord heare our prayers And let our cry come vnto thee A pithy Prayer for a Patient being pained with Sicknes IT is thou O Lord onely to whom all power and praise belongeth It is thou that raignest in heauen in glorie in earth in mercy in hel in iudgment It is thy voice O Lord whereunto both the seas and windes are obedient It is thy name O Lord God of Hosts that maketh all the Diuels in hell to tremble and quake and they can doe nothing without thy permission Thou bringest downe to hell and raisest vp againe Thou pluckest downe the mighty from their Throne and exaltest the humble and meeke Thou makest both poore and rich strong weake Thou sendest sicknes and restorest health againe in thy good time Thou giuest life and takest it away at thy pleasure O Lord whose maiestie and might no creature is able to withstand neither in heauen earth or vnder the earth Thou that hast made the Sea and the dry land and all things therein contained Thou that knowest our weaknesse and what metall wee bee made of haue regard vnto the workmanship of thy hands Pierce the heauens O Lord and giue eare vnto our prayers which with sorrowfull hearts trickling teares bowed knees and vnfained lips we powre out before thy presence We acknowledge O Lord our owne frailetie and vnworthinesse and how that all men liuing are but vanitie euen as the grasse in the field which to day flourisheth and to morrow withereth away as the smoke in the furnace the bubble in the water or the could that swiftly passeth away and is no more seene So soone also fedeth away our time and our yeeres come to an end Thou onely O Lord knowest the number of our dayes and appointest vs our bounds which we cannot passe We confesse O most mercifull God that wee haue sinned against heauen and against thee and are no more worthy to be called thy children no nor to tread vpon the earth or to haue the light of the Sunne to shine vpon vs but rather to bee burned with fire drowned in the waters swallowed vp of the earth ouerwhelmed with mountaines or deuoured with wilde beasts fowles of the ayre Our transgressions and sinnes are so great so grieuous and many in number wherewithall wee haue and doe dayly offend thy Maiestie both in thought word and deed that our weake consciences being loden and burthened with the remembrance of them are afraid to approch into thy presence for feare of thy wrath and iust iudgement Yet O Lord forsomuch as thy mercy is aboue all thy workes and because thou art a gentle pitifull God long-suffering and full of compassion and wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue We are therefore the bolder not of our selues but in the name of thy deare Son Iesus Christ with whom thou art well pleased to call vpon thee for mercy and comfort That it would please thee of thy gracious goodnes to forgiue and blot out of thy remembrance all our sinnes and wickednes and neuer hereafter to impute them vnto vs. Regard not good Lord our deserts which is death and damnation but be mindfull of thy louing promises in Iesus Christ our Sauiour who in all temptations of the Diuell the World and the Flesh is our onely Rocke and sure stay and defence and neuer shrinketh from those which be wrapped in woe and misery Comfort O Lord this thy Seruant vpon whom thou hast laid the scourge of sicknes and rod of visitation as a sure token and pledge of thy loue and fatherly good wil towards him for whom thou louest those thou correctest not to destruction but to amendment and saluation Thou hast promised that wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests We therefore thy humble seruants here assembled according to thy blessed commandement doe cry and call vpon thee with feruant hearts to be mercifull to this thine afflicted creature that it would please thee eyther to release his smart and pain in thy good time and so to restore him to his former health or else to grant him aboundantly the graces of thy holy Spirit that with patience and meeke mind he may abide such tryall as it shall please thy godly Maiestie to lay vpon him That neither the tyrannie of Satan griefe of sicknes loue of the world terrour of hell infirmitie of the flesh remembrance of sinne or feare of death withdraw him from thee and thy sweet promises in his Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who came not for the iust but to call sinners to repentance So guide him good Lord by thy blessed Spirit in his great and last iourney that passing quietly all troubles of this transitorie world and this painefull pilgrimage once ended he may safely by thy mighty power bee conducted to the Hauen of continuall quietnes and rest which is the Kingdom of Heauen there reigne with Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the holy company of Angels and Saints in perpetuall ioy and safety which thou hast prepared and promised for all thine elect children and faithfull seruants from the beginning of the world Grant this O heauenly Father which wee haue prayed for in the behalfe of this thy poore and pensiue prisoner and all other things necessarie for our saluation and thy glory through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ In whose holy name wee beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A comfortable Prayer against desperation O God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ continue thy goodnes towards vs vnworthy wretches which do heere with contrite hearts and bowed knees appeale vnto the height of thy mercy Beseeching thee O Father â—o to remember the contempt and iniury thou hast receiued at our hands but pardon our passed faults and accept the pitifull Passion of thy deare Sonne in full satisfaction of our transgression Let his precious bloud wipe away and wash all our filthines Let his wounds heale the sores of our sinnes and let the holy oblation of himselfe present our prayers acceptable and blamelesse before thy Maiestie Let no sinne bee so great and grieuous in our eyes that it plucke away hope of pardon No offence so ponderous that it may be â—â—le to ouercome thy goodnes All haue sinned and haue neede of thy mercy which thou offerest aboundantly to euery one that faithfully asketh the same of thee Our wickednes O Lord cannot exceed thy merits The greater the sinner is on whom thou bestowest thy compassion so much the greater is thy glory And therefore
so often offended So did Dauid the King so did the poore Publican knocke at the doore of his heart and being pressed and ouerwhelmed with sorrow he cryed Lord be mercifull vnto me a Luk. 18. 13. sinner So we spare vs O Lord spare thy people And this must be done in time euen now presently For now is that acceptable time 2. Cor. 6. 2. Now is the Day of saluation Now is the Day of hearing Christ lamented the state of Ierusalem because shee knew not the times of her visitation Therfore good brother apply this plaister to your sore you are now visited of God by sicknesse it is now your time to call your sins to remembrance defer it not but watch for your saluation offered they say warned men may liue Ierusalem warnes you sicknes warnes you your gray head warnes you your friends warne you I warne you and God warnes you in his Word to repent to renounce this world to watch for your deliuery to look for your redemption and to haue your conuersation in heauen from whence Phil. 3. 20. you looke for a Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ The fiue foolish Virgins would not watch but slept and slumbred and therefore had heauen gates shut vp against them The dores were opened but they were not ready with their Lamps burning but were taken napping in their security and sinne Therefore they may now knock and thumpe and cry and call as loud as they can and yet they shall neuer be heard it is but lip-labour all is in vaine The time was but it neuer shall be againe Mercy was offered which being refused Iustice must take place Such examples are set downe for our instruction and happy is that man which can take heede by other mens harmes If Gods iudgement cannot feare vs to forsake sinne yet his mercy should moue vs and leade vs by the hand to warch and be carefull for our saluation for God pitieth vs his Angels fauour vs his benefits prouoke vs yea all his creatures Sunne Moone and Starres Heauen earth do admonish vs and should prouoke vs to beware to watch and ward for our saluation They cry continually Repent and amend The shortnes of our time may moue vs hereunto Wee see by dayly experience to day a man to morrow none he that liueth the longest his race is soone finished ended and that made Iob to say Man hath but a short time to Iob 14. 1. liue and in that time he is subiect to many miseries as pouerty slaunders persecutions blindnesse lamenesse oldnesse coldnesse trouble and sicknesse All these molestations and thousands mo warne vs by course to beware that wee runne right Let vs therefore good Brother tuck vp our garments and prepare our selues for the life to come for the time of our departing is at hand That little time that remaineth let vs bestow it in the seruice of God and not of the deuill Let vs not walke with the wicked in the wide way that leadeth to damnation but rather keepe company with the seruants of God and walke in the narrow way with them though it be painefull and cumbersome for a while yet it is comfortable in the end when wee shall haue our recompence with the righteous then shall death bee welcome to vs which now is shunned of the most then the Day of Iudgement shall lighten our hearts when it shall load the conscience of the impenitent sinner we may then with comfort lift vp our heads and heartes when the vngodly may hang them downe and be ashamed to looke either God or man in the face I would to God all men would remember this day of reckoning and reward then if loue of saluation could not make vs do well yet feare of damnation would somewhat bridle and stay vs from doing euill It would mooue the rich to pitty the poore the Vsurer and Extortioner to restore their euill gotten goods with iust Zacheus the Land-lord not to cut his Tenants throat by making him and al he hath his bondslaues for those wicked worldings which will not now bee drawne to repentance by hearing shall then bee tormented both body and soule by feeling when they shall bee taken tardie in their sinnes apprehended accused indited and arraigned at the Barre of Gods Tribunall Iudgement Seat where the vngodly shall not bee able to stand much lesse to answere their crime when Gods sword is drawne ready to strike and take vengeance at that day no intreaty will take place nor prayer bee heard either of men or Angels in their behalfe for all the creatures of God shall refuse to doe them seruice at their death because they refused to do God seruice in their life and for that occasion they shall heare see all things cry vengeance vpon them nothing in heauen or earth to minister comfort but rather cause of griefe and horror let this geere enter into your braine betime good brother and let it pearce your heart now in your life time for after death you shall haue no time to repent and turne to God neither is there then any mercy to be hoped for at his hands but a fearefull looking for the sentence of Gods iust iudgement Goe Math. 25. 41. yee cursed into euerlasting fire c. Then they may yell houle and cry and yet neuer finde grace after Gods curse hath once taken place All their mirth shall then bee turned to mourning their honour to shame their pleasure to paine their wealth to woe and their delicate fare on earth to the bitter torments of hell where they shall remaine for euer in darkenesse and perpetuall paine This shall be the portion of the vngodly whereas contrariwise the righteous shal be shrouded vnder the wings of Gods mercy and safely preserued from those tortures by the bloud of the Lambe the Angels shall gard them the Saints shall imbrace them the heauens receiue them and the pleasures of the Celestiall Paradise shall replenish them with vnspeakable ioy continuall comfort therefore let vs prepare our selues for that Day of reward perhaps it is neerer then wee are aware let vs haue continually in our mindes the ioyes of heauen and the paines of hell let the one mooue vs to loue God the other to feare him lest wee be damned with the wicked Let vs turne to the Lord betime Let vs promise perform for many promise in their woe that which they soone forget whē they wax wanton They are then secure they dreame of a dry Summer as the rich Cormorant did which forgetting God and wallowing in worldly wealth cast away all care of doing his duty and said Soule thou Luk. 12. 19 hast much goods laid vp for many yeeres liue at ease eate drinke and take thy pastime Oh iolly Gentleman this fellow is now in his ruffe but behold a cooling card the Lord answered againe and that speedily and readlly O foole this night will they setch away thy soule from thee
conceiued of my Mother I confesse my wretchednesse and my vncleannesse is too manifest both to thee and the world it troubleth my minde and woundeth my guilty conscience woe is mee therefore Yet spare me O Lord I humbly beseech thee destroy me not in thine anger but chastice me in lenitie And albeit I am a grieuous sinner yet I perswade my self I am thy sonne and that thou canst not but haue a fatherly care ouer me for my elder Brothers sake Christ Iesus thy beloued Wherefore arise and help me O Lord arise I say and cast me not away for euer forgiue mee all my sinnes and raise thy poore Seruant out of the dunghill that being released by thee from paine griefe and also deliuered from eternall death I may pray vnto thee faithfully during my life and after death obtaine of thee euerlasting life which thou hast prepared for me by the death and Passion of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour in whom thou art well pleased and by whose stripes I am cured and trust to be saued whose holy name bee blessed and praised now and for euer Amen A fruitfull Prayer for the assistance of God in the extremitie of sicknes O Deare Father of Heauen and Gouernour of the wide world and the worker of our wealth whose goodnes is vnspeakeable and vvhose wifedome is incomparable whose mercy reacheth vnto the Clouds and vnto whose power all creatures are subiect Thou God of the quicke and the dead which hast placed me heere on earth as a pilgrime or tenant at will to remoue at thy pleasure and hast appointed mee and all men liuing our bounds which we cannot passe Haue respect vnto the worke of thy hands bow downe thine eyes of compassion O Lord visit and comfort the pensiue soule of thy poore prisoner Open thy gracious eares and heare my petition thou which art the Sauiour of my soule grant mee pardon of my sinne and patience in my paine that I neuer blaspheme thy holy name but suffer this thy scourge and punishment meekely as becommeth a good Christian and seruant of God So that in this conflict of sicknes when my flesh consumeth away my limmes waxe lame my sight faileth my heart fainteth and all my sences become nummed yea when life death struggle and warre within me for superioritie and I lye linked in woe in the paine and pangs of death receiuing no food taking no rest but being past all recouerie of health to the iudgement of man Then looke vpon me with the eyes of mercy O thou glory of Sion Thou Comfort of Israel and beauty of Ierusalem Then let thy strength help my weakenesse and thy mercy cure my misery Then deliuer poore Ioseph thy Seruant out of Prison Defend thy deare darling from the deuouring Dog Stop the mouth and weaken the force of the roring Lyon and all his diuelish practises that they neuer preuaile against me O Lord haue mercy vpon me establish my heart that I neuer faint in this my last and bitter death Remember O Lord what metall I am made of that I am but sraile flesh and filthy earth Let it bee thy pleasure therefore O gracious God to forgiue me my sinnes to remit and vtterly blot out of thy reckoning Booke the tenne thousand Talents which I owe thee I acknowledge the debt cancell therefore the Obligation for seeing I am not able to pay the debt I must needs craue a generall pardon or else perish for euer Spare mee therefore deare Father and comfort the soule of thy Seruant which repenteth his former folly and humbleth himselfe here before thy Maiestie O Lord let not the terrour of Hell the feare of death the vexation of minde the bitter torment of sicknes the losse of life or worldly wealth withdraw my soule from thee But as thou diddest create it and breathe it into my body Euen so vouchsafe of thy great goodnes to preserue it during life and after death receiue it with the soules of the righteous into thine owne hands and custody and place it in perpetuall felicitie So that at the generall Iudgement and the glorious Resurrection of all flesh I may both body and soule rise to life euerlasting and praise thee continually with the Angels Saints in Heauen through Iesus Christ our Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory world without end Amen A pithy profitable Prayer when wee are in danger of death wherein we commit our selues to God renounce the world craue pardon for our sinnes and forgiue our enemies O Lord my good and gracious God the Creator of Heauen and earth King of Kings and Lord of Lords which hast made me of nothing to thine owne likenes and redeemed me with thine owne bloud whom I a wretched sinner am vnworthy to name to call vpon or once to thinke in my heart Here I prostrate and submit my selfe before thy diuine Maiestie and acknowledge my grieuous sinnes which I haue committed against thee in thought word and deede humbly crauing pardon thereof at thy fatherly hands And I doe also for mine owne part most willingly forgiue all men that haue offended mee euen as I looke to bee forgiuen of thee my louing and mercifull God whose wrath iust iudgement I haue too often and that deseruedly prouoked against me But neuerthelesse howsoeuer I haue liued hitherto in my fraile flesh and in this body of sinne yet I trust that thou of thy gracious goodnesse wilt grant me a happy end for I vtterly renounce the world and the vanities thereof which all my life time hitherto I haue too much coueted and delighted in onely I am now carefull for my soule that it may be saued and my earnest desire is that I may dwell with the Lord in the land of the liuing which I trust to obtaine by the bloud of the innocent Lambe of God Iesus Christ and so to be partaker of the heauenly ioyes and Communion of Saints in the triumphant Church of God In the meane time vvhilest I remain in this earthly Tabernacle I beseech thee O Lord to increase my faith comfort my silly soule lighten my vnderstanding strengthen my feeble body and grant me patience in my paine that my faith neuer faile And I willingly surrender my body and soule to thy carefull disposition and as willingly leaue my goods to the world where I had them Rendring to thee most hearty thanks for the vse I haue had of them hitherto and for all other thy greater benefits and spirituall blessings as my Election Creation Saluation Sanctification Preseruation and hope of Glorification in thy heauenly habitation O Lord thy holy Name bee praised therefore and thy blessed will be fulfilled in me euery way whether it bee by life or by death let it be to thy glory and then I haue my hearts desire for I am in thy hands as the Clay is in the Potters therefore doe with me as best pleaseth thee Make
me O Lord a fit sacrifice for thy selfe by punishing my fleshly body and pardoning my sinfull soule Grant mee perfect remembrance of the houre of my death last gaspe that I may thankefully take this thy fatherly visitation and willingly beare my crosse after thy deare Son Iesus Christ my Sauiour O Lord prepare me for the good houre which thou hast appointed for the deliuerie of my soule out of this wretched world settle my thoughts and fixe my faith on the life to come that I neuer shrinke from thee and thy sauing health what paine or torment soeuer thou inflictest vpon mee here on earth yet deare Father let heauen be my reward in the end Finally so dispose of me good Lord as may be most meete for thy glory and mine own saluation in Christ Iesus my mercifull Redeemer and Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour power and praise world without end Amen A Prayer to be said in the pangs of Death O Infinite Deitie and vnmeasurable goodnes O blessed and glorious Trinitie O perfect loue and charitie haue mercy on mee and open the bowels of compassion vpon mee a wretched sinner wrapped in woe and ouerwhelmed with anguish of soule and vexation of spirit Into thy hands O Lord I wholly commit and resigne my selfe make haste O Lord to deliuer mee for it is high time My flesh trembleth my bones are brused mine eyes wax dimme my strength faileth my heart panteth and my sorrow and paine euery way increaseth O mercifull Creator shew mercy to thy creature In thee O Lord alone is all my trust In my misery and smart I haue no other to make my mone vnto but onely to thee O thou preseruer of men Therefore forsake me not vtterly but stand by me and with comfort relieue me in this my extremitie and last combate Stretch out thine arme O Lord and hold thy hands of pitie ouer me that lyeth here in woe and misery O Iesu O sweet Iesu mercie O Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon me O Father of Heauen help me O holy Spirit of God confirme comfort me O God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me O Iesus my sweet Sauiour receiue my silly soule into thy holy hands Place it O LORD for thy mercie sake with thine owne selfe in thy heauenly Kingdome among thine holy Angels and Saints O my good God and my heauenly Father pitie my case ease my paine comfort my soule and be mercifull vnto me Lord shew the light of thy louing countenance vpon mee And in the houre of my death strengthen my faith So that my body returning to the earth from whence it came my soule may ascend to thee which gaue it and at the day of doome generall iudgement when they shall both meete againe they may rise to life euerlasting thorow our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Short Petitions collected for the Sicke Partly out of other Authors BEhold O gracious Father the body of thy deare Sonne all to rent and torne and remember I most humbly beseech thee of how small base substance I am Behold O good God the grieuous paine Passion of Christ my Redeemer and forgiue the sinnes of me thine vnworthy and vnprofitable Seruant which am therby redeemed O Lord looke downe from Heauen incline thine eares vnto my prayers confort my sobbing soule cheere my carefull conscience increase my faith forgiue me my sinnes and haue mercy vpon me through Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen O Lord I beseech thee mercifully heare my prayers and spare mee which doe confesse my sinnes to thee that I whose conscience by sin is accused by thy mercifull pardon may be absolued through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen O GOD the Father which made mee blesse mee O God the Sonne which redeemed me preserue mee O God the holy Ghost which sanctifieth me confirme and strengthen me The blessing defence and sauing health of the Almighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost preserue mee from all euill and bring mee to euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Glory be to thee O Father my Maker Glory be to thee O Sonne my Redeemer and glory bee to thee O holy Ghost my Comforter from age to age from posteritie to posteritie both here and in the world to come and let all people say Amen The peace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the power of his Passion the prayers of his Elect the Communion of Saints the sword of the Spirit and the shield of Faith bee betwixt mee and all mine enemies bodily and ghostly publike and priuate visible and inuisible both now and in the very houre of my death Amen O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit Thou hast redeemed mee O Lord thou God of Truth Lord Iesu at thy pleasure and at the time which may be acceptable vnto thee receiue my spirit into thy heauenly Kingdome Amen The third Dutie of the Sicke THe third and last duty of the sicke person is to be patient in his sicknes or any other aduersitie willingly to beare the burthen of Christs Crosse so to follow him for the better performance wherof I haue thought good to annex to the premisses this short Treatise of Patience wherein I will obserue this order First I will perswade by Precepts to suffer aduersitie and all kinde of calamitie Secondly I wil produce out of the Scriptures some speciall and particular examples which may prouoke vs both to suffer affliction and to be patient therein Thirdly I will shew some Reasons to allure vs thereunto 1. Precepts perswading FIrst it is an old saying Patience in aduersitie is a goodly vertue and truely so it is and Patience is a rare vertue and so it may well bee because it is so seldome seene and neuer so seldome as in these our dayes wherein wee haue many motions to euill but few or none to that which is good We offer wrong we will take none Wee giue shrewde words to others wee can brooke none towards our selues Wee haue Eagles eyes to espy a mote in our Brothers eye but like blinde buzzards wee see none at all in our owne We complaine of euery griefe in our selues bee it neuer so little wee pitie none in others bee it neuer so great And therefore we had need both of Precepts to perswade and Examples to prouoke but I feare neither the one nor the other will preuaile or take place in vs. And why Mens hearts are steeped in bitter gall their hands are cruell their feete swift to shead bloud their braine busie to inuent mischiefe And to speake the truth without flattery Loue is lost Charitie is cold Faith is not to be found Pietie maketh mone being pinched by aduersitie and patience is gone beeing forced by extremity Wel what is to bee done in this wofull case Wee must comfort our selues with sentences and examples which are written for our
Christ we shall also reigne with him Art thou desirous to liue for euer and to reigne with Christ in eternall glory Then arme thy selfe with patience to suffer aduersitie heere on earth that thou maist haue place in Heauen Take counsell of Saint Paul who saith Let vs by Heb. 12. 1 2. patience runne in the race which is set before vs looking to Iesus the Captaine and finisher of our Faith which for the ioy that was set before him suffered the Crosse contemned the shame and sitteth on the right hand of the Throne of God Behold heere a reward after the race a crowne after the conflict The consideration whereof moued all the Martyrs and holy men of GOD to beare Christs Crosse were it neuer so grieuous and heauy for the time to suffer mocks stripes bands rackings famine imprisonments and death and so must we doe the whole course of our life heere on earth sheweth the same Troubles try our patience and tame the flesh lest wee should bee condemned with the wicked world and therefore wee begin our life with teares before we be able to speake we leade it in sorrow care and we part from it with great griefe or otherwise wee should put too much confidence in our quiet estate as Dauid testifieth I Psal 30. 6. said in my prosperitie I shall neuer bee mooued And therefore lest wee should bee too proud in our prosperitie the Lord oftentimes bridleth our appetites by losses and crosses and so sheweth his loue by afflicting vs for our good As for example if for Gods cause or his Truth we be shriuen of all our riches heere on earth our portion shall bee the greater in Heauen If wee bee thrust out of our houses or offices we shall bee receiued into the Family of God If we be contemned among men wee shall be highly esteemed with God If we be cast downe in the world our seates shal be the higher in Gods Kingdome If we be murthered and so lose our life this shall bee a meanes to bring vs to eternall life For if there were no griefe in pouertie no torment in sicknes no sorrow in slander nor horrour in death what tryall could there be of Gods people None at all Therefore in our greatest extremitie let vs say Fiat voluntas Domini that is The wil of the Lord be fulfilled in mee come life come death come sicknes come health come prosperitie or aduersitie And let that man neuer boast himselfe to be an Abel whom the malice of Cain hath not afflicted Nor a Iacob whom an Esau hath not hated nor a faithfull Mardocheus whom a spitefull Haman hath not slandered nor a Paul whom a Nero hath not persecuted nor a Christian whom a Iudas hath not betrayed Where the good are there must of necessitie be some bad to try them The Wheate is tryed by the Fanne the Iron by the file and the gold by the fire euen so is a Christian knowne by affliction and being so tryed he cannot lose his reward It is great in heauen and not for gotten on earth For we see dayly that ioy followeth sorrow life death glory miserty and prosperitie pouertie Patient Iob had his substance doubled The holy Patriarks Prophets and Martyrs of Christ which suffered sundry sorrowes heere on earth are now crowned Kings in Heauen And so shall we if we runne their race for many runne but it is the wrong way that leadeth to destruction But wee must so runne that wee 1. Cor. 9. 24. may obtaine and in the end get the wager The Merchant resuseth no perill by Sea the Husbandman no labour by Land the Captaine no wound in warres and they doe it for a temporall reward How much more ought wee patiently to indure any losse of goods torment of body or griefe of minde for euerlasting life and heauenly ioy The Wise man considering this affirmeth that the day of death is better Eccl. 7 3. then the day of birth Saint Paul was of the same minde when he said I desire Phil. 1. 23. to be loosed to be with Christ which is best of al for then shall Christ our Sauiour wipe away all teares Apoc. 4. 21 from our eyes and sorrow from our hearts We shall neede to suffer no more our troubles are at an end Neither shall there bee any more death neither griefe neither crying neither paine Our paines here haue endured but a time the pleasures there shall be perpetuall What is he therefore in the vniuersall world but would willingly hazard life and liuing yea and yeeld his soule to God his body to the blocke and his flesh to the fire for such celestiall ioyes as are prepared for those that fight Gods battell heere on earth Therefore my deare Brethren to conclude Let vs runne our race and passe our painefull pilgrimage in this transitorie world so godly and patiently by the example of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles that in the end of the course when death shall shut vp the eyes of our bodies we may with a firme faith and good conscience say with Saint Paul I have fought a 2. Tim. 4. good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the Faith For henceforth there is laid vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord a righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all them that loue his appearing Then in the end of our race we shall haue rest and ioy yea perfect complete and full ioy Ioy aboue vs ioy beneath vs ioy before vs ioy behinde vs ioy on our right hand ioy on our left hand ioy within vs ioy without vs and ioy on euery side vs. Vnto the which ioy he vouchsafe to bring vs which dearely hath bought it for vs not with siluer and gold for it cost a great price but with the sheading of his precious bloud euen Iesus Christ the righteous vnto whom with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one euerlasting iust and mercifull God be all honour power and glory both now and euer Amen A generall and fruitfull Prayer for all Christians to bee reuerently said at all times Morning Euening Night or Day O God our Maker thou most mighty and holy IEHOVAH in thy name and to thine honour and glory we begin continue and end these our Prayers And we offer this our dutifull seruice vnto thy diuine Maiestie as to our Soueraigne Lord and mighty Creator of Heauen and Earth and of all things therein contained O sweet Lord Iesus Christ wee offer vnto thee our selues body and soule and all the powers parts thereof within vs and without for by right they are all thine because thou hast dearely bought and paid for the same with the peerelesse price of thy precious bloud And wee most humbly beseech thee O holy Ghost our Comforter to giue vs grace and strength to doe thy will in all things and to offer these
Law to doe them Quest 4. Good Lord if this bee true then what a miserable case are all wee in beeing wicked and cursed creatures Answ Truely our state indeede is wretched and damnable and but that God of his infinite goodnes hath prouided a salue for this sore we should vtterly perish and then were 1. Cor. 15. 19. we of all men most miserable Quest 5. Do you beleeue then that there is a salue for so grieuous a wound and a remedy for so great a mischiefe Answ Yea verily I firmely beleeue and know it or else I could not with so cheerefull and patient a minde beare this crosse which God hath now laid vpon me Quest 6. I pray you what remedy is there against the sting of sinne and the curse of the Law Is there any thing in the world that can pacifie Gods wrath and mooue him to such mercy as may cause him to take away this deadly curse and giue vs a blessing Answ Yea God bee thanked that there is I can tell you so much though I be not Booke-learned yet I haue heard it and I doe vndoubtedly beleeue it because Gods Word doth teach it That when there was no means to be found for man to be saued neither in heauen nor earth it pleased our heauenly Father of his meere mercy to send his only begotten Sonne Rom. 8. 3. into the world to the end that all that beleeue in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting So that that which was impossible to the Law in as much as it was weake because of the flesh God sending his owne Sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh I doe therefore beleeue that this Sonne of God Iesus Christ hath quite taken away the curse of the Law Col. 2. 14. and nayled it vpō the Crosse Quest 7. These are good words indeed and generally spoken to all sinners but how can you apply this to your selfe Answ Because I know assuredly that I am Christs and haue the testimonie of the Holy Ghost in mee comforting mee and bearing witnes to my Spirit that I am the child of God and therefore may boldly cry Abba Father Gal 4. 6. c. Quest 8. Then I perceiue if you bee thus faithfully minded as you do professe that you are not afraid to dy neither is death so dread full vnto you as it is to many in these sinfull dayes Answ Although indeed death seemeth detestable to the most part of men especially to impenitent sinners and such as haue the wealth of the world at will Yet notwithstanding I see no reason why any wise man should feare that which cannot be auoided but rather all things considered aright they haue cause to couet it with the holy Apostle Saint Paul who desireth to be loosed and Phil. 1. 23. to be with Christ which is best of all because death is the doore to eternall life for we connot liue for euer but first we must dye And therefore the godly man after he is mortified heere by crosses and griefe of sicknes may cheerefully sing and say with the same Apostle Christ is to mee Phil. 1. 21. both in life and death aduantage And most comfortable to a good conscience is that sentence of Ecclesiastes A good name is better then a Eccl. 7. 3. good oyntment and the day of death then the day that one is borne The Preacher spake not this without booke nor without reason for then we change sicknes for health woe for wealth transitorie vanities for perpetuall ioyes and earthly trash for heauenly treasure c. Quest 9. You are in the right of it and haue hit the naile on the head in this point keepe you there and my life for yours But because I finde you in answering both wise and willing it incourageth mee to bee bold in questioning Doe you beleeue all the Articles of the Christian Faith which the true and Catholike Church doth hold at this day and all other Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the very and liuely Word of God the foode of your soule and the perfect way to eternall life and that there is sufficient matter contained in them to establish your minde and conscience to saluation according to the consent of Christs Apostles in the Primitiue Church Answ I constantly and vnfainedly beleeue all this you haue said to bee true and grounded vpon the Word of God as vpon a sure foundation which shal neuer faile nor fall And therefore it is called the Word of Life the Word of Rom. 3. 16. Grace the Word of Truth and the power of God to Saluation to euery one that beleeueth Quest. 10. Doe you detest and abhor all Idolatry Heresies errors schismes innouations and opinions which in any point do dissent or disagree from this liuely Word of GOD and the ancient Catholike and Primitiue Church Answ As these enormities of themselues are detestable and damnable euen so I do from my very heart detest and abhorre them all and most ardently I imbrace the Truth of Gods Word with all due reuerence to the same as to the heauenly will of GOD therein specified and reuealed to vs by his Seruants the Patriarks and Apostles of God and his Sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiour the Head of the Church And I am desirous to die a member of the same Church beeing the bodie and Spouse of Christ Quest 11. And do you euen in heart reioyce to liue and die in this Christian Faith and in the vnitie of this true ancient Catholique and Apostolique Church militant heere on earth which is and shall be the Communion of Saints the triumphant Church of God in Heauen Ans I reioyce in nothing so much for I know that out of the Church there is no saluation or safetie Those in old time that were found out of Noahs Arke being a Type of the Church perished by water but they which are not of the Catholike Church of Christ shall be tormented in Hell fire which shall neuer bee quenched Quest 12. Good Lord mee thinke it is a fearefull thing that the wicked should enter into euerlasting paine and vnquenchable fire And the words which are vsuall in the Scriptures are able to make any man tremble euen at the heart as Hell Mat. 8. 12. fire the bottomelesse pit vtter darknes vnquenchable fire perpetuall paine c. where shall bee weeping and Mar. 9. 44. gnashing of teeth where their worme dyeth not and the fire neuer goeth out Mee thinks this word neuer is a long one for if there were any hope that euer the wicked might feele any release or easement of their paine or that the damned might haue any end of their torment yea if it were but after a thousand or a thousand thousands of yeeres there were some comfort to be expected in time to come though it were long first yet time would once make an end and weare
God his Angels in heauen where they shall be immortall and incorruptible freed from all carnall desires and diseases of the body and deliuered from all sorrow and trouble of minde no losse therefore to the godly that haue gained Christ but to the wicked worldlings that haue lost their riches and pleasures here in stead therof possesse perpetuall paines elsewhere to them it shall bee said Looke how much pleasure they haue had and giue them so much torment Secondly touching the feare of sicknesse the more paine wee suffer heere the more like wee are to our Master Christ the greater shall bee our reward in heauen In the meane time let vs be of good comfort for he that smiteth healeth and hee that sendeth trouble sendeth strength Thirdly against incredulity or distrust wee must desire of God to increase our faith that wee may beleeue the Scriptures and take pleasure therein for ignorance will not excuse vs now that the candle is lighted and not hid vnder a bushell but openly reueiled to the wide world and that to the comfort and saluation of euery one that beleeueth for the knowledge of Gods Law and the Gospell are necessary to our saluation the reasons be diuers The one doth feare vs. The other doth comfort vs. The Law vttereth sinne The Gospell forgiueth it The Law maketh weake The Gospell maketh strong The Law killeth The Gospell quickeneth The Law throweth down to hell The Gospel lifteth vp to heauen Fourthly against the feare of damnation when Satan layeth the Law hard to our charge threatning thereby death and damnation Let vs answere him with the Gospell which bringeth life and saluation Let vs haue a grounded and stedfast faith fixed in Christ Iesus our Sauiour who hath vanquished and destroyed all our deadly enemies as the flesh the world damnation punishment dangers sin death deuill and hell Be at vtter defiance with them all say boldly with the Apostle S. Paul It is Rom. 8. 33. God that iustifieth who then can condemne and againe God shall shortly tread downe Rō 16. 20. Satan vnder your feete c. If you beleeue this and apply it right to your soule you may then cheerefully dye and on your dying day sing and say that merry note to your great comfort and ioy viz. I desire to bee Phil. 1. 23. loosed and to be with Christ This was the marke that the blessed Apostle Saint Paul did ayme at all his life long and therefore reioycing in heart hee saith towards the end of his course I am now ready to be offered 2 Tim. 4. 6 and the time of my departure is at hand I haue fought a good battell I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith from henceforth there remaineth for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord a iust Iudge shall giue me at that day not onely vnto mee but to all those that loue his comming This made Stephen that faithfull witnesse of his Master Christ seeing the glory of God constantly to call vpon him and say in his greatest torment of body Lord Act 7. 59. Iesu receiue my spirit These men and many mo such like haue willingly yeelded their necks to the block their bodies to torment their soules to God and boldly to depart out of the miseries of this world embracing the counsell of the wise man who saith Feare Eccl. 4. 1 3 not the iudgment of death remēber them that haue bin before thee and that come after this is the ordinance of the Lord ouer all flesh And why wouldest thou be against the pleasure of the most Highest whether it be tenne or an hundreth or a thousand yeeres there is no defence for life against the graue No striuing against the streame no resisting against death But alas what meaneth this There is nothing that men so often behold as death and nothing that men so soone forget as death As men ought not to bee carelesse of their finall end so they ought not to feare death especially if they haue liued in the feare of God for seeing all must dye wherefore should the godly be afraid of Bugges what a foole is he that will feare his owne shadow what good will it doe vs either to complaine or lament for that thing which by no meanes wee can escape Tell me if thou canst with all thy skill what man is he aliue that breatheth vpon the earth that shall liue vntill hee bee an hundreth yeeres old or what one canst thou name for thy life with whom thou hast beene acquainted an hundreth yeeres sithens crack me this Nut reade me this Riddle Et eris mihi magnus Apollo that is I wil account thee as a God for thy skill Seeing then that our life is both short and vncertaine and that these things are generall to all and not to thee or to me alone Why should we not in good fellowship taste of the same sawce and drinke of the same cup one after another and that without feare or grudging as all our predecessors haue done Let vs yeeld our pampred bodies to the earth and our sinfull soules to the tryall of iustice for so haue the godly alwayes done they account the world to be but a Race a Vale of miseries and a paineful Pilgrimage and therefore they couet to haue the course of this life finished they waite continually for the good houre looking after death for a ioyfull resurrection And of this hope they haue the sweete and comfortable Testimony of Gods Spirit within them as a gage or pledge of their saluation which will neuer forsake them vntill it haue presented them before the Maiesty of God as heires and coheires with Iesus Christ of his heauenly Kingdome purchased for vs with his owne bloud wherein our soules and filthy bodies are sprinkled and thorowly washed What a comfort is this to a Christian heart What neede a man thus minded to feare death after this life any more then the laboring man after he hath toyled sore al the day long neede to feare sleepe and his quiet rest at night No no hee may rather with a cheerefull conscience wish for death because as Christ saith He shall passe frō death Ion. 5. 24. to life Let vs therefore good Christian Brother so liue with Christ that we may dye in him and let vs so glorifie him in this life by our godly conuersation that wee may bee glorified of him in the life to come to our comfort and saluation The best remedy to auoid this friuolous feare of death is to repent our former sinnes and hereafter to apply our selues to liue in his true seruice and feare So that first wee may finish our life heere and dye well Secondly that wee may receiue at Gods hands in the resurrection of the iust a comfortable and mercifull iudgement Thirdly that we may auoid the horrible paines of hell which are intolerable Fourthly and finally that we may be partakers of the