temporall bee enemies to sinne from our harts take pleasure in righteousnesse learne to know aâ—ight the misery of this sinnefull life neglect the pomp and traine of this world haue inward deâ—ire and constant purpose after the heauenly mansions loue the Lord Iesus Christ with all our sâ—â—lesmind and strength and daily thirst for his second comming perseuering in a Christian calling and prepared at all times to make a happy departure from this vale of miserie And this is that heauenly preparation to a blessed death by the which we are distinguished and separated from the misbeleeuing Ethicke Turke and Iew and from the disobydient hypocrite and children of this world of the which there are a great number alas on whom the Sun of righteousnesse hath not shined but sit as yet in darknesse and in the shade of death haue neither heard nor yet can speake of Christ indeede some might haue heard but with the deafe adder they shut their eares at the voyce of the Inchanter Others doe heare sermons but yet did neuer know Christ for their Sauiour and Redeemer because the Word was not mixt with faith in the heareâ—s such are good lip-Christians but their harts are far from him they boast of faith but declare it not by their workes and talke of eternall life but will not learne the way to come thither And if thou wouldest gentle Reader be taught aright then must thou often read diligently heare and meditate vpon Godâ— Word exercise thy selfe daily in it and liue according thereunto for now there is praised be God the holy Scriptures in euery mans hand and sundry and diuers comfortable and holy bookes out of that pure Fountaine which holy Fathers haue penned by the which thou maist be taught profitable doctrine liuely faith holy admonitions for a Christian life and blessed death of the which Writers some are some what obscure for the Simple-ones and full of disputations and logicall discourses And to ease thee of them I haue here set downe a plaine Treatise for thy instruction aâ—ter my long experience and visitation of the sicke distrâ—ssed and â—ssâ—ulted by Sâ—tan tryall of crosses in aduersities and sense of the sting of death Whereby being long exercised of my owne proofe I do now publish vnto thee for the benefit of gods Church wherevnto I was much importuned by many godly and religious persons I was much holpen in this Worke by that reuerend Father Martinus Mollerus Preacher at Gorliâ—z in Silesia whose worthy works are well knowne entreating mee to set forth these comfortable rules hauing had so long tryall Which I did still intend but was hitherto hindred Sâ—than doubtlesse enuying the benefite and publication thereof and therefore I the most vnworthy of all Christs seruants doe reioyce onely in Gods mercy and say with Paul Cor. 15.10 Noâ— I but the grace of God which was with mee hath caused these to câ—me to light trusting it shall tend to the praise and glorie of God benefite and weale of his Church and to be a spur to euery priuate man vnto a Christian life and holy death for it is the meaner and weaker sort that it is written to their â—dification and saluation For it often happeneth that sundry in a strange Countrie cannot haue the vse of Preachers neither yet in warfare nor sailing nor yet at home in the time of plague and pestilence can they haue frequent society with the men of God to bee taught by them And there are men where no plantation of the Gâ—spel is sighing and groâ—ning for the word of grace comfort and admonition In these and the like defects this little Manuell can supply the place of a Friend to speake vnto them that we be not hindred in our Christian course but constantly go foward that through the mercy of God we may make a blessed departure and glad good-night from this world which our good and gracious God gâ—aunt vnto vs for his owne merâ—â—eâ— sake when it shall please him to translate vs from this Hadradrimmoâ— and vale of miserie Amen THE CROWNE OF LIFE CHAP. I. Wherein is contained that men are not only mortall but also altogether ignorant when how or in what place God will call them out of this present life Flesh. I PRAY YOV shew mee the contents of the whole Bible and suâ—me of all the Sermons preached by the holy men of God Spirit That is to learne to liue Christianly Psal. 90.12 Eccl. 12.1 and die blessedly A meditation of the soule to liue for euer O Lord my God helpe mee in such wayes to liue in this world that I may elsewhere liue with thee eternally Reu. 2. 3 for what haue I in this present world but thee or what in the heauens but thee Psal. 73.25.28 It is good for mee to cleaue vnto thee Flesh. What call you a Christian life Spirit This is a Christian life that a man should rightly know first the Lord his God Ier. 9. Psal. 79. Exod. 20. Deut. 6. Mat. 28.19 Psal. 67. Ioh. 17. Ioh. 1.14 Ezek. 18. and secondly himselfe first I say the onely one God in essence or being distinct in three persons Father Sonne and Holy Ghost that the middle one of these three which is the Sonne was sent of God into the world and there hath taken our humane nature vpon himselfe to become our Redeemer and Sauiour thereto man must learne to know himselfe aright that is that we are poore miserable vile sinners in Gods sight and shall be eternally condemned vnlesse we be conuerted and lay hold by a stedfast faith on this Sonne of God become new creatures and continue in obedience to God and loue to our neighbours euen to our last end The Christians godly Praier O thou only one eternall almighty God Father Sonne and holy Ghost threefold in persons but one in substance power and glory I humbly intreat thee teach mee to know thee and my selfe truly that I may more and more increase and grow daily in this knowledge to the end that I may so addresse my short and wretched life here on earth that it may redound to thy praise and feare to the good and benefit of my neighbour and by no meanes be hurtfull to my selfe alwayes walking as in thy presence in humilitie and holinesse Amen Flesh. What call you a happy or blessed death Spirit To end and conclude the dayes of this life in true faith Luk. 2. Philip. 1. recommending thy soule to the Lord Iesus with an heartie desire and longing for a ioyfull sleeping from this world in patience to bee with the Lord. 1 Tim. 4. A praier for a happy departure Lord Iesus Christ thou only knowest my time and houre Matt. 6. Act. 7. I request thee from the bottome of my heart to vouchsafe vpon me an happy departure from hence and to preserue my soule from all anguish and annoyance that so I may rest with thee eternally Amen Flesh. Shall all mankinde
their wheat and wine did abound Psal. 4.7 and these words cannot deceiue thee Psal. 89.33 for he will not falâ—ifie his truth Vpbraideth hee thee that thou art wretched sicke and desolate c though I bee mayst thou say poore and needy Psal. 40.17 the Lord thinketh on mee therfore if I can haue but thee my God I account of nothing in heauen and in earth suppose my flesh faile and my heart Psal 73.25 thou God art the strength of my heart and my portion for euer relie ô my soule all thy life time heereon for hee will not alter the thing that hath gone out of his lips Psal. 89.34 If the diuell doth affright thee with death gainstand him with a stout and faithfull heart and say thy dead men shall liue Esay 26.19 euen with my body shall they liue awake and sing ye that dwell in dust for thy deaw is as the deaw of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead And so I beleeue the remission of my sinnes resurrection of my body and life euerlasting this is verily true and hereon I repose my selfe for heauen and earth shall passe away Luk. 16.17 but his word shall not fall so that all they that leane to the word shut themselues in the word shall with the word and in the word endure for euer A Prayer to the same effect Lord Iesus Christ King of euerlasting Triumph helpe that I may continually haue thy Law and Gospel before mine eyes and rule all my Thoughts Words and Deeds according to them teach mee by thy holy Spirit at euerie occasion to put them in practise that in thy Law I may perceiue my Sinne and Vildnesse with true comfort in my hart that in all miserie and griefe I may haue these sweete speeches in fresh memorie that they may bee my weapons and aâ—mour To kill my Foe Pro. 30.5 and my Sheild and defence aâ—gainst the Deuill Psal. 23.4 thy rodde and staffe to hold mee vppe my food and refreshing in alâ— trouble and anguish grant I may wholly betake mee to thy Word both sleepe and rise therewith that I may liue and die according to thy Word and if at any time my heart through weakenesse shall distrust assist mee then O Lord that I neuer despaire for neyther thou nor thy Word will deceiue mee I know and doe beleeue it O eternaâ— true God that thou wilt keepe thy Word â—herefore shall I be preserued I beleeue and know thou canst not lye therefore sâ—all I not bee deceiued and although that my heart shall doubt and denie yet art thou constant in thy promise because thou art greater than our hearts and knowest all things therefore shall I neuer be confouÌ„ded 1 Ioh. 3.20 because I put my trust in thee Psal. 25.2 To thee O God the Father Sonne and holie Ghost bee all honour dominion power and glorie now and for euer world with out end Amen Flesh. What is the second point that concerneth Christian life The second poynt Baptisme Spirit Secondly deare Soule meditate daily in thy baptisme and let it comfort thee because God thy Lord in it hath purged thee receiued thee to be his child and in it sealeth with thee that mercifull couenant that he will be thy gracicious God and father and thou shalt be his deare Son and heire yea ô my soule thy Lord Iesus in thy holy baptisme hath called thee by thy name 1 Pet. 3. Esay 62. Ier. 14. Esay 45. before thou knewest him and hath giuen thee a new name that thou shouldest bee called a Christian to witnesse that thou wert brother to Christ and fellow-heire Rom. 8. that thou shalt enioy and bee paticipant with him of all whatsoeuer hee hath bought and merited by his bloud as of remission of sinnes righteousnesse and eternall life Meditation of thy Baptisme Therfore so often as thou shalt heare or recite the Creed I beleeue in God c. I beleeue in Iesus Christ c. I beleeue in the holy Ghost c. heere is thy surmounting consolation that thou art in the number of those of whom it is sayd he that beleeueth and is baptized Mark 16.16 shall bee saued and heereby art separated from Turks Iewes Atheists and all Infidels and other vngodly persons of whom it is said but hee that will not beleeue shall be damned and finally in thy baptisme thou obligest thy selfe not to liue after the flesh Rom 8.12 Luk 1.75 to fulfill the lusts and desires thereof but to serue the liuing God in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of thy life Tit. 2.12 according to his pleasure Prayer for a new life and faith in Christ. I thanke thee my good Lord Iesus Christ for this thy vnspeakable goodnesse in that thou hast not onely taken mee aliue out of the wombe but when I was dead in sinne made me be baptized Psal. 22.9 Ephes. 2.1 and thereby enrolledst and registeredst mee in thy mercifull couenant band didst regenerate me by thy holy spirit Eph. 2.12.13 accept mee to be thy sonne and inheritor of blessednesse 1 Pet. 3.21 not that I loued thee first but thou louedst mee before I was ô my Redeemer Tit. 5.5 how can I render thankes for all thy benefits towards mee I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon thee Psal. 116.12 I beseech thee therefore vphold mee by thy holy spirit that I may stand stedfast in this couenant of grace whereunto I haue had this accesse reioycing vnder the hope of the glory of God comforting my soule therewith confirme my faith that I may cleaue vnto thee alwayes and abhorre and detest Infidelitie and Atheisme seruing thee zealously in the spirit in whatsoeuer calling or condition of life I shall liue yea my God seeing through baptisme I am dead vnto sinne and borne againe Rom. 6.4 grant me thy grace that I may walke in newnesse of life that my conuersion and giuing my members as weapons of righteousnesse vnto God may beare record before thee and men that I haue reciued that Sacrament to my weale and saluation conduct mee safely through this wearisome valley of misery neuer leaue mee vntill thou hast brought me to thy fathers Kingdome which is those riches and treasures thou hast promised mee in my baptisme and thereof assured me and sealed vp the same in my heart by thy spirit giuen vnto me Grant me gracious father forgiuenesse of all my sins that so I may walke before thee in true repeÌ„tance and amendment of life that so I may liue in thy feare and die thy faithfull seruant Amen Flesh. Shew me the third means whereby a Christian life is maintained The third poynt the Lords Supper Spirit Thirdly deare soule repaire diligently and of ten to the Lords Sâ—pper for that is the table the Lord hath prepared for his regenerate children that is the food wherwith hee strengtheneth and refrâ—sheth his new purged
constanter surer and better righteousnesse which is his merit and satisfaction by Faith imputed vnto thee Philip. 3. and is that Righteousnesse which God onely accepteth of Sathan moreouer by Adams sinne hath blotted and defaced Gods Image in thee and deadly wounded thee in all thy powres and operations and left thee lying halfe dead Luk. 10. so that there was no desire or motion left or remayning in thee to satisfie Gods will and therefore shouldest die â—ternally but on the contrarie Iesus hath not onely clothed thee with his owne righteousnesse Gal. 3 27. Esa. 55. Col 3.10 healed thy soares and wounds by his stripes and death begot thee againe by the holie spirit and imprinted his image of new but also he will at the last day cleare thy mortall bodie and make it like to his glorious bodie To be short Sathans course was to take all thy gifts and heauenly ornaments from thee and throw thee head-long to euerlasting perdition but Iesus Christ opposed himselfe and ayded thee in such wayes that not onely hee tooke this flesh and bloud vpon him satisfied for thee made attonement for thee reconciled thee with his Father obtayned eternall remission for thee gaue thee his righteousnesse his holie spirit and euerlasting life but also he promoted thee to bee accounted righteous holie Gods child Gods heyre his brother his cousin his bride and bed-fellow heyre the Temple and habitation of the holy and glorious Trinitie Now mayest thou say deare Soule Omnia benefecit Mar. 7. He hath done al things well and therefore ô Lord thy name be praysed and glorified for euer euer ô my God how gratiously hast thou comforted me how mildly hast thou refreshed my drowsie and drooping Soule how sweete is thy consolation wherfore now I am quiet and setled in mind and will say truly thou art that mercifull Gate and Ladder to eternall Life Ioh. 14. Gen. 28. Thou art the Way Veretie and Life no man commeth vnto the Father but by thee thou art the Way and there is Saluation in no other Act. 4. for there is no other name giuen vnto man vnder heauen in the which wee shall be saued but in thy name Thou ar the Truth for he that abideth not in thy learning hath not God but he that abides in thy learning hath both the Father and the Sonne Thou art Life for hee that beleeueth in thee hath eternall Life but he that beleeueth not in thee shall not see Life but Gods wrath shall abide on him The Sinners prayer to relie on God O Iesus Christ Ioh. 1. who art that right and heauenlie doore without whom none can come to the Father graunt that by a true and constant faith I may euer depend and relie vpon thee by thee mount vp to heauen and there be possessor of that euerlasting inheritaÌ„ce of glorie prepared by thy Son my Lord and Sauiour in whose name I call vpon thee saying as hee himselfe hath taught mee Our Father which art in heauen c. Flesh. Seeing that now by Christ I am reconciled vnto the Father and iustified before him by Faith and in my hope alreadie blessed may I doe what I will vntill the day of death Spirit No by no meanes beloued Soule for if true Faith be in thy heart Rom. 8. and thou made a new creature by the holie spirit thou must think for other wise for the regenerate delighteth in a new life attentiuely watcheth that hee fal not into sinne and is grieued in his heart for his owne and other mens vngodlinesse Pro. 24.16 abhorreth and hateth sinne eagerly and if the faithfull man be miscarried and seduced by Sathan or fall by inborne and naturall infirmitie hee daylye repenteth and comforteth himselfe in Iesus Christ whose seede abideth in him therefore there is no condemnation to him Rom. 8.1 seeing by the hand of Faith hee alwayes apprehendeth Iesus Christ and therefore did I call new obedience the Third part of Repentance which declareth it selfe in a iust sober godlie life and conuersation both to God and man in thankefulnesse and loue so mayest thou daylie exercise thy selfe in forme following A most excellent Prayer for all times to be vsed I thanke thee my God heauenly father for creating me according to thy similitude and likenesse Gen. 1. and when I had fallen away by sinne and therby became the childe of wrath thou didst bestow and freely giue thy well-beloued sonne to bee my redeemer what shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psa. 116.12 gouern me by thy holy spirit that I may take pleasure in thy Law for in vaine serueth man thee Matt. 15. by mens lawes and traditions grant that I doe no more liue after the flesh Rom. 8. but after the spirit so that I may fight that good fight alwayes keeping faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 1. teach mee euer to bee of the minde that Iesus Christ my Lord was of who hath left me an example that I should walke in his foot-steps Phil. 1. 1 Pet. 2. Ephes. 6. Rom. 12. Ioh. 2. Gal. 5. strengthen my faith and hope that I may withstand Sathan and not fashion my selfe like to this wicked and euill world for her course tends to destruction giue mee thy grace that I may euer crucifie my sinnefull flesh mortifie and daunt the sinnefull lusts and concupiscences thereof that I may daily die to sinne and exercise my selfe in all goodnesse and vertue 1 Cor. 9. helpe me my Lord euer to feare thee from my heart to loue thee with all my power Deut. 6. and with all my strength that all my ioy and pleasure may be in thee Psal. 18. grant that I thy creature may aright know thee my creatour and bee found faithfull manfull couragious in seeking thy glory 1 King 19. and in all humility euer call on thee I may desire thy word more then gold yea more then fine gold and bee obedient to thy commandements Ps. 19.8.10 for in keeping of them is great reward Ezek. 19. ô Lord Iesus Christ enflame my heart with thy loue Psal. 73.25 that I may esteeme thee aboue the greatest treasure and that I may consider what it is to loue this wretched world bow my heart to thee my redeemer that I may repute this earth and the glory thereof to bee as it is indeede nothing and that I may long and groane for that eternall Kingdome to come ô Lord keepe me from immoderate sollicitude and care for worldly sustenance and cause mee neuer giue trust to this temporary life Grant vnto mee ô my redeemer stedfast patience vnder the crosse of all afflictions constant magnanimity fortitude and faith in all tentations and that in the crosses of this life I despaire not grant gracious father that I may humble my selfe in greatest prosperity encline my heart to godlinesse and make my will conformable to thy
Christ both for soule and bodie as for thy creation manifestation in the Flesh Tim. 3.6 assumption of humane nature redemption for thy holie word for the Faith thou hast endued my Soule with for thy holie Spirit which thou hast enspired into my heart for thy holie Sacrament for Temporall and Spirituall gifts and benefits Luk. 1.4.9 How can I in this my weakenesse comprehend the great things which thou hast bestowed vpon mee Another Prayer after receiuing the holie Communion Helpe me Lord Iesus my Redeemer that I may frequent this holie communion and joyfully embrace that remembrance of thee behold I am thy brother and fellow-heyre and haue right to thy kingdome where should I goe but to thy own table succor me my Sauiour that I may greedily desire this thy great Feast let my mind neuer loose remembraÌ„ce of Thee but that my repose quietnesse and faith and greatest joy may bee in Thee and euermore giue Thee thankes with feruencie from the grouÌ„d of my heart for all thy goodnesse and graces so pleÌ„tifully showred down vpon mee but more specially for that after this perishing world shall decay I am ordayned to eat that Bread of Life with all thy Saints in the Heauens for euermore And therefore beloueâ— Soule when thou drawest thither forget not thy neighbour that eateth and drinketh with thee and sitteth by thee for hee is the member of Christ no lesse then thou therefore thou oughtest to loue him from thy hart for his sake that loued thee and be ready to do him all kindnesse as vnto thy selfe and therefore deare Soule haue respect and care of the needy poore and cast not thine eyes from thine owne flesh but forasmuch as hee nourisheth thee with that bread and giueth thee drinke of that cup should I not minister vnto my brother fellow-heire with mee my bread and refresh him with that thou hast giuen mee gouerne me ô Lord Iesus by thy holy spirit that I euer may dearely loue my neighbor be touched at my heart with the miserie of the pooâ—e and distressed to giue the hungrie meat the thirsty drinke the stranger lodging to cloth the naked to visit the sicke and come to them that are in prison according to my power and measure of thy blessings bestowed vpon mee that I may heare that comfortable voice proceede out of thy mouth at the last daie verily I saie vnto you insomuch as you haue done it vnto one of the least of these my brethren yee haue done it to mee and verily I say vnto you inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these you did it not vnto mee Matth. 25.40.45 Let not therefore ô my God my charitie grow colde but that I may extend it with a fellow-feeling coÌ„passion to my empouerished neighbours members with mee of the mysticall body of thy son the Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit bee rendred all honour and glorie power and dominion now and euer Amen Flesh. Shew mee the fourth meanes how to attaine to a Christian and godlie life concerning the tolleration of the Crosse and aduersitie thereof Spirit Fourthly deare Soule prepare thee euerie day for the crosses and chastisemeÌ„ts which the children of God in this world must beare after their Mr. for we must throgh many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God Act. 14.22 yea my Soule that doctrine of the Crosse is one of the most secret and hid mysteries into the which mans iudgement and knowledge cannot reach but both it and all other concealed matters are manifested in Gods word onely out of which word we ought to be edified in this poynt Now hereof it commeth beloued Soule that the crosse is heauie for vs to beare wee are greatly affrayd of it euen as though the Lord had left vs or as if hee were our mortall foe deadly enemie A prettie and pithie similitude hereof we haue in the Two Desciples Luk. 24 13 which went from Ierusalem to Emmaus in perplexitie and sorrow to whom the Lord manifested himselfe in another forme so that their eyes were held that they could not know him Loe deare soule this is a figure of the crosse in the which the Lord so clotheth and couereth himselfe that hee appeareth to be a stranger yea euen to his most beloued children and so doth take solace in the compasse of this earth Pro. 8.31 and delight with the children of men yea sometime hee seemeth so farre against them that they imagâ—ne God hath forgot all loue and goodnesse to them Esa. 64.9.12 but Hee will make himselfe knowne in conuenient time and fill their harts with gladnesse and no man shall take their ioy from them Ioh. 16.22 and therefore thou must learne in this verie high poynt how to behaue thy selfe and diligently to consider these seuen following rules coÌ„â—cerning the crosse and thy griefe shall not bee so vehement Flesh. I pray you shew mee thee first rule concerning the bearing of the Crosse. Spirit All true Christians are thereto appoynted of God for whom he knew before he also predestinated to be made like to the image of his Sonne that he might be the first born among many brethren so wast thou ordayned to Anxieties Crosses not onely before thou wast born of thy mother Rom 8.29 but also before the foundation of the world was layd that thou mightest resemble the Lord Iesus Christ yea thou art flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone shall thou not then suffer with him Eph. 6.30 he is thy Maister and thou his desciple he thy Bridegroome and thou his Bride he is thy Head and thou art his Members why wilt thou then desire to bee in better coÌ„dition than he was Looke on the Lord as on the Prince of the Crosse and consider how all the Saints and faithfull ones haue euer followed him Mat. 11.29.30 Christ goeth first making way with the most heauie Crosse vpon his shoulders and the godlie tread on his footsteps for euerie one beareth his owne yoake Rom 8.37 neuerthelesse in all troubles they are more than conquerours through him that loued them and because they are conformable vnto Christ in suffering so shall they bee conformable vnto him in glorie also Prayer willingly for to follow Christ in all crosses and afflictions O Lord God thou who hast prouided thy son for mee to beare the burden of the crosse giue mee a wise heart that I may perceiue thy wonderfull purpose and counsell heerein that I may take it vp willingly and follow my Redeemer cheerfully and so shew my submission and obedience to him heere for a short time but heereafter eternally to raigne with him euerlastingly to God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost bee giuen of mee and all true Christians all honour power and glory Amen Flesh. Shew me the second rule of bearing the Crosse Spirit This is the Lord Iesus Christs coÌ„mandement Matth. 11.30
Lord Iesus Christ an Almighty promiser and powerfull performer vnto thee for saith he all the father giueth me Ioh. 6.37.38.39.40 shall come to mee and him that commeth vnto mee I will in no wise cast out for I came downe from heauen not to doe mine owne will but the will of him that sent me and this is the fathers will which hath sent mee that of all which he hath giuen mee I should lose nothing but should raise it vp againe at the last day and this is the will of him that sent mee that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeuâ—th on him may haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Heare then deare Soule what comfortable speeches these are out of the mouth of Verity it selfe Wouldest thou haue more to glad thine heart and stirre thy courage Heare the Lord him selfe witnessing who cannot lie thy faith sâ—all not decay thou shalt not bee lost but abide constant to the lad end And againe I haue prayed for thee Luk 22.13 that thy faith faile not for my sheepe heare my voyce and I know them saith hee and they follow mee Ioh. 10.27.28.29.30 and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand my father which gaue them me is greater thaÌ„ all no man is able to pluck theÌ„ out of my father hand I and my father am one And againe Mary hathchosen the good part Luk. 10.42 which shall not bee taken away from her A Meditation of the soule of faith in Christs promises How could the Lord giue vnto thee greater security thou hast his promise that he by the power of his holy Spirit shall giue his word for thee thy faith shal not decay and will not his father heare him when he prayed for Peter and for thee that thou shouuldest not be pluckt out of his or his Fathers hand and that the good part in thine heart should not bee reft from thee Now therefore art thou sure both of eternall life and of thy constancy and perseuerance thereunto and that thou through his mercie mayest stedfastly abide vnto the end hee will not leaue thee and thou shalt not leaue him yea thou shalt apprehend him oâ—â—hom thou art apprehended Therefore bee of courage and comfort thy selfe and say with Paul I know whom I haue beleeued 2 Tim. 1.12 and am perswaded that hâ—e is able to keep that which I haue committed vnto him against that day And in another place I am perswaded that neiâ—ther death nor life nor Angels nor principaliâ—ies nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue oâ— God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. The sicke mans Prayer and comfort in Christ. O Lord Iesus Christ Thou alone art my eternall Portion and Part which I haue chosen and am certaine that euen when mine heart shall breake it shall not bee taken from mee ô Thou Almighty Redemer who can doubt of thee ô Thou powerfull Sheepheard who shall pluck me out of thy hands ô Thou louing Sauiour 1 Ioh. 4.8 who art loue it selfe who will separate me from thy loue Thou hast kindled and raised in mine heart already a taste of the sweetnesse of the euerlasting habitations and thou hast made me haue experieÌ„ce therof by many and ioyfull deliuerances Yea Lord I perceiue the witnesse of thy holy Spirit in mine heart which witnesseth vnto my spirit that I am the childe of God and so fellow-heire with thee thou art the vine and I am a branch in thee thou art the tree of life and I am engrafted in thee thou art the Bride-groome and I the Bride wedded vnto Thee made one with thee and ioyned with thee by an euerlasting indissoluable couenant that neither the Diuell or distresse shall weaken crosse or infirmity loose and breake for euer For I am betrothed vnto Thee in righteousnesse Hos. 2.19.20 in iudgement and in louing kindnesse and in mercies yea I am betrothed vnto Thee in faithfulnesse and I doe know thee my Lord. O how burneth my heart to thee Psal. 42 2. O when shall I come and appeare before thee my God in heauen there to liue with thee for euer Amen Flesh. What shall the Christian doe when hee shall not finde such assurance of faith but great imbecillity coldnesse and drowzinesse oftentimes doubting whether he be one of the Elect or not Spirit Hee should not suffer such doubtings and weaknesses to lodge in his hart but remember that the Kingdome of Heauen suffereth violence Matth. 11.12 and is gotten by force and the violent take it by force yea thou shouldst bee mindefull of the Apostles admonition 2 Tim. 1.6 I put thee saith he in remembrance that thou stirre vp the gift of God which is in thee and he will comfort thee with these words A bruized reede wil he not breake Esay 42.3 and the smoaking flax shall he not quench and hee shall reuiue thy soule by that comfortable promise be not afraid onely beleeue Matt. 9 29. thy faith shall make thee safe for according to thy faith it shall bee vnto thee And therefore be of good cheere Matt. 9.2 thy sinnes be forgiuen thee For daily experience doth teach that the more one resorts to the word of God and pondereth vpon the comfortable sentences of the Scripture in his minde he obtaineth the greater comfort in his heart but especially when he meditates vpon this heauenly summons and citation of the Lord Mat. 11.28 Come vnto mee all you that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue you rest A Meditation of the great comfort the children of God haue in this world O perceiue deere soule how mercifully and louingly the Lord cals vpon thee how he gathereth thee euen as a hen gathers her chickens vnder her wings Matth. 23.37 or as a good sheepheard goeth after that which is lost Luk. 15.4.5.6 vntill hee finde it and when hee hath found it hee layeth it on his shoulders reioycing and when hee commeth home hee calleth together his friends and his neighbours saying vnto them rejoyce with mee for I haue found the sheepe which was lost Consider therefore that thou art euen one of these who are wearied and burthened to whom the Lords Proclamation belongeth and therefore wheere hee saith Seeke my face continually answer thou in thy heart and say I will seeke thy face continually Thus the Lord will looke vnto him that is poore Esay 66..2 and of a contrite Spirit trembleth at this word Knowest thou not deare Soule that the Lord receiues him that is weake in faith For a weake faith is a true faith when as it wrastleth striues and leaues not off but sticketh vnto the word wherein in the promise is contayned And therefore is it well sayd by Luther In
Grant ô God that my soule may liue and raigne with thee eternally Amen Flesh. Thou sayest well yet I see when men are in the agony of death their eyes turne in their heads they become blackish and they sweat for paine Spirit That is not onely to be spied in the children of this world who depart with out repentance but euen in the verie faithfull and Saints of God for so the sinnefull and deadly body must feele the sting of death and vndergoe the the punishment and waâ—ges of sinne and although wee see in the children of God such anguish and smart it is nought for so they easily ouercome all the miseries and bitternesse thereof for the comfort of Iesus Christ is so great that he is insteede of all things vnto them and that name Iesus so sweet that it consumeth all the acrimonie and bitternesse in death and causeth the faithfull in the verie period of death to taste euerlasting ioy and saluation A prayer to Christ to keepe vs from a troublesome death Lord Iesus Christ thou who tasted st the bitter vinegar of death vpon the Crosse due vnto my sin and hast greatly complained and bemoaned thy selfe and in the daies of thy flesh didst offer vp prayers and supplications Heb. 5.7 with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue thee from death and wast heard in that thou fearedst I beseech thee keepe me from a troublesome and paine full death Fill my heart with liuely faith and a rich hope that I be not greatly affraid of death nor terrified for the sting thereof O Iesus let thy deare and sweet name neuer depart from my heart and memorie vnto my last breth that I giue vp the Ghost and commit my soule vnto thee to rest for euermore Amen Flesh. Is there no kinde of phisicke then a man may vse that hee should not taste the sharpe sting of death Spirit Yes verely Ioh. 8.51 for so the Lord thy redeemer hath said Verily verily I say vnto thee if a man keepe my saying hee shall neuer see death Thou must then learne rightly to applie this phisicke which is Iesus Christs word not the word of Moses which is Gods law nor mans word diuels or witches but the mercifull preaching of the Gospell in the which hee promiseth vnto all belieuers remission of sins righteousnesse which is accepted before God the holie spirits consolation and life eternall And this is the word which the Lord giueth to the hearts of the Saints the which vpholdeth them and whereon they relye both in life and death and finde Christ and consolation therein with the which they are so detained and comprehended that they taste not the bitternes of death because of that sweetnes that is in his promise and comfort that is in his word For Christ is in his word and the word carrieth Christ and his power he who wil haue the Lord must haue his word and hee who hath the Lord himselfe the sweetnesse of his grace and comfort shall neuer see death thâ—t is shall neuer be agashed or tast the smart of death and so the Lord himselfe expoundeth it Verily Mat. 6.28 verily I say vnto you there be some staÌ„ding here which shal not taste of death till they see the Son of man comming in his kingdome And again Luk. 9.27 But I tell you of a truth there be some standing here which shal not tast of death vntill they see the kiâ—gdome of God that is they build vpon his true word taste Christ and his comfort in the word yea they winde themselues in the word as a dead corpes is wrapped in his winding sheete and so it commeth to passe they feele Christ and his mercie in his word and thereby taste in their hearts euerlasting life O thou pretious pleasant and excellent doctrine which art certaine and cannot deceiue What would you haue more O deare Soule and for what stayest thou Rom. 3.4 Receaue that heauenly doctrine in thy heart vse it well keepe it daily yea euerie moment Behold how bosting and bragging the world is hauing found phisicke for an ague tooth-ach or for the eyes how costly and prâ—tiously doe they esteeme it How much more should wee glorie in this our redeemer Heauenly and diuine phisicke which hath taken away death the father ouer all sicknesses Thou needest not inquire of the trial proofe hereof behold the examples of the faithfull which haue vsed this phisicke and by the benefit thereof haue felt no griefe in their vnspeakeable paines as Saint Stephen Act. 7.56.59 Who being full of the holy Ghost and faith in Iesus Christ looked vp steadfastly into heauen and saw the glorie of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God they stoned him calling vpon God and saying Lord Iesus receaue my spirit And Paul hauing this preseruing phisicke durst daily bragge against death I desire to depart and to bee with Christ. So did Ignatius and so Policarpus and S t. Laurance with S t. Vincentius and infinite numbers of others A prayer of the Christians stedfast hope of Heauen O Lord Iesus Christ thou hast the words of eternall life Ioh. 6.68 how doth my soule thirst and long after thy consolation yea my redeemer He that meditates on thy word diligentlie he hath that true heauenlie phisicke which shall neuer faile in time of death but fetteth it selfe against the gates of Hell O Lord Iesus feede my hungrie heart with thy word and ouer-sprinkle mee altogether and at all times with thy comfort for thy worde and thy truth abideth for euer therefore shall I by the meanes of faith in thy word be preserued for eeuer for hee that belieueth thy word belieueth in thee and hee that keepeth thy word hath thee and hee who hath thee hath eternall life and hee who hath life neither can nor shall taste of eternall death for thou art the resurrection and the life Ioh. 11.25 he thâ—t belieueth in thee though he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in thee shall neuer die Beleeuest thou this my soule yea Lord Iesus thou knowest all things thou knowest I beleeue in thee and haue thee in mine heart and that I do comfort me in thy word rest and repose my selfe therupon therefore am I certaine that I am one of those which shall neuer see death taste his bitternesse or feele his sting Grant me this Lord Iesus Christ for thy true holy words sake For vnto thee doe I commit both soule and body helpe mee therefore euen for Iesus Christ his sake to whom bee giuen all glory and honour now and euer Amen CHAP. VIII CompreheÌ„ding remarkable sentences of Scripture with some earnest praiers to be powred out for them that are in present perill of death as also how they should behaue themselues that are present with the sicke person Flesh. I Pray thee rehearse some sentences of Gods holy Word wherewith I may comfort my
at euery occasion and minute I may bee ready to take my leaue of this world and raigne with thee my Lord and Sauiour eternally in the world to come Amen Meditation of the fourth the manner Concerning the fourth thou art ignorant deare soule by what kinde of disease the Lord will call thee from hence whether it shall happen by pestilence maladie in the head ague c. by shipwracke or fire and it may bee God hath appointed thee to be ouertaken by robbers wilde beasts or some such casualtie yea O soule many neuer intend repentance in all the time and space they haue health and prosperitie vntill some languishment and sicknes seize vpon them but who knoweth whether at any time hee shall haue sicknesse and leisure together Haue wee not daily examples how many decease by palsie by sword and sudden death through sundry other maladies of body and before they were euer sicke or diseased or that God suffered them to haue the benefit of their bed and rest A praier to forsake the world and follow Christ. O God how foolish are wee miserable and fond creatures how smal heed and attention giue wee to daily occurrences The fowle is an vnreasonable creature yet when it seeth another to bee killed beside it shee presently swingeth and flieth away and when it spieth a man to bend his bow aime at it there is no longer staying but quickly conueieth it selfe thither where it may bee secure and safe Euen so O soule death breakes in all places many mens hearts and they do fall on euery side then feare O soule and flie from sinne to righteousnesse from hell to heauen from this damnable and deceitfull world to Iesus Christ that then thou maist boldly say Now shoot death when thou wilt for although thou bereaue mee of this transitorie and momentanie life Heb. 13. yet by a strong and constant faith I possesse the kingdome of heauen which shall giue mee infinitely more then thou canst take from mee Meditation of the soule not to delay repentance Delay not O soule thy repentance vntil thou be sicke Eccl. 12. but worke thy conuersion euen now with-all diligence put not off from day to day thy amendment of life neither continue in wickednesse vntill deaths vncertaine houre approach A praier when first we fall sicke O Iesus Christ my Redeemer preserue me from a painfull sicknesse violent and hastie death ouertake mee not in my sinnes and suffer mee not to die without repentance and giue vnto mee if it be thy pleasure a quiet and patient departure that without great paine and griefe I may in my right wits attaine a blessed end confessing thy most holy name vntill the last gaspe and so to commend my soule and spirit with my whole heart carefully into thy mercifull hands my most gratious and louing Sauiour and Redeemer to whom with God the Father and the holy spirit be rendred from the bottome of my heart all honour power might maiestie and dominion now and for euer Amen CHAP. II. Wherein is comprehended the true and right art to die well and first of Christian repentance Flesh. BEcause wee neuer are vnpursued by death it is very needfull therefore that both Young and Old Great and Small Rich and Poore should learne the art of dying blessedly Spirit Yes truely daily examples may teach vs so for consider thy neighbour like as he is dead so shalt thou bee yesterday was his this day for thee Eccl 38. to day a King to morrow dead yea ô Soule death is like a Mower Eccl. 10. which walkes in a greene meadowe cutting with his Sithe all he commeth at and maketh no account whether it be grasse thistle or rose neither considereth hee how old how beautifull or how pretious the hearbes bee there are none too strong for him none too young no castle for height nor bulwarke for securitie can hold him backe he wil not be corrupted with siluer and gold yea if it were possible that thou couldest giue him the whole kingdomes and riches of the world hee would not hold off a minute to abide thy time nor waite a moment for the performance of thy pleasure and will now this should be our daily meditation diligently to marke and carefully learne the day both to liue in Gods feare and dye in his faour The young mans prayer O my God how is man verely as nothing how goeth all beautie away as a shadowe and wretched man knoweth not whether he shall dye old or young neither can any by his riches strength and powre Ps. 144.4 deliuer himselfe or his brother helpe mee my God that from my youth vpward I may constantly giue heed to walke vpright in my wayes Ps. 119.1.9 according to thy word gouerne me by thy holie Spirit that my heart goe not a whoring from thee that my youth neuer puffe mee vppe to bragge thereof Ps. 73.27 and that I put not my trust in health strength honour riches or beautie graunt that I may in my inward mind heare the end of all which is to serue thee and keepe thy commaundements Eccles. 22.13.14 for this is the whole duetie of man for thou wilt bring euerie man vnto iudgement with euery secret thing whether it bee good or euill Lord write this same in my heart and giue me thy grace not onely to vnderstand the same but also to rectifie my life and conuersation thereby vnto my last end and graunt that I may die vnto sin and liue vnto righteousnesse to the glorie of thy holy name through Iesus Christ my sauiour Amen Flesh. How may I then prepare my selfe to die blessedly Spirit The right preparation to a happy death is in the cōstant leading of a Christian and righteous life A Meditation of the Soule for earnest repentance Wouldst thou then dye blessedly beloued Soule make earnest and serious repentance and continue stedfast therin to thy last for God accepteth well conuersion from sin Wis. 12. Ma◠24. and who so abideth to the end he shall be saued A Prayer for speedie Repentance Praysed bee thou my God who hast no pleasure in our death and destruction but rather that wee should turne from our sinfull waies and liue Ezek. 18. Ezek. 33. helpe me Lord Iesus that I delay not my conuersion to thee and shift not ouer my repentance from day to day for thou hast promised me thy mercie but that I might deferre my repentance vntil the morrow second or third day thou hast not promised vouchsafe therefore thy mercie on mee this verie day Ps 95. Tit. 3. that I may redeeme the time lost by an earnest repentance and not bee taken in my sins and trespasses the day following graunt this for the glorie of thy blessed name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauior Amen Flesh. What is then true and Christian repentance Spirit Repentance is nothing else then that a man rise from his sinne and turne with all his
teares as a well cease not neither leaue off for the Almighty is angry for thy sinnes Lam. 2. pardon them ô Lord I beseâ—ch thee and grant that when I shall sleepe in death my bodie may rest temporally and my soule may liue with thee eternally for Iesus c. Flesh. Shall man then in such sorrow doubt and despaire for his sinnes Spirit No God forbid but he should embrace the second part of Christian repentance which is faith in our Lord Iesus Christ who hath satisfied for our sinnes and reconciled vs to God his heauenly father Rom. 5. in this case raise vp encourage thy selfe learne comfort after this manner ô most louing Iesus Christ thou most sweet Sauiour and Redeemer how heauy is my hart how sad is my Soule in my brest Ps. 43.5 Esa. 38. My God thou hast broken all my bones like a Lyon I beseech thee that thou wouldest not despise my contrite and broken hart my Redeemer Ps. 51.17 giue mee thy mercifull hand and draw mee out of this heauinesse and suffer me not to sinke and perish of too much sorrow O my God I thanke thee thou hast touched my heart in making mee vnderstand my sinnes and giuing mee thy mercie to bewaile theÌ„ vnfainedly O I am become godly sorrowfull not to my hurt for godly sorrow worketh Saluation 2. Cor. not to be sorrowed for where else might I haue found comfort for my disquieted Soule of what other shold I haue found rest for my broken heart but of thee onely ô most dearely beloued Sauiour for thou camest into the world to saue miserable sinners 1. Tim. 1. therefore is thy name Iesus Mat 1. to saue thy people from all their sinnes Here am I ô Sauiour although a verie great yet a Penitent sinner Loe I heare thy comfortable voyce Mat. 11. Come vnto mee all yee that are laden and we aried I will refresh you Bâ—hold my God I come and bring with mee a sorrowfull broken Ps. 51.17 and contrite heart O reuiue my dead soule O heale my sinfulâ— wounded conscience O Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world take from mee my sinne Ps. 51.9 and the guilt thereof and forgiue all mine iniquities Thou art my Redeemer and the onely sacrifice by which God thy Father and I am reâ—conciled Ioh. 3. for as Moyses exalted the Serpent in the wildernesse so wast thou exalted on the Crosse to the end that I and all that beleeue in thee should not perish but haue euerlasting Life Mar. 9. I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe yea Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest I beleeue in thee Ioh. 21. albeit with a weake faith neuerthelesse by the same little small faith I put all my trust and confidence in thee and beleeue doubt not I beleeue and know well that all my bitter and grieuous sinnes are surely and verely satisfied for and remitted by thy bloud and death I know and beleeue I am assured and persuaded ô my Redeemer that thy pure conception cleanseth my sinfull conception thy vndefiled birth purgeth my vncleane birth thy holie life sanctifieth my sinfull life thy humiliation is my exaltation thy hellish sorrowes are my heauenly comforts thy bonds are my freedome thy contempt is my honour thy sores are my salue the expulsion of thee is the in-bringing of mee thy smart and payne is the ioy of my Soule thy desert is my Redemption thy passion and death is a sacrifice for all my sinnes thy obedience is satisfaction for all my wickednesse thy descending into hell is my deliuerance from the Deuill power and force of hell Rom. 4. thy resurrectiâ—on is my righteousnesse and thy ascending into heauen is a seale and assurance that I am heire of eternall Life and that through Thee I haue alreadie right title and possesion of the kingdome of heauen Yea Lord Iesus all these hast thou merited for me giuen and bestowed them freely vpon mee and thy heauenly Father accepts of them and accounts them to mee in such maner as if I had deserued all the same in my owne proper person and as if euerie faithfull ones Redemption had beene purchased by himselfe Mat. 9. bee joyfull therfore comfort thee thy sinnes are forgiuen and thou reighteous before God thou hast a mercifull Father in heauen thou art heire of eternall Life thou hast the earnest of thy inheritance in thy heart which beares witnesse vnto thy spirit that thou art the Sonnâ— yof God Who will craue ought here is Christ that hath payed and satisfied for thee Who will accuse thee Rom. here is God that pronounceth thee Iust and Holie Meditation of the Soule of faith in Christ. Doest thou meditate on that hurt thou incurredst by the first fall doth that corruption deriued vnto thee from Adam grieue thee O giue thankes and praise to the Lords name for thou hast obtayned more in Iesus Christ thy Redeemer than thou hast lost in Adam the trespasser ô miracle of all miracles who can comprehend such things bee glad ô my soule and consider narrowly what thou losest in the first what was gotten in the second Adam againe Behold how Sathan is disappointed of his purpose for hee minded to draw thee altogether and finally from God and to draw thee in the pit of Gods euerlasting displeasure but contrarywise Christ thy Lord hath not onely reconciled thee with thy father quenched his wrath and anger and purchased mercy to thee but also hath aduanced thee to such vnspeakable promotion Heb. 2. that thou art become Gods kinsman for he hath taken thy flesh bloud vpon him thou couldest neuer haue come to higher promotion and preferment vnlesse thou hadest beene euen God himselfe And Sathan bethought him to driue thee out of the garden of Paradise and so bereaue thee of the companie and societie of the holy Angels but quite contrarie Christ thy Sauiour not only brings thee to that healie Paradise and eternall life but exalteth thee aboue all Angels and maketh thee most honourable in that he took not the Angels but mans nature vpon him Heb 2. Sathan also intended to take from thee the food of life and it so happened for the Lord God excluded man by reason of his transgression that he should not eat of the tree of life in Paradise Gen. 3. but now Christ is that nourishment Ioh. 6. and tree of life farre more excellent and good then that first which extends and dilateth his boughes and branches whereby wee come vp to heauen hideth vs vnder him feedeth vs of him and wee are satiate and shall haue vnder his shadow quietnesse and rest for euermore Againe Sathan would haue carried thee from thy righteousnesse cast thee deepely downe into sinne spoyled thee of thy originall justice wherein without sinne thou wert first created to Gods similitude but on the other side Christ thy Lord freely giueth thee a
will and pleasure that I may serue thee with a cleane sober obedient chaste and vpright heart and voluntary deniall of my selfe O Lord my God let me bee taught alwaies by thy holy Spirit and suffer me not to fall in my weaknes and infirmities lead mee by thy right hand that all my thoughts and deedes may bee gouerned according to thy good will and pleasure My God take from me pride of heart and let all my strength and courage be from thee let not my mouth speake any wickednes neither yet boast in my sinnes much lesse abuse thy name that I may liue temperately and continently and not giue the members of my body to wantonnesse and loosenesse Rom. 12. Grant ô my God that I neither disdaine nor slander my neighbour and passe not the bounds of of my calling neither hunt after riches by vnrighteousnesse neither gape for high honours that I bee not hypocriticall nor counterfet giue me grace that I despise not the meane and weake sort but willingly lend to the needie and bestow vpon the poore Psal. 37.8.9.10 take couetousnesse from mee and preserue mee from Enuie Anger and Malice and all Vngodlinesse O my Creator purge mee from Vanitie Stifneckednesse Foolishnesse Obstinacie Wilfulnesse from a Rebellious mind and Misdemeanor O my mercifull God I entreate thee for Iesus Christ thy deare Sons sake thou wouldest giue mee an vnderstanding heart 2. King 2. to the end I may exercise my selfe in all good actions of loue and manifest my sinceritie and truth to all men assist mee that I may recompence euill with good and commit vengance vnto thee benefit and relieue my enemies and goe before euerie man in honour that I may tread the footsteps of the godlie and follow theÌ„ but shun euil continually free mee from Shame and make mee so depart this Life as professed enemie to Sinne and Wickednesse knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy name that I may proue know whether I am in the right way Psal. 86.11 Making my Faith in good Workes to shine before all men and deliuer mee at the last â—nd from euill that I may coÌ„temne these earthly and worldly cogitations and onely set my thoughts on things that are aboue from whence I waite for Iâ—sus Christ in whose most blessed name I do come with my prayers vnto the Throne of mercy crauing pardon for my sinnes for Iesus Christs sake in whose c. Flesh. Is it sufficient that a man once make such repentance or as it happeneth once a yeere Spirit No verily no for Iesus Christ commanded vs without intermission to say forgiue vs our trespasses Mat. 6. and we are desired to grow and encrease in the mercy and grace of God 2 Pet. 2. of our Lord Iesus Christ so should wee learne to bee strengthened in the holy Spirit in the inward man and therâ—fore euery one that is godly must make his praier vnto him in a time when hee may bee found Psal. 3â— â— Meditation of the Soule for Repentance Thou must not therefore deare soule onely once or once a month or once a yeere and after returne to thy wonted sins but they whose life must and should beâ— a continuall repentance for the Christian by the holy Sacrament of Baptisme is borne againe and made the childe of God that the old Adam in him by daily remorse and repentance should bee drowned perish and die with all sinnes and concupiscences that he may be a new creature to liue in holinesse and righteousnesse before God for euer Rom. 6. for the way of the righteous shineth as the light that shineth more and more vnto the perfit day Pro. 4.18 A Prayer for true râ—pentance O God the father of all mercy and grace who hast called mee in Iesus Christ to euerlasting purity 1 Pet. 4. and granted that by truth and vpright faith I should taste of the sweetnesse of thy grace and goodnesse become the dwelling place of thy holy Spirit and heire of thy heauenly Kingdome lead me alwaies by the selfe same spirit that I may walke forward in true repentance striuing and wrastling continually against sinne making progresse in pietie and knowledge of thee growing vp in all Christian vertues as a new-borne creature and that the more thou prolongest my daies on earth I may the more encrease in a stronger faith in thee grant that I may escape for my life and not looke behinde mee Gen. 19.17 that I turne not to my vomit aâ—gaine as the Dog and the Sow that was washed Pro. 16 11. 2 Pet. 2.22 to her wallowing in the mire so that the last bee worser then the first yea my God Luk. 11.26 my strength is nought how easily am I ouercome but thou art hee that giuest both to will and to doe according to thy good pleasure Phil. 2.13 so wilt thou also strengthen perfect and accomplish this thy worke thou hast begunne in me vntill my last end forsake me not that I doe not leaue thee take not thy hand and blessing from mee ô God my Redeemer trie mee and know my heart examine and prooue my thoughts Ps. 139.33 if I bee in the wrong way bring mee to the right path Psal. 26 2. that I may walke as the childe of light before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of my life that so I may walke and liue after thy godly will and pleasure through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen CHAP. III. Wherein is contained six poynts which appertaine to a true Christian life Flesh. NOw seeing I daily encrease in repentance and must looke for great opposition whiles I am in the right way how should I behaue my selfe that my faith faile noâ— and that I goe not astray Spirit That question deare Soule is verie necessarie for albeit wee be regenerate are become Gods children by Faith yet carry wee these pretious iewels in earthen vessells and weake bodies and therefore Sathan euer goeth about like a Roaring-Lyon 2. Cor. 4.7 seeking to deuoure vs and plotteth all his engins against vs the World with her glistering shew giues euill Example verie pleasant to Flesh Bloud which also it gladly followeth and remembreâ—h not that the Broad-Way leadeth to Damnation and many enter therein and therefore deare Soule if thou wouldest continue in thy course and attayne to the end of thy Faith which is 1. Pet. 1.9 The Saluation of thy Soule thou must daily lay these Sixe Poynts before thy eyes and haue them in thy heart that thou mayest carrie thy selfe in life and conuersation thereafter continually 1 Wait diligently vpon the hearing of the Word learne to vnderstand practise and vse the same 2 Remember euer thy Baptisme 3 Often after due examination communicate of the Lords-Supper 4 See thou rightly behaue thy selfe in all worldly crosses or aduersities 5 Abide in thy calling with all watchfulnesse 6 Pray continually The
Christians Prayer for a holie life and blessed death Helpe Lord Iesus Christ mee ignorant and vnwise creature earnestly to attend thy Word and redresse my life thereafter that I may keepe that couenant of Grace made with thee in Baptisme Ps. 119.9 and worthily receiue the Holy Communion willingly and patieâ—tly beare the Crosse truely and faithfully liue in my Vocation euer in my heart thanking and praying thee that this my life may be passed ouer in daylie Repentance seruing Thee and my Neighbour truely and so continue constant to my death in sauing Faith in Thee my God and onely Lord and Sauiour to whom with the Father and the Holie spirit three Persons but one God be giuen all honor power and glorie Amen Flesh. Expound vnto mee I pray you these Sixe heads to the end I may rightly vnderstand them and liue according thereunto the time I haue here to remaine Spirit The first poynt of diligent hearing the Word and against Sathans temptations Verie willingly first then I say keepe thee by Gods-word and behaue thy selfe in all thy actions as it directeth Ps. 119. for it is a Lanthorne vnto our Pathes and a Light vnto our Feet so that if wee follow this Light wee may walke without impediment and not stumble but learne especially to distinguish this word aright and marke what difference there is between the Law and the Gospell Gods Law or his Commaundements is a doctrine and word wherein God wills and commaunds vs to be obedient vnto him in heart and whole life that is Ex. 20. Mat. 22. Deut. 6. Leu 9. That wee should loue the Lord our God with our whole heart soule mind strength our neighbor as our selfe which things albeit they are impossible for man eyther to doe or keepe notwithstanding thou shalt daylie meditate and weigh these precepts Rom. 3. to the end thou mayest learn to know the corruption of thy nature and sinne and also they may be a rule after which thou oughtest to lead thy life as a new creature in holie Obidience The Gospell is such a Word and Doctrine wherein God onely of meere mercie giues Remission of sinnes Ioh. 3. and euerlasting Life for all the Prophets witnessed that in his name Euerie one that beleeued should haue Remission of sinnes Act. 10. and therefore neuer suffer this preaching of mercie to depart from thy eyes that thou mayest find comfort against sinne and Sathan his temptations and that in all afflictions vntil death thou mayest commit thy selfe vnto God with ioy but vnderstand deare Soule that Both these doctrines are Gods-word and are deliuered to the Church from the beginning and must both therein continue and neineyâ—her of them is to bee dissolued therefore giue diligent heede to them both that thou mayest rightly diuide them and in time conuenient vse them When thou therfore deare Soule daylie ponderest on the Commaundements and thereof conceiuest how disobedient thou art to Gods will and seest that through Adams trespasse thou art so corrupt that thou canst fulfil not one of the least of them and therefore that thou by sinne deseruest Gods wrath and euerlasting perdition despaire not yet for all this but thanke God for his commaundements that by them thou art brought to acknowledge thy sinnes for this is the dearest and most pretious thing that can bee in this world Christs fauour excepted to know Sinne for Christ and his benefits doe neuer tast vs well vntill wee be brought to the knowledge of our sins and perceiue our selues to be vnder the wrath and fury of the Lord our God But if Satan shall come and greatly heape vp thy sinnes and terrifie thee with the consuming fire of Gods anger with hell and endlesse destruction then strengthen quicken thy selfe with these and such like sentences God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne Ioh. 3.6 that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life vers 17. God sent not his sonne into the world that hee should condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued Ezek. 33. Verily as I liue saith the Lord I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner but that he turne from his waies and liue I will redeeme thee from the power of the graue Hos. 13.14 I will deliuer thee from death ô death I will be thy death ô ô graue I will bee thy destruction Where sinne aboundeth Rom. 5.20 there grace aboundeth much more This is a true saying 1 Tim. 1.15 and by all meanes to be receiued that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners Resist Sathan with a stedfast faith 1 Pet. 5.9 and he shall depart from thee For these sentences are true and more certaine 1 Pet. 1.25 and sure then heauen and earth his word is truth Ioâ— 17.17 And if Sathan come on the other hand changing himselfe into an Angell of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. lessening sin and Gods wrath perswading that sin is easily forgiuen and Gods rich mercy soone obtained beware beloued Soule thou giue him not eare but remember Gods fearefull and powerfull Law in the which all sins are so greatly taxed and accused that none can be called small and withall remember thy Lord Iesus Christ his passion and meditate thus thereupon Fiâ— on thee lying Sathan I consider how heauie and greeued my Lord Iesus was Matth. 26.38.42 when once he was vnder the curse of the law and satisfied for my sinne and beared his fathers wrath for the same Matth. 27.46 I will therefore heereafter be enimy to all sin keep me from it as from the Diuell himselfe I thank thee ô God who hast once deliuered mee from sinne which is the Diuels snare should I giue my selfe to be intrapped againe in his net our soule is escaped eueÌ„ as a bird out of the snare of a fowler Psal. 124.7.8 the snare is broken we are deliuered our helpe is in the name of the Lord which hath made heauen earth And if Sathan shall cast before thee the course of this world and entise thee to the pleasure thereof call to minde that wee should not fashion our selues like vnto this world but be changed by the renewing of ouâ— minde that wee may proue what that good and acceptable Rom. 12.2 and perfect will of God is take heede deare soule for thou knowest well how bent and prone thy flesh and bloud is to sinne daunt thy selfe by the force of the Law bee not seduced for the way of the world leadeth vnto sinne Luk. 13.24 Doth Sathan contend against thee and alledge that thou art poore and sufferest hunger nakednesse and distresse c. then doe thou say man liueth not by bread onely Matt. 4.4 but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God for thou ô Lord giuest mee more ioy of hart theÌ„ they haue had when
8.28 Pro. 27.6 and faithfull are the wounds of a freind And truely it serueth many waies to our weale for it teacheth vs the knowledge of our sinnes for hee doth correct in measure and will not leaue vs altogether vnpunished Ier. 30.11 and therefore the Lord knoweth that the way of man is not in himselfe neyther is it in man that walketh to direct his steps Ier. 10.13.14 O Lord sayth the Prophet correct mee but with iudgement not in thine anger least thou bring mee to nothing thus hee chastiseth vs for sinne and will not leaue vs wholly vnpunished Ier. 46.28 to the end we may bee driuen narrowly to espie our sinnes and transgressions descend more earnestly into the inward parts of our harts Againe the crosse sends vs to the word of God when we are frosen in our sinnes it thawes vs again for to whom doth God teach knowledge Esa 28.9 and whom shall he make to vnderstand Doctrine them that are weaned from the Milke and drawne from the breasts and truely temptations make vs to runne to consult with Gods Oracle which is his Word Besides this it stirreth vp our Faith for such grieuances and annoyances befall vs and wee often haue the sentence of death in our selues that wee should not trust in our selues but in God which raiseth the dead who deliuereth from so great a death and doth deliuer in whom we trust that he will yet deliuer vs the crosse teach vs also to pray for Lord in trouble haue they visited thee they powred out their prayers Esa. 26. when thy chastising haÌ„d was vpon them Yea it instructeth vs to auoyde sinne for so it is sayd to the man that was cured on the Sabbath-day Behold thou art made whole sinne no more least a worse thing come vnto thee And finally it maketh this earthly life loathsom vnto vs and rayseth an earnest desire and longing after that which is to come Heb. 13.14 for heere wee haue no continuing citie but we seeke one to come but we looke for a citie which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God and therfore may it be well sayd vnto vs Arise yea and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted it shal destroy you euen with a sore destruction and so to conclude all things serue the godly Aug. Soliloq cap. 28. to the best yea euen their veriâ— sins worke to their weale for wee alway recouer more by Christ than we loose by sinne so Peters fall of pusillanimity made him afterward bolder to auouch Christ. A Prayer for true and liuelie Faith in Christ. Lord Iesus Christ Son of the liuing God imprint this heauenly consolation in my heart and preserue mee that I neuer despaire in any kind of griefe but euer vnto my dying day perceiue thee to be a watchfull prouident and fore-seeing God for mee who as an expert artificer canst worke good workes of euill stuffe for thy iudgements are vnsearchable Rom. 9.33 and thy counsells past finding out yet neuerthelesse in thine owne time thou bringest them to purpose for the weale and benefit of thy owne Saints To thee therefore O God doe wee thy Saints and seruants giue all honour power and glorie now and euer Amen Flesh. Shew mee the seuenth and last rule concerning the Crosse of Christ. Spirit Patience Prayer and Hope make the crosse light for it is good that a man should both Hope and quietly waite for the Saluation of the Lord for remembring mine affliction and my miserie Lam. 1.26 the wormewood and the gall my soule had them still in remembrance and is humbled in mee these I call to minde and therfore haue I hope And so call vpon the Lord in the day of trouble Lam. 19. 20.21 Psal. 50.15 hee will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie him beholde then the ancient fathers and marke them as an example of true godlinesse was there euer any ashamed that put his trust in thee A Meditation of the crosse of Christ. Yea my deare soule when one beares a heauy burdeÌ„ if he take it rightly on him it will not bee so heauy especially if hee haue any ayde oâ— help for to assist him in his heauy load so patience prayer and hope as hands and armes wherby the faithfull hart imbraceth his crosse goeth forth with it for patience doth all things willingly therfore is not wearied prayer steps in before God obtaineth either that the crosse shal be quite taken away or else lessened now hope makes vs not ashamed Rom. 5.5 but knoweth assuredly that God is faithfull who will noâ— suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape 1 Cor. 10. 13. that we may bee able to beare it but impatiency offendeth God hindereth prayer and doth all things by constraint lay the Lord Iesus before thine eyes and learne of him 1 Pet 2.21.22.23 who when hee was reâ—uiled reuiled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but committed himselfe to him that iudgeth righteously and vpon iust and vpright Iob If the Lord slay me Iob 13.15 yet will I trust in him but woe vnto him that hath lost patience what will he do when the Lord shall visit him Eccl. 2.24 A Prayer for continuance in Faith Lord Iesus Christ giue vnto mee long-fuffering and patience of heart that I may continue and abide in thy good pleasure and will I may cast all my care greefe and sollicitude vpon thee for thou carest for mee and euermore expect better and better at thy hands for thou onely knowest what is good for mee to thee therfore be ascribed from the bottome of my heart all honour and glory Amen Flesh. Shew mee the fifth poynt which appertaineth to a Christian and godly life Spirit Fiftly beloued Soule abid in that calling wherin God hath called thee and obserue the same with all truth and diligence that thou mayest in all thine actions giue an account thereof both before God and man for God will not that man heere vpon earth should be idle Matth. 12. 36. but hath allotted vnto euery one his seuerall trade and worke in their owne measure for the Lord our God himselfe is not idle but worketh gouerneth vpholdeth and ordereth all things preserueth blesseth heares and helps euery true heart My father saith he worketh hit herto Ioh. 5.17 and I worke yea if God should be idle but the twinckling of an eye then should the whole world decay and perish So likewise the holy Angels are ministring spirits Heb. 1.4 sent foorth to minister for them who shall bee heires of saluation beholde the Sunne the Moone and all the Starres how constantly they keep their course Psal. 8.3 Psal. 19.1 2. and perfit their appoyntment and calling euen so deare Soule should euery man that is whole euery day exercise his calling in his owne estate
Thess 5.17 while wee are heere call vpon the Lord in all thy actions seek for help and counsel of him in all thy redresse and sorrow feare God hope in him beleeue in him and stay for his comming so shall mercie and grace blessings and life compasse thee euerie where round about for nonâ— euer was ashamed that put their trust in him Rom. 10.10.11 or yet that had called rightly on his name Ps. 145.18.19 for the Lord is neere vnto all them that call vpon him to all that call vpon him in truth hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare him hee also will heare their crie and will saue them A most comfortable Prayer to God for receiuing and accepting our Prayers I thanke thee my Lord and my God for these thy vnspeakable benefits that thou hast not onely commaunded vs to call vpon thy name in all distresse but of thy fatherly loue and kindnesse hast giuen vs to vnderstaÌ„d that thou willingly wilt heare and graunt in conuenient season whatsoeuer is good and profitable eyther to the soule or bodie I beseech thee my good God powre out on me thy holie spirit Zach. 12.10 that Spirit of Prayer Grace and Supplications that I may delight and take pleasure in calling on thee and euery day bow the knee of my heart before thee my Father who art the right father ouer all thy children in Heauen and in Earth Helpe mee daylie to apâ—proach more and more vnto thee with all confidence and trust on the name of Iesus Christ my Lord that I may call on him as a good child doth on his beloued father Graunt I may lift vp holy hands without wrath and doubting that all my Prayers yea the meanest thought of my heart is certainely heard of thee Lend me patience whensoeuer my helpe is delayed Hab. 2.3 for I cannot prescribe vnto thee time or maner though thou tarrie I may waite for thee because thou wilt surely come and wilt not tarrie Heb. 10.38 that I doe not slide backe but still liue by faith Let mee haue thy Grace whereby I may serue thee acceptably Heb. 12.28 with reuerence and godly feare for the Lord taketh pleasure in them that feare him Ps. 147.11 in those that hope in his mercie gouerne mee my God and make mee remember by thy holie spirit daylie to bethinke mee of my mortallitie that I may euer bee in readinesse and may pray at euerie occasion from my heart for a blessed seperation from this world graunt this mercifull father for Iesus Christs sake in whose blessed name we call on thee saying Our Father c. CHAP. IIII. Containeth how a Christian man should behaue himselfe when God sends sicknesse vpon him Flesh. How then shall a Christian man behaue himselfe when God shall visit him with sicknesse Spirit Thou knowest not deare Soule whether God will visit thee by sicknesse or suddainely withoâ—â— bodily disease call thee hence The faithfull Soule should euer remeÌ„ber the vncertainetie of death Therefore often haue I aduertised thee that thou shouldest not delay repentance till thou beest sicke but daylie call on God yea the selfesame time thou art in bodily health stand stedfastly in the faith and good preparation wherein thou needest not stand in feare of safetie thinke vpon that rich foolish drunken Naball how hastily the Lord smote him that heâ— died Sam. 25.38 Remember that rich man who denied to Lazarus the crums which fell from his Table how short Luk. 16.22 his being here was Forget not that wretched wealthie man of whom it is sayd Thou Foole this night thy Soule shall bee required of Thee then whose shall all those things be which thou hast prouided Luk. 12. â—0 And what should I say more wee are daylie taught by euident eye-sight that innumerable numbers dye before euer they be diseased truly before God thou art of no better account than other nor knowest thou what chance he will permit to ouertake thee but if it shall so happen the Lord should call thee from hence by bodily sicknesse and cast thee downe on thy bed thou mayest thus learne to dispose of thy selfe 1 Learne to know the causes of thy sicknesse which is sinne 2 Seeke remission of thy sinnes and reconciliation with God 3 Pray to God for a gratious departure and cause the congregation to pray for thee 4 Contemne not the ordinarie menanes and physicke so thou canst haue the opportunitie of it 5 If thy sicknesse continue striue to be patient and beware of impatiencie 6 Haue euer this full assurence in thy heart that thou in thy greatest malladie and weakenesse art Gods deare child 7 If Sathan assault thee resist him by Faith so will he depart from thee 8 If thy time and houre be come giue theâ— ouer vnto Gods will and pleasure 9 If the Lord shall restore thee to thy health agayne bee thankefull euen from thy heart vnto his gratious Maiestie for thy recouerie A Prayâ—r against sudden death Preserue mee O Lord Iesus Christ if it bee thy will from a sudden death suffer me not to dye in my sinnes but that I may dâ—y and night bethinke mee on the hour of my death euer prepared in a sauing repentance in strong faith and stedfast hope that I may blessedly sleepe from hence when it shall please thee but if so be thou do not call mee by bodily infirmitie here am I in all lowlinesse before thee for I know thou art so mercifull and good that thou dost suffer nothing to betide mee but which shall be good and sauing for mee Graunt me but this that I may alwayes bee in readinesse as a good patient that both sicknesse and death may redound to thy glorie And this I craue at thy hands for Iesus Christs sake and in his name I call on thee saying Our Father c. Flesh. Now open vnto mee those nine fâ—resayd heads that I may bee taught how to vse my selfe in my sicknesse Spirit First remember well that as death is the wages of sinne so likewise are all sicknesses Gods punishments whereby hee brings vs to him when wee haue gone astray by sinne Doe not O soule as the couetous and vngodly and Inâ—idells doe who when they are â—icke beginne to wrastle and lament therefore that their costs are spent and they cannot haue health to earne more or else they begin to meditate how it happened them whether they haue Eat any vnwholsome Meats or Drunke any hurtfull Drinkes or if by other means their maladie hath taken them But remember what the Prophet saith Ier. 2.19 Thine owne Wickednesse shall correct thee and thy back-sliding shall reproue thee Know therefore and see that it is an euill thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my feare is not in in thee saith the Lord of Hostes and therefore he who sinnes against his maker shall fall into the hands of his flesh A Meditation of
bemoane thy selfe thus Ier. 31.18 Thou hast chastised mee and I was chastised as a Bullocke and accustomed to the Yoake Turne thou mee and I shall be turned thou art the Lord my God surely after that I was turned I repented after that I was instructed I smot vppon my Knee I was ashamed yea euen confounded because I did beare the reproch of my youth yet if thou shalt be patieÌ„t since I spake against thee saith the Lord I doe earnestly remember thee still therfore my bowells are troubled for thee I will surely haue mercie on thee saith the Lord. The sicke persons Prayer for comfort in affliction Lord Iesus Christ my Redeemer I complayne that my miserie vexeth mee so sore and that my sicknesse endureth so long I request thee thou eternall Word of thy eternall Father thou liuely comforter proclayme Consolation in my heart that I in my greatest infirmitie anguish and pangs of death may vnderstand that I am thy deare child and cast my selfe in thy armes and bosome turn neuer thy gratious countenance from mee yea Lord the time thou diddest hang vpoÌ„ the crosse tookest our rebuke and reproach vpon thee and wast destitute of the helpe of all creatures yet wast thou notwithstanding thy Fathers onely begotten Sonne and shalt so bee eternally When faithfull Ioseph was in Bonds Ge. 41.14 and had no whit of any creatures fauour Yet wast thou with him loued him and deliuered him in due season When Stephan was lead to death Act. 7.55 and stones cast at him didst not thou manifest thy selfe vnto him when replenished with inward ioy and full of the holy Ghost he looked vp stedfastly into heauen and saw the glory of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God And Lazarus when hee lay at the rich mans gate full of sores Luk. 16.22 yea and the dogs came and shewed greater humanity than man yet was he carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom O my God I am thy vvretched Lazarus heere lie I knocking at thy gate with my pitifull groans naked and full of sores am I my pain is great and my torment will ouercome me but I know assuredly and heereunto 1000. witnesses haue I in mine heart by thy holy Spirit that thou wilt not forsake me thine eyes are ouer mee night and day as one of thine Elect I appertaine to thy euerlasting life therefore thou art with mee in this my distresse Psal. 91.9 I haue made thee my refuge and my habitation ô set not mine iniquities before thee neither secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance for who knowes the power of thine anger Psal. 90.11 euen according to thy feare so is thy wrath O let the beauty of my Lord my God bee vpon me and satisfie mee early with thy mercy that I may reioyce and bee glad all the daies I haue to liue now Lord I loue loue thee therefore deliuer me and shew me thy saluation for Christ Iesus thy sonnes sake to whom with the holy Spirit be all honour Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may resist Sathan in my sicknesse or any other temptation Spirit Seuenthly if Sathan insist in assaulting thee with his fiery darts of tentations Eph. 6.16 enter not in deepe cogitations and disputations with him for hee is too craftie and subtil for thee for of thine owne nature Gen. 3.1 thou canst neuer gaine-stand him remember Adam and Eue who were deceiued by him and miserably seduced although they were in the state of innocency and in their pure and holy nature how canst thou then wretched and corrupt sinner encounter him But cast thine eyes vpon Iesus Christ and heerewiâ—hall comfort thy sicke soule that he in all his tentations abideth constant and was not ouercome but ouercame Sathan for thy weale hath giueÌ„ thee freely his victorie to the end that howsoeuer hee shall double his assaults against thee yet hee shall goe confounded Moreouer the weapons which Iesus Christ vsed against him are to bee considered of thee which were places and sentences of Scripture Eph. 6.17 euen so lay thou hand on the holy sword of Gods word the sword I say of the Spirit 1 Pet. 5.9 Iam. 4. and resist him stedfast in thy faith and he will flie from thee If so be hee say thy sins are greater then can bee forgiuen Gen. 4.13 then kill him with the true word of God and constantly affirme thou liest Sathan for where sinne hath abounded Rom. 5.20 there grace hath superabounded If he say that Christs merits belong not vnto thee thou art not of the number of the Elect then exclaime and say thou liest Sathan for Christ hath sayd come vnto mee all yee that are weary and are heauy laden and I will giue you rest and gaine as in Adam all die euen so in Christ shall all be made aliue 1 Cor. 15. 22. If he shall make Gods indignation and wrath for sinne huge and great against thee say without ceasing Ioh. 3.16 God so loued the world that he gaue his only begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not die but haue euerlasting life And in another place God commendeth his loue towards vs in that while wee were yet sinners Rom. 5.8 Christ died for vs and thou hast loued them Ioh. 17.23 as thou hast loued me If hee shall open hell before thee defend thy selfe with this word of God 1 Ioh. 3.8 and say For this cause the Sonne of God was manifested that hee might destroy the workes of the Diuell Hos. 13.14 And againe I will ransom them from the power of the graue I will redeeme them from death ô death I will be thy plagues ô grauâ— I will bee thy dâ—struction Doth hee vpbraid thy weake faith then say thou the Lord will not breake the bruised reede and the smoking flax shall he not quench And againe Esay 42.3 Psal. 51.17 A broken and contrite heart ô God thou wilt not despise And in another place thus saith hee Esa. 57.15 19. 66.2 the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternitie whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to reuiue the heart of thâ— contrite ones And therefore hee saith peace peace to him that is farre off and to him that is neere If Sathan obiect thy coldnesse and drowzinesse in prayer thou mayest answer Although I do not speake yet I sigh and groane which is acceptable vnto him If hee affirme that thy crosse sicknes lasts long and that the Lord hath cast thee out of his mind thou mayest answer Caâ— a woman forget her sucking childe Esa. 49.15 that shee should not haue compassion in the sonne of her wombe shee may forget yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord. If hee obiect thy pouerty and that thou art despised of all yea of
world lose his own soule or what shall a man giue in exchange for his soule Mark 8.36 37. euen so doe thou place not thy heart on thy riches if God doe promote thee to dignitie be thou humble behold the examples of the Patriarches Abraham Isaak Iacob Ioseph Dauid Daniel c. Yea and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe Pet. 2.21 and follow thou their steps esteeme euer Iesus Christ thy best and cheefest goods so shalt thou alwayes easily forgoe thy earthly treasure A Prayer against the pleasures of this world Helpe mee Lord Iesus Christ that I may vse the pleasures and riches of this world as a pilgrim which shall passe to morrow for surely euerie man walketh in a vaine shew hee is disquieted in vaine hee heapeth vp riches and knoweth not who shall gather them and now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee deliuer mee from all my transgressions Psa. 39.7.8 let my heart desire no more then my daily bread to my susteÌ„tatioÌ„ cause me to be contented keepe me that Mammon be not my Master and that I place not my confidence in any transitory thing for it will hinder mee in the time of death but help mee my God that I may rightly chuse that good part which shall not be taken away from mee Luk 10.42 which is thee my God my Redeemer and Sauiour that all my ioy and pleasure may bee in thee Grant that I may be rich in my soule honourable in faith ioyfull in thee so shall I haue enough both heere and in the world to come that I may willingly leaue this world and gladly without any impediment be carried by thy Angells into Abrahams bosome to rest for euer Amen Flesh. It is notwithstanding great griefe that the Wife shall forsake her married Husband and the Husband his Wife and Children who haue liued so long together in pouertie and distresse and now being in pâ—osperity and joy in their Callings and Trade shall now be sâ—perated Spirit These are fleshly and incredulous thoughts by the which Sathan often disquieteth the heart of man so that there is great paynes to be taken before man will be rightly aduised For we haue experience of many men grudging against God as though he did doe them great vnrighteousnesse because hee maketh them so soone die and leaue the pleasures of this Life especially when they haue all their affaires to dispose and put the matters of all their life time in order So did that noble Romane GAIVS MARIVS who although hee had beene Consull seuen times in Rome and was seuentie yeares of age yet fretted against his FORTVNA which was his Goddesse protesting in bitter exclamations that there was great wrong offered him before that all his dessignements had beene accomplished and brought to passe But the faithfull Children of God doe farre otherwise for they know they are not the God or Makers of their friends neyther can prouide for them but that they are Stewards and Seruants appoynted vnder God Luk. 16.2 so long as it pleaseth him And man in these his dayes layes hold on eternitie but God hath so prouided for them that one time or other hee wil call them to giue an account of their Stewardship and may no longer be Stewards And so he himselfe will be both Father and Tutour as hee often nameth himselfe in the Scripture Ps. 68.5 Defender of the Widow and Father of the fatherlesse euen God in his holie habitation And so both scripture and daylie experience teach vs that many Widowes are in better case after their Husbands death and manie Husbands in better condition of Life after their Wiues death and Children often better prouided and cared for their Parents beeing out of this world than if they liued or than they could haue done for them if they should haue liued longer The Lord deceiueâ—h not Ps. 120 3. he neither sleepes nor slumbers that keepeth thee make the Lord thy Keeper and to bee thy shade vpon thy right hand for hee respecteth euerie one that calleth vpon his name and will neuer bee accused of ouersight of the godlies weale and saluation For although he be high aboue all Nations Ps. 113.46 and his glorie aboue the Heauens yet hee humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaueÌ„ and in earth Yea deare Soule therefore causeth hee manie Widowes and Fatherlesse-Children that he in them may magnifie his goodnesse And therfore this is a sure ground to build vpon that hee will in such wayes haue care foresight for them if they will acknowledge him and accept him for their Father yea neuer a one of them shall haue occasion in the last day to complayne of his prouidence ouer them and defence of them for it is hee onely that rayseth vp the Poore out of the dust Ps. 113.6.7 and lifteth the needie out of the dung-hill that he might set them with Princes euen with the Princes of his people yea it is he onely who setteth the Poore on high from affliction and maketh them families like a flocke Ps. 107.41 Settle thee therfore hereupon for this is Gods vndoubted truth The dying mans Prayer bequeathing all his charge vnto the hands of GOD. O Lord my God thou who hast appoynted mee to bee a steward and seruant vnder thee and hast commanded mee to vnderstand my duty I haue through thy mercy beene about my businesse in all infirmity and weaknesse of body yet with care and diligence kept my conscience and saued me from infidelitie now seeing I can beare charge no longer but am diseased and tied to my bed I render vnto thee that my charge and stâ—wardship it may bee thou wilt dispose of it to another who may better administrate then I. And if I shall liue let it bee a Chriâ—stian and godly life that I with far greater diligence then heeretofore may vnderstand my selfe but if it shall so be that I here end my dayes let it bee a sauing and blessed conclusion of my life Heere am I and commit bequeath and deliuer all whatsoeuer I haue vnto thee great and small be thou father mother and defender vnto them O thou Iudge of widdowes and helper of the fatherlesse thou knowest misery and pouerty well the poore committeth himselfe vnto thee Psa. 10.14 thou art the support of the fatherlesse yea Lord it is thou who hast care ouer them and thinkest vpon them Now therfore sweet Christ enter into thine owne roome and function Psa. 44.18 for I giue it ouer deliuering them to thy maintenance and my soule to thy merciâ— withhold not thy tender mercy from mee ô Lord let thy louing kindnesse and thy truth continually preserue mee Lord Iesus Christ Psa. 40.11 thou didst ordaine a prouisor for thy deare mother Mary raise vp also to my sorrowfull wife Ioh. 9.26 27. kind hearted and honest men which may haue attention to her and whom she may trust in her
Gen. ca. 26. If God keepe not promise wee haue done with saluation but God will keepe it and not lye And therefore albeit our hâ—arts doubt wee must haue our recourse vnto him who will not change for the Lord speaketh so of himselfe I am the Lord and lye not And againe Gods gifts and callings are without repentance Consider this deare Soule and hold thee fast by Gods word He appeareth to be angry but is well pleased 1. Ioh. 3.20 for God is strong and his Word much more sure than thy owne heart And therefore learne to vnderstand the Lords Customes his delight is with the children of men hee ieastâ— and dallieth with thâ—m as Fathers with their children yea hee withholds his hands a little from them to prooue them not for their hurt and destruction but that they should not lean to themselues 1. Cor. 1.9 but on him who rayseth the dead and can make the weak and feeble strong and valiant Hee hath no pleasure in presumption but his will is that we should serue him with feare Ps. 2.11 and reioyce with trembling And we may see in Peter and Thomas what it is to bee too much confident and to build vpon our own courage and strength Ier. 17.9 No man knoweth himselfe aright but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe And therefore pray continually that mercifully hee would vphold thee to the end and bee persuaded if at any time thou hast felt comfort that God will certainely come again to thee and if that at any time he hath ioyed thy heart that hee certainly oftner oftner will doe it for thy comfort Yea if in all thy life time thou hadst receiued but onely one drop of comfort yet doubt not but pray beleeue hope and haue patience Hab. 2.3 the Lord will certainely come and will not delay vnlesse thou bee altogether stifnecked and vnwilling Remember the example of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.21 Behold how her Lord ieasteth with her how he dismisseth her yea euen thrice First hee holdeth his peace and answereth not a word Secondly hee heareth but that hee is not come for her good but for the benefit of the Children of Israel but the third time he calleth her a Dogge as vnworthie of his comfort but what doth shee for the first in that Christ was silent she meeteth him with a patieâ—t heart which well could stay and trust For the second she answers with a faithfull heart that shee must haue some portion of his promises For the third she meeteth him with an humble heart and willingly wil be a Dogge desiring that which appertayned to him that is the crums which fal from the table that is a verie small helpe a little deale of comfort wherewith shee and her daughter would bee contented Here the Lord cannot hide himselfe longer from her but presenteth a copious measure of mercie vnto her saying O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee euen as thou wilt But if thou shalt now say behold she was strong in Faith and I am weake thou must vnderstand that our faith is resembled vnto a Fencer who is in the lists against another for he is euer in feare that he shall be ouercome and be too feeble against his Enemie euen so is it with Faith for when we wrastle and fight wee thinke that wee are weake and shall loose the Victorie But it shall not fall out so for victorie belongeth vnto faith let it incline whether it will it appertaineth euer vnto her yea and a weake Faith shall win the field and through the Lords strength power we shal be kept through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 readie to bee reuealed in the last time Remember also the Patriarch Iaâ—obs wrastling how he straue with God and stucke hardly vnto him and let him not goe but sayd Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee goe except thou blesse mee A Prayer for stedfast Faith in Christ. Now Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest I beleeue although but with a weake faith yet by the selfe same I put my whole trust and confidence in thee reach mee thy comfortable hand and draw mee to thee O Lord I am weake increase my faith stand not farre off from mee for thou art mine onely hope to whom else can I goe Kindle that little sparke in my heart by thy holie spirit that I may euermore doe thy will Behold to will is present with mee Rom. 7 18. but how to performe that which is good I find not Yea lord Iesus thou art my Life my Hope and Saluation for hauing thee I haue all things Now haue I thee although by a weak hand now haue I thee albeit my hand be weake thine is strong Let me not goe from thine hand to the end that I let thee not go from mee Looke chearefully vpon mee as thou didst vpon Peter Marie Magdalen the woman of Canaan the holy Patriarch Iacob driue away darkenes from my heart let me enioy the consolation of thy mercies here am I as a poore Dog and stay for the crums which fal from the table of mercie Behold I thus wrastle with thee by praier O thou strong Lord insinuate thy selfe into my hart for by thy streÌ„gth I striuâ— with thy selfe giue thy selfe vnto me I wil not leâ— thee passe by any meanes before thou blesse mee I will not desist before the sâ—n of consolation rise brightly vnto me now thou Lord Iesus Christ who hast praied for Peter dost sit at the right hand of thy father Intercessor for me that my faith shall not decay Arise O Lord still the tempest of my heart and rages of temptation that in a liuely seÌ„ce I may see and rast the sweetnesse of thy word and holy spirit that thereby I may learne that inward ioy and freedome from sinne and power thereof by the death and passion of thy deare Sonne my Sauior the Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and thy holie Spirit bee rendered as most due is all honor power and glorie of all true Christians from this time forth for euer Amen CHAP. VII Contayning spirituall consolations and Instructions against the terrours that eyther the Soule or the conscience of Man now readie to dye can obiect Flesh. It may bee neuerthelesse euidently seene that euerie man is mortall and yeeldeth vnto death Spirit Men dye truely and loose their liues by reason of sinne but they that haue the true comfort of the heart infused by Iesus Christ and rejoyce therein They account death nothing else but a passage froÌ„ this miserable world to their owne natiue inheritance for Christ that dwelleth in them hath tasted death for them taken away the power therof and broaken her sting so that death can doe no more but disseuer the Soule from the body and bereaue vs of this transitorie Life Yet it shal serue as all other things doe to
our good for we rest from our labors and enioy happinesse because the righteous mans Soule is in Gods hands Wisd. 3.1 and there shall no torment touch it And Christ himselfe professeth that hee will come againe and receiue vs vnto himselfe Ioh. 14.3 that where he is there we may be also Hearken therefore and learne what it is to dye for it is nothing else than a passage and home going to rest yea the death of the faithfull is Christs taking of them vnto himselfe A Prayer against Death O Lord Iesus Christ thou eternall true Light inlighten my heart that as a new creature I may looke vpon Death with new eyes and not esteeme it for a hurter of mee but for a messenger by whom thou callest mee from this wretched world and translatst me to the kingdome of thy Sonne from this valley of darkenesse Euen so Come Lord Iesus with that Chariot of Elias and take mee from hence Now let thy Seruant depart in peace Luk 2.29 who longeth for quietnesse rest through Iesus Christ my onely sauiour Amen Flesh. Yet Death is verie terrible cold and euill fauored wee become stiffe and so must rot in our graues Spirit That is also a punishment which God inflicts on the bodie for sinne but the children of God look not to the present shew and shape of Death but looke further off consider how pleasaunt how soone how beautifull how cleare and honourable their bodies shall rise vp at the last day and corruption shal put on incorruption 1 Cor. 15.53 this mortallitie shall put on immortallitie Then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed vp in victorie and by this the holie man Iob comforted himselfe for he knew that his Redeemer liued and that he should rayse him vp from the earth O how beautifull shall our bodies bee there is no starre in heauen shall be so cleere neuer shined the Sunne or the Moon so perfectly as when the Lord shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the working Phil. 3.21 whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe for wee are the Lords wheat â— Cor. 15.37 Ioh. 12.24 sowen in his ground which shall rise againe and beare euerlasting fruit So also is the resurrection of the dead it is sowen in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowen in dishonor it is raised in glory it is sowen in weaknesse it is raised in power it is sowen a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body there is a naturall body and there is a spirituall body A Prayer against the terror of the graue Strengthen mee ô my Lord Iesus Christ that I bee not amazed at the fearefull sight of dead members nor when I thinke vpon the rottennesse in the graue and that I shall turne to dust and ashes but helpe mee that in a ioyfull hope I may behold the beauty and cleerenesse which shall not onely bee in my soule but euen manifest in my body that I may bee encouraged thereby gladly to meet thee when euer thou shalt please to call mee to that spirituall wedding from this life vnto life eternall through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen Flesh. It is very terrible neuerthelesse to taste of death yeâ— to be put in that darke hole in the graue couered with earth full of rottennesse and corruption Spirit That feare ariseth of the sense of sinne for death is our enimy and God created man to bee immortall and made him to be an image of his eternity neuertheles Wis. 2.23.24 throgh the enuy of the Diuell death came into the world and heâ—rein is a figure representing the deâ—sert of sin for the breach of Gods Law in that wee not onely die temporally heere but must eternally perish be thrust downe in to the darke dungeon of hell and there bee ouerspred with the flames of perpetuall fire with the riuers of brimstone if that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ had not come to our redemption And of this comes that terrour and hangs on vs vntill wee come to the graue Euen as a man that had been pluckt out of a great fire or out of some deepe and dangerous water so oft as hee thinkes vpon it hee is afraid so is it with vs wee are greatly astonished and amazed when wee bethinke vs on that miserie wherein wee should haue beene destroyed had not the death of Iesus come betweene by whom our attonement is made with the Father But yet all the children of God should lâ—â—rne a new language and attend how the holy Gospell speaketh heereof for it calleth the death of the faithfull a sleepe and their graues chambers to sleepe in for as Iesus Christ hath taken the punishment of death from vs and suffered the paines of hell fulfilled Gods righteousnesse and procured eternall life for vs so the holy Spirit in his Gospell doth take away the harsh and hard names of death and doth comfort the Lords Elect with a new tongue Esa. 26.20 as when he saith Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doores abouâ— thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation passe ouer And in another place Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall wake some to shame euerlasting contempt and some to euerlasting life And againe our friend Lazaruâ— sleepeth Ioh. 11.11 but I goe that I may awake him out of sleepe Also the childe is not dead Matth. 27. but sleepeth and there arose many that slept and so in infinite more places Heere hast thou then thy death changed into a soft sleep and thy graue vnto a warme bed When thou diest thou art said to goe to sleepe because he that betaketh himselfe to his rest is in expectation that the next day after he shall rise and when they beat the earth of the graue with the shouell it iâ— called to shut the dore and when we rot in the earth wâ—e are sayd to rest and to hide vs vntill wrath passe ouer our soules A Praier for the mercies of Christ. O Lord God holy Spirit take thou my heart and replenish it with the comfortable mercies of our Lord Iesus Christ teach me to put due difference betwixt the Law Gospell abolish terror and feare for death and learne me that new language of Canaan that I heare it not onely with mine eares but pronounce it by my mouth that I may beleeue and in experience prooue that when the time of my dissolution shall draw neere I shall not die but sweetly sleep vntill it shall please thee by thine Arch-angell and trumpet of God to awake and raise me vp and so do I lie downe now Lord Iesus in thine armes as a childe in the mothers lap and commit my soule vnto thee and sleep as long a time as it pleaseth thee
Soule at the very poynt of death Spirit First euery Christian must diligently learne to comfort himselfe by reciting the articles of our faith which is the compend and summe of all doctrine and comfortable speeches but especially hee must learne the three last articles I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes resurrection of the body and life euerlasting So the faithfull soule must apply the whole articles to himselfe in particular and so appropriate them vnto himselfe as if there were none in the world but hee alone which should haue benefit thereby Thereto the Lord hath appointed the Sacraments to confirme that our faith as faithfull and true seales and mercifull tokens whlch hee hath appointed to these articles Here thou maiest apprehend thy holy baptisme wherein thou hast receiued and concluded with God an euerlasting and inuiolable band and couenant of mercy and so art washed and cleansed by the blood of Christ Next maist thou comfort thee by the holy Supper because thou as the Son of God art nourished and refreshed at thy Fathers Table and thereby assured that thou art a true member of Christ a righteous heire to whatsoeuer Christ with the sacrifice of his body and bloud hath merited Besides these things â—hou mayest cause to bee â—ead or sayd these or such â—ike sentences of the Scripture The seede of the woman shall bruize the head of the Serpent Gen 3.15 and the Serpent shall bruize his heeles 1 Ioh. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the workes of the Diuell Esa. 35.10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall returne and come to Sion with songs and euerlasting ioy vpon their heads they shall obtain ioy gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flie away Thy dead men shall liue together Esa. 26.19 with my dead body they shall arise awake and sing yee all that dwell in the dust for thy deaw is as the deaw of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Come my people enter thou into thy chambers Vers. 20. and shut thy doores about thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation bee passed ouer Naked came I out of my mothers wombe Iob 19·25 and naked shall I returne thither the Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away blessed bee the name of the Lord. I know that my Redeemer liueth Vers. 26. and that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth and though after my skinne wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not a stranger Is not Ephraim my deere sonne Ier. 31.20 is hee not my pleasant childe for since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely haue mercy vpon him saith the Lord. So verily as I liue saith the Lord I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner but that hee should turne from his euill way and liue I will ransome them from the power of the graue Hos. 13.14 I will redeeme them from death ô death I will be thy plagues ô graue I will bee thy destruction As the Hart panteth after the water brookes Psal. 42.1 so panteth my soule after thee ô God My soule thirsteth for God for the liuing God 2. when shal I come appeare before God Why art thou cast downe ô my Soule 5. why art thou disquieted within mee hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the helpe of his countenance Whom haue I in heauen but thee Psa. 73.25 and there is none vpon the earth that I desire beside thee My flesh and mine heart 26. faileth but God is the strength of mine heart and my portion for euer Wisd. 3.1 The soules of the righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them 2. In the sight of the wise they seemed to die and their departure was taken for misery 3. and their going from vs to bee vtter destruction but they are in peace Hee that endureth to the end Mat. 24.13 shall be safe Mat. 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauy laden and I will giue you rest Behold the Lambe of God Ioh. 1.29 which taketh away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 3.16 God so loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Verily verily I say vnto you Ioh. 5.24 hee that heareth my word and beleeueth on him that sent mee hath euerlasting life and shall not come into iudgement but hath passed from death to life I am the bread of life Ioh. 6.35 he that commeth to mee shall neuer hunger and hee that beleeueth on mee shall neuer thirst All that the Father giueth mee shall come to mee vers 37. and him that commeth vnto me I will in in no wise cast out And this is the will of him that sent me vers 40. that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth on him may haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Vers 47. Verily verily I say vnto you hee that beleeueth on mee hath euerlasting life Ioh. 8.12 I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walke in darknesse but shall haue the light of life Vers. 51· Verily verily I say vnto you if a man keep my saying he shall neuer see death My sheep heare my voice and I know them Ioh. 10.27.28.29.30 and they follow mee and I giue vnto them eternall life And they shall neuer perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hands My father which gaue them me is greater then all and no man is able to plucke them out of my fathers hands I and my father am one I am the resurrection vnto life Ioh. 11.25 he that beleeueth in mee though hee were dead yet shall I liue In my fathers house are many mansions Ioh. 14.2 if it were not so I would haue tolde you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you 3. I will come againe and receiue you vnto my selfe that where I am there you may be also I am the way the truth 6. and the life no man commeth vnto the father but by mee Iohn 17.3 This is life eternall that they might know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent verse 24 Father I will that they also whome thou hast giuen me be with me where I am that they may beholde my glorie which thou hast giuen me for thou loueâ—st mee before the foundation of the world Neither is there saluation in any other Acts 4.12 for there is none other name vnder heauen giuen among men wherby
we must be saued To him giue all the Prophets witnesse Act. 10.43 that through his name whosoeuer belieueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Where sinne aboundeth Rom. 5.20 grace aboundeth much more If God be for vs Rom 8.31 who can be against vs. Hee that spared not his owne Sonne but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall he not with him giue vs all things who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. I am perswaded that neither death nor life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come c. Rom. 11.32 God hath concluded all in vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercie vpon all Rom. 14.7 None of vs liueth to himselfe and no man dieth to himselfe for whither we liue wee liue vnto the Lord or whether we die we dye vnto the Lord whither wee liue therefore or die we are the Lords 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all dye euen so in Christ shall all bee made aliue 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue that you are able but with the temptation also will make away to escape that you may be able to beare it Phil. 1.20 â—1 â—â— 23 Christ shall be magnified in my bodie whether it bee by life or by death for to me to liue is Christ and to die is gaine but if I liue in the flesh this is the fruite of of my labour but what I shall chuse I wot not for I am in a straight betwixt two hauing a desire to bee with Christ which is farre better Our conuersation is in heauen Phil. 3.20 from whence also wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ. This is a faithfull saying 1 Tim. 1.15 and worthy all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe I am readie now to bee offered 2 Tim. 4.6 and the time of my departure is at hand I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith Henceforth there is layd vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous iudge shal giue me at that day and not vnto me onely but vnto them also which loue his appearing 1 Tim. 6.12 Fight the good fight of faith lay holde of eternall life whereunto thou art also called I know whome I haue beleeued 2 Tim 1.12 for I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I haue committed vnto him against that day We are kept by the powre of God through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.15 ready to be reuealed in the last time The bloud of Iesus Christ Gods Son cleanseth vs from all sinne 1 Ioh. 1.7 In this was manifested the loue of God towards vs because that God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that wee may liue throgh him here in his loue not that wee loued God but that hee loued vs and sent his Sonne to be the propitiation for our sinnes Here haue wee no continuing Citie Heb. 13 14 but wee seeke one to come As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten Reuel 3.19 Bee thou faithfull vnto death Reuel 2.10 and I will giue thee a crowne of life To him that ouercommeth will I graunt to sit with mee in my throne Reuel 3 21 â—uen as I also â—â—ercame and am set down with my father in his throne Reu. 12.11 And they ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimonie and they loued not their liues vnto death Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Reu. 14.13 yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their workes do follow them Meditations of the Soule Of these and many other comfortable speeches and sentences deare Soule choose and select some which best may comfort thee Make them as familiar vnto thee as the Lords prayer and as some vse to prouide theiâ— winding sheet some yeres before they die against the time there shall be occasion of it that their bodies may bee enfolded therein Euen so picke thou out some remarkeable sentences and learne to vnderstand them to the ende that in time of death thou mayst wrappe thy soule therein for at that time it happeneth that the vnderstanding is mightily lessened the memorie taken away long Sermons cannot bee heard Mat. 4 4. Deut. 8.3 there is no attention giuen to perswation nor Rhetoricall allurements but one comfortable word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God reioyceth gladdeth nourisheth refresheth the heart life and soule But time is too short to learne these things when thou art on thy death bed And therefore acquaint thy selfe diligentlie with Sermons and preachings reading and meditating on Gods word that thou mayest haue these spirituall weapons in the houre of thy greatest combate Make diligent vse of thy going to Church and euerie time see thou learne that wherof thou wast ignorant before so shalt thou encrease in the knowledge of the Lord Iesus Christ corroborate thy faith kindle thy loue augment thy hope and be prouident against that greatest and last assault of Sathan A Praier for a diligent and stedfast faith in Gods word O Lord Iesus Christ open my heart by thy holy spirit that I may giue place to thy word ponder thâ—reon and weigh it diligently and make it familier vnto my soule and not be as a vessel that is crackt and can holde no liquor Hâ—b 2.1 Illuminate my vnderstanâ—ding and confirme my memorie that I may euer call thy ioyfull comfort to minde and bee that good portion of ground which in an honest and good heart may heare and keepe thy word and bring forth fruite with patience vnto the end grant this O Lord God for Iesus Christs sake to whom be all glorie and honour Amen Flesh. What else is behoouefull to comfort the sicke on his bed Spirit I haue set downe euery where prayers for thee which thou mayest vse as occasion serueth and the disposition of thy sicknes requires but the most speciall is the Lords prayer which heere also thou shouldest remember saying Our Father which c. sundry Prayers and Meditions mayest thou haue out of the learned and godly Fathers as Augustine and Bernard and out of holy latter Writers as also out of the booke of Psalmes in the which thou mayest vse these most frequently O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger c. Psal. 8. The Lord is my Sheepheard c. 23. Vnto thee ô Lord doe I lift vp my Soule c 25. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiueâ— 32. As the Hart panteth after the water brookes
the Glorie of God did enlighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof 24. And the Nations of them which are saued shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth doe bring their glorie and honour to it And the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day â—5 for there shall be no night there And they need no candle neyther the light of the Sun Reu. 22.5 for the Lord giueth them light and they shall shine for euer and euer These words beloued Soule are short but replenished with vnspeakable comfort and although the Scripture had beene more large herein yet our weake and infirme hearts are such and our vnderstanding so small that wee could not comprehend it and therefore the holie Spirit by these speeches openeth but a little windowe through the which wee may see a little glance to the end wee may know what wee should beleeue and hope for and what to comfort and reioyce vs withall But when we shall come thither and possesse such ioy and such gladnesse then shall wee say one to another as old Elizabeth sayde vnto the Virgin Marie Luk. 1.45 O blessed art thou that beleeuest for there is a performance of those thingâ— which were told thee of the Lord. O eternall Life O pleasant Life O perpetuall Ioy and Peace O euerlasting Hierusalem Citie of the holie God O how pretious how beautifull art thou vnto mee thy pulchritude surmounts there is no blemish in thee My heart longeth for thee yea for Hierusalem my Mother For Hierusalem my natiue Land and for thee Iesus Christ thou which art hid there my Life Lord and euerlasting Sheepheard O holie Life O blessed Life which the Lord hath prepared for them that loue him in the which shall be no death for man shall see God face to face for our hearts shall be superaboundantly satiate with the food of Life Oh the oftner I thinke vpon thee the sweeter thou appearest vnto mee O how well wilt thou be my Soule when thou shalt bee loosed from this earthly body and so passe in freedomevnto heauen how welcome shalt thou bee how kindly shalt thou be receyued thou shalt come to great rest and securitie thou needest not stand in feare of any foe or deaâ—h Thou shalt euermore beholde the face of thy God and Redeemer Ps. 45.2 the beaâ—tifullest among the childreÌ„ of men hearest thou not him my Soule calling on thee Song 2.20 Rise vp my loue my fayre one and come away for loe the Winter is past the rayne is ouer and gone Arise my Loue my fayre one and come away Come vnto mee my Elect I haue pleasure in thy beautie come and reioyce before my face with the Angells whose societie I haue promised thee Come out of all thy distresses and feares and enter into thy Fathers rest O reioyce my Soule and be glad thou beautifull daughter for the King hath pleasure in thee O thou sweet Life shew me thy Ports and thy gates â—hy walls and thy manifolde Mansions Reu. 21. â—8 19 Thy Walls are of pretious stones and thy gates are costly Pearle and the â—treet of the Citie is pure â—old as it were transpaâ—ent glasse in the which is sung perpetually a Halleluiah thy light is God the God of light the Son of Righteousnessâ— neuer goâ—th downe in thee There is a feast and banquet where all wearied Pilgrims refresh themselues Ioh. 17.24 O how pleasant is the harmonie which shal be heard there O then shall I find the accomplishment of that promise Father I will that these that thou hast giuen mee should be with me where I am that they may behold the glorie which thou hast giuen mee for thou louedst me before the foundation of the world A Prayer for the ioyes of Heauen O thou Fountayne of Life O springing Well of all comfort when shall I drinke aboundantly of that Water of Life which is thy consolation when shall I appeare before thy ioyefull countenaunce when O LORD shall I see that day of saluation Ps. 118.24 wherin I may reioyce and be glad O how light cleare and ioyfull shall that day be wherein there shall be no euening Math. 25. Enter my soule into thy fathers rest where I shall haue that holy Triâ—nitie one euerlasting God in three persons Come my light and Redeemer and deliuer my soule from from this miserable prison O euerlasting peace Phil. 1.4 which passeth all vnderstanding wherein the holy ones soule doth repose it selfe there is that eternall life which is to know God our Lord and to see God face to face happie are they for euer which are disburdened of this cumbersome and miserable life and are come to that heauenly eternall and ioyfull life to liue with Christ for euer Amen Flesh. What shall then become of the reprobate and vngodly Spirit They shall enter both soule and bodie into euerlasting paine Of the paines of Hell for as the ioy of the godly cannot be expressed so neither can the paines of the wicked and condemned bee shewed for there is such poenarum multiplicitas acerbitas â—eternitas that is first the paine of the condemned shall bee so great and manifold that none can declare it for they shall be cast into vtter darknesse Mat. 22.13 where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth They shall be tormented in the flame Luk. 16.24 The Lord shall raine vpon them snares fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup their wormes shall not dye neither shall their fire be quenched Esay 66.24 and they shall bee an abhorring vnto all the people A Meditation of the soule on the paines of hell Behold with these and such like phrases the Scripture giueth vs to vnderstand that vnspeakeable and vnconceiueable miserie the wicked shall come to with that grieuous societie of the diuel who shall ioye in tormenting them which the religious should often meditate vpon Secondly there shall be Poenarum acerbitas for that their paine shall bee so bitter and hard that the condemned cannot endure and yet they must needes suffer it eternally for they shal seeke death Revel 9.6 and shall not finde it and shal desire to dye and death shall slie from them for there shall be neither life nor death but betwixt life and death shall they bee tormented for euermore Euen as a red hot coldron vpon a flaming furnace so shal they be in fire vnspeakeably tormented and abide in such case for all eternitie Thirdly Poenarum aeternitas for their manifolde and bitter torments shall at no time come to an end for so it is said they shall goe to euerlasting paine Mat. 25. for were it of a long continuance and so haue an end would bee some comfort in their expectation but eternitie is endlesse Esa. 34.89 for it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the streames shall bee turned into pitch which
great dangers 2 Cor. 1.10 and doest deliuer me and I trust that yet thou wilt deliuer me Helpe mee that I giue no place to these misconstructions in my heart I will not say with Iob in his impatiency Thou hast set me as a marke against thee to shoote at Iob 7.20 and so confound this processe of my afflictions in no right discussing them I will entertaine by thy grace my priuy checks whereby thou knockest vpon mine heart ô open thou it wide and fill it ô thou that hast the key of Dauid oh my faith my small faith how feeble and weake art thou thou doest not answer nor satisfie my heart by apprehending and applying straightly into the armes of my soule O my poore soule that sauiour of mankind Iesus Christ. CHRIST REason not most beloued Soule so vnsoundly faith is in thee albeit it shew not in actions and fruits by which it is senâ—ibly discerned for once wrought in thy soule it alwaies continueth a sounding man is not dead by the sicknesse of the soule in sinne or outward violence of temptations it seemeth depriued of loue hope patience c. but by prayer word and spirit it soone reuiueth weather-beaten trees in winter are naked of fruit and leaues yet liue and sucke nourishment of the earth When the sweet shewers of my spirit shall distill vpon thee as in the spring and the warme sunneshine of my Fathers loue appeare to thee thou shalt growe greene and new in holy actions Fire couered with ashes is noâ— extinguished Is man without reason because he hath no vse of it while hee sleepeth drousie securely hardnesse of heart and dulnesse of spirit ouertaketh sometimes my best seruants whose soules seeme so sick in the sence of sinne that there oft appeareth no signe of life Prescribe vnto mee no time but wayt my leasure and I will surely helpe thee thou caâ—st not discerne now of faith and infidelity loue of me and rebellion against me betwixt sanctifications â—nd the heauie masse of filthie corruption Bee perswaded that though thou hast no present sense and feeling of righteousnesse Rom. 11.29 peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Yet if euer thou hadst them truely in any degree they are not taken from thee intermission is not abâ—uption I will in my time finish my worke Phil. 1.6 The woman with child feeleâ—h not the motion thereof alwaies but hauing once felt it shee is perswaded shee is with childe so by the seede of the word faith is begotten and sence of pardon of thy sins yet after a while thou mayest wound thy conscience by sinne for iâ— pleaseth mee thereby to exercise thy faith and manifâ—st my power in thy weaknesse yeelding to my selfe the praise of thy saluation In this case prop vp thy declining faiâ—h call to minde how oft I haue shewen thee my mercifull countenance so doe the Saints Psal. 77.5 â—â— 11 they remember my works and my wonders of olde vpon them and in them Set before thy eyes my seruant Iob who did comfort himselfe in his greatest extreamity with his friends and in his perplexity with himselfe by calling to minde the by-past fruits of faith and wonted workes of sanctification which hee had obserued in himselfe in former times and concluded of them Behold my signe that the Almighty is witnesse for mee Iob 3.12.35 Learne wisely to distinguish betwixt the habite and act of thy faith for it is the ground of things which are hoped for Heb. 11.1 1. Cor. 2.9 and neither the eye hath seen nor eare hath heard nor heart can conceiue them Remember it is a kind of infidelity to beleeue onely things subiect to senceâ— vnderstandings where feeling ceaseth then faith beginneth the chiefe worke thy best faith sheweth it selfe when thou hast no sence but rather discerne and feele the cleane contrarie as to behold my loue through the vizard of my anger and say Iob 13.15 Though thou kill me yet will I trust in thee for faith is not founded vpon thy feeling but vpon my gracious promises immutable goodnesse and infallible truth If once thou hast tasted of mercy the which I know and thou art perswaded thou hast done sundry and diuers times whatsoeuer thou apprehendest in thy present feeling yet faith concludeth thou art still in fauour Ioh. 13.1 For whome I loue I loue to the end and of my own will I did beget thee with the word of truth Iames 1.18 bee not therefore faithlesse but faithfull Ioh. 20.27 The SOVLE MY spirit is refreshed as the thirsty ground O giue me more of the pure riuer of that water of life Reuel 22.1 pure as christall proceeding out of the throne of God and of thee the Lambe This water thou giuest mee is a Well of water in me springing vp to eternall life Ioh. 4.14 But O my God my God I make my moane to thee of the weakenesse of my faith I doe not fully assent vnto that I know I am not surely perswaded of my saluation but assaulted with doubting that thy promises doe not belong vnto me and that by my manifolde sins I may bee separate which God forbid from thy loue CHRIST TO haue true faith is not to haue a perfect faith neuer shaken with any temptations for there was neuer such faith in anie man in the world for the most perfect are partly Flesh and partly Spirit the fruit of the Spirit is faith the fruit of the flesh is doubting which euer fight one against another Rom. 1.17 but there are Babes in me growing from faâ—th to faith Heb. 10.22 till they attaine to that fâ—lnesse of peâ—suasion yet this weake faith is a true faith as neuer so little gold is gold and sufficient to saue the beleeuer for my promises are not made to a strong faith but to those that haue a true faith Ioh. 3.18 for hee that beleeueth shall bee saued I haue no respect to the Quantitie and apprehension but Qualitie if it bee true and liuely a little man is as truly man as a great Gyant My Apostles were ignorant in manie things as that I should redeeme mankind by my death Mat. 16. Mat. 18.20 â—8 Luk. 9 45 Luk. 24 11 Mar. 9.32 Ioh. 13.36 Ioh. 14.5 Act. 1.16 Mar. â—0 37 when I told them I should be crucified they vnderstood it not they knew not that I should rise againe and being taught it thought it a faigned thing Were ignorant of my ascension and kingdome for they dreamed of worldlie preferment See now deare Soule how weak and smal this their faith is which also is euident in that my reprehension Wherefore are yee fearefull O yee of little faith And yet notwithstanding I compared it to a Rocke against which the gates of Hell should not preuaile Yea deare Soule al the power of Hel shal neuer preuaile against the smallest measure of faith Phi. 3.13 the weaker it is the stronger is my power in