tempestuous Sea All these things that shall appeare are called Fore runners sent before to tell all the Faithfull that when they shall see them that they lift vp their heades and looke vp for to see their Redemption that is neere S Luk compareth the time of all these things that appeare before the Lords comming to the spring time when trees begin to budde When the buds shoote foorth saith hee yeâ—… know that Summer is at hand So likewise yee when yee see these thinges come to passeâ—… know that the Kingdome of God is nigh at hand The sicke Man All these fore-said things bee buâ—… buds as I see forewarning vs of the Summer season wherein the Lord shall come But what is that which S. Matthew saith that after all these thinges shall appeare the SIGNE of the Sonne of man in Heauen What is that which hee calleth the SIGNE of the Sonne of man in Heauen What SIGNE thinke yee that to bee that shall bee seene in Heauen after that the world shall bee made new The Pastour The interpreters varie much in their opinions concerning this Signe what sort of Signe it should bee Some thinke that it shall bee the signe of the Crosse vpon which the Lord hang This SIGNE as some think shal be seene into the Aire before the comming of the Lord Such a signe as some write was that which Constantine saw in the Aire while he was going to battell against the enemies of Christ With this signe was heard a voyce vttered in these words IN HOC SIGNO VINâ—…HS Others thinke that by the SIGNE of the Sonne of man is to bee vnderstood Christ Himselfe who is called The Signe of the Sonne of man as Circumcision in Scripture Language is called The signe of the Circumsion I incline rather to thinke with Beza that that signe shall bee some great Majestie and vnspeakable glorie aboue all compasse of comparison glorious which shall appeare whereby the comming of that Lord shall bee knowne to all not to bee the comming of a creature but of Him who is Lord of all the creatures hauing a name aboue all names The Kings and Princes of the earth while they are among the multitudes of their Subjects by some glistering jewell will be discerned from all the rest or by the great respect that is carried to their persons by these that are about them All sheaues fell down before Iosephs sheaues So all creatures at his approach shall fall downe before him As before Ioseph in his progesse was a cry Abrech how the knee so at the comming of this Lord the Angels in a manner shall cry Abrech At his Name euerie knee in Heauen and Earth and vnder the Earth shal bow Before behind and aboue that Bodie of God both white and ruddie the chiefest among ten thousand shall bee such a glorie and throng of Majestie as shall bee a certaine signe that it can bee none other but the Prince of Eternitie hee being among his most bright and glorious Angels like a Sunne among the Starres The wordes of the Earth cannot beare such a signification as may expresse the glorie of this Signe Mine hearte is without mee while I think vpon the glorie of that Lord whom all cyes shall see that day with his golden Head and busâ—… Lockes Christ shall bee clothed in his triumphing apparell with such a brightnesse that the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed as these who beeing clothed in course rayment are ashamed to be seene among these who are pasmented with gold In a word at his presence all powers shall shake and all creatures at his bâ—…cke shall obey The sicke Man After that that Signe shall appeare What thinke yee shall bee done The Pastour When Christ the desire of all Nations shall bee readie to come Hee shall send before him his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather his dispersed and despised Elect from the foure winds from one end of Heauen to the other S. Paul saith That the Trumpet shall 〈◊〉 and the dead shall arise This shall not bee a brasen Trumpet but a â—…stiall which shall found so shrill with a princelie noise that all the creatures on Earth in Heauen and Hell shall heare it S. Paul hath three notable sayinges concerning the sound that shall bee heard at Christs comming First hee saith That hee shall descend with a shoute Secondlie With the voyce of the Archangel Thirdlie With the Trumpet of God The sicke Man The remembrance of that shout maketh mine eares to tingle and my heart stringes to tremble What a shout thinke ye that that shall bee The Pastour Some thinke that it shall bee a great noyse dinne such as is heard into hudge great assemblies It may bee a shout of victorie or of praise The Angels and millions of Sainctes who sing his praise continuallie cannot keepe silence that day They shal be all about Christ that day shouting for the joy of that desired day The worde shout in the originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properlie signifieth that sounding voice which the Mariners vse to others euerie one for to moue another to row Others thinke it to be like a cry of Souldiers qualis est militaris convasatio while they trusse all their baggage for to remoue The sicke Man For what cause chieflie shall this shout bee To whom shall it bee directed The Pastour It shall bee chieflie for the Glory of God It shall bee directed to the dead who are to bee raised vp by the power of God and by the meanes of his Seruants the Angels who at the raising vp of all creatures shall shout like Mariners heauing vp that which is heauy by force of their armes What Archangel that shall be or what shall bee that voyce One saith verie well Dies Domini revelabit The day of the Lord shall reueale it The Lord prepare vs for it O what a Glorie when Christ shall appeare with hands as gold rings set with the Berill and with a bright Bellie ouer laid with Saphires The sicke Man Is it your judgement that Christ the Iudge of the World shall come downe from Heauen with a great Majestie The Pastour It is certaine of the day of his comming againe may well bee said that which was said of his first comming This is the day which the Lord hath made In that day hee himselfe shall come downe in a Charet of a Cloude as hee ascended into a Cloude All the Glorie of Heauen shall bee seene that day The Father shall bee there in vnspeakable Glorie The Holie Ghost shall bee there with vnspeakable Majestie All the Saintes and Angels shall bee about Him like burning Lampes and glistring Suns The sicke Man What passage of Scripture letteth vs see clearlie the Glorie of his comming to judgement The Pastour That passage of Daniel
his sight Hee shall incontinent command them to come and by vertue of his word they shall all as with winges flie vp into the Aire there for to meete their Lord The strength of their heart the joye of their glorie the desire of their eyes and that whereupon they sette their mindes So soone as they shall come to him hee shall wipe all teares from their eyes Then shall these mourning Mordecais put off the Sack-cloth of their doole for to bee arrayed with the Kings royall apparell the White linnen of heauen the glorious Liuerâ—… of Christ Iesus These hauing celestiall Crownes vpon their heads shall glaunce in glorie like shinning Suns that all that euer took breath may see how it shall bee done to them whom the King of Heauen will honour When the Godlie shall see themselues so powerfullie deliuered from so fearefull dangers they shall cry to Christ as the Israelites said to Gideon Reigne thou ouer vs because thou hast deliuered vs According to their desire hee shall reigne ouer them in all prosperitie Then shall his curled Lockes bee fullie dryed of the Dew and doole droppes of the night of all afflictions The sicke Man When the Lord shall come to Iudgement in what place thinke yee that hee shall sit downe as Iudge for to pronounce his sentence The Pastour It is thought by some that Christ and all his Angels shall come down to the Earth that the sentence may bee pronounced in the presence of the wicked who for feare of distresse and destruction like creeping wormes shall striue to hide themselues vnder Rockes and Mountaines for to couer themselues from the face of the Lambe Glad would they be for to haue the cliftes of the rockes and the secret place of the Graue for a Shelter in that day That shall be a day of trouble and of treading downe a day of perplexitie and of crying to the mountaines Then shall the Wicked in fearefull qualmes of griefe beeing haltered with horrours wish that the Rockes and Mountaines would skippe like Rammes for to leape vpon them that thereby they might bee hid from the Lambe But from that Royall Presence there shall bee none escape * The Angels of great power shall haile them away by force before his great Tribunall where all the euill they haue committed and all the good they haue omitted both publicke scandales and secret sinnes shall bee ript vp and set in open view before all the world to their perpetuall infamie This is the trueth of Gods word Iudge nothing before the time saide S. Paul vntill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden thinges of darknesse and will make manifest the counsell of the hearts O mercifull God! what is this What can foolish man thinke in himselfe while hee concealeth his since Behold here it is written that at that day God shall make manifest the counsell of the hearts The world saith often that Thought is free But behold here how the verie euill thoughts of the wicked in that day shal be spread out and laide in broad-band before the face of God of Angels and of men What an awâ—…and should this bee for to make vs watch better ouer our most secret thoughts seeing in that great day before so many famous witnesses GOD Sainctes and Angels the most secret counsels of the heart shall bee made manifest O then then shall the blacke Mores hiddes and Leopardes spottes clearelie bee seene Then shall all the hidde murthers and all the counsels therof be made manifest Were hee a King hee shall not bee able to couer himselfe Then shall all the hidde Fornications and Adulteries yea the verie plots and counsels for such things though not effectuate all shall bee brought to light O yee most vyle hearts in that day ye shall bee vnboweled and anatamised before the eyes of all that euer breathed on earth What thinke yee O sinners who will not remember this Will yee not thinke vpon this that the day is fast comming except that by speedie repentance yee preuent the wrath God shall discharge vpon you the thunder-bolts of his vengeance Vengeance shall beate vpon your braines and breastes wherein your sinnes were bred The sicke Man Oh that men were wise for to lay such meditations neerest their heart alas such thoghts in our hearts are often but rawe and euill digested Wee oftest misse the corne and choose the chaffe such are the follies which are euer afloate in our braines But to come to the maine purpose which wee haue in hand let me see what warrand these haue in Scripture who say That Christ shall come downe to the Earth for to sit in his last Assise The Pastour They ground their Assertion vpon the wordes of Iob who saith I knowe that my Redeemer liueth and that hee shall stand at the latter day vpon the Earth In the French version it is Il demeurera le dernier sur laterre That is as our oâ—…version hath Hee shall stand the last vpon the earth By this it would appeare that Christ the Iudge shall come downe to the Earth where hee shall haue a Iudgement seate for to doe Iustice vpon that Element where sinne did most abound Other learned Diuines thinke otherwise viz. That Christs Throne wherevpon he shall sit that day shall bee erected in the Aire The sicke man Seeing some are of that opinion that Christ shall judge hee beeing vpon the earth what place thinke they that hee shall choose for to sit downe into The Pastour As for the particular place where that last Iudgement shall be giuen some think that it shal be into the â—…ire ouer the valley of Iehoshaphat neere by the Mount of Oliues which is not farre from Ierusalem Their chiefe ground is from that of Ioel I will said the Lord gather all Nations in the Valley of Iehoshaphat and will plead with them there There will I sitte to judge the Heathen round about The opinion of some is that where Christ was crucified and put to open shame and railed vpon there shall he chiefly in that day make manifest his Glorie This great Iudge in all appearance shall judge the world in righteousnesse and conuince the world of sinne and of righteousnesse where hee himselfe was most vnrighteouslie judged and condemned Many of the Learned Schoole men thinke that he shall come down toward the mount of Oliues Their ground is this That Christ ascended from the mount of Oliues and that there the Angels said vnto the men of Galilee that were gazing vp toward heauen that as they had seene him goe into heauen so should hee come againe These bee probable conjectures But in my judgment no man can assuredlie tell in what particular place this great Iudge shall sitte downe for to pronounce his Iudgement This is most certaine that hee shall come downe Behold hee commeth
with Iaphet in the Church of God Amen The sicke Man I haue heard sufficientlie concerning the earthlie Ierusalem diuerse parts of the holie Land that with griefe of heart because in that Land where God once was well knowne now the enemies of God dominire The cry of Christs Blood is yet still against it so that it hath spewed out the ancient inhabitants Lord make all Nations by its example learne to stand in awe to prouoke so great a Majestie Now let vs come to that Ie◅usalem which is aboue the Palace of the great King where God is seene of his Sainctes face to face In what place of Scripture is mention made of it The Pastour In the two last Chapters of th◅ Reuelation that heauenlie Ierusalem is described The sicke Man How can that bee seeing it is said that Iohn saw that heauenlie Ierusalem descending out of heauen from GOD. The Pastou◅ As Ierusalem Gods Church heere below is call◅d Ierusalem which is aboue because her heart is in heauen with a great desire to bee there So Ierusalem the triumphing Church aboue may bee said To descend out of heauen because of the great desire they haue to see vs all well heere below Daylie they pray in Heauen for the Sainctes heere fighting on earth vnder the bloodie Banne◅ of Christ Iesus They pray fo◅ them all in generall which cannot bee without great affection descending from the reflexe of their loue toward our God If by some Angel they heare the report of the conuersion of sinners there is great joy◅ in Heauen That good will and affection they beare vnto the Sainctes below in Scripture language is called a descending out of Heauen The sicke Man O but ae I thinke that Citie must be glorious The Pastour No glorie is comparable to that which is there That Citie is called an holie Citie Holinesse is the chiefest beautie that is This was good Moses his prayer Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs that is true holinesse This most excellent beautie of the heauens is typified by the most bright glauncing of precious stones Her light saith S. Iohn was like vnto a stone most precious euen like a Iasper stone cleare as Crystall two creatures colour greene and cleare most pleasant for the sight of the eye By all this this Citie had twelue gates and at the gates twelue Angels whom I may well call Coelestes Ianito◅es the blessed doore keepers of Heauen The building of the wall was of Iasper and the Citie was pure Gold like vnto cleare Glasse The foundation stones which are laid in our buildings are but of the commonest sort But all the foundation stones of this Citie vnder whose Vaults wee sojourne here are most precious stones as Iasper Saphir Chaleedonie Emerald Sardonix Sarduis Crysolite Berill Topas Iacinct Amethyste If such glorious stones bee the foundation stones what glorie must bee aboue in the Palace top where is the busking of Beautie As for the gates The twelue gates were twelue Pearles euery seuerall ga◅ was of one Pearle Wonderfull gates of wonderfull Iewels for who euer on Earth sawe a Pearle so great as an Apple Behold and wonder how the greatest doore of Heauen should bee of one Pearle As for the streetes of the Citie they were pure gold as it were transparent glasse This Glasse one calleth it Aliquid auro nobilius quod non est inrerum natura That is Some thing more precious excellent than gold which thing is not in this worlde to bee found O mercifull God what stupiditie is this in man that hee cannot so feruentlie loue this God who hath builded for his Soule bodie such a pleasāt Palace where he shal sojourn for euer in most happy immortality O mercifull God what a deadnesse dulnesse is this in our spirits that we cannot but after many reasons arguments be content to remoue from these our sinfull Tabernacles of clay for to goe dwell with our God in his golden Citie Palace of siluer where the Lord for euer shall feast vs with the joyes of his countenance among these purer Spirites his excellent Ones the Angels of glorie The sicke Man It is certainelie a great blindnesse Lord put the eye salue of Grace to our carnall naturalleyes that our sight beeing cleared thereby wee may get some glimpse of these Palaces and Pleasures that are aboue O Lord hoise vp mine heart raise it out of the muck of this earth mak the relish of Heauen to dash out of mine heart all earthlie desires It is marueilous how the Soule of man shuld be such a stranger to heauen When I consider howe the Soule that diuine proportion so noblie furnished with powers of great e◅euation euen of most high contemplation should so deba◅e it selfe among myre and dirt not hauing a face to behold the heauens it putteth mine heart into a wonderfull maze What can a Soule find either in heauen or earth except God alone which is able to satisfie the desires of its so wide Capacitie O the beautie of these celestiall buildinges all Gold and Azure But rather O the beautie of GOD himselfe in whose presence is the greatest glorie of that painted Palace O the beautie of beauties of him whose mercifull presence shuld turne the hels of paine into heauens of pleasures for euermore O let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs * O what a fickle follie is this for man to losse eternitie of happinesse for the minute of a miserable life in worldlie pleasures wherein is more sensible paine than joye that can bee enjoyed But to follow out our purpose intended concerning heauens glorie I haue Sir alreadie heard of the beautie of that Citie nowe let mee heare of its Boundes None as I thinke shall bee there troubled for want of Elbow-roome The Pastour * O the vnspeakable bounds that bee there S. Iohn saith that it was measured with a golden reede The measure thereof as the word of God testifieth was Twelue thousand furlongs which is more than fifteene hundreth myle Numerus indefinitus pro definito A Citie greater in boundes than who should joyne together in one that great Niniuie Paris Rome London Venise Alexandria Constantenople and that great Alcaire or Babylon a citie containing in circuite foure hundreth foure score furlongs Nay joyne all the Cities of the world together in one and they shall in no way bee comparable vnto this Citie of our God as it is ◅et downe in the Cart of the Reuelation Let a man behold the Cart of the world and in it hee shall easilie couer with his hand all the bounds of Europe But behold how the Heauens in that Cart of God occupie more than fifteene hundreth myles What I pray you is all this Earth in comparison of these heauenlie Mansions but an hand-breadth in
the jâ—…yes of Heauen The Pastour Such a matter is verie vnpleasant yea very fearefull to a naturall man It is written that while as S. Paul reasoned of Righteousnesse Temperance and Iudgement to come Felix who was but a naturall man tremblâ—…d all while hee heard him and therefore desired him to leaue off preaching any more and to goe his way till a more fitte and conuenient time Thogh the wicked tremble at this discourse yet it is coÌ„fortable profitable into the godly I wish at God that I had that tongue of the Learned that thereby I might produce these reasons of S. Paul which hee vttered while hee reasoned vpon this matter before Felix This Sir yee must first know that the day of Iudgement shall bee a great day a day of Law when all the Sonnes of Adam must compeare before the eyes of him who seeth our thoughts a farre off euen to the very depths of our heart The sicke Man First of all I desire to heare of the time that Christ shall come into the Cloudes for to judge both quicke and dead The Pastour As for the particular time of that great and glorious comming of the Lord no man can define wheÌ„ it shall bee whether in the night or in the day at mid-night or cock-crow It was a time hid from Christ himselfe as man while hee was heere in the dayes of his flesh neither thought hee shame to tell it His vvords and his counsell concerning that are of great weight But that day said hee and that houre knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in heauen neither the Sonne but the Father Now what was his Counsell therevpon Take heede said hee watch and pray for yee know not when the time is For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey who left his house and gaue authoritie to his seruantes and to euerie man his work commanding the Porter to watch Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the Master of the house commeth at Euen or at mid-night or at the cock-crowing or in the morning lest comming suddenlie hee finde you sleeping And what I say vnto you I say vnto you all watch S. Peter saith that hee shall come as a Theefe in the night By all this it euidentlie appeareth that no man can designe the particular time of the comming of the Lord vnto Iudgement No tongue can tell whether his comming shall bee in the night or in the day in the morning or in the euening at the prayer or at the preacing * Watch yee therefore saide Christ and this he doubled againe And what I say vnto you that I say vnto you all watch The sicke Man What can bee the cause wherefore God hath kept vp to himselfe the particular knowledge of that great day The Pastour God in great wisedome hath hidde from all flesh the time of his comming as hee hath concealed from all men the houre and forme of their death that all may striue to be readie at all times The sicke Man Though this Day bee not particularlie knowne thinke yee not but it is verie neere The Pastour S. Iames in his dayes saide The comming of the Lord draweth neere The sicke Man But since hee said that it is more than a thousand and fiue hundreth yeares and yet all thinges remaine euen as they were haue I heard some men say The Pastour These bee the words of them whom S. Peter calleth Scoffers Knowing this first saith hee that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their owne lustes And saying where is the promise of his comming for since the Fathers fell a sleepe all things centinâ—…e as they were from the beginning of the Creation This is as much as if they had said If there were a God indeede for to come to judgement hee would not bee so slacke in his comming But what saith S. Peterâ—…o â—…o that The Lord is not slacke concerning his promise as some meÌ„ count slacknes but is long suffering to vs ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance The sicke Man I see now that no man can be certaine at what time Christ shall come It is a secret which God hath kept vp from all the liuing into his owne bosome The Pastour Indeed Sir it is such a secret thaâ—… may not bee searched Christ after his Resurrection said a wise word to his Apostles It is not for you 〈◊〉 knowe the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power This is the wisedome of God who hath concealed such things from the knowledge of all men as well learned as vnleaâ—…ned as well Kinges as Subjects that all flesh at all times be in readinesse when the Lord shall come to judgement This made the Lord so carefullie to waine his Disciples to watch The sicke Man The Lord graunt that wee may euer haue our loynes girded ouâ—… Candles in our hands waiting for the comming of that Lord. The Pastour That should be our daylie prayer This should teach vs not to lye downe to sleepe like foolish Virgines without Oyle in our Lampes leâ—… before wee waken the Bridegrome come vpon vs vnprouided enter in his Chamber while we shall bee seeking that which we shal not find The sicke Man Now Sir I pray you proceed and declare to mee howe the Lord shall come downe from Heauen for to judge this world wherein we dwell The Pastour He shall come downe not as King Agrippa his Queene Bernice came down 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with much phantasie or vaine shew which is nothing indeede but a foolish phantasie But O the vnspeakable Glorie that shall bee seene at the comming of the Lord. The sicke Man I requeast you earnestlie to continue into that purpose for it affecteth mine heart verie much The Pastour I reade in the Gospel that while Christ was sitting vpon the Mount of Oliues his Disciples came vnto him priuatelie saying Tell vs when shall these things be and what shall be the signe of thy comming and the end of the world Christs answere was That they should take heede that no man deceiue them because saide hee many shall come into my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceiue many The sicke Man But did hee not declare anie particular signes or tokens that should appeare before his comming The Pastour The Lord hath declared that before that great terrible day come The Sunne shall bee darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the Starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shall bee shaken The sicke Man I wish to heare the exposition of these words for they seeme to bee full of difficulties The Pastour Some think that these words are but an allegorie of the callamities that were to befall to the Church and
in Thessalonica in that they receiued the word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daylie whether these thinges were so As for difficulties we acknowledge that there bee many and great in Scripture but as for that which is absolutè simpliciter absolutelie simplie necessarie for our Saluation it is clearelie set down in Scripture if there be any difficulty in one place that which is there obscure will bee made cleare in some other parte of Scripture This much by the way concerning the obscuritie of Scripture Now to come to the wordes of S. Paul In the first verse it is said For wee know that if the earthlie house of this Tabernacle were dissolued wee haue a building of God an house â—… made with hand eternall in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some after this manner expourâ—… these words after that this body like a Taber nâ—…ele is takeÌ„ away from 〈◊〉 Soule the Soule shall bee in a beâ—… estate euen in euerlasting Glorie â—… to the Heauens The French marginall note vpoÌ„ this is that that eternall house in the he 〈◊〉 is the bodie after the resurrectionâ—… So long as we are here in the sinfull bodie the bodie is but like a Tubernacle vnconstant weake fraâ—… But in the heauens it shall be like 〈◊〉 house that is constant firme strong So corpus gloriosa ejus conditio the bodie and its glorious estate in thâ—… opinion of some is heere called 〈◊〉 house by that house then wee must vnderstand the glorie that is prepared for the Sainctes in he iuen which for its constancie and commoditie â—… called an house According to thâ—… the Apostle in the secoÌ„d verse saith That wee groane earnestlie desiring to bee cloathed vpon with our house which is from heauen That house from heauen is that Glorie which is from heauen Others of the Learned interpret that worde Superindui to bee cloathed vpoÌ„ vt siquis indâ—…tus est thoracâ—… superinduitur pallio Puâ—…o autem sic Explicanâ—…um ex versa 4 Sancti capiunt corpore câ—…lesti it â—… indui vt noâ—… prius exvantur corpore mortaliâ—…sed superinduantur câ—…lesti Sâ—… immortali hoc est â—… per 〈◊〉 transâ—…tationem absorbiator 〈◊〉 ab immortalitate Thus would hee say That the Sainctes beeing huing at the end of the world desired not to cast their mortall bodies from them but desire them to bee changed and cloathed aboue with immortalitie Mortalitie is one 〈◊〉 which must be put off that immortalitie may bee put on Others thinke that there be mention heere made of a double cloathing Alijs placet saith Beza primam vestem dici Christi justitiam alteram vero illius justitiae praemium quorum sententiae nolim praejudicium afferre the one they make to bee the righteousnesse of Christ the other the glorie purchassed by that righteousnesse S. Ambrose speaking of these words In this wee groane c. If so bee that beeing cloathed wee shall not bee found nacked saith Vt haec sit sententia destruendum quidem hoc tabernaculum morte sed ita tamen ut non pâ—…reat Imo ut corruptibilitate deposita restituatur nobis immortalitate induendum That is The Tabernacle of this bodie shal be dissolued by Death not so that it shal perish but that all corruption being taken away it may put on incorruption euen euerlasting glorie For if the bodie did perish then in that case the Soule should bee naked Now while wee are in the Tabernacle of the bodie beeing burdened with sinne and corruption wee grone not desiring to bee vncloathed that is altogether to want our bodie but that putting off the corruptions of the bodie wee may bee cloathed with immortalitie of life which shall swallow vp mortalitie with all cumbers and inconuenients whatsoeuer The Soule of man hath an ardent desire to bee clothed with immortality but hath not will to want its bodie without which it thinketh its selfe naked according to this the Apostle saith In this we groane earnest lie desiring to be cloathed vpon with our house which is from Heauen That is With glorie and immortalitie fast firme like an house If so bee that beeing cloathed wee shall not bee found naked That is Shall not want the cloathing and couering of our bodies The sicke Man My braine is so sore troubled that I cannot bend my Spirits so high for the vnderstanding of these things which are so far aboue my reach Happie is hee who with Dauid is not exercised in great matters which are too high for him Lord inlighten my mistie minde and make mee to know thee and thy Son Iesus Christ and him crucified Lord also helpe mee in the knowledge of all that may increase the knowledge of him into my Soule I haue heard you Sir at large vpon the last judgement and all the proceedinges thereof Yee haue also cleared some difficulties which this night did runne into my minde Nowe lest vaine thoughts should draw mine heart aside vnto toyes let â—…t please you to turne your purpose concerning the joyes of Heauen While I did behold but the outâ—…id of Heauen mine heart was euer rauished at the sight of that Tapestrie embroydred like most glorious Arrasse cloath O what Glorie muste bee within where the Lord himselfe is with all his endenized Citizens of glorie Let me heare you a little therevpon There by the grace of my God I hope to bee within a little space O what place of perfection and blisse my Soule longeth to dwel into that azured Palace Let mee heare of its Glorie The Pastour The prince of Philosophers most subtile in Naturall Science speaking of the heauens said That it was much to get any little knowledge therof All his knowledge câ—…ld reach no further but from motion to motion till hee come to the fiâ—…st Mouer who by the force of his Almightie arme turneth about these relestiall bodies But hee knew no more the great Mov â—… thâ—…n yee would know a man a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vpâ—…n the toppe of an Hill displaying aâ—… Ensigne or Standart While the Mouer were casting his Standart yee might perceiue the motion of a Banner and by that motion yee might easilie judge that there bee a Mouer and yet for all that be ignorant not knowing the man who is the caâ—… of all the motion whether he were your foe or your friend The Pagans saw the motions of the heauens as wee see the shaking of a tree moued by the winds I see the Tree shaken and the Branches rushing one vpon another I heare also the noyse I also know that the Mouer is that which wee call the Wind But whence this mouer commeth and whether it goeth or what moueth it no earthlie tongue can tell Pagans which haue not Gospel writteÌ„ in quicke Letters by the dead knowledge of Nature will come from ens to ens that is from beeing to being till they come to ens entium
day without night heauens without cloudes mirth without mourning joy without sorrow and beautie without blemish All good thinges muste abound there where God shall bee All in all When wee shall bee there our God shall enlighten our minde and shall giue our will its will without controlement Then shall no man say I doe the euill that I would not and doe not the good that I would doe nay but wee shall doe all the good wee would beeing in no wi◅e troubled with the euill wee would not Then shall wee rest from all our labours refreshed vnder the euerlasting shadowes of Christ that most pleasant Apple Tree whose fruite is sweete to the taste Nothing in a word shall bee inlaking that may rejoyce all the senses of our body without all the faculties of our Soules within All the Godlie these blessed Denizens of Heauē shall euer in a Quire sing the praises of the Lambe Halleluiah Halleluiah vpon the loud Cymbals Harpes Organes and Timbrels of God O Lord one day in thy Court is better than a thousand else where said the Psalmest speaking but of the figure of heauen Is it so of the figure of heauē what shall it be thē to be in heauen it selfe euen in these new heauens Let it be but the tenth better according to that one day in Heauen shall bee better by ten thousands times than the best day that euer man did see on earth There is no serenitie below which is not ouer clouded with some dumpes of heauinesse while the flesh is vpon the Soule it shal be sorrowfull Pure sincere joys cannot dwel in the valley of teares in this muddie mortalitie One day aboue is more bright and better than tenne thousand below Is it so of one day in Heauen Mercifull God what shall it be thē of these dayes without number euen of that euerlasting of dayes euen that eternal day of light life libertie cleare without all g◅mie clouds of sicknes of sorrows O for a sight of the light of that countenance a light of continuance which no mistie vapour shal for euer bee able to ecclips O Day neuer to be darkened with a following light O euer fresh pleasures which no sorrow shall bee able to fret waste or weare out O Eternitie Eternitie neuer to haue an end O that faire heritage vnto all these that are there The lines are fallen in pleasant places If wee had heartes to belieue the thoughts of such Glories should waine our heartes from the milkie transitorie trashes below which worldlings dreame to bee an heauen not to bee changed with any such preached pleasures O when shall our Soules get them with the Spouse to these high Mountaines of Myrrhe and hills of frankincense The consideration of this happinesse made Ignatius a Scholer of S. Paul to defie all the tormentes that cruell Burrios could inuent for the tormenting of his bodie Fire Gallowes beasts said he Crushing of my bones quartering of my members breaking of my bodie Let all the torments of Sathā seaze vpon me together I care not for them so that I may enjoye my Lord and his righteousnesse O that all the thoughts of our heartes were made subordinate and contributarie to such spirituall and diuine desires The sicke Man O Lord in the multitude of thy thoughts within mee thy comforts delight my Soule Cōtinue your speach I pray you concerning the beautie of the Heauens within which is the Presence-Chamber of the great King The Pastour S. Iohn describes it with such wordes as men are able to vnderstand or imagine The vnderstanding of man concerning the beautie of a Place reacheth no further than to Gold Glasse Crystall Pearles and precious stones which indeed are nothing but like Coales or drosse in comparison of these heauenlie bodies * Before that the man of God beganne to declare what hee had seene of Heauen hee said that there came vnto him an Angel that carried him away to a great high mountaine shewed him the great Citie the holie Ierusalem a type and figure of Heauen Glorious thinges are spoken of thee O Citie of our God euen of thee Ierusalem Because that Ierusalem was a type and figure of Heauen I shall first speake a little thereof As for the earthlie it was a Citie in Iudea builded as some thinke by Melchisedec Otherwise it was called Salem and Iebus or Iebusi After that it was called Aelia from Aelius Hadrianus the Emperour who builded a part thereof and enuironed Mount Caluarie Christes Sepulchre and Golgotha with a wall This Citie had two parts the vpper part and the lower The vpmost part thereof with the Temple was builded vpon mount Moriah Because in this Citie the Lord had his residence and did shew himselfe more familiarlie than into any other part of the world it was called The perfection of beautie and joye of the whole earth It is written that in circuite compasse it was foure miles In forme it was foure square hauing twelue gates Ioseph recordeth that it was Dauid that first called the Citie Ierusalem In the time of Abraham said hee it was called Solyme Some also say that Homere called it Solyme which in the Hebrew tong saith Ioseph signifieth a Fortresse Thus much concerning the earthlie Ierusalem which now is in bondage with her Children the most cursed Citie in the world since that desperate voyce of blasphemie was heard in it His blood bee vpon vs and vpon our Children The sicke Man That is a fearefull desolation The Pastour Great was that desolation It is called The abomination of desolation a desolation abominable or foresignified by an abomination The sicke man I remember well of these words of that Gospel This I remember that Christ did speake them with a Nota Who so readeth let him vnderstand Often while I did reade these words I found my selfe secretelie accused of negligence in that I tooke paines to vnderstād the saying which Christ desired the Reader to vnderstand I pray you Sir let mee vnderstand the words The Pastour The wordes are these When yee therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holie place who so readeth let him vnderstand Then let them which are in Iudea flie into the mountaines The wordes of Daniel are these And after threescore and two weekes shall Messiah bee cutte off but not for himselfe And the people of the Prince that shall come shall destroy the Citie and the Sanctuarie and the ende thereof shall bee with a floode and vnto the end of the warre desolations are determined And hee shall confirme the Couenant with many for one weeke and in the midst of the weeke hee shall cause the oblation and the sacrifice to cease and for the ouer spre◅ding of abominations hee shall make i◅ desolate euen vntill the consummation and that determined shall
vp nowe to the Heauens Thou hast alreadie past all toyle and turmoyle The way that rests vnto the Kingdome is both smooth euen without anie rubbe of opposition thou shalt enter into immortalitie O the showres of grace and mercie which raine downe vpon vs both Farewell till that desired day of the Resurrection come The Pastour His eyes stirre a little they are full of teares the tribute of Repentance He beginneth to shake he now seemeth to bee wakened out of his traunce I will inquire what his minde is set vpon What meditations are these Sir that yee are vpon Yee seeme to haue beene in some good motion The sicke Man My Soule Sir and my bodie after a blessed agreement haue beene taking their adewes one from another They haue bene blessing each other beâ—…ause they haue serued God together they looke to bee one day both glorified together A sea of comfortes hath rained downe vpon my Soule from the Heauens in most sweete and pleasant showers The Pastour Surelie that is a worthie exercise Such good motions are plants of God and impressions of his finger Happie are the Soule the bodie that can serue God together with one shoulder At that last day they shall haue a joyefull meeting they two shal be clasped together in loue with such contentmentes as tongues of Angels are not able to expresse But O when the vvicked soule shall returne from hell to take vp its bodie for to carie it to euerlasting torments then shall they curse each other with manie a woe for their Fornications Adulteries Lyes Deceits Ryot Drunkenesse Then would the bodie if it could haue intelligence of the soules comming wish that a rock or a mountaine would fall vpon it for to hide it from the Soule that beeing voyde of life it might bee free of feeling But the decree is come foorth of necessitie they must bee joyned together O but they then shall looke one to another like Lyons Their feede shall receiue none agreement no not They shall neuer agree in anie thing but in this to 〈◊〉 together that their comfortlesse dolours may bee doubled This is a deare pennie-warth so little pleasure for so much paine In that day all the wicked shal bitterlie repent such barganes Now happie is your Soule Sir and your bodie both that are so well resolued to depart Yee are certainelie blessed that euer yee were borne Behold nowe yee rest in hope of the resurrection which shall bee in that great day of Gods generall assemblie when all that euer tooke breath shall compeare before Christ the Iudge of the World for to receiue that which they did in the flesh bee it good bee it euill Now Sir seeing yee are an inrolled Citizen of Heauen and an adopted haire of God vp still with your heart towarde that heauenlie Heritage with sighes and grones beate on still at the doores of Gods mercie God giueth vnto prayer victory against himselfe Nowe the time draweth neere Sir your houre is come to a quarter fight out the good fight fixe the eyes of your Faith vpon the bloodie wounds of Iesus Lay hold on him listen to his voyce ere it bee long yee shall heare these words of joye Come faithfull seruant and enter into thyÌ„ Masters joye O Lord the giuer of grace and of glorie out of the blessed bowels of thy mercie bath and wash this Soule with that arteriall blood which sprang thorow the pierced filme of the heart of his Redeemer At the beginning of this Battell Lord thou did see howe his poore Soule was scorched with the flames of hellish temptations which did burne the verie marrow out of his bones this is thy ordinarie dealing with thine owne Hell on earth is for the heires of Heauen But heauen on earth is the portion of the heires of hell Now Lord from his hell bring him to thine Heauens Mak his Soule more clearelie to look vp toward the blessed bloodie wounds of his Sauiour wherein hee may perceiue the props of his protection Make his Soule now to be fullie possessed with an entire loue to the fairenesse of thy face wherein are pleasures for euermore The sicke Man Lord Iesus make clay againe with thy Spittle for to anointe my dimmed eyes that clearelie with Simeon my Soule may see thy Saluation We in our life receiue but the first impositioÌ„ of handes like the man that saw men walking like trees Now Lord at death giue mee the second imposition that I may see thee euen as thou art The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauenâ—… Maintaine the life of his loue towards thee Now vvater the seede vvhich thou hast sowne Weede out the tares vvhich Sathan hath sowne Pittie and pardon Lay all his sinnes vpon the Sonne of thy loue Now let his feete be shod for the journey which hee is making to a better place Inspire his Soule with the spirit of grace till his life bee expired Saue him by thy blood which saued theÌ„ that spilt it The sicke Man I finde Death besieging my heart with seÌ„sible blowes O bring out my Soule out of this bricke of bondage of the bodie Mine heart stringes are so racked within mee that they are like to breake The hope that is deferred is the fainting of the Soule Lord helpe mee in this heauie houre The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and satisfie his hearts desire The sicke Man Pray pray that the Lord vphold mee in the throng of these throes wherewith mine heart is gripped lest I be whollie swallowed vp of despaire The Pastour O Sauiour of mankinde who out of thy meere mercie and loue came vnder the charge of his accounts Mak now answere for him as his Aduocat before that high Tribunall before which his poore Soule is now arraigned to coÌ„peare Turne all thy wrath in mercie and thy Iustice-seat in a Throne of grace Call home all his wandering thoughtes settle and them vpon thy selfe Maintaine the life of his loue Make death to him a Messenger of mercie and his paines a meane to bring him to thy pleasures O Captaine of his Saluation vnder whose bloodie banner hee hath in his life made warre against the enemies of thy glorie at death ouercome thou all the enemies of his Saluation With thy Trumpets and Lampes terrifie all these merciles Midianites Make them like a wheele as the stubble before the winde Graunt the victorie vnto thy weake Seruant heere that in the Heauens thou may crowne his Soule with glorious garlands of immortalitie Lord heare vs for the sake of thy Sonne vnto whom with thee and the Spirite of Grace bee all glorie and honour Amen Now Sir vp with your heart to the Father of mercies Fight out couragiouslie the fight of Faith Christ now is holding out the Crowne your Saluation is sealed yee neede not feare yee haue your warrant vnder the Broad Seale of the King of Heauen The sicke man O My deare
No man liuing Sir may absolutelie desire to be dissolued but vnder condition that it bee for the glorie of God and the Saluation of his owne Soule For two respects a man may desire to be dissolued First for to bee deliuered from the bondage of sinne which the Apostle calleth A bodie of death Secondlie for an earnest desire to bee with his God a man may desire to bee dissolued But for no reason must a man dissolue himselfe that were selfe murther If we may not kill our Neighbour whoÌ„ we should loue as our selues neither must wee kill our selues who are the rule and square of neighbourlie loue Man in this world is as a set Watch hee must not remoue till it please him by whom hee was set to command him to come Though lawfullie wee may desire death that we may bee deliuered from the bodie of death which is sinne for to bee with Christ which is meekle better for vs yet wee must not cry for death for some triflles of worldlie troubles as Ionah did for the lossing of his leafes Our desire of Death should bee chieflie grounded vpon a desire to bee with Christ and to bee fredde from the spirituall bondage of our sins well is him that can sincerly say from his heart Miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this bodie of death That Soule is happie whose desire is vpon that which is meakle better for it To bee with Christ in Scripture stile is called meakle better What say ye now Sir doeth not your heart grone vnder this burden of sinfull death Doeth not your Soule long to bee out of this bodie for to bee with him where it shall bee meakle better for you The sicke Man I take vp the matter better than I did I see by your reasons that there is no reason wherefore a man should desire to die but for to bee with his Christ and to be deliuered from the bodie of bondage which is a death But alas The Pastour I see you yet Sir into a plunge I heard that word Alas Wherefore say yee Alas Yee looke yet as one who desireth to liue My wordes are not gifted with perswasion yee seeme to be afraide at that word dissolued What aileth you There bee doubtlesse some thing within that troubleth you The sicke Man I am sorie to goe out of this world wherevnto I am chained by diuerse respects In the cutting off of my dayes I will mourne with sicke Hezekiah in the words of his doole I am depriued of the residue of my yeares c. The Pastour I see Sir that yee are taking vp the Lamentations of Hezekiah I will striue to make answere to euerie sentence apart Yee are depriued saye yee of the residue of your yeeres Hee is not depriued that hath changed for the better The residue of your few yeeres shall bee turned into eternitie Hee who seeth many yeeres seeth many miseries and which is worse contracteth many sinnes the cause of all our woe Moreouer what is a residue of life Death is not farre when it is farthest The sicke Man But if I die I shall not see the Lord euen the Lord in the land of the liuing The Pastour This is your ignorance What can man see of the Lord in the land of the liuing What can a sinner see of that great IEHOVAH here What is to bee seene on Earth but the Backe-parts of IEHOVAH Into the Heauens wherevnto yee now approach yee shall see that great and glorious IEHOVAH face to face What are all men on Earth but a number of wormes crawling and creeping vpon a clat or clod of clay But againe what is this that ye call the land of the liuing What is all the Land yee see but a dead lump of earth where the most part of men are dead in their sins Doe not the best part die daylie vnto Sin which death is our best life and yet laden with a bodie of death Can ye now call this earth the Land of the liuing Call me not Nahomi pleasant said Nahomi but call me Marah that is bitter for the Almightie hath dealt verie bitterlie with mee So may the Earth say Call mee not the Land of the liuing No rather call mee a dungeon of death a place for the burying of the dead a place where all must needs die and bee as water spilt vpon the ground which cannot bee gathered vp againe The sicke Man But alas if I die I shall behold men no more with the inhabitants of the world The Pastour This heere is your griefe that death will strik you with a blindnes so that yee shall not bee able to see any more the faces of these whom yee loue best into this world as of Wife Children and of Friends of your old acquaintance This is your dâ—…lour theÌ„ that ye shall see them no more Let such thoughts Sir moue these to mourne who know not Death better than that Pagan who speaking of a slaine man said In eternam clauduntur Lumina noctem That is Death closeth mans eyes for euermore This is most false A true Christian knoweth that though both his eyes should sinke â—…owne into his head or droppe out like blobbes or droppes of water yet that with these same eyes runne into water hee and none othér for him shall see his Redeemer Though after my skin said Iob wormes destroy this bodie yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not another Lay this comfort to your heart Though your eyes were eaten out with the wormes if you die in the faith of Iesus yee shall see God and none other for you and that with these same eyes yee now looke vnto meeâ—… If yee bee perswaded that yee shall see your God in the Heauens in whose face is fulnesse of Ioye yee haue little cause of doole that yee shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the world What are all the creatures of thiâ—… World but things that dwell in dâ—…st The Sainctes and Angels that dwell into these vpper Chambers whose feete are aboue ouâ—… head are so faâ—… in glorie aboue all the glorie of the world as the Heauens are aboue the Earth As Zebah and Zalmunah said of Gideons brethren so may we say of all these that dwell there euerie one of them is like the Sonne of a King What are all the Creatures below but beggerlie things The sicke Man But alas if I die mine age is departed and remoued from me as a Shepheards tent The Pastour What is your doole It is all then that yee must quite your shepheards tent Now poore man What haue yee lost Yee shall change a poore shepheards tent for the most pleasant Palace of your God a life mortall for a life that is eternall
if ye were once dead yee shall beholde man no more with the inhabitants of the world Yee are far beguiled into the sight of the wo◅ld wherewith yee are so rauished Change your Spectacles and all that is below shall seeme to bee of another colour If your Soule could once sore vp towardes Heauen the loue of the Earth and earthlie things would fall from you as did the Mantle of Elias when he was rapt and rauished vp vnto glorie The sicke Man But ye know Sir that it is verie hard not to bee sore grieued to goe out of this world Non amplius visur us neque videndus neither for to see anie more nor yet to bee seene Who without teares can say his adewes to all his joys pleasures and contentments that are here Whē I once shal be caried out of my house yee shall see mee no more Hencefoorth yee and I will speake no more together I departing from you must goe to the place of silence among stinke wormes Who can-without displeasure say to all worldlie joyes farewell The Pastour It is best that ye turne your backe vnto such naughtie things as Hezekiah turned his backe to the stocke and his face to the wall that hee might conferre with his God It is great folie to bee so fond vpon such transitorie trashes What is so pleasant in this world that should allure vs to it Are not all thinges inconstant heere below There is nothing that standeth at a stay but either it is comming in or going out like the Tyde There is no creature but while it beginneth to waxe it also beginneth to waine A child of the age of a day hath lesse time to liue at Eauen than hee had in the morning Since hee came out of the bellie from the morning vnto eauen hee hath made a dayes journey in the way to his graue In ipso ortu vergimus ad occasum Our arising vp is but a course to our fall The degrees of a mans life are as as manie stepp vnto his death All that wee see below is in a continuall whirling from a beginning to an end The course of all the Creatures below is in a trance of transitorie trashes I can but teach you with vvords as Iohn baptized with water It is onelie the Lord vvho can perswade The sicke Man I take delight to heare you I pray God to perswade mee Continue I pray you into that discourse concerning the vanitie and inconstancie of vvo◅ldly things ripe them vp and open them wider that I may see them within the bowels The Pastour The vvisest among men preached Vanitie of vanities and all is vanitie All things are vaine and all things cry vnto vs that wee are vaine So vaine a thing is man The Trees the Herbes the Flowrishes the Fruites the Fishes the Beastes the Spring the Summer the Haruest the Winter the Aire the Water the Earth the Heauens are all appointed teachers by God to tell man of his changing Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world All that haue eyes eares may heare read their doctrine that heere is nothing permanent One creature calleth to another Let vs leaue this World See wee not how vvee melt away by droppes for to bee dryed into dust Moses saith that wee spend our yeares as a tale that is tolde a strange speach for to declare the vanitie of lōg life so much desired while a tale is in telling it seemeth to bee something but when a tale is once told these that haue heard it will in end say That it is but a tale So long as mans life is lasting it is like a tale that is in telling But so soone as Death the end of all commeth it is but like a tale that is tolde Thus as yee see all mans life in Scripture language is called but a tale All the times of our life past present and to come are turned at last into a fuimus wee haue beene Wee that liue now let vs remember our case Ecce tempus nunc futurum quo dicen◅ nos fuisse The time shall bee shortlie that man shall say of vs that wee haue beene And thereafter a time shall come that none shall know that euer wee had a beeing Our life is like a sparkle fleeing out of the fire which dyeth out into the flight it failleth before it falleth The sicke Man These bee wordes of great power I finde now some working thereof within mine heart I pray you continue The Pastour Wee haue none abiding heere We all both yong old post swiftlie away to the graue the last bed wherein euerie man must sleepe we are long of comming to But how soone are wee pulled downe Our strength saith Moses is soone cut off and wee flee away Wee are like the Yee which thaweth sooner than it froze This is the Law of all flesh Prince People Poore and Rich all must goe to Golgotha The Preacher saith plainlie There is no discharge in that warre Though a man in the morning bee proude like a Peacocke with lifted vp feathers if Death come before the night come hee must lay downe his head among dead mens Skuls What a thing is this that within an hundreth yeares not one of vs all that are heere shall bee left aliue no not in this great Citie wherein wee liue Are wee not all as water spilt vpon the ground which can not bee gathered vp againe What memorie is now of these tha◅ are past And what shall bee said o◅ vs when wee are gone It is o◅ farre best then to follow our God and to turne our backe vpon all suc◅ lying vanities The sicke Man I requeast you Sir not to be wearied Proceede I pray you into tha◅ purpose that I may learne what vanitie is into this life which is so much desired The Pastour Mans life into this world is but a Pilgrimage and a race not of great length for man that is borne of a w◅man hath but a short time to liue Iacobs answere to King Pharaohs question concerning his age was few and euill haue my dayes beene What is man saith one but Vermis crasti◅ moriturus a worme that will die to morrow Dauid putteth the length of his dayes betweene his little finger his thumbe My life said he is like a span long some get but an inch consider well I pray you Sir seeing it is so what is it then of your life which is but of the length of a span what thogh it were an ell of length Is not Methusalah with his many hundreth yeeres as well in dust as as hee that liued but a day Other haue giuen place to vs and we must also giue place to others To mee to day to thee tomorrow There is no lodging
make answere Oh but I am pressed with an heaui◅ hand I feare much my last houre My Soule is sore troubled The Pastour Learne of Christ in his trouble Now said hee is my Soule troubled and what shall I say Father deliue◅ mee from this houre But for this cause came I into this houre Father glorifie thy Name As hee did so doe yee Hee fearing the houre was earnest with God in prayer for to bee deliuered from it and yet most humblie submitted himselfe vnto his Fathers will So doe yee If ye feare greatlie that houre pray feruentlie that God deliuer you from it and yet notwithstanding let God haue all his will of you His will shall eu◅r bee your well The Sicke Man But alas my paines are grea◅ my breach is like the sea Gods rod vpon mee is torne with stripes and worne to the stomps In my torments I both feare and feele his wrath If hee loued mee would he scourge mee with such scorpions The Pastour Whom God loueth hee chasteneth and scourgeth euerie Sonne whom hee receiueth By this yee see plainelie that hee will receiue none to himselfe but those whom hee is minded to scourge This scourging whereof yee complaine is Gods loue-token telling you that hee is minded for to receiue you Woe ◅o the Childe whom the Father will not correct God commandeth louing Fathers to chastise their children till they cry His command is also that they bee not hindered for their cryes Chasten thy Sonne said God while there is hope and let not thy Soule spare for his crying So long as there is life there is hope While God chasteneth you it is a token that there is hope Woe to that man whom GOD disdaineth to strike It is a sore word when a Father or a Master saith to a Childe I despaire of him there is none hope I giue him ouer will strik him no more It was a fearefull vvord that God said to the rebellious Israelites I will not visite your Daughters when they are harlotes nor your Spouses when they are whoores That is I will correct them no more but let them runne head-long to their owne destruction Woe to him vvhom God vvill not correct Certe tunc magis irascitur Deus cum non irascitur God is most angrie when hee seemeth least to bee angrie The wicked are most fearefullie plagued when God spareth them most Let not therefore your sore paines discourage you but rather comfort you as beeing a speciall token that God will receiue your Soule What reckes what this Carion suffer if so be that God receiue the Soule Shall I not drinke of my Fathers Cup said Christ * To drinke of a Kings cup it vvould bee thought an honour See then vvhat honour is in the affliction of the godlie thereby they drinke of the King of Heauens cup This is also a token of our friendship vvith Christ vvhen wee drinke vvith him of one cuppe Men will not drinke of one cuppe with their enemies Rejoyce then Sir to drink vvith Christ in your Fathers cuppe Though this cuppe bee bitter at the brimme the bottome will haue a pleasant farewell Thinke vvell vpon this Sir and possesse your soule in patience despare neuer of Gods mercie though hee seeme to bee angrie depend vpon him trust into him though hee should slay you In confidence of h◅s Loue rest and sleepe in his bosome hang on him saue his honour by trusting in him If this yee doe I assure you that yee shall dye sweetlie resting into his armes The sicke Man I finde Sir my paines greatlie to increase The Pastour Bee of good comfort If your paines increase God will increase your patience with your paines he is mercyfull and will surelie strengthen you in the weakest houre Gods strength is made perfect in weaknesse In the meane time bee fighting out the good fight manfullie Hold vp your hands with Moses against Amaleke Pray feruentlie to your God that hee would cast into your memorie all the good thinges that euer yee heard or reade wherewith your Soule as with a rempart may bee guarded against the houre of temptations Pray oft-ten with Christ Father deliuer mee from this houre What say yee Sir It appeareth that there bee some thing into your mind yet that vexeth you The sicke Man This Soule of mine is verie loath to depart from this bodie They be of olde acquaintance haplie long shall it be before they meete againe Friendes cannot bee but sorie while they shedde The Pastour That is naturall to all But grace in the Godlie must rule Nature Wee must gladlie leaue all for to goe liue with Christ we must deny our selues for to confesse him we must desire to be dissolued for to bee with him hee who loueth any thing better than him shall not bee found worthie of him Your Soule say ye is sorie to goe from the body What are our bodies for the present but prisons of clay Let them goe to clay till the day of the Resurrection come when those painefull prisons shall bee turned into pleasant Palaces What reckes of an inch of time heere on Earth in respect of eternitie in Heauen Should a mans heart so itch after an inch of Earth that hee would desire to tarrie from Heauen but an houre The Soule must turne its backe vpon the bodie for to turne its face vnto the God of Glorie This is but a childish temptation It is for women children to weepe at the taking of adewes chiefelie while these that depart are going to a better condition of life Because the day draweth towards Euening it is now time for mee to remoue I hope God willing to come againe the Morrow and to visite you that I may minister vnto you some Spirituall comforts In the meane time seeing your minde hath bene so perplexed with carnall temptations concerning Life Lāds Children and Riches Cause read vnto you this night in mine absence the Book of Ecclesiastes from the beginning vnto the end where ye shall see as in a glasse the vanitie of all these things wherewith your Soule now is most enamoured If ye haue time cause also reade vnto you Iob 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Before I goe Sir it shall bee best that I recommend you vnto God by prayer The first Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD in whose hands is the gift of the Spirit of groanes inspire our heartes at this time that with an heauenlie disposition wee may fall downe before thee vpon the knees of our Soules quicken our dead and drowsie heartes to the performance of this duetie of calling vpon thy Name Thou is not close handed to these that seeke thee in sinceritie wee are ashamed O LORD euen wee all who are heere before thee on the Earth thy Foote-stoole wee are ashamed for to face the Heauens the Throne of thy Majestie Our heartes are
shall hold your peace That is ye shall seale vp your thoughtes in silence and let God bee doing So doe yee bee silent for a space daine not Sathans temptations with an answere feare not stand still and see the Saluation of the LORD As Moses said of the Egyptians so will I say of all your temptations within a short space The Egyptians whom yee haue seene to day yee shall see them againe no more for euer The sicke Man Oh that with Iob I could lay mine hand vpon my mouth and with Iacob waite for Gods saluation But alas I am laden with iniquitie Sathan besiegeth mee so that I cannot keepe silence Sathan hath laide downe a bloodie libell before mee wherevnto hee vrgeth mee to make answere The Pastour If yee must needes make answere learne that notable speach of Bernard on his death bed * About an houre before his death hee beeing as hee thought presented before the great Tribunall of his Iudge where hee found himselfe seuirelie charged with the accusation of Sathan forsooke himselfe for to relye vpon Christ alone I freely confesse said he that as thou affirmest I am most vnworthie and that by no worthinesse of mine can I merite eternall life yet I am assured that my Lord Christ hath a double right to heauens glorie one by heritage and another by conquest The first is sufficient for himselfe the other is for mee ex cujus donojure illud mihi vendicans non confundor which by right of gift I claime and chalenge and shall not bee confounded Vpon this Rocke yee must cast the anchor of your soule The Lord is able to doe vnto vs aboue all that wee can aske or thinke Take courage Sir Let Sathan make out his processe your deare and louing Brother is both your Iudge and your Aduocat The sicke Man Oh that I could take that counsell and keepe silence waiting till the Captaine of Saluation bring mee thorow this red sea of bloodie temptations Oh that I could lay hold vpon that right of heauen which Christ hath conquered But alas I can find no ground or warrant in mine heart that such a conquest can belong to mee for I know that in mee dwelleth no good things The Pastour The greatest foe the faith of the godlie hath and the chiefest cause of their trembling troubled heart is that often they seeke in themselues grounds warraÌ„ts of Gods fauour as though the Lord could not loue them vnlesse there bee in them such vertues as in euerie point should be Because they want perfectioÌ„ they thinke they haue nothing By this meanes Sathan shaketh sillie Soules to and fro like Reedes with the winds of distrust Make the right vse of such temptations let them drawe you from your selfe for to rely onelie vpon the mercie of your Lord Bee earnest to finde Gods marke in your Soule euen Sanctification the Saluation mark whereof the marrow is Christs satisfaction From this marke presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus The sicke Man Faine would I haue grace so to doe But out vpon mee I haue taken such surfet of sinnes that I find my selfe voide of all grace O death death death doolefull is that separation of a Soule dead in sin from the bodie dead for sinne I am so defiled and deformed that while I remember judgement it maketh mee all to shake and to shiuer Fye on mee a gracelesse creature wallowing in a myre of miserie Oh but for a dramme of Gods grace Oh for the greatnesse of the pickle of mustarde seede thereof The Pastour He that desireth grace is not altother gracelesse It is Gods goodnesse that hath giuen you this small and weake desire of grace in this Gods good hand is vpon you Hee who giueth grace to desire grace shall giue also grace for grace God often giueth to a man aboue his hopes I sought but life saide Dauid yet the Lord gaue him to bee a King God who in sicknesse giueth you the desire of grace shall before yee die giue you grace for grace a grace which at last shall make you to sing I sought but grace yet God hath giuen mee glorie If yee feele and feare his wrath seek the more earnestlie for his mercie This was that good counsell which Zephaniah gaue to Israel before the decree of wrath come out Seeke righteousnesse seeke meeknesse it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Christes cry is Seeke Aske Knocke. Seeing God desireth to be asked hee longeth to giue seeing hee desireth vs to seeke him hee desireth to bee found seeing hee desireth vs to knocke his desire is to open God is more rich and liberall than wee are poore His hand is wider for to giue giftes than our heart can bee for to receiue Hee who will not belieue that God can bee mercifull to him is twise in the wrong to God After that hee hath broken the law of his Iustice by offending hee is not content except that hee wrong his mercie by distrust Gods delight is to bee with the Children of men on earth as also to haue them with himselfe in heauen Now Sir beeing assured of thâ—… loue embrace this Lord with all 〈◊〉 armes of your affections Seeke earnestlie the Spirit of Grace for hee is powred on thirstie grounds I will powre water said the Lord vpon him that is thirstie and floods vpon the dry ground The sicke Man Oh but for one droppe of that water Oh that my Soule were watered with the dropping bowels of his mercie In the meane time my bones with sorrow are dryed vp like an hearth The terrours of the Almightie sticke within mine heart and my Spirit sucketh out the vennome thereof I thinke that I am in the verie gorge pipe of hell If this wrath continue doubtlesse it shall bee my bane The Pastour Gods wrath is fearefull I confesse but God will not bee long wroth with his Children I will not said the Lord contend for euer neither will I bee alwayes wroth For the Spirit should faile before mee and the Soules which I haue made So soone as man beginneth to be wearied of his sins God beginneth to be wearied of his wrath yea which is strange In all our afflictions he is afflicted There is but a moment in his wrath but his mercie endureth for euer There is such a mercie in God that in comparison thereof all the mercies of men are but scrofe and scumme a myte of his mercie shall remoue the mountaines of your miserie in Christ is a mine of mercie The sicke Man I know that it is so But I as yet haue no sense of such a mercie While I seeke and cry for helpe God either answereth not at all or when hee maketh answere it is like that which Elisha said
the shortest and the Sunne farthest from vs in the dead of winter we are comforted with this that the day at once will grow longer and that the Sunne will returne to vs by the degrees by which hee went away Your day now Sir is at the shortest tarrie but a little ye shall shortlie perceiue a Spring Ianuar of joy after this dead Decēber of distresses The more wintrous the Season of the life hath beene looke for the fairer Summer of pleasures for euermore Haue patience a little The Euening of your sorrowes is almost past the day is at the breaking your reward is a bright morning starre of joy At the dawning of these joyes your night cloudie and darkest dolors shal decease God with some ray or beame of his reconcealed face shall lighten you the way to heauens glorie This sinfull life of man is like a surgefull sea tossed with many blasts and billowes Whiles the floodes and waues of wrath so catch a man till all the bowels of his bellie begin to wamble all that is within him will be in a strange stir while he is as it were with Ionah downe in the bellie of hell at the rootes of the mountaines hauing for his best garland the weeds wrapt about his head in such a pittifull plight hee will bee tempted to say to God with Ionah I am cast out of thy sight so darkened will the eye of his Conscience bee But if so bee that in the jawes of his anguish with Ionah hee can say to his God in his deepest plunge yet I will look againe toward thine holie Temple which I may call the godlie mans Pole the directer of the Christian course hee shall be saued If while his Soule fainteth within him hee can with the weake eye of Faith behold that Pole of peace and with the Mariners in the Psalme cry vnto the Lordin his trouble the Lord shall deliuer him out of his distresses He who by speaking vnto the Fish made it to vomite out the prisoner by a word of his mercy shall hale him out of such seas of sorrows shall softlie swiftly bring him thorow the swelling surges to the hauen of peace rest and quietnesse euen of pleasures for euermore Waite on a little and your God shall store you with spirituall comforts The sicke Man But Oh for the present I am in the extremitie of anguish which any created nature can possiblie endure My sillie Soule is lashed with a seuere whip of double cordes knottie at the end Gods custome is to hādle his own nicelie and softlie like glasses for feare of crackes But I am crushed vnder the milstones of his wrath which are readie euerie houre to settle downe vpon my Soule for to sinke it from the brimme to the bot tome of hell O the length and breadth of that flying roll and volume of wrath that is comming vpon mee for to curse mee with the Theefe and the swearer There is such a freting canker into sinne that in my judgement if it could reach vnto the verie starres it should mak them to roust by staining their brightnesse and polish colour I thinke that if sinne could attaine therevnto it should rotte these faire celestiall bodies In my judgement it should strike the Sunne and Moone the two eyes of the world with a catarict suffusion or with a sort of gutta serena so that the world should goe blind All this woe is most justlie befallen mee because while Gods long suffering inuited me to repentance by delaying the day of my death I turned his grace into wantonnesse while I was threatned by his Iustice I strained racked his mercy beyond his truth and promise I wonder not now that Gods judgements make me to reele to and fro and stager like a drunken man But heere is my griefe and most piercing paine I cannot think that GOD would suffer any of his owne Children to bee chaissed with such bloodie bickerings and not incontinent runne to his helpe Can a mother forget her Childe though shee should God cannot forget these that are his Gods wrath continueth still against mee my sinnes are mounted vp to his eares with a noyse and hee hath taken notice Behold and consider if there bee anie sorrow like vnto my sorrow The Pastour These bee the paines of new birth In such spirituall trauailing the Soule will bee in a wonderfull distresse like Rachel of whom it is written that in trauailing She was in hard labour The hardest labour of the first birth is soft beeing compared to the labours of the second No sorrow in the flesh is able fullie to expresse it I see a shadow of such sorrowes in that mourning of Hadadrimmom in the valley of Megiddon This is a mourning joyned with fasting making man and wife for a space to shed beds that the man may mourne in one place and the wife in another The familie of the house of Dauid apart and their wiues apart The familie of the house of Nathan apart and their wiues apart The familie of the house of Leui apart and their wiues apart The familie of Shimei apart and their wiues apart All the families that remainc euerie familie apart and their wiues apart All this mourning is wrought in mans heart by a Spirit which Zacharie calleth the Spirit of grace Behold see Sir what it is of this your great griefe It is a sure token that the Spirit of Grace hath beene powred vpon your Soule Too too manie vndera smilling countenance haue a smarting Conscience while the wieked laugh their heart is sorrowfull-Rejoyce in such a tribulation after this short seede-time of sorrow if yee can haue patience ye shall reape the quiet fruite of righteonsnesse after the darke cloudie night of sorrow the day will dawne At the breaking of the Skye a starre of comfort shall arise which shall neuer sette vnder a night cloud of waterie teares Man naturalliè is so impatient that he cannot waite in a stayed temper till the Lord hath ended his work The sicke Man I vnderstand not such working I euer heard preached that God was mercifull to his owne and that hee did proportion euen at an haires breadth their tryals and troubles to their spirituall temper neuer surcharging any aboue their force in their greatest darknes his custome is to lighten them the way to relieue with some ray or beame of a fatherlie fauour But mine heart is altogether soacked and sacked with sorrow Mine heart is nothing but a gulfe of griefe The Pastour The hand of our God is wonderfullie in his workes as for vs wee cannot worke vpon a Creature but by the helpe of another As for God while hee worketh it often befalleth that either there is nothing or that which would seeme to bee contrarie to his working In the Creation hee brought some thing out of
workes may easilie ouertoppe all your sins iniquities God will haue man with his narrow bowels of mercie to forgiue his brother seuen times in a day if hee shall returne seuen times in a day saying It repenteth mee If God requireth such mercie of man whose bowels in the widest are not of a span breadth what shall hee doe whose compassions are rouled together into bowels broader than the Sea yea wider than the heauens If ye can repent Sir God can forgiue When man ceaseth to spurne God beginneth to spare The sicke Man I take God to witnesse that I am sorie for my sinnes and so ashamed that with the Publicane I cannot lift vp mine eyes to the heauens I would be content to kisse the ground a thousand times for to get but one kisse of the feete of him who is the on◅ lie helpe of the conscience and the health of the countenance I finde myselfe deepe to the Chine in a gulfe of miserie Tell mee truelie Sir I pray you Thinkeyee that if with a mourning heart I confesse my sinnes to God that hee will haue pittie of me I am sore perplexed the deepe thoughts of mine owne guiltinesse strike men with such a set silence that I am not able to vtter my griefe My feare is that I bee of the familie of hell an haire of horrour and vtter woe Be free with mee I pray you Thinkeyee th◅t such an hord of miserie as mine can euer meete with his mercie The Pastour It is great ignorance Sir to thinke that anie miserie of man can ouer reach the infinite power of his pitie and boundlesse compasse of his compassions It were more easie to turne the Sunne from his course than God from shewing mercie to repenting sinners both his Name and Nature is mercie See wee not out of what myres of miserie Gods mercie hath deliuered repenting sinners In Scripture wee may read long Catologes of pardoning sinnes Consider well I pray you thinke deepelie vpon the mercies of your God Look well what hee hath done to others Could the adulterie of Dauid the incest of Lot the drunkennesse of Noah the murther of Simeon Leui the persecutions of Paul the perjurie of Peter or any other like sinne hinder God to be mercifull to the◅ so soone as they repented * Wherefore wereall these pardons printed into God Booke but for to tell all ages that no man were hee neuer so sinfull should despaire of the mercie of his God As I liue saith the Lord take no delight into the death of sinners but rather that they should repent and liue These bee his owne words If words beare no weight behold effects God hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie Sonne that whosoeuer belieueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life This is not a verball loue when a man giueth his best beloued for to die for another God hath not spared his onelie Sonne that by his satisfying sufferings his Iustice beeing payed hee might shew mercie to man his poore vnworthie creature not onelie the Father hath loued the world but also the Sonne out of vnspeakable loue was as desirous to die for man as the Father was to send him This out of his owne mouth hee declared that no loue could ouer-reach his loue No man said hee hath greater loue than this than when a man layeth downe his life for his friend The highest of mans loue is to die for his friend But Christs loue was greater hee died for vs euen when wee were his enemies In another point behold the loue of Christ scarselie saith the Apostle for a righteous mā wil one die yet per aduenture for a good man some would euen dare to die But God commendeth his loue towardes vs in that while wee were yet sinners Christ died for vs Who shall doubt of this loue which the Lord hath registred on earth with the dearest blood of his onelie begotten Sonne There is such a loue in the Father and such a loue in the Sonne and such a loue in the holie Ghost toward the Saluation of man that all the heauens are filled with loue of our well so that at the conuersion of one sinner on earth there is more joy among the Saints and Angels than for fourescore and ninteene righteous who neede not repentance * If Sir yee would haue the heauens to rejoyce cast your selfe into the armes of your God with these words Lord doe with mee what thou wilt though thou shuld slay me yet will I true in thee If yee would see the picture of Gods mercy ye must draw aside the curtaine of all carnall surmises The sicke Man Oh that I might cast my Soule into his Armes But how can I doe this The Lord hath turned his backe on mee shall I cast my selfe into a consuming fire At the first sight of his angry face my Soule will die for feare The Pastour Men often are deceiued So soone as Manoah had seene the Angel hee said to his wife Wee shall surelie die because wee haue seene God But his wife answered more wiselie If the Lord were pleased to kill vs hee would not haue receiued a sacrifice from vs As shee said to him so say I to you If the Lord were pleased to kill you hee would not haue giuen his Sonne in a Sacrifice for you * I is a greater loue token that God hath giuen his Sonne in a Sacrifice for you than that hee should receiue any sacrifice from you It is the Apostles argument that since God hath giuen vnto vs his owne Sonne hee will not refuse vs any other thing that may doe vs good Christ alone is the sinners refuge hee is a Rocke of comfort which cannot bee shaken a Rocke which commandeth all seas of sorrows the pole of our peace Be earnest in prayer with God cry till he hea◅e The sicke Man I am wearied with crying to God my prayers may be called The voyce of my roaring But what shall I say I cry but there is none that maketh answere God hath couered himselfe with a cloude that my prayers should not passe thorow hee hath stopped his eares that my prayer should not bee heard This is a most fearefull blast and blow in his bloo die battell The Pastour Deceiue not your selfe often our prayer framed and followed by the Spirit of grace is heard though the fense of grant bee not yet brought to vs God for causes will let a time goe betweene seeking and finding After this the Angel spake vnto Daniel At the beginning of thy prayer God heard thee and now I am come to tell thee See how a space will interceede betweene Gods hearing of mans prayer and mans knowledge that God hath heard him Though yee as yet know not whither God hath heard you or not yee must not
anguish of his Spirit Behold LORD how hee renounceth himselfe desparing of his owne worth Giue him grace to flee to thy promises that as in the fearefull and perelous path of this val◅y of death he looketh for nothing but hell torments and paine for his owne sake so he may assuredlie look for heauens glorie euen pleasures for euermore and that for thy promise sake for thy Names sake for thy Christs sake in whom thy Soule is best pleased Mak the bones which thou hast brused to rejoyce Leaue him neuer to himselfe LORD till thou hast made thy graces now blooming in his heart to become type for thy glorie LORD blesse thy beloued Church which is hated of the world Shee is now pricked with persecutions as a Lillie among the thornes Let this comfort Her in all Her distresses that thou shalt neuer forsake Her But that thorow many tribulations thou shall bring Her vnto Glorie Lord pitie pardon the vnthankful Church of this Land Bind Her vnto Thee by the vnion of Faith and fasten euerie one of our heartes to another by the bond of loue left at last by our misdemeanour thou bee forced to roote vs out of thy good Land as a fruitlesse Nation GOD bee gracious to our dread SOVERAIGNE the Kings Majestie gard His Royall Person from the rage of His enemies Infatuate their plots Mak giddy their braines discouer their enterprises mak Him the Man of thy right Hand Anoint His Head with the blessed drops of the Oyle of thy Grace gladnesse Make Him an humble Homager to IESVS who hath written on His thigh the King of kings LORD giue Him Grace according to His Place Say vnto His Queene Hearken O Daughter cōsider incline thy eare Mak her to forget her own people Fathers House In stead of Her old acquaintance giue her Children whom thou mayest make Princes on the Earth Aboue all thinges we intreate Thee to discharge vpon Her Soule the beames and brightnesse of sauing Knowledge Blesse all the Nobilitie of this Land Make them truelie Noble like the men of Berea who were couragious for the Trueth Make euerie one of vs faithfull in our place calling keep our Soules euer waking waiting for thycomming Preserue vs from slumber of Conscience deadnesse of heart that liuing according to thy law we may be in this wicked world godlie professours like burning shining Lampes for to shew light vnto others We all heere O gracious Father relying vpon thy promised readines to helpe thy little Ones and to listen to their cryes haue powred out our Soules in thy presence wee intreate The from the sinceritie of our inward partes that of thy Fatherlie indulgence it would please Thee to vouchsaf a fauourable audiēce both to these and to all other our most humble and godlie desires and that for IESVS thy deare Sonnes sake To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace bee all glorie and honour world without end AMEN Cause read vnto you this Night Psalme 38. Psal. 39. Psal 40 Psal. 41. Psal. 42. Psal. 130. Isa. 38. Isa. 53. Iohn 16. Let the end of euerie day remember you of the ende of your life Thogh euerie day of ourage should be as long as that day of Ioshuah whē at his word the Sunne stood still in Gibeon yet it would be night at last The Lord teach vs to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts to wisedome and to well doing The grace of Iesus and the peace of his Spirit rest with you and comfort you in all the groanes of your griefe The Lord turne your smoking flax into a burning fire of zeale The God of all mercie and compassion refresh your weake and wounded heart with the softest o◅le of his sauing grace Nothing Sir is vnpossible to your God who of a brui sed Reede can make a pillar of Brasse which the prince of the powers of darknesse shall not be able to shake I intreat the Lord to giue you such Grace that may leade you vnto the face and presence of your GOD Bee more and more earnest with your GOD that hee would inspire your heart with Life Spirite and motion that thereby yee may bee made fitte for that blessed associatiō with Sainctes and Angels far from the crossing checkes of Conscience THE FOVRTH DAYES Conference The Pastour ACcording to your desire Sir I am come againe this morning for to visite you and for also to reape the fruites of yesterdayes conference This is the sweete fruits of a godlie life It hath saith Solomon hope in the end I pray God to blesse you with such an hope whereby in hope against hope yee may cleaue fast vnto your God finde yee the storme of your temptations alayed hath the Spirit of God giuen edge and vigour to these comfortes which yee heard yesterday Haue yee put on a Christian courage with a resolute and contented patience to abid the blessed will of your God The sicke Man Well is the man and blessed yea thrise blessed is hee whose transgressions is forgiuen whose sinne is couered for hee is free from that sting of Conscience that will for euer torment the Soule of the vngodlie All this night I haue beene sore cumbered with manie spirituall temptations as yee haue heard My Soule for a space hath beene wonderfully perplexed The spirit of mā alas is but too ingenious to debar it selfe from glorie It is a wonder how this shuld be in such a glorious Noonetyde of the Gospel hitherto Glorie bee to God yee haue comforted mee much ye haue handled my sores with the soft and smooth hand of a most wise and charitable discretion wiselie haue yee singled out comfortes most expedient for the cure of my Soule Now seeing by your former discourse I haue reaped comfort let mee bee so bold as to intreate you to declare breaflie how a man may know by the workings of the Spirit within whether he be a Reprobate or one of Gods chosen Ones It is no time for me now to bee beguiled Men which looke to die haue neede to looke well what they doe I desire earnestlie to be instructed touching the diuerse workinges of the Spirit into the wicked and the godlie My chiefe desire is to make my Saluation sure The Pastour I shall doe what I can to giue you contentment in that point The matter indeede is not without difficultie But yet the Lord God will doe nothing which hee will not reueale vnto his seruants the Prophets so farre as is needfull for his glorie the well of his People Mine helpe is in the Name of the Lord that made Heauen and Earth The Spirit of God in man hath two sortes of operations One generall another speciall As for the generall common to all men by the Spirit the wicked will say Iesus is the Lord I know Iesus said the Deuill to the sonnes of Sceuah * By this Spirite also the
blot or blow for secret blo◅s they will die also with some formall perfūctory appearance of repentance Others will die in a quiet drousinesse and so poore like Nabal Many a◅ye see may die without any seene sign◅ of Gods wrath But in the day of the Lord God shall pull that painted vizard off their face for the discouering of all their abominations and that before the face of all Sainctes and Angels who shall wonder to see all the filthinesse which they in their life could so cunninglie colour and couer with most painefull painting Then mens applause and the worlds praise which they did once vnder the colour of vnhallowed zeale moste eagerlie pursue shall by no meanes auaile them for the righteous Lord with a gloume of his justice shall banish them to the loathsome dungeon of the bottemlesse pit Thus after they haue carried the matter smoothlie for a time by jugling dissimulation at last all their abominations are set in open view The sicke Man I finde my selfe satisfied concerning that doubt of the inlightening of the Wicked who as I see are starke blind grossie and palpablie ignorant in the mysteries of Saluation Now teach mee what this is that he will taste of the heauenlie gift How can vnsanctified mortalitie bee capable of celestiall benefites The Pastour By the heauenlie gift I vnderstand the fauour of God and eternall life The wicked man whose portion is only in this life will taste these things that is betimes hee will finde a certaine sweetnesse in God The most wicked man that is will at one time or other lift vp his eyes to God yea and thinke himselfe much beholden vnto God But all this goodnesse is but lik the morning dew it hath none abiding a sound of feare is euer into the wicked mans eares * As a man may taste poyson and yet not bee the worse because incontinent he spitteth it out againe so a wicked man may taste good things and yet not be the better because that after he hath tasted them hee letteth them not ouer his throat but spitteth them out againe That which hee hath tasted with the one eare he spitteth out at the other care The good words may flow a litle into his braine and rinne into his memorie so that there of hee may prattle like a Paroquet but nothing goeth down to his heart which I may call the stomacke of the Soule If a man should but taste food were it neuer so fitte of it selfe for to feed he shuld not be able to liue thereby It is euen so of the wicked spiritualy They cannot liue by tasting of graces where God hath not opened the heart as hee opened the heart of Lydea there is nothing but a tasted grace Let me yet cleare the matter The wicked will get a taste of heauen as the godlie w◅ll get a taste of hell In this doing I obserue a secret Iustice and a secret mercie of God It is a mercie for the godlie that they taste the bitternesse of wrath heere that they may esteeme the more of heauens glorie heere after The baser our estate be before we he exalted we shal thinke the more of honour whē it commeth What am I said Dauid being but a shepheard that I should marrie a Kings Daughter Who am I said hee and what is my life or my fathers familie in Israel that I should bee Son in law to the King If Dauid had beene a Kings Sonne hee could haue well thought himselfe an equall match for a Kings Daughter But while hee considered his owne base estate and the basenes of his fathers family he thought himselfe so ouermatcht that hee wondered at such honour which made him say Who am I What am I said lamed Mephibosheth that I a d◅ad dogge should sitte at the Table of a King The greater aduersitie a man bee come out of the more sweete is his prosperitie when it cōmeth The tempestuous by past blasts of Winter commend the beautie of the Spring * Bring me a man who is daylie accustomed to good cheare to a Banquet and little shall hee thinke of it because such is his ordinarie fare But O if bread was not sweete to that hunger bitten forlorne when hee came home from his husks * I think that the godly in heauē shall remember of the bitter taste of wrath they felt on earth which shall so rauish them with joy of their chāged estate that no tongue shall bee able to expresse But againe heere is Iustice and wrath for the wicked God in this life giueth vnto them a taste of his sweete thing Some common spirituall confections he putteth into their mouth whereof they find some heauenlie relish I am of this opinion that while they shall be in hell the remembrance of that sweete taste shall neuer goe out of their heart which shall bee a most powerfull meanes for the increasing of their smart What a sting was this vnto the gl◅tton in hell when Abraham said to him Sonne remember that thou in thy life-time receiuedst thy good thinges Yee may see heere that the wicked haue remembrance in hell of what good thinges they haue receiued on earth which is an hell in hell Thus as ye see God in Iustice and and in wrath will let the Wicked heere on earth taste his good thinges for the increase of their woe thereafter By the sweete taste they had of God on earth while they liued they know now in Hell which is a part of their torment what joye the godlie haue in Heauen And againe the godly by that bitter taste of wrath which once they felt on earth shall know which shall wonderfullie increase their joye what torments the wicked suffer in hell from which the Lord in his vnspeakable mercie hath made them free By this as yee perceiue both the godlie the wicked taste here both of Hell of Heauen The godly taste of Hell that Heauen may be to them the sweeter The wicked taste of Heauen that Hell may be to them the sower God loueth not the wicked but hateth them as hee hated Esau For this cause while hee giueth them a taste of his good thinges it is that while they shall bee in easlesse and endlesse torments they may remember how sweete a God they haue despised and how sowre a Sathan they haue serued All these good things which are jointly in the wicked man are but lik faire attyre vpon a leperous bodie or like jewels about the necke of an hanged man Hee hath nothing but the dead portraiture of an Israelite indeede But in all this time while vnder the shewes of godlinesse he is drinking in iniquitie like water a dreadfull sound is in his eares for he knoweth that the day of darknesse is ready at his hand God at last in great wrath shall runne vpon him euen on
vices masked with the appearance of vertues Such formal holie persons come farre short of being in Christ Iesus in whom all true goodnesse is most liuelie incorporate The sicke Man I haue heard you Sir discusse verie pertinentlie foure difficulties the fift and last and greatest is behind Often haue I wondered what could bee the true sense meaning thereof the words are these Hee will taste of the powers of the world to come What can a Reprobate haue to doe with the world to come I vnderstand not well these words The Pastour Indeed Sir they want not difficulty Some of the Learned thinke with S. Chrysostome That by the powers of the world to come are to bee vnderstood the powerfull working and miracles vnder the Gospel which in respect of the Lawe vvas called The world to come as if the dayes of the Gospel were the dayes of a new world since Christ that Day spring from on high and most glorious Sunne of Righteousnesse did appeare for to inlighten euerie man that commeth into this world But in my judgement that bee more subtile than solide I had rather thinke that Reprobats are said to taste of the powers of the world to come when they finde some sort of sweetnesse in God with a kind of desire to bee out of this world for to bee with God into the Heauens Such a desire betimes will make their heartes flutter vp toward these heauenlie Mansions But such fluttering desires wanting the feathers of Faith incontinent come short and fall downe againe with a jumpe Hee hath not a settled constancie nor well grounded resolution God at some times will let the Wicked see some glimpse of his glorie as it were a lightning that passeth most swiftlie avvay vvhich for a little space in the darke night letteth a man see that vvhich is before him But so soone as it is past his eyes become more dazeled and darkened thā they were of before such powers are but painted powers They are indeede like the liuing powers as an Image is like a man but they want the heart of godlinesse Thus according to my knowledge in a serious and impartiall search is all the vvicked mans progresse toward the kingdome of glorie All the best graces that hee hath are but glances of graces and dreames of glorie euen extreme pouertie glorious sinnes beautifull abominations These be Gods limets who hath said to him as hee said to the proud vvaues Hitherto shall yee come and no further Such a man in his best estate and conceit is but an Hypocrite lurking vnder the Canopie of a counterfeit profession His best estate is both broken and bankerupt in spirituall thinges For a space such a man may goe pleasantlie like a Shippe before the vvind but at last downe commeth a blast of judgment and sinketh him downe irrecouerablie into the bottome of hell The sicke Man I am glad to haue heard the solutions of these fiue difficulties which often did trouble my minde By all your discourse I perceiue that the Reprobates at their best feele but some generall good motions and that all their perswasions that they shall at last come to heauē are nothing but imaginations and vaine dreames of glorie Many in mine opinion are deceiued in this world who like these that dreame thinke they awake while they indeede are fast asleepe Many in this world as I see thinke to bee saued whose thoghts shal proue to be but dreames Some obscure printes of vnsound joyes though for a space they may be of good acceptance with the most godlie and clappe their owne hands as if they were in the passage to Paradise They are in end disappointed because they want true inward holinesse without which no man shall see Gods face The Pastour It is most true Sir for◅s men for the most part desire to bee flattered by others so tak they delight to flatter themselues feeding vpon fond fancies and phantasies lik Hypochondriackes or braine sicke who cannot bee perswaded but that they are Kings while indeede they are but Beggers The sicke Man This is a terrible disease But to leaue the Reprobates and come to the Elect I desire now to know of you what bee that speciall spirituall working which is onelie peculiar to the Elect and chosen Ones of God I vvish to heare of the proceedings of Gods Spirite working into the hearts of the godlie vnto their Saluation The godlie I am assured are of a more noble and heauenlie temper full of the Spirit of Grace The Pastour In my judgement where the Spirit of God worketh to the Saluation of the Soule of a sinner before it come to a full perswasion hight of assurance there is first a tempest of wrath against sinne going before the comming of God in his mercie viz. A shaking wind a trembling earthquake a burning fire vvhich lik three grimme posts come running before to tell that God is comming into the calme Before that God shew his presence into the still voyce hee proceedeth by steps and degrees First hee rebuketh the sinner of sinne and wakeneth his Conscience with some sight of his iniquities vvith some sense of that vvrath which sin hath deserued From this ariseth a great heauinesse into the heart vvhich breaketh forth both in speach countenance so that the vvorlde which know him of before will vvonder at his change as if he vvere a creature cast into another mould After that God hath thus prepared the Soule of men with thundering tempests and tremblings with blasts and vvith burnings and thereby hath made them more afraid of sin than they were of before of sinne it selfe At last he commeth vnto them into the calme of his mercie first giueth vnto them grace to flee all occasions of sinne and after that to hate the verie garment spotted with the flesh Hee vvho in despight can gnash his teeth against that vvherein once hee tooke pleasure to displease his God is not a sholler of flesh and blood not a naturall man that is content vvith ciuell outwardnesse After that the Spirit hath vvrought a detestation and hatered of sinne into the heart he putteth a cry into the heart for mercie with sighes and sobbes which cannot bee expressed Some times these sighes vvill breake out into such vvords that both speaker and hearer will vvonder vvherefrae they come After that the Spirit in his motions by a sweete and silent inspiration goeth forward in his progresse into the heart by little little with Life Light Libertie and peace of Conscience euen that peace vvhich passeth all vnderstanding and so cannot be expressed in humane words Now am I come Sir as yee heare ad metam non loquendi that I can say no more It were but folie for mee to dyue so deepe in Gods vvorkings as for to take vnto mee to declare vnto you that vvhich passeth all vnderstanding The new
place for them By this it would seeme that they shall bee altogether abolished The Pastour I answere that they shall not be abolished but they are said to flee away from the face of God as most learned Diuines thinke ad declarandum eorum terrorem animum ad fugam paratum for to declare their feare to compeare before the face of so great a Majestie till they be forbished scoured of the roust of their vanity wherevnto they haue beene made subject they thinke shame of their vncleannesse before such eyes of puritie It is said That there was no place found for them not that they wanted a place but because of such a Majestie they did goe about to hide themselues It is well said by a Learned interpreter vpon these words Quorum locus non reperitur illa latent occulta manent whose place is not found they lurke and remaine hidde not that they shall want a place but because no man can find out by searching what shall bee their place By this is onelie declared that till the Heauens and Elements bee reneued they shall in a manner goe and hide themselues from before the face of that heauenlie Majestie as a ragged man who thinking shame to compeare among those who are richlie arrayed withdraweth himselfe vnto some darke corner that hee should not be seene till he be better arrayed After that all shall bee made cleare and cleane by the fire they shall appeare before God in their appointed place The sicke Man Thinke yee that it shall bee a long time before that all can bee refined by that fire as also before that the dead bee raised vp and gathered together The Pastour * All this shall bee done in a moment In the twinkling of an eye the dead shall bee raised and the liuing shall bee changed where euer they bee found whether grinding at the Mile or walking in the fieldes or lying in their beddes they must all compeare either for to bee taken or to be forsaken all other thinges shall bee speedilie dispatched The sicke Man O but he is a great God who by his word keepeth in store the Heauens and Earth which are nowe reseruing them vnto fyre against the day of Iudgement Great must hee bee who shall kindle such a fire Nowe after that this fire shall bee quenched what shall bee done The Pastour After that by the fire the Lord hath cleansed all his creatures from their roust and scoured them from all their drosse hee shall forme them by his word the breath of his mouth As a maker of Glasses by the blast of his mouth formeth as hee pleaseth the soft melted liquour taken out of the fornace But wherevnto can we compare the most High in his most wonderfull workes Thē the Heauens which of before hee had rolled vp like a scrole shall bee vnfolded and put out of their roll and the Earth beeing purified and fined shall bee made a Lodging for righteousnesse according to his promise saith S. Peter Wee looke for new Heauens and new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse The sicke Man What is that to say That righteousnesse dwelleth into the new Heauens and into the newe Earth These words seeme to bee difficile The Pastour The opinions of men are diuerse concerning the sense thereof some thinke that Righteousnesse shall dwell in that new Heauens new Earth vnderstanding by Righteousnesse the righteousnesse of Christ According to this S. Pauls greatest desire was that hee might bee found in Christ Not said hee hauing mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Lawe but that which is of the Faith of Christe the Righteousnesse of God by Faith Others by a Metommie vnderstand that righteousnesse dwelling on the new Earth to bee taken or all faithfull and righteous men who shall be the Citizens of that new Heauen and of that new Earth O if wee knewe the glorie of these new things they would surelie rauish our heartes so that wee would all cry Come Lord Iesus come These new Heauens shall neuer be ouer-cast with clouds there shall bee none ecclipsing of light any more As for the new Earth there shall be no more sweate of browes All toiles and turmoiles shall cease Sinne the cause of all our woe shall bee no more there The most barbarous and barren parte that is now on earth shall bee more pleasant than euer was Paradise for then God shall be All in all All the Earth shal be lik that Holie of holies but without a partition wall In that Holie of holies in Canaan none but one that but once in the yeare might enter But in the new Heauens and newe Earth all the Faithfull shall haue their perpetuall residence where they shall follow the Lambe whither-so-euer it shall please him to goe There shall they for euer bee courting his countenance Fye that men will not liue well for a little space that they may liue with the Lambe for euer among these pleasures for euermore Fye that men for stinking pleasures should losse the comfort of these places wherein nothing but righteousnesse shall bee able to dwell The sicke Man Seeing the heauens and the earth shall bee made new yee thinke that they shall change for the better The Pastour That is most certaine They haue in their owne kinde beene obedient seruantes vnto their God and God shal also glorifie them with a kind of glorie which his Wisedome shall thinke fittest for them The heauens like a garment are waxed olde at Gods seruice God will not cast off his olde seruants but after their seruice he will reward them If their cloths bee worne at his seruice hee will giue them a new coate If their first powers bee shaken he will put new powers into them againe It was truelie said by the father of lyes That none serue God for nought It shall not bee for nought that the Heauens by their motions and the Earth by its birth haue declared the glorie of God omnipotent The sicke Man But is it possible that such creatures haue any knowledge while they serue God that he will reward them at the last day that therby they may bee incouraged at his seruice The Pastour They haue indeede a certaine secret instinct from GOD which worketh in them a sort of longing for the last day which shall bee the day of rewardes the day of their deliuerance In this the Apostle is plaine For saith hee the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestatiō of the Sons of God for the creature was made subject vnto vanitie not willinglie but by reason of him that hath subjected the same in hope because the creature it selfe also shall bee deliuered frō the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the Children of God For this cause the whole creation is said To groane and to
whereby it looketh for to bee made free from the bondage and burden of this corruption as a woman in trauell is comforted with hope of deliuerance This is that whereat the Apostle pointeth when hee saith that God hath subjected the creature in hope The sicke Man In my judgement vee speake pertinentlie In that difficultie I haue full satisfaction But what is this that is subjoyned vnto the verse following I vnderstand not the words well They are these The creature at last shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the Children of God What is this libertie of the Sons of God or how can the Heauens and the Elements bee said to bee made partakers of that liberty which belongeth to the Children of God I confesse mine ignorance heere in this point I desire to bee instructed The Pastour This is the libertie whereof they shall bee partakers with the Childrē of GOD they shall then haue all their will they shall no more be subject to that whereof they would desire to bee free Not willinglie shall bee no more in them in all their subjection They shall bee no more slaues to serue sinners but shall serue God and his Saintes which is true libertie Thus in so farre as they shall bee free of all that foresaid bondage they are said to be deliuered into the glorious liberty of the Children of God This shall bee a part of the libertie of Gods Sainctes in Heauen not to bee subject to the wicked any more not to wearie nor waxe olde all this shall they haue commond with the creature But O what a glorie shall the Children haue greater than all the creature shall receiue Euen a farre more and exceeding weight of Glorie The sicke Man I will not now inquire concerning that weightie glorie I reserue it to afterward God-willing One thing I desire to know whether or not the Lord shall come downe before the World shall bee refined with fire or if it shall bee after The Pastour In my judgement before that the Lord come down the Heauens shal be new and the earth all shal be new As a Citie before the entrie of a King prepareth all before hand maketh the wayes cleane and causeth sweepe off the streets the dung-hils so all the steertes of the Heauens and of the Aire and of the Earth muste bee made cleane before the comming of the Sonne of man While in the dayes of his flesh hee entered into the Citie of Ierusalem in qualitie of a King riding vpon an Asse-Colt all the streetes were couered with cloathes greene branches of trees so that the foote of his Asse scarclie culd touch the ground all that was there range with the sound of Hosanna Hosanna * Euen so in my judgement when that great Lord shall make his entrie into the world as a King from Heauen the world shall all bee made new it shall look with another face then it doth at this day If our gracious Soueraigne King CHARLES whom I pray the Lord to blesse with a prosperous reigne were comming from Londō for to enter into this Citie we would all cloth our selues in comely apperall we wold receiue him with great applause all shouting GOD SAVE KING CHARLES Would we doe this to a sinfull man Whose breath is in his nostrils What thinke yee then shall these creatures doe whose neckes are yoked vnder the bondage of corruption euer till the Lord IAH our God come downe riding vpon the Skie with sound of libertie for euermore Mine heart here faileth me while I thinke of that great applause and welcome to the world that Christ shall get when hee shall bowe the Heauens and come downe into the Aire Shal he who in the days of his flesh in the dayes of his disgrace was so honoured at his Royall entrie in Ierusalem not bee much more honoured at his Royall entrie into the worlde which is groaning after that houre of his comming as a woman in trauell earning after the houre of her deliuerie At his second comming all his wayes shal be prepared and the Hosanna Hosannahs of Ierusalem shall bee turned into Halleluiah Halleluiah Before Christ came first to appeare among men hee sent a Messenger to prepare his ways The voyce of One crying in the wildernesse Prepare yee the way of the Lord mak his paths straight Euerie valley shall bee filled and euery hill and mountaine shall bee made low and the crooked shall bee made straight the rough ways shal be made smooth Seeing in his humilitie his wayes were prepared before his comming there is greater appearance that before hee come backe to this worlde againe with his millions this new earth and all shall bee prepared It is a disgrace for a Citie to be cleansing streetes while the King is alreadie within the portes It is but rusticke manners to sweepe an house after that an honest man hath entered whereby the dust that is vnder his feete is carried vp to his hat and betweene his shoulders The sicke Man It is your opinion then that all shall bee cleansed with a fire before the Lord come downe The Pastour It is indeed And it seemeth also to haue some ground into Scripture for Christ while hee was declaring in the Gospel the things that should be fall before his comming hauing said That the Sunne and Moone should bee darkened and that Starres should fall from Heauen which declared the change of this world In the next verse hee declareth that after that appeared the signe of the Sonne of man in Heauen The sicke Man According to your discourse it would seeme that before the comming of the Lord at the renewing of this world there shall be a strange stirre among all the Creatures The Pastour That is most certaine and that both aboue and belowe S. Luke saith That there shall bee signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres and vpon the Earth Pressura gentiū distresse of Nations with perplexitie the Sea and the waues roaring Mens heartes failing them for feare and for looking after these things which are comming on the Earth for the powers of Heauen shal be shaken Thē shal they see the Sonne of Man comming in a cloud with power and geart glorie The sicke Man All these wordes bee wordes of great weight It would please you to giue mee the intepretation thereof The Pastour In these words the Euangelist letteth vs see howe this bigge olde world shal be broken downe for to bee made new againe Some of the Learned expound these wordes by way of similitude taken from man the little world while as hee is olde and failed the humours of his body like elements are troubled and shaken together His two eyes like the Sunne and Moone are darkened and his other senses like the Starres fall downe and decay His minde and his
is verie formal 〈◊〉 beheld said hee till the Thrones were cost down and the Ancient of dayes did â—…ite â—…base Garnâ—… was white as snow and the Haire of his Head lik the pure wool 〈◊〉 Throne was like the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his wheeleâ—… as burning fire A fieâ—…e streame issued and came foorih from before him thaâ—… sand thousands ministred vnto him 〈◊〉 ten thousand times 〈◊〉 thousand stood before him S. Iohn faith that the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousand 〈◊〉 thousands Let these brutish 〈◊〉 phemers here by 〈◊〉 way â—…ak a 〈◊〉 son who say That if many be damâ—… ned God shall ride with a thinne Court words 〈◊〉 to bee scourged with a thousand hels Away yee barking blasphemers God hath no neede of you nor of your like Hee who could of stones raise vp seede vnto Abraham and make stones to cry Hosanna Hosanna needeth not waÌ„t multitudes of these that will sing his praises But hath he not Angels in Heauen alreadie who are in number tenne thousand times tenne thousand and thousands of thousands But though they were none but himselfe is hee not that great SHADAI God al sufficient who hath neede of none of whome all haue neede If I were hungrie said hee I would not tell thee for the worlde is mine and the fulnesse thereof The sicke Man This would I learne of you viz. If when the Trumpet of the resurrection shall blow these that are then liuing shall die first The Pastour The Scripture saith That they shall bee changed This change which shall bee into the twinkling of an eye shall stand vnto them in steade of death In that is the word fulfilled It is appointed to all men once to die The sicke Man Thinke yee that these that then shal be aliue shall win first to Christ It would seeme that they haue a fore start of these who are rotten in the Graue The Pastour The Scripture is plaine This we say vnto you by the word of the Lord that wee which are aliue and remaine vnto the comming of the Lord shall not preuent them which are asleepe Some gather vpon these wordes that these who are dead shall preuent them who are aliue and shal be sooner at Christ than they viz. That Adam and Eue shall bee with the first and in the first ranke and so that at that Conuention these who first were dead shall preuent them that shall bee aliue But that hath no sure ground in Scripture for though it bee said That these who shall bee aliue shall not preuent these which are asleepe it will not follow that these which are asleepe shall preuent these which are aliue The Apostle himselfe saith That we shall all be caught vp together in the Clouds As for who shall bee formost Dies Domini revelabit The day of the Lord shall declare it The sicke Man I see theÌ„ that your opinion is that all flesh that day must arise and compeare before God and that none must be excepted But how is it that the Godlie onelie by Christ are called The Children of the resurrection By that it would appeare that none shall arise but the members of Christ The Pastour It is most certaine that all shall arise All that are in the graue shall heare his voyce and shall come foorth they that haue done good vnto the Resurrection of life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of damnation As for the Godlie indeede properlie they are the Children of the Resurrection because they shall arise willinglie out of their beddes and because by the vertue of Christs Resurrection they shall arise hee being the Head and they the members which must follow after that Head As for the wicked they shal be scourged out of their Graues the force of wrath shall draw them out that as Malefactors they may come heare their doome pronounced against them The sicke Man I heare you say according to Gods worde that all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and shall come foorth If that bee where shall the little Children that died without Baptisme bee The Romane Church teacheth that such goe to a prison where they shall neuer see the face of God Shall not their bodies come out of their Graues If the Heauens and the Earth passe away what part can they be in where they shall not see Gods face The Pastour Indeede Sir your reason refuteth that errour sufficientlie For certainelie their bodies must come out of their Graues It is not possible but in that day they shall see Christ. Truelie to put such into an euerlasting prison for such a cause were to blame the Lord himselfe of injustice The Lord hath said The sonne shall not beare the iniquitie of the father What if the father by negligence shall neglect to cause baptize his Childe shall the Childe for his fathers negligence be clapped vp into euerlasting prison If that were should not the prouerbe bee true The fathers haue eaten sower grappes and the Childrens teeth are set on edge It was well said by Bernard Non privatio Baptismi sed contemptus damnat That is not the want but the contempt of Baptisme condemneth If any condemnation bee the Father who contemneth and not the Childe who contemneth not shall bee damned S. Ambros speaking of Valentinian who disceased before he culd come to him for to bee baptized said Quem regeneraturus eram amisi sed ille non amisit gratiaâ—… quam poposcit That is I haue lost him whom I was for to regenerate but hee hath not lossed the grace which he sought None but baptizers of Bells will be against this trueth The sicke Man I am well satisfied in that point I wonder much howe men should goe so farre astray Where shall these bodies of little Children bee in the day of the Resurrection if they shall not compeare before Christ the Iudge I thinke this argument can hardlie bee answered vnto Another difficultie heere may be moued concerning Baptisme which the Apostle taketh as an argument to proue the Resurrection What shall they doe saith hee which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all why are they then baptized for the dead The wordes seeme verie difficle The Pastour Indeede Sir they want not difficultie Some interprete the words for the dead That is Vice loco mortuorum The custome was among the Christians as S. Ambros recordeth that if any dyed without Baptisme some of the liuing came to the bed where they were dead or to their Graue and there were baptized for them Chrysostome and Epiphanius declare that this was a custome among the Marcionites which they reproue as a vaine inuention Others interprete these wordâ—… of these who on their death-beds were baptized that thereby all by-gone sinnes might bee purged away Others interprete To be baptized for the
dead That is in the faith of the Resurrection of the dead For these who were to be baptized first did rehearse the Creede and when they came to the Resurrection of 〈◊〉 dead at these words they were baptized Others of the Learned take the wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the dead The custome beeing of olde that these who were baptized were baptized about the Graues where the dead did lye for to testifie that they did belieue the Resurrection from the dead Some by baptising heere vnderstand that washing and ablution of dead bodies After this signification Cuppes are said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be baptized or washen This washing of the dead bodies before their buriall as some thinke was common to the Iewes who in hope of the Resurrection did both them and make them cleane This was also a custome among the Pagans to wash and anoint the dead bodies Such were called Pollinctores This also appeareth to haue beene done in the dayes of the Apostles by the Christians In the Actes it is written of Tabitha that being dead they washed her and layed her in an vpper Chamber All these baptizings and washings were in hope of the Resurrection As for the Pagans they wrought the wroke as Peter on Tabor spake not knowing what hee said or as Cajaphas prophesied not vnderstanding the prophecie which hee preached This by the moste Learned is approued Others interprete to bee baptized for dead not for the dead or about the Graues of these that are buried but for dead say they that is as dead to sinne for to destroy and mortifie sinne which is the chiefe ende of Baptisme This say they is a maine argument for to proue the Resurrection For if there were no Resurrection to what purpose should men crucifie their sinnes Behold how these few words To bee baptized for dead hath troubled so manie braines Where wee may learne the shallownesse of mans witte God with that little Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath giuen all the Doctours of the Church a taske that may teach them humilitie an Antidote for to cure our swelling knowledge The sicke Man That which ye say is trueth Oh that men were wise in this point that they could consider the weaknesse of their wits But to come to our purpose concerning the Resurrection Manie a time haue I in my Spirit wondered at the greatnesse of that worke The Pastour It shall be a great worke indeede But if anie Saducean spirit would doubt of it it must also doubt more of the creation I take the creation to haue beene a greater worke It is more to haue made our bodies of nothing than to gather their dust together which is now but dispersed This was a Fathers argument Vtique idoneus est reficere qui facit quare miramur quarenon credimus Deus est qui fecit Considera authorem tolle dubitationem That is It is easie for God to mak ouer againe that which he hath once made why marueill wee yea why belieue wee not God hath made all Consider the Maker and doubt no more The sicke Man Let mee heare some-thing out of Scripture concerning this point The Pastour There bee many moste famous passages for the probation of that great worke both out of the olde and New-Testament I know said Iob that my Redeemer liueth and that hee shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth and though after my skinne wormes destroy this bodie yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall beholde and not another though my reines bee consumed within mee Daniel is cleare in this Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake Some to euerlasting life and some to shame and euerlasting contempt The Prophet Ezekiel by way of similitude setting the deliuerance of Israel pointeth at the Resurrection Behold O people saith hee I will open your Graues and cause you to come vp out of your graues Christ in the New-Testament made numbers of the Sainctes to come out of the dust of death What they were no man can tell their names whether it was Moses or Ioshua Samuel Dauid Iosaphat Iosiah or who no tongue can tell But this wee know that after Christ arose by the power of his Resurrection hee made manie to come out of their Graues The graues were opened and manie bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of the graues after his Resurrection and went into the holy Citie and appeared vnto manie The sicke Man O but that was wonderfull Think yee that after that they did returne to their Graues The Pastour The most Learned esteeme that they neuer did returne back to dust but that they waited on Christ vntill the day of his Ascention in which day they did accompanie him vp to the Heauens where with their Head Christ they were receiued into Glorie with the great applause of all Angels and Sainctes whose Spirits aboue are desiring continuallie to see the day when Soule and bodie shall bee joyned for to bee glorified together for euer The sicke Man After that the dead are risen and the liuing changed what thinke ye shall immediatelie follow before we meete with the Lord himselfe The Pastour In the judgment of some so soone as the dead shall bee raised and the liuing changed before that we shall meete with Christ into the cloudes there shall be a sore mourning both among the Godlie and the wicked for the piercing of that Lord Euery one of the Godlie in that day shall say as the Butler said to Pharaoh I 〈◊〉 remember my faultes this day Such a mourning was neuer heard since the world was founded as shall be heard that day for a space Christ himselfe hath declared this saying Then shall all the Tribes of the earth mourne when they shall see the Sonne of man comming into the Cloudes All shall bee agast at the first sight of that High and loftie One that inhabiteth Eternitie S Iohn saith Behold hee commeth with Cloudes and euerie eye shall see him and they also which pierced him And all the Kinrides of the Earth shall waile because of him The Prophet Zacharie compareth this mourning to the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon for the death of good Iosiah Some thinke that onelie the wicked shall mourne in that day In my judgement it is the most true opinion Others by reason of these foresaid passages thinke that all both Godlie and vngodlie at the first sight of Iesus shall uaile with great lamentations while they shall behold him whom they haue pierced All at the sight of him who was pierced for and by our sinnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plangent that is shall strik their brests with their hands the signe of great doole After that the Lord hath suffered his to mourne for a space in
day But alas what can the earth affoord simile aut secundum that is like vnto that joy which shall fill ouerflow all the hearts of the godly whē Christ shal bring vp to the Heauens his Church which is his Wife his faire Loue hauing Doues eyes within her Locks being cloathed and crowned with the glorie of himselfe what tong cā expresse nay what heart can conceiue what joy glorie shal be there where the Lambes Wife shall bee dected with her Husband Christ who shall enliue Her with marchlesse joye and glorious immortalitie This is that great wonder which S. Iohn in his Reuelations saw in Heauen viz. A woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moone vnder her feete and vpon her head a crowne of twelue Stars Behold consider the Lambes Bride all enuironed with Light clothed with Christ her Sunne and crowned with glistring starres of glorie heauenlie jewels diuine Dyamonds Behold her making a foote-stoole of the Moone the second great Light of Heauen See how shee treadeth vnder her feete that most inconstant creature for to declare that constancie of her loue toward her Lord which shall last for euer without anie change O the beautie of that Bride whose cheekes shall bee comelie with rowes of Iewels whose necke shall bee dected with the chaines of Christs merites The Angels themselues beholding this Bride so royallie attyred shall wonder at her beautie When these Noble Spirits shall see and consider that great familiaritie that shal be betweene Christ his Spouse they shall wonder shall say one to another Who is this that commeth up out of the wildernes leaning vpō her wel-beloued After that the Church the Lambs Wife who on earth was betrothed by grace shall in the Heauens bee maried by glorie and conuoyed vnto his euer greene bed all Eternitie shal be in the Heauens lik a mariage day decored trimed with all sortes of Flowers of Fruits of feastings of Musick and of all contentment that can be conceiued heard seene sauoured or touched by a creature There our wants shall bee turned into wishes That which there shall bee least shall bee many thousand degrees aboue all that anie mortall heart heere can desire All our senses shall be possessed and filled with pleasures our mind shall bee enlightened Our will shall bee contented All our affections shall bee satisfied The Angel in the Reuelation gaue a command vnto Iohn to write in a Booke concerning the Lambes feast prepared for his Mariage in the day of the gladnesse of his heart but not being able neither hee to indite nor S. Iohn to write all the dainties of that Feast he desired him to write that all were blessed which were called vnto it Write said hee Blessed are they which are called vnto the Mariage Supper of the Lambe Lest Iohn should haue doubted whether it was so indeed or not the Angel subjoyneth these are the true sayings of God Let vs conceiue this much of these pleasures that they cannot bee conceiued All that wee can conceiue shall bee lesse by manie degrees than the least thing wee shall receiue Then all our desires shal be enlarged made wider Open thy mouth verie wide I shal fill it vnto thee God himselfe beeing All in all all our desires shall bee fullie satisfied and though they shall bee alwayes satisfied they shall neuer bee cloyed All wordes heere are full of wants for these bee things which passe all humane sight and search The sicke man The consideration of such things enliueth my Soule looseth mine heart wonderfully frō the loue of all worldlie things and draweth my heart with a feruent desire of a sight of that day It is no wonder that the whole creation groaneth and trauelleth in paine together vntill now If wee had hearts to belieue we should finde into our hearts an earnest expectation and a waiting for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God Alas that our deuotion should bee so rotten and vnsound If wee could gette but a glimpse of our God heere behinde it should stirre vp all our desires to see his Face The Pastour That is most certaine By this desire shall a man know whether he bee a spirituall man or a carnall Hee that is but carnall neuer desireth to goe out of this world It is good for vs to be heere will he say as ◅eter said on Tabor But hee that hath receiued the Spirit will finde better motions in his heart Wee our selues saith S. Paul which haue the first fruites of the Spirit euen wee our selues groane within our selues waiting for the adoption to wite the redemption of our bodie The sicke Man Alas wee all are heere naturallie of a temporising temper wee linger and delay to returne to our God O Lord of eternitie be fauourable to vs that we may feare thee let thy grace worke such groans in our hearts that thereby we may know that wee haue certainelie receiued the first fruites of the Spirit So long as wee are heere make the current of our affections to runne the way of thy Commandements There is a difficultie now come in my minde whereof I gladlie desire to be cleared It is concerning Christ himselfe of him it is said That hee shall deliuer vp the Kingdome to God his Father after hee hath subdued all his enemies The Pastour I remember well where these wordes are written The Apostle speaking of the Resurrection of the last judgement saith Then commeth the end when hee shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdome to God his Father when hee shall haue put downe all rule authoritie and power For hee must reigne till hee haue put all his enemies vnder his feete c. And when all things shall bee subdued vnto him then shall the Sonne also himselfe bee subject vnto him that put all thinges vnder him that God may bee All in all The sicke Man These bee the wordes indeede of my difficultie I pray you to make mee vnderstand them What is that to say That hee shall deliuer vp the Kingdome to his Father and that after he hath subdued all things he himselfe must become subject to him that put all things vnder him It would seeme that Christ our Lord shall lose by this meanes For first it is said That hee must deliuer vp the Kingdome and rule no more Secōdlie that he must become subject to God the Father I desire you Sir to loose this knottie difficultie These who plowe with Gods Hyfer may easilie finde out the darkest Riddles The Pastour I shall loose these knots easilie By that change the Lord shall bee no loser As for that it is said That he shall deliuer vp the Kingdome to his Father after that hee hath put downe all rule authoritie and power It is not to be vnderstood absolutely that Christ there after shall reigne no more but that hee shall reigne
owne seeing it is said That the Father is he who shall put all things vnder his feete The Pastour The most learned Diuines haue considered that the Apostle there speaketh not of Christ as hee is Filius Dei eternus simpliciter simplie the Sonne of God but as hee is in the fo◅me of a seruant for that cause as is well remarked by the best wits none can affirme that in Christ is Secundaria divinitas a Diuinitie of a baser rancke * This wee must all know that Christ the Sonne the Father beeing but one GOD worke with one and the selfe same power As God the Father and hee are one so what power Christ man hath in subduing his enemies it may bee said to bee from the Father Because the Trinity is such a deepe mysterie as no humane Wit can search it thorow so the actions of the three Persons are such as no man can clearelie discerne them It is much for our shallow-wits to know the borders of Gods ways It is good in Gods mysteries s◅pere ad sobrietatem that our wisedome bee sober and not drunke with a giddie curiosity neither must wee d◅aw to the other extremitie as to flatter our selues in a sluggish dulnesse hauing no care to search the Scriptures with the men of Berea for to knowe that which it hath pleased God to reueale to vs It is good to seeke out carefullie though not curiouslie the knowledge of Gods reuealed will so farre as can make for the comfort of our Soules The sicke Man Certainelie the knowledge of such things is verie needfull for the comfort of these that are for to leaue this world And therefore I who loo◅ not for long sojourning heere desire to know the more earnestlie what good things the Lord hath prepared for his owne into that other world The hope of Glorie is like a strong hold against the feare of Death O◅ that I were that which I would bee There is now resting only one difficultie in the words of the Apostle which I neuer as yet could well vnderstand It is said That when all things shal be subdued vnto the Father then shall the Sonne also himselfe bee subject vnto him that put all thing◅ vnder his feete Is not the Sonne euen now subject vnto the Father If not how is it said That hee shall bee then subject vnto him The Pastour Christ as God is not at all subject vnto the Father but all the Godlie are subject both to Him and to the Father But as man Christ is with vs subject vnto the Father According to this a Father said well Christus in quantum Deus est cum illo nos subjectos habet in quantum sacerdos nobiscum illi subjectus est That is To Christ as God wee are subject as to the Father but as Christ is our Priest hee is with vs subject vnto the Father Moreouer it may bee saide that after the last Iudgement Christ shall bee subject vnto the Father because then all the Faithfull which are his Mysticall bodie shall bee perfectlie subject to the Father Christ the Head of the Church since his incarnation hath in his owne Person bene subject vnto the Father perfectly and so is hee yet But in his mysticall members below there is a miserable rebellion of flesh against the Spirit But when all shall bee gathered together in one Bodie into Glorie thē shall Christ be perfectlie subject vnto God both Quoad naturam suam tum quoad corpus mysticum In his humane Nature and in his mysticall Bodie which are the faithfull When all the Elect with their Head Christ shall be perfectlie subject vnto God then shall Christ bee fullie and finallie subject to the Father This seemeth to bee the true meaning of the wordes This is made cleare by the wordes following viz. That this subjection shall bee that God may bee All in all But this wee must vnderstand that this subjection of Christ and of his mysticall Bodie is not anie disgrace or disparagement to our Head Christ or to vs The trueth is that it is a moste Princelie honour to bee the Prince of Heauens subject It were better to bee the least subject of Heauen than the greatest commander of Hell The seruice of our God is greatest libertie The more perfect this subjection be the greater is our Glorie The subjection of a creature to God is the verie Image of God in the creature Gods Image in Adam was chieflie in his subjection to Gods will which was defaced by his rebellion which is the verie Image of the Deuill The sicke Man Wee are much beholden to our God who in his great mercie hath reuealed vnto vs all these things into his word His word may well bee called A Lanterne vnto our steps a light which enlighteneth the eyes burning clearer thā any Cresset-light warning from dangers The Pastour Indeede Gods word is a word of life and of light It is a sauing word the power of God to Saluation This power is onelie peculiar to the mightie operation of this word There bee in the creatures words and lines of words for to declare vnto man that there is a God that so man may be without excuse Day vnto day vttereth speach and night vnto night sheweth knowledge Their Line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world But all these wordes and lines are but lines of words concerning the creation All that they can say is but that there is a God a mouer a primum ens a first Be-ere whereby all things haue their beeing But in all these lines of words there is not one word of Christ the Redeemer There is not a day where the Gospel shinneth not that can vtter any speach or shewe any knowledge of that which concerneth mans Saluation wrought with the bloodie sweate of God There is not a word let bee a line in any worke of Nature concerning the great mysterie of Godlinesse Christ manifested in the flesh justified in the Spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Gentiles beleeued on in the world and receiued vp into glorie The sicke Man O words worthie to bee written with the point of a Dyamond Seeing it is so this should mak vs to esteeme so much the more of the glorious Gospel which is the power of God to saluation of all beleeuers The Pastour The Gospel indeede is like a m◅st rich treasure digged into a fielde for which a man that hath found it will goe and sell all that hee hath that hee may buy that fielde for the treasures cause This Gospel is like a Sunne newly created in the heauens which shineth both day and night both in life and death with most glistring wholesome Beames wherby the vnwholesome cloudie night aire of iniquitie is rarified scattered and dispersed As the Sun in the heauens by its heate maketh al
arrows of thy wrath which thou hast made to stick in his ribbes the poyson whereof hath drunken vp his Spirit O how fearefull haue thy terrours set themselues in aray against him Beginne Lord and continue to slacke thy wrath Be with him now in thy great mercy O LORD and conuoye him by the graces of thy Spirit thorow the snakie field wildernesse of this world wherein hee hath beene like a Pilgrime or a Traueller passing from Towne to Towne till hee come into his Inne where he hopeth by thy mercie to bee exempt from all mixture of miserie Hee is now in the heate of his journey Let some cooling droppes of thy comforts bee send vnto him for to coole and quench his drougth in the scorching heate of this spirituall skirmish Thou who made waters to rush out of the jaw bone for the refreshing of Samson after his fight with the Philistimes giue vnto this wearied soule a drink of that water whereof if a man drink hee shall neuer thirst any more And now seeing in all appearance he is not for to remaine manie dayes vpon this Earth make him to be still looking all the dayes of his appointed time till his changing come grant that when it shall come hee may change for the better and that for the glorie of thy great Name and for the euerlasting rest peace and joye of his sillie sorrow beaten Soule O crush the head and breake the heart of euerie sinne that lurketh within his breast left they choke the Soule of this thy Turtle Doue Bee no more sowre vnto him If thou should appeare grieslie with a sterne countenance vnto sinners how soone should they bee out-faced if thou straitlie m◅iniquitie who shall stand But O mercie is with thee Let that mercie that is with thee come to him wherby all his floating thoughts may bee made to sink soake into the Blood of the Lambe the softner and soupler of stiffe and hardened heartes In the darkest houre of death bee thou the comfort and darlling del◅ght of his heart O Pastour of Israel now put an end to all the cloudie and darke dayes of his distresse Tak in this silly Soule thy little Lambe within the compasse of thine heauenlie folde till it winne there refresh it with a baire in its journey let no meanes bee deficient til in it thou crowne thy graces with thy glorie LORD blesse thy Church vniuersall the deare Spouse of Iesus as they are all members of one Body make them all to bee of one heart that in an heauenlie harmonie they may all thinke one thing Stop the mouth of the red Dragon from spewing out the red bloodie floodes of persecution against Her if not giue Her the winges of Faith whereby Shee may flee to the wildernesse for Her escape O cloth her Priests with Saluation that all her Saints may shout a lowd for joye Giue them one mind and one mouth But alas Icabod where nowe is that glorie Preserue our gracious SOVERAIGNE with his Royall Match Send down a princelie Spirit vpon him Keepe them as the Apple of thine Eye As thou hast bund their bodies into the bond of wed locke so bind their Soules into the bandle of life Make the Heauens to rejoyce at her Majesties conuersion Loue Her LORD as thou loued Lidea by the opening of her heart Make both Crowne and Court seruiceable to thee the greatest Majestie aboue Sanctifie all our Nobles make them lik the men of Berea couragious for the Trueth Plants of renowne Guide vs all in the way of righteousnesse and weane vs from the loue of this Worlde Prepare vs for the last Battell of the Soule Suffer neuer Sathan with the mood of his temptations to trouble or distemper the cleare Riuers of thy comforts wherwith thou refresheth thy beloued Ones Suffer neuer that prince of darknesse to put out with his dampes the glorious Light of thy Gospel which now most orientlie shineth among vs. LORD perfume all our vnwhorthie prayers with the sweete smelling righteousnes of Iesus Christ our Lord Master in whose most blessed Name wee pray as hee hath pleased him to teach vs Our Father which art c. By Gods grace Sir I shall returne the Morrow earelie The Spirit of Iesus print into your heart the best comforts of his Treasures Remember Sir that all our goodnesse is of him for naturallie wee are hewen out of a sinfull rocke All our guises are but guile till we bee cast into another mould by the Spirit of regeneration Striue more and more to bee constant and couragious till this bitter Battell bee ended For euerie Battell of the Warriour is with confused noise and garments rolled in Blood Now the night is fallen downe while deepe sleepe falleth on mē strin◅ to bee acquainted with the Teacher of the reines in the night season If the paine of your sicknes rob your eyes of sleepe cause read vnto you this night Dan. 7. 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thess. 4. The LORD pul off your Soule al the filthie menstruous cloutes of your corruptions and cloath you with the most rich invaluable Robe of Christs righteousnesse The Lord fill your heart with the inspirations of the Almightie His Grace bee with you THE SIXT DAYES Conference of Heauens Glorie The Pastour ACcording to my promise Sir I am heere come againe for to see what it shall please God to doe with you at last waite constantlie on your God His mind is to doe you good in the latter end I earnestlie now desire to know what the meditation of the last judgement hath wrought into your heart this night bygone The sicke Man Except that a man bee well occupied in the day his heart in the night will swarme with worthlesse witlesse thoughts Sathan the lord of the night is euer busie by secret foisting in of corruptions into mans thoughts to justle out of his heart all holie and heauenlie meditations All this night it seemeth vnto me that I heard the shrill sound of the last Trumpet sounding most fearefullie the Alarum of the Resurrection at the second and sudden comming of our Lord All Saintes and Angels seemed to bee present at that great Iubile I thought in my sleepe that I saw the Sonne of man enuironed with innumberable Charets of fyre comming downe with vnspeakable pompe Glorie and Majestie I thought him more glistering than the Sun while he sbineth in his greatest force Mine eyes were dazeled with the brightnesse of his Beames All thrones made roome vnto his Throne Mine heart was neuer so rauished as it hath bene this last night by-past In the thoghts of mine heart in the night while deepe sleepe falleth on mā there came into my memorie some passages of Scripture concerning heauens glorie wherof most gladlie I desire now to heare The Apostle S. Paul speaketh of this with great power Wee faint not said hee but though our outward man perish
him that is a Being which causeth all beeings From motions men in nature will come to motions till they clime vp to Primus motor the first Mouer On him will they looke as a man in an high Feuer to whome this man that man will say Know yee mee know ye mee The sight of the braine is so dazeled that it is paine much labour but to heare these three words Knowe yee mee Braine sicke Nature can by no meanes know God till the Feuer of nature bee cooled with Grace After that the coole of Grace hath broght a sweate wherwith the Soule is purged from the rotten humours of iniquitie then the Soule becommeth like a man after a Feuer come to himselfe againe According to this it is said oâ—… the Forlorne that he came to himselfe after that hee was cooled of his foolish Feuer Till we come to our selues by Grace wee shall neuer be able to know the Lord by Nature All that the most wise Pagans culd doe by the whole helpe of Nature was to come from beeingâ—… to him that is the cause of all beeing and from motion to the first Moueâ—… But who that Mouer was the feuerof Nature made their braine so giddie that they could not discerne him When all the Clergie of Atheâ—… into that Famous Colledge of Greâ—… had sought out this God to feele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and finde him they wandred 〈◊〉 and downe in their imaginationâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sodomites about Lots 〈◊〉 noâ—… beeing able to finde it All their 〈◊〉 knowledge which was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 could no wiâ—…e reach vnâ—…o him For this cause they set vp an 〈◊〉 into their moste learned Citiâ—… with this inâ—…tion written into great Letters TO THE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Behold where the true God was vnknowne euen in the Citie where Socrates Plato and Aristotleâ—… the great lights of Nature had reached publicklie The verticall pointâ—… all their knowledge could I neuer reach vnto the borders nay not vnto the base of the Gospel Behold and see where Science was to be sold in greatest aboundance there was a profession of the ignorance of the true God written vpon their Altar in great Letters for by the greatnesse of the Letters to declare the grosse dulnesse of their ignorance Hee who knoweth not God were hee neuer so learned what can hee speake of Heauen 〈◊〉 What should Heauen it selfe bee without the presence of God but like a Citie laide wast or like an olde Dungeon not inhabited where Iim and Zijm resort As for vs blessed bee God we know that there is a God into the Heauens the sight of whose backe partes made the face of Moses so to shine that no eye vndazeled culd behold him What a Majestie must this bee whose backe-partes printed such a light into the face of a man that no man could behold the face of a sinner stamped with a second impression This is he who as Scripture teacheth dwelleth into an inaccessable light of which a learned Pagan hauing seene some light impression not in the face of Moses but onelie into the face of Nature said a great word Lumen est vmbra Dei Deus est lumen luminis All light which wee see is but a duskie shadow of God But God is the Light of light a liuing Light the Life of light the Sunne that shineth to the world aboue and the Candle of Heauen Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse in Heauen shall bee without any shadow of the Earth which is the cause of ouâ—… night Hee shal be a Sun which shall shine continuallie both round about and in all the partes of the Heauen for there shall bee no night there For to come thither man should bee content to pluck out his right eye euen his sweetest bosome delights The sicke Man Mine hearte is wained from the loue of the base lump of this Earth I desire to heare some-thing more coÌ„cerning these celestiall buildings which Scripture calleth euerlasting Tabernacles the resting place of all created desires Seeing there after Death wee must sojourne eternallie let mee heaâ—…e of the Glorie of these heauenlie MansioÌ„s prepared for Gods most precious jewels O these blessed burnished vauts all beset with diuine Dyamonds Let mee heare a description of that Palace The Pastour The matter is high Our creeping wordes of Babel cannot reach to the ancles of such loftie matters are but of yesterday and know nothing As I know I shall in my stammering tong and mussling speech doe what I can for to allure you to the loue thereof As for the structure furniture and beautie of that Palace of our God it is wonderfull By no skill can any mortall hand chalk them out There is that blessed Bridegroomes chamber garnished with an azured Curtaine which is embrodered and spangled with starres of light as with golden studs whose beautie no mortall tongue is able fullie to expresse Well may wee say and sing of that Citie that which Dauid sang of its figure Glorious thinges are spoken of thee O thou Citie of our God nay let mee rather say of the figured Citie such glorious things are in thee that they cannot bee spoken O thou Citie of our God All the glories we see without are but sparkles of these infinitlie bright blazing perfections which are within euen things which eye neuer sawe eare neuer heard and which cannot enter into the heart of man One said verie well Res verae sunt in mundo invisibili in mundo visibili vmbrae rerum That is In Heauen the invisible world is the substance of thinges indeede but in this visible world on earth is nothing but shadowes of thinges which are lesse than accidents The greatest glorie that wee see in the out-side of the Heauens is but a vaile that couereth the glorie that is within as the Badgers skinnes couered the Arke of glorie and the Tabernacle But because wee are in this world as childreÌ„ in the wombe wee cannot conceiue what can bee without this world wee haue made a great conception if wee can conceiue that it cannot bee conceiued wee muse well of Heauen if while wee muse we bee amazed counting all joye pleasure profite and preferment below to be both losse doung in comparison of thinges that are aboue which infinitlie goe beyond all created comprehensions If these who goe downe to the deepes see the wonders of the Lord what wonders shall they see who are in the hights of eternitie What rest can a man looke for till hee bee into the Heauens There the blasts of winds and tempests of tongs terrours of CoÌ„science are not there the Church the Lords Lillie is no more among the thornes There the heart of man is no more greiued nor ouer clouded with lowring Melancholie all is in peace within All is calme cleare There is
bee powred vpon the desolate These bee the wordes of the Prophet of which Christ said Who so readeth let him vnderstand The meaning is this By this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abomination of desolation The most learned vnderstaÌ„d that Romane armie which vnder Vespasian and Titus fearefullie wasted the land of Iudea sacked the Citie of Ierusalem It was said To stand in the holy place that is in the holie Land of Iudea neare vnto Ierusalem the holie Citie In these wordes Christ foretold of the ruine of that Citie according to Daniel who of before had particularlie set downe the time Thus as yee see the Romane armie was called The abomination of desolation that is Abominatio desolans seu vastans abominablie destroying This is more cleare in S. Luke When yee shall see Ierusalem compassed with Armies then know that the desolation thereof is neare When that destroying and abominablie desolating Armie compassed that holie Citie then did the abomination of desolation stand in the holie place Some of the Learned interpret this abomination standing in the holie place to bee that profanation of the Temple Collocata ibi Aquila multis patratis quae per legem non licebant vnde etiam mâ—…x sequutum est Templi vrbis geniâ—… excidium By placing therein the Eagle the Romane Ensigne and by doing diuerse other thinges forbidden by the Law wherevpon the desolation of Temple Citie and of Nation did ensue The sicke Man I thinke now that I vnderstaÌ„d by you that which by reading hitherto I haue not vnderstood What other thing could ensue but an abomination of desolation where the Messiah was cut off If for the blood of Cain vengeance was to be taken on the murtherer seuen-fold for the blood of Lâ—…mech if his brags were true seuentie and seuen fold what vengeance must bee taken vpon the shedders of the Blood of God which not onelie with the blood of Abel did cry vnto God from the ground but also from the heauens wherein the Sun cloathed in doole wrapped for a space in his mourning weede would not looke vpon that creature wherevpon his Master was slaine But for to leaue this Ierusalem which is now abominablie desolate Let me heare something of the spirituall Ierusalem The Pastour The spirituall Ierusalem is called Ierusalem which is aboue also the Citie of the liuing God the heauenlie Ierusalem and also the holie Ierusalem descending out of heauen from God The sicke Man Thinke yee that in all these passages of Scripture Ierusalem bee taken after one sense The Pastour I answere that the spirituall Citie Ierusalem in Scripture is taken two wayes either for the Church below wherein God as in a Citie calleth the Godly to immortalitie and happinesse Or it is taken for the heauens where the Godlie actuallie possesse that which they had heere but in hope In the first sense the Church militant on earth is called Ierusalem aboue and the heauenlie Ierusalem The sicke Man Seeing by that Ierusalem is vnderstood the Church heere below wherfore is it called Ierusalem aboue and the heauenlie Ierusalem I thoght euer that such a Ierusalem did signifie the heauens The Pastour It is called Aboue and heauenlie because all the true Godlie the denizens thereof minde the thinges that are aboue Though their bodies bee heere their heartes are into the Heauens For our conuersation as S. Paule saith is in heauen For this spirituall exaltation of heartes the Church in the New-Testament is called The mountaine of the Lords house established in the top of the mountaines exalted aboue the hill One speaking of this Ierusalem which S. Paul called Ierusalem aboue the mother of vs all noteth quickelie these things In hoc quod dicitur sursum originis altitudo Quod Ierusalem Pacis multitudo Quod mater Foecunditatis amplitudo Quod nostrum omnium Charitatis latitudo It is called Aboue from the highnesse of its Kinred aâ—…d pedegree It is called Ierusalem from aboundance of peace It is called Free from its great liberties It is called â—… Mother because of its fruitfulnesse It is called the Mother of vs all to teach vs charitie and loue Are wee not all the Children of the Church our Mother Why then as Ioseph said to his brethren See that yee fall not out by the way The sicke Man I haue often heard of Ierusalem that most famous Citie of the Land of Iurie but I could neuer well know wherfore it was so called Bethlehem Bethel Bethauen are easilie known by their significations viz. House of Bread house of God house of wickednesse But as for Ierusalem I vnderstand not its signification The Pastour Learned men are of diuerse opinions concerning the name thereof Some thinke that it bee so called from Iebus which was its name while the Iebusiens dwelt there Hierom thinketh that it is so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Greeke word which signifieth holy according to this in Scripture it is called The holie Citie others are of the opinion that Sem the sonne of Noah called it Salem that is Peace and that Abraham called it Iehouah Iâ—…eh The Lord will prouide or see Thus at last Salem Iireh put together by Dauid made IerusaleÌ„ that is Vision of Peac while it was called Salem Melchizedech was King thereof called by the Apostle King of Salem The sicke Man Let mee heare a little of the situation of that Citie and of that Land of Canaan The Pastour From Britaine it lyeth toward the South East One calleth it Centrum terrae vmbilicus the Center nauell of the Earth In it were two mouÌ„taines of great renown mount Sion mouÌ„t Moria Sion like an halfe Circle as writters record did lye at the South side of Ierusalem On it was builded the strongest Fortresse of the Citie There before Dauid's tyme was the strong Hold of the Iebusites so strong as they thoght that blind lame meÌ„ were able to keepe it against whomsoeuer This Mountaine was higher than all the rest Sion signifieth drynesse because the Hill was dry without any myre or dirt As for mount Moriah this was the Hill wherevpon that Temple was builded Then Solomon beganne tâ—… build the house of the Lord at Ierusalem in mount Moriah The ground wherevpon that statelie House did stand was that threshing floore of Ornan the Iebusite which Dauid wold buy from him for the full price The occasion was this Dauid hauing caused number the people the Lord was exceeding wroth so that in reuenge hee sent out his Angel who killed with the sword of Pestilence threescore and ten thousand men At last Dauid lifting vp his eyes saw the Angel betweene the heauen and the earth with a drawne sword stretched out ouer Ierusalem which hauing seene hee and the Elders of Israel cloathed in sacke cloth fell vpon their faces At
fire and Candles in the night time as in any other Citie But to Ierusalem aboue God hath said The Sun shall no more bee thy light by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moone giue light vnto thee But the Lord shall bee vnto thee an euerlasting light and thy God thy Glorie Thy Sunne shall no more goe down neither shall thy Moone with-draw it selfe for the Lord shall bee thine euerlasting Light 5 In the earthly Ierusalem often in place of Iustice was a seat of malice But in the new Ierusalem euill judges shall haue no sitting but the Throne of God and of the Lambe shall bee in it an appointed seat for the righteous Lord who shall lay judgment to the line and righteousnesse to the plummet The sicke Man O but my Soule is going to a pleasant Palace O thou my Soule rejoyce within mee that God hath prepared such pleasures for thee O how ami◅ble are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hostes Mine heart is in heauen Glorious things are spoken of the◅ O thou Citie of our God The Pastour It is certaine that mans heart can not conceiue the beautie of these buildings within If the house of God on earth seemed so pleasant to King Dauid that hee counted this the one thing hee would seeke that hee might dwell into it what shall wee thinke or say concerning Gods Palace in the Heauens One thing said hee haue I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the BEAVTIE of the Lord. Lords mercie what dulnesse and deadnesse of heart is this that wee seeke not after the same should not this be our one thing euen our onelie hearts desire to dwell with God aboue for to behold that BEAVTIE of the Lord these euer g◅eene pleasures in his celestiall arbours There is nothing heere below which can bee sufficient for to expresse the image nay not the shadowe of these things that are aboue In the most glorious creatures which are below as Gold Glasse Crystall Pearles and precious Stones we may see some thinges like shadowes of these glorious thinges aboue But there is no creature heere which can carrie to our imagination the shadow let bee the image of the glorie that is vp into that Holie of holies O but God is wonderfull in counsell and excellent in working But our Soules are so sleepie and sluggish that they cannot consider The fancies and folies of the earth bring vs quite out of conceite with celestiall pleasures Alas in the best of vs the seedes of grace lye buried vnder the thornes shamefullie ouertopped by them The little dramme of goodnesse in our hearts is waighed down with weightie talents of wickednes a mighty streame of earth◅y thoghts and worldlie desires lik a Torrent carieth our Soules down the hill from all heauenlie contemplations The clawing flatterers of our worldly affections whisper vnto vs that it is good for vs to bee heere The sicke Man The Lord subdue the master sinne which like a Ring-leader and head of all wickednesse maketh all our purest conceptions of heauen to be come moodie and drumlie O Lord let thy graces in mee bee presentlie vp in armes for to remoue all such earthlie mindednesse from mine heart by the power of thy diuine Armerouse vp this drousie soule that it may seeke thee afresh by a renewed act of Faith and Repentance Make mine heart to detaste all earthlie pleasures which are but rotten at the heart Kindle in mine heart a loue of thy Palace aboue stirre vp all my desires with a foretaste of the pleasures that are there that finding the comfortable relish thereof I may most willingly desire to be dissolued and to bee with Christ in the heauens for euer O Lord in stead of all meanes both outward inward supplie mee aboundantlie with the presence of thy Spirit Waine my Soule from the loue of the earth that thou may winne it to the loue of the Heauens O happie they who studie to pietie and puritie for no vncleane thing shall bee able to enter into these mansions O Lord let vs not bee like these who after that they haue seemed to disgorge their stomackes most filthilie with the Dogge swallow vp their owne vomit againe O shelter mee and saue me from the vnsoundnesse and vnsettlednesse of a deceitfull heart that I lash not out into the excesse of supperfluitie of wickednesse now while wee are speaking of the heauens make all the loue of the earth hencefoorth to bee cryed downe into my Soule The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauen I am rejoyced that while we are speaking of the heauens the Spirite of grace furnisheth you with such heauenlie prayers which would hearten any man to runne thorow hell to Heauen except that hee bee of the number of these who thinke it but a tricke to goe to hell The sicke Man I pray you now Sir to continue into that purpose concerning the glorie of Heauen for it affecteth much my Soule Your powerfull speach maketh my minde to stay in a feeling meditation vpon these beauties that are aboue If I heard not such good purpose my mind would either feede vpon dull and fruitlesse melancholie or else should gade and runne ryot in reuellings and in a world of foolish and fond imaginations The thoughts of man cannot runne long without rubor interruption in Spirituall things except that God in mercie both support them outwardlie and sinew them inwardlie by the finger of his Spirit The hearts of men are so light in their gading that moste easilie are they moued to glide ouer the best things and either swinishlie to wallow infilthinesse or furiouslie to follow these whose whole pregnancie of witte is spended vpon trifles Thus mirrilie they passe away that tyme wherein they should redeeme the time that is past I wish that mine heart by your discourse were confined to celestiall meditations Proceede now I pray you where yee left at last The Pastour My speach was that all the most glorious creatures that wee can either see aboue or below are lesse thā shadowes types or figures of things that are within the Heauens In them as in a Glasse we see weaklie the invisible things of God As a man not beeing able to face the Sun beholdeth him in a Basen full of water and yet not without some dazeling of his sight That weakened light will mak his eyes to water and teares to trickle downe If the glory of one of Gods seruants be so glistering in robes of light that no man can behold him but into the glasse of another creature and that also with great paine It is certaine that God must put many moe creatures betweene himselfe and vs that the glorie of his beames beeing weakened by diuerse reflexes from one creature to another man with his weake tender eyes may looke
vpon his light If a man cannot beholde the Sunne in the day hee may in the night behold his beames vpon the bodie of the Moone If his sight yet cannot suffer that hee may behold him in his second reflexe by beholding the Moone in a glasse If as yet his sight dazle there is a third and weaker reflexe By another glasse thou may gette the reflexe of that glassen reflexe Certainlie there must bee manie reflexes of Gods brightnes from one creature to another before that his invisible things can bee seene by vs What glorious beames of Gods face thinke yee be these which shine within that highest Heauen called Coelum Empyrium the fierie Heauen not that there is fire but because as the most Learned thinke it is purer than al the other heauens as much as the fire is purer than the other Elements O what shining brightnesse of God is to be seene there where all is more glauncing and cleare than that fire which Moses saw in the Bush. Let vs come down from thence to behold the glorious Stars the twinckling eyes of Heauen laughing vpon the godlie with their celestiall smyles O these bright and peerelesse Pearles Let vs from thence come downe to the two great Gouernours of the day and of the night from thence descend to the cleare pureaire so glauncing with the light of the Sunne as if it were all of Azure Come downe yet and vnder that are Aquae limpidae the cleare waters the mother of Pearles and of precious gold for the weakest eye there is terra opaca that thicke da◅ke duskish and lumpish masse of earth which a bleare eyed Leah may behold for in it to see without watering eyes the invisible thinges of God were it by looking vpon a Lillie or a Rose or vpon a Snaile or a Snaike Behold the goodnesse of God who hath sette his creatures by degrees in distance from the place of his inaccessible light that thereby the bleared eyes of men may get some glimpse of the shadowes of his invisible thinges which are of truest worth But O O O what a glorie and matchlesse fairenesse is there where God the King of Glorie is seene face to face O the glorie of the God-head The knowledge of the least sparkle of that glorie is not attainable by any carnall capacitie Because of that brightnesse that was in Moses his face by the reflexe of that Light which hee had seene but in IEHOVAHS backe partes it behoued him to couer his face with a Vaile when hee came for to speake vnto men Was the skinne of the face of a sinner so inlightened with bright beames from the Back of God that no man could behold it nor looke toward it till it was couered with a Vaile How many Vailes must God put betweene his face ours lest we should be dazeled with his glorie I take all the circles of the heauens the Fire and Aire aboue vs to bee as many obscuring Vailes which the Lord hath cast betweene the Glorie of his face the eyes of sinful man And yet in the Sunne hee hath fastened such a sparkle of his glorie that by his heate his brightnes he will cause man the king of creatures to bee ashamed to behold him Hee will cause him flie vnto the shadowes and goe with Gogle eyes of Glasse for to saue his eyes of flesh from the reflexe of his beames thogh blunted vpon the darke and duskie element of the earth See how mans sight is so weake that it cannot abide an earthlie blunted reflexe of that celestiall creature What shall I say more of the heauens which are so farre aboue vs Let vs come downe and learne humilitie at the feete of creatures below as at the feete of a Gamal◅ euen in this elementare Region of corruption Behold there is such a whitenesse into the snow which is but frozen and congealed blacke water that it will mak the dull sight of man so to dazle that when hee is entered into his owne house hee is not able to know the faces that are his owne yea many by such brightnes at last haue lost their sight Let mee yet come to an obscurer bodie The small printed Letters which wee read must be darkened with the blacknesse of inke and yet because the whitenes of the Paper scattereth so the sight it must bee gathered with the greenish colour of glassen Spectacles Now I pray you how should man behold that passing glory of his God who cannot behold the whitnesse of Paper but with borrowed eyes of Glasse Let men heare learne in his weaknesse to bee humble and to reuerence him that hath made so many creatures which for brightnesse he is not able to behold If poore man cānot behold the apparrell of Gods creatures clothed with light or with colours not seene without light If such a little glaunce is able to dazle his sight how should hee bee able to behold the King of creatures euen the great Creator him selfe whose backe partes are brighter than tenne thousand Sunnes Because of this great weaknesse caused into man by sinne man is remoued farre from the presence of this King lest hee should bee destroyed by the brightnesse of his beames If while the Sunne shineth with his beames darded directlie down the creatures are so parched with heate below that they are constrained to gaspe what should become of vs if Gods glorie should appeare at our verticall point without the interposition of many other creatures betweene him and vs If a little sparkle of his Glorie in the Sunne many thousand myles from vs maketh a man to faint sweate and gaspe what should become of vs if God himselfe the consuming fyre should approach vnto vs If the Sunne which seemeth to bee but of an hand-breadth hath such light and heate what should it bee if all the heauens were inlightened like the Sunne Though all the heauens were turned into a Sun they should not be of such brightnesse as are the backe-parts of IEHOVAH The Sun with all his light and heate may mak the face of man more obscure and duskie but cannot inlighten it But the backe partes of God printed such light into the face of a man that for brightnesse no man could behold it Mercifull God what stupiditie is this in man that hee will not consider what a Majestie this must bee whose obscurest parts are more bright than the Sunne and who with all is not confined with natural dimensions as with breadth or length but is aboue the Heauens infinitlie with infinite bounds and brightnesse the least sparkle whereof is more bright than if the whole Heauens were wholie tarned into a shining Sunne If men knew the pleasures that are there they wold not losse them for the painefull pleasures or rather vnpleasant paines of this sinfull life Alas that we are so carelesse of the attainment of such a weight of glorie
Alas that wee gaze so greedilie vpon the painted and varnished vanishing glorie of things below which all perish with the vsing If men knew what relish is into these dainties that are aboue prepared for the Sainctes they would not so glut themselues with the swinish â—…uskes of earthlie thinges but would reserue their lust for that whereof there is no loathing Fye on men that for follie should losse such an inheritance that fadeth not away In this world wee haue Bethel the house of God but aboue is Peniel the place of Gods face wherein are pleasures for euermore Below all pleasures ebbe and flow with discontent and comfort But aboue is an euerlasting full sea of joyes which could neuer enter into the heart of man Vnder the Law God was hid vnder a vaile In the Gospel wee see him in a glasse But in heauen we shall see him face to face and that indeede euen as hee is The sicke Man Mine heart by these wordes is possest with a secret louelier auishment Continue I pray you to declare what more beaucie is within that Paradise Let me heare of these pleasures which the Sainctes there haue in the presence of their God and what bee the order and chiefe ornaments of that Palace what bee the attyre of these that follow the Lambe what be the forme of their feasting at table with Abraham Isaac Iaacob The Pastour Such things are transcendent to all the wits of Nature and to all created inuentions It is good that wee beware to launch too farre into such a boundlesse and bottomelesse Ocean What is the compasse of mans braine little like a Nut-shell that it should containe conceptions of that which is infinit God who killed the Bethshemites for looking into his Arke and reproued the Galileens gazing vp to the Heauens will not allow men to pierce and prye curiouslie into his misteries which surpasse all created capacitie Our greatest wisedome shall bee to wonder at that which passeth the reach of all reason and reuelation It may well content the most curious Soule to bee of Gods Court though it be not of his secret Counsell In nothing mans reason appeareth more reasonable than to cease from reasoning in that which is aboue his reach The matter is heere so high that all words forsake mee as it were confessing that they are neither fit nor able to expresse such wonderfull misteries As the heauens could not bee measured but with a Reede of gold so cannot these heauenlie things bee declared but in the golden language of heauen which our sinfull mortalitie can neither speake nor vnderstand It is dangerous for man to be curious to learne what God esteemeth not necessarie to teach Man must not haue eares to listen where God hath not a tongue to speake Gods silence should teach all men sobrietie in searching In that royall Palace of pleasures aboue without doubt bee comfortes contentments yea and such I am perswaded as greater the Sunne and Moone the two eyes of Heauen neuer saw What say I greater The image of such thinges could neuer enter into the heart of man In my judgement all the Godlie at the first sight of heauens glorie shall bee like men in a dreame As it is written of Gods people When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Zion wee were like them that dreame All such glorie beautie and pleasure shall bee things so excellent and beyond expectation that for a space they shall seeme to the Saincts incredible for a space in my judgement the Godlie shall bee like these that dreame wondering how so great a glorie can possiblie bee My minde is now dazeled with such high considerations O O O these so vnspeakable beauties that are within that Holie of holies O the order that is there O the dainties that are on these Tables O the Table of that Ruler where all may take of all without Putting a knife 〈◊〉 their throat O the apparell of Gods seruaÌ„ts there O these fairest flowers which shall decke their garlands of Majestie O these peerelesse Pearles of price O these louelie Iemmes O these celestiall crownes spangled with jewles more glistering than â—…tarres O yee Angels and Archangels O yee all of that heaueÌ„ly Queire Cherubins Seraphins Princes Powers Thrones Vertues and Dominions all inflammed with most glorious diuine beames of light O yee Noble followers of the Lambe all decked with glorie and garlands of immortalitie O the amazing beauties of these celestiall Mansions O ye blessed eternized Denizens who liue there into an eternall vnitie of loue which no jarres strife or debate shall for euer be able to vntwine O purest Spirits purged from all drossie mood of sinfull mortalitie O Palace of pleasures wherin Angels Sainctes all around with celestiall Harpes make all to ring with Holie Holie Holie Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah O yee purest pleâ—…sures of perfection which no fretting canker of time shall bee able to out-weare or to cancell the owlish eyes of my mind are not able to reach within the bounds of so bright an Horizon The most I can conceiue is lesse than the least and lightest glory that shall bee there where Soules are solaced without stresse or strife in immortalitie O glorie glorie glorie without any veine of vanitie Mine heart is rauished and is no more within me When the Queene of Shebah came to Ierusalem to see the glorie of Solomon after that shee had considered the meate of his Table and the sitting of his seruants and the attendance of his Ministers and their appâ—…rell his Cup bearers it is said That there remained no more spirit in her All her spirits in a manner ran out of her by the holes of her senses for to come sit downe wonder at the glorie of the man Thus wondering shee remained for a space as if shee had beene amazed till her stupified spirit returned into her againe then shee began to speake It was a true report that I heard in mine owne Land of thine actes and of thy wisedome howbeit I belieued not the wordes vntill I came and mine eyes had seene it And behold the halfe was not told mee Thy wisedome prosperitie exceede the fame which I haue heard Happie are thy men happie are these thy seruantes which stand continuallie before thee and that heare thy wisedome Consider how the glorie of a man in its greatest not comparable to the glorie of a Lillie drew the spirite so out of the Queene of Shebah that for a space shee was not able to speake Shee wondered at that which shee saw but what shee had seene shee could not vtter in words buâ—… onelie said in generall that shee had heard a true report which she could not belieue vntill shee came and her eyes had seene it And nowe wheâ—… shee hath seene shee declareth that the halfe had not beene tolde
joyes that are aboue the Heauen of heauens Hee who with penne and inke would set out the greatnes of that glory which is to bee seene within that blessed Building should bee as who would foolishlie tak paines to paint the Sun with a coale In vaine shall a man prease to expresse that which cannot be spokē but into vnspeakable words Words come shorter than thoghts and thoughts come shorter infinitly than the thing it selfe The sicke Man I haue heard with great ioye of the vnspeakable glorie of God himselfe of the beautie of his Princelie Palace I desire now to heare some thing more at large concerning the estate of the Sainctes wherein they shall be when they shall dwell with God after the resurrection The Pastour It is most certaine that they shal be there into a farre better estate than wee can imagine For if Da◅id thought one day in Gods earthly hous◅ better th◅ a thousand else where what shall it bee when wee shall bee in Heauen the Citie of our GOD whereof God is the House and the Temple The Saincts shal be in such glorie there as that no earthlie tongue can tell If in this world by be holding in a glasse the glorie of the Lord wee are changed into that same Image from glorie to glorie what a change shal bee made when we shall see not Gods Image not in a glasse but himselfe face to face If the sight of his Image in the glasse of his Gospel hath such a working power as to change vs into the same Image heere on earth what a change shall bee made of vs in the Heauens when we shall see God euen as hee is All the godlie Gods warriours then shall liue in peace and rest As their life on earth was a continuall battell so shall their life in Heauen bee a perpetuall triumph Then the winter of their affliction shall bee past The stormes of their miserie shall blowe no more On Earth joyes and sorrowes are combined together In Hell is sorrow without any joye In Heauen shall bee joye without anie sorrow There they all in bleached coats of righteousnes shall blaze brighter than the Sunne God beeing in them shall burne in them as hee did in the Bush They shall burne but not bee consumed While S. Iohn was rauished in the Spirit he behelde a great multitude which no man could number all standing before the Lambes Throne cloathed in white robbes which had beene bleached from their blemish by the blood of the Lambe hauing the testimonie of two Senses he reporteth what hee saw and heard With his eyes hee saw them cloathed with white robes and Palmes in their hands The one was their innocencie the other was their victorie With his eares hee heard the songs of their triumph They cryed said hee with a loude voyce Saluation to our God which sitteth vpon the Throne With them were Angels Elders roūd about the Throne all falling down vpon their face and singing Blessing and glorie and wisedome and thankesgiuing and honour and power and might bee vnto our God for euer and euer Then with vncōquerable comforts shall all Christes crouding Turtles bee loueinglie comforted Then shall all their sighes bee turned into songs Then joyes vnspeakable shall fill all their senses without any surfet Euerie Sense shall receiue more than all mortal hearts can conceiue But which is of all good things the sweetest relish there shall bee such vnspottednesse of life and loue among the Saincts as the heart of man here cannot conceiue Euery one shall rejoyce of anothers wel as much as they shall doe of their own felicitie The enuious man seeds-man of all strife debate shall not be there All selfe-loue which is of a niggardlie nature enuious of the good of others shall be quite away in the place therof shall come such an heauenlie loue that shall make all the joyes of Heauen to be common As was in the primitiue Church so shall bee there but in greater perfection a communitie of goods One shall not say This is mine or that is thine But as wee shall bee all in Christ Christ in vs so shall wee bee all one in another filled one with anothers joye All state of strife then shal be farre away In Ierusalem aboue an euerlasting peace is within her walls and perpetuall prosperitie within her Palaces All the godlie glistering like starres shall rejoyce one into anothers light Euerie one of them by twinkling and be◅kning vnto other with celestiall smiles shall bend all their force for to giue glorie to the Sunne of righteousnesse the fountaine of all their light All Soules there shall bee most wonderfullie beau◅fied with internall externall and eternall happinesse There God onelie shall speake peace vnto his people and vnto his Sainctes who shall neuer returne againe to their folies Mans chiefe contentment in the heauens shal be in loue first with God and then of one with another O these euerlasting streames of contentmentes which shall flowe into these blessed breastes sequestred for euer from all doole and distresse The sicke Man Lord make all these thinges to liue freshlie in our memories My Soule is inflammed with loue to heare of that loue which shall bee betweene God and his Saincts and among the Sainctes themselues Your discourse Sir with a plausible and pleasant insinuation windeth it selfe into the affections of mine heart It hath alreadie winne mine heart to him to whome it most justlie belongeth Blessed bee his Name for euer Seeing yee were speaking of that vnspeakable loue that shal be between God and vs and also among our selues I pray you to say some thing more concerning that matter The Pastour I shall doe what I can brieflie As for God euery Soule shall loue him better than it selfe because it shall then perfectlie know that God hath loued it more than euer it was able to loue it selfe As for all the Saints wee shall loue them equallie with our selues as beeing all members of that mysticall Bodie Then and not till then shall bee the perfect practise of that second great command the summe of the second Table which is to loue our neighbour as our selues If the Soule of this naturall Bodie in the toyle of our pilgrimage hath such a commande ouer our naturall affections that it maketh vs to loue all the members and euerie member to worke equallie well for the good of another O mercifull God what greater loue shall proceede from that Spirite of Loue which shall bee in the Heauens euen the Soule of that mysticall bodie of all the Elect Looke how much grace surpasseth Nature and Glorie surpasseth Grace the Spirit of God which shall animate this bodie shall so much more straitlie make the members thereof to liue in Loue The holier the Soule bee within a man the greater loue concord is betweene his members
great desire aye till they bee gotten But spirituall delights as a Father said Cum non habentur sunt in fastidio Cum habentur sunt in desiderio Before they bee gotten they are loathed But are they gotten they are loued So long as our Soules are led hoode-winkt in this our moody and mistie mortalitie wee cannot thorowlie perceiue this O that wee had heartes to consider O that wee could rightlie mind the thinges that are aboue O that our hearts were wained froÌ„ this our natiue soile a place of hunger and cold a place of nakednesse sicknesse and sorrow that wee might earnestlie desire to bee into that holie Land where wee shall feast on the Tree of Life and drinke of that Crystall Riuer with pleasures for euermore So long as wee are in this our mortalitie wee must bee still looking till our change come which being once made wee shall neuer change anie more O then the sweetnesse of the Crowne shall for euer allay the sowâ—…enesse of the Crosse. The sicke Man Mine heart is wonderfullie rauished with such purpose I finde my Soule silent within mee that it may hearken and giue good heede to that which ye say Blessed be he who createth the fruite of the lips O Lord come let thy Spirite take houseroume into mine heart Now let vs come to our purpose againe So farre as I can obserue your minde is that we all shall know one another in Heauen but without regard to anie carnall consideration whether they were our Father oâ—… Mother or our Sister The Pastour It is euen so For if any particular respect should be had to any it should be of a man to his wife or a wife to her husband who must leaue both father mother and cleaue vnto another for to become one flesh Yet so it is that in Heauen there shal be no more particular respect betweene them than these whom they had neuer seene before The Lord hath made this plaine The Saducees who scorned the Resurrection hauing told Christ that there had beene seuen brethren in Israel which all had married one wife one after another and that last of all the woman died also Now said they In the Resurrection whose wife of them shall shee bee Iesus answered and saide The children of this world marie and are giuen in marriage But they that shall bee accounted worthie to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marrie nor are giuen in marriage Neither can they die anie more for they are equall vnto the Angels and are the Children of God beeing the Children of the Resurrection Certainelie at that day none of these seuen brethren will claime any more acquaintance vnto that woman than vnto her whom they had neuer seene before that day What created thing can allure the eyes of the creature where the Creator is visiblie seene as hee is Whom haue I in Heauen but thee said the Psalmist As the Sunne by his beames at his first rising darkneth all the glorious stars of light so that they seeme to flie away from his presence quite out of the heauens So shall the loue of God himsâ—…lfe like a greater Light darken and dazle all other desires whatsoeuer No by-respects shall bee able to hinder vs to haue ouâ—… eye to the maine Wee shall loath all thinges that we may feast on his facâ—… wherein is fulnesse of joye The sicke Man I desire Sir to know of you whether or not there shall bee degrees of Glorie in the Heauens or if all shall bee alike in honour The Pastour The most part are of that opinion that there shall bee diuerse degrees their opinion is founded vpon these words There is one glorie of the Sun and another of the Moone and another glorie of the Starres For one star differeth from another star in glory So also is the Resurrection of the dead it is sowen in corruption it is raised in incorruption Some of the Learned who esteeme that there shall bee diuerse degrees of glorie in Heauen think that no such thing is intended in these wordes but onelie as one Starre differeth from another in glorie so shall the bodie after the Resurrection differ farre in glorie from the estate wherein it was in this life according to this it is said It is sowen in corruption it is raised in glorie for to declare the different estate of the godly heere and heereafter For this assertion concerning degrees of glorie this seemeth to bee most cleare which is said by Christ to his Apostles Behold saide Peter wee haue forsaken all and followed thee What shall wee haue therefore And Iesus said vnto them Verilie I say vnto you that yee which haue followed mee in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory yee shall also sit vpon twelue Thrones judging the twelue Tribes of Israel The sicke Man Before yee proceede I pray you to cleare these words That yee which haue followed mee in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sitte on his Throne yee also shall sitte vpon twelue Thrones I vnderstand not well what the word Regeneration signifieth there To follow Christ in the regeneration what can that bee The Pastour These wordes bee diuerslie read Some reade them this way Yee who haue followed mee in the regeneration Others reade them after this maneâ—… joyning there-with the following words In the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sitte on his Throne yee also shall sitte If the words be so joyned Yee who haue followed mee in the regeneration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word Regeneration is taken as the most Learned esteeme for the preà ching of the Gospel which Christ brought into the world whereby a new creation or regeneration of mens heartes and Soules hath beene made in the world So to follow Christ in the Regeneration is to embrace his Gospel whereby we are regenerate But in the opinion of the most part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Regeneration heere is rather to be joyned with the words following after this manner In the regeneration they shal sit vpon Thrones according to that In regeneration is as if he had said In renovatione mundi vel post renovationem mundi in alterò seculo That is In the renewing or after the renewing of the World Indeede regeneration here seemeth â—…hieflie to signifie the Resurrection and restoring of our bodies The sicke Man It would appeare by that saying of Christ in S. Matthew that the Apostles shall sit vpon twelue Thrones in greater dignitie than anie others The Pastour It would seeme so to be As for Moses Enos and Elias and so many worthie Prophets most glorious instrumeÌ„ts of Gods grace in this world it would seeme that their glorie there should bee greater than that of common persons Manie of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall
awake And they that bee wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starres for euer and euer The sicke Man That as much is said as well of all the Faithfull as of Prophets Preachers thē shall the righteous shine forth as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father Behold how all the Righteous shall shine foorth as the Sunne Likewise Deborah in her song said Let them that loue the Lord bee as the Sunne when hee goeth foorth in his might By this it would seeme that seeing they all shall bee like Sunnes that their glorie shall bee equall Moreouer let mee reason as I when I was a Scholler haue heard reason in the Schooles wee are not saued by anie worth that is in our selues but onelie by the righteousnes of Christ Iesus Now for to be saued a man by Faith must apply vnto his soule the whole righteousnes of Christ for Christs righteousnesse diuided cannot saue Seeing then I a poore Crafts-man or labourer b◅ my Faith receiue the whole righteousnesse I receiue as much as Moses or Elias Peter Iames and Iohn so seeing that Righteousnesse is the onelie meritorie cause I hauing it all by imputation muste also receiue the glorie in as great a measure as they For what can they haue except that righteousnesse which can deseiue at Gods had any thing that is Eternal Though a man should giue his bodie to bee burnt for the cause of Christ hee doeth nothing but that which hee is oblished to doe By this then it would seeme that seeing by the on lie righteousnes of Christ eternall happinesse is merited and that all that haue Faith must apply vnto themselues that whole righteousnesse without any diuision that whosoeuer hath Faith to bee saued shall receiue as great a degree of glorie as any of the Apostles Otherwise if ye make difference ye would seeme to attribute some part of heauens glorie to the worth of mans doings or suff◅rings The Pastour Indeede Sir the m◅tter is full of difficulty many things would seeme to make for that opinion Particularlie the Parable of the Talents for to him that had gained but two Talents with his two as well as to him who had gained fiue with his fiue shal be said Intra in gaudium Domini Enter into thy Masters joye To all was said alike Enter into joye Not thou enter into the greatest joye with thy tenne Talents and thou into a lower Chamber with thy foure Talents Indeede the arguments are both strong for and against both the opinions yea so strong that they made a verie learned man after reasoning to and fro to say Vtramque sententiam esse probabilem habere argumenta ex Scripturis Neutram tamen ex Scripturis certo confirmari posse That is Both the opinions are probable and haue argumentes out of Scriptures but by no argument out of Scriptures can it bee certainelie prouen that there shall bee degrees of glorie in a greater measure in some than in others And therefore that learned man seeing the matter so vrged with most forcible arguments leaueth it vndiscussed as beeing a thing the knowledge whereof is not absolutelie necessare for Saluation There bee manie deepes in Scriptures where the grossest Elephants must swimme Things absolutelie necessarie for Saluation are into the plaine shallow foords of the Gospel where the litle Lambes of Christ may wade ouer for to enter into Canaan So long as wee are heere wee know but in part Multa sunt reservanda futurae scholae There be many things here whereof wee must leaue off the searching out till from these little Classicke Schooles below wee passe Master into Gods celestiall Vniuersitie aboue It is great wisedome for man to learne heere Sapere adsobrietatem To bee sober in his search The sicke Man I thanke GOD for this well imployed time Oh that all my words had beene from my youth concerning such spirituall purposes Alas for euill spent yeares Oh that yong men would learne in time to spend well their golden houres Happie is hee who weareth out the short time of this sinfull life at the sincere seruice of his God My Soule now with the pinched forlorne is returning home to the good fare of my Fathers house Haue yee yet any more to say concerning the thinges that are aboue The Pastour If ye would haue a short description of all these things take it vp in these few words Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither haue entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him No man can so imagine of such joye pleasure and contentment to bee there but the thing it selfe shall bee manie stages aboue all humane imaginations It shall bee our wisedome to imagine that they cannot bee imagined When I thinke of that euerlasting and exceeding weight of glorie which passeth all vnderstanding my meditation is dazeled and my tongue is tacked the one not beeing able to conceiue nor the other to describe these thinges which eye neuer saw eare neuer heard and which could neuer enter into the heart of man This is the godlie mans non vltra his outmost bounds There is no created capacitie on earth which can conceiue an euerlasting and exceeding weight of glorie The greatnesse of this glorie putteth mee to silence Sight and Sense Feeling and Fruition shall one day teach vs that which now eye can not see nor care heare nor heart conceiue So soone as we shall see God as hee is wee shall know him and his glorie as wee are knowne Then shal we see with our eyes that which now wee belieue with Faith which is the substance of thinges hoped for a demonstration or euidence of things not sene So lōg as we are here in this muddie mortalitie we liue in a valey of teares where wee are forced to hange downe our heades and hange vp our Harpes as beeing captiues in Babel Aboue are the comfortes of Syon where joyes afresh are infinitlie redoubled Now Sir according to your desire I haue spoken at large of this worldes vanitie and also of the last judgement and of Heauens glorie and of Hells horrour thinke ye that this discourse hath made any motion in your heart for to make you striue with a stronger straine to draw neerer vnto your God The sicke Man I thank God from mine heart that mine heart is in another temper and tune than when yee came first vnto mee God by his Spirit in your words as by a soft sweete breath hath refreshed my Soule By Faith my spirituall eye I see nowe Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse arising vpon mine heart with the brightnesse of his beames Mine heart now burneth within mee and panteth with an vnuterable longing for a sight of the face of my God Nowe Lord drawe the Curtaine that
with thy mercie In the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgressions wash me throghlie from mine iniquitie and cleanse mee from my sinnes where by the seed of thy grace within mine heart hath beene choaked and starued Let the depth of thy mercy swallow vp the deepes of my miserie Bridle my sinnes and spurre forward thy graces within mee Set all mine affections on foote that they may follow after Thee Put a fairer flame into my smoking slaxe and more strength into this bruisedreede that the bones which thou hast broken may re◅oyce O Lord with thine eye salue cleanse and open the eyes of my poore Soule that I beholding these things that are aboue may gladlie desire to be dissolued for to be there with my Lord and Sauiour Lord let thy Spirit carrie still a strong hand ouer me Furnish mee with such measure of thy graces whereby I may patiently waite vpon thy will Except that by a speciall fauour thou vphold mee I shall neuer bee able to secure my feete in so slipperie ground While I haue beene hearing most glorious speaches of the Heauens the shadowes of earthlie things haue ecclipsed my minde like a Moorie O make such shadowes to flie away that the horizon of my spirituall sight beeing cleared I may in some measure see thy backe partes whereby my Soule may bee enlightened like the face of Moses Though often I haue beene deafe at thy preachinges bee not thou dumbe at my prayers O Father of mercies listen vnto the groanes of my drooping spirite assailed with diuerse temptations Heare the sighes and crouding of thine owne Turtle Doue O LORD leade mee into the Land of vprightnesse and make thy grace to seat it selfe into mine heart Store my memorie with these good lessons which I haue heard preached in mine health Let mee neuer ouer-pryze anie good thing that is within my selfe Though Iames and Iohn bragged that they were able to drinke of thy cuppe scarce could they abide to see Thee drinke it O Lord make mee euer to vnder-value thy greatest worth that thorow the valey of humilitte I may come to these euer lasting exaltations Come LORD for loe thy seruant commeth I am willing Lord helpe my vnwillingnesse If it bee thy will to loose me out of this sinfull prison when I shall leaue this earth to earth appoint thine Angels to carrie my Soule vnto Abrahams bosome where I may sing with thy Saincts Halleluiah for euer Come Lord now and seeke thy lost groate Fetch home vpō thy Shoulders this wandering Sheepe and make all the Heauens to rejoyce Despise not that which in the creation thou diddest ennoble with thy liknesse Giue mee a warrand and a token to bee admitted within the Gates of thine euerlasting Tabernacles Till I come there make my Soule to burne still in holie feelings Lord heare mee for the deare sake of thy Sonne to whom with Thee and the Spirit of grace as it is most due wee render all praise glorie and dominion for euer AMEN The Pastour Blessed be God Sir who maketh his Spirit to worke so powerfullie within you Wee are all greatlie refreshed with your comforts It hath beene a great joye to vs all to heare that most sweete feruent prayer full of the groanes of the Spirit of Iesus In you haue wee seene the trueth of that Text The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as wee ought But the Spirite it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings which cannot bee vttered I am assured that that same Spirite hath made intercession for you with groaninges in that prayer which now yee haue vttered And againe while I consider in what weakenesse and faintnesse I found you at the first I wonder at such a vigour of Spirit which I petceiue now to be into you Truelie the word of God is most true God giueth power to the faint to them that haue no might hee increaseth strength Euen the Youths shall faint and bee wearie and the young men shall vtterlie fall But they that waite vpon the Lord renewe their strength They shall mount vp with winges as Eagles Many in their afflictions either desparatelie rage or weaklie wa◅le But God in great mercie hath at last filled you with true Christian courage and comfort in your greatest smart Hee hath listened to all your desires beeing moued with that sacred Loue which alwayes burneth in his bosome His Grace like the Notherne Pole hath giuen you aime and direction whether to bend your course Now the darkenesse of the night beginneth to ouer-cloud the earth By Gods grace I shall returne in the Morning so soone as the birdes shall begin to chirpe at the spring of day Because while the spirit of man is idle it weareth and wasteth it selfe away with barren and lumpish melancholie While yee shall awake cause reade Scripture vnto you and particularlie these places Psalme 27. Psalme 84. Psalme 87. 1. Corinthians 15. 2. Corinthians 12. Reuelation 21. Reuelation 22. His Grace bee you THE SEVENTH DAYES Conference The sicke Mans last wordes to his Pastour Friendes Wife and Children The Pastour THE Lord blesse you Sir According to my promise yester-night I am come againe earlie All this night mine heart hath earned to knowe of your estate How haue yee passed this night The sicke Man O the mercie of my God towards mee that hath moued you to take such paines for mee an vnworthie worme By your most holy Sermons yee haue furnished and supplied my minde with store of holie and heauenlie meditations Ye haue beene both a Paul for to plant mee in the true Faith and an Apollos for to water mee Christ the Master builder by the Finger of his Spirit hath laide the foundation of his Temple within mine heart Hee hath made choise of you a skilefull Workeman to aduance the worke till in mercie at last hee shall roofe his graces in mee with celestiall Glorie By the word of God yee haue comforted mee that is onelie the word of comfort Of all other words were they neuer so eloquent I will say with a Father In a thousand talents of worldlie wordes a man shall hardlie finde an hundreth pence of spirituall heauenlie wisedome This life is like the Haw thorne more pricking than pleasant Ye haue rauished my heart with desire of immortalitie aboue I blesse God Sir that euer I saw you The Pastour All these good things are to bee ascribed to the working of GODS Spirit All the juice and sappe whereby the branches spring and liue ensueth and riseth from the roote of the tree We who are Pastours are but the Lords Spouts and Cocks of his Conduits wherby his graces are conuoyed vnto the heartes of our hearers If the Spirit of God mak not a mans Saluation sure hee will incessantlie reele from one doubt to another from one temptation to another like a drunken man from wall to wall It is
Beasts fed on the bare commons are not so neere the slaughter as these that goe into fatter pastures B◅ware of all vncleannes Make a couenant with your eys not to behold wine women keepe carefullie your vessels cleane in sanctification and honour If yee slippe in anie sinne beware to sleepe in it for that is death Vita in vigilia est Godlie men in olde age regretting their former haunts are lessons from God to teach Youth not to plot the pleasures wherewith God is displeased Manie sinnes of Youth be called tricks but it is a terrible tricke to goe to Hell People foolishlie cloake Fornication with a tricke of youth but the Spirit of GOD giueth it a scarlet cloake dyed in red with the blood of three and twentie thousand Bee yee wise in time let the rememberance of the shrill sound of the last trumpet euer hold your heart in a stirre so soone as yee see the least appearance of euill Thinke no sin litle seeing it is against so great a Majestie For eating of a tree Ada◅ was banished out of Paradise For touching the Arke shaken with the Oxen Vzzah lost his life For looking into it fiftie thousand three score and tenne men were slaine at Bethshemeth For gathering sticks vpon the Sabbath God declared that the man should bee stoned vnto death without the Campe Such thinges are written for our learning As for you stand in awe to sinne in a thought To clippe the Kings Coyne were it neuer so little is an high ◅reason Be affraide at the first gloumes of your GOD Crouch so soone as hee beginneth to shake his rod at you In all companies be constantlie godlie like the Sunne in his light Too manie like the Moone now glister with reflexes of light and anone are darkened Now and then they appeare with diuerse faces now with Saul they are Prophets among the Prophets and anone as reuoking all former godlinesse they runne rȳot with gluttons and reuellers O my beloued thinke neuer shame to be godlie among scorners Care not that by your conscio◅able cariage the wicked bee gauld and grieued in their madde moode they will call all godlinesse but outwardnesse and formalitie Tak good he◅d to all your ways set a guarde about your thoughts and a watch before your mouth Seeing the tongue is mans glorie let it not bee abused with rotien words Let not your eares bee open for to receiue the scowring of other mens filthie mouthes Bee calme and quiet in all your wayes Bee not rash or hastie looke before yee leape bee not selfe-willed proude contemners of your betters Aspire not aboue your pitch Care not so much for mans d◅spight as for Gods displeasure Let God be the caruer of all your car◅s Abhorre to be idle like these who sitting in the Chire of sloth passe their time at handie dandie Loyter not while yee should labour The first word that Pharaoh said to Iaakob his sonnes was What is your treade or occupation Be painefull and faithfull in your calling liue not litherlie as these that are giuen to sleepe the sluggardes lingring sicknesse Hee is of a base spirit who sluggishlie gaping and stretching himselfe lyeth lusking on the downe Vp vp from the feathers earelie in the morning striue with the Cocke in watchfulnesse and rise with the chirping of the birdes Ioyne watching against euill with wishing and prayers for that which is good It is good that the bodie bee moistned with the morning dew earelie rising bringeth health to the bodie and increaseth the number of mans dayes I remember of a verse which while I was young serued for a wakener for to rouse mee from my morning sleepe Sanctificat sanat dit at quoque surgere mane That is it maketh holie whole and rich to rise earelie in the morning for this cause earlie buckle your selues to your businesse Bee wise and watchfull In all your enterprisses haue an eye vpō your God doe all as into his sight bee not too cast down in aduersitie nor too puft vp in prosperitie If mans applause make you to ouerweene your selues at anie time chasten your loftinesse with the memorie of manie infirmit es which are nested within you in all thinges feare the worst and hope the best That which seemeth to man vnliklie is not with God impossible Let your life in a godlie sober ciuill cariage shine before men that they seeing it may glorifie your heauenlie Father Striue not to bee called Doctours and Rabbies though ye bee men of letters but aboue all striue to bee teachers of others by good example and not by word onlie lest yee bee like the Fyle which smootheth all other thinges but it selfe remaineth rough Beware of all sinfull pleasures which like faire Ladies come with alluring propines to woo and catch the vnstable soule In the verie throng of all your adoes draw your selues to a set dyet of priuate deuotion Mine heart beginneth to faint of force I must make a pause After that I am refreshed with a little rest I shall declare to you all that is in my minde and memorie O my Soule seek sigh for grace Be carefull for a neerer acquaintance with the Lord of Heauen Shortlie thou shalt embrace him whom the Fathers by faith saluted but a farre off The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauen the groanes of thine humble supplicant mak him fullie freelie to taste and partake of the pleasures of thy graces til he come to glory Roll his wearied Soule within these compassions which in thy mercie are rouled together O deare Iesus besprinkle thou his heart with thy precious Soule-sauing blood which is euer louelie to the mercifull eye of the Father Take breath a little Sir that yee may continue in such precepts such heauenlie sentences were neuer bred nor brewed vpon the earth The Lord himselfe hath put the Roll of these things into your mouth which yee haue eaten and which make your breath to haue the sauour of life vnto life Certainelie in some measure the Lord Iesus hath breathed vpon you as hee did vpon his Apostles when hee said vnto them Receiue the holie Ghost The sicke Man Lord imprint thine Image into my Soule afresh My Spirit is reuiued a new power is entered into mee Blessed be hee who giueth power to the faint and who increaseth strength to them that haue no might Giue eare now againe vnto my speach O yee my deare Children Incline your eares vnto the wordes of my mouth See that yee liue in loue a rent is the forerunner of a ruine If yee would liue die in honestie practise all Christian dueties Feare God loue the Church honour your King bee faithfull to your Countrie reuerence your Mother Bee pitifull bee courteous liue in loue together Your strength is in vnitie like a sheafe of arrowes A
her faire face because Hypocrisies face seemeth to be faire while it is fairded No not God will haue true faith to come out that the world may see her into works Shew mee thy Faith by thy workes Christ who desireth that the niggard or ambitious left hand know not or see not the liberalitie of the charitable right hand commandeth that wee let ouâ—… light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorifie our Father which is in heauen The graces of Gods Spirit in a man are like a light candle No man light a Candle and put it vnder a bushell but on a Candle-sticke it giueth light to all that are in the house The good life of the godlie man should bee like a Citie sette on an hill which cannot bee hid The labourer soweth not his seede on the ground that it may still remaine hidde vnder the cloddes neither doeth God sow his graces in our heartes that there they may luâ—…k still abide secret I like not these who feare to seeme godlie left they should bee thought to be Hypocrites Euen in that are they Hypocrites that for feare they seeme to affect godlinesse will not doe good that may bee seene which would moue the true Israelits to glorifie our Father in heauen yea and also allure these to come to God who as yet are strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel I confesse that fewe bee troubled with such a feare It is a sin whereof verie few in this Land are guiltie yet seeing it is a sinne it would bee carefullie auoided Because Papists whollie relye on their workes Protestants with great scandale will onelie bragge of their Faith Thus both the one and the other against the truth of doctrine separate that which God hath joyned together The sicke Man O Lord GOD of gods O Father of euerlasting compassions whose blessed bowels did bleede vpon the crosse for to saue sinners pittie heere a fraile feeble creature yet tugging and wrestling in the Barras of this sinfull flesh Furnish mee with strength whereby I may surmount and vanquish all difficulties which are betweene my Soule and the place of its euerlasting rest I am weake forbeare mee Lord in thy great mercie Ioyne thy Grace with my griefâ—… O that I were with my Christ the Marke whereat I aime the Port whereto I saile the rest of my desires Let thy good Spirit O Lord assist mee Let thy fauour and grace bee my vade-mecum till I come to thy Glorie O who shall giue to my soule the wings of a Doue that it may flee out of the Douket of this bodie vp to its God O deare Sauiour set mee as a seale vpon thine heart Draw mee and wee shall runne after thee Holde mine heart aloft that it may onelie minde the things aboue The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and grant the sute of thy seruant I feare Sir that yee bee wearied with speaking As I perceiue yee force your selfe in your words aboue the reach of your strength Seeing yee trauell thus in paine of your speach spend the little space of life that resteth in holie meditations concerning the bloodie wounds of Christ your Sauiour The sicke Man Christ now is onelie my comfort I loue him with the best bowels of mine heart In the bowels of his mercie I reade by the eye of Faith most faire lines of his loue all written in great Capitall letters of an heauenlie impression Christ is to mee in stead of all for alreadie in my neede hee hath stood mee in more stead than all O in what a pitifull plight my sillie and forlorne Soule was once into Blâ—…ssed bee hee for euermore who in so great kindnesse hath shined vpon me with the blessed bright and vnspotted beames of his mercy O but my Soule panteth after him Oh how this heart of mine is euill to breake What a piece of clammie teugh clay is this that settereth so my Soule that by no meanes can it bee loosed from it that it may soare vp to its God from griefe to glorie O that I were with him with whom I shall not want the thing that I can wish Now Lord the time is come pull off mee the dull wiede of sinfull mortalitie and cloath my soule in white with the Robe of Christes righteousnesse that it may followe the Lambe O but I am wearied My Soule longeth to see the Face of my God The Pastour Waite vpon the Lords will when it is time hee will open the prison doore and let your Soule flie vp to your Glorie Thinke on Heauen still Mount vp your minde to your Maker who shall shortlie roofe with Glorie the graces which hee hath reared vp into your heart Let the hope of these thinges hearten you in the mudde and myre of this sinfull mortalitie The sicke man O Lord pittie this Soule which I haue defiled and defaced with scarlet transgressions and crimsin iniquities Thou hast begunne the good worke in me It is now neere to perfection Put to now the last hand and perfect the worke Rub out perfectlie with the Blood of thy Lambe the least staines which sticke in my Soule that while thou shalt look vpon mee thou may know mee to bee thy redeemed one by the stampe of thine owne Image O Lord fixe mine heart so into thine owne heart that nothing bee able to pull it out without pulling out thine owne It hath beene like a crooked twigge O writh it so nowe the right way that it may bee according to thine owne heart The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauen and graunt the sute of thy Seruant Let nothing bee able to tickle tempt or trouble his Soule Be of good heart Sir the Battell is neare an end Fight out the good fight finish your course and keepe the Faith hence-foorth is laide vp for you a Crowne of righteousnesse which the LORD shall giue you at that day Make now full proofe of your courage which shall shortlie be couered with a Crown Hold out still in your holie exercise till your change come The sicke Man I wearie of this cottage of claye I am at a point with all that is vnder the Sunne I care not for this worlds fauour no more for its frowne But O but my Soule longeth to be with my Lord that I may see his face with fulnesse of joye O thou with whom nothing is impossible make the scales of mortalitie to fall from mine eyes that I may fee thee before euen as thou art My Soule longeth to be out of this myry lak of miserie for to dwell with thee into the Pallace of immortalitie O when shall I get ridde of these sinfull bonds O Sauiour of mankind giue eare vnto my sute Deliuere mee from this seeming life that I may die to liue the life of pleâ—…sures for euermore O drawe drawe out this Soule entombed into this bodie Before
him And because I haue deferred my repentance till this houre whereby my Saluation is cutte off if I should die suddenlie Loe how my God in his mercifull prouidence to preuent my destruction calleth mee by a lingring sicknesse which stayeth till I bee readie and prepareth mee to mine ende like a preacher and maketh mee by wholesome paines wearie of this beloued world lest I should depart vn willing like them whose death is their damnation So hee loueth mee while hee beateth mee that his stripes are plasters to saue mee therefore who shall loue him if I despise him This is my whole office nowe to strengthen my bodie with mine heart and to bee contented as God hath appointed vntill I can glorifie him or vntill hee glorifie mee If I liue I liue to sacrifice and if I die I die a sacrifice for his mercie is aboue mine iniquitie Therefore if I should feare death it were a signe that I had not Faith nor hope as I professed but that I doubted of Gods trueth in his promise wh◅ther hee will forgiue his penitent sinner or not Hee is my Father let him doe what seemeth good in his sight Come Lord Iesus for thy seruant commeth I am willing helpe mine vnwillingnesse Heere is the end of that godlie mans speach As at that Brydell in Cana the best wine came last so shall it be heer◅ After the words of a godlie man I shall let you heare the words of God spoken by a man inspired by his Spirit euen the last words of Dauid the man whose praise is this that hee was a man according to Gods owne heart The last words of Dauid Dauid the sonne of Iesse said and the man who was raised vp on high the a◅ointed of the God of Iaacob and the sweete Psalmist of Israel said The Spirit of the Lord spake by mee and his words was in my tongue The God of Israel saide the Rocke of Israel spake to mee Hee that ruleth ouer men must bee just ruling in the feare of God And hee shall bee as the light of the morning when the Sunne riseth euen a morning without cloudes as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine Although mine house bee not so with God yet hee hath made with mee an euerlasting couenant ordered in all things and sure For this is all my Saluation and all my desire although hee make it not to growe But the sonnes of Belial shall bee all of them as thornes thrust away because they cannot bee taken with hands But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with yron and the staffe of a speare and they shall bee vt◅er lie burnt with fyre in the same place Alittle before his death at the inauguration of his Sonne Solomon he spake manie notable words among others these bee of great weight O Lord wee are heere but strangers before thee and so◅ourners as were all our fathers Our dayes on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and of Israel our Fathers keepe this for euer in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people and prepare their heartes vnto thee That hundreth and two Psalme is excellent It is intituled a prayer of the afflicted when he is ouerwhelmed and powreth out his complant before the Lord. Heare my prayer O Lord and lette my cry come vnto thee hide not thy face from mee in the day when I am in trouble incline thine eare vnto mee In the day when I call answere mee spe◅dilie For my dayes are consumed like smoke and my bones are burnt like an hearth c. Seeing as wee see that nothing is stable in this world but as it is in that Sermon of the Preacher vanity of vanities and all is vanitie wee haue to intreate the Lord earnestlie as Moses did a little before his death That hee would so teach vs to number our dayes that we may applye our hearts to wisedome and to well doing All things below wither and decay our best beauties are w◅ithed and wrinkled by time But the beautie of the Lord is of euerlasting continuance Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs. O the beautie of the things aboue O the beautie of the Firmament O these azured Curtaines spangled with stars of light What jewels of joy are within no mortall tongue can tell Looke vp nowe Sir with the eye of your Faith and visite these heauenlie Mansions and blessed buildinges for immortaltiie Yee are shortlie for to change for the better So long as our sillie Soules are here they are but poore Soules reading and meditating the mercies of God within a cottage of clay hauing nothing to see with but the weak light of the small Candle of grace a light dimmed and darkened with the reekie smok of our sinfull corruptions But so soone as wee shall bee dissolued by Death we shall come to the euerlasting Beames of a Sunne which by nothing is able to bee ecclipsed alight which knoweth no darknesse euen that Light which bringeth light out of darknesse Now Sir vp with your heart saile out your course Be like the Pylot who while hee hath hand on the Helme hath his eye fixed on the heauen Take now the Cuppe of Saluation the great Mazer of his mercie and call vpon the Name of the Lord Hee is worthie to bee praised for his vnspeakable fauour toward you He in great mercy hath toward you turned all the sharpe corrasiues of the Law into most sweete cordials of the Gospel He hath now made you free of all these terrours whereinto yee found your selfe once lyable Oh Lord how did once the sharpe edge of thy Law laide to his mourning heart cutte him thorow the verie gall But blessed bee thou who in thy great mercie hast cut the Cartropes of his sinnes where with hee was once kept fast vnder the most heauie bondage of Hell What say yee now Sir How is it of all Haue yee heard all these words and laide them vp into your minde The sicke Man I haue heard them all that with great comfort now mine heart is in heauen Christ by the vertue of his vnualuable Blood-shed hath takē away the gall of my guiltines Now my bodie is wholly dead to its paine and my Soule is whollie aliue to its glorie I see a Crowne of immortalitie which my Soule would not sticke to fetch thorow the brimstone beames of hell My Soule seeth the face of its Redeemer Christ with a soft hand is now loosing all the bondes of my miserie His most sacred Blood hath melted my marble heart Nowe come Lord Iesus come Long haue I looked for thy Saluation Nowe let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy Saluation O my deare Soule I summond thee with all thy powers and faculties to
sinne All the action is from thee Of all that is done amisse thou hast beene the inuenter the contriuer and arch-plotter God is no accepter of persons or of parties What then is my guilt that I shuld be behind thee left into the Graue a fearefull denne of death and pite of corruption What a miserie is this for me that I should lye vnder the power and bonds of Death a Carion vnder a Turfe warded in deaths most loathsome denne and abhorred jayle There must I lye chill with cold stinking and rotting with my mouth full of earth and my bellie full of wormes closed in a Coffine O what matter of melancholie is this that within a few dayes where are my two beautifull twinkling eyes shal be nothing but fearefull eye-holes in a rotten skull which shall bee nothing but a nect of clockes and abominable creeping thinges Within a few yeares this head which nowe lyeth softlie vpon this Pillow shall bee rolled and trinnelled vp and downe by the feete of the posteritie Heere a bone and there a bone and not a bone together all shall lye scattered heere and there the dogges shall play with some and Children shall playe with others some shall lye drying before the Sunne and others shall be bruised into pieces and grund into powder O what a change is in this our mortalitie Behold presentlie what a starueling I am beeing nothing but skinne and bone Behold and anone all shall be turned into stinke The Soule All such thoughtes are all but worldlie heauie dull and formall Suffer the Lord to sow his owne seede Thou art afraid for the Turfe of the Graue Care not for the Turfe for vnder it shalt thou bee as a pickle of Corne vnder a clod The Spring time of the Resurrection is not farre froe when thou shalt rise vp more beautifullie in honour power and glorie than euer thou was before Shall anie thing bee impossible vnto God Hee who in his death reuiued manie Sainctes vvhose bodies Death had fast vnder the key of its power shall with a blast of his voyce make open Gâ—…aues to let out all these who were prisoners of death from Adam vntill that day Let this comfort cheare vp thine heart my Bodie The Graue shall not bee able to keepe thee long As Ionah was vomited out of the Bellie of Hell so shalt thou bee deliuered from that Monsters mawe The Bodie But in the meane time what reason is it that I a carrionlie carkase shuld bee bund â—…oth hand and foote and committed close prisoner to the graue a cold and chillie house while thou art set at libertie Behold how alreadie I am both withered and wanzed The Soule The Graue to the Godlie is no prison but a resting bedde from their labours where God reâ—…resheth with sleepe the wearied bones of his beloued The Prophet saith That they rest in their beddes and that they enter in peace While the moulds are cast on them in the Graue it is but the drawing of their Bedde curtaine The buried bodies of the Saincts are in their graue lik Babs lapped in swadling clothes in their Cradles As a tyred man will not bee offended if hee bee sent to his bedde for to sleepe neither should the wearied bodie bee grieued to goe to the Graue the place of rest and quietnesse Bee not peeuish nor peruerse my Bodie enuie not mine happie estat Though the Graue should bee to thee a prison why should thou complaine because I am set at libertie If it hath pleased God in mercy to bee good to mee why art thou offended May not the Lord say vnto thee Is thine eye euill because I am good What happier should thine estat bee though God should command mee to bee buried besides thee May not God doe with his owne as hee pleaseth Hee might haue taken thee to Heauen and haue shute mee a prisoner in the Graue In his justice hee might haue cast vs both into Hell Thinke it then a mercie that hee is so good vnto mee who shall neuer count my glorie full till wee bee both crowned vvith immortalitie in the heauens Bee not offended at the Lords good will towards mee but rather thank him that he hath made death to bee temporall in his mercie which was eternall in his threatning Of a corrasiue hee hath made a cordiall Haue patience O distressed Body Suffer a little that God may be true Dust thou art and to dust shalt thou returne Dust beeing once deliuered from the power of the Graue shall reigne with God in glorie The Bodie is like gold which cannot bee rid of its drosse till it bee molten and dissolued Againe as this death is not total neither shal â—…t be perpetuall for at that first sound of the last trumpet all the beried bodies of that faithfull shall lik the Eagle cast the bill of their mortalitie Now mine olde companion and yoke-fellow art thou not content to goe to bedde and there to sleepe till the morning of theresurrection come That day shall mak an amends for all that we haue suffered in this valey of teares Then shall all thy confusion bee turned into comforts Let vs nowe bee content that the Lord loose the pines and slacke the cordes of this our Tabernacle of clay The Bodie Now glad am I my deare Soule that euer I had such a Soule as thee now my deare Turtle goe with my blessing to the seruice of our God Goe from the Crosse to the Crowne from a prison to a Palace from the mourning-weede to the wedding-garment Goe dwell with the Lord and the Lambe waite well vpon him Goe nowe from the blacke and dismall dayes of drooping distresse and dirtie distractions to joye to peace to pleasure to light to life to libertie Goe heare that happie harmonie of heauenlie Musitians in heauenlie Mansions where mercies blesse without judgments blasts Goe heare the voice of all the Menistrels of that celestiall Quire Bee thou aboue the Starres while I am vnder a Turfe All my comfort is in this that wee shall meete againe in Blisse Now blessed Soule prepare thy Lampe powre out thine oyle the heauenlie wooer the Bridegroome is come for to take thee to his Chambers of Charitie wherein are pleasures for euermore In hope of the Resurrection I goe gladlie to my Graue whereout of I am assured to arise for to meete my Redeemer in the clouds This Candle of my comfort shall neuer bee put out Nowe before wee shedde let vs shedde some teares The last raine of our afflictions wherewith we may bath the bruises of our Lord which he in loue did suffer for our glorie Now I goe to rest in the dust a prisoner of hope Goe thou to thy God attend well his seruice and court his Countenance for euer in his most pleasant Yuorie Palaces I am nowe refreshed with a cooling taste to immortalitie to come Farewell my deare Soule and truest Turtle mount
custome of God as we see to put his dearest Ones to the hardest proofe as wise Builders put the greatest timber and the heart of the Oake to the greatest stresse Manie thinke that Heauen standeth hard by their Bed-side and that a light Lord haue mercie will make the doore of Heauen to goe wide open to the wall no not Through man◅e tribulations we must enter into that Kingdome As Aprill showers goe before the May flowers so must our teares trickle before our Triumphs Wee must smert before we smile and grone before wee glorie All Christian Soules like Christ himselfe must enter by the port of paines vnto the palace of pleasures for euermore No co-reigning without a co-suffering O let vs consider what paines this godlie man hath suffered in this fierie tryall since this Battell beganne O with what difficulties hath hee swimmed thorow so many temptations If the righteous scarcelie bee saued where shall the vngodlie and the sinner appeare O sowre Apple of Adams pride many teeth hast thou set on edge The Sparrow by wandering the Swal low by flying may escape but where sin hath beene once there must also be sorrow before that the sinner can come to joye It is not so easie as manie men thinke to winne in at the doores of heauen as though one Gods-mercy were enough for to doe the turne Before that a man be able to winne in at the straite gate for to enter into his euerlasting rest hee must be buffeted with diuerse temptations and broken with sorrowes till his heart become contrit that is grund bruished small as if it were corne in a Querne There is none entrie into rest for man before that in great griefe hee hath pluckt out his right eye euen his dearest darling best bosome pleasure Hee that would lodge with God in eternitie muste heere lay holde on his Kingdome with an holie violence What wonder that he auen be hard to win seeing with all the infernall powers of darknesse legions of our owne corruptions combined oppose might maine the grouth of Gods graces in our Soules Manie foolishlie in the idle rowings of their braines content with a blush of zeale thinke that Heauen may bee winne with wishes and therefore in their life skippe wantonlie ouer the threatnings of the Law in hope that easilie at death they may catch at the promise of the Gospel But who had seene this holie man of GOD vpon the painefull racke of repentance would count all the perishing pleasures of sinne too deare bought pleasures Sinne at the beginning is like poyson in perfume pleasant at the first but not long after it worketh deadlie except that it be repelled with some stronger Antidote The way to heauen as wee see is not like the way to great ma◅ket Townes easilie discerned by the multitude of footesteppes Our good Friende is nowe in the verie panges of death A patient and Lambe like death is this His life is on his lippe This wearied Traueler is nowe neare the ende of his journey Seeing that the ende of a worke crowneth it let vs conceiue a Prayer whereby wee may lay his Soule into the bosome of his God who shall refresh him with euerlasting comforts O Lord by the vigour of thy Spirit giue wings to our groueling prayers A Prayer for the sicke Man approaching vnto Death O GOD of mercle and of mans Saluation who thinketh nothing too deare for a repēting soule were it to giue it a draught of the heart Blood of thy Sonne wee heere vpon the knees of our hearts humbled againe before the foote-stoole of the the Throne of thy Grace put vp to thee our most humble sute for this thy seruant who is nowe comming to thee His words now faile him but thou Lord wilt neuer faile him In stead of wordes let the crouding sobbes the Turtle finde roome into thine eares Heaue vp his heart to thy mercie seate with the requests of thy Spirit in sighs which cannot bee expressed O charitable Almes giuer open the hand of this Begger and thrust the money of thy mercie into it Seale fast vp in his heart the remission of all his sinnes in the blood of Iesus Burie all his transgressions in Christes Burial Establish thy free Spirit within him Take from him all dulnesse and deadnesse of spirit all secure and hardened thoughts all that may hinder him from comming vnto thee Continue his comfortes begunne Bee thou the ende and the ender of his worke Lorde disapoint Sathan who by his charmes and cunning traines hath gone about both by force fraud to catch this Soule of thy seruant Now Death is approaching To thee belongeth the issues of death Thou killest thou makest aliue thou bringest downe to the graue and againe thou raisest vp Now as euidentlie appeareth thou art for to remoue this thy seruant from the Land of the l◅uing and thy will must bee done Wee could haue wished the continuance of his Christian fellowship with the lengthening and enlarging of his dayes But most humblie wee submitte all our affections vnto thy good pleasure and will O Father of mercies in whose boundlesse bowels are moste pittifull compassions without anie passion shew thy selfe mercifull louing and kinde towardes this Soule which in the dayes of its fleshe hath beene with thee but a stranger and ◅ sojourner His Soule now is saying to thee with Iohn his two Disciples Rabbi Master where remaineth thou Answere it as thou answered them louinglie Come and see and after that tak it home to thine own house as Iohn tooke home thy Mother O deare Father of our Sauiour by Nature O our dearest Father by adoption bee fauourable to this thy seruant euen for that blood wherewith thou art passing lie pleased Forget and forgiue all his sinnes whatsoeuer Lay now thy louing Armes about him Claspe him hard to thy bosome and keepe him fast till hee be surelie and softlie placed into the heauens Now Lord thou hast begunne to loofe this Soule out of its prison Let earth goe to earth and his Spirit returne to thee that gaue it Place it into one of these heauenlie Mansions which thy Sonne is gone to prepare for these that are thine Strengthen him now at the last and highest point of his tryall O Great IEHOVAH who neuer hucketh to giue mercie to heart broken sinners let him finde more and more that thy bowels ouerflowing with mercie are readie to receiue him In the bottomelesse sea of thy mercie make his sinnes all to bee choaked and his Soule deliciouslie to be bathed with euerlasting comforts And because Sathan in his last assaults is most furious bee thou most powerfull in him by the vertue of thy Spirite Blunt so the edge of all his temptations that they bee not able any more to wound his Spirit Let thy secret loue bee vnto his Soule lik a Secret or jack in this bloodie battell
while he is neere the ende of his race His sillie soule hath beene sore weather-driuen with many temptations now let his battell take an end Receiue his soule in thy Rest. and lull it in the bosome of thy pleasures Bee a shield and a shelter vnto him for to hidde and couer him from the last blowes and painefull thrusts of his enemie the Deuill Disapoint that euill one while hee looketh for the greatest victorie Let him receiue the foulest foile Loose now sweetlie these two which thou hast joyned together that after his eyes with olde Simeon haue seene thy Saluation he may depart in peace Seeing the Battell is nowe come to the laâ—…f stroke make thy Spirit O Lord in him to fight it out that hauing ouercome thou may put the palme of victorie into his hand after that the dayes of dangers are past O draw this soule now vnto thee with the strongest cordes of thy loue Proclaime vnto his Conscience a full a finall remission of his sinnes whether Originall or actuall whether of Commission or of Omission Subscribe his paâ—…don with the arteriall blood of thy blessed Sonne O Father of mercies the Spouse of all faithfull Soules receiue this Spirit into thy wed locke-bedde It was betrothed vnto thee by thy faire promises in the Gospel now according to thy promise accomplish and fulfill that blessed Band in the presence of thine Angels Long Lord hath hee thought on it and earnestlie longed for it Seale thou it now with the sense of thy loue Fulfull it Lord and this day be thou the Bridegroome of his Soule Heere hee hath seene but the Copie of thy countenance let him now come where he may see thee euen as thou art As thou gaue him his measure of grace in the world so nowe giue him his portion of glorie bâ—…sides thy selfe Let nothing sway his thoughts from thee in this last agâ—…nie Season so his heart with thy loue that there bee no roome in his heart for any thing by thy selfe Now loose the pinnes of the Tabernacle while his soule shall bee out of the bodie let it enter into the Palace of pleasures Say vnto it as Laban said to Abrahams seruant Come in thou blessed of the Lord Thou who hast clasped his name within the Booke of life Bind now his soule into the bundle of life Drawe it out of this myrie mortalitie place it among the Angels and spirites of just men who are alwayes in thy presence courting thy countenance wherein iâ—… fulnesse of joye Vnto the end and in the end keepe his heart vnblameable in holinesse that Sathan that roaring Lyon bee neuer able to catch him within the reach of his paw Preserue the true rellish and sound joyes of thy Spirit of grace within him till from grace thou bring him vnto glorie where thou shalt crowne thy giftes and graces with thy goodnesse O now open the euerlasting doores let in this Soule decked with the lawrels of victorie Let all the Heauens welcome this conuerted sinner with songes and shoutes of joye O Spirit of Comfort thou hast guided him thorow many seas of sorrowes sit still at the Helme till thou haue brought him to his Hauen O now crowne thy graces with thy glorie Lord Iesus receiue my spirit To the Father Sonne and holie Ghost be euerlasting praise and dominion for euer AMEN Michael and the Deuils dispute for the ' Soule of the sicke Man alittle before its departure out of the Body Sathan I Haue many things to lay to this mans charge I am the Lordes Proctor and Acturney appointed to plead for his justice I haue alreadie sifted his life Of force this Soule must bee damned None Assise can cleanse it It is now taken red hand in the path and passage of sinne The Angel Michael I will not vse against thee a railing accusation neither darre I for my Master the God of mercie and of meekenesse It hath pleased his royall Majestie to license thee to accuse the soules of men Thine accusations are euer most bitter and most bloodie I am heere standing on my Masters side for to defend this Soule which hee hath bought with his blood But what can thou say against this man whose Soule is committed to me for to be carried vnto Paradise I know thee of olde to bee the accuser of the brethren I remember well how once I contended grappled with thee for the bodie of Moses which was buried sore against thy will It is likelie that of it thou thought to make an idole Loose now thy leach and let all thy hell-hounds come forward Come come with thy most foule mouthed objections what caÌ„ thou now alledge against the soule of this man before that it come out of this bodie Thou art heere a Lyon against a Lambe Declare now what thou can in this Assise Thou can say no more than he hath alreadie said against himselfe But come on fâ—…aime thine inditement against him Discharge thy fieâ—…ie dartes with the outmost of thy force Sathan Knowest thou not that there is a large haruest for Hell manie called but few chosen Hee is my Vassall I require but Iustice Let him receiue but according to his deseruinges Heere is a Bill of inditement able to conuinee him In his wickednes he turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battell Both fiercelie and feareleslie marching vnder my collours in the pursute of his pleasures hee ranne ryote in the way of wickednesse The Angel Michael Is not God a God of mercie able to forgiue But what hath hee done Sathan Beholde the pieces of Euidence which I produce against him Let all the actions of his life bee brought to a true touch and it shall appeare what a monster hee hath beene In his youth hee scorned at the Thunder of Gods word counting it but Paper shot His soule was neuer grieued to grieue the Spirit of grace seldome came hee to the Church hee was of the kinred of Noahs Raùen delighting to flie about the Arke not willing to enter into it Gods hony word of vnspeakable sweetnesse was vineger to his teeth The pure commandement of the Lord which inlightened the eys was lik smok vnto his eyes the cause of blearednesse In all pointes he was disloyall vnto his God Hee misregarded his Parents He burned with lust like an Ouen heated by the baker Hee so loued his lust that it was his law His hands were full of pickerie his eyes were full of adulterie and his heart was full of guile and his tongue full of lyes euer gaggling like a Goose. He was a cunning clawbacke a paunchpike thanke His custome was to defile the aire with most filthie belghs of blasphemie Hee sported at all reproofes O the noble jugling There there this geare goeth trimme By hooke by crooke he sought for gaine Howe hee wanne it hee cared not if men perceiued not his fraude With Iudas hee was whollie giuen to the
bagge and baggage of his couetousnesse Shall this man come where God is who neuer walked in his way In all his wayes he did euer goe awry lik a Childe that scribleth without a rule All his good intentions were but like false conceptions which are buried before their birth let me now tread him vnder foote that I may lay him dead straight like a worme O the infamous man whose name doeth goe with a brand vpon it like Cains marke Hee followed Christ for loaues But O when the corne was spent the Rate left the Barne His whole life was but a myre of mischiefe All men can tell that hee was but an vntrustie Pilferer a foole hardie fellon rushing in rebellion against God man If so bee that he was exalted he cared not that God was dishonoured In the pride of life he walked like Nebuchadnezar strouting in his Palace with bragging words boasting of his Babel Gods patience hath long suffered In his sufferings hee hath comforted himselfe in this When I see a conuenient time then will I execute judgement Nowe is the time of execution come Either now or neuer for his sinne is now ripe and readie for the sickle I am wearied with accusing what shall I say His heart was euer swelled with pride By costlie apparell he gaue euill example With his pleasures hee was tyed like a dog in a leach He could neither suffer a Superiour nor comport with à Companion The blue enuie in his heart made him hate to see others thriue besides him The praise of other mens vertues was as who had dispraised himselfe in his face Hee was euer malcontent at Gods graces into others He was like a Swine vnder an Oake feeding and foiling Gods benefites lik Acorns But who euer saw his face lifted vp with thankes to the shaker of the tree Hee was full of peppered sausinesse sporting himselfe with checkes and taunts As hee had a babling tongue to speake euill so had hee a bibulous eare thirstie after false reportes O what filthy dung hilles heapes of sinnes were hoodred in his heart If hee did not any euill it was not for lacke of will like the frozen serpent hee hissed when hee could not hurt but so soone as hee beganne hee lustilie lashed on All his meditations were mould in malice As for his Religion hee vsed his libertie as a cloake of maliciousnesse While hee come to the Church it was but for the faÌ„shion for to shew the frindges of his hypocrisie Hee thought a long Sermon a surfet as Iudas thought the oyle spent that was powred vpon Christ so thought hee all the time alloted to Gods seruice Hee was euer cold in well doing as one of the frozen generation A proude man was he in his own conceit while he found himselfe inlightned with some caÌ„fused glimmerings of light glauncing vpon his heart thorow the deceiuing glasse of a temporarie faith His necke was an yron sinew and his brow brasse In a word all his affections were out of order as bones beside the joynt It were more easie to count the sand than his sinnes of omission and of commission with excesse of riot I seeke but Iustice now his life is neere an ende let Gods vengeance take him at the rebound The Angel Michael That is a bloodie Lybell if all be true that is said by the father of lyes Though his sinnes were thus bloody as thou accuses there is a redeeming Blood in Iesus for his ransome his wounds are the holes of the Rocke of refuge All that accusation is but founded vpon surmise But though hee were guiltie as thou affirmes is there anie sinne so great that God cannot forgiue There is no sinne so red but Christs Blood can make it white Gods word is true sinne dyed in Scarlet-red lik crimsin may by God be made white lik the wooll snow Thou cryeth for Iustice Christs Blood cryeth for mercy which of you two shall best bee heard Sathan But can Gods mercie bee against his justice shall mercie against justice plead for the whitnesse of a Rauen shall a most vile sinner escape damnation shall not Iustice bee his bane Let mee now giue him a knocke with the barre of judgement While hee had strength to walke hee left the narrow path for to goe croude with the wicked in the broad waye Now let him suffer for all his riotes let the doors of heaueÌ„ be bared in his teeth Gods mercies must not bee against his justice Let mee now giue him a yercke with my whippe The Angel Michael Auoide there is no breach in justice while his sinnes are pardoned for Christ his Lord hath suffered for him he hath satisfied for all his debts at the bâ—…rre of justice and that to the vtmost farthing When all was payed Christ cryed with a loud voice that heauen and earth might heare Consummatum est that is Aâ—…l is payed the whole worke of mans Redemption is finishâ—…d This was hâ—…ard by the deuils themselues not one durst stand vp to say the contrarie Thou câ—…yeth for Iustice 〈◊〉 is Iustice heere is Iustice Christ his Cautioner hath payed all his dâ—…bts It is against Iustice to require one debt to bee twise payed By Iustice then hee must be saued because Christ in great mercie towards him hath made full satisfaction to the Iustice of God His Lords passion is his pardon for the droppes of his Blood his Father hath giuen him in exchange life euerlasting for all repenting sinners what needes him to feare who hath Christ for his Cautioner Sathan Christ would neuer be Cautioner for such a Reprobate goate as hee In wickednesse he hath out-stripped all others he put on Christ like an Hat which goeth off to euery one that wee meete The wine pynt and Tobacca Pype with sneesing pouder prouoking sneuell were his heartes delight His life hath beene a stumbling blocke vnto manie His best vertues were but splendida peccata glistering sinnes His most precious pearles are but of pewter Away with this Child of Belial out vpon him with all his faire wordes all his Religion was but scroofe and scumme Would Christ euer bee Cautioner for such a Banquerupt as hee who all his dayes hath beene a boisterous reueller the chiefe of a knot of knaues The Angel Michael Hee who is not in debt needeth not a Cautioner I came said Christ to call sinners to repentance Though his sins were manie as thou objectes no miserie in man can ouer-reach the mercie of his God Christ in all will bee answerable for him Sathan What hath Christ to doe with this stubburne and steele-necked Bebell who was in his whole conuersation both hote hardie The voyce of his Conscience within was out-cryed all honestie out-faced by his corruptions After yâ— euill turne was done he had his excuse readie at his fingers ends Thinke ye that Christ will bee Cationer for all men or that all men shall bee saued The
appointed his boundes that hee cannot passe As the enemies of Christ could not laye handes on him till his houre was come neither Death the 〈◊〉 enemie touch the Sainctes till the houre of their change come As for you M. whom now the Lord hath made a Widow yee haue to take patience and holde your peace with Aaron Dauid said to God I was dumbe and opened not my mouth because thou diddest it A Widow in the holie tongue is called Almanah from a worde that signifieth dumb a word warning her to lay her haÌ„d on her mouth for to seale it with a reuerend silence because God hath done it Let his decease prouoke and enkindle your desire to goe to him for hee will no more come to you God M. hath not left you comfortlesse for now happie is your Husband who hath drunke of deaths cuppe so peaceablie euen a sleeping drinke wherewith hee hath gone to sleepe with these righteous who are said by the Prophet to rest in their beddes The friendes of Christ die not but softlie with Lazarus that friend of Christ they sleepe in their Graues where they lye still and are quiet Trauell M. with your owne heart that it bee silent O but yee haue to blesse God who hath dealt so mercifullie with your dearest hearte whome hee hath so powerfullie vp holden in so bloodie and bitter a Battell against the enemies of his Saluation wherein by the strength of God in his weakenesse After bitter bickeringes hee hath obtained so glorious a victorie which hath made all the heauens torejoyce Now assuredlie M. yee may say My deare Husband the desire of mine eyes is now a Prince in heauen crowned with the euer greene Lawrels of immortalitie Hee hath changed a fraile life a wind in a worme for eternitie of Glorie Faithfull Iob patientlie blessed God by whose permission Sathan in a whirle-wind crushed all his Children together vnder the ruines of an house howe much more comfortablie may yee say The Lord gaue the Lord hath taken away blessed bee the Name of the Lord. How manie good and godlie persons haue their Husbands taken by Pyrates pyned in Galleyes rotting in prisons slaine by poysoÌ„ stobbed in duells murthered by Traitours killed in warre drowned in Riuers sunke downe in Seas with their whole substance and diuerslie taken away in most doolefull manner But be hold which may blunt the edge of your dolours your husband peaceablie deceased in his bed hauing his eyes closed with the finger of a Friend Though all the sortes of death of Gods beloued Ones be precious in his sight yet it is most comfortable for the liuing when these whom they loue best are remoued in this outward peaceable manner both spirituallie and temporallie comforted This Iob calleth to die in our nest If God had done otherwise to you in the rigour of his Iustice who durst controll him This also ye must remember for the settling of any druÌ„blie mood of impatiencie that may be in your heart that hee was but lent vnto you for a space and so contracted yee at the first to tarrie but a space together for if yee will take leasure to reade your Contract of mâ—…rriage yee shall finde that therein is made mention of the death of you both Let mee yet come neerer after hee had taken you by the hand before the 〈◊〉 on your marriage day your handes a little after few wordes spoken did goe asunder againe euen for to tell you that none immortall knot can bee had of any things heere below happie shee whose hearte is plyable and obsequious to the will of her God I confesse that yee cannot but mourne beeing depriued of such 〈◊〉 pleasure the fairest jewell of all your worldlie joy the staffe of your estate on whoÌ„ your greatest comfortes did depend what woÌ„der for many days haue ye bene glad together so that it is no possible were ye neuer so saÌ„ctified but your heart must be deeplie wounded Why not Gods will was neuer against anie moderate mourning for the dead * Grace maketh noâ—… men and women Stoicks and stockes that cannot bee moued for anything Nay God permits vs to mourne but not to carke care as these which haue none hope who â—…ugging out their haire and downe their cheekes powre out their roaringes as waters beeing swallowed vp of discouragement hauing none hoe in their griefe they some out myre and dirt It is permitted to mourne when Gods hand is gone out against vs It is naturall True grace is not against it but against its corruption in excesse In the Olde-Testament Abraham mourned for Sarah For the death of Deborah Rebeccas Nurse was sore weeping for which cause yâ— Oak-tree vnder which she was buried was called Allon Bachuth the Oake of weeping Iacob wept exceedingly for Ioseph whom hee thought by some wilde beaste to haue beene rent in pieces After that Iacob had gathered vp his feete yeelded vp the ghost Ioseph fell vpon his face and wept 〈◊〉 him and kissed him Naomi after shee had lost both Husband and Children would no more bee called Naomi that is pleasant Call me not Naomi said shee that is pleasant but call mee Marah that is bitter For the Almightie hath dealt verie bitter 〈◊〉 with me I went out full and the Lord hath brought mee home againe emptie Why then call yee mee Naomie seeing the Lord hath testified against mee and the Almightie hath afflicted mee These all were interested and therefore they mourned beeing pinched with the smart Behold M. how in the Olde-Testament God by taking away by death hath afflicted his dearest Ones for to vse Naomis words hath testified against them consider also how they haue mourned In the New-Testament Christ himselfe groaning in himselfe wept at Lazarus his Graue The wordes are these And Iesus wept The sight of Christes death was by Simeon foretold to his Mother Marie This Simeon called a sword which shuld pierce her thorow the Soule Thus as yee see a Christian heart is not a Marble heart but a melâ—…ing heart furnishing teares the tribute of our loue appointed for the funeral obsequies of our best beloued whose appointed monethes of life are expired Indeede where grace is it stayeth at the course stoppeth the â—…ent and the streame of Natures blind and bold corruptions bringing our most violent affections into an holie compasse of an humble submission vnto Gods will But it neuer dissalloweth a tempered Turtle crouding for the absence of our dearest comforts Such cleare crystall teares the Lord will put vp in his Bottels But as for these drumlie and barmie teares of fierce and vnrulie passions comming from the muddie fountaine of an vnhallowed heart the Lord will not respect them no more than 〈◊〉 regarded the sacrifice of Cain Sucâ—… teares are like the waters of jealousiâ—… to the whoorish woman which madâ—… her thigh to rotte