of this definition Answ 1 That he cannot eate the Lords body who is not of the Lords body August 2 That a man must come with all chéerfulnesse to this banquet a and not to feare it as a man would do poyson a Ezra 6.16 Quest When and where was this Sacrament first celebrated Answ The place was in an vpper Parlor to teach me that I should mount vp in mine affections to God and not tarry héere below vpon earth the time was immediatly before Christs departing out of this world to admonish me that euery day of my communicating should be a new departing of mine heart out of this world to mine heauenly Father for this loue-feast begunne héere vpon earth shall not be finished till I come to heauen Quest Tell me now what is the outward matter of this Sacrament Answ Bread and wine by which are signified Christs body crucified his blood powred out a Luk. 22.19.20 Quest How prooue you this Answ Christ saith Take eate this my body that is as Tertullian expoundeth it figura corporis the figure of my body 2 Irenaeus saith The Eucharist consisteth of two things the one terrestriall the other celestiall 3 Augustine saith A Sacrament is a visible signe of an inuisible grace and he doubted not to say This is my body when hee gaue the signe of his bodie 4 Macarius calleth the bread and wine antitypa exemplary types of Christs body and bloud yet must wee know that to the true receiuer Christ is now giuen as well as these creatures 5 Bernard saith It is called bread per significationem non proprietatem by signification not by property Quest Is not bread and wine turned into the bodie and bloud of Christ Answ No for these reasons 1 Christ instituted this Supper before he was crucified 2 Then he must haue giuen his dead bodie with his liuing hands 3 The bread after consecration is distrâ—buted into parts but the whole body of Christ is receiued of euery seuerall communicant 4 The bread is the coÌ„munion of Christs body and therefore not the very body 5 This were to make the body of Christ of Bakers bread 6 The bread and wine will corrupt being kept after consecration 7 Wee see and taste onely bread and wine 8 Else the wicked should eate Christs body and so must haue eternall life Iohn 6.54 9 This taketh away the nature of a Sacrament wherein there must be a signe and the thing signified 10 It destroies the nature of Christs body making it aliue and dead in heauen and vpon earth glorified and vilified and in many places at one time 11 It is a kinde of inchantment to giue power to the mumbling of fiue Latine words to change the substance of bread and wine 12 The Apostle calleth it bread and wine before and after consecration 1. Cor. 10.16 2. Cor. 11.26.27 13 The kingdome of God is not corporall meate and drinke Rom. 14.17 14 Victor the third Bishop of Rome Note this was poisoned by his Subdeacon when hee tooke the cup and Henry the seuenth Emperour of Luxelburge was also poisoned in receiuing the bread at the hands of a Monk 15 Christs bodie and bloud enter not into the stomacke but into the heart 16 There commeth no good to vs by the corporall but by the spirituall presence of Christ Iohn 6.54 17 It derogateth from the dignity of the Sacrament of Baptisme in which there is no such metamorphosis 18 Then men neede not to séeke for Christ in heauen Colos 3.2 19 It taketh away the remembrance of Christs death 20 To say it is done because Christ can do it is no good argument for we must not reason from his omnipotency to euert any Article of faith but we beleeue that the bodie of Christ is in heauen not on earth and in a word it would séeme to me a matter of impietie to deuoure or digest Christs blessed bodie Quest Draw me but one other reason into a Syllogisme which you think is vnanswerable Ans I will and that shal be such a one as I learned out of the booke of Martyrs from that blessed martyr M. Frith and it is this They who eate Christ in the Lords Supper as the Fathers before his incarnation did eate him in Mannah and the Paschall Lambe they cannot eate Christ corporally for at that time Christ was not borne But the faithfull eate Christ in the Lords Supper as the Fathers before his incarnation did eate him in Mannah and the Paschall Lambe 1. Cor. 20.3.4 Therfore the faithfull in the Lords Supher cannot eate Christ corporally Quest But yet may not this be done by a Miracle Answ Priests haue no promise to worke miracles now adaies and that it can be no miracle it may appeare by these vnanswerable reasons 1 Euery miracle is sensible as when Moses rod was turned into a Serpent Exodus 7.10 and Christ turned Water into Wine Iohn 2.10 But this miracle is not sensible for I sée bread and taste bread I sée wine and taste wine euen after consecration Therefore it is no miracle 2 That which is ordinarie is no miracle but this of the Priests is ordinarie therefore no miracle Quest Why then is bread called the Lords bodie and wine his bloud Answ 1 That all the faithfull may acknowledge the dignity of this Sacrament 2 That we remaine not in the outward bread and wine but bee intent vpon the thing signified 3 That we may come with greater deuotion to that Sacrament 4 That we may be assured that as outwardly wee are pertakers of bread and wine so inwardly wee are partakers of Christ and his benefits Quest What rules must I then obserue that I may in the receiuing of the bread and wine rightly discerne the Lords body Answ I will giue you three 1 Take euery thing in it owne nature and kinde doe not with our aduersaries take the signe for the thing signified nor the earthly thing for the heauenly 2 Vse euery one of them in the manner appointed by Christ and with such reuerence as is due vnto them doe not as carnall professors doe who put no difference betwixt this and common bread and wine for no bread or wine in the world is in vse like this 3 Vse them to their right ends as First for a commemoration of Christs death Secondly for thy further communion with Christ doe not either as some aduersaries doe by a conceited concomitancy take away the memory of Christs passion nor as negligent Communicants forget the comfort of their renewed communion with their blessed Sauiour for heerein standeth our greatest comfort by communicating Qu. May you not receiue the bread without the wine Answ No for these reasons 1 This were to crosse Christs institution 2 It doth dispriuiledge Christs people 3 It maketh Christs feast a drie feast 4 It taketh away the remembrance of Christs blood-shed 5 The wine signifieth not Christs blood in his veines but that blood which was powred out Quest Why did Christ
all those benefits which from my cradle thou hast heaped vpon mee till this present houre When I was nothing I was created by thée when I was worse than nothing I was redeemed by thee When I was worthie nothing I was sanctified by thee and when I shall returne to nothing I shall bee glorified by thée And though I neuer knew thee as I ought loued thee as I should obeyed thee as thou commandest nor thanked thée as thou deseruest for all thy fauours yet hast thou loaded mee so with thine abundant fauours as if I had euer done thy will Experience haue I had of thy goodnesse many times but neuer more then in my late last visitation I acknowledge O Lord that at that time I chattered like a swallow I mourned like a doue I panted like an hart all ioy and gladnesse was parted from my soule I looked vpon my friends they could not reliue mee I sent to the Physitians they could not recouer mee I vsed all meanes no meanes would helpe mee I sought vnto thée yea to thée alone in my trouble and thou hast deliuered mee from all my distresse My mourning is turned into mirth my sorrow into solace my sicknesse into health and my death into life O thou that art the welspring of life the fountaine of health and the alone preseruer of al mankind what shal I render vnto thee for all those mercies that I haue receiued and for all those iudgements that I haue escaped aske of mee and I will giue it command mee and I will performe it tell mee and I will do it A thankfull heart is a sacrifice to thée a gratefull minde is well pleasing vnto thée and therefore in the sight of thy sacred Maiestie and in the eyes of all thy people I will take the cup of saluation and magnifie praise thy holy name that thou hast dealt so fauorablie with me The pangs of death had seized vpon mee thou hast restored me from death to life the sorrowes of the graue had taken hold vpon mee thou hast deliuered my soule from the graue Thou diddest hide the face of thy louing kindnesse from me now the light of thy countenance hath shined vpon mee And I who heard of late this message with Hezechiah Set thy soule in order for thou shalt die and not liue do now sée and féele this ioyfull promise I haue added to thy life yet a number of daies Teach mee so to number these my daies aright that I may applie mine hart vnto wisedome and that howsoeuer I liue heere for a while yet that thou hast appointed that I shall once die And because this meditation ought to be the meditation of all Christians and will teach vs to contemne this present euill world grant me that I euer may thinke of mine end and that exact account which I must giue vnto thée of euerie action I doe in this flesh whether it bee good or euill To this purpose grant me the assistance of thy Spirit that I may so liue hereafter before thee in this life that I may liue with thée eternally in the life to come Teach mee O Lord thy way and I will walke in thy truth knit mine heart vnto thee that I may feare thy name teach mee to do thy will for thou art my God let thy good Spirit leade me into the land of righteousnesse Create in mee a new heart renue a right spirit within mee and establish me with thy free Spirit I asked of thee life and thou gauest it mee I called for thy saluation and thou heardest me I will praise thee O Lord with all mine heart and I will magnifie thy name for euer For many are thy mercies towards mee and thou hast deliuered my soule from the lowest graue If thou desiredst burnt offrings I would giue it thée if all that I haue I would bestow it on thee but a thankfull heart an obedient life a zealous profession a godly conuersation is the only sacrifice thou delightest in make me therefore euer hereafter to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lustes and to liue soberly and godly and righteously in this world that others séeing my godly behauiour may glorifie thée in the day of visitation Make me to repent of my sinnes the causes of my sicknesse to beleeue in Christ the author of my health and to depend vpon thée the doer and giuer of all good things And now I am whole giue me thy grace not to sinne againe lest a worse thing happen vnto mee To this end rectifie my iudgement strengthen my memorie purifie my conscience whet on mine affections order my will and put on all the faculties of my soule and bodie that I may loue thee for thy mercies vnfainedly feare thée for thy iudgements vncessantly praise thee for thy fauours continually pray vnto thee for thy goodnesse daily and obey thee according to thy will dutifully Make me to know thee as thou hast reuealed thy selfe in thy Word to acknowledge thee as thou hast opened thy selfe in thy Sonne to thinke on thee as the solace of my soule to cleaue vnto thee as the authour of saluation and to speake of thee as thou art wonderfull in all thy workes My soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within mee praise his holy name my soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiueth all thy sinnes and healeth all thine infirmities which redeemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnesse which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and renueth thy youth like the Eagles Thou art full of compassion and mercie slow to anger and great kindnesse Thou wilt not alway chide neither keepest thou thine anger for euer Thou hast not dealt with me according to my sinnes nor rewarded me according to mine iniquities For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is thy mercie towards them that feare thee As farre as the East is from the West so farre thou remouest my sinnes from me As a Father hath compassion on his children so hast thou compassion on them that feare thee Thou knowest whereof we be made thou remembrest that we are but dust I will praise thee O Lord among the people I will sing vnto thoe in the congregation of the Saints For thy mercie is great aboue the heauens and thy truth aboue the clouds Let my soule liue and it shall praise thee and thy iudgements shall helpe mee Helpe mee they shall to loue thee more zealously to feare thee more reuerently and to obey thee more carefully all the daies of my life I confesse O Lord that before I was afflicted I went astray but now I haue learned thy precepts It is good for mee that I was afflicted for I sought vnto thee in my troubles I was in mine health an vntamed heifer it was thy goodnesse to lay thy yoke vpon mee and to giue mee courage to beare it patiently Thou hast taken it from mee
him go till we be heard Let not the woman of Canaan bee more earnest with Christ militant then we will be with the same Christ triumphāt Let neuer the Queen of Sheba so willingly come to Salomon as we must willingly come vnto Christ hee loueth most willing and importunate suters Wherefore as Dauid said to Abner neuer see my face vnlesse thou bring Michal with thee so I say vnto you neuer look God in the face vnlesse you bring Prayer with you As I haue declared to you the dutie of prayer so should I speake somewhat of giuing of thankes Many can be content to pray in troubles but few giue thankes for deliuerance out of trouble Multi petentes pauci promittentes paucissimi reddentes saith an ancient Father there are many Petitioners few Promisers most few thankesgiuers Are there not ten cleansed where are the nine there is none returned to giue thankes but this one and he is a Samaritan If euer people vnder the cope of heauen had occasion to praise God wee are they especially for his Word and Gospell and for many deliuerances shewed to our Princes and people But because at the end of this Treatise I haue set downe a forme both of prayer and thankesgiuing I referre you to the perusing of those two platformes I doubt not of your patience for the length of this Preface because I desire to leaue it as an occular Sermon instructing you continually how to call vpon God and preparing you to the expositiō of the Lords Prayer which of many through ignorance is as much prophaned as euer God was by saying the Pater-noster in Latine or repeating other Rosaries in an vnknowne language Now hauing ended as you see these questions and answeres I make question with my selfe to whom I may commend them and because for these ten yeares immediately past I haue liued and preached amongst you and that by the assignement of your Reuerend Pastor M. Doctor Montfort I am bold in generall to present them to you all You haue I confesse known my conuersation been acquainted with my ministrie countenanced me in my calling maintained me in health comforted me in sicknesse and afforded vnto me much more kindnesse than can be requited by this paper present And since it pleaseth God to dispose of mee still in such vncertaine places as that I could neuer yet say heere must I rest I blesse God that euer I came vnto you whose loue and larges hath bin is amongst many of you for what lecturer for ten yeares together can please al such vnto mee as makes mee to say of my late exile Perijssem nisi perijssem I had beene vndone if others had not sought to vndoe me Since I came vnto you I haue preached painfully liued honestly and studied carefully to do you seruice with what conscience I know with what danger you know and with what profit God knowes Surely this good I see done amongst you you haue beautified the house of the liuing God praise that worthy Knight whose loue and labour was first in that worke you haue enlarged that house which is for the dying Saints pray for that good King who gaue you that piece of ground and your congregation is as the thousands of Israel Blesse God for those trumpets of yours who haue euer called you to such holy assemblies Blessed be that God who thus blesseth you blessed be you who thus blesse God and blessed and billeted vp be they in heauen who thus prouide for the liuing and the dead and withall remember their painfull Teachers Now though I cannot say to you as Paul did to the Corinthians I am yours to liue and die with you for no Minister can say it who dependeth vpon voluntarie contribution yet this I will say and say for euer I am yours to liue and pray for you that you may so know God as you may pray to him so pray to God that you may liue before him so liue that you may euer be fit to receiue his Sacrament and so both fit to know pray liue and receiue that after you haue knowen him by Christ prayed to him through Christ liued before him in Christ and receiued his fauour in the seales of Christ you may in the end die in his faith as you haue liued in his feare and at the last day in bodies and soules be partakers of eternall glorie To the grace of this God I commend you to your grace I commend these Treatises doubting not but many of you will be as readie to reade them as you haue beene willing to heare them From your Parish of Saint Martin in the fields Iune 10. 1613. Your seruant in the Lord so long as it shall please God and you ROBERT HILL SPECIALL QVESTIONS HANDLED IN CHRISTS PRAYER EXPOVNDED 1 WHy is it called the Lords prayer Pag. 2 2 Why Christ taught it Pag. 2. 3 3 Whether there be any vertue in the repetition of the words of this prayer Pag. 3 4 Whether it bee euer necessarie to repeate all those words at all times and how wee must Pag. 3. 4 5 Whether we pray to the Father only Pag. 5 6 Whether we may pray to Christ Pag. 8. 9 7 Why we say our Father Pag. 8.9 8 Whether we may say my Father Pag. 8. 9 9 Whether we must pray to God only Pag. 7 10 Why how God is said to be in heauen Pag. 10 11 Why we begin with this name of Paternitie and say our Father Pag. 12 12 What it is to Hallow Gods name Pag. 13 13 Whether bad men may doe that which is good Pag. 19 14 Questions of Gods kingdome Pag. 19. 20. 21 15 What we must iudge of wicked persons Pag. 26 16 mhether wee may pray thus My will bee done Pag. 26 17 What it is to do Gods wil why we pray so Pag. 27. 18 Whether it be enough to do Gods will Pag. 30 19 Whether God cōmāds things impossible Pag. 31 20 What it is that God willeth Pag. 31 21 Why we pray first for things corporall Pag. 35 22 Whether in the fourth petition we aske foode spirituall Pag. 37 23 Whether rich men may pray for daily bread Pag. 39 24 Of praying to be rich Pag. 43 25 Of laying vp for the time to come Pag. 44 26 How to get riches Pag. 45 27 Whether one at the houre of death may pray for dayly bread Pag. 49 28 Of praying only to God for forgiuenesse of sinnes Pag. 54 29 How sinnes are discharged Pag. 55 30 Whether we must cōfesse our sins to men Pag. 56 31 How we must confesse them Pag. 56 32 What is required in confession Pag. 56 33 Whether we must pray for forgiuenesse of sinnes which we do beleeue Pag. 58 34 Of praying for the wicked Pag. 59 35 Of praying for such as sinne against the holy Ghost Pag. 59 36 How that sinne is knowen Pag. 59 37 How sinne is a debt Pag. 60 38 Why we are forgiuen by Christ Pag. 62.
it not so vnreuerently and irreligiously to be abused Am I assaulted by Satan or do Gods enemies preuaile I must then say Helpe vs O Lord and establish thy kingdome in an amongst vs. Is it sicknesse or aduersitie that doth molest vs It is then time to say Thy will be done In want I may call for daily bread in the sense of sinne for the forgiuenesse of sinnes and in the feare of temptation say Lead me O Lord not into temptation but at the least deliuer me from euill Euch. How many parts hath this prayer Phil. Foure 1 A Preface 2 Petitions 3 A Reason 4 A Seale Euch. Which is the Preface Phil. Our Father which art in Heauen Our Father which art in in heauen Where God is described by two such properties as wee must haue in our minds when we pray vnto him as 1 That he is our louing Father d Esa 63.16 2 That he is our Almightie God in heauen e Vers 15. Euch. Do you heere pray to the Father onely Phil. No but to the whole Trinitie yet as the first person is the fountaine of the Deitie we pray to the Father by the Son through the holy Ghost Euch. But Christ is called our Brother how can he then bee called our Father Phil. As he is God he is our Father and therefore called the Father of eternitie ‡ Isa 9.6 As he is Man he is our Brother and is not ashamed to call vs his brethren ‡ Heb. ◠11 Euch. Yet once againe I pray you resolue me doe we heere pray to Christ for whose sake onely we are heard in our prayers Phil. We do for we pray vnto him as he is the second person we haue our prayers heard through him as he is our Mediator If you distinguist Christs person from Christs office you may resolue your selfe Euch. What doth this word Father teach you Phil. 1 That I must not call vpon him as my Iudge to condemne me but my Father to saue me f Luk. 15.18 2 That in Christ I am his Sonne as well as others are g Gal 3.26 Eph. 1.5 3 That more then any other Father he careth for me and will denie me nothing conuenient h Mat. 7.7 Psal 103.13 Isai 49.15 4 That I may boldly come vnto i Psa 50.15 Isay 64.6 him For this is a name a great name vnder which none can despaire other titles of Maiesty terrifie this comforts euen dust and ashes to come to God For who saith Cypriā durst pray vnto God by the name of Father if Christ our Aduocat did not put these words into our mouthes he knoweth how God standeth affected towards vs for all our vnworthinesse and we may say with Saint Austen Lord take notice of the stile of our Aduocate thy Sonne 5 That none can pray vnto him but his children k Ver. 16. 6 That I must euer behaue my selfe as Christ did like Gods child l Ephi 5.8 7 That I must pray onely to God m Mat. 4.10 Psal 50.14 15. 8 That I must come vnto him by Christ n Ioh 11.34.16 1. Isay 63 16 9 To put me in minde of my natural and spirituall birth by him Mal. 2.10 Deut. 32.6 10 To teach mee that as a good Father he prouideth for me and all creatures Psal 68.6 Iam. 1.17 11 That though we sin yet he is readie to pardon yea for a great offence a smal punishment is enough to this Father he is a Father of mercy euen to prodigals Luke 15. and of compassion euen to rebels as Dauid was 2. Sam. 18. Euch. May you pray to none other but to God Phil. No surely for 1 Christ he teacheth vs to pray héere to none other 2 The things in this prayer are proper to God for to giue 3 It is his commandement so to do 4 They are cursed that worship other Gods 5 He alone knoweth our hearts 6 He alone can heare our prayers and helpe vs. 7 We beleeue in him alone and therefore must pray to him alone Rom. 10.14 8 No holy person in all the Bible did euer forsake his Creator and flie to the creature Euch. Why do you say our Father and not my Father Phil. To teach me 1 That I must hold each mēber of the Church as my brethren o Gen. 13.8 2 That I must pray as well in charitie for others as my selfe p Iam. 5.16 as vpon necessitie for my selfe 3 That I must loue all men as brethren q 1. Ioh 4.21 4 The dignitie of each Christian hauing God to his father r 1. Sam. 118.23 which dignitie he vouchsafed not eyther to the Patriarches before the Law nor yet to the blessed Angels they are called only the seruants of God the other Messengers of God but seldome sonnes 5 Gods loue to mee in making me his child ſ 1. Ioh 3.1 6 That in prayer I must consider Christ and his Church as one bodie and make him my Father who is the Father of Christ mine eldest brother his by generation mine by regeneration his by nature mine by grace and this wil cause in prayer most swéete consolation 7 To assure me that he is also my Father and will euer be so euen though I offend him for else I could not come willingly vnto him and Satan cals this most of all into question Matth. 4.3.27.43 8 To assure mée that as I pray for all Gods people so euerie one of them prayeth for me and therefore I being a member of Christ can neuer want friendes to sollicite my cause effectually to God In a word the word Father is a word of faith and the word our is a word of charitie so that in these two wordes is the summe of the Law and the Gospell Euch. You said this word Our teacheth vs to pray for others what euen for all men Phil. Yea verily that God will giue them grace to repent and come out of the snares of the Deuill 2. Tim. 2. and if they be our enemies that God would turne their hearts Matth. 5.44 Note heere that we are bound to commend particular persons as our Gouernours Children Kindred Charges Friends and Benefactors vnto God Paul did so for others and desired others would doe it for him Euch. But may I neuer call vpon God as my Father Phil. Yes I both may and ought in my priuate Prayers Iacob did so at Bethel Dauid did so in his trouble Christ did so on the Crosse and as God saith to mee I am thy Redéemer so I may say thou art my Father This faith teacheth me when I apply him to my selfe this Religion teacheth me when I pray for my selfe Yet so must I call vpon him as my God that I also consider him as the God of his Church Euch. Why say you that God is in Heauen Phil. Because there he sheweth himselfe chiefly to the Saints t Eccle. 21 24. and from thence he manifesteth himselfe to man
u Psa 57.3 Euch. Is not God euery where Phil. Yes for his essence is euery where x Pro. 5.21 and he filleth both Heauen and Earth y Eph. 1.10 Euch. How many Heauens are there Phil. Thrée 1 The Ayre in which we breath z Gene. 1.26 2 The Skie in which are the Starres a Deut. 1.10 3 The Heauen of Heauens in which Christ the Angels and Saints departed are b 1. King 8 27. called by Christ his Fathers house Iohn 14.2 by Paul Paradise 2. Cor. 12.4 by Matth. Chap. 5.34 the throne of God and the Citie of the great King Euch. What learne you by this that God is in Heauen Phil. 1 That hee is therefore able to grant my requests c 1. King 8.30 2 That I may pray with confidence vnto him d Psa 123.1 3 That in Prayer my heart must bee in Heauen e 1. King 8.48 Psal 25.1 This is that true worship Iohn 4.23 4 That I must vse al reuerence in prayer f Eccle. 5.1.2 5 That I am here a Pilgrime and that my conuersation must be in Heauen g Phil. 3.21 Heb. 13.14 6 That I must looke for all graces and helpes from Heauen h Ier. 1.17 Psal 121.1 7 That by pilgrimages I need not séeke to God i Psal 145 18. 8 That hee differs farre from Earthly Parents who would helpe but cannot oftentimes 9 That no Creature can hurt me Psal 2.4.5 Psal 118.6 Rom. 8.30 10 That I must preferre him before my Earthly Parents Matth. 8.22.10.37 Deut. 33.9 11 That therefore I must especially aske Heauenly thinges Luk. 11 13. 12 That I also shall bee with him in Heauen Euch. Doe you then include God in Heauen as they Iob. 22.14 is he not in all places Phil. Yea surely as appeareth 1. Kings 8.27 Psal 139.6 Isay 66.1 Ier. 23.24 Prou. 15.3 and else where in many places of Scripture Euch. Why then is hee said to bee in Heauen Phil. 1. Because hee manifests his power from hence as Kings doe theirs from their Pallaces Psal 50.6 Rom. 1.18 poore Cotages argue no great Inhabitants magnificent Pallaces argue persons of account mans basenesse is séene in that hee dwelleth in houses of Clay Iob. 4.19 Gods greatnesse in that he dwelleth in Heauen Ier. 23. Psal 123.1 2 Because in view of the Heauens we sée more of Gods Maiestie then in all other Creatures Psal 19.1 3 That as wee sée Heauen in all places so we know that God is in all places Psal 139.7 Iob. 26.6 Hebr. 4.13 4 That wee may by this bee perswaded both of his Omnipotencie that hee can doe all Psal 19.6 and libertie that he will doe what he pleaseth Psal 115.3 Yea and that séeing hée is in the highest Heauens he is to bee feared aboue all Gods O happie preface to this blessed Prayer Euch. Why doth not this Prayer begin with some preface of Gods Soueraignitie Omnipotencie Iustice c. but with this of Paternitie Phil. His Soueraignitie would terrifie vs because we haue rebelled his Omnipotencie amaze vs being but dust and ashes his Iustice afright vs being guiltie of our sinnes his Paternitie doth allure vs as prodigall Sonnes comming to a liberall and mercifull Father Luke 1.15.18 Euch. How many petitions are there in the Lords prayer Phil. Sixe whereof the first thrée concerne God the other concerne our selues and of the last thrée one only is for thinges corporall the other two are for things Spirituall 1. Pet. 1.3 Euch. What learne you out of this order Phil. I learne 1. Gods great fauour to mée who will admit mée to aske for my selfe k 1. King 3.11 2 His great loue that he will heare my asking for others l Gen. 19.21 3 My dutie that I must desire especially Gods glorie m Exod. 32.32 4 That I must oftner craue thinges Spirituall then Corporall n Luk. 17.5 Euch. Which is the first petition Phil. Hallowed be thy name Hallowed be thy name Euch. Why is this set in the first place Phil. 1. Because it is first in the intent of God who made all for his owne glorie o Pro. 15.3 2 Because it is first in the intent of the godly who like good Children wish and doe all to Gods glorie p Ioh. 15.8 Exod. 32.32 Rom. 9.3 Euch. What is the vse of this order Phil. That whether wee eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we do else we may doe all to the glorie of God 1. Cor. 10.31 Euch. What meane you by these wordes Hallowed be thy name Phil. By Gods name I vnderstand his titles as God Christ Lord and such like his properties as his Iustice Mercie Prouidence and such like his word as the Scriptures read and preached his Ministers Sabbaoth Sanctuarie his Sacraments as Baptisme and the Lords Supper his Workes as Creation Preseruation and the like And by Hallowing I meane that God in all these may haue due reuerence done vnto him of all the people that belong vnto him Euch. Tell me yet more plainly what this word Hallowed meaneth Phil. To Hallow or sanctifie is as you taught mee 1. To separate a thing from a common to an holy vse so we are commanded to sanctifie the Sabbaoth Exod. 20.2 To preserue from pollution so all people must be hallowed Leuit. 20.7.2 Cor. 7.1.3 To estéeme and celebrate as holy and so God is said to bee hallowed Leuit. 10.3 Ezech 38.23 Euch. How may you a polluted person thus hallowe Gods name which in it selfe is most holy Phil. 1. By the consideration of his Iustice againsts sinners 2 His mercie towardes his Children in giuing them faith forgiuing their sinnes and making them patient to endure troubles 3 By being holy my selfe bad men may account God great and glorious none Holy but holy persons as Angels Isay 6.6 and men 1. Pet. 3.15 who must do it in thought word and déed Euch. Why must you thus labour to hallow Gods name Phil. 1. Because it is an honour euen due to him Reuel 4.11 2 It is a credit to mee 3 I testifie how I estéeme of God 4 The contrarie argues impietie Exod. 5.2 Isay 36.20 5 He hath punished the prophanation of his name Exod. 14.28 2. King 19.37 Isay 37 36.37 Act. 12.23 6 Hee created mée to this purpose Prouerbs 16.3 7 As all men account of their names Eccles 7.1 so God doth highly of his 8 All people haue vsed all meanes to erect Altars to the honour of their Gods yea and the people who neuer saw their King honour him 9 It is not only holy in it selfe but giues holinesse to all other thinges that are holy 10 Moses and Aaron entred not into Canaan because they did not sanctifie the Word amongst the children of Israel Deut. 32.51 and Leuit. 10.3 I will bee sanctified in them that come néere mee and before all the people I will be glorified Euch. What wants doe you bewaile in this petition Phil. First I bewaile mine owne
confession of sinnes in great Congregations scarce fortie are present vpon the Sabbath day yet none hereby may take occasion or be permitted so to rest wholly in such forme of Prayer as alwaies to kéepe idle the spirit within them or grace giuen them for growth in the power of Prayer to dull let or burie the gift or grace of the Spirit tending to riper perfection But euerie one ought to stirre vp and whet the Spirit and exercise the grace and power receiued to be fitted not only to repeate or reade but euen to endite any good matter and to be fitted by readinesse of inuention sutable to all occasions being as in the whole inward man so in the ripenesse of inuention facultie of conceuing increased and more and more perfected not alwayes to remaine like Children or Weakelings néeding to créepe vpon all foure or to walke with a staffe but able to goe without such helpes which any shall doe through Gods assistance by vse and frequent exercising themselues in Prayer and obseruation and imitation of other good Prayers heard or read and by kéeping a good method and order in praying A briefe Prayer vpon the Lords PRAYER OVR Father By the benefit of creation through thine omnipotencie assistance of preseruation through thy prouidence gift of Adoption through thy grace communication of eternitie through thy Christ Which art in Heauen euer raigning by thy power enlightining by Spirit forgiuing by thy mercy ruling by thy Maiesty Hallowed be thy name of vs by an honest coÌ„uersâ—tioâ— in vs by a cléere conscience from vs by an honest report aboue vs by the representation of Angels Thy Kingdome come in thy Holy Church by the sanctification of the Spirit in thy faithfull soules by iustification of faith in thine Holy Scriptures by instruction of Ministers in thy celestiall Pâ—radise by assimilation to Angels Thy will bee done in Earth in singlenesse of heart by humilitie chastitie of bodie by abstinence holinesse of will by custome truth of action by discretion As it is in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasing vniuersally without omitting Giue vs this day our daily bread For humane necessitie to couer our shame future prosâ—eritie to maintaine our calling present liberalitie to doe good to others eternall glorie to lay vp in Heauen And forgiue vs our trespasses of omission in thinges commaunded commission in thinges forbidden of the first Table against thy selfe and the second Table against our neighbour As wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs Heartily in puritie chearefully in curtesie continually in Christianitie forgetfully in not requiting like for like And leade vs not into temptation either importunate which wearieth or sudden which discourageth or fradulent which deceiueth or violent which ouercommeth But deliuer vs from all euils of mundane aduersitie which will disquiet vs Sathans subtiltie which will destroy vs humane crueltie which will ouerthrow vs eternall misery which may torment vs. For thine is the Kingdome powerfull in it selfe comfortable to vs terrible to thine enemies eternall in Heauen Power great in our creation mightie in our preseruation mercifull in our iustification and wonderfull in our glorification And glorie For which thou diddest make all thinges to which we referre all thinges in which all thinges doe remaine on Earth and by which all thy Saints shal reioyce in Heauen For euer and euer in themselues by continuance in thy Saints by practise in thy creatures by proofe in the wicked by torment Amen so bee it by intention of the mind serious inuocation of thy name diligent execution of thy Commandements continuall communication of all thy mercies prayed for Another of the like Argument O Our Father high in Creation swéet in loue rich in mercie Which art in Heauen the glasse of eternitie the crowne of incunditie the treasure of felicitie Hallowed be thy name that it may bee honie to the mouth musicke to the eare a fire in the heart Thy Kingdome come pleasant without mixture safe without annoyance sure without losse Thy will bee done that wee may flie that thou hatest loue that thou louest and by thee doe that thou commandest In earth as it is in Heauen willingly readily faithfully Giue vs this day our daily bread necessarie for this life not superfluous for our delights nor waÌ„ting to our necessities And forgiue vs our debts against thée our neighbour and our selfe As wee forgiue our debters who haue wronged vs in our bodie goods name And lead vs not into temptation of the World Flesh Diuell But deliuer vs from euill past present to come Spiritual Corporall Eternall And this we aske because thine is the Kingdome for thou rulest all Power for thou canst doe all and Glorie for thou giuest all now whilest we doe liue and for euer whilest we shall liue Amen neither doubt we but that wee shall certainely obtaine these thinges because thou art louing as our Father and powerfull in Heauen Thou sayest Amen by commanding art Amen by performing we say Amen by beléeuing and hoping say but the word and we shall be cured Dauid tentatur tentatus orat orans Liberatur liberatus gratias agit August Dauid is tempted being tempted hee prayeth praying is deliuered and being deliuered he giueth thankes This is the summe both of Dauids Psalmes and the Lords Prayer MATTH 26.41 Watch and pray that you fall not into temptation A COMMVNICANT INSTRVCTED THOV SHALT LABOR FOR LONDON Printed for Edward Blunt and William Barret 1613. To the right Honourable the Ladie FRANCIS Daughter to the most honourable the Countesse of Darbie and wife to the honourable Sir IOHN EGERTON Knight of the BATHE ALbeit the houses of the poore are not at any time as of the rich alike adorned with gorgeous furniture yet the gardens of the poore as well as the rich are in the spring-time a-like couered with flowers furniture That great flower of the Sunne it is not indeede found but amongst the rich but the Marigold Heliotropiuim which openeth and setteth with the Sunne and which is as profitable as the other is beautifull this is amongst other sweet and holesome hearbs ordinarie in the poorest Orchard These kinde of hearbs sometime they vse for meate and medicine and often wanting things to present their betters with of these they doe offer a poesie of flowers As they haue receiued so they giue That spirituall Garden which is committed to my keeping hath not at this time any rare flowers in it but such as being planted some few yeares past doe now shew themselues in a more Orient colour and in greater aboundance Out of them this spring-time I haue gathered three seuerall nose-gaies and two of them are presented to two most honourable Counsellers this Third I am bold to present to your Honour I hope there is no such Antipathie betwixt flowers and you as there was betwixt a worthie Ladie and a Rose The Ladie Hennage especially such flowers as these since Religion which giueth colour
institute this Sacrament in bread not in flesh Answ 1 Because bread is more fit to nourish than flesh 2 As bread is made nourishment by fire so Christ by the Crosse 3 As bread is corporall food so Christ is spirituall food 4 As bread taketh away corporall hunger so Christ spirituall 5 As bread is giuen to the hungrie not to full bellies so is Christ 6 As bread distributed to many is a token of loue so is Christs bodie giuen for many Quest And why vsed he wine especially Answ Because 1 As wine is the most swéet liquor so is Christs bloud 2 As wine quencheth corporall thirst so Christs bloud doth spirituall thirst 3 As wine chéereth so doth Christs bloud 4 As wine heateth so doth Christs bloud 5 As wine is pressed out of the grape so was Christs bloud out of his side 6 As wine maketh man secure bold eloquent and of good colour so doth Christs bloud Quest What is the forme of this Sacrament Answ The coniunction of the thing signified with the signe the action of God with the action of the Minister and the action of faith with the action of the receiuer Quest What doth the action of the Minister signifie Answ His taking bread and wine into his hands doth signifie Gods sealing of Christ to beare the office of a Mediator Ioh. 6.27 His blessing of the bread the sending of Christ to be a Mediator His breaking of bread and powring out of wine the execrable passion of Christ effusion of his bloud The giuing of bread and wine to the receiuer the offering of Christ to all euen Hypocrites but the giuing him only to true Christians Quest. What doth the action of the receiuer signifie Answ His taking of bread and wine into his hand doth signifie his apprehension of Iesus Christ by faith his eating of bread and drinking of wine for the nourishment of his body his applying of Christ vnto himselfe that his true communion with him may be more increased Quest What is the end of this Sacrament Answ 1 The assurance of Gods fauour 2 The increasing of my faith 3 Fellowship with Christ 4 Communion with the Saints Quest You said in the second place that you must examine your faith tell mee therefore what this faith is Answ It is a miraculous worke of God wrought in the heart of a regenerate man by the preaching of the Gospell whereby hée doth apprehend and applie to himselfe particularly Christ Iesus with al his benefits to the pardon and forgiuenesse of all his sinnes Quest Why must you examine whether you haue faith Answ Because 1 Without faith I cannot please God Hebr. 11.6 2 By it I must liue both in my particular and generall calling Hab. 2.4 3 By it I am iustified before God Rom. 5.1 4 By it I put on Christ Galath 3 27. 5 By it I féed on Christ Iohn 6.35 6 By it alone I obey Gods word Rom. 14.23 7 By it I am the child of God Gal. 3.2 8 By it Christ dwelleth in mine heart Ephes 3.17 9 By it I procure Gods blessings vpon my selfe and others Matth. 15.28 10 By it I receiue Christ in this Sacrament Quest How may a man know whether he haue this faith Answ By these signes 1 If wee can from our hearts renounce our false supposed goodnesse and can wholly relie vpon Christ in the matter of our saluation this nature cannot doe 2 If we haue peace of conscience arising from the apprehension of GODS loue in Christ and our reconciliation with him Quest Which are the wants of faith Answ 1 Doubting and distrust of Gods mercy 2 Presumption and vaine confidence in our selues Quest To come to the third part of our examination tell me what repentance is Answ 1 It is a worke of grace arising of a godly sorrow whereby a man turneth from all his sins to God and bringeth forth fruit worthie amendement of life Quest Why must you examine whether you haue this repentance Answ Because 1 Mans heart is deceitfull and subtill Ierm 17.9 2 Without it I cannot beleeue Mark 1.15 3 Impenitency is a fore-runner of iudgement Rom. 2.5 4 By repentance I am assured of my saluation Acts 2.38 5 Till then I can haue no comfort Psal 51.12.13.12.32.6 6 If I want it I can neither pray a nor b heare nor c reprehend sin in others d nor yet be a fit guest for the Lords Table a Psa 50.16 Prou. 28.9 b Matth. 3.7 c Iohn 8.7 d 1. Sam. 16.6 Quest. Giue some reasons to moue to repentance Answ I will wée are moued to repent 1 By Gods mercies Rom. 2.4 2 By his patience 2. Pet. 3.15 3 By his iudgements Isai 26.9 4 By the word preached in the Law and Gospell Ionah 2. Math. 3. 5 By the Sacraments Marke 1.4 6 By sinne past 1. Pet. 4.2 7 By the shortnesse and vncertaintie of this life Psal 90.12 8 By the certaintie of death Eccles 12.13 9 By the paucitie of such as shall bee saued Luke 13.25 10 By thinking of the day of iudgement Acts 17.31 11 For feare we go not to hell 12 That we may be partakers of heauen 13 That else we are not assured of our election 14 Without it we cannot die comfortable 15 It is difficult to performe on our death-beds 16 If we repent not our score will increase 17 Without it God will not heare vs. 18 We else run into hardnes of heart 19 If wee doe not so wee bring Gods plagues vpon others 20 By repentance we honour God and assure our consciences that God hath forgiuen vs for Sin discouered by triall and cast out by repentance will neuer condemne vs. Quest And why then do not men repent Answ Because 1 They haue gotten a custome of sinning 2 They escape vnpunished héere 3 They euer think on mercie 4 They feare not iudgement 5 They beléeue not Gods word 6 They sée that most do so 7 They obserue the life of bad Ministers 8 They looke vpon great men that are bad 9 They sée not the vilenesse of sinne 10 They meditate not how God hath plagued the impenitent Quest How shall you know whether you haue this repentance or not Answ By these markes 1 If I haue a godly sorrow whereby I am displeased with my selfe because by sin I haue displeased God 2 If there bee in mee a changing of the mind and a purpose to forsake sin and euer after to please God 3 If I do daily more and more break off my sinnes and abstaine from inward practise kéeping vnder my corruptions and vngodly thoughts 4 If I can mourne for the present corruption of my nature 5 If I haue béen grieued and craued pardon for my late sinnes euen fithence I was last partaker of the Lords Table Quest You said that obedience was the fourth part of our examination can you tell me what obedience is Answ It is a frée heartie vniuersall euangelicall personall and perpetuall kéeping of Gods Commandements Quest What reasons can you
you may see his goodnesse to you and yours in the other his iustice against his and the Churches enemies This Booke of mine hath many leaues these other haue only two in the one you may reade of Mercy in the other you may reade of Iudgement The Lord grant vnto your Honor with your most honorable Countesse the Lady Francis a second Dorothea giuen both as a gift to you that feare God such a life that at the houre of death when your glasse shall be runne and the Bridegrome call for you you may both say with that holy man Vixi dum volui volui dum Christe volebas Sic nec vita mihi mors nec acerba fuit London From S. Martins in the fields May 30. 1613. Your Honors at command ROBERT HILL A DIRECTION TO DIE WELL. Question I Doubt not but you are now well instructed for the direction of your whole life but because you haue heere no abiding citie what are you to thinke of that you may die well An. I am euer to meditae of fiue things 1 Of mine owne death which is most certaine that it will come and vncertaine when it will come 2 Of the death of Christ which was bitter to him but sweet to and for his 3 Of the deceitfulnesse of this world which is subtill to allure and subiect to change 4 Of the ioyes of heauen which are comâ—ortable to thinke on and glorious to posâ—esse 5 Of the torments of hell which are endlesse in themselues and comfortlesse to sinners Quest And why ought you first to thinke oftentimes of death Answ 1 Because it is appointed that al must die Hebr. 9.27 Death spares none and therefore there was neuer sacrifice offered to her 2 It is vncertaine when where or how I may die and therefore vncertaine that I may euer thinke of it 3 Many goe merrily to the pit of perdition for want of this meditation 4 Death by this will be more welcome vnto mee for Dangers foreseene are lesse grieuous 5 I shall more easily contemne this world by often thinking that I am a stranger in it 6 It will kéepe me from many sinnes which otherwise I would commit and cause me to repent of sinnes committed 7 Christ my Lord and good Christians his seruants had euer such thoughts 8 Many Philosophers haue done the like and of it haue written many volumes 9 As the day of death leaues me so the day of iudgement shall find me Psal 90.12 10 It was the praier of Moses to God that hee would teach him so to number his daies that hee might applie his heart vnto wisdome 11 It is the end of all my hearing and reading and as it were the scope of a Christian Diuine 12 It is the Art of all Arts and Science of all Sciences to learne to die Quest How prooue you this last Answ Moses saith O that they were wise and that they would consider their latter end Deut. 32.29 The Wise man saith Remember thy end and thou shalt neuer doe amisse Eccles 7.36 An Emperour said that Fredricke the third The best knowledge was to know God and to learne to die Augustine said that in this our pilgrimage we must thinke of nothing else but that wee shall not be euer heere and yet heere should wee prepare for our selues that place from whence we shall neuer depart Gregorie said All the life of a wise man must bee the meditation of death and He is euer carefull to doe well who is euer thinking of his last end Quest Why then doe so few thinke of death and put this euill day farre from them Answ The reasons are 1 Their infidelity they beleeue not either the happinesse of heauen nor the horrors of hell 2 Their impenitency and euill conscience they would not breake off their sinnes by drawing neere to God 3 Their ignorance of the soules immortalitie the bodies resurrection and the good things prepared for them in heauen by Christ 4 Their ambition in desiring the honors and preferments of this world and being loath to leaue them when they haue enioied them 5 Their couetousnesse by which as Moles they would euer by their good wils liue vpon earth 6 Their delight in the pleasures of sin from which they are taken at the day of death 7 Their want of Gods feare for Hee that feares God feares not to dye 8 Their vnwillingnesse to leaue this world for to die well is to die willingly Quest It seemeth then wee had neede to pray that God would teach vs to number our not yeeres but daies and now tell mee you that haue beene taught this Arithmeticke how you ought to number your daies An. I must number them after this sort 1 I must abstract the time past for that being irreuocable will neuer come againe 2 I may not adde the time to come for it may be it will neuer come vnto me 3 I must set down only the time present and know that it is only mine Our life is a point and lesse then a point a figure of one to which we can adde no Cipher it is but a moment and yet if we vse this moment wel wee may get eternitie which is of greatest moment Quest Is it not then thinke you a great folly that men are so vnwilling to thinke of death Answ Questionlesse it is we sée the Mariner with ioy thinkes of the Hauen The Labourer is glad to sée the euening The Trauailer is merry when his iournie is ended The Souldier is not sorrie when his warfare is accomplished and shall wee be grieued when the dayes of sinne are ended Quest It seemeth by this which you haue said that this life of ours is verie troublesome for we are Mariners our hauen is happinesse Trauellers our iournie is to Paradise Labourers our hire is Heauen and Souldiers our conquest is at death Is then our life both miserable and changeable Answ Yea verily for it is compared to a pilgrimage in which is vncertaintie Genes 47.9 A Flower in which is mutabilitie Isay 40.7 A smoke in which is vanitie Psalme 102.3 An House of Clay in which is miserie Iob. 4.19 A Weauers shittle in which is volubilitie Iob. 7.6 A shepheards tent in which is varietie Isay 38.12 A Ship on the Sea in which is celeritie Wisd 5.10 A Mariner who sitting standing sléeping or waking euer saileth on A shadow which is nothing to the bodie Iob. 8.9 To a thought whereof wee haue thousands in one day To a dreame whereof we haue millions in one night Iob. 20.8 To vanitie which is nothing in it selfe Psal 39. 5. And to nothing which hath no being in the World Psal 39.5 Quest If all this be true as it must needes bee because God hath said it the houre of death is farre better then the day of our birth Is it so Ans It is that for these reasons by it 1 We are fréed from many present miseries Reuel 14.13 Wee are deliuered from many future
fond conceit of many who thinke it a great blessing to bee buried in a Church especially if it bee in the Chancell néere the Altar Quest. Ought there any care to bee had to keepe Churchyards in good sort Answ There ought 1 They are the houses of Christians and as it were chambers or beds to sléepe in 2 They are places to which we may resort to bee put in minde of our future mortalitie 3 It argues little charitie to abuse those places where our friends lie buried 4 The Romans had this Law Let the place where the dead are buried be accounted holy and the Romanists haue diuers good Canons against such as shal any way abuse euen Church yards and it were to bee wished that it were looked to amongst vs. Quest What thinke you of making monuments for the dead Answ I remember Tullie saith that the Romans had a law that no man should build a more costly Sepulchre then could be finished in thrée daies Lib. 2. de Leg. The Egyptians builded gorgeous Sepulchres and meane houses because the one was to them but as an Inne the other as they thought an eternall habitation Celius Rhodig Now that great and good men should haue monuments as it is a thing indifferent so I thinke it not simply vnlawfull 1 The Iewes vsed such as wee may sée in the Bible Dauid saith the Scripture is dead and his Sepulchre is with vs to this day Act. 2.29 2 By them wee may be put in minde of that glorious habitation wee shall haue in Heauen 3 It is an argument that we loued such persons whom we thus honour after their death 4 We kéepe a memorie of their excellent vertues 5 We are moued to follow them in good actions 6 It distinguisheth betwixt person and person for though all die alike yet all must not be alike buried But note that the best monument is to be set vp in the heartes of good people for good workes and the next is to leaue a godly posteritie as for the monuments which the wicked leaue they argue 1 Their pride that they would leaue a name vpon earth 2 Their infidelitie that they looke not for the resurrection of the iust 3 Their couetousnes that they will carrie that to the graue with them which better might haue béene spent vpon the poore 4 Their folly to build such a sepulchre as when men looke vpon it shall remember their bad and beastly life Quest Are the dead thinke you to bee mourned for Answ Solon gaue commandement that the Common-wealth should mourne for him but Ennius would not be mourned for But as for vs Christians though we must not with superstitious Nations hire mourning Women to lament for vs yet it is lawfull to deplore the departure of the dead for 1 As the Egyptians mourned for Iaakob seuentie daies so his children lamented him seuen daies Gen. 50. 2 Abraham mourned for Sarah Israel for Iosias and Samuel the faithfull for Steuen the women for Dorcas and Dauid for his good friend Ionathan 3 It was an argument of Gods wrath against Iekoniah that no man should say for him Alas my brother Ierem. 22.18 4 We receiue much good by the presence of our friends and why should wee not bewaile their absence 5 If they were godly wee must lament them 1 Because they did much good in their callings Acts. 9.39 2 Because the World was blessed by them Prou. 11.11 3 Because wee may feare some iudgement after their departure Isay 58.2 4 Because oftentimes worse come in their stead 5 Because the wicked will then be more readie to sinne 6 Because they were great ornaments in the Church or Common-wealth in which they liued Lament 4.20 And if they be godlesse we must mourne for them especially because we cannot bee perswaded but that they are gone to the pit of perdition 2 Sam. 18.33 Yet we must remember that we kéepe a meane in mourning and looke that our sorrow be not 1 In selfe loue because wee haue lost some good by them 2 In distrust as though we had no hope that they should rise againe 1. Thess 4. 3 In hypocrisie that we may séeme only to men to mourne 4 In excesse as though there were no comfort for vs that are aliue because God hath taken away the comfort of our life Cyprians spéech is verie good in this thing Why saith he doest thou take it impatiently that he is taken from thee whom thou beleeuest that he shal returne He is but gone a iournie whom thou thinkest quite gone Hee that goes before is not to bee lamented but rather desired And this desire is to bee tempered with patience Why art thou grieued that he is gone whom thou must follow We ought not to lament them ouer much who by the calling of God are freed from miserie they are not for euer sent away but for a while sent before They are but gone a iournie we must looke for their returne sailed into a strange Countrie they will if we waite come againe So also is that of the Wise man Ecclus. 38.16 My sonne powre out teares ouer the dead and begin to mourne as if thou hadst suffered some great harme thy selfe and then couer his bodie according to his appointment and neglect not his buriall Make a grieuous lamentation and bee earnest in mourning and vse lamentation as hee is worthie and that a day or two left thou be euill spoken of and then comfort thy selfe for thine heauinesse c. Quest May mourning apparrell be vsed at funerals Answ If the heart mourne as wel as the habite I doe not thinke it vtterly vnlawful for 1 By it we kéep a memory of our friend 2 We are drawne to some humiliation 3 We are put in mind of our owne mortalitie 4 It argues his loue that bestowes it vpon vs. 5 By this meanes many poore are clothed 6 It is but a Legacie of the dead to the liuing Quest And what thinke you of funerall Sermons for many thinke it sinne to preach at that time Ans I doubt not but they may be preached for 1 Wee must preach in season and out of season 2 Many come then to the house of God and why should they depart emptie away 3 It is a fit time to teach that one day we must die 4 Many accidents fall out in a mans sicknesse which are fit to bee published at such a time 5 Many worthie vertues haue shined in some mans life which for the imitation in others are not to bee buried at his death 6 Many corruptions haue raigned in some which then wee may bee exhorted to auoide 7 They are not for the bare commendation of the dead but for the instruction and consolation of them that are aliue Quest And doe you thinke that any would bee content to haue his infirmities laid out at his funerall Answ Whether hee will or not if God may get honour and the Church good there is no wrong to the dead to admonish the
Heart cannot comprehend it because it must Comprehend the heart and this wee shall more fully perceiue by how much wee doe more Faithfully beléeue Firmely expect and Ardently desire God saith the said Father hath prepared that for them that loue him which cannot be Apprehended by faith Attained to by hope or obtained by charitie it transcendeth our desires and wishes it may be Obtained it cannot be valued Quest Yet that I may get such a glimpse of that glorie begin with mine estate after I am dead what shall I enioy in the Kingdome of Heauen Ans You shall be carried to the Bosome of Abraham the Celestiall Paradise the House of your Father the new Holy and durable Ierusalem you shall then enter into your Masters Ioy you shal haue an Inheritance immortall vndefiled which withereth not reserued in the Heauens you shall Rest from your labours haue Peace from your Enemies and behold the Glorie of God in Christ Iesus in which place shall bee such and so many ioyes as all the Arithmeticians in the World are not able to number them all the Geometricians are not able to weigh them all the Grammarians Rhetoricians and Logicians are not able to expresse them in fit termes There shall bee ioy aboue vs for the Vision of God about vs for the vision of the Angels beneath vs for the vision of the Heauens and within vs for the vision of Happinesse There Salomons wisdome shall be reputed but folly Absaloms beautie but deformitie Azaels swiftnesse but slownesse Sampsons strength but weaknesse Methusalaes long age but infancie and the Kingdome of Augustus Caesar but beggerie Quest By what meanes shall I obtaine this happinesse Answ By Gods mercie that giueth it by Christs Merit that bought it by the Gospell that offereth it by Faith that receiueth it and by the Spirit that sealeth it vnto your soule Quest What is the obiect of it Ans The Vision knowledge and comprehension of God in Christ We shal indéed behold the Angels and enioy their companie sée the Saints and haue their societie But as the ioy of a Courtier is in the presence of his Prince so the ioy of a Christian shall be in the presence of his Christ Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Matthew 5.8 Blessed are they that dwell in thine house for they shall euer praise thee Psal 8.4 We shall see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.3 The Angels doe this in the Kingdome of Heauen and wee shall doe it in the same Kingdome Here we liue by faith there we shall liue by sight Quest Is this felicitie prepared for all Answ For all that beleeue it is prepared The Elect haue obtained it the rest are hardened Rom. 11.7 In euery Nation hee that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Acts 10. There is neither Iew nor Gentile Grecian or Barbarian Male or Female Bond or Free but wee are all one in Christ Iesus Gal. 3.27 Quest Shall my bodie only or my soule only or both bodie and soule enioy this felicitie Answ Both bodie and soule your soule shal be sanctified throughout and your body made like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus Phil. 3.20 Quest Shall this very bodie of mine rise againe to life after death Answ It shall assuredly for 1 The Lord keepeth all the bones of his Saints that not one of them shall be broken Psal 34.21 and there shall not an haire of our head perish Luke 21.18 2 Euery one shall receiue in his bodie that which he hath done be it good or euill 2. Cor. 5.10 3 God hath consecrated this bodie of yours to be a Temple for the holie Ghost to dwell in 1. Cor. 3.16 4 This corruptible shall put on incorruption saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 15. This saith he pointing as with the finger at the same substance and could not speake more expresly vnlesse hee should haue taken his owne skinne with his owne hands as Tertullian well obserued 5 Christ rose againe in his owne bodie and you shall rise as he did 6 In this bodie you haue suffered for Christ liued for Christ and in it you shall reigne with Christ 7 You shall be happie but how happie if one part should perish saith Tertullian in his booke of the Resurrection of the flesh 8 I am sure saith Iob that my Redéemer liueth though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I sée God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall sée and mine eyes shall behold and none other for mee though my reines are now consumed within me Iob. 19.25 Quest O that you could teach me this by some such comparisons as might confirme my faith concerning this doctrine for there are many Sadduces in the world at this day who denie the resurrection of the bodie Answ Indéed I remember that Gregorie in his Morals hath a like saying of some in his time There are saith he a number of people who considering that the soule is dissolued from the bodie that the bodie is turned into rottennesse that rottennesse returneth to dust and that this dust is resolued into the first elements cannot see how that by reason there should be any resurrection and beholding drie and dead bones mistrust that they shall not againe bee clothed with their flesh and so reuiue Such men though they cannot by faith beleeue as they ought the bodies resurrection yet let them be perswaded by this naturall reason What I pray then doth the whole world but imitate our resurrection daily in her elements For wee see daily that trees in winter want both leaues and fruit and behold suddenly in the spring time out of a drie tree as it were by a new resurrection leaues bud out fruits ripen and the whole tree is apparelled with her reuiued beautie Let them behold the dead kernell set into the earth how a tree sprouteth out of it and let them deuise if they can where that great tree was in so small a seede Where was the bodie where the barke where the branches where the greene leaues where that plentie of fruit Do they not perceiue that all these were in the kernell or seede before it was cast into the ground Why then should they wonder how a little dust resolued into elements should when God will become a liuing bodie againe seeing that so small a seed comming first out of a tree should by the power of God become an huge tree againe For as the tree is in the kernell so are our bodies in the glorified bodie of Christ In the man Christ saith Cassiodorus is the flesh of euery one of vs yea our very blood and a portion of vs. Therefore I beleeue that where my portion reigneth there shall I reigne where mine owne blood ruleth there do I perceiue that I shall rule where my flesh is glorified there know I that I shall be glorious And why then shall it séeme strange vnto you that God is able to raise your body againe
of thee when we pray vnto thée We haue nothing to say for our selues O Lord but that shame and confusion belongeth vnto vs mercie and forgiuenesse belongeth vnto thee Haue mercie therefore vpon vs most mercifull Father and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences We confesse indéed that wee are miserable sinners yet by thy Spirit thou hast taught vs that we be thine And therefore wee beséech thee to seperate our sinnes from vs which otherwise will seperate vs from thée If we remember our sinnes thou wilt forget them teach vs therefore to remember them in the bitternes of our soules If we sorrow for them in this life wee shall not sorrow for them in the life to come make vs truly sorrowfull that wee haue offended thée our gratious Father To this end giue vnto vs the comfort of thy Spirit to assure vs of thy fauour by which we may be as readie to euery good worke as we are prone to all that is euill Thou hast renued in vs O Lord the image of thy Sonne O let vs not turne it into the image of Satan neither let thy enemie take vs away from thée we desire good God to warre against him and his champions the flesh and the world we cannot ouercome without thée we pray thée therefore to arme vs with the shield of faith and the sword of thy Spirit against all their assaults and to put vpon vs thy complete armour and wherein we are most weake there make thou vs most strong that in the end wee may be more than conquerers Kéepe vs now and euer in the feare of thy Maiestie And because we go now forth to sight against all the enemies of our saluation the weakest whereof are stronger than weâ— therefore we come vnto thée for the assistance of thy Spirit and do humbly entreate thée to aid vs by thy prouidence arme vs by thy power guard vs by thine Angels instruct vs by thy Word and gouerne vs by thy Spirit in all our actions Let thy blessing be vpon vs thy seruants in our going out and comming in and in euery action wee vndertake from this time forth and for euermore Let all our thoughts words and workes this day tend to the glorie of thy name the good of thy Church and the euerlasting saluation of our soules Let vs make conscience of al that we do neither let vs account any sin little because thy Sonne died for the least Let vs cast away the workes of darknesse and put vpon vs the armour of light And howsoeuer heretofore by lying and swearing and sporting and spending inordinate liuing we haue offended thée yet grant that we may leaue them all lest they leaue not vs till they haue brought vs to destruction Make vs to discerne betwixt right and wrong good and euill truth and error and to learne some good thing euery day make vs skilfull in the profession of pietie that we may know how to serue thee and let vs not be ignorant in the mysteries of our callâ—ngs that wee may learne how to liue thereby Settle our affections in the loue of thy Maiestie zeale of thy glorie and vnfained good will one towards another so as we may as much ioy at the prosperitie of others as in our owne Are we merrie let it be in thée are we sorrowfull let it be for our sins haue we peace make it in vs all the peace of a good conscience are wee â—fraid let it bee of sin that we with as great delight may run the waies of thy Commaundements as euer we haue ouerrun thée in the waies of wickednesse Thou hast bin good vnto vs many waies O Lord as in our creation when we were nothing in our redemption when we were worse than nothing in our vocation when we thought not of thée and in our sanctification when wee were defiled before thee Thou thou alone hast preserued vs by thy prouidence preuented vs by thy goodnesse instructed vs by thy word acquainted vs with thy Maiestie and deliuered vs from many dangers And all to this end that we should goe as farre before others in thankfulnesse towards thée as far as thou goest in mercie towards vs before them We do acknowledge O Lord this fauour of thine and wee desire from our hearts to acknowledge it more taking all that wee haue as a gift from thée And in a thankfull remembrance of these thy mercies we desire thee O Lord to settle euery one of vs in such a constant course of obedience to thée that we may serue thée from this houre with all those duties which the world the flesh and the diuell would haue vs to deferre till the day of death O let vs thinke alwaies of our last houre yea last iudgement the ioyes of heauen the torments of hell and what a bitter death thy Sonne Iesus did suffer to redéeme our soules out of the hands of the diuell Let vs spend the rest of our vncertaine life in a renued repentance for our sins paâ—â— make vs to leaue the pleasures of this world before that they doe leaue vs. And now O Lord albeit we are vnworthie to aske any thing for our selues yet because thou hast commanded vs we doe intreate thée for others not as Abraham did for the Sodomites but as Samuel did for the Israelites Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walles of Ierusalem Behold with the eye of pitie compassion the great ruines and desolations of the Church Feede it as thy flock foster it as the familie dresse it as thy vineyard deck it as thy spouse and euer rule in it as in thine owne kingdome Many are the enemies that crie Downe with it downe with it euen to the ground Abate their pride asswage their malice confound their deuices and let their counsell in the end be as the councell of Achitophel so that peace may be within her walles and prosperitie in all her palaces so long as the Sunne and Moone endureth To this end giue vnto our Prince the wisedome of Salomon to his Counsellors the prouidence of Hushâ—y to our Iudges the conscience of Samuel to our Ministers the diligence of Paul and to our people the obedience of those subiects who with one consent cried out vnto their Gouernour Whatsoeuer God shall command vs by him that will we doe Thus we O Lord and our posteritie after vs shall enioy a spirituall communion of Saints in this life and a blessed communion in the life to come Many of thy seruants suffer for thy cause let all such sée the truth of their cause thy comfort in their calamitie and an happie deliuerance if it be thy will Are any now lying in the anguish of their conscience disburden them of the feare of thy iudgement and refresh them right soone with the conduit of thy comfort And as thou hast made them examples for vs so teach vs to take example by them that we may looke vpon thy promises
to preserue vs from despaire and vpon thy threatnings that wee doe not presume Blesse them that fight thy battels by land or sea whether they incounter with Mahomet or Antichrist And blesse them thou God of hosts in such a sort that the Hâ—athen in the end may bee constrained to say Doubtlesse there is a reward for the righteous verely there is a God that iudgeth the earth And séeing only we heare of rumours of wars and liue in such libertie as neuer any nation hath done so long make vs thankfull vnto thée that we are in such a case that wée are not led into captiuitie neither is there complaining in our stréets And teach vs to build thy Church in our rest as Salomon built the Temple in his peace We haue O Lord béene long in prosperitie be mercifull to this sinfull nation which hath surfetted and is sicke of too too much ease Let not thy blessings rise vp against vs but make vs as rich in goodnesse as in goods in pietie as in plentie that as we go before all nations in prosperitie so wee may labour to excéede them in sinceritie Blesse this familie from the greatest to the least blesse it O Lord with thy grace and peace so that superiours may rule it according to thy word seruants may obey as the seruants of Christ and that euery one in the same may be loued of thée Thou séest O Lord how bold we are we haue called vpon thée for our selues and others but many other things should wee haue begged of thée because we want them and thanked thée for because we haue receiued them Our vnderstanding is shallow our memorie short and wee are vnworthy to pray vnto thée and most vnworthie to receiue the things which we haue prayed for therefore we commend our persons prayers actions and endeuours this day to thy most gratious and mercifull protection and that in the name of Christ thy Sonne and our Sauiour in whose name and in whose words we further call vpon thée and thank thée saying Our Father c. LEt thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercie louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end and let all héere present say Amen AN EVENING PRAYER FOR PRIVATE families O Lord prepare our hearts to praier MOst High and Mightie God father of eternitie and fountaine of mercie wee acknowledge and confesse this fauour of thine that thou giuest vnto vs these blessed opportunities publikely in thy Temple to méete together priuately in our Families to méet together especially we acknowledge now this worke of thy grace that we dare not commit our bodies to rest before we haue coÌ„mended our selues to thée Thou hast not dealt so with euery familie neither haue the wicked a desire to praise thée wee are now present before thée O Lord be thou president amongst vs grant vnto vs all such a portion of thy Spirit that in feare of thy Maiesty reuerence of thy name a sense of our miseries and an assurance of thy mercie we may come now before thée as before that God who séest our behauiour searchest our hearts knowest our wants art able to grant more then we can desire We acknowledge confesse before thy great Maiestie that in the loynes of our first parents thou diddest make vs to thine image but in them we fell away from that blessed estate and are plunged into a most wofull and desperate condition being able to doe nothing but displease thée Our forefathers haue eaten sowre grapes and their childrens téeth are set on edge By the transgression of one wee all haue sinned and are depriued of thy glorious image and as an hereditarie disease it hath infected all the powers of our soules and bodies Our vnderstandings are filled with blindnesse and darknesse not sauouring the things of saluation our consciences are wounded seared defiled and neuer soundly at peace in themselues our memories are fit to retaine euill and to forget euery thing that is good our willes run headlong to all iniquitie but are auerse to all goodnesse our affections are with violence carried after the sway of our willes our thoughts are vnsatiable and infinite in euill our best actions are great abominations and our whole conuersation is lothsome to God and man By this meanes O Lord we are odious to thy Maiestie execrable to thine Angels detestable to thy Saints slaues to Satan worthie to be accursed in this life and for euer By this means our bodies are subiect in each member to diseases and our soules are subiect in each facultie to disorder we by this means haue lost thy fauour are cast out of Paradise haue sold our birth-right and exchanged heauen for the pit of hell And héerein we are most miserable that we feele not our miserie feare not thy wrath desire not thy fauour and consider not what we lost when we fell from thée Yet thou art our Father and wée thy children thou art our God and we thy people thou art our shepheard and we the sheep of thy pasture And when no creature in heauen or in earth was able to reconcile vs vnto thy Maiesty thou in thy loue diddest send thy Son to be the propitiation for our sinnes In him therefore we come vnto thée in whom alone thou art well pleased with vs and since hee is that Lambe that taketh away our sinnes in him we beséech thée to looke vpon vs. Let the puritie of his nature answere the impuritie of ours the perfection of his obedience satisfie for our imperfection and the sufficiencie of his sufferings frée vs from all torments which wee deserued to suffer for our sins He hath conquered Satan by his glorious resurrection from the dead and by it hath triumphed ouer sinne and death And now we are restored into thy grace againe grant that wee may feele the fruits of that grace especially such faith in thy promises peace of conscience ioy in the holy Ghost zeale to good workes in this life present and assurance of happinesse in the life to come that we neuer hereafter doe fall from thee But because we cannot either stand vnlesse thou vphold vs nor walke vnlesse thou lead vs nor liue vnlesse thou quicken vs nor raigne vnlesse thou crowne vs therefore we entreate thee to vphold vs by thy hand that we fall not direct vs by thy word that we erre not quicken vs by thy Spirit that we die not and crowne vs with glorie that we lose not our inheritance Sanctifie vs al in thy truth thy word is that truth Sanctifie vs by the Law that by it we may see our miserie feele the want of Christ bee sorrowfull for our sinnes aduise what to do desire pardon resolue to come to thée confesse our iniquities and renounce al things in the world to get saluation in
thy Sonne Sanctifie vs by thy Gospell that we may haue spirituall contentation in the possession of Christ extraordinary sweetnesse in the fruits of thy Spirit an holy admiration of these workes of mercy tendernesse of conscience in allour actions boldnesse to approch to the throne of grace a minde estranged from the loue of this world readinesse and patience to endure the crosse and a desire to be dissolued and to be with thée Wee must one day O Lord leaue this world yet it is thy pleasure that we should serue thee in it so long as we liue and why should we not serue thee all the daies of our life thou requirest it at our hands wee haue thy Spirit to that purpose it was the practise of thy Saints we were redeemed to this end and Christ prayeth that we may doe it Doth Satan daily tempt vs wee must daily resist him Is our life vncertaine we must euer be ready are we strangers in this world we must each day set one foote forward towards our countrey O therfore grant vnto vs thy grace that we may know we haue no time allotted to sin but al must be spent in thy seruice and this seruice of ours euer to bee harty without hypocrisie generall without partiality continuall without vncertainty conscionable without indifferency cheerefull without difficâ—â—ty and spirituall without carnality that by this way of obedience we may be assured of our saluation get the mastery of inconstancy performe holy duties more easily haue sweeter fellowship with thy Spirit and preuent many noysome lusts which otherwise would fasten vpon vs. We confesse O Lord that vnlesse we as watchmen doe looke vnto our selues and séeke to please thée in all things we cannot bee freed from many temporall iudgements our score wil be the greater in the day of account our couersation cannot be in heauen we cannot be armed against temptation nor weaned from the loue of this wrethed world We must euer be readie to meete our Sauiour let vs euer haue this oyle in our lamps we must sée our vnsufficiency to serue thee let vs labour to please thee that wee may see it wée must winne others to the knowledge of thée let our light of good life euer shine before them we must grow forward toward perfection leade vs forward in a constant course that we may obtaine the end of our faith which is the saluation of our soules Now because our best seruice must bee sanctified by repentance giue vs true and vnfained repentance for all our sins make vs to see them in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the clossets of our harts and to confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules We haue O Lord we haue sinned against thée yea our forefathers did our people haue and wee all doe transgresse thy commandements We haue omitted much good and committed much euill partly of ignorance partly of infirmity and partly of knowledge and if we did but know our vnknowne sinnes wee would bee ashamed of our selues When we consider the excellencie our selues When wee consider the excellencie of thy Maiestie whom wee haue offended the vilenesse of our selues who durst offend the danger wee are in by reason of our offence and the greatnesse of the price which was paid for our offences we begin O Lord to abhorre our selues for our vnthankfulnesse against the blood of thy couenant that we haue grieued thy good Spirit quenched thy graces and done as much as we could to make the blood of Christ of none effect Giue vs O Lord what wilt thou giue vs giue vs a true and a liuely faith to apprehend and applie all the promises of saluation to our sinfull soules giue vs hope of pardon by thy mercies in Christ an hungring and thirsting after him his merits let vs prise it aboue all treasure ioy in it aboue all other comfort sue for it as our best acquittance and take hold on it against the curse of the law And because that liuely faith hath her life in the heart giue vnto vs wee beséech thée a pure heart which is the delight of thy Maiestie and the fountaine of all actions Awaken it O Lord that it sléepe not in death so that neither by ignorance of it selfe neglect of the meanes ceasing of thy Spirit committing of sin or securitie in prosperitie and sin or presumption of thy mercies or stupiditie after iudgements or spirituall blindnesse and hardnesse therof it be at any time in a dead fléepe Make vs euer to watch ouer it that neither the terrors of conscience nor loathing of holy duties nor loue of any one sin nor vnwillingnesse to depart this life do cast our hearts into a spirituall slumber We do know good God and often times by wofull experience doe know that our hearts lie open to all temptations and many are our enemies who doe assault vs teach vs therfore to put on thine appointed armor Giue vnto vs a rectified iudgemeÌ„t to know soundly thy truth not obstinate in error but desirous to bee reformed in what it mistaketh Sanctifie our consciences that they may witnes our adoption checke vs for sin approue our vprightnes procure our peace make vs euer content cheerefull in seruice couragious in the truth victorious in troubles and willing to die Rectifie our willes that they may be cheerfull in well doing resisting of all the occasions of sinne yeelding to no sinne without griefe and rising by repentance out of the same Order in such sort euery one of our affections that by the benefit thereof we may subdue our most vnruly thoughts bee comforted and contented in our Christian callings more readie prest to all good actions deliuered from many noisome temptations and better enabled for the conuersion of our brethren And because thou hast afforded vs the benefit of speech which thou hast denied to all other creatures we desire that we may euer speake as in thy presence considering that wee haue no libertie giuen vs for idle talke but that all our spéech must be to edification and that one day wee must giue an account of our words Are we to take thy name into our mouthes let it only be vpon weightie occasions and in all reuerence and loue to thy Maiestie Are wee to speake at any time of our neighbours good make vs to doe it cheerefully without repining wisely without dissembling indifferently without part-taking constantly without recalling truly without deluding and chartablie to the preseruing of his good name Is he fallen let vs restore him doth hee stand let vs comfort him make thou our spéeches euer gracious to others Wee desire also to please thée in all our actions O let them euer proceed from a good ground bee performed in an holie manner and aime at the best end which is the glorie of thy great name Principally let vs aiâ— at the duties of the first table consequently at the duties of the second let vs haue a respect to all thy
aduaÌ„ced â—sswage mine enuie haue I abundance temper mine intemperance am I in want mitigate my feares doest thou exalt me keepe me from pride doest thou humble me kéep me from impatience doest thou withdraw thy selfe from mee let mee euer say Vp Lord why sleepest thou doth Satan assault mee because I am rich in grace preserue me O Lord that I lose not thy grace For woe is mee if I fall from thée I haue promised that I will not fall thou hast promised I shall not fall leade mee by thine hand that I do not fall Finally because thou hast been good vnto me many waies Lord make me thankful for all thy fauours Thou hast made mee a man not a beast a Christian not an Heathen a Protestant not a Papist Whilest many are ignorant I haue knowledge whilest many are profane I haue been obedient to thy will whilest many want the ordinarie meanes of saluation thou affordest me meanes for saluation of my soule Many are bound I am free in prison I haue libertie in want I haue sufficiencie They liue in warres I in peace they in persecution I in free profession of the truth they in sicknesse I in health And although by my sinnes I deserue to bee consumed yet thou hast spared me a great while and giuen me a long time of repentance What shall I giue vnto thee for all these mercies and fauours of thine I will take the cup of saluation praise thy great and glorious name and most humblie entreate thée that as thou neuer ceasest to bee good vnto me so I may neuer cease to be thankfull vnto thée Pardon good God my losse of time my abuse of thy creatures my negligence in my calling my vnthankfulnesse for thy kindnesse and whatsoeuer is wanting in my person practise prayer or thanksgiuing make a supplie of it in the merit of Christ Iesus to whom with thée and thy blessed spirit be all praise and glorie now and for euermore Amen A PRAIER TO BE SAID by a sick person or for him changing my vnto vs c. ALmightie God and in Iesus Christ my most mercifull and all-sufficient Sauiour I thy sicke and sinfull seruant diseassed in my bodie and distressed in my soule doe flie vnto thée yea to thée alone for succour I haue liued heretofore in the health of my bodie I acknowledge that thou wast the author of my health I am cast downe vpon my sicke bed thou hast by thy prouidence sent this Herauld to arrest me It is O Lord the messenger of death preaching vnto mee that vndoubted doctrine which I haue beene learning euer since I was borne namely That it is appointed that all must die and after death commeth iudgement My spirit is willing and would faine say Come Lord Iesus come quickly my flesh is fraile and in weaknesse doth say Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me And as in mine health I did nothing but sinne when I was not assisted by thy good Spirit so now in my sicknesse I shall doe nothing but sorrow vnlesse I bee comforted by the same Spirit O Lord comfort me in this agonie of mine and say vnto my soule I am thy saluation Thou art the Physitian heale me thou art that Samaritan pitie me thou art the resurrection and the life quicken me and quicken mee so in the inner man that neither the loue of this world nor the losseÌ„ of this light nor the consideration of thy Iustice nor the feare of death nor the terror of hell may make me vnwilling to depart this life Thou alone knowest the sorrowes of mine heart take them away thou beholdest my feare of death deliuer me out of al my feares couer my sores with the righteousnesse of thy Son heale them by the blood of thy Son and though thou launce them with the knife of the law yet bind them vp againe with the bands of the Gospell I know that my Physitian dwelleth in heauen yet he sendeth his medicines downe vpon the earth Besides thee none in heauen can helpe me and there is none in earth in comparison of thée to do me any good I am weake strengthen me I am sick cure me I am faint comfort me I must die quicken me I am assaulted defend me I am full of feare encourage mee I haue desired to liue the life of the righteous O let mee die the death of the righteous and let my last houre be like vnto his Into thine hands doe I commend my soule for thou hast redeemed it ô Lord God of truth My conscience doth tell mee that I haue sinned against thee and whatsoeuer I now suffer it is for my sinnes they are like an heauie burden vpon my soule they presse me downe to the graue of death and Satan doth lay them now especially before me to make me despaire of thy mercies in Christ Lord assure mee of the pardon of them all perswade my soule by the Spirit of my Sauiour that they are nailed to his crosse washed in his blood couered in his righteousnesse acquited by his death buried in his graue and fully discharged by his alone satisfaction Now now I stand in néed of thy Spirit let it crie in mine heart Abba Father I desire none Angell from heauen to comfort me I desire the Spirit of adoption to assure me to assure me o Lord that thou art my Father and I thy son thou my shepheard and I thy sheepe thou my king and I one of those subiects who shall shortly waite vpon thée in the kingdome of heauen to which I must passe by the gates of death O though I haue now a sick body yet grant me I pray thée a sound soule In thy hands are life and death thou hast the keyes of the graue and death thou bringest to the graue and pullest back again my mother bare mee a mortall man I came into this world to leaue it at thy pleasure it pleaseth thee now to forewarne me of mine end which might haue come vpon mee before this time I might haue perished either in the womb or in my cradle or in my childhood or before I had knowne thée or suddenly might I haue béen taken away and I deserued to die so soone as I was borne I owe thée a death as Christ Iesus died for me I haue béene salling to this hauen euer since I was borne be thou my Pilot that I sinck not in the hauens mouth but that I may land at the port of paradise I haue done I confesse little seruice vnto thée and if thou shouldest now take mee away I should die before I haue begun to liue Thou knowest what is best for me Conuert me O Lord and I shall be conuerted O Lord turne me and in a moment I shall bee turned vnto thee Therefore déere Father giue me that mind which a sick man should haue faith in thy promises hope of eternall life patience with my paine a desire to bee loosed and to bee with Christ and
a loathing of the vanities of this present euill world Call to my remembrance all those things which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated of to strengthen mee in this houre of triall that I who haue beene negligent in teaching others by my life may now teach them how to die and to beare patiently the like visitation Lord grant that my last houre may bee my best houre my last thoughts the best thoughts and my last words the best words that euer I did speak so that with my swéet Sauiour I may then say Father into thine hands I commend my spirit or with old Simeon say Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word Take away from mee in that houre all terror of conscience all scriching and howling all sottishnesse and senslesnesse which doth often accompany the wicked at their ends and since thou hast lent mee for a while my life grant that I may willingly restore it again when thou callest for it to heauen Let not the graue make me afraid because it is perfumed by the buriall of Christ and made as a bed for my body to rest in against that day in which thou shall clothe mee againe with mine owne flesh and make it like to the glorious bodie of Christ when he will say vnto mee Come thou blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome which was prepared for thee before the foundations of the world were laid Lord I thanke thée for all thy mercies in the time of my health and in this of sicknesse especially that thou hast taught mee out of thy word which also by thy Spirit I beleeue that howsoeuer I am by nature mortall yet by grace thou hast made me immortall and that I am translated from death to life I thanke thée O Lord for all the good meanes of health offred to me in this visiâ—ation of mine as my Christian friends their holy prayers and godly comforts for the meanes of Physicke and all other fauours which I now taste of in this sicke bed of mine which thou hast denied vnto many of thy seruants and déere children who haue deserued thy fauour more then my selfe I thanke thée also that as I haue liued in a Christian Church so if I die I shall die in thy Church and be buried in the sepulchres of thy seruants who all waite for the consolation of Israel and the Redemption of their bodies in the Resurrection of the iust Blesse all good meanes vnto mee so farre sorth as it may be for thy glory and my good and as I haue euer praied Thy wil be done so now let me not be offended that thy will is done Teach me that all things euen both sicknesse and death turn to the best to them that loue thee teach me to see my happinesse through troubles that euery paine is a preuention to the godly of the paines of hell and that this light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and eternall weight of glorie Teach mee againe by thy holy Spirit that there is none hurt by going to heauen that I shall lose nothing but the sense of euill and that anon I shall haue greater ioyes then I feele paine O death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victorie I thanke thee O Lord who hast giuen me victorie by Iesus Christ in the confidence of this conquest I come vnto thée am assured that if I liue I shall liue vnto thée and if I die I shall die vnto thée I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ for he vnto me is both in life and in death aduantage I shall by death put off corruption and put on incorruption shake off sinne and be couered with righteousnesse cast off mortalitie and be attired with immortalitie I shall lose my life in earth and finde it againe in heauen Thou my Father Christ my brother the Saints my kinred happinesse mine inheritance are in heauen alreadie why should I feare to go thither whither all the godlie dead are gone before me and all the faithful liuing shall follow after mee Why art thou troubled O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within mee Lord I know I cannot escape death why should I feare it my chiefest happinesse is behind and I cannot haue it vnlesse I go vnto it I could be content to go thorow hell to heauen O make me to go through death to heauen My paines I confesse O Lord are great but since I trauell to bring forth eternitie make me patient to endure all paines I sée my sins make mee now to sée my Redeemer I feare the Iudge perswade me that his Sonne is become my intercessor Satan would affright me I hope thine Angels pitch their tents about me the graue will gape on me out of thy word I know it was the bed of my Sauiour What though I leaue many aliue behind me yet they shall all follow after if I get mine inheritance before my brethren I must bee more thankfull to my father for it Grant therefore most mercifull God that if I liue I may liue to sacrifice and if I die I may die a sacrifice I am thy seruant and the sonne of thine handmaiden do with me what thou wilt Blesse O Lord the suruiuing generation make them wise to saluation to number their daies a right and to applie their hearts to wisedome And though thou kill mee yet let me now trust in thée Grant this O Lord for thy Sonnes sake in whom alone thou art well pleased for my comforts sake which by this means shall bee encreased and for the beholders sakes who shall sée mine end that they all may say Grant that wee may die as this our brother did so that our ends may be like vnto his and our soâ—les follow his Amen Euen so come Lord Iesus come quickly and the Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father and the comfort of the holy Ghost bee with mee now and for euer more Amen Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Reuelat. 14. The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceiue the good things which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Corinth 2. We know that if this earthly house of this Tabernacle bee destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God that is an house not made with hands but eternall in the Heauens 2. Cor. 5.1 Farewell my friends but you shall follow for it is appointed that all must die A THANKES GIVING AFTER DELIVERANCE from any crosse or sicknesse O Eternall God almightie and most mercifull Father the life of them that die the health of them that are sick and the only recouerer of them that are cast downe I thy late sick and sorrowfull seruant doe with bended knées and a thankfull hart prostrate my selfe before thée at this time and doe thankefully acknowledge
wauer in his faith nor stagger in his hope nor faint in his patience nor coole in his loue nor sorrow at his dissolution nor looke backe to the world nor bee ouermuch cast downe with the dread of death Grant that when death shall haue closed vp the eyes of his body the eyes of his soule may be fixed vpon thee that when his speech shall be taken from him then his heart may crie vnto thée say Come Lord Iesu come quickly Heare vs good Lord praying for him heare him praying for himselfe heare vs al for Christ Iesus his sake in whom alone thou art well pleased and in whose name and in whose words we conclude our vnperfect prayers saying Our Father c. LOrd blesse vs and kéepe vs Lord make the light of thy countenance thine vpon vs and grant vs thy peace O God the Father looke vpon thy sonne O God the Son looke vpon thy seruant O God the holie Ghost enter into thy temple O holie Father O righteous Sonne O comforting holie Ghost O blessed and glorious Trinitie one in essence thrée in person be with this thy seruant comfort him with that comfort which we would desire in the like visitation let thine Angels pitch their tents about him let his last houre bee his best houre make his life victorious his death pretious and his and our resurrection glorious through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Lord Iesu be with his spirit Amen Amen A THANKES GIVING FOR THE faithfull departure of one after he or she is dead changing as before O Lord God the onely health of them that liue and the alone life of them that die according to thy commandement we called vpon thée and in desire of thy goodnesse we cried vnto thée that thou wouldest be gratious vnto this seruant of thine whose body lieth dead before our eyes We asked his life thou gauest it not because thou sawest what was best for him wee desired his patience to endure this crosse thou heardest our prayers and hast not denied vs the request of our lips because that alone was fittest for him He died not as a foole dieth neither was his dissolution bitter vnto him He is now O Lord a tree planted in thine orchard a stone setled in thy building a Priest sacrificing at thine altar a starre fixed in thy heauen and an heire reigning in thy kingdom If he had died like Absolom we might haue taken vpon vs Dauids lamentation or like Saul we might haue taken vpon vs Samuels lamentation or as the malefactor on the left hand of Christ wee might haue lamented and mourned for him as doubting that hee died not the death of the righteous But precious in thy fight was this death of his and comfortable in our sight was this departure of his Hee like a Lion triumphed ouer death and like a Lambe resigned vp his life he knew that this Redeemer liued and that Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. His faith was in thy promises his hope was in thy mercies his loue was on thy ioyes his zeale was on thy glorie and his desire was to be in heauen For this thy fauour towards our Christian brother wee yeeld vnto thy Maiestie all possible thankes and that thou taking him out of this vale of miserie hast by thine Angels carried his soule to the throne of thy glorie We are O Lord we confesse full of sorrow in that we haue lost the comfort of his presence and we could haue béen contented to haue enioyed him longer if it might haue stood with the good pleasure of thy will But we néed not to mourne as men without hope because we are perswaded he so died in thy fauour that as his soule is partaker of eternall glorie so in that great day of assise and generall iudgement this bodie of his which shall returne to dust must be raised vp againe to liue for euer and then bee made like the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus in heauen He O Lord is gone before vs and we must one day follow after him O how can we render vnto thée sufficient thankes for thy great fauour to vs Christian people aboue all the nations of the world whom when thou callest out of this wretched life thou vouchsafest to place vs with thine Angels in thy kingdome In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to die but in the eyes of the godly they are translated from death to life They are arayed with white haue crownes on their heads and Palmes in their hands they shall not die but liue and do behold thy goodnesse in the land of the liuing They serue thée at thy table eate in thy kingdome sing of thy praises are freed from all miseries and they follow the Lambe whither soeuer hee goeth and enioy such pleasures as the eye hath not seene because they are not visible yet the heart doth beleeue because they are most comfortable We beseech thee O Lord that since we must for a while go on in our pilgrimage we may euer haue our eyes bent towards our countrie raise vs out of the graue of sinne renue in vs the life of righteousnes estrange vs from the loue of this world possesse vs with a loue of heauen take from our féete the fetters of pleasure that we may runne as fast to heauen as the wicked do to hell take from our backes the burden of worldlinesse that we may looke as stedfastly vpon things that are aboue as worldlings do vpon things that are below Guide vs euer so by the direction of thy Spirit that both in sicknesse and in health in prosperitie and aduersitie in life at death we may so behaue our selues in this present world that whensoeuer it shall please thée to call vs hence we may by faith in thy promises hope of thy mercies commend our bodies and soules into thy mercifull hands In the meane time hasten the comming of thy Sonne shorten these daies of sinne confound the enemies of saluation dissolue in euery one of vs the cursed workes of Satan sanctifie thy name aduance thy kingdome accomplish thy will giue vs our daily bread forgiue vs all our sinnes giue vs not ouer into any temptation but deliuer vs from all euill both of sinne in this life and of punishment in the life to come so that we with this our brother and all other departed in the faith of Christ may haue our perfect consummation and blisse in thy eternall and euerlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thée our Father and the holie Ghost our Sanctifier our sanctifier in this life and our glorifier in the life to come bee all praise power Maiestie might and dominion ascribed of vs and thy whole Church from this time forth and for euermore Amen A PRAYER FOR A WOman in trauaile O Lord our Lord Creator of all things preseruer of al mankind comforter of all thine afflicted and the only deliuerer of such as are in danger we
the children of Eua by our in-borne transgression yet the daughters of Sarah by sanctification of thy Spirit do séeke and sue vnto thée for a blessing at this time We are O Lord assembled for the comfort of this woman who trauaileth in paine to be deliuered of a child her sinne is great her danger is not small her paines will bee grieuous the houre of life is now at hand If wee were Heathens we would call vpon Iuno if Idolaters wee would call vpon the Virgin Marie but séeing thou hast vouchsafed vs to become true Christians we call vpon thee alone to helpe her We therefore beséech thée O Lord our God to be good and gratious vnto this seruant of thine and howsoeuer through the transgression of our first mother shee cannot bee deliuered but with great paine for thou hast laid this curse vpon vs sinfull women that in much sorrow shal we bring forth children yet since thou hast giuen her faith in thy Son mitigate wee entreate thée this sorrow of hers assure her of the forgiuenesse of her sinnes strengthen her with the comfort of thy Spirit confirme her in the faith of her Sauiour and blesse all good meanes heere present for her comfort Lay no more vpon her then she is able to beare make hast to deliuer her out of her paines and teach vs all that are about her to auoid at this time effeminate spéeches wanton behauiour vnseasonable mirth which often doth accompany such méetings as this Blesse vs in our comforts to her soule and labour for her deliuerance blesse the worke of the Midwife whose helpe shee must vse for her better deliuerance and though she be now in great paine blesse her O Lord in such a sort that anon shee may forget her paine because a child is borne into the world Yea and we pray vnto thée for this child in her womb thou hast enrolled it in thy book thou hast made it in thy frame the bones thereof are not hid from thée all the members of it are written in thy volume Thou diddest visite it at the time of life visite it now at the houre of life Giue vnto this woman thy handmaid neither a monstrous a maimed or a dead birth but as thou hast blessed the conception of this infant so let they blessing be vpon it that eftsoone it may be brought with perfection into the world Thou hast appointed marriage for this purpose thou hast promised a blessing to thine owne ordinance thou hast performed thy promise to many in this case and according to thy commandement we entreate alike performāce of thy promise at this time Heare vs O Lord for Christ Iesus his sake Visite thy seruant as thou didest Sarah comfort her as thou diddest Rebeccah cheere her as thou diddest Leah and if it bee thy good pleasure make her quickly a ioyfull mother of a childe Let her say O Lord helpe me and deliuer me right soone and let vs say bee vnto her a present helpe in this needefull time of trouble O Lord heare our praiers and let our crie come vnto thee and that for Christ Iesus his sake in whose name we call vpon thée saying Our Father which art c. A THANKESGIVING after her deliuerance MOst gratious God and in Iesus Christ our most patient pitifull powerfull Father as thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thée in troubles and hast promised to heare vs and deliuer vs in our troubles so thou hast enioyned vs in thy holy word that after our deliuerance out of any of our troubles wee should be thankfull vnto thee for the same Wee therefore sinners by nature but thy children by grace doe chéerefully acknowledge thy goodnesse to vs and thy speciall fauor to this woman thy seruant Wée called vpon thée and thou heardest vs wee sued vnto thée and thine eares were opened to grant our requests We asked thy fauour to thine handmaiden thou gauest it wee begged a blessing for this child thou hast blessed it and now thou hast made her a ioyfull mother Her soule may magnifie thy name and her spirit may reioyce in God her Sauiour Thou hast giuen her her hearts desire and hast not denied her the request of her lippes Thou hast taken away her reproch thou hast blessed the vndefiled bed Thou hast giuen her her husband this pledge of loue and thou hast made her an instrument to encrease thy kingdome Glorie be to thee in the highest heauens in earth praise and let all generations call thée blessed We blesse thée wee prayse thée we adore thée we giue thankes vnto thée O Lord God for this blessing of thine and desire to praise thée for euer and euer Continue thy goodnesse to this thy seruant giue her strength to recouer her weaknesse ioy to forget her late sorrow thankfulnesse that such a child is come out of her leynes as one day shall inherit the kingdom of heauen And as wee doe priuately praise thée in this familie so will we do the like in the publique congregation Blesse this yong infant with thy blessing from aboue Baptise it with water and the holie Ghost endue it with all heauenly graces defend it against all dangers prouide for it in this mortall life and crowne it in the end with life euerlasting Make the father to delite in the loue of his wife let her breasts satisfie him and let him keepe to her continually Make her a fruitfull vine round about his house and her children like to oliue plants round about his table Lord thou mightiest haue dealt with this woman as heretofore thou hast dealt with many in thy wrath She might either haue brought forth the winde or béen deliuered of a deformed or dead birth shee might either haue died in trauaile her selfe or continued longer in those grieuous paines But thou hast looked vpon her with the eyes of compassion and hast giuen this blessing to the fruit of her wombe Continue thy fauour to her and hers and let thy blessing bee vpon all thy children from this time forth and for euermore Heare vs O Lord for Christ Iesus his sake in whose name and in whose words we further call vpon thée and thank thee saying Our Father c. A PRAYER BEFORE THE receiuing of the Communion MOst gratious Father thou hast called mee now to thine holie Table thou hast set out a part of consecrated bread and wine for mee I acknowledge mine ignorance that I must bee instructed by so many meanes and I acknowledge the goodnesse that thou vouchsafest to teach me by so many meanes I do heare thy word and then is thy Son offered to mine eare I receiue this Sacrament and now he is offered vnto mine eye In the testimonie of these two witnesses this truth is established in mine heart that my Sauiour suffered death for my sinnes As it pleaseth thée thus to offer mee thy fauour so giue mee grace to accept this fauour Am I thus inuited to this blessed
learn all our life to die and this is the principall office of life To be briefe by this you shall purchase libertie to your conscience you shall feare nothing you will liue well contentedly and peaceably and without this knowledge there is no more pleasure in life than in the fruition of that which a man feareth alwaies to lose Quest To draw to an end and to come to my end when the pangs of death come vpon me and the wormes of the earth wait for me if God giue mee then mine vnderstanding what I pray you may bee my fittest meditation Answ Say now inwardly to your sicke soule Now my pilgrimage is ended mine haruest is inned my iourney is finished my race is run my glasse is spent my candle is in the socket many of the godly are gone before and I am now to follow them now thinke that you are come out of prison gotten out of Babylon and are going to Ierusalem Now thinke that the Angels stand at your beds head to carrie your soule into Abrahams bosome where you shall see God the Father behold God the Sonne and enioy God the holy Ghost where you shall enioy the societie of Angels the companie of the Saints and the knowledge of them whom you neuer knew héere where you shall liue eternally reigne triumphantly and obey God perfectly Meditate now that you must not bee loth to leaue this world because you go to that which is to come to leaue your house because you are going to Gods house to leaue your temporall riches because you are going to eternal riches to leaue your earthly preferments because God will set a crowne of pure gold vpon your head and to leaue your friends and acquaintance heere because you shall see them in glorie hereafter These and such like must be your meditations Quest Now it may be and I pray God it may be that I may haue speech vnto the last gaspe what words are fit for me to vtter Answ If God giue you that blessing say now with Dauid Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth With Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation With Paul Christ is to me life and death is to mee aduantage I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith from henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue mee at that day and not to mee only but to all them that loue that appearing of his Say How sweet is my Sauiour vnto mee sweeter then the hony and the hony combe Say Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Say Lord I haue sinned against thee thou hast promised to forgiue me my sinnes I beleeue Lord helpe mine vnbeliefe Say with Steuen Lord into thine hands I commend my soule Say with the Saints Come Lord Iesus come quickly Say Lord keepe thy Church and people in thy trueth and peace for euermore now Lord dissolue in me the cursed workes of the diuell Say I am sicke be thou my Physitian I am to die Lord giue me life eternall Say Lord bee good vnto my kinsfolks in the flesh and my friends in the Spirit that they may liue in thy feare and die in thy fauour Say with Ambrose I haue not so led my life that I was ashamed to liue neither doe I feare death because I haue a good Lord. Say to thy friends with S. Bernard O ground the anchor of your faith and hope in the safe and sure port of Gods mercie Say with Oecolampadius to all that come to thée I will tell you newes I shall shortly be with the Lord. Say with Luther I pray thee Lord Iesus receiue my poore soule my heauenly Father though I be taken from this life and this body of mine is to be laied downe yet I know certainly that I shall remaine with thee for euer neither shal any be able to pul me out of thine hands Say with Annas Burgius Forsake me not O Lord lest I forsake thee Say with Melancthon If it be the will of God I am willing to die and I beseech him that he will grant me a ioyfull departure Say with M. Caluine I held my tongue because thou Lord hast done it I mourned as a a doue Lord thou grindest me to powder but it sufficeth mee because it was thine hand Say with Peter Martyr My bodie is weake but my minde is well There is no saluation but onely by Christ who was giuen of the Father to bee a Redeemer of mankinde This is my faith in which I die and God will destroy them that teach otherwise Farewell my brethren and deare friends Say with Babylas Martyr of Antioch Returne O my soule vnto thy rest because the Lord hath blessed thee Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my foote from falling I shall walke before thee in the land of the liuing Say Blessed is God in all his waies and holie in all his workes Naked I came out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne againe The Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken away blessed bee the name of the Lord. I know that my Redeemer liueth and he shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet I shall see God in my flesh Whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall cehold and none other for mee though my reines are consumed within me Say in a word Lord I thanke thee that I am a Christian that I liued in a Christian Church that I die amongst a Christian people that I goe to a Christian societie Lord Iesu sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon me and receiue my soule Euen so Come Lord Iesu come quickly Amen Quest If I haue time these are fit both meditations and speeches but I may die vpon the sudden what instructions can you giue me against sudden death Answ You may indéed die suddenly either by fire in your house or water in your ship or earth falling into some pit or casualtie in your way or impostumation and an apoplexi in your body or by trauel in child-birth if you be a woman or the sword in warre if you bee a man Therefore thinke 1 That death may come vpon you vnawares wherefore as you would doe for a suspected enemie waite so for it that it may neuer surprize you 2 Know that many worthie men haue died suddenly Iulius Caesar disputing the night before of the good of sudden death was the next day by Brutus and Cassius slain suddenly in the Senate Ioannes Mathesius hauing preached a Sermon of the raising againe of the widow of Nains sonne and therein handling the knowledge that one
friend should haue of another in heauen within thrée houres after slept peaceably in the Lord. Luther sitting at supper and discoursing of the same argument about midnight after departed this life One Master Reade an Alderman of Norwich hauing read in the morning the chapter of Henockes taking vp in the Counsell chamber died suddenly at the table amongst his brethren And that wise Counseller the Lord of Buckhurst Earle of Dorset died suddenly at the Counsell Table in white Hall Mr. Flint a Preacher in London a man of great learning godly life and good report hauing procured the new building of his Church at which hee much reioiced fell downe from a scaffold on the top of that Church and so died In the commentaries of Iohn Holcot vpon the book of wisdom it is recorded of one who reading the fourth Chapter of the book of Wisdome was found dead in his studie with his finger pointing to the seuenth verse of that chapter Though the righteous be preuented by death yet shall he be at rest First where you shall reade these two verses Mors non est subita cui praecessit bona vita Nec minuit merita si moriatur ita If godly life do go before Through suddaine death our ioy is more 3 Know that if you liue wickedly sudden death is a fearefull iudgment for who then can bee perswaded of Gods fauour towards you and this makes the wicked of all kinds of death to pray to be deliuered from sudden death they would liue like Nabal but die like Dauid liue like the rich glutton and die like Lazarus they would die the death of the righteous but they would not liue the life of the righteous And therefore their Prayer is the prayer of Balaam Lord let mee die the death of the righteous and that my last end may bee like vnto his Numb 23. But if you liue euer in the feare of God it may bee an argument of Gods mercie to take you away vpon a short warning For so 1 You die without any great paine 2 You goe to God without any great trouble 3 You are not in danger of blaspheming God at your death 4 You will cause others to thinke well of your death because you liued a godly life 5 Many by your example will labour to prepare against such a kind of death 6 Your translation is like that of Henoch and Elias and of them that shall be aliue at the day of iudgment 1. Thess 4.17 Quest Is it lawfull to pray against a sudden death Answ The godly may and the wicked must pray against it The godly may 1 That as they haue honored God with their lips in their life so if it bee his good will they may doe it at their death 2 That because vpon the sudden few men haue their worldly estate fully setled they may haue time to order it 3 That they may not be a griefe to their friends that they are so soone taken from them 4 That they may escape the censure of the world which for the most part iudgeth hardly of this kind of death 5 That they may not die in such sort as diuers wicked men in the Scriptures haue died 6 Lest being ouertaken in some strange place they may so want the honour of Christian buriall and their friends not know what is become of them 2 The wicked must pray against it left so dying without repentance here there be no place left for them heereafter to repent in But I doubt whether God will heare their prayers For are not they worthy to want time of humiliation at their death who neglected saluation in their life The admonition of the wise man Eccl. 18.18 is very good Get thee righteousnesse before thou come to iudgement and vse Physicke before thou bee sicke Examine thy selfe before thou bee iudged and in the day of destruction thou shalt finde mercie Humble thy selfe before thou be sicke and whilest thou maiest yet sinne shew thy conuersion Quest Now since my soule must depart from my bodie ought I to take any great thought for my buriall Ans As the graue at your death is readie for you Iob. 17.1 so you also must haue care of it and your suruiuing friends must haue such respect to your dead body that it may be interred in a religious sort for 1 You are no Scythian that your dead bodie should be eaten at some feast nor Sabean that it should be cast on a dunghill nor Hyrcanian that it should bee deuoured by dogs nor Lothophagian that it should be cast into the sea nor Indian that it should be burned with fire but a Christian that it may be buried in the earth 2 Your dead body is a member of Christ 3 It was as well as the soule the temple of the holy Ghost 4 It was the ordinance of God that earth should return to his earth as the soule doth to him that gaue it Gen. 3. Eccles 7. 5 That Christ who redéemed your soule hath also paied a ransome for your bodie 6 It hath beene an instrument vsed by God to performe many seruices vnto him 7 It must rise againe out of the graue and in the day of iudgement bee made like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ Phil. 5.21 8 Religious and godly friends haue had this care to burie their dead so Abraham had to burie Sarah Ioseph to burie Iaakob Israel to burie Samuel Nichodemus to burie Christ and the Disciples to burie Iohn the Baptist and Steuen the first Martyr that suffered after Christ 9 It is one of Gods iudgements to want buriall Iere. 22.19 10 The Saints complaine for the want of it saying Psal 79.3 The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to bee meate vnto the fowles of heauen and the flesh of thy Saints vnto the beasts of the earth Their blood haue they shed like water round about Ierusalem and there was none to burie them 11 Ioseph gaue commandement concerning his bones Gen. 50. and Tobiah of his bodie Tob 14. 12 Many heathen people haue been very carefull of this dutie The Egyptians embalmed and so buried their dead and the Hebrewes made a law that no enemy should lie vnburied Quest What thinke you of the place of buriall Answ Abraham bought a field for the buriall of his dead Gen. 24. Christ was buried in a garden according to the custome of the Iewes Ioh. 20. The Turkes at this day burie none in their Cities and it was one of the lawes of the 12. Tables amongst the Romanes that none should be buried within thē walles Amongst Christians Churches and Church yards are appointed for the dead and to the end that the dead might not annoy the liuing it were well if Gouernours would be carefull to prouide larger places of buriall for this would be a meanes 1 To kéepe the City from contagion 2 That our dead bodies should not bee raked vp againe 3 To shew our care for the Saints departed 4 To take away the