the enemy haue none aduantage of him Nor the wicked once approch to hurt him Be vnto him O Lord a strong tower From the face of his enemy Grant that hee may dye the death of the righteous And be made partaker of thine inheritance Receiue his soule O Lord into thy holy hands And place it with thy Saints in heauen Lord heare our prayers And let our cry come vnto thee A pithy Prayer for a Patient being pained with Sicknes IT is thou O Lord onely to whom all power and praise belongeth It is thou that raignest in heauen in glorie in earth in mercy in hel in iudgment It is thy voice O Lord whereunto both the seas and windes are obedient It is thy name O Lord God of Hosts that maketh all the Diuels in hell to tremble and quake and they can doe nothing without thy permission Thou bringest downe to hell and raisest vp againe Thou pluckest downe the mighty from their Throne and exaltest the humble and meeke Thou makest both poore and rich strong weake Thou sendest sicknes and restorest health againe in thy good time Thou giuest life and takest it away at thy pleasure O Lord whose maiestie and might no creature is able to withstand neither in heauen earth or vnder the earth Thou that hast made the Sea and the dry land and all things therein contained Thou that knowest our weaknesse and what metall wee bee made of haue regard vnto the workmanship of thy hands Pierce the heauens O Lord and giue eare vnto our prayers which with sorrowfull hearts trickling teares bowed knees and vnfained lips we powre out before thy presence We acknowledge O Lord our owne frailetie and vnworthinesse and how that all men liuing are but vanitie euen as the grasse in the field which to day flourisheth and to morrow withereth away as the smoke in the furnace the bubble in the water or the could that swiftly passeth away and is no more seene So soone also fedeth away our time and our yeeres come to an end Thou onely O Lord knowest the number of our dayes and appointest vs our bounds which we cannot passe We confesse O most mercifull God that wee haue sinned against heauen and against thee and are no more worthy to be called thy children no nor to tread vpon the earth or to haue the light of the Sunne to shine vpon vs but rather to bee burned with fire drowned in the waters swallowed vp of the earth ouerwhelmed with mountaines or deuoured with wilde beasts fowles of the ayre Our transgressions and sinnes are so great so grieuous and many in number wherewithall wee haue and doe dayly offend thy Maiestie both in thought word and deed that our weake consciences being loden and burthened with the remembrance of them are afraid to approch into thy presence for feare of thy wrath and iust iudgement Yet O Lord forsomuch as thy mercy is aboue all thy workes and because thou art a gentle pitifull God long-suffering and full of compassion and wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue We are therefore the bolder not of our selues but in the name of thy deare Son Iesus Christ with whom thou art well pleased to call vpon thee for mercy and comfort That it would please thee of thy gracious goodnes to forgiue and blot out of thy remembrance all our sinnes and wickednes and neuer hereafter to impute them vnto vs. Regard not good Lord our deserts which is death and damnation but be mindfull of thy louing promises in Iesus Christ our Sauiour who in all temptations of the Diuell the World and the Flesh is our onely Rocke and sure stay and defence and neuer shrinketh from those which be wrapped in woe and misery Comfort O Lord this thy Seruant vpon whom thou hast laid the scourge of sicknes and rod of visitation as a sure token and pledge of thy loue and fatherly good wil towards him for whom thou louest those thou correctest not to destruction but to amendment and saluation Thou hast promised that wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests We therefore thy humble seruants here assembled according to thy blessed commandement doe cry and call vpon thee with feruant hearts to be mercifull to this thine afflicted creature that it would please thee eyther to release his smart and pain in thy good time and so to restore him to his former health or else to grant him aboundantly the graces of thy holy Spirit that with patience and meeke mind he may abide such tryall as it shall please thy godly Maiestie to lay vpon him That neither the tyrannie of Satan griefe of sicknes loue of the world terrour of hell infirmitie of the flesh remembrance of sinne or feare of death withdraw him from thee and thy sweet promises in his Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who came not for the iust but to call sinners to repentance So guide him good Lord by thy blessed Spirit in his great and last iourney that passing quietly all troubles of this transitorie world and this painefull pilgrimage once ended he may safely by thy mighty power bee conducted to the Hauen of continuall quietnes and rest which is the Kingdom of Heauen there reigne with Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the holy company of Angels and Saints in perpetuall ioy and safety which thou hast prepared and promised for all thine elect children and faithfull seruants from the beginning of the world Grant this O heauenly Father which wee haue prayed for in the behalfe of this thy poore and pensiue prisoner and all other things necessarie for our saluation and thy glory through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ In whose holy name wee beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A comfortable Prayer against desperation O God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ continue thy goodnes towards vs vnworthy wretches which do heere with contrite hearts and bowed knees appeale vnto the height of thy mercy Beseeching thee O Father â—o to remember the contempt and iniury thou hast receiued at our hands but pardon our passed faults and accept the pitifull Passion of thy deare Sonne in full satisfaction of our transgression Let his precious bloud wipe away and wash all our filthines Let his wounds heale the sores of our sinnes and let the holy oblation of himselfe present our prayers acceptable and blamelesse before thy Maiestie Let no sinne bee so great and grieuous in our eyes that it plucke away hope of pardon No offence so ponderous that it may be â—â—le to ouercome thy goodnes All haue sinned and haue neede of thy mercy which thou offerest aboundantly to euery one that faithfully asketh the same of thee Our wickednes O Lord cannot exceed thy merits The greater the sinner is on whom thou bestowest thy compassion so much the greater is thy glory And therefore
accord came down from the seate of his Maiesty in the highest heauens into the vile and stinking bowels of the earth where he for my sake and all his elect did not abhorre to take flesh of the pure Virgin Mary and became man and in the same flesh suffered most bitter paine and torment being condemned by an earthly iudge to the most shamefull death of the Crosse and so was buried and descended into Hell rising againe for our iustification and ascending into heauen for our glorification and to open vs the gate of saluation which before was barred and fast shut vp against vs. And my beliefe is that as before hee came as a Lambe in humilitie and mercie to seeke and saue sinners So hee shall come againe as a Lyon in the end of the world in great glory Maiesty Mat. 25. 31 accompanied with Angels and heauenly Souldiers as a righteous Iudge of the quicke and dead separating the Sheep from the Goates adiudging the one as hirelings of Hell and the other as inheritors of Heauen And this among many others is a singular comfort to me to know assuredly that no other shall bee my iudge but he that is the Sauiour of my soule and suffered for my sinnes So that in all my perplexitie perill and danger I set this Iesus a Sauiour before mine eyes as a shield a buckler and sure wall between me and my spirituall soe the Diuel and all his tyranny assuring my selfe by this confidence that neither he by his cruelty nor all the Armie of hell can euer hurt or harme me or any of Gods Elect. Thirdly I beleeue in God the holy Ghost the third Person in Trinitie who by his grace louingly preserueth and sanctifieth mee and all the Elect people of God who dayly gouerneth and directeth mee in all my wayes and godly actions who sealeth vp my saluation by the stedfast hope that I haue in Christ Iesus assuring me inwardly that all his benefits are mine and by that meanes maketh me apply the same to the comfort of my soule who also mortifieth sinne in me who openeth and expoundeth vnto mee the diuine mysteries of God and moueth me to leade a godly life This is that blessed wind which bloweth where it listeth euen the Spirit of God which of carnall maketh vs spirituall of cruell meeke of malicious charitable of couetous liberall of dissolute temperate of foolish wise of earthly heauenly of the bondslaues of Satan the deare sonnes of GOD whereby wee may boldly cry Abba Father I beleeue that this holy Ghost is the earnest penny here on earth of my saluation in heauen and that hee will neuer forsake mee no not in the houre of death and my greatest danger but that hee will comfort me continually in all woe and temptations so that although I bee tryed by the touchstone of affliction grieued with extreme paine of bodie or torinented with inward vexation of minde yet I shall not be ouercome neither shall my crosse be greater then I shal be able to beare and endure For I know assuredly that this holy Ghost wil mercifully preserue me both in body and soule vnto the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to iudgment at the dreadfull day of doome and there present me holy and without blame before his Throne of grace although of my selfe vnworthy yet this sweet Comforter Rom. 8. 15 16. doth of his especiall grace beare witnes with my spirit and conscience and that in most comfortable manner that I am of the number of those which shall be saued and that I shall stand in the last day on the right hand of Christ and heare that cheerefull sentence to my great ioy and comfort Come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25. 34 possesse the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world You haue beene long Pilgrims on earth but now you shal bee Citizens in heauen you haue mourned a long time but now you shall laugh for euer I will wipe away all teares from your eyes Enter at last now that the heate of the day is past into your Masters ioy All these three persons before rehearsed I beleeue to bee one God in essence whose seate is in the heauens aboue and whose footstoole is the earth beneath Vnto whom all the Powers Angels and Saints in heauen are subiect and doe their dayly seruice in setting forth his praises casting downe their crownes at his foote and ascribing all honour and glory to the crowned King that sitteth vpon the Throne and reigneth for euermore and also to the Lambe his beloued sonne and our Sauiour God grant that wee may doe him like seruice here on earth Fourthly and finally I doe beleeue the holy Catholike Church which is Gods Elect people or the Congregation of the faithfull and is called the Kingdome of Christ Iesus Of this Kingdome Christ Apoc. 21. onely is Prince of this body Christ onely is Head and of this Spouse Christ onely is the Bridegroome This Church is called the Temple of the Holy Ghost a spirituall House a holy Nation a Royall Priesthood the Citizens of Heauen the Pillar of Truth the Arke of Noah the Cōmunion of Saints Agreeing at this day in all points of Scripture Faith and Religion with the Primitiue Church of God Firmely holding and boldly confessing one God one Faith one Baptisme one Lord and Sauiour of all Iesus Christ being the sheepe of Gods pasture to whom belongeth one fould and one Shepheard which here on earth is called the militant Church and in Heauen the triumphant Church of God Out of which Arke all perish and out of which Church there is no saluation but whosoeuer is not found therein he is without all doubt damned Of this Catholike Church of God I beleeue and am fully resolued that I am a member and that GOD hath a care of me and will preserue mee safe vntill I haue the fruition of his heauenly Ierusalem This Church is knit together and vnited by faith through the operation of the Holy Ghost as members of one bodie This Church hath the pure Word of God truely and sincerely preached and the Sacraments duely and faithfully administred among them These sheep heare the voice of the true Shepheard Christ Iesus and hee knoweth them and Ioh. 10. 3. they follow him and hee will giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neither shall any plucke them out of his hand nay the gates of Mat. 16. 18 hell shall not preuaile nor ouercome this Church They which bee of this Church shall haue remission of their sinnes continuall peace and ioy They shall shine and glister as the Stars of Heauen they shall bee clad with white garments and follow the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth they shall haue golden crownes clapped on their heads and shall see God face to face and haue fellowship with his Saints who continually sing praifes to the eternall King which was and is and is to come
shall melt with heate when the vngodly shall bee at their wits end when mens hearts shall faile them when the Sea and waters shal rore when heauen and earth shall perish when all thy goods and gold shal be turned to drosse and Copper when all thy Lands and riches forsake thee yea when all thy friends and kinsfolke faile thee as they did Iob in his greatest extremitie Therefore let this present Preparatiue be a sufficient caueat for thee to be carefull and circumspect for the comfort of thy Conscience and safety of thy soule And so I will proceede to the visitation of the Sicke Wherein First we must note that commonly God doth visit before man and so by Gods Visitation occasion is giuen to man brotherly and charitably o visit one another for their comfort God doth visit vs diuers waies 1. Sometime by losse of worldly wealth Goods Lands Offices Dignities c. especially when we are too proud of them or abuse them then he pulleth downe one and setteth vp another 2. Sometime by persecutions or manifold troubles of our deadly foes as priuate Grudges open Warres Slanders Suites in Law c. 3. Sometime God doth visit vs by punishing our bodies with sicknes lamenes blindnes ach penury famine or other calamities whereby wee feele intolerable paine and torment all this is not vnworthily but deseruedly 4. Sometime in Minde by taking away our senses wit reason memory and vnderstanding or by taking from vs our dearest and neerest friends as our Parents Husband Wife Children Brethren Sisters c. which vnder God are our greatest comfort in this world and by this meanes wee are vexed in Minde our soules are sad and we wonderfully troubled and so had neede of some comfortable counsell to cure vs in this case In Gods Visitation consider three things In body 1. The Sicknes 2. The Physician 3. The Medicine In minde 1. Our Sicknes is sinne 2. Our Physician is God 3. Our Medicine is repentance restitution almes-deeds prayer and patience The first Dutie of the Pastor THE first Office or Dutie of the Minister is fatherly and yet familiarly to conferre and reason with the Sick person For as the Physicion of the body most perfectly perceiueth the state of his Patient by questioning with him by seeing his state and feeling his Pulses euen so the Physicion of the soule if he vnderstand the mind and affection of the Sicke person hee may the better apply his exhortation to The Summe of this Booke The Medicine or curing of our Diseases pertaineth to two sorts of Persons 1. The one is the Minister or Pastor who ought willingly to visit The duty of the Minister when he visiteth consisteth chiefely in foure things First in questioning with the Sick person whereby he may feele how hee is inclined and affectioned toward God and so apply a fit plaister to his sore Secondly in faithful and zealous Prayer for the partie visited both publike and priuate Thirdly in godly counsell in admonishing the Sicke by his wise discretion according as he seeth occasion Fourthly in comforting the pensiue person or sobbing soule whose Conscience is loden with the remembrance of sinne and whose body is tormented with griefe of sicknes 2. The other is the Person visited who ought to giue diligent eare vnto the Minister The dutie of the sicke Person consisteth in three things First in the confession of his Faith and protestation of the same before the Minister and others standing by that they may be witnesses with him of his Christian and godly end Secondly in faithfull and hearty Prayer vnto God either to recouer his health or else a happy deliuerance out of his paine Thirdly in bearing his sicknes patiently without grudging or murmuring against God who sendeth it for our amendment 1. In the first part of this Booke I will speake of the Pastor and his Office in visiting 2. In the second the dutie of the People visited the comfort of his Conscience and amendment of life Questions be of two sorts 1. Some be temporall 2. Others spirituall Examples of Temporall Questions Quest 1. NOW good Brother God blesse you How is it with you How doe you c. Answ Well Sir I thank God but I take no rest by reason of the extremitie of my paine in this my sicknes and lacke of sleepe my memory and vnderstanding I praise God for it is yet perfect and good but my body is sore visited and tormented God of his mercy in time when it shal please him asswage it and in the meane season grant mee patience to beare it Quest 2. You say well truely and as becommeth a good Christian and I am glad to heare such godly words proceed from you as taste so sweetly of the Spirit of God for they signifie how well you are affectioned minded to Godward And therefore assure your selfe that with the Omnipotent Physician there is no disease or pain incurable As God doth send it for your good no doubt So hee can asswage or take it quite away at his pleasure wee are in the Lords hand as the clay in the Potters to doe with vs whatsoeuer his pleasure is for sicknes is the louing rod of our heauenly Father wherewithall he doth chastice our sinnes that we may the better know our owne frailety and our dutie towards his Maiestie therefore you are to thinke that this bodily griefe of Sicknes after a time of tryall shall turne to your greater ioy and comfort Tell me truely are you not thus perswaded Answ Yes verily I haue alwayes beene of that minde I thanke my heauenly Father for it and I pray God continue mee in the same to my liues end for I wish not to liue longer then I may acknowledge my Maker to bee both an omnipotent Lord and my mercifull God Quest 3. I pray God preserue you and keep you in that mind to your liues end Sir I vnderstand and partly I know of my selfe that you are a man whom God hath blessed with aboundance of worldly substance But because lands and goods are oftentimes the cause of much strife and vnquietnes by reason of the inordinate couetousnes and greedy desire of man it were good to set your house in order now before your departure like a good housholder which when he goeth from home any whither he setteth all his things in order among his Family and people telleth them his will what is to bee done and so commending them to God taketh his leaue and biddeth them farewell vntill his returne So you beeing now taking your iourney towards Heauen a farre Country bid adew to the world and take your leaue thereat willingly and orderly as a good Christian ought to doe That is dispose your Temporall goods as may be most to Gods glorie the commoditie and comfort of your Wife and Children and others your friends to whom you wish well and to your own saluation and discharge before God at whose hands you haue receiued them and to
my voice and hee shall hearken vnto me When I am in heauines I will thinke vpon God when my heart is vexed I wil complaine Will the Lord absent himselfe for euer and will he bee no more intreated Is his mercy cleane gone for euer and his promise come vtterly to an end for euermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will hee shut vp his louing kindnes in displeasure Heare me O Lord hide Psal 102. not thy face from me in the time of my trouble Incline thine eares vnto mee when I call O heare mee and that right soone For my dayes are consumed away like smoke and my bones are burnt vp as it were a fire-brand My heart is smitten down and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread For the voice of my groning my bones will scarce cleaue to my flesh But they that sow in Psal 126. teares shall reape in ioy Hee that now goeth on his way weeping and beareth forth good seed shall doubtlesse come againe with ioy and bring his sheaues with him For the Lord is full of Psal 103. compassion and mercy long suffering and of great goodnes Hee will not alwayes be childing neither keepeth he his anger for euer Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our wickednes For looke how high the heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is his mercy also toward them that feare him Looke how wide also the East is from the West so farre hath hee set our sinnes from vs. Yea like as a father pitieth his own children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto them that feare him For he knoweth whereof wee be made hee remembreth that we are but dust The dayes of man are but as grasse he flourisheth as a flower of the field For as soone as the winde goeth ouer it it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more But the mercifull goodnes of the Lord endureth for euer euer vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the c. The third Psalme BLessed is he that considereth Psal 41. the poore and needy the Lord shall deliuer him in the time of trouble The Lord comfort him when hee lyeth sicke vpon his bed make thou all his bed in his sicknes I said Lord be mercifull vnto mee heale my soule for I haue sinned against thee O hide not thou thy face Psal 27. from me nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure Thou hast beene my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation Heare me therefore O Psal 69. God in the multitude of thy mercy euen in the truth of thy saluation In thee O Lord haue I Psal 31. put my trust let me neuer be put to confusion deliuer me in thy righteousnes Bow downe thine eare to me make haste to deliuer me And be thou my strong Rocke and the house of defence that thou mayst saue me Into thy hands I cōmend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I will be glad and reioyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast knowne my soule in aduersitie And therefore like as the Psal 42. Hart desireth the water-brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God Haue mercy vpon mee Psal 51. therefore O God after thy great goodnes according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Wash mee throughly from my wickednes and clense me from my sinne For I acknowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Turne thy face O Lord from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane heart O God and renue a right spirit within mee Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me O remember not our old Psal 79. sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for wee are come to great miserie Heare my prayer O Psal 143. Lord and consider my desire Hearken vnto mee for thy truth and righteousnes sake And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirit waxeth faint hide not thy face from me lest I bee like vnto them that goe downe into the pit O remember how short Psal 89. my time is wherefore hast thou made all men for nought For what man is he that liueth and shall not see death and shall he deliuer his owne soule from hell Lord what is man that Psal 14. 4. thou hast such respect vnto him or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him Man is like a thing of nought his time passeth away like a shadow For when thou art angry Psal 90. all our dayes are gone we bring our yeeres to an end as it were a tale that is told The dayes of our age are threescore yeeres and ten and though men bee so strong that they come to fourescore yeeres yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow so soone passeth it away and we are gone Teach vs therefore O Lord to number our daies that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisedome Lord let me know mine Psal 39. end and the number of my dayes that I may be certified how long I haue to liue Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long and mine age is euen as nothing in respect of thee and verily euery man liuing is altogether vanity For man walketh in a vaine shadow and disquieteth himselfe in vaine hee heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them And now Lord what is my hope Truely my hope is euen in thee One thing haue I desired Psal 27. of the Lord which I will require euen that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the faire beauty of the Lord and to visit his holy Temple For I should vtterly haue fainted but that I beleeue verily to see the goodnes of the Lord in the Land of the liuing Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the c. When the Minister or any other good Christian that visiteth the Sicke hath read one of these Psalmes Then let him with all dutifull reuerence pray and say as hereafter followeth Let vs pray Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our Father which art in heauen c. The mighty God of Iacob bee our defence both now and in the houre of Death And let vs not bee ouercome by any euill temptation O Lord saue this thy Sicke seruant Which putteth his full trust in thee Send him help O Lord from thy holy place And euer more most mightily defend him Let
qui tantum penare potest quantum Deus bonus est that is let that man onely distrust or despayre whose sinne exceedeth Gods goodnes But the Diuell himselfe and all our iniquitie is lesse then Gods mercie and therefore the greatest sinners in the world ought not to despayre if they repent seeing his mercy is aboue all his workes for of his mercie there is neither number nor measure nor end The mercy of the Lord embraceth vs on euery side The sentence of Ezechiel is sure and sealed vp in Heauen That God will not haue the Ezec. 18. 32. death and damnation of a sinner but rather his life and conuersion Wherefore wilt thou perish O Israel And wherefore wilt thou despayre O sinful flesh Come to God Come to his beloued Sonne Christ Iesus the Master calleth thee he offereth thee his mercy hee promiseth thee forgiuenes Come thou early come thou late if thou come at all whether it be at noone day or at night thou shalt haue thy penny as well as hee that came in the morning The thiefe on Christs right hand was called the last houre and came and cryed to Christ that hee Luk. 23. 42 would remember him He knocked so hard at the doore of Gods mercy that Christ promised him that day to haue the doore of Paradise opened vnto him and to enter in with himselfe This gate shall bee open to vs if we doe as hee did For it is shut to no man but of himself neither is it open to any but by Christ Iesus If wee beleeue in this Christ Iesus that he is a Sauiour and that hee dyed for our sinnes and did rise againe for our iustification we need not to dread either death or damnation the gates of hell shall not preuaile against vs because Christ is our foundation our corner-stone to leane vnto our buckler shield to defend vs from our enemies our head our good Shepheard the Bishop of our soules our only Master and mercifull Redeemer Let vs therefore be of good cheere Let vs trust in his mercy whose merits haue purchased our saluation with God the Father And so we may with safety of our soules depart from worldly troubles to heauenly rest from death to life from damnation to saluation which God of his goodnes vouchsafe to giue vs in Christ Iesus our Sauiour to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour power and praise world without end Amen THE SECOND PART OF THIS Booke pertaining to the SICKE THe first dutie of the sicke person visited by God is to confesse his Faith and to make open protestation of the same before his Pastor and the rest that stand by at his end that they may be witnesses with him and testifie after God hath receiued his soule into eternall rest that hee liued and dyed the Child of God the true Seruant of Iesus Christ his Sauiour and as becommeth a charitable Christian and one of the houshold of Faith The confession of the Faith I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. The summe of this Beliefe confessed I Am fully perswaded and vndoubtedly I doe confesse and acknowledge before God and all you heere present that euery point and Article of this my beliefe is true and necessarie vnto saluation for without Faith wee cannot Heb. 11. 6. please God or bee saued And therefore I stedfastly beleeue in my heart that this in very deede is the true ancient Catholike and Apostolike faith which all good Christians ought to hold to the hazard both of liuing and life if cause require Of this our beliefe there be 4. principall parts The first concerneth GOD the Father The second God the Sonne The third God the holy Ghost The fourth the holy Church or congregation of God Of which faith I make protestation as followeth I constantly beleeue in heart that which I now outwardly confesse with my mouth viz. That there is but one true almightie euerlasting liuing iust and mercifull God of incomprehensible glory maiestie and might inuisible infinite and immortall And yet in this Godhead are included three distinct persons the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost vnited together in Deitie and substance inseparably of like equalitie in will might and glory without beginning without ending frō whom as from a most cleere fountaine all vertue and goodnes proceedeth to man and euery liuing creature By whom we liue mooue and Act. 17. 28. are In whom alone we are blessed and without whom we are accursed miserable and wretched Which incomprehensible and inuisible God hath reueiled himselfe vnto man many waies 1. Miraculously by his workes 2. Outwardly by his Word And 3. Inwardly by his holy Spirit First I will confesse my beliefe touching the Father Then I will proceede to the Sonne and finally to the Holy Ghost not that I preferre one person before another but because naturally man doth best apprehend and conceiue this order namely that the Father should bee set before the Sonne and the Father and the Sonne together before him that proceedeth from them both And yet neuerthelesse all the three persons bee but one God equall and coeternall First therefore I doe beleeue in God the Father the first Person in Trinitie who by his vnsearchable wisedome and infinite power hath mightily made me and all mankind yea heauen earth the Sea and all things therein contained as the light of the Firmament the Sunne Moone and Starres the Fowles of the Ayre the Beasts of the Field the fruits of the Earth and the fishes of the Sea All these of his great goodnes hee hath made blessed and increased for man to doe him seruice and that in most wonderfull and plentifull manner Yea they were all created before man was made to the end that Man at his first entry into the world should come as it were into a house ready furnished and so take full and quiet possession of all Gods creatures and become Lord and Ruler ouer them and they all from time to time to be seruiceable vnto him as to their King Onely he would that man should be obedient and shew himselfe thankefull vnto his God for these his blessings In performing which dutie I for mine own part haue too often failed God graunt that I may hereafter both know his will and by the fruits of Faith shew my selfe more dutifull towards his Maiestie euen to my liues end Secondly I beleeue in God the Son the second Person in Trinitie who of his great goodnes hath mercifully redeemed mee and all mankinde from Gal. 3. 13. Tit. 2. 14. Apoc. 5. 9. the thraldome of Satan Death and Sinne and from the torment of Hell fire due to the same being of my selfe condemned thereunto by Gods iust iudgement through disobedience and transgression Yet I firmely beleeue that I am acquitted discharged and fully ransomed from the same by my sweet Sauior Iesus Christ that did sweat water and bloud for my sinne who willingly of his owne
so often offended So did Dauid the King so did the poore Publican knocke at the doore of his heart and being pressed and ouerwhelmed with sorrow he cryed Lord be mercifull vnto me a Luk. 18. 13. sinner So we spare vs O Lord spare thy people And this must be done in time euen now presently For now is that acceptable time 2. Cor. 6. 2. Now is the Day of saluation Now is the Day of hearing Christ lamented the state of Ierusalem because shee knew not the times of her visitation Therfore good brother apply this plaister to your sore you are now visited of God by sicknesse it is now your time to call your sins to remembrance defer it not but watch for your saluation offered they say warned men may liue Ierusalem warnes you sicknes warnes you your gray head warnes you your friends warne you I warne you and God warnes you in his Word to repent to renounce this world to watch for your deliuery to look for your redemption and to haue your conuersation in heauen from whence Phil. 3. 20. you looke for a Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ The fiue foolish Virgins would not watch but slept and slumbred and therefore had heauen gates shut vp against them The dores were opened but they were not ready with their Lamps burning but were taken napping in their security and sinne Therefore they may now knock and thumpe and cry and call as loud as they can and yet they shall neuer be heard it is but lip-labour all is in vaine The time was but it neuer shall be againe Mercy was offered which being refused Iustice must take place Such examples are set downe for our instruction and happy is that man which can take heede by other mens harmes If Gods iudgement cannot feare vs to forsake sinne yet his mercy should moue vs and leade vs by the hand to warch and be carefull for our saluation for God pitieth vs his Angels fauour vs his benefits prouoke vs yea all his creatures Sunne Moone and Starres Heauen earth do admonish vs and should prouoke vs to beware to watch and ward for our saluation They cry continually Repent and amend The shortnes of our time may moue vs hereunto Wee see by dayly experience to day a man to morrow none he that liueth the longest his race is soone finished ended and that made Iob to say Man hath but a short time to Iob 14. 1. liue and in that time he is subiect to many miseries as pouerty slaunders persecutions blindnesse lamenesse oldnesse coldnesse trouble and sicknesse All these molestations and thousands mo warne vs by course to beware that wee runne right Let vs therefore good Brother tuck vp our garments and prepare our selues for the life to come for the time of our departing is at hand That little time that remaineth let vs bestow it in the seruice of God and not of the deuill Let vs not walke with the wicked in the wide way that leadeth to damnation but rather keepe company with the seruants of God and walke in the narrow way with them though it be painefull and cumbersome for a while yet it is comfortable in the end when wee shall haue our recompence with the righteous then shall death bee welcome to vs which now is shunned of the most then the Day of Iudgement shall lighten our hearts when it shall load the conscience of the impenitent sinner we may then with comfort lift vp our heads and heartes when the vngodly may hang them downe and be ashamed to looke either God or man in the face I would to God all men would remember this day of reckoning and reward then if loue of saluation could not make vs do well yet feare of damnation would somewhat bridle and stay vs from doing euill It would mooue the rich to pitty the poore the Vsurer and Extortioner to restore their euill gotten goods with iust Zacheus the Land-lord not to cut his Tenants throat by making him and al he hath his bondslaues for those wicked worldings which will not now bee drawne to repentance by hearing shall then bee tormented both body and soule by feeling when they shall bee taken tardie in their sinnes apprehended accused indited and arraigned at the Barre of Gods Tribunall Iudgement Seat where the vngodly shall not bee able to stand much lesse to answere their crime when Gods sword is drawne ready to strike and take vengeance at that day no intreaty will take place nor prayer bee heard either of men or Angels in their behalfe for all the creatures of God shall refuse to doe them seruice at their death because they refused to do God seruice in their life and for that occasion they shall heare see all things cry vengeance vpon them nothing in heauen or earth to minister comfort but rather cause of griefe and horror let this geere enter into your braine betime good brother and let it pearce your heart now in your life time for after death you shall haue no time to repent and turne to God neither is there then any mercy to be hoped for at his hands but a fearefull looking for the sentence of Gods iust iudgement Goe Math. 25. 41. yee cursed into euerlasting fire c. Then they may yell houle and cry and yet neuer finde grace after Gods curse hath once taken place All their mirth shall then bee turned to mourning their honour to shame their pleasure to paine their wealth to woe and their delicate fare on earth to the bitter torments of hell where they shall remaine for euer in darkenesse and perpetuall paine This shall be the portion of the vngodly whereas contrariwise the righteous shal be shrouded vnder the wings of Gods mercy and safely preserued from those tortures by the bloud of the Lambe the Angels shall gard them the Saints shall imbrace them the heauens receiue them and the pleasures of the Celestiall Paradise shall replenish them with vnspeakable ioy continuall comfort therefore let vs prepare our selues for that Day of reward perhaps it is neerer then wee are aware let vs haue continually in our mindes the ioyes of heauen and the paines of hell let the one mooue vs to loue God the other to feare him lest wee be damned with the wicked Let vs turne to the Lord betime Let vs promise perform for many promise in their woe that which they soone forget whē they wax wanton They are then secure they dreame of a dry Summer as the rich Cormorant did which forgetting God and wallowing in worldly wealth cast away all care of doing his duty and said Soule thou Luk. 12. 19 hast much goods laid vp for many yeeres liue at ease eate drinke and take thy pastime Oh iolly Gentleman this fellow is now in his ruffe but behold a cooling card the Lord answered againe and that speedily and readlly O foole this night will they setch away thy soule from thee
And I beleeue that they which continue in this Church on earth shall after the Resurrection general Iudgement obtaine euerlasting life and rest from their labors which life and perpetuall peace God grant mee and all his children And from this Church I pray God I neuer at any time swarue or decline either in faith doctrine life or Religion but that I may dye liue therin And I humbly beseech God euen w th al my heart to kindle increase this Faith in me that this hope being stedfastly fixed in my heart I may towards mine end cry and call with the Saints of God and with a good Apoc. 22. 20. conscience Come Lord Iesu come quickly and hasten thy Kingdome that wee may raigne with thee in perpetuall ioy in the life euerlasting Amen The protestation of the Sicke I A wretched sinner redeemed with the precious bloud of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ do protest here before you all that with a free and franke heart I doe pardon and forgiue all people which by any manner of meanes haue spoken thought or wrought mee iniury either in word writing or deed whatsoeuer Desiring that as I know assuredly in my heart and conscience that I am reconciled to God So in like manner I may bee reconciled to the world And therefore I most heartily pray as wel all you that bee heere present before me as others that be absent to forgiue mee wherein soeuer I haue offended you being most willing to part out of this world in the fauour of God and good men I protest and acknowledge that I haue beene a grieuous and horrible sinner all my dayes both in thought word and deede And that I haue not liued so vpright and holy before my Lord God and the world as I ought to haue done I acknowledge my offences to be mo in number then the Starres of Heauen or the sands in the Sea for my negligence in not doing that which is good and my dayly transgressions in committing the things which are euill are infinite I acknowledge that all my life hath been such as looking my selfe now at last in the glasse of my conscience I find daily confusion and my minde and body so blemished with spots of vncleannes and filthinesse that I may be ashamed to looke God in the face or once to lift vp mine eyes towards Heauen Therefore I fall downe to the earth with the poore Publican and with lowly spirit and humble minde I aske mercie and forgiuenes of my Lord God being sorry in my heart that euer I offended this my deare Father and beeing fully purposed with my selfe if God restore my former health neuer so grieuously to offend him againe but to auoid Vice embrace Vertue yea to hate and abhorre the sinne which before I loued and wholly to conforme my selfe to the will of God in his Word I doe protest that albeit 3 I haue thus grieuously and many wayes offended God yet I doe not despayre nor distrust the louing mercy of my sweet Sauiour and Redeemer Iesus Christ But I hope by the merit of his death and Passion and not mine own merits which are nothing but a loathsome life to be partaker of the heauenly inheritance I protest furthermore that I do beleeue that this holy Passion of Iesus Christ is a sure Rocke Refuge and defence wherevnto I may boldly trust and stay my selfe And therefore in all aduersitie and trouble I set the same against my inuisible enemies as a strong Tower bulwarke or spirituall harnesse wherewithall the faithfull Souldiour and Seruant of Christ ought to bee armed Assuring my selfe that the punishment of all my sinnes is thereby fully discharged the ransome paid and the obligation whereby I was tyed to the Law cancelled and that the vertue of this Passion of Christ pertaineth not onely to others but also to me I protest before the omnipotent God and before all his holy Angels and Saints that I couet desire to end my life in that faith which becommeth a true Christian and the Child of God That is I beleeue all the Canonicall Scriptures mentioned in the Old and New Testament and set downe by the holy Prophets of God and the Apostles of his Sonne Christ as the Pen-men and writers but instinct and prompted by the holy Ghost the finger of God as the Author and Inditer which haue been from time to time and in all ages receiued and beleeued of the true Catholike Church and Congregation of Iesus Christ So that if through the tentation or suggestion of the Diuell or being oppressed with the violence or smart of sicknesse I should thinke speake or doe any thing contrarie to this my confession and protestation made I doe now beforehand vtterly debarre and reuoke the same and doe witnesse and confesse before God and you that by no means I will willingly consent or yeeld my selfe in the knowledge and vnderstanding of my heart to any such thoughts words or workes Finally I protest that I reioyce in Spirit for the sweet mercy and merits which I feele inwardly to bee offered mee by the death of Christ Iesus And I doe giue most hearty thankes vnto God the Father my Creator for his graces offerd vnto me in his deare Sonne my Sauiour by whose vnspeakeable goodnes I trust I shall dye the Seruant of God and into whose holy hands and tuition I commend my body and soule both now and in the houre of my death Amen The second dutie of the sicke Person THe second thing that is requisite in a sicke person is faithfull heartie Prayer to God either for his speedy deliuerance out of all woe and wretchednesse or else for constancie in his conflict and patience in his paine A godly metion or Meditatation before Prayer In which we craue for Grace Faith and Patience O Lord I am very sick my body is weake my strength faileth me my sinnewes shrink my hands and my feete waxe feeble mine eyes dazell and lose their sight all things are vnsauourie to me my flesh putrifyeth my breath stinketh my heart panteth and my life draweth to an end I perceiue there is but one way with me The Lord bee mercifull vnto mee and bee my guide in this my last iourney goe I must death is at doore with his dart readie to strike hee stealeth neerer and neerer towards mee he is euen now at my bed-side ready to worke his feate I cannot preuent him neither can I auoid or flye from him Therefore O Lord I make haste to runne to thee for succour which art the true Physician both of bodie and soule Heale mee O Lord and I shal be whole preserue mee and I shall be safe vnder thy protection for thou beeing my defence and shield I need not to feare the force of any foe But who am I O mercifull God that beggeth so boldly at the doore of thy mercy I am a sinner and in sinne I was begotten of my Father and
infallible tokens of Gods loue Let no man therefore cast downe his heart in sicknes or any other affliction for hee that smiteth healeth he that sendeth trouble giueth strength and against euery extremitie God hath prepared a remedy that fearefull man should not distrust Gods carefull prouidence but haue his soule settled in him that can both bind and loose saue destroy that can send health after sicknes life after death and ioy after paine Sicknes sores afflictions aduersities vexation and troubles all these are no nouelties to the godly Our forefathers the Patriarkes and Prophets had good experience hereof and wee must taste of the same sawce if wee meane to enioy the same reward with them in Heauen For all that will liue godly in 2. Tim. 3. 12. Christ Iesus must suffer persecution So likewise Saint Iames aduiseth vs saying Be patient therefore my Brethren Iam. 5. 7. vnto the comming of the Lord. Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it vntill he receiue the former and the later raine Be ye also 8 patient and settle your hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth neere Take my Brethren the Prophets for an ensample of suffering aduersitie and of long patience which haue spoken in the Name of the Lord c. Two Examples prouoking VVOrks are of more worth thē words and the life of any person especially of a Preacher is more regarded then his Doctrine the reason is because mē are more moued by Examples which they see with their eyes then by naked and bare Precepts which they heare with their eares For wee count words bee they neuer so good but a lip-labour or as a blast of winde that entreth in at the one eare and passeth out at the other When the old Crab said to the yong daughter goe forward for the nature of the Crab is to goe backward The yong answered againe I prae sequar that is Goe you before you are my elder and I will follow after As the old Cock crowes the yong learnes and all the world is bent to follow the examples of their elders or betters Therefore we cōmonly say Such a Master such a Man Such a Father such a Sonne Such a Mother sach a Daughter A good Iack makes a good Gill a good Husband a good wife a good Father a good Sonne a good Mother a good Daughter A vicious Father cannot make a vertuous Son a sluttish Mother can neuer make a cleanly Daughter a rude Mistresse shall hardly make a mannerly Maid neither can a negligent or ignorant Schoolemaster make a diligent or learned Scholler I will not deny but words may somtimes perswade a man to beare the burthen of aduersitie and to be patient therein but examples of others doe more moue vs. We reade in prophane Histories of diuers which for their constancy in their profession and for their patience in affliction haue willingly suffered many torments Some haue beene burned by Arrians Some stripped naked to the shame of the world Some hewed in pieces and cast to Hogges But my purpose is not to name or recite any out of prophane Authors We haue Christians good store God bee thanked that haue in their life time both learned and borne the burthen of Christs Crosse which haue begunne with Christs crosse from the A. B. C. continued vnder it all their life long and ended with it at their death Among infinite examples I will rehearse but some speciall persons whereof I haue warrant in the Word First I will begin with old Abraham the father of the faithfull When Abraham that good old man was commanded by Gods owne mouth to offer vp his onely Sonne Isaac his greatest ioy vnder God in this world for so sayth the Text Take thine onely Son Gen. 22. 2. whom thou louest and therefore his present death must needs be the fathers griefe It is a wonder to see how faithfully and patiently he went about that woful worke Hee riseth vp early saddled his Asse and went to the place appointed hee doth neither stagger nor study at the matter neither doth he murmure or grudge against God saying Is this Gods promise that said hee would blesse all Nations in my seede Hath he giuen me a sonne past expectation in my old dayes and shall I now go cut his throate with mine owne hands I would to God I had neuer begotten him How can God fulfill his promise to mee No no wee must debarre all Howes and Cans if we haue to deale with him with whom nothing is vnpossible Neither must we match mans reason with Gods wisedome And therefore Abraham makes no doubt but regarding Gods will maketh haste with his sonne to the place appointed without stay or delay And there he binds his obedient sonne hand and foote stretching forth his owne hand with the knife to cut his throate But that good God who is alwayes at hand in our extremities sent forth his Angell to restraine that bloudy fact who called vnto him from heauen saying Abraham Abraham 11 Stay thy hand lay not thine hand vpon the Child for any worlds good For now 12 I know that thou fearest God And therefore hee cryed vnto him the second time from Heauen and said By my selfe I haue sworne 15 saith the Lord I wil multiply thy seede as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand which is vpon the Sea shore c. Let old Abraham therefore for his faith and patience be set in the forefront to leade the way Well who shall bee ◠next Surely some of his seede but they are innumerable as the Starres of Heauen and therefore I must skip a great number or else weary my selfe in writing and you in reading or hearing Oh remember now another old Abraham or at leastwise one of his seede whose pietie and patience neither man nor the Diuell could moue do what they could And who is that I pray you Wee will follow him by Gods grace if wee may but know his name It is iust Iob one that feared Iob 1. 1. God and eschewed euill Whose mouth is able to vtter the suffering and patience of Iob the mirrour of meekenes who hath the name at this day and shall haue to the end of the world of patient Iob Neither hath he his name for nought for he well deserueth it who being suddenly cast downe from the highest top of earthly felicitie to the very dust and bottome of calamity when God had taken away his Oxen and Asses a great part of his wealth when he had burnt vp his Sheepe and Seruants with celestiall fire when he had taken away his Camels by the Chaldeans and his children by sodaine death when the Messengers came hastily with these heauy newes and that thicke and threefold one in the necke of another so that this godly man could not haue any time to breathe himselfe in God heaping losse vpon losse and sorrow
Christ we shall also reigne with him Art thou desirous to liue for euer and to reigne with Christ in eternall glory Then arme thy selfe with patience to suffer aduersitie heere on earth that thou maist haue place in Heauen Take counsell of Saint Paul who saith Let vs by Heb. 12. 1 2. patience runne in the race which is set before vs looking to Iesus the Captaine and finisher of our Faith which for the ioy that was set before him suffered the Crosse contemned the shame and sitteth on the right hand of the Throne of God Behold heere a reward after the race a crowne after the conflict The consideration whereof moued all the Martyrs and holy men of GOD to beare Christs Crosse were it neuer so grieuous and heauy for the time to suffer mocks stripes bands rackings famine imprisonments and death and so must we doe the whole course of our life heere on earth sheweth the same Troubles try our patience and tame the flesh lest wee should bee condemned with the wicked world and therefore wee begin our life with teares before we be able to speake we leade it in sorrow care and we part from it with great griefe or otherwise wee should put too much confidence in our quiet estate as Dauid testifieth I Psal 30. 6. said in my prosperitie I shall neuer bee mooued And therefore lest wee should bee too proud in our prosperitie the Lord oftentimes bridleth our appetites by losses and crosses and so sheweth his loue by afflicting vs for our good As for example if for Gods cause or his Truth we be shriuen of all our riches heere on earth our portion shall bee the greater in Heauen If wee bee thrust out of our houses or offices we shall bee receiued into the Family of God If we be contemned among men wee shall be highly esteemed with God If we be cast downe in the world our seates shal be the higher in Gods Kingdome If we be murthered and so lose our life this shall bee a meanes to bring vs to eternall life For if there were no griefe in pouertie no torment in sicknes no sorrow in slander nor horrour in death what tryall could there be of Gods people None at all Therefore in our greatest extremitie let vs say Fiat voluntas Domini that is The wil of the Lord be fulfilled in mee come life come death come sicknes come health come prosperitie or aduersitie And let that man neuer boast himselfe to be an Abel whom the malice of Cain hath not afflicted Nor a Iacob whom an Esau hath not hated nor a faithfull Mardocheus whom a spitefull Haman hath not slandered nor a Paul whom a Nero hath not persecuted nor a Christian whom a Iudas hath not betrayed Where the good are there must of necessitie be some bad to try them The Wheate is tryed by the Fanne the Iron by the file and the gold by the fire euen so is a Christian knowne by affliction and being so tryed he cannot lose his reward It is great in heauen and not for gotten on earth For we see dayly that ioy followeth sorrow life death glory miserty and prosperitie pouertie Patient Iob had his substance doubled The holy Patriarks Prophets and Martyrs of Christ which suffered sundry sorrowes heere on earth are now crowned Kings in Heauen And so shall we if we runne their race for many runne but it is the wrong way that leadeth to destruction But wee must so runne that wee 1. Cor. 9. 24. may obtaine and in the end get the wager The Merchant resuseth no perill by Sea the Husbandman no labour by Land the Captaine no wound in warres and they doe it for a temporall reward How much more ought wee patiently to indure any losse of goods torment of body or griefe of minde for euerlasting life and heauenly ioy The Wise man considering this affirmeth that the day of death is better Eccl. 7 3. then the day of birth Saint Paul was of the same minde when he said I desire Phil. 1. 23. to be loosed to be with Christ which is best of al for then shall Christ our Sauiour wipe away all teares Apoc. 4. 21 from our eyes and sorrow from our hearts We shall neede to suffer no more our troubles are at an end Neither shall there bee any more death neither griefe neither crying neither paine Our paines here haue endured but a time the pleasures there shall be perpetuall What is he therefore in the vniuersall world but would willingly hazard life and liuing yea and yeeld his soule to God his body to the blocke and his flesh to the fire for such celestiall ioyes as are prepared for those that fight Gods battell heere on earth Therefore my deare Brethren to conclude Let vs runne our race and passe our painefull pilgrimage in this transitorie world so godly and patiently by the example of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles that in the end of the course when death shall shut vp the eyes of our bodies we may with a firme faith and good conscience say with Saint Paul I have fought a 2. Tim. 4. good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the Faith For henceforth there is laid vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord a righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all them that loue his appearing Then in the end of our race we shall haue rest and ioy yea perfect complete and full ioy Ioy aboue vs ioy beneath vs ioy before vs ioy behinde vs ioy on our right hand ioy on our left hand ioy within vs ioy without vs and ioy on euery side vs. Vnto the which ioy he vouchsafe to bring vs which dearely hath bought it for vs not with siluer and gold for it cost a great price but with the sheading of his precious bloud euen Iesus Christ the righteous vnto whom with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one euerlasting iust and mercifull God be all honour power and glory both now and euer Amen A generall and fruitfull Prayer for all Christians to bee reuerently said at all times Morning Euening Night or Day O God our Maker thou most mighty and holy IEHOVAH in thy name and to thine honour and glory we begin continue and end these our Prayers And we offer this our dutifull seruice vnto thy diuine Maiestie as to our Soueraigne Lord and mighty Creator of Heauen and Earth and of all things therein contained O sweet Lord Iesus Christ wee offer vnto thee our selues body and soule and all the powers parts thereof within vs and without for by right they are all thine because thou hast dearely bought and paid for the same with the peerelesse price of thy precious bloud And wee most humbly beseech thee O holy Ghost our Comforter to giue vs grace and strength to doe thy will in all things and to offer these
not any respect either of person people or place Hee regardeth no more the Princes Palace then the poore mans Cotage a blunt Messenger and therefore goeth bluntly and boldly to worke with vs his condition is come he earely come he late he will giue neither day nor houre but speedily and readily he wil dispatch his errant and serue such a Sub poena vpon vs that hee wil haue our personall appearance before the eternall Iudge without surety bayle or mayne-prize He will not be bribed of the Rich he will not be intreated of the Poore hee weigheth not friendship he careth not for rewards he will pardon no person be he neuer so mighty he feareth no mans face look he neuer so lofty there is but a word and a blowe with him he killeth downe right where he hitteth Let vs therefore keepe our selues continually in that estate wherein we desire to die for although this Messenger come and tell vs not when hee will fetch vs whether in our nonage middle age olde age or dotage yet notwithstanding our mercifull and good God by diuers meanes doth warne and summon vs before by other Messengers Gods summoners before Death are foure First his preachers exhort vs. Secondly his plagues doe threaten vs. Thirdly old age admonisheth vs. Fourthly Sicknes calleth vs. Finally death arresteth vs and taketh vs with him And then the earth wherof we are made deuoureth vs Magots breed vpon vs corruption rotteth vs and the Wormes eate vs. This is the life and end of all flesh good and bad The body then putrifyeth and consumeth to dust But the Spirit returneth to Eccl. 12. 7. the Lord which gaue it Now when Death is about to doe his office which is to separate the Soule and the Body of Man Then our second Seruitor or Secretarie although it haue been mute all our life time and as it were a clasped Booke that is alwaies shut and too seldome opened yet towards our end it speaketh and cryeth yea it both barketh and biteth for after death hath warned and summoned vs by sharpe taste of Sicknes to set our house in order and to prepare our selues to appeare before the celestiall Iudge Then our Conscience which is a continuall beholder of all our thoughts words and workes as a cleere light or Lanthorne bewrayeth all our former life and conuersation it is the very Register of God and booke 〈◊〉 Record which discloseth all our counsels and reuealeth the inward secrets of our hearts for there is nothing hid that Mar. 4. 22. shal not be opened neither is there a secret but that it shal come to light Can there be any thing hid from the Highest Do nor his eyes pierce our hearts Is not he the searcher of Secrets and Discerner of spirits Yes verily he that will not now beleeue it must one day both finde it and feele it The thickest Trees in Paradise could not hide our first Parents Adam and Eue from the presence of God They both appeare at the first call euen naked as they were their Figge-leaues will not serue their turne their vaine excuses will doe them no good the more they goe about to cloke their sinne the more liuely it appeareth yea their owne Conscience accuseth them and causeth them to make confession of their fact will they nill they Wee cannot then hide our sinnes because which way soeuer wee goe our conscience accompanieth vs it is our Porter carring with it whatsoeuer we haue done be it good or bad it iudgeth all our words and workes and pronounceth inward sentence of vs all it is a Worme alwayes byting and neuer dying it is a fire alwayes burning and neuer quenching for immediately after the committing of sinne the Conscience of the sinner is his Accuser his Witnes his Iudge and his Hangman Therefore when thine owne Conscience bewrayeth thee and prouoketh a feeling of sinne thinke then with thy selfe God speaketh vnto thee for that inward feeling of thy sinne is as it were the peculiar and prerogatiue Court of God whereby he exerciseth his iurisdiction Beware therefore lest thou beeing guilty doest harden thy heart for that is all one as to kick against God and resist the motion of his holy Spirit when we reiect such cogitations as are prouocations and summoners vnto Repentance when God therefore by his holy Spirit knocketh at the doore of thine heart and moueth any such motion either to embrace this Vertue or auoid that Vice thou hadst best open vnto him at first call and let him in for if hee call thee now thou canst not tell whether hee will call againe or no and if he open thee the gate of his Grace to day and will thee friendly to enter in thou canst not tell whether euer hee will open it againe or neuer Thy contempt and vnthankfulnesse may mooue him in his wrath to shut the doore vpon thee for euer and then thou wilt repent but all too late Remember Christs words When the good man Luk. 13. 25 of the house is risen and hath shut to the doore and yee beginne to stand without and to knocke at the doore saying Lord Lord open to vs and he shall answere and say vnto you I know you not whence yee are Depart from me all 27 yee workers of iniquitie There shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth when yee shall see Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdome of God and your selues thrust out at doores These are words of weight and able to pierce a stony heart most fearfull to impenitent sinners whē they shal behold a farre off with the rich surfetting Glutton the happy estate of the godly in Heauen in Abrahams bosome and themselues to bee thrust out into vtter darknes and so to take their leaue and last farewell of God his Angels and all the ioyes of Heauen for euer neuer to meet againe nor once to behold the faire beauty of the Lord or of his Saints the deepe consideration hereof is able to shake the Conscience to burst the heart of a sinner and end his dayes if any feeling of Gods Spirit bee in him It is good therefore to haue the testimonie of a cleere Conscience accompanying thee euen to thy graue that when thou shalt appeare before Christ his Throne of iust iudgement it may be a witnesse with thee of thy wealth and not to thy woe a defender of thy purity and not an Accuser of thine iniquitie a iustifier of thy Righteousnes and not a condemner of thy Wickednes Pray to God betime that it may be thy Helper as it was to Paul and not thy 2. Cor. 1. 12. Hangman as it was to Iudas It is not to bee spoken what a sure and singular Treasure a good Conscience will be at that day it shall stand stedfast by thy side as thy dearest friend when all the world shall be set on a flaming fire aboue thee beneath thee and on euery side thee when the elements