whereby it looketh for to bee made free from the bondage and burden of this corruption as a woman in trauell is comforted with hope of deliuerance This is that whereat the Apostle pointeth when hee saith that God hath subjected the creature in hope The sicke Man In my judgement vee speake pertinentlie In that difficultie I haue full satisfaction But what is this that is subjoyned vnto the verse following I vnderstand not the words well They are these The creature at last shall bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the Children of God What is this libertie of the Sons of God or how can the Heauens and the Elements bee said to bee made partakers of that liberty which belongeth to the Children of God I confesse mine ignorance heere in this point I desire to bee instructed The Pastour This is the libertie whereof they shall bee partakers with the Childrē of GOD they shall then haue all their will they shall no more be subject to that whereof they would desire to bee free Not willinglie shall bee no more in them in all their subjection They shall bee no more slaues to serue sinners but shall serue God and his Saintes which is true libertie Thus in so farre as they shall bee free of all that foresaid bondage they are said to be deliuered into the glorious liberty of the Children of God This shall bee a part of the libertie of Gods Sainctes in Heauen not to bee subject to the wicked any more not to wearie nor waxe olde all this shall they haue commond with the creature But O what a glorie shall the Children haue greater than all the creature shall receiue Euen a farre more and exceeding weight of Glorie The sicke Man I will not now inquire concerning that weightie glorie I reserue it to afterward God-willing One thing I desire to know whether or not the Lord shall come downe before the World shall bee refined with fire or if it shall bee after The Pastour In my judgement before that the Lord come down the Heauens shal be new and the earth all shal be new As a Citie before the entrie of a King prepareth all before hand maketh the wayes cleane and causeth sweepe off the streets the dung-hils so all the steertes of the Heauens and of the Aire and of the Earth muste bee made cleane before the comming of the Sonne of man While in the dayes of his flesh hee entered into the Citie of Ierusalem in qualitie of a King riding vpon an Asse-Colt all the streetes were couered with cloathes greene branches of trees so that the foote of his Asse scarclie culd touch the ground all that was there range with the sound of Hosanna Hosanna * Euen so in my judgement when that great Lord shall make his entrie into the world as a King from Heauen the world shall all bee made new it shall look with another face then it doth at this day If our gracious Soueraigne King CHARLES whom I pray the Lord to blesse with a prosperous reigne were comming from Londō for to enter into this Citie we would all cloth our selues in comely apperall we wold receiue him with great applause all shouting GOD SAVE KING CHARLES Would we doe this to a sinfull man Whose breath is in his nostrils What thinke yee then shall these creatures doe whose neckes are yoked vnder the bondage of corruption euer till the Lord IAH our God come downe riding vpon the Skie with sound of libertie for euermore Mine heart here faileth me while I thinke of that great applause and welcome to the world that Christ shall get when hee shall bowe the Heauens and come downe into the Aire Shal he who in the days of his flesh in the dayes of his disgrace was so honoured at his Royall entrie in Ierusalem not bee much more honoured at his Royall entrie into the worlde which is groaning after that houre of his comming as a woman in trauell earning after the houre of her deliuerie At his second comming all his wayes shal be prepared and the Hosanna Hosannahs of Ierusalem shall bee turned into Halleluiah Halleluiah Before Christ came first to appeare among men hee sent a Messenger to prepare his ways The voyce of One crying in the wildernesse Prepare yee the way of the Lord mak his paths straight Euerie valley shall bee filled and euery hill and mountaine shall bee made low and the crooked shall bee made straight the rough ways shal be made smooth Seeing in his humilitie his wayes were prepared before his comming there is greater appearance that before hee come backe to this worlde againe with his millions this new earth and all shall bee prepared It is a disgrace for a Citie to be cleansing streetes while the King is alreadie within the portes It is but rusticke manners to sweepe an house after that an honest man hath entered whereby the dust that is vnder his feete is carried vp to his hat and betweene his shoulders The sicke Man It is your opinion then that all shall bee cleansed with a fire before the Lord come downe The Pastour It is indeed And it seemeth also to haue some ground into Scripture for Christ while hee was declaring in the Gospel the things that should be fall before his comming hauing said That the Sunne and Moone should bee darkened and that Starres should fall from Heauen which declared the change of this world In the next verse hee declareth that after that appeared the signe of the Sonne of man in Heauen The sicke Man According to your discourse it would seeme that before the comming of the Lord at the renewing of this world there shall be a strange stirre among all the Creatures The Pastour That is most certaine and that both aboue and belowe S. Luke saith That there shall bee signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres and vpon the Earth Pressura gentiū distresse of Nations with perplexitie the Sea and the waues roaring Mens heartes failing them for feare and for looking after these things which are comming on the Earth for the powers of Heauen shal be shaken Thē shal they see the Sonne of Man comming in a cloud with power and geart glorie The sicke Man All these wordes bee wordes of great weight It would please you to giue mee the intepretation thereof The Pastour In these words the Euangelist letteth vs see howe this bigge olde world shal be broken downe for to bee made new againe Some of the Learned expound these wordes by way of similitude taken from man the little world while as hee is olde and failed the humours of his body like elements are troubled and shaken together His two eyes like the Sunne and Moone are darkened and his other senses like the Starres fall downe and decay His minde and his
tempestuous Sea All these things that shall appeare are called Fore runners sent before to tell all the Faithfull that when they shall see them that they lift vp their heades and looke vp for to see their Redemption that is neere S Luk compareth the time of all these things that appeare before the Lords comming to the spring time when trees begin to budde When the buds shoote foorth saith hee yeâ—… know that Summer is at hand So likewise yee when yee see these thinges come to passeâ—… know that the Kingdome of God is nigh at hand The sicke Man All these fore-said things bee buâ—… buds as I see forewarning vs of the Summer season wherein the Lord shall come But what is that which S. Matthew saith that after all these thinges shall appeare the SIGNE of the Sonne of man in Heauen What is that which hee calleth the SIGNE of the Sonne of man in Heauen What SIGNE thinke yee that to bee that shall bee seene in Heauen after that the world shall bee made new The Pastour The interpreters varie much in their opinions concerning this Signe what sort of Signe it should bee Some thinke that it shall bee the signe of the Crosse vpon which the Lord hang This SIGNE as some think shal be seene into the Aire before the comming of the Lord Such a signe as some write was that which Constantine saw in the Aire while he was going to battell against the enemies of Christ With this signe was heard a voyce vttered in these words IN HOC SIGNO VINâ—…HS Others thinke that by the SIGNE of the Sonne of man is to bee vnderstood Christ Himselfe who is called The Signe of the Sonne of man as Circumcision in Scripture Language is called The signe of the Circumsion I incline rather to thinke with Beza that that signe shall bee some great Majestie and vnspeakable glorie aboue all compasse of comparison glorious which shall appeare whereby the comming of that Lord shall bee knowne to all not to bee the comming of a creature but of Him who is Lord of all the creatures hauing a name aboue all names The Kings and Princes of the earth while they are among the multitudes of their Subjects by some glistering jewell will be discerned from all the rest or by the great respect that is carried to their persons by these that are about them All sheaues fell down before Iosephs sheaues So all creatures at his approach shall fall downe before him As before Ioseph in his progesse was a cry Abrech how the knee so at the comming of this Lord the Angels in a manner shall cry Abrech At his Name euerie knee in Heauen and Earth and vnder the Earth shal bow Before behind and aboue that Bodie of God both white and ruddie the chiefest among ten thousand shall bee such a glorie and throng of Majestie as shall bee a certaine signe that it can bee none other but the Prince of Eternitie hee being among his most bright and glorious Angels like a Sunne among the Starres The wordes of the Earth cannot beare such a signification as may expresse the glorie of this Signe Mine hearte is without mee while I think vpon the glorie of that Lord whom all cyes shall see that day with his golden Head and busâ—… Lockes Christ shall bee clothed in his triumphing apparell with such a brightnesse that the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed as these who beeing clothed in course rayment are ashamed to be seene among these who are pasmented with gold In a word at his presence all powers shall shake and all creatures at his bâ—…cke shall obey The sicke Man After that that Signe shall appeare What thinke yee shall bee done The Pastour When Christ the desire of all Nations shall bee readie to come Hee shall send before him his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather his dispersed and despised Elect from the foure winds from one end of Heauen to the other S. Paul saith That the Trumpet shall 〈◊〉 and the dead shall arise This shall not bee a brasen Trumpet but a â—…stiall which shall found so shrill with a princelie noise that all the creatures on Earth in Heauen and Hell shall heare it S. Paul hath three notable sayinges concerning the sound that shall bee heard at Christs comming First hee saith That hee shall descend with a shoute Secondlie With the voyce of the Archangel Thirdlie With the Trumpet of God The sicke Man The remembrance of that shout maketh mine eares to tingle and my heart stringes to tremble What a shout thinke ye that that shall bee The Pastour Some thinke that it shall bee a great noyse dinne such as is heard into hudge great assemblies It may bee a shout of victorie or of praise The Angels and millions of Sainctes who sing his praise continuallie cannot keepe silence that day They shal be all about Christ that day shouting for the joy of that desired day The worde shout in the originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which properlie signifieth that sounding voice which the Mariners vse to others euerie one for to moue another to row Others thinke it to be like a cry of Souldiers qualis est militaris convasatio while they trusse all their baggage for to remoue The sicke Man For what cause chieflie shall this shout bee To whom shall it bee directed The Pastour It shall bee chieflie for the Glory of God It shall bee directed to the dead who are to bee raised vp by the power of God and by the meanes of his Seruants the Angels who at the raising vp of all creatures shall shout like Mariners heauing vp that which is heauy by force of their armes What Archangel that shall be or what shall bee that voyce One saith verie well Dies Domini revelabit The day of the Lord shall reueale it The Lord prepare vs for it O what a Glorie when Christ shall appeare with hands as gold rings set with the Berill and with a bright Bellie ouer laid with Saphires The sicke Man Is it your judgement that Christ the Iudge of the World shall come downe from Heauen with a great Majestie The Pastour It is certaine of the day of his comming againe may well bee said that which was said of his first comming This is the day which the Lord hath made In that day hee himselfe shall come downe in a Charet of a Cloude as hee ascended into a Cloude All the Glorie of Heauen shall bee seene that day The Father shall bee there in vnspeakable Glorie The Holie Ghost shall bee there with vnspeakable Majestie All the Saintes and Angels shall bee about Him like burning Lampes and glistring Suns The sicke Man What passage of Scripture letteth vs see clearlie the Glorie of his comming to judgement The Pastour That passage of Daniel
with Iaphet in the Church of God Amen The sicke Man I haue heard sufficientlie concerning the earthlie Ierusalem diuerse parts of the holie Land that with griefe of heart because in that Land where God once was well knowne now the enemies of God dominire The cry of Christs Blood is yet still against it so that it hath spewed out the ancient inhabitants Lord make all Nations by its example learne to stand in awe to prouoke so great a Majestie Now let vs come to that Ie◅usalem which is aboue the Palace of the great King where God is seene of his Sainctes face to face In what place of Scripture is mention made of it The Pastour In the two last Chapters of th◅ Reuelation that heauenlie Ierusalem is described The sicke Man How can that bee seeing it is said that Iohn saw that heauenlie Ierusalem descending out of heauen from GOD. The Pastou◅ As Ierusalem Gods Church heere below is call◅d Ierusalem which is aboue because her heart is in heauen with a great desire to bee there So Ierusalem the triumphing Church aboue may bee said To descend out of heauen because of the great desire they haue to see vs all well heere below Daylie they pray in Heauen for the Sainctes heere fighting on earth vnder the bloodie Banne◅ of Christ Iesus They pray fo◅ them all in generall which cannot bee without great affection descending from the reflexe of their loue toward our God If by some Angel they heare the report of the conuersion of sinners there is great joy◅ in Heauen That good will and affection they beare vnto the Sainctes below in Scripture language is called a descending out of Heauen The sicke Man O but ae I thinke that Citie must be glorious The Pastour No glorie is comparable to that which is there That Citie is called an holie Citie Holinesse is the chiefest beautie that is This was good Moses his prayer Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs that is true holinesse This most excellent beautie of the heauens is typified by the most bright glauncing of precious stones Her light saith S. Iohn was like vnto a stone most precious euen like a Iasper stone cleare as Crystall two creatures colour greene and cleare most pleasant for the sight of the eye By all this this Citie had twelue gates and at the gates twelue Angels whom I may well call Coelestes Ianito◅es the blessed doore keepers of Heauen The building of the wall was of Iasper and the Citie was pure Gold like vnto cleare Glasse The foundation stones which are laid in our buildings are but of the commonest sort But all the foundation stones of this Citie vnder whose Vaults wee sojourne here are most precious stones as Iasper Saphir Chaleedonie Emerald Sardonix Sarduis Crysolite Berill Topas Iacinct Amethyste If such glorious stones bee the foundation stones what glorie must bee aboue in the Palace top where is the busking of Beautie As for the gates The twelue gates were twelue Pearles euery seuerall ga◅ was of one Pearle Wonderfull gates of wonderfull Iewels for who euer on Earth sawe a Pearle so great as an Apple Behold and wonder how the greatest doore of Heauen should bee of one Pearle As for the streetes of the Citie they were pure gold as it were transparent glasse This Glasse one calleth it Aliquid auro nobilius quod non est inrerum natura That is Some thing more precious excellent than gold which thing is not in this worlde to bee found O mercifull God what stupiditie is this in man that hee cannot so feruentlie loue this God who hath builded for his Soule bodie such a pleasāt Palace where he shal sojourn for euer in most happy immortality O mercifull God what a deadnesse dulnesse is this in our spirits that we cannot but after many reasons arguments be content to remoue from these our sinfull Tabernacles of clay for to goe dwell with our God in his golden Citie Palace of siluer where the Lord for euer shall feast vs with the joyes of his countenance among these purer Spirites his excellent Ones the Angels of glorie The sicke Man It is certainelie a great blindnesse Lord put the eye salue of Grace to our carnall naturalleyes that our sight beeing cleared thereby wee may get some glimpse of these Palaces and Pleasures that are aboue O Lord hoise vp mine heart raise it out of the muck of this earth mak the relish of Heauen to dash out of mine heart all earthlie desires It is marueilous how the Soule of man shuld be such a stranger to heauen When I consider howe the Soule that diuine proportion so noblie furnished with powers of great e◅euation euen of most high contemplation should so deba◅e it selfe among myre and dirt not hauing a face to behold the heauens it putteth mine heart into a wonderfull maze What can a Soule find either in heauen or earth except God alone which is able to satisfie the desires of its so wide Capacitie O the beautie of these celestiall buildinges all Gold and Azure But rather O the beautie of GOD himselfe in whose presence is the greatest glorie of that painted Palace O the beautie of beauties of him whose mercifull presence shuld turne the hels of paine into heauens of pleasures for euermore O let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs * O what a fickle follie is this for man to losse eternitie of happinesse for the minute of a miserable life in worldlie pleasures wherein is more sensible paine than joye that can bee enjoyed But to follow out our purpose intended concerning heauens glorie I haue Sir alreadie heard of the beautie of that Citie nowe let mee heare of its Boundes None as I thinke shall bee there troubled for want of Elbow-roome The Pastour * O the vnspeakable bounds that bee there S. Iohn saith that it was measured with a golden reede The measure thereof as the word of God testifieth was Twelue thousand furlongs which is more than fifteene hundreth myle Numerus indefinitus pro definito A Citie greater in boundes than who should joyne together in one that great Niniuie Paris Rome London Venise Alexandria Constantenople and that great Alcaire or Babylon a citie containing in circuite foure hundreth foure score furlongs Nay joyne all the Cities of the world together in one and they shall in no way bee comparable vnto this Citie of our God as it is ◅et downe in the Cart of the Reuelation Let a man behold the Cart of the world and in it hee shall easilie couer with his hand all the bounds of Europe But behold how the Heauens in that Cart of God occupie more than fifteene hundreth myles What I pray you is all this Earth in comparison of these heauenlie Mansions but an hand-breadth in
vpon his light If a man cannot beholde the Sunne in the day hee may in the night behold his beames vpon the bodie of the Moone If his sight yet cannot suffer that hee may behold him in his second reflexe by beholding the Moone in a glasse If as yet his sight dazle there is a third and weaker reflexe By another glasse thou may gette the reflexe of that glassen reflexe Certainlie there must bee manie reflexes of Gods brightnes from one creature to another before that his invisible things can bee seene by vs What glorious beames of Gods face thinke yee be these which shine within that highest Heauen called Coelum Empyrium the fierie Heauen not that there is fire but because as the most Learned thinke it is purer than al the other heauens as much as the fire is purer than the other Elements O what shining brightnesse of God is to be seene there where all is more glauncing and cleare than that fire which Moses saw in the Bush. Let vs come down from thence to behold the glorious Stars the twinckling eyes of Heauen laughing vpon the godlie with their celestiall smyles O these bright and peerelesse Pearles Let vs from thence come downe to the two great Gouernours of the day and of the night from thence descend to the cleare pureaire so glauncing with the light of the Sunne as if it were all of Azure Come downe yet and vnder that are Aquae limpidae the cleare waters the mother of Pearles and of precious gold for the weakest eye there is terra opaca that thicke da◅ke duskish and lumpish masse of earth which a bleare eyed Leah may behold for in it to see without watering eyes the invisible thinges of God were it by looking vpon a Lillie or a Rose or vpon a Snaile or a Snaike Behold the goodnesse of God who hath sette his creatures by degrees in distance from the place of his inaccessible light that thereby the bleared eyes of men may get some glimpse of the shadowes of his invisible thinges which are of truest worth But O O O what a glorie and matchlesse fairenesse is there where God the King of Glorie is seene face to face O the glorie of the God-head The knowledge of the least sparkle of that glorie is not attainable by any carnall capacitie Because of that brightnesse that was in Moses his face by the reflexe of that Light which hee had seene but in IEHOVAHS backe partes it behoued him to couer his face with a Vaile when hee came for to speake vnto men Was the skinne of the face of a sinner so inlightened with bright beames from the Back of God that no man could behold it nor looke toward it till it was couered with a Vaile How many Vailes must God put betweene his face ours lest we should be dazeled with his glorie I take all the circles of the heauens the Fire and Aire aboue vs to bee as many obscuring Vailes which the Lord hath cast betweene the Glorie of his face the eyes of sinful man And yet in the Sunne hee hath fastened such a sparkle of his glorie that by his heate his brightnes he will cause man the king of creatures to bee ashamed to behold him Hee will cause him flie vnto the shadowes and goe with Gogle eyes of Glasse for to saue his eyes of flesh from the reflexe of his beames thogh blunted vpon the darke and duskie element of the earth See how mans sight is so weake that it cannot abide an earthlie blunted reflexe of that celestiall creature What shall I say more of the heauens which are so farre aboue vs Let vs come downe and learne humilitie at the feete of creatures below as at the feete of a Gamal◅ euen in this elementare Region of corruption Behold there is such a whitenesse into the snow which is but frozen and congealed blacke water that it will mak the dull sight of man so to dazle that when hee is entered into his owne house hee is not able to know the faces that are his owne yea many by such brightnes at last haue lost their sight Let mee yet come to an obscurer bodie The small printed Letters which wee read must be darkened with the blacknesse of inke and yet because the whitenes of the Paper scattereth so the sight it must bee gathered with the greenish colour of glassen Spectacles Now I pray you how should man behold that passing glory of his God who cannot behold the whitnesse of Paper but with borrowed eyes of Glasse Let men heare learne in his weaknesse to bee humble and to reuerence him that hath made so many creatures which for brightnesse he is not able to behold If poore man cānot behold the apparrell of Gods creatures clothed with light or with colours not seene without light If such a little glaunce is able to dazle his sight how should hee bee able to behold the King of creatures euen the great Creator him selfe whose backe partes are brighter than tenne thousand Sunnes Because of this great weaknesse caused into man by sinne man is remoued farre from the presence of this King lest hee should bee destroyed by the brightnesse of his beames If while the Sunne shineth with his beames darded directlie down the creatures are so parched with heate below that they are constrained to gaspe what should become of vs if Gods glorie should appeare at our verticall point without the interposition of many other creatures betweene him and vs If a little sparkle of his Glorie in the Sunne many thousand myles from vs maketh a man to faint sweate and gaspe what should become of vs if God himselfe the consuming fyre should approach vnto vs If the Sunne which seemeth to bee but of an hand-breadth hath such light and heate what should it bee if all the heauens were inlightened like the Sunne Though all the heauens were turned into a Sun they should not be of such brightnesse as are the backe-parts of IEHOVAH The Sun with all his light and heate may mak the face of man more obscure and duskie but cannot inlighten it But the backe partes of God printed such light into the face of a man that for brightnesse no man could behold it Mercifull God what stupiditie is this in man that hee will not consider what a Majestie this must bee whose obscurest parts are more bright than the Sunne and who with all is not confined with natural dimensions as with breadth or length but is aboue the Heauens infinitlie with infinite bounds and brightnesse the least sparkle whereof is more bright than if the whole Heauens were wholie tarned into a shining Sunne If men knew the pleasures that are there they wold not losse them for the painefull pleasures or rather vnpleasant paines of this sinfull life Alas that we are so carelesse of the attainment of such a weight of glorie
of the Resurrection Let the meditations of Gods mercie and promised fauour rouse vp your Soules from that lumpishnesse and melancholious drowsinesse which may creep in into your hearts in this troublous time Striue to bound and fence your heartes about deligentlie with the thoughts of Gods Fatherlie fauour who shall neuer leaue you fatherlesse Though your father be dead yet God is aliue Now Sir yee who aâ—…t the elder bee yee the more thankfull to God who hath giuen you the first place Shew good example vnto the yonger Oppresse them not but rather bee a father vnto them By your good counsell striue to make them plyable and frameable to Gods will reuealed in his word As for you who are yonger ones bee not discouraged for often grace maketh the yonger to bee the elder and sinne maketh the elder the yonger So Iacob found the blâ—…ssing though Esau was the first borne It is Vertue that maketh the Heire Let your heartes therefore relye vpon the Lord Let him bee the caruer of all your cares If yee depend on him yee shall not want Hee who created the world without matter and preserueth it without meanes is God all sufficient who can easilie finde out meanes for the maintenance of al these that by faith can laye claime to his promise If wealth bee expedient for you the Lord will giue you a large allowance till hee make your Cuppe to ouer flow But if otherwise hee hath appointed to exercise you with pouertie know that he who hath the hearts of all men in his hands can easilie for your comfort stirre vp some who by their liberalitie towards you shall prouide themselues bags vvhich waxe not olde If yee can bend your whole endevour to the seruice of your God hee shall satisfie you with the prouisions of his mercie But if otherwise yee become lewde and prophane haunting euill companie the verie canker and cut-throate of all godlinesse yee shall neuer prosper no not though by a painefull drudgerie ye should draw out the verie life-blood of your hearts It is not earlie rising noâ—… late going to bedde but Gods blessing that enricheth Now the Lord of grace blesse you mine hearts The Lord teach you to set seale these comforts with prayers patience vpon your hearts And seeing the dayes are now euill euen the dregges of dayes I intreate the most High to graunt you grace hour lie to renâ—…w and strengthen your watch that your hearts spirits may be preserued vnblamable and that vntill the day of his most glorious appearance AMEN A diuine and heauenly discourse fit to be read to these that are conueened in the house of mourning that thereby the liuing may be remembered of their mortalitie DEarlie Beloued this our godlie Friend one of Gods excellent Ones is now deceased that peacâ—…ablie like a Lambe into the armes oâ—… his God who hath euer lasting lie fast bund his Soule in the bundle of life The death of such is often a fearfull preâ—…age of much anger and euill to come His Soule is now glorious in the Heauens like a Starre new created in the Skie It is now liuing the life of God aboue where it is filled with the infusion of that 〈◊〉 which wee haue heere on earth 〈◊〉 by imputation Hee hath now alâ—… God and all that is in God in â—…speakable perfection beeing in that place where God is all in all At last after sore fighting and bitter bickering as diuerse godlie persons haue seene through the bent browes of an angrie Iudge hee hath seene the yearning and relenting bowels of a louing Father Now after his Battell ended he hath 〈◊〉 the Spirit Clepsydrâ—… 〈◊〉 his houre glasse is now runne out and his Soule is come to its wished home where it is free from the fetters of flesh Nowe from the â—…hanging turnes of time hee is at last come to Eternitie Thorow many seas of â—…orrows both bitter and brimie hath he sailed before that hee could ariue at that blessed Port. Our hearts cannot be but sorrowfull to bee depriued of such comfortable companie as was â—…is But here iâ—… our comfort and the matter of our joye hee is well and shall bee so for euer By the mercie of his God hee is now passed ouer thâ—… knoppes of the mountaines of miserie and thorow the muddie myres of sinfull mortalitie thorow fearefull tryals and troubles euen from the dyets of grace to the dainties of glorie from the Villages of this world vnto euerlasting 〈◊〉 farre aboue the rolling wheele of all changeable pleasures and smarting paines Poore mans life on earth is like a restlesse whirle-gigge whirled about The mouing heauens are the place of our rest and the resting earth is the place of our restlesse motions The way of this life as wee may see is not adorned with Violets and Roses No not It is full of rubs and thornes and pricking whinnes of piercing griefe O with what paines hath his sillie Soule sought vp the sweete streames of Gods mercie 〈◊〉 to the Fountaine it selfe which is 〈◊〉 to the Heauens God in great mercie hath now 〈◊〉 last after manie dolours and bitter bickerings put his Spirit into the acâ—… tuall and full possession of his 〈◊〉 all joyes Through fyre and water 〈◊〉 Lord hath broght him out into a 〈◊〉 place Now he is free from the bodie of bondage which did hang so fast 〈◊〉 His Soule is set out of the reach of 〈◊〉 troubles and sublunary toyes Now blessed bee our God hee is no 〈◊〉 lyable to our sinfull mortalitie into this earth a gulfe of corruption God at last hath recompenced his light affliction with an euerlasting weight of glorie O but he hath had a painefull time in his sicknes with manie deepe sigh and heauie groane hath hee beene heard in his feares His face could neuer bee dryed for teares continuallie trickling ouer his cheekes Happie is hee now for all the cloudes of his sinnes haue bene dissolued by the raine of mournâ—…full teares where with all Soules must be baptised before that they can be members of the Church Triumphant Now blessed bee God all his teares and his trauels are turned into triumphes If men shedde not â—…eares on earth God cannot wypt them away in heauen All as wee must fight the good fight before â—…hey can catch the Crowne Let vs all learne in him and in â—…his House of mourning to see and conâ—…der the end of vs all that while wee are liuing wee may lay it to our hearts and make it a matter of our nights meditations Happie and thrise happie is hee that can practise that saying of Iob All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite till changing come It is good that wee euer bee watchfull vpon our guarde well prepared for our last departure and finall accounts No man can â—…ll how soone hee shall bee arraigned in the great
so fullie fraughted with all sortes of sins which like most filthie streames flow from the first fountaine or rather puddle of our originall sinne which wee haue from the Loynes of Adam Wee are all infected with this spirituall Leprosie there is nothing that can wash vs and make vs cleane saue onelie the Iordan of the blood of Iesus Besprinkle our consciences O LORD with the vertue of that Blood which cryeth for better things than the blood of Abel Seale vp thy Loue in our heartes by the blood of the Sealed man whom Thou the Father did seale and appoint to bring Life eternall to the world In him thou art well pleased In his Name and for his Loue wee begge thy fauour He himselfe hath tolde vs that what wee shall aske thee in his Name we shall receiue it O Father of mercies remember the promise of thy Sonne In confidence of his Command wee take the boldnesse at this time particularlie to put vp our prayers vnto thee for this thy diseased Seruant tossâ—…d to and fâ—…o with diuerse temptations Sathan the enemie of his Saluation the feare of Death the loue of the world and of worldlie things haue set themselues in Battell-array like armies betweene his Soule and the entrie of Heauen They haue maliciouslie ensnared his heart and taken his affections captiues with the immoderate loue of perishing thinges Oh how hath hee beene bewitched with the seeming sweetenesse of such vanities O Thou LORD IESVS the LORD of Life encourage him so with thy liuelie Spirit that he may be bold couragiously to face Death and the Graue Put these interrogations in his mouth O Death where is thy Sting O Graue where is thy victorie Cause thy Spirit whisper in his eare that thou hast put out the life of Death Cast into his rememberance the words wherewith Thou boasted Death and the Graue O Death I will be thy plagues O Graue I will bee thy destruction Let his Soule knowe that the Graue is a Bed of rest for all these that die in the LORD wherein they rest from their labours beeing at ease in peace without any toile or turmoile Worke in his heart a desire to be dissolued for to bee fred from the sinfull bonds of mortality for to goe dwell where hee shall neuer anger the Lord againe Let the Loue of Christ waine his heart from the desire of anie abiding heere O deare IESVS who was both buffeted slaine and buried for to saue man set the print and stampe of thy mercie vpon this Soule Seuer all his thoughts from all that is earthlie whether it bee Life Lands Children Houses or whatsoeuer other thing may allure him for to sojourne heere in a strange Land wherein wee are all strangers from God whom wee cannot see heere but behind Vntye his heart from the loue of this his natiue soile Purge him of this out-bearing humour O LORD flesh and blood will neuer teach a man to renounce his deare selte and such other carnall things wherewith hee is in phantasie The earthlie minde is so lumpish that it wearieth to thinke of thee and of the pleasures of thy Palace A carnall hearte is euer rouing and wandering heere about this worlds businesse Martha is a mother of many Children who trouble themselues about many thinges But few are these that with Marie can fold their heart for to sit downe at the feete of IESVS for to make choise of that best part which should neuer bee taken from them Thou to whoÌ„ nothing is impossible draw this Soule vnto thee make the bent of his affection to bee vpon thee O great IEHOVAH thou hast heard and seene how carnall temptations haue teared the Soule of thy Seruant this day in the bedde of his languishing Immoderat cares for thinges below haue depriued him of all rest and joyes which he should haue in thee Wee must confesse to thee and from his heart hee acknowledgeth to bee true that his minde hath beene too bent vpon such perishing shadowes which can not bee gripped Such trashes of no worth haue taken too much roome into his heart Hee who is not content to quite all for to come to thee is not worthie of thee But LORD if mans Saluation were grounded vpon the sand of his owne worthinesse such a building could not stand against the winds floodes of temptations But his Saluation shall neuer bee branled because it is builded vpon the euerlasting and most sure Rocke the foundation of thy Church O LORD wee faile all in many things If hitherto this thy Seruant hath not as hee should minded thâ—… thinges which are aboue but lodged in their place the desire of thinges below now in thy greaâ—… mercie inlighten his mistie mindâ—… and bee mercifull to him in thâ—… thing Make the flesh now to cede and giue place vnto the Spirit Let the heauens come in with the pledges of thy Loue which no mortall armes can fadome Come with thy Spirituall and diuine motions and fill therewith the chambers of his heart where earthlie thoughts had their abode Make his Soule to inuite thy Spirit to come in Saying with Laban Come in thou blessed of the Lord wherefore standest thou without O deare IESVS direct so all his thoughts that hee wearie himselfe no more with the desire of that which sooner or later heee must â—…orgoe Why should thornie cares for dust and clay choake the good motions of thy Spirit Let no such care cumber him any more for foolish fáding commoditie Dissolue this glew by which his heart is tyed to the ground In thy Light let him see Light whereby hee may perceiue how fraile fickle are all such transitorie trashes which beeing too much loued both coole our zeale and clogge our affections so that they can in no wise soare vp toward thee O blessed Sauiour in whom is the very pith sweetest marrow of Gods mercies make thy seruants heere to loue thee aboue all things in heauen or earth Make his heart to say Whom haue I in Heauen but thee Make him to loue thee for thy selfe and not for thine onelie which is but an hyred Loue Put in thine owne hand at the hole of the doore of his heart and let some droppes of the Mirrhe of thy mercie this night fall vpon the handle of the Barre that his Soule beeing affected therewith may runne out of the Chamber of sleepe for to seeke him who loueth his Soule euen his blessed Sauiour the LORD IESVS Bee mercifull to all thine afflicted members in the Church militant fighting vnder the bloodie Banner of the LORD IESVS CHRIST The Church is thy Spouse keep her as the Apple of thine eye make all her members with one minde and one mouth to glorifie thy Name Blesse our gracious Soueraigne the Kings Majestie with thy best blessings Adorne him with spirituall Graces and giftes wherewith hee may please thee in his whole carriage both Ecclesiastice and Ciuill Make Iustice and Iudgement the habitation
of his Throne make Mercie and Trueth goe before his Face Blesse His Royall Match make thy mercie to bee shed abroad in Her Heart Cloth Her with the Royall apparell of Christs Righteousnesse Let readinesse to heare the Preaching of the Word bee Her Eare-ring and good Workes in Her Hand like golden Rings vpon Her Fingers Write vpon the Tables of Her Heart the Loue of true Godlinesse The LORD bee mercifull to the Common-wealth of this Land protect It from the rage of forraine Enemies Let neuer thy protection depart from this Land Let it bee like that Bed of Solomon Threescore stronge men are round about it of the valiant men of Israel They all handle the Sword and are expert in warre euerie one hath his sword vpon his thigh for the feare by night The LORD be gracious vnto vs all whō are heere vpon our kneees before Thee What wee haue said to Thee on earth LORD heare Thou in Heauen Let this afflicted Soule haue a proofe of thine own Trueth that the effectuall prayer of the Righteous auaileth much LORD hea◅ vs for the sake of him who is righteousnes it selfe in whose most perfect Prayer we close vp allour sutes saying Our Father which art c. The Peace Grace and Mercie of our GOD bee with you Sir for euer I hope that by Gods Grace I shall see you earlie in the Morning The sicke Man The LORD render to you according to his gracious promise made to all these that serue him in sinceritie A great blessing requireth great thankes I neuer deserued such kindnesse at your hands The lesse deseruing bee in mee the more deeplie doe I hold my selfe bound vnto your loue I pray you Sir be as good as your word come againe earelie in the Morning The Spirit of IESVS goe with you THE SECOND DAYES Conference Of spirituall temptations The Pastour GOD saue you Sir How haue yee rested this Night Haue yee found any working of Gods Spirit within you since our last conference Is your minde so at quiet now that yee may boldlie say with Simeon Now let thy seruant depart in peace The sicke Man Alas Sir Satans temptations are like that Serpent of Lerne called Hydra which had fiftie heades whereof one beeing cut off two sprang vp in the place thereof I take that serpent to haue beene but a fable But that which I say may bee written for an Historie Many heads of temptations haue yee cut off with the sword of Gods word But now I think that for euerie head cut off two are sprung vp in the place thereof All my temptatons hitherto haue beene but vpon the skin like the scratch of a pinne wrinkles but not woundes All my troubles hitherto hath beene but matters of trifles viz. Feare for my Life feare for my Children feare for the Graue of this our muddie mortalitie and for other such trifles and trashes vnworthie for to trouble a couragious Spirit The Spirit of a couragious man said Solomon will beare his infirmitie But the wounded spirit who can beare it well is the child of God in his ◅orest sicknes for while his bodie is sicke his Soule is sound His God in great loue will make all his bed in his sicknesse and strengthen him into the bed of languishing Hee whom God loueth is armed with Faith and patience all his troubles are but outward scrappings vpon the skinne The temptations wherewith I am lashed are spirituall woundings for my sinnes which neuer troubled mee before I heard oft-ten of such troubles but I neuer knew before this time what such things did meane Thinke ye Sir that the Spirit of a godlie man can bee thus wise troubled I heare Dauid crying in his mourning There is no soundnesse in my flesh neither is there anie rest in my bones But what reckes of flesh and bones if the Spirit were free The Pastour The most godlie that euer liued haue suffered spirituall woundes Christ the Captaine of our Saluation said That his Soule was sadde euen vnto the death Iob cryed that h◅s Spirit was drunken vp with the poyson of Gods arrowes The arrowes of the Almightie said hee are within me the poyson whereof drinketh vp my Spirit See how that holie man of God complaineth that his Spirit was like a drinke drunken vp by the poyson of Gods arrowes By this yee see that spirituall wounds are alloted to the dearest of Gods Elect so that they are not exeemed from inward blowes Trouble of Conscience is the disease of the innocentest Soule The sicke Man That satisfieth mee not As for Christ the blowes which hee suffered in his Soule were blowes of satisfaction for the sinnes of others As for Iob these blowes were blowes of probation of tryall for to let the world see that he was not an hypocrite that serued GOD for rewardes as Sathan did alledge But it is not so with me who am a bond slaue of corruption I suffer for my sinnes which are euer before mee The fainer I would forget them they flow the faster into my rememberance The voyce of my Conscience followeth mee with hue with cry Though God hath spared thee long thou hast not beene bettered looke now for vengeance after so long delayes I can make no answere I can not denie but God hath spared mee long In this is my greatest feare The higher a stroake bee fetcht the longer it is in comming But the higher it bee lifted the heauier it will fall The Pastour I answere to that which yee said first viz. that Christs sufferings are no comfort to you because they are blowes of satisfaction The afflictions of Christ were of diuerse vses first of all for to make payment to Gods Iustice for our sinnes Secondlie he suffered that by his own experience of sense hee beeing expert what it is to suffer might assure vs that hee is both a mercifull and a faithfull high Priest For in that hee himselfe hath suffered beeing tempted he is able to succour thē that are tempted Thus the Apostle declareth plainelie afterward Wee haue not said hee an high Priest which cannot bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities But was in all pointes tempted like as wee are yet without sin This experience which he had of our miserie is called his learning Though hee were a Sonne yet learned hee obedience by the things which he suffered Hee also suffered for to bee an example vnto vs. The sicke Man I vnderstand not well these words that Christ learned obedience by his sufferings The Pastour The words indeed seeme obscure The most Learned think that Christ is said to haue learned obedience by his sufferings because while he suffered hee felt indeed how difficile a thing it is talem obedientiam Deo praestare to yeeld such obedience vnto God others say that by his suffrings hee joyned to his diuine
that God can loue you who is so vnworthie to bee loued I thinke it verilie and I am perswaded God I confesse cannot loue sinne in man but hee may loue man in sinne God inuiteth not these whom hee loueth not Come vnto mee saith hee all yee that are wearied Your wearinesse cryeth vnto you that which was said to the blind man Bee of good comfort arise the Master calleth thee an humble confession in the mouth is the speach of contrition in the heart God hath sworne that hee liketh not a sinners death Hee is more glad to finde vs for to helpe vs than we can rejoyce to find him for to be helped by him Who can thinke but hee is glad to finde vs that tooke such paines to seeke vs that not caring for the vnwholesome and noysome night aire came to our doore hauing his head full of dewe and his lockes full of the droppes of the night which is more such was his loue and liking of vs that for to saue our life hee would die a cursed death The last wordes of your complaint are that yee are one who is vnworthie to bee loued * I had rather heare a sinner calling himselfe wretched and vnworthie with the Publican than boasting of his worthinesse with the Pharisee The swelled hydropie words of thankesgiuing that we are not lik other mē are a sure toking of a deadlie incurable disease Man naturallie goeth about to lessen impaire his faultes yea oftē rather than he will cry guiltie hee will fasten his follie by consequent vpon his Maker Adam said The woman which thou gauest me gaue me of the tree made me to eate Many are caried down the muddie streame of ouerweening their owne worth Our greatest worthinesse is in the sense of our own vnworthinesse and in the seeking of Christs worthinesse That man is worthie before God who findeth himselfe vnable to doe that which is worthie and vnwilling to doe that which is vnworthie The verie strife and battell betweene grace and nature in theregenerat is a victorie in Gods eyes A broken imperfectiō if it be sincere without guile is put vp in his merciful count book for a perfectiō indeed such is the mercie of God while we mislike our selues These were the wisest words of Agur in Gods account when hee said I am more fool◅sh than any man S. Paul was neuer more dearelie beloued of God as when hee hating himselfe called himselfe the first of sinners Cast your eyes off your selfe and looke vnto God your strength your stay The Name of the Lord is a strong towre the righteous runneth into it is safe The sicke Man O that I could practise your precepts O that my God would inspire mee with such a blessed and liuelie vigour of his Spirite that might quicken my Soule to euerlasting life O that it would please my God stronglie to refresh mee with the comfort of his countenance But alas out of this most filthy puddle of my heart arise such filthie vapours which so ouer-cloud the Sunne of righteousnesse that I am not able to behold his face while he did shine vpon mee his most bright and vnspotted beames were fullie darkened The more the heate of his word did beate vpon mee the more my conuersation became stinking and loathsome like a carion cast out before the Sunne this I cannot denie at the rememberance thereof I finde my selfe charged afresh vpon the Conscience with terrours and vexations O the dead slubber of securitie wherein I haue sleept vnto this houre my custome euer was to post ouer my sinnes in the lump with a generall slumbert confession There is nothing within me but matter of feare I feele my faith fainting I feare my sinnes I feare the wrath of God I feare the force of Sathan the king of feare I may be well bee called that which Ieremie called Pashur viz. Magor-missabib that is Feare round about yea I not onelie feare but I feele a fearefull wrath My stubburnesse and stonie heart hath brought vpon my Soule Gods brasen hands Now is hee doing to mee that which of olde hee threatned against these that were like mee If yee walke stubbornlie against mee I will walke stubbornlie with you In my youth I was guided by the guise of times my delight was to goe with the droue now I am lost beeing cold dead frozen in the dregges of my vncleannesse The Pastour The force of temptation wringeth such words out of you as thogh yee had none hope at all Your Soule Sir is like the Moone into an ecclipse There bee darknesse and changing of collours for a time because your sinnes like an earth come betweene you and the beames of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse I haue seene the Moone in her ecclipse for a space as though shee had not beene at all into the heauens but as shee darkened by little and little so after the greatest darknesse was past the light returned by degrees Despaire not Sir of an infinite mercie let not your heart be wasted with wearinesse Though the earth of your sinnes which in comparison of Gods mercie is but a point ouershadow the Soule for a space while it is in this low region the time shall come that God shall mount your Soule aboue the circle of the Starres wherevnto the shadow of such an earth is not able to attaine Thogh God for a space walke stubbornlie with you hee is not stubborn Whē yee shall beginne to walke humblie with your God God shall walke no more stubbornlie with you but shall deliuer you from all your feares Build your selfe vpon your holie Faith The sicke Man I may well say with Iob My stroke is heauier than my groning Whereon can my Faith lay hold God is armed with wrath and Sathan is armed with despight I see nothing for the present but blowes and bloody battels most dreadfull feares teare in pieces mine heart strings sucke out the inmost of mine heart blood The Pastour Though there be many aduersaries yet Christ is with you Make all your boast of him who is the Captaine of your Saluation Hee hath winne the field he hath tread vnder foote principalities and powers and hath ledde Captiuitie captiue Hee whose Faith is founded vpon him shall neuer bee confounded His fresh bleeding wounds are cuer filled with compassions * Though God by our sinnes bee moued to shew some wrath heere is our great comfort There is no condemnation to these that are in Christ Belieue yee not the Scriptures I know yee belieue If Christ bee with vs who shall bee against vs These who thinke that their sinnes ouer-reach Gods mercie make the Centre to compasse about the Circumference Though hee should receiue a world of sinners in the bosome of his mercie it will not for that
many doe But yet yee must know that hee that made the Time will not bee subject vnto Time the King of Time is Eternall GOD is eternall and hath all Times at his command There is no Time that can hinder him to bee mercifull to a sinner at whatsoeuer time he sha◅l repent For this cause Christ for to let the world see that hee can forgiue when a sinner can repent hee took from the Crosse the Soule of a condemned Theefe and after that hee had absolued it hee carried it to Paradise God hath said That at whatsoeuer time a sinner shall repent that hee will put away his wickednesse out of his rememberance Fra once hee hath said the word hee cannot take his word againe He is constant in all his wayes and therfore neuer saith and vnsaith one thing Hath he said shall hee not doe it If yee can but waite a little ye shall finde all the fiercenesse of his fur◅e to bee turned into the fulnesse of his fauour * Hee who shall seeke him earnestlie shall not receiue an emptie answere There is mercie in heauen for an hell of conscience vpon earth Cast all your cares aside cast your selfe into the armes of your God Cast thy burden vpon the Lord and hee shall sustaine thee Be strong in the Faith of God In hope belieue against hope though for a space your Spirit bee distempered yet still relye vpon the mercie of your God Goe not off this that the Blood of Iesus was shed for you that Christ hath payed your ransome What euer Sathan by his temptations suggest vnto you belieue him not Take my counsell I pray you Sir that I speak the trueth heere I darre take it vpon my Soules Saluation The sicke Man I thank God from mine heart that euer I heard you your words are ful of comfort O how indebted am I to the mercy of my God who hath vnlocked the bowels of his loue towards me At our first meeting I found my selfe inuolued with much miserie and mischief but since I haue heard you I finde I blesse God some stirring of God Spirit within mine heart mine heart before this time hath beene lik that Altar at Athens wherin was ingrauen in great Letters TO THE VNKNOVVNE GOD I heard often of God but I neuer knew him truelie vntill now This is the infancie of my regeneration I haue beene too long a stranger from so good a God My Soule now rejoyceth after many toes and froes I finde mine heart loosed from the cartropes of my sinnes and linked vnto my Sauiour with stronger chaines than of before There bee better motions within than euer I did feele before this houre O thou who is Loue let my Soule bee possest of a sound and constant loue to thy most mercifull Majestie Bring my Soule from the shadow of death to the light of thy countenance O Lord my strength and my Redeemer O Lord of Hostes giue me strength and courage to fight out this Christian fight whereof the victorie is glorious and the reward a Crowne of immortalitie Inspire mine heart with the life of Grace If thy care had not hitherto preserued my Spirit my Soule had long since bene drowned in a sea of sin and sorrow There haue bene such lecks into mine heart that except the Lord in time had pumped it with repentance my Soule long since had made ship-wracke of Faith O how much am I beholden to my God who hath taken longer day with mee than within any others from whom before they were prouided hee hath demanded his due Blessed bee my God who hath made mee free from the frenzie of Spirite by appearing vnto mee in a greater calme The feeling of his wrath past I hope shall be a sauce for to sharpen my blunted loue towardes him in all times to come with vndaunted constancie I perceiue nowe that the day is darkened and that the night approcheth Oh that I might cōtinue conference with you but least I should wearie you from the best of my bowels my deare Pastour I bidde you farewell I looke to morrow for a new conference for with many difficulties mine heart is yet troubled and tossed I requeast you before yee goe to helpe mee with your prayers The Pastour I blesse God who hath begunne to intermingle the sweete honey of some comfortes with the bitter gall of painefull temptations GOD who hath begunne to make you his his Prentice in Grace shall an one mak you a free man in Glorie As Ministers must first sit at Gamaleels feete for to learne before they sit in Moses chaire for to teach so must Christians first bee humbled with temptations on earth before they bee honoured with exaltations into the Heauens Well is the man that is truelie humbled by GOD and made a foole in his owne eyes for hee which thinketh himselfe wise is a foole ipso facto All naturall wisedome without Spirituall humilitie is like ouernights Manna which did no good but mould and fust God by diuers temptations first carnall and after spirituall hath besieged the corruptions of your nature and hath battered downe the strong holds and fortified Castles of your imaginations and reasoning the high thinges which exalt themselues against the knowledge of GOD Before hee leaue you hee shall bring into Captiuitie euerie thought of your heart to the obedience of Christ According to your desire wee shall bend our knees to GOD in prayer that yee may spell his loue out of such a Fatherlie correction and learne in time to stay your selfe vpon his kindnesse and good will A Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD of Mercie whose bowels are turned within thee when thou beholdest the griefe of the godlie Bee heere present for the reliefe of this thy poore distressed Seruant His eyes are stedfastlie fixed vpon Thee as the eyes of the hand maide are fixed vpon the hands of her Mistresse Behold LORD and heare his amazed broken heart braying after thee as an Hart panting after the Riuers of waters Pitie this sillie Soule which is like the drye ground gaping for droppes of Raine Oh LORD his strength is d◅yed vp like a Pot shard his tongue cleaueth vnto his jawes and thou hast brought him into the dust of death Let the sweetest comfortes of thy bleeding bowels bee powred into his broken heart Make the joyfull Light of thy countenance breake foorth vpon his drooping and cloudie Conscience O strengthen his sillie Soule in this heauie houre Pacifie the pangs of his remorse that hee may laye holde vpon the merits and mercies of thy Sonne IESVS Come gracious GOD with thy strength for his succour Sathan a most bitter enemie hath besieged his Soule with most fearefull temptations There is no mischiefe which could bee deuised but hee hath m◅stered it and set it in battell arraye against him While hee had health and youth this enemie
wicked will refraine from outward scandals yea they may preach yea prophecie with Saul Cajaphas and Iudas so that they will bee wondered at like Soul among the Prophets or lik Simō magus to whom the world for a space gaue heede from the least to the greatest saying This man is the great power of God Manie hauing but this superficiall glistering of grace applaud and content themselues thinking that they are wise while they indeede are fooles By this Spirit also they will taste the good gift of God but an one they spite it out againe * Meate tasted in the mouth onelie and not let downe to bee digested in the stomacke is vnprofitable for nourishment By this same Spirit also they will bee inlightened so that they will loue the deare Sainctes of God and will reuerence them as King Herod did Iohn But heere is their stay they haue euer an Herodias which they will not forsake Some one reigning sinne or other like pestilent canker cleaueth fast vnto them and beareth rule into their mortall bodies Either one sinne or other secret or publicke must be their Darling And this againe like a mother sinne must haue a dancing daughter called Hatered of reproue whose chiefest sute is that the preacher were he an Iohn either want the head or else bee silenced This is the verie border of the wicked mās progresse with all his might and maine in the way to glorie Further I cannot see that hee can winne but onelie to a taste in the mouth of the goodnesse of Gods giftes and to a certaine or rather incertaine liking of that which is good which at last shall losse the head with the Baptiste before hee losse his pleasures with Herod Thus as ye see manie are deceiued with the false flashes of an euil grounded assurance that they are in the readie and right way to Heauen when as indeede they are but faggots prepared for euer lasting burnings The sicke Man There bee one passage in Scripture which hath often affrighted my Soule in it I see a Reprobate to ma◅ such a progresse in the way to Hearen that hardlie can I thinke that euer I did match him The Apostle saith 1. That hee will bee inlightened 2. That hee will taste of the heauēlie gift 3. That he will be made partaker of the holie Ghost 4. That hee will taste the good word of GOD. 5. That he will taste the powers of the world to come And yet for all that hee shall fall away so that hee can not bee renewed by Repentance and so shall die a Reprobate and last after death shall bee caried with the wicked into the same streame till he fall downe into the gulfe and poole of perdition I intreat you Sir to giue mee some light for the clearing of these wordes for often haue they troubled my Soule and dryuine it deepe into the dumps * At the first view of these wordes it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen and yet thereafter bee diss◅ised by some sinnes and iniquities and depriued of all hope of eternitie The Pastour The Lord inlighten my mislie minde that I may cleare these your doubts to your well and contentment I confesse that at the first sight of these words I my selfe was amazed so that I did wonder how all that could bee Indeede at the first view as ye say it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen and yet thereafter bee diss◅ised by one sinne or other whereby all his former vert◅es shall losse their grace But let a man lift vp his heart to God in prayer and thereafter consider well the words and weigh them in the Ballance of the Sanctuarie hee shall easilie perceiue that a Reprobate may bee endewed with all these giftes and after all bee debarred from entering into glorie In the words ye haue obserued fiue difficulties vnto which God willing I shall make answere seuerallie First of all it is said that the Reprobate who is but a Bellie blind will bee inlightened For to stād vnder this yee must first cōsider that into that place of Scripture the Apostle speaketh of Apostats that is of men that haue forsaken the true Religion which once they did professe for to become professors of lyes mē who haue reuolted from the Trueth after that the windowes of their Soule were shute close for to barreout the Light and that willinglie and of set purpose First then it is said That they were inlightned that is once they knew the Trueth For knowledge is light But because that hauing light they wanted loue God sent them strong delusions to belieue lyes S. Paul speaking of these that had but the light of nature the twilight of reason said That they were inlightened in such a sort that thereby they knew God But because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankefull but became vaine in their imaginations how grieuous was their punishment A little after both their sinne and their punishment is more plainely ser downe Euen saīth hee as they did not like to retaine God in their knowledge God gaue them ouer in a Reprobate minde That is hee put out and quenshed that little light of Nature which once they had as hee tooke the Talent from the idle man that rolled it vp into a napkin The greater that light bee within a mā if it be abused the greater is the punishment which is for to ensue But to come to that Light wherewith a Reprobate brought vp in the Church may be inlightened The Light of knowledge within a man who hath not the loue of the Trueth is but like the light of a blazing Comet which shortlie dyeth out and filleth the world with a pestiferous stinke An Apostate on earth is lik a Comet in the heauens a star but in appearance Such men with all their apparent eminences of zeale and dazeling shewes bee but blazing starres such as the Dragon is said to sweepe downe with his taile * S. Iude calleth them wandering starres they keepe not their Station They are Planets in their motion and Comets in their substance not fixed in the heauens but kindled meteores in the aire which seeme to bee in the heauens and therefore they losse at last their light so that as S. Iude saith To them is reserued blacknesse of darknesse Such may haue the spirit of illumination for the good of others without the Spirit of Sanctification for the good of their own Soules Though they haue some light of knowledge yet in loue and life they walke by the darke side of the cloude with the Egyptians There is Loue and Light in the life of all true Israelites whose course is by the light side of the fierie Pillar The wicked for the most parte are with the Sodomites either stricken with blindnesse or if they see they
whomsoeuer if it bee without true Godlinesse is l◅k a faire woman wanting Discretion whom wise Solomō compareth to a jewel of go◅d in a Swynes snowte This all flesh will either subscriue or put their hand to the Pen in token of consent except these that look vpon such outward things with the vnhallowed eye of prophannesse But to leaue all particulars What is all the glorie of Nations If all their glorie and excellencie whatsoeuer were put in one Scale of the Ballence and Vanitie in the other Vanitie should weigh them downe Dauid in his time put them in the weights together after hee had well considered the matter hee gaue out sentence saying Surelie men of low degree are vanitie mē of high degree are a lye if they bee laid in the Ballance they are altogether lighter than Vanitie See howe Vanitie is too heauie a weight for men of low and high degree If ye would mak euen weight out of vanitie must bee sought that which Habakkuke calleth verie vanitie euen Solomons vanitie of vanities Put in that lightest vanitie into the one Scale and men of all degrees in the other then shall the tongue of the Ballance stand euen What then shall wee say of the glorie of all Nations It is well compared by the Prophet vnto the droppe of a Bucket and to the small dust of the Ballance To tell vs that no worldlie thing can be balast in Gods Ballance no more than the lightest dust can bee of weight into a Scale of mans Ballance which is most easilie blowne away with the least blast of breath Great is the vanitie of the greatest From the Throne the King himselfe must come downe by death for to goe sleepe in slyme To Gods God hath said Yee shall die like men Thus as yee see all earthlie Honour for which is so much strife debate all worldly pompe and glory which mē so hungerlie hunt after is but like dust driuen away with a pu◅t of breath Let men in Honour bee in his best estate Man in his best estate is altogether vanitie The whole course of mans life is but a Myne of miserie and a verie fardle of vanities That thereof which is most stable is but a flash and away Let Gods vine trees keepe their wine and his figges their sweetenesse and his Oliues their fatnesse but let the Brambles catch crownes This was the euent and issue of the Parliament of Trees at the crowning of their King Well is the man that may line and lurke Who knoweth the weight of Crownes the lodging of greatest Honours would neuer daine to desire them 3. RICHES Now let vs come to Riches what are they a swift vanitie which with winges flie away like an Eagle I compare the most parte of rich men vnto Spiders which spend their verie bowels in weeuing a web wherewith they may catch a flee What is all the glorie of Riches but like a feast in print all sortes of meat are there all sorts of wine are also there but onelie words lines There is nothing there indeede that can either flake the hunger o◅ quench the thi◅st of the wearied man no not after that hee hath laboured night and day might and maine to attaine contentment This world is rich in pr◅ffers but of petit performance Man for a space like a Shippe before the wind are rich laden may glide gladlie ouer the sea of this world with a full saile Hee may get Ladies sailing as wee say and that in a wonderfull quietnesse but a little after such calme Alcedonian dayes are past euen while he is swimming in his wealth blessing himselfe as who but hee vp getteth a tempest and downe commeth a blast beholde a little from the Shore in sight of the Hauen in the hight of his hopes and hee is tumbled head-long downe to the bottome of the Gulfe Let this bee a lesson vnto all not to say with Dauid in his prosperitie I shall neuer bee moued Shall this bee mans felicitie which daylie is in reuerence of Winde and Waue Pyrats and Perrels Certainlie it is none happinesse for man heere to haue this wicked world at will It is Gods custome to giue the fatnesse of the Earth to the men of this World These onlie be the things whereof they haue an assigned liferent vvith that rich man in the Gospel to whom Abraham after his death cryed downe Remember that in thy life-time thou receiuedst thy good things At Abrahams requeast GOD refused not to make Ismael vvealthie in this world Concerning Ismael said the Lord I haue heard thee Loe I haue blessed him and will make him fruitfull and will multiplie him exceedinglie Twelue Princes shall hee beget The bitter teates of prophane Esau were comforted with the fatnesse of the Earth with the dew of heauen from aboue Christ cast first the bagge vnto Iudas and after gaue him a sop for to lette the world know that neither money nor meate are sure tokens of Gods fauour The wicked men of this vvorld are content with such thinges because their heauen is vpon earth they haue their portion in this life As for the Godlie though with Iacob they haue but a staffe in their hand for to goe out the vvay they will bee content if so bee that GOD will giue them bread to eate and clothes to put on * Alas that vvee cannot consider that by such heaped vp treasures men often heape vp to themselues treasures of wrath against the day of wrath Happie they vvho lay vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obtaine eternall life If vvee could with a fixed and sanctified eye behold all these things for which men doe vnder goe such paines by afflicting their Soules wee should easilie perceiue our earthlinesse vvhen vvee losse such things which we loue and who can keepe them it breaketh the verie heart of all our contentments What are all such thinges I pray you euen while most pleasinglie and plausiblie they are enjoyed to the full in the most fertile plaines of plentie pleasures of this vvorld These vvhose cuppe doeth ouerflow in vvhose coffers are wadges of Gold can best if they vvould declare the vanitie of such transitorie things they know vvith vvhat cumber they are conquered and vvith vvhat care they are kept Nay man keepeth not them but they keepe the minde of man in care Cura facit canos Care changeth haire A peeuish worldling is a warded Wretch entangled with golden fetters his Palace is but a prison of carking cares in scraping together hee taketh pleasure into paine before his end hee cannot perceiue his follie But still he gads by Sea by Land seeking vpon the Sea and vpon the Earth an heauenlie felicitie till at last frustrate of all his hopes hee falleth downe into the Graue with
All his pleasures are out of tune and temper Beholde how this proude and loftie creature is so curbed withered and wrinkled that it hath nothing but the vgelie shape of a creature Thus after as in a dote hee hath tottered some space about at last hee falleth downe to dust and dust ◅neth to the earth as it was That is petere principium Then all his deuises and his discourses all his arguments and his syllogismes for Riches Honour and preferment inferre a conclusion which is but petitio principij a sort of argument scorned by the Learned as beeing an argument declaring the weaknes of the Disputer so after we haue spended our wits with our wordes all our dispute at last is foūd to be but vpō trashes triffles or as wee say de lana caprina At last all commeth to this that wee are in end found to haue beene neither in moode nor figure but onely jangling and cangling and at last returning to that where once wee beganne Thus hee who in his youth stepped statelie vpon the ground who hauing the world at wish was wont to brag it out with the brauest with big darring words after that in his life he hath beene tossed with losses cares and crosses hee lyeth down◅ into his greene growing bedde that dust may returne to the earth as it was The Sunne at night seemeth to lye downe in a bed of darknesse but like a Gyant in the morning hee ariseth with force of light But man once dead shall not awake till the heauens bee no more A man in his youth with a prophane seared Conscience may swallow ouer Camels of pleasant profitable sinnes without any paine his heart beeing secured with a slumbe◅ing and superficiall quiet But so soone as the tyme of the rotten Age commeth all the sweetenesse of the sinnes of his youth is turned into gall and worme-wood the Conscience of his by past euill spent life doggeth behind him All the dregges and drosse of dolouis fall downe vpon this tyme Then the mirth of youth is turned into mourning This is the nature of sinne the joye thereof euer endeth into sorrow Who doeth not see how the mirth of youthfull lusts passeth away with the faire blossomes of youth after that commeth old age life the time of the fall of the leafe a time of deadlie diseases After that man in his youth hath drunken at the brimme the clearest pleasures of sinne in his olde sicklie age when hee hath greatest neede of comfort then must hee drinke the doolefull and drumblie dregges of sorrow This is the course of mans pilgrimage in this valey of teares Wee come weeping into this Worlde where vvee walke through troubles and temptations vvhereof except that God bee more mercifull the end shall bee bitternesse brimstone fire Alas for our benummed heart Oh that vvee were sensible of our owne miserie and could weigh what it is to toile into this world a wildernesse of woe What is heere that should tye our heart from the loue of Heauen If vvee would speake with Scripture wee would say that a thousand yeares in Heauen are but like one day on earth and againe if vvee would speake with trueth vve must say that one day on Earth seemeth longer than a thousand yeeres in Heauen Dolour and griefe prolongeth that which is made short by joye and pleasure An houre in a painefull prison is longer than a vveeke in a pleasant Palace Let mee speake a Paradoxe A Child of a day is of a thousand yeares of age older than Methushelah Why A day on Earth is like a thousand yeares in Heauen for length Fye fye on our foolish vanitie that wee cannot consider A Childe of a day may bee content with a day of life and say if hee could speake I am full of dayes yea full of yeares and full of labour I wish to be in heauen wher a thousand yeeres seeme not so long as a day yea where Eternitie it selfe shal neuer seeme to be too lōg Eye vpon too great desire of dayes while wee liue on earth as vvormes vvee creepe on it In death we creepe in it Mans heart on earth is like a tooth in the jaw the deeper roote it hath the more paine it causeth when it is in drawing out with the Turkesse A heart fixed to the earth and nailed to the ground either with pleasure or profite or desire of yeeres cannot be rugged from thence without renting of its filme If mans heart bee sette vpon long life hee shall neuer want the disease of the feaze of disease the messenger of Death A feeble fitte of a feuer will put him in a maze of amazement In a vvorde doe the best hee can all the dayes of his life are but labour and sorrow The best man that liueth so soone as hee beginneth to liue must say with a sigh All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite till my changing come See I pray you howe the life of man as with loose reines and a laide downe head is euer in a course like a swift Dromedairie posting to a change Beholde Sir howe foolish this world is that gappeth so for many yeares that all that men haue euen to their skinne they would giue it for their life See and consider how the olde man is besieged with dolours and diseases on all sids some set on his eyes some on his eares some on his teeth some on his tongue some on his legges some on his lights and some on his liuer See how all sortes of diseases is like flesh f◅es prey vpon the old man not leauing a free bit of him from the sole of his feete to the crowne of his head See what a gostlie sight it is to beholde such ratling bones couered with a wrinkled skinne Now after that hee hath coughed and spitted on a space some few yeares beeing a burden to himselfe and a cumber vnto others at last hee sickneth and taketh bed and falleth into the hands of Death which holdeth him with fearefull grippes Then Death commeth with a colde sweate ouer-running all his bodie looketh him grimme in the face Then his jaw bones beginne to hang down and his face to grow pale and his cheekes wan Then his eyes water their stringes breake his tongue faltereth his breath shorteneth and smelleth of earth his heart lifteth his throate rattleth his joynts stiffen After that Death hath made a breach with the shot◅es of great artilerie whereby it hath beaten and broken downe all the noble partes of the bodie Death commeth in like a strong man and grippeth so the hearte of the poore man that by diuerses gaspes hee maketh his heart-strings to leape asund◅ * That done the ruinous house of man falleth and his Soule leapeth out with his gaspes which in an instant must compeare before its Iudge either
place for them By this it would seeme that they shall bee altogether abolished The Pastour I answere that they shall not be abolished but they are said to flee away from the face of God as most learned Diuines thinke ad declarandum eorum terrorem animum ad fugam paratum for to declare their feare to compeare before the face of so great a Majestie till they be forbished scoured of the roust of their vanity wherevnto they haue beene made subject they thinke shame of their vncleannesse before such eyes of puritie It is said That there was no place found for them not that they wanted a place but because of such a Majestie they did goe about to hide themselues It is well said by a Learned interpreter vpon these words Quorum locus non reperitur illa latent occulta manent whose place is not found they lurke and remaine hidde not that they shall want a place but because no man can find out by searching what shall bee their place By this is onelie declared that till the Heauens and Elements bee reneued they shall in a manner goe and hide themselues from before the face of that heauenlie Majestie as a ragged man who thinking shame to compeare among those who are richlie arrayed withdraweth himselfe vnto some darke corner that hee should not be seene till he be better arrayed After that all shall bee made cleare and cleane by the fire they shall appeare before God in their appointed place The sicke Man Thinke yee that it shall bee a long time before that all can bee refined by that fire as also before that the dead bee raised vp and gathered together The Pastour * All this shall bee done in a moment In the twinkling of an eye the dead shall bee raised and the liuing shall bee changed where euer they bee found whether grinding at the Mile or walking in the fieldes or lying in their beddes they must all compeare either for to bee taken or to be forsaken all other thinges shall bee speedilie dispatched The sicke Man O but he is a great God who by his word keepeth in store the Heauens and Earth which are nowe reseruing them vnto fyre against the day of Iudgement Great must hee bee who shall kindle such a fire Nowe after that this fire shall bee quenched what shall bee done The Pastour After that by the fire the Lord hath cleansed all his creatures from their roust and scoured them from all their drosse hee shall forme them by his word the breath of his mouth As a maker of Glasses by the blast of his mouth formeth as hee pleaseth the soft melted liquour taken out of the fornace But wherevnto can we compare the most High in his most wonderfull workes Thē the Heauens which of before hee had rolled vp like a scrole shall bee vnfolded and put out of their roll and the Earth beeing purified and fined shall bee made a Lodging for righteousnesse according to his promise saith S. Peter Wee looke for new Heauens and new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse The sicke Man What is that to say That righteousnesse dwelleth into the new Heauens and into the newe Earth These words seeme to bee difficile The Pastour The opinions of men are diuerse concerning the sense thereof some thinke that Righteousnesse shall dwell in that new Heauens new Earth vnderstanding by Righteousnesse the righteousnesse of Christ According to this S. Pauls greatest desire was that hee might bee found in Christ Not said hee hauing mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Lawe but that which is of the Faith of Christe the Righteousnesse of God by Faith Others by a Metommie vnderstand that righteousnesse dwelling on the new Earth to bee taken or all faithfull and righteous men who shall be the Citizens of that new Heauen and of that new Earth O if wee knewe the glorie of these new things they would surelie rauish our heartes so that wee would all cry Come Lord Iesus come These new Heauens shall neuer be ouer-cast with clouds there shall bee none ecclipsing of light any more As for the new Earth there shall be no more sweate of browes All toiles and turmoiles shall cease Sinne the cause of all our woe shall bee no more there The most barbarous and barren parte that is now on earth shall bee more pleasant than euer was Paradise for then God shall be All in all All the Earth shal be lik that Holie of holies but without a partition wall In that Holie of holies in Canaan none but one that but once in the yeare might enter But in the new Heauens and newe Earth all the Faithfull shall haue their perpetuall residence where they shall follow the Lambe whither-so-euer it shall please him to goe There shall they for euer bee courting his countenance Fye that men will not liue well for a little space that they may liue with the Lambe for euer among these pleasures for euermore Fye that men for stinking pleasures should losse the comfort of these places wherein nothing but righteousnesse shall bee able to dwell The sicke Man Seeing the heauens and the earth shall bee made new yee thinke that they shall change for the better The Pastour That is most certaine They haue in their owne kinde beene obedient seruantes vnto their God and God shal also glorifie them with a kind of glorie which his Wisedome shall thinke fittest for them The heauens like a garment are waxed olde at Gods seruice God will not cast off his olde seruants but after their seruice he will reward them If their cloths bee worne at his seruice hee will giue them a new coate If their first powers bee shaken he will put new powers into them againe It was truelie said by the father of lyes That none serue God for nought It shall not bee for nought that the Heauens by their motions and the Earth by its birth haue declared the glorie of God omnipotent The sicke Man But is it possible that such creatures haue any knowledge while they serue God that he will reward them at the last day that therby they may bee incouraged at his seruice The Pastour They haue indeede a certaine secret instinct from GOD which worketh in them a sort of longing for the last day which shall bee the day of rewardes the day of their deliuerance In this the Apostle is plaine For saith hee the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestatiō of the Sons of God for the creature was made subject vnto vanitie not willinglie but by reason of him that hath subjected the same in hope because the creature it selfe also shall bee deliuered frō the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the Children of God For this cause the whole creation is said To groane and to
reason lik heauenlie powers are shaken so at last man like an olde house all decayed falleth downe into his dust As this little worlde decayeth so doeth this great world wherein wee liue all is failing about vs aboue vs till at last the verie voutes of heauen shall bee rent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a noyse and shall bee melted with fire and as it were cast into calmes whereout of shall come a new world which shall neuer any more waxe olde The sicke Man That is well said for the generall I perceiue now that the Lord by his infinite power shall spread the Heauens like paper or parâ—…hment and that they shal be melted like mettall Let me now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these wordes of S. Luke as they are written into his Gospel First hee saith Thiâ—… there shall bee sigues in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the Starres What signes shall these be The Pastour Some of the Learned thinke that these signes shal be 〈◊〉 whereof God from these heauenlie bodies shall make a shew vnto then vpon the earth Some thinke that this is spoken of great and strange â—…clipes that shall goâ—… before that day Some thinke that there shall bee such a great and glorious light that shall goe before Christes comming that both Sunne and Moone shall bee darkened as the Starres in the morning are darke 〈◊〉 at the rising of the Sun so that they cannot any more bee seene beeing obscured by a â—…ater light Some by an allegorie referre these great ecclipses to great learned men great lights in the Church making defection and Apostasie from the Trueth The sicke Man But S. Matthew sayeth That the Starres shall fall from Heauen The Pastour These words also be diuerslie interpreted Some by these fallen stars vnderstand glorious professours of the truth falling away by Apostasie such Starres are these whom the Dragon is said to draw downe with his taile These bee the words of S. Iohn And there appeared another wonder in Heauen and behold a great red Dragon And his taile drew the third part of the starres of heauen and did cast them to the earth By these starres as a learned man saith well are vnderstood these whose names in outward appearance were written in Heauen lik the Angel of Sardis who had a name to bee liuing and yet was dead Wicked men for a space may blaze like Comets and seeme to bee starres fixed in their orbe and yet at last proue to bee nothing but a bundle of filthie matter like these shote starres that come not from Heauen but from the Aire whereof the Deuill is the prince Others are of the opinion that this bee spoken of the starres of heauen viz. That they shall fall downe The sicke Man But seeing one starre is so many times bigger than the whole Earth as Philosophers esteeme how can they fall Or if they fall whither shall they goe The Pastour One answereth verie well to that that it is verie difficile to pronounce but the day of the Lord shall reueale all In my judgement by the falling of the stars with other such like things is vnderstood the decaying and passing away of the Heauens which shall in that day as S. Peter testifieth passe away with a noyseâ—… An house while it is olde and readie to bee taken downe will all bee full of cliftes and riftes so that the olde â—…yling that was once fast joyned together with nailes will begin to cling and then to gape the nailes also will become loose and hing out All signes and tokens of an hastie ruine It shall bee euen so of that heauenlie house when it is decayed and neare a fall the stars which are like golden nailes into the â—…yling of the world are said to bee loosed and to fall downe for to declare the falling and ruine of the world Some thinke that the Starres reallie shall fall downe like the leaues of a tree nipped with a winter frost S. Iohn speaking of that strange change and perturbation that shal be both aboue and below before that great day saith That the starres of heauen shall fall downe vnto the earth euen as a figge tree casteth heâ—… vntimelie figges when shee is a shaken of a mightie wind In these wordes wee see first the infinite power of that Majestie who shall shake the fixed starres out of their firmameÌ„t againe obserue that the starres are said to bee shaken like vntimlie and greene figges and not like figges that as wee say are drop ripe which droppe downe of wâ—…ll without any violence By this it wold appeare that this world might stand loÌ„ger than it shall stand I think that if the Lord shuld suffer the heauens to turne about some hundreth thousands of yeares that then the stars should fall downe to the earth nor like greene figges but like fruite that is ripe at the falling But the Lord as wee see will shake the starresâ—… ere they bee ripe and that as some thinke for the Elects sake For the Elects sake said Christ these dayes shall bee shortened In the Greeke it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decurtabuntur which is to shorten or mutilat I know that the most Learned interpret these wordes of the calamities of the Iewes which God would not suffer to bee distressed for many yeares The sicke Man Mine hearte wonders at these words of the Reuelation concerning the starres which shall fall downe to the earth like vntimelie figges shaken with a mightie winde I thinke your obseruation therevpon verie pleasant The Pastour Indeede Sir the words are wonderfull but the worke shal be more wonderfull For in all appearance the heauens beeing dissolued that is all shaken asunder and the stars shaken loose falling downe to the earth and all the Elements beeing melted together in all appearance Starres Sunne and Moone Clay Water Fire and Aire shall become for aspace like a Chaos a confused lump or masse without forme as they were at the first and that till the God of order hath refined and purified all by his refining fire Some thinke otherwise but the day of the Lord shall reueale all The sicke Man That shall bee a terrible worke Now let mee know what S. Luke vnderstandeth by these words That vpon the earth shall bee distresse of Nations with perplexitie The Pastour That is men of all Nations shall bee so troubled at the sight of such thinges that like a man in a straite they shall not wotte to what hand to turne them euen as Dauid was wheÌ„ he said I am in a great strait that is perplexity As for that which S. Luke saith of the Sea viz. The sea and the waues roaring by these words hee declareth that the sea shall be all stirred to the bottome so that theâ—… waters and all shall bee muddie anâ—… drumblie The word Salum turened heere 〈◊〉 signifieth properlie mare turbatum a raging troubled and
day But alas what can the earth affoord simile aut secundum that is like vnto that joy which shall fill ouerflow all the hearts of the godly whē Christ shal bring vp to the Heauens his Church which is his Wife his faire Loue hauing Doues eyes within her Locks being cloathed and crowned with the glorie of himselfe what tong cā expresse nay what heart can conceiue what joy glorie shal be there where the Lambes Wife shall bee dected with her Husband Christ who shall enliue Her with marchlesse joye and glorious immortalitie This is that great wonder which S. Iohn in his Reuelations saw in Heauen viz. A woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moone vnder her feete and vpon her head a crowne of twelue Stars Behold consider the Lambes Bride all enuironed with Light clothed with Christ her Sunne and crowned with glistring starres of glorie heauenlie jewels diuine Dyamonds Behold her making a foote-stoole of the Moone the second great Light of Heauen See how shee treadeth vnder her feete that most inconstant creature for to declare that constancie of her loue toward her Lord which shall last for euer without anie change O the beautie of that Bride whose cheekes shall bee comelie with rowes of Iewels whose necke shall bee dected with the chaines of Christs merites The Angels themselues beholding this Bride so royallie attyred shall wonder at her beautie When these Noble Spirits shall see and consider that great familiaritie that shal be betweene Christ his Spouse they shall wonder shall say one to another Who is this that commeth up out of the wildernes leaning vpō her wel-beloued After that the Church the Lambs Wife who on earth was betrothed by grace shall in the Heauens bee maried by glorie and conuoyed vnto his euer greene bed all Eternitie shal be in the Heauens lik a mariage day decored trimed with all sortes of Flowers of Fruits of feastings of Musick and of all contentment that can be conceiued heard seene sauoured or touched by a creature There our wants shall bee turned into wishes That which there shall bee least shall bee many thousand degrees aboue all that anie mortall heart heere can desire All our senses shall be possessed and filled with pleasures our mind shall bee enlightened Our will shall bee contented All our affections shall bee satisfied The Angel in the Reuelation gaue a command vnto Iohn to write in a Booke concerning the Lambes feast prepared for his Mariage in the day of the gladnesse of his heart but not being able neither hee to indite nor S. Iohn to write all the dainties of that Feast he desired him to write that all were blessed which were called vnto it Write said hee Blessed are they which are called vnto the Mariage Supper of the Lambe Lest Iohn should haue doubted whether it was so indeed or not the Angel subjoyneth these are the true sayings of God Let vs conceiue this much of these pleasures that they cannot bee conceiued All that wee can conceiue shall bee lesse by manie degrees than the least thing wee shall receiue Then all our desires shal be enlarged made wider Open thy mouth verie wide I shal fill it vnto thee God himselfe beeing All in all all our desires shall bee fullie satisfied and though they shall bee alwayes satisfied they shall neuer bee cloyed All wordes heere are full of wants for these bee things which passe all humane sight and search The sicke man The consideration of such things enliueth my Soule looseth mine heart wonderfully frō the loue of all worldlie things and draweth my heart with a feruent desire of a sight of that day It is no wonder that the whole creation groaneth and trauelleth in paine together vntill now If wee had hearts to belieue we should finde into our hearts an earnest expectation and a waiting for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God Alas that our deuotion should bee so rotten and vnsound If wee could gette but a glimpse of our God heere behinde it should stirre vp all our desires to see his Face The Pastour That is most certaine By this desire shall a man know whether he bee a spirituall man or a carnall Hee that is but carnall neuer desireth to goe out of this world It is good for vs to be heere will he say as ◅eter said on Tabor But hee that hath receiued the Spirit will finde better motions in his heart Wee our selues saith S. Paul which haue the first fruites of the Spirit euen wee our selues groane within our selues waiting for the adoption to wite the redemption of our bodie The sicke Man Alas wee all are heere naturallie of a temporising temper wee linger and delay to returne to our God O Lord of eternitie be fauourable to vs that we may feare thee let thy grace worke such groans in our hearts that thereby we may know that wee haue certainelie receiued the first fruites of the Spirit So long as wee are heere make the current of our affections to runne the way of thy Commandements There is a difficultie now come in my minde whereof I gladlie desire to be cleared It is concerning Christ himselfe of him it is said That hee shall deliuer vp the Kingdome to God his Father after hee hath subdued all his enemies The Pastour I remember well where these wordes are written The Apostle speaking of the Resurrection of the last judgement saith Then commeth the end when hee shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdome to God his Father when hee shall haue put downe all rule authoritie and power For hee must reigne till hee haue put all his enemies vnder his feete c. And when all things shall bee subdued vnto him then shall the Sonne also himselfe bee subject vnto him that put all thinges vnder him that God may bee All in all The sicke Man These bee the wordes indeede of my difficultie I pray you to make mee vnderstand them What is that to say That hee shall deliuer vp the Kingdome to his Father and that after he hath subdued all things he himselfe must become subject to him that put all things vnder him It would seeme that Christ our Lord shall lose by this meanes For first it is said That hee must deliuer vp the Kingdome and rule no more Secōdlie that he must become subject to God the Father I desire you Sir to loose this knottie difficultie These who plowe with Gods Hyfer may easilie finde out the darkest Riddles The Pastour I shall loose these knots easilie By that change the Lord shall bee no loser As for that it is said That he shall deliuer vp the Kingdome to his Father after that hee hath put downe all rule authoritie and power It is not to be vnderstood absolutely that Christ there after shall reigne no more but that hee shall reigne
in Thessalonica in that they receiued the word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daylie whether these thinges were so As for difficulties we acknowledge that there bee many and great in Scripture but as for that which is absolutè simpliciter absolutelie simplie necessarie for our Saluation it is clearelie set down in Scripture if there be any difficulty in one place that which is there obscure will bee made cleare in some other parte of Scripture This much by the way concerning the obscuritie of Scripture Now to come to the wordes of S. Paul In the first verse it is said For wee know that if the earthlie house of this Tabernacle were dissolued wee haue a building of God an house â—… made with hand eternall in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some after this manner expourâ—… these words after that this body like a Taber nâ—…ele is takeÌ„ away from 〈◊〉 Soule the Soule shall bee in a beâ—… estate euen in euerlasting Glorie â—… to the Heauens The French marginall note vpoÌ„ this is that that eternall house in the he 〈◊〉 is the bodie after the resurrectionâ—… So long as we are here in the sinfull bodie the bodie is but like a Tubernacle vnconstant weake fraâ—… But in the heauens it shall be like 〈◊〉 house that is constant firme strong So corpus gloriosa ejus conditio the bodie and its glorious estate in thâ—… opinion of some is heere called 〈◊〉 house by that house then wee must vnderstand the glorie that is prepared for the Sainctes in he iuen which for its constancie and commoditie â—… called an house According to thâ—… the Apostle in the secoÌ„d verse saith That wee groane earnestlie desiring to bee cloathed vpon with our house which is from heauen That house from heauen is that Glorie which is from heauen Others of the Learned interpret that worde Superindui to bee cloathed vpoÌ„ vt siquis indâ—…tus est thoracâ—… superinduitur pallio Puâ—…o autem sic Explicanâ—…um ex versa 4 Sancti capiunt corpore câ—…lesti it â—… indui vt noâ—… prius exvantur corpore mortaliâ—…sed superinduantur câ—…lesti Sâ—… immortali hoc est â—… per 〈◊〉 transâ—…tationem absorbiator 〈◊〉 ab immortalitate Thus would hee say That the Sainctes beeing huing at the end of the world desired not to cast their mortall bodies from them but desire them to bee changed and cloathed aboue with immortalitie Mortalitie is one 〈◊〉 which must be put off that immortalitie may bee put on Others thinke that there be mention heere made of a double cloathing Alijs placet saith Beza primam vestem dici Christi justitiam alteram vero illius justitiae praemium quorum sententiae nolim praejudicium afferre the one they make to bee the righteousnesse of Christ the other the glorie purchassed by that righteousnesse S. Ambrose speaking of these words In this wee groane c. If so bee that beeing cloathed wee shall not bee found nacked saith Vt haec sit sententia destruendum quidem hoc tabernaculum morte sed ita tamen ut non pâ—…reat Imo ut corruptibilitate deposita restituatur nobis immortalitate induendum That is The Tabernacle of this bodie shal be dissolued by Death not so that it shal perish but that all corruption being taken away it may put on incorruption euen euerlasting glorie For if the bodie did perish then in that case the Soule should bee naked Now while wee are in the Tabernacle of the bodie beeing burdened with sinne and corruption wee grone not desiring to bee vncloathed that is altogether to want our bodie but that putting off the corruptions of the bodie wee may bee cloathed with immortalitie of life which shall swallow vp mortalitie with all cumbers and inconuenients whatsoeuer The Soule of man hath an ardent desire to bee clothed with immortality but hath not will to want its bodie without which it thinketh its selfe naked according to this the Apostle saith In this we groane earnest lie desiring to be cloathed vpon with our house which is from Heauen That is With glorie and immortalitie fast firme like an house If so bee that beeing cloathed wee shall not bee found naked That is Shall not want the cloathing and couering of our bodies The sicke Man My braine is so sore troubled that I cannot bend my Spirits so high for the vnderstanding of these things which are so far aboue my reach Happie is hee who with Dauid is not exercised in great matters which are too high for him Lord inlighten my mistie minde and make mee to know thee and thy Son Iesus Christ and him crucified Lord also helpe mee in the knowledge of all that may increase the knowledge of him into my Soule I haue heard you Sir at large vpon the last judgement and all the proceedinges thereof Yee haue also cleared some difficulties which this night did runne into my minde Nowe lest vaine thoughts should draw mine heart aside vnto toyes let â—…t please you to turne your purpose concerning the joyes of Heauen While I did behold but the outâ—…id of Heauen mine heart was euer rauished at the sight of that Tapestrie embroydred like most glorious Arrasse cloath O what Glorie muste bee within where the Lord himselfe is with all his endenized Citizens of glorie Let me heare you a little therevpon There by the grace of my God I hope to bee within a little space O what place of perfection and blisse my Soule longeth to dwel into that azured Palace Let mee heare of its Glorie The Pastour The prince of Philosophers most subtile in Naturall Science speaking of the heauens said That it was much to get any little knowledge therof All his knowledge câ—…ld reach no further but from motion to motion till hee come to the fiâ—…st Mouer who by the force of his Almightie arme turneth about these relestiall bodies But hee knew no more the great Mov â—… thâ—…n yee would know a man a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vpâ—…n the toppe of an Hill displaying aâ—… Ensigne or Standart While the Mouer were casting his Standart yee might perceiue the motion of a Banner and by that motion yee might easilie judge that there bee a Mouer and yet for all that be ignorant not knowing the man who is the caâ—… of all the motion whether he were your foe or your friend The Pagans saw the motions of the heauens as wee see the shaking of a tree moued by the winds I see the Tree shaken and the Branches rushing one vpon another I heare also the noyse I also know that the Mouer is that which wee call the Wind But whence this mouer commeth and whether it goeth or what moueth it no earthlie tongue can tell Pagans which haue not Gospel writteÌ„ in quicke Letters by the dead knowledge of Nature will come from ens to ens that is from beeing to being till they come to ens entium
him that is a Being which causeth all beeings From motions men in nature will come to motions till they clime vp to Primus motor the first Mouer On him will they looke as a man in an high Feuer to whome this man that man will say Know yee mee know ye mee The sight of the braine is so dazeled that it is paine much labour but to heare these three words Knowe yee mee Braine sicke Nature can by no meanes know God till the Feuer of nature bee cooled with Grace After that the coole of Grace hath broght a sweate wherwith the Soule is purged from the rotten humours of iniquitie then the Soule becommeth like a man after a Feuer come to himselfe againe According to this it is said oâ—… the Forlorne that he came to himselfe after that hee was cooled of his foolish Feuer Till we come to our selues by Grace wee shall neuer be able to know the Lord by Nature All that the most wise Pagans culd doe by the whole helpe of Nature was to come from beeingâ—… to him that is the cause of all beeing and from motion to the first Moueâ—… But who that Mouer was the feuerof Nature made their braine so giddie that they could not discerne him When all the Clergie of Atheâ—… into that Famous Colledge of Greâ—… had sought out this God to feele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and finde him they wandred 〈◊〉 and downe in their imaginationâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sodomites about Lots 〈◊〉 noâ—… beeing able to finde it All their 〈◊〉 knowledge which was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 could no wiâ—…e reach vnâ—…o him For this cause they set vp an 〈◊〉 into their moste learned Citiâ—… with this inâ—…tion written into great Letters TO THE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Behold where the true God was vnknowne euen in the Citie where Socrates Plato and Aristotleâ—… the great lights of Nature had reached publicklie The verticall pointâ—… all their knowledge could I neuer reach vnto the borders nay not vnto the base of the Gospel Behold and see where Science was to be sold in greatest aboundance there was a profession of the ignorance of the true God written vpon their Altar in great Letters for by the greatnesse of the Letters to declare the grosse dulnesse of their ignorance Hee who knoweth not God were hee neuer so learned what can hee speake of Heauen 〈◊〉 What should Heauen it selfe bee without the presence of God but like a Citie laide wast or like an olde Dungeon not inhabited where Iim and Zijm resort As for vs blessed bee God we know that there is a God into the Heauens the sight of whose backe partes made the face of Moses so to shine that no eye vndazeled culd behold him What a Majestie must this bee whose backe-partes printed such a light into the face of a man that no man could behold the face of a sinner stamped with a second impression This is he who as Scripture teacheth dwelleth into an inaccessable light of which a learned Pagan hauing seene some light impression not in the face of Moses but onelie into the face of Nature said a great word Lumen est vmbra Dei Deus est lumen luminis All light which wee see is but a duskie shadow of God But God is the Light of light a liuing Light the Life of light the Sunne that shineth to the world aboue and the Candle of Heauen Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse in Heauen shall bee without any shadow of the Earth which is the cause of ouâ—… night Hee shal be a Sun which shall shine continuallie both round about and in all the partes of the Heauen for there shall bee no night there For to come thither man should bee content to pluck out his right eye euen his sweetest bosome delights The sicke Man Mine hearte is wained from the loue of the base lump of this Earth I desire to heare some-thing more coÌ„cerning these celestiall buildings which Scripture calleth euerlasting Tabernacles the resting place of all created desires Seeing there after Death wee must sojourne eternallie let mee heaâ—…e of the Glorie of these heauenlie MansioÌ„s prepared for Gods most precious jewels O these blessed burnished vauts all beset with diuine Dyamonds Let mee heare a description of that Palace The Pastour The matter is high Our creeping wordes of Babel cannot reach to the ancles of such loftie matters are but of yesterday and know nothing As I know I shall in my stammering tong and mussling speech doe what I can for to allure you to the loue thereof As for the structure furniture and beautie of that Palace of our God it is wonderfull By no skill can any mortall hand chalk them out There is that blessed Bridegroomes chamber garnished with an azured Curtaine which is embrodered and spangled with starres of light as with golden studs whose beautie no mortall tongue is able fullie to expresse Well may wee say and sing of that Citie that which Dauid sang of its figure Glorious thinges are spoken of thee O thou Citie of our God nay let mee rather say of the figured Citie such glorious things are in thee that they cannot bee spoken O thou Citie of our God All the glories we see without are but sparkles of these infinitlie bright blazing perfections which are within euen things which eye neuer sawe eare neuer heard and which cannot enter into the heart of man One said verie well Res verae sunt in mundo invisibili in mundo visibili vmbrae rerum That is In Heauen the invisible world is the substance of thinges indeede but in this visible world on earth is nothing but shadowes of thinges which are lesse than accidents The greatest glorie that wee see in the out-side of the Heauens is but a vaile that couereth the glorie that is within as the Badgers skinnes couered the Arke of glorie and the Tabernacle But because wee are in this world as childreÌ„ in the wombe wee cannot conceiue what can bee without this world wee haue made a great conception if wee can conceiue that it cannot bee conceiued wee muse well of Heauen if while wee muse we bee amazed counting all joye pleasure profite and preferment below to be both losse doung in comparison of thinges that are aboue which infinitlie goe beyond all created comprehensions If these who goe downe to the deepes see the wonders of the Lord what wonders shall they see who are in the hights of eternitie What rest can a man looke for till hee bee into the Heauens There the blasts of winds and tempests of tongs terrours of CoÌ„science are not there the Church the Lords Lillie is no more among the thornes There the heart of man is no more greiued nor ouer clouded with lowring Melancholie all is in peace within All is calme cleare There is
bee powred vpon the desolate These bee the wordes of the Prophet of which Christ said Who so readeth let him vnderstand The meaning is this By this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abomination of desolation The most learned vnderstaÌ„d that Romane armie which vnder Vespasian and Titus fearefullie wasted the land of Iudea sacked the Citie of Ierusalem It was said To stand in the holy place that is in the holie Land of Iudea neare vnto Ierusalem the holie Citie In these wordes Christ foretold of the ruine of that Citie according to Daniel who of before had particularlie set downe the time Thus as yee see the Romane armie was called The abomination of desolation that is Abominatio desolans seu vastans abominablie destroying This is more cleare in S. Luke When yee shall see Ierusalem compassed with Armies then know that the desolation thereof is neare When that destroying and abominablie desolating Armie compassed that holie Citie then did the abomination of desolation stand in the holie place Some of the Learned interpret this abomination standing in the holie place to bee that profanation of the Temple Collocata ibi Aquila multis patratis quae per legem non licebant vnde etiam mâ—…x sequutum est Templi vrbis geniâ—… excidium By placing therein the Eagle the Romane Ensigne and by doing diuerse other thinges forbidden by the Law wherevpon the desolation of Temple Citie and of Nation did ensue The sicke Man I thinke now that I vnderstaÌ„d by you that which by reading hitherto I haue not vnderstood What other thing could ensue but an abomination of desolation where the Messiah was cut off If for the blood of Cain vengeance was to be taken on the murtherer seuen-fold for the blood of Lâ—…mech if his brags were true seuentie and seuen fold what vengeance must bee taken vpon the shedders of the Blood of God which not onelie with the blood of Abel did cry vnto God from the ground but also from the heauens wherein the Sun cloathed in doole wrapped for a space in his mourning weede would not looke vpon that creature wherevpon his Master was slaine But for to leaue this Ierusalem which is now abominablie desolate Let me heare something of the spirituall Ierusalem The Pastour The spirituall Ierusalem is called Ierusalem which is aboue also the Citie of the liuing God the heauenlie Ierusalem and also the holie Ierusalem descending out of heauen from God The sicke Man Thinke yee that in all these passages of Scripture Ierusalem bee taken after one sense The Pastour I answere that the spirituall Citie Ierusalem in Scripture is taken two wayes either for the Church below wherein God as in a Citie calleth the Godly to immortalitie and happinesse Or it is taken for the heauens where the Godlie actuallie possesse that which they had heere but in hope In the first sense the Church militant on earth is called Ierusalem aboue and the heauenlie Ierusalem The sicke Man Seeing by that Ierusalem is vnderstood the Church heere below wherfore is it called Ierusalem aboue and the heauenlie Ierusalem I thoght euer that such a Ierusalem did signifie the heauens The Pastour It is called Aboue and heauenlie because all the true Godlie the denizens thereof minde the thinges that are aboue Though their bodies bee heere their heartes are into the Heauens For our conuersation as S. Paule saith is in heauen For this spirituall exaltation of heartes the Church in the New-Testament is called The mountaine of the Lords house established in the top of the mountaines exalted aboue the hill One speaking of this Ierusalem which S. Paul called Ierusalem aboue the mother of vs all noteth quickelie these things In hoc quod dicitur sursum originis altitudo Quod Ierusalem Pacis multitudo Quod mater Foecunditatis amplitudo Quod nostrum omnium Charitatis latitudo It is called Aboue from the highnesse of its Kinred aâ—…d pedegree It is called Ierusalem from aboundance of peace It is called Free from its great liberties It is called â—… Mother because of its fruitfulnesse It is called the Mother of vs all to teach vs charitie and loue Are wee not all the Children of the Church our Mother Why then as Ioseph said to his brethren See that yee fall not out by the way The sicke Man I haue often heard of Ierusalem that most famous Citie of the Land of Iurie but I could neuer well know wherfore it was so called Bethlehem Bethel Bethauen are easilie known by their significations viz. House of Bread house of God house of wickednesse But as for Ierusalem I vnderstand not its signification The Pastour Learned men are of diuerse opinions concerning the name thereof Some thinke that it bee so called from Iebus which was its name while the Iebusiens dwelt there Hierom thinketh that it is so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Greeke word which signifieth holy according to this in Scripture it is called The holie Citie others are of the opinion that Sem the sonne of Noah called it Salem that is Peace and that Abraham called it Iehouah Iâ—…eh The Lord will prouide or see Thus at last Salem Iireh put together by Dauid made IerusaleÌ„ that is Vision of Peac while it was called Salem Melchizedech was King thereof called by the Apostle King of Salem The sicke Man Let mee heare a little of the situation of that Citie and of that Land of Canaan The Pastour From Britaine it lyeth toward the South East One calleth it Centrum terrae vmbilicus the Center nauell of the Earth In it were two mouÌ„taines of great renown mount Sion mouÌ„t Moria Sion like an halfe Circle as writters record did lye at the South side of Ierusalem On it was builded the strongest Fortresse of the Citie There before Dauid's tyme was the strong Hold of the Iebusites so strong as they thoght that blind lame meÌ„ were able to keepe it against whomsoeuer This Mountaine was higher than all the rest Sion signifieth drynesse because the Hill was dry without any myre or dirt As for mount Moriah this was the Hill wherevpon that Temple was builded Then Solomon beganne tâ—… build the house of the Lord at Ierusalem in mount Moriah The ground wherevpon that statelie House did stand was that threshing floore of Ornan the Iebusite which Dauid wold buy from him for the full price The occasion was this Dauid hauing caused number the people the Lord was exceeding wroth so that in reuenge hee sent out his Angel who killed with the sword of Pestilence threescore and ten thousand men At last Dauid lifting vp his eyes saw the Angel betweene the heauen and the earth with a drawne sword stretched out ouer Ierusalem which hauing seene hee and the Elders of Israel cloathed in sacke cloth fell vpon their faces At
fire and Candles in the night time as in any other Citie But to Ierusalem aboue God hath said The Sun shall no more bee thy light by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moone giue light vnto thee But the Lord shall bee vnto thee an euerlasting light and thy God thy Glorie Thy Sunne shall no more goe down neither shall thy Moone with-draw it selfe for the Lord shall bee thine euerlasting Light 5 In the earthly Ierusalem often in place of Iustice was a seat of malice But in the new Ierusalem euill judges shall haue no sitting but the Throne of God and of the Lambe shall bee in it an appointed seat for the righteous Lord who shall lay judgment to the line and righteousnesse to the plummet The sicke Man O but my Soule is going to a pleasant Palace O thou my Soule rejoyce within mee that God hath prepared such pleasures for thee O how ami◅ble are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hostes Mine heart is in heauen Glorious things are spoken of the◅ O thou Citie of our God The Pastour It is certaine that mans heart can not conceiue the beautie of these buildings within If the house of God on earth seemed so pleasant to King Dauid that hee counted this the one thing hee would seeke that hee might dwell into it what shall wee thinke or say concerning Gods Palace in the Heauens One thing said hee haue I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the BEAVTIE of the Lord. Lords mercie what dulnesse and deadnesse of heart is this that wee seeke not after the same should not this be our one thing euen our onelie hearts desire to dwell with God aboue for to behold that BEAVTIE of the Lord these euer g◅eene pleasures in his celestiall arbours There is nothing heere below which can bee sufficient for to expresse the image nay not the shadowe of these things that are aboue In the most glorious creatures which are below as Gold Glasse Crystall Pearles and precious Stones we may see some thinges like shadowes of these glorious thinges aboue But there is no creature heere which can carrie to our imagination the shadow let bee the image of the glorie that is vp into that Holie of holies O but God is wonderfull in counsell and excellent in working But our Soules are so sleepie and sluggish that they cannot consider The fancies and folies of the earth bring vs quite out of conceite with celestiall pleasures Alas in the best of vs the seedes of grace lye buried vnder the thornes shamefullie ouertopped by them The little dramme of goodnesse in our hearts is waighed down with weightie talents of wickednes a mighty streame of earth◅y thoghts and worldlie desires lik a Torrent carieth our Soules down the hill from all heauenlie contemplations The clawing flatterers of our worldly affections whisper vnto vs that it is good for vs to bee heere The sicke Man The Lord subdue the master sinne which like a Ring-leader and head of all wickednesse maketh all our purest conceptions of heauen to be come moodie and drumlie O Lord let thy graces in mee bee presentlie vp in armes for to remoue all such earthlie mindednesse from mine heart by the power of thy diuine Armerouse vp this drousie soule that it may seeke thee afresh by a renewed act of Faith and Repentance Make mine heart to detaste all earthlie pleasures which are but rotten at the heart Kindle in mine heart a loue of thy Palace aboue stirre vp all my desires with a foretaste of the pleasures that are there that finding the comfortable relish thereof I may most willingly desire to be dissolued and to bee with Christ in the heauens for euer O Lord in stead of all meanes both outward inward supplie mee aboundantlie with the presence of thy Spirit Waine my Soule from the loue of the earth that thou may winne it to the loue of the Heauens O happie they who studie to pietie and puritie for no vncleane thing shall bee able to enter into these mansions O Lord let vs not bee like these who after that they haue seemed to disgorge their stomackes most filthilie with the Dogge swallow vp their owne vomit againe O shelter mee and saue me from the vnsoundnesse and vnsettlednesse of a deceitfull heart that I lash not out into the excesse of supperfluitie of wickednesse now while wee are speaking of the heauens make all the loue of the earth hencefoorth to bee cryed downe into my Soule The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauen I am rejoyced that while we are speaking of the heauens the Spirite of grace furnisheth you with such heauenlie prayers which would hearten any man to runne thorow hell to Heauen except that hee bee of the number of these who thinke it but a tricke to goe to hell The sicke Man I pray you now Sir to continue into that purpose concerning the glorie of Heauen for it affecteth much my Soule Your powerfull speach maketh my minde to stay in a feeling meditation vpon these beauties that are aboue If I heard not such good purpose my mind would either feede vpon dull and fruitlesse melancholie or else should gade and runne ryot in reuellings and in a world of foolish and fond imaginations The thoughts of man cannot runne long without rubor interruption in Spirituall things except that God in mercie both support them outwardlie and sinew them inwardlie by the finger of his Spirit The hearts of men are so light in their gading that moste easilie are they moued to glide ouer the best things and either swinishlie to wallow infilthinesse or furiouslie to follow these whose whole pregnancie of witte is spended vpon trifles Thus mirrilie they passe away that tyme wherein they should redeeme the time that is past I wish that mine heart by your discourse were confined to celestiall meditations Proceede now I pray you where yee left at last The Pastour My speach was that all the most glorious creatures that wee can either see aboue or below are lesse thā shadowes types or figures of things that are within the Heauens In them as in a Glasse we see weaklie the invisible things of God As a man not beeing able to face the Sun beholdeth him in a Basen full of water and yet not without some dazeling of his sight That weakened light will mak his eyes to water and teares to trickle downe If the glory of one of Gods seruants be so glistering in robes of light that no man can behold him but into the glasse of another creature and that also with great paine It is certaine that God must put many moe creatures betweene himselfe and vs that the glorie of his beames beeing weakened by diuerse reflexes from one creature to another man with his weake tender eyes may looke
shall bee so pure that no vncleane inclination shall be able by any juggling feat of conueiance to cogge in it selfe into our heartes any more O the foolishnesse of mans blind and bewitched heart that for a moment of toylesome time should losse that Eternitie of joye The sicke Man Thinke yee that in Heauen wee shall bee of diuerse ages Children men or olde men as wee were here when wee deceased The Pastour It is hard to tell wee must not swerue from the wisedome of Gods word Scripture heere is silent But seeing Heauen is the place of perfection it is probable as some Diuins thinke that in Heauen all shall bee in greatest perfection Seeing say they that infancie is imperfection and olde age is defection none of two are conuenient for bodies that are perfectlie glorified As the Sunne taketh the mid course of Heauen so shall the godlie who shall shine like Sunnes abide in the middest beeweene the Poles of all extremities for there shal be the perfection of Vertue Age Stature Beautie and of all that shall concerne them All shall bee content for all shall drinke their filles out of the Riuer of the vnmixed pleasures perfections of God which neither Man nor Deuill the strength of Hell or length of eternitie shall euer bee able to trouble or make drumlie The sicke Man There is one thing which earnestlie I desire to know viz. Whether or not wee who on earth haue liued together and loued one another shall know each other into Heauen The Pastour It is thought that so shall be and that because of the presence of God in whom is such a Light that by it wee shail see and know these whom wee neuer did see or know on earth When Christ was transfigured vpon mount Tabor down came Moses Elias whō the Apostles had neuer seene of before Though they had neuer seene them before that yet by the light of Christes transfiguration they were so inlightned that they did perfectlie know what they were If the sight of that figured light gaue such a knowledge vnto sinners that they knew these whom they had neuer seene what shall it bee when all obscure figures and also our sins which maketh all good thinges obscure shall bee remoued and God shall bee All in all But though we should all know one another as I thinke indeede we shall all these carnall respectes which are heere as of Father Mother Wife Childrē shall all fall from vs lik the mantle of Elias before wee enter into Heauen for to enjoye these Empyrian pleasures which are so far aboue the fadome and reach of all changable mortalitie Wee thinke much now of such earthlie respectes which are indeede Coagulum hujus vitae the verie curding and joyning together of greatest naturall contentments But seeing all such things are but things of Child-hoode they shall not enter into our thoughtes when wee shall bee perfect men into the Heauens the presence-Chamber of our God When I was a Childe saide S. Paul I spake as a Child I vnderstood as a Child I thought as a Childe But when I became a man I put away childish things So long as a man is into this world if hee be compared with that which hee shall bee hee is but a Child hee vnderstandeth as a childe hee speaketh as a Child and hee thinketh as a Childe All the dearest naturall respects that are heere are but childish things Seeing they are so when we shall come to Heauen where we shall bee perfect men they all shall bee put away I will let you see this in a natural figure In this world we haue that which wee call Child hoode and that which we call the perfection of a man Now tell me I pray you should it be seemelie for a graue Senatour sitting before his Prnce and confering vpon the most weightie matters of the Kingdome to beginne and speak what he did with this Child and that Childe with whom he was wont to ride vpon Reedes Would hee beeing a wise man at such a time beginne to discourse how with these little companions hee builded vnder a bowre little houses into the sand or how in their childish conuentions they made their litle feastes of Pieres Nuts and Apples Would a wise man thinke ye in the presence of his Prince put off the time with such purpose No not When the foolish Child is become a wise man hee speaketh no more as a Childe neither vnderstandeth hee as a Childe neither thinketh he as a Childe Such childish thinges in Heauen shall not so much as once come into his thought for that were to thinke as a Childe That which is now in part shall bee done away at the comming of perfection which shall bee in that Coronation day Because we are heere but children wee cannot now vnderstand the wisedome of the words thoughts that wee shall haue aboue Languages then shall cease One shall not speake English and another French and another Spanish That Babylonish confusion of tongues shall bee taken away and wee all shall speake the Language of the Lambe God then shall speake no more vnto his people with stammering lippes and with another tongue Then shal be no difference of contrie-men or estates whether they were borne in Asia Europe or Affrica There shall it not bee looked to whether they were Kings or Subjects Masters or Seruants bond or free In the Heauens is neither Greeke nor Iewe Circumcision nor vncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond or free But Christ shall bee All in all What can bee laking vnto man where God shall bee vnto him All in all yea and the Soule of his Soule As the Soule is in the whole man whollie in euerie part so shall the whole diuinity in the heauens informe the whole mysticall bodie and bee in it whollie and that into the least member thereof God beeing All in all Then and not till then we shall bee satisfied aboundantlie with the fatnesse of Gods house and drinke of the Riuers of his pleasures yea and our Soules shall feast themselues by all our senses vpon vnmixed joyes free from the mudde and distemper of all displeasures In a worde our heartes shall bee fastened to our God with such cords of loue which no thing aboue or below shall bee able to vntwine Heere is our journeyes end heere is our resting place from our labours and toilesome trauels Heere is absence of all euill and presence of all that is good Heere the Lambe is the Temple and the Light and the Tree of Life that bringeth foorth fruite euerie moneth euer new joyes without perishing of the olde euer new pleasures without any loathing of the former euer new light without any darkning euer new life without any dying euer new delightes without any dolours euer new Glorie without any grudge euer new mirth with out any mudde of miserie * Bodilie pleasures worke a
her faire face because Hypocrisies face seemeth to be faire while it is fairded No not God will haue true faith to come out that the world may see her into works Shew mee thy Faith by thy workes Christ who desireth that the niggard or ambitious left hand know not or see not the liberalitie of the charitable right hand commandeth that wee let ouâ—… light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorifie our Father which is in heauen The graces of Gods Spirit in a man are like a light candle No man light a Candle and put it vnder a bushell but on a Candle-sticke it giueth light to all that are in the house The good life of the godlie man should bee like a Citie sette on an hill which cannot bee hid The labourer soweth not his seede on the ground that it may still remaine hidde vnder the cloddes neither doeth God sow his graces in our heartes that there they may luâ—…k still abide secret I like not these who feare to seeme godlie left they should bee thought to be Hypocrites Euen in that are they Hypocrites that for feare they seeme to affect godlinesse will not doe good that may bee seene which would moue the true Israelits to glorifie our Father in heauen yea and also allure these to come to God who as yet are strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel I confesse that fewe bee troubled with such a feare It is a sin whereof verie few in this Land are guiltie yet seeing it is a sinne it would bee carefullie auoided Because Papists whollie relye on their workes Protestants with great scandale will onelie bragge of their Faith Thus both the one and the other against the truth of doctrine separate that which God hath joyned together The sicke Man O Lord GOD of gods O Father of euerlasting compassions whose blessed bowels did bleede vpon the crosse for to saue sinners pittie heere a fraile feeble creature yet tugging and wrestling in the Barras of this sinfull flesh Furnish mee with strength whereby I may surmount and vanquish all difficulties which are betweene my Soule and the place of its euerlasting rest I am weake forbeare mee Lord in thy great mercie Ioyne thy Grace with my griefâ—… O that I were with my Christ the Marke whereat I aime the Port whereto I saile the rest of my desires Let thy good Spirit O Lord assist mee Let thy fauour and grace bee my vade-mecum till I come to thy Glorie O who shall giue to my soule the wings of a Doue that it may flee out of the Douket of this bodie vp to its God O deare Sauiour set mee as a seale vpon thine heart Draw mee and wee shall runne after thee Holde mine heart aloft that it may onelie minde the things aboue The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and grant the sute of thy seruant I feare Sir that yee bee wearied with speaking As I perceiue yee force your selfe in your words aboue the reach of your strength Seeing yee trauell thus in paine of your speach spend the little space of life that resteth in holie meditations concerning the bloodie wounds of Christ your Sauiour The sicke Man Christ now is onelie my comfort I loue him with the best bowels of mine heart In the bowels of his mercie I reade by the eye of Faith most faire lines of his loue all written in great Capitall letters of an heauenlie impression Christ is to mee in stead of all for alreadie in my neede hee hath stood mee in more stead than all O in what a pitifull plight my sillie and forlorne Soule was once into Blâ—…ssed bee hee for euermore who in so great kindnesse hath shined vpon me with the blessed bright and vnspotted beames of his mercy O but my Soule panteth after him Oh how this heart of mine is euill to breake What a piece of clammie teugh clay is this that settereth so my Soule that by no meanes can it bee loosed from it that it may soare vp to its God from griefe to glorie O that I were with him with whom I shall not want the thing that I can wish Now Lord the time is come pull off mee the dull wiede of sinfull mortalitie and cloath my soule in white with the Robe of Christes righteousnesse that it may followe the Lambe O but I am wearied My Soule longeth to see the Face of my God The Pastour Waite vpon the Lords will when it is time hee will open the prison doore and let your Soule flie vp to your Glorie Thinke on Heauen still Mount vp your minde to your Maker who shall shortlie roofe with Glorie the graces which hee hath reared vp into your heart Let the hope of these thinges hearten you in the mudde and myre of this sinfull mortalitie The sicke man O Lord pittie this Soule which I haue defiled and defaced with scarlet transgressions and crimsin iniquities Thou hast begunne the good worke in me It is now neere to perfection Put to now the last hand and perfect the worke Rub out perfectlie with the Blood of thy Lambe the least staines which sticke in my Soule that while thou shalt look vpon mee thou may know mee to bee thy redeemed one by the stampe of thine owne Image O Lord fixe mine heart so into thine owne heart that nothing bee able to pull it out without pulling out thine owne It hath beene like a crooked twigge O writh it so nowe the right way that it may bee according to thine owne heart The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauen and graunt the sute of thy Seruant Let nothing bee able to tickle tempt or trouble his Soule Be of good heart Sir the Battell is neare an end Fight out the good fight finish your course and keepe the Faith hence-foorth is laide vp for you a Crowne of righteousnesse which the LORD shall giue you at that day Make now full proofe of your courage which shall shortlie be couered with a Crown Hold out still in your holie exercise till your change come The sicke Man I wearie of this cottage of claye I am at a point with all that is vnder the Sunne I care not for this worlds fauour no more for its frowne But O but my Soule longeth to be with my Lord that I may see his face with fulnesse of joye O thou with whom nothing is impossible make the scales of mortalitie to fall from mine eyes that I may fee thee before euen as thou art My Soule longeth to be out of this myry lak of miserie for to dwell with thee into the Pallace of immortalitie O when shall I get ridde of these sinfull bonds O Sauiour of mankind giue eare vnto my sute Deliuere mee from this seeming life that I may die to liue the life of pleâ—…sures for euermore O drawe drawe out this Soule entombed into this bodie Before
Pastour hee is come hee is come whom my Soule loueth I am my Beloueds his desire is towards mee The lost sheepe is found The vnthriftie Son is come home againe All the snares of destruction are broken My Soule is escaped like a Birde I am now at a point infinitlie desirous rather to goe to my God than to sojourneanie more on earth Mine heart is more in God than in my selfe I haue a begunne possession of Heauen by the first fruites I looke for perfection in fulnesse of joye and pleasures fore euermore O blessed Iesus set me as a Seale vpon thine heart O deare Sauiour the Roote and the Rocke of my Saluation loe I come stretch out thine Armes and take my Soule into thy bosome yet a little while and I shall bee no more a stranger vvith thee and a sojourner The Pastour O blessed bee our God for euermore who hath made you to triumph so ouer all your enemies after such vnuterable groanes of griefe where your mind was sore perplexed at the first Hold fast now that which yee haue Your heart is now richlie stored with the true treasures of godlinesse Yee are but sipping of these joyes wherof in Heauen ye shal drink in a full cup. The sicke Man Christ the Lord is mine Hee is mine Hee is to mee hoth in life and death aduantage My comforts are in my Bosome The Angelicali Guardes are heere about mee I dye in the Faith of Iesus Come euen Lord Iesus come quicklie and loose this Soule a prisoner in clay groning to bee at liberty O my Soule returne vnto thy rest for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Now may I say This poore man cryed and the Lord hath heard him deliuered him out of all his troubles The Pastour The Lord is with you who ere it be long shall fulfill all your hearts desires yea hee shall doe aboue all that yee can thinke or wish Now Sir yee haue him whom your soule loueth His Spirit is in the verie bosome of your heart Hold fast the grip yee haue Dye in his Armes sleepe in the blessed bosome of your God Full libertie is at the doore readie to enter in Yet a little and yee shall haue a joyfull meeting with Christ and all his Angels in the Kingdome of your Father Till yee come out of this bodie sticke fast by Faith to Christ your Redeemer Claime boldlie that which hee hath deerelie purchased by his Blood O deare Iesus his Staffe and his Strength wrape now his Soule into the white winding-sheete of thy righteousnesse While hee hath life liue thou in him that while he breaths hee may liue to thee and after death may liue with thee for euer Let neither life nor death bee able to separate him from thy loue The neerer death approacheth for to separate his Soule from his bodie d◅aw thou the neerer vnto his Soule till thy Spirit the Spirit of Life fullie finallie in all perfection liue into him the Soule of his Soule Fixe your eye nowe vpon the heart of Christ deadlie wounded for your transgressions Behold that Speare-hole in his heart which hee suffered for to sa◅e you Consider his bleeding woundes all dropping the balme of mercie which hath proceeded from the bowels of his compassions Hee it is who hath died for your sinnes and is risen againe for your righteousnesse The sicke Man I know that my Redeemer liueth his blood of an vnualuable price is the onelie ransome of my Soule Hee onelie is the joye of mine heart and the health of my countenance The Pastour Holde fast that confidence Let your Soule repare vnto the euerlasting Armes of his loue Shroud shelter your selfe vnder the winges of the Almightie Yee are nowe neere the ende of the Race The Lord guarde you with his Grace that no temptation of Satan be able trippe your heele before that yee be entered in his rest Nowe the lowring showring seede-time of teares is past and the Haruest of joye is hard at hand Now Sir Christ is at the doore Beholde hee standeth at the doore and knockes hee is nowe for to suppe with you on earth that yee may suppe with him for euer in the Heauens Behold hee is with you The sicke Man I haue found him whom my Soule loueth I will surelie hold him and will not let him goe My Soule hath already taste of the fruite of Canaan by the report of the spye of my faith Christ now is mine The Pastour Seeing yee haue him wrap your soule into the bowels of his euerlasting compassions waite on perfectiō is the last gift Lift vp continuallie the eyes of your spirit to the worthy woundes of Iesus In them behold read in great Capitall characters the vnspeakable loue of the Father The sicke Man O Lord I haue waited for thy Saluation Remember mee nowe while as thou art into thy Kingdome Father into thine handes I commend my Spirit my Soule I giue to thee who hast giuen it to mee The Pastour Now Sir your wished houre is come Christ is laying his Arm◅s about you for to receiue your Soule in his bosome Solace your selfe in your Sauiour who hath made it free of al weights that swiftly without anie let it may flee vp to its God O the loue of Iesus towardes you Hee hath not onelie beene an Inte◅cessour to pray for you but an Advocatalso to pleade for you By the vertue of his Blood your cause is win And therefore homage ye now your heart sealed with the sense of his loue Yeelde and surrender your Soule into the Armes of his mercie that hee may perfect his graces in you with glorie in immortalitie The sicke Man Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit and glad it with thy glorie The Pastour He againe is fallen into a traunce His battell is now neere an end Let vs waite a little see what he doth Hee now beginneth a little for to stir There is yet some life into him as I perceiue Now Sir be glad Christ is knocking at the doore for to call foorth your Soule from bondage to libertie from your banishment to an heauenlie home from a prison of paine to a palace of pleasures for euermore That we may haue assurance that ye die in the Faith of Iesus shew vs some signe Lift vp your hand in token that yee are assured to goe to God Behold how he hath lifted vp his hand Cortenet quod lingua tacet His hande telleth what is in his heart O but this poore Soule since the beginning of this bloodie Battell hath beene miserablie mangled howed and hacked vpon by most bitter and bloodie temptations what carnall what spirituall Now blessed bee God from all his troubles he is come to his good things We are all oblished to giue praise vnto God who hath set out this man before vs as an excellent example and mirrour of his mercie It is the
whereby he may be shielded from the bloodie blowes of a most cruell aduersarie Put on him Lord the compleate armour of God that hee may bee able to with-stand in this euill houre and hauing done all to stand Before this Battell end make him with stomacke and courage to runne all his enemies throgh with the two edged sword of thy Spirit Haue now Lord a speciall care of him Hemme in all his thoughts within the compasse of thy will Possesse him so with the fulnes of thy presence that in him there be found no roome for any ill motions Furnish him with the supplie of all these graces which thou knowest to bee wanting into him Let thy Spirit make residence in his heart as in an house of God Now Lord while it is time to saue saue the Soule of thy Seruant which is now readie to remoue Open vnto it that euer-flowing fountaine promised to the penitent of the house of Dauid for to tak away sinne and vncleannesse O Fountaine of Grace wash him and wash him throughlie with the blessed Blood of thy satisfaction After that thou hast made him perfectly cleane hold out thy succouring helpful armes vnto this Soule and take it into thy bosome Let it there taste of the honie of thy Compassions In this time of gloummines darknesse of death inlighten his Soule with the light of thy countenance Turne thy face now vnto it Hitherto it could see nothing but the Back-parts of Thee that Great IEHOVAH which bringeth joye but in parte From such parts now bring him vnto the fulnesse Turne thy selfe vnto this Soule that it may fullie see thy face wherein is fulnesse of joye And seeing no man can see thy face liue let this thy Seruant now see thy face and die that after death hee may liue with thee for euer in the Heauens Let neither the loue of life nor the feare of death turne his eyes from the prize of the high calling of God Make him now with a long steppe from the earth to the heauens to step in into immortalitie Now Lord engraue deepelie this Soule into the palmes of thine hands Set it as a seale on thine heart Wrap it within the Mantle of thy mercie warâ—…e it within the bowels of thy loue lappe it in thy bosome with that vnspeakable joye which Christ hath purchased with vnspeakable paine euen through the bloodie merites of his most bitter passions His wordes now are failed Square thou all his thoughts by the rule of thy Spirit of grace Lord make these our weake prayers to mount vp lik Pillars of smoke parfumed with the mercifull merites of thine onelie Sonne To him with thee his Father and with the Spirit of Grace be all Glorie Praise Power and Dominion for euer AMEN The spirituall Friend O deare Friende whome I haue seene a sorrow beaten sinner Rejoyce now in your Sauiour whose mercies haue beene the Bane of all your sinfull miseries Cleaue still fast vnto your Sauiour Let not him goe whom your soule loueth till ye come to Peniel where yee shall see him face to face The Lord refresh your wearied soule with the soft sweete breath of his Spirit The Lord kned into your heart these spirituall meditations which are of the purest straine O Father of mercies giue vnto this soule a most sure Infefâ—…ment of heauen by the hand of thy Spirit Make some drops of thy Myrrhe to enter in by some litle creuice of his heart Put in thine hand by the keye hole of the doore that his bowels may bee moued for thee Let such a strength now repare from thee vnto him that the world may see that thy strength is made perfect in weaknesse It shall bee expedient that nowe yee his Pastour in a short prayer recommend him to God againe Behold him now at the last gaspes his eye stringes are broken The water of death trickleth downe ouer his cheekes His life is now drawen to an haire O Lord while bodilie sight and senses faile make spirituall sight and sense succeede in a greater perfection Make a spaite of thy grace with a mightie streame to carrie him to glorie O deare Friend vp with your heart to your God Nowe all your sins shall die with your sicknesse The Rocke of your Saluation Iesus hath shiuered them in pieces There is 〈◊〉 condemnation to these that are in Christ who out of the pangs of loue suffered that paines of hell for mans RedeÌ„ption His Angels Sir are heere waiting vpon your Soule for to carrie it to pleasures for euermore Yet a little while and loe yee shall bee at the vpshotte of all your woe Yee are nowe vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of hell euen vpon the borders of euerlasting pleasures vnmixed pleasures which shall turne all your teares into triumphes The Pastour Now Sir Gird vp the loynes of your minde make haste to your God who shortlie shall put into your haÌ„d the palme of victorie Sathan is chained vp now for doing you anie more harme The night of your trouble is past Christ that blessed Day spring hath brought a morning mercie vnto your Soule His graces in you hath shined more and more and so shall doe vntill the perfect day euen vntill your Soule carried on Eagles winges reach the hight of Heauen where without teares or tediousnesse are pleasures for euermore Though your tongue now faile you Sir let your heart be busie with God in prayer hee will hearten and encourage you in all the businesse Your taske is at an end Heaue vp your heart to Christ crucified with vs and that with sighes and sobbes the groanings of his owne Spirit Though your bodie now be cold the Spirit of Iesus shall by a free and vitall operation maintaine the heate and vigour of your Soule The Spirit of comfort conueye vnto your soule the warmest blood that euer heated the heart of Iesus Let vs pray The last prayer for the sicke Man in the verie jawes of death O LORD whose mercies are aboue all thy workes it was neuer thy custome to send away a broken heart without comfort Now heare the secret gâ—…oanes and sighes of thy seruant whose soule is ready in this gasping agonie to come out of its Tabernacle for to coÌ„peare before thee Thou who hast giuen him thy Son for a ransome giue him thy Spirit for a pledge Furnish him with force for to fight and finish this Battell in victory As thou hast bene at the beginning of his beeing euen the beginner of his beeing so now bee thou the ende at which hee aimes euen the ende of all his woes And seeing hee is now in the narrow throat of death helpe him by thy power till hee hath past this passage Put now into him a fresh liâ—…e that in a strong vigour hee may runne with the feete of the Hinde till hee come to thee in eteâ—…nitie Make him now supple and nimble
thinges to worke to the best of these that loue him Gods corrections are good directions With one crosse hee can worke two cures first a correction for by-past corruption and after a direction for times to come If God should not scourge vs betimes the reigning of the flesh should proue the ruine of the Spirit This was the vtter ouerthrow of the Sonnes of Eli God would not correct them because the Lord would stay thē As for that which ye speake concerning the changing amending of your life your resolution is good But seeing the houre of death is vncertaine it is good that yee bee presentlie prepared Death commeth vpon mā with stealing steps Let no man put far off the day of his death There is great danger that any man sooth himselfe with the vaine hope of this mortall life No man can tell how soone hee shall be arraigned to compeare before Gods Barre None said a Pagane is assured to liue vntill the morrow Nemo tam diuos habuit faventes Crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri It is good therefore daylie and hourelie to bee vpon our Watch-Tower preparing our selues for death which shall either be the end of all our miserie or the beginning of our euerlasting woe delay to prepare for death is a strong threed in the Deuils net A man will not die the sooner that he prepare himselfe to die If a man bee prepared to die and yet die not hoc sibi ponat in lucro that preparation is great aduantage vnto him But if hee die hee hath done that which hee should haue done What a dangerous venture is this to a man to delay to prepare himselfe to die because it may bee that yet hee may liue But may it not also bee that hee die It is a dangerous thing to perrell our Saluation vpon a may be which may as well no bee It is fearefull to bee hanged ouer Hell with the euill twined threed of a life that must end none can tell how where nor when No man is exeemed from this necessitie The post Pale Horse wherevpon Death is mounted caries his Rider thorow all Nations Cities and Houses pulling out of their beds Princes Prelats and priuate men without any respect of persons thus are their hopes cropped in their fairest flower It is good therefore that wee euer bee vpon our gard God offereth grace to day To day if yee heare his voyce But who promiseth to morrow well is him that feareth alwayes The sicke Man O the terrours of Death and of the Graue mine heart quaketh while I remember of these last strugglings that are in death It was not without reason that the Pagans called it terribilium terribilissimū of all fearefull things the most fearefull The Pastour If men knew what Christ hath made of Death the liuing would not be so afraid with the feare therof Isaiah saith that hee hath put it into his Stomacke hee hath swallowed it vp in victorie A wife man will not swallow ouer that which hee is not able to digest Christ hath swallowed Death and hath digested it perfectlie Nowe Death after Christs digestion hath lost all its poyson and is turned into a sleepe The name thereof is changed for to tell vs of the change of its nature Dead Lazarus in Christs language is called sleeping Lazarus Lazarus Our Friend sleepeth said Christ speaking of his death Hee that liueth and beleeueth in mee said Christ shall neuer die Death is not death to the Friends of Christ but a sleepe to their bodie a translation of their Soule from a prison to a Palace As by the grace of God it is made an Exodus of miserie so is it a Genesis of a better life the corruption of one thing beeing the generation of another What is this that men should so feare Death which is the end of the foule cōbersome way of our Pilgrimage Hath not God made death like a Chariote to a wearied man for to carie him to his euerlasting rest This was seene in a visible figure when Elijah in a firie Chariot went vp by a whirle wind vnto heauen The sicke Man All that is true Sir But yee know that death is fearefull to all flesh So soone as it commeth it maketh a Soule lyable to yeeld an acoūt for all the actions of the by-past life The bodie and the Soule are of olde acquaintance and haue not wil to part one frō the other I cannot expresse what a worsling I finde within mee there is such a working feare about mine heart that I tremble to thinke vpon it This maketh my words to wade in teares mine heart is cut with sobs of sorrow O death the enemie of Life is there no comfort against thee Is there no Balme in Gilead Of force then must I die The Pastour The woman of Tekoah said verie well Wee must all needes die and are as water spilt on the ground which can not bee gathered Death is an vnauoidable passage there is none entrie vnto Heauen but by it I will striue to let you see before that yee enter in at the doores of Death that your Soule hath no such cause to be afraide Indeed I confesse that death to these that know not Christ is indeede a most fearefull thing according to this Sathan said Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath he will giue it for his life See how a Naturall man would bee content that his skinne were pulled off him if it could bee a ransone for to saue his life Such is the feare of death that for to bee free of it a man would giue his skinne Agag called it a bitter thing Surelie said he The bitternesse of death is past The wilde Gourdes shred into the Prophetes pottage for bitternesse were called Death So soone as they had tasted them all cryed Death is into the pot The bitter torments of Hell are called so great a Death Dauid speaking of the pangs of death calleth them waues The waues of death cōpassed me See how death is compared to a raging Sea with rolling waues To this Dauid subjoynes The snares of death preuented mee Death indeed is fearfull armed with waues snares We in our weaknesse make it also fearfull painting it with bare bones with a skul girning with its teeth and with its sting like a flooked Dart for to pierce thorow the heart of man It is true that death is bitter in it selfe but hee that made sweetnesse to come out of the strong and meate to come out of the eater can bring both meate and sweetnesse out of death for the Christian Soule though no thing bee stronger than death the greatest eater of the world One saith well that there is in death but one bitter morsell to swallow The cheefe course that wee haue to tak for to win to
an happie death is that aboue all thinges wee striue to make our acquaintance with Christ the Lord of life Till a man know Christ who hath disarmed Death by taking away its sting and its dart hee will tremble at its buzze A Bee that wāteth the sting will afray a Childe with its buzze but the man of vnderstanding is not afraide for a sound I am assured that the excessiue feare of Death in a wicked man is a most powerfull meanes for to make him die before his day that is sooner than by course of Nature hee should haue died Though a mans day bee set yet God vseth meanes Death is a distresse vnto the wicked Let him thē that would die in peace make his peace with his God No man cā be willing to die before his Conscience bee at quiet till God and his Soule haue shaken hands beene friended A man that is at feed with his God will say to death Gods messenger as Ahab saide to Gods Prophet Hast thou found mee mine enemie But as for the godlie mā whose Soule is prepared to meete with his God he will say to Death welcome Friend take my Soule by the hand and draw it out of this prison Oh but it is wearied O but it longeth to be free from these bonds of mortalitie combersome clogges of claye Hee that is assured to goe to Christ cannot die vnwillinglie what careth hee to die an houre for to liue for euer I will neuer feare Death saide a Father which can doe no more than restore me to him that made mee To change a life that is mortall for an that is eternall is an vnspeakable profite The sicke Man But alas By what way may I come vnto that Life The Pastour I am the way said Christ None commeth to the Father but by mee This way is thorow the valey of death In this valey yee neede not to feare if Christ bee with you In the valey of the shadow of death said Dauid I will feare none euill his reason was this that God was with him For thou art with mee The sicke Man I finde my selfe Sir exceeding weake and that I drawe neere the doores of Death I take great delight to heare you I requeast you to continue your comforts I intreate you to call to remembrance these speciall comforts yee haue had either by your owne experience or by reading or by Meditation I am assured that yee haue some laide vp in store for your selfe against the houre of temptation Let me heare I pray you what yee thinke best to be said to a man in his greatest feares The Pastour First of all that yee may bee capable of comforts striue to bee patient in your trouble Acknowledge in this sicknesse the great mercie of your God In this affliction hee hath giuen to you the wish and choise of Dauids chastisement You are not fallen into the hands of men whose compassions are cruell but in the hands of God your Father whose bowels are full of mercifull remembrance Though a Mother should forget her Childe wee are printed vpon his Palmes It is true that no afflictiō for the present seemes joyous Yet afterward the bitter seed of sorrow bringeth foorth the sweet quiet fruit of righteousnes If yee would bee armed against the feare of Death my counsell is that aboue all things in the tempest of your temptations yee haue recourse vnto the bloodie wounds of Christ wherein as in the holes of the Rocke your Soule like a Doue may find a place of refuge His wounds well may I call The secret of the most High He who lodgeth there is vnder the shadow of the Almightie An afflicted Soule is like a Bee in a tempest tossed to and fro Frae once the Bee hath winne to its Hyue-hole it entereth into rest The poore Soule of a man for a space will be wonderfullie tossed with tempests and long will it wrestle But so soone as it can once win in at the holes of Christs wounds then it enters into Rest Out of these wounds as out of its Castle and fortresse it will boast the Deuill Death the Flesh and the World In these woundes is the Soules strongest Tower the secret place of the most High where none enemie of mans Saluation shall bee able to reach vnto it for to hurt it Let your chiefest care bee to creepe in into these wounds Againe after that yee haue shaken hands with Christ and made him your friend consider well what hee hath made of Death Christ hath made it a friend of a foe Is not Death now a sleepe Christs friends sleepe Sleepe as yee know is our great friend Hee must bee a great friend without whose friendship we can not liue As wee can not liue without Sleepe neither can we liue without Death Except that wee die on Earth we can not liue in Heauen Thou foole said S. Paul That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die The whole course of a Christian is contained within the compasse of these wordes I liue to die that I may die to liue If man will not resolue to liue for to die hee shall not die to liue The course of a Christian is from a good life to an happie death and from thence to life yea to life eternall Well is the man that runneth not without this compasse The sicke Man But alas O my God take mee not away in the midst of my dayes Alas Sir must I die so soone The Pastour The Apostle saith That we die daylie Tunc quoque cum crescimus vita decrescit It is certaine that so soone as wee beginne to liue wee also beginne to die What are all the dayes of our life but a progresse vnto Death which is the putting off of our Tabernacle What is this body but a mire of mortalitie Hominiquid vita cylindrus What is mans life but a rolling thing The sicke Man But will the Lord take mee away in the midst of my dayes Hath not God promised to the godlie man that his dayes shall bee long in the land Long life is a thing whereof God hath made promise vnto these whō hee loueth The Pastour I answere that such a promise is vnder two conditions First of Gods glorie secondlie of mans well If God loue a man dearlie hee will whiles take him away in his youth that hee may haue him neere to him selfe Moreouer God seeth that which no man can fore-see viz. the euill to come The righteous saith Isaiah is taken away from the euill to come God hath indeede promised many dayes to the righteous man But if God shorten them and take him away sooner what wrong hath he done vnto him If a Lord should giue to one of his seruants some cottage house of clay with some little piece of
ground for Colewort or Cabbage for to liue vpon saying This will I giue thee for thy life-time But if afterward this Lord should say Fetch mee my good feruant out of his clattie Cottage and bring him to my Palace that he may eate at mine owne Table for euer Tell me if by the change that seruāt hath lost Would that seruant think yee say No Lord I will not come to thy Table for thou hast promised mee this Cottage-house for my life-time What Lord in the Land was euer troubled with such an answere And yet indeede it is so that God doeth with his faithfull seruantes when they die into the midst of their dayes When men are departed from this life it is the Lord that hath sent his messenger Death for to fetch their Soules from their bodies which Scripture calleth Tabernacles of clay vnto his heauenlie Mansions there for to banquet eternallie at his Table with Abraham Isaac and Iacob Now tell mee O man what haue yee lost for to goe from the Earth to the Heauens Is there any thing in this world of such worth that should make you desire to liue for to stay from your God but an houre The sicke Man That which yee say Sir is verie true But how few are these who in this world can gladlie condescend to depart out of this life The life is sweete The Pastour I confesse indeede that euery one hath not attained vnto this high degree of grace as to say with S. Paul I desire to bee dissolued c. Yet all the godlie will subscribe to this that all the faithfull are happie who are dissolued Though euerie man can not wish to die yet euerie man of God will say That Death is better than life Death is a salue which healeth vs of all our sores Is not Death Gods messenger sent for to pull the troubled Soule out of this sinfull world as Gods Angel pulled Lot out of S◅dom Is not our life heere a warfare Are we not here as Daniel was in the Dungeon among Lions Are not vvee here with Ieremie sticking fast into the myrie clay Are not wee heere with Israel into the House of bondage ouerburdened vvith sinne as they vvere vvith bricke Are we not heere with S. Paul vnder the bodie of Death And with Ioseph in the stockes not of tree but of sinne If it were well tolde a man what is heere and what hee may looke for in the life to come if hee had but a graine of grace as great as of Mustard seede hee should easilie discerne vvhereof to make choise Is not our life heere a wind and a vapour of vanitie But which is most of all to be considered Is there not heere a necessitie of sinning laide vpon all the liuing Who should not bee glad to bee fredde and ridde of these sinfull bondes Is not this life continuallie sicke of the filthie flooxe of sinne a most lothsome disease When wee seeke our daylie bread wee must immediatelie subjoyne forgiue vs our sinnes First as wee see heere wee must begge our bread and then pardon What then are wee heere but daylie beggers for the bellie The King must begge his bread from God In the Heauens there shall bee no begging but thanking of God for his benefites Who should for all that he can beg on Earth desire for to liue out of Heauen but one houre Are we not all heere vnder a corruptible burden a burden of corruption vnder which the Soule is pressed as a Cart full of sheaues So long as wee are heere our Soules are laden with sinnes A Soule burdened with such baggage runs on wheeles as it were downe an hill all post haste except that God stay it it shall neuer cease till it arriue in Hell where God shall breake it in sunder by the tempest of his wrath The sicke Man But Death is the wages of sinne who shall not feare The Pastour Indeed Death is such of the owne nature But God in great mercie hath made death to the godlie like the Raine-bow which being naturallie a signe of present raine by Gods Couenant becommeth a perpetuall signe of faire weather to come after that raine As throgh Death Christ wrought our Life so must wee bee killed for to bee made aliue The glorious Resurrection must bee through dust and corruption Our paines must goe before our pleasures and lashes before our laughters After that in come pleasures for euermore If wee had the faith of God wee should not much feare the smart of death which by Christ is made transitus ad vitam a passage vnto Life Let vs once passe thorow this Iordan and behold wee are in an instant in Canaan The sicke Man All that is true Sir No man can controle you yet naturallie all loue Life The Life is sweete The Pastour How sweete is it I pray you Is not our whole Life trouble and wearinesse What is our sleeping our resting our eating our drinking but a seruitude to the flesh Who should not desire to bee rid from such seruile necessities who for to bee free of such bondage should not renounce his deare selfe and all the loue of this irk some life To bee with Christ is it not our best Yea is it not our rest what shame is it for Christians to dote so after this present life who should haue learned to long after the life to come Christ came downe that wee might goe vp If wee desire not to goe vp wee know not wherefore hee came downe Hee came downe to bee a Seruant wee goe vp to bee Lords Hee came downe to bee hungrie wee goe vp to a perpetuall Feast Hee came downe to bee banished where hee had not wherevpon to lay his head we goe vp to dwell in Palaces of pleasures into euerlasting Tabernacles In a word hee came downe to distresse to sorrow to paine to miserie to fight against our enemies Deuils Death and temptations yea hee discended vnto Hell we goe vp to Ioy to Honour to Light to Life to Libertie to our Father to our Friends to our Sauiour and Comforter What shall I say more Euen to vnspeakable Glorie in Paradise with God his Angels What a folie is this that a man should desire to bee depriued of such Comforts for a puffe of breath Bee glad Sir to quite the ranke Onions of Egypt for that heauenlie Manna Sweete like Wafers made with honey The sicke Man If a man could bee fullie perswaded of that which ye say I think that hardlie could hee with-hold himselfe from putting hands into himselfe that so hee might change for the better If all that be why should any desire to stay from God but an houre If I may desire to bee dissolued why may I not dissolue my self The working out of a lawfull desire cannot bee vnlawfull The Pastour
No man liuing Sir may absolutelie desire to be dissolued but vnder condition that it bee for the glorie of God and the Saluation of his owne Soule For two respects a man may desire to be dissolued First for to bee deliuered from the bondage of sinne which the Apostle calleth A bodie of death Secondlie for an earnest desire to bee with his God a man may desire to bee dissolued But for no reason must a man dissolue himselfe that were selfe murther If we may not kill our Neighbour whoÌ„ we should loue as our selues neither must wee kill our selues who are the rule and square of neighbourlie loue Man in this world is as a set Watch hee must not remoue till it please him by whom hee was set to command him to come Though lawfullie wee may desire death that we may bee deliuered from the bodie of death which is sinne for to bee with Christ which is meekle better for vs yet wee must not cry for death for some triflles of worldlie troubles as Ionah did for the lossing of his leafes Our desire of Death should bee chieflie grounded vpon a desire to bee with Christ and to bee fredde from the spirituall bondage of our sins well is him that can sincerly say from his heart Miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this bodie of death That Soule is happie whose desire is vpon that which is meakle better for it To bee with Christ in Scripture stile is called meakle better What say ye now Sir doeth not your heart grone vnder this burden of sinfull death Doeth not your Soule long to bee out of this bodie for to bee with him where it shall bee meakle better for you The sicke Man I take vp the matter better than I did I see by your reasons that there is no reason wherefore a man should desire to die but for to bee with his Christ and to be deliuered from the bodie of bondage which is a death But alas The Pastour I see you yet Sir into a plunge I heard that word Alas Wherefore say yee Alas Yee looke yet as one who desireth to liue My wordes are not gifted with perswasion yee seeme to be afraide at that word dissolued What aileth you There bee doubtlesse some thing within that troubleth you The sicke Man I am sorie to goe out of this world wherevnto I am chained by diuerse respects In the cutting off of my dayes I will mourne with sicke Hezekiah in the words of his doole I am depriued of the residue of my yeares c. The Pastour I see Sir that yee are taking vp the Lamentations of Hezekiah I will striue to make answere to euerie sentence apart Yee are depriued saye yee of the residue of your yeeres Hee is not depriued that hath changed for the better The residue of your few yeeres shall bee turned into eternitie Hee who seeth many yeeres seeth many miseries and which is worse contracteth many sinnes the cause of all our woe Moreouer what is a residue of life Death is not farre when it is farthest The sicke Man But if I die I shall not see the Lord euen the Lord in the land of the liuing The Pastour This is your ignorance What can man see of the Lord in the land of the liuing What can a sinner see of that great IEHOVAH here What is to bee seene on Earth but the Backe-parts of IEHOVAH Into the Heauens wherevnto yee now approach yee shall see that great and glorious IEHOVAH face to face What are all men on Earth but a number of wormes crawling and creeping vpon a clat or clod of clay But againe what is this that ye call the land of the liuing What is all the Land yee see but a dead lump of earth where the most part of men are dead in their sins Doe not the best part die daylie vnto Sin which death is our best life and yet laden with a bodie of death Can ye now call this earth the Land of the liuing Call me not Nahomi pleasant said Nahomi but call me Marah that is bitter for the Almightie hath dealt verie bitterlie with mee So may the Earth say Call mee not the Land of the liuing No rather call mee a dungeon of death a place for the burying of the dead a place where all must needs die and bee as water spilt vpon the ground which cannot bee gathered vp againe The sicke Man But alas if I die I shall behold men no more with the inhabitants of the world The Pastour This heere is your griefe that death will strik you with a blindnes so that yee shall not bee able to see any more the faces of these whom yee loue best into this world as of Wife Children and of Friends of your old acquaintance This is your dâ—…lour theÌ„ that ye shall see them no more Let such thoughts Sir moue these to mourne who know not Death better than that Pagan who speaking of a slaine man said In eternam clauduntur Lumina noctem That is Death closeth mans eyes for euermore This is most false A true Christian knoweth that though both his eyes should sinke â—…owne into his head or droppe out like blobbes or droppes of water yet that with these same eyes runne into water hee and none othér for him shall see his Redeemer Though after my skin said Iob wormes destroy this bodie yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not another Lay this comfort to your heart Though your eyes were eaten out with the wormes if you die in the faith of Iesus yee shall see God and none other for you and that with these same eyes yee now looke vnto meeâ—… If yee bee perswaded that yee shall see your God in the Heauens in whose face is fulnesse of Ioye yee haue little cause of doole that yee shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the world What are all the creatures of thiâ—… World but things that dwell in dâ—…st The Sainctes and Angels that dwell into these vpper Chambers whose feete are aboue ouâ—… head are so faâ—… in glorie aboue all the glorie of the world as the Heauens are aboue the Earth As Zebah and Zalmunah said of Gideons brethren so may we say of all these that dwell there euerie one of them is like the Sonne of a King What are all the Creatures below but beggerlie things The sicke Man But alas if I die mine age is departed and remoued from me as a Shepheards tent The Pastour What is your doole It is all then that yee must quite your shepheards tent Now poore man What haue yee lost Yee shall change a poore shepheards tent for the most pleasant Palace of your God a life mortall for a life that is eternall
A man brought from age of yeeres vnto eternitie is like Dauid a shepheard brought from the Ewes for to bee made a King What regret should a man haue for to change a little Lodge for a London What is this life but a daylie dyeing The sicke Man But alas I haue cut off like a weauer my life Hee will cut mee off with pinning sicknesse from day euen to night hee will make an end of mee The Pastour Take heede Sir what yee say Your meaning is that by your sins yee haue abridged and cutte short your dayes or that yee haue prouocked God by your sinnes to take away your Life from you If it be so that like a weauer yee haue cut your dayes by your sinnes breake off now these sinnes by repentance If by your sinnes yee haue cut like a weauer the threeds of this mortall life beginne now by repentance to spinne the webbe of a new life some threeds of life eternall Let now the rotten thrummes of the vices of your life fall downe to the ground While yee haue time weaue into your life graces thorow graces as warpe and woft Weaue on still till from grace yee worke in into the eternitie of glorie The sicke Man But alas Hee will cut mee off with pynning sicknesse I feare greatlie that the paines of Death put mee out of all patience The Pastour Take courage Sir The paine shall not bee so great as yee feare God will lay no more on you than yee shall bee able to beare He shall weigh all your paines in his mercifull Ballance before that hee laye them vpon you Hee knoweth that your strength is not like the strength of a Whale hee breaketh not the bruised ◅eede God is so bent vnto mercie that while he scourgeth sinners for their faults hee is said to bring to passe his strange worke and his strange act The sicke Man But I feare his cutting Gods cuts are verie sensible I feare to bee◅ cut off with pyning sicknesse The Pastour Feare not God is cunning in his cutting Hee will not cut into the quicke like an ignorant Surgeon The mercifull God taketh no pleasure to cut you off with pyning sicknesse but hee will cut off your corruptions with such paines In such paines should bee pleasure The bluenesse of the wound purgeth away euill Pleasant should be that paine which is Gods Raser for cutting off mans ◅ptions Away with the pleas◅es of this ◅otten flesh Such in the beginning though lawfull ◅re burning and bloodie pleasures vnlawfull end into hellish torments feare not pyning sicknesse The sicke Man But alas from day euen to night he will make an end of mee The Pastour I know Sir that the night is wearisome and that sicknesse some what light in the day waxeth heauy in the night From day to night the sicknesse increaseth The remeede is this bee strong in God whose strength is made perfect in weaknesse If dolours increase in the night heere is a comfort The night time is a most fitte time for prayer The time of silence is most conuenient for speaking vnto God The night time is a speciall time whereof God hath made choise for in it to speake secretlie vnto men It was in the night that Eliphaz saw the vision and heard the voyce of instruction In thoughts said hee From the visions of the night wh◅ deepe sleepe falleth on men feare came vpon mee and trembling which made all my bones to shake Then a Spirit passed before my face the haire of my flesh stood vp it stood still but I could not discerne the forme thereof An Image was before mine eyes there was silence and I heard a voyce c. See how in ◅e visions of the night while there was silence Eliphaz heard the voyce of God Let no sicke man be afraid for the night it is the time of silence the chiefe time of cōference with God Whē Creatures are most silent then is a time for man to speake to God and for God to speake to man The din of the day marreth our meditatiōs The sicke Man But alas from day to night he will make an end of mee The Pastour It is better that hee make an end of you than that any other should doe it If hee make an end of you pray earnestlie for a good end If the end be well all is well Your complaint is that from day to night hee will make an end of you Bee thankefull to God for his mercie toward you in that he hath giuen you so long a time to repent as from day to night Hee might haue made you sinke downe thorow the Earth vnto hell in a moment with Dathan and Abiram Hee might haue burnt you with fire from Heauen in a thunder clappe with Corah Hee might haue drowned you into the Sea with Pharaoh Hee might haue slaine you vnder a Tower with these eighteene at Siloe Hee might haue sent a winde for to smite the foure corners of your house while yee had beene at a banket with Iobs Children What if the goodnesse of God had deserted you and taken his free Spirit frō you What if hee should doe so to the best of vs Certainelie we◅ should either make away our selu◅ with Saule by the sword or with Iudas and Ahitophel by the cord o◅ with Zi◅rie by the fire Many others haue in an instant beene snatched away in the verie swea◅e of their sinnes First then I say That is a grea◅ mercie of God vnto man that God himselfe maketh an end of him and not suffereth him to fall into the hands of his mercielesse creatures Secondlie in that from day to night hee delayeth it is a mercyfull patience Take heede Sir what I say Count this a great mercie of your God though yee should die this night thanke God for his patience that it was from day to night before that hee would make an end of you It is a great benefite of God to get but so much time wherein wee may once cry Lord haue mercie vpon mee No man can sufficientlie esteeme the high price of a dayes laiser vnto night Heere is the patience and the long suffering of God Now Sir consider and weigh well what hath beene said Is it not now your desire that yee bee dissolued Are yee not as yet resolued It would seeme that there bee some thing that yet troubleth you As for the wordes of Hezekiahs chattering which hath beene the wordes of your mourning I hope that in some measure ye haue beene cleared with some contentment The sicke Man I confesse Sir that yee haue pertinentlie made answere to all these difficulties But alas what shall I say The Pastour What aileth you Bee plaine with mee I pray you Sir thinke no shame to tell mee what is into your minde If the Patient couer his
sore from the Surgeon the greater will his danger bee It is an hard matter when the Patient playeth false with the Physition Lay open your wounds if yee would haue salue fitte for your sores The sicke Man I think shame Sir to tell you what aileth mee yet seeing I haue neede both of instruction of comfort I will be no stranger vnto you whom I know to bee a man of God that is not curious for to ripe vp secret sores for your owne curiositie but rather for to cure them I vvill not conceale the matter from you It is this I haue filled my Barnes and I desire to enjoye the fruites thereof There is no man but hee would desire after great paines ◅o r◅ape some fruites of his labours I vvish that Death would excuse mee for some yeares This is my griefe for I must bee plaine with you mine heart cannot well accord to forsake such comforts The Pastour That Sir is but a worldlie temptation What are Barnes of corne on Earth in comparison of Gods most pleasant Palace in Heauen vvherein are pleasures for euermore Fye vpon Barnes a nest for Myce and Rattons Would yee desire to liue for to enjoye the leauinges of vnbeastes They beginne and as it vvere sit at the first messe Thus after that the Fowles of the Aire haue gotten their share and the Rattons haue gotten their fill poore man as it vvere commeth after all and sitteth downe at the latter meate But vvhat are all these thinges though man should enjoye them all his alone What can hee get of them all but a bellie full of meate What is the Bellie to that spirituall Birth-right and blessing that is laide vp into the Heauens What is the Bellie but a thing ordained for destruction with all that is in it Meats for the Bellie and the Bellie for the meates But God shall destroy both it and them Cast out of your heart the care of your Bellie The Bellie in the Heart maketh a man a monster Let this bee your chiefe care that shortlie your Soule may sitte downe at Gods Table with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in Gods Kingdome What grieueth you now S◅ The sicke Man God hath blessed mee my Moneyes are increased and now my life is but comming to the best The Pastour The richest life is not euer the best life aboundance of Moneyes is no sure token of Gods mercies If it had beene otherwise Christ had neuer cast the Bagge vnto Iudas That churlish Carle in the Gospel that would not let Lazarus dyne with his dogges how soone was his Purple pulled from him and hee made a begger into Hell seeking a droppe of water from him whose scabs his dogges had licked on Earth Nabel like a foole is feasting to day and tomorrow he shall become sicke and die with an heart like a stone within him What fatter then shall hee be of his Feast Beware Sir to marrie your mind with your Money lest yee bee thereby diuorced from Christ S. Augustin said wiselie Matrimonium inter aurum arcam est inter Deum animam Divortium A marriage betweene our Minde and our Money is a diuorcement betweene the Soule and Christ its Spouse It is good for vs lest that wee should loue this world too well that like a curst Step-mother it misuse vs and rather strike vs than stroake vs as it doeth with these worldlie brats who neither liue nor loue a Life but this What thinke yee now Sir of this world The sicke Man I desire yet that God would grant mee some space to liue that I might make some better prouision for my little Children I wish that I might liue till they were better prouided within a few dayes if God would spare mee I hope that I should make a conquest Fye vpon that conquest that maketh a man to desire to tarie from God but one houre Solomon after all his conquests said that hee hated all his labour I said hee hated all my labour which I had taken vnder the Sunne The reason is subjoyned by himselfe Because I should leaue it vnto the man that should bee after mee And who knoweth whether hee shall bee a wise man or a foole Yea hee proued a foole indeed by forsaking the counsell of the old wise for to follow the folie of his young fooles What folie is this I play you for a man to desire to liue for to conquise sparinglie for one that will spend it all lauishlie crying among the drunkards Fill the pynt againe Many children will at one cast of the dyce cast more from them into a night than their fathers were able to win into a yeare What is great riches to the most part of Heires but fuell to their follie Is it not commonlie seene that after the Father hath pined himselfe with scraiping together this thick clay and pelfie dung in cōmeth a forelorne deboched Heire with his drunkē musick singing Veri vades Wee haue spent more than our fathers haue winne A little with GODS blessing is much worth Hardlie can men conquise much with a good Conscience From thence is the prophan prouerbe Well is the Heire whose fathers soule is in Hell The glose is this hardlie can the father inrich his children but by lossing his own Soule What a woefull bargaine is this Neither doeth it euer come to passe that the euill conquist come to the hands of them for whom it was appointed After that the Worldling by hook by crooke hath taken with the angle and hath catcht with the net gathered in his dragge all that is about him At last it commeth to passe that after he hath well ladned his Boate and is come neere the hauen there commeth a blast of judgement which ouer-turneth all into a moment Thus in the highest of his hopes in sight of the Shore ladned and fraughted with the fruite of all his labours of his lyes his guile and deceite he goeth downe to the bottome of the depths so that none is able to rescue him Thus after that first he hath made shipwrack of his conscience he also maketh shipwarcke of all his goods and so is he depriued of his imagined profite What though his shippe should come in What though all should prosper for a while Let Micah steale his mothers siluer and turne it into gods and get a Priest blesse himselfe when hee hath done thinking that all shall prosper now But ere it belong some of the race of the Adder by the way shall come and tak away his gods And if hee run out to follow for his owne they shall either scorne him with what aileth thee or shall boast him to keepe silence saying Let not thy voyce bee heard among vs lest angrie fellowes runne vpon thee and thou losse thy life with the liues of thine house-hold
Let no man blesse himselfe with Micah because hee hath gods at home Though men by manie meanes may become rich and think that they shall leaue great wealth vnto their children God can by as many meanes disapoint them as by blood by shipwracke by fire by water by warre by banqueroupts by plea and by piracie c. He who to day was swaggering in his Silkes and swimming in his wealth speaking of nothing but of thousands within a little space behold him againe and loe all is changed The poore man he goeth and no man regardeth him he is hungrie nacked and colde but not so colde as the charitie of these that may helpe him These who were wont to eate at his table desire no more to see him The thoughts of olde obligations are to them lik letters of Caption for to enforce thē to giue some what to their olde distressed friend But cold are such comforts Heere beholde Sir as in a glasse what vanitie into these transitorie things which men think to make permanent to their posteritie But let a man be rich till he die After that he hath spoiled others to make himselfe wealthie shall his children bee his Heires No not The wealth of the sinner is laide vp for the Iust See how God maketh a Worlding to be as it were a drudge or a packe horse for to gather with the sweate of his browes that wherwith the righteous man may bee sustained As hee made the Rauens to flee and fetch flesh for the nourishing of his Seruant Elijah Some tims also it wil befal otherwise that thewe alth of the sinner shall be laid vp for one worse than himselfe that all the world may see and beholde what vanitie there is in such carking care O wil some say if hee that is dead saw such a man in his house Master of all his labours What would hee now thinke Thus God in a manner making deboched bare men like leane Kine prey vpon the wicked who while they liued wold not with the Oliue leaue their fatnes for to be Kings in Heauē letteth the world see what folie it is to put their trust in such transitorie trashes What say yee now Sir Are yee now free of such earthlie temptations The sicke Man I am miserablie vexed with this world Worldlie things doe what I can runne euer into my minde and trouble mee with carking cares The Pastour So long as a mans heart is clogged with this clay hee hath no power to stirre hand or foote to heauen-ward There is both gall and guile in earthlie mindednesse Well is him whose Soule can sore farre aboue this Region of corruption for to minde aboue all things the things that are aboue The sicke Man My minde alas is like Martha busied about manie things or rather buried in manie things The Pastour But Christ said One thing is necessarie Hee that said it is that which hee said euen that One necessarie thing Wee may passe to life eternall without any other thing But there is such a necessitie in Christ that without him wee can doe nothing Without mee said hee yee can doe nothing Christ is that Best part Maries choise Well is that Soule that maketh him its part He is onely that which shall neuer bee taken from vs But what worldlie thing is that that as yet troubleth you The sicke Man Mine heart Sir is ouer-burdened with the weight of manie cares concerning this Life The Pastour Our Sauiour hath set downe a particular Precept concerning that Take heede said hee to your selues least at any time your heartes bee ouercharged with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life Such cares may snow downe white haires vpon our hairie scalpe But it is onelie the godlie care the care of the Life to come that worketh Repentance neuer to bee repented of But come to the pārticulars The sicke Man I haue latelie bought some heritage my seruants are plowing it before I die I would wish once to reape the fruites thereof The Pastour To bee worldlie minded is death The command is gone foorth ' none can plead ignorance Loue not the world nor the things of the world Well is him that so liueth heere that he may be counted worthie to enjoy that world It is no time now Sir to thinke of ploughes yee must now leaue all for to follow Christ like Elisha who left his plowing for to follow his new vocation Take now a kisse of your dearest friendes and follow this great Elijah the Lord Iesus the Chariot of all his chosen and the Horse-men of his Israel The sicke Man My Lands are laboured the Haruest draweth neere there is a plentifull croppe vpon the ground Cornes and wheat and all abound The Pastour There is no solide comfort in Wheat or in Corne but onelie in Gods countenance I compare all worldlie things to the Tallow of a Candle and spirituall thinges to the flamme thereof If the Candle bee right set that the flamme bee vpmost the Candle will shin clearelie and giue light But if yee turne the Candle and holde the flamme downe it shall at once drowne in its owne tallow Euen so if the Soule of man bee well set that spirituall thoughts bee vpmost and worldlie cōsiderations sanctified which haue beene melted strained from their drosse be vnder that Soule will shine in holie life before men But if the flamme of the Spirit bee turned downe it will drowne vnder the droppes of such earthlie tallowe By this at last all our light dyeth out like a Candle so that our hearts that were once enlightned become lik a dampish dungeon I confesse so long as wee are here the fire of the Spirit within the best of vs is like ignis in materia fire in an earthlie matter from whence commeth euer some filthie reeke But when once wee shall bee aboue all places wherevnto no reeke can reach this spirituall flamme abstracted from all earthlie matter shall shine most clearlie into the presence of God for euer Are yee not yet Sir resolued Is not your desire now to bee dissolued The sicke Man The world is yet still in my mind I haue takē much paines into it am now but beginning for to get some ease I haue builded an house gladlie would I dwell some space into it Mine heart is sore yea it bleeds for to leaue this Lodging and neuer to come to it againe I had trimmed it for my pleasure and now behold shall I bee disappointed The Pastour There is no great matter of griefe Sir when a man changeth for the better What are all the sieled Palaces of Princes on earth but like the house of a Spider How soone are they all sweept away with the besome of vengeance when God is angrie What are all our dwellinges on earth but Dungeons in a dunghill Let not your
heart Sir bee on your house It is now time to mind the things that are aboue Eye vpon clay and stones What are all the royall Palaces of the world to these statelie houses aboue whereof the floore or pauement glisters with thousands of Starres as with as manie golden nailes o◅ twinkling Dya◅onds There the Sun the Moone the two great Iewels of Heauen shall bee vnder your feete which are now aboue our heade What is within no mortall tongue can tell S. Paul saw there some-thing but hee neuer reuealed it neither was it lawfull for him to declare what he had seene This one thing wee may know seeing the out-side of Heauen is so beautifull how pleasant must it bee within Heauen is like the Kinges Daughter whose whole beautie is within There is profite pleasure health wealth honour happinesse beautie blesse In a word there bee thinges that eye neuer saw neither eare heard yea which neuer could enter into the heart of man The sicke Man But alas must I then forsake all my wealth and so leaue all my treasures behind mee The Pastour Such treasures are but traitours though they bee counted gods God said to Magistrats I haue called you gods But hee neuer called gold god To call gold god is Ashdodien language Gods of gold must be forsaken for to goe to the God of Glorie What are all these worldlie thinges whereon naturall men so doe gaze What are they but idoles lying vanities To ouercome the loue of such lyers is the triumph of Trueth If Gods Arke be within our heart such Dagons will fall downe Turne therefore your eyes from such clay and minde the things that are aboue Manie gather riches as hee that earneth wages to put it into a bottomlesse bagge The first lesson of Christianitie is selfe denyall The Sicke Man How is it then Sir that a man must goe through this world for to come to Heauen The Pastour Euen as the Israelites desired to goe through the Land of Sihon the King of the Amorites for to come to Canaan the figure of Heauen Let mee goe through thy Land said Israel Wee will not turne aside into the fieldes nor into the vineyards neither drinke of the waters of the wells wee will goe by the Kings high way vntill wee be past thy Countrey It is so that wee must passe through this world for to come to that heauenlie Canaan we must not turne asid into the faire fields of pleasure nor drink our selues drunke in its vineyards But wee must follow directlie the rule of Gods Law the King of Heauens high way that so we may enter into Canaan What say ye Sir Is it not time to bee resolued The sicke Man Mine heart is pined within mee It is like to breake for sorrow when I looke to my little Children Who shortlie shal be fatherlesse Alas hard shall their estate be when I shall bee away who will take care of them The Pastour That which Christ said to Peter may bee said to you O man of little Faith why hast thou doubted Hath not God promised to shew mercie vnto thousands of these that loue him If the King of this Land should now come himselfe to your bed-stocke and say Iames or Iohn heere I giue to you mine hand befor God and good witnesse that I shall bee a Father to your Children after you and shall so prouide for them that they shall want nothing that may doe them good If yee heard such a man make such promises I thinke that yee should not bee in paine for the estat of your childrē And yet what is a King but a man But so it is that all men are lyares or may lie But God who can not lie hath giuen his Hand and his trueth to the faithfull man yea hath oblished himselfe by an oath and hath taken Heauen and Earth to bee witnesse that hee shall neuer forsake the godlie man nor his seede his promise is to thousands If yee beleeue God to bee true relye vpon his promise Let not the care of Children trouble you any more prepare your selfe for God and let Death bee welcome Put your house to an order in time Discharge your selfe of all worldlie burdens denude your hands and your heart of all temporall affaires that your Soule haue nothing to doe but to waite vpon your God It is not time to bee combered with the world while the whole heart should bee taken vp with heauenlie meditations It is now high time to thinke earnestlie vpon that life wherevnto yee are going by Death It would seeme Sir that yee are not contentas yet for to remoue What can this be that troubleth you shuld not your heart rejoyce to goe vnto your God The sicke Man I finde contrarie draughts within mee Your wordes indeede Sir beginne to worke vpon mine heart and to draw vp my Soule toward the pleasures that are aboue But againe I finde the desires of this life like weightie paisses drawing mee downe to the ground againe This is my regret Alas must I then leaue this world and the light thereof and neuer see it againe any more Shall I beholde man no more with the inhabitants of the worlde Shall I neuer see after this into the Land of the liuing any of all these whom I haue loued so well The Pastour Sir it shall bee your farre best to suffer the loue of Christ swallow vp the loue and all other considerations of worldlie thinges as Moses his serpent swallowed vp the serpents of the Magicians What euer seemeth pleasant into this world vnto the naturall eye it is but by juggling of the senses If we haue the grace of God this grace shall be indeede like as a foure nooked Clauer is in the opinion of some viz a most powerfull meanes against the juggling of the sight If wee could seeke this grace it would let vs see the vanitie of such thinges which beguile the naturall senses The eye of a mans Soule is betimes like the eye of a man come out of a bilious feuer all things seeme to him to bee yellow because of the bile which haue peruerted his sight Sathan can forge temptations like glasse of whatsoeuer colour hee pleaseth wherethorow all things seeme to bee of the colour of his temptations Thorow one glasse a mans owne spouse will seeme to be filthie Thorow another a bordel-whore will seeme to bee pleasant Thorow one the world will seeme to bee glorious thorow another the brightest heauens will seeme to bee but cloudes Thorow one fables will seeme to be Scripture thorow another Scriptures will seeme to bee but fables Thorow one if a man feast as Christ did hee will seeme to bee a glutt◅n thorow another if hee feast with the Baptist hee will seeme to bee a deuill The chiefe gripe of your temptation is in this that
if ye were once dead yee shall beholde man no more with the inhabitants of the world Yee are far beguiled into the sight of the wo◅ld wherewith yee are so rauished Change your Spectacles and all that is below shall seeme to bee of another colour If your Soule could once sore vp towardes Heauen the loue of the Earth and earthlie things would fall from you as did the Mantle of Elias when he was rapt and rauished vp vnto glorie The sicke Man But ye know Sir that it is verie hard not to bee sore grieued to goe out of this world Non amplius visur us neque videndus neither for to see anie more nor yet to bee seene Who without teares can say his adewes to all his joys pleasures and contentments that are here Whē I once shal be caried out of my house yee shall see mee no more Hencefoorth yee and I will speake no more together I departing from you must goe to the place of silence among stinke wormes Who can-without displeasure say to all worldlie joyes farewell The Pastour It is best that ye turne your backe vnto such naughtie things as Hezekiah turned his backe to the stocke and his face to the wall that hee might conferre with his God It is great folie to bee so fond vpon such transitorie trashes What is so pleasant in this world that should allure vs to it Are not all thinges inconstant heere below There is nothing that standeth at a stay but either it is comming in or going out like the Tyde There is no creature but while it beginneth to waxe it also beginneth to waine A child of the age of a day hath lesse time to liue at Eauen than hee had in the morning Since hee came out of the bellie from the morning vnto eauen hee hath made a dayes journey in the way to his graue In ipso ortu vergimus ad occasum Our arising vp is but a course to our fall The degrees of a mans life are as as manie stepp vnto his death All that wee see below is in a continuall whirling from a beginning to an end The course of all the Creatures below is in a trance of transitorie trashes I can but teach you with vvords as Iohn baptized with water It is onelie the Lord vvho can perswade The sicke Man I take delight to heare you I pray God to perswade mee Continue I pray you into that discourse concerning the vanitie and inconstancie of vvo◅ldly things ripe them vp and open them wider that I may see them within the bowels The Pastour The vvisest among men preached Vanitie of vanities and all is vanitie All things are vaine and all things cry vnto vs that wee are vaine So vaine a thing is man The Trees the Herbes the Flowrishes the Fruites the Fishes the Beastes the Spring the Summer the Haruest the Winter the Aire the Water the Earth the Heauens are all appointed teachers by God to tell man of his changing Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world All that haue eyes eares may heare read their doctrine that heere is nothing permanent One creature calleth to another Let vs leaue this World See wee not how vvee melt away by droppes for to bee dryed into dust Moses saith that wee spend our yeares as a tale that is tolde a strange speach for to declare the vanitie of lōg life so much desired while a tale is in telling it seemeth to bee something but when a tale is once told these that haue heard it will in end say That it is but a tale So long as mans life is lasting it is like a tale that is in telling But so soone as Death the end of all commeth it is but like a tale that is tolde Thus as yee see all mans life in Scripture language is called but a tale All the times of our life past present and to come are turned at last into a fuimus wee haue beene Wee that liue now let vs remember our case Ecce tempus nunc futurum quo dicen◅ nos fuisse The time shall bee shortlie that man shall say of vs that wee haue beene And thereafter a time shall come that none shall know that euer wee had a beeing Our life is like a sparkle fleeing out of the fire which dyeth out into the flight it failleth before it falleth The sicke Man These bee wordes of great power I finde now some working thereof within mine heart I pray you continue The Pastour Wee haue none abiding heere We all both yong old post swiftlie away to the graue the last bed wherein euerie man must sleepe we are long of comming to But how soone are wee pulled downe Our strength saith Moses is soone cut off and wee flee away Wee are like the Yee which thaweth sooner than it froze This is the Law of all flesh Prince People Poore and Rich all must goe to Golgotha The Preacher saith plainlie There is no discharge in that warre Though a man in the morning bee proude like a Peacocke with lifted vp feathers if Death come before the night come hee must lay downe his head among dead mens Skuls What a thing is this that within an hundreth yeares not one of vs all that are heere shall bee left aliue no not in this great Citie wherein wee liue Are wee not all as water spilt vpon the ground which can not bee gathered vp againe What memorie is now of these tha◅ are past And what shall bee said o◅ vs when wee are gone It is o◅ farre best then to follow our God and to turne our backe vpon all suc◅ lying vanities The sicke Man I requeast you Sir not to be wearied Proceede I pray you into tha◅ purpose that I may learne what vanitie is into this life which is so much desired The Pastour Mans life into this world is but a Pilgrimage and a race not of great length for man that is borne of a w◅man hath but a short time to liue Iacobs answere to King Pharaohs question concerning his age was few and euill haue my dayes beene What is man saith one but Vermis crasti◅ moriturus a worme that will die to morrow Dauid putteth the length of his dayes betweene his little finger his thumbe My life said he is like a span long some get but an inch consider well I pray you Sir seeing it is so what is it then of your life which is but of the length of a span what thogh it were an ell of length Is not Methusalah with his many hundreth yeeres as well in dust as as hee that liued but a day Other haue giuen place to vs and we must also giue place to others To mee to day to thee tomorrow There is no lodging
make answere Oh but I am pressed with an heaui◅ hand I feare much my last houre My Soule is sore troubled The Pastour Learne of Christ in his trouble Now said hee is my Soule troubled and what shall I say Father deliue◅ mee from this houre But for this cause came I into this houre Father glorifie thy Name As hee did so doe yee Hee fearing the houre was earnest with God in prayer for to bee deliuered from it and yet most humblie submitted himselfe vnto his Fathers will So doe yee If ye feare greatlie that houre pray feruentlie that God deliuer you from it and yet notwithstanding let God haue all his will of you His will shall eu◅r bee your well The Sicke Man But alas my paines are grea◅ my breach is like the sea Gods rod vpon mee is torne with stripes and worne to the stomps In my torments I both feare and feele his wrath If hee loued mee would he scourge mee with such scorpions The Pastour Whom God loueth hee chasteneth and scourgeth euerie Sonne whom hee receiueth By this yee see plainelie that hee will receiue none to himselfe but those whom hee is minded to scourge This scourging whereof yee complaine is Gods loue-token telling you that hee is minded for to receiue you Woe ◅o the Childe whom the Father will not correct God commandeth louing Fathers to chastise their children till they cry His command is also that they bee not hindered for their cryes Chasten thy Sonne said God while there is hope and let not thy Soule spare for his crying So long as there is life there is hope While God chasteneth you it is a token that there is hope Woe to that man whom GOD disdaineth to strike It is a sore word when a Father or a Master saith to a Childe I despaire of him there is none hope I giue him ouer will strik him no more It was a fearefull vvord that God said to the rebellious Israelites I will not visite your Daughters when they are harlotes nor your Spouses when they are whoores That is I will correct them no more but let them runne head-long to their owne destruction Woe to him vvhom God vvill not correct Certe tunc magis irascitur Deus cum non irascitur God is most angrie when hee seemeth least to bee angrie The wicked are most fearefullie plagued when God spareth them most Let not therefore your sore paines discourage you but rather comfort you as beeing a speciall token that God will receiue your Soule What reckes what this Carion suffer if so be that God receiue the Soule Shall I not drinke of my Fathers Cup said Christ * To drinke of a Kings cup it vvould bee thought an honour See then vvhat honour is in the affliction of the godlie thereby they drinke of the King of Heauens cup This is also a token of our friendship vvith Christ vvhen wee drinke vvith him of one cuppe Men will not drinke of one cuppe with their enemies Rejoyce then Sir to drink vvith Christ in your Fathers cuppe Though this cuppe bee bitter at the brimme the bottome will haue a pleasant farewell Thinke vvell vpon this Sir and possesse your soule in patience despare neuer of Gods mercie though hee seeme to bee angrie depend vpon him trust into him though hee should slay you In confidence of h◅s Loue rest and sleepe in his bosome hang on him saue his honour by trusting in him If this yee doe I assure you that yee shall dye sweetlie resting into his armes The sicke Man I finde Sir my paines greatlie to increase The Pastour Bee of good comfort If your paines increase God will increase your patience with your paines he is mercyfull and will surelie strengthen you in the weakest houre Gods strength is made perfect in weaknesse In the meane time bee fighting out the good fight manfullie Hold vp your hands with Moses against Amaleke Pray feruentlie to your God that hee would cast into your memorie all the good thinges that euer yee heard or reade wherewith your Soule as with a rempart may bee guarded against the houre of temptations Pray oft-ten with Christ Father deliuer mee from this houre What say yee Sir It appeareth that there bee some thing into your mind yet that vexeth you The sicke Man This Soule of mine is verie loath to depart from this bodie They be of olde acquaintance haplie long shall it be before they meete againe Friendes cannot bee but sorie while they shedde The Pastour That is naturall to all But grace in the Godlie must rule Nature Wee must gladlie leaue all for to goe liue with Christ we must deny our selues for to confesse him we must desire to be dissolued for to bee with him hee who loueth any thing better than him shall not bee found worthie of him Your Soule say ye is sorie to goe from the body What are our bodies for the present but prisons of clay Let them goe to clay till the day of the Resurrection come when those painefull prisons shall bee turned into pleasant Palaces What reckes of an inch of time heere on Earth in respect of eternitie in Heauen Should a mans heart so itch after an inch of Earth that hee would desire to tarrie from Heauen but an houre The Soule must turne its backe vpon the bodie for to turne its face vnto the God of Glorie This is but a childish temptation It is for women children to weepe at the taking of adewes chiefelie while these that depart are going to a better condition of life Because the day draweth towards Euening it is now time for mee to remoue I hope God willing to come againe the Morrow and to visite you that I may minister vnto you some Spirituall comforts In the meane time seeing your minde hath bene so perplexed with carnall temptations concerning Life Lāds Children and Riches Cause read vnto you this night in mine absence the Book of Ecclesiastes from the beginning vnto the end where ye shall see as in a glasse the vanitie of all these things wherewith your Soule now is most enamoured If ye haue time cause also reade vnto you Iob 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Before I goe Sir it shall bee best that I recommend you vnto God by prayer The first Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD in whose hands is the gift of the Spirit of groanes inspire our heartes at this time that with an heauenlie disposition wee may fall downe before thee vpon the knees of our Soules quicken our dead and drowsie heartes to the performance of this duetie of calling vpon thy Name Thou is not close handed to these that seeke thee in sinceritie wee are ashamed O LORD euen wee all who are heere before thee on the Earth thy Foote-stoole wee are ashamed for to face the Heauens the Throne of thy Majestie Our heartes are
shall hold your peace That is ye shall seale vp your thoughtes in silence and let God bee doing So doe yee bee silent for a space daine not Sathans temptations with an answere feare not stand still and see the Saluation of the LORD As Moses said of the Egyptians so will I say of all your temptations within a short space The Egyptians whom yee haue seene to day yee shall see them againe no more for euer The sicke Man Oh that with Iob I could lay mine hand vpon my mouth and with Iacob waite for Gods saluation But alas I am laden with iniquitie Sathan besiegeth mee so that I cannot keepe silence Sathan hath laide downe a bloodie libell before mee wherevnto hee vrgeth mee to make answere The Pastour If yee must needes make answere learne that notable speach of Bernard on his death bed * About an houre before his death hee beeing as hee thought presented before the great Tribunall of his Iudge where hee found himselfe seuirelie charged with the accusation of Sathan forsooke himselfe for to relye vpon Christ alone I freely confesse said he that as thou affirmest I am most vnworthie and that by no worthinesse of mine can I merite eternall life yet I am assured that my Lord Christ hath a double right to heauens glorie one by heritage and another by conquest The first is sufficient for himselfe the other is for mee ex cujus donojure illud mihi vendicans non confundor which by right of gift I claime and chalenge and shall not bee confounded Vpon this Rocke yee must cast the anchor of your soule The Lord is able to doe vnto vs aboue all that wee can aske or thinke Take courage Sir Let Sathan make out his processe your deare and louing Brother is both your Iudge and your Aduocat The sicke Man Oh that I could take that counsell and keepe silence waiting till the Captaine of Saluation bring mee thorow this red sea of bloodie temptations Oh that I could lay hold vpon that right of heauen which Christ hath conquered But alas I can find no ground or warrant in mine heart that such a conquest can belong to mee for I know that in mee dwelleth no good things The Pastour The greatest foe the faith of the godlie hath and the chiefest cause of their trembling troubled heart is that often they seeke in themselues grounds warraÌ„ts of Gods fauour as though the Lord could not loue them vnlesse there bee in them such vertues as in euerie point should be Because they want perfectioÌ„ they thinke they haue nothing By this meanes Sathan shaketh sillie Soules to and fro like Reedes with the winds of distrust Make the right vse of such temptations let them drawe you from your selfe for to rely onelie vpon the mercie of your Lord Bee earnest to finde Gods marke in your Soule euen Sanctification the Saluation mark whereof the marrow is Christs satisfaction From this marke presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus The sicke Man Faine would I haue grace so to doe But out vpon mee I haue taken such surfet of sinnes that I find my selfe voide of all grace O death death death doolefull is that separation of a Soule dead in sin from the bodie dead for sinne I am so defiled and deformed that while I remember judgement it maketh mee all to shake and to shiuer Fye on mee a gracelesse creature wallowing in a myre of miserie Oh but for a dramme of Gods grace Oh for the greatnesse of the pickle of mustarde seede thereof The Pastour He that desireth grace is not altother gracelesse It is Gods goodnesse that hath giuen you this small and weake desire of grace in this Gods good hand is vpon you Hee who giueth grace to desire grace shall giue also grace for grace God often giueth to a man aboue his hopes I sought but life saide Dauid yet the Lord gaue him to bee a King God who in sicknesse giueth you the desire of grace shall before yee die giue you grace for grace a grace which at last shall make you to sing I sought but grace yet God hath giuen mee glorie If yee feele and feare his wrath seek the more earnestlie for his mercie This was that good counsell which Zephaniah gaue to Israel before the decree of wrath come out Seeke righteousnesse seeke meeknesse it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Christes cry is Seeke Aske Knocke. Seeing God desireth to be asked hee longeth to giue seeing hee desireth vs to seeke him hee desireth to bee found seeing hee desireth vs to knocke his desire is to open God is more rich and liberall than wee are poore His hand is wider for to giue giftes than our heart can bee for to receiue Hee who will not belieue that God can bee mercifull to him is twise in the wrong to God After that hee hath broken the law of his Iustice by offending hee is not content except that hee wrong his mercie by distrust Gods delight is to bee with the Children of men on earth as also to haue them with himselfe in heauen Now Sir beeing assured of thâ—… loue embrace this Lord with all 〈◊〉 armes of your affections Seeke earnestlie the Spirit of Grace for hee is powred on thirstie grounds I will powre water said the Lord vpon him that is thirstie and floods vpon the dry ground The sicke Man Oh but for one droppe of that water Oh that my Soule were watered with the dropping bowels of his mercie In the meane time my bones with sorrow are dryed vp like an hearth The terrours of the Almightie sticke within mine heart and my Spirit sucketh out the vennome thereof I thinke that I am in the verie gorge pipe of hell If this wrath continue doubtlesse it shall bee my bane The Pastour Gods wrath is fearefull I confesse but God will not bee long wroth with his Children I will not said the Lord contend for euer neither will I bee alwayes wroth For the Spirit should faile before mee and the Soules which I haue made So soone as man beginneth to be wearied of his sins God beginneth to be wearied of his wrath yea which is strange In all our afflictions he is afflicted There is but a moment in his wrath but his mercie endureth for euer There is such a mercie in God that in comparison thereof all the mercies of men are but scrofe and scumme a myte of his mercie shall remoue the mountaines of your miserie in Christ is a mine of mercie The sicke Man I know that it is so But I as yet haue no sense of such a mercie While I seeke and cry for helpe God either answereth not at all or when hee maketh answere it is like that which Elisha said
to hand I am stricken with such amazednesse that I know not where to finde any true refreshment This maketh death to mee as a King of feare All the sinnes that euer I did commit seeme to mee malicious blowes which I haue set vpon the face of my GOD Hardlie can I thinke that such a Cain or cursed Cham as I cā euer enter into Canaan Thinke ye not this to be true I find this to bee trueth There is no peace saith my God to the wicked The Pastour These bee but temptations of Sathan who is seeking for to fift you as wheate Pray Christ that hee would pray for you that your faith faile not There is full power in Christ for to locke vp the jawes of that roaring Lyon Hee at last shall discouer vnto you those Gun-powder plots The sicke Man I know that there is sufficient power in Christ for to saue mee but I doubt of his will If Christ were minded to saue mee would hee not giue mee an assurance to bee saued This temptation passeth through the barke to the bone The Pastour Our assurance is not perfect into this life Wee are all heere like a Shippe tossed with contrarie Tydes into a raging Sea As the weather beaten Barke is driuen with many contrarie courses before shee can winne her Hauen so hath the Soule manie toes and froes before it pierce to the Skes for to enter into Heauen God giueth to no man heere all good things at once but some wee receiue in hand and some in hope This hope is the Christian Soules plight anchor in the swelling Seas of temptations While all that is present is full of trouble Hope fetcheth comfortes from the times to come While it is foule wee hope it shall bee faire While wee are sicke wee hope for health While we prouid for our Children wee hope they shall doe well While men write Bookes they hope they shall doe good While the Mariner saileth thorow the raging waues hee hopeth to come home againe hee hopeth for vantage While the Sower casteth his seede from him hee weepeth but Hope comforteth him that hee shall receiue againe a plentifull increase The hope of the pleasant Spring is a comfort in the colde Winter The hope of the Day is the long Nights comfort Deaths speciall comfort is in hope that we shall all meete againe Well then Sir seeing it is so the comfortes which wee haue not receiued as yet in hand receiue them in Hope waite vpon God and vvaite vpon him still While all your senses are silent Hope shall come with Helpe assuring you that at last yee shall preuaile Let the deuill doe his worst to dismay you sticke yee fast by this Hope which shall neuer faile you yea though God himselfe should seeme to bee your enemie yet say to him with Iob Though thou should slay mee yet will I trust in thee The sicke Man That Sir is of verie hard practise For if the Lord of Life put out the life who shall put it in againe mine Hope is small if it be not lost I feare to feele shortly that which shal be without either end or ease All sorts of temptations come haile shot vpon mee I am laide open to all the blowes of Gods wrath I am lik a wind-waued tree loose at the roots Mine heart quaketh my Soule panteth my conscience is in a qualme What can such torments bee but verie Postes and fore-runners of euerlasting paines What can they bee but the verie smoke of Gods wrath comming before a fire that shall burne to the bottome of Hell The feare of this clogeth so my Conscience that I cannot thinke but such terrours bee the verie earnest of eternall woe This maketh my liuer to rolle in my bodie O that mercie might bee Bartered for Money The Pastour Indeede Sir such terrours are such of their owne nature euen the smoke of a kindled wrath neuer to bee quenched But vnto the godlie their nature is changed by grace Such tremblings and shakings such thunders and earth quakes feares and fires are but the preparations of the Soule for to meete with its God into the still and calme voyce After this maner as ye know the Lord came vnto his Seruant Elijah Before he came to him he prepared his way by three fearefull Messengers First by a winde which rent the mountaines and brake in pieces the Rockes Secondlie by an Earthquake which made all to shake vnder him Thirdlie by a fire All these came before for to terrifie the man of God that by that meanes hee might be the better prepared to meete with his God in the calme Before Christ would shew himselfe to the world hee sent two austere Messengers before him First Moses with a fierie Law and last the Baptist like a Carpenter with a sharpened Axe in his hand for to hewe downe euerie fruitlesse tree that marred the ground After them came the meekenesse of the Lambe of God crying Come vnto mee all yee that are wearied and laden and I will ease you God will not be mercifull to proud selfe-sufficient men Take Sir these blastes of temptations to be but the Lords wind of preparation These heart-quackes are but earth quakes All your other fierie temptations are but fire from Heauen Posts from GOD in haste for to giue you warning of his comming By such warnings the Lord will waken you lest with the wicked in the slumber of securitie ye should sleepe still in your sins or with scorners should smooth them ouer and jest them away as thogh the sins of men shuld neuer be sentenced nor their life examined Bee of good comfort Sir your sharpest temptations which Sathan hath whet vpon the whet-stone of his malice by Gods grace shall bee to you like the Baptistes Axe for to hewe downe all superfluities of wickednesse within you It is good that God snedde the vnfruitfull and rotten branches of our life that in our hearts a way may bee prepared for the King of glorie Yee must also know Sir that such troubles and tempests are but a preface of Gods presence as Hearken and take head Israel was sette before the Law Suffer therefore patientlie the Lords rebukes Let the righteous smite mee said Dauid and it shall bee a kindnesse and let him reproue mee and it shall bee an excellent oyle which shall not breake mine head These feares Sir that trouble you are nothing but Gods reproofes * Take them as a kindnesse yea as an excellent oyle which shall neither breake head nor heart for your hurt The nature of oyle is not to break but rather to heale that which is alreadie broken God by such trubles intēdeth to refine you Haue patience but a little in your griefes Yet a little while and they shall bee
in his heart Thou vvho made a Cake of Barley bread to tumble vpon the tents of Midian ouer turne them thou can easilie worke great vvorkes by weak meanes It is thy custome to make thy strength perfect in weakenesse Let this poore sicke Patient heere haue the proofe of the practise of thy custome Let his Soule like a Doue enter in at the cliftes of the Rock let it creepe in by the wounds of Christ vnto his blessed bowels there to bee warmed with Gods most feruent loue Whether shall hee goe LORD to whom shall hee make his mone but to thee Whom hath he in heauen but thee O LORD now the day is farre spent and the wearisome night approacheth Before wee goe let vs obtaine our sute that thou would make thy vvrath to relent a little Let not our prayers bee powred out in vaine wee will not admit a refusall therefore set vs not off till another time abandon not this troubled Soule Thou who hast said vnto man Say not vnto thy neighbour Goe and come againe and to morrow I will giue thee if thou now haue it O LORD practise thine owne precept wee are heere come not for to buy but to begge thy mercie for thy distressed Seruant Thou cannot denye but thou hast mercie for this is euer true Mercie is with thee Seeing then LORD now thou hast it wee vrge thee with thine owne directions say not Goe and come againe to morrow I will giue thee By such a delay thou should but enhance his griefe Alas LORD what rest shall his wearied Soule get all this night if thou delay and drift him vntill morrow O come come and powre into his heart the comfortable bowels of thy compassions Powre into his Soule the powers of thy Spirit wherby hee may bee reuiued and goe softlie the rest of his time in the bitternesse of his Soule Refresh his parched Conscience with the dew of thy grace Deare Father for Christs sake let not hardnesse of heart creepe any more vpon him Receiue him softlie into thine Armes this night and cause his spirit to rest into thy bosome Whether hee sleepe or hee wake make all his thoughts to run vpon thee In the darknesse of the night make thy loue like light to breake in vpon his Conscience as the shining light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day Seeing Satan the lord of the night the prince of darknesse is most combersome in the night we intreat thee that thou would shield and preserue him by thy mercifull and powerfull protection Make his Soule to stand vpon a continuall watch that it may bee readie with a well furnished Lampe for the comming of his Lord Make the day of thy mercie to breake and all the shadowes of temptations to flee away O Father heare helpe for the sake of the dearest blood of thy Sonne the alone purger of the Soule and the chiefe softner of hardened heartes bee thou a Sanctuarie vnto this troubled Soule Create vpon him a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night joyne the direction of thy fire with the protection of thy cloud O giue now thy blessing vnto this halting man Souple and loosen his stiffe and stupefied joyntes that beeing drawne by thee hee may runne after thee Fence and garde his soule by thy grace till thou bring him vnto glorie O Iesus pray thou for him whom Sathan hath sought to winnow let him bee found as good corne vpon thy barne floore vnto the praise of thy heauenly glory of thy diuine grace Blesse thy beloued Church vniuersall purge her from all Shifmes diuisions which breed great thoughts of heart Decke and decore her with puritie vnitie the two most precious spirituall jewels of thy Spouse make her fertile like a broodie Vine Direct our gracious Soueraigne in all his ways Guide him by thy Counsell and afterward bring him vnto glorie Blesse his Royal Match the Queenes Majestie make her a Nuâ—…se mother in Israel a blessed Mother of blessed Children Blesse all the Estates of thiâ—… Land blesse thy Ministerie adornâ—… their breastes with thy Vrin and thy Thummim thy light of doctrine and perfection of life Blesse vs all who are heere humbled before thy face this night while our bodies shall goe to bed for to rest grant that our Soules may goe rest in the armes of thee our most louing GOD and Father To thee with thy Sonne and the Spirit of Grace wee giue all praise and glorie for euer Amen Cause read vnto you this night whâ—… ye awak Psal. 6 Ps. 49. Ps. 102 ps 130 The grace of God and the peace oâ—… his Spirit bee with you The sicke Man The Lord direct you Sir in all your wayes I looke ye shall returne the morrow earelie Thinke vpon that where we left at last I look that yee shall cleare that matter more aâ—… large at our next meeting My God bee with you THE THIRD DAYES Conference Of spirituall temptations The Pastour THE Lord blesse you Sir according to yourâ—…d sire I am come againe to visite you in your bedde of languishing The sicke Man I was looking for you for since yee left mee yesternight I may say with Iacob Sleepe departed from mine eyes My conscience all this night hath beene like a boiling pot O but weake man is borne to manie sorrowes his dayes are few and euill The best of them is builabour and sorrow But let vs now begin where wee left The Pastour Our last conference as yee may remember was concerning Christ in whose wings I said was health for healing of your woundes I declared vnto you that he is so tenderlie touched with the feeling of our sores that hee hath declared that these that touch vs touch the apple of his eye Hath this beene the matter of your nights meditation The sicke man That which ye haue said of Christ Sir is true There is indeed health in his wings and helpe in his hands But alas Christ will not bee helpefull but to these that are of a strong Faith My Faith is both faint and fectlesse nothing but a smoke of Faith The Pastour Christ hath said plainlie that hee will not quench the smoking flaxe S. Peter was not a man of strong Faith when in his voyage to Christ vpon the sea hee beganne to sinke Said not Christ vnto him Thou man of little Faith why hast thou doubted The Lord reproued him for the weakenesse of his Faith but neuer coost him off for the littlenesse thereof The sicke Man That was another matter Christ was with his Apostle There was vertue into that hand wherewith he gripped the sinking man as was vertue in his garment while the hemme thereof was but touched Such a weake Faith as mine cannot reach vp so farre as to touch him into the Heauens The Pastour Though your faith bee weake that Christ also be bodily
workes may easilie ouertoppe all your sins iniquities God will haue man with his narrow bowels of mercie to forgiue his brother seuen times in a day if hee shall returne seuen times in a day saying It repenteth mee If God requireth such mercie of man whose bowels in the widest are not of a span breadth what shall hee doe whose compassions are rouled together into bowels broader than the Sea yea wider than the heauens If ye can repent Sir God can forgiue When man ceaseth to spurne God beginneth to spare The sicke Man I take God to witnesse that I am sorie for my sinnes and so ashamed that with the Publicane I cannot lift vp mine eyes to the heauens I would be content to kisse the ground a thousand times for to get but one kisse of the feete of him who is the on◅ lie helpe of the conscience and the health of the countenance I finde myselfe deepe to the Chine in a gulfe of miserie Tell mee truelie Sir I pray you Thinkeyee that if with a mourning heart I confesse my sinnes to God that hee will haue pittie of me I am sore perplexed the deepe thoughts of mine owne guiltinesse strike men with such a set silence that I am not able to vtter my griefe My feare is that I bee of the familie of hell an haire of horrour and vtter woe Be free with mee I pray you Thinkeyee th◅t such an hord of miserie as mine can euer meete with his mercie The Pastour It is great ignorance Sir to thinke that anie miserie of man can ouer reach the infinite power of his pitie and boundlesse compasse of his compassions It were more easie to turne the Sunne from his course than God from shewing mercie to repenting sinners both his Name and Nature is mercie See wee not out of what myres of miserie Gods mercie hath deliuered repenting sinners In Scripture wee may read long Catologes of pardoning sinnes Consider well I pray you thinke deepelie vpon the mercies of your God Look well what hee hath done to others Could the adulterie of Dauid the incest of Lot the drunkennesse of Noah the murther of Simeon Leui the persecutions of Paul the perjurie of Peter or any other like sinne hinder God to be mercifull to the◅ so soone as they repented * Wherefore wereall these pardons printed into God Booke but for to tell all ages that no man were hee neuer so sinfull should despaire of the mercie of his God As I liue saith the Lord take no delight into the death of sinners but rather that they should repent and liue These bee his owne words If words beare no weight behold effects God hath so loued the world that hee hath giuen his onelie Sonne that whosoeuer belieueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life This is not a verball loue when a man giueth his best beloued for to die for another God hath not spared his onelie Sonne that by his satisfying sufferings his Iustice beeing payed hee might shew mercie to man his poore vnworthie creature not onelie the Father hath loued the world but also the Sonne out of vnspeakable loue was as desirous to die for man as the Father was to send him This out of his owne mouth hee declared that no loue could ouer-reach his loue No man said hee hath greater loue than this than when a man layeth downe his life for his friend The highest of mans loue is to die for his friend But Christs loue was greater hee died for vs euen when wee were his enemies In another point behold the loue of Christ scarselie saith the Apostle for a righteous mā wil one die yet per aduenture for a good man some would euen dare to die But God commendeth his loue towardes vs in that while wee were yet sinners Christ died for vs Who shall doubt of this loue which the Lord hath registred on earth with the dearest blood of his onelie begotten Sonne There is such a loue in the Father and such a loue in the Sonne and such a loue in the holie Ghost toward the Saluation of man that all the heauens are filled with loue of our well so that at the conuersion of one sinner on earth there is more joy among the Saints and Angels than for fourescore and ninteene righteous who neede not repentance * If Sir yee would haue the heauens to rejoyce cast your selfe into the armes of your God with these words Lord doe with mee what thou wilt though thou shuld slay me yet will I true in thee If yee would see the picture of Gods mercy ye must draw aside the curtaine of all carnall surmises The sicke Man Oh that I might cast my Soule into his Armes But how can I doe this The Lord hath turned his backe on mee shall I cast my selfe into a consuming fire At the first sight of his angry face my Soule will die for feare The Pastour Men often are deceiued So soone as Manoah had seene the Angel hee said to his wife Wee shall surelie die because wee haue seene God But his wife answered more wiselie If the Lord were pleased to kill vs hee would not haue receiued a sacrifice from vs As shee said to him so say I to you If the Lord were pleased to kill you hee would not haue giuen his Sonne in a Sacrifice for you * I is a greater loue token that God hath giuen his Sonne in a Sacrifice for you than that hee should receiue any sacrifice from you It is the Apostles argument that since God hath giuen vnto vs his owne Sonne hee will not refuse vs any other thing that may doe vs good Christ alone is the sinners refuge hee is a Rocke of comfort which cannot bee shaken a Rocke which commandeth all seas of sorrows the pole of our peace Be earnest in prayer with God cry till he hea◅e The sicke Man I am wearied with crying to God my prayers may be called The voyce of my roaring But what shall I say I cry but there is none that maketh answere God hath couered himselfe with a cloude that my prayers should not passe thorow hee hath stopped his eares that my prayer should not bee heard This is a most fearefull blast and blow in his bloo die battell The Pastour Deceiue not your selfe often our prayer framed and followed by the Spirit of grace is heard though the fense of grant bee not yet brought to vs God for causes will let a time goe betweene seeking and finding After this the Angel spake vnto Daniel At the beginning of thy prayer God heard thee and now I am come to tell thee See how a space will interceede betweene Gods hearing of mans prayer and mans knowledge that God hath heard him Though yee as yet know not whither God hath heard you or not yee must not
ruines Listen vnto his voyce crying to all sorrow beatē sinners Come vnto mee Thinke often vpon this Sir if ye desire comfortes in your distresse The great worke of mans redemption finished by the Blood death of God is a worke worthie of continuall wondering As for the work of the Creation it cost the Lord but his Will and his Word But the worke of mans redemption was a costlie worke it was chargeable to God it cost him the best thing that hee could giue euen the lif of his Loue our Lord O what a mercie O what a liuelie Loue The meditation of this worke should worke in our heart a louing compulsion and a compelling loue The thought of this made S. Paul to say The loue of Christ constraineth mee What shall a Christian man feare hauing Christ his Brother to bee both his Aduocat and his Iudge his Suretie and his Sauiour Was not his blessed Bodie displayed abroad vpon the Crosse with his armes spred a crying jesture a jesture crying with a voyce Come vnto mee all ye that are leadened and wearied Oh that we were sicke for the loue of him who died for the loue of vs Oh that we were wounded with loue vvhen vvee remember his precious wounds from which gushed out the streames of our Saluation Flee Sir to the holes of this Rocke flee to the bores of his woundes runne not with Adam vnto the shrubbes for to hide your selfe from God heere is your hiding place in the Lords deepest wounds Hee is the fortresse of your Faith our strength and our stay the onelie helpe and ground of all our hopes our warrantable justice Hee onelie is the bodie of all spirituall comfort all other things were they neuer so specious are but shew and resemblance Shroud your selfe vnder his protection and throw no more your selfe vpon temptations whereby ye may bee disabled from manfullie fighting out the good fight followed with a Crowne filled with massines of glorie The sicke Man Now well is me that euer I heard tell of Christ Blessed bee the day the Sonne of God was borne But alas where are the holes of that Rocke where my wearied Soule may enter in The Pastour Lift vp your lumpish thoughtes seek first to the naile holes in his feet beginne humblie creepe in into these lowest wounds and there for a space settle your abode kisse his sacred Feete wash them with the true teares of repentance wype them with the haires of your head from thence looke vp and come to the naile holes of his Hands Bee busie there like a Bee sucke out of them the Honey of Heauen from thence goe to the Speare hole in his side Let your Soule sit downe there and croud like a Doue euer till Christ let it in into the hole of the Rock the place of its euerlasting rest If once the faithfull Soule Christs Turtle win in into the fortresse of his woundes from thence it will boast all the enemies of its Saluation Frō thence wil it cry to the flesh crouch There it careth not for the Serpents hissing nor for the Cockatrices denne nor for the Graues gaping nor for Deathes dungeon nor for the Popes Purgatorie his pardons his dirges and his Trentals which bring fatte morsels to Baals Priestes Christ is mine will hee say Hee is to mee aduantage both in death and life As the Doue found no footing till shee came to the Arke so the Soule can find no rest till it come to Christ I◅ euer totters til it leane vpō his Loue. Happie is the Soule that is secured with the seale secret impression of Gods fauour The sicke Man If I had faith to belieue all wold be wel I acknowledg that there is sufficient helpe in Iesus but such a helpe is only for these that are strōg in faith my faith is both faint fecklesse The Pastour Christ hath said plainelie that he wil not quēch the smoking flax S. Peter was not a man of strong faith whē he began to sink down into the Sea Said not Christ vnto him Thou man of little Faith why hast thou doubted Hee reproued him for the weaknes therof but cast him not off for the littlenes thereof The sicke Man That was another matter Christ was with him Christ took him by the hād * Ther was vertue in the grip of Christs hand as was in the hem of his garment while it was touched Such a weake Faith as mine cannot mount vp so high as that it may reach vnto Christ into the heauens The Pastour Though your faith bee weake and Christ also bee absent in bodie yet bee not for that disquieted he is present in his God-head As for the weaknesse of your faith pray God to strengthen and increase your faith Faith though little is of great force a graine of it is able to remoue Mountaines and cast them into the Sea I pray your Sir to intreat God for a fixed heart for as I perceiue endlesse are the mazes of Sathans circular temptations which vnavoidablie if they bee not barred out by grace wind themselues into mans heart with a slie and craftie insinuation The sicke Man O man of little faith that I am if I had Faith I would belieue that I had it if I had Faith I am perswaded that I should haue Peace Being justified by Faith wee haue Peace towardes God That Peace I seeke and cannot finde These troubles wherewith I am tossed plainly argue that my Faith is failed The Pastour I answere that who euer are justified by Faith they also haue peace toward God though such a Peace bee not euer felt That which a man feeleth not is not euer absent A man in a trance knoweth not that he liueth and yet hee is not altogether depriued of life The tree seemeth to be dead in time of Snow and frost and yet it hath life and sappe at the roote These then that are justified by Faith haue Peace but their peace is not euer sensible but often is disturbed with fearefull temptations The sicke Man I desire to know of you what is that yee properlie call the peace of Conscience The Pastour I take the qualmes of Conscience chieflie to proceede from a sense of Gods wrath kindled for some sins of commission or omission Sathan also with his billowes bloweth at this fire yea often while God is pacified he assaulteth the sillie Soule with false feares and counterfeit alarums Nowe when by the vertue of Christs intercession the fire of Gods wrath is quenched the Conscience of man beginneth to settle and growe calme and in stead of accusing vs any further it beginneth to excuse and acquite vs before the Tribunall of our God Vpon this doeth ensue a pleasant calmenes quietnesse and rest in the Soule of a sinner Though this Peace bee sore enuied and often troubled by Sathans railing and
nothing within troubleth them Their peace indeede is nothing but a dead benum nednesse of spirit their Conscience beeing Seared is not capable of feeling I shall giue you two speciall marks whereby yee shall discerne a true Peace and quietnesse of Conscience from the dead benummednes which the wicked haue First a Conscience which hath Gods Peace is awfull of sinne wittinglie and willinglie for a world it would not despite the Spirite of grace But the wicked who is in a false peace flitteth from sinns to sinne as a Flie from scab to scab laying all his burden securelie vpon the broad shoulders of Gods mercie Secondlie the seared dead Conscience of the wicked hath but a part of that which is called Peace Their heartes will bee senslesse of all euill they will haue no warre within no sorrow is there But as they haue no spirituall sorrow for their sinnes committed neither haue they anie spirituall joye for the sense of their sinnes remitted Heere then know the true Peace of God in the Conscience The vnspeakable griefe for sinne is asswaged the fearefull qualmes are calmed the raging and roaring tempests are allayed the swelling seas are fallen and ebbed God is come in the calme not onelie for to wype away the teares of sorrow frō their eyes but also for to fill their mouthes with laughters of joye So not onely are they voyd at last of the sense of most terrible horrors but they are sensible of a joye which will make them to daunce with Dauid before the Arke yea to laude the Lord at a Stake amidst tarrie poudered flames of fire This is that continuall feaste which cheareth the godlie Soule amidst the bloodie bickerings of Sathan and burning persecutions of mercilesse missacrours Let all men try their Peace at this Touchstone if not onely they finde their former paines lessened but also a joye in GOD whereby their Soule is feasted with such contentmēt that for all the gold of Ophir they wold not losse it their estat is doubtlesse happie Who euer hee be that findeth this hee may sing to GOD Glorie be to God in the highest heauens peace on earth and toward my Soule good will The sicke Man Blessed be God who hath inlightened your eyes for the spying out of that remarkable difference betweene the true and false peace of mens Conscience Ineuer heard it so clearelie discussed O but Sathan is euer busie to mar this Peace of the godly who wil not war wage battel vnder his colours I haue seen these who are now godlie before their conuersion to be verie vaine light and wanton sinners while they thus did runne ryote in sinne with the wicked world I haue seene them most mirrie and solacious companie I often wondered to see them dance and sing roare reuell I could see no bands of sorrowes in their life They neuer complained of Satans malice against them But so soone as once they beganne to loue the Preaching of the Worde and to loath the carnall pleasures which once they loued I haue seene them againe so courbed downe with griefe and mainelie crossed as though it had no more beene they Sathan letteth them nor rest neither night nor day The Pastour In that is no wonder Sathan will bee verie loath to trouble his owne So soone as hee hath lulled them asleepe into the credle of securitie he will bee verie carefull that none waken them Out of a counterfeit loue hee will adjure the watch-men by the Roes and by the Hindes that they waken not his beloued till he please Hee will say of him as Christes Disciples said of Lazarus but in another sense If hee sleepe hee shall doe well See how carefull Sathan is for the rest of his owne lest that being wakned they runne away from him This Christ himselfe in the dayes of his flesh made cleare by a similitude When said hee a strong man armed keepeth his Palace his goods are in peace So long as Sathan like a strong armed man keepeth the palace of a wicked mans heart his alone so that none bee welcome but hee hee will let that man bee lest that by troubling and disquieting his peace hee grow sorie and mislike his seruice But if once hee perceiue the Soule to shrinke seeking an occation to bee quite of him hee will put all the powers of hell in armes and vproare and will driue furiouslie lik Iehu for to regaine it againe into his kingdome While a Theefe or a murtherer is in the stockes fast in fetters the Iaylor will bee merrie and will sing besides him as though hee were his friend but if the most secret houre of the night hee heare him knocking off his bolts and perceiue him to haue escaped hee will waken all the citie and pursew him with hue and with cryes Sathan is like the Iaylor a peaceable spirit so long as the Soule is fast in his fetters and clogged with his bolts in a deepe dungeon But if once hee perceiue that the Spirit of Iesus hath as the Angel did to Peter in the prison smot him on the side and raised him vp making all his chaines to fall from him and that the man ariseth vp quicklie and girdeth himselfe and bindeth on his Sandales and casteth his garment about him as Peter did for to runne and follow his God it is a wonder how that cruell Spirit will roare and rage like a Beare bereeued of her whelpes If hee gette a grippe of the poore man hee will cause him roare with gasping groans till God come with an helping hand The sicke Man Indeede Sir yee by your both plaine and learned discourse haue dispelled the mist of many difficulties The last difficultie wherein my Soule did sticke as yee may remember was concerning my Faith which I concluded not to bee because I had no peace of Conscience This did marre and deface all my comforts My ground was from the Apostle whose wordes are That beeing justified by Faith we haue peace toward God I haue heard you declare that a man may haue Faith yet for some space not to bee sensible of that peace O my God let thy mercie be closelie applyed to my Soule strengthen my Faith that I may grippe and apprehend it with a sure and euerlasting hold Oh that my soule might lye downe in that peace that passeth all vnderstanding I am sore troubled with a weake and wauering heart which is yet tossed and swayed to and fro with doubts and difficulties lik a feather in the wind Alas Sir I complaine of the weakenesse of my Faith That Faith must be strōg which is able to draw downe Saluation from the heauens and batter downe strong holds and ouerthrow principalities and powers and conqueare and subdue tame represse and repell our strongest corruptions Let mee see I pray you any partiticulare example of a weake Faith wherby any at any time haue beene
was the chiefe entiser of him vnto sinne by bearing him in hand that it was an easie thing after many sinfull pleasures enjoyed to returne vnto God whose fauour and kindnesse might bee procured by and by without anie labour But now Father while he seeth his day declining the Sun of his life neare its setting of an Entiser hee is become an Accuser striuing by all meanes to cause him make shipwrack vpon the bankes of despare Night and day hee vexeth and teareth his Soule by whispering into his eare most impudent lyes against thy Trueth viz. That hee is so miserable that thou art not able to be mercifull vnto him He suggesteth most craftily that it is in vaine for him to sue to thee for thy grace that there is none hope of mercie left for such a sinner that there is none accesse vnto the Throne of Grace for the prayers of such a miserable wretch and that it is no purpose for him to pray But what LORD thou who art Trueth it selfe wilt thou suffer this father of lyes to trouble still thy Seruant Wilt thou heareanie longer thine infinite mercie thus reproached and reuiled as though thou were not able to paâ—…don the faultes of thine owne poore creature What is that to say but that God shall cease to be that God whose mercie is aboue all his workes O LORD most mercifull can the sinfull scarlet rednesse and the Crimsin colour of mans corruptions bee â—…o dyed that it cannot bee washen away with the Blood of thy Lambe O seale vp the sense of thy loue in his heart make thy Spirit to whisper in his eare that mercie is with thee that thou may bee both feared and loued Shall anie thing LORD withhold the heart broken sinner from the Throne of Grace Is not this the voyce of thy Spirit Come vnto mee all ye that are wearied and ladened with sinned Is not thy promise written in thy Booke that thou wilt ease them O most louing Father euen in despite of Sathan and his most despitfull suggestions make his Soule bolde and confident that it may aduenture it selfe to the mercifull Throne of thy Grace Cleare and cleanse his eyes from the Spirituall goare of sin that with Simeon he may see thy Saluation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people O deare IESVS deliuer his Darling from the power of the Dogge Incline thine eares and heare the grieuous groanes of this poore prisoner Make him a prisoner of hope Turne thee now about and refresh his wearied heart with a blinke of thy mercie Shew him the light of thy Countenance and hee shall bee saued Enlarge his heart that thy Graces finding a spacious roome may plentifully harbour in his soule Alas LORD what shall we say if thou shalt say to him I haue no delight in thee Behold heere hee is doe to him as shall seeme good in thine owne eyes Thou hast not forgotten neither can thou forgette but that thy delight is in mercie Where sinne doeth abound shall not there thy Grace abound much more Thou LORD hast often bathed this sillie Soule in most bitter brimie teares Thou hast hid thy selfe from it and it hath beene troubled Now amid the vexations of so many temptations blinke vpon him with a reconcealed face O GOD of Battels in this Bartell of the Soule send downe thy strength for to guarde him against the assaultes of Satan who pursueth him so eagerly with most sharpe and fearefull afâ—…aultes like a Dogge hunting after a sillie straggling sheepe Though for a space thou suffer him to bee buffeted with a messenger of Sathan yet let him know that thy Grace shall bee sufficient for him Let thy right hand hold him vp and let thy gentlenesse make him great Renew his heart with the power of thy Spirit reinuest him with the image of thine holinesse which once hee lost in Adam Cast his Spirit againe in thine owne mouâ—…d At last LORD put Sathan to silence let thine owne Spirit speake vnto this Sicke in his inward partes Say vnto his Soule I am thy Saluation Make thy good Spirit of comfort to whisper in his eare that thou aâ—…t well pleased and that thou hast receiued a ransome Such wordes of mercie will bee a blessed Balmeâ—… wherby thou shalt heale this sorrow beaten Soule stung with a checke and smart for his sinnes Though LORD hee hath but some poore beginnings of Grace in a time wee confesse when thy graces in him should haue beene ripe for that glorie which is now shortly to bee reuealed vnto him yet notwithstanding let it please thee of thy meere mercie to pittie and â—…don Remember thy mercies of old which were neuer wont to break the bruised reede nor to quench the smoaking flaxe If thy great mercie be not his strength and stay he must needs bee ouercome For whom hath hee in Heauen but thee Or who is on earth whom hee can desire besides thee O Thou whom his Soule loueth tell him where thou makest thy flock to rest at Noone in the greatest heate of affliction Seeing he seeketh after thee onelie let him bee refreshed with thy comforts for why should he turne aside by the flockes of thy companions Consider well wee pray thee LORD how bene he hath vexed and d squieted with many fearfull temptations now at last come with thine helping hand come and abate the force and furie of all his enemies whether within or without subdue their raging and reigning power that when the houre of his departing shall come hee may with Simeon depart in peace Stand LORD fast by him forsake him not in this perelous time Let thy Spirit guide and leade him in the Land of righteousnesse Let thy grace be vnto him a Sunne by day a Moone by night Take all impedimentes out of the way bridle so curbe all his vnrulie affections that they may fold vnder thine obedience Suppresse all his carcing heart deuiding cares whyp out of his heart all treacherous temptations Embalme his hearte with the sweetnesse of thy new fresh graces Settle in his Soule that godlie sorrow which cause Repentance neuer to bee repented of This sillie Soule LORD hath beene fearefullie tossed to and froe with the waues of thy wrath Let it please thee to command a calme Settle thou his heart and stablish it with thy free Spirit Mercifull GOD thou knoweth how Sathan hath sought to sift and to winnow him but of thy mercie thou shalt neuer suffer his Faith to faile Build vpon the Rocke which cannot bee shaken Through thy fauour giue him peace in belieuing and joye in the holy Ghost that by the grace and power of thy Spirit hee may finish his course with comfort Let in now be made manifest that his life hath beene hid with Christ in God Thou who hast numbered his haires obserue his griefe his groans pittie the crouding of thy Turtle-Doue Tak thou to heart the
blot or blow for secret blo◅s they will die also with some formall perfūctory appearance of repentance Others will die in a quiet drousinesse and so poore like Nabal Many a◅ye see may die without any seene sign◅ of Gods wrath But in the day of the Lord God shall pull that painted vizard off their face for the discouering of all their abominations and that before the face of all Sainctes and Angels who shall wonder to see all the filthinesse which they in their life could so cunninglie colour and couer with most painefull painting Then mens applause and the worlds praise which they did once vnder the colour of vnhallowed zeale moste eagerlie pursue shall by no meanes auaile them for the righteous Lord with a gloume of his justice shall banish them to the loathsome dungeon of the bottemlesse pit Thus after they haue carried the matter smoothlie for a time by jugling dissimulation at last all their abominations are set in open view The sicke Man I finde my selfe satisfied concerning that doubt of the inlightening of the Wicked who as I see are starke blind grossie and palpablie ignorant in the mysteries of Saluation Now teach mee what this is that he will taste of the heauenlie gift How can vnsanctified mortalitie bee capable of celestiall benefites The Pastour By the heauenlie gift I vnderstand the fauour of God and eternall life The wicked man whose portion is only in this life will taste these things that is betimes hee will finde a certaine sweetnesse in God The most wicked man that is will at one time or other lift vp his eyes to God yea and thinke himselfe much beholden vnto God But all this goodnesse is but lik the morning dew it hath none abiding a sound of feare is euer into the wicked mans eares * As a man may taste poyson and yet not bee the worse because incontinent he spitteth it out againe so a wicked man may taste good things and yet not be the better because that after he hath tasted them hee letteth them not ouer his throat but spitteth them out againe That which hee hath tasted with the one eare he spitteth out at the other care The good words may flow a litle into his braine and rinne into his memorie so that there of hee may prattle like a Paroquet but nothing goeth down to his heart which I may call the stomacke of the Soule If a man should but taste food were it neuer so fitte of it selfe for to feed he shuld not be able to liue thereby It is euen so of the wicked spiritualy They cannot liue by tasting of graces where God hath not opened the heart as hee opened the heart of Lydea there is nothing but a tasted grace Let me yet cleare the matter The wicked will get a taste of heauen as the godlie w◅ll get a taste of hell In this doing I obserue a secret Iustice and a secret mercie of God It is a mercie for the godlie that they taste the bitternesse of wrath heere that they may esteeme the more of heauens glorie heere after The baser our estate be before we he exalted we shal thinke the more of honour whē it commeth What am I said Dauid being but a shepheard that I should marrie a Kings Daughter Who am I said hee and what is my life or my fathers familie in Israel that I should bee Son in law to the King If Dauid had beene a Kings Sonne hee could haue well thought himselfe an equall match for a Kings Daughter But while hee considered his owne base estate and the basenes of his fathers family he thought himselfe so ouermatcht that hee wondered at such honour which made him say Who am I What am I said lamed Mephibosheth that I a d◅ad dogge should sitte at the Table of a King The greater aduersitie a man bee come out of the more sweete is his prosperitie when it cōmeth The tempestuous by past blasts of Winter commend the beautie of the Spring * Bring me a man who is daylie accustomed to good cheare to a Banquet and little shall hee thinke of it because such is his ordinarie fare But O if bread was not sweete to that hunger bitten forlorne when hee came home from his husks * I think that the godly in heauē shall remember of the bitter taste of wrath they felt on earth which shall so rauish them with joy of their chāged estate that no tongue shall bee able to expresse But againe heere is Iustice and wrath for the wicked God in this life giueth vnto them a taste of his sweete thing Some common spirituall confections he putteth into their mouth whereof they find some heauenlie relish I am of this opinion that while they shall be in hell the remembrance of that sweete taste shall neuer goe out of their heart which shall bee a most powerfull meanes for the increasing of their smart What a sting was this vnto the gl◅tton in hell when Abraham said to him Sonne remember that thou in thy life-time receiuedst thy good thinges Yee may see heere that the wicked haue remembrance in hell of what good thinges they haue receiued on earth which is an hell in hell Thus as ye see God in Iustice and and in wrath will let the Wicked heere on earth taste his good thinges for the increase of their woe thereafter By the sweete taste they had of God on earth while they liued they know now in Hell which is a part of their torment what joye the godlie haue in Heauen And againe the godly by that bitter taste of wrath which once they felt on earth shall know which shall wonderfullie increase their joye what torments the wicked suffer in hell from which the Lord in his vnspeakable mercie hath made them free By this as yee perceiue both the godlie the wicked taste here both of Hell of Heauen The godly taste of Hell that Heauen may be to them the sweeter The wicked taste of Heauen that Hell may be to them the sower God loueth not the wicked but hateth them as hee hated Esau For this cause while hee giueth them a taste of his good thinges it is that while they shall bee in easlesse and endlesse torments they may remember how sweete a God they haue despised and how sowre a Sathan they haue serued All these good things which are jointly in the wicked man are but lik faire attyre vpon a leperous bodie or like jewels about the necke of an hanged man Hee hath nothing but the dead portraiture of an Israelite indeede But in all this time while vnder the shewes of godlinesse he is drinking in iniquitie like water a dreadfull sound is in his eares for he knoweth that the day of darknesse is ready at his hand God at last in great wrath shall runne vpon him euen on
vices masked with the appearance of vertues Such formal holie persons come farre short of being in Christ Iesus in whom all true goodnesse is most liuelie incorporate The sicke Man I haue heard you Sir discusse verie pertinentlie foure difficulties the fift and last and greatest is behind Often haue I wondered what could bee the true sense meaning thereof the words are these Hee will taste of the powers of the world to come What can a Reprobate haue to doe with the world to come I vnderstand not well these words The Pastour Indeed Sir they want not difficulty Some of the Learned thinke with S. Chrysostome That by the powers of the world to come are to bee vnderstood the powerfull working and miracles vnder the Gospel which in respect of the Lawe vvas called The world to come as if the dayes of the Gospel were the dayes of a new world since Christ that Day spring from on high and most glorious Sunne of Righteousnesse did appeare for to inlighten euerie man that commeth into this world But in my judgement that bee more subtile than solide I had rather thinke that Reprobats are said to taste of the powers of the world to come when they finde some sort of sweetnesse in God with a kind of desire to bee out of this world for to bee with God into the Heauens Such a desire betimes will make their heartes flutter vp toward these heauenlie Mansions But such fluttering desires wanting the feathers of Faith incontinent come short and fall downe againe with a jumpe Hee hath not a settled constancie nor well grounded resolution God at some times will let the Wicked see some glimpse of his glorie as it were a lightning that passeth most swiftlie avvay vvhich for a little space in the darke night letteth a man see that vvhich is before him But so soone as it is past his eyes become more dazeled and darkened thā they were of before such powers are but painted powers They are indeede like the liuing powers as an Image is like a man but they want the heart of godlinesse Thus according to my knowledge in a serious and impartiall search is all the vvicked mans progresse toward the kingdome of glorie All the best graces that hee hath are but glances of graces and dreames of glorie euen extreme pouertie glorious sinnes beautifull abominations These be Gods limets who hath said to him as hee said to the proud vvaues Hitherto shall yee come and no further Such a man in his best estate and conceit is but an Hypocrite lurking vnder the Canopie of a counterfeit profession His best estate is both broken and bankerupt in spirituall thinges For a space such a man may goe pleasantlie like a Shippe before the vvind but at last downe commeth a blast of judgment and sinketh him downe irrecouerablie into the bottome of hell The sicke Man I am glad to haue heard the solutions of these fiue difficulties which often did trouble my minde By all your discourse I perceiue that the Reprobates at their best feele but some generall good motions and that all their perswasions that they shall at last come to heauē are nothing but imaginations and vaine dreames of glorie Many in mine opinion are deceiued in this world who like these that dreame thinke they awake while they indeede are fast asleepe Many in this world as I see thinke to bee saued whose thoghts shal proue to be but dreames Some obscure printes of vnsound joyes though for a space they may be of good acceptance with the most godlie and clappe their owne hands as if they were in the passage to Paradise They are in end disappointed because they want true inward holinesse without which no man shall see Gods face The Pastour It is most true Sir for◅s men for the most part desire to bee flattered by others so tak they delight to flatter themselues feeding vpon fond fancies and phantasies lik Hypochondriackes or braine sicke who cannot bee perswaded but that they are Kings while indeede they are but Beggers The sicke Man This is a terrible disease But to leaue the Reprobates and come to the Elect I desire now to know of you what bee that speciall spirituall working which is onelie peculiar to the Elect and chosen Ones of God I vvish to heare of the proceedings of Gods Spirite working into the hearts of the godlie vnto their Saluation The godlie I am assured are of a more noble and heauenlie temper full of the Spirit of Grace The Pastour In my judgement where the Spirit of God worketh to the Saluation of the Soule of a sinner before it come to a full perswasion hight of assurance there is first a tempest of wrath against sinne going before the comming of God in his mercie viz. A shaking wind a trembling earthquake a burning fire vvhich lik three grimme posts come running before to tell that God is comming into the calme Before that God shew his presence into the still voyce hee proceedeth by steps and degrees First hee rebuketh the sinner of sinne and wakeneth his Conscience with some sight of his iniquities vvith some sense of that vvrath which sin hath deserued From this ariseth a great heauinesse into the heart vvhich breaketh forth both in speach countenance so that the vvorlde which know him of before will vvonder at his change as if he vvere a creature cast into another mould After that God hath thus prepared the Soule of men with thundering tempests and tremblings with blasts and vvith burnings and thereby hath made them more afraid of sin than they were of before of sinne it selfe At last he commeth vnto them into the calme of his mercie first giueth vnto them grace to flee all occasions of sinne and after that to hate the verie garment spotted with the flesh Hee vvho in despight can gnash his teeth against that vvherein once hee tooke pleasure to displease his God is not a sholler of flesh and blood not a naturall man that is content vvith ciuell outwardnesse After that the Spirit hath vvrought a detestation and hatered of sinne into the heart he putteth a cry into the heart for mercie with sighes and sobbes which cannot bee expressed Some times these sighes vvill breake out into such vvords that both speaker and hearer will vvonder vvherefrae they come After that the Spirit in his motions by a sweete and silent inspiration goeth forward in his progresse into the heart by little little with Life Light Libertie and peace of Conscience euen that peace vvhich passeth all vnderstanding and so cannot be expressed in humane words Now am I come Sir as yee heare ad metam non loquendi that I can say no more It were but folie for mee to dyue so deepe in Gods vvorkings as for to take vnto mee to declare vnto you that vvhich passeth all vnderstanding The new
name into the white Stone is knowne to none but to these that haue receiued it Though hee that hath this name know it himselfe yet hee cannot vttter it It is like these wordes of Paradise which S. Paul called vnspeakable Now for to sum vp breaflie all that hath beene declared in a more large and ample discourse I shall obserue three things which are onelie rooted in the godlie heart a◅e altogether strangers from the Reprobates First where true grace is there is a remorse and painefull griefe with many sore sighes for all by gone slips By this as by a Bitte or Bridle the Soule of the godlie man is kept from backesladings and scandalous stumbling relapses Secondlie he hath a present quicke feeling of these sins which of before hee counted but little and veniel If it bee sinne hee will say no more Is it not a little one A ◅ye for luc◅ or for sport yea a light idle worde will checke him at once in the Conscience though hee were perswaded that it were neuer knowne to anie Last of all by a long practise in well doing hee acquireth in his Soule an habituall tendernesse whereby the former good motions are so confermed and strengthened that it is a pleasure to him to doe well Off this ariseth the gracious and most sweete temper of the good Conscience which is to his Soule a perpetual feast This is the Christians progresse in true godlinesse which is neuer so calme in this world that it can be said to be without troubles which maike the way vnto glorie Thus much for the proofe of the point in hand Onelie this I desire you to obserue that such spirituall workinges goe by degrees◅ like a Riuer that is waxing like an Herbe that is growing like a Day that is but dawning or like a Victorie but beginning At last commeth nowe full Flood nowe is perfect grouth nowe is Noone day now haue I foughtē the good fight now I look for the crown of righteous nesse This being all finished therepenting sinner entereth into glorie the place of ful contentment where the restlesse eyes of mans desire shall rest from peeping or prying any further for any greater felicitie Thus brieflie by waye of compend haue I declared vnto you But all this is not so soone done as said B◅tter bee the Battels of a Christian before hee can come to this rest There be bloodie battels against the Deuill bloodie battels against the World bitter and bloodie battels against the corruptions of his flesh Many a stroke will hee giue vpon his breast with that Publican many astroke will hee giue vpon his thigh crying with Ephraim ◅ye What haue I done S. Paul was pricked with a thorne in the flesh and buffeted by a deuill before hee got the Crowne Christ himselfe speaking of himselfe said Ought not Christ to haue suffred all these things and so to enter into his glorie It is easie to heare this short discourse of words But what paines are into the second Birth The paines of the first Birth are so piercing that the verie paines of hel are compared vnto them And yet I haue known women who by their owne confession haue trauelled more into the second birth than euer they did in the first Manie would bee content to dye for to bee borne againe This flesh of ours is ill to die yet it muste die and bee mortified at the birth of Ichabod where is the glorie The first wordes that this new creature learneth to speake is Where is the glorie At the first it seeketh after Gods glorie as the new borne Babe at the first seeketh after that dug with the tongue and the lips * It is the best foode of a regenerate Soule to sette our Gods glorie as it was our Sauiours meate to doe his Fathers will After all that the Soule maketh a procession in well doing neuer standing at a stand but euer going forward though some times more slowlie The way to glorie is from grace to grace Many foullie deceiue themselues because that they forbeare one sinne or other wherevnto at other times they haue beene most slauishlie addicted they thinke themselues reformed men and that if Death should come incontinent the doores of Heauē shuld goe wide open to the walls for to let in their◅ soules with their formes of godlinesse◅ Such are so high in their owne conceit that they thinke to bee after death cannonized Sainctes Of this sorte bee so many that Scripture calleth them a generation There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceit and yet are not washed from their filthinesse In him vvho is truelie a childe of God the strongest corruptions of the flesh must bee snaffled and curbed by the Law of the Spirit It is not enough to beate downe one sinne or two or many as many will doe but reserue aye some one or other for which they must pray with Naaman In this thing the Lord pardon thy seruant Let no man deceiue himselfe there is no place in Heauen but for him or her whose studie is applyed to an vniuersall sinceritie of all their wayes Let it be that Cain was not a Theefe But did not God curse him for his murther Let it bee that Iudas was free of many sinnes yet because hee way a Theefe and a Traitour and died so hee was damned Let it bee that the Pharisee was not an adulterer as hee bragged yet his pride was the bane of his Saluation Hee that maketh not conscience of the least sinne is guiltie of the greatest According to this God himselfe saith That who faileth in one faileth in all If for God and for Conscience sake a man abhorre the great sinnes of murther and adulterie and such others of not orious rank for these same sakes he will abstaine from lesser sinnes otherwayes it is but some worldlie respect either for shame or losse which like a restraining grace with-holdeth him from matching the same Many will neither kill nor committe adulterie and yet will make no conscience to slander or lye either in sport or earnest or by hooke or crooke catch that which is not their owne Who euer hee bee who without controlement looseth the reines to such petit sinnes hath neuer as yet sette his foote forward in the way that leadeth to life the Spirit of grace as yet hath made no residence into him The Spirit he hath is but a sporting Spirit deceiuing him vvith ◅ies The surest note of the Spirit of the grace is a sanctified studie endeuour to an vniuersall sinceritie in all our wayes of thought worde and dead which vvill bee I confesse often with great vveaknesse and failing for in many things wee offend all Now Sir vvhat thinke yee of all that hath beene said according to the knowledge that God hath giuen mee I haue cleared your doubts If my
discourse hath done you good giue God the praise yet vvould I knowe vvhat all these vvordes hath vvrought in your heart The sicke Man I blesse God for that vvhich I haue heard By Gods Grace I haue catcht some hope of a better life The desires of mine heart beginne to enter the confines of eternitie I find the motions of the Spirit of Grace vvorking into my Soule the great vvorke of Saluation I am now refreshed vvith the sweete streames of spirituall comforts I finde now my Soule lifted vp toward God and I finde the loue of this vvorld falling downe like the Mantle of Elijah I think that I goe novv more sweetlie and swiftlie to my God with a more holie and heauenlie desire than euer I did heeretofore Your comfortes Sir make mee to hyefaster I take this to bee a nevv worke-man-shipe of grace I hope shortlie to be at the vp shot of all my troubles I finde vvithin mine heart some kindled joye vvhich I take to bee the pawne of pleasures for euermore The Spirite of God like a Doue hath brought vnto my Soule a comfort like an Oliue leaue assuring mee in some vveake measure that the floode of Gods vvrath is asswadged vpon my Soule What shal I say The best of Gods blessings are behind Oh that now my Sauiour vvere into the cloudes I had rather die than I should liue for to anger the Lord againe Alas that mine heart hath beene so gleued to the ground like a shell-Snaile fastened on the wall Seeing Sir God hath wrought so well by you in this great worke of my conuersion I intreat you to continue in some good purpose that my minde may still bee kept bended vpon that which is good If yee leaue off to teach mee my minde will but wander in vanitie O Lord worke all my thoughts to holie and heauenlie meditations The Pastour Blessed bee God who hath giuen you such a resolute and contented minde See what yee desire me to speake chieflie of at this time The sicke Man Seeing I am shortlie for to leaue this world and to goe to the Heauens for to take out of mine heart the least roote of regret to quite this world I pray you Sir to say something of the vanitie of this world of the last Iudgement and of the joyes of Heauen where shortlie I hope to bee Let mee heare how I shall losse nothing in the change Striue Sir I pray to kindle and blow vp the dying fire of my deuotion helpe mee to goe from strength to strength till I bee in Zion The Pastour The Lord put such wordes into my mouth which may bee able to winne your Soule vp to Heauen and to weane it from all worldlie pleasures First for to speak but a word in generall cōcerning this world What is it but a peece of earth made barren with Gods curse whose fruites without sweatie labours are but thistles and thornes As for the vanitie of the world seculum speculum This world is a glasse wherin a drumlie eye may see its vanitie Hee who was wisest in it speaking of it after that he was tyred with trying its pleasures preached that it was but vanitie of vanities a verie Idea that is the abstract of vanities which are the abstracts of things that are vaine So according to Solomons Text all that wee account most substantiall is but an abstract of an abstract as if a man shuld dreame that he dreamed which should bee the dreame of a dreame This is like that vanitie which Habak kuke calleth verie vanitie wherein are some few flashes of deceiueable comforts Thus as yee see the life of man in this world is nothing but a fardle of vanities shadowes and dreames a bundle of displeasing pleasures vaine in inside and outside too Our greatest pleasures here are but a mixture of miserie They are soone marred like a mistuned song The flees in the plague of flees were not so thicke in Egypt as vanities are in this world for which the most parte of the world exchange the happinesse of their Soules These who are most glorious in worldly pompe are constrained to say at last with that King in Homer * The great God hath imprisoned mee with cares O happie they who are free of such dangers are secured in cottages of clay After that man hath beene vpon the top of his pompe and is come to the vertical point of his pleasures after which hee hath hunted with great eagernesse of heart Hee must come downe and bee curbed with paines of diuerse diseases distressed till hee bee turned in to dust All his pleasures profites and prefermentes shall slide away like a shadow They shall passe like a Poast passing by like water lift vp with a sife or sand with open fingers As the shippe passeth ouer the waues its trace not beeing able to bee seene on the brim or as the fowle mounting to the Skye piercing the Aire so that no mortall eye can perceiue any token of her passage though the eare heare the noise of her wings so shall it bee of all earthlie things when once the inch of this life being ended our mortall Soule shall bee dislodged out of this clay all earthlie contentments then shall bee like a Bird of whose flight no token can bee found after for a space by the shaking of her wings shee hath parted the aire in a greater heminencie of going In all our greatest pleasures bee lurking sorrowes like serpentes among the grasse which maketh way to a fairing man to steppe backe or start aside Oh that wee were wise What shall I say In this transitorie life we are miserablie blind folded because wee loue not the heauens God letteth vs dote vpon the earth It is righteous with God so to doe Of all this wee must say This is the Lords doing it is marueilous in our eyes Oh that wee could consider in these last dayes of this world there is come vpon the world a plague of vanitie like a plague of flees whereof pride is Beelzebub the master flie which buzzeth in most men womens heads commanding other legions of vanities full of fretting sorrows or of false flattering pleasures wherewith the sillie Soule is fettered The whole life of man is inclosed in Mesopotamia betweene two riuers of teares First wee mourne at our Birth and last others mourne at our Burial Nascimur flentes morimur gementes The whole bounds of our life is inclosed betweene weeping and groaning At the first sight of the light we weepe and last at the closing of our eyes wee gaspe out our life with a groane What shall I say So soone as wee are borne wee are gone like a shadow when it declineth Oh that wee could consider that there is nothing heere which is not mixt with some spyce of vanitie * If wee had eyes to see wee would say What is below in
a jumppe Thus as yee see such is the treason of our Treasures They come like deceitfull dreames and passe avvay like vanishing shadowes One lie things Spirituall haue a sure and lasting roote Alas in that our heart is least wherein it should be most and most in that wherin it should bee least Fooles that vvee are vvee all earne vvages to put into a bottomelesse bag Such vvages are often giuen in keeping to most vvorthlesse men as Iudas got the bagge to keepe Oh that mens hearts vvere fixed on the lasting Treasuâ—…es of immortalitie Oh that vvee could learne in time this sound Diuinitie that all that is vnder the circle of the Moone is but flatte vanitie and vexation of the Spirit of man vvhich continuallie vvanders vp and downe at randome seeking its felicitie in that where it is not to bee found Well is the man vvhose hearts desires are bounded and confined vvithin the secret compasse of contentment 4. BEAVTIE What is Beautie but as one faith vvell a colour and a temptation The colour fadeth the temptation â—…nareth Behold her who within these fourtie yeares seemed a perfection of Beautie a rauisher of eyes behold 〈◊〉 now in her fourescore vvith her vvrinkled cheekes and her glasseâ—… eyes and her rotten teeth and her stinking breath Behold and say with a sigh Fauour is deceitfull and Beautie is vanitie But she that feareth the Lord shall bee praised There is nothing more fadding than flesh and yet man will not consider vvhile his eye is quicke his lips rudie and his colour liuelie hee cannot think of changes neither by age nor sicknesse such a foolish conceite is bredde in the heart Out of such a Beautifull sleepe hee cannot be vvakned til God vvith a shout cause preach him to bee Grasse The voyce said cry The Prophet saide What shall I cry All flesh is grasse and the goodnesse thereof as the flower of the fielde The grasse withereth the flower faddeth because the Spirit of the Lord blaweth vpon it Surelie the people is grasse By this the Lords publicke Oyas all fleshlie beautie is cryed downe as beeing but a beguiling colour and a snairing temptation Fye on men and vvomens follie care for colour is but vanitie Heere is beautie vvithout fard Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs All other beauty is lik an Almanack whose vse is but for a yeare It is but a baite for catching of vnstable Soules 5. PLEASVRE As for all the Pleasures vve reape in earthly things I compare them to fruites eaten before they bee ripe vvhich fiâ—…st set the teeth on edge and thereafter cause diuerse and deadlie diseases There is no pleasure heere without a Page of paine at its backe Our vveedes and our flowers growe vp together the best often is borne downe by the vvorst What I pray you are all the foolish pleasures of this world but as wee ordinarlie call them passe times Hath man so long a time to liue Or is his journey from Earth to Heauen so easie or so short that hee may haue leasure for pleasures and passe times Is mans short life so wealthie of time that it must be passed into passe-times Must wee not in end come to count reckoning for our euill and well spent houres Moreouer what are the most parte of all earthlie delights The most excellent are but noble miseries the fairest are but farded lik the face of Iezebel onely an out-side or outward scroofe of pleasure What I pray you are all carnall delights but the lymetwiges of the Deuill wherewith the sillie Soules of sinners are ensnared and entangled What shall I say more All the pleasures that are below may well be compared to a smokie fire in a fâ—…ostie day whereof the smoke is more hurtfull than the fire is helpefull All the joys which are heere are but reekie pleasures purchased with teares wher with the eyes of men are made bleared In laughing the heart will bee sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse Worldlie pleasures but darkeneth the Reason deceiue the Senses Voluptates carnales sunt putida putrida both stinking and rotten Onelie the pleasures of Heauen are pure perfect and perpetuall All other thinges slide away like water 6. WISEDOME What is all the Wisedome of this World Scripture saith that it is but follie before God It may well bee compared to the Letters which Vriah carried against himselfe If it bee not sanctified it is in the bosome â—… message against the messenger Knowledge and pregnancie of Wit stored with all morall vertues without Gods feare are witnesse against the man himselfe in whom they are They will stand vp and testifie against him that hee vnderstood his Masters will and yet would not doe it Woe to that backe in hell whose heart on earth was full engrossed of worldlie witte Hee that knoweth his Masters will and doeth it not shall bee beaten with manie strips Away with that Soule whose vnderstanding is great swelled with knowledge but lamed in its practicall powers wherein is the working of the life of true Christianitie Many in this world are much counted of their naturall â—…it but wherin I pray you doe most men spend their wits and breake their braines Is it not to be great in this world In the meane time they are so spirituallie brutish that they care not what they bee oâ—… where they be in the world to come Such fooles are like Fishers that leaue mayne seas for to fish in shallow puddle As I beganne this point so I end it all naturall witte is branded with this that it is but follie before God Let your Soule disavow and disclaime it that yee may bee wise in God Gods wise man to worldlie wise is but a sillie Gods Foole. 7. CHILDREN As for Children their conception is with sicknesse ouer casting of heart Their birth is with paines like the paines of hell Their buâ—…iall is with teares after many a wearisome night Such pleasures are painefull pleasures Apples of So dome are rotten vvithin But let vs suppone that lik noble branches they liue and come to men yea to gray haires They are our Heires the end of all our painefull drudgery carefull conquests Though a man had conquered vnto them the whole vvorld hee must looke vpon his conquest with a sigh and say with the vvife Man As for him that commeth after mee who knoweth whether hee shall bee a wise man or a foole and yet he must bee master of all my labours Man may conquise Lands to his Children but Thrift and Wisedome cannot bee bought The most thriftie is often the father of the most for lorne What a vanitie is this Certainlie who vvould weigh well all the pleasures of Children with the paines past and the feares for time to come should find all the pleasures light
subject vnto changes lik the Moone Crownes haue their composse triumphs haue their tombes All our sweetest thinges in end proue but honied poyson Thus all that yee see heere below is vnconstant The greatest kingdomes are turned about as with whirling wheeles The Kinges vpon its spokes are marked vpon this dittâ—… 〈◊〉 Regnabo regno regnam suâ—… 〈◊〉 sine regno One Prince is lying vpon his backe another hath a spok in his hand climing vp the Wheele The third is vpon the top The fourth is fallen hauing his heeles vp his head down All the things of this world are diuided into foure Either they lye low or they climbe they stand or they are fallen The poore man is lying vpon his backe without any helpe or hope Another is fall of climbing conceits The third beeing there where all would bee euen vpon the toppe the higher hee is mounted the greater is his fall He then falleth that another may stand in his place while hee againe is lifted vp hee must stand with feare and heare Let him that standeth take heede lest hee fall At last also to him the haÌ„dwritting commeth foorth that in Gods ballance he is found wanting that therfore his kingdome must bee taking from him Then all the pleasures of his wine of his whoores then all his feasting his mirth and his Musicke is turned into a trembling feuer which maketh all his joyntes to shiuer and his knees to smyte one against another Beholde and consider how the glorie of Kings the gods of this world is brought to destruction Though their heads bee golden their feete are but of clay like Nebuchadnezars image Gods litle stone cut out without hands is able to bruise grinde in powder their Golde Siluer Brasse Yron and Clay for the allaying of the pride of their peacocke feathers Hee can let them see the blacknesse of their feete None of them can stand before the winde of that voyce Returne ye ChildreÌ„ of men Though their honours which they doe broach with so bold a face were reared aboue the highest cloudes and exalted aboue the starrie Skie yet must they descend at the Euening of their life and make their bed with the beggers in the dust Thus after they haue drunke vp the pleasures of this world as Behemoth the Riuer of Iordan they at last find all to be but vanitie and change When their houre is come they must quite all and make resignation of all into the hands of a new succession for to goe dwell in the Land of darknesse and shadow of death Who knewe the weight of their Crownes they would neuer be so sicke for them as King Ahab was for Nabothes vine yarde If of any man may bee said this is most true of him who is in highest places While his flesh is vpon him hee shall haue paine and his Soule within him shall mourne After that for a space hee hath feasted with Belshazzar and fatted himselfe against the day of slaughter with Wheat Wine and Oyle at last shall hee know but too late that no Feast is continuall but that of a good Conscience * Oh that great men while their minds with Dauid are beastlie would with Dauid goe to the Sanctuarie of God for to learne that if great men be not good men though they were Kinges they are sette in slipperie places Seeing Kings and Kingdomes are but vanitie what is that on earth that is not vaine There is nothing that can stretch to eternitie below In this world all men are strangers in their birth Pilgrimes in their life at last lik combersome guests by death they are thrust out at doores The language of Tabor was that It is good for vs to bee heere But the language of heaueÌ„ proclaimed that Peter knew not what he said Striue to keepe euer your heart loose from the earth The glassie sea of this vvorld is neuer without tempests Hee that would haue his Soule wained from the loue of this world let him remember but these sixe things 1. What hee is in himselfe 2. What is within him 3. What is aboue him 4. VVhat is beneath him 5. What is before him 6. What is behind him Man in himselfe is but dust and ashes a cage of corruptioÌ„ Thrise with one breath is he called Earth earth earth Earth by creation sustentation and corruption saith Bernard Within him is a blind minde a peruerse will and most vile affections yea so that euerie imagination of the thoughts of his hearte are onelie euill continuallie Aboue is a weightie vengeance hanging by a small twined threed of Gods patience Below him is a fierie fornace and the smoking brimstone gulfe of euerlasting burnings Against him Sathan and sinne with their legions posting to and fro so that when one departeth it is but to fetch seuen others worse than himselfe Before him is nothing but miserie volumnes of woes and lamentations Those bee his Day-booke Behind him pale Death followeth with stealing steppes See vvhat a masse of miserie like an hudge armie besetteth and besiegeth the whole course of the life of man till death at last come with the dead stroke and separate the Soule from the lumpish heauinesse of clay Then they that die in the Lord are blessed yea saith the Spirit That they may rest from their labours But because the day is alreadie spent yee shall now carefullie thinke vpon that which hath beene said It was a speciall propertie required in Sacrifices fitte for God that they could chewe the cude I leaue that which ye haue heard vnto your nights meditations I pray God that by his Spirit he would conuoy into the substance of that which your eare hath receiued Before I leaue you let vs all bend our knees vnto God in prayer that it would please his Highnesse to blinke downe vpon you with a reconcealed face His boundlesse and bottomelesse mercies did neuer yet know how to breake a bruised reed or quench a smoaking flaxe Let vs pray A Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD the GOD of the Spirits of all flesh the preseruer of men in whoÌ„ is both power for to saue and to destroy Thou art the true Teacher of Israel Thou hast the keyes of Heauen of Hell and of the Graue Come and cast the armes of thy mercie about this sorrow-beaten sinner Rejoyce him with the comforts of thy Spirit Inspire him with holy motions and with the life of Grace till hee bee made partaker of the diuine Nature Thou hast alreadie made his heart to melt within him at the sight of his transgressions Thou hast sette all his sinnes in order before him This is out of thy great mercie wherby thou wold not suffer him to freeze in the dregs of his corruptions Now at last LORD after thou hast refined him in the fierie fornace of temptations send him
to the whole world before the comming of Christ Others of the Learned tak these words to be spokeÌ„ properlie And for to cleare their opinion to bee true they alledge the words of S. Peter as a Commentarie vpon Christs wordes The Heauens shall passe away saith hee with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with feruent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein shal be burnt vp And a little after hee subjoyneth Looking for and hasting vnto the comming of the day of God wherein the heauens beeing on fire shal be dissolued and the Elementes shall melt with feruent heate The sicke Man These bee wonderfull wordes of wonderfull workes yee will bee so good as to make them mâ—…e cleare The Pastour First it is said That the heauens shâ—…l passe away praeteribunt not that they shal be turned to nothing or shall â—…o passe away that they shall bee no more but they shall passe away in that they shall bee changed According to this the Psalmist speaking of the heauens saith That all of them waxe olde as doeth a garment As a vesture shalâ—… thou change them and they shall bee changed Though in our life-time because it is so shorte wee cannot sensiblie perceiue any decay in the heauenlie influences yet it is certhat taine the heauens are but cretures ordained for the seruice of maÌ„ creatures subject to faile weare and waxe olde bee The sicke Man What a change Sir thinke yee that that shall bee The Pastour It shall bee a change altogether for the better All the Elementes shall be melted as mettell into a furnace whereby it is refined After that they are melted they shall bee â—…ast into a new mould for to receiue such a â—…orme as it shall please the most High to giue vnto them I compare all these great creatures of the world as the Heauens and foure Elements to an olde peece of money stamped so long since that hardlie can it bee knowne whoâ—…e superscription is in it all the Letters being worne off with the vsing It is euen so of the Heauens and of the Elements in these latter dayes It is so loÌ„g since they were stamped that the letters of Gods name vpon them are growne dim are not so legible as they were wont to bee But in that last day the Lord shall make the old Heauens and this olde Earth all to melt into a fire and thereafter shall stampe them like a newe stricken Crowne Then hee shall giue them such a temper that they shall neuer waxe olde any more Gods first impression on his creatures hath by sinne beene dimmeded and darkened but this secunda cura the second coyning of these creatures shall be so durable that nothing shall be able to deface it For God then shall bee All in all Then Tempus edax rerum Time that eateth all things yea all times as yeeres moneths days nights houres lik floods shall all runne in into the sea of eternitie where they with all such vnconstant things shall bee swallowed vp in victorie The sicke Man What is that to say That the Heauens shall passe away with a great noise What sort of noise shall that bee The Pastour The worde in the originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the French hath termed auec vn bruit siflant de tempeste that is the roaring of a tempest which commeth with such a thudde that it casteth downe both Trees and Houses making all to shake and also lifting vp dust and straes and all in the aire as with a whirle wind Erasmus termeth it In morem procellae like a Tempest Such a Tempest was neuer heard since the world was founded It shall bee a Tempest which shall shake the worlde of its foundation Aboue and below all shall bee shaken with such a roaring and cracking tempest that no mortall heart can conceiue The Heauens the Earth the Waters the Aire the Sunne the Moone and Starres shall bee so shaken with that tempest as though they were but pickles of dust and caried with a whiâ—…le wind My minde is in a maze to think vpon the greatnesse of that day My pen while I haue beene writting of it hath fallen out of my hand so haue I beene rauished with admiration of that day O what a day shall that be when all that euer God made shall bee sette on fire The Heauens being sette one fire saith the Apostle shall bee dissolued and the Elements beeing set on fyre shal melt with feruant heate Isaiah saith That the Heauens shall vanish away like smoke What fearfull tempest must that bee which shall put all the worlde into a burning flamme All shall bee sette on fire the Heauens aboue the Earth beneath the waters also must be burnt and melted into that wonderfull furnace By this fire all things must bee purged The sicke Man It would seeme by Scripture that those heauens which are now shall bee altogether abolished The Lord saith in Isaiah Loe I will create new Heaâ—…ens and a new Earth and the former shall not â—…ee remembered nor come into minde To create a thing is properlie to mak something of nothing What then â—…hall the Heauens and Elements which are now bee redâ—…cted to nothing The Pastour It is most certaine that they shall not bee put to nothing but according to their earnest expectatioÌ„ they shall bee deliuered at the last day from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the Sonnes of God It is not Gods custome so to reward his old seruants as to put them from their beeing that so hee may bee quite of them As for that which Isaiah saith that he will create new Heauens and newe Earth and that the former shall not be remembered it is not to bee vnderstoode of the last day The Lord by these wordes did onelie declare this to that people that hee would so alter change the state of his Church at the comming of the Messias that it should seeme to dwell into another world The sicke Man I took euer that passage otherwise but I hold that exposition best But behold what S. Iohn saith concerning the Heauens the Earth and the Sea I saw a new Heauen and a new Earth for the first Heauen and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more Sea What is that to say The Pastour The first Heauen and the first Earth are said to haue passed away not that their substaÌ„ce was no more but as one sayth well because alia ejus videbatur facies it was so changed that men would thinke that it could not bee that cloudie Heauen and clattie Earth which was before The Sea also was no more such as it was before The sicke Man But S. Iohn sath That hee saw a white Throne and One sitting on it from whose face the Heauen and the Earth fledde away and there was found no more
trauell together vntill now The sicke Man O the great secrets of God! I pray you Sir to let me vnderstand these wordes by some breefe exposition First what is that which hee calleth the earnest expectation of the creature which waiteth for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God What creature is that What expectation can that bee The Pastour By the creature are not vnderstood these little creatures as Frogs Flees Midges Beastes Fowles Fishes Such creatures haue none expectation of better things to come for in the world to come there shall bee no vse for them But by the the creature is to bee vnderstood the whole worlde viz. The Heauens and all the Elements as Earth Fire Water Aire which now are all so knit in loue that euery one as it were taketh another into its bosome Because they are so fast coupled together and so neere to other that nothing can come betweene them for this cause as if they were all but one thing they are called in the singular number the creature As for it expectation it is called by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a stretched out of the hand In which word the waiting of the world for the comming of the Lord is set out like a woman standing vpon her tip-toes stretching out her head for to see if she can see her husbaÌ„d comming a farre whom shee looketh longeth for hourelie See howe liuelie the Apostle declareth the secret instinct of the worldes desire for the comming of Christ Iesus In a most powerfull word hee letteth vs see the Heauens and the Earth and all the Elements all as it were a man or a woman standing vpon their tip-toes and holding vp their heads for to see if Iesus bee comming according to his promise All the Faithfull who are the Spouse of Christ groane within them selues sighing till they see their Sauiour in the Cloudes so also this creature hath the owne groanes and sighs till Christ come for its deliuerance And as the Churches desire maketh Her to cry Come Lord Iesus come so in this creature there is a secret instinct and earnest expectation which moueth it in the own language to cry for Christes comming The sicke man What vnderstandeth the Apostle while hee saith That the creature was made subject to vaniue not willinglie but by reason of him that hath subjected the same in hope First how is it said That it is made subject to vanitie Can the Heauens and the Earth bee saide to bee subject to vanitie The Pastour The most Learned thinke that by this subjection of the creature to vanitie is to bee vnderstood ejus fluxa evanida conditio that is a condition subject to change corruption wearing away or waxing olde As for the Earth it is euident as for the Heauens Scripture is plaine They waxe olde as doeth a garment This is the vanitie of these creatures Heere is also another vanitie wherevnto they are subject in that they are made seruants to these that will not serue God whoÌ„ they serue That the beautifull Sunne should furnish light to these that delight in Spirituall darknesse it is a vanitie and a drudgerie wherevnto the Sun is subject That the Earth should beaâ—…e and bring foorth fruites for to feede the blacke mouthes that blaspheme its Maker is a great vanitie wherevnto it is made subject The Sea groaneth vnder the Shippes of Pyrats and Robbers See what an vproare was in that Element for Ionahs rebellion So long as he was in that Shippe Gods scourged the winds with his worde of command The windes scourged the Seas the Seas scourged the Shippe wherein Gods Rebell did lye till hee was cast out The Sea euer seethed with the fire of Gods wrath the waues euer tumbled vp and down breaking one vpon another with rushing and roaring till it tooke order with the rebellious man there was no resting for its waues The sicke Man But how is this that it is said that the creature is subject to vanitie but not willinglie It would seeme by that that they obey God but against their will The Pastour The Heauens or Earth properlie haue neither a willing nor a nilling but onelie a secret instinct which is like a will This secret instinct which God hath put into his creature is that Omnis natura conservatrix suiest euerie creature striueth to keepe maintaine it selfe Now while by God it is made subject to such changes weakening and wearing which is against the working of that instinct it is said in Scripture language to bee subject to vanitie but not willinglie Neither for that must wee thinke that the creature in that rebelleth or repineth against God in any wise as if it had a will striuing against Gods will no not But in some measure it may bee saide to haue an instinct like that will of Christ at the drinking of the bitter Cuppe Christs Naturall instinct was that the Cuppe should passe from him and yet for all that his prayer was Not my will but thy will bee done It is euen so in some manner of the instinct of the Heauens and of the Earth They naturallie shrinke from bondage abuse as also they incline to keepe themselues froÌ„ corruption and vanitie neither for that is their will contrarie to Gods will Hee who is called a seruant should not care for it But yet if hee may bee made free the Apostles direction is That hee vse it rather The sick man may will life and seeke cure for to preserue his life though Gods will bee that hee die if so bee that he submit vnto Gods will his whole desire as Christ did euen while hee desired the Cuppe to depart which hee knew to haue beene put into his hand for to drinke it A will that is diuerse from Gods will if it bee subacted subjected vnto Gods wil may bee free of sinne So the Heauens and the Earth are subject vnto vanitie but not willinglie because they incline to bee free of the bondage of mans corruption But seeing it is their Lords will that they beare the burden and bee subject to such changes they become subject but withall they are euer groaning and longing for their redemption As a woman in trauell naturallie desireth to be deliuered and yet submitteth her selfe to Gods wil as naturallie these creatures of God haue an instinct to bee deliuered from the burden of their bondage But seeing their instinct or desire to bee made free is not so soone effectuate neither can bee before the world end the Lord their good and kinde Master for to encourage them vnder the burden of their bondage lest they should faint hath giuen vnto them another secret instinct which the Apostle calleth their hope For to cleare this to you in a word There is in this world groaning vnder the corruption of the wicked a certaine instinct like Hope
day without night heauens without cloudes mirth without mourning joy without sorrow and beautie without blemish All good thinges muste abound there where God shall bee All in all When wee shall bee there our God shall enlighten our minde and shall giue our will its will without controlement Then shall no man say I doe the euill that I would not and doe not the good that I would doe nay but wee shall doe all the good wee would beeing in no wi◅e troubled with the euill wee would not Then shall wee rest from all our labours refreshed vnder the euerlasting shadowes of Christ that most pleasant Apple Tree whose fruite is sweete to the taste Nothing in a word shall bee inlaking that may rejoyce all the senses of our body without all the faculties of our Soules within All the Godlie these blessed Denizens of Heauē shall euer in a Quire sing the praises of the Lambe Halleluiah Halleluiah vpon the loud Cymbals Harpes Organes and Timbrels of God O Lord one day in thy Court is better than a thousand else where said the Psalmest speaking but of the figure of heauen Is it so of the figure of heauē what shall it be thē to be in heauen it selfe euen in these new heauens Let it be but the tenth better according to that one day in Heauen shall bee better by ten thousands times than the best day that euer man did see on earth There is no serenitie below which is not ouer clouded with some dumpes of heauinesse while the flesh is vpon the Soule it shal be sorrowfull Pure sincere joys cannot dwel in the valley of teares in this muddie mortalitie One day aboue is more bright and better than tenne thousand below Is it so of one day in Heauen Mercifull God what shall it be thē of these dayes without number euen of that euerlasting of dayes euen that eternal day of light life libertie cleare without all g◅mie clouds of sicknes of sorrows O for a sight of the light of that countenance a light of continuance which no mistie vapour shal for euer bee able to ecclips O Day neuer to be darkened with a following light O euer fresh pleasures which no sorrow shall bee able to fret waste or weare out O Eternitie Eternitie neuer to haue an end O that faire heritage vnto all these that are there The lines are fallen in pleasant places If wee had heartes to belieue the thoughts of such Glories should waine our heartes from the milkie transitorie trashes below which worldlings dreame to bee an heauen not to bee changed with any such preached pleasures O when shall our Soules get them with the Spouse to these high Mountaines of Myrrhe and hills of frankincense The consideration of this happinesse made Ignatius a Scholer of S. Paul to defie all the tormentes that cruell Burrios could inuent for the tormenting of his bodie Fire Gallowes beasts said he Crushing of my bones quartering of my members breaking of my bodie Let all the torments of Sathā seaze vpon me together I care not for them so that I may enjoye my Lord and his righteousnesse O that all the thoughts of our heartes were made subordinate and contributarie to such spirituall and diuine desires The sicke Man O Lord in the multitude of thy thoughts within mee thy comforts delight my Soule Cōtinue your speach I pray you concerning the beautie of the Heauens within which is the Presence-Chamber of the great King The Pastour S. Iohn describes it with such wordes as men are able to vnderstand or imagine The vnderstanding of man concerning the beautie of a Place reacheth no further than to Gold Glasse Crystall Pearles and precious stones which indeed are nothing but like Coales or drosse in comparison of these heauenlie bodies * Before that the man of God beganne to declare what hee had seene of Heauen hee said that there came vnto him an Angel that carried him away to a great high mountaine shewed him the great Citie the holie Ierusalem a type and figure of Heauen Glorious thinges are spoken of thee O Citie of our God euen of thee Ierusalem Because that Ierusalem was a type and figure of Heauen I shall first speake a little thereof As for the earthlie it was a Citie in Iudea builded as some thinke by Melchisedec Otherwise it was called Salem and Iebus or Iebusi After that it was called Aelia from Aelius Hadrianus the Emperour who builded a part thereof and enuironed Mount Caluarie Christes Sepulchre and Golgotha with a wall This Citie had two parts the vpper part and the lower The vpmost part thereof with the Temple was builded vpon mount Moriah Because in this Citie the Lord had his residence and did shew himselfe more familiarlie than into any other part of the world it was called The perfection of beautie and joye of the whole earth It is written that in circuite compasse it was foure miles In forme it was foure square hauing twelue gates Ioseph recordeth that it was Dauid that first called the Citie Ierusalem In the time of Abraham said hee it was called Solyme Some also say that Homere called it Solyme which in the Hebrew tong saith Ioseph signifieth a Fortresse Thus much concerning the earthlie Ierusalem which now is in bondage with her Children the most cursed Citie in the world since that desperate voyce of blasphemie was heard in it His blood bee vpon vs and vpon our Children The sicke Man That is a fearefull desolation The Pastour Great was that desolation It is called The abomination of desolation a desolation abominable or foresignified by an abomination The sicke man I remember well of these words of that Gospel This I remember that Christ did speake them with a Nota Who so readeth let him vnderstand Often while I did reade these words I found my selfe secretelie accused of negligence in that I tooke paines to vnderstād the saying which Christ desired the Reader to vnderstand I pray you Sir let mee vnderstand the words The Pastour The wordes are these When yee therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holie place who so readeth let him vnderstand Then let them which are in Iudea flie into the mountaines The wordes of Daniel are these And after threescore and two weekes shall Messiah bee cutte off but not for himselfe And the people of the Prince that shall come shall destroy the Citie and the Sanctuarie and the ende thereof shall bee with a floode and vnto the end of the warre desolations are determined And hee shall confirme the Couenant with many for one weeke and in the midst of the weeke hee shall cause the oblation and the sacrifice to cease and for the ouer spre◅ding of abominations hee shall make i◅ desolate euen vntill the consummation and that determined shall
that tyme Ornan with his foure Sons while they were threshing Wheate saw also the Angel and hid themselues Dauid vpoÌ„ that occasion bought the floore and offered Sacrifices with prayer and God answered him by fyre vpon the Altar of brunt offering and so God was pacified After Dauids death Solomon builded the Temple there It signifieth the feare or doctrine of GOD The sicke Man Let mee heare a little of that glorious Temple The Pastour It was seuen yeares in building The length thereof was threescore cubites and the breadth thereof twentie cubites and the hight thereof thritie cubites all the stones were readie for the wall before they were brought thither So that there was neither Hammer nor Axe nor any toole of yron heard in the House while it was in building Those that write of this Temple diuide it in three parts First toward the West was Sanctum Sanctorum the Holie of holies called also the Oracle This by a vaile was diuided from all the rest At the death of Christ this Vaile was rent from the top to the bottome Before that no man might enter into it but the higâ—… Priest that but once in the yearâ—… not without blood There stood the Arke wherein was the Pot of Mannah and Aarons Rod and the Tables of the Couenant The sicke Man While I was a Scholler I heard that passage confronted with another which declareth that neither the Mannah nor the Rod were in the Arke but onelie the Tables The Pastour Indeede it is written that the Mannah was layed vp before the Testimonie or Arke In another place it is plainlie said There was nothing in the Arke saue the two Tables of stone So indeede in that passage of the Epistle to the Hebrewes the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth juxta beside the Aâ—…ke The second roome of the Temple is called by the Apostle The first That is the first part of the Tabernâ—…cle Not first in dignitie but in regard of entrie if it bee compared with the Holiâ—…st or Oracle This part is called Sanctum Sanctuarium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sancta which word some of the Learned take to bee corrupt as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this middle roome was the Candle sticke and the Table of the Shew-bread and the Altar of incense The third parte of the Temple toward the East was the Porch called Atrium Heere stood the Brasen Altar wherevpon the burnt offerings were burnt sub dio vnder the open aire as some think on this altar was kept that fire which came downe from Heauen Heere stood also the Molten sea set vpon twelue Oxen. c. The sicke Man I haue heard concerning mount Sion and mount Moriah and of the holie Temple with great contentment Now I intreat you to let me heare of the mount of Oliues while Christ was nigh vnto the Mount hee sent his Disciples into a Village for to bring him the Asse whereon hee rode thorow Ierusalem the day the little Children cryed Hosanna Hosanna The Pastour Indeede this Mount is well renouned by Christes often resorting vnto it While hee was sitting vpon the mount of Oliues hee taught his Disciples most diuinelie concerning the destruction of Ierusalem and the signes preceeding as also of the end of the world of the signes of his comming to Iudgement It was vpon the mount of Oliues that Christ told Peter that before the Cocke creâ—… twise hee should deny him thrise It was to the mount of Oliues that he came out of Ierusalem after his last Supper for Matthew saith That after they had sung an Hymne they went out into the mount of Oliues It was at the descent of the mount of Oliues that Christ said That if men should holde their peace the stones would cry ouâ—… his praise It was in Gethsemane a valley at the roote of the mount of Oliues where Christ suffered the bloodie agonie While hee there in a colde night did sweate blood there the Disciples slept With himselfe hee tooke a part Peter Iames and Iohn to whom hee said My Soule is exceeding sorrowfull vnto death tarrie yee heere and watch There the Lord fell on the ground praying that if it were possible the houre might passe from him all this befell to our Lord at the roote of the Mount of Oliues At last from the mount of Oliues our Lord ascended vnto Heauen As for the Mount it selfe it is so called because of the Oliue trees which grew there in great aboundance S. Augustine calleth it The mountainâ—… of vnction because of its great fertilitie Others calleth it the mountaine of health because of diuerse Herbes good for Physicke which growe there Ierom writteth that vpon this mount the red Cow was burnt whose ashes were prepared by the Priestâ—… for separation and purification This Mount was sâ—…uate toward the East from Ierusalem some thing more than a mile between it Ierusalem runneth the Brooke Kidron The sicke Man Mine heart is sore wounded to heare of these places which hath bene so renouned by the pen of God I haue heard of Sion of Moria and of the mount of Oliues Now let mee heare of Hermon The Pastour The Hill Hermon is also made glorious by Gods word wherein mention is made thereof The heauens are thine saith the Psalmest the earth also is thine The North and the South thou hast created them Tabor and Hermon shall rejoyce in thy Name Dauid speaking of brotherlie loue and of the communion of the Sainctes compareth it to the oyle that ranne downe vpon the beard of Aaron To this hee subjoyneth As the dew of Hermon and as the dewe that descended vpon the mountaines of Zion In the Song of Solomon mention is made of Shenir and Hermon This Hill hath three names the Iewes call it Hermon the Amorites call it Shenir and the Sydonians call it Sirion Moses by the figure Syncope tâ—…king out two Letters calleth it Syon From Aroer to Arnon saith he euen vnto mount Syon which is Hermon This Mountaine is thought by some to bee higher than mount Syon that is in Ierusalem It is neare the Iordan not farre from the mountaines of Gilboa where King Saul was slaine Some will it to bee called Hermon from Heren res devota a thing consecrate to God or to an holie vse The sicke Man There is a passage in the Psalme concerning Hermon whereof I know not well the sense O my God saith the Psalmest my Soule is cast downe within mee Therefore will I remember thee from the Land of Iordan and of the Hermonites from the hill of Missar or the little hill The Pastour These wordes want not difficultie In our poesie they are turned after this manner And thus my Soule within mee Lord doeth faint to thinke vpon The Land of Iordan and record the little
comparison of fifteene hundreth myles What wonder seeing as the most learned Philosophers haue obserued the least fixed conspicuous starre which feemeth to bee but a golden naile fixed into this seiled house containeth the greatnes of the earth eighteene fold Others of the greater sort are esteemed to bee more than an hundreth sold greater than the whole earth It is most certaine that if the whole bodie of the earth were where a star is it should not appeare so great as that little blacke spot that we see into the Moone Nay certainelie though an hundreth Earthes as great as all this were joyned in a cluster or in one masse they should not there appeare so great as a little more in the Sun for seeing a star which is of such a bignesse and such a brightnes seemeth to bee but a sparkle as much of earth as would come to the greatnesse of a starre beeing corpus opacum a bodie darke and duskish shuld not in any way bee able to bee an object for our sight heere below Fye on foolish Atheimse that will not looke vp to the Heauens for to consider what an Arme it can bee which turneth about with a continuall whirling Bodies of such a quantitie The sicke man Oh that wee could vnder value our selues as wee should to acknowledge our stupiditie Hee is not a man indeede but a beasâ—… that can not say and thinke with that wise Agure Surelie I am more brutish than any man and haue not the vnderstanding of a man The Pastour Oh that wee were wise for wisedome is better than Rubies Oh that wee were wise for the man that wandreth out of the way of vnderstanding shall remaine in the congregation of the dead Wee are such muddie worldlings that wee cannot thinke of that immortalitie of pure and refined pleasures that are aboue The sicke Man But to the purpose Is there not a Temple in Heauen wherein the Sainctes conueene for the seruice of their God The Pastour S. Iohn saith That hee sawe no Temple therein for the Lord God Almightie and the Lambe are the Temple of it The sicke Man I vnderstand not howe the Lord God can bee said to bee the Temple thereof O Lord sette bounds and limiâ—…s to my curiositie Let the loue of thy selfe haue the preheminence in swaying all my desires A Temple or Church properlie signifie a particular house appointed for Gods seruice for so it is that such an house should not bee in heauen But the Lord himselfe shall bee to all the Sainctes in steede of such an house The Temple is a place properlie for offering vp of sacrifices for instruction of ignorants for comforting of these that are afflicted To declare vnto vs that there shall bee no neede of such thinges the Scripture teacheth that there shall bee no Temple but that the Lord and the Lambe shall bee the Temple that is shall bee in steede of sacrifice instruction comfort joye all other good things vnto his owne so that hee shall bee All in all No created Spirit is able to conceiue wade thorow such mysteries The sicke Man The summe of your discourse as I perceiue is that though that Citie want a Temple God himselfe by his presence shall bee in steede of all thinges which are helpefull vnto vs heere But it would seeme by another place of the Reuelation that in the Heauen there is a Temple There was giuen mee a reede like vnto a rod saith S. Iohn and the Angel stood saying Rise and measure the Temple of God The Pastour By that Temple is to bee vnderstood the Church of God on earth as the most Learned esteeme They also thinke that this Calamus mensorius measuring Reede is the rule of holie Scriptures wherby Sectes Heresies are discerned from the trueth of Religion By this Temple heere I say Wee must vnderstand the Church of Christ according to this it is said to the Faithfull Know yee not that yee are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you The hearts of all the faithful are a Temple which God hath consecrate vnto himselfe for his Spirit to dwell in The sické Man O my God keepe still mine heart in an holie spirituall temper Soften and season it with the dew of thy Grace Inlighten the eyes of my mistie minde that beeing made quicke and nimble they may sharplie discerne and with a liuelie vigour apprehend their blessed object euen God himselfe the Soueraigne felicitie of my Soule O Lord of immortalitie make heauenlie meditations only to lodge into mine heart which may bread therein thoughts of a more noble and spirituall temper then ordinarlie arise and are fostered in earthlie minded men ' who drinke vp iniquitie like water and feede vpon it as the horse Leech vpon corruption The Pastour The Lord giue eare to your desires Oh that wee could consider how our drousie thoughts and dull affections are so glued vnto the vvorld as though Eternitie of happinesse were lodged vpon earth and the short time of pleasures had its residence onelie in the Heauens Such follies and fancies by the subtilitie of Sathan are moulded into vnstable and vnhallowed braines There is a secret influence of folie from the corruption of our Nature whereby except that Gods Grace stand in the gap and debarre it all the wisedome of God shall seeme to bee but follie vnto the Soule of man The sicke Man The Lord giue vs wisedome in all things But to follow our purpose seeing wee are now speaking of that heauenlie Ierusalem I would gladlie heare you declare the differences that are betweene the heauenly and the earthly Ierusalem The Pastour There bee many notable differences worthie our obseruations 1. The earthlie was builded into dust and now it hath the salt of Gods curse sown vpon it The other hath its foundation into the Heauens blessed for euer 2. That which is below had not a gate for euerie Tribe neither were all Israel free Denizens therein But as for the Citie aboue The gates thereof said Ezekiel shall bee after the name of the Tribes of Israel The name of the Citie from that day shall be IEHOVAH SHAMMAH The Lord is there S. Iohn saith That hee saw this Citie enuironed with a wall both great and high with twelue gates and at the gates twelue Angels and names written thereon which are names of the twelue Tribes of the Children of Israel 3 That which was earthlie was abhorred by the Gentiles and at last by them destroyed and now by Turkes possessed and subdued But as for Ierusalem aboue The Nations of them which are saued shall walke in the light of it the Kings of the earth doe bring their honour glorie into it 4 These of the earthlie Ierusalem could not see without the light of the Sunne by day and of the Moone by night It behoued them to haue
Alas that wee gaze so greedilie vpon the painted and varnished vanishing glorie of things below which all perish with the vsing If men knew what relish is into these dainties that are aboue prepared for the Sainctes they would not so glut themselues with the swinish â—…uskes of earthlie thinges but would reserue their lust for that whereof there is no loathing Fye on men that for follie should losse such an inheritance that fadeth not away In this world wee haue Bethel the house of God but aboue is Peniel the place of Gods face wherein are pleasures for euermore Below all pleasures ebbe and flow with discontent and comfort But aboue is an euerlasting full sea of joyes which could neuer enter into the heart of man Vnder the Law God was hid vnder a vaile In the Gospel wee see him in a glasse But in heauen we shall see him face to face and that indeede euen as hee is The sicke Man Mine heart by these wordes is possest with a secret louelier auishment Continue I pray you to declare what more beaucie is within that Paradise Let me heare of these pleasures which the Sainctes there haue in the presence of their God and what bee the order and chiefe ornaments of that Palace what bee the attyre of these that follow the Lambe what be the forme of their feasting at table with Abraham Isaac Iaacob The Pastour Such things are transcendent to all the wits of Nature and to all created inuentions It is good that wee beware to launch too farre into such a boundlesse and bottomelesse Ocean What is the compasse of mans braine little like a Nut-shell that it should containe conceptions of that which is infinit God who killed the Bethshemites for looking into his Arke and reproued the Galileens gazing vp to the Heauens will not allow men to pierce and prye curiouslie into his misteries which surpasse all created capacitie Our greatest wisedome shall bee to wonder at that which passeth the reach of all reason and reuelation It may well content the most curious Soule to bee of Gods Court though it be not of his secret Counsell In nothing mans reason appeareth more reasonable than to cease from reasoning in that which is aboue his reach The matter is heere so high that all words forsake mee as it were confessing that they are neither fit nor able to expresse such wonderfull misteries As the heauens could not bee measured but with a Reede of gold so cannot these heauenlie things bee declared but in the golden language of heauen which our sinfull mortalitie can neither speake nor vnderstand It is dangerous for man to be curious to learne what God esteemeth not necessarie to teach Man must not haue eares to listen where God hath not a tongue to speake Gods silence should teach all men sobrietie in searching In that royall Palace of pleasures aboue without doubt bee comfortes contentments yea and such I am perswaded as greater the Sunne and Moone the two eyes of Heauen neuer saw What say I greater The image of such thinges could neuer enter into the heart of man In my judgement all the Godlie at the first sight of heauens glorie shall bee like men in a dreame As it is written of Gods people When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Zion wee were like them that dreame All such glorie beautie and pleasure shall bee things so excellent and beyond expectation that for a space they shall seeme to the Saincts incredible for a space in my judgement the Godlie shall bee like these that dreame wondering how so great a glorie can possiblie bee My minde is now dazeled with such high considerations O O O these so vnspeakable beauties that are within that Holie of holies O the order that is there O the dainties that are on these Tables O the Table of that Ruler where all may take of all without Putting a knife 〈◊〉 their throat O the apparell of Gods seruaÌ„ts there O these fairest flowers which shall decke their garlands of Majestie O these peerelesse Pearles of price O these louelie Iemmes O these celestiall crownes spangled with jewles more glistering than â—…tarres O yee Angels and Archangels O yee all of that heaueÌ„ly Queire Cherubins Seraphins Princes Powers Thrones Vertues and Dominions all inflammed with most glorious diuine beames of light O yee Noble followers of the Lambe all decked with glorie and garlands of immortalitie O the amazing beauties of these celestiall Mansions O ye blessed eternized Denizens who liue there into an eternall vnitie of loue which no jarres strife or debate shall for euer be able to vntwine O purest Spirits purged from all drossie mood of sinfull mortalitie O Palace of pleasures wherin Angels Sainctes all around with celestiall Harpes make all to ring with Holie Holie Holie Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah O yee purest pleâ—…sures of perfection which no fretting canker of time shall bee able to out-weare or to cancell the owlish eyes of my mind are not able to reach within the bounds of so bright an Horizon The most I can conceiue is lesse than the least and lightest glory that shall bee there where Soules are solaced without stresse or strife in immortalitie O glorie glorie glorie without any veine of vanitie Mine heart is rauished and is no more within me When the Queene of Shebah came to Ierusalem to see the glorie of Solomon after that shee had considered the meate of his Table and the sitting of his seruants and the attendance of his Ministers and their appâ—…rell his Cup bearers it is said That there remained no more spirit in her All her spirits in a manner ran out of her by the holes of her senses for to come sit downe wonder at the glorie of the man Thus wondering shee remained for a space as if shee had beene amazed till her stupified spirit returned into her againe then shee began to speake It was a true report that I heard in mine owne Land of thine actes and of thy wisedome howbeit I belieued not the wordes vntill I came and mine eyes had seene it And behold the halfe was not told mee Thy wisedome prosperitie exceede the fame which I haue heard Happie are thy men happie are these thy seruantes which stand continuallie before thee and that heare thy wisedome Consider how the glorie of a man in its greatest not comparable to the glorie of a Lillie drew the spirite so out of the Queene of Shebah that for a space shee was not able to speake Shee wondered at that which shee saw but what shee had seene shee could not vtter in words buâ—… onelie said in generall that shee had heard a true report which she could not belieue vntill shee came and her eyes had seene it And nowe wheâ—… shee hath seene shee declareth that the halfe had not beene tolde
her Consider well I pray you If the beholding of the glorie of an earthlie Prince so rauished the heart not of a rusticke that will easilie wonder at any thing but of a Queene yea and so that no more spirit remained in her what should it bee if we should get but as through the graâ—… one sight thorow the heauens of that great God of Solomon sitting vpon his Throne If but for the quarter of an houre wee might see the meate of his Tablâ—… and the standing of his seruants the attendance of his Ministers Saincts Angels casting downe their Crownes at his feete if I say wee could see these things as they are this our Spirit shuld be caried toward him witâ—… such a strong bent affection thaâ—… 〈◊〉 should not tarie within vs but being rauished should runne out of this body of clay for to goe abide with him that made it among pleasures perfectlie abstracted from paine If God as hee is should appeare vnto vs were it neuer so little the bonds of our bodies should not be able for to fetter so our Soules but at the first sight of God they with a most flagrant desire should flutter out of sinfull clay for to enjoye his most amiable presence wherein are pleasures exempted from all hazard of surprysall That which I say giueth some light to these wordes which God said to Moses No man can see my face and liue As for the wicked I giue this interpretation that the sight of Gods face shuld kil them as light killeth darknes or as the day is the slaughter of the night But God who killeth not but quickeneth the killed of his owne chosen if by them hee were seene in the face on earth they shuld dye not a violent death but they should die for loue to bee at him At the first sight of his Face their Soules would not remaine any more in clay but loathing their bodies they should make haste for to flie to their God So soone as Steuen saw the Heauens opened the Son of man standing at the right hand of God his Soule tooke post to the heauens Albeit the Burrios thought that they chaised it out with stroakes and with stones yet it is certaine that fra once hee got that sight his Soule was more desirous to bee out of his bodie for loue of Heauen than the Soule of the most wicked man can bee desirous to abide still within for feare of Hell There is such an attractiue loue in Gods countenance that if the Soule in flesh could once see it the bodie should not bee able to keepe it any more within no not for the space of a moment As the load stone draweth vnto it the yron by a secret and vnspeakable draught so in the face of God there is such an attractiue force that of neede force the godlie Soule at the first sight of it must flie vp vnto it As the Sun by the force of his beames raised vp the vapours towardes heauen euen so if God would but turne his face to anie Soule with the least blinke thereof hee should draw vp that Soule vnto himselfe like a vapour raised vp by the force of the Sunne Consider how the sight but of his backe partes maketh many a well resolued Christian to cry vp vnto him Cupio dissolvi I desire to bee dissolued What is that but the faithfull Soule haling like an Hawke for to flie from the mortall heart as from the hand of a stranger for to come home to her Lord in eternitie O thrise happie hee whose name is in the Booke and whose Soule is in the bundle of life O the gaine that wee haue by the mercie of God in the fall of Adam In Paradise man might liue or die On earth hee now liueth and must die But in Heauen wee shall so liue that wee can no more die O blessed life of eternitie neuer to haue an end into that other world Oh that wee could spend this life in a sacred violence in pursute of that celestiall crowne of immortalitie Happie is hee who keepeth a narrow watch ouer all the stirringes and imaginations of his heart in consideration of that day Happie is hee who maketh all his joys pleasures and all his best beloued thinges below to bee by standers waiting on the seruice of that one thing which onelie is necessarie The sicke Man My Soule is so rauished with youâ—… speach that it flutters within mee â—… haleth to bee away from this mortalitie for to goe dwell into these heauenlie Mansions with the God of glorie Our best thinges below in their verie quintessence are defiled with the moode of home bred corruption All haue neede to be renewed in the verie spirit of their minde Let it please you Sir yet to continue in describing the beautie of Paradise The Pastour If man oâ—… Earth could belieue the beautie of the Heauens to be in any measure such as it is hee would bee glad at his heart to forsake the moulding cottages of clay Seeing the out-sid of heauen is so glorious what must bee the in side Solomons Temple was a type of Heauen The further a man went in he saw the greater beautie In the out most Couâ—… was but an Altar of brasse for the sâ—…crificing of beastes Into the inward Court stood an Altar of Gold for offering of incense of sweet persumâ—…s But that which was in most viz Sanctum Sanctorum the Holie of holies was all full of Glorie There God himselfe was heard in a voyce beetweene the Cherubins There was the Ark called The Glorie wherin were the Tables of Gods word Aarons flourished Rod the Manna There was the Word for the instruction of the Soule There were the Almond floorishes like a pleasant Spring for rejoycing of the eye There also was Mannah for meate the type of that euerlasting Soule feast in the Heauens Behold a compend of the three most pleasaÌ„t seasons of the yeare First there was the seed of the word after that the Summer flowers of pleasure in the flowrishing Rod And last there was the fruitfull haruish of Manna for meat In a word in that Holie of holies the figure of Heauen was the Mercieseaâ—… the speciall place of Gods residence But all the beautie of that Temple were not sufficient to expresse the shadowe of these that are aboue the starres S. Paul after that hee had beene rauished vp to the third heauens got a charge from God that hee should not tell what hee had heard or seene there Onelie this hee declared after that hee was come downe that vp into Paradise hee had heard vnspeakable words which no tongue of flesh could bee able to pronounce But though such words had beene speakable the Apostle declareth that it was not lawfull for a man to vtter them Alas what can the earthlie low creeping worâ—…s of our highest eloquence expresse of these
joyes that are aboue the Heauen of heauens Hee who with penne and inke would set out the greatnes of that glory which is to bee seene within that blessed Building should bee as who would foolishlie tak paines to paint the Sun with a coale In vaine shall a man prease to expresse that which cannot be spokē but into vnspeakable words Words come shorter than thoghts and thoughts come shorter infinitly than the thing it selfe The sicke Man I haue heard with great ioye of the vnspeakable glorie of God himselfe of the beautie of his Princelie Palace I desire now to heare some thing more at large concerning the estate of the Sainctes wherein they shall be when they shall dwell with God after the resurrection The Pastour It is most certaine that they shal be there into a farre better estate than wee can imagine For if Da◅id thought one day in Gods earthly hous◅ better th◅ a thousand else where what shall it bee when wee shall bee in Heauen the Citie of our GOD whereof God is the House and the Temple The Saincts shal be in such glorie there as that no earthlie tongue can tell If in this world by be holding in a glasse the glorie of the Lord wee are changed into that same Image from glorie to glorie what a change shal bee made when we shall see not Gods Image not in a glasse but himselfe face to face If the sight of his Image in the glasse of his Gospel hath such a working power as to change vs into the same Image heere on earth what a change shall bee made of vs in the Heauens when we shall see God euen as hee is All the godlie Gods warriours then shall liue in peace and rest As their life on earth was a continuall battell so shall their life in Heauen bee a perpetuall triumph Then the winter of their affliction shall bee past The stormes of their miserie shall blowe no more On Earth joyes and sorrowes are combined together In Hell is sorrow without any joye In Heauen shall bee joye without anie sorrow There they all in bleached coats of righteousnes shall blaze brighter than the Sunne God beeing in them shall burne in them as hee did in the Bush They shall burne but not bee consumed While S. Iohn was rauished in the Spirit he behelde a great multitude which no man could number all standing before the Lambes Throne cloathed in white robbes which had beene bleached from their blemish by the blood of the Lambe hauing the testimonie of two Senses he reporteth what hee saw and heard With his eyes hee saw them cloathed with white robes and Palmes in their hands The one was their innocencie the other was their victorie With his eares hee heard the songs of their triumph They cryed said hee with a loude voyce Saluation to our God which sitteth vpon the Throne With them were Angels Elders roūd about the Throne all falling down vpon their face and singing Blessing and glorie and wisedome and thankesgiuing and honour and power and might bee vnto our God for euer and euer Then with vncōquerable comforts shall all Christes crouding Turtles bee loueinglie comforted Then shall all their sighes bee turned into songs Then joyes vnspeakable shall fill all their senses without any surfet Euerie Sense shall receiue more than all mortal hearts can conceiue But which is of all good things the sweetest relish there shall bee such vnspottednesse of life and loue among the Saincts as the heart of man here cannot conceiue Euery one shall rejoyce of anothers wel as much as they shall doe of their own felicitie The enuious man seeds-man of all strife debate shall not be there All selfe-loue which is of a niggardlie nature enuious of the good of others shall be quite away in the place therof shall come such an heauenlie loue that shall make all the joyes of Heauen to be common As was in the primitiue Church so shall bee there but in greater perfection a communitie of goods One shall not say This is mine or that is thine But as wee shall bee all in Christ Christ in vs so shall wee bee all one in another filled one with anothers joye All state of strife then shal be farre away In Ierusalem aboue an euerlasting peace is within her walls and perpetuall prosperitie within her Palaces All the godlie glistering like starres shall rejoyce one into anothers light Euerie one of them by twinkling and be◅kning vnto other with celestiall smiles shall bend all their force for to giue glorie to the Sunne of righteousnesse the fountaine of all their light All Soules there shall bee most wonderfullie beau◅fied with internall externall and eternall happinesse There God onelie shall speake peace vnto his people and vnto his Sainctes who shall neuer returne againe to their folies Mans chiefe contentment in the heauens shal be in loue first with God and then of one with another O these euerlasting streames of contentmentes which shall flowe into these blessed breastes sequestred for euer from all doole and distresse The sicke Man Lord make all these thinges to liue freshlie in our memories My Soule is inflammed with loue to heare of that loue which shall bee betweene God and his Saincts and among the Sainctes themselues Your discourse Sir with a plausible and pleasant insinuation windeth it selfe into the affections of mine heart It hath alreadie winne mine heart to him to whome it most justlie belongeth Blessed bee his Name for euer Seeing yee were speaking of that vnspeakable loue that shal be between God and vs and also among our selues I pray you to say some thing more concerning that matter The Pastour I shall doe what I can brieflie As for God euery Soule shall loue him better than it selfe because it shall then perfectlie know that God hath loued it more than euer it was able to loue it selfe As for all the Saints wee shall loue them equallie with our selues as beeing all members of that mysticall Bodie Then and not till then shall bee the perfect practise of that second great command the summe of the second Table which is to loue our neighbour as our selues If the Soule of this naturall Bodie in the toyle of our pilgrimage hath such a commande ouer our naturall affections that it maketh vs to loue all the members and euerie member to worke equallie well for the good of another O mercifull God what greater loue shall proceede from that Spirite of Loue which shall bee in the Heauens euen the Soule of that mysticall bodie of all the Elect Looke how much grace surpasseth Nature and Glorie surpasseth Grace the Spirit of God which shall animate this bodie shall so much more straitlie make the members thereof to liue in Loue The holier the Soule bee within a man the greater loue concord is betweene his members
But if the Soule be not holie all the members will shortlie discord The one Hand will cut off the other The Hand will wound the Heart or cut the throat and the Mouth will bite the Fingers But O what loue shall bee then among the members when our Sanctification shall bee made so perfect that nothing more can bee added vnto it O what loue peace and concord shall bee there where God who is loue like a more powerfull and noble forme shall in an vnspeakable manner informe all the members of that mysticall bodie Wee all then shall accord to one thing All our wils shall bee according to Gods will And eue◅ie one of our wills with another shall bee like our two eyes whereof the one cannot so soone turne but the other must follow after it for to behold the same object Wee cannot now comprehen◅ this For mans reason heere on earth is like a riuen vessell which can not containe the discourse of immortalitie Our mindes are so drossie ◅mpish that they cannot conceiue euerlasting matters Wee speake now of Loue O but Loue now is litle among men we may say of it in this last age as Lot said of Bel◅h Is it not a little one Though it bee little now it shall bee great in these dayes Then shall it defie all sickle and foolish changes In this worlde belowe three graces dwell into the Soule of man like three sisters viz. Faith Hope and Charitie two of them conv◅ye the godlie Soule vnto the doores of Heauen viz. Faith and Hope but Charitie entereth in The Lord openeth his Doore to Loue Faith beeing a substance of things not seene so soone as the Soule commeth to sight it ceaseth to be because there is no such substance there Hope being of things to come so soone as the future is become present it hath no more a doe But Loue entereth in and as fyre posteth vp to fyre so Loue swiftlie flieth to God for God is Loue and for to speake so the verie element of Lou◅ Till Loue bee at him it is like a thing out of its element the place of its ◅ost there shall our soules feede on his Loue In such a feeding they shall bee as if they were euer hungrie and as if they were euer satisfied As the heauens hunger is without any laking so is its fulnesse without any loathing On Earth as it is said Voluptates commendat rarior vsus Single vse maketh pleasures the more agreeable But in Heauen the more our Soules shal haue the more they shall desire The more they shall desire the more they shall receiue So by an infinite multiplication joyes and pleasures and contentments shal be heaped vpon godlie Soules for euer like fyre in fuell which suppone the fuell be infinite can neuer die out but day lie increasseth as it were from a sparkle to a flame What shall I say more There shall bee such a fulnesse of all good thinges that no Soule shall bee able to receiue a greater desire of more All shall bee content all shall bee vnspeakablie glorious and made perfect There shall be no blemish into our bodies nor sinne in our Soules Iaacob shall not halt Mephibosheth shall goe straight blind Isaac then shall see Leah shal no more be bleared the deafe shall heare the dumbe shall speak The lame man shall leape as an Hart and the dumbe mans tongue shall sing Then shall these words bee perfectlie performed There shal be no more a pricking briar vnto the house of Israel or any grieuing thorne of all that are round about them Then shall our wearied Soules find aboue the highest circumference of Heauen the Centre of our rest God then shall bee our Sanctuarie in whom we shall haue joye and gladnesse without feare of ending O folie folie folie Why should we for such earthlie toyes losse such celestiall joyes Hee that for so little pleasure losseth that which Christ hath bought with so great paines as said a Father Stultum Christum reputat mercatorem That is Hee thinketh Christ to bee a foolish buyer while indeed he himselfe is a most foolish seller When one day with prophane Esau he shall bitterlie repent his bargane then shall hee know what a pennie-worth hee hath of all his pleasures The sicke Man Alas that men cannot consider O my God master and mortifie all such corruptions within mine heart that they be not able to lay my soule open to Sathans temptations But to proceede in our purpose what thinke yee shall bee the chiefe exercise of Soules in Heauen The Pastour It shal be to sing Psalmes of praise and to follow the Lambe whether soeuer hee goeth from East to West or from South to North. The sicke Man Alas that for this pricke of earth men should doe that which shall debarre them from that Palace of pleasure Our bodies as yee thinke shall not then bee wearied in following the Lambe were it to goe neuer so farre The Pastour O not Then shall our Soules bee refined from the drosse of sinne Then shall wee bee free of all this lumpishnesse of clay caused by sinne wherewith now wee are both cloyed and clogged Our motion then shall bee swifter than the Sunne in his course As with a◅thought our hearts will compasse the Heauens so shall wee goe most swiftlie whether wee desire As by the motion of the Eye wee looke from East to West or as the Sunne beames while he ariseth are suddenlie darted from the one end of Heauen to the other so shall it be of our motion then for we shall bee carried with the infinite power of God which shall not be subject to the Lawes of naturall motions below As for example here can be no motion without resistance All motions whether from aboue or siō below or ouerthwartlie finde enemies by the way opponing themselues to that which is moued as Edom did to the Israelites saying Thou shalt not passe by mee The stronger the opposition bee the motions are the slower Man cannot wade thorow waters so swiftlie as runne thorow the aire vpon the earth because the partie is stronger which is against him all things goe so below but aboue no bodies shall oppose themselues to the Children of God What euer bee aboue all shall goe with them they shall bee like shippes before the winde carried with a mightie gale There is nothing heere like vnto that that shall bee into that celestiall Fabricke But not bee curious to diue into such deepes This is certaine that the Sainctes shall bee carried there with the force of an vnspeakable power and that without anie wearinesse They shall runne saith the Prophet and not bee wearie they shall walke and not faint What can these want who beeing companions of the blessed Angels shall abide with him in whose face is fulnesse of delight There all our pleasures
before the Lord Let vs all humble our selues heere before our Maker A Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD prepare our heartes to prayer Let vs not be rash with our mouth nor hastie with our heart to vtter any thing before Thee O glorious GOD and all mercifull Father which art the true Physicion both of Soule and bodie we must humblie bend our knees before Thee intreating thee to be with thy seruant heere whom thou hast now laide into this bedde of languishing Let not his sinnes whereof hee hath beene guiltie from his youth vp prouok thy wrath any more against him Knit them all in a bundle and cast them all behind thy mercifull back burie them al into the bottomlesse sea of thy compassions that they neither bee able to accuse him any more in this worlde nor yet to condemne him in the world to come Though his sinnes LORD were like Scarlet and Crimsin there is vertue into the Blood of thy Lambe to make them white like woole and whiter than the Snow For thy Sonnes sake remoue all his transgressions as far frō him as the East is from the west Hell LORD Destruction are before thee how much more the hearts of the Sonnes of men Thine All seeing Eye pryes most clearelie into the in-most closet of mans heart Look with the Eye of thy compassions within the Doores of this wearied heart of thy Seruant Looke in and proclaime mercie and pardon vnto his sillie Soule Let him know that neither Death nor Life shal be able to separate him from thy Loue O LORD assist him and stand fast by him in this houre Desert him not in his greatest last agonie Let thy Spirit possesse him so fullie that there be none entrie or roume for Satans temptations whē the Temper is bufiest let thy Spirite bee strongest Arme him with all Pieces against the last conflict of this bloodie battell Honour him with the Lawrels of victorie Let thy strength be made perfect in his greatest weak nesse Doe the turne by thine owne force and take all the glorie to thy selfe By the vertue of thy Christ crucifie into him the olde Man and his vvorkes Make him to die into him that hee may liue to Thee vvho to all the Faithfull is aduantage both in life and death Hee is now LORD walking betweene thy Mercie and thy Iustice through many-temptations Gouerne thou his steppes vvith such vvisedome that the feare of Iustice may keepe him from presumption and the hope of mercie may preuent despaire Increase his patience vvith his paine Sanctifie his Sickenesse make it as Bellowes to thy graces that thereby they may be kindled and blowne vp to a greater flame Enamour him vvith the loue of thy goodnesse Powre in the oyle of thy mercie into his bruissed hearte which hath bene filled with mournfull groanes And seeing now thou art calling him to repetitions to see vvhat hee hath profited in thy Schoole cast into his rememberance all the good things that hitherto hee hath heard or meditate for to comfort this houre Bee strong in him now in this time of tryall Applye vnto his wounds the Balme of Gilead Hee is weake and therefore O LORD forbea◅e him in thy mercie O pittie this wounded man as did that Samaritane Powre Oyle into his wounds bind them vp and take him to thine Inne For thy mercies sake remember him Forthy Sonnes sake pittie him For thy promise sake forget him not Free his Soule f◅ the maze of all worldlie cares Inspite into him the life of grace with a most fresh vigout and feruent heate of zeale to thy Glorie Hee LORD in his most piercing paines knoweth not what to doe but his eyes are on Thee In thine handes is both Life and Death Thou bringest to the Graue and bringest backe againe In thy greate mercie O LORD make all his bedde in his sicknesse make his bedde to be a Schoole vnto him wherein hee may not onelie learne the hudgnesse of his owne miserie but also the greatnes of thy mercie Let neither Death fright him nor the Graue grieue him Let him knowe that Death is but a sleepe for the friendes of Christ and the Graue a bedde for the resting of their wearied bones Let not the weight of mortalitie beare downe his Spirite frō minding the things which are aboue Make him content to quite gladlie all earthlie pleasures and contentments for to goe dwell with Thee his GOD in immortalitie Let neither the sweetnesse of the Figge nor the grapes of the Vine nor the fatnesse of the O liue hinder his desire to reigne in heauen Against the feare of death comfort him with hope of the glorious Resurrection Assure his Soule though his bodie goe to bee eaten of the wormes that hee in that bodie againe shall see his Redeemer and none other for him Furnish him with spirituall courage vnto the end Giue him boldnesse to march without feare thorow the valey of death for to come to Thee yea to run were it thorow Hell for to come to Thee in Heauen Tell vnto his Soule that his paines dismay him not seeing his trauell is to bring foorth eternall life Let thy Iustice seate trouble him no more seeing Christ hath payed his debts Let him not bee afraide to come before the Face of his Iudge seeing the Iudge himselfe is his Brother who hath both cut cancelled that hand-writting of the Law which no flesh was able to performe Pittie him LORD pittie him for loe hee is nowe in thine handes looking pittifully vp to Thee for thy mercie Some of thy setters are yet vpon him none can loose him but the hands which haue bund him Pittie good LORD and pardon set vnto this Soule the seale of thy pardons by the Spirit of adoption Heale and sweetlie close vp the wounds of his Spirit by the vertue of thy most blessed Blood This is our confidence that thou who hast stricken him is able to heale him and will also doe it if it bee for thy glorie and his well if not Lord in judgement remember mercie If it bee his best that after some dayes sicknesse he depart out of this mortall life let these paines which hee suffers nowe bee like Ionathans arrowes which were not shot for to ◅urt but to giue warning Giue him grace that like an obedient Childe hee may as w◅ll kisse thine hand while it beateth as while it blesseth If thy decree be come foorth that hee must remoue from this World assure him of a better place where pleasures are in greater number th◅ the starres Teach him by thy Spirit that by death hee shall change a mortall habitation a dungeon of darknes◅◅ cage of corruptions for euerlasting T◅bernacles most heauenlie sacred M◅sions where constant peace vnmi◅ joyes remaine Weane his heart from the loue of all things that are vnder the Sunne Let the beautie and glorie of the Heauens whereof hee hath heard at length this day
drawe the desires of his heart to abide into that P◅lace of pleasures where there is Light without Darknesse Mirth without Sadnesse Health without Sicknesse Wealth without want Beautie without blemish For the sake of thy dea◅e Selfe seale vp into his Soule the assurance of thy loue that in all bol◅nesse through the bleeding bowels of Christes compassions hee may come to the Throne of thy grace frō thence he may enter into glory O LORD the comfort the joye and the glorie of Israel Bee fauourable to thy distressed Sainctes dispersed vpon the Earth Thy Church here below is like a shippe on the sea Though it floate aloft it is fore tossed to and f◅o with wind and with waue thou therin seemeth whiles to sleep Now LORD at last awake in these boisterous blastes Master Master saue vs for wee perish Awake O LORD and rebuke the winds Alas O LORD thou seemeth now to lowre in thy wrath by driuing all our petitions from Thee with a darke and cloudie countenance so that these that trust in Thee are cleane dashed out of countenance while they heare the scorninges of the aduersaries who nowe waste and hauocke thy Vine Arise O LORD as a man of war Awake as one out of sleepe and like a mightie man that shouteth by reason of Wine Smite thou all the enemies in the hinder partes and put them to a perpetuall reproach Take the Cudgell into thine hand and stricke a way these Dogges which follow Thee but for crustes Let vs neuer bee colde or carelesse in the distresse of others but for to assure vs that wee are all members of one Bodie giue vs this pledge of mourning with these that mourne Make vs all to bee grieued for the affliction of Ioseph Blesse our gracious SOVERAIGNE with the Spirit of Wisedome and of Grace Rescue Him from all dangers both bodilie ghostlie Thogh Hee bee a Prince among men yet Hee is thy Subject Thou who by Grace hast made Him to reigne ouer thy people on earth at the end of his appointed time when the dayes of His Reigne shall bee happilie finished exalt Him highlie in the heanens among thy Sainctes and Angels So long as Hee is heere let Him know that it standeth Him fast in hand to bee an Hornager vnto Thee Direct him so in all His cariage that His whole life may bee to all His Subjects an holy patronage of good example Let Him neuer retract nor repeale that vow which Hee made at His Coronation for to maintaine the puritie of thy Gospel and for to bee a louing Father vnto thy people Cloth his enemies with shame but vpon Himselfe make His Crowne to flourish Blesse His Royall Match Make Her to striue stretch all the powers of Her Soule by prayer in searching the sincere knowledge of thy truth LORD in Her carefull search make Her to say at last with the Spouse I haue found him whom my Soule loueth I will not let him goe Thou LORD louest Trueth in the inward partes and therefore so sanctifie Her Hearte that She may day lie thriue in the power of Godlinesse Though all outward meanes should faile Her bee Thou to Her in stead of all meanes aboundantlie supplying Her with the power and presence of thy Spirit Leuell LORD Her Heart directlie to the loue of Christ of him crucified that by a true liuelie Faith in him Shee may shine among the Sainctes in Heauen like one who in a great measure hath beene receiued in Grace on earth Let thy Preastes bee cloathed with righteousnesse Blesse all our Nobles mak them truelie noble not like Ephraim whose righteousnesse was like the morning dew Let them neuer for feede or fauour slinke or shrinke back from the puritie of thy Gospel established in this Land Giue vnto vs all courage for the Trueth that wee may bee bold to resist euen vnto the blood not beeing like these who at the first in an hote and hastie zeale promise faire with Peter but anone at the first womanlie temptation start aside like deceitfull bowes Suffer no sinne to goe current with vs without check Let vs neuer follow the sway of tymes with sewed Cushions vnder our Elbowes LORD abide with vs this night As thou hast drawne the night Curtaine of darknesse vpon the face of the earth so bee thou a pillar of the cloude betweene vs and our enemies Hide our soules from Sathans temptations as by the cloudie pillar thou hid the Israelites from the Egyptians Make vs this night to sleepe softlie and soundlie in thine Armes that our bodies beeing refreshed with sleepe may bee the better enabled to morrow for to sette foorth thy Glorie in the work of our Vocation LORD let these our weake prayers come vp before Thee like Pillars of smoke perfumed with the liuelie sauoure of thy Son To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace bee endlesse Glorie and Dominion for euer Now Sir wee haue recommended you God to who is stretching out the Armes of his mercie readie for to receiue your Soule into the bosome of his Loue Make you nowe readie for him for in all appearance ye are not farre from the doores of death Bee vigilant in prayer lest Satan yet put in his leauen into the Spirites dough and so by sowring it make it distastfull to the Lord By a little droppe of filth the pure webbe of the Spirit will become a menstruous cloath The sicke Man The lost Sheepe is found I giue you most heartie thankes for that feruent prayer I pray God that it be heard in the Heauen as Solomon prayed for these that prayed in the Temple which he had builded saying Then heare thou in Heauen Lord graunt that these comforts and contentments bee not deceiuable feelinges and flashings of joye O Lord let not the Spirit of Grace in this new birth recoyle as once Zarah in Thamars wombe Seeing God hath furnished me with a new spirituall strength I wish that I culd imploy it well for the short space that I haue to liue among mortall wightes in this region of corruption O Lord stirre all the streames of mine affections toward thy selfe Wound ward weaken wasle all my delightfull and darling sinnes that my whole joye may rest on Thee command confine all my thoghts to thy selfe that by Faith my Soule may seaze and lay hold on the merits of Christ the celestiall Pearles of price Disburthen my soule of euerie weight that hangeth so fast on lest that thereby it should bee swayed away from Thee I finde mine hearte stirred with a feruent desire to powre out it selfe in prayer before God I pray you all that sit by to joyne your affections with mine into this worke The sicke mans Prayer for himselfe O LORD the Father of mercies and GOD of all Consolation bee present in thy great mercie with mee thy vnworthie seruant into this time of trouble suffer mee earth and ashes to speake
with thy mercie In the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgressions wash me throghlie from mine iniquitie and cleanse mee from my sinnes where by the seed of thy grace within mine heart hath beene choaked and starued Let the depth of thy mercy swallow vp the deepes of my miserie Bridle my sinnes and spurre forward thy graces within mee Set all mine affections on foote that they may follow after Thee Put a fairer flame into my smoking slaxe and more strength into this bruisedreede that the bones which thou hast broken may re◅oyce O Lord with thine eye salue cleanse and open the eyes of my poore Soule that I beholding these things that are aboue may gladlie desire to be dissolued for to be there with my Lord and Sauiour Lord let thy Spirit carrie still a strong hand ouer me Furnish mee with such measure of thy graces whereby I may patiently waite vpon thy will Except that by a speciall fauour thou vphold mee I shall neuer bee able to secure my feete in so slipperie ground While I haue beene hearing most glorious speaches of the Heauens the shadowes of earthlie things haue ecclipsed my minde like a Moorie O make such shadowes to flie away that the horizon of my spirituall sight beeing cleared I may in some measure see thy backe partes whereby my Soule may bee enlightened like the face of Moses Though often I haue beene deafe at thy preachinges bee not thou dumbe at my prayers O Father of mercies listen vnto the groanes of my drooping spirite assailed with diuerse temptations Heare the sighes and crouding of thine owne Turtle Doue O LORD leade mee into the Land of vprightnesse and make thy grace to seat it selfe into mine heart Store my memorie with these good lessons which I haue heard preached in mine health Let mee neuer ouer-pryze anie good thing that is within my selfe Though Iames and Iohn bragged that they were able to drinke of thy cuppe scarce could they abide to see Thee drinke it O Lord make mee euer to vnder-value thy greatest worth that thorow the valey of humilitte I may come to these euer lasting exaltations Come LORD for loe thy seruant commeth I am willing Lord helpe my vnwillingnesse If it bee thy will to loose me out of this sinfull prison when I shall leaue this earth to earth appoint thine Angels to carrie my Soule vnto Abrahams bosome where I may sing with thy Saincts Halleluiah for euer Come Lord now and seeke thy lost groate Fetch home vpō thy Shoulders this wandering Sheepe and make all the Heauens to rejoyce Despise not that which in the creation thou diddest ennoble with thy liknesse Giue mee a warrand and a token to bee admitted within the Gates of thine euerlasting Tabernacles Till I come there make my Soule to burne still in holie feelings Lord heare mee for the deare sake of thy Sonne to whom with Thee and the Spirit of grace as it is most due wee render all praise glorie and dominion for euer AMEN The Pastour Blessed be God Sir who maketh his Spirit to worke so powerfullie within you Wee are all greatlie refreshed with your comforts It hath beene a great joye to vs all to heare that most sweete feruent prayer full of the groanes of the Spirit of Iesus In you haue wee seene the trueth of that Text The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as wee ought But the Spirite it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings which cannot bee vttered I am assured that that same Spirite hath made intercession for you with groaninges in that prayer which now yee haue vttered And againe while I consider in what weakenesse and faintnesse I found you at the first I wonder at such a vigour of Spirit which I petceiue now to be into you Truelie the word of God is most true God giueth power to the faint to them that haue no might hee increaseth strength Euen the Youths shall faint and bee wearie and the young men shall vtterlie fall But they that waite vpon the Lord renewe their strength They shall mount vp with winges as Eagles Many in their afflictions either desparatelie rage or weaklie wa◅le But God in great mercie hath at last filled you with true Christian courage and comfort in your greatest smart Hee hath listened to all your desires beeing moued with that sacred Loue which alwayes burneth in his bosome His Grace like the Notherne Pole hath giuen you aime and direction whether to bend your course Now the darkenesse of the night beginneth to ouer-cloud the earth By Gods grace I shall returne in the Morning so soone as the birdes shall begin to chirpe at the spring of day Because while the spirit of man is idle it weareth and wasteth it selfe away with barren and lumpish melancholie While yee shall awake cause reade Scripture vnto you and particularlie these places Psalme 27. Psalme 84. Psalme 87. 1. Corinthians 15. 2. Corinthians 12. Reuelation 21. Reuelation 22. His Grace bee you THE SEVENTH DAYES Conference The sicke Mans last wordes to his Pastour Friendes Wife and Children The Pastour THE Lord blesse you Sir According to my promise yester-night I am come againe earlie All this night mine heart hath earned to knowe of your estate How haue yee passed this night The sicke Man O the mercie of my God towards mee that hath moued you to take such paines for mee an vnworthie worme By your most holy Sermons yee haue furnished and supplied my minde with store of holie and heauenlie meditations Ye haue beene both a Paul for to plant mee in the true Faith and an Apollos for to water mee Christ the Master builder by the Finger of his Spirit hath laide the foundation of his Temple within mine heart Hee hath made choise of you a skilefull Workeman to aduance the worke till in mercie at last hee shall roofe his graces in mee with celestiall Glorie By the word of God yee haue comforted mee that is onelie the word of comfort Of all other words were they neuer so eloquent I will say with a Father In a thousand talents of worldlie wordes a man shall hardlie finde an hundreth pence of spirituall heauenlie wisedome This life is like the Haw thorne more pricking than pleasant Ye haue rauished my heart with desire of immortalitie aboue I blesse God Sir that euer I saw you The Pastour All these good things are to bee ascribed to the working of GODS Spirit All the juice and sappe whereby the branches spring and liue ensueth and riseth from the roote of the tree We who are Pastours are but the Lords Spouts and Cocks of his Conduits wherby his graces are conuoyed vnto the heartes of our hearers If the Spirit of God mak not a mans Saluation sure hee will incessantlie reele from one doubt to another from one temptation to another like a drunken man from wall to wall It is
the 〈◊〉 The Deuill like a dogged Doeg hath sought to sucke out the heart blood of this trembling Turtle Blessed bee the Lord for euer who hath disappointed him The Pastour I feare Sir that long speach trouble you Your affection carrieth you aboue your strength Contract your speach in as few wordes as yee can What counsell will yee giue to your Spouse heere It is good that she heare your directions for I see that Gods Spirit is mighty in you The sicke Man If anie naturall man were heere for to heare mee hee might willinglie thinke that I were Verbosus a man of manie wordes But alas that I haue spokeÌ„ so few of this sort From Morning vntill Euening my tongue in health like the penne of a readie writter was swift to speake of too manie things whereof now I repent from the bottome of mine heart If Nature bee so windie in vaine pratling should grace want woâ—…ds in that which may be profitable to the hearers I care not what carnall men thinke for my manie words I am shortlie for to compeare before him before whoÌ„ mans improbatioÌ„ or approbation is of little weight or worth My strength so long as I can speake shall bee spended into that which may doe good to these whom I shall leaue behind I shall doe what I can both feelinglie and faithfullie to warne others to flie from the wrath to come Bee not offended I pray you Sir if I bee free with you The last motions of Gods Spirit in this mortall life wold be verie charitablie thoght of I pray you Sir to pardon mine hastie and cankered Nature if I haue spokâ—…n anie thing amisse whereat yee may take exception The Pastour The Lord blesse you Sir Praised bee his Name who hath touched your lips with a liue coale takeÌ„ with a tonges from off his Altar The Lord is with you speak so long or so little as yee please Glad am I to heare the motions of that Spirit of Grace which is lodged into your heart Heere is your Spouse Sir Let her heare your last directions The sicke mans speach to his Spouse As for thee my Spouse now shortlie thou art for to bee a Widow I counsell thee that first of all thou marrie thy selfe to Christ let him be thy spirituall Spouse * As for other marriage the word concerning widowes is plaine It is good for them that they abide so But if they cannot containe let them marrie for it is better to marrie than to burne No marriage as thou seest is directlie appointed for Widowes but for these that cannot containe Otherwise the Apostles wordes are true It is good for them that they abide so If so be that thou marrie plant not a Thorne where a Vine should grow Dishonour not the fiâ—…st bed and preferre not purse or portion to the worth of the person If GOD call thee to marriage see that thou call GOD to thy marriage if Christ bee at thy marriage that is if thou marrie in Christ thy water shall bee turned into wine which was Christes first miracle The water of wearinesse of trouble and of sorrow which thou hast drunke with mee shall bee turned into wine of joye gladnesse peace and prosperitie But if thou marrie not in Christ but make thy choice by thy sight and not by sighes to God in prayer then shall thy wine bee turned into water God shall manifest a new miracle vpon thee to the worse that is All the prosperitie peace and contentment thou had with mee shall bee changed in miserie pinch and pouertie manie a woe is mee Then had thou neuer such cause to put on thy doole weeds at when thou shalt put it off Take good heede to thy selfe Now is the last age of the world this life is full of dangers Sathan hath laide moe snaires on earth than there bee starres in heauen Remember well this watch-word Watch and pray hauing euer thine eye vpon thy God Keepe thy selfe from all apperance of euill A flee great of wickednesse will cause all thy perfume to stinke Sinne is like a Riuer which at the source is but small A scandell is like a scab that beginneth with itching but endeth into blisters boiles putrifying sores Tak good heede to thy cariage to thy companie euil coÌ„pany vaine coÌ„municatioÌ„ rotten words wil work vpoÌ„ the conceptions of the mind lik Iacobs pilled rods set in the gutters and watering troughes before the flockes The flockes which conceiued before the rods brought foorth Cattell ringstroaked spekled and spotted In euill companie at the hearing of vaine idle or rotten words what can the heart of man or woman conceiue but that which after it is brought foorth shall appeare both spekled and spotted An euill thought is a sinne which besides its owne particular sting is able to trouble sore the Conscience by awaking the old sinnes of our vnregeneration Let my counsell bee acceptable vnto thee Haunt neuer the man whose name is pitched with a blacke report It is hard to touch pitch and not to be defiled It is not good for men were they neuer so good to be haunters of women Christs Disciples wondered that hee spake vnto a woman apart a great argument that Christ was neuer with that Sexe but in companie It is no better for women to haunt the companie of men Fire and flaxe are easilie kindled the least sparkle of fire will kindle Tinder Good outward meanes are helpful to inward motions the mothers of our actions Some I know will say that they feare none euill and that they are cleane of all such pollutions If it be so it is a benefite of God But yet learne the lesson Caute casiè None stand so well but they haue to take heede lest they fall Were thou neuer so holie thou hast neede to say the Lords prayer whereof Lead vs not into temptation is a petition Enter neuer into that whereinto thou desireth not to bee ledde None at the first dash be brought to the height of corruption S. Peter willeth that womens chast conuersation bee coupled with feare Feare alwayes if thou bee wise Hee or shee that would auoide a sinne must shune the occasion The least shewes or appearences of euil are these litle Foxes that spoile the vines How little leauen will sowre the whole lumpe What is the best of all sinfull flesh but like Gun-powder a sparkle of temptation may kindle in a moment that which in our whole life time we shall not be able to quenâ—…h with many teares no more thaÌ„ Esau could recouer the blessing which after it was solde hee sought with manie teares That which we may be tempted to wee may fall into Let all flesh suspect its owne frailtie Scorners may speake as they please but daylie doolefull experience will subscribe the trueth of my words In this last age alas many godlie
Seruant fainting in great weaknesse of bodie But thogh flesh and friends health wealth and all should faile him thou LORD will neuer faile him Hee is thy Seruant he is thy Seruant the son of thy hand-maide Thou hast most powerfullie hitherto supported and vpholdeÌ„ him by thy mercifull hand Now leaue him not while he is drawing neare vnto his long home It is easie to perceiue that his age is departing from him like a shepheards tent and that thou art readie to cutte off his life like a weauer His desire LORD is to bee with Thee Thou hast heard the sighings of this prisoner and thou hast vnderstood the groanes of thine own Spirit As thou hast begunne the good worke in him so perfect it in due time As thou doest with the yeare crowne it with thy goodnesse with-draw not thy Grace from him till it bee made perfect in weaknesse Thou LORD hast manifested thy loue to him wonderfullie by putting into his minde and mouth such diuine preceptes and counselâ—… to his Friends Wife and Children that all that haue heard them haue beene forced to wonder at the glorie of thy grace Now deare Iesus let thy force be with him in his fainting but the nearer hee draweth vnto his end lâ—…t thy Spirit the Comforter enable him the more till victoriouslie hee hath put an end vnto this Battell As the strength of his bodie shall beginne to decrease let the comfortes of thy Spirit increase in his Soule Seale vp in his heart that peace which thou hast purchased by the blood of the Prince of peace Assure him of the rest of these joyes which are to bee reuealed whereof hee hath alreadie receiued the earnest O say vnto his Soule that thou shalt bee his Saluation In the silence of the night while deepe sleepe falleth on man make thou his reines to instruct him Suggest vnto his heart the sweetest wordes of thy comforts which may bee vnto him like apples of gold in pictures of siluer Waine his heart daylie more and more from the loue of things below Make thou his Soule to soare vp with Eagles wings towardes the heauenlie Mansions Prepare nowe his Soule to the last conflict Put vpon him all the Armour of God Strengthen his Faith that hee may holde fast by Thee yea so resoluedlie that though thou should slay him yet hee may trust in thee When the force of sicknesse shall tak away the vse of his tongue make his heart to groane vnto Thee in the secret language of thy Spirite â—…hat in thine hands he commenâ—… 〈◊〉 his Soule and that he desireth thee to come quicklie for his reliefe Let not the increasing throes and pangues of death discourage him In greatest anguish vphold his enfeebled heart with the hope of Glorie Look on him Lord with the eye of thy mercie incline thine eare to the sighes of his heart make haste to come for his Soule is longing for his appointed time till his change come As thou art the Lord of life so vnto thee belong the issues of death Let strength proceede from thee like vertue from Christes garment whereby hee may bee encouraged against the fearefull assaults of death which shortly in all appearance shall besiege his noble parts for to bring him vnto dust froÌ„ whence hee came Make thy Spirit to enter into his hearte for to vphold him against this feare smart of his last and most heauie houre Let him know that if the earthlie house of his Tabernacle bee dissolued that he hath a building of God an house not made with hand eternall in the heauen Make his Soule more and more earnestlie to groane for to bee cloathed vpon with his house which is from Heauen Seeing while hee is heere at home in the bodie hee is absent from the Lord make thou him confident and willing rather to bee absent from the bodie that hee may bee present with Thee in the Heauens Let the hope of the Resurrection vphold him against all the terrours of the Graâ—…e Perswade his Soule that at the sound of that shrill celestiall Trumpet his bodie shall arise and with these same eyes shall beholde his Redeemer and none other for him Innumerable euils Lord haue compassed him about Nowe the time approacheth that thou wilt deliuer him from all his feares Make haste Lord Come Lord Iesus come Rebuke Sathan wee intreat thee that in the darksome night he interrupt not the comforts of thy Spirit Suffer neuer that slie and craftie one to bereaue him of the pledges of thy loue Make him to holde fast that which hee hath that none bee able to take his Crowne O mercifull God take notice of all his wants and necessities and bee thou to him SHADAI GOD all sufficient for to supplie them Let him not want that Grace without the which hee cannot serue thee Through thy selfe make him to push downe all the enemies of his Saluation Through thy Name make him to treade them vnder foote that rise vp against him for he hath not forgotten the Name of thee his God neither hath hee stretched out his hands to a strange God While his eye-stringes shall bee broken and when the throes of death shall make his heart to tumble within him then bee thou the strength of his heart the health of his countenance and his God In his greatest griefes anoynt his Soule with some droppes of that oyle of gladnesse wherewith thou once anointed our Lord and Sauiour aboue his fellowes Let thy Graces like that precious ointment that ran downe vpon the beard of Aaron flowe down from thee aboundantlie vpon all the powers of his Soule Let spirituall vertues drop downe vpon him as the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended vpon the mountaines of Zion O thou the perfection of beautie shine vpon his Soule Indue him with a melting and relenting heart Bee mercifull to thy distressed Church comfort Her in all Her teares and troubles Pittie Her deformities Adorne Her with Puritie and Vnitie Though Shee bee outwardlie 1. duskie because the Sun hath withered Her yet Shee is the Kings Daughter whose 2. whole glorie is within 3 Awake O North Wind and come thou South blow vpon Her Garden that the spices thereof may flowe out Declare vnto Her enemies that if they 4 touch Her they shall touch the Apple of thine Eye Let them all know that it is 5 hard to kicke against prickes and that if they perlecute thee Thou wilt throw them to the ground Bee mercifull to our gracious SOVERAIGNE the Kings Majestie as by thy Grace thou hast made him a King so by thy Grace make Him a good King Powre down a princelie Spirit vpon his Soule that Hee may haue courage for the Trueth Make Him answerable to his most honourable Style Defender of the Faith Vouchsafe thy mercie vpon his Princelie Spouse Let the beautie of the Lord Her God bee vpon Her Make Her like
thee in righteousnesse in judgement in louing kindnesse in mercies come now and perfect the marriage in glory before the Sainctes and Angels that are aboue where pleasures are for euermore The Pastour Amen Amen The Spirit of God Sir is with you within you Continue in such holie and heauenlie thoughtes Contemne still the transitorie triffles of this world that gladlie yee may desire to goe dwell with your God Naturallie all men are so stiffe-necked and so steele hearted that they cannot submit their will to the good pleasure of their God O that men would bee wise in time and could consider how they must bee accountable for euerie houre of time they haue imployed in their life Our Soules alas are so sensuall that they will not knit into acquaintance with Right and Reason but like factious ligged lieges rebell stifelie against their Lord Hardlie will mans heart rander vnto that petition which is often in his mouth viz. Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen The pride of mans heart perketh it selfe aboue the Lawes of humble obedience Blessed bee God whose mercie hath made you a resolued man such wordes as I haue heard of you were neuer teached in the Schoole of Nature Nature cannot speake the language of Canaan We haue nothing to rander vnto God for his working mercies but the mites of praise O but ye are much beholden vnto GOD who hath endued your Soule with his loue subdued the raging power of temptations whe◅with your Soule at the first was caried lik chaffe or dust before a gale mightie winde O but your heart at the first was fearefullie hacked and mangled with most terrible temptations O but the Spirite of Iesus hath wrought wonderfullie within you Now by him are ye made free from all the terrors of temptations which like venemous hornets did flie in your face The sicke Man I finde now all that to bee true Glade is my Soule that euer it knew that Lord Full welcome is his Spirit to me Christ is now my Loue mine hearts delight Hee hath ridde my Soule of all mine heauie-hearted thoughts By his blessed Spirit hee hath perswaded mee that my Soule hath a true and reall enterest in these blessed tidings of peace and Saluation which hee by his Blood hath bought and broght from the Heauens O the mercie of my God! O the Ocean of his compassions which hath swallowed vp the most hudge mountaines of mine iniquities O what a redemption is this to bee deliuered from so great a death wherin the damned must die so long as God shall liue O death of torments without anie end O life of continuance without anie ease O the immortalitie of that death wherein sinners shall euer bee dying but neuer dead wherein the least touch of paine cannot bee counteruailed with the millions of pleasures O the tumbling and tossing that shall bee there where the wrath of God shall infinitelie burne Now Christ the Lord of life hath made mee free of all these fear◅s I hope shortlie to bee with him I rejoyce in hope of the glorie of God To him will I say as hee said to Zacheus Today I must bide with thee I long to bee out of this state of strife My bodie is weake and mine ◅eart fainteth within mee O Lord recreate and refresh my Soule with the blessed Blood of the Lambe orientle streaming thorow the channell of his wounds Giue mee a constant assurance that all my sinnes are blotted out of thy Register Where no woode is there the fyre goeth out Where sin is taken away there wrath ceaseth to bee O Lord conduct the Ruther of my Soule till it hath sailed thorow al the seas of sorrows and become to the Port of pleasures for euermore The Pastour Take courage and continue so Lift vp your head with the eye of Faith behold the other Shore euen the Land beyond the riuer The Land of vprightnes Canaan which is aboue Bend vp all your heart-strings with hauenlie desires Fixe fast your eyes vpon that Crowne of immortalitie Let now all your thoughts claspe fast about the mercies of your God Hee nowe imbraceth you his hand is a sure hold fast which neuer letteth slip that which it once hath seized on In al appearance your Battell is neare an end Waite stedfastlie vpon the Lord Christ shortlie with a soft hand shal loose the knot of your life that your Soule may goe free to the place of its rest your Soule alreadie by the mercifull Arme of Iesus hath beene deliuered from the painefull racke of repentance and now is sette vpon the rocke of your Saluation The gracious God hath beene your Father Feeder and Defender Your desirs which of before were grappled to the ground now only aspire to things which are aboue Afflictions to the Soule is like the gade to the Oxe a teacher of obedience Finde ye now the tempest of your Conscience so allayed as yee would wish Is all calme and at quiet within I hope that the blessed droppes of the Lambes Blood haue quenched that wilde fyre wherewith once your troubled Conscience was enflammed Yee as I esteeme are no more troubled for your sinnes as though God neither would nor were able to forgiue I pray God that yee may boldlie say with a godlie Father What shall I returne vnto my gracious God that I darre now looke my sinnes in the face and not bee afraide The sicke Man My sinnes I blesse God fright mee no more O the rich bowels of Iesus wherein is a Myne of mercie I remember now of a sweete saying of a godlie mā on his death-bed When mine iniquities saide hee are greater than thy mercies O God then will I feare and despaire The comfortes of my God now refresh my Soule lik the Riuer of Siloah that watered the Citie of God I blesse God for all my try all troubles which hee hath made to worke together to my well Grace in the heart is often like fyre in flint insensible vntill it bee beaten It is good for vs that wee bee afflicted The bluenesse of the wound purgeth away euill My Saluation now is surelie sealed by the hand of the Spirit By his seale it is made sure and authenticall O how my Soule hath with a bright eye discouered the fauours of his face O if God forsake a man hee will shortlie with Iudas passe from the horror to the halter O the mercies of God towards me The Pastour O how much are yee beholden vnto God who by his Spirit hath so directed your heart and mouth with wordes perfumed with the sauour of life vnto life yee haue refreshed all our Soules as with a sweete breath If the Spirit of Grace guided not our tongues in our temptations our mouths to our euerlasting shame should breath out stiffe and stinking blastes of blasphemie against the Lord our
Creator Praised be the Name of the most High who hath borne and broken that vnspeakable burden of wrath where with yee were surcharged at our first meeting The sicke Man Amen Amen Blessed bee the Name of Iesus At that Name the knees of my Soule bowe in a most humble manner to the ground for to kisse it with my mouth a thousand times vpon Conscience of my bygone miserie and of his present mercie All mine affections are set on foote and are so cheered and rauished with the loue of my God as no tongue can expresse O happie thrise happie change Once I feared damnation nowe Christ is my Saluation Once I sat in darknesse hee is now my Light Once I was in Death hee is now my Life Once I was in bondage hee is now my Libertie Once I was in want hee is now my Wealth Once I was in sicknesse hee is nowe mine Health Once I was in shame hee is nowe my Glorie What shall I say mo◅e Hee is mine onelie Deare and and dearest heartes desire Hee is my strongest Tower I haue none other Arke to saue mee from the flood Mine heart is prepared mine heart is prepared Oh that I were where without let I shall sing Halleluiah for euer where all earthlie objects shall seeme but filthie abjects in comparison of him Now Sir I intreat you to conceiue another Prayer that thereby as by the Charet of Elijah my Soule may bee carried vp into Heauen Commend my Soule into the hands of Christ the Redeemer Yee the Lords Priest stand still with the Arke till my Soule hath passed the Iordan for to enter into Canaan O Lord Iesus pittie this poore Soule that panteth at thy feete draw it out of this clogge of clay B◅e with mee vnto the end Graue thine owne shape deepe within mine heart that it may bee in judgement as a piece of euidence that the Heauens are mine heritage O look vpon mee who am heere waiting vpon that blessed hope Comfort refresh mee with the sweetest breath of thy blessed Spirit Set my sillie Soule upon Pisga the sight hill of Canaan Guarde mee with the invinsible troopes of thine Angels O thou whose Name and Nature is mercie take my wearied Soule and lull it sweetelie in the softest armes of thy most tender compassions Ioyne your prayers vnto mine The effectuall feruant prayer of a righteous man auaileth much The Pastour According to your desire Sir wee shall worsle with God in prayer that your end may bee peace The Lord gather all our scattered thoughts that beeing as twisted together into one threede they may be like the three-fold corde which is not easilie broken powerfull to draw downe Gods Graces from aboue Let vs pray A Prayer for the sick mā O Lord settle earnest prayer in our Soules vpon true sense of our neede Let not our prayers be tumultuous Tune thou our words by thy Spirit while our lips walke make our hearts to moue Preserue vs from vaine babyling lest our prayers bee turned into sinne O God the God of all Spirites who hast the keyes of Heauen and of Hell Thou steeketh and no man openeth Thou openeth and no man steeketh Open now thy mercifull doores vnto this poore Soule which panteth after thee as the chassed Hart panteth after the water brookes Let none of his sinnes stand betweene thy face and him for to ecclipse his Soule the light of thy countenance Seale vp in his heart by thy Spirit the free full forgiuenes of all his transgressions Thou who by the vertue of thy death made the vaile of the Temple to rent for to mak an open way to the Holie of holies mak also the partition wall of all his iniquities to cleaue from the toppe to the bottome that his Soule remoued from his bodie may get entrie to the Highest and holiest of the Heauens where thine honour dwelleth Make thy Graces in him to growe like Elias his cloud which at the first no bigger than an hand at last by and by did ouer spread the whole skie Sanctifie his Soule and soften his heart with the diuine dew of thy Grace Say vnto his Soule I am thy Saluation Behold Lord his Soule is seeking thee let nothing in his search carie him on the by Keepe fast in his remembrance the blessed bloodie passion of his Redeemer Iesus When Death shall come let him die with thy Christ in his Armes Strengthen and increase his desire to be dissolued assuring him that it shal be much better for him Furnish him with strength whereby he may row against the strictest streams of all temptations till hee arriue into the hauen of the Heauens the sole and safe harberie of Saluation And seeing no vncleane thing can enter into Heauen Lord wash this thy seruant and wash him throughlie that by the vertue of thy Blood his sinnes though they were red like scarlet and crimson may bee made white like wooll and whiter than the snow Pull off his Soule the menstrous cloath of his owne righteousnes and cloth him with the righteousnes of him whose statelie style is THE LORD OVR RIGHT TEOVSNES Thou who hast alreadie added strength vnto his Faith while it was scant like a smoking flaxe let not the sparkle which once thou hast kindled for euer bee quenched Amid the sight of his sins make him to lay hold vpon the merite and full satisfaction of his Sauiour Let him with all the Faithfull receiue of that fulnesse and grace for grace And seeing nowe Lord hee is comming vnto thee thorow the snakie fielde of manie temptations lette his feete bee shod with the preparation of thy Gospel Thou Lord wilt neuer suffer anie that trust in thee to bee confounded Hee followed thee constantlie in his life nowe let thy Spirit tryst him at the houre of death Hee disclaimeth all hope of helpe by anie other than by thy selfe alone Though hee knoweth not perfectlie what to say yet his eyes are on thee Thou who is Alpha and Omega hast begunne this good worke in him crowne it with the perfection of thy goodnesse Let him more more feele that hee is euerlastinglie acquite by the Blood of the Lambe from the terrors of Gods Tribunall Refresh his Soule more and more with celestiall spirituall joyes proceeding from the Spirit of Grace Let him feele himselfe assuredlie knit vnited to thee O thou preseruer of men that in and by thee hee may be presented blamelesse before thy Majesties Iustice-seate Furnish his minde with light and his memorie with strength that hee may vnderstand and remember that Christes death is an absolute and all sufficient Sacrifice for remouing the guilt of all repenting sinners Shewe him a signe of thy loue Multiplie in his heart the pledges of thy kindnes Make him faithfull vnto death that hee may receiue the Crowne of life Thou hast alreadie subdued in him alloue and liking of this world
brought me out of an horrible pitte out of the myrrie clay and set my feete vpon a Rocke and established my goings He hath put a new song into my mouth euen praise vnto our God many shall see it and feare and shall trust in the Lord. O that I had breath for the setting foorth of his praise Happie is he who while he may vtter words praiseth God continuallie Blessed is that man who may call his tongue his Glorie O my Soule I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hindes of the fielde that thou cease not to praise his Might his Mercie and his Majestie O my Soule take heede and listen vnto his voyce O Iesus the great Deputie of mercie sent by the Father forsake mee not in this heauie houre Now I sore sicken so that all naturall force faileth me My words now so weaâ—…ie mee that I thinke ere it be long this bodie shall bee lodged in the place of silence But let mee intreate you Sir so long as ye shall perceiue life to bee in mee let it please you to continue in some good purpose concerning the world to come By some holie discourse rouse vp my drousie Spirit hold mine heart vpon an edge Let me not die like a senselesse Nabal of whom it is written that his heart died within him so that hee became like a stone Manie blindlie and boldlie rush into hell I beseech you Sir to waite well vpon mee till yee see the ende I thinke that ere it bee long my Soule shall bee at the farthest tryst O Lord warme my frozen Soule with the sense of the kindled compassions of the bowels of thy loue Inlighten my mistie minde cleare it with thy countenance Bee thou the comforter of my Conscience vntil the day break and the shadows flie away Take now Sir my Soule into the armes of your prayers lift it vp and lay it into that blessed bosome of my Lordes mercies Bend yet againe your knees before God in prayer that hee for his mercies sake would receiue mee into my Masters joye O but my Soule fluttereth fast within mee for to bee at my God Let it please you to bee feruent in prayer for mee that I may foile vnder my feete the Deuill Death and all the powers of hell The Deuill in death will not faile to giue mee a furious assault at the chiefest fortresse of my Saluation for to batter it downe to the ground Intreate the Lord that his mercie may bee a strong rempart and a blessed Bul-wark against all the Engines of hell which are readie bent to waste and hauock all Gods graces within mee O Lord campe thine Angels about mee Place thy Pauilions of war betweene mee and mine enemies Refresh mee more and more with thy comforts Giue mee the earnest of these joyes which passe all vnderstanding Possesse mee with the Spirit of gladnesse for that thou in mercie hast forgiuen mee my sinnes Continue so vnto the end that in the heauens for euer this may be the burden of my song For his mercie indureth for euer Let it please you Sir on whome God hath vouchsafed the Spirit of Prayer in a good and great measure to assist mee with your comforts and prayers lest by temptations I should beginne to slacke off my care and watchfulnesse The Pastour Hold fast your eye vpon Christ your Redeemer Follow him thorow the valey of death for hee hath not onelie pointed out our path but as Captaine of our Saluation hath troden euery steppe before vs Yee may well sticke a little in the narrow throate of Death but that one steppe being past yee enter into Rehoboth a place of roome farre from the reekie smoke vaine shadowes and dreames of earthlie vanitie and perishing pleasures Bee glad Sir to flit from this barren moorish ground and muddie mortalitie for to goe to a paradise a Palace a place of pleasures for euermore According to your desire wee shall returne to God by prayer A Prayer for the sicke man drawing neare to the doores of death O Father of mercies and God of all comforts in whom all goodnesse and graces are treasured let it please thee fauourablie to regard the soule of this thy seruant here whose heart panteth after thee as the wearied Hart panteth after the water brookes Refresh his Soule with the diuine dew of thy grace till it bee entered in at the gates of Glorie Powre into his hearte the sweete streames of thy loue Settle his soule in a right and vpright course so long as it remaineth in this mistie muddie mortalitie send out thy light and guide it by thy Grace till it hath passed the straites of Death for to enter into the Land of vprightnes O Father of mercies perswade him by thy Spirit that the comming of Death shall bee to him a time of discharge a time of freedome from sicknes of bodie anguish of Spirit trouble of Conscience and from all possibilitie of sinning anie more Let him know that while hee is going to the Graue hee is going to a bedde of ease where most quietlie he shall rest from all his toylesome labours Turne all feare of Death into a chearefull expectation and longing for the houre of dissolution Make quiet his Conscience that he may die with comfort O thou Sauiour of mankind whose boweles are filled with mercifull compassions spreade the wing of thy righteous garment ouer this Soule of thy seruant Thou hast shaken him with thy terrours in diuerse assaults Thou hast broght him low for to make him a fitte passenger for the little doore which leadeth vnto Glorie Leaue him not now Lord in his greatest neede Make thine Angels camped about him powerfully to assist him against al the last assaults of that euill one Thou who hast heard all his groanes registrat thou his sighs and put all his teares into thy bottels suffer not thy kindled zeale to coole in him In an holie despaire of his owne worth make him whollie to relye vpon thy meere mercies in Christe the onelie salue for sicke Soules and remeed for broken bones While hee is weakest work with thy Spirit feelinglie and powerfullie into his hearte Subdue euerie euill motion that may arise therein for the troubling of his soule Draw vp his desire aboue the pitch of all natural knowledge Banish all earthlie thinges cleane out of his minde and make all his thoughts to attend vpon thee In thy diuine might rebuke Sathan that hee interrupt not thy comforts Let him not bee able by his secret craft and vyles to steale from him the pledges of thy loue O Sonne of GOD O Sunne of Righteousnes send a quickning heate with a shining light into his sillie Soule Make thy blessed Beames to strik on his heart for to warme it with thy loue Set all his desires a floate from the moode of sinful mortalitie Thou at diuerse times hast affrighted him fearefullie with
dreadfull visitatations of Conscience His Soule hath bene sore racked with the pitifull perplexities of a vexed minde Now death is approaching Sight senses all are failing but thou Lord will neuer faile him While the naturall eyes of his bodie beginne to growe dimme then cleare thou the spirituall eyes of his soule that hee may with Stephen see the heauens opened and the Sonne of man readie to receiue him And alwayes Lord as the time of death shall approach so let his Soule draw nearer vnto thee that while sicknesse shall take away the vse of his tongue his heart may cry to thee Come Lord Iesus come in thine hands I resigne my Spirit Nowe Father of mercies seeing thy Girnels are prepared for him by the power of thy grace fanne this Corne cleane from its chaffe that it may bee treasured vp therein Put his life in a readinesse that hee may giue thee a chearefull account of all wherein hee hath imployed thy Talents Let him heare these words of joye Faithfull seruant come and enter in thy Masters joye Long hath his Soule beene wooing the heauens with weake fluttering desires Nowe open the window of thine Arke and let in this wearied Doue crouding for thy Rest Manie depthes bee betweene vs and heauen One deepth calleth vpon another deepth for flesh and blood there is no possibilitie of passing thorowe But Lord that which is impossible with men is possible with thee Let therefore the vertue of thy death be to him like a Bridge for to sette him safe ouer all the gulfes of miserie In his journey to thy Kingdome remoue all rubbes out of the way O Lord listen to our cry Put these our vnworthy prayers into thy golden Censer Perfume them with the incense of thy righteousnesse and offer them vp to thy Father vpon the Altar of thy diuinitie And thou Fatherof mercies for the merites of thy Son his all sauing death which hee hath suffered for al repēting sinners Receiuein mercy this Soule which Sathan hath sought to sift Receiue the deare price of the Blood of thy Son Let thy Iustice say I am satisfied Let thy mercie so smile vpon him that it may bee the health of his countenance and the comfort of his Conscience While hee shall finish his course finish thou his Faith with perfection whereby hee may die hauing a settled assurance of that blessed Inheritance and massie Crowne of immortalitie which Christ hath conquised by his bloodie merites To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace bee all Glorie honour dominion and euerlasting power for now and euer Amen The sicke Man Lord heare thou in Heauen O blessed God and Father of eternity seeing my time nowe is short giue mee grace to manage it well Shute not thine eares to my sighes while my tong in the jawes of death shall cleaue fast to the roofe of my mouth O follow me with thy fauours euē thorow the valey of the shadow of death O Lord because thou art faithfull cannot lie I look shortlie to receiue in hand that which I haue in hope O come now and put an ende to the dayes of my vanitie The Pastour Blessed magnified be the Lord of eternitie for such wonderfull mercies towards you He most powerfullie most wonderfully hath brought you back from the corrupt course of Nature as a Boat rowed against the streame by the force of Armes and of Oares Behold now ye approch vnto your Heauen Be of good heart Sir ye are neare vnto your rest the place of pleasures for euermore Nowe seeing the ende draweth neare yee haue to remember well if yee haue anie grudge against anie that before yee decease they may be fetcht and friended with you The sicke Man I wish all men to be well I hope that no man wisheth otherwise to mee My desire was neuer either to reuile or to reuenge I am readie to satisfie where I haue failed and to forgiue where I haue receiued the greatest wrong Mans wronges against mee are but light in comparison of my wickednes against God Hee is not worthie that God shuld forgiue him his sinnes who will not forgiue his neighbour an injury My good God hath forgiuen mee all As hee hath forgiuen mee so I forgiue all men and desire the lik to be done by others vnto mee My Soule abhorreth these words of ranckour I may forgiue him but I will not forgete him The softning Spirit of God cannot dwell where there is such stonie steelie hardnesse of heart O Fountaine of Grace powre the powers of thy Spirit within my breast that my Soule may bee refreshed with thy blessed balmie comfortes of sauing grace Draw vp my spirit toward the Tabernacles of immortalitie O when shall I come and appeare before God! Put to the Spure to this dull jadde of my foggie flesh that I may make more haste in my journey The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen Seeing God hath blessed you with Wealth I doubt not but that ye will doe some thing for the well of Colledges Hospitales Colledges are the Seminaries or seede-plotes of vertues out of which come these who become Rulers of the Church Common-wealth Hospitals are shelters for the poore the friendes of Christ Christs counsell to the rich is that they make friendes of the Mammon of vnrighteousnes Such words were not spoken by our Lord without great and weightie reasons The sicke Man All these things were done in my Testament while I put mine house to an order I haue not forgot that point of duetie Hee is not worthy to be called a faithfull man who leaueth not behind him some fruits of his Faith That Faith which cannot justifie a man by good works before men will neuer justifie his soule before God Remember mee O Lord cōcerning this wipe not away my good deedes which I haue done for thy glory Let men dreame of Saluation as they please S. Iames his precept is that men shewe their Faith by their workes Though Pharisees doe all that they doe for to bee seene men must not in mens sight forbeare to doe well Because Hypocrites come to preaching prayers publicklie true Israelites for that must not sitte at home The Godlie must not bee so base in heart as to abstaine from all publicke good because the wicked worshippe but outwardlie Shewes without substance in some should not bee able to banish the shewes of substance from others The Pastour Indeede Sir yee speake wiselie As the tree is first seene in the budde and then in the flourish and after in the fruite so muste the life of man bee Because the barren figge tree had nothing but leaues the fruitfull tree must not grow bare the leaues of the tree haue their owne vse among the fruites So haue godlie shewes good vses when they are joyned with true substance The Faith of a Christian should not think shame to shew
thou separate them sâ—…ale surelie thy pardons within my Conscience and doe perfectlie away all my transgressions Guarde mee assist mee and harnesse my Soule against Sathan his last on-sette Let my Soule graspe with an holy greedinesse in the hand of Faith such spirituall comforts as thou O Lord makest to come from the boundlesse and bottomelesse fountaine of thy mercie toward all these whoÌ„ thouloueth Let my soule feele more and more sensiblie these mercies which fairelie oriently streame thorow the bloodie wounds of my blessed Sauiour Iesus the 〈◊〉 wash and bath my drooping Soule in the well of life Giue vnto it a drinke of the riuers of thy pleasures O Lord of loue shedde thy loue into mine heart thorow the bleeding bowels of my blessed Sauiour O blessed Redeemer of lost mankinde O Pelicane of pittie whose heart did euer melt with mâ—…rcifull compassions pittie my Soule in this painefull plight Mine heart strings are racked my bowels are rent the house of the Soule is falling downe nowe open the doore of thine euerlasting Tabernacles that my Soule may goe from Grace to Glorie Make the power of thy loue like a load stone for to draw mine heart after thee from the mudde of this mortalitie The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and fulfill the sute of thy Seruant burie all his sinnes and his sorrowes in the bottomelesse sea of thy mercie Entombe in the Tombe of Iesus where they may lye for euer without anie hope of a resurrection The sicke Man I waite for the Lord my Soule doeâ—…h waite in his word doe I hope My soule waiteth for the Lord more thaÌ„ they that watch for the morning I say More thaÌ„ they that watch for the morning My Soule is wearied of this earthlie Tabernacle O when shall I come and appeare before God O that I were at my wished home O nowe moue the poole of thy mercie and moue my Soule to runne into it The Pastour It is likly that within an houâ—…e God shall grant you your desire Could not you watch with mee but an houre said Christ to his Disciples Yee haue nowe but an houres absence from your God Yee haue but an houres voyage from the bodie to the sight of Gods face the place of your rest Fixe fast your eyes vpon the Crowne of immortalitie till your Soule be past from toilesome Time to Eternitie Yet a little while God shall retire you from the tyring trauels of this life Watch but an houre and your end shall bee peace The sicke Man The Lorde sende a good houre wherein I may lay downe the loade of this mortalitie Alas manie an houre haue I euill and idlie spent in pam pering this foggie flesh with the light and loose pleasures of this life O Spirite of Grace drawe neare vnto my Soule Make thy residence into this broken heart Correct cure and couer all the corruptions of my Nature Beginne and end crowne the worke with thy goodnes At last close in me thy graces with thy glorie O make mine eyes to see and mine armes to carrie and mine heart to bee filled with thy Saluation Conuoye vnto my Soule the warmest blood that euer heated the heart of Iesus Let that euer recking blood wherein is a Sauour of life vnto life Comfort and vp-holde my Soule in this last heauie houre Now Sir seeing the end draweth neare helpe mee to spend well this houre which in all appearance shall be my last I wish that all my thoghts and affections bee nowe so bended toward my God that they neither sway nor swerue from him by anie idle wandering of minde O Thou that art high and excellent who dwellest in the high and holie place Thogh thou be high thy promise is to dwell also with him that is of a contrite humble spirit According to thy promise reuiue the Spirit of the humble and giue life to him that is of a contrite heart O Lord according to thy wonted grace make mee in my last agonie to possesse my Soule in peace and patience Disapoint Satan in all his craftie fetches O couer this sillie Turtle vnder the mantle of thy mercie All other couerings are but light and slight like Spiders webbes which cannot endure the breath and blast of thy mouth The Pastour Lord hearken thou in heauen giue eare vnto the sute of thy Seâ—…uaÌ„t I perceiue indeede that now your words wearie you Lest yee faint I shall tak the speach vpon me If it be your will I shall let you heare a most diuine discourse taken from a godly preacher on his death-bed the words surely are weighty of great power If ye please I shal let you heare them while I speake them meditate yee and in your minde make them your owne wordes The sicke Man I intreate your Sir for to let mee heare them I shall follow you in mine heart as I can I finde that my tongue almost now faileth mee O God while I heare let the Spirit of grace take harbour into mine heart Set all mine affections on bensell that I may carefullie giue eare vnto thy comfortes the cordials of thy Gospel O cleare the sight of my minde dazeled with the mist of my corrupt affections The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and forgiue the sinnes of thy seruant After this manner Sir the man of God spake vpon his death-bedde I owe to God a death as his Son died for mee Euer since I was borne I haue beene sayling to this Hauen and gathering patience to comfort this houre therefore shall I bee one of these Guestes nowe that would not come to the banket when they were inuited What hurt is in going to Paradise I shall lose nothing but the sense of euill And anone I shall haue greater joyes than I feele paines For mine Head is in Heauen alreadie to assure mee that my Soule and bodie shall follow after O Death where is thy sting Why should I feare that which I wold not escape because my chiefest happines is behind I cannot haue it vnlesse I goe vnto it I wold goe through Hell to Heauen And therfore if I march but through death I suffer lesse than I would suffer for God My paines doe not dismay mee because I trauaile to bring foorth eternall life My sinnes doe not fright me because I haue Christ my Redeemer The Iudge doeth not astonish me because the Iudgâ—…s Sonne is mine Aduocat The Deuill doth not amaze mee because the Angels pitch about me The Graue doeth not grieue me because it was my Lords bedde Oh that Gods mercie to mee might moue others to loue him For the lesse I can expresse it the more it is The Prophets and the Apostles are my fore-runners Euery man is gone before mee or else hee will follow after mee If it please God to receiue mee into Heauen before them which haue serued him better I owe more thankfulnesse vnto
bee thankfull vnto thy good and gracious Lord O what tribulations am I come thorow O with what balmie comfortes hath the Lord asswadged the dolours of my Soule O my Soule I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hynds that thou haste thee vnto thy God in thy strongest affections Keepe nowe tryst with the Spirit of thy God who is now here waiting till thou bee readie The Pastour My Soule and all that is within mee praise the Lord for the powerfull working of his Spirite within you whereby hee hath made such a change as is wonderfull This particula◅ remembereth mee of a certaine Martyre who beeing condemned to bee burnt could feele no working of the Spirit within his hearte till hee came neare to the stake But beeing once come there with a cry hee clapped his hands and crying out amaine said O Austen hee is come hee is come The Martyr was called Master Goner The sicke Man By the grace of God I hope shortlie to say as much My Soule is readie bent waiting for his comming O come Lord Iesus come Let this mine hungrie Soule win in now at the ports of thy Palace for to get a share of the mariage supper of the Lambe in hope already I feast vpon the joys of eternitie In my Soule is now the Charter of my Saluation sealed with that most pure and purifying Blood of the immaculate and spotlesse Lambe that came to take away the monstrous and menstrous sin◅es of the world In the vertue of his Blood is my strongest comfort and highest resolution By it alone all my blacke and bloodie sinnes are clensed from their crimsin colour The Pastour Indeede Sir it is onelie that Lambes Blood that can purge away sinne and iniquitie Though man should wash himselfe with nitre and take him much sope yet for all that shall his iniquitie bee marked before God except that hee bee bathed into this blood of sprinkling Seeing now your Charter is well sealed hold fast these writtings that nothing aboue or belowe no not principalities and powers bee able to wrest them out of your hands Happie is your heart now wherein is that white jewell of the Reuelation euen the white stone wherein is a new name which no man can knowe except the receiuer O the boundlesse bleeding bowels of Gods compassions O that infinite store-house of Christs merites and mercies which no sinne were they neuer so hainous can bee able to stint or restraine before the repenting sinner get a parte of that purchase Neither Death nor Life things present nor to come shall be able to with hold a mourning sinner from a share in our Lords dearest compassions Christ now Sir is readie to receiue ◅ou Make your selfe readie for him Lift vp your hea◅ for your Redemption draweth neare The ende of your time and toile is fast comming The Angels of God are here waiting vpon your Soule which is now looking out to Christ as the morning faire as the Moone cleare as the Sunne and terrible as an Armie with Banners Wherevpon is your minde nowe fixed The sicke Man All mine affections are bended toward God O what shall bee able to hold or hinder me from hastening to my Lord the repairer of life the destroyer of death the conquerour of Heauen the vanquisher of Hell O my Sauiour come neerer yet vnto mee let my Soule creepe in by thy wounds euen to the verie bowels of thy mercie Warme it like a Chicken vnder the vvinges of thy loue The Pastour In Christ alone is Saluation Out of his side did issue the water that hath quenched the vnquencheable fyre of Gods wrath with the Blood that taketh away the sinnes of the world His holie Heart was racked his Armes of compassiō were stretched out vpon the Crosse for to declare to all repenting sinners the infinite widenesse of his mercies His sacred Head hang down bowed for to giue eare vnto the gronings of his prisoners His blessed Bowels rumbling with compassions rolled together made him to proclaime that Oyas of mercie Come vnto mee all yee that are wearied and ladened with sinne and I will ease you Much hath hee suffered for our cause Like a painefull labourer hee powred out sweate not onely of water but of blood at the working the great worke of mans Saluation At last by laying downe that Life of loue hee achieued the victorie ouer Sathan flesh the world all the enemies of mans Saluation Them all hee hath crushed and trodde vnder foote Stand fast by Iesus In Faith and Hope thrust your heart vpon him What now Sir thinke ye vpon The sicke Man Christ hath bund vp all my woūds he hath perfectlie closed them with the blessed Balme of his comfortes Now at the end of mine appointed time I am waiting earnestlie till my changing come I hope ere it be long to bee translated from grace to glory The Pastour O Lord set this Soule as a seale vpon thine Hearte and as a seale vpon thine Arme Out of thy great loue make this Soule beautifull as Tirzah comelie as Ierusalem terrible as armie with banners Thou Lord who crownest the yeare with thy goodnesse tak in thine hand the crowne of immortalitie in this Soule crowne thy graces with thy glorie Now Sir yee are neare the borders of Canaan three or foure steppes more would set you in that Land of life and loue The sicke Man Mine heart like an Hart braying after waters panteth after God O when shall I come and appeare before him Now mine heart shiuers within mee I am so sicke that I feare to faint The Pastour O Lord now be mercifull shew fauour toward this thy seruant Distill thy graces into his heart vvith a blessed influence from the Spirit of thy loue pull in all his spirits to Thee and thrust out all distractions O Lord of Life and Loue breath into his soule the life of immortalitie Take heede now vnto him ye who are neere about him for death now approacheth with its last assaultes in all appearance Looke well to him for hee seemeth to bee fallen into a sowne THE SICKE MAN IN A SOVVNE A SOLILOQVEE Or a priuie conference betweene the Soule and the bodie of the sicke Man lying in a sowne The Bodie MY Soule desireth thou now to leaue mee that haue borne thee about mee so manie yeares If thou goe from mee I must no longer remaine among the inhabitants of the world but incontinent after thy departure I a vassell of death must bee hid vnder the dust among crawling wormes farre from the eyes of the liuing These who were once glad to kisse my mouth shall abhorre to see my face Is not the Graue a Babel a place of confusion Doe not Iim and Zim resort there Doe not the Satyres and the Fairies daunce there Mine haire startes all vp for feare while I
vp nowe to the Heauens Thou hast alreadie past all toyle and turmoyle The way that rests vnto the Kingdome is both smooth euen without anie rubbe of opposition thou shalt enter into immortalitie O the showres of grace and mercie which raine downe vpon vs both Farewell till that desired day of the Resurrection come The Pastour His eyes stirre a little they are full of teares the tribute of Repentance He beginneth to shake he now seemeth to bee wakened out of his traunce I will inquire what his minde is set vpon What meditations are these Sir that yee are vpon Yee seeme to haue beene in some good motion The sicke Man My Soule Sir and my bodie after a blessed agreement haue beene taking their adewes one from another They haue bene blessing each other beâ—…ause they haue serued God together they looke to bee one day both glorified together A sea of comfortes hath rained downe vpon my Soule from the Heauens in most sweete and pleasant showers The Pastour Surelie that is a worthie exercise Such good motions are plants of God and impressions of his finger Happie are the Soule the bodie that can serue God together with one shoulder At that last day they shall haue a joyefull meeting they two shal be clasped together in loue with such contentmentes as tongues of Angels are not able to expresse But O when the vvicked soule shall returne from hell to take vp its bodie for to carie it to euerlasting torments then shall they curse each other with manie a woe for their Fornications Adulteries Lyes Deceits Ryot Drunkenesse Then would the bodie if it could haue intelligence of the soules comming wish that a rock or a mountaine would fall vpon it for to hide it from the Soule that beeing voyde of life it might bee free of feeling But the decree is come foorth of necessitie they must bee joyned together O but they then shall looke one to another like Lyons Their feede shall receiue none agreement no not They shall neuer agree in anie thing but in this to 〈◊〉 together that their comfortlesse dolours may bee doubled This is a deare pennie-warth so little pleasure for so much paine In that day all the wicked shal bitterlie repent such barganes Now happie is your Soule Sir and your bodie both that are so well resolued to depart Yee are certainelie blessed that euer yee were borne Behold nowe yee rest in hope of the resurrection which shall bee in that great day of Gods generall assemblie when all that euer tooke breath shall compeare before Christ the Iudge of the World for to receiue that which they did in the flesh bee it good bee it euill Now Sir seeing yee are an inrolled Citizen of Heauen and an adopted haire of God vp still with your heart towarde that heauenlie Heritage with sighes and grones beate on still at the doores of Gods mercie God giueth vnto prayer victory against himselfe Nowe the time draweth neere Sir your houre is come to a quarter fight out the good fight fixe the eyes of your Faith vpon the bloodie wounds of Iesus Lay hold on him listen to his voyce ere it bee long yee shall heare these words of joye Come faithfull seruant and enter into thyÌ„ Masters joye O Lord the giuer of grace and of glorie out of the blessed bowels of thy mercie bath and wash this Soule with that arteriall blood which sprang thorow the pierced filme of the heart of his Redeemer At the beginning of this Battell Lord thou did see howe his poore Soule was scorched with the flames of hellish temptations which did burne the verie marrow out of his bones this is thy ordinarie dealing with thine owne Hell on earth is for the heires of Heauen But heauen on earth is the portion of the heires of hell Now Lord from his hell bring him to thine Heauens Mak his Soule more clearelie to look vp toward the blessed bloodie wounds of his Sauiour wherein hee may perceiue the props of his protection Make his Soule now to be fullie possessed with an entire loue to the fairenesse of thy face wherein are pleasures for euermore The sicke Man Lord Iesus make clay againe with thy Spittle for to anointe my dimmed eyes that clearelie with Simeon my Soule may see thy Saluation We in our life receiue but the first impositioÌ„ of handes like the man that saw men walking like trees Now Lord at death giue mee the second imposition that I may see thee euen as thou art The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauenâ—… Maintaine the life of his loue towards thee Now vvater the seede vvhich thou hast sowne Weede out the tares vvhich Sathan hath sowne Pittie and pardon Lay all his sinnes vpon the Sonne of thy loue Now let his feete be shod for the journey which hee is making to a better place Inspire his Soule with the spirit of grace till his life bee expired Saue him by thy blood which saued theÌ„ that spilt it The sicke Man I finde Death besieging my heart with seÌ„sible blowes O bring out my Soule out of this bricke of bondage of the bodie Mine heart stringes are so racked within mee that they are like to breake The hope that is deferred is the fainting of the Soule Lord helpe mee in this heauie houre The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and satisfie his hearts desire The sicke Man Pray pray that the Lord vphold mee in the throng of these throes wherewith mine heart is gripped lest I be whollie swallowed vp of despaire The Pastour O Sauiour of mankinde who out of thy meere mercie and loue came vnder the charge of his accounts Mak now answere for him as his Aduocat before that high Tribunall before which his poore Soule is now arraigned to coÌ„peare Turne all thy wrath in mercie and thy Iustice-seat in a Throne of grace Call home all his wandering thoughtes settle and them vpon thy selfe Maintaine the life of his loue Make death to him a Messenger of mercie and his paines a meane to bring him to thy pleasures O Captaine of his Saluation vnder whose bloodie banner hee hath in his life made warre against the enemies of thy glorie at death ouercome thou all the enemies of his Saluation With thy Trumpets and Lampes terrifie all these merciles Midianites Make them like a wheele as the stubble before the winde Graunt the victorie vnto thy weake Seruant heere that in the Heauens thou may crowne his Soule with glorious garlands of immortalitie Lord heare vs for the sake of thy Sonne vnto whom with thee and the Spirite of Grace bee all glorie and honour Amen Now Sir vp with your heart to the Father of mercies Fight out couragiouslie the fight of Faith Christ now is holding out the Crowne your Saluation is sealed yee neede not feare yee haue your warrant vnder the Broad Seale of the King of Heauen The sicke man O My deare
custome of God as we see to put his dearest Ones to the hardest proofe as wise Builders put the greatest timber and the heart of the Oake to the greatest stresse Manie thinke that Heauen standeth hard by their Bed-side and that a light Lord haue mercie will make the doore of Heauen to goe wide open to the wall no not Through man◅e tribulations we must enter into that Kingdome As Aprill showers goe before the May flowers so must our teares trickle before our Triumphs Wee must smert before we smile and grone before wee glorie All Christian Soules like Christ himselfe must enter by the port of paines vnto the palace of pleasures for euermore No co-reigning without a co-suffering O let vs consider what paines this godlie man hath suffered in this fierie tryall since this Battell beganne O with what difficulties hath hee swimmed thorow so many temptations If the righteous scarcelie bee saued where shall the vngodlie and the sinner appeare O sowre Apple of Adams pride many teeth hast thou set on edge The Sparrow by wandering the Swal low by flying may escape but where sin hath beene once there must also be sorrow before that the sinner can come to joye It is not so easie as manie men thinke to winne in at the doores of heauen as though one Gods-mercy were enough for to doe the turne Before that a man be able to winne in at the straite gate for to enter into his euerlasting rest hee must be buffeted with diuerse temptations and broken with sorrowes till his heart become contrit that is grund bruished small as if it were corne in a Querne There is none entrie into rest for man before that in great griefe hee hath pluckt out his right eye euen his dearest darling best bosome pleasure Hee that would lodge with God in eternitie muste heere lay holde on his Kingdome with an holie violence What wonder that he auen be hard to win seeing with all the infernall powers of darknesse legions of our owne corruptions combined oppose might maine the grouth of Gods graces in our Soules Manie foolishlie in the idle rowings of their braines content with a blush of zeale thinke that Heauen may bee winne with wishes and therefore in their life skippe wantonlie ouer the threatnings of the Law in hope that easilie at death they may catch at the promise of the Gospel But who had seene this holie man of GOD vpon the painefull racke of repentance would count all the perishing pleasures of sinne too deare bought pleasures Sinne at the beginning is like poyson in perfume pleasant at the first but not long after it worketh deadlie except that it be repelled with some stronger Antidote The way to heauen as wee see is not like the way to great ma◅ket Townes easilie discerned by the multitude of footesteppes Our good Friende is nowe in the verie panges of death A patient and Lambe like death is this His life is on his lippe This wearied Traueler is nowe neare the ende of his journey Seeing that the ende of a worke crowneth it let vs conceiue a Prayer whereby wee may lay his Soule into the bosome of his God who shall refresh him with euerlasting comforts O Lord by the vigour of thy Spirit giue wings to our groueling prayers A Prayer for the sicke Man approaching vnto Death O GOD of mercle and of mans Saluation who thinketh nothing too deare for a repēting soule were it to giue it a draught of the heart Blood of thy Sonne wee heere vpon the knees of our hearts humbled againe before the foote-stoole of the the Throne of thy Grace put vp to thee our most humble sute for this thy seruant who is nowe comming to thee His words now faile him but thou Lord wilt neuer faile him In stead of wordes let the crouding sobbes the Turtle finde roome into thine eares Heaue vp his heart to thy mercie seate with the requests of thy Spirit in sighs which cannot bee expressed O charitable Almes giuer open the hand of this Begger and thrust the money of thy mercie into it Seale fast vp in his heart the remission of all his sinnes in the blood of Iesus Burie all his transgressions in Christes Burial Establish thy free Spirit within him Take from him all dulnesse and deadnesse of spirit all secure and hardened thoughts all that may hinder him from comming vnto thee Continue his comfortes begunne Bee thou the ende and the ender of his worke Lorde disapoint Sathan who by his charmes and cunning traines hath gone about both by force fraud to catch this Soule of thy seruant Now Death is approaching To thee belongeth the issues of death Thou killest thou makest aliue thou bringest downe to the graue and againe thou raisest vp Now as euidentlie appeareth thou art for to remoue this thy seruant from the Land of the l◅uing and thy will must bee done Wee could haue wished the continuance of his Christian fellowship with the lengthening and enlarging of his dayes But most humblie wee submitte all our affections vnto thy good pleasure and will O Father of mercies in whose boundlesse bowels are moste pittifull compassions without anie passion shew thy selfe mercifull louing and kinde towardes this Soule which in the dayes of its fleshe hath beene with thee but a stranger and ◅ sojourner His Soule now is saying to thee with Iohn his two Disciples Rabbi Master where remaineth thou Answere it as thou answered them louinglie Come and see and after that tak it home to thine own house as Iohn tooke home thy Mother O deare Father of our Sauiour by Nature O our dearest Father by adoption bee fauourable to this thy seruant euen for that blood wherewith thou art passing lie pleased Forget and forgiue all his sinnes whatsoeuer Lay now thy louing Armes about him Claspe him hard to thy bosome and keepe him fast till hee be surelie and softlie placed into the heauens Now Lord thou hast begunne to loofe this Soule out of its prison Let earth goe to earth and his Spirit returne to thee that gaue it Place it into one of these heauenlie Mansions which thy Sonne is gone to prepare for these that are thine Strengthen him now at the last and highest point of his tryall O Great IEHOVAH who neuer hucketh to giue mercie to heart broken sinners let him finde more and more that thy bowels ouerflowing with mercie are readie to receiue him In the bottomelesse sea of thy mercie make his sinnes all to bee choaked and his Soule deliciouslie to be bathed with euerlasting comforts And because Sathan in his last assaults is most furious bee thou most powerfull in him by the vertue of thy Spirite Blunt so the edge of all his temptations that they bee not able any more to wound his Spirit Let thy secret loue bee vnto his Soule lik a Secret or jack in this bloodie battell
bagge and baggage of his couetousnesse Shall this man come where God is who neuer walked in his way In all his wayes he did euer goe awry lik a Childe that scribleth without a rule All his good intentions were but like false conceptions which are buried before their birth let me now tread him vnder foote that I may lay him dead straight like a worme O the infamous man whose name doeth goe with a brand vpon it like Cains marke Hee followed Christ for loaues But O when the corne was spent the Rate left the Barne His whole life was but a myre of mischiefe All men can tell that hee was but an vntrustie Pilferer a foole hardie fellon rushing in rebellion against God man If so bee that he was exalted he cared not that God was dishonoured In the pride of life he walked like Nebuchadnezar strouting in his Palace with bragging words boasting of his Babel Gods patience hath long suffered In his sufferings hee hath comforted himselfe in this When I see a conuenient time then will I execute judgement Nowe is the time of execution come Either now or neuer for his sinne is now ripe and readie for the sickle I am wearied with accusing what shall I say His heart was euer swelled with pride By costlie apparell he gaue euill example With his pleasures hee was tyed like a dog in a leach He could neither suffer a Superiour nor comport with à Companion The blue enuie in his heart made him hate to see others thriue besides him The praise of other mens vertues was as who had dispraised himselfe in his face Hee was euer malcontent at Gods graces into others He was like a Swine vnder an Oake feeding and foiling Gods benefites lik Acorns But who euer saw his face lifted vp with thankes to the shaker of the tree Hee was full of peppered sausinesse sporting himselfe with checkes and taunts As hee had a babling tongue to speake euill so had hee a bibulous eare thirstie after false reportes O what filthy dung hilles heapes of sinnes were hoodred in his heart If hee did not any euill it was not for lacke of will like the frozen serpent hee hissed when hee could not hurt but so soone as hee beganne hee lustilie lashed on All his meditations were mould in malice As for his Religion hee vsed his libertie as a cloake of maliciousnesse While hee come to the Church it was but for the faÌ„shion for to shew the frindges of his hypocrisie Hee thought a long Sermon a surfet as Iudas thought the oyle spent that was powred vpon Christ so thought hee all the time alloted to Gods seruice Hee was euer cold in well doing as one of the frozen generation A proude man was he in his own conceit while he found himselfe inlightned with some caÌ„fused glimmerings of light glauncing vpon his heart thorow the deceiuing glasse of a temporarie faith His necke was an yron sinew and his brow brasse In a word all his affections were out of order as bones beside the joynt It were more easie to count the sand than his sinnes of omission and of commission with excesse of riot I seeke but Iustice now his life is neere an ende let Gods vengeance take him at the rebound The Angel Michael That is a bloodie Lybell if all be true that is said by the father of lyes Though his sinnes were thus bloody as thou accuses there is a redeeming Blood in Iesus for his ransome his wounds are the holes of the Rocke of refuge All that accusation is but founded vpon surmise But though hee were guiltie as thou affirmes is there anie sinne so great that God cannot forgiue There is no sinne so red but Christs Blood can make it white Gods word is true sinne dyed in Scarlet-red lik crimsin may by God be made white lik the wooll snow Thou cryeth for Iustice Christs Blood cryeth for mercy which of you two shall best bee heard Sathan But can Gods mercie bee against his justice shall mercie against justice plead for the whitnesse of a Rauen shall a most vile sinner escape damnation shall not Iustice bee his bane Let mee now giue him a knocke with the barre of judgement While hee had strength to walke hee left the narrow path for to goe croude with the wicked in the broad waye Now let him suffer for all his riotes let the doors of heaueÌ„ be bared in his teeth Gods mercies must not bee against his justice Let mee now giue him a yercke with my whippe The Angel Michael Auoide there is no breach in justice while his sinnes are pardoned for Christ his Lord hath suffered for him he hath satisfied for all his debts at the bâ—…rre of justice and that to the vtmost farthing When all was payed Christ cryed with a loud voice that heauen and earth might heare Consummatum est that is Aâ—…l is payed the whole worke of mans Redemption is finishâ—…d This was hâ—…ard by the deuils themselues not one durst stand vp to say the contrarie Thou câ—…yeth for Iustice 〈◊〉 is Iustice heere is Iustice Christ his Cautioner hath payed all his dâ—…bts It is against Iustice to require one debt to bee twise payed By Iustice then hee must be saued because Christ in great mercie towards him hath made full satisfaction to the Iustice of God His Lords passion is his pardon for the droppes of his Blood his Father hath giuen him in exchange life euerlasting for all repenting sinners what needes him to feare who hath Christ for his Cautioner Sathan Christ would neuer be Cautioner for such a Reprobate goate as hee In wickednesse he hath out-stripped all others he put on Christ like an Hat which goeth off to euery one that wee meete The wine pynt and Tobacca Pype with sneesing pouder prouoking sneuell were his heartes delight His life hath beene a stumbling blocke vnto manie His best vertues were but splendida peccata glistering sinnes His most precious pearles are but of pewter Away with this Child of Belial out vpon him with all his faire wordes all his Religion was but scroofe and scumme Would Christ euer bee Cautioner for such a Banquerupt as hee who all his dayes hath beene a boisterous reueller the chiefe of a knot of knaues The Angel Michael Hee who is not in debt needeth not a Cautioner I came said Christ to call sinners to repentance Though his sins were manie as thou objectes no miserie in man can ouer-reach the mercie of his God Christ in all will bee answerable for him Sathan What hath Christ to doe with this stubburne and steele-necked Bebell who was in his whole conuersation both hote hardie The voyce of his Conscience within was out-cryed all honestie out-faced by his corruptions After yâ— euill turne was done he had his excuse readie at his fingers ends Thinke ye that Christ will bee Cationer for all men or that all men shall bee saued The
Angel Michael Not for all neither shall all men bee saued But this man is one of Gods because of his Faith Sathan How could he haue Faith Faith is by the Word The Word had none abode in him a pettie-fogger a trouble towne What could such a smatterer as hee learne at the hearing of the Word Hee hath beene but a Bungler delighting into gewgowes Hee was a leaking vessell letting thinges runne out as fast as they came in his Faith was euer fained The Angel Michael Though his Faith was weake yet was it neuer fained God quencheth not the smoking flâ—…xe Hee looketh not so much to the strength as to the trueth thereof Thou art fertile in foolish words which are the summe of the Deuils dictionarie Sathan I heare thee bragge much of his Faith but who did euer see it I know not what the euidence of things not seene signifiâ—…th I could neuer vnderstand that Theologie I vnderstand S. Iames better shewe mee thy Faith saith hee If hee had Faith let it bee seene To say that hee had Faith is but a vaine blast What hath his life bene but a web of vices What hath hee beene but a fruitlesse shrubbe in the Lords garden where hee but marred the ground What hath hee beene but a â—…luttish sluggard a Gore-bellie a Bellie-god petting himselfe with paunch-pleasures his mouth like a Bung-hole was for nothing but for the filling of his bellie among his drunken Gosips Hypocrisie hath so enwouen it selfe into his heart that all his thoughtes are become as blacke as hell His heart was euer voyde of all Charitie If he was well hee cared not for others in their calamities This was his ordinarie speach concerning the afflicted What haue I to doe whether they sink or they swim Euery vessell must stand on its owne bottome Let euerie man shift for himselfe the well wealth of others was to him an eyesore curse now this barren ground which hath beene a soyle onelie fitte for weedes The Angel Michael These bee but accusations or rather cauillations without any grouÌ„d The Godlie saw that he was among them a fruitfull tree whose branches were bowed downe that men might pull the fruites with their hand Sathan What fruites Could such a thorne as hee beare grapes Could such a Thistle as hee beare figges Where are these fruites of his Faith What was hee euer but a monstruous person all mouth tongue and voyce without heart or hand to thinke or doe good he seemed to bee wise while indeede all his actions were contriued but by quirkes of vvite Hee could giue God his lips in stead of his heart He had many faire sweete wordes like the sounding of golden Bells but vvhere are his Pomgranates fruites worthie amendement of life All might see that hee was like that cursed ground vvhere Thistles growe in stead of Wheat and Cockle instead of Barley Let him nowe cracke of his Cockle and boast of his Barley The Angel Michael These bee but calumnies and â—…orged slaunder and detractions He was indeede like a tree planted by the riuers of water that bringeth foorth the fruite in his season Sathan What was hee but a knottie barren rotten scrubbe marring the grouÌ„d Shew mee his Faith if thou can make search of his workes Try them and tell me what they are in thy best sâ—…raphicall discourse The Angel Michael This and this and this hee did And if God had spared his dayes he was well minded to doe more God euer preferreth the willingnesse of mans minde to the worthinesse of his woâ—…ke For if there bee first a willing minde it is acceptable according to that a man hath and not according to that hee hath not Sathan All that was but hypocrisie for to bee seene and praised of men His chiefest care in that was fool shlie to gaine an opinion of more than ordinarie pietie as if hee had beene a Rabbi in Israel But O inwaâ—…dlie in his Soule hee jested at hell not caring for Heauen Gods boaste seemed to him but Bugges thinges made to feare Children His heart was a verie Vice of vices turning from euill to worse The Angel Michael God alone knoweth the heart Mala mens malus animus Thou judgest others to be like vnto thy selfe Because when thou art Lucifer an Angel of light a white deuill in appearance then art thou most set on blackest darknesse thou thinkest others to bee likewise disposed for to juggle Sathan But can he denye his sinnes Are they not all written into mine accusation Booke His debts are so hudge that he cannot be able to pay A way to prison with this Banquerupt neuer pleade more for him for his sinnes are so manifest that they cannot bee couered Did not his open scandals strike the Drum of rebellion against the heauens Who can denye his sinnes Let mee nowe sheath this dagger in his bowels The pleasures of his sinnes are past nowe let him finde the sting of guilt The Angel Michael It is trueth that hee hath sinned but also thou cannot denye but that hee hath confessed his sinnes By the blessed blood of Iesus they are cancelled and blotted out of the Booke of Gods rememberance O despightfull Spirit thou art first 〈◊〉 craftie tempter and after a cruell tormenter Thou are euer picking quarrells with Gods redeemed ones What euer hee hath done amisse hee hath sore repented it Sathan Hee but seemed to repent His heart which men thought to bee a seate of sinceritie was but a sinke of sinne If it were vncased and laid open this should clearelie appeare At preaching the word without and the dumbe choppes of his Conscience within could not moue him to doe well At his prayers before men hee could chirppe like a gras-hopper But wher are the teares of his Repentance The Angel Michael His prayers were not chirping but crouding euen the crouding of the Doue As for his teares the holie water of grace most pleasant dewe of Repentance the Lord hath put them into his Bottalls Manie a teare since this Battell began hath trickled down his cheekes for the grieuing of his God His eyes like two water sluces runing continuallie Sathan Wâ—…at is that Hypocrites which are but peeuish hyrlings and miserable wretches with their deceitfull rubbinges can wring water from their eyes By such craftie conueyances they cuÌ„ningly bleare the eyes of meÌ„ who can see nothing but outward appearance There be manie counterfeit teares in the world The Angel Michael The teares of Iacob while hee wept made supplications were not the worse because prophane Esau could shed teares The teares of the Godlie are like precious pearles in Gods eyes Sathan I know his treacherie better than yee hee was cunning in the arte of seeming I euer knew him a doubling dissembling Câ—…mpanion a Dragon with Lambes hornes Well could hee straine the vtmost veane of his wittes for to bleare the eyes of men The way of godlinesse in his heart was as the
Iudge his Consistorie The day of this life wherein onelie wee can worke declineth a pace The fearfull night cloud hath taken post So soone as it shall come man shall bee discharged to worke any more It is good often to consider le◅ wee should dote and dreame of Immortalitie heere that the short threed of this life will bee soone drawne out to an end that by such thoughts we may learne in time not to bee taken vp with abortiue earthlie pleasures which perish in the budde What is this earth but a muddie myre What is poore mans life on this earth but a map of miserie The best of it is white and blacke checker work mixed with paines pleasures lashes and laughters Euen in laughter the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse This godlie mans death should bee warning for vs Death knocking at our neighbours doore should remember vs of our mortalitie There is no case of humane calamitie but it is insident to all In this our old friend wee may see and reade that we haue none abiding heere Hee is nowe gone to his long home by the way of all flesh Aboue the rolling circumference of heauen hee hath found the center of his rest Natures necessitie subjecteth all flesh to mortalitie Hee is gone before vs from the land of the shadowe of death thorow the valey of the shadow of death vnto euerlasting felicitie and we all soone o◅ since must all treade the same way Let vs prouok our watchfulnes with this that wee shall goe to him but hee shall no more come to vs Let vs worke while the day lasteth Before wee bee benighted by death let vs wot where we shall get a lodging So long as wee haue breath and being let vs like Moses bee instant with God in prayer that hee would so teach vs to number our few and euill dayes that vvee may apply our heartes to vvisedome and to vvell doing Wee haue all great neede to goe to this Schoole for the learning of that lesson because death in this narrow passage of mortalitie stealeth vpon vs all with insinsible degrees The course of our dayes is like the course of the Sunne the ruler of the Day whom our owlish eyes cannot perceiue to moue though hee rejoyce as a strong man to runne a race we know him to be more swift than winde yet while wee behold him in his course wee cannot perceiue his motion It is euen so of our life Our dayes runne fast away but wee perceiue not how It is not long that wee stand but when wee beginne to fall wee are like the Yce which thaweth sooner than it froze Our life like smoke or chaffe is carried away as with a gale winde and yet we cannot consider Oh that this meditation like the Rowell of a Spurre could pricke vs forward in our voyage from grace to glorie Nature hath taught the ◅sillie Birdes the Cranne Storke and Swallows our winter strangers to know their seasons As if they had numbered the dayes of their absence they come precisely at their appointed Spring The Salmons also in their season returne to the place where they were spawned They like skilled Airthmeticiens number well the dayes of their absence and for no rubs in the way will they be moued to cracke their tryst All this haue they learned in the Schoole of Nature But men who should haue grace with Nature forget to desire to returne to their God who at the first spawned or as Scripture speaketh breathed within them their liuing Soules Men are often worse than the beasts who wold faine know their duety but cannot Many mē can but will not lik these whom S. Peter calleth Willinglie ignorant The God of grace giue vs wisedome that before our day bee spent and our Sunne set wee may weigh well and consider how wee may so liue to die that wee may die to liue Happie is the man whom God his white man hath in this life marked with the mourning marke The way to Heauen is not so easie as manie dreame Oh how many lets bee within vs and without vs Oh howe manie weightes hang ◅o fast on whereby the vnstable Soule of man is tossed and swayed hither and thither Seeing this holie man of God such a strong Oake hath beene so sore shaken what may we poore little shrubs expect O but we haue great neede to coffer vp some comfortes against the euill day All worldlie helpes depart from vs when we depart out of this life but Gods fauour faileth neuer When all thinges haue forsaken vs then onelie hee will stand by vs and at last will draw vs out of this myrie lake of miserie Happie and thrise happie is the man that is holie heere whome the Spirite of God may point out with an Ecce Behold a true Israelite Such a man after death shall obtaine a name which shall giue him after death a second life O thrise blessed is hee whom God in mercie remoueth in time that his eyes should not see the euill to come The world now is come to its dregs From little to little our zeale is come to its last gaspe Now if euer the Church is a Lillie among the thornes Our sinnes are become like Oakes but our vertues are pinched smal lik graines of mustard seede Wee look in drumblie waters and therefore we cannot see our sinfull blots and blamishes Lord teach vs to grow better that so long as we sojourne in these mansions of dying wightes wee may striue without guile to glid thorow this world that at last following this our olde deare friend wee may come to him and to all the Sainctes into to that celestiall Palace a place of plentie peace and pleasures for euermore Another discourse of the same sort O How hard a thing is it for the liuing to remember that wee are but weedes of a day fading and flying vanities Wee are all heere like poore Trauellers who haue farre to goe and little to spend In our most constant estate below we are like Ionahs gourd that sprang vp into a night withered into another euen a ◅oish vanitie This life said a Father is miserarable Our death is vncertaine If it surprise vs vnawares whither shall wee goe where shal we learne that which wee haue neglected heere Men for the most part wallowing in their sins while they looke most for life are by their expectation surprised of Death But Oh then whether shall they goe Alas that we cannot consider while we haue time and breath Man naturallie is so dull and dumpish that hee cannot imagine that he is possest with a melting mortalitie The best of vs in spirituall matters are pure blind Wee cannot see farre off no that which is neere euen this mortalitie among vs yea within vs That which hath breath can
mans life is but a winde in a worme * O happie is that man in whose heart Christ hath grauen deepe the shape of himselfe in this world when Death shall come then shall he know what blessed treasures of contentment God hath stored vp for his beloued When the Soules of the faithfull which on earth haue beene endued with a matchlesse concurrence of diuine graces shall come out of their bodies Christ the Father of mercies shall cast the armes of his cōpassions about their necks At their first entrie into Heauen hee shall giue them the comfortable kisses of peace Lord soften our stonie hearts enlighten our mistie minds that all our joye may bee in enjoying thee in whom is fulnesse without dislike O satisfie vs yearely with thy mercie the fairest flower of the Garland of thy Majestie While wee remember the death of others make vs carefullie to studie vnto newnesse of life that in this life wee dying vnto sinne may after death liue vnto Thee and with Thee vnto the vtmost bound of the euerlasting Hills AMEN FINIS A. H. THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE IN DEATH 2. Volume Carefullie digested for the comfort of the Sicke By Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of Gods Word at Glasgow Bernard in Serm. Novissima sunt quatuor MORS IVDICIVM GEHENNA GLORIA Quid horribilius morte Quid terribilius judicio Quid intolerabilius gehenna Et quid incundius gloria Idem Senibus mors est in ianuis Iuvenibus vero in insidijs Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of ANDRO HART 1629. TEMPVS TO THE MOST EXCELLENT PRINCESSE ELIZABETH Queene of Bohemia c. MADAME IN corporall troubles let vs seeke for spirituall Comfortes Dayes of sorrow are dayes of drousinesse For the remeede of such sorrowes heere followeth a Discourse of heauens Happinesse with diuerse other Christian comforts which I must humblie and heartilie dedicate to your Majestie If MADAME I were more able to present your Majestie with some matter◅ of greater worth my will should not bee deficient to mine Abilitie Thus presuming out of your Royall bountie that this little Offer from One of SCOTLAND your Majesties natiue Soyle shall bee graciouslie accepted I most humblie present it to your Majestie for to bee receiued and shrouded vnder your Royall safe-gard and louing protection After manie feruent and vnfained prayers made to God for the esta blishment of the Crowne vpon your Majesties Royall Heads and also for spirituall Graces to bee aboundantlie powred vpon you and vpon the rest of these Royall Plants which by the great mercie of God haue branched from You both I humblie take my leaue Your Majesties most humble and most obedient Oratour and Seruant M. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of GODS word at Glasgow From Glasgow the 12. day of Februrie 1629. THE QVEENES Lamentations for the death of her Son O But GOD is most terrible when hee is angrie He hath called as in a solemne day my terrors round about surelie against mee is he turned hee turneth his hand against mee all the day My flesh and my skinne hath he made olde hee hath broken my bones Hee hath builded against mee and compassed mee with gall and trauell He hath set mee in dark places as they that bee dead of olde Hee hath hedged mee about that I cannot get out Hee hath made my chaine heauie Hee hath turned aside my wayes and pulled me in pieces He hath made me desolate He hath bent his Bow set me as a marke for his arrowes He hath caused the Arrowes of his Quiuer to enter into my reines Hee hath filled mee with bitternesse Hee hath made mee drunke with worme-wood The verie Sea monsters are carefull for their young ones They drawe out the breast to giue them sucke How should I bee like the vnnaturall Ostrich which leaueth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foote may orush them or that the wild beast may breake them Shee is hardened against her young ones as though they vvere not hers God hath depriued her of wisedome neither hath hee imparted to her vnderstanding Alas alas the joye of our heart is ceased our dance is turned into mourning The crowne is fallen from our head Woe vnto vs that wee haue sinned for this our heart is faint for these thinges our eyes are dimme Wherefore Lord doest thou forget vs for euer forsake vs so long time Thou hast vtterlie rejected vs Thou art verie vvroth against vs O that mine eyes were a liuelie Spring of teares which day and night might trickle downe for the lamenting of my losse O yee Daughters of Britaine my natiue Soile Conueene your selues together Come all and joyne your sorrowes with mine Come contribute teares in aboundance that wee may deplore our domage Come come and helpe mee to mourne for my first Borne It is Gods will it is Gods commandement that yee mourne with these that mourne With whom will yee mourne if yee refuse to mourne with mee O noble Ladies of Britaine think vpon my sorrows My griefe is great mine heart is broken mine eyes doe faile with teares Come yee all and condole with mee Cast off your Rayments of joye And thou BOHEMIA with the PALATINAT mak to your selues new Robes of doole Fill al the Lāds with mourning like that mourning in Zacharie The mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon for the death of good Iosiah Mine heart is sore gripped with griefe Iam lik the Pelican in the vvildernesse Mine eyes doe faile with teares my bowels are troubled my Liuer is powred vpon the earth I was at ease but hee hath broken mee asunder Hee hath also taken mee by the necke and shaken mee to pieces and set mee vp for his marke His Archers compasse mee round about Hee cleaueth my reines asunder and doeth not spare Hee powreth out my gall vpon the ground Hee breaketh mee with breach vpon breach Hee runneth vpō me lik a Gyant My face is foule with weeping and on mine eye-lids is the shadow of death My Friendes scorne mee but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God When a few yeares are come then I shall goe the way whence I shall not returne The Lord hath made me as a by-word of the people Mine eyes are dimme by reason of sorrow and all my members are as a shadow Know now yee all that God hath compassed mee with his net Hee hath fenced vp my way that I cannot passe and hee hath set darknesse in my pathes Hee hath stript mee of my Glorie and taken the Crowne from mine head Hee hath destroyed mee on euerie side and I am gone and mine hope hath hee remoued like a tree His troupes come together and raise vp their way against mee and encampe round about my Tabernacle He hath put my brethrene far from mee My Kins-folke haue failed and my familiare friendes haue forgotten mee Haue pittie vpon mee O yee my Friendes for the hand of God hath troubled mee
all bee comfounded and turned backe that hate Zion confound all hatchers of Here◅ies let them bee as the grasse vpon the house tops which withereth afore it groweth vp wherewith the Mower filleth not his hand nor hee that bindeth sheaues his bosome Protect Her by thy cloud by day direct Her by night by the pillar of fire let neuer the bright star of thy Gospel goe downe which pointeth out vnto vs the Sauiour Saluation of our Soule O righteous LORD thou hast juste cause against this Church to make Her Sunne goe downe at noone and darknesse to surprise vs in the cleare day with a sudden and ineuitable sin prizall and destruction GOD blesse vs with an holie vnion and banish farre off the Deuill of diuision Blesse our gracious SOVERAIGNE the Kings Majestie Mak him to joy in thy strength greatlie to rejoyce in thy Saluation Direct His Heart His mouth by thy Spi◅it giue him his hearts desire and with-hold not the requeast of his lips Giue to Him the courage of Dauid and the wisdome of Solomon Be fauourable to His Royall Match Inflame Her Heart with the loue of thy deare Sonne Iesus Let all Her desire be to know him crucified Make Her an happie Mother of happie Children euen a blessed Mother in Israel Blesse our Nobilitie make them noble like the men of Berea so that they may haue courage for the Truth And seeing LORD that as wee may see in this our deare Friende man is like to vanitie and that his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away Take vs to thy schoole and teach vs to number our fewe and euill dayes that wee may apply our hearts to wisedome to wel doing Let it please thine Highnesse to grant vs these out sutes for the onely sake of Iesus the Author and finisher of our faith the verie Anchor of our Soule the onelie stay and staffe of our hope the ende and rest of all created desires the true substance of ceremoniall shewes and shadowes To Him with Thee and thy Spirit of Grace bee praise and thankesgiuing glorie and dominion now and euermore AMEN If your sleepe in the night be interupted cause read vnto you the Booke of Ecclesiastes the strong enemie of all worldlie vanitie Moses his psalme which is the ninty Psalme shal be meete for your meditations cause reade also the 1 Pe◅er chap. I. The LORD sanctifie all your spirituall exercises to the comfort of your wearied Soule The GOD of all mercie blesse the little sparke of Grace enkindled by his Spirite in you till it spread into a big flame GOD with a little Dewe of newe Grace can so bl◅sse prosper another Grace alreadie giuen that Hee will make it though so little like a graine of mustard to growe towardes a tree Blesse GOD who hath not suffered you to tread the fearefull and desperate path of these who from the beginning of their life vnto the end haue beene nothing but disturbers of peace waues of the Sea foaming out their owne shame and casting vp mire and dirt vpon the shore of their whole couersation The LORD edge the little measure of your weake Faith with a longing desire after fulnesse of perswasion And season your heart with sauing Grace The Lord make his most Sacred and powerfull Word so to enter into the secretes of your Soule that it may strike a dead stroke at the sweetest of your sinnes that your sinnes being slaine your Soule may liue and haue a portion in Gods new Ierusalem till yee come there the LORD guard you with an inuincible troupe of his blessed Angels The Loue of the Father the Grace of the Sonne with the Peace his Spirit bee with you for euer THE FIFT DAYES Conference Of the last Iudgement The sicke Man OVanity of vanities O vanity of vanities all is vainity this whole night I haue dreamed of vanitie I thinke that my Dreameproceedeth from vesterdays Conference for Solomon saith that a dreame cōmeth through the multitude of businesse Well is the man that is well occupyed in the day for in the night such businesse maketh an impression into his Spirite An euill doer in the day cānot often dreame of good into the night Happie is the man that hath made the Lord the onelie leuell of his life What houres can it now bee I long for a sight of my louing and comfortable Pastour The Pastour Heere I am Sir come againe for to see what progresse yee haue made into your Christian pilgrimage Ye◅ heard yesterday of the vanitie of all things that are below I desire now to know how your heart hath beene affected since The sicke Man I haue Sir all this night d◅eamed that this world is but vanitie a lifting vp for a fall a race vnto a ruine I see nowe that all the profites and pleasures thereof are but lik a rotten Nut when men thinke to cracke the kernell they find nothing but worms with rottenesse bitternesse which prouocke the eater to spit O how the pure and cleane streames of diuine grace are stained with the stirring of the foule puddle of corrupt nature I am greatlie oblished to my God who hath giuen to me such patience in my sicknesse that I haue beene able to heare that heauenlie discours which ye had yesterday concerning earthlie things This life as I perceiue is nothing but a toilesome task of cares the best of our time is but labour sorrow our ease is a disease and wee rot in our rest Mine heart is no more in this world He is but a foole and so shall hee feele who euer hee bee that is too bent for the transitorie trashes thereof Heere is not our rest Rest heere is not our best As water by standing becometh stinking so the Spirit rotteth by carnall rest The ease of the flesh is the disease of the Spirit If wee bee without God in the world in our well we shall find but woe in our wealth but want in our loue but l◅cke in our mirth but mone In laughing the heart shall be sorrowfull and the end of that mirth shal be heauiness◅ Without God in greatest compan◅ is greatest melancholie Hee whose eyes the god of th◅ world hath not blind-folded may easilie perceiue that all that is heere is but vanitie which vexeth the spiri◅ What follie is this to take pleasure in such perishing things which can bring no comfort at the conclusion of all when dust must returne to the earth as it was Oh that wee were wise to consider that while wee are heere we are compassed about with a bodie of sin in a world of wickednesse All sortes of euil in this world with eager pursute persecute the Soule of sinfull man all the depthes of Sathan and policies of Hell concure into this worke Now Sir I intreat you seeing yee haue spoken so heauenlie of the earth that it would please you to say some-what concerning the last judgement
the jâ—…yes of Heauen The Pastour Such a matter is verie vnpleasant yea very fearefull to a naturall man It is written that while as S. Paul reasoned of Righteousnesse Temperance and Iudgement to come Felix who was but a naturall man tremblâ—…d all while hee heard him and therefore desired him to leaue off preaching any more and to goe his way till a more fitte and conuenient time Thogh the wicked tremble at this discourse yet it is coÌ„fortable profitable into the godly I wish at God that I had that tongue of the Learned that thereby I might produce these reasons of S. Paul which hee vttered while hee reasoned vpon this matter before Felix This Sir yee must first know that the day of Iudgement shall bee a great day a day of Law when all the Sonnes of Adam must compeare before the eyes of him who seeth our thoughts a farre off euen to the very depths of our heart The sicke Man First of all I desire to heare of the time that Christ shall come into the Cloudes for to judge both quicke and dead The Pastour As for the particular time of that great and glorious comming of the Lord no man can define wheÌ„ it shall bee whether in the night or in the day at mid-night or cock-crow It was a time hid from Christ himselfe as man while hee was heere in the dayes of his flesh neither thought hee shame to tell it His vvords and his counsell concerning that are of great weight But that day said hee and that houre knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in heauen neither the Sonne but the Father Now what was his Counsell therevpon Take heede said hee watch and pray for yee know not when the time is For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey who left his house and gaue authoritie to his seruantes and to euerie man his work commanding the Porter to watch Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the Master of the house commeth at Euen or at mid-night or at the cock-crowing or in the morning lest comming suddenlie hee finde you sleeping And what I say vnto you I say vnto you all watch S. Peter saith that hee shall come as a Theefe in the night By all this it euidentlie appeareth that no man can designe the particular time of the comming of the Lord vnto Iudgement No tongue can tell whether his comming shall bee in the night or in the day in the morning or in the euening at the prayer or at the preacing * Watch yee therefore saide Christ and this he doubled againe And what I say vnto you that I say vnto you all watch The sicke Man What can bee the cause wherefore God hath kept vp to himselfe the particular knowledge of that great day The Pastour God in great wisedome hath hidde from all flesh the time of his comming as hee hath concealed from all men the houre and forme of their death that all may striue to be readie at all times The sicke Man Though this Day bee not particularlie knowne thinke yee not but it is verie neere The Pastour S. Iames in his dayes saide The comming of the Lord draweth neere The sicke Man But since hee said that it is more than a thousand and fiue hundreth yeares and yet all thinges remaine euen as they were haue I heard some men say The Pastour These bee the words of them whom S. Peter calleth Scoffers Knowing this first saith hee that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their owne lustes And saying where is the promise of his comming for since the Fathers fell a sleepe all things centinâ—…e as they were from the beginning of the Creation This is as much as if they had said If there were a God indeede for to come to judgement hee would not bee so slacke in his comming But what saith S. Peterâ—…o â—…o that The Lord is not slacke concerning his promise as some meÌ„ count slacknes but is long suffering to vs ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance The sicke Man I see now that no man can be certaine at what time Christ shall come It is a secret which God hath kept vp from all the liuing into his owne bosome The Pastour Indeed Sir it is such a secret thaâ—… may not bee searched Christ after his Resurrection said a wise word to his Apostles It is not for you 〈◊〉 knowe the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power This is the wisedome of God who hath concealed such things from the knowledge of all men as well learned as vnleaâ—…ned as well Kinges as Subjects that all flesh at all times be in readinesse when the Lord shall come to judgement This made the Lord so carefullie to waine his Disciples to watch The sicke Man The Lord graunt that wee may euer haue our loynes girded ouâ—… Candles in our hands waiting for the comming of that Lord. The Pastour That should be our daylie prayer This should teach vs not to lye downe to sleepe like foolish Virgines without Oyle in our Lampes leâ—… before wee waken the Bridegrome come vpon vs vnprouided enter in his Chamber while we shall bee seeking that which we shal not find The sicke Man Now Sir I pray you proceed and declare to mee howe the Lord shall come downe from Heauen for to judge this world wherein we dwell The Pastour He shall come downe not as King Agrippa his Queene Bernice came down 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with much phantasie or vaine shew which is nothing indeede but a foolish phantasie But O the vnspeakable Glorie that shall bee seene at the comming of the Lord. The sicke Man I requeast you earnestlie to continue into that purpose for it affecteth mine heart verie much The Pastour I reade in the Gospel that while Christ was sitting vpon the Mount of Oliues his Disciples came vnto him priuatelie saying Tell vs when shall these things be and what shall be the signe of thy comming and the end of the world Christs answere was That they should take heede that no man deceiue them because saide hee many shall come into my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceiue many The sicke Man But did hee not declare anie particular signes or tokens that should appeare before his comming The Pastour The Lord hath declared that before that great terrible day come The Sunne shall bee darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the Starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shall bee shaken The sicke Man I wish to heare the exposition of these words for they seeme to bee full of difficulties The Pastour Some think that these words are but an allegorie of the callamities that were to befall to the Church and