or councell love and prayers God I beseech who art the fountain of all goodnesse and the deep Sea of love requite your love into your bosomes God hath always used to be kind and good to them who do commâ—t â—hemselves wholly to his fatherly providence Obedience is a singular vertue and indeed such an one as all others have resplendency from it Patience is that one thing that is necessary for sick men Humility is an excellent jewell and conâ—empt of a mans own self Poverty is acceptable to Christ but the Queen of graces is Charity Yet amongst all these me thinks a sure confidence in God is of singular efficacie and a plenary resignation of a mans self unto the Divine Providence which Gods Word so highly commends which the Kingly Prophet so often speaks of which last of all Christ himself by so many arguments taken from the Flowers and the Fowles doth endeavour to perswade to None can ever know the streng h of this confidence nor that tranquillity which follows no nor can believe it but he who at all times in everything little or great fully hath believed in and trusted himselfe into Gods hand And I am perswaded that never was there man who did so referre himself wholly to God who hath not found singular and secret comfort within himself by it Let us trust to and rely on God And give our selves wholly to be disposed of by his infinite wisdom Hee will provide for us he will take care for us You see now how I am cited to appear at Gods Tribunall and must now give an account for 60 yeers carriage All mine deeds words thoughts are manifest and open to that Judge Noâ—hing ah nothing can be hid from him all the Acts of my passed life shall now be sentenced O how I tremble For it is a fearfull thing to stand before his Tribunall Yet in this great streight I have something to comfort me although I be an unjust and naughty servant yet I have a good Lord nay infinitely good which though I have bin sinfull yet I am his servant so commending my selfe inâ—o his hands and my soul to his mercy I bid adiew to you all wishing you al to have a care to your lives here that wee may once againe meet in the Kingdome of Glory Farewell § 24. What a dying man should always speak and meditate in his heart IN thy sicknesse ô good Christian being asked how thou doest how thou feelest thy selfe c. take heed to thy answers that thou utterest let them be such as these As God pleaseth as it seemeth good to the Lord so is come to passe according to Gods good will and pleasure I am well that is best so God sees it good Let his will be done in earth as it is in heaven and that ô sick man and dying man that thou mayest have this familiarly in thy mouth and heart use these three short Prayers 1 The Lord be blessed for ever and ever 2 Have mercy upon mee ô Lord after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies though I be lesse then the least of all thy mercies 3 O my Lord and my God I offer my self to thy good will and pleasure Thy will 〈◊〉 Lord be done Amen Some in the time of their sicknesse have had these prayers set before their faces in great Characters lying in their beds that night and day they might the more readily remember and use them Our Prayers are our Fore-runners to God let us our selves learn of our Harbingers the right way that so we may follow readâ—ly whensoever the Lord Eternall shall call us hence § 25. Things to be specially observed by a dying man 1 LEt hâ—m not rely upon but renounce his owne merits let him cast himselfe and all his sins into the boundlesse Ocean of Gods infinite mercy and compassion 2 Let him be sure to stand fast in the bosome of the holy Catholike Church and let him receive the blessed Sacrament seasonably it being his viaticum and the food of his soul 3 Let him withdraw all his affections and love from fading and transitory things and let his heart be united to God his heavenly Father Let him long for the promised Canaan that there hee may for ever offer prayse to God his Creatour 4 Let him offer up himselfe a lively sacrifice to the glory of God for his most blessed will to bear out of true love all the bitternesse and anguishment and all the pangs of death though for a long time and though hee might live longer yet for the love of God he refers himself to his wise disposing either for life or death 5 Let him never forget the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ Let him not rest till hee be united to Christ in his death and let him in the depth of all his sufferings imitate our Saviour to commend his soul into his fathers hands that so as hee is made conformable to Christ in his death hee may be likewise in his Resurrection But above all it is most safe for the dying man that what hee would have to be his last words and actions that hee begin to doe them in the state of his health § 26. What a dying man must doe LVdovicus Blosius a man of a most holy life who refused an Archbishoprick when it was offered him by Charles the fiâ—th Emperour whose life may be seen by his works amongst many other worthy pieces hee gives a dying man these Instructions following Being asked what a dying man should doe if hee had liv'd long in grievous sinnes answered though I should have lived forty yeers in my sinnes and now my death approaching if I shall truly acknowledge them and be heartily sorry for them from the bottome of my heart and resolve against them all for time to come if I have but so much time to put my self into Gods hands and truly turn to him without all hypocrisie and dissembling I shall depart hence holy and innocent and shall finde God a mercifull Father unto me and adds a short sweet Prayer for a sick man O Lord I am that miserable wretch whom Thou of thy Fatherly goodnesse hast created and by the most shamefull death of thy onely begotten Son hast redeemed from the power of the Enemy Thou Lord Thou onely shalt rule in me save me therefore ô Lord for thy infinite mercy throuâ—h Jesus Christ in whom I do believe to have immortality and glory Amen These are Abridgments to die well hee who knows how to be ready for death comprizeth all § 27. Refreshments for a sick man GO my people enter inâ—o your chambers shut the dores to you hide your selves for a while for a moment untill my indignation be passed over Isa 26.20 In my anger have I hid my face from you for a moment but in everlasting mercies will I have compassion on you saith the Lord your Redeemer Isay 54.8 Why art thou so heavy ô my soule and
with his mouth open which partly upheld one of the Pillars Hereupon hee with jesting and laughter told his dreame to his fellows Behold saith hee this is the Lion that kild mee in my dreame with that saying Hee put his hand into the hollow place of the stone-lions mouth and said Oh fierce Lion here is thy enemy shut thy mouth if thou beest able and bite off my hand hee had scarce made an end of speaking but hee received his fatall blow for in the bottome of that hollow place lay hid a Scorpion which feeling his hand put forth her sting touch'd him and he forthwith fell downe dead Is it so that stones can sting and poyson lurke in a Lion of stone Where may wee then not justly feare deaths stroke in the like manner did Hylas perish whom a lurking Viper in the chops of a Beare of stone did kill which is express'd by Martiall in his third Book and nineteenth Epigram What need I to mention the young man who was kild as hee was going into an house by an Icesicle which fell upon his head from the House-eaves Whom Martiall laments in his Epigrams Lib. 4. Ep. 18. So that you see many are the passages that Death hath to set upon us and usually he is then nearest when we least think of him §. 21. An Antidote against sudden Death GOod Reader here is annexed a short Prayer that I propose unto thee as a pattern for thee to use daily to entreat the Lord JESUS CHRIST to preserve thee from sudden death It is at thine owne liberty whether thou wilt use that or some other every day I made it that thou mightst on thy knees beg this great blessing of thy Saviour and know thus much such is the danger and so common that no man can be too wary or carefull over himself A Prayer O Most loving and bountifull Lord Iesus my Lord and my GOD I most ardently dâ—sire thee by thy most precious bloud shedding by thy last words upon the Crosse when thou cryedst My God my Godâ— why hast thou forsaken mee by those bl ssed words of thine when thou saidst Father into thy hands I commend my spirit that thou wouldst not take mee away by violent death Thy hands oh blessed Redeemer made me and fashioned mee oh give me understanding and I shall live oh make not so soon aâ—end of me give me I beseech thee time of Repentance grant that I may end in thy favour that I may love thee with all my heart and prayse and blesse thy Name for ever AMEN NEverthelesse all things good Lord are in thy disposing neither is there any that can resist thy will my life depends upon thy good pleasure neither doe I will as I please but resigne my wil to thy most godly governance in what place time or by what sicknesse thou wilt strike mee Thy will be done I doe commend all these to thy fatherly goodnesse and providence I except no place no time no disease though bitter and grievous because Thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused mee to be troubled onely this one thing do I crave of Thee not to take me away in my sins by some hastie Messenger but how ever not my will but thine O Lord be done if it seemes good to thy heavenly wisdome quickly to make an end of mee I submit thy will Oh God be done in all things For even then I hope through thy tender mercies to depart in peace and in thy favour in which though I do die by the hand of sudden death yet nothing shall separate thy love from my soul The just though taken away by death goes but to his rest Sap. 4.7 Death is not sudden to him that is alwayes provided Which if there be not a longer space and time left to me in which I may commend my soule to thee which is onely knowne to thee behold then now I doe it and doe ardently and heartily call unto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice and let my cry come unto thee Have mercy upon me O Lord according to thy infinite mercies Let thy will be done in earth as it is heaven Into thy hands O Lord doe I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O Lord God of truth All things living prayse and blesse thee O God In thee O Lord have I put my trust let mee not be put to confusion §. 22. That our days are few and evill HOw old art thou Sixty how many yeeres aged art thou seventy tell mee also oh man how old art thou fourescore Alas good men where are these yeeres where are thy sixty where hast thou left thy threescore and ten and where oh man wilt thou find thy fourescore why number yee those that are lost and spent Elegantly said Laelius that wise man to a man that said I have sixty yeeres in hold thou doest said he reckon that which thou hast not neither those that are past nor what is to come is thine wee depend upon a moment of fleeting time and even a little time is of great consequence Gen. 47.8 9. Pharaoh the Egyptian King asking the Patriarch Iacob how old hee was old Iacob answer'd The dayes of the yeeres of thy servants pilgrimage are few and evill Hearken you earthly Tantalussâ—s which so eagerly thirst after the extended yeeres of a perishing life Know that you are strangers here not inhabitants passengers not dwellers travellers not natives nor are you travellers in a long continuing journey your way as it is evill so it is short short it is perhaps to be ended before the conclusion of the next houre which you divide with death evill any knows it to be that are in it It offers more braâ—bles than Roses to go upon Miserable and vaine that we are what advantage is it for a stranger to load himselfe with pâ—bbles and fading flowers and for them to lose his heavenly inheritance what hinderance or losse is it to leave these if we get immortalitie and glory to labour in the way to provoke to good workes to sweat in them to endure any troubles or molestation is to bee counted gaine The more harsh our banishment is the more welcome will our Country be §. 23. That a young man may die old AS old men at length become as children so there may be many young may be said to be old men Old Balaam a man of threescore yeers and ten answered Josaphat the King asking him how old he was that hee was fortie and five and told the King wâ—ndring at his woâ—ds that hee had beene quiet at his study twenty five yeeres as for the rest which hee had spent upon worldly vanities hee did verily believe all those to be utterly lost so one Similius which was as it were buried in Court affaires had rather liv'd for his Emperour than for himself caused this to be engraved upon his Sepulchre Here lyes buried Similius an old man of seven yeeres of age
trifle time here Nature is not a stâ—pdame but a mother Canst thou accuse her ô my Theophrastus to be more unkind to men then to beasts Certainly men are her choicest pieces and if shee could preserve any from death corruption men should pertake of the priviledge and benefit For which is better quickly to suffer and to cut off all fear or slowly to suffer and still to be subjected to fear horror Nature then quits a man from a lingring torment when shee yields him but a short life We all doe stay For th' appointed day Why therefore art thou affrighted is thy life taken away so is then the feare of death and many evils that betide the life of man there is little difference saith Plinius Secundus betwixt suffering misery and expecting it daily to come onely this that there is some meane in grieving none in fearing For thou mayest grieve onely for so much as is happened but thou mayest feare for whatsoever may happen § 8. Three things grievous in sicknesse IN every disease almost there are thâ—se three things incident The feare of Death the paine of the body and the losse and privation of pleasures But as in the rules of Physick hot diseases are cured by cold medicines and cold by hoâ— so are these to bâ—e cured by Antâ—dotes Let the siâ—kâ— bâ—ware here that he mistakes not or goes not a contrary way There was a yong man who stood in need of old things to allay his heat but he when the Physicians were departed by the perswasion of the servants of the house tooke hot ingredients and anointed his brest with Balme and applyed many other hot medicines to his sicknesse which added fire to fire and almost brought him to Death To cure therefore the feare of Death and to remove it is to love Heaven and the joys thereof a li tle of divine love dispels all the smoak of vain feares Who loves Christ will be willing to lay downe his life and shall be beloved of his Saviour 2 To asswage and mitigate the paine of body is to have peace of conscience An upright soule and an entire conscience doth afford marvellous consolation to the sick bed A pure conscience purged from dead works is a powerfull remedy against all tormentings The sick man wâ—ll beare his sicknesse the easier and more comfortably if he fixeth deeply in his mind this one thing The most righteous Lord God hath imposed this affliction upon me and therefore I will beare It is his good pleasure let him doe as he thinks good 3 The losse of pleasures will nothing trouble nor grieve him who thinks upon heavenly eternall pleasures Those which wee leave are light vaine shâ—rt and filthy and commonly before they are left off they leave their Lovers full of paine oftentimes of diseases But those which our heavenly Countrey promiseth to us and will performe are infinite firme eternall not fading He easily dis-esteems earth whose aime is heaven § 9. Sicknesse is the Schoole of Vertue and Monitor to Eternitie THou sufferest wel saith Bernard if it works compunction Sicknes is aswell the Schoole of graces as the scourge of vices While wee are lusty and strong we rush into sins as the horse into the battle furiously when wee are sick wee better regulate our passions curbe our affections being healthy we are pestered with many hundred severall employments and put God in our last thoughts How many are chast and sober in sicknesse Who in time of health have furiously followed all filthy lusts and pleasures These men were happier and safer under the rod then they can be at liberty God lays therefore many downe that they may looke up and confines them with a Fever or Consumption or such like that their souls may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Long sicknesse makes sober minds In briefe Sicknesse seems to macerate the body but it meliorizeth the soul though as Saint Paul saith our outward man decay 2 Cor. 4.26 yet our inward man is renewed daily Hence is it that though sicknesse do seem tedious and burthensome yet it is then Good when it works holinesse in the Patient § 10. Sicknesse is the Monitor to Eternitie WHat a good thing is it that the evils of this present life should afford unto us a taste of everlasting punishments By these light ones here let us learn to keep our selves from those eternall ones From which no Apothecary no Physician no Medicine no Criticall day nor Death it selfe the Medicine for all evils and punishments here can release from The ways to death are diverse but once arrived to Eternity there is no redemption Anaxagoras being very sick his friends asked him whither he would be carried into his Country or not no such need said he and added a reason for every Countrey affords us a way to our grave This answer of his may be as well applyed to Heaven for wee may goe to Heaven from any part of the World O the fortunate and happy scar-fire of Feavers because short ô the fearfull fire of Hell because everlasting § 13. In sicknesse we must always pray PRayer ought to be the sickmans constant exercise Neither is it of too much difficulty for the sick party It is an exercise that 's perform'd without toyle For he may do it by his tongue to God but if his tongue be dulled or if griefe stops his voice then his soule in all humble devotion is to be lift up to God with a quiet composure of body Sometimes also ardent sighes do demonstrate secret conference with God Sometimes the disease is so violent that it not onely depresseth the body but also the soule and the whole man is foâ—c'd as it were wholly to attend on it In his case God accepts a patient and a quiet bearing of these dolours for Prayers Sicknâ—sse mixt with patience and mortification are accepâ—able Sacrifices in the presence of God Hee prayes well that suffers patiently And he doth not onely pray unto God but doth prevaile with God who sends two such wise Embassadours as Compunction and Patience But further though the Sicke man be brought to that passe that he neither by voice nor yet by hearty Ejaculations yea though his patience be overcome yet there is a way to pray left him Can hee look about hâ—m and hee shall see those that stand by him and those that are about him ready prompt to pray for him let but him in his sicknesse speake a word to them ô my good friend ô my dear brother you see how I am conquered wiâ—h pains I prâ—y you lend mee your tongue and your heart and read such and such a Psalme for mee to intreat God to be mercifull unto me Which of his friends will not be ready and willing to performe these things for the sick So though hee cannot by himselfe in words expresse himself to God yet hee may by the prayers of the faithfull Therefore I repeat it again In
but good Father restore the voice of joy and gladnesse to mee again Comfort mee now after the time that thou hast afflicted mee and for the yeeres wherein I have suffered adversity Turn thy face away from my sins and blot cut all mine offences according to thy great mercies Cast me not away from thy presence nor deal with me after my iniquities but help mee ô thou that art the helper of all that cry to thee for relief deliver mee for the glory of thy name Grant in mercy that I may dwell in thy house al the days of my life to sing prayses to thee in Heaven with all thy glorious Saints and Servants for evermore Amen The second Prayer to Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world O Sweet comfâ—rtable Iesus the fountaine anâ— wâ—lspâ—ing of mercy and tender compassion shew and extend to me thy poore servant and weak creature the riches of thy infinite mercies help and succour mee in this my great need and necessity my great Creatour and loving Redeemer Iesu Christ put thy Passion Cross and precious death betwixt thy judgment and my sicke soule I wholly give up my selfe to thy favour Cast me not away good Saviour in thy furie I willingly come to thee for hâ—lp ô reject not ô despise not ô refuse not to admit thy humble Petitioner into thy grace and favourable protection Now now ô Lord according to thy good pleasu e and will deal with me in mercie and receive my soule into thy hands in peace and love thou hast redeemed mee ô Lord thou God of truth O let the sound of those comfortable words enter into â—y soule sweet Saviour This day thou shalt be with me in Parad se O Iesus who was crucified for me receive me into thy armes of love and mercie into those armes which were stretch'd so wide to embrace poore grieved sinners unto those armes which I with the eye of faith see opened wide for transgressors Draw my soul after thee comfort it ô thou Lambe of God with thy al saving favour receive mee in thy savour and let my soule ever live in thy glorious courts in the highest Heavens Amen The third Prayer of thanksgiving in any sicknesse GLory be to thee ô Lord Iesus Christ the Authour and giver of life who hast vouchsafed to call me to the knowledge of true faith in thee Glorie be to thee who hâ—st always beene so full of plenteous redemption and mercie towards mee so grievously laden with all sorts of sins which through all my life hast heaped blessings and kindnesses upon me I give thanks to thee n y most loving God that according to thy good will and wisdome I am called out of this miserable and wretched life to appeare before thee How ô how willing am I to tread thy Courts and to behold the light of thy countenance I doe wholly commit my selfe to thy divine shelterage and blesse thy glorious name for giving me such a readie mind to depart I do ô most loving Lord in all humility beg and desire thee to binde up my soule in the bundle of peace and embrace my soule in thy everlasting favour and mercy tâ—ke my soule into thy protection hence-forth and for ever to thee to thee onely doe I commend my spirit which art the God of spirits I intreat thee the everliving God to give me an inheritance among those that be sanctified Count mee in the number of thy Saints and let my name ô heavenly Father be registred in the book of life Free me and deliver me fâ—om all the power of my enemies Deliver mee from all my trouble and adve sity because thou onely art the God which canst help those that are in misery and griefe thou hast said it ô bâ—essed Lord God that we should call upon thee in the time of trouble and thou hast graciously promised to hear and deliver us and taught us in thy wisdome to give glory to thy name To thee therefore be duly given all praise and glorie world without end The fourth prayer to be sâ—id of those about the sick party O Iesus Christ who didst die upon the Crosse for our Redemption in the depth of thy infinite love even of that gracious love which made thee lay downe thy life who wast the life of all that they might be restored to life Wee doe heartily dâ—sire and humbly crave of thee that thou wouldst passe by and blot out all the sins and transgressions which this thy sicke servant our Brother N. hath committed and that by thy most holy life and merits of thy most bitter Crosse and Passion thou wouldst be pleased to help all his infirmities and to make his bed in the time of his sicknesse and make him to feele and rellish thy infinite love and boundlesse mercies and let him apply them to hâ—s sâ—ule and disspose graciously of us all and especially of this thy weake creature whom thou art calling out of this miserable life that thou wouldst prepare his soule quietly and peaceably to seeke thee and that hee may give up his soul into thy hands with all patience and contentednesse in a full assurance of the pardon of all his sins being grounded in hope rooted in charity in a perfect state of mind so that for ever thou mayst hold him in the armes of thy never fading love and favour O Lord Iesus Christ wee beseech thee take not thy helping hand and saving assistance from this our sick brother who is now in the depth of sicknesse and even at the point of death who by weaknesse and defect of spirit is not able to lift up his voice unto thee Think upon him o Lord in thy love and mercy and give him ô give the spirit of comâ—ort and consolation Deliver him from all evill and grant hough hee doth at this time depart yet let it be in peace and sure confidence of thy love defend him from the danger of the Enemy at the time of his yielding up his spirit into thy hand give him sure confidence in thee and keep him iâ— perpetuall peace and safety and lead hâ—m into the land of everlastâ—ng rest and quietnesse Amen The fifth Prayer contayning the Acts of Faith Hope and Chariâ—y daily to be used O Lord Iesus Christ I believe that thou art my God and my Redeemer I doe bâ—lieve that for my salvation thou wast born of the Virgin Mary and was crucified I doe believe what the holy Catholick Church doth enjoyne me and I protest that I will lâ—ve and am willing to die in that faith Lord Iesus I doe heartily grieve that I have so grievously offendâ—d thy goodnâ—sse and I am sorâ—y that I can be no more sorry so those great and many offences which I have committed against thee my Crâ—atour and Redeemer I do humbly â—ray thee that thou wouldst by thy precious bloudshedding pardon and forgive all my sins and I doe purpose if thou shalt enlarge my life to abstaine from them â—ll and to
dispatched him Was not the byting of a Weasell the end of Aristides life Did not the Father of Caesar arise well from his bed and dyed putting on his shooes Did not another Caesar breath out his soule going over the threshold into his Palace That Ambassador who intended to have spoken with great admiration the Rhodians affaires in a great Assembly dyed he not in the entrance into the Court If wee will believe Lucian Anacreon the Poet and Sophocles were both killed with the stone of a Grape One little prick of a Needle kild Lucia the daughter of Marcus Aurelius Cneus Bebius Pamphilus the Praetor having desired that Dignity from a youth dyed the first houre hee enjoyed it A sudden and violent laughter hath kild some so wee read of Chilo the Lacedemonian and Rhodias Diagoras who when they heard their sonnes were Conquerours in the Olympick Games in one and the same time both suddenly departed Death hath many passages and entrances by which he comes into us and ruines us sometimes he comes in at the windows sometimes enters into the Sellars not seldome by the supporters and pillars and often by the tiles and covering of the house if hee fails by these betrayers to overthrow the house such I call all the ill Humours Diseases Cathars Plurisies and other Causes which death useth to effect his designes upon us then he will burst open the dores with powder with fire water pestilence poysons beasts and men with all violence and fury that can bee invented Mephihosheth the son of King Saul as he was upon his bed at noone was slaine by hired murtherers Pulâ—o King of Ierusalem as he hunted a Hare falling from his horse and being trodden upon presently wâ—s slain Iosias of all the Kings of Iuda David onely excepted the most renowned for piety sanctity and other Princely endowments when he met the Army of Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt being suddenly wounded with an arrow died in the battaile Egillus King of the Goths an excellent Prince was gored and kild by a mad Bull which was let loose by naughty lawlesse people Malcolme the first King of the Scots after many examples of justice on a night as he narrowly viewed his Kingdom was strangled many as they have gone to sleepe have slept their last it is necessary at all occasions to be in battaile aray against this politique enemy Vzzah a great man in Davids Court who laid hands upon the Arke when it shaked as it was bringing to Ierusalem to stay it from falling was smitten and died The Prophet that eat meate contrary to the Lords command was torne in pieces by a Lion Ananias and Saphyra in the Apostles time at the very word of Saint Peter both died suddenly whose act may serve as a faire warning to all men not to transgresse in the like manner but I omit these ancient times and come to our dayes Iacob Gord. in Chron. in hunc annum In the yeare 1559. Henry the second King of France was kild in the midst of his Sports and Triumphs in a great confluence of Spectators for as hee celebrated in great state with justs and tournaments the Marriage of his Daughter in Paris was run into his eye and so through the head with a shiver of a Lance that hee died forthwith In the yeare 1491 Alphonsus the sonne of John the second King of Portugall being 16 yeeres old and a Prince of an excellent wit and great hopes married Isabel the daughter of Ferdinand King of Spain whose dowrie was the Inheritance of the large Territories of her Fathers Kingdomes The marriage was celebrated with the preparation and furniture of six hundred severall sorts of Triumphs every where were Playes and Tiltings and Justs and Banquets there was such excesse and superfluitie that even Pages and Kitchen-boyes shone in their cloth of Gold and silkes and velvets were accounted of no value but oh the griefe what a strange Catastrophe presently followed scarce were seven moneths passed when as this young Prince sporting himselfe with his horse by the banks of the River Tagus was strucke off from the banks to the earth with his head all bruised fatally and so was carried into a poore fishers Cottage which could scarce hold him and two of his servants and in that poore plight in that dejected state upon a Mattresse of straw he ended his life The King and the Queene his Mother came thither and saw that deplorable spectacle and all their pompe and magnificence was suddenly turn'd into mourning and the wedding ended in a funerall and all their large hopes of the prosperous successefull government of their sons state were extinguished and cut off as greene flowers by the cold blasts of a Northern wind so all this Princes glory was laid in a little quantity of earth Oh the strange and sudden whirle-windes of humane glory Oh the unexpected precipices and downfals of the strongest of mortals Shall I speak of more Basilius the Emperour as he was hunting a Stag was wounded with his horne Hippol. Guar. l. 6. de abominandis gentis hum 1.20 and in short time after of that wound died An ancient Monument in Ambrose neer Oenipont records that a yong unexpert gentleman more rash than wise put his horse with his spurs to take a ditch of twenty feet over Vide Iusta Hen. 4. regis Gall. a Ludovico Richâ—omo scripta he forc'd the horse to it but both he and his horse perished alike the Knights clothes and the horses skin kept in that place speake this true to posterity But this sudden death happens alike to good and bad unlesse as in some examples the divine stroke of Justice hath wiped out some out of the Land of the living for some notorious offence in the very act and perpetration so Dathan and Abiram for their rebellion were swallowed up of the earth quick with their consorts Such was the death of Absolon for his rebellion against his Father Such was the death of those fifty that were sent to Elijah whom fire from heaven suddenly devoured Such was the death likewise of Zimri and Cozhi for their transgression being both run through by Phinees Whose action in lust brought them to dust So many Pores as are in the body so many little doores are there for death to enter though death doth not seeme alwayes to be neere yet hee is certainly at hand always ready Why should that seeme strange to be done at this time which may be done at any time The tearm of our life is fixed Senet Epist 101. Med. and alters not but none of us all knows how neere it wee are Let us so order our selves therefore alwayes as if we were come to the mark Let us not defer There was a certain man dream't hee was killed by the mouth of a Lion He rose and neglecting his dreame went to the Church with other company and by the doore as they entred he spied a Lion cut in stone
to thy selfe And why turnest thou away from those who tell thee of thy approaching danger I beseech thee imitate not those old men whom thou knewest before abroad to whom it was death to heare Death to be spoken off I Pray thee hast thou learn'd no further yet but still to fear death Hast thou got so much knowledge in so many yeares to die freely peaceably and without vexatiâ—n Why tremblest thou Commit thy self wholly to the will of God and so thou hast done the hardest piece of thy work Even our whole life is but a punishment That wise Roman Seneca will counsell thee We being saith he cast into the deep and troublesome sea of this World which is always tossing her waves and billows now lifting us up with sudden advancements now againe leaving us in the lurch to our greater losse Continually tossing us never are we safely setled We are alwayes in suspence and inconstantly floating now and then dash'd one against another sometimes making shipwrack always fearing thus wee saile along this boysterous Ocean exposed to all tempests and there is no Port or Haven till we arrive at Death Many mens credulitie deceives them especially in those things whiâ—h they love being willing to forget the remembrance of death Daily before our eies we see spectacles and objects of Mortalitie as well of our friends as strangers but we still are otherways imployed and thinke that sudden which might have have hapned every moment of our life This is not the iniquitie of Natuâ—e but the pravitie of our minds being insatiable in that which it cannot enjoy and altogether disdaining to go out from thence whither he was admitted to enter by request Hee is unjust that leaves not the Donor the disposing of his owne gift He is greedy who doth not account that a benefit which hee hath received but says it is losse to restore it Hee is ingrate who calls the end of pleasure an injury He is foolish which thinks nothing but things present have prâ—fit in them He too much pens up and straitens his jâ—yâ— who thinks hee enjoys no more then what he hath and seeth Suddenly doth all pleasure leave us it flows and passes and is in a manner â—aken away before it come to us Let us â—ll therefore contentedly enjoy what is bâ—stowed and suâ—render it when it shall be demanded Death snatcheth away all some one time some another none escapeth him Let our souls then continually watch never dreading it because necessary lways expecting it because â—ncertain It is hard to say whether it be more folly to be ignorant of or impudent to stand out against the Laws of Mortality All men yea all creatures whatsoever look towards death Whosoever is born to the World is ordained to die and to passe to Eterniâ—y § 17. Three speciall Rules to be observed by the sick I Concerning God IT is grand impietie to murmur any thing against God our h avenly Fathâ—r as though the disease hee l yeth upon us were extreame and unreasonable Wee ought rather to say with holy Iob Even as it pleaseth the Lord so come things to passe Blessed be the name of the Lord and to cry out with that devout multitude He hath done all things well For whethâ—r God wound or heal us certain it is hee ever beareth towards us the tender care and affection of a most loving Father II Concerning himself In the extremity of sicknesse there is not so much need of long and continuall prayers as of constant and unwearied patience For thereby that which is heavie and intolerable becommeth light and easie Our chiefe cordials and sweetest comforts in our sicknesse are frequent sighes breathed up to Heaven the Remembrance of the patient suffrings of the Saints holy Prayers and Ejaculations sent up to Goâ— for constant patience and an happy departure out of this life III Concerning others The sicke man must be tractable to his Physicians whether corporall or spirituall If any come to visit him he must shew all patience and calmnesse of spirit and though his disease gripe hâ—m many things trouble him some displease him others rellish ill wiâ—h him all things be not done aâ— his beck yet he must never murmur but allaying the bitternesse of his afflictions with the sweet expectation of a reward expresse Christiâ—n submissiâ—n and patience in all his words and actions § 17. Wherewith the sickman should quench his thirst MOst sick folk complain much of th rst those especially who are sick of Feveâ—s Here therefore wee wâ—ll shew them a Fountain whence they may drinke as much as they please An. 1590 In lower Austria there was a Thiefe who had kild maâ—y men being taken and brought to the Wheele onely had his legs broken which was done the more to torment him with a lingring death and to make him the more terrible spectacle to all such Malefactors bu this tormented person pâ—oved himself a valiant man and a stout Christian in the height of his torments For all his words argued patience penitence He began seriously to supplicate God to entreat pardon for his sins to be a Preacher of Mortification and to dehort all other men from the like hainous sins And the day being almost spent when as there was a World of people assembled there were likewise present some that knew him and comforted him being glad to see him so patiently to suffer for he being laid flat for his punishment that hee might get another life he asswag'd his present suffering with the hope of future happinesse and not onely so but gave thanks to God who in his anger had remembred mercy and had chastened him that hee might save him In that space of his punishment which lasted for above three days hee requâ—sted two things that he might die maturely and Christianly and that it would please God to send a showre of rain seasonably to mitigate his heat and thirst It is recorded that he obâ—ained both these requests for about Evening there fell a plentifull showre of raine and afterwards he ended his pains and his life Behold here ô my Christian thou thy selfe here hast also thy wheele but a farre softer one thou rollest in thy bed as on a wheele and without doubt though perhaps thy torment may be lesse yet thy thirst is as great that there may come down into thy soul a comfortable showre look up to Golgotha and behold with the eye of faith thy Saviour upon the Crosse from whose bodie flows Rivers of saving waters here drink here refresh here satisfie thy selfe The more freely thou drinkest of this the more healthy will thy soule be § .18 The sickmans Napkin or Handkerchief CHrotildis Queen of the Franks as Gregorius Turonicus relate it being cruelly used by Amalaricus her husband sent to King Childebert her brother a white linnen cloth all besmeared with her bloud in stead of a Letter and as though she spoke thus to her Brother Canst Thou ô Childebert see this
why art thou so disquieted within me still trust in God for I will yet give him thanks who is the light of my countenance and my God Psal 42.6 7. We are the children of his Saints and we do expect that life which God will give to those that keep the faith It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones should perish Matth. 18.14 So God loved the World that hee gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 Now if any man sin wee have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and hee is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sinnes of the whole world 1 John 2 1. Verily verily I say unto you whosoever heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent mee hath life eternall and shall not come into judgment but shal passe from death to life John 5.24 All that my Father hath given to me shall come unto mee and hee that commeth to me I cast not out of doors Verily verily I say unto you who so believeth in mee hath eternall life John 6 37. 47. I am the resurrection and the life Whosoever believeth in mee yea though he were dead yet shal he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall not die eternally John 11.15 26. In my Fathers house are many Mansions John 14 2. If God be for us who can be against us who also spared not his own Sonne but gave him for us how then shall hee not give us all things with him Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God who justifies Who shall condemne It is Iesus Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen again and sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession for us Rom 8 31. usque ad 35. None of us live unto our selves nor none die unto our selves whether wee live wee live unto the Lord or whether we die we die unto the Lord whâ—ther therefore wee live or die we are the Lords Rom. 14 7 8. We know that if this earthly house of our dwelling be dissolved wee have a building from God an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens and for this wee sigh desiring to be put on with our house which is from heaven that if we be clothed we shal not be found naked 2 Co 5.1 2 3 Now shall Christ be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death for Christ is to me both in life and death advantage But to be with Christ is much better Phil. 1.20 21 23 Our conversation is in heaven from whence we look for a Saviour even our Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1.15 Whosoever endureth to the end shall be saved Matth 24 13. Be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee the crowne of life Apoc. 2.10 These are pure and coole streams and fountains to asswage the heat of sin and fear of death Hee swims safely who baths himself in these waters of comfort § 28. Holy Ejaculations and Prayers of a dying man HOly Eligius a little before his death embracing his friends with teares spoke thus unto them Farewell all yee and suffer me from henceforth to rest Earth must return to earth the Spirit will finde the way to God that gave it So holding up his hands and eyes to heaven prayed so a good while and at last burst forth into these words Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word Remember Lord that thou hast made mee as earth Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified O remember mee thou Redeemer of the World who onely art without sin and bringing mee from the body of this death place mee in thy Kingdom I know I doe not deserve to see thy face and tast thy favour but thou knowest that all my hopes have bin in thy all-saving mercies and now ô Christ dying in the confession of thy holy Name I doe render my last breath my soule into thy safe keeping Receive me ô Lord according to thy great mercies and let mee not be confounded in my hope open to mee the gate of life and let not the powers of darknes hold me Let thy right hand bring me into thy resting place and let me enjoy one of those Mansions which thou hast prepared for those tha love and feare thee And having thus prayed hee departed Oh could wee follow the example of this holy man let us therefore call upon Christ in these or the like words Enlighten mine eyes ô Iesus that I sleep not in death lest that mine enemy say unto mee I have prevailed against him Psal 13 4. O Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the living God put I pray thee thy Passion Crosse and meritorious death betwixt thy judgment and my poore soule O Remember not Lord our old sins but have mercy upon us and that soon for wee are come to great misery Psal 77.8 Oh m st sweet Jesus Christ our Lord for the honour and vertue of thy most blessed Passion make me to be numbred with thy Saints in glory everlasting Enter not into judgment ô sweet Iesu with thy servant for in thy sighâ— shall no flesh living be justified and then let him utter these words I worship thee ô Lord Iesus Christ and blesse thy name for thou by thy holy Crosse and Passion hast redeemed the World O thou Saviour of the World save mee which by thy bitter Crosse and precious bloud hast redeemed me Draw mee unto thee ô Iesus who didst say When I am lifted up from the earth I shall draw all men unto me O most meâ—cifull Iesus I pray thee by thy precious bloud which thou sheddest for sinners to blot out all my offences O let thy bloud purifie me let thy body ô Christ save mee wash mee in thy bloud and let thy passion confirme my soule ô good Iesu heare me hide me in thy wounds suffer me not to be separated from thee in the houre of death call me bid me to come unto thee that I with all the rest of the glorious Saints may prayse thee O my gracious Redeemer I do wholly give up my self unto thee Cast mee not out from thy presence I come unto thee reject me not Cast me not out of thy sight and take not thy holy Spirit from mee Oh let not my iniquity cast me away whom thy goodnesse did create As death approacheth neerer so let the dying man pray thus O God according to thy will so let thy mercy come unto me bid ô God that my spirit may