seeing that hee hath seene the beginning of the Kingdome of God which was all hee could see vpon earth for to himselfe he saide is Iesus Christ come so farre from the very highest Heauens to visite me wherfore shoul-not I goe before him and how sweet will death be now vnto mee hauing seene him who is come to take away all malediction You may say peraduenture that this good man made too great haste first for it was sufficient for Christian constancy to attend euils without hastening them and to forbeare vntill they fall of themselues Secondly that it is a losse for the Church that such a holy man as Simeon should bee taken from the world whose life was an edification to the Church Thirdly and that he abandoned his wife and his children in hauing no more care of them and his family Fourthly and in conclusion that Death is an euill which Iesus Christ himselfe as man feared hauing prayed that the Cup might passe from him and St. Peter was dragged to Martyrdome after a sort against his will They shal lead thee whither thou wouldest not Ioh. And Iesus Christ wept for the death of Lazarus although he had resolued to raise him vp againe First to this I answere the faithfull ought not to run to death but we ought to follow when God calleth Now God called Simeon and by the promise which was made that he should not dye vntill he had seene the Messias hee knew that his houre was come Secondly many say that the death of a holy man is a losse to the Church I answere that God preserueth those that he will employ for the seruice thereof as Iesus Christ said when the Souldiers held him If you seeke for me let these goe for he would employ them if he meane to take any away he will find other meanes to perfect his worke Moses did bring the people out of Egypt and led Israel forty yeares euen to the very border and conquered some part of the land beyond Iorden yet dyed euen at the very entrance thereof but God raised Iosuah to whom he gaue strength to effect it Dauid had proiected the building of of the Temple and gathered together the materials and made choise of the place but God would not that he should lay the foundation but ordained Salomon for that worke It is the worke of God to the which hee prouideth workemen alwayes according to his prouidence Thirdly may another say but he abandoned his wife his children and family This which seemeth to be a kind of cruelty is farre better then all clemency that smothereth all naturall affection to obey God which was the cause that made Abraham resolute to sacrifice his sonne which made the Leuites draw their swords against their brethren and kindred for to obey the commandements of God Simeon at his death was resolued to obey him and to refuse his family to follow God Besides hee knew his family in this affliction wanted no consolation for it might comfort and arme it selfe with these considerations How vainely would we resist the will of God and kicke against the prickes God is wise and doth all for the best and for causes onely knowne to himselfe Life is not giuen vs in propriety but lent vs the Terme is not according to our desires but according to his ordinance We make vp our account amisse and thinke we enioy our life as if it were our owne or else we doe not looke that God should take it way so soone by which meanes the most of the sorrow proceedeth not from the nature of the euill it selfe but from our selues and our carelesnesse and want of attendance The Holy Scripture saith thereupon very well That hee hath rendred his spirit Dauid saith I render my soule into thy hands for thou hast bought me What would this word of render my soule signifie but onely to shew vnto vs that God demaundeth nothing but that which belongeth vnto him as Saint Luke 12. saith To morrow shall thy soule be asked for and principally those whom Iesus Chirst hath bought with his blood and precious sufferings When hee calleth vs away hee doth like the buyer that would haue that hee paide for And wee ought to say with Dauid I render my soule into thy hands for thou hast bought it and hast bought it not to enrich thy selfe but to better it It will be well done in our dolours and domesticke sorrowes to looke vpon others and to behold the ruine of their Countryes and Cities So many battels where fifty thousand men haue beene slaine where so many Cities haue beene destroyed where Kings haue beene slaine in the middle of the Army or amiddest their triumphs and wee shall finde our owne miseries indifferent tollerable in comparison of theirs hauing cause to accuse our selues of delicacy liuing but too effeminately especially when we come to beholde the wounds of the Church the forepast massacres with the executions burnings of so many faithfull people in the Kingdome of Sathan vnder the which the Church breatheth so hardly then I say if we be disposed as we should be we will be much more grieued with such a generall misery then with our owne particular for it is but of small importance to haue domesticke euils in our owne house in comparison of the miseries that the world doth suffer It is a small matter when God taketh one of his seruants from the world in comparison of the streetes when they runne with the blood of the faithfull massacred by blasphemous and bloody villaines You who are constant in publike afflictions where God is blasphemed wherefore should you be carelesse in particular that dwell where Gods name is called vpon wherefore should you be so sensible for your domesticall grieuances and so insensible of the wounds of the Church If any sorrow more for the losse of their owne then for the affliction of the Church I say his teares is cruell against the Church and it is a signe of his little zeale to the glory of God When Sathan holdeth the Church by the throate we should be glad to comfort it Yet in the affliction of our familie wee grow so passionate that we reiect all consolation although with drie eyes we can be content to see for the publike good millions of people thronging downe to Hell and if God take away from amongst vs a soule hee loueth or if he take away a wife or a sonne or a husband then we loose all constancy and our fashion is to murmure against him It is very necessary that these domesticke sorrowes be mastred by a greater power and that the zeale to the house of God may command vs and possesse vs as Dauid in the 66. Psalme saith The zeale of thy house hath eaten me Aboue all we faile in our Teares for when we haue seene a friend die that was deare vnto vs and seene him die the death of the righteous with a holy ioy and goe out of this world like
one that goeth out of prison that is to say with cheerefulnesse and assurance of saluation yet neuerthelesse wee make too much lamentation for him which is wrong to Iesus Christ as if his children were with him in misery it is also a wrong to the deceased for if wee should but taste a few drops and behold but the sparkles of the glory and contentment which they receiue with God we would say our teares are iniurious and wherfore should we enuy their repose Doubtlesse if our tears could bring him againe we ought not to doe it for they would say Wherefore hast thou troubled our rest and brought our soules againe into this filthinesse and put vs againe into the combat after the victory They had rather that we would prepare our selues to goe to them and that we will thinke they are not lost but gone before vs and let our chiefe worke bee to prepare our selues to dye instead of mourning for them and turne our mourning with a holy feare into a holy care and deepe contemplation And indeed the reason why God so soone taketh from vs those we so much affect is that hee would haue a pledge of vs in taking the one halfe of our selues vnto him to the end we may so dispose of our selues that he may also haue the rest and that all our desires may runne that way in so much that there be nothing in the house nor in the chambers nor moueables nor bookes whereof the dead was owner but that it may aduertise vs to be dissolued and in good time whilest it is day-light to dispose of our Soules euer thinking to goe the same way and to follow that currant These thoughts ought to change our sorrowes and desires and turne our mindes from the memory of euils past towards the blessings to come and to change sadnesse into hope and forepast euils into aduertisements to come Yet notwithstanding I find it sometimes very fit to be sorrowfull but with such a kinde of respect as it be alike for those that are without as for those that are at home When God taketh any that was an example of vertue and that was of speciall worth in the Church we ought to say God is angry hee maketh a breach in his house this world was vnworthy of so great vertue it presageth our miserie as the death of Iosias was presently followed with the Captiuity of Babylon or like the death of S. Augustine after which presently succeeded the ruine of the citie where he was Bishop For the life of this good man stayed the iudgement of God and was a kinde of Rampart to the Church Also Elizeus althogh he were old feeble hauing nothing but a staffe to vphold his weaknesse yet neuerthelesse it serued Israel for an entire Army which is called by King Ioram The Chariot of Israel disarmed and his men of War As if he should haue saide that by his death Israel was disarmed and all the force it had quite taken away For euen as we see Swallowes remoue their yong from an olde house that is like to fall euen so the soules of the Saints flie from this earth here below before the ruine thereof This kinde of dolour is healed with feare and the euill that one feareth is cured by amendment of life and the death of the faithfull shall then greatly profit if with the sorrow we learne to forme our selues by the example of the deceased I thinke good Brethren that such thoughts as these possessed the kindred and friends of Simeon by which they were not onely comforted in his death but also instructed and edified But as for Simeon how doe you thinke he prepared himselfe to dye and with what resolution did he goe before His prayer to God sufficiently sheweth when hee saide Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace Note well what hee saith Now without asking any delay He was prepared for it long before hauing nothing else to doe in the world but to die Like a Ship at Anchor which is already rigged and trimmed attending onely the wind at last it came and that winde was the Messias Hee is not the first seruant of God nor the last that desired to die Elias before him 1 Kings 19. said to God he was sorry to see the Idolatrie of Israel It is enough O Eternall now take my soule for I am no better then my Fathers And after him Saint Paul Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ And in another place I desire to dye and to be with Christ The end wherefore Simeon desired to dye was to enter into peace He calleth death a peace or a repose as Isaiah saith The iust is dead hee shall enter in peace they repose vpon their beds whosoeuer shall haue walked before him and so the spirit of God saith in the 14. of the Apoc. Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they Now saith the spirit rest from their labours Also death is called a peaceable sleepe as in the 2. of Iohn Lazarus our friend sleepeth but I goe to awake him And Saint Stephen slept after he had said Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Daniel 12. saith That many of those that sleepe in the earth shall rise to eternall life It is the language of Heauen the stile of the heauenly Court and the saying of the word of God to call sleepe that which we call death from whence it commeth that the Church-yard where the dead are buried is called a Resting place or a sleeping place For first of all euen as we put off our cloathes before we goe to sleepe euen so our soules going to rest put off our bodies Secondly if we sleepe quietly we must put off all care and lay it vnder the Pillow euen so to dye quietly and peaceably wee must put off all care and earthly thoughts and hauing disposed of our House as God said to Ezechias for the best Will you can make leaue your Soule to God who shall not be more rich but you shall be more happy Himselfe dying left his Purse to Iudas his Body to the earth but left his Soule to his Father for of that was his onely care Also euen as those that are sober and liue orderly sleepe with quietnesse but disordered people and Drunkards rest with terrour and griefe euen so shall they dye peaceably and religiously who haue so liued but those that haue liued disorderly and like Swine are in danger to dye wofully and lamentably And euen as the King Assuerus when he could not sleepe called for his Chronicle that after the reading thereof he might take rest so ought the faithfull during their liues exercise themselues in the reading of the holy Scripture which is the History and the lawes of the hand of their Father and to sleepe thereupon in a peaceable and sweet death And as in sleepe the body is vnmoueable but the soule moueth and exerciseth so whilst the Body remaineth in death
also why Simeon after he desired to dye and called death a peace and a repose commeth to the cause of this assurance that is to say to Iesus Christ whom he calleth the saluation of God let saith he goe thy seruant in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation that is to say the sauing health which thou offerest vnto vs and the onely meanes which thou hast ordained to saue vs. For it is he which is our Iesus because hee saueth the people from their sinnes It is he that God hath ordained for a propitiation by the blood of the Grosse and there is no other name vnder Heauen by which we can possibly be saued He is the Prince of life because we draw from him as from the fountaine of life euen as the foure first dayes of the Creation all was wholly light of it selfe but the fourth day God created the Sunne whereto he confined and placed all that that he had of light in the world that it might afterwards flow from the Sunne euen so all life is inclosed in Iesus Christ to the end that going to him wee may draw out of his fulnesse And euen as the Virgine vestals of the Pagans from whence proceedeth the Nunnes of these times had a continuall fire which if it happened by any mischance to goe out they might not giue it light againe but only from the Sun so our Naturall clearenesse and our life being extinguished by the sinne of Adam we cannot kindle againe but at the Sunne of Iustice which is our Lord Iesus Christ to whom belongeth that which is said in the 36. Psalme The Fountaine of life lyeth in thee and by thy clearenesse we see clearely It is saluation which is propounded in this Table which is Iesus Christ now offered vnto you Simeon embraced him in his armes but you imbrace him by faith Simeon saluted his birth in his infirmity but you adore and contemplate him in his glory Simeon came to dye besides his Cradle but you are made aliue by his kingdome Come neere vnto him with repentance receiue this meate with faith digest it with carefull meditation of the excellency of saluation make this saluation fruitfull and of sweet odour by your good works that dogs and swine come not neere to eate vp childrens bread prophane this holy Table I call them swine that wallow in the mire of their filthy pleasures who serue their belly more then God who liue of Gods gifts and looke not from whence they come like swine that eat Acornes and neuer looke vp to the Trees I call them swine likewise who do no good to any till they be dead who giue nothing whilest they are aliue and liue basely to dye Rich. I call those dogges which are iniurious in words who murmure against all men who byte the renowne of their neighbour who barke against God blasphemously and would wrong them that reproue and instruct them who after a little leauing of their vices returne to their vomitting againe With this company I ranke those that are negligent in participating of the holy Supper as an impertinent thing and loue not to declare the death of the Lord contemning the happy helpes which God hath ordained to strengthen faith Such people make their owne Inditements and in abstaining from the Lords Table acknowledge themselues vnworthy to be of his Houshold they will not receiue the body of the Lord and the Lord will not receiue their soules they contemne his Table and they shall not enter into his Kingdome As much or more are they to be blamed that know themselues stained with these things and yet not touched with repentance come without a holy purpose to doe better hereafter to take the Sacrament which is life and saluation to the faithfull but poyson and death to the vnbeleeuer and impenitent Doe you come to receiue the Sacrament of the Lord with prophane hearts Come you to take with hands full of Vsury and rapine the Body of the Lord Come you with riots and quarrels to receiue the assurance of your peace with God or with pride to declare the death of the Lord which is the miracle of Humiliation or to please men with curious apparell where onely your innocency ought to appeare before God But for you that are broken-hearted and displeased in your selues this Table is prepared Doe not say I am too great a sinner to come neere it for that is the cause wherefore thou oughtest to come neere for the more one is sicke so much more need is there of the Physition Iesus Christ is not come to saue the Iust but to call sinners to repentance onely be displeased with your selues to haue offended God and desire to amend and to doe better and aske helpe at Gods hands to assist you to this Combat He is sufficiently acceptable to God who is displeased with himselfe He is of the most perfect who acknowledging himselfe Imperfect seeketh his perfection in Iesus Christ whose righteousnesse is imputed vnto vs. The faithfull will haue fallings and weaknesses but he will alwayes returne againe Hee will reioyce in trembling Psalme 2. He will gather on in his way in stumbling He will say I beleeue but helpe my vnbeliefe This Sacament is a meanes to sustaine this feeblenesse a restoratiue for spirituall failings a succour to a combatted faith to the end that you representing this saluation and this grace you say I am lost and miserable and haue merited death but behold God calleth me and offereth me his grace and Redemption hee is no mocker and his vocation cannot be frustrated yet neuerthelesse I goe bathed with the teares of a holy sorrow powring at his feet this precious liquour of repentance and I doe assure my selfe hee will haue mercy vpon mee because he hath so promised I trust in his promises amidst my afflictions and for all my sinnes I feare not but to find a full Consolation And so I goe on my way saying with Simeon Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seen thy saluation FINIS A HEAVENLY ALARVM OR THE HOLY SPIrituall Awakening By Mounsieur du MOOLIN Minister of PARIS at CHARRENTON LONDON Printed by Iohn Hauiland for THOMAS PAVIER 1622. THE HOLY SPIRITVALL Awakening IT is too much still to goe on and grow old in vanitie let not the foolish affections of our carnall desires transport vs any further we loue the things here below but too well let vs estrange our selues from them and addresse our selues to heauen without frustrating it of that that belongeth vnto it the example of Creatures without reason euen without sense leadeth vs vnto this reason we see the water come out of the water returning againe to the water the earth drawne from the earth seeketh for the earth and so consequently euery thing tendeth to his place but wee which are borne for heauen flie from it The eternall Beatitude and the knowledge thereof is our beatitude which we possesse alreadie by the assurance
thou art so hartlesse and without hope that thou confirmest all this to be true that it is impossible to serue God and Riches which is pronounced by the very Truth it selfe But it behooueth thee to set the looking glasse before thy face to see how much thou art disfigured and if thine eyes be not offuscated behold thy deformitie O foole that so much esteemest the glory and treasure of the earth as if in that consisted thy felicitie Horrible idolate 〈◊〉 if thy soule had beene asked for this night what would haue become of all and suppose thy life shall continue euen to the vtmost of old age it proueth but a moment what profit haue they carried away that thou hast knowne of all those that are now in their graues doest thou thinke if they died rich that they were more happy alas there is much danger to thinke the contrary Luke 18.24 It is a hard thing for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of heauen What hope canst thou draw from S. Iames 5.1 You rich men weepe crying for your sinnes and your miseries your riches are rotten your cloathes are full of mothes your gold and siluer is rustie and their rustinesse shall witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh like fire Now wherefore wouldest thou desire abundance 1. Tim. 6.9 for Those that would be rich fall into temptation into the snares of the deuill and into many foolish and filthie desires which plunge men into destruction and perdition Which the Wise man vnderstood well when he prayed vnto God not to giue him riches but only his daily bread Iames 1.2 What is all this but Vanitie vpon Vanitie which haue no sooner taken their being but presently slide away as if they had neuer beene at all no more remembrance left to be seene than of the bird that hath flowen in the ayre which no man can finde out the tract He that with such greedinesse heaped it vp at his death left it behinde him and to whom alas he knoweth not as the Prophet saith Psalme 15.39 But if it should be of some continuance wouldest thou bastardize and shorten thy felicitie to fix thy soueraigne good there tell me how many yeares hast thou liued and in what part of thy life didst thou first delight in these riches hath thy life since that time beene so blessed if thou thinke so for a little at what a value wouldest thou haue prized all the World But listen and consult with Iesus Christ a while We must know that whosoeuer searcheth and loueth these things cannot please God for they haue his heart and not the Lord and therefore let vs beware whilest it is light and learne to misprise and contemne them following the counsell of IESVS CHRIST Let vs lay vp treasure in Heauen where neither rust nor the mothes can corrupt and let vs thinke of things aboue and not of those that are below for whose euer is not ready to renounce all things that are of this world and that he possesseth in the earth euen as he himselfe saith He cannot be his But if once that come to be found in vs we wil then striue rather to glorifie God than to possesse all the riches of the world that are so wicked preferring the riches of Christ aboue all the treasures of Egypt after the example of Moses and let vs no longer depriue our selues from the hearing of the word of God and of the meanes of seruing him according to his knowne will for to heape vp happinesse more commodiously than heretofore we haue beene accustomed desiring with Dauid to be rather a doore keeper in the house of God than to enioy all the pleasures and delights of the flesh that may be for happy are they that dwell in Gods house and those that are far from it most vnhappy Amos 8.2 There is no greater misery than to haue a famine of Gods word There are I feare too many that to please themselues and their owne humors turne away from God as if it were a disgrace to follow him preferring the Temporall life before the Spirituall hauing more care of the body than the soule like those that loue their apparell better than themselues neuerthelesse such are sometimes put to their proofe because of the defects that are in Men of their infirmitie and basenesse hauing not yet tasted the promises of God yet there cannot any thing be more detestable and more to be condemned No and we may say what we will to colour such an offence but it is to speake properly no other than to put man in Gods place for we make lying man true and God which is Truth it selfe false we make man who is altogether feeble mightie and God who is Power it selfe vnpowerfull in putting our trust in man as it is in this behalfe and vpon his promises and of the contrarie we doe nothing but distrust that which is promised vnto vs by God and hold our selues strong enough to the businesse although this is his voice Math. 6.25 Take no care for your life what you shall eat or drinke nor for what you shall put on If God saith Iesus Christ feed the fowles of the aire and clotheth the grasse of the field will he not doe more for you O ye of little faith Aske then saith he and seeke first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shall be giuen vnto you and be not carefull for to morrow This is the Word of God these are his promises yet notwithstanding for all this in sted of turning to him who hath promised neuer to leaue vs nor to abandon vs from whence S. Paul argueth that we must be content with things present we turne to men and hope in them for all our necessities and if any rich man haue made a profession of amitie promised vs that his purse shall be open in our needes presently we make account as of a most sure possession and we doe cherish it in such sort that we will not by any meanes displease such a friend euen to the great dishonour of God whom we leaue euen as he from whom we can receiue nothing or hope for any benefit who is he except it be with a maruellous and detestable ingratitude dare accuse God and say he is not powerfull or that he will not accomplish that which he hath promised and so to make him a lyar a thing infinitely as the offence is infinite horrible to thinke vpon attributing that to man which belongeth only to God He to whom euery thing belongeth who bringeth the rich to pouertie and raiseth the poore into glory making him to abound in all happinesse Here may some take occasion to say we will henceforth labour no more and cast away all care and put our trust only in God and his promises but we must know that that would be but only to tempt him who hath not made vs to shew our selues carelesse in our vocation we haue
Name of his blessed Son Iesus Christ our Lord doubt not but according to his promises hee will heare you and at the present be with you and fill your soule full of all holy consolation fortifying you with patience and in like sort comforting you as much as is fit for you by which meanes he will binde you so much more to reioyce in his bounty and to glorifie his holy Name with all obedience This is his owne saying to all that are afflicted as you are Call vpon me in the day of trouble and I will heare thee Is it not then your desire that here wee call vpon him with you altogether that he will be pleased to assist you with his mercy Patient Yes A Prayer O Lord our God and mercifull Father we prostrate ourselues here in all humility at the feet of thy diuine Maiestie to acknowledge that it is too true that we are vnworthy of thy fauour and worthy of Hell if thou shouldest deale with vs according to thy Iustice for so many offences which we heare confesse our selues to be guilty of But we beseech thee remember thy infinite bounty be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners and take pity vpon vs for the loue of thy blessed Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord not beholding of vs in our selues but in the person of this Sonne of thy delight as members of his Body reconciled to thy Maiestie by the blessing of his death And as thou art the Father of mercy and God of all consolation rich in compassion and gratious to all those that call vpon thee and haue confidence in thee we beseech thee that thou wilt be pleased to shew thy selfe liberall in generall towards vs all who now cry out for mercy and particularly towards the person of this thy child and seruant lying in this bed of infirmity giue him first of all to vnderstand that no other hand hath strucke him but thine owne to the end hee may learne to submit himselfe to it in all humility and reuerence And to this end that he may remember that it is a fatherly hand and a gentle who strikes not to loose but to saue and after hauing wounded viuifieth and woundeth by the same wounds which it hath made make him feele that he is a miserable and poore sinner not onely proceeding out of this masse of corruption from whence we all doe come in Adam but also and principally that since it hath pleased thee to giue him grace to acknowledge thee the onely true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ in whom consisteth eternall life manifesting by this meanes thy free adoption in thy welbeloued Sonne receiuing him to thee hauing also put him into the ranke amongst the number of thy children and seruants in thy Church although he hath not well knowne the aboundant riches of thy mercy to loue and serue thee with all his heart as he ought in renouncing the world and himselfe by reason of vnthankefulnesse naturally bred in him and in vs all continually rebelling and fighting against thy great bounty and grace O deare Father touch him in his heart with a liuely feeling of all his infirmities and offences to the ende that without flattering of himselfe he may condemne himselfe before thy Maiesty that he may acknowledge all Righteousnesse to thee and to himselfe nothing but confusion of face make him renounce himselfe wholly and confesse that iustly and rightly thou bringest vpon him these chastisements and that if thou shouldest deale with him according to his deserts thou shouldest binde him vp and throw him euen into eternall destruction Good Lord also grant that this acknowledgement be also but to humble him and not to deiect him into the bottome of despaire and so being of one side cast downe and laid vpon the ground by thy powerfull hand not so much from the feeling of his sickenesse as from the feeling of his sinnes he may be on the other side by the same blessed hand relieued and raised vp againe in assured hope by the consideration of this thy incomprehensible mercy whereof thou hast giuen vs so precious and so rich a pledge as thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast not spared but deliuered to death euen to the ignominious and wicked death of the Crosse to redeeme vs from the ignominious malediction of sinne Good Lord grant that from hence thy poore distressed seruant may receiue all his refuge fortifie his faith by the which hee may search and finde in this death and holy obedience of thy Sonne the forgiuenesse of all his sinnes and firmely embrace the perfect Righteousnesse thereof where withall being clothed he may finde peace with thee and glorifie himselfe in the hope of thy glory amongst all his tribulations And that the sorrow of his sickenesse wherewith hee is corporally visited may be sweetned with the repose and contentment of his soule And if it be thy pleasure to recouer him from this sickenesse to prolong his dayes whereof thou doest giue vs some signes good Lord giue him grace to vse it to thy glory perpetually beating in minde this thy grace to consecrate the rest of his life with much more affection and zeale then heretofore hee hath done And make him receiue this sickenesse as a fatherly affliction to draw him from sinne and to make him take a holy resolution by thy grace all the dayes of his life to remember the duty and obedience wherewithall he is bound to thee to walke in thy feare more purely and more feruently then euer heretofore Blesse the remedies which thou art pleased to let him vse that he may receiue comfort in his distresse moderate the sharpenesse of his colour and stay the course of it if thou Lord thinkest it fitting to the end he may glorifie thy Name and bee thankefull for thy mercy But if it be thy will still to continue or augment his paine make that it may be for his good and to giue him an increase of strength and constancy to beare these thy trials with a tranquile and sweet spirit without murmure or impatience and also in these testimonies of his faith and patience so Christianly we desire that thou maist be glorified and his neighbours edified and comforted And that he may by the experience of this miserable life be taught to withdraw his heart and affection and to raise them vp freely to the meditation and seeking of true repose and to the incomprehensible felicity which is prouided for vs in Heauen to liue eternally Grant also good Lord the same graces to all other that are sicke and afflicted Comfort them and fortifie them according to their necessitie and aboue all giue them grace and a liuely faith to embrace thy mercy in Iesus Christ for their comfort Heare vs O Father of mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ euen as he himselfe hath commanded vs to present our selues vnto thee Our Father which art in Heauen
c. And forasmuch O Lord as without faith we cannot be agreeable or acceptable vnto thee we beseech thee so to increase it in this thy seruant and in vs all that he may come to the last breath of life and we with him to perseuere therein and to be alwayes disposed to render a pure confession with heart and mouth as wee now present our selues vnto thee saying I beleeue in God c. This is his faith O Lord and ours giue vs grace to liue and dye herein through Iesus Christ our Lord who in vnity of the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth with thee eternally Amen When there is apparencie that the sickenesse is mortall follow this forme Sir It behoueth you to bee of good courage in the middle of your affliction which it pleaseth God still to continue vpon your body and be assured that he hath neither sent or continued it but for the good and saluation of your soule to teach you by this meanes to vnderstand your selfe as being a poore sinner more and more to detest your sinnes contemne the world to lift you vp to God and to inuocate and call vpon him with much more feruour with assurance to be heard following his holy promises and to obtaine of him Christian Constancy which is most necessary for you in this tryall The assurance of the mercy of God in Iesus Christ the true ground of all Consolation That which ought most to comfort you and with courage and patience to strengthen you is the assurance which you ought alwayes to take that God for the loue of his welbeloued Sonne our Lord Iesus hath imbraced you into his loue and free fauour hath pardoned your offences hath adopted you and receiued you amongst the number of his children to make you inherite the Kingdome of Heauen by vertue of the purchase which Iesus Christ hath made for you by the merit of his death such an assurance will make you alwayes certaine that nothing can happen vnto you whether it be in life or death which can be any other then the fauour and blessing of your Heauenly Father and so consequently are aides and meanes ordayned by his wise prouidence to conduct you to the blessed life This assurance commeth from Faith It is true that this assurance wee cannot take of our selues it is our good God that giueth it when by the vertue of his holy Spirit and holy Word he createth in our hearts a true and a liuely faith with the which we receiue and wee appropriate the promises of his grace which he hath ordayned vs in the preaching of the gospel Which promises in effect are That God hath so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Ioh. 3.16 If God then hath giuen you the grace to beleeue in his only Son to embrace him for your Redeemer and Sauiour as we gather hitherto by the profession you haue made and still continueth in the Church you may take from thence a holy assurance that God according to the infallible truth of his Word hath receiued you into his loue that you shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Now being so what can you feare Rom. 8.30.31 If God be with vs who can be against vs Hee who hath not spared his owne Sonne but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall hee not with him also freely giue vs all things Hee hath giuen you the most that is his Sonne hee will not euerthelesse deny you any thing else that can be necessary for to keepe you from all sort of euill corporall and spirituall as well in life as in death Faith applyeth to all the faithfull the promises of the Gospell This application whereof I haue spoken which you must make to your selfe from the promises of the Gospel to gather such a holy assurance it is necessarily required by Faith For to beleeue in Iesus Christ it is not enough to beleeue in grosse that there is a Iesus Christ and who beleeueth in him hath eternall life neither is it enough to beleeue that the promises of the Gospell are altogether true the Diuell beleeueth so much yet notwithstanding hee hath no true beleeuing faith But to beleeue in Iesus Christ is when the faithfull beleeueth that there is saluation in Iesus Christ for him which the Diuell cannot beleeue And the true iustifying faith whereby the iust liueth chiefely consisteth in that that we apply and appropriate vnto our selues euery one in his own particular the promises of saluation that euery one in his owne behalfe may say that which St. Paul saith in the person of euery one of the faithfull Gal. 2.20 I liue in the faith of the Sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me and in the 2 Tim. 1.2 I know whom I haue beleeued and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day and Rom. 8.37.38 I am assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which he hath shewed vs in Iesus Christ our Lord. This faith doth not bring vs a simple opinion or coniecture of our saluation but a certaine knowledge following that which Saint Iohn saith 5.14 Wee know that we are translated from death to life And Iohn 10. We know that we are of God and I haue saith he 1 Ioh. 5.13 written these things to you which beleeue in the Name of the Sonne of God to the end that you should know that you haue eternall life This faith freely lets vs goe to the treasure of Gods grace Heb. 4.10 With assurance as hee saith in the 10.22 euen with a true heart and a full assurance of faith as Saint Paul saith Ephes 3.12 that by Iesus Christ we haue boldnesse and accesse in our beleefe by the faith which wee haue in him This faith is called Hebrewes 11.1 the substance of things hoped for that is to say that maketh things beleeued and hoped subsist in our soules neither more nor lesse then if we were already in the very Actuall possession and inioying This Faith maketh vs finde peace and rest in our soules and consciences chasing away the feares and terrours which sinne would set before vs with the apprehension of Gods iudgements following that which Saint Paul saith Rom. 5. Verse 1. That being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lord by the which also wee haue beene led by Faith to this grace wherein we hold our selues fast and glorifye our selues in the hope of the glory of God The gift of perseuerance assured to the Faithfull Moreouer these passages propound vnto vs this holy assurance of Faith not onely for the present but also to come and containeth a promise which God giueth vs to perseuere in this Faith euen to the
pardon of all those that might haue beene offended by you Patient Yes Now Sir it behooueth vs to addresse our prayer to God to the end that he will be pleased to fortifie you in faith which hee hath giuen you and to make his graces more and more abound in you and it is your part to humble your selfe with vs before him and to lift vp your heart to him to implore his Mercy from the bottome of your Heart A Prayer for the sicke when there is any signe of death O Lord our God Mercifull Father we are very vnworthy to lift vp our eyes vnto thee our sins and wicked deedes are so many wherewith wee are so polluted before thy face neither is this out of the confidence of our owne worth to be thus bolde to present our selues at the feete of thy diuine Maiesty but in the assurance of the great Compassions and perfect obedience which thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord hath made for vs with the righteousnesse whereof wee beseech thee couer vs with thy grace to the end wee may be by his fauour made agreeable and reconciled vnto thee But wee beseech thee O good God particularly vouchsafe thy great mercy to this thy poore seruant so feeble mightily deiected vnder thy powerfull hand poore sinner remaining vnder the weight and rigour of thy high Iustice if thou doest not extend thy great clemency towards him Giue him grace good Lord to enter more and more into a serious examination and acknowledgement of his faults to conceiue that true detestation which alwayes bringeth forth true repentance and set him forward intirely to renounce himselfe and his owne way to haue all his refuge in thee and in thy bounty In the meane while receiue him gratiously O Lord shew him the face of a father and assure and comfort him Say to his soule Soule I am he that can warrant thee Dispose of his heart patiently to receiue with Action of graces this Fatherly correction which thou hast sent him and to put himselfe wholly into thy hands to submit himselfe peaceably vnder all that thou shalt please to lay vpon him by thy holy prouidence Lord thou knowest better then he himselfe or any of vs what is most conuenient whether he shall liue or die If thy good pleasure be that hee shall liue let it be that he may onely liue to thee in such sort that hauing profited well by thy chastisements he may learne to loue thee honour and serue thee all the dayes of his life in thy Church perpetually studying to bring sorth fruits of piety and holinesse worthy of thy Gospel and conuenient for a childe of such a Father so that in him thou maist be glorified and his neighbours edified But contrarily of the other part it be thy pleasure to take him out of this miserable world assure him that it shall be to put him into the possession of thy Heauenly kingdome which thou hast prepared before the foundations of the world and which thy Sonne hath purchased by the merit of his death To this end O Father of light from whom proceedeth euery good gift that thou wilt be pleased to giue him a true and a liuely faith with the which he may search find and apprehend the propitiation for his sinnes and the true righteousnes in the obedience of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who hath suffered for our sinnes and risen againe for our iustification and ascended into Heauen to take possession in our Name and by this meanes giueth vs accesse and entrance which sinne had banished vs from Imprint in his heart a full assurance of all these thy graces to the end that by this meanes he may peaceably repose himselfe in thy mercy and happily ouercome all the snares and temptations which Sathan and his owne flesh would put before him to trouble the clearnesse of his faith and tranquility of his conscience That his sinnes then may not make him despaire because thy Iustice hath been so well payed not with gold or siluer but with the pretious blood of thy Christ as of the Lambe without spot or blemish Let not death affright him seeing sinne is abolished and destroyed in him which is the sting of death who now is disarmed and without all power that his spirit being separated from the body by this corporall death it shall be to come triumphantly to thee and deliuered from the captiuity of sinne to the end to taste of the enioying the most happy life which he neuer tasted in this world but by hope leauing his body in the earth but not for euer but to be refined transformed in time conuenient made conformable to the glorious body of his Redeemer by the benefit of his resurrection So Sathan shall no more astonish him but by sinne and death which he hath vtterly lost all power in ouer our visited Brother Assuring him in the end that this accuser can intend nothing against him before the Throne of thy iustice seeing hee is absolued iustified by thy grace there is no iudge that can condemne him That thou wilt also be pleased O good God to be likewise mercifull to all other sicke soules comfort and fortifie them according as thou knowest them needfull and aboue all giue them grace alwayes to embrace with a true and liuely faith thy mercy in Iesus Christ wherein they may euer be comforted Good Lord vouchsafe vnto vs all this grace that this example may profite and teach vs to renounce the world and our selues to imploy that time we haue here below to meditate thy wisedome walke carefully in thy feare retyre our hearts from the vanities of this life to raise them vp to attend and meditate vpon the Heauenly life and to this end to be alwayes prepared to appeare before thee with assurance to be gathered and receiued into thy mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord In whose name we beseech thee O Father of mercy heere vs in these things and in all other things which thou knowest better to be necessary for thy poore seruant and for vs then we doe our selues as we doe now request thee in that prayer which thou hast commanded vs to present our selues before thee Our Father which art in Heauen c. Lord giue vs a good increase of Faith which thou hast planted in the heart of this thy childe and seruant defend him as with a Buckler by the which he may extinguish all the fiery darts of the Diuell and make him perseuere constantly therin vntill the very last breath of his life and that hee may alwaies at the least in his heart render vnto thee a pure and Christian confession as we now present with heart and mouth I beleeue in God the Father Almighty c. This is his Faith O Lord and ours giue vs grace to liue and dye in it through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord who in the vnitie of the Holy Spirit
to prosper they must impute all to the blessing of God and not to their owne industry and sufficiency Besides they must looke well about them and not apply themselues to the proud distaste of their Auditors who in this Age desire eloquence more then solidity who would haue words without matter and sawces without meate who would haue their eares tickled and not their consciences pricked like vnto a wicked Porter who will not let an honest man enter in at the gate because he is not well apparelled In the meane while this is not the way to profit in the Word of God Doe you thinke with the flowers of eloquence you can perswade a man to suffer Martyrdome or with figures faire words you can comfort a man at the houre of death Is not the Gospell the medicine of our soules What auaileth it for the Phisitian to be eloquent if his medicine be wholesome Is not the Gospell the letter of grace and abolition of our crime then what matter is it in what termes it be written seeing that it bringeth vs out of captiuitie God in the Olde Testament commanded that his Altar should bee built with vnpollished stones to testifie that he loued simplicity in his seruice be assured of it that hee that hath most profited in a Sermon is not he that saith This man spoke very well but he that saith Oh I haue led an euill life how farre am I from the rules that this man hath propounded It is not he that wayeth periods of speeches but hee that soundeth his own conscience Those that ruminated were marked for cleane beasts you shall be cleane and agreeable sacrifices to God if you ruminate and meditate in your selues the Word of God I am certainely perswaded that all my Brethren and Companions in the worke of the LORD would wish with me that we were without words so you were without vices and that wee were despised so God might be glorified If they would haue efficacie in their Sermons they must speake with a holy boldnesse as God speaking by their mouth that they flatter not sinners but in good earnest make them feele their sinnes without exception of persons or flattering the great ones A rich man is taught no otherwise then a poore Selfe-same medicines serue for little and great Euen so it is in spirituall medicines Sermons without reprehensions are like Swords without points or Lampes where Oyle is powred in without enlightening of them To feare to touch the sinner lest hee should offend him is a cruell respect like vnto him that feareth to saue a man that is in drowning lest hee should hurt his arme or pull some of his haire away These wholesome effects of the Word of God are not without faith without which the Word cannot take roote or fructifie in our soules as the Apostle in the fourth to the Hebrewes saith that hearing of the Word hath not profited them because it was not mingled with faith Whereof St. Paul also after he hath saide that the Gospell is the power of God addeth to euery beleeuer This faith is not an historicall faith as that is of the Church of Rome which onely beleeueth in generall that all that which is contained in the word of God is true but it is a faith which hath knowledge added to beliefe which besides the generall knowledge applyeth the word of God in particular not onely saying that Iesus Christ dyed for sinners but also addeth with Saint Paul the second to the Galat. Iesus Christ hath loued me and hath giuen his soule for me Neither is it an inforced or circumuenting faith by the which they beleeue what the Church beleeueth or what the Curate beleeueth without knowing what they ought to beleeue neither wherefore this beliefe of the Church is the better One cannot beleeue by Aduocate neither is a man saued by the beliefe of another He that is perswaded that another can beleeue for him is in danger that another shall be in Paradise for him Habacucke telleth vs The iust shall liue by faith then he cannot liue by the faith of another Also it is not a faith of Miracles whereof the greatnesse of a graine of Mustard-seede can transport mountaines but the greatnesse of a Mountaine of this faith cannot remoue a soule out of hell into heauen which chaseth into another wicked spirits but cannot chase from it selfe wicked desires which healeth corporall maladies in another but cannot heale his owne soule from spirituall maladies but it is a faith which receiueth the promises of Iesus Christ with ioy which imbraceth him as good newes sent from Heauen who applyeth himselfe to the words which the Apostle said to the blinde Man that Iesus called be of good courage the Master calleth thee it is a faith that disburdeneth his sinnes vpon Iesus Christ which giueth repose and peace to the conscience which beholdeth the Booke of the Gospell with the same eye that a faithfull husband beholdeth his contract in marriage or a good Sonne that beholds the will of his Father who by it is incited to loue God and to glorifie him in workes and words iust in his actions humble in prosperity patient in aduersitie charitable to the Church burning in zeale of the house of God For without these things faith is a name without a thing a shadow without a Body and in stead of a beliefe a confusion and spirituall lethargie without this faith wee cannot please God Heb. 11. without this faith wee make God a lyar as doubting of the truth of his promises without this faith wee expose our selues naked to the temptations of the aduersary for it is a Buckler to beate backe the fiery darts of Sathan Be not yee then amazed that the blessings of Iesus Christ are sufficient for all yet neuerthelesse all cannot be saued because that all haue not faith for misbeliefe reiecteth the remedies which God presenteth and ouerthroweth the medicine This faith ought to be nourished and fortified by prayer by the hearing of the word of God by holy companies by all sort of good workes and although after all that infirmitie remaineth in you feare not your saluation with a trembling hand giue not ouer taking of Almes All those which beheld the brasen Serpent had not their sights equally good and neuerthelesse were equally healed God requireth not of vs a perfect faith but true without hypocrisie and which indeauoureth to fortifie it selfe and saith as the father of him that was possessed I beleeue Lord but helpe my infirmitie God which hath put these Treasures in a Vessell of earth which perfecteth his grace in our infirmitie in time of necessitie sustaineth our feeblenesse aboue all at the houre of death there he drieth vp the drops of bloud he saith to the faithfull soule feare not Christ Iesus is besides thee which sheweth thee a Crowne The faith of the faithfull cannot be confounded like the Nodes of Compasses in the middest of the sea remaine vnmoueable amidst the Tempest
which hee hath put into his hands you shall perceiue it to increase and to multiply it selfe in your hands and the blessing of God to be poured out vpon your trauaile Seeing that the Gospell is the sauing-power of God let let vs take heed aboue all we take not away this efficacie by a wicked life contrary to our preaching For as the staffe of Elizeus had not the same vertue in the hand of Gehazi that it had in Elizeus hand so the instructions that are in the mouth of a man fearing God are full of force but in the mouth of a prophane Minister they haue no vertue at all and therefore the eternall hath said to the wicked Wherefore dost thou take my words in thy mouth And Iesus Christ commanded Sathan to hold his tongue when he cryed thou art the Christ the Sonne of God knowing that the Gospell in the mouth of the Diuell loseth the authority For the people will neuer truely beleeue the Pastor as long as they see him do the contrary and be like the Trumpets who incourage to the Combat and keepe themselues out of the Battaile or like him thar carrieth the Lantern and seeth the least How will you that the people should come to be sober and modest in apparell to be chast and holy in words if the Ministers be disordered sumptuous in apparell and contemners of the name of God How would you that the people should be turned from their idlenesse and from Theaters and vnchaste loues and lechery if the Pastor himselfe be giuen to it Wherefore as in the time of Heli the sacrificer because of the sinnes of his Children the Oblation was not accepted Euen so because of the vices of Preachers the people misprise Preaching For which cause howsoeuer eloquent and learned they be they cannot escape the Iudgement of God they shall be like the Carpenters which builded the Arke and yet were drowned in the floud or like the Tirrians Sidonians who furnished Salomon with Materials for the building of the Temple and yet notwithstanding were strangers of the house of God and his allyance In generall Brethren wee exhort you in the name of God and for the compassion of the Lord by the precious bloud of his allyance by the honour which you haue to be the Children of God for that you are desirous of Gods glory and your owne saluation that you cherish and esteeme the Gospell of Christ and not be carelesse of this grace of God to haue made shine in this Country so clearely the clearenesse of his Gospell for it is arriued in these quarters that which happened in Ierusalem then when the Law was hidden in the Temple and they thought it to be lost it was found againe and came to light As to the wise men who reioyced with great ioy at the sight of the blasing Starre which brought them to Iesus Christ As to Saint Iohn Apoc. 5. who wept that there was none found worthy to open the booke because of the seales but afterwards hee was comforted for that the Lambe of God which was also called the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda came before and opened the booke to manifest to men the will of God You are of those to whom it was manifested with most clearenesse with least trouble and incommoditie But take heede that you be not of the number of those that Saint Iude speaketh of who turne the grace of God into dissolution and with Gods patience are become idle and negligent Take heed that the ease of the world do not make you forget what the Crosse of Christ is Know that although God exempt you to flie from your Countrey for the Gospel so it is that you ought to liue like Trauellers and Strangers on the earth for as much as God exempteth you from the Crosse that you ought to crucifie your flesh and mortifie euery affection Although you loose not your goods for Christs Gospell yet ought you to be ready to loose and to possesse as not possessing being charitable to the poore making you friends of vniust riches which will receiue you into euerlasting Tabernacles These things are represented vnto you by your Pastors with more Doctrine both of grace and familiarity But it is good that God bee glorified in euery tongue and that you acknowledge the ioy and delight which the Stranger Churches doe receiue of Gods benedictions poured out vpon you and the vnion which is betweene you in the same Doctrine and vnion of Faith The God of Heauen who hath giuen his Sonne for our Sauiour poure downe his graces from aboue vpon your gracious King inspire him more and more with holy resolutions for the good of his Church and conduct by his holy Spirit the Pastors of his flocke abundantly blesse the people which is chosen for his inheritance to the end that after hee shall bee serued of you to glorifie his Name in this world he may glorifie you in Heauen Amen FINIS THE COMFORT OF A Communicant Jn a Sermon made before the receiuing of the COMMVNION By Peter Moulin Minister in the Reformed Church at PARIS LONDON Printed by T.S. for Thomas Pauier and are to be sold at his shop in Iuie lane 1623. A SERMON made before the receiuing of the COMMVNION LVKE 2. VER 28.29.30 28 Simeon tooke the Child in his armes and blessed God and said 29 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word 30 For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation YOV know that in all Contracts of Marriage there is speach of death but the alliance of Iesus Christ with vs is a spirituall marriage The contract of this marriage is that which we call the Gospell a Contract whereof the Apostles haue beene the Writers and Iesus Christ himselfe hath sealed it with his bloud Let it not seeme strange vnto you then if we speake of death to day and of the preparation to die because we are to speake vnto you of a contract of marriage and of our coniunction with the onely Sonne of the Eternall God For these Sacraments which wee administer vnto you at this Holy Table are kinds of assurances which serue vs as pledges of the assurance that Iesus Christ is ours Now although the consummation of this marriage shall not fully be made but in the kingdome of Heauen and that no man can enter in but at this gate which is called death which in times past was the gate of Hell but Iesus Christ hath altered and transported it from that place and hath made it the port of Heauen from whence it followeth that no man can thinke of Iesus Christ and our coniunction with him but he must also thinke of death There is nothing more neerely conioyned together then the promises of life and the preparation to death it is impossible for vs to thinke of Iesus Christ but presently we must thinke that by his death he hath taken away the bitternesse and malediction of death like vnto that wood
the Soule liueth to God and followeth the Lambe filled with the fulnesse of the presence of the Lord. And as one may obserue of those that sleepe very soundly yet if they be but called by their Names they will rise vp in astonishment so Iesus Christ at the last day shall call all the faithfull and they shall suddenly awake and come out of the Graue euen as he raised Lazarus when hee did rise after hee had called him by his name We may also say that after sleepe we finde refreshment our strength renewed so after death our strength shall be renewed with another kinde of vigour then euer we had before Briefly as the profound sleepe of Adam brought him forth a Wife so our death will bring vs neare vnto Iesus Christ our true Espouse who marrieth vs in Righteousnesse and Mercy for there is nothing but peace in Heauen in earth nothing but confusion Neare vnto the earth are Windes and Raine and heat after colde but high vp in the ayre nothing moueth So what peace must that be in Heauen where the King of peace himselfe raigneth and where the blessed spirits ioyne their Songs and affections to praise serue God with a holy Harmony Of the peace of the Blessed the faithfull feele here a kinde of taste which is the peace of Conscience giuing them repose euen vpon the torture which sustaineth Martyrs maketh them easily digest pouertie and misery by the inward contentment they feele in the loue of God to be reconciled vnto him through Iesus Christ For euen as a man that is in health will sleepe vpon a Bench but he that is sicke of the Stone cannot rest vpon a Bed euen so the tranquility of conscience maketh a man content amidst the incommodities of this life but the wicked in prosperitie finde no rest Doe you thinke it strange that Iacob slept quietly albeit he had but a stone for his Pillow seeing that God spoke to him sleeping and shewed him the gate of Heauen opened I thinke Ionas had more rest in the Whales belly then Iezabel in her bed or Nabuchadnezzar vpon his Throne whereof the Apostle in the 4. of the Phil. calleth the peace of Conscience the peace of God and saith that it passeth all vnderstanding Whereupon I gather that if the first Pastes and sparkes of eternall peace surpasse all vnderstanding how much more then the full repose and full peace with eternall contentment The faithfull seruants of God hauing but halfe dipped in the end of the finger into this Hony as Ionathan did had their eyes enlightened and with this sweetnesse ouercome the bitternesse of death and Saint Paul before he dyed tasted of this glory being rauished in spirit into the third heauens when hee came to speake of these things hee said that these are things which is not lawfull to expresse and putting his finger in his mouth glorifyeth himselfe in his infirmities and in his approbriousnesse for the name of Christ And Dauid in the 80. Psalme asketh in this life al the contentment that a man can haue in this world in asking That God would shine vpon him with the clearenesse of his face and yet this clearenes commeth from a-farre It is but like a little Raye of the Sunne shining through a little hole into a darke plaee what will this be then when the day shall shine all out so cleare and that God will shine clearely vpon vs so neare that he will shew his face vnto vs which no man did euer see and liue as God saith to Moses Many giue money for olde Coines and the formes of the buildings of auncient times but how much would a man giue to see the persons of those times and how much more would a man giue to see Abraham Isaack Iacob Dauid the Prophets and the Apostles To see the least of them you would trauaile a thousand leagues and how much more then would you giue to see all to see them all and all free from sinne and infirmitie such as they are in the Kingdome of God And how much more then aboue all the rest to see this Iesus Christ which is declared in the word and figured by the Sacraments who hath suffered all euill for vs who descended vpon earth for to raise vs vp to heauen who took vpon him our flesh to cloathe vs with his holy spirit who made himselfe the sonne of Man to make vs the Children of God who suffered death to giue vs life who daily receiueth our prayers presenteth them to God sendeth his Angels from aboue and maketh his blessings daily fall downe vpon vs your eyes see it which is declared vnto you amongst the troubles and throngs of this world you see it in the peace which Simeon did waite for Truely we doe but lightly esteeme these things a humane spirit moueth but with one wing we haue a greater desire vnto it then capacity to vnderstand it For wee ought to be more occupied in keeping on the high way to come to this peace then in the contemplation of the excellencie thereof We shall know it one day now let vs striue onely to tend that way This thought putteth another into my minde and maketh me admire many persons who know and beleeue these things and yet are not once moued therewith who knowing the truth being in their decrepit age and in the bed of death yet notwithstanding feare to confesse God for the displeasure of men they would willingly say with Simeon Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace but the feare of men hindreth them from making their peace with God what hope they for or what feare they in this world who for an houre of life that they yet haue in this world would lose eternall life who to please men in dying would displease God after death There is certainely besides hardnesse and rebellion a blindnesse and an euident folly Some will say this peace is to be wished for I aspire to it euen with all my heart but the way to come thereto is very hard to finde out the passage to death is dolorous fearefull and Sathan lyeth in Ambush euen in the way and all the feare and feeblenesse and sorrow that is there is purposely placed to intrap a man in such extremitie it is a good thing to be dead but a grieuous thing to dye I confesse that death is very terrible in nature Men care to dye when they can deferre it no longer Many cut off Legges and Armes to saue the rest and are very glad so to liue with the one halfe of their body there are many troubled with the stone that resolue to be cut and although the combat be great yet they hope to escape but if they were assured to die they would resolue to be twenty yeares tormented Neuerthelesse he saith that death is not so terrible as they make it principally to the faithfull which are prepared for it It is not death that is so grieuous but the
repent at this present and no longer prophane this speciall gift of God this gift of Repentance so pretious Hebr. 12.17 which Esau asketh with teares but was not granted him lest that the misery of the fiue foolish Virgins fall vpon vs who being not furnished with oile which their leisure would haue furnished them withall entred not in with the bridegroome but let vs keepe watch in walking in newnesse of life as already departed from the world not knowing the houre when we shall be called witnessing that we are dead to sinne and aliue to God through Iesus Christ in whom we are made new Creatures to serue to righteousnesse and now let vs truly shew to haue more care of heauenly than of earthly things the couetous man in renouncing his couetousnesse the ambitious worldling in renouncing his insolent ambition and the voluptuous in hating his vile fleshly affections for from thence springeth all our impietie it is the root and fountaine which begetteth and bringeth forth all wickednesse which wicked people so much esteeme Without particularizing the enormitie of these vices where the most guiltie will cleare himselfe in saying he is no such man although indeed he will not forbeare the honour of God euen to trample it vnder foote as much as he hath power to fulfill his disordinate desires willingly detracting from the way of saluation and hold against his conscience the wide way of the world with those that know not God adoring the Creature for the Creator not fearing to doe any thing that may please the appetite These sinnes draw after them all iniquitie and to make warre against God is no better than to renounce him can man with all the wickednesse of the world bee more abominable No no it is impossible it is in the height of iniquitie But to the end that wee may not condemne the parties without hearing them answer for themselues let vs understand what they can say God desireth the interiour and not the exteriour that which is within not that without and if they striue to be in better concord and societie yet they doe but apply themselues in shew onely that is but to seeke outwardly for vnion and by endeuour to preserue that which is not still inwardly remaining one the same they were before which is contrary to the way and walke of a good soule O true sentence most worthy noting Prov. 12.15 1 Cor. 3.19 That the way of a foole is right in his owne eies Poore blinde fooles thinke you by your humane wisdome folly before the eternall to put your selues safelier vpon the pitch-banke of Gods wrath than those whom you doe condemne heare what S. Paul saith of those desiring to be wise Rom. 1.21.22 You are become fooles in this that forasmuch as you haue knowne God yet haue you not glorified him as God let vs learne that he which knoweth the will of his master and doth it not shall be beaten more grieuously than hee that knoweth it not Your Hypocrisie is here most apparant in desiring to be thought of in better part than that which is within your heart a detestable sinne which Iesus Christ neuer speaketh of but in wonderfull anger it is the high way of Atheisme for he which enforceth himselfe to faine a religion that hee condemneth in his soule can haue no quiet in soule nor conscience vntill hee come to beleeue that all things are indifferent and there is no other meanes to vntie himselfe from the terror of Gods iudgements and to free his miserable conscience but to perswade himselfe that God will not so strictly looke to the cariages of men and then that maketh him a spirituall theefe or hauing lost the sense and feeling of diuine iustice it is a true testimony he knoweth God no more for to deny God and to deny his iustice is all one Doe we not see that these for the most part who fainingly adhere but to idolaters in the end wholly become idolaters or fall into the blindnesse of being of no religion hauing wholly forgot God and liue as if there were none who because men should thinke better of them are like the Camelion according as they meet withall sometimes this and sometimes that such the Prophet Elias crieth against in the 3. of Kings the 18. Wherefore do you halt of both sides if God be God wherfore doe you not follow him if Baal Baal But if yet they haue any sparke of knowledge that there is a God a terrible God that is to be feared in his iudgements when hee is angrie should they not be loth to heare the Eternall say in his anger Apoc. 3.16 They being neither hot nor cold but luke-warme hee will spue them out of his mouth And Ier. 48.10 saith Hee is accursed that doth the worke of the Lord loosely what can be more terrible but only the execution And you that say ye are the best you that agree with the Spirit in what you doe Lamentable wise fooles whose wisdome is folly do not you know that he that is Creator of the soule is also of the bodie Can wee with the one serue God and Mammon with the other Wherefore did not Daniel faigne as you vse when he was to be cast into the Lions den or Sidrack Misack and Abednego when they were to be cast into the furnace wherefore haue not all other Martyrs spoken your language and made a faire shew to haue escaped such horrible torments euen of death it selfe But what was the cause that made many of them euen with a yea or a no without any profession of religion being desired by those which thought to doe friendly offices for their escape rather chuse death and so abandon their liues than they would heare one word in hope thereof Rom. 10.10 No no we must as Saint Paul saith not only beleeue with the heart to be iustified but confesse with the mouth to haue saluation for God desireth the outward with the inward and would haue our light so shine before men to the end that seeing our good workes he may be glorified this is the doctrine of Iesus Christ let vs striue to doe this for otherwise we shall finde as in the Apocal. 2.16 Repent or else I will come vnto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth But let vs take vp with our selues and at last sing with Dauid Psal 35. Our tongues shall sing highly of the iustice of the eternall and the humble shall heare that our soules shall glorifie the Lord whereat they will reioyce and as Saint Paul exhorteth vs Let vs glorifie our God not only in our spirit but also in our bodies which are Gods and let vs giue one another a good signe of our adoption that we haue in Iesus Christ which all men may witnesse that by him we are inheritors of the kingdome of heauen let vs reioyce in this glory which no glory can compare with and so pretious a blessing that no man
not transubstantiated into bloud For they hold Baptisme is necessary to saluation but not the Eucharist They hold that by Baptisme euery kinde of sinne is wholly forgiuen but the Eucharist taketh away but veniall sinnes and those which they haue freed their consciences of before The Sacraments ought not to be honored but for IESVS CHRISTS sake which when you shall adore in heauen whitherto hee is mounted to returne againe at the last day and shall serue him according to his word we need not feare that the memorials which hee hath left in the Church and by the which he worketh in our hearts with efficacie should euer become contemptible We must honour the Sacraments but wee may not put them in the place of things signified All this abouesaid serueth to shew that for to know the truth in Religion wee must not beginne with the consideration of the Almighty power of God but first of all enquire after his will which when it is learned then the Almighty power of God that can doe all assureth vs that being able to doe all hee will doe that which hee willed and that which hee teacheth in his holy word I will say more It is the Doctours of the Church of Rome that dishonour and disgrace the power of the Almighty God and of Iesus Christ our Lord. For first of all they make it serue to doe things more miraculous than the creation of the world and yet notwithstanding no profit commeth by it For they hold that Iesus Christ hath eaten himselfe for hee hath participated in the holy Sacrament with his disciples and yet notwithstanding they cannot declare vnto vs to what end such a prodigious and incomprehensible thing serueth for that a man hath his head and his body in his mouth and that Iesus Christ is entred into the stomacke of IESVS CHRIST Also they hold that Mise can eat the Body of the Lord. What a horrible shame and reproch doe they make the Sonne of God to be to the Church of God! For although that Iesus Chirst doe not suffer yet hee is mightily dishonoured Also they put Iesus Christ vpon the Hoast whereupon they say that hee can neither open his eies nor remoue the hands nor breath and therefore he hath not the power which other men haue Is this to magnifie the power of the Sonne of God or is it to diminish it to the end to lift vp the power of Priests who haue the power giuen them as they teach to make Iesus Christ which is a thing that the blessed Virgin Mary and all the Angels and Saints together could neuer doe What serueth it for to the Church of God that Iesus Christ in the Hoast hath two eies and that he is wholly intire in euery crum of the Hoast and his Body intire in euery drop of the Cup And that in the Hoast it hath the length and yet nothing long as the Doctors of the Romane Church doe teach We ought neuer to exalt the Almighty power of God in the employment of vnprofitable things And indeed the examples which they bring to hold vp Transubstantiation are examples of the workes of God which haue beene profitable and the vse whereof is apparent As when God created the world and brought forth the light and changed the rod into a Serpent and conuerted water into wine It is needfull to consider that in these miracles of Transubstantiation God hath conuerted one substance into another which was not before the changing of it For the rod of Moses was changed into a Serpent which was not so before the changing and at the mariage in Cana in Galilee the Lord conuerted water into wine which was not so before the conuersion But they would that God should heere conuert the bread into a body which is already As if a man should beget a man that is already borne or should turne money into gold which is already gold Or who would goe about to make the Moone vnlesse it were vnmade Besides the word of God expresly saith that the water was conuerted into wine but it saith not that the bread was conuerted into flesh In giuing the bread Iesus Christ saith That it is his body in such sort as it was needfull it should be bread and also that it should bee the body of Christ For bread cannot be in substance the body of Christ but it may well bee in the Sacrament and according as the signes and memorials take the name of that which they signifie and represent We exalt the almighty power of the Sonne of God in this that without descending from heauen he communicateth himselfe vnto vs but the Church of Rome disableth this power in subiecting it to the will of a man which diuers times happening is found no good man who maketh Iesus Christ when he will and afterwards eateth it whereupon it happeneth that Iesus Christ is sometimes eaten by his enemies and also as they say euen by beasts if the Hoast be stollen if it fall vpon the ground if wormes and corruption get into it if a lew strike it with a knife and maketh it bleed as it is painted in the Billettes of Paris if as the cautions of the Messe and the penitentiall Canons say the Priest or the sicke man reuomit vp the Hoast through infirmity All which redoundeth to the misprise and dishonour of Iesus Christ which is the eternall Sonne of God They say for excuse that the dogs licked vp some of the bloud of Christ Iesus but all that is nothing to the purpose for Iesus Christ was expresly heere in this world to suffer ignominie and to be subiect to infirmities but now he is exempt from all opprobriousnesse and infirmitie And moreouer all that hee then suffered was for our saluation But one may well say vnto me To what end serueth it that Iesus Christ should still be subiect to so many indignities aboue spoken of If a Mouse hath carried away the Hoast or the Cup bee spilt what serueth that to our saluation And if our Aduersaries were asked what becommeth of the Bodie of Iesus Christ receiued into the stomacke whether it goe out or remaine alwaies there or nothing commeth of it also how Iesus Christ hath one body like vnto ours and of like nature seeing it is in an hundred thousand places at one time and hee is wholly entire in euery part of the Hoast hauing the feete thorowout the Hoast and the head thorowout the Hoast and head and feet vnder one point and by consequence hauing a humane body without extension and a length vnder one point and a continuance without extension where the Body which was at the Table a little after in the Garden was afflicted and sweat drops of Bloud and he who in the same time was in the mouthes and stomacks of the Apostles suffred nothing and was impassible and yet neuerthelesse was but one body I beleeue that they found themselues much troubled where since that Iudas hath eaten Iesus Christ
you need not doubt a certaine assurance to be iustified and saued seeing that God hath giuen you this grace to beleeue with your heart to Righteousnesse and to make confession with your mouth to saluation Rom. 1.1 For the sicke person to resolue whether it be for life or death according to Gods will Being thus resolued vpon this firme foundation of faith now you must take a holy resolution constantly to attend without all feare what the Lord will be pleased to send vnto you in this your sicknesse with a firme perswasion that all will goe well with you whether it bee you shall remaine here below or that it be his pleasure to make you more happy If his pleasure be to restore you to former health againe as he is powerfull to draw the dead out of the sepulcher and make them liue againe which will bee if hee please for to make you more affectionate to the honour and seruice of God then euer heretofore you haue beene But if it be his will to leade you by this sickenesse to the end of your course it will be to receiue you into the possession of that perfect felicity which the Sonne of God hath so dearely bought with the price of his blood And therefore goe your wayes vnto him with a holy chearefulnesse in the assurance of his mercies Reioyce your selfe in the happy exchange of your remouing from earth to Heauen from this short and miserable life to the blessed life for euer to endure from these triuiall and perishing goods to those that are heauenly and eternall which eye hath not seene nor eare hath heard which are not yet come vp into the heart of Man which God hath prepared for those that loue him Are you not then well resolued in all this to conforme your will to your Heauenly Father to the end that whether you liue you liue to the Lord or whether you dye you die to the Lord Rom. 14.8 being well assured that Christ shall be alwayes to you to liue or to dye Phil. 1.21 Patient Yes God giue you the grace For to assure and comfort the sicke in the infirmitie of Faith I am not ignorant that your faith how great soeuer it may be yet notwithstanding it is both little in you and feeble for whilest the infirmities of this life remaine the Holy Spirit is not giuen vs but in a certaine measure according to the which we know not but in part and our spirituall renuing is yet but in the beginning it is certaine that here below we cannot attaine to the perfection of faith and therefore I doubt not but that your faith is yet weake and infirme and that it cannot but be moued with diuers temptations and combated with diuers assaults of doubt and distrust But yet neuerthelesse it behoueth you to be of good courage for this combat which you feele in your selfe is the combat which as Saint Paul saith to the Galatians 5. v. 17. is in the soule of euery faithfull betweene the flesh and the Spirit and therefore this is a sure testimony which you haue by faith For as the flesh fighteth in you through vnbeliefe so doth the Spirit fight in you by faith and this faith neuer faileth being fortified by the Spirit of God which maketh a man victorious and whatsoeuer imperfection it hath God will make it sufficient to saluation for it is not said Who shall perfectly beleeue shall be saued but simply Who shall beleeue Moreouer as you perceiue in your selfe your faith feeble and imperfect also I doubt not but you perceiue in your selfe a Holy desire that it may be encreased in you and made stronger and that in your heart you make your prayers to God that it may be so Is it not true Patient Yes But seeing it is so and that this faith and desire may encrease in you and that this prayer which you make to God proceed from the fruit of the Spirit and not of the flesh and seeing these are the fruits which the Spirit of God bringeth forth in you is it not a sure testimony that you are conducted by the same Spirit and so consequently the child of God for all those that are conducted by the Spirit of God are the children of God which Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.14 Be of good cheere Sir and boldly say with the Apostle in the middest of your combats I am assured that nothing can seperate me from the loue of God which he hath shewed mee in Iesus Christ our Lord. For to assure the sicke against the affrights and temptations of Conscience There are foure things to be marked which in this spirituall combat may affright you shake your faith and trouble the peace of your conscience which is the feeling of your sinnes the apprehension of death the feare of the Diuell and the horror of Gods Iudgements before whom wee must make our appearance at the going out of this life But against the feare of all these things the bounty of God in the blessings of Christ and in the testimony of his Word furnisheth you with all sufficient remedies for to assure you and truely to confirme you in inuincible constancy Against feare proceeding from the feeling of sinne First of all for the respect of your sinnes it is very necessary to haue a liuely feeling thereof for to humble your selfe before God but seeing yon protest to haue a serious and true repentance and to search and apprehend by faith the satisfaction and expiation in the blood of Iesus Christ assure your selfe they can no way hinder the effect of your saluation If you bee a sinner So Iesus Christ is come into the world to saue sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1.29 It is his blood which cleanseth vs from all iniquitie 1 Iohn 1.7.9 And whosoeuer shall beleeue in him shall receiue remission of his sinnes through his Name Acts 10.43 And therefore he hath commanded that repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes should bee preached in his Name Luke 24.47 Hee himselfe inuiteth vs to come to him for to enioy this blessing Come vnto me all yee that labour and are ouer-laden and I will refresh you Matth. 11.28 Goe your wayes then vnto him if you finde your selues grieued with the burthen of your sinnes in assurance to finde remedy for your soules And for that very thing euery day hee maketh himselfe an Aduocate to the Father for vs. If we haue sinned saith Saint Iohn 2.1.2 wee haue an Aduocate with the Father that is to say Iesus Christ the Iust who is the propitiation for our sinnes Against the feare of Death In regard of death wherefore doe you feare it seeing that your sinnes are no more imputed vnto you for sinne was the cause that death entred into the world as Saint Paul Rom. 5.12 and by consequence there where no sinne is there can be no death And indeed concerning death eternall which the Scripture
because they gouerne themselues not according to the windes but according to heauen euen so the faith of the faithfull remaineth firme amongst the most rude agitations because it gouerneth it self not according to the instabilitie of the affaires of this world but according to the promises of God But to the end that euery one being inuited to receiue this grace esteeme himselfe not excluded by his quality his kindred or his condition Saint Paul addeth that this saluation is addressed to the Iewes first and afterwards to the Greekes leauing vs by this example to gather this generall Rule that Saint Peter propoundeth Acts the tenth and thirty foure God hath no respect of persons for Iesus Christ by the calling of the Gentiles hath broken the partition betweene the Iewes and Gentiles yet neuerthelesse Saint Paul saith to the Iewes putting the Iewes in the first place as hauing regard to the defence which God made to his Disciples Goe not into the way of the Gentiles Whereof also hee said were sent to the lost sheepe of Israell Following the same example Saint Paul Acts 13.46 speaketh also to the incredulous Iewes It was necessary that the word of God should first haue beene spoken vnto you but seeing you put it from you c. By this meanes the first haue beene the last and the eldest Sonne hath beene made inferiour to the prodigall childe returned to repentance Then happened that to the Iewes which happened to Gedeons fleece which in the beginning was onely watered whilest all the land besides was dry but the day after the fleece was dry onely and all the earth wholy watered for vpon the Iewes onely in former times the dewe of the grace of God rained downe but afterwards it hath so come to passe that they are depriued of this grace and other Nations receiued into Gods fauour For this purpose the holy Scripture speaking of those which are out of the Church of God saith that they are in outward darkenesse because in Egypt onely God gaue light to his people whilest all Egypt besides round about were inuironed with outward darkenesse But at the death of Iesus Christ there happened the contrarie for darkenesse was onely ouer all Iudea although Tertullian saith to the contrary whilest the rest of the earth was inlightned then at that time the darkenesse was interiour and the light exteriour God signifying by this miracle the reiecting of the Iewes and reception of the Gentiles which is a great aduertisement vnto vs For if they did so with greene wood what shall become of the dry wood If the naturall branches haue beene so handled what will become of wilde branches ingrafted in their places if we sinne with like incredulitie For hath God bound himselfe alwaies to protect his Churches which abuse his grace and bring blame vpon the doctrine of the Gospell Let vs tremble at such examples and preuent Gods iudgements by repentance It remaineth my Brethren to gather fruit from this doctrine for our instruction consolation First this excellencie of the Gospell of Christ wherewith God declareth his incomprehensible loue in giuing his Sonne for mortall man for sinners for his enemies for the slaues of the Diuell to the end to make them his seruants euen his friends and euen his Brethren a Body and a Spirit with him and by it heires of eternall life so many sweet inuitements which biddeth vs come to him so many promises to giue vs all that which we shal aske in his Sonnes Name serueth for the comfort of all consciences that are oppressed with the burthen of their sinnes to the end that when the horrour of the iudgement of God presenteth it selfe before their eyes they presently turne their eyes towards the sacred blessing of Iesus Christ towards the bloud of allyance which cryeth better things then that of Abell which cryeth vengeance but this crieth peace and reconciliation If the Conscience take some by the throat and dragge him before the Iudiciall Throne of God it will bring forth before God this acquittance sustained with the bloud of the Sonne of God by which God declareth that he is fully content and satisfied If Sathan produceth before God his accusations against vs and bringeth in a long sedule of our sinnes say vnto him I doe not excuse my selfe but set downe vnderneath The bloud of Iesus Christ doth cleanse vs from all our sinnes 1 Ioh. 1.7 and also these sinnes which thou bringest in against mee are not my sinnes but the sinnes of Iesus Christ seeing hee hath taken them vpon him as on the other part his righteousnesse is ours for hee is our eternall righteousnesse and by the obedience of a Man many shall be made iust Rom. 5.19 Hee who is dead for his enemies will he not heare his friends He that prayed vpon the Crosse for those that crucified him will he not intercede in his glory for those which put their trust in him God which vnderstandeth the cry of the little Crowes in their nests as the Prophet saith in the 147. Ps will he not heare his Children that call vpon him Should his promises be false or the death of his Sonne without efficacie towards those that beleeue in Iesus Christ In the second place the Ministers of the word of God haue here a faire lesson for the Apostle exhorteth them by his example not to be ashamed but to reioyce that they are the Ministers of the Gospell of Christ and to make account of their charge not because it giueth them occasion to be well apparelled and plentifully fed with small trauaile whilest they leaue to others the care of their flocke which afterwards is often negligently taught and instructed but because they mannage the Scepter of the Kingdome of Heauen which is his Word and that God hath consecrated their mouthes to signifie vnto men his holy will In the third place that they remember the Gospell of Christ which they deliuer to the end they mingle not humane inuentions nor vaine subtilties nor diuersities of tongues to establish their knowledge if they would haue their preaching effectuall to touch mens hearts to retaine this power of God to saluation to those that heare and that they offer not to God a strange fire like Nadab and Abihu that they remember themselues of the Law which forbiddeth to sow two kindes of Corne in one field or to make a stuffe of diuers sorts of matter God teaching vs thereby that he will not haue an artificiall mingling in his seruice and also they must remember that which they preach be the Gospell of Christ Euen as the Apostles which had fished all the night and got nothing but when at the word of the Lord they cast their Nets they got great store of Fish Euen so if you cast the nets of your sermons by the word of Iesus Christ and follow his commandements you shall draw soules vnto you and see fruit of your labour If you distribute nothing but the bread of Christ
that being cast into the water of Mara it maketh it sweete and wholesome It is impossible to loue Iesus Christ as wee ought but presently this life must needs become vnpleasant which hindereth vs from going to him vntill death put an ende to our banishment and bring vs neere vnto his presence Know then my Brethren that these benefits by which God maketh you liue teacheth you happily to dye and with this foode of life also teacheth you the preparations and consolations to die You haue not meanly profited if at your going away from the Sacrament you say with Simeon Lord now let thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation and if you carry from hence a full confidence it will make you victorious against the terrours of death for if you haue this saluation which Simeon speaketh of it will bring you vnto a great peace of conscience which is a beginning of that peace whereinto Simeon desireth to enter Of this my Brethren you easily conceiu what the Text meaneth for although it seemeth not to speake of the Holy Supper yet it is not very farre from the meaning thereof because that this Sacrament renueth vnto vs the Contract of marriage and that the promises which are heere propounded are certaine remedies and preparations against death Whereof the Ancients were accustomed to send to the sicke from the Holy Table and at the same time of the action and administration thereof This Simeon who dyed when Iesus Christ was borne who being full of yeeres waited with impatience the comming of Christ Iesus to the end to raise himselfe from the sentitinell and to set his soule at libertie teacheth vs with what firmenesse we ought to attend death and with what desire to receiue him The life of man is not long lasting some commeth weeping some commeth in labour some with paine and the abiding is so short that man ordinarily dyeth then when hee hath but newly learned what it is to liue Iacob said that his dayes had been short and euill although hee liued vntill he was a hundred thirtie and three yeeres how short are ours then who rarely come to the halfe of that age and neuerthelesse sleepe and sorrow must likewise be taken away for in that time we liue not and most people die in the flower of their age with their Candle extinguished before it be halfe burnt out The Holy Scripture calleth death the way of all the earth it is a naturall debt which if a man should deny it were as much as pleading against his owne deed to striue to be exempt is to desire to be exempt from the generall Law and to desire that God for the loue of thee should change the Lawes of the world and make for thee another humane nature When death commeth it is in vaine to say any thing as Pope Gregory saith in his Dialogues of one whose name was Stephen that tolde Death being sicke he was mistaken and it was not he The Pagans who haue made Altars and seruices to vices and sickenesses to feare an euill happe neuer adressed any to death because they were assured that shee was alwayes inexorable and will entertaine no tearmes of composition This necessity being so strong and examples so frequent in such sort that although we daily bury our neighbours and carry and accompany to the earth the one halfe of our selues yet wee looke another way both in minde and heart still holding on the same course wee haue beene accustomed vnto as if wee should neuer dye For our designes wee make large liued and taske our selues to establish our Name vpon earth spending lauishing out the time as if we had but ouermuch still taking out by handfuls out of the sacke with an assured presumption neuer to be empty We would haue long life to loose it as if wee should accuse God that it is too long because we employ it in things either vnprofitable or wicked If any man in company speake of death it shall be esteemed troublesome vnfashionable and impertinent as if there were neuer any vse of such thoughts Yet being truely considered there is no thought or meditation so necessary It is better saith Salomon Eccles 7. To enter into the house of sorrow then into the house of ioy From hence is deriued the placing of Churchyards round about the Churches to the end that men may passe by the Graues before they present themselues before God that is to thinke and meditate well of death before wee come to looke for life and that first wee must acknowledge our selues mortals and sinners before we can come to implore the grace of God There is a great accord betweene the feare of God and the remembrance of death for the thought of death maketh vs feare God and the feare of God comforteth vs against death This thought disposeth vs to liue well because the day of death is the day when wee must make our account to God As Death shall finde vs so shall the last day iudge vs For it will be too late to speake for our selues vpon the gybbet it will bee too late to iustifie our selues when we are encompassed with Gods anger it behoueth therefore to make our peace whilest we haue time and to fortifie our selues with faith against the terrours of Gods Iudgements let vs mannage the time and liue as the faithfull die that is liue as we would haue wished to haue liued when we must die this preparation maketh a man couragious for what can he feare that feareth not death whosoeuer hopeth for death shall not feare the sorrows of life The threatnings of a Tyrant threatning death are promises vnto him He will shorten the sorrowes of the faithfull hee will open the doore of the prison of his soule to set it at liberty To thinke to loose a Man that feareth God in killing him is like him that in anger throweth a Fish away into a Riuer to drowne it for it is there where it liueth and in that death it findeth life This holy seruant of God Simeon carefully prepared himselfe because he hath not onely attended death but also runne before to meet it by the way For hee knew well hee should die so soone as hee had seene Iesus Christ and no sooner had hee heard tell that Iesus Christ was borne and carryed to the Temple without delay or detracting the time with himselfe in saying although he be borne yet I haue time enough to see him without making any great haste and I shall reioyce to see him great The desire to prolong life neuer came into his minde but without let or staying at all goes before Iesus Christ that is to say before death although that Iesus Christ was the Prince of life he attendeth not vntill he be entred into the Temple but meeteth him at the doore with ioy imbraceth him and humbleth his olde age before the infancy of Iesus Christ and desireth to dye