thus there described and after all these things he fell downe on his bed and knew that hee should die Oh what force and energie is there in the words post haec After all these things and in this decidt he fell specially in those morreâ—tur that he should die Alexander had in hopes conquered a World already nay worlds He thought he had done things worthy of everlasting Annals and yet after all these so many so great Trophies hee fell downe not onely into his bed but to his grave he must be content with a small Coffin Petius Alphonsus relates iâ— that Alexander being dead Many Philosophers met to speake some thing to be engraven on his Monument One hee utterd this En modo quatuor ulnarum spacium ei satis est cui spatiosissimus terrarum orbis non suffecerat i.e. behold now foure cubits is room enough for h m whoâ— while ere the whole World would not suffice ano her added yesterday Alexander could have freed any from death now noâ— himself One beholding his golden Châ—st spoke thus Yesterday saiâ— he Alexander of Gold made treasure now change turns and gold makes treasure of Alexander Seâ— the wise men exprest themselves but they all concluded with that of the Machabees Afterward he fell down into his bed and dyed Juvenal sings thus of him Vnus pellaeo Iuveni non sufficit orbis ... i.e. The whole World though 't be was Will not content Philips great son But marke the largnesse of our thoughts while wee prove forgetfull of our own condition oh did we meditate on heavenly immortall things while wee vainly dispose these transitory ones to our Nephews and Kinred Alas all this this while we are extending our thoughts death oppresseth us and this thing which is called old age is but a short circuit of a few yâ—ers Why should wee therefore trust death Consider but for what small matters wee lose our lives It is not our meat nor drink nor watching nor sleep used intemperately but prove deadly our foot hurt a little the griefe of the eares a rotten tooth meat offending the stomach a drop of an ill Humour any of these may open the gate to death Is it a matter of any great consequence or profit whither we live or die Ill sents savours tastings wearinesse nay nourishment it selfe without which we cannot live may bring in and usher in death The body of man is weak fluid rotten diseased wheresoever it moves it is conscious of it's own infirmity It endures not every Climate the Sea alters it the change of ayre infects it the least cause hurts it Let us believe him therefore who said Therefore ô men death is better then a bitter life and eternall rest then continued travell Therefore I say It is better to dwell in heaven then to travell on earth § 22. Death's Blessednesse WRite Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord even so saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours and their works follow them to die in the Lord is to die the servant of the Lord as the holy Scriptures speake of Moses Moses my servant is dead as if the Lord should say although hee sinned sometime and by sin made himself not my servant yet hee died my servant He died in my service Whatsoever hee was whatsoever he did it was mine for all the servants work is the Lords and such a joyfull Verse in that Song waâ— that of old Symeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy Word In peace altogether at whose entrance all the wars of the righteous men are ended never for all eternity to be begun again Such servants of God do all die in the Lord which dying do as it were rest in his bosome and so resting sweetly are said to sleep in death So blessed Stephen in the midst of that storm and showre of stones in such a great tumult and fury of those that stoned him slept in the Lord. Acts 7.60 Ioh 11.11 So our Lord spoke of Lazarus that h e did but sleep So Moses the servant of the Lord died when God bade him or as some expound it at the Lords speech as if the Lord had kissed him in this sence as a Mother takes her Infant in her Arms and kisseth him being a sleep and so lays him into bed smilingly no otherwise did God with Moses but by sweet embraces and smiles did lay him being falne asleepe into Abrahams bosome Where hâ—e shall give his children peace saith the Psalmist Blessed yea for ever blessed are all they that so die because they shall never be miserable as Saint Bernard saith The death of the righteous is good for the rest Secondly for the newnesse of it Thirdly for the security of it Blessed yea thrice blessed are all such for their works follow them they shal follow them as servants their Lord as sonnes their father as Schollers their Master as Souldiers their Generall as Nobles do their Sovereigne They shall follow us to Gods Tribunall They shall be brought into the highest Courts of the Great King and there shall be admitted for noble Courtiers And as every one which is able for wealth and Nobility is known by the number and adornment of his followers so who desires to appeare before the King of Glory let him be wel and richly furnished with such servants And let him set them before him and look that they be many and richly apparelled and though our good works go before us in some kinde yet they follow us in reward The labour which we spend on them and in them goes before The reward which we have from them follows He never can want comfort that is well stored with such followers § 23. A Dying mans farewell to the living who must follow him the same way MAny are the things for which I am sorry Especially the neglect of grace and the time that I have ill spent Oh how should I how ought I to have beene more patient more submisse more mindfull of my death ô how few and small sparkles of divine love have had irradiations in my soul Have mercy upon me ô God have mercy upon me according to the multitude of thy great mercies ô infinite goodnesse by the precious bloud of thy deare Son be mercifull to mee a sinner and ô you whomsoever I have offended in words or deeds Forgive and pardon mee You have mee now heartily confessing my selfe guilty and sorrowfull and deny not to mee before I goe hence this viaticum even the free forgivenesse of all my offences towards you Doe not I pray you let your courage fall in the time of sicknesse by my example because I am weak Set your eyes upon the actions of holier men and conform your selves to them Emulate with ardency their patience humility obedience And I cannot but give you hearty thanks for all the good offices you have performed towards â—ee either by your hand and work care
with his mouth open which partly upheld one of the Pillars Hereupon hee with jesting and laughter told his dreame to his fellows Behold saith hee this is the Lion that kild mee in my dreame with that saying Hee put his hand into the hollow place of the stone-lions mouth and said Oh fierce Lion here is thy enemy shut thy mouth if thou beest able and bite off my hand hee had scarce made an end of speaking but hee received his fatall blow for in the bottome of that hollow place lay hid a Scorpion which feeling his hand put forth her sting touch'd him and he forthwith fell downe dead Is it so that stones can sting and poyson lurke in a Lion of stone Where may wee then not justly feare deaths stroke in the like manner did Hylas perish whom a lurking Viper in the chops of a Beare of stone did kill which is express'd by Martiall in his third Book and nineteenth Epigram What need I to mention the young man who was kild as hee was going into an house by an Icesicle which fell upon his head from the House-eaves Whom Martiall laments in his Epigrams Lib. 4. Ep. 18. So that you see many are the passages that Death hath to set upon us and usually he is then nearest when we least think of him §. 21. An Antidote against sudden Death GOod Reader here is annexed a short Prayer that I propose unto thee as a pattern for thee to use daily to entreat the Lord JESUS CHRIST to preserve thee from sudden death It is at thine owne liberty whether thou wilt use that or some other every day I made it that thou mightst on thy knees beg this great blessing of thy Saviour and know thus much such is the danger and so common that no man can be too wary or carefull over himself A Prayer O Most loving and bountifull Lord Iesus my Lord and my GOD I most ardently dâ—sire thee by thy most precious bloud shedding by thy last words upon the Crosse when thou cryedst My God my Godâ— why hast thou forsaken mee by those bl ssed words of thine when thou saidst Father into thy hands I commend my spirit that thou wouldst not take mee away by violent death Thy hands oh blessed Redeemer made me and fashioned mee oh give me understanding and I shall live oh make not so soon aâ—end of me give me I beseech thee time of Repentance grant that I may end in thy favour that I may love thee with all my heart and prayse and blesse thy Name for ever AMEN NEverthelesse all things good Lord are in thy disposing neither is there any that can resist thy will my life depends upon thy good pleasure neither doe I will as I please but resigne my wil to thy most godly governance in what place time or by what sicknesse thou wilt strike mee Thy will be done I doe commend all these to thy fatherly goodnesse and providence I except no place no time no disease though bitter and grievous because Thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused mee to be troubled onely this one thing do I crave of Thee not to take me away in my sins by some hastie Messenger but how ever not my will but thine O Lord be done if it seemes good to thy heavenly wisdome quickly to make an end of mee I submit thy will Oh God be done in all things For even then I hope through thy tender mercies to depart in peace and in thy favour in which though I do die by the hand of sudden death yet nothing shall separate thy love from my soul The just though taken away by death goes but to his rest Sap. 4.7 Death is not sudden to him that is alwayes provided Which if there be not a longer space and time left to me in which I may commend my soule to thee which is onely knowne to thee behold then now I doe it and doe ardently and heartily call unto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice and let my cry come unto thee Have mercy upon me O Lord according to thy infinite mercies Let thy will be done in earth as it is heaven Into thy hands O Lord doe I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O Lord God of truth All things living prayse and blesse thee O God In thee O Lord have I put my trust let mee not be put to confusion §. 22. That our days are few and evill HOw old art thou Sixty how many yeeres aged art thou seventy tell mee also oh man how old art thou fourescore Alas good men where are these yeeres where are thy sixty where hast thou left thy threescore and ten and where oh man wilt thou find thy fourescore why number yee those that are lost and spent Elegantly said Laelius that wise man to a man that said I have sixty yeeres in hold thou doest said he reckon that which thou hast not neither those that are past nor what is to come is thine wee depend upon a moment of fleeting time and even a little time is of great consequence Gen. 47.8 9. Pharaoh the Egyptian King asking the Patriarch Iacob how old hee was old Iacob answer'd The dayes of the yeeres of thy servants pilgrimage are few and evill Hearken you earthly Tantalussâ—s which so eagerly thirst after the extended yeeres of a perishing life Know that you are strangers here not inhabitants passengers not dwellers travellers not natives nor are you travellers in a long continuing journey your way as it is evill so it is short short it is perhaps to be ended before the conclusion of the next houre which you divide with death evill any knows it to be that are in it It offers more braâ—bles than Roses to go upon Miserable and vaine that we are what advantage is it for a stranger to load himselfe with pâ—bbles and fading flowers and for them to lose his heavenly inheritance what hinderance or losse is it to leave these if we get immortalitie and glory to labour in the way to provoke to good workes to sweat in them to endure any troubles or molestation is to bee counted gaine The more harsh our banishment is the more welcome will our Country be §. 23. That a young man may die old AS old men at length become as children so there may be many young may be said to be old men Old Balaam a man of threescore yeers and ten answered Josaphat the King asking him how old he was that hee was fortie and five and told the King wâ—ndring at his woâ—ds that hee had beene quiet at his study twenty five yeeres as for the rest which hee had spent upon worldly vanities hee did verily believe all those to be utterly lost so one Similius which was as it were buried in Court affaires had rather liv'd for his Emperour than for himself caused this to be engraved upon his Sepulchre Here lyes buried Similius an old man of seven yeeres of age
so worke security in him exercised the thoughts of Death in himselfe by this fit similitude As man saith he who is led from prison to the place of execution though hee be led about and seems to go slowly yet he feares Death and is as sure of it as he that goes a neerer way and though his legs be strong his eyes quick-sighted his heart lusty though his stomacke be able for digestion yet this one thought turns all into bitternesse that hee is in the way to a certaine execution And what man is not a prisoner in this kind we are all going on towards our long home we are all in the way and parted but by small distances those which are dead have not so much left us onely they are gone before us but perhaps thou mayst say I am healthy and lusty and finde not nor feele any the least sence of sicknesse nor apprehension of Death well flatter thy selfe if thou wilt for certain thou art in the way and wee all are in the way with thee But thou mayst say thou art not yet thirty years old what then thou wast in the way at twenty at ten at five at three nay even at the first yeare and in the first houre goe on perhaps thou mayst a little further but thou wilt shortly come to thy end but yet thou wilt say thy sleepe is sound thy meat and drinke doe excellently well relish and digest Oh fond man Death regards not such things Wee are in the way looke to thy selfe presently thou wilt perceive the place of execution thou art led on there 's but a little time for thee to breath in shortly shall all thy pompe luxury and strength expire as well as thy selfe all our life is but the pathway to death That Death may happy be to live learn I That life may hâ—ppy be I 'le learne to die § 38. To day for mee to morrow for thee Delrii adag Tom. 2. p. 576. FRancis the first King of Francâ— being taken by Charles the fifth comming to Madrid upon a wall he read the Motto of Charles which was Plus ultra Still further and writ under it Hodie mihi cras tibi Mine to day yours to morrow The Conquerour was not offâ—nded nor angry but gave notice that hee understood the meaning for hee writ this in answer to it I am but a Man and know my selfe subject to mortalitie Elegantly spoke Greg Nazianzen My head saith he begins to be an Almond tree flourishing and therefore my Summer of Age is neer the Sickle is made sharp for work all my feare is lest that terrible Mower should crop me off and cut me downe while I sleepe securely and am not ready for his stroke But thou mayst say Old men indeed may feare but I am yong and green be not thou deceived Death is not limited to any certaine age The same Bier to day may carry an old carcasse to morrow a yong one to day a strong aâ—â—e â—n an to morrow a yong Virgin or 〈◊〉 Child Seneca speaks to the purpose Death saith he stands at the door of a yong man as well as at the threshold of an aged man for all men are registred and inrolled in Deaths Records all must pay their tributes when Death cals forth all must goe out no exemption from his Edict This is the last warning and admonishment that dying men groan forth To day for me too morrow for thee and this is the Graves sentence I fell yesterday thou mayst this day Remember Death Oh remember Eternitie which thou mayst either to day or to morrow begin but never End §. 28. If to morrow why not to day THere is a Chaine and that a weâ—ghty one that holds us bound fast to wit the Love of this Life which as it is not to be utterly cast off yet it is daily to be weakned and the vigour of it abated that when it shall be required at our hands to surrender nothing may withhold us but that we be ready presently to doe that which at one time or other must be performed Saint Augustine the Bishop of Hippo went on a time to visit another great Prelate and Father of the Church lying very sick and at the point of Death who had been formerly his familiar friend at Saint Augustines comming the sick man lift up his hand and said that he was departing this world and going into Heaven Possidonius in vita Aug. c. 27 Saint Augustine replyed that the Church would stand in great want of him and prayed that God would lend him a longer life The sicke mâ—n answered again if he never could be well spared but if at any time he should depart why not now The Death of all men is even and alike but the wayes by which it comes are divers one dyes at supper another in his sleepe a third in the commission of some sin One dyes by the sword another is drowned a third is burned some are poysoned and stung to death by Serpents others are kild by some fall and some Consumptions rid away some are cut off in the flower and beauty of their age some are destroyed in their swathling clothes and some in their decrepit years Others onely salute the World and are gone One mans end is commendable anothers dishonorable but let Death come never so gently or favourably yet it never comâ—s without some horrour and affrightment But that which most of all estrangeth us from liking Death is that wee know the things present and delights in them but whither wee are passing by Death and what things wee shall behold in the bowels of the grave wee know not and wee usually tremble at the report of strange sights therefore are our mindes to bee hardned with the daily exercise and meditation of eternity Eternity I say is to be thought upon night and day as he that will learn to endure hunger must attaine to it by fasting by degrees so the mind must be transferd from transitory things that ever will be expert in the study of Eternity Let him every moment salute and imbrace the threshold of Eternity let this one be the onely square of all his actions I read I write I meditate I watch I speak I worke always to Eternity Hee that ever intends to triumph eternally let his meditation be alwayes fixed and setled upon it § 40. Death is suddain yet comely AS Palladius the Bishop of Helenople testifies Cheremon died sitting as hee was at work Hist c. 92. and well Hee was found sitting with his worke in his hand onely hee was dead Any kind of Death is credited by a vertuous life Philemon an ancient Writer of Comedies as hee rehearsed his Comedies with Menander on the Stage Mad. Philos in Florid p 579 and strove with him for the Bays he was not in any thing reputed inferiour to him He acted a part of a play which he lately had made and being come to the second Scene
this and say take heed of sicknesse it is ill to be under it to whom Epictetus answers judiciously It is all one as if one should say and faigne to make three to be foure It is no ill if I rightly esteem of it it cannot then hurt me but rather profit mee So the like use may be made of poverty sicknesse war May not a man gather benefit by any by all of these the same I may say of Death is it not my appointed Steeresman into rest is it not the Messâ—nger that opens the gaâ—e to Eternity is not Death that which takes off all our burthens and easeth us from labour from misery Let Truth honour thee Epictetus how true are all these and squaring with the Law of Christianity This foundation being laid we shal learn to remember Deaths Agony and not to be affrighted at his comming But oh my Reader I would have thee know that these Documents were not onely written for thy use in the time of thy sicknes but I would have thee read these in the time of thy health that they may stand thee in some stead when thou shalt be visited with sicknesse § 42. The sickman speaks to his friends to the Diseasâ— to the entrance into Death it selfe to Christ our Lord. DEpart I pray you as unseasonable with your vaine and fruitlesse mourning Here is no place either for Complaints or Petitions You may thinke I goe from you to soon Too soon look that you bee not deceived I was fit for Death's sicle as soone as I was born nay before I was born Why should I complaine I know what I was born Was I not a weak frail body Cast forth to contumelies the food of Diseases Deaths object whosoever thou art take hâ—pes to thee or undergo thy burthen perhaps thou mayest be dejected to morrow or if no remov'd from hence To the disease ANd is Deaths Harbingâ—r approach'd must I now lie under sicknesse the time is now come I must put my selfe to the triall Valour is not onely seene in a storme or in a batâ—aile Courage may be tried upon a pillow in a bed of affliction I must be sick therefore It cannot be avoided Well I shall either end my Feaver or it me Wee cannot be always together Hitherto I have onely trafficked with health Homil. 13 in Evang. now I must exchange some time with my disease Saint Gregory tels it to me piously and truly The Lord saith he knocks when hee signifies to us that death is neere us by troublous sicknesses to whom we readily open if wee receive with comfort his chastizements Some relations may cause mee to give admittance to this serious Embassadour It is reported of a certaine old man who lay grievous sick and when as Death made an approaâ—h to take him away the sick old man entreated Death to forbeare his blow a little while untill he could make his Will and set things in readines for so long a journey To whom Death replyed ô crooked old man couldst thou not prepare thy selfe in so many years being so often warn'd by me to whom the old man said again I beseech thee lend me thy faith for I doe not remember that ever thou didst admonish me but Death answer'd briefly then I perceive that old men will lie An hundred six hundred a thousand warnings hast thou had from mee when I daily in thy sight to thy griefe not onely tooke away thy equals of which for years there are few left but also before thy eyes young men and little infants Nay I will appeale to thy own soul forgetfull old man didst thou want admonishments when thy eyes grew dim thy haires wax'd white were fâ—lne off thy nose lost its smell thy eares grew deafe and all thy other sences and members grew defective in their performances and thy whole body languish'd wasted these all these were Messengers from me and shoulâ— have been as so many warning pieces to prepare thee to march on These all have knock'd at thy doors though thou wouldst not acknowledge thy selfe to be within Often enough and long enough hast thou bin admonish'd I stay not Come away and enter the Dance of Death now presently He seldome prepares himselfe well which prepares so extraordinary late To his Death-bringing sicknesse WHen I meditate on my life consider the multitude of my sins and the smalnesse of my good duties Alas alas oh my God how am I straitned and how am I beset and encompassed with sorrow but it is better to fall into the Hands of the Lord for great are his mercies and his compassions faile not then that I should adde more days to my years and more sin to my days What an one I would have prov'd thou onely ô Lord knowest Perhaps I might have Apostated and falne from life Since ô death thou art present doe thy message unto me rid mee from misery and the malice of men I am ready and willing to part wi h life onely let me retaine thy Grace ô Lord or rather let it preserve me which I doe earnestly with all my heart beg of thee ô sweet Iesus Christ and through thee Amen To Deaâ—h it selfe DEath why in so long wastings dost thou like What needs there such great charge I doe yield strike What need'st thou empty all thy quivers when One blast w ll drive one puffe will stroy most men For indeed what is man but a tossed and leaking ship which one lusty wave sends to the bottome There needs no furious charge of tempests wheresoever thou ô Death placest thy murthering Ram it will force passage Mans bodie is wove up of weake and fluid materials glistering in outward lineaments impatient of heat cold or travail of it's own inclination apt to languishments gathering corruption even from his sustentation sometimes hurt by want sometimes by excesse his nutriment wants not discommodity a brittle piece of mortalitie preserv'd and upheld with griefe and anxietie holding his very spirit and breath at anothers disposing which easily departs full of innumerable diseases and though he should want diseases to ruine him yet of his own accord he would fall perish and descend to Death Can wee wonder to see that die in which Death is fed and nourish'd and hath a thousand places to enter possesse and if man doth fall is it any such remarkable losse his very smell and taste his wearinesse and watching his humours and food without which he cannot live are all mortiferoâ—s and deadly To Iesus Christ I Would not Death but life hee seeks it right O Christ who in thy love departs to light I am not afraid with them whom thou speakest o in wrath Goe c. I will follow thee ô loving Saviour with will with delight and what should I doe else when as thou thy self callest me to come and approach neerer to be dissolv'd and to be with Christ is much the better This is the height of my desires 1 Phil 1.23
trifle time here Nature is not a stâ—pdame but a mother Canst thou accuse her ô my Theophrastus to be more unkind to men then to beasts Certainly men are her choicest pieces and if shee could preserve any from death corruption men should pertake of the priviledge and benefit For which is better quickly to suffer and to cut off all fear or slowly to suffer and still to be subjected to fear horror Nature then quits a man from a lingring torment when shee yields him but a short life We all doe stay For th' appointed day Why therefore art thou affrighted is thy life taken away so is then the feare of death and many evils that betide the life of man there is little difference saith Plinius Secundus betwixt suffering misery and expecting it daily to come onely this that there is some meane in grieving none in fearing For thou mayest grieve onely for so much as is happened but thou mayest feare for whatsoever may happen § 8. Three things grievous in sicknesse IN every disease almost there are thâ—se three things incident The feare of Death the paine of the body and the losse and privation of pleasures But as in the rules of Physick hot diseases are cured by cold medicines and cold by hoâ— so are these to bâ—e cured by Antâ—dotes Let the siâ—kâ— bâ—ware here that he mistakes not or goes not a contrary way There was a yong man who stood in need of old things to allay his heat but he when the Physicians were departed by the perswasion of the servants of the house tooke hot ingredients and anointed his brest with Balme and applyed many other hot medicines to his sicknesse which added fire to fire and almost brought him to Death To cure therefore the feare of Death and to remove it is to love Heaven and the joys thereof a li tle of divine love dispels all the smoak of vain feares Who loves Christ will be willing to lay downe his life and shall be beloved of his Saviour 2 To asswage and mitigate the paine of body is to have peace of conscience An upright soule and an entire conscience doth afford marvellous consolation to the sick bed A pure conscience purged from dead works is a powerfull remedy against all tormentings The sick man wâ—ll beare his sicknesse the easier and more comfortably if he fixeth deeply in his mind this one thing The most righteous Lord God hath imposed this affliction upon me and therefore I will beare It is his good pleasure let him doe as he thinks good 3 The losse of pleasures will nothing trouble nor grieve him who thinks upon heavenly eternall pleasures Those which wee leave are light vaine shâ—rt and filthy and commonly before they are left off they leave their Lovers full of paine oftentimes of diseases But those which our heavenly Countrey promiseth to us and will performe are infinite firme eternall not fading He easily dis-esteems earth whose aime is heaven § 9. Sicknesse is the Schoole of Vertue and Monitor to Eternitie THou sufferest wel saith Bernard if it works compunction Sicknes is aswell the Schoole of graces as the scourge of vices While wee are lusty and strong we rush into sins as the horse into the battle furiously when wee are sick wee better regulate our passions curbe our affections being healthy we are pestered with many hundred severall employments and put God in our last thoughts How many are chast and sober in sicknesse Who in time of health have furiously followed all filthy lusts and pleasures These men were happier and safer under the rod then they can be at liberty God lays therefore many downe that they may looke up and confines them with a Fever or Consumption or such like that their souls may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Long sicknesse makes sober minds In briefe Sicknesse seems to macerate the body but it meliorizeth the soul though as Saint Paul saith our outward man decay 2 Cor. 4.26 yet our inward man is renewed daily Hence is it that though sicknesse do seem tedious and burthensome yet it is then Good when it works holinesse in the Patient § 10. Sicknesse is the Monitor to Eternitie WHat a good thing is it that the evils of this present life should afford unto us a taste of everlasting punishments By these light ones here let us learn to keep our selves from those eternall ones From which no Apothecary no Physician no Medicine no Criticall day nor Death it selfe the Medicine for all evils and punishments here can release from The ways to death are diverse but once arrived to Eternity there is no redemption Anaxagoras being very sick his friends asked him whither he would be carried into his Country or not no such need said he and added a reason for every Countrey affords us a way to our grave This answer of his may be as well applyed to Heaven for wee may goe to Heaven from any part of the World O the fortunate and happy scar-fire of Feavers because short ô the fearfull fire of Hell because everlasting § 13. In sicknesse we must always pray PRayer ought to be the sickmans constant exercise Neither is it of too much difficulty for the sick party It is an exercise that 's perform'd without toyle For he may do it by his tongue to God but if his tongue be dulled or if griefe stops his voice then his soule in all humble devotion is to be lift up to God with a quiet composure of body Sometimes also ardent sighes do demonstrate secret conference with God Sometimes the disease is so violent that it not onely depresseth the body but also the soule and the whole man is foâ—c'd as it were wholly to attend on it In his case God accepts a patient and a quiet bearing of these dolours for Prayers Sicknâ—sse mixt with patience and mortification are accepâ—able Sacrifices in the presence of God Hee prayes well that suffers patiently And he doth not onely pray unto God but doth prevaile with God who sends two such wise Embassadours as Compunction and Patience But further though the Sicke man be brought to that passe that he neither by voice nor yet by hearty Ejaculations yea though his patience be overcome yet there is a way to pray left him Can hee look about hâ—m and hee shall see those that stand by him and those that are about him ready prompt to pray for him let but him in his sicknesse speake a word to them ô my good friend ô my dear brother you see how I am conquered wiâ—h pains I prâ—y you lend mee your tongue and your heart and read such and such a Psalme for mee to intreat God to be mercifull unto me Which of his friends will not be ready and willing to performe these things for the sick So though hee cannot by himselfe in words expresse himself to God yet hee may by the prayers of the faithfull Therefore I repeat it again In
desire ô God I desire to worke in thy Vineyard to indure cold heat wearinesse vexation the Crosse I desire to suffer hunger oâ— thirst or any molestation any heavines or misery for thy sake I have learnt this by the Example of an holy man who when he was visited with more sorrow and sicknes then was usuall he was admonished by another friend of his to entâ—eat God to deale more favourably with him to whom he answered as it were in anger but that I perceive your simplicitie I should have put you from my company for saying such words And pâ—esently hee cast himselfe upon the Earth I give thee thanks ô God for these things which thou hast sent mee to suffer Enlarge my sorrows multiply my pains send mee an hundred diseases I know for certaine thou wilt with all these gâ—ve mee patience What can I say but this thing onely It is too litâ—le that I suffer ô God adde if it be thy good pleasure more and more to them I have deserved farre more bitter stripes then thou ô mercifull God hast yet inflicted Here ô Lord spare me not burn me cut me teare me in pieces onely save me hereafter If I had an hundred bodies I would adorne so many crosses wiâ—h them for thy sake that I may please thee ô kinde Father that I may be but numbred with thy Saints in Glory Everlasting I weigh not what paines and miseries I here undergo and suffer a thousand without any exception so I may gain thee Let thy will ô God be fully done For I know that thy service is perfect freedome to whom both the will and the deed are acceptable and how often dost accept the will for the deed and rewardest it equally I am now by thy appointment ô Lord call'd to rest my night comes in which I cannot worke Yet although this my disease takes away from mee the power of working yet it deprives mee not of the will I will ô Lord I will and while breath or life continue for thy love I am ready and willing to doe or suffer as the holy Martyrs and pious Christians have done and suffered before me Say onely ô Lord what wilt thou me have doe What must I suffer for I offer a whole World full of good desires to thee I will goe to the utmost parts of the Earth nay with readâ—nesse and willingnesse to the Indies the tops of Mountains shall not let mee the great Valleys shall not deterre mee I will climbe these travell through those the vast heaps of snow shal not stop me nor the lofty waves I will passe through both Nor rocks nor fire scornings reproaches disgraces shame accusations all these none of these shall be able to deterre my course for suffering in thy cause nor will I for thy love ô Eternall Wisdom think much to be counted a fool I will glory in the title it is not blows nor death which I will decline for thy sake Nothing shall be too hard nothing too bitter nothing unpleasant nothing impossible where the cords of thy love doe draw my soule I shall goe through with all incumbrances with all oppositions by thy aid and assistance and what I cannot doe by strength I will performe in desires wherein my hands or feet shall faile thither will I goe in desire in affection But all these wishes and willings if â—hey be brought to action will they unlock and open Heaven gates If I shall bring forth all these specious fruits shall I then be worthy to be in the presence of God Ah! ô my Lord God! though I suffer and doe whatsoeuer thy holy Saints have done and suffered or what they would have done or suffered yet shal I not be worthy to abide in thy sight one moment how much lesse then when as I doe but offer up to thee these small and emptie desires By what means then shall I make my way ready for heaven ôh infinite Goodnesse if thou shalt not have mercy upon mee I am undone for ever I shall never be admitted into Heaven if thy mercy excludes me There is therfore this one sanctuary and this one refuge remayning to mee to save me from thy anger and just indignation Thy mercy ô Lord is that vast Ocean and immense Sea into this I will throw my self whensoever death shall cast me from the little Hillock of this world and also while I do possesse this little Tabernacle I will freely and wholly cast my selfe into that bottomlesse Sea of thy infinite mercies beiâ—g fully assured that herein I shall be safe from all the flames and flashes of Hell fire I cry out therefore with King David Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodnesse according to the multiude of thy tender mercies blot out all mine offâ—nces Wash mee throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse mee from my sinne So also in my greatest extremitie in my last and uttermost houre of my life when my soule must goe forth from her old decayed house with all my ardentest and earnestenst desires I will and wish that one thing yea while I live and am wel in health deliberately and affectionately I thirst after those pleasant Rivers of waters yea at my gaspe I desire thaâ— my sigh may signifie so much to men anâ— Angels that I onely cry and sigh for this one favour al â—hy hands Have mercy upon me ô GOD after thine own goodnesse according to the multitude of thy tender compassions c. § 31. The sick mans sure and true confidence in God IT is a serious businesse and no childish art to die and well may the sicke man bee asked wilt thou wholly commit thy selfe to the hazard of Eternitie thou entrest into an unknowne way and whither wilt thou come to whâ—ch the sick may answer 〈◊〉 not to mutter as those wretches who say I am compeld I must but rather in an upright course let him say I doe willingly and wholly give my soule so I commit my selfe to Eternity so I depart hence joyfully So even so let healthy men say and think but especially such as are ready to die both these may truly say hitherto I have begun to die onely now I doe so Now I begin my journey to Eternity and because Gods mercy knows no end and exceeds all measure I goe on without dread In thee ô Lord have I put my trust let mee never be put to confusion I hope never never ô Lord and though there be a thousand witnesses out of the sacred Writt to confirme my hope in this point yet let mee not despise the excellent Councell which that Roman wise man affords That we should think of Death and the returne from Death Thus the Ancients have delivered their minds When that day shall come which shall separate my soule from my body I shall leave this body where I found it but I my selfe shall be restored to God Neither am I now without him onely I am detained by this heavy earthy body of
or councell love and prayers God I beseech who art the fountain of all goodnesse and the deep Sea of love requite your love into your bosomes God hath always used to be kind and good to them who do commâ—t â—hemselves wholly to his fatherly providence Obedience is a singular vertue and indeed such an one as all others have resplendency from it Patience is that one thing that is necessary for sick men Humility is an excellent jewell and conâ—empt of a mans own self Poverty is acceptable to Christ but the Queen of graces is Charity Yet amongst all these me thinks a sure confidence in God is of singular efficacie and a plenary resignation of a mans self unto the Divine Providence which Gods Word so highly commends which the Kingly Prophet so often speaks of which last of all Christ himself by so many arguments taken from the Flowers and the Fowles doth endeavour to perswade to None can ever know the streng h of this confidence nor that tranquillity which follows no nor can believe it but he who at all times in everything little or great fully hath believed in and trusted himselfe into Gods hand And I am perswaded that never was there man who did so referre himself wholly to God who hath not found singular and secret comfort within himself by it Let us trust to and rely on God And give our selves wholly to be disposed of by his infinite wisdom Hee will provide for us he will take care for us You see now how I am cited to appear at Gods Tribunall and must now give an account for 60 yeers carriage All mine deeds words thoughts are manifest and open to that Judge Noâ—hing ah nothing can be hid from him all the Acts of my passed life shall now be sentenced O how I tremble For it is a fearfull thing to stand before his Tribunall Yet in this great streight I have something to comfort me although I be an unjust and naughty servant yet I have a good Lord nay infinitely good which though I have bin sinfull yet I am his servant so commending my selfe inâ—o his hands and my soul to his mercy I bid adiew to you all wishing you al to have a care to your lives here that wee may once againe meet in the Kingdome of Glory Farewell § 24. What a dying man should always speak and meditate in his heart IN thy sicknesse ô good Christian being asked how thou doest how thou feelest thy selfe c. take heed to thy answers that thou utterest let them be such as these As God pleaseth as it seemeth good to the Lord so is come to passe according to Gods good will and pleasure I am well that is best so God sees it good Let his will be done in earth as it is in heaven and that ô sick man and dying man that thou mayest have this familiarly in thy mouth and heart use these three short Prayers 1 The Lord be blessed for ever and ever 2 Have mercy upon mee ô Lord after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies though I be lesse then the least of all thy mercies 3 O my Lord and my God I offer my self to thy good will and pleasure Thy will 〈◊〉 Lord be done Amen Some in the time of their sicknesse have had these prayers set before their faces in great Characters lying in their beds that night and day they might the more readily remember and use them Our Prayers are our Fore-runners to God let us our selves learn of our Harbingers the right way that so we may follow readâ—ly whensoever the Lord Eternall shall call us hence § 25. Things to be specially observed by a dying man 1 LEt hâ—m not rely upon but renounce his owne merits let him cast himselfe and all his sins into the boundlesse Ocean of Gods infinite mercy and compassion 2 Let him be sure to stand fast in the bosome of the holy Catholike Church and let him receive the blessed Sacrament seasonably it being his viaticum and the food of his soul 3 Let him withdraw all his affections and love from fading and transitory things and let his heart be united to God his heavenly Father Let him long for the promised Canaan that there hee may for ever offer prayse to God his Creatour 4 Let him offer up himselfe a lively sacrifice to the glory of God for his most blessed will to bear out of true love all the bitternesse and anguishment and all the pangs of death though for a long time and though hee might live longer yet for the love of God he refers himself to his wise disposing either for life or death 5 Let him never forget the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ Let him not rest till hee be united to Christ in his death and let him in the depth of all his sufferings imitate our Saviour to commend his soul into his fathers hands that so as hee is made conformable to Christ in his death hee may be likewise in his Resurrection But above all it is most safe for the dying man that what hee would have to be his last words and actions that hee begin to doe them in the state of his health § 26. What a dying man must doe LVdovicus Blosius a man of a most holy life who refused an Archbishoprick when it was offered him by Charles the fiâ—th Emperour whose life may be seen by his works amongst many other worthy pieces hee gives a dying man these Instructions following Being asked what a dying man should doe if hee had liv'd long in grievous sinnes answered though I should have lived forty yeers in my sinnes and now my death approaching if I shall truly acknowledge them and be heartily sorry for them from the bottome of my heart and resolve against them all for time to come if I have but so much time to put my self into Gods hands and truly turn to him without all hypocrisie and dissembling I shall depart hence holy and innocent and shall finde God a mercifull Father unto me and adds a short sweet Prayer for a sick man O Lord I am that miserable wretch whom Thou of thy Fatherly goodnesse hast created and by the most shamefull death of thy onely begotten Son hast redeemed from the power of the Enemy Thou Lord Thou onely shalt rule in me save me therefore ô Lord for thy infinite mercy throuâ—h Jesus Christ in whom I do believe to have immortality and glory Amen These are Abridgments to die well hee who knows how to be ready for death comprizeth all § 27. Refreshments for a sick man GO my people enter inâ—o your chambers shut the dores to you hide your selves for a while for a moment untill my indignation be passed over Isa 26.20 In my anger have I hid my face from you for a moment but in everlasting mercies will I have compassion on you saith the Lord your Redeemer Isay 54.8 Why art thou so heavy ô my soule and
so great a multitude does open his mouth in his cause The mayntenance of Christs Cause is therefore devolv'd to the defence of this Thiefe One Thief plâ—ads against another for Christs innocence he mayntains it takes of the others scandals reproves the infinite multitude of paâ—ricide Did not the Son of God blush to have his Cause defended by a Thief No! hee was so farre from being ashamed at his Oratory that hee praysed him in publick nor was his Rhetorick defective in Gods Cause And wee indâ—e justly therefore wee receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amisse Lu. 23.4 O how justly may I say the same of my self And I do justly die for my offences for I doe but receive the wages of my works but my Saviour What had hee done nothing at all worthy of death nor of such torments Let mee therefore ô God be heard when I use this forme of prayer Lord remember me for now thou art come into thy Kingdome and because thou art in thy Kingdome looke upon mâ—e now languishing and decaying and admâ—t mee to thy self when I depart I beg this of thee ô Jesus by thy scourging Thorns and Crosse by all thy â—orments and by thy precious â—eath What therefore remaynes but â—hat I should for ever cast my soul â—nto his bosome whose dolour and â—ains hee onely weighs and consiâ—ers He knows what conduceth â—o the health of our souls and â—ee from all eternity ha h deterâ—ined by what way wee shall return to him O Lord I have waited for thy salvation § 34. The Heliotropium or Turn sole against all diseases and death the onely Medicine THis Herbe as experience shews it turns with the Sun both at his rising and setting nay even in cloudy weather hee shews his love to the Sun by night as it were for grief he shuts up himself for want of her beautifull Lover Oh could mans will alwayes so follow and attend upon Gods will that at all times it should be conformable to it and and follow it through all afflictions and adversities and not to turn aside in that great cloudy day of death Upon this set day let the dying man imitate this flower and let him fâ—x the eyes of his faith upon that glorious Sun of righteousnesse especially then This doe our Saviours owne words teach us Even so Father Math. 11.26 for so it seemed good in thy sight so even so my â—ying friend speak you In all things that ever you doe in all evils to be endured or suffered by the example of our Lord say always So Father even so good Father so be i◠ô my Father with often ingeminations and specially when the pangs of death doe rage most violently then even then subject thy will in all things to his pronounce these watching in health in sicknesse but at the pinch of death never forget them Lord thou knowest my heart command it Lord I have hoped in thee I have said thou art my God thou shalt mayntaine my lot my heâ—lth my disease prosperity and adversity my life and my death are in thy hands as thou wilt so let all things be It shall be pleasant to me eiâ—her to live or die according to thy good will because thou art my Father Therefore ô Father as thou wilt order dispose permit all things to be done in mee and of mee as may be pleasing to thee let not any thing in mee crosse or thwart thy heavenly disposing So even so good Father let thy will be done from hence-forth and for ever This herb is of wonderfull vertue to all sicknesse evils and death Hee is farâ—e from feare of destruction that is in will so united to his God FINIS Prayers to be said of or to be read to a man dying OH holy Jesus my strength my â—efreshing my defender and my deliverer in whom I have hoped on whom I have believed whom always I have loved who art my chiefe pleasure the fortresse of my strength my hope even from my youth up Lead me forth ô â—hou that art the leader of my life and I will follow thee stretch forth thy right hand of mercy to the worke of thine own hands which thou the Creatour of all things didst make of the dust of the eâ—rth and strengthenedst with bones and sinews to whom thou by death gavest life The time is at hand that dust must return to dust and my spirit to thee my Saviour and blessed Redeemer who gavest it me Open good Lord to mee the gate of life for for mee wretch didst thou the Lord of life hang on the tree and wast reckonâ—d amongst transgressors receive me ô mercifull God according to the multitude of hy tender mercies thou didst kindly and speedily entertain the penitent thiefe upon the Crosse begging of thee I am sick and sore smitten to whom should I run for cure but tâ— thee ô gracious Physician heal thou mâ—e ô Lord and I shall be whole and those that put their trust in thee shall not be confounded in thee ô Saviour have I trusted let me no therefore be put to confusion But who or what am I most glorious God that I should with such boldâ—esse speak to thee I am a sinner borne nay and conceived in transgression a rotten carcasse an uncleane vessell food for wormes Spare mee forgive mee good God what conquest wouldest thou have to contend or sâ—t thy selfe against me who â—m weaker and lighter then the stubble before the winde then the dust or the chaff driven too and fro with every blast Passe by ô Lord all my transgressions and rayse up thy poore dejected servant from the Dunghill Stand up ô Lord and for my defence rayse up thy self and reject not the supplication of thy poore weak servant Let my prayers enter into thy presence and stretch forth thy hand and comâ— and help I am the man that travelling from Hierusalem am taken and wounded of thieves and left half dead be thou thou ô my Saviour the good Samaritan and c mfort me I have grievously sinned in the whole course of my life and my sins are ever before thee From the crown of my head to the sole of my foot there is not one sound or clean member O if thou by thy precious death on the Crosse hadst not helped my soule I should have for my sins deserved eternall perdition I even I am partaker ô sweet Iesu of that inestimable Redemption thou didst shed that most precious bloud for my sake ô thou preserver of men and therefore put me not away from thee I am that sheepe which wandred and lost it self seek mee ô thou great Shepheard and take mee and conduct me into thy fold that thou mayest be true in all thy sayings Thou that hast promised that whensoever a sinner shall repent and return thou wilt have mercy upon him Truly Lord I am not worthy to be called thy son because I have sinned against heaven and before thee
but good Father restore the voice of joy and gladnesse to mee again Comfort mee now after the time that thou hast afflicted mee and for the yeeres wherein I have suffered adversity Turn thy face away from my sins and blot cut all mine offences according to thy great mercies Cast me not away from thy presence nor deal with me after my iniquities but help mee ô thou that art the helper of all that cry to thee for relief deliver mee for the glory of thy name Grant in mercy that I may dwell in thy house al the days of my life to sing prayses to thee in Heaven with all thy glorious Saints and Servants for evermore Amen The second Prayer to Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world O Sweet comfâ—rtable Iesus the fountaine anâ— wâ—lspâ—ing of mercy and tender compassion shew and extend to me thy poore servant and weak creature the riches of thy infinite mercies help and succour mee in this my great need and necessity my great Creatour and loving Redeemer Iesu Christ put thy Passion Cross and precious death betwixt thy judgment and my sicke soule I wholly give up my selfe to thy favour Cast me not away good Saviour in thy furie I willingly come to thee for hâ—lp ô reject not ô despise not ô refuse not to admit thy humble Petitioner into thy grace and favourable protection Now now ô Lord according to thy good pleasu e and will deal with me in mercie and receive my soule into thy hands in peace and love thou hast redeemed mee ô Lord thou God of truth O let the sound of those comfortable words enter into â—y soule sweet Saviour This day thou shalt be with me in Parad se O Iesus who was crucified for me receive me into thy armes of love and mercie into those armes which were stretch'd so wide to embrace poore grieved sinners unto those armes which I with the eye of faith see opened wide for transgressors Draw my soul after thee comfort it ô thou Lambe of God with thy al saving favour receive mee in thy savour and let my soule ever live in thy glorious courts in the highest Heavens Amen The third Prayer of thanksgiving in any sicknesse GLory be to thee ô Lord Iesus Christ the Authour and giver of life who hast vouchsafed to call me to the knowledge of true faith in thee Glorie be to thee who hâ—st always beene so full of plenteous redemption and mercie towards mee so grievously laden with all sorts of sins which through all my life hast heaped blessings and kindnesses upon me I give thanks to thee n y most loving God that according to thy good will and wisdome I am called out of this miserable and wretched life to appeare before thee How ô how willing am I to tread thy Courts and to behold the light of thy countenance I doe wholly commit my selfe to thy divine shelterage and blesse thy glorious name for giving me such a readie mind to depart I do ô most loving Lord in all humility beg and desire thee to binde up my soule in the bundle of peace and embrace my soule in thy everlasting favour and mercy tâ—ke my soule into thy protection hence-forth and for ever to thee to thee onely doe I commend my spirit which art the God of spirits I intreat thee the everliving God to give me an inheritance among those that be sanctified Count mee in the number of thy Saints and let my name ô heavenly Father be registred in the book of life Free me and deliver me fâ—om all the power of my enemies Deliver mee from all my trouble and adve sity because thou onely art the God which canst help those that are in misery and griefe thou hast said it ô bâ—essed Lord God that we should call upon thee in the time of trouble and thou hast graciously promised to hear and deliver us and taught us in thy wisdome to give glory to thy name To thee therefore be duly given all praise and glorie world without end The fourth prayer to be sâ—id of those about the sick party O Iesus Christ who didst die upon the Crosse for our Redemption in the depth of thy infinite love even of that gracious love which made thee lay downe thy life who wast the life of all that they might be restored to life Wee doe heartily dâ—sire and humbly crave of thee that thou wouldst passe by and blot out all the sins and transgressions which this thy sicke servant our Brother N. hath committed and that by thy most holy life and merits of thy most bitter Crosse and Passion thou wouldst be pleased to help all his infirmities and to make his bed in the time of his sicknesse and make him to feele and rellish thy infinite love and boundlesse mercies and let him apply them to hâ—s sâ—ule and disspose graciously of us all and especially of this thy weake creature whom thou art calling out of this miserable life that thou wouldst prepare his soule quietly and peaceably to seeke thee and that hee may give up his soul into thy hands with all patience and contentednesse in a full assurance of the pardon of all his sins being grounded in hope rooted in charity in a perfect state of mind so that for ever thou mayst hold him in the armes of thy never fading love and favour O Lord Iesus Christ wee beseech thee take not thy helping hand and saving assistance from this our sick brother who is now in the depth of sicknesse and even at the point of death who by weaknesse and defect of spirit is not able to lift up his voice unto thee Think upon him o Lord in thy love and mercy and give him ô give the spirit of comâ—ort and consolation Deliver him from all evill and grant hough hee doth at this time depart yet let it be in peace and sure confidence of thy love defend him from the danger of the Enemy at the time of his yielding up his spirit into thy hand give him sure confidence in thee and keep him iâ— perpetuall peace and safety and lead hâ—m into the land of everlastâ—ng rest and quietnesse Amen The fifth Prayer contayning the Acts of Faith Hope and Chariâ—y daily to be used O Lord Iesus Christ I believe that thou art my God and my Redeemer I doe bâ—lieve that for my salvation thou wast born of the Virgin Mary and was crucified I doe believe what the holy Catholick Church doth enjoyne me and I protest that I will lâ—ve and am willing to die in that faith Lord Iesus I doe heartily grieve that I have so grievously offendâ—d thy goodnâ—sse and I am sorâ—y that I can be no more sorry so those great and many offences which I have committed against thee my Crâ—atour and Redeemer I do humbly â—ray thee that thou wouldst by thy precious bloudshedding pardon and forgive all my sins and I doe purpose if thou shalt enlarge my life to abstaine from them â—ll and to