our sinnes Math. 6.11 The reward of sinne is death Rom. 6.23 Eternall life which wee lose by our corruption and transgression is restored again vnto vs by Iesus Christ THe gift of God is eternall life by Iesus Christ our Lorde Rom. 6.23 At the same time when we were dead in sinne hee reuiued vs together by Christ by whose grace you are saued Ephe. 2.5 The determination and grace of God is manifested vnto vs by the apparition of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath destroyed death and brought to light life and immortalititie by the Gospel 2. Timot. 1.10 In this the loue of God appeared vnto vs when he sent his onely Sonne into the worlde to the end wee might liue by him 1. Iohn 4.9 And this man is witnesse that God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne 1. Iohn 5.11 To whom eternall life is giuen GOd so loued the world as he gaue his only begotten Son that no man which beleeueth in him might perish but haue euerlasting life He that beleeueth in the Son hath eternall life but he that beleueth not in the Son shall not see life but the wrath of GOD shal remaine vpon him Iohn 3.15 36. Verely verely I say vnto you whosoeuer heareth my words and beleeueth in him that sent mee he hath eternall life and shall not come into condemnation but passe from death to life This is the will of my Father which sent me That whosoeuer sees the Sonne and beleeues in him he may haue eternall life and I will raise him vp at the last day Verely verely I say vnto you hee that beleeues in mee hath eternall life Iohn 5.24 and 6.40 47. Iesus sayde I am the resurrection and the life hee that beleeueth in me although hee be dead shall liue Iohn 11.25 These things are written that you may beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God that in beleeuing you may haue life in his Name Iohn 20.31 God shal giue to euery one according to his workes which is to say to those that with patience in well-doing seeke glory honor and immortalitie eternall life Rom. 2.6 7. Being now deliuered from sinne and made the seruants of God you haue your fruit in sanctification and for your ende eternall life Rom. 6.22 If we be children we are also heires heires I say to God and coheirs with Iesus Christ that is to say if wee suffer with him that with him wee may also bee glorified Rom. 8.17 Seeke peace with all men and holinesse without which none can see the Lord. Hebr. 12.14 The excellencie of eternall life WHen the account is cast I think the sufferances of this present time no wayes equiualent to the glory to come which shall be reuealed in vs. Rom. 8.18 The things which the eye hath not seene the eare heard and that neuer entred into the heart of man are those which God hath prepared for those that loue him 1. Cor. 2.9 This present life is limited THe dayes of a man are short the number of his moneths remaine with thee thou hast set downe limits which hee must not exceede Ioh 14.5 The shortnesse and vanitie of the same WE are strangers and forreiners before thee as our Fathers were our dayes are as the shadow vpon the earth and there is no mention of them 1. Chron. 29.15 Man borne of a woman is but of little continuance and those few dayes are replenished with trouble sorrowe hee cometh out like a flower and is gathered vp hee flies away like a shadow and stayes not Are not his dayes set downe Iob 14.1 2 5. Thou hast assigned my dayes the measure of an hand-breadth and my life time is before thee as nothing in effect there is nothing but vanitie with euery man that liues As soon as thou chastisest a man reprehending him for his iniquity thou consumest all his excellencie like a moth so slight a thing is euery man Psal 39.12 The sonnes of men are nothing they are but the lyers of great Princes so that if they were all put together in a ballance they would bee found lighter than vanitie it selfe Psal 62.10 The dayes of our life are threescore and ten yeeres and of those that liue longest but fourescore and yet the best of them are but affliction miserie they soon passe hence and we our selues flie away swiftly Psal 90.10 The dayes of a man are like the grasse and flourish like the flower of the fielde Psal 103.13 Man is like to nothing his dayes are as the shadowe which vanisheth away Psal 144.4 See thorowout all Salomons Ecclesiastes All flesh is grasse and all the glory thereof is as the flower of the field Isa 40.6 I tell you this my brethren that the time is short 1. Cor. 7.29 What is this your life it is certainely but a vapour which appeareth for a while and then vanisheth away Iames 4.14 The end of mans life WHether you eat or drinke or whatsoeuer you doe do it al to the glory of God 1. Cor. 10.31 The first death which is the separation of the soule from the body and the second which is eternal death proceede from sinne THe day wherein thou eatest of the fruite of the Tree of knowledge of good and euill thou shalt die the death Gen. 2.17 As by one man sinne entred into the worlde and by sinne death so death came vpon all men because al men sinned Rom. 5.12 The first death is common to all IT is ordained that all shall once die and after that comes Iudgement Heb. 9.27 The Children of God ought to feare death FEare not those that can slay the bodie and not kill the soule Math. 10.28 Hee that loueth his life shall lose it and whosoeuer hates this worlde hee shall finde it in eternall life Iohn 12.25 We knowe when our terrestrial lodging is defaced we haue a dwelling place in God an house not made with handes but eternall which is in heauen 2. Corint 5.1 I am inclosed on the one side and the other desiring to be dissolued and to be with Christ the which were much better for me Phil. 1.23 Death destroyed by Iesus Christ IEsus Christ hath destroyed Death and brought to light Life and immortality by the Gospel 2. Tim. 1.10 Death is swallowed vp in victorie 1. Cor. 15.54 Who sits at the right hand of God hauing swallowed vp death that we might be made partakers af eternall life 1. Pet. 3.22 What opinion wee should hold of the dead HAppie are those that die in the Lord yea saith the holy Ghost for they rest from their labours and their works follow them Apo. 14.3 We must not mourne for the dead as profane persons doe ALso my brethren I would not haue you ignorant concerning those which sleep to the end you may not be sorrowfull as others are that haue no hope 1. Thes 4.13 Their soules which die in the Lord are receiued into rest and glory in heauen ANd it happened that
our saluation Hee sheweth vs vaine and ridiculous things afarre of and perswadeth vs that all is magnificence and happines he terrifies vs with such things as we should not be afraid of and maketh vs flie that which we should embrace He calles summons allures and flatters vs by the interposition of our concupiscences if this bee not enough hee stormeth and rageth endeuouring to terrifie vs both within and without O eternall light and truth Oh heauenly Lord most mercifull Father scatter and dissipate these clowdes of ignorance and errour illuminate our vnderstandings and permit vs not to approach vnto that which thou commādest vs to flie which is pernicious and hurtfull to vs that we may desire nothing but that which is truely to be desired that is to say thy selfe who art the source and spring of all goodnes and of our life and eternal felicitie All flesh is grasse and the glorie of a man is as the flower of the fielde procure then that we may seeke for our stay and cōtentment in the grace which thy Sonne brought vnto vs that our life may bee inclosed in him so that in the day of separation of our soules from their bodies wee may absolutely finde it again in heauen in expecting chearfully and with assured ioy the most happie resurrection of this flesh wherein all corruption infirmitie and reproach being abolished and death it selfe swallowed vp in victory we may liue eternally with thee in an incōprehensible felicitie wherwith thou shalt be glorified Maintain therefore thy childrē good Lord in this faith hope accōplishing in them thy worke till they intirely be with thy self to enioy the inheritāce glory which thy onely Sonne purchased for them by his merits Amen A Prayer O Lord Iesus Christ creator redeemer of mankind who didst say I am the Way the Truth and the Life I beseech thee by that vnspeakeable charitie which thou shewedst in offering thy selfe vp to death for vs that thou wilt not permit me to swarue a whit frō thee that art the Way or to distrust in thy promises seeing thou art Trueth performest whatsoeuer thou doest promise Make me to take delight only in thee who art eternal Life without whō ther is nothing worthy to bee desired either in heauen or earth Thou hast taught vs the true and onely way to saluation that we might not goe wandring vp and downe in the by-paths of this world reuealing vnto vs more clearely than the Sunne at noon dayes what wee ought to beleeue performe and hope after wherin we should rest satisfied and contented It is thou that madest vs to vnderstand how vnhappy we were in Adam that there is no meanes to escape the perdition wherein wee are altogether plunged but by faith in thee Thou art that resplendent light which appearest vnto those that trauell thorow the desert of this life and who hauing deliuered vs out of the darkenesse of spirituall Aegypt◠doest disperse the clowdes of our vnderstanding and enlightenest vs that wee may contend after the promised inheritāce which is eternall life into the which the vnfaithfull shall neuer enter but those who assuredly relie on thy holy promises Oh what goodnesse hast thou vouchsafed to send down from the bosome of thy Father and his eternall throne vpon earth in putting on our beggerly nature and of a Master to become a seruant that by thy doctrine thou mightest chace away the darkenesse of our ignorance prepare and addresse our feete vnto the way of peace and make plaine vnto vs the way of saluation such a way being appointed vs in following whereof no man can goe astray or bee wearie seeing thy grace and power doeth accompanie vs therein all the dayes of our life And moreouer by the comfort of thy holy Spirit thou doest strengthen vs and redouble our courage in passing the same Thy worde is the breade wherewith we are nourished and thy promise is the staffe wheron we leane Thou thy selfe by a secret and incomprehensible power doest conduct and maintain vs therein after an admirable maner that we might the more couragiously march towards thee both in foule and faire weather And as thou hindrest and preseruest vs from falling into the snares of the world and Sathan euen so in that thou art the trueth it selfe thou remouest farre from vs all doubtes scruples and distrusts that might anie wayes disturbe arrest or diuert vs during this our course Thou makest vs to discerne the ende and scope of heauenly vocation the worlds miserie and vanitie the fragilitie of this present life the gate of death and the happie and blessed life which is within the same And as thou art this true life euen in this worlde thou doest quicken vs by thy truth that are poore miserable dead wretches in sinne Thou augmentest this life by the ministerie and efficacie of thy holy Gospel and confirmest it by the vse of the Sacraments which thou hast ordained for the fortification of thy childrens faith while our corruption and that which is mortall in vs being defaced by the resurrection wee may exist and liue eternally with thee in bodie and soule then when thou shalt bee all in all Eternall life is to knowe the true God thee his Sonne who was sent vnto vs. Now wee behold thee by faith as in a mirror obscurely but one day we shal see thee face to face to be trāsform'd into thy glory wholly reformed according to thine owne image I beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour that thou wilt increase my faith that I may bee so well grounded in the doctrine of my saluation as nothing may be able to misleade mee augment in mine heart the reuerence which I owe vnto thee that I may neuer swarue from thy obedience strengthen me in such a sort that neither alluremēts nor threatnings either catch or astonish mee but that I may adhere constantly to thee who art my life euen vnto death Procure that in the power of thy promises and holy spirit I may bee heated more and more in thy loue and so leauing behinde the things of this world I may bend my selfe to that which is solide and perfect Encrease thy grace in mee that from day to day I may die in my selfe to bee reuiued and conducted by thy fauour fearing none but thee O most mighty and puissaunt God louing none but thee euen as there is nothing truely amiable but thy glorious selfe boasting in nothing but thy grace and mercie which is that whereof onely thy seruants should glorie they seeking after none other happinesse but thee nor desiring nothing but thy selfe who art the full and perfect felicitie of all the faithfull Amen Another LOrd Iesus that art alwayes mercifull and ceasest not to bee my Sauiour as well in aduersitie as prosperitie graunt mee the grace to rest satisfied with all humble obedience in thy will whēsoeuer it shal please thee to mixe some sower amongst so much sweete as thou hast caused mee
these corporall bonds The which being granted honor mee then as a thing diuine but if the soule were to perish with the body yet for all this forbeare not to feare the Gods which support and gouerne this principall worke of theirs that is called man the which like to good children performing you shall inuiolably preserue the memoriall of my name This was Cyrus his discourse a little before his death But if I shall not herein bee too burdensom vnto you hearken what I will deliuer vnto you in mine owne behalfe No body shall euer perswade me O Scipio that either your predecessors or other men of great note whō it is not requisite to name would euer haue enterprised such memorable exploits to all posterities but that they cōsidered that their being in the world was to no other ende but to procure the good of their successors Think you to speake plainely and after the manner of old men which loue to set foorth themselues that I would haue so trauelled both day and night in warre peace if my renowne and glory should finish with this present life would it not be better then to liue idle and in repose without any trouble or vexation But my soule I know not in what maner gathering together new forces regardeth happinesse with such a penetrant eye as if departing this world shee should but only then beginne to liue And if it were otherwise that soules were not immortall honest men would not aspire vnto a perpetuall glory What is the meaning of this that euery wise man dies willingly and the wicked with great grief Think you not that the soule which sees farre clearer and further off knowes well that shee is going to a better place and on the contrary hee which hath an heauie and disturbed soule sees not the like Surely I desire nothing more thā to see your Fathers whom I haue honoured and cherished And besides the desire which I haue to drawe neere thē that I haue knowen I would willingly also talke with those of whō I haue heard which shewed thēselues vnto mee by their bookes and whose names I haue set downe amongst mine owne writings Now that I drawe neere vnto them it would displease me much to hang backward or to bee rowled downe againe as wee might doe with a round ball And if some God had permitted me to returne againe into my infancie and to crie in my cradle I would very constantly and flatly refuse such an offer for seeing I haue almost run my race I would not be called backe again from my goale to the first setting forward Is ther any true commoditie in this life Is it not troublesome through al the periods thereof But admit there are some cōmodities therein yet are we far from finding satisfactiō or obtaining of our wished ends and desires I will not raile against the same as diuers learned men haue often-times done neither repent I that I haue liued for I haue so passed my time that I am of opinion I haue done some good in the world I goe out of this life as out of an Inne not as out of mine own house seeing Nature hath sent vs forth hither for a litle time to passe forward in our iourney and not cōtinually here to inhabit Oh happy will that day be when I shall depart to this celestiall assembly of soules and leaue the rascallitie of this world for I shal not only then bee with those good men aboue-named but also with mine owne sonne one of the best men that euer the earth brought foorth whose body I haue seen brought to ashes wheras in reason hee should rather haue seen the like by mine But see his soule neuer leaues mee but continually fixing her lookes vpon me she is flowen vp now into those places whither she knowes that I must follow I bare this losse patiently as it appeares but yet I confesse that I was much trobled therwith euer comforting my selfe with this Meditatiō that ther should bee no long space betweene her departure and mine Out of the Epistles of SENECA Epist. XXIIII RVminate I pray thee in thine owne minde what thou hast often heard and as often spoken but then make triall of it by effect if you haue either heard or seriously vttered the same For it would bee too great a basenes in vs as men vse to cast in our teeth that we should only vse the words and not the workes of Philosophie As I remember I haue heard you sometimes handle this common place that we fall not suddenly vpō death but march towards the same by little and little To say the trueth wee die euery day for euery day a peece of our life slides away whatsoeuer is past and gone of our yeeres Death hath it already in his hands yea and euer when we our selues doe growe our life decreaseth First we lose our Infancie then our Adolescencie and then our youth Euen to the day before this what time soeuer is past is lost and gone the present day which now we passe we share stakes therein with Death So ought we alwayes to be confirmed both in the one and the other that we doe not too much loue nor hate our life we must end it when reason summons vs thereunto but wee must not desperatly nor rashly leaue it like one that takes his runne to fetch the better rise A wise and magnanimious man must neuer flie nor shun this life except when he is departing there-from but auoide like a rock a vicious passion which surprizeth and layes holde of many which is to say the desire and hastening of death Epist. XXVI DOubtlesse I debate with my self I discusse make exact examination as if my triall were at hande and the day already comne that must giue sentence of al my yeeres and dayes past Whatsoeuer wee haue either done or said hitherto is nothing they are but vaine and slight testimonials of our courage intermixed with much deceit cousinage Death only will assure mee what I haue profited in Philosophie I therefore prepare my selfe without all feare for that day wherein without all sophistication I shall bee able to iudge whether I haue been faint hearted or magnanimious both in word and deed when I vsed to bulke forth so many iniurious and reproachfull words against Fortune Concerning the esteem we are in amongst men it is alwaies doubtfull and declining on euery side also concerning thy studies and endeuors examine well al thy whole life Death shal denounce sentence vpon thee I say that disputatiōs learned discourse sentences collected from the precepts of wise men and speach adorned shew not the true force of courage the greatest cowardes haue many times the hardiest talke then it will onely appeare what thou hast profited when thou commest to combate with Death I am well content with humane condition I haue no feare of this iudgement Thou art yonger what cares he Here is no accompt made of yeeres no man
oftē hath the Lord vouchsafed to teach vs How often hath he cōmaunded mee to protest and preach incessantly before you al that you should not lament for your brethren whē it pleaseth God to call and to deliuer them out of this worlde seeing I knowe that they do not perish but precede and go before those that remaine behind and that we may be grieued or a little touched for them as for friendes that remooue to some other place or that embarke themselues to arriue in a good Port But wee must not lament nor weare mourning weeds for them here belowe on earth seeing they haue now put on white roabes in heauen We must not giue the Painims iust occasiō to tax reprehend vs when they shal see that throgh immoderate loue wee seem to iudge those perished forgottē whō otherwise we affirme to be liuing with GOD whē they perceiue that by euident testimoniall of our thoughts we cōdemne the faith wherof we make profession by mouth In this wise we should ouerthrowe our hope and beleefe that which we say would but proceed frō hypocrisie It is nothing to appeare couragious in wordes if we subuert the trueth by effects The Apostle S. 1. Thes 4. Paul condemnes sharply reprehends those that are too sorrowfull for the death of their kinsmen and friends Brethren said hee I would not that you should bee ignoraunt concerning those that sleep to the end you may not lamēt like those that haue no hope For if we beleeue that Iesus Christ died and was raised again in like manner they that sleepe in Iesus God will bring thē vnto him He sayes that they which are void of hope sorrow for the death of their friends But we that liue by hope which beleeue in God which are assured that Christ died and rose again for vs remaining in Christ rising againe in and by him why should we refuse to goe out of this worlde why do we mourn and lament for our friends which GOD takes to himselfe as if they perished Why giue we not eare to our Lorde and God Iesus Christ admonishing vs and saying Ioh. 11. I am the resurrectiō he that beleeues in me though he be dead shall liue and whosoeuer liues and beleeues in me shall neuer die If wee beleeue in Iesus Christ let vs giue eare vnto his sayings promises that in stead of dying eternally we may vndoubtedly and ioyfully come vnto our Sauiour with whom we shal liue and reigne for euer For this our temporall death it is but a passage vnto immortality and we cannot attaine to euerlasting life before we dislodge and remoue out of this world Death is not a going foorth but a passage and transportation out of the way of this life to eternall rest Who is he that doth not merrily go forward when there is any possibility of his honor profit Who refuseth to be trāsformed chāged into the image of Christ and quickly to come to the graces of God Our conuersation Phil 3. saith S. Paul is in heauen frō whence we look for the Lord Iesus Christ who shal chāge our vile bodies to the end they may be conformable to his glorious body Our Lord Iesus Christ promiseth that we shall be such when he intreated his father for vs that we might bee with him that wee might liue in his eternal mansion and that wee might reioice in his heauenly kingdome Father said he I desire that those whom thou hast giuen me may be where I must be and that they may see the glory which thou gauest mee before the world euer was He that is to go to the Court of Iesus Christ into the light of the kingdom of heauē should not weep and lament but rather according to the promise of the Lord and the certaintie of his word he should reioice at his departure and transportation To this end we read that Enoch was trāslated it so pleasing God and the holy Scripture affirming in Genesis Gen. 5. Enoch walked according to God and was no more seene for God tooke him vp See what it is to please God for it is to be taken frō the corruptions contagions of this world The holy Ghost also teacheth vs by the mouth of the wise man Eccle. 14. that those whom God loues he quickly deliuers out of this world for feare lest soiourning there too long they might be infected with the ordures thereof Wisd 4. The iust man saith he was takē away to the end that malice might not depraue his vnderstanding for his soule pleased God and therefore made haste to be remooued from out the midst of iniquity In the self same maner the faithfull deuout soule runs a great spirituall pase towards her God saying Psa 84. O God of armies my soule sighes makes haste towards Gods Courts For the rest it belongs to him that takes all his pleasure in the worlde that suffers himselfe to be caught with the bait of earthly delights and the flatteries of the flesh such an one I say it concernes to desire to tarrie long in the world But seeing the world hates the childrē of God why louest thou thine enemie why folowest thou not rather Iesus Christ thy Redeemer who so ardently loues thee Saint Iohn admonisheth vs very earnestly in his first Epistle saying Loue not the worlde 1. Ioh. 2. nor the things that are in the world If any man loue the worlde the loue of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world that is to say the concupiscence of the flesh the desire of the eyes the pride of life are not of the Father but of the world The world and the desires thereof passe away but hee that performes the will of God liues for euer euen as God himselfe is eternall Let vs therefore deare brethren attend patiently whatsoeuer God sends with a pure vnderstanding an assured faith and a constant resolution Let vs driue away far from vs the apprehension of death and bee mindfull of the immortality which is to succeed Shew we our selues such as our profession imports not to lament the death of our friēds but our hour being come let vs merrily and chearfully goe to the Lord when hee calles For seeing Gods seruants should bee alwayes prepared to this point they ought most of all to be so now considering how the world declines it being assieged with infinite euils that ouerwhelm it We haue seene and passed many dangers these are but slight euils in respect of those that are to come we may therfore thinke our gaine great in going out of the same so quickly If the wals of thine house shake with age if thy roofe totter if thy hole edifice not being able any longer to stand presage a neer fall and ruine wouldest thou not make more thā ordinary haste to bee gone If thou wert sayling in the main sea and that a furious storme swelling the waues
knowes in what place Death attends him look for him therefore in all places Consider sayd a certain Philosopher whether is most commodious that Death come to vs or we go to Death that we lay hold of him or he of vs. Marke the meaning hereof It is an excellent thing to learne to die but it will bee superfluous mayest thou say seeing we can but once put it in practise Why with the greater reason we should the more carefully vnderstand meditate therupon For we must alwayes studie thereon because till that hower we can make no iust triall of our owne sufficiencie He which exhorts to meditate on Death exhorts to meditate on liberty and he that hath learned to die hath forgotten to bee seruile For this is aboue all other power or at the least out of the power of any other thing whatsoeuer What cares hee for prisons for guardes for yron barres He hath alwaies a gate open There is but one chaine onely which keeps vs bound which is the loue of this life and this must not wholly bee shaken off but extenuated and loosened that when occasion serues nothing may hold or hinder vs. Epist. XXVII BVt aboue all other things we must endeuour that our vices may die before our selues that in like maner wee giue ouer all these vain pleasures the which though they do no great hurt yet they are mutable and soone passe away vertue only is a secure solid perpetual delight if any other thing present it self vnto vs it is but like a fogge or clowd which can neuer obscure the brightnes of the Sunne Epist XXX IT is an excellēt thing my good friend Lucilius and that which should bee well learned long before to depart chearfully from hence whensoeuer this ineuitable hower comes He hath neuer been willing to liue that is vnwilling to die For Life was giuen vs with a condition to die and with such a prouiso we must merily meet Death the which in no wayes wee are to feare considering there is nothing more certain than the same and vsually we looke after certaine things and feare those vncertaine but Death brings an equall and ineuitable necessitie ouer all Now who can complaine for being of such a cōdition as from which no man else is exempted for the first and chiefest point of equity is equalitie and wouldest thou neuer stand in feare of Death why then thinke thereupon continually Epist. XXXII OH what a goodly matter it is to perfect accomplish our life before our deaths Oh when shalt thou see the times when thou mayest know that thou hast nothing to do with Time that thou shalt be quiet and still not carefull for to morrowe and plentifully replenished onely with thy selfe Epist XXXVI A Childe that were borne in Parthia would quickly learne to bend a bowe If it were in Germany euery ladde would throwe a Dart. If in our forefathers dayes he would bee expert in riding of an horse and to charge the enemie These be things which the discipline of each coūtrey enioineth and layeth vpon euery one What then of this Marry hereupō we must consider that against all kinds of darts against al kinds of enemies there is not any thing more properly preualent than to make no reckoning of death which surely no man doubts but that it hath in it some thing terrible that offends our mindes and courages which nature hath compounded and framed with a loue of themselues for otherwise there were no neede of any preparation or fortification of our selues against that whereunto we all did willingly run out of a naturall instinct and desire as wee vse to goe in cases of our preseruation and defence Out of question no man learnes how he should lie if need were vpon a bed of roses but how hee might endure torments rather than to speak any thing against his faith how if necessitie required hee might passe an whole night without sleep being sore wounded how to be wary of leaning so much as against a Pike for feare sleep surprize him not when he thus rests himself But death hath no discommodity in it at all For then ther must needs be somthing in the same thus incommodious For if thou desirest greatly long life thinke that of all things which are hidden from thine eyes and are concealed in nature by whō either they are already or presētly to be brought forth nothing is cleane consumed They finish indeede their time but so they perish not And the death which wee so much feare and flie takes not from vs life but giues it only a truce and intermission for a little time A day will come to bring vs again to that light which many would feare but that they shall be reduced to such a state as wherein they shal not remember whatsoeuer is past But hereafter I will more precisely declare that all this which seemes to perish doth onely but change He should depart willingly that goes to come backe againe Obserue how all things returne in their due season Thou mayest see that in this world there is nothing vtterly extinct but it descends and ascends againe by turnes The summer is it past The next yeere brings it againe The Winter is it done his due moneths will reduce it again Hath the night obscured the sight of the Sunne why the next day will discouer it againe The course of the starres is performed through the same circles which before they passed Alwayes some part of the heauens riseth vp another goes downeward In briefe to conclude I affirme that neither children nor mad men feare death and how base a part would it then bee that reason should not be as able to furnish vs with security as they are fortified by their simplicitie and idiotisme Epist. L. THe swiftnesse of time is incomprehensible and so it appeares principally to those that looke backward to it For it deceiues them that are too intentiue on present things So swift is the passage of so precipitant a flight that which we liue is but as it were a minute nay and lesse if it were possible then a minute and yet notwithstanding as little as it is Nature hath distributed and diuided it as if it were some long space Of this minute she hath allotted part to our Infancie another proportion to Adolescencie the other part to those yeeres which decline from youth tending to old age and to another part old age it selfe Marke but howe many degrees shee hath constituted in so narrow roumes Euen now I pursued it and this very now is a portion of our life of which one day wee shall conceiue the breuitie Somtime I thought not time swift footed but now his violent course seems vnto me incredible wherefore I wonder at those that in this little space employ the greatest part thereof in superfluous things wee must no longer amuse on these matters of nothing we haue a greater businesse in hand Death pursues me Life flies from mee Arme mee
off from them wickednes ill thoughts corrupt counsels couert luxuries and auarice which is alwaies prying into other men Hee guardes them himselfe and keepes them close by him would any body peraduēture require of God to guard their goods and chattels also They discharge God of this labour in making no account of externall things Among others Democritus remooued all his wealth farre off he supposing that it would but bee a burden to a good vnderstanding Imagine therfore that God thus speaketh vnto thee Why complaine yee of mee you that haue delighted in equitie I haue enuironed others with false prosperities occupied their spirits with a long and lying dream I haue outwardly adorned thē with gold siluer Iuory whē as inwardly they are of no value Those which at the first sight seem happy if you but obserue them well not in the place where you meet them but secretly some where else they are sordid base and miserable and are but like their owne walles outwardly painted set forth This is not true and perfect felicitie it is but a rinde or barke and that also but slight and thinne And therefore while they can hold out shew themselues in no place but where they like best they glitter and abuse mens iudgements but if an accident fall out that doth but discouer and display them then we may easily perceiue what deepe villany lies hid vnder adulterate shewes But to you on the contrary I haue giuen certaine goods and those that wil continue The oftner they are turned or beheld on euery side the better and more resplendent they will seeme which is to say lightly to esteem of any thing that is feared and to disdaine that which ordinarily is desired you doe not shine outwardly all your goods stand inward So doth all this world it contemnes external parts being content with the contemplation of it selfe All the wealth thereof is inward Your felicitie is to haue nothing to doe with worldly happinesse A Sermon of Saint CYPRIANS Bishop of Carthage concerning Mortalitie THE ARGVMENT IN this Sermō made for the consolation of such Christians as then were visited with the plague Saint CYPRIAN exhorteth all those that truely loue the Lord chearefully to leaue this earthly life when God calles them away confirming the same by diuers reasons and shewing afterwards that death is a way which the wicked also must goe and hee teacheth euery one how to obserue the difference betwixt the one and the other that is to say the good are called to happie rest and the wicked to eternall punishment THough many amongst you my deare brethren haue your vnderstādings so settled your faith so firme and your soules so eleuated vp to heauen that they are not so much as shaken by seeing the plague on all sides to sweep away so many but like a rock immoueably planted they withstand without bouging the violent stormes of the world breaking the raging waues of this present life in stead of being battered or broken by them finally are not ouerthrowen but only proued by temptations Yet seeing some amōg the people halfe daunted and discouraged either for want of good resolution by reason of their little faith respect of the loue which they beare to this world or through the tendernesse of their sexe or which is worse for want of good instruction so as wee can not see them employ that celestiall force and vigor wherwith their hearts should be armed I could not contain my selfe according to my weake power from suppressing this effeminate cowardize by a preualent discourse taken out of the holy scripture to the end that those which haue begun to feele that God is their Father and Iesus Christ their Sauiour they may doe nothing vnworthy of a Christian or of the true childe of God For most deare brethren he that fights vnder the ensigne of God which inhabiting in the celestiall pauilions aspireth to none but high matters hee must truely knowe himselfe and wee must not in any wise be deiected or astonisht at the torments or tempests of this worlde seeing God hath aduertised vs that these things must come to passe instructing and teaching vs by the exhortation of his louing carefull voice and preparing and fortifying the people of his Church to beare such things as must happen patiently he hauing declared fore-told that the earth should be afflicted in euery quarter by warre famin plagues earth-quakes As also for feare we should fall into despaire through the strangenesse of so many euils at once oppressing vs hee hath divulged before that the afflictions should be far sharper in the later times Seeing whatsoeuer hee foretold is now accomplished let vs conceiue hereby that all his other promises in like manner shall be fulfilled as hee himselfe hath spoken When you see all these things come to passe know that the kingdom of heauen is at hand My dearest brethren this kingdome hath already begun to come vnto vs for the reward of life the ioy of eternall saluation perpetuall blisse the possession of Paradise which were lost by sinne returne vnto vs so soone as wee leaue the world Now when celestiall things succeed the terrestriall great those but little and eternall those transitory and fraile Is ther then any occasion to be in griefe and anguish of minde and who is that affrighted and daunted man but he that is destitute of Faith hope In effect it only belongs to him to feare death that would not go vnto Christ and he refuseth to goe vnto Christ which beleeueth not that then hee begins to raigne with Christ It is written Abac 2. Rom. 1. The iust man liues by faith If thou beest iust and liuest by faith firmely beleeuing in God why art thou not forward to go to Christ who calles thee Why doest thou not imbrace Gods promises Why reioycest thou not to be deliuered from the power of the wicked Simeon the iust which in true faith yeelded himselfe to Gods obedience knowing by reuelatiō that he should not die before hee had seene Christ and the little Infant called Iesus being come into the Temple with his Mother hee knew then that Christ was born whom hauing seene hee knew that the ende of his life approached wherfore reioycing in his death so neere at hand and being assured that God would presently call him hee tooke the Infant in his armes praising God hee cried out and said Lord thou sufferest now thy seruant to depart in peace according to thy Word for mine eyes haue seen thy saluation By this hee did declare and make euident that Gods seruants are in peace and enioy a free and quiet repose when wee are drawen from the violent waues of this world and that we enter into the Port of eternall securitie and safety when after the defacement of this present life we attaine to most glorious immortality For this is our repose our assured peace our firme and perdurable security and in this
aside of imperfections and putting on of that grace which is imparted to all the faithfull which bear the mortification of our Lord Iesus in their soule and bodie Now this mortification consists in the remission of sinnes in the wiping away of offences in the obliuion of error and in the participation of mercie what can we say further of the benefit of death except wee should also once more adde that the world was thereby redeemed CHAP. 5. BVt I pray you let vs deliuer somwhat of the death which is common to all Why should we feare it seeing it procures no hurt or preiudice vnto the soule For it is written Feare not them which kill the bodie and cannot kill the soule Now by the meanes of this death the soule is deliuered being separated from the bodie and disintangled from these troublesome snares For which cause while we are in this body let vs prepare our selues for death let vs rayse our soules aboue the bedde of our flesh and to speake aptly let vs rise out of this sepulchre let vs retire from the coniunction of the bodie let vs leaue all earthly things to the ende that the aduersary cōming hee may find nothing that belōgs to him in vs. Let vs cheerfully march towards this eternal happinesse let vs mount vp with the flight of loue charity soare vp from hence which is to say from these fraile and worldly things hearing this exhortation frō the Lord Rise vp depart from hence minding that euery one should leaue the earth reforme his soule which hangs backward lift it vp to heauen rouse vp his Eagle-flight that hee may enioy the benefit of this promise Psal 103. Thy youth shall be renewed as that of the Eagle this was spoken to the soule Let our soules therfore soare vp aloft like the Eagle for she flies aboue the cloudes she glitters shines again by the renouation of her plumes she raises her flight euen vp to the skies where she cannot be intrapped by any snare for the bird which descends frō aloft downeward is often-times takē with the whistle and snare or by some other subtil deuise And so let our soules also take heed of descending downe vpon the earth There is a snare in gold and siluer is limed there be nets in possessions and prickes in the pleasures of this world In running after golde the snare layes holde on our neckes in seeking after siluer wee are taken in the lime and setting downe our feete in possessiōs the nets catch vs. Why contend wee after that gaine which serues for nothing but to ruine the soule that is so precious All the world is nothing in cōparison of the losse of one soule for what benefites it a man Luk. 10. to haue wonne all the world lost his his owne soule What wilt thou giue in exchāge of thy soule It cānot be redeemed neither by gold nor siluer and yet it is golde that makes it to perish Adulteries wrath choler and all other passions are so many spikes which are fastened in our soules and that pearce our very bowels and intrailes Let vs therefore shun these euils raise vp our soules to the image and similitude of God To flie sinne is a resemblance vnto God whose image similitude is purchased by pietie and righteousnes CHAP. 6. That all the world is full of ginnes and snares THere be Principallities of the ayre Powers of the world that labour to throwe vs downe headlong from the rāpire of the soule either they hinder vs frō marching vpright or seeke the meanes to ouerthrowe vs if we flie a little aloft beating vs downe againe to the earth but euen then let vs striue the more to mount vp our soules to heauē hauing the word of God for our guide These Principalities do blowe into thy eyes the vanities of the world to make thee stumble but oh faithfull soule the more zealouslie guide thy steps towards Iesus Christ If they solicite thee by the auarice of gold siluer or of possessiōs for the purchase of which thing they would haue thee excuse thy selfe from his banquer that inuites thee to the marriage of his Sonne which is his eternall worde take heede of making any excuse but contrariwise put on thy marriage garment bee at the banquet of this rich man for feare if thou deferrest and intanglest thy selfe in the affaires of this worlde hee call others and shut thee out of doores The powers of the world propounde also vnto thee the desire of honour that thou mightst grow proud like Adam and so comparing and equalling thy selfe to God thou mayest contemne his commaundements and begin to lose the true riches which thou didst enioy for he which hath not shal lose euē that which he hath How oftē in our praiers wherin we drawe neeter vnto God than by any other meane are our thoughts seized vpon by wicked and vile cogitations to the ende to hinder our affections from striuing to God-ward How often doth carnall concupiscence lay hold of vs How often are wee encountred with wanton eyes to assault a modest heart to pearce it suddenly with the dart of wicked desires How often are bad words fixed in thy wil and secret thoughts of no value against the which God speaks Take heed of harboring in thine heart wicked thoughts lest the Lord say vnto thee Why thinkest thou euill in thine hart or else when thou hast heaped together gold siluer and riches enough thou mayest say vnto me my vertue Deu. 8.13 and wisedom hath purchased this and so thou forget the Lorde thy God Behold the obstacles which that soule meets withal that bends her flight vp to heauen But for thee louing brother fight like a good souldier of Iesus Christ forgetting base matters and contemning earthly things aspire to those celestiall and eternal raise vp thy soule that it bee not allured with the baite of the snare The pleasures of this worlde are baits and which is worse they are the baites of sinne and temptations In seeking after delights thou lightest on the ginne for the eye of lust is the snare which entrappes him that treadeth on the same as also her wordes are another snare which for a time taste as sweet as honie but when sinne comes to be feelingly prickt in a vanquished Conscience then is it but gall and sharp bitternes Other mens goods alluring the eye are likewise a ginne ther be no paths throughout the whole course of our life which are not layde all ouer with thē And therfore righteous Dauid sayd they haue layed snares for me Psal 142. in my waies but see that thou follow the way which sayth I am the way Iohn 14. the truth and the life to the end that thou mayest affirme I restore my soule and shee conducts me by the paths of righteousnes for the loue of his name Let the world therefore bee dead vnto our eyes let vs die to the wisedome
to taste in liuing vnder thy protection Thou art admirable graciously good in time of affliction in that by such meanes thou healest our spirituall maladies and visiting vs thus in this world thou framest vs to meditate on a better life thou thy selfe hauing shewed vs a liuely example thereof It is true that I finde it hard to digest but thou wert brought to another maner of conditiō when to redeeme mee from hell thou didst descend thither and for the reconciling mee to thy heauenly Father diddest vnder-goe his curse By reason of my sinnes I haue so many times deserued hell and euerlasting fire and thou deliueredst mee I being secure that I haue a part in thy merit and obedience and that I am one of thy coheires to reigne one day with thee in thy kingdome and euen at this present in the middest of all afflictions to be seated neuerthelesse in heauenly places Hauing therefore my part in so many felicities why should I grudge to suffer a little time by meanes whereof thou meanest to awake improoue and drawe me neerer to thee But seeing thou knowest me better than I know my selfe if thou pleasest to make some triall of me grant me necessary power and patience to glorifie thee conuerting all the euill which may occurre vnto mee to my good and saluation And if in graciously supporting my debilitie thy benignitie doe vouchsafe to aduertise mee by some light affliction effect that this thy clemencie may drawe mee more and more to loue and honour thee to giue thee thanks for the care thou hast of thy poore humble seruant and by this meanes dispose me to attend and expect thee in death that after the same I may finde that life which I obtained by thy death and there bee made partaker with thee of perpetuall ioy and rest for euermore Amen Another O Lord God heauenly Father whē I consider howe many wayes I haue offended before thy presence and high Maiestie I abhorre my selfe in thinking howe many times I haue forsaken thee my fauorable and gentle Father I detest my ingratitude when I see into what seruitude of sinne I haue too often throwen my selfe headlong downe selling as farre as in mee lay the precious libertie which thy Sonne purchased for mee I condemne my folly I absolutely discouer my selfe I see nothing but death and malediction hang ouer my head my conscience rising vp against mee for a iudge and testimonie of mine iniquities But when I behold on the other side thy infinite mercie which surmounteth al thy other works and wherein if I may dare so to speake thou exceedest thy selfe my soule is then somewhat comforted And indeed why should I doubt to find grace in his sight that so often and gentlie calleth and summoneth sinners to repentance expresly protesting that hee desireth not the death of a sinner but that hee should bee conuerted and liue Moreouer thy onely Sonne hath so assured vs that wee shall finde grace in thy presence by the goodly parables which he himselfe propounded as of the mite of the lost sheepe and of the prodigall childe whose liuely image I acknowledge to be in my selfe as I should bee ingrate incredulous and verie wicked to recoyle and bee ashamed of thy presence though I be neuer so miserable seeing that thou puttest foorth thine hand with so mercifull an affection to drawe me to thee O louing Father I haue faintly forsaken thee I haue scattered thy graces most vnhappily in cleauing to the desires of my flesh and swaruing frō thy obedience I haue entangled my selfe in the base seruitude of sinne I am fallen into extreame miserie I knowe not whither to retire but to thee whom I haue forsaken Let thy mercie receiue thy poore suppliaunt whom during his error thou didst support I am vnworthy to lift vp mine eyes to thee or to call thee Father but I humbly beseech thee abase thine eyes to looke downe vpon me seeing thy pleasure is so and that otherwise I must needs fall into the power of thine enemies The regard of thy countenaunce will quicken and leade mee towards thee I already feele some effect therof seeing in some sort I plainly discouer my selfe I knowe thou doest beholde mee thou gauest me eyes to discerne the daungers wherein I stood thou diddest seek and finde mee out in the worlde and death and out of thy mercie hast graunted my desire to enter into thine house I dare not require that thou shouldest imbrace or kisse me or that thou shouldest weep for ioy in hauing found out thy poore seruant and slaue I look not for those precious ornaments wherwith thou honorest thy greatest seruaunts and best affected children it sufficeth mee to be in the troupe of the least in thine house amongst the greatest sinners that haue obtained pardon of thee and that are vouchsafed some retiring place in thy heauenly palace where ther are so many seuerall habitations And that euen in thy house I may be as the least that pleaseth thee so thou doe but auow mee thine owne for euer O mercifull Father I beseech thee for the loue of thy best beloued Sonne my onely Sauiour to vouchsafe mee thy holy Spirit for the cleansing of my heart and strengthening of mee after such a sort that I may alwayes remaine in thine house there to serue thee in righeousnesse and holinesse all the dayes of my life Amen Another WHat doe wee in this worlde but heape sinne vpon sinne So as the present day is euer somewhat worse than the day before and we neuer cease to draw vpon vs thy wrath and indignation But when wee shall be out of this worlde in thine inheritance wee shall bee wholly assured of perfect and eternall felicitie the miseries of the bodie being layd apart and the vices and contaminatiōs of the soule quight annihilated O heauenly Father encrease in vs thy faith that wee may cast no doubt of things so infallible Imprint thy grace and loue in our heartes for the raising vp fortifying of vs in thy fear And because thou hast seated vs in this worlde there to remaine so long as pleaseth thee without manifesting vnto vs the day of our departure which is only knowen to thy selfe I beseech thee take mee from hence when thou seest the fit time come and then to vouchsafe mee this fauour that I may willingly acknowledge the same and in the meane while that I may dispose of my selfe as thou hast ordained in thy most holy word Amen Another THis bodie is the soules prison and a prison that is obscure close and vncomfortable Wee are as banished men in this world and our life is but griefe and miserie But contrariwise O Lord it is in thy heauenly kingdome where we shall finde our libertie our naturall countrey and most perfect contentment Rowse vp our soules by thy Worde to the remembraunce and apprehension of such a good engraue in our hearts the desire of goods eternall and which onely are to bee sought after affoord our consciences some taste of this ioye wherewith the blessed in heauen are fully replenished that I may esteeme that which worldlings account so beautifull and so earnestly couet retaining the same with obstinate auarice and euen adoring it with such mad frenzie but filth and dyrte And procure that I feeling no taste but in thy veritie and grace calling continually vpon thy Name I may attend the day of my true deliuerance by IESVS CHRIST thy Sonne to whome with thee and the holie Ghost bee ascribed eternall glorie and prayse Amen Another LOrde IESVS the onely sauing health of the liuing and the eternall life of those that die I wholly submitte my selfe to thy will whether it shall please thee yet a little while to suffer this soule in my bodie to serue thee or that thou mindest to take it out of this prison I being assured whatsoeuer thou wilt preserue can not perish I am content with a very good heart that my bodie should returne to the earth out of which it was taken beleeuing in the last resurrection which shall make it immortall incorruptible and full of glorie I humbly beseech thee to strengthen my soule against all temptations couer me with the buckler of thy mercie to holde out Sathans dartes As for mee I am but weaknesse it selfe but yet I will relie on thy goodnesse and power I can alleadge nothing good before thee wherin to glorie but contrariwise alas my sins in infinite number accuse and torment mee but yet doe thy merits assure mee that I shall bee saued For I holde this for most certaine that thou wert borne for me that thou wert tempted and wert obedient to GOD the Father and that thou hast bought and purchased eternall life for mee Seeing therefore thou hast bestowed thy selfe on mee with all other thy benefites suffer not such a donation to prooue voide and vnprofitable Let thy blood wipe away the corruption of my offences and thy righteousnesse couer mine iniquities Let thy merites procure me grace and fauour before thy heauenly throne If my sinnes encrease augment thou also in mee thy grace that neither Faith Hope nor Charitie may growe dead but bee corroborated in mee that the apprehension of Death discourage mee not but euen when this my bodie shall bee as it were cleane dead cause the eyes of my soule to looke vp vnto heauen and let my heart then feruentlly crie out to thee and say O Lord I commend my soule into thy handes accomplish thine owne worke for thou diddest redeeme mee I am thine by thy Fathers gift to whome with thee and the holy Spirit bee giuen all glorie and prayse Amen FINIS AT LONDON Imprinted by H. L for Mathew Lownes and are to bee sold at his shoppe in Pauls Church-yarde at the signe of the Bishops head 1607.