receive my Death and think 't is time for me to die if thou doest because Life now is grown very uneasie to me and every day brings much more evil than good and is more my Burden than my Blessing I receive it from thee O! Lord as my passage to a better Life and am not only willing but thankful to change Weariness for Rest and Earthly Sorrows for Heavenly and Everlasting Joys Amen If the Dying persons have lived ill and loosly they have Reason indeed if God please to desire to live longer that they may learn to live better and may be more perfect before they Die Yea and even good persons do many times desire the same since the best may mend and still grow better But let such good Souls think with themselves that if they should live longer yet living on in the same frail Natures peradventure more days would still heap up more Frailties and Infirmities to make them still more afraid of Death and they would be more imperfect and less fit to die then than they are now So that 't is best to let God chuse for them and be willing to Die when he pleases If he would not leave the ordering and Expences of his Funeral to the Discretion of his Friends but is minded to give Directions about the â—â—me himself let him declare where he desires they should lay his Body and who should be desired to accompany it and who to bear it to his Grave and what Tokens of kind Remembrance shall be given to any of them And if he see fit he may order some of the smaller Gifts and Memorials of kindness which I mentionâ—d before at the making of his Will to be given at that time In proportioning the Expences thereof he should have regard to the Estate which he has to leave and to his Rank and Station in the World And in laying cut the same he will most comfort and benefit himself by such ways of expence as best Honour God and profit others such as satisfying the Hungry with Doles and cloathing the Needy with Garments and sending Gifts in Money more or less as he pleases and as suits with his Worldly Circumstances to his own or other adjacent Parishes to be distributed among the â—oor thereof or in such other Acts of Piety and Beneficence as are fit to attend the Body of one who both living in the World and leaving it was studious to be found doing good And when he is near about to leave the World he may take a pious and solemn leave of it Let him call in his Parents if he has any to ask their pardon for any offence he ever gave them and to beg their Blessing and give them his Thanks for all their Love and Care of him And also his Children to give them his Blessing and charge them to keep upright and constant in Gods Fear and in loving and helping one another And likewise his Friends and Family and Dependants to receive his last Farewell Let him profess the great need he has of God's Mercy and the good hopes he has through the Merits of Christ and through his alone to find it Let him profess also that he Dies in the Faith of Christ and repeat the Creed And that he hopes for the acceptance of his Faith and Repentâ—nce in the Unity and Communion of Christs Church in which he Dies and particularly as a stedfast and sincere though unworthy Member of the Church c. whose declared Belief he professes whose way of Worship he heartily receives and in whose Peace and Communion he has hitherto lived and now dies Then let him profess that he takes leave of the World in peace And forgives all both present and absent as he desires himself God would forgive him And that if any have ever taken any thing ill of him he desires they would forgive him After which let him send Messages to any absent Friends whose Reformation he desires whose Peace he seeks or whose Love or Favors he would express either a just thankfulness or a friendly sense of And as for themselves let him thank them all for all their good Wishes and good Services in his Life and at his Death and pray God to remember the same for their Benefit And let him heartily beg their pardon for all the Unreasonable or passionate or unequal usage which he had ever been guilty of towards any of them in his Health for all the unnecessary trouble which he has given to any of them by his weakness but especially for all the provocation and offence which he has given to any of them by his fretfulness and impatience during the time of his sickness And then let him charge all about him to keep constant in the Faith and firm in the Unity of the Church and endeavour to confirm them in the ways of Piety Sobriety Justice Charity and to warn them against falling from any of them for any Intrests or Injoyments of this World or if at any time they do against delaying Repentance or growing hardened and secure under their Fall Then let him exhort them all to keep Peace among themselves especially those who are concerned in the Division of his Estate And desire all their prayers to assist him in his Agonies And so recommend them all to God's Mercy praying that he will keep them all stedfast in his fear and safe under his care whilst they live and give them all comfort when they come into his condition and bring them all at last to meet together again in his Heavenly Kingdom After this he may tell those Friends who attend more about him that in his departure he desires he may have no disturbance to lengthen out his Pains and molest his Passage And therefore if any of them think they cannot contain themselves and govern their Grief nor see him Die without bursting into passionate Out-crys and noisie disturbance to call back his retiring Spirit let him beg them to withdraw when his Death approaches and pray for him and vent their own grief by themselves But if any of them can stand by and accompany him in silence if they happen then to be about him he may desire that they would stay to assist him with their Prayers in his last Agonies and recommend his departing Soul to God at his last Breath After he hath taken such Religious and solemn leave of all his Friends he has nothing left to do but whilst his strength serves to employ his Spirit in Holy Thoughts and Desires as he did before and devoutly and willingly wait God's time for his change And under this expectation let him often say My Flesh and my Heart faileth but thou art the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Ps. 73 26. Lord strengthen me in my last Agonies and guard me from all Frights and Molestations of the Enemy Amen I have a good Master for Jesus that most Blessed of all Names is my Master and
I will neither be afraid nor unwilling to go to him For whom have I in Heaven Lord but thee And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Ps. 73. 25. I desire to be Dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. Sweet Jesu come quickly Amen Rev. 22. 20. Yea as the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks so panteth my Soul after thee O! God My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God Ps. 42. 1 2. Lord I come to thee receive me out of thine abundant Mercy I come to thee and him who cometh unto thee thou wilt in no wise cast out Jo. 6. 37. Lord Jesu receive my Spirit Amen Acts 7. 59. Receive me according to thy word and I shall live and shall not be disappointed of my hope Because I live ye shall live allso Amen Jo. 14. 19. Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find watching Luc 12. 37. All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come Job 14. 14. O! Father pity me as a Father Pityeth his Children and receive me for whom thou hast laboured and hast made me what I am O! Jesu Saviour of Sinners save me whom thou hast Redeemed with thy Blood which is too dear a price to be thrown away in a lost Purchase O! Holy Ghost the Sanctifier and Comforter now finish in me thine own work and comfort up my fainting Spirit O! Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity I have humbly served and feared thee tho' in much Frailty all my Life receive and comfort me now at my Death Amen CHAP. VI. Of Care and Treatment of the Dead AS soon as the Dying Person has breathed his last his surviving Friends especially they whom he has intrusted with the care and Disposal of his Body must be very careful to Dress and treat it Decently till it be Decently interr'd Let it not lye too open to the Inquiries of the Curious nor let any thing of it be exposed which the Person if alive would blush at If he gave Orders for his own Funeral those Orders are a Trust which are Religiously to be observed But if he has left it to them they must Order the same with as Prudent a Regard to his circumstances and worldly Estate and with as much Decency and wise expression of Love and Respect to him as they can And lay out what is fit in Dressing out the Body and interring it in shewing Respect and Kindness where he bore them or where he ought them and in Doles and Deeds of Charity to the Poor and Needy In these layings out they should not spend more than is meet nor lavish any thing away vainly or imprudently And on the other Hand they need not Scruple some well chosen instances of expence which are rather Honorary than useful if there be Estate enough to bear them and good Reason for them and Moderation and Discretion shown in them For tho' this cost doth the Poor no Good as Judas once objected yet it expresses their Love and Respect to the Dead and such expressions of esteem and kindness to them who have Greatly deserved it and can now make no more Returns of it are Religious and well approved of both by God and Men. Our Blessed Lord himself very kindly receiving the cost of the Rich Oyntment which Mary Lazarurus's Sister poured upon his Head because she did it for his Burial At the Funeral when a Refection is brought according to the Custom of the Place to the Friendly Attendants of the Body before it is carried forth to relieve their waiting or their weariness let it be Dealt among them with Great Moderation Remembring that these Guests come not to gratifie and please their Palates but to bear their Part in a Scene of Grief and attend as Mourners And let all who meet there Remember that they are come to mourn with those that mourn and bear a part with the afflicted and be careful to shew themselves sensibly and seriously affected with their own or the surviving Relations Loss according as there is just cause however with the loud Warning and Alarm to themselves which is in these Providences Let them not talk lightly or Pleasantly nor fall into Discourses of News or Markettings or of other Worldly business For these neither suit with the Friendly Sadness nor with the Religious Seriousness of that occasion and shew them to be little touched either with their Friends Death or with Thoughts and Expectations of their own But instead thereof let them study each to employ themselves and entertain their Company with Thoughts and Discourses about the Vanity and uncertainty of all earthly Things about the Sorrows and benefits of Sickness about the Troublesomeness and Shortness of Life the certainty that we shall all Dye and the uncertainty of the Time when and the Suddenness many Times of these Changes and the Great need we all have constantly to expect and prepare for them and about the Hopes and Blessedness there is in Dying well and the Happiness of that State where we shall Dye no more nor ever have the Loss of any Dear Friends to Mourn for They may also Discourse of their Deceased Friends especially when they have things to say of them to their Advantage As how their Patience was tryed and approved in their Sickness how good God was to them and how Submissive and Devout they were towards him what Good words they said or Good works they did or Comfort and Support they found or any thing else belonging to them either Living or Dying for which they are fit to live in our Memory and be examples for our instruction or imitation And when they come thus to take up Good and Heavenly Thoughts and to infuse them into one another they will do Great Good to themselves as well as Honour to their Friend by paying him this last Office and all return better than they came from the House of Mourning When the Relations and Friends mourn and shew Decent sorrow for the Deceased as 't is fit they should to shew they expect to find a want of them or to express their Love and value for them as Jesus wept at Lazarus's Grave to show how he loved him they must be careful to Do it moderately and Christianly And Grieve for him like men who know that God has taken him and who have hope and comfort in Death and after it and believe when a Pious Friend Dyes that the living only have lost but that the Deceased has got by Dying But they must not repine against God who has taken their Friend away nor mistrust his Care to provide for them now their Friend is gone nor grow out of Humour or unthankful for all his other Mercies because they are deprived of this nor let their Grief be excessive or obstinate and refuse to be comforted as they who have no Hope Particularly let
us to them and Naturally imprints the same And it is our truest wisdom to entertain them in our Sickness For if we dye we shall all judge it was the best way we had to employ our thoughts and that of all things Death should not be met unthought of And they render us fitter to Live if God spare us They make Death Safer but do not hasten or bring it sooner and are no hindrance to our Living longer but a great help if we recover to our Living better In this Preparation to leave the World the Sick Persons first care is to seperate himself from worldly cares and incumbrances of Business Let him look upon himself as one call'd off from the conduct of these matters to the giving a strict account of â—â—â—m And who has work enough cut out for his thoughts and prepare to take a decent leave of this World and to trim up his Lamp and 〈◊〉 his Soul for a better His business now is how to meet Death with most safety and comfort to himself if he dyes as for ought he knows he may dye of this Sickness and to commit no Errors therein because he is to dye but once and cannot afterwards amend them The work and worldly Cares of Life are to be left to those who think of living but how to dye is the Business that lyes before him To cast off these worldly Cares 't is fit he first settle them And that is by setting his House in order and making his â—ill This methinks should be done with great consideration and Men are wanting in that Prudence and Care which they usually shew in their affairs thro all their Lives if this is left to be clapt up in haste at their Deaths When they dispose of a little parcel of Land or of a moderate sum of money they consider well of it before they part with it And if they are thus considerate when they dispose of any single Branch of their Estate must that be left to be the only hasty and unconsidered act when they are to dispose of all When a Person has his Worldly Estate to give away it will take much thought to do it like a wise Man and a good Christian. To consider what Portions are fit to be given to Dependants as Recompence of Diligence and good Services What to Benefactors as respectful tokens of Gratitude for Favours and obligations What to particular Friends and acquaintance as Memorials of Love and Dearness What among Kindred in Declaration of natural Affection for their nearness their deserts or their wants And what to himself for so I more especially call that which is given to Religious or Pious uses since these works follow him and these layings out go along with him to be recompenced and repaid in a better place Such as are all gifts of Restitution when he had wrong'd or defrauded any Persons of equitable compensation where he has taken too great advantage of other Peoples wants or weakness and been too hard upon them and made too great advantage of them in Bargaining or Dealing of Charity or Piety in Gifts or Settlements on the Poor and Needy or for the encouragement and promotion of piety To settle Accounts in Dealing what he ows or what is owing unto him what he has in his hands in trust for others and what he has left in their hands or in trust with them For this disposal he must remember is the Farewel he takes of all the World And when he is parting with Kindred and Relations Friends and Benefactors Servants and Dependants Chapmen and Customers Poor and Rich Sacred and Secular Persons a Wise and Good Man who has carryed it well towards them all his Life should think of continuing to do the same and supplying of former Defects at his Death and study to take a fair and Friendly and decent leave of all Especially to carry it as becomes him towards God and in this great disposal of all his Goods to look at him the Soveraign Donor of them And to do all this with discretion and to a Man's satisfaction will require consideration And therefore is like to be best dispatch'd whilst the Person hath both Ability and Leisure for it And accordingly is always most providently and is like to be most perfectly settled in time of Health However in the beginnings of Sickness e're Nature is weak and Time is short or a Disease is come to Extremities When all his Worldly cares and concerns are thus settled and laid aside having taken this leave of the World he may give himself up to the Will and good Pleasure of Almighty God to dispose of him either in Life or Death and make his Sickness end either in Health or Heaven as he sees will make most for the Sick-mans good and for his own Glory If the Physitians are called in to take care of his Body 't is fit he receive their advice with meekness and thankfulness and willingly follow and submit himself to their wholesome and Reasonable Directions A Prudent and Compassionate Physitian will be tenderly and conscientiously careful of his ease so far as that is consistent with the Care of his Health Especially he will consider well how he proposes and much more how he presses any Medicine which the Patient has an Antipathy against and which is found greatly to disorder him tho' it generally relieve others And when he sends for him he must put his Body into his Hands under God and willingly take such Medicines and submit to such Rules and Restraints as he Judges needful for his Safety or for the Recovery of his Health and not order and tell his Physitian what he shall prescribe to him nor weary him out with importunities to let him have what he himself fancies tho' the other thinks it would be to his prejudice And these prescriptions of the Physitian he must use with looking up to God in the first place for the good effect of all Medicines and without fretfulness and accusations of the means and methods if by the pleasure of God the Disease increase and grow more troublesom in spight of all Remedies and without being too eagerly desirous of Life or ease unless God please thanking his Physitian for the ease which he studies but at the same time submitting to God for the Pains which he sends And let him still remember to make fervent Prayers one ingredient in all his Medicines considering that since it is God who works cures Prayers are as necessary thereto as any thing else He must not like Asa set God a side when he seeks to the Physitians but expect all the Cure from Gods blessing and when it comes give him the chief Honour and Praise for the same and acknowledge that the Prayers of pious Friends have been among the powerfullest of his Medicines If it be thought needful or profitable for the body some times at intervals especially in slow and languishing diseases to divert his spirits
at the fittest time and sends troubles when they have most need of them and takes them off again when t is fittest to remove them If it causes present Sorrow and Smart it is to do them good and if they do not see how it should turn to their good yet thou doest and wilt make them see it too in the end Our Wills O! Father are too often guided by Folly but thine is always and altogether wise and has ever been most gracious and full of mercy towards me Thou knowest best O! Lord when it was fit for me to come into this World and when it is fit for me to leave it and what part is fittest for me to bear whilst I stay therein O! do thou appoint me how or in what condition I shall live and how long but withall help me to do thy work whilst I live Chuse thou my condition and let my Lot be what may please thee but then give me Grace faithfully and wisely to discharge the duties of that condition and let my carriage under it be such as may please thee too Amen Lord I am not only contented but glad to be at thy choice I pray thee that I may always be what thou pleasest and that I my self may always be pleased with it I desire also O! Father what seems good and pleasing unto me Yea when my pains and Distresses are extream I desire it earnestly But when I desire it I do not prescribe unto thee but beg that thou wouldst order therein not what my weakness wishes unless thy wisdom also sees it fitting And I know O! Lord that thou art ready to grant my desires if they be really for my good and thy Glory and agree with the wise ends of thy Providence and I press them no longer if thou seest they are otherwise Amen It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 1 Sam. 3. 18. If it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt And if it may not pass from me except I drink it thy will be done Mat. 26. 39 42. Even in inflicting evil upon me thou art kind still and art doing me good against my will Amen Thirdly he must set himself to bear his sick bed Sorrows with Thankfulness We must not think it strange or that things are strained too high when we are called upon to be thankful under Sickness or other Afflictions For the difference between thankful and unthankful or complaining Natures lyes more in their Spirits than in their outward circumstances A thanful Spirit will find enough to give God thanks for on a Sick-bed or in any affliction And an unthankful Spirit will never want matter enough to complain of in a better condition And if any afflicted or Sick persons are unthankful it is not because they want Mercy 's good store which deserve their thanks but because they overlook them This Virtue of thankfulness to God as it is one of the most necessary Duty 's so is it one of the liveliest Beauties and brightest ornaments of a Sick-bed For it speaks true Humility when we shew as we do thereby that the least Mercy 's deserve our thanks and that the worst States which God puts us into are too good for us And it expresses intire good will and Love to God when we can love and praise him even whilst he corrects and smites us and take notice of all his Kindnesses in the midst of our afflictions and place an Implicit belief and confidence in his Love that by all these Sorrows he is doing us good and deserves our thanks tho' in our weak reason we are not able to see the good which is to accrue to us thereby And to preserve in himself this excellent virtue of thankfulness to God let the Sick person set himself thro all the course and contingencies of his Sickness Diligently to mark and seek out what may deserve his thanks and not as is too often done what may minister to complaints Let him pick out of every thing and out of every accident that befalls him what he may speak well of God for and let those be the things which he reflects on within himself and discourses of to others And under any pain or weakness let him often say Lord under all my Sorrows I have nothing to accuse but much to give thee thanks for I suffer less yea infinitely less than I deserve Blessed be thy mercy for spareing me Amen My Sufferings O! Lord are not only Justly deserved but they are needful also to do me good and such as thou wilt turn to good Blessed by thy name for seeking and compassing my benefit thereby Amen And when my Ailments come they want many aggravations which would make them a great deal worse to be born And are attended with many seasonable helps and comforts to ease and strengthen my Spirit under them My evils are tolerable evils Blessed be thy Pity and Tenderness for considering not what I should Suffer but what I can bear to suffer Amen Sometimes O! Lord by thy Grace I have ease and relish worldly comforts Sometimes I take sweet sleep and rest from my Pains and Labours and awake with great refreshment And under all my pains and weakness by thy mercy I have some to Help me and more to Pity and Pray for me I find support and thou still seasonably refreshest my Spirit from within or from without Blessed be thy name for these Helps and Comforts under my Distress Amen Thou often Moderatest and mitigatest my pains and then tho' they are a long trouble they are a tolerable one Or if one Symptom rages that is sometimes made a step to the ease or to the Prevention of a worse Or if it is smart it is not lasting but in waiting a little longer for thee I still have ease in thy due Time Blessed be thy Goodness O Father which is pleased thus to make my Bed in my Sickness Amen And however if I have less ease and more sorrows now at present yet O! my God I have the Blessed Hopes of Rest and Joy to come And I can never Bless thee enough for the Comforts of Hope that after a Patient and Short endurance of my Portion of Evil things here I shall be taken to the everlasting Happiness of thy Heavenly Kingdom Amen Moreover O! Lord I receive my Bodily Sorrows as Medicines to my Soul to cure my Spirit and call me back to thee when I have gone astray I Bless thee for all the lowly thoughts they give me of my self and for all the discovery which I make of my own Errors thereby Amen And for all the Prostration both of mind and body which they put me upon showing towards thee and for all the dependance which I learn thence to place on thy mercy Amen And for their taking off my Fondness from all earthly delights and making me Cease to be in love with Vanity Amen And for their
be converted and your Sins shall be Blotted out Acts 3. 19. For if we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1. 9. And whosoe confesseth and forsaketh his Sins shall find mercy Prov 28. 13. And if ye forgive Men their Trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you your Trespasses Matt. 6. 14. And break off thine iniquities by giving to the Poor Dan. 4. 27. For by mercy and truth iniquity is purged Prov. 16. 6. And Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment James 2. 13. And having these Promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Above all taking the shield of faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Eph. 6. 16. Putting on the breast-plate of Faith and Love and for an helmet the Hope of Salvation 1 Thess. 5. 8. And trust in the Lord and he shall save thee And know that the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God which keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him and keep his Commandments to a thousand Generations Deut. 7. 9. His promises are all yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. His word is tryed and he is a Buckler to all them that trust in him 2 Sam. 22. 31. Glory be to the Father c. IV. With Thankfulness SHall we receive good at the Hand of God and shall we not receive evil Job 2. 10. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. Job 1. 21. It is the Lord's mercy that we are not suddenly consumed Lam. 3. 22. Yea and it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Law Ps. 119. 71. And thou out of very faithfulness hath caused me to be troubled Ps. 119. 75. For because the wicked have no changes therefore they fear not God Ps. 55. 19. Blessed therefore is the man whom thou chastenest O! Lord and teachest him out of thy Law That thou mayest give him rest in the Days of Adversity Ps. 94. 12 13. Glory be to the Father c. V. With Patience 1. Patience towards God in Submission and Resignation of our Selves to his Holy Will WOE be to the man that hath lost Patience for what will he do when the Lord shall visit him Ecclus. 2. 15. Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time 1 Pet. 5. 6. For our Fathers after the flesh corrected us and we gave them Reverence and shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits Heb. 12. 9. Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Mat. 6. 10. Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt Mat. 26. 39. Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil Job 2. 10. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 1 Sam. 3. 18. And if he thus say I have no delight in thee Behold Here am I let him do to me as seemeth good to him 2 Sam. 15. 26. And in maintaining this Patience and Resignedness opposite 1. To Striving and Reluctance and Rising up against God Why dost thou strive against him for he giveth no account of his matters Job 33. 13. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker Let the Potsherd strive with the Potsherds of the Earth Shall the clay say unto him that fashioneth it what makest thou Is. 45. 9. Submit your selves therefore to God And humble your selves in his sight and he shall lift you up Jam. 4. 7. 10. For if their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then will I remember my Covenant Lev. 26. 41 42. 2. To Unquietness and Tumultuousness and Disturbedness of Spirit Why art thou disquieted within me O! my Soul Ps. 42. 11. It is good that a man should quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. Lam. 3. 26. In your Patience therefore possess ye your Souls Luk. 21. 19. And whatsoever is brought upon thee take chearfully and be patient when thou art changed to a low Estate For Gold is tryed in the fire and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity Ecclus. 2. 4 5. 3. To Weariness and Faintness and Dejection Thou hast born and had patience and hast laboured and not fainted Rev. 2. 3. And my Son despise not the chastening of the Lord neither be weary of his correction Prov. 3. 11. If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small Prov. 24. 10. And consider Iesus who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds Heb. 12. 3. For in due season we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6. 9. Ye that fear the Lord therefore believe him and your reward shall not fail Believe in him and he will help thee But woe be to fearful hearts and faint hands and the sinner that goeth two ways Woe unto him that is faint-hearted for he believeth not therefore shall he not be defended Ecclus. 2. 6 7 12 13. Why art thou cast down then O! my Soul Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Ps. 42. 11. When I am weak then am I strong 2 Cor. 12. 1â— And tho the outward man perish yet the inner man is renewed day by day Whilst we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen For the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal 2 Cor. 4. 16. 18. Let thy mercy O! Lord be upon me according as I hope in thee Psal. 33. 22. 4. Opposite to Hastiness as it notes Perseverance in waiting We give thanks remembring your Patience of hope 1 Thess. 1 2 3. And I wait for the Lord my Soul doth wait and in his word do I hope Ps. 130. 5. On thee do I wait all the day Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord Ps. 25. 5. 15. I will hope continually and will yet praise thee more and more Ps. 71. 14. Ye have need of Patience and the just shall live by faith Heb. 10. 36. 38. Set your heart aright and constantly endure and make not haste in time of trouble Ecclus. 2. 2. And he that believeth will not make haste Isa. 28. 16. O! therefore tarry thou the Lord's leisure be strong and he shall comfort thine heart and put thou thy trust in the Lord Ps. 26. 14. For he will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever He knows our frame and remembreth that we are but dust And like as a Father pityeth his own Children so the Lord pityeth them that fear him Ps. 103. 9 13 14. He hath not forsaken them that seek him Ps.
9. 10. He taketh pleasure in them who hope in his mercy Ps. 147. 11. He is a very present help in trouble Ps. 46. 1. And behold we account them happy which endure Ye have heard of the patience of Iob and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pityful and of tender mercy Jam. 5. 11. They shall not be ashamed who wait for me Isa. 49. 23. And my soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him Ps. 62. 5. Wait for his mercy but go not aside lest ye fall Cleave unto him and depart not away that thou mayst be encreased at thy last end Ecclus. 2. 3 7. 5. To Querulousness and accusing God It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath born it upon him He putteth his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope Wherefore doth a living man complain A man for the punishment of his sins Lam. 3. 27 28 29 39. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Ps. 39. 9. I was as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofs Ps. 38. 14. For shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him He that reproveth God let him answer it But behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my hand upon my mouth Job 40. 2 4. He was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearers is dumb so he openeth not his mouth Isa. 53. 7. Motives to Patience Shall we receive good at the hands of God and shall we not receive evil Job 2. 10. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Job 1. 21. Shall the clay say unto him that fashioned it what makest thou Is. 45. 9. And why doth a living man complain yea a man for the punishment of his sin Lam. 3. 39. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Mich. 7. 9. And the Lord doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men v. 33. If need be we are in heaviness 1 Pet. 1. 6. And because all need all are partakers of chastisements Heb. 12. 8. Even Jesus tho he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5. 8. So that it is out of very faithfulness that he afflicteth us Ps. 119. 15. And whom be loveth he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth Prov. 3. 11. For when we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. He chasteneth us for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness Heb. 12. 10. As Gold in the Furnace hath he tryed them and received them as a burnt-offering He proved them and found them worthy of himself and having been a little chastized they shall be greatly rewarded Wisd. 3. 5 6. And these light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. Glory be to the Father c. 2. With Patience towards our Friends and Attendants Be patient towards all men 1 Thess. 5. 14. With all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love Eph. 4. 2. Be gentle shewing all meekness to all men Tit. 3. 2. And be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry Ecclus. 7. 9. For he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly Prov. 14. 29. And a man that hath friends must shew himself friendly Prov. 18. 24. 3. With patience with our selves and with the heaviness and brokenness of our own Spirit under Sickness 'T is wrong said that God is hard reaping where he has not sown and gathering where he has not strow'd Matt. 25. 24. For 't is only where much is given that much shall be required Luke 12. 48. He remembreth that we are but flesh Ps. 78. 39. He himself bore our sickness Matt. 8. 17. And had the feeling of our infirmities And it behoved him to have so in all things that he might be a merciful High-Priest Heb. 2. 17. and c. 4. 15. He attends unto our cry when we are brought very low Ps. 142. 6. And will not forsake us because our strength faileth Ps. 71. 9. Dying as well as living we are the Lords Rom. 14. 8. And fall asleep in him 1 Thess. 4. 14. Glory be to the Father c. VI. Of Improvements thereof to Spiritual Advantages THat I should not be exalted above measure there was given me a thorn in the flesh 2 Cor. 12. 7. She did not know that I gave her Corn and Wine and Oyl Therefore will I return and take away my Corn in the time thereof and my Wine in the season thereof Hos. 2. 8 9. And I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offences and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me early Hos. 5. 15. When my Heart is overwhelmed lead me to the Rock that is higher than I Ps. 61. 2. So that altho' for the Time no afflâ—ction seemeth joyous but Grievous yet afterwards it yieldeth the Peaceable Fruits of Righteousness to those that are exercised thereby Heb. 12. 11. For he chastiseth us for our profit that we may be partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12. 10. Glory be to the Father c. 3. Scriptures for the Bodily needs and desires of Sick Persons I. For Ease and Strength 1. To pour out their Grief and Complaints BEhold all Flesh is Grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the Flower of the Field The Grass withereth the Flower fadeth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it but the word of our God shall stand for ever Is. 40. 6 7 8. When thou Lord with Rebukes dost correct man for iniquity thou makest his Beauty to consume away like a Moth Surely every man is Vanity Ps. 39. 11. Thou hast weakned my strength in the way and shortned my days Ps. 102. 23. Thine Arrows O Lord stick fast in me and thy hand Presseth me sore There is no soundness in my Flesh becaâ—se of thine Anger neither is there any Rest in my bones because of my Sin I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long I am feeble and sore broken I have roared by reason of the Disquietness of my Heart My Heart panteth my Strength faileth me as for the Light of mine Eyes it also is gone from me My Lovers and my Friends stand aloof from mâ— sore and my Kinsmen stand afar off Ps. 38. 2 3 6 8 10 11. My Spirit is overwhelmed within me and my Heart within me is Desolate Ps. 143. 4. My Soul also is sore troubled but Lord how long wilt thou Punish me Ps. 6. 3. 2. To Pray for ease and mitigation thereof And
should I fall to claim thy Free Favours as my due because thou hast long continued them to me and to thinke thou doest me wrong if at any time thou holdest back thine own and for wise and Good Ends stoppest some stream of thy Free Bounty towards me And let this uncertainty O! God of the dearest Worldly Comforts teach me to fix my Heart on joys which will never fade or perish To take more Comfort in thy self and to look for less in all Earthly things Oh! be thou my Desire and my Hearts Delight and let a Good Conscience be my Treasure and integrity my joy And these will stick to me till Death and follow me beyond it and Give me Rest in thy Presence and Pleasures for evermore thro my Dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen 2. LEt not my Grief excede O! Lord or be obstinate against Thoughts or Words of Comfort because I cannot bring him back again and because it can not benefit him but will much hurt me And make me Consider which alass I ought thoroly to have Consider'd sooner that altho he was a very Dear and Great yet he was only a mortal Comfort whose Life would be sure to fail tho his Friendship should not I know my Tenure was only to hold him as thy Giâ—t and to part with him again at thy Pleasure And that as we have the Comfort of injoying Dear Friends or Relations here soe we must be content too to have the trouble and sorrow of parting with them And now Lord when thou hast taken him I know that he is more thine than he is mine and that thou hast the best Claim to him And when thou tookest him from me thou tookest him to thy self And I trust thy taking him is to his unspeakable joy tho it be to my sorrow and that with thee he is now infinitely better than he was or could be here Yea that thou hast taken him to that Place where by thy Mercy I also hope to come and whither in my Order thou wilt likewise take me in thy Due time Soe that thy Grace O! Dear God and a little Patience will bring us together again And Oh! that thou wouldest be pleased to put an End to all our Sins and Sorrows and to hasten thy Kingdom and to accomplish the Number of thine Elect. And mercifuilly to Graunt that all we and all others who either have Departed or shall Depart this Life in thy true Faith and Fear may have our Perfect Consummation and Bliss in thy Heavenly and Eternal Kingdom thro Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen 3. LEt not my Grief for my Deceased Friend excede O! most Gracious God for I hope thou hast taken him for his own Good And that thou hast Comforted his Soul by his exchange and hast only smitten ours leaving us to mourn for our Sins and for our Loss whilst he by thy Mercy is hereby set out of the Reach of Sin and Misery For as he is now removed O! Father from all worldly satisfactions soe is he allsoe from all worldly Temptations And our Comfort is to Hope that he is now at Rest from Labour and has Ceased from Sin and Shame That He is now eased of Pains and is above Misfortunes and has found a Cure for all his Sorrows having Grief and Care for ever banishd from his Heart and all Tears wiped away from his Eyes And that he is gone from the Vale of Misery to the Regions of joy and from Conversing with us to live with thee and the Blessed Jesus and to be a Companion of Saints and Angels Let not self Love then O! Lord and the sense of my own Loss make me repine at that change which I take to be his Happiness Let not that which I hope doth highly please him displease me nor let me refuse Comfort because I trust he is taken for ever to be fill'd with it His Death I humbly hope is the joy of Saints and Angels and the Envy and Grief of Evil Spirits who see him taken up to a State where they can not tempt and to an Happiness which is for ever Denyed to themselves Oh! then that I may not joyn with his utter Enemyes and mine in their Envy but with those Blessed Spirits in their Charity and instead of greiving immoderately or being angry with thee that I may heartily Bless thy Name for turning Death thus into a Blessing and as I trust for accomplishing his Hopes thereby and makeing of him happy And let thy Providence O! Father be a Store-House of Supplyes to make up to me and to all his Friends and Dependants all those Supports and Blessings which we receive from thee by his means Especially let his change put us all upon prepareing Diligently and Carefully for our own Make it raise us up from the Death of Sin to a Life of Righteousness and take us off from all undue esire or Care of Earthly things to minde the one thing necessary which is the Great and most Comfortable Business of Life and which alone will stand us in stead and make us Happy after Death thro Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 4. A Prayer when any Persons Feed impatience and fix themselves in Greif by Surmizing that God is angry at them when he takes away their Friends O! Blessed Lord let not me make it a Pretence for my impatience that this Loss comes as thy Visitation for my Sins or greive obstinately as fancying that thou takest away my Friend here Departed out of Anger and displeasure against me For thou O! God hast many other Ends to look at besides what Concerns me in these matters And these Providences touch our Friends themselves Directly and Principally and reach us only by the by And when in meer Love and Kindness unto them thou wouldest call them to thy self that must unavoidably take them away from us But if in this change thou dost shew Displeasure against me for my Sins Lord teach me that it is my Part humbly to submit my self to thee and not to be angry or impatient under thy Correction of me but to accept my Loss with quietness as the punishment of mine iniquities And that whilst thou art removeing my Blessings because of my Great Ununworthyness and unthankfullness under them I have the more need to shew my self Thankful for any that are still continued to me and to give up my will in all things to thine to serve and please thee thro our Dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen 5. A Prayer when these Losses come close one upon another ANd altho these affecting Losses come thick upon me O! Father yet I know all this is for a Greater Tryal of my Patience And I am sensible that I have enough and abundantly too much in me that needs to be punished thereby And that thou hast wise and kinde Reasons â—now thus to Heap upon me these Sorrows tho it were not to punish but only to
or ungodly Shifts if ever I come to be pinched with Persecution or adversity or to Comply with any things unworthy and misbecoming my Self or Displeasing unto thee And when I can leave noe Children to support my Name and Memory let me have Good Deeds O! Dear God and a Life of unblemish'd integrity and Honor to doe the same for me Oh! that I may be remembred after I am Dead for acts of true Piety and Charity which give the truest and most lasting fragrancy However let me leave behind me the memory of a truely Religious humble and Virtuous Carriage for the imitation of all that knew me Especially O! Holy Father let a Constant course of Obedience and Godlyness recommend me thro the Blood of thy Son to thy Approbation And tho among Men I am quite forgotten yet let me be Graciously remembred and received by thee when thou reckonest up and callest over the Number of thy Children for my Dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's sake Amen Trinuni Deo Gloria THE CONTENTS THe Preface Directions for an Holy and an Happy Death Chap. 1. OF Settling Worldly Affairs and Care of the Body in Sickness p. 1. Chap. 2. Of Securing Peace with God in Sickness p. 10. By Profession of Repentance p. 11. and of Faith p. 14. and of Continuance in the Vnity of the Church p. 17. Chap. 3. Of Carriage under Sickness p. 22. and Particularly of Trust in God p. 23. Of Resignation p. 29. and I of Thankfulness p. 32. Chap. 4. Of Patience under Sickness p. 39. and Spending Sick Bed Hours â—p 51. and ministring to Sick Persons p. 53. Chap. 5. Of Carriage at the Approach of Death and in the last Extremitiâ—s p. 58. Chap. 6. Of Care and Treatment of the Dead p. 68. Devotions for the State of Sickness I. A General Prayer for the Duties and Needs of Sick Persons p. 129. and one out of the Office of Visitation p. 131. and Scriptures about the mercifull ends of Sickness p. 79. II. Prayers and Scriptures for their particular needs and duties I. For Repentance in Sickness and the several expressions of it Scriptures p. 82 c. and Prayers p. 133 c. II. For an Heart to give Alms and at the time of giving them Scriptures p. 85. and Prayers p. 143 c. III. For Trust in God and on the chief aâ—ts and Branches of it and motives to it in Sickness Scriptures p. 88 c. and Prayers p. 147 c. IV. For Faith in Gods Promises under Sickness Scriptures p. 96 c. and Prayers p. 160 c. V. For Resignation under Sickness Scriptures p. 100. and Prayers p. 162 c. VI. For Thankfullness under Sickness Scriptures p. 99. and Prayers p. 168 c. VII For Patience under Sickness both 1. The chief Acts and expressions of it Scriptures p. 100 c. Prayers p. 176 c. 2. the Helps to it p. 186. c. 3. the motives to it Scriptures p. 107. Prayers p. 189 c. And this 1. Towards God p. 175 c. 2. Towards Friends and Attendants Scriptures p. 108. and Prayers p. 180 c. 3. Towards our selves under the Heaviness and Brokenness of our own Spirits Scriptures p. 109. and Prayers p. 183 c. VIII For Spiritual improvements by Sickness Scriptures p. 110. and Prayers p. 196 c. IX For the Bodily needs and Desires of Sick Persons viz 1. For ease under Pains Scriptures p. 111 c. and p. 119. Prayers p. 201 c. and on Receipt thereof p. 117 and 204. 2. For strength under the same p. 205. 3. For Deliverance from them Scriptures p. 115 c. Prayers p. 206. 4. For longer Respite and Recovery p. 207 c. 5. On Taking Physick Scriptures p. 120. Prayers p. 210 c. 6. On want of sleep Scriptures p. 118. Prayers p. 212 c. 7. On excess of sleep p. 214. 8. On their being Light-Headed p. 216. X. For Certain kinds of Sickness viz. I. For Women with Child both Scriptures and Prayers 1. Before Travel p. 218 and p. 222 c. 2. In Travel p. 219 and p. 225 c. 3. After Delivery p. 220 and 229 c. with a Prayer for her Child p. 233. II. On the Loss of Eye-sight both Scriptures p. 235 c. and Prayers 1. For Recovery of Sight p 238. 2. For Patience under the want of Eye sight p. 239 c. 3. For Good use of Blindness p. 243. III. Vnder the Loss of Hearing both Scriptures p. 245 c. and Prayers 1. For Recovery of Hearing p. 247 c. 2. For Patience under the want of Hearing p. 249 c. 3. For Good use of Deafness p. 253. 4. A Thanksgiveing on Recovery from Blindness or Deafness p. 254. IV. For a Sick Child p. 256 c. V. In Times of Common Infection Scriptures p. 259 c. Prayers p. 260 c. VI. In Behalf of Natural Fools and Mad-men p. 264 c. VII For Attendants about the Sick Scriptures p. 122 c. and a Prayer p. 267. XI A Thanksgiveing for Recovery from Sickness Scriptures p. 124 c. and Prayers p. 269 c. Devotions on the Apprehension or Approach of Death I. ON the Prospect of ones own Death Drawing near Scriptures p. 274 c. Prayers p. 283 c. II. On willingness to Dye Scriptures p. 276 c. and Prayers p. 285 c. III. Against Fear of Death Scriptures p. 279. Prayers p. 289 c. IV. Against Presumption Scriptures p. 280. A Prayer p. 293. V. In the last Agonyes Scriptures p. 281. and Ejaculations and Prayers p. 295 296 c. with a Prayer against Sudden Death p. 300. Devotions upon the Death of Friends I. WHen a Friend Dyes Scriptures p. 302 c. and Prayers p. 305 c. A Prayer when they think God is angry at them when he takes away their Friends p. 312. When these Losses come close after one another p. 314. For Learning thereby to â—it loose to the World and be more fix'd in the Love of God p. 315. II. When a Friend is taken away in his Prime Scriptures p. 304. Prayers p. 316. III. When he is taken away by a violent untimely Death p. 318 c. IV. On the Death of Friends who had lead ill Lives and gave noe Comfortable Proofs of Repentance at their Deaths p. 322 c. V. On the Death of a Child p. 325 c. VI. When one is made Childless or is like to Dye without Children Scriptures p. 305. A Prayer p. 328 c. Books ERRATA PAge 14 line 24. read descendedst p. 20 marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 21. the word Peace is set after l. 4. which should make the liue before it p. â—â— l. pennlt for put after Sufferings p. 35. l. 3. r. bâ— p. 44. l. 8. after sickness add Amen p. 63. l. 15. r. sense of to the last p. 78. l. 4. r. taken p. 99. l. â—3 r. hast p. 140. l. 12. for my
let it not be by reading Plays or Romances or foolish and undue Ideas of Love and Honour which feed or revive vain thoughts nor by Play or other things fit to excite Passion or exercise Covetousness but in pastimes of least lightness and fewest temptations and used with moderation remembring that on a sick-bed when a mans time is almost spent 't is not for him to cast about how to pass away his time but how to redeem and improve it Let the reading which is read to him and the conversation which is held with him be suitable to one in his condition Not light to lessen his seriousness nor in any thing vicious uttering things either against Modesty or against Piety or against Justice or against Charity All which may either leave ill impressions upon him by giving his spirit a tincture of the same or bring him into a snare by thinking that he has been wanting in reproof thereof out of too little respect to God and too much to the speakers by either of which he is the worse for them But let all that passes be fit to suit the seriousness and preserve the innocence and help on some virtues but hinder none that are befitting a Person in his condition Whereof I shall say more in the ensuing directions CHAP. II. Of settling his Accounts and securing his Peace with God by Repentance Faith and Continuance in the Vnity of the Church BUT whilst this care is taken for the Body the chief thing which he has to employ himself in on his Sick-bed after the settlement of his Worldly Estate is to take care of his Soul This must exercise his own thoughts when he is by himself And for this he must call in the assistance of the guides of Souls Sending for the Elders of the Church that they may Pray over him and assist and Comfort him by words spoken in their due Season and Administer to him the Word and the benefit of Absolution and the Holy Communion resolving and assisting him in all things that may be needful for the finishing of his Repentance the support of his Spirit or the Peace of his Conscience And in this Care of his Soul these things are chiefly to employ his own thoughts or his Guides assistance 1. To settle his Account and secure his Peace with Almighty God And in care of this let his work be 1. To finish his Repentance And in order thereto let him carefully review all his past life and the present frame and habit of his Mind And let him diligently observe what is good in either and with all Humility thank God for it and take comfort in it and what is amiss in both and work himself up into true contrition for the same affectionately bewailing his extream folly and unworthiness therein And let him fix holy deliberate and unreserved purposes against all his former Offences And make all due and reasonable satisfaction for all Wrongs done by him to any Persons by any ways And take care of the payment of all his just Debts And seek Reconciliation where he has given any just Offence And forgive those who have injured or disobliged him And break off his Iniquity by Righteousness or by being more abundant in Alms-Deeds and consummate and finish any good designs which he had piously laid in his Health and would not lose the reward thereof by having them dropt at his Death And in these ways of expiating Sins let him earnestly begg God's Pardon and comfortably hope for the same through the Merits of Jesus Christ. And in the care of paying his Debts and making Restitution or giving Charitable or Pious Gifts if he can let him settle and finish them himself before his own Death and not refer all to a Will and leave the accomplishment and recompence of so rewardable purposes to the contingencies of time and the Fidelity Kindness or care of Executors Sometimes indeed the Surprize of Dying Persons is so great that they must leave these things to others And sometimes the Persons intrusted are fit to serve the Dying Persons ends and really do serve them to advantage But this is not ordinarily to be trusted to if he can help it For why should he think they will make more dispatch or find fewer delays and put offs in doing these things for him than he did in doing them for himself He has a quicker sense of his own burdens and of his own desires and longings than another ordinarily can or will have and if for all that he shall delay to disburden his own Soul and consummate his own desires and purposes when he may why may not they do so too And on this point let him often say A broken and a contrite Heart Lord thou wilt not despise I acknowledge my transgressions and my Sins are ever before me Wash me throughly from mine iniquities and cleanse me from my Sins Amen Lord be merciful to me a Sinner Amen Oh let the Blood of Iesus cleanse me from all my Sins Amen Lord I have Sinned against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants Amen Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us Amen 2. To shew forth his Faith which he may do by often repeating his Creed I believe in thee O God! the Father Almighty and that thou art the maker of Heaven and Earth And I believe in thee O Jesu Christ that thou art Gods only Son and our Lord. I believe that thou wast conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin mary That thou didst Suffer under Pontius Pilate wa st Crucified Dead and Buryed and descendest into Hell That thou dist rise again the third day from the Dead That thou didst ascend into Heaven and there now sittest at the Right Hand of God And that from thence thou shalt come again to Judge both the Quick and the Dead I believe in thee also O! Holy Ghost I likewise believe that my Blessed Saviour had and hath and whilst the World lasts ever will have on Earth an Holy Catholick Church And that in this Church there is to be a Communion of Saints I believe also that therein is to be had Remission of Sins And after Death I believe there shall be a Resurrection of the Body both for good and bad and a Life Everlasting for the Righteous Amen And let him often say Lord I Believe Help thou mine unbelief Amen Lord increase my Faith Amen All this O! Lord I stedfasty believe Oh! keep me from having my Portion among unbelievers Amen Lord I thank thee that I have been instructed in this Belief and Professed it in my Life Amen Lord keep me from wavering or any ways doubting of the same in my weakness Amen Lord give me the comfort of this belief at my death and make me find the Blessing of it after death Amen And if the