come burâ—hened and so ouer-laden wiâ—h all my sinnes that I cannot appeare before thee standing vpright but fall downe at thy foote Thou onely O Lord refresh refresh mee yea Lord I am confident that thou wilt Thy word is thy deede yea thou doest it already and I feele it My soule is releeued and refreshed with a rest with a peace that surpasseth all the worlds treasure And thy Spirit beareth witnesse with my Spirit Rom. 8.16 euen in this my greatest affliction that I am one of thy children Therefore doe I most thankfully say Blessed be thy name for euer and euer He that meditates hereon 4 Point A longing for death and as he ought comforts himselfe with the same may not he freely say with Simon Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Luk. 2.29 for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation May he not sing with Dauid Psal 27. The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraide And so consequently proceede to the end of that comfortable Psalme applying the same to himselfe against all his Spirituall temptations May hee not with St. Paul be assured that neither death nor life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate him from the loue of GOD which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Yea he will reioyce that he may follow his Lord euen at the heeles passing through the same dore of death which hee went through before him And will willingly setting light by this life and all what so euer hee hath in the world crie out with Salomon Eccles. 7.1 the day of death is better then the day of birth because it is a meanes to bring him vnto an vnexpressable ioy which will then especially quicken his heart when he shall consider what entertainment hee is then and there to expect The place of the soule If now wee enquire of the place of the blessed soules wee know that heauen is made ouer to them by promise Not the ayre that the cloudes and fowles houer in Math. 5.3.4 26.26 which sometimes is called heauen This is too narrow and subiect to dayly corruption nor that heauen neither or firmament that the starres glister in though it be somewhat more spacious and more permanent For euen this also at the last day shall be shaken and the starres shall fall downe Math. 24.29 It is a farre other thing that God hath prouided for his Elect. It is the third heauen which that chosen vessell Paul was caught vp into 2 Cor. 12.2 It is the vppermost heauen compassing all the heauens Eph. 4.10 whither Christ is ascended Ioh. 14.2 where is roome enough for many mansions Ioh. 14.3 This is stedfast and permanent vnto all eternity Wis 3.1 Hither Christ hath promised to take all his members vnto him Luk. 23.43 that they may bee where he is There be the righteous soules in the hand of God There is the penitent Thiefe in Paradise There is Lazarus in Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.23 There St. Iohn sawe them that were marked Reuel 7.9 before the Throne and before the Lambe One onely place set foorth by diuers names What a glorious comfort then is this for vs that our soule as soone as shee forsakes this earth shall bee receiued into so stately an habitation Concerning a mid way mansion or fiery prison which some haue endeauoured to settle by the way there to purge and purifie the blessed soules some certaine yeares before their ascention into heauen wee finde nothing at all in holy writ thereof set downe nor yet declared by the examples of any Saints deceased For euen as in this life there are but two kindes of conuersations set before vs to walke in light or darknesse 1 Ioh. 1. 〈◊〉 but two wayes through the narrowe or the wide gate so we read in the future life but of two hands of God Math. 7.13 the right and the left but of two kinde of men comprehended vnder the name of sheepe and goates Math. 25.32 and by consequence then but of two places heauen and hell Therefore when we are dying let vs fixe firmely the eyes of saith on the blood of Iesus Christ 1 Ioh. 1.7 which as his beloued Disciple speakes cleanseth vs from all sinnes and we shall directly ascend to that heauen Act. 7.56 which the first Martyr Stephen euen when hee was yet on earth sawe opened vnto him On what maner our soules get thither we may obserue by the fore-named Lazarus Luk. 16.22 who was carried thither by the ministrie of Angels Reu. 7.10 To St. Iohn it is also reuealed what they doe there to wit that they praise God hee saith farther Reu. 14.13 that they rest from their labours that is as well from the paines and diseases of the body which sicknesse did here bring on them and the troubles wherewith the wicked did oppresse them as from the labour and continuall warfare which they had against their owne concupiscences Concerning which the booke of Wisedome sayes very well Sap. 9.3 that they are at peace And principally at continuall peace with God and exempted from that trouble of minde whereby they feared to fall into Gods wrath And are not infinitely said to rest vnder an Altar in respect of Christ his onely sacrifice Reu. 6.9 whereby our soules are reconciled vnto God Ornaments of heauen As for the glory of this heauenly place no man can conceiue it Yet whosoeuer doth but obserue how glorious how comely God hath created this world which is but a temporall habitation as well of the wicked as of the good and what diuersity of delights he hath prepared for all kinde of men in the same he may in some sort guesse how louely how comely how full of pleasure that place must needs be which hee hath prepared to bee an habitation for his children whom hee hath elected to eternall blisse before the foundation of the world Saint Iohn when he faine would reueale some part thereof vnto vs writes that hee saw a Citie Reu. 21. A holy Ierusalem of pure gold whose walls were of Iasper stone and her foundations of most precious stone things that we here chiefely esteeme of and yet not to bee gotten in such quantity that thereof wee may build the least part of a Citie And yet all this is nothing in respect of the incomprehensible excellencie of this heauenly mansion Diuine Paul had a tast of this heauenly ioy but hee could not finde any termes wherewith to expresse the same But could onely say 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither haue there entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him
OF DEATH A TRVE DESCRIPTION And against it A good Preparation Together with A sweet Consolation for the suruiuing Mourners By IAMES COLE Merchant Printed at London by A. M. 1629. TO THE RIGHT Worthy his much respected friends Mr. Iohn Milleward Esquire one of the Captaines of this famous Cittie Mr. Iohn Awbrey Mr. Edmond Page Mâ— William Gillie Mr William Middelton and Mr Iohn Bludworth D. H. Merchant wisheth all happinesse in soule and body in this worâ—d and eteâ—nâ—ll glory and blisse in the world to come EXcuse mee I pray which am now the hand of my deceased friend that I commend these his Religious Instructions vnto your Patronages and Embracements The long time of your acquaintance honest mutuall traffique and former pious conuersation may iustly challenge it both of the Author and my selfe Yee often haue taken and built your credit on his word in your bought Wares which the effect hath confirmed to your profit Once more beleeue him and buy these his MeditatioÌ„s on his word the price is but your acceptance reading and application And if thus you will vse and trie these his last Marchandizes they will prooue vnto you of infinite worth and price for by them you shall obtaine that precious Pearle and hidden treasure of which the Gospell mentions It was your charitable Christian loue that accompanied his mortall body to his last home and it was his louing care here to direct those that followed him and others to the graue lest they should too long make their aboade with the Gaderenian among the tombes The graue is but a passage not a dwelling place It doth but preserue the pledge of our bodies vntill the day of resurrection Therefore those that truly follow deceased Christians follow them not onely vnto the dore of death and entrance of the graue but through death vnto life through the graue vnto heauen And lest death the way to life should seeme too terrible and rather affright from the way then inuite vnto it This our friend and charitable Author shewes and proues here that in respect of the body the soule the world the last Iudgement it properly is not to be feared And further to embolden the weake faith of a trembling Christian hee vnmaskes and vnarmes death hee so describes her and prepares our bodies to embrace her that death is no more death but victory no more the obiect of feare but desire Wherefore hauing thus farre set in a word the description of her description before you I dare no longer detaine you from the victory of her If you please but to follow either the prescription or example of this our louing friend through death vnto life through the graue vnto heauen J dare promise that you will attaine my wish all happinesse here and eternall glory hereafter Jn confidence whereof I rest London this 10. of Iune 1629. Your well-wishing friend DIERICK HOSTE In commendation of the Author and his Booke NOthing more sure to vs then once pale death to see Why then are we so blinde not once to thinke thereon What more vncertaine then when this our chance may be Why then goe we on still as if shee should touch none In seasonable time this Bookâ— is come to light To driue out of our hearts deaths feare and anguish still It is a Christian part t' instruct vs in the right How we may arme our selues against that feared ill For though at euery one grim death ne're leaues to ayme Yet in this Treatise small from her quite taken is Her sting Which iustly makes to tremble without blame But to vs that are Christs she brings eternall bliss O worthy Israelite thou hast spied out full well That this great Anakim cannot hinder at all To winne that Canaan of heau'n and there to dwell For IESVS CHRIST hath wrought that Giants great downefall How can we now reward thy loue O Author kinde Who in thy life time shun'dst mens praise from laud didst flie Thy pious vertuous life wee 'll euer beare in minde Which now the Lord hath crown'd with blisse eternally D. H. Of the zealous Author his much respected Vnkle and his comfortable Description SHall I reioyce because his Penne doth teach Vs how die and heauenly blisse to reach Or shall I mourne because to be our guide His worthy selfe he hath to vs denâ—â—d Longer on earth His words perswade beliefe Farther confirmance but augments our griefe His Booke suffu'd that pointing Mercurie He needed not to guid vs and to die His life wee wanted more that could vs tell That hee that liued godly should die well Yet what it was I dare not well set downe For feare his ashes modesty shâ—uld frowne But let them speake that comment on his name A man of pious learned vpright fame Whose words and deedes did so concurre in one That what he said t' was true t' was sure t was done Whose vertuous presence was so pretious deere That most did wish he still might haue beene heere But loe his liberall charity If thus His company was gratefull vnto vs He shewes vs how we may enioy it still And striues our wishes happier to fulfill Then we conceiue He cann't descend againe We must ascend and there by him remaine Thus while we enter his societie Ours will be Saints and Angels companie But lest wee should vnskilfull Pilgrims stray Not knowing how to goe which is the way Lest that our eyes waxe dim'd by sinfull slime That we perceiu'd not which way he did clime Behold in this good legacie of his He shewes vs the true way through death to blisse Lest we should feare th'aff ighting face of death And quake to heare the fare-well of our breath To his olde Mate he doth vnmaske the fiend Shewes her sting forcelesse prooues our foe our friend So that we bold mâ—y gaze her in the face And that we fear'd so much with ioy embrace She is no euill thing but naturall According to Gods will common to all The bodie 's but a sleepe it feeles no paine The soule dies not but mounts vnto the traine Of heauenly Saints Why should earths vanities Detaine vs from these happy glorious skies Or feare of iudgement by it we receiue A ioy which mortall minde cannot conceiue Therefore when sicknesse pale doth enter in By Gods command vsherd by in-bred sinne That messenger of death thy house befit Thy body soule and all to welcome it Thy selfe striue well to arme death to vnarme By shunning sinne with faith and feare no harme Repent and pray and to thy heauenly peace And certaine comfort will thy faith encrease So that death shall thy soule not terrifie But be to thee a wished victorie Which brings thee to a ioyfull Paradise Before the Lambe aboue the starrie skies There is our Author now and there doth shine Like a cleare starre our once Marchant-diuine There he 's in his reward If we desire To beare a pâ—rt in that celestiall quire Let vs these his directions embrace
tied to the legge Seneca hath well obserued how tedious this flesh is to our soule Sen. Now saith he doth the belly ake then the stomacke then the throat Now to there too much blood anon too little And the soule is in this body not as at home in her owne house but as a trauailer in an Inne The soule then is created to a higher degree to wit to liue at ease on high in her owne proper dwelling place Wherefore Maximus Tyrius saith very well Serm. 23. That which men call death is the beginning of immortality and the birth of a future life To wit when their bodies at their appointed time fall away and the soules ascend to their proper place and to their proper life So that this body is to the soule as the egge-shell is to the bird it must breake through it before it can flye into the open ayre Yea Cyrus the great Monarch could say that he alwayes beleeued Cic. desen That the soule being freed from the body then became both purt and wise And although we seeme vnwilling to for sake this body yet that must not breed any ill suspition in vs. At our birth wee seemed likewise loath to reâ—â—one out of our mothers wombe where we were weld and warme Yet now being borne and vsing all our members in the spations world who of vs would be willing to creepe into his mothers wombe againe In like in â—nner the soule once being sâ—â—d out of the cumbersome prison of the body will not desire to returne to the same againe For God hath so appointed three dwelling places for euery one of vs that a man by the two first may in some sort conceiue the third For as while he is in his mothers wombe hee hath nothing neere so much strength comelinesse pleasure and time there to remaine as after his birth he enioyeth on the face of the earth so cannot he obtaine or enioy that here on earth that may in any wise be compared son glory blisse and continuance to that which hee shall enioy when borne againe out of his owne body his soule shall be fetled on high in the heauens That which the most ancient Philosopher Hermes Trismegistus well conceiued Fr. Patr. Trismeg who dying could speake thus As yet haue I liued here as a stranger and one banished now I returne againe in health to my owne Country And when I presently being released from these fleshie bonds shall depart from you take heede you doe not mourne as if I were dead for I returne to the best and happiest Citie whither all Citizens shall come by the meanes of death God is there alone the highest Prince who will fill his Citizens with an infinite delight In respect whereof this that most account life may rather be called death then life If a Heathen could speake thus all Christians certainly must needes be voide of vnderstanding and euen dead while they liue that call in question the future life of the soule Yea this happy estate of the soule did so immeasurably possesse and strangely transport Cleombrotus Cicer. Tuse 1. after that hee had read somewhat concerning the same in Plato that to enioy the same as soone as possible might be he cast himselfe headlong into the Sea But zeale here conquered wisedome and by misusing good things brought forth bad effects Howbeit by this example well may wee shame those that without reason feare exceedingly the day of death whereas the day of our birth is but the beginning of a temporall life but our dying day is the beginning of an euerlasting life so that in respect of the soule death ought not to seeme terrible vnto vs. 3. Obseruation concerning carthly pleasures Some also shunne death because shee bereaues vs of all our earthly pleasures They are vnwilling to part with their honours riches delights their faithfull wife and deare friends as fearing that the want of them will be greeuous vnto them But let vs weigh this also in the ballance of reason Whosoeuer doth so esteeme earthly pleasures which Salomon proclaimed to be vanity of vanities that hee would rather chuse to stay here Eccl. 1.1 and liue in the same then remoue to enioy the heauenly may well be compared to one who because sometimes hee dreameth of pleasant things would rather sleepe continually then awake and enioy reall pleasures For it is certaine that as farre as the reall pleasures of this life excell those that appeare vnto vs in our dreames so much are the eternall future ioyes to bee preferred before the temporall and present The wisest Astronomers perswade vs Som. Scip. that if from the highest heauen wee should behold the Globe of the earth it would seeme no greater vnto vs then a starre now doth and we should esteeme it but as a point And shall we in this point yea in the very least corner of this point to wit that which wee inhabite take such pleasure and bee so fond of it that for the loue of it wee should forsake heauen and the pleasures thereof This world indeed was created for the vse of man but it is the proper habitation of beasts They haue no other home whether they liue or dye but it Whereas man is here with Iacob but as a Soiourner Gen. 47.9 Though hee possessed here with Dauid a whole Kingdome yet with him should he be termed but a stranger here Psal 119.19 Heauen is his Country that is prepared for him and the Angels to be their eternall dwelling place Phil. 3.10 There is his conuersation saith St. Paul Is it not then a direct beastlinesse so to be enamoured on these terrestriall things that for the loue of them we would rather remaine in the habitation of bruit beasts then remoue vnto the habitations of Angels Axiochus though he were an Heathen could before his death be instructed by Platoes reason Ar. Plat. that he did not depart out of this life vnto a death where he should be depriued of all things but toward that place where hee should enioy true goods and where hee should haue pleasures not mixed with this mortall body but pure and such as iustly deserue the name of Pleasures And is it not possible that this should be perswaded vnto vs who will beare the name of true beleeuers to the end that wee might long for it The forgetting of Pleasure But grant this earth to haue as many pleasures as is possible or as faithfull friends as wee could wish Yet shall wee not misse nor desire these things when we are dead Let vs not thinke that our bodies can dye and yet then liue Being dead we shall not haue any members nor eyes nor smell nor taste to vse these things nor any minde to desire them What discommodity then will it be to be without those things which we know not neede not nor wish not for Our wife and children will then moue vs no more then if wee
call the righteous Math. 9.12 13. but sinners to repentance for sayes he the whole neede not the Physitian but they that are sicke Let vs only earnestly runne after him Call on him by faith as did the sick the blinde the lame as St. Mathew hath distinctly set downe and wee may yet be cured with them Yea rather before them for our Sauiour came into the world to heale the sicknesse of the soule and did but heale their bodily diseases thereby to moue them to giue him leaue to take their soules in hand And by these externall things he would haue vs to feele his infinite loue Salomons words indeed befit him well who telleth vs that Lone couereth all sinnes Pro. 10.12 Sinne indeed is so strong that it did hinder man from entring into heauen into which as yet hee neuer had set foote But the loue of God was of farregreater might that caused him to send his onely begotten Sonne into the world out of heauen 1 Ioh. 4.9 where he was in all glory and that to this end that euen the feeblest might liue through him This incomprehensible loue St. Paul termeth the riches of his grace Eph. 1.7 These riches then and this infinite treasure of his loue is the true wedding grament Mat. 22.12 that will hide all our sores at the wedding of the King and will richly adorne all wretched and forlorne soules notwithstanding any estate of pouerty or misery that their sin haâ—h brought them to if onely they can sit it vnto themselues by faith Therefore if the deuill assaile vs Iam. 4.7 let vs resist him saith the Apostle and he will flee from vs. If hee doe obiect and testifie against vs that we haue not with Maries zeale chosen the better part Let vs constantly hope that neuerthelesse Ioh. 11.5 seruing Christ with Marthas vprightnesse wee may notwithstaÌ„ding be beloued of him If he shall suggest vnto vs that we must not thinke to see that vnspeakeable ioy of the third heauen which was shewed Paul to that Elect vessell of God Luk. 23.46 yet let vs constantly trust that we shall enioy that blisse in Paradise which was granted to the Thiefe on the Crosse If hee tempt vs with the text of Holy writ that GOD doth not heare the prayers of sinners Mich. 3.4 let vs answere him with Holy writ againe Math. 4.10 Depart from me Sathan God sweares by himselfe Ezech. 33.11 that hee hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked man turne from his way and liue yea there is more ioy in heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth Luk. 15.7 then ouer ninety and nine iust persons which neede no repentance Therefore let vs turne our hearts to God Rom. 8.25 hope for that we see not and expect it with patience Doe we not heare from Christ himselfe that Iamentable voyce My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Luk. 23.48 Yet presently after that Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Wee must also know that this our trembling for feare of Gods wrath is a token that wee doe not with worldlings carelesly neglect our sinnes or seeke to hide them from Gods sight But that we feele them with Dauid and doe confesse them vnto him and therefore may hope with him that the Lord forgiueth vs our transgressions Psal 32.5 Wee haue with the Prodigall serued the world and the deuill but now in our pouerty and agonie wee cry out with him Father I haue sinned against heauen and in thy sight Luk. 15.20.21 and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne wherefore wee must expect that our heauenly Father will be moued with compassion and receiue vs with a kisse This straying Prodigall childe when hee so spake knew not whether his Father would receiue him into fauour againe or not yet hee found good successe with it Wherefore let vs for whose instruction and encouragement this is recorded assuredly hope that if we doe the like God will likewise receiue vs. For to haue compassion on his children is the true nature of a father which that we may assure our selues to finde in God our Lord Iesus Christ to our great comfort puts this name in our mouth in the very beginning of our prayers Let vs then cry out without ceasing Math. 6.9 Our Father forgiue vs our trespasses deliuer vs from euill and wee doubtlesse in him shall finde the right affection and effects of a Father Let vs obserue also the two Disciples that had in a manner lost both faith and hope and trauailing towards Emaus were troubled in their soules concerning the death of Iesus Christ who they had hoped as they complained should haue deliuered Israell Luk. 24.21 but now seemed to haue lost that hope And out of the aboundance of their heart their mouth vttered these things vnto a stranger in the field Now what befell them Did the Lord reiect them because they told him this euen to his face No hee tooke pitty rather on their infidelity and was with them ere they thought on him And so let vs hope beyond hope that our Redeemer mercifully now stands and beholds our perplexity though we see him not And that he in due time will very kindly and assuredly let vs feele his compassion and ayde Yea if God sent the Prophet Nathan 2 Sam. 12.7 to that King that priuately by adulterie and murther had sinned against him and if he prepared a crowing Cocke Math. 26.75 for that Apostle that publiquely had denied him and beheld them both with the eye of his compassion before euer they thorowly perceiued their owne sins or euer thought of repentance O may not we then beleeue that he will haue mercy on vs who haue our heart harder prest downe by our sinnes then if a milstone lay on it and lie now sighing to be releast Yea we must beleeue it when the Sauiour of the world himselfe saith it Behold hee is so mercifull vnto those whose hearts are sore opprest with the burthen of their sinnes that he doth not stay till they finde him But hee seekes them and cries out himselfe with a loude voyce Come vnto me all yee that labour and are heauie laden Math. 11.28 To what end to oppresse them no certainly I will giue you rest saith he Let a man obserue this well and ruminate priuately on it and his heart shall be forced to powre out secretly before the Lord either these or the like words A comfortable meditation O Lord Iesu Almighty God the onely Sauiour of the world doest thou call mee wilt thou refresh me Thou thy selfe in whose power onely the sauing and condemning of my soule doth consist Doest thou promise me this who art truth it selfe and that because I finde my selfe loaden wiâ—h many sins O Lord what or whom neede I then to feare I come I come I am he whom thou callest Behold I