It is sufficient in it selfe but not in respect of our corrupt disposition for wee are to fauourable and partiall in â—…udging our selues but especially in prosperity and therefore God doth must some-times by his rod of correction remooue the mist of errour from our eyes round vs in the eare bring our sinnes to our remâ—…mbrance Hoâ—…ea 5 ver 15. Q But why is man more punished with sicknesse and other afflictions then all other creatures besides A. Because all other creatures reteine for the most part the order wherin they were first created but only man is become degenerate rebellious and an heteroclite â—…o that man may iustly say of himselfe that which Dauid did when he had numbred the people it is I that haue sinned and committed euil but these creatures what haue they done Secondly the brute and dumbe creatures are in their kind more sensitius of the bondage and corruption that our sinnes haue brought vpon them and more in expectation and desire of deliuerance grone vnder them then we our selues are or doe For where are our grones teares sack-cloth ashes shame compunction of heart and repentance Q. What further helpes haue we to direct vs in this duty A. Not onely to pray vnto God to reueale our sinnes vnto vs and to marke the checkes of our consciences and the reuilings of our enemies as we haue before shewed but also to frequent those that be sicke and to behold Gods chasticements vpon others and especially lazars and vleerous persons that hereby we may take notice of the vglinesse of sinne and our owne deformitie in Gods sight that wee may the more pittie the distressed and be stirred vp to be more thankfull to God for his benefits receiued The second Section Q. When all these meanes and helps of confession haue béene vsed what further course is to be taken with the sick man A. He must by doctrine admonition and by laying open vnto him Gods iudgements be made to sée the guilt and desart of sinne the curse of the law the torment of an ill conscience the vnspeakable wrath of God and the fearefull and most accursed state of the damned Q. But is it not a most blessed state for a man to bee alwayes merry and frolike to follow his pleasures and to féele no sinne or paine of sinne at all A. No certainly for of all plagues it is the greatest to be pricked and not to féele it and to be smitten and not to bée humbled And therefore as he that goeth blind-folded to execution is not happy but most miserable so neither the senselesse and regenerate sinner is at Hell mouth and discerneth it not Secondly as those maladies and diseases especially which are certaine fore-runners of death at hand are most dangerous that are least felt so those sinnes whereof wée haue no touch remorse nor repentance are most to bée feared for they send men vnawares posting and packing to hell The third Chapter 1. The doctrine of faith 2. The infinite and vnmeasurable mercies of God Ques When the sicke person hath thus applied Gods law to himselfe arraigned himselfe before the barre of Gods iudgement and made a true confession of his sinnes and hath béene brought to true contrition what is in the second place required of him An. Hée must by a firme faith be persivaded of Gods gratious presence and euerlasting loue towards him that his sinnes are pardonable and that Christ hath by his sufferings fréed and deliuered vs from the power of satan slauery of sinne feare of death and condemnation and that he also hath by his actuall obedience imputed vnto vs and apprehended by faith purchased vnto vs and prepared for vs euerlasting glory and happinesse Obiect But how can the sicke-man be perswaded of Gods fauor and mercy séeing that his sinnes are so great and so innumerable Ans. Albeit his and our sinnes quoad nos in regard of our selues be heynous yea and vncountable yet compared with GODS endlesse and vnmeasurable mercies in Christ they are but few and finite For his mercies are infinite his compassions faile not and with him is pleâ—…teous redemption in so much as we may sée in Manasses the lost sonne Paul Mary Magdaâ—…ene and diuers others â—…here sin hath abounded grace hath a â—…ounded more Questi What further reasons haue you to euince and demonstrate the â—…nitenesse of Gods mercy Answ. First Gods purpose in giuing and sending his Sonne to cure and redéeme the world and in giuing his Apostles commission and commandement to preach repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes to all nations can neuer his voide and fruâ—…rate Secondly the natiuitie life doctrine miracles obedience death resurrection and ascension and intercession of Christ yea and the sacraments of baptisme and the Lords supper which are onely inâ—…nded and effectuall for the calling conuersion and saluation of GODS elect can neuer want their scope and proper end Q. What conclude you hence A. Though one man had committed all the sinnes that be in the world the sinne onely committed against the holy Ghost whereof no man can possibly repent and which no elect can possibly commit being excepted hée must not despaire of Gods mercy but repent him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart and turne to the Lord and then though they were as Crimson they shall be made as whitâ—… as Snowe and though they were redde like Scarlet they shall be as wooll Q. But not-with-standing all that hath béene said many doubts difficulties imperfections and transgressions so trouble my minde that I cannot bée perswaded of the infinite extent of Gods mercies A. Propound your doubts and scruples and I will doe my best endeuour to remooue them The Sick-man I feare that the world being so wicked and men generally so vngodly prophane and irreligious that I shall fare the worse for their sake Minister Thou hast no cause to feare for the impenitencie of the whole world could not preiudice the saluation of Noah and his family nor the horrible sinnes of the Sodomites depriue Lot of Gods fauour and protection Secondly the godly are to answer for their owne sinnes onely which are all pardoned in Christ and they liue by their owne faith Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 1. 17. Thirdly as hâ—…e that wilfully closeth his eyes that hée may not behold the sunne-light cannot depriue him of the light of the sunne who openeth his eyes so another mans vnworthinesse and wilfulnesse cannot hinder thée if thou be prepared by the spirit of God from beholding and enioying Gods bottomlesse mercies 2. Obiection But I finde and féele in my selfe many wants errours imperfections yeâ—… and grose offenses Minister A. Déere brother be not discouraged thou hast more cause of triumph then of terrour For first thou committest not that shine namely of desperate malice against God and the knowne principles of Christian faith vnto death Secondly thou féelest yea and art grieued for thy sinne which is
no worke of nature but of grace regeneration Thirdly the séed and roote of grace in Gods elect is neuer wholy taken away for Gods gifts are without repentance and Christs intâ—…rcession for their encrease and preseruation in grace is alwayes effectuall Ioh. 11. v. 42. The Sick-man But my faith is often-times dead and without all life and motion how 〈◊〉 can I be assured of Gods mercy The Minister Thy faith is not extinct but only for the time ouer-clowded with the mist of sinne and couered vnder the ashes of infirmitie it is like to a trée which in 〈◊〉 winter season albeit it bring foorth neither 〈◊〉 flowre nor fruite yet it hath life and sâ—…ppe at the roote which 〈◊〉 the spring time will ascend vp and appeare Secondly God respecteth rather the qualitie of faith then the quantitie if it be a true faith though as little as a graine of Mustard séede God accepteth of it for one drop and dramme of faith is of mâ—…e force to saue then an Ocean sea of sinne and corruption to condemne Thirdly and lastly faith without present ioy and feeling is more forcible and preuailing then faith with it for it onely relyeth vpon Gods power truth and promises yea when God sheweth himselfe an enemie to vs and séemeth to kill vs we by it beléeue in God and by faith waite on him whereas it is an easie matter for a man in the apprehension of sensible comfort and ioy to beléeue The fourth obiection The sick-man But the fearfull iudgments of God such as of late years haue bin that most infâ—…tious and destroying pestilence the horrible and vn-matchable Gunne-powder treason the vnheard of breach of the sea and inundation of waters the late extreame and killing frost this present pinching and vnexpected dearth vnseasonable wether and many other publike and priuate iudgements vpon Church and common-wealth which I sée and heare of doe much dismay mée and cause me to doubt of Gods mercy Minister A. True it is that these and diuerse other punishments haue béene executed vpon vs for the neglect yea contempt of the blessed word of God and the powerfull ministerie of it for our want of zeale against the enimies of the truth for prophanation of the Sabboth for oppression of the poore for blasphemie for hypocrisie and for licentious liuing c. But notwithstanding if there be but one good man in a generation hée shall not for the multitude of transgressors be depriued of Gods mercies but finde comfort in the greatest plagues and punishments whatsoeuer Secondly though being once by faith ingrafted and incorporated into Christ yea and maried vnto Christ the author and fountaine of life and happinesse thou canst neuer miscarry nor perish For euen as the Disciples in the ship when a mighty storme for their triall and demonstration of Christs power was raised vp could not possibly perish the Lord of glory being there present in the ship so hauing Christ the Lord of glory dwelling in thine heart by his spirit how canst thou do amisse or why should thou doubt of Gods mercifull prouidence who ordereth all things for thy good The fift Obiection The sick man But my great vnworthinesse and vnthankfulnesse maketh me to suspect and feare that God will not performe that hée hath promised nor finish the good worke that he hath begun in me Minister A. This is indéed a gréeuous temptation yea the sorest of all others but this cannot hinder God from performing his promises For as the making of his couenant of grace with vs and the offer of his sauing promises vnto vs procéeded onely from his frée goodnesse and méere mercie without any respect to our workes or worthinesse so the accomplishing of his promises is to be onely ascribed to the same grace and goodnesse Thirdly as hath before bin particularized not the greatest â—…rmers and offenders in the old and new Testament haue euer by reason of their owne vnworthinesse bin denyed or depriued of Gods mercies but vpon confession of their sinnes desire of pardon and the purpose and beginning of amendment of life were pardoned and receiued into Gods euerlasting fauour Q. Is it necessarily then required of vs that we confesse and acknowledge our owne vnworthinesse A. Yes without question for hereby we are made capable of Gods mercies and blessings God doth depresse the proud and exalt the humble he filleth the hungry soule with goodnesse but the rich in their owne conceit onely hée sendeth away emptie Luke 1. 52. 15. and Christ was sent not to call the righteous in their owne opinion but sinners in their owne sense and confession to repentance Q. Séeing that God doth not simply forsake or cast off any for his vnworthinesse what vse make you of this point A. We must learne hence neuer to call Gods mercy truth and goodnesse into question but we must make it the foundation of our confidence and hope for it is vnchangeable infinite and euerlasting and thus dooing we shall haue no cause to feare euill but to looke to finde all good things in Christ our treasure husband and head The fourth Chapter Of Death and the cause of it Question VVHen the sick person is once perswaded of the pardon of his sinnes for the time past and present what further duty remaineth to be performed A. He is to be prepared and armed against the feare of death the assaults of Satan and the â—…errour of the last iudgement 〈◊〉 Q. Now that hée may bée prepared and armed against death what points are to be considered A. Seauen points specially I. what death is II. The certainty of it III. The causes and kindes of it IV. The exceptions that are taken against it V. The benefits of it VI. The preparation and furniture against it And VII what disposition and behauiour is required in death it selfe Of these in order Chapter the fift Of death his causes and kindes Question VVHat is death A. It is the taking away of life or the dissolution and separation of the soule from the body ordeined of God and for the punishment of sinne imposed vpon Adam and all his posteritie Rom. 6. 23. 1. Cor. 15. 21. Col. 2. 13. Q Doth God yet impose death as a punishment A. Yes for euery man sinneth and the very infante is not without originall corruption and therefore all must of necessity no persons order or degrée excepted at length die the temporall death Eccle. 3. ve 3. Psal. 49. v. 10. Heb 9. 27. Q. What is the procuring and deseruing cause of death Ans. Sinne whereby man brake Gods commandement Q. How was sinne first brought into the world A. Satan in the forme of a serpent perswaded Eue to eate of the forbidden aple Eue assenting to satan did eate of it and gaue it to Adam who harkned to her and thus they both of them sinned and brought death vpon themselues and all their posterity Q Why then were not Adam and
Ergo we must not looke to haue our rest and heauen here Fourthly they that dote and surfet vpon these earthly and out-ward things are void of faith hope and repentance and so perish and therefore it is better willingly to forgoe these things then to bee vndone by them Lastly we must looke for true and euerlasting honour the pretious and proper riches sincere and neuer discontenting pleasure in the paradice of heauen onely and bid auant to these earthly matters when they hinder vs in the course of Godlinesse and most destrously forsake them when the Lord by death calleth vs to the kingdome of glory and the felicity thereof Que. Ought a man to feare death Ans. He ought partly to feare it and partly not to feare it Questi Why must a man feare death An. First because it is the destruction of nature and a paineful correction Ques What vse is to be made hereof Ans. We must feare sinne that is the cause thereof and acknowledge Christ an enemy to it and offended with sinne Que. What is the second reason why we must feare death An. Because by the death of the Godly the Church or common wealth suffereth losse and we are beréeued of the saffe and stay of our comfort 2. Reg. 2. Qu. What if a man in death sée no way how to escape Satans temptation Ans He must close his eyes commit his cause to God and put on the spirituall armour of faith hope and the word of God Que. What if a Godly man doubt and his flesh tremble to enter into another life Ans. We must not yeeld to these temtations but resist them and our spirit is to be commended into Gods hand and then Christ with all his Angells will come and bee our guide to eternall life Secondly we must stoutly vndergo it and meditate vpon Christs sufferings and the issue and end wil be happy deliuerance Que. What if Satan contrarywise laboureth to expell all feare to make a man careles and laboureth to perswade him as he did maister Knoxe to rest in an opinion of his owne merits and so would puffe him vp with pride arrogancy Ans. He must consider and confesse that his owne righteousnes is foule and deformed he must resist and withstand that temptation and attribute all the glory of his saluation to God alone Que. In what and for what causes must we not feare death Ans. For fiue causes first because we haue hence a cause and an occasion to shew our subiection obedience to God Secondly because we are fréed from sin which is a principal part of our glorification Thirdly because the very body lying in the graue is refreshed against labours and is deliuered from death and misery and shall rise againe in glory Fourthly it conueieth translateth the soule vnto eternall life wher God is perfectly serued it hath blessed fellowship with Christ and all the Angells and Saints of heauen Lastly because by death GOD purgeth and disburdneth his Church of euil men Qu. Séeing that death is the cause of so great good to the godly may a man lawfully desire it An. Yes so that it be not of impatiency or desperation Secondly Iob many others haue desired death again again and are not therfore reproued Qu. May a man simply desire death An. No truly but a man must walke in his calling and standing so long as it shall please God For the godly had rather liue to sette forth Gods glory theÌ„ for their owne temporall commodity Qu. In what respects is death to bée desired An. So farre forth as it is a meane to frée and deliuer vs from the burden and contagion of sinne and from the miseryes and troubles of this life Secondly as it is a meane and instrument to the manifest vision of God and to the immediate fellowshippe of God and Christ. Lastly our desire must bee moderate and agréeable to Gods will and good pleasure Quest. May a man contrariwise desire long life An. Yes so the end and scope of his life be to doe acceptable seruice to God and to further and maintaine Gods religion and glory and labour to help and forward other mens faith c. Phil 1. 24. 25. Quest. If the death of the godly bée so blessed what shall wee thinke of the death of the wicked An. It is altogether accursed and fearefull Que. Why so Ans. First because it is the dissolution of nature and the wages of sinne Secondly for that by reason of Gods iustice pursuing the wicked in euery place and because they haue no peace of conscience death is to them the beginning of euerlasting damnation For they féele no mitttigation of theyr gréefe in death nor haue so much as the least hope and expectation of ease and deliuerance Qu. What is the conclusion and sum of all that hath bin said An. Wee must striue and continually indeauour to liue and dye well and godly that wée may bee blessed both in life and death and that we when this earthly life and pilgrimage is ended may liue and triumph for euer with our Lord Iesus in heaueâ—… which the Lord in mercy graunt and effect Amen A prayer to be vsed of a sick man O Lord GOD great and fearefull iust in thy iudgements intollerable in thy displeasure and yet bottomlesse in thy mercies kéeping couenant and mercy to them that loue thée and obey thy commandements I poore wretched sinner that am but dust earth and ashes vnworthy of the least of mercies and most iustly deseruing all temporall and eternal iudgements doe here present and prostrate my selfe before thy throane of grace And I fréely confesse vnto thée that I am conceiued borne in originall corruption prone vnto al wickednes vntoward backward to any goodnes ful of alimperfections that I haue by mine actuall transgressions which are many mighty broken all thy holy lawes and CoÌ„mandements and that therefore amongst many other euils this present sicknesse ache pain and weakenesse is deseruedly come thée my purposes and vowes of obedience and thansgiuing doe better and further seruice vnto thy Maiestie and be the more prepared for thy Kingdome But if it be thy will decrée and pleasure by this sicknesse to finish my daies I then intreat thy good Maiestie to renue me in the inner man as the outward man decayeth and grant that as the bodie dyeth so thy grace may liue and grow in me open the eyes of my vnderstanding that I may know what the hope is of my heauenly calling and the riches of the glorious inheritance that thou haste laid vp in store for me that by this meanes I may dye in the true faith of Christ in willing obedience to thy Maiesty and in thy fauour and loue of my neighbour and so when this life endeth I may beginne a better and dwell with thée and with all the triumphant company of Saintes and Angels praise and magnifie thy name for euer Blesse