or councell love and prayers God I beseech who art the fountain of all goodnesse and the deep Sea of love requite your love into your bosomes God hath always used to be kind and good to them who do commâ—t â—hemselves wholly to his fatherly providence Obedience is a singular vertue and indeed such an one as all others have resplendency from it Patience is that one thing that is necessary for sick men Humility is an excellent jewell and conâ—empt of a mans own self Poverty is acceptable to Christ but the Queen of graces is Charity Yet amongst all these me thinks a sure confidence in God is of singular efficacie and a plenary resignation of a mans self unto the Divine Providence which Gods Word so highly commends which the Kingly Prophet so often speaks of which last of all Christ himself by so many arguments taken from the Flowers and the Fowles doth endeavour to perswade to None can ever know the streng h of this confidence nor that tranquillity which follows no nor can believe it but he who at all times in everything little or great fully hath believed in and trusted himselfe into Gods hand And I am perswaded that never was there man who did so referre himself wholly to God who hath not found singular and secret comfort within himself by it Let us trust to and rely on God And give our selves wholly to be disposed of by his infinite wisdom Hee will provide for us he will take care for us You see now how I am cited to appear at Gods Tribunall and must now give an account for 60 yeers carriage All mine deeds words thoughts are manifest and open to that Judge Noâ—hing ah nothing can be hid from him all the Acts of my passed life shall now be sentenced O how I tremble For it is a fearfull thing to stand before his Tribunall Yet in this great streight I have something to comfort me although I be an unjust and naughty servant yet I have a good Lord nay infinitely good which though I have bin sinfull yet I am his servant so commending my selfe inâ—o his hands and my soul to his mercy I bid adiew to you all wishing you al to have a care to your lives here that wee may once againe meet in the Kingdome of Glory Farewell § 24. What a dying man should always speak and meditate in his heart IN thy sicknesse ô good Christian being asked how thou doest how thou feelest thy selfe c. take heed to thy answers that thou utterest let them be such as these As God pleaseth as it seemeth good to the Lord so is come to passe according to Gods good will and pleasure I am well that is best so God sees it good Let his will be done in earth as it is in heaven and that ô sick man and dying man that thou mayest have this familiarly in thy mouth and heart use these three short Prayers 1 The Lord be blessed for ever and ever 2 Have mercy upon mee ô Lord after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies though I be lesse then the least of all thy mercies 3 O my Lord and my God I offer my self to thy good will and pleasure Thy will 〈◊〉 Lord be done Amen Some in the time of their sicknesse have had these prayers set before their faces in great Characters lying in their beds that night and day they might the more readily remember and use them Our Prayers are our Fore-runners to God let us our selves learn of our Harbingers the right way that so we may follow readâ—ly whensoever the Lord Eternall shall call us hence § 25. Things to be specially observed by a dying man 1 LEt hâ—m not rely upon but renounce his owne merits let him cast himselfe and all his sins into the boundlesse Ocean of Gods infinite mercy and compassion 2 Let him be sure to stand fast in the bosome of the holy Catholike Church and let him receive the blessed Sacrament seasonably it being his viaticum and the food of his soul 3 Let him withdraw all his affections and love from fading and transitory things and let his heart be united to God his heavenly Father Let him long for the promised Canaan that there hee may for ever offer prayse to God his Creatour 4 Let him offer up himselfe a lively sacrifice to the glory of God for his most blessed will to bear out of true love all the bitternesse and anguishment and all the pangs of death though for a long time and though hee might live longer yet for the love of God he refers himself to his wise disposing either for life or death 5 Let him never forget the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ Let him not rest till hee be united to Christ in his death and let him in the depth of all his sufferings imitate our Saviour to commend his soul into his fathers hands that so as hee is made conformable to Christ in his death hee may be likewise in his Resurrection But above all it is most safe for the dying man that what hee would have to be his last words and actions that hee begin to doe them in the state of his health § 26. What a dying man must doe LVdovicus Blosius a man of a most holy life who refused an Archbishoprick when it was offered him by Charles the fiâ—th Emperour whose life may be seen by his works amongst many other worthy pieces hee gives a dying man these Instructions following Being asked what a dying man should doe if hee had liv'd long in grievous sinnes answered though I should have lived forty yeers in my sinnes and now my death approaching if I shall truly acknowledge them and be heartily sorry for them from the bottome of my heart and resolve against them all for time to come if I have but so much time to put my self into Gods hands and truly turn to him without all hypocrisie and dissembling I shall depart hence holy and innocent and shall finde God a mercifull Father unto me and adds a short sweet Prayer for a sick man O Lord I am that miserable wretch whom Thou of thy Fatherly goodnesse hast created and by the most shamefull death of thy onely begotten Son hast redeemed from the power of the Enemy Thou Lord Thou onely shalt rule in me save me therefore ô Lord for thy infinite mercy throuâ—h Jesus Christ in whom I do believe to have immortality and glory Amen These are Abridgments to die well hee who knows how to be ready for death comprizeth all § 27. Refreshments for a sick man GO my people enter inâ—o your chambers shut the dores to you hide your selves for a while for a moment untill my indignation be passed over Isa 26.20 In my anger have I hid my face from you for a moment but in everlasting mercies will I have compassion on you saith the Lord your Redeemer Isay 54.8 Why art thou so heavy ô my soule and
with his mouth open which partly upheld one of the Pillars Hereupon hee with jesting and laughter told his dreame to his fellows Behold saith hee this is the Lion that kild mee in my dreame with that saying Hee put his hand into the hollow place of the stone-lions mouth and said Oh fierce Lion here is thy enemy shut thy mouth if thou beest able and bite off my hand hee had scarce made an end of speaking but hee received his fatall blow for in the bottome of that hollow place lay hid a Scorpion which feeling his hand put forth her sting touch'd him and he forthwith fell downe dead Is it so that stones can sting and poyson lurke in a Lion of stone Where may wee then not justly feare deaths stroke in the like manner did Hylas perish whom a lurking Viper in the chops of a Beare of stone did kill which is express'd by Martiall in his third Book and nineteenth Epigram What need I to mention the young man who was kild as hee was going into an house by an Icesicle which fell upon his head from the House-eaves Whom Martiall laments in his Epigrams Lib. 4. Ep. 18. So that you see many are the passages that Death hath to set upon us and usually he is then nearest when we least think of him §. 21. An Antidote against sudden Death GOod Reader here is annexed a short Prayer that I propose unto thee as a pattern for thee to use daily to entreat the Lord JESUS CHRIST to preserve thee from sudden death It is at thine owne liberty whether thou wilt use that or some other every day I made it that thou mightst on thy knees beg this great blessing of thy Saviour and know thus much such is the danger and so common that no man can be too wary or carefull over himself A Prayer O Most loving and bountifull Lord Iesus my Lord and my GOD I most ardently dâ—sire thee by thy most precious bloud shedding by thy last words upon the Crosse when thou cryedst My God my Godâ— why hast thou forsaken mee by those bl ssed words of thine when thou saidst Father into thy hands I commend my spirit that thou wouldst not take mee away by violent death Thy hands oh blessed Redeemer made me and fashioned mee oh give me understanding and I shall live oh make not so soon aâ—end of me give me I beseech thee time of Repentance grant that I may end in thy favour that I may love thee with all my heart and prayse and blesse thy Name for ever AMEN NEverthelesse all things good Lord are in thy disposing neither is there any that can resist thy will my life depends upon thy good pleasure neither doe I will as I please but resigne my wil to thy most godly governance in what place time or by what sicknesse thou wilt strike mee Thy will be done I doe commend all these to thy fatherly goodnesse and providence I except no place no time no disease though bitter and grievous because Thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused mee to be troubled onely this one thing do I crave of Thee not to take me away in my sins by some hastie Messenger but how ever not my will but thine O Lord be done if it seemes good to thy heavenly wisdome quickly to make an end of mee I submit thy will Oh God be done in all things For even then I hope through thy tender mercies to depart in peace and in thy favour in which though I do die by the hand of sudden death yet nothing shall separate thy love from my soul The just though taken away by death goes but to his rest Sap. 4.7 Death is not sudden to him that is alwayes provided Which if there be not a longer space and time left to me in which I may commend my soule to thee which is onely knowne to thee behold then now I doe it and doe ardently and heartily call unto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice and let my cry come unto thee Have mercy upon me O Lord according to thy infinite mercies Let thy will be done in earth as it is heaven Into thy hands O Lord doe I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O Lord God of truth All things living prayse and blesse thee O God In thee O Lord have I put my trust let mee not be put to confusion §. 22. That our days are few and evill HOw old art thou Sixty how many yeeres aged art thou seventy tell mee also oh man how old art thou fourescore Alas good men where are these yeeres where are thy sixty where hast thou left thy threescore and ten and where oh man wilt thou find thy fourescore why number yee those that are lost and spent Elegantly said Laelius that wise man to a man that said I have sixty yeeres in hold thou doest said he reckon that which thou hast not neither those that are past nor what is to come is thine wee depend upon a moment of fleeting time and even a little time is of great consequence Gen. 47.8 9. Pharaoh the Egyptian King asking the Patriarch Iacob how old hee was old Iacob answer'd The dayes of the yeeres of thy servants pilgrimage are few and evill Hearken you earthly Tantalussâ—s which so eagerly thirst after the extended yeeres of a perishing life Know that you are strangers here not inhabitants passengers not dwellers travellers not natives nor are you travellers in a long continuing journey your way as it is evill so it is short short it is perhaps to be ended before the conclusion of the next houre which you divide with death evill any knows it to be that are in it It offers more braâ—bles than Roses to go upon Miserable and vaine that we are what advantage is it for a stranger to load himselfe with pâ—bbles and fading flowers and for them to lose his heavenly inheritance what hinderance or losse is it to leave these if we get immortalitie and glory to labour in the way to provoke to good workes to sweat in them to endure any troubles or molestation is to bee counted gaine The more harsh our banishment is the more welcome will our Country be §. 23. That a young man may die old AS old men at length become as children so there may be many young may be said to be old men Old Balaam a man of threescore yeers and ten answered Josaphat the King asking him how old he was that hee was fortie and five and told the King wâ—ndring at his woâ—ds that hee had beene quiet at his study twenty five yeeres as for the rest which hee had spent upon worldly vanities hee did verily believe all those to be utterly lost so one Similius which was as it were buried in Court affaires had rather liv'd for his Emperour than for himself caused this to be engraved upon his Sepulchre Here lyes buried Similius an old man of seven yeeres of age
said it Remember thy promise made to thy servant wherin thou hast caused mee to put my trust It is my comfort in my trouble and say thou with Ieremiah the Prophet But I have not thrust in my selfe for a Pastor after thee Ier. 17.16 17. Be not thou terrible unto me Thou art my hope in the â—ay of adversitie And also heare him elswhere Ier. 31.16 17. Refraine thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from teares for thy work shall be rewarded and there is hope in thine end Iob 13. â—5 17 12 Iob was most confident in this Though hee kill me yet will I trust in him And when hee was at the threshold of death he saith I have changed the night for the day And in Ecclesiasticus it is said Ecclus 2.11 12 13. Know yee that none that trust in the Lord hath been confounded for who hath abode in his Commandements and was forsaken And who hath called upon him and hath been rejected Because the Lord is holy and mercifull and will forgive in the day of afflâ—ction Hee is the protectour of all such as seek him in verity Osee 12.6 And the Prophet Hosea cries out Trust in thy God for ever for they that trust in him shall not be confounded seeing the Lord is good to all that feare him even to the soule that trusts in him Lam. 3.26 27. It is good both to trust in and to waite for the salvation of the Lord for truly the Lord is good and as a strong hold in the day of trouble and hee knoweth all that trust in him Nahum 1.7 And wee also know that when he shall appeare we shall be l ke him for we shall see him as he is 1 Iohn 3.2 3. And every one that hath this hope in him purgeth himselfe even as he is pure Have thou therefore thy hope fixed upon Gods goodnesse for he will not forsake him Psal 116.9 that hopes in him But as David speaks Wee shall see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living § 22. Tranquillity flows from true hope Ps 116.7 REturn unto thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath beene gracious unto thee Why faintest thou in such variety of laborious travels behold the Lord is present to put an end to all thy pains leave off therefore ô my soule to be any longer willingly miserable and to waste thy selfe with such fruitlesse toyles sicknesse and death are the beginnings of rest to thee thou mayest say perhaps they are hard beginnings it is true they are so but thou knowest after stormy weather usually come the greatest calmes so here thy â—est thus purchased is rest eternall Now perhaps Good-Friday wearies thee but thou doest know that Easter is nigh for aye to last Goe on and partake willingly some share of labour and sorrow thou expects an Haven to arrive in not onely out of this troublesome World but into that which is eternall in Heaven Though thy labours be but in thy apprehension now begun yet they are sufficiently done when hee to whom thou hast laboured accounts them so Thou therefore ô my soule leave off vanity and turn thee to thy God who hath done great things for thee Count if thou canst all his benefits thou mayest sooner reckon the sands on the shore by which his favours he hath laid open away to thy eternall felicitie Saint Bernard commended that chiefly to his before his death That they would firmly fix the Anchor of their hopes in the safe bosome of Gods mercy Let us have therefore that Verse of that sweet Singer daily in our mouthes In thee O Lord have I put my trust let mee never be confounded deliver mee in thy righteousnesse § 23. Patience is the whole armour of a Christian. DEmosthenes being asked what was the chiefe ornament and grace of Eloquence answered Action being asked what was next to that answered Action being asked the third time replyed Action so that as he gave the prime grace and credit to Action so hee made it the onely grace of Rhetorick If I should be asked what is the chiefest thing requisite for a sick man I would say and rightly too Patience if it should be asked what is the most profitable for him I would answer againe Patience If again the third time what is the most decent thing for a sick man I would repeat the same and say Patience This deserves all the credit shee should not onely weare the first but also the second and third Bayes Let us see what repute the divine Oracles bestow upon Patâ—ence our Saviour saith Luke 2â— 19. By patience possesse your souls nor doth S. Paul say little lesse Ye have need of Patience that when yee have done the worke Heb. 10.36 you might receive the promise And Saint James Let Patience have her perfect work Would you any more ô impatient man Acts 14.27 By many tribulations wee must enter iâ— tâ— the Kingdome of God Where the thorne pâ—icks thee will grow a Rose to crowne thee Truth it self proclaymes it Whosoever shâ—ll not take up his crosse and come after Lu. 14.25 he cannot be my Disciple Admiâ— theâ—efoâ—e the Councell of Saint Augustine Suffer what thou wouldest not Aug. in Psal 6. â—hat thou mayest enjoy that which thou wouldest Salomon beats upon the same Prov. 3.11 12. Despise not the correction of the Lord and faint not when thou art chastened of him For whom the Lord loves hee corrects and takes pleasure in him as in a sonne God delighteth not in destruction but after a storme bringeth a calme and for teares rejoycing the Name of the God of Israel be praysed for ever Therefore blessed are yee that weep Lu. 6.21 for yee shall be comforted The furnace tryes the vessels of the potter and so doth the tentation of tribulation righ eous men Wherefore ô my sick man compose thy selfe to all patience Patience is chiefly necessary for thee before any other thing Thy meat perhaps rellisheth ntowith thee Patience will digest all It is common and one of the first things that befall sickmen to lose their palates their sleep may be short and interrupted Patience will give ease and rest Doe sicke men slâ—epe so well as healthy doe paines torment patience doth mitigaâ—e â—re thy attendants negligent in their duties usefull then is Patience To satisfie a sickman in all things is very difficult Perhaps there may want apt Comforters Oh then embrace patience Thy Lord Christ is the onely Comforter though many things be wanting which may seeme necessary possesse but thy selfe with this one rich cordiall and all will be well all will be quiet Ioachim Elector of Brandenburgh comming to visit Charles the fifth Emperor being troubled with the Gout did admonish the Emperour to use the help of Physicians to whom Charles the Emperour replyed The best remedy for this sore is Patience and so truly the onely remedy and the whole
desire ô God I desire to worke in thy Vineyard to indure cold heat wearinesse vexation the Crosse I desire to suffer hunger oâ— thirst or any molestation any heavines or misery for thy sake I have learnt this by the Example of an holy man who when he was visited with more sorrow and sicknes then was usuall he was admonished by another friend of his to entâ—eat God to deale more favourably with him to whom he answered as it were in anger but that I perceive your simplicitie I should have put you from my company for saying such words And pâ—esently hee cast himselfe upon the Earth I give thee thanks ô God for these things which thou hast sent mee to suffer Enlarge my sorrows multiply my pains send mee an hundred diseases I know for certaine thou wilt with all these gâ—ve mee patience What can I say but this thing onely It is too litâ—le that I suffer ô God adde if it be thy good pleasure more and more to them I have deserved farre more bitter stripes then thou ô mercifull God hast yet inflicted Here ô Lord spare me not burn me cut me teare me in pieces onely save me hereafter If I had an hundred bodies I would adorne so many crosses wiâ—h them for thy sake that I may please thee ô kinde Father that I may be but numbred with thy Saints in Glory Everlasting I weigh not what paines and miseries I here undergo and suffer a thousand without any exception so I may gain thee Let thy will ô God be fully done For I know that thy service is perfect freedome to whom both the will and the deed are acceptable and how often dost accept the will for the deed and rewardest it equally I am now by thy appointment ô Lord call'd to rest my night comes in which I cannot worke Yet although this my disease takes away from mee the power of working yet it deprives mee not of the will I will ô Lord I will and while breath or life continue for thy love I am ready and willing to doe or suffer as the holy Martyrs and pious Christians have done and suffered before me Say onely ô Lord what wilt thou me have doe What must I suffer for I offer a whole World full of good desires to thee I will goe to the utmost parts of the Earth nay with readâ—nesse and willingnesse to the Indies the tops of Mountains shall not let mee the great Valleys shall not deterre mee I will climbe these travell through those the vast heaps of snow shal not stop me nor the lofty waves I will passe through both Nor rocks nor fire scornings reproaches disgraces shame accusations all these none of these shall be able to deterre my course for suffering in thy cause nor will I for thy love ô Eternall Wisdom think much to be counted a fool I will glory in the title it is not blows nor death which I will decline for thy sake Nothing shall be too hard nothing too bitter nothing unpleasant nothing impossible where the cords of thy love doe draw my soule I shall goe through with all incumbrances with all oppositions by thy aid and assistance and what I cannot doe by strength I will performe in desires wherein my hands or feet shall faile thither will I goe in desire in affection But all these wishes and willings if â—hey be brought to action will they unlock and open Heaven gates If I shall bring forth all these specious fruits shall I then be worthy to be in the presence of God Ah! ô my Lord God! though I suffer and doe whatsoeuer thy holy Saints have done and suffered or what they would have done or suffered yet shal I not be worthy to abide in thy sight one moment how much lesse then when as I doe but offer up to thee these small and emptie desires By what means then shall I make my way ready for heaven ôh infinite Goodnesse if thou shalt not have mercy upon mee I am undone for ever I shall never be admitted into Heaven if thy mercy excludes me There is therfore this one sanctuary and this one refuge remayning to mee to save me from thy anger and just indignation Thy mercy ô Lord is that vast Ocean and immense Sea into this I will throw my self whensoever death shall cast me from the little Hillock of this world and also while I do possesse this little Tabernacle I will freely and wholly cast my selfe into that bottomlesse Sea of thy infinite mercies beiâ—g fully assured that herein I shall be safe from all the flames and flashes of Hell fire I cry out therefore with King David Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodnesse according to the multiude of thy tender mercies blot out all mine offâ—nces Wash mee throughly from my wickednesse and cleanse mee from my sinne So also in my greatest extremitie in my last and uttermost houre of my life when my soule must goe forth from her old decayed house with all my ardentest and earnestenst desires I will and wish that one thing yea while I live and am wel in health deliberately and affectionately I thirst after those pleasant Rivers of waters yea at my gaspe I desire thaâ— my sigh may signifie so much to men anâ— Angels that I onely cry and sigh for this one favour al â—hy hands Have mercy upon me ô GOD after thine own goodnesse according to the multitude of thy tender compassions c. § 31. The sick mans sure and true confidence in God IT is a serious businesse and no childish art to die and well may the sicke man bee asked wilt thou wholly commit thy selfe to the hazard of Eternitie thou entrest into an unknowne way and whither wilt thou come to whâ—ch the sick may answer 〈◊〉 not to mutter as those wretches who say I am compeld I must but rather in an upright course let him say I doe willingly and wholly give my soule so I commit my selfe to Eternity so I depart hence joyfully So even so let healthy men say and think but especially such as are ready to die both these may truly say hitherto I have begun to die onely now I doe so Now I begin my journey to Eternity and because Gods mercy knows no end and exceeds all measure I goe on without dread In thee ô Lord have I put my trust let mee never be put to confusion I hope never never ô Lord and though there be a thousand witnesses out of the sacred Writt to confirme my hope in this point yet let mee not despise the excellent Councell which that Roman wise man affords That we should think of Death and the returne from Death Thus the Ancients have delivered their minds When that day shall come which shall separate my soule from my body I shall leave this body where I found it but I my selfe shall be restored to God Neither am I now without him onely I am detained by this heavy earthy body of
why art thou so disquieted within me still trust in God for I will yet give him thanks who is the light of my countenance and my God Psal 42.6 7. We are the children of his Saints and we do expect that life which God will give to those that keep the faith It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones should perish Matth. 18.14 So God loved the World that hee gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 Now if any man sin wee have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and hee is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sinnes of the whole world 1 John 2 1. Verily verily I say unto you whosoever heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent mee hath life eternall and shall not come into judgment but shal passe from death to life John 5.24 All that my Father hath given to me shall come unto mee and hee that commeth to me I cast not out of doors Verily verily I say unto you who so believeth in mee hath eternall life John 6 37. 47. I am the resurrection and the life Whosoever believeth in mee yea though he were dead yet shal he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall not die eternally John 11.15 26. In my Fathers house are many Mansions John 14 2. If God be for us who can be against us who also spared not his own Sonne but gave him for us how then shall hee not give us all things with him Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God who justifies Who shall condemne It is Iesus Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen again and sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession for us Rom 8 31. usque ad 35. None of us live unto our selves nor none die unto our selves whether wee live wee live unto the Lord or whether we die we die unto the Lord whâ—ther therefore wee live or die we are the Lords Rom. 14 7 8. We know that if this earthly house of our dwelling be dissolved wee have a building from God an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens and for this wee sigh desiring to be put on with our house which is from heaven that if we be clothed we shal not be found naked 2 Co 5.1 2 3 Now shall Christ be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death for Christ is to me both in life and death advantage But to be with Christ is much better Phil. 1.20 21 23 Our conversation is in heaven from whence we look for a Saviour even our Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1.15 Whosoever endureth to the end shall be saved Matth 24 13. Be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee the crowne of life Apoc. 2.10 These are pure and coole streams and fountains to asswage the heat of sin and fear of death Hee swims safely who baths himself in these waters of comfort § 28. Holy Ejaculations and Prayers of a dying man HOly Eligius a little before his death embracing his friends with teares spoke thus unto them Farewell all yee and suffer me from henceforth to rest Earth must return to earth the Spirit will finde the way to God that gave it So holding up his hands and eyes to heaven prayed so a good while and at last burst forth into these words Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word Remember Lord that thou hast made mee as earth Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified O remember mee thou Redeemer of the World who onely art without sin and bringing mee from the body of this death place mee in thy Kingdom I know I doe not deserve to see thy face and tast thy favour but thou knowest that all my hopes have bin in thy all-saving mercies and now ô Christ dying in the confession of thy holy Name I doe render my last breath my soule into thy safe keeping Receive me ô Lord according to thy great mercies and let mee not be confounded in my hope open to mee the gate of life and let not the powers of darknes hold me Let thy right hand bring me into thy resting place and let me enjoy one of those Mansions which thou hast prepared for those tha love and feare thee And having thus prayed hee departed Oh could wee follow the example of this holy man let us therefore call upon Christ in these or the like words Enlighten mine eyes ô Iesus that I sleep not in death lest that mine enemy say unto mee I have prevailed against him Psal 13 4. O Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the living God put I pray thee thy Passion Crosse and meritorious death betwixt thy judgment and my poore soule O Remember not Lord our old sins but have mercy upon us and that soon for wee are come to great misery Psal 77.8 Oh m st sweet Jesus Christ our Lord for the honour and vertue of thy most blessed Passion make me to be numbred with thy Saints in glory everlasting Enter not into judgment ô sweet Iesu with thy servant for in thy sighâ— shall no flesh living be justified and then let him utter these words I worship thee ô Lord Iesus Christ and blesse thy name for thou by thy holy Crosse and Passion hast redeemed the World O thou Saviour of the World save mee which by thy bitter Crosse and precious bloud hast redeemed me Draw mee unto thee ô Iesus who didst say When I am lifted up from the earth I shall draw all men unto me O most meâ—cifull Iesus I pray thee by thy precious bloud which thou sheddest for sinners to blot out all my offences O let thy bloud purifie me let thy body ô Christ save mee wash mee in thy bloud and let thy passion confirme my soule ô good Iesu heare me hide me in thy wounds suffer me not to be separated from thee in the houre of death call me bid me to come unto thee that I with all the rest of the glorious Saints may prayse thee O my gracious Redeemer I do wholly give up my self unto thee Cast mee not out from thy presence I come unto thee reject me not Cast me not out of thy sight and take not thy holy Spirit from mee Oh let not my iniquity cast me away whom thy goodnesse did create As death approacheth neerer so let the dying man pray thus O God according to thy will so let thy mercy come unto me bid ô God that my spirit may
ever dwell with thee Oh let that voice sound in my eares To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Lord Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word For mine eyeâ— have seen thy salvation Oh loving Iesus what is thine own I beseech thee to take O Lord Iesu Make mee to be numbred with thyne Elect. O Iesus thou Son of Dauid have mercy upon mee Lord be thou my helper Make haste ô Lord Iesus to come and help me O Lord Iesus receive my spirit Amen § 29. The dying mans confidence in GOD. HEre I doe confidently with S. Bernard confesse and say let others pretend their Merits and others that they can and have borne the heat of the day yet I hold it good to keepe close to the mercy of God and to put my confidence in the Lord. And though I am conscious to my selfe that my former life hath been full of sin so that I deserve to be cast off by Gods justice yet will I never leave off to trust in his infinite goodnesse and â—hat as hitherto his al-sufficient Grace hath administred strength â—o my weaknesse so the same will â—et give me strength and power to â—eare all things patiently and wilâ—ingly And this my patience â—hough small and little helped by â—he assistance of his Grace whiâ—h doth infinitely exceed my thoughts will mitigate my pains and will bestow that eternall reward upon me in Heaven This one thing ô God will I desire of thee that thou wouldst never suffer me to fall from relying upon thy goodnesse although I know my self to be weak and undeserving Yea though I should come to that casting down and terrours that I did seem even to be utterly lost and left yet I would call to mind that Apostle of thine Saint Peter that was ready to sink at the first blast of winde and to fall from his faith and I would then even doe as hee did call upon thee and say Lord save mee and even then would I hope that thou wouldst stretch forth thy hand and helpe mee but yet if thou shouldst permit mee to be harder beset then Peter which I pray thee not to suffer ô Lord yet I neverthelesse do hope that thou wouldst looke upon mee with the eyes of thy mercy and that thou wouldst turne and behold mee as thou didst Peter when he had denied thee and that thou wouldst not suffer thy whole displeasure to arise but that thou wouldst help me and deliver my soul This I know assuredly that God will not forsake me without my fault I know that of Saint Augustine to be most true God can free and hath done for many great things without any desert of theirs because he is Good but yet he never condemn'd one without great demerits because he is just Therefore in great trust and confidence I do wholly rely upon him if for my sins he suffers me to perish yet his justice shall be glorified but I hope and certainly doe hope that his mercifull goodnesse will keep my soul that so rather his mercy may be praysed then his justice nothing can fal upoÌ„ me but what God will Now whatsoever hee wils though it may seeme harsh and evill yet is truly good Whatever ô God thou wilt I will the same altogether I will ô God I will § 30. The last words of a Dying man AVgustus the Emperour when hee dyed dedicated his last wordes to his Empresse Livia Livia said hee be all thy life long mindfull of our Marriage farewell How much trulier may Christians dedicate their last speeches to their Lord and Master Iesus Christ saying O Lord Remember the time since my soul was espoused to thee in holy wedlock Dionysius the Areopagite an holy man of life being condemned to lose his head â—earing the sentence of death with a generous resolution contemning the scoffâ— of the multitude repeated the last words of our Saviour Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Saint Basil the Great at the close of his life when as he had furnishd all them about him with excellent admonitions spoke the same words unto Christ as the former Martyr had done Saint Bernard as if he should shew to the sick man Christ Iesus Oh thou Christian saith hee despair not of thy sicknes Christ hath told thee what thou art to say in all the hazards of death to whom to flie to to whom to call on In whom to hope even in God the Father which cannot despise the prayers of them that trust in him doe thou therefore such works in the time of thy sicknesse that thou mayest truly say In thee ô Lord have I put my trust let me not be confounded Therefore let the last words of the dying man be directed to God to him our prayers to him let goe all our desires Let all our hopes terminate in him let him receive our last sighes let the dying man say thus from his heart To thee ô Lord doe I looke up to thee I lift up my eyes to thee I direct my prayers § 32. The conforming of our wils to Gods will is of great value especially at the end of our lives LVdovicus Blosius gives this advice for the conforming our wils to the will of God There is no exercise at our death can be more profitable thâ—n that every one should fully resigne himself into â—he hands of his C eatouâ— humbly lovingly wholly trusting and relying in his infinite mercy and goodnesse For it cannot but hee that whosoever doth thus place his confidence in God before his departure hence but that he shall partake of joy in the Caelestiall Kingdome For those that shall be for ever with the Lord shall be freed from punishmâ—nt In this mind died that good â—â—ief on the Crosse which did no desire our Saviour to save his body but wholly desired Christ to forgive his sins and to give him the Kingdom of Heaven so fully did he resigne himself into Gods hands so wholly did he offer himself to Christ that hee should do with him as he pleased And if it so fall out that when death is at hand thy sicknesse is grievous and painfull cast that also upon God For the death of Christ wil yield us consolation in death He is gone before innumerable others are gone before why should it irk thee to follow § 33. The dying man emulates the good Thief in Golgotha LOrd Remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome Oh happy Thiefe which didst profit more in the school of Christ in 3 houres space then the Iscariot did in three yeers thou goest before me in words and for a forme of prayer who wast to Christ in his greatest extremity a Patron and an Advocate Good God! how deep are thy judgements his friends and kinred are silent his Disciples forsake him The Angels appear not neither is his mother suffered to defend his innoâ—enâ—e and where are those eleven thousand and more fed by this crucified Lord What one out of
but good Father restore the voice of joy and gladnesse to mee again Comfort mee now after the time that thou hast afflicted mee and for the yeeres wherein I have suffered adversity Turn thy face away from my sins and blot cut all mine offences according to thy great mercies Cast me not away from thy presence nor deal with me after my iniquities but help mee ô thou that art the helper of all that cry to thee for relief deliver mee for the glory of thy name Grant in mercy that I may dwell in thy house al the days of my life to sing prayses to thee in Heaven with all thy glorious Saints and Servants for evermore Amen The second Prayer to Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world O Sweet comfâ—rtable Iesus the fountaine anâ— wâ—lspâ—ing of mercy and tender compassion shew and extend to me thy poore servant and weak creature the riches of thy infinite mercies help and succour mee in this my great need and necessity my great Creatour and loving Redeemer Iesu Christ put thy Passion Cross and precious death betwixt thy judgment and my sicke soule I wholly give up my selfe to thy favour Cast me not away good Saviour in thy furie I willingly come to thee for hâ—lp ô reject not ô despise not ô refuse not to admit thy humble Petitioner into thy grace and favourable protection Now now ô Lord according to thy good pleasu e and will deal with me in mercie and receive my soule into thy hands in peace and love thou hast redeemed mee ô Lord thou God of truth O let the sound of those comfortable words enter into â—y soule sweet Saviour This day thou shalt be with me in Parad se O Iesus who was crucified for me receive me into thy armes of love and mercie into those armes which were stretch'd so wide to embrace poore grieved sinners unto those armes which I with the eye of faith see opened wide for transgressors Draw my soul after thee comfort it ô thou Lambe of God with thy al saving favour receive mee in thy savour and let my soule ever live in thy glorious courts in the highest Heavens Amen The third Prayer of thanksgiving in any sicknesse GLory be to thee ô Lord Iesus Christ the Authour and giver of life who hast vouchsafed to call me to the knowledge of true faith in thee Glorie be to thee who hâ—st always beene so full of plenteous redemption and mercie towards mee so grievously laden with all sorts of sins which through all my life hast heaped blessings and kindnesses upon me I give thanks to thee n y most loving God that according to thy good will and wisdome I am called out of this miserable and wretched life to appeare before thee How ô how willing am I to tread thy Courts and to behold the light of thy countenance I doe wholly commit my selfe to thy divine shelterage and blesse thy glorious name for giving me such a readie mind to depart I do ô most loving Lord in all humility beg and desire thee to binde up my soule in the bundle of peace and embrace my soule in thy everlasting favour and mercy tâ—ke my soule into thy protection hence-forth and for ever to thee to thee onely doe I commend my spirit which art the God of spirits I intreat thee the everliving God to give me an inheritance among those that be sanctified Count mee in the number of thy Saints and let my name ô heavenly Father be registred in the book of life Free me and deliver me fâ—om all the power of my enemies Deliver mee from all my trouble and adve sity because thou onely art the God which canst help those that are in misery and griefe thou hast said it ô bâ—essed Lord God that we should call upon thee in the time of trouble and thou hast graciously promised to hear and deliver us and taught us in thy wisdome to give glory to thy name To thee therefore be duly given all praise and glorie world without end The fourth prayer to be sâ—id of those about the sick party O Iesus Christ who didst die upon the Crosse for our Redemption in the depth of thy infinite love even of that gracious love which made thee lay downe thy life who wast the life of all that they might be restored to life Wee doe heartily dâ—sire and humbly crave of thee that thou wouldst passe by and blot out all the sins and transgressions which this thy sicke servant our Brother N. hath committed and that by thy most holy life and merits of thy most bitter Crosse and Passion thou wouldst be pleased to help all his infirmities and to make his bed in the time of his sicknesse and make him to feele and rellish thy infinite love and boundlesse mercies and let him apply them to hâ—s sâ—ule and disspose graciously of us all and especially of this thy weake creature whom thou art calling out of this miserable life that thou wouldst prepare his soule quietly and peaceably to seeke thee and that hee may give up his soul into thy hands with all patience and contentednesse in a full assurance of the pardon of all his sins being grounded in hope rooted in charity in a perfect state of mind so that for ever thou mayst hold him in the armes of thy never fading love and favour O Lord Iesus Christ wee beseech thee take not thy helping hand and saving assistance from this our sick brother who is now in the depth of sicknesse and even at the point of death who by weaknesse and defect of spirit is not able to lift up his voice unto thee Think upon him o Lord in thy love and mercy and give him ô give the spirit of comâ—ort and consolation Deliver him from all evill and grant hough hee doth at this time depart yet let it be in peace and sure confidence of thy love defend him from the danger of the Enemy at the time of his yielding up his spirit into thy hand give him sure confidence in thee and keep him iâ— perpetuall peace and safety and lead hâ—m into the land of everlastâ—ng rest and quietnesse Amen The fifth Prayer contayning the Acts of Faith Hope and Chariâ—y daily to be used O Lord Iesus Christ I believe that thou art my God and my Redeemer I doe bâ—lieve that for my salvation thou wast born of the Virgin Mary and was crucified I doe believe what the holy Catholick Church doth enjoyne me and I protest that I will lâ—ve and am willing to die in that faith Lord Iesus I doe heartily grieve that I have so grievously offendâ—d thy goodnâ—sse and I am sorâ—y that I can be no more sorry so those great and many offences which I have committed against thee my Crâ—atour and Redeemer I do humbly â—ray thee that thou wouldst by thy precious bloudshedding pardon and forgive all my sins and I doe purpose if thou shalt enlarge my life to abstaine from them â—ll and to
you see the summe and epitome of al our life Daniel Archbishop of Mentz Elector of the Sacred Roman Empire with his own hands writ these following admonitions 1 Life is short 2 Beauty deceitfull 3 Wealth uncertaine 4 Dominion hated 5 War is pernicious 6 Victory is doubtfull 7 Leagues are fraudulent 8 Old age is miserable 9 Death is felicity 10 The fame of true Wisdome is everlasting To wit of that wisdome which descends from above which establisheth Kingdomes shall never cease but is eternall §. 14. That God doth comfort those that weep HEare the voice of the Comforter and Promâ—ser together Ps 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee Ps 33.19 and thou shalt glorifie me And the Lord is nigh to all them that are of a troubled spirit and he will save the humble in heart Aug. in Tom. 8. in Psal 50. Most excellently Saint Augustine Feare not saith hee when thou art troubled as though the Lord was not with thee The Lord is neere to those that are of a troubled spirit Man may prepare a Crown for the Conquerour but hee knows not how to give him strength to conquer But GOD when he beholds the battaile hee strengthens his Champions for that is the voice of the Psalmist that valiant warriour If I said my foot was moved thy mercy O Lord helâ—t me up Assoone therefore as thou art troubled stirre up thy faith and thou shalt know Hee will not leave thee comfortlesse But thou mayst perhaps think thy selfe forsaken because thou art not delivered when thou wouldest Hee tooke the three children out of the fire but he which tooke those three left he the Machabees Far be it to think so He delivered the one as well as the other the one corporally that his and their enemies might bee confounded thesâ— spiritually that the faithfull might in all ages imitate their valour God is high Every good soule is lowly if yee would that the high God should come neere unto you bee humble these are great Mysteries my Brethren God is above all Doest thou lift up thy selfe thou commest not neere him Doest thou debase thy selfe he will come down to thee Call therefore this faithfull Helper to thy succour by prayer Hee will be propitious even at the first sigh if it be from the soule God wil wipe away all tears from their eyes Apoc. 21.4 neither shall there bee any more weeping or mourning or griefe or sorrow because all these are passed away Most truly said the same Father Aug. in Psal 127 circamed How pleasant are the sighs of the soule to God they are more acceptable than the laughter of Fools or Theatres §. 15. That our death may be as advantageous as our Birth EPaminondas the Theban being at point of death said Val Max. l. 3. c. 2. l. 2. c. 6 Iâ— was not so much to bee accounted the period of his life as the beginning For now fellow souldiers may your Epaminondas be said to be born because he so dyes For whether is better to be pampered under griefe in this life or by death to enter into immortality There are a people neer Thrace Herodoâ— lib. 5. Hist Valer. l. 2. c. 1. Quintil. l. 5. institut called the Trausi which agree with the Thracians in al customs save in this particular That the neighbours when an Infant is born doe with great lamentations rehearse the great calamity the Infant must suffer on the stage of his life And they celebrate the Funerals of their Neighbours with great rejoycing in regard they are by death freed from all the miseries incideÌ„t to this life This Nation of some in this very respect hath bin reputed wise and discreet because they celebrate Birth-dayes with teares and Obits with joy The Getes and Causians are said to doe the same Stobaus in Encomio Mortis and to speak truth let but the seeming pleasures which this life promiseth be but exempt which force and inveigle men to many hazards and inconveniences by their allurements and then our end is to bee judged more happy than our beginning Death is not to be accounted an evill Plin. in praf l. 7. Hist but the conclusion of all evils Plinius Secundus saith There have beene some who have judged it best not to have beene born and next to that an carly Death So Silenus when hee was taken by Midas being asked what was best for man was a good space silent but at last answered thus It is the best not be at all and next to that to be but for a moment I cannot omit that fare and seldome heard of passage pleasant to be related of one Ludovicus Cortusius a Counsellour living in Padua who in his Will at his death forbade all mourning for him at his Buriall and willed that all the Musicians and Minstrels should bee present some to goe before and fifty to follow the Clergymen and the Corps and allowed by Will to each of them for their attendance halfe a Ducat and willed further that his coffin should be carried by twelve beautifull Virgins cloathed in a fresh greene habit and that they should sing melodiously as they passed along and gave to all of them such large Legacies that they served for their Dowry and was attended by an hundred torches and in this manner was sumptuously interr'd in the Church of Saint Sophia in Padua with all the Clergy accompanying his buriall the Black Friers onely excepted whom hee debard by his Testament lest they by their fable weeds might move in some persons mourning or heavinesse so that his Funeral was celebrated with as much mirth as a marriage This merry conceited man dyed in the year of our Saviour 1418 Iuly the seventeenth De modo bene viv Serm 70. Idem de transit mal Saint Bernard spoke worthâ—ly saying Let those mourne for their dead which believe not the Resurrection those are to bee lamented who after their death are punished in Hell by Devils not those who are placed in Heaven with the blessed spirits Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Precious indeed as the period of their labours as the consummation of victory as the gate to life and the entrance into perfect rest and securitie Well spoke that wise Hebrew Eccles 7.4 Better is the day of our death then the day of our birth §. 16. That Death is every where THose Wretches who seeke by what means they shall die to whom death is more welcome then life may vex and distract themselves with griefe and anxious sollicitudes and disturbing encumbrances they may sharpen their swords prepare poysons catch at Gibbets looke out for steep Rocks to fall downe from as though the loving yoke and society betwixt the soule and body could not be parted without such exquisite preparation Death is alwayes laying his snares in all places to catch us wheresoever man passeth Death is alwayes
this and say take heed of sicknesse it is ill to be under it to whom Epictetus answers judiciously It is all one as if one should say and faigne to make three to be foure It is no ill if I rightly esteem of it it cannot then hurt me but rather profit mee So the like use may be made of poverty sicknesse war May not a man gather benefit by any by all of these the same I may say of Death is it not my appointed Steeresman into rest is it not the Messâ—nger that opens the gaâ—e to Eternity is not Death that which takes off all our burthens and easeth us from labour from misery Let Truth honour thee Epictetus how true are all these and squaring with the Law of Christianity This foundation being laid we shal learn to remember Deaths Agony and not to be affrighted at his comming But oh my Reader I would have thee know that these Documents were not onely written for thy use in the time of thy sicknes but I would have thee read these in the time of thy health that they may stand thee in some stead when thou shalt be visited with sicknesse § 42. The sickman speaks to his friends to the Diseasâ— to the entrance into Death it selfe to Christ our Lord. DEpart I pray you as unseasonable with your vaine and fruitlesse mourning Here is no place either for Complaints or Petitions You may thinke I goe from you to soon Too soon look that you bee not deceived I was fit for Death's sicle as soone as I was born nay before I was born Why should I complaine I know what I was born Was I not a weak frail body Cast forth to contumelies the food of Diseases Deaths object whosoever thou art take hâ—pes to thee or undergo thy burthen perhaps thou mayest be dejected to morrow or if no remov'd from hence To the disease ANd is Deaths Harbingâ—r approach'd must I now lie under sicknesse the time is now come I must put my selfe to the triall Valour is not onely seene in a storme or in a batâ—aile Courage may be tried upon a pillow in a bed of affliction I must be sick therefore It cannot be avoided Well I shall either end my Feaver or it me Wee cannot be always together Hitherto I have onely trafficked with health Homil. 13 in Evang. now I must exchange some time with my disease Saint Gregory tels it to me piously and truly The Lord saith he knocks when hee signifies to us that death is neere us by troublous sicknesses to whom we readily open if wee receive with comfort his chastizements Some relations may cause mee to give admittance to this serious Embassadour It is reported of a certaine old man who lay grievous sick and when as Death made an approaâ—h to take him away the sick old man entreated Death to forbeare his blow a little while untill he could make his Will and set things in readines for so long a journey To whom Death replyed ô crooked old man couldst thou not prepare thy selfe in so many years being so often warn'd by me to whom the old man said again I beseech thee lend me thy faith for I doe not remember that ever thou didst admonish me but Death answer'd briefly then I perceive that old men will lie An hundred six hundred a thousand warnings hast thou had from mee when I daily in thy sight to thy griefe not onely tooke away thy equals of which for years there are few left but also before thy eyes young men and little infants Nay I will appeale to thy own soul forgetfull old man didst thou want admonishments when thy eyes grew dim thy haires wax'd white were fâ—lne off thy nose lost its smell thy eares grew deafe and all thy other sences and members grew defective in their performances and thy whole body languish'd wasted these all these were Messengers from me and shoulâ— have been as so many warning pieces to prepare thee to march on These all have knock'd at thy doors though thou wouldst not acknowledge thy selfe to be within Often enough and long enough hast thou bin admonish'd I stay not Come away and enter the Dance of Death now presently He seldome prepares himselfe well which prepares so extraordinary late To his Death-bringing sicknesse WHen I meditate on my life consider the multitude of my sins and the smalnesse of my good duties Alas alas oh my God how am I straitned and how am I beset and encompassed with sorrow but it is better to fall into the Hands of the Lord for great are his mercies and his compassions faile not then that I should adde more days to my years and more sin to my days What an one I would have prov'd thou onely ô Lord knowest Perhaps I might have Apostated and falne from life Since ô death thou art present doe thy message unto me rid mee from misery and the malice of men I am ready and willing to part wi h life onely let me retaine thy Grace ô Lord or rather let it preserve me which I doe earnestly with all my heart beg of thee ô sweet Iesus Christ and through thee Amen To Deaâ—h it selfe DEath why in so long wastings dost thou like What needs there such great charge I doe yield strike What need'st thou empty all thy quivers when One blast w ll drive one puffe will stroy most men For indeed what is man but a tossed and leaking ship which one lusty wave sends to the bottome There needs no furious charge of tempests wheresoever thou ô Death placest thy murthering Ram it will force passage Mans bodie is wove up of weake and fluid materials glistering in outward lineaments impatient of heat cold or travail of it's own inclination apt to languishments gathering corruption even from his sustentation sometimes hurt by want sometimes by excesse his nutriment wants not discommodity a brittle piece of mortalitie preserv'd and upheld with griefe and anxietie holding his very spirit and breath at anothers disposing which easily departs full of innumerable diseases and though he should want diseases to ruine him yet of his own accord he would fall perish and descend to Death Can wee wonder to see that die in which Death is fed and nourish'd and hath a thousand places to enter possesse and if man doth fall is it any such remarkable losse his very smell and taste his wearinesse and watching his humours and food without which he cannot live are all mortiferoâ—s and deadly To Iesus Christ I Would not Death but life hee seeks it right O Christ who in thy love departs to light I am not afraid with them whom thou speakest o in wrath Goe c. I will follow thee ô loving Saviour with will with delight and what should I doe else when as thou thy self callest me to come and approach neerer to be dissolv'd and to be with Christ is much the better This is the height of my desires 1 Phil 1.23
hast the power of judging and â—iscerning and thou knowest best the medicines to cure our diseases Oh my most loving Saviour reprove correct and chastize me burn me cut me in pieces onely save me everlastingly Let not the flames of hell lay hold upon me I know thy rod comforts as well as thy staffe thou doest I know chastize thy beloved sons and by chastizements doest purge exercise and provest them before thou puttest upon them the crowne of glory My heart my heart ô Lord is ready how and when thou wilt be pleased to prove my patience and subject mee under the rod. My trust is in thee let me not be confounded for ever I submit my selfe and wholly resigne my self to thy heavenly will and pleasure though thou kill yet wil I trust in thee My lot is in thy hands to dispose let it fall to me in a good ground Amen 3 A Prayer to obtaine patience O Almighty GOD Thou knâ—wâ—st what a weake frail and vile piece of earth I am yet the worke of thy hands who was framed of â—he dust who am blown and withered by every blast of winde and shall at last again returne to dust there is nothing that I have wherein I can trust for I have within mee the spirit striving against the flesh and about me the flesh against the spirit I find motions of Anger Impatience Fearfulnes Dissidence and divers other perturbatiâ—ns to rise within mee if thou onely doest but touch me with thy hand I desire therefore thy helpe ô heavenly Physician and that heavenly medicine of thine called Patience to be communicated to me ô Patience it is the easement of all diseases Give mee ô Lord in all estates to carry my selfe orderly submissively and to beare prosperity without pride adversitie without repining whither thou sendest health or sicknes I may entertain them as proceeding from thy fatherly hands and so being assured they are good because they come from thee thou makest all things worke for the best to them that feare thee Amen Let thy holy Spirit teach and instruct me And so much the rather O Lord help because there is none fighteth for mee but onely thou ô God and thaâ— thy strength may be perfected in my weaknesse So that I may truly say Thy rod and thy staffe have comforted me and thy good grace assisting me I may look upon thy Son and my Saviour Jesus with comfort which shewed himselfe a pattern of all patience to all patient men grant this I beseech for tâ—y mercy sake in Jesus Christ Amen 4 A Prayer for the increase of Patience OUr life ô Lord is a pilgrimage from Exile and Baâ—ishment to our Countrey and lest the pleasantnesse of the way should detaine or keepe us back from comming speedily and comfâ—rtably to thee ô God thou stirrest us up by Goads and hast ns us by pricks in our sides that so we may the more eagerly desire rest and to bee at our journeys end therefore diseases griefs teares mournings sorrows are as so many spurs to hasteÌ„ our dull natures and to encourage them to make speed to their quiet repose Cauâ—e us ô Lord to forget the tediousnesse of the way and to remember our Countrey and if thou pleasest to lay on load upon our shoulders lay on strength lâ—kewise and patience to carry it quietly and cheerfully having all our intentions and hopes fixed upon thee but seeing all things are at thy disposing Make all things ô Lord worke together in thy unsearchable wisdome that I may never prove an enemy to thee Amen 5 A Prayer containing a full resignment of the sickman into Gods hand and will O Most comfortable and sweet Lord God be mindfull I prâ—y thee and mercifully consider mee thy poore creature but thou Lord art my creatour behold ô Lord I doe wholly give and resigne my self unto thy disposing and ordering I am ready and prepared ô Lord to endure what thy fatherly hand shall lay upon mee Deal with mee as thou pleasest in time and for Eternity Whatsoever thou ô heavenly Father hast determined upon me and of me with all Humilitie I am resolved to beare I will take all things well at thy hands whither Good or Evill sweet or sowre joy or heavinesse and will for all give thanks unto thee Keepe me ô Lord from all sin and so I will neither feare death nor hell Because thou wilt not destroy the work of thine owne hands nor blot me out of the booke of life no tribulation shall be grievous unto mee be present ô sweet Jesus with me at all times in all places and let mee comfort my selfe in this that thou only art my comfort and consolation and if at any time thou shalt be pleased to withdraw thy comfortable presence from me yet then I will be comforted in thy tryall of me because it is for my good Thy holy Name be now and ever above all things ô Saviour magnified and blessed Amen 6 Another shâ—rt Prayer to the same purpose O Love ineffable ô sweet Jesu my God if thou wouldest give me my desire and wouldest promise to give what I should request I would not desire any thing but what I suffer This this I would desire and request a thousand time that thy most gracious will according to thy good pleasure may be always done in me of me by me for evermore Amen A Prayer for conformity of our wils to the divine will O Sweet Jesu I neither desire Life nor Death but onely thy will be done I wait upon thee If it be thy good pleasure sweet Jesu that I shall die I doe humbly intreat thee to receive my spirit and though I come in at Evening one of the last amongst the Workmen grant yet that I may be with thee and receive everlasting rest in and through thee but if thou so pleasest ô sweet Jesu that my life shall be prolonged I purpose then and resolve and for this I do intreat thy suffrage and the assistance of thy grace that the residue of my life may be amended be offered up to thee wholly as a pleasing sacrifice to thy glory and according to thy good will Amen Another Prayer to obtain the same thing as onely necessary O Lord Jesus Christ I beseech thee by thy love whiâ—h invited thee so willingly to take all our burdens upon thee that thou wouldest make me to take my visitation patiently and thankfully as comming by thy Fatherly providence and according to thy good will and proceeding out of thy love and affection towards me give me assistance to take it quietly to beare it patiently to resigne my selfe to thy goodnesse and well liking and give mee that strengh and growth in grace that I may not offend thee in the least nor ever depart from or dislike thy godly will and ô Saviour unite my will with thy most holy Bâ—neplacite that what I wish may please thee Amen A Prayer to obtain Patience O Lord my God I confesse I
have not lived as I ought to have done as by grace I might have done I am sorry at my heaâ—t and it grieves mee that I cannot grieve more I humbly beseech thee ô Lord that thou wouldst not deale with me after my sins but according to thy great mercies thou ô God which hast laid stripes on the outward man give the inward man indeficient Patience So that thy praise may never depart from my mouth Have mercy upon mee ô Lord have mercy upon me and help mee for thou knowest what is good for my soul and body thou knowest all things thou canst doe all things to thee bee prayse for evermore Amen A Prayer after receiving of the holy communion to Jesus Christ. GLory and prayse be given to thee ô Christ who in thy gracious goodnesse wouldst vouchsafe to visit and cherish up my poore soule Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word Now I hold thee ô sweet Love I will not let thee go I willingly bid Adiew to the whole World and with joy I come to thee ô my God Nothing at all nothing shall separate mee from thee ô good Iesus for I am joyned to thee in thee I will live in thee I will die and in thee if thou wilt I will remayn for ever I live but not I but Christ liveth in me My soule now is weary of my life I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ For hee is to mee in life and death advantage Now though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death yet will I feare none evill because thou art with me ô Lord And as the Hart desires the Fountains of waters even so longeth my soule aftâ—r thee ô God My soule hath thirsted after God the fountaine of living waters When shall I come and appeare before the presence of God Blesse me most loving Iesus and now dismisse me in peace because I am truly thine and I will never for all time part with thee O could this happy union be now made Oh! might I be wholly in thee Oh! that my soul might fâ—r aye rest in thy imbracings and partake always of thy presence What have I any longer to doe or to be pestered with the World ô most loving Iesus Behold whom have I in heaven but thee anâ— whom have I desired on earth in comparison of thee Into thy hands ô LORD doe I commâ—nd my soule receive mee oh sweet Love that I may ever be with thee and that in thee I may lye downe and take my rest for thou onely makest me dwell in safety Amen The conclusion of the second Book To the Reader WEe have said thus much hitherto to the sound and sick partly to recreate them that they may live to excite them that they may watch to strengthen them to overcome that they might always be ready for Deaths assaults It is better to try any course then to dye ill An ill death is not onely the worst of all errours but it is irrecoverable inexpiable Now we come to dying men and prescribe documents for them not onely that they should read them when they are dying but specially in health to profit them against Death To dying Men. A Death strikes and with his Ax fels burly Okes There 's not a Tree that stands his single strokes B Fly hence Your House begins to crack it falls Get under ground there yee 'll find safer walls C Beast Fish and Fowle wee catch with wiles and snares But Death hurls darts at us and no Man spares D Be not dâ—smay'd though Sculs from Heaven drop From mortall seed springs an immortall crop E As Waters from Aquarius pitcher drill So runs Mans life Lib. a tryes Wel or Ill F The Sun goes down but 't is to bring now day So man doth dye that he may live for ay G The game 's our own The Deer's pent up No way to flie Dogs Huntsmen Darts Nets Toyls all tell him He must die THE Remembrance of DEATH is presented to dying Men. The third Book § 1. The Art of dying compendiously handled NOt to know how to die is the most wretched folly that therefore wee may learne that whiâ—h through all our lives we ought to learn fiue things are specially considerable which may make Death good First a free and undaunted mind this is a thing of great value on which do depend the rest An offering of a free heart will I give thee Ps 54.6 Nothing doth more please God noâ—hing more benefits man then an undaunted willing ready soule and a generous confidence in God Tergiversation and giving back argues a will nothing conformable to Gods Therefore if at some time to be done why not now to get such a prompt mind for death is to love and meditate on seriously the passion of our Lord which every day is to be considered on with Prayers The second a speedy and expedite dispatch and disposing of our debts and goods by will It is an errour not to think of making our wils untill Death be entred over the threshold Discharge thy debts dispose thy goods before Pale grimfac'd death doth come to knock at doore Saint Ambrose hath given us an excellent rule and method for the disposing of our own goods Let there be saith hee sincerity of faith quick sighted providence or let charity be joyned with prudence and prudence linked to charity and let him that giveth an Almes or taketh care that it be given let him doe that God may accept of the gift and the person giving The third is a speciall care of our salvation let that be reckoned of in the first place One thing is necessary Luk. 10.42 Bl ssed Saint Augustine the pattern of well dying men ten days before his Death admitted no Visitants onely at a set houre his Physician and a servant which brought in his dyet and hee himselfe was poured out in prayers teares and sighes hee conversed with GOD concerning his life and lâ—ft admonishments to us in these words Nullus Christianorum c. Let no Christian depart hence untill hee have fully and worthily repented him of his sins The fourth is the receiving of the Communion and to this the sicke party should bee ready and prepared this great werke stould not bee too long put off nor deferr'd till Death have possessed him it is dangerous to neglect this many die ill because they seeme to dâ—sire not to die so soone hee that will earnestly repent him of his sinnes let him do it early and contrition of spirit is excellent to a sicke mans salvation The fifth is a pious and entire oblation of himself to Gods good will Every man pâ—rhaps cannot exhibit a mind undaunted in sicknesse but every man oughâ— to shew a minde conformable to the will of God Let therefore the sick party often in the time of his visitation repeat these words of our Saviour Mat. 11.26 Even so Father because it seemed good
so great a multitude does open his mouth in his cause The mayntenance of Christs Cause is therefore devolv'd to the defence of this Thiefe One Thief plâ—ads against another for Christs innocence he mayntains it takes of the others scandals reproves the infinite multitude of paâ—ricide Did not the Son of God blush to have his Cause defended by a Thief No! hee was so farre from being ashamed at his Oratory that hee praysed him in publick nor was his Rhetorick defective in Gods Cause And wee indâ—e justly therefore wee receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amisse Lu. 23.4 O how justly may I say the same of my self And I do justly die for my offences for I doe but receive the wages of my works but my Saviour What had hee done nothing at all worthy of death nor of such torments Let mee therefore ô God be heard when I use this forme of prayer Lord remember me for now thou art come into thy Kingdome and because thou art in thy Kingdome looke upon mâ—e now languishing and decaying and admâ—t mee to thy self when I depart I beg this of thee ô Jesus by thy scourging Thorns and Crosse by all thy â—orments and by thy precious â—eath What therefore remaynes but â—hat I should for ever cast my soul â—nto his bosome whose dolour and â—ains hee onely weighs and consiâ—ers He knows what conduceth â—o the health of our souls and â—ee from all eternity ha h deterâ—ined by what way wee shall return to him O Lord I have waited for thy salvation § 34. The Heliotropium or Turn sole against all diseases and death the onely Medicine THis Herbe as experience shews it turns with the Sun both at his rising and setting nay even in cloudy weather hee shews his love to the Sun by night as it were for grief he shuts up himself for want of her beautifull Lover Oh could mans will alwayes so follow and attend upon Gods will that at all times it should be conformable to it and and follow it through all afflictions and adversities and not to turn aside in that great cloudy day of death Upon this set day let the dying man imitate this flower and let him fâ—x the eyes of his faith upon that glorious Sun of righteousnesse especially then This doe our Saviours owne words teach us Even so Father Math. 11.26 for so it seemed good in thy sight so even so my â—ying friend speak you In all things that ever you doe in all evils to be endured or suffered by the example of our Lord say always So Father even so good Father so be i◠ô my Father with often ingeminations and specially when the pangs of death doe rage most violently then even then subject thy will in all things to his pronounce these watching in health in sicknesse but at the pinch of death never forget them Lord thou knowest my heart command it Lord I have hoped in thee I have said thou art my God thou shalt mayntaine my lot my heâ—lth my disease prosperity and adversity my life and my death are in thy hands as thou wilt so let all things be It shall be pleasant to me eiâ—her to live or die according to thy good will because thou art my Father Therefore ô Father as thou wilt order dispose permit all things to be done in mee and of mee as may be pleasing to thee let not any thing in mee crosse or thwart thy heavenly disposing So even so good Father let thy will be done from hence-forth and for ever This herb is of wonderfull vertue to all sicknesse evils and death Hee is farâ—e from feare of destruction that is in will so united to his God FINIS Prayers to be said of or to be read to a man dying OH holy Jesus my strength my â—efreshing my defender and my deliverer in whom I have hoped on whom I have believed whom always I have loved who art my chiefe pleasure the fortresse of my strength my hope even from my youth up Lead me forth ô â—hou that art the leader of my life and I will follow thee stretch forth thy right hand of mercy to the worke of thine own hands which thou the Creatour of all things didst make of the dust of the eâ—rth and strengthenedst with bones and sinews to whom thou by death gavest life The time is at hand that dust must return to dust and my spirit to thee my Saviour and blessed Redeemer who gavest it me Open good Lord to mee the gate of life for for mee wretch didst thou the Lord of life hang on the tree and wast reckonâ—d amongst transgressors receive me ô mercifull God according to the multitude of hy tender mercies thou didst kindly and speedily entertain the penitent thiefe upon the Crosse begging of thee I am sick and sore smitten to whom should I run for cure but tâ— thee ô gracious Physician heal thou mâ—e ô Lord and I shall be whole and those that put their trust in thee shall not be confounded in thee ô Saviour have I trusted let me no therefore be put to confusion But who or what am I most glorious God that I should with such boldâ—esse speak to thee I am a sinner borne nay and conceived in transgression a rotten carcasse an uncleane vessell food for wormes Spare mee forgive mee good God what conquest wouldest thou have to contend or sâ—t thy selfe against me who â—m weaker and lighter then the stubble before the winde then the dust or the chaff driven too and fro with every blast Passe by ô Lord all my transgressions and rayse up thy poore dejected servant from the Dunghill Stand up ô Lord and for my defence rayse up thy self and reject not the supplication of thy poore weak servant Let my prayers enter into thy presence and stretch forth thy hand and comâ— and help I am the man that travelling from Hierusalem am taken and wounded of thieves and left half dead be thou thou ô my Saviour the good Samaritan and c mfort me I have grievously sinned in the whole course of my life and my sins are ever before thee From the crown of my head to the sole of my foot there is not one sound or clean member O if thou by thy precious death on the Crosse hadst not helped my soule I should have for my sins deserved eternall perdition I even I am partaker ô sweet Iesu of that inestimable Redemption thou didst shed that most precious bloud for my sake ô thou preserver of men and therefore put me not away from thee I am that sheepe which wandred and lost it self seek mee ô thou great Shepheard and take mee and conduct me into thy fold that thou mayest be true in all thy sayings Thou that hast promised that whensoever a sinner shall repent and return thou wilt have mercy upon him Truly Lord I am not worthy to be called thy son because I have sinned against heaven and before thee
settle my self in a new cou se of holinesse of life and if I have forgotten any of my sins or if I doe not know them all severally I implore thy goodnesse to disclose them to me that I may speedily and sincerely repent me of them all and above all forgive ô Lord forgive and forget them all I doe fâ—eely and willingly forgive all men that have offended me ô my God all their offences for thy sake and I entreat whomsoever I have injured to doe the like by mee If I have by wrong detained any mans goods so far as I am bound and according to my ability I desire that they should be fully satiâ—fied I doe trust in thy eternall mercy and in thy precious bloud abundantly shed for me that although I be altogâ—ther unworthy of my self and no ways deserving thy gracious favour that yet thou wouldst ransome me out of all mine enemies hands and that thou wouldst lift up thy countenance upon me and fill my soul with everlasting comforts I doe heart ly desire this of thee by thy bittâ—r death and passion Strengthâ—n me ô Lo d Iesus against all the snares of Satan and defend mee with the shield of thy mercy because all my hope confidence is in thy great goodnesse onely I can plead no merits or deserts that can bind thee but I finde in my selfe too too much sinne and vilenesse but thy mercy ô God is over all thy works and so in hope to partake of it I do rest my self in hope because thou art a God of hope to thee be all praise and honour ascribed from this time forth and for evermore Amen The Epilogue or conclusion of all being a Monition to the Reader THese prayers my good Reader made for the souls of men I counsell thee if thou be wise in the time of thy health with a li tle alteration to muse on for thine own good There is not any thing of more efficacy in my judgement to set us forward in a godly life then to meditate of the fâ—ailty miserablenes of our lives That Prophetick speech of our Lord spoken to Ierusalem may fitly be applyed to all dying men The days will come that thine enemies shal cast a trench about thâ—e and keep thee in on every siâ—e and lay thee levell with the ground shall not leave one stone upon another All â—hese things may be seen easily in a man dying For do not great anxieties environ him Doe not solicitous cares weaken him Do not griefs lay him low Do not wicked spirits encompâ—sse him Do not the terrours of sins past unrepented of cast him down Do not future punishments astonish him Do not all worldly things suddenly forsake him And though the m st expert Physicians compasse his bed Can any afford help buâ— oâ—â—ly that one Master Physician from Heaven It is the decree laid upon all that are born to die to spring up and soon decay and that Great Disposer of all humane things knows nothing firme but himself all things passe away in a Circle of rising and falling Some thing may be long-liv'd in this frame but there is nothing e ernâ—ll or everlasting I desire thee therefore ô my Reader for Christs sake and thy own happines to think of eternity our life is but a moment alas it is no â—oâ—e and yet upon this moment depends â—ither everlasting good or everlasting evill Our travâ—l is short all pleasures doe quickly fade onely Eternity knows no period therefore remember Etâ—rnity FINIS