THE CONQVEST of Temptations OR Mans victory ouer Satan Especially the great Assaults at the Agony of DEATH Full of very strong and effectuall Consolations to sustaine and comfort the weakest heart in the greatest conflicts which can befall a Christian in the whole course of Life and approach of Death Gathered by the holy and deuout labour of IOHN GERARD Doctor of Diuinitie and Super-intendent of Heldburge Newly Englished by Rich. Bruch Minister of GODS Word He that dyeth before he dye Shall not dye when he doth dye LONDON Printed by T. S. for Roger Iackson and to be solde in Fleetstreet neere the great Conduit 1614. TO THE MOST RELIGIOVS AND worthy KNIGHT Sir Thomas Vauasur Knight-Marshall and to the most pious and well-affected Lady his Wife the Lady Mary Vauasur R. B. wisheth here on Earth the beginning and in Heauen the complement of all happinesse Right Worshipfull SInce it is in mans life Seneca as it is in an Enterlude that it skils not how long but how well it be acted and that the word of truth giues out this for a truth Eccl. 7.10 the end of a thing is better then the beginning it concernes all men to striue to make good that which they cannot make long and hauing begunne well to perseuere so doing lest they leese the things that they haue wrought 2 Iohn v. 8 Heb. 3.14 if they keepe not sure vnto the end the beginning wherewith they are vpholden Surely the number of our yeeres is knowen to GOD alone our dayes are in his hand this only remaines vnto vs while wee are in this world to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world Psa 119.1 Iob. 17.9 immaculati in viâ vpright vndefiled in the way holding on our way with the righteous and with the pure of hands increasing our strength Which that we should not doe the old enemie of mankinde full of all subtiltie and malice doth by all meanes labour still to hinder who though he be very busie with vs to auert vs from the good and to make vs forsake our owne mercies in the whole course of our liues yet he doth especially insidiari calcaneo trip at the heele lay wait at the end to make vs then let goe the holde that we haue and the hope of assurance if 〈◊〉 cannot before hand make vs to deny the faith and make shipwracke of good conscience Eph. 6.13 whom that we may not onely know how to resist but also resisting to ouercome in the euill day and finishing all things to stand fast whose fiery darts that wee may quench this little Booke giues vs both the shield of faith and other spirituall armour in which kinde though I haue read and seene others written yet neuer did I peruse any done so full and so feelingly so succinct in the fulnesse and in so good order and method This when I had first turned into our English being thereunto requested in the next place when I thought to whom I might best offer it your Worthinesse most religious Knight and Lady came into my minde persons as in your ranke and place eminent so much more eminent in your vertues who in the example of your zeale in Religion and loue of the truth your pietie and charitie your meekenesse and affabilitie are a patterne vnto others and doe in the integritie of your liues being full of good workes Lib. de conuer a seculo ad Theo. Sen. multum militare acquisitionibus Christi as saith Fulgentius Purchase much for Christ and purchase to your selues in the world with the testimony of a good conscience that feasts your soules continually the sweet sauour of a good name Pro. 15.15 which two things are better vnto you then all riches Wee that are of your neighbourhood know and see the care that you haue of religious duties and the workes of charitie which you doe your lowlinesse in your wealth and Honour and other your remarkeable vertues It remaines onely that you that haue so well begunne and hitherto so well continued doe now striue to perseuere vnto the end that you may receiue a full reward that you may crowne the good that hath gone before in you with a good conclusion and that ouercomming the difficulties that are yet behinde you may at last bring your ship to the Hauen where you would be Which that you may the better doe you shall finde no small helpe and furtherance in this smal Booke which euery where breathing Consolations will arme your soules against all Temptations and against the time of your dissolution come so compose your soules to Death that you shall sleepe sweetly in the Lord in the peace of a good Conscience in sure and certaine hope of eternall life vnto which the Lord of his mercy giue you an entry with all Saints through his Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour AMEN Your Worships humbly deuoted and wishing your best good R. Br. To the very Reuerend and famous men excelling in Pietie Learning and Authoritie Mr. IOHN SCHRODER a famous Diuine and most worthy Minister appointed of the Church of Norinberg Mr. MARTIN GVNGE the most deseruing Preacher of the Court of Saxo-Coburg Mr. IOHN ALDENBVRG his most faithfull fellow Minister of the Church of Coburg His Masters Plato in Phaedone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 friends and Brethren in Christ singularly beloued IF any man Reuerend and most famous men my Masters Friends Brethren in Christ to be had in singular honour would accommodate that same Platonicall definition of Philosophie that it is a Meditation of death to the true Theosophie of Christians hee may doe it as I thinke with the good leaue of the truth seeing as it were the beginning and end thereof doth consist in the Meditation of death Now I vnderstand vnder the name of death both the death of Christ and our death also The death of Christ and his Passion is the waight of the Christian name 1 Cor. 2.2 thence the Apostle did iudge that hee knew no other thing among the Corinthians then Christ crucified and dead By the death of Christ was made an expiation of our sinnes a destruction of the power of Satan a confirmation of the new couenant and an easing of the terrours which are wont to be present in our death therfore the Meditation of the death of Christ ought neuer to depart from our memorie Neither let vs any time of our life forget our owne death that as Death expects vs euery day so wee may also expect that againe each day Hieron Epist ad Pauli He which remembers daily that hee shall die he doth easily contemne all earthly things he prepares himselfe by true and earnest conuersion to a blessed death he giues his minde to sincere pietie he doth patiently endure all manner of aduersitie and is set on fire euen from the heart with an ardent desire of eternall life Psa 90.12 Teach vs O Lord prayes Moses to number our dayes
1.18 which is in the Father and the Father in him which is one with the Father Againe what is more néere to the Sonne of God Ioh. 14.10 then flesh and bloud or the humane nature which hee hath assumed Ioh. 10.30 as which he hath coupled to himselfe in a personall and indissoluble league Therefore by eating the flesh of Christ and drinking his bloud thou art ioyned most straightly vnto God These things being taken taken down Hilar. 8. de Trin. p. 141. make that Christ abides in thée and thou in Christ What is more néere vnto vs then that which wee eate and drinke as which is eyther conuerted into the substance of our flesh as natural and elementall meates or else doth change and conuert vs into it as that spiritual food of the body and blood of the Lord which we eate indéed but we doe not change it into our substance but wee are changed into it Therefore by eating the quickening flesh of Christ thou receiuest spirituall life from the same by drinking the precious bloud of Christ thou comest to the Fountaine of life Christ hath taken vpon him the humane nature of vs in it he hath condemned sin he hath destroyed death hee hath repaired life and hath filled the same with the fulnesse of grace and heauenly good things the same nature taken from vs and repaired in himselfe sanctified and filled with heauenly treasures hee sets before thée againe in the holy Supper that thou mayst be ascertained that those things doe truly pertaine vnto thée which hee hath layd downe into the same as it were into a certaine rich storehouse he doth as it were ingraft thy wretched and depraued nature into his most holy and quickening flesh that out of it thou mayest draw the iuyce of life and an antidote of the spirituall poyson that lyes hidden in thy flesh He is the Vine we are the braunches hee that abides in him Iâ—hn 15.5 and he in whom he abides this man brings forth much fruit The vncleannnesse of thy nature is shadowed and couered by that most holy body of Christ which thou receiuest and by that most precious bloud which thou drinkest least it appeare before the tribunall and in the sight of God Liturg. vtter Damas 4. fid Orthod cap. 14. Therefore thou receiuest the flesh and bloud of Christ for an apology that will easily be admitted and the earnest of eternall life to the sustaining kéeping of the body and the soule to the forgiuenesse of sinnes and to life euerlasting Nay in the holy Supper is giuen thée a certaine holesome prouision for thy iourney séeing the tokens of the future resurrection are exhibited vnto thée Can. Nicen. by which the right of acquaintance and hospitalitie which is to be expected in the heauenly countrey is confirmed vnto thée Iohn 6.54 He which eateth my flesh saith Christ and drinkes my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him vp againe in the last day It cannot therefore come to passe I say that thy body should abide in the graue séeing it is nourished with the body and bloud of our Lord that is to say with that food which is the medicine of immortality the antidote that wée should not dye but liue in God through Christ the purgation that driues away all euill By this foode thy weakenesse shall be comforted that thou mayest come through with Elias 2 Reg. 13.21 to the hill of the Lord. The bones of Elizeus yea euen when he was dead did giue life by how much more the flesh of Christ liuing and quickening receiued by faith shall quicken thee to euerlasting life XVII The vnworthy vse of the holy Supper The Tempted I Acknowledge that in the true and wholesome vse of the holy supper the godly are made partakers of these benefits but it doth not a little trouble mee that the Apostle doth affirme that they which eate this bread vnworthily 1 Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily are made guiltie of the body and bloud of the Lord. I feare therefore lest that I be an vnworthy guest of this heauenly banquet The Comforter BY acknowledging and bewailing of thine vnworthines thou mayest escape the spot and imputation of an vnworthy guest for the Apostle calles vnworthy not those which are weake in faith wheras this sacrament was instituted for the confirmation of faith comfort of the weake but those which doe not proue themselues neither do discerne the Lords body that is which come to this holy Supper 1 Cor. 11.28.29 as it were to a common banquet without true repentance and liuely faith without the hatred of sinne and a serious and earnest purpose of amendement of life which doe not discerne this heauenly banquet from other common foode that they may acknowledge the true excellency thereof and vse due preparation of the hart thereunto Such vnworthy guests of this banquet do nothing lesse sin in eating and drinking vnworthily the flesh and bloud of Christ then the Iewes in crucifying Christ But farre be it from thy pietie farre be it I say that thou shouldest be in the number of them Chrysost in 1 Cor. 11. Thou doest acknowledge also the spots of thy sinnes thou doest bewaile the vncleanenesse of thy nature thou sighest vnto Christ the Physitian of thy soule that he prepare a sit lodging for himselfe in thy heart thou weighest the greatnesse of those things which are present and set before thée in the holy Supper and considerest the amplenesse of the heauenly gift thou hungrest and thirstest after righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 therefore also thou shalt bee filled the sinnes shall not hurt thée Luk. 15.20 which doe not please thée thou makest haste with teares to thy heauenly Father thou bewailest thy sinnes and desirest that the hunger of thy soule may be refreshed with his heauenly foode that most kinde Father vers 22. doubt not will méete thée hee will kisse and receiue thée with ioy he will giue vnto thée the first long garment of innocency he will cloath thée with the garments of saluation hée will giue thée a ring on thy hand hée will seale thée with his holy spirit hée will giue thée shooes for thy féet he will direct thée in the way of peace and righteousnesse hée will fil thée with the flesh of that sacrifice which was slaine on the altar of the Crosse vers 23. and was offered vnto him for a swéet smelling sauour Lay aside therefore all feare of vnworthy eating he which is most vnworthy in his owne eyes hee is accepted before God hée that displeaseth himselfe pleaseth God hee that is cast downe in himselfe in true contrition of heart hée againe is raised vp by the most louing hand of God XVIII The weakenesse of Faith The Tempted FAITH is altogether required to the wholesome vse of the Supper and fruit of the promises of the Gospell seeing the hand of the
to the inheritanâ—e of eternall life therefore it must be raised out of the dust that it may enter into the possession of this life deserued for it of Christ Out of all which it euidently appeares Theodor. in 1 Cor. 15. tom 2. pag. 77. 1 Cor. 3.16 that Christ is the suretie and pledge of our resurrection furthermore our bodies are the temples and houses of the holy Ghost hee will not suffer this his Temple to lye hidden in the dust and ashes but will build it vp againe and make it a great deale more glorious then it was in this life Hagg. 2.4 Euen as the latter temple at Hierusalem had a greater glory then the former 1 Reg 6.32 In Salomons temple there were incorruptible palmes so the bodies of the godly shall not be subiect to eternall corruption séeing they are the habitations of the eternall spirit Iren. lib. 4. cap. 34. This also is somewhat that our bodies are sanctified by the body and bloud of Christ in the wholesome vse of the holy supper how therefore shall they remaine in the graue how shall the flesh bee sayd to come into corruption and not to taste of life which is nourished with the body and bloud of the Lord Euen as the bread which is of the earth after the word is added to it is now no common bread but the Eucharist consisting of two things an earthly and an heauenly so our bodies receiuing the Eucharist are not now corruptible hauing the hope of the resurrection Ioh. 6.54 Surely the flesh of CHRIST is quickening food therefore hee which eateth this flesh hath eternall life and Christ will raise him againe in the last day Lactan. lib. 4. institut cap. 48. Adde that the soule in this life by the body and with the body doth worke eyther good or euill séeing it is put into the body therefore the iustice of God requires that those which were ioyned together in the worke be ioyned together in the reward those that are ioyned together in the fault be ioyned together in the punishment Therefore all of vs shall appeare before the iudgement seat of CHRIST 1 Cor. 15.10 Tertul. in Apol. c. 45. p. 337. that euery one may receiue those things which he hath done in his body whether they be good or euill The soules haue not deserued without the flesh in which they haue done all things finally to these vnmoueable props of Arguments may be added the examples of those that haue béene raised vp againe whom Christ by his owne the Prophets and Apostles by the power of GOD haue called backe to life Tertul. de resurrect p. 44. Lactan. 6. dico institu cap. 18. for testimonie of the future resurrection which these partakers of immortalitie and eternitie doe exhibite vnto vs which are ioyned vnto them in faith and confession XLIIII The absurditie of the Resurrection The Tempted THe article of the Resurrection of bodies doth most strongly oppose nature and humane reason from whence also the hope of the resurrection is sometimes not a little weakened in my heart by the stormes of diuers cogitations The Comforter THE foundations of our faith are the oracles of the holy Ghost not the predicaments of our owne reason We beléeue the resurrection of the dead vnder the obedience of this faith wee ought to captiuate all our reason 2 Cor. 10.5 GOD can doe aboue all things superabundantly more then wee aske or vnderstand Thinke therefore on him that promiseth and thou shalt haue him to performe whatsoeuer things GOD sayth they are not words but workes Let vs graunt that GOD can doe something Ephes 3.20 Phil. lib. de decal p. 477 August Epist 3. Bern ser 4. de nat col 43. 1 Cor. 15.37 which wee may confesse that wee cannot finde out in such things all the reason of the deed is the power of the speaker It will be an easie matter for him by whom the mother her selfe hath not lost the corruption of flesh by bringing forth that this corruptible also may put on incorrution by rising againe It is somewhat also that in nature her selfe diuers representations of the resurrection are set forth vnto vs. Vers 38. That which thou sowest is not quickened vnlesse it first dye and what sowest thou Vers 39. not the body that shall be but bare Corne that is to say of Wheate or of some other August de verb. Apost serm 34. But God giueth to it a body after his owne pleasure and to euery séed his owne body He therefore which quickens the dead and putrified graines of séeds by which thou mayest liue in this world will much more raise vp thine owne selfe that thou mayest liue for euer The light that daily dies shines forth againe Tertul. in Apol. c. 45. p. 73 c. and the darknesse by euen turnes departing doth returne the starres that are put out beginne againe to liue the times beginne where they are ended the fruits are consumed and doe returne surely the séedes vnlesse they be corrupted and dissolued doe not arise so fruitfully all things are saued by perishing all things are reformed from death The day dies into the night Id lib. de resurrect car pag. 54. and is buried round about with darkenesse the honour of the World is polluted and all the substance thereof is made blacke All things are foule silent and amazed euery where there is a vacation and rest of things so the light that is lost is mourned for And yet againe with her attire with her grace with the Sunne the same both sound and whole doth begin to be renued to the whole world killing her death the night opening her graue the darkenesse being heire to her selfe vntill the night also be renued againe she likewise with her attire For the beames of the starres also are againe made to flame whom the mornings light had extinguished The absence also of the constellations is brought backe which the destinction of times had taken away The mirrours also of the Moone are trimd a new which the number of the dayes of the moneth had worne out The Winters and Sommers the Springs and the Autumnes returne in their season with their owne strength manners fruits yea the earth is taught of Heauen to cloathe Trées after they are made naked to giue fresh and new tinctures to the Flowres to giue the hearbs againe to bring in the same séedes which are consumed and not to bring them in before they are consumed A wonderfull matter Of a deceiuer shée is become a sauer shée snatcheth away that she may restore shée destroyes that shee may kéepe shée corrupts that shée may make whole shée first lauishly consumes that afterward shée may make it more Surely shée restores things more plentifull and more faire then those shée did consume Of a truth I may say at once the condition of all things is restored againe by death which is increase and iniurie which
opened vnto vs. As in the baptisme of Christ the holy Ghost descended vpon him in the shape of a Doue so the holy Ghost is present in our baptisme and workes therein effectually our regeneration and renouation so that by this reason in Baptisme doe concurre the grace of the Father adopting the merit of the Sonne clensing and the efficacie of the holy Ghost regenerating Therefore if thou art baptized thou mayst not doubt of the grace of God the remission of sins and the promise of eternall saluation so thou continue in that faith which there thou didst professe Baptisme is the Lauer of regeneration where there is regeneration there is the remission of sinnes there is the grace of God there is perfect iustice there is renuing there is the gift of the holy Ghost there is adoption there is the inheritance of eternall life XV The falling out of the Couenant of Baptisme The Tempted I Beleeue indeed that I am receiued into the couenant of Gods grace by the Sacrament of Baptisme that I haue attained remission of my sinnes and am written in the Booke of life but by my sinnes I haue againe fallen out of the grace of this Couenant by committing offences againe I haue made the remission past of none effect and haue often deserued that I should be blotted out of the Booke of life The Comforter NAy the Couenant of GOD is an euerlasting couenant Gen. 17.13.1 Col. 2.11 to which after thy sinnes thou mayest againe betake thy selfe by true and earnest repentance For euen as God speakes of the Sacrament of circumcision that it is an eternall couenant so let vs not doubt but that God will enter into and stablish with vs an euerlasting couenant in baptisme which hath succeeded in the place of circumcision I will marry thee vnto mee for euer sayth he by the Prophet Hose 2.19 I will mary thee vnto mee in righteousnes and iudgement in mercy and in compassion I will marry thee vnto me in faith The hils shall be moued Esa 54.10 and the valleyes shall tremble but my mercy shall not depart from thee and the couenant of my peace shall not be moued saith thy Lord that taketh pitty God forbid therefore God forbid Rom. 3.3 that we say that the faith of God can be made of none effect by the incredulitie of men If we doe neuer so much take away credit from his words or depart from him 2 Tim. 2.13 hée remaineth faithfull alwayes like himselfe true and constant he cannot deny himselfe Therefore though thou sometime sinne out of thine inbred infirmitie thou doest not forthwith fall out of the couenant of God Indéed by sinnes committed against knowledge and conscience thou dost grieuously prouoke GOD against thée and make him to be sometimes angry but by true repentance thou returnest againe into his grace and fauour The ship of Baptisme doth not floate away from vs Secunda post naufragium tabulu although wee leape out of it into the Sea of sinnes therefore by repentance which in this sence may be called a second planke after shipwracke wee may returne againe to the same shippe of baptisme that in it wée may bee brought to the hauen of euerlasting saluation Hier. in ca. 3. Esa ver 9. Tertu lib. de poenit p. 479. Therefore imbrace repentance as hée that is shipwracke the helpe of some boord or plancke this will lift thée vp being ouerwhelmed with the waues of thy sins will bring thée into the hauen of the clemency of God Peter had denied his Master 1 Pet. 3.21 but being conuerted he doth neuerthelesse seeke the promise of saluation in baptisme The Galathians had fallen grieuously and likewise the Corinthians notwithstanding the Apostle doth set before them consolation deriued out of Baptisme after that they were againe raised vp by repentance Gal. 3.17 pronouncing as many of them as were baptized to haue put on Christ nay manifestly affirming that they were clensed and baptized in one spirit into one body that is to say a misticall body Out of which it euidently appeareth that the efficacy of the couenant of Baptisme doth extend it self to the time to come neither is it made plainely of no force and abolisht by the fall of man into sinne but that that couenant abides lastingly firme August 1. de nupt concupis cap. 33. and ratified of the part of God That therefore which Paul saith that Christ did clense the Church in the Lauer of water in the word is so to be taken that by the same Lauer of regeneration and word of sanctification all the euils of regenerate men are altogether clensed and healed not onely the sinnes past all which are remitted in Baptisme but also those which are afterwards contracted by humane ignorance or infirmitie not that baptisme so often as men sinne may so often be repeated but because by that which is once giuen the pardon of what soeuer sinnes is obtained for the faithfull not only before but also afterwards vpon their true and vnfained repentance Acknowledge therefore and bewaile thy sinnes yet neyther deny the couenant of grace that was begunne with thée in baptisme nor forget it but though thou fall a thousand times yet returne and goe backe Returne vnto mee Ier. 3.12 O thou soule that art turned away saith the LORD and I will not turne away my face from you Psal 27.8 because I am mercifull sayth the LORD and I will not be angry for euer Let thy heart set this word before GOD 2 Tim. 2.13 and hée will take pitty vpon thée being mindfull of his promise for hée cannot deny himselfe and his word XVI Vncertaine taking into the Couenant of Baptisme The tempted BVT whence may I bee ascertained that after I haue fallen by true repentance I may be receiued againe of God into fauour I would to God my heart might be confirmed by some certaine seale I would there were some Sacrament by the participation whereof that promise of grace might be sealed vp vnto mee The Comforter YEa there is such a Sacrament that is to say the most holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper in which Christ giues vnto thée his most precious body and blood Wherefore when they receiuest the most holy price of thy redemption that is to say the body and bloud of Christ in that holy supper thou mayest be sure that thou art made truly partaker of all those things which Christ hath deserued on the altar of the Crosse by the deliuering vp of his body and powring out of his bloud that is the fauour of God remission of sinnes righteousnesse life and euerlasting saluation When thou drinkest that bloud by the pouring out whereof the couenant of grace was stricken and confirmed how canst thou doubt whether thou be againe receiued into that couenant and into the fauour of God What is more néere vnto God then his onely begotten Sonne as who is in his bosome Ioh.
Lord by death and buriall séeing the bodies of the godly as it were precious graines of Wheat shall againe bud forth hereafter to life Stigeliu◠This Corneth immortall glory of the flesh Doth shew from liueles body springing fresh Vnder the clods is cast the saplesse seed Of which a man would thinke could nothing breed Yet this doth rise by hidden motion growing Increas'd in strength and body from the sowing Likewise our bodyes layd in hollow graue Thence rising lasting life and glory haue First drown'd in death now lifes true badge they weare And before God eternall blisse doe share The bones of the godly shall bud forth and flourish in the time to come Esa 66.14 2 Reg. 7.12 Esa 26.20 Dan. 12.2 Matt. 9.24 Ioh. 11.11 1 Cor. 15.6 1 Thessal 4.13 when the spring of the life eternall shall beginne finally they are said to slumber and to sléep a certaine swéet sléep for euen as in sléepe we rest from labour wee gather our deiected strength the soule in the meane time exercising her operations so by death being lead to rest from all the labours and sorrowes of this life wee gather new strength of minde and body to execute those workes more readily and perfectly to which we were in the beginning created and redéemed by Christ the soule in the meane time liuing and reioycing in Heauen Euen as in sléepe wee doe not care what is done about vs neither are wee troubled with the troubles of humane businesses so they that are godlily dead in the Lord doe rest from all care and trouble neither are they further subiect to the euils of this life Euen as we are againe raised vp out of sléepe so death shall not be a perpetuall sleepe but the houre will come in which wee shall heare the voyce of Christ calling vs out of the graue and wee shall come forth againe to life August ser 44. de ver Dom. No man doth so easily raise vp one that lyes vpon his bed as Christ the dead out of his graue Out of al which it clearely appeareth how truely the Apostle hath called the death of the godly aduantage Phil. 1.21 séeing it is aduantage to haue escaped the increase of sinne it is aduantage to haue auoyded worse things it is aduantage to passe to better The death of the godly is precious in the sight of the Lord Psa 116.15 and to them it is good for rest better for securitie best of all for blessednesse XXXV The sorrowes of Death The Tempted I Feare not death but the sorrowes of death for I haue often seene the eyes of dying men waxing dimme their eares waxing deafe their tongue waxing stiffe I haue seene the sweat and anxitie the horror and nakednesse of men that dye I haue oftentimes heard the howling and complaint of the soule compelled to goe forth of the house of the body The Comforter THose that beléeue in Christ are kept from those sorrowes of death or surely the sorrowes are mittigated vnto them Christ hath taken vpon himselfe that which was most bitter in our death that is to say the sense and féeling of the wrath of God Exod. 15.25 Iohn 5 51. let vs cast the wood of the Crosse on which Christ dyed for vs into our death and behold it will be vnto vs a pleasant sléepe Verely verely I say vnto you saith Christ if any man keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer that is to say he shall not onely not sée eternal death but also neither that cruell and horrible shape of temporall death And if so bee some small taste of bitternesse be offered vnto vs out of the cup of death what and how little is that in respect of that brooke of which Christ dranke for vs in the way of this life Psal 110.7 how little is that smal draught to be estéemed in respect of that cup which the heauenly Father hath offered vnto Christ to be drunke vp wholy in our stéed Mat. 26.42 Our death is as it were a certaine medicinable purgation of the soule of the body The saying of Methodius séeing by it the poyson of sin is as it were purged out of our flesh what maruell is it if some Aloes be mixt with this purgation Our death is the midwife to eternall life what maruaile is it if the same happen vnto vs which happens to an infant borne into the world out of the narrow places of his Mothers wombe which must in part beare the sorrowes of trauel There is no birth without all griefe that sharpe fit will endure but a short moment and behold the day of our deeth will be the birth-day of eternall life Narrow is that gate which leades vs to life what maruell is it if we féele some trouble in the going out thereof Mich. 2.13 Christ is our Captaine and hée that hath broken vp the way for vs he layes open the iourney before vs we must cleaue vnto him by true faith that we may passe through the gate of death together with him and finde the way to eternall life knowne vnto him Sinne doth as yet dwell in our flesh Psa 16.11 what maruell is it if for the remainder of sinne wée are constrained to suffer some sorrowes of death Rom. 5.1 Eph. 2.14 In the meane time our conscience hath peace in Christ which is our true peace which rising againe from the dead hath brought to vs the gift of peace There remaines no dart to Death by which it may wound our soule it fastens his téeth in our héele but the poison is taken away from it of Christ that it cannot powre it into vs together with the téeth that it hath fastned XXXVI Too timely Death The Tempted ME thinkes I am called backe too timely out of this life Psal 102.25 Psa 58.23 God snatcheth mee away in the midst of my dayes I feare therefore least this be a signe of the wrath of God seeing it is written men of bloud and deceipt shall not liue out halfe their dayes The Comforter NOthing is too timely with GOD which is ripe Long life truly is the gift of God yet short life is not alwayes a token of the wrath of GOD séeing GOD sometimes also commands the godly and those that are beloued of him to depart timely out of the house of this world that being fréed from the danger of sinning they may be set into the securitie of not sinning neither be constrained to haue experience of publike calamities oft-times more grieuous then death it selfe Esa 26.20 The people of GOD goeth and enter into their Chambers they shall shut the dores vpon them they are hidden for a moment till the indignation passe away Esa 57.1 The iust man perisheth and there is no man that considereth in his heart the mercifull men are taken away and there is none which doth vnderstand Vers 2. The iust man is taken away from the
face of euill peace shall come vnto him hee that walkes vprightly Sap 4.7 shall rest in his Chamber The iust man although hee be preuented by death shall be in refreshing Vers 8. For reuerend olde age stands not in the length of dayes neyther is it reckoned in the number of yeeres Vers 9. The vnderstanding of a man is his gray haires and olde age is the vndefiled life Vers 10. Hee pleased GOD and vvas beloued and liuing amongst sinners hee vvas translated Hee was taken away least vvickednesse should change his vnderstanding Vers 11. and least fayning should deceiue his soule Vers 12. For vvickednesse by bewitching obscureth the things that are good and the vnstedfastnesse of concupiscence peruerteth the simple minde Vers 13. Though hee was soone dead yet fulfilled hee much time for his soule pleased GOD Vers 14. therefore hasted hee to take him away from wickednesse The drye vnhappie Tree vvhich yeelds no fruit Is hewen downe and falling doth condemne Her barren boughes they spare the fruitfull Tree The Law of Heauen 's contrarie Therefore the godly man dies well whether he die in a good age or in the first flower of his youth Sph. Philos c. 36. p. 411. What other thing is our life but strife What is our carkasse but a graue What is our bodie but bonds What is our generation but a thrusting forth into the earth Wilt thou take it in euill part that thou art timely fréed from these euils and bonds By how much the more timely the heauenly Generall doth call thée backe out of the station of this life by so much the sooner doth he place thée into a place of rest peace and victory XXXVII Seruices farther due to the Church The Tempted I Might in my place by mine endeauour such as it is for the time to come further profit the Church of God for this end therefore I could wish that the space of a longer life might be granted vnto me The Comforter ALL this must be commended to Gods disposing that is how long God will haue thée to remaine in health and life for the Ministerie of his Church The words of Ambrose at his death as mentions Posidon in the life of August C. 27. Phil. 1.23 Say therefore with that old Doctor of the Church and well-deseruing Bishop I haue not so liued that I am ashamed to liue amongst you neither yet doe I feare to die because wée haue a good Lord. Hée that hath furnished thée with the gifts of teaching for the profit of his Church knowes also to furnish others with the same Therefore if thou art straightned with the Apostle that thou knowest not which of these two thou shouldest chuse hauing a desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ which is better for thée or to abide in the flesh which is more profitable for the Church know that to die is aduantage to thée but to liue is profit to the Church Rom. 14.7 No man of vs liueth to himselfe and no man dieth to himselfe For whether we liue we liue to the Lord to the end that we may gaine more soules to him in the Church or whether we dye we dye to the Lord that we may obey his fatherly will calling vs out of our station whether therefore we liue or whether we dye we are the Lords that most gentle and mightie Lord Vers 8. from whose loue neither life nor death can separate vs. Thou hast hitherto obeyed the will of the Lord most faithfully spending thy seruices on the Church obey him further most readily embracing his will that calls thée to the societie of the Church triumphant Thou art rightly carefull out of charitie for the encrease of the Church notwithstanding thou oughtest out of faith to commit the care of gouerning and conseruing the Church to God There is nothing here more wholsome nothing better nothing more conformable to pietie then for a man to resigne himselfe wholly to the will of God and to commend the full power of disposing of our life death to him with godly prayers Bern. in meditat de votiss c. 6. Col. 1196. Psa 37.5 One of these two things we may vndoubtedly hope for either hée will giue vs that which we aske or that which he knoweth to be more profitable Commend thy way to the Lord and hope in him and he will doe it XXXVIII Shortnesse of life drawne on by our owne accord or our life abridged by our owne default The Tempted I Feare least that I haue made my life shorter by my sinnes how then can I hope for the presence and helpe of God in death they that are guiltie of their owne death shall not finde a better life after death The Comforter AYe but that is to be vnderstoode of them which out of impatience lay violent hands vpon themselues and compell their soule to goe out of the house of their body against the will of GOD farre be such a purpose from thy pietie August 1. de ciu Dei â—â— 26 for it is lawfull for no man to bring vpon himselfe voluntarie death as it were desiring to escape temporall troubles least he fall into the euerlasting this is lawfull for no man for other mens sinnes least he begin to haue this most heauie sinne his owne whom other mens sinnes did not pollute this is lawfull for no man for sinnes past for which he hath more néede of this life that by repentance they may be healed this is lawfull for no man for the desire of a better life which is expected after death because they that are guiltie of their owne death shall not finde a better life after death But if thy minde be troubled with those thoughts that thou hast made thy life shorter by immoderate vse of meate or drinke or by any other disorder bewaile this with earnest sighes and place all thy trust on Christes merit conceiuing firmely a purpose of a better life and GOD will be mercifull to thine iniquities which hath promised pardon of all their offences to them that truly repent Manasses a man of bloud had broken off the thread of his life yet earnestly repenting he hath obtained the glorie of the eternall life Luk. 23.41 The Thiefe on the Crosse had receiued things worthie of his doing yet being earnestly conuerted vnto God hée entred into Paradise with Christ Gen. 3.15 And had not our first Parents drawne death vpon themselues and all their posteritie neuerthelesse embracing that Euangelicall promise of the bruiser of the Serpents head they were lifted vp againe by quickning consolation The word of Ambrose to Theodosius the Emperour Wherefore if thou hast followed these in their sinnes follow them also repenting with teares The hand of God is not yet shortned neither hath his mercie failed in the number of yéeres the gate of indulgence is not yet shalte séeing there is yet graunted a time of repentance XXXIX
beleeuest on the Sonne thou shalt not be iudged Ioh. 3.18 that is to say with that seuere and condemning rigour of iudgement If thou hearest the word of Christ Ioh. 5.24 and beleeuest him thou commest not into iudgement thy cause shall not be discust in that rigorous examination of iudgement 1 Thess 1.10 August in Psa 100. seeing Christ hath freed all that beleeue on him from the wrath to come Truly the day of iudgement is to be feared of the wicked for the punishment but is to be loued of the good for the crowne to them it shall be a day of grace and of large remuneration Luk. 21.28 Lift vp your heads saith the Son and know that your redemption draweth neere The Bride doth not feare the comming of her Bridegroome now thy soule is espoused to Christ by faith hée will appeare in the day of iudgement to that end Apoc. 197 that hée may bring her in as it were â—â—is Bride to the heauenly marriage what place therefore can there be here for terrour or feare That day shall be thâ— day of deliuerance because it shall frée vs altogether from the wretched captiuitie of sinne and death Into the perfect seruice of Christ it is the day of deliuerance because it shall plucke vs away from all the heape of euils and waight of calamities it is the day of deliuerance because it shall redéeme vs wholly from that continuall wrastling of the flesh and perillous warfare It is the day of refreshing because it shall set vs thirstie and out of breath into a place of rest by the fountaine of liuing water from the heate of calamities Act 3.20 Apoc. 22.2 Therefore let our Bridegroome Christ come let him come whatsoeuer soule is the true Spouse of Christ sealed by the earnest of the spirit led by the loue of Christ let her say Come Lord Iesu August in Psa 147. If wée loue Christ truly surely wée also desire his comming for it is a peruerse thing to feare least he come whom thou louest to pray let thy Kingdome come and to feare least thou be heard But from whence is the feare because hée is to come a Iudge What is hée vniust doth hée beare vs ill-will is he enuious doth he expect to know thy cause from another least perhaps he whom thou hast instructed either deceiue thée by collusion or failing in lesser elequence or abilitie be not able in words to shew the goodnesse of thine innocencie None of these Who therefore is to come Wherefore doest thou not reioyce Who is to come to iudge thée but he which came to be iudged for thee Feare not the accuser of whom he hath said the Prince of this world is cast forth Feare not an euill Aduocate for he will be thine Aduocate which shall be thy Iudge He will be both thy selfe and thy cause The word of thy cause the testimonie of thy Conscience All this of Augustine Whosoeuer therefore thou be that fearest the Iudge to come correct now thy conscience There is no cause therefore why thou shouldest feare the Iudge to come He shal be thy Iudge which also is thine Aduocate He shall be thy Iudge which hath giuen a promise to his Saints that by his testimonie and example they are to iudge the world He shall be thy Iudge in whom from euerlasting thou wert chosen to life Hée shall be thy Iudge which was thy King how shall a King destroy his owne people He shall be thy Iudge whose true member thou art by faith how shall the head destroy his members Rom. 8.33 Who shall accuse the chosen of God It is God which iustifies who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead nay which is risen againe which is at the right hand of God and makes intercession for vs how shall hée destroy those whom he hath taken into his tuition for whom least they should be destroyed Rom. 2.16 he came into the world Christ shall iudge according to the Gospell but now the beleeuers haue not despised it but receiued it with true faith They haue heard the voice of Christ inuiting them to conuersion Matth. 11.28 Come vnto me all yee which labour and are heauie loaden and I will refresh you therefore they shall also heare his voice inuiting them to the heauenly possession Come ye blessed of my Father Matth. 25.34 receiue the inheritance of the Kingdome of heauen which was prepared for you from the beginning He shall be the Iudge before whose face goe grace and truth grace hath abolisht the sinnes of the beléeuers truth hath giuen vnto them the promises of eternall life Neither is there any cause that thou feare the horrible vniuersall destruction of heauen and earth Heauen and earth shall passe away Luk. 21.33 Esa 40.8 but the words of Christ shall not passe away The word of the Lord abides for euer if thou sticke to this word with true faith thou likewise shalt abide for euer Thou hast lost nothing where by inordinate loue thou hast possessed nothing thy treasure is not the riches of this world but the delight of the heauenly Kingdome let the world be on fire it is sufficient for thée that Christ thy treasure liueth Let the frame of heauen and earth perish flie passe away thou hast most faithfull promises of a new heauen and a new earth Esa 65.17 2 Pet. 3.12 Apoc. 21.1 Behold I create a new heauen and a new earth saith the Lord in which shall dwell righteousnesse so that no man remembreth the former things any more Let the lodging of thy pilgrimage fall downe the euerlasting house of the heauenly Countrey doth abide Neither is there any cause why thou feare the accusation either of Satan or of the Law or of thine owne sinnes thy sinnes are cast into the depth of the Sea suppose into the bottomlesse pâ—t of Gods mercy Mich. 7.19 Es 38.17 Eze. 18.24 Psa 32.1 Psal 51.1 GOD hath cast them behinde his backe so that hée will not remember them hereafter Beléeue Satan shall not draw vp those sinnes out of the Sea nor dare to bring them into the sight of the Iudge Thy sinnes are forgiuen they are couered they are blotted out they shall not be brought againe into iudgement The accusation drawne against the godly of the Diuell shall be vaine because the blotting out of the hand-writing made by the bloud of Christ Colos 2.14 shall be turned against it The accusation of sinne shall be vaine because the pardon giuen by Christ shall be turned against it The accusation of the Law shall be vaine because reconciliation with God through faith hath gone before in this life To conclude there is no cause that thou feare the sodaine returne of Christ to iudgement for although the day of the Lord shal come as a Thiefe in the night 1 Thess 5.2 yet God hath not appointed vs to wrath but that wée may attaine saluation through our Lord Iesus Christ Vers 9. which hath dyed for vs that whether we wake or sléepe we may alwaies liue with him The day of iudgement is not to be feared of them for whom the Kingdome of heauen was prepared from the beginning Matth. 25.34 Eph. 1.4 which were chosen in Christ before the foundations of the earth were laid Commend therefore into the faithfull hands of God the pretious pledge of thy soule he will keepe it in death and iudgement and he will bring it vnited to the body into the Palaces of the heauenly Court to euerlasting glorie FINIS A PRAYER in Sicknesse HEare mee O God giuer and restorer of life in whose hands is life and death health and sicknesse Heare mee not according to the desire of my will but according to the good pleasure of thy will If thou wilt thou canst make mee whole say but one word onely and I shall be whole thou art the length of my dayes in thy hands are my lots but if thou now callest me by the way of Death to the heauenly Countrey mortifie first in mee all inordinate loue of this life giue me the strength of the spirit that I may ouercome the sorrowes of death and in the midst of the darknesse of mine eyes when they waxe dimme kindle and encrease in me the light of heart with thee is the fountaine of true life and in thy light I shall see light Thy death O good Iesus is the medicine of my death and the merit of eternall life I embrace thy vvord vvith a faithfull heart therefore I am sure that thou dwellest by faith in my heart I will not let thee depart out of my heart before thou blesse me and lift me vp with quickning consolation Thou hast said He that beleeueth on mee shall not die for euer this word my heart doth set before thee and in this faith I draw neere to the throne of grace thou wilt not correct nor put back him that comes vnto thee Let thy pretious bloud vvash mee from my sinnes let thy wounds hide mee from the wrath of God and rigour of iudgement I wil die in thee thou shalt liue in mee I will abide in thee and thou shalt abide in me thou wilt not leaue me in death and dust but wilt raise me vp to the resurrection of life Thou hast fought and ouercome for mee now fight and ouercome in me let thy strength be performed in mine infirmitie My soule cleaues vnto thee I will not suffer my selfe to be pluckt away from thee let thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding keepe my heart and senses Into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me thou God of truth take vp the poore soule which thou hast created which thou hast redeemed which thou hast washed from sins with thy bloud which thou hast sealed with the earnest of the holy Ghost which thou hast fed with thy body bloud It is thine thou hast giuen it vnto mee take vp that which thine is and remit the guilt of my sinnes wherewith I haue defiled it Let not the fruit of thy Passion perish in me let not thy precious bloud waxe barren in me In thee O Lord haue I hoped let me not be confounded for euer Amen