we it there is some daunger but if wee first discrie the Basiliske then the Serpent dieth wee neede not feare The tempest before expected dooth lesse annoy when the storme shall arise He that leaueth the worlde before the worlde leaues hym thinketh of the day of his dissolution as the Sicke man hearkeneth to the clocke shall giue Death the hand like a welcome messenger and with Simeon pray to depart in peace Yet the weather is faire wee may frame an Arke to saue vs from the floud Yet Ionas calls in the streete of Niniuie Yet Wisedome crieth to all that passe by vsque quo O how long will you loue vanitie Yet the Angels are at the gates of Sodome Yet the Prophet woos O Iuda how shall I entreate thee Yet the Apostle beseecheth for Christes sake that we would bee reconciled vnto God To conclude yet the Bridegroome tarries and stayes the virgins leysure to haue them enter with him vnto the marriage solemnitie Lord that they would make speede and cast off many meere vanities seeing the ioyes of heauen carry for them The pleasures of this worlde are pleasures in shew but the pleasures that Christ hath layd vp for them that are his are pleasures in deede God almighty increase in our hartes a desire of this learning that so wee may liue in his feare die in his loue to liue for euer The Second Chapter Wherein is shewed the cause why men so seldome enter into a serious remembrance of their end CAn wee sufficiently woonder that the regenerate manne whome God hath made by grace â— contemplatiue creature and by glory equalled vnto the state of Aungels should bee so delighted in the affaires of thys vncomfortable worlde so enchaunted with the harlot-like allurements of sinne so carried away from himself by the way of sensuall securitie as vtterly to cast away all remeÌ„brance of his ende and to become worse then an Idoll of Canaan which had eyes saw not that is to haue a Reasonable Soule and vnderstand not to induce the sonnes of men lightly and loosely to passe ouer a religious remembrance of this their ende Is his sleight whose businesse was and is at and since the fall of Adam to slay soules Nequaquam moriemini Tush you shall not dye at all As if he would haue the remembrance of death but a melancholy conceite and least it should make in mans hart too deepe an Impression of the feare of God he will haue the Forbidden tree to delght the eye fayre woordes to please the eare and driue all away Eritis vt Dii Why you shall be as Gods when his drift was to haue had them Diuels By this we see whose practise it is to make the worlde runne at randome as it doth and so many graceles Libertines by a carelesse course to passe ouer their dayes in vanity their yeares in folly so long vntill they be taken by the euill day when they thinke not of it as birdes in the snare and fishes in the nett sayth the wise man and so become vtterly vndone for euer To muse of our Ende is none of our thoghts to heare S. Paule speake of iudgement to come is too chilling a doctrine for our delightful dispositions and makes vs cold at the hart We cannot abide to stay vppon such austerities with Felix wee are not at leysure for this â—arring musicke which soundes not a right in the consort of our worldly pleasures and therefore will heare it another tyme happely not at all To thinke of death it is Acheldoma a fielde of bloud but to let the time slide wastfully and our sinnes increasâ— daungerously to promise vnto our selues many dayes to heare placentia and to be told of Peace Peace though sodeine destruction bee neuer so neere is our pleasing ditty vntill the soul bee rocke a sleepe in sinne and sleepe as Sisera which God forbid he slept but neuer waked againe Mercyfull Lorde what will become of this at the last If nothing els yet the dayly instances of death before vs doe euidently shew what shall in like maner shortely betide our selues The enterlude is the same weâ— are but now Actors vppon the stage of this world They which are gon haue played their parts and wee which remayne are yet acting ours onely our Epilogue is for to ende It is a maruaile aboue maruailes that in a battaile where so manye goe to the grounde our remisse hartes can take no warning to enter into some remeÌ„brance of our state The neighbours fire cannot but giue warninge of approachinge flames Mihi heri tibi hodie yesterday to mee to day to thee Whose turne is next God onely knowes who knoweth all Hee that once thought but to beginne to take his ease was faine that very night whether he would or no to make his ende If nothinge els yet so manye so apparant precedentes should mooue vs toshake off this strange forgetfulnesse vnlesse that complainte of Cyprian be also verified Nolumus agnoscere quod ignoraâ—e non possumus Wee will not knowe that which we caÌ„not but know Good Lord into what a daungerous Lethargie of the soule are wee fallen when so many obiectes before our eyes which are so often sounding in our dullest eares can nothing moue or at least so little as sodeinely all is gone Our mouing is with Agrippa in modico tantum but onely somewhat which by and by is forgot againe Our consultations are Volumus nolumus we will and we will not and so with the sluggarde nothinge is done What long discourse haue we in our greatest meetings but dead men are partly if not chiefly the subiect of the same How often heare wee the solemne â—nell when our selues can say well some body is gon Do we not passe by the graues of manye who for age and strength might haue rather seene vs lead the way and yet for all this to dreame as if there were no death at all Goe too sayth Salomon to the slothfull sleepe on Let fooles as they do make but a sporte of sinne and say with the olde Epicures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Why what haue we to do with death They shall one day finde that death will haue to dâ—e with theÌ„ when he shall strip them into a shrowdinge sheete â—inde them hand and foote and make their last bed to be the hard and stony graue Of which sorte of men that moane of Moyses may iustly be renewed O that this people were wise and would remember the latter thinges That they would cast to minde the dayes will come and God knoweth how soone too When the kepers of the house shall tremble which are the handes when the stronge men shall bow themselues to wit the legges when they shall waxe darke that looke out of the windowes that is to say the eyes When the eares or daughters of musicke shal be abased when grashoppers on
vnseemely in reason as nothing more and the inexcusable folly of age to bee so farre from a consideration of that which is seemely both before God and man Tully could say longe agoe of ciuill gouernemente amongest men Aptissima arma senum exercitationes virtutum Olde mens weapons what shoulde they els bee but exercises of vertue In Christianity more fitter wer it a great deale for them to be at their deuotions then to do often as they doe Isaack thoughte it tyme at these dayes to commune of blessing and of his ende My sonne let me blesse thee I am olde and know not the day of my departure They doe as much labour in effect and more that sit at the sterne and gouern as those that toyle and tosse otherwise but to mooue age to this consideration the very beholding of others that goe before them is in reason sufficient When the thirde gouernor ouer Fifty of whome mention is made in the seconde booke of Kings saw but his two fellow Captaines ouer Fifty deuoured before him it went so nere his hart that he came forth fell downe and besought the man of God that his life mighte bee pretious in his sight How many Fifties in late yeares of mortalitie and warre haue we seene or heard to haue beene deuoured by death How many of our fellow Souldiers in this spirituall conflict in which wee all fight haue wee seene die in the fielde How many of our deerest frends haue taken their leaue and gone before and yet for all this there is no comming to make humble supplication I say not to the man of God but to God himselfe that our liues and deathes may be pretious in his sight As is saith Dauid the death of hys saintes The Publicans but hearing the Axe to bee laide to the roote of the tree and that euery tree which did not bringe foorth fruit should be hewen down and cast into the fire it made them come to Iohn the Baptist wyth their Quid faciemus O what shall we doe to avoide these thinges The men of Niniueh hearing but once of their imininent ende it wrought such so great remorse in them as they all out of hand fasted put on sackecloth and sorrowed for their sinnes Often hath God knocked at the doore of our hartes to aduertise vs of our mortalitie For whe is there that hath not sometime experienced in himselfe by feeling the infirmity of his declining nature by auoidinge the perils of apparant daunger beesides the sondry warninges to this effecte whether we must And here wee may all wonder at the mercy and patience of God whoÌ„ by these motiues dooth admonish vs of our approaching ende But yet for all this how little humblinge of our selues is ther before him whose dominion reacheth vnto the endes of the earth whose power is aboue all powers from generation to generation worlde without ende who bringeth to the graue and rayseth vp agayne What a daungerous course is it neuer to awake Christ though the shippe leake and bee often in perrill of drowninge neuer to thinke of God vntill wee stand in neede of him neuer to begin to liue vntill wee are ready to die neuer to call to minde that Time of Times vntill we heare the Trumpe soundinge vntill we see the graues openinge the earth flaming the heauens melting the iudgement hastening the Iudge with all his Angels comming in the cloudes to denounce the last doome vppon all flesh which will bee vnto some wo wo when they shall crye vnto the mountaines to couer them and for shame of their sinnes hide themselues if it were possible in Hell fiâ—e If we haue any feare this shoulde mooue feare If any remembrance this shoulde cause a carefull remembrance of our ende O consider saith the Prophet you that forget God Least he take you away and there be none to deliuer you Saluation is a matter of great earnest Our Sauiour Christ by those parables of the Wise Virgins and Watchfull seruauntes what els doth he teach his Disciples vs all but in so weighty a cause to be carefull in deede Wee haue as much neede as any that euer liued vnder the cope of heauen considering these sinnefull dayes When God saide the wickednesse of men is great vppon earth it was time for Noah to prepare for an Arke to saue himselfe When once the crye of Sodome was ascended to Heauen it was time for Lot to thinke of his departure vnto the Hill countries When this world now after many strong fittes of great contentions beginnes to trifle idlely with euery fancy we may partlye gather by these sickly signes which may it is drawing and say God of Heauen helpe this worlde for it is a weake worlde indeede These bee no dayes to liue securely in but rather time and high time is it for euery one to amend one that God may haue mercy vppon vs all Haue wee not example by them that sleepe vntill the Bridegroomes comminge that euerye knocke will not bee sufficiente warrant to enter By him that wepte for a blessinge when it was too late that euery sigh will not be a satisfaction for our sins T is most sure and we had neede looke to it in time Where the tree falleth there it lyeth And as the last day saith S. Austen of our life leaueth vs so shall the day of Doome finde vs. To let all alone vntill it be too late was their folly who long since were drowned in the floud To cast onely for wealth and ease was his worldly wisedâ—m that made a suddaine farewell from both when that night his soule was taken from him and not yeelded of him To deferre all vnto the last push neuer entringe into a Religious remembraunce of our ende is an effete of that ill spirit called sensuall security which kinde of Spirite is not cast out but by Fasting and Prayer The Third Chapter How behoouefull it is for euery Christian man soberly to meditate of his ende IN the whole Tenure of a Christian life no parte more heauenly then that wee spende in Religious meditation for this Religious meditation no subiect more neerely concerneth the state of man then often to beate vpon a Remembrance of his ende wherin consisteth the Center of al his desireâ— the haruest of all his labours his sâ—re and most happy repose for euer How behoouefull then is it for euery one to sequester himselfe sometimes froÌ„ incombrances of this worlde vacare Deo to bee at leasure for God to call his best thoughts to counsel to this businesse of his soule the manyfold effectes of so good and practise will easily shewe and approoue as much For who is there that with Ezechias will not fall to set his householde his life his soule and all in order when once that of the Prophet mooues his very hart Ezechias moriere Ezechias now God bee
weakenesse and we beginne to shrinke from it but hauing confidence in God who hath willed vs not to feare we finde it a meane to â—iuide the waters of many tribulations to make vs a passage from the wildernesse of this world vnto a better land of rest T is strange we should make so nice of our selues as to count it a death to meditate of Death Nay to esteeme the very remembrance thereof as Ahab did the presents of the Prophet Elias to be troublesome vnto vs. Whereas Death is so farre from hurting them who put their trust in God as they shall rather finde it a gentle guide to bring them home to their owne Cittie where they would be to remaine for euer That which wee call life is a kinde of death because it makes vs to die but that which we count death is in the sequcle a very life for that indeede it makes vs to liue There is a death which some call mortall sinne and this is the death of the Soule which death wee should all feare There is also a moderate feare of the other death which is profitable to withdraw vs from the allurements of euill But so to feare it as if it were the vtter ruine and ouerthrow of all our beeing we neede not wee ought not When the Apostle S. Paule spake of the vnconquâ—rarable faith which was his stay and the stay of all them whose hope was in Christ Wee saith the Apostle know that if this earthly house of our Tabernacle be destroyed we haue a building not made with handes but giuen of God eternall in the Heauens As if he would tell the persecutors of his time that miseries for a moment could not disâ—â—ay them the perishing of the outward man could not daunt them nor present death could discourage them for they knew their habitation was in â—eauen and themselues incorporated Cittizens into that Ierusalem which is aboue A heathen man could say Degeneres animos timor arguit this â—biect feare is farre dissident from a generous ofspring Salomon saith The iust is as a Lion of whome the Naturalist writeth that hee is of such courage as beeing fiercely pursued he will neuer once alter his gate though he die for it With what constancy aunswered the second of those seauen brethren who all yeelded vp manfully themselues to torment for the mainetenance of the Law of God Thou O King takest these our liues from vs but the King of Heauen shall raise vs vp in the resurrection of euerlasting life The Philosopher might say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of thinges terrible none more then Death But it is otherwise with Christians Tertullian told the persecutors of his time that their cruelty did but open a doore to Gods distressed people whereby they might enter the sooner into a state of glory and therefore death was very acceptable to them Why should I feare saith the Prophet in the euil day As if Dauid saw no cause of dreading death howsoeuer nature may begin to tremble at the mention thereof Hilaâ—ion could not but wonder his soule should be so loath to depart after hee had serued God and God him so many yeares Consider death as in it selfe and so naturally we seare it Consider death as a meane to bring vs vnto Christ willingly we may embrace it When Iacob saw the chariots of Egipt and thereby perceiued his sonne Ioseph was aliue his fainting spirites reuiued saying I will goe see him before I die When faith dooth bring vs many testimonies our Ioseph liueth the Christian soule may recomfort her selfe in her panges and say Moriâ—r vt vidoâ—â— In the name of God to see him let me die Now for these corruptible bodies they take no dammage at all by death T is no harme to the seede though it hath for the time a little earth raked ouer it it shall spring againe and flourish and bring foorth fruite in due season No hurt is it to these our bodies to be cast into the grounde beeing sowen in wealienesse they shall rise againe in power being sowen naturall bodies they rise againe bodies spirituall being sowne in dishonor they rise againe in glory The keeping greene of Noahs Oliue troo vnder the floud The budding againe of Aarons rod The deliuerance of Ionas from the depth of the Sea The voice that calleth come againe ye children of men The hope of Iob that he should see God with no other but with the selfe same eyes The Prophesie of Ezechiell vnto the dry bones that should come os ad os bone to bone may stirre in vs a ioyfull hope and cheere vs vp against all the feare and terror of death But the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ that is the comfort of all coinforts Vox Christi vox Christianorum The voice of Christ is by Christ the doyce of Christians saith S. Austen Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victory As he was the cause efficient so was he also a figure of the Resurrection Hee risinge wee all arise Of a more powerfull cause there is a more powerfull effect If the sinne of Adam who was a liuing soule was the cause that death raigned ouer all much more the resurrection of Christ who was a quickening spirite shal be of power to raise vp all that beleeue to the hope of euerlasting life What greater ioy then to be able to know him as the Apostle speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the power of this resurrection Christ as in dying shewed what we should suffer so in risinge from death what we should hope To wit that all the bones in Golgatha shall rise and those that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall heare the voice of Lazarus come foorth Wherefore though Death doe swallow vs vp as the Whale did Ionas bind vs as the Philistines did Sampson yet wee shall come foorth and breake the bendes as the birde out of the snare The snare is broken and we are deliuered They may well feare death saith S. Cyprian that haue no saith in Christ but for those who are members of that head who vanquished the power of Hell and Death Death is to them aduantage and a gentle guide that bringes them home to euerlasting rest Hence is it that dying they are said since Christes resurrection to fall asleepe They that sleepe in Iesus saith the Apostle they lay them downe and take their rest and God it is that makes them dwell in euerlasting safety We should not then feare to fall a sleepe for sleepe is a refreshinge after wearysome labours The painefull labouring man after his dayes worke ended sleepes often more quietly then Diueâ— in his marble pallace on his bed of Iuory where hee tosseth and tumbleth hee sleepes not quietly either in life or death and of such is that verified O mors quam amara O death how bitter is thy remembrance Hauing wearied
appeared first after his resurrection to Marie Magdalene to shewe that he brought comfort to the greatest sinners of all This is a true saying saith the Apostle That Christ came into the world to saue sinners whereof I am the chiefe as if S. Paul put himselfe in the number as euerie one shoulde and say wherof I am one nay the chiefe And here we may call to minde that bottomles depth of Gods mercie who will bee called rather by the name of a father to intimate vnto vs his loue and to enconrage vs to call vpon him in time of neede whose goodnes is diffusiue and communicable vnto others whose bountie is delighted in nothing more then in doing good And is woont rather to giue great then small things God is not such a one as Adam tooke him to be from whom when he had sinned hee shoulde flie or hide him selfe for feare but God is such a one to whom Adam and all that haue sinned may haue accesse with hope and loue The seruants of Benadab in the first of Kinges and the twentieth when they saw and considered wel their distressed case began to aduise their maister Benadab after this maner We heare that the Kings of Israel are mercifull wherefore let vs cloath our selues in sackecloath that so we may goe and find fauour in their sight If this mercifulnes were a thing proper vnto the Kings of Israel what may wee looke for at the handes of him who is the God of Israel before whom they that humble themselues shall questionlesse find grace and mercie My sin is greater no Cain thou errest God his mercie is far greater couldest thou aske mercie Men cannot bee more sinnefull then God is mercifull if with penitent heartes they will but call vpon him But come we vnto Christ the fountaine of al mercie there shall we find God in his mediation onlie great without quantitie and good without qualitie as Saint Austen speaketh Christ in the Gospel was called of the Pharisies by way of reproach a friend of Publicans and sinners and so was hee in truth and veritâ—e Neuer was there such a friend to poore sinners such Publicans as he was who strake his breast saide God be mercifull to me a sinner The Parable of the lost shaepe doth shewe this loue in seeking the lost sinner the ioy of the Angels of heauen ouer our repentance may much comfort vs to cal for grace When the wandering sonne had consumed his fathers substaunce but yet returned sorowfully to acknowledge himselfe the father saith not whence â—â—mest thou or where is now all thy patrimonie but bring hither the newe garment â—il the fat calfe let vs reioyce my son was dead and is aliue Here was a welcome â—ome that might amaze this wandering sonne though wee sometimes lose the nature of children yet God doth neuer lose the name and nature of a father a name of priuiledge to his children we crie Abba father a name of care and prouidence your heauenly father eareth for you a name of loue If you giue your Children good things how much more shall your father in heauen giue you if you aske them of him And not onely a father but our father which should wounde our harts and kindle our affections in al distresses with comfort to â—al vpon him It may be said also in this case as before it was saide of the affection of a mother There is none knowes the loue of a father but a father nor any the loue of God but God himselfe who is loue That thou mightest bee blessed O man first hee created theâ— that thou mightest bee recouered when thou wert lost then hee redeemed thee which redeeming sheweth a price paied for thy raunsome which price was his dearest bloud When Christ wept and shed some fewe teares for Lazarus the Iewes reasoned and said see how he loued him but when Christ shedde his owne bloud for vs and that in great aboundance Osee how he loued vs. If hee bought vs with so deare a price will he refuse his owne peniworth If he sought vs flying from him shal be not much more receiue vs when we come vnto him Can a mother saith the Prophet Esay forget the childe of her wombe yea thoâ—gh she do yet will not God forget his people When my father and mother forsooke me saith Dauid the Lord tooke me vp We haue a good Samaritan that when the Priest and the Leuite left vs wounded to wit the Law and figures thereof passed by vs hee bound vp our wounds and paid for our curing that we might be recouered vnto euerlasting health Our Ioseph is gone before to prouide for his brethren was there euer such loue Looke how wide the East is from the West so farre hath hee sette our sinnes from vs. Nay like as the pillar of clouds was set betweene the host of their enemies and the tents of the people of Israel that no harme might befall them so hath hee set his prouidence betweene vs and all casualties that no hurt should oppresse vs Wee should be sutors vnto Christ and least our manifolde sinnes shoulde make vs bashfull he calleth vs vnto him saying Venite omnes qui laboratis onorati estis ego reficiam vos Come vnto me al that are wearie and heaâ—â—e loden and I will refresh you Did al the poore creatures come vnto the Arke to saue themselues Did the Angels carrie Lot out of Sodome and shall not wee come vnto him who calles vs so louingly and meanes no other but to bring vs vnto his euerlasting kingdome Wherefore let neither the multitude of our sins the terror of the lawe nor the feare of Gods iustice discourage vs in time of distresse Christ hath put theÌ„ al to flight as Dauid did the Philistines by killing the killing letter of the lawe who would not cast his burthen vpon him that doth desire to giue vs ease As I liue saith the Lord I woulde not the death of a sinner God woulde haue the sinnes to die but the sinner to liue whose creatures haue nourished vs whose-prouidence hath preserued vs whose mercies hath carried vs all along from our verie cradles vntill this dâ—y whose watchfull eye hath deliuered vs from so manie daungers both of bodie and soule haue we had such and so many experiments of his loue and should we now doubt thereof Is the Iudge become our aduocate and shall we feare to go forwards towards the throne of grace The Spirite and the Bride say come and let him that is a thirst comâ— and let who soeuer will drinke of the water of life come freely who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen who shall condemne Christ at the right hande of God maketh request for vs. The ninteenth Chapter Howe the sicke in the agonie of death may bee prepared towards his ende AL our life long haue we liued
in a departure farewell froÌ„ the worlde since our very first entrance wee were euer drawing towardes our ende our pilgrimage is almost ouer When we approach towardes the period of our course what else remaineth but a heartie commending our soules to God and a comfortable expectation of a better life to come when weaknes of humane nature doth not affoord habilitie to manifest our soules affections God shall accept at our handes the sending vp of our â—ghes and desires to heauen who saide vnto Moses why hast thou cried vnto me for this people yet we find that Moses spake neuer a worde to shew that hee heard the secret supplication of Moses heart Ionas praied in the belly of the whale when hee thought vpon God Susanna in her distresse when she lifted vp her eyes to heauen Haue I not remembred thee saith Dauid vpon my bed and thought vpon thee when I was waking And in another place O Lord my heart is ready my hart is ready As if his trust was that God would accept the readinesse of his heart wherefore the minde beating vpon a remembraunce of Christes passion shall mittigate in part the bodies paynes Nowe is the time that Timothie a good Soldiour shoulde fight by Saint Paules example a good fight Keepe the faith and so finish his course for after all there is a Crowne of glorie reserued for Gods children This is the last Secane of all the Comedie When a little brunt is ouerpast troubles cease but ioyes neuer ceasse And therefore a good remembraunce that wee are going from the darkenesse of this worlde to the lande of the liuing Where is no night no neede of the Candle nor light of the Sunne for God giueth them light and they shal reigne for euermore Hold thy peace Babylon sayeth Epiphanius and bee mute O Sodome because that article I beleeue life euerlasting is cleere and consequentlie bringeth comforte to Gods departing Children But let vs hearken to Christ himselfe I am the Resurrection and the life sayeth the Lorde whosoeuer beleeueth in mee yea though hee were dead yet shall hee liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall not die for euer O ioy of ioyes wee lay vs downe to sleepe and take our rest to dwell in safetie And here wee may not omitte to call to minde the manner howe Gods seruants of olde haue shut vp the day of their mortalitie As first that of Moyses who after beholding the lande of promise blessed God for all his benefites blesseth the people and so dyeth That of Iosuah who exhorteth Israel to feare God to stande stedfastlie in all his ordinaunces and so mildly goeth the way of all the worlde That of Dauid who enioyneth Salomon his sonne to walke in the waies of God that so hee might prosper in whatsoeuer he tooke in hand That of Tobie who called his sonne and his sonnes sonnes exhorting them to bee mercifull and iust that it might goe well with them That of Saint Steuen who praying for his persecuters and calling vpon the name of Iesus fell a sleepe And after this manner haue the godlie taught vs to depart this worlde That of Serapion a good and faithfull olde man sayeth Eusebius who after receyuing the holie Eucharist moste meekelie departed the worlde Now for things transitorie they leaue vs and we them the soule onely remaineth to bee commended vnto God If when thou art going a iourney thou wouldest be glad to commit thy remporall goodes to such a friend by whome thou mayest be sure they shall bee well and safelie kept how much more may the Christian man comfort himselfe in committing his soule to the custodie of Iesus Christ his Sauiour who will keepe it sure and safe for euer Reuben saide of Beniamin when Iacob was loath to let him go Deliuer him vnto me and I will bring him safelie home So of Christ it may be more rightlie said Commend thy departing soule vnto him and hee will bring it vnto her long and blessed home The Twentieth Chapter In what maner the sicke should be directed by those to whom this weightie businesse doth speciallie appertaine AMongest men those whom God hath set apart to helpe distressed consciences to loose or pronounce remission in his mercy to blesse in his name to teach his people and to doe theÌ„ good in times of need partly by matter of exhortation and partly also by offering vp in their behalfe deuout praiers towards the throne of Grace In the viâ—tation of the sicke so high a worke of mercie they are occasioned if euer to enter most seriouslie into the exercise of both That care may bee thought to bee of greatest importaunce which is imployed in helping them who be now least able to helpe them selues and had neuer more neede God knowes of ghostly direction There is nothing which the sicke in these extremities doe more desire agaynst the naturall terrours of death and many troubles of conscience which at this time are woont to assault them It is greatly to be wished that like as the serpent that olde enemie of mankinde who the shorter the time is the â—â—ercer his wrath is and chiefly entendeth ruine vnto the heele As the last part of mans life is at this time busie so those who in louing feede and in feeding loue Christ his lambes should now bee most carefull to keepe them from this deuouring Lion and endeuoure to present them sounde in faith hope and charitie vnto the great Bishop and Sheepheard of their soules Notwithstanding that the good grace of that spirite which directeth our highest proceedings can better direct a discreet and sober Agent in this case then all forms of direction whatsoeuer yet as in other duties so in this some aduertisements may bee obserued by those who are content also to heare the aduise of others First therfore death being that which all men suffer but not all after one sort care ought to be had answerable vnto the disposition of the dying Tediousnesse of discourse may soone weary the weake partie Few words those sometimes in priuate well ordered are woont for the most part to auaile most Impertinent speeches verie vnfit the presence oftentimes of those who haue beene associate in follie yea sometimes the presence of those who are nearest in alliance remooued is thought by graue indgement to bee the fittest oportunitie for the giuing of soule counsell bearing a simple and honest intent to doe good A premeditated exhortatioÌ„ after information taken of the disposition of the sicke is verie behoouefull this loose and sleight hudling vp of diuine matters and sometimes of Gods mysteries themselues doth often bring in contempt the high wisedome of holie Scripture which but with all reuerence watchfulnesse and prayer none should presume to search and open This disposing then of the sicke vnto a Christian ende being a worke of such moment they may
through thee haue I beene holpen euer since I was borne it grieueth mee that I haue so often offended thy goodnes and I am grieued that I grieue no more Lord as an humble suitor I appeale vnto the throne of mercie and there begge at thy handes remission of all my sinnes in the merites of thy bitter passion I offer vnto thee a penitent heart for the time past and promise amendment if it shall please thy diuine wisedome to continue on this my pilgrimage for the time to come wherein I refer my selfe wholly to thy heauenly will in hope of a better resurrection vnto euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another prayer for the sicke ALmightie and euerlasting God maker of mankind which doest correct those whom thou dost loue and chastenest euerie one whome thou receyuest receiue O Lorde wee beseech thee thy seruant here visited with sicknesse distrusting in his owne merites and trusting in thy mercies Looke vpon him O Lorde as thou didst vpon Ezechias restore vnto him his former health if it bee thy will or otherwise giue him grace to take this sicknes patiently that after this life ended in thy faith and loue hee may dwell with thee in life euerlasting vnto which life vouchsafe to bring him and vs all thy hamble seruants for thy infinit mercies sake Amen The one and twentieth Chapter Wherein is laid downe the manner of commending the sicke into the handes of God at the houre of death GOd the Father who hath created thee God the Sonne who hath redeemed thee God the holy Ghost who hath infused his grace into thee assist thee in all thy tryals and leade thee the way into euerlasting peace Answer Amen Christ that died for thee keep thee from all euill Answ. Amen Christ that redeemed thee strengthen thee in all temptations Answ. Amen Christ that loued thee so deerly raise thee body and soule in the resurrection of the iust Answ. Amen Christ that sitteth at the right hand of God in heauen bring thee vnto euerlasting ioy Answ. Amen God grant thy place may be in Abrahams bosome Answer Amen God grant thou mayest behold thy blessed Sauior in the state of glorie Answ. Amen God grant thy death may be precious in his sight in whom thou art to rest for euer Answ. Amen A briefe forme of praier MOst mercifull father wee commend vnto thee this thy seruant the worke of thine own hands we commend vnto thee his soule in the merits of Christ Iesus his redeemer Accept O Lord thine owne creature forgiue we beseech thee what soeuer hath been committed by humaine fraâ—ltie and command thy Angels to bring him to the land of euerlasting peace Answer Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest Noah in the floud Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou didst Lot from the fire of Sodom Answer Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest Iob in all his aduersitie Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest the Israelites from the power of Pharaoh and the oppression of Egypt Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant from the malice of Sathan as thou didst Dauid from all his enemies Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou didst Daniel from the mouth of the Lions Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest the three children from the fierie flames Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest Elias from the false Prophetes that sought his ouerthrow Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant and deliuer him as thou diddest thy Aposties out of prison Answ. Amen From that ruefull darknes Answer Deliuer him O Lord. From the paines of Hell Answer Deliuer him O Lord. From euerlasting malediction Answer Deliuer him O Lord. By thy natiuitie Answere O Lord deliuer him By thy crosse and passion Answere O Lord deliuer him By thy descention into hell Answere O Lord deliuer him By thy resurrection from the dead the third day Answer O Lord deliuer him By thy ascention into heauen Answer O Lord deliuer him Into thy merciful hands O heauenly Father we commend the soule of thy seruant nowe departing acknowledge wee beseech thee a sheepe of thine owne fold a lambe of thy own flocke Receiue him into the armes of thy mercy knowing the thing cannot perish which is committed to thy charge O most mercifull Iesus receiue we beseech thee his spirit in peace Amen The blessing of the sicke Iesus Christ absolue shee from all thy sinnes Answ. Amen Iesus Christ that died for thee put out all thy offences Answ. Amen Iesus Christ that calleth thee receiue thee into his heauenly kingdome Answ. Amen The Lorde blesse thee and keepe thee The Lord make his face to shine vpon thee The Lord lift vp his countenance ouer thee and giue thee a ioyfull resurrection to life euerlasting Amen Depart O Christian soule in the name of God the Father who created thee of God the Sonne who redeemed thee of God the holy Ghost who sanctified thee one liuing and immortal God to whom be glory for euer and euer Amen A Praier to be vsed by the assemblie at the time of the Christian mans departure Let vs pray O Almightie and euerlasting God seeing it hath pleased thee to take this thy seruant out of the miseries of a sinfull world vnto thy heauenly kingdome for which Lord thy name bee blessed make vs we beseech thee that yet remaine mindful of our mortalitie that we may walke before thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of our life and when the time of our departure shall come we may rest in thee as our hope is this thy seruant doth that we with him and all other departed in the faith of thy holy name may reiorce together in thy eternall and euerlasting glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The two and twentieth Chapter An exhortation is comfort those who lament mourne for the departure of others TO vse mourning for the dead decencie amongst men and Christianitie doth allow it examples of holy scriptures doe approue as much What more seemely then the performance of the dutie whereby we giue testimonie of naturall affection in this solemne departure each from other God hath neither made vs stockes nor stones nor giuen vs heartes which should haue no seeling when occasions offered or times beseeming require sorrowfull affections In the contrarie what more vncomely then to vse nurth in the house of mourning A very Heathenish manner was it thought to bee by the decree of an ancient council to sport at these motiues to mourning For examples in holy scripture we find that Abraham mourned for Sarah all Israel for Samuel the people in the wildernesse for Aaron their high priest the inhabitantes of Bethulia for Iudeth that honorable widdow the Machabies for their