powers and abilities of his soule and body according to the rule of Gods word For the spirit and the word neuer â—…arre but the holy spirit breatheth in it and worketh by it Acts. 10. vers 44. and 45. Quâ—… In how many things dooth this first degrée of eternall life consist A. It consisteth in thrée 〈◊〉 or graces of God First in the 〈◊〉 and sauing knowledge of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost Secondly in the swéete peace of conscience which flowing from the death of Christ is life and peace for this is the way to and the beginning of euerlasting happinesse Thirâ—…ly in the gouernment of the spirit when we assent vnto the directions of it and in acte approoue and obey them Q. But what néede all this paine and trouble Is it not enough when a man is dying to say Lord haue mercy vpon mee Ans. No for first Not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into heauen but hee that doth the will of God Secondly he that prorogeth and putteth of his repentance vnto death is for the most part so be-sotted with the custome of sinne and with-all so forsaken of God that he as experience teacheth can vtter no good word The xii Chapter Of accustoming and enuring a mans selfe to dye well Question HOw shall a man bring him-selfe in fashion and accustome himselfe to dye well Answ. By the performance of thrée things First seeing that Gods corrections and chastisements are the instruments and fore-runners of death hee must humble himselfe vnder them Secondly he must begin to mortifie little sinnes that so he may mortifie the greater afterwards Thirdly hee must not let goe the fruite of the least crosse but learne to beare and endure smaller crosses and afflictions that he may be the better enabled to vnder-goe the torments of death it selfe The xiii Chapter Of the speedinesse and carefulnesse of Preparation Question VVHen and how must a man prepare him-selfe A. With all expedition and vtmost diligence Qu. Wherein must this expedition and diligence chiefely appeare An. In dooing all possible seruice to Church and common-wealth Psal. 122. vers 8. and 9. Q. Why must he take this course A. Otherwise dâ—…th for it giueth no man warning will ouer-take him and hée will wish that hée had done it when it is too late And thus much of generall preparation The xiiii Chapter Of Particular preparation Question OF how many sorts is particular preparation A. It is two-fold either false and vnperfect as is that which the Synagoge of Rome prescribeth or true and perfect as is that which all Protestant Churches teach and practise Q. Wherein doth the false and vnperfect preparation of the Church of Rome consist A. In thrée things Q. What are those thrée things or members A. First auricular or eare-confession made to a Priest Secondly the receiuing of the Eucharist or hoast Thirdly extreame vnction or anointing with oyle Q Is not auricular confession or the secret enumeration of all a mans particular sinnes necessary Ans. No certainly Q. Why is it not necessary A. First because the word of God requireth no such matter Secondly no man can possibly sound euery corner of his heart and finde out all his sinnes Ierem. 10. 23. Thirdly there was no such practise neither in the Apostles times nor in the primitiue Church for the space of fiue hundred yeares Forthly Dauid and the prodigall or lost Child had their sinnes forgiuen them vpon a generall confession 1. Sam. 12. ver 12. Luk. 15. ver 18. 19. Lastly God hath not made men absolute iudges of reconciliation but hath onely giuen them the ministerie of reconciliation Ques Wherein doth this ministerie of reconciliation consist Ans. When the ministers of Gods word doe in the name of the Lord according to his word preach declare and pronounce a mans sinnes to be forgiuen or not forgiuen The second Section Que. Is it necessary for the sicke to receiue the Eucharist or the Lords Supper Answ. There is no such extreame necessity for first not the want but the continuall contempt of the Sacrament formerly in faith receiued doth extend it selfe to the whole course of a mans life Lastly the Lorde supper is an Ecclesiasticall or publike action and therefore according to Christ his institution is to be administred and receiued in the greatest concourse and assembly of the Church Obiect As the paschall Lambe was eaten so may the Lords Supper be eaten but the paschall Lambe was eaten priuatly in particular houses therefore may the Lords Supper â—…ee likewise eaten in the same forme Ans. I answer to the first proposition that the argument is not good and the consequence followeth not For first they Iewes then could not obtaine leaue nor be permitted to assemble them-selues togeither as wee doe and may Gods name be blessed for it Secondly I answer to the secoâ—… proposition that the Pascall Lambe though it was eaten in particular houses yet it was by Gods commandement and eaten at one and the same time in all places which is all one as if the action had beene publike The 3 Section Q. Is extreame vnction and especially the anointing of the instruments of the senses in spirituall respects now necessary for the sicke Ans. No truely for it concerneth not vs at all the miracle is ceased long since and then what vse of the ceremony Obie But in Saint Iames daies they anointed the sick with oile and why may they not doe so now Ans. First because as I formerly noted all miracles are ceased but that anointing was miraculous Secondly the sicke theâ—… anointed with oile by vertue of Gods promises recouered out of their sicknes but those whome the Papistes anoint commonly die and so neuer recouer Lasty the ancient anointing was appointed and vsed for the recouery of bodily health but the Papists abuse and preuent it to false endes namely to obtaine forgiuenesse of sinnes and to procure strength and comfort against all the temptations of death and to obtaine saluation it selfe And of the false preparation hetherto The fifteenth Chapter Of the seuerall duties and branches of particular preparation Question IN what and in how many things doth particular preparation consist Ans. According to their thréefold obiect they are thus distinguished they concerne either God him-selfe or our owne person or our neighbour Q. When we are sicke what duty are we to performe towards God Ans. We must dayly seeke to be reconciled to God in Christ other-wise all other duties are of small or nons effect Quest. How must this reconciliation be sought and obtained Ans. By renewing our former faith and repentance and by repayring the deâ—…s of it Quest. What mouing cause haue we to 〈◊〉 vs vp to performe this duty An. Because ordinarily and for the most part sickenesses and diseases are sent of God in his iustice for the punishment and chastiâ—…ment of sinne Lam 3. 39. Math. 9. 2. Ioh. 5. 74. Quest. In renewing
THE SICKE-MANS Catechisme OR Path-way to felicitie Wherin is contained great variety of sound directions and most sâ—â—â—â—â—e cosolations Collected and conâ—riâ—ed into Questions and Answers out of the best Diuines of our time BY THOMAS DRAXE Minister of Gods Word Wherevnto is annexed two most comfortable and powrefull prayers LONDON Imprinted for Henry Holland and are to be sold by I. W. at Christ Church dore TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL LEARned religious and Martiall Gentleman Sir Richard Warbarton Knight grace peace and plentifull increase of all holynesse and happinesse AMongst all the temporary and ordinary penalties and punishmeÌ„ts of maÌ„s transgression surely sicknesses diseases malladies aches yea most of all death it selfe together with all their seuerall accidents and temptations are most grieuous yrkesome and vnwelcome For they are simply in themselues and in their owne nature coÌ„sidered plagues and curses they produce fearefull effects in the vnregenerate namely impatiency vnquiet nesse horrour blasphemy desperation and the practise of vnlawfull cures and remedies Wherefore it is right worshipful a worke of no meane art skil experience soundly to catechize the sick to rectifie their iudgements to bring theÌ„ to a true sense confidence of sin to begette faith in them to cause them in hope and patiency to wait vpon God to prepare them to dye well and blessedly but it is opus labor It requyreth the tonge of the learned and a messenger or interpreter one of a thousand such as haue bin of late times M r Spineus and M r Perkins two bright and glo rious stars in the French and English Firmament but now Saintes in heauen who haue learnedly and largely trauaild in this point Wherefore it may sâ—…eme a needles matter for any man to write further of this subiect my self may bee thought morebolde then wise in presuming to put forth any newe matter or to change or ad ought yet because no mans worke is absolutely perfect and for that variety of treatises is both delightsome and desireable and because the fraile memory and the simple capacity of very many cannot comprehend large and profound discourses but best profiteth by short and easy instructions I haue vppon these groundes drawne and contracted the large treatises of the aboue-named Authors into plaine and compendious questions answers with diuers additions and illustrations of mine owne hoping that in the dilligent reading hereof the ignorant shall get knowledge the wauering finde resolution the distressed receiue comfort the presumptious bee humbled the tempted armed against Satans assaultes and all that are well affected bee prepared for God and directly guided to eternall glory Wherefore vppon this expectation also induced by the earnest request of a much respected friend I haue thought good to publish it and vpon due consideration to consecrate and commend it to your fauourable protection patronage For first you are very learned and wil iudge well you are most kind and curteous and wil take all in good part and you are vnfainedly relligious and wil giue intertainment to any matter of godlynesse Secondly you in an heroicall zeale and râ—…solution haue both in the time of Queen Elizabeth a Princesse of most renowned memory of incomparable excellency sithence fought for Christ his blessed Gospell and therefore what thing more pleasing vnto you then matters of religion conscieÌ„ce Lastly hauing receiued so manifold kindnesses from you I can by none other meanes better testifie my thankful heart Thus intreating your worshippe to read accept off and make vse of my Catechisme and yeelding you many thankes for all your fauours I heare most humbly take my leaue God almighty who hath giuen you recouery of health and increase of spirituall comfort in a religious Cittie perfit both the one and the other in you blesse and protect you and your most godly and vertuous Lady grant you both a long and blessed life in this world and consumation of holynesse and happinesse in the world to come February 12. 1609. Your Worships in the Lord at commaund THOMAS DRAXE A Table of the principall points contained in this Catechisme The 1. Chapter Sicknes described The causes of it Obiections answered The way to find out secret sinnes The ends why God â—…mposeth sicknesses The diuers effects of them according to their subiects Certen rules of comforting the sicke The first rule what The benefite of it The 2. Chapter Sinne the cause of sicknes Sinne to be confessed Sinne of omission The knowledge of the lawe a meane to find out sinne Gods iudgements to be made knowne to the sicke To bee sencelesse of Gods iudgements how dangerous The 3. Chapter Perswasion of Gods loue and presence in sicknesse necessary The greatest sinnes pardonable and pardoned in them that repent Obiections of other mens vnworthines Obiections against want of feeling Faith neuer wholy lost Generall calamities no preiudice to the saluation of the Godly Obiection of a mans owne vnworthynesse answered The 4. Chapter The sicke to be prepared against death What death is How brought into the world Why were Adam and Eue spared Why Enoch and Elias were translated aliue into heauen The 6. Chapter Bodily death what Why the time is vnknowne Why the Godly die Q. What spirituall death is The seuerall degrees of it Sundry obiections and exceptions against death confuted Q. Whether sudden death bee simply euill Q. Whether all that kill themselues be certenly damned The 7. Chapter The priuatiue benefits of death or the euill it freeth vs from The positiue benefit of it The temporary death of the body no curse to the Godly The body shall rise and why Whether it be lawful to mourne for the dead and how The 8. Chapter The way to happinesse conteined and declared in the scriptures Preparation against death what The necessity of it When to be performed The example of some that repented at their death is no rule for vs to delay our repentance The 9. Chapter The meditation of death necessary It is very profitable The obiectes of it The 10. Chapter Wherein the sting of death lyeth Quest. How knowne and taken away The 11. Chapter The first degree of entring into eternall life The diuers kindes of it The 12. Chapter Why and how a man must enure himselfe to die well The 13. Chapter Preparation must be speedy and hearty and why The 14. Chapter Offalse preparation Auricular confession superstitious needeles impossible For â—…he sicke man to receiue the Sacrament it is not simply necessary Obiections answered Extreame vnction not now necessary The 15. Chapter Reconciliation and the renewing of faith and repentance towards GOD necessary Thankes-giuing necessary The 16. Chapter The sicke must haue a care of his soule Feare of death how good How we are to be armed against it Practises and Meditations against it The 17. Chapter Phisike lawfull and necessary It is meanes of preseruation of life What Physitions are to be chosen Preparation of soule and body in the
vse of the meanes The end of Phisike The 18. Chapter The sicke must sorgiue and desire forgiuenesse of others The Magistrats the Ministers and the masters of the familes duty The making of a will necessary According to what rules it must be made The 19. Chapter To die in faith necessary and what it is To die in obedience necessary and what it is The end of them that die well is blessed Consolations against the imagined calamities of our posterity viz. wife chilldren Consolations against losse of honour profit and pleasure in this life Death how farre forth to be feared Q. How farre forth not to be feared Whether that a man may lawfully desire death In what respects The summe of the whole treatise The Sick-mans Path-way The first Chapter concerning sicknesse Question WHat is sicknesse Ans. It is according to Philosophie and Phisicke a priuation of health or an ill disposition and passion in the body contrary to nature Qu. But how define you it according to diuinitie Ans. It is Gods rod and instrument to chastice vs for our sinnes and to put vs in minde of our mortalitie it is the herbinger and messenger of death and by vertue of Christs death it is a narrow and spéedy passage to euerlasting life Q. From whence or from what causes doe sicknesses and diseases procéede A. They procéede from God as the inflicter and imposer of them for he is the author of the euill of punishment but they arise from sinne as the deâ—…eruing and procuring cause Psalm 39. Leuit. 26. 16 Deut. 28. vers 22. 23. 24. Q. How can God that is simplye good yea goodnesse it selfe be the cause of euill namely sicknesse diseases paine c. A. Gods goodnesse and iustice doth and may very well consort together in the beléeuers for as God in his iustice doth correct his children for their disobedience so doth he temper and qualifie it with his mercy and goodnesse that these afflictions are finite tolerable and tend both to the temporall and eternall good and profit of his children Psal. 25. v. 10 Rom. 8. v. 28. Q. What vse are we to make of this point A. Wée must first descend into our selues acknowledge our sinne and wickednesse yea and condemne our selues for it 1. Cor. 11. 31. Secondly we must be so farre of from fretting murmuring repining against God that we must iustifie God in all his chasticements not to require the reasoÌ„ of them for they are alwayes good and holy albeit we doe not alwayes sée the particular reason of them Thirdly we committing our selues to Gods will must earnestly entreate the Lord to restore vs to our former health or else to receiue vs to his euerlasting kingdome Obi. But God hath in his beloued Sonne Christ Iesus forgiuen yea and taken away the guilt dominion curse of sinne which is the cause of their sicknesses and why then doth he not withall remooue the effect viz. sicknesse diseases c A. Albeit the guilt curse and dominion of sinne be remooued from the beléeuers yet the reliques and stumpes of sinne remaine and inherent corruption is but in part abolished and therefore so long as we liue in this world the Lord must néeds more or lesse one way or other fatherly chastice exercise vs. 1. Cor. 11. 31. Heb. 12. v. 6. 8. Obi. 2. But Gods children cannot alwayes finde out the peculiar sinnes that are the proper and immediate causes of their sicknesses and diseases A. Yet not withstanding we must suspect accuse and condemne our selues and withall iustifie and cléere the Lord for there is some secret and hidden sinne of pride worldlinesse lust enuie vanitie oppression c. for which wee are corrected albeit it bee not presently made knowne vnto vs. Q. What course must we take to finde out this Achan or secret corruption A. We must as I will in the next Chapter more fully shew examine our selues by the strict rule of Gods law Secondly we must entreate the Lord by prayer to reueale the sinne vnto vs. Thirdly and lastly we must take notice of the checkes of our conscience yea and the taunts reproches of our enimies Q. What are the principall ends why God laieth sicknesses diseases aches c. vpon his children A. They are principally these foure to witt mortification and preuention of sinne triall and exercise of Gods graces in vs manifestation of Gods glorr and lastly our saluation and eternall happinesse Q. But to speake of each of these ends particularly yet briefely how doth God mortifie and preuent sinne by sicknesse A. First God doth hereby declare his iustice and anger against sinne past and present that his children might be more effectually stirred vp to search them out consider of them and be sory for them Secondly God hereby doth correct the pride of prosperitie and remooue all vaine confidence in carnall wisedome riches beautie friends that we may waite patiently and onely vpon his power truth promises and learne to séeke for heauenly things so that by this his correction he taketh away the myst of errour from our eyes purgeth our hearts from the drosse of corruption and fanneth vs from the chaffe of sinne and hereby prepareth vs either for health or heauen Q. Doth God by sicknesse and the like afflictions preuent sinne to come A. Yes certainly thus pride was preuented in blessed Paul 2 Cor. 12. ver 7. 8 Security in Dauid Psal. 30. 6. 7. and neglect of preparation in the Corinthians 1. Cor. 11. v. 31. Q. What is the second end of Gods chasticements A. To trie and make knowne to themselues and to others their faith hope patience repentance constancie yea to exercise quicken and encrease in them these and other graces that they may be thankfull to God for them and may be as mirrours and lamps vnto others Q. Are not also by this triall and exercise decayed graces recouered A. It is most certaine for hereby deadnesse and drowsinesse of heart is cured and men are mooued more feruently to séeke and pray vnto God then they did before Psal. 30. 6. Q. What is the third end A. The declaration and manifestation of Gods power glory and goodnesse in their deliuerance either by life or death Iohn 9. vers 3. Q. What is the last end A. After that God hath reformed humbled and exercised them and made them to relie wholy vpon him and to waite wish for their saluation to bring them by death into the heauenly Canaan where they shall haue immediate fellowship and raigne with Christ for euer-more Q Séeing that sicknesses diseases and the like chasticements haue such comfortable and blessed effects and euents in Gods children what is the reason why they should not be the same in the wicked and vngodly A. The difference lieth first in their persons the elect are accepted of God and therefore like the good golde they are made more pure and bright by visitations and afflictions
our faith and repentance what particular duties must we performe An. Three especially first wee must make a new examination of our hearts and liues Lam. 3. 40. Psa. 119. 11 Secondly when God sendeth new corrections wee must make new confessions of our particular sinnes Psa. 32. 10. Thirdly we must make new and earnest prayers to God for pardon of sinne and for reconciliation with GOD in Christ. Psa. 6. 4. 5 2. Chr. 34 12 13. Que. What vse is to bee made hereof Ans. First hereby are iusily taxed and checked those that spend the whole space of their life in the Church and that many yeares and at lenght when their best and most daies are spent begin to enquire what faith and repentance should be and how their soules should be sauâ—… as though it were so easie a matter to know and obtaine it Secondly we must in sicknesse especially practise and put in vre these duties of examination confession prayer and of renewing our faith and repentance other-wise qui minus est hodiâ—… eras minus aptus erit Que. But what if the sicke person is not able of him-selfe to renue his faith and repentance Ans. He must séeke for helpe and direction of his fellow members who must like them that bare the man sicke of the palsie to Christ helpe and assist him by their counsaile aduice and prayers Que. What are the particulâ—…â—…uties that are herein to be performed Ans. They bee of two sorts according to their obiects for they concerne either the sicke them-selues or their helpâ—…rs Q. What is the duty that concerneth â—…e siâ—…ke man Ans. To send for helpers namely the elders and ancients of the Church who in Saint Iames time and after-wards were endewed with the gifts of healing and of miracles Q. Doth not this duty of comforting the sicke be long to the minister onely Obi. If a man sicke of the plague or pâ—…stilence send for his pastor is he bound in conscience to go to him in his owne person Ans. No except it may so be ordered that the Minister bee in no danger of infection Secondly the Pastor or Minister may and must not for the comfort of one particular person â—…ndanger his owne life and so bercaue the whole congregation of their guide and teacher more regard is to be had of the good of the whole then of one parâ—… of it Thirdly as the leprous person by reason of the contagion of the disease might not be resorted vnto so it fareth with him that is visited with the plague Fourthly if the pastor and preacheâ—… should in person visite euery man thus visited he must separate himselfe from his owne family and neglect them and his people and congregation would shun his company Lastly the visited persons friendes and kinsfolke are to supply this dutie Obiect But Isaias visited Ezechias who was thought verily to haue the pestilence ergo ministers must now do the like Answ. The argument followeth noâ—… For first Isaias had an expresse commandement from God so to do and therefore could not be infected Secondly hee might for ought any man can obiect to the contrary stand aloofe off in some conuenient place Obiect But the plague commeth now by Gods immediate hand as it did in Dauids time and therefore a man may bee as secure with infected persons and infected places as any where else An. The plague in these dayes as experience verifieth commeth not immediatly by the immediate striking of Gods elect Angell as in Dauids daies For then no man might auoid the infected and the reason is they that are hundred of myles off from any place of infection might be as soone tainted as any other which to affirme is most absurd and crosseth all experience Secondly none is now infected but he that is in company with the infected or receiueth their clothes or some thing about them Lastly albéeit the pestilence infecteth not euery man that is outwardly in dangers yet this proueth not that it is not in it owne nature contagious but that all persons were not capable of it and that God in his mercy preserueth some from infectâ—… whom it pleaseth him as is to bee séene in all other infectious places whatsoeuer Ques But why are the elders who are no Pastors and Ministers of the Word to visite the sicke An. First because they are fitted herevnto beeing indued with the gift of knowledge and prayer Secondly it is a dutie of charity and therefore not proper to any one man Thirdly and principally that they may hereby ease the Pastors or Ministers heauy and difficult burden and charge Q What vse is to bée made héereof An. It condemneth the silence and ignorance of most friendes and neighbours who either speake neuer a word or to small or no purpose beeing not able to instruct and comfort him and yet they promise to pray for him when GOD knoweth they cannot pray for themselues Ques When must the sicke send for the Elders to instruct and pray for him Ans. In the first place before any physicke medicine or restoratiue For where the diuine leaueth there must the physitian begin Qu. What vse is to be made of this point Answ. It reprooueth their madnesse and folly who neuer send for the Minister vntill he be halfe dead or lieth gasping as though the presence of the minister before that time were not necessarie or as though Ministers could worke mirackles The second section Qu. What is the second duetie of the sicke Ans. To confesse his sinnes those especially which disquiet and trouble the conscience either to the Minister or to any other Christian brother that is both able and willing to informe and comfort the sicke Iames 5. ver 16. Qu. Is this duety simply necessary to saluation Answ. No but only conueniently profitable Que. What is the duty of the helpers Answ. To pray ouer him that is with him and for him and in their prayers to commend his whole person and state to God 2. Kings Act. 32. Act. 20. 4. Q. Why must the visiters thus pray for the sicke A. The better hereby to stirre vp their affection in prayer and to declare their charity and compassion to the sicke person Q. What if those that visite the sicke person find him impatient and full of griefe and wrath what must they then doe A. They must beare with humaine infirmities for being them-selues quiet with God they must learne to bee quiet with men Secondly they must shew vnto them how all things fall out by Gods prouidence and exhort him to wait vpon God by faith vntill he either take away or diminish the paine or at least aâ—…e to his strength and patience Qu. What other duty besides the seeking of reconciliation oweth the sicke to God An. He must praise God for his former mercies and declare this thankefulnesse euen for crosses and corrections for the Lord according to the proportion of our thankefulnesse will shew mercy vpon vs more or lesse And thus much