A Believers Triumph OVER DEATH Exemplified in a RELATION OF The LAST HOURS OF Dr ANDREW RIVET AND An Account of divers other Remarkable Instances BEING An History of the Comfortable End and dying Words of several eminent Men with other Occasional Passages All tending to comfort Christians against the Fear of Death and prepare them for a like Happy Change He shall enter into Peace They shall rest in their Beds each one walking in his Vprightness Isa 57. 2. London Printed for Benjamin Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultrey 1682. The PREFACE I Will not trouble the Reader with a long Preface to a little Book nor waste Time in an affected Apology for my Undertaking to publish the ensuing Stories in the English Tongue for I doubt not but upon a serious Perusal the things here Related will be esteemed by every Pious Christian of that worth and use as will sufficiently recommend this Account of them to their good acceptance who were not capable of reading them in another Language The first and largest part of what is here offered to your Service viz. The last Hours of Dr. Rivet was first written and published in the French Tongue and soon after turned into Latine and printed again in the last Edition of his learned and elaborate Works from whence you have it now translated into our own Language I have added nothing of my own to it nor omitted the mention of the least circumstance there set down but have faithfully represented the whole in the same order as I met with it my self And I may modestly say 'T is as great â— Story of this kind as most Ageâ— can furnish us with That thiâ— might not go alone I have in the Appendix added the Memorable Examples of the Blessed and Peaceful End of some others also eminent for their Piety and zealous Profession of the Protestant Religion while they lived In which where no other Author is cited I have followed the Authority of Melchior Adamus or of those from whom he made his Collections and do assure you that as there is nothing Reported without good Warrant as to the truth of matter of fact so I am confident nothing will occurre but what is suitable to feed and increase those holy Affections and that Pious Zeal which I hope the foregoing Narrative may enkindle in the Readers heart That which I aim at in the whole is the Quickening and Encouragement of Christians in their spiritual Course and that the weighty Sayings and happy End of these Great men may provoke us to imitate that worthy Pattern of Faith and Holiness which they have left us both living and dying Instruction backt by Example is more powerful than that given by Precept alone 'T is truly said Verba docent Exempla trahunt i. e. Words teach but Examples draw Howbeit even the Words of Dying men do usually make a deeper Impression upon the Heart than other Discourses can doe The Sayings of one upon the brink of Eternity are next of kin to those of one returned from the Dead and sent back from another World to give us Warning and direction in our way thither and therefore do justly claim a more than ordinary attention from us These men call to us from the borders of Light having already tasted the Fruit of the heavenly Canaan and have left behind them such a feeling Testimony of its Sweetness and Glory as may greatly engage our Souls in pursuit after that same Blessedness which they are arrived at And if we would have our Death to be as Gainfâ— and Comfortable as theirs wâ— must make the Glory of Chrisâ— the highest End and Design oâ— our Lives as they did Whaâ— is the Talent of Time lent uâ— for but that we might worâ— out our own Salvation with feaâ— and trembling We lose all ouâ— time and pains that are not employed this way and shall aâ— last be of his mind that said upon his Death-bed I repent Dr. Donn of all my Life but that part of it which I spent in Communion with God and doing Good All the World will not relieve a Dying Man For what will it profit a Matt. 16. 26. man if he Gain the whole World and lose his own Soul or what shall a man give in Exchange for his Soul The greatest Monarch that dyes without Grace must subscribe to the last words of Sept. Severus the Roman Emperour Pezel Mellif 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. I have been all things and nothing profits me I cannot but adde the Grave and serious words of Salmasius who was a Man of Great Learning of extraordinary diligence in his Studies and of Great Fame among the Scholars of this last Age and yet upon his Death-bed he pours forth this bitter Complaint Oh I have lost a deal of Time Time that most precious thing in the World whereof had I but one Year longer it should be spent in Reading David's Psalms and Paul's Epistles Oh Sirs mind the World less and God more All the Learning in the World without Piety and the true Fear of God is nothing worth The Fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to Depart from Evil that is Understanding In like manner the Great Hugo Grotius after all his Labour Study and Proficiency in other Knowledge at the close of his Life told his Friends That he would give all his Learning and Honour for the Plain Integrity and Piety of John Urick who was a devout Poor man that spent eight hours of his time in Prayer eight in Labour and the other eight he allowed for his Sleep and necessary Refreshments These Learned men found Religion to be the Truest and Best Wisdom in a Dying Hour This is the one thing needfull and we shall all find it so when we must take leave of this World and make our appearance before God That the following lines may thro' the Blessing of God be made useful to the awakening a sence of Religion in those that do peruse them is my Desire and shall be my earnest Prayer to him who alone can bless the Seed sown and increase the Fruits of Righteousness Nehemiah Coxe ERRATA THe Errors of the Press which disturb thâ— sence are thus to be corrected Page 19. l. 23. for Order r. Ardor p. 20. â— 10. for great very r. very great p. 40. l. 19. â—â— seeing p. 133. l. 4. dele which p. 200. l. 8 dele his THE LAST HOURS OF Dr. ANDREW RIVET § 1. THE multitude and variety of things memorable which do occurre in this Narrative doth so much amaze us that through fear of our own insufficiency either to remember or express them in a due manâ—er and according to their â—ignity and worth we cannot â—ut wish this task had been â—ndertaken by abler hands But â—eeing it is matter of fact and â—ords heard which we are to give an account of we had rather so we may but serve the profit of our Friends expose our prudence unto
of approaching death to be entertained which admits of no return to life What is man said he Nothing but flesh obnoxious to putrefaction a flower that springs up to day and to morrow is cut down even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away like the breath that proceedeth out of my mouth For the cold being great that day did so condense his breath that it might be seen of all to whom he was preaching § 4. When the Sermon was finished he returned home as lively and well as he had been seen for some years past nor did he the next day feel any decay of his former strength But on Thursday which was the 27th of December he began to complain Anno 1650. of a pain below his Navel and refusing to eat any Supper desired that a Clyster might be given him but it was to no purpose the liquor being driven back again with greater force than it was injected That night was pass'd over partly in bearing of his sharp pains and partly in serious discourses On Wednesday morning the complaint of his pain was encreased and he desired that the use of a Clyster might be repeated which was done accordingly but with no better success than the former Then were two Physicians sent for and they suspecting that the former Clysters either had not been skilfully injected or else were not strong enough made tryal of the like means once and again but with the same success as before for a glutinous humour had already fast locked up the passage against all Remedies On the next day which was Tuesday they prescribed Pills of Alloes washed and on Fryday the Infusion of Rhubarb either of which did sufficiently agitate his body but effected nothing neither was any way opened for their passage the expulsive faculty being weakened and dulled so that it could give Nature no assistance The wind shut up in his bowels tormented the sick man his Belly was swollen and he was afraid to touch either meat or drink lest thereby his grievance should be encreased There were no proper means unattempted nor any kind of help by Clysters Fomentations or Baths but were made tryal of untill by the stubborn disease that resisted all Remedy he was brought unto death the twelfth day of his sickness the History of which we shall now prosecute more at large § 5. On the second day after his disease had seised him he well understanding the nature of it declared what the event would be Not saith he that I would neglect Remedies that I may please my Friends I will do whatsoever is thought meet to be done being secure as to the issue which I commit to the Providence of God Then he asked his Neece Mrs Mary Moline what she conceived of his disease which he thought would prove mortal And when she answered That her opinion was the same yet that he had no reason to fear any thing having been long prepared to follow God when he should call that the time of his Life hitherto had been long if it were crowned with an happy and Glorious End Thou speakest right saith he and I pray thee alwaies address thy self to me with like speeches and while my sickness continues depart not from me day nor night Promise me now that thou wilt keep a chearful countenance and that thou wilt speak nothing to me but what may administer joy and support to me although I fear not death yet I fear the tryal of those pains which I have alwaies had a very sharp feeling of Then suddainly turning his speech unto God he said Great God! thou art my Father thou hast given me both Life and a new Life thou hast taught me from my youth and I have declared thy wonderful works forsake me not now in my old age Hitherto through thy peculiar favour thou hast preserved me sound in my body and my faculties and the functions of my mind have not been impaired so that a little before I was opprest by this disease I found my self as apt and ready for the exercise of my Vocation as in my Flourishing Youth O Lord God! if it be thy will that I should longer attend upon thy service thou canst asswage my disease in one moment but if thou hast decreed otherwise lo here is thy Servant thy will be done This one thing I begg with most inward affections that thou wilt make me conformable to thy good will Let not thy good Spirit depart from me that in this conflict thy strength may make me a Conquerour Accomplish this O Lord for thine own sake And seeing thou hast imployed me in thy work grant that I may die an honourable death and such as may be an example unto others That I may stand fast in that sound Doctrine which I have taught and may make a good confession thereof before witnesses that thereby thy Church may be both instructed and edified Let me apply to my self by a lively Faith all the Promises of the Gospel and let them put forth their efficacy in me unto my joy and eternal consolation that nothing in the world neither affliction nor distress may seperate me from thee or cause me to doubt of thy love and favour Thou knowest my weaknesses and infirmities permit not the grievousness of my pain to cast me into impatience or murmuring either make my pains tolerable or furnish me with fortitude and constancy sufficient to bear them That I may not offend with my Tongue keep thou the door of my lips § 6. The remainder of the day was taken up with pains the use of Remedies and the Visits of Friends when the night came on he earnestly intreated Mrs. Rivet his wife that she would retire her self into the next Chamber not only because she was afflicted with a vehement Cough but also that he might remove her from the grievous sight of himself when tormented with his pains and because he found his tender affections more moved at the sight of her than any other person So none remained with him but his Neece Mrs. Mary Moline and two of the household servants But who can particularly relate the speeches which he uttered and in a manner poured forth that night and the day following which was Thursday Decemb. 29. with an Affection and Order inexpressible breathing from his Heart nothing but Repentance Faith Charity and holy Zeal In a word he implored the mercy of God with the Greatest self-denial and abasement of Soul confessing himself to be a miserable sinner and casting away all confidence in any good thing which he had done in his life yea speaking of that with great very contempt he accused his own defects and ascribed unto God the Glory of his good works often repeating such expressions as these It is God that hath wrought the work for me Shall I alledge or plead my own Righteousnesses before him Far be that from me If I should justifie my self my own mouth would condemn me I
Zuinglius and others whose labours it pleased God to succeed for the accomplishing of an happy beginning of that great work in Basil and other of the Svisse Cantons He was a person very considerable both for his Learning and Piety but for nothing more to be commended than for his Peaceable temper and Christian Moderation in those controversies with which the reformed Churches were then exercised among themselves in the business of the Lords Supper For though he was both free in declaring and constant in asserting that truth which the Lord had made known to him yet his great care was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to speak the truth in love and to manage the defence thereof without bitterness towards or Provocation of those that did in that point dissent from him And as he was a man studious of Peace in his life so it pleased the Lord to guard his Soul with a Peace that passeth all understanding and to fill his Heart with Spiritual and Heavenly joy when he came to dye After he had for some considerable time laboured in the Ministry of the Word at Basil it pleased God there to visit him with his last sickness in the Forty ninth year of his Age which he presently apprehended would prove mortal to him and accordingly gave warning to his Friends that they should expect no other But so far was he from being terrifyed by the approach of death that on the contrary he exprest the greatest longings after that Heavenly light and Crown of Glory which he saw ready prepared for him so soon as the earthly house of this Tabernacle should be taken down He waited not for the Consolations of others in this last conflict but was ready to Minister Consolation to all that were about him insomuch that his most Christian and comfortable End was no less for the Confirmation and encouragement of the Godly in their Holy profession than his Doctrine and blameless Life had been He was an example of dying well as he had been before of living well of which abundant testimony is given by those worthy men that familiarly and almost constantly conversed with him in these his last hours Among whom Simon Grynaeus a man whose praise is in the Reformed Churches was one who hath left us the account of the following discourse that this pious Servant of Christ made to him and the rest of the Ministers of the Church a little before his departure which alone is sufficient to justifie all that hath been before said of the frame of his Spirit upon his dying bed It is as follows § 10. You see Brethren what the business is The Lord is at hand he cometh and is now about to take me hence and therefore I was desirous to call you first and with my dearest Friends to satiate this Soul of mine with a sincere Joy in the Lord and true consolation What shall we say then in this last Embrace O ye Servants of Christ whom the same Love to their Lord the same Study and the same Doctrine hath most closely knit together Salvation is obtained It is obtained I say by Christ and we have all Confidence of the Kingdom of God Our Doctrine is certain and light is prepared for our feet It is meet that all Sorrow all fears of Life or Death all doubting and error should be banisht far away Only this my Brethren this only remains that we constantly and faithfully persevere in those footsteps of Christ which we have already entred upon by maintaining Purity of Doctrine in the first place and then by a Life in all things conformed to the true Word of God Other things he will take care of who is Mighty and of his own accord watcheth his own even Christ our Lord He will defend his own Church Let us see to it therefore Brethren that our light so shine that God the Father may be glorified in us and the Name of Christ rendred illustrious through the light of your Sincerity and holy Life See that you love one another in Truth and lead your whole Life as under the Eye and in the sight of God 'T is to no purpose to press Piety with words only The light of Truth and Holiness in Life with the true and Heavenly Spirit of the Mind are necessary if we would vanquish Satan and convert the World to our Lord Christ For O my Brethren What clouds are there arising and what a tempest draws near what alienation of men and what impiety is at the door But Brethren It behoves you to stand fast and to abide it The Lord himself will be present with you in his Concerns O that my Lot were to undergo these dangers with you and that I could often spill this Life for the Truth But however Love is undivided and the bond in Christ indissoluble all things are common to the Godly among themselves These things he uttered with respect to the common Cause of Religion And as to what concern'd himself he told them I matter not the scandal which some have imputed to me as if I had corrupted the Truth Through the Grace of God I am now going to the Tribunal of Christ with a good Conscience There it will be manifest that the Church hath not been seduced by us And of this Solemn Protestation I leave you my Witnesses which I also confirm with my last breath The next day which was the fifteenth from his first sickness he caused his Children to be brought before him and first took them by the hand then stroaked each of them and calling them by their Names said Thou Eusebius thou Irene and thou Alethea my dear Children see that you love God And because by reason of their age they were not yet capable of attending to the Charge of their dying Father the Eldest being but about three years Old he turned him to his Wife and the rest of his Relations present and said It is you that I have bound by this charge to do your Endeavour that according to my desire and what they now hear my Children may be Pious Peaceable and Faithful This he spake with allusion to the signification of their Names And their Mother with the rest signifing their acceptance of this charge he desired them to take a way the Children again The Last night he lived here being come his inward Joy did no way abate but rather increase as death drew nearer to him One of his intimate friends coming in he asked him what News he had brought his Friend told him None Why then said he I will tell you news I shall in a little time be with the Lord Christ A while after when they asked If the light did not offend him touching his breast he said Abundé lucis est Here is abundance of Light The next morning his fatal hour came on before which he prayed with an ardent Affection for the Remission of Sin repeating the 51 Psalm from the beginning to the end And then after a
censure than be defective in our care and good endeavours in this matter wherein that we might be sure to write nothing but most certain Truth we have chosen to bury many things in oblivion by a silen◠passing over what we hav◠but an imperfect remembranc◠of and shall content our selve◠to make a rehearsal with simplicity and truth of those grav◠and almost divine Speeches which as they were poure◠forth by this Holy man wer◠faithfully preserved partly i◠the Memory and partly in th◠written Notes of those wh◠constantly attended on him And yet though we employ ou◠utmost diligence herein w◠shall never be able to give them their just weight and Emphasis for who can imitate that flowing stream of words which with equal wisdom and piety proceeded from him in an almost continued discourse for the space of twelve dayes and as many nights Or who can represent to the Life the motions of a mind boyling with Meditations when the Spirit of God administred such an extemporary effort of sayings proceeding from his fruitful breast and gravely uttered when his sences were no waies impaired as he was diversly acted either by Grief and Fear or Hope and Joy § 2. It will be but necessary before we enter upon the Relation of other things briefly to mention something concerning the Temper and Disposition of this holy person and his Circumstances before his last sickness that the Grace of God towards his Servant may appear the more illustrious when we see with what care and Providence he disposed his Affairs in the whole course of his life but especially in this last act thereof Besides those excellent gifts wherewith he was adorned which cannot here be reckoned up particularly through the Goodness of God he had been favoured with the enjoyment of a sound Mind in a sound and healthy Body he was of a chearful and sedate Spirit holding on in an even course of Life neither lifted up with prosperity nor cast down by adversity So that by the habit of a comely and moderate deliberation he was ever blessed with an inward Joy and possessed all things with delight and Gratitude being no less ready to part with them without regret and trouble pursuing his own profit and advantage in a serious contemplation of the vanity of all worldly things often repeating that of the Apostle The things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4. 18. He was never moved with sorrowful events that fell out suddenly whether in publick or in his private concerns as a man surprized by an unexpected evil neither was the tranquility of his mind shaken by them He was wont to say Nothing is impossible I wonder at nothing Neither on the contrary did he at any time break forth into a loose and immoderate Joy as being one set in an higher place and looking down upon all things here below as uncertain and perishing He never found himself on any other account under such perturbation nor shewed the like as upon the decease of the young Prince of Orange who from a Child had been committed to his instruction and tuition and whose Death as he often affirmed he bewailed out of pure Charity and not for any private loss that himself might sustain thereby Because the confidence he had of his excellent disposition and expectation of his longer Life had raised him to the hope that he would prove a useful Instrument for the good both of the State and the Church From that time he seemed to be more than ever drawn off from worldly things and used to speak of them with a certain loathing and disdain The frame of his mind was also discovered by a frequent interrupting of his accustomed course of reading the Scriptures in order in his Family and turning to some select Chapters such as Job 14. Eccles 3. and 4. Psal 49. and 144. From whence he took the occasion of such discourses as shewed what Meditations he was customarily taken up with § 3. In the last week wherein he lived in health being in his Garden accompanied by a Friend and walking up and down therein as he was wont with great pleasure he gave order what he would have done in the dressing of some Trees and then added If I live till the Spring time they will afford me a pleasant sight but if not I shall be in a Garden far more pleasant When his Friend interposed and said There was no cause why he should presage such a thing to himself seeing he was sound and lively he received a Rebuke from Dr. Rivet to this purpose The time is now come that I am to be treated after another manner my age is so far declined and hasting to an end as plainly to declare that death which none can be exempted from stands at my door And truly death is the principal matter that I meditate on God is my witness that I desire not it's delay but am ready with a chearful mind to embrace it yea even this day if the will of God were so On the same day he was entreated by Mr. Hulsius the Pastor of the French Church in that place * Breda that on the next day being Decemb. 25. he would preach a thanksgiving Sermon after the celebration of the Lords Supper which he consenting to do chose for his Text Psal 144. 3 4. Lord what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the Son of man that thou makest account of him Man is like to Vanity his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away In his Sermon he had an eminent assistance from God and delivered his matter with a strong and clear voice and great liberty of speech and chiefly applyed his discourse to shew what favour and honour God had vouchsafed unto man as well in causing that the Son of God should be a Man as in giving him for our nourishment unto Eternal Life from thence teaching the Notice God took of mortal men and how it had pleased him to embrace them in his favour and to magnifie them And in speaking to the answer of the Psalmist Man is like to Vanity he touched upon the loss of the Prince whose Instructor he had been which was then fresh in memory but with words no way inclined to flattery but becoming the Matter and Person that he spoke of and which breathed forth nothing but pure affection withal taking notice of the Goodness of God who in the midst of his Judgments had shewed mercy to the house of Orange to which he had granted a new Offspring a Son being then born that the dying hope of that Noble Family might be revived before him At length he closed with a Meditation of Death an example of which said he seeing Young men that are strong have before them in a young man snatch't from the earth in the flower of his age and strength it ought to be often revolved in their minds and deep thoughts
Heresie and committed to Prison near this prison Wesenbeck with his fellow Students were wont to recreate themselves with the Ball on which occasion they often heard this blind man with a clear voice singing the Psalms of David according to Luthers Metaphrase and this Holy exercise the good man performed with so much Devotion and Affection as wrought in them a more than ordinary attention to him although it was not without some danger to themselves And it pleased God so to work upon Wesenbeck by this example of Christian constancy and Zeal together with the matter which he heard that thenceforward he began diligently to search the Scriptures and also to read the Writings of those of the Reformed Religion by which means he became not only fully convinced of the Truth but also received it in the Love thereof and abode most constant in the Faith and Practice of it to his dying day being an eminent example of Zeal and strict Piety in his whole life He had an extraordinary Affection to the Holy Scriptures but especially the book of Psalms and the New Testament were most dear and delightful to him And notwithstanding the necessary course of his Studyes and for some time also great Practice in the Law he usually spent at fit seasons no less than five hours in a day in Prayers and retired communion with God He was not like many that can â—â—d no leisure for Religion â—hat is cannot attend to work â—ut their own Salvation but made Conscience to steer his whole course as a man resolâ—ed for Heaven And his Righâ—eousness and Charity towards men was not inferior to his Piety towards God He ever â—bhorr'd those Artifices which â—re too common with practitioners in the Law his Candor â—aithfulness and Justice in his practice made his Name precious to all that knew him And as it pleased God to bless him with a plentiful Supply of the good things of this world so Religion taught him not to â—rust in uncertain Riches but â—o be rich in good works His way was to give a charge â—o all his Servants that they should never turn away the Poor from his door without relief And when they haâ— not presently regarded the poor nor listened so soon as they ought to their cry himself would open his Window and throw down Money to them Thus did this good man spend his Life and his Substance in the Fear of God and working Righteousness and accordingly his latter end was Peace for when he lay upon his death Bed he was filled with the Consolations of God He woulâ— often repeat that of the Apostle Paul Rom. 7. O wretcheâ— man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And that 2 Cor. 1. He hath sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts by which we cry Abba Father Another time with great reâ—oycing he told those that were with him That now God had shewn to him a place of Eternal Joy unto which he should immediately come and the only thing he desired was that his coming thither might be hastened He would often rehearse divers passages out of the Psalms as The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will hear their prayer and save them And immediately before he gave up the Ghost he professed That he was in Covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ which words were his last § 16. In these experiences we see that they which believe in Christ never dye i. e. thâ—â— never feel the Sâ—ng of death nor fall under its power but are enabled by the Faith of the Son of God perfectly to vanquish 〈◊〉 King of Terrors yea though death assail them in his most affrighting shape yet is he not able to remove them from their stedfastness or to abate their Joyes we have innumerable proofs of this in the End of those Holy Martyrs who though they have been called to seal their Witness for God by violent yea by most cruel kinds of death have notwithstanding finished their course with a most Glorious Peace and rejoycing in the hope of their calling Howbeit I shall not here insist on any of those instances But to let you see that death in it's darkest dress is welcome to a man assured of his Interest in Christ and Peace with God take the story of one Sebaldus Munster a Civilian that flourished about the year 1540. Whom it pleased the Lord to visit with the Plague of which he dyed at Wittenberg in a time when a general sickness raged there This person when some of his Friends came to visit and Comfort him a few hours before his death he shewed to them the Swellings and pestiferous Ulcers which were broken out in his Hand and Arm saying And how do these Bracelets and precious Gemms wherewith my Christ hath adorned me please you At which words when they brake forth into Tears he farther said Let not these by any means seem loathsome unto you for with this Wedding-apparel am I going to enjoy that Heavenly Feast which I shall have with my Christ for ever Thus shall I pass to that everlasting Council of most Excellent and holy Souls and thus shall I be acceptable to God my Redeemer Thus triumphing and full of Joy did he leave the World having got a clear sight of a better that is an Heavenly Countrey And though to dye of the Plague may seem to Sence very dismal yet as Austin hath well observed lib. 1. de Civitate Dei cap. 11. Mala mors putanda non est quam bona vita praecesserit c i. e. No kind of Death is to be esteemed evil which hath been preceded by a good Life for nothing makes Death evil but that which follows Death Therefore they that of necessity must dye once need not be Thoughtful by what accident they may come to dye but rather whither they must go when they dye 'T is an excellent saying of the Author of the Book of Wisdom chap. 4. 7. The Righteous man though prevented by Death shall be in rest The most terrible or suddain stroke can make no breach upon his happiness to whom to live is Christ and to dye is gain They are alwaies safe that have made their Calling and Election sure and on the contrary such are alwayes in danger that live without God in the World I Remember upon occasion of that passage before cited from the Book of Wisdom Mr. Forbs in his Instr Histor Theolog. makes mention of a very memorable Story of a pious and learned man that dyed suddainly in his Study and when some were scandalized at it rashly interpreting this Providence as a Testimony of Gods displeasure against him it so fell out by the wise and Gracious ordering of God for their Conviction and a testimony to his servant that he was found sitting with a Book open before him
and his finger pointed to these words Justus quâcunque morte preoccupatus fuerit in refrigerio erit i. e. By what Death soever the Righteous man is prevented he shall be in rest § 17. These things may suffice as to my present design And therefore I will close all with the Addition of but one Story more which for the remarkable circumstances of it may be neither unprofitable nor ungrateful to those Readers which have not access to it in the Latin tongue for whose accommodation and service the whole of this little Tract is intended The Story I intend is related by the excellent Dr. Rivet in an Epistle written not long before his Death to his Brother De bonâ Senectute Of a good Old Age And it is this Jacobus Faber a great restorer both of Polite Learning and Religion in France being a most Faithful and eminent Minister of the Gospel there did in a time of very hot Persecution Flye with others and for his security retired to Albret in Gascoign to the Queen of Navarre a zealous Professor and Protectress of the Reformed Religion with whom he was in Great esteem On a certain day the Queen did advertise him That she purposed to come and dine at his House and in order thereto invited some Learned men with whose Conference she was much pleased to accompany her there While they were at Dinner Faber began to be exceeding sad and now and then to break out into tears At which the Queen complained and desired him to tell the cause of such heaviness when she was come to dine and be merry with him At last he answered And how can I most Serene Queen be chearful my self or make others chearful who am the most wicked man that the Earth bears And what wickedness so great saith she can you be guilty of who from your Youth have been esteemed to lead so holy a Life I am said he now of the age of an hundred and one years and am free from the touch of any Woman in all this time neither do I remember ought that burthens my Conscience or should make me afraid to leave the World except one sin which I believe too is pardonable And when she pressed him to declare what it was he could not speak a while for the abundance of tears but at length said How can I stand before the Tribunal of God who have purely and sincerely taught many the Holy Gospel of the Son of God who following my Doctrine have constantly endured a thousand torments and death it self when I my self an unconstant Teacher did flee and tho' I had lived long enough and should not have feared Death but rather coveted it yet I withdrew my self and cowardly transgressed the Command of my God Whereupon the Queen as she was very eloquent and full of Divine Sayings discoursed largely to him and did by many Examples shew that the same thing had happened to many Good and Holy men who were now in the Kingdom of God and therefore he ought not in any wise to despair of the Goodness and Mercy of God towards him And many things to the same purpose were added by others present Upon which he was comforted and became chearful again but said Now therefore nothing remains but that I go from hence to God as soon as I have made my Will I have that Impression that I must deferre no longer for I perceive God calls me Then fixing his eyes on the Queen Madam said he I appoint you my Heir and to your Preacher Mr. Gerard I bequeath all my Books my Cloaths and whatsoever else I have I give to the Poor Other things I commend to God At this the Queen smiling asked What then shall I have James out of the Inheritance The care said he of distributing this to the Poor It is well said she I solemnly profess this Legacy is more acceptable to me than if the King of France my Brother had named me his Heir After this his Countenance was chearfull and he said O Queen I have need of some Rest Be ye chearful and in the mean time Farewel So he left them at Table and laid him down upon a Bed that was near where as they thought he lay sleeping but was indeed fallen asleep in the Lord without the least sign of any previous distemper for when they went to awake him they found him dead to their great admiration Such was the end of this Holy man which as Rivet observes leaves to us an Example of the Mercy of God â—o this his Servant in awakenâ—ng such a Gracious sence of â—is former weakness in him and applying his Pardoning Grace in Christ to him before he was called hence and also a serious Warning unto all to get their Accounts for another World cleared before they come to dye That being well assured of the Favour of God in Christ and of the Soundness of their Faith and Repentance they may expect their Change in Peace Conscience is a tender thing and what we count but small while we live may make a Dying-bed very uneasie to us And therefore as we tender our own Peace and Comfort when we come to Dye it most nearly concerns us to be Serious while we Live and as the Apostle saith To walk circumspectly not as Fools Ephes 5. 15 16. but as Wise Redeeming the Time because the Dayes are evil FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Benjamin Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultrey SIxty one Sermons preached upon publick occasions by Dr. Adam Littleton in fol. Dr. Mantons Sermons on the 119 Psalm Fol. Some Discourses Sermons and Remains of the Reverend Mr. Jos Glanvile late Rector of Bath and Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty Quar. Melius Inquirendum in Oct Vtrum Horum or the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England at large recited and compared with the Doctrines of those commonly called Presbyterian on the one side and the Tenets of the Church of Rome on the other by Henry Care Octavo The History of the Popish Sham plots from the Reign of Queen Elizabeth to this very time Oct. Mr. Baxters defence of the Nonconformists Plea for Peace Octavo The Holy War By John Bunyan Octa. Divine Meditations with a daily directory by Sir William Waller Octa. A Discourse of the Covenants that God made with men before the Law by Nehemia Cox Octa. The Glory of Free-grace displayed by Stephen Lobb Oct. A discourse of Temptations to Atheistical and Blasphemous Thoughts Self Murder Despair and Presumption by Dr. John Collings in Octa. A Reasonable Account why some Pious Nonconformists Ministers Judge it sinful for them to perform their Ministerial Acts by the prescribed forms of others with a Supplement and defence All three being Replyes to Dr. Faulkner The Schollars daily Task or Grammer illustrated By N. S. a lover of Learning Octavo A Treatise of Scandal together with a Consideration of Christian Liberty and things indifferent Octavo The Way of good men for wise men to Walk in Octavo Divine Love or the willingness of Jesus Christ to save sinners By Vav Powel The Security of Englishmens Lives or the Trust Power and Duty of the Grand Juries of England Youngs English Scholar being the most plain and easiest method to learn Youth to spell read and write true English Extant many having by the help of this twelve-peny Book saved their Parents the charge of some Years Schooling Stitcht Books in Quarto The mischief of Impositions being an Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Sermon of Seperation Two Funeral Sermons the one at the Interment of a Young man the other at the burial of a Young Gentlewoman Both Preached by John Shower An Argument for Tolleration by a Countrey Gentleman The History of the Parisian Massacre