Ergo we must not looke to haue our rest and heauen here Fourthly they that dote and surfet vpon these earthly and out-ward things are void of faith hope and repentance and so perish and therefore it is better willingly to forgoe these things then to bee vndone by them Lastly we must looke for true and euerlasting honour the pretious and proper riches sincere and neuer discontenting pleasure in the paradice of heauen onely and bid auant to these earthly matters when they hinder vs in the course of Godlinesse and most destrously forsake them when the Lord by death calleth vs to the kingdome of glory and the felicity thereof Que. Ought a man to feare death Ans. He ought partly to feare it and partly not to feare it Questi Why must a man feare death An. First because it is the destruction of nature and a paineful correction Ques What vse is to be made hereof Ans. We must feare sinne that is the cause thereof and acknowledge Christ an enemy to it and offended with sinne Que. What is the second reason why we must feare death An. Because by the death of the Godly the Church or common wealth suffereth losse and we are beréeued of the saffe and stay of our comfort 2. Reg. 2. Qu. What if a man in death sée no way how to escape Satans temptation Ans He must close his eyes commit his cause to God and put on the spirituall armour of faith hope and the word of God Que. What if a Godly man doubt and his flesh tremble to enter into another life Ans. We must not yeeld to these temtations but resist them and our spirit is to be commended into Gods hand and then Christ with all his Angells will come and bee our guide to eternall life Secondly we must stoutly vndergo it and meditate vpon Christs sufferings and the issue and end wil be happy deliuerance Que. What if Satan contrarywise laboureth to expell all feare to make a man careles and laboureth to perswade him as he did maister Knoxe to rest in an opinion of his owne merits and so would puffe him vp with pride arrogancy Ans. He must consider and confesse that his owne righteousnes is foule and deformed he must resist and withstand that temptation and attribute all the glory of his saluation to God alone Que. In what and for what causes must we not feare death Ans. For fiue causes first because we haue hence a cause and an occasion to shew our subiection obedience to God Secondly because we are fréed from sin which is a principal part of our glorification Thirdly because the very body lying in the graue is refreshed against labours and is deliuered from death and misery and shall rise againe in glory Fourthly it conueieth translateth the soule vnto eternall life wher God is perfectly serued it hath blessed fellowship with Christ and all the Angells and Saints of heauen Lastly because by death GOD purgeth and disburdneth his Church of euil men Qu. Séeing that death is the cause of so great good to the godly may a man lawfully desire it An. Yes so that it be not of impatiency or desperation Secondly Iob many others haue desired death again again and are not therfore reproued Qu. May a man simply desire death An. No truly but a man must walke in his calling and standing so long as it shall please God For the godly had rather liue to sette forth Gods glory theÌ„ for their owne temporall commodity Qu. In what respects is death to bée desired An. So farre forth as it is a meane to frée and deliuer vs from the burden and contagion of sinne and from the miseryes and troubles of this life Secondly as it is a meane and instrument to the manifest vision of God and to the immediate fellowshippe of God and Christ. Lastly our desire must bee moderate and agréeable to Gods will and good pleasure Quest. May a man contrariwise desire long life An. Yes so the end and scope of his life be to doe acceptable seruice to God and to further and maintaine Gods religion and glory and labour to help and forward other mens faith c. Phil 1. 24. 25. Quest. If the death of the godly bée so blessed what shall wee thinke of the death of the wicked An. It is altogether accursed and fearefull Que. Why so Ans. First because it is the dissolution of nature and the wages of sinne Secondly for that by reason of Gods iustice pursuing the wicked in euery place and because they haue no peace of conscience death is to them the beginning of euerlasting damnation For they féele no mitttigation of theyr gréefe in death nor haue so much as the least hope and expectation of ease and deliuerance Qu. What is the conclusion and sum of all that hath bin said An. Wee must striue and continually indeauour to liue and dye well and godly that wée may bee blessed both in life and death and that we when this earthly life and pilgrimage is ended may liue and triumph for euer with our Lord Iesus in heaueâ—… which the Lord in mercy graunt and effect Amen A prayer to be vsed of a sick man O Lord GOD great and fearefull iust in thy iudgements intollerable in thy displeasure and yet bottomlesse in thy mercies kéeping couenant and mercy to them that loue thée and obey thy commandements I poore wretched sinner that am but dust earth and ashes vnworthy of the least of mercies and most iustly deseruing all temporall and eternal iudgements doe here present and prostrate my selfe before thy throane of grace And I fréely confesse vnto thée that I am conceiued borne in originall corruption prone vnto al wickednes vntoward backward to any goodnes ful of alimperfections that I haue by mine actuall transgressions which are many mighty broken all thy holy lawes and CoÌ„mandements and that therefore amongst many other euils this present sicknesse ache pain and weakenesse is deseruedly come thée my purposes and vowes of obedience and thansgiuing doe better and further seruice vnto thy Maiestie and be the more prepared for thy Kingdome But if it be thy will decrée and pleasure by this sicknesse to finish my daies I then intreat thy good Maiestie to renue me in the inner man as the outward man decayeth and grant that as the bodie dyeth so thy grace may liue and grow in me open the eyes of my vnderstanding that I may know what the hope is of my heauenly calling and the riches of the glorious inheritance that thou haste laid vp in store for me that by this meanes I may dye in the true faith of Christ in willing obedience to thy Maiesty and in thy fauour and loue of my neighbour and so when this life endeth I may beginne a better and dwell with thée and with all the triumphant company of Saintes and Angels praise and magnifie thy name for euer Blesse
kill another to ease him of his paine muchlesse to kill a mans selfe Thirdly it is commonly a note of a reprobate And thus much touching the obiections The seauenth Chapter The benefites and priuiledges of death Question HAue the Godly any profit and aduantage by death A. Much and many waies Q. What benefits and priueledges haue they by death A. Two sorts of benefits priuatiue that remoue euill and positiue that ad good Q. What are the priuatiue benefits of death An. Foure first it perfectly fréeth Gods children from all temptations and from all sinnes both originall and actuall and herein consisteth a maine part of our blessednesse for if he be blessed whose sinnes are not imputed much more hee whose sinnes are wholy taken away Secondly it easeth vs of all the miseries afflictions paines and aduersities of this present life Thirdly it deliuereth from the euill world and from all sinnefull company and from all the tiranâ—…e of Gods and our enemies in so much that our eyes shall neuer sée nor our eares euer heare the abhominable practises of the wicked much lesse can they hurt or infect vs and what an vnspeakeable blessing is this Lastly it preuenteth sinne and misery to come for the Godly are taken away that their soules should not bee infected with sinne and that they should â—…ot with their eâ—…es behold euill nor the inordinate confusions in church or common-wealth Q. What vse is to be made of thâ—…se priuatiue blessings An. We must first learne patience and suffer temporary afflictions without fainting because shortly our euill shall determine Secondly let vs pray and sâ—…ke for and wish and waite that blessed time â—…hether of â—…eath or the last iudgement that shall fâ—…ée vs from all the euills whereof in this world we labour Section 1. Question What are the positiue benefites that wee receiue and enioy in death An. First death bringeth our soules into the immediate the glorious and euerlasting fellowshippe with GOD the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost where wee shall haue perfection of knowledge absolute purity of will and affections and fulnesse of ioye for euermore Psalme 16. vers 11. Secondly wee shall with all the Saints and Angells behold and haue communion with Christ in glory world without end Lastly death putteth vs into actuall and perfect possession of all the good things that Christ hath purchased for vs which should weâ—… and withdrawe vs from the loue and liking of this vaine world and inflame vs with an earnest desire of enioying the heauenly Canaan so long agoe purchased and prouided for vs. Section 2. Q How can death make the faithfull and the Godly perfectly blessed séeing that their dead corps lie and rot in their loathsome graue An. It may very well be for first he that hath redéemed both body soule and giuen vs two excellent sacraments namely baptisme and the Lords supper to signifie and seale the same hath by his death embaulmed yea buried our death Secondly it being mistically spiritually and vnseparably vnited vnto Christ the fountaine of life and so remayning in the couenant of grace and fauour of God frée from all sinne and paine cannot be but in part blessed and in a sort partaker of life Lastly it resteth swéetly in the earth as in a bedde of downe vntill the last iudgement in a blessed expectation of the generall and glorious resurrection Que. Shall the body then certainely arise againe An. It shall vndoubtedly be raised vp againe at the last day For first the sacred scriptures the almighty power and promise of God and the effects of Christs death doe sufficiently proue it 1. Cor. 15. ve 13. 14. Secondly the bodies of the saints raised vp in the time of the old and newe Testament explane the same Thirdly Gods mercy cannot perfectly appeare in the glorious resurrection of the Godly nor his iustice in the perfect punishment of the wicked vnlesse there be a resurrection both to glory and confusion Lastly the death of the righteous is but a swéete sleepe wherein they rest from the labours of this life and out of which they shall in a moment be raised at the sound of the last trumpet Quest. The bodies of the reprobate shall as well bée raised vp againe as the bodies of the elect and how then can it bee any such singular benefite An. Yet notwithstanding it is a rare benefise for the resurrection of the iust and vniust is distinguished the one from the other by the causes and endes For the Godly arise by vertue of CHRIST their head and by vertue of his resurrection but the bodies of the wicked by the power of Christ as their iudge onely who shal arraigne and condemne them Secondly they differ in their endes the bodies of the Saintes arise in glorie to eternall glorie but the bodies of the wicked shall rise in shame to eternall shame and confusion Qu. If the Godly bee thus blessed as soone as they are dead is it then lawfull to mourne for the dead Ans. It is lawfull so that our mourning bee moderate and ioyned with hope for wee haue many holy practises in the scriptures of this mourning 1. Thes. 4. 14. Iâ—…h 11. Phi. 2. 27. Questi What shall wee thinke of them that bewade the dead immoderately Ans. It is contrary to the hope of a blessed life and resurrection and calleâ—… Gods wisdome and iust decrée into question Qu. For what ends and in what considerations are wee to mourne for those that are dead in the Lord Ans. First because our sinnes and vnthankefulnesse haue bereaued vs of their confortable fellowship Secondly we must here by bee more effectually stirred vppe to entreate the Lord to bée good vnto vs and to turne away from vs those euills that their vntimely deathes many times prognosticate The eight Chapter Touching the way whereby wee may attaine to blessednesse Question VVHere is the way to attaine true blessednesse to be found Answer Onely in the worde of GOD that is the meane seede and instrument of eternall happinesse Isay. 30. 21. Q. How many things are by Gods word required that a man may die well Answ. Two things First a preparation before death Secondly a right behauior and disposition in death Q What is the preparation against death Answer It is the acâ—…on of a repentant sinner whereby hee prepareth himselfe for the Lord. Q. Is this duetie necessary Answ. Yes for fâ—…t GOD so commandeth in many places of scripture Mark 13. 37. Luk. 12. v. 40. Secondly this present life is the onely time of getting the wedding garment and of reconciling and preparing our selues for GOD and his kingdome Titus 2. verse 11. 12. Luk. 13. ver 25. Thirdly we shall neuer lightly die the death of the righteous vnlesse wée liue their life and as death hath left vs so shall the last iudgement finde 〈◊〉 Quest. May we not defer this duetie vnto death An. No in any wise for the longer that
of the duties which the sick person oweth vnto God The xvi Chapter Question VVHat are those duties that a man is to performe to him selfe or his owne person An. They are two-fold for they belong either to the soule or to the body Qu. What is the duty which he oweth to his owne soule An. Hee must arme and strengthen him-selfe agninst the feare of Satans assaults against the immoderate feare of death and against the Terrour of the last iudgement Qu. How is a man to be armed and strengthned against Satans assaults Ans. By considering and beléeuing that Christ hath ouercome and bound for vs the strong man Satan that had the power ouer death Qu. What is the second duty that he oweth to his soule Ans. To arme himselfe against the immoderate feare of death Qu. Is it not good then that men should in some moderat sort feare death Ans. Yes for it putteth vs in mind of the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and what wee deserue if God should deale strictly with vs. Secondly it holdeth men backe in their extremities from laying violent hands on themselues for they that are thus desperately minded do not so much as once thinke of Hell and the torments of it Ques Séeing the feare of death is thus profitable why must the sicke bée armed against the feare of it An. Because death approaching naturall feare doth most of all shew forth it selfe astonish the sicke mans senses and causeth despaire Qu. What are the meanes to comfort him against the feare of death An. They are of two sorts namely practises and meditations Q. What are the practises A. They are two First the sicke parties must not so much feare death as cast their eyes vpon euerlasting life Secondly they must consider death not in the bright coullor of the lawe for then our weake eyes cannot endure to behold it for then it is a cruell sergeant armed with the anger and curse of God nor in it selfe for then it is to men vnregenerate the very entrance into hell yea hell mouth it selfe But we must take from it the fearefull maske and visard of the law and behold it as it is set forth in the mixt and tempered coullor of the Gospell and as it is changed by Christ his death who hath not onely deaded it by his owne death but also quickned it so that it is to the beléeuers bodie a temporary and a swéete sléepe and to their soules the gate of saluatioÌ„ wherby they enter into y e possession of life euerlasting Q. Why must not a Christian man vnmeasurably feare death A. First because it is to the godly the end of all euils all sinne errour and misery Secondly because after death he passeth presently to a better state Thirdly because he hath immediate fellowship and communion with the holy Trinity with the elect Angels and the glorified Saints And thus much of practises The 2 Section Qu. What are the Meditations which serue for this purpose An. They are principally foure which are the foundation of all the rest Qu. What is the first meditation A. That euery mans death as hath biâ—… before prooued procured by his own sins is fore-séene and appointed in Gods eternall decrée together with all the circumstances thereof Psal. 139. 15. 16. Q. What benefit will hereby redound vnto vs Ans. It will arme vs against all feare distrust and impatiency in the howre of death Psa. 39. 10. Gen. 42. Q What is the second meditation A. The consideration and contemplation of the inâ—…stimable glory laid vp for vs and of the eternall and vnspeakable blessednesse prouided for vs. Q. What profit shall we receiue hereby Answ. It doth withdraw vs from the resting in this temporall miserable life and lifteth vp our mindes and affections vnto God yea and maketh vs with Iob Moyses and others cherefully and willingly to endure afflictions Q. What is the third meditation Answ. The spirituall and vnseparable coniunction and fellowship which the beléeuers both in their soules and bodies in life and death haue with Christ. For for their bodies and soules are in the fauour and couenant of God and they both shall be re-united together in the last day be both eternally glorified Que. What is the fourth meditation Ans. The speciall promise of Gods presence and assistance in death and in all other distresses for we haue Christ our companion in affliction 1. Pete 4. 13. Qu. What vse are we to make hereof Ans. Wee must liue by faith and not by sense beléeuing the things promised which we sée not and hoping for things that séeme desperate Que. How or how many waies doth God manifest his presence in sickenesse Ans. Thrée manner of waies first by lessning and moderating the paines of sickenes and death and by giuing them strength and patience Secondly by refreshing and comforting the spirit after a wonderfull manner Thirdly by the gard and ministery of the good Angells which defend the Godly against the Diuell and his Angells Psa. 34. for they are present with and attend vpon Gods seruants in their sickenes and are ready to carry theâ—r soules into heauen The 3 Section Quest. How are the sicke to be armed and strengthned against the strictnesse and terrour of the last iudgement where in the diuell the law and our owne conscience shall accuse vs of infinite faults Ans. First wee must acknowledge our sinnes for that is the way of iustification Ioh. 1. 9. Psa. 32. 5. In matters of felony as we say confesse and be hanged but in matter of diuinity confesse and be saued Secondly wee must flie and appeale to Iesus Christ and content our selues with his righteousnesse onely and then hee absoluing vs who shall condemne vs and he making intercession for vs who can preuaile against vs. Rom. 8. verse 34. And thus much of the duty that the sicke man is to performe in respeâ—… of his soule The xvii Chapter Of Physicke and preseruation of bodily health Question WHat is the duty that the sicke are to performe to their bodies Ans. They ought to be carefull to preserue health and life vntill God take it wholy away Que. Then it is lawfull for any man to kill himselfe Ans. No for wee must in no wise depart out of our standing vntill God out heauenly generall command vs. Secondly euery man is bound to cherish and nourish his owne body and therefore he must not destroy it Thirdly all murder is forbiden and interdicted and therfore much more the killing of a mans selfe Fourthly if a man kill him-selfe hee doth not escape misery but runne into it Fiftly if it be a wickednesse to kill another man for to ease him of present paiae then it is a more horrible wickednes to kill himselfe Lastly the killing of a mans selfe is commonly and generally noted for a marke of a reprobate and faithlesse man Que. Why must we preserue life and health A. For two reasons first that we may
and inlarge thy Sion and thy Ierusalem euen after my death build vp the wals of it repaire the decaies of thy Church and confound Antichrist and the vpon me yet notwithstanding I herein acknowledge thy infinite goodnesse and compassion in Christ that thou haste in slicted them vpon me not as plagues and curses as they are in their owne nature to the vnbeléeuing and vnrepentant but as fatherly corrections and chastisments messengers of death and immortallitie and meanes to prepare me for and conuay mee to thy kingdome For hereby thou my most deare Father intendest and workest mine amendment makest triall of my faith hope patience and thankefulnesse preuentest sinne to come and stirrest vp in me a desire and longing expectation of euerlasting rest happines UUherfore I most humbly beseech thée to pardon and remoue my sin the cause thereof perfit my repentance for the same increase my faith and hope graunt me strength and patience with comfort to indure this thy visitation sanctifie it vnto me and conuert it to my saluation in the end Restore me if it be thy good pleasure in thy good time to my former and perfect health that I may performe vnto Turke and the rest of the obstinate enemies of it Uouchsafe to bee a father vnto my wife children and family supply their waÌ„ts whether spiritual or boddily plant thy feare in their hearts and make them constant in all duties of holynes righteousnes that they may liue and die in thy fauor and at length be made partakers of eternall ioy and glory Giue O my heauenly father a blessed assent to these my petitions and graunt me all other thinge which thy wisdome séeeth good for me for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake mine onely Redéemer Mediator to whome with thy Maiesty God the holy Ghost bée giuen al honour praise and glory now and for euermore Amen A thansgiuing to be vsed of a sicke man if he recouer I Yéeld render and ascribe vnto thée O Lord my God al honor praise thanks and glory for all thine infinite vnmeasurable vndeserued mercies in Christ whether they concern my body or soule this life or a better and in particular for his present benefit of redéeming my soule from death and my body from the graue that I should yet liue the longer in the land of the liuing to set forth thy glory to do more good in my calling and standing and the more perfectly to prepare my selfe for my latter end and for thy kingdome O Lord my God this is thy work it procéedeth only from thy grace and mercy and not from any goodnes or merit of mine But séeing thy might and mercy so meruailously appeareth in my recouery and I of my self am more ready to forget theÌ„ remember and to grow remisse carelesse for the time to come then to serue thée in godly feare and grow vp in grace sanctification I beséech thée to write the memory of this thy mercy in my heart w t the Diamond of thy spirit graunt me grace y t denying mine own wit wil sence I may follow y e direction of thine holy word and submit my selfe to the blessed gouernment of thy spirit Make mee a willing and happy instrument of further good in my vocation and trade of life and grant déere father that as I growe in yeares so I may grow and increase in grace and obedience that I may liue in thy feare and fauour and die in peace and then see thy glorious face and inioy the immediate and most blessed fellowship of Christ my sweet Sauiour and of all thy Saints and Angels for euermore Uouchsafe me louing and gratious father these mercies and al other things néedfull for me for the merits obedience and mediation of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ to whom with thée and the holy Ghost thrée persons one al sufficient God bee praise in the Church throughout all generations for euer Amen Amos. 3. 6. Ioh. 5. 14. 2. Sam. 12. Psal. 16. 7. Iob. 13. 26 Lam 3 41. Psal. 30. v. 6. Deut. 8. 2. 13. 3. Cant. 5. 5. 6 Hos. 5. 15. Rom. 8. â—…say 8. 20. 〈◊〉 33. 15 Act. 4. 12 Isay 43. ve 25. Ier. 31. 34 〈◊〉 Sam. 12 12. 13. Psal. 51 ve 3 and 4. Dan. 9 6 Luk. 18 13 Iob. 19. 25 1 Ioh. 1. 〈◊〉 Psal. 119. 59 Iam. 1. 23. Isay. 8. 20 Rom. 3 ver 23. Gen. 6 〈◊〉 5 Eph. 2 3 Iob. 33. ve 16. 17 18. 2 Chr. 21 17. Rom. 8. veâ—… 20 22. Iere. 5. v. 3. Lam. 3. ver 22. Psal. 130. 6. Rom. 5. ve 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 18 Gen. 7. 〈◊〉 c. Gen. 8. v. 1 Simile â—…sal 30. v. 7. 8. 9 1. Ioh. 〈◊〉 Iob. 13 1â—… Mat. 15 v. 23. ad 29. Gen. 7. 1 Mat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 28. Rom. 3. v. 3 Luk. 5 31. Vse Phil. 1 23 Gen 2 17 Heb. 9 27 Rom. 5 12 Rom. 5 1â—… Psa. 96 v. 〈◊〉 et 10 〈◊〉 1. Ioh. 3. 〈◊〉 Gen. 3. v. 6 Rom. 8. 1â—… 1 Tim. 2. 14. 1 Thes. 4 14. 1 Cor. 15. 51. Phil. 1. 23 Luk. 12. v. 40. Rom. 8. v. 29 Luk. 13. v. 3. 15. Rom. 6. 2 Luk. 12. 20. 21. Luk. 16. 23 2. Thess. 1. vers 9. Rom. 6. v. 23 Gal. 3. 10. A similitude Math. 26 v. â—…9 Luk. 2. ve 29. â—…om 8. v. â—…3 34. Math. 4. ve â—…4 et 7. Psal. 31. 15 Rom. 7. â—…4 Isay 57 ve 1. 2. 2 Kings 22. 20. Isa. 57 1. Math. 22. 32. Luâ—… 23. ve 1â—… 32 aâ—… 44. Luk. 23. 〈◊〉 40. 2. Tim. 2â—… 25. Luk. 13. 〈◊〉 24. Senec. lib. 3 Epist. 26. Iob. 42. 6. Ionah 4. 〈◊〉 4. 5. 1. Cor. 15. v. vlâ—… Hebr. 11. v. 9. 10. Iam. 1. 〈◊〉 Rom. 3. v. 〈◊〉 Rom. 7â—… v. 7. Hebr. 2. 1â—… Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 8. 13. Math. 7. 2â—… Luk. 13. vers 25. 〈◊〉 Câ—… 5. 〈◊〉 Luk. 5 19. Leu. 13. 45 46. Psa. 39. 1â—… 〈◊〉 2. 2. Cor. â—… Apoc. 12 Psa 6. 1. Luk. 16. 〈◊〉 5. 29. Ioh. 9. â—…in 20. 7 Act. 7. veâ—… 60. Math. 5. v. 25. Math. 10. Iosua 24. v. 14. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. 15. Act. 20. 28. Rom. 8. 17. Heb. 9. v. 16. Gen. 18. 19. 1 Sam 2. 30. Proâ—… 15. 16. Ioâ—… 4. 24. Rom. 8. ver 26. Psa. 31. 5. Gen. 12. 1â—… 1. 23. 1. 〈◊〉 18. 1. Cor. 4. 7. â—…hil 1. 23. â—…om 7. 〈◊〉 Cor. 5. â—…oc 14. 〈◊〉 Isay 38. 18.