that being cast into the water of Mara it maketh it sweete and wholesome It is impossible to loue Iesus Christ as wee ought but presently this life must needs become vnpleasant which hindereth vs from going to him vntill death put an ende to our banishment and bring vs neere vnto his presence Know then my Brethren that these benefits by which God maketh you liue teacheth you happily to dye and with this foode of life also teacheth you the preparations and consolations to die You haue not meanly profited if at your going away from the Sacrament you say with Simeon Lord now let thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation and if you carry from hence a full confidence it will make you victorious against the terrours of death for if you haue this saluation which Simeon speaketh of it will bring you vnto a great peace of conscience which is a beginning of that peace whereinto Simeon desireth to enter Of this my Brethren you easily conceiu what the Text meaneth for although it seemeth not to speake of the Holy Supper yet it is not very farre from the meaning thereof because that this Sacrament renueth vnto vs the Contract of marriage and that the promises which are heere propounded are certaine remedies and preparations against death Whereof the Ancients were accustomed to send to the sicke from the Holy Table and at the same time of the action and administration thereof This Simeon who dyed when Iesus Christ was borne who being full of yeeres waited with impatience the comming of Christ Iesus to the end to raise himselfe from the sentitinell and to set his soule at libertie teacheth vs with what firmenesse we ought to attend death and with what desire to receiue him The life of man is not long lasting some commeth weeping some commeth in labour some with paine and the abiding is so short that man ordinarily dyeth then when hee hath but newly learned what it is to liue Iacob said that his dayes had been short and euill although hee liued vntill he was a hundred thirtie and three yeeres how short are ours then who rarely come to the halfe of that age and neuerthelesse sleepe and sorrow must likewise be taken away for in that time we liue not and most people die in the flower of their age with their Candle extinguished before it be halfe burnt out The Holy Scripture calleth death the way of all the earth it is a naturall debt which if a man should deny it were as much as pleading against his owne deed to striue to be exempt is to desire to be exempt from the generall Law and to desire that God for the loue of thee should change the Lawes of the world and make for thee another humane nature When death commeth it is in vaine to say any thing as Pope Gregory saith in his Dialogues of one whose name was Stephen that tolde Death being sicke he was mistaken and it was not he The Pagans who haue made Altars and seruices to vices and sickenesses to feare an euill happe neuer adressed any to death because they were assured that shee was alwayes inexorable and will entertaine no tearmes of composition This necessity being so strong and examples so frequent in such sort that although we daily bury our neighbours and carry and accompany to the earth the one halfe of our selues yet wee looke another way both in minde and heart still holding on the same course wee haue beene accustomed vnto as if wee should neuer dye For our designes wee make large liued and taske our selues to establish our Name vpon earth spending lauishing out the time as if we had but ouermuch still taking out by handfuls out of the sacke with an assured presumption neuer to be empty We would haue long life to loose it as if wee should accuse God that it is too long because we employ it in things either vnprofitable or wicked If any man in company speake of death it shall be esteemed troublesome vnfashionable and impertinent as if there were neuer any vse of such thoughts Yet being truely considered there is no thought or meditation so necessary It is better saith Salomon Eccles 7. To enter into the house of sorrow then into the house of ioy From hence is deriued the placing of Churchyards round about the Churches to the end that men may passe by the Graues before they present themselues before God that is to thinke and meditate well of death before wee come to looke for life and that first wee must acknowledge our selues mortals and sinners before we can come to implore the grace of God There is a great accord betweene the feare of God and the remembrance of death for the thought of death maketh vs feare God and the feare of God comforteth vs against death This thought disposeth vs to liue well because the day of death is the day when wee must make our account to God As Death shall finde vs so shall the last day iudge vs For it will be too late to speake for our selues vpon the gybbet it will bee too late to iustifie our selues when we are encompassed with Gods anger it behoueth therefore to make our peace whilest we haue time and to fortifie our selues with faith against the terrours of Gods Iudgements let vs mannage the time and liue as the faithfull die that is liue as we would haue wished to haue liued when we must die this preparation maketh a man couragious for what can he feare that feareth not death whosoeuer hopeth for death shall not feare the sorrows of life The threatnings of a Tyrant threatning death are promises vnto him He will shorten the sorrowes of the faithfull hee will open the doore of the prison of his soule to set it at liberty To thinke to loose a Man that feareth God in killing him is like him that in anger throweth a Fish away into a Riuer to drowne it for it is there where it liueth and in that death it findeth life This holy seruant of God Simeon carefully prepared himselfe because he hath not onely attended death but also runne before to meet it by the way For hee knew well hee should die so soone as hee had seene Iesus Christ and no sooner had hee heard tell that Iesus Christ was borne and carryed to the Temple without delay or detracting the time with himselfe in saying although he be borne yet I haue time enough to see him without making any great haste and I shall reioyce to see him great The desire to prolong life neuer came into his minde but without let or staying at all goes before Iesus Christ that is to say before death although that Iesus Christ was the Prince of life he attendeth not vntill he be entred into the Temple but meeteth him at the doore with ioy imbraceth him and humbleth his olde age before the infancy of Iesus Christ and desireth to dye
things thereto belonging He that feareth God hath wherewithall to sustaine him in these trials for it is then that God assisteth all those that call vpon him call vpon mee in thy necessitie and I will heare thee and what greater Necessitie can there be then death Hee that giueth his Angels charge to defend those that liue in his feare how can he abandon those that dye calling vpon him Hee that openeth his eye ouer the prosperity of the wicked can hee haue his eare shut to the sighes of the good that call vpon him in their extremitie and although Sathan espie him the Angels watch ouer him to whom our defence is committed and besides Sathan is enchayned with a chayne both great and strong which is called the prouidence of God hauing his Head wounded to death and the souldiers that he setteth to assaile vs which are sorrow and the figure of death their Armes and weapons are no better then strawes and pinnes against the faith of the faithfull Some say the Diuell appeared to a dying man and shewed him a Parchment that was very long wherein was written on euery side the sinnes of the poore sicke man which were many in number and that there were also written the Idle words he had spoken which made vp three quarters of the words that hee had spoken in his life together with the false words the vnchaste words and the words of iniurie afterwards came in rancke his vaine and vngodly words and lastly his actions digested according to the Commandements whereupon Sathan said Seest thou Behold thy vertues see here what thine examination shall be Whereunto the poore sinner answered It is true Sathan but thou hast not set downe all for thou shouldest haue added and set downe here below The bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all our sinnes and this also should not haue bin forgotten That whosoeuer beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life there are none so feeble as the Diuell nor so cowardly when he is to assaile a true Christian onely name Iesus Christ and hee flyeth a way for he wayteth but for the day when hee shall be bound in chaynes and cast into the bottomlesse pit which made him say to Iesus Christ art thou come to torment me before my time And he praied Iesus Christ that he would not send him into the Abisme If we haue the eyes of Faith open we shal not need to feare death but outface her make our selues familiar with her for shee annoyeth none but those that shee surprizeth and we likewise loue her like one that openeth the Prison doore to those that are in durance Euen as if the Children which come out of the Mothers wombe should haue some reason they would not weepe but reioyce to come out of such a noysome and obscure place to see the Sunne Euen so if our soules were instructed as they ought to be and had true reason they would not be sorry to goe out of the prison of the Body to come into the light of God for this issue is another Byrth whereof we ought not to be amazed if it be done with some sorrow it is a meanes to enter into the light For in the auncient Church the day of the celebration of the death of the Martyrs was called the day of Natiuity Let him feare death who hopeth not for life let him feare death who would not goe to Iesus Christ let him feare death that is a slaue to his Belly and to gormundizing but as for me Christ is gaine to me to liue and die Euen then when Iesus Christ was resolued to dye Peter disswaded him but Christ replyed Get thee behinde mee Sathan euen so wee checke the flesh which filleth vs with feares for it knoweth nothing of the things of God Now you see death which was common to vs is now become fauourable she is nothing fearefull but in shew for life is hidden vnder the Image of death as if one should send vs a faire present by a deformed Blackamore so God by the hand of hideous death presenteth vnto vs the heauenly life It is that pale terrible Horse which is spoken of in the 6. of the Apocalyps which is called Death wherupon we must get vp to goe to God It is the passage of the Red sea which is very fearefull to walke amongst the swelling waues that hang ouer the head but by that God opened the passage to the promised land It is the Lyon of Sampson out of the carrion whereof they got Honie as Sampsons companions said That out of that which was bitter came forth sweetnesse Indeede there is nothing more bitter then death when it is accompanied with the malediction of God when it carrieth with it a terrour of conscience an oppression of heart a trembling of the soule when it feeleth it selfe summoned to appeare before the iudgement seat of God but these things being taken away death is sweet and blessed for Iesus Christ hath borne our malediction and hath suffered all the deeds of the Iudgement of God nothing now remaining but onely so much euill as is needfull to open the gate for the soule to depart and be at liberty and this little sorrow that must be endured is not long lasting wonderfull little in regard of our sinnes light in comparison of the torments of hell which we haue deserued light in comparison of the sufferings of Christ Iesus light in comparison of the infinite glory and eternall waight of heauenly glory which stayeth for vs flesh is feeble but the spirit of God fortifyeth it mightily suffereth vnder sorrow but an Angell dryeth vp the droppes of bloud and Iesus Christ sheweth the Crowne You may say vnto mee This is true but wherefore is it that God will haue the death of the faithfull so full of dolour It is because hee will haue vs feele sinne still to dwell in vs seeing wee perceiue the effects doe shew it also hee will by these sorrowes make vs feele what the grace is that he hath done vs in deliuering vs from eternall death seeing that our death is an easie short and sweet death in comparison of euerlasting torments he would haue vs in dying pray ardently which sorrow serueth to inlighten our prayers quickned with the violency thereof and enforced by Necessity he knoweth that one cannot come out of an euill without euill he will not haue vs enter into this peace without combat and resistance All this good commeth by Iesus Christ who by his death hath taken the malediction from ours who hath changed our sepulchres into Couches our death into a peaceable sleepe and of the entry into Hell hath made it the entry into Paradise Shall we feare to enter into this prison after him Or to enter into death where he leadeth the way and holdeth vs by the hand I am saith he the resurrection and the life whosoeuer beleeueth in mee although he be dead shall liue This is the cause
thou art so hartlesse and without hope that thou confirmest all this to be true that it is impossible to serue God and Riches which is pronounced by the very Truth it selfe But it behooueth thee to set the looking glasse before thy face to see how much thou art disfigured and if thine eyes be not offuscated behold thy deformitie O foole that so much esteemest the glory and treasure of the earth as if in that consisted thy felicitie Horrible idolate 〈◊〉 if thy soule had beene asked for this night what would haue become of all and suppose thy life shall continue euen to the vtmost of old age it proueth but a moment what profit haue they carried away that thou hast knowne of all those that are now in their graues doest thou thinke if they died rich that they were more happy alas there is much danger to thinke the contrary Luke 18.24 It is a hard thing for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of heauen What hope canst thou draw from S. Iames 5.1 You rich men weepe crying for your sinnes and your miseries your riches are rotten your cloathes are full of mothes your gold and siluer is rustie and their rustinesse shall witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh like fire Now wherefore wouldest thou desire abundance 1. Tim. 6.9 for Those that would be rich fall into temptation into the snares of the deuill and into many foolish and filthie desires which plunge men into destruction and perdition Which the Wise man vnderstood well when he prayed vnto God not to giue him riches but only his daily bread Iames 1.2 What is all this but Vanitie vpon Vanitie which haue no sooner taken their being but presently slide away as if they had neuer beene at all no more remembrance left to be seene than of the bird that hath flowen in the ayre which no man can finde out the tract He that with such greedinesse heaped it vp at his death left it behinde him and to whom alas he knoweth not as the Prophet saith Psalme 15.39 But if it should be of some continuance wouldest thou bastardize and shorten thy felicitie to fix thy soueraigne good there tell me how many yeares hast thou liued and in what part of thy life didst thou first delight in these riches hath thy life since that time beene so blessed if thou thinke so for a little at what a value wouldest thou haue prized all the World But listen and consult with Iesus Christ a while We must know that whosoeuer searcheth and loueth these things cannot please God for they haue his heart and not the Lord and therefore let vs beware whilest it is light and learne to misprise and contemne them following the counsell of IESVS CHRIST Let vs lay vp treasure in Heauen where neither rust nor the mothes can corrupt and let vs thinke of things aboue and not of those that are below for whose euer is not ready to renounce all things that are of this world and that he possesseth in the earth euen as he himselfe saith He cannot be his But if once that come to be found in vs we wil then striue rather to glorifie God than to possesse all the riches of the world that are so wicked preferring the riches of Christ aboue all the treasures of Egypt after the example of Moses and let vs no longer depriue our selues from the hearing of the word of God and of the meanes of seruing him according to his knowne will for to heape vp happinesse more commodiously than heretofore we haue beene accustomed desiring with Dauid to be rather a doore keeper in the house of God than to enioy all the pleasures and delights of the flesh that may be for happy are they that dwell in Gods house and those that are far from it most vnhappy Amos 8.2 There is no greater misery than to haue a famine of Gods word There are I feare too many that to please themselues and their owne humors turne away from God as if it were a disgrace to follow him preferring the Temporall life before the Spirituall hauing more care of the body than the soule like those that loue their apparell better than themselues neuerthelesse such are sometimes put to their proofe because of the defects that are in Men of their infirmitie and basenesse hauing not yet tasted the promises of God yet there cannot any thing be more detestable and more to be condemned No and we may say what we will to colour such an offence but it is to speake properly no other than to put man in Gods place for we make lying man true and God which is Truth it selfe false we make man who is altogether feeble mightie and God who is Power it selfe vnpowerfull in putting our trust in man as it is in this behalfe and vpon his promises and of the contrarie we doe nothing but distrust that which is promised vnto vs by God and hold our selues strong enough to the businesse although this is his voice Math. 6.25 Take no care for your life what you shall eat or drinke nor for what you shall put on If God saith Iesus Christ feed the fowles of the aire and clotheth the grasse of the field will he not doe more for you O ye of little faith Aske then saith he and seeke first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shall be giuen vnto you and be not carefull for to morrow This is the Word of God these are his promises yet notwithstanding for all this in sted of turning to him who hath promised neuer to leaue vs nor to abandon vs from whence S. Paul argueth that we must be content with things present we turne to men and hope in them for all our necessities and if any rich man haue made a profession of amitie promised vs that his purse shall be open in our needes presently we make account as of a most sure possession and we doe cherish it in such sort that we will not by any meanes displease such a friend euen to the great dishonour of God whom we leaue euen as he from whom we can receiue nothing or hope for any benefit who is he except it be with a maruellous and detestable ingratitude dare accuse God and say he is not powerfull or that he will not accomplish that which he hath promised and so to make him a lyar a thing infinitely as the offence is infinite horrible to thinke vpon attributing that to man which belongeth only to God He to whom euery thing belongeth who bringeth the rich to pouertie and raiseth the poore into glory making him to abound in all happinesse Here may some take occasion to say we will henceforth labour no more and cast away all care and put our trust only in God and his promises but we must know that that would be but only to tempt him who hath not made vs to shew our selues carelesse in our vocation we haue
liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally Amen If the sicke person continue long and still in danger of death it will be conuenient to repeat at times necessary the abouesaid Comforts but especially those which are to assure and fortifie against the temptations and combats of Conscience And if it happen the sicke party be troubled with idle talke or cannot vnderstand a long discourse vse short sentences such as hereafter followeth speaking but at sometimes Sir it behooueth you to take good courage it is the fatherly hand of God that visiteth you for your good and saluation For to those whom God loueth all things worke together for good Lift vp your heart to God and confesse your sinnes and offences and imbrace by faith his mercy in Iesus Christ which hee hath promised to all those that repent and beleeue in him Haue you not alwaies a good assurance in the mercy of God a firme faith in Iesus Christ your Sauiour Patient Yes Doe you not beleeue that Iesus Christ is dead for your sinnes and risen againe for your iustification Patient Yes Doe you not beleeue that hee hath before the Father beene your wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Patient Yes Doe you not thinke that hee hath freely iustified you by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Iesus Patient Yes Following this your faith doubt not but God will warrant you from all perdition and giue you euerlasting life For God hath giuen his Sonne to the end that whosoeuer shall beleeue in him shall not perish but haue eternall life Ioh. 16. Feare not death seeing by faith you imbrace Iesus Christ who is your life I am saith he the resurrection and the life who shall beleeue in me although he be dead shall liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer dye Ioh. 11.25.26 If your sinnes doe afflict you addresse your selfe alwaies by faith and runne to Christ Iesus and you shall finde rest to your soule Come to mee saith Saint Matthew 11.28 all you that labour and are ouer-laden and I will ease you Doubt not the rigour of Gods iustice for there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Iesus as the Apostle Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.1 And who is he Rom. 8.32.33 that will bring in accusation against the elect of God God is hee that iustifieth who will be hee that shall condemne Christ is he which is dead and which is more is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. Be not sorry to leaue this miserable life which as Saint Iames saith 4.14 is but a vapour which appeareth a little while and afterwards vanisheth besides in exchange thereof euerlasting life shall be giuen vnto you and in that the very height of felicity so great and incomprehensible That eye hath not seene nor eare vnderstood and is not come vp into the heart of man that which God hath prepared for those that loue him When the sicke person is apparantly at the point of death or ready to yeeld vp the Ghost it is necessary to repeat this short consolation following with prayer Comfort your selfe Sir you now approach neare vnto the end of the Combat which cannot be otherwise but happy vnto you assure your selfe the victory is of your side by meanes of your faith which is the victory that ouercommeth the world and the Prince of the world Iesus Christ your head and Sauiour extendeth forth his hand and stayeth for you at the end of the lists to present vnto you the incorruptible Crowne of glory which he hath purchased with the price of his bloud commend your selfe vnto him now with all your heart goe vnto him with ioy throw your selfe into his Armes and say Into thy hands I commend my soule for thou hast bought me O God of truth Psal 31. Let vs againe pray to God that he will giue you his grace A Prayer O Lord Father of Mercy God of all Consolation let fall thy mercies and comforts vpon this occasion vpon this person thy poore childe and seruant Make him now gather and apply vnto himselfe excellent and abundant profit of the holy Instructions which in thy schoole thou hast taught him during the course of his life giue him an inuincible faith in this Combat Arme him with all thy spirituall Armour that hee may resist all the Temptations of Sathan and hauing ouercome all make him remain firme If thy Iustice astonish let thy mercie assure and comfort if his sinnes accuse him let the obedience of thy welbeloued excuse and iustifie him if the apprehension of death trouble him make him contemplate the open gate of euerlasting life to which thou goest to make him enter Thou hast giuen him it in thy Sonne make it perfectly happy to him Hee is of the flocke of this great Shepheard let it not be taken from him Thou hast begun his saluation let not the worke remaine vnperfect And now that thou hast brought him to the end of his sorrowfull course now receiue his soule into thy hands and bring it into thy heauenly paradice into the fulnesse of repose and beatitude into the company of thy blessed Angels and holy soules of thine Elect which thou hast gathered for euer to enioy together the perfection of all ioy which consisteth in the contemplation of his face Heare vs O Father of mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Son Iesus Christ our Lord who in vnity of the holy Spirit liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally Amen A short comfort for those that are friends of the deceased to be giuen after the body is interred Friends it is needfull in this businesse for you to remember of the holy Christian instruction which you haue receiued in the schoole of Iesus Christ for to make your profit in bearing your affliction with patience and in humility resting in a quiet Spirit at the will of God to which we ought alwayes to be subiect and conformable Our Nature in such accidents leadeth vs to teares but the Spirit of God author of all Regeneration teacheth vs to keepe measure and not to afflict our selues like those that haue no hope 1 Thess 4.13 If we be men in weeping yet wee must shew our selues Christians adorned with faith and hope to assure vs that this corporall death is no other to the faithfull children of God but a happy port to enter into eternall life Ioh. 5.28.29 and as for the body it must remaine in earth vntill that day when they shall heare the voyce of the Lord which shall make them rise out of the graue into the resurrection of life That the deceased is of the number of Gods children the marks and testimonies which God hath giuen him by the good profession of piety and wisedome which hee hath made in the Church vnto the last breath of his life neede not leaue vs in doubt He hath liued to the Lord and is dead to the Lord by consequence is happy and resteth from his labour Apoc. 14.13 by the heauenly testimony of the Spirit of God himselfe You haue no cause to weep ouer him for the condition he is in being in euery kinde thrice happy He hath also a great aduantage of vs that remaine in this world behinde him For he is arriued at the port of saluation where as we are still beaten with the storme and torment of the confused and dangerous sea of this miserable world And therefore it is much better to aspire to go with him then to wish him to remaine here below with vs for the discommodity that you may receiue by his absence it behoueth you to consider that God that gaue him to you remaineth still with you who is enough for vs without all other things whereas all other things without him are nothing It is hee that will continue alwayes ouer you the care of his fatherly prouidence if you continue alwayes to walke in his feare I beseech God to giue you grace and fortifie you with a holy and constant resolution Amen FINIS
the Soule liueth to God and followeth the Lambe filled with the fulnesse of the presence of the Lord. And as one may obserue of those that sleepe very soundly yet if they be but called by their Names they will rise vp in astonishment so Iesus Christ at the last day shall call all the faithfull and they shall suddenly awake and come out of the Graue euen as he raised Lazarus when hee did rise after hee had called him by his name We may also say that after sleepe we finde refreshment our strength renewed so after death our strength shall be renewed with another kinde of vigour then euer we had before Briefly as the profound sleepe of Adam brought him forth a Wife so our death will bring vs neare vnto Iesus Christ our true Espouse who marrieth vs in Righteousnesse and Mercy for there is nothing but peace in Heauen in earth nothing but confusion Neare vnto the earth are Windes and Raine and heat after colde but high vp in the ayre nothing moueth So what peace must that be in Heauen where the King of peace himselfe raigneth and where the blessed spirits ioyne their Songs and affections to praise serue God with a holy Harmony Of the peace of the Blessed the faithfull feele here a kinde of taste which is the peace of Conscience giuing them repose euen vpon the torture which sustaineth Martyrs maketh them easily digest pouertie and misery by the inward contentment they feele in the loue of God to be reconciled vnto him through Iesus Christ For euen as a man that is in health will sleepe vpon a Bench but he that is sicke of the Stone cannot rest vpon a Bed euen so the tranquility of conscience maketh a man content amidst the incommodities of this life but the wicked in prosperitie finde no rest Doe you thinke it strange that Iacob slept quietly albeit he had but a stone for his Pillow seeing that God spoke to him sleeping and shewed him the gate of Heauen opened I thinke Ionas had more rest in the Whales belly then Iezabel in her bed or Nabuchadnezzar vpon his Throne whereof the Apostle in the 4. of the Phil. calleth the peace of Conscience the peace of God and saith that it passeth all vnderstanding Whereupon I gather that if the first Pastes and sparkes of eternall peace surpasse all vnderstanding how much more then the full repose and full peace with eternall contentment The faithfull seruants of God hauing but halfe dipped in the end of the finger into this Hony as Ionathan did had their eyes enlightened and with this sweetnesse ouercome the bitternesse of death and Saint Paul before he dyed tasted of this glory being rauished in spirit into the third heauens when hee came to speake of these things hee said that these are things which is not lawfull to expresse and putting his finger in his mouth glorifyeth himselfe in his infirmities and in his approbriousnesse for the name of Christ And Dauid in the 80. Psalme asketh in this life al the contentment that a man can haue in this world in asking That God would shine vpon him with the clearenesse of his face and yet this clearenes commeth from a-farre It is but like a little Raye of the Sunne shining through a little hole into a darke plaee what will this be then when the day shall shine all out so cleare and that God will shine clearely vpon vs so neare that he will shew his face vnto vs which no man did euer see and liue as God saith to Moses Many giue money for olde Coines and the formes of the buildings of auncient times but how much would a man giue to see the persons of those times and how much more would a man giue to see Abraham Isaack Iacob Dauid the Prophets and the Apostles To see the least of them you would trauaile a thousand leagues and how much more then would you giue to see all to see them all and all free from sinne and infirmitie such as they are in the Kingdome of God And how much more then aboue all the rest to see this Iesus Christ which is declared in the word and figured by the Sacraments who hath suffered all euill for vs who descended vpon earth for to raise vs vp to heauen who took vpon him our flesh to cloathe vs with his holy spirit who made himselfe the sonne of Man to make vs the Children of God who suffered death to giue vs life who daily receiueth our prayers presenteth them to God sendeth his Angels from aboue and maketh his blessings daily fall downe vpon vs your eyes see it which is declared vnto you amongst the troubles and throngs of this world you see it in the peace which Simeon did waite for Truely we doe but lightly esteeme these things a humane spirit moueth but with one wing we haue a greater desire vnto it then capacity to vnderstand it For wee ought to be more occupied in keeping on the high way to come to this peace then in the contemplation of the excellencie thereof We shall know it one day now let vs striue onely to tend that way This thought putteth another into my minde and maketh me admire many persons who know and beleeue these things and yet are not once moued therewith who knowing the truth being in their decrepit age and in the bed of death yet notwithstanding feare to confesse God for the displeasure of men they would willingly say with Simeon Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace but the feare of men hindreth them from making their peace with God what hope they for or what feare they in this world who for an houre of life that they yet haue in this world would lose eternall life who to please men in dying would displease God after death There is certainely besides hardnesse and rebellion a blindnesse and an euident folly Some will say this peace is to be wished for I aspire to it euen with all my heart but the way to come thereto is very hard to finde out the passage to death is dolorous fearefull and Sathan lyeth in Ambush euen in the way and all the feare and feeblenesse and sorrow that is there is purposely placed to intrap a man in such extremitie it is a good thing to be dead but a grieuous thing to dye I confesse that death is very terrible in nature Men care to dye when they can deferre it no longer Many cut off Legges and Armes to saue the rest and are very glad so to liue with the one halfe of their body there are many troubled with the stone that resolue to be cut and although the combat be great yet they hope to escape but if they were assured to die they would resolue to be twenty yeares tormented Neuerthelesse he saith that death is not so terrible as they make it principally to the faithfull which are prepared for it It is not death that is so grieuous but the
one that goeth out of prison that is to say with cheerefulnesse and assurance of saluation yet neuerthelesse wee make too much lamentation for him which is wrong to Iesus Christ as if his children were with him in misery it is also a wrong to the deceased for if wee should but taste a few drops and behold but the sparkles of the glory and contentment which they receiue with God we would say our teares are iniurious and wherfore should we enuy their repose Doubtlesse if our tears could bring him againe we ought not to doe it for they would say Wherefore hast thou troubled our rest and brought our soules againe into this filthinesse and put vs againe into the combat after the victory They had rather that we would prepare our selues to goe to them and that we will thinke they are not lost but gone before vs and let our chiefe worke bee to prepare our selues to dye instead of mourning for them and turne our mourning with a holy feare into a holy care and deepe contemplation And indeed the reason why God so soone taketh from vs those we so much affect is that hee would haue a pledge of vs in taking the one halfe of our selues vnto him to the end we may so dispose of our selues that he may also haue the rest and that all our desires may runne that way in so much that there be nothing in the house nor in the chambers nor moueables nor bookes whereof the dead was owner but that it may aduertise vs to be dissolued and in good time whilest it is day-light to dispose of our Soules euer thinking to goe the same way and to follow that currant These thoughts ought to change our sorrowes and desires and turne our mindes from the memory of euils past towards the blessings to come and to change sadnesse into hope and forepast euils into aduertisements to come Yet notwithstanding I find it sometimes very fit to be sorrowfull but with such a kinde of respect as it be alike for those that are without as for those that are at home When God taketh any that was an example of vertue and that was of speciall worth in the Church we ought to say God is angry hee maketh a breach in his house this world was vnworthy of so great vertue it presageth our miserie as the death of Iosias was presently followed with the Captiuity of Babylon or like the death of S. Augustine after which presently succeeded the ruine of the citie where he was Bishop For the life of this good man stayed the iudgement of God and was a kinde of Rampart to the Church Also Elizeus althogh he were old feeble hauing nothing but a staffe to vphold his weaknesse yet neuerthelesse it serued Israel for an entire Army which is called by King Ioram The Chariot of Israel disarmed and his men of War As if he should haue saide that by his death Israel was disarmed and all the force it had quite taken away For euen as we see Swallowes remoue their yong from an olde house that is like to fall euen so the soules of the Saints flie from this earth here below before the ruine thereof This kinde of dolour is healed with feare and the euill that one feareth is cured by amendment of life and the death of the faithfull shall then greatly profit if with the sorrow we learne to forme our selues by the example of the deceased I thinke good Brethren that such thoughts as these possessed the kindred and friends of Simeon by which they were not onely comforted in his death but also instructed and edified But as for Simeon how doe you thinke he prepared himselfe to dye and with what resolution did he goe before His prayer to God sufficiently sheweth when hee saide Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace Note well what hee saith Now without asking any delay He was prepared for it long before hauing nothing else to doe in the world but to die Like a Ship at Anchor which is already rigged and trimmed attending onely the wind at last it came and that winde was the Messias Hee is not the first seruant of God nor the last that desired to die Elias before him 1 Kings 19. said to God he was sorry to see the Idolatrie of Israel It is enough O Eternall now take my soule for I am no better then my Fathers And after him Saint Paul Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ And in another place I desire to dye and to be with Christ The end wherefore Simeon desired to dye was to enter into peace He calleth death a peace or a repose as Isaiah saith The iust is dead hee shall enter in peace they repose vpon their beds whosoeuer shall haue walked before him and so the spirit of God saith in the 14. of the Apoc. Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they Now saith the spirit rest from their labours Also death is called a peaceable sleepe as in the 2. of Iohn Lazarus our friend sleepeth but I goe to awake him And Saint Stephen slept after he had said Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Daniel 12. saith That many of those that sleepe in the earth shall rise to eternall life It is the language of Heauen the stile of the heauenly Court and the saying of the word of God to call sleepe that which we call death from whence it commeth that the Church-yard where the dead are buried is called a Resting place or a sleeping place For first of all euen as we put off our cloathes before we goe to sleepe euen so our soules going to rest put off our bodies Secondly if we sleepe quietly we must put off all care and lay it vnder the Pillow euen so to dye quietly and peaceably wee must put off all care and earthly thoughts and hauing disposed of our House as God said to Ezechias for the best Will you can make leaue your Soule to God who shall not be more rich but you shall be more happy Himselfe dying left his Purse to Iudas his Body to the earth but left his Soule to his Father for of that was his onely care Also euen as those that are sober and liue orderly sleepe with quietnesse but disordered people and Drunkards rest with terrour and griefe euen so shall they dye peaceably and religiously who haue so liued but those that haue liued disorderly and like Swine are in danger to dye wofully and lamentably And euen as the King Assuerus when he could not sleepe called for his Chronicle that after the reading thereof he might take rest so ought the faithfull during their liues exercise themselues in the reading of the holy Scripture which is the History and the lawes of the hand of their Father and to sleepe thereupon in a peaceable and sweet death And as in sleepe the body is vnmoueable but the soule moueth and exerciseth so whilst the Body remaineth in death
also why Simeon after he desired to dye and called death a peace and a repose commeth to the cause of this assurance that is to say to Iesus Christ whom he calleth the saluation of God let saith he goe thy seruant in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation that is to say the sauing health which thou offerest vnto vs and the onely meanes which thou hast ordained to saue vs. For it is he which is our Iesus because hee saueth the people from their sinnes It is he that God hath ordained for a propitiation by the blood of the Grosse and there is no other name vnder Heauen by which we can possibly be saued He is the Prince of life because we draw from him as from the fountaine of life euen as the foure first dayes of the Creation all was wholly light of it selfe but the fourth day God created the Sunne whereto he confined and placed all that that he had of light in the world that it might afterwards flow from the Sunne euen so all life is inclosed in Iesus Christ to the end that going to him wee may draw out of his fulnesse And euen as the Virgine vestals of the Pagans from whence proceedeth the Nunnes of these times had a continuall fire which if it happened by any mischance to goe out they might not giue it light againe but only from the Sun so our Naturall clearenesse and our life being extinguished by the sinne of Adam we cannot kindle againe but at the Sunne of Iustice which is our Lord Iesus Christ to whom belongeth that which is said in the 36. Psalme The Fountaine of life lyeth in thee and by thy clearenesse we see clearely It is saluation which is propounded in this Table which is Iesus Christ now offered vnto you Simeon embraced him in his armes but you imbrace him by faith Simeon saluted his birth in his infirmity but you adore and contemplate him in his glory Simeon came to dye besides his Cradle but you are made aliue by his kingdome Come neere vnto him with repentance receiue this meate with faith digest it with carefull meditation of the excellency of saluation make this saluation fruitfull and of sweet odour by your good works that dogs and swine come not neere to eate vp childrens bread prophane this holy Table I call them swine that wallow in the mire of their filthy pleasures who serue their belly more then God who liue of Gods gifts and looke not from whence they come like swine that eat Acornes and neuer looke vp to the Trees I call them swine likewise who do no good to any till they be dead who giue nothing whilest they are aliue and liue basely to dye Rich. I call those dogges which are iniurious in words who murmure against all men who byte the renowne of their neighbour who barke against God blasphemously and would wrong them that reproue and instruct them who after a little leauing of their vices returne to their vomitting againe With this company I ranke those that are negligent in participating of the holy Supper as an impertinent thing and loue not to declare the death of the Lord contemning the happy helpes which God hath ordained to strengthen faith Such people make their owne Inditements and in abstaining from the Lords Table acknowledge themselues vnworthy to be of his Houshold they will not receiue the body of the Lord and the Lord will not receiue their soules they contemne his Table and they shall not enter into his Kingdome As much or more are they to be blamed that know themselues stained with these things and yet not touched with repentance come without a holy purpose to doe better hereafter to take the Sacrament which is life and saluation to the faithfull but poyson and death to the vnbeleeuer and impenitent Doe you come to receiue the Sacrament of the Lord with prophane hearts Come you to take with hands full of Vsury and rapine the Body of the Lord Come you with riots and quarrels to receiue the assurance of your peace with God or with pride to declare the death of the Lord which is the miracle of Humiliation or to please men with curious apparell where onely your innocency ought to appeare before God But for you that are broken-hearted and displeased in your selues this Table is prepared Doe not say I am too great a sinner to come neere it for that is the cause wherefore thou oughtest to come neere for the more one is sicke so much more need is there of the Physition Iesus Christ is not come to saue the Iust but to call sinners to repentance onely be displeased with your selues to haue offended God and desire to amend and to doe better and aske helpe at Gods hands to assist you to this Combat He is sufficiently acceptable to God who is displeased with himselfe He is of the most perfect who acknowledging himselfe Imperfect seeketh his perfection in Iesus Christ whose righteousnesse is imputed vnto vs. The faithfull will haue fallings and weaknesses but he will alwayes returne againe Hee will reioyce in trembling Psalme 2. He will gather on in his way in stumbling He will say I beleeue but helpe my vnbeliefe This Sacament is a meanes to sustaine this feeblenesse a restoratiue for spirituall failings a succour to a combatted faith to the end that you representing this saluation and this grace you say I am lost and miserable and haue merited death but behold God calleth me and offereth me his grace and Redemption hee is no mocker and his vocation cannot be frustrated yet neuerthelesse I goe bathed with the teares of a holy sorrow powring at his feet this precious liquour of repentance and I doe assure my selfe hee will haue mercy vpon mee because he hath so promised I trust in his promises amidst my afflictions and for all my sinnes I feare not but to find a full Consolation And so I goe on my way saying with Simeon Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seen thy saluation FINIS A HEAVENLY ALARVM OR THE HOLY SPIrituall Awakening By Mounsieur du MOOLIN Minister of PARIS at CHARRENTON LONDON Printed by Iohn Hauiland for THOMAS PAVIER 1622. THE HOLY SPIRITVALL Awakening IT is too much still to goe on and grow old in vanitie let not the foolish affections of our carnall desires transport vs any further we loue the things here below but too well let vs estrange our selues from them and addresse our selues to heauen without frustrating it of that that belongeth vnto it the example of Creatures without reason euen without sense leadeth vs vnto this reason we see the water come out of the water returning againe to the water the earth drawne from the earth seeketh for the earth and so consequently euery thing tendeth to his place but wee which are borne for heauen flie from it The eternall Beatitude and the knowledge thereof is our beatitude which we possesse alreadie by the assurance
of our vnion with Iesus Christ in whose death wee haue beene baptised to participate at the Resurrection and to be at Gods appointed time coheirs of the heauenly inheritance should not this make vs lift vp our selues on high and entirely vnloose our affections from the earth But alas we must confesse that this knowledge is almost wholly vnknowne to vs for our conuersation is little otherwise than theirs that neuer knew God walking without all feare of the Lord and often doing those things which ought not euen to be so much as thought of or named amongst vs for wee liue after the common example euen of the most vngodly wickedly professing that man is not borne but for his flesh and to glut himselfe with his irregular desires and passions O maruellous brutalitie Rom. 6.3 Coloss 3.1 Where shall this knowledge bee Where is the vnderstanding and waiting for heauenly ioy for this Vnion doth no kinde of way exercise the functions should wee not walke in feare and trembling all the daies of our life to mortifie the old Man and our corrupt Nature Otherwise where will the fruit of our Baptisme appeare And where the efficacie of the passions and sufferings of Iesus Christ And if wee be depriued of these things remaine wee not in death euen in eternall death Rom. 2.4 Wherefore let vs begin to be astonished let vs now be afraid seeing the anger of God doth threaten vs if wee still desist his patience inuiteth vs to repentance doe not vnderualue the riches of his mercie euen to this present day he hath supported vs shall wee not say the mercy of God is great he will haue pity of the multitude of our sinnes although we haue added sinne to sinne let vs not still deferre our conuersion till to morrow for Mercy and Anger both come from the Lord and his day will come when we thinke not of it no man knoweth the houre let vs remember that that is vnderstood of the euill seruant in the Parable Matth. 24.48 who saying in his heart My Master will be long in comming and therefore I will leade a wicked life but when the vnlooked for day doth come that hee shall be surprised by his Master he shall be cast away where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Let vs feare let vs feare to be so surprized let vs watch to doe good and sleepe no longer in our sinnes O little better than Atheists infamous monsters who say let vs sinne that God may pardon vs for what else serueth his mercy Is he not come to saue sinners Alas how you deceiue your selues And also those who glut their beastly appetites and feede their odious and detestable desires who profaning likewise the mercy of God promise rest to themselues after they haue spent all their life in such wicked wayes with saying a Peccaui at their death wherein they heape vp as much euill in hoping for happinesse after such a sort as the most wicked can possibly doe wherein they make it to be in mans power to haue repentance and to aske and obtaine pardon at euery moment when he pleaseth and no speciall gift and singular Grace of God As Ieremie manifesteth vnto vs Ierem. 31.18 when hee saith Conuert me and I shall be conuerted for thou art my Lord my God truly after I haue beene conuerted I repented To the end that it shall appeare how grace commeth from God alone euen out of his owne free will the holy Ghost saith Act. 11.18 God hath giuen repentance to the Gentiles that they might liue which is also clearely shewed by Saint Paul charging Timothie 2.25 to teach those of contrarie vnderstanding To see if in any time God will giue them repentance for to know the truth and that they may awake and come out of the snare of the Deuill Isaiah 1.15 as in this wee now vnderstand That man sometimes crieth to the Lord for nothing and afterwards getteth no answer Psal 18.41 Consider then to whom when and how is mercy done And in this behalfe let vs all acknowledge that we haue not to morrow to repent in let vs no longer grow old in our iniquitie for feare as the Wise-man saith Wisd 12.10 That wickednesse hauing taken root in vs our heart will neuer change Euen as the tree that hath beene planted of old cannot easily be vnrooted hauing alwaies remembrance of this threatning Apoc. 3.3 If thou dost not watch I will come against thee like a theefe and thou shalt not know what houre But why should we not be wise by so many examples which daily we see that the strongest man euen he that in all his affaires builds farthest from the Tombe and that thinketh nothing lesse than of the tribute which hee oweth vnto death and then at the same instant hee miscaries And therefore no man knoweth the houre nor how hee shall bee taken from this vile earth Euery moment night and day shew vs there are a thousand and a thousand waies in the hand of God to cut when he pleaseth the Threed of life euen of the most Robust Which was well expressed by a graue Author saying In what Act or Place or Time soeuer a man is he is couered with death Pause a little O thou Temporiser that still deferrest thy amendment to another time let not this present time passe without thinking of it and this shall be thy entrance in making profit of the aduertisement which Iesus Christ giueth Mat. 24.42 That we ought to keepe our selues alwaies ready to watch for feare to be surprised not knowing the houre of our departing Let vs not make our selues deafe if we lend our hearing sometimes to an Instrument which recreateth vs shall wee stop it when wee should vnderstand wholesome counsell No no this is spoken for our good Prou. 1. I haue called and you haue refused I haue stretched out my hand and you haue not vnderstood you haue contemned all my counsell and would not be corrected therefore I wil laugh at your perdition and will mock at your feare when it shall come vpon you when torment and anguish shal come vpon you you will call vpon me but I will not answer because you haue hated knowledge and haue not chosen the feare of God you would not hearken to my counsell but despised my correction wherefore you eat the fruit of your owne waies and shal be glutted therewith for the fooles shall be slaine with ease and fooles shall be ruined by their prosperity O peruerse people remember how I dealt with Sodome and Gomorrah Esdras 2.8 euen so I will doe with them that will not heare me saith the Eternall Let vs be better aduised Psal 95.7 8. Prou. 19.20 Let vs heare the voice of God let vs not harden our hearts but heare counsell and receiue instruction that we may be more wise And making profit by these admonitions let vs not put off from one day to another euen euery one to say I haue sinned and let vs