our soules doth poast It is ordayned and decree'd that all men by necessitie Through that first Adams sinfull deede are subiect made the death to die To dye for sinne t' is due for sinne to dye in sinne a heauy case To dye to sinne is to beginne to leaue to sinne and liue to grace The death in sinne without repenting in affect effect and aspecting In thinking doing and frequenting and offred grace of God reiecting I wretched wofull execrable haue plague of God by sinne for sinne Of miseries most miserable to them that liue and die therein But he that dies before he dies when he is dead he is not dead But oldeage dies and he shall rise with glory from the graue his bed And he that 's toucht with conscience pricke whose sence of sin is sharpe quicke That man is sicke ere he is sicke and when he 's sicke he is not sicke I looke poore wretch on mine estate and others monish by mine harmes That was neere death but now of late by sinne inchaunted by her charmes Had I not dyed sure I had di'de oh happie Phenix liuing death Still let my flesh be mortified let my sp'rit breath by thy spirits breath Sweete Iesu thou didst die for me and in thy death with thee I di'de Oh liue in me and J in thee shall liue and euermore abide And wormes meate thou durt clay slime thy body kill thy soule to saue Quaile vild affections whil'st hast time that life by death through grace mai'st haue Shake hands with sinnes all offences and learne to dye before thou dye When bid'st adue vnto thy sences then shalt thou liue eternally The Cause of death THe cause of death is wicked sinne for out of sin our death did flowe From thence our plagues did all begin cut of this tree our ills did grow Hunger fire death and all created were for punishment And laid on man for Adams fall and was the cause of our torment God said to Adam Scripture saith what houre soeuer thou shalt eate Thou shalt be sure to die the death god made not death but death did threat Through enuy malice of the diuell into the world came this estate Sinnes entred with all actions euill by Adams fault not by our fate Two sortes of death frō death by sin proceed as effects from their cause The death of Nature doth begin death of grace next by Gods lawes ¶ Death of two sorts BY which we are made slaues for euer in darknes called death eternall From worme of conscience freed neuer depriu'd of all the ioyes supernall As by example euident two sorts of death approued well The Glutton rich being dead was sent his body buried quicke in hell And Lazarus poore beggar dead to Abrahams bosome caried is With Angells wings with glory spread where is true ioye and comforts blisse The one hath heauen the other hell the one hath blisse the other bale The one in heauen still must d well and th' other Diuells pull and hale He died with his conscience euill in death he saw his wickednes And his dampnations with the diuell as holy Scriptures doe expresse To the elect and faithful THis is the consolation great of the that in their death-beds lie Their mindes fly vp to th mercy seate and there for mercy loudly cry By Christ which death abollished and sinne that 's clensed by his bloud Whose merits pardon purchased for all our sinnes and death withstood To vs his goodnes is imputed to him the sinnes that we committed And we for righteous are reputed and all our sinnes they are remitted For he alone by death hath bought vs from power and paine of deuill hell merly he through loue hath brought vs with him in heauen to raigne d well That no afflictions giue vs griefe that Sathan should vs not destroy And giu'th to vs eternall life and filth our hearts with heauenly ioy He made vs free-men heires to God which captiue bondslaues were to hell Beate Sathan downe with iron Rod to place where dampned diuels dwell Eternall death could not preuaile gain'st him nor ouer him haue power christ strēgthned those whō sin did quaile his might the mighty did deuoure O're death o're sinne hidious hell he gaue vs life and victory T'all those that keepe his precepts well and them installes in endles glory For as by Adam all men dy'd for sinne and by iniquity In Christ shall all men be reuiu'd to liue with him eternally FINI Si ⧠Although the body die yet they shall liue THe Godly and iust people haue most cōfort though with paine griefe They suffer death lie in graue and seeme for saken sanz reliefe They are as sheep which men ordaine to death and slaughter to be put As silly guiltles Lambes are slaine when Butchers knife their throates doe cut For we which liue shall giuen bee to death for Iesus Christ his sake If they doe not dispaire in thee noe feare of death can cause thē quake But rest assured they shall passe through death to life eternally Who aske for mercy and for grace and vnto God for faith doe cry They suffer both his hand and Rod and when he strikes are patient They put their hope and trust in God who comforts thē with hearts content Their death is good of great price they also know through Christ his passiō Death 's ouer come in wond'rous wise and soe receaue they consolation If any touch't in latest paines of dierfull death this faith hould fast In mid'st of death his life attaines and shall haue lasting life at last The Christians surely doe belieue that whē they seeme to be most dead That then they most of all doe liue and soe with ioy lift vp their head FINIS The death of the Godly is a sleepe CHrist calls the death of godly men a sleep his owne a death why The Souldiers speare was made a Pen his bloud the Inke to write thereby Quietus est for Christians all and then the same to vs was sealed A sleepe he iustly may it call cause by his stripes our wounds were healed His was a death cause death was due in him died all he di'd for all Gods Iustice vs to death doth sue he pay'd it and repair'd the fall that we moight sleep he suffer'd pains that we mought laugh he oft did weepe His was the losse ours was the gaines thus did he change Death to a sleepe FINIS To whom they that die ought to commit their Spirit TO Christ did Stephen yeald vp his spirit for hee 's the way the truth life He purchast life by death and merrit the husbandes he the Church his wife He is that Noah his Church the doue that houldes his hand for to receaue vs He bids vs come to imbrace his loue we fly to him when all deceaue vs. The heauens earth the Lord commaundes to him all Creatures runne but wee None can vs take out of his
can vnderstand thy wisdome great Nor euery one that cri'th Lord Lord shall enter into heauens gate Who is not ledd by better line then doth proceed from flesh bloud Er's from the truth and doth decline from right to wrong to ill from good Whose end is death though for a time seemes sweet to please the outward man That 's nothing else but durt and slime or like a puffe in length a spanne As honor riches frends and health preferment life and worlds delight Esteeming these true happie wealth but the true blisse is out of sight They thinke that sicknes pouertie imprisonment and enymies fell And worldlie crosses veryly are gates and entrance into hell Soe foolish and so ignorant are those thou guyd'st not in thy way Mong'st whom euen I through wisdomes haue bin misled vntill this day But hauing found the truth by tryall want that earthly ioyes are transitory When they me tempt I make deniall and only seeke th' eternall glory Now I disclaime all confidence in Honor health in wealth or feature In wit or worldly sapience or yet in any earthly creature And Lord I heere doe dedicate all thou hast giu'n me to thine honor My selfe I wholie consecrate to march and fight vnder thy banner And now I bid these ioyes adew that only please my flesh and sences Because they all are most vntrue and still doe cause so great offences Because their glorious bountie fades and leaue nought but deformities Because they are nought else but shades and bring forth grose innormities Because they are most false and fickle because they are indeed hells fewell Because their rose hath many a prickle because their slauery is most cruell Because they are not firme and stable because they are profane not holie Because they are but as a fable because they are but sottish folly Because my soule they call and kill because they giue me Iudas kisse Because my good they spot and spill draw me from mine heauenly wish because lik swords they woūd my soul because like serpents they do sting me Because my conscience doth controule saith to hell gates they will bring me Because they doe beset my sences because they dull my spirits quicknes Because they cause so great expences because they cause my sad soules sicknes Bcause all vertue hindred is by this vild worlds accused pleasure Because t' will mee bereaue of blisse and of that blessed heauenly treasure And therefore earth world farewell adue fond fancies flattering fauoures Your ioyes are toyes your heauen is hell I hate your poysoned tast and sauours And thou that art life of my life soule of my soule O Iesus Christ Poynt downe the period of worlds strife thou art that prophet Prince Priest That went'st vp to prepare that place aboue Sonne Moone planets seauen Oh saue me by thy sauing grace and bring me to that highest heauen Where are such ioyes caelestiall as cannot be expreste by penne Bring me from things terrestriall to raigne with thee for aye Amen A heauenly hymne touching the Natiuitie of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. COme let vs sing to God with praise our Prophet Prince Priest alwaies And to the sacred holy spirit and c. Oh let vs laude the Trinitie With heart and voyce them magnifie For Christ who made vs life inherit c. Giue thankes to God with ioy mirth For his sweete sonne our Sauiours birth Of all mankind the comfort true He is the guiltles lambe alas Whose death passion brought to passe Faith hope and blisse with spirit anew Lift vp your heart with ioy abound With solace sing sweete Musicks sound In honor of Gods holy name Who Christ his Sonne the lambe did make By death mans sinnes away to take All nations sing his worthy fame He is the seede was promised To bruse and crush the serpents head Which caus'd all men for sinne to die He is the mediate to appease Gods wrath by death to giue vs ease Praise him praise him continually Finis ¶ A prayer in extreame sicknes THou God of might hast chastned me and mee corrected with thy rod Wounded my soule with misery and humbled me to know my God And soe made soft my stony brest Thy Arrowes sticke most fast in me My heart doth pant my ioynts opprest my flesh me paineth wofully My bodies members mee deceaue I languish still my strength 's decayd I am soe weake of power bereau'd I cannot stand but must be stayde Thy hand O God doth presse me sore my sicknes soe extreamely growes That I am euen at deathes dore thou do'st it Lord. my heart it knowes That I am vexed thus with payne it is for sinne and mine offence For my misdeeds and trespasse plaine the cause of wrathfull recompence Ease me O God and sucker me send comfort lay no more on me Then I can beare O suffer me to draw my breath and looke on me O Lord consider my weaknes beare with my great infirmitie Helpe me oh Lord cure my sicknes that I may giue all praise to thee Incline thine eares vnto my mones harke to the voice of my complaint Let both my crying and my grones come to thy throane oh I am faint I make my plaint to thee alone for thee alone I haue displeas'd To thee alone I make my mone may 't please thee that I may be eas'd I know not how for to appease thy high displeasure that 's gain'st me I am afraide to aske for ease or looke on thee that pain'st me I am neare drown'd with deep dispaire when I in minde doe well perpend How I did sinne sans feare or care without regard of my last end Lord I haue sind and thou hast said that at what time I doe repent My debts sor sinnes shall all be paide thy gratious pardon shall be sent On this thy promise Lord I build vpon thy goodnes I relie Mine heart doth to repentance yeelde graunt pardon Lord or else I die Though I haue often heinously offended and thy patience prou'd By sinning often grieuously yet thou with pittie hast been mou'd Art slow to strike yet strong to suffer thine hands are yron thy feete of leade Thou art more readie grace to offer then we to aske our dayly bread O now for pittie ease my paine for Iesus sake my Lord thy Sonne Restore to me my health againe if not Lord let thy will be done But graunt me strength to beare thy yoake and patience Lord vnto me lend That I may bide thine heauie stroake then send Lord whatthou wilt send Thy punishments are pursiuants that thou of faithfull loue dost send To all thy true and iust seruants to warne them of their latter end Thy rod and staffe doth comfort me and me vphold t'wixt hope and feare Thou gain'st presumption chastnest me and th' other keepe me from
death were brought and them deliuered out of bands Great was thy fauour Lord to all them that tooke hould of thee by faith But what am I that am so small a worme no man as Dauid saith Yet I belieue helpe vnbeliefe Lord I am couered ouer with shame Be thou my glory ease my griefe that I may magnifie thy name The wicked worldlings me contempne because thou hid'st thy face from me Deriding grace and me condempne because of imbicillity My neighbours that should me assist disdaine me my familiars all That should me comfort do desist their helpe to raise me from my fall They say of me my hopes are vaine my kinsfolkes who should yeeld me ayde In my necessities refraine to come to mee they are afraid And tauntingly they scoffe and say deseruedly he thus doth suffer Is iust he wrought his owne decay none other kindenes they me offer I know t' is thou that sitt'st on high do'st send and suffer maladies And therefore I on thee rely to remedy my miseries My woes O Lord by such increase as should in friendly wise relieue me They that should seek to make my peace they are the men that most do grieue me But I that taste the cuppe will say t' is thou hast don 't and I will beare it When t' is thy will who can say nay t' is out of loue why should I feare it Releiue my soule with timely dewe and comfort me restore Restore my soule vnto those ioyes the which I felt too sore Now after stormes Lord send a calme and graunt me peace yet now at last And I will praise thee with a psalme with thankes for all thy fauour past I 'le magnifie thy name for aye that bring'st such wondrous things to passe That worldlings neither thinke nor say nor know why t' is or how it was The iust shall heare saints be glad when wicked men shall faint quaile To see what fauour I haue had all their hope doth quench quaile whō they so lōg haue scornd deem'd euen through afflictions cast away For thy name sake Lord mee esteem'd their night is past they haue their day Respect my meditation helpe mee in time conuenient Lord graunt my supplication thou know'st tri'st my hearts intent Let not the righteous be dismaide nor wicked triumph in my fall Nor yet let sinners be afraid in time of neede to thee to call And let me put my confidence direct my faith erect mine hope Vnto thy gratious prouidence this of my praiers is the scoape FINIS ⧠The fourth Lamentation in distresse ¶ Wherein the distressed prayeth for faith for zeale and strength in vndergoing Gods corrections and to be deliuered from dangers prepared against him O Lord I lift my heart to thee my soule in thee doth euer trust O let mee not confounded bee but make me righteous with the iust Let men not haue their wills gain'st me but powre on mee thy comfort sweete Thy sauing health Lord let me see who prostrate begg it at thy feete Let thy right hand and prouidence be stretched out to hould me vp And giue me grace and patience in lowlines to tast thy cuppe So shall I sit on surest rocke and strength and power to me get And ablely beare mine enimies stroke though round about they me beset For why my comfort is in thee and on thy prouidence I depend O keepe mee safe in libertie till all my troubles come to end From perills six hast me deliuered I know therefore thou wilt from seauen From earthly thoughts let me be seuer'd and conuersation haue in heauen I know that loue a multitude of shamefull sinnes doth closely couer Within the gates I me include thou art my soules true spouse louer The faithfull thereby may take hold of hope to haue a prosperous end Of their desires this makes me bolde for ayde and comfort to attend And with all patience to perseuer I know thy word it is most sure Poore penitent by faith I 'le euer stand firme and to the end indure Alas deere God I nothing craue to haue of thee by mine owne right But in Christs name I 'le aske and haue for hee 's most gratious in thy sight Yea for his merrits thou do'st loue me in him I know thou art well pleas'd And hearest sinners whē they moue thee forgiu'st their sin and they are eas'd Among'st whom Lord I am the chiefe and of good things am Ignorant Yet on the crosse did'st saue the theefe for Christ his sake me mercy graunt In this worlds vanities most vilde I liue and haue no taste of trueth I knew not I was in exile but did in folly spend my youth Of thee alone I knowledge haue for of my selfe I am but weake Thou art my God that strength me gaue to worke to rest to liue to speake For of my selfe is misery and of my selfe is all that 's ill But from thee Lord comes all mercy and perfect power to worke thy will With in to consolation of my sadde soule wounded heart With out to preseruation o◠my weake body in each part Therefore teach me the truth oh Lord thy sacred truth shew mee thy waies That I should walke led by thy word to thy glory spend my daies Lord keep frō wicked thoughts mine heart mine hands that they commit noe ill Mine eies my tongue and euery part Lord grant they may performe thy will My feete from falling still preserue as of my selfe regard me not Deale not with me as I deserue as are my sinnes reward me not Behould not my deformities but looke on me in Christ by loue My sinnes and all enormities as mists and cloudes from me remoue Thou righteous art and gratious reformest sinners sinnes forgiu'st O be to me propitious to liue in thee that euer liu'st Keep thou my soule let me not perish nor vtterly to be confounded That trust in thee but my soule cherrish ioy mine hart which thou hast wounded Thou art my strength sure defence in time of dangers imminent Though all helpe faile experience hath taught me thou art permanent I goe vnto thine Oracle and from thy word I councell take And finde a wondrous miracle thou neuer do'st thine owne forsake Thy seruants that in thee do trust thy tabernacle shall them shield In secret thou do'st hide the iust that are not with foule sinne defilde Harken O Lord harken and heare vnto my voice that call and cry O let thy loue to'wards me appeare with streames and floods of thy mercy Thou sayest O Lord seeke yee my face what is it but in my distresse To cry for helpe and craue thy grace and ayde in time of heauines My soule by the pure priueledge of thy free spirit which teacheth truth My heart prepared with knowledge and faith and hope vnto thee sueth My tongue doth speake mine heart doth mutter and euery member in his place Doth
handes in life and death to him we flee FINIS ¶ The bodie is buried but shall be raised vp againe at the last day PIllor of faith Basis of blisse of true religion sure supporter The pointe of Resurrection is in death it is the chiefe comforter If this doe fall all faith may faile what article doth vs refresh When life and health and strength doth quaile the Resurrection of the flesh Our bones shall blossom as the grasse we shall be raised out of dust The bodie that before time was by power of Christ's spirit rise it must The first fruit's Christ the head is rais'd the members shall the same likewise The Lord God for the same be prais'd we know that we shall also rise If head aboue the water bee how can the body then be drowned We shall arise and Iesus see and with him shall be kingly crowned FINIS ⧠In the pangs of death and in all tribulations the remedies be to be learned in the sufferings of Christ. OF life and death the true director who in his life and his dying Of our misdoing is corrector and into all our actions prying Christ is afflicted for our sake left vs example that we should Follow his stepps and his way take thy Crosse to beare with courage bould Our Sauiour Iesus teacheth thee how can that be say'st thou behold Example if thou punisht bee with sicknes hunger thirst colde With thy selfe reccon and accompt how it cannot compared be with his thornes yea his nailes surmount the greatest payne that paineth thee Art thou restrain'd of thy desire lusts that draw thou know'st not whether Thinke on Christs crosse Gods wrath ire put his tortures all together If prid puffe vp thy mind with motiōs looke on Christ nailed on the Crosse And thinke as bound by due deuotions of our great gaine by his great losse If thou in filthie lust dost burne or any other ill desire Thinke but how Christ his flesh was torne to saue thy soule frō flames of fire With stripes thrust through and all to brokē his drinke was Ezell mixt with Gaule With his last gaspe the earth was shoken who suffered for the sinnes of all If enuy hate reuenge thee grieue thinke with thy selfe how Christ did pray O Father doe them all forgiue for them that tooke his life away FINIS An exhortation to forgiue one an other before we depart out of this world GOd vs commaunded to forgiue saith then we shall be forgiuen Without offence noe man can liue and God his ballance hangeth even He that doth not forgiue his brother will then the Lord his faults remit Noe as he dealeth with another another shall repaire t' is fit And when you kneele to God pray forgiue if you haue any thing Gainst any liuing man that day that Christ may your remission bring And when thy guift thou dost present and on the Aulter sacrifice First with thy brother make consent and him forgiue in any wise When thou to Christ wast enemie and strengthned in great extreames Yet then did he giue remedie and or'e thee spred his mercie beames He gaue to thee his holy spirit to guide and leade thy soule aright And gaue thee heauen there to inherit all ioyes and blisse lay in his sight When thou from him wa' st gon astray he sought thee out did thee finde And finding thee brought thee away vnto his fould he thee resignde Thanke God therefore render praise exalt and laude his holy name Vnto the heauens sing alwaies all men on earth doe ye the same Hence forth my soule walke in his path and erre not from him any more Lesse thou prouoke his heauie wrath and then art worse then wer't before Let not Gods spirit be giuen thee to worke thy condempnation But let thy eye remembred bee for thy soules preseruation Shun thou all wicked company with dooers ill associate not Least thou from faith should'st fall fly and soule body soile and spot But blesse his name who called thee vnto the state of righteousnes And thy sinnes vengance tane hath hee to giue thee heauens happines Blesse thou his blessed holynes his praise let minde heart record And let thy tongue and voyce confesse the gratiousnes of God the Lord. Prostrate thy selfe downe at his feete offer thy seruice with free heart O yeeld God all for t' is most meete since he made sau'd blest each part Who spared not his only Sonne but let him die thy soule to saue To pay and ransome thy faults done and to redeeme thee from the graue So in the prayer of our Lord we doe forgiue that 's done gainst vs As God forgiuenes shall afford our Sauiour Christ doth teach vs thus That is that we forgiue them must who did vs harme in any thinge In thought in word in deede vniust or ought to thine indamaging FINIS ¶ Diuers consolations that the life and time of affliction is short THe cōfort that doth make vs bould is our afflictions transitory Cause wee of Christ doe take sure hould the troubles short endlesse the glory Eye hath not seen eare hath not heard the ioyes that God for his elect In heauen already hath prepar'd through many troubles to effect Light are our troubles temporarie because Christ and his spirit deuine This weight and burthen helpe to carry and strongly vs to them combine We looke not on things seene vaine but on things vnseene cast our eye The soules of Saints for Christ was slaine Christ answeared when they did cry How long a time that they must stay a little while though he doth lower His stay till wrath be ouer past t' is but a minute of an howre Christ calls the time of troubles little but Paule doth say the glories great As in respect of th' earth a little so griefes compar'd to Heauens seate A while saith God I thee forsooke that is short time in misery But there th' eternall mercy tooke that is to heauen felicity FINIS ⧠A consolation for them which suffer for their offences IF men you buffit for ill deedes what praise mongst mē get you therby Corrections from your faults proceedes and therefore take it patiently See none do suffer as an Actor of ill as busie bodies theeues Nor as a wicked male factor for that barrs pitty from your grieues But if please God we suffer must for wicked deedes were done by vs Deseruing punishment most iust may holy be by suffering thus And vnto God t' is no lesse pleasing then suffering of the Innocents God can and will helpe our diseasing we are but as his patients If euill men their faults confesse and noe good course of life omit Belieue in Christ and faith expresse then surely he 'l their faults remit And their deserued punishment and crosses all he 'l lenifie And giue a crowne magnificent to purenesse them he 'l sanctifie The theefe who died for heineous crime hang on the Crosse