ones for so saith the Redeemer Take eat this is my body Matth. 26.16 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 Cor. 11.24 which is giuen for you to the remission of sins and againe Take and eat all hereof this cup is the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you Meditation of the Soule for the receiuing of the Communion Now heare my Soule what delicates the Lord thy Sauiour presenteth before thee in this his table truely not bare and naked bread and wine but his body and bloud for the bread which wee breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ and the cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 therefore beleeue I and know that my Lord Iesus Christ both God and Man according to his institution is present to my Soule giues his body and bloud to bee eaten and drunke spiritually by a true and liuely faith wrought in me by his holy spirit and applying the merits and benefits of his death vnto mee the manner and way being best knowen vnto himselfe yea Lord Iesus thou thy selfe art here my host and I thy guest heere come I poore creature out of the wicked wildernes of this world fraught with trouble and misery and bring with mee an hungry thirsty and languishing yet a faithfull heart reuiue me my Lord Iesus by this thy table and strengthen mee by this nourishment that I may bee satiate and safe Approach heereunto my Soule to strengthen thy faith and quicken thy heart Ioh. 20.27 and bee not longer faithlesse but faithfull beâ—hold the Lord thy Redeemer assureth thee as with a true token and pawne that thou of meere grace and mercy art appoynted heire of all his blessings and hee imputes vnto thee whatsoeuer he hath procured by the sacrifice of his body and bloud to wit the forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes Rom. 4.8 that righteousnesse which is accepted before God and eternall life all these shall aâ— certainely be thine as if thou in thine own person hadst hung vpon the crosse and there merited them yea and he witnesseth heereby that thou for his sake art counted before God as righteous holy and as beloued as Christ himselfe is and moreouer by the same Sacrament through the holy Spirit he giueth himself vnto thee Reu. 3.20 to dwell with thee and sup with thee neuer to depart froÌ„ thee but worke a new life ioy light yea Lord Iesus so am I in thee Ioh. 17.23 Eph. 5.30 and thou in mee and I will sticke vnto thee my Redeemer as a liuing member to a liuing body as a bride vnto her bridegroome for I am a member of thy body Ioh. 15.4 of thy blood and bones yea I am in thee as the branch is in the vine and as a bough receiueth continuall sap vertue from the trees roote so doe I draw comfort life and quickening from thee and so by a true faith both in soule and body abide in thee and thou in mee by thy holy spirit that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor nor things present nor things to come nor hight nor depth nor any other creature can separate me from thy loue A prayer when thou hast receiued the Communion Praised bee thou O God my Sauiour for thy fatherly care ouer me for preparing this heauenly banquet for me whereby I may quench the appetite of my hungry soule and mittigate the thirst of my heart so that now by this meanes I depart emboldened and established in grace and faith will follow thee my Redeemer with courage Heb. 13.9 will abide constantly with thee and remayne in perseuerance with thee through thy spirit vnto the last gaspe Amen Meditation of receiuing the holie Communion Thou hast said Doe this in my remembrance O my God how holie is the memorie of that how inwardly am I comforted therewith for by this sacrament I call to minde many other Festiual daies and times for in thy Table I remember thy Natiuitie for it testifieth vnto mee that thou in verie deed hast taken my human nature vpon thee and art farre neerer joyned vnto mee than vnto the Angells for thou in no sort tookedst vpon thee the Angells nature but thou tookest the seed of Abraham it likewise represeÌ„teth vnto mee that thou art the true Sacrifice for sinnes and therefore doe I eate the right Pasouer 1. Cor. 5.7 euen Christ which is sacrificed for mee as also I beleeue and trust seeing I am thy member and that thou art risen from the dead and liuest so shall I also so that thou wilt not leaue my Soule in Graue neyther shall death haue power ouer mee but I shall rise and sing vnto the Lord in the land of the liuing and possesse that place where thou my head Iesus Christ liuest world without end And all these things are engrafted and sealed in mee by thy holie Spirit of Promise 1. Eph. 13.14 which is the earnest of my Inheritance for the redemption of that libertie purchased vnto the prayse of his glorie whereby also peace and joy is kindled in my hart for I receiue the spirit of adoption whereby I crie Abba Father the same Spirit bearing witnesse to my Spirit Rom. 8.15 16. that I am the Sonne of God And not onely that but I participate the whole Trenitie the Father Sonne and Holie-Spirit who come vnto mee Ioh. 14.23 and dwell with mee so life euerlasting shall be bestowed vpon mee after this transitorie where I shall continually behold my Lord my God face to face and finally I haue here an vnion and fellowshippe with all the Saints for as hee sayd He that eateth my flesh Ioh. 6.56 and drinketh my bloud abideth in mee and I in him so hath hee sayde also that they all may bee one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs for we that are many are one bread and one bodie because wee are all partakers of one bread how joyfull am I of this heauenlie companie how glad am I of thy Saints to whose number thou hast adopted mee for the which I giue thee thankes honour and prayse for euermore Besides this it is written as oft as you eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup ye declare the Lords death vntill his comming againe wherein deare Soule I am rauished to the contemplation of the Third-heauen with Paule whereof this thy last Supper is as it were an entry and beginning for in thy Fathers Kingdome I shall sit downe with Abraham Isaack and Iacob and there feed vpon Thee the Bread of Life eternally and therefore sigh I from the bottome of my heart saying euen so Come Lord Iesus come quickly my Redeemer and tarrie not and therefore I am taught to powre out hartie thanksgiuings for all thy blessings wherewith thou hast blessed mee in heauenly things in
tossed with the troublesome waues of this life p. 230 A prayer for health and Gods blessing on our labours p. 232 4 What may moue a man willingly to dye p. 234 A prayer for obedience vnto the will of God and willingly denie himselfe p. 237 5 How a man shall keepe his heart constant against the pleasant course of this World p. 239 A prayer to be kept in the way of life p. 242 6 By what meanes a man may comfort himselfe when hâ—e shaâ—â— leauâ— Wife Children Friends c. in miserie pouertie and distresse p. 249 The dying-mans prayer bequeathing all his charge into the hands of God p 255 CHAP. VI. DEclaring how a Christian shall willingly giue himselfe to dye ouercome the bitternesse thereof and how in constant perseuerance hee may continue to the end 1 How the faithfull Soule shall pacifie the terrours of death and willingly wiâ—h ioy commit himselfe vnto Death p 260 A meditation of the soule againsâ— the sorrowes of Death p. 263 The Sickemans prayer and faith in Christ. p. 265 2 How the faithfull heart shall comfâ—rt himselfe that hee with patience shall abide constant to the end p. 272 A meditation of the Soule of faith in Christs promises p. 274 The Sick-mans prayer and comfort in Christ. p. 277 3 How the Christian may beâ— comforted when the strengâ—h of his faith beginneth to wauer and doubteth whether he be one of the elect to saluation or not p. 27â— A meditation of the great comfort the children of God haue in this world p 282 A prayer for stedfast faith in Christ. p. 290 CHAP. VII COntayning spirituall consolations and instructions that eyther the Soule or conscience of man now readie to die can obiect 1 Consolations against the horrible shape of death p. 294 A prayer against Death p. 296 2 Comfort against that fearesull name of death graue rottennesse and corruption p. 297 A prayer against the terrours of the graue p. 300 3 Comfort against the taste of Death p 301 A prayer for the meâ—cies of Christ. pag. 306 4 Consolations against groaning and sighing at the last agonie of Death p. 307 A prayer to Christ to keepe vs from a troublesome death p. 309 5 Heauenly and experimentall phisick against the bitternesse and sting of death p. 310 A prayer of the Christians stedfast hope of heauen p. 316 CHAP. VIII COmprehending remarâ—able sentences of Scripture with some earnest prayers to bee powred out for them that are in present perill of death as also how they shold behaue themselues that are present with the sicke person 1 Containing comfortable speeches and sentences of holie Scripture which may bee vsed to the sicke or those in perill of Death p. 319 A meditation of the Soule 336 A prayer for a diligent and stedfast faith in Gods word 339 2 Some short and compendious ayds the Sicke-man may haue in his mouth at the verie time of death p. 340 3 What should bee their dueties which stand by the sick or dead person who haue alreadie ioyned theyr Prayers with him pag. 343 A prayer for those that are about the partie departed 345 CHAP. IX DEclaring where the immortall Soule goeth after death the râ—surrection of the bodie the ioyes of eternall Liâ—e and contrariwise the paynes which the Vngodlie shall haue in their destruction 1 Whether the godlie Soule and in what estate it is after death pag. 348 A meditation of the soules departure and blessednesse after death pag. 352 The Christians most earnest praier to leaue this World and to bee with Christ his Sauiour p. 355 2 If the blessed soule long for the resurrection of the bodie that they may be vnited and glorified both together p. 358 A prayer of the faithfull Soule for her dissolution p. 362 3 Of the resurrection from the dead p. 365 A meditation of the Soule on the resurrection p 367 4 Of eternall Life and euerlasting blessednesse p. 372 A prayer for the ioyes of heauen pag. 385 5 A consideration of the paynes of Hell and condemnation of the Vngodlie pag 384 A prayer for a safe deliuerance from the paynes of Hell and to liue with Christ for euer pag. 290 The Soules Request or a Dialogue betwixt Christ and the Soule Fol. 1. Sig. A. AN ADMONITION to the Christian Reader declaring the difference betwixt the reprobate and true Christian in their life and death and likewise of the vse and benefit of this Booke IT is true deare Brother that all the worde of God compriseth nought else but that wee should liue as his children according vnto his word and dye Christs brethren and faithfull seruants Now therfore I haue compiled the most spirituall doctrine first of a christian life and secondly of a blessed death Of the which the man that saw God had his greatest regard Lord saith he Psal. 90.12 teach me to number my daies that I may apply my heart vnto wisedome So did also another Eccles. 7 3â— Whatâ—oeuer thou takest in hand râ—mâ—mber thy end and thou shalâ— nâ—uer do amisse For what is a christian life but a continuall meditation on Gods fauour a life in true repentance exercised in faith keeping of a good conscience so it cannot go astray and that a man should neuer suffer himselfe to be in such euill state wherein he might not bee blessed yea and happily dye What is it then to dye blessedly Euen this when a Christian not onely considâ—reth that hee is mortall and neuer free from death but also is resolued that hee must depart hence and that he shall bee inheritour of euerlasting saluation This is that high Science and Arte which Moses speakeâ—h of which is not elsewhere to bee had but in Gods word As if he should haue said Teach vs to remâ—mber that we shall dye to the end wee may bee wise that by thy holy Spirit and grace and practise of thy holy word wee may so liue that wee may haue life euerlasting This holy Art to dye aright was neuer knowen by Phylosophers and as yet is hid from all those that know not Iesus Christ the Redeemer Indeed Cicero gessed at it Orat. pro. Publ. Quin. where hee saith Vita turpis ne morti quidâ—m hoâ—estae locum relinquit that is An honest life goeth before an honourable deâ—th Yet there is an vnspeakeabâ—e difference Inter vâ—â—am honestam Christianam mortem honestâ—m Christianam seue saluâ—arem that is Betweene an honourable life and a Christian life betweene an honourable death and a Christian and sauing death Augustus Caesar desired euery day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit that he might dye well but hee vnderstood not by what meanes only he hunted for name fame and renown and euen so it was with the rest of the Ethickes and Heathens they knew that they should dye but neuer apprehended the christian vertues faith and â—ope but onely infirmitie corruption and distresse and so departed as hee speaketh of Turâ—us Virg. Aen. Vitaque
by repentance therevnto but fretteth against God inueigheth against his iustice because man hath but a short time giuen him to liue Now the true Christian touched with the daily examples of humane infirmitie and corruption groaneth because of that our first fall lamenteth for his sinnes and wickednesse for the which the diuine punishment ceaseth not vpon vs Lam. 3.22.23.24.41.5 6. lifteth vp his heart with his hands vnto God in the Heauens who heareth his voyce and hideth not his eare at his breathing and crye 57. who draweth neere in the day that hee calleth vpon him and sayâ—h feare not the Lord I say who pleadeth the cause of his Soule who redeemeth his life and will say I will beare the wrath of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill he pleade my cause and execute iudgement for mee Mich. 7.9 Hee will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteoâ—snesse O Lord thou art wise and thy word is truth Yea Psal. 119. he attributeth the true honour vnto God for hee doth all things iustly and well and so prepareth himselfe euery houre of the day to a blessed departure Againe the Hypocrite when his heart meditateth on death is afraid for the terrible visage and countenance thereof for flesh and bloud can doe no lesse for death is our enemie and killeth vs all but the hopefull christian openeth the eyes of faith looketh vpon death not according to the Law but according to the Gospell comforts him in his Lord Iesus Christ Ioh. 11.11 who hath changed the bitternes of death and made it a sweet sleepe and beleeueth constantly that hee shall not dye but quietly rest vn-the Lord shall awake him vp by the shout of the Arch-angell and trumpet of God The wretched Hypocrite when hee considereth how that death shall after a most fearefull manner apprehend him and make him an ill fauâ—ured Corps which must be hidden from the eyes and cast in the bosome of the cold Earth Then beginneth hee to sorrow and weepe his courage is gone and can doe no more than king Xâ—rxes who hearing mention made of Earth did say Missahaec faciamus Hie. in polyh neque tristiis rerum mentionem faciamus cum iucunda in manibus habeamus Away with these things for they are sorrowfull and let vs to our iollitie and mirth But the religious Christian proceedeth plus vltra a great way further bidds feare adue looketh through the terrour of death and corruption of the graue he passeth not for the hoâ—rible dissolution of his bodie neyther that he shall be corrupt and rot in the earth for he seeth a great deale further how in the last day he shal come forth beautifull and pleasant and be made like the glorious bodie of his Sauiour Ieâ—us Christ. Besides this the Wicked and Prophane bethinkes him selfe on his death and considereth that once he must die and that he cannot chuse and here hâ—s wits faile him and in this exâ—gent and strait he knoweth not whether to turne him to what way he should betake him only he hoysteth vp courage plucketh vp a good heart that â—f it were once done and tâ—at debt payd â—o nature then were it ouer But the godlie Sâ—ule lifteneth not to temporary magnanimitie neâ—ither relieth on the flâ—shly courage and arme but vpon the consolation of the holie spirit which dwelleth in him which hee hath tasted by true faith Phil. 4.7 which passeth all vnderstanding which also wil keep his hart and mind though Iesus Christ to eternall Life Besides the Infidell when he feeles death comming is at his wits end hath no counsel that is no faith no hope yea no certayne word to anchor vpon no confidence to rest on how hee may depart from hence but is râ—plenished with feare and raging tumult within himselfe neuer casteth his eyes on the great Almightie God But on the contrarie the righteous Christian hath fraught himselfe with faith and hope Rom. 8.73 and with vnspeakeable groanes waiting for the adoption to wit the redemptâ—on of our boâ—ies to the which he ioineth the true word of God which cannot deceiue giueth it place and roome in his heart and saith powerfully and gladly Ioh. 8.12 Thou Lord Iesus art the light of the world he that followeth Thee and keepeth thy Word shall not walke in darknesse but haue the light of Life Now againe the Wicked dissembling and counterfeit Christian when he is vndâ—r the power of death complaineth that he is forsaken all his friends kinsmen and brethren doo stand from him and none will helpe But the sparke of Faith in the religious mans heart saith Lord whom haue I in heauen but Thee Ps. 73.25.26 and there is none vpon earth that I desire besides Thee although my flesh and my heart fayle God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer for he knoweth that God giueth onely helpe from â—rouble Ps. 60.11 for vaine is the helpe of Man Through God I shall do valiantly for he it is that shall tread downe my enemies for hee builds and God onely and that if hee bee with him nothing can be against him for he hath the holie Trinitie dwelling in his heart and manie holie Angells at his sicke bed attending for his Soule and abiding to carrie it into Abrahams bâ—sâ—me Now when the Infidell doth heare that his Soule is immortall that after this life there shall be another wherein the blessed of the Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for them from the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 and that the wicked shall goe into euerlasting punishment then he trembleth quaketh and would wish it were vnâ—rue and desireth that he might neuer rise againe for his misbeleeuing heart doth instruct him that if it be so he is eternally â—ondemned and thereâ—fore he wisheth that he had neuer beene borne But the true childe of God reioycâ—th from his very heart that there is another life prepared for him Rom. 5.9 and he shall be saued from the wrath to come and therefore sighes to be dissolued Phil. 1.2 3. and to be with Christ which is far better and that this wretched life might be shortly cut off that the eternall and euerlasting mâ—ght beginne Rom. 5.15 for his expectation is constant and sure wherby he is assured of a better life to come vnto the which hee was redeemeed By such and sundry more Aâ—titheses and oppositions may bee easily seene the difference betwixt both the life and death of the faithfull and Infidell and therefore wee should daily and hourely consider and neuer be contented vntill then that wee haue Iesus Christ our Redeemer Sauiour dwelling in vs by a true and liuely faith accounting him our greatest treasure goods placing all our ioy and comfort in him and that with diligent prayer and constant meditation by faith power of the holy spirit we may euer loue that â—ternal life aboue this
thy dearest friends then say Hide not thy face farre from me Psal. 27.9 10. put not away thy seruant in anger thou hast beene my helpe leaue me not neither forsake mee ô God my saluation When my father and my mother forsake mee then the Lord will take mee vp In another place Psal. 73.25 26. whom haue I in heauen but thee and there is none vpon the earth that I desire but thee my flesh and my heart failes but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer If Sathan say thou must yet neuerthelesse die answer blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Reu. 14.13 and if hee proceede and say thou shalt neuerthelesse be condemned for hee will not depart at one repulse then mayest thou with all boldnesse and courage of Spirit say Thou liâ—st Satan for thou art a lyer from the beginning for none that beleeue in Iesus Christ shall perish but shall haue euerlasting life The sicke persons prayer for comfort and victory ouer all tentations of Sathan O thou Lord Iesus Christ Almighty destroyer of hell death and condemnation and eternall victor and conquerour for mee strengthen mee in all my weaknesse by thy holy Spirit that I may take vnto me the whole armour of God Eph. 6.13 that I may be able to withstand in the euill day and hauing finished all things to stand fast my loynes girded about with verity 14. and hauing on the brest-plate of righteousnesse and my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace 15. 16. hauing the shield of faith wherewith I may bee able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked 17. the helmet of saluation and sword of the spirit which is thy word 18. and pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance That thus being in armes like a valiant champion and Christian souldier I may manfully fight vnder thy banner and hauing ouercome may through thy grace bee crowned with glory wherethou art at the right hand of thy father in the heauens blessed God for euer and euer Amen Flesh. Shew mee how I may conclude my dayes and coÌ„mend my spirit to God Spirit As for the â—ighth and ninth point beloued soule looke to the end of thy sicknesse and if thou shalt perceiue that thou canst not liue long then with all patience thou mayest say Act. 7.59 Lord Iesus Christ receiue my Soule I desire to be dissolued to be with thee Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit And continue herein euen to thy last gaspe and when words and motions of thy outward members shall begin to fayle thee then betake thee to thy inward and most heauenly contemplations as of the place whether thou art going of them that are there before thee of the Saints to whom thou shalt be welcome and of Iesus Christ the Doore and Way by whom thou shalt enter with whom thou shalt be blessed eternally But if it shall so bee that God shall restore thee to thy wonted health then thanke him all thy life time both in heart and word and deed and giue diligent heed seeing thou art made whole Iohn 5.14 that thou sinne no more least a worse euill come vnto theâ— Wherfore fall vpon thy knees and oft and diuers times recite this Prayer following A thanksgiuing after sicknesse I thanke thee Almightie Lord God that thou so kindly fatherly hast visited and chastised mee for my offences it is good for mee that thou hast humbled mee that I might learne thy precepts O my God how often remeÌ„bred I thy deare seruant king Ezekiah who sayd I shall not see the Lord Esa. 38.11.12 euen the Lord in the land of the liuing I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the Earth my age is departed and is gone from mee as a Sheepeheards Tent I haue cut off like a Weauer my life from day euen to night thou wilt make an end of mee But I now vnderstaÌ„d O Lord that this my sicknesse is not vnto death but for the glorie of God that thou Son of God mightest be glorified thereby for thou hast had mercie vpon mee thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back Thou louedst my soule and deliueredst it from the pit of corruption how comfortably hast thou turned my sicknesse into health I thanke thee my God yea I thanke thee from the bottom of my hart that thou hast raysed mee from my bed that I may visit and frequeÌ„t thy house walke in my calling and perfit my actions Lam. 3 22. It is of thy goodnesse and mercies that I am not consumed because thy compassions fayle not O how oft should I remember this thy rod of correction how wisely should I walke all my dayes that I may eschew thy wrath assist mee my God that with the new health of my bodie I may begin to lead a new life graunt that I may alwayes praise thy name gouerne mee by thy holy Spirit that I may glorifie thee by my life and not giue my membersweapons of vnrighteousnesse to serue sinne for thou hast deliued my soule from death which hath waited for me thou art my help and my shield my heart shall reioyce heereafter euery moment in thee for thou hast compassed me with songs of deliuerance I will praise thee in the congregation in the midst of the people I will sing vnto thee ô Lord To whom be praise and glory now and for euer Amen CHAP. V. Containing a spiritual confutation of all worldly fleshly thoghts which molest-men when as they intend the Art to die well Flesh. FOr so much as the Christian in his sicknesse or in any other estate should daily aduise himselfe on the houre of his death yet notwithstanding there are many terrours in mens hearts whereby they are afraid of Death Spirit That is naturall deare soule for our nature in the beginng was not created to dy but to liue but death is come into the world by sione for death is the wages of sinne Rom. 5.12 Yea beloued Soule like as death is a consumer of all that haue life so all that haue life are foes enemies to death for seeing man of nature hath but a short time to liue it is no maruell neither yet sinne nor to bee discommended in any man to be afâ—aid of death and to auoyd it by all meanes possible Wee haue a remarkable example in our Sauiour Iesus Christ hee began to bee sorrowfull and very heauy before death Mat. 25.37 for hee knew that his howre did approach for albeit there were many causes of his sorrow and sadnesse vpon the mount of Oliues yet was this one because hee was a very true man and had in him all our naturall conditions and affections and therefore while the God-head which is the Word rested it selfe and held it selfe quiet in that anguish of his
death and became obedient to admit such pain feare and astonishment of death to come ouer his body which was wiâ—hout sinne it sâ—eweth vs that his humane nature had no pleasure to die yea and himselfe saith I haue a baptisme to bee baptâ—zed with Luk. 12. â—0 and how am I straitned till it be accomplished A Prayer against the feare of Death I thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast not created mee to death but to life and hast implanted a loue in mine heart to liue I request thee from the bottome of my heart teach mee to vnderstand that death ruleâ—h ouer all because of sinne and ouercometh me grant by thy holy spirit that so oft as death shall assault me I may be enemie to iniquitie and euer flie and efchew sinne as death it selfe helpe me ô Lord that in true faith I may hold me fast by thee for thou art life it selfe Ioh. 11.25 and so may freely and boldly say I shall taste of death although I were dead but liue and declare the workes of the Lord. Psal. 118.17 Grant I may beleeue from my heart that by Thee the Prince of life I may be deliuered from eternall death and attaine vnto that euerlasting life through Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne Amen Flesh. But there are yet some that earnestly craue to die and long for it Spirit Yes truely but it is to be vnderstood that there are twâ— kindes of men which desire to die The Infidell prophane vngodly often wish to die and that of impatiency because of the great misery wherewith God punisheth them for their sinnes for seeing they are without the knowledge of God and without faith they are not participant of the crosse of Christ but despaire in impatiency grudge against God wish themselues not onely to die but also often times lay violent hands on themselues as Iudah Saul and Achitophel did purposing to put an end thereby to their sorrow and misery but then is it that first they begin to haue proofe of their wickednesse sweet heauenly Father keepe vs from hence But the children of God the more they grow in knowledge and increase in faith and loue of Christ the more they are weary of this wretched world and long for that eternall rest and haue Pauls wish in their hearts I desire to depart and to bee with Christ Phil. 1.23 yea our Sauiour commandeth vs Matt. 6.13 that we should daily craue to bee deliuered from euill for therein not onely doe we pray for deliuerance from transitory distresses of soule or bodie but we aske from our heart that God would either put an end to this sinnefull and wicked world or else come in a blessed time and pull vs from hence to euerlasting rest and quietnesse A Prayer for patience in trouble Now helpe mee Lord Iesus Christ that I in the abundance of my crosses may rightly order my selfe and learne of thee how I should beare the waight of my yoke Mat. 11.30 preserue mee that I neuer craue my death through impatiency much lesse that euer I shorten the dayes of my life which thou hast giuen bee but grant that euermore day by day I may learne to know thee to establish and confirme my faith and the longer I shall liue the more dearly to loue thee to the end I may learne to contemne this world and to long after that heauenly world which thou hast made to stand in the conquest of Christ by his bloud To whom with thee and thy holy spirit one blessed God I render praise and and glory now and euer Amen Flesh. May a man with a good conscience pray for a long life Spirit Vnto this question S. Paul answereth for Christ should alwaies be magnified in our bodies whether it be by Life or by Death Phil. 1 20.2â—.22.23.24 for to mee to liue saith he is Christ and to me to dye is gayne but if I liue in the Flesh this is the fruit of my labour yet what I shall chuse I wote not for I am in a strait betwixt two hauing a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better Neuerthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you and hauing this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and ioy of Faith A meditation of the Soule tossed in the troublesome waues of this life Here mayest thou perceiue beloued Soule that Paule was tossed with two diuers opinions and thoughts he longed for rest and counted it best esteemed it also good that hee should abide in the flesh longer and beleeued that God would spare him that in his ministerie hee might further serue both God and Man yet in both these had this only before his eyes that Christ should be magnified in his bodye whether it were by life or by death So doth also the king Ezekiah 2. King 20.1.2.6 to whom the Prophet Amos denounced death but he turned his face vnto the Wall and prayed vnto the Lord who added vnto his daies fifteene yeares And so was also Paule greatly joyed for his brother and companion in labour and fellow-souldier Epaphroditus who was sicke Phil. 2.25.27 neere vnto death but God had mercie on him and not on him onely but on meâ— also saith Paule least I should haue sorrow vpon sorrow Follow these examples and thou shalt not goe amisse for if thou canst be necessarie vnto God and thy neighbour it is conuenient thou shouldest craue a long and sound life that thou mayest bee a profitable vessel of mercie and chosen to good actions Neuertheles submit thee alwayes to his will and be readie euerie day to be dissolued for time is but lent thee A Prayer for Health and Gods blessings on our Labours Euerlasting Almightie God thou art my Life and Length of my daies my time is in thy hands for in Thee wee liue and mooue and haue our being Act. 17.28 I thank thee from the ground of my heart that thou hasâ— to this present houre suâ—stayned mee and giuen me a healthfull life and good vnderstanding thaâ— in my calling I mighâ— serue thee my God and my neighbour O God thou seest and knowest mâ— heart that I am willinâ— and verie desirous faithâ—fully and truely to walkâ— forward in my vocation and trade and that I haue no wicked purpose noâ— false pretence in my hart I humbly therefore entreat if it shall stand with thy praise and glorie and my owne saluation that thou wouldest prolong my daies and conduct me by thy holy spirit that I may learn to know thee more fully and serue my neighbour more intirely yet if it bee not thy pleasure and that thou knowest it to be better for mee take mee hence vnto thy selfe when thou wilt for I wholely renounce mine owne will and submit me to thy good wil and pleasure Graunt this vnto mee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake Amen Flesh. What shall moue
our good for we rest from our labors and enioy happinesse because the righteous mans Soule is in Gods hands Wisd. 3.1 and there shall no torment touch it And Christ himselfe professeth that hee will come againe and receiue vs vnto himselfe Ioh. 14.3 that where he is there we may be also Hearken therefore and learne what it is to dye for it is nothing else than a passage and home going to rest yea the death of the faithfull is Christs taking of them vnto himselfe A Prayer against Death O Lord Iesus Christ thou eternall true Light inlighten my heart that as a new creature I may looke vpon Death with new eyes and not esteeme it for a hurter of mee but for a messenger by whom thou callest mee from this wretched world and translatst me to the kingdome of thy Sonne from this valley of darkenesse Euen so Come Lord Iesus with that Chariot of Elias and take mee from hence Now let thy Seruant depart in peace Luk 2.29 who longeth for quietnesse rest through Iesus Christ my onely sauiour Amen Flesh. Yet Death is verie terrible cold and euill fauored wee become stiffe and so must rot in our graues Spirit That is also a punishment which God inflicts on the bodie for sinne but the children of God look not to the present shew and shape of Death but looke further off consider how pleasaunt how soone how beautifull how cleare and honourable their bodies shall rise vp at the last day and corruption shal put on incorruption 1 Cor. 15.53 this mortallitie shall put on immortallitie Then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed vp in victorie and by this the holie man Iob comforted himselfe for he knew that his Redeemer liued and that he should rayse him vp from the earth O how beautifull shall our bodies bee there is no starre in heauen shall be so cleere neuer shined the Sunne or the Moon so perfectly as when the Lord shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the working Phil. 3.21 whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe for wee are the Lords wheat â— Cor. 15.37 Ioh. 12.24 sowen in his ground which shall rise againe and beare euerlasting fruit So also is the resurrection of the dead it is sowen in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowen in dishonor it is raised in glory it is sowen in weaknesse it is raised in power it is sowen a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body there is a naturall body and there is a spirituall body A Prayer against the terror of the graue Strengthen mee ô my Lord Iesus Christ that I bee not amazed at the fearefull sight of dead members nor when I thinke vpon the rottennesse in the graue and that I shall turne to dust and ashes but helpe mee that in a ioyfull hope I may behold the beauty and cleerenesse which shall not onely bee in my soule but euen manifest in my body that I may bee encouraged thereby gladly to meet thee when euer thou shalt please to call mee to that spirituall wedding from this life vnto life eternall through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen Flesh. It is very terrible neuerthelesse to taste of death yeâ— to be put in that darke hole in the graue couered with earth full of rottennesse and corruption Spirit That feare ariseth of the sense of sinne for death is our enimy and God created man to bee immortall and made him to be an image of his eternity neuertheles Wis. 2.23.24 throgh the enuy of the Diuell death came into the world and heâ—rein is a figure representing the deâ—sert of sin for the breach of Gods Law in that wee not onely die temporally heere but must eternally perish be thrust downe in to the darke dungeon of hell and there bee ouerspred with the flames of perpetuall fire with the riuers of brimstone if that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ had not come to our redemption And of this comes that terrour and hangs on vs vntill wee come to the graue Euen as a man that had been pluckt out of a great fire or out of some deepe and dangerous water so oft as hee thinkes vpon it hee is afraid so is it with vs wee are greatly astonished and amazed when wee bethinke vs on that miserie wherein wee should haue beene destroyed had not the death of Iesus come betweene by whom our attonement is made with the Father But yet all the children of God should lâ—â—rne a new language and attend how the holy Gospell speaketh heereof for it calleth the death of the faithfull a sleepe and their graues chambers to sleepe in for as Iesus Christ hath taken the punishment of death from vs and suffered the paines of hell fulfilled Gods righteousnesse and procured eternall life for vs so the holy Spirit in his Gospell doth take away the harsh and hard names of death and doth comfort the Lords Elect with a new tongue Esa. 26.20 as when he saith Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doores abouâ— thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation passe ouer And in another place Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall wake some to shame euerlasting contempt and some to euerlasting life And againe our friend Lazaruâ— sleepeth Ioh. 11.11 but I goe that I may awake him out of sleepe Also the childe is not dead Matth. 27. but sleepeth and there arose many that slept and so in infinite more places Heere hast thou then thy death changed into a soft sleep and thy graue vnto a warme bed When thou diest thou art said to goe to sleepe because he that betaketh himselfe to his rest is in expectation that the next day after he shall rise and when they beat the earth of the graue with the shouell it iâ— called to shut the dore and when we rot in the earth wâ—e are sayd to rest and to hide vs vntill wrath passe ouer our soules A Praier for the mercies of Christ. O Lord God holy Spirit take thou my heart and replenish it with the comfortable mercies of our Lord Iesus Christ teach me to put due difference betwixt the Law Gospell abolish terror and feare for death and learne me that new language of Canaan that I heare it not onely with mine eares but pronounce it by my mouth that I may beleeue and in experience prooue that when the time of my dissolution shall draw neere I shall not die but sweetly sleep vntill it shall please thee by thine Arch-angell and trumpet of God to awake and raise me vp and so do I lie downe now Lord Iesus in thine armes as a childe in the mothers lap and commit my soule vnto thee and sleep as long a time as it pleaseth thee
Grant ô God that my soule may liue and raigne with thee eternally Amen Flesh. Thou sayest well yet I see when men are in the agony of death their eyes turne in their heads they become blackish and they sweat for paine Spirit That is not onely to be spied in the children of this world who depart with out repentance but euen in the verie faithfull and Saints of God for so the sinnefull and deadly body must feele the sting of death and vndergoe the the punishment and waâ—ges of sinne and although wee see in the children of God such anguish and smart it is nought for so they easily ouercome all the miseries and bitternesse thereof for the comfort of Iesus Christ is so great that he is insteede of all things vnto them and that name Iesus so sweet that it consumeth all the acrimonie and bitternesse in death and causeth the faithfull in the verie period of death to taste euerlasting ioy and saluation A prayer to Christ to keepe vs from a troublesome death Lord Iesus Christ thou who tasted st the bitter vinegar of death vpon the Crosse due vnto my sin and hast greatly complained and bemoaned thy selfe and in the daies of thy flesh didst offer vp prayers and supplications Heb. 5.7 with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue thee from death and wast heard in that thou fearedst I beseech thee keepe me from a troublesome and paine full death Fill my heart with liuely faith and a rich hope that I be not greatly affraid of death nor terrified for the sting thereof O Iesus let thy deare and sweet name neuer depart from my heart and memorie vnto my last breth that I giue vp the Ghost and commit my soule vnto thee to rest for euermore Amen Flesh. Is there no kinde of phisicke then a man may vse that hee should not taste the sharpe sting of death Spirit Yes verely Ioh. 8.51 for so the Lord thy redeemer hath said Verily verily I say vnto thee if a man keepe my saying hee shall neuer see death Thou must then learne rightly to applie this phisicke which is Iesus Christs word not the word of Moses which is Gods law nor mans word diuels or witches but the mercifull preaching of the Gospell in the which hee promiseth vnto all belieuers remission of sins righteousnesse which is accepted before God the holie spirits consolation and life eternall And this is the word which the Lord giueth to the hearts of the Saints the which vpholdeth them and whereon they relye both in life and death and finde Christ and consolation therein with the which they are so detained and comprehended that they taste not the bitternes of death because of that sweetnes that is in his promise and comfort that is in his word For Christ is in his word and the word carrieth Christ and his power he who wil haue the Lord must haue his word and hee who hath the Lord himselfe the sweetnesse of his grace and comfort shall neuer see death thâ—t is shall neuer be agashed or tast the smart of death and so the Lord himselfe expoundeth it Verily Mat. 6.28 verily I say vnto you there be some staÌ„ding here which shal not taste of death till they see the Son of man comming in his kingdome And again Luk. 9.27 But I tell you of a truth there be some standing here which shal not tast of death vntill they see the kiâ—gdome of God that is they build vpon his true word taste Christ and his comfort in the word yea they winde themselues in the word as a dead corpes is wrapped in his winding sheete and so it commeth to passe they feele Christ and his mercie in his word and thereby taste in their hearts euerlasting life O thou pretious pleasant and excellent doctrine which art certaine and cannot deceiue What would you haue more O deare Soule and for what stayest thou Rom. 3.4 Receaue that heauenly doctrine in thy heart vse it well keepe it daily yea euerie moment Behold how bosting and bragging the world is hauing found phisicke for an ague tooth-ach or for the eyes how costly and prâ—tiously doe they esteeme it How much more should wee glorie in this our redeemer Heauenly and diuine phisicke which hath taken away death the father ouer all sicknesses Thou needest not inquire of the trial proofe hereof behold the examples of the faithfull which haue vsed this phisicke and by the benefit thereof haue felt no griefe in their vnspeakeable paines as Saint Stephen Act. 7.56.59 Who being full of the holy Ghost and faith in Iesus Christ looked vp steadfastly into heauen and saw the glorie of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God they stoned him calling vpon God and saying Lord Iesus receaue my spirit And Paul hauing this preseruing phisicke durst daily bragge against death I desire to depart and to bee with Christ. So did Ignatius and so Policarpus and S t. Laurance with S t. Vincentius and infinite numbers of others A prayer of the Christians stedfast hope of Heauen O Lord Iesus Christ thou hast the words of eternall life Ioh. 6.68 how doth my soule thirst and long after thy consolation yea my redeemer He that meditates on thy word diligentlie he hath that true heauenlie phisicke which shall neuer faile in time of death but fetteth it selfe against the gates of Hell O Lord Iesus feede my hungrie heart with thy word and ouer-sprinkle mee altogether and at all times with thy comfort for thy worde and thy truth abideth for euer therefore shall I by the meanes of faith in thy word be preserued for eeuer for hee that belieueth thy word belieueth in thee and hee that keepeth thy word hath thee and hee who hath thee hath eternall life and hee who hath life neither can nor shall taste of eternall death for thou art the resurrection and the life Ioh. 11.25 he thâ—t belieueth in thee though he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in thee shall neuer die Beleeuest thou this my soule yea Lord Iesus thou knowest all things thou knowest I beleeue in thee and haue thee in mine heart and that I do comfort me in thy word rest and repose my selfe therupon therefore am I certaine that I am one of those which shall neuer see death taste his bitternesse or feele his sting Grant me this Lord Iesus Christ for thy true holy words sake For vnto thee doe I commit both soule and body helpe mee therefore euen for Iesus Christ his sake to whom bee giuen all glory and honour now and euer Amen CHAP. VIII CompreheÌ„ding remarkable sentences of Scripture with some earnest praiers to be powred out for them that are in present perill of death as also how they should behaue themselues that are present with the sicke person Flesh. I Pray thee rehearse some sentences of Gods holy Word wherewith I may comfort my
we must be saued To him giue all the Prophets witnesse Act. 10.43 that through his name whosoeuer belieueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Where sinne aboundeth Rom. 5.20 grace aboundeth much more If God be for vs Rom 8.31 who can be against vs. Hee that spared not his owne Sonne but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall he not with him giue vs all things who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. I am perswaded that neither death nor life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come c. Rom. 11.32 God hath concluded all in vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercie vpon all Rom. 14.7 None of vs liueth to himselfe and no man dieth to himselfe for whither we liue wee liue vnto the Lord or whether we die we dye vnto the Lord whither wee liue therefore or die we are the Lords 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all dye euen so in Christ shall all bee made aliue 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue that you are able but with the temptation also will make away to escape that you may be able to beare it Phil. 1.20 â—1 â—â— 23 Christ shall be magnified in my bodie whether it bee by life or by death for to me to liue is Christ and to die is gaine but if I liue in the flesh this is the fruite of of my labour but what I shall chuse I wot not for I am in a straight betwixt two hauing a desire to bee with Christ which is farre better Our conuersation is in heauen Phil. 3.20 from whence also wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ. This is a faithfull saying 1 Tim. 1.15 and worthy all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe I am readie now to bee offered 2 Tim. 4.6 and the time of my departure is at hand I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith Henceforth there is layd vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous iudge shal giue me at that day and not vnto me onely but vnto them also which loue his appearing 1 Tim. 6.12 Fight the good fight of faith lay holde of eternall life whereunto thou art also called I know whome I haue beleeued 2 Tim 1.12 for I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I haue committed vnto him against that day We are kept by the powre of God through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.15 ready to be reuealed in the last time The bloud of Iesus Christ Gods Son cleanseth vs from all sinne 1 Ioh. 1.7 In this was manifested the loue of God towards vs because that God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that wee may liue throgh him here in his loue not that wee loued God but that hee loued vs and sent his Sonne to be the propitiation for our sinnes Here haue wee no continuing Citie Heb. 13 14 but wee seeke one to come As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten Reuel 3.19 Bee thou faithfull vnto death Reuel 2.10 and I will giue thee a crowne of life To him that ouercommeth will I graunt to sit with mee in my throne Reuel 3 21 â—uen as I also â—â—ercame and am set down with my father in his throne Reu. 12.11 And they ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimonie and they loued not their liues vnto death Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Reu. 14.13 yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their workes do follow them Meditations of the Soule Of these and many other comfortable speeches and sentences deare Soule choose and select some which best may comfort thee Make them as familiar vnto thee as the Lords prayer and as some vse to prouide theiâ— winding sheet some yeres before they die against the time there shall be occasion of it that their bodies may bee enfolded therein Euen so picke thou out some remarkeable sentences and learne to vnderstand them to the ende that in time of death thou mayst wrappe thy soule therein for at that time it happeneth that the vnderstanding is mightily lessened the memorie taken away long Sermons cannot bee heard Mat. 4 4. Deut. 8.3 there is no attention giuen to perswation nor Rhetoricall allurements but one comfortable word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God reioyceth gladdeth nourisheth refresheth the heart life and soule But time is too short to learne these things when thou art on thy death bed And therefore acquaint thy selfe diligentlie with Sermons and preachings reading and meditating on Gods word that thou mayest haue these spirituall weapons in the houre of thy greatest combate Make diligent vse of thy going to Church and euerie time see thou learne that wherof thou wast ignorant before so shalt thou encrease in the knowledge of the Lord Iesus Christ corroborate thy faith kindle thy loue augment thy hope and be prouident against that greatest and last assault of Sathan A Praier for a diligent and stedfast faith in Gods word O Lord Iesus Christ open my heart by thy holy spirit that I may giue place to thy word ponder thâ—reon and weigh it diligently and make it familier vnto my soule and not be as a vessel that is crackt and can holde no liquor Hâ—b 2.1 Illuminate my vnderstanâ—ding and confirme my memorie that I may euer call thy ioyfull comfort to minde and bee that good portion of ground which in an honest and good heart may heare and keepe thy word and bring forth fruite with patience vnto the end grant this O Lord God for Iesus Christs sake to whom be all glorie and honour Amen Flesh. What else is behoouefull to comfort the sicke on his bed Spirit I haue set downe euery where prayers for thee which thou mayest vse as occasion serueth and the disposition of thy sicknes requires but the most speciall is the Lords prayer which heere also thou shouldest remember saying Our Father which c. sundry Prayers and Meditions mayest thou haue out of the learned and godly Fathers as Augustine and Bernard and out of holy latter Writers as also out of the booke of Psalmes in the which thou mayest vse these most frequently O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger c. Psal. 8. The Lord is my Sheepheard c. 23. Vnto thee ô Lord doe I lift vp my Soule c 25. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiueâ— 32. As the Hart panteth after the water brookes
42. Haue mercy on me ô God 51. And so according to the seuerall constitutions of thy Soule and as thou findest thy tentation to encrease or bee diminished thou mayest make election of this or that Prayer or Psalme in the Scripture And if it be so that thou growest exceeding weake and that thy speech begin to faile thee these sentences which are but short thou mayest remember Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Luk. 2.29 Luk. 25. Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Psal. 31. Into thy hands I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me Lord God of truth Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Act. 7.59 Abide with vs Lord Iesus Luk. 24.29 for it is towards euening and the day is farre spent I desire to bee dissolued Phil. 1. and to be with Christ. Flesh. What shall they then doe that stand by when as they see the sicke take his last goodnight from this world and to depart comforted in Soule and to attaine a blessed end Spirit They are to lament and mourne seeing it is a thing very naturall it cannot bee forbidden but thou must not sorrow euen as others which haue no hope for we that are Christians must admit comfort ought to bee constantly and certainely perswaded that our dead are not dead but sleepe that they doe not perish neither are lost but deliuered from this wicked world and gone home to the Lord and would not for the price of this whole world if it were possible to returne hither againe and therefore wee should rather be thankefull vnto God for their happy dedeparture and learne of them to liue regiously and Christianly and remember them who haue spoken vnto vs the word of God whose face wee should follow considering the end of their conuersation Heb. 13.7 and therefore falling on their knees they may pray as followeth The Prayer of those that are about the sicke person when hee is departed We thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ thou euerlasting Prince of life for vpholding this thy creature in true confession and constant faith and for granting him a blessed departure O how gloriously shall his soule bee carried to heauen to euerlasting rest and ioy by the Angels to Abrahams bosom thine owne celestiall spirits attend at his beds side although with our carnall eyes wee doâ— not apprehend them now doth hee repose himselfe in the Lord Iesus armes now hath all displeasure and greefe an end now shall the Lord wipe away all teares from his eyes Reu. 21.4 and giue him euerlasting peace and comfort with ioy and sâ—luation Now euerlasting ioy shal be vpon his head hee shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse Esa. 35.10 and sorrow sighing shall flie away O thou blessed Soule ô deere and sweet friend happy is the case thou art in thou hast borne Christs yoke now art thoâ— dead but yet thou liuest ô Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon vs that are liuing and as yet remaine on the earth and teach vs to runne out the course of this irkesome misery to the end that we may imitate such faith and constancie daily and hourely to bee prepared that wee as this thy creature hath done may make a blessed good-night and follow him with peace and ioy To raigne with Abraham Isaak and Iacob in heauen for euermore Amen CHAP. IX Declaring where the immortal soule goeth after death the resurrectioÌ„ of our body the ioyes of eternall life and paines which the vngodly haue in their destruction Flesh. NOw seeing the soule is immortall what becommeth of it or whither goeth it after this worldly death Spirit Heareof speaketh the Scripture in these and other places full of comfort and consolation Feare not them which kill the bodie Mat. 10.28 and are not able to kill the Soule but rather feare him which is able to destroy both Soule and bodie in Hell I desire to bee dissolued Phil. 1.22 and to be with Christ which is farre better The Theefe on the crosse when he was to giue vp the Ghost sayd Luk. 23.43 Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome and Iesus sayd vnto him To day thou shalt be with mee in Paradise The Soules of the righteous are in the hands of God Wisd. 3.1 and there shall no torment touch them In the sight of the Wise they seemed to dye 2. and their departure is taken for miserie And their going from vs to be vtter destruction 3. but they are in peace Though the righteous be preuented with death Wis. 4 7. yet shall they be in rest There remaineth therfore a rest to the children of God Heb. 4. Luk. 16.22 And it came to passe that the Begger dyed and was carried by the Angells vnto Abrahams bosome But now he is comforted and thou art tormented Vers. 25. Ioh. 14 2. In my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come agayne and receiue you vnto my self that where I am there may you bee also For wee know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolued 2. Cor. 51. wee haue a building of God an house not made with hands eternally in the heauens Therefore wee are alwayes confident knowing that whiles wee are at home in the bodie wee are absent from the Lord. But yee see mee Ioh. 14.19 because I liue yee shall liue also Set your affections on things aboue Col. 3.2 not on things of the earth But Hierusalem which is aboue is free Gal. 4.26 which is the mother of vs all Ps. 16.11 Thou wilt shew mee the the path of Life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A meditation of the Soules departure and blessednesse after death Behold deare Soule these speeches ful of comfort proceeded out of Gods mouth to witnesse that there must be a seuerall consideration had of mens soules for the Soule is a Spirit as are the Angells and Immortall and when the Soule of the righteous shal be sundred from the bodie it shall be taken by the Angells and carried to God to liue with Christ in Paradise aboue in the Heauens where it shal bee in glorie and rest in Gods hand farre from sorrow or griefe for wheÌ„ the Soule is seperated from the bodie it is at freedome and can doe much more without the bodie than when it is ioyned vnto it and imprisoned therein because the bodie in this life is verie heâ—uie and hindereth the Soule froÌ„ seeing heauens comfort while it is here vpon earâ—h it can prayse God honour and serue him reioyce and comfort it selfe therewith while it is in this mortal and miserable bodie much more can it perfect and doe when it is without sinne and natiue corruption and hath no such let and
the Glorie of God did enlighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof 24. And the Nations of them which are saued shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth doe bring their glorie and honour to it And the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day â—5 for there shall be no night there And they need no candle neyther the light of the Sun Reu. 22.5 for the Lord giueth them light and they shall shine for euer and euer These words beloued Soule are short but replenished with vnspeakable comfort and although the Scripture had beene more large herein yet our weake and infirme hearts are such and our vnderstanding so small that wee could not comprehend it and therefore the holie Spirit by these speeches openeth but a little windowe through the which wee may see a little glance to the end wee may know what wee should beleeue and hope for and what to comfort and reioyce vs withall But when we shall come thither and possesse such ioy and such gladnesse then shall wee say one to another as old Elizabeth sayde vnto the Virgin Marie Luk. 1.45 O blessed art thou that beleeuest for there is a performance of those thingâ— which were told thee of the Lord. O eternall Life O pleasant Life O perpetuall Ioy and Peace O euerlasting Hierusalem Citie of the holie God O how pretious how beautifull art thou vnto mee thy pulchritude surmounts there is no blemish in thee My heart longeth for thee yea for Hierusalem my Mother For Hierusalem my natiue Land and for thee Iesus Christ thou which art hid there my Life Lord and euerlasting Sheepheard O holie Life O blessed Life which the Lord hath prepared for them that loue him in the which shall be no death for man shall see God face to face for our hearts shall be superaboundantly satiate with the food of Life Oh the oftner I thinke vpon thee the sweeter thou appearest vnto mee O how well wilt thou be my Soule when thou shalt bee loosed from this earthly body and so passe in freedomevnto heauen how welcome shalt thou bee how kindly shalt thou be receyued thou shalt come to great rest and securitie thou needest not stand in feare of any foe or deaâ—h Thou shalt euermore beholde the face of thy God and Redeemer Ps. 45.2 the beaâ—tifullest among the childreÌ„ of men hearest thou not him my Soule calling on thee Song 2.20 Rise vp my loue my fayre one and come away for loe the Winter is past the rayne is ouer and gone Arise my Loue my fayre one and come away Come vnto mee my Elect I haue pleasure in thy beautie come and reioyce before my face with the Angells whose societie I haue promised thee Come out of all thy distresses and feares and enter into thy Fathers rest O reioyce my Soule and be glad thou beautifull daughter for the King hath pleasure in thee O thou sweet Life shew me thy Ports and thy gates â—hy walls and thy manifolde Mansions Reu. 21. â—8 19 Thy Walls are of pretious stones and thy gates are costly Pearle and the â—treet of the Citie is pure â—old as it were transpaâ—ent glasse in the which is sung perpetually a Halleluiah thy light is God the God of light the Son of Righteousnessâ— neuer goâ—th downe in thee There is a feast and banquet where all wearied Pilgrims refresh themselues Ioh. 17.24 O how pleasant is the harmonie which shal be heard there O then shall I find the accomplishment of that promise Father I will that these that thou hast giuen mee should be with me where I am that they may behold the glorie which thou hast giuen mee for thou louedst me before the foundation of the world A Prayer for the ioyes of Heauen O thou Fountayne of Life O springing Well of all comfort when shall I drinke aboundantly of that Water of Life which is thy consolation when shall I appeare before thy ioyefull countenaunce when O LORD shall I see that day of saluation Ps. 118.24 wherin I may reioyce and be glad O how light cleare and ioyfull shall that day be wherein there shall be no euening Math. 25. Enter my soule into thy fathers rest where I shall haue that holy Triâ—nitie one euerlasting God in three persons Come my light and Redeemer and deliuer my soule from from this miserable prison O euerlasting peace Phil. 1.4 which passeth all vnderstanding wherein the holy ones soule doth repose it selfe there is that eternall life which is to know God our Lord and to see God face to face happie are they for euer which are disburdened of this cumbersome and miserable life and are come to that heauenly eternall and ioyfull life to liue with Christ for euer Amen Flesh. What shall then become of the reprobate and vngodly Spirit They shall enter both soule and bodie into euerlasting paine Of the paines of Hell for as the ioy of the godly cannot be expressed so neither can the paines of the wicked and condemned bee shewed for there is such poenarum multiplicitas acerbitas â—eternitas that is first the paine of the condemned shall bee so great and manifold that none can declare it for they shall be cast into vtter darknesse Mat. 22.13 where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth They shall be tormented in the flame Luk. 16.24 The Lord shall raine vpon them snares fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup their wormes shall not dye neither shall their fire be quenched Esay 66.24 and they shall bee an abhorring vnto all the people A Meditation of the soule on the paines of hell Behold with these and such like phrases the Scripture giueth vs to vnderstand that vnspeakeable and vnconceiueable miserie the wicked shall come to with that grieuous societie of the diuel who shall ioye in tormenting them which the religious should often meditate vpon Secondly there shall be Poenarum acerbitas for that their paine shall bee so bitter and hard that the condemned cannot endure and yet they must needes suffer it eternally for they shal seeke death Revel 9.6 and shall not finde it and shal desire to dye and death shall slie from them for there shall be neither life nor death but betwixt life and death shall they bee tormented for euermore Euen as a red hot coldron vpon a flaming furnace so shal they be in fire vnspeakeably tormented and abide in such case for all eternitie Thirdly Poenarum aeternitas for their manifolde and bitter torments shall at no time come to an end for so it is said they shall goe to euerlasting paine Mat. 25. for were it of a long continuance and so haue an end would bee some comfort in their expectation but eternitie is endlesse Esa. 34.89 for it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the streames shall bee turned into pitch which
CHRIST IS there nothing to bee obtayned of Mee vnlesse thou bring of thy own to present mee withall Is not this to discredit my Mercie to bring credit to thy Merits and rather to binde Mee to thee than thee to Mee Is there not with mee plentifull Redemption If thy sins be great my redemption is greater thy merits are beggarly my Mercie is a Rich Mercie If thy perill bee not come euen to a desperate case and past hope of recouery there is no prayse of redemption for herein is the power of it that when all sins haue gone ouer thy head and all creatures Sun Moon Heauen and Earth c. come as it were in iudgement against thee yet a cleare and full ransome shal be giuen in thy hand therewith to purchase thy deliuerance beyond all expectation and so as it were to fetch something out of nothing And when I put to the ordinarie meanes it is not to withdraw my helpe in vsing the means but traine vp thy faith that after I may make knowne vnto thee I haue a helpe beyond all helps for I come to them that calleth not for mee the possessed that would not doe I cure and the dead that cannot doe I rayse Beleeuest thou this The SOVLE LOrd my sight is verie dimme to behold Thee that Serpent exalted in the Wildernesse my Faith is as smoaking Flax Blow on it I pray thee by the wind of thy Spirit anâ— make it burne more cleare My sins and conscience arrest mee and summon mee before thy iustice thou my Iudge art greater who knowest all and righteous are thie iudgements CHRIST THou poore Soule pourest out the sence of thy inward sight on the wrong object Thou gazest on Sathan the false accuser of the brethren and on Sâ—nne thy guilt but beholdest not Mee the Lambe of God that taketh away thy sinne I am not come to call the â—ighteous but Sinners â—o Repentance Mat. 9.12 If thou be grieued for sinne I am for thee The whole need no Physitian but the sicke I will bind vp thy sores and heale all thy woundes Soule be of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiuen thee I inuite all the Wearie and Laden to come to mee and I will ease them Mat. 11.28 Feelest thou the burthen of thy sinne I am for such as thou art with a troubled and aking conscience Esa. 44.22 for I put away their transgressions as a thicke Cloud and Sinnes as Mist I doe cast them in the bottome of the Sea Mic. 7.19 Esa. 43.25 I put them away I say for my owne Mercies sake for what art thou but dust and ashes yea a wind that goeth and returneth not But I thy Aduocate with thy Father euen thy owne Iesus Christ Heb. 7.25 the righteous who am perfectly able to saue all those that come vnto God by Mee who am Euer-liuing to make intercession for thee For by my owne bloud I haue once entered the Holie-place and obtayned eternall redemption for thee Heb. 9.22 Why lookest thou to thy sinne and wages thereof I euen I was made sinne for thee who knew no sinne that thou mayest bee made the righteousnesse of God in Mee 2. Cor. 5.21 I was wounded for thy transgressions and broken for thy inquities the chastisement of thy peace was vpon mee With my stripes thou art healed Esa. 53.5 and now I doe require this Who dâ—th lay any thing to thy charge Rom. 8. it is I that iustifie thee Who shall condemne thee it is I that died or rather which is risen agayne for thee who am at the right hand of God and maketh request for thee Haue not I lead captiuitie captiue Col. 2.25 spoyled principalliâ—ies and powers and made an open shew of them and triumphed ouer them in my Crosse 1 Coâ— 15.25 O Death I will be thy Death O Graue I will be thy destruction yea O Death where is thy Sting O Graue where is thy victorie O but I pittifully complaine Ps. 81.13 O that thou wouldest hearken vnto mee for then thy prosperitie would bee as the floud Esa. 48 18. and thy righteousnesse as the waters of the Sea Hos. 6.4 and now what shall I doe vnto thee How shall I entreat thee What can I doe vnto thee that I haue not done I beseech thee 2. Cor. 5.20 I beseech the I say be reconciled vnto God for my father so loued the World that hee hath giuen Mee vnto it that whosoeuer beleeueth in Mee should haue euerlasting Life And I my selfe trust Me haue set out my loue to thee that when thou wast a sinner I died for thee much more beeing now iustified by my bloud thou shalt be saued from wrath by Mee Rom 5.8 When thou wast an enemie thou wast reconciled to God by my death much more beeing reconciled thou shalt be saued by my Life I was partaker of thy flesh and bloud yea and became a Worme Ps. â—2 6 for all creatures almost to treade vpon mee For thee I was made obedient to death yea to the death of the Crosse Manie more degrees did I The Sonne of righteousnesse goe backe that thou maiest be certified of eternal life than the Sunne did in Ezechias time to assure him the lengthening of his temporall Life Let nothing shake thy faith how weake soeuer it be Come to Mee haue Milke and Honie and of the Well of the Water of Life freely Reu. 21.6 Take here Eye-salue that thou mayest see and amend that blindnesse thou art in and looke to my euerlasting mercies that endure for â—uer sinnes past cannot hurt thee if sinnes present doe not like thee and in finne thou takest no pleasure The SOVLE O Tâ—y lips are full of grace thy words sweeter then the hony the honycomb O that I might eat them thy word spoken to me now is like an apple of gold with pictures of siluer Pro. 25 11. I wash my garment in thy bloud by it that hand-writing that was against me is cancelled and anulled but this scruple rest that I doe euermore yet sinne this body of sinne dwelling in me is so pregnant and powerfull I feare it will bring forth the fruit of the flesh which is death and euerlasting condemnation CHRIST WHy doest thou attribute â—o much strength to thy poysoned nature and derogatest srom mine infinite mercy and grace thou wilt not nor canst not denie but God hath giuen mee a perfect Redeemer vnto thee hee hath sealed on thee the assurance therof by his holy Spirit the Word and Spirit haue begot faith in thee by which thou hast begotten ioyes in heauenly things This ioy hath wrought a sincere heart and well willingnesse to please God accompanied with loue vnfained to my father aboue and brethren on earth thou hast a care tâ—â— obey the Commandements and a renewed feare to please God â—hy sinne rebuked worketh I know in thee a mourning spirit are not thy â—eareâ— in my
sustayning it the more Sathan winneth thee the more effectuall is my intercession that thy Faith fayle not the feebler thy faith is in appreheÌ„ding mee the more powerfull is my Spirit in apprehending thee and in ioyning thee inseperably with mee I wil not condemne the least measure of my grace bestowed vpon thee neyther take it away after it is once bestowed but rather to him that hath will I giue Mat. â—5 29 vntill he haue aboundance Hee that hath one taleÌ„t shall haue it double I doe reproue for small faith but neuer for weake faith no not him who in the sence of his weaknesse sayd vnto mee Mar 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe The SOVLE O Lord increase my faith Luk. 1.68 Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel because thou hast visited and redeemed my Soule and hast raysed vp the horne of saluation vnto mee that beeing deliuered from my enemies and the hands of all that hate mee I should serue thee without feare all the dayes of my life in holinesse and righteousnesse before thee O how great is that peace of conscience and ioy in the Holie Ghost which may be tasted but cannot be vttered Now will I not dispute against my selfe longer for my actions for beeing displeased with my person I cannot be pleased with my doings The body of sinne shall neuer be from me while I liue the skum thereof is euer boyling in mee foming out stinking sauour in my mind I am wearie of my sinne yet there is no time too late to repent I will not count what I haue beene but what I would bee My workes will do nothing in the matter of my iustification which from thee in thee is freely giuen mee I cannot resist Sathan it is not possible I canne encounter him but in thee I am more than a Conqueror ouer them all Neuer one fulfilled the Law but thou and that thou hast giuen mee My conscience seruing the Lawe of Grace is a glorious Prince to triumph ouer sinne CHRIST O How faire art thou now my Loue Cant. 1.15 how fayre arâ— thou Thou hast Doues-eyes Thou hast seene thy shadow in the Water of Life I haue brought thee â—o the banquetting-house and my Banner ouer thee is Loue Ibid. 2.4 So much right haue thie sins against thee as how much they could doe against mee thou art in me and I in thee I haue become sinne for thee and Death like a Humming-Bee hath lost it sting I will tell thee deare soule the Wife is not suable but the Husband I haue made all thy enemies sufficient answer who shall iudge thee I am Iudge and acquite thee Loe heare my sentence I will not thy death To excuse thee I am better than the best man of Lawe euer was I was accursed for thee I am thy Law and libertie for sin I am thie Righteousnesse against Sathan thie Sauiour against Death thy Life Lay downe thy head in my lap with my beloued Iohn and take thy rest The SOVLE MEe-thinkes I heare â—he voyce of my beloued behold he commeth leaping ouer the Mountaines of my sinnes Cant. 2.8 skipping vpon the Hillâ— of my griefes Haue mercie vpon mee heale my soule for I haue sinned against thee forgiue all my iâ—iquities and heale all my infirmities yea thou healest those that are broken in heart and bindest vp their sores Why art thou cast downe oh my Soule and why art thou disquieted within mee Wait still on God for I will yet giue him thankes hee is my present helpe and my God Yet my Soule keep thou silence before God of him commeth thy saluation He is thy strength therfore shalt thou not much bee moued Henceforth sweet Iesus I will not measure thy loue by my sence humor neyther can any temptation ouer-take mee but such as hath fallen in the nature of man which haue all found mercie at thie hands that thou mightest bee feared Auoyd Sathan I am not vnder the Law but vnder grace My sinnes are not only pardonable but pardoned and from this time my conuersation is in Heauen But alas I doe yet dailie hourâ—lie and eâ—uerie minute sinne against thee Gen. 6.5 yea and euerie imagiâ—nation of the thoughts of my heart are onelie euill continually Because of my corrupâ—ion I am vnworthie and vnfit for the kingdome of heauen And where is then that weake faith which thoâ— earst requiredst in mee CHRIST I haue fulfilled the law that thou by mee 2. Co. 5.21 might be made my Righteousnesse for I did alwaies the things that pleased my father to abolish thy corâ—ruption Haue I not Ioh. 8.21 for thy sake sanctified my selfe In me are all the promises of God are 2. Cor. 1. yea and Amen vnto the glorie of God by thee For it pleased the Father that in mee all fulnesse should dwell in whom thou also art perfected for there is no condemnation to them that are in Mee I am thy Aduocate to pleade thie cause yea rather my own cause The question is not of thie worthinesse which thou renouncest but of the merit of my obedience and value of my death vnto thy saluation thy faith dependeth not vpon thy aduersaries testimonie It is enough that thou feelest by my grace that thou beleeuest yea that thou mayest the rather persuade thy selfe of Faith because he saith Thou hast none knowing that Sathan is not only a Murtherer from the beginning Ioh 8 44. and abode not in the truth but also a Lyer and the Father of it He is a notorious Deceiuer vnwoâ—thie of credit so ofâ— silâ—nced by mee and my seruants Mar 2.24 Act. 16. â—â— Content thee to haue a competent knowledge of the Mysterie of thy Saluation by Mee And whereas thou afflicted Soule desirest nothing more than to beleeue though thou feele not a present operation of comfort by faith yet that desire argueth a secret sence which thou now canst not easily discerne with assurance of better estate in time to come Esa. 65.13 Mat 5.6 Luk. 15.3 for thou art blessed that hungeredst for righteousnes I will surely fil such with good things This secret seed of faith nourished by my Spirit in thee witnesseth Sathans ejection out of thee by thy resistance which is a part of a former worke in thee Disquiet not thy heart for that thou wantest make vse of that thou hast which though it seeme little to thee yet is more thaÌ„ Sathan is able to ouercome Hee that fighteth is not yetcaptiue he â—hat staÌ„deth against his enemies face is not vanquished yea thy holding out in so great weakenesse argueth that thou standest by a greater strength than thy owne and shalt in the end triumph Rom. 8.10 For though the bodie bee deade in respâ—ct of Sinne yet the Spirit is Life for righteousnesse sake The Sinnes tâ—erefore proceeding from thie Corruption Rom. 7.17 are not thine but Workes of the Flesh wounded vnto death by My Death and shall bee abolished
impediment Behold therfore deare soule what is more acceptable and pretious who will now bee affraide of death but on the contrarie the Soule of the Vnfaithful and Vngodlie is deliuered to Sathan and caried incontinent to payne as wee may see in that Rich-mans Soule where it shall remayne in trouble and miserie Luk. 16. anguish and smart and Woe vnspeakable without all mercie and comfort for euer in stinke and darkenesse where there is weeping and guashing of Teeth to the last day at what time their miserie shall first begin to be exceeding great and neuer shall cease The Christians most earnest Prayer to leaue this world and to be with Christ his Sauiour Lord Iesus Christ my Hope and Ioy how heartilie longeth my soule for thee yea â—uen as the Hart paÌ„teth for the water-brooks so panteth my Soule after thee O God my Soule thirsteth for God Ps. 42.1 for thee O God the Liuing-God When shall I come and appeare before thee O how weary am I of this loathsome vale of misery in the which I endeuour to serue thee my God in great weakenesse I may say Phil. 1.23.24 I am in a strait betwixt two hauing a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better Neuerthelesse to abide in the flesh is verie profitable that I may bring forth fruit yet what I should chuse I know not Lord Iesus thou euerlasting wisdome which knowest my time my dayes are in thy hands euen come take mee to thee when thou wilt my heart longeth for rest yea for that euerlasting quietnesse from this darknesse to light from sorrow to ioy from the troubles of this world to peace from loathsome miserie to glorie from imperfection to an accomplished perfection Lord Iesus thou knowest all things and doest know that my soule doth heartilie loue thee and hath an inward desire to behold thy countenance Behold most louing Redeemer the teares of loue which fall from my eyes and consider how I weep for meere ioy my heart is sicke for loue it sighes Song 8 6. Song 2.5 groaâ—es and longeth to be at home with thee to rest it selfe in thy bosome O my Lord and God how well shall I bee then How highly shall my soule crie out greatly ioying and praiâ—ing thee Mat. 17.4 Luk. 23. saying Lord it iâ— good for me to be here Lord remember mee in thy Kingdome and say vnto my soule thou shalt bee with mee in Paradise there to rest for euer Amen Flesh. Doth not the soule then long for the body seeing it knoweth it is rotten in the cold ground and expecteth the day of resurrection and euerlasting life for it Spirit I must confesse that such thoughts often make men sorrowfull but wee must vnderstand that our soules after their departing are with Christ and must haue much more vnderstanding and knowledge and farre cleerelier know Gods wonderfull righteouâ— counsell and will and therefore are perswaded that no mischaunce can befall theiâ— bodies in the earth but that they shall pleaâ—antly and softly sleep and rest and all their bones dust and ashes shall bee so kept through the Almighty power of God that they shall neuer bee consumed brought to nought but shall questionlesse and wiâ—hout all doubt rise againe Secondly the soules of the godly are in such place and ioy where is no vnquietnesse or vvretched desire foralthough they bethink them of their bodies and would haue that righteous day of doome approch Reu. 6.10 saying How long O Lord holy and true doest thou not iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwel on the earth Yet such thoughts are without sorrow and appertaine to their ioy Gods glorie and praise vnto the which they alwaies submit their wils and as the children of God in this wretched life they long for their dissolution and sigh for the comming of Ieâ—us Christ and hee that doth not so hath not a sound and true loue to Iesus Christ yet the blessed soules which are with Christ. desire that all sinne in the woâ—ld should come to end and that euerlasting persecution shold then beginne but that their desire should carrie sorrow or any painefull longing vpon them it is not possible for they rest with the Lord our God and from this world for there is no time nor difference of day and night and where there is no time there can be no heauie longing for Psal 90.4 because a thousand yeares in his sight arâ— but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night And againe One day with the Lord is as a thousand yeares 2 Pâ—t 3. â— As one day therfore deare soule let such thoughts passe and cast thy selfe vnder Gods powerful hand who is thy Creatour thy hope and rest defendor and contenting perfection both in this life in that eternall which is to come A Prayer of the faithfull soule for her dissolution 2 Tim. 4. Now Lord Iesus Christ thou who seest and knowest that I haue earnest loue of thy manifestation I request thee with all my power that thou wouldest through thy defence abate the vngodly and sinnefull waies of the world and shew righteous doome vpon Sathan and all our aduersaries and let that euerlasting glorie of our ioy come when thou shalt bee all in all 1. Cor. 15. Yea Lord Iesus Rom. 18.20.22 the whole creation groaneth and trauaileth in paine together wayting for the deliuerance from the bondage of corruption and vanitie vnto the which it is made subiect waiteth I say for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God when they shall be deliuered vnto the glorious libertie of the Children of God Should not wee then verie earnestly long for the loosing of our bodies but if it bee thy holy will O Lord Iesus and that thou hast so concluded in thy counsell that I shall here abide to thy ioyfull comming againe euen so bee it my God and my Redeemer O with what ioy of heart shall I heare thy trumpet how gladly shall I leape and meete thee in the cloudes but if thou call mee from hence before and take my soule vnto thee to that peaceable Paradise Loe here am I and willingly come and shall not cease with all comfort to crie vnto thee and say Amen euen so come Lord Iesus Râ—u 22.20 come to iudge the quicke and the dead Amen Flesh. Thou beleeuest then certainely that this our bodie shall rise againe and liue with the soule eternally Spirit Yes truely that I beleeue and therefore confesse in the articles of my faith and say I beleeue the resurrection of the bodie and life euerlasting For when our Lord Iesus shall come againe vpon that last day to iudge Mat 25. â—3 and all the holy Angels with him then shall he set vpon the throne of his glorie and before him shall be gathered all Nations liuing and dead small and great Reu. 20.12 good and bad shall stand before him and the Sea shall