dissolved and to be with thee Loose me that I may be with thee I am greatly wearyed and I wait for the entertainment which thou hast shewn me As the Traveller in his Journey at Night time desires the Sun-rising so do I desire after the clear light even the sight of the Father Son and Holy Ghost When my voice and speech shall fail me Grant O Merciful Saviour that thy Holy Spirit may speak unto thee in my Heart and make intercession for me with groanings that cannot be uttered Let his motions spring up in my breast and move thy Heart unto Mercy towards me Lord Jesus Christ who sittest at the right hand of thy Eternal Father receive my Spirit § 13. These were the Meditations and this the exercise of this Holy man upon his dying bed He felt this Tabernacle to be falling but knew he had an house not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens and his pious Soul was filled with Heavenly triumph in the certain expectation of a Glorious Resurrection of that same body of his which was now ready to be sown in corruption which with an admirable sweetness and comfort he thus express'd I shall see thee my Saviour in my flesh which thou hast exalted to the right hand of the Eternal Father and I will give thee thanks in the presence of thy Father for all the Good things which thou hast communicated unto me Yea thou wilt place thy Holy Angels to be the Guardians of my Body that they may keep my dust which hath been and to all Eternity shall be the dwelling place of thy Holy Spirit It is impossible that this flesh of mine which is the Temple of the Holy Ghost this Mass of my body which is quickened by the effusion and communication of the Spirit of Christ and so inserted into the flesh of Christ should be reduced unto nothing or abide in death and ever remain dust and ashes But thou who art the Author of Life will remand from the Earth this thine own Image even out of the smallest Crums of dust and ashes that are there By sending forth thy breath thou wilt again build up my body alive and Glorious which shall be the habitation of the whole Divinity dwelling therein to all Eternity There shall we follow the Lamb whithersoever he shall go O Guide truly fair and Divine There shall we sing a New Song Let us rejoyce Hallelujah O Come let us go forth to meet our Saviour Our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Right as Citizens is in Heaven but in this Life we must begin Eternal Life and follow the order which Christ hath appointed We shall be cloathed upon if so be that we be not found Naked That most lovely Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world will lead us unto the Fountains of living Waters and wipe away all Tears from our Eyes Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the Heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him This Earthly Life is Death but that Life which Christ begins in me is Life indeed Now it is no more I that live but Christ that liveth in me therefore let him be praised O happy Soul in which thou Jesus Christ sittest as the Guide and Rector of all its actions and Motions I see Heaven open unto me Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace O Lord for mine Eyes indeed have seen thy Salvation Thou O Christ art the Resurrection and Life How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord O Christ my Redeemer carefully watch my Soul that it suffer no detriment by the horrible and infernal Dragon the Devil Let my Soul be bound up in the bundle of Life and let this my passage hence be happy let it be to me the way to those that live an immortal and Heavenly Life § 14. After this he again most affectionately prayed for his Wife and Children but in terms arguing such a nearness to God and Holy Familiarity with him as if a man had been speaking to his Friend and devolving a care upon him that he knew most assuredly he would willingly take upon himself and see to He mightily Comforted himself with the thoughts of Christs sympathy and compassion who saith he will certainly hear me in all these things And when one exhorted him to be of good hope for God would help him he answered 'T is right The Lord will certainly help me by a final deliverance according to that Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord In the Lord then do I dye who is my Life I dye in the acknowledgment Faith and Confidence of Christ the Mediator who is my Shade of defence and my Brother who cloatheth me with the garment of his Righteousness I shall therefore be happy I shall be Righteous O sweet Blessedness sweet Righteousness O sweet change and Translation from Sin to Innocency from Darkness into Light from Death to Life Many Prayers also he put up for the Church of God especially that the pure Doctrine of the Gospel might be transmitted without corruption to Posterity and with Tears bewailed the wickedness of those who by their corrupt Notions were an hindrance to its course And once more a little before his Soul departed his Friends being about him he solemnly recommends himself to Christ and repeats the Confession of his Faith expressing great thankfulness to God for the Reformation and for those that he had used as Instruments therein I am now dying said he and dismist as that Servant of God holy Simeon I also being the Servant of God and Holy I dye in the Confession of the writings of the Prophets and Holy Apostles and of the Ancient Creeds and also adhering to the Augustane Confession I give thanks to God That of his Infinite goodness he hath dispell'd the darkness and restored to us the Light and Purity of his Gospel At length in the midst of his Prayers and earnest breathings after God he yielded up his Soul into the hands and bosom of his Redeemer where he rests from his Labours and his works follow him § 15. Another Instance worthy of our Remembrance and imitation I shall give you in Mr. Matthew Wesenbeck an eminent Civilian who after he had run the course of an Holy Life from his first Conversion to the fifty fifth year of his Age departed this Life at Wittenburg in the year 1586. The means by which God first awakened him to seek after and embrace the knowledge of the Truth was this While he was studying the Law at Lovane it fell out that there was a poor man in the City who being blind made it his business to visit the Sick and to instruct and comfort them as he could with Texts of Scripture in which he was well versed in recompence of which pious office those that were well disposed would relieve his Necessity with a piece of Bread and Cheese After some time this poor man was accused of
will rather open my sin before him in a most humble confession of it and pray that he will increase in me the Grace of true Repentance yea let him wear out this body with sorrow it matters not so he give to me a broken and a contrite Heart which is a sacrifice acceptable to himself As for my part I do most willingly offer up my self Accept O Lord this imperfect Sacrifice and supply the defects thereof by the perfect Righteousness of that great high Priest who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unto God without Spot Let me be accepted as a living Sacrifice holy and well-pleasing unto God which is our reasonable service Crucifie O Lord this old man that the body of sin may be utterly destroyed and I may rise again unto a new life The wages of Sin is death bu◠Rom. 6. ult the Gift of God is Eterna◠life by Jesus Christ our Lord Then repeating the word Gift he added It is meer Grace not of Works but of him that calleth Who shall la◠Rom. 8. 33. any thing to the charge of God elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth I◠is Christ that dyed yea rathe◠that is risen again who is eve◠at the right hand of God wh◠also maketh intercession for us Then after a little interruption of his discourse by a shor◠sleep he thus proceeded I am God's and he wil◠save me he hath honoure◠me with an holy Calling and hath not suffered his gif◠to be altogether useless in me as to the Edification of hi◠Church As to my self I can most truly affirm that I have not served him for filthy Lucre but with a sincere heart and that I was my self first perswaded of the truth of the Gospel and experienced the efficacy thereof before I preached it to others I tasted the good Word of God which by it's power pierceth even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Thou hast known my heart O Eternal God! thou knowest that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ but have esteemed it my only honour to serve thee and that I have delighted my self in the pleasure of obeying thy will Such was thy goodness unto me I truly and humbly acknowledge that whatsoever good was in me flowed from thy Grace bu◠my defects ought to be ascribed to my inbred Corruption Alas I acknowledg◠this with humble and serious repentance how oft hav◠I sinned in so holy a Charge not only by omitting man◠things which I ought to hav◠done but also by doing many things amiss How of have I offended through negligence and slackness Long since had I been cast off wer◠it not that I had to do wit◠so good a Lord who hat◠born with me and hath bee◠so gracious to me as no◠to exact a severe account o◠my Words and Works Alas O Lord my God! Enter no◠into Judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Let me be found not having mine own Righteousness but the Righteousness of thy Son for the sake of which I beg thy favour Pardon O my God Pardon the Iniquity of thy Servant who is devoted to thy Fear I refuse not thy discipline I know it is necessary only this I earnestly beg that it may turn to my Salvation Chasten me O Lord but in measure lest thou bring me to nothing Let not my tryal exceed my strength lest I Sin through Impatience and become a Scandal to those I should edifie O let me never break out into a murmuring complaint O how light is this chastisement if compared with my fault What are these temporal pains in comparison with those Eternal torments from which I am redeemed by him that poured out hi◠Soul upon the Cross for me For Me This is the languag◠of Faith which makes a particular application of General Promises This is a faithful saying and worthy of a◠1 Tim. 1. 15. acceptation That Jesus Chris◠came into the World to sav◠sinners of whom I am Chief Lord I believe help tho◠mine unbelief Turn tho◠me and I shall be turned indeed Seal all thy Promise in my Soul Cause in the inmost of my heart a lively perception of those sweet word◠My Son be of good comfor◠thy sins are forgiven the◠With such holy Meditatio◠and speeches as these was th◠Thursday night passed over § 7. On Friday morning Dec. 30. Mrs. Rivet his Wife put him in mind of sending one to the Hague for his Son By all means said he that ought to have been done sooner and then gave order himself concerning it About Nine of the Clock he was visited by Renessius a Doctor of Divinity and Pastor of a Dutch Church who in the Latine Tongue saluted him after this manner Most excellent man how do you To whom he answered in the same Language I am yet strong neither doth my Speech fail me but that passage in my bowels is not yet opened and unless that be opened I see I must make my passage another way even that which the Eternal God hath set before me from my Infancy I should be the most ungratefull of men if I should not acknowledge the mercy of God towards me who hath so wonderfully preserved me even from my Cradle Then rehearsing his deliverance from a very dangerous * Viz. A fall whereby his life was in graet hazard accident that befell him in his Infancy through the negligence of the Maid he added From that time my Mothe◠consecrated me unto God and he abundantly blessed me all my life-time and the whole Family And therefore I place all my hope in the goodness of God being ready either to live or to dye I have alwayes thought tha◠either this disease would be my death or else the Stone for I have scarce ever been afflicted with any other distemper I pray you to testifie unto all men that I dye in that Faith and Doctrine which I have alwayes delivered both in Preaching and Writing And if perhaps in some things I have erred I pray God that he will make perfect all my Imperfections The rest of the day was filled up with the Visits of Friends for he would have none hindred from coming to him Let all that will saith he have access to visit me I ought to give an Example of dying to other men With such sayings as these he filled the by standers both with Consolation and with Wonder while he thus proceeded Come see a man who is an Example of the Great Mercy of God What shall I render unto him All his Benefits overwhelm me He hath so disposed my Life that in my whole Course I have had an healthful Body he hath heaped upon me both temporal and spiritual Blessings And now before I am rendred feeble or morose thro' Old age he comes unto me and prevents me he both
I beseech you to signifie to them and to intreat for me that they will give me a place of Burial large enough for me and my wife who will quickly follow me When he had thus exprest himself he dismissed him with prayers for the welfare of him and his family § 11. About evening he desired to be helped out of his bed and to sit in a Chair where he perceived the swelling of his Belly to reach to the pit of his Stomach which gave him apprehension that hiâ— end drew neer wherefore sending for Mr. Dauber an emineâ— Civilian he imparted to hiâ— his purpose of adding a Codicil to his Will And in ordeâ— thereto he sent for the Town Clerk and the two Consuls anâ— having fully declared his minâ— to them the business being donâ— and sealed he began to discourse of another settlemenâ— by the resignation of himseâ— and his into the hands anâ— unto the care of God expressing his assurance of the blessing of God upon his and the added That he did exceedingly rejoyce that he should leave behiâ— him a Wife excelling in virtâ— and motherly affection to the chiâ—dren of her husband and also â— Son that was a good man aâ— studious of peace who would be a Father to the * The Children of one of his Sons that was deceased three little ones whose Guardian he was appointed by that Codicil And for this last office he rendred unto them his thanks and to the Council of the City in general and in particular blessed each of them and their Families And when they were departed he went to his bed again and seeing no body stand about him but his little Family he said to his Niece My Daughter do not depart from me but persist with me in the duty of Prayer do not fear to rehearse all those words to me which God shall suggest unto thy heart or mouth this sweet and pleasing communication shall help to pass over this night with the more ease And God will be with us and assist our good intentions He will help our weaknesses and afford us matter of supplications and thanksgivings such discourses are pleasing unto him he attends unto them that fear him when they talk together of those things that belong to the Salvation of their Souls And then as one in a Rapture he said My God! thou hast drawn me and I was drawn thou hast known me from my Mothers womb with a Merciful and Efficacious knowledge thou hasâ— called me by Name thou hast bored mine Ears and I was attentive I have declared thy message in the Congregation and thy word was sweeter than Honey in my mouth Who am I O God but dust and ashes an earthen and a frail Vessel into which notwithstanding thou hast been pleased to pour an holy liquor and seed of immortality Thou livest and thou makest me to live I shall not dye but live for ever with that life which is Col. 3. 3. hid with Christ in God Blessed and holy is he which hath a part in the first Resurrection over him Rev. 20. 6. the second death shall have no power Behold I am dead and also raised from the dead I live not in my self but in the life of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me What should I mention more I can make no return of thy faithfulness to me or of the benefits thou hast bestowed on me Thou hadst chosen me before thou gavest me a being and it pleased thee that I should be born of believing Parents and especially of a Mother eminent in Holiness who dedicated me to thy service from my tender years With how many prayers did she stir me up to that holy purpose With what care and affection did she instill the seeds of Piety into me And the Almighty God who worketh all in all gave his blessing to this diligent nurture and heard her ardent prayers and my Ministry hath been accepted of him I am thy servant O my God thou hast taught me from my youth and I have taught thy wonderful works and thy grace unto this day for thy gifts have not been without fruit in me Thou usest weak instruments for the accomplishing of thy work Thou hast pardoned thou hast helped me thou hast accepted the truth and sincerity of my heart And now O my God seeing it is evident thou wilt have me retire from this valley of Miseries do not thou forsake me in this last and important act If it be thy will that I dye that also is my will I am ready my heart is prepared I give thee my heart for that is it which thou requirest Let this gift be approved by thee Receive this gift which is thine own from him to whom thou hast given all things who gives himself to thee O Lord I give thee thanks thou instructest me thou inlightenest me thou talkest with my Soul O Lord thou imbracest me in the arms of thy mercy Grant also that I may embrace thee by a lively Faith and that I may apply unto my self the Promises of the Gospel which I have proposed unto others let them be Effectual in me that by them I may be supported against all pains yea death it self § 12. Then turning his speech to his Niece he said That I may not tire thee with long discourses Admire thou the Grace of God towards me and bless him who fortifies me with patience Observe my words unto my last breath and commit them to writing as fully as thou canst that thereby my dearest Brother with others of my near kindred and affinity as also my friends may be Comforted and Refreshed To which when she returned answer That she was unable to retain and commit to wriing such an abundance of holy speeches as flowed from him he Replyed Fear not only do thine endeavour and God will help thee If God give me strength I will write a short Epistle which shall be for a testimony that Credit is to be given to thy Relation And he was alwaies wont upon the mention of any thing of this nature to adde Not that I would hereby procure praise to my self But I would have it known unto all That the Religion which I have professed and taught in the name of God is the true Religion and that alone which leads men unto Salvation And particularly I would have my brother informed of that inestimable Grace which I have received of God that he may be abundantly comforted and strengthened in his expectation of a better life which I already enjoy O with how great love have I loved him and esteemed him yea I have loved the gifts of God in him and shalâ— love them to the last I pray God who is the giver of every good gift that he will fullfill strengthen and make perfect his own work in him that he will guide him with his Counsel and at length save and receive him to his Rest The same prayers I make for my Nephew
of my Race I go on I gather new Strength I touch the Prize I take hold of Eternal Life This body fainteth this Tabernacle is destroyed But there is reserved for me an house in the Heavens not made with hands There is reserved for me in the Heavens an incorruptible Inheritance that can neither be defiled nor fade away About Midnight his pains increased exceedingly which caused him to break forth into bitter cries calling upon God for his help Come Lord Jesus Come I can bear no more yet is not my patience lost but the desire of my Soul towards thee is like that of the dry and thirsty Ground As the Hart panteth for the brooks of water so pantetli my Soul for thee O God! O when shall I come and appear before God! My Strength fails me more and more but my Soul is strong and joyful Presently upon this he fell into a great fainting which Physitians call Lipothymia on which occasion Mr. Martin Lydius a Dutch Minister was instantly called in He was one that Dr. Rivet had a great affection for and he was daily with him during his sickness And therefore what passed between them two we will set down in Lydius his own words which are as follow § 34. This Reverend Father in Christ required that I should be often called to him in the time of his sickness having formerly been his Scholar at Leyden When I came first to him he exhorted me with sweet words to proceed as I had begun saying that it greatly rejoyced him to understand the Affection which the Church at Breda had for me Wherefore I pray thee said he Give me thy hand Go on to adorn the service thou hast undertaken Then he uttered an excellent Confession of his Faith with a strong Voice in which he shewed on what stayes the Protestant Religion which he had hitherto propagated both by Preaching and Writing leaned for the obtaining of that Consolation both in life and death which the miserable Papists cannot have And when I recited some select places of Scripture to him out of the Old or New Testament he would rehearse them again either in Hebrew or Greek I said that I doubted not but with Stephen the Protomartyr he did already see Heaven opened c. To which he replyed with a chearful Countenance and Voice O I have seen that a good while I excused my self that I could not pray to God with him because I was a stranger to the French Tongue and the by-standers understood not the Latine Tongue but he said Pray in that Tongue which both thee and I understand which when I had done and prayers were ended he gave me thanks saying The Spirit of God hath spoken by thy mouth and thou hast exceedingly strengthened me I desire thou wilt alwayes remember me in publick prayers in the Church The next day being exceedingly ill he commanded that none should be admitted to him But when Mrs. Moline heard my Voice she brought me to the bed-side and he received me with a chearful Countenance I am glad said he that thou art come I told him the present time required that he should cast all his cares upon God and be no more solicitous about any thing He answered Yea truly There is nothing that I am any more Solicitous about I only desire the coming of my Saviour yea his speedy coming that I may be loosed from this body of Sin and be with Christ who is gain unto me both in life and death I embrace Christ by Faith I am eve◠pressed down but I am i◠the hand of my Shepherd I embrace my Saviour Jesus Christ and do now wholly pant after my God When he had spoken these and other things of like nature I bid him Farewel but he again desired me to pray with him which being done with a sigh he said O how sweet is this When the fatal day was come about two a Clock in the Morning he would have me called and when I drew near to his bed he took hold of my hand to whom I said Yet a little while and he that shall come will come He answered And why doth he not come And immediately added Yea he is come already This I Testifie Martinus Lydius Preacher at Breda § 35. About three of the Saturday Jan. 7. Clock in the Morning his Wife came near to him and beholding in his Countenance the Image of death she chearfully said Farewel my dear Go rejoycing into eternal life Thou sayest true said he I go unto my God and your God We are all Gainers Amen! Amen Farewel my Son Farewel my dear Niece Fear not I have prayed for you Ye shal◠be happy Persevere to th◠end that none get away your Crown I go before you and ye shall follow me you have no cause to doubt of it We shall be caught up together to meet the Lord i◠the Air and so we shall fo◠ever be with the Lord I have no more to say or do I am ready I am prepared Come Lord Jesus Come receive thy Creature I aspire I hope I knock at the Gate Open O Lord Open unto thy poor Servant His Oppression was manifestly discerned to increase upon him and also a mortal Sopor or drowsiness and Rotling came upon him The Chamber was filled with company but most were of the mind it was not meet to weary him any longer with discourse seeing nothing could be added to that abundant Testimony of his Faith which they had already Therefore about five in the Morning they all departed except Mr. Lydius who silently waited the last season of praying to God for him when he should be drawing his last breath But when it was past eight of the Clock and he discerned but little change and found his Pulse much the same he thought he might abide in that Agony untill Evening therefore he departed promising to return as soon as they should send for him Only those of his own house remained with him who feared to molest him by speaking and were also uncertain whether he could speak or not because of his extream oppression and his lying with his Mouth open Friends at length prevailed with his Wife to withdraw from the sight of his last Agony and only his Son and Niece stood by the Bed expecting his last breath yet neither did they think that had been so near as it was About half an hour after Eight the Colour of his Face was wholly changed and Convulsive motions came on Then his Niece asked him if he yet had his understanding Alas said he speak as complaining of their silence Then said she I pray you do you still feel the sence of inward Joy To which he replyed intelligibly enough Yea My Confidence is firm in me Then making a sign That he would be raised a little His Son and his Niece on each side enfolding their arms about him lifted him higher Then fixing his eyes a while upon them he said Help me
little pause and breathing he renewed his prayer in these words Christ Jesus save me which were the last he uttered and then sweetly breathed forth his pious Soul into the bosom of his Redeemer He changed this Life for an Heavenly on the first day of December in the year 1531. And as Mr. Rollock professed upon his death-bed that he had laid up nothing of this World in his Life so it is observed of this good man That he made no Will because he had nothing to dispose of So far were these first Reformers from seeking great things for themselves Riches profit not in the day of wrath but Righteousness delivereth from death Pro. 11. 4. To be rich towards God to have Luk. 12. 21 an Heart filled with Grace and Spiritual Comfort and the testimony 2 Cor. 1. 12 of a good Conscience that with simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the World will prove the best portion when we come to dye and afford such ease to us upon a sick bed as all the Treasure under Heaven cannot procure the like § 11. The Jewish Writers from that Passage of the Psalmist Psa 41. 3. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness have a Proverbial saying in Tract Nedar to this sence Majestas divina sedet ad caput lecti aegrotantis i. e. The divine Majesty sitteth or abideth at the sick mans beds-head His sick bed is turned into a Sanctuary by the Gracious presence of God with him This we have seen verified in the former Examples and shall yet meet with a further Confirmation of in the experience of Joachimus Curaeus Curaeus a Learned and Pious Doctor of Physick in Germany and a Zealous Protestant who finished his course in the year 1573. being the Forty first currant of his age He was a person that esteemed Religion to be his greatest concern while he lived and continually exercised himself in a diligent and serious practice thereof And as he would by no means be diverted from working out his own Salvation with fear and trembling by fervent Prayer and all manner of Holy Conversation in the World so it pleased God when he called him out of the World to afford him such an abundant Enjoyment and sence of his love in Christ as carryed him through the Agonies of death with a more than ordinary Triumph and rejoycing In his last hours it was most convincingly manifest that Christ had given unto him a large draught of that water of Life which was in him a well of water springing up unto Eternal Life from which blessed Fountain he poured forth abundant Consolations to all that were with him in that Conflict if so happy a departure and so sweet a sleep as death was made to him may yet be called a Conflict When he found his sickness had prevailed over Nature so far as that his dissolution must needs be hastning on he wholly applyed himself to ardent Prayers and Supplications unto God making use of that exercise for the ease and support of his Soul in sickness which had been his delight and Comfort in his health And several times in one day causing his his Wife and Children to come to him he did with an inexpressible Zeal and Affection exhort them to Piety and Virtue and then in a solemn manner recommended both them and his last charge to them to the blessing of God who in this also heard the Prayers of his Servant and raised up two of his Sons after him to be eminent examples both of Piety Virtue and Learning in their Generation thereby making good his word That the Generation of the upright shall be blessed § 12. Being taken away in the midst of his years at that age which was the ripest for Service he would often repeat the mournful complaint of Hezekiah I have cut off like a Weaver my life c But then his perfect acquiescence in the will of God and rejoycing in his Salvation was as frequently exprest in the following words which are some of those holy sayings which plentifully issued from his pure Heart in this last sickness viz. I am broken O Lord but it satisfies me that thy hand hath done this not the Devil The Body indeed suffers because of Sin but thou Comfortest my Soul with a most sure Hope and expectation of eternal Life I believe O Lord I believe but do thou help mine unbelief I have received a Message of death but I will wrestle with thee O Lord Jesus after the Example of thy holy Pilgrim Jacob untill the Morning beams of thy light break up arise and shine upon me neither will I let thee go unless thou bless me and my Soul be saved Therefore O Jesus Christ thou wilt bless me and save my Soul giving unto me a Believer Remission of Sins Righteousness and Life Come Lord Jesus and let all that love thee say Come And he that loves thee not let him be Anathema Maranatha Thou knowest O Lord who art the searcher of Hearts That I love thee And thou lovest me yea thou lovest me in Truth and art my Redeemer by thy Merit and Efficacy Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit for thou hast Redeemed me O Lord God of Truth And then reflecting upon the time of his sickness for he dyed January 21. he proceeded in further expressions of his assured Confidence in God and inward Joy through the lively hope and foretast of the blessings of that Kingdom he was going to after this manner I shall be with thee in the beginning of this new Year I shall be satiated with the sight of thee O Lord I shall drink with thee at thy Table the New Juice of Eternal Joy even in thy Fathers house where there are many Mansions there is a place for me also and there shall I sit at thy Table Refresh me O Son of God with thy Spirit and with thy quickening presence I come unto thee Jesus Christ Receive thou me according to thy Promise which is the only repast and Recreation of my Soul Iam meum pectus ardet conspectu vitae eternae cujus verè sentio in me initia i. e. Now doth my Heart burn through the sight of Eternal Life the Beginnings of which I truly feel in my self And this is Life Eternal to know thee the true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Through thy goodness I have learned and I have taught others rightly to acknowledge thee Do thou again acknowledge me O Son of God and embrace me with thy Saving Grace even with thy Holy Spirit do thou present this Soul to thy Eternal Father who will readily receive it from thy hand My desire and rejoycing is to come unto him and because I am not yet come all delay seems long unto me O thou Sun of Righteousness light me into Eternal light and Righteousness I desire with thine Apostle to be
Heresie and committed to Prison near this prison Wesenbeck with his fellow Students were wont to recreate themselves with the Ball on which occasion they often heard this blind man with a clear voice singing the Psalms of David according to Luthers Metaphrase and this Holy exercise the good man performed with so much Devotion and Affection as wrought in them a more than ordinary attention to him although it was not without some danger to themselves And it pleased God so to work upon Wesenbeck by this example of Christian constancy and Zeal together with the matter which he heard that thenceforward he began diligently to search the Scriptures and also to read the Writings of those of the Reformed Religion by which means he became not only fully convinced of the Truth but also received it in the Love thereof and abode most constant in the Faith and Practice of it to his dying day being an eminent example of Zeal and strict Piety in his whole life He had an extraordinary Affection to the Holy Scriptures but especially the book of Psalms and the New Testament were most dear and delightful to him And notwithstanding the necessary course of his Studyes and for some time also great Practice in the Law he usually spent at fit seasons no less than five hours in a day in Prayers and retired communion with God He was not like many that can â—â—d no leisure for Religion â—hat is cannot attend to work â—ut their own Salvation but made Conscience to steer his whole course as a man resolâ—ed for Heaven And his Righâ—eousness and Charity towards men was not inferior to his Piety towards God He ever â—bhorr'd those Artifices which â—re too common with practitioners in the Law his Candor â—aithfulness and Justice in his practice made his Name precious to all that knew him And as it pleased God to bless him with a plentiful Supply of the good things of this world so Religion taught him not to â—rust in uncertain Riches but â—o be rich in good works His way was to give a charge â—o all his Servants that they should never turn away the Poor from his door without relief And when they haâ— not presently regarded the poor nor listened so soon as they ought to their cry himself would open his Window and throw down Money to them Thus did this good man spend his Life and his Substance in the Fear of God and working Righteousness and accordingly his latter end was Peace for when he lay upon his death Bed he was filled with the Consolations of God He woulâ— often repeat that of the Apostle Paul Rom. 7. O wretcheâ— man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And that 2 Cor. 1. He hath sealed us and given the earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts by which we cry Abba Father Another time with great reâ—oycing he told those that were with him That now God had shewn to him a place of Eternal Joy unto which he should immediately come and the only thing he desired was that his coming thither might be hastened He would often rehearse divers passages out of the Psalms as The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him in Truth He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will hear their prayer and save them And immediately before he gave up the Ghost he professed That he was in Covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ which words were his last § 16. In these experiences we see that they which believe in Christ never dye i. e. thâ—â— never feel the Sâ—ng of death nor fall under its power but are enabled by the Faith of the Son of God perfectly to vanquish 〈◊〉 King of Terrors yea though death assail them in his most affrighting shape yet is he not able to remove them from their stedfastness or to abate their Joyes we have innumerable proofs of this in the End of those Holy Martyrs who though they have been called to seal their Witness for God by violent yea by most cruel kinds of death have notwithstanding finished their course with a most Glorious Peace and rejoycing in the hope of their calling Howbeit I shall not here insist on any of those instances But to let you see that death in it's darkest dress is welcome to a man assured of his Interest in Christ and Peace with God take the story of one Sebaldus Munster a Civilian that flourished about the year 1540. Whom it pleased the Lord to visit with the Plague of which he dyed at Wittenberg in a time when a general sickness raged there This person when some of his Friends came to visit and Comfort him a few hours before his death he shewed to them the Swellings and pestiferous Ulcers which were broken out in his Hand and Arm saying And how do these Bracelets and precious Gemms wherewith my Christ hath adorned me please you At which words when they brake forth into Tears he farther said Let not these by any means seem loathsome unto you for with this Wedding-apparel am I going to enjoy that Heavenly Feast which I shall have with my Christ for ever Thus shall I pass to that everlasting Council of most Excellent and holy Souls and thus shall I be acceptable to God my Redeemer Thus triumphing and full of Joy did he leave the World having got a clear sight of a better that is an Heavenly Countrey And though to dye of the Plague may seem to Sence very dismal yet as Austin hath well observed lib. 1. de Civitate Dei cap. 11. Mala mors putanda non est quam bona vita praecesserit c i. e. No kind of Death is to be esteemed evil which hath been preceded by a good Life for nothing makes Death evil but that which follows Death Therefore they that of necessity must dye once need not be Thoughtful by what accident they may come to dye but rather whither they must go when they dye 'T is an excellent saying of the Author of the Book of Wisdom chap. 4. 7. The Righteous man though prevented by Death shall be in rest The most terrible or suddain stroke can make no breach upon his happiness to whom to live is Christ and to dye is gain They are alwaies safe that have made their Calling and Election sure and on the contrary such are alwayes in danger that live without God in the World I Remember upon occasion of that passage before cited from the Book of Wisdom Mr. Forbs in his Instr Histor Theolog. makes mention of a very memorable Story of a pious and learned man that dyed suddainly in his Study and when some were scandalized at it rashly interpreting this Providence as a Testimony of Gods displeasure against him it so fell out by the wise and Gracious ordering of God for their Conviction and a testimony to his servant that he was found sitting with a Book open before him
and remember the Grace of God in me Consider how he brings me down by his mighty hand that he may exalt and Glorifie me in due time The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us This is my joy to glorifie God in my death sweet Death that is a passage unto life eternal O God strengthen the Soul of thy Servant that he may abide constant and invincible unto death I hope the Combat will not continue long Bring to pass O Lord that the End may Crown the Work § 27. Amongst the many Physitians that had attended on him there was one Dr. Crucius a Roman Catholick who came this Morning to visit him and asked him if he still continued to be of good courage Yea verily said he for I am in God and God is in me The Cross which God hath sent is small Every one must bear his Cross that he may follow Christ who hath suffered so great things for me though he deserved no such suffering This Cross increaseth my hope The Lord is Gracious who entreth not into Judgment with his poor Servant Christ hath dyed for my Sins and is risen again for my Justification A while after Mr. Wickelmans a Dutch Minister came and spake to him in the Latine tongue to whom he answered in the same Language God Strengthens me and he will preserve me from all evil I give thanks unto my God for that unspeakable goodness which he hath poured upon me he succours me in this work he hath been alwaies present with me even to this Extremity Then the Minister repeated to him the words of the Apostle 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness At which words he cryed out O welcome Crown there is nothing else that I wait for God dwells in me by his holy Spirit which shall never be taken away from me Grant O Lord that I may keep thy Commands Again when beholding hiâ— pains he exhorted him to patience he answered We cannot we ought noâ— to resist the will of God O Eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ I give theâ— thanks for thy exceeding greaâ— benefits That it hath pleaseâ— thee that I should declare thy Praise even unto very Old Age and that thou makest me able to persist therein unto the last breath of my life § 28. At another hour when the same Minister visited him again and said You are still fighting the Good fight he answered In hope and patience I am wholly Gods and Jesus Christ's my Saviour I believe that he will keep what I have committed to him against that day Even so come Lord Jesus And when this Minister had prayed with him he returned him thanks in these words I give you thanks for your holy Prayers I doubt not but God will hear them God bless you I beseech him to make you a very powerful Instrument of his Glory He also added God hath fulfilled all his Promises in me I have seen them afar off I have believed them I have embraced them I wait for nothing more but to breathe forth my last breath God possesseth me already I feel that there is nothing wanting but that he will give me the wings of an Eagle that I may fly to the Carkass Immediately he subjoyned a verse or two out of one of Beza's French Poems to this sence O Holy Word With all my Heart To thee I flye § 29. Towards Evening the Pangs of death increased upon him The extreme Pains of his bowels his suddain fainting aâ—â— and other grievous Symptoms were the indications of approaching death But in this state and utter decay of thâ— strength of nature his exercisâ— of Faith was strengthened sâ— much the more and his patience confirmed Mourn noâ— for me said he These last hours have nothing terrible in them The body indeed suffers but the Soul is Comforted and filled abundantly The Lord is my Shepherd I shall want nothing His Rod and his Staff shall lead me safely through this short valley of the Shadow of death This little cloud hinders me not from beholding that Heavenly Light which already enlightens my Soul O Lord thou givest me light thou warmest me thou liftest me on high and I gladly follow thee being carried aloft upon the wings of Faith The sharper my pains are the nearer I am to deliverance My wound is grievous but I was silent because thou didst it Have mercy on me O Lord O my God deliver me I am impatient of delay I know that God is faithful and with the temptation he will give a way of escape that I may be able to bear it When he looked towards his Wife she thus addressed her self to him My dear I bless God and rejoyce for thee that I have seen so much of the Grace of God in thee To which he replyed Thou doest well my dear Love The Lord confirm and strengthen thy joy Mine is solid I rejoyce that thou seest the end of my Conversation Thou hast known me and thou knowest that I hate Ostentation and that more hath been attributed to me by others than I have believed of my self for I have been conscious of mine own infirmities and that whatsoever good might be in me was not of my self The Glory is to be ascribed to God alone he hath done the work Perfect O Lord and Crown thine own work I complain not of my pains I have not flattered my self in my disease for when I was first seized by it I was aware that God called for me Is it not time my dearest love Afflict not thy self I go before thou shalt follow e're long Thou hast afforded me help and hast kindly succour'd me God will bless thee and save thee doubt it not It hath been grateful to me and I most kindly accept it that thou hast had so great a Love for this little Boy pointing to his Grand-son make proof of thy love to me by loving him it is a Child void of malice and I have good hope of him if he be well guided Then calling the Child he said Give me thy hand my Son See thy Grandfather upon his death-bed Thou hast already lost thy Grandfather by Mothers side who was a pious and upright man Now thou losest thy Grandfather by Fathers side but thou hast a Grandfather in Heaven on both sides that will never be wanting to thee I hope my blessing will redound upon thee Then taking him between his hands My little Child said he Pray to God! If thou do this diligently thou shalt be like a tall and beautiful Tree planted by the Rivers of waters Have thou fair branches and be fruitful that is Fear God Then shalt thou bring forth Wisdom Prudence and Understanding Be thou Good and Beneficent shunning evil company and God will bless thee thou shalt not be
I am going Accordingly the Lord bringing to their mind many choice Scriptures apt for the occasion they by turns proposed them to him And he received them with great joy adding So it is and Amen Often also he would pronounce himself the last words of that Portion of Scripture which they were rehearsing to him as in Psal 36. How excellent is thy loving kindness O God! Therefore do the Sons of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings Thou wilt abundantly satisfie them with the fatness of thy House and make them to drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures which last sentence he rehearsed himself in the French Metre And the same he did from Psal 65. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts We shall be abundantly Satisfied with the goodness of thy House even of thy holy Temple § 36. Then his Son said I am sorry that we are alone I am not alone said he God is with me Be you then an Evangelist to your self said his Son forasmuch as you have received the Ministry of Reconciliation deliver the tidings of peace to your own Soul That I do saith he my Soul believes Then fear nothing He that believes in Jesus Christ shall never perish He added But shall have Eternal Life While prayers were making for him in this last Combat with the pains of Death at the end of almost every sentence he would interpose some word or words expressing the sence of his mind with respect to those petitions As thus O great God send thy Spirit of Consolation he is already come and give unto thy Servant the sense of thy love that he hath done Give unto him the Garment of Salvation he hath given it All is well enter therefore thou good Servant into the Joy of thy Lord he calleth thee At which words he raised up himself and stretched forth his Arms Also O Lord strengthen more and more the Faith of thy Servant in this last agony let him see let him hear thy voice let him raise up himself and take hold on Eternal Life Yea I am of good Comfort Let us go to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy It is done Leave therefore with a joyful mind this body to the Earth and yield up thy Spirit into the hands of God who hath given it Take hold of the Shield of Faith yea put on the whole Armor of God I have it Then he began himself to recite those words I have fought a good fight c. And when one had repeated what follows and came to those words which God the righteous Judge will give he added He will do it And when one said Behold the last moment of deliverance O God give Wings unto thy Servant open thy Paradise unto him Let him be received unto the beholding of thy Face He added With the Spirits of just men made perfect Let him receive the white Stone and the hidden Manna and let him bear his part in that New Song which none understands but he that sings it To which he said Amen! In these last Moments there came in some of his Friends who were witnesses of his happy Departure But the Ministers above named viz Lydius and Hulsius came too late to hear him speak any thing Howbeit a short Prayer was made for him after which when he had abode a while with his Eyes fixed and his hands lift up towards Heaven One of the standers by said I am perswaded this man doth already enjoy the Vision of God whereupon he earnestly endeavoured to utter the Word Yea And almost in the same moment sweetly breathed forth his Soul about half an hour after Nine of the Clock on Saturday morning being Jan. 7. After he had lived seventy eight years six Months and five dayes AN APPENDIX WHEREIN A CHRISTIAN 's Triumph over Death is Illustrated by some more memorable Examples § 1. THE Jewish Masters have a saying recorded in their Talm. Hierosol which * Buxt Adag Hebraic Buxtorf thus translates Non facienda sunt Monumenta justis sc defunctis Verba ipsorum sunt monumenta ipsorum That is Monuments are not to be erected to the Righteous when deceased Their Words are their Monuments They need not the help of Art to perpetuate or to embalm their Names who have lived and dyed eminent Examples of Piety and Holiness For they shall be had in everlasting remembrance The Memory of the Psal 112. 6. just is blessed but the Name of the wicked shall rot Prov. 10. 7. As for that worthy and holy person whose triumphant passage thro' Death into the Joy of his Lord we have already had a Relation of It may be questioned whether his most fruitful and learned works while he lived or his gracious speeches and demeanour when he dyed have contributed most to the Eternizing of his Name But it is beyond all Question that both the one and the other have raised unto him a Monument Aere perennius and as in both he hath been an eminent Instrument of Glorifying God in the World and strengthening the Faith of his Brethren so his Name will be remembred with Honour and Thanksgiving to God on the account of both from Generation to Generation We have beheld in him what Bernard tells us he saw in dying Gerardus viz. Hominem in morte exultantem insultantem morti i. e. A man greatly rejoycing in death and insulting over death which teacheth us that the Apostles holy Triumph O death 1 Cor. 15. 55. where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory is no vain flourish of words or empty Speculation but a Truth sealed to in the Experience of a Christian who with a Joy unspeakable and full of Glory can joyn with him in the Agonyes of Death in his following Song of Praise Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory thro' our Lord Jesus Christ Ver. 57. In such instances as these we have a very valuable Evidence of the Truth and Excellency of the Christian Religion and the Certainty of a future State and blessed Immortality Those things must needs be real in themselves whose Efficacy is so great upon the Soul of a man in such an hour Death is no Fancy neither can Fables with what Art or Cunning soever they are devised relieve a man against the bitter pangs of it The proud boasts of the Atheist and Debauchee are soon quelled by this King of Terrors the very thought of whose approach surprizes them with Consternation and guilty fears But the lively hope of Pardon in the Blood of Christ the Smiles of a reconciled God and foretastes of heavenly Joy make the true and sincere Christian more than a Conqueror in this Conflict He can fear no evil because God is with him whose presence makes his Sick-bed easie and gives him Prospect of the greatest Gain in the loss of this Temporal Life He can say as the
the alluring Ornaments of speech The Preaching of the Word consists in Holiness Humility and the powerful demonstration of the Spirit How great my esteem of it hath ever been God is Witness Then turning his discourse into Prayer he said Come Lord Jesus break asunder the Nerves of these Eyes and give me other Eyes I desire to be dissolved and to be with thee Hasten thy coming O Lord Jesus and deferre no longer Let this faint life go forth that the better Life of God may enter in Lord Jesus put forth thy hand into this body and take out this Soul unto thy self § 7. From that time till the Sabbath day morning he kept silence when again the longings he had after his Fathers House were breathed forth in these words Come Lord and tarry not I am wearyed with the loathing of day and night Come Lord Jesus that I may come to thee O sweet and happy divorce from this Life Come Lord who art my sweetness and set this Soul at liberty that it may enjoy thee it's Husband break this Heart of mine in two that it may fly to thee it's Head To this one replyed Hitherto Christ hath possessed your whole heart and he will take it whole unto himself To which he returned answer I desire the breaking in two of this Heart that this natural Life may be let out and it may be wholly replenisht with the Life of Christ Then one of the by-standers said Let no anxiety trouble you your Lord is now hastening Those said he are welcome tidings unto me I would my Funeral was to be to morrow Another said Happy is that Soul which is so near to the Lord as yours is To which he replyed There is nothing in me which I account not as dung that I may win Christ Christ is the only matter of my Comfort my own Righteousness is a menstruous cloth Being asked if he desired to speak with any of the Ministers he said he would not give them trouble now they were just preparing themselves to preach Let me said he chatter with my Lord like a Crane Being informed that Sermon was begun Lord said he grant that I may see what others now hear About noon when one comforted him with the remembrance of his unwearied pains and diligent endeavour to promote the Glory of God all his life time he replyed I have nothing to Glory in but the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus All other things I count but loss After a little rest a person of considerable rank visiting him he again took the occasion of an earnest recommendation of what might tend to the promoting of Religion to his care in his Station And in the following Night he was observed to say I have a peaceful mind in a sick body I am not perplex't with the fear of Death Sin or Satan they have no Dominion over me yet so great is the weight of my distemper that it is much beyond expectation that I subsist to this hour He bruises me as with a Pestle in the Mortar of Affliction that he may form me for his own Kingdom § 8. On the next day being Monday he said to those about him It may seem strange seeing I am so sorely handled with my disease that my life should be protracted thus long But with patience I wait for the good pleasure of the Lord Let him do with me what pleaseth him I will not dispute it with him What is man that he should dare to contend with God! yea though he should thrust him down to Hell he must obey and not reply upon God Be gracious unto me O Lord for Christ Jesus sake I am not ashamed to profess that I never before attained to so high a pitch of the Knowledge of God as I have done in this sickness O what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the Lord But Mercy is laid up for me in Christ Why art thou Sorrowful O my Soul why art thou cast down within me thou shalt by and by obtain a most pleasant sight and congress Towards evening he told his Friends that he experienced in himself the truth of the sixth Psalm and repeated some Passages therein as verse 2. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed To which he added Christ will bear my burthen and I will follow him being unheld by his Grace When those that were about him observing the bitterness and extremity of his disease brake out into Tears and Lamentation for him Lament not my case said he but weep for your own sins seeing none are free from sin none want occasion of weeping but as for me I shall quickly see the end and consummation of all The care of his Funeral he recommended to two of his intire Friends present and when he had finished his Directions about what he would have done therein he said Why should I not take care of this body seeing that also shall be glorified and made conformable to the glorious body of Christ and looking upon his hands These very hands shall shine with excellent Glory After this he was not able to speak much but to the very last what he did utter was with a wonderful savour still expressing the inward joy and peace of his Soul and a most assured Confidence of a compleat and glorious Victory in this last conflict and in a few hours he finished his course and sweetly slept in Jesus Before I pass to another Story I cannot but mention one thing more that happened a little before this holy man drew his last breath And it is this One of his kindred coming in to see him and perceiving that he was nigh to death being himself a Stranger to Religion and Piety yet convinced that it could not but be well with so holy a man as Mr. Rollock entreated of him That when he came to Heaven he would Mediate for him and the rest of his Friends here below But how grievous this ignorant and impious request was to the Soul of this blessed Saint will be easily guessed by those that as he did love the honour of Christ more than their own lives Though before he lay as one ready to give up the Ghost at the hearing of this his Zeal was so stirred in him that he raises himself upright and with a great fervency replyes I refuse that Office Christ is the only Mediator And so deep was the impression of trouble this made upon his Spirit that a while after when his elder Brother came to visit him he left this charge upon him Do you said he rebuke that Kinsman of ours and admonish him that he take another course otherwise there is no Salvation for him but most certain ruine § 9. The next instance I shall touch upon is that of Mr. John Oecolampadius Oecolampadius who while he lived was also an eminent Instrument in the Reformation of Religion and one of the first with
and his finger pointed to these words Justus quâcunque morte preoccupatus fuerit in refrigerio erit i. e. By what Death soever the Righteous man is prevented he shall be in rest § 17. These things may suffice as to my present design And therefore I will close all with the Addition of but one Story more which for the remarkable circumstances of it may be neither unprofitable nor ungrateful to those Readers which have not access to it in the Latin tongue for whose accommodation and service the whole of this little Tract is intended The Story I intend is related by the excellent Dr. Rivet in an Epistle written not long before his Death to his Brother De bonâ Senectute Of a good Old Age And it is this Jacobus Faber a great restorer both of Polite Learning and Religion in France being a most Faithful and eminent Minister of the Gospel there did in a time of very hot Persecution Flye with others and for his security retired to Albret in Gascoign to the Queen of Navarre a zealous Professor and Protectress of the Reformed Religion with whom he was in Great esteem On a certain day the Queen did advertise him That she purposed to come and dine at his House and in order thereto invited some Learned men with whose Conference she was much pleased to accompany her there While they were at Dinner Faber began to be exceeding sad and now and then to break out into tears At which the Queen complained and desired him to tell the cause of such heaviness when she was come to dine and be merry with him At last he answered And how can I most Serene Queen be chearful my self or make others chearful who am the most wicked man that the Earth bears And what wickedness so great saith she can you be guilty of who from your Youth have been esteemed to lead so holy a Life I am said he now of the age of an hundred and one years and am free from the touch of any Woman in all this time neither do I remember ought that burthens my Conscience or should make me afraid to leave the World except one sin which I believe too is pardonable And when she pressed him to declare what it was he could not speak a while for the abundance of tears but at length said How can I stand before the Tribunal of God who have purely and sincerely taught many the Holy Gospel of the Son of God who following my Doctrine have constantly endured a thousand torments and death it self when I my self an unconstant Teacher did flee and tho' I had lived long enough and should not have feared Death but rather coveted it yet I withdrew my self and cowardly transgressed the Command of my God Whereupon the Queen as she was very eloquent and full of Divine Sayings discoursed largely to him and did by many Examples shew that the same thing had happened to many Good and Holy men who were now in the Kingdom of God and therefore he ought not in any wise to despair of the Goodness and Mercy of God towards him And many things to the same purpose were added by others present Upon which he was comforted and became chearful again but said Now therefore nothing remains but that I go from hence to God as soon as I have made my Will I have that Impression that I must deferre no longer for I perceive God calls me Then fixing his eyes on the Queen Madam said he I appoint you my Heir and to your Preacher Mr. Gerard I bequeath all my Books my Cloaths and whatsoever else I have I give to the Poor Other things I commend to God At this the Queen smiling asked What then shall I have James out of the Inheritance The care said he of distributing this to the Poor It is well said she I solemnly profess this Legacy is more acceptable to me than if the King of France my Brother had named me his Heir After this his Countenance was chearfull and he said O Queen I have need of some Rest Be ye chearful and in the mean time Farewel So he left them at Table and laid him down upon a Bed that was near where as they thought he lay sleeping but was indeed fallen asleep in the Lord without the least sign of any previous distemper for when they went to awake him they found him dead to their great admiration Such was the end of this Holy man which as Rivet observes leaves to us an Example of the Mercy of God â—o this his Servant in awakenâ—ng such a Gracious sence of â—is former weakness in him and applying his Pardoning Grace in Christ to him before he was called hence and also a serious Warning unto all to get their Accounts for another World cleared before they come to dye That being well assured of the Favour of God in Christ and of the Soundness of their Faith and Repentance they may expect their Change in Peace Conscience is a tender thing and what we count but small while we live may make a Dying-bed very uneasie to us And therefore as we tender our own Peace and Comfort when we come to Dye it most nearly concerns us to be Serious while we Live and as the Apostle saith To walk circumspectly not as Fools Ephes 5. 15 16. but as Wise Redeeming the Time because the Dayes are evil FINIS Books Printed for and Sold by Benjamin Alsop at the Angel and Bible in the Poultrey SIxty one Sermons preached upon publick occasions by Dr. Adam Littleton in fol. Dr. Mantons Sermons on the 119 Psalm Fol. Some Discourses Sermons and Remains of the Reverend Mr. Jos Glanvile late Rector of Bath and Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty Quar. Melius Inquirendum in Oct Vtrum Horum or the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England at large recited and compared with the Doctrines of those commonly called Presbyterian on the one side and the Tenets of the Church of Rome on the other by Henry Care Octavo The History of the Popish Sham plots from the Reign of Queen Elizabeth to this very time Oct. Mr. Baxters defence of the Nonconformists Plea for Peace Octavo The Holy War By John Bunyan Octa. Divine Meditations with a daily directory by Sir William Waller Octa. A Discourse of the Covenants that God made with men before the Law by Nehemia Cox Octa. The Glory of Free-grace displayed by Stephen Lobb Oct. A discourse of Temptations to Atheistical and Blasphemous Thoughts Self Murder Despair and Presumption by Dr. John Collings in Octa. A Reasonable Account why some Pious Nonconformists Ministers Judge it sinful for them to perform their Ministerial Acts by the prescribed forms of others with a Supplement and defence All three being Replyes to Dr. Faulkner The Schollars daily Task or Grammer illustrated By N. S. a lover of Learning Octavo A Treatise of Scandal together with a Consideration of Christian Liberty and things indifferent Octavo The Way of good men for wise men to Walk in Octavo Divine Love or the willingness of Jesus Christ to save sinners By Vav Powel The Security of Englishmens Lives or the Trust Power and Duty of the Grand Juries of England Youngs English Scholar being the most plain and easiest method to learn Youth to spell read and write true English Extant many having by the help of this twelve-peny Book saved their Parents the charge of some Years Schooling Stitcht Books in Quarto The mischief of Impositions being an Answer to Dr. Stillingfleets Sermon of Seperation Two Funeral Sermons the one at the Interment of a Young man the other at the burial of a Young Gentlewoman Both Preached by John Shower An Argument for Tolleration by a Countrey Gentleman The History of the Parisian Massacre