when that is ill cheerely when that is hurt or sicke grieued and troubled when that is in perfect temper and health And on the contrary small reason haue wee to thinke it sleepes out of the bodie which neuer slumbers in the body or that it is seazed by death out of the body which neuer was ouercome by sleep which is but deaths Image and younger brother in the body but euer was working and discoursing in the deepest and deadest sleepes of the body Besides is it likely God would enrich it with such noble and diuine dowries to bee salt onely to the bodie to exhale with it as Bruits doe The admirable inuention of Arts Letters Engines the strange fore-casts prospects and presages of the vnderstanding part the infinite lodgings the firme reteinings of the memorie doe they not argue an immortalitie Doe men ingraue curiously in Snow Yce or transient stuffe What meanes the great anxietie of men about their suruiuing name if the minde perished with the bodie if Death were the cessation of the man and destruction of the whole substance What should nature care for an ayery accident without a subiect whereof no part of him should be sensible What meanes the very feare of Death if that were the end of all feares and cares and sorrowes if nothing remained sensible and capable of any thing to bee feared Lastly the fresh vigor the vnimpayred abilitie that nimble agilitie of the minde in sicknesse yea manie times the freer vse of the faculties of it in the confines yea in the act and Article of Death then in former health doe they not tell the body the soule meanes not to fall with the carkase which hath the name of falling lyes not a dying with it but errects it selfe meanes onely to leaue it as an Inhabitant doth a ruinous House or as a Musition layes downe a Lute whose strings are broken a Carpenter a worne instrument vnfit any longer for seruice and imploiment and as a Guest makes haste out of his Inne to his long home and place of abode Loath I am to mingle Philosophicall Cordialls with Diuine as water with wine least my Consolations should bee flash and dilute yet euen these and such like arguments haue taught all Phylosophie the brutish schoole of the Epicure excepted to see and acknowledge that the soule is not a vapour but a spirit not an accident but a substance and elder and more excellent sister to the body immixt and seperable a guest that dyes not with it but diuerts out of it intending to reuisite and reunite it againe vnto it selfe But Diuinitie certainely knowes all this to bee most certaine that it is a particle of diuine breath inbreathed into the redde lome at the first not arising out of it but infused from heauen into it and therefore may as wel exist without the clay after it as it did before it and when the dust returnes to the dust heauen goes to heauen both to their originals the soule first because first and principall in euery action the body after as an accessary and second and so the day of death to the body is the birth day of eternity to the soule This vndying and euer-liuing condition of the soule throughly rowled in the minde firmely embraced and vndoubtedly apprehended by Faith workes admirable effects as in life so in the approach of death Seneca that saw it but through Clouds cranies and creuises with yfs and ands yet professeth that when hee thought but a little of it and some pleasant dreames of it he loathed himselfe and all his trifling gratnes But most diuinely and resoluedly Iulius Palmer He that hath his soule linked and tyed to the body as a thiefes feete to a Clogge with guyues and fetters no maruell hee knowes not how to dye is loath to endure a Diuision but he that vseth and can by Faith separate the spirit from the body to him it is to drinke this and with that drinkes off a Cup of Wine in his hand and within a while after as cheerefully drinks of Deaths cup in the sight of the same Witnesses Euen Socrates himselfe sweetened his Cup of poyson with this discourse of the soules immortalitie to the amazement of the beholders Such Soules indeede as place all their felicitie to bee in a full fedde and well complexioned body and to partake of the senses corporeall delights hath not accustomed it selfe to it owne retyred delights of obstracted meditations knowes not how to bee merry without a play-fellow no maruell though it bee as loath to part with the body as a crooked deformed body to part with rich robes and gorgeous apparell which were it onely ornaments But such noble and regenerate spirits as know their owne Dowries haue inured themselues to sublimate contemplations and to haue their conuersation in Heauen whiles they were in the body such I say though they do not Cynically reuile the body as a Clog a prison a lumpe of myre c. but know it to bee the Temple of the Holy Ghost yet are they willing yea and sigh to be vncloathed to sowe it a while in the earth being a dark and thick lanterne hindering the cleare sight of it till they may reassume it clarified a spirituall an Angelified body made apt and obsequious to all diuine seruices to Celestiall Offices without wearinesse intermission and such like vanitie which here it is subiect vnto as willing as Dauid to lay aside Sauls cumbersome Armour and to betake him to such as hee could better weeld and command at pleasure This is the first and lowest helpe Faith hath to comfort the soule withall in the approach of Death when the strong men buckle the Keepers of the house faile they waxe dimme that looke out at the windowes when the whole outward man decayes that the inner man ages not faints not languisheth not but rather lifts vp the head is more fresh then formerly and excepts to bee vnburdened and to bee at libertie freed from Corporeall tedious vnpleasing workes of sleeping eating drinking and other meaner drudgery that it may once come to higher and more spirituall imployments better suiting with it natiue condition euen as the Lyon longeth to bee out of the grate and the Eagle out of the cage that they may haue their free scope and fuller libertie Vnder the Altar Now if this much reuiued Iohn as no doubt it did to see the Soules continuance after Death how much more to see their safety and rest vnder the Altar that is vnder Christs protection custody vnder the shadow of his wings Who makes them gratefull to his Father couers them from his wrath safeguards them from all molestation procures them absolute quiet and security The phrase alluding to the Altar in the Tabernacle which gaue the Offerings grace and acceptation and partly to the safety of such as fled from the Auenger to the Altar Christ is our Altar and all the Soules of such as dye in his Faith are as
is better The flesh saies Wilt thou shorten thy life The Spirit saies It 's nothing to an eternall life Ioyce Lewis When I beholde the ouglesome face of Death I am afrayd but when I consider Christes amiable Countenance I take heart againe The third part IOHN HVS to a Countreyman that threwe a Faggot at his head Oh holy Simplicitie God send thee better light You roste the Goose now but a Swanne shall come after mee and hee shall escape your Fire Hus a Goose in the Bohemian language and Luther a Swan Hierom of Prague Make the fire in my sight for if I had feared it I had neuer come hither while it was making he sung two Psalmes Anonymus on his death-bed Now Flegme doe thy dutie and stop thou my vitall Artery Now Death doe me that friendly office to rid me of paine and hasten mee to happinesse To a Friend of his that willed him to haue his thoughts on heauen I am there already Claudius Monerius being cauilled at by the Friers for eating a breakfast before his execution This I do that the flesh may answere the readines of the Spirit Michaela Caignoela a noble Matron seeing her Iudges look out of the windowes said to her fellow-Martyrs These stay to suffer the torment of their Consciences and are reserued to iudgement but wee are going to glory and happinesse And to certaine poore women weeping and crying Oh Madam wee shall neuer now haue more Almes Yes hold you saith shee yet once more and plucked off her Slippers and such other of her apparell as shee could with modestie spare from the fire Iames Delos to Monkes that called him proud Heretike Alas here I get nothing but shame I expect indeed preferment hereafter Madam la Glee to one Chavique that vpbraided her for denying the Faith Your cursed faith is not worthy the name of Faith she put on her Bracelets For I goe said she to my Spouse Marlorat to friends that called him deceiuer If I haue seduced any God hath seduced me who cannot lye Castilia Rupea Though you throw my body downe of this steepe hill yet will my soule mount vpwards againe your blasphemies more offend my minde then your torments doe my body Christopher Marshall of Antwerpe I was from eternall a sheepe destined to the slaughter and now I go to the Shambles Gold must bee tried in the fire Vidus Bressius If Gods Spirit saith true I shall straight rest from my labours my soule is euen taking her wings to slie to her resting place The Duke of Wittemberg and Luneburgh Many haue beene mine errours and defects in Gouernment Lord pardon and couer all in Christ. Picus Mirandula If Christes Death and our owne were euer in eye how could wee sinne Death is welcome not as an end of trouble but of sinne Martin Luther Thee Oh Christ haue I taught thee haue I trusted thee haue I loued into thy handes I commend my spirit O ecolampadius to one asking if the light offended him not I haue light enough here laying his hand on his breast And to the Ministers about him Let the light of your liues shine as well as your Doctrine Francisco Varlute Paul and Peter were more honourable members of Christ then I but I am a member they had more store of grace then I but I haue my measure and therfore sure of my glory Peter Berger I see the Heauens open to receiue my Spirit And beholding the multitude at the stake Great is the Haruest Lord send Labourers Iohn Mallot a Souldior Often haue wee hazarded our liues for the Emperour Charles the fifth and shall wee now shrinke to dye for the King of Kings Let vs follow our Captaine Iohn Fillula to his fellowes By these Ladders we ascend the heauens now begin wee to trample vnder seet Sinne the World the Flesh and the Deuill Thomas Calberg to the Fryers willing him to repent at the last howre I beleeue that I am one of those Workemen in Christs Vineyard and shall presently receiue my penny Robert Ogners Sonne to his Father and Mother at the stake with him Beholde millions of Angells about vs and the Heauens open to receiue vs. To a Fryer that rayled Thy Cursings are Blessings And to a Noble man that offered him Life and Promotion Doe you thinke mee such a foole that I would change eternall things for temporary To the people We suffer as Christians not as Theeues or Murderers Constantine being carried with other Martyrs in a Dungcart to the place of Execution Well saith he yet are we a precious odour and sweet sauour to God in Christ. Fran Sanromanus a Spaniard Worke your pleasures on my bodie which you haue in Chaynes your Captiue but my soule is euen already in heauen through Faith and Hope and vpon that Caesar himselfe hath no power Ioan the Marshals wife of France to her Husband at the Stake with her Bee of good cheere our Wedding was but a shadow an earnest and Contract of that solemne and blessed Marriage which the Lambe will now consummate Anne Audebert of Orleance Blessed bee God for this wedding girdle meaning the Chaine My first Marriage was on the Lordes day and now my second to my Spouse and Lord CHRIST shall bee on the same Iohn Bruger to a Fryer offering him a wooden crosse at the Stake No saith hee I haue another true Crosse imposed by Christ on me which now I will take vp I worship not the worke of mans hands but the Sonne of God I am content with him for my onely Aduocate Martin Hyperius Oh what a difference there is betwixt this and eternall fire who would shun this to leape into that Augustine of Hannouia to a Noble man perswading him to haue a care of his soule So I will saith he for I presently will lay downe my body to saue my Conscience whole Faninus an Italian kissed the Apparitour that brought him word of his Execution To one reminding him of his Children I haue left them to an Able and Faithfull Guardian To his friends weeping That is well done that you weepe for ioy with mee And to one obiecting Christes agony and sadnesse to his cheerefulnesse Yea saith hee Christ was sad that I might be merry He had my sinnes and I haue his merit and righteousnesse And to the Fryers offering him a woodden Crucifix Christ needes not the helpe of this piece to imprint him in my minde and heart where hee hath his habitation George Carpenter All Bauaria is not so deare to mee as my wife and children yet for Christes sake I will forsake them cheerfully Adam Wallacke a Scot to a tempting Fryer If an Angel should say that which thou doest I would not listen to him is the Fire ready I am ready Let no man be offended no Disciple is greater then his Master Iohn Burgon to his Iudges asking him if hee would appeale to the high Court Is it not enough that your handes are polluted with our Blood but
quake and tremble to thinke of them How faine would I snatch thy soule out of this fire Vndoubtedlie know that if this warning doe thee no good it is because thou art of old iustlie ordained to perish in thy impenetency and to bee a fire-brand in these euerlasting flames Now on the contrarie if thou beest a vessell of mercie and honour it will doe thee no hurt but driue thee to Christ in whom there is no condemnation who onelie is perfectlie able to saue and deliuer thee out of this Lake If thou be est alreadie in him it will cause thee to reioyce in thy Lord and Sauiour who hath deliuered thee from the feare of two such enemies that now thou mayst with the Ostrich in Iob despise the horse and his rider and triumph by Faith ouer Hell and Death O Death where is thy sting Oh Hell where is thy victorie Death is to men as he comes attended To Diues he comes followed with Diuells to carrie his soule to Hell To Lazarus with troopes of Angels to conuey him to Abrahams bosome So that we may in earnest say that Death is the Atheists feare and the Christians desire Diogines could iestingly call it The Rich mans enemie and the Poore mans friend This this is that which makes death so easie so familiar and dreadlesse to a belieuer he sees Death indeede but Death is not Death without Hell follow him and Hell he sees not but onely as escaped and vanquished and therefore is said not to see Death Now sayes the belieuer comes death and the Prince of this world with him but he hath no part in mee all the bitternesse and teares of death lye in the feare of Hell which thanks be to Christ hath nothing to do with me nor I with it and therefore I taste not of death now comes Gods Sergeant pale death whom I know I cannot auoyde but this I know he comes not to arrest me to carry me to prison but only to inuite me to a feast attend and conuey me thither Let such feare him as are in debt and danger mine are all discharged and cancelled he comes with his horse to take vp me behind him and to fetch me to my fathers ioyes to a Paradice as full of pleasures as he carries the wicked to a prison full of paines Pharaohs Baker and Butler were sent for out of prison the one to promotion the other to execution hee that had the ill Dreame expected the Messenger with horror the other longed for him with comfort The latter is my case therefore though I be reasonably wel in this world as a child at board yet home is home therefore will I waite till this pale horse comes and bid him heartily welcome and with him the Angels of my Father who haue a charge to lay my body in a bed of rest and to bestow my soule vnder the Altar as it followes in the next seale which is so pleasing a vision that we neede no voice or preface such as we had in the former inuiting vs to Come and see the very excellency of the obiect it self is of force enough to draw and hold the eies of our minds vnto it The second Sermon VERSE 9. And when hee had opened the first Seale I saw vnder the Altar the Soules c. WHen Death hath bin viewed in the palest and Hell in the blackest colors that may be yet if wee haue Faith enough to see Soules in their White roabes vnder the Altar there is comfort enough against the horror of both enough to enable the belieuer to despise and trample ouer them â—ooth In the opening of this fifth Seale I hope to finde more sollid Antidotes more liuely Cordialls against the feare of Death then in all the dead and drie precepts of Bellarmines doting Art of dying For this part of the vision was shewed Iohn of purpose to sweeten the harshnesse of the former that his spirit grieued and amazed with the sight of the calamities and mortalitie vnder the persecuting Butchers rather then Emperours might yet be relieued and refreshed with a sight of the blessed estate of such as died either in or for the Lord. Wherein was proposed to his sight and to our consideration these seuerals First the immortall subsistence of soules after their seperation from the body Secondly their sure and secure condition vnder the Altar Thirdly their dignity and felicitie clothed with white robes Fourthly their compleate happinesse at the last day when the number of their bretheren shall be accomplished Of all these Christ meant Iohn should take notice and al beleeuers by his testimony to their full consolation First Iohn being in the spirit could see spirits men indeed clad in flesh can hardly imagine how a soule can haue existence out of the flesh Eagles can see that which Owles cannot so is that visible and credible to a spirituall man which to a naturall is inuisible incredible And yet euen natures dimme eyes haue beene cleere enough to see this truth Nature I say pure and meere nature not only the Platonists and other learned ones who resolutely concluded it and aptly resembled it to the distinct being of the waggoner after the breaking of the Coach the swimming out of the Mariner in the wreake of the ship the creeping of the snayle out of the shell the worme out of the case not vnto the learned Grecians and ciuilized Romans But euen the rudest Scythians and vnlettered Sauages yea though there bee many Languages and sundrie Dialects in the world yet is and hath this euer been the common voyce of them all That soules die not with the body And howeuer the bodies resurrection hath to them been a Problem and Paradoxe yet is the soules eternitie an inbred instinct sucked from natures breast or rather an indelible principle stamped in the soules of men by the finger of God And indeed to right reason what difficulty or absurditie is there in it What lets mee to conceiue a being of it in the Ayre in the Heauen or in any other place as well as in the compasse of my body is not one substance as capable of it as another Can it liue in the one and not in another Hath it not euen whiles it is in the bodie thoughts motiues passions by it selfe of it owne different from the body many crosse and contrarie to the disposition of the body chearefull ones when that is in paine or melancholie Cholericke ones when that is flegmaticke Doth it waite vpon the body for ioy sorrow anger and the like doth it not more often begin vnto it Not to speake of Martyres innumerable who haue beene exceedingly pleasant in the middest of torments as if they had beene spirits without flesh How many auncient stories and dailie examples haue wee of chereful minds in distempered pained languishing dying bodies Reason will then conclude that the Soule may well be and be sensible after death without the body which euen in the body can bee wel