faithfull soule garnished with good workes like a Bride-chamber adorned ending all things with ioy like a Comedie And therefore why should she not bee welcome Thirdly death most willingly wee embrace because it being come we attaine to that perfection of knowledge which we do desire which in this life we cannot attaine vnto All men desire to be expert in their science or profession and the Saints of God in the true knowledge of their saluation and when death is come then this is obtained Euen then when we shall all meet together in the vnitie of the faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Christ saith This is life eternall Ioh. 17.3 that they know thee to be the only very God him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Now this knowledge we haue being in the body and absent from the Lord by faith and not by sight Through which we all behold as in a myrror or glasse the glory of the Lord with open face Marl. ex Cal. in 1. Cor. 13 Fides ergo nostra deum nunc intuetur tanquam absentem Our faith therefore now doth see God yet as being absent For wee know in part and we prophesie in part But when that which is perfect is come then Id est post mortem After death that which is in part shall be abolished Which Paul the Apostle prooueth by a double argument one taken from the example of himselfe the other is a similitude Which is thus much briefly The vnderstanding of an Infant is far inferiour to the vnderstanding of a mā And through a glasse we cannot see so clearely as without This life is like to Infancie Amb. ibid. And the life to come is our perfect age then our knowledge shall be made perfect The glasse through which we now see God is faith which being done away we shall see clearely Which doth confirme this truth That not now but after death we shall see God face to face Marl. ex Pet. Mart. in 1. Cor. 13. O endlesse felicitie By which Denotatur perspicuus planus atque clarissimus diuinus aspectus is noted a manifest plaine and most cleare beholding of the diuine nature after death Of face to face see Aug. writing profoundly Epist 3. Epist 6. Tome 2. Moyses as the glory of the Lord passed by him sawe his backe parts darkly and imperfectly But after death we shal see euidently Diuinā essentiam The essence of God For by the face of God Manifestatio eius intelligenda est An open manifestation of him is to be vnderstood Which is the truth by Christ himselfe expressed who saith speaking of Gods deare adopted children See that ye despise not one of these litle ones Math. 18.10 Th. Aquin. in Heb. 11 1. Lects prima for I say vnto you that in heauen their Angels alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in heauen Then we see that Vltimus finis simpliciter ipsius fidei quam intendimus ex fide est beatitudo quae in aperta dei visione consistit The last end simply of faith which we expect by faith is the blessednesse which consisteth in the open and plaine sight of God Aug. de cinit dei ibid. Praemium itaque fidei nobis visio ista seruatur This sight therefore the reward of faith is kept for vs. And we shall know as we are knowne of God Note by the way that this word As Non importat aequalitatem cognitionis sed similitudinem tamen longinquam Lyra. Pet. Mart. ibid. doth not import an equalitie of knowledge betwixt God and vs but a certaine likenesse yet ours is far inferiour to his Marler ex R. ibid. Simplex ergo sensus est cognoscam sicut cognitus sum hoc est perfectissimè certissime The true meaning of this I shal know as I am known Ambr. ibid. is most perfectly truly I shal see my selfe to be present with God where Christ is This is that which the Euangelist Iohn hath saying We shall see him as he is This Then know beloued that now in this life wee haue many schoolemaisters to teach vs this imperfect knowledge of God that wee haue As. 1. Gods creatures The heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handie worke Againe the Apostle Paul saith His eternall power and godhead are seene by the creation of the world being considered in his workes Psal 19.1 2. His punishments of the contempt whereof God by Salomon complaineth saying They haue despised all my correction Pro. 1.30 3. The holy scriptures Therefore saieth Christ Search the scriptures for in them ye think to haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of me Iohn 5.39 4. Faith of which saith the holy Ghost Faith is the ground of things which are hoped for and the euidence of things which are not seene Heb. 11.1 Now all these shall cease to teach vs when death comes like the ceremonies of the lawe at the coming of Christ Heb. 10.1.9 For what needeth a candle in the cleare and open sunne light Then we shall not need to say one to an other know the Lord for all shall know him from the least vnto the greatest Therefore welcome death and come Lord Iesus come quickly Fourthly though death set vpon thee as thine enemie and do bring thee downe to the graue yet shalt thou not feare to buckle with her because in the end thou shalt get the maistrie of her as Michael did of the dragon Reue. 12.9 And triumph ouer her by the power of God Rom. 6.4 through faith in the death of Christ Who by his rising from death hath ouercome these thy most mightie enemies Sinne Death and Hell Rom. 8.32.33.34 and thereby assureth thee of the conquest ouer them through him at the resurrection 1. Cor. 15.12 For in that hee suffered and was tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2.18 And that hee will the scriptures affirme plainely of Christ the seeed of the woman that he shall breake the head of the serpent Gen. 3.15 Hee shall destroy death for euer Isai 25.8 And the Lord God saith by the Prophet Hoseas I will redeeme thee from the power of the graue I will deliuer thee from death O death I will be thy death O graue I will be thy destruction And Paul saith Rom. 6.9 Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more power ouer him Who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortalitie to light through the Gospell Againe it is written 2. Tim. 1.10 For as much as the children were partakers of the flesh and bloud hee also 1. Christ himselfe likewise tooke part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the diuell And that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were all
our doores and the sharpe sword of samine and hunger with many other diseases one presently after an other What haue these wrought in our hearts where is any reformation of manners Pride encreaseth c. Christ told the Iewes when an vncleane spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through drie places seeking rest and finding none Then he saith 〈◊〉 wil return into mine house frō whence I came and when he is come he findeth it emptie swept and garnished The◠hee goeth and taketh vnto him seuen other spirits worse then himself they enter in and dwell there and the end of that man is worse thē the beginning Euen so shall it be with this wicked generation Pharao his heart was hardned to his owne destruction Is yours think you to saluation You should not forget that Esau Heb. 12.17 when hee would haue inherited the blessing hee was reiected for hee found no place to repentance though he sought the same with teares But what may wee looke for among whom I feare for our sinnes teares are as plentifull as snow in sommer There are none Corazin Bethsaida Sodome Math. 11.20 Gomor with Tyre Sydon Capernaum c. are in the lake of torments that burneth with fire and brimstone for contemning the word of God Diues would haue had Abrahā when he could get no helpe for himselfe to send Lazarus to warne his brethren Least saith he they come into this place of tormēts But Abraham answered againe saying Luk. 16.23 They haue Moses and the Prophets with whom we haue Christ his Apostles also let thē heare them As if he should say if they will not heare thē for such is that place of torments and woe prepared Peraduenture thou dost thinke to haue repentance at thy call as the Centurion had his seruants Thou seest by Esau thou mayest be deceiued Can an Ethiopian or Blackmoore change his blacke skin or the Leopard his spots and can you do well hauing learned all the dayes of your life to doo euill Who can bow a full growne Oake And who can repent when himselfe list What might bee said here of this matter without wearinesse But I will onely send you to one place more Then consider with your selues what cause wicked men haue to tremble at the sight or remembrance of death when they shall bee plagued for abusing the time of saluation and repentance offered and the counsell of the Lord with his louing correctiō 1. Pet. 5 7 God at at all times carefully as before calamitie specially called Israel from their sinnes by his holy Prophets And whatsoeuer is written is written for our learning Zach. 7.11 But they refused to hearken and obey therfore God denied to heare help them though they cryed when destruction fell vpon them When thou thinkest that God will do so by thee O how fearefull will the rememembrance of death bee Secondly as the remembrance of death is terrible vnto vs when we think that God will not heare vs 2. Chro. 24.20 lying on our beds crying and howling because we haue despised to heare him when his holie maiestie cried called for vs so also to consider that God is true in his promises that to them that cannot repent he fulfilleth his threatnings that he therefore is iust that hee is the God of vengeance 1. vnto whom vengeance belongeth that as hee is crowned with mercie so he is armed with iustice and in truth he will shew himselfe to plead against vs and to plague vs. And when thou O man doest call to minde vpon thy bed of death that thy life hath bene spent in vsurie extortion oppression Pride couetousnesse whoredome drunkennesse malice enuie and such like sinnes for which the curse of God is due this will make thee say of death as Israel did to Moses of God saying Let not God talke with vs least we die Exo. 20.19 So thou Let not death apprehend vs least we goe to hell Here now we may see euen what the feare of death is Ludelp Sax. in Mat. 10. Idem Ex Chris ibid. Non dolor exeundi de corpore sed disperatio vitae post mortem timet Idest mortem qui non putat se viuere post mortem The feare of death is not sorrow to die but the dispairing of life after death That is He feareth death that cannot tell what will become of his soule after death And so Aug. de vera innocen Qui malae conscientiae est semper pucillanimis timidus est hee that is of an euil conscience is alwayes faint-harted and fearfull of death because they tremble to thinke Moriendo quo ire rogantur whither God in vengeance will sende them when they bee dead And beleeue me thereof is great cause For we reade that Esdras prayed Mat. 44. as we are taught saying Let it not be thy will to destroy them that haue liued like beasts and worse then beasts Esdr 8.28 Answer is made I will not verily consider the workes of them before the death before the iudgement before destruction As if it were saide But then God will Math. 13.29.41.42 These are they that haue their portion in this life these are such like as of whom Christ saide Verily I say vnto you they haue their reward Math. 6.5 euen pleasure in this life for paine in the life to come Luk. 16. with Diues Then woe be vnto you O ye vngodly which haue forsaken the lawe of the most high God For though you increase yet shall ye perish If ye be borne ye shall be borne to cursing If ye die the curse shall be your portion Ecclesiast 41.8.9 Knowe yee not that the vnrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome GOD Be not deceiued for neither fornicators adulterers vncleane wantons Idolators Witches they that liue in hatred debate wrath and enuie they that are proud emulators contentious seditious heretickes murtherers drunkards gluttons Infidels lyars buggerers Theeues couetous raylers extortioners backbyters haters of GOD dooers of wrong proud boasters couenaunt breakers disobedient to parents and such like These Gods word saith shall not inherite the kingdome of GOD. Rom. 1.29.30 1. Cor. 6.9.10 Gal. 5.19.20 Reu. 21.8.27 For they goe the way that leadeth to destruction Math. 7.13 Thus we see the workes of the flesh are manifest And if yee liue after the flesh ye shall die Ro. 8.13 Then feare for if the righteous scarcely shall be saued where shall the vngodly and the sinner appeare 1. Pet. 4.18 Whose iudgement long agoe is not far off and their damnation sleepeth not 2. Pet. 2.3 But euerie one shall receiue according to his workes Psal 62 12. When it shall be said Depart from me ye workers of iniquitie Luk. 13.27 Ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the diuel and his angels Math. 25.41 Where indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish shall bee vpon the soule of euery man that dooth euill of the Iew
first and also of the Gretian Reue. 2.9 O the fearefull trembling that these and such like truthes of Gods holy word doo bring to a desperate soule at the remembrance of death Of which in their life time though they haue no feeling yet at the day of death they may bring a wofull griping Thirdly I omit to speake of the vnsatiable care worldly men haue to get their greedie desire to keepe and their loathsomenesse to depart from theyr Mamonisme worldly wealth and pleasure All which doth make them sorrie to see death and quake to thinke vpon it Ecclesi 41.1 Mat. 19.21 The worldling in the Gospell was loth and sorrowfull yea more he would not leaue his worldly pelfe to walk with Iesus Christ though hee was promised treasure in heauen And how wil those that be such grieue when they see they must in spight of their teeth goe with death of whome they are perswaded it neuer bringeth good vnto them but euil 1. Reg. 21.8 as Ahab was by the holie Prophet or messenger of the Lord Fourthly I would if any of my paines could preuaile with you to wring sinne from you shewe what reare God may strike into the hearts of wicked men at the remembrance of death when they call to mind 1. how they haue caused many to blaspheme Rom. 2.24 Mat. 18.7 and to commit sinne by their euil example And 2. do know that therefore their punishment shall be the greater As 3. to consider that the fathers wicked life shall be cast in their childrens teeth as Rom. 18.8 what was thy father but an Vsurer Extortionerâ—â— Drunkard Eccle. 41.7 Wisd 4 6. a whoremaster or such like Of which saith the wise man The Children complaine of an vngodly father because they be reproached for his sake Will not these thinke you with a thousand the like cogitations driue terrour and feare into wicked mens hearts at the sight of death Fift and lastly when such wicked men doo call to minde how they haue seen the poore to be afflicted many and sundry wayes and haue not comforted them but haue rather sought diuersly to vexe them and so haue brought the curse of the people vpon them And herewithall remember how the poore shall be comforted Luc. 16.25 Pro. 10.7 Psal 37.2.9.10 and themselues tormented and that their name shall rotte and their remembrance shall be cleane put out And also do perswade themselues that they be of the number of them of whom it is said Woe be to you that are full for ye shall hunger Woe be to you that now laugh for you shall waile and mourne Luk. 6.25 Then they may turne their faces to the wall with Hezechias but looke for small comfort and say What hath our Pride profited vs or what profit hath the pompe of our riches brought vs We sometimes haue had many in dirision and in a parable of reproach We fooles we counted their life madnesse and thought their ende would be without honour But they are reckoned among the children of God Wisd 5.3.4.5.8 and shall haue their portion among the Saints But with vs it is not so 1. Psal 1.5.6 Wisd 4.14 we are like the chaffe which the wind driueth away from the face of the earth therefore we shall not be able to stand in the iudgements neither in the congregation of the righteous O the consideratioÌ„ of these things to a distressed soule plunged in distrust is iust cause to sorrow and mourne Of such it may truly be said Nasci miseria viuere paena mori angustia est To be borne is miserie to liue is a plague and for to die is anguish and woe And thus much to shewe you some causes why death is a terror vnto the wicked people of the world CHAP. XII Who feare not death NOw there is an other sort of men vnto whom death is neuer terrible but most heartily welcome And these are those spirituall minded men the number whereof is but small Math. 7.14 which haue the seale of the liuing God in their foreheads Reue. 7.3 Whose names are written in the Lambes booke of life Which haue made their long robes white in the bloud of the Lambe These haue the spirit of the liuing God by which they are sealed vnto the day of redemption and are not in the flesh but in the spirit because the spirit of God dwelleth in them Which spirit beareth witnesse vnto our spirits Rom. 8.9.16 that wee are the children of God and heires annexed with Christ if so bee that wee suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him or else not For after death there is a seperation of the soule from God into hell onely Math. 7.23 Which the learned doo call the death of the soule and the Euangelist Iohn Luk. 16.26 The second death Quam omnes patiuntur qui periculorum metu fidem abnegant mundo sese conformes reddunt Gualt in Hos 14. Hom. 44. Mat. 10. 1. Ioh. 2.15 Which all soules do fuffer that for feare of daungers doo denie the faith and fashion themselues like vnto the worlde But the Saints of God are free being iustified by faith and are at peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lorde And they do shewe forth their faith by their workes being borne anew not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God who liueth and endureth for euer And these beeing strong in the Lorde and in the power of his might doo cast away the workes of darknesse and put vpon them the armor of light euen the whole armour of God by which they are able to resist in the euill day and hauing finished all things they stand fast For their heart as the Prophet saith beleeueth in the Lord and they are not afraid to meete with their enemie in the gate Therefore if death come or the diuel or whatsoeuer they feare not For who shall laie any thing to the charge of Gods elect Rom. 8.33 It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne And so these are as willing to welcome death Luk. 2.25.28 Colloss 1.21 Psal 120.5 as Simeon was ioyfull to imbrace Christ because death is to them aduantage Therefore the Princely Prophet Dauid said Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell with Meshech and to abide among the tents of Kedar And againe Bring my soule out of prison Ps 142.7 1. Reg. 2.2 And a little before his death quietly hee said I goe the way of all the earth that is I know death is at hand Iob. 6.8.9 Ien. 4.3 This holie Iob wished for and Ionas praied O Lord take I beseech thee my life from me for it is better for me to die then to liue Paul knowing the same Rom. 7.24 saide O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death And writing to the Philippians hee saith Phil. 1.23.24 To abide in the flesh was needfull for them but
for himselfe he sheweth his minde euen that hee desired to be loose hand to be with Christ which is best of all Thus holie men after they once beginne with Henocke to walke with GOD Wis 4.10 that is in godlinesse to please God as he did they iudge none blessed before their death Which the verie Heathen confessed Dicique beatus Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet Ouide li. 3. Met. The meaning is to be accounted blessed none should before their last end TheÌ„ though the righteous be preuented with death Wisd 4.7 Luk. 16 22 23.43 Luk. 2.28 yet shall he be at rest in Abrahams bosome in Paradice with Christ that is in the kingdome of heauen Therefore when death commeth these do say ioying with Simeon when hee had seene Christ Psal 4.8 Lord now lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace according to thy word Or with Dauid Psa 116.7 I will late me downe and sleepe in peace for thou Lorde onely makest mee dwell in safetie therefore returne vnto thy rest ô my soule Thus peaceably and ioyfully of such faithfull men death is louingly imbraced And euery day the Apostles desire to bee with Christ How death is and is not to be wished for is preferred to any worldly consolation or ioy Not as wishing the determinate decree of God concerning our end to be altered as those blasphemous people do who vpon euery occasion or crosse wish themselues out of the world or that they had neuer bene borne with such like like kinde of cursed speaking but expressing our choyse and loue betwixt life temporall and death 2. Cor. 5.8 and therein submitting our selues vnder the mightie hand of God Thus death is imbraced and louingly entertained of the children of God for diuers considerations CHAP. XIII Why death is neuer feared of the godly FIrst because with that aged Father the Patriarke Iacob Gen. 47.9 Heb. 11.13 1. Cron. 29.15 Ps 39.12 1. Pe. 2.11 Gen. 15.13 47.4 we make account that our life is but as a pilgrimage and our selues straungers Pilgrimes or soiourners on the earth as the seed of Abraham were in a land that was not theirs Straungers continue not in a place and we looke for a better home For as the Tabernacles of the Israelites were to be remooued euen so are ours Exo. 33.7 2. Cor. 5 5. Num. 15.2 2. Cor. 5.4 Their abiding place hoped for was the land of promise and ours is the kingdome of heauen figured by theirs where mortalitie shall be swallowed vp of life Therfore it is written Heb. 13.14 Here we haue no continuing citie but we seeke one to come For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle be destroyed we haue a building giuen of God eâ—â— an house not made with hands but eternall life in the heauens So that whilest we are strangers in the body 2. Cor. 5.1.6 we are absent from the Lord. Therfore we forget that which is behind Phil. 3.13 14. and indeuour our selues vnto that which is before and followe hard towardes the marke vnto which death guides vs as is before shewed Therefore it is called a Waye 1. Reg. 2 2. Iob. 16 22. Aretius de Morte that brings vs vnto God A quo in hunc mundum sumus peregrinatum missi of whom we are sent into the world to abide there as straungers vntill death come And then Anima ad caeleslia colligitur corpus suis restituitur elementis ad suuÌ„ vsque tempus The soule is taken into the heauens and the bodie is dissolued into his elements vntill his appointed time An other writer saith that death Oslij instar est Gualt in Has 13. Hom. 44. aut viae per quam nos ex hac vita mortali in immortalitatem transire oportet is like vnto a doore or a waye through which wee must passe out of this mortall life into immortalitie And it may not amisse be compared vnto the starre Mat. 2.9 10. that guided the wise men till they came to the stable where the blessed babe Christ lay in the manger and death brings vs to behold Christ glorified in the heauens at the right hand of his father Ioh. 20.20 When they saw the starre they reioyced with an exceeding great ioy like the Disciples which were glad when they had seene the Lord. And shall we be sorrie to meeâ—e with death that brings vs vnto God Christ healing one lying vpon his bed sick of the palsie Mat. 9.6 said Arise take vp thy bed and goe to thine house Euen so when death commeth she may say to our soules in our bodies sick vpon our beds as the Prophet of God did to Israel in an other matter Arise and depart for this is not your rest Mich. 2.10 He that had bene sicke arose and departed to his owne house And beloued why should not we at the commaundement of God when he saith by death come Loue to remoue out of the bodie and to dwell with the Lord 2. Cor. 5.8 being here but strangers in a vaile of miserie One saith Vita quid est hominis nisi vallis plena malorum Principio medio fine dolenda suo What is mans life but a vaile of griefe still tumbled in strife His springtime's woe Autumne is so Winter hath sorrow as rife And therfore Mors pro remedio data est quasi finis malorum Ambr. in orat de fide resue Chris de popu Antioch Hom. 7. Death is giuen vs for a remedie as the end of all troubles it being A vitae curis absolutio The absolution froÌ„ the cares of this life And therefore carefully to be expected and willingly imbraced without any feare Secondly we haue great cause to reioyce at the comming of death because by it we passe from infinite troubles to the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules long hoped for Which is an inheritance immortall and vndesiled that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for vs. 1. Pet. 1.9 c. Vnto the hope whereof wee are begotten by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead So that we account of death but as of an happy hauen wherin we do arriue and are at ease from infinite turbulent stormes which we haue suffred in the surging seas of this wicked world Morborum vltimus medicus mors Aret. Stella Chrysost vt ante tantum corporis tollit mala Death is the last Phisitian or helper of our paineâ— which onely riddeth away the griefes of the body Portus est mortalibus mors Of Chrysostome it is called Tranquillus portus Death a calme hauen for mortall men where they arriue to behold the faire beautie of the Lord and to visit his Temple In many places of holy scripture Death is called a Sleepe Because that euen as sleepe and quiet rest is to a painfull honest labouring man at night most sweete and comfortable so lkewise is Death to a
companion for the dead Their workes follow them Euen to testifie before the eternal Iudge how with Henoch they haue walked and pleased God If ye know these things blessed are you if ye do them Mat. 25.35 and 7.23.24 But the contempt of thus doing in deare yeares do send vp many greeuous groanes of the poore members of Christs body into the eares of God And thinke you that the crying of the poore shall goe for nought No no He that made him will heare him But I will lament and pray for that which I cannot helpe And though the waters would now flow yet I will stop their course and ende with an excellent sentence of S. Ambrose all one in effect with these of the holie Ghost Let vs cast away the workes of darknesse Ambr. li. de bea Mort. c. 5. that is Sinne that hangeth on so fast Abducamus nos a corporis nexu relinquamus omnia quae terrena sunt vt cum venerit aduersarius nihil in nobis inueniat suum The meaning is Let vs withdraw our selues from the bondage of the flesh let vs forsake all things that are earthly and full of sinne that when the aduersary commeth he may finde in vs nothing of his owne This if we doo then let death doo what shee may shee cannot hurt our soules Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 1. ca. 11 So that Mala mors putanda non est quam bona vita praecessit Death it neuer to be accounted euill to him that hath liued well And therfore no cause at all why the seruants of God should once be afraid of it though it be most wofull to the rest And thus much to teach you for what causes death shuld be welcome vnto you CHAP. XIIII Whether Christians should mourne for their friends that are dead BVt now to correct a fault that may be seene among some if death be so ioyfully to be accepted of why should we mourne for them that are at rest nay is it lawfull to weepe for them that be dead I answere Gen. 23.2 when Sarai was dead Abraham mourned wept for her Whē the Patriarch Iacob thought Ioseph had bene dead Gen. 37.34.35 he sorrowed wept greatly And when this aged Father had blessed his children Learne this you parents and made an end of giuing charge vnto them to serue God he plucked his feete vp into the bed and gaue vp the ghoast Then his louing child Ioseph fell vpon his fathers face Gen. 50.1 and wept vpon him and kissed him Num. 20.29 When Aaron was dead all Israel wept for him thirtie dayes And so they did when Moses died Deu. 34.8 1. Sam. 16.1 I might shewe you how Samuel mourned for Saul and all Israel for Samuel Dauid and those that were with him for the death of Saul and Ionathan 1. Sam. 25.1 So did Dauid for Absolon So did the old Prophet for the man of God 2. Sam. 1.11.12 that was slaine of the Lyō What need I tell you of Martha and Mary 2. Sam. 18 33. 19.1 1. Reg. 13.30 and our Sauiour Christ that wept for Lazarus being dead And many other that made lamentation for the blessed Martyr S. Stephen As other widowes Ioh. 11.33 that mourned for that godly woman Dorcas with many other which for briefnes Acts. 8.2 as a thing needlesse here I omit All which may seeme to teach vs to mourne for the dead Now on the other side when Samuel wept for Saul Cyril being cut off from the fauour of God 1. Sam. 16 1. the Lorde as being angry with him reproued him for his sorrowing When King Dauid perceiued that his childe was dead for which hee fasted and sorrowed greatly whilest it laic sicke hee arose vp and mourned no longer Thē his seruants maruelled why hee so sorrowed when it liued and left off whē it was dead and they asked him the cause Dauid answered While the child was yet aliue I fasted wept for I said who can tel whether God wil haue mercie on me that the childe may liue But now it being dead wherfore shuld I fast Can I bring him againe any more I shall goe to him but he shall not returne againe to me And so hee did not mourne for his dead Christ comforting the widdow of Naim ouer her sonnes corpes which shee with her neighbours were going for to burie he said Weepe not Luk. 7.13 And Christ himselfe the Lambe of God going to be offered a sweete smelling sacrifice for the sinnes of the people euen to be crucified there followed him a great multitude of people women which women bewailed and lamented him euen because hee was going to death But Iesus turned backe vnto them and said Daughters of Ierusalem weepe not for me but weepe for your selues and for your children Luk 23.27 S. Aug. saith of Christs mourning for Lazarus Aug. de Cosol mort lib. 1 cap. 4. Fleuit plane dominus Lazarum iam sepultum non vtiquè vt flendi mortuos formam daret c. I know what Cyril saith The Lord wept indeed ouer Lazarus that was buried but not to teach vs how to mourne for the dead But either to shewe by his teares that he had a true humane body or else hee did lament of sincere loue to the Iewes Qui nec dei signo monstrato Aug. ibid. erant in cum credituri which would not beleeue in him though hee shewed them the mightie power of God And thus it seemeth that wee should not mourne for the dead Here now you see is a great controuersie what will you determine Who thinke you will haue the foyle or what dayes men shall wee finde to end the contention Let vs not goe to lawe for there the greedinesse of money will deferre our cause And the Goose will scarce be left whilest there is a feather on her backe And in the end the countrie must trie conscience To reconcile all and keepe peace without any great losse or harme to either partie our good neighbours at home which are the holy scriptures well marking the matter determine that in mourning for the dead there be two things to be noted That in mourning for the dead there be two things to be noted 1. What is to be obserued 2. What is to be auoyded That which must be obserued is 1. Faith 2. Charitie Faith to moderate vs Ne nimium doleamus sine spe resurrectionis That we mourne not too much as men without hope of the resurruction Therfore the Apostle Paul instructeth the Thessalonians saying 1. Thes 4.13 I would not brethren haue you ignorant concerning them which are a sleepe that ye sorrowe not euen as others which haue no hope That is of the immortalitie of the soule and resurrection of the body like Infidels For we looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vilde body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious
their life time subiect vnto bondage Heb. 2.14 Well therefore say the learned Marl. ex Pet. Mart in 1. Cor. 15.17 Ipse bellum nostrum pugnauit nos victoriae illius per fidem redditi sumus perticipes Hee hath fought our battaile and through faith wee are made partakers of his conquest So that we may say and not vse the Apostles words much amisse Wee know that hee which hath raised vp the Lord Iesus shall raise vs vp also 2. Cor. 4.14 Euen when Christ which is our head shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory Collos 3.4 Then Sciant fideles se ex mundo migrare Calu. in 1. Thess 4. vt tandem colligantur in regnum dei The faithfull doo know that they depart out of the world that at the last they may bee receiued into the kingdome of God And then God shall wipe away all teares from our eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow neither crying neither shall there be any more paine for the first things are passed Reue. 21.4 So that euen in this world Insultare morti licet Seb. Mai. in 1. Co. 15. tanquam subactae quia Christi victoria nostra est Wee may triumph ouer death as conquered because the victorie of Christ is ours Then to end this thankes bee vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord lesus Christ Therefore my deare brethren be ye stadfast and vnmooueable and alwaies rich in the workes of the Lord. Why shuld you tremble at the remembrance of death Further there may be added a sift consideration which may make death comfortable vnto vs and though it be here last in order yet see thou too it as to one of the first chiefe which must goe before the rest And this is in thy whole life time carefully to expresse the truth and soundnesse of thy faith by thy good workes Iam. 2.20 Which GOD hath ordained that wee should walke in them Ephe. 2.10 because the bloud of Christ hath purged our conscience from dead workes to serue the liuing God Heb. 9.14 Which seruice of good workes must be done not as causes but as fruites that follow iustification Quia opera bona ex ipsius iustificatione operamur Aug. de Gram. Nobi Test ad Honorat ca. 30. Aug. ad Simpl. li. 1. Quest. 2. because our good workes doo spring from our iustification as light from the sunne And whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne And without faith it is impossible to please God But if thou haue this oyle in thy Lamps of faith and keepe not thy conuersation in the lusts of thy flesh fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the mind thou shalt be redaie for the Bridegroome with the fiue wise Virgins and death can doo thee no harme Nisi peccatum habueris non est quod mortem timeas Stella in Luk. 12. Tom. 2. fol. 73. c. except thou haue sinne thou needest not feare death but when thou doost transgresse the commaundement of the Lord then doest thou arme death and make it able and strong to fight against thy selfe Stella in Luk. 12. Tom. 2. fol. 37. But Mors sinullum adsit peccatū imbecillis inarmis venit Death where sinne is absent comes weake and vnarmed as I hope the Spaniard will if we haue no Traytors at home Well Amb. de bono mort cap. 5. Qui vicerit non laedetur a morte secunda He that ouercommeth to wit by the blood of the Lambe shall not be hurt of the second death Therefore Quod eam timeamus quae animae nocere non scleat Why should we be afraid of her that vseth not to hurt such a soule Feare ye not them saith Christ that kill the bodie but are not able to kill the soule Can the Bee hurt thee haue lost her sting And can death wound thy soule without thine owne sin The sting of death is sinne Resist the diuel and he will flie from thee and keepe death from thine owne sword of sinne and she shall not hurt thee The fire flameth and fumeth like a tyrant whilest it hath matter and the Diuell hath great wrath knowing that he hath but a short time But as God hath set the sea boundes which it cannot passe though it rage and swell horribly and as the strong winde may shake off the leaues from the greatest Oake but the stocke standeth firme euen so death the diuel and the world may a little trouble nature experience heerein hath taught me something but they cannot beate downe faith As examples of many doo teach Of holie Iob Sydrach Misach and Abednego Daniel the Prophet the Apostles and holie Martyrs Therefore saith the Apostle Paul I am perswaded Rom. 8.38.39 that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde But flie thou from sinne as from a Serpent the matter of this sire the baite of the Diuel and the sting of death by which thy soule is so wonnded that without the mighty worke of God thou canst not be saued Then cease to doo euill learne to doo well Proue your owne workes take the brest-plate of righteousnesse the shield of faith and helmet of saluation c. and fight a good fight None is crowned except hee striue lawfully Non datur Nobilitati palma sed cursui There is no respect of persons with God he seeth not as man seeth Therefore so runne that ye may obtaine do well and haue well For God rewardeth euerie man according to his workes not of due debt but of his louing and free mercie This is briefe One droppe of the Sea dooth taste the saultnesse of the whole and by this thou maiest sauour the truth Which beeing not to be withstood what maner of men ought we to be in holie conuersation and righteousnesse Why do we not shewe forth our faith by our good works Ambr. li. de Nab. Iezr cap. 14. Qui dines est in misericordia diues est in deo He that is rich in the workes of mercy is rich in God and this sacrifice pleaseth him But he that hath this worlds goods and seeth his brother haue neede and shutteth vp his compassion from him as the mysers of the world doo that will not abate one penny in a bushell of corne to helpe the poore how dwelleth the loue of God in them Euen as Christ abode among the Gargesens he departed out of their coastes Therefore let not your Religion be in words as of most it is but in deeds as of all it should For pure Religion and vndefiled before God euen the Father is this to visite the fatherlesse and the widow in their aduersitie and to keep himselfe vnspotted of the world This beloued is Comes defunctorum Ambrose A