a Grave Then what a Wretch is he that won't part with the World when it lies in his way to Heaven for he can neither carry it with him or use above six foot on 't when he is Dead or scarce so much for the Chimistry of Cardan Misers gripe at all the World but it slips thro' their Fingers and leaves nothing but Dust. found but six Dunces of Dust in the Ashes of a Calcin'd Body We brought nothing into this World and can carry nothing out but Worldlings ne'er consider this and therefore like Men that clasp at Spirits they catch nothing but Air they gripe at all the World to satisfie their Avarice but it slips through their Fingers and leaves nothing but Dust. But as great a Vanity as this is we find Covetousness to be the only Sin grows young as Men grow old Old Men have their Coverousness natural to 'em their Blood is cak'd and cold and Nature as it grows again toward Old Men have their Covetousness Natural to 'em Earth is fashion'd for the Iourney dull and heavy The nearer Death we grow in Years the more scraping we are and this Sneaking-Vice Drowns not till we Sink and I don't wonder at it for Dying-men will grasp at all they see while they see any thing but when their Senses fail Covetousness is the only Sin grows Young as Men grow Old then Farewell Riches the World 's too heavy then they let it fall Tho' we were misery all our Days yet when we expire we spread our Palms and let the World slip by but when ev'ry thing else is gone the Grave remains And in this Cell I shall lie hid with Iris till the Resurrection Lie still where thou art John for th' quiet o'th'Nation Nor can'st thou stir more without slat Conjuration Being now laid to sleep with my Dear a Marble-Tomb was to be our Blankets for Tombs are the Cloaths of the Dead but we shall get Iris and Phil. being laid to sleep they want the Marble for their Blankets no Cold if we wait for ' em However as I lived and died in a Cell so to shew I 'd be still Incognito I 'll here Write my Epitaph and then as one expresses it If no Man goes to Bed 'till he Dies nor ' wakes 'till the Resurrection Good-night t' ye here and Good-morrow hereafter Dunton's Epitaph on himself HEre lies his Dust who chiefly aim'd to know Dunton's Epitaph on himself Himself and chose to Live Incognito He was so great a Master of that Art He understands it now in ev'ry Part But tho' 't was Solitude he did so prize He has it least whil'st in this Cell he lies For whil'st depriv'd my dearest Life of thee The World was all an Hermitage to me But mixt with Iris nought can lonesome be My Name inquire not for thou must not know For Phil. desired when he from hence did go That he might allways lie Incognito Thus Man goeth to his long home and the Mourners go about the Man goes to his long home streets Ring the Bells for Dunton is Dead and Buryed that is as Mr. Uincent's Friends make a PULPIT of his Grave for on his Tomb-stone are Ring the Bells for Dunton is Dead and Buried these Words Immortal Souls to benefit and save I thus have made a Pulpit of my Grave So I have endeavour'd to make An Essay on my own Funeral which I have been only burying my self in Effigie being a Representation of what will be done when I 'm Dead whereas I 'm yet alive 't is excusable if I have follow'd their Examples who fill their Maps with Fancies of their own Brains But tho' I have been only burying my self in Effigie yet having a longing desire to be happy with Iris which When I dye in earnest I hope the thoughts of my Death Funeral will be no more terrible to me than 't is now in Speculation I can't be but by dying 't is no matter how soon my Dying Solemnity were over and when I come to dye in earnest I hope the thoughts of my Death and Funeral will be no more terrible to me then 't is now in Speculation 'T was said Philostratus liv'd Seven Years in his own Tomb that he might be acquainted with it That Death may become thus Familiar to me I 'll walk every Day with Ioseph a turn or two in my Garden with Death and with Herbet as often dress out my own Hearse I wou'd be so well acquainted with Death as impatiently to desire it not that I wou'd dye of an Appoplexy by a private Stab or any sudden Death From sudden Philostratus liv'd 7 Years in his Tomb. Death good Lord deliver me for whenever I dye I wou'd have so much notice that I may leave nothing behind me that I shou'd take to Heaven with me not that I wou'd be deliver'd from sudden Death in respect of it self Of sudden Death for I care not how short my passage be so it be safe Never any weary Traveller complain'd that he came too soon to his Journies end but I wou'd not have a sudden Death so as to be surpriz'd beforo I 'm summon'd However The Divine Herbert drest out his own Hearse dye I wou'd and as pleasant a sight as Valeria may think my funeral I did not care how soon she saw it as here describ'd for then she 'll have more I can't say enough of the World and I 'm sick on 't and wou'd fain change I wou'd leave nothing behind me that I shou'd take to Heaven with me it for Heaven 'T is true the Mannour of Sampsil is a fine sight but he that looks up to Heaven will not care for the World Oh how amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts One Day in thy Courts is better than a Thousand I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of God than live any longer in this vile World there 's nothing in it but Vanity Disappointments and black Ingratitude then oh that I was stript into a naked Spirit and set My Passionate Desire to be stript into a naked Spirit ashore in a better World Why lingrest thou bright Lamp of Heaven Why Do thy Steeds tread so slowly on must I Be forc'd to live when I desire to dye Lash thou those lasie Iades drive with full speed And end my slow pac'd Days that I may feed With Ioy on him for whom my Heart doth Bleed Post blessed Iesus Come Lord flee away And turn this Night into the brightest Day By thine approach come Lord and do not stay Take thou Doves Wings or give Doves Wings to me That I may leave this World and come to thee And ever in thy glorious Presence be I like not this bile World it is meer Dross Thou only art pure Gold then sure 't is loss To be without the Throne t' enjoy a Cross. What tho' I must pass through the Gates of
is a Grave when I 'm dead neither wou'd I 〈◊〉 ' â—is the Bed where my Iris Sleeps exchange it for the Mannor of Sampsil In this I follow the Example of Father Abraham for see how he beginneth to possess the World by no Land â—asture or Arable Lordship the First Thing is a Grave he was so far from coveting this World that he minded nothing but the purchase of a Burying-place and that he might not be disappointed of it he paid down the Money demanded of the Seller currant Money among the Merchants Why I purchased a Grave and woud not exchange it for the Mannor of Sampsil Of an Irish Bp. that woud be buried near the Gallows Most Men says Dr Fuller have been careful for the decent Interment of their 〈◊〉 few are of the Mind of Arbagastus an Irish Saint and Bishop of Spires who wou'd be buried near the Gallows in imitation of our Saviour whose Grave was on Mount Calvary near the place of Execution Yet after all it must be confest to want a Grave is the Cruelty of the Livine not the Misery of the Dead An English Gentleman not long since did lie on his Death-bed in Spain and the Jesuits did flock about him to pervert him to their Religion all was in vain their last Argument was If you will not turn Roman Catholick then your Body shall be unburied then Answer'd he I 'll stink and so turned his Head and died Thus Love if not to the Dead to the Living will make him if not a Grave a Hole and it was the Beggars Epitaph Naked I liv'd but being Dead Now behold I 'm covered Let us be careful to provide rest for our Souls for our Bodies when Dead A Gentleman threatned to be unburied if he woud not turn Roman Catholick The Beggars Epitaph will provide Rest for themselves Having proceeded so far towards my own Funeral as to secure six foot of Ground if the Grave-maker don't cheat me and having shaken Hands with my Friends and this vâ—in World Being approacht thus near towards my End methinks now all my Worldly Cares are drawing to their Period and 'twont be long before I shall reach that happy Shore where Iris is already landed Seing then I am falling towards mine Harbour and for a sight of her who died praying for my Eternal Welfare methinks I e'en long 'till Death has wafted me to those bright Regions where she is If I eâ—t mistaken I cou'd rejoice to see the Bearers that must carry me to her Grave and shou'd triumph cou'd the Dead speak when I 'm tumbled into it It even now sweetens the Thoughts of Heaven to me to think I shall one day see her there which if I do With what Ardours shall we then caress one another with what Transports of Divine Affection shall we mutually embrace Essay on knowning our Friends in Heaven p. 16. and vent those Innocent Flames which had so long lain smoothering in the Grave How passionately Rhetorical and Elegant will our Expressions be when our tender Sentiments which Death had frozen up when he congeal'd our Blood shall now be thaw'd again in the warm Airs of Paradise Like Men that have escaped a common Ship wreck and swim safe to the Shoar shall we there congratulate each other with Joy and Wonder What Extafies I shou'd be in upon seeing Iris again Then how pleas'd am I to think my Ashes will shortly be mingled with herâ— who loved me more than her own Life For it reioiced Iris to think she shou'd die fiâ—st and that she shou'd live in me so long as I liv'd And when we dyed 't was our mutual deâ—te to sleep together in the same Grave where as she exprest it we shall be still happy together if a senseless Happiness can be call'd so My Body can't Death the Journy to her is dark and melan choly fail of being Happy if it sleeps with Iris And for my 〈◊〉 I wish it no other Felicity when she hath shaken off these Raggs of Flesh than to ascend to her and to enjoy the same Bliss Then cast off this ROBE of CLAY my Soul and fly to overtake her 't is true DEATH the Journy to her is Dark and Melancholy but 't is a Comfort to think that the He forgets that he can die who complains of misery first Day of our Jubilee is DEATH He forgets that he can die who complains of Misery And therefore one petitioning NERO that he might be executed his Answer was Man why art thou not dead already when Death is in thy own Power We are in the Power of no Calamity while Death is in our own Death is the Cure of all Diseases Thus Madam you see what Improvement I make of my DEATH and FUNERAL and that I do what I can to secure a GRAVE for why shou'd I be unwilling to go to that Bed which my Blessed Lord hath perfumed with his own Body and is now become the Dormitories of the Saints 1. Then thou-that hast convers'd with God and Death In Speculation shall thy Breath Unwillingly expire into his Hand That comes to fetch it by Command From God that made thee Art thou loth to be Possess'd of thy Felicity Because thy Guide looks pale and must Convey thy Flesh to Dust Though that to Worms converted be What is all this to thee 2. Thou shalt not Feel Death's Sting but instant have Full Ioys and Triumph o're the Grave Where thy long-lov'd Companion flesh shall rest Until it â—e refin'd new drest For thy next Wearing in that Holy Place That Heaven where thou shalt Face to Face With Saints and Angels daily see Thy God and ever be Replenish'd with Celestial Bliss Oh my Soul think still on this when I am in my Grave my own Worms like the false Servants of The Grave is the Dormitories of the Saints some great Men shall devour me yet when my poor Corpse is mixt with common Dust it shall sleep safely with the Dear Eliza. Then grant O Lord that as I am thus laid in my Grave by thy Serjeant Death so I may be raised again by the quickning Power of thy Sons Resurrection and be conducted by one of thy glorious Messengers to the Gates of Heaven In this manner do I ponder on my Death and FUNERAL But whether I consider Why I ought to prepare for a speedy death my own Funeral or the Funeral of others I have Reason to prepare for a speedy DEATH and the Consequence of it 'T was Plato's Opinion That the Wise-man's Life was the Meditation of Death But Man in his Travails often measures his Grave yet is forgetful of His End seven Foot is his Demension yet most Men live in that security as if that small scantling had a perpetual extention But that my DEATH may not seem further off than-indeed it is I will daily expect it ' it were madness to think I shou'd never arrive at that to which I
am every minute going Every Thought I have is a Sand running out of the Glass of Life Then surely he is dead already that does not look for Death How stupid are we to think so little of DYING when not only the DEATH of men but every thing else dies to shew us the Way Sweet Day so cool so calm so bright The â—ridal of the Earth and Skie The Dew shall weep thy fall to Night For thou must die Sweet Rose whose hue angry and brave Bids the rash Gazer wipe his Bye Thy Root is ever in its Grave And thou must die Sweet Spring full of sweet Days and Roses A Box where Sweets compacted lye My Musick shews ye have your Closes And all must die There may be News of my Funeral before I can finish my Essay upon it Only a sweet and Virtuous Soul Like season'd Timber never gives But tho the whole World turn to Coal Then chiefly lives Herbert Besides the warning I have of my own DEATH in the death of every thing I meet abroad that I might want no warning when I go to SLEEP which is a Death in Scripture is compared to Sleep kind of dying too What is my BED but as it were a Passing-bell to remember me every four and twenty Hours of my Mortality and that the Grave must speedily be my Bed a Clod my Pillow and the Mold and Worms my Covering When I put off my Shirt it puts me in mind of my Winding-sheet and last My Night-Prayer c may be resembl'd to making my Will Shroud that must cover me when I sleep under ground Death in Scripture is compared to Sleep Well then may my Night Prayer be resembled to making my Will I will be careful not to die intestate as also not to defer my Will-making 'till I am not compos mentis 'till the Lethargy of drowsiness seizes upon me but being in perfect Memory I bequeath my Soul to God the rather because I am sure the Devil will accuse me when sleeping Oh the advantage of Spirits above Bodies If our Clay Cottage be not cooled with Rest the Roof falls The Devil will accuse me when sleeping a Fire Satan hath no such need The Night is his fittest time Rev. 12. 10. Thus Mans Vacation is the Terms for the Beasts of the Forest they move most whilst he lies quiet in his Bed Lest therefore whilst sleeping I be Out-lawed for want of appearance to Satans Charge I commit my Cause to him who An Appearance to Satan's Charge Lying along is an improper Posture for Piety neither slumbers nor sleeps Answer for me oh my God I wou'd not by this Expression be so understood as if I might defer my Night Prayer 'till I'm in Bed This lying along is an improper posture for Piety Indeed there is no Contrivance of our Body but some good Man in Scripture hath hanfel'd it with Prayer The Publican standing Iob sitting Hezekiah lying on his Bed Elijah with his Face between his Legs but of all Postures give me St. Paul's For this cause I bow my Knees to the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ. Knees when they may they must be hended I have read a Copy of a grant of liberty from Queen Mary to Henry Ratcliff Earl of Sussex giving him leave to wear a Night Cap or Coif in her Majesties presence counted a great Favour because of his Infirmity Job 18. 1 Kings 28. 42. Eph. 3. 14. Weavers Fun. Mon. p. 63. I know in case of necessity God would graciously accept my Devotion bound down in a sick-dressing but now whilst I am in perfect Health it is inexcusable Christ commanded some to take up their Bed in token of their full Recovery my Laziness may suspect least thus my Bed taking me up prove a presage of my ensuing Sickness Then Blessed Lord pardon the former Idleness of my Night-Devotion and I will never more offend thee in the same kind In case of Necessity God will accept my Devotion bound down in a Sick-Dressing And thus my Bed my Sleep and every thing else proclaims Death is on his March towards me And seeing my Sand runs faster than my Ink your Ladyship may have News of my Funeral before I can finish this Essay upon it How soon doth Man decay When Clothes are taken from a Chest of Sweets To swadle Infants whose young Breath Scarce knows the way Those Clouts are little Winding-sheets Which do consign and send them unto Death When Boys go first to Bed They step into their voluntary Graves Sleep binds them fast only their Breath Makes them not dead Successive Nights like rolling Waves Convey them quickly who are bound for Death When Youth is frank and free And calls for Musick while his Veins do swell All Day exchanging Mirth and Breath In Company That Musick summons to the Knel Which shall befriend him at the House of Death When Man grows staid and wise Getting a House and Home where he may move Within the Circle of his Breath Schooling his Eyes That dumb Inclosure maketh Love Unto the COFFIN that attends his death When Age grows loâ— and weak Marking his Grave and thawing ev'ry Year 'Till all do melt and drown his Breath When he wou'd speak A Chair or Litter shews the Bier Which shall convey him to the House of Death Man e're he is aware Hath put together a Solemnity And drest his Herse while he hath Breath I 'm here ringing my own Passing-Bell That 'T is impossible for a man to write of his own Funeral whilst he 's living As yet to spare Yet Lord instruct us so to die That all these Dyings may be life in Death Herbert Or had I not these Warnings of Death in the several Stages of Life yet I have such a Crazy Body as daily puts me in mind of my Grave and I 'm now by writing an Essay upon my own Funeral as 't were ringing my own Passing-Bell But perhaps you 'll say How can you write of your own Funeral when you are yet alive And were you dead you 'd be less able to handle your Pen as much at you love scribling Why Madam I am dead but don't be frighted that I appear again in this White Sheet For tho I 'm dead 'T is thus dead I was born seemingly dead I was born seemingly dead t was thought I was lugg'd out of my natural CELL into my Grave and I could have been content had I had no more than the Register or Sexton to tell the World that I had ever been However I may venture to say that from the first laying of these Mudd-Walls in my conception they have moldred away and the whole course of Life is but an active Death nay every Meal we eat is as it were a Ransom from one Death and lays up for another and while we think The whole Course of Life is but an active Death a Thought we die for the Clock strikes and reckons
David fasted and Prayed for his Sick Son that his Life might be prolonged But when he was dead this Consideration comforted him I shall goe to him but he shall not return to me 2 Sam. 12 13. And this likewise shou'd comfort me under the loss of Iris to think she is gone to Heaven and that if I die in Christ I shall goe to her but this she cou'd not do but by dying which makes me the easier forgive Death for the Treasure he has stole from me and my next comfort to her being in Heaven is to think in what a triumphant Iris Triumphant Death is like the putting out of a prefum'd Candle manner she went thither In a painful Sickness of near Forty Weeks she never once repin'd at it but wou'd still say God had dealt tenderly with her and that she was wholly resign'd to his Will Then certainly the Death of such a Good Wife is like the putting out of a Wax-perfum'd Candle she in some measure recompenses the loss of Life with the sweet Odour she leaves behind her All must to their cold Graves But the Religious Actions of the Just Smell sweet in Death and Blossom in the Dust. In a Word Iris both in her Life and Death was like a Rose in June which tho dead and dry preserves a pleasing Sweetness and for that Reason Her Life was a continued Act of Piety was strewed by the Antients upon their Kindred's Graves 'T was but reasonable to think that a Life which was one continu'd Act of Piety shou'd have a joyful and happy ending And as Iris dyed in this Triumphant manner and with uttering such Expressions as I have here mention'd So I desire I may expire with these Words ETernal and everliving God I 'm now drawing near the Gates of Death and which is infinitely more terrible the Bar of thy Judgment oh Lord when I consider this my My last Prayer Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and my Heart is wounded within me But one deep calleth upon another the depth of my misery upon the depth of thy mercy Lord save now or I perish eternally Lord one day is with thee as a Thousand Years oh let thy mighty Spirit work in me now in this my last Hour whatsoever thou seest wanting to fit me for thy Mercy and Acceptance and then tho' I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no Evil. There is but one step between me and Eternity then blessed Jesus have Mercy on me Pardon the Sins of my whole Life O let not my Sun go down upon thy Wrath but seal my Pardon before I go hence and be seen no more Dear Lord I neither desire nor expect of thee Life or Death may it be done unto me according to thy Will But since Death is my passage into thy Presence suffer not the Thoughts of it to be terrible unto me I can't without some Reluctance think of leaving my Friends and Relations and forever shutting my Eyes upon that World where I now live To go into a World where I never was but tho' the Light is pleasant and a joyful thing it is to behold the Sun yet let it abundantly content me oh Lord that whether waking or Sleeping dead or alive I shall be always thine tho' thou shouldst break all my Bones and from Day even till Night with pining Sickness and Aches make an end of me yet let me be dumb and not open my Mouth because it is thy doing suffer me not to whisper to my self what 's the reason the Lord will deal thus with me help me rather to consider what my Sins have deserved and what a poor Derivative thing I am What a meer dependant upon thee Lord I came into the World on thy Errand and I live only upon thy allowance Then let the consideration of thy Majesty and Glory swallow up all those petty Interests of my own which I create to my self and help me oh Lord in every Passage of my Life and Death to say thy will be done If it be thy will I shall dye now receive my Spirit and altho' I come In the Evening at the very last of all grant unto me that I may receive Eternal-Rest Blessed Lord as soon as ever the Chain of my mortality is broke let me take Wing and fly to thee Grant that sincerely reahing my Hands to thee from that Moment which is the upper Step of the Ladder of my Life next to Heaven thou mayest reach forth thy hand and receive me And when my Breath is gone grant oh Lord that I may see and know her again who dyed praying for my Everlasting-Happiness Into thy hand Lord I resign my Body and Soul Blessed Saviour receive my Spirit even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen I shall go to Iris but she shall not return to me I wou'd have these words be my last breath 'till my Lips fail and my Tongue cleaveth to the roof of my Mouth for as the Sun shines brightest at his setting so shou'd Man at his departing It is the evening crowns the day And now the Fatal Hour is come in which I must Resign to Dust This borrow'd Flesh whose Burden tires My Soul as it aspires Oh what a frail and undone Thing Is Man when his best Part is taking Wing But quake not Oh my Soul for Rest thou l't find This Pisgah Mount thy Canaan lies behind Look back and see the Worlds thin gaudy-Toys Look on and see the Crown of all thy Joys For such a Place is worthy to be sought Or were there none yet Heaven 's a pleasant Thought Nor for my bright Conductors will I stay But lead Heavens flaming Ministers the way In their known Passage to Eternal Day Where the blest CLIMES of Light will not seem fair Unless I meet my dear Redeemer there Unless I see my shining Saviours Face And grasp all Heaven in his sweet Embrace When the trembling Soul has Heav'n thus in sight Oh with what Joy and ravishing Delight She spreads her Wings and bids this World good Night Thus have I represented in what manner my Soul will leave that Body where it now dwells And have also considered in the Death of Iris with what tranquility and peace of conscience a Soul sequested from the World taketh her farewell of Earth Whilst thus I musing lay to my Bed side Attir'd in all his Mourning Pride The King of Terrors came Awful his Looks But not deform'd and grim He 's no such Goblin as we fancy him Scarce we our selves so civiliz'd and tame Unknown the Doom assign'd me in this change ' Tho justly I might fear Heavens worse Revenge Yet with my present Griefs redrest With curious Thoughts of unknown Worlds possest Enflam'd with Thirst of Liberty Long lovd but ne'er enjoy'd by me I su'd for leave the fatal Gulf to pass My vital Sand is almost run The Peace of Conscience with which a Soul sequestred from the-World
Death It is to come to thee that gav'st me Breath And thou art better Lord than Dunghil Earth When shall I come Lord tell me tell me when What must I tarry Threestore Years and Ten My thirsty Soul cannot hold out till then Come dearest Saviour come unlock this Cage Of sinful Flesh lovingly stop the Rage Of my Desires and thou my Pilgrimage Thus have I finish'd the Essay on my own Funeral and have prov'd to I have now finish'd the Essay on my Funeral your Ladyship that my Cell being an Emblem of Death is the fittest place to prepare for Heaven To get ready for Death and the Grave is a matter of great Consequence and no place so fit for it as a Cell where there 's no interruption I don't wonder that ev'ry Man commends Timon for his No place so fit to prepare for Death as a Cell hating of Men for we find so much danger in being in Company that even Adam cou'd not live one Day in it and live Innocent the first News we hear of him after Eve was Associate to him was that he had forfeited his Native Purity for having met with a Female she strait seduc'd him Adam cou'd not live one day in Company live innocent And what follows Why now he must return to that ground out of which he was taken Then being born to dye I love my Cell as 't will transmit me to the Darkness and Oblivion of the Grave and remind me of my own Funeral Neither is this describing my own Funeral without a President for we read of several that have Bury'd themselves in Effigie Being born to dye I love my Cell and have learn'd to dye at their own Funerals The Emperour Adrian entr'd into his Empire by the Port of his Tomb he Celebrates himself his own Funerals and is led in Triumph to his Sepuchre Several that have bury'd themselves in Effigie Now wâ— the Peoples Expectation high For wonted Pomp and glittering Chivalry But lo their Emp'rour doth invite 'em all Not to a Shew but to his Funeral This was self Victory and deserveth more Than all the Conquests he had won before The Emperour Adrian Celebrates himself his own Fun'ral Proud Spirits be ye Spectators of this Funeral Pomp which this great Monarch Adrian Celebrates to Day He invites the Heaven and the Earth to his Exequies since in their view he accompanies his Portraid Skeleton unto the Tomb his Body conducts thither its Shadow the Original the painted Figure Charles the 5th Maximilian the Emperour of the East and several others have done the like till a Metamorphosis be made both of one and the other Oh glorious Action where Garlands of Cypress dispute the Preheminence with Laurel and Palm But Adrian is not the only Person that has been buried in Essigie for Charles the Fifth long before the Resignation of his Empire caus'd a Sepulchre to be made him with all its funeral Furniture which was privately carryed about with him wherever he went Maximilian the Emperour did the same and wou'd often follow his Coffin to the Grave in a Solemn Manner We also read that Iohn Patriarch of Alexandria while he was Living and in Health caus'd his Monument to be Built but not to be Finisht for this Reason that upon solemn Days when he performed Divine-Service he might be put in mind by some of the Clergy in these Words Sir your Monument is yet unfinish'd command it to be finisht for to Morrow you 're to Celebrate your own Funeral When the Emperrour of the East was newly chosen no Person had Liberty to speak to him before the Stone-Cutter had shew'd him several sorts of Marble Genebald Bp of Laudanum lay in a Bed made like a Coffin The Study of Vertue is the best Preparation for Death and ask'd him of which his Majesty wou'd be pleas'd to have his Monument made And many others in perfect Health have thus attended their own Funerals Genebald Bp. of Laudanum lay in a Bed made like a Coffin for 7 Years together and â—da a Woman of great Piety long before her Death caus'd her Coffin to be made which twice a Day she filled with Bread and Meat and gave to the Poor And certainly the Study of Vertue is the best Preparation for Death But we need not look into Ancient Times for Persons that have provided for their own funerals when our present Age abounds with so many Instances of this Nature I shall first Instance in the Reverend Mr. Baxter who Dates most of his Books from the Brink of the Grave Being in Mr. Baxter drew up his own Funeral Sermon my Quarters says this Pious Divine far from home but so extreme Languishing by the sudden loss of about a Gallon of Blood and having no Acquaintance about me nor any Book but my Bible and Living in continual Expectation of Death I bent my Thoughts on my everlasting Rest and because my Memory through extreme Weakness was imperfect I took my Pen In his Book called The Saints everlasting Rest. and began to draw up my own funeral Sermon or some Helps for my own Meditations of Heaven to sweeten both the rest of my Life and my Death I cou'd next tell your Ladyship of a Gentleman who Markt all his Plate with a Death's-head My own Mother would often visit that Grave where she desir'd to the Buried Mr. Thorp being in Debt Other late Instances of Pious-men who have kept their Coffins by ' em retreats to the Mint where he falls to Writing a Poem on himself which he calls a Living-Clegy and invites all his Creditors to his Funeral to lament his Death I have no Reason to do this for I have taken that care that if any come to my Funeral that I 'm oblig'd to they may have Cause rather to lament the loss of my Life than any thing they can lose by me Mr. Stephens of Lothbury kept his Coffin by him several Years Mrs. Parry of Monmouth did the same and so did Mrs. Collins 'till Mr. Thorp's Living-Esegy her Husband was Buryed in it I don't pretend to live up to these Examples but I 've already purchast a â—rave and in these Sheets I 'm following my Hearse to it and I hope this Essay on my Funeral will remind Mr. Stephens kept a Memento of Death in his own House me of Death when I 'm most Tempted to forget it but that I may not I shall ev'ry Day my self make funeral Processions I mean visit in Meditation every Hour my Grave There is no fooling with Life when 't is once turn'd beyond Thirty and therefore I wou'd now Dâ—lly Celebrate my own Funeral and invite to my Exequies Ambition Avarice and all other I would now daily Celebrate my own Funeral Passions wherewith I may be attainted to the end that I may be a Conquerour even by my own proper Defeat For when a Man yields to the Meditation of
these unwellcome Tydings there was a great stir within the City the People assembled to the Market Place search was made for the Author of this Rumor Hereupon the Barber was haled before the Body of the People and being examined hereof he knew not so much as the Name of the Party from whom he had heard the News Upon which the whole Assembly were so moved to Anger that they cryed Away with the Villain set the Rascal upon the Rack have him to the Wheel who had devised this Story of his own fingers ends The Wheel of Torture was brought and the Barber was tormented upon it In the mean while there came certain News of that Defeat and thereupon the Assembly broke up leaving the Barber racked out at length upon the Wheel till it was late in the Evening at which time he was let loose yet was no sooner at liberty but he must enquire News of the Executioner what he had heard abroad of the General Nicias and in what manner he was slain So that Men have such a hankering after Novelties that they 'd even die to see something New and this Itch after News is become as General as 't is Fallacious The Poor Taylor that works in a Carret can scarce forbear leaving his Goose to run to a Coffee-house to ask if the Pope be recovered A constant Companion to this House going in all haste for a Midwife or to save the Life of a Friend was dying must call in and drink at least two Dishes of Coffee and smoak his Pipe that he may know how the World goes abroad let it go how it will at home Oh what precious Time do the London Coffee-houses devour and therefore 't is Dr. Wilde tells us News and New Things do the whole World bewitch But by your leave Dr. you may be mistaken for all are not born or live in Athens tho to their shame most are sick of the Athenian Diseâ—se in a desire to hear and seek News which they never find For Doctor I shall prove anon there is no such thing neither do they reflect upon what they hear for they seek only News for News sake and make it their business to go to the Wits * By Covent-Garden C ffee-house to Dicks to Ionathan's to Bridge's to Ioe's to Smith's to pick up News and then to report it to the next they meet and to be sure it loses nothing by carrying But there are some that were never tainted with this Athenian Itch. I have heard my Father often say he never was at a Coffee-house in his whole Life But he 's the only Instance of that kind that I ever knew yet I cant think him a New Instance for doubtless there be Men of the same Principle There be no Humane Actions that we see now a days but what have been practised in times past Yet I must own that before the War the Coffee-house was a place whither people only came after Toping all day to purchase at the expence of their last Penny the Repute of Sober Companions for Coffee is a Sober Liquor but now they are the Congress of Rome Venice Spain Geneva Amsterdam and are flockt to by all as the Mint of Intelligence Hither the Idle Vulgar come and go Carrying a Thousand Rumors to and fro With stale Reports some list'ning Ea s do fill Some coyn fresh Tales in words that vary still Lies mixt with Truth all in the Telling grows And each Relator adds to what he knows All Acts of Heav'n and Earth it boldly views And thro the spacious World enquires for NEWS The Coffee-house where News is so much enquir'd for is no better than a Nursery for training up the smaller Fry of Virtuosi in confident tatling But en't it strange that any shou'd be so mad as to run from Coffee house to Coffee-house to pick up News when in reality there is no such thing For what has the Name of News which like the Athenians of old they so Itch after is no other as my Poem shews than newly augmented Lyes Relations soâ—nd diversly as the Air of Affection carries them and sometimes in a whole Volley of News we shall not find one true Report and therefore 't was the Advice of a Father to his Son Let the greatest part of the News thou hearest be the least part of what thou believest lest the greatest part of what thou believest be the least part of what is true And where Lies are admitted for News the Father of Lies will not easily be excluded Perhaps what they miscall News may have some Ground of Truth for its beginning but being tost from one to another it is buried and lost in the multitude of New Additions and there 's nothing we can warrant for Pure News But then you 'll object Those Additions are New No Madam Terrence tells ye the contrary by saying Nihil est jam Dictum quod non Dictum sit Prius Nothing is spoken now but what has been said in former times And that Philosopher Renaudots tells us our very thoughts tho they be innumerable yet if they were Registered would be all found ancient Thento what purpose do we hunt for News Tis'true those Papers that pretend to News tell us sometimes of a Kings being beheaded and what is King Iames's Abdication but a Parallel Case of an Earl's Cutting his own Throat and then flinging the Razor out of the Window of the penitent Death of some great Lord of a Bloody Fight of a Lover hanging himself of a Virgin Ravisht of a Wise Alderman and now and then of a Woman C ding her Husband c. But these tho Real Truths are no New Things but what we have seen over and over Not but I must own if there were a New Thing under the Sun the Author of the Flying Post wou'd find it out But he 's an honest Gentleman and writes nothing but Truth and Truth is always the same and if his Papers be always the same what News can there be in them Or say his Papers were all Invention which comes neareâ—l to News of any thing that is not so yet still they were void of News for Invention is nothing else for the most part but a Simple Imitation in Deeds or Words So that the Flying Post Post-Man and Post-Boy do Weekly labour in vain for all their Pretence to News is no better than an Old Design to enrich the Bookseller which I don't tell as a Piece of News but as a thing acknowledg'd by ev'ry Hawker But tho we are disappointed of News where we most expect it yet whoever is troubled with Impertinent Fancies or wou'd hear ridiculous Storie â—e need but step to the Coffee-house and here the several Humors of the pretended News-mongers is worth Remark One begins ye the Story of a Sea-Fight and tho he never was so far as Wapping yet having Pyrated the Names of Ships and Captains he tells you Wonders that he waded up to the middle
LETTER VI. Proving 'tis a Happiness to be in Debt Madam IN my last Letter I acquainted your Ladiship that I had made a considerable Progress in the Art of Living incognito and that I was now oblig'd to live sâ— whether I would oâ— no I was ever in love wiâ— A PRIVATE LIFE 〈◊〉 ' â—is my misfortune now and the only thing in the World that â—bles me that my oblâ—gations to some People drive me as much as my own inclinations to a lonesome-Cell Madam you 'l admire at this for you see by my See my Printed Case p. 7. PRINTED CASE that all I owe in the World is scarce 250 Pounds which I must think is a TRIFLING SUM as 't is not the 15th part Lands are worth if you take in present Possessions and Reversions and of what my 〈◊〉 scarce the tenth part of what my Wife an only Child has a Title to at her Mothers Death and which she cannot injoy without me for I wish I cou'd see that Man that dares keep her from me when I send for her a which I shall at Midsummer if not Sooner But for all this Plenty on both sides at present I have a little occasion for Money yet neither she nor her Mother will permit me to take up the Small SUM I want So that 't is clear tho' we Solemnly took each other for RICHER FOR b See the Reflectione on my Printed Case p. 2. POORER that nothing but Money parts us and this is evident by her saying as I can prove by a dozen Witnesses that she had been a miserable Woman had she Married any Man but my self But I had only such fair words whilst they cost her nothing however my comfort is a little Time will work my Deliverance without her but in the mean time I am pinch'd as I 'm forc'd to trespass on my generous Friends but seeing ev'ry Man is willing to make his present Circumstance as easie as he oâ—n that I may make a Vertue of Necessity as well as others this Subject of this Letter shall be An Essay proving 't is a Happiness to be in Debt You see Madam by this Assertion 't is a very strange case which can find no Advocate what is it that fancy cannot put a varnish on A porson'd Pill may be gilded over as well as that which is wholesome Favorinus long ago wrote in the commendation of a Quartan Ague the soul Disease hath not wanted a Pen to excuse and commend it others have made a very bad Wise the Subject of their Commendation because they say She brings a Man to Repentance But of all barren Subjects that have been yet writ upon this of proving 't is a Happiness to be in Debt I judge will be most surprizing I own at present I Live Incognito that I may be rendered uncapable of contracting any more Debts yet I shall endeavour to prove 't is a Happiness to be in Debt 'T is true for my own part I 'd rather sell my Coat from my Back than owe any thing and therefore in 15 YEARS TRADING I never set any Man call twice for Money and 't is my Advice to ev'ry Citizen that is in Debt that he pays ev'ry Man his own the he â—ares himself not worth a Gâ—eat or it he compounds to pay a patt nevertheless let him resolve to satisfy all to the full if his endeavours and God's Blessing ever again inables him If our Citizen Acts thus By suffering he shall Conquer The Romans overcame sitting still 't is a comfort to remember Iob's beginning and ending Tribulation refines the Understanding Hannibal deservedly boasted of himself Age Prosperity and Adversity have so Instructed me that I had rather follow Reason than Fortune He had never attdin'd this pitch of discomment â—ad for his decliming Fortines obliged him to surmount all difficulties by his Conduct The Rich Chabot wou'd be Symboliz'd by a Ball with this Inscription Being Smitten I Rise higher Men in prosperity are seldom Religious But no Whip is more likely to reform the unfortunate or gives a shrewder Lasâ— than the Labells of a Bond or Obligation with a Noverint Universi He therefore and only he gets by his breaking who is more humble pitiful mortified given to Pryer c. Thus Madam having first told you my Notiâ—s of â—ustice I hope I may now without offence to those few I 'm engaged to Prove 't is a Happiness to be in Debt and most live as if they belseved as much For to run in Debt ouw adays is the Fashion from the Lord to the Cobler 't is become a saying he Pays like Quality that is he is Dun-Proof and thinks it a mean thing to pay his Debts and this is not only the Practice of some Rich Men for the greatest part are of a Nobler Principle but also of the poorer Gentry Mr. Marshal of B mer told me yesterday of a Gentleman that drop'd 25. 6d as he was mounting his Horse the Hostler stoop'd for it and wou'd sain have given it him Prithee Friend take it said the Gentleman for ' twan't worth my stooping for when at the same time he owed more then he was worth sure such as these think 't is a Happiness to be in Debt or thâ—y'd never be thus Prodigal But I wonder how they can sleep in quiet that are thus injurious to others and I find Augustus Caesar of the same mind for hearing it talk'd in his Court what a huge Sum of Money a certain Knight in Rome ovâ—ed at his Death and that all his Goods were to be Sold to make Payment of his Dâ—bts Commanded the Master of his WARDROBE to buy for him that BED wherein this Knight used to lye for says he if I cannot Sleep soundly in that Bed wherein he cou'd Sleep that owed so much then surely I shall Sleep in none But some han't been so forward to run in Debt but others have been as forward to punish their Injustice The Debt being confessed amongst the Romans Thirty Days were allowed the Debtor for the payment of the Money The Money not paid the Debtor was delivered up as a Servant to his Creditor he was sometimes cast into Prison and unless the Creditor were in the mean time compounded with he remained Threescore Days in Prison and Three Market Days being brought before the Judge the Debt was Solemnly proclaimed and upon the third Market Day he was either Sold to Foreigners for a Slave or else was Punished by Death each Ceditor being suffered if he wou'd to cut a piece of his Dead Body instead of payment a Roman Antiquities Asychis made as odd a Law against bad Debtors as this 't was that the Dead Bodies shou'd be in the Creditors keeping 'till the Debt were paid and I 'm told 't is common in England to Arrest the Corps of a Debtor as 't is carrying to the Grave But one wou'd admire that Men that stand in need of mercy themselves shou'd be
Stepney a Observations in a Walk to Stepney c. Hackney or my beloved Hamstead and now as I went along I wou'd conceive the World a Building the Earth a Floor spread wiâ— a Green Carpet-Coâ—g the 〈◊〉 a Roo◠〈◊〉 with exquisite Ornamâ—nts such Thoughts as theâ—e dâ—d mâ—ke me revere the Wisdom of the 〈◊〉 Archâ—t When in these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—ks I obserâ—'d such magniâ—ence in the Outward Court I presently concluded the â—tum 〈◊〉 was beyond description Aâ— Madam we live here in the very bottom oâ— Nature and think little who or what are on the Top oâ— the Context methinks I have something of it by â—ting glances but it vanishes and I ne're catch it Thuâ— you see Madam what Meditations the World affords when I consider it as a Bâ—g the Earth as a Floor and the â—ns as â—he 〈◊〉 â—o it When in longer Walks I have considerd the World as a Cable spread I have obâ—erv'd satisfaction â—or every 〈◊〉 fo◠〈◊〉 â—se Sense dished out in Proper-Objects For us the Winds do blow The Earth doth rest Hâ—aven-move and Fountains flow Nothing we see but mâ—ans our good As our Delight or as our Treasure The whâ—le is either our Cupboard of Foâ—d Or Cabinet of Pleasure Herberâ— What Orient Colours are brought in to please the EYE to delight the EAR what Melody is inclosed in The Musick 〈◊〉 be found in Groveâ— the Breasts of Birds so well instructed in Song that every Grove becomes a Quire What silken sofâ—ness have we for the touch What Cates and tasteful Viands for the dantiest Palats What Odoriferous Scents What perfumed Airs to seast the other Sense What abundance of sweetness is bound up in the small Volume of a Flower I read no less then a Deity in the Few Folios of a Damask Rose Thus Bleâ—ed Lord thy VVorld is a Table spread and every thing in it looks up to thee for their daily Food Thy Cuphaâ—rd serves the 〈◊〉 the Meat is seâ— VVhere all may reach no Beast but knows his Feed Birds teach us hawking Fishes have their Net The great prey on the less they on some Weed Nothing ingender'd doth prevent his Meat â—es have their Cable spread e're they appear Some Creatures have in VVinter what to eat Others do sleep and envy not their Chear And as thy House is full so I adore Thy curious Art in Marshalling thy Goods The Hills with Health abound the Vales with store The South with Marble North with Furrs and VVoods Herbert By the many Sights 〈◊〉 observe in these several Walks I conclude that Nature hath not left my Soul Objectless but there is somewhere a Truth for my Understanding and Goodness for my Will Again my Heart it Elated above the ordinary Level of Admiration when I perceive this Sublunary-world top full of Things as contrary as Fire and Water Earth This sublunary World is top full of Things as contrary as Fire and Water c. and Air yet to subsist by one another when I see this and which is yet stranger when I see them peaceably cohabit in the same Subject I cannot but attribute their ACCORD to a Sovereign Arm and Guidance VVhen on a Promontory I fix my Foot on firm Earth while mine Eye lancheth out into the Main and see the Billows come wallowing one in the Neck of another as if they naturally encouraged themselves to an universal Deluge yet when they foam and make a noise as unkennel'd I may soon observe them at the end of their Chain or if the Tempest shou'd rage so long A Storm describ'd that the tossing Seas shou'd touch the Sky and every Puff shou'd blow up a Grave yet as these Storms are of Nah. 1. 3 4. Ps. 148. 8. Gods sending so they are subject to his Government The Lord hath his way in the whirl-wind and the stormy Wind fulfils his word Tempests are calm to thee they know thy Hand And hold it fast as Children do their Fathers Which cry and follow Thou hast made poor Sand Check the Proud Sea even when it â—wells and gathers Herbert VVhile the Ocean swells it self into Alps of Water and the Brow of it is so surrow'd with Rage that every VVave threatens to write me among the Dead suddenly all is cut off with a dash VVhen I behold this diffusive Element stand upon an Heap sure there is some Hitherto and no further that it hears in its loudest Roarings and this is Gates and Bars to it VVhen The Reciprocation of the Waterâ— I look upon the Râ—ciprocation of the VVaters I feel a Spring-Tide of Thoughts at the highest flow within me and go beyond the MOON to find a Cause 'T is true some attribute the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sâ—a to certain subterranean Fires whose Matter is near a kin to the Matter of the MOON and therefore according to her Motion there continue their Times of burning and burning they make the Sea so to boil as that it is a Tide or High-water but going out the â—es in the bottom of 〈◊〉 Sea Sea sinks again but these Fires in the bottom of the Sea are but meer Conjecture for the Flux and Re flux of the Sea is a great Secret of Nature and gives us therefore principal occasion to magnifie the Power of God whose Name only is excellent and whose Power above Heaven and Earth VVith what amazement have I view'd the swelling Main They that go down to the Sea in Ships that do Bâ—siness in great Waters These see Psal. 107. 23. the Works of the Lord and his Wonders in the Deep Who can enough admire the Providence of God to Sea men The Sea which seems to stop the Traveller Is by a Ship the speedâ—er Passage made The Winds who think they rule the Marener Are rul'd by him and taught to serve his Trade Again when I look upon the Use of the Sea I conceive great Mercy and Wisdom in placing of it Those Heavenly-Buckets that pour out refreshing Refresâ—ing Showers whence they come Showers on the parched Soil are dipp'd in this Cisterâ— and it is as the Liver to the Body filâ—s the Ground with irriguous Veins thus we see Each thing is full of Duty Waters united are our Navigation Distinguished our Habitation Below our Drink above our â—eat Both are our Cleanliness Hath one such Beauty Then how are all things neat Again when I see the Earth once every Day muâ—e The Night describ'd it self in ' its own Shadow and that the Dark may not be Irksome our busy Eyes are as often clos'd by a Law of Rest which upon Pain of Death we may not long infringe and how orderly do we go to sleep The Stars have us to bed Night draws the Curtain which the Sun withdraws Musick and Light attendour Head All things unto our Fleshare kind In their Descent and Being to our Mind In their Assent and cause Herbert That Sleep which refreshes Nature may be thus defin'd 'T
Conjecture However I 'll close my Eyes on this vain World and dress out my Hearse in the best manner I can I went Yesterday to Stepny-Church to to view the Graves of others the better to prepare my Mind to write this Essay on my own Funeral I spent about Five Hours among the Tombs which tho' it be a Melancholy sight yet has something in it proper to instruct the Living In walking through What we may learn by walking through a Church-yard and by Viewing of Dead Mens Sculls a Church-yard especially that of Stepny and Chiswick we see a great number of Dead-mens-Sculls arranged one in Pile upon another which puts us in mind of the Vanity and Arrogance wherewith other while they have bin fill'd We need but walk through a Church yard to see what is this Foolish Animal Man Here we see what we Magnify what we call a King a Duke a Lord even a little Warm and Walking Earth that will be Ashes soon we came into the World crying and squalling and We consume our Lives in drivling Infancy in Ignorance Sleep c. so much of our Time 's consum'd in drivling Infancy in Ignorance Sleep Disease Trouble that the remainder is not worth the being rear'd to we see in walking through a Church yard how Time laughs us out of Greatness and shuts up our wide designs in a Dark Narrow Room Then what Midness is the Pomp the Noise Time shuts up our wids designs in a Dark Narrow-Room the Splendour the Frantick Glory of this Foolish Life we makeour selves Fools to disport our selves and vary a Thousand antick ugly shapes of Folly and Madness These fill up the Scenes and Empty Spaces of our Lives Folly and Madness fill up the Empty Spaces of our Lives The Thoughts of this one wou'd think shou'd abate our Pride and sensual Affections for why shou'd I be so Vain to Pride my selfe in outward Pomp and Bravery who within a few Hours may be a Dead Corpse carryed in Procession Methinks the Sight of a Funeral shou'd humble the Proudest Man or Proud Man that thou maist be humbled The Sight of a Funeral shou'd humble the Proudestman Go to the dull Church-yard and see Those Hillocks of Mortality Where Proudest Man is only Found By a small swelling of the Ground Here Crowds of Rich Bodyes are made Slaves to the Pick Ax and the Spade Dig but a Foot or two to make A cold Bed for thy Dead Friends sake 'T is odds but in that Scantling Boom Thou robbst some Great Man of his Tomb And in thy Delving Smit'st upon His Shin-Bone or his Cranion Some make a huge Noise in the World to have the Honour to fill out a more Splendid Epitaph Such Lessons as these we may learn by viewing the Tombs of those who make a huge Noise in the World that they may have the Honour to fill out a more Splendid Epitaph And as a walk through a Church yard shews us the Uanity and End of all Worldly Grandeur so it also shews us That Death is as Common as 't is Ingrateful Infants as well as Men dayly can direct us in it Witness every Church-yard where are to be seen Graves of all Sizes In ev'ry Church-yard are to be seen Graves of all Sizes This Treasury of Death Survey Where Young and Old like Tribute pay See what Acquaintance thou canst Spy Amongst those Skulls I prithee try Man of Science prithee shew Thy Darling Child or Aged Foe Mankind by thee alone are read And know'st thou nothing of the Dead No surely nothing at all for Alexander seeing Diogenes tumbling among Dead Bones ask'd him what he sought To whom the other Diogenes Tumbling among Dead-Bones Answered that which I cannot find The difference between the Rich and the Poor And as there be Graves of all Qualities and Sizes so who can see 'em covered with Green Turf and withering Grass and forget he must die Before we come into the Church we are presented with these Sights A 7th part of our Time is set a part to put us in mind of dying as if unfit to hear Gods Word untill we are put in mind of Death and this we are injoyn'd once in Seven Dayes as if it 7th part of our Time were to be set apart to put us in mind of dying And happy are those Christians whom the sight of Funerals and Graves Rings a Peal in their Ears of their own Dissolution which by most is so little remembred that 't is become a saying I thought no more on 't then of my Dying Day which tho' a wicked Expression yet I fear there 's a great deal of Truth in 't for my self must Confess That Living in a Country Uillage where a Burial was a Rarity I never thought of Death it was so seldom presented unto me coming to London where there is plenty of Funeralls so that Coffins and Corpse in the Grave Observations upon the Funerals in Country Villages and upon those in London justle for Elbow-Room for so they do both at Stepney and Chiswick and ev'ry Church-yard in this Populous Town I Slighted and neglected Death because grown an Object so constant and Common How soul is my Stomach to turn all Food into bad Humours Funerals neither few nor frequent work effectually on me London is a Library of Mortality Volumes of all Sorts and sizes Rich and Poor Infants Children Youth c. dayly dye I see there is more required to make a good Schollar than only the having of many Books Lord I therefore wish that thou wilt be my School-Master and teach me to Number my Days that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom Thus Madam have I shewn what we may learn in a Church-yard where you 'l see me buryed ' ete my Letter is finisht It teaches us the Vanity and End of all Worldly Grandeur What little A Church-yard gives me hints about my own Death and fair warning to prepare for it reason such Worms as I have to be Proud That Death is the Fate of all that come into this World from the Man of 60 to the Infant that is just born And in this Particular it reminds me of my own Death and the consequence of it and therefore A walk toâ—a Church-yard I thought the most likely thing to prepare my Mind to write an Essay on my own Funeral And as a Church-yard gives me hints about my own Death and fair warning to prepare for it so it also shews us the Folly of murmuring that we are Mortal Creatures for shou'd I complain that there shall be a Time in the which I shall not be I may as well repent that there was a Time in the which I was not and so be greived that I am We have to Reason to murmur that we are mortal Creatures noâ— Old as Adam had bin had he liv'd to this present Year 1700 for not to have been 4000 Years before this Moment
is as much to be deplored as not to be 4000 Years after it we know something what Death is by the Thought of that Time and Estate of our selves which was ' ere we were our Nephews haue the same Reason to â—ex 〈◊〉 yes that they 〈◊〉 not â—ung in our Dayes which we have 〈◊〉 that we shall not be old in theirs they who so re-went us did give place unto us and shall we grieve to give room to them who come after us And I 'm apt to think there 's nothing in Death it self that can afright us 't is only Fancy gives Death those hidious Shapes we think him in 't is the Saying of one I fear not to be dead yet am afraid to dye ' tho I don't see why we should be afraid of Death but as 't is the inlet to What Life is Eternity for Death is no more than a soft and easy Nothing Shouâ—d you ask me then what is Life I 'd answer with Crates who being asked this Question said nothing but turned him round and vanish'd and 't was judged a proper Answer Life's nothing but a dull repetition What Death is a vain fantastick Dream and there 's an end on 't But what ever 't is to live sure I am if you credit Seneca 't is no more to dye T is only Fancygives Death those hideous Shapes we think him in than to be born we felt no pain coming into the World nor shall we in the Act of leaving it Death is but a ceasing to be what we were before we were we are kindled and put out to cease to be and not to begin to be is the same thing I have met with one arguing thus Death which is accounted the most dreadful of all Evils is nothing to us saith he because while we are in being Death is not yet present so that it neither concerns us as living nor dead Epicurus in Gassend Synt. for while we are alive it hath not toucht us when we are dead we are not So that we look upon Death with our Eyes not with our Reason or we shou'd find a certain Sweetness in Mortality for that Essay on knowing our Friends in Heaven p. 87. can be no loss which can never be mist or desired again But let Death be what it will 't is certain 't is less troublesome than Sleep for in Sleep I may have disquieting Pains or Dreams and yet I fear not going to bed For Sleep gives us a sip of Joy but Death the full draught This is my Notion what DEATH is but I can't be sure I ' ent mistaken for my writing of my own Funeral shews I 'm yet alive or were I laid in my Grave I shou'd know as little what Death is as I do now for dying deprives us of knowing what we are doing or what other state we are commenceing T is a leap in the dark not knowing where we shall light as Mr. Hobbs told his inquisitive Friend when he was going to dye But ' tho I know so little what Death is there have been Men that have tried even in Death it self to relish and taste it but as I said before there are none of them come back to tell us the News Canius Julius endeavoured to make Trial what Death was that he might come again to acquaint his Friends with it No one was ever known to make Who once in Death's cold Arms a Nap did take Lucret. Lib. 3. Canius Iulius being condemn'd by that Beast Caligula as he was going to receive the stroke of the Executioner was ask'd by a Philosopher well Canius said he where about is your Soul now what is she doing what are you thinking of Iwas thinking 〈◊〉 and the faculties of my mind setled and fixt to try if in this short and quick instant of Death I cou'd perceive the motion of the Soul when she starts from the Body and what this passage is and whether she has any resentment of the separation that I may afterwards come again to acquaint my Frâ—ends with it But we don't read that Canius after he was put to death ever came to life again to acquaint his Friends what Death was But ' tho he did not there be those that have for my sâ—lf had once the Curiosity to visit two certain Persons one had been hang'd the other drown'd and both of them very miraculously brought to Life again I asked Of two men that came to Life again after they had bin hang'd and drown'd with an account of what they felt in their dying what Thoughts they had and what Pains they were sensible of The Person that was hang'd said He expected some sort of a strange change but knew not what but the pangs of Death were not so intolerable as some sharp Diseases nay he cou'd not be positive whether he felt any other pain than what his fears exacted He added that he grew senseless by little and little and at the first his Eyes represented a brisk shining red sort of Fire which grew paler and paler till at length it turn'd into a black after which he thought no more but insensibly acted the part of one that falls asleep not knowing how nor when The other gave me almost the same Account and both were dead apparently for a considerable Time These Instances are very satisfactory in cases of violent Death and for a natural Death I cannot but think it much easier diseases make a conquest of Life by Essay on knowing our Friends in Heaven p. 88. little and little therefore the strife must be less where the in equality of power is greater However by these instances we see there is a certain way by which some Men make tryal what Death is but I never expect to know it 'till I make the Experiment But I do believe if there be any evil in Death it wou'd appear to be for that Pain and Torment which we apprehend to arise on the breaking of those straight-bands which keep the Soul and Body together But that the Sâ—ght Hearing Smellâ—ng Taste leave us without Pain and unawares we know most certainly and why should we not The Sight Hearing Smâ—lling Taste leave us without Pain and why should we not believe the same of Feeling believe the same of Feeling But ' tho we can have no perfect Notion of Death yet this we are sure that Death is a profound sleep in which Nature lets it self fail insensibly when she is tyr'd with the disquiets of this Life It is a Cessation of all those Services which the Soul renders to the Flesh. This is Death as near as I can judge of it And if Death be no more then this I shan't shed one Tear at the Thoughts of my own Death tho' I have shed many at the Death of others I think the Thracians were much in the right to weep when a Child was born and to rejoyce when it dyed We also read that Lodowick Coâ—tusius a
it demonstrates that Dispair is still more so and never to be entertain'd even at our latest Breath for our Lord has declared at whatsoever time a sinner shall repent he will receive him But I would have no Man put off his Repentance From this Minute I bid sâ—rewel to Covetousness Pride Ambition c. because God is merciful for he that puts off his Reâ—entance to another Day as he has one day the less to repent in so he has the loss Inclination for such a work he that defers Repentance to a Death bed 't is a Thousand to one if he repents at all for besides his aversion to such a work his distemper may seize his Brain or he may dye suddenly and for that Reason Iâ— not run the hazard of a Death-bed Repentance but do from this Minute bid farewell to 〈◊〉 Pride Ambition c. and all my beloved Sins that so I may die with a good Conscience and My Reason for making my Will have nothing to trouble me when I 'm leaving the World And in order to this I have made my Will bequeathed my Soul into the hands of a Merciful God And have as you 'l bear anon given orders about my Funeral And thus your Lady 〈◊〉 sâ—s what a Melancholy thing it is for a Man to I 'm here burying my self in Effigie Write of his own Death especially if heâ— in Health and strength for methinks now I 'm as 't were Burying my self in 〈◊〉 I mean attending my own Corpse to the Grave 'T is the last Office of love 〈◊〉 a Friend and sure I am I can follow the Corpse of none except Valeria that I love better I live now where the The weekly Bill of Mortality never less than 200. in the most Healthful-Times Bells can scarce solemnize the Funeral of any Person but that I knew him or knew that he was my Neighbour and when these Bells tell me that now one and now another is buryed must not I acknowledge that they have the Correction due to me and paid 〈◊〉 Debt that I owe. In the most healthful Times Two hundred and upwards w◠〈◊〉 constant weekly Tribute paid to Mortality in London A large Bill 〈◊〉 it must be disâ—ged Can one City spend according to this weekly rate and not be Bankâ— of People At leastwise must not my Shot be call'd for to make up the Reckoning Seven Young Men yearly taken out of Athens to be devour'd by the Monster Minotaur When only Seven young 〈◊〉 and those chosen by 〈◊〉 were but yearly taken out of Athens to be devoured by the Monster Minotaur the whole City was in a constant fright Children for themselves and Parents for their Children yea their escaping of the first was but an introduction to the next Tears Lottery Were the Dwellers and Lodgers in London-weekly to cast Lots who shou'd make up this 200 how wou'd every one be afrighted Now None regard it my security concludes the afore said Number will consist of Infants and Old-Folk Few Men of middle-Age and amidst them surely not my self But oh is not this putting the evil-Evil-day far from me the ready way to bring it the nearest to me The Lot is Weekly drawn tho not by me for me I am therefore concern'd seriously to provide left that Death's Prize prove my Blank for the Were the Dwellers in London weekly to cast Lotts who shou'd makeup the Bill of Mortality they wou'd be all afrighted Bells tell me as I hinted-before that now one and now another is buried and must not I acknowledge that they have the Correction due to me and paid the Debt that I owe 1. Hark! how chimes the Passing-Bell There 's no Musick to a Knell All the other Sounds we hear Flatter and but Cheat our Ear 2. This doth put us still in mind That our Flesh must be resign'd And a general silence made The World be Tenant to a Shade 3. This Bell calls our Holy Grone A loud Eccho to this Tone He that on his Pillow lies Half Embalm'd before he Dies Carries like a Sheep his Life To meet the Sacrificers Knife And for Eternity is prest Sad Bell-weather to the rest But is this Sound a Passing-Bell Then to Eternity farewell Poor Soul whose doom one Hour shall show Eternal Bliss or Endless Woe If Virtues Laws thou hast despis'd How wou'd that Virtue now be priz'd Or say thou didst in our loose Age On her forsaken side engage Wouldst thou the dear Remembrance now For the Worlds Monarchy fore-go What other Medicine canst thou 〈◊〉 T' asswage the FEVER in thy Mind Now ' waken'd Conscience speaks at large And Envious Fiends enhance the Charge Let the Bold Atheist now draw near And try thy drooping Heart to chear His briskest Wine and Wit to thee Will now alike insipid be In Deaths arrest the Hector's Sword As little Service can afford Who hopes for rescue here will fail And the grim Sergeant takes no Bail Once hearing one of these Passing-Bells Ring I pray'd that the Sick-man might have through Christ. 〈◊〉 safe Voyage to his long Home Afterwards The Tolling of the Bell has through mistake made me Pray for Persons that were departed this life I understood that the Party was Dead some Hours before and it seems in some Places of London the tolling of the Bell is but a Preface of course to the ringing it out Bells are better silent than thus telling Lies What is this but giving a false Alarm to Mens Devotions to make them to be ready armed with their Prayers for the assistance of such who have already fought the good fight and gotten the Conquest Not to say that Mens Charity herein may be suspected of Superstition in praying for the Dead However my Heart thus poured out was not spilt on the Ground My Prayers too late â—o do him good came soon enough to speak my good will What I freely tendered God took according to the Integrity of my Intention The Party I hope is in Abraham's Mens Charity herein may be suspected of Superstition in praying for the Dead Bosom and my Prayers are returned into my own But ' tho sometimes the Bells misâ—ad my Devotion and I may pray perhaps for a Dead-Neighbour yet Passing-Bells are of great use for The PASSING-BELL ringing calls me into God's Church to hear and learn and to pray for the departing Soul the Grave being digged warns me to prepare for Sickness and Death and passing by the Tombs of my dead Friends puts me in mind that e're long I must come to ' em Having these frequent warnings of my own Death I often think with my self What Use we should make of the Passing-Bell what Disease I wou'd be best contented to die of none please me The Stone the Cholick terrible as expected intollerable when felt The Palsey is Death before Death The Consumption a flattering Disease cozening Men into hope of long life at the last Gasp.
Some Sicknesses besot others enrage Men some are too swift and others too slow If I could as easily decline Diseases as I could dislike 'em I should be Immortal But away with these Thoughts The Mark must not chuse what Arrow will be shot against it What God sends I must receive May I not be so curious to know what Weapon shall wound me as careful to provide the Plaister of Patience against it And surely I shall need Patience on a Sick Bed for if I 'm seized with a Feaver I fear I shall rave and rage Oh whither What Disease I woud be best contented to die of will my Mind sail when Distempers shall steer it Whither will my Fancy run when Diseases shall ride it My Tongue which of it self is a Fire Jam. 3. 6. sure will be a Wild-Fire when the Furnace of my Mouth is made seven times hotter with a burning Feaver But Lord ' tho I should talk idly to my own shame let me not talk wickedly to thy Dishonour Teach me the Art of Patience whilst I am well and give me the use of it when I am sick Commonly that Sicknes seizes Men which they least suspect In that day either lighten my Burden or strengthen my Back Make me who so often in my Health have discovered my Weakness presuming on my own strength to be strong in sickness when I solely rely on thy assistance But tho I mention a Feaver at 't is a Distemper I most dread yet 't is a great Question whether that Disease be to end 〈◊〉 Days For 't is commonly seen That Sickness seizeth on Men which they least suspect He that expects to be burnt with a Feaver may be drown'd with a Dropsie and she that fears to be Seing there be many Ways out of the World I bless God that I can die but once swell'd with a Tympany may be â—el'd with a Consumption I might mention a thousand other Diseases which unexpectedly may seize upon us Then seeing there be so many Ways out of the World and but one into it I bless my God that 〈◊〉 die but once and once I must know what that CHANGE means For in vain we take Mompâ—er-Air In hopes to leave the Thoughts of 〈◊〉 there And as I must die so If I don't mistake the Disease I shall die of for I expect to die of the Stone my weary Pilgrimage on Earth is almost finished so that my own Funeral is a proper Subject to employ my Thoughts and Men of a stronger My own Funeral is a proper Subject to Employ my Thoughts Body then I â—till they get a Lease of their Lives will do well to consider That they have no continuing City here Then Healâ—hful Man why should'st thou take such care To lengthen out thy Live's short Calendar Each Dropping Season and each Flower doth cry Fool as I fade and wither thou must die The beating of thy Pulse when thou art well Is but the tolling of thy Passing-Bell Night is thy Hearse whose Sable-Canopy Covers alike Deceased Day and thee And all those weeping Dews which nightly fall Are but as Tears shed for thy Funeral Thus you see Madam that Death no more spares the Strong and Heathful then he that is always sicklâ— but that we are all Pilgrims and Strangers oâ— Earth as our Fathers were befâ—re us On this Condition came we into the World that we should leave it again and therefore Anaxagoras having word Bona's saying upon the hearing of a Clock strike brought him his only Son was dead his Answer was I know he was born to die And BONA every time he heard the Clock strike would say Now I have one Hour less to live I can't say Death is so often in my thoughts that I shou'd cry every Hour I am so much nearer the Grave yet I may say aâ— often as I view the Hour-Glass and consider the swiftness of Time that I desire to â—ie Tears with her Grains of Sands that I might daily lament that I 've lived to no better purpose and am so little affected with the Death of others And as the consideration of the Death of others should remind me of my own so I hope a sight of my GRAVE will make Riches and what else I have doted on to appear in their own Nature as things of nothing in comparison of those above and as I go still Riches Plays Beauty c. have their value from our estimation of ' em nearer the nearer they seem unpleasanter the Fashion of this World 〈◊〉 awayâ— And I now perceive that Riches Paintings Iewels Songs Plays Beauty c. had their value to me meerly from mine own Estimation which now I begin to take off and look more intently on them They begin to vanish like Castles in the Clouds which are not there indeed but in our Imagination only And as the Thoughts of my Death shou'd wean me from this World so I perceive that the Egyptians found that the Sight of a Funeral was of great efficacy to this purpose and therefore at Rich-Mens-Banquets one went round about A piece of Timber wrought like the Carcass of a dead Man attended with a Train of Mourners the Table with a piece of Timber wrought like the Carcass of a dead Man attended with a Train of Mourners and he spake thus Oh 〈◊〉 that eat so â—avourly behold this Image for even so shall ye shortly become 'Till we have thus conquer'd the fear of Death every spectacle of Mortality terrifies us into what a Dump did the sight of Cyrusâ— Tomb strike the Mind of the great Alexander But thus to fear Death is always to live in the pangs of Death for most true it is Fear is more Pain than Pain there is no 〈◊〉 in Death it self like those in the Way or Prologue to it Then considering the Miseries of Humane Life I wonder any shou'd be afraid of Death 't is said of 〈◊〉 a Man of great Integrity that he gave one the option of Life or Death who told him he had 〈◊〉 The sight of Cyrus his Tomb terrify'd the Mind of the great Alexander die again than live again and certainly as Frederick the Emperour was wont to say The best thing in the World cou'd happen to a Man is to have a good going out of it I believe he spake as he thought for the wearied Man desires the Bed the languishing Man â—he Grave both wou'd fain be at rest I find this verified in my own Person for being always followed with one Disease or other I am so Zealous for a Passage out of this World that I now take my leave of every Place I depart from and think of nothing but dying I have already purchased a Grave where I intend to be buried and took upon it the only sure Possession I have in this World Of one who being put to his choice would rather die than live World All that I 〈◊〉 of thee living
Draught presented to her of those Heâ—venly jâ— she was going to possess And this was Iris Case for tho' she was now within a few Minutes of breathing her last yet 't is clear by the Prayer she then made that she was very sensible of what she said even so sensible that she was now in joyful Raptures and exprest a kind of impatience till she was dissolv'd And why because she spiritually saw what she could not utter doubtless she had a kind of Draught presented to her by her Guardian Angel of those Heavenly Joys she was almost ready to enter in possession of and therefore she now prayd more earnestly than ever and even longs 'till she 's convey'd by Angels into Abraham's Bosom which was now in a little time for she had no sooner ended her Prayer but DEATH seizes upon her Thus DEATH that on Humane Flesh doth use to feed With Time and Sickness two bold Thieves agreed To rob a House and e're the Break of Day To steal the Treasure of POOR JOHN away Siekness took foot but time went on apace DEATH came behind all come unto the Place TIME stays without Sickness would fain begin DEATH watcht a time and after was let in For Sickness faint when he shou'd stop her Breath DEATH stole upon her Sickness suffer'd Death DEATH had no sooner fixt his Dart into her But Hue and Cries pursue the Murderer The Noise was heard and TIME ran fast away Sickness no longer had the Heart to stay Death cou'd not surprize Iris DEATH with his Prey strait hid him under-ground Not since by any living Creature found And now the PALE Murderer has done his worst but t is my Comfort to think he cou'd not surprize Iris as Theevishly as he stole upon her for she She had assurance of Heaven Iris lov'd me and not my Fortunes and God blest our marriage We took each other for Richer for Poorer was Ripe for Heaven and had long expected him which made her often say Were my Work now to do I were undone forever Madam you may think me tedious on this Head but I cann't think so my self for Iris lov'd me and thought her Heart not enough to give me and as she loved me and not my Fortunes so God blest our Marriage accordingly for there was an even Thread of Endearment run through all we said or did for the Fifteen Years we livd together there never past one angry Word No disappointments tho we met with many did ever lessen this growing Affection Iris could not bear to see me dejected and heard of my Losses with only saying God will provide She never rail'd at Providence as they do who abuse their Friends for not being successful We took each other For Richer for Poorer and therefore all our distresses of Body and Mind were so equally divided that all hers were mine and all mine were hers and tho Death has now stole her from me yet such a kind and generous Wife can die but half Whilst I 'm preserv'd And as for my present Spouse tho she has been so Hungry as to fall in Love with her Jointure Irâ—s can die but half whilst I am preservd yet I still think cou'd she love as I do she 'd have no other Wish but me I inser this from my former Experience for when Iris and I were throughly Indear'd by a mutual confidence compliance and long Experience of each others Love No Jointure cou'd part us and had we lost all the World but one another Had we lost all but one another we had still bin happy we had still been happy I 'm sure had she enjoy'd 'em or my occasions requir'd 'em she 'd have dealt out Kingdoms to me without tiring Her Sympathy with me in all the Distresses of my Life makes her Virtues shine with the greater Lustre as Starrs in the darkest Night Like the Gloe-Worm the Emblem of true Friendship she still shin'd to me in the Dark and tho' this concern for me was no more than her Duty yet to requite her Love I made her my sole Executrix that I might give at the rate I lov'd her and was scarce contented with giving all I made Iris my sole Executrix and shall be as kind to Valeria when she grows oblieging Valeria falls in love with her Jointure Iris leads me from the Description of my own Death I 'm loth to give her the last Beck'n of Farewell And I 'll be as kind to Valeria when like Iris she thinks my Ease and Credit preferable to House and Land But whether does Iris lead me from the description of my own Death But Madam you can excuse it for 't is to shew how loth I am to give her the last beck'n of Farewell The best of Wives and my truest Friend is but part of her Character and I can't part with such a Treasure in post-haste Part bless me how it sounds The very Word is as Dagger thrust into my Heart and now it comes to the push I can't bear the Thoughts on 't That very Voice that did her Sickness tell Strook like a Midnight Chime or Knell At every Sound I took into my Sense a Wound 'T is true we first came together to help and prepare one another for Death but now Death has snatch'd her from me I am fainting away methinks I feel already the Terments to which a Heart is exposed that loses what it loves Thus the loving Hota followed her Husband to the Grave laid him in a sâ—ately Tomb and then for Nine Days together she wou'd neither Eat nor Drink whereof she dyed and was buried as she had order'd in her last Will by the side of her beloved Husband He first deceas'd she for a few Days try'd To live without him lik d it not and dy'd 1. Thus let me weep weep out mine Eyes Upon the Tomb where Iris lies Embalmed and enshrin'd Let not my Senses lead me home And leave dear Iris in the Tomb. Why should I stay behind We came together to prepare one another for Death The sight of her Dead Body makes me faint away Iris as happy as Heaven can make her 2. What Hope have I of Life or Bliss Under so dire a Fate as this What 's Man without a Heart There was but one 'twixt she and And that away from me did flee me When hence she did depart 3. And though the life of Sense I kept 'T were better in the Urn I slept For sleeping there I rest And then my Heart and I should be Cemented in tranquility And both for ever blest But tho I 've Reason thus to grieve for my Dear Iris except Valeria wou'd make me happy by despising the World Yet I wou'd not weep as one without hope For the time is short and therefore it remaineth that they that have Wives be as though they had none And they that Weep as though they wept not For the Fashion of this World passeth away
ta kes her Farewell of Earth A meditation upon the fight of a Dead-man And Death said I will strike anon Then to dull Life I bid a long Farewell And stretcht for flight But as the last grains fell Death fail'd my flatter'd hopes and turn'd the Glass But tho' my Soul and Body en't yet parted yet I have convers'd too long with the World already so that now I 'll suppose my self a dead Man At the Sight whereof were I living I wou'd thus meditate Teach me O Lord so to number my Days that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdom for I see by this dead Friend here lying before me we soon pass away and are gone All Flesh I see in this Instance is Grass and the Beauty of it as the flower of the Field Thou oh God hast determined the number of my Days which I cannot pass And I see here in my dead Friend what will follow the Separation of my Soul and Body As long as this Tabernacle lodged the Soul of my Friend it was sensible active cou'd hear â—ee speak or move but now that Guest is driven forth there is nothing in it but breeds my abhorence so that I now see all Confidence in Man is vain and that I shall soon become I 've said nothing of the manner of my Dying but what I 've observed in the Death of others as Pale and Wan at this Dead-Corpse which I here behold with Terrour and Amazement And Lord help me to consider that as this Body is dead without the Soul so both Soul and Body without Grace So much for the supposed manner of my Dying and for those useful Thoughts that a Sight of my Dead-Corpse might afford in which I 've advanc'd nothing but what I 've observ'd in the Death of others especially of my dear Iris My Breath being gone I 'll next suppose my self Laid out for â—ead I 'm now Stript and Dress'd in a Shroud and now the Cry of the House is Bury the Dead out of my Sight Being now Stript and Drest in a Shroud great Care is taken by my Executor for I know he 'll be punctual to observe my Will that my Body be kept veiled and secret and not exposed to curious Eyes neither shou'd Cyrus wou'd have no Man stare in his Face after his Death the Dishonours wrought upon the Face by the Changes of Death be star'd upon by impertiâ—ent Persons When Cyrus was Dying he called his Sons and Friends to take their leave of him to touch his Hand to see him the last time and gave in Charge that when he had put his Veil over his Face No Man spou'd uncover it And Epiphanius's Body was resâ—d from inquisitive Eyes by a Miracle But nothing A sight of my Dead-Body shou'd affect my Relations of this will disturb the Dead but a sight of my Dead-Body shou'd affect the Living Then now all my Friends if you ben't dâ—wn'd in Tears come and observe what a Change is here What a Change indeed For my trembling Soul being fled Lo how the Successors Valeria makes a shift to cry for my Death of Sin do trample upon these Mud-walls and demolish my House of Clay This dismal sight one would think shou'd squeeze out a few Tears if not from my Heir who has Sign'd Seal'd and deliver'd and is hasty to Bury me yet surely it will from the Dear Valeria for tho some Wives Bury their Husbands only with a sow'r Visage Mask'd over with Dissimulation contracting like the Ephesian Matron second Marriages before they have worn out their Mourning Garments But Valeria may pass for a better Wife For When her dear Spouse's last Departure's nigh See where this Fubbs has made a shift to cry But I 'm Box'd up the Parli'ment be thanked Whose Act has made my Rime in Woollen Blanket Being laid in my Coffin come hither Valeria and view me a little The Chinesses always before they Bury their Dead if he was a Marryed Man bring him to his Wife that so she might first Kiss him and bid him Farewel when you have done this prithee Valeria gaze upon me see in A good Iointure signifies nothing to a Dead Wife my Dead Phiz what Comfort you will have of your Iointure which you once kept to my Ruin when you come to this For pridâ—ee try the Experiment If you shou'd put a Bâ—g of Guineas into my Hand I shou'd let it fall or cou'd you give me Sampâ— ' twoud be too heavy to carry to the other World for don't you see that my Eyes are closed and I observe nothing Then Valeria view me well uâ—ver my Face again for A Dead Husband is worth observing a dead Husband is worth observing and you 'll find the Luminaries of my Body which us'd to shine with a living Brightness like the Gelly of a slâ—g Meteor lie now â—tombed in Darkness and that ruddy Hue which gave the Name of Flesh to this whited Earth hath either chang'd its Colour or its Place In a Word my Head Arms Body Legs c. have now left their Motion and lie as still as a Wife could wish who loves nothing of her Husband but the Iointure he has left her No wonder then she refused to come when I sent for her but has reserv'd all her Love for my dead Body which perhaps she 'll wash with a Tear or two as it looks kind and will cost her nothing neither need she make any use of an Onion for 't is observ'd of Widows they have Tears at command See where The Treasure of my Bosom doth appear Now coming to my Corpse with her drow'd Eyes For Iointure brings her where her Husband dies To whose pale Relick she devoutly Payes Obedience real as her Love and Brays With many Tears till quite dissolv'd in them She SEEMS contriv'd into a Walking-Sream As Destiny had meant her to descend From Rivers only but to serve this end Next let my Sisters drop their pious-Rain Larkin and Kenswell too will Weep in vain For none can soften my stiff Clay agâ—in Whilst my Eye thus amazedly wonders o'er my Dead Body methinks I In the supposed View of my dead Body I behold other Mens Fate as well as my own view in it other Mens Fate as well as my own Then blessed Lord let me Die daily that when Death shall be swallowed up in Victory and the numberless Atoms of my Dust shall by thy Almighty Power be new moulded into a Body my Soul may make a re-entry and be both glorified together Death we do now behold thee gay and glad As at Dooms-day When Souls shall wear their new Aray And all thy Bones with Beauty shall be clad Therefore we can go Die as Sleep and trust Half that we have Unto an an honest faithful Grave Making our Pillows either Down or Dust Herbert My Corruption belongs to the maintaining of of the Order of the Universe I lie merrily down in my
Bed tho' I expect to rise again to resume the Burthen of all my Frears Hopes and Griefs the constant Attendants of my Life and yet look Sadly and mournfully upon the Grave tho' my Corruption belongs to the maintaining of the Order of the Universe but why should I be afraid of Corruption seeing at my next Rising much 'T is a great wonder how a little Dustresolv'd into Elements shou'd become a living Body but I no ways doubt of the Resurrection My Soul Body now seem at once laid out â—ayer clad than before I shall awake to Immortality and endless Joy With the Eye of Reason I can look through the Glory of the World and behold Vanity and Oblivion with the Eye of faith I can look through Oblivion and Corruption it self and behold Glory and Eternity 'T is indeed a Wonder how a little Dust resolv'd into Elements should become a living Body again But I no ways doubt of the Resurrection for I 'm sure that my Redeemer liveth and tho' after my skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my Fâ—esh shall I see God Then let the Body rise in what manner it will I 'm ravisht to think what a bright and serene Morning the Resurrection will prove after the long Night of Death and the languishing Slumbers of the Grave My Soul being fled I know not how nor where and my Body left as a ghastly Spectacle to my Wife and Friends Methinks now my Soul and Body too seem at once laid out Some think they shall Die presently if they make their Will So that having proceeded so far towards my Funeral as To purchase a Grave To suppose the manner of my Dying And to describe what a frightful Spectacle Death will make me 't will be proper next to give some Account of my UUill For I never was of their Opinion who think they must Die presently if their UUill be made and so neglect it till it Why I made my Will in a time of Health be too late A Sick-Bed is no proper place to disturb our Brains about Worldly Matters I therefore made my Will when I was best able A Scotch Laird having sent for a Clerk to make his Will began to him thus after Of a Will made by a Scotch Laird We shou'd avoid all unjust Partialities in the making our Wills the common Preface Imprimis I bequeath my Soul to God To which his Clerk made Answer very seriously But what if he wonnot take it mon With what temper of Spirit this was spoken I know not but sure I am 't is a point that deserves a serious Thoughtfulness and Gravity of Mind And particularly we should avoid all unjust Partialities which are oftentimes very ill Grounded But to proceed in the Account of my Will My Nurse and Uisitanâ—s having declared me Dead methinks I see my Executor whose Character My Executor sending in all haste to the Persons concern'd in my Will you shall have anon sending in all haste to the Persons concern'd in 〈◊〉 Wâ—ll for the Will of the Dead should be punctually observ'd fòr to these we owe a nobler Justice than to other Men as they are unable to right themselves It is the bravest thing in the World to do an Act of Kindness to him whom we shall never see again but yet hath deserved it of us and to whom we wou'd do it if he were present and unless we do so our Charity To fulfil the Request of the Dead is the noblest Friendship we canshew is Mercenary and our Friendships are direct Merchandize but what we do to the Dead or to the Living for their sakes is Gratitude and Vertue for Vertue 's sake and the Noblest Friendship we can shew Such a Generous Person I have made my Executor so that all concern'd will have speedy notice of my Death And now methinks I see all my Friends assembled about me some to weep News being sent of my Death my Relations come to my Cell in Hopes of a good Legacy but most rejoicing in Hopes of a good Legacy but because they may see the Vanity in waiting for Dead-mens-Shoes I 'll now suppose my Executor Reading to them the following Lines which are A Breviate of my last Will IN the Name of God Amen I Iohn Dunton Citizen and Stationer of London and late of St. Giles Cripplegate Parish in the County of Middlesex being through Mercy in Health of Body and Mind do make this my last Will and Testament A Breviate of my last will And first out of Choice and not as 't is matter of Form I commit my Soul into the Hands of God trusting through the Merits of Jesus Christ to be accepted with him I commit my Soul into the Hands of God My Body I Bequeath to the Dust in hopes of a Glorious Resurrection but with this Charge to my Executor that he sees it Buried in the same Grave with my first Wife for there as she exprest it we shall be still Happy together if a senseless Happiness can be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As to the World tho' I never loved it yet I have taken that Care in the I Bequeath my Body to the Dust. disposing of what I have as to give it to one that will keep open House for God and his poor Servants I mean to one that has Sense enough to enjoy I have made a person heir to my Estate that has sense enough to enjoy it and Piety enough to be Charitable it and Piety enough to be Charitable and for that Reason I thought my self oblig'd in Conscience to give it all from the presumprive Heir and his scraping Friend finding by sad Experience the more he has the more he coveâ—s so that if his Wealth encreases at the rate it has done hitherto he 'll starve himself and his whole Family and therefore to add my Estate to his would be in some sort to hasten his Death but that they might not think I forget 'em I bequeath to 'em that Text And the Covetous which the Lord abhors to reflect on as long as they live I 'm My presumtive heir wou'd starve himself shou'd his Wealth encrease very Cordial in this Advice for Men in their last Wills appear open and plain Hearted they dare not dye revenging of Injuries no! when they think they shall dye their Eyes are open and their Judgments unbiast In some sense Peath's the truest Friend for Death will not flatter but deals plainly with us and as Men dare not dye with a Lye in their Mouths nor in Malice with any so they should be careful that they do not leave their Death 's the truest friend Friends quarrelling for their Estates but take such care in their Wills that their Lands and Possessions may know their Owners after their Deaths We shou'd take care not to leave our Friends quarreling for our Estates when we are Dead and that mine may do so of what I
Dead for 3 Days and afterwards coming My Mothers seeming Death to Life again to the Admiration of all that saw her This was also a Custom among the Romans to keep the Body 7 Days unburyed Washing the Corpse every Day with hot Vinegar and sometimes with Oil that if the Body were only in a Slumber and not quite â—ead it might by these hot Causes be revived After being kept Seven-Days unburyed 't is my desire that my Body be conveyed in a decent Manner to where I desire Mr. shou'd Preach my Funeral Sermon for the Benefit of my surviving Friends The Custom of Preaching Funeral Sermons very Ancient This Custom of Preaching Funeral-Sermons is very old and of great use for Dr. Taylor tells us that antiently the Friends of the Dead used to make Funeral-Orations and the Custom descended but in the Channel of Time it mingled it self in the Veins of the Earth through which it passed And now a Days Men that Die are commended at a Price and the Measure of their Legacy is the degree of their Vertue But these things I 'd have nothing said of me at my Funeral but my Abhorrence of Covetousness and Backbiting ought not to be and therefore 't is my Desire that nothing be said of me so many are my Sins and Infirmities save my Abhorrence of Covetousness and of Backbiting as for Covetousness I ever thought it a Beggarly-Vice and I find 't is its own Tormentor For the Miser having all things yet has nothing And I 'm as great an Enemy to Backbiting not one Report in 40 is true and therefore in Cases of Slander I believe no Man's Eves nor Ears but my own If I find any Man Censorious I have done with him for 't is my way to judge of all Mens Religion by their Charity I observe that Prejudice and Mis-information has Murdered the Reputation of many Innocent Persons and for that Reason I never judge any Man unheard I never Judg any man unheard and those that do I think 'em worse than the Man they 'd Blacken as will appear by some late Instances which shall be mention'd in my Funeral Sermon or else be inserted in my History of those modern-Divines that have been branded with Crimes of which they have been wholly I 'm writing a History of those Modern Divines that have been branded with Crimes of which they have been wholly Innocent Innocent and as I 'll Publish nothing in this History but what I 'll prove So Grant Oh Lord that no Man may turn that to an occasion of uncharitableness towards me which I design'd for his good or was necessary for my own Neither let any Man Censure me for anything but what be sees in me and Lord thou knowest I have not the least Cause to be proud of that I speak not this as I value the Praises of any Man No! I wou'd willingly come again from the other World to give any one the Lye that reported me otherwise than I was tho' he did it to honour me And as I abominate Flattery so I as little fear the worst Enemies I have for tho' they may strike me in the Dark and then like a Serpent creep into their hole again for want of Courage to abet their Actions yet I challenge them all to prove black is my Eye with respect to I challenge my worst Enemies to prove me guilty of any immoral Practice UUomen A varice Drunkenness Injustice or any other immoral Practices not but that single Life I 'm forc'd to will make People the more Censorious and some that have been in the Oven will be raising Lies of me perhaps as well as of better Men but by the Grace of God I shall endeavour to live so as I may have a Conscience void of Offence both towards God and towards Man 'T is a comfort that Accusations make no Man a Criminal or if they Accusations make no man a Criminal did an innocent Life would make me easy under all Aspersions for they are generally rais'd by the leuder sort A Backbiting Tongue is a sure sign of a Whore-master I cou'd tell you of one that Stole his Wife the worst sort of Theft and of others that have had Bastards that have been the first in slandering A Backbiting Tongue is a sign of a whore-master their Neighbour and I observe that most Slanderes owe their rise to the fair Seâ— but this is none of their Fault but the Fault of the Men who make it their Sport to abuse that Vertue they can't Debauch Lampoons and Libels so much in Fashion in this witty Age are a ready way to murder any Most Slanders owe their rise to the FairSex Persons Reputation and indeed as a late Author observes The Nature of true Vertue is commonly such that as the Flame ever has its Smoke and the Body its Shadow so the Brightness of Vertue never shines but hath Disdain or Envy waiting upon it Some Men are so vile that when no merit of Fortune can make 'em hope Some men are so vile that when they can't enjoy the Bodies of those Beauties they are charm'd with will yet lye with their Reputations to enjoy the Bodies of those Beauties they are Charm'd with they will yet lie with their Reputations and make their Fames suffer And tho' to such Women Innocence is the safest Armour for just Heaven will ne'er for sake the Innocent yet this Ieud Revenge is a double Uillany for certainly UUomen are necessary Evils from our Cradle to our Grave we are wrapt in a Circle of Obligations to ' em my Divine Pylades was of this Opinion or had never sent so often to his Doctress And I am sure such a Mortal as I who am helpless at best and often so afllicted with the Store c. that I can neither go nor stand can't Live without their Assistance which if they are Uertuous they 'll never deny me for I 'm so great an Enemy to running astray that I heartily Women are necessary Evils wish Adultery were Death But whether does Covetousness and a Slandering Tongue lead me But they are two Uiâ—es that my Soul loaths as will be thewn to my Funeral Sermon so that my Zeal against them is the more excuseable After this Funeral Sermon or rather Sermon against Slandering is My Body next to be carryed to the New burying-place Preach'd 't is my request that my Body be carried to the New Buâ—ying Place there to lie in the same Grave with my first Wife and upon her Coffin if it can be found and 't is my Will that no others be Buryed with us save my Executor and that Dissenting Minister who is to Preach my Funeral Sermon For 〈◊〉 't is good to enjoy the Godly while they Live so 't is not amiss to be Buryed with them after Death The old Prophet's Bones escaped a Burning by being Buryed with the other Prophets and the
quarrel round his Bed Fight Nurse fight Lads Sirs make a Ring about E'en let 'em have fair Play and Cuff it out Having lain the time I desir'd there 's no fear of my living again as my There 's no fear of my living again My Friends have now leave to bury me Mother did then honest GEORGE Nail me down and bury me for the Mourners are come the Claret is drunk and here stands Azariah Reynholds ready to dress out the funeral Procession and that nothing may be wanting on this sad occasion here 's Weeping Dev'ral my old Servant coming with the Pall the Bier and the six Bearers to carry me to Church and from thence to the Grave Azariah Reynholds stands ready to dress out the Funeral See where my Friends surround my private Urne Where all my kind Relations fondly Mourn And When the solemn Bell does sadly call Weeping Dev'ral comes with the Fall Bier and Bearers The drooping Pomp attends my Funeral Now I from Fortunes store can only have A narrow Coffin and a scanty Grave However I am as Rich in my Coffin as a dead Monarch Death I 'am as Rich in my Coffin as a dead Monarch A small parcel of Earth will contain thâ—se who aspâ—re to the poâ—ession of the whole World makes us equal with Kings In the Grave the Spade may challenge equality with the Scepter A winding Sheet Coffin and Grave is all that the Greatest Possess when they leave the World Philip King of Macedon walking by the Sea-side got a fall and after he was risen perceiving the Impression of his Body upon the Sand Good God! said he what a small parcel of Earth will contain us who aspire to the possession of the whole World This great Monarch after many and great Victories at length he fell not only into his Bed but into his Tomb contented with a small Cossin Peter Alphonsus reports that several Philosophers flock'd together and variously discanted upon the King's Death one there was that said Behold now four Yards of Ground is enough for him whom the spatious Earth could not comprehend before Several Philosophers discanting upon the Death of the great Alexander Another added Yesterday cou'd Alexander save whom he pleas'd from Death to Day he cannot free himself Another viewing the Golden Coffin Yesterday said he Alexander heap'd up a Treasure of Gold now Gold makes a Treasure of Alexander Thus miserable and wretched is Man the very greatest of Men in their last Exit I might prove it by more Instances but for Brevity sake I 'll name no more than the Bier of Ablavius Constantines Speech to Ablavius concerning his Riches who being an insatiable devourer of Gold Constantine the Great takes him by the Hand and said Ablavius Tho' thou hadst all the Riches in the World yet after thou art dead a Place or Chest no bigger than this which I have here mark'd out must contain thee if so large a piece of Ground do come to thy Lot Constantine was a Prophet for Ablavius being cut in bits the Saladine had nothing but a black Shirt to attend him to the Grave next Hour had not a piece left big enough to be bury'd The great Saladine observing this order'd that before his Corps a Black Cloth shou'd be carry'd on the top of a Spear and this proclaimed with sound of Trumpet in the midst of his Army Saladine Conquerour of the East had nothing left him but this black Shirt to attend him to the Grave The Brags of Life are but a Nine Days Wonder And after Death the Fumes that spring From private Bodies make as big a Thunder As those which rise from a huge King Only the Chronicle is lost and yet Better by Worms be all once spent Than to have Hellish Moths still gnaw and fret Most Kings have Died a violent Death Thy Name in Books which may not rent Herbert The highest place is most obnoxious to Variation the Sun is never so near Caesars chair of State was his Death-bed a declension as in the Vertical Meridian May I not say many yea most that have been Scepter'd in the World have been wrapt out of it violently as if they perish'd by Fassination from the many ambitious Eyes that dart Crassus cou'd scarce obtain a Shrow'd to cover his Nakedness upon 'em Iulius Caesar that he may be wofully miserable his Chair of State shall be his Death-Bed where he feels no fewer than 23 Wounds and sees Brutus among the Conspirators Crassus for all his Bags shall be slain and scarce obtain a Shrowd to cover his Nakedness and so shall the valiant Pompey Sirnam'd the Great who tho' he got an old Shirt for a winding-Sheet Deaths of Roman Emperours yet he cou'd not be supply'd with Funeral-fire enough to consume his Body Lamentable was the Death of Mark Anthony and many other Emperours among the Romans Lewis the gentle afflicted with Amurath's Grave 3 Rebel Sons grieves to Death and has now no more to possess than just his length and breadth in the Earth and we find Charles the Great Bajazet had scarce a Coffin to bury him without Love or Honour House or Bread at his End I might name many others if you peruse Turky a little you shall find the mighty Amurath thrown down from the top of Victory and a Grave is now all his Riches You may see the renowned Bajazet who had hovered aloft like a Royal Eagle mewed up in an Iron Cage and the way to Darius and Alexander were both snatch'd away by unnatural Deaths go out of the World was so block'd up to him that he was forc'd to beat out his Brains against the Grates to invent a Death which was followed with so mean a Funeral that he had scarce a Coffin to bury him and but two Persons to carry him to his Grave And what better Fate had Darius and Alexander Heads of the Second and Third Monarchy for see how they knock'd one against another and both snatch'd away unnaturally I. Dunton is as frail and mortal as the greatest King alive and how little do they now possess of those many Kingdoms they were striving for I abound too much in these Examples yet I must not pass by the Monarchs of the World without their due Observance for tho' Kings be no Examples for private Men as they be Kings yet as they are Men they be especially as they are mortal Men and must dye like others Whilst I 'm viewing the Graves of Rich Men I forget that I 'm carrying to my own and therefore I hold it no Presumption to say I am as frail and mortal as the greatest King alive Thus have I prov'd that Death makes us equal with Kings and that I 'm as Rich in my Coffin as a dead Monarch But whilst I 'm viewing the Graves of these great Men I shall forget I 'm going to my own so 't is time now the
total Dissolution of the Body the Soul is freed from any more sinning and all the sufferings of this Life a Condition much to be desir'd by all but those that are so blind to take their Misery for their Happiness and dore upon this present Life and such there are and ever was of whom St. Austin in amazement speaks when he says At what cost and labour do Men endeavour to prolong their Labours and by how many frights to fly Death to the end they may be able to fear it for the longer time 'T is true since Death was at first laid on Man as a penalty it must be allow'd to be that which Nature in it self abhors but God whose very Punishments are the effects of his Mercy and Goodness has ordain'd it to be the means to procure our Happiness both to wean our Affections from too much love of this Life and also to bring us to the possession of a better which if truly understood would more than overcome our natural aversion it wou'd make us long to be dissolv'd at least willing to die at our appointed time for those that believe and hope for a glorious Resurrection should they regret in Death the loss of their Bodies 't would look like the impertinent Folly of one that shou'd lament the loss of the Egg that was become a Chicken for sure it is for us to desire to be always what we are is to oppose the perfection of our Natures and speaks us degenerated to the lowest degree of Brutality Could we obtain a true Judgment of our selves we should like the Man you mention think it more Eligible to end than begin our Life again and 't is a great sign we have never labour'd for Heaven and Happiness when we are not weary enough to wish for Rest but like Children that pass their Day in trifling Follies are never weary but must be forced to Bed or else deluded to it by a false hope some such deceits are found for cheating Men as much as Children and often sends 'em to rest before they think on 't tho' were they not as insensible as Death it self can make 'em they cou'd scarce think of any thing else amongst the many Monitors the World affords us but yet I wonder how you can think it an easie matter to humble the preposterous Pride of Man 't is not the sight of a Funeral can do it nor yet your humbling Uerses he carefully secures his Pride from all Assaults while he lives and charges it to carry it to his Grave so dearly he loves it as his best Companion without which all worldly Enjoyments would be insipid and give him more pain than pleasure for Pride is the chief Ingredient in all our Pleasures to make 'em desirable and for that reason they do well to keep the thoughts of Death at an humble distance from their Pride for Death's the greatest Enemy it can encounter which first or last will get the Victory for how many Persons are in Mourning half their Life time for the Death of Pride Those who lament the loss of Youth the loss of Beauty or of Grandeur 't is all but Funeral sorrow for the loss of Pride the dear Companion of Beauty Youth and Grandeur which is gone before 'em but if that will satisfie 'em they shall soon follow This we must needs observe in the Death of our Friends and Relations who once enjoy'd this Life as much as we do yet cou'd not baffle Death but were forc'd to yield to his Summons which are so Arbitrary we have no Rule to take our Measures by to prevent surprize 't is therefore best to be always ready to entertain Death's Harbingers and make every thing our Monitor and almost all we see and converse with are naturally dispos'd to do us that courtesie wou'd we give leave for there is so much truth in what you call an Active Death that more of Death than Life appears in the imperfection of all humane Actions For Example Your ringing your Passing-Bell your laying your self out speaking your last Words describing your Looks and your Spouses Sentiments upon your Death and sight of you are very like the Dream of those that are under the Image and Similitude of Death and probably like Dreams may come to pass by contrarys For the Circumstances of your Death may differ so much from what you make account of that it may not permit you to Pray that Prayer you have prepared for obtaining the blessing to see and know again your Spouse in Heaven but let not this fright you for you may yet have this comfort If it is none of the Joys that belongs to Heaven you 'll be happy without it but if it is the common Blessing belongs to all beatified Spirits you 'll not want it Nor can I see the least reason to count our Death because 't is strange a dismal and mysterious Change for what shou'd we fear since there 's no being unhappy in God's Hands Had he never discover'd to us the Joys of another Life we have tasted so much of his Goodness in this as may well assure us there is nothing to expect but Happiness wherever he sends us for Death Sin and Misery was no portion of his providing 't was of our own procuring by Rebelion therefore 't is no matter what we are nor whether we go if we can leave Sin behind us How Beautiful were we made at first to enjoy an earthly Paradice till Rebellion and Sin changed all into misery and deformity But now how glorious shall we be made at the Resurrection to fit us for a heavenly Life where we are out of all possibility of any change for we are in no danger to forfeit that Life since all the Conditions we hold it by are already fulfilled for us You may well think what a bright and serene Morning the Resurrection will make and long for it at a great rate therefore to be provided for your happy Change is your chief care when you are once about to die you won't stay to be ask'd the least Question about your Funeral or disposing your Estate for you have not only made your Will but order'd every Circumstance of your funeral The Care and Fondness you shew for your Epitaph and the rich Monument you bequeath your self may very justly be imputed to your loving temper for had Iris been still alive you had never had such hot Thoughts and Concern for your cold Grave where you are laid in your Imagination with a Pleasure not inferiour to Kings and to assert your title to that Priviledge can prove your self as frail and mortal as the greatest Monarch alive But tho' you might think it necessary to make some Friendship and Acquaintance with Death before you fall into his Hands I can't see so much use of the Contemplation of your Funeral for to me 't is a care I shall never charge my Thoughts with but as I live and die Incognito so I wou'd
dying and therefore I can't understand Valeria's Policy in not sparing 500 l. out of 6000 l. seeing I do resolve if she will be happy it shall only be with her Husband for I marry'd her for Richer for Poorer and as we embark'd in the same COURT-SHIP so I do assure her we 'll Sink or Swim together But Solomon tell us there 's a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing and therefore tho' the Law is Eloquent and There 's a time to embrace and a time to refrain fromembracing will perswade her to Live with me yet till I see a fair opportunity I shan't turn my Addresses into a Legal-Courtship for I had rather that kind methods should melt her into Love and Tenderness However my Wife is my proper Goods and I 'll Pound that Man whoever he is that offers to steal her from me or that endeavours by any Device or by flattering her Mother My Wife is my proper Goods to defraud me of that which she solemnly promis'd me before marriage for as 't is a Promise in Writing 't is as much a Debt in the Court of Conscience and in the Court of Chancery too as if I had a Bond or Mortgage A promise in writing is a debt in the Court of Conscience and in the Court of Chancery too to secure it to me And as I am able to prove such a Promise in Writing so I can also prove by a letter under her Artornies Hands that she was fully satisfied with my Estate But why shou'd we give Money to promote the Laâ— It wou'd be more like Christians to give it to promote the Gospel Besides if I had Ualeria's Company and a small matter to make me easy I have all I desire and when she sends me the same Message yil run to meet her with open Arms she shall then even Rule me and all I have by her voluntary and ready obedience But the Bags The Attorneys Letter gave satisfaction about my Estate lie so high in her way at present that she can't get over 'em but when she falls to dispersing this gilded Rubbish all misunderstanding will be then remov'd and the same Hour I hear the News the Bells of St. Albans shall Ring as loud for our Reconciliation as ever they did for our first Marriage neither shall the Poor of that Town be forgot that so Heaven may Valeria's Company is all I desire continue us a happy Couple But this is News that I don't expect and therefore I bequeath all my Printed Cases except the Case should be alteâ—'d to my old Friends of St. Albans that by comparing the Truth with those many The Bags lie so high in her way that she can't get over ' em Lyes they have heard they may defend the Cause of an injuâ—'d Stranger who did not come till he was sent for and therefore 't is fit he should have civil Treatment And in the last Place I give to the Dear Valeria my present Wife A Ring with this Inscription Set your Affections on things above The Bells of St. Albans shall ring as loud for our Reconciliation as ever they did for our first Marriage for seeing she talks so much of going to her God instead of giving her Money to Adore and Worship I freely bequeath her to God who gave her 'T is true she has a Rich Mother and I might justly bequeath her to her for the Reasons mentioned in my Printed Case and I have a President for the leaving her Mother such a Legacy as this for we read Endamidas dying Poor left his Aged Mother to Aretaeus and his young Daughter to Charixenus two Rich Friends of his the one to be maintain'd 'till she dyed and the other 'till she Marryed and the Heirs as soon as they heard of this Will came forth and accepted those things that were given in Charge But suppose I had no such President as this to bestow her Daughter upon her yet one wou'd think I cou'd not leave her a better Legacy than her own Child but seeing she won't part with her Bags now she 'll less do it when I am Dead and therefore out of pure Love I chuse rather to bequeath her to God who gave her and tho' I en't like to be Buryed with â—er Legacies her her precious Dust being to Feast the St. Alâ—ns worms in the Abby Church where her Father hes and not the Phanatick-worms of the New-Burying-place yet I hope she 'll there rest in Peace and hearafter meet me in Heaven But if she grows so obliging as to deliver me from my Present Grievance that I may HONESTLY have Issue by her to it I wou'd leave 1 Chron. 28. 9. and I pray God see it executed according to my Will And for her self were she thus kind I wou'd turn her Iointure into a Deed of Gift which would double the value of it and make it the Study of my whole Life to please her Having in these Legacies endeavour'd to satisfie my self my Friends and my dear Spouse It is farther my Will That for the Payment of these Debts and Legacies If my present Wife happen to survive me that The growth of my Woods will Pay all I owe in 5 Years time my Executor Sell my Woods and the Reversion of my Estate as soon as ever I am Buryed but in case I survive her I 'll pay 'em my self in a Weeks time But if neither of our Deaths happen let no Man question his Money for the Growth of my Woods in about five Years Time will pay all I owe what I owe not being the fifteenth Part of what my Estate is worth No Debts in my Shop-Books to be receiv'd c. 'T is farther my VVill that no Debts in any of my Shop-books be receiv'd from any Person that is not fully satisfied he owes me what he is charged with I insert this that no neglects of crossing Accounts tho' I hope there 's none may be an Injury to any Man 'T is also my Will that all the Promises I ever made provided they are My Promises to be all perform'd fully proved be as punctually perform'd by my Executor as if the Persons to whom they were made had 'em under my Hand and Seal So much for my Debts and Legacies My Body not to be Buried till the 7th day after my Decease As to my Funeral and Grave c. 'T is my Will that the 7th Day after my Decease and not before my own Mother coming to Life that Day she was to be Buried my Executor see me nail'd down in an Elm-Coffin such a one as was made for my first Wife My Reverend Father Mr. Iohn Dunton in his last VVill speaking concerning his Funeral My Father's Funeral says 'T is his Desire that his Funeral might not be perform'd 'till seven Days after his Decease which Request was occasion'd as I hinted before by his first Wives lying seemingly