deplore Some who had all they wish'd wish for their Urne And that their Fun'ral Flames may quickly burn Yea Common-wealths and Monarchies we see That sometime flourish'd are a nullitie Our Text is prov'd this World 's a mass of woes Each day a doleful Commentâ—ry shows But that we may come closser to the main purpose of this Section viz. that the time and way of death is uncertain we will narrate an Hâ—storical account of several persons who have been soon and suddenly snatch'd out of the world and some of them come to very tragical ends by strange and unexpected ways and means It would be an endless work to specifie all even the ordinary diseases whereby people are in ieopardy daily of having the threed of their life cut neither is it possible to guess at or foretell all the fatal accidents whereby our death may be compassed for our life and breath is at the unavoidable reverence and disposal of the absolute Lord of life and death who hath many Arrows in his Quiver and variety of instruments of death there be mille nocendi artes mille pericula mortis which should make us who are certain we must die and uncertain where or when to study to be always ready and prepared Matth. 24.22.24 and Matth. 25.13 Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh Prov. 27.1 compared with Jam. 4 14. Boast not thy self of to morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth and ye know not what shall be on the morrow for what is your life it is even a vapour that appeareth a little time and then vanisheth away The inconsiderate r ch man in the Gospel fondly promised to himself many years wherein he expected to possess his great wealth and to take his case eat drink and be merry when behold in a moment a damping message came unto him which no doubt did strike him into a Pannick fear and Fever of perplexities but God said to him Thou fool this night thy soul shal be required of thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided Luk. 12.16 to 22. Now we come according to our purpose to narrate some Tragick instances of strange and sudden deaths Hylas Sailing to Colchos while he was drawing a Bucket of Sea-water with the weight thereof was pulled over Board and drowned Fortia Attendulus while he was endeavouring to save his Servant in hazard of drowning in the River Aternus in Italy did himself perish in the Water Maxentius the Emperor in his flight from Constantine the Great passing the Bridge called Ponte Molle within two Miles of Rome the said Bridge suddenly falling into the River he and all that were with him presently perished Remulus Anastasius the Emperor and Aurelianus Carus the Emperor and many with him were in an instant destroyed and suffocate with Thunder and Lightnings Neocles the Son of Themistocles died with the bite of an Horse Seleucus Callenicus and Theodosius the second Emperors both died by a fall off their Horses Fulco the Earl of Angiers was brained dead with a stroak of his Horse lifting up and bending back his head Hesperia a Maid died of the bite of a Serpent and Diogenes the Philosopher of the bite of a Dog Hatto the Archbishop of Mentz was devoured of Mice Maximinus the Emperor and Honorificus the King of the Vandals were both consumed with swarms of Lice Herod arrayed in his Royal Apparel sitting upon his Throne by the immediat hand of God was eaten of Worms Alcibiades was burnt alive in his Chamber Niolas being keen at hunting earnestly following the chase fell accidentally into a Coal-pit where he died miserably Philostratus and Elpenor falling down a pair of Stairs in their drunkenness both died of the fall Terentius Corax while Writing a Missive Letter suddenly died So did C. Julius a Physician in the time he was putting his Spectacles on his Nose And Flavius Vespasianus while hearing Forreign Ambassadors And L. Durius a Physician while drinking a Glass of Wine Ap. Saufetus in gluâ—ting down an Egg died immediatly Cueus Carbo while easing Nature died on the place so it is storied of Arrius that Arch-heretick in the Primitive times Petr. Calceanus died among the Barbers hands while a triming Philippides the Comedian Diagoras the Rhodian and Juventus Thalua all died of an excess of joy Philistion the Poet died in a great kink and fit of laughter Philip the Son of Demetrius the second King of Macedon and Charles the gross Emperor both died of an excess of grief and sorrow Q. Heterius a Roman Knight and Cornel Gallie a Senator both died in the very act of Venery Anacreon died by a little stone of a Raisine that stuck in his throat Henry the Son of Alphonsus the 8. King of Castile while playing with his Comrads was struck dead by a Slate falling off a â—ouse upon his head John the Duke of Britainie and several others with him were câ—ushed to death by the fall of a Wall Alexander the Emperor Son of Basilus and Atti King of Pannonia both died of a great bleeding at the nose Old Aschylus a Poet in Sicilie beeking himself at the Sun under the open air was suddenly slain by the fall of a Tortoise on his bald Pate which an Eagle taking it seems for a stone let the Tortoise fall on it that thereby breaking the shell she might get the meat Themigenes died of vomiting after his supper Antoninus Pius died sleeping Otto the third Emperor died by the infecton of a pair of poisoned Gloves Frider. 1. Barbarossa Emperor was drowned swiming Henry the 3. Emperor taking too great a mouthful of bread died eating Drusius Pompeius Claudius Cesars Son playing with a piece Pear and throwing it up to intercept or kepp it in his mouth it fell so far into his throat that it choaked him immediatly Tarqu. Priscus died with a Fish Bone sticking cross in his throat Fabius a Roman Senator was choaked with a Hair in Milk that he was drinking O what a small matter will do frail mans turn to turn him out of time into eternity when Gods decreed time is come Now in consideration of these instances and the innumerable hazards of death that we are in every moment and that by innumerable diverse means and accidents O let us fear always and prepare and provide against all dangers occurrent I thought not amiss to insert here that in the very interim or mean time that I was Writing thir Passages of some sudden deaths I was called for to see a young Woman but about a year Married that died the same day of a few hours illness having the last night night of her life gone to bed as well iâ— health as ever as her Husband told me SECTION IV. Motives to prepare for Death CHRIST saith Mat. 24.42 44. Watch for ye know
MEMENTO MORI OR A word in season to the Healthful Sick and Dying fit for this calamitous time Wherein sicknesses rage and deaths are frequent In which is Discoursed 1. That the present Life of Man is short 2. That Death is most certain 3. That the time and way of Death is uncertain 4. Motives to prepare for Death 5. Some things to be done in preparation for Death 6. Some Antidots against the fears of Death Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment Chilo per Ausonium Vive memor mortis uti memor sis salutis Persius Vive memor Lethi fugit hora August de Doctr. Christiana He cannot die ill who liveth well and it is rare for one to die well who hath lived ill By a Minister of the Gospel EDINBVRGH Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty Anno DOM. 1699. The Argument The Cross and the Crown Pag. 18. Ben O Death is terrible Cord. 14. BAr mind thou must dye All men to Nature must this Tribute pay The Crowned King and so the Chained Slave Must equally be turn'd into the grave There 's no discharge in this Man-slaying War Memento mori ev'ry thing doth bear T is but a little while of interval Twixt those that on a Traâ—ick Scaffold fall And those the racâ— of natures course who run Our life is almost gone when scarce begun Like to the Flow'r that with the Sun doth rise And with the Suâ— at night fades from our eyes And though the King of terrours death be call'd Yet by his terrours thou shan't be enthral'd For Christ hath overcome death by his death 'T is but a softly sleeping out the breath Which when it s gone breaths in the land of joy Where fears of men or death no more annoy East-Lothian November 4. 1699. MEMENTO MORI OR Death's Alarum to City and Countrey to mind and prepare for Death JOb saith Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble he cometh foâ—th like a flower and is cut down he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not Job 14.12 In which Pathetick Passage he pointeth at the breâ—ity of our present life the certainty of our future death and that all the days of our life till our death are lyable to be attended with many troubles and sorrows the serious consideration whereof should make us concerned to provide Cordials for Anâ—idoting the bitterness of the miseries of our life and excite us earnestly to exercise our sâ—lves to prepare for death and with all diligence to secu e our hopes of eternal life Death Judgment Heaven and Hell are the four last things yet for the most part the last and least in our thoughts which speaks out much stupidity unbelief and impiety for if we did really believe as we say we do that after our natural death there is life and death of another nature viz Eternal life and the second death unto one of which we shall be doomed at the great day of Judgment we should surely be more concerned than generally we are to prepare for death and lay hold on eternal life These these are matters of greatest consequence all our other secular concerns and temporal cares and interests are but trifles and vanities in comparison hereof Yet alas See we not the greatest part of the infatuated children of men madly pursuing to grasp and possess this world and to take all their present pleasures in time as if they were to live a sensual life for ever or to be annihilated at death or that there were neither Heaven nor Hell after it Eccl. 9.3 The heart of the sons of men is full of evil and madness is in their heart while they live and after that they go to the dead But my friend whoever thou art that reads these Lines sure I am thou art a Mortal therefore Memento mori rememember thou must die For what man is he that liveth and shall not see death Psal 89.48 My design is as succinctly as I can to set before thee a few things of death and preparation for it which are discoursed in these 6. Sections following SECTION I. The present life of man is short WE need not be long or prolix in telling you that our life is short they have been but short while in the World who are not convinced from their own observation of daily deaths that mortal man is of few days therefore to prevent multiplication of words in proving a thing that readily none who have their senses about them will deny All we shall offer on this Head shall be to cite and narrate some Scripture-passages wherein the brevity of mans life is illustrated by comparing it to several things that are transitory and corruptible in their nature or of very short duration and continuance Job 9.6 My dayes are swifter than a weavers shuttle which flyeth in the twinkling of an eye from the one end of the Web-Loom to the other Job 9.25 26. My dayes are swifter than a post they pass away as the swift ships and as the eagle that hasteth to the prey all which are most swift and violent in their motions Psal 90.9 We spend our years as a tale that is told which consisteth in a few vanishing idle words Job 7.7 My life is wind that posteth by us on swiftest wings in a moment of time Jam. 4.14 For what is your life It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanisheth away Psal 144.4 Man is like to vanity his days are as a shadow that passeth away either as the shadow of a cloud carried with a violent wind passeth our view in an instant or as the shadow of the Sun on a Dial that quickly declineth till set from our Horizon 1 Pet. 1.24 All flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass c. Mans life is as the grass lyable to a thousand accidents to wither either by the scorching beams of the Sun or a blasting wind or to be soon cut down or trampled under the foot of man or beasts And as in a pleasant Meadow there are many sorts of grass or flowers of various forms figures and colours white yellow red blue c. Which by the same fate fall together before the sharp Syth so men of all qualities Complexions and statures are promiscuously alike subject to deaths destructions Job 34.18 19. God accepteth not the persons of princes nor regardeth the rich more than the poor in a moment shall they die Job 21.13 In a moment they go down to the grave i. e. in a very short space of time doth their breath evaporate and evanish Psal 39.5 Behold thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity After this similitude of our vain frail life to nothing and vanity
nothing more needs be said to express the brevity of it and even they who by reason of strength reach the length of threescore years and ten or fourscore yet their strength is labour and sorrow for it is soon cut off and they flee away Psal 90.10 SECTION II. Death is most certain and inevitable DEath is a debt that all mortals owe to Nature and must be paid death will admit of no bribe no bail no main-prize their is no possible fence or guard against his darts and instruments of destruction sayes Job 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living And Heb. 9.27 It is appointed for all once to die i. e. there is a stated unalterable decree by the Council of Heaven that all must die which by no means can be repealed or avoided Pray what can thou plead or pretend as a ground of hope to escape but what will be found vain and unable to help thee Psal 89.48 What man is he that liveth and shall not see death Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Eccles 8.8 There is no man that hath power in the day of death and there iâ— no discharge in that war Riches and wealth will not avail theâ— in the day of death they may rather perhaps bring thee sooner to thine end thy vexatious thoughts of the â—ecessty of leaving them grating and wasting thy vital spiâ—its or thereby thou mayest be exposed to become a prey to some or other who by sinister ways may compass thy death to share of thy beloved gear and riches Where is Craesus and Crassus Where are all the full and opulent possessors of this worlds gooâ—s Hath not death spoiled them all both of their lives and livings Job 21.13 They spend their days in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave Job 34.19 20. Goâ— regardeth not the rich more than the poor in a moment shall they die Worldly power and greatness are little things before this great King of terrours and terrour of Kings Where arâ— the mighty Monarchs Princes and Potentats of this World Where are the Armed Hosts of Nations with their Generals Captains and Commanders Are not all these men of mighâ— consumed with worms and corrâ—ption They who brought many deaths upon others could not warâ— it off themselves Job 24 2â— 24. The mighty are not sure of their life they are exalted for a while but are gone and brought low they are taken out of the way as all others and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn Rev 19.18 The flesh of Kings the flesh of Captains the flesh of mighty men the flesh of all men both free and bound both small and great shall be made a feast â—o death and corruption The Sophists and wise men of the world who by their exquisite cunning and providence could contrive and plot the ruine of Nations not one of them could ever yet fall on a politick to save themselves from death Where the Achitophels where the Matchiaâ—els and all thâ— other profound Polititians who have been admired for their wisdom sense and eloquence hath not death out-witted them all and de-witted them utterly Psal 49.10 The wise man dieth c. Isa 3.1 2 3. Where thâ— mighty man and the man of war the Judge and the Prophet and the prudent Where is the honourable man and the Coâ—nsellouâ— and the cunning Artificer and the eloquent Orator Are they no all taken away yea they are dead and gone Bodily strength health and vigour cannot hold out against this Conqâ—eroâ— those he crusheth down as the moth and maketh to decay aâ— all as the grass before the Mower How many healthful and young persons hast thou known who appeared as if they would have run to the outmost step of Natures course who yet have been run down by death in the midst and bloom of their verdant years Let not the young man glory in his strength for some says Job 36.14 they die in youth I thought not amiss on this particular to insert here a few Lines out of a little Poem called An Abstract of Ecclesiastes Sect. 17. Boast not of youthful years nor boast Of health of body nor of might A short whiles sickness may thee post From time to an eternal night Mind thou must die but when or where Thou cannest not Divine or tell The Lambs-skin often at the Fair You 'l find as soon as the Sheeps to sell Neither will the charms of beauty nor the finest amiable complexions move death to pity or spare he is so fond of his own Gastly Countenance that he will have all look like himself Loveable beauty I say the common charm of Mortals will not at all take with this Master of Mortals for he 'll make their beauty to consume away like a moth Psal 39.11 Yea their beauty shall consume in the grave Psal 49.14 What what then will be a shield against the darts of death If none of these can be Armour of Proof will not piety and vertue be a fence and sanctuary No no for all flesh is grass Even grace and godliness that may make immortal after time will not save any mortal from temporal death Isa 57.1 The righteous perisheth and merciful men are taken away Heb. 11.13 The Apostle speaking of Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Moses and other holy men of God says of them These all died in faith Lay thine account then who ever thou art that soon or syne thou must die SECTION III. The time and way of death is uncertain MOrtals are obnoxious to innumerable mischievous misfortunes fatal accidents and untimely deaths says Eliphaz Jâ—b 5.7 Man is born unto trouble as the sparks flee upward No man knoweth what scene or share of temptations and tribulations may betide him ere he go off the stage of time but all having sinned all may dread to partake of the bitter fruits of sin Every day we may behold some spectacles of misery every day brings news of some body or other that is visited with disasters and dâ—stressâ—s To prevent tedious enlargement on this Head take a short Synopsis of some of the common woes and miseries of the world in a few Verses of a little Shedull called The Cross and the Crown This World 's a Mass of Woes a Maze of Tears Amazing Mortal Wights with Panick fears Our life 's a Tragedie comes in with cryes Made up of griefs goes out with Elegies Each Mortal acts his part in ev'ry age Each Scene new sorrows brings upon the Stage Some cover'd with a Sable Vail we see An Embleme of a late Mortalitie Some crying clapping hands Ah! cruel Fate I 'm ravish'd of my Darling and my Mate Some change their health to sickness ease for pain Some in a moment all their glory staâ—n Some who were Crown'd with Fortunes bravest Bay Have found their Garland wither soon away Some who like Craesus Treasures had in store Like Job or Irus poverty
not what hour the Lord doth come therefore be ye also ready Though there were no more but this one command and advertisement from our Lords own mouth it is enough to make us think it our great concern to prepare for death and to alarm us agreeably to ply this great work Besides the motives we have already touched at viz That death is cerâ—ain and the time and manner therof uncertain we will offer a few more considerations to perswade and excite you to do what ye can to be in a prepared estate for approaching death We get many fair warnings and speaking memorials that we must die Are not sickness raging and deaths frequent through the Land At this day 't is observed there are far more Burials than Births few Families have escaped wherein there has not been either sick or dead When we go to Church or Mercat do we not miss many of our Friends Neighbours and Acquaintances that a few days or weeks before were wont to attend these publick occasions as we do and now where are they They are gone and their places of converse or residence knows them no more What is the language of this but hodie mini cras tibi What 's my fate to day may be thine to morrow Again we must die but once we have need to see that we do it well We say and do many things amiss in the ordinary course of our life which we may have leisure and helps to amend and rectifie but not to die well can never be helped now or never is the time of preparing for death for as the tree falls so will it ly if thou unhappily happen to die in a graceless unconverted estate without God and without Christ thou dies also without hope for there is no hope in the grave whither we go there is no more Preaching Faith and Repentance after time no more mercy to be expected of God no more mediation by Christ no more gracious motions of the Holy Spirit as life leaves you death will find you and as death finds you so will eternity treat you therefore it is the living â—he living must lay it to heart and that while they are in the land of hope for if ye die unprepared your hopes are afterwards out off for ever Eccl. 9.5 10. The living know that they shall die but the dead know not any thing Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Isai 38.18 The grave cannot praise thee death cannot celebrate thee they that go down to the pit cannot hope for thy truth Remember also that when the Harbingers of Death come though thou shouldest pray him with strong cryes and tears to spare thee yet a little while that thou mayest be better prepared ere thou go hence to be no more None of thy Reasons or Rhetorick will prevail to reprieve thee one moment his strict orders he must put to present peremptory execution one breathings respite I say thou needest not expâ—ct For as it is Job 14.5 Thy days are determined the number of thy months are with God he hath appointed thy bouâ—ds that thou canst not pass it is impossible either to anticipate or transgress the set and definite time and period of Gods unalterable decree and appointment And is there not a great deal of strong reason ye should prepare for death even more than a parity with respect to other cares and conâ—erns this being the care of cares If ye have Debts or Accounts to give in to any that owes you will you not take time to Exâ—ract them and to fit and set them in order Now have you not Counts to clear with God Are ye not deep in his Debt What innumerable debts of sins and debts of mercies and of time and other Talents are you in Arrears of to God And have you not just ground to expect that he will call you to an account Matth. 25.19 After a long time the Lord of these servants came and reckoned with them If you are to take a voyage or to go a journey are ye not concerned to provide for them And have ye not a far journey and dangerous voyage to go that are to land at times end in the astonishing Abyss of Eternity and perhaps knows not whether in Heaven or Hell If you are to come into the presence of a King of Clay will ye not as Joseph Gen. 41.14 put your selves in your best prepared dress you can and are ye to appear before the King of kings and will you not change your dirty raggs and put on your beâ—â— ornaments If to engage in Battel will you not arm and prepare for your own safety And when to engage in the last Battel of the Soul at death will ye adventure naked and Armless Have not too many careless souls done so who when to die have been filled with sorrowful complaints and horrible out-cryes O time time Had I time again how busie and careful would I be to improve all my hours for better purposes than I have done specially in preparation for my last hour As on the contrary who ever repented their preparing for death None sure ever had reason for these who are prepared and in case to die well if God spare them are also in case to live well and prepared the better to improve every lot of life it brings not death the sooner that we much mind it and prepare for it Yea and not only may the wicked be filled with horror when to die unprepared but even many godly who have died under a cloud have lamented bitterly their not being actually so prepared as they ought to have been for they have found Satan then set most furiously upon them his time being short and they being short of some of their provisions against his assaults But though they may not be actually prepared so much as they should be yet being habitually prepared by their gracious and salvifick translation from death to life in their Effectual Câ—lâ—ing and Conversion they need not so much be in bondage for fear of death as those who are nothing prepared being in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity It is indeed a terrible thing for such to be surprized unprepared for they not being meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light when they enter the gates of death the gates of Heaven will be shut against them for ever and the gates of hell opened thereby to enter into everlasting torments prepared for them But ere I pass from this Head I would have no holy to think that when I am thus pressing preparation it is only upon the sickly or dying no no I exhort you who are in most established like health and vigor so to number your days as to apply your hearts to this piece of true wisdom for it will take our freshest health our strongest wâ—ts our outmost vigour as the