to come As the Scripture sayth Blessed is he that is alwayes fearefull And by this the olde Doctours Hierâ—ome and Augustine 〈◊〉 wryte that Plato that excellent and moste noble Philosopher dyd forgoe the delicate and beautifull Cittie of Athens â–ª with â—â—â—tayne of his Schollers choosing rather to dwell in an olde thinous Vyllage beeing often with Earthquakes and Tempestes wel neare ouerturned so that by the frace of daungers and death they myght in themselues mortifie the vicas of the fleshe withdraw themselues from concupiscence and all other vices For so muche as the Gentyles haue done this howe much more I praye you ought Christians to withdraw themselues from delectations by remembring the daungers of death And that by this the preme ditation of death there might growe in vs such an healthful feare The disposition of him that dyeth is to be consydered to behold the present howre of the separation of the soule from the fleshe whereof man hath a naturall feare for then man altogeather waxeth pale his feete waxeth colde his weake hands becommeth blacke his countenaunce chaungeth colour his eyes becommeth dimme and sinketh in and for intollerable pangues of paynes they are turned vpwarde See how his hart waxeth faynt his forehead shrinketh all his members waxeth flyffe his chinne falleth his pulses chaungeth theyr course his breath gathering it self from the innermost bowels doo altogether forsake the body The paines of death do then appeare deadly pangues stinging with the mortal stinges the very harte which fyrst of al begynneth to lyue and last of al doth dye And last of al there commeth breaketh foorth a dead sweate shewing that Nature is ouercome And thus being vanquished by griefe the soule is cast out from hir dwelling place If we wyl consyder this disposition of them that dye and do dilygentlie imagine that the lyke wyl short lie happen vnto our selues there is no doubte but we wyll consider the healthfull feare of death ¶ THE MANER howe to dye well Written in Latin by Petrus de Soto AL men must nedes dye a punishment assigned vnto vs for that sinne of our fyrst parentes Mortalitie that is â—euitable death is test cast vpon vs for that Adam and Eua did eate of the forbidden fruit wherby they sinned against the lord And as sinne was first commited so death presently folowed By syn they lost life gained death For as by doing well they shoulde haue obteyned immortality to themselues their posterity so by doing the contrarie they haue gained death mortality to them vs for euer from the general sentence whereof none shal escape lest that any one shoulde haue cause to exalt himself aboue another if he might freely escape the same The certentie of death and the vncertayne howre thereof NOthing is more certayne then death but the howre the place and maner thereof none knoweth For who is he that knoweth when where and after what sorte he must dye whether he shal dye a good or a shamefull death whether hee shall ende his lyfe by sword fire or water or by any other kynde of death No not one truely For death more diligent then our shadows at al times and places continuallye geueth his attendance laying for vs his trappe thinking at euerye houre vnwarely to intrap vs therein Who is then so foolish as to assure himselfe to lyue but tyl night of what age soeuer hee be of For what other thing is our life but the verye beaten pathe and straight way to death Hee therefore that is wise loketh prepareth him selfe for death and at al tymes and in al places is continually ready to dye For death is at the gates of old men and lyeth in a readines to oppresse ouertake yong men the houre when the Lorde reserueth and keepeth to himselfe to the ende that we beeing vncertayne when to dye shoulde the rather prepare our selues to dy And whylst we haue our perfect health memorie we ought to acknowledge our redeemer to cal vpon him betaking our selues altogether vnto his clemencie great mercye And in no wise to detract the time to the laste houre and extreme instant of death For death most commonlie assaulteth and oppresseth those whom he seethe most vnwilling and the worst prouided And as death findeth the man so man shall finde death The perfect man dyeth in securitie and gladnes the iust manful of hope fayth and assured confidence and the vniust dyeth in stare and desperation VVhy Iust men doe wishe for death WE do continually walk amongst innumerable dangers that is the dangerous snares of our aunciente enimie the diuel the bloody swordes of the wicked the intollerable greefes paynes and labours of the body The habitation or dwelling place of the body wherein we dwel is ruinous the worldely sea wherein wee fayle is ful of stormes dangerous wrackes no earthly thing wherein wee can delight our selues lacketh great perils and that wherein wee thinke we finde great felicitie therin alwayes consisteth our most miserie and calamities But yet our benigne Sauiour doth not without heauenly prouidence appoynte suffer that this our mortal life shoulde be so replenished and fylled with those so great calamities paynes and perils And also doth according to his profounde wisedome prouidentlye ordeyne and appoynte them I meane those temporal paynes which we do abide to the ende that wee shoulde repent vs of our former sinnes and amend our present lyfe and diligently to care for the lyfe to come and that we shoulde willingly contemne the worlde and set at noughte this transitorie life erecting and lifting vppe our mindes soules and hartes vnto the almightie God â–ª earnestlye affecting the glorious euerlasting life with feruent desire from the bottome of our hartes Our forefathers which in times past tasted but verye litle of this glorious and heauenlye sweetnes did yet abandon al earthly vanities abhorred the delight of the world despised and quite forgot this transitorie life most painfully labouring with al diligence to obteine the vnspeakeable pleasures of heauen greedely thirsting for the eternal blisse saying with the Apostle â–ª O wretched man who shal deliuer me from this mortal body My desire is to be dissolued to be with thee O christ for as the Harte desireth to come to the fouÌ„tains of fresh waterâ— so doth my soule O Lorde desire to come to â—hee Although death bringeth vnto vs suche and so many pleaâ—â—res and that through it the soule is carried thither where it shal eâ—â—â—auy liue yâ—â— we ought not to dâ—â—â—â—te nor argue of the rest of our life which is presâ—â—lbed by God neyther ought werâ— bee the causeâ—s or procâ—reâ— of our owne death For as we 〈◊〉 not hither by 〈◊〉 owne appoynâ—ment so ought we not to be â—hâ—â—â—â—â—rs of ouâ— ende before the â—ime appoynted vnto vâ— by god Hereby I iudge him to be altogether forgetful of himselfe and litle to regarde his owne state that thinketh his time in this
Death at the gates of olde men is and prest to youth also But neither knoweth the certen howre when they away must go Let vs therfore not knowing when God shall vpon vs call Prepare our selues in readinesse both soule minde harte and all Yeelding our selues vnto the Lorde whylst we our health enioy Not wasting time by posting off least we our selues annoy Euen like as death doth finde the man so man the death shal finde For perfect men in safetie do dye with ioyfull minde With hope of blysse the iust doth ende their lyfe in quiet rest And wicked men full desperate doo ende in cares opprest Therefore to auoide these dangers all keepe thou these verses in minde Which I amongst the learned workes of godlie men doo finde ¶ Of Death Iudgement Hell and Heauen EChe thing returnes to massie earth and endes where it begunne Fresh flowres and all that beareth breath as shades away doth runne Nothing for long accompted is that must in time decay To morrowe next perhaps shal be my death and dying day This present day may likewise be the last day of my dayes Wherein appoynted is that I. must dye without delayes No hope of dooing wel is left after that deadful day That day in ioy without al greefe To passe God sende I may It is great folly to accompt long time here to endure Séeing that none one day to liue himselfe can wel assure Oft to accompt or mencion make of dayes it is but vayne Since restful day or quiet houre none hath without great paine Haue thou as long a time and race as thou doth lust to runne As ought of nought was made in fine so ought to nought must turne A thousand thousand men haue bene and thousand of thousands eke VVhose bones in earth consumed are whose fame is nowe to seeke A iust rewarde for their desertes doth onely nowe remayne And for their déedes by iudgment iust they suffer ioy or payne Beholde that feareful iudgement iust for one shal geue the dome VVho doth appoynte that trembling day when he thereto wyl come Dread feare and cast thy count therfore prepare thy harte I say Liue thou as though death present were thy due preparde to pay ¶ Of the houre of death worthye of often repetition REmember oft O mortal man consider in thy minde VVhat soden feare and terror great thy soule is like to fynde VVhat pinching wormes begin to fret the hart on euery side VVhen soule from flesh life from man begins away to slide Ten thousand griefs begins to paine the wicked soule with woe VVhen from the prison of the fleshe away it needes must goe It doth bewayle with streames of teares the vayne bestowed time VVherein it might ful leasurely repent eche sinful crime And bitterlie with scryching cryes it makes a rufull mone To see the time of strict reuenge that drawes so hardlie on It seekes a whyle then to remaine in hope some mendes to make No sute maye then preuayle but that the fleshe it must forsake Full fayne it would recouer againe the ioye which it hath lost All is in vaine it wyll not be away the soule must post But looking backe it séeth againe when it was wald with bones The whole full course of passed lyfe all presentlie at once And taking yet more earnest viewe it séeth not farre beside The infinite Eternitie that neuer away wyl slide Then trikling teares by watred leares in floudes for gréefe doth runne For losing al the heauenly ioyes that easly mought bene wonne Intisementes fowle of filthy fleshe iust cause of greefe then brings For that by them the swéete delight of heauen and heauenlie thinges From sinfull soule for euer alas remediles is reft And endles paines by iust desart by God to it is left It blusheth for that the sinfull flesh it dyd so much set by The foode of gréedie scrauling wormes in graue when it doth lye Forgetting quite it selfe alas which if it had done wel To Angels might compared be that in the heauens doo dwel O howe the soule confounded is when it doth sée with eyes The perfect glée that was and is aboue the starrie Skies With fléeting stoudes of cares I saye the doleful soule is tost When it doth see the heauenly health that it hath vainely lost For vading glorie of the worlde in this poore mortall lyfe Wherein we see nothing is had without debate and strife When the blacke vale of miserie it doth from farre beholde It wondreth at the shyning light of heauen more pure then golde It doth then sée the wauering worlde that séemde to it most bright To be none other but a clowde more darke then drowpy night How godly harde and strict a life the soule woulde vndertake What fastings great what promise large what holy vowes would make To get by grace some space of tyme wherein it might repent The vaine surpassed course of life that earst in sinne was spent But when the dasled eyes begins to loose their wonted sight And holo we chest yet feble pants and loosing neare his might The ratling throte doth faintly breath the téeth waxe blacke and rust The lippes becommeth pale and wan the toung is thicke and thurst And euerie lym neare styffe and colde when these doo play their parte As verie signes and tokens true of Death his pearsing darte Then al his wicked works and thoughts as witnesse forth are brought And strongest euidence they geue gainst him that them haue wrought He no where then can fire his eyes but there they present are And as his strongest enimies they worke his greatest care Huge routes of vgly dreadfull douyls on thoâ—e side standeth nâ—â—re The vertues all on thother side with Angels passing cleare And in the midst betwixt them both by iust and vpright dome It s clearely iudged to whether side the wandâ—ing soule shall come If in the pathe of vertue true the soule did runne her race Then do the Angels euery one craue that it maye haue grace With pleasaunt heauenly harmonie full sweete they do allure The soule with them in heauen to go they earnestly procure But if the soule all blurred be with blottes of filthy sinne Then war like troupes of hateful deuils agaynst the soule doo â—iune And sodenly in boyâ—â—rous wise alheadlong downe doth cast The guyltie soule eternally to heâ— they pul at last In ambushe they in priuie wise the waye doo al beset Thereby the soule to stop and stay and it from heauen to let By calling these and such like thinges to minde with inwarde thought Al raging fleshlie lust we shal despise and set at nought And weigh as thinges of litle weight al worldlie pleasures vaine Forsaking quite thentisements sweete of hoores and hoorishe traine Applying our studies by stedfast faith to God in godlinesse VVe shal I trust by Christ at last be plast with Saintes in bliffe Praise be to God our Sauiour and to his name also VVho graunt that to his glory we all thinges
by him may do ¶ A redie Instruction and godly exercise for an happy death spoken as it were in the person of Christ vnto the Soule Translated out of the Booke called Pharetra diuini amoris O Thou soule as nothing maketh the loue of the worlde to seeme more folishe and sooner prouoketh vnto thee the happy contempt of al things which are created then the true consideration of this short lyfe due regarde of temporal death by which death al worldly endeuours all earthly honour all vading pleasures all vaine thoughts al hurtful desires transitorie ioye doth perish So nothing doth more reioyce the louing soule then that it beleueth hopeth to be associated vnto me to be altogether drowned in me Where henceforward there shal be no euyl no sin no seperation no daunger no feare nor griefe where in perfect charitie the soule shal continuallie praise alwaies magnifie stedfastly obey and perfectlie please me And lykewise it shal continuallie be with me where it shall neither requyre loue or affect any thing besides me but I shall be the sole possessor of it And for so much as these things caÌ„not perfeetlie happen vnto thee in this lyfe tyll such time as thou shalt be plast with me in my kingdome where al thy desyre shal be satisfied in louing and praising me where I shal be al in al Therefore thou dost iustly require with al thy hart mayst lawfully desire that which is contained in the praier which I haue left with thee which peticion is Let thy kingdome come Therefore my Daughter if thou dost entirely loue me if stroÌ„glie thou affectest to come to heauen if ferueÌ„tlie thou requyrest to see thy kingdome which is this estate whereof I do speake then in this maner with signes praye thou that my kingdom maye come Wherein thou shalt be vnited vnto me in perfect charitie and altogether drowned in me And for that as I haue sayde this can not be but after death which caused my Sainctes in patience of lyfe to wyshe for death which is the verie porte or entrie vnto life Wherby thou mayst see that the soule which perfectlie loueth mee feareth not death For what doth the soule loose by departing out of this vnhappye life surely nothing but the waye to offende snares of sinne occasions of ruine deceiptes of enimies hir owne proper fragilitie and feare â–ª and such like innumerable daungers which do blinde weakeÌ„ and chafe the soule passing ouer the labors of the body which are alwayes changeable and vnstable The soule in this worlde wisheth for many thinges that should not be obtained not knowing that which it would haue It coueteth desyreth many things which can not be The soule being ignoraunt blinde in many things walketh in dauÌ„ger and darknesse not knowing howe it may be ridde from them Why then should not the soule willingly wish and hartelie reioyce to see it selfe deliuered from these innumerable sorrowes and heapes of daungers O thou soule what doest thou feare Why wyshest not thou for death Seeing thou art not hurt by death nor yet canst loose any thing by death if thou haue forsaken the loue of al worldly things Wherfore I tel thee it is daungerous to loue any earthly thing For to tel thee truely I say that by louing them thou imbracest very daunger it selfe Therfore I as one that tedreth thy welth do admonish thee that thou before thy death wilt quite forget al earthly loue and feare not death if I be he whome thou doest onely loue in this life Reioyce then that thou doest die for that is the onely meane wherby thou mayst come to me But peraduenture thou fearest somewhat els as the losse of worldly goodes or some other like thing Knowe thou then that there is nothing in this world whatsoeuer it bee that thou doest possesse be it neuer so greeuous vnto thee but needes thou must forgoe the same Thou art likewise in extreme feare and standest in great doubt whether thou arte worthy to be beloued or hated of me Thou knowest not how I wyl accept thee neither whether I shal receyue thee to peace or paine O my daughter the knowlâ—dge of these things beloÌ„geth not vnto thee Wherfore stay holde thy selfe contented for a while For although thou doest all thy lyfe tyme and at the verie howre of thy death continue in my faith fearâ—st hopest in me yet canst thou not for al this of thee selfe either liue a perfect life or dye a godly death For only by me thou dost attayne come to eyther of these Howe thinkest thou then if I geue thee grace to liue well am I not likewise able to graunt that thou shalt dye a happie death Seeing then that thou haste and gettest al thinges by mee why doest thou assure thee selfe of th one doubting and dispairing in thother for thou canste not of thee selfe neyther liue nor dye wel Trust therefore in me cast al thy care vpon me turne al thy greefe vpon mee for as in thy life time so neither at the howre of thy death canst thou of thee selfe withstande anye temptation nor escape any offence If in thy lyfe tyme I did not forsake thee If in time of temptation I did stroÌ„gly assist thee and strengthned and enabled thee against thine aduersaries I wil likewise doe the same for thee at the very last houre Thou doest neuer go armed with thine owne armour into the feelde but alwayes presumest vppon mee If thou wilte leane and staye thee selfe vpon me I wyll fight for thee and I beeing thy champyon and defendour what shouldest thou then neede to feare whiche in respecte of thy selfe art of no value And for the manner and order of thy death take thou no care for no kinde of temporal death can hinder the Iuste Care thou not therefore after what sorte thou dyest whether in thy bedde or in the feelde for that ought not to be feared After what sorte soeuer thy life is bereft iroÌ„ thee eyther by violence or otherwise care thou not seing it is natural to dye If there bee one kind of temporal death happier then another then were my Saints vnhappie of whome the greatest number in the sighte of the worlde and to the iudgement of men ended their liues with moste vylest death Which of my holye Martyres hath past ouer his full course ended his lyfe by natural death Which of the Martyrs is there that hath bene done to death eyther vpon the painefull crosse or by force of wylde beastes or by rage of flaming fyre or by dint of cruell Tirauntes sworde Not one truely It hindreth not therefore any whit whether thou diest eyther by the raging pestylence or by the sencelesse disease of Apoplexa or any other death eyther in thy bedde at home or in the feelde abroade Beware and watche thou onely that thou maist be found in perfect fayth hope and charitie and then no kinde of death nor funeral can
hinder thee Although I speake to thee O beloued soule I do meane and speake these thinges also to those which are as yet vnperfect aduising and counsayling you al to loue innocēcie and hate euyl What soule soeuer thou be that offendest be sory and repent and so repent if thou doest meane to reape the fruites of true repētance that thou doo not returne to thine olde sinnes nor to the occasions therof Looke alwayes for death and so prepare thee selfe for it as though euerie howre should be the instaunt therof And lest weake soules should lacke any kinde of godlie instruction whereby they might the better prouide them selues to dye I wyl adde more to this which I haue sayde Marke well the wordes of mine Apostle which thing the matter it self doeth plainely shewe You haue no stedfast dwelling nor permanent cittie sayth he in this trāsitory world for such a cittie is onely to be looked for in the worlde to come vnto the which this world is nought but the way and pilgrimage which iourney and pilgrimage is ended when your life is determined Death is the end of al men that boundeth and leadeth directly from the pilgrimage wherein you now are vnto the region whervnto you cast your course in suche dyrect sorte that there is none other way or gate through which you cā enter or departe out of this Pylgrimage into your countrey but onelie by death As there is no assuraunce of lyfe so there is an assured certenty of death but this indyfferent betweene the good and the euyll that being mixt in this perigrination they be al but straungers and they al do long to come to the blessed kingdom although they al walke not in the ryght path Al you so lōg as you are in this iourney although you stray you may returne to the ryght way againe And when you come to the ende of your iourney euē at the very gates therof at the extreme instant of death some go from eryle to lyfe and other some go to myserable and eternall death You ought not therfore lightly to esteeme nor forcelesse with a neglygent conscience to consider in what sort you shoulde come to death For then must you forgoe leaue behind you al thinges whatsoeuer you put any trust or confidence in whether it be riches honour friendes or any other vanitie whatsoeuer for at the howre of death they shal profite nothing but must be al left behind and you fellowlesse without companye shal goe alone before the tribunall seate of almightie God thereto receyue accordinge to your workes What greater blindnesse madnesse maye there be then to take pleasure or reioyce in any thing that may happē vnto you whylst you trauaile in this iourney or to loue any transitorie thing that neither auaileth or profiteth the soule And as it were cast into a certayne sodaine madnesse with a drye wythered conscience without God to seeke for such things as are altogether fleshly and rashly to rush and thrust foorthe after externall thinges onely neglecting slouthfully tyme and godly occasions wherby they might amend their liues taking no regarde nor heede to the spiritual estate of their inwarde man And in this maner you doe runne headlong vnto death O how many are in this very point deceyued Loe here how they are intraped wrapt vp and taken in the deceytful nettes and priuie snares of this transitorie and miserable worlde See howe vnhappilie they are taken captiues and compelled to drawe the yoke of the diuell that thus vnaduisedlye come to death with blinde and hard hartes O howe vnhappie bee their liues that neglecting death prepare not for their owne health They whiche hinder the soule and with pleasure pamper theyr fleshe forgoing althinges behouefull and necessarie for theyr saluation are worthy to be cut of an cast away Euerie man ought so to liue at euery howre as though the same were the last howre of his life wherein he should go to heare the iudgement of god And right now if not oftner alwaies he ought to cal present before his eyes the dreadful houre of his departure from the fleshe for the soule shal be iudged for euery word work and thought Alwaies and presently thou oughtest so to rule thy self that by thy nowe doing thou shouldest be found in such a readinesse as in tyme to come thou wouldest wyshe thou shouldest be found in when vndoubted death shal appeare It is therefore the parte of a foolish and madde harte to deferre the correction of life vnto that time wherein the ende of lyfe appeareth and when there is no further hope of life At what time we ought not neede to be amended but rather being amēded we ought to meete our god Departing out of this life thy soule forgoeth not onlie al offences but also leaueth al other thinges behinde it And yet art thou not sayde then to forsake sinne whē thou canst sinne no more Therfore whilst thou hast power to sinne forsake it seeing that true repentāce can neuer be to late notwithstanding that such repentance as is deferred to the last howre is much doubted whether it maye be called true repentance or not If the feare of damnation do so much trouble thee at the howre of thy death take heede then that thou prepare what remedie thou canst to preuent the same I feare me thy feare groweth not by charity for that thou didst offence me thy Lord God but that it commeth only of the proper loue thou bearest to thee selfe Thy onely cause of griefe is for that by thine owne offences thou hast gained death and eternall damnation whereas if thou hadst truely repented thy chiefest cause of sorowe shoulde be in that thou wast vnobedient stubborne vnthankfull reprocheful and that thou yeeldedst not due honour vnto me This ouer great lamēting of thine owne cause doth iustly argue that if there had bene no daunger or if sinne should freelie escape vnpunished thou wouldest neuer bewayle thy sinfull estate although thou hadst continued therein a thousand yeres The true repentāce whereby the soule is reconciled vnto me is grounded only vpon charity doth continually lament and repent that it hath so often despised me the best the greatest faithfullest Lord God Creator redemer And that it hath exalted it self so hyely so proudlie so arrogantlie and vnobedientlie against me it being but dust and of no value Whosoeuer he be that meaneth to dye well let him as mine Apostle teacheth lyue soberlie iustlie and godly For after a good and iust life foloweth an happy death For the death of my Saints are precious in my sight by what death soeuer they doe depart out of this life whether it be by water or by fyre or in their beddes And for a preparation thervnto in the meditation whereof a wyse man spēdeth the whole course of his natural lyfe take here this short exercise whereby euery Christian may in suche sorte admonishe and direct himselfe in such order as he
needeth not to feare death so as hee be founde according to this instruction it shal suffice ¶ Wholsome admonitions to dye WHatsoener things at the howre of thy death thou wouldest haue to bee done doe thou the same presently and whatsoeuer thou arte by duety bound to doe commit not the charge thereof vnto others For if thou thy selfe wast negligent and carelesse of thine owne wealth and busines howe thinkest thou that others wyl take any heede or regarde to thy health Beleeue not vncerten thinges and vaine promises neither commit thyselfe to doubtful chaunces Liue so behaue thee selfe that thou mayst be so quieted in thy conscience as though this were thy dying daye Neuer go vnto thy bedde before thou hast accoumpted with thy selfe the maner state of thy life Examine thy selfe calling thy harte with al thy sences to iudgement and knowe whether thou be the better or the worse for this daye Neuer go thou to bedde with such a coÌ„science wherein thou fearest to dye If thou doest finde thee selfe in such state as thou doest feare to die search out the cause therof for peraduenture there be some sinnes of the which as yet thou hast not perfectlie repented thy self or else thou forsakest to acknowledge confesse them or peraduenture thou doest refuse to abstaine froÌ„ the occasions thereof or thou liuest vnder the daunger or obedience of some man or as a peruerse maÌ„ thou dost continue in malice or in the vniust withholding of other mennes goodes or thou art too much addicted bent to the couetous desyre of worldly wealth carnal sensualitie or rauished with the vnlawful lust of some creature or being so deepelie drowned in the greedy desire of earthlie visible thinges in such sort as thou canst by no meanes be withdrawen from them coueting for nothing of that which belongeth to the Soule foolishly looking and lyking in al external things lothing and vomiting out al heauenly thinges The cause that mooueth thee to feare death is that thy guyltie conscience foretelleth thy feareful minde the torments whiche are prouided for thy sinneful soule after thy death Which soeuer of these resteth and raygneth in thee cutte them off persecute them and with all thyne endeuour doo what lyeth in thee to deliuer thy selfe from them Imbrace my crosse and folow my footesteppes and they shal be a great furtheraunce to thee in this thine attempte and with rigour of minde holy hatred against thy self proclayme thou open warre against al vyces with a determinate wyll not to sinne renewing oftentymes this holy battayle without ceassing And least thou shouldst be ouerthrowen for weaknesse and want of courage contemplate and earnestly beholde the examples of me and of my Saints commending thy selfe to the prayers exhortations of good meÌ„ reposing thy selfe with inwarde and wholsome inspiration be occupied in prayer and godlie reading be neuer ydle loue solitarinesse and sylence These and such like driue away euyl thoughts froÌ„ the harte banish the feare of death When thou coÌ„mest to the ende of euery day say vnto thy self Now my life is shortned by one day And when thou rysest in the morning saye O God I am by one night neerer to death then I was ¶ An Exercise to be vsed in the Morning or at other times when you thinke conuenient ALmightie and eternall God my Creator and louer I praise adore and blesse thee for that in mine offeÌ„ces and vngratefulnesse thou hast so mercifullie and leysurelie forborne suffred me to liue euen to this houre wherunto by thy benefits thou hast brought me geuing to me thine vnworthy reprocheful seruaunt both life necessaries therunto beloÌ„ging appointing Angelles to be my keepers O good God who knoweth whether tyll euening my life shal be prolonged or what death is appointed forme O merciful Lorde God heauenly father graunt that I may with harty repentaunce truly repeÌ„t â—â—y sinnes inwardly bewaile that â—â—et I offended thy godly maiestie Suffer not my soule to departe this body before it be through thy mercie perfectlie reconciled and adopted vnto thee by thy grace bedeckt with thy merites and vertues inflamed with perfect charitie and acceptable vnto thee according vnto thy wyl O mercifull Lorde Iesus Christe if those thinges whiche I desyre doo stand with thy pleasure grauÌ„t them I beseeche thee although I be not worthy to be heard yeelde and geue I beseech thee of thine infinite mercie that by the merites of thy passioÌ„ I may be purged from al my sinnes And that at the howre of my death I maye be striken with true and vehement contrition and being knitte with thee in perfect charity I maye immediatly flit vnto thee my sweete Redeemer safelie and freelie from al dampnation Neuerthelesse in al these my requestes O best beloued Iesu I do fully and wholy offer and resigne my selfe vnto thee to be altogether disposed ordered according to thy wyl and to suffer for thy glorious sake desyring this one thing at thy hands that thou wilt remember my fragilitie vnworthinesse vnstablenesse miseries together with thine owne goodnesse and most charitable mercy praying thee neuer to forsake or leaue me but that thou wylt alwaies possesse and gouerne me according to thy wyl Amen ¶ An oblation of Christ and of his merites vnto his Father OMnipotent and benigne Father al the paines dolours checkes punishmentes rebukes and labours of thy onelie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ lambe immaculate which he vpon his owne body hath suffred for my sake his trauels with the afflietion of al his members for me his bloudshed and feete nayled for me his most noble and godly soule seuered from his delicate body for mee his infinite vertues and merites the strength also of his body soule and al thinges the hare lyfe in him yeelded to death for my redemption inseperately notwithstaÌ„ding vnited with the Deitie Christ also thy blessed soÌ„ne God man omnipotent both weakned looking downe glorious working myracles and hanging vpoÌ„ the Crosse I do here offer vnto thee in exaction satisfaction of my synnes al the worldes and in mortifying extinguishing of al my passions euil affections sinful vices in steede and supply of al my negligeÌ„ce and in the laude and prayse of al thy graces benefites O heauenly father haue coÌ„passion vpon me for his sake haue thou mercie vpon me for the loue of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ THere beâ— which doe prefixe a certaine kinde of exercise vnto them selues as death were present preparing themselues euerye fyue dayes continually in suche sorte as though they shoulde dye presently The fyrst daye they do remember death the presidentes and horror thereof to whom they do wyllingly yeelde The seconde daye they do thinke vpon theyr sinnes and them so busie and diligently they do confesse as though presently after theyr confessioÌ„ they should die passing ouer that daye in sobbes and teares The thyrde day with the greatest deuotion they can
world to be but short seeing it is suâ—â—â—fent to liue a short time and smal age so that we spende the same in dooing well For what matter is it whethâ—â— one dye yong or olde for so much as the number of yeeres nor length of tyme do make neyther blessed nor vnblessed happy nor vnhappy And that by coÌ„ming to death the ende of al humain kinde we shal aryue in a safe porte quiet harborowe free and safe from al the dauÌ„gerous stormes troublesome broyles of this worlde The death of the iust man. NOthing ought to be more wished for then to be in the handes of God â–ª wherein the Soules of the iust quietly rest Theyr death is acceptable to the Lorde if a man maye caâ— that death which is the greatest pleasure that can happen to good men for it is to them the ende of labour care the winning of victory the way of lyfe the entrie into perfect securitie and ioyning of the soule to God the thiefest goodnes which is of al other the greatest rewarde that men can haue The departing of the iust man from this lyfe is the vyage and passage from trouble to rest froÌ„ paynes to glory from pouerty to a kingdom from feare to securitie from griefe to ioye from death to that lyfe which onelie ought to be called lyfe And to conclude death is nought else vnto him but an escape from prisonment a returne from banishment a finishing of labours an arriual to the port of rest an ending of pylgrimage a lyghtning of his burden a delyueraunce from a ruinous house an ending of euylles an escape from daungers and paying to nature hir duetie and entrye into his countrey of euerlasting ioye and glorie By meanes where of that daye wherein the Saintes departe hence and are receyued into Heauen is commonlie called their natall daye for that when they departe hence then doo they begynne to lyfe and by dying in this worlde they enter into a better The death of the euyll THe death of a sinner is most wretched of al euyls for there by he loseth the worlde the greatest aspect familyer felowship of his best beloued also by it the soule is seuered from the body is condempned to abide the affliction of Hell fyre For the paines of one coÌ„demened soule is farre worse greeuouser then al the tormentes of al the holy Martirs yea though they were al gathered in one For the sinner hath horror feare at his departing griefe sorow in his iourney shame and confusion in the sight of God the vpright iudge incredible terror dreade in departing from this lyfe entring into an vnknowen Region wherein feareful spyrites wycked Angels meete the soule and pul it to eternal paines The goodes of the wycked are diuided into three Fyrst his soule to the diuel his body to the wormes his temporal goodes to his heyres which are coÌ„monly vngratefull and too prodigal The daungers of death THe diuel doth with al his engines and snares seeke to intrap mans Soule at the very howre of death if God of his speciall goodnesse assyste him not tempting him fyrste of the verity of his faith persuading him to forgo the same putting him in remembraunce of his coÌ„mitted offeÌ„ces thinking with the greatnes of them to driue him into dispayre And at the same instaunt coÌ„monly a pang more painful then tongue can tel assayleth him which is the separation of the soule from the body That paine is so great that as then he can remember nought els but the deadly paÌ„ges of death only Therfore it is written In death O Lorde none remembreth thee And Saint Augustine sayth The sinner is stricken with such animaduersity that dying he forgetteth him selfe who whylst he lyued remembred not god Saint Barnarde also treating of the hoâ—â—e of death Cursed spyrites sâ—â—th he watcheth at my doores and â—â—rrible diuels attende my comming so that I dare not goe forth Sâ—â—â—â— lie I am not able to escape theyr haudes vnlesse the Lorde defende me But he who tedeemed me wyll defende and faue me Howe we shoulde comfort those â–ª that be in daunger of death To the end that euery manâ—night learne the ryght waye howe to dye I haue gathered together these sewe lynes folowing out of dyuers good Authors Three exhortations to the sicke 1. Consider good Brother that all men of what condition or degree soeuer they bee must once dye some sooner some later according to the tyme appoynted them by God to whom we are al subiect to paye vnto Nature hir fees whensoeuer his omnipotencie shal thinke good who hath appointed this worlde vnto vs as a bayting Inne and not to be our continual dwelling place There is no cause therefore why you should so much affect this transitory life for by how much the loÌ„ger your life is prolonged by so much y more your syns are increased And y elder you grow in age the more your offences are multiplied for euery day vice increaseth and vertue decayeth We ought therefore to be the more wylling to dye for the by flytting from this poore mortal life we shal come to the euerlasting and blessed lyfe 2. Acknowledge good brother most thankfully â–ª God 's bountiful goodnes towardes thee in that that hytherto of his vnspeakeable mercie he hath permitted thee to lyue yea for that at this present extremitie of death his hyghnesse hath graunted thee thy perfect senses reason and vnderstanding whereby thou mayst acknowledge thy bounden duety vnto his heauenly Maiestie And in that he hath not oppressed not preuented thee with sodaine death and for that also he hath of his merciful goodnes called thee vnto his true and vnfaigned faith through which by his help thou shall be brought to his euerlasting kingdome and eternal inheritaunce For this and al other his innumerable benefites geue vnto his highnesse most hartie thankes and altogether betake thy selfe vnto his endles mercie humblie crauing pardon of him for thine offences 3. Consider that God the Father hath geuen and yeelded his welbeloued sonne in whome he tooke great delyght to be crucifyed and tormented with innumerable tribulations tortures and paynes and to suffer most vyle bitter death for vs most wretched sinners Seeing therefore thou hast in this transitorie life commytted done innumerable synnes and haynous offences which deserueth farre greeuouser and greater paynes and punishmentes then bee assigned vnto thee Thou oughtest therfore patientlie to beare the paines and panges of this thy deserued disease and death Christ for thine offences most willynglie and patientlie suffred death and the holy Martyrs and Apostles with al theyr minde moste wyllingly imbraced death for his names sake Knowe thou therefore that what maner of death soeuer thou suffrest is muche lesse painefull then theyrs for wyl thou nyl thou die thou must therefore in the name of Christ good brother take it patiently Questions to bee asked of him that lyeth sicke by
and a blessed syght of the deitie which is the ioyes of thy Lord god O ioye vpon ioy and ioy aboue ioye without whiche there is no ioye when shal I enter into thee that I maye see my God who dwelleth in thee I wyl go thither and I wil see this most excellent syght What is it that stayeth me Wo be vnto me for my daies are prolonged wo be vnto mee howe long shal it be sayde vnto me where is the Lord thy God O my soule attende a while and expect that which I looke for Shal not we attende the comming of our redeemer our Lorde Iesus Christ who hath brought our bodies to their ancient humility and obedience configuted and formed vnto the brightnes of his owne body Let vs abide the returne of our Lorde from the mariage feaste to the ende hee maye leade vs vnto his mariage Come O Lorde and stay not come O Lorde Iesus Christe come and visite vs in peare come and deliuer vs that he fettered out of prison that we maye reioyce before thee in perfectnesse of hart Come our sauiour the wished hope of al people shewe thy face and we shal be saued Come my light my redeâ—â—â—er deliuer my foule out of this prison that it may confesse and glorifye thy holy name Howe longe shall I bee toste in the surging waues of this my mortal life crying vnto thee and thou wilt not heare me Heare me O Lorde calling vnto thee from this large troublesome and daungetous Sea and bring mee vnto thy safe porte of eternal felicities O happye are they that haue through thy goodnes ariued from al the dangers of this Sea in that most safe porte and harborough of rest O most happy are they which haue escaped this surging Seas and are safely landed vpon the shores escaped this pryson and come to thy Palace returned from exile and entred into thy kingdome The blessed doo moste quickly enioye that they wished for Happy are they that haue obteined the rewarâ—e of eternal glorye and that which here they haue won in tribulation they do nowe ioyfully brooâ—e in happy myrth and perpetual glory Most blessed thrise fouretimes blessed are they whiche haue obteyned throughe his aboundante glorye to come to his gracious kingdome O eternal kingdome and kingdome of all worldes where there is contynual lyght and where the peace of God is which doeth farre exceede at vnderstanding wherin the soules of the elect do rest replete with eternal gladnesse Oglorious is thy kyngdome wherein al the saints do reigne appareled with white garmentes hauing crownes vpon theyr heades O kingdome of eternal blisse O happye kingdome where thou O Lord the Diadem of glorye shalt be seene face to face reioycing them in thy peace whiche passeth al capacitye Happy are they therefore that haue escaped from the shipwracke of this life and haue obteyned to come into so great ioy and gladnes Vnhappye alas are wee poore wretches that do row our ship through the deuouring waues of this large raging seanot knowing when we shal come to that hauen of health Vnhappy I say are they who leade theyr lyues in exile and daunger whose ende is doubtful For we knowe not what shal become of vs for al thingâ—s which are to come are vnknoweÌ„ vnto vs We as yet sayling in the waues of the Sea doo hope and looke to come to the happy porte and haueÌ„ of ourcountrey O safe countrey we see thee a farre off we salute thee froÌ„ the Seas we doo sigh and wishe to come to thee out of this vale and we doo endenour our selues yea with teares to see if by anye meanes wee may come vnto thee O Christe the God of Gods and hope of humaine kind our refuge and strength whose lyght our eyes doo beholde through the thicke clouds aboue through the boysterous stormes of this troublesome Seas as the bright beames of the careful shipmans starre ende ouring out selues thereby to direct our course vnto thy hauen and safe harborough O Lord gouerne our ship in thy right hande with the nailes of thy crosse that we do not perishe in the roaring waues nor tempest drowne vs nor be sunke downe in the deepe but fasten the anker of thy crosse vnto our ship and draw vs out of this sea vnto thy selfe our onely comfort and consolation He holde vs whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious bloud and nowe banished from thee we do cal vpon thee heare vs O God our Sauiour the onelye hope of al those that dwel in al the corners of the earth we are toste in the troublesome seas and thou on the shore dost see our daunger Saue vs for thy names sake and graunt vnto vs O Lord I beseech thee that we which saile betweene Silla and Charibdin may so sterne and gouerne our Sip vnto thee that escaping both the daungers we may be preserued both Sippe and wares safely ariuing vnto thy Porte and hauen of rest FJNJS ⧠A breefe Table of the thinges conteyned in this Booke wishing the Reader to peruse it throughly OF the fall of mán and the punishment by death for the same and of the uncertaine hower of death Fol. 1 Of Death Iudgement Hell Heauen Fol. 2 Of the hower of Death worthy of often repetition Fol. 3 A ready instruction and godly exercise for an happy death spoken as it were in the person of Christ to the soule Fol. 6 Holsome admonitions to dye Fol. 13 An exercise to be vsed in the morning or al other times when you thinke good Fol. 15 Counsailes at the hower of death Fol. 18 An exercise wherin the weake man may restane him selfe vnto God Fol. 19 A Christian protestation or last testament not vnprofitable to be sayd or to be thought vppon Fol. 22 How feareful and bitter corporal death is of it selfe and the naturall causes thereof Fol. 24 The manner to dye well Fol. 17 The certentye of Death and the vncertayne hower thereof Fol. 27 Why the iust men do wish for death Fol. 28 The death of the iust man Fol. 30 The death of the euill Fol. 31 The daungers of death Fol. 31 How we should comforte those that be in daunger of death Fol. 32 Three exhortations to the sicke Fol. 33 Questions to be asked him that lyeth sick by the minister or some other godly persoÌ„ Fol. 33 Praiers to be said at the hower of death Fol. 34 Howe to foresee that thinges go rightlye with any when be dyeth Fol. 35 A briefe Dialogue touthing the daye of iudgement Fol. 37 A general iudgement of the dead â–ª requireth an vniuersall resurrection Fol. 38 Of the excellencie of the iudgement days aboue al other dayes Fol. 41 Of the paines of hell Fol. 43 Of hel Fol. 44 Meditations of the heauenly kingdome Fol. 46 The defyre the soule hath to the heauenly Hierusalem Fol. 47 How plentifull of all goodnesse and howe spare of al euil the heaueÌ„ly Ierusalem is Fol. 49 A supposed description of the heauénlye Hierusalem Fol. 50 Of the perfect and absolute ioy of eternal lyfe Fol. 51 A prayer whereby thou maist be fryred vp vnto the desyre of heauenly thinges Fol. 53 Man wisheth for the trybulations of this world to the end that he may the more earnestly desyre the kingdome of heauen Fol. 55 A prayer that we should depose our selues in God aboue al thinges Fol. 56 The soule feruently wisheth to be in the house of the lord Fol. 58 An earnest prayer that being assisted by the grace of God we may be alwayes bent to heauenly thinges Fol. 59 An ardent desire of the soule to the blessed and immortall lyfe Fol. 60 FINIS
THE MANER TO DYE WELL. An Introduction most compendiouslie shewinge the fruytfill remembrance of the last fowre things That is to say Death Hel Iudgement and The ioyes of Heauen Gathered out of manye good Authors both comfortable and profitable to the diligent Reader Learnedly instructing howe to prouide for Death ¶ Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones 1578. ¶ To the Reader TO stirre vp a more diligence of the inwardenâ—aâ— in vs our Lorde Iesus putteth foorth this similitud knowe you that if the houshold Father knew at what time the Theefe would inuade his house he would surely watche and woulde not suffer his house to bee broken By this Household is vnderstanded the thoughtes of man and also the invvarde and outward motions and deedes VVhich housholde vvoulde be to lasciuious and vvanton if by the diligence of the Father they vvere not corrected and repressed For if the father be vvearie of his care vvho coulde be able to shevve hovve proude and insolent the thoughtes eyes tongue eares and other members vvoulde become This house is the conscience vvherein this Father dvvelleth and gathereth together the treasure of vertues for vvhich he doth vvatche diligentlie least the house should be broken vp â–ª And it is not one but many Theeues that vvould commit this buglary and robbery For euery verâ—â—e hath a â—ice incident vnto it The cheefe Theefe is taken to bee the Deuell againste whom and all his atmie the saide father if he be not negligent doth watche and warde his house appointing Prudence in the firste warde who vnderstandeth what is to be admitted and what is to be kept out Next vnto her is placed Fortitude to withstand suche enemies as by her warning he seeth to come neere And Iustice sitteth in the middest to geue to euerie one his owne And euerie houre is to bee feared for it is not knowen in what houre the theefe wil come VVe oughte alvvaies to watche least the sleepe of sinne do vnwares creepe vpon vs Now these thinges beeing thus ordered the Memorie of death desireth to come in and is suffered to enter who being demaunded to say what he was and from whence he commeth Hee answered that he would say nothing except all were commaunded to silence VVho obteyning his request began in this order My name saith he is Memorie of death and I foretel you that death is comming Prudence speaking for al putteth the question saying VVher is death Memory ansvvereth I know where he is for he draweth very nere but the houre of his comming I knowe not Prud. VVho commeth with him Mem. A number of Deuilles bringing with them greate bookes in which are written the offences of man and they claime those whose sinnes are written therein and they will violentlie draw with them both their soules and bodies to hel Prudence VVhat thing is hell Mem. Hel is a place of vnmesurable sorowes miserie and darknes there is eternal horror there is no hope of goodnes nor seperation from euyl Euery man that is there hateth himselfe and al others There is weping and gnashing of teeth There is no voyce there heard but Alas Alas Alas they haue no vvord but Alas The deuelishe tormentors doo tormente and are tormented and of them there shall neuer be ende nor remedie Suche a place is Hel and a thousande times worse Prudence O God what shall wee doo My brethren heare mine aduise and geue me yours Be ye faithful watche and pray doo good not only in the sighte of men but in the sighte of god Temperaunce Let vs goo before his face with harty repentaunce and let vs prayse him in Psalmes Bee you sober and watche Fortitud VpoÌ„ whom do you stay Be strong in fayth Comfort your selues in our Lorde Arme your selues with the armour of God Take vppon you the harneys of Iustice the target of Faith and the sworde of the holie Ghost which is the word of god Iustice Let vs lyue sober iust and godlie Sober to our selues iust to our neighbours and godlie to god Let vs not do that to others vvhich vve vvould not haue done vnto our selues Prud. Behold another Messenger verie comelie and pleasaunt vvho seemeth to bring some good newes Iustice Let him come in peraduenture he wyl make vs mery for this first messenger hath terrified vs Prudence I vvill admit him Come in VVho art thour Messenger I am called The loue of eternal lyfe Keepe silence for I can not be heard vvhere tumult is Iustice Yf vve did keepe silence vvhilst the Memory of death spake of iustice we ought to be silent when thou speakest Desire of eternal lyfe I haue seene such thinges as no man is vvorthy to speake of I sawe God the maiestie of the vndeuided Trinitie but yet as it vvere through a glasse that brightnes vvas so cleare that mine eyes dasled to beholde that clearenes vvhich passeth all vnderstanding Yet notwithstanding I behelde a litle vvhyle our Lorde Iesus sitting on the right hande of his father who did so farre excel all creaturs that the Angels themselues desire to beholde and looke vpon him And I sawe vppon his bodye the woundes of his passion wherewith he redeemed vs But not being able any long time to looke vpon this brightnes of the sonne of God I turned mine eyes vpon the orders of Angels that stand before god I behelde also the Prophets the Apostles and Martirs and an innumerable companie of blessed Soules from whose eyes God hath wasshed awaie all teares they doo see the king in his Maiestie and were all appareled in long white garmentes lyuing a lyfe without ende W. B. Of the fall of man and the punishment by death for the same and of the vncertaine howre of death BY shine against the lyning Lorde olde Adam our first Sire Death to him selfe and al his séede hath gayned for his hyre Mortalitie and temporal death this gift our Parents wonne In Paradise the fruite forbyd to eate when they begonne First sinne began and after death in haste dydit ensue By whome ech man must passe herehence as sure as God is true Lest some men would them selues extol too farre aboue the rest If that they shoulde in freedome quite escape this feareful blast Then Death nothing more certen is no doubt thereof we see But no man knoweth the houre ne place nor what his ende shal bee Whether by dint of edged sword or heate of flaming fyre Or roaring wanes of raging seas pale Death shall paye his byre No place nor time there is but Death in watche and wayte doth lye Man to intrappe if that he can vnarmed him espie No shadowe darke on massie corps more duely doth attende Then lurking death who alway séekes Man to confounde and ende What man is he that standeth sure tyll night to drawe his breath Our life beeing the open way that straight doth leade to death The wise therefore remembring oft that once he needes must dye His lyfe at euerie howre to yeelde prepareth wyllingly