hath oppressed mee I haue receiued the sentence of death in my selfe I see that I must leaue this life then which nothing is more sweet I must leaue this world then which nothing is more pleasant I must leaue this house of my body then which nothing is more deare The Comforter THou wert created of God not for this wretched and momentany Sap. 2.23 but for a blessed and eternall life for God framed the first Parent of our kinde in corruption to immortalitie neither wert thou redéemed of Iesus Christ for this fraile and miserable but for that perpetuall and most happy life which is to be expected in the heauens seeing it is a certaine and indubitate saying 1 Tim. 1.15 that Iesus Christ came into the world that he might saue sinners neither wert thou called of the holy Ghost through the word to the kingdome of Christ for the most short vse of this light but that hereafter thou mightest passe out of the kingdome of grace into the kingdome of glory out of the Church militant to the Church triumphant out of the valley of teares into the field of ioyes for if in this life only we beléeue hope on Christ wee are the most miserable of all men 1 Cor. 15.19 Wherefore when thou séest that thou art to be led through the gate of death to that life for which thou wert created of the Father for which thou wert redéemed of the Sonne for which liues sake thou wert sanctified of the Spirit doe not I pray thée despise the friendly counsell of God against thy selfe Luke 7.30 but most readily obay and follow God that calls thée II. Of the three-forked Mace of death The tempted THe thought of death doth terrifie mee the terrible shape of that enemy doth vexe my soule 1 Cor. 15.55 hee shewes mee his sting which is sinne he threatens mee with his cruell three-forked Mace while he casts before mine eyes and my heart the wrath of God the accusation of the Law Rom. 6.23 and the hainousnesse of my sinnes seeing death is the wages of sinne and through sinne death hath entred into mee Rom. 5.18 as it hath done also into the whole world The Comforter BVt I admonish thée that being seriously and from the bottome of thy heart contrite for the sinnes that thou hast committed thou behold him which was dead for thée on the Altar of the Crosse that thou mightest not be subiect to eternal death Turne thine eyes away from the outward shape of death and turne them to Christ Heb. 2.14.15 which by his death hath destroyed him which had the power of death that is the Deuill and hath deliuered vs which through the feare of death were all our life subiect to bondage Hose 13.14 Ioh. 11.25 hee is death to our death he is a sting to that Hell which wée haue deserued he is the resurrection and the life he that beléeueth on him vers 26. although he were dead yet hee shall liue and euery one that liueth and beléeueth in him 1 Cor. 15.22 shall not dye for euer Therefore as in Adam that is for sinne deriued out of Adam into vs and for actual sinnes heaped vpon this all of vs are subiect vnto death and are constrained at the last to dye so also in Christ the Captaine of life and the Conquerour of death wee are all quickened by faith that which also our Captaine of life confirmeth with a graue and serious oath Verely verely I say vnto you Iohn 5.24 hee which heareth my word and beleeueth on him that sent mee hath eternall life and commeth not into iudgement but hath passed from death to life Ioh. 8.51 And againe Verely verely I say vnto you If any man shall keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer Beléeue Christ therfore Iohn 14.6 which is the truth beléeue him promising beléeue him swearing Heauen and Earth shall passe away Luk. 21.33 but the words of Christ shall not passe away III. The vexation of Sinne. The Tempted THE remembrance of my sinnes doth come into my minde for I was not onely begotten Psa 51.7 conceiued and borne in sinne but I haue increased this summe of originall and hereditary debt with diuers debts of manifold and most grieuous sinnes through the course of my whole life how therefore can I hope that God will be fauourable vnto me whom I haue so often offended How can I perceiue any comfort in death seeing death is the wages due to my sinnes and to those that are not reconciled to God the beginning of the second and eternall death The Comforter BEhold Christ hanging on the altar of the Crosse and powring out for thy sinnes the price of thy redemption that is his precious bloud 1 Ioh. 1.8 The bloud of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God doth cleanse thée from all sinnes 2 Ioh. 2.2 he is the propitiation for thy sinnes and for the sinnes of the whole world for neither came he into the world for that end that he would be ministred vnto but that he might minister to others and giue his soule a redemption and price for the sinnes of many And lest there should arise or remaine any doubt in thée of this matter therefore from heauen which is the Throne of truth by an Angell which is a Spirit of truth that name of Iesus most swéet and most full of consolation was brought and giuen to this our Mediatour before he was conceiued in the wombe and what other thing is Iesus then a Sauiour Luk. 2.31 for therefore this name was giuen to Christ because hee saues his people from their sinnes Mat. 1.21 This is that Lambe of God which takes away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 1.29 This is that Iesus Christ which therefore came into the world that he might saue sinners This is the high Priest of the new Testament 1 Tim. 1.15 Ephes 5.2 which hath deliuered himselfe for our sins to be an offering and a sacrifice of a swéet smelling sauour vnto God It is Christ which hath powred out his owne bloud for the remission of sinnes Mat. 26.28 1 Pet. 2.24 which hath borne our sinnes in his body on the wood which was wounded for our iniquities and was broken for our sinnes Esa 53.5 God hath laid vpon him and as it were by a troupe made he hath made to fall vpon him the iniquities of vs all Him that hath not knowne sinne God hath made sinne for vs that is 2 Cor. 5.21 he hath imputed our sinnes to him he hath layd vpon him the punishment of our sins he hath made him a sacrifice for our sins neither hath Christ resisted this counsell and decrée of his heauenly Father but hath fulfilled his will with a most ready minde Psal 40.9 and loued vs and hath deliuered himselfe for our sinnes Gal. 1.10.4 Can. 2.20 hee hath loued vs and hath deliuered
precious habitation for thy soule 1 Cor. 15.42 Vers 43. Vers 44. It is sowen in corruption it riseth againe in incorruption It is sowen in dishonour it shall rise againe in glory It is sowen in weaknesse it shall rise againe in power It is sowen a naturall body it shall risâ— againe a spirituall body Therefore commend humbly and readily thy soule created of God redéemed of his Son and made the habitation of the holy Ghost into the faithfull hands of God as it were a certaine pledge saying with Dauid and Stephen nay rather with Christ thy head Into thy hands I commend my spirit Psa 31.6 Act. 7.59 Luk. 23.46 thou hast redeemed mee O God of truth Note this also that in the very agonie of death thou mayest most surely promise to thy selfe the presence and helpe of God for séeing thou doest embrace Christ thy Mediatour with a true faith being most certainely perswaded that with his death he hath ouercome thine and hath restored vnto thée righteousnesse and immortall life by his resurrection Rom. 5.1 therefore iustified by this faith thou hast peace with God and thou mayest be raised vp in the midst of death by the helpe of thy heauenly Father Iob. 13.15 Psa 91.15 that thou mayest say with Iob Although the Lord shall kill me yet will I trust in him I am with him in trouble saith the Lord I will deliuer him and I will glorifie him with length of dayes will I fill him and shew him my saluation Rom. 8.39 From this loue of God neither life nor death neither any creature shall be able to separate or to pull thee away séeing it is in Iesus Christ which is a king eternall and our Sauiour for euer The accusation of the law makes the shape of death terrible that I say and the deformitie of sinne 1 Cor. 15.55 and the tentation of being euerlastingly cast away séeing the sting of death is sinne the strength of sinne is the law but call to thy memory the consolation which is before opposed to these monsters and all that outward hope of death terrible to be beheld will vanish and will be changed into a most pleasant sléepe XXXIIII The sting of Death The Tempted BY sinne death hath entred into the world and is the due wages of sinne how therefore should I not be sore afraid of death The Comforter TRuly death in it selfe and by it selfe is the wages of sinne and the reuenging scourge of the angry God but to those that beléeue in Christ it is changed into a most swéet sléepe For although the regenerate and those that beléeue in Christ doe as yet carry about the reliques of sinne in their flesh from whence also their body is dead Rom. 8.10 that is to say subiect to death for the sinne that dwels in it yet the spirit is life for righteousnesse that is because they are iustified from sins by true saith in Christ and resist the lusts of the flesh through the spirit therefore that sinne which yet remaines in the flesh is not imputed vnto them Gregor Nyssen in orat de mort but is couered with the shadow of the grace of God therefore by death the true and spiritual life of the soule doth not dye in them but doth rather beginne to which death is constrained as it were to doe the office of a Midwife Thence flow those most swéet appellations by which the holy Ghost which is the spirit of truth doth describe the death of the godly for they which before the eyes of fooles doe séeme and of them are sayd to dye the holy Ghost sayth Gen. 25.8 Cap. 35.29 Cap. 49.33 Tertull. lib. de patient p. 12. Cyprian de mortal p. â—â—4 Chry. hom 45. in Gen. Col. 375. Hilar in Psal 140. Ambr. de boum ort cap. 10. 2 Pet. 1.15 that they are gathered or congregated to their people that is to the company of the blessed and triumphing Church in Heauen to come to those which haue deceased before them in the true faith or rather haue gone before them It is but the taking of a iourney which we thinke to be death it is not an end but a passage it is not so much an emigration as a transmigration from worse things to better a taking away of the soule and a most blessed carrying of it from place to place not an abolishing for the soule is taken away and transposed into a place of rest it is not kild vp It is a passage and ascension to the true life It is an outgoing because by it the godly passe out of the slauery of sinne to true libertie euen as heretofore the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt into the promised Land Ioh. 5 24. Esa 57.2 The godly are said by death to come to peace and to rest in their chambers that is because they come out of that daily warfare vpon earth to a place of peace out of the most troublesome sea of this life to the hauen out of the most laborious prison of this life to a place of rest Phil. 1.23 they are said to be loosed to come to Christ séeing they are led out of the Inne of this present life to the heauenly Countrie and out of the dregs of wicked men to the most blessed societie of Christ in Heauen they are loosed by death out of the bands of the body for euen as the Cattell when they haue discharged the labours of the whole day at last about the euening are set frée and euen as they which are bound in prison are loosed of their fetters so the godly are ledde forth by death from the sayd yoake of the labours and sorrowes of this life and out of the filthy prison of sinne Heb. 11.5 2 Cor. 5.8 and by a most swéet translation are carried to a better life They are sayd to go forth of the land of their pilgrimage by the dissolution of the tabernacle of their body and to be present with the Lord and that because they come out of the ruinous habitation of the world to the heauenly pallace out of an house of clay to a citty made without hands eternall in the heauens out of the tabernacle of an earthly body to the heauenly Ierusalem and the most blessed society of Christ abiding therein It is his property therefore to feare death which would not goe to Christ Cypr. seruâ— demortal pa. 208. It is his property not to be willing to goe to Christ which doth not beléeue to beginne to raigne with Christ They are sayd to rest from their labours for not the man but the misery of a godly man dieth If this life be full of burden Caeciliae vox Ambros de bono mortis cap. 2. 1 Cor. 15.38 then the end is the ease therof but death is a good ease but death is an end death therfore is good They are sayd to be sowed into the earth or field of the
those which beléeue on his name This adoption comprehendeth all things which are necessarie for vs to euerlasting saluation for if we be the Sonnes of God then are we also borne of God Tertul. in apolo c. 17. For not the carnall generation but the spirituall regeneration makes the Sonnes of God If we are the Sonnes of God then haue we also God fauourable vnto vs. For doth not a Father take pittie of his Sonnes Psa 103.13 If we are the Sonnes of God then hath he also giuen vs his spirit for so saith the Apostle They which are lead by the spirit of God these are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 15. for ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare but ye haue receiued the spirit of adoption in which we cry Abba Father And againe Gal. 4.6 Because you are Sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father To conclude Rom. 8.13 if we are the Sonnes of GOD then are we also heires heires of GOD and heires annexed with Iesus Christ for who is he that is truly a Son without an inheritance All these so pretious so copious and so various benefits are bestowed vpon vs in Christ Eph. 3.17 and through Christ which dwels in our harts and is borne in vs spiritually through faith which therefore the Scripture doth so often preach and commend vnto vs. Verily verily Ioh. 5.24 I say vnto you saith Christ he which heareth my word and beleeues on him that hath sent mee hath eternall life and comes not unto iudgement but hath past from death to life Hee that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 11.25 26. although he were dead yet shall he liue and euery one which liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer Ioh 7.36.39 Hee that beleeueth in me out of his belly shall flow Riuers of liuing water which our Sauiour speakes of the spirit which they receiue that beleeue on him Euery one that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 12.46 doth not abide in darknesse suppose it in the darknesse of ignorance in the darknesse of sinne in the darknesse of eternall death but by the light of faith hee is lead to the life of sauing knowledge to the light of true righteousnesse to the light of euerlasting life Nay the Apostle witnesseth plainely that all those things which are written in the Gospel of the sayings doings and sufferings of Christ are therefore written that by faith on his name wee may haue life Because God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.11 12.13 and this life is in his Sonne Hee that hath the Sonne hath life from thence we know that we haue euerlasting life because wee beleeue on the name of the Sonne of God And not onely the Apostles and Euangelists but also all the Prophets giue testimonie to Christ That all that beleeue oâ— him Act. 10.43 receiue remission of sinnes through by name That therefore which Paul and Silas sometimes said to the keeper of the prison at Philippi the same say I to thée Beleeue on the Lord Iesus Act. 16.31 and thou shalt be saued VI. The false perswasion of Faith The Tempted BVt I haue heretofore perceiued that very many doe put on a vaine perswasion of Faith and deceiue themselues with a false boasting what if I should also be in the number of them from whence may I be assured that my saith is a true and sauing faith and not a vaine and dead Image of faith The Comforter TRy and examine thy selfe whether thou be in the faith try thine owne selfe 2 Cor. 13.5 doest thou not know thine owne selfe that Iesus Christ is in thée There want not firme and infallible instructions by which â—rue and sauing faith may be tried knowne and discerned from idle and vaine boastâ—ng of faith First then this is the nature of true faith that it purifies the heart Act. 15.9 and desires to purge it cleane from the dregs of sinns For sâ—â—ing that faith doth carefully séeke and desire remission of sinnes surely he that truly beléeues shall féele a serious sorrow for the sinnes that he hath committed The Gospell is preached to the poore that is to say Matth. 11.6 Matth. 5.6 to those that are poore in spirit which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse which bring and offer to God a contrite heart and an humbled spirit Behold therefore the looking glasse of the Law and the deformitie of thy crimes will appeare Behold the shining face of Moses and it will appeare that for the workes of darknesse which thou hast followed thou canst not beare that light Behold thy selfe how grieuously the disease hath afflicted thée which is the iust punishment of thy sinnes the scourge of the reuenging God and the wages due to thy life which hath béene spent in sinnes He which sinnes against his Creator Eccl 38.5 fals into the hands of the Physitian We haue lost our health because wée haue offended our Creatour They which follow the flesh are scourged in the flesh They sigh in that in which they haue sinned The censure of the punishment is in that in which was the cause of shine By how many thoughts by how many words by how many déedes hast thou offended God How faint host thou béene aboue all things in the feare and loue of God How slacke in Prayers and other exercises of pietie How barren in good workes How oft hast thou followed the perswasion of Satan the seducing of the flesh the deceiuing of the world Those members which thou hast oftentimes giuen as weapons to iniquitie and vnrighteousnesse by the iust iudgement of GOD are now tormented with griefe and infirmitie Acknowledge this and grieue for if there be true and serious acknowledgement of sinne in thy heart immediately griefe of consciences and detestation of sinne will follow it God is earnestly angry with sinnes therefore out of the féeling of the wrath of God earnestly bewaile thy sinnes GOD doth seuerely punish sinnes therefore punish in thy selfe by iust griefe that which thou doest obserue that thou hast committed against God Psa 119.137 Acknowledge the iudgement of God to be iust and be thou humbled vnder his mighty hand Neither haue respect onely to thy outward faults but acknowledge the contagion of originall sin the fountaine of all euils Psa 90.9 that indéede is hidden but God placeth it in the light of his countenance through it all the powers of soule and body are so weakened that out of thy selfe and by thy selfe thou canst beginne no good much lesse performe it through it thou art made subiect vnto death and to all that troupe of calamities miseries and diseases which goes before death VII Griefe insufficient The Tempted I Acknowledge and feele that I am not only borne and conceiued in sinnes but that I haue offended God by diuers manifolde and great sinnes I feele this and I earnestly grieue but
momin pag. 21. God giues altogether fréely saues altogether fréely because he findes nothing for which to saue and hée findes much for which to damne Of grace is giuen not onely to the iustified good life but also to the glorified eternall life and therefore death is said to be wages but eternall life is said to be grace because that is rendred as due this is giuen as frée Bern. Ser. innat Mar. Col. 213. Therefore let another séeke for merit doe thou studie to finde grace let the mercie of the Lord be thy merit thou art not plainely poore in merit as long as he is not wanting mercies Serm. 67. in Cant. There is no place for grace to enter where merit hath alreadie taken vp the roome Thou doest detract from grace whatsoeuer thou doest depute vnto merit It sufficeth to merit Serm. 68. in Cant. to know that merit doth not suffice Place all thy confidence altogether on God Embrace his mercie séeke thy merits in the wounds of Christ thou shalt not haue any want of merits XXIII The accusation of the Law The Tempted I Acknowledge our works not to be meritorious neither to appease God but that out of faith they may please him And how can they chuse but displease him when they are not perfectly conformable to the law of God The law is an eternall vnchangeable rule of iustice condemning all whatsoeuer is not conformable there-vnto Therefore the dart of damnation is shaken against me my works vnlesse thou shew me what shield I may oppose against it The Comforter Gal. 3.13 CHrist hath redeemed thée from the curse of the Law being made a curse for thee Cursed is euery one that hangeth on the wood When the fulnesse of time came Cap 4.4 God sent his owne Sonne borne of a woman made vnder the Law that he might redeeme those which were vnder the Law Ver. 5. Rom. 10.4 Cap. 8.1 that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes The end and fulfilling of the Law is Christ to righteousnes to euery one that beleeueth Therefore there is no damnation to thée and all which are by faith in Christ and walke not according to the flesh Vers 2. Vers 3. there is no feare of the Law the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath fréed thée from the Law of sinne and death For that which was impossible to the Law because it was made weake through the flesh that hath GOD performed Vers 4. sending his Sonne in the likenesse of the flesh of sinne and by sinne condemned sinne in the flesh that the iustification of the Law might be fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Therefore if by true faith thou doest apply the benefits of Christ vnto thy selfe there is no cause that thou shouldest feare the curse of the Lawe The sting of Death is sinne 1 Cor. 15.55 56. the strength of sinne is the Law but thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Hee hath ouercome our death by his death hee hath satisfied for our sinnes by his Passion and hée hath most perfectly fulfilled the Law in our stead by his most holy obedience Neither yet is there an abolishment of the Law made but a translation onely Neither do the Law and the Gospell destroy themselues mutually séeing the Law is not against the promises of God Gal. 3.21 but is established by faith For what the Law doth require of vs Rom. 3.31 that the Gospell doth tell vs was performed of Christ in our steade What the Law commands this Christ obtaines The Law condemneth sinne and vs for sinne Christ doth performe satisfaction for sinnes and giues his righteousnesse vnto vs. The Law therefore is satisfied by the obedience of Christ because it is perfect Againe that fulfilling of the Law through Christ is performed for vs to good because it is not due Chyt li. 1. de vita et morte p. 43. Therefore as thou oughtest not to behold death in thine owne body but in Christ raised vp againe the conquerour of death and the giuer of life and saluation eternall sinne not in thine owne conscience but in Christ the Lambe of God bearing and taking away thy sinnes and the sinnes of the whole world hell and the tentations of being euerlastingly cast away not in thy selfe and in that innumerable multitude of the damned but in Christ sustaining on the Crosse and ouer-comming for vs the tentation of being cast away so thou oughtest to behold the Law not as it is written in thy hart but as it is fulfilled by Christ and with him fastned to the Crosse XXIIII The accusation of Conscience The Tempted MY conscience doth witnesse together with the accusation of the Law that as an vncorrupt iudge riseth vp against mee Chrysost hom 64. in Gen. and is an accuser of mee while no man reproues mee or brings any thing forth against mee I cannot escape that domesticall iudgement seate In this great volumne I see and altogether tremble at all my sinnes Nazian orat 26. Bern. de conuers ad Cler. c. 3. Col. 114 written with the stile of truth wretch that I am who shall deliuer me from this Court of iudgement in which the same is the guiltie the pleader the witnesse the iudge the torturer the scourge the executioner the hangman The Comforter Ioh. 3.20 IF thy heart doth condemne thée yet God is greater then thy heart If the memory of thy faults passed doth accuse and torment thée yet Christ the Redéemer which hath satisfied for thy sinnes is a mightier Col. 2.14 he absolues thée frées thée and saues thée Hee indéed hath blotted out that hand-writing which was written against and was contrary to vs hee hath taken it cleane away and hath fastned it with him to the Crosse By the nailes of Christ crucified is that accusing hand-writing of thy conscience together fastened that it is of no force and validitie before God Rom. 5.1 for being iustified by faith thou hast peace with GOD peace of conscience quietnes of hart and the most blessed tranquillitie of the soule which Christ the conquerour of sinne death and Satan hath brought backe with him from the graue and giuen the same to his Disciples Therefore Bern. de conuer cap. 6. col 415. if thou féelest the worme of conscience thou oughtest to strangle him forthwith in this life present not cherish him to immortalitie for a putrified conscience begets the immortall wormes Strangle therefore the worme of conscience by serious repentance pray to God for rest of the heart and forgiuenesse of sinnes and take héed of the new wounds of conscience that is the worst relapse of sinnes In this life there is as yet a time of pardon a time of grace a time of quieting the conscience In this life the booke of conscience may as yet be amended out of the booke
Lord by death and buriall séeing the bodies of the godly as it were precious graines of Wheat shall againe bud forth hereafter to life Stigeliu◠This Corneth immortall glory of the flesh Doth shew from liueles body springing fresh Vnder the clods is cast the saplesse seed Of which a man would thinke could nothing breed Yet this doth rise by hidden motion growing Increas'd in strength and body from the sowing Likewise our bodyes layd in hollow graue Thence rising lasting life and glory haue First drown'd in death now lifes true badge they weare And before God eternall blisse doe share The bones of the godly shall bud forth and flourish in the time to come Esa 66.14 2 Reg. 7.12 Esa 26.20 Dan. 12.2 Matt. 9.24 Ioh. 11.11 1 Cor. 15.6 1 Thessal 4.13 when the spring of the life eternall shall beginne finally they are said to slumber and to sléep a certaine swéet sléep for euen as in sléepe we rest from labour wee gather our deiected strength the soule in the meane time exercising her operations so by death being lead to rest from all the labours and sorrowes of this life wee gather new strength of minde and body to execute those workes more readily and perfectly to which we were in the beginning created and redéemed by Christ the soule in the meane time liuing and reioycing in Heauen Euen as in sléepe wee doe not care what is done about vs neither are wee troubled with the troubles of humane businesses so they that are godlily dead in the Lord doe rest from all care and trouble neither are they further subiect to the euils of this life Euen as we are againe raised vp out of sléepe so death shall not be a perpetuall sleepe but the houre will come in which wee shall heare the voyce of Christ calling vs out of the graue and wee shall come forth againe to life August ser 44. de ver Dom. No man doth so easily raise vp one that lyes vpon his bed as Christ the dead out of his graue Out of al which it clearely appeareth how truely the Apostle hath called the death of the godly aduantage Phil. 1.21 séeing it is aduantage to haue escaped the increase of sinne it is aduantage to haue auoyded worse things it is aduantage to passe to better The death of the godly is precious in the sight of the Lord Psa 116.15 and to them it is good for rest better for securitie best of all for blessednesse XXXV The sorrowes of Death The Tempted I Feare not death but the sorrowes of death for I haue often seene the eyes of dying men waxing dimme their eares waxing deafe their tongue waxing stiffe I haue seene the sweat and anxitie the horror and nakednesse of men that dye I haue oftentimes heard the howling and complaint of the soule compelled to goe forth of the house of the body The Comforter THose that beléeue in Christ are kept from those sorrowes of death or surely the sorrowes are mittigated vnto them Christ hath taken vpon himselfe that which was most bitter in our death that is to say the sense and féeling of the wrath of God Exod. 15.25 Iohn 5 51. let vs cast the wood of the Crosse on which Christ dyed for vs into our death and behold it will be vnto vs a pleasant sléepe Verely verely I say vnto you saith Christ if any man keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer that is to say he shall not onely not sée eternal death but also neither that cruell and horrible shape of temporall death And if so bee some small taste of bitternesse be offered vnto vs out of the cup of death what and how little is that in respect of that brooke of which Christ dranke for vs in the way of this life Psal 110.7 how little is that smal draught to be estéemed in respect of that cup which the heauenly Father hath offered vnto Christ to be drunke vp wholy in our stéed Mat. 26.42 Our death is as it were a certaine medicinable purgation of the soule of the body The saying of Methodius séeing by it the poyson of sin is as it were purged out of our flesh what maruell is it if some Aloes be mixt with this purgation Our death is the midwife to eternall life what maruaile is it if the same happen vnto vs which happens to an infant borne into the world out of the narrow places of his Mothers wombe which must in part beare the sorrowes of trauel There is no birth without all griefe that sharpe fit will endure but a short moment and behold the day of our deeth will be the birth-day of eternall life Narrow is that gate which leades vs to life what maruell is it if we féele some trouble in the going out thereof Mich. 2.13 Christ is our Captaine and hée that hath broken vp the way for vs he layes open the iourney before vs we must cleaue vnto him by true faith that we may passe through the gate of death together with him and finde the way to eternall life knowne vnto him Sinne doth as yet dwell in our flesh Psa 16.11 what maruell is it if for the remainder of sinne wée are constrained to suffer some sorrowes of death Rom. 5.1 Eph. 2.14 In the meane time our conscience hath peace in Christ which is our true peace which rising againe from the dead hath brought to vs the gift of peace There remaines no dart to Death by which it may wound our soule it fastens his téeth in our héele but the poison is taken away from it of Christ that it cannot powre it into vs together with the téeth that it hath fastned XXXVI Too timely Death The Tempted ME thinkes I am called backe too timely out of this life Psal 102.25 Psa 58.23 God snatcheth mee away in the midst of my dayes I feare therefore least this be a signe of the wrath of God seeing it is written men of bloud and deceipt shall not liue out halfe their dayes The Comforter NOthing is too timely with GOD which is ripe Long life truly is the gift of God yet short life is not alwayes a token of the wrath of GOD séeing GOD sometimes also commands the godly and those that are beloued of him to depart timely out of the house of this world that being fréed from the danger of sinning they may be set into the securitie of not sinning neither be constrained to haue experience of publike calamities oft-times more grieuous then death it selfe Esa 26.20 The people of GOD goeth and enter into their Chambers they shall shut the dores vpon them they are hidden for a moment till the indignation passe away Esa 57.1 The iust man perisheth and there is no man that considereth in his heart the mercifull men are taken away and there is none which doth vnderstand Vers 2. The iust man is taken away from the
death take héede thou doe not so loue thy wife and children that therefore thou refuse to follow God calling thée with a readie heart The loue of the heauenly Father must be preferred before the loue of children Ambro. in cap. 12. p. 111. Bern. Serm. 26. in Cant. Col. 569. August Epist 6. ad Vid. the loue of our Bridegroome Christ must be set before the loue of wife the benefit must not more be loued then the benefactour What shall I speake of kinsmen if thou leauest those that are deare thou shalt receiue them héereafter more déere For wée doe hope on a most faithfull promise that when we goe out of this life whence being to depart we haue not lost but sent before some of ours that are departed we shall come to that life where by how much they shall be better knowne of vs so much they shall be dearer vnto vs and without the feare of any dissension amiable If thy kinsmen be déere vnto thée let Christ be déerer which is thy brother If it be a pleasant thing to be here conuersant with thy kinsmen Heb. 12.22 let it be more pleasant vnto thee that thou commest to the mount Sion â—er 23. and Citie of the liuing God the heauenly Hierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels and to the congregation of the first borne which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men XLI The stopping vp of the eares in Death The Tempted I Feare lest that my eares waxing deafe in the agony of death I shall be destituted of all consolation of heart and too much vexed with the terrours of Satan The Comforter THe inward comfort of the spirit is of greater force then all outward consolations Rom. 8.16 The holy spirit giues testimonie to our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God the same spirit doth raise vp our spirit when wee beginne to wrastle with death and to be troubled in heart for he is the true and greatest comforter Ioh. 15.26 When thine eyes waxe dimme in death the holy Ghost will giue vnto thée the true illumination of the heart when thine eares waxe deafe in death he will giue vnto thée the quickening consolation of the soule Where mans consolation shall cease there Gods consalation will begin Behold the examples of the Martyrs how prompt and ready they were to the most exquisite punishments the whéeles séemed to them Roses the sparkes of fire spirituall bracelets the yron chaines golden crownes the torments ornaments the two edged swords beames of the heauenly light who hath wrought this in their hearts who hath comforted them in sorrowes but the holy Ghost His consolation is of greater force then the accusation of the whole world yea of the prince of the world What Doest thou thinke that the holy Ghost doth onely lift vp our hearts in the course of this life and doth idlely rest in the agony of death Dost thou thinke that the habitation of the holy Ghost is destroyed Gal. 2.20 when the tabernacle of the body is destroyed Ephes 3.2 Christ liues in thée and dwels by faith in thy heart grace is powred out in his lips in the fragrancy of this grace hee will make glad thine heart Psal 45 9. although thine hearing perish his spéech will â—ierce to thine heart although the dores of thine eares be shut Esa 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is vpon him the Lord hath annointed him to preach the Gospell to the afflicted hée hath sent him to binde vp the broken in heart to preach fréedome to the captiues and opening of prison to those that are bound Esa 50 4. The Lord hath giuen vnto him a learned tongue that hee may know to comfort sustaine the afflicted in a seasonable time Cleane to him with firme confidence of thy heart commend thy selfe to him with godly prayers hee will comfort thée in the seasonable time he will raise vp thine heart with the word of the Gospell when the arrowes of death are fastened in it hee will binde vp thy heart when the wounds of death are inflicted on it hée will preach deliuerance to thy heart when thou art led captiue of death as it were a pray he will preach opening to thy heart when thou art thrust into the prison of death XLII The apparant in vtilitie of Redemption IF Christ hath redeemed vs from death why must I as yet dye How shall death be ouercome by Christ when hee shewes his daily prayes as it were the trophees of his victory The Comforter EVen as Christ hath saued his people from their sinnes Mat 11.21 not that sinne may no more dwell in their flesh séeing in this life they remayne solde vnder sinne but that he may not condemne them for euerlasting as being regenerate and beléeuing so also hee hath redéemed vs from death Rom. 8.10 not that we should not any more be subiect to temporall death séeing that our body is dead or subiect vnto death for sinne but that wee might be frée from the bands of eternall death The death of the soule is the true death from this Christ hath redéemed vs sustaining the punishment for vs. Swéet Iesus hath also made temporal death it selfe swéet vnto vs that it is death in name alone but in very déed sléep nay the end of death and the beginning of true life Those that are truly godly doe dye daily 1 Cor. 15.24 by reason of those continuall calamities by which they are oppressed in this life therefore their death is the end of death but by the gate of death they passe to a quiet and eternall life Ose 13.14 therefore their death is the beginning of true life The death of Christ is the poyson of our death although therefore this poyson hath not altogether kild our death for it doth as yet moue it selfe and fastens his dart in our héele yet this poyson is gone to the heart of death it will come to passe therefore 1 Cor. 15.26 that at length by the force thereof it dye death is that last enemie whom Iesus Christ at length in the last day shall vtterly destroy Luk. 11.22 and comming vpon this strong armed man with greater strength shall take away powerfully from him all his pray Death must be beheld with spirituall eyes and it will appeare that his wrath is but vaine without strength as being captiuated and ouercome of Christ It layes snares for the life of the godly and behold it brings them to the true life It attempts to kill their soule and body with his darts and behold the soule being trée and without hurt of all wound of death the body alone is wounded which same also in the time to come shall bee snatcht out of the Iawes of death It endeauours to deliuer the godly to eternall death and behold it deliuers them to eternall life LXIII The horrour of the
that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisedome therefore a great part of Christian wisedome consists in the perpetuall Meditation of death That must a long time be learned which that it may once rightly be done stands vpon our eternall saluation It is appointed for all men once to dye but to dye godlily to dye in Christ to dye blessedly befalls not all men therefore our minde must be prepared to that blessed good disposition of dying yea it must be garded with the shield of the Word and Prayers For if at any surely in that last time of our life the enemie that hath a thousand wiles doth lay a snare for our saluation and endeauours with all his strength to wrest the possession thereof from vs whether some of the auncients doe apply it that the infernall Serpent is said especially to bite the heele for he knowes very well I say he knowes that all the matter is in safety if that last conflict be valiantly ouercome of vs on the other side that it will be ioyned with our euerlasting reproach and losse if the other parts of our life as it were of a Comedie being well acted wee behaue our selues not so comelily valiantly in this last Catastrophe Hence come those diuers tentations with which as it were with Rammes he assaults our hearts in diseases and in the agonie of death hence come those fierie Darts which he casts against vs with all his strength hence comes that horrour and anguish which wee feele when wee are set before the gates of Death Blessed is hee which shall heere ouercome blessed is he which shall be faithfull to death Apoc. 2.3 hee shall be made partaker of all those good things which are promised to the stout Souldiers of Christ in the Reuelation What is our life t' is Death we doe deface Our age by dying life and death doe pace Hand ioyn'd in hand But Christ the Captaine is And gate of life our death is slaine by his He that doth firmely trust in him shall bee From wound of death eternall safe and free But this our hope with diuers stormes is tost When in Deaths agonie we are neere lost To ouercome these stormes will most auaile vs Least life in lifes first entry chance to faile vs. Wherefore whereas I haue endeauoured by such an explication of the Historie of the Passion and death of Christ as I could make which I did set forth of late to instill into godly mindes the Meditation of the death of Christ I haue thought that I shall do a worke worth the labour if I propose vnto them also the Meditation of our death To which end I haue written this Manuell of Consolations to be opposed to the terrours of death and tentations in the agonie of death for mine owne priuate vse onely for I carrie about a sickly bodie a weake vessell Moreouer Death now of late hath made a very lamentable slaughter in my house and there are some causes for which it is feared that I shall not liue long Therefore I would prepare and arme my minde betimes to this last battell and hemmed in as I am with so many domestique euils I bestowed some dayes on the godly Meditation of this Booke which Meditations of mine such as they are seeing perhaps they may also be profitable to others I haue not gaine-sayed that they should be made common But this I would haue men admonished in the very entrance of this writing that I haue not written these things to secure impenitent and hard hearts but to the contrite broken and weake consciences Exhortations to true pietie haue another place this whole labour is imployed in consolations to be opposed to death and temptations in death Whosoeuer therefore desires to receiue this oyle of Consolations let him bring the vessell of a contrite heart For what is consolation vnto him which is not yet contrite broken or made sad But to you men very Reuerend and most famous Masters Friends and Brethren in Christ singularly beloued I would entitle this Manuell that there might be extant a publique testimonie of that most straight friendship and brotherhood which hitherto we haue obserued betweene our selues one to another seeing that of all and amongst all I esteeme you dearest in this world as of whose pietie curtesie faithfulnesse and other many vertues I haue had plentifull experience in our fiue yeeres conuersation You also carrie about you a sickly body neither can it chuse but that the memory of Death should daily come into your minds Therefore I doe not doubt although your faith doth not want those props which I haue gathered together in this little Booke for mine owne and other mens vse yet that the reading thereof will not be vnpleasant vnto you Especially seeing whatsoeuer is in it it doth proceede from a friendly well-affected minde The Lord Iesus with his grace and with his spirit euery way blesse vs and the labours of our Ministerie Giuen at Coburg the Kalends of May. Anno. 1611. RR. VV. DD. Studiosiss I. G. D. THE TABLE of Temptations 1 THe fore-runners of death 2 The three-forked Mace of death 3 The vexation of sinne 4 The memory of Actuall sinne 5 The doubting of the application of the benefites of Christ 6 The false perswasion of faith 7 Insufficient griefe 8 The waight of griefe 9 Desperation 10 Blasphemie 11 The particularity of the promises 12 The absolute decree of reprobation 13 The application of the merit of Christ 14 The want of the euidence of the words 15 Falling out of the couenant of Baptisme 16 Vncertaine taking into the couenant of Baptisme 17 The vnworthy vse of the holy Supper 18 The weakenesse of faith 19 The want of the feeling of faith 20 The want of power to beleeue 21 The small number of good workes 22 The want of merits 23 The accusation of the Law 24 The accusation of conscience 25 Too late repentance 26 Doubting of the grace of God 27 Defect of due preparation 28 The doubting of the inhabitation of the holy Spirit 29 The doubting of perseuerance 30 The snares and strength of Satan 31 The Apostasie of many 32 Doubting of the writing into the Book of life 33 The feare of Death 34 The sting of death 35 The sorrowes of death 36 Too timely death 37 Seruices farther due to the Church 38 Our life abridged by our owne default 39 The loue of this life 40 Separation from Wife Children and kinsfolke 41 The stopping vp of the eares in death 42 The apparent inutilitie of the redemption 43 The horrour of the dust 44 The absurdity of the resurrection 45 The flames of Purgatorie 46 The rigour of the last iudgement In conclusion is added a prayer in sicknes FINIS Consolations to be opposed to all Temptations in generall but more specially to Death and to the Temptations in the agony of Death I. The fore-runners of Death The Tempted A Disease 2 Cor. 1.9 the vsher and forerunner of death
consideration of our vnworthinesse in the meane time out of the meditation of the promises of God ought there neuerthelesse a firme confidence to arise Therefore God hath comfort from the hidden seat of his maiesty and hath manifested his will in his word that wee might bee sure of his will Therefore God hath promulged not onely legall promises which haue added vnto them the condition of perfect obedience and therefore to vs are made vnprofitable but also Euangelicall which are frée that with firme confidence of heart we might relye vpon them Rom 4.16 Therefore of faith fréely sayth the Apostle that the promise may bee firme Psa 116.11 Mens promises are vncertaine and doubtfull because euery man is a lyar but the promises of God are certaine and vnmoueable because God is truth it selfe As God is true in threatnings so is he also in promising As without Christ certaine damnation doth hang ouer al vnbeléeuing impenitent persons so in Christ certaine saluation is proposed to all that are conuerted vnto God and beléeuing Cypr. serm 4. de morta pa. 209. Doest thou doubt that these things will come to passe which God promiseth which is true whose word is eternall and firm to them that beléeue If a graue laudable man should promise thée any thing thou wouldst put trust in his promise neither wouldst thou thinke that thou shouldest be deceiued of him whom thou shouldest know to be constant in his words doings Now God speaketh with thée and doest thou perfideously wauer in thine incredulous minde Furthermore attend to the stabilitie of the oath of GOD I liue saith the Lord Ezech. 33.11 I will not the death of a sinner but that hee may be conuerted and liue Verely verely I say vnto you sayth Christ hee which heares my word Iohn 5.25 and beleeues on him which sent mee hath life eternall and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death to life Verely verely I say vnto you if any man keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer Ioh 8. â—1 This hath God sayd this hath hee promised if that be little hee hath sworne it August in Psal 88. Blessed therefore we for whose sakes God sweareth but O most wretched if we do not beléeue GOD then when hee sweareth Tertul. lib. de poeniten Acknowledge therefore the wonderfull and neuer sufficiently praised mercy of God that he willing to shew more abundantly to the heires of the promise the immutabilitie and immobilitie of his counsell hath added an oath Heb. 6.71 vers 18. that by two vnmoueable things for it cannot come to passe that God should lye we might haue most strong comfort which haue fled to lay hold on the hope that is set before vs. XXVII The want of due preparation The Tempted ALL these things doe easily perswade with me that I doe not doubt of the firmenes of the promises of God in themselues in the meane time I am yet vncertaine whether they be so firme and vnmoueable to me and whether I am in the number of them to whom God doth promise and offer so great things The Comforter NAy but because God promiseth these things to all that flye vnto Christ with true repentance and faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore also he promiseth them to thée séeing thou also beléeuest in Christ Attend therefore farther to the inward sealing of the holy Ghost for the spirit doth not only testifie outwardly in the word but also inwardly in thine heart Rom. 8.16 The spirit it selfe giues testimonie to thy spirit that thou art the son of God Gal. 4.6 therefore also an heyre Thou hast receiued the spirit which is of God that thou mayest know the things which are giuen to thée of God He which doth confirme and strengthen thée with all that are truly godly in Christ and hee which hath annoynted thée is God which hath also signed thée and confirmed thée as it were with his seale and giuen the earnest of the spirit in thy heart Because thou art the sonne of God 1 Cor. 2.12 therefore God hath sent the spirit of his sonne into thine hart crying Abba Father Beléeuing the word of truth and the Gospell of saluation thou art sealed by the holy spirit of promise Cap. 4.30 which is the earnest of thine inheritance for the purchased redemption by which thou art sealed against the day of redemption Euen as the Bridegroome which hath giuen the promise of marriage to the Bride giues her an earnest which is a pledge of the marriage to come so God hath espoused or betroathed himself to thée in faith Ose 2.19 he hath betroathed himselfe to thée in mercy Apoc. 19.7 but as yet the marriage of the Lambe doth not appeare therefore hee giues vnto thée the earnest of his holy spirit by which thou mayst be confirmed concerning the fulfilling of the promises and the leading to the heauenly marriage which is to come This is the spirit of Adoption because it doth witnes that thou art adopted for the Son of God This is that seale by which the promises of God are sealed in thy heart this is that earnest by which the word of trueth is confirmed vnto thée 1 Iohn 4.13 By this thou knowest that thou abidest in God and God in thée because he hath giuen to thée of his spirit XXVIII The doubting of the inhabitation of the holy Ghost The Tempted BVT from whence may I be certaine that my heart is the temple and house of the holy Ghost the spots of sinne do cleaue vnto me and I feele that in my flesh dwels no good how therefore shall that holy Spirit which is holynesse and puritie it selfe dwell in mee The Comforter Rom. 8.23 WE receiue the first fruits of the spirit onely in this life wee expect the full measure and perfect tenths hereafter in the life eternall there remaines in this life the wrastling of the flesh and the spirit Rom. 7.14 we remaine as yet in part carnall and sold vnder sinne yet neuerthelesse for the benefit of regeneration and renouation wée are temples of the Holy Ghost Furthermore from thence thou mayest know that the Spirit of God dwels in thée because thou dost bewaile and detest thy sins Sapi. 1.4 2 Cor. 4.13 because that holy Spirit dwels not in the body subiect vnto sinne because thou dost beléeue on Christ and louest him for it is the spirit of faith because thou callest vpon God the most benigne Father with earnest sighes Zach. 13.9 for it is the spirit of grace and prayers and crieth in the hearts of the godly Gal. 4.6 Abba Father because thou art led with the desire of all good for they that are the temples of the holy Ghost are led by him surely to good because thou oft times dost féele a foretaste of eternall life in thy heart Rom. 8.14 for the kingdome of God is not meat and
face of euill peace shall come vnto him hee that walkes vprightly Sap 4.7 shall rest in his Chamber The iust man although hee be preuented by death shall be in refreshing Vers 8. For reuerend olde age stands not in the length of dayes neyther is it reckoned in the number of yeeres Vers 9. The vnderstanding of a man is his gray haires and olde age is the vndefiled life Vers 10. Hee pleased GOD and vvas beloued and liuing amongst sinners hee vvas translated Hee was taken away least vvickednesse should change his vnderstanding Vers 11. and least fayning should deceiue his soule Vers 12. For vvickednesse by bewitching obscureth the things that are good and the vnstedfastnesse of concupiscence peruerteth the simple minde Vers 13. Though hee was soone dead yet fulfilled hee much time for his soule pleased GOD Vers 14. therefore hasted hee to take him away from wickednesse The drye vnhappie Tree vvhich yeelds no fruit Is hewen downe and falling doth condemne Her barren boughes they spare the fruitfull Tree The Law of Heauen 's contrarie Therefore the godly man dies well whether he die in a good age or in the first flower of his youth Sph. Philos c. 36. p. 411. What other thing is our life but strife What is our carkasse but a graue What is our bodie but bonds What is our generation but a thrusting forth into the earth Wilt thou take it in euill part that thou art timely fréed from these euils and bonds By how much the more timely the heauenly Generall doth call thée backe out of the station of this life by so much the sooner doth he place thée into a place of rest peace and victory XXXVII Seruices farther due to the Church The Tempted I Might in my place by mine endeauour such as it is for the time to come further profit the Church of God for this end therefore I could wish that the space of a longer life might be granted vnto me The Comforter ALL this must be commended to Gods disposing that is how long God will haue thée to remaine in health and life for the Ministerie of his Church The words of Ambrose at his death as mentions Posidon in the life of August C. 27. Phil. 1.23 Say therefore with that old Doctor of the Church and well-deseruing Bishop I haue not so liued that I am ashamed to liue amongst you neither yet doe I feare to die because wée haue a good Lord. Hée that hath furnished thée with the gifts of teaching for the profit of his Church knowes also to furnish others with the same Therefore if thou art straightned with the Apostle that thou knowest not which of these two thou shouldest chuse hauing a desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ which is better for thée or to abide in the flesh which is more profitable for the Church know that to die is aduantage to thée but to liue is profit to the Church Rom. 14.7 No man of vs liueth to himselfe and no man dieth to himselfe For whether we liue we liue to the Lord to the end that we may gaine more soules to him in the Church or whether we dye we dye to the Lord that we may obey his fatherly will calling vs out of our station whether therefore we liue or whether we dye we are the Lords that most gentle and mightie Lord Vers 8. from whose loue neither life nor death can separate vs. Thou hast hitherto obeyed the will of the Lord most faithfully spending thy seruices on the Church obey him further most readily embracing his will that calls thée to the societie of the Church triumphant Thou art rightly carefull out of charitie for the encrease of the Church notwithstanding thou oughtest out of faith to commit the care of gouerning and conseruing the Church to God There is nothing here more wholsome nothing better nothing more conformable to pietie then for a man to resigne himselfe wholly to the will of God and to commend the full power of disposing of our life death to him with godly prayers Bern. in meditat de votiss c. 6. Col. 1196. Psa 37.5 One of these two things we may vndoubtedly hope for either hée will giue vs that which we aske or that which he knoweth to be more profitable Commend thy way to the Lord and hope in him and he will doe it XXXVIII Shortnesse of life drawne on by our owne accord or our life abridged by our owne default The Tempted I Feare least that I haue made my life shorter by my sinnes how then can I hope for the presence and helpe of God in death they that are guiltie of their owne death shall not finde a better life after death The Comforter AYe but that is to be vnderstoode of them which out of impatience lay violent hands vpon themselues and compell their soule to goe out of the house of their body against the will of GOD farre be such a purpose from thy pietie August 1. de ciu Dei â—â— 26 for it is lawfull for no man to bring vpon himselfe voluntarie death as it were desiring to escape temporall troubles least he fall into the euerlasting this is lawfull for no man for other mens sinnes least he begin to haue this most heauie sinne his owne whom other mens sinnes did not pollute this is lawfull for no man for sinnes past for which he hath more néede of this life that by repentance they may be healed this is lawfull for no man for the desire of a better life which is expected after death because they that are guiltie of their owne death shall not finde a better life after death But if thy minde be troubled with those thoughts that thou hast made thy life shorter by immoderate vse of meate or drinke or by any other disorder bewaile this with earnest sighes and place all thy trust on Christes merit conceiuing firmely a purpose of a better life and GOD will be mercifull to thine iniquities which hath promised pardon of all their offences to them that truly repent Manasses a man of bloud had broken off the thread of his life yet earnestly repenting he hath obtained the glorie of the eternall life Luk. 23.41 The Thiefe on the Crosse had receiued things worthie of his doing yet being earnestly conuerted vnto God hée entred into Paradise with Christ Gen. 3.15 And had not our first Parents drawne death vpon themselues and all their posteritie neuerthelesse embracing that Euangelicall promise of the bruiser of the Serpents head they were lifted vp againe by quickning consolation The word of Ambrose to Theodosius the Emperour Wherefore if thou hast followed these in their sinnes follow them also repenting with teares The hand of God is not yet shortned neither hath his mercie failed in the number of yéeres the gate of indulgence is not yet shalte séeing there is yet graunted a time of repentance XXXIX
Dust The Tempted WHatsoeuer it be I see that I must be laid downe into the earth and be brought to dust A bed shall be made for my body in the graue therefore haue I sayd to corruption Thou art my Father and to the wormes Iob 17.14 yee are my Mother and my Sister The Comforter DOe not regard that dust and ashes into which thou art to be brought but regard that future resurrection out of the dust and ashes which we expect by faith If thou hast said with Iob to corruption that it is thy Father say with the same that thy redéemer liueth Iob 19.25 which in the last day shall raise thée vp againe out of the earth shall compasse thée about with thy skinne that in thy flesh thou mayest sée thy God The sayings of the Scriptures the moments of arguments and the examples of those that were raised againe doe proue this blessed resurrection of our bodies The sayings of the Scriptures in the olde and new Testament are in a readinesse in number many in weight most great in perspicuitie most cleare Gen. 4.10 Chap. 25.8 Chap. 35.29 Chap. 49.33 The bloud of Abell doth cry to the Lord in whose sight as yet he liueth The Patriarches are gathered by death vnto their people therfore by death they do not cease to be the liuing people of the liuing God God is the God of Abraham Isaac and Iaacob Exod. 3.6 now God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing therefore Abraham Isaac Mat. 22.31 and Iaacob doe liue before God they liue I say in their better part and their bodies in the time to come shall be called backe againe to life nay they are already called backe Mat. 27.53 séeing that Christ being risen againe they are risen againe with him I know sayth Iob that my redeemer liueth Iob 19.25 and in the last day I shall be raised vp againe out of the earth Esa 26 19. Thy dead shall liue sayth Esayas my slaine shall rise againe Awake and sing Esa 66.14 yee that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dewe of greene hearbs your bones shall flourish like an hearbe For this saith the Lord Ezek. 37.5 of the dry bones Behold I will send my spirit into you and ye shall liue and I will lay sinewes vpon you and make flesh growe vpon you and couer you with skinne and put breath into you that ye may liue and yee shall know that I am the Lord. Dan. 12.2 Many sayth Daniel of those which sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to life eternall others to euerlasting shame The greatest King of the world say the seauen Martyrs in the Maccabees will raise vs when we are dead 2 Mac. 7.9 to eternall life of God doe we hope that wee shall receiue our members Ioh. 5.28 The houre commeth saith the Truth in which all that are in the graues shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of man vers 29. and shall come forth they that haue done good to the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill to the resurrection of iudgement This is the will of the Father which hath sent me Ioh 6.39 that of all which he hath giuen me I should lose nothing but should raise it vp againe at the last day Ver. 40.44 But this is the will of my Father which hath sent mee that euery one which seeth the Son and beleeueth on him haue life eternal Ver. 54. I wil raise him vp again in the last day I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth on me although he were dead Iohn 11. vers 25. vers 26. yet shal he liue and euery one that liueth and beleeueth on me shall not dye for euer I haue hope on God saith S. Paul and I looke for the resurrection to come of the iust vniust Act. 24.15 This corruptible must put on incorruption this mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15.53 then shall be fulfilled the word which is written Death is swallowed vp into victory 2 Cor. 4.14 Wee know that hee that hath raised vp our Lord Iesus hee also by Iesus will raise vs vp Our conuersation is in Heauen Phil. 3 20. from whence also wee looke for our Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ Vers 21. which shall change our vile body that it may be like his glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe 1 Thes 4.14 If we beleeue that Iesus is dead and risen againe euen so them which sleepe in Iesus will God bring with him Iohn saw the dead great and small standing in the sight of God and the bookes were opened Apoc. 20.12 and the Sea gaue vp the dead which were in her and death and hell gaue vp then dead To these sayings of Scripture written as it were with a beame of the Sunne may be added vnmoueable props of reasons for so the Apostle concludes 1 Cor. 15.12 If Christ bee risen againe we also shall rise againe teaching the resurrection of Christ to be the key of our sepulchres and the example of our hope Tertul. de carne p. 33. 1 Cor. 15.20 Exod. 23.19 Leuit. 23.20 August 20. de Trinit cap. 17. Ephes 2.6 CHRIST is become the first fruits of those that sleepe sayth the Apostle As therefore the haruest by the ordinance of God did follow the oblation of the first fruits so the haruest of the vniuersall resurrection shall follow the first fruits of the Lords resurrection Christ is our head that which hath gone before in the head shall follow in the members and hence the Apostle doth confidently pronounce that we are raised together with Christ and placed in the glorie of the heauenly Paradise For there is in the man Christ the flesh of euery one of vs Maximi in serm de resurrect the bloud and portion Where therefore our portion raignes there doe we beléeue to raigne where our bloud beares rule wee féele our selues to beare rule and where our flesh is in glory wee know that we are glorious 1 Cor. 15.21 Besides as by one man that is to say the first Adam came death so by one man that is to say the second Adam came the resurrection As in Adam wee dye so in Christ we rise againe The fall of Adam was of power to bring in death shall not the resurrection of Christ be able to deserue the raising againe to life Christ in his glorious resurrection hath shewed himselfe the conquerour of all his enemies therefore also of death which also at length hee shall altogether abolish Christ is an eternall King therefore he shall raise the citizens of his kingdome from death that they may liue with him for euer Christ hath fréed not onely our soule but also our body from the yoake of sinne and hath ordained it
is Vsury and losse which is gaine Whatsoeuer thou méetest with now hath béene and whatsoeuer thou shalt léese there is nothing but it shall be againe All things returne into their state when they shall depart Therefore are they brought to an end that they may be new made Nothing perisheth but that it may be saued Therfore this whole order of things which is in reuolution is a witnesse of the resurrection of the dead God hath prescribed it in his workes before he wrote it in letters hée hath preached it by his strength before he vttered it in words Hée sent Nature before to be thy Mistresse meaning to send Prophecie after that so much the more easily thou mayest beléeue Prophecie being the Scholler of Nature that thou mayest by and by entertaine when thou hearest that which euery where thou now séest and not doubt but that GOD will be a raiser againe of thy flesh All this Tertull. which knowest him to be the restorer of all things Are such lypes as these to be thought to be set out in vaine in the whole state of things Is GOD to be iudged weaker then Nature Nay looke vpon thy selfe and know a testimonie of the resurrection in thy selfe Id in Apolo aduer gentes c. 45. p. 737. Remember what thou wert before thou wast surely nothing for thou mightest haue remembred it if thou hadst béene any thing Thou therefore which wast nothing before thou hadst thy being being made nothing when thou shalt cease to be why canst thou not be againe of nothing by the wil of the same founder which would haue thée to be of nothing What new thing shall happen vnto thée thou which wert not wert made when againe thou shalt not be thou shalt be made Render a reason if thou canst which way thou wert made and then shalt thou demand which way thou shalt be made and yet more easily shalt thou be made that which somtime thou hast béene which wert not hardly made that which neuer thou hadst béene Id de resur carnis p. 54. If God hath made all things out of nothing he can againe frame the flesh brought to nothing out of nothing Surely hée is fit to restore which hath made how much more is it to haue made then to haue restored to haue giuen beginning then to haue new framed so thou mayest beléeue that the restoring of thy flesh is easier then the first making therof XLV The flames of Purgatorie The Tempted I Feare the punishing flames of the fire of Purgatorie after death Psal 143.3 for seeing I am compast about with diuers infirmities of sinnes I feare least God should therefore enter with me into his iudgement and most iustly adiudge me to the flames of Purgatory The Comforter THose with whom God doth enter into iudgement that is which are not in this life reconciled to God those doth he not adiudge to the fire of Purgatorie there to be tormented for a certaine finite time but to the infernall and not to be quenched fire there to be broiled for all eternitie But they which doe acknowledge their sinnes seriously and beléeue truly on Christ they haue the hand-writing of Christ their Sauiour that they néed to feare no place of sorrow and torments after death for so hée sayth Iohn 5.24 Verely verely I say vnto you hee which heareth my word and beleeueth him which hath sent mee hath life eternall and commeth not into iudgement but hath past from death to life The tables of truth doe acknowledge two rankes of men onely that is to say the good and the bad the penitent and the impenitent the beléeuing and the vnbeléeuing two receptacles onely after death August lib. 3. hypog Id ser 8. de verb. Apost Id. 21. de ciuit Dei cap. 25. Id. 1. de peccat merit remis cap. 28. that is to say of consolation and torment of reward and payne of Heauen and Hell We are vtterly ignorant of neither doe we finde in the Scriptures a third kinde of men and places there are but two dwellings one in the kingdome euerlasting the other in the euerlasting fire therefore is not any place in the midst of these for any where hee may not be in punishment which shall not be placed in the kingdome that hee cannot chuse but be with the Deuill which is not with Christ Hee that shall beleeue Mar. 16.16 sayth CHRIST and be baptized shall be saued but hee that doth not beleeue shall be condemned Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne is not iudged Ioh. 3.18 but hee that doth not beleeue is iudged already because he doth not beleeue on the name of the onely begotten Sonne of God vers 36. He that beleeueth on the Sonne hath eternall life but hee that doth not beleeue on the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God remaines vpon him Chap. 5 29 They that haue done good shall come forth to the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill to the resurrection of iudgement Mat. 25.46 The blessed shall goe into euerlasting life and the cursed into euerlasting fire And that this immediate separation of the godly and vngodly is to be made not onely in the last day but also by and by after death the example of the rich glutton doth teach vs Luk. 16.23 whose soule is thrust into Hell and of the godly Lazarus whose soule is translated of the Angels into Paradise the example of the conuerted Théefe doth teach vs Luk. 23.43 to whom Christ promiseth the ingresse into Paradise on that very day wherein hée was to dye Apoc. 14.13 the spirit of Trueth doth teach vs pronouncing them henceforth blessed that dye in the Lord. There is none other purgation or expiation of sinnes then in the bloud of Christ 1 Ioh. 1.7 Esa 53.5 Rom. 5.1 1 Iohn 3.14 Sap. 4.1 which washeth vs altogether from all our sins the chastisement of our peace is vpon him that he might be peace to vs therefore he which beléeues on him is iustified and hath peace with God is translated from death to life neither néed hee feare any torment after death LXVI The rigour of the last iudgement The Tempted I Feare the rigour and terrour of the last iudgement Aboue mee will be the seuere iudge beneath mee gaping Hell within mee my Conscience gnawing without me fire burning on my right hand my sins accusing me on my left hand the Diuels terrifying me round about mee the good Angels driuing mee to hell and the euill drawing mee to the same Satan will accuse me my sinnes will accuse mee Bern. in Rithm my conscience will accuse me I feare much the countenance of the seuere Iudge from whom nothing that is hidden shall be kept close neither shall any thing remaine vnreuenged No man shall be able to escape his power to deceiue his wisedome to turne his equitie or to reuoke his iudgement The Comforter IF thou
THE CONQVEST of Temptations OR Mans victory ouer Satan Especially the great Assaults at the Agony of DEATH Full of very strong and effectuall Consolations to sustaine and comfort the weakest heart in the greatest conflicts which can befall a Christian in the whole course of Life and approach of Death Gathered by the holy and deuout labour of IOHN GERARD Doctor of Diuinitie and Super-intendent of Heldburge Newly Englished by Rich. Bruch Minister of GODS Word He that dyeth before he dye Shall not dye when he doth dye LONDON Printed by T. S. for Roger Iackson and to be solde in Fleetstreet neere the great Conduit 1614. TO THE MOST RELIGIOVS AND worthy KNIGHT Sir Thomas Vauasur Knight-Marshall and to the most pious and well-affected Lady his Wife the Lady Mary Vauasur R. B. wisheth here on Earth the beginning and in Heauen the complement of all happinesse Right Worshipfull SInce it is in mans life Seneca as it is in an Enterlude that it skils not how long but how well it be acted and that the word of truth giues out this for a truth Eccl. 7.10 the end of a thing is better then the beginning it concernes all men to striue to make good that which they cannot make long and hauing begunne well to perseuere so doing lest they leese the things that they haue wrought 2 Iohn v. 8 Heb. 3.14 if they keepe not sure vnto the end the beginning wherewith they are vpholden Surely the number of our yeeres is knowen to GOD alone our dayes are in his hand this only remaines vnto vs while wee are in this world to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world Psa 119.1 Iob. 17.9 immaculati in viâ vpright vndefiled in the way holding on our way with the righteous and with the pure of hands increasing our strength Which that we should not doe the old enemie of mankinde full of all subtiltie and malice doth by all meanes labour still to hinder who though he be very busie with vs to auert vs from the good and to make vs forsake our owne mercies in the whole course of our liues yet he doth especially insidiari calcaneo trip at the heele lay wait at the end to make vs then let goe the holde that we haue and the hope of assurance if 〈◊〉 cannot before hand make vs to deny the faith and make shipwracke of good conscience Eph. 6.13 whom that we may not onely know how to resist but also resisting to ouercome in the euill day and finishing all things to stand fast whose fiery darts that wee may quench this little Booke giues vs both the shield of faith and other spirituall armour in which kinde though I haue read and seene others written yet neuer did I peruse any done so full and so feelingly so succinct in the fulnesse and in so good order and method This when I had first turned into our English being thereunto requested in the next place when I thought to whom I might best offer it your Worthinesse most religious Knight and Lady came into my minde persons as in your ranke and place eminent so much more eminent in your vertues who in the example of your zeale in Religion and loue of the truth your pietie and charitie your meekenesse and affabilitie are a patterne vnto others and doe in the integritie of your liues being full of good workes Lib. de conuer a seculo ad Theo. Sen. multum militare acquisitionibus Christi as saith Fulgentius Purchase much for Christ and purchase to your selues in the world with the testimony of a good conscience that feasts your soules continually the sweet sauour of a good name Pro. 15.15 which two things are better vnto you then all riches Wee that are of your neighbourhood know and see the care that you haue of religious duties and the workes of charitie which you doe your lowlinesse in your wealth and Honour and other your remarkeable vertues It remaines onely that you that haue so well begunne and hitherto so well continued doe now striue to perseuere vnto the end that you may receiue a full reward that you may crowne the good that hath gone before in you with a good conclusion and that ouercomming the difficulties that are yet behinde you may at last bring your ship to the Hauen where you would be Which that you may the better doe you shall finde no small helpe and furtherance in this smal Booke which euery where breathing Consolations will arme your soules against all Temptations and against the time of your dissolution come so compose your soules to Death that you shall sleepe sweetly in the Lord in the peace of a good Conscience in sure and certaine hope of eternall life vnto which the Lord of his mercy giue you an entry with all Saints through his Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour AMEN Your Worships humbly deuoted and wishing your best good R. Br. To the very Reuerend and famous men excelling in Pietie Learning and Authoritie Mr. IOHN SCHRODER a famous Diuine and most worthy Minister appointed of the Church of Norinberg Mr. MARTIN GVNGE the most deseruing Preacher of the Court of Saxo-Coburg Mr. IOHN ALDENBVRG his most faithfull fellow Minister of the Church of Coburg His Masters Plato in Phaedone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 friends and Brethren in Christ singularly beloued IF any man Reuerend and most famous men my Masters Friends Brethren in Christ to be had in singular honour would accommodate that same Platonicall definition of Philosophie that it is a Meditation of death to the true Theosophie of Christians hee may doe it as I thinke with the good leaue of the truth seeing as it were the beginning and end thereof doth consist in the Meditation of death Now I vnderstand vnder the name of death both the death of Christ and our death also The death of Christ and his Passion is the waight of the Christian name 1 Cor. 2.2 thence the Apostle did iudge that hee knew no other thing among the Corinthians then Christ crucified and dead By the death of Christ was made an expiation of our sinnes a destruction of the power of Satan a confirmation of the new couenant and an easing of the terrours which are wont to be present in our death therfore the Meditation of the death of Christ ought neuer to depart from our memorie Neither let vs any time of our life forget our owne death that as Death expects vs euery day so wee may also expect that againe each day Hieron Epist ad Pauli He which remembers daily that hee shall die he doth easily contemne all earthly things he prepares himselfe by true and earnest conuersion to a blessed death he giues his minde to sincere pietie he doth patiently endure all manner of aduersitie and is set on fire euen from the heart with an ardent desire of eternall life Psa 90.12 Teach vs O Lord prayes Moses to number our dayes