this life wee are afrayde to see so quicke an ende of this our earthlie course wherin notwithstanding there is more gall than honie Vertuous men such as feare God haue alwaies done otherwise for the long continuāce of their trauels in this world made them to mourne and think it much better to bee separated from this body Phil. 2. to bee with Iesus Christ so that some of them haue growen to such a point as to detest the day of their birth witnes he who said Iob 3. And let the day wherin I was borne perish For what pleasure is ther here in this life ful of anguish care replenished with a million of calamities miseries with the tears and lamentations of the afflicted wholly destitute of all consolation Therefore it is that Salomon in his booke of Ecclesiastes rather cōmends the conditiō of the dead than of the liuing Eccles 4. and further addeth Nay and I thinke him better than them both that neuer was borne for he neuer sawe the wicked workes that are committed vnder the Sunne In another place hee holds opinion that the dead infant is in better state and condition than an olde man by reason hee neuer sawe the euils that are wrought in the world hee neuer came into this darknes he neuer walked in the vanities of this present life and therefore he that neuer entered into the worlde enioyes more peace repose thā he that is come into the same And in deed what good can a man reape in this world that walkes therein but as an image and can neuer be satisfied with the desires thereof If there be any wealth to deuoure hee loseth his peace being constrained to haue his eye alwaies ouer that which with miserable greedines he sought after most miserably to possesse that which can stād him in no true stead could there be a greater slauery thā to see a man labour to amasse and heap those goods together that bring him no profit If this present life then be a continuall and insupportable burden we must needs coūt the same for a great cōfort This end is death and comfort is a good thing it followes therefore that death is a good thing That was the cause why Simeon so reioyced who knowing that hee should not die before he had seene the annointed of the Lord when they brought Iesus into the Temple he tooke him in his armes and sayd Lord thou lettest now thy seruant depart in peace as if hee before had remained in this life rather by compulsion then of his own free-will hee requiring to be set at libertie as if being hampred in some bonds he had then gone to take possession again of his freedome This bodie is as it were chained yea and which is worse with the chaine of temptations which shackles bindes torments outragiously by reason of the cruelty of sinne For we see in dying how the soule of man loseth it selfe by little and little from the bands of the flesh and beeing let out by the mouth flies away being deliuered out of the dungeon of this body Dauid made haste to go out of this temporall course saying I am a stranger Psal 39. and pilgrime before thee on the earth as all my Fathers were wherfore as a stranger he ranne speedily towards the common countrey of all the Saints requiring before death pardon of his sinnes wherewith he was defiled while he soiourned on the earth For hee that obtaines not pardon of his sinnes in this world shall neuer attaine to eternall life And therefore Dauid addes Let me retire my selfe suffer that I may bee refreshed before I goe and be no more Why pant we therfore after this life wherin the lōger any one remains the more he is surcharged with sin The Lord himselfe sayth Euery day is content with his owne miserie Mat. 6. And Iacob complained that the hundred thirty yeeres of his life Gen. 47. were short and irksome not that the dayes were tedious of thēselues but because malice here increaseth as the dayes passe away For there is not a day that passeth ouer our heads wherein wee doe not offend And therefore the Apostle sayde very well Phil. 1. Christ is gain vnto me both in life and death in the one hauing relation to the necessity of his life for the seruice of the Church and in the other to the particular benefit which he receiued by dying as wee also liue in seruing of Christ towards whō his seruants must needs shew their good affection in deliuering vnto others the doctrine of his Gospel And as for Simeon who said Now thou sufferest thy seruāt hee stayed because of Christ who is our King so that wee may not omit nor reiect his commandements How many men were there that the Romane Emperors caused to remaine in remote and strange Regions in hope of future recompense and honors Came they from thence without their masters leaue and without all comparison is it not a more excellent thing to obey the will of God than of men CHRIST therefore is gaine to the beleeuer as well in life as in death for in the qualitie of a seruant hee refuseth not to serue in this life and as a wise man hee embraceth the gaine of death It is a great gayne to bee out of the haruest of sinne to be remooued from euill and in full possession of good Saint Paul also addeth My desire is to remooue and be with Christ which were far better for me but for you it is more necessary that I should remaine in the flesh Hee set down this word necessary by reason of the fruit of his trauels and the worde better by reason of his celestial grace and thrise happie coniunction with Christ CHAP. 3. What death is and what life according to the Testimony of the holy Scriptures and of spirituall death SEeing then the Apostle teacheth that whosoeuer leaues this mortall bodie goes to Christ if he hath truely knowen serued him let vs a little consider what death what life is We knowe because the holy Scriptures auerre it that death is a loosing of the soule frō the body and as it were the separation of a man For in dying the soule is disioined frō the bodie Dauid therefore seems to allude hereunto when he sayes Thou hast broken my bonds Psal 116. I will offer thee sacrifice and praise The precedent verse of this Psalm because the death of the Saints is precious in the eyes of the Lord sheweth that by these bonds is vnderstood the coniunction of our bodies with the soule And therefore foreseeing euen then that hee was in the number of those faithfull that had deuoutly rendred their liues into the handes of Christ he reioyceth on his part hee also faithfully offring vp himselfe for the people of God to fight with huge Goliath hand to hand and by himselfe alone to remoue the opprobrie peril which then threatned the
Did hee then prepare many habitations onely for eleuen persons Mat. 8. Why sayd he in another place that ther should come out of all quarters of the world those that should sit in the kingdome of God Do we doubt of the performance of his diuine will The will and deede of our Sauiour are all one Besides hee points out the way and deciphers the place saying You perceiue whither I go knowe the way The place is in heauen with the Father Christ is the way as he himselfe sayth I am the Way the Trueth and the Life Iohn 14. none can come to the Father but by mee Let vs therefore enter into this Way imbrace this Trueth follow this Life This is the Way which guides vs the Truth that confirmes vs and the Life is giuen vs. And to the end we might be resolued of his bountious and franke will he afterwards addeth Father my desire is that those whom thou hast giuen me may be there where I am with mee Iohn 17. to the ende they may see my glory O Lord IESVS we follow thee but call thou vs that wee may march the more chearfully for no man can aduance forward without thee thou being the Way the Trueth the Life the Possibilitie the Faith the Rewarde Receiue vs seeing thou art the Way confirme quicken vs seeing thou art the Trueth and the Life Manifest vnto vs that happinesse which Dauid desired to see whē hee should dwell in the house of the Lord. There is also treasure without sinne where eternal life is He saith in another place Psal 27. We shal be replenished with the riches of thy house Discouer therefore vnto vs O Lord Psal 63. this true happines which imparts vnto vs true life true being and sanctified motion We haue motion in the way and being in eternall life Cause vs to see that felicitie which is alwayes like to himselfe indissoluble immutable in whom wee are eternall in whome we knowe all good in whome there is entire and perfect rest immortall life perpetuall grace holy inheritance for the soule and a secure tranquillitie not beeing subiect vnto death but absolued and freed from the same without tears or lamentations For wherefore should any one there lament seeing no body there offendeth either God his neighbour or himselfe Briefly it is in this land of the liuing where the Saints are deliuered from all errour from care from ignorance from follie from pride from feares from perturbations couetous desires passions and lastly from all other cōtamination Seeing the land of the liuing is in heauē we must account this world the Region of the dead the which is most true seeing there are the shadow the body the gates of death Notwithstanding if the righteous man gouerne himselfe according to the will of God to doe the same he shall liue then come to the Region of the liuing where life is not confined but free where in stead of shadowe ther is glory S. Paul being in this worlde was not yet in glory hee mourned in this body of death and sayd that our life was layed vp with Christ in God Rom. 1. but when Christ our life should appeare we should also appeare with him in glory Let vs therefore chearefully aduance forwarde towardes the way Hee that enters into the true way Coloss 3. shall liue Wee haue testimony thereof Luk. 1. in the woman which touched but the hem of Christ his garment and she was deliuered from death as hee sayd vnto her Thy faith hath saued thee goe away in peace For if hee that touched a dead man was defiled he that toucheth the liuing shall certainely bee quickened Let vs therefore seeke after the Lord of life But so we must be carefull not to search after him amongst the dead lest it be said vnto vs as it was vnto the women Why seeke you him liuing amongst the dead hee is not here but risen vp The Lorde himselfe sheweth where it is that hee woulde haue vs seeke for him saying Go vnto my brethren and tell them I ascend vp to my Father and your Father to my God and your God Iohn 20. Let vs inquire for him where Iohn his disciple enquired for him and founde him out that is to say liuing with his Father from the beginning and being his eternall Sonne Wee must seeke him out in these last times imbracing his feete and worsnipping him that so he may vouchsafe to say vnto vs Fear not which importes thus much Feare not the sinnes of this age nor the worlds iniquities or the furious waues of carnall passions for I am the remission of sinnes feare not darknes I am the Light feare not death I am the Life Whosoeuer commeth to mee shal neuer see death As the plenitude and fulnesse of all Deitie is in him so to him be ascribed all honour glory and immortality for euer and euer Amen Certain places and sentences of the holy Scriptures concerning Life and Death The rule scope of our life SEek first the kingdome of God and the righteousnes therof then all things shall be administred vnto you Mat. 6.33 Al things which you would men should doe vnto you do vnto them againe for this is the Law and the Prophets Mat. 7.12 Luk. 6.37 Eternall life promised to those that obserue the commaundements of God OBserue my lawes and iudgements the which if a man keep he shall liue by them saith the Lorde Leuit. 18.5 Keepe my commandements and my lawe as the apple of thine eie and thou shalt liue Prou. 7.3 I haue giuen them my commaundements and shewed them my iudgements the which if a man performe he shall liue by them Ezech. 20.11 If thou wouldest enter into life keepe my commandements Mat. 19. Good Master what might I doe to obtaine eternall life Iesus aunswered thou knowest the commaundements doe that and thou shalt liue Mark 10.17 Luke 10.28 18.18 The Lawe is not of faith but the man that doth these things shall liue by the same Galat. 3.12 That we cannot fulfill the commaundements of God and consequently not obtaine eternall life by the Lawe but contrariwise we lose life by transgressing the Lawe WE knowing that a mā is not iustified by the works of the Lawe but by faith in Iesus Christ wee also beleeued in Iesus Christ to the ende that wee might be iustified by faith in Christ and not by the workes of the Lawe because no flesh shall be iustified by the workes of the Law Galat 2.16 All those that depend on the workes of the Lawe are vnder the curse for it is writtten Accursed bee hee that continues not in all those things which are written in the booke of the Lawe to performe them Galat. 3.10 Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for no liuing man shall bee iustified in thy presence Psal 143. There is no man but hee sinneth 1. King 46. The children of God saye alwayes Forgiue vs
off from them wickednes ill thoughts corrupt counsels couert luxuries and auarice which is alwaies prying into other men Hee guardes them himselfe and keepes them close by him would any body peraduēture require of God to guard their goods and chattels also They discharge God of this labour in making no account of externall things Among others Democritus remooued all his wealth farre off he supposing that it would but bee a burden to a good vnderstanding Imagine therfore that God thus speaketh vnto thee Why complaine yee of mee you that haue delighted in equitie I haue enuironed others with false prosperities occupied their spirits with a long and lying dream I haue outwardly adorned thē with gold siluer Iuory whē as inwardly they are of no value Those which at the first sight seem happy if you but obserue them well not in the place where you meet them but secretly some where else they are sordid base and miserable and are but like their owne walles outwardly painted set forth This is not true and perfect felicitie it is but a rinde or barke and that also but slight and thinne And therefore while they can hold out shew themselues in no place but where they like best they glitter and abuse mens iudgements but if an accident fall out that doth but discouer and display them then we may easily perceiue what deepe villany lies hid vnder adulterate shewes But to you on the contrary I haue giuen certaine goods and those that wil continue The oftner they are turned or beheld on euery side the better and more resplendent they will seeme which is to say lightly to esteem of any thing that is feared and to disdaine that which ordinarily is desired you doe not shine outwardly all your goods stand inward So doth all this world it contemnes external parts being content with the contemplation of it selfe All the wealth thereof is inward Your felicitie is to haue nothing to doe with worldly happinesse A Sermon of Saint CYPRIANS Bishop of Carthage concerning Mortalitie THE ARGVMENT IN this Sermō made for the consolation of such Christians as then were visited with the plague Saint CYPRIAN exhorteth all those that truely loue the Lord chearefully to leaue this earthly life when God calles them away confirming the same by diuers reasons and shewing afterwards that death is a way which the wicked also must goe and hee teacheth euery one how to obserue the difference betwixt the one and the other that is to say the good are called to happie rest and the wicked to eternall punishment THough many amongst you my deare brethren haue your vnderstādings so settled your faith so firme and your soules so eleuated vp to heauen that they are not so much as shaken by seeing the plague on all sides to sweep away so many but like a rock immoueably planted they withstand without bouging the violent stormes of the world breaking the raging waues of this present life in stead of being battered or broken by them finally are not ouerthrowen but only proued by temptations Yet seeing some amōg the people halfe daunted and discouraged either for want of good resolution by reason of their little faith respect of the loue which they beare to this world or through the tendernesse of their sexe or which is worse for want of good instruction so as wee can not see them employ that celestiall force and vigor wherwith their hearts should be armed I could not contain my selfe according to my weake power from suppressing this effeminate cowardize by a preualent discourse taken out of the holy scripture to the end that those which haue begun to feele that God is their Father and Iesus Christ their Sauiour they may doe nothing vnworthy of a Christian or of the true childe of God For most deare brethren he that fights vnder the ensigne of God which inhabiting in the celestiall pauilions aspireth to none but high matters hee must truely knowe himselfe and wee must not in any wise be deiected or astonisht at the torments or tempests of this worlde seeing God hath aduertised vs that these things must come to passe instructing and teaching vs by the exhortation of his louing carefull voice and preparing and fortifying the people of his Church to beare such things as must happen patiently he hauing declared fore-told that the earth should be afflicted in euery quarter by warre famin plagues earth-quakes As also for feare we should fall into despaire through the strangenesse of so many euils at once oppressing vs hee hath divulged before that the afflictions should be far sharper in the later times Seeing whatsoeuer hee foretold is now accomplished let vs conceiue hereby that all his other promises in like manner shall be fulfilled as hee himselfe hath spoken When you see all these things come to passe know that the kingdom of heauen is at hand My dearest brethren this kingdome hath already begun to come vnto vs for the reward of life the ioy of eternall saluation perpetuall blisse the possession of Paradise which were lost by sinne returne vnto vs so soone as wee leaue the world Now when celestiall things succeed the terrestriall great those but little and eternall those transitory and fraile Is ther then any occasion to be in griefe and anguish of minde and who is that affrighted and daunted man but he that is destitute of Faith hope In effect it only belongs to him to feare death that would not go vnto Christ and he refuseth to goe vnto Christ which beleeueth not that then hee begins to raigne with Christ It is written Abac 2. Rom. 1. The iust man liues by faith If thou beest iust and liuest by faith firmely beleeuing in God why art thou not forward to go to Christ who calles thee Why doest thou not imbrace Gods promises Why reioycest thou not to be deliuered from the power of the wicked Simeon the iust which in true faith yeelded himselfe to Gods obedience knowing by reuelatiō that he should not die before hee had seene Christ and the little Infant called Iesus being come into the Temple with his Mother hee knew then that Christ was born whom hauing seene hee knew that the ende of his life approached wherfore reioycing in his death so neere at hand and being assured that God would presently call him hee tooke the Infant in his armes praising God hee cried out and said Lord thou sufferest now thy seruant to depart in peace according to thy Word for mine eyes haue seen thy saluation By this hee did declare and make euident that Gods seruants are in peace and enioy a free and quiet repose when wee are drawen from the violent waues of this world and that we enter into the Port of eternall securitie and safety when after the defacement of this present life we attaine to most glorious immortality For this is our repose our assured peace our firme and perdurable security and in this
people of God In which when he presented himselfe frankly vnto death to appease the wrath of God being readie in the name of all others and for their comfort to beare the scourge of GOD he knew well that it was farre greater glory to die for Christ than to raigne in this world can there bee a more excellent thing than to offer vp our selues vnto CHRIST Although therefore the Scripture speaketh of diuerse Sacrifices of Dauid yet is there a mentiō of this one particular in this Psalme which sayth I will sacrifice vnto thee praise and thankesgiuing hee said not I doe sacrifice but I will minding hereby to inferre that a sacrifice is then perfect whē euery beleeuer is deliuered out of the bandes of this body to appeare before the Lord then presents himself to him in a sacrifice of praise because no praise nor thanksgiuing is perfect or accomplished before death and no man can be truely praised in this life by reason of the vncertaintie of that to come Death therefore is a separation of the soule from the body for that which further remaines we said before howe S. Paul declared That to be dissolued be with Christ he esteemed a farre better thing than to tarrie here still What else procureth this separation but the dissolution of the bodie and bringing of it to repose as for the soule it is her freedome introduction to peace ioy that is to say to liue with Christ if it beleeue The chrildren of God therefore do nothing in this worlde but purifie thēselues frō the contaminations of the body which are as bands to tie vs in labor to free thēselues from these difficulties renouncing of pleasures shunning dissolutenes the flames of cōcupiscēce Is it not thē true that euery faithful soule liuing here belowe is conformed and ioyned vnto death whē she studies to die in her selfe to all carnall delights and to all the desires and allurements of the world Thus was the Apostle dead when hee said Gal. 6. The world is crucified to mee and I to the world In fine to the end wee might knowe that death is in this life and that it is good he exhorteth vs to bear in our bodies the death or mortificatiō of our Lord Iesus for he who hath in him the death of the Lord Iesus hee shall haue his life also in his body Death therefore is necessarie in vs to the end that life may be necessary also There is a good life after death that is to say a great felicitie after victory a good life at the end of the combate whē the law of the flesh can no more contradict the lawe of vnderstanding when death striues no more against the bodie but that the victory ouer death is inclosed in the same And I knowe not whether of these two are more effectual 2. Cor. 4. this life or this death considering the Apostles authentike testimony who sayth Death therefore is necessary in vs life in you How many nations were reuiued by the death of one man The Apostle then as you see 2. Cor. 4. teacheth that those who enioy this present life must also desire this present death to the ende that the death of Christ may appeare in our bodies and that wee may participate of this felicitie by which our external man is destroyed to the end that heauens mansion place may bee open vnto vs. He therefore conformes himself well vnto death that retires from the earnest desires of the world that looseth the bands wherof the Lord speaks in Esay Loose the bands of vnrighteousnes Esa 51. break the obligations of vniust exchange let them goe free that are troden vnder foote vntie the knots of wickednes Hee approcheth neere vnto death that strips himselfe of the pleasures of the world that disintangleth himselfe from terrestriall cogitations and raiseth his minde to the heauenly Tabernacle within the which Saint Paul was conuersant euen while he liued here belowe otherwise hee woulde not haue sayde Phil. 1. Our conuersation is in heauen the which may also be applied to the zeale meditatiōs of this holy man for his thoughts were there there his soule frequented the studies and indeuours of his minde were raised vp thither the limits of this body being indeed too strait to comprehend the apprehensions of a man truely wise who aspiring to such a good separates for the time his soule from his body and hath no more to doe with the same in contemplating of that trueth which he desires openly to see for which cause he seekes nothing more than to bee freed from the snares darknesse of this body For wee cannot with our hands with our eyes or our eares conceiue this celestiall trueth because things visible are temporall and those inuisible eternal And besides our sight is oftentimes deceiued and we discerne things farre otherwise than indeed they are our hearing also deceiues vs and therfore wee must looke to inuisible things if wee will not bee deceiued When may we then be assured that our foule is not deceiued When is it that she layes hold on the throne of veritie euen when she is separated frō the body which then can abuse nor deceiue her no more The same deceiued her by the regard of the eyes by the hearing of the eare therefore it is necessarie that she should leaue abandon it And therefore the Apostle minding to shew that it was not by bodily repose but by the eleuatiō of the soule the harts humility that had found out the trueth he sayth that our conuersation is in heauen He therfore sought in heauen that which is trueth and shal so remaine for euer And thus retiring his thoghts and all the force of his vnderstanding without reuealing himselfe to any other but knowing and considering well of himselfe resoluing to followe that which he tooke to bee trueth and perceiuing that to be false flitting which the flesh desires and chooseth fraudulently he rightly blasoned this body calling it the body of death For who can discerne with his eyes the brightnesse of vertue Who can gripe righteousnesse with his hands or see wisedom with his bodily eyes Briefly when we meditate on any thing wee would not willingly see any body we like not to heare any noyse about our eares hauing somtimes our minds so fixed as wee see not that which is before our eyes And in the night our cogitatiōs are more firme and we conceiue the better of that in our hearts which serues for our document and instruction where-vnto that saying of the Prophet in the 4. Psalme hath reference Ponder with your selues vpon your beds Often-times also diuers men cloase their eyes when they would profoundly consider of any affaire auoiding at such a time the impediment of sight Otherwhiles we seeke out solitarie places to the end that no body may trouble vs or by his prattle turne vs out of the right way
our sinnes Math. 6.11 The reward of sinne is death Rom. 6.23 Eternall life which wee lose by our corruption and transgression is restored again vnto vs by Iesus Christ THe gift of God is eternall life by Iesus Christ our Lorde Rom. 6.23 At the same time when we were dead in sinne hee reuiued vs together by Christ by whose grace you are saued Ephe. 2.5 The determination and grace of God is manifested vnto vs by the apparition of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath destroyed death and brought to light life and immortalititie by the Gospel 2. Timot. 1.10 In this the loue of God appeared vnto vs when he sent his onely Sonne into the worlde to the end wee might liue by him 1. Iohn 4.9 And this man is witnesse that God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne 1. Iohn 5.11 To whom eternall life is giuen GOd so loued the world as he gaue his only begotten Son that no man which beleeueth in him might perish but haue euerlasting life He that beleeueth in the Son hath eternall life but he that beleueth not in the Son shall not see life but the wrath of GOD shal remaine vpon him Iohn 3.15 36. Verely verely I say vnto you whosoeuer heareth my words and beleeueth in him that sent mee he hath eternall life and shall not come into condemnation but passe from death to life This is the will of my Father which sent me That whosoeuer sees the Sonne and beleeues in him he may haue eternall life and I will raise him vp at the last day Verely verely I say vnto you hee that beleeues in mee hath eternall life Iohn 5.24 and 6.40 47. Iesus sayde I am the resurrection and the life hee that beleeueth in me although hee be dead shall liue Iohn 11.25 These things are written that you may beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God that in beleeuing you may haue life in his Name Iohn 20.31 God shal giue to euery one according to his workes which is to say to those that with patience in well-doing seeke glory honor and immortalitie eternall life Rom. 2.6 7. Being now deliuered from sinne and made the seruants of God you haue your fruit in sanctification and for your ende eternall life Rom. 6.22 If we be children we are also heires heires I say to God and coheirs with Iesus Christ that is to say if wee suffer with him that with him wee may also bee glorified Rom. 8.17 Seeke peace with all men and holinesse without which none can see the Lord. Hebr. 12.14 The excellencie of eternall life WHen the account is cast I think the sufferances of this present time no wayes equiualent to the glory to come which shall be reuealed in vs. Rom. 8.18 The things which the eye hath not seene the eare heard and that neuer entred into the heart of man are those which God hath prepared for those that loue him 1. Cor. 2.9 This present life is limited THe dayes of a man are short the number of his moneths remaine with thee thou hast set downe limits which hee must not exceede Ioh 14.5 The shortnesse and vanitie of the same WE are strangers and forreiners before thee as our Fathers were our dayes are as the shadow vpon the earth and there is no mention of them 1. Chron. 29.15 Man borne of a woman is but of little continuance and those few dayes are replenished with trouble sorrowe hee cometh out like a flower and is gathered vp hee flies away like a shadow and stayes not Are not his dayes set downe Iob 14.1 2 5. Thou hast assigned my dayes the measure of an hand-breadth and my life time is before thee as nothing in effect there is nothing but vanitie with euery man that liues As soon as thou chastisest a man reprehending him for his iniquity thou consumest all his excellencie like a moth so slight a thing is euery man Psal 39.12 The sonnes of men are nothing they are but the lyers of great Princes so that if they were all put together in a ballance they would bee found lighter than vanitie it selfe Psal 62.10 The dayes of our life are threescore and ten yeeres and of those that liue longest but fourescore and yet the best of them are but affliction miserie they soon passe hence and we our selues flie away swiftly Psal 90.10 The dayes of a man are like the grasse and flourish like the flower of the fielde Psal 103.13 Man is like to nothing his dayes are as the shadowe which vanisheth away Psal 144.4 See thorowout all Salomons Ecclesiastes All flesh is grasse and all the glory thereof is as the flower of the field Isa 40.6 I tell you this my brethren that the time is short 1. Cor. 7.29 What is this your life it is certainely but a vapour which appeareth for a while and then vanisheth away Iames 4.14 The end of mans life WHether you eat or drinke or whatsoeuer you doe do it al to the glory of God 1. Cor. 10.31 The first death which is the separation of the soule from the body and the second which is eternal death proceede from sinne THe day wherein thou eatest of the fruite of the Tree of knowledge of good and euill thou shalt die the death Gen. 2.17 As by one man sinne entred into the worlde and by sinne death so death came vpon all men because al men sinned Rom. 5.12 The first death is common to all IT is ordained that all shall once die and after that comes Iudgement Heb. 9.27 The Children of God ought to feare death FEare not those that can slay the bodie and not kill the soule Math. 10.28 Hee that loueth his life shall lose it and whosoeuer hates this worlde hee shall finde it in eternall life Iohn 12.25 We knowe when our terrestrial lodging is defaced we haue a dwelling place in God an house not made with handes but eternall which is in heauen 2. Corint 5.1 I am inclosed on the one side and the other desiring to be dissolued and to be with Christ the which were much better for me Phil. 1.23 Death destroyed by Iesus Christ IEsus Christ hath destroyed Death and brought to light Life and immortality by the Gospel 2. Tim. 1.10 Death is swallowed vp in victorie 1. Cor. 15.54 Who sits at the right hand of God hauing swallowed vp death that we might be made partakers af eternall life 1. Pet. 3.22 What opinion wee should hold of the dead HAppie are those that die in the Lord yea saith the holy Ghost for they rest from their labours and their works follow them Apo. 14.3 We must not mourne for the dead as profane persons doe ALso my brethren I would not haue you ignorant concerning those which sleep to the end you may not be sorrowfull as others are that haue no hope 1. Thes 4.13 Their soules which die in the Lord are receiued into rest and glory in heauen ANd it happened that
to taste in liuing vnder thy protection Thou art admirable graciously good in time of affliction in that by such meanes thou healest our spirituall maladies and visiting vs thus in this world thou framest vs to meditate on a better life thou thy selfe hauing shewed vs a liuely example thereof It is true that I finde it hard to digest but thou wert brought to another maner of conditiō when to redeeme mee from hell thou didst descend thither and for the reconciling mee to thy heauenly Father diddest vnder-goe his curse By reason of my sinnes I haue so many times deserued hell and euerlasting fire and thou deliueredst mee I being secure that I haue a part in thy merit and obedience and that I am one of thy coheires to reigne one day with thee in thy kingdome and euen at this present in the middest of all afflictions to be seated neuerthelesse in heauenly places Hauing therefore my part in so many felicities why should I grudge to suffer a little time by meanes whereof thou meanest to awake improoue and drawe me neerer to thee But seeing thou knowest me better than I know my selfe if thou pleasest to make some triall of me grant me necessary power and patience to glorifie thee conuerting all the euill which may occurre vnto mee to my good and saluation And if in graciously supporting my debilitie thy benignitie doe vouchsafe to aduertise mee by some light affliction effect that this thy clemencie may drawe mee more and more to loue and honour thee to giue thee thanks for the care thou hast of thy poore humble seruant and by this meanes dispose me to attend and expect thee in death that after the same I may finde that life which I obtained by thy death and there bee made partaker with thee of perpetuall ioy and rest for euermore Amen Another O Lord God heauenly Father whē I consider howe many wayes I haue offended before thy presence and high Maiestie I abhorre my selfe in thinking howe many times I haue forsaken thee my fauorable and gentle Father I detest my ingratitude when I see into what seruitude of sinne I haue too often throwen my selfe headlong downe selling as farre as in mee lay the precious libertie which thy Sonne purchased for mee I condemne my folly I absolutely discouer my selfe I see nothing but death and malediction hang ouer my head my conscience rising vp against mee for a iudge and testimonie of mine iniquities But when I behold on the other side thy infinite mercie which surmounteth al thy other works and wherein if I may dare so to speake thou exceedest thy selfe my soule is then somewhat comforted And indeed why should I doubt to find grace in his sight that so often and gentlie calleth and summoneth sinners to repentance expresly protesting that hee desireth not the death of a sinner but that hee should bee conuerted and liue Moreouer thy onely Sonne hath so assured vs that wee shall finde grace in thy presence by the goodly parables which he himselfe propounded as of the mite of the lost sheepe and of the prodigall childe whose liuely image I acknowledge to be in my selfe as I should bee ingrate incredulous and verie wicked to recoyle and bee ashamed of thy presence though I be neuer so miserable seeing that thou puttest foorth thine hand with so mercifull an affection to drawe me to thee O louing Father I haue faintly forsaken thee I haue scattered thy graces most vnhappily in cleauing to the desires of my flesh and swaruing frō thy obedience I haue entangled my selfe in the base seruitude of sinne I am fallen into extreame miserie I knowe not whither to retire but to thee whom I haue forsaken Let thy mercie receiue thy poore suppliaunt whom during his error thou didst support I am vnworthy to lift vp mine eyes to thee or to call thee Father but I humbly beseech thee abase thine eyes to looke downe vpon me seeing thy pleasure is so and that otherwise I must needs fall into the power of thine enemies The regard of thy countenaunce will quicken and leade mee towards thee I already feele some effect therof seeing in some sort I plainly discouer my selfe I knowe thou doest beholde mee thou gauest me eyes to discerne the daungers wherein I stood thou diddest seek and finde mee out in the worlde and death and out of thy mercie hast graunted my desire to enter into thine house I dare not require that thou shouldest imbrace or kisse me or that thou shouldest weep for ioy in hauing found out thy poore seruant and slaue I look not for those precious ornaments wherwith thou honorest thy greatest seruaunts and best affected children it sufficeth mee to be in the troupe of the least in thine house amongst the greatest sinners that haue obtained pardon of thee and that are vouchsafed some retiring place in thy heauenly palace where ther are so many seuerall habitations And that euen in thy house I may be as the least that pleaseth thee so thou doe but auow mee thine owne for euer O mercifull Father I beseech thee for the loue of thy best beloued Sonne my onely Sauiour to vouchsafe mee thy holy Spirit for the cleansing of my heart and strengthening of mee after such a sort that I may alwayes remaine in thine house there to serue thee in righeousnesse and holinesse all the dayes of my life Amen Another WHat doe wee in this worlde but heape sinne vpon sinne So as the present day is euer somewhat worse than the day before and we neuer cease to draw vpon vs thy wrath and indignation But when wee shall be out of this worlde in thine inheritance wee shall bee wholly assured of perfect and eternall felicitie the miseries of the bodie being layd apart and the vices and contaminatiōs of the soule quight annihilated O heauenly Father encrease in vs thy faith that wee may cast no doubt of things so infallible Imprint thy grace and loue in our heartes for the raising vp fortifying of vs in thy fear And because thou hast seated vs in this worlde there to remaine so long as pleaseth thee without manifesting vnto vs the day of our departure which is only knowen to thy selfe I beseech thee take mee from hence when thou seest the fit time come and then to vouchsafe mee this fauour that I may willingly acknowledge the same and in the meane while that I may dispose of my selfe as thou hast ordained in thy most holy word Amen Another THis bodie is the soules prison and a prison that is obscure close and vncomfortable Wee are as banished men in this world and our life is but griefe and miserie But contrariwise O Lord it is in thy heauenly kingdome where we shall finde our libertie our naturall countrey and most perfect contentment Rowse vp our soules by thy Worde to the remembraunce and apprehension of such a good engraue in our hearts the desire of goods eternall and which onely are to bee sought after affoord our consciences some taste of this ioye wherewith the blessed in heauen are fully replenished that I may esteeme that which worldlings account so beautifull and so earnestly couet retaining the same with obstinate auarice and euen adoring it with such mad frenzie but filth and dyrte And procure that I feeling no taste but in thy veritie and grace calling continually vpon thy Name I may attend the day of my true deliuerance by IESVS CHRIST thy Sonne to whome with thee and the holie Ghost bee ascribed eternall glorie and prayse Amen Another LOrde IESVS the onely sauing health of the liuing and the eternall life of those that die I wholly submitte my selfe to thy will whether it shall please thee yet a little while to suffer this soule in my bodie to serue thee or that thou mindest to take it out of this prison I being assured whatsoeuer thou wilt preserue can not perish I am content with a very good heart that my bodie should returne to the earth out of which it was taken beleeuing in the last resurrection which shall make it immortall incorruptible and full of glorie I humbly beseech thee to strengthen my soule against all temptations couer me with the buckler of thy mercie to holde out Sathans dartes As for mee I am but weaknesse it selfe but yet I will relie on thy goodnesse and power I can alleadge nothing good before thee wherin to glorie but contrariwise alas my sins in infinite number accuse and torment mee but yet doe thy merits assure mee that I shall bee saued For I holde this for most certaine that thou wert borne for me that thou wert tempted and wert obedient to GOD the Father and that thou hast bought and purchased eternall life for mee Seeing therefore thou hast bestowed thy selfe on mee with all other thy benefites suffer not such a donation to prooue voide and vnprofitable Let thy blood wipe away the corruption of my offences and thy righteousnesse couer mine iniquities Let thy merites procure me grace and fauour before thy heauenly throne If my sinnes encrease augment thou also in mee thy grace that neither Faith Hope nor Charitie may growe dead but bee corroborated in mee that the apprehension of Death discourage mee not but euen when this my bodie shall bee as it were cleane dead cause the eyes of my soule to looke vp vnto heauen and let my heart then feruentlly crie out to thee and say O Lord I commend my soule into thy handes accomplish thine owne worke for thou diddest redeeme mee I am thine by thy Fathers gift to whome with thee and the holy Spirit bee giuen all glorie and prayse Amen FINIS AT LONDON Imprinted by H. L for Mathew Lownes and are to bee sold at his shoppe in Pauls Church-yarde at the signe of the Bishops head 1607.