Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	grow_v	young_a	youth_n	77	3	8.1223	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B00457	The art of dying well. Deuided into tvvo books. / Written by Roberto Bellarmine of the Society of Iesus, and Cardinall. ; Translated into English for the benefit of our countreymen, by C.E. of the same Society.; De arte bene moriendi. English	Bellarmino, Roberto Francesco Romolo, Saint, 1542-1621.; Coffin, Edward, 1571-1626.	1621 (1621)	STC 1838.5; STC 1838.5; ESTC S90457	138,577	338

which belong vnto that tyme in which Death might seeme to be further off in this other which we haue now in hand we will lay downe those which apperteyne vn●o Death when it is present or neere at hand Death is said to be at hand or expecting v● at the gate when we are eyther worne out with old age the Apostle telling v● Quod antiquatur senescit prope interitum est That which groweth auncient waxeth old is neere vnto death or destruction Heb. 8. or else are taken with some great sicknes in the iudgement of Phisitians very dangerous whether this do befall an old man or a young a youth or a child Of this second ranke it seemes to vs the first precept to be the meditatiō of death for although Death be thought vpon and considered with neuer so great diligence or attention whiles we are in our youthfull yeares yet doth it very little moue vs because we apprehend it as farre off and therefore lesse dreadfull but when we see it so present as it may in a manner be felt with our handes then it stirreth vs vp indeed and the consideration thereof is very profitable all Artes are better attayned by practise then by teaching and those who if not more often did twice at least dye as Saint Christine Drithelmus the English man of whome I made mention in my booke De gemnitu Co●umbae of the mourning of the Doue the noble woman raysed by Saint Malachy of whome I shall speake in the 8. chapter and that Hermite whose history Climacus doth relate of whome also we in the end of this Chapter will say somewhat it is euident that they died cheerfully but for vs who are permitted to dye but once there is no better way then to meditate to thinke often of what is done or to be done in that houre First then we are to thinke that then there shal be a separation made of the soule from the body that neyther the soule is to be extinguished nor the body to fall be resolued to dust without hope of rising againe and being reunited vnto the soule for in case the soule should be annihilated and the body be subiect to eternal corruption as the Atheists do surmize then shold they seeme to haue spoken well who contemned death and sayd Edamus bibamus eras enim moriemur Let vs eate let vs drink for to morrow we shall dye which prouerbe is most ancient as we may see in the Prophet I say Cap. 22. Cap. 15. and in the first of S. Paul to the Corinthians and surely there are some euen amongst Christians who in wordes say that they do belieue but deny it by their deeds which may be proued out 〈◊〉 this principle that very many euen i● their old decrepit age neuer thinke vpon death as though that they were neuer 〈◊〉 dye or as if they thought with the death of the body the soule also did perish and resolue to nothing but whatsoeuer such men do dreame the separation of the body from the soule as it were of th● spouse from her husband is but an absenc● for a while not a perpetuall diuorce for the soule is immortall and the flesh without all doubt shall rise againe at the later day We must therefore if we be Christians and haue any wit dayly thinke of death at hand in this standeth the totall summe of all our weale that we dye well In this life the passage is not hard fro● vertue to vice and with the grace of God from vice vnto vertue for he who is now heir of the Kingdom of God may to morrow by synne fall from the inheritance o● God and become guilty of hell fire co●trarywise he who is a slaue of the Diuell may be deliuered from that bondage and be againe enrolled amongst the children ●f God and heyres of the heauenly King●ome But he who dyes the enemy of God ●nd guilty of euerl●sting fire he shall alwayes remayne the enemy of God tyed to these torments and on the other side he who dyeth the friend of God and heir of the Kingdome of heauen shall neuer fall from grace and that most excellent glory wherefore all our felici●y or infelicity dependeth vpō our good or bad death who then that hath not lost all is wit and iudgement will aduenture to depart out of this life vntill withall diligence he hath learned and prepared also himselfe to dye well Another consideratiō that most profitable touching death may be to conceaue well that although death be most certeyn the prophet worthily demaunding VVho is the man that liueth and shall not see death Psal 88. with whome Saint Paul agreeth saying It is decreed for all men once to dye Heb. 9. Yet is there nothing more vncerteyne then the day and houre of our death which the Scripture cleerly pronounceth saying VVatch because that you do not know the day nor houre many are taken away in their infancy some arryue arryue vnto crooked old age some dy● young some at matures yeares and which is more miserable some do dy so sodēly as they haue no leasure left then to call vpo● God or to commend their soules to his mercy and these thinges doth the diui●● prouidence of God according to the treasures of his wisdome for no other cause ordeyne after this manner but to the end that none of his elected children and seruaunts should presume or be so hardy as to remayne for one moment plunged i● the durt of deadly synne and therefore whosoeuer thou be that doest reade thes● thinges if perhaps thy conscience giue testimony against thee of a deadly synne be not so bold as to stay till to morrow in it nor yet to expect till the end of this day or houre but presently with a contrite and humble hart before God detest and be sorrowfull for the same The third Consideration no lesse profitable then the former may be if in the morning before thou go out to thy daily busines at night before thou goest to bed least soden death should tak● thee at vnawares that thou diligently examin thy conscience what thou hast done the night past what the day immediately ●efore especially whether there be any ●ing that may seeme a deadly syn and if ●ou find nothing yield thanks vnto God ●e Authour of all good and it thou fynd ●●y thinge committed against God seri●usly repent thee from thy hart and at the ●rst occasiō prostrating thy selfe at the feet of the Priest confesse the same receaue willingly the pennance imposed faithfully performe it ●his method of exami●ing our selues twice in the day wonder●ully helpeth that death neuer take vs hēce ●nprouided The fourth consideration may be that which Ecclesiasticus setteth downe that In euery thinge thou doest remember the last things ●nd thou shalt neuer synne For how can he o●●end in any worke who first doth weigh ●ll his works in the ballance

Attourneyes now to the Iudges now to the friends and allyes of all these to haue the definitiue sentence giuen in their fauour at our death the cause of all causes being brought before the supreme Iudge to wit of euerlasting life or death the defendant that is guilty oftentimes foūd vnprouided so oppressed with sicknes as he is not his owne man and is then compelled to giue an account of these things of which perhaps whiles he wa● in good health he neuer so much as thought vpon Hence it cometh that miserable mē do fall so fast headlong into hell fire truly as S. Peter sayth If the iust mā shall scarce be saued 1. Pet. 4. where shall the wicked and the synner appeare VVherefore I esteeme it a matter of speciall moment first to admonish my selfe then my brethren that they duly regard this art and if there be any that haue not learned it of better maysters at least that they contemne not these thinges which we haue laboured to collect or gather togeather out of the holy Scriptures the writings of our ancient maisters But before we come to the rul●s or precepts of this Art I haue thought it expedient to search somewhat into the nature of death and to se● in what ranke it is to be placed eyther amongst the thinges that are good or else the contrary amongst the euill And truly if death be absolutly takē without any other respect or relation then doubtlesse is it to be esteemed euill as being that priuation which is opposed to life which life no man can deny to be a good thing Agayne we may add that God is not the Authour of death for as the VVise man teacheth vs Through the enuy of the Diuell Sap. 1. 2. death entred into the world which is confirmed by Saint Paul when he sayth By one mā synne entred into the world Rom. 5. by synne death in whome all haue synned hence I cōclud that if God made not death then is not death in it self good because al that God hath mad is good as Moyses sayth God saw all things that he had made and they were all very good Genes 1. Notwithstanding although that death be not good yet hath the wisdome of God so found out a meanes as it were to temper or season the same as that out of this bitter root much sweet sruit may growe Hence it comes that Dauid sayth The death of the Saints of our Lord is precious in his sight Psal 115. and the Church in the preface of the Masse of the Resurrection speaking of Christ sayth Who by dying destroyed our death by rising agayne repayred our life Truly that death which destroyed ours repayred our life cannot be otherwise then very good and therfore albeit euery death be not good yet we must graunt that some are therfore Saint Ambrose feared not to entitle one of his bookes De bono mortis of the good of death in which he cleerly demonstrateth death although begotten of synne to bring with it many and no small vtilityes Finally the same is confirmed by reason which doth shew death howsoeuer in it selfe ill by the grace of God to worke and procure much good for first we reape great good by death in that it riddeth vs from all the miseryes of this life which are both very many Iob. 14. and very great Holy Iob in playne words lamenteth of these miseries thus Man born of a woman liuing but a short tyme is replenished with many myseryes Eccles 4. And Salomon sayth I haue commended more the dead then the liuing haue iudged him more happy then both who is not ye● borne nor hath seene the wickednesse committed vnder the sunne And Ecclesiasticus addeth saying Ecl. c. 40. A great turmoyle is made for all men and a heauy yoke is layed on the children of Adam from the day of their issuing forth from their mothers wombe vntill the day of their buriall or returne to the common mother of all to wit the earth which finally as the parent of all receaueth them into her bosome and turneth them into corruption The Apostle in like māner cōplaineth of the miseryes of this life and sayth Vnhappy man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death By these testimonyes of sacred VVrit is sufficiently proued death to haue this good annexed vnto it that it deliuers a man from infinit miseryes of this life Moreouer it yieldeth vs another farre more eminent good then this because it is the gate by which we enter and passe from a prison to a Kingdome This was reuealed by our Lord to Saint Iohn the Apostle and Euangelist whiles for the fayth of Christ he liued in banishment in the I le of Pathmos Apoc. 14. I heard sayth he a voyce from heauen saying vnto me Blessed are the dead who dye in our Lord from hence foorth now sayth the spirit they may rest from their labours for their workes doe follow them Blessed truly is the death of Saints which at the commaund of the heauenly King deliuereth the soule from the prison of the flesh bringeth it to the Kingdome of heauen where the holy soules now free from all labours doe sweetly repose and for reward of their works do receaue the crown of a Kingdome and euen vnto the soules which are caryed to Purgatory death yieldeth a great benefit whiles it deliuereth them from the feare and danger of hell and makes them secure of their future euerlasting felicity yea euen vnto the damned death seemeth to yield some good when deliuering them the sooner from their bodyes it maketh that the measure of their torments shal no more increase by the synnes they would haue committed in their longer life For these so notable vtilityes death sheweth not a dreadfull but a smiling not a terrible but an amiable countenance towards the good hence it proceeded that the Apostle so securely cryed out Christ is my life and death my gayne Phil. 1. being desirous to be dissolued and to be with Christ in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians he warneth the good Christians not to be contristated with the deaths of their deerest friends neyther to bemoa● them as dead but rather to behold thē resting as it were in a sleepe And there liued not long since a holy woman called Catharine Adorna of the Citty of Genua who was so enflamed with the loue of Christ that shee had an incredible desire to dye and go to her beloued Sauiour for this cause transported with the loue of death shee did often prayse the sam as most fayre and beautifull only misliking that she fled from such as sought her and sought for such as fled from her The Reader may see more hereof in the 7. Chapter of her life Out of these things which we haue sayd we see that death as it is the childe of sin is euill but

securely meet with our Sauiour at his retourne from the marriage There remayneth the third office or duty of a faithfull seruant that he alwayes watch because he is vncertayne when his maister will come Blessed are those seruants saith Christ whome their maister when he shall come shall fynde watching God Almighty would not haue all men at a certeyne tyme or period of their age to depart this life least they should bestow all the tyme of their life til then in gluttony and drunkennes plaies and desportes or in other ill works and then afterwards a little before their death to recal themselues retourne vnto God wherefore his diuine prouidence hath so ordeyned that nothing should be more vncerteyne then the houre of our death whiles some as we see dye in their mothers wombe others as soone as they are borne if not in their very birth some in hoary old age others in the very flower of their youth againe some we see by long lingring to languish away others to dye sodenly some to recouer from a most desperate sicknes others to be but a little sicke whiles they seeme free from death the disease increaseth and they depart this life and to make vs the better see this vncertaynty our Sauiour sayd Et si venerit c. Luc. 12. If he shall come in the second watch or if in the third watch so shall fynd his seruants to wit watching blessed are those seruants for know you this that if the maister of the house shold know at what houre the theefe would come truly he would watch and not suffer his house to be ransacked and be you prepared because the Sonne of man will come at such an hower as you thinke not on Moreouer that we might vnderstand of what weight this matter is to be well perswaded of the vncertainty of our life of the houre in which our Lord will call vs to iudgement eyther in the death of euery particuler or else at the later day the Scripture doth repeate nothing so often as that one word Vigilate watch and the similitude of a theefe who vseth not as you know to come but at such a tyme and place where and when he is least expected the word watch is in many places repeated in the Ghospells of S. Mathew Marke and Luke and the similitude of a thiefe is not only in the Gospels but also in the Epistles of the Apostles Apocalyps of S. Iohn Of all which we may euidently perceaue how great the negligence and ignorance not to say madnes and folly of most men is that so often admonished by the spirit of truth by the pens of the Apostles who could not lye nor deceaue vs that we be still prepared for death as a thing most great and difficult and on which dependeth our greatest and euerlasting happines or our greatest and euerlasting destruction and yet that there be so few that are stirred vp by these wordes or rather thunderings of the holy Ghost to prepare themselues thereunto Heer some will say what counsaile do you giue vs that we may watch as we should and by watching be prepared to make a happy end I can thinke of nothing better then that we often prepare our selues to death by a serious and due examination of our conscience and truly Catholike people when they come euery yeare to confession omit not to examine their consciences and againe when they begin to be sicke and the Phisitians by the decree of Pope Pius V. are forbidden to come the second tyme vnto them vnlesse after the examination of their conscience they haue also made a confession of their syns finally there are none in the Catholike Church but neere the hower of their death examine their consciences and confesse their synnes But what shall we say of such as are taken away by soden death What of such as become mad or leese their witts before they can make their confession What of those who are so ouerburthened with the extremity of sicknes as they cannot so much as thinke how many or what sins they haue cōmitted What of those who in dying do synne or in synning doe dye as those who fight in vniust warre or in single combat or are taken in adultery To auoid therefore prudently and religiously these and the like inconueniences nothing better can be deuised then that all those who esteeme and make account of their saluation do twice euery day to wit at noone and night diligently discusse their conscience what the night or day before they haue done what they haue sayd what they haue desired what they haue thought in which any spot of synne may be found and if they fynd any such especially any thing that may seeme a mortall synne let them not delay the remedy of true contrition with firme purpose at the first opportunity to come to the Sacrament of pennance wherefore let them aske of God the gift of true compunction and sorrow let them call to mynde the grieuousnes of synne let them detest from their hart the fault committed let them seriously discusse who it is that doth offend whome he hath offended to wit a vile wretch Almighty God an vnprofitable seruant the Lord of heauen and earth let not their eyes cease from teares nor their hands frō knocking their brest and finally let them make a true and resolute purpose neuer more to prouoke Gods wrath nor to offend their most louing Father This examination if it be well made morning and euening or at least once in the day it can very hardly happē that any one in dying should synne or in synning dye or be preuented with giddines madnes or other like misfortunes and so being well prepared to dye neyther the vncertainty can hurt vs or we be depriued of the glorious reward of euerlasting life CHAP. V. Of the fifth precept or rule of the Art of dying well in which is detected the errour of the Rich men of this world TO that which hath been sayd we are to adioyne the refutation of a certeyne errour very vulgar amongst the rich men of this world and it much hindereth the good life and death we haue spoken of The errour consisteth in this that rich men do esteeme the goods which they possesse to be absolutely and truly their owne if they possesse them by due clayme tytle and therefore that they may lawfully wast them giue them as they list neyther may any man say vnto them why do you thus Why go yo● so braue in apparell Why do you fa●● and feast so daintely Why are you so prodigall and lauish in feeding doggs o● hawkes or in play at d●ce or cardes o● in like delighting pastimes For the will forth with answere you what 〈◊〉 that to you May I not do with my●● owne goods what I list or must I ask●● your leaue and counsaile how to bestow them This truly is a most grieuous and pernicious errour For suppose the rich