and small cattel above all that were in Jerusalem before me I gathered me also silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of Kings and of the Provinces I got me men-singers and women-singers and the delights of the sons of men as musical instruments and that of all sorts And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them I withheld not my heart from any joy for my heart rejoyced in all my labours and this was my portion of all my labour Then I looked on all the works that my hand had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the sun 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as though they had none And they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it for the fashion of this World passeth away Rev. 18.16 17. Alas Alas that great City that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and deckt with gold and precious stones and pearls For in one hour so great riches is come to naught 2. The danger of it Mat. 19.23 24. Jesus said unto his Disciples verily verily I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And again I say unto you It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Tim. 6.9 10. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition For the love of money is the root of all evil 1 Joh. 2.15 16 17. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man love thâ— world the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world And the world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever Luke 12.16 c. Jesus spake this Parable The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully And he thought within himself saying what shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits And he said this will I do I will pull down my Barnes and build greater and there will I bestow my fruits and my goods And I will say to my soul soul thou hast much goods layd up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry But God said unto him Thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Thirdly If from a Conscience burdened with the guilt of sin to the former Applications p. 22 23. may be added the tender regard of our Blessed Saviour for penitent sinners foretold by the Prophets Isa 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young And proclaimed by himself Mat. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and and ye shall find rest unto your souls Vers 30. For my yoke is easie and my burden is light Joh. 7.37 Jesus stood and cryed saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink Chap. 11.25 26. Jesus said unto Martha I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye Fourthly If from solicitude and over-great care for Wife and Children the Scriptures pertinent are such as set forth 1. The All-sufficiency of God Gen. 17.1 And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And I will make my Covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly Chap. 18.14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord At the time appointed will I return unto thee and Sarah shall have a son 2 Chron. 25.9 Amaziah said to the man of God but what shall we do for the hundred Talents which I have given to the army of Israel And the man of God answered the Lord is able to give thee much more than this Isa 59.1 Behold the Lord's hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear 2. His promises to his Children and to their seed Gen. 17.19 Sarah thy Wife shall bear a son indeed and thou shalt call his name Isaac and I will establish my Covenant with him for an everlasting Covenant and with his seed after him Vers 7. I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Exod. 2.24 25. God heard their groaning and God remembred his Covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. And God looked upon the Children of Israel and God had respect unto them Jos 21.25 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass 2 Sam. 7.24 Thou hast confirmed to thy self thy People Israel to be a People unto thee for ever and thou Lord art become their God Psal 68.5 He is a Father of the fatherless and defendeth the cause of the Widows even God in his holy habitation Psal 112.1 2. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he hath great delight in his commandments His seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the faithful shall be blessed Rom 8.32 38 39. He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Heb. 13.5 6. Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me 3. His performance of them even by the mighty working of his Power Gen. 31.29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt but
15. 8. Ready and cheerful submission to the will and wisdom of God Job 1.21 And Job said Naked came I out of my Mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. Chap. 33.13 Why doest thou strive against him for he giveth not account of any of his matters Isa 39.8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken he said moreover for there shall be peace and truth in my days Jer. 18.6 O House of Israel cannot I do with you as this Potter saith the Lord behold as the Clay is in the Potters hand so are ye in mine hand O House of Israel Luke 1.38 And Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word Phil. 1.20 As always so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death Heb. 12.1 2. Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God 9. Thankfulness for chastisement Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him in thy Law Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy word Heb. 12.8 If ye be without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons Eleventhly The exercise of the duty of prayer as a special means to procure for him what is necessary for his present condition As 1. Help against temptations Psal 22.11 14 16. O go not from me for trouble is hard at hand and there is none to help me I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart also in the middest of my body is even like melting wax For many dogs are come about me and the counsel of the wicked layeth siege against me Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Luke 22.31 32. Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Joh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Heb. 2.17 18. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the People For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist stedfast in the faith Rev. 12.12 Wo to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time 2. Ease and comfort under bodily pains and anguish of mind Job 7.20 I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of men why hast thou set me as a mark against thee so that I am a burden to my self Psal 72.1 In thee O Lord have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness encline thine ear unto me and save me Vers 2. Be thou my stronghold whereunto I may always ways resort thou hast promised to help me for thou art my house of defence and my castle Vers 5. Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born thou art he that took me out of my mothers womb my praise shall be always of thee Vers 8. Cast me not away in the time of age forsake me not when my strength faileth me Vers 10. Go not far from me O God my God haste thee to help me Psal 109.20 Deal thou with me O Lord God according to thy Name for sweet is thy mercy Vers 21. O Deliver me for I am helpless and poor and my heart is wounded within me Vers 22. I go hence like the shadow that departeth and an driven away like the Grashopper Vers 23. My knees are weak through fasting my flesh is dryed up for want of fatness Psal 141. 1. Lord I call upon thee haste thee unto me and consider my voice when I cry unto thee Vers 2. Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice Vers 9. Mine eyes look unto thee O Lord God in thee is my trust O cast not out my soul 3. Perseverance Psal 40.14 Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me O Lord let thy loving kindness and thy truth alway preserve me Vers 15. For innumerable troubles are come about me my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up yea they are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me Psal 145.14 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall and lifteth up all such as be down Vers 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Vers 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him yea all such as call upon him faithfully Vers 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will help them Vers 20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him but scattereth abroad all the ungodly Mat. 24.13 He that endureth unto the end the same shall be saved Rom. 11.20 Thou standest by faith Be not high-minded but fear 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Phil. 1.3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you Vers 4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy Vers 5. For your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now Vers 6. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus Vers 7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all Ezek. 36.37 Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them 4. A quiet departure out of this life Gen. 49.33 When Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons he gathered up his feet into the bed and yielded up the Ghost and was
Go in Peace Containing some Brief DIRECTIONS For Young MINISTERS In their Visitation of the Sick USEFUL For the People in their state both of Health and Sickness Deut. 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end LONDON Printed by A. M. for Richard Royston Bookseller to his most Sacred Majesty at the Angel in Amen-Corner 1674. To the Right Worshipful Sr. George How Baronet The Author prayeth the increase of Grace here and Glory hereafter Honoured Sir IT is receiv'd for a truth of the greater magnitude 〈…〉 12.19 by One whose Profession renders his conceptions unsuspected of any bias by interest That the Gospel it self and the Ministers thereof are ever weighed in the same ballance of human judgment and the estimate of both whether of honour or contempt always alike The sincere esteem you have for the Duties of the Gospel doth not only manifest the certainty of that Maxim but also lay open the Root out of which your pious regard for the Ministers thereof doth grow and prosper Both which daily thriving by the Celestial showers of Divine Grace falling on your heart are become so conspicuous in the World like a City set on an hill that cannot be hid that it hath engag'd my weak endeavours to contribute something to the present imitation and future memory of your Vertues Sir I am confident whatever others may do yet you will not esteem your self unconcern'd in the purpose and benefit of this Collection For who can do so that believes That it is appointed to men once to dye and after that the Judgment Much less then a Person who dyes daily whose contemplation minutely suggest unto him the memento's of mortality and whose life is an entire design to prepare for death Did other foresee what kind of thoughts would suprize them at that woful day unless their spirits are congeal'd by some narcotick stupidity they would deem it as much beneath the sagacity of men as the wisdom of Christians to leave the most important business of their life to be huddled up in a few tempestuous hours encumbred with sorrow pain anguish horrour and amazement in themselves and others And who is there that can make a death-bed so well that an Vlcerous Soul may lye easie on it under the throws and pangs of a wounded Conscience It is to this almost insuperable task that I have adventured to set an helping hand rather indeed endeavour'd to prevent the huge difficulty of that work to bring out of the Sepulchre of a crucified Jesus a precious Relique as I may say some part of the Napkin that was bound about his head as an Handkerchief or Apron from the body of an Apostle wherewith to stanch the blood respite and avert the death of a sinner yea bring to him pardon life and immortality instead of it And who is he that dares reject a medicine how desperate soever be the state of the Patient the ingredients whereof are gathered out of the Garden of God the Book of Scriptures Who shall limit that mercy that is above all his works the supreme effect of Divine Omnipotency And now Sir though I do not altogether despair of the prosperous success of this charitable enterprize on others yet thus much I can safely promise my self which will abundantly recompence the little trouble I shall give them that it will free my Brethren from all umbrage of ingratitude to so sincere a Lover of the Clergy and put the World in mind how great a price is to be set on Vertue and Goodness when set-out and imbellish't with Greatness This being the Compass whereby the inferior world of men do steer their course and is the Anchor of Church and State under all the 〈◊〉 and Vicissitudes of Fortune THE Preface THere are some I presume amongst the Reverend Clergy of that Diocess of which I profess my self an unworthy member who need not be put in mind of a passage touching the Concerns of their Function that fell from the Blessed lips of a late godly Prelate of our Church in his Speech at his Primary and last Visitation in which he prest them to a zealous discreet and sedulous performance of their duty of Preaching For which amongst other he gave these two important Reasons The one from an observation himself had made whilst he liv'd in Exile for he was one of those Abiathar's 1 King 2.26 that was afflicted in all wherein his Majesty was afflicted of the gross and barbarous ignorance of the common People in those parts beyond the Seas where himself converst which he imputed chiefly to the want of frequent Sermons amongst them And his other was taken from the state of things in this Church which though by its Canons and Rubricks it exacts from Ministers sincere and diligent Preaching to the People yet hath it not laid any coercive obligation on the People themselves to have private recourse to their Ministers It is the latter of these Reasons that I principally reflect on as a very importunate motive to all zealous and pious Ministers of our Church to lay hold on every precious opportunity they can for private Discourse with them whose souls are committed to their charge thereby to facilitate a way to their own comfort and the salvation of their Brethren Both which are so nearly concern'd in their Visitation of the sick that One later than the Eleventh hour for that sort of address that I have taken the boldness to put them in mind of their duty 2 Pet. 1.12 though they know it already by delivering into their hand sundry pertinent and useful passages of Scripture proper to supply the unskilfulness of such as are but newly entered on that sacred Function The moment of which duty let me recommend to them in the words of Salvian an Ancient and Holy Bishop of the Church It is says he Revocare ab inquisitione ultimi Remedii durum ac impium est Spondere autem aliquid in tam sera curatione temerarium Sed melius est nihil inexpertum relinquere quam morientem non curare Maxime quia nescio an in extremis aliquid tentare medicina sit certe nihil tentare perditio Salv. ad Eccl. Cathol l. 1. an harsh and impious thing to discourage any one from slying to the last Remedy And no less rash is it to promise any thing in so late an undertaking the spiritual cure Yet better is it to leave nothing untried then not to have regard to a departing Soul Especially seeing I know not whether to attempt something may not prove successful but it would certainly prove destructive to make trial of no remedy at all But a greater than Salvian is here When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely dye and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life the same wicked man shall dye in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thy
therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given you Judg. 20.21 25. And the Children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibzah and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men And the second day they destroyed down to the ground eighteen thousand men I Sam. 4.18 And when he the Messenger made mention of the Ark of God Eli fell from off the seat backward by the side of the Gate and his neck brake for he was an old man and heavy and he had judged Israel fourty years 2 Kings 23.29 And King Josiah went against him Pharaoh Necho and he slew him at Megiddo Job 2.7 Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore biles from the sole of his foot unto his crown Chap. 9.21 22. Though I were perfect yet would I not know my soul I would despise my life This is one thing therefore I said it he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked Eccl. 8.14 There be just men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked again there be wicked men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous Chap. 9.2 All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and unto the wicked to the good and to the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath Jer. 24.5 Like these good figs so will I acknowledg them that are carried away captive of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Caldoeans for their good Acts 20.9 And there sate in a window a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep sleep and as Paul was long preaching he sunk down with sleep and fell down from the third loft and was taken up dead 2 Tim. 4.20 Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick 3. The Divine Clemency in preventing by such chastisements our eternal destruction Joh. 5.14 Jesus said unto him Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee I Cor. 11.32 When we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemed with the world 4. The Discrimination that shall one day be made betwixt such as may suffer alike in this world Mal. 3.14 to the end Ye have said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts And now we call the proud happy yea they that work wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are even delivered Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth the Lord and him that serveth him not 5. The Duty of searching after that which doth provoke God to anger Gen. 42.22 And they the Brethren of Joseph said one to another we are verily guilty concerning our Brother in that we saw the Anguish of his soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us Jos 7.13 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel there is an accursed thing in the middest of thee O Israel thou canst not stand before thine enemies until ye take away the accursed thing from among you Jon. 1.7 And the Mariners said every one to his fellow come and let us cast lots that we may know for whose cause this evil is come upon us 1 Cor. 11.30 31. For this cause many are weak and sickly amongst you and many are fallen asleep For if we would judg our selves we should not be judged Rev. 9.20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands Fifthly When the sick Person is oppressed with the fear of death such Scriptures are useful as set forth 1. The like fear in holy men Psal 18.3 4. The sorrows of death compassed me and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid The pains of Hell came about me the snares of death overtook me Psal 55.4 5. My heart is disquieted within me and the fear of death is fallen upon me Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me Psal 102.23 24. He brought down my strength in my journey and shortned my days But I said O my God take me not away in the middest of mine age as for thy years they endure throughout all generations Isa 38.1 2 3. Isaiah the Prophet the son of Amos came unto him Hezekiah and said unto him Thus saith the Lord set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not live Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord And said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walkt before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore 2. Comforts against fear of death from 1. The necessity of dying 1 Sam. 12.23 Now he is dead wherefore should I fast can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not come to me Chap. 14.14 We must needs dye and are as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again Job 7.1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth are not his days also like the days of an hireling Isa 40.6 7. The voice said cry And I said what shall I cry All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as a flower of the field The grass withereth the flower fadeth because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it surely the People is grass Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to dye 2. Victory over death by Christ. Isa 25.8 He will swallow up death in victory Hos 13.14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction 1 Cor. 15.25 26. He must reign till he have put all enemies under his feet The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death Vers 54.55 When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory 3. Blessed death of the righteous 2 Chron. 34.28 I will gather thee to thy Fathers and thou shalt be gathered unto thy
grave in peace neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same Isa 26.20 Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Chap. 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Rev. 14.13 I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 4. The Joys to be revealed hereafter Psal 16.9 12. I have set God always before me for he is on my right hand therefore I shall not fall Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore Psal 36.8 9. They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of the river For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall we see light Isa 51.11 The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Chap. 64.4 Since the beginning of the World men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Dan. 12.1 3. At that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Mat. 25.23 His Lord said unto him well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Luke 16.25 Abraham said son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Phil. 1.21 23. To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palmes in their hands And cryed with a loud voice saying salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. 5. The presence of God with his hildren in all conditions Psal 41.3 The Lord comfort him when he lieth sick upon his bed make thou all his bed in his sickness Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Chap. 43.1 2 3. Fear not I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation Sixthly That such spiritual remedies may do good the Minister must endeavour to understand and consider from whence that unwillingness to die proceeds and to the several causes thereof his applications of Scripture must be suitable If 1. It be from that aversation which every Creature naturally hath to dissolution the best men have not been altogether free from that fear Joh. 21.18 19. When thou wast young thou girdest thy self and walkest whither thou wouldest but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not This spake he signifying by what death he should glorify God To this must be opposed 1. The conquest of Death by Christ Heb 2.14 15. Forasmuch as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage 1 Cor. 15.56 57. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Vers 58. Therefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 2. The pattern of a true Christian temper of mind 2 Cor. 5.1 c. We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building with God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the spirit Therefore we are always confident knowing that whil'st we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord For we walk by faith not by sight we are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Secondly If from love of this World The vanity of all earthly things and the danger of such love of the World must be considered Eccl. 2.4 c. I made me great works I builded me houses I planted me vineyards I made me gardens and orchards and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees I got me servants and maidens and had servants born in my house also I had great possessions of great
thee Vers 19. And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart to keep thy commandements thy testimonies and thy statutes 2 Pet. 1.12 c. I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance Seventhly If the sick Person seem willing to dye the Minister may prudently endeavour to discover whether his willingness to dye doth proceed from some good and laudable motive or no for it may arise out of either As 1. From a desire to be freed from the troubles and persecutions Men undergo in this life Numb 11.13 14 15. Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this People for they weep unto me saying give us flesh that we may eat I am not able to bear all this People alone because it is too heavy for me And if thou deal thus with me kill me I pray thee out of hand if I have found favor in thy sight and let me not see my wretchedness 1 King 19.4 But he Elijah himself went a days journey into the wilderness and came and sate down under a Juniper-tree and he requested for himself that he might dye and said it is enough now O Lord take away my life for I am not better than my Fathers Or 2. To be freed from pain Job 3.11 c. Why dyed I not from the womb why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly Vers 13. For now should I have lien still and been at quiet I should have slept then should I have been at rest Vers 17 18. There the wicked cease from troubling there the weary be at rest There the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the oppressor Vers 20 21. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more than for hid treasures Chap. 6.8 9. O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for Even that it would please God to destroy me that he would let loose his hand and cut me off Jon. 4.8 It came to pass when the sun did rise that God prepared a vehement eastwind and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah that he fainted and wished in himself to dye and said it is better for me to dye than to live Or. 3. Out of ignorance of man's estate after death in respect of rewards and punishments Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to dye but after this the judgment 2 Cor. 5.10 11. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrours of the Lord we perswade men Mat. 25.31 32 33 46. When the son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he be set upon the Throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from the other as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats Then shall he say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed Children of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World Then shall he say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Luke 16.22 c. And it came to pass that the beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom the rich man dyed also and was buried And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Or 4. Patient submission to Gods will 1 Sam. 3.18 And Eli said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Luke 22.42 Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done Acts 21.14 And when he Paul would not be perswaded we ceased saying the will of the Lord be done Phil. 4.11 I have learned in what estate soever I am therewith to be content Or 5. Well-grounded hopes of Salvation Job 8.20 God will not cast away a perfect man Psal 37.38 Keep innocency and take heed to the thing that is right for that shall bring a man peace at the last Rom. 5.1 2. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 2 Cor. 4.13 14. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you 2 Tim. 7.8 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judg shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also which love his appearing Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end To each of these fit applications of these or such-like passages of Scripture are to be made For neither willingness nor unwillingness to dye simply considered are tokens of good or bad estate but in relation tâ— the ground or cause from whencâ— they proceed Eighthly When the sick Person complains of the want of sensible joy and inward comfort of the Spirit such passages of Scripture are to be set before him as describe 1. The state of our spiritual warfare Mat. 10.35 38. I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law And a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Eph. 5.11 12 13. Put on the whole armour of God
that plague 2 Tim. 1.12 For which cause I also suffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day Heb. 12.11 12. No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous Nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees Ninthly When the sick person doubteth of the Truth or seasonableness of his Repentance these Scriptures are proper that set forth 1. The Nature of true Repentance 2 Sam. 24.10 Davids heart smote him after that he had numbered the People and David said unto the Lord I have sinned greatly in that I have done and now I beseech thee O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done very foolishly Ezek. 18.21 22. If the wicked man will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not dye All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live Joh. 5.14 Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee 2. Fruits of it Hos 14.1 2. O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Take with you words and turn to the Lord say unto him take away all iniquity and receive us graciously so will we offer unto thee the calves of our lips Luke 3.7 c. O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance And now also the Axe is laid unto the root of the trees Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire And the People asked him saying what shall we do then He answered and saith unto them He that hath two coats let him impart to him that hath none and he that hath meat let him do likewise Acts 3.26 God having raised up his son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Chap. 7.4 Wherefore my Brethren ye also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God 3. Gods acceptance and reward of them 2 Chron. 12.7 When the Lord saw they had humbled themselves the word of the Lord came unto Shemajah saying they have humbled themselves therefore I will not destroy them but I will grant them some deliverance and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jernsalem by the hand of Shishak Psal 32.6 I said I will confess my sin unto the Lord and so thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Neh. 1.9 If ye turn unto me and keep my commandements and do them though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the Heaven yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my Name there Ezek. 33.14 15 16. When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely dye if he turn from his sin and do that which is lawful and right If the wicked restore the pledg give again that he had robbed walk in the statutes of life without committing iniquity he shall surely live he shall not dye None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him he hath done that which is lawful and right he shall surely live Mat. 16.27 The son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Rom. 6.22 Being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your labour and work of love Rev. 14.13 Their works follow them Chap. 20.13 Death and the grave delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to his works 4. Diligent search into our state and the truth and sincerity of our repentance then especially when but a short time is likely to be afforded for the trial thereof 2 Chron. 25.2 Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart Job 27.3 to 7. All the while my breath is in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils My lips shall not speak wickedness nor shall my tongue utter deceit till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Psal 26.2 Examine me O Lord and prove me try out my reins and my heart Psal 78.34 c. When he slew them they sought him and turned them early and enquired after God And they remembred that God was their strength and the High God was their Redeemer Nevertheless they did but flatter him with their mouth and dissembled with him in their tongues For their heart was not whole with him neither continued they stedfast in his covenant Isa 58.1 2. Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins Yet they seek me dayly and delight to know my ways as a Nation that did righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice and take delight in approaching to God Ezek. 14.3 These men have set up their Idols in their heart and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face should I be enquired of at all by them Mat. 7.21 c. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful works And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Luke 13.24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able 2 Cor. 7.9 10 11. I rejoyce not that ye were made sorry but that ye sorrowed to repentance for ye were made sorry after a godly manner that ye might receive dammage by us in nothing For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented
gathered unto his People Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Chap. 23.46 When Jesus had cried with a loud voice he said Father into thy hands I commend my spirit And having thus said he gave up the ghost Acts 7.59 They stoned Steven calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit Vers 60. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge And when he had said this he fell asleep Rev. 22.20 He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus THe Minister must not fail to press the sick person to receive the Holy Eucharist and to open to him the comfortable Doctrine the Scripture holds forth in that blessed Ordinance this being the fittest close for the life of him whose constant business it hath been as of all good Christians to labour for pardon and grace the Benefits sealed to Believers in that Sacrament by Him who purchased them for us with his most precious blood as in that Commemorative Sacrifice is most lively represented to us The Institution whereof so nearly preceding the Passion of our Blessed Redeemer doth recommend the use of these Holy Mysteries unto Christians as very seasonable at that time when they are upon putting off their earthly Tabernacles their corruptible Bodies in expectation of a joyful Resurection and Exaltation unto life Eternal whereof this Holy Sacrament was by the Primitive Fathers of the Church esteemed a sure and sacred Pledg A most comfortable Preparative whereunto if heartily desired and cantiously and reverently administred is the Benefit of Absolution Which deserves not to be the less esteemed or the more neglected for whatsoever abuses it hath heretofore been liable unto when both Priest and People believed more of the Sacerdotal Power than was consistent with so great a Trust committed to the one and so strict a disquisition required from the other lest the Minister might be Partaker of other mens sins 1 Tim. 5.22 and the People delude themselves with unsincere and fruitless Repentance 2 Cor. 7.10 11. A Prayer to be used in a state of Health O Father of lights from whom cometh every good and perfect gift Thou art he who tookest me out of my Mothers womb and by thee have I been holden up ever since I was born The blessings of health and strength that I enjoy are from thy goodness and bounty And for them and all thy other mercies I bless and praise thy ever-great and glorious Name Most humbly beseeching thee to add to these that blessing of blessings the right use of all thy blessings That through the comfort and assistance of that health and strength thou hast given me I may become the more diligent and faithful in the practice of those several duties of piety justice and charity which thou requirest at my hands And suffer me not O Lord to deceive my self by a false account of the time of my Pilgrimage but so teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom that I may readily discern the vast difference between this span of life and the infinite spaces of eternity between the pleasures of sin for a season and the everlasting fulness of joy in thy presence And for this end remove far away from me all those vices to which health and ease are apt to betray me especially all carnal security lust pride anger want of compassion misspending my time forgetfulness of thee and of thy ways and works And implant in my mind the daily remembrance of death and judgment the necessity of working out my salvation with fear and trembling and the misery of being surpriz'd by the coming of our Lord in my sins or fruitless repentance So that the health of my body may through thy blessing promote the health of my Soul and thy augmenting the number of my Talents increase both my labour and reward That passing the time of my sojourning here in fear I may treasure up for my self such spiritual strength and consolation as may stand me in stead when I shall lye down on my bed of sickness and death administring comfort to my soul in the conscience of well doing which thou hast promised us to accept and reward through thy mercies in Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer when one perceives himself to be sick O Lord my God I have learn'd from thy Holy Word and by daily experience in this vale of misery that dust I am and unto dust I shall return that I must put off this earthly Tabernacle and that thou wilt bring me to death and the house appointed for all living And now Lord I feel in my self the usual summons thy good providence doth give us to review our accounts and to sit our selves for death and judgment Blessed be thy Name for this thy mercy that thou hast not taken advantage of me whil'st I was thine enemy to cut me off suddenly in my sins and hurry me hence in mine iniquity but hast given me the time means and I trust grace for repentance and amendment of life And though I have not improved such hath been my negligence and sloth these rich favours to that great advantage I might and should have done yet I beseech thee O Lord for thine infinite mercies in thy son Christ Jesus that thou wilt not be extream to mark what I have done amiss and to lay my sins to my charge but that thou wilt deal mercifully with me thy most unworthy servant blotting out all my sins and transgressions that none of mine iniquities may be mentioned unto me in that great and terrible day of Recompences And forasmuch as thou alone in whose hands our times are dost know what will be the issue of this my present distemper and sickness cause me to reflect on it as proceeding from thy Will and Wisdom and cheerfully and thankfully to submit to this chastisement as a means appointed by thee for the benefit and comfort of my Soul and vouchsafe unto me that grace which may enable me to receive profit thereby and from experience of thy goodness towards me to gain hope and confidence of thy love And if thou hast reserv'd for me the blessing of restoring me to my former health which I beseech thee to do direct me to the use of such means as thou wilt make effectual for that end But if the days of my warfare are accomplished prepare me O Lord for a safe quiet and comfortable departure out of this life and fit me for thy prefence and glory O Lord strengthen me against all the malicious practices and devices of my subtil and implacable enemy against all errours and delusions of my understanding the allurements of this World inordinate love of this miserable Life and
the terrours of Death by filling my heart with Divine comforts by strengthening my Faith in thy mercies through Christ Jesus by representing to my thoughts his victory over Death and those unconceiveable and endless joys which thou hast prepared for them that love thee That neither life nor death hight nor depth things present nor things to come may be able to separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and only Blessed Saviour and Redeemer Amen Prayers to be used in a Family A Morning Prayer O Lord and heavenly Father who renewest thy loving kindness unto us from day to day making the outgoings of the Morning and Evening to praise thee We give thee humble thanks for the dispensation of thy loving providence over us vouchsafed unto us in our preservation this night and the comfortable rest wherewith thou hast refreshed our frail bodies Humbly beseeching thee to pardon unto us whatsoever sins the subtilty and malice of Satan or our own corrupt nature and vain imagination have made us guilty of this night and all the times and days and nights of our lives until this present hour And we most humbly beseech thee to make this and all other thy good mercies bestowed upon us serviceable to the advancement of thy glory and the good of thy Church That we may not by wasting any of thy precious Talents vouchsafed unto us or by abusing and misapplying the comforts thou givest us render our selves accountable to thy dreadful Majesty as well for the good we have received as for the evil we have committed But let all the good things thou hast done unto us vile and miserable sinners increase a love of thy Divine Majesty in our hearts and perfect the practice of true holiness and righteousness in our conversation through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen Almighty God by whose Spirit the whole body of thy Church is governed and sanctified receive the Supplications and Prayers which we humbly offer to thy Divine Majesty for all estates and conditions of Men in thy Holy Congregation Particularly for all Christian Kings Princes and Governours more especially for thy Servant Charles our King That they may be preserved from all Treachery and Violence and that they may use their Power for the encouragement of them that do well and for a terrour unto evil doers For Subjects that they may submit unto the higher Powers for conscience sake as being ordained of God For the Nobility and Gentry that they may give good examples as they are great in Place For the Clergy that their holiness may be according to the Shekel of the Sanctuary and that they may be able to divide the Word of truth aright giving unto every one his portion in due season For the Rich that they may be ready to give and glad to distribute laying up for themselves treasures in Heaven For the Poor that they may be diligent honest and contented and that there be never wanting those who will strengthen the hands of the Poor and Needy For the Fatherless and Widows that thou wouldest be a Father to the one and an Husband to the other For the Labouring-Man that thou wouldest give him an healthful body a patient mind and that thou wouldst prosper unto him the work of his hands For those who are at ease that they may beware of the sins of Sodom Pride abundance of Idleness and fulness of Bread For the Prisoners and Captives that their bread may not fail and that the hearts of their Brethren may not be hardened against them For the sick in Body that they may cheerfully submit to Gods afflicting hand and that their patience may have its perfect work For those who are in health that they may not remove far from them the evil day but may shew themselves wise in considering their latter end For those who are afflicted in mind that thou wouldst help them to put on the Breast-plate of Faith and for an Helmet the hope of Salvation and that thou wouldst make them to see thy faithfulness in not permitting them to be tempted above what they are able to bear For Parents that they may be careful to provide for the welfare of their Childrens Souls and Bodies bringing them up in the nurture of the Lord. For Children that they may love honour and reverence their Parents obeying them in all things For Husbands that they may love their Wives as their own bodies not being bitter against them but giving them honour as to the weaker vessels and being heirs together of the grace of life For Wives that they may reverence and be in subjection to their Husbands labouring to be adorned with a meek and quiet spirit For the Unmarried that they may not spend their precious Talents in the pleasures of sin and vanity of life but that they may be pure and spotless attending upon the Lord without distraction For the Antient that they may be sober grave temperate sound in Faith in Charity in Patience For the Young that they may be sober-minded reverencing the Aged as Fathers being ready to be taught by their wisdom and experience and to follow good counsels and examples For Masters that they may behave themselves prudently justly and gently towards their Servants as considering that they also have a Master in Heaven For Servants that they may be subject to their Masters with all fear not with eye-service as men-pleasers but willingly and from the heart shewing all good fidelity For Teachers that they may watch over the Souls of them who are committed to their charge as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief For Learners that they may esteem highly of their Teachers for their works sake improving all opportunities of being benefited by them For true Converts that they may daily grow in grace being strengthned with might by the spirit in the inner man For bare Professors of Religion that they may leave off to deny him in their works whom they profess with their mouths and that they may have the power as well as the form of godliness For our Friends and Kinsfolks according to the flesh that being graffed together in the same common faith we may together attain unto the perfection of Charity in the World to come For our Enemies that they may not be rewarded themselves as they have dealt with us but that we may melt them into an affection of us by returning to them good for evil For all that have done good unto us that thou wouldest remember them O our God for their good recompensing them with thy Blessings in this life and eternal glory in the world to come And we most humbly beseech thee the infinitely wise and all-seeing God that thou wilt of thy great mercy grant all those things that we have now prayed for and all other things which thou knowest to be needful both for our selves