righteousnesse thereof and then all other things shall be added vnto vs. We are tormented and wearied night and day with care how to liue here and how to settle and make sure our worldly estate our riches worldly possessions and other vaine and transitorie things which little auaile vs yea rather which are sometimes causes of great miserie vnto vs and of foule and horrible sinnes which drowne men in perdition and destruction But in seeking and prouiding our selues of the heauenly riches how secure and negligent how sluggish and slothfull how foolish and how lumpish and blockish are we and what more strange or more horrible blindnesse and madnesse then this can there reigne amongst men So long as we are in health wee haue scarce the least thought in our hearts at any time of the life to come or of our death and departure hence But as soone as we are cast downe with any sicknesse death now knocking as it were at our dores when as wee should stand in the battaile to fight then at length wee bethinke our selues of taking vp armes and of prouiding vs weapons to fight withal against the diuell and his suggestions then we begin to think of repentance and amendment of our liues and not before which is a plaine proofe that our faith is very weake and slender and that we are litle exercised in the Christian warfare The Lord herein be mercifull vnto vs Amen Howbeit there is no age vnfit nor any season vnseasonable or ouerlate to repent Repentance is neuer too late so that it be true and vnfeigned and that it be done and performed truly and vnfeinedly But I aduise and counsell yea and earnestly exhort and admonish all men to take heede that they put not off their repentance to that last and most sharpe and dangerous conflict of sicknesse and death For if euē they who being strong in health haue all their life time fortified and armed themselues against this howre of their departure yet haue much adoe then to defend themselues from the assaults temptations which will offer themselues at that time what then will become of such as being voide of all feare of God and hauing hearts that cannot repent haue led and still leade a dissolute and wicked life how shall they be able to encounter and to resist Now then forasmuch as the haruest being great the laborers be but few that infinite multitudes of simple and ignorant people abounding in all places there are not Ministers of Gods word euery where at hand to instruct and comfort such as stand in need and those that are cannot apply themselues to all nor minister their helpe and comfort at all times I haue thought good Christian Reader for the comfort and instruction of such as want the present helpe and assistance of godly Pastors and Ministers especially in time of sicknesse to offer vnto thy gentle acceptance this order and manner of comforting the sicke gathered out of the sacred word of God most especially for their sakes which are ignorant which are not armed nor prouided against such occasions neither furnished with sentences of holy Scripture that in reading or hearing these things read vnto thē they may receiue true and stedfast hope and comfort that in the sharpe and bitter conflict of sicknesse and agony of death they neither faint nor perish The Contents of the first part A Preface to the Christian Reader CHAP. I. VVHy sicknesses are sent of God pag. 1 CHAP. II. The necessitie of faith in time of sicknesse the meanes whereby to strengthen the same 12 CHAP. III. Of three things which in time of sicknesse and in the agonie of death do much hinder and trouble men to wit the remembrance of their sinnes the feare of death and the horror of hell and eternall damnation 24 CHAP. IIII. A remedie against the feare and remembrance of our sinnes 28 CHAP. V. Testimonies of Scripture concerning the forgiuenesse of all our sinnes 39 CHAP. VI. Reconciliation restitution in time of sicknesse if not performed before 65 CHAP. VII The lawfull vse of Physicke in time of sicknesse 70 CHAP. VIII A remedie against the feare of death 74 CHAP. IX Testimonies of Scripture concerning the Resurrection of the dead 82 CHAP. X. A Remedie against the feare horror of hell and damnation 105 CHAP. XI How Christ his temptations sufferings were al for our sakes 114 CHAP. XII Of Christ his threefold temptations 117 CHAP. XIII A short Admonition concerning the ordaining of Wils and Testaments 144 CHAP. XIIII How to mitigate griefe cōceited for the losse of friends 149 CHAP. XV An Exhortation vnto all professors of the name of Christ 157 The cōtents of the second part CHAP. I HOw to comfort all such as lie vpon the bed of sicknesse 167 CHAP. II. How to comfort such as are in apparent danger at death 199 A Sermon or Mortalitie 224 CHAP. III. How to comfort and call vpon the sicke party being ready to giue vp the Ghost 311 The first part Spirituall Direction for the Sicke very needful at all times but especially in the conflict of sicknesse and agonie of death CHAP. I. Why Sicknesses are sent of God AS death is the wages and punishment of sin 1 For sinne so are sicknesses also sent oftentimes vnto vs of God for our sinnes as it is cleare and manifest in holy Scripture Ioh. 5. Christ saith vnto the man that had bene sicke eight thirty yeares Behold thou art made whole Ioh. 5.14 sinne no more lest a worse thing come vnto thee Implying plainly that sinne was the cause of his sicknesse Likewise Psalme 38. Dauid professeth of himselfe Psal 38. There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin for mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burthen too heauie for me to beare The same he confesseth and acknowledgeth 2 Sam. 24.17 2. Sam. 24. when he saw the Angel that smote the people with the pestilence Behold I haue sinned and done wickedly let thy hand be against me c. And Deuteronomie 28. God threatneth by Moses that if his people will not obey his voice among other plagues he will consume them destroy them by strange sicknesse and diseases Deut. 28.21.22.27 he will make the pestilence cleaue vnto them he will smite them with a consumption verse 22 and with the feauer and with a burning ague and with a feruent heate and at the 27 verse verse 27 he will smite them with the botch of Egypt and with the emeroids and with the scabs and with such an itch as cannot bee healed And as sicknesses and other crosses and afflictions are sent vnto vs of God for the most part for our sinnes So many times the same are sent vnto vs for the proofe and triall of our faith 2 For triall of our faith as we behold in Iob for
to the beholding and embracing of these what great ioy and reioycing must it needs be in generall both vnto them and to vs What maner of pleasure and comfort is there in the kingdome of heauen without feare of dying any more with eternitie of liuing euerlastingly time without end How endlesse and exceeding great shall be the felicitie and happinesse There is the glorious company of the Apostles There is all the whole assembly of the Prophets triumphing and reioycing together There is an innumerable multitude of Martyrs crowned for the conquest of their conflicts sufferings There are the virgines triumphing who by the force and strength of continency subdued the lust and concupiscence of the flesh and of the body There are mercifull men recompensed rewarded such as haue wrought the workes of righteousnesse by feeding and sustaining the needie and by giuing liberally vnto the poore and finally all they who keeping the Lords Commaundements haue translated and changed their earthly riches and patrimonies into heauenly treasures Vnto these beloued brethren let vs hasten to go with greedie and earnest desire that we may be with them as soone as possible And let vs wish and desire speedily to come vnto Christ Now I pray and beseech God that he will behold and consider this our meditation and the Lord Iesus Christ look vpon this purpose of our hart and of our faith beleefe to giue vnto them greater reward of his glory whose affection and loue hath bin greater and more aboundant toward him Amen A Prayer for the Sicke O Almightie and eternall Lord God and our most gracious and mercifull Father in Iesus Christ Whereas among thy manifold corrections and chastisements whereby thou dost inuite and call vs yea and prouoke and stirre vs vp to come vnto thee thine vsuall and wonted manner is by sundry and manifold sicknesses diseases to bridle keepe vnder this flesh of ours to remoue farre away from vs our naturall securitie and to put vs in mind both of our wicked life past together with the end thereof and of our death and mortality wherof we are forewarned by the griefes and pains which we suffer as forerunners of the same and finally of the last day of iudgement and of life euerlasting which shall follow thereupon and shall be continued euerlastingly vnto the glory and happinesse of the good and godly and contrariwise vnto the iust condemnation and vtter confusion of the wicked and vngodly the remembrance whereof flesh and blood being left vnto it selfe will in no wise admit And for as much as we find this our neighbour and brother cast downe vpon the bed of his sicknesse and grieuously chastised with the rod of thy correction hauing a true liuely feeling of his sins a representatiō of death before his eyes hereupon ô Lord we miserable and wretched sinners in respect of our naturall condition waiting and looking for daily the like houre of aduersity and sicknesse we presume to come vnto thee in the name and mediation of Christ Iesus praying beseeching thee together with this our brother and in his behalfe that thou wilt in no wise enter into iudgement with him neither deale extremely with him according to his deserts and that for Iesus Christ his sake our Lord and Sauior who hath purged and cleansed both his and all our sinnes and made full satisfaction for them vpon his Crosse But rather O Lord sith thou hast ransomed him with so great a price giue him grace and also strength and courage whereby he may quietly receiue and patiently suffer this thy fatherly visitation and chastisement and with all obedience willingly and readily submit himselfe vnto thy good pleasure Send him help in all his troubles and be thou vnto him a defence and fortresse against this present danger Especially O Lord at what time his conscience shall accuse him and his inward vnknown and secret sinnes shall stand vp against him oppose then and set thou for his defence the most bitter torments and voluntary sacrifice of Christ thy deare Sonne who hath borne all our iniquities and infirmities and suffered the punishment due vnto vs Being made sinne for vs while he dyed for our sins purging and washing them cleane away in and by his most precious blood and who also rising againe from death is becom our righteousnes perfect redemption Grant we beseech thee gracious Father that by faith he may feele the force and the power and vertue of these good blessings Being in this great anguish distresse trouble let him haue certaine proofe and experience of thy present aide succour and at this present let him haue a sure and certain taste of the fruit of all thy gifts and graces and of all thy mercies and benefits in Christ Iesus Make him with earnest desire with stedfast assurance and faith vnfained to receiue so great a treasure of happinesse to wit the remission of all his sinnes thorough Christ Iesus and for his sake which by the ministery of the word and by the participation of the Sacraments hath heretofore beene exhibited and offered vnto him that so it may be a comfort a fortresse sure refuge against the feare and trouble of his accusing conscience and against all the subtile sleights and assaults of the Diuel Yea let the same his faith be vnto him an armour of proofe wherby he may repell and beate backe all the fierie darts of the wicked so may safely passe euen through death vnto life which hauing once attained he may enioy the perfect fruition thereof for euermore We therefore wholly commend him vnto thee O heauenly Father and inasmuch as he is so grieuously sicke and diseased be thou his Physition to cure and heale him Forasmuch as he is weake and feeble confirme thou and strengthen him Inasmuch as he is destitute and void of worldly help send aide we beseech thee and in due time releeue and succour him Forasmuch as he lieth thus deiected and cast downe raise thou him vp againe Forasmuch as he is thus wounded binde thou vp his wounds Forasmuch as he is so fearefull and timorous giue him O Lord boldnesse and courage Forasmuch as he acknowledgeth his manifold sins and corruptions wash him and cleanse him from them all in the blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus that immaculate Lamb. Yea for as much as thou knowest all things whereof he standeth in need and according to thy good pleasure canst bestow the same satisfie we beseech thee O gracious Father his lawful and godly desires satisfie his inward hunger and thirst yea satisfie him him abundantly with thy truth and with thy saluation Receiue and embrace him for he flyeth only vnto thee for succour Accept him therefore and make him constant stedfast in all things to obey and to doe thy will Finally we pray thee of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie to pardon and forgiue all those sinnes whereby he hath prouoked against himselfe thy fierce
AN AMVLET OR PRESERVATIVE AGAINST SICKNES AND DEATH IN TWO PARTS The first containing Spirituall Direction for the Sicke at all times needfull but especially in the conflict of sicknes and agonie of death The second a Method or order of comforting the Sicke Whereunto is annexed a most pithie and comfortable Sermon of Mortalitie written by the blessed Martyr S. CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage translated into English by A.M. Together with sundry Prayers needfull in time of sicknesse Collected and set forth for the comfort of distressed soules most especially in time of sicknes mortality By A. M. Minister of the word of God in Henley vpon Thames LONDON Printed by R. F. for THOMAS MAN and Ionas Man dwelling in Pater-noster Row at the signe of the Talbot 1617. ⧠To the right Worshipfull and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Elizabeth Periam of Greenlands A. M. Wisheth a long happy life with health and prosperitie here on earth and euerlasting glorie in the highest heauens GOOD MADAM I Do vnfainedly acknowledg and confesse that in my priuate iudgment I haue alwaies distasted the too much forwardnes of this age in publishing vnnecessary bookes and pamphlets So farre haue I bene from once intending my selfe to offend in that kind First in consideration of mine owne weaknesse and insufficiencie best knowne vnto my selfe Next in regard of that great light of learning knowledge which shineth most brightly euery where at this day And lastly in respect of the great peruersnesse curiositie that reigneth in the minds of sundrie men whom nothing pleaseth and contenteth but that which they them selues do or at the least wise affect Howbeit notwithstanding after that I had for mine owne priuate vse collected and gathered these spirituall directions and consolations and also perceiued how that the same might be of some good vse to others not onely in time of sicknesse but also in all other afflictions and distresses whether of mind or bodie I esteemed it a part of that great dutie which I owe vnto the Church of God to communicate impart these my poore endeuours vnto such and for the benefite comfort of all such as shall stand in neede thereof in times of sicknesse and mortalitie in the conflict of death and other sharpe and bitter daies of triall and temptation whensoeuer their sins shall stand vp against them to vrge and accuse them or the vgly appearance of death shall affright them or the feare and horror of hell and damnation shall seeme to dismay them Against all which fearefull dangerous assaults of death of sinne of Satan here in this small Treatise are prouided selected out of the rich Armorie of the sacred Scriptures seuerall and peculiar weapons and armour of proofe both defensiue offensiue both for the withstanding and resisting and also for the repelling and quenching of all the fierie darts of the wicked Now I haue bene bold to dedicate and offer the same vnto your Ladiship being moued thereunto partly by the sundry fauours receiued from your Ladiship by my selfe in particular and partly by those gracious works of pietie and charitie wrought and the great and manifold benefits from time to time conferred by your Ladiship in and vpon the whole Towne or Parish in generall ouer which God hath placed me though his most vnworthy seruant minister accept I beseech you this small present being as the poore widdowes mite which here I presume to offer vnto your Ladiship as a pledge and testimonie of my vnfeined thankfulnesse Almightie God who is rich in mercie grant that as you haue extended the bowels of compassion and mercie alwaies for the relieuing and comforting of many his poore children so also you may find abundant mercie in the last day may be filled with ioy and comfort at the glorious appearing of his Son Christ Iesus Amen Your Ladiships in all humble manner to be commanded A. M. A preface to the Christian Reader THe sicknesses and diseases which vexe and annoy these our mortall bodies together with the remembrance of death ensuing therupon how greatly do they cause both our bodies and minds to quake and tremble Insomuch that many times we shake and are afraid at the onely mention thereof Verily the nature of man being such as had rather not be at all then to be ill appaied or to be in miserie cannot whensoeuer these things befall but be much vexed and perplexed yea and sometimes readie to faint And yet behold the sicknesse and death of the soule farre more dreadfull and more horrible then which can befall vnto a man no greater miserie and torment There is no man but he doth feare and abhorre yea and by all meanes flie from corporal punishments and afflictions and from corporall sicknesses and deaths how much more then should we labour to eschue and auoid the causes of all these euils which are our sinnes and how ought we to feare the wrath and displeasure of almightie God which we daily prouoke against our selues by so manifold sinnes and offences If the bodie be neuer so little crazed we runne straightway to the Physition we spare no cost nor charge preferring our life and health before all things else yea we are content to disburse we care not what that we may procure remedies and preseruatiues for the same and all to patch vp this tattered garment of our flesh this rotten carcasse and clod of clay which notwithstāding must needs very shortly decay and perish and be brought to corruption Why then do we not with like earnestnesse and carefulnesse seeke for remedies against the sicknesses of the soule being farre more deadly and dāgerous For what should it profite a man to liue a whole thousand yeares and during that time to possesse all the riches in the world and to enioy the most exquisite pleasures of this life without being troubled with any sicknes or griefe or other calamitie and in the meane time to haue his soule tainted and infected with the leprosie of sinne and in bondage to the tyrannie of Satan and therupon to haue God alwaies his vtter enemie and his wrath and indignation raging against him and lying heauily vpon him so as he knew and were assured after this life to suffer and vndergoe the iudgement of eternall death and condemnation both of body and soule Hereof our Sauiour Christ admonisheth vs Math. 16.26 saying What shall it profite a man to winne the whole world and to lose his owne soule And therefore in another place he warneth vs to watch to wit ouer our soules watch for ye know neither the day nor the howre when the Sonne of man will come And lest we should without regard passe ouer farre better things and things farre more profitable and should pursue after toyes and trifles things base and contemptible therefore he sheweth vs the shortest and surest way whereby to come vnto true happinesse which willeth vs Math. 6.33 First to seeke the kingdome of God and the
Hell and damnation These things being thuâ— offered vnto our sight the at length a man begins tâ— feare lest haply he be quiâ— cast out from the face fauor of God beholding nothing else but eternal dead and condemnation Heâ— therefore men haue need 〈◊〉 be couragious of a coâ—stant heart and mind thâ—â— they faint not nor giue aâ— place vnto despaire Praâ— we therfore in this manneâ— A prayer O most gracious God â— most mercifull Father graâ—â— we beseech thee that by thy grace and helpe while we are yet in health and prosperitie we may learne to feare thee to loue thy holy word to beleeue and embrace thy sweete and coÌ„fortable promises to set thee before vs as the scope end of all our actions and that remembring alwaies this sharpe conflict and encounter which we are to vndergoe we may fortifie and arme our selues against this day of triall and so be saued preserued and defended that seruing and fearing thee we may direct all our doings to thy glorie and at the length obtaine and enioy eternall life which thine owne Sonne hath purchased for vs Amen CHAP. IIII. A Remedie against the feare and remembrance of our sinnes VVHensoeuer thy sins shall torment and trouble thee or terrifie thy conscience consider how that the Son of God himselfe for thy sake and for the purging and taking away of thy sinnes came downe from heauen and humbled himselfe to the lowest estate that may be that he being made man took vpon him thy sins and the sinnes of the whole world and of his owne voluntarieâ— will dyed for them vpon the crosse and made full satisfaction for them all by suffering most grieuous punishments in thy name and for thy sake This most precious bloud of Christ was shed euen for thee and for thy saluation Of this his death art thou also made partaker if onely thou shalt beleeue that he dyed as wel for thee as for Peter and Paul and others Neither oughtest thou any whit to doubt but that he died as well for thee as for Paule for in that thou art a sinner euen in this respect thou mayest and oughtest to bee comforted Math. 9.13 For Christ came not to call the righteous but to call sinners to repentance Mat. 9.13 and 1 of Tim. 1.15 1 Tim. 1.15 It is a true saying saith Saint Paul and by all meanes worthie to be receiued That Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Yea admit thou were one of the greatest sinners in the world yet doubt nothing for such a one was Paule as he witnesseth of himselfe in the same place euen the greatest and chiefest among sinners an oppressor a persecutor and blasphemer Moreouer this may and ought to comfort thee and to confirme and settle thy mind Rom. 6.3 that thou art baptized into the death of Christ For seeing thou art baptized into the death of Christ Christ his death shall saue and helpe thee by Christ his death thou shalt die vnto thy sinnes by Christ hiâ— death thou shalt receiue vndoubted remission and forgiuenesse of all thy sins finally by Christ his death thou shalt rise againe vnâ—o a new life here and to a life eternall and euerlasting in the world to come Thâ— remission of our sins confirmed in Baptisme and in the Lords Supper For Baptisme is a sure token and pledge and a certaine couenant as it were of Gods mercie and fauour in which thou art reconciled vnto God So that by meanes of it thou mayest euermore haue a quiet and chearefull conscience by reason of the forgiuenesse and pardoning of all thy sins through the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ Verily it is vnto thee also that Christ speaketh in the institution of his holy Supper wherein he professeth and witnesseth that his bloud was shed for the remission of sinnes Now therefore howsoeuer the life which thou hast led hath not bene altogetheâ— faultlesse blamelesse noâ— in all respects pure and free from sinne yet despaire not but without delay flie for refuge succour vnto that bloud of his which was thus shed for thy sinnes and without ceassing call vpon his Name and thou shalt be saued according to his promise Rom. 10.13 Rom. 10.13 Criâ—â— out vnto him therefore and call vpon him in these oâ— the like words A Prayer O most mercifull God and father of alâ— mercies father of our Lord Iesus Christ be fauourable and mercifull vnto me a sinner Take pittie and compassion vpon me miserable wretch and speedily helpe me euen for that most bitter but yet most precious death and passion of Iesus Christ thy only Son our redeemer and onely Sauiour Amen Amen Enter not into iudgement O Lord with thy seruant Deale not with me after my deserts neither do vnto mee according to my sinnes and iniquities but for thy infinite and endlesse goodnesse and mercie receiue me vnto thy grace I miserable wretched weake and feeble creature am in thy hands in thy power and at thy disposing to do with me what it pleaseth thee â— most mightie and yet mosâ— meeke most gentle most gracious God and mercifull father leaue me not neither reiect and cast mee off as a wretch that is quite forlorne and forsaken I am thine whatsoeuer I am and there is none can comfort me none can helpe me none can deliuer me but thou onely Thou art the true preseruatiue and remedie against all euils and mischiefes and against all infirmities and sicknesses both of bodie and soule Thou art the surest and most present helpe refuge and succour a strong hold and a fortresse and castle in all necessities Psal 46. Thou ô Lord art our hope and strength in troubles Psalme 46. In thee O my God I put my trust Psal 71. 31. let me not be confounded nor ashamed as being frustrate and disappointed of my hope but deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Incline thine care vnto me and saue me and make haste to deliuer me be thou vnto me a strong rocke and house of defence that thou mayest saue me For thou art my rocke my fortresse thou art my Lord and my God Into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord God of truth Let the light of thy countenaÌ„ce shine vpoÌ„ thy seruant saue me for thy mercie O Lord my God Moreouer here thou must especially be admonished to take heed that the suffer not thy selfe to much to be possessed wiâ—â— the cogitation and remembrance of thy sinnes in paâ—ticular But rather if thâ— same shall at any time stanâ— vp against thee set beforâ— thine eyeâ— the remembrancâ— of that most inestimabâ— price of Christ his death suffering and fasten thâ— same into thy minde diligently according to the aduice and counsell of Sainâ— Augustine Inspice vulnerâ— pendentis sanguinem morieâ—tis precium redimentis Capaâ— habet inclinatum in cruce aâ— osculandum brachia extensâ— ad amplexandum totum