wee delay our preparation the more vnfit and vnwilling shall we bee to performe it for it is an hard thing for an olde man to enter into his mothers wombe consuetudo fit altera natura Secondly the time and manner oâ—… death is many times so suddaine and vncertaine that we may bee so ouertaken that wée shall haue neither time nor grace to repent and to prepare our selues Lastly late preparation is seldome true preparation being rather enforced then voluntary and rather in forme of words then sincerity of heart Math. 7. verse 22. et 29. Qu. Of how many sortes is this preparation An. Two fold generall and particullar Qu. What is generall preparation A. It is that whereby a man through the whole course of his life prepareth himselfe to die Ques Is it not sufficent to prepare our selues when wee beginne to bee sicke Answ. No for first as hath béene before shewed late repentance is seldome true repentance Secondly the time of sicknesse both in regard of the sharpenesse of the disease decay of memory senses vnderstanding consultation of worldly goodes and sathans subtill and malicious practises is the most vnfit and vnseasonable time to beginne a preparation Obiect But the theife vpon the crosse repented at the eleuenth houre and why may not wee doe so likewise Answ. There is a great difference betwéene him and those that purposely delay their repentance for first hee was neuer so much as outwardly called by the ministery of the word Secondly the théeues conuersion was extraordinary yea and miracuâ—…us that Christ thereby might shew forth some effect of his God-head but mirackles are altogether and extraordinary courses for the most part ceased Lastly that theife condemned himselfe and his fellow iustified Christ in the open sight of the world and praied for saluation c. but where shall wée finde such singular effects in them which post and put of their repentance Obiect But it is in our power and will to repent when we will Answ. No repentance is the onely guift of God and from himd alone proceedeth bath the will and the deed Phil. 2. 12. Secondly many late repenters and â—…ack-graces shall séeke to enter into heauen and shall not bée able because their heartes are become insensible and the time of grace is past And thus much of the matter of preparation The ninth Chapter Of the manner of preparation Question IN the manner of preparation how many duties are required An. Fiue speciall duties Q. Which are they An. I. the meditation of death II. the lesâ—…ing and abating of the sting and power of death III. The beginning of eternal life here in this world IIII. The enuiring of our selues to die dayly Lastly the manner how these seuerall duties are to bee performed Quest. Is the meditation of death necessary Answer Yes truely for a Christian mans life is and should bée nothing but a meditation of death therefore wée must looke for it alwaies and in euery place and herewith accordeth that excellent saying of Seneca incertum est quo loco te mors expectat â—…u vero eam in omni loco expecta That is it is a matter vnreuealed in what place death waiteth for thée but waite thou for it in euery place Q. What benefit profit and comfort dooth the meditation of death yéeld vnto vs Ans. Manifold For first it causeth vs to humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God Secondly the feare and meditation of it dooth remooue all securitie and further our repentance as wée may sée verified in the example of the Niniuites it cutteth of delayes and bringeth our promises and purposes into performances and practises Thirdly it maketh vs content with any condition of life be it neuer so miserable for if wée liue in affliction and aduersity we shall after death neuer be more subiect to it and if wée liue in prosperity wée rest not in it because wée shall carry away nothing with vs. 1. Tim. 6. 7. Fourthly it encourageth vs in Gods seruice and in all well dooing for as much as wee knowne that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord and that in seruing of God there is great reward Lastly it â—…oth sequester and withdrawe our delights and desires from earthly and perishable things and canseth vs earnestly to desire and séeke for euerlasting life Q Of what things must we meditate Ans. Of thrée things First we must â—…hinke and consider of the cause of death namely our sinnes Secondly we must meditate of the remedie of it viz. the cursed and bitter death of Christ. Thirdly we must thinke of euery day and night as if it were the very day and night of our death Q. What must we do that we may be the better enabled to perform this duty A. We must not vainly dreame of long life and so 〈◊〉 our selues but mourne against this corruption of our nature Secondly we must pray vnto God that he would giue vs grace and knowledge whereby we may be â—…nabled to resolue our selues of death at hand The tenth Chapter Question VVHerein dooth the sting and power of death lye and consist Answ. In sinne for that is the sting thereof 1 Cor. 15. 56. Q. How shall we know this Ans. By the lawe which is a glasse wherein we may sée our sinnes and the effects and punishment of them for hereby commeth the knowledge of sinne Q. How shall we depriue sinne of his strength and sting A. By beléeuing and relying vpon Christ who hath by death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Deuill 1. Cor. 15. 25 26. Q. What distinct and particular duties and fruites of faith are we to performe and shew forth that we may remooue our sinnes and take out the sting of the serpent death that it may â—…euer hurt vs A. We must first for the time past and present confesse our sinnes humble our selues for them and crie earnestly vnto heauen for pardon Secondly we must for the time to come with a resolute minde beware of euery knowne sinne and in all things to reforme and conforme our selues according to Gods word For euery sinne vnrepented of is a sting to wound our soules vnto destruction Luk. 13. verse 3. and 4. Lastly if we would liue for euer wée must dye here and that daâ—…ly for he seldome or neuer dyeth well who liueth euill Et qualis vita finis ita like life like end The xi Chapter Of entring into the first degree of eternall life Question HOw shall a man in this world enter into the first degrée of life euerlasting A. When a man by the testimonie of a sanctifyed conscience and by experience can say that Christ liueth in him Quest. When doth Christ liue in a man A. When hée doth by his holy spirit direct guide and gouerne his thoughts will and affections Q. How shall a man discerne this A. When hée dooth frame and confirme all the
no worke of nature but of grace regeneration Thirdly the séed and roote of grace in Gods elect is neuer wholy taken away for Gods gifts are without repentance and Christs intâ—…rcession for their encrease and preseruation in grace is alwayes effectuall Ioh. 11. v. 42. The Sick-man But my faith is often-times dead and without all life and motion how 〈◊〉 can I be assured of Gods mercy The Minister Thy faith is not extinct but only for the time ouer-clowded with the mist of sinne and couered vnder the ashes of infirmitie it is like to a trée which in 〈◊〉 winter season albeit it bring foorth neither 〈◊〉 flowre nor fruite yet it hath life and sâ—…ppe at the roote which 〈◊〉 the spring time will ascend vp and appeare Secondly God respecteth rather the qualitie of faith then the quantitie if it be a true faith though as little as a graine of Mustard séede God accepteth of it for one drop and dramme of faith is of mâ—…e force to saue then an Ocean sea of sinne and corruption to condemne Thirdly and lastly faith without present ioy and feeling is more forcible and preuailing then faith with it for it onely relyeth vpon Gods power truth and promises yea when God sheweth himselfe an enemie to vs and séemeth to kill vs we by it beléeue in God and by faith waite on him whereas it is an easie matter for a man in the apprehension of sensible comfort and ioy to beléeue The fourth obiection The sick-man But the fearfull iudgments of God such as of late years haue bin that most infâ—…tious and destroying pestilence the horrible and vn-matchable Gunne-powder treason the vnheard of breach of the sea and inundation of waters the late extreame and killing frost this present pinching and vnexpected dearth vnseasonable wether and many other publike and priuate iudgements vpon Church and common-wealth which I sée and heare of doe much dismay mée and cause me to doubt of Gods mercy Minister A. True it is that these and diuerse other punishments haue béene executed vpon vs for the neglect yea contempt of the blessed word of God and the powerfull ministerie of it for our want of zeale against the enimies of the truth for prophanation of the Sabboth for oppression of the poore for blasphemie for hypocrisie and for licentious liuing c. But notwithstanding if there be but one good man in a generation hée shall not for the multitude of transgressors be depriued of Gods mercies but finde comfort in the greatest plagues and punishments whatsoeuer Secondly though being once by faith ingrafted and incorporated into Christ yea and maried vnto Christ the author and fountaine of life and happinesse thou canst neuer miscarry nor perish For euen as the Disciples in the ship when a mighty storme for their triall and demonstration of Christs power was raised vp could not possibly perish the Lord of glory being there present in the ship so hauing Christ the Lord of glory dwelling in thine heart by his spirit how canst thou do amisse or why should thou doubt of Gods mercifull prouidence who ordereth all things for thy good The fift Obiection The sick man But my great vnworthinesse and vnthankfulnesse maketh me to suspect and feare that God will not performe that hée hath promised nor finish the good worke that he hath begun in me Minister A. This is indéed a gréeuous temptation yea the sorest of all others but this cannot hinder God from performing his promises For as the making of his couenant of grace with vs and the offer of his sauing promises vnto vs procéeded onely from his frée goodnesse and méere mercie without any respect to our workes or worthinesse so the accomplishing of his promises is to be onely ascribed to the same grace and goodnesse Thirdly as hath before bin particularized not the greatest â—…rmers and offenders in the old and new Testament haue euer by reason of their owne vnworthinesse bin denyed or depriued of Gods mercies but vpon confession of their sinnes desire of pardon and the purpose and beginning of amendment of life were pardoned and receiued into Gods euerlasting fauour Q. Is it necessarily then required of vs that we confesse and acknowledge our owne vnworthinesse A. Yes without question for hereby we are made capable of Gods mercies and blessings God doth depresse the proud and exalt the humble he filleth the hungry soule with goodnesse but the rich in their owne conceit onely hée sendeth away emptie Luke 1. 52. 15. and Christ was sent not to call the righteous in their owne opinion but sinners in their owne sense and confession to repentance Q. Séeing that God doth not simply forsake or cast off any for his vnworthinesse what vse make you of this point A. We must learne hence neuer to call Gods mercy truth and goodnesse into question but we must make it the foundation of our confidence and hope for it is vnchangeable infinite and euerlasting and thus dooing we shall haue no cause to feare euill but to looke to finde all good things in Christ our treasure husband and head The fourth Chapter Of Death and the cause of it Question VVHen the sick person is once perswaded of the pardon of his sinnes for the time past and present what further duty remaineth to be performed A. He is to be prepared and armed against the feare of death the assaults of Satan and the â—…errour of the last iudgement 〈◊〉 Q. Now that hée may bée prepared and armed against death what points are to be considered A. Seauen points specially I. what death is II. The certainty of it III. The causes and kindes of it IV. The exceptions that are taken against it V. The benefits of it VI. The preparation and furniture against it And VII what disposition and behauiour is required in death it selfe Of these in order Chapter the fift Of death his causes and kindes Question VVHat is death A. It is the taking away of life or the dissolution and separation of the soule from the body ordeined of God and for the punishment of sinne imposed vpon Adam and all his posteritie Rom. 6. 23. 1. Cor. 15. 21. Col. 2. 13. Q Doth God yet impose death as a punishment A. Yes for euery man sinneth and the very infante is not without originall corruption and therefore all must of necessity no persons order or degrée excepted at length die the temporall death Eccle. 3. ve 3. Psal. 49. v. 10. Heb 9. 27. Q. What is the procuring and deseruing cause of death Ans. Sinne whereby man brake Gods commandement Q. How was sinne first brought into the world A. Satan in the forme of a serpent perswaded Eue to eate of the forbidden aple Eue assenting to satan did eate of it and gaue it to Adam who harkned to her and thus they both of them sinned and brought death vpon themselues and all their posterity Q Why then were not Adam and
THE SICKE-MANS Catechisme OR Path-way to felicitie Wherin is contained great variety of sound directions and most sâ—â—â—â—â—e cosolations Collected and conâ—riâ—ed into Questions and Answers out of the best Diuines of our time BY THOMAS DRAXE Minister of Gods Word Wherevnto is annexed two most comfortable and powrefull prayers LONDON Imprinted for Henry Holland and are to be sold by I. W. at Christ Church dore TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL LEARned religious and Martiall Gentleman Sir Richard Warbarton Knight grace peace and plentifull increase of all holynesse and happinesse AMongst all the temporary and ordinary penalties and punishmeÌ„ts of maÌ„s transgression surely sicknesses diseases malladies aches yea most of all death it selfe together with all their seuerall accidents and temptations are most grieuous yrkesome and vnwelcome For they are simply in themselues and in their owne nature coÌ„sidered plagues and curses they produce fearefull effects in the vnregenerate namely impatiency vnquiet nesse horrour blasphemy desperation and the practise of vnlawfull cures and remedies Wherefore it is right worshipful a worke of no meane art skil experience soundly to catechize the sick to rectifie their iudgements to bring theÌ„ to a true sense confidence of sin to begette faith in them to cause them in hope and patiency to wait vpon God to prepare them to dye well and blessedly but it is opus labor It requyreth the tonge of the learned and a messenger or interpreter one of a thousand such as haue bin of late times M r Spineus and M r Perkins two bright and glo rious stars in the French and English Firmament but now Saintes in heauen who haue learnedly and largely trauaild in this point Wherefore it may sâ—…eme a needles matter for any man to write further of this subiect my self may bee thought morebolde then wise in presuming to put forth any newe matter or to change or ad ought yet because no mans worke is absolutely perfect and for that variety of treatises is both delightsome and desireable and because the fraile memory and the simple capacity of very many cannot comprehend large and profound discourses but best profiteth by short and easy instructions I haue vppon these groundes drawne and contracted the large treatises of the aboue-named Authors into plaine and compendious questions answers with diuers additions and illustrations of mine owne hoping that in the dilligent reading hereof the ignorant shall get knowledge the wauering finde resolution the distressed receiue comfort the presumptious bee humbled the tempted armed against Satans assaultes and all that are well affected bee prepared for God and directly guided to eternall glory Wherefore vppon this expectation also induced by the earnest request of a much respected friend I haue thought good to publish it and vpon due consideration to consecrate and commend it to your fauourable protection patronage For first you are very learned and wil iudge well you are most kind and curteous and wil take all in good part and you are vnfainedly relligious and wil giue intertainment to any matter of godlynesse Secondly you in an heroicall zeale and râ—…solution haue both in the time of Queen Elizabeth a Princesse of most renowned memory of incomparable excellency sithence fought for Christ his blessed Gospell and therefore what thing more pleasing vnto you then matters of religion conscieÌ„ce Lastly hauing receiued so manifold kindnesses from you I can by none other meanes better testifie my thankful heart Thus intreating your worshippe to read accept off and make vse of my Catechisme and yeelding you many thankes for all your fauours I heare most humbly take my leaue God almighty who hath giuen you recouery of health and increase of spirituall comfort in a religious Cittie perfit both the one and the other in you blesse and protect you and your most godly and vertuous Lady grant you both a long and blessed life in this world and consumation of holynesse and happinesse in the world to come February 12. 1609. Your Worships in the Lord at commaund THOMAS DRAXE A Table of the principall points contained in this Catechisme The 1. Chapter Sicknes described The causes of it Obiections answered The way to find out secret sinnes The ends why God â—…mposeth sicknesses The diuers effects of them according to their subiects Certen rules of comforting the sicke The first rule what The benefite of it The 2. Chapter Sinne the cause of sicknes Sinne to be confessed Sinne of omission The knowledge of the lawe a meane to find out sinne Gods iudgements to be made knowne to the sicke To bee sencelesse of Gods iudgements how dangerous The 3. Chapter Perswasion of Gods loue and presence in sicknesse necessary The greatest sinnes pardonable and pardoned in them that repent Obiections of other mens vnworthines Obiections against want of feeling Faith neuer wholy lost Generall calamities no preiudice to the saluation of the Godly Obiection of a mans owne vnworthynesse answered The 4. Chapter The sicke to be prepared against death What death is How brought into the world Why were Adam and Eue spared Why Enoch and Elias were translated aliue into heauen The 6. Chapter Bodily death what Why the time is vnknowne Why the Godly die Q. What spirituall death is The seuerall degrees of it Sundry obiections and exceptions against death confuted Q. Whether sudden death bee simply euill Q. Whether all that kill themselues be certenly damned The 7. Chapter The priuatiue benefits of death or the euill it freeth vs from The positiue benefit of it The temporary death of the body no curse to the Godly The body shall rise and why Whether it be lawful to mourne for the dead and how The 8. Chapter The way to happinesse conteined and declared in the scriptures Preparation against death what The necessity of it When to be performed The example of some that repented at their death is no rule for vs to delay our repentance The 9. Chapter The meditation of death necessary It is very profitable The obiectes of it The 10. Chapter Wherein the sting of death lyeth Quest. How knowne and taken away The 11. Chapter The first degree of entring into eternall life The diuers kindes of it The 12. Chapter Why and how a man must enure himselfe to die well The 13. Chapter Preparation must be speedy and hearty and why The 14. Chapter Offalse preparation Auricular confession superstitious needeles impossible For â—…he sicke man to receiue the Sacrament it is not simply necessary Obiections answered Extreame vnction not now necessary The 15. Chapter Reconciliation and the renewing of faith and repentance towards GOD necessary Thankes-giuing necessary The 16. Chapter The sicke must haue a care of his soule Feare of death how good How we are to be armed against it Practises and Meditations against it The 17. Chapter Phisike lawfull and necessary It is meanes of preseruation of life What Physitions are to be chosen Preparation of soule and body in the
touching mans immortality in Paradice Thirdly because by meanes hereof Satan séeketh to remooue good men out of the world that they may not crosse and hinder his purposed designes Lastly because hée through feare of violent death laboureth to kéepe men from the practise of holy duties Math. 13. vers 21. Que. Haue you any more obiections against death that I may doe mine vtmost endeuour to resolue you herein Ans. Yes truly and they are fiue in number Q. What is the first of them Obiecti n. Ob. Châ—…st Iesus Dauid Ezechias prayâ—… against death therefore it is euill A. 〈◊〉 arâ—…ment follâ—…weth not For first Christ prayeâ—… not against death simply for â—…o died willingly and otherwise he could not haue merited ought but hée prayed for the remoouall of the curse of it and destred his heauenly father to take away the cup of his wrath which was the beginning and part of the second death of this iudgement are maister Caluin Beza Whitaker Perkins Fulke Maister Doctor Willet and in a word all sincere diuines c. And as for Dauid when Dauid prayed against death it was onely in time of some grieuous temptation in distresse of minde and as it was ioyned with the sence of Gods wrathfull indignation Thirdly touching Ezechias that good King hée prayed against death that he might bée more reconciled vnto GOD before his death and that hée might establish and farther the true worship of God in his kingdome which by his death was like to be defaced And lastly that according to Gods promise made to godly Kings he might haue an heire and successour out of his owne loynes which prayer God heard otherwise he was willing enouâ—…h to dye Quest. What is your second doubt or obiection Ob. Gods children often séeme to dye in desperation how then can death be good and desirable A. This is not to be imputed to want of loue toward God but to weaknesse of nature and tendernesse of conscience for sinne and therefore they may notwithstanding all this bée saued For God in the matter of saluation worketh by contraries and by the gates of hell bringeth his seruants to heauen 1. Sam. 2. vers 6. 7. Que. What is the third exception or obiection against death Gods children doe some-times in their sicknesse raue blaspheme and behaue themselues like frantick men A. These and the like effects are not to be assigned to any deliberate purpose of the godly but onely to be imputed to melancholy burning feuers the cholick and other violent diseases and in a word to their infirmity onely Q. What conclude you hence A. We are not vpon these occurrences rashly to iudge them much lesse to condemne them For first if they euer recouer the vse of reason they repent of those infirmities and if it fall out otherwise these with all other vnknowne sinnes are pardoned yea and buried in Christ his death Secondly we must not like arrogant Critikes condemne them of impiety and hypocrisie but wee must iudge charitably of them as wée would bée delt with-all in the like case Lastly wée must not so much giue iudgement of a man by his death as by the former course and conuersation of his life Obiect 4. What is your fourth exception Ans. The Saints and seruants of God when death approacheth are most of all and more then other people tempted assaulted and molested by satan how then can death be good An. First it is no good argument hence to conclude that they are none of Gods seruants but rather the contrary they are Gods deere children ergo satan must now or neuer séeke to sift them whereas the wicked are his own and refist him not Secondly I answere that it is not generally true that the Godly are thus in death assaulted for many with Simeon die as a torch or fire-brand without sense of paine Isay. 57. Lastly in the very agony of death God doth so assist and strengthen them by his spirit in so much that when satan looketh for the greatest victory hée receiueth the greatest foile Q. How must we behaue our selues in this temptation A. We must flie vnto Iesus Christ commit the managing of our cause to him for he absolâ—…ing vs what néede we wee feare satans assaults Lastly we must hold our selues to Gods promises and not depart an haires bredth from them Obiect But satan is mighty subtill diligent bold cruell malicious and I am weake simple remisse fearefull and how then can I resist and ouercome him Ans. Thou must not yéeld to him but by praier faith and Gods word resist him and hée like a Crocodile pursued will flée from thée Iames 4. verse 7. 1. Pet. 5. 9. Secondly thou must make God thy strong hold and firmely beléeue and trust in him and then the gates of hell shall not preuaile against thée Qu. What is the fift and last exception against death Answ. Sudden death is an euill but many men die suddainely ergo death is euill Ques How answere you this argument Answ. I answere to the first proposition that death is not euill because it is suddaine for the last iudgement shall come suddainely and yet it is not euill but good to GODS children but because it findeth onely the wicked vnrepentant and vnprepared Luk. 12. v. 20. and 21. Secondly CHRIST by his death and suffering hath taken away the course of the lawe and the feare of condemnation which is the very sting of death therefore death though neuer so suddaine is not accursed to the true beléeuers but a speedie conueyance of them into the hauen of eternall rest and happinesse Lastly séeing that with Ezechias wee haue no lease of our life if any of GODS seruants with good Mephibosheth and Iobs Godly children and the young infantes that Herode caused to bée massacred die suddainely and violently wée must iudge charitably and the best of them for the manner and time of the ending our life is onely in Gods power and not in our owne will Questi But what if a professour of true religion and formerly of an vnblameable behauiour bee brought through the extreamity of temptation kill himselfe is not he certainely damned and so death euill to him A. Although this be a ticklish point and albeit Saul Achitophell and Iudas that killed themselues bée noted in scripture for reprobates and albeit they that late violent hands on themselues neuer for the instant may bée iudged to thinke on hell torments yet séeing that God neuer finally forsaketh his chosen seeing that his mercy is bottomlesse and that he may giue them repentance for ought we know to the contrary at the last point of time let vs if they haue béene formerly good professors iudge the best of them and pray vnto God that he would giue vs grace neuer to yéeld to the like temptations Q. But why must not a man kill himselfe Ans. First because he shall not hereby escape misery but runne into it Secondly it is not lawfull to