ground for Colewort or Cabbage for to liue vpon saying This will I giue thee for thy life-time But if afterward this Lord should say Fetch mee my good feruant out of his clattie Cottage and bring him to my Palace that he may eate at mine owne Table for euer Tell me if by the change that seruāt hath lost Would that seruant think yee say No Lord I will not come to thy Table for thou hast promised mee this Cottage-house for my life-time What Lord in the Land was euer troubled with such an answere And yet indeede it is so that God doeth with his faithfull seruantes when they die into the midst of their dayes When men are departed from this life it is the Lord that hath sent his messenger Death for to fetch their Soules from their bodies which Scripture calleth Tabernacles of clay vnto his heauenlie Mansions there for to banquet eternallie at his Table with Abraham Isaac and Iacob Now tell mee O man what haue yee lost for to goe from the Earth to the Heauens Is there any thing in this world of such worth that should make you desire to liue for to stay from your God but an houre The sicke Man That which yee say Sir is verie true But how few are these who in this world can gladlie condescend to depart out of this life The life is sweete The Pastour I confesse indeede that euery one hath not attained vnto this high degree of grace as to say with S. Paul I desire to bee dissolued c. Yet all the godlie will subscribe to this that all the faithfull are happie who are dissolued Though euerie man can not wish to die yet euerie man of God will say That Death is better than life Death is a salue which healeth vs of all our sores Is not Death Gods messenger sent for to pull the troubled Soule out of this sinfull world as Gods Angel pulled Lot out of S◅dom Is not our life heere a warfare Are we not here as Daniel was in the Dungeon among Lions Are not vvee here with Ieremie sticking fast into the myrie clay Are not wee heere with Israel into the House of bondage ouerburdened vvith sinne as they vvere vvith bricke Are we not heere with S. Paul vnder the bodie of Death And with Ioseph in the stockes not of tree but of sinne If it were well tolde a man what is heere and what hee may looke for in the life to come if hee had but a graine of grace as great as of Mustard seede hee should easilie discerne vvhereof to make choise Is not our life heere a wind and a vapour of vanitie But which is most of all to be considered Is there not heere a necessitie of sinning laide vpon all the liuing Who should not bee glad to bee fredde and ridde of these sinfull bondes Is not this life continuallie sicke of the filthie flooxe of sinne a most lothsome disease When wee seeke our daylie bread wee must immediatelie subjoyne forgiue vs our sinnes First as wee see heere wee must begge our bread and then pardon What then are wee heere but daylie beggers for the bellie The King must begge his bread from God In the Heauens there shall bee no begging but thanking of God for his benefites Who should for all that he can beg on Earth desire for to liue out of Heauen but one houre Are we not all heere vnder a corruptible burden a burden of corruption vnder which the Soule is pressed as a Cart full of sheaues So long as wee are heere our Soules are laden with sinnes A Soule burdened with such baggage runs on wheeles as it were downe an hill all post haste except that God stay it it shall neuer cease till it arriue in Hell where God shall breake it in sunder by the tempest of his wrath The sicke Man But Death is the wages of sinne who shall not feare The Pastour Indeed Death is such of the owne nature But God in great mercie hath made death to the godlie like the Raine-bow which being naturallie a signe of present raine by Gods Couenant becommeth a perpetuall signe of faire weather to come after that raine As throgh Death Christ wrought our Life so must wee bee killed for to bee made aliue The glorious Resurrection must bee through dust and corruption Our paines must goe before our pleasures and lashes before our laughters After that in come pleasures for euermore If wee had the faith of God wee should not much feare the smart of death which by Christ is made transitus ad vitam a passage vnto Life Let vs once passe thorow this Iordan and behold wee are in an instant in Canaan The sicke Man All that is true Sir No man can controle you yet naturallie all loue Life The Life is sweete The Pastour How sweete is it I pray you Is not our whole Life trouble and wearinesse What is our sleeping our resting our eating our drinking but a seruitude to the flesh Who should not desire to bee rid from such seruile necessities who for to bee free of such bondage should not renounce his deare selfe and all the loue of this irk some life To bee with Christ is it not our best Yea is it not our rest what shame is it for Christians to dote so after this present life who should haue learned to long after the life to come Christ came downe that wee might goe vp If wee desire not to goe vp wee know not wherefore hee came downe Hee came downe to bee a Seruant wee goe vp to bee Lords Hee came downe to bee hungrie wee goe vp to a perpetuall Feast Hee came downe to bee banished where hee had not wherevpon to lay his head we goe vp to dwell in Palaces of pleasures into euerlasting Tabernacles In a word hee came downe to distresse to sorrow to paine to miserie to fight against our enemies Deuils Death and temptations yea hee discended vnto Hell we goe vp to Ioy to Honour to Light to Life to Libertie to our Father to our Friends to our Sauiour and Comforter What shall I say more Euen to vnspeakable Glorie in Paradise with God his Angels What a folie is this that a man should desire to bee depriued of such Comforts for a puffe of breath Bee glad Sir to quite the ranke Onions of Egypt for that heauenlie Manna Sweete like Wafers made with honey The sicke Man If a man could bee fullie perswaded of that which ye say I think that hardlie could hee with-hold himselfe from putting hands into himselfe that so hee might change for the better If all that be why should any desire to stay from God but an houre If I may desire to bee dissolued why may I not dissolue my self The working out of a lawfull desire cannot bee vnlawfull The Pastour
anima mea egredere quid dubitas Egredere quid times His multis annis Christo Domino servisti ad huc mortem timebis O anima insignita Dei imagine decorata similitudine desponsata in fide dotata in spiritu redempta sanguine deputata cum Angelis capax beatitudinis haeres bonitatis rationis particeps quid tibi cum carne qua haud aliud vilius sterquilinium invenisti Augustin Vita haec misera est mors incerta si subito obrepat quo hinc exibimus Et ubi nobis discenda sunt quae hic negleximus Annon potius hujus negligentiae supplicia luenda sunt TEMPVS IN OPVS CVM VIventibus tum Morientibus vtilissimum A. D. ZACHARIA BODIO Glasguensis Ecclesiae Pastore adornatum AD LECTOREM Epigramma FOElix qui sancte potuit traducere vitam Et tandem extremum Sanctè obijsse diem Haec duo qui didicisse cupis tibi pandit vtrumque Hic Liber hunc animo volue revolue tuo Ad Authorem Libri distichon ejusdem Qui calamo qui voce doces vitaque perennè Vivore in aeternum vivito ZACHARIA IOHANNES BELVS Glasguensis Ecclesiae Pastor Academiae RECTOR AD VIRVM PIETATE Et eruditione praestantem D. ZACHARIAM BODIVM GLASGVENSIS Ecclesiae Pastorem de praeparatione ad mortem postquam ex deplorato morbo convaluisset Scribentem ERGO te nuper mortis de faucibus atrae Ereptum nobis reddidit Omnipotens Vt Doctus moriendi artem expertusque doceres Qua datur aetheream transitus adpatriam Qui bene vivendi toties praecepta dedisti Doctrinae reserans horrea plena sacrae Foelix Zacharia Doctor Sanctisima cuius Vox pariter Scripta consona vita docent IOHANNES STRANGIVS S. S. Theologiae D. Accademiae Glasguensis Praefectus IN DIVINA INTEGERrimi viri D. ZACHARIAE BODII Ecclesiastae non è multis meditamenta cum è desperatâ valetudine ad pristinam salutem revaluâ—…rat FRustra veternum sollicitas meum Bodi Thaliae ad munta barbitos Obmutet exurdante nostras Voce Scholae strâ—…perâ Camoenas Iam colligendas sarcinulas monet Quae vulsit aurem Mors modo pallida Laureta Cyrrhae Musicasque Thespiadum fugito choreas Tu perge Homeri carminis alite Laudande quò te mens ammi vocat Qui baccare lauro revinctos Castalio lavis amne crines Fatalis ex quo crudâ Hecates manu Attonsa pene est caesaries tibi Fato superstes reditusque Incolumis renovas duellum De morte partam appendis adoream Vtque Hydra secto corpore fortior Crevit revîxti ter triumpho Clarior spolijs opimis Qualis Caystri fluminis accola Morti propinquus dulciter incinit Melos supremum talis ista Naenia quâ superos remulces Macte indole istâ macte faventiâ Excude fructus uberis ingenî O aureum vere libellum Melle sacro sale temperatum Hoc amoris ergò scribebat Io. Rayus ludi publici litterarii Móderator Edinburgi THE LAST BATTELL of the Soule in death diuided into eight seuerall Conferences The first dayes conference Of carnall and worldlie temptations The sicke man MY Bodie is sicke my Soule is wounded Gods wrath is fearefull it burneth to the bottome of Hell The heate thereof already maketh my Soule to sweate I can find no Skrine or Sconce to set betweene mee and this fire Oh in all appearance I shall shortlieâ—…ee dissolued for to be brought before that great Tribunall Alas what terrours are these Sinne Sicknesse Death the Graue and an vnprepared Soule I tremble all like Belshazzar Mine heart is entangled with feares my knees shiuer and smite one against another Mine heart is pricked while I remember mine euill spent life While I had time to doe good I was of the frozen Generation Nowe Gods glowmes like Boanarges Sonnes of Thunder armed with fierie furie make heart and Soule to melt and to fall downe in droppes within my bowles Oh for a drop of water for to coole the boyling heate oâ—… mine heart Is there no man heere that can affoord me a word of comfort for to vphold mine heart into this heauie houre A spirituall Friend Sir I thinke it expedient that ye send for your Pastour the man of God that beareth the keyes of â—…he Kingdome of heauen It may bee that the good God shall put some words of comfort into his mouth whereby your wearied Soule shall bee refreshed* while the chosen Servants of God speake his words to the fainte heart the Lord putteth foorth a power to enable them to doe all that wherfore they are spoken So soone as S. Peter had spoken to the lamed man his feete and ancle bones receiued strength Though miracles cease now yet this shall bee true so long as the world standeth The effectuall feruent prayer of a rightcous man auaileth much Will it please you Sir that I goe for to fetch him The sicke Man Hee shall bee welcome vnto mee But alas while I might I frequented him too little I haunted rather the coÌ„panie of these that delighted mee with sportes and jests whereof now I haue no comfort Because I thought I could repent heereafter I did that whereof I may now repent and whereof indeed as I feare I shall repent but too late â—… This now puts my Soule into the dumps now al my foolish laughters are turned into mourning for I feare exceedinglie to die I tremble and tosse within this bed GOD alone knoweth what shall bee the end of this lingring tryall Goe Sir I pray you and desire the man of God to come and visite a bruised reede and a smoaking flaxe A spirituall Friend I goe for him presentlie I hope before hee leaue you yee shall find this tempest of temptations to growcalme In the meane-time till hee come I pray you to remember that all your paines are but a crosse sent before to crucifie the loue of the world In your greatest distresse striue to bee a Disciple of Iesus the Author and finisher of our Faith who for the joye that was set before him endured the crosse Bee not discouraged in your greatest smarts For reproofes of instruction are the way of life In your greatest feare remember the joy that is set before you The Pastour Sir hauing knowne of your disease by your godlie friend I am come to see you and to impart vnto you some spirituall comforts While the Soule is sore troubled thereis danger in delay A bruised Spiritis like a bone out of joynt the longer it be let alone the hardlier it is set If I had knowne of your sickenesse sooner I would haue visited you ere now The Sicke Man I rejoyce Sir to see you my Soule euer loued you But alas not as I should haue done If God should but at this time spare my life with the helpe of my God yee should see mee at once a farre changed man The Pastour Come Death come Life God maketh all
No man liuing Sir may absolutelie desire to be dissolued but vnder condition that it bee for the glorie of God and the Saluation of his owne Soule For two respects a man may desire to be dissolued First for to bee deliuered from the bondage of sinne which the Apostle calleth A bodie of death Secondlie for an earnest desire to bee with his God a man may desire to bee dissolued But for no reason must a man dissolue himselfe that were selfe murther If we may not kill our Neighbour whoÌ„ we should loue as our selues neither must wee kill our selues who are the rule and square of neighbourlie loue Man in this world is as a set Watch hee must not remoue till it please him by whom hee was set to command him to come Though lawfullie wee may desire death that we may bee deliuered from the bodie of death which is sinne for to bee with Christ which is meekle better for vs yet wee must not cry for death for some triflles of worldlie troubles as Ionah did for the lossing of his leafes Our desire of Death should bee chieflie grounded vpon a desire to bee with Christ and to bee fredde from the spirituall bondage of our sins well is him that can sincerly say from his heart Miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this bodie of death That Soule is happie whose desire is vpon that which is meakle better for it To bee with Christ in Scripture stile is called meakle better What say ye now Sir doeth not your heart grone vnder this burden of sinfull death Doeth not your Soule long to bee out of this bodie for to bee with him where it shall bee meakle better for you The sicke Man I take vp the matter better than I did I see by your reasons that there is no reason wherefore a man should desire to die but for to bee with his Christ and to be deliuered from the bodie of bondage which is a death But alas The Pastour I see you yet Sir into a plunge I heard that word Alas Wherefore say yee Alas Yee looke yet as one who desireth to liue My wordes are not gifted with perswasion yee seeme to be afraide at that word dissolued What aileth you There bee doubtlesse some thing within that troubleth you The sicke Man I am sorie to goe out of this world wherevnto I am chained by diuerse respects In the cutting off of my dayes I will mourne with sicke Hezekiah in the words of his doole I am depriued of the residue of my yeares c. The Pastour I see Sir that yee are taking vp the Lamentations of Hezekiah I will striue to make answere to euerie sentence apart Yee are depriued saye yee of the residue of your yeeres Hee is not depriued that hath changed for the better The residue of your few yeeres shall bee turned into eternitie Hee who seeth many yeeres seeth many miseries and which is worse contracteth many sinnes the cause of all our woe Moreouer what is a residue of life Death is not farre when it is farthest The sicke Man But if I die I shall not see the Lord euen the Lord in the land of the liuing The Pastour This is your ignorance What can man see of the Lord in the land of the liuing What can a sinner see of that great IEHOVAH here What is to bee seene on Earth but the Backe-parts of IEHOVAH Into the Heauens wherevnto yee now approach yee shall see that great and glorious IEHOVAH face to face What are all men on Earth but a number of wormes crawling and creeping vpon a clat or clod of clay But againe what is this that ye call the land of the liuing What is all the Land yee see but a dead lump of earth where the most part of men are dead in their sins Doe not the best part die daylie vnto Sin which death is our best life and yet laden with a bodie of death Can ye now call this earth the Land of the liuing Call me not Nahomi pleasant said Nahomi but call me Marah that is bitter for the Almightie hath dealt verie bitterlie with mee So may the Earth say Call mee not the Land of the liuing No rather call mee a dungeon of death a place for the burying of the dead a place where all must needs die and bee as water spilt vpon the ground which cannot bee gathered vp againe The sicke Man But alas if I die I shall behold men no more with the inhabitants of the world The Pastour This heere is your griefe that death will strik you with a blindnes so that yee shall not bee able to see any more the faces of these whom yee loue best into this world as of Wife Children and of Friends of your old acquaintance This is your dâ—…lour theÌ„ that ye shall see them no more Let such thoughts Sir moue these to mourne who know not Death better than that Pagan who speaking of a slaine man said In eternam clauduntur Lumina noctem That is Death closeth mans eyes for euermore This is most false A true Christian knoweth that though both his eyes should sinke â—…owne into his head or droppe out like blobbes or droppes of water yet that with these same eyes runne into water hee and none othér for him shall see his Redeemer Though after my skin said Iob wormes destroy this bodie yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not another Lay this comfort to your heart Though your eyes were eaten out with the wormes if you die in the faith of Iesus yee shall see God and none other for you and that with these same eyes yee now looke vnto meeâ—… If yee bee perswaded that yee shall see your God in the Heauens in whose face is fulnesse of Ioye yee haue little cause of doole that yee shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the world What are all the creatures of thiâ—… World but things that dwell in dâ—…st The Sainctes and Angels that dwell into these vpper Chambers whose feete are aboue ouâ—… head are so faâ—… in glorie aboue all the glorie of the world as the Heauens are aboue the Earth As Zebah and Zalmunah said of Gideons brethren so may we say of all these that dwell there euerie one of them is like the Sonne of a King What are all the Creatures below but beggerlie things The sicke Man But alas if I die mine age is departed and remoued from me as a Shepheards tent The Pastour What is your doole It is all then that yee must quite your shepheards tent Now poore man What haue yee lost Yee shall change a poore shepheards tent for the most pleasant Palace of your God a life mortall for a life that is eternall
for immortalitie vpon the Earth The sicke Man My Soule rejoyceth to heare you Sir proceede I pray you The Pastour Wee haue no great cause to desire to sojourne on earth What are we heere on earth but like poore beggers shute downe to the lowest chambers of the world This low contrie may well be called Cabul as Hiram by disdaine called the dirtie cities of Solomon Be glad noâ—… Sir for to leaue this earth a dirtiâ—… dwelling Step vp the Staire eueâ—… the Ladder of Iaacob that yee may mount vp to your God for to see what hee is doing aboue Well is you who shall heare shortlie the musicke of Angels into that Palace whose pauement is the roofe of alâ—… mortall dwellings O if yee kneâ—… what is there Fye on our ignorance The ChildreÌ„ of God in this worlâ—… are like Lords children sent out to bee fostered into little Cottages oâ—… clay when they are sent for by sicknesse and death their Fathers messengers they weepe to come home to their Fathers Palace because they know not these many pleasant Mansions that bee in their Fathers house But after that they haue once tryeâ—… what it is to bee in Heauen with their God they shall wonder 〈◊〉 their childishnesse Be not Sir lâ—… these fort of men that cannot abidâ—… to heare speake of Death but euen sicken at the name thereof or waxe wroth at the speaker as Ahab fumed at the Prophet because hee spake not good thinges vnto him The sicke Man Hezekiah spake more wiselie while hee was threatned by the Prophet Good said hee is the word of the Lord I pray you to continue your purpose concerning death It is good that wee remember our latter end The Pastour Indeed Sir the thoghts of Death are helpefull and healthfull to the Soules of men to bee corrections for their corruptions Such thoughts keepe euer God in our sight They are like a strainer wherthrough the thoughts wordes and workes of men are purified Hardlie can a man thinke of a shoâ—…t life and thinke euill as hardlie can hee dâ—…eame of a long life thinke well All the sinnes of Gods Church in Icremâ—…es dayes vvere imputed vnto this that shee remembred not her end Wee for the most part deceiue our selues vvith the opinion of long life and so did they vvho are dead alreadie O how gracious vvould one day bee to these novv who vvhile they liued did scorne at these vvordes Redeeme the Time But their maâ—…ket time is now past Gods Faire vvas ended before they could vnderstand vvhat it vvas to buy without money Well is the man vvho vvhile he hath time so liueth to dye that hee may dye to liue If our life be good our death cannot be euill To the godlie man death is a comfort as beeing a medecine for all his diseases a cure for all his cares a restâ—… from his labours But in this is his greatest joye that by it the filthie flooxe of sinne is dryed vp into an instant * By it also the prison doore is opened that the Soule like a Doue may flie vp to its God The consideration of such things made Solomon to preach The day of death is better than the day that one is borne Hee spake the trueth for the one is the beginning the other is the ending of all our woe and miserie Now Sir before that I proceede any further I pray you to tell mee what yee thinke now of this world In this as I remember was your last temptation grounded that going out of this world yee should no more see nor bee seene I haue let you see as in a glasse what vanitie is in it yea that all is but vanitie of vanities the verie abstract of an abstract or for to speak so vanitie fined and quintessenced out of vanitie which I may call the spirit or quintessence of vanitie Now Sir tell me what ye thinke of this world wherin gods must die like men No worldlie thing below in the day of neede will bee able to keepe touch vnto vs. The sicke Man Fye fye on my faultes and my folie I foolishlie once thought that I should feather a nest into this world that should neuer bee pulled downe Mine heart hath beene so bent toward this vanitie that I haue neither moued foote nor finger toward eternall Life It is true that I haue beene nourished and brought vp into this world like a Child into a rurall cottage I like a Child thought that there was no better Ionah was angrie for to quite his Gourd The greatest pleasures that are heere beeing well weighed are but like the shadow of that Gourd euanishing and worme-eaten pleasures All such comforts are but slender they faile man in his greatest neede The Pastour Though worldlie pleasures be sweete for a space to these whose portion is into this Life yet as Abner said of the deuouring Sword to Ioab It will bee bitternesse in the latter end In all the gourdes of worldlie pleasures are wormes of paine which shall make them to wither The sicke Man That is most certaine well is him that hath turned his backe to all such lying vanities So long as a man is in nature not reformed by grace hee is but a stranger from heauen The loue of the world in his heart like a moth cats out all liking of Heauen I haue beene too long alas sucking the breastes of this Nourse whereout of I haue drawen nothing but the swill of wickednesse Blessed bee my God who hath sent this affliction for to waine my Soule from the loue of all things below I beginne now to incline for to returne to my Fathers house in Heauen where as I heare it shall bee much better for mee Oh forlorne Sonne that I am who haue wandered so farre from my Father The Pastour I thanke God Sir for these good motions flesh and blood cannot teach such lessons But one word I haue obserued into your speach yee haue said that ye beginne to incline to goe home to your Father Are ye not as yet fullie resolued Desire yee not indeede presently to be dissolued Is it not your greatest desire to flitte fâ—…om this bodie which is but a Booth a Shoppe or Tabernacle of clay Is not your Soule wearied to sojourne into such a reekie Lodge Is not your heart panting after God lâ—…ke an Hart panting after the water brookes He are yee not your Soule crying within you O when shall I come and appeare before God A small feeble inclination to goe to God is not sufficient ye must now come to a stedfast resolution He who is not resolued is not readie for to be dissolued Taâ—… courage bee not dashed into this danger declare your mind freely be not nice there bee none heere but friendes The sicke Man I am so pyned with sicknesse that hardlie can I
saued by the Light of Gods word dispell this mist of ignorance Make mee free of this shrewd temptation The Pastour That of Peter in the New-Testament is remarkable Christ himselfe called him A man of little Faith and yet who doubteth of his Saluation The other example in the Old-Testament was in type and figure when the Israelites were biten with the fierie Serpents their onelie remeed was to looke vp to the brasen Serpent All this was a type and figure of a Soule wounded with sinne looking vp vnto Christ with the eye of Faith Now it is certaine that some in Israel were bleared and some of a weaker sight than others but the weaknesse of their sight could not hinder the cure nay the olde man with his dimmed eyes beholding as thorow a mist that type of Christ was as soone and soundlie cured as hee whose eyes were in their greatest vigour The meate taken with a paralitick trembling hand will not refuse nourishment to the bodie no more than if it were taken with a strong and stable arme Faith is the eye of the Soule whereof the Israelites eyes were but a figure Christ is the trueth of the brasen Serpent Though this eye bee dimmer into some yet if it see that sight is Saluation Faith is the hand of the Soule Christ is the foode Though this Faith tremble Christ trembleth not the palsie is not in the foode Bee of good courage Sir feare not this trembling feare the work of Saluation cannot bee wrought but with feare and trembling Though ye feare yet despaire not there is meâ—…cie with God in a vnspeakable measure In one Psalme it is said againe and againe vnto sixe and twentie times that his mercie endureth for euer This mercie I confesse is whiles concealed from the godlie for ends best knowne vnto their heauenly Father Who is he that often shall not spie at diuerse times his minde to bee dulled or ouer-cast with some cloud of Milancholie While this humour domineeres Sathan maketh choise of it for therein to set a seate for grimme and grieuous temptations While he perceiueth the bodie to bee troubled and distempered hee quicklie afresh representeth vnto the veiw of our Soule the greatest most greiuous sins of our vnregeneration and that into their fullest and foulest shape By this meanes deepe gashes and wide gappes are made in mens Conscience Bee strong in God Sir saue his honour by putting your trust in him Shall Gods word cry to man sixe and twentie times that hee is a mercifull God shall man doubt of such a mercie If such mercies were but for some dayes â—…nners might thinke that in some dismall dayes of the yeare mercy by no meanes could bee found But behold the musicall twne of Gods mercie is vpon an euerlasting Note for his mercie endureth for euer Hee who doubteth of Gods fauour after so manie testimonies may prouoke the Lord against himselfe Moses by his doubting at Meribah made the Lords wrath to waxe hote against him While hee should haue spoken to the Rocke he scourged the Rocke more with these wordes of doubt shal we cause water come foorth than he did with the Rod That Rock was Christ Moses while by doubting hee scourged the Rocke hee scourged Christ for that Rocke was Christ Who would euer haue thought that Moses with his Law Rod would haue scourged Christ the substance both of Law and Gospel Who euer hee bee that doubteth thinking that God either cannot nor will not bee mercifull vnto him so farre as in him is hee scourgeth the Lord Iesus as these who by their euill life are said to crucifie to themselues the Sonne of God afresh and to put him to an open shame Beleeue be saued God is both mild and mercifull Is not his Command directeth vnto man that hee shew mercie with chearefulnesse Is he not called the Father of mercies Is it not written that hee is a God rich in mercie O these bleeding bowels of compassions What said hee at last while hee saw the great affliction of Ephraim How said hee shall I giue thee vp Ephraim How shall I deliuer the Israel How shall I make thee as Admah How shall I set thee as Zeboim After these foure How how how how Mercie in a manner did turne about hâ—…s heart with such a force that hee cryed out Mine heart is turned within mee my repentinges are kindled together If mercie be not in his diuine breast where shall it be found The sicke Man All that yee haue said Sir concerning the mercy of God in Christ belongeth on lie to repenting sinners who haue bewailed the errours of their life but not to such a varnished hypocrit as I am who haue remained fast rooted in the rottenesse of must filthie corruptions which I had neuer care to curbe or controle My secret sinnes like a consuming canker haue freted out the verie heart of Grace From my Youth I haue wandered from the way of happinesse and haue beene like an idle Begger in the way readie to goe which way so euer the staffe fell My greatest feare now is that I haue too long delayed the day of my repentance what know I if God will forgiue a man so grieuous sinnes not repented of till hee come to his death-bed Hardlie can I think that in so short a time a man can bind vp friendshippe with his God with whom hee hath beene at feede his whole life time O mercifull God melt my marble heart Put into my breast the precious pearle of Faith O that with vnspeakable groanes of griefe for my By past euill spent life I might redeeme the time which I haue so lauishlie mispent Oh that the moisture of my body were all melted into teares if therby I culd be perswaded that my sillie Soule were alreadie vtterly out of the reach of all the powers of Hell I haue too long most vainelie sported my selfe in Mesech and ruffled in the tents of Kedar If I had not so long delayed to returne to my God my Soule alreadie in hope should be feasting vpon the joyes of eternitie The Pastour Indeede Sir it is a verie dangerous thing for to delay repentance to the last gaspe or to one Gods mercie as many doe who neuer lay downe the weapons of rebellion till they can sinne no more Oh that men would vnderstand their danger Are not our enemies both strong and neare Hannibal ad portas the Deuill is at the doore But such is the madnesse of many were their Soules neuer so soiled with sinne that if once they can get out but these few wordes God bee mercifull to mee they thinke that they shall be in heauen before their feete bee colde Such men thinke that in death it is easie to consure the Deuill with a word It is but folie to put Saluation vpon such hap-hazard as
for to heare Come or Depart Let your attention yet goe a little a long with mee See what it is of olde age Consider how feeble it is being a burden vnto it selfe a time vnfitte for anie affaire And yet most men in their youth swynishlie wallow in vncleannes thinking to keepe the old yeares for the amending of their life for all other spirituall adoes as repentance and returning vnto God as if a man beeing for to goe a farre and foule journey should lay the greatest burden vpon the weakest horse A good man regardeth his beast how much more should hee regard himselfe What regard is heere when a man in his youth rolleth his originall sinne like a snow-ball among actuall sins to such a huge greatnesse that in his strongest youth hee is not able to moue it and yet delayeth thinking that when hee is olde hee shall easilie remoue it and remeede it The sinnes of youth draw vpon old age deadnesse of heart and dulnesse of zeale It is good that man with a watchfull eye holde in perpetuall jealousie the cunning slightes and windings of the deceit of sinne in youth And therefore while it is youth time while God calleth while the wind serueth while the Sea is calme while the Shippe is sound let vs sette foorth in time to saile toward the port of Saluation the harberie of Grace in Glorie O vaine man who in thy youth turneth the grace of thy God into wantonnesse and thinketh to come home to God againe when thou is olde what shall God doe with thy blind lame olde age Is that a sacrifice for God Offer it vnto thy Gouernour saith Malachie If a blind or lame beast wil not please a man what shall God doe with that which is more blind than a beast The King of Babilon commanded Ashpenaz the master of his Eneuches to mak choise of Childrē in whom was no blemish such as had ability in thē to stand in the Kings Palace What shall the Deuill get the finest flower of our age the strength of our dayes and the abilitie of our Soule and thereafter shall God the King of Heauen bee serued with the blind and the lame such as the verie Soule of Danid did hate It is good afore hand to bee furnished with Graces which may be as the staffe of our old age * If we spēd our strēgth in our youth at the seruice of God he shall neuer cast vs off in our olde age But what shall I say nothing will waken foolish Virgines while they sleepe till that shrill voyce bee heard The Bridegrome is come When it is no more time mē who cōtented themselues with counterfeit shewes deceiuing shadowes arise run seeke for Oyle which they shall not be able to get either for buying or begging By all this my discourse Sir ye may perceiue that the long date of dayes bringeth men vnto dotage after dotage vnto dust from thence hee came Man of few yeares is foolish vnto fourtie a little after that folie hath left him dotage succeedeth which vnderstandeth no Precepts In this Mappe of the olde mans miserie yee may see whether or not man haue cause to bee greedie of many yeares Though the world were not vaine yet yee see that man is but vanitie in the world Let all men heere lay aside such doting vanities that bring too doolefull miseries Let all flesh learne that Nothing out of God can affoord sound joye and contentment If a man want God were hee an Emperour as high indeede as the King of Babylon was in conceite euen aboue the stars of God his life shall bee crossed with these th◅ee shrude companions viz. The griefe of thinges by past the paines of things present and the feare of after claps The sicke Man The thought of such thinges beginne to waine mine heart from the loue of all thinges worldlie I pray you yet a little to continue in that purpose concerning the vanities of things below The meditations therof lik sharpe keene spurs should prick and stirre vs forword from the loue of this vnto the loue of these lasting things which are aboue The Pastour The sight of this worlde is like that vision of Ezechiel wherein is often said Turne thee yet againe and thou shalt see moe abominations than all these So say I Sir Turne you yet againe heere and yee shall see greater vanities than either these of Strength or of Honour or of Riches or of Beautie Pleasure Wisedome or long Life Beholde a vanitie which is the cause of all these vanities viz. Sinne and iniquitie where vnto we are all subject so long as we liue in this world the region of corruption where if a man stand on Gods side he shall become the drunkards song with Dauid or a by-word with Iob among the chidren of Beliel Looke thorow this world and consider sin in all sortes of men sorrow following euer sinne at the heeles In this place behold Dauid making his bedde to swimme with his teares for his adulterie In that place againe behold Peter weeping b◅tterlie for his denyall In this place againe behold Lot vexing his righteous Soule from day to day for the vnlawfull deedes of the wicked In that place behold S. Paul groaning vnder a dead bodie of sinne euen a bodie of death No man is able to hunt all the corners of mans corruption From particular men let vs come to whole Churches defiled with spots and blemishes Heere is the Church of Ephesus which hath left her first Loue. There is Smyrna where some of Gods best seruantes are cast into prison Heere againe is Pergamus defiled with the doctrine of Balaame and of the Nicolaitanes In Thyatira the whoore Iezabel sat as a Prophetesse teaching and seducing Gods seruants to committe fornication to eate things sacrificed vnto idoles Sardis had a name to liue and yet was dead Laodicea was neither cold nor hote so that God threatned to spewe her out of his mouth Among all the seuen Churches onelie Philadelphia kept the word of his patience and yet her life was not without feare to losse her Crowne Behold I come quicklie said the Lord hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crowne But long since hauing neglected this precept shee is bereaued of that comfort Crowne Where nowe are all these most flourishing Churches of Asia where now are all these Churches of Grecia most glorious in Constantius dayes Because they helde not fast that which they had they haue all lost their Crowne By deare Experience haue they learned what vanitie is Behold and see how this world is like a working sea wherein sinne like a gall winde or strong Tyde carrieth many tribulations and destructions from Countrie to Contrie All is made thereby
some glimpse of joye may yet more clearlie appeare for the recreating of my wearied Soule O deare Redeemer no tong can tell how much poore sinners are beholden vnto Thee who with a strong Arme hast brought them out of a dry pitte wherein was not a drop of comfort O that deepe and darke dungeon of sinne that I haue beene into O these blessed beames which my Soule fealeth comming from his countenance O the Light of that Face which putteth more joye into mine heart than all the worlde can haue when their Wheat Wine and Oyle doe most abound O infinite weight of glorie O pleasures euer to be spoken of though vnspeakeable O joyes euer to bee thought of though none heart bee able to conceiue them O pleasures most pleasant to the eye though eyes below cannot see them O O euerlasting mirth of Musicke O yee celestiall Tunes most worthie to bee heard though eares of flesh cannot heare you O Tree of Life most sweete to the taste though sinfull tongues may not taste of thee O Crystall River proceeding out of the Throne of God and the Lambe when shall my soule drinke of thee with a full Cuppe Mine heart like an Hart panteth brayeth after these water brooks Oh when shall I come and appeare before God O my God keepe mine heart vnder some spirituall serise of these blessed delights till perfectlie I enjoye thee into the armes of my Soule with the contentment of all contentmentes then which there can bee no greater The Pastour It is the Lord who with the Eye-Salue of his grace hath enlightened your minde He hath taken out the mots of temptations which of before did mak the eyes of your Soule so to water till they become drumlie Now Sir yee know full well what it is of God and his goodnesse in the Heauens where faithfull Soules shall be fed with the bread of Angels and feasted with the daintiest delicates that are aboue The wicked in this world are like blinde men which eate many moats and flees They eate them because they cannot sec to discerne them All the knowledge of the wicked is but â—… carkase and carion of knowledge To know God his Son Christ him crucified is the verie marrow kernell of true happinesse A Soule whose eyes the Lord hath enlightned with grace can no more rest off its God than an element out of its own place It may well bee detained with-holden from its place by some stronger power but no power can make it to rest till it be there where God hath appointed it to rest Your Soule now Sir is drawing neere vnto its Rest The neerer 〈◊〉 bee vnto it let your motion towards it bee the swifter In this Grace is like Nature swiftest at the end of the motion which tendeth vnto rest Vp still with your heart rejoyce in your God Happie are yee who now are flitting from this worlde wherein the sillie Soule as a Ball in a Tenice is tossed from wall to wall scourged with the Racket of diuerse temptations which by course one after another are readie to catch it at euerie rebound Let your Soule now altogether rejoyce in your Sauiour That is the only joye which shal neuer be taken from vs All other joyes are but liâ—… flying moats in the aire toyle and toyes toylesome toyes For euen in laughing the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse The sicke Man Blessed bee my Lord for euer I finde now the beginning of these joyes which passe all vnderstanding My Spirit hath receiued the earnest of immortalitie I finde now my Soule in the kindlie temper of a spirituall constitution which as I am fullie perswaded shall neuer bee troubled with anie moodie mixture of distempered mortalitie if once this Battell were ended O the blessed beames of that righteous Sun which shine so brightlie vpon my Soule They shall neuer be intercepted by any earthlie interposition of sinfull shadows Hence foorth nothing shall bee able for euer to â—…et God my Soule at oddes O now nothing shall bee able to affright my Soule any more with dreadfull distempers to God alone belongeth the glorie Well may I say If the Lord had not helped mee it had not failed but my Soule should haue beene put to silence I esteeme all the joyes which I feele to be a Cluster of Canaan which my faith lik a trustie Spy hath broght vnto mee that thereby I may know the goodnesse of that Land But because I cannot tell what assaults my Soule may yet suffer for I finde my former joyes a little ouerclouded I pray you Sir to conceiue a prayer to God for mee that the assurance of his pardons may more and more be sealed vp into mine heart that death bee not vnto mee as a king of feare but rather as a passage and an entrie to life eternall Make earnest requeast for mee that I die not as the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath hauing their Soules goared with sinne the sting of Death O Lord bring mee an Out law by Nature within the bounds of thy Sheep-folde Fill nowe my Soule with spirituall and heauenlie inspirations I haue alas the most parte of my life beene like roustie yron vnfitte for anie worke It hath fared with mee as with the Eye which seeing other thinges seeth not it selfe nor the face wherein it is fixed In knowing other things I haue remained ignorant of my selfe a great stranger at home into mine own bosome from my youth my Soule sicke of â—… spirituall dropsie did swell in a conceit of its owne excellencie Now Lord wound this pride of life within mine heart wound it in the head and craze it in the braine Separate all iniquitie from mee that nothing wherewith thy Spirit may bee grieued may harbour in mine heart Vpon this earth there hath beene none hoe with my desires which lik the sore crauing Horse-Leach culd say nothing but Giue giue Now Lord make my Soule to loath that which I haue too much loued prepare my Soule emptie it of all that is euill before it come before thy Face wherein is fulnesse of joy for all Saints and Angels which are aboue Now Lord after that thou hast cleansed mee by the fierie tryall by beating and battering mine hard heart let the workman-ship of thine holie hands be to refine me more more till I become perfectlie a newe creature O powre this heart into the calmes of thy compassions that therein as in a mould it may receiue thy liuelie Image Weede out of mine hearte all carnall and earthlie desires The Pastour I blesse the Lord for such working of his Spirit According to your desire wee shall bend our knees to God in prayer While wee are praying lift vp your heart vnto God and pray with your Spirit Set now all your affections in bensell
leape the same loupe beeing assured of as much and all because hee seeth that now his neighbour is soundlie healed and feeleth no more paine If yee wander from God hasten your returne A man out of the way must come back againe The soone◅ hee returneth the lesse is his labour If yee fall in sinne and rise againe beware to bee relaps An Horse comming by the same place where hee caught a fall will starte a backe Neither for Spur nor Wand will ye get him into the same hole againe Dauid no doubt after once would not count the Tribes againe neither would Peter after that awefull looke of Christ denye his Master againe neither would Iob seck anie more to dispute with his God againe They all know by experience how bitter a thing such sins were and therefore abhorred all such things at the verie rememberance thereof Remember well I pray you that olde age will inquire what youth hath beene doing This now know that all youthlie pranking pleasures are followed with pages of paines which cry vnto others that they listen not to the allurementes and deceitfull charmes of their filthie flesh While Dalilah lulleth in her lappe shee is armed with Sissers for to cutte the haire of our strength It is good that both old young haue their loynes euer girded their Candles in their hands waiting for that comming of their Lord Learne of the foolish Virgines how dangerous a thing it is to sleepe without oyle in your Lampes Let neuer sinne reigne in your mortall bodies Subdue the flesh to the Spirit If yee liue in Gods feare looke to die in Gods fauour Happie is the man that keepeth a Calender of his days wherby hee may bee roused vp to thinke euerie day his last It is certaine that our life like a shippe vpon the Sea is caried with a strang gale There is none abiding heere our Sunne is fast posting to the West as hee arose so shortlie must hee fall And therefore though yee dwell one earth mind the thinges that are aboue Let your Soules here in earth on earth soare vp toward the euerlasting Tabernacles Too manie Soules bee Trewands from God onlie minding the thinges that are below Beware that thornie cares choak in your Soules the seede of grace To be worldlie minded is death Aspire not aboue your pitch Thrust not yourselues in offices An office is well called A Calling because man should waite till hee bee called vnto it It is better to bee haled by force of others to great offices than to rushrashlie vpon them vndesired It were to bee wished that rather men want Offices than that Offices want men answereable to their discharge Affect not to bee singular in glorious shewes of profession without substance like Pedlers who hang out more than they haue within There bee none so peeuish as prattling professours without the power of practise The new creature in actions is the truest outward witnesse of the trueth of the inward affections Affection bewrayeth the euill affections Malo esse probus quam haberi It is better to bee good than so to seeme Among all humane dueties bee carefull to keepe loue with your Neighbours So farre as is possible winne the good word and will of all men Bee not contentious nor stirrers vp of discordes God hath blessed the peace makers The Apostles Precept is plaine Let brotherlie loue remaine Forget not the poore Hide not yourselues from your owne flesh The rich and the poore will meete together saith Solomō That is One good turne may bee requited by another If they cānot recompence you they will pray for you Though that which yee giue vnto them at the first seeme to be lost like seed sowne into a running water which carrieth it away the Lord who brought backe the Iordan shall bring back your lost seede with a plentifull increase Cast then your bread vpon the waters for yee shall finde it after many dayes Christs counsell is that rich men mak vnto themselues friends of the Mammō of vnrighteausnesse If ye receiue the poore in their neede into your earthlie mansions they by their prayers shall receiue you in your greater neede into euerlasting Tabernacles When Diues hath dyned let Lazarus haue the crums Cursed Adam was couered but with figge leaues and Christ cursed the fig tree for hauing leaues without fruites While ye giue almes let all be done without a desire to be seene or praised of men Let not your left hand know what the right hand giueth and God shall reward that humble secrecie with open honour What euer bee done see that it bee done in Faith without which most glorious workes are but glistering sinnes and Pharisees almes beggers of praise things done to be seene Bee meeke and gentle toward all The Spirit of God cannot light vpon a Soule but in the shape of a Doue Euerie way of a man is right in his owne eyes But the Lord pondereth the hearts My Spirit fainteth my breath shorteneth mine heart sickeneth I finde Death now besieging my Noble partes I cannot tell how soone God shall fetch away my Soule It is most certaine that I drawe neare to the doores of death I haue yet some-thing in my mind for to tell you O my deare Childrē but for weakenesse I cannot till I be refreshed with a little rest Within a little space I looke to bee lockt in my graue O Lord say vnto my Soule I am thy Saluation Refresh mine heart rejoyce my Soule with a sight of thy reconcealed face before that I goe hence and bee seene no more The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauen O how much fruite groweth off one stalke GODS grace in you hath brought foorth a large haruest of comforts to all that haue heard you The Lord renew your strength and put his Spirit within you The Lord sanctifie your Spirit which is the Candle of the Lord searching all the bowels of the bellie The God of all grace hath cleansed and purified your words throgh the stramer of his great mercie * So soone as ye haue gathered strēgth let vs heare the rest of your counsell to your Children In it is wisedome for to be learned of old age recouer your force a little that yee may conclude that which yee haue begunne It is good in good things to goe throgh stitch The sicke Man O Lord perfect thy strength in my great weaknesse My deare Children hearken vnto mee It is not possible but in this euill world yee shall bee troubled with great and grieuous afflictions In my great griefes I was euer wont to comfort my selfe with that wise speach of Solomon When a mans wayes shall please the Lord hee shall make euen his enemies to bee at peace with him If anie man offend you or is offended against you perswade yourselues that some of your wayes please not
Creator Praised be the Name of the most High who hath borne and broken that vnspeakable burden of wrath where with yee were surcharged at our first meeting The sicke Man Amen Amen Blessed bee the Name of Iesus At that Name the knees of my Soule bowe in a most humble manner to the ground for to kisse it with my mouth a thousand times vpon Conscience of my bygone miserie and of his present mercie All mine affections are set on foote and are so cheered and rauished with the loue of my God as no tongue can expresse O happie thrise happie change Once I feared damnation nowe Christ is my Saluation Once I sat in darknesse hee is now my Light Once I was in Death hee is now my Life Once I was in bondage hee is now my Libertie Once I was in want hee is now my Wealth Once I was in sicknesse hee is nowe mine Health Once I was in shame hee is nowe my Glorie What shall I say mo◅e Hee is mine onelie Deare and and dearest heartes desire Hee is my strongest Tower I haue none other Arke to saue mee from the flood Mine heart is prepared mine heart is prepared Oh that I were where without let I shall sing Halleluiah for euer where all earthlie objects shall seeme but filthie abjects in comparison of him Now Sir I intreat you to conceiue another Prayer that thereby as by the Charet of Elijah my Soule may bee carried vp into Heauen Commend my Soule into the hands of Christ the Redeemer Yee the Lords Priest stand still with the Arke till my Soule hath passed the Iordan for to enter into Canaan O Lord Iesus pittie this poore Soule that panteth at thy feete draw it out of this clogge of clay B◅e with mee vnto the end Graue thine owne shape deepe within mine heart that it may bee in judgement as a piece of euidence that the Heauens are mine heritage O look vpon mee who am heere waiting vpon that blessed hope Comfort refresh mee with the sweetest breath of thy blessed Spirit Set my sillie Soule upon Pisga the sight hill of Canaan Guarde mee with the invinsible troopes of thine Angels O thou whose Name and Nature is mercie take my wearied Soule and lull it sweetelie in the softest armes of thy most tender compassions Ioyne your prayers vnto mine The effectuall feruant prayer of a righteous man auaileth much The Pastour According to your desire Sir wee shall worsle with God in prayer that your end may bee peace The Lord gather all our scattered thoughts that beeing as twisted together into one threede they may be like the three-fold corde which is not easilie broken powerfull to draw downe Gods Graces from aboue Let vs pray A Prayer for the sick mā O Lord settle earnest prayer in our Soules vpon true sense of our neede Let not our prayers be tumultuous Tune thou our words by thy Spirit while our lips walke make our hearts to moue Preserue vs from vaine babyling lest our prayers bee turned into sinne O God the God of all Spirites who hast the keyes of Heauen and of Hell Thou steeketh and no man openeth Thou openeth and no man steeketh Open now thy mercifull doores vnto this poore Soule which panteth after thee as the chassed Hart panteth after the water brookes Let none of his sinnes stand betweene thy face and him for to ecclipse his Soule the light of thy countenance Seale vp in his heart by thy Spirit the free full forgiuenes of all his transgressions Thou who by the vertue of thy death made the vaile of the Temple to rent for to mak an open way to the Holie of holies mak also the partition wall of all his iniquities to cleaue from the toppe to the bottome that his Soule remoued from his bodie may get entrie to the Highest and holiest of the Heauens where thine honour dwelleth Make thy Graces in him to growe like Elias his cloud which at the first no bigger than an hand at last by and by did ouer spread the whole skie Sanctifie his Soule and soften his heart with the diuine dew of thy Grace Say vnto his Soule I am thy Saluation Behold Lord his Soule is seeking thee let nothing in his search carie him on the by Keepe fast in his remembrance the blessed bloodie passion of his Redeemer Iesus When Death shall come let him die with thy Christ in his Armes Strengthen and increase his desire to be dissolued assuring him that it shal be much better for him Furnish him with strength whereby he may row against the strictest streams of all temptations till hee arriue into the hauen of the Heauens the sole and safe harberie of Saluation And seeing no vncleane thing can enter into Heauen Lord wash this thy seruant and wash him throughlie that by the vertue of thy Blood his sinnes though they were red like scarlet and crimson may bee made white like wooll and whiter than the snow Pull off his Soule the menstrous cloath of his owne righteousnes and cloth him with the righteousnes of him whose statelie style is THE LORD OVR RIGHT TEOVSNES Thou who hast alreadie added strength vnto his Faith while it was scant like a smoking flaxe let not the sparkle which once thou hast kindled for euer bee quenched Amid the sight of his sins make him to lay hold vpon the merite and full satisfaction of his Sauiour Let him with all the Faithfull receiue of that fulnesse and grace for grace And seeing nowe Lord hee is comming vnto thee thorow the snakie fielde of manie temptations lette his feete bee shod with the preparation of thy Gospel Thou Lord wilt neuer suffer anie that trust in thee to bee confounded Hee followed thee constantlie in his life nowe let thy Spirit tryst him at the houre of death Hee disclaimeth all hope of helpe by anie other than by thy selfe alone Though hee knoweth not perfectlie what to say yet his eyes are on thee Thou who is Alpha and Omega hast begunne this good worke in him crowne it with the perfection of thy goodnesse Let him more more feele that hee is euerlastinglie acquite by the Blood of the Lambe from the terrors of Gods Tribunall Refresh his Soule more and more with celestiall spirituall joyes proceeding from the Spirit of Grace Let him feele himselfe assuredlie knit vnited to thee O thou preseruer of men that in and by thee hee may be presented blamelesse before thy Majesties Iustice-seate Furnish his minde with light and his memorie with strength that hee may vnderstand and remember that Christes death is an absolute and all sufficient Sacrifice for remouing the guilt of all repenting sinners Shewe him a signe of thy loue Multiplie in his heart the pledges of thy kindnes Make him faithfull vnto death that hee may receiue the Crowne of life Thou hast alreadie subdued in him alloue and liking of this world
Nowe graunt that the hope of that glorie which is to bee reuealed may bee so strong in his Soule that it may shield and fence him from the force and furie of the last assaults The nearer he draweth vnto death inlarge the chanell of thy graces like a Riuer which is broadest towards the end of its course Make his heart in the ◅orest pangs of death to bee still lifted vp towards thee And seeing Death and the Deuill mans two last enemies are euer busie the one for to fright the other for to tempt Prepare him Lord and furnish him so with thy Graces that hee may proue victorious in this last assault O gracious GOD assist him by thy force against the most violent blustering winds of the last and most fearefull temptations If Satan looke in at the doores of his heart seeking for an entrie let him neuer get so much as one chamber-roome set a part for his sojourning Make thy grace vnto him like a Sunne like a Bridegroome comming out of his Chamber to disperse the darknesse of his mistie minde Vnto his last gaspe direct him so by thy good Spirit that his Soule may cleaue so fast vnto thee that neither sinne nor sicknesse life nor death may bee able to separate him from thee Thogh thou shuld slay him yet wil hee trust in thee Faile him not now in time of neede vphold his heart in this heauie houre Let his Soule lurke vnder the winges of thy mercie till the tempest of wrath bee calmed past ouer Bee thou to him a shelter against the heauie showers of the last agonie O gracious Lord in wrath remember mercie In the multitude of thy compassions blot out his transgressions and that for the dearest drops of that sacred Blood that gushed vpon the cursed crosse Rinse and cleanse his heart from all vncleannes Giue him courage in his greatest fears Let not Death bee vnto him as a king of feare nor hee as one of the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath O Lord let thy Name bee vnto him like a strong tower for to hid him into the time of trouble Let this bee the cleare candle of his comfort neuer to bee quenched that Christ by his death hath for him and all the Faithfull ouercome Death and disarmed it of its sting Declare by the inward motion of thy Spirit to his Soule that the nature of death by the death of Christ is changed into a sleepe vnto all the friends of Christ who by the infinite power of his diuine Nature hath swallowed it vp in victorie and hath so digested it that now the bitternesse thereof is past As the Arke was to Noah and Zoar vnto Lot so bee thou a refuge to this faithfull Soule fighting thy battels not onelie against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the gouernours of darknesse of this world and against spirituall wickednesse in high places Let thy strength bee made perfect in his weaknesse As thou hast vp holden him hitherto by the strength of thy Spirit so continue with him vntill the end The battell is the Lords fight Lord for thine own cause euē for this Soule one of thy redeemed Ones obtaine thou the victorie and take the glorie to thy selfe O God both of grace and glorie seale surely vp in his bosome the pardon of all his iniquities Perfect the comfortes which thou hast begunne say vnto his Soule That heauen is not so high nor hell so low nor the world so wide as are thy mercies towards him All thy creatures haue their owne dimensions but thy mercie Lord like thy selfe is without measure Out of these infinite compassions make this sillie Soule partaker of the dearest mercies that euer rould together the relenting bowels of thy tenderest loue Heare vs Lord in all these our sutes and that for the sake of thy best beloued and onelie begotten Sonne the Lord Iesus Christ in whose Name and at whole command wee powre out our heartes to thee in that prayer which by his own sacred and most blessed mouth hee hath taught vs Our Father c. The sicke Man Lord heare thou in Heauen Blessed for euer be thy Name for such spirituall comfortes for so manie mercies I can rander nothing but the little mites of praise and thankesgiuing Mine heart is filled with songs of Gods mercie If his Spirit of grace had not vpholden mee in my first feares while as I thought I was wrapped into an infinite wrath I had certainelie beene swallowed vp with ouermuch sorrow But now blessed eternallie bee the Lord who hath made the earth to swallow vp all the floodes of temptations and tribulations which that red Dragon the Deuill a bloodie murtherer hath cast out of his mouth after mee for to carrie my Soule down head-longs to perdition Now finde I Gods word to bee true that hee is ouercome by the Blood of the Lambe Except that the Lord had beene on my side O in what a dumbe dumpe had my poore Soule beene driuen into ere now The Pastour Hee who followed Adam thorow the thicke bushes and Ionas in the bottome of the sea Hee who blessed the crooked man and made the barren fertile and the dumbe to speake the deafe to heare and the blind to see hath made his grace perfect in your weaknesse He best feeleth the pulse of our heartes and the force of our life Loth would hee bee to breake the bruised reede or to quench the smoking flaxe All men by nature are but like an vncleane Dung-hill of drosse their heartes at the first are but a den of Dragons But so soone as the Spirit of grace hath begunne to drawe the draughts and lineamentes of Gods image within the soule of a man nothing shall bee able to deface or mangle that liuelie image To all sorts of temptations Gods wisedome shall finde an out-gate Neither the traines of Sathan nor the treason of our bosome sinnes nor the terrors of hell nor the trashes of the world shall euer be able to preueale against Adirim Gods excellent Ones According as Zacharias filled with the holie Ghost prophecied It is granted vnto vs that wee beeing deliuered out of the handes of our enemies may serue him without feare The sicke Man I blesse God for such inestimable comforts Sathan hath shrewdlie assaulted mee but could not preuaile My corruptions haue beene subdued and awed by the Majestie of the Spirit of Iesus My Soule rejoyceth in GOD In the merites of Christ as in a glasse I see him a meeke a mercifull Father I am not now afraide to come to a tryall at his Tribunall I am no more dismayed for the vnquencheable flammes of the fierie lake I thinke certainelie that there was neuer a man so much beholden to my God as I am Truelie may I sing with the Psalmest I waited patientlie or the Lord and hee inclined vnto mee and heard my cry Hee
vp nowe to the Heauens Thou hast alreadie past all toyle and turmoyle The way that rests vnto the Kingdome is both smooth euen without anie rubbe of opposition thou shalt enter into immortalitie O the showres of grace and mercie which raine downe vpon vs both Farewell till that desired day of the Resurrection come The Pastour His eyes stirre a little they are full of teares the tribute of Repentance He beginneth to shake he now seemeth to bee wakened out of his traunce I will inquire what his minde is set vpon What meditations are these Sir that yee are vpon Yee seeme to haue beene in some good motion The sicke Man My Soule Sir and my bodie after a blessed agreement haue beene taking their adewes one from another They haue bene blessing each other beâ—…ause they haue serued God together they looke to bee one day both glorified together A sea of comfortes hath rained downe vpon my Soule from the Heauens in most sweete and pleasant showers The Pastour Surelie that is a worthie exercise Such good motions are plants of God and impressions of his finger Happie are the Soule the bodie that can serue God together with one shoulder At that last day they shall haue a joyefull meeting they two shal be clasped together in loue with such contentmentes as tongues of Angels are not able to expresse But O when the vvicked soule shall returne from hell to take vp its bodie for to carie it to euerlasting torments then shall they curse each other with manie a woe for their Fornications Adulteries Lyes Deceits Ryot Drunkenesse Then would the bodie if it could haue intelligence of the soules comming wish that a rock or a mountaine would fall vpon it for to hide it from the Soule that beeing voyde of life it might bee free of feeling But the decree is come foorth of necessitie they must bee joyned together O but they then shall looke one to another like Lyons Their feede shall receiue none agreement no not They shall neuer agree in anie thing but in this to 〈◊〉 together that their comfortlesse dolours may bee doubled This is a deare pennie-warth so little pleasure for so much paine In that day all the wicked shal bitterlie repent such barganes Now happie is your Soule Sir and your bodie both that are so well resolued to depart Yee are certainelie blessed that euer yee were borne Behold nowe yee rest in hope of the resurrection which shall bee in that great day of Gods generall assemblie when all that euer tooke breath shall compeare before Christ the Iudge of the World for to receiue that which they did in the flesh bee it good bee it euill Now Sir seeing yee are an inrolled Citizen of Heauen and an adopted haire of God vp still with your heart towarde that heauenlie Heritage with sighes and grones beate on still at the doores of Gods mercie God giueth vnto prayer victory against himselfe Nowe the time draweth neere Sir your houre is come to a quarter fight out the good fight fixe the eyes of your Faith vpon the bloodie wounds of Iesus Lay hold on him listen to his voyce ere it bee long yee shall heare these words of joye Come faithfull seruant and enter into thyÌ„ Masters joye O Lord the giuer of grace and of glorie out of the blessed bowels of thy mercie bath and wash this Soule with that arteriall blood which sprang thorow the pierced filme of the heart of his Redeemer At the beginning of this Battell Lord thou did see howe his poore Soule was scorched with the flames of hellish temptations which did burne the verie marrow out of his bones this is thy ordinarie dealing with thine owne Hell on earth is for the heires of Heauen But heauen on earth is the portion of the heires of hell Now Lord from his hell bring him to thine Heauens Mak his Soule more clearelie to look vp toward the blessed bloodie wounds of his Sauiour wherein hee may perceiue the props of his protection Make his Soule now to be fullie possessed with an entire loue to the fairenesse of thy face wherein are pleasures for euermore The sicke Man Lord Iesus make clay againe with thy Spittle for to anointe my dimmed eyes that clearelie with Simeon my Soule may see thy Saluation We in our life receiue but the first impositioÌ„ of handes like the man that saw men walking like trees Now Lord at death giue mee the second imposition that I may see thee euen as thou art The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauenâ—… Maintaine the life of his loue towards thee Now vvater the seede vvhich thou hast sowne Weede out the tares vvhich Sathan hath sowne Pittie and pardon Lay all his sinnes vpon the Sonne of thy loue Now let his feete be shod for the journey which hee is making to a better place Inspire his Soule with the spirit of grace till his life bee expired Saue him by thy blood which saued theÌ„ that spilt it The sicke Man I finde Death besieging my heart with seÌ„sible blowes O bring out my Soule out of this bricke of bondage of the bodie Mine heart stringes are so racked within mee that they are like to breake The hope that is deferred is the fainting of the Soule Lord helpe mee in this heauie houre The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and satisfie his hearts desire The sicke Man Pray pray that the Lord vphold mee in the throng of these throes wherewith mine heart is gripped lest I be whollie swallowed vp of despaire The Pastour O Sauiour of mankinde who out of thy meere mercie and loue came vnder the charge of his accounts Mak now answere for him as his Aduocat before that high Tribunall before which his poore Soule is now arraigned to coÌ„peare Turne all thy wrath in mercie and thy Iustice-seat in a Throne of grace Call home all his wandering thoughtes settle and them vpon thy selfe Maintaine the life of his loue Make death to him a Messenger of mercie and his paines a meane to bring him to thy pleasures O Captaine of his Saluation vnder whose bloodie banner hee hath in his life made warre against the enemies of thy glorie at death ouercome thou all the enemies of his Saluation With thy Trumpets and Lampes terrifie all these merciles Midianites Make them like a wheele as the stubble before the winde Graunt the victorie vnto thy weake Seruant heere that in the Heauens thou may crowne his Soule with glorious garlands of immortalitie Lord heare vs for the sake of thy Sonne vnto whom with thee and the Spirite of Grace bee all glorie and honour Amen Now Sir vp with your heart to the Father of mercies Fight out couragiouslie the fight of Faith Christ now is holding out the Crowne your Saluation is sealed yee neede not feare yee haue your warrant vnder the Broad Seale of the King of Heauen The sicke man O My deare
whereby he may be shielded from the bloodie blowes of a most cruell aduersarie Put on him Lord the compleate armour of God that hee may bee able to with-stand in this euill houre and hauing done all to stand Before this Battell end make him with stomacke and courage to runne all his enemies throgh with the two edged sword of thy Spirit Haue now Lord a speciall care of him Hemme in all his thoughts within the compasse of thy will Possesse him so with the fulnes of thy presence that in him there be found no roome for any ill motions Furnish him with the supplie of all these graces which thou knowest to bee wanting into him Let thy Spirit make residence in his heart as in an house of God Now Lord while it is time to saue saue the Soule of thy Seruant which is now readie to remoue Open vnto it that euer-flowing fountaine promised to the penitent of the house of Dauid for to tak away sinne and vncleannesse O Fountaine of Grace wash him and wash him throughlie with the blessed Blood of thy satisfaction After that thou hast made him perfectly cleane hold out thy succouring helpful armes vnto this Soule and take it into thy bosome Let it there taste of the honie of thy Compassions In this time of gloummines darknesse of death inlighten his Soule with the light of thy countenance Turne thy face now vnto it Hitherto it could see nothing but the Back-parts of Thee that Great IEHOVAH which bringeth joye but in parte From such parts now bring him vnto the fulnesse Turne thy selfe vnto this Soule that it may fullie see thy face wherein is fulnesse of joye And seeing no man can see thy face liue let this thy Seruant now see thy face and die that after death hee may liue with thee for euer in the Heauens Let neither the loue of life nor the feare of death turne his eyes from the prize of the high calling of God Make him now with a long steppe from the earth to the heauens to step in into immortalitie Now Lord engraue deepelie this Soule into the palmes of thine hands Set it as a seale on thine heart Wrap it within the Mantle of thy mercie warâ—…e it within the bowels of thy loue lappe it in thy bosome with that vnspeakable joye which Christ hath purchased with vnspeakable paine euen through the bloodie merites of his most bitter passions His wordes now are failed Square thou all his thoughts by the rule of thy Spirit of grace Lord make these our weake prayers to mount vp lik Pillars of smoke parfumed with the mercifull merites of thine onelie Sonne To him with thee his Father and with the Spirit of Grace be all Glorie Praise Power and Dominion for euer AMEN The spirituall Friend O deare Friende whome I haue seene a sorrow beaten sinner Rejoyce now in your Sauiour whose mercies haue beene the Bane of all your sinfull miseries Cleaue still fast vnto your Sauiour Let not him goe whom your soule loueth till ye come to Peniel where yee shall see him face to face The Lord refresh your wearied soule with the soft sweete breath of his Spirit The Lord kned into your heart these spirituall meditations which are of the purest straine O Father of mercies giue vnto this soule a most sure Infefâ—…ment of heauen by the hand of thy Spirit Make some drops of thy Myrrhe to enter in by some litle creuice of his heart Put in thine hand by the keye hole of the doore that his bowels may bee moued for thee Let such a strength now repare from thee vnto him that the world may see that thy strength is made perfect in weaknesse It shall bee expedient that nowe yee his Pastour in a short prayer recommend him to God againe Behold him now at the last gaspes his eye stringes are broken The water of death trickleth downe ouer his cheekes His life is now drawen to an haire O Lord while bodilie sight and senses faile make spirituall sight and sense succeede in a greater perfection Make a spaite of thy grace with a mightie streame to carrie him to glorie O deare Friend vp with your heart to your God Nowe all your sins shall die with your sicknesse The Rocke of your Saluation Iesus hath shiuered them in pieces There is 〈◊〉 condemnation to these that are in Christ who out of the pangs of loue suffered that paines of hell for mans RedeÌ„ption His Angels Sir are heere waiting vpon your Soule for to carrie it to pleasures for euermore Yet a little while and loe yee shall bee at the vpshotte of all your woe Yee are nowe vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of hell euen vpon the borders of euerlasting pleasures vnmixed pleasures which shall turne all your teares into triumphes The Pastour Now Sir Gird vp the loynes of your minde make haste to your God who shortlie shall put into your haÌ„d the palme of victorie Sathan is chained vp now for doing you anie more harme The night of your trouble is past Christ that blessed Day spring hath brought a morning mercie vnto your Soule His graces in you hath shined more and more and so shall doe vntill the perfect day euen vntill your Soule carried on Eagles winges reach the hight of Heauen where without teares or tediousnesse are pleasures for euermore Though your tongue now faile you Sir let your heart be busie with God in prayer hee will hearten and encourage you in all the businesse Your taske is at an end Heaue vp your heart to Christ crucified with vs and that with sighes and sobbes the groanings of his owne Spirit Though your bodie now be cold the Spirit of Iesus shall by a free and vitall operation maintaine the heate and vigour of your Soule The Spirit of comfort conueye vnto your soule the warmest blood that euer heated the heart of Iesus Let vs pray The last prayer for the sicke Man in the verie jawes of death O LORD whose mercies are aboue all thy workes it was neuer thy custome to send away a broken heart without comfort Now heare the secret gâ—…oanes and sighes of thy seruant whose soule is ready in this gasping agonie to come out of its Tabernacle for to coÌ„peare before thee Thou who hast giuen him thy Son for a ransome giue him thy Spirit for a pledge Furnish him with force for to fight and finish this Battell in victory As thou hast bene at the beginning of his beeing euen the beginner of his beeing so now bee thou the ende at which hee aimes euen the ende of all his woes And seeing hee is now in the narrow throat of death helpe him by thy power till hee hath past this passage Put now into him a fresh liâ—…e that in a strong vigour hee may runne with the feete of the Hinde till hee come to thee in eteâ—…nitie Make him now supple and nimble
mans life is but a winde in a worme * O happie is that man in whose heart Christ hath grauen deepe the shape of himselfe in this world when Death shall come then shall he know what blessed treasures of contentment God hath stored vp for his beloued When the Soules of the faithfull which on earth haue beene endued with a matchlesse concurrence of diuine graces shall come out of their bodies Christ the Father of mercies shall cast the armes of his cōpassions about their necks At their first entrie into Heauen hee shall giue them the comfortable kisses of peace Lord soften our stonie hearts enlighten our mistie minds that all our joye may bee in enjoying thee in whom is fulnesse without dislike O satisfie vs yearely with thy mercie the fairest flower of the Garland of thy Majestie While wee remember the death of others make vs carefullie to studie vnto newnesse of life that in this life wee dying vnto sinne may after death liue vnto Thee and with Thee vnto the vtmost bound of the euerlasting Hills AMEN FINIS A. H. THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE IN DEATH 2. Volume Carefullie digested for the comfort of the Sicke By Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of Gods Word at Glasgow Bernard in Serm. Novissima sunt quatuor MORS IVDICIVM GEHENNA GLORIA Quid horribilius morte Quid terribilius judicio Quid intolerabilius gehenna Et quid incundius gloria Idem Senibus mors est in ianuis Iuvenibus vero in insidijs Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of ANDRO HART 1629. TEMPVS TO THE MOST EXCELLENT PRINCESSE ELIZABETH Queene of Bohemia c. MADAME IN corporall troubles let vs seeke for spirituall Comfortes Dayes of sorrow are dayes of drousinesse For the remeede of such sorrowes heere followeth a Discourse of heauens Happinesse with diuerse other Christian comforts which I must humblie and heartilie dedicate to your Majestie If MADAME I were more able to present your Majestie with some matter◅ of greater worth my will should not bee deficient to mine Abilitie Thus presuming out of your Royall bountie that this little Offer from One of SCOTLAND your Majesties natiue Soyle shall bee graciouslie accepted I most humblie present it to your Majestie for to bee receiued and shrouded vnder your Royall safe-gard and louing protection After manie feruent and vnfained prayers made to God for the esta blishment of the Crowne vpon your Majesties Royall Heads and also for spirituall Graces to bee aboundantlie powred vpon you and vpon the rest of these Royall Plants which by the great mercie of God haue branched from You both I humblie take my leaue Your Majesties most humble and most obedient Oratour and Seruant M. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of GODS word at Glasgow From Glasgow the 12. day of Februrie 1629. THE QVEENES Lamentations for the death of her Son O But GOD is most terrible when hee is angrie He hath called as in a solemne day my terrors round about surelie against mee is he turned hee turneth his hand against mee all the day My flesh and my skinne hath he made olde hee hath broken my bones Hee hath builded against mee and compassed mee with gall and trauell He hath set mee in dark places as they that bee dead of olde Hee hath hedged mee about that I cannot get out Hee hath made my chaine heauie Hee hath turned aside my wayes and pulled me in pieces He hath made me desolate He hath bent his Bow set me as a marke for his arrowes He hath caused the Arrowes of his Quiuer to enter into my reines Hee hath filled mee with bitternesse Hee hath made mee drunke with worme-wood The verie Sea monsters are carefull for their young ones They drawe out the breast to giue them sucke How should I bee like the vnnaturall Ostrich which leaueth her egges in the earth and forgetteth that the foote may orush them or that the wild beast may breake them Shee is hardened against her young ones as though they vvere not hers God hath depriued her of wisedome neither hath hee imparted to her vnderstanding Alas alas the joye of our heart is ceased our dance is turned into mourning The crowne is fallen from our head Woe vnto vs that wee haue sinned for this our heart is faint for these thinges our eyes are dimme Wherefore Lord doest thou forget vs for euer forsake vs so long time Thou hast vtterlie rejected vs Thou art verie vvroth against vs O that mine eyes were a liuelie Spring of teares which day and night might trickle downe for the lamenting of my losse O yee Daughters of Britaine my natiue Soile Conueene your selues together Come all and joyne your sorrowes with mine Come contribute teares in aboundance that wee may deplore our domage Come come and helpe mee to mourne for my first Borne It is Gods will it is Gods commandement that yee mourne with these that mourne With whom will yee mourne if yee refuse to mourne with mee O noble Ladies of Britaine think vpon my sorrows My griefe is great mine heart is broken mine eyes doe faile with teares Come yee all and condole with mee Cast off your Rayments of joye And thou BOHEMIA with the PALATINAT mak to your selues new Robes of doole Fill al the Lāds with mourning like that mourning in Zacharie The mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon for the death of good Iosiah Mine heart is sore gripped with griefe Iam lik the Pelican in the vvildernesse Mine eyes doe faile with teares my bowels are troubled my Liuer is powred vpon the earth I was at ease but hee hath broken mee asunder Hee hath also taken mee by the necke and shaken mee to pieces and set mee vp for his marke His Archers compasse mee round about Hee cleaueth my reines asunder and doeth not spare Hee powreth out my gall vpon the ground Hee breaketh mee with breach vpon breach Hee runneth vpō me lik a Gyant My face is foule with weeping and on mine eye-lids is the shadow of death My Friendes scorne mee but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God When a few yeares are come then I shall goe the way whence I shall not returne The Lord hath made me as a by-word of the people Mine eyes are dimme by reason of sorrow and all my members are as a shadow Know now yee all that God hath compassed mee with his net Hee hath fenced vp my way that I cannot passe and hee hath set darknesse in my pathes Hee hath stript mee of my Glorie and taken the Crowne from mine head Hee hath destroyed mee on euerie side and I am gone and mine hope hath hee remoued like a tree His troupes come together and raise vp their way against mee and encampe round about my Tabernacle He hath put my brethrene far from mee My Kins-folke haue failed and my familiare friendes haue forgotten mee Haue pittie vpon mee O yee my Friendes for the hand of God hath troubled mee
your Soule which maketh it abhorre all comforts as it is said of these that are bodilie sicke in the Psalme Their soule abhorreth all manner of meate and they draw neare the doores of death What was their remeedie Earnest prayer to God Then they cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble and hee deliuered them from their distresses Mans extremitie is Gods opportunitie Bee of good comfort Sir haue the Faith of God within you Bee earnest in prayer and God shall deliuer you from all your feares The sicke Man Oh that I had Faith Oh that I could pray I finde my griefes to growe I spake neuer in earnest till now All other temptations before were but for carnall thinges They were all but sport in comparison of this of my sins where with my Soule is pressed and borne downe I take this to bee the forebrunt of endlesse plagues and paines prepared for the damned I abhorre my selfe fye on mee What am I but a dead Sardian or which is worse a lukewarme Laodicean neither colde nor hote a fitte prouocation of vomite to my God It is a vvonder if by this death he vomite mee not out of his Church for to cast mee into Hell Now what pleasure can I haue of all my sinnes where of I am ashamed All the joyes of my bygone life beeing joyned together counteruaile not the least part of my present paine Alas Sir how can I gladly draw neare the doores of death while there bee such impedimentes betweene mee and the doores of Heauen The Pastour I loue these lamentations It is good that a Soule be sensible of sin Woe to that Soule that is past all feeling Blessed bee God that hath wakened you out of the slumber of your sinnes Gods wrath euer followeth drowsie consciences for to giue them vp to the spirit of slumber or to sporting spirites that make men to sport themselues with their own deceiuings It is good that in our afflictions we consider well the cause for Affliction commeth not out of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground leremie in this is plaine Man suffereth for his sins It is your part to make a carefull search for the capitall sinne which as yee thinke may chieflie be the cause of so great a wrath Till Achan was found Israel could not stād before their enemies But say on Sir let mee heare you to Amen The sicke Man God hath set all my sinnes in order before mee I see nothing but a burning wrath which Scripture calleth a consuming fire Mine euill thoughts which I euer thought to bee free stand now vp in battell array against mee◅ O Lord why hast thou made vs to erre from thy wayes and hardened our heart from thy feare I haue no comfort within my Soule I heare a clamour within my conscience crying vnto mee What part or interest can thou looke for in the Kingdome of him whom thou hast so highlie dishonoured How can thou be of that number that belongeth to the election of grace I find my conscience raging within me lik a swelling sea except some calme of mercie come my Soule shal be swallowed vp with some fearefull surge Alas Sir what is your counsell All that is within mee is into an vproare despare is working within the bowels of my bellie The Pastour These secret throwings in the bellie are but Gods secret reproues tokens of his Loue Such secret checkes are like the rebukes of a Father taking his Child apart to some quiet chamber for to admonish him This is Gods customable doing with his owne Children if by their open and scandalous sinnes they haue not moued the enemies of God to blaspheme hee will take them to the secret chamber of their heart there apart as it were after that hee hath barred the doore and put all out hee will tell them what they haue done Ioseph would not tell before the Egyptians how his Brethren had solde him But while hee reuealed himselfe to his Brethren hee commanded all others to goe foorth Cause euerie man said hee to goe out from mee and there stood no man with him while hee made himselfe knowne to his Brethren God would not reproue Iob before Elihu El◅phaz his vncharitable friends but a part out of the while winde After that hee had rebuked and scooled his Seruant Iob in the secret whirle of the winde and hade made him to acknowledge his faultes hee came to his friendes and told them that his wrath was kindled against them After that Peter had thri◅e most shamefullie denyed his Master Christ who heard him so perjuredlie lye would not reproue him openlie before the wicked but onelie turned his eye with a looke towards him With that secret looke which no man perceiued but Peter himselfe hee gaue him such a secret checke and nippe of reproofe that incontinent hee went out and weeped bitterlie * Yee shall find at last Sir all these temptations that trouble you within are but God taking you apart and telling you with Ioseph what yee haue done God is now in the whirle winde working secretlie with you as with Iob till ye bee humble in dust and ashes All this bitternesse which ye finde within is but from a Loue-looke of Christ that yee may bee saued by weeping bitterlie for your sinnes Bee of good comfort Sir all these troubles within are but God out of loue whispering some reproofs into your eare for some bygone faultes The sicke man I wish that it were so But O what a stir is this within my Soule I thinke those wordes of God in Ierimie to bee directlie said vnto mee Thine owne wickednesse shall correct thee and thy backslidinges shall reproue thee know therefore and see that it is an euill thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my feare is not in thee The Pastour While the dregge and mudde of a melancholious minde is stirred vp from the bottome with grieuous temptations the sinner must spare to judge till the Soule bee settled Let that muddie minde of yours first bee settled and yee shall shortly see that matters are not as they seeme to bee When Christ said to Peter Get thee behinde mee Sathan it was a speach of glouminesse But O the sweete gloumes of Iesus more sweete than the worlds smiles Let that righteous reproue mee and it shall bee as oyle which shall not breake mine head God may seeme to be angrie at his Darlings but yet in great loue hee hath locked vp their Saluation and made it sure in his vnchangable decree The sicke Man Mine heart is pricked with paines and grieued with griefe This is the mischiefe I see none out-gate my Soule is enuironed with temptations The Pastour The wordes of S. Peter are comfortable The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godlie out
of temptations If your temptations bee great heere is matter of joye yee haue a God who knoweth how to deliuer you There is no temptatiō so deadly but God knoweth how to cure it A touch of the garment of Christs righteousnesse will anone dry vp that flooxe of blood The sicke Man I am so tossed that I am not able to touch it I am like a shippe in a tempest seeking its Hauen but cannot come by it whiles I am bl◅wen to this side and whiles to that side Thus beeing driuen hither thither as with contrarie Tydes mine heart quaketh and my conscience is in a qualme The Pastour Christ who in the dayes of his flesh rebuked the windes will calme such qualmes that your conscience may bee at rest * Though the rolling sea rage so that it make the Mariners to reele to and froe stagger like drunken men yet when they cry vnto the Lord Hee maketh the stormes a calme so that the waues therof are still Hee who can still the waues of waters can calme the most stirring surgesse of temptations It is written of the Mariners that while in the temptest all their cunning is gone their last refuge is to their prayers Then they cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble and hee deliuereth them from their distresses If your distresse Sir bee like the tempest which cannot bee with stood by care or cunning runne to your God by prayer confesse fullie and freelie your sinnes Suffer no starting holes or hollownesse in your heart But worke it to sinceritie vse all meanes for to bee friendes with your God Seeke earnestlie from God for the sake of his Chirst the peace of Conscience The sicke Man So I doe But alas while I seeke peace I heare from God as it were that voyce of Iehu to Iohoram horse-man saying to my Soule What hast thou to doe with peace get thee behinde m◅e What wonder that God bee angrie with mee who was neuer carefull to please him My Soule like a Night-Owle hath hated Light and loued darknesse Such is the weight of my transgression that I am like to finke thorow the sward of Gods wrath This checketh mee sore that while I sinned I stroue to ouermaster my conscience arraigning mee for my wickednesse When I thinke of this ◅ thinke shame to face the Sunne and the Moone The Pastour The more yee bee ashamed of your sinnes the lesse yee neede to feare euerlasting shame The Pharisee thought no shame of him selfe but bragged of his worth the Publican could not face the Heauens for shame Your part shall be with the Publican who returned justified vnto his house Hee who condemneth himselfe shall goe home to Heauen with the justice of his God Cry vnto the Lord in your trouble The sicke Man I am not able to speake the force of temptations is like to shiuer me in pieces All that is within mee is in a fearefull vproare O how fear◅full is the racke and gibbet of an euill conscience The blacke scrole of my sinnes which of before seemed to bee enroled is now vnfolded laid open wherein euerie letter seemeth huge great like a mountaine Euery day is a death vnto me all my counts are out of order there is not a string in mine heart in a right tune What are sinners but stubble Gods sentence is Burne them Alas that while I sinned I weighed not the following woe I haue brewed my griefe and now I must drinke in sorrow The Pastour One thing I perceiue Sir that your griefe must haue vent till yee haue disburdened your selfe with teares and complaints yee can not admit anie comfort The sicke Man There is no doloure lik to my doloure The arrowes of the Lords wrath are within mee whereof my Spirit drinketh the poyson The Pastour These arrowes are not arrowes of wrath but of vvarning like the arrowes of Ionathan shot for to driue Dauid frō the furie of Saul Heare the Spirit crying with Ionathan Are they not beyond thee Gods arrowes are flowen ouer you are they not beyond you There is no danger The sicke Man My sinnes which once seemed little like mots begin now to swell and to become thicker than mountaines I haue no peace within In my Soule is kindled an vnquenchable fire in it is the fewell of euerlasting burnings Often haue I posted off my sinnes in the lumpe vvith a slubbert generall confession Now resteth nothing within mee but feare distrust qualm◅s of Conscience The Pastour Bee strong in God Sir Hope in his mercie belieue in him though he should stay you If yee will not belieue saith Isaiah surelie yee shall not bee established While the woman of Canaan vvas making request to Christ for her Daughter shee found Christ at the first to bee verie harsh and sowre in calling her a Dogge But that little blast beeing once blowne out for the humbling of her Soule she heard incontinent these words of comfort O woman great is thy Faith Bee it vnto thee euen as thou wilt Gods face may seeme grimne for a space but there is but a moment in his wrath though he should slay you yet must yee trust in him In your hurt yee must hope for his helpe The sicke Man My strongest hope is but a stinging feare My greatest confidence is but trembling of conscience It seemeth to mee that there is one knocking at the doore of mine heart and crying in a voyce Is Faith heere Is loue within Is one called the feare of God into this place Is the Spouse of Christ in this heart Alas what can I say hauing such an ouglie Soule within mee Can Christ the Spouse of the Church loue such a Soule as mine which is like a bleare or squint eyed Leah can the dark night beguile him that hee should take such a loathsome Leah for a beautifull Rachel If Death now ouertake mee I looke for fire and faggot the fuell of euerlasting burninges Oh my Faith fainteth and mine hope houereth What say yee Sir Doeth not your heart pittie to see mee in such a plunge Yet for all this I must justifie God All this is righteouslie come vpon mee though his wrath should so settle vpon mee that thereby my bones should bee crushed like these eighteene who were slaine vnder the tower of Siloe to God should belong righteousnesse but to mee open shame and confusion of face The Pastour Shame of face for sinne is the beginning of grace in a sinner waite vpon the Lord a little and hee shall make his mercie to appeare like a morning light at the breake of day all the night shadowes of temptations shall flee away and Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shall arise and shine vpon your Soule with his blessed beames This shall make your Soule like a Bird on a bush well-comming the morning with a
bee shortlie deliuered Hee who is tyred with sin is tyred not to bee a drudge of sin Sinne is not heauie to the Wicked because it is in them as water in its owne element though it bee of weight yet it weigheth not Well is the wearied Soule it hath Christs promise of ease But woe to them who with Laodicea haue neede of no thing For the most part men are drowned in drowsinesse Securitie is farre more dangerous than despaire As was sung of Saul and of Dauid so may bee heere Despaire hath slaine her thousand but Securitie her ten thousand Manie are not wakened till they bee so wakened that their judgement and senses are lost It is a fearefull curse for a man to blesse himselfe while hee should mourne for his sinnes Such as blesse themselues while the Lord pronounceth the wordes of the curse The Lord will not bee mercifull to that man Securitie hath shaken hands with Hell and Death But well is him who feareth alwayes Hee is greatest in Gods sight who is least in his owne eyes The sicke Man But alas Sir my conscience speaketh home that I haue beene a stranger from my God O but I am wearied how shall I bee deliuered from this burden of bondage The Pastour These who are ladened and wearied may heare Christ in his Gospel crying vnto them Come vnto me Goe to him who cryeth so louingly Come Striue aboue all things to get a sight of your Sauiour by the eye of Faith Vrge vpon your heart a deepe meditation of his mercie his merits are able to cure our maladies The sicke Man There is such a mist betweene me and the Messias that it is not possible for me to see him Oh that my eyes were cleared with Gods Eye-salue that I might clearelie be hold him The Pastour The great desire ye haue to see him is a sort of sight All men see not Christ alike All goe not vp to the mount with Peter Iames and Iohn All see not God face to face with Moses All men lay not their head in Christs bosome with his best beloued Disciple Be not discouraged thogh ye cannot winne so neare to Christ as ye would If ye cannot winne to him for to embrace him as Simeon did striue to touch the border of his garmēt behind with the finger of faith and it shall stay the bloody fluxe of your Sinnes Ye sigh for a sight of Christ * A sigh for a sight of him is a sight of him indeed He who wold be found of these that sought him not will bee much more found of these that seeke him and sigh for him Bee of good heart Though for a space your spirituall day be mistie yet at last your drumly sky shal be cleared Christ is not euer absent while hee is not seene The Sunne as we see will be couered with a cloud the Moone will bee vnder wake but incontinent thereafter the cloudes beeing ouer-blowen wee enjoye their brightnesse and their beames What shall bee able to separate a Christian from the Loue of his Christ What then shall be able to mak a Christian soule despaire Shall Damnation No For Christ Gods Saluatiō is ours Shall Hell No For our Christ hath the keyes both of Heauen of Hell Shall the World No For Christ hath ouercome the World Shall the Law No For our Christ hath fulfilled the Law Shall Death No For our Christ is the Way and the Life Shall the Fathers wrath No For Hee hath troden the wine-presse of his wrath for you and for all repenting sinners All Scripture pointeth at him saying This is the way walk ye in it Run Sir to him he shall deliuer you from all your sinnes and from all your feares Striue to curbe your owne corruptions which are so broodie within you The sicke Man I cannot alas bee quite of my sinnes I striue to runne away from them but the faster they follow mee like curre Dogges that are so accustomed to follow their Master they will not bee boasted home againe Where euer I goe with my thoughts aboue or below my sinnes follow hard after mee Though I threaten them thogh I boast them yea betimes intreate them to depart their answere is Wee are thy vvorkes wee will goe with thee This putteth my Soule out of peace and order and thrusteth mee away from the Lord my God I haue beene long seeking and sighing for comforts But as yet I can espye none appearance The Pastour Comforts sought sought and sighed for are not aye seene at the first Elijahs seruant went vp the hill Carmell eight seuerall times to espye some appearance of raine The first seuen times hee could see nothing at the eight hee saw but a little cloud of comfort Behold said hee there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea like a mans hand A little after that the heauens were blake with cloudes and winde and there was a great raine Hold your face Sir a little space with Elijah betweene your knees and cast your selfe downe vpon the Earth as hee did that is fall downe in all humilitie of Soule before your God in prayer That done send vp your prayer the spirituall spye vnto the top of the hill Send it againe and againe euer till it espye some little cloud of comfort If your Soule take paines in prayer till ye perceiue but an hand breadth of mercie at last Gods comfortes shall raine downe in great aboundance vpon your wearied Spirit What shall I say if yee will not bee informed yee cannot bee reformed The sicke Man Indeede that is a pleasant and fit comparison worthie to bee printed with a Note on the margent It hath beene well adapted by you Oh that it could bee as well applyed by mee Oh that the Lord whose loue expelleth feare would strengthen my weake Faith with an hand-breath of his mercie O for such a little cloud of comfort it would lif◅ vp mine hands which hang downe and strengthen my weake knees But in steede of such a comfortable cloude I see nothing but cloudes of w◅ath readie to fall and become a deludge of vengeance from my birth I must not dissemble I haue dallied with my God and haue dispised the gratious day of his visitations And now all my comforts resemble to the Eagle that taketh her to her wings and flyeth aloft high into the Skye from my sinfull reach O feare O horrour O the multitude of my transgressions how shall I be quiet The Pastour The best way to be quite of sin that it reigne not in vs is to bend vp our hearts to Christ who is Emmanuel God with vs Thogh all be worthie to bee damned yet there is no condamnation to these that are in Christ Hee is that heaue-offering which wee must euer
mine owne Conscience This is my greatest feare that I haue done despite vnto the Spirit of Grace This striketh widest wounds into my Soule and maketh all the bowels of my bellie to wamble O fye fye what a filthinesse is within this heart of mine The small moats moue not thicker in the Sunne than sinnes of all sortes haue reeled to and froe in this wicked heart of mine which is nothing but a nest of Spiders and a cage of corruptions O what a shamefull discouerie should this bee if mine heart were as well seene as my face If all the monsters of my meditations were set in open view if the eyes of men could spie out what thoughts haue beene within my breast since I was borne If all the men of Africke a place most fertile of Monsters were taken to bee witnesse they would plainlie declare that the Earth cannot bring foorth such Monsters as are bredde into the heart of man O the great mercie of God who to the ende that man may liue with man hath hidde the heart of man from men O my God though thou hast sieled the eyes of man that hee cannot see within my breast thine eyes which see our thoughts a far off perceiue most clearlie all my bygone abominations To Thee alone belongeth the discouerie of a closed heart Would I bee dashed if the eye of a sinner tooke mee at an euill turne and shall I not bee ashamed when I remember how the eye of my God hath followed me in all mine euill wayes Alas my deare Pastour yee speake much to mee of Christ and of his death but what portion can such a vile stinking creature as I haue with Christ I haue delayed all to the after-noone and now my Sun is readie for to set The blacke night of darknes is posting vpon my soule My Soule refuseth all sortes of comforts I thinke that it shall die in the verie grippes of such bloodie temptations Behold and consider if there bee anie sorrow like vnto my sorrow The Pastour I know Sir that no sort of men are sooner or sorer touched for their sinnes than are the best children of God Sathan is most busie to blow at the coale of their corruptions And againe there bee no sort of men more readie to appropriate to themselues the comforts of God than they to whom they least belong But yet Sir seeing yee are sicke in Soule yee must not refuse spirituall Physicke Christ is the onelie comfort against the guilt of sinne His blood is the onelie trayacle against the poyson of this pest But can any comfort auaile to him that will not receiue it As meate set vpon the Table cannot nourish except that it bee put into the mouth and from thence bee sent downe to the stomacke So neither can the wordes of comfort feede the heart Nitraijciantur in viscera nostrae animae transeant in affectiones nostras except that they enter into the bowels of our Soule and passe thorow vnto our affections Your Spirit is so knappish and way-ward that it will not admit the most solide comforts The marke of Christs Lambes is an eare-marke My sheepe heare my voyce The sicke Man But thinke yee Sir that I can bee one of Gods who haue beene so great a sinner My Soule is sicke to the death with surfets of sinne Can Gods Spirit abide where there is so great corruption Can two Guestes of so contrarie nature dwell together in one man The Pastour They may indeede though they cannot agree Grace and corruptions may be into the heart of a mā as Israel was with the Iebusites Hiuites and Perezites into Canaan But as Israel wasted these Nations by litle litle so the Spirit of God with grace by little and litle rooteth out wasteth and foileth these nations of sinne that are within vs But not all at once Lest wee should grow idle and roust for want of such spirituall exercise The heart of a godlie man is like the house of Abraham where Isaac and Ismael lodge together Though for a space they tarie together at death the olde scorning Ismael shall bee cast out Hee shall not inherite the promise with Isaac the laughing man If Sir yee finde a wresling within your heart some newe working which once yee did not perceiue it is a token that grace is conceiued in your soule After that a womā hath conceiued she wil find some times a working about the heart prouoking to vomite It is so with the heart of a regenerat mā so soone as grace is conceiued into it it wil ouercast til it cast and vomite out many filthy corruptions Though Iacob be little and weake at the first seeme not to be a peregall vnto the rugh man who is full of strength yet at last hee shall catch him by the heele and ouerturne him in a moment Waite but a litle and yee shall bee vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of Hell The sicke Man I tremble all with feare that the Lord cast mee off and banish out of the Land of the liuing this filthie festered Soule The Pastour God is more mercifull than man can conceiue him to bee Can a mother forget her Childe that shee haue no compassion saith the Lord A louing Father will bee loth to cast his Childe out of doores in a deadly disease If these who are euill can giue good things vnto their Children how much more will that Father who is goodnesse it selfe giue the holie Spirit with all other good thinges to these who will seeke then cry to God in prayer The sicke Man Alas the sorrow of mine heart lameth the liberty of my tongue my wordes cannot expresse the groanes of my griefe The Pastour Though yee bee not able to vtter words sigh with your hearte vnto God God heard Moses his sighs like cryes Why cryest thou to mee said God to the sighing man A sigh out of a soft melting heart is a powerfull prayer before God The sicke Man I am both sinfull and senslesse Though I haue sinned most hainouslie yet I finde no melting in mine heart All the teares of my repentance within mee are become like a frozen moisture I cannot so much as wring out one drop thereof Oh that they were so melted that they might rush out at the flood-gates of mine eyes that thereof I might with the sinfull woman make a bath for the feete of my Lord Oh that mine heart were formed into another mould Oh that I could in his presence drench my Soule in a showre of teares O how precious is the sense of a reuealed and a reconcealed God! I find my selfe so ycie and colde yea so benummed and blockish as though I were voide of all sense of grace What can this bee The Pastour He who findeth himselfe benummed is not altogether senslesse
shall hold your peace That is ye shall seale vp your thoughtes in silence and let God bee doing So doe yee bee silent for a space daine not Sathans temptations with an answere feare not stand still and see the Saluation of the LORD As Moses said of the Egyptians so will I say of all your temptations within a short space The Egyptians whom yee haue seene to day yee shall see them againe no more for euer The sicke Man Oh that with Iob I could lay mine hand vpon my mouth and with Iacob waite for Gods saluation But alas I am laden with iniquitie Sathan besiegeth mee so that I cannot keepe silence Sathan hath laide downe a bloodie libell before mee wherevnto hee vrgeth mee to make answere The Pastour If yee must needes make answere learne that notable speach of Bernard on his death bed * About an houre before his death hee beeing as hee thought presented before the great Tribunall of his Iudge where hee found himselfe seuirelie charged with the accusation of Sathan forsooke himselfe for to relye vpon Christ alone I freely confesse said he that as thou affirmest I am most vnworthie and that by no worthinesse of mine can I merite eternall life yet I am assured that my Lord Christ hath a double right to heauens glorie one by heritage and another by conquest The first is sufficient for himselfe the other is for mee ex cujus donojure illud mihi vendicans non confundor which by right of gift I claime and chalenge and shall not bee confounded Vpon this Rocke yee must cast the anchor of your soule The Lord is able to doe vnto vs aboue all that wee can aske or thinke Take courage Sir Let Sathan make out his processe your deare and louing Brother is both your Iudge and your Aduocat The sicke Man Oh that I could take that counsell and keepe silence waiting till the Captaine of Saluation bring mee thorow this red sea of bloodie temptations Oh that I could lay hold vpon that right of heauen which Christ hath conquered But alas I can find no ground or warrant in mine heart that such a conquest can belong to mee for I know that in mee dwelleth no good things The Pastour The greatest foe the faith of the godlie hath and the chiefest cause of their trembling troubled heart is that often they seeke in themselues grounds warraÌ„ts of Gods fauour as though the Lord could not loue them vnlesse there bee in them such vertues as in euerie point should be Because they want perfectioÌ„ they thinke they haue nothing By this meanes Sathan shaketh sillie Soules to and fro like Reedes with the winds of distrust Make the right vse of such temptations let them drawe you from your selfe for to rely onelie vpon the mercie of your Lord Bee earnest to finde Gods marke in your Soule euen Sanctification the Saluation mark whereof the marrow is Christs satisfaction From this marke presse toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus The sicke Man Faine would I haue grace so to doe But out vpon mee I haue taken such surfet of sinnes that I find my selfe voide of all grace O death death death doolefull is that separation of a Soule dead in sin from the bodie dead for sinne I am so defiled and deformed that while I remember judgement it maketh mee all to shake and to shiuer Fye on mee a gracelesse creature wallowing in a myre of miserie Oh but for a dramme of Gods grace Oh for the greatnesse of the pickle of mustarde seede thereof The Pastour He that desireth grace is not altother gracelesse It is Gods goodnesse that hath giuen you this small and weake desire of grace in this Gods good hand is vpon you Hee who giueth grace to desire grace shall giue also grace for grace God often giueth to a man aboue his hopes I sought but life saide Dauid yet the Lord gaue him to bee a King God who in sicknesse giueth you the desire of grace shall before yee die giue you grace for grace a grace which at last shall make you to sing I sought but grace yet God hath giuen mee glorie If yee feele and feare his wrath seek the more earnestlie for his mercie This was that good counsell which Zephaniah gaue to Israel before the decree of wrath come out Seeke righteousnesse seeke meeknesse it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Christes cry is Seeke Aske Knocke. Seeing God desireth to be asked hee longeth to giue seeing hee desireth vs to seeke him hee desireth to bee found seeing hee desireth vs to knocke his desire is to open God is more rich and liberall than wee are poore His hand is wider for to giue giftes than our heart can bee for to receiue Hee who will not belieue that God can bee mercifull to him is twise in the wrong to God After that hee hath broken the law of his Iustice by offending hee is not content except that hee wrong his mercie by distrust Gods delight is to bee with the Children of men on earth as also to haue them with himselfe in heauen Now Sir beeing assured of thâ—… loue embrace this Lord with all 〈◊〉 armes of your affections Seeke earnestlie the Spirit of Grace for hee is powred on thirstie grounds I will powre water said the Lord vpon him that is thirstie and floods vpon the dry ground The sicke Man Oh but for one droppe of that water Oh that my Soule were watered with the dropping bowels of his mercie In the meane time my bones with sorrow are dryed vp like an hearth The terrours of the Almightie sticke within mine heart and my Spirit sucketh out the vennome thereof I thinke that I am in the verie gorge pipe of hell If this wrath continue doubtlesse it shall bee my bane The Pastour Gods wrath is fearefull I confesse but God will not bee long wroth with his Children I will not said the Lord contend for euer neither will I bee alwayes wroth For the Spirit should faile before mee and the Soules which I haue made So soone as man beginneth to be wearied of his sins God beginneth to be wearied of his wrath yea which is strange In all our afflictions he is afflicted There is but a moment in his wrath but his mercie endureth for euer There is such a mercie in God that in comparison thereof all the mercies of men are but scrofe and scumme a myte of his mercie shall remoue the mountaines of your miserie in Christ is a mine of mercie The sicke Man I know that it is so But I as yet haue no sense of such a mercie While I seeke and cry for helpe God either answereth not at all or when hee maketh answere it is like that which Elisha said
God for this chastisement Though for a space yee bee in the fearefull depths of temptations Let nothing mak you to despaire Christ the most solide Rocke of your Saluation shall turne all such surges into froth While Ionah was in the bellie of hell and all the billowes of Gods wrath passing ouer him yet vvould he not despaire into that hell but beeing tumbled vp downe there hee trembled in his belieuing and belieued in his trembling Then I said I am cast out of thy sight There was his trembling Yet I will looke againe toward thine holie Temple There was his belieuing And the Lord spake to the Fish and it vomited out Ionah vpon the dry land these were the fruites of his Faith Learne Sir of Ionah not to despaire were it in the bellie of hell Though for a space ye as it were goe downe with that Prophet to the bottomes of the mountaines the time shall come that yee shall sing to God yet hast thou brought vp my life from corruption O Lord my God God for a space for the sinnes of his chosen for his glorie for his praise for proofe for example and manie other reasons may bee ecclipsed from shining to the sillie sinfull Soules of his Turtles But there is none obscuritie that shall be able for euer to restraine from them the Celestiall influence of his blessed beams of comfort In a litle wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with euerlasting kindnes will I haue mercie on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer The sicke Man But alas mine heart is al◅eadie wounded with vncurable wounds The Pastour In Christ is your remeede If yee bee wounded there is health in his winges for the healing of your wounds Though for a space such wounds bee sore in your feeling yet fret not Yee would gladlie suffer all that and more if yee knew how many stripes Heauen were worth Though Christ tarie yet he will not tarie He is more sensible to our sores than we can imagine Belieue him while hee speaketh These bee his words of sense Hee that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine eye Be of good heart Sir Christ shall bee the Iudge of our sinnes who was judged for our sinnes He to whom all judgement is deliuered was deliuered for vs vnto death Yee say that your heart is wounded let this bee a salue for your sore a broken heart is the verie heart of repentance neuer to bee repented of The heart which was neuer wounded for sinne is deadlie wounded with sinne The heart which was neuer wounded for sin hath neuer known the vertue of Christes woundes the onelie remeede of sinne Be of good courage in this good fight like the Church who for her valour in spirituall warfare is compared to the troopes of horses in the Chariots of Pharaoh Now seeing the day groweth to an end after that in my prayer I haue recommended you to Gods protection and direction I will leaue you vntill morrow Let vs pray A Prayer for the sicke Man tossed with spirituall temptations O LORD how terrible art thou when thou art angrie at thy creatures Who can stand before thee a cōsuming fire When thou is prouocked the Earth shaketh and trembleth the foundations of the hilles are moued When thy wrath is kindled smoke commeth out of thy nostrils and out of thy mouth commeth a deuouring fire whereby coales are kindled O the terrour of these euerlasting burnings Who darre approach vnto thee Who shall bee so bolde as to stand before thee seeing there is none so fierce that darre stirre vp the Leuiathan one of thy Vassals whose scales are his pride whose eyes are lik the eye lids of the morning who by his neesinges maketh a light to shine kindleth coals by his breath O GOD most gracious make thy North winde to awake and blow vpon him for the cooling of his conscience parched with fierie temptations Change thine angrie countenance toward this sillie cast-downe Soule sore tossed and troubled with spirituall tempest O heare our earnest sute and bee not deafe towards vs O let the bright beames of thy mercie disperse and breake thorow the cloudie glominesse of thy wrath Let the cleare skie of thy fauour appeare vnto this darkened spirit that in a holie boldnesse hee may come vnto the Throne of thy grace Thou hast said Lord Anger is not with mee Thy word plainelie affirmeth that there is but a moment in thy wrath In wrath thy custome is to remember mercie Forget not so good a custome O remember here a sinner vexed with thy wrath Breake not this bruised reede neither quench this smoking flaxe but kindle vp the lurking sparkle Make thy strength perfect in his weakenesse make thy Mandrakes to giue a smell that his Soule may bee refreshed with the sauour of life vnto life Take from him all hardnesse of heart Suffer not his Conscience to bee seared with sinne neither too sensible of sinne lest that hee losse his patience Giue him a soft and a yeelding heart for to admitte the comforts of thy Spirit O take out of his breast the hard marble and flintie heart of Nature and put in the place thereof a fleshie and melting heart with a tender feeling Spirit Open his eyes with thine eye-salue that hee may see thy mercie thorow the crosse-barred gates of so fearefull temptations As the weight of thy wrath hath made his Conscience to bleede so let the might of thy mercie like Balme cu◅e couer the wounds of thy wrath O GOD of pittie pittie this poore Soule weeping in secrete at thy feete Pittie this Spirite which is filled with heauinesse Sore sorrow O LORD is entered through all the powers of his Soule euen to the diuiding of the joynts and the marrow of his bones Put these wordes of comfort in his minde and mouth that thou retainest not thine anger for euer because thou delightest in mercie O sanctifie the force of all his paineful temptations that they may worke to his well let him know that thou hast an hand in all his troubles Let him say Let the righteous smite mee and it shall bee a benefite Yea though thou should slay mee yet will I trust in thee Good GOD giue him not ouer to the raging euill of his owne corruptions Suffer not his Spirit to bee ouerwhelmed with the burden of temptations but with the temptation giue him an out-gate Make the Spiknard of thy mercie send out a sweete smell whereby his fainting heart may bee comforted Giue him victorie ouer all the enemies of his saluation As Ioshuah made his men of warre to set their feete vpon the neckes of their enemies and tread them vnder foote euen so LORD make this thy weake seruant to sette his feete vpon the neckes of these sinnes which like Kings haue swe◅ed their sinfull Scepter
absent yet be not for that disquieted his Godhead is present Hee himselfe hath said concerning his bodily presence that it was expedient for vs that hee should goe away As for the weaknes of your Fa◅th pray God to strengthen it Faith though it bee little yet it is of great force a graine of it will cast a mountaine into the sea The Sicke Man Let mee see I pray you Sir anie particular example of a weake Faith sauing anie man The Pastour Of this in Scripture wee haue a cloud of witnesses I shall let you see two one in substance the other in type or figure That of Peter in the New-Testamēt is substantiall Christ called him a man of little Faith and yet by that Faith though little hee was saued The other is in the old Testament in the type and figure When the Israelites were bitten with the fierie Serpents their onely refuge and remeede was to looke vp to the brasen Serpent This was the verie type of a Soule stung with sinne beholding Christ with the eye of Faith Of these who behelde that Serpent of brasse some were bleared and other some had weake eyes But the weaknesse of their sight could not hinder the cure Nay the old man with his dimmed eyes beholding as through a mist that type of Christ was as soundlie cured as hee whose eyes were in their greatest vigour The meate taken with a paralitique and trembling hand will not refuse nourishment to the bodie no more than if it were taken with a stable hand Obserue Sir what I say Faith is the eye of the soule wherof the Israelites eyes were but a figure Christ is the trueth of the brasen Serpent Though this eye bee dimmer in some yet if it see the Soule shall bee saued Faith is the hand of the Soule Christ is the foode Though this Faith tremble Christ trembleth not The palsie is not into the foode Bee of good courage Sir feare not this trembling feare the worke of Saluation cannot bee wrought out but with feare and trembling When the worke shall bee ended all trembling shall cease and Faith shall bee stable then the Soule shall be made free from all palsie paine The sicke Man Oh that I were but sicke of such a palsie paine Oh that I were assured to haue anie graine of true Faith Alas I am vndone This wretched heart of mine is so wrung with wrath that there remaineth not within it so much as a droppe of grace All my spirituall moisture is spent all the faculties of my Soule are so racked that my tongue cannot vtter my griefe and smart Is there no Balme in Gilead for a sorrow beaten sinner Oh through excessiue paine my Liuer is rolled within mee If I finde no remeede my Soule shall shortlie bleade to death my paines exceed my sorrow is extreme thorow the tortours thereof my Soule is compelled to roare Oh Lord turne thy wrath in mercie and thy Iustice seat in a Throne of grace and pardon the sins which more and more ripen thy wrath against mee Mine heart is rent and harrowed with griefe what salue can I finde fit for such sinfull sores The more I thrust griefe out the more it throngeth in The Pastour The soueraigne salue for such sores is to get a sight of Christ who bare all our sinnes vpon his battered backe which was torne with mercilesse strippes Christ in that plight is the most fit object for the eye of a troubled Soule There is no salue for the sore of sin but the sight of him who is the trueth of that brasen Serpent the object of the faithfull eye This remeede among all others is like the master Bee the best of all the hyue * Though yee bee like Zacheus a man of little stature so that yee cannot see Christ ouer the multitude of your sins yet run before climbe the tree of the Crosse and behold him No rather behold him now vpon the Crosse fixed vpon a mount high aboue that all may see him euen vpon mount Caluarie Behold him there treading death vnder his feete * Though there be a mount of dead mens scules there is no dead scule so high but Christ may bee seene aboue it Christ is euer nearest in the hotest skirmish He is the sea the seate of mercie If yee can seeke yee shall finde no scant of mercie into him ye shall wonder at his loue when yee shall relish his kindnesse To Christ then yea to Christ alone must ye runne and forsake all as the Mariner while all his cunning is gone runneth to God in the tempest In him is Balme for all wounded spirits there is no gash so deepe but his blood can cure it As all riuers lead to the sea so should all comfortes guide vs vnto Christ While hee was in the dayes of his flesh there was no miserie that could with-hold sinners from him neither lamenesse nor blindnesse nor deafenesse nor deuils could stay any from him nor stay him to doe them good hee healed them all Neuer a man came backe from him saying I haue sought to this God in vaine I came to him but he could not helpe me Or as the father of the lunaticke said I brought him to thy Disciples and they could not cure him To him may all heart broken sinners say with the Prophet My flesh and mine heart faileth but thou art the strength of mine heart and my portion Flesh and friends health and wealth and all will faile vs but Iesus will neuer faile vs Mans extremitie is his opportunitie By him alone the Soule of man hath light libertie and life All other helpes and hopes are but vaine As no water could wash cleanse the leprosie but one lie Iordan so nothing can wash away the leprosie of sinne but the Blood of Christ the Lambe of God which is a spirituall Iordan for washing of leper Soules In a word in all our stormy troubles Christ Iesus is a firme Rocke of refuge which repelleth and turneth into froth all the waues of most tēpesttuous temptations By his Blood alone our Soules are both healed hallowed vpon the right of your redemption sute the remission of your sinnes Bee not abashed hee who hath Christ needeth not to feare The sicke Man If I were one of Christs would he leaue mee thus wise comfortlesse He is the Sunne of Righteousnesse in whose beames as in a spring time I was wont to rejoyce But now hee is gone downe My Soule is benighted and I am affrighted with grudginges of despaire Oh that mine eyes of flint were melted into teares O smite my flintie heart with the rod of thy mercie that it may make teares the water of repentance to gush out at the Conduite pypes of my mourning eyes O what
a palpable darknesse The Pastour Comfort your selfe with hope waiting till that Sunne arise againe vpon your Soule Suppose a man created vpon the earth as Adam was at the first if hee should see the Sunne set hee would bee afraide at that first darknesse thinking that the Sunne were gone downe neuer for to returne But knowing by experience that hee is ordained by God a Ruler for to rule the day by intercourse of the night while hee seeth him set hee is content because hee looketh for his rising againe If the yeare were euer Winter which maketh all things to die and wither wee would all die for sorrow * But now in the deepest snowes and most hoarie frosts wee haue some sparkle of joye kindled by the hope of the approaching Spring As is in these naturall things so it is in spirituall Christ the Sunne of Righteousnes will seeme to the Soule to set vnder the night cloude of some fearefull temptation In such a case the sinner will thinke that hee shall neuer see God againe But for all that after some houres of darknesse appeareth Roseis aurora quadrigis Christ that Day spring from on high which the Soule like a Bird on a bush welcometh with a morning spring After deepest discomforts come dearest comforts Haue patience Sir a little till the night of your temptation bee past After a litle open the window ye shall sâ—…e the Skie of day then againe beholde that Sunne which seemed to bee lost arising with his blessed beames with a louing and life giuing countenance Bee not discouraged though Christ absent himselfe it shall bee but for a space vntill the day breake and the shadowes flee away All his absence from the godlie is but like that which hee saide to his Disciples Yet a little while and yee shall not see mee and againe a little whiâ—…e and yee shall see mee It is of his helpe as of Habbakkuks vision Though it tarie waite for it because it will surelie come it will not tarie Bee stout and couragious the bitterest of your temptations are but the sweete gloumes of a Father The sicke Man I am pricked with the poisonous rarowes of Satans spyte I doubt if God would bee so rough to one of his owne Children as hee is to mee Fathers strike with the rod but I am scourged with Scorpions wherwith the Lord is now auenging the quarrell of his couenant Oh that euer I came to this wretched passe The Pastour Yee are impatient * There is nothing in all your affliction but the smiting of the righteous which yee should account a kindnesse Such smiting is but smiling in effect a loue token Whom I loue I chasten Gods corrections are balme which shall not breake your head The sicke Man I am both bruised broken my paines surpasse my power Satan with his snares and fetters hath confined me to a wretched slauerie my soule is out of temper Trembling of heart and sorrow of minde And terrours from the Chamber assault mee on all sides O but the passage to glorie is rough and boisterous Behold how I sweate for paine as one rosted with a fearefull flamme The Pastour In that heate is a comfort The style of the godlie is to bee called Brands pluckt out of the fire Is 〈◊〉 this a brand taken out of the fire saide the LORD in Zacharie This manifesteth that a godlie man for a space may bee scorched vpon kindled coales but God incontinent rescueth him as a man will catch quicklie at that which he would not haue burnt God will neuer leaue his own to the full rage of a stinging Conscience Let all men haue patience while God worketh If for sinnes hee punisheth his deadliest enemies why should hee not also for sinne correct his dearest Children If man vncontrolled may sing of mercie of judgement for to keepe his house in order shall not God haue his will to sing what song hee pleaseth vnto his owne creature Let the cracking Law-musicke of Sinai bee ended and then God shall rejoyce your heart with the sweete melodie of the Gospel If while God in this your trouble in a maner is mourning vnto you yee lament for your sinnes hee shall in the end make you to dance at the piping of his Gospel From Sinai he shall bring you vnto Sion where all your paines shall bee turned into pleasures The sicke Man All pleasures are farre from mee for the present A world of pleasures are deare bought with one pang of Conscience Gods wrath hath seazed vpon mee for to dragge my Soule downe to the bottome of hell It runneth euer into my minde that I am guiltie of the sinne against the holie Ghost This I take to bee the marke that such as once aâ—…e guiltie of that sinne cannot bee renued againe by repentance this marke seemeth to bee in mee for as yet for all the holie wordes I haue heard out of your mouth I find no renouation though Gods goodnesse by you hath ledde me to repentance I haue not beene moued But after mine hardnesse and impenitent heart I haue treasured 〈◊〉 vnto my selfe wrath against the day of wrath This spoileth mee of outward peace and inward joye What can this bee but the sin against the holie Ghost which shall neither bee forgiuen in this world nor in the world to come I pray you Sir to let me know what a fearefull sinne that is which Scripture saith Shall neuer bee forgiuen Let mee heare of its name and nature The Pastour This sinne Sir of all sinnes is the most fearfull as being a sin of highest natuâ—…e In Scripture it is called Blasphemie against the holie Ghost Because there is no pardon for it it is called A sinne vnto death Christ himselfe declared this plainelie verilie said hee I say vnto you all sinnes shall bee forgiuen to the sonnes of men and blasphemies wherewith soeuer they shall blaspheme but hee that shall blaspheme against the holie Ghost hath neuer forgiuenesse The sicke Man These words seeme strange that all sinnes shall be forgiuen to the sinnes of men and also blasphemies wherewith soeuer they shall blaspheme whether against the Father or the Son but that there is no forgiuenesse for blasphemie against the holie Ghost By that speach it would seeme that there bee blasphemies against God which are not against the holy Ghost By that also it would seeme that the holie Ghost is greater than the Father or the Sonne for what euer blasphemie is vttered against them it may bee forgiuen but as for that where with the holie Ghost is wronged it is an inexpiable staine of it there can be had no remission Before yee proceede cleare mee of this difficultie The Pastour The like of these wordes are also in S. Matthewes Gospel All manner of sinnes and of blasphemie said Christ shall bee forgiuen vnto men but
nothing but ignorantlie The sicke Man Knew yee euer in Scripture or out of Scripture any that fell into that sinne The Pastour In the Old Testament Saul fell into it and therefore the Lord discharged Samuel to mourne for him * In the New Testament Iudas was guiltie thereof and therefore Christ would not pray for him While hee prayed his holie Father to keepe through his owne Name the other Apostles he would not speak a word for the lost son of perdition In that hee practised his precept There is a sinne vnto death I doe not say that hee shall pray for it The sicke Man Is this sinne so great that Gods mercie cannot bee able to ouercome it The Pastour Some thinke that it is called irremissible because that it is forgiuen with exceeding great difficultie But certainelie there is no remission for it The cause is this God will not bee mocked with men neither will he suffer his Iustice to perish for the saluation of anie for seeing hee that despised Moses Law died without mercie vnder two or three witnesses Of how much sore punishment suppose yee shall hee bee thought worthie who hath troden vnder foote the Sonne of God and hath counted the Blood of the Couenant wherewith he was sanctified an vnholie thing and hath done despite vnto the spirit of grace The sicke Man I desire to know how men fall into such a desperati niquitie The Pastour Such men hauing receiued some generall graces of God in a reasonable great measure first vnconscionablie beginne to neglect them suffering these sparkles of goodnesse to die out after that they haue shaken out of their mouth the Bridle of restraining grace while it is cast loose lying vpon their maine they plod on from one sinne to another till shame bee past the shedde of their haire so that they bee passed all feeling The Spirit being often grieued and the heart made hard with a custome of sinne whereby as with a canker the noble buds of the Spirite are fretted and blasted at last the Lord in his justice rolleth vp the sinner wrappeth him into a reprobate sense Thus men by neglecting the inward secret checkes of the Spirit and by harbouring priuie inward r◅pinings boiling lustes murmurings grudgings and vnthankfulnesse the craftie empoysoners of grace as at last come to this point that all the good things they seemed to haue are most licentiouslie dissolued into a publ◅ck prophanitie whereby they vpbraid the Spirit of grace to his face and that with base and scarrell jests yea and often with most filthie belghes of blasphemie That once done all their grace clearelie melteth away like snailes lik the fat of Lambes or lik the winter yce which once beeing thawed floweth away and is seene no more All such thinges bee fore-runners posting before the prince of sinnes euen the sinne against the holie Ghost which is among all sinnes like Beclzebub among the deuils Obserue againe I pray you how the vnquencheable fire of this vnpardonable sin is kindled While man suffereth diuers sins to lye dispersed in his heart at their naturall libertie without controlement Sathan most craftilie by some cunning slight as by an hollow burning glasse so concentrats and vnites them together like fierie beames that they set on fire the whole bodie of mans corruption whereby as by a pouder plot the Soule is blowne vp in blaspheming euen vp vnto the very bosome of the prince of the aire Well is the man who from his youth is sensible of all appearance of euill Let vs then take heede and consider how this sinne againe the Spirit of grace creepeth in sensiblie vpon the heart of man ordinarly this sinne followeth a long custome in sinning as the head vncurable Scirrhus in the leuer affected with the dropsie cummeth after many surfites Thus according to that olde saying though a created testimonie Sero medecina paratur Cum mala per longas invaluere moras O happie they who curbe their corruption in time before they get edge and vigour The sicke Man While a man is in this life may it not bee knowne if hee bee guiltie of this sinne The Pastour Verie hardlie for as Agrippa was almost perswaded to bee a Christian and yet neuer came from almost vnto altogether so will a man almost fall into this sinne and yet bee rescued as a man will bee for a space in the hight of a feuer that ye will neither know whether he be dead or quick Many haue bene reuiued at the putting on of their winding-sheete Euen so it will be in the sicknesse drawing vnto this sinne which is a sin vnto death Some will seeme to bee dead in it as a man into an Apoplexie yet it will be sene that they will arise and repent Of this assertion I take Manasses for a warrand for after that hee had knowne the trueth had persecuted the known Trueth making the streetes of Ierusalem to runne blood yet saith the Scripture while hee was taken among the thornes and bound with fetters and carried to Babylon In his affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himselfe greatlie before the God of his fathers A mans flesh whether on his cheeke or hand cutted to atacke being taken in time while the flesh and blood are yet warme will againe sticke to and receiue the life almost lost If such be the force of Nature how much more powerfull are the workings of grace except thē that a man after knowledge be as Paul was in his ignorance exceedinglie mad in the persecuting Trueth I darre not define his sinne to bee past remeede The sicke Man Indeed Sir these be verie cleare similitudes which illustrat our purpose wonderfullie But seeing as yee thinke no man can certainelie know the particular man that is now guiltie of this sin how is it that we are forbidden to pray for such a man If any man saith S. Iohn see his brother sin a sin which is not vnto death hee shall pray for him but there is a sin vnto death I doe not say that he pray for it so soone as such a mā dyeth without remeed he must in all post haste gallop from the land of the liuing vnto the abhorred region of euerlasting death To what end serueth this inhabitation if no man can know assuredlie who is guiltie of this sinne The Pastour The opinion of the most learned is that in the time of S. Iohn the gift of discretion was giuen vnto the Church whereby both sooner and surer they might discouer the damnable sin As for vs wee can hardlie well perceiue it but by finall impenitencie and most fearefull dispaire whereby such miserable Apostats who haue reuolted from the Trueth declare at last with Iulian that the God of Galilee hath fullie and fearefully ouercome them Till that appeare let vs beware to judge rashlie seeing Peter speaking
went sofâ—…lie with sacke cloth nearest his skinne Mans eyes are easilie easilie jugguled with soddered shewes But God who seeth not as man seeth looketh on the heart They that see such painted men as they themselues also may thinke that they are alreadie possessed of the Kingdome of grace and also intituled to the Kingdome of glorie while indeede they are but prophane men of seared Consciences seeking for nothing but popular applaâ—…ses for the aduancement either of their profite or preferment or reputation and worth By some worldlie respect they euer are caried on the by whereby they euer come short of sinceritie Woe vnto them euen when all men shall speake good of them For a space they may well thinke in their owne fond conceit that they are stored with all the riches of Gods graces like Beggers in their sleepe dreaming that they are tumbling theÌ„selues amid great heapes of gold O but when such awake they are not onlie emptie of their imagined good but filled with sorrow for being depriued of that which they had in their imagination the greatest grouÌ„d of their contentment Thus all comforts shal be sweepe from them with the besome of vtter desolation O the deceitfulnesse of mans heart Who can know it said Ieremie What eye can pierce and passe thorow all the wyles windings of this juggling sinne of Hypocrites which hauing nothing but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forme of godlinesse which beare that world in hand that they are scalded burnt with the zeale of Gods House The best things that are in such are nothing but ciuill outwardnesse clothed with colourable pretences of pietie without any justifying faith in the heart or renewing power in the Soule wherin is the practise of pietie What shall I say more a Reprobate as yee see may bee both courtesse and kind solatious in conuersation a man beloued of his neighbours yea such a man may driue out his dayes without any seene blot or outward scandale Hypocrisie may bee so small spunne that no carnall eye can perceiue it Such a man also may haue some troubles of Conscience some secrete checkes of remorse for his by-goné folies euen Iudas his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 repenting or forethinking But his Soule was neuer acquainted with traueling and hard labour in the newe births which is borne with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eueÌ„ an vniuersall change of minde will and affections which is onelie peculiar to the godlie I will yet say more a Reprobate while hee possesseth a true doctrine though but outwardlie hee may â—…aue the gift of prophecie with Saul Cajaphas yea of miracles also of healings of helpes in gouernaments and of diuersities of tongues Behold how a wicked man may bee a Preacher and a Prophet or among the Prophets and a worker of meracles Haue wee not cast out deuils in thy Name shall many say to Christ at the day of judgement to whom Christ shall answere Departe from mee for I know you not All these good things may a man haue and yet bee a stranger from the life of God * Though such outward thinges haue a glorious appearance bee great in the eye of the world yet they are no sure token of Gods loue Did not Christ call Iudas Friend All the common giftes graces of the wicked are nothing but like the friendship that was betweene Christe and Iudas whome Christ called friend for to let him know that the greater was his sinne Such for all their glistring shewes are strangers from the life of God holden fast vnder the power of the first death and yet none so much as they are puft vp with a conceit of imaginarie perfection so powerfull is the deuilish influence of pride The greater Gods gifts shall- be into the wicked that greater shal be their woe The sicke Man I hauâ—… heard and am satisfied concerning that the vvicked may be made partaker of the holy Ghost I pray you to discusse the fourth difficultie which is That â—… man may taste the good word of God and yet bee a Reprobate The Pastour Hee vvill indeed Sir taste the good word God as I haue exponded that he will taste the heauenlie gift Hee will taste the good word of God That is hee will vnderstand the word he will take pleasure to read it and to heare it preached with some flashes of comfort whereby hee will bee moued to harbour some good meanings and intentions not onlie that but also hee will doe many thinges as Herod who heard Iohn gladlie and did also many things But such a maÌ„ hatheuer some herodias a darling sinne secret or knowne vvhich hee vvould preferre to the head of Iohn the Baptiste While hee is in the Church it may bee hee heare the vvord with some gladnesse yea and vveete his cheekes vvith teares at the preaching of Christs passion but let hâ—…m goe from thence to his Banketing a dancing of a daughter of this Herodias viz. Some little tickling joy of his Mistresse predominaÌ„t sin vvill make him to forget all that was preached A small requeast of some dauncing deuil vvill mak such a man if hee bee of power to lay the Preachers head in a platier There bee many vvho vvhile they heare the Word preached in the Church are like a Siffe or Riddle into the vvater so long as they are in heaâ—…ing they seeme to bee full of Gods word euen to the brim But so soone as they are once departed all that they heard runneth out and they to their olde by as againe The best thing that are in the wicked are to God as vvho for a sacrifice should cut off a Dogs necke or offer Swynes blood The sicke Man This is a strange matter this world as I see is like Sardis Thou hast a few names in Sardis which haue not defiled their garments The Godlie are as the shaking of the Oliue Two or three Berries in the toppe of the vpper-most bough Christ called them vvell The little Flocke Great as I see is the deceitfulnesse of sinne I thought when I saw a man or a woman hearing the word with great attention and vvhiles vvith teares that these could not bee but the Lords chosen and dearest Ones And yet I see that a man may heare the word with greate appearance of godlinesse yea and thinke the Word most sweete for the time yea loue and reuerence Gods Messengers and yet for all that bee kept short of the state of Grace The Pastour All that is true for Herod reuerenced Iohn for a space and heard him gladlie Simon magus belieued with a temporarie faith And Esau though hee wept and sought the blessing with many teares yet could finde no place in his heart vvhere he could lodge true Repentance Many are endewed with painted Graces which hauing but the face not that heart of grace are meere hypocrisie Euen
name into the white Stone is knowne to none but to these that haue receiued it Though hee that hath this name know it himselfe yet hee cannot vttter it It is like these wordes of Paradise which S. Paul called vnspeakable Now for to sum vp breaflie all that hath beene declared in a more large and ample discourse I shall obserue three things which are onelie rooted in the godlie heart a◅e altogether strangers from the Reprobates First where true grace is there is a remorse and painefull griefe with many sore sighes for all by gone slips By this as by a Bitte or Bridle the Soule of the godlie man is kept from backesladings and scandalous stumbling relapses Secondlie he hath a present quicke feeling of these sins which of before hee counted but little and veniel If it bee sinne hee will say no more Is it not a little one A ◅ye for luc◅ or for sport yea a light idle worde will checke him at once in the Conscience though hee were perswaded that it were neuer knowne to anie Last of all by a long practise in well doing hee acquireth in his Soule an habituall tendernesse whereby the former good motions are so confermed and strengthened that it is a pleasure to him to doe well Off this ariseth the gracious and most sweete temper of the good Conscience which is to his Soule a perpetual feast This is the Christians progresse in true godlinesse which is neuer so calme in this world that it can be said to be without troubles which maike the way vnto glorie Thus much for the proofe of the point in hand Onelie this I desire you to obserue that such spirituall workinges goe by degrees◅ like a Riuer that is waxing like an Herbe that is growing like a Day that is but dawning or like a Victorie but beginning At last commeth nowe full Flood nowe is perfect grouth nowe is Noone day now haue I foughtē the good fight now I look for the crown of righteous nesse This being all finished therepenting sinner entereth into glorie the place of ful contentment where the restlesse eyes of mans desire shall rest from peeping or prying any further for any greater felicitie Thus brieflie by waye of compend haue I declared vnto you But all this is not so soone done as said B◅tter bee the Battels of a Christian before hee can come to this rest There be bloodie battels against the Deuill bloodie battels against the World bitter and bloodie battels against the corruptions of his flesh Many a stroke will hee giue vpon his breast with that Publican many astroke will hee giue vpon his thigh crying with Ephraim ◅ye What haue I done S. Paul was pricked with a thorne in the flesh and buffeted by a deuill before hee got the Crowne Christ himselfe speaking of himselfe said Ought not Christ to haue suffred all these things and so to enter into his glorie It is easie to heare this short discourse of words But what paines are into the second Birth The paines of the first Birth are so piercing that the verie paines of hel are compared vnto them And yet I haue known women who by their owne confession haue trauelled more into the second birth than euer they did in the first Manie would bee content to dye for to bee borne againe This flesh of ours is ill to die yet it muste die and bee mortified at the birth of Ichabod where is the glorie The first wordes that this new creature learneth to speake is Where is the glorie At the first it seeketh after Gods glorie as the new borne Babe at the first seeketh after that dug with the tongue and the lips * It is the best foode of a regenerate Soule to sette our Gods glorie as it was our Sauiours meate to doe his Fathers will After all that the Soule maketh a procession in well doing neuer standing at a stand but euer going forward though some times more slowlie The way to glorie is from grace to grace Many foullie deceiue themselues because that they forbeare one sinne or other wherevnto at other times they haue beene most slauishlie addicted they thinke themselues reformed men and that if Death should come incontinent the doores of Heauē shuld goe wide open to the walls for to let in their◅ soules with their formes of godlinesse◅ Such are so high in their owne conceit that they thinke to bee after death cannonized Sainctes Of this sorte bee so many that Scripture calleth them a generation There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceit and yet are not washed from their filthinesse In him vvho is truelie a childe of God the strongest corruptions of the flesh must bee snaffled and curbed by the Law of the Spirit It is not enough to beate downe one sinne or two or many as many will doe but reserue aye some one or other for which they must pray with Naaman In this thing the Lord pardon thy seruant Let no man deceiue himselfe there is no place in Heauen but for him or her whose studie is applyed to an vniuersall sinceritie of all their wayes Let it be that Cain was not a Theefe But did not God curse him for his murther Let it bee that Iudas was free of many sinnes yet because hee way a Theefe and a Traitour and died so hee was damned Let it bee that the Pharisee was not an adulterer as hee bragged yet his pride was the bane of his Saluation Hee that maketh not conscience of the least sinne is guiltie of the greatest According to this God himselfe saith That who faileth in one faileth in all If for God and for Conscience sake a man abhorre the great sinnes of murther and adulterie and such others of not orious rank for these same sakes he will abstaine from lesser sinnes otherwayes it is but some worldlie respect either for shame or losse which like a restraining grace with-holdeth him from matching the same Many will neither kill nor committe adulterie and yet will make no conscience to slander or lye either in sport or earnest or by hooke or crooke catch that which is not their owne Who euer hee bee who without controlement looseth the reines to such petit sinnes hath neuer as yet sette his foote forward in the way that leadeth to life the Spirit of grace as yet hath made no residence into him The Spirit he hath is but a sporting Spirit deceiuing him vvith ◅ies The surest note of the Spirit of the grace is a sanctified studie endeuour to an vniuersall sinceritie in all our wayes of thought worde and dead which vvill bee I confesse often with great vveaknesse and failing for in many things wee offend all Now Sir vvhat thinke yee of all that hath beene said according to the knowledge that God hath giuen mee I haue cleared your doubts If my
subject vnto changes lik the Moone Crownes haue their composse triumphs haue their tombes All our sweetest thinges in end proue but honied poyson Thus all that yee see heere below is vnconstant The greatest kingdomes are turned about as with whirling wheeles The Kinges vpon its spokes are marked vpon this dittâ—… 〈◊〉 Regnabo regno regnam suâ—… 〈◊〉 sine regno One Prince is lying vpon his backe another hath a spok in his hand climing vp the Wheele The third is vpon the top The fourth is fallen hauing his heeles vp his head down All the things of this world are diuided into foure Either they lye low or they climbe they stand or they are fallen The poore man is lying vpon his backe without any helpe or hope Another is fall of climbing conceits The third beeing there where all would bee euen vpon the toppe the higher hee is mounted the greater is his fall He then falleth that another may stand in his place while hee againe is lifted vp hee must stand with feare and heare Let him that standeth take heede lest hee fall At last also to him the haÌ„dwritting commeth foorth that in Gods ballance he is found wanting that therfore his kingdome must bee taking from him Then all the pleasures of his wine of his whoores then all his feasting his mirth and his Musicke is turned into a trembling feuer which maketh all his joyntes to shiuer and his knees to smyte one against another Beholde and consider how the glorie of Kings the gods of this world is brought to destruction Though their heads bee golden their feete are but of clay like Nebuchadnezars image Gods litle stone cut out without hands is able to bruise grinde in powder their Golde Siluer Brasse Yron and Clay for the allaying of the pride of their peacocke feathers Hee can let them see the blacknesse of their feete None of them can stand before the winde of that voyce Returne ye ChildreÌ„ of men Though their honours which they doe broach with so bold a face were reared aboue the highest cloudes and exalted aboue the starrie Skie yet must they descend at the Euening of their life and make their bed with the beggers in the dust Thus after they haue drunke vp the pleasures of this world as Behemoth the Riuer of Iordan they at last find all to be but vanitie and change When their houre is come they must quite all and make resignation of all into the hands of a new succession for to goe dwell in the Land of darknesse and shadow of death Who knewe the weight of their Crownes they would neuer be so sicke for them as King Ahab was for Nabothes vine yarde If of any man may bee said this is most true of him who is in highest places While his flesh is vpon him hee shall haue paine and his Soule within him shall mourne After that for a space hee hath feasted with Belshazzar and fatted himselfe against the day of slaughter with Wheat Wine and Oyle at last shall hee know but too late that no Feast is continuall but that of a good Conscience * Oh that great men while their minds with Dauid are beastlie would with Dauid goe to the Sanctuarie of God for to learne that if great men be not good men though they were Kinges they are sette in slipperie places Seeing Kings and Kingdomes are but vanitie what is that on earth that is not vaine There is nothing that can stretch to eternitie below In this world all men are strangers in their birth Pilgrimes in their life at last lik combersome guests by death they are thrust out at doores The language of Tabor was that It is good for vs to bee heere But the language of heaueÌ„ proclaimed that Peter knew not what he said Striue to keepe euer your heart loose from the earth The glassie sea of this vvorld is neuer without tempests Hee that would haue his Soule wained from the loue of this world let him remember but these sixe things 1. What hee is in himselfe 2. What is within him 3. What is aboue him 4. VVhat is beneath him 5. What is before him 6. What is behind him Man in himselfe is but dust and ashes a cage of corruptioÌ„ Thrise with one breath is he called Earth earth earth Earth by creation sustentation and corruption saith Bernard Within him is a blind minde a peruerse will and most vile affections yea so that euerie imagination of the thoughts of his hearte are onelie euill continuallie Aboue is a weightie vengeance hanging by a small twined threed of Gods patience Below him is a fierie fornace and the smoking brimstone gulfe of euerlasting burnings Against him Sathan and sinne with their legions posting to and fro so that when one departeth it is but to fetch seuen others worse than himselfe Before him is nothing but miserie volumnes of woes and lamentations Those bee his Day-booke Behind him pale Death followeth with stealing steppes See vvhat a masse of miserie like an hudge armie besetteth and besiegeth the whole course of the life of man till death at last come with the dead stroke and separate the Soule from the lumpish heauinesse of clay Then they that die in the Lord are blessed yea saith the Spirit That they may rest from their labours But because the day is alreadie spent yee shall now carefullie thinke vpon that which hath beene said It was a speciall propertie required in Sacrifices fitte for God that they could chewe the cude I leaue that which ye haue heard vnto your nights meditations I pray God that by his Spirit he would conuoy into the substance of that which your eare hath receiued Before I leaue you let vs all bend our knees vnto God in prayer that it would please his Highnesse to blinke downe vpon you with a reconcealed face His boundlesse and bottomelesse mercies did neuer yet know how to breake a bruised reed or quench a smoaking flaxe Let vs pray A Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD the GOD of the Spirits of all flesh the preseruer of men in whoÌ„ is both power for to saue and to destroy Thou art the true Teacher of Israel Thou hast the keyes of Heauen of Hell and of the Graue Come and cast the armes of thy mercie about this sorrow-beaten sinner Rejoyce him with the comforts of thy Spirit Inspire him with holy motions and with the life of Grace till hee bee made partaker of the diuine Nature Thou hast alreadie made his heart to melt within him at the sight of his transgressions Thou hast sette all his sinnes in order before him This is out of thy great mercie wherby thou wold not suffer him to freeze in the dregs of his corruptions Now at last LORD after thou hast refined him in the fierie fornace of temptations send him
clearelie seene vnmasked and vnwizored yea stript starke nacked of all their cloakes of craftinesse What haue they thought or wrought it shall bee sought and found The Lord by the light beames of his eyes Sonnes of thunder and of lightning shalâ—… seeke and scearch thorow the secrets of all hearts after that manner wherof Zephaniah hath written At that time saith the Lord will I search Ierusalem with lamps and visite the men that are frozen in their dregâ—… and say in their heart The Lord will neither doe good nor euill Then shall bee seene who sported in Meshech and who ruffled in the tents of Keâ—…ar contented themselues with painted and guilded graces After that the Lord hath found out with this light all their abominations and hath set them in order before them then shall hee cry Ah I will case mee of mine aduersaries That said hee shall fling contempt vpon their faces The wicked then shall bee so pined with such pinches yea so astonished as that no tong can expresse They who while they had time to repent would not shed a teare for to get Gods mercie would then when the Sun-shine of their glorie is past be glad to please God by powering out the dearest drops of their blood into teares wherewith they might bath the feete of Iesus O the terrors of that day That day shall bee moste fearefull it shall bee like a day of Battell wherein nothing is to be heard but noise squeaking yellings nothing to be seene but gaping of wounded men and tumbling of garmentes into blood al these who on earth were rotten at the heart shal be ranked in the number of that bashfull band O what vnspeakable feares and tremblinges shall then seaze vpon these wretched soules In all partes they shall bee wounded Three restlesse plagues Sorrow Shame and Feare shall continuallie nettle them till an heaped treasure of wrath come rushing vpoÌ„ them with breath of kindled Iuniper Sathan shall continuallie flâ—…sh in their face fire whose flammes shall beefed with riuers of Brim stone kindled with an euerlasting wrath The great God with the Hammer of his vengeance shall strike thorow the rebellious loynes of their pride and shall breake the yron sinews of their obstinacie Then would they giue a world for an hole in heauen for to relish the least pleasures that be there No tongue of man or Angel can fullie expresse the least part of these woes Manie millions of their earthlie pleasures shall bee deare boght with one minute of such paines Their best shall bee the â—…rie contrarie of that which they like best For all shall goe to all Reeling shal be their rest paines their pleasures mourning shall bee all their mirth and their Bone musicke shall be but gnashing of teeth euen in the presence of their Iudge before whom they shall stand lik abominable monsters and spectacles of amazement Thus as is well said in the Psalme The way of the wicked hee turneth vp side downe At the first dash he shall break in pieces the claspes haspes of their foolish hopes wherein once boldlie they did sinne that grace might abound The sicke Man O how fearefull shall their condition bee while like Tinder before the fyrereadie to bee consumed they shall stand araigned before the Barre of Gods justice with the volumes of their sinnes written in Letters great like mountaines so that euery eye may read them The Lord as I think out of a sower seuere imperious austeritie shall behold that cursed band with glauncing eyes of vnuterable wrath wherefrae shall come nothing but wilde fyre brim-stone and gun-powder for the euerlasting firing of their Conscience Not onelie shall the Lord behold their vilanies but to all eyes that euer saw sight hee shall anatamize their guilefull heartes wherein all their most filthie plottes and deuices shall bee seene vnto their euerlasting shame and infamie O what shame and confusion of face O what feares and tremblings shall seaze vpon these who on earth for a point of their hose would bee at daggers drâ—… wing with the greatest Then shall these who were bold to sinne in their life despising God and his threatnings Then shall they shake and quake like a man whose neck is laide vpon the blocke waiting for nothing but the dead stâ—…ok from the instrument of death Theâ—… 〈◊〉 their comfort shall bee turned 〈◊〉 confusion Then shall they know howe foolishlie they conceiued an imaginarie Hell while pressed down vnder a sinnefull load the wrath of God like a Mile-stone shall cruch them downe to the deepes of despaire where one sorrow succeeding shall foreuer presse at the heeles of another The Pastour O these vnspeakable terrours It is most certaine that Belshazzar neuer did speake so while hee saw the hand writting on the wall as the wicked these doolefull wights shall doe when they shall stand before God with the Bookes of the Law Gospel and of Consciences laide open before them Horrours shall bee heaped vpon them with terrours torments wherof a created Nature can be capable O then what gâ—…ashing of teeth and volumes of woes They shall bee so soacked in teares and facaked with sorrowe that who shall see them shall see the veâ—…ie image of Death and yet none shall pitie them There shall they stand script starke nâ—…cked before their ludge â—…ik criminals vpon the pannell looking for nothing but present condemnation both of soulâ—… and bodie which God shall make the eternall fuâ—…ll of euerlasting flaâ—…es The Soule and bodie combined mates in miserie shall mourne for euermore The sicke Mâ—…n O Lord season my Soule with the graces of thy Spirit reuiue it with the spirituall vigour Let mee liue the life of the righteous and let mine end bâ—…e like vnto theirs I haue heard you Sir with great attention declare that when Christ shall sitte downe to judge hee shall separate the wicked from the Godly as Goates from the Sheepe and that the wicked with all the hoast of hell lapped vp in that same bundle of condemnation shall sâ—…and at his left hand and that the Godlie shall litte vpon Thronos at his right hand Nowe I desire to knowe of you what shall bee the case of the Godly at the right hand before that the ludgement bee pronounced The Pastour It hath beene tolde you that the Wicked who on Earth made the world to tremble with their boisterous brags shall at Gods Left hand bee standing in disgrace discount discountenance with their Iudge There shall they stand all trembling hauing before them the Booke of the Lawe where they shall see all their Sins of Thoughts Words Workes While their guilted Consciences shal be crying guiltie within them at the sight of the Lawe Booke of their transgressions the Lord for to aggrauate their griefe shal present before them the Book of the Gospel wher they shall see how by vnbeliefe they haue sinned against the
water but it is God who giueth the increase The best of all Preachers are but like Iohn the Baptist the voyce of a Cryer who could not make all the crooked straight nor the rough plaine If any good bee conuoyed vnto your Soule by mee I am but the Instrument or Channell wherethorow the Spirit of Iesus hath made his Graces to flow vnto you To Him alone belongeth the Glorie and the Thankes It is not humane eloquence which conuerceth Soules One word quickened and enliued with his Spirit is more fruitfull than all the glorious eare-pleasing pompe of mans wordes which like Agrippa and Bernice are full of phantasie All the good that man can doe either by word or worke is like the honie in the combe gathered out of many flowers But the euill is lik the Spidders webbe drawne out of our owne bowels The griefes of your heart Sir haue bene very great but now ye are mercifullie comforted Manie in this world plod on from sin to sin marching merrilie feareleslie towards the plagues of Hell But O how much are yee beholden vnto your GOD who in all your wearisome mazes hath supported and sinewed your Soule by his sauing Grace Because Sir there be here diuerse of your Friendes and other acquaintance vnto whom it may be ye wold desire to speake I giue place to them that now they may learne something of you The last words of a godlie man are verie forcible vnto the liuing And therefore Sir while ye haue breath spend your short time vpon this that by your good counsell yee may doe good to these that are for to liue after you That once done commit your Soule to God as a faithful Creator He himselfe hath said I will not leaue thee neither will I forsake thee A speach of the sicke Man to his Friendes And now yee my trustie Friends whose age God hath crowned with ripenesse of judgement I turne my selfe to you But first of all let mee speak vnto you my spiritual special Friend who in my deepest plunge while I was fast sticking into the myrie clay did vphold me with your comforts Your counsell to sende for my Pastour hath prouen a speciall salue for my sore God by that man of whom yee spake hath now healed my Soule of all its harmes O blessed be that vnspeakable mercy of my God Though Sathan had bereaued mee of my puritie he could not bereaue my God of his pittie The Lord of light hath brought my Soule out of that long and loathsome night which is in the valley of the shadow of death in comparison whereof the most palpable darknesse of Egypt might haue beene esteemed to bee day O that pleasant Sunne-shine wherewith my Soule is nowe inlightned O my God breath more more into my Soule the life of grace The spirituall Friend Glorie bee to God for his wonderfull mercies towardes you The Lord now set your Soule on wing that swiftlie like an Eagle it may flie vp to its God Many a sore assault haue yee suffered since I spake with you at the first Satan his temptations with the world the corruption of Nature had gathered themselues against you like Gebal Amon and Amaleck against Israel Of them may yee well say nowe They compassed mee about like Bees they are quenched as the fyre of thornes To Sathan may yee now say Thou hast thrust sore at mee that I might fall but the Lord hath helped mee When I mette with you first yee were compassed with a chaine of calamities one linked into another To mee yee appeared to bee hanging ouer Hell by the slender twined threed of a lifelesse hope Yee were plunged deeper downe than Ionaâ—… was when hee went downe to the bottome of the mountaines where the weedes were wrapt about his head Now let your Soule say with Ionah I will sacrifice vnto thee with the voyce of thankesgiuing I will pay that that I haue vowed Saluation is of the Lord. The sicke Man Blesse the Lord O my Soule and all that is within mee blesse his holie Name Blesse the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his benefites Farewell my trustie Friend Now as for you mine other friends I turne my selfe to you Hee that is conuerted with Peter should labour the conuersion of others Hee whose weaknesse the Lord hath helped should strengthen his brethren It is nowe time to take our last good night Heere in your presence I say Farewell O world wherein I haue liued which I haue too much loued Learneye in time to set your affections vpon God None of you can tell if God shall giue you such laiser to repent as he hath granted vntome If yee forsake not in time the sweete pleasures of your sins feare lest at last that that be found true which Abner said to Ioah Knowest thou not that it will bee bitternesse in the latter end There is no sinne so sweete to man in his life but before his death it shall bee dissweetned and turned into gall and wormewoode within the bellie of the Conscience I speake by experience as one who hath knowne the terrours of the Lord O my deare friendes looke ouer your shulder back to your bygone life and consider how grieued yee shall bee for the sinnes of your pleasures when yee shall bee warded into your death beddes readie to compeare before the great Iudge of the world As yee see mee this day so shall others see you ere it bee long I haue often beene glad among you Yee see now by mee what it is of all worldlie â—…oye With a little blast of sickenesse such comfort like chaffe are chassed away Your time is fast comming Your Glasse is running my sicknesse cryeth vnto you Learne of the estate of this your olde Friend to make your selues readie for another world To mee to day to you to morrow Where the tree falleth there shall it lye Whether the Glutton and the Begger are gone thither must wee all that is either to 〈◊〉 hams bosome or to the Deuils 〈◊〉 The death of one is like a 〈◊〉 charging all others to bee readie 〈◊〉 flitte and remoue Happie yea thrise happie is that man who in these 〈◊〉 and desperate dayes is not dulde with securitie Blessâ—…d is hee who is forâ—… warned striue to bee forewarned Blessed is that man who is eueâ—… vpon his watch hauing his loineâ—… girded and his Candle in his hand waiting for the comming of his Lord. A dew my louing Friendes Seeke in time the friendship of your God Striue to be worthie the stile of Abraham that was called The friend of God O my deare Friends let mee now tell you what the Lord hath done to my Soule Hee hath at last beene sensiblie gracious to my poore Soule which Sathan hath long hunted vp downe like a Patridge on
swelling word which by the accent shall giue notice that they are not such as they say Certainelie Humilitie is one of the fairest flowers in the whole garland of spirituall vertues Whereas Pride a spirituall tympanie bloweth vp the heart and maketh the Arteries to swell with vncleane spirits Humilitie tempereth the blood and quieteth the Spirit with such a calmenesse as that wherein the Lord appeareth to Elijah Some if they bee not Whoores or Theeues they thinke that they cannot faile and yet in one sinne are all sinnes for who faile in one faile in all That which God said by his Prophet is notable If a man beget a sonne that is a Theefe or a Murtherer or that doeth any one of these thinges Obserue the words Anie one Thogh hee doe all these things Shall be liue hee shall not liue He hath done all these abominations See howe hee who hath done but any one is heere also said to haue done all these abominations See how all sinnes by a little bore creepe in with a deceitfull pace If one poisonfull herbe bee in the Potte death is there What shall I say more of Humilie the rarest vertue in women This I will say The lowliest heart is euer in highest in Gods account it euer hath the best share of his fauours As streames of waters runne to the lowe valleyes so doe the graces of God flow to the humble Soules Shame and confusion of face is the ordinatie end of all the puffes of pride and of all vnlawfull daliance This sentence neuer lighted false Pride must gette a fall This is Scripture Though the Lord bee high yet hath hee respect vnto the lowlie But the proud hee knoweth a farre off Bee constant in all thy wayes striue to keepe peace with thy neighbours For this end set a porter at thine eare for to hold out fal◅e reports an open eare and a loose tongue are two deadlie foes to all sacred friendshippe Where such are triffles are taken for truethe after that a matter it throughlie sifted most mens r◅ports are found to bee but babbling Let the true feare of God harbour in thine heart continuallie The feruent zeale of many is agueish lik feuers which come goe by fits and starts Ahab could crouch whē hee heard that the Dogges should licke his blood Till Pharaohs sorcerers were fearefullie plagued none of them could pronounce This is the finger of God Bee not like the wicked who neuer feare God but when hee is in a tempest Fooles are so stiffe and steelie that for God they will not stir an inch till his judgement cause them to stagger Striue to liue by precept not by example Many thinke themselues to bee well beause they are not so euill as many others In this they are like the Drapers who giue luster to a Karsey by laying it to a Rugge The deeper damnation of some in the poole and puddle of perdition shall bee a verie small comfort for these that are in the shallow foordes of the floodes of fyre kindled with the brimestone beames of euerlasting burnings The fore-skinne of an vncircumcised heart is so thicke and brawnie that no precepts can pierce through it till the Spirite himselfe make a way Oh then seeing wee are all a broode of corrupt loynes it standeth thee in hand to bee earnest with that Spirit of grace that he would teach thee to keepe watch and ward ouer all thy wayes If any creature offende thee bite not at the stone but lift vp thine eyes to God None euill is in the Citie but that which hee hath done At diuine Seruice be not chill nor colde Bee feruent in thy prayers while thou speakest to God with thy mouth suffer not thine hearte to wander vpon toyes it is more difficile to pray than to preach wicked men may preach but they cannot pray God hath branded them with this blot they call not vpon God The Lord put into thine heart the juice and sappe of his Grace My Spirit is so wearied that I am not able to expresse my minde The Pastour The Psalmest said well The Lord will perfite that which concerneth mee Hee who hath begun in you his graces shall perfite that which concerneth you yea and shall make his grace to bee made perfect in your weaknesse The sicke Man O my Lord lead mee in the land of vprightnesse O God with Thee is the Fountaine of life In thy Light wee shall see light Reuiue mine heart O Lord with some new supplye of strength from aboue Let the wordes of my mouth and the meditations of mine heart bee acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength my Redeemer Aboue all thinges my louing Spouse beware of euill companie the corruption of good manners and fuell of folie It is good to vse companie as Moses did his Rod so lōg as it remained a Rod he remained with it but so soone as it became a serpent incontinent he fled from before it Bee not like these most vile persons who for to varnish their appearances of euill with alledging innocencie say That they care not what men say of them and that they cannot hinder men to speake Away with such wordes such vaine partlings cannot secure the Conscience neither content the scandalized beholders of euill appearances If thou doe not euill doe not euill lik Be not altogether carelesse what others say of thee but in all securitie of life striue for a good name which is better than precious oyntment There is no such folie as folie practised with profession of wisedome Hypocrites may warilie watch ouer their words and outward actions but none but Nathanaels haue hearts without guile Consider well I pray thee that wee are now come to the dregges of dayes and extremities of time and also to the extremities of sinne for auoiding of the sands we rush vpō the rocks We liue in the last and most corrupt age wherein the verie confluence of all the corruptions of former ages haue made their Randie-vowes So as all may see it is vtterlie impossible except the Lord work wonders that anie keepe themselues so passinglie pure from all spice of contagion but some one infection or other shall sticke vnto them vnto Gods dishonour and their owne disgrace O how manie rubs are in the way to life eternall My best beloued let such instructions sinke deeplie down into thine heart that thou bee not like Hypocrites who are more thoughtfull for plausible conueiances and outward plastering appearances than for anie substance of godlinesse Bee truelie godlie and not prophane like these who say what the Prophets will must into the house of Rimmon one thing or other must they doe wherein God must bee mercifull vnto them As for thee bee a Church wife and also an House-wife It is not seemelie for women to bee gading heere and there shee is most happie
Beasts fed on the bare commons are not so neere the slaughter as these that goe into fatter pastures B◅ware of all vncleannes Make a couenant with your eys not to behold wine women keepe carefullie your vessels cleane in sanctification and honour If yee slippe in anie sinne beware to sleepe in it for that is death Vita in vigilia est Godlie men in olde age regretting their former haunts are lessons from God to teach Youth not to plot the pleasures wherewith God is displeased Manie sinnes of Youth be called tricks but it is a terrible tricke to goe to Hell People foolishlie cloake Fornication with a tricke of youth but the Spirit of GOD giueth it a scarlet cloake dyed in red with the blood of three and twentie thousand Bee yee wise in time let the rememberance of the shrill sound of the last trumpet euer hold your heart in a stirre so soone as yee see the least appearance of euill Thinke no sin litle seeing it is against so great a Majestie For eating of a tree Ada◅ was banished out of Paradise For touching the Arke shaken with the Oxen Vzzah lost his life For looking into it fiftie thousand three score and tenne men were slaine at Bethshemeth For gathering sticks vpon the Sabbath God declared that the man should bee stoned vnto death without the Campe Such thinges are written for our learning As for you stand in awe to sinne in a thought To clippe the Kings Coyne were it neuer so little is an high ◅reason Be affraide at the first gloumes of your GOD Crouch so soone as hee beginneth to shake his rod at you In all companies be constantlie godlie like the Sunne in his light Too manie like the Moone now glister with reflexes of light and anone are darkened Now and then they appeare with diuerse faces now with Saul they are Prophets among the Prophets and anone as reuoking all former godlinesse they runne rȳot with gluttons and reuellers O my beloued thinke neuer shame to be godlie among scorners Care not that by your conscio◅able cariage the wicked bee gauld and grieued in their madde moode they will call all godlinesse but outwardnesse and formalitie Tak good he◅d to all your ways set a guarde about your thoughts and a watch before your mouth Seeing the tongue is mans glorie let it not bee abused with rotien words Let not your eares bee open for to receiue the scowring of other mens filthie mouthes Bee calme and quiet in all your wayes Bee not rash or hastie looke before yee leape bee not selfe-willed proude contemners of your betters Aspire not aboue your pitch Care not so much for mans d◅spight as for Gods displeasure Let God be the caruer of all your car◅s Abhorre to be idle like these who sitting in the Chire of sloth passe their time at handie dandie Loyter not while yee should labour The first word that Pharaoh said to Iaakob his sonnes was What is your treade or occupation Be painefull and faithfull in your calling liue not litherlie as these that are giuen to sleepe the sluggardes lingring sicknesse Hee is of a base spirit who sluggishlie gaping and stretching himselfe lyeth lusking on the downe Vp vp from the feathers earelie in the morning striue with the Cocke in watchfulnesse and rise with the chirping of the birdes Ioyne watching against euill with wishing and prayers for that which is good It is good that the bodie bee moistned with the morning dew earelie rising bringeth health to the bodie and increaseth the number of mans dayes I remember of a verse which while I was young serued for a wakener for to rouse mee from my morning sleepe Sanctificat sanat dit at quoque surgere mane That is it maketh holie whole and rich to rise earelie in the morning for this cause earlie buckle your selues to your businesse Bee wise and watchfull In all your enterprisses haue an eye vpō your God doe all as into his sight bee not too cast down in aduersitie nor too puft vp in prosperitie If mans applause make you to ouerweene your selues at anie time chasten your loftinesse with the memorie of manie infirmit es which are nested within you in all thinges feare the worst and hope the best That which seemeth to man vnliklie is not with God impossible Let your life in a godlie sober ciuill cariage shine before men that they seeing it may glorifie your heauenlie Father Striue not to bee called Doctours and Rabbies though ye bee men of letters but aboue all striue to bee teachers of others by good example and not by word onlie lest yee bee like the Fyle which smootheth all other thinges but it selfe remaineth rough Beware of all sinfull pleasures which like faire Ladies come with alluring propines to woo and catch the vnstable soule In the verie throng of all your adoes draw your selues to a set dyet of priuate deuotion Mine heart beginneth to faint of force I must make a pause After that I am refreshed with a little rest I shall declare to you all that is in my minde and memorie O my Soule seek sigh for grace Be carefull for a neerer acquaintance with the Lord of Heauen Shortlie thou shalt embrace him whom the Fathers by faith saluted but a farre off The Pastour Lord heare thou in Heauen the groanes of thine humble supplicant mak him fullie freelie to taste and partake of the pleasures of thy graces til he come to glory Roll his wearied Soule within these compassions which in thy mercie are rouled together O deare Iesus besprinkle thou his heart with thy precious Soule-sauing blood which is euer louelie to the mercifull eye of the Father Take breath a little Sir that yee may continue in such precepts such heauenlie sentences were neuer bred nor brewed vpon the earth The Lord himselfe hath put the Roll of these things into your mouth which yee haue eaten and which make your breath to haue the sauour of life vnto life Certainelie in some measure the Lord Iesus hath breathed vpon you as hee did vpon his Apostles when hee said vnto them Receiue the holie Ghost The sicke Man Lord imprint thine Image into my Soule afresh My Spirit is reuiued a new power is entered into mee Blessed be hee who giueth power to the faint and who increaseth strength to them that haue no might Giue eare now againe vnto my speach O yee my deare Children Incline your eares vnto the wordes of my mouth See that yee liue in loue a rent is the forerunner of a ruine If yee would liue die in honestie practise all Christian dueties Feare God loue the Church honour your King bee faithfull to your Countrie reuerence your Mother Bee pitifull bee courteous liue in loue together Your strength is in vnitie like a sheafe of arrowes A
the Kings Daughter which is all glorious within Make Her a Mother in Israel a Nurse Mother to thy Church an happie Mother of blessed Children Be mercifull to all the Nobilitie of our Land fixe fast their heartes vpon the thinges that are aboue Blesse our Pastours make them painefull Faithfull at thy Seruice that they may gaine with the Talents which thou hast committed to their keeping Make them to striue more then for states to bee in thy fauour Let their chiefest care bee to winne and wooe manie Soules to the loue of Iesus the blessed Bridegroome of the Church Good LORD bee mercifull to vs that are heere humbled before thee Encrease our Faith and better our feeling and apprehension of thy loue Look graciously vpon this our euening sacrifice which wee doe heere render vnto thy Majestic perfumed with the merits of thy Sonne in that prayer which hee by his most sacred wisedome hath taught vs saying Our Father which art c. The sicke Man Before the market time of my life be ended O my deare God let me haue a rich pennie-worth of thy mercie Thou who biddeth vs buy without money giue vs grace to tak the aduantage of the Market before the Sunne of our life bee set O that in this our day wee could know the things belonging to our peace that in an holie zeale the corruptions of our affections wherewith our hearts heere bee in◅hralled and sold vnder sinne may bee justled out and tread vnder foote THE EIGHTH DAYES Conference A Conference with a carnall Friend concerning his Buriall Concerning Funerall Sermons Diuerse prayers Death approaching A Soliloque◅ betweene the Soule and the bodie in a trance their last adewes The last gaspes Michael and Sathan disput for the Soule The sicke Man THE troublous toyles of this world are the bane of Mans life they surfet his minde with car◅s My Spirit is much wearied Oh that I had wings lik a Doue then would I flie away and rest O with how manie rootes are wee fastened vnto this earth The World Wife Life and Children but most of all our owne corruptions are burdens which hang so fast on that none hand but that of the Almightie is able to shake them off So long as wee haue health and wealth wee stalke in our vanities like Nebuchadnezar in his palace of confusion Wee neuer perceiue that wee dwell in Bable till one judgement or other bring vs to confusion Wee will not suffer to bee reproued while the time is fittest for repentance Wee are offended at the word except that it glyde by our faults Wee will not with Peter bee with-stood to the face The Preacher must whisper his reproofes behind our backes or he must speake vnto vs as vnto Princes into Parables Wee heare like stones and goe like snailes Fye vpon vs Oh that wee were wise A carnall Friend What are yee now doing Sir In all appearance yee are shortlie for to leaue this world yee haue said all your adewes and haue turned your backe vpon all worldlie things as Hezekiah did when hee turned his face to the wall I desire Sir to knowe of you but one thing Where would yee bee buried Were it not expedient that your Corps lye into the Church where are buried these which are in greatest account in this world The sicke Man What haue I to doe with this world or with the fashions of this worlde which passe away Wherfore should I make the glorious House of my God a flesh pot of corruption Fye vpon our folie Should it be conuenient that my stinking bones cast vp anie noysome vapours for to trouble the liuing at the seruice of the euerliuing What aduantage shall it be to my Soule to come and fetch this bodie out of a Church more than out of a Church yeard What prerogatiue shall it bee to my bodie in that day that it hath beene buried into Gods House Gods House in Scripture is called An House of prayer but in no place is it called A place of buriall Let no mā mak me an euill example after my death What is this How long shall foolish man goe round in his course and compasse of vanitie like a blind horse in a Mill The carnall Friend But would yee not at least haue a Tombe Sir and your name written vpon it with this Heere lyeth such a man The sicke Man Vaine man is glutted with vanitie euen vnto the gorge pype Why trouble ye me with vanitie in death who is now mourning for the vanitie of my life mine accoūt is cast vp for another world My name is written into the Booke of life what care I for Letters into stones away with such Banners of pride Such things are but cold comforts to a wearied Conscience Such thinges are but vanities of none abode Where are nowe the Mausels and most glorious Tombes of Emperours It was well said by a Pagan Sunt etiam sua fata Sepulchris That is for to giue a glosse to these words Tombes wherein the dead are buried will bee buried themselues Nothing is heere permanent Triumphs haue their Tombes and Crownes haue their compasse O my God faste◅ and fixe the eyes of my Soule vpon that which is eternall O the folies of mens hearts who vainelie and needleslie waste vpon their dead vanities that which might builde houses for the poore But let proud men lye vnder their statelie Towers such lifted vp stones must at last fall downe as he fell who now lyeth vnder them I like well of Beza his answere on his death bed to one that spak to him of a Tombe Sub cespi◅e viridi said he That is Lay mee vnder the greene Turfe A notable word of humilitie Good Deborah was buried vnder an Oke tree Manie may lie vnder painted stones whose Soules are pined into Hell God will neuer inquire of a mans Soule where was thy bodie buried But how hast thou liued into that bodie shall he say Lay mee then vnder the greene Turfe How manie Martyres haue beene burnt into ashes which haue beene cast vp into the winde and scattered vpon the waters Coelo tegitur qui non habet vrnam Hee is couered with the Heauens who wanteth a graue Facilis jactura Sepulchri est The losse of buriall is no great losse O that my Soule were truelie humble I haue alas in the dayes of my vanitie beene too much pined with the prid of life scādalously appearing without but O O O Si trabes in oculo strues in corde a litle beame of pride in the eye telleth that there is a stake of it in the heart And yet in this Turfe of humilitie which I cry for I spy a lurking pride Pride is a secrete thing so small spun that hardlie can it bee discerned A man will bee proude that hee is not proude or rather because hee will not seeme to bee proude This is priuie pride
thou separate them sâ—…ale surelie thy pardons within my Conscience and doe perfectlie away all my transgressions Guarde mee assist mee and harnesse my Soule against Sathan his last on-sette Let my Soule graspe with an holy greedinesse in the hand of Faith such spirituall comforts as thou O Lord makest to come from the boundlesse and bottomelesse fountaine of thy mercie toward all these whoÌ„ thouloueth Let my soule feele more and more sensiblie these mercies which fairelie oriently streame thorow the bloodie wounds of my blessed Sauiour Iesus the 〈◊〉 wash and bath my drooping Soule in the well of life Giue vnto it a drinke of the riuers of thy pleasures O Lord of loue shedde thy loue into mine heart thorow the bleeding bowels of my blessed Sauiour O blessed Redeemer of lost mankinde O Pelicane of pittie whose heart did euer melt with mâ—…rcifull compassions pittie my Soule in this painefull plight Mine heart strings are racked my bowels are rent the house of the Soule is falling downe nowe open the doore of thine euerlasting Tabernacles that my Soule may goe from Grace to Glorie Make the power of thy loue like a load stone for to draw mine heart after thee from the mudde of this mortalitie The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and fulfill the sute of thy Seruant burie all his sinnes and his sorrowes in the bottomelesse sea of thy mercie Entombe in the Tombe of Iesus where they may lye for euer without anie hope of a resurrection The sicke Man I waite for the Lord my Soule doeâ—…h waite in his word doe I hope My soule waiteth for the Lord more thaÌ„ they that watch for the morning I say More thaÌ„ they that watch for the morning My Soule is wearied of this earthlie Tabernacle O when shall I come and appeare before God O that I were at my wished home O nowe moue the poole of thy mercie and moue my Soule to runne into it The Pastour It is likly that within an houâ—…e God shall grant you your desire Could not you watch with mee but an houre said Christ to his Disciples Yee haue nowe but an houres absence from your God Yee haue but an houres voyage from the bodie to the sight of Gods face the place of your rest Fixe fast your eyes vpon the Crowne of immortalitie till your Soule be past from toilesome Time to Eternitie Yet a little while God shall retire you from the tyring trauels of this life Watch but an houre and your end shall bee peace The sicke Man The Lorde sende a good houre wherein I may lay downe the loade of this mortalitie Alas manie an houre haue I euill and idlie spent in pam pering this foggie flesh with the light and loose pleasures of this life O Spirite of Grace drawe neare vnto my Soule Make thy residence into this broken heart Correct cure and couer all the corruptions of my Nature Beginne and end crowne the worke with thy goodnes At last close in me thy graces with thy glorie O make mine eyes to see and mine armes to carrie and mine heart to bee filled with thy Saluation Conuoye vnto my Soule the warmest blood that euer heated the heart of Iesus Let that euer recking blood wherein is a Sauour of life vnto life Comfort and vp-holde my Soule in this last heauie houre Now Sir seeing the end draweth neare helpe mee to spend well this houre which in all appearance shall be my last I wish that all my thoghts and affections bee nowe so bended toward my God that they neither sway nor swerue from him by anie idle wandering of minde O Thou that art high and excellent who dwellest in the high and holie place Thogh thou be high thy promise is to dwell also with him that is of a contrite humble spirit According to thy promise reuiue the Spirit of the humble and giue life to him that is of a contrite heart O Lord according to thy wonted grace make mee in my last agonie to possesse my Soule in peace and patience Disapoint Satan in all his craftie fetches O couer this sillie Turtle vnder the mantle of thy mercie All other couerings are but light and slight like Spiders webbes which cannot endure the breath and blast of thy mouth The Pastour Lord hearken thou in heauen giue eare vnto the sute of thy Seâ—…uaÌ„t I perceiue indeede that now your words wearie you Lest yee faint I shall tak the speach vpon me If it be your will I shall let you heare a most diuine discourse taken from a godly preacher on his death-bed the words surely are weighty of great power If ye please I shal let you heare them while I speake them meditate yee and in your minde make them your owne wordes The sicke Man I intreate your Sir for to let mee heare them I shall follow you in mine heart as I can I finde that my tongue almost now faileth mee O God while I heare let the Spirit of grace take harbour into mine heart Set all mine affections on bensell that I may carefullie giue eare vnto thy comfortes the cordials of thy Gospel O cleare the sight of my minde dazeled with the mist of my corrupt affections The Pastour Lord heare thou in heauen and forgiue the sinnes of thy seruant After this manner Sir the man of God spake vpon his death-bedde I owe to God a death as his Son died for mee Euer since I was borne I haue beene sayling to this Hauen and gathering patience to comfort this houre therefore shall I bee one of these Guestes nowe that would not come to the banket when they were inuited What hurt is in going to Paradise I shall lose nothing but the sense of euill And anone I shall haue greater joyes than I feele paines For mine Head is in Heauen alreadie to assure mee that my Soule and bodie shall follow after O Death where is thy sting Why should I feare that which I wold not escape because my chiefest happines is behind I cannot haue it vnlesse I goe vnto it I wold goe through Hell to Heauen And therfore if I march but through death I suffer lesse than I would suffer for God My paines doe not dismay mee because I trauaile to bring foorth eternall life My sinnes doe not fright me because I haue Christ my Redeemer The Iudge doeth not astonish me because the Iudgâ—…s Sonne is mine Aduocat The Deuill doth not amaze mee because the Angels pitch about me The Graue doeth not grieue me because it was my Lords bedde Oh that Gods mercie to mee might moue others to loue him For the lesse I can expresse it the more it is The Prophets and the Apostles are my fore-runners Euery man is gone before mee or else hee will follow after mee If it please God to receiue mee into Heauen before them which haue serued him better I owe more thankfulnesse vnto
bee thankfull vnto thy good and gracious Lord O what tribulations am I come thorow O with what balmie comfortes hath the Lord asswadged the dolours of my Soule O my Soule I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hynds that thou haste thee vnto thy God in thy strongest affections Keepe nowe tryst with the Spirit of thy God who is now here waiting till thou bee readie The Pastour My Soule and all that is within mee praise the Lord for the powerfull working of his Spirite within you whereby hee hath made such a change as is wonderfull This particula◅ remembereth mee of a certaine Martyre who beeing condemned to bee burnt could feele no working of the Spirit within his hearte till hee came neare to the stake But beeing once come there with a cry hee clapped his hands and crying out amaine said O Austen hee is come hee is come The Martyr was called Master Goner The sicke Man By the grace of God I hope shortlie to say as much My Soule is readie bent waiting for his comming O come Lord Iesus come Let this mine hungrie Soule win in now at the ports of thy Palace for to get a share of the mariage supper of the Lambe in hope already I feast vpon the joys of eternitie In my Soule is now the Charter of my Saluation sealed with that most pure and purifying Blood of the immaculate and spotlesse Lambe that came to take away the monstrous and menstrous sin◅es of the world In the vertue of his Blood is my strongest comfort and highest resolution By it alone all my blacke and bloodie sinnes are clensed from their crimsin colour The Pastour Indeede Sir it is onelie that Lambes Blood that can purge away sinne and iniquitie Though man should wash himselfe with nitre and take him much sope yet for all that shall his iniquitie bee marked before God except that hee bee bathed into this blood of sprinkling Seeing now your Charter is well sealed hold fast these writtings that nothing aboue or belowe no not principalities and powers bee able to wrest them out of your hands Happie is your heart now wherein is that white jewell of the Reuelation euen the white stone wherein is a new name which no man can knowe except the receiuer O the boundlesse bleeding bowels of Gods compassions O that infinite store-house of Christs merites and mercies which no sinne were they neuer so hainous can bee able to stint or restraine before the repenting sinner get a parte of that purchase Neither Death nor Life things present nor to come shall be able to with hold a mourning sinner from a share in our Lords dearest compassions Christ now Sir is readie to receiue ◅ou Make your selfe readie for him Lift vp your hea◅ for your Redemption draweth neare The ende of your time and toile is fast comming The Angels of God are here waiting vpon your Soule which is now looking out to Christ as the morning faire as the Moone cleare as the Sunne and terrible as an Armie with Banners Wherevpon is your minde nowe fixed The sicke Man All mine affections are bended toward God O what shall bee able to hold or hinder me from hastening to my Lord the repairer of life the destroyer of death the conquerour of Heauen the vanquisher of Hell O my Sauiour come neerer yet vnto mee let my Soule creepe in by thy wounds euen to the verie bowels of thy mercie Warme it like a Chicken vnder the vvinges of thy loue The Pastour In Christ alone is Saluation Out of his side did issue the water that hath quenched the vnquencheable fyre of Gods wrath with the Blood that taketh away the sinnes of the world His holie Heart was racked his Armes of compassiō were stretched out vpon the Crosse for to declare to all repenting sinners the infinite widenesse of his mercies His sacred Head hang down bowed for to giue eare vnto the gronings of his prisoners His blessed Bowels rumbling with compassions rolled together made him to proclaime that Oyas of mercie Come vnto mee all yee that are wearied and ladened with sinne and I will ease you Much hath hee suffered for our cause Like a painefull labourer hee powred out sweate not onely of water but of blood at the working the great worke of mans Saluation At last by laying downe that Life of loue hee achieued the victorie ouer Sathan flesh the world all the enemies of mans Saluation Them all hee hath crushed and trodde vnder foote Stand fast by Iesus In Faith and Hope thrust your heart vpon him What now Sir thinke ye vpon The sicke Man Christ hath bund vp all my woūds he hath perfectlie closed them with the blessed Balme of his comfortes Now at the end of mine appointed time I am waiting earnestlie till my changing come I hope ere it be long to bee translated from grace to glory The Pastour O Lord set this Soule as a seale vpon thine Hearte and as a seale vpon thine Arme Out of thy great loue make this Soule beautifull as Tirzah comelie as Ierusalem terrible as armie with banners Thou Lord who crownest the yeare with thy goodnesse tak in thine hand the crowne of immortalitie in this Soule crowne thy graces with thy glorie Now Sir yee are neare the borders of Canaan three or foure steppes more would set you in that Land of life and loue The sicke Man Mine heart like an Hart braying after waters panteth after God O when shall I come and appeare before him Now mine heart shiuers within mee I am so sicke that I feare to faint The Pastour O Lord now be mercifull shew fauour toward this thy seruant Distill thy graces into his heart vvith a blessed influence from the Spirit of thy loue pull in all his spirits to Thee and thrust out all distractions O Lord of Life and Loue breath into his soule the life of immortalitie Take heede now vnto him ye who are neere about him for death now approacheth with its last assaultes in all appearance Looke well to him for hee seemeth to bee fallen into a sowne THE SICKE MAN IN A SOVVNE A SOLILOQVEE Or a priuie conference betweene the Soule and the bodie of the sicke Man lying in a sowne The Bodie MY Soule desireth thou now to leaue mee that haue borne thee about mee so manie yeares If thou goe from mee I must no longer remaine among the inhabitants of the world but incontinent after thy departure I a vassell of death must bee hid vnder the dust among crawling wormes farre from the eyes of the liuing These who were once glad to kisse my mouth shall abhorre to see my face Is not the Graue a Babel a place of confusion Doe not Iim and Zim resort there Doe not the Satyres and the Fairies daunce there Mine haire startes all vp for feare while I
sinne All the action is from thee Of all that is done amisse thou hast beene the inuenter the contriuer and arch-plotter God is no accepter of persons or of parties What then is my guilt that I shuld be behind thee left into the Graue a fearefull denne of death and pite of corruption What a miserie is this for me that I should lye vnder the power and bonds of Death a Carion vnder a Turfe warded in deaths most loathsome denne and abhorred jayle There must I lye chill with cold stinking and rotting with my mouth full of earth and my bellie full of wormes closed in a Coffine O what matter of melancholie is this that within a few dayes where are my two beautifull twinkling eyes shal be nothing but fearefull eye-holes in a rotten skull which shall bee nothing but a nect of clockes and abominable creeping thinges Within a few yeares this head which nowe lyeth softlie vpon this Pillow shall bee rolled and trinnelled vp and downe by the feete of the posteritie Heere a bone and there a bone and not a bone together all shall lye scattered heere and there the dogges shall play with some and Children shall playe with others some shall lye drying before the Sunne and others shall be bruised into pieces and grund into powder O what a change is in this our mortalitie Behold presentlie what a starueling I am beeing nothing but skinne and bone Behold and anone all shall be turned into stinke The Soule All such thoughtes are all but worldlie heauie dull and formall Suffer the Lord to sow his owne seede Thou art afraid for the Turfe of the Graue Care not for the Turfe for vnder it shalt thou bee as a pickle of Corne vnder a clod The Spring time of the Resurrection is not farre froe when thou shalt rise vp more beautifullie in honour power and glorie than euer thou was before Shall anie thing bee impossible vnto God Hee who in his death reuiued manie Sainctes vvhose bodies Death had fast vnder the key of its power shall with a blast of his voyce make open Gâ—…aues to let out all these who were prisoners of death from Adam vntill that day Let this comfort cheare vp thine heart my Bodie The Graue shall not bee able to keepe thee long As Ionah was vomited out of the Bellie of Hell so shalt thou bee deliuered from that Monsters mawe The Bodie But in the meane time what reason is it that I a carrionlie carkase shuld bee bund â—…oth hand and foote and committed close prisoner to the graue a cold and chillie house while thou art set at libertie Behold how alreadie I am both withered and wanzed The Soule The Graue to the Godlie is no prison but a resting bedde from their labours where God reâ—…resheth with sleepe the wearied bones of his beloued The Prophet saith That they rest in their beddes and that they enter in peace While the moulds are cast on them in the Graue it is but the drawing of their Bedde curtaine The buried bodies of the Saincts are in their graue lik Babs lapped in swadling clothes in their Cradles As a tyred man will not bee offended if hee bee sent to his bedde for to sleepe neither should the wearied bodie bee grieued to goe to the Graue the place of rest and quietnesse Bee not peeuish nor peruerse my Bodie enuie not mine happie estat Though the Graue should bee to thee a prison why should thou complaine because I am set at libertie If it hath pleased God in mercy to bee good to mee why art thou offended May not the Lord say vnto thee Is thine eye euill because I am good What happier should thine estat bee though God should command mee to bee buried besides thee May not God doe with his owne as hee pleaseth Hee might haue taken thee to Heauen and haue shute mee a prisoner in the Graue In his justice hee might haue cast vs both into Hell Thinke it then a mercie that hee is so good vnto mee who shall neuer count my glorie full till wee bee both crowned vvith immortalitie in the heauens Bee not offended at the Lords good will towards mee but rather thank him that he hath made death to bee temporall in his mercie which was eternall in his threatning Of a corrasiue hee hath made a cordiall Haue patience O distressed Body Suffer a little that God may be true Dust thou art and to dust shalt thou returne Dust beeing once deliuered from the power of the Graue shall reigne with God in glorie The Bodie is like gold which cannot bee rid of its drosse till it bee molten and dissolued Againe as this death is not total neither shal â—…t be perpetuall for at that first sound of the last trumpet all the beried bodies of that faithfull shall lik the Eagle cast the bill of their mortalitie Now mine olde companion and yoke-fellow art thou not content to goe to bedde and there to sleepe till the morning of theresurrection come That day shall mak an amends for all that we haue suffered in this valey of teares Then shall all thy confusion bee turned into comforts Let vs nowe bee content that the Lord loose the pines and slacke the cordes of this our Tabernacle of clay The Bodie Now glad am I my deare Soule that euer I had such a Soule as thee now my deare Turtle goe with my blessing to the seruice of our God Goe from the Crosse to the Crowne from a prison to a Palace from the mourning-weede to the wedding-garment Goe dwell with the Lord and the Lambe waite well vpon him Goe nowe from the blacke and dismall dayes of drooping distresse and dirtie distractions to joye to peace to pleasure to light to life to libertie Goe heare that happie harmonie of heauenlie Musitians in heauenlie Mansions where mercies blesse without judgments blasts Goe heare the voice of all the Menistrels of that celestiall Quire Bee thou aboue the Starres while I am vnder a Turfe All my comfort is in this that wee shall meete againe in Blisse Now blessed Soule prepare thy Lampe powre out thine oyle the heauenlie wooer the Bridegroome is come for to take thee to his Chambers of Charitie wherein are pleasures for euermore In hope of the Resurrection I goe gladlie to my Graue whereout of I am assured to arise for to meete my Redeemer in the clouds This Candle of my comfort shall neuer bee put out Nowe before wee shedde let vs shedde some teares The last raine of our afflictions wherewith we may bath the bruises of our Lord which he in loue did suffer for our glorie Now I goe to rest in the dust a prisoner of hope Goe thou to thy God attend well his seruice and court his Countenance for euer in his most pleasant Yuorie Palaces I am nowe refreshed with a cooling taste to immortalitie to come Farewell my deare Soule and truest Turtle mount
Iudge his Consistorie The day of this life wherein onelie wee can worke declineth a pace The fearfull night cloud hath taken post So soone as it shall come man shall bee discharged to worke any more It is good often to consider le◅ wee should dote and dreame of Immortalitie heere that the short threed of this life will bee soone drawne out to an end that by such thoughts we may learne in time not to bee taken vp with abortiue earthlie pleasures which perish in the budde What is this earth but a muddie myre What is poore mans life on this earth but a map of miserie The best of it is white and blacke checker work mixed with paines pleasures lashes and laughters Euen in laughter the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse This godlie mans death should bee warning for vs Death knocking at our neighbours doore should remember vs of our mortalitie There is no case of humane calamitie but it is insident to all In this our old friend wee may see and reade that we haue none abiding heere Hee is nowe gone to his long home by the way of all flesh Aboue the rolling circumference of heauen hee hath found the center of his rest Natures necessitie subjecteth all flesh to mortalitie Hee is gone before vs from the land of the shadowe of death thorow the valey of the shadow of death vnto euerlasting felicitie and we all soone o◅ since must all treade the same way Let vs prouok our watchfulnes with this that wee shall goe to him but hee shall no more come to vs Let vs worke while the day lasteth Before wee bee benighted by death let vs wot where we shall get a lodging So long as wee haue breath and being let vs like Moses bee instant with God in prayer that hee would so teach vs to number our few and euill dayes that vvee may apply our heartes to vvisedome and to vvell doing Wee haue all great neede to goe to this Schoole for the learning of that lesson because death in this narrow passage of mortalitie stealeth vpon vs all with insinsible degrees The course of our dayes is like the course of the Sunne the ruler of the Day whom our owlish eyes cannot perceiue to moue though hee rejoyce as a strong man to runne a race we know him to be more swift than winde yet while wee behold him in his course wee cannot perceiue his motion It is euen so of our life Our dayes runne fast away but wee perceiue not how It is not long that wee stand but when wee beginne to fall wee are like the Yce which thaweth sooner than it froze Our life like smoke or chaffe is carried away as with a gale winde and yet we cannot consider Oh that this meditation like the Rowell of a Spurre could pricke vs forward in our voyage from grace to glorie Nature hath taught the ◅sillie Birdes the Cranne Storke and Swallows our winter strangers to know their seasons As if they had numbered the dayes of their absence they come precisely at their appointed Spring The Salmons also in their season returne to the place where they were spawned They like skilled Airthmeticiens number well the dayes of their absence and for no rubs in the way will they be moued to cracke their tryst All this haue they learned in the Schoole of Nature But men who should haue grace with Nature forget to desire to returne to their God who at the first spawned or as Scripture speaketh breathed within them their liuing Soules Men are often worse than the beasts who wold faine know their duety but cannot Many mē can but will not lik these whom S. Peter calleth Willinglie ignorant The God of grace giue vs wisedome that before our day bee spent and our Sunne set wee may weigh well and consider how wee may so liue to die that wee may die to liue Happie is the man whom God his white man hath in this life marked with the mourning marke The way to Heauen is not so easie as manie dreame Oh how many lets bee within vs and without vs Oh howe manie weightes hang ◅o fast on whereby the vnstable Soule of man is tossed and swayed hither and thither Seeing this holie man of God such a strong Oake hath beene so sore shaken what may we poore little shrubs expect O but we haue great neede to coffer vp some comfortes against the euill day All worldlie helpes depart from vs when we depart out of this life but Gods fauour faileth neuer When all thinges haue forsaken vs then onelie hee will stand by vs and at last will draw vs out of this myrie lake of miserie Happie and thrise happie is the man that is holie heere whome the Spirite of God may point out with an Ecce Behold a true Israelite Such a man after death shall obtaine a name which shall giue him after death a second life O thrise blessed is hee whom God in mercie remoueth in time that his eyes should not see the euill to come The world now is come to its dregs From little to little our zeale is come to its last gaspe Now if euer the Church is a Lillie among the thornes Our sinnes are become like Oakes but our vertues are pinched smal lik graines of mustard seede Wee look in drumblie waters and therefore we cannot see our sinfull blots and blamishes Lord teach vs to grow better that so long as we sojourne in these mansions of dying wightes wee may striue without guile to glid thorow this world that at last following this our olde deare friend wee may come to him and to all the Sainctes into to that celestiall Palace a place of plentie peace and pleasures for euermore Another discourse of the same sort O How hard a thing is it for the liuing to remember that wee are but weedes of a day fading and flying vanities Wee are all heere like poore Trauellers who haue farre to goe and little to spend In our most constant estate below we are like Ionahs gourd that sprang vp into a night withered into another euen a ◅oish vanitie This life said a Father is miserarable Our death is vncertaine If it surprise vs vnawares whither shall wee goe where shal we learne that which wee haue neglected heere Men for the most part wallowing in their sins while they looke most for life are by their expectation surprised of Death But Oh then whether shall they goe Alas that we cannot consider while we haue time and breath Man naturallie is so dull and dumpish that hee cannot imagine that he is possest with a melting mortalitie The best of vs in spirituall matters are pure blind Wee cannot see farre off no that which is neere euen this mortalitie among vs yea within vs That which hath breath can