Dust The Tempted WHatsoeuer it be I see that I must be laid downe into the earth and be brought to dust A bed shall be made for my body in the graue therefore haue I sayd to corruption Thou art my Father and to the wormes Iob 17.14 yee are my Mother and my Sister The Comforter DOe not regard that dust and ashes into which thou art to be brought but regard that future resurrection out of the dust and ashes which we expect by faith If thou hast said with Iob to corruption that it is thy Father say with the same that thy redéemer liueth Iob 19.25 which in the last day shall raise thée vp againe out of the earth shall compasse thée about with thy skinne that in thy flesh thou mayest sée thy God The sayings of the Scriptures the moments of arguments and the examples of those that were raised againe doe proue this blessed resurrection of our bodies The sayings of the Scriptures in the olde and new Testament are in a readinesse in number many in weight most great in perspicuitie most cleare Gen. 4.10 Chap. 25.8 Chap. 35.29 Chap. 49.33 The bloud of Abell doth cry to the Lord in whose sight as yet he liueth The Patriarches are gathered by death vnto their people therfore by death they do not cease to be the liuing people of the liuing God God is the God of Abraham Isaac and Iaacob Exod. 3.6 now God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing therefore Abraham Isaac Mat. 22.31 and Iaacob doe liue before God they liue I say in their better part and their bodies in the time to come shall be called backe againe to life nay they are already called backe Mat. 27.53 séeing that Christ being risen againe they are risen againe with him I know sayth Iob that my redeemer liueth Iob 19.25 and in the last day I shall be raised vp againe out of the earth Esa 26 19. Thy dead shall liue sayth Esayas my slaine shall rise againe Awake and sing Esa 66.14 yee that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dewe of greene hearbs your bones shall flourish like an hearbe For this saith the Lord Ezek. 37.5 of the dry bones Behold I will send my spirit into you and ye shall liue and I will lay sinewes vpon you and make flesh growe vpon you and couer you with skinne and put breath into you that ye may liue and yee shall know that I am the Lord. Dan. 12.2 Many sayth Daniel of those which sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to life eternall others to euerlasting shame The greatest King of the world say the seauen Martyrs in the Maccabees will raise vs when we are dead 2 Mac. 7.9 to eternall life of God doe we hope that wee shall receiue our members Ioh. 5.28 The houre commeth saith the Truth in which all that are in the graues shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of man vers 29. and shall come forth they that haue done good to the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill to the resurrection of iudgement This is the will of the Father which hath sent me Ioh 6.39 that of all which he hath giuen me I should lose nothing but should raise it vp againe at the last day Ver. 40.44 But this is the will of my Father which hath sent mee that euery one which seeth the Son and beleeueth on him haue life eternal Ver. 54. I wil raise him vp again in the last day I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth on me although he were dead Iohn 11. vers 25. vers 26. yet shal he liue and euery one that liueth and beleeueth on me shall not dye for euer I haue hope on God saith S. Paul and I looke for the resurrection to come of the iust vniust Act. 24.15 This corruptible must put on incorruption this mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15.53 then shall be fulfilled the word which is written Death is swallowed vp into victory 2 Cor. 4.14 Wee know that hee that hath raised vp our Lord Iesus hee also by Iesus will raise vs vp Our conuersation is in Heauen Phil. 3 20. from whence also wee looke for our Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ Vers 21. which shall change our vile body that it may be like his glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things to himselfe 1 Thes 4.14 If we beleeue that Iesus is dead and risen againe euen so them which sleepe in Iesus will God bring with him Iohn saw the dead great and small standing in the sight of God and the bookes were opened Apoc. 20.12 and the Sea gaue vp the dead which were in her and death and hell gaue vp then dead To these sayings of Scripture written as it were with a beame of the Sunne may be added vnmoueable props of reasons for so the Apostle concludes 1 Cor. 15.12 If Christ bee risen againe we also shall rise againe teaching the resurrection of Christ to be the key of our sepulchres and the example of our hope Tertul. de carne p. 33. 1 Cor. 15.20 Exod. 23.19 Leuit. 23.20 August 20. de Trinit cap. 17. Ephes 2.6 CHRIST is become the first fruits of those that sleepe sayth the Apostle As therefore the haruest by the ordinance of God did follow the oblation of the first fruits so the haruest of the vniuersall resurrection shall follow the first fruits of the Lords resurrection Christ is our head that which hath gone before in the head shall follow in the members and hence the Apostle doth confidently pronounce that we are raised together with Christ and placed in the glorie of the heauenly Paradise For there is in the man Christ the flesh of euery one of vs Maximi in serm de resurrect the bloud and portion Where therefore our portion raignes there doe we beléeue to raigne where our bloud beares rule wee féele our selues to beare rule and where our flesh is in glory wee know that we are glorious 1 Cor. 15.21 Besides as by one man that is to say the first Adam came death so by one man that is to say the second Adam came the resurrection As in Adam wee dye so in Christ we rise againe The fall of Adam was of power to bring in death shall not the resurrection of Christ be able to deserue the raising againe to life Christ in his glorious resurrection hath shewed himselfe the conquerour of all his enemies therefore also of death which also at length hee shall altogether abolish Christ is an eternall King therefore he shall raise the citizens of his kingdome from death that they may liue with him for euer Christ hath fréed not onely our soule but also our body from the yoake of sinne and hath ordained it
beleeuest on the Sonne thou shalt not be iudged Ioh. 3.18 that is to say with that seuere and condemning rigour of iudgement If thou hearest the word of Christ Ioh. 5.24 and beleeuest him thou commest not into iudgement thy cause shall not be discust in that rigorous examination of iudgement 1 Thess 1.10 August in Psa 100. seeing Christ hath freed all that beleeue on him from the wrath to come Truly the day of iudgement is to be feared of the wicked for the punishment but is to be loued of the good for the crowne to them it shall be a day of grace and of large remuneration Luk. 21.28 Lift vp your heads saith the Son and know that your redemption draweth neere The Bride doth not feare the comming of her Bridegroome now thy soule is espoused to Christ by faith hée will appeare in the day of iudgement to that end Apoc. 197 that hée may bring her in as it were â—â—is Bride to the heauenly marriage what place therefore can there be here for terrour or feare That day shall be thâ— day of deliuerance because it shall frée vs altogether from the wretched captiuitie of sinne and death Into the perfect seruice of Christ it is the day of deliuerance because it shall plucke vs away from all the heape of euils and waight of calamities it is the day of deliuerance because it shall redéeme vs wholly from that continuall wrastling of the flesh and perillous warfare It is the day of refreshing because it shall set vs thirstie and out of breath into a place of rest by the fountaine of liuing water from the heate of calamities Act 3.20 Apoc. 22.2 Therefore let our Bridegroome Christ come let him come whatsoeuer soule is the true Spouse of Christ sealed by the earnest of the spirit led by the loue of Christ let her say Come Lord Iesu August in Psa 147. If wée loue Christ truly surely wée also desire his comming for it is a peruerse thing to feare least he come whom thou louest to pray let thy Kingdome come and to feare least thou be heard But from whence is the feare because hée is to come a Iudge What is hée vniust doth hée beare vs ill-will is he enuious doth he expect to know thy cause from another least perhaps he whom thou hast instructed either deceiue thée by collusion or failing in lesser elequence or abilitie be not able in words to shew the goodnesse of thine innocencie None of these Who therefore is to come Wherefore doest thou not reioyce Who is to come to iudge thée but he which came to be iudged for thee Feare not the accuser of whom he hath said the Prince of this world is cast forth Feare not an euill Aduocate for he will be thine Aduocate which shall be thy Iudge He will be both thy selfe and thy cause The word of thy cause the testimonie of thy Conscience All this of Augustine Whosoeuer therefore thou be that fearest the Iudge to come correct now thy conscience There is no cause therefore why thou shouldest feare the Iudge to come He shal be thy Iudge which also is thine Aduocate He shall be thy Iudge which hath giuen a promise to his Saints that by his testimonie and example they are to iudge the world He shall be thy Iudge in whom from euerlasting thou wert chosen to life Hée shall be thy Iudge which was thy King how shall a King destroy his owne people He shall be thy Iudge whose true member thou art by faith how shall the head destroy his members Rom. 8.33 Who shall accuse the chosen of God It is God which iustifies who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead nay which is risen againe which is at the right hand of God and makes intercession for vs how shall hée destroy those whom he hath taken into his tuition for whom least they should be destroyed Rom. 2.16 he came into the world Christ shall iudge according to the Gospell but now the beleeuers haue not despised it but receiued it with true faith They haue heard the voice of Christ inuiting them to conuersion Matth. 11.28 Come vnto me all yee which labour and are heauie loaden and I will refresh you therefore they shall also heare his voice inuiting them to the heauenly possession Come ye blessed of my Father Matth. 25.34 receiue the inheritance of the Kingdome of heauen which was prepared for you from the beginning He shall be the Iudge before whose face goe grace and truth grace hath abolisht the sinnes of the beléeuers truth hath giuen vnto them the promises of eternall life Neither is there any cause that thou feare the horrible vniuersall destruction of heauen and earth Heauen and earth shall passe away Luk. 21.33 Esa 40.8 but the words of Christ shall not passe away The word of the Lord abides for euer if thou sticke to this word with true faith thou likewise shalt abide for euer Thou hast lost nothing where by inordinate loue thou hast possessed nothing thy treasure is not the riches of this world but the delight of the heauenly Kingdome let the world be on fire it is sufficient for thée that Christ thy treasure liueth Let the frame of heauen and earth perish flie passe away thou hast most faithfull promises of a new heauen and a new earth Esa 65.17 2 Pet. 3.12 Apoc. 21.1 Behold I create a new heauen and a new earth saith the Lord in which shall dwell righteousnesse so that no man remembreth the former things any more Let the lodging of thy pilgrimage fall downe the euerlasting house of the heauenly Countrey doth abide Neither is there any cause why thou feare the accusation either of Satan or of the Law or of thine owne sinnes thy sinnes are cast into the depth of the Sea suppose into the bottomlesse pâ—t of Gods mercy Mich. 7.19 Es 38.17 Eze. 18.24 Psa 32.1 Psal 51.1 GOD hath cast them behinde his backe so that hée will not remember them hereafter Beléeue Satan shall not draw vp those sinnes out of the Sea nor dare to bring them into the sight of the Iudge Thy sinnes are forgiuen they are couered they are blotted out they shall not be brought againe into iudgement The accusation drawne against the godly of the Diuell shall be vaine because the blotting out of the hand-writing made by the bloud of Christ Colos 2.14 shall be turned against it The accusation of sinne shall be vaine because the pardon giuen by Christ shall be turned against it The accusation of the Law shall be vaine because reconciliation with God through faith hath gone before in this life To conclude there is no cause that thou feare the sodaine returne of Christ to iudgement for although the day of the Lord shal come as a Thiefe in the night 1 Thess 5.2 yet God hath not appointed vs to wrath but that wée may attaine saluation through our Lord Iesus Christ Vers 9. which hath dyed for vs that whether we wake or sléepe we may alwaies liue with him The day of iudgement is not to be feared of them for whom the Kingdome of heauen was prepared from the beginning Matth. 25.34 Eph. 1.4 which were chosen in Christ before the foundations of the earth were laid Commend therefore into the faithfull hands of God the pretious pledge of thy soule he will keepe it in death and iudgement and he will bring it vnited to the body into the Palaces of the heauenly Court to euerlasting glorie FINIS A PRAYER in Sicknesse HEare mee O God giuer and restorer of life in whose hands is life and death health and sicknesse Heare mee not according to the desire of my will but according to the good pleasure of thy will If thou wilt thou canst make mee whole say but one word onely and I shall be whole thou art the length of my dayes in thy hands are my lots but if thou now callest me by the way of Death to the heauenly Countrey mortifie first in mee all inordinate loue of this life giue me the strength of the spirit that I may ouercome the sorrowes of death and in the midst of the darknesse of mine eyes when they waxe dimme kindle and encrease in me the light of heart with thee is the fountaine of true life and in thy light I shall see light Thy death O good Iesus is the medicine of my death and the merit of eternall life I embrace thy vvord vvith a faithfull heart therefore I am sure that thou dwellest by faith in my heart I will not let thee depart out of my heart before thou blesse me and lift me vp with quickning consolation Thou hast said He that beleeueth on mee shall not die for euer this word my heart doth set before thee and in this faith I draw neere to the throne of grace thou wilt not correct nor put back him that comes vnto thee Let thy pretious bloud vvash mee from my sinnes let thy wounds hide mee from the wrath of God and rigour of iudgement I wil die in thee thou shalt liue in mee I will abide in thee and thou shalt abide in me thou wilt not leaue me in death and dust but wilt raise me vp to the resurrection of life Thou hast fought and ouercome for mee now fight and ouercome in me let thy strength be performed in mine infirmitie My soule cleaues vnto thee I will not suffer my selfe to be pluckt away from thee let thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding keepe my heart and senses Into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me thou God of truth take vp the poore soule which thou hast created which thou hast redeemed which thou hast washed from sins with thy bloud which thou hast sealed with the earnest of the holy Ghost which thou hast fed with thy body bloud It is thine thou hast giuen it vnto mee take vp that which thine is and remit the guilt of my sinnes wherewith I haue defiled it Let not the fruit of thy Passion perish in me let not thy precious bloud waxe barren in me In thee O Lord haue I hoped let me not be confounded for euer Amen
1.18 which is in the Father and the Father in him which is one with the Father Againe what is more néere to the Sonne of God Ioh. 14.10 then flesh and bloud or the humane nature which hee hath assumed Ioh. 10.30 as which he hath coupled to himselfe in a personall and indissoluble league Therefore by eating the flesh of Christ and drinking his bloud thou art ioyned most straightly vnto God These things being taken taken down Hilar. 8. de Trin. p. 141. make that Christ abides in thée and thou in Christ What is more néere vnto vs then that which wee eate and drinke as which is eyther conuerted into the substance of our flesh as natural and elementall meates or else doth change and conuert vs into it as that spiritual food of the body and blood of the Lord which we eate indéed but we doe not change it into our substance but wee are changed into it Therefore by eating the quickening flesh of Christ thou receiuest spirituall life from the same by drinking the precious bloud of Christ thou comest to the Fountaine of life Christ hath taken vpon him the humane nature of vs in it he hath condemned sin he hath destroyed death hee hath repaired life and hath filled the same with the fulnesse of grace and heauenly good things the same nature taken from vs and repaired in himselfe sanctified and filled with heauenly treasures hee sets before thée againe in the holy Supper that thou mayst be ascertained that those things doe truly pertaine vnto thée which hee hath layd downe into the same as it were into a certaine rich storehouse he doth as it were ingraft thy wretched and depraued nature into his most holy and quickening flesh that out of it thou mayest draw the iuyce of life and an antidote of the spirituall poyson that lyes hidden in thy flesh He is the Vine we are the braunches hee that abides in him Iâ—hn 15.5 and he in whom he abides this man brings forth much fruit The vncleannnesse of thy nature is shadowed and couered by that most holy body of Christ which thou receiuest and by that most precious bloud which thou drinkest least it appeare before the tribunall and in the sight of God Liturg. vtter Damas 4. fid Orthod cap. 14. Therefore thou receiuest the flesh and bloud of Christ for an apology that will easily be admitted and the earnest of eternall life to the sustaining kéeping of the body and the soule to the forgiuenesse of sinnes and to life euerlasting Nay in the holy Supper is giuen thée a certaine holesome prouision for thy iourney séeing the tokens of the future resurrection are exhibited vnto thée Can. Nicen. by which the right of acquaintance and hospitalitie which is to be expected in the heauenly countrey is confirmed vnto thée Iohn 6.54 He which eateth my flesh saith Christ and drinkes my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him vp againe in the last day It cannot therefore come to passe I say that thy body should abide in the graue séeing it is nourished with the body and bloud of our Lord that is to say with that food which is the medicine of immortality the antidote that wée should not dye but liue in God through Christ the purgation that driues away all euill By this foode thy weakenesse shall be comforted that thou mayest come through with Elias 2 Reg. 13.21 to the hill of the Lord. The bones of Elizeus yea euen when he was dead did giue life by how much more the flesh of Christ liuing and quickening receiued by faith shall quicken thee to euerlasting life XVII The vnworthy vse of the holy Supper The Tempted I Acknowledge that in the true and wholesome vse of the holy supper the godly are made partakers of these benefits but it doth not a little trouble mee that the Apostle doth affirme that they which eate this bread vnworthily 1 Cor. 11.27 and drinke this cup of the Lord vnworthily are made guiltie of the body and bloud of the Lord. I feare therefore lest that I be an vnworthy guest of this heauenly banquet The Comforter BY acknowledging and bewailing of thine vnworthines thou mayest escape the spot and imputation of an vnworthy guest for the Apostle calles vnworthy not those which are weake in faith wheras this sacrament was instituted for the confirmation of faith comfort of the weake but those which doe not proue themselues neither do discerne the Lords body that is which come to this holy Supper 1 Cor. 11.28.29 as it were to a common banquet without true repentance and liuely faith without the hatred of sinne and a serious and earnest purpose of amendement of life which doe not discerne this heauenly banquet from other common foode that they may acknowledge the true excellency thereof and vse due preparation of the hart thereunto Such vnworthy guests of this banquet do nothing lesse sin in eating and drinking vnworthily the flesh and bloud of Christ then the Iewes in crucifying Christ But farre be it from thy pietie farre be it I say that thou shouldest be in the number of them Chrysost in 1 Cor. 11. Thou doest acknowledge also the spots of thy sinnes thou doest bewaile the vncleanenesse of thy nature thou sighest vnto Christ the Physitian of thy soule that he prepare a sit lodging for himselfe in thy heart thou weighest the greatnesse of those things which are present and set before thée in the holy Supper and considerest the amplenesse of the heauenly gift thou hungrest and thirstest after righteousnesse Mat. 5.6 therefore also thou shalt bee filled the sinnes shall not hurt thée Luk. 15.20 which doe not please thée thou makest haste with teares to thy heauenly Father thou bewailest thy sinnes and desirest that the hunger of thy soule may be refreshed with his heauenly foode that most kinde Father vers 22. doubt not will méete thée hee will kisse and receiue thée with ioy he will giue vnto thée the first long garment of innocency he will cloath thée with the garments of saluation hée will giue thée a ring on thy hand hée will seale thée with his holy spirit hée will giue thée shooes for thy féet he will direct thée in the way of peace and righteousnesse hée will fil thée with the flesh of that sacrifice which was slaine on the altar of the Crosse vers 23. and was offered vnto him for a swéet smelling sauour Lay aside therefore all feare of vnworthy eating he which is most vnworthy in his owne eyes hee is accepted before God hée that displeaseth himselfe pleaseth God hee that is cast downe in himselfe in true contrition of heart hée againe is raised vp by the most louing hand of God XVIII The weakenesse of Faith The Tempted FAITH is altogether required to the wholesome vse of the Supper and fruit of the promises of the Gospell seeing the hand of the
to the inheritanâ—e of eternall life therefore it must be raised out of the dust that it may enter into the possession of this life deserued for it of Christ Out of all which it euidently appeares Theodor. in 1 Cor. 15. tom 2. pag. 77. 1 Cor. 3.16 that Christ is the suretie and pledge of our resurrection furthermore our bodies are the temples and houses of the holy Ghost hee will not suffer this his Temple to lye hidden in the dust and ashes but will build it vp againe and make it a great deale more glorious then it was in this life Hagg. 2.4 Euen as the latter temple at Hierusalem had a greater glory then the former 1 Reg 6.32 In Salomons temple there were incorruptible palmes so the bodies of the godly shall not be subiect to eternall corruption séeing they are the habitations of the eternall spirit Iren. lib. 4. cap. 34. This also is somewhat that our bodies are sanctified by the body and bloud of Christ in the wholesome vse of the holy supper how therefore shall they remaine in the graue how shall the flesh bee sayd to come into corruption and not to taste of life which is nourished with the body and bloud of the Lord Euen as the bread which is of the earth after the word is added to it is now no common bread but the Eucharist consisting of two things an earthly and an heauenly so our bodies receiuing the Eucharist are not now corruptible hauing the hope of the resurrection Ioh. 6.54 Surely the flesh of CHRIST is quickening food therefore hee which eateth this flesh hath eternall life and Christ will raise him againe in the last day Lactan. lib. 4. institut cap. 48. Adde that the soule in this life by the body and with the body doth worke eyther good or euill séeing it is put into the body therefore the iustice of God requires that those which were ioyned together in the worke be ioyned together in the reward those that are ioyned together in the fault be ioyned together in the punishment Therefore all of vs shall appeare before the iudgement seat of CHRIST 1 Cor. 15.10 Tertul. in Apol. c. 45. p. 337. that euery one may receiue those things which he hath done in his body whether they be good or euill The soules haue not deserued without the flesh in which they haue done all things finally to these vnmoueable props of Arguments may be added the examples of those that haue béene raised vp againe whom Christ by his owne the Prophets and Apostles by the power of GOD haue called backe to life Tertul. de resurrect p. 44. Lactan. 6. dico institu cap. 18. for testimonie of the future resurrection which these partakers of immortalitie and eternitie doe exhibite vnto vs which are ioyned vnto them in faith and confession XLIIII The absurditie of the Resurrection The Tempted THe article of the Resurrection of bodies doth most strongly oppose nature and humane reason from whence also the hope of the resurrection is sometimes not a little weakened in my heart by the stormes of diuers cogitations The Comforter THE foundations of our faith are the oracles of the holy Ghost not the predicaments of our owne reason We beléeue the resurrection of the dead vnder the obedience of this faith wee ought to captiuate all our reason 2 Cor. 10.5 GOD can doe aboue all things superabundantly more then wee aske or vnderstand Thinke therefore on him that promiseth and thou shalt haue him to performe whatsoeuer things GOD sayth they are not words but workes Let vs graunt that GOD can doe something Ephes 3.20 Phil. lib. de decal p. 477 August Epist 3. Bern ser 4. de nat col 43. 1 Cor. 15.37 which wee may confesse that wee cannot finde out in such things all the reason of the deed is the power of the speaker It will be an easie matter for him by whom the mother her selfe hath not lost the corruption of flesh by bringing forth that this corruptible also may put on incorrution by rising againe It is somewhat also that in nature her selfe diuers representations of the resurrection are set forth vnto vs. Vers 38. That which thou sowest is not quickened vnlesse it first dye and what sowest thou Vers 39. not the body that shall be but bare Corne that is to say of Wheate or of some other August de verb. Apost serm 34. But God giueth to it a body after his owne pleasure and to euery séed his owne body He therefore which quickens the dead and putrified graines of séeds by which thou mayest liue in this world will much more raise vp thine owne selfe that thou mayest liue for euer The light that daily dies shines forth againe Tertul. in Apol. c. 45. p. 73 c. and the darknesse by euen turnes departing doth returne the starres that are put out beginne againe to liue the times beginne where they are ended the fruits are consumed and doe returne surely the séedes vnlesse they be corrupted and dissolued doe not arise so fruitfully all things are saued by perishing all things are reformed from death The day dies into the night Id lib. de resurrect car pag. 54. and is buried round about with darkenesse the honour of the World is polluted and all the substance thereof is made blacke All things are foule silent and amazed euery where there is a vacation and rest of things so the light that is lost is mourned for And yet againe with her attire with her grace with the Sunne the same both sound and whole doth begin to be renued to the whole world killing her death the night opening her graue the darkenesse being heire to her selfe vntill the night also be renued againe she likewise with her attire For the beames of the starres also are againe made to flame whom the mornings light had extinguished The absence also of the constellations is brought backe which the destinction of times had taken away The mirrours also of the Moone are trimd a new which the number of the dayes of the moneth had worne out The Winters and Sommers the Springs and the Autumnes returne in their season with their owne strength manners fruits yea the earth is taught of Heauen to cloathe Trées after they are made naked to giue fresh and new tinctures to the Flowres to giue the hearbs againe to bring in the same séedes which are consumed and not to bring them in before they are consumed A wonderfull matter Of a deceiuer shée is become a sauer shée snatcheth away that she may restore shée destroyes that shee may kéepe shée corrupts that shée may make whole shée first lauishly consumes that afterward shée may make it more Surely shée restores things more plentifull and more faire then those shée did consume Of a truth I may say at once the condition of all things is restored againe by death which is increase and iniurie which
THE CONQVEST of Temptations OR Mans victory ouer Satan Especially the great Assaults at the Agony of DEATH Full of very strong and effectuall Consolations to sustaine and comfort the weakest heart in the greatest conflicts which can befall a Christian in the whole course of Life and approach of Death Gathered by the holy and deuout labour of IOHN GERARD Doctor of Diuinitie and Super-intendent of Heldburge Newly Englished by Rich. Bruch Minister of GODS Word He that dyeth before he dye Shall not dye when he doth dye LONDON Printed by T. S. for Roger Iackson and to be solde in Fleetstreet neere the great Conduit 1614. TO THE MOST RELIGIOVS AND worthy KNIGHT Sir Thomas Vauasur Knight-Marshall and to the most pious and well-affected Lady his Wife the Lady Mary Vauasur R. B. wisheth here on Earth the beginning and in Heauen the complement of all happinesse Right Worshipfull SInce it is in mans life Seneca as it is in an Enterlude that it skils not how long but how well it be acted and that the word of truth giues out this for a truth Eccl. 7.10 the end of a thing is better then the beginning it concernes all men to striue to make good that which they cannot make long and hauing begunne well to perseuere so doing lest they leese the things that they haue wrought 2 Iohn v. 8 Heb. 3.14 if they keepe not sure vnto the end the beginning wherewith they are vpholden Surely the number of our yeeres is knowen to GOD alone our dayes are in his hand this only remaines vnto vs while wee are in this world to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world Psa 119.1 Iob. 17.9 immaculati in viâ vpright vndefiled in the way holding on our way with the righteous and with the pure of hands increasing our strength Which that we should not doe the old enemie of mankinde full of all subtiltie and malice doth by all meanes labour still to hinder who though he be very busie with vs to auert vs from the good and to make vs forsake our owne mercies in the whole course of our liues yet he doth especially insidiari calcaneo trip at the heele lay wait at the end to make vs then let goe the holde that we haue and the hope of assurance if 〈◊〉 cannot before hand make vs to deny the faith and make shipwracke of good conscience Eph. 6.13 whom that we may not onely know how to resist but also resisting to ouercome in the euill day and finishing all things to stand fast whose fiery darts that wee may quench this little Booke giues vs both the shield of faith and other spirituall armour in which kinde though I haue read and seene others written yet neuer did I peruse any done so full and so feelingly so succinct in the fulnesse and in so good order and method This when I had first turned into our English being thereunto requested in the next place when I thought to whom I might best offer it your Worthinesse most religious Knight and Lady came into my minde persons as in your ranke and place eminent so much more eminent in your vertues who in the example of your zeale in Religion and loue of the truth your pietie and charitie your meekenesse and affabilitie are a patterne vnto others and doe in the integritie of your liues being full of good workes Lib. de conuer a seculo ad Theo. Sen. multum militare acquisitionibus Christi as saith Fulgentius Purchase much for Christ and purchase to your selues in the world with the testimony of a good conscience that feasts your soules continually the sweet sauour of a good name Pro. 15.15 which two things are better vnto you then all riches Wee that are of your neighbourhood know and see the care that you haue of religious duties and the workes of charitie which you doe your lowlinesse in your wealth and Honour and other your remarkeable vertues It remaines onely that you that haue so well begunne and hitherto so well continued doe now striue to perseuere vnto the end that you may receiue a full reward that you may crowne the good that hath gone before in you with a good conclusion and that ouercomming the difficulties that are yet behinde you may at last bring your ship to the Hauen where you would be Which that you may the better doe you shall finde no small helpe and furtherance in this smal Booke which euery where breathing Consolations will arme your soules against all Temptations and against the time of your dissolution come so compose your soules to Death that you shall sleepe sweetly in the Lord in the peace of a good Conscience in sure and certaine hope of eternall life vnto which the Lord of his mercy giue you an entry with all Saints through his Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour AMEN Your Worships humbly deuoted and wishing your best good R. Br. To the very Reuerend and famous men excelling in Pietie Learning and Authoritie Mr. IOHN SCHRODER a famous Diuine and most worthy Minister appointed of the Church of Norinberg Mr. MARTIN GVNGE the most deseruing Preacher of the Court of Saxo-Coburg Mr. IOHN ALDENBVRG his most faithfull fellow Minister of the Church of Coburg His Masters Plato in Phaedone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 friends and Brethren in Christ singularly beloued IF any man Reuerend and most famous men my Masters Friends Brethren in Christ to be had in singular honour would accommodate that same Platonicall definition of Philosophie that it is a Meditation of death to the true Theosophie of Christians hee may doe it as I thinke with the good leaue of the truth seeing as it were the beginning and end thereof doth consist in the Meditation of death Now I vnderstand vnder the name of death both the death of Christ and our death also The death of Christ and his Passion is the waight of the Christian name 1 Cor. 2.2 thence the Apostle did iudge that hee knew no other thing among the Corinthians then Christ crucified and dead By the death of Christ was made an expiation of our sinnes a destruction of the power of Satan a confirmation of the new couenant and an easing of the terrours which are wont to be present in our death therfore the Meditation of the death of Christ ought neuer to depart from our memorie Neither let vs any time of our life forget our owne death that as Death expects vs euery day so wee may also expect that againe each day Hieron Epist ad Pauli He which remembers daily that hee shall die he doth easily contemne all earthly things he prepares himselfe by true and earnest conuersion to a blessed death he giues his minde to sincere pietie he doth patiently endure all manner of aduersitie and is set on fire euen from the heart with an ardent desire of eternall life Psa 90.12 Teach vs O Lord prayes Moses to number our dayes
that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisedome therefore a great part of Christian wisedome consists in the perpetuall Meditation of death That must a long time be learned which that it may once rightly be done stands vpon our eternall saluation It is appointed for all men once to dye but to dye godlily to dye in Christ to dye blessedly befalls not all men therefore our minde must be prepared to that blessed good disposition of dying yea it must be garded with the shield of the Word and Prayers For if at any surely in that last time of our life the enemie that hath a thousand wiles doth lay a snare for our saluation and endeauours with all his strength to wrest the possession thereof from vs whether some of the auncients doe apply it that the infernall Serpent is said especially to bite the heele for he knowes very well I say he knowes that all the matter is in safety if that last conflict be valiantly ouercome of vs on the other side that it will be ioyned with our euerlasting reproach and losse if the other parts of our life as it were of a Comedie being well acted wee behaue our selues not so comelily valiantly in this last Catastrophe Hence come those diuers tentations with which as it were with Rammes he assaults our hearts in diseases and in the agonie of death hence come those fierie Darts which he casts against vs with all his strength hence comes that horrour and anguish which wee feele when wee are set before the gates of Death Blessed is hee which shall heere ouercome blessed is he which shall be faithfull to death Apoc. 2.3 hee shall be made partaker of all those good things which are promised to the stout Souldiers of Christ in the Reuelation What is our life t' is Death we doe deface Our age by dying life and death doe pace Hand ioyn'd in hand But Christ the Captaine is And gate of life our death is slaine by his He that doth firmely trust in him shall bee From wound of death eternall safe and free But this our hope with diuers stormes is tost When in Deaths agonie we are neere lost To ouercome these stormes will most auaile vs Least life in lifes first entry chance to faile vs. Wherefore whereas I haue endeauoured by such an explication of the Historie of the Passion and death of Christ as I could make which I did set forth of late to instill into godly mindes the Meditation of the death of Christ I haue thought that I shall do a worke worth the labour if I propose vnto them also the Meditation of our death To which end I haue written this Manuell of Consolations to be opposed to the terrours of death and tentations in the agonie of death for mine owne priuate vse onely for I carrie about a sickly bodie a weake vessell Moreouer Death now of late hath made a very lamentable slaughter in my house and there are some causes for which it is feared that I shall not liue long Therefore I would prepare and arme my minde betimes to this last battell and hemmed in as I am with so many domestique euils I bestowed some dayes on the godly Meditation of this Booke which Meditations of mine such as they are seeing perhaps they may also be profitable to others I haue not gaine-sayed that they should be made common But this I would haue men admonished in the very entrance of this writing that I haue not written these things to secure impenitent and hard hearts but to the contrite broken and weake consciences Exhortations to true pietie haue another place this whole labour is imployed in consolations to be opposed to death and temptations in death Whosoeuer therefore desires to receiue this oyle of Consolations let him bring the vessell of a contrite heart For what is consolation vnto him which is not yet contrite broken or made sad But to you men very Reuerend and most famous Masters Friends and Brethren in Christ singularly beloued I would entitle this Manuell that there might be extant a publique testimonie of that most straight friendship and brotherhood which hitherto we haue obserued betweene our selues one to another seeing that of all and amongst all I esteeme you dearest in this world as of whose pietie curtesie faithfulnesse and other many vertues I haue had plentifull experience in our fiue yeeres conuersation You also carrie about you a sickly body neither can it chuse but that the memory of Death should daily come into your minds Therefore I doe not doubt although your faith doth not want those props which I haue gathered together in this little Booke for mine owne and other mens vse yet that the reading thereof will not be vnpleasant vnto you Especially seeing whatsoeuer is in it it doth proceede from a friendly well-affected minde The Lord Iesus with his grace and with his spirit euery way blesse vs and the labours of our Ministerie Giuen at Coburg the Kalends of May. Anno. 1611. RR. VV. DD. Studiosiss I. G. D. THE TABLE of Temptations 1 THe fore-runners of death 2 The three-forked Mace of death 3 The vexation of sinne 4 The memory of Actuall sinne 5 The doubting of the application of the benefites of Christ 6 The false perswasion of faith 7 Insufficient griefe 8 The waight of griefe 9 Desperation 10 Blasphemie 11 The particularity of the promises 12 The absolute decree of reprobation 13 The application of the merit of Christ 14 The want of the euidence of the words 15 Falling out of the couenant of Baptisme 16 Vncertaine taking into the couenant of Baptisme 17 The vnworthy vse of the holy Supper 18 The weakenesse of faith 19 The want of the feeling of faith 20 The want of power to beleeue 21 The small number of good workes 22 The want of merits 23 The accusation of the Law 24 The accusation of conscience 25 Too late repentance 26 Doubting of the grace of God 27 Defect of due preparation 28 The doubting of the inhabitation of the holy Spirit 29 The doubting of perseuerance 30 The snares and strength of Satan 31 The Apostasie of many 32 Doubting of the writing into the Book of life 33 The feare of Death 34 The sting of death 35 The sorrowes of death 36 Too timely death 37 Seruices farther due to the Church 38 Our life abridged by our owne default 39 The loue of this life 40 Separation from Wife Children and kinsfolke 41 The stopping vp of the eares in death 42 The apparent inutilitie of the redemption 43 The horrour of the dust 44 The absurdity of the resurrection 45 The flames of Purgatorie 46 The rigour of the last iudgement In conclusion is added a prayer in sicknes FINIS Consolations to be opposed to all Temptations in generall but more specially to Death and to the Temptations in the agony of Death I. The fore-runners of Death The Tempted A Disease 2 Cor. 1.9 the vsher and forerunner of death
those which beléeue on his name This adoption comprehendeth all things which are necessarie for vs to euerlasting saluation for if we be the Sonnes of God then are we also borne of God Tertul. in apolo c. 17. For not the carnall generation but the spirituall regeneration makes the Sonnes of God If we are the Sonnes of God then haue we also God fauourable vnto vs. For doth not a Father take pittie of his Sonnes Psa 103.13 If we are the Sonnes of God then hath he also giuen vs his spirit for so saith the Apostle They which are lead by the spirit of God these are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 15. for ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare but ye haue receiued the spirit of adoption in which we cry Abba Father And againe Gal. 4.6 Because you are Sonnes God hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father To conclude Rom. 8.13 if we are the Sonnes of GOD then are we also heires heires of GOD and heires annexed with Iesus Christ for who is he that is truly a Son without an inheritance All these so pretious so copious and so various benefits are bestowed vpon vs in Christ Eph. 3.17 and through Christ which dwels in our harts and is borne in vs spiritually through faith which therefore the Scripture doth so often preach and commend vnto vs. Verily verily Ioh. 5.24 I say vnto you saith Christ he which heareth my word and beleeues on him that hath sent mee hath eternall life and comes not unto iudgement but hath past from death to life Hee that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 11.25 26. although he were dead yet shall he liue and euery one which liueth and beleeueth in me shall not dye for euer Ioh 7.36.39 Hee that beleeueth in me out of his belly shall flow Riuers of liuing water which our Sauiour speakes of the spirit which they receiue that beleeue on him Euery one that beleeueth in mee Ioh. 12.46 doth not abide in darknesse suppose it in the darknesse of ignorance in the darknesse of sinne in the darknesse of eternall death but by the light of faith hee is lead to the life of sauing knowledge to the light of true righteousnesse to the light of euerlasting life Nay the Apostle witnesseth plainely that all those things which are written in the Gospel of the sayings doings and sufferings of Christ are therefore written that by faith on his name wee may haue life Because God hath giuen vnto vs eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.11 12.13 and this life is in his Sonne Hee that hath the Sonne hath life from thence we know that we haue euerlasting life because wee beleeue on the name of the Sonne of God And not onely the Apostles and Euangelists but also all the Prophets giue testimonie to Christ That all that beleeue oâ— him Act. 10.43 receiue remission of sinnes through by name That therefore which Paul and Silas sometimes said to the keeper of the prison at Philippi the same say I to thée Beleeue on the Lord Iesus Act. 16.31 and thou shalt be saued VI. The false perswasion of Faith The Tempted BVt I haue heretofore perceiued that very many doe put on a vaine perswasion of Faith and deceiue themselues with a false boasting what if I should also be in the number of them from whence may I be assured that my saith is a true and sauing faith and not a vaine and dead Image of faith The Comforter TRy and examine thy selfe whether thou be in the faith try thine owne selfe 2 Cor. 13.5 doest thou not know thine owne selfe that Iesus Christ is in thée There want not firme and infallible instructions by which â—rue and sauing faith may be tried knowne and discerned from idle and vaine boastâ—ng of faith First then this is the nature of true faith that it purifies the heart Act. 15.9 and desires to purge it cleane from the dregs of sinns For sâ—â—ing that faith doth carefully séeke and desire remission of sinnes surely he that truly beléeues shall féele a serious sorrow for the sinnes that he hath committed The Gospell is preached to the poore that is to say Matth. 11.6 Matth. 5.6 to those that are poore in spirit which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse which bring and offer to God a contrite heart and an humbled spirit Behold therefore the looking glasse of the Law and the deformitie of thy crimes will appeare Behold the shining face of Moses and it will appeare that for the workes of darknesse which thou hast followed thou canst not beare that light Behold thy selfe how grieuously the disease hath afflicted thée which is the iust punishment of thy sinnes the scourge of the reuenging God and the wages due to thy life which hath béene spent in sinnes He which sinnes against his Creator Eccl 38.5 fals into the hands of the Physitian We haue lost our health because wée haue offended our Creatour They which follow the flesh are scourged in the flesh They sigh in that in which they haue sinned The censure of the punishment is in that in which was the cause of shine By how many thoughts by how many words by how many déedes hast thou offended God How faint host thou béene aboue all things in the feare and loue of God How slacke in Prayers and other exercises of pietie How barren in good workes How oft hast thou followed the perswasion of Satan the seducing of the flesh the deceiuing of the world Those members which thou hast oftentimes giuen as weapons to iniquitie and vnrighteousnesse by the iust iudgement of GOD are now tormented with griefe and infirmitie Acknowledge this and grieue for if there be true and serious acknowledgement of sinne in thy heart immediately griefe of consciences and detestation of sinne will follow it God is earnestly angry with sinnes therefore out of the féeling of the wrath of God earnestly bewaile thy sinnes GOD doth seuerely punish sinnes therefore punish in thy selfe by iust griefe that which thou doest obserue that thou hast committed against God Psa 119.137 Acknowledge the iudgement of God to be iust and be thou humbled vnder his mighty hand Neither haue respect onely to thy outward faults but acknowledge the contagion of originall sin the fountaine of all euils Psa 90.9 that indéede is hidden but God placeth it in the light of his countenance through it all the powers of soule and body are so weakened that out of thy selfe and by thy selfe thou canst beginne no good much lesse performe it through it thou art made subiect vnto death and to all that troupe of calamities miseries and diseases which goes before death VII Griefe insufficient The Tempted I Acknowledge and feele that I am not only borne and conceiued in sinnes but that I haue offended God by diuers manifolde and great sinnes I feele this and I earnestly grieue but
I will not the death of a sinner that dyes Eze. 18.31 32. cap. 33. ver 11. but that he may be conuerted and liue Thou hearest the serious oath of the diuine truth Thou hearest that their conuersion is expected and desired of God which dye in their sinnes by their owne fault thou hearest that serious intreatie twise repeated Come vnto mee all yee sayth our Sauiour the meane and messenger of the heauenly Father Come vnto mee all yee all ye which labour Mat. 11.28 and are heauy laden and I will refresh you Thou hearest that the way lyes open to Christ for al that labour vnder the yoake of their sinne and that refreshing and rest of soule is promised to them God will haue all men to be saued sayth the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.4 being taught it in the third Heauen and to come to the knowledge of the truth Hee hath shut vp all vnder vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercy vpon all Rom. 11.20.23 Thou hearest that the saluation of all is desired and sought of God that the mercy of God is open vnto all no body is excluded here but hee which doth exclude himselfe There is one GOD of all therefore hee desireth that all should be saued whom he hath made Primas in H. L. One hath giuen himselfe the price of redemption for all therefore hée would haue all to bee partakers of that price GOD would not haue any to perish sayth Peter being taught by his owne example 2 Pet. 3.9 but that all returne to repentance Thou hearest that the long suffering and goodnesse of GOD doth inuite all to repentance and that GOD would not the destruction of any Take héede that thou speake not against this so cleare and so manifest a truth against these sayings of the holy Ghost written as it were with a beame of the Sunne let the consolations of the Scripture be of more force with thée then the thoughts of thine owne heart for the Scripture is the word of the liuing God which neuer deceiues but our heart is lying and deceiueth XII The absolute decree of Reprobation The Tempted THe promise indeede outwardly is offered vnto all but God hath made from euerlasting a decree of the Reprobation of some men whom hauing cast from him he hath adiudged them to eternall torments to these though he offer the word outwardly yet they cannot communicate or partake of the good things in the word Perhaps I also am in the number of those reprobates The Comforter THE secrets of heauen let no creature on earth presume to pry into Enough is reuealed both for our consolation and saluation Whom God hath predestinated we know not it is a secret of Gods Priuie Counsell where-into wée are not admitted And how farre forth and in what manner God may please to worke and bring about a purpose of his owne without the endeauour and purpose of man we know not that also is a secret of Gods Priuie Counsell where-into wée are not admitted And therefore as Moses saith that the secret things belong to the Lord our GOD so to him and his wisedome be content to leaue them But this we all know that S. Peter bids vs make our election sure by the practise of good workes and holy duties of Religion and telleth vs that hee that doth those things shall neuer fall 2 Pet. 1.10 that is such a one shall neuer faile of grace or glorie And therefore while thou endeauourest to liue in all good conscience according to Gods will thou mayest haue peace of conscience in Gods promises and mercies And this wée know that our Sauiour commandeth and promiseth Aske and yee shall haue seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you And therefore if thou vse the meanes thou canst not doubt of the end Finally this we all know also that God protesteth vpon his word yea vpon his oath that he desireth not the death of him that dieth or taketh any pleasure that the wicked should die but that he may returne and liue Ezek 18.23.32 Ezek. 33.11 And therefore God is so farre from reiecting thée before thou hast sinned that hée is most readie to admit of thée after thou hast sinned Onely then endeauour to doe the workes of him that sent thée into the world begge and craue for grace and mercie from the Father of mercies search thy heart finde out thy sinnes and each day renue thy repentance and then be assured that the outward offering of grace will euer be accompanied with the inward working of the spirit For the promises of Gods mercies are generall to all that beleeue on him Rom. 10.11 To all that call on the name of the Lord Rom 10.13 To all that labour and groane vnder the burden of their sinnes Matth. 11.28 To all that feare God and worketh righteousnesse Act. 10.35 c. And the merites and death and Passion of Iesus Christ as they are offered so they are bestowed on all generally that lay hold on him for their Sauiour Ioh. 3.16 XIII The doubting of the application of the merit of Christ The Tempted LEt the merit of Christ be and be said to spread it selfe wide in the meane time I doe not yet see for mine owne particular that the benefits of Christ are offered and applied to me Many things are offered to men in generall which notwithstanding doe not pertaine to euery man in particular The Comforter NAy from the generall we may wel procéede to the particular from that which is common to that which is more restrained Therefore because God would haue all to be saued thou mayest rightly and most firmely subsume that he would haue thée also to be saued Because Christ is said to haue died for all thou maiest rightly and most firmely subsume that he also died on the Crosse for thée and will cleanse thée from all thy sinnes by his bloud and because he calleth all repenting he will receiue thée repenting And because he promiseth grace and life to all that beleeue depend and relie on him therefore he will performe it to thée when thou doest rest and relie on him for his mercies Yea and that which God promiseth to all in generall by his word that he applieth to thée is particular in the Ministerie of the word Onely submit thy selfe to the wholesome Ministerie of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.18 which God hath committed to the Ministers of the Church Vers 20. to the keyes that he hath deliuered to their tâ—â—st to the office of Embassage that theâ— vndergoe in the name of Christ God exhorting and as it were entreating vs by them And then that which is specially offered vnto thée do not doubt but that specially it belongs vnto thée When 〈◊〉 the serious sorrowe of thy bâ—â—â—t 〈◊〉 heareth the voice of the Minister pronouncing remission of sins in the name of Christ resolue that thou hearest Christ himselfe what so is héere done in the name of