the multitude of thy mercies And hide not thy face from thy servant for I am in trouble Oh haste thee and hear me Draw nigh unto my soul and save it Oh deliver me because of mine enemies Psal 86.1 to 8. Bow down thine ear O Lord and hear me for I am poor and in misery Preserve thou my soul for I am holy save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee Be merciful to me O Lord for I will call dayly upon thee Comfort the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul For thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee Give ear Lord unto my prayer and ponder the voice of my humble desires In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee for thou hearest me Jer. 17.13 14. O Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be ashamed and they that depart from thee shall be written in the earth because they have forsaken the Lord the fountain of living waters Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved for thou art my praise Luke 18.1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint Joh. 16.24 Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my Name ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing 5. Meditation upon spiritual and heavenly things Deut. 22.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end Psal 15.1 2 c. Lord who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or who shall rest upon thy holy Hill Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life and doth the thing which is right and speaketh the truth from his heart He that hath used c. Whoso doth these things shall never fall So Psal 24.3 4 5 6. Psal 90.12 So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Psal 143.4 5. My spirit is vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate Yet do I remember the time past I muse upon all thy works yea I exercise my self in the works of thy hands 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory While we look not at the things that are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Col. 3.1 2 3 4. If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affections on things above not on things on earth For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Rev. 20.11 12. And I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the earth and the Heaven fled away and there was found no place for them And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works 6. Choice of company fit for that time 1 Sam. 21.14 15. Achish said unto his servants Lo you see the man is mad wherefore then have you brought him to me Have I need of madmen that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence shall this fellow come into my house Job 13.4 5. Ye are all Physicians of no value O that you would altogether hold your peace and it should be your wisdom Chap. 15.2 Should he a wise man reason with unprofitable talk or with speeches where with he can do no good Chap. 16.5 I would strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief Chap. 33.23 24. If there be a messenger with him one of a thousand to shew unto men his uprightness Then he is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going down into the pit I have found a Ransome Psal 26.4 5. I have not dwelt with vain persons neither have I had fellowship with the deceitful I have hated the Congregation of the wicked neither will I sit amongst the ungodly Psal 101.8 c. Mine eyes look unto such as be faithful in the Land that they may dwell with me Whoso leadeth a godly life he shall be my servant There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the Living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you And will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and my daughters saith the Lord God Almighty Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers Jam. 5.14 Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church Vers 16. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much 7. Hearing and Reading the Scriptures Psal 119.92 93. If my delight had not been in thy Law I should have perished in my trouble I will never forget thy commandements for with them hast thou quickned me Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me yet is my delight in thy Commandements Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life Acts 8.28 Who the Eunuch returning and sitting in his Chariot read Esaias the Prophet Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie and keep those things that are written therein The Portion of Holy Scripture that may be seasonably read to the sick are the penitential Psalms as they have been commonly called that is to say the 6th 32 38 51 102 130 143. The 15 39 90 103. Job 14. Mit. 26 and 27. Mark 14 and 15. Luke 22 and 23. Joh. from chap. 13 to 20.1 Cor.
grave in peace neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same Isa 26.20 Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Chap. 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Rev. 14.13 I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 4. The Joys to be revealed hereafter Psal 16.9 12. I have set God always before me for he is on my right hand therefore I shall not fall Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore Psal 36.8 9. They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of the river For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall we see light Isa 51.11 The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Chap. 64.4 Since the beginning of the World men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Dan. 12.1 3. At that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Mat. 25.23 His Lord said unto him well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Luke 16.25 Abraham said son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Phil. 1.21 23. To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palmes in their hands And cryed with a loud voice saying salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. 5. The presence of God with his hildren in all conditions Psal 41.3 The Lord comfort him when he lieth sick upon his bed make thou all his bed in his sickness Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Chap. 43.1 2 3. Fear not I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation Sixthly That such spiritual remedies may do good the Minister must endeavour to understand and consider from whence that unwillingness to die proceeds and to the several causes thereof his applications of Scripture must be suitable If 1. It be from that aversation which every Creature naturally hath to dissolution the best men have not been altogether free from that fear Joh. 21.18 19. When thou wast young thou girdest thy self and walkest whither thou wouldest but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not This spake he signifying by what death he should glorify God To this must be opposed 1. The conquest of Death by Christ Heb 2.14 15. Forasmuch as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage 1 Cor. 15.56 57. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Vers 58. Therefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 2. The pattern of a true Christian temper of mind 2 Cor. 5.1 c. We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building with God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the spirit Therefore we are always confident knowing that whil'st we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord For we walk by faith not by sight we are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Secondly If from love of this World The vanity of all earthly things and the danger of such love of the World must be considered Eccl. 2.4 c. I made me great works I builded me houses I planted me vineyards I made me gardens and orchards and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees I got me servants and maidens and had servants born in my house also I had great possessions of great
the God of your Father spake unto me yesternight saying take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad Chap. 50.20 Joseph said unto them ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much People alive Exod. 1.12 The more they afflicted them the more they grew and they were grieved because of the Children of Israel 1 King 17.3 4 6. Hide thy self by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan and I have commanded the Ravens to feed thee there And the Ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening and he drunk of the brook Vers 13.14 15. Elijah said unto her Thus saith the Lord God of Israel the barrel of meal shall not wast neither shall the cruse of oyl fail until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth And she and he and her house did eat many days 2 King 4.1 to 8. Now there cryed a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the Prophets unto Elisha saying Thy servant my husband is dead and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord And the Creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen And Elisha said unto her what shall I do for thee tell me what hast thou in the house and she said thy handmaid hath not any thing in the house but a pot of oyl Then he said go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours even empty vessels borrow not a few And when thou art come in thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons and shalt pour out into all those vessels and thou shalt set aside that which is full So she went from him and did shut the door upon her and upon her sons who brought the vessels to her and she poured out And it came to pass when the vessels were full that she said unto her son bring me yet a vessel And he said unto her there is not a vessel more And the oyl staid And she came and told the man of God and he said go sell the oyl and pay thy debt and live thou and thy children of the rest So Dan. 3.17 Chap. 6.21 22. Joh. 6.5 7 c. When Jesus saw a great company come unto him he saith unto Philip whence shall we buy bread that these may eat Philip answered him Two hundred peny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may take a little Andrew saith unto him There is a lad here that hath five barley loaves and two small fishes but what are they among so many Jesus said make the men sit down So the men sate down in number about five thousand And when Jesus had given thanks he distributed to the Disciples and the Disciples to them that were set down and likewise of the fishes as much as they would See Acts 5.19 20. Ch. 12.6 7 8. Chap. 16.25 26. Deut. 8.4 Psal 78.14 to 30. 4. The danger of such solicitude Mat. 13.22 He that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word of God and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he becometh unfruitful Luke 12.20 God said unto him Thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee then whose shall these things be which thou hast provided Chap. 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares 1 Cor. 7.35 This I speak for your own profit that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction And the unprositableness of it Psal 127.1 2 3. Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it Except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain It is but lost labour that ye hap to rise up early and so late take rest and eat the bread of carefulness Mat. 6.27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature Luke 10.39 c. Martha had a sister called Mary which also sate at Jesus feet and heard his word But Martha was cumbred about much serving and came to him and said Lord dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone bid her therefore that she help me And Jesus answered and said unto her Martha Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things But one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen that one good part which shall not be taken away from her 6. Weakness of Faith discovered thereby Mat. 6.30 If God so cloth the grass of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the Oven shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little faith Chap. 8.26 Why are ye fearful O ye of little faith Chap. 14.31 Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God 1 Pet. 5. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you 7. The duty of commanding them we leave behind to serve God faithfully that they may be blessed Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Jos 23.14 This day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you all are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof Chap. 24. And if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord chuse you this day whom you will serve but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. 1 Chron. 29.10 David blessed the Lord before all the congregation and David said blessed be the Lord God of Israel our Fathers for ever and ever Vers 11. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the Heaven and the earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as a head above all Vers 12. Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all Vers 17. I know also my God that thou triest the heart and hast pleasure in uprightness Vers 18. O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the imaginations of the thoughts of the heart of thy People and prepare their heart unto
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2. The complaints of holy men Job 3.25 26. The thing which I greatly feared is fallen upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me I was not in safety neither had I rest neither was I quiet yet trouble came Chap. 6.4 The arrows of the Almighty are within me the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God do set themselves in array against me Psal 77.7 8 9. Will the Lord absent himself for ever and will he be no more entreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure Psal 88.6 Thine indignation lieth hard upon me and thou hast vexed me with thy stormes Vers 15. I am in misery and like unto him that is at the point to dye even from my youth up thy terrours have I suffered with a troubled mind Jer. 15.17 18. I sate alone because of thy hand for thou hast filled me with indignation Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable which refuseth to be healed 2 Cor. 12.7 c. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the Revelations there was given to me a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to busset me lest I should be exalted above measure For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me And he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness 3. The return of the light of Gods countennance Psal 30.5 His wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye in his pleasure is life heaviness may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning Vers 12. Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness Psal 71 18. O what great troubles and adversities hast thou shewed me and yet didst thou turn and refresh me yea and broughtest me from the depth of the earth again Jer. 29.11 I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end Micah 7.8 Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Job 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid 4. The practice of Holy men in like Cases Psal 42.6 7. Why art thou so full of heaviness O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me Put thy trust in God for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance Psal 119.52 I remembred thine everlasting judgments O Lord and received comfort Psal 14.3 Hear my Prayer O Lord c. Acts. 12.5 Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him Jam. 5.13 Is any among you afflicted let him pray 5. Promises of deliverance Job 5.17 18 19. Happy is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the chastning of the Almighty For he maketh sore and bindeth up he woundeth and his hands make whole He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee Psal 34.18 Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all Jer. 15.11 Verily I will cause the enemy to treat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction Chap. 39.16 18. Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian saying I will surely deliver thee and thou shalt not fall by the sword but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee because thou hast put thy trust in me saith the Lord. Joel 2.32 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be delivered for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call Zeph. 3.14 17. Sing O daughter of Zion shout O Israel be glad and daughter of Jerusalem The Lord thy God in the middest of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over thee with singing Vers 19. Behold at that time I will undo all that afflict thee I will save her that halteth and gather her that was driven out and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations 5. Endeavours of strengthning our Faith I Sam. 30.6 And David was greatly distressed for the people spake of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved every man for his sons and for his daughters but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Psal 56.2 3. Mine enemies are dayly in hand to swallow me up for they be many that fight against me O thou most high Nevertheless though I am sometimes afraid yet put I my trust in thee Psal 146.2 to the end O put not your trust in Princes c. Prov. 3.5 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy path Isa 12.2 Behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song he also is become my salvation Mic. 2.7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob is the spirit of the Lord straitned are these his doings do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by faith Chap. 3.17 18. Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the vine the labour of the Olive shall fail and the field shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation Mark 5.25 27 28 29. A certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years when she heard of Jesus came in the press behind and touched his garment For she said if I may but touch his clothes I shall be whole And straitway the fountain of her blood was dryed up and she felt in her body that she was healed of
Mountains Verse 16. And said to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Verse 17. For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Thirdly The State of an Impenitent Sinner 1. In respect of original corruption Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one Chap. 15.14 What is man that he should be clean and he that is born of a Woman that he should be righteous Verse 15. The Heavens are not clean in his sight verse 16. How much more abominable and filthy is Man that drinketh iniquity like water Chap. 25.4 How then can Man be justified with God Or how can he be clean that is born of a Woman Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my Mother conceived me John 3.5 Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Verse 6. That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Rom. 5.18 By the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation 2. In respect of actual sin Exod. 32.33 Whosoever hath sinn'd against me him will I blot out of my Book 2 Kings 17.18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight there was none left but the Tribe of Judah only Verse 19 Also Judah kept not the Commandments of the Lord their God but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made Verse 20. And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel and afflicted them and delivered them into the hand of spoilers till he had cast them out of his sight Job 4.8 They that plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same Verse 9. By the blast of God they perish and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed Chap. 8.11 Can the Rush grow up without mire can the Flag grow without water Verse 12. Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down it withereth before any other herb Verse 13. So are the paths of all that forget God and the hypocrites hope shall perish Jer. 22.24 As I live saith the Lord though Coniah the Son of Jehoiakim King of Judah were the signet upon my right hand yet would I pluck thee thence Verse 25. And I will give thee into the hand of them who seek thy life Verse 26. And I will cast thee out and thy Mother that bare thee into another Country where ye were not born and there shall ye dye Mat. 7.26 Every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish Man which built his house upon the sand Verse 27. And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it Gal. 5.19 The works of the flesh are manifest which are these adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witcheraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murders drunkenness revellings and such like they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 2 Thes 1.7 The Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Rev. 14.9 10 11. If any man worship the Beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the smoak of their torment ascended up for ever and ever Secondly When the Minister finds not in the sick person a total hardness and impenitency he must wisely mingle Threatnings and Comforts together To which purpose such-like passages of Scripture will be useful Deut. 7.9 10. Know therefore that the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God which keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him and keep his Commandements to a Thousand generations And repayeth them that hate him to their face to destroy them He will not be slack to him that hateth him he will repay him to his face Jer. 32.18 19. Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands and recompensest the iniquity of the Fathers into the bosom of their Children after them the great the mighty God the Lord of Hosts is his Name Great in Counsel and mighty in works for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men to give every one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings Psal 89.31 32 33. If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgments If they break my statutes and keep not my Commandements I will visit their offence with rods and their sin with scourges Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my truth to fail Rev. 2.4 5. I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come against thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Thirdly When the Sick Person is fallen into the other extream and is sensible of little or no comfort the passages of Scripture relating to such a condition are those which set forth 1. The excellency and goodness of the Divine Nature Exod. 34.6 7. The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed The LORD the LORD GOD merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin Psalm 86.15 16. Thou O Lord God art full of compassion and mercy longsuffering plenteous in goodness and truth O turn thee then unto me and have mercy upon me Give thy strength unto thy servant and help the son of thine handmaid Psalm 103.8 9 c. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy Longsuffering and of great goodness He will not alway be chiding neither keepeth he his anger for ever He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our wickedness For look how high the Heaven is in comparison of the Earth So great is his mercy also toward them that fear him Look how wide also the East is from the West So far hath he set our sins from us Yea like as a Father pittieth his own Children Even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him For he knoweth whereof we are made he remembreth that we are but dust Hos 11.3 4. I taught
Ephraim to go taking them by the Arms but they knew not that I heal'd them I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love Jonah 4. Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repentest thee of the evil Mic. 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy He will turn again he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Malac. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Eph. 2.4 5. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins and trespasses hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus Secondly His incomprehensible love declared in giving his Son to dye for the sin of the World Isa 52.9 10. Break forth into joy sing together ye wast places of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his People he hath redeemed Jerusalem The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all Nations and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God Chap. 53.4 5 6. Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Chap. 55.1 3. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Chap. 61.1 2 3. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they might be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Ezek. 34.22 23 24 25. I will save my flock and they shall be no more a prey And I will set up one shepherd over them and he shall feed them even my servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their shepherd And I the Lord will be their God and my servant David a Prince amongst them I the Lord have spoken it And I will make with them a covenant of peace Malac. 4.2 Unto you that fear my Name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as Calves of the stall Luke 1.76 77 78 79. Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways To give knowledg of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace Chap. 4.17 18 19 21 And when he Jesus had opened the Book he found the place where i◠was written The Spirit of the Lord 〈◊〉 upon me And he began to sa◠unto them this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Joh 1.29 John seeth Jesus comin◠unto him and saith Behold th◠Lamb of God which taketh awa◠the sin of the World Chap. 3.16 17. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Chap. 15.13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his Friends Act 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Rom. 3.23 24 25. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his blood Rom. 5.8 9. God commendeth his love towards us in that whilest we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 1 Joh. 2.1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sins Rev. 5.9 And the Elders sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and people and tongue and Nation Thirdly His faithfulness in keeping his promise Isa 49.15 16. Can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my hands thy walls are before me continually Jer. 33.20 21. Thus saith the Lord if you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night and that there should not be day and night in their season Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne Joh. 10.28 29. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater than all And no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. He which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed is God Who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Heb. 6.17 18. God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an Oath That by
two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us 1 Joh 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Fourthly His encouragements and promises to the penitent 1. In the Law Levit. 26.40 41 42. If they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their Fathers with their trespass which they trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary to me And that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember and will remember the land Deut. 4.27 29 30 31. The Lord thy God shall scatter you among the Nations But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul When thou art in Tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou come to the Lord thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice for the Lord thy God is a merciful God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee nor forget the Covenant of thy Fathers which he sware unto them Chap. 30.3 The Lord thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee and will return and gather thee from all the Nations whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee In 2. The Prophets 1 Sam. 12.20 22. Samuel said unto the People fear not ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great Names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his People Isa 1.18 19. Though your sins be as red as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as wooll If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land Cha. 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sins return unto me for I have redeemed thee Chap. 57.16 17 18. I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the souls which I have made For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners Jer. 3.1 13 14. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord. Only acknowledg thine iniquity that thou hast transgrest against the Lord thy God Turn O backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married unto you Chap. 31.19 20. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even consounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Is Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. Chap. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon aâ—l their iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye dye O house of Israel In 3. The Gospel Mat. 1. 21. Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Chap. 18.11 The son of man is come to save that which was lost Luke 15.10 There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth John 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out Heb. 4.15 16. We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Chap. 7.24 25. This man Christ Jesus because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Wherefore he is also able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Chap. 8.12 I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Fifthly The performance of those promises in several Instances of mercy Judg. 2.18 When the Lord raised them up Judges then the Lord was with the Judg and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the Judg for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them Chap. 10.15 16. The children of Israel said unto the Lord we have sinned do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee deliver us only we pray thee this day And they put away the strange Gods from among them and served the Lord and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel 2 Sam. 12.13 David said unto Nathan I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David the Lord also hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye 1 King 21.29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me because he humbleth himself before me I will not bring the evil in his days but in his sons days will I bring the evil upon his house 2 Chron. 33.12 13. And when he Manasseh was in affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers And prayed unto him and he was intreated of him and heard his supplication and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom Nehem. 9.31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies sake thou didst not utterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and merciful God Jonah 3.10 And God saw their works that they turned from their evil way and God repented of the evil that he had said he would do unto them and he did it not Mat. 18.26 27. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him saying Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all Then the Lord of that servant came moved with compassion and loosed him and forgave him the debt Luke 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven for
therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given you Judg. 20.21 25. And the Children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibzah and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men And the second day they destroyed down to the ground eighteen thousand men I Sam. 4.18 And when he the Messenger made mention of the Ark of God Eli fell from off the seat backward by the side of the Gate and his neck brake for he was an old man and heavy and he had judged Israel fourty years 2 Kings 23.29 And King Josiah went against him Pharaoh Necho and he slew him at Megiddo Job 2.7 Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore biles from the sole of his foot unto his crown Chap. 9.21 22. Though I were perfect yet would I not know my soul I would despise my life This is one thing therefore I said it he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked Eccl. 8.14 There be just men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked again there be wicked men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous Chap. 9.2 All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and unto the wicked to the good and to the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath Jer. 24.5 Like these good figs so will I acknowledg them that are carried away captive of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Caldoeans for their good Acts 20.9 And there sate in a window a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep sleep and as Paul was long preaching he sunk down with sleep and fell down from the third loft and was taken up dead 2 Tim. 4.20 Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick 3. The Divine Clemency in preventing by such chastisements our eternal destruction Joh. 5.14 Jesus said unto him Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee I Cor. 11.32 When we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemed with the world 4. The Discrimination that shall one day be made betwixt such as may suffer alike in this world Mal. 3.14 to the end Ye have said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts And now we call the proud happy yea they that work wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are even delivered Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth the Lord and him that serveth him not 5. The Duty of searching after that which doth provoke God to anger Gen. 42.22 And they the Brethren of Joseph said one to another we are verily guilty concerning our Brother in that we saw the Anguish of his soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us Jos 7.13 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel there is an accursed thing in the middest of thee O Israel thou canst not stand before thine enemies until ye take away the accursed thing from among you Jon. 1.7 And the Mariners said every one to his fellow come and let us cast lots that we may know for whose cause this evil is come upon us 1 Cor. 11.30 31. For this cause many are weak and sickly amongst you and many are fallen asleep For if we would judg our selves we should not be judged Rev. 9.20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands Fifthly When the sick Person is oppressed with the fear of death such Scriptures are useful as set forth 1. The like fear in holy men Psal 18.3 4. The sorrows of death compassed me and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid The pains of Hell came about me the snares of death overtook me Psal 55.4 5. My heart is disquieted within me and the fear of death is fallen upon me Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me Psal 102.23 24. He brought down my strength in my journey and shortned my days But I said O my God take me not away in the middest of mine age as for thy years they endure throughout all generations Isa 38.1 2 3. Isaiah the Prophet the son of Amos came unto him Hezekiah and said unto him Thus saith the Lord set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not live Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord And said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walkt before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore 2. Comforts against fear of death from 1. The necessity of dying 1 Sam. 12.23 Now he is dead wherefore should I fast can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not come to me Chap. 14.14 We must needs dye and are as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again Job 7.1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth are not his days also like the days of an hireling Isa 40.6 7. The voice said cry And I said what shall I cry All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as a flower of the field The grass withereth the flower fadeth because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it surely the People is grass Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to dye 2. Victory over death by Christ. Isa 25.8 He will swallow up death in victory Hos 13.14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction 1 Cor. 15.25 26. He must reign till he have put all enemies under his feet The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death Vers 54.55 When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory 3. Blessed death of the righteous 2 Chron. 34.28 I will gather thee to thy Fathers and thou shalt be gathered unto thy
and small cattel above all that were in Jerusalem before me I gathered me also silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of Kings and of the Provinces I got me men-singers and women-singers and the delights of the sons of men as musical instruments and that of all sorts And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them I withheld not my heart from any joy for my heart rejoyced in all my labours and this was my portion of all my labour Then I looked on all the works that my hand had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the sun 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as though they had none And they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it for the fashion of this World passeth away Rev. 18.16 17. Alas Alas that great City that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and deckt with gold and precious stones and pearls For in one hour so great riches is come to naught 2. The danger of it Mat. 19.23 24. Jesus said unto his Disciples verily verily I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And again I say unto you It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Tim. 6.9 10. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition For the love of money is the root of all evil 1 Joh. 2.15 16 17. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man love thâ— world the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world And the world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever Luke 12.16 c. Jesus spake this Parable The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully And he thought within himself saying what shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits And he said this will I do I will pull down my Barnes and build greater and there will I bestow my fruits and my goods And I will say to my soul soul thou hast much goods layd up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry But God said unto him Thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Thirdly If from a Conscience burdened with the guilt of sin to the former Applications p. 22 23. may be added the tender regard of our Blessed Saviour for penitent sinners foretold by the Prophets Isa 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young And proclaimed by himself Mat. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and and ye shall find rest unto your souls Vers 30. For my yoke is easie and my burden is light Joh. 7.37 Jesus stood and cryed saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink Chap. 11.25 26. Jesus said unto Martha I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye Fourthly If from solicitude and over-great care for Wife and Children the Scriptures pertinent are such as set forth 1. The All-sufficiency of God Gen. 17.1 And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And I will make my Covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly Chap. 18.14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord At the time appointed will I return unto thee and Sarah shall have a son 2 Chron. 25.9 Amaziah said to the man of God but what shall we do for the hundred Talents which I have given to the army of Israel And the man of God answered the Lord is able to give thee much more than this Isa 59.1 Behold the Lord's hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear 2. His promises to his Children and to their seed Gen. 17.19 Sarah thy Wife shall bear a son indeed and thou shalt call his name Isaac and I will establish my Covenant with him for an everlasting Covenant and with his seed after him Vers 7. I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Exod. 2.24 25. God heard their groaning and God remembred his Covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. And God looked upon the Children of Israel and God had respect unto them Jos 21.25 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass 2 Sam. 7.24 Thou hast confirmed to thy self thy People Israel to be a People unto thee for ever and thou Lord art become their God Psal 68.5 He is a Father of the fatherless and defendeth the cause of the Widows even God in his holy habitation Psal 112.1 2. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he hath great delight in his commandments His seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the faithful shall be blessed Rom 8.32 38 39. He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Heb. 13.5 6. Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me 3. His performance of them even by the mighty working of his Power Gen. 31.29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt but
thee Vers 19. And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart to keep thy commandements thy testimonies and thy statutes 2 Pet. 1.12 c. I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance Seventhly If the sick Person seem willing to dye the Minister may prudently endeavour to discover whether his willingness to dye doth proceed from some good and laudable motive or no for it may arise out of either As 1. From a desire to be freed from the troubles and persecutions Men undergo in this life Numb 11.13 14 15. Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this People for they weep unto me saying give us flesh that we may eat I am not able to bear all this People alone because it is too heavy for me And if thou deal thus with me kill me I pray thee out of hand if I have found favor in thy sight and let me not see my wretchedness 1 King 19.4 But he Elijah himself went a days journey into the wilderness and came and sate down under a Juniper-tree and he requested for himself that he might dye and said it is enough now O Lord take away my life for I am not better than my Fathers Or 2. To be freed from pain Job 3.11 c. Why dyed I not from the womb why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly Vers 13. For now should I have lien still and been at quiet I should have slept then should I have been at rest Vers 17 18. There the wicked cease from troubling there the weary be at rest There the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the oppressor Vers 20 21. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more than for hid treasures Chap. 6.8 9. O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for Even that it would please God to destroy me that he would let loose his hand and cut me off Jon. 4.8 It came to pass when the sun did rise that God prepared a vehement eastwind and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah that he fainted and wished in himself to dye and said it is better for me to dye than to live Or. 3. Out of ignorance of man's estate after death in respect of rewards and punishments Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to dye but after this the judgment 2 Cor. 5.10 11. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrours of the Lord we perswade men Mat. 25.31 32 33 46. When the son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he be set upon the Throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from the other as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats Then shall he say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed Children of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World Then shall he say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Luke 16.22 c. And it came to pass that the beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom the rich man dyed also and was buried And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Or 4. Patient submission to Gods will 1 Sam. 3.18 And Eli said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Luke 22.42 Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done Acts 21.14 And when he Paul would not be perswaded we ceased saying the will of the Lord be done Phil. 4.11 I have learned in what estate soever I am therewith to be content Or 5. Well-grounded hopes of Salvation Job 8.20 God will not cast away a perfect man Psal 37.38 Keep innocency and take heed to the thing that is right for that shall bring a man peace at the last Rom. 5.1 2. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 2 Cor. 4.13 14. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you 2 Tim. 7.8 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judg shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also which love his appearing Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end To each of these fit applications of these or such-like passages of Scripture are to be made For neither willingness nor unwillingness to dye simply considered are tokens of good or bad estate but in relation tâ— the ground or cause from whencâ— they proceed Eighthly When the sick Person complains of the want of sensible joy and inward comfort of the Spirit such passages of Scripture are to be set before him as describe 1. The state of our spiritual warfare Mat. 10.35 38. I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law And a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Eph. 5.11 12 13. Put on the whole armour of God
of but the sorrow of the world worketh death For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge In all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Tenthly If the sick person needs or desires instruction how to demean himself in his sickness such Scriptures will be useful as direct us to 1. Contrition for sin Job 42.2 5 6. I know that thou canst do any thing and that no thought can be withheld from thee I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Psal 19.12 Who can tell how oft he offends O cleanse thou me from my secret faults Psal 32.1 c. Blessed is the man whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile I will acknowledg my sin unto thee and mine unrighteousnes have I not hid Psal 34.17 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart and will save such as be of an humble spirit Psal 38.1 c. Put me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure For thine arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin For my wickednesses are gone over my head and are like a sore burden too heavy for me to bear I truly am set in the plague and my heaviness is ever in my sight For I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin Hos 7.2 They consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all 2. Humility and Patience in affliction 2 Sam. 15.25 26. And the King David said unto Zadok carry back the Ark of God into the City if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation But if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him Job 2.10 What shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil In all this did not Job sin with his lips Chap. 34.31 32. Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend any more That which I see not teach thou me If I have done iniquity I will do no more Psal 27.16 O tarry thou the Lords leasure be strong and he shall comfort thy heart and put thou thy trust in the Lord. Lam. 3.25 26. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Mic. 7.9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Luke 21.19 In your patience possess your souls Heb. 12.7 If ye endure chastening God dealeth with you as with sons Jam. 1.2 3 4. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing 1 Pet. 5.6 Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time 3. Reliance upon God Deut. 33.26 There is none like unto the God of Jesurun Vers 27. The Eternal God is thy refuge Vers 29. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O People saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency 1 Sam. 12.22 The Lord will not forsake his People for his great Names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his People 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Psal 5.13 Thou Lord wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast never failed them that seek thee Psal 22.10 I have been left unto thee ever since I was born thou art my God even from my mothers womb Psal 23.4 Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Psal 33.17 Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and upon them that put their trust in his mercy Psal 37.40 The salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord which is also their strength in the time of trouble Psal 62.1 My soul truly waiteth still upon God for of him cometh my salvation Isa 30.15 Thus saith the Lord God the Holy One of Israel In returning and rest shall ye be saved in quietness and confidence shall be your strength Lam. 3.25 26. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the soul that seeketh him It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 4. The Benefit and Comfort of Prayer Isa 26.8 9. In the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our soul is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early for when thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness Job 42.10 The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the time of trouble So will I hear thee and thou shalt praise me Psal 55.17 18. As for me I will call upon God and the Lord shall save me In the evening and morning and at noon day I will pray and that instantly and he shall hear my voice Psal 65.2 3. Thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come My misdeeds prevail against me O be thou merciful unto our sins Psal 69.13 c. Lord I make my prayer to thee in an acceptable time Hear me O God in the multitude of thy mercy even in the truth of thy salvation Take me out of the mire that I sink not Oh let me be delivered from them that hate me and out of the deep waters Let not the deep flood drown me neither let the deep swallow me up and let not the Pit shut her mouth upon me Hear me O Lord for thy loving kindness is comfortable turn thee unto me according to
15. 8. Ready and cheerful submission to the will and wisdom of God Job 1.21 And Job said Naked came I out of my Mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. Chap. 33.13 Why doest thou strive against him for he giveth not account of any of his matters Isa 39.8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken he said moreover for there shall be peace and truth in my days Jer. 18.6 O House of Israel cannot I do with you as this Potter saith the Lord behold as the Clay is in the Potters hand so are ye in mine hand O House of Israel Luke 1.38 And Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word Phil. 1.20 As always so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death Heb. 12.1 2. Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God 9. Thankfulness for chastisement Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him in thy Law Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy word Heb. 12.8 If ye be without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons Eleventhly The exercise of the duty of prayer as a special means to procure for him what is necessary for his present condition As 1. Help against temptations Psal 22.11 14 16. O go not from me for trouble is hard at hand and there is none to help me I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart also in the middest of my body is even like melting wax For many dogs are come about me and the counsel of the wicked layeth siege against me Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Luke 22.31 32. Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Joh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Heb. 2.17 18. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the People For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist stedfast in the faith Rev. 12.12 Wo to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time 2. Ease and comfort under bodily pains and anguish of mind Job 7.20 I have sinned what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of men why hast thou set me as a mark against thee so that I am a burden to my self Psal 72.1 In thee O Lord have I put my trust let me never be put to confusion but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness encline thine ear unto me and save me Vers 2. Be thou my stronghold whereunto I may always ways resort thou hast promised to help me for thou art my house of defence and my castle Vers 5. Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born thou art he that took me out of my mothers womb my praise shall be always of thee Vers 8. Cast me not away in the time of age forsake me not when my strength faileth me Vers 10. Go not far from me O God my God haste thee to help me Psal 109.20 Deal thou with me O Lord God according to thy Name for sweet is thy mercy Vers 21. O Deliver me for I am helpless and poor and my heart is wounded within me Vers 22. I go hence like the shadow that departeth and an driven away like the Grashopper Vers 23. My knees are weak through fasting my flesh is dryed up for want of fatness Psal 141. 1. Lord I call upon thee haste thee unto me and consider my voice when I cry unto thee Vers 2. Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice Vers 9. Mine eyes look unto thee O Lord God in thee is my trust O cast not out my soul 3. Perseverance Psal 40.14 Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me O Lord let thy loving kindness and thy truth alway preserve me Vers 15. For innumerable troubles are come about me my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up yea they are more in number than the hairs of my head and my heart hath failed me Psal 145.14 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall and lifteth up all such as be down Vers 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Vers 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him yea all such as call upon him faithfully Vers 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will help them Vers 20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him but scattereth abroad all the ungodly Mat. 24.13 He that endureth unto the end the same shall be saved Rom. 11.20 Thou standest by faith Be not high-minded but fear 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it Phil. 1.3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you Vers 4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy Vers 5. For your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now Vers 6. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus Vers 7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all Ezek. 36.37 Thus saith the Lord God I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them 4. A quiet departure out of this life Gen. 49.33 When Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons he gathered up his feet into the bed and yielded up the Ghost and was
gathered unto his People Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Chap. 23.46 When Jesus had cried with a loud voice he said Father into thy hands I commend my spirit And having thus said he gave up the ghost Acts 7.59 They stoned Steven calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit Vers 60. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge And when he had said this he fell asleep Rev. 22.20 He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus THe Minister must not fail to press the sick person to receive the Holy Eucharist and to open to him the comfortable Doctrine the Scripture holds forth in that blessed Ordinance this being the fittest close for the life of him whose constant business it hath been as of all good Christians to labour for pardon and grace the Benefits sealed to Believers in that Sacrament by Him who purchased them for us with his most precious blood as in that Commemorative Sacrifice is most lively represented to us The Institution whereof so nearly preceding the Passion of our Blessed Redeemer doth recommend the use of these Holy Mysteries unto Christians as very seasonable at that time when they are upon putting off their earthly Tabernacles their corruptible Bodies in expectation of a joyful Resurection and Exaltation unto life Eternal whereof this Holy Sacrament was by the Primitive Fathers of the Church esteemed a sure and sacred Pledg A most comfortable Preparative whereunto if heartily desired and cantiously and reverently administred is the Benefit of Absolution Which deserves not to be the less esteemed or the more neglected for whatsoever abuses it hath heretofore been liable unto when both Priest and People believed more of the Sacerdotal Power than was consistent with so great a Trust committed to the one and so strict a disquisition required from the other lest the Minister might be Partaker of other mens sins 1 Tim. 5.22 and the People delude themselves with unsincere and fruitless Repentance 2 Cor. 7.10 11. A Prayer to be used in a state of Health O Father of lights from whom cometh every good and perfect gift Thou art he who tookest me out of my Mothers womb and by thee have I been holden up ever since I was born The blessings of health and strength that I enjoy are from thy goodness and bounty And for them and all thy other mercies I bless and praise thy ever-great and glorious Name Most humbly beseeching thee to add to these that blessing of blessings the right use of all thy blessings That through the comfort and assistance of that health and strength thou hast given me I may become the more diligent and faithful in the practice of those several duties of piety justice and charity which thou requirest at my hands And suffer me not O Lord to deceive my self by a false account of the time of my Pilgrimage but so teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom that I may readily discern the vast difference between this span of life and the infinite spaces of eternity between the pleasures of sin for a season and the everlasting fulness of joy in thy presence And for this end remove far away from me all those vices to which health and ease are apt to betray me especially all carnal security lust pride anger want of compassion misspending my time forgetfulness of thee and of thy ways and works And implant in my mind the daily remembrance of death and judgment the necessity of working out my salvation with fear and trembling and the misery of being surpriz'd by the coming of our Lord in my sins or fruitless repentance So that the health of my body may through thy blessing promote the health of my Soul and thy augmenting the number of my Talents increase both my labour and reward That passing the time of my sojourning here in fear I may treasure up for my self such spiritual strength and consolation as may stand me in stead when I shall lye down on my bed of sickness and death administring comfort to my soul in the conscience of well doing which thou hast promised us to accept and reward through thy mercies in Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer when one perceives himself to be sick O Lord my God I have learn'd from thy Holy Word and by daily experience in this vale of misery that dust I am and unto dust I shall return that I must put off this earthly Tabernacle and that thou wilt bring me to death and the house appointed for all living And now Lord I feel in my self the usual summons thy good providence doth give us to review our accounts and to sit our selves for death and judgment Blessed be thy Name for this thy mercy that thou hast not taken advantage of me whil'st I was thine enemy to cut me off suddenly in my sins and hurry me hence in mine iniquity but hast given me the time means and I trust grace for repentance and amendment of life And though I have not improved such hath been my negligence and sloth these rich favours to that great advantage I might and should have done yet I beseech thee O Lord for thine infinite mercies in thy son Christ Jesus that thou wilt not be extream to mark what I have done amiss and to lay my sins to my charge but that thou wilt deal mercifully with me thy most unworthy servant blotting out all my sins and transgressions that none of mine iniquities may be mentioned unto me in that great and terrible day of Recompences And forasmuch as thou alone in whose hands our times are dost know what will be the issue of this my present distemper and sickness cause me to reflect on it as proceeding from thy Will and Wisdom and cheerfully and thankfully to submit to this chastisement as a means appointed by thee for the benefit and comfort of my Soul and vouchsafe unto me that grace which may enable me to receive profit thereby and from experience of thy goodness towards me to gain hope and confidence of thy love And if thou hast reserv'd for me the blessing of restoring me to my former health which I beseech thee to do direct me to the use of such means as thou wilt make effectual for that end But if the days of my warfare are accomplished prepare me O Lord for a safe quiet and comfortable departure out of this life and fit me for thy prefence and glory O Lord strengthen me against all the malicious practices and devices of my subtil and implacable enemy against all errours and delusions of my understanding the allurements of this World inordinate love of this miserable Life and