of the children of God nor for any other Christian whereupon I demanded his Excell of this comfort out of the first question of the high-dutch Catechisme His Excell answered This is my onely comfort I know none other and this is my onely refuge whereby I purpose to remaine which sweet words of his Excell were as a Crowne to this holy worke and a certaine signe that the spirit of God had throughly wrought in his heart Then I said vnto his Excell your Excell may now expect ouer and aboue the Lawrell wreath wherewith the Lord hath crowned you here in this life to be crowned with all those Kings and Princes that with true faith haue kissed the Sonne of God as your Excell hath done with an immortall and euerlasting Crowne of glory in the world to come After these words were ended his Excell said though with great trouble I cannot well speake any more whereupon I left his Excell wishing him a happy end which I saw to draw neare At this Visitation were present the chiefest Officers of his Excellencie The last Visitation When his Excellencie lay a dying and departed this world IN the afternoone about foure of the clocke I was by two Sergeants requested to come vp vnto his Excell Being come into the Chamber I found his Excell His Excell cannot speake any more but hath his perfect vnderstanding to be toward his last end his speech hauing left him and was not able once to cast vp his eyes I spake at his Excell eare Being your Excell speech doth now faile you thinke now in your heart which the Lord doth behold and search thorow vpon your Sauiour Iesus Christ who is now the onely life and comfort of your Excell And when I did perceiue his Excell gaue sufficient signes that he vnderstood me I did at the request of the Princesse of Portugall who stood by mee and with weeping eyes beheld his Excell say prayers Prayers is said there being likewise present the Comitties of the High and Mighty the Lords Estates generall the Lord Vosbergen and other Lords to me vnknowne also the chiefest seruants of his Highnesse with two Doctors Doctor Rumpf and Doctor Valentius who did all fall vpon their knees before the Lord and prayed with bitter teares for his Excell After prayer was ended I spake againe at his Excell eare saying If your Excell hath vnderstood me and that you are yet comforted in the Lord His Excell gaue a sign to shew that hee did vnderstand it and that he was well contented I pray let me know by touching my hand whereupon his Ex presently hold me so fast by my hand that I could scarce get it out vntill such time as the strength of his life went from him and then I spake once more these words vnto him Lord Iesu receiue my spirit Lord Iesu haue mercy vpon me His Excell did yet sufficiently shew that hee vnderstood it whereupon we once againe went vnto prayers and prayed with such feruency as any Christian might imagine Prayer is said once more And afterwards betweene 5. and 6. of the clocke this noble Prince rested in the Lord in the prayers of the beholders so sweetly as euer I saw man dye without the least motion of his body and without any interruption of his breath His Excell pleasant death And thus dyed this famous Champion Prince Maurice c. in the 58. yeare of his age hauing Gouerned little lesse then 40. yeares Hee was held of all true-hearted Patriots a precious and chosen Instrument of Gods glory specially for Gods Church and these Countries He will be by some more lamented after his death An Exhortation vnto all the Inhabitants of this Land then he was beloued of them in his life But I pray and exhort all faithfull Inhabitants of this Land to take to heart these few ensuing admonitions wherewith I will conclude this my Narration The Lord hath within these few yeares taken from vs that faithfull Prince Count William Lodowicke of Nassau c. and hath sithence visited this Land with heauy plagues famine high-waters strong-warres as is yet at this time besides the extraordinary besieging of the City of Breda and now moreouer smites vs for our sinnes with this deepe wound and that in such a time when all the world would iudge we stood in most neede of this great Prince Will the Lord then vtterly forsake vs and goe from vs It seemeth so and certainely this is no vaine imagination but the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords whose iudgements are iust and whose wayes are vnsearchable can and will according to his infinite mercy who hath so many times miraculously saued these Countries for his holy name and welbeloued Sonnes sake keepe vs if wee as well Rulers as Subiects doe hate our sinnes betimes turne vnto him and doe vprightly walke before him in his holy lawes which are not vnknowne vnto vs. And this is that which wee must doe if wee will make a good vse of Gods iudgements that he may turne them from vs and if wee desire to haue the Lord to blesse this Countrey and State otherwise wee all see if wee are not blinde in heart how the LORD doth threaten vs and which certainely once will come vpon vs if wee remaine snorting in our carnall security and then wee shall not finde any mercy with the LORD It is not any inward nor outward meanes will bee able to saue vs if the LORD turne from vs And therefore those are the best people who aboue all things seeke to appease the wrath of the most Highest who ruleth the hearts of all Kings and so labour to obtaine his fauour that with a good conscience they may both liue and dye in his feare and thereunto they vse all possible meanes according to their vocation to employ it for the seruice of the common good and this confirmeth a State and bringeth the blessing of God ouer the whole Countrey but here I take leaue with the Prophet Ieremie to say O earth earth earth Ier. 22.29 heare the word of the LORD What word the word of the Sonne of GOD Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and doe thy first workes or else I will come against thee shortly and will remoue your Candlesticke out of his place except thou amend I pray the Lord this may bee well practised That all higher powers and those of meaner sort would take example of the Religious and godly decease of this Noble Prince of Orange whose soule vndoubtedly is now in glory with the Lord Iesus Christ waiting for the blessed resurrection of the dead which the Lord of his mercy grant vnto vs. Vnto whom as most due is bee all honour prayse and glory for euermore Amen For as much as concernes those that harden themselues in their sinnes by the abusing of Gods mercy and by example of those Saints that haue fallen and are risen vp againe for such there euer hath beene and yet are must know if they haue not a desire of their condemnation Quod non sint exempla cadendi nec in peccatis iacendi sed cauendi si cecideris resurgendi that is to say that those be no examples to fall nor yet to lye still but take heed wee doe not fall or if wee bee fallen that wee rise vp againe Who is so foolish that will goe breake his owne shinnes because hee seeth his fellow by a fall hath broken his and is whole againe Rom. 6.12 shall wee continue still in sinne that grace may abound God forbid they that are led by the spirit of GOD are afraide of such thoughts for so much as concerneth the diuell with all his wicked complices and vncleane spirits who cannot endure and doe nothing but scorne and deride the children of God in whom the Angels doe reioyce Wee must not stumble at these for Christ himselfe saith in the Gospell that their iudgement will bee hard enough for them to beare and therfore it is needlesse here to speake any more of them and therefore I end Beseeching the Lord to restraine the diuell and mercifully to saue his people in this great tempest wherein the whole Christian world doe so fearefully striue with one another So be it FINIS
THE GODLY AND CHRISTIAN DECEASE of the Illustrious and High-borne PRINCE MAVRITIVS of NASSAV Prince of ORANGE of happy Memory For the comfort and edification of all true CHRISTIANS First written in Dutch by Master IOHN BOGERMAN Minister of the word of God at Leeuwarden And Now Translated into English LONDON Printed by T. S. for Nathanael Newbery and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Starre in Popes head Pallace and vnder Saint Peters Church in Cornehill 1625. WEe here vnder-written professors of Diuinity in the Vniuersity of Leyden hauing read and examined this Relation of the Christian decease of the Illustrious and High-born Prince Maurice of Nassau Prince of Orange written by the worshipfull Doctor Iohn Bogerman being the very words which his Princely Excell being deadly sicke spoke doe declare by these presents that we doe hold this Relation to be very necessary to bee published in Print not doubting but it will be very acceptable vnto all impartiall Readers and will bee read with great edification of all persons both high and low and will not onely serue them for a patterne but also as a motiue to stirre them vp vnto hearty Repentance and true faith in Iesus Christ to the glory of God and the saluation of their owne soules Datum 26. Maij 1625. IOH. POLIANDER ANT. WALaeVS ANDREAS RIVERTVS ANTONIVS THYSIVS To the High and Mighty Lords THE ESTATES GENERAL of the vnited Prouinces AND To the High-borne Prince FREDERICK HENRY Prince of Orange And also To the Illustrious Lord ERNEST CASIMIR Count of Nassau Catzenelnbogen c. MOst High and mighty and most gracious Lords I doe present vnto your Excell and by you vnto all faithfull Inhabitants of these vnited Prouinces the description of the Christian decease of the Illustrious and High-borne Prince Maurice of Nassau Prince of Orange c. Both whose life and death shall be of immortall memory This is a small matter in regard of my selfe and my labour but very great in respect of that great Prince who doth here speake his last words in a matter of greatest moment and who doth here fight the greatest fight that can befall and so doth finish the greatest worke that can be done on earth and after his labour is ended wee see him goe from misery into ioy and rest leauing the whole world in a tumult of vnrest It hath beene alwaies held a commendable custome to make knowne the last words and actions of great personages that it might serue for an example vnto others therefore all impartiall people shall vnderstand that it is more then reason to publish and make knowne vnto the world the last words and deeds of the High-renowned Lord the Prince of Orange especially since it is both of high and low so much desired and longed for that all true-hearted people who haue receiued the spirit of impartiality may iudge whether among all the words of his Excell any be to be found that are not very religiously spoken and ought of euery of vs to be followed We may well say the Lord hath loued this Prince vniill the end In his life he hath made him a patterne of all heroicke and Militarie actions and Politicke wisedome in his death hee hath in an extraordinary manner made him an obiect of his mercy and an example of Christian Piety and Godlinesse In his life time he gaue him the victorie ouer his bodily and outward enemies and at his death he made him extraordinarily victorious triumphing ouer his spirituall enemies So guiding him by his holy spirit that with an extraordinary resolute courage hee did despise all earthly things saying many times I will not be troubled with any worldly matters So that leauing the world and the heauy burthen of his weighty affairs together he did wholly apply himselfe to fight this spirituall fight as wisely and couragiously as euer hee did in temporall combats For in all his spirituall actions he did most looke at that whereat we most stumble when wee haue to doe with the Lord Our Sinnes which being put quite from vs wee obtaine free accesse vnto the Lord yea we become familiar with him as the child with the father Blessed is he that getteth the practise of this In this worke his P. Excell hath followed the steps of the most Valiantest Champions which haue beene among the people of God As Dauid Daniel Esay Ieremy and others Whereof we haue speciall examples in the Psalmes where we see that Gods children hauing to doe with God doe so often looke vpon their sinnes and so humble themselues therewith that thereby afterwards they come to receiue in their hearts a filiall faith feare and obedience His P. Excell did know that our spirituall enemy which wee beare about vs was ouercome and that death had lost her sting and hell her victory This enemy Sinne we doe ouercome First by true repentance and doe hate him as our deadlyest enemie Secondly when we by true faith cast them vpon the shoulders of that vnspotted Lambe Iesus Christ who can only beare them carry them away thirdly when on the contrary we become louers of righteousnes and whatsoeuer is acceptable vnto the Lord. These three perticulars may euery one finde that is any thing experienced in holinesse that the Holy Ghost hath in aspeciall manner wrought in this Prince His Excell knowing that there is but one way to heauen for the greatest potentate and the meanest subiect hath not flattered himselfe nor sought to iustifie his sinnes but hath as one of the least of Gods seruants with an humble hart and vnfained repentance confessed them before the Lord and hath in true faith taken his refuge onely to Iesus Christ in whom his soule found rest And thereunto hee so often declared his hearty desire to serue the Lord better then he confessed to haue done as the Lords great benefits vnto him did require And this is the speciall mercy of God which all good christians may boast of that the Lord who knew the good desire of his Excell hauing freed him from all worldly hinderances for a crowne vnto all his laudable deeds hath suffered his Excell to vse such a solemne and holy action as this is not onely for the rest and saluation of his owne soule but also for the edification of all good christians And therefore I doe not without cause say once more that the Lord hath loued this Prince vnto the end For I do from my hart confesse that in all the times I visited his Excell His Excell did so behaue himselfe that I did not once goe from him without being edified not doubting but it will doe the like to all good christians that shall happen to reade it Wherefore I doe comfort my selfe and doe praise the Lord that within this my weakenesse of body wherewith I did not thinke to haue done any more publike seruice he hath so strengthned mee to doe this spirituall seruice vnto this famous Prince and through him vnto
of God and a fore-runner of death and death will follow but the Lord in his mercy hath hidden from vs the time when Whereupon when his Excellence had giuen mee to vnderstand that hee felt hee should dye of this sicknesse His Excel is of opinion that hee should dye of this sicknes and doth desire to be prepared for it I exhorted him to reconcile himselfe with God with whom at this present hee had to doe that hee might then with a quiet Conscience expect whatsoeuer the Lord should dispose of his person Whereupon his P. Excell answered So I doe then I said further it is requisite that aboue all things we doe humble our selues before the Lord by reason of our sinnes which are contrary vnto the most holy commandements of God And in their nature are abhominable in the sight of the Lord who are the occasion of Gods wrath and of all plagues temporall Eternall for which the sonne of God suffered so much on the Crosse Wee must haue an vpright hatred of them condemne them and be ashamed of them according to the example of the Saints confesse them before the Lord. And the strickter wee are in this perticular and the more wee powre out our hearts before the Lord the more capable wee shall be with ioy and thankefulnesse to receiue the riches of Gods mercy And when I had shewed vnto his Excell some parts of Scripture wherein is promised mercy and forgiuenesse of sinnes vnto them that shall truly repent his Excell opened his mouth and said I haue Sinned and presently after with a more vehemency that the very teares stood in his eyes hee said I haue Sinned grossely Whereby I was much moued declaring vnto him that this was an acceptable offering vnto the Lord Psal 51. Such a broken heart will the Lord not despise Shewing him the abundant ioy and comfort all repentant sinners haue in the Lord Iesus Christ who is the onely and perfect attonement for our sinnes Hee is our Righteousnesse who can onely stand before the Lord and he is our life which I had a little before more largely insisted vpon but hauing shewed a few more as Esay 53.1 1 Iohn 2.1 2 Hebrewes 10. I demanded of his Excell if in his heart hee did not comfort himselfe with them Whereupon his Excell with his hands closed confessed his faith saying I take my refuge vnto the great mercy of God His Ex doth confesse his faith and confidence in Christ Iesus Phil. 1.6 And I beleeue that Iesus Christ died for mee on the crosse in whom I put all my trust and these words hee said twice together Whereupon I said this is a true christian faith the Lord from whom all good gifts commeth be praised that hee hath giuen vnto your Excell so great a gift as this faith is and grant to fulfill this worke in you Then I said further in such a heart as this is doth the Holy Ghost worke all desire and loue vnto righteousnesse His Ex earnest desire to serue the Lord better then he confessed to haue done Psal 130. Whereupon his P. Excell said It repenteth mee that I haue not serued the Lord better then I haue done I confesse I haue not serued him enough I will pray him to strengthen mee This said I is most Christianly spoken and so must all faithfull Christians doe If thou O Lord saith Dauid marke mine iniquities O Lord who shall stand But mercy is with thee that thou mayst bee feared If there were no mercy with God no man were able to serue him but now the forgiuenesse of sinnes is an Article of our christian Faith we are all miserable sinners before the Lord and doe all stand in need of his mercy It is true said his Excellencie Then I spoke vnto his Excell comforts from the word of God that his Excell might patiently take this crosse vpon him not doubting but that it would bee for the comfort and saluation of his soule saying that his Excell would doe well to delight himselfe in the meditating vpon that great worke of God which hee did for vs in suffering his Sonne not to be an Angell for Angels but to be man for to redeeme many whose manhood doctrine miracles obedience bloodshedding death resurrection and assention to heauen is all for our good onely in faith constantly beleeuing them as if they had here happened before our eyes and as if wee with the Apostles had seene the word of life with our corporall eyes 1 Iohn 1.13 whereof Iohn speaketh 1 Iohn 1.1.3 The selfe same IESVS doth now sit at the right hand of God desiring and expecting that all those that beleeue in him to be with him and to behold his glory of which glory in regard of our soules after death as also in regard both of soule and body at the day of iudgment Iohn 17.24 I rehearsed vnto his Excell certaine places of Scripture Whereupon when his Excell had spoken these words His Ex words of the ioyes of heauen We cannot conceiue this it is aboue apprehension I said the Angels themselues cannot conceiue this great wonderfull worke of God but doe delight in the contemplation thereof We must beleeue and admire it giuing thankes vnto the Lord that he hath revealed so much vnto vs as doth against the misery which wee haue in this life in some measure giue vs a taste of the ioyes of the life to come and thereupon I rehearsed vnto his Excell what ioy and gladnesse the Apostles had vpon the Mount when they did but onely see a glympse of the heauenly glory and so I alluded also that many times in my sicknesse I was there-with so reioyced and comforted that I felt a taste of the heauenly ioyes within mee Whereupon his Excell enquired for some places of Scripture which I had mentioned vnto him especially of those that spoke of the Prayer of Christ and of the ioyes of the life to come which I repeated vnto him telling him that hee should not disturbe himselfe too much and if hee could not endure much speech to imploy his minde with good thoughts or if he could to let some body reade by him that which should fall into his Excell minde for the word of God is fruitfull and so here with I thought to haue taken my leaue excusing my selfe fearing least I should haue beene ouer-trouble-some vnto his Excell but his Excell detained mee longer with these questions There bee some said he that haue much in their mouthes but they haue no deeds their words and their deeds doe not agree and such there be many Whereunto I answered that those kinde of people were of two sorts some are but hipocrites which doe not meane with their hearts what they say but doe onely seeke to please men those bee but like painted tombes of whom Christ speaketh The Gospell is like vnto a net which catcheth both good and bad fishes In the Lords field groweth both wheate and
my bounden duty in regard his Excell hath obliged vs so much vnto him I omitted that which I had in hand and presently I went with the same messenger that came for me Beseeching the Lord to strengthen me and to grant his blessing that it might bee for his honour and glory for the comfort of his Excell and for the edification of all good men Being come to the Court and hauing somewhat rested my selfe I was by the aforesaid Lord Secretary and the Chamberlaine brought into the Chamber where his Excell lay who very kindely entertained mee putting forth his hand and bid me welcome and made me to sit downe at his Beds side Whereupon the people dismissed the Chamber except the aforesaid Secretary Doctor Rumpf and the Chamberlaine who remained at the Beds-side to heare and take notice of all the speeches that happened although vnseene of his Excell his P. Excell demanded of me how I did what sickenesse I was troubled withall and whether I amended as also of my appetite meate drinke and sleepe Of which when I had satisfied him his Excell begunne to speake of his owne sickenesse demanding of me what Doctor Rumpf thought of it Which when I had told him his Excell answered I am of that opinion also Complaining of his Ague and hot Feuer which did much trouble him and it seemed his Excell bewayled them that were constrayned to vse much Physicke Whereupon I said we must looke vnto God without whose pleasure there cannot one hayre fall from our heads and in regard of his diuine decree our time cannot be shortened Whereupon his Excell answered I hold it to be so also and I am resolued Hereby I tooke occasion His Excell faith of Gods prouidence to shew vnto his Excell the misery which man is subiect vnto in this life and how happy we are that we haue that sure comfort which the Lord hath so abundantly reuealed vnto vs in his Gospell Whereupon his Excell said It is true Then I said further You may please to consider the great mercy God shewed vnto your Excell all the time of your gouernement making you an incomparable Prince of your time whose actions the whole world admires and specially in regard the Lord hath freed you from so many eminent perils and dangers and doth now so mercifully shew this great fauour and mercy vnto you in visiting you with so Fatherly a chastisement leading you as it were with his hand vnto a blessed end giuing you so long and moderate a sickenesse wherein hee doth continue your vnderstanding and perfect speech not onely to serue the Countrey as your Excell yet doth but also to practise that which is for your euerlasting saluation where to the contrary that good Lord of happy memory Count William Lodwicke of Nassau at the beginning of his sickenesse did loose his speech his strength and his vnderstanding whose last words were vpon the comfort which I spake vnto him Count Williams last words in his sicknes LORD be mercifull vnto me for thy beloued Sonnes sake which we miserable wretches doe not in due time consider Now I doe not doubt but your Excell doth make a good vse of this affliction that you may enioy the perfect fruits of the Christian Religion which your Excell hath so long maintained and propagated and this fruit is a comfort both in life and death vnto our consciences consisting herein that we wretched sinners may haue a reconciled and mercifull God If the fauourable countenance of a King be the life of the Subiects as Salomon saith how much the more said I is the mercifull fauour of God Then I said further considering his Excellencie did hearken so attentiuely vnto me Gracious Lord the reformed Religion doth most clearely and profoundly set forth vnto vs our misery and doth giue vs the onely and soueraigne remedy against the same with the onely way for our reconciliation with God through Iesus Christ his onely beloued Sonne our Sauiour who doth bestow all his benefits on them that lay hold vpon him in true faith and repentance of whom God doth testifie in the holy Scriptures Matth. 13.17 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Iohn 14.6 He is the way the truth and the life No man commeth to the Father but through him neither is there saluation in any other Acts 4.11 for there is no other name giuen vnder heauen whereby wee must be saued 1 Cor. 1.30 Who of God is made vnto vs Wisedome and righteousnesse 1 Cor. 3.11 Sanctification and Redemption For other foundation can no man lay then that which is laid which is IESVS CHRIST Acts 13.39 Rom. 3 24. Ephes 1.7 Col 1.14 Iohn 5.11 By him euery one that beleeueth is iustified By whom wee haue Redemption and reconciliation with God through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes whereof Iohn witnesseth Hee that hath the Sonne hath life And therefore we can haue no other communion with God then through him and this is the onely ancient true and euerlasting Gospell which God himselfe hath reuealed vnto our fore-Fathers in Paradise and afterwards by his Patriarkes and Prophets hath published vnto his people by all the ceremonies in the old Testament and hath sithence in the new Testament so gloriously reuealed it vnto vs Gentiles which in fore times were not of the people of God and doe now through his infinite mercy so abundantly enioy it Hereupon I rehearsed vnto his Excell that the Memorable late Count William Lodowicke of Nassau in his sicknes receiued tydings that the Arch-duke Albertus being very sicke went vnto the shrine of our Lady at a place so called whereto many goe in pilgrimage Scherpenheuvel there to receiue according to the Popish custome remission of his sins wherat the Noble Count hartily laughed reioycing and praising God although in faint words that he had laid a better foundation in his heart and had receiued a better light Whereupon his Excell Notable words of his Excell said Count William had Scherpenheuvel continually with him His Excell thinking that I did not vnderstand him rehearsed them again more plainer I say said he beating two or three times vpon his brest Count Williā had Scherpenheuvel continually with him Iust said I Noble Lord Count William had no neede to goe to Scherpenheuvel for comfort for hee had his onely comfort Iesus Christ in his heart soe doe I meane too said his Excell After these speeches I shewed vnto his Excell the example of Hezekiah 2 Kings 20. Esay 38. whom God by his Prophet caused to be told That hee should put his house in order for he should dye not liue The King was deadly sick but yet did not dye for that was hidden in Gods diuine decree whereupon when the king had humbled himselfe before the Lord the Lord added fifteene yeares more vnto his life So said I if the Lord should tell your Excell so in this sicknesse which is a messenger
tares and therefore we must not bee offended at it for such there hath beene in the Apostles times and euer will bee Verywwell said his Excell those haue it not in their hearts but when they repent they shall be saued These people are dead in their sinnes said I they haue no spirituall life and are not yet borne againe and if they will be saued they must bee made aliue by the spirit of God and be borne againe But it is otherwise with them that haue a good resolution in their hearts and thereupon vowe to performe it although the deed doe faile them they may stumble and fall but the one more then the other yea they may fall heauily whereof wee haue examples in the word of God these haue the spirit of God and are borne anew but they are feeble and weake like vnto a weakely man he hath a good will to goe but hee cannot so fully performe it and they are grieued for these imperfections and are sorry for them The Apostle himselfe sheweth vs the inward combats betweene the flesh and the Spirit for what I would that doe I not but what I hate that doe I. Rom. 7. The spirit of God is not alwaies a like for as the winde doth sometimes blow harder then other so it is with the spirit of God and God doth deale thus with his children to humble them and make them know that it is not in their strength but that it is a speciall gift of his grace The seed that falleth into the ground doth bring forth a seuerall quantity of fruit in some a hundred in some sixty and in some but thirty Christ will not breake a bruised reed neither will he quench smoaking flaxe and therefore the Lord doth not despise such We are all weake and are to striue with flesh and bloud all the dayes of our life but this fight doth not happen alwayes alike sometimes when wee trust too much to our owne power and doe neglect the meanes which the Lord hath ordained to preserue vs the Lord doth giue the Diuell leaue to tempt vs and this the Lord doth doe that we being lifted vp againe might confesse our weakenesse and be the more carefull of our wayes as wee may see by the examples of Dauid and Peter and in the meane time they that turne vnto the Lord and beleeue in him haue eternall life Hereupon his P. Excell said So doe I vnderstand it also but there be some that thinke they can haue faith and repentance when they please they thinke it is in their power but I know it must all come from God and it is he that must giue it It is true said I your Excell saith very well and hee vnto whom the Lord doth giue it doth feele it and doth shew it according to the measure as he hath receiued it but they that let themselues be perswaded they can haue it at their pleasure are deceiued for who is he that hath a sparke of Gods grace in his heart that would not be willing to be released from his sins and to doe good continually if hee could doe it at his pleasure The daily experience teacheth all good Christians that doe throughly examine their liues that many times they cannot doe as they would doe I haue a little before shewed vnto your Excell the example of the Apostle Paul vpon this subiect who complaineth that he cannot doe what hee would doe It is the Lord that worketh in vs both the will and the deed for wee haue not one good thought of our selues Christ saith Without mee you can doe nothing wee haue not so much as the power ouer our naturall body much lesse ouer our spirituall Then his Excell said There bee some that would faine haue Repentance but they cannot obtaine it whereupon I answered they that haue a true and hearty desire vnto repentance that is the spirit of newnesse of life those haue it already and shall haue their desire such hungry and thirsty soules the Lord will satisfie saith Christ partly here in this life and perfectly in the life to come And to this purpose tendeth that sweet call of Christ Matth. 11. Come all vnto mee yee that are weary and heauy laden and I will ease you Hereby I tooke occasion to relate vnto his Excell the examples of two men the one a Minister who in his sicknes could not in his hart be perswaded to relye vpon the mercy of God which he would so faine haue done the other of a man who in his sicknes complained of a hard stony heart not being able to repent of his sinnes which formerly hee had often done His Excell demanded how it went with them the first said I was of a Minister demanded if he could not remember whether in former times hee had reioyced in the mercies of God he said yes many times then said the Minister vnto him Be of good comfort when that darke cloud and houre of tryall shall bee past it will come againe and you shall haue your desire at which words the man so reioyced and presently praysed the Lord and thanked the Minister who spoke this comfort vnto him saying this comfort could not come into my minde The other man had a Minister to come vnto him and intreated him to pray vnto the Lord for him and he himselfe would pray also as much as he could which he hauing diuers times done found himselfe to bee altered wherefore he praised God this said his Excell was well done Then his Excell demanded for some Chapters which treated of the Lords Prayer and of the ioyes of heauen whereof hauing satisfied his Excell I tooke my leaue of him wishing him ease in this affliction and a blessed successe from the same wherefore his Excell did thanke me saying that hee could very well endure to haue mee come oftner vnto him This action lasted aboue an houre hee being yet reasonable strong and able to speake and was very desirous to heare the word of God BEtweene the first and the second visitation on the fasting day being the 6. of Aprill I vnderstood of Doctor Rumpf Doctor vnto the King of Bohemia that his Excell had his Bible lying open before him of which I was very glad and considering that when I was with his Excell hee was twice desirous to haue some places of Scripture read vnto him not knowing if euer I should see his Excell any more I thought good to send vnto him a note of certaine Chapters for him to reade in regard he found himselfe to bee reasonable well that so he might imploy his time in this exercise and whereas the said Doctor at that time was to goe vnto his Excell I requested his worship to take this note along with him and deliuer it vnto his Excell intreating him to take notice of his Excell disposition and accordingly either to deliuer or detaine it A note for his Excell Examples of comfort for repentant sinners Luke chap. 15. and chap. 7.
from the 36. verse to the end Psal 51. and 130. To comfort vs in the loue of Iesus Christ and to stirre vp our hearts vnto holy meditations Iohn 17. Rom. 5. To withdraw our hearts from earthly things to moue vs to the desire of the ioyes of heauen the two last Chapters of the Reuelation The next day the said Doctor told mee that hee had deliuered it vnto his Excell himselfe who presently layd it in his Bible The second Visitation ON the 12. of Aprill being Tuesday in the forenoone about tenne of the clocke her Excell the Princesse of Portugall requested mee by a Messenger to come vnto the Prince In regard it was not likely that I should stay there long I went and was presently brought vnto his Excell where I found not onely the said Princesse of Portugall but the Princesse of Orange that now is with a great company of Lords Nobles Officers the Lord Vosbergen and others vnknowne vnto me being come to his Excell and being set downe at his beds side I demanded of him how he felt himselfe whereupon he answered I am well resolued thrusting vp his Cap from his eyes he setled himselfe to talke with me and presently spake these words I haue read those Chapters which you sent vnto me they were very excellent Chapters I doe thanke you for them but I cannot remember them all I cannot repeate any particulars but I haue remembred the substance is not that well Yes gratious Lord said I but your Excell hath troubled your selfe too much and that was not my intent for which I sent them for if your Excell remember I told you you should haue a verse or two read vnto you of that which should come into your Excell minde that so you might imploy your minde in meditating on good thoughts and not to reade whole Chapters which were too tedious But sithence your Highnesse hath pleased so to doe the time is very well bestowed and I am sure it will doe your Excell good for it is the holy word of God written for our comfort Your Excell doth very well to keepe the substance in your minde which is the point of true Repentance and the comfort thereof and therein consisteth all Repentance hath these three branches 1 A true and vnfained sorrow for sinne 2 Faith in Christ Iesus 3 A holy resolution to amend our liues Whereupon his Excell said His Excell doth confesse his sinnes and bewaileth that his repentance is not so well as it ought to be you doe very well sometimes to come and visite me And then his Excell spake with a speciall earnestnesse This is all that troubleth me whether my repentance be sufficient enough for my sins for I haue offended the Lord grieuously and I constantly beleeue if I haue true repentance that al my sinnes are forgiuen for Christ his sake I will pray the Lord to giue me true repentance more then I haue yet had Hereupon I said your Excell must not presume vpon your Repentance but with an humble and lowly heart confesse and bewaile your sinnes as your Excell also without doubt not fainedly but from your heart as it appeareth and GOD knoweth it and therefore your Excell repentance is conformable to the repentance of al true repentant sinners which are set downe vnto vs in the word of God Whereupon I did rehearse vnto his Excell the very words which the children of God had vsed at the time of their repentance Esay 6.4.6 Ierem. 14.20 of Dauid Psal 32.5.38.5.19.51 of the Publicane Luke 18.13 of the Prodigall Sonne Luke 15.18.19 c. And so I put his Excell also in minde of that which hee had read in the aforesaid Chapters I said further it is a great matter to trouble ones selfe in the perfection of our repentance the man in the Gospell said Lord I beleeue Marke 9.24 helpe thou mine vnbeliefe Your Excell knoweth that here in this world wee can haue no perfection neither of repentance nor of faith The godly lament their imperfections and so doth your Excell The most of our perfection in this life saith an ancient Father consisteth in the acknowledgement and the bewayling of our imperfections Therefore the more you are according to the example of all the faithfull seruants of God troubled with your sinnes as appeareth by the trouble your Excell hath of the sufficiency of your Repentance so much the more may you assure your selfe that your repentance is vpright and acceptable vnto the Lord Dauid saith I confesse my sinnes Psal 38. for there is no rest in my bones because of my sinnes for mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a waighty burthen they are too heauy for me Your Excell must also consider the subtilty of the diuell who as an enemie of our saluation commonly towards our latter end doth most of al striue with vs Esay 1 18. 1 Iohn 1.7 but your Excell must likewise know that although our sins were as Crimson they shall be made as white as Snow euen through the precious bloud of Iesus Christ which clenseth vs from all our sinnes and therefore consequently that our Faith and Repentance is vnperfect Vpon such repentance as this your Excell repentance is the Lord will without doubt worke in your heart a speciall ioy and comfort and so I shewed vnto his Excell from the Psalms of Dauid that his repentance was true repentance when I had rehearsed some places of Scripture to confirme it to comfort his Excell he answered I will pray the Lord to strengthen mee His Ex is well contented and is resolued I am now at rest and am resolued Whereupon I committed him to the Lord and tooke my leaue of him and before I went away her Excell the Princesse of Portugal requested me to come in the afternoone againe I said I was loath to bee ouer trouble-some vnto his Excell but I was the more emboldned because doctor Roseus Minister of the word of God at the Hage told me that he had beene with his Excell and found him very well at rest The third visitation THe same day about three of the clocke in the afternoone their Excellencies the Princesse of Portugal and Orange did let mee vnderstand that they were with the Prince and that they did expect me there Whereupon I went and comming thither I found the Prince very weake of body but of good comfort His Ex is of good comfort for when I asked his Excell whether hee was well at rest He answered yes as well as euer hee was Then I said the Lord bee praised for it vpon such repentance and faith as I haue found in your Excell I did expect this mercy from the Lord that according to the promise of Christ to ease them that are weary and heauy laden that come vnto him and to giue the victory to them that doe fight so well Such a quiet peace and rest is the life of our soules yea it is the
Kingdome of God within vs. And here I exhorted his Excell to continue so vnto the end rehearsing certaine promises wherein the Lord doth promise the helpe and continuation of his mercy vntill the end Wee poore sinners are bound to vse the meanes which the Lord hath ordained but without the holy Ghost this worke cannot be vndertaken nor continued His Excell said So doe I hold it to bee also It must all come from God and I will pray him to strengthen mee His Ex christian declaration of Gods mercy Hereby I tooke courrage to speake thus vnto his Excell Gratious Lord your Excell hath spoken very religiously saying that it must all come from the Lord and that you will pray vnto the Lord to strengthen you The Lord will bee prayed or his mercies and that honour doth onely belong vnto him and wee ought to doe it with a willing mind and with all chearfulnesse and that in regard hee doth so gratiously promise to heare vs. The Apostle Iames doth also exhort vs to this duty If any bee sicke among you saith he let him call for thee elders of the church Iames 5.14 and let them pray for him May it therefore please your Excell that we doe al loyntly call vpon the name of the Lord and you to pray with vs as much as is in your power His Excell answered when you please His Ex is desirous to haue payers said at his beds side Whereupon we all fell vpon our knees before the Lord and prayed with teares Prayer being ended I set my selfe downe againe to comfort his Excell as the Lord should put it into my minde amongst other things speaking of the pleasant fruits of affliction and of the difference betweene the death of the Saints and the wicked and of the profitable change which they doe make who in true faith end their pilgrimage out of this vale of misery leauing these earthly tabernacles and goe to dwell with the Lord and how happy and how precious death is vnto them because it endeth their misery and doth transport them vnto the desired hauen of rest euen the Kingdome of glory At these speeches his Excellencie harkened with an extraordinary attention turning himselfe vnto mee and looking very stedfastly vpon mee which made me to admire it at length with great reioycing hee approued my words saying So doe I beleeue also I am resolued then I said vnto his Excell It pleased GOD to let mee administer his holy word vnto his Excell of happy memory Count William of Nassau in the time of his sickenesse and so God hath ordained that I should doe vnto your Highnesse although in great weakenesse I doe therefore in all humility beseech your Highnesse graciously to ponder this my meane seruice vnto you trusting that it will not goe without a blessing from the LORD for I know with what heart I haue done it whereupon his Excell said I thanke you for troubling your selfe so much with my person and presently after because I did not well vnderstand his Excell hee said You haue done me very good seruice And when I thought herewith to haue taken my leaue of his Excell his Excell kissed his hand and reached it forth vnto mee so that it made the teares to runne downe my eyes saying your Excell may please to bee of good comfort and and without doubt the LORD will giue you a happy issue from this affliction And so I withdrew my selfe hauing taken my leaue of the said Princesses In this action although I was very weary of body yet I reioyced in GOD and so did both the said Princesses Praysing the Lord in the midst of their sorrow for the Religious and Christian behauiour of his Excellencie The fourth Visitation Being on Wednesday the 13. of Aprill in the forenoone about 10. of the clocke which was his Excell dying-day AT this time was I fetched againe to come vnto his Excell whom I found to be much altered and be was not likely to liue long although when I asked his Excell how he felt himselfe he said It is much alike as it was yesterday And whereas I perceiued his Excell to be very weake I comforted him with these places of Scripture 1 Cor. 10.13 Heb. 4.15.16 Rom. 8.28.38.39 Whereupon his Excell answered I am resolued and there is nothing in the world that troubleth me Very religious words of his Excell before his death onely this whether my Repentance be as sufficient for my sinnes as it ought to be I am sorry that I cannot serue the Lord as I would doe The Lord strengthen me I am at rest With these words his Excell gaue sufficiently to vnderstand that he was at rest in his minde Wherefore with all my power and ability I sought more and more to strengthen his Excell in this particular whereunto I found my selfe much addicted and to this end I put his Excell in minde of all the speeches which hee had spoken and first I put him in minde of his repentance for his sinnes secondly of his faith in Iesus Christ and thirdly of his religious purpose to amend his life all which speeches I approued with the word of God and thereupon I told his Excell that we were commanded to them that were thus prepared to lay open vnto them the whole treasure of Gods mercy and his faithfull promises in Christ Iesus Wherefore your Excell must make a good vse of this affliction and by the fruits thereof shew and acknowledge the loue of God according to his word for he correcteth him whom he loueth Pro. 3.12 And your Excell shall finde that death is life according to Gods promise He that beleeueth in me Heb. 12.6 it passed from death vnto life I desire saith Paul to be loosed and to be with Christ for death vnto me is aduantage Psal 1.23.21 1 Cor. 5.1 If our earthly tabernacles be destroyed we haue a building giuen vs of God in the heauens And thus I exhorted his Excell to set himselfe at peace reioycing in his Sauiour Iesus Christ in whose name I as a seruant of Christ did pronounce vnto his Excell forgiuenesse of all his sinnes which he did from his heart repent of which the Lord himselfe doth promise to ratifie and approue Your Excell Matth. 18 18. said I hath euer beene a sincere Prince hating all falshood and lyes and your Excell hath also meant it with your heart whatsoeuer you haue said in the premisses for your Excell knoweth that this is not a time to flatter any body in so weighty a matter as this is whereon your Excell saluation dependeth Therefore your Excell may please to bee stedfast in the onely comfort wee haue both in life and death and wherein your Excell hath beene so long resolued to liue and dye in with the children of God without whom I doe here protest before the Lord to know no other saluation for my selfe His Excell last words Of his contentednesse in the true comfort