in his hundred and sixteenth Psalme that being released we should call vpon him as long as we liue walke before him Psal 116. and pay our vowes vnto him in the presence of all his people which Psalme throughout ought then to be our meditation and our practise For wee doe neglect this and forgetting God and all godlinesse returne againe to our euill wayes wee must expect some greater punishment This the Lord demonstrates vnto vs in his words to the forenamed diseased person To whom because wee should not thinke it sufficient sometimes to appeare in the Temple hee said Sinne no more lest a worse thing befall thee That is worse then the sicknesse of eight and thirty yeares continuance which hee had endured before Behold how sorely he is threatned that after his release vngratefully rushes againe into his former sinne God graunt vs a better heart Finall conclusion To conclude all that hath beene said as we in the first part haue shewed that the death of the body is not hurtfull to man and in that respect ought not to be fearefull so we suppose that in this second part wee haue declared by what meanes we may make the same to be very profitable vnto vs and haue shewed in the first place how that wee must settle our house by a decent ordering of our goods that we ought to inure our body to a patient suffering of paine and that we must prepare our soules by a timely preparation to meet death couragiously After that we haue taught how we ought to disarme it and so to strengthen our selues through Christian faith that its sting may not pricke our soule and bring it to the second death And withall we haue endeauoured to establish the wauering soule in this faith and to relieue the troubled consciences with comfortable speeches and examples that may instruct them And lastly wee haue made it apparent that death openeth a dore for our soule to a life truly happy which shee shall receiue with all aduantage honour and perfect ioy from her Sauiour in heauen and shall possesse vnto all eternity Wherefore we iustly conclude that all Christian soules haue great reason to waxe weary of this temporall troublesome and sinfull life and earnestly to say with the holy Apostle Wee desire rather to remoue out of the body Rom. 5. â— and be with Christ Let vs then lift vp our soules to him and heartily entreate him that he would come quickly Yea Lord Iesu come The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with vs all Reu. 22.20 Amen A SHORT PRAYER CONCEIVED BY THE Author for his Seruant that lay a dying An. 1623. O Almighty God and most mercifull Father that hast created and by thy wisdome doest preserue and gouerne all things we poore sinners prostrate our selues at thy feete to powre out our Prayers for a sicke creature whom it hath pleased thee to cast into the snares of death But in doing thus our owne vnworthinesse representeth it selfe to our eyes What are we that we should dare to entreate for one who in thy sight it may be is holier and better then wee our selues are and we consequently haue more neede that some other should pray for vs. Notwithstanding O wise and most mercifull Lord seeing that thou hast commanded vs for to pray one for an other sanctifie wee pray thee our heart and guide our tongue that our weake prayers may be acceptable vnto thee Whereby wee desire of thee that thou wouldest fauourably behold this our brother lying in great distresse Doe not behold in him that corruption which as well by originall sinne as by dayly transgression hee is fallen into But O Lord regard him as thy creature and as the worke of thine owne hands Cast not thine eyes on his owne deformity but on the worke of thy mercy whereby thou hast renewed thine image in him Forgiue vs forgiue him all his sinnes and transgressions for his names sake whom thou hast mercifully appointed to bee a ransome for vs before the foundation of the world and reuealed in due time to wit Iesus Christ who descended from heauen to take on him mans nature and in the same to suffer for vs and by suffering to saue those that beleeue in him Grant him O Father and grant each of vs to bee of that little flocke which through his merrits is elected to saluation Strengthen him in faith that he as a member of Christ may assure himselfe that he is partaker of all his merits We entreat thee for our selues we entreat thee for him as our brother in Christ and especiall for him as one to whom our lone is confirmed by a long continuance of dwelling and liuing together O Lord we pray for him as for our owne soule Be mercifull vnto him Let him tast of thy meekenesse Let him feele in his soule that thou hast quitted him of all his sinnes and turned thy wrath from him Strengthen him in body strengthen him in soule Shew thy power in this wealie flesh of his Touch his tongue that he may call on thee and declare his good hope euen in this his greatest frailty Or at the least O God so infuse thy diuine light into his Spirit that it may driue away all dazeling and darknesse from him Turne away from him all distrust and distresse of minde O Lord be mercifull vnto him And by this example teach vs wisdome that we in our greatest prosperity may flye all vaine arrogancie beholding here what a tender worme man is when thou doest but visite him with sicknes But at this present O Father comfort him that feeles this by experience Strengthen him and mercifully receiue him into thy protection Shield him from the arrowes of that wicked one that still is wandring about but chiefely assaulting vs in our greatest extreamity Set him free O Lord and if it seeme good vnto thee restore vnto him his former health If not send thine Angels vnto him â—hat they in due time may bring his soule into thy bosome Let him with Stephen if not with bodily eyes yet with the eyes of faith see his Sauiour standing in heauen euen ready to receiue his soule This we desire this we begge of thee O Lord for thy Sonne our Sauiours sake euen in that prayer which he hath endited for vs and begunne with that comfortable word Our Father Our Father that art in heauen heare vs whom thou hast vouchsafed to name thy children Hallowed among vs be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heauen euen in this our weakest brother Giue vs this day our dayly bread not that of our body onely but the Spirituall and necessary foode also of our soules Forgiue him and forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lead vs not into temptation take compassion on our weakenesse that hardly can resist any thing But deliuer vs all from euill For thine onely O Father is the Kingdome
neuer had loued them Abraham himselfe once being dead remembers vs not Esay 63 1â— and Israel knowes vs no more Wee likewise doe not know nor remember while we sleepe our friends nor our dayly recreations yet is there no body therefore that shunnes his sleepe or flyes from his bed And wherefore then for that respect should wee feare death which bereaues vs no more of all these things then our dayly sleepe is wont to doe One Demetrius could boldly say What desirest thou O Lord Sen. de prouâ—d wilt thou haue my children behâ—ld there they bee wilt thou haue any part of my body take it freely yet is it not much which I offer thee for ere long I shall be faine to forsake it all This was meruailous well said of a Heathen But the rich and righteous Iob went farther a great deale He shewed in deed what the other vttered in words He could see his Oxen his Camels with all his riches and estate yea his fonnes also in diuets manners perish altogether and yet couragiously say The Lord hath giuen the Lord hath taken Iob 1.21 blessed bee the name of the Lord. If then these men could so freely forgoe and misse their necessaries in this world where they yet might haue enioyed them shall we take it grieuously to be depriued of our pleasures when we shall be altogether vnfit to vse them Praise-worthy pleasure vnnecessary But if any man be loath to dye in regard of some commendable delight that he taketh in the gouernment of the Common-wealth or in the orderly education of his children hee must vnderstand that if GOD haue called him to the same he also best knoweth how long hee hath need of him And if it please him soone to quit and release him of his good care and to giue him a penny Math. 20.14 as well as them that haue borne the burthen of the whole day and the heat of the Sunne what reason hath he to complaine God can finde others more fit for this his seruice to whom we must giue place Elyas supposed he was left alone 1 Reg. 19.18 but God had left vnto himselfe yet seauen thousand in Israel whose knees had not bowed vnto Baal Concerning our children we must not thinke that their welfare totally depends on the life of their parents The parents bottle is soone empty and Ismael might haue dyed euen in his mothers presence if GOD had not prouided water for him It is hee that openeth his hand Psal 145.15 and satisfieth the desire of euery liuing thing Parents are but the second hand whereby God distributeth his gifts to his children They are the lanthorne through which his diuine care shines to the children take away the lanthorne and the light shines the clearer When the Ostridge forgets her egges Iob 39.15 the Lord doth breed them When the Rauen forsakes her young ones the Lord feedes them And when children loose their terrestiall father then is it that he termes himselfe a Father of the fatherlesse Psal 68.6 Therefore Epictetus was bold to say An. 3.24 That among the sonnes of men there were no Orphanes but that all haue a father who sufficiently prouides for them all continually And in another place Aâ— 1.9 If so be that it be of force enough to make any body â—iue securely and without reproach to be of Caesars kindred Will it not be sufficient to free vs from all sorrow and feare to haue God for a Creator for a Father for a Prouider Let vs put him in trust with our children and if after our departure we will doe them good let vs liue vprightly our selues and then none shall see our children begge their bread Psal 37.25 saith Dauid Bring them vnto Christ Math. 19.14 he will receiue them Iohn 14.18 and not leaue them Orphanes So that no delight nor no good care of this temporall life ought to make vs vnwilling to dye for in these respects no dying can make vs to inherit sorrowe 4. Obseruation concerning Iudgement Lastly there is another reason wherefore the greater yea the better part of men doe feare death Heb. â— 27 they know that it is appointed for euery one once to dye and after this comes Iudgement as it is written to the Hebrewes And this Iudgement is the thing that troubles them not knowing whether thereby they shall ascend to heauen or descend to hell Alas poore soules When as God by some naturall disease threatens them with death then they stand quaking and if a Coronell doth but promise a double pay or a Captaines place how many Souldiers altogether fearelesse are readie as we may see dayly euen to rush on death Not that this rashnesse is wisedome for Gods Iudgement deserues to be feared yea there is nothing more terrible in heauen nor on earth then it is For he thereby will seperate the sheepe from the goates preseruing the sheepe to all eternity and reiecting the goates for euer Death doth not make the Iudgement the heauier Yet notwithstanding we must know that our death neede not to cause this feare for it neither blesseth vs nor condemneth vs but euer leaues vs as it findes vs. The Axe being put to the roote of the tree Math. 3.16 doth not by hewing alter any whit the nature of the wood 1 Reg. 5.6 If it light on a thorne-bush it hewes downe thornes fit to make fire withall If it light on a Cedar tree it hewes downe Cedar wood fit for the building of the Temple of the Lord. The Butcher in killing doth not change goates into sheepe nor sheepe into goates In like manner death neither makes a man worse nor better it neither hinders nor farthers him in regard of Gods Iudgement It is but as a narrow gate as is fore-told through the which both sheepe and goates must passe Yet ought euery man chiefly to feare his latter end For which way the tree falleth Eccl. 11.3 there shall it lye But we must withall vnderstand that it falls commonly that way that it vsed to leane We ought then to take heede to this leaning as long as the tree continueth standing and to bend him that way that we desire he should fall For when the fall is approaching whether it be by axe storme or age it commeth commonly very suddainly Euen so it is with man All the dayes of his life he must striue to leane that way that hee lookes or wishes to lye For death when it comes strikes the blow in a moment And man commonly dyes as hee hath accustomed himselfe to liue And as hee dyes so shal he appeare in Iudgement Death indeede hath a sting to wit sinne but it stings vs not iust at our dying day but rather through the whole course of our life Therefore be not deceiued the Apostle Paul forewarneth Man shall reape noâ— as the sickle is which hastily or slowly cuts downe but as hee hath
wiser sort knowing that the Physitian thereby doth endeauour to recouer their health swallowe them without tasting them and let them worke in their body Euen so the Reprobates consider in their diseases nothing but the externall troubles and onely take care how they may be deliuered from them They are alwayes impatient murmuring against God if they looke so high at least or against them onely which God doth vse as instruments of their punishment Neither are they mollified hereby that they may returne vnto their God Though you should bray a foole in a Morter Pro. 27.22 yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him sayes the wise King And this was apparenâ— in the hard punished yet stil hard hearted Pharaoh Exâ—d â— 32 And Ahaz sayes the Scripture in his troubles trespassed yet more against the Lord. 2 Chro. 28 23. But the children of God on the contrary receiue thâ— blowe as from the hand of their Father and blame nothing more then their sinnes that deserue punishments as the cause thereof They know that God doth all things for their best and so haue their eyes fixed on the heavenly blisse promised to the patient that they thereby endure or swallow downe their paines much the easier And therefore they rather turne themselues to their God for the same King saith When the wise is rebuked he receiueth knowledge Pro. 21.11 Hee perceiueth that hee must part from his misdeedes Ion 2.2 Hee cryes vnto the Lord with Ionah in his affliction 2 Chro. 35.12 He beseecheth the Lord his God with Manasses in his distresse and humbleth himselfe greatly and his supplication is heard I haue sinned saith he with Dauid 2 Sam. 24.17 in his pestilence or in any other sicknesse And with the same Dauid hee is not ashamed afterwards to confesse that before hee was afflicted he went astray Psal 119 64. but now hee keepes GODS word To be short the visitations of the Lord be oft one and the same both to the good and to the bad but the euent is cleane contrary and may well be resembled vnto the accursed water which the Priest vpon occasion of the husbands iealousie gaue the women sometime to drinke This water was bitter in the mouth vnto all but being taken sayes the Scripture the defiled did swell of it Num. 5.27.28 but it could not hurt those that were cleane Yea the chaste ones gaue their husbands occasion by this triall to loue them better then before Wee reade in one selfe-same Chapter Act. 12.7 23 that the Angell of the Lord smote Peter and the Angell of the Lord smote Herode But the one was thereby raised vp and deliuered from death and the other gaue vp the ghost Euen so are the better sort by the hand of God raised vp out of the sleepe of sinne to be deliuered from eternall death and the wicked are consumed by their endlesse grudgings euen till their dying day This is then the difference Gods enemies endure the crosse indeede but reape no benefit thereby but paine and domage whereas Gods friends take their crosse from him and so beare it that these bodily paines turne to their good Rom 8.28 Now concerning the soule though we speake of it last Preparation of the soule yet ought we in our sicknesse first to begin with it following the example of the afore-named King Hee in his weakenesse did not first consult with the Physitians but turned his face from the people to the wall Esa 38.2 and there betweene God himselfe began to pray and ro rip vp his offences and to bewayle them And after that hee committed him to bee cured Dauid also first prayeth Deliuer me from my transgressions Psal 39 8.11 and afterwards remooue thy stroke away from me This order doth the sonne of Syrach fitly set before vs in foure parts Pray vnto the Lord. Cease to sinne Ecclus. 38.9 12. Make a fat offering and then giue place to the Physitian St. Iames the Apostle saith also Iam. 5.16 Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another that you may be healed Wee ought therefore in the first place yea before we can offer vnto God with a good conscience the calues of our lips as Christ by St. Mathew teacheth vs to endeauour to be reconciled to our brother who hath ought against vs. Math. 5.24 And to be ready to forgiue our neighbours all offences committed against vs. Secondly wee must also openly confesse our manifold transgressions as occasions of all sicknesses and say with Paul Rom. 7.15 What I would that doe I not but what I hate that doe I. And with Dauid wee must pray vnto God continually Psal 38. and promise with Ezechias vprightnesse of life Esay 38.10 Concerning the sacrifice Dauid confirmes it saying Blessed is hee that considereth the poore Psal 41.1 the Lord will deliuer him in the day of trouble This must the soule ruminate when man is surprized with sicknesse Moses knew well enough how much it behooued well to prepare the soule against death when hee said So teach vs to number our dayes Psal 90.12 that we may apply our hearts vnto wisedome That hee must dye and that his dayes were numerable nature taught him but considerately to meditate on death or day by day euen numbring them to prepare himselfe against the same that God must teach him of whom he requested it by prayer Our Lord Iesus Christ knowing how needfull this meditation would be vnto vs Necessity of speedy repentance and considering that many times we are so suddainly snatcht out of this world that wee haue no time once to thinke on ought ceaseth not to admonish vs that wee should be continually busied hereabout Teaching vs sometime by fore-warning vs as where he sayes Be yee ready Math. 24.44 for in such an houre as you thinke not the sonne of man commeth Sometimes by way of instruction Be yee your selues saith hee like vnto them that waite for their Lord Luk. 12.36 that when he commeth and knocketh yee may open vnto him immediatly And sometimes by similitudes as that of the fiue foolish Virgins Math. 25.10 that neuer went about to fuâ—nish their Lampes with oyle before they heard that the Bridegroome was comming And finally by fearefull examples of the dayes of Noah and Lot In which sayes the Scripture men were so busied with eating and drinking Luk. 17.26.28 marrying of wiues buying and selling planting and building that they did not thinke on their end vntill that first the flood of water and after that the fire rained downe from heauen and destroyed them all Which admonitions though they haue an eye to the suddaine comming of the day of Iudgement yet seeing that the temporall deaâ—h bringeth vs to that estate wherein the Iudge at the last day shall finde and confirme vs we are warned by Christ to be so well prepared against the
assault of this death that we through the same may not passe into the second and euerlasting death But if so be that those which spent their time in buying and selling and other lawfull affaires were so consumed in GODS wrath what may others expect that spend euen their whole time in things vtterly vnlawfull If those missed the right way how shall these enter into that gate which leades vnto eternall life which is so straight Math. 7.13 that fewe there be that finde it Or doth a man in his extreamity thinke to find some precious thing which in his strong health hee neuer looked after Doth hee thinke after his departure Royally to be entertained by that King with whom in his life time hee neuer sought to be acquainted This is somewhat too late and chanceth very seldome Let no man therefore continue in his impietie in hope to conuert himselfe to God on his death-bed This presumption is the most dangerous poyson that the deuill can minister to any man We must learne out of the holy Scripture that he that all his life-time hath beene a thorne-Bush or a Thistle doth not vsually afterwards bring foorth Figges or Grapes And that the tree that bringeth not forth good fruits Math. 7.16.19 is hewen downe and cast into the fire Therefore let vs with Iesus Syrachs sonne while wee are yet young ere euer we goe astray Ecclus. 51.13 desire wisedom openly in our prayers Humble thy selfe saith hee also before thou be sicke and in the time of sinnes shew repentance Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vowes in due time and deferre not vntill death to be iustified Before thou prayest Ecclus. 18.21 c. prepare thy selfe and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. For it will not auaile a man afterwards with Balaam to wish to dye the death of the Righteous Num. 25.10 who hath not before with Iacob endeauoured to leade the life of the righteous Therefore Isaiah warnes vs and sayes Seeke you the Lord while he may be found Isaiah 55.6 For that words be but winde is here a true prouerbe Not euery one saith the Iudge himselfe that saith vnto me Math. 7.21 Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen but hee that doth the will of my Father which is in heauen Wherefore it seemes we may sooner in Christian charity feare the end of a carelesse man that onely calls and prayes to GOD at his last houre then of a godly man who in his extreamity by reason of a burning Feauer dyeth in a raging phrensie But is there no hope then of a sinfull mans repentance towards the last period of his life Yes certainly and that out of the very words of the afore-named Iudge Hee doth not shut out all those that haue not done his Fathers will as if it were too late to doe it at the last houre but those onely which doe not the will of the Father which is in heauen pointing as with his gracious finger to this that it is neuer too late to doe his Fathers will And this is his will that the wicked forsake his way and the vnrighteous man his thoughts Isaiah 55.7 and that hee returne vnto the Lord. That is that by earnest repentance hee continually striue to attaine vnto sincere conuersion which consisteth in an vnfained loathing of our deparauâ—d nature and hatred of all our transgressions and euill lustes And withall an earnest longing to be by Christ our onely Sauiour receiued sanctified and iustified And lastly to haue a constant purpose to vse all meanes throughout the whole course of our life though it yet should last-an hundred yeares to obserue all occasions for keeping Gods commandements And that not for feare of that punishment which shall befall all transgressours but out of that meere loue and affection which like good children wee beare vnto our heauenly Father And then saith the Prophet Will God be mercifull vnto vs Ier. 1â— â— for with him is much forgiuenesse We must then follow the example of the valiant Champions and wrastlers in olde time who for many dayes together before hand caused their bodies to be rubbed annointed and exercised yea tyed themselues to a certaine strict course of dyet and then they presented themselues so prepared in the famous Olympian games to fight or wrastle in open view for honour In like manner must wee long afore prepare our soules couragiously to fight with Death at the appointed time that when it assaile vs it may not hurt vs. 2 Point The armes or sting of death But how may we secure our selues against it By two manner of meanes Wee must disarme it and arme our selues We must diligently enquire wherewithall it can hurt vs and hauing found it out seeke to bereaue it thereof The Philistims were subtill enough to giue Sampson no rest till they had vnderstood wherein his great strength consisted As soone as his Philistine darling heard that it consisted in his haire she presently plaid the Barber and cut it off Then was Sampson weake as another man saith the Scripture Iudg. 16.17 Now wherein the power of Death consisteth the Apostle hath shewed to vs to wit in the sting this is the dart wherewithall Death peirceth our soules 1 Cor. 15.56 And this sting faith he are our sinnes Whosoeuer then will deale prudently and prouidently must endeauour to bereaue Death of this sting Not when it comes to struggle with him and when hee lyes on his death-bed for then it stingeth too deepe But hee must doe this before it comes to assaile him The ancient Poets faigned Faith in Christ that Pallas the Goddesse of wisedome bore a shield that turned all those that gazed on it into stone But wee know that the holy Apostle Paul who was a seruant of the Sonne of God the true wisedome of his heauenly Father hath shewed vs the true shield Eph. 6.16 wherewith wee may bee able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked to wit in trusting in Iesus Christ This faith then is termed and is really the right shield against which the force of the hellish sting of death shall not bee able to preuaile though it assaile vs with as much fury as may bee For to commence at the beginning when the first man through infidelity did transgresse his Creators ordinance hee with all his future Progenie lost the right of being termed the Sonne of God And so cast himselfe and vs all who resemble him in dayly disobedience out of Gods mercy into his eternall wrath Wherein we should also haue remained for euer had not the diuine wisedome otherwise prouided This alone hath deuised a remedie and hath ordained that the eternall Sonne of God as the fittest person in Trinity to restore man vnto his lost title of a Sonne should assume humane nature And this not onely that therein hee might yeeld perfect obedience vnto God but for this end chiefly that he
might suffer that wrath and punishment which man by sinne had deserued and so satisfie Gods Iustice for mans transgressions All which in due time being fulfilled Ioh. 19 36. so many are now still acquitted before God as come to beleeue in him For he that beleeueth in him is not condemned Ioh. 3.18 but he that beleeueth not is condemned already This Sonne of God as a Lambe without blemish and without spot hath offered vp his pretious blood vnto God for vs 1 Pet. 1.19 saith St. Peter And thereby taketh he away the sinne of the world Ioh. 1.29 saith St. Iohn and consequently the sting of death 2 Tim 1.10 Yea death it selfe is abolished by his appearanee sayes St. Paul Whosoeuer then is thus armed with faith in his Sauiour Christ how caÌ„ death or its sting hurt him Hee that beleeueth on the Sonne 1 Ioh 3.36 hath euerlasting life as St. Iohn witnesseth Death indeed doth retaine its force to kill our naturall flesh with a dart but this Shield or Buckler so defends our soule that this dart cannot touch it Now what a comfort is this for a dying man that now wee may freely vse the words of the Apostle O Death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55.57 O Graue where is thy victorie But thankes be to God which giueth vs the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ But many a one findes himselfe 3 Point but faint in faith Confirmation of weak faith How shall I know certainly thinkes hee whether I be one of those which God hath called chosen to enioy his gracious promises or of those thaâ— haue nothing to doe wiâ—h them A man mighâ— indeede here answere the Lord knoweth his 2 Tim. 2.29 And he that as St. Paul farther â—eacheth doth certainly feele the testimonie of the holy Ghost within him Rom. 8.15 may vndoubtedly assure himselfe of his saluation This is certaine and he that feeles this can haue not better inâ—â—ruction Yet will we endeauour to set these in the way to find true Christian comfort who through weaknesse of faith doe not feele such a testimonie in their sicknesse First then the Sauiour of the world giues vs this certaine token He that belceueth and is baptized shall be saued Mar. 16. â—6 but he that beleeueth not shall be damned Whosoeuer therefore findes himselfe to haue beene baptized in the name of God and besides hath often beene present at publique prayers and preaching of the word of God and beene inuited to the holy Sacrament may already hope that he thereby is called to the vniâ—ersall or at lâ—aâ—t to the visible Church of Christ And whosoeuer doth further perceiue in his heart that Gods spirit hath called him to his Church and doth beleeue that Christ his blood is sufficient for the wiping out of all his sinnes yea doth conceiuâ— that GOD himselfe doth proffer him his redemption if onely hee can but embrace it with stedfast faith the same though he cannot yet vndoubtedly beleeue it must know that God hereby sets saluation before his eyes And if we haue further found a continuall inclination in our selues to heare the word of God to obserue his commandements and as we said before to a true repentance of our negligence we may safely beleeue that wee are in the way which leades to Christ his sheepe-fold For he sayes himselfe My sheepe heare my voyce Ioh. 10.27 and I know them and they follow me Yea if we endeauour to imploy our selues in all good workes to be obedient to Christ we haue already some fruites of faith And if we haue the fruits wee must also haue the roote though yet couered with earth or with our earthly thoughts For we must assure our soules that the good Lord will 2 Chro. 30.19 pardon euery one that prepareth his heart to seeke God As King Hezekiah prayed for those Israelites that did eate the passeouer without due purification according to the Law As also St. Paul comforts and encourages the Corinthians saying If there be first a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath 2 Cor. 8.12 and not according to that hee hath not Besides if wee feele in our conscience that God loues vs we may certainly conclude out of St. Iohns words that we are of those vnto whom God hath sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for our sinnes 1 Ioh. 4.10 And if besides we finde that we loue God we may also vpon St. Pauls word expect the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him 2. Cor. 2.9 And what is this but a token of our faith Wee may then yea must still cry out and pray with the childs father in the Gospell Mâ—r. 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe thou mine vnbeliefe Assuredly trusting that as Iesus restored that mans Childe to his corporall health hee will also worke vpon our soule that cure that shall be effectuall to procur the saluation of it And if euer wee haue felt in our prayers especially being at deathes dore that the Spirit did beare witnesse with our spirit Rom. 8.16 that we were the children of God We may freely bee confident that this God his mercy remaines constant towards vs. For hee still continues the same towards them that doe not willingly for sake him Yea though our very conscience do witnesse against vs that with desire and greedinesse wee haue since that time committed many sinnes yet is it no small comfort if shee can also witnesse vnto vs that after the committing thereof we haue often cast our selues downe at Gods feete with true sorrow and repétance For this is indeed the fault condition of Gods children Nor can this true repentance proceede from any but from God who is the fountaine of all good If then he send vs true repentance hee endeauours our Saluation if hee endeauour it he will performe it God in his word bids vs Comfort the feeble minded 1 Thes 5.14.15 wee may therefore well beleeue that hee himselfe will doe it Let vs then as it followes there pray without ceasing 1 Pet. 1.13 and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought vnto vs at the Reuelation of Iesus Christ Comfort against the temptation of the deuill But if any man there be that cannot perceiue or feele in his soule a stedfast hope that his prayer is heard of GOD but finds himselfe deprest by meanes of his riotous and vnruly life he must not therefore giue himselfe ouer to despaire It is true indeede that Sathan our enemie who assaults euen the holiest minded men oft in their extreamitie hath sufficient matter to torment this miserable creature withall But shouldest thou marke iniquities Psal 130.3 O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiuenesse with thee The Lordour God is a mercifull God If we be sinners Deut. 4.31 wee are those that Christ came to redeeme For he came not to
call the righteous Math. 9.12 13. but sinners to repentance for sayes he the whole neede not the Physitian but they that are sicke Let vs only earnestly runne after him Call on him by faith as did the sick the blinde the lame as St. Mathew hath distinctly set downe and wee may yet be cured with them Yea rather before them for our Sauiour came into the world to heale the sicknesse of the soule and did but heale their bodily diseases thereby to moue them to giue him leaue to take their soules in hand And by these externall things he would haue vs to feele his infinite loue Salomons words indeed befit him well who telleth vs that Lone couereth all sinnes Pro. 10.12 Sinne indeed is so strong that it did hinder man from entring into heauen into which as yet hee neuer had set foote But the loue of God was of farregreater might that caused him to send his onely begotten Sonne into the world out of heauen 1 Ioh. 4.9 where he was in all glory and that to this end that euen the feeblest might liue through him This incomprehensible loue St. Paul termeth the riches of his grace Eph. 1.7 These riches then and this infinite treasure of his loue is the true wedding grament Mat. 22.12 that will hide all our sores at the wedding of the King and will richly adorne all wretched and forlorne soules notwithstanding any estate of pouerty or misery that their sin haâ—h brought them to if onely they can sit it vnto themselues by faith Therefore if the deuill assaile vs Iam. 4.7 let vs resist him saith the Apostle and he will flee from vs. If hee doe obiect and testifie against vs that we haue not with Maries zeale chosen the better part Let vs constantly hope that neuerthelesse Ioh. 11.5 seruing Christ with Marthas vprightnesse wee may notwithstaÌ„ding be beloued of him If he shall suggest vnto vs that we must not thinke to see that vnspeakeable ioy of the third heauen which was shewed Paul to that Elect vessell of God Luk. 23.46 yet let vs constantly trust that we shall enioy that blisse in Paradise which was granted to the Thiefe on the Crosse If hee tempt vs with the text of Holy writ that GOD doth not heare the prayers of sinners Mich. 3.4 let vs answere him with Holy writ againe Math. 4.10 Depart from me Sathan God sweares by himselfe Ezech. 33.11 that hee hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked man turne from his way and liue yea there is more ioy in heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth Luk. 15.7 then ouer ninety and nine iust persons which neede no repentance Therefore let vs turne our hearts to God Rom. 8.25 hope for that we see not and expect it with patience Doe we not heare from Christ himselfe that Iamentable voyce My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Luk. 23.48 Yet presently after that Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Wee must also know that this our trembling for feare of Gods wrath is a token that wee doe not with worldlings carelesly neglect our sinnes or seeke to hide them from Gods sight But that we feele them with Dauid and doe confesse them vnto him and therefore may hope with him that the Lord forgiueth vs our transgressions Psal 32.5 Wee haue with the Prodigall serued the world and the deuill but now in our pouerty and agonie wee cry out with him Father I haue sinned against heauen and in thy sight Luk. 15.20.21 and am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne wherefore wee must expect that our heauenly Father will be moued with compassion and receiue vs with a kisse This straying Prodigall childe when hee so spake knew not whether his Father would receiue him into fauour againe or not yet hee found good successe with it Wherefore let vs for whose instruction and encouragement this is recorded assuredly hope that if we doe the like God will likewise receiue vs. For to haue compassion on his children is the true nature of a father which that we may assure our selues to finde in God our Lord Iesus Christ to our great comfort puts this name in our mouth in the very beginning of our prayers Let vs then cry out without ceasing Math. 6.9 Our Father forgiue vs our trespasses deliuer vs from euill and wee doubtlesse in him shall finde the right affection and effects of a Father Let vs obserue also the two Disciples that had in a manner lost both faith and hope and trauailing towards Emaus were troubled in their soules concerning the death of Iesus Christ who they had hoped as they complained should haue deliuered Israell Luk. 24.21 but now seemed to haue lost that hope And out of the aboundance of their heart their mouth vttered these things vnto a stranger in the field Now what befell them Did the Lord reiect them because they told him this euen to his face No hee tooke pitty rather on their infidelity and was with them ere they thought on him And so let vs hope beyond hope that our Redeemer mercifully now stands and beholds our perplexity though we see him not And that he in due time will very kindly and assuredly let vs feele his compassion and ayde Yea if God sent the Prophet Nathan 2 Sam. 12.7 to that King that priuately by adulterie and murther had sinned against him and if he prepared a crowing Cocke Math. 26.75 for that Apostle that publiquely had denied him and beheld them both with the eye of his compassion before euer they thorowly perceiued their owne sins or euer thought of repentance O may not we then beleeue that he will haue mercy on vs who haue our heart harder prest downe by our sinnes then if a milstone lay on it and lie now sighing to be releast Yea we must beleeue it when the Sauiour of the world himselfe saith it Behold hee is so mercifull vnto those whose hearts are sore opprest with the burthen of their sinnes that he doth not stay till they finde him But hee seekes them and cries out himselfe with a loude voyce Come vnto me all yee that labour and are heauie laden Math. 11.28 To what end to oppresse them no certainly I will giue you rest saith he Let a man obserue this well and ruminate priuately on it and his heart shall be forced to powre out secretly before the Lord either these or the like words A comfortable meditation O Lord Iesu Almighty God the onely Sauiour of the world doest thou call mee wilt thou refresh me Thou thy selfe in whose power onely the sauing and condemning of my soule doth consist Doest thou promise me this who art truth it selfe and that because I finde my selfe loaden wiâ—h many sins O Lord what or whom neede I then to feare I come I come I am he whom thou callest Behold I