blessed virgin Marie didst suffer wast dead vnried discendedst into hell the third day didst rise againe from the dead ascendedst into heaueÌ„ where thou sittest at the right hand of the father from whence thou shalt come at the day of iudgement to iudge all flesh I commend me vnto thee O holie Spirit which proccedest from the father aâ—d the sonne whom togither I adore and glorifie which doest quicken one Catholike and Apostolike church to which thou hast in mercie graunted remission of sinnes the resurrection of these mortall bodies and euerlasting life after death The same confession may be made of the sicke in maner of oblation As I offer my selfe vnto thee O holy Trinitie the father the sonne and the holy ghost c. Also in maner of an â—siblâ— supplication As I beseech thee O holy Trinitie the father the son and the holy ghost c. In which christian confession Gods seruants may stand constant vnto the end against all temptations Not vnlike yâ— people of Ciniensis who when the ambassadors of Brutus would haue theÌ„ deliuer ouer their city and freedome into his handes Ferrum nobis a maioribus c. Tel your Captaine Brutus our auncesters haue left vs weapons to defend our right with courage constancie vnto the end The holy Ghost by the Apostle S. Paul in the sâ—xt to the Ephesians sheweth what these weapons are as the brest plate of righteousnesse the shield of faith the Helmet of saluation the sword of the spirit their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell where is spirituall furniture for all parts only the back or hinder part excepted to signifie that the Christian souldier should not turne his backe before his enemies The Eagle to trie her young is said to carrie them vp against the piercing beames of the Sunne which seeing them to endure she acknowledgeth them as her owne Christ knowes vs to be his by our constant suffering and therefore somtimes brings vs vnto the conflict Wee reade in the 2. Sam. 20. That Seba a rebellious Iew blew a trumpet and many of the people followed after him but the men of Iuda who were of the bloud royal they as good Isralites would liue and die with Dauid their king The olde Seba blowes many an entising blast to carrie vs away from our true allegiaunce of Christ Iesus our king All that are borne of water and the holy Ghost will liue and die in his faith Howsoeuer the world for a time frowne vpon them yet they are not as the Reede without pith or substance and so wauing with euerie winde but firme constant like Iohn Baptist that will holde his profession though he loose his head for it Wherefore considering that there is no crowne without a conquest and no conquest without courage and perseuerance the faithful like Iob say Though the Lord kill vs yet wil we put our trust in him The Fifteenth Chapter How they may be aduertised who seeme vnwilling to depart the world IF in this life only saieth the Apostle we haue hope in Christ then are we of al men most miserable to shew in effect that we haue not in this life the occomplishment of our hope Not here therefore we should expect it else where this is not our Paradise but a barren desert we may not looke for our heauen here our citie is aboue which wee all must inhabite to drawe backe when we are to goe most comfortablie to take possession of the same and the hope so long hoped for should most strengthen vs in the way is far from that Christian beliefe whereof wee make dayly profession OfteÌ„ haue we praied Thy kingdome come Nowe when God is leading vs vnto the same our vnwillingnesse to be gone cannot but argue great weakenes of faith Quid faceâ—emus si mori tantummodo fine resurrectione praeciperet Deus voluntas eius sufâ—iceret ad solatium What would we haue don if God saith Saint Ierome had commaunded vs to die without mentioning the resurrection his will ought to haue bin our comforâ—t but now hauing this stay why should we wauer Oftentimes haue we wished that we were once freed from this worlds captiuitie now God is going about to free vs indeede our desire is to continue our captiuitie still not vnlike children who crie out of painâ— and griefe and when thâ— Chirurgion comes that should ease them of all they chuse rather to remaine as they are There is no Marriner but after many sharpe stormes desireth the hauen and shal not we after so many tempests of this troublesome world accept of our deliuerance when the time is come We are giuen to loue the world too much and a great deale more then we should being onely straungers in the same Had we no farther expectation but onely to enioy a state temporall where wee might set vp our rest as hauing here attained our chiefest good then might our departure from this world bee very grieuous in deede because our being and happinesse should ende together But looking as we doe for a further condition so perinanent so blessed and death being the passage or entrie thereunto there is no cause why man if hee bethinke himselfe should vnwillingly set forwarde when his time of departure is at hande First remembring it is the ordinance of God the course of all flesh and as Iosuah calleth it the way of all the worlde What man is he saith the prophet that liueth and shall not see death It is not proper to any one which is commoÌ„ to all kings princes strong valiant take parte with them in this lot There is no reason that any should looke to bee priuiledged in that wherin all without exception must will they nill they subâ—â—t themselues Secondarily that it is a meane to bring vs from a prison with out ease from a pilgrimage without rest wee all see euidently and this made the Wise man praise the dead aboue them which are yet aliue and prefer the day of death before the day of birth surely for no other reaâ—son then for that in the one we come into a vale of misery in the other we depart from it departing in the farth of him by whom we looke for a better state to come Thirdly this being the way for the obtaining so high a reward we may steppe forth with confidence in his mercy who now calleth vs by death to the participation of yâ— same Why on Gods blessing should any bee loath that the soule should returne to him that gaue it When the louing mother sendeth forth her childe to nurse and the nurse hath kept it long enough if the mother take her owne child home againe hath this nurse anie cause to grudge or complaine How much lesse cause haue wee to shew any part of vnwillingnesse that God shoulde take home this departing soule the worke of his owne hands the plant of his owne grafting who first gaue it and will before
of Abraham when he gaue the principall part of his goods vnto Isaacke his Sonne and vnto others Abraham gaue giftes or legacies this did Dauid Toby and Ezechias for the quiet of succeeding posteritie dispose of earthly possessions going to possesse heauenly In this disposing to bee aduised by them whose learning and knowledge is approued doth much further the well ordering of all Wee shewe our thankfulnesse vnto God and charitie to men when wee become beneficiall vnto others remeÌ„bring whose saying it was It is a blessed thing to giue In which giuing the maintenaunce of Churches Colledgs Schools Hospitals and such like godly vses should where abilitie is answerable be chiefly remeÌ„bred for by these deeds of mercie we doe not onely our selues acknowledge Gods goodnesse but make many others when wee are long since dead and rotâ—en blesse him in the participation of the same Merciful men saith the Wiseman haue honoured God by this meanes and how The Lord hath gotten great glorie by them To giue vnto the poore in time of sicknes â—â—is good but more acceptable were it to do it dayly and in time of best health This giuing is the ship that will neuer strike against the rocke but bring our marchandise home in safetie This giuing is the most gainefull interest when the mercifull shall receiue a thousand for one In keeping our riches saith Gregorie wee lose them but in dispearsing them abroad wee most surely keepe them To dispearse them when wee can holde them no longer is not so much though commendable in this kind but to giue our bread vnto the hungrie nay to take from our owne plentie to giue vnto Christes little ones is commendable indeede Blessed is hee saith Dauid that considereth the poore and needie A cuppe of colde water shall not want one day a rewarde Where is the large liberalitie wee should haue towardes the poore members of Christ The excessiue pride of the worlde in attire the needlesse superfluitie in diet hath eaten vp hospitalltie and thereâ—â— towardes many hungrie soules But to the disposition of these worldly goods and possessions wherein naturall affection may not bee extinguished the nextâ— heyre or name disinherited the custome of the place and auncientrie not violated restitution where wrong hath beene offered should be remembred debts truely discharged all which Christianlike disposition is seemely both before God and man The forgiuing our enemies when we can hurt them no more is not so much The perfect charity at al times but principally at this time that becommeth Christians may not be wanting The example of Steuen praying for his persecutors may shew vs a mirror of charity towards all These speciall respectes obserued the sicke may in the name of God dispose himself and his as thus First with a free heart and willing mind to yeeld and render his soule into the hands of Almightie God his Creator who of his endlesse goodnesse gaue him being of his infinite mercie vouchsafed to redeeme him by the death and passion of his deare Son our Sauiour Christ Iesus in whose onely merites is his last repose at parting the commending his body to Christian buriall hee may proceede as Gods grace and wise aduertisement shall direct that so the sicke laying aside all earthly respectes hee commend with penitencie and contrition of hart his soule into the hands of almightie God humbly applying vnto his faith the innumerable benefits of Christs passion and of the three things hee is then to dispose of His body goods and soule that principall care he had of all other in commending this his soule with al deuotion into yâ— hands of Iesus Christ. The Thirteenth Chapter How necessarie it is for the sicke leauing all worldly thoughtes to apply his mind to praier and some godly meditation THe disposition of worldly goods being well and wisely ordered the mind is at more quiet to consider of heauen and heauenly thinges more apt to draw neerer vnto God by the actions of Christian pietie amongst which actions we haue no sweeter incense then our deuotion offered vp by prayer The lifting vp of our handes wee may make our euening or latter sacrifice Wee haue no better Orators to pleade our cause no surer ambassadors to conclude our peace then our humble supplications vnto him who sits euer in commission to heare our suites and lookes that we should send vp ouâ— prayers that he may send downe his mercie by which meanes we enter into a spirituall traffique with God himselfe we giue a cuppe of colde water and hee returnes vs a fountaine of the water of life Wee giue him with the poore widdow two mites and hee giues vs againe the whole treasure of the Temple The merey of God saith one is like a vessell full to the verie brimme If once his faithfull children by the hand of faithfull prayer beginne to take of it it doeth ouerflowe vnto them Moreouer it is not with God as with man those who are petitioners are wont to bee trouble some vnto theÌ„ but with God the more we offer vp our praiers vnto him the more we are accepted of him The Ediles amongst the Romanes had euer their doores standing open for al that had occasion of complaint to haue free accesse vnto them With God the gates of mercie are wide open to all poore sinners that will make their prayers vnto him Come and welâ—come Now as wee should at other times and vpon other occasions with Abraham sometimes leaue our terrene affaires as hee left his seruants beneath when hee went into the mount to sacrifice to God so principally in sicknesse and griefe of bodie should we then ascend into the contemplation of heauenlye things and haue recourse to Gods mercie as to a Cittie of refuge Call vpon me saith the Lord in the time of trouble I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me In the t' me of trouble there is a refuge for extremitie and I will heare thee there 's the rewarde of mercie and thou shalt praise me there is the reflex of thankfull dutie Christ wils all that are wearie and heauiâ— laden to come vnto him and they shall not loose their labour hee will refreshe them In time of need no surer centerie then by humble prayer to repaire to God Demus operam saith S. Austen vt moriamur in precatione Let vs indeuour euen to die in prayer I lifted mine eyes vnto the hils saithe the Prophet from whence commeth my helpe And in an other place As the eyes of seruants looke vpon the hand of their master and as the eyes of a maiden vâ—to the hand of her mistresse so our eyes waite vpon the Lord our God vntill he haue mercy vpon vs. Wherefore with the same Prophet let vs deuoutly say In thee O Lord haue I put my trust let me neuer bee put to confusion but â—iddâ— mee and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse correct mee not in thine
appeared first after his resurrection to Marie Magdalene to shewe that he brought comfort to the greatest sinners of all This is a true saying saith the Apostle That Christ came into the world to saue sinners whereof I am the chiefe as if S. Paul put himselfe in the number as euerie one shoulde and say wherof I am one nay the chiefe And here we may call to minde that bottomles depth of Gods mercie who will bee called rather by the name of a father to intimate vnto vs his loue and to enconrage vs to call vpon him in time of neede whose goodnes is diffusiue and communicable vnto others whose bountie is delighted in nothing more then in doing good And is woont rather to giue great then small things God is not such a one as Adam tooke him to be from whom when he had sinned hee shoulde flie or hide him selfe for feare but God is such a one to whom Adam and all that haue sinned may haue accesse with hope and loue The seruants of Benadab in the first of Kinges and the twentieth when they saw and considered wel their distressed case began to aduise their maister Benadab after this maner We heare that the Kings of Israel are mercifull wherefore let vs cloath our selues in sackecloath that so we may goe and find fauour in their sight If this mercifulnes were a thing proper vnto the Kings of Israel what may wee looke for at the handes of him who is the God of Israel before whom they that humble themselues shall questionlesse find grace and mercie My sin is greater no Cain thou errest God his mercie is far greater couldest thou aske mercie Men cannot bee more sinnefull then God is mercifull if with penitent heartes they will but call vpon him But come we vnto Christ the fountaine of al mercie there shall we find God in his mediation onlie great without quantitie and good without qualitie as Saint Austen speaketh Christ in the Gospel was called of the Pharisies by way of reproach a friend of Publicans and sinners and so was hee in truth and veritâ—e Neuer was there such a friend to poore sinners such Publicans as he was who strake his breast saide God be mercifull to me a sinner The Parable of the lost shaepe doth shewe this loue in seeking the lost sinner the ioy of the Angels of heauen ouer our repentance may much comfort vs to cal for grace When the wandering sonne had consumed his fathers substaunce but yet returned sorowfully to acknowledge himselfe the father saith not whence â—â—mest thou or where is now all thy patrimonie but bring hither the newe garment â—il the fat calfe let vs reioyce my son was dead and is aliue Here was a welcome â—ome that might amaze this wandering sonne though wee sometimes lose the nature of children yet God doth neuer lose the name and nature of a father a name of priuiledge to his children we crie Abba father a name of care and prouidence your heauenly father eareth for you a name of loue If you giue your Children good things how much more shall your father in heauen giue you if you aske them of him And not onely a father but our father which should wounde our harts and kindle our affections in al distresses with comfort to â—al vpon him It may be said also in this case as before it was saide of the affection of a mother There is none knowes the loue of a father but a father nor any the loue of God but God himselfe who is loue That thou mightest bee blessed O man first hee created theâ— that thou mightest bee recouered when thou wert lost then hee redeemed thee which redeeming sheweth a price paied for thy raunsome which price was his dearest bloud When Christ wept and shed some fewe teares for Lazarus the Iewes reasoned and said see how he loued him but when Christ shedde his owne bloud for vs and that in great aboundance Osee how he loued vs. If hee bought vs with so deare a price will he refuse his owne peniworth If he sought vs flying from him shal be not much more receiue vs when we come vnto him Can a mother saith the Prophet Esay forget the childe of her wombe yea thoâ—gh she do yet will not God forget his people When my father and mother forsooke me saith Dauid the Lord tooke me vp We haue a good Samaritan that when the Priest and the Leuite left vs wounded to wit the Law and figures thereof passed by vs hee bound vp our wounds and paid for our curing that we might be recouered vnto euerlasting health Our Ioseph is gone before to prouide for his brethren was there euer such loue Looke how wide the East is from the West so farre hath hee sette our sinnes from vs. Nay like as the pillar of clouds was set betweene the host of their enemies and the tents of the people of Israel that no harme might befall them so hath hee set his prouidence betweene vs and all casualties that no hurt should oppresse vs Wee should be sutors vnto Christ and least our manifolde sinnes shoulde make vs bashfull he calleth vs vnto him saying Venite omnes qui laboratis onorati estis ego reficiam vos Come vnto me al that are wearie and heaâ—â—e loden and I will refresh you Did al the poore creatures come vnto the Arke to saue themselues Did the Angels carrie Lot out of Sodome and shall not wee come vnto him who calles vs so louingly and meanes no other but to bring vs vnto his euerlasting kingdome Wherefore let neither the multitude of our sins the terror of the lawe nor the feare of Gods iustice discourage vs in time of distresse Christ hath put theÌ„ al to flight as Dauid did the Philistines by killing the killing letter of the lawe who would not cast his burthen vpon him that doth desire to giue vs ease As I liue saith the Lord I woulde not the death of a sinner God woulde haue the sinnes to die but the sinner to liue whose creatures haue nourished vs whose-prouidence hath preserued vs whose mercies hath carried vs all along from our verie cradles vntill this dâ—y whose watchfull eye hath deliuered vs from so manie daungers both of bodie and soule haue we had such and so many experiments of his loue and should we now doubt thereof Is the Iudge become our aduocate and shall we feare to go forwards towards the throne of grace The Spirite and the Bride say come and let him that is a thirst comâ— and let who soeuer will drinke of the water of life come freely who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen who shall condemne Christ at the right hande of God maketh request for vs. The ninteenth Chapter Howe the sicke in the agonie of death may bee prepared towards his ende AL our life long haue we liued
through thee haue I beene holpen euer since I was borne it grieueth mee that I haue so often offended thy goodnes and I am grieued that I grieue no more Lord as an humble suitor I appeale vnto the throne of mercie and there begge at thy handes remission of all my sinnes in the merites of thy bitter passion I offer vnto thee a penitent heart for the time past and promise amendment if it shall please thy diuine wisedome to continue on this my pilgrimage for the time to come wherein I refer my selfe wholly to thy heauenly will in hope of a better resurrection vnto euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another prayer for the sicke ALmightie and euerlasting God maker of mankind which doest correct those whom thou dost loue and chastenest euerie one whome thou receyuest receiue O Lorde wee beseech thee thy seruant here visited with sicknesse distrusting in his owne merites and trusting in thy mercies Looke vpon him O Lorde as thou didst vpon Ezechias restore vnto him his former health if it bee thy will or otherwise giue him grace to take this sicknes patiently that after this life ended in thy faith and loue hee may dwell with thee in life euerlasting vnto which life vouchsafe to bring him and vs all thy hamble seruants for thy infinit mercies sake Amen The one and twentieth Chapter Wherein is laid downe the manner of commending the sicke into the handes of God at the houre of death GOd the Father who hath created thee God the Sonne who hath redeemed thee God the holy Ghost who hath infused his grace into thee assist thee in all thy tryals and leade thee the way into euerlasting peace Answer Amen Christ that died for thee keep thee from all euill Answ. Amen Christ that redeemed thee strengthen thee in all temptations Answ. Amen Christ that loued thee so deerly raise thee body and soule in the resurrection of the iust Answ. Amen Christ that sitteth at the right hand of God in heauen bring thee vnto euerlasting ioy Answ. Amen God grant thy place may be in Abrahams bosome Answer Amen God grant thou mayest behold thy blessed Sauior in the state of glorie Answ. Amen God grant thy death may be precious in his sight in whom thou art to rest for euer Answ. Amen A briefe forme of praier MOst mercifull father wee commend vnto thee this thy seruant the worke of thine own hands we commend vnto thee his soule in the merits of Christ Iesus his redeemer Accept O Lord thine owne creature forgiue we beseech thee what soeuer hath been committed by humaine fraâ—ltie and command thy Angels to bring him to the land of euerlasting peace Answer Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest Noah in the floud Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou didst Lot from the fire of Sodom Answer Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest Iob in all his aduersitie Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest the Israelites from the power of Pharaoh and the oppression of Egypt Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant from the malice of Sathan as thou didst Dauid from all his enemies Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou didst Daniel from the mouth of the Lions Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest the three children from the fierie flames Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant as thou diddest Elias from the false Prophetes that sought his ouerthrow Answ. Amen Preserue O Lord the soule of thy seruant and deliuer him as thou diddest thy Aposties out of prison Answ. Amen From that ruefull darknes Answer Deliuer him O Lord. From the paines of Hell Answer Deliuer him O Lord. From euerlasting malediction Answer Deliuer him O Lord. By thy natiuitie Answere O Lord deliuer him By thy crosse and passion Answere O Lord deliuer him By thy descention into hell Answere O Lord deliuer him By thy resurrection from the dead the third day Answer O Lord deliuer him By thy ascention into heauen Answer O Lord deliuer him Into thy merciful hands O heauenly Father we commend the soule of thy seruant nowe departing acknowledge wee beseech thee a sheepe of thine owne fold a lambe of thy own flocke Receiue him into the armes of thy mercy knowing the thing cannot perish which is committed to thy charge O most mercifull Iesus receiue we beseech thee his spirit in peace Amen The blessing of the sicke Iesus Christ absolue shee from all thy sinnes Answ. Amen Iesus Christ that died for thee put out all thy offences Answ. Amen Iesus Christ that calleth thee receiue thee into his heauenly kingdome Answ. Amen The Lorde blesse thee and keepe thee The Lord make his face to shine vpon thee The Lord lift vp his countenance ouer thee and giue thee a ioyfull resurrection to life euerlasting Amen Depart O Christian soule in the name of God the Father who created thee of God the Sonne who redeemed thee of God the holy Ghost who sanctified thee one liuing and immortal God to whom be glory for euer and euer Amen A Praier to be vsed by the assemblie at the time of the Christian mans departure Let vs pray O Almightie and euerlasting God seeing it hath pleased thee to take this thy seruant out of the miseries of a sinfull world vnto thy heauenly kingdome for which Lord thy name bee blessed make vs we beseech thee that yet remaine mindful of our mortalitie that we may walke before thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of our life and when the time of our departure shall come we may rest in thee as our hope is this thy seruant doth that we with him and all other departed in the faith of thy holy name may reiorce together in thy eternall and euerlasting glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The two and twentieth Chapter An exhortation is comfort those who lament mourne for the departure of others TO vse mourning for the dead decencie amongst men and Christianitie doth allow it examples of holy scriptures doe approue as much What more seemely then the performance of the dutie whereby we giue testimonie of naturall affection in this solemne departure each from other God hath neither made vs stockes nor stones nor giuen vs heartes which should haue no seeling when occasions offered or times beseeming require sorrowfull affections In the contrarie what more vncomely then to vse nurth in the house of mourning A very Heathenish manner was it thought to bee by the decree of an ancient council to sport at these motiues to mourning For examples in holy scripture we find that Abraham mourned for Sarah all Israel for Samuel the people in the wildernesse for Aaron their high priest the inhabitantes of Bethulia for Iudeth that honorable widdow the Machabies for their
noble Captaine Martha and Marâ—â— for Lazarus their brother the women of Iewrie for their tender children those young infants the twelue Putriarks for Iacob their aged father Dauid for Ionathan his trustie and faithfull friende Nay Christ himselfe saith Saint Iâ—rome went not to his sepulcher without weeping eyed Neither hath this mourning beene a light passion onely Great was the lamentation that Iacob made at the supposed death of his sonne Ioseph when hee said I will goe vnto the graue to my sonne sorrowing Great was the lamentation that Dauid made when newes was brought him of Absalon his eude O Absalon Absalon my sonne Absalon I woulde to God I had dyed for thee Great was the lamentation which the widdowes made for Dorcas so good a woman full of good workes and almes when they considered her bountie towardes them And thus wee see the laudable custome and practise in mourning for the dead When the Apostle forbad the Thessalomans to sorrow he did not absolutely forbid all sorrowing but onely after the manner of the Gentiles Noa culpamus affectum saith S. Barnard sed excessum We blame not the affection it selfe but the excesse or want of moderation We may not onely vse moderate sorrow in the departure of others but euen in the departure of the godly and well disposed themselues for as good men often are and in regarde of their great misse in the world where they had beene many waies helpfull vnto others may be mourned for of many which is a testimonie of their neede who haue left but fewe such behinde So is it a signe of some ill dealing amongst men when the poore and distressed let them go away without any lamentation at all It was saide by the Prophet Ieremie to Iehoiakin So long as thy father did helpe the oppressed did hee not prosper And after hee addeth this as a great punishment to bee laid vpon him well thou shalt die in griefe of mind and there shall bee none to make lamentation for thee The Apostle confesseth in plaine wordes that God had mercie on him in sparing Epaphroditus lest hee should haue had sorrow vpon sorrow to shew that hee was not so vnnaturall but himselfâ— should haue had feeling in such a case My sonne saith the wiseman powre forth thy teares ouer the deade and neglect not his buriall whence mee may gather that funerall rytes decent interring exequies and seemely mourning is not vnsitting the practise of those amongst whome all thinges should bee done in order The Israelites in burying so honourablie their Fathers and Gouernours did shewe themselues a people of good and orderly disposition My sonne saith Tobie when I am dead bury me honestly The new sepulcher the cleane linnen cloathes the sweete ointmentes the assemblie of men of reputation shewed how our Sauiour was respectiuely regarded and entombed with some solemnitie and sure these bodies which haue beene the temples of the holy Ghost and shall bee chaunged at the day of doome into a condition of glorie should haue that decencie performed as to agreeable both to practise and conneniencie Wherefore not to yeeld the dead after a Cynick manner comely burials or Christian mourning with moderation is most inhumane is a concept to say truth very barbarous Notwithstanding this Christian sorrow yet to sorrow as men without hope is farre distant from the rule of faith which tels vs that the death of the Saintes is precious in Gods sight They are at peace and that their hope is full of immortalitic He that said my sonne Powre forth thy teares ouer the dead said also comfort thy self And surely for Christians of all others who beleeue the resurrection vnto a better life shold raise vp themselues by faith froÌ„ too too deleful passions For as in all other things so in this a moderation should be had Haue we lost a good father friend husband wife or children we may say with Iob. Dominus dedit Dominus abstulit The Lord hath giueÌ„ yâ— Lord hath takeÌ„ away neither are they yet clean taken froÌ„ vs but gone a little before the way wherein wee must all follow Wee shall one daye meete againe at which meeting sayeth Cyprian there will bee no meane ioy when friendes come to reioyce together Our knowledge is now but in parte then shall wee knowe as wee are knowne where Peter shall bee Peter and Paule shall bee Paule and many long since departed shall as some of the auncient Fathers say bee knowne of vs that haue liued long after But of all other meanes of comfort that happie hope of the resurrection should raise vs vp from ouer pensiue thoughts Christ our Sauiour before his passion when hee saw the disciples sorrowfull for his departure which was so shortly to ensue saith vnto them Let not your hearts bee troubled I go vnto the father So it may bee said to those that mourne for the misse of others let not your minds be too much plunged in sorrow those for whom you thus lament are gone vnto their mercifull redeemer It is saide of Enoch because his soule pleased God God tooke him away It was spoken as a blessing to Iosias that hee should bee gathered vnto his fathers before the captiuitie of the people came Saint Ierome of sinful times saith Foelix Nepotianus qui haec non videt Nepotian is a happie man that liues not to see this wicked world When God ships his Noahs it is signe there is a floud not farre behind When God sends Angels to fetch his Lots out of Sodome it is signe there is a punishmeÌ„t for the sinfull Cities shortly to ensue When God takes Lâ—zarus to Abrahams bosom there is then no more penurie to endure Wherefore seeing we are all to passe downe the streame of mortalitie we may not thinke it so straunge to haue experience thereof If we complaine of the death of friends we complaâ—ne in effect that they were borne mortall Death is as the liues drawne from the Câ—nter vnto the Circumference euen on euerie part or as the vpright magistrate equall to all which may the rather moue vs to bee content The good meaning borrower the sooner his debt is discharged the sooner is hee aâ— quiet He that makes but a short voyage and is the soonest at the hauen of rest is the sooner also from daunger of shipwracke We may not forget to conforme our wils to the will of God as we daily pray Fiat voluntas tua Thy wil be done The Wiseman praised the dead aboue the liuing And S. Iohn pronounceth theÌ„ blessed which die in yâ— Lord because they now rest froÌ„ their 〈◊〉 And therefore thir good estate now obtained should the rather moue vs to remember their good At our entraunce into the worlde wee brought with vs a subiection vnto death Againe al sinned therefore death goeth ouer all and returne we
expectes the comming thereof it shall passe along by him and neuer hurt him The iuste shall stande saith the Wiseman with great constancie and they shall lift vp their heades for their redemption draweth nigh There is no better counsell to bee giuen to the worlde then the counsell of him who came to redeeme the worlde Watch and pray continually that you may be counted worthie to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that yee may stande before the Sonne of man go vpon his right hand and heare that ioyfull voyce Come ye blessed of my father receyue the kingdome prepared for you from the feundations of the worlde vnto which kingdome Iesus Christ bring vs all for his infinite mercies sake Amen A shorte Dialogue betweene Faith and the Naturall man concerning mans estate in the world and his departure from the world Faith IS thy beleefe rightlye grounded Natur. I professe the name of Christ. Fa Neuer tell me of profession Dost thou thinke of no other estate but a bare continuance in this world onely Natur. Yes I thinke of an other worlde to come and also of my departure from the life present Faith I would to God thou diddest in heart in truth and veritie for I feare thou doest deceiue thy self Nat. As hoâ—o I pray you Faith Because this is but a superficiall conceit Natur. How know you that Faith Marie thy life is ledde in such securitie as if thou mindedst nothing lesse then yâ— time to come Natur. But may I not take part in the pleasures of this world and vse them when they are offred Faith Thou maist for honest recreation but vse the worlde as if thou vsedst it not Nat. I am of great birth and parentage Faith True honour is not of others but of our selues Nat. But my house is ancient Faith Then began it by vertue by vertue shouldest thou continue it Nat. But my progenitors haue flourished Faith Trâ—e but are they not gone the way of al yâ— world and thou also must follow Nat. But I am in the flower of youth Faith Yet remember thy end youth is but a flower that may soone sade Nat. But there is nothing more distant froÌ„ the end then the beginning Faith In the state of man it is not so wherein often we begin and end togither Nat. But I haue strength Faith Boast not of strength some litle touch of sicknesse will make thee soone stoupe Nat. But I am healthfull Faith Health is a blessing and therefore vse it well Natur. But I liue in great abundance Faith Then liuest thou in great care Nat. But I liue amidst many delightes Faith Theâ— liuest thou amidst manie temptations and therefore take heede of them Natur. But I am in high place Faith Then art thou in a sâ—ipperie place Natur. But I haue the gouernment of manie Faith Then art thou also seruant vnto manie Natur. But I haue friendes Faith Trust not in princes trust not in any child of man trust in God Nat. But I haue riches Faith If riches encrease set not thy heart vpon them Nat. But I haue honors Fai. Then hast thou enuie also Nat. But I am glorious in the world Fa. Desire to be hid vnto the worlde and knowne vnto God Nat. But me thinks I am wel Faâ— How can that be liuing as thou liuest in a vale of tears Natur. But I hope for peace of mind Faith Then must thou be a coÌ„queror of thine own affections Na. But I haue much laid vp for many yeares Faith So saide hee whose soule was suddenly taken from him Nat. Is our staâ—e then in this world so vncertaine Faith It is Nat. Then will I hope for the life to come Faith In so doing thou dost wel Nat. But what shall I doe in the meane space Faith Loue God with all thy hart with all thy soule with all thy strength and thy neighbor as thy selfe Natur. Seeing this world is so variable then I bid all trust in earthly vanities fare well Faith Lift vp thy mind to God in him onely is thy eternall welfare A Dialogue betwixt Discontent and Hope Discontent I Am more miserable then anie Hope Others are miserable to wee all liue in a worlde of miserie Discont But I more miserable then any Hope Leaue to complaine deliuerance is of God who will not faile them that call vpon him Disc. I am in bondagâ— Hope Remember there will come a time of freedome Disc. But I am poore helples Ho. So was Lazarus who doth reioice in Abrahams bosome Discont But I am afflicted in body Ho. So was Iob Whom God loued Discon But I am reproached in the world and I feare infamie Ho. Feare God If the reproach be true craue mercy for thy fault at his handes If false let thy owne conscience comfort thee Disc. But I haue lost the time Hope Indeed a great losse but it is neuer too late so that at last thou do well Disc. But I am destitute of friends Hope God is thy friend if thy relie be vpon him Disc. But I am wearie of this toylesome world Hop Heauen is the hauen of rest Disc. But I would bee gone from it I care not how Hop Fâ—e Discontent suffer rather a world of torments then to be so faithles Disc. But I haue no other remedie Hope Call for grace cast off this abiect feare with vaine thoughts away with them hearken not to the shamefull intisements of Sathan Disc. But I am full of troubles Hope So was he in the worlde that is in glorie Disc. But death is verie grieâ— Ho. It is not so but an end of grief In sorrow thou shalt eat thy bread vntill thou turne to earth as if thâ—n sorrow should end Dis. But I am sorrowful Hope Sorrow may endure for a night but ioy commith in the morning Disc. But I eate the bread of carefullnesse Hop So haue all the seruants of God done Disc. But I haue often called and see no deliuerâ—â—ce Hop God will send deliuerance assure thy selfe at the last Di. But I haue not the possessions yâ— others haue Ho. A competent measure of wealth to retaine honest reputation in the world is sufficient Dis But I waxe in age Hop Then doth the time of thy deliuerance draw on Dis But I am olde and crooked Hope Then make an end with the world Discon But I am pained with sicknes Ho. The health of the soule is most to be desired Discont But I feare death Hope Thou needst not for it shall not hurt thee but make thy happie entrance into life Discont But I am loath to leaue the world Hope Why shouldst thou so be seeing thou art going to liue with Christ. Discont But I liue not in that pleasure I see others liue Hope Be content remember to whom it was said Sonne thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasure Disconâ—â— But I am euer vnder the crosse Hope So must all bee who will follow Christ. Disc. But