then die Spirit Heb. 9.27 Yes it is appointed all shall die and after this life bee summoned to their appearance for iudgement A meditation of the soule that wee shall but once die temporally Heare then O my soule if death shall goe ouer all Eccl. thou shalt not escape to day this man to morrow or soone must thou It is not said nor determined that thou shouldest die twice but once If that it were permitted wee should twice die then if one had not well and godly disposed himselfe the first time hee died hee might reforme himselfe at the second essay Oh but not so if thou die il once from this world thou shalt be carried to euerlasting anguish and woe A praier to God that hee would seriously put into our hearts that the time of our death is vncertaine O Lord my God instruct mee that I may deeply and seriously consider I must depart and that my life hath sure and limited bounds and I must be gathered to my fathers Gen. 25. Gen 49. Num. 20. Psal. 39.5 for behold my dayes are but an handbreadth in respect of thee and my age is nothing in regard of thee surely euery man in his best estate is altogether vanitie for what man liueth and shall not see death Psal. 90.48 shall he deliuer his soule from the hand of the graue My God Psal 90.12 teach mee so to number my dayes that I may applie my heart vnto wisdome wherby I may learne the manner and way to die the death of the righteous and blessed in the Lord my God to whom be rendred all thankes power and glory Amen Flesh. Hath not God manifested vnto vs the houre of death that wee conueniently might prepare vs thereunto Spirit There are foure things my soule most vncertaine concerning death which euery Christian daily and hourely should earnestly meditate vpon mortis tempus locus status modus for not only is the houre and point of death hid from vs but also wee doe not know in what place by what meanes and occasions by what sicknesse or manner death shall separate vs from hence A praier for a blessed departure O holy and wise God thy thoughts are not as our thoughts Isa. 55.8 neither our wayes as thy wayes Vers. 9. but as the heauens are higher than the earth so are thy wayes higher than our wayes and thy thoughts than our thoughts grant that in a full purpose of cleannesse of heart I may walke here before thy face and depart in blessed time of death with sure confidence that nothing can betide mee Rom 8. but what shall be good and profitable vnto mee Grant this good Father for the gratious mediation of thy Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Flesh. Seeing then these foure things are of so great moment how may I rightly and duly consider of them Spirit After this manner The time for the first Thou doest not know deare soule in what day moneth or yeere God will â—all thee from this world whether it shall happen in the day or in the night euen or morne God might easily haue reuealed the same Eccl. 38. if it had beene his heauenly will but it is of his diuine prouidence and great goodnesse that hee hath not so done Meditation on the sirst the time Behold my soule we wretched creatures are so corrupt by sinne and are so inamoured with this world that if the day of our death were reuealed vnto vs neuer should we thinke on God feare him or call vpâ—n his name neuer be stirred vp to repentance vntill at the very instant time it were appointed wee should die then would man first applie himselfe to learne repentance but come short thereof therefore it is not hurtfull but very gainfull and necessary that wee should be ignorant of the houre of our death A praier of mans vanitie O my God make mee consider how altogether man is vanitie Psal. 39.5 who passeth so swiftly away truly man borne of a woman liues but a short time and that full of vnquietnesse he commeth forth like a flower and is câ—t downe like the grasse hee slieth also as a shadow and continueth not his dayes are determined the number of his moneths are with thee thou hast appointed him bounds which hee cannot passe And now my God thou who of thy great wisedome hast hid from mee the day of the dissolution of this my tabernacle of clay 1 Cor. 5.1 helpe mee that I neuer let passe any time without true repentance and seeing thou hast hid from mee the time of my departure vouchsafe on me thy mercy and grace that I may so bestow my whole life that night and day Psal. 6. yea euery houre and twinckling of an eye I may be in a Christian preparation and readinesse to die the death of the godly through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen Meditation on the second the place For the second The place thou knowest not in what place thou shalt end thy dayes whether in thine owne house or in a strangers in thy bed or in the field The sand-glasse of our life continually runneth out and no man knoweth no man is certified when it hath done running so death is euer present and followes vs at our heeles and ouertaketh taketh vs wheresoeuer it findeth vs it attendeth vs euery where for as the lightning commeth out of the East Mat. 24.27 and shineth euen vnto the West so shall also the comming of the Son of man be If thou therefore be a faithfull and wise seruant Luk. 12.42 in euery houre thou wouldest expect it that when thy Lord commeth hee may finde thee so doing Praier that wee may ioifully meet death O my God make mee euer and continually vnderstand that I am a poore mortall creature who can in no place preserue my selfe from death seeing it continually waiteth in all places and lurketh for me make me meet it euermore circumspectly with a ioifull and glad heart Grant this most mercifull God for thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ his sake Amen Meditation vpon the third thy state or behauiour As for the third Thy state what thou canst not tell O my soule in what state or behauiour the Lord thy God shal finde thee whether sleeping or awake merry or sad in worldly or spirituall exercise quiet or angry or howsoeuer otherwise distempered giue therefore diligent heed my soule that thou neuer bee in such case wherein willingly thou wouldest not die for death neuer loseth opportunitie neither is neglectful to take aduantage and thou knowest well what couenant thou hast with death Eccl. 14. yea moreouer deare soule as the Lord shall finde thee so will hee iudge thee hereafter A short praier to forsake the world Keepe me Lord Iesus from drowsines idlenes and slumbering in sinne that I liue not inconsiderately Luk. 19. as the vngodly which haue no hope 1 Thess. 4. but that
Gen. ca. 26. If God keepe not promise wee haue done with saluation but God will keepe it and not lye And therefore albeit our hâ—arts doubt wee must haue our recourse vnto him who will not change for the Lord speaketh so of himselfe I am the Lord and lye not And againe Gods gifts and callings are without repentance Consider this deare Soule and hold thee fast by Gods word He appeareth to be angry but is well pleased 1. Ioh. 3.20 for God is strong and his Word much more sure than thy owne heart And therefore learne to vnderstand the Lords Customes his delight is with the children of men hee ieastâ— and dallieth with thâ—m as Fathers with their children yea hee withholds his hands a little from them to prooue them not for their hurt and destruction but that they should not lean to themselues 1. Cor. 1.9 but on him who rayseth the dead and can make the weak and feeble strong and valiant Hee hath no pleasure in presumption but his will is that we should serue him with feare Ps. 2.11 and reioyce with trembling And we may see in Peter and Thomas what it is to bee too much confident and to build vpon our own courage and strength Ier. 17.9 No man knoweth himselfe aright but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe And therefore pray continually that mercifully hee would vphold thee to the end and bee persuaded if at any time thou hast felt comfort that God will certainely come again to thee and if that at any time he hath ioyed thy heart that hee certainly oftner oftner will doe it for thy comfort Yea if in all thy life time thou hadst receiued but onely one drop of comfort yet doubt not but pray beleeue hope and haue patience Hab. 2.3 the Lord will certainely come and will not delay vnlesse thou bee altogether stifnecked and vnwilling Remember the example of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.21 Behold how her Lord ieasteth with her how he dismisseth her yea euen thrice First hee holdeth his peace and answereth not a word Secondly hee heareth but that hee is not come for her good but for the benefit of the Children of Israel but the third time he calleth her a Dogge as vnworthie of his comfort but what doth shee for the first in that Christ was silent she meeteth him with a patieâ—t heart which well could stay and trust For the second she answers with a faithfull heart that shee must haue some portion of his promises For the third she meeteth him with an humble heart and willingly wil be a Dogge desiring that which appertayned to him that is the crums which fal from the table that is a verie small helpe a little deale of comfort wherewith shee and her daughter would bee contented Here the Lord cannot hide himselfe longer from her but presenteth a copious measure of mercie vnto her saying O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee euen as thou wilt But if thou shalt now say behold she was strong in Faith and I am weake thou must vnderstand that our faith is resembled vnto a Fencer who is in the lists against another for he is euer in feare that he shall be ouercome and be too feeble against his Enemie euen so is it with Faith for when we wrastle and fight wee thinke that wee are weake and shall loose the Victorie But it shall not fall out so for victorie belongeth vnto faith let it incline whether it will it appertaineth euer vnto her yea and a weake Faith shall win the field and through the Lords strength power we shal be kept through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 readie to bee reuealed in the last time Remember also the Patriarch Iaâ—obs wrastling how he straue with God and stucke hardly vnto him and let him not goe but sayd Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee goe except thou blesse mee A Prayer for stedfast Faith in Christ. Now Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest I beleeue although but with a weake faith yet by the selfe same I put my whole trust and confidence in thee reach mee thy comfortable hand and draw mee to thee O Lord I am weake increase my faith stand not farre off from mee for thou art mine onely hope to whom else can I goe Kindle that little sparke in my heart by thy holie spirit that I may euermore doe thy will Behold to will is present with mee Rom. 7 18. but how to performe that which is good I find not Yea lord Iesus thou art my Life my Hope and Saluation for hauing thee I haue all things Now haue I thee although by a weak hand now haue I thee albeit my hand be weake thine is strong Let me not goe from thine hand to the end that I let thee not go from mee Looke chearefully vpon mee as thou didst vpon Peter Marie Magdalen the woman of Canaan the holy Patriarch Iacob driue away darkenes from my heart let me enioy the consolation of thy mercies here am I as a poore Dog and stay for the crums which fal from the table of mercie Behold I thus wrastle with thee by praier O thou strong Lord insinuate thy selfe into my hart for by thy streÌ„gth I striuâ— with thy selfe giue thy selfe vnto me I wil not leâ— thee passe by any meanes before thou blesse mee I will not desist before the sâ—n of consolation rise brightly vnto me now thou Lord Iesus Christ who hast praied for Peter dost sit at the right hand of thy father Intercessor for me that my faith shall not decay Arise O Lord still the tempest of my heart and rages of temptation that in a liuely seÌ„ce I may see and rast the sweetnesse of thy word and holy spirit that thereby I may learne that inward ioy and freedome from sinne and power thereof by the death and passion of thy deare Sonne my Sauior the Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and thy holie Spirit bee rendered as most due is all honor power and glorie of all true Christians from this time forth for euer Amen CHAP. VII Contayning spirituall consolations and Instructions against the terrours that eyther the Soule or the conscience of Man now readie to dye can obiect Flesh. It may bee neuerthelesse euidently seene that euerie man is mortall and yeeldeth vnto death Spirit Men dye truely and loose their liues by reason of sinne but they that haue the true comfort of the heart infused by Iesus Christ and rejoyce therein They account death nothing else but a passage froÌ„ this miserable world to their owne natiue inheritance for Christ that dwelleth in them hath tasted death for them taken away the power therof and broaken her sting so that death can doe no more but disseuer the Soule from the body and bereaue vs of this transitorie Life Yet it shal serue as all other things doe to
ones for so saith the Redeemer Take eat this is my body Matth. 26.16 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 Cor. 11.24 which is giuen for you to the remission of sins and againe Take and eat all hereof this cup is the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you Meditation of the Soule for the receiuing of the Communion Now heare my Soule what delicates the Lord thy Sauiour presenteth before thee in this his table truely not bare and naked bread and wine but his body and bloud for the bread which wee breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ and the cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 therefore beleeue I and know that my Lord Iesus Christ both God and Man according to his institution is present to my Soule giues his body and bloud to bee eaten and drunke spiritually by a true and liuely faith wrought in me by his holy spirit and applying the merits and benefits of his death vnto mee the manner and way being best knowen vnto himselfe yea Lord Iesus thou thy selfe art here my host and I thy guest heere come I poore creature out of the wicked wildernes of this world fraught with trouble and misery and bring with mee an hungry thirsty and languishing yet a faithfull heart reuiue me my Lord Iesus by this thy table and strengthen mee by this nourishment that I may bee satiate and safe Approach heereunto my Soule to strengthen thy faith and quicken thy heart Ioh. 20.27 and bee not longer faithlesse but faithfull beâ—hold the Lord thy Redeemer assureth thee as with a true token and pawne that thou of meere grace and mercy art appoynted heire of all his blessings and hee imputes vnto thee whatsoeuer he hath procured by the sacrifice of his body and bloud to wit the forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes Rom. 4.8 that righteousnesse which is accepted before God and eternall life all these shall aâ— certainely be thine as if thou in thine own person hadst hung vpon the crosse and there merited them yea and he witnesseth heereby that thou for his sake art counted before God as righteous holy and as beloued as Christ himselfe is and moreouer by the same Sacrament through the holy Spirit he giueth himself vnto thee Reu. 3.20 to dwell with thee and sup with thee neuer to depart froÌ„ thee but worke a new life ioy light yea Lord Iesus so am I in thee Ioh. 17.23 Eph. 5.30 and thou in mee and I will sticke vnto thee my Redeemer as a liuing member to a liuing body as a bride vnto her bridegroome for I am a member of thy body Ioh. 15.4 of thy blood and bones yea I am in thee as the branch is in the vine and as a bough receiueth continuall sap vertue from the trees roote so doe I draw comfort life and quickening from thee and so by a true faith both in soule and body abide in thee and thou in mee by thy holy spirit that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor nor things present nor things to come nor hight nor depth nor any other creature can separate me from thy loue A prayer when thou hast receiued the Communion Praised bee thou O God my Sauiour for thy fatherly care ouer me for preparing this heauenly banquet for me whereby I may quench the appetite of my hungry soule and mittigate the thirst of my heart so that now by this meanes I depart emboldened and established in grace and faith will follow thee my Redeemer with courage Heb. 13.9 will abide constantly with thee and remayne in perseuerance with thee through thy spirit vnto the last gaspe Amen Meditation of receiuing the holie Communion Thou hast said Doe this in my remembrance O my God how holie is the memorie of that how inwardly am I comforted therewith for by this sacrament I call to minde many other Festiual daies and times for in thy Table I remember thy Natiuitie for it testifieth vnto mee that thou in verie deed hast taken my human nature vpon thee and art farre neerer joyned vnto mee than vnto the Angells for thou in no sort tookedst vpon thee the Angells nature but thou tookest the seed of Abraham it likewise represeÌ„teth vnto mee that thou art the true Sacrifice for sinnes and therefore doe I eate the right Pasouer 1. Cor. 5.7 euen Christ which is sacrificed for mee as also I beleeue and trust seeing I am thy member and that thou art risen from the dead and liuest so shall I also so that thou wilt not leaue my Soule in Graue neyther shall death haue power ouer mee but I shall rise and sing vnto the Lord in the land of the liuing and possesse that place where thou my head Iesus Christ liuest world without end And all these things are engrafted and sealed in mee by thy holie Spirit of Promise 1. Eph. 13.14 which is the earnest of my Inheritance for the redemption of that libertie purchased vnto the prayse of his glorie whereby also peace and joy is kindled in my hart for I receiue the spirit of adoption whereby I crie Abba Father the same Spirit bearing witnesse to my Spirit Rom. 8.15 16. that I am the Sonne of God And not onely that but I participate the whole Trenitie the Father Sonne and Holie-Spirit who come vnto mee Ioh. 14.23 and dwell with mee so life euerlasting shall be bestowed vpon mee after this transitorie where I shall continually behold my Lord my God face to face and finally I haue here an vnion and fellowshippe with all the Saints for as hee sayd He that eateth my flesh Ioh. 6.56 and drinketh my bloud abideth in mee and I in him so hath hee sayde also that they all may bee one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs for we that are many are one bread and one bodie because wee are all partakers of one bread how joyfull am I of this heauenlie companie how glad am I of thy Saints to whose number thou hast adopted mee for the which I giue thee thankes honour and prayse for euermore Besides this it is written as oft as you eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup ye declare the Lords death vntill his comming againe wherein deare Soule I am rauished to the contemplation of the Third-heauen with Paule whereof this thy last Supper is as it were an entry and beginning for in thy Fathers Kingdome I shall sit downe with Abraham Isaack and Iacob and there feed vpon Thee the Bread of Life eternally and therefore sigh I from the bottome of my heart saying euen so Come Lord Iesus come quickly my Redeemer and tarrie not and therefore I am taught to powre out hartie thanksgiuings for all thy blessings wherewith thou hast blessed mee in heauenly things in
bottle yea and true meeknesse and hunger after mee Psal. 56.8 all outward benefits turne to thy blessings as seales of my fauour thy crosses are no curses but being sanctified turne to thy good in faith patienly possessing thy soule thou doest wait and looke assuredly for my glorious kingdome after this life it is not thine actions it is thy affections I respect desirest thou to bee righteousâ— then art thou righteous Meanest thou to leaue thy sinâ—es I repute thee as if thou hadst left them wouldest thou not fall I esteeme thee as a valiant Worthy who neuer was vanquished For if there bee a willing minde in thee it is accepted according to that thou hast and not according to that thou hast not 2 Cor. 8.12 thou art blessed that feelest thy wants and desirest to haue them supplied I haue giuen thee a sight of thy sinne a sorrow for it a feeling of the forgiuenes of it in my bloud a power to crucifie it lay holde on my righteousnesse by my resurrection a hope for strength from the same to sanctification and perseuerance to the end What now hadst thou these in thy nature wherby thou wast dead in sin no not so it is my grace which in thee is not in vaine howbeit thou hast receiued but the first fruits of the spirit which are but as a handfull of corne in respect of the whole field See though thy spiâ—ituall growth bee slow yet it is certaine and goeth surely neither begun nor continued by thee but by my spirit Be perswaded therefore that I who haue begun this good worke in thee will performe it vntill my day for with mee there is no change Phil. 1.6 Iam. 1.17 nor shadow of change and therefore as my gifts and callings are without repentance so will I fulfill the desires of them that feare mee Psal. 145.19 The SOVLE I Must grant and doe not deny thou hast loued mee deare Iesus and giuen thy life for mee Gal. 2 20. 1 Ioh. 5.10 else God forbid I should make thee a lier for thou crauest no other thing at my hand but that I should beleeuâ— and haue faith for the assurance of thy loue I should sinne blasphemously if I should not beleeue thy Word both confirmed by thy selfe and ratified by thine oath though I doe else sinne and sorry am I for it yet will I not thus blaspheme nor adde this to other vnworthinesse for this mistrust will weigh downe all the rest for none is damned for sinne if hee doe not ioyne to it infideliâ—y that soueraigne salue of thy bloud doth cure all sores of sinne but not this because it doth refuse the cure and as it were pulleth off this precious plaster when it is layd on it beside this distrust of thy loue deare Christ tormenteth the minde and setteth the conscience vpon the wracke when as men haue no other assurance of thy loue but onely so farre foorth as they finde themselues worthy of making no other ground of thy loue but their owne deserts thus ouerballanced with the vnsupportable waight of sinne they sinke in desparation when I sinne I am greeued at the very heart because I haue displeased thee yet my sinnes doe not make mee doubt of thy loue towards mee founded not vpon my worthinesse but vpon thine owne free mercie grace and good-will for how should I loue thee if I were not perswaded of thy loue yea I loue thee 1 Ioh. 4.19 because thou louedst me first and I know that as loue is the fulfilling of the lawe Rom. 13.8 so want of it is transgressing of all For loue is strong as death iealousie is cruell as the graue the coales thereof are coales of fire Cant. 8.6 which â—ad a most vehement flame But yet alasse poore wretch I feare my sinnes doe bereaue me oft his thy spirit I feele for this time I greeue the spirit 1 Thes. 5.19 quench him vtterly CHRIST I Haue once giuen thee my spirit I am faithfull and iust in all my wayes Ps. 145.17 and my Father is faithfull by whom thou hast been called vnto my fellowship 1 Cor. 1.9 I am not as a man that I should lie neither the Sonne of a man that I can repent thou hast receaued my spirit that thou mayest know the things giuen thee of me 1 Cor. 2.12 for he had knowledgâ— truth and faithfulnesse and so because thou art a Sonne my father hath sent forth his spirit in thy heart which crieth Abba Gâ—l 4 6. father This is the spirit of thy adoption and the same spiâ—it because of thy weakenesse and that thy faith is mixed with doubting is the earnest of thy inheritance purchased vnto the praise of my glorie Ephes. 1.14 by whome thou art sealed vnto the day of thy redemption a seale to secure thee concerning the couenant I haue made with thee in my bloud that it neuer shall be reuoked farre surer then that scaled with King Ahassuerus Ring Ester 8.8 For to this effect had my father sealed mee also that thou shouldest neuer doubt of my meditation Mat. 3.17 17.5 Iohn 1.32 For being reconciled by my death my father giueth thee his spirit in hostage and pledge that hee will not misse a day in performing his promise and in assurance of eternall peace Thou canst not denie but my spirit which rebukest the world of sinne wrought in thee a generall astonishment for sinne Ioh. 16. a speciall griefe for speciall sins a renuing of the affections arauishmeÌ„t with vnspeakable ioy of my free mercy and peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstanding the vnderstanding englighteneth the iudgement reformeth and godly anger Ephes. 3.18 This is the life of God in thee for they who haue receaued the spirit are led by the spirit great weakenesse is ioyned with thee Collos. 3.4 but thy life is hid with mee in God and when I thy life shall appeare then shalt thou also appeare with mee in glorie and as I said a little while ye shall see me and after a while yee shall not see me for I go vnto my father So is it very gainefull for thee beloued Soule that there be an interposition betwixt thee and me that a cloude and dampnesse should ouertake thee yet shalt thou not bee tempted aboue that thou art able to beare buâ— with the temptation will giue thee the issue A milde rod shall serue thee euen the rod of the roote of Iesse Num. 17.10 which flowreth among the other rods that so the sweetnesse of the flowre may mitigate the sharpenesse of the rod. I doe often humble euen my dearest children by masking and disguising my selfe vnto them The eyes of the two Disciples going to Emaus were holden they did not know mee speaking with them The Spirit doth liue in thee when his graces are dead in thee neither doth feeling ioy and practise alwayes follow Faith I am holden and thou art saued by