demonstrate that they haue the spirit of Sathan and not the Spirit of GOD as had Simeon And therefore as they ioy not in Christ neyther doth he ioy in them no more then a chaste Bridegrome in a whorish Spouse as they desire not him he desires not them nor their company in his Chamber no more then hee did the foolish Virgins x Mat. 25.11.12 as they delight not in him he delights not in them no more then a man delights in his crucifier and tormenter as they loue not him so hee loues not them no more then he doth Cain y Iude v. 11 and Esau z Mal. 1.2 Rom. 9.13 whom the LORD hated As Peter said to Simon Magus so I say to them They and their money perish together a Act. 8.20 they and their lustfull pleasures perish together as did Zimri and Câ—sbee b Numb 25.14.15 they and their Gold perish together as did Achan and his wedge c Iosh 7.24 they and their Idols perish together as did the Israelites and their Calfe d Exod. 32.20.35 they and their sinnes perish together as did the murmuring Rebels in the Wildernesse they and their companions perish together as did Corah and his complices e Numb 16.31.32 cursed be their sinnes and their Societies like Simeon and Leui brethren in iniquitie f Gen. 46.5.7 So let them perish Lord that are thine enemies like the vntimely fruit of a woman If any loue not the Lord Iesus let them bâ—â— accursed Anathema Maranatha If any reioyce not at the birth of a Sauiour here with Simeon let the Sunne of all their carnall ioyes sâ—t and be eclipsed in the cloud of death Secondly as wee must ioy in Christ so wee must ioy and reioyce and be thankefull for Christ yea for all the blessings and the benefits that wee receiue in and from Christ temporall and spirituall externall internall or eternall so was Simeon here his song is Eucharisticall and gratulatory for the reuelation of Christ hee blesseth God that hee liues to see the conduit and the fountaine of all blessings to his Church Christ the Messias And since his Deuotion is our Instruction Christians must be thankefull for Christ Thus all the faithfull and beleeuers when Christ was borne offered vp their tributarie prayses the sacrifices of their soules breaking out into holy Hymnes and Songs The Angels did caroll out Glory be to God on high g Luk. 2.13 14. so the Easterne Magi h Mat. 2.10.11 the zealous Shepheards i Luke 2.20 glorifie God the blessed Virgin magnifies the k Luke 1.46 47. Lord Elizabeth and the prophecying Babe within her wombe l Ver. 41. leape and reioyce Anna m Luke 2.38 Zachary n Luk. 1.68 and Simeon are not behinde with their parts in continuing their prayses and so must wee with our best hearts and affections make vp the Quire since wee haue no lesse interest in nor no fewer priuiledges by Christ then they The Reasons to inforce this duety are these First if the Saints of God in the old Testament were so thankefull for their temporall protection preseruation and redemption from their outward enemies the Egyptians Amalekites Canaanites Ammonites Moabites Philistines c. by temporall Sauiours Moses Ioshua Gideon Iaphte Sampson Dauid c. as may be seene in the spirituall Songs of Moses and Aaron and Miriam o Exod. 15. v. 1.2.3 v. 20. and Deborah and Baruch p Iud. 5.1.2 and Dauid q 2 Sam. 22 and Iudith r Iudith 26.1.2.3 how much more ought wee to burst forth into prayses for our spirituall deliuerance from the Flesh the World the Diuell that Pharaoh and from his Aegyptian yoake from Hell Death and Damnation by that Messias of whom these earthly and terrestriall Sauiours were Types and figures Secondly gratulation and thankefulnesse is a duety commanded Psal 50.15 1 Thes 5.18 therefore wee must not be immorigerous and disobedient to Gods commaund no more then Paul was to the heauenly vision s Act. 26.15 vnlesse vve be found fighters and rebels and traytors against God Thirdly it is a species and part of Prayer and so of Gods spirituall worship Phil. 4 6. Ephes 6. Fourthly by this duety wee glorifie God which is the end of our Creation Psal 50.23 Fiftly 1. It is a seemely thing and becommeth the Saints to be thankefull Psal 33.1.2 It is a very good thing to praise the Lord Psal 92.1 3. It is a pleasant thing and praise is comely Psal 147.1 Sixtly the very Heathens haue commended it and the beasts haue performed it in their bruitish manner to their benefactors as appeareth in Androdius his t Liuie Lion Seauenthly an vnthankefull man is hated of men accounted as a Viper and an vnprofitable burthen to the earth v Terrae in utile pondus the very light of Nature and common humanitie cryes out vpon it Eightly God vpbraydes and brands his dearest Children for the omission of this duetie 2 Chron. 32.25 Ninthly the omission of this is a signe of a proud heart and brings downe Gods wrath Ibidem Tenthly this is the conuersation which wee shall haue in heauen euen to praise God especially for the redemption of the world by Christ Phil. 3.20 Reu. 5.9 Reu. 19.1.3 This is the life that the Angels leade therefore vvee ought speedily to inure our selues to it Vse This must excite vs to be more carefull in performance of this duety It is a blame and a blemish to be vnthankefull to man as Iudas was to Christ as the Iewes and Abimelech to Gideons Children u Iudg 9.16 17.18 as Pharaohs Butler to Ioseph x Gen. 40.23 much more to God It is a sinne and an abhomination to be vnthankefull to God for temporall and outward blessings as health wealth life libertie children c. so for the vse of the Creatures Christ vpbraydes the nine Lepers for this sinne Luke 17.17.18 And sure those that vse the Creatures prophanely as Dogs and Swine and beasts neuer looking to the holy and religious vse of them as sanctified by the Word and Prayer y 1 Tim. 4.5 they are worse then the Doues and Elephants that at least looke vp to heauen when they eate their meate but if we be vnthankfull for the Incarnation Death and Passion of the Creator that in his humanitie was made a creature a Gal. 4.4 and subiected to death b Phil. 2.8 to redeeme vs the slaues and vassals of sinne and Sathan from the first and second death c Rom. 4.25 5.18.19 our sinne is in a higher die and graine of ingratitude wee are more not onely vnchristian but viperous and inhumane then the sauage Getes and Sauromiataines Alas then how many are vnlike to thankefull Simeon how many are seemingly and hypocritically thankefull for outward things they are ready in euery company to thanke God oft times in the Pharisaicall pride of their hearts d Luke 18.11.12
in their Christian courses fourthly thy sinceritie in thy profession approued fiftly Gods graces in thee magnified sixtly and aboue all his name glorified 15 It is the good inheritance of the godly and the horrour of the vvicked 15 In thy death thou shalt be distinguished from a carnall and a prophane man for commonly the sicke bed shewes the sicknesse or the health of the soule the death shewes the life diuiding and iudging the estate of the visited as Gideon diuided his company by lapping of water Iudg. 7.1 and as the Ephramites were distinguished from the Israelites by pronouncing Shiboleth For looke at the godly from time to time and the last acts they did and the last words they spake were the most sacred seasoned and sanctified of their whole life but it hath beene contrary in the wicked and God is the same God to thee that hee was to them if thou beest a beleeuer Looke into particulars the last speeches of dying Saints as they haue beene full of grace so they are worthy relating and remembring and applying Acts 7.60 The last period of S. Steuens life was prayer for his enimies and for his owne soule 1 Kings 2. v. 1. to 11. the last words of Dauid holy exhortations to his Sonne Salomon to obserue the Statutes and Ordinances of the Lord and the disposing of some particulars of which hee gaue him cautions the last acts of old Iacob Gen. 48. Gen. 49. Prayer and prophecying concerning his sonnes and posteritie the like comfortable end made Abraham Iob old Simeon Moses Gen. 25.8 Iob 42.17 Luke 2. and other of the Saints in the old and new Testament The like wee read of Ambrose whose conclusion in his death-bed was that hee was neyther ashamed to liue nor fearefull to dye because he had a good Lord. Vide cent Magd. sic Grin in Apotheg morientium Bernards death was grounded vpon the sure hope and Anchor of Gods mercy though hee liued in corrupt times Oecolampadius told his visitors newes in the last speech hee vttered namely that hee should shortly be with the LORD IESVS Mr. Caluin with Dauids heart repeating Dauids Psalmes mourning in the Spirit for his sinnes his soule was sent out of his body like Noahs Doue out of the Arke Melancthon in his last farewell to life professed he was exceeding willing to dye because it was the Lords will praying for a happy and ioyfull departure hee had his desire presently sealed Peter Martyr gaue a comfortable farewell to his brethren and deare friends acknowledging saluation onely in Christ the Redeemer in which faith as he liued so he dyed That halfe miraculous man Luther in his death abounded as with prayer so with praises and thankesgiuings that the Lord had reuealed Christ vnto him and made him an instrument to discouer Antichrist and to oppose him Annas Burgius cryed in her last cryes Lord forsake not mee least I forsake thee Mauritius the Emperour in his last fainting gaue glory vnto GOD that was righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his workes Saint Augustine wept vpon his sicke couch for many dayes together and so was his soule ferryed to Christ in a floud of teares as Peter walked to Christ on the Sea of waters I might giue your meditations matter enough to worke vpon in reflexing vpon infinite examples related by Authors to which euery faithfull Minister that vseth to performe this dutie of visiting the sicke like a spirituall Physitian discerning the estate of the soule addes his Probatum est in ioyfull experience of many whose dying hath beene suted and sorted to their liuing both gracious both glorious Why then shouldest thou feare for to the righteous there shall be peace at the last Esay 57.2 therefore liue by Faith beleeue the Promises and apply them and be comforted in Gods mercy to others but as for the wicked it is not so with them they shall bee like the chaffe scattered in the winde for there is no peace to the wicked saith my God Esa 57.21 the prolong of their wicked life ends in a fearfull Tragedie in death for though in respect of the body and the outward man Eccles 2.16 there is the same condition to the vvise and the foolish to Nabal and Salomon godly Ionathan perishing in the field as well as wicked Saul 1 Sam. 31.2.3 Ezekias strucke with the plagues boyle Esay 38.21 Asa goutie in his feete nay 2 Chron. 35 23 euen good Iosias wounded in the Battell and the rest of the godly being afflicted in sickenesse as pittiously and dying oft times as painefully whether in a naturall or a violent death euen as the wicked as appeares in the exquisite torments of the Martyres in the Primitiue Church in the crucifying of Peter and Paul with their heads downewards Ar. in probl de cruce c. yea euen in the very Passion of Christ himselfe yet in respect of the inward man and dispositions of their soules in death there is as great difference betwixt them as there was in their carriage and conuersation in life And therefore as you haue heard the godly praying or praysing and blessing GOD speaking graciously sending out their spirits ioyfully and dying comfortably so prophane men dye eyther carelesly and blockishly for the most part their hearts being frozen and their consciences benummed and seared without any touch in soule or remorse for sinne which kinde of dying though our sottish silly common people commend as the most happy and blessed death when they goe away quietly like Lambes as their stupiditie and blindnesse thinke yet indeede they dye like Beasts and Dogs without any life of grace or feeling of the Spirit in the power or comfort of it nay senslesly like stockes and stones as is said of Nabal whose heart was like a stone within him 1 Sam. 25.37.38 or else desperately and ragingly impatiently as impenitently belching out blasphemies against both the Maiestie and the Mercy of God Thus Iudas cryes hee hath sinned in betraying the innocent bloud Mat. 27.3 but hath no Faith to apply that bloud to the washing away of his bloody treason 2 Mach. 9.13 Thus Antiochus Epiphanes dying is tormented inwardly with the gripes and conuulsions of conscience as with the rage of his sickenesse so Iulian the Apostate in his last act of life from his infected lungs sent out venome against Christ calling him in dirision victorious Galilean Thus Eccius dyes execrating his Popish on-setters in frustrating his golden hopes when they had clapt their hands to animate him to barke at Luther and the Protestanâ—s The like end made Latemus Hoff-maister Spira and other Antichristian Champions being not vnlike in their sinne Thus Gardiner dyes confessing that hee had sinned with Peter but could not repent vvith Peter Cornelius Agrippa cursing his attending Spirit that stood by him in the forme of a blacke dog Others paralel in the like sinnes making like proportioned ends vnlesse it be in
Moses as by the Lord himselfe hee is dignified with the title of Gods Seruant Iosh 1.2 yea a faithfull Seruant in Gods house by the Spirit of God Heb. 3.2 So hee counted it greater glory to be a poore Shepheard and keepe the Prince of Midians sheepe that so hee might in his solitary Soliloquies meet with God on Mount Horeb Exod. 2. and serue God with his afflicted people in the Wildernesse then to be called the Sonne of Pharaohs Daughter and inioy the pleasures of sinne for a season in a Heathenish Court Heb. 11. So Dauid that pious and potent Prince the sweet Singer of Israell with greatest alacritie carrols out this in his holy Hymnes Lord I am thy Seruant I am thy Seruant and the Sonne of thine Handmaid So Paul though an Hebrew of the Hebrewes a Iew by Nation a learned Pharisie by education an Apostle by Profession a piller of the Church by his Ministeriall Function yet with all these Nationall and Apostolicall Priuiledges hee ioynes this as the chiefe A Seruant of Iesus Christ Nay truely that which the Antichristian Saul of Rome cals himselfe hypocritically a Seruant of the seruants of the Lord for Christs sake Serâ— seruorum Domini a Seruant to the Saints to the Church all things to all to winne some So holy Iude the Brother of Iames of Christs kindred according to the flesh prefixeth this as the best branch of his Pedigree A Seruant of Iesus Christ Iude verse 1. That which was the chiefe grace of Simeon Moses Dauid Paul Iude ought to be our glory to serue him who is Lord of Heauen and Earth Reason 2 Secondly God wonderously and worthily esteemes of his Seruants as appeares by those honourable titles in the Scripture with vvhich he aduanceth them for he doth not account them Seruants 1 Iohn 3. Mat. 12.49.50 but Friends yea Sonnes yea Heyres yea Christs Fellow-heyres Rom. 8. his Brethren his Sisters his Father his Mother his Domestiques and of his Houshold yea Citizens with the Saints and Burgesses of the Heauenly Ierusalem Ephes 2.19 yea his Members 1 Cor. 6.15 The Temples of the holy Ghost vers 19. 2 Cor. 6.16 Spirituall men 1 Cor. 2.15 New Creatures 2 Cor. 5. Free-men Iohn 8. Holy men 2 Cor. 6. The Lords annointed 1 Iohn 3. True Israelites Iohn 1. The Lords first borne Heb. 12.23 Gods peculiar people royall Priests 1 Pet. 2.9 Elect of God Col. 3.12 Vessels of Mercy Rom. 9. Children of the Marriage-Chamber and such as excell euen their neighbours Mat. 9. yea excellent ones Psal 16.3 with such other titles of eminencie and dignitie with which his Seruants are aduanced Now if it be a grace to be called the Sewer the Chamberlaine the Cup-bearer c. to an earthly Monarch as Nehemiah was to Artaxerxes then what luster and excellencie is their in such high and honourable places which the attendants in Gods Courts doe daily inioy Thirdly onely the Seruants of God are acceptable vnto God here and shall haue a glorious reward hereafter Heb. 12.28 Fourthly the Church and Children of God esteeme and approue of such as serue Christ truely and sincerely Rom. 14.18 as for others that are eyther strangers from the Common-wealth of Israell without the Church or seruants to their owne lusts and sinfull ends within the Church that serue not the Lord in spirit and truth they esteeme them as debashed and vile men vnworthy of the common ayre vncleane Birds vnsauory salt the earths burthen the Churches bane Sathans Impes Natures shame Heauens exiles Hels Inheritance and the Diuels due in that case wherein they stand till by the power of the Word and Spirit they be brought from darkenesse to light and from the power of Sathan vnto God from the seruice of vaine Idols to the liuing God Acts 26.18 Vse 1. Of Redargution If we according to our vse apply this by vse wee shall finde Miriades and Millions of such as haue the faces of men and the names of Christians and goe vnder the common rancke of Gods Seruants as farre from Simeons desires and delight in this poynt as the Diuell himselfe that neuer since they were borne of their Mothers did eyther know or will or affect or practise or thinke of the least measure of the seruice of God Examine their knowledge and you shall finde them as ignorant how God is truely to be serued as the Getes and Sauromatanes and those Paganish people that neuer heard of God Let thousands that might be culled out both in the Citie and Country that are vnder the meanes and that haue dexteritie of wit strength of intellectuall powers soundnesse of iudgement in attaining discerning and iudging the things of this life that belong to their Callings and Functions Tell mee the difference betwixt a ciuill morall temporarie generall Faith and sauing Faith without which God is not serued and pleased with the markes proprieties and effects of the same Multitudes that liue vnder the meanes are ignorant hovv God should be serued Let them distinguish vnto mee betwixt that godly and that worldly that Christian and that carnall sorrow mentioned 2 Cor. 7.10 Let them shew mee the true qualities and conditions of such a prayer as preuailes with God and fetcheth a blessing from the Throne of Grace the Notes and Adiuncts of that Confession of sinnes to which Remission is promised 1 Iohn 1.9 Pro. 28.13 Let them tell mee wherein the Euangelicall Repentance of the childe of God in his new birth or after his fall differs from the Legall Penitencie of Iudas Esau and the Papists with other such like Misteries and Principles of Diuinitie the knowledge of which is a good meanes both for honouring of God and sauing of their owne soules and I shall be very glad that my strong iealousie and vehement suspition of their blockish ignorance is desiredly remoued I know many like the naughty Seruant know the will of their Master that doe it not Luke 12.47 like the Athenians that know how to doe well and will not that know how to speake well and to worke ill like that carnall Cardinall that declaimed against whoredome and practised ere hee slept what hee inueighed against such like the Armenian Dragons haue hot mouthes and cold hearts yet an hundred times moe we haue in this our marueilous light that doe no more know how to beginne prosecute or finish any part of the seruice of God then a new admitted Colledge-Student a fresh-water Souldier an vnexpert raw seruitor a rude Prentise know what belongs to their places functions professions to the customes and conditions of their place the first houre of their admittance a fearefull case for such as haue had so good meanes and haue profited nothing 2 Part of the Vse A second branch of this reprofe extends to those who want not onely the skill but the will to serue and worship God vnlesse in a will-worship such as they themselues conceit and imagine is sufficient though mixt vvith such filthy dregs
Ridiculous and Childish Oathes as by Fay How to leaue the damnable custome of Swearing Fakins Trokins Bodikins Slid Sounds Cocke and Pye with the like whereby thou seekest to mocke and deceiue God who will not be mocked Gal. 6. Thirdly then invre thy selfe to leaue thy Superstitious Oathes as by the Masse Rood Crosse by our Lady and by Popish Saints c. Fourthly so proceede against thy Heathenish and Idolatrous Oathes in swearing by the Creatures as Laban and Iezabel by their Idols Gen. 31 53. 1 Kings 19. verse 2. as by men by S. Peter and by S. Iohn c. by the Heauens the Earth by Fire Sunne the Light Meate Drinke Money c. or by the parts of thy body as Hands or the like or by thy Soule all condemned Mat. 5. ver 34. Iames 5.12 And so with a courage set vpon thy impious horrible fearefull damnable blasphemous Oathes as by the Lord by God the eternall God by Christ by Iesus and such like or by the parts and adiuncts of Christ by tearing his Humanitie as the Iewes did his body by diuiding him as the Souldiers did his garments Mat. 27.35 in blasphemie by his Death Passion Life Soule Bloud Flesh Heart Wounds Bones Sides Guts Armes Foote Nayles c. of all which I tremble and quake to thinke write and speak◠though thou makest no more scruple of such Hell-bred Oathes then of thy ordinary words so deale with all other sinnes of which thy soule is as full as a Serpent is full of venome and a Toade of poyson Crucifie them by degrees and dye to them daily else thou dyest for euer if thou dye 〈◊〉 in them By this course thou shalt take away the sting of Death which is Sinne for the strength of Death is Sinne 1 Cor. 15. euen as the strength of Sampson laid in his hayre Iudg. 16.17 which sinne when it is subdued Death it selfe is as easily conquered as weakened Sampson was by the Philistines verse 21. yea it can doe thee no more harme then a Dragon Viper or angry Waspe which haue lost their stings Secondly dye daily to the world Secondly dye to the world loue it not nor the things of it that so thou maist more happily dye out of the world and more hopefully entertaine thoughts of a better world And in this case doe as Runners vse who oft runne ouer the Race before they runne for the Wager that so they may be better invred and acquainted when they come to try their abilitie or as is said of Belney the Martyr that being to suffer by fire many dayes before he would hold his hand a pretty while in the flame so to prepare himselfe to sustaine the paines of Martyrdome which he was to vnder-goe Thirdly Beare crosses patiently Thirdly dye daily by invting thy selfe to take Crosses and Afflictions patiently as sickenesses in body troubles in minde losse of goods of friends and of good name c. which indeede are little deaths euen pettie deaths not onely Prologues of death but Preparatiues to death for which cause GOD sends them to his children more then to the wicked euen to weane them from the world and prepare them for death as the Nurse weanes the Childe from the Teate by doing bitter Aloes vpon it and sure he that beares Crosses most patiently is well prepared to dye peaceably as appeares by S. Paul 1 Cor. 15.31 who by making good vse of afflictions dyed daily it holding commonly that Mors post crucem minor est Death is lesse dolorous after the crosse Fourthly Prayer oft preuailes for a peaceable departure Fourthly pray seriously for a peaceable departure it is confirmed by examples of all ages and experience of all Gods Seruants that hee that prayes well speedes well Iacob and Abrahams Seruant had Gods blessings vpon their Iourneyes as an effect of their Prayers Gen. 24. Gen. 27. Thou shalt finde Gods presence euen in that houre of the last iourneying of thy soule from her earthly Mansion to her heauenly Country if thou pray for this grace particularly and effectually therefore as thou oughtest to pray continually for other a Lu. 18.1 Eph. 6.18 things 18 Things to be prayed for that death may be prosperous so euen in health and prosperitie pray frequently and feruently 1. That God would make this backeward repugnant and nilling nature of thine willing to her dissolution 2. Prepare thy vnprepared soule 3. Subdue thy corruptions 4. Purge out the drosse of thy sinnes 5. Giue the patience to kisse his correcting Rod when hee whips by sicknesse or diseases 6. Succour thee in thy last and greatest conflict 7. Support thy weaknes 8. Aide thee against Sathans force and fraud 9. Strengthen thy Faith 10. Renew thy decayed graces 11. Giue thee the power and comfort of his owne Spirit 12. Not to visit thy sinnes in Iustice but in Mercy 13. To preserue thy soule from the Hunter and thy darling from the Lyon 14. To giue his Angels charge ouer thee in thy extremitie 15. To keepe thee from 1. Impatiencie 2. Frenzie 3. Distraction 4. Idle fancies 5. Rauing 6. Raging 7. Blaspheming c. least thy death be scandalous 16. To touch thy tongue with a coale from the Altar that thou maist speake 1. to Gods glory 2. and to Edification 17. To dye the death of the righteous 18. Lastly to receiue thy soule into that new Ierusalem which is aboue Such Prayers we haue vpon record in holy Writ as of Dauid Psal 39. and Moses Psal 90. true patternes of our Prayers in this kinde And sure who euer approacheth oft to the throne of Grace and supplicates to a pittifull God from faith and feeling in these and the like petitions he shall be sure to finde an answere from God euen when hee lyes vpon his sicke-bed as the fruit of his former desires Besides that his former acquaintance with God in speaking to him and talking as it were with him oft-times in life by Prayer will increase in the sicke Patient euen a holy boldnesse in a filiall feare to come to that God as one friend to another in extremitie with whom he hath so oft conuersed and conferred with by the Word and Prayer in health and prosperitie Fiftly that thou maist depart in peace make sure to thy soule the inheritance of life eternall euen here in this thy life naturall for as worldlings are something at quiet vvhen they haue made sure such houses lands leases and purchases as they haue long gaped after so assurance of life eternall is the onely pacification to the spirituall man this is the lot the portion and inheritance that his soule longs after the estate that hee preferres before all the flesh-pots of Aegypt or the Iewels of Aegypt Now for the purchase of a fixed place in the heauenly Canaan thou must prouide these treasures 1. sauing Knowledge 2. Faith 3. Sanctification of more price vvith God then Gold Pearle and precious Stones with men For the first