wee delay our preparation the more vnfit and vnwilling shall we bee to performe it for it is an hard thing for an olde man to enter into his mothers wombe consuetudo fit altera natura Secondly the time and manner oâ—… death is many times so suddaine and vncertaine that we may bee so ouertaken that wée shall haue neither time nor grace to repent and to prepare our selues Lastly late preparation is seldome true preparation being rather enforced then voluntary and rather in forme of words then sincerity of heart Math. 7. verse 22. et 29. Qu. Of how many sortes is this preparation An. Two fold generall and particullar Qu. What is generall preparation A. It is that whereby a man through the whole course of his life prepareth himselfe to die Ques Is it not sufficent to prepare our selues when wee beginne to bee sicke Answ. No for first as hath béene before shewed late repentance is seldome true repentance Secondly the time of sicknesse both in regard of the sharpenesse of the disease decay of memory senses vnderstanding consultation of worldly goodes and sathans subtill and malicious practises is the most vnfit and vnseasonable time to beginne a preparation Obiect But the theife vpon the crosse repented at the eleuenth houre and why may not wee doe so likewise Answ. There is a great difference betwéene him and those that purposely delay their repentance for first hee was neuer so much as outwardly called by the ministery of the word Secondly the théeues conuersion was extraordinary yea and miracuâ—…us that Christ thereby might shew forth some effect of his God-head but mirackles are altogether and extraordinary courses for the most part ceased Lastly that theife condemned himselfe and his fellow iustified Christ in the open sight of the world and praied for saluation c. but where shall wée finde such singular effects in them which post and put of their repentance Obiect But it is in our power and will to repent when we will Answ. No repentance is the onely guift of God and from himd alone proceedeth bath the will and the deed Phil. 2. 12. Secondly many late repenters and â—…ack-graces shall séeke to enter into heauen and shall not bée able because their heartes are become insensible and the time of grace is past And thus much of the matter of preparation The ninth Chapter Of the manner of preparation Question IN the manner of preparation how many duties are required An. Fiue speciall duties Q. Which are they An. I. the meditation of death II. the lesâ—…ing and abating of the sting and power of death III. The beginning of eternal life here in this world IIII. The enuiring of our selues to die dayly Lastly the manner how these seuerall duties are to bee performed Quest. Is the meditation of death necessary Answer Yes truely for a Christian mans life is and should bée nothing but a meditation of death therefore wée must looke for it alwaies and in euery place and herewith accordeth that excellent saying of Seneca incertum est quo loco te mors expectat â—…u vero eam in omni loco expecta That is it is a matter vnreuealed in what place death waiteth for thée but waite thou for it in euery place Q. What benefit profit and comfort dooth the meditation of death yéeld vnto vs Ans. Manifold For first it causeth vs to humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God Secondly the feare and meditation of it dooth remooue all securitie and further our repentance as wée may sée verified in the example of the Niniuites it cutteth of delayes and bringeth our promises and purposes into performances and practises Thirdly it maketh vs content with any condition of life be it neuer so miserable for if wée liue in affliction and aduersity we shall after death neuer be more subiect to it and if wée liue in prosperity wée rest not in it because wée shall carry away nothing with vs. 1. Tim. 6. 7. Fourthly it encourageth vs in Gods seruice and in all well dooing for as much as wee knowne that our labour is not in vaine in the Lord and that in seruing of God there is great reward Lastly it â—…oth sequester and withdrawe our delights and desires from earthly and perishable things and canseth vs earnestly to desire and séeke for euerlasting life Q Of what things must we meditate Ans. Of thrée things First we must â—…hinke and consider of the cause of death namely our sinnes Secondly we must meditate of the remedie of it viz. the cursed and bitter death of Christ. Thirdly we must thinke of euery day and night as if it were the very day and night of our death Q. What must we do that we may be the better enabled to perform this duty A. We must not vainly dreame of long life and so 〈◊〉 our selues but mourne against this corruption of our nature Secondly we must pray vnto God that he would giue vs grace and knowledge whereby we may be â—…nabled to resolue our selues of death at hand The tenth Chapter Question VVHerein dooth the sting and power of death lye and consist Answ. In sinne for that is the sting thereof 1 Cor. 15. 56. Q. How shall we know this Ans. By the lawe which is a glasse wherein we may sée our sinnes and the effects and punishment of them for hereby commeth the knowledge of sinne Q. How shall we depriue sinne of his strength and sting A. By beléeuing and relying vpon Christ who hath by death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Deuill 1. Cor. 15. 25 26. Q. What distinct and particular duties and fruites of faith are we to performe and shew forth that we may remooue our sinnes and take out the sting of the serpent death that it may â—…euer hurt vs A. We must first for the time past and present confesse our sinnes humble our selues for them and crie earnestly vnto heauen for pardon Secondly we must for the time to come with a resolute minde beware of euery knowne sinne and in all things to reforme and conforme our selues according to Gods word For euery sinne vnrepented of is a sting to wound our soules vnto destruction Luk. 13. verse 3. and 4. Lastly if we would liue for euer wée must dye here and that daâ—…ly for he seldome or neuer dyeth well who liueth euill Et qualis vita finis ita like life like end The xi Chapter Of entring into the first degree of eternall life Question HOw shall a man in this world enter into the first degrée of life euerlasting A. When a man by the testimonie of a sanctifyed conscience and by experience can say that Christ liueth in him Quest. When doth Christ liue in a man A. When hée doth by his holy spirit direct guide and gouerne his thoughts will and affections Q. How shall a man discerne this A. When hée dooth frame and confirme all the powers and abilities of his soule and body according to the rule of Gods word For the spirit and
the word neuer â—…arre but the holy spirit breatheth in it and worketh by it Acts. 10. vers 44. and 45. Quâ—… In how many things dooth this first degrée of eternall life consist A. It consisteth in thrée 〈◊〉 or graces of God First in the 〈◊〉 and sauing knowledge of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost Secondly in the swéete peace of conscience which flowing from the death of Christ is life and peace for this is the way to and the beginning of euerlasting happinesse Thirâ—…ly in the gouernment of the spirit when we assent vnto the directions of it and in acte approoue and obey them Q. But what néede all this paine and trouble Is it not enough when a man is dying to say Lord haue mercy vpon mee Ans. No for first Not euery one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into heauen but hee that doth the will of God Secondly he that prorogeth and putteth of his repentance vnto death is for the most part so be-sotted with the custome of sinne and with-all so forsaken of God that he as experience teacheth can vtter no good word The xii Chapter Of accustoming and enuring a mans selfe to dye well Question HOw shall a man bring him-selfe in fashion and accustome himselfe to dye well Answ. By the performance of thrée things First seeing that Gods corrections and chastisements are the instruments and fore-runners of death hee must humble himselfe vnder them Secondly he must begin to mortifie little sinnes that so he may mortifie the greater afterwards Thirdly hee must not let goe the fruite of the least crosse but learne to beare and endure smaller crosses and afflictions that he may be the better enabled to vnder-goe the torments of death it selfe The xiii Chapter Of the speedinesse and carefulnesse of Preparation Question VVHen and how must a man prepare him-selfe A. With all expedition and vtmost diligence Qu. Wherein must this expedition and diligence chiefely appeare An. In dooing all possible seruice to Church and common-wealth Psal. 122. vers 8. and 9. Q. Why must he take this course A. Otherwise dâ—…th for it giueth no man warning will ouer-take him and hée will wish that hée had done it when it is too late And thus much of generall preparation The xiiii Chapter Of Particular preparation Question OF how many sorts is particular preparation A. It is two-fold either false and vnperfect as is that which the Synagoge of Rome prescribeth or true and perfect as is that which all Protestant Churches teach and practise Q. Wherein doth the false and vnperfect preparation of the Church of Rome consist A. In thrée things Q. What are those thrée things or members A. First auricular or eare-confession made to a Priest Secondly the receiuing of the Eucharist or hoast Thirdly extreame vnction or anointing with oyle Q Is not auricular confession or the secret enumeration of all a mans particular sinnes necessary Ans. No certainly Q. Why is it not necessary A. First because the word of God requireth no such matter Secondly no man can possibly sound euery corner of his heart and finde out all his sinnes Ierem. 10. 23. Thirdly there was no such practise neither in the Apostles times nor in the primitiue Church for the space of fiue hundred yeares Forthly Dauid and the prodigall or lost Child had their sinnes forgiuen them vpon a generall confession 1. Sam. 12. ver 12. Luk. 15. ver 18. 19. Lastly God hath not made men absolute iudges of reconciliation but hath onely giuen them the ministerie of reconciliation Ques Wherein doth this ministerie of reconciliation consist Ans. When the ministers of Gods word doe in the name of the Lord according to his word preach declare and pronounce a mans sinnes to be forgiuen or not forgiuen The second Section Que. Is it necessary for the sicke to receiue the Eucharist or the Lords Supper Answ. There is no such extreame necessity for first not the want but the continuall contempt of the Sacrament formerly in faith receiued doth extend it selfe to the whole course of a mans life Lastly the Lorde supper is an Ecclesiasticall or publike action and therefore according to Christ his institution is to be administred and receiued in the greatest concourse and assembly of the Church Obiect As the paschall Lambe was eaten so may the Lords Supper be eaten but the paschall Lambe was eaten priuatly in particular houses therefore may the Lords Supper â—…ee likewise eaten in the same forme Ans. I answer to the first proposition that the argument is not good and the consequence followeth not For first they Iewes then could not obtaine leaue nor be permitted to assemble them-selues togeither as wee doe and may Gods name be blessed for it Secondly I answer to the secoâ—… proposition that the Pascall Lambe though it was eaten in particular houses yet it was by Gods commandement and eaten at one and the same time in all places which is all one as if the action had beene publike The 3 Section Q. Is extreame vnction and especially the anointing of the instruments of the senses in spirituall respects now necessary for the sicke Ans. No truely for it concerneth not vs at all the miracle is ceased long since and then what vse of the ceremony Obie But in Saint Iames daies they anointed the sick with oile and why may they not doe so now Ans. First because as I formerly noted all miracles are ceased but that anointing was miraculous Secondly the sicke theâ—… anointed with oile by vertue of Gods promises recouered out of their sicknes but those whome the Papistes anoint commonly die and so neuer recouer Lasty the ancient anointing was appointed and vsed for the recouery of bodily health but the Papists abuse and preuent it to false endes namely to obtaine forgiuenesse of sinnes and to procure strength and comfort against all the temptations of death and to obtaine saluation it selfe And of the false preparation hetherto The fifteenth Chapter Of the seuerall duties and branches of particular preparation Question IN what and in how many things doth particular preparation consist Ans. According to their thréefold obiect they are thus distinguished they concerne either God him-selfe or our owne person or our neighbour Q. When we are sicke what duty are we to performe towards God Ans. We must dayly seeke to be reconciled to God in Christ other-wise all other duties are of small or nons effect Quest. How must this reconciliation be sought and obtained Ans. By renewing our former faith and repentance and by repayring the deâ—…s of it Quest. What mouing cause haue we to 〈◊〉 vs vp to performe this duty An. Because ordinarily and for the most part sickenesses and diseases are sent of God in his iustice for the punishment and chastiâ—…ment of sinne Lam 3. 39. Math. 9. 2. Ioh. 5. 74. Quest. In renewing
of the duties which the sick person oweth vnto God The xvi Chapter Question VVHat are those duties that a man is to performe to him selfe or his owne person An. They are two-fold for they belong either to the soule or to the body Qu. What is the duty which he oweth to his owne soule An. Hee must arme and strengthen him-selfe agninst the feare of Satans assaults against the immoderate feare of death and against the Terrour of the last iudgement Qu. How is a man to be armed and strengthned against Satans assaults Ans. By considering and beléeuing that Christ hath ouercome and bound for vs the strong man Satan that had the power ouer death Qu. What is the second duty that he oweth to his soule Ans. To arme himselfe against the immoderate feare of death Qu. Is it not good then that men should in some moderat sort feare death Ans. Yes for it putteth vs in mind of the greeuousnesse of our sinnes and what wee deserue if God should deale strictly with vs. Secondly it holdeth men backe in their extremities from laying violent hands on themselues for they that are thus desperately minded do not so much as once thinke of Hell and the torments of it Ques Séeing the feare of death is thus profitable why must the sicke bée armed against the feare of it An. Because death approaching naturall feare doth most of all shew forth it selfe astonish the sicke mans senses and causeth despaire Qu. What are the meanes to comfort him against the feare of death An. They are of two sorts namely practises and meditations Q. What are the practises A. They are two First the sicke parties must not so much feare death as cast their eyes vpon euerlasting life Secondly they must consider death not in the bright coullor of the lawe for then our weake eyes cannot endure to behold it for then it is a cruell sergeant armed with the anger and curse of God nor in it selfe for then it is to men vnregenerate the very entrance into hell yea hell mouth it selfe But we must take from it the fearefull maske and visard of the law and behold it as it is set forth in the mixt and tempered coullor of the Gospell and as it is changed by Christ his death who hath not onely deaded it by his owne death but also quickned it so that it is to the beléeuers bodie a temporary and a swéete sléepe and to their soules the gate of saluatioÌ„ wherby they enter into y e possession of life euerlasting Q. Why must not a Christian man vnmeasurably feare death A. First because it is to the godly the end of all euils all sinne errour and misery Secondly because after death he passeth presently to a better state Thirdly because he hath immediate fellowship and communion with the holy Trinity with the elect Angels and the glorified Saints And thus much of practises The 2 Section Qu. What are the Meditations which serue for this purpose An. They are principally foure which are the foundation of all the rest Qu. What is the first meditation A. That euery mans death as hath biâ—… before prooued procured by his own sins is fore-séene and appointed in Gods eternall decrée together with all the circumstances thereof Psal. 139. 15. 16. Q. What benefit will hereby redound vnto vs Ans. It will arme vs against all feare distrust and impatiency in the howre of death Psa. 39. 10. Gen. 42. Q What is the second meditation A. The consideration and contemplation of the inâ—…stimable glory laid vp for vs and of the eternall and vnspeakable blessednesse prouided for vs. Q. What profit shall we receiue hereby Answ. It doth withdraw vs from the resting in this temporall miserable life and lifteth vp our mindes and affections vnto God yea and maketh vs with Iob Moyses and others cherefully and willingly to endure afflictions Q. What is the third meditation Answ. The spirituall and vnseparable coniunction and fellowship which the beléeuers both in their soules and bodies in life and death haue with Christ. For for their bodies and soules are in the fauour and couenant of God and they both shall be re-united together in the last day be both eternally glorified Que. What is the fourth meditation Ans. The speciall promise of Gods presence and assistance in death and in all other distresses for we haue Christ our companion in affliction 1. Pete 4. 13. Qu. What vse are we to make hereof Ans. Wee must liue by faith and not by sense beléeuing the things promised which we sée not and hoping for things that séeme desperate Que. How or how many waies doth God manifest his presence in sickenesse Ans. Thrée manner of waies first by lessning and moderating the paines of sickenes and death and by giuing them strength and patience Secondly by refreshing and comforting the spirit after a wonderfull manner Thirdly by the gard and ministery of the good Angells which defend the Godly against the Diuell and his Angells Psa. 34. for they are present with and attend vpon Gods seruants in their sickenes and are ready to carry theâ—r soules into heauen The 3 Section Quest. How are the sicke to be armed and strengthned against the strictnesse and terrour of the last iudgement where in the diuell the law and our owne conscience shall accuse vs of infinite faults Ans. First wee must acknowledge our sinnes for that is the way of iustification Ioh. 1. 9. Psa. 32. 5. In matters of felony as we say confesse and be hanged but in matter of diuinity confesse and be saued Secondly wee must flie and appeale to Iesus Christ and content our selues with his righteousnesse onely and then hee absoluing vs who shall condemne vs and he making intercession for vs who can preuaile against vs. Rom. 8. verse 34. And thus much of the duty that the sicke man is to performe in respeâ—… of his soule The xvii Chapter Of Physicke and preseruation of bodily health Question WHat is the duty that the sicke are to performe to their bodies Ans. They ought to be carefull to preserue health and life vntill God take it wholy away Que. Then it is lawfull for any man to kill himselfe Ans. No for wee must in no wise depart out of our standing vntill God out heauenly generall command vs. Secondly euery man is bound to cherish and nourish his owne body and therefore he must not destroy it Thirdly all murder is forbiden and interdicted and therfore much more the killing of a mans selfe Fourthly if a man kill him-selfe hee doth not escape misery but runne into it Fiftly if it be a wickednesse to kill another man for to ease him of present paiae then it is a more horrible wickednes to kill himselfe Lastly the killing of a mans selfe is commonly and generally noted for a marke of a reprobate and faithlesse man Que. Why must we preserue life and health A. For two reasons first that we may
Hee must as I before noted commaund his people that they learne beléeue and practise the doctrine of saluation conteyned in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles 1. King v. 2. 3. and 4. Quest. What fruit and comfort shall the sicke receiue who rightly performe these duties An. God will honour them as well in life as death and make the memory of them pretious after death Psalm 112. ver 6. And of the twofold preparation before death hetherto The xix Chapter Of the second maine proposition to witt the right disposition of a man in death Qu. What is the right disposition of a man in death An. A religious and an holy behauiour of a mans selfe specially towards God Qu. What are the parts of it An. Thrée especially First to dye in faith Secondly to dye in obedience Thirdly â—…o resigne our soules into the hands of God Qu. What is it to dye in faith An. When a man being ready to die doth wholly depend vpon Gods fauour and mercy in Christ as it is reuealed in how Scripture Qu. UUhy must this duty bee now performed An. Because all other helps and comforts fayling it is the very time to practise faith Qu. How is faith to be expressed An. By praâ—…er and thankes giuing Iob. 2. 9. Hebr. 11. 22. Iames. 5. v. 15. Qu. What if sense vnderstanding and vtterance be wanting An. Praier consisteth rather more in the affection of the hart then in the voice which is onely the outward instrument and messenger of the heart and God most of all looketh vnto the heart Secondly the very sighs and gronâ—…s of a repentant sinner are prayers as much accepted with God as if they had béene vttered by the voyce Exod. 14. verse 15. Qu. How is faith else to be expressed Ans. By the last wordes which commonly in the true seruants of God are excellent and full of comfort as many examples out of Scripture and the experience of all ages prooueth Qu. To what principal and ordinary heads may all that the godly speake in death be referred An. To omit extraordinary gifts and reuelations many hundred yeares ago ceased They either wonderfully recount Gods benefâ—…s in their life past or do greatly reioyce in that they are shortly to be translated into a better condition or do discourse of the vanities of the world the comforts of death and the beginning of euerlasting life and the presence and assistance of the holy Ghost or in a word they all desire wait and pray for eternall liâ—… Ques What if GODS children in their sicknes vtter no such Apothegmes or heauenly spéeches but rather speake foolish and vnsauory spéeches An. It may be that the nature of the disease is violent and therefore accompanyed with frenâ—…es and vnséemely gestures and then no diuine matter is to bee expected from them but al are to be construâ—…d charitably in good part Qu. Why so An. Because wée also are subiect to the like extremities Qu. How must wee then iudge of them An. Rather by the godly course of their life past then by their death And thus much of the first duâ—…y which is to dye in faith The 2. Section Qu. What iâ—…â—…he second duty in the right disposition to dye well An. To dye in obedience Que. Why must wee dye in obedience An. Because otherwise our death cannot be pleasing acceptable vnto God Ques What reason moueth you to say so An. Because they that doe not die in obedience séeme like slaues to come vnto God rather of feare and compulsion as though the Lord were come to torment vs before the time then of loue and duty like sons and childen Hence it is that by reason of their impatiency they wish that they neuer had béene borne resting more in these outward deceitfull and â—…ransitory thinges then in the life to come Ques What is it to die in obedience Ans. When a â—…an â—…s willing at Gods command to leaue â—…he world without murmuring or discontentment Ph. 1. 23 And therefore we are to make a conscience of this duty as well as of any other Qu What ought to make vs willing to die An. Because the Godly are respected of GOD in their death and their death is pretious in his sight The third Section Ques What is the third duty Answ. To commend our soules into GODS handes as vnto a faithfull creator Que. Is it not an easie matter to performe these thrée duties Ans. No verily for ordinarily these duties cannot be performed in death vnlesse much preparation hath gon before in our life for otherwise we shall come vnto Christ our indge no otherwise then a malefactor to the executioner Secondly for a man to be resolued that both God can and will saue his soule procéedeth onely from the holy Ghost and is no easie matter to be perswaded of Quest. What is the end of those men that die in faith obedience and that commend their soules into GODS hands Ans. Their end is most blessed for death is to them a swéet sléepe onely and it is no enemy but a friend to soule and body it accomplisheth our mortification it fully endeth the battaile betwéene the flesh and the spirit it is the ladder of heauen the gate of Paradice The 4 Section Obie But I shall leaue my wife a poore widdow and succorlesse how then can I die in faith and obedience Ans. God will prouide for the widdowes that feare him Secondly Christ will neuer forsake them Thirdly they shall shortly méete together in heauen Lastly as a man for his wiues sake willingly left and departed from his parents so they must without griefe or discontentment goe vnto God that is more to be beloued then all creatures whatsoeuer Quest. But my poore children shal be left to the wide world destitute and vnprouided for A. First God according to his couenant is the God as well of the children as he was of the parents and therefore he will alike prouide for them Secondly if they séeke the kingdome of God first and make the Lord their sheapheard they shall want no good things and they shal be fed in the time of famine Psa. 34. Qu. What vse is to be made of this last point Ans. First let the parents commend their children vnto the prouidence and protection of Almighty God Secondly the children if onely they feare and serue GOD must not doubt hereof Obi. Oh but I must forgoe all the honors pleasures and profites of this life how then can I with comfort performe the thrée aboue named duties Ans. First these things are but vaine deceitfull temporary and they cannot make vs blessed Secondly we are strangers and pilgrimes in this world and therefore we must not set our hearts and affections vpon these things but mind and meditate vpon heauenly and eternall thinge Thirdly Christ his kingdome is not of this world but is heauenly and the goods wherewith he enricheth his are spirituall