proceede to whom this shall appertaine in this or the like manner And first Care is taken that the sicke 1 Now make a most sincere and humble confession of all his sinnes 2 That he be content with all his heart to liue or die as it shall seeme goâ—d to God his diuine pleasure 3 That hee bee resolued to make a heartie reconciliation with the worlde desiring forgiuenesse and forgiuing all offences whatsoeuer amongest men 4 That hee take in good part this visitation sent vnto him to prepare him to die leysurablie Gods seruant 5 That hee wholie commend him to God his mercie in the onely mediation of Christ Iesus his sauiour Secondarily Let care bee had that the sicke may be moued to call to minde 1 That all of what state or condition soeuer must depart this transitorie worlde 2 That Gods children thoroughout the volume of holy scripture and examples of auncient writers haue willingly yeelded themselues at the time of their visitation 3 That Christ himself went not vp into glorie but first hee passed through death 4 That the death of the seruaunts of God is pretious in his sight and that they rest from their labours These demaundes may bee proposed to the sicke 1 Whether he acknowledge the faith of the holie Trinitie with the articles of the Creede and in this faith be resolued to liue and die 2 Whether he be sorie for his sinnes and aske God forgiuenes with a penitent heart in the merits of Christ Iesus To which confession of faith God sendeth him this message go in peace The sicke should be willed seriously to consider 1 That Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repeÌ„tance he is a sinner therfore for him 2 That hee was the verie lambe of God that came to take away the offences of the world 3 That he is a refuge for all them that be wearie and heauie loden 4 That he is our righteousnesse 5 That if he liue he liueth vnto the Lord and it hee die hee dieth vnto the Lord whether he liue or die he is the Lords He may be requested to say with 1 The Prophet Dauid Lord remember thy seruant in al his troubles 2 The Publican God bee mercifull to me a sinner 3 The woman of Canaan Iesus thou sonne of Dauid haue pitie on me 4 Iob I know that my redeemer liueth and that I shall rise againe and see God not with other but with the selfe same eies 5 Saint Steuen Lorde Iesus receiue my spirite to say I am that wounded man blessed Samaritan heale me Iâ—am that wandering child that is not worthie to be called thy son father make me thy meanest seruant I am the lost sheep O seeke saue me bring me home Lord vnto thy heauenly fold 6 To mention the words of Christ vpon the crosse Lord into thy handes I commend my spirit Let him also say Iesus giue me 1 Patience in my trouble 2 Comfort in my afflictions 3 Strength in thy mercies 4 Deliuerance at thy pleasure If the sick bee 1 Not able to pronounce them himselfe let the articles of the Creed be recited in his presence by some other I belieue in God c. 2 Distempered as the best may be in burning feauers and otherwise choller shooting vp into the braine and the malignant humour meeting with the vitall powers which may cause rauing let him in fewe wordes bee moued to remember God and the assemblie may softly pray by him 3 Troubled with strange visions as good men haue beene beseech him in the name of God to call to mind the aboundant loue of Iesus Christ crucified 4. Pensiue and sorrowfull mention the ioyes of heauen whither he shall go by Gods grace and the troubles of this sinfull world which hee hath often felt and may nowe very thankfully leaue Reade by the sicke The history of the passion Luke 22. 23. The nine and twentieth Psalme Vnto thee O Lord. The 42. Psalme Like as the Hart desireth the water streames c. The 143. Psalme Heare my prayer O Lord. The 14. Chapter of S. Iohns Gospell The 7. Chapter of the Apocalips The 15. Chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinth If the sicke bee painefully grieued or strangely visited 1. Let not any censure him as Iobs friends who thought Iob an hipocrite because of his affection 2. Or as those yâ— told our sauior of the Galileans who iudged them greater sinners then the rest because the tower of Siloah fell vpon them 3. Or as the Barbarians who deemed S. Paul an euil man because the viper claue vnto him 4. Let none be glad when his enemie falleth least the Lord see it and it displease him Let euery one remember that of Ioseph Am not I also vnder the hand of God That of the Apostle in the twelft to the Romanes Weep with them that weep That of the Wiseman Bee not slow to visite the sicke That of S. Iames Pray one for another A forme of leauing the sicke to Gods protection THe Lord heare thee in the day of trouble the name of the God of Iacob defende thee send thee helpe from his sanctuarie and strengthen thee out of Sion Iesus Christ the Sonne of the eternall God put his blessed passion betweene thy sinnes and iudgement to come God the holy Ghost be thy comfort to and at thy end Amen The sicke may sometimes be left to silent meditation and apply hunselfe thereunto in the name of the holy Trinitie Let him also sometimes commend himself to rest with these meditations A forme of praier to bee vsed for the sicke by them that are present MOst merciful Lord wee are at this present constrayned to praye for other who are not worthy to pray for our selues beseeching thee in the multitude of thy mercies to looke downe from heauen and behold thy seruant here visited with sicknesse enlighten his mind preserue his sence continue thy grace asswage his paine and if it be thy good pleasure prolong his daies as thou diddest the daies of Ezechias if otherwise receiue him vnto thy Arke of mercie In the meane while giue him patience in trouble comfort in affliction constancie in temptations and victorie against his ghostly enemies Let the blood of thy deare sonne wash and cleanse all the spots and foulnesse of his sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer his vnrighteousnes Let that ioyfull voice bee heard of him Thou shalt be with mee in Paradise Grant this O Lord for the honor and glorie of thy holy name through the same Iesus Christ our only sauior and redeemer Amen A Prayer to be vsed by the sicke himselfe O Lord Iesus who art the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleaueth shal liue though he die I neither desire the continuance of this mortalitie or a more speedie deliuerance but onely commend my selfe wholly to thy will Doe with mee most mercifull Sauior accorâ—ding to the riches of thy goodnes
writ vpon thâ— tenters of our owne dispositions would so amaze him that shall reade ouer with aduisement the controuersies of these times as he shall think some of them rather discourses to trie masterie then otherwise sincere trauels imployed for Gods glorie and his Churches good Now God of his mercy grant that once this frowarde crossing worlde may drawe to a Christian harmonie that wee may haue lesse fighting and writing for religion and more indeuouring on all partes to become as we ought more religious that so this little Arke of Christes Church may nowe in the coole of the Euening with a soâ—t gale drawe homewarde and with olde Simeon embracing Christ make readie to depart in peace It is the Wisemans aduise to euerie one Remember thy ende and let enmitie passe And thus much wee beseech at their hands in whose hardest iudgement our cause is so feeble that setting aside all priuate respects they would at last considerwhose gratious protection hath defended so long his and our cause whose louing and watchfull eye hath preserued her who is and God graunt long may bee the staffe of our peace calling to minde that of our Sauiour If you will not beleeue me yet beleeue me for my workes sake For those busie spirits nearer home who would needs gouerne before they haue well learned to obey and that at their first bourding must sit at the helme to guide all how raw how vnskilfull soeuer but experience hath long time since taught the worlde and the ruine of the East Church howe daungerous it is to saile in a ship where the pilots are of a disposition to bee quarrelling within themselues these mens new deuises in matters of meere conceipt haue long seemed vnto themselues better then all the wisdome of the world But may we intreat them at the last to recount with themselues their own follie in making it as they haue done a perfection of godlinesse to call and reckon others vngodly And this cursed scoffing at Noahs nakednesse a sport to delight their sower austerities would to God these strange minded men would listen to the graue counsell of Saint Chrysostome Quod si cupiditate iudican di iudex esse velis sedem ego tibi oâ—tendam quae magnum quaestum tibi conferet nulla animi labe maculabit sedeat meÌ„s cogitatio iudex in animam atque conscientiam tuam adducas omnia delictatua in medium dicastecum quare hoc velillud ausus es If with a desire of iudging thou wouldest needes be a Iudge I will shew thee saith he the iudgement seat which shall be gainfull vnto thee and no way touch thy conscience let thy minde and thought sit downe to giue sentence call forth all thy offences and begin to say with thy selfe why hast thou done this or that This priuate examining of themselues would soone make these publike controllers of all others by plausible pretenses of reformation to looke nearer home and amend in themselues where much is amisse S. Paule blamed their course whose manner was to goe from house to house Esau that lost the blessing was hunting abrâ—â—d but Iacob that had the blessing and the inheritaunce too kept at home The wise man saith Salomon is the first accuser of himself And Iudah spake humblie of an offender when hee said She is more righteous then I. Let these men know that obedience is better then sacrifice and that he who is woont to giue grace vnto the humble is also said to resist the proud Bee they well assured this sleight stuffe will shrinke when it comes to the wetting This counterâ—et coine will proue drosse when it shall be put to the great triall An easier matter is it for deuisers to reproue others then to amend them selues Those who haue a blemish in their eye thinke the skie to be euer cloudie Nothing more common with troublesome dispositions which haue not knowne the way of peace then to bee contending seldome contented what cause soeuer there be otherwise to be thankefull vnto God The Lord by the Prophet Malachie saith I haue blessed you the vnthankful people replied wherein hast thou blessed vs If all be not answerable vnto some mens conceipts all is amisse no blessing of God acknowledged no thankfulnesse at all remembred To let these also go with their childish procâ—edings men are men Truth is truth little need haue we did wee bethinke our selues well in this case to complaine worse we may fearâ— better to come we doe not hope for our rather waÌ„ting then enioying may make posteritte to acknowledge our present good in which case the religious and well disposed may deuoutly say O Lord stablish the thing that thou hast wrought in vs for thy temples sake and Ierusalem A third sort there is who seeing the world deuided into so many parts care in effect for neither of these kinde of men the Apostle could not but with weepinge speake And sure what more lamentable then that men who beare the name of Christians should liue like Pagans and Infidels and say in their hearts with the foole There is no God Is not that of the same Prophet founde true in these mens maners Man that is in houour may bee coÌ„pared vnto the beasts that perish I thâ—nke surely saith Saint Bernard if the beasts could speake they would call godlesse people beasts The â—aunger greâ—â— the perill imminent no feare of God no remembrance of the state present for that to come if euer it were needfull it is nowe needfull comparing what men are with what they should be to call this world to a remembraunce of it selfe If I am a father saith God where is my loue if I am a master where is my feare If there be a heauen where is our caâ—e in directing our liues for the obtaining of the same if there bee anie thing to do these men good a remembrance of their mortalitie and an applying themselues to learne to die shoulde somewhat auaâ—le The hand-writing once against Baltazar caused his verie hart to shake and his knees to knock togither Mene mene tekel peres The worde mene God hath nuÌ„bred thy daies tekel thou art weighed in the ballance I meÌ„ take not heed in time it may bee written of euerie one whose dayes are in the numbring we may feare lest the haÌ„d write peres too which may make al to coÌ„sider both what they are and what they shal be when we see others dead we may coÌ„sider we shall shortly do the like take part in the same lot that they haue done before vs. In the mean seasoÌ„ if death be an enemie as it is saith the Apostle theÌ„ let vs watch it as an enemy preueÌ„t it as an enemy so be a ble to eÌ„dure the assalts therof wheÌ„ need requireth at the houre of our departure rather reioice theÌ„ fear herupon this present discourse of learning to die shall first lay before thee good Christian reader how
vnseemely in reason as nothing more and the inexcusable folly of age to bee so farre from a consideration of that which is seemely both before God and man Tully could say longe agoe of ciuill gouernemente amongest men Aptissima arma senum exercitationes virtutum Olde mens weapons what shoulde they els bee but exercises of vertue In Christianity more fitter wer it a great deale for them to be at their deuotions then to do often as they doe Isaack thoughte it tyme at these dayes to commune of blessing and of his ende My sonne let me blesse thee I am olde and know not the day of my departure They doe as much labour in effect and more that sit at the sterne and gouern as those that toyle and tosse otherwise but to mooue age to this consideration the very beholding of others that goe before them is in reason sufficient When the thirde gouernor ouer Fifty of whome mention is made in the seconde booke of Kings saw but his two fellow Captaines ouer Fifty deuoured before him it went so nere his hart that he came forth fell downe and besought the man of God that his life mighte bee pretious in his sight How many Fifties in late yeares of mortalitie and warre haue we seene or heard to haue beene deuoured by death How many of our fellow Souldiers in this spirituall conflict in which wee all fight haue wee seene die in the fielde How many of our deerest frends haue taken their leaue and gone before and yet for all this there is no comming to make humble supplication I say not to the man of God but to God himselfe that our liues and deathes may be pretious in his sight As is saith Dauid the death of hys saintes The Publicans but hearing the Axe to bee laide to the roote of the tree and that euery tree which did not bringe foorth fruit should be hewen down and cast into the fire it made them come to Iohn the Baptist wyth their Quid faciemus O what shall we doe to avoide these thinges The men of Niniueh hearing but once of their imininent ende it wrought such so great remorse in them as they all out of hand fasted put on sackecloth and sorrowed for their sinnes Often hath God knocked at the doore of our hartes to aduertise vs of our mortalitie For whe is there that hath not sometime experienced in himselfe by feeling the infirmity of his declining nature by auoidinge the perils of apparant daunger beesides the sondry warninges to this effecte whether we must And here wee may all wonder at the mercy and patience of God whoÌ„ by these motiues dooth admonish vs of our approaching ende But yet for all this how little humblinge of our selues is ther before him whose dominion reacheth vnto the endes of the earth whose power is aboue all powers from generation to generation worlde without ende who bringeth to the graue and rayseth vp agayne What a daungerous course is it neuer to awake Christ though the shippe leake and bee often in perrill of drowninge neuer to thinke of God vntill wee stand in neede of him neuer to begin to liue vntill wee are ready to die neuer to call to minde that Time of Times vntill we heare the Trumpe soundinge vntill we see the graues openinge the earth flaming the heauens melting the iudgement hastening the Iudge with all his Angels comming in the cloudes to denounce the last doome vppon all flesh which will bee vnto some wo wo when they shall crye vnto the mountaines to couer them and for shame of their sinnes hide themselues if it were possible in Hell fiâ—e If we haue any feare this shoulde mooue feare If any remembrance this shoulde cause a carefull remembrance of our ende O consider saith the Prophet you that forget God Least he take you away and there be none to deliuer you Saluation is a matter of great earnest Our Sauiour Christ by those parables of the Wise Virgins and Watchfull seruauntes what els doth he teach his Disciples vs all but in so weighty a cause to be carefull in deede Wee haue as much neede as any that euer liued vnder the cope of heauen considering these sinnefull dayes When God saide the wickednesse of men is great vppon earth it was time for Noah to prepare for an Arke to saue himselfe When once the crye of Sodome was ascended to Heauen it was time for Lot to thinke of his departure vnto the Hill countries When this world now after many strong fittes of great contentions beginnes to trifle idlely with euery fancy we may partlye gather by these sickly signes which may it is drawing and say God of Heauen helpe this worlde for it is a weake worlde indeede These bee no dayes to liue securely in but rather time and high time is it for euery one to amend one that God may haue mercy vppon vs all Haue wee not example by them that sleepe vntill the Bridegroomes comminge that euerye knocke will not bee sufficiente warrant to enter By him that wepte for a blessinge when it was too late that euery sigh will not be a satisfaction for our sins T is most sure and we had neede looke to it in time Where the tree falleth there it lyeth And as the last day saith S. Austen of our life leaueth vs so shall the day of Doome finde vs. To let all alone vntill it be too late was their folly who long since were drowned in the floud To cast onely for wealth and ease was his worldly wisedâ—m that made a suddaine farewell from both when that night his soule was taken from him and not yeelded of him To deferre all vnto the last push neuer entringe into a Religious remembraunce of our ende is an effete of that ill spirit called sensuall security which kinde of Spirite is not cast out but by Fasting and Prayer The Third Chapter How behoouefull it is for euery Christian man soberly to meditate of his ende IN the whole Tenure of a Christian life no parte more heauenly then that wee spende in Religious meditation for this Religious meditation no subiect more neerely concerneth the state of man then often to beate vpon a Remembrance of his ende wherin consisteth the Center of al his desireâ— the haruest of all his labours his sâ—re and most happy repose for euer How behoouefull then is it for euery one to sequester himselfe sometimes froÌ„ incombrances of this worlde vacare Deo to bee at leasure for God to call his best thoughts to counsel to this businesse of his soule the manyfold effectes of so good and practise will easily shewe and approoue as much For who is there that with Ezechias will not fall to set his householde his life his soule and all in order when once that of the Prophet mooues his very hart Ezechias moriere Ezechias now God bee
anger O Lord neither rebuke me in thine indignation heale me for my bones are vexed be not farre from me for trouble is hard at hand there is none to deliuer me remember thy louing mercies which haue beene euer of old cast me not away when my strength faileth mee I acknowledge my faultes and my sinne is euer against mee wash me and I shall be cleane Lord heare me hide not thy face from me for trouble is harde at hand O let my crie enter into thy presence To this or the like penitent complaint that ioyfull reply is not farre off Quoniam sperauit in me liberabo â—um Because he hath put his trust in mee I will deliuer him I will set him vp because he hath known my name Cum ipso sum in tribulatione I am with him in his tribulation The select prayers to bee vsed in the visitation of the sicke should bee obserued with many of the Psalmes of Dauid which when the afflicted reade them instruct the conscience and in times of sicknesse are wont more then ordinarie to moue the minde For these diuine hymnes saith Saint Basill they are a parte of holy Scripture High in misterie profounde in sence comfortable in doctrine and haue in times of affliction a special and peculiar grace to instruct the soule Amongst these the thirtie eight Psalm Domine ne arguas me Put me not to rebuke O Lord. The fiftie one Miserere mei Deus Haue mercie vpon me O Lord. The seuentie Psalme Deus in adiutorium Haste thee to deliuer me O God The seuentie one In te Domine spâ—raui In thee O Lord haue I trusted The seuentie seuen Voce mea ad Dominum I will crie vnto the Lord with my voice The hundred and thirtie Psalme De profundis clamaui ad te domine Domine exaudi vocem meam Out of the deepes haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice with many other like Psalmes proper and peculiar for the sicke Herevnto may bee added a silent meditation wherein the soule doth enter a solitarie talke with God which is verie conuenient in this ease When the ioyes of heauen haue leasure to present themselues to our religious thoughts the pleasures of our sinfull life and this worldes vanities are then seene to be of small valew as they are indeede then may we call to minde the vnspeakable loue of God towardes man in generall and our selues in particular How this 〈◊〉 sâ—ept foorth in thine of need before execution of iustice to 〈◊〉 man That it was a worke 〈◊〉 comfort when God said Fiâ— Lux let there bee light made But that it was a worke of counsell and all comfort when hee said in the great worke of mans redemption Fiat Chriâ—tus Let ther be a Christ borne which shall saue my people from their sinnes And now haue wee fit opportunitie to meditate vpon the sufferinges of the Sonne of God his passion his descention into hel his resurrection the third day his ascention and glorious sitting at the right hand of God so that at the name of Iesus the sorrowfull sinner may say with Thomas Dominus meus Deus meus My Lord and my God We cannot in the world better imploy our thoughts then in calling to mind how God hath kept vs from our youth vp from how many daungers we haue beene deliuered into which we haue seene not a few fall before our eyes and our selues by his onely mercie vnto this day freed from the same Can we but with all thankfulnesse call to minde the goodnesse of God towards vs for the time past and put our whole trust and confidence in him euen in these greatest extremities yea both in life and death for the time to come seeing the Lorde is nigh to them that call vpon him yea to all such as call vpon him faithfully The fourteenth Chapter How the sicke when sicknes more more increaseth may be moued to coÌ„stancie perseuerance WHen sickenesse more and more encreaseth wee are more and more put in minde of our mortalitie and gently mooued to renounce by little and little all the repose wee haue or can haue in this tranâ—â—torie life to arme our selues to stand with constanâ—y vnto the end remembring euermore as we had a time to be borne so haue wee a time to die And our way to enter into life is first to passe the pinching griefs of a momentarie death To raise vp our spirits in times of greatest triall we may recouÌ„t with our selues that Christ himselfe went not vp to glorie but first hee suffered paine When Vriah was willed by Dauid himselfe to take his peace at home Shall I see quoth hee my Lord Ioab and the Arke of God lie abroad in the field and shall I goe take my rest and â—ase No I will not Shall we see the Sonne of GOD himselfe all in gore bloud suffering for the sinnes of the whole world and shall we refuse all suffering taking our case in Sion and our rest vppon the mountaines of Samaria as loath to endure any crosse or calamitie at all Is that Souldiour worthie to triumph with his Captaine that woulde neuer strike stroke to fight the battaile Againe whatsoeueâ— wee suffer Christ suffered more for vs. But that which principally is to bee remembred this our striuing is not beating the ayre for after wee haue fought a good fight there is laid vp for vs a crown of glorie God is saith Tertullian Agonothetes both he that purposeth the prize and rewardeth the champion Consider the olde generations of men and marke them well Was there euer any confounded that put his trust in the Lord who hath continued in his feare and was forsaken Or whome did hee euer despise that called vpon him Wherefore let the languishing person take vnto him comfort in Gods mercie Was euer the righteous forsaken God told Iosias that hee should bee gathered vnto his Fathers in peace and yet Iosias died in warre God gaue him a constant mind whereby hee died peaceably The Lord told Ieremie he should not bee vanquished Ieremie was stoned but not vanquished God gaue him an inuincible faith The Angell to the Church of Smyrna saith Esto fidelis vsque dabo tibi coronam vitae Bee thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee a crowne of life To raise vp himself in this liuelie faith the sicke may make a heartie confession of his christian beliefe saying O holie Trinitie I commend my selfe vnto thee the father the sonne and the holie ghost which in vnitie of nature art one and the selâ—e same God I commend me vnto thee O omnipotent father which hast created me yea heauen earth with all things visible and inuisible I commend me vnto thee O Lorde Iesus Christ who for mee and the saluation of mankind wert sent into the world conceiued by the power of the holy Ghost borne man of the
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
must to yâ— place froÌ„ whence we came this world being our banishmeÌ„t for a time from which these blessed soules now freed would tell vs were they to return into these earthly regions which without controuersie they do not that they with Mary haue chosen the better part We here with Martha are carefull about many things They haue yâ— one thing which is necessarie that shall neuer be taken froÌ„ them How to accept of and take in good part as we may the losse as we count it or rather misse for a time of friends departed The behauior of Dâ—uid in this case may be considered who when the childe was sicke fasteth prayeth prosâ—rateth himself vpon the earth but hearing that Gods will was accomplished in the death of the childe Dauid rose vp eate bread receiued comfort as it seemed after all his sorrow being demaunded the cause of this diuersitie of behauiour answered While the child was yet aliue I fasted and wept for I said who can tell whether God will haue mercie on mee that the childe may liue but being dead wherefore should I now fast can I bring him againe any more I shall go vnto him but hee shall not returne vnto me In the like case Saint Barnard being not a little mooued for the death of one I turned mee saith hee to praier and weeping at last I considered that God had done what seemed best in his diuine prouidence what should more sorrowing auaile Lord thou hast taken thine none of mine teares forbad mee to speake further And so the good father resolued to rest content with the will of God The three and twentieth Chapter Howe those that vndertake any daungerous attempts either by sea or land wherein they are in perill of death should specially before hand make themselues readie for God IF those men who liue in times and places of moste safetie should respecting the vncertaintie of humane condition thinke euery day of their last day which by little and little will come vpon them then howe much more ought those who enter into place of apparant perill vndertake attempts of greatest daunger stand vpon their guard and be well prouided for to bee readie for God Heathen men coulde tell Ionas that in this case there was no other refuge but to flie vnto the assistaunce of some superiour power Pharaoh himselfe coulde intreate Moyses to pray for him how much more then shoulde those whose hope reacheth further then the sauing or preseruation of a life mortall entring into any attempt wherein they are in hazard with Iudith who first worshipped God with all deuotion and their went forth for yâ— deliueraÌ„ce of Bethulia Faith and trust in God doeth not make men towards but rather addeth spirite and comfort in greatest assaults of enemies By faith saieth the Apostle Gedâ—on Barac Samson Iephte and also Dauid of weake were made strong waxed valiant in battell turned to slight the armies of aliants who came against Gods people with great force and multitudes While they were arming themselues with sword and shield the maner of God his people was to arme them with deuotion and a religious commending themselues either in life or death to Gods protection When Balaac saw the people of Israel to prosper more by their praying theÌ„ he could by his strogest forces he would needs haue Balaam to curse them Moses saith S. Ierome fought as well as Iosua against Amelech for while Moses held vp his handes Israel preuailed Rufinus and Socrates write that Theodosius the Christian Emperour in a great battell agaynst Eugenius when hee sawe the huge multitude that was comming agaynst him and so in the sight of man there was apparant ouerthrow at hand he gets him vp into a place eminent or in the sight of all the armie falles downe prostrate vpon the earth beseecheth God if euer hee would looke vpon a sinfull creature to helpe him at this time of greatest neede suddenly there rose a mightie winde which blew the darts of the enemies backe vpon themselues in such wonderfull maner as Eugenius with all his host was cleane discomfited who saw that the power of Christ fought for his people and therefore cried in effect as the Egyptians did O God is in the cloude or God fighteth for them Thus with faith and constancie haue the seruants of God gone foorth against their enemies with all deuotion and a through preparing of themselues either for life or death as it should best stande with the good pleasure of God For those therefore that vndertake any attempt either by sea or land wherein life more then ordinarie is endaungered let them in the name of God goe forth with soules prepared for in so doing they remember themselues to haue a further expectation then either the gaining or loosing of a life temporal Paratos inueniat saith Eusebius Emisenus extrema necessitas quae saepe opprimit imparatos Let extreame necessitie find them readie which is wont to oppresse men vnprepared In worldly affaires wee oftentimes forget heauenly therefore good reasâ—â— that in heauenly we should also go aside from al earthly cogitations and presenting our selues before God commende in solemne manner our soules into his handes which done with Hester wee may say If we perish we perish now the will of God bee fulfilled So therefore of preparing themselues before anie attempt of daunger it may bee said as S. Iohn saith Hic est sapientia here is wisdome The foure and twentieth Chapter A briefe direction for such as are suddenly called to depart this world COncerning praies for the deliuerance frâ—â— sodain death some what hath beene before mentioned and their hard censure who are euer hastie in this cause to iudge others in part answered Nowe for him who vpon short warning is willing to die this briefe direction may suffice First let not the suddainnesse dismay him for that vnto a well disposed man it is no suddainnesse at all howe soone soeuer hee departe Secondarilie that God hath his pennie for those that come at the eleuenth hower and an acceptance for the seruauntes that are found stirring at the second or third watch He hath Paradise for him that will call in his dying fittes Lord remember mee in thy heauenly Kingdome With Marie Magdalene to giue God at once the sacriâ—ice of a sorrowfull spirit shall with Abell his offering goe vpwarde and be acceptable vnto God Wee must let this little threede of life twine out vntill our clewe bee all ended When the Shippe is couered with waues Then helpe Maister When a good remembraunce of Iesus Christ shall not returne voyd Abraham had but an intention in his minde concerning Isaac to offer him and yet the Apostle to the Hebrues saith By faith Abraham of fred vp Isaac as if yâ— deed had bin done when his intention was good to doe it Whereby we see that God doth accept a good meaning heart which is all we
can offer at these times The mercie of man extends it selfe vnto his neighbour saith the Wise man but the mercie of God reacheth to all flesh and both can and will saue in a moment wherefore this suddennesse may not either giue occasion to others to iudge vncharitably or vnto the patients theÌ„selues to bee discoÌ„forted for want of time Non nocet bonis saith one si subito moriantur It dooth not hurt good men how suddenly soeuer they are called away so they depart when God calleth them which time all must tarrie For as the pleasures of this world should not cause vs to bee altogither addicted to the same so also the miseries of life shoulde not cause any how deepely distressed soeuer distrustfully to flie away or desperately with Saul to iucurre his owne daunger which foule attemptes nature herself doth abhorre but christianitie vtterly condemne To be any way accessarie vnto our owne decay or much lesse principall O God forbid Fie vpon that discontent or faithlesse cowardlinesse to run away or to flie where no feare is God is a sure refuge and wil neuer fail God is a present helpe in trouble He that brought vs into the worlde should haue the calling vs from the worlde At whose calling we may meekelie depart as becommeth vs Abridge the time we may not we ought not for all the afflictions that may betide the sonnes of men The lawes of nations haue forbid in this case the benefite of decent buriall to terrifie men from this shamefull fact of casting away themselues desperatelie At the verie motions wherof the true Christian is woont to say as Christ sayde vnto the tempter in the wildernesse Vade Satana auoyde Sathan Thus therfore an humble submitting our selues to Gods pleasure and also a faithfull commending our soules into his hands how soone soeuer we are called to depart is that direction which we should put in practise by the assisting help of Gods blessed grace A praier to be vsed of any who findes himselfe troubled in conscience or disquieted by euill motions STrengthen me O Lord against al mine enemies both bodily and ghostlye that they neuer bee able to say wee haue preuailed agaynst him By spirite is sorrowfull my heart is sadde and heauie within mee if thou be not my comfort I shal surely perish in my trouble For thy names sake O Lord haue mercie vpon mee rise vp to helpe me that hauing helpe in thee I may withstand my mortall aduersarie and say depart from mee thou wicked spirit that bringest euill thoughts and this deiection of mind goe from me thou deceyuer of man thou shalt haue no part in me for my sauior Iesus standeth by me as a strong chaÌ„pion and thou shalt flie away to thy confussion I had rather endure al affliction al punishmeÌ„ts and infamie of the world then consent to thy malicious motions Be stil therefore thou wicked spirit cease thy prouokements to euill I shall neuer assent vnto thee though greater trobles theÌ„ these come vpoÌ„ me our lord is my light my helth whoÌ„ shal I dread he is yâ— defender of my life of whoÌ„ then shal I be afraid Though an host of men set themselues against me though inâ—inite calamities ouercome mee I shall not bee discomforted for why God is my helper and redeemer in whom I trust he is my portion To whom be praise and honor now and for euermore Amen A prayer for a good departure out of this world ETernall God and most mercifull father seeing that the daies of man are as the flower of the field that soone fadeth and his time like a shodow that vanisheth away considering we are all straungers as were our forefathers and haue here no continuing citie make vs euermore Lord we beseech thee mindfull of our mortalitie that like wise virgins we may prouide oyle in our lamps to bee readie against the bridegrooms comming and that tarying thy good pleasure like watchful seruants we may bee so doing whensoeuer the maister shal returne And when sicknes summoneth vs to bee gone graunt we beseech thee thut neither the infirmitie of the flesh nor the sharpnesse of affliction nor any other meanes whatsoeuer remoue vs from a true and steadfast hope in the blessed passion of thy deare sonne Christ Iesus And when the houre of our rest is come graunt O Lord we may commend our selues into thy handes and die thy seruants to the glorie of thy name comfort of our soules through Iesus Christ Amen The fiue and twentieth Chapter A consolatory admonitioÌ„ for those who are often ouermuch grieued at the crosses of this world IF the world hate you saith Christ our sauiour vnto his Discipleâ— you know it haâ—ed me before it hâ—red youâ— that heauinesse might not dismay or cast them downe without hope of deliuerance where he proposeth the one he promiseth the other Blessed are they that mourne for they shall receyue comfort are not those happie teares well distilled froÌ„ the limbeck of a sorowful heart yâ— shall haue the hands of the sonne of God himself to wipe theÌ„ cleane away when al flesh saith Moses had corrupted his wayes it repented yâ— lord he had made man that is God was sory that man created to so excellent an ende should himself destroy himselfe Now God sends a deluge vpon yâ— face of our earthly pleasured these floods of teares extinguish the heate of vnlawfull desires clense the corruption of our sâ—nfull liues when all is ouerpast there ensueth a calme The church wel celebrateth solemne and sanctified feasts as publike memorials of Christes blessed birth his resurrection his ascention many others before which feasts she appointeth the eeuens to be fasted in this worlde we fast the â—â—uen we shall keep holiday when we come to heauen our lord master Christ Iesus as he did seldom laugh in the worlde so did the worlde as seldom laugh vpon him He tels his followers they must become as little children litle children we know haue no other weapons to auenge themselues but their tears and what other haue wee agaynst our crosses of this worlde but our sighes and supplications sent vp to God Iob saieth Before I eate I sigh whose suffering was such that all which wee doe or can suffer sayth Saint Ierome is in effect nothing We may not looke to find God in the Gardens of Egypt whom Mâ—ses â—ound in the thornie 〈◊〉 of manifold tribulation◠〈◊〉 â—e without crosses we may rather wish then hope The golden worlde is gone wheein men did ioy in nothing more then in sinceritie and loue now this yron age of ours yeeldeth store of crosses and vnconscionable wrongs such is the calamitie of our time wel heauines may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning Wee may not repine at these trials if we desire to solace our selues in the vanities of this worlde our desires are vnlawfull Lots wife her minde was vpon her substance