the enemy haue none aduantage of him Nor the wicked once approch to hurt him Be vnto him O Lord a strong tower From the face of his enemy Grant that hee may dye the death of the righteous And be made partaker of thine inheritance Receiue his soule O Lord into thy holy hands And place it with thy Saints in heauen Lord heare our prayers And let our cry come vnto thee A pithy Prayer for a Patient being pained with Sicknes IT is thou O Lord onely to whom all power and praise belongeth It is thou that raignest in heauen in glorie in earth in mercy in hel in iudgment It is thy voice O Lord whereunto both the seas and windes are obedient It is thy name O Lord God of Hosts that maketh all the Diuels in hell to tremble and quake and they can doe nothing without thy permission Thou bringest downe to hell and raisest vp againe Thou pluckest downe the mighty from their Throne and exaltest the humble and meeke Thou makest both poore and rich strong weake Thou sendest sicknes and restorest health againe in thy good time Thou giuest life and takest it away at thy pleasure O Lord whose maiestie and might no creature is able to withstand neither in heauen earth or vnder the earth Thou that hast made the Sea and the dry land and all things therein contained Thou that knowest our weaknesse and what metall wee bee made of haue regard vnto the workmanship of thy hands Pierce the heauens O Lord and giue eare vnto our prayers which with sorrowfull hearts trickling teares bowed knees and vnfained lips we powre out before thy presence We acknowledge O Lord our owne frailetie and vnworthinesse and how that all men liuing are but vanitie euen as the grasse in the field which to day flourisheth and to morrow withereth away as the smoke in the furnace the bubble in the water or the could that swiftly passeth away and is no more seene So soone also fedeth away our time and our yeeres come to an end Thou onely O Lord knowest the number of our dayes and appointest vs our bounds which we cannot passe We confesse O most mercifull God that wee haue sinned against heauen and against thee and are no more worthy to be called thy children no nor to tread vpon the earth or to haue the light of the Sunne to shine vpon vs but rather to bee burned with fire drowned in the waters swallowed vp of the earth ouerwhelmed with mountaines or deuoured with wilde beasts fowles of the ayre Our transgressions and sinnes are so great so grieuous and many in number wherewithall wee haue and doe dayly offend thy Maiestie both in thought word and deed that our weake consciences being loden and burthened with the remembrance of them are afraid to approch into thy presence for feare of thy wrath and iust iudgement Yet O Lord forsomuch as thy mercy is aboue all thy workes and because thou art a gentle pitifull God long-suffering and full of compassion and wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue We are therefore the bolder not of our selues but in the name of thy deare Son Iesus Christ with whom thou art well pleased to call vpon thee for mercy and comfort That it would please thee of thy gracious goodnes to forgiue and blot out of thy remembrance all our sinnes and wickednes and neuer hereafter to impute them vnto vs. Regard not good Lord our deserts which is death and damnation but be mindfull of thy louing promises in Iesus Christ our Sauiour who in all temptations of the Diuell the World and the Flesh is our onely Rocke and sure stay and defence and neuer shrinketh from those which be wrapped in woe and misery Comfort O Lord this thy Seruant vpon whom thou hast laid the scourge of sicknes and rod of visitation as a sure token and pledge of thy loue and fatherly good wil towards him for whom thou louest those thou correctest not to destruction but to amendment and saluation Thou hast promised that wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests We therefore thy humble seruants here assembled according to thy blessed commandement doe cry and call vpon thee with feruant hearts to be mercifull to this thine afflicted creature that it would please thee eyther to release his smart and pain in thy good time and so to restore him to his former health or else to grant him aboundantly the graces of thy holy Spirit that with patience and meeke mind he may abide such tryall as it shall please thy godly Maiestie to lay vpon him That neither the tyrannie of Satan griefe of sicknes loue of the world terrour of hell infirmitie of the flesh remembrance of sinne or feare of death withdraw him from thee and thy sweet promises in his Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who came not for the iust but to call sinners to repentance So guide him good Lord by thy blessed Spirit in his great and last iourney that passing quietly all troubles of this transitorie world and this painefull pilgrimage once ended he may safely by thy mighty power bee conducted to the Hauen of continuall quietnes and rest which is the Kingdom of Heauen there reigne with Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the holy company of Angels and Saints in perpetuall ioy and safety which thou hast prepared and promised for all thine elect children and faithfull seruants from the beginning of the world Grant this O heauenly Father which wee haue prayed for in the behalfe of this thy poore and pensiue prisoner and all other things necessarie for our saluation and thy glory through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ In whose holy name wee beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A comfortable Prayer against desperation O God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ continue thy goodnes towards vs vnworthy wretches which do heere with contrite hearts and bowed knees appeale vnto the height of thy mercy Beseeching thee O Father â—o to remember the contempt and iniury thou hast receiued at our hands but pardon our passed faults and accept the pitifull Passion of thy deare Sonne in full satisfaction of our transgression Let his precious bloud wipe away and wash all our filthines Let his wounds heale the sores of our sinnes and let the holy oblation of himselfe present our prayers acceptable and blamelesse before thy Maiestie Let no sinne bee so great and grieuous in our eyes that it plucke away hope of pardon No offence so ponderous that it may be â—â—le to ouercome thy goodnes All haue sinned and haue neede of thy mercy which thou offerest aboundantly to euery one that faithfully asketh the same of thee Our wickednes O Lord cannot exceed thy merits The greater the sinner is on whom thou bestowest thy compassion so much the greater is thy glory And therefore
thou reioycest more at the finding of one lost sheepe which hath long gone astray then ouer ninety and nine iust persons which neede no repentance Thou art ready to meet and embrace with the armes of thy mercy the Prodigall Sonne when he turneth homewards towards thee repenting his former folly and humbly crauing thy mercy Therefore there is nothing better for man then continually to consider thy great loue and fidelitie towards him and contrariwise his owne infidelitie and ingratitude towards thee for the Diuel is so enuious towards thy seruants that hee omitteth no time in tempting them yea euen then when they are about to repent and bewaile their sins he causeth them to doubt of their saluation to wauer in faith and cloggeth their consciences with the curse of the Law and equitie of Gods iustice in punishing their sinne that thereby they might neuer be at quietnes or rest in themselues but straight fall into the dungeon of desperation It is thou onely O Lord that canst heale their diseases ease their burthen cure their wounds and refresh their hungry spirits Wherfore if at any time the Diuell mooue vs to doubt or despaire of Gods goodnes and grace yet let vs not faint in faith or be hollow-hearted but rather bee bold in the bowels of Iesus Christ and with a sure confidence approch vnto the Mercy-Seat of God the Father who accepteth the satisfaction of his Son and alloweth the same to be a full ransome for all our sinnes and by this meanes we may finde fauour at the hands of our heauenly Father Many examples wee haue to perswade vs herein The Woman of Canaan cryed and her Daughter was cured The Centurion beleeued and his Seruant was made whole The Father prayed and his Sonne was clenfed of the foule spirit The Apostles cryed out Helpe Lord for wee perish and straightway they were deliuered Christ perceiued but the Faith of the people and he said to the sicke of the Palsie Be of good cheere my sonne thy sinnes are forgiuen thee The Mother and her companions doe but weepe and her sonne is raised from death to life Martha and Mary did but mourne and Lazarus was reuiued Mary the sinner sheadeth teares and hee said vnto her Thy sinnes be forgiuen thee A poore blinde man cryed out O Son of Dauid haue mercy on me and he receiued his sight The Thiefe hanging on the Crosse said but onely Lord remember me and Christ answered This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise O singular Faith of sinners what man hath at any time cried Iesu haue mercy on mee but forthwith hee hath found fauour obtained grace A sure faith procureth any thing at Gods hands but he that mistrusteth the Physician hindreth his owne health Our Sauiour Christ hath opened vnto vs the gate of his goodnes therefore let not vs runne headlong to the dungeon of desperation the dunghill of the Diuell Hee hath stretched out his hand to vs therefore let not vs turne away our face from him He hath opened vnto vs the Kingdome of Heauen therefore let not vs haste to destruction nor creepe to the lake of vnhappinesse but let vs by these examples of Gods graces to others acknowledge the mercies of God to bee many and maruellous towards man For whose cause doth the Sun shine by day the Moone and the Starres by night but for man For whose sake doth the Lord water the earth with deaw drops and showres of raine but for man Why blowe the Windes Why runne the Riuers Why spread the Springs Why budde the Trees Why growe the fruits of the earth And why increase the fishes of the seas but for the vse of man He is King and Lord of all creatures vnder the cope of heauen There is nothing that God hath not made subiect to man onely hee would that man should bee obedient vnto him Yet many times our mercifull God sendeth vs aduersitie eyther to cleere vs of our transgressions or to feare vs from sinne or to minister occasion of well-doing Thus was Abraham tryed So was Iob proued with many miseries Thus is euery one which liueth godly in Christ Iesus tryed in this world with sundry afflictions as the gold in the fire for whom the Lord loueth those he chasteneth Therefore wee beseech thee O Lord assist vs by thy might and mercy that we may patiently beare all trouble neede pouertie sicknes slander hatred imprisonment griefe and anguish of minde temptations of our deadly Enemy losse of lands and worldly wealth and all other calamities and discommodities Looke not on vs or our sins O Lord but behold thy Little one which was borne for vs He was wounded for our offences and by his stripes wee are healed Hee gaue his body to be beaten his cheekes to be striken for vs finners He turned not away his face from them that scorned him spit vpon him Looke O Lord vpon all the parts of his body from the crowne of his head to the sole of his foote and no paine shall bee found like vnto his paine Behold O blessed Lord the holy head of thy deare Sonne crowned with sharp Thornes the bloud running downe on his goodly visage Behold his tender body how it is scourged his naked brest is stricken beaten his bloudy side is thrust thorow with a speare his heart panteth his sinewes bee stretched forth his christall eyes dazell and lose their sight his princely face is wan and pale his pleasant tongue is enflamed with paine his inward parts waxe dry and starke his armes both blue and blacke his bones sore his comely legges be feeble and weake and the streames of bloud gush out of his side downe to the ground O Lord of mercy and God of comfort let all these sufferings of thine only and deare beloued Son pacifie thy wrath and be a sufficient recompence for all our misdemeanour towards thy Maiesty defend vs outwardly by thy might and cheere vs inwardly by thy holy Spirit that we may both in body soule glorifie thy Name feare thy might and loue thy mercy and hereafter walke in thy wayes so long as the breath is in our bodies And after that receiue vs body and soule into the heauenly Kingdome for the tender Death and Passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour power and praise world without end Amen An effectuall Prayer for those which be Lunatike or possessed with any euill Spirit O Most mighty mercifull God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Prince of power and the God of all comfort and consolation our strong Rocke our sure refuge and defence against the damnable and dangerous assaults of our enemies both bodily and ghostly which hast commanded vs in our greatest perils and necessities to flye vnto thee for safety and boldly to call vpon thee for our deliuery which also by thy diuine power and vnsearchable wisedome hast made heauen and earth
whose then shal thy goods bee that thou hast prouided It is wisedome therefore for man to prouide for God then God will prouide for him Therefore good brother I beseech you in the bowels of Iesus Christ repent and correct your selfe betime reforme your manners and behauiour by the rule of Gods Law that you may auoid the curse thereof and bee preserued and saued that when Iesus Christ shall come to his Iudgement from the highest heauens in power and Maiesty accompanied with his holy Angels and Saints you may meete him with a ioyfull heart and obtaine the crowne of glory and victory which is the reward of Gods children and so reigne with that righteous Iudge in perpetuall peace continuall comfort and endlesse ioy which God grant to you and mee and all that loue his comming Amen And that wee may the better performe the Premises let vs in all our actions set these foure things before our eyes that is the Day of Death the Day of Doome that Condemnation of the wicked and the Saluation of the godly To the wicked and damned sort death is miserable Gods Iudgements terrible and their paine intolerable To the godly and such as shal be saued death is pleasant iudgement comfortable and their ioy perpetuall therefore it is better betime to repent reforme our selues with the godly then to driue off from day to day with the wicked which neither by Gods mercy nor iudgement will bee drawne to amendment but neglect all meanes and occasions and there is no better time nor fitter occasion to prepare our selues to our end then when we feele Gods heauy hand laid vpon vs by any kinde of crosse sicknesse or other visitation for therby God giueth vs friendly warning to make our selues in a readinesse and to giue ouer the world and happy man is hee whosoeuer hee bee which forsaketh sinne before sinne forsake him and that giueth ouer the world before the world giue him ouer for when wee haue discharged our selues of this world and this world shall be discharged of vs then we haue the greatest account of all to reckon for Therefore my deare brother that fearest God and beleeuest in him while thou art now chastised with sicknes and paine and perceiuest death to approach bestur your selfe betime follow Christ at foote prostrate your selfe before him fall downe flat on the earth deny your selfe acknowledge your sin trust in him neuer giue ouer cry and call aloud Miserere mei Domine miserere mei i. Haue mercy on me O Lord haue mercy on mee Cry with the Cananite O sonne of Dauid haue Mat. 15. 22 mercy on me and at length he will looke back take pitty vpon you forgiue you your sinnes and receiue you to his mercy Let the innocent Lamb of God be an example vnto you herein for Christ himselfe in his extreme agony when his sweat was like drops of bloud trick ling downe to the ground yet hee prayed earnestly to haue his Fathers Will fulfilled So must you do that is now weake and feeble in body bee feruent in spirit renounce the wicked world with all the vanities therein tread them vnder your feete Sursum cor Lift vp Col. 3. 1 2 your heart to God meditate vpon heauenly things for it is high time Behold the Sonne of GOD your mercifull Redeemer that sweat water and bloud for your sinnes behold him sitting on the right hand of his Father making intercession for you ioyne your selfe to him pray vnto God feruently in his name and say as he himselfe did in the anguish of his Spirit heere on earth Father into thy Luk. 23. 46 hands I commend my Spirit Thou hast redeemed mee O Lord God of truth Lord haue mercy vpon me and forgiue me my sins Sweet Iesu receiue my soule into thy Kingdome c. I beseech you gentle Brother thinke vpon my words in my absence and continue in this minde hauing a firme faith in Christ Iesus euen to your end And withall take in good part this my friendly admonition Let it worke in your heart true repentance to saluation and if you doubt any thing touching your beliefe life or Religion or any other priuate causes that may in some sort trouble your conscience I pray you let mee resolue you and I will doe my endeuour to satisfie you therein so far forth as may tend to your saluation and comfort which I heartily wish in Christ Iesus And so for this time I leaue you committing you to the tuition of him that is able to saue you The fourth duety of the Pastor THe fourth duety of the Pastour is to comfort the sick in all their distresse danger and feare with sentences examples and perswasions out of the Word of God especially toward their end We feare chiefely two things 1 Death in this life 2. Damnation after death I purpose not to speake much of eyther for if I did I should but make the volume of this book to large and so cause the Printer to waste paper to his further charges and my greater paines and yet say nothing but that which is set downe already by those that are better learned then my self and haue troden the way before mee Therefore hauing partly touched the same in my Questions I wil only adde these few lines following touching both for example sake It is an old rule in Physick Take away the cause and the effect is taken away with it Vnderstand therefore good Brother that the causes why men so much feare death be many according to the multitude of men and their manners The first cause is for that by death they lose many commodities and pleasures which in their life time they did long enioy and haue great delight therein as wife children parents friends lands liuings possessions sumptuous houses buildings worldly honours offices dignities All these and such like be call-backs and dayly coueted while life lasteth and yet dreadfull death dispatcheth vs of all these delights euen at a blow this is the feare of worldlings Secondly we feare death because of weakenesse diseases and bitter torments which are the forerunners warners and messengers of death This is the feare of the flesh The third cause why men feare death is incredulity or lack of faith in Christ This is the feare of conscience and proceedeth of ignorance or lack of knowledge in the Scriptures whereof our faith is grounded The fourth cause why we feare death is the danger of eternall damnation both of body and soule in hell fire This is the inward feare of the spirit But to bee short one comfortable blast of Gods spirit will extinguish and driue all these terrours quite away from vs euen as the winde doth driue away the thick clowds or mists which do separate vs from the light and sight of the Sunne First therefore for the losse of the world and all the drosse therein it is indeede no losse but gaine to those that by death enioy the company of
it out But these words euerlasting perpetuall and neuer these and such like pierce the heart dismay the mind and cut the throat of a sinner they crucifie the guiltie Conscience and at one blow they kill downe right where they hit How thinke you are not you of the same minde Answ Indeede I must needs confesse they bee words of great weight intolerable and heauie to beare especially to a Conscience clogged with sin and words not once but often to bee deepely considered of euen of the best of vs all for the best are too bad and of our selues wee are all sinners and deserue such reward for our hyre as these words doe threaten but they take effect onely in the Reprobate desperate and impenitent sinners such as neither feare Gods Iustice nor feele his Mercie neither any operation of his Holy Spirit But are for their contempt obstinacie and impenitent hearts giuen ouer of God into a Reprobate sense whose eyes are blinded whose eares are stopped and whose hearts are hardened that they disdaine and reiect the Word of God and all motions of his Spirit wherby they should attaine to a full measure of faith in Christ Iesus who came into 1. Tim. 1. 15. the world to saue sinners For we are sure That whosoeuer Ioh 3. 15. beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue life euer lasting For the soules of the righteous Wisd 3. 1. are in the hand of GOD and no torment shall touch them but they Ioh. 5. 24. shall passe from death to life and their spirits shall returne to the Lord which gaue them Whose hands of mercie are wide open to receiue them For although it bee said It is a Heb. 10. 31 fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Yet that is to bee vnderstood before repentance not after for God reiecteth not penitent sinners but if we repent and turne to God he will turne to vs As hee hath promised Turne vnto Esa 45. 22. me and ye shall be saued So that there is now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Iesus but wee may boldly triumph and say Death is swallowed vp 1. Cor. 15. 54 55 into victory O death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victory Quest 13. You haue well answered and like a Diuine you said euen now you were not Booke-learned but you may be God be thanked for your direct answering by the Word I cannot but maruell how you can recite so many places of Scripture and to so good purpose being not learned Surely it seemeth you carry not your Bible vnder your arme for fashion sake or to please men as many doe in these dayes but to please God and pleasure both your selfe others Therefore you haue taken a good course in this life for the life to come And you haue chosen the better part with Mary and that which shall neuer be taken away Luk. 10. 42 from you the most part in these dayes take part with Martha and are too carefull for the things of this world but seldome or neuer looke for the life to come and therefore it is to bee doubted they will come short of the reward and crowne of glorie But I will leaue them to themselues and to the equity of Gods Iustice and with your good liking proceed forward with you in a question or two Quest 14 Do you beleeue and acknowledge Iesus Christ the Sonne of the liuing God to haue dyed and suffered his Passion for your sinnes and that he did rise againe for your iustification and ascended into heauen to prepare the way for you and all true beleeuers Answ I doe assuredly beleeue all that to be true or else I must thinke my selfe accursed and in most miserable case calling to minde my rude race and my sinfull life led euen from my Cradle Quest 15. Doe you also beleeue that you can be saued by no other meanes but by the merit of Christ his Passion by the sheading of his innocent bloud who suffered once for all and that the oblation of himselfe vpon the Crosse is a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world Answ I doe beleeue that Christ his Passion is a full satisfaction for my transgression and his precious bloud a perfect purgation for my sinnes Neither is Act. 4. 12. there saluation in any other for among men there is giuen none other name vnder heauen wherby we must be saued But onely the sweet name of Iesus my Sauiour Quest 16. And doe you for this his inestimable benefit and all other his manifold graces giue him hearty thankes And will you daily most dutifully endeuour your selfe so to doe so long as the breath shal remaine in your body Answ I doe and by Gods grace I will frō time to time so long as life lasteth doe my best to shew my selfe thankefull as I am indeed most bounden For I am fully perswaded his Fatherly goodnes towards me is so great being a sinfull wretch and vnworthy to gather vp the crummes vnder his table that I can neuer giue him condigne thankes for the multitude of his mercies and diuine graces bestowed vpon me both touching my bodie and soule but God of his infinite goodnes pardon that which is lacking in my selfe and fulfill it in his deare Sonne Iesus Christ my Redeemer Quest 17. You must therfore desire at the hands of God of whom we receiue the bread wee eate the ground we tread vpon and the light we behold that he would with the eyes of his mercie and compassion looke vpon you increase your faith lighten your vnderstanding strengthen your bodie grant you patience in this your sicknes and mooue your minde to all thankfulnes and dutifull obedience towards his Maiestie so that come life come death you may bee perswaded in your minde and beleeue stedfastly in your heart that you are the Lords Answ My earnest request vnto my heauenly Father is to grant all such good gifts as you haue named And I pray God euen with all my heart giue me grace so to beleeue and so to do all the daies and houres of my life And that I may the better doe according to your friendly counsell and performe some part of my dutie towards God and the world I pray you good Sir both priuately when you are absent pray to God for me and ioyne with mee in prayer now before your departing that it may please God my heauenly Father whose rod of castigation I willingly suffer to dispose of mee in this his visitation as may make most for his glorie and mine owne saluation in Christ Iesus my Sauiour These and such like questions may the carefull Pastor propound to the Sicke person according as occasion shall bee offered alwayes helping his infirmitie if hee faile in answering but he must beware that he doe not reason further then the capacitie of the sicke will admit that so hee may rather winne by fauour then
my voice and hee shall hearken vnto me When I am in heauines I will thinke vpon God when my heart is vexed I wil complaine Will the Lord absent himselfe for euer and will he bee no more intreated Is his mercy cleane gone for euer and his promise come vtterly to an end for euermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will hee shut vp his louing kindnes in displeasure Heare me O Lord hide Psal 102. not thy face from me in the time of my trouble Incline thine eares vnto mee when I call O heare mee and that right soone For my dayes are consumed away like smoke and my bones are burnt vp as it were a fire-brand My heart is smitten down and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread For the voice of my groning my bones will scarce cleaue to my flesh But they that sow in Psal 126. teares shall reape in ioy Hee that now goeth on his way weeping and beareth forth good seed shall doubtlesse come againe with ioy and bring his sheaues with him For the Lord is full of Psal 103. compassion and mercy long suffering and of great goodnes Hee will not alwayes be childing neither keepeth he his anger for euer Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our wickednes For looke how high the heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is his mercy also toward them that feare him Looke how wide also the East is from the West so farre hath hee set our sinnes from vs. Yea like as a father pitieth his own children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto them that feare him For he knoweth whereof wee be made hee remembreth that we are but dust The dayes of man are but as grasse he flourisheth as a flower of the field For as soone as the winde goeth ouer it it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more But the mercifull goodnes of the Lord endureth for euer euer vpon them that feare him and his righteousnesse vpon childrens children Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the c. The third Psalme BLessed is he that considereth Psal 41. the poore and needy the Lord shall deliuer him in the time of trouble The Lord comfort him when hee lyeth sicke vpon his bed make thou all his bed in his sicknes I said Lord be mercifull vnto mee heale my soule for I haue sinned against thee O hide not thou thy face Psal 27. from me nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure Thou hast beene my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation Heare me therefore O Psal 69. God in the multitude of thy mercy euen in the truth of thy saluation In thee O Lord haue I Psal 31. put my trust let me neuer be put to confusion deliuer me in thy righteousnes Bow downe thine eare to me make haste to deliuer me And be thou my strong Rocke and the house of defence that thou mayst saue me Into thy hands I cōmend my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth I will be glad and reioyce in thy mercy for thou hast considered my trouble and hast knowne my soule in aduersitie And therefore like as the Psal 42. Hart desireth the water-brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God Haue mercy vpon mee Psal 51. therefore O God after thy great goodnes according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences Wash mee throughly from my wickednes and clense me from my sinne For I acknowledge my faults and my sinne is euer before me Turne thy face O Lord from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane heart O God and renue a right spirit within mee Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me O remember not our old Psal 79. sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for wee are come to great miserie Heare my prayer O Psal 143. Lord and consider my desire Hearken vnto mee for thy truth and righteousnes sake And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirit waxeth faint hide not thy face from me lest I bee like vnto them that goe downe into the pit O remember how short Psal 89. my time is wherefore hast thou made all men for nought For what man is he that liueth and shall not see death and shall he deliuer his owne soule from hell Lord what is man that Psal 14. 4. thou hast such respect vnto him or the sonne of man that thou so regardest him Man is like a thing of nought his time passeth away like a shadow For when thou art angry Psal 90. all our dayes are gone we bring our yeeres to an end as it were a tale that is told The dayes of our age are threescore yeeres and ten and though men bee so strong that they come to fourescore yeeres yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow so soone passeth it away and we are gone Teach vs therefore O Lord to number our daies that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisedome Lord let me know mine Psal 39. end and the number of my dayes that I may be certified how long I haue to liue Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long and mine age is euen as nothing in respect of thee and verily euery man liuing is altogether vanity For man walketh in a vaine shadow and disquieteth himselfe in vaine hee heapeth vp riches and cannot tell who shall gather them And now Lord what is my hope Truely my hope is euen in thee One thing haue I desired Psal 27. of the Lord which I will require euen that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the faire beauty of the Lord and to visit his holy Temple For I should vtterly haue fainted but that I beleeue verily to see the goodnes of the Lord in the Land of the liuing Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the c. When the Minister or any other good Christian that visiteth the Sicke hath read one of these Psalmes Then let him with all dutifull reuerence pray and say as hereafter followeth Let vs pray Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our Father which art in heauen c. The mighty God of Iacob bee our defence both now and in the houre of Death And let vs not bee ouercome by any euill temptation O Lord saue this thy Sicke seruant Which putteth his full trust in thee Send him help O Lord from thy holy place And euer more most mightily defend him Let
all things therein contained as Angels Archangels Men Women Children the beasts of the field the fishes in the Sea the Fowles of the Ayre and the Fruits of the Earth which all were made at thy Word and are subiect to thy power to vse at thy good will pleasure as seemeth best to thy Maiesty whether it bee to honour or dishonour saluation or condemnation We entirely beseech thee of thy goodnes O Lord and that with sorrowfull hearts trickling teares watery cheekes and groning spirits to be mercifull vnto vs all here assembled and to all thy people vexed with woe throughout the wide world but especially at this present we heartily desire thee to looke downe from heauen with the eyes of compassion and pitie vpon this thy creature and workmanship of thy hands who is now grieuously vexed and tormented in mind O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruants for then no flesh can be saued in thy sight We acknowledge O Lord that wee are miserable sinners vnworthy to lift vp our eyes to heauen or to gather vp the crums which fall from thy table Yet notwithstanding wee humbly beseech thee O deare Father not to deale with vs according to our deserts which is euerlasting death vtter shame and confusion hell fire perpetuall paine and damnation But according to thy accustomed clemency take from vs all ignorance hardnes of heart desperation and all the wyly suggestions and grieuous temptations of Satan our old enemy Let not the Diuell O Lord nor any hellish hound spoile thine inheritance which thou hast bought with the price of the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ Thou onely O Lord reignest in heauen in glory in earth in mercy and in hell in iudgement Thou onely art the author of life death sicknes and health ioy and paine It is thou which castest downe to hell and raisest vp againe to heauen yea it is thou and none other which giuest thy holy Spirit to bee a comfort to thine elect people and sometimes troublest their minds with illusions and vanities suffering Satan the roring Lyon and his Ministers to haue dominion for a time ouer them as appeareth at this present by thy iust iudgement declared and inflicted vpon this comfortlesse cayâ—ife thy poore prisoner and afflicted creature vnto the great anguish and torment of his soule and body to the discomfort of his wife friends and kinsfolke and to the terrour and feare of all that euer heare or see him in this wofull case O Lord thy iudgements are deepe and thy counsell vnsearchable and vnworthy are wee to know the counsels and secrets of the Highest much lesse ought wee curiously to search to vnderstand the causes of this woe and the occasion of this thy plague and grieuous crosse laid vpon this miserable man Notwithstanding whether thou hast thus visited him for his former sinnes and by that meanes to call him to repentance and amendment of life or to exercise his faith by the tryall of thy iustice or for the terrour and warning of all those that see or heare of him that they may therby feare thy name acknowledge thy power auoid thy heauy displeasure repent their sinfull liuing and call to thee betimes for mercie and grace or else to the end to shew thy great might glory vpon him and so to signifie vnto all people that thou art God alone that rulest both heauen and earth that stayest the madnes of the people and the furiousnes of the Fiend or for what cause so euer it bee that thou hast laid thy heauy hand of iudgement vpon him Yet wee humbly beseech thee O Lord God not of our selues or for our selues but in the bowels of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ whom thou hast made the Redemption of the world to mitigate thy sury by tender mercy asswage thy wrath and stay thy heauy hand already begunne and continued in fraile flesh Let not the Diuell nor all the powers in hell tempt him aboue that which hee shall be able through Christ his Sauiour to beare O Lord restore in him of thy goodnes whatsoeuer hath been decayed by the malice or suggestion of Satan or by his owne frailtie and wicked disposition or by any his enemies the flesh world Diuell or sinne We confesse vnto thee O Lord that sinne is rife in vs the flesh is fraile the world is wicked and the Diuell is most malicious O Lord God among these so many and mischieuous enemies what shall we deuise to do Whithershal we fly There is no way with vs but one wee must lift vp our eyes our hands and our hearts vnto thee O Lord Our help is from aboue our victory proceedeth from thy grace and Throne of thy Maiestie To heauen therefore wee lift vp both heart hands eyes and all our powers and vnto thee O gracious Lord we call and cry for helpe Breake the heauens come down O Lord let our prayers pierce thine eares Arise O God and scatter thine enemies and ours stay the race of Satan thon that art the glory of Sion and strength of Israel take from him his weapons and harnesse wherewith he goeth about to spoile thine Inheritance Bruze and breake the head of Leuiathan that subtill Serpent which seeketh nothing but our destruction Weaken his force disperse and confound all his politique practices whereby hee dayly goeth about to ouerthrow thy seeble flocke Let not this ramping and roring Lyon deuoure vs but chain him vp and tye him short halter and bridle his cruell deuices wherewithall hee worketh woe vnto thy seruants and Saints for he can doe nothing without thy permission thou which rulest the raging of the Sea that it cannot passe her bounds and hast Satan fettered and fast bound in chaines so that he cannot doe what hee would but what pleaseth thee for thy mercy hath conquered his cruelty to our great comfort Thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thee in the day of our trouble and thou wilt deliuer vs and we shall glorifie thee Thou hast also promised in thy holy Word to grant our godly Petitions saying vnto vs like a most louing Father Aske and you shall haue Seeke and you shall finde Knocke and it shall be opened vnto you We aske of thee with pensiue soules and would gladly obtaine mercy and forgiuenes of all our offences We seeke and would gladly finde that which wee haue lost by our vnthankefulnes and sinne we knock at the gate of Grace and will neuer cease knocking vntill thou open vnto vs the bowels of compassion and pitie and grant vs the feeling of thy good graces to the full satisfaction and quieting of our troubled spirits carefull consciences Therefore O God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost heare our prayers and grant our humble requests which with sobbing sighs contrite hearts cry vnto thee for succour O Lord haue mercy vpon vs haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and for thy Sonne Iesus Christs
sake destroy not this afflicted creature in thy fury suffer not this troubled and tormented person to perish euerlastingly Take away from him good Lord this euill spirit and vilde affection wherewithall he is grieued and turmoiled and indue him with thy holy Spirit which may comfort his afflicted Spirit and frame his disposition heereafter to leade a godly conuersation and a quiet life So that after the tryall and sharpe taste of this thy fearefull iudgement he may make a godly and quiet end and be deliuered from euerlasting damnation and destruction O Lord the mo and the greater his sinnes be so much the more shall thy might and mercy appeare in his deliuerance and restauration Thy mercy O Lord is aboue all thy workes and thy power is wonderfull and inuincible Thou diddest command Mat. 3. 28. the Diuels which were very fierce in two persons yea and so terrible that no man might goe by that way where they were to goe out of them into the Herd of Swine insomuch that they were quiet at thy commandement where before they were bound with chaines and fetters and no man could tame them but night and day they cryed in the Mountaines and in the Graues and strooke themselues with stones Thou diddest also deliuer Mat. 9. 32. a man which was dumbe and possessed with a Diuel so that the people maruelled thereat Thou O Lord with the eyes of compassion and pitie diddest looke vpon the Woman of Canaan who cryed saying Haue mercy on mee O Mat. 15. 22 Lord the sonne of Dauid my Daughter is miserably vexed with a Diuell and her Daughter was made whole the same houre Thou also haddest mercie on the man that kneeled Mat. 17. 14 downe to thee and said Master haue on pitie my Mar. 9. 18. Sonne for hee is Lunatike and sore vexed for oftentimes hee falleth into the water and oftentimes into the fire and wheresoeuer the dumbe spirit taketh him hee teareth him and hee fometh and gnasheth with his teeth and pineth away and as soone as the spirit saw thee O Lord he tare him and he fell down to the ground wallowing and foming But thou incontinently diddest rebuke the vnclean spirit and saidst vnto him thou dumb and deafe spirit I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him and presently he departed and tooke his vltimum vale of him And many other times O Lord thou hast shewed as well thy might as mercie in deliuering the halt the maymed the dumbe the blinde the furious the sicke the Lepers and the lunatike and those which were possessed with Diuels by the ministery of thy Apostles and true Disciples And thou hast moreouer commanded vs saying Go into al the world preach the Gospell heale the Sicke comfort the Weake raise the Dead clense the Lepers and cast out Diuels Grant vnto vs thy deare children and faithfull seruants who are most earnest suters vnto thee at this present that we may in like maner finde fauour in thy sight so farre forth as we may obtain our request at thy gracious hands and haue our Petitions heard and that by the power of thy Word hearty Prayer and a true Faith in Christ Iesus thou wilt put Satan to flight destroy his Kingdome and vtterly extinguish all his suggestions and dangerous temptations and so restore vnto this afflicted person heere present his former health senses and vnderstanding for thy deare Son Iesus Christ his sake Create O Lord a new heart and reuiue thy holy Spirit in him that he do not blaspheme thy holy name but rather take thy visitation patiently and bee content to submit himselfe to thy good will and pleasure So that come life come death come sicknes come health come ioy come pain both he and wee and the whole world may magnifie and extoll thy blessed Name in all actions and as our bounden duty is dayly and hourely giue thee honour and praise for thy great goodnes and mercies towards vs through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A fruit full Prayer in time of any common sicknes or Plague O Lord God of Hosts most mighty and terrible our guide and gracious Gouernour whose iudgements and mercy are dayly and diuersly shewed vnto vs heere on earth whose praise the Angels and Saints aboue extol and magnifie whose power the Diuels themselues are forced to acknowledge and feare whose voice both windes and raging Seas do obey Thou most mighty and eternall God from whom proceedeth blessing and cursing mercy and iudgement health and sicknes Mercy to the penitent and godly iudgement without mercy to the Reprobate and wicked Thou it is which renuest thy plagues against man when hee offendeth whose vengeance from heauen is so sodaine and fearefull towards the rebellious and disobedient that for one sinne in Dauid thou diddest destroy with the lothsome disease of the Pestilence many thousands of his people Cast thine eyes of mercy vpon vs O thou preseruer of men which languish in this Land with the same diseases and sicknes Where not Dauid onely hath offended in trusting to his strength but euery Congregation and euery houshold hath not one way but many wayes prouoked thee to plague so vngodly and vngracious a people and now that the doore of thy store-house is open and thy plagues appeare wee see we haue offended and wee sorrow at the sight of our sinnes Now wee consider wee haue offended grieuously we haue done amisse wee haue dealt wickedly wee haue liued vngodly wee haue swarued from the way of Truth without any godly feare or remorse of conscience Thy benefits of peace health and wealth haue brought too too many of vs to such securitie and contempt of Religion that we abuse thy blessings as fast as thou powrest them vpon vs Our thoughts words and workes are vaine carnall and diuelish The fruits of the flesh haue ouergrowne the force of the Spirit Faith faileth sinne hath gotten the vpper hand and our reason is so ouer-ruled with affections that few are found settled in a dutifull forme of vpright and spirituall obedience Wherefore we confesse thou mightest iustly forsake vs as wee forsake thee and not only proceed to sting the whole body of this Land with sundry Plagues and Diseases but also for our sins condemne vs most iustly to eternall death whose consciences are so guilty that they condemne our selues And yet for all this thy mercy is vnmeasurable towards the humble and penitent though once thou spakest to Ieremy against thine owne people being disobedient to thee saying Though Moses and Samuel Ier. 15. 1. stood before mee yet haue I no heart or affection vnto this people Cast them out of my sight and let them depart some vnto Death some to the Sword some to Famine and some to Captiuitie This people was in a pitiful case and we are more miserable and sinfull and haue deferued a more heauy hand of thy iudgement to bee laid vpon vs. Notwithstanding O Lord wee
humbly beseech thee to deale with vs in mercy stay thy hand and bid thine Angell cease from punishing Looke with a cheerefull countenance vpon thy people Blesse vs O heauenly Father within and without Be thou our guard thy Word our guide thy Spirit our comfort and thy Sonne our Sauiour Stay by vs continually hold vs vp by thy right hand strongly and direct vs by thy counsell wisely So shall we be inwardly comforted though the world conspire Satan rore the wicked rise vp against vs yea though the earth bee moued the pillars of heauen shake the Sea rage plagues fall all creatures frowne Yet shall not wee eyther feare tremble or bee dismayed with any boisterous blast of aduersitie so long as we trust in thee leane to thee serue thee and rest vpon thee as our strong Rocke for thou art mighty in the heate of iudgement and yet mercifull in the middest of miseries Haue pitie therefore vpon vs most miserable sinners mitigate thy fury asswage our pain release our smart and pardon our passed faults Wee confesse O deare Father that wee of our selues are the cause of our owne woe and prouokers of this thy plague and grieuous punishmēt which is fallen vpon vs most worthily Yea our owne detestable deeds committed against thy sacred will our obstinate pride in time of plenty our securitie in time of health our vnthankefulnes towards thy goodnes in time of prosperitie our contempt of thy Word dayly read and preached vnto vs did threaten long before this thy rodde and scourge of sicknes or some greater iudgement Our continuall transgressions as our Idlenes Wantonnesse Whoredome Drunkennesse Gaming Swearing Swilling Slandering Stealing Fighting Quarrelling Polling Pilling Vsurie Extortion and Oppression of the poore our Bribery Couetousnes Defrauding of the Widdow and Fatherlesse with a huge heape moe of such like vices haue beene the causes of this our miserie and smart which now wee feele to our torment and griefe and haue mooued thee the holy One of Israel to powre out the fearefull cup of thy wrath and vengeance vpon vs which thy iustice doth craue and wee dayly deserue Neuerthelesse deare Father of mercie though wee haue through our sinnes shewed our selues enemies vnto thee and vessels of thy wrath and vnworthy to pray vnto thee with our lying lips and polluted mouthes much lesse to obtain our suites at thy hands Yet most mercifull Father we beseech thee be fauourable vnto vs in shewing thy mercy vnto vs that are miserable For if thou O Lord doest strictly marke what is done amisse among men and wilt retaine our iniquitie O Lord who shall then be able to abide it or to stand in thy sight Verily no flesh no not the iustest man that liueth this day vpon the face of the earth Therefore O Lord wee returne to thee with our hearts and come home with the Prodigall Sonne although late at night repenting the rude race wee haue runned and being heartily sorrie for the lewd life we haue led we prostrate our selues and fall downe flat to the ground before the Throne of thy Grace beseeching thee as our tender and pitifull Father to embrace vs with the armes of mercy and compassion to turne away thy face from our lothsome sinnes and blot out of thy remembrance our former offences Reuiue O Lord our sorrowfull penitent spirits after the time of our try all comfort our carefull and contrite hearts for giue vs our trespasses Turne to vs in thy mercy which returne to thee from sinne direct our wayes hereafter in the workes of thy commandements increase our Faith and make these thy iudgements and grieuous plagues which thou hast worthily inflicted vpon vs for our wickednes be a caueat and warning blow vnto vs hereafter that wee neuer fall againe to our former folly nor heape vpon our owne heads thy wrath and vengeance lest a worse thing happen vnto vs but that this our chasticement may worke in our mindes true and vnfained repentance So that when thy heauenly hand shall slake from the execution of thy iust iudgement when thy wrath is appeased and wee safely deliuered acquitted and discharged of this misery wherein we are now wrapped we may indeed amend that which is amisse in vs tread Satan vnder our feet contemne the world mortifie the lusts of the flesh crucifie the whole body of sinne and as new-borne Babes shew our selues hereafter more thankefull for thy benefits powred vpon vs in most plentifull manner as for our health wealth tranquillitie and libertie the preaching of thy Gospell the true knowledge of thy will reuealed in thy Word the outward peace of our bodies and the inward comfort of our soules All which graces with many moe wee haue enioyed a long time in more ample manner then any other People or Nation vnder heauen O Lord wee humbly beseech thee continue thy good blessings towards vs thine vnworthy vnthankefull seruants grant that thy holy Name may be so glorified hereafter in all our thoughts words and workes during this transitorie life that in the end when thou hast wrought thy will with vs we may raigne with thee and al the holy company of heauen in the life euerlasting Grant also deare Father relaxation and release of thy plagues and punishments vnto this thine afflicted towne of and to all other countries townes houses and people which be in the like calamity and distresse for the loue and precious Passion of Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour in whose blessed name wee bow the knees both of our soules and bodies and humbly prostrate our selues heere before the Throne of thy glorious Maiesty praying vnto thee as he hath taught vs and saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. The third Dutie of the Pastor THe third thing pertaining to a good Pastor is his godly counsell or admonition as for example Good Brother you must now in this time of Gods visitation call to minde your former life The more vicious and faultie you haue beene the deeper you ought to sigh and grone in spirit for your offences and whereinsoeuer you haue displeased God consider that amendment of life to come and repentance for your sinnes past is the way and meanes to become friends with him and to be at peace in your owne conscience But this repentance may not bee in mouth outwardly but inwardly in simplicitie of heart continually detesting that which is euill and ardently louing that which is good and acceptable to God And so though vnworthy of your selfe you may be accepted of God by faith in his beloued Sonne with whom the Father is well pleased but with vs and our vnrighteousnes he cannot bee but highly displeased it is good therefore to acknowledge and confesse your sinne to God and to submit your selfe to his Maiestie by true conuersion and sorrow of heart with an inward griefe and lothing of those sinnes which before you tooke pleasure in and crauing of mercy and pardon at his hands whom you haue
God his Angels in heauen where they shall be immortall and incorruptible freed from all carnall desires and diseases of the body and deliuered from all sorrow and trouble of minde no losse therefore to the godly that haue gained Christ but to the wicked worldlings that haue lost their riches and pleasures here in stead therof possesse perpetuall paines elsewhere to them it shall bee said Looke how much pleasure they haue had and giue them so much torment Secondly touching the feare of sicknesse the more paine wee suffer heere the more like wee are to our Master Christ the greater shall bee our reward in heauen In the meane time let vs be of good comfort for he that smiteth healeth and hee that sendeth trouble sendeth strength Thirdly against incredulity or distrust wee must desire of God to increase our faith that wee may beleeue the Scriptures and take pleasure therein for ignorance will not excuse vs now that the candle is lighted and not hid vnder a bushell but openly reueiled to the wide world and that to the comfort and saluation of euery one that beleeueth for the knowledge of Gods Law and the Gospell are necessary to our saluation the reasons be diuers The one doth feare vs. The other doth comfort vs. The Law vttereth sinne The Gospell forgiueth it The Law maketh weake The Gospell maketh strong The Law killeth The Gospell quickeneth The Law throweth down to hell The Gospel lifteth vp to heauen Fourthly against the feare of damnation when Satan layeth the Law hard to our charge threatning thereby death and damnation Let vs answere him with the Gospell which bringeth life and saluation Let vs haue a grounded and stedfast faith fixed in Christ Iesus our Sauiour who hath vanquished and destroyed all our deadly enemies as the flesh the world damnation punishment dangers sin death deuill and hell Be at vtter defiance with them all say boldly with the Apostle S. Paul It is Rom. 8. 33. God that iustifieth who then can condemne and againe God shall shortly tread downe Rō 16. 20. Satan vnder your feete c. If you beleeue this and apply it right to your soule you may then cheerefully dye and on your dying day sing and say that merry note to your great comfort and ioy viz. I desire to bee Phil. 1. 23. loosed and to be with Christ This was the marke that the blessed Apostle Saint Paul did ayme at all his life long and therefore reioycing in heart hee saith towards the end of his course I am now ready to be offered 2 Tim. 4. 6 and the time of my departure is at hand I haue fought a good battell I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith from henceforth there remaineth for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord a iust Iudge shall giue me at that day not onely vnto mee but to all those that loue his comming This made Stephen that faithfull witnesse of his Master Christ seeing the glory of God constantly to call vpon him and say in his greatest torment of body Lord Act 7. 59. Iesu receiue my spirit These men and many mo such like haue willingly yeelded their necks to the block their bodies to torment their soules to God and boldly to depart out of the miseries of this world embracing the counsell of the wise man who saith Feare Eccl. 4. 1 3 not the iudgment of death remēber them that haue bin before thee and that come after this is the ordinance of the Lord ouer all flesh And why wouldest thou be against the pleasure of the most Highest whether it be tenne or an hundreth or a thousand yeeres there is no defence for life against the graue No striuing against the streame no resisting against death But alas what meaneth this There is nothing that men so often behold as death and nothing that men so soone forget as death As men ought not to bee carelesse of their finall end so they ought not to feare death especially if they haue liued in the feare of God for seeing all must dye wherefore should the godly be afraid of Bugges what a foole is he that will feare his owne shadow what good will it doe vs either to complaine or lament for that thing which by no meanes wee can escape Tell me if thou canst with all thy skill what man is he aliue that breatheth vpon the earth that shall liue vntill hee bee an hundreth yeeres old or what one canst thou name for thy life with whom thou hast beene acquainted an hundreth yeeres sithens crack me this Nut reade me this Riddle Et eris mihi magnus Apollo that is I wil account thee as a God for thy skill Seeing then that our life is both short and vncertaine and that these things are generall to all and not to thee or to me alone Why should we not in good fellowship taste of the same sawce and drinke of the same cup one after another and that without feare or grudging as all our predecessors haue done Let vs yeeld our pampred bodies to the earth and our sinfull soules to the tryall of iustice for so haue the godly alwayes done they account the world to be but a Race a Vale of miseries and a paineful Pilgrimage and therefore they couet to haue the course of this life finished they waite continually for the good houre looking after death for a ioyfull resurrection And of this hope they haue the sweete and comfortable Testimony of Gods Spirit within them as a gage or pledge of their saluation which will neuer forsake them vntill it haue presented them before the Maiesty of God as heires and coheires with Iesus Christ of his heauenly Kingdome purchased for vs with his owne bloud wherein our soules and filthy bodies are sprinkled and thorowly washed What a comfort is this to a Christian heart What neede a man thus minded to feare death after this life any more then the laboring man after he hath toyled sore al the day long neede to feare sleepe and his quiet rest at night No no hee may rather with a cheerefull conscience wish for death because as Christ saith He shall passe frō death Ion. 5. 24. to life Let vs therefore good Christian Brother so liue with Christ that we may dye in him and let vs so glorifie him in this life by our godly conuersation that wee may bee glorified of him in the life to come to our comfort and saluation The best remedy to auoid this friuolous feare of death is to repent our former sinnes and hereafter to apply our selues to liue in his true seruice and feare So that first wee may finish our life heere and dye well Secondly that wee may receiue at Gods hands in the resurrection of the iust a comfortable and mercifull iudgement Thirdly that we may auoid the horrible paines of hell which are intolerable Fourthly and finally that we may be partakers of the
me O Lord a fit sacrifice for thy selfe by punishing my fleshly body and pardoning my sinfull soule Grant mee perfect remembrance of the houre of my death last gaspe that I may thankefully take this thy fatherly visitation and willingly beare my crosse after thy deare Son Iesus Christ my Sauiour O Lord prepare me for the good houre which thou hast appointed for the deliuerie of my soule out of this wretched world settle my thoughts and fixe my faith on the life to come that I neuer shrinke from thee and thy sauing health what paine or torment soeuer thou inflictest vpon mee here on earth yet deare Father let heauen be my reward in the end Finally so dispose of me good Lord as may be most meete for thy glory and mine own saluation in Christ Iesus my mercifull Redeemer and Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour power and praise world without end Amen A Prayer to be said in the pangs of Death O Infinite Deitie and vnmeasurable goodnes O blessed and glorious Trinitie O perfect loue and charitie haue mercy on mee and open the bowels of compassion vpon mee a wretched sinner wrapped in woe and ouerwhelmed with anguish of soule and vexation of spirit Into thy hands O Lord I wholly commit and resigne my selfe make haste O Lord to deliuer mee for it is high time My flesh trembleth my bones are brused mine eyes wax dimme my strength faileth my heart panteth and my sorrow and paine euery way increaseth O mercifull Creator shew mercy to thy creature In thee O Lord alone is all my trust In my misery and smart I haue no other to make my mone vnto but onely to thee O thou preseruer of men Therefore forsake me not vtterly but stand by me and with comfort relieue me in this my extremitie and last combate Stretch out thine arme O Lord and hold thy hands of pitie ouer me that lyeth here in woe and misery O Iesu O sweet Iesu mercie O Sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon me O Father of Heauen help me O holy Spirit of God confirme comfort me O God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me O Iesus my sweet Sauiour receiue my silly soule into thy holy hands Place it O LORD for thy mercie sake with thine owne selfe in thy heauenly Kingdome among thine holy Angels and Saints O my good God and my heauenly Father pitie my case ease my paine comfort my soule and be mercifull vnto me Lord shew the light of thy louing countenance vpon mee And in the houre of my death strengthen my faith So that my body returning to the earth from whence it came my soule may ascend to thee which gaue it and at the day of doome generall iudgement when they shall both meete againe they may rise to life euerlasting thorow our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Short Petitions collected for the Sicke Partly out of other Authors BEhold O gracious Father the body of thy deare Sonne all to rent and torne and remember I most humbly beseech thee of how small base substance I am Behold O good God the grieuous paine Passion of Christ my Redeemer and forgiue the sinnes of me thine vnworthy and vnprofitable Seruant which am therby redeemed O Lord looke downe from Heauen incline thine eares vnto my prayers confort my sobbing soule cheere my carefull conscience increase my faith forgiue me my sinnes and haue mercy vpon me through Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen O Lord I beseech thee mercifully heare my prayers and spare mee which doe confesse my sinnes to thee that I whose conscience by sin is accused by thy mercifull pardon may be absolued through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen O GOD the Father which made mee blesse mee O God the Sonne which redeemed me preserue mee O God the holy Ghost which sanctifieth me confirme and strengthen me The blessing defence and sauing health of the Almighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost preserue mee from all euill and bring mee to euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Glory be to thee O Father my Maker Glory be to thee O Sonne my Redeemer and glory bee to thee O holy Ghost my Comforter from age to age from posteritie to posteritie both here and in the world to come and let all people say Amen The peace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the power of his Passion the prayers of his Elect the Communion of Saints the sword of the Spirit and the shield of Faith bee betwixt mee and all mine enemies bodily and ghostly publike and priuate visible and inuisible both now and in the very houre of my death Amen O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit Thou hast redeemed mee O Lord thou God of Truth Lord Iesu at thy pleasure and at the time which may be acceptable vnto thee receiue my spirit into thy heauenly Kingdome Amen The third Dutie of the Sicke THe third and last duty of the sicke person is to be patient in his sicknes or any other aduersitie willingly to beare the burthen of Christs Crosse so to follow him for the better performance wherof I haue thought good to annex to the premisses this short Treatise of Patience wherein I will obserue this order First I will perswade by Precepts to suffer aduersitie and all kinde of calamitie Secondly I wil produce out of the Scriptures some speciall and particular examples which may prouoke vs both to suffer affliction and to be patient therein Thirdly I will shew some Reasons to allure vs thereunto 1. Precepts perswading FIrst it is an old saying Patience in aduersitie is a goodly vertue and truely so it is and Patience is a rare vertue and so it may well bee because it is so seldome seene and neuer so seldome as in these our dayes wherein wee haue many motions to euill but few or none to that which is good We offer wrong we will take none Wee giue shrewde words to others wee can brooke none towards our selues Wee haue Eagles eyes to espy a mote in our Brothers eye but like blinde buzzards wee see none at all in our owne We complaine of euery griefe in our selues bee it neuer so little wee pitie none in others bee it neuer so great And therefore we had need both of Precepts to perswade and Examples to prouoke but I feare neither the one nor the other will preuaile or take place in vs. And why Mens hearts are steeped in bitter gall their hands are cruell their feete swift to shead bloud their braine busie to inuent mischiefe And to speake the truth without flattery Loue is lost Charitie is cold Faith is not to be found Pietie maketh mone being pinched by aduersitie and patience is gone beeing forced by extremity Wel what is to bee done in this wofull case Wee must comfort our selues with sentences and examples which are written for our
instruction in holy Scriptures Indeede this I must needs confesse that no kinde of crosse bee it of minde or body is simply on our parts to be wished because it is grieuous to flesh and bloud and not delightfull to the minde of man And yet notwithstanding such crosses and calamities are dayly to be expected of the godly and when they come patiently to be suffered without either murmuring or grudging against God that sendeth them or against man that offereth them Alwayes perswading our selues that they come not vnto vs by chance or fortune but by Gods diuine prouidence and permission who will not suffer one hayre of our heads to perish neither permit vs to be 1. Cor. 10. 13. tempted aboue our strength And therefore we may assure our selues in all our afflictions and tryals that GOD hath some good worke in hand the end whereof shall at last turne to our great ioy and comfort For we must weigh and consider with our selues that God our heauenly Father sendeth vs sundry crosses for sundry causes Sometime to set forth his glory might and Maiestie that hee may bee knowne to be a God Sometime to punish our former sinnes and thereby to call vs to repentance Sometime to keepe vs lest we fall into sinne and so forget God and this is good for vs. Sometime to try our faith and patience whether we be true or falseharted whether wee will cleaue vnto him or shrink from him And therefore in the middest of our aduersities our Sauior Christ doth comfort vs saying By your patience possesse your Luke 21. 19. soules that is Be of good comfort faint not but liue cheerefully vnder the crosse let patience bee a plaister for euery wound and a soueraigne salue for euery fore It seemeth that the Apostle Saint Paul was of the same minde in his experienced griefe where he saith Wee reioyce in tribulations Rom. 5. 3. knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience and patience experience and experience loue And therefore in his greatest perils by Land and by Sea at home and abroad yea euen when hee was whipped beaten stoned and cast into Prison he reioyced greatly So the 2. Cor. 11. 24. Apostles being beaten reioyce that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for Christs name Act. 5. 41. Therefore Cast not away Heb. 10. 35 your confidence which hath great recompence of reward 36 For yee haue neede of patience that after ye haue done the will of God ye might receiue the Promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Christ neuer commeth empty-handed Come he soone come he late he bringeth his Fathers blessing with him for all his louing children which patiently beare the rod of his correction And therefore happy is that seruant whose manners his Master amendeth while hee remaineth in this life that hee may be blessed in the life to come For our God is a plentifull rewarder of the patient if thou sustaine iniury he is a reuenger of wrong if thou sustaine losse he is a restorer of right if thou sustaine sicknes he is a skilfull Physician if thou suffer death he can raise thee vp to life Yea this patience is such a Noble Vertue that it fenceth our Faith preserueth Peace increaseth Loue helpeth Humilitie moueth Repentance ruleth the Flesh reuiueth the Spirit brideleth the Tongue refraineth the hand comforteth the poore and stayeth the rich of enemies it maketh friends it heapeth vp coales vpon their heads conuerteth their hatred into loue For we reade of cruell and wicked Tyrants who beholding the force of patience in the godly haue presently turned to God and forsaken their crueltie Lactantius maketh mention of one Tyrant which persecuted three Christians who when he beheld and saw their constancie and patience that they feared no punishment but meekly suffred torment he presently vowed said Et ego Christianus ero that is I will become a Christian also In like manner Nebuchadnezzar seeing the Faith Constancie and Patience of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the fierie furnace that they would not bee forced to worship his feigned and false god Bel hee was sodainely moued to blesse and praise the liuing God and say Blessed bee the God Dan. 3. 28. of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who hath sent his Angell and deliuered his Seruants that put their trust in him and haue changed the Kings commandement and yeelded their bodies rather then they would serue or worship any god saue their owne God Thus also the Vulgar sort when they see men torne in pieces with diuers kinde of torments as Whipping Racking Hanging Burning c. willingly to take their death yea and to wearie their Tormentors and Hangmen with their inuincible patience they are of the same minde that some were who beholding our Sauiour Christs end said Verily this was Mat. 27. 54. the Sonne of God So they seeing the patience constancie of these men are moued in their conscience to think as well they may that neither the consent of so many men neither the patience and constancie of those that dye is in vaine and that they were neuer able to ouercome such paine except God himselfe were with them for Traitors Murtherers Theeues and Malefactors neither can nor will abide such torment if by any meanes they may escape it But they cry they mourne they fret they fume they sweare they rage they blaspheme God and reuile men They despayre and are swallowed vp of sorrow Contrariwise the godly endure all aduersitie patiently and that with boldnes contemning the punishment threatnings of cruell tyrants resigning and committing themselues to God who in the middest of our misery sheweth most mercie Therefore the more wee are tryed by aduersitie the purer we are The more the Gold is beaten the better it is The more the iron is rubbed with the fyle the brighter it is The more the corneis threshed and fanned the cleerer it is So the more that God tryeth vs in the furnace of tribulation the more hee loueth vs and the more we glorifie him A Vessell if it be foule must bee scowred before Wine be put in it and be that will make his ground fruitfull must first pull vp the weedes before hee sowe good seede Euen so by these sharpe medicines of Gods correction must the body be purged that the mind may bring forth her due fruit in feare and reuerence The good Corne for a time lyeth vnder the Chaffe Flowers grow among weedes and the sweet Rose that smelleth commeth vp with the sharpe Thorne that pricketh So the godly for a time are kept vnder and vexed with the wicked and oftentimes God doth more punish them with pouertie paine and sicknes then he doth the wicked weeds of the world but all this is for out good to make vs more obedient in dutie towards his Maiestie And therfore all these crosses and losses are patiently of our parts to bee suffred as