c. And forasmuch O Lord as without faith we cannot be agreeable or acceptable vnto thee we beseech thee so to increase it in this thy seruant and in vs all that he may come to the last breath of life and we with him to perseuere therein and to be alwayes disposed to render a pure confession with heart and mouth as wee now present our selues vnto thee saying I beleeue in God c. This is his faith O Lord and ours giue vs grace to liue and dye herein through Iesus Christ our Lord who in vnity of the Holy Spirit liueth and raigneth with thee eternally Amen When there is apparencie that the sickenesse is mortall follow this forme Sir It behoueth you to bee of good courage in the middle of your affliction which it pleaseth God still to continue vpon your body and be assured that he hath neither sent or continued it but for the good and saluation of your soule to teach you by this meanes to vnderstand your selfe as being a poore sinner more and more to detest your sinnes contemne the world to lift you vp to God and to inuocate and call vpon him with much more feruour with assurance to be heard following his holy promises and to obtaine of him Christian Constancy which is most necessary for you in this tryall The assurance of the mercy of God in Iesus Christ the true ground of all Consolation That which ought most to comfort you and with courage and patience to strengthen you is the assurance which you ought alwayes to take that God for the loue of his welbeloued Sonne our Lord Iesus hath imbraced you into his loue and free fauour hath pardoned your offences hath adopted you and receiued you amongst the number of his children to make you inherite the Kingdome of Heauen by vertue of the purchase which Iesus Christ hath made for you by the merit of his death such an assurance will make you alwayes certaine that nothing can happen vnto you whether it be in life or death which can be any other then the fauour and blessing of your Heauenly Father and so consequently are aides and meanes ordayned by his wise prouidence to conduct you to the blessed life This assurance commeth from Faith It is true that this assurance wee cannot take of our selues it is our good God that giueth it when by the vertue of his holy Spirit and holy Word he createth in our hearts a true and a liuely faith with the which we receiue and wee appropriate the promises of his grace which he hath ordayned vs in the preaching of the gospel Which promises in effect are That God hath so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Ioh. 3.16 If God then hath giuen you the grace to beleeue in his only Son to embrace him for your Redeemer and Sauiour as we gather hitherto by the profession you haue made and still continueth in the Church you may take from thence a holy assurance that God according to the infallible truth of his Word hath receiued you into his loue that you shall not perish but haue euerlasting life Now being so what can you feare Rom. 8.30.31 If God be with vs who can be against vs Hee who hath not spared his owne Sonne but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall hee not with him also freely giue vs all things Hee hath giuen you the most that is his Sonne hee will not euerthelesse deny you any thing else that can be necessary for to keepe you from all sort of euill corporall and spirituall as well in life as in death Faith applyeth to all the faithfull the promises of the Gospell This application whereof I haue spoken which you must make to your selfe from the promises of the Gospel to gather such a holy assurance it is necessarily required by Faith For to beleeue in Iesus Christ it is not enough to beleeue in grosse that there is a Iesus Christ and who beleeueth in him hath eternall life neither is it enough to beleeue that the promises of the Gospell are altogether true the Diuell beleeueth so much yet notwithstanding hee hath no true beleeuing faith But to beleeue in Iesus Christ is when the faithfull beleeueth that there is saluation in Iesus Christ for him which the Diuell cannot beleeue And the true iustifying faith whereby the iust liueth chiefely consisteth in that that we apply and appropriate vnto our selues euery one in his own particular the promises of saluation that euery one in his owne behalfe may say that which St. Paul saith in the person of euery one of the faithfull Gal. 2.20 I liue in the faith of the Sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me and in the 2 Tim. 1.2 I know whom I haue beleeued and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day and Rom. 8.37.38 I am assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature can separate vs from the loue of God which he hath shewed vs in Iesus Christ our Lord. This faith doth not bring vs a simple opinion or coniecture of our saluation but a certaine knowledge following that which Saint Iohn saith 5.14 Wee know that we are translated from death to life And Iohn 10. We know that we are of God and I haue saith he 1 Ioh. 5.13 written these things to you which beleeue in the Name of the Sonne of God to the end that you should know that you haue eternall life This faith freely lets vs goe to the treasure of Gods grace Heb. 4.10 With assurance as hee saith in the 10.22 euen with a true heart and a full assurance of faith as Saint Paul saith Ephes 3.12 that by Iesus Christ we haue boldnesse and accesse in our beleefe by the faith which wee haue in him This faith is called Hebrewes 11.1 the substance of things hoped for that is to say that maketh things beleeued and hoped subsist in our soules neither more nor lesse then if we were already in the very Actuall possession and inioying This Faith maketh vs finde peace and rest in our soules and consciences chasing away the feares and terrours which sinne would set before vs with the apprehension of Gods iudgements following that which Saint Paul saith Rom. 5. Verse 1. That being iustified by faith we haue peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lord by the which also wee haue beene led by Faith to this grace wherein we hold our selues fast and glorifye our selues in the hope of the glory of God The gift of perseuerance assured to the Faithfull Moreouer these passages propound vnto vs this holy assurance of Faith not onely for the present but also to come and containeth a promise which God giueth vs to perseuere in this Faith euen to the
to prosper they must impute all to the blessing of God and not to their owne industry and sufficiency Besides they must looke well about them and not apply themselues to the proud distaste of their Auditors who in this Age desire eloquence more then solidity who would haue words without matter and sawces without meate who would haue their eares tickled and not their consciences pricked like vnto a wicked Porter who will not let an honest man enter in at the gate because he is not well apparelled In the meane while this is not the way to profit in the Word of God Doe you thinke with the flowers of eloquence you can perswade a man to suffer Martyrdome or with figures faire words you can comfort a man at the houre of death Is not the Gospell the medicine of our soules What auaileth it for the Phisitian to be eloquent if his medicine be wholesome Is not the Gospell the letter of grace and abolition of our crime then what matter is it in what termes it be written seeing that it bringeth vs out of captiuitie God in the Olde Testament commanded that his Altar should bee built with vnpollished stones to testifie that he loued simplicity in his seruice be assured of it that hee that hath most profited in a Sermon is not he that saith This man spoke very well but he that saith Oh I haue led an euill life how farre am I from the rules that this man hath propounded It is not he that wayeth periods of speeches but hee that soundeth his own conscience Those that ruminated were marked for cleane beasts you shall be cleane and agreeable sacrifices to God if you ruminate and meditate in your selues the Word of God I am certainely perswaded that all my Brethren and Companions in the worke of the LORD would wish with me that we were without words so you were without vices and that wee were despised so God might be glorified If they would haue efficacie in their Sermons they must speake with a holy boldnesse as God speaking by their mouth that they flatter not sinners but in good earnest make them feele their sinnes without exception of persons or flattering the great ones A rich man is taught no otherwise then a poore Selfe-same medicines serue for little and great Euen so it is in spirituall medicines Sermons without reprehensions are like Swords without points or Lampes where Oyle is powred in without enlightening of them To feare to touch the sinner lest hee should offend him is a cruell respect like vnto him that feareth to saue a man that is in drowning lest hee should hurt his arme or pull some of his haire away These wholesome effects of the Word of God are not without faith without which the Word cannot take roote or fructifie in our soules as the Apostle in the fourth to the Hebrewes saith that hearing of the Word hath not profited them because it was not mingled with faith Whereof St. Paul also after he hath saide that the Gospell is the power of God addeth to euery beleeuer This faith is not an historicall faith as that is of the Church of Rome which onely beleeueth in generall that all that which is contained in the word of God is true but it is a faith which hath knowledge added to beliefe which besides the generall knowledge applyeth the word of God in particular not onely saying that Iesus Christ dyed for sinners but also addeth with Saint Paul the second to the Galat. Iesus Christ hath loued me and hath giuen his soule for me Neither is it an inforced or circumuenting faith by the which they beleeue what the Church beleeueth or what the Curate beleeueth without knowing what they ought to beleeue neither wherefore this beliefe of the Church is the better One cannot beleeue by Aduocate neither is a man saued by the beliefe of another He that is perswaded that another can beleeue for him is in danger that another shall be in Paradise for him Habacucke telleth vs The iust shall liue by faith then he cannot liue by the faith of another Also it is not a faith of Miracles whereof the greatnesse of a graine of Mustard-seede can transport mountaines but the greatnesse of a Mountaine of this faith cannot remoue a soule out of hell into heauen which chaseth into another wicked spirits but cannot chase from it selfe wicked desires which healeth corporall maladies in another but cannot heale his owne soule from spirituall maladies but it is a faith which receiueth the promises of Iesus Christ with ioy which imbraceth him as good newes sent from Heauen who applyeth himselfe to the words which the Apostle said to the blinde Man that Iesus called be of good courage the Master calleth thee it is a faith that disburdeneth his sinnes vpon Iesus Christ which giueth repose and peace to the conscience which beholdeth the Booke of the Gospell with the same eye that a faithfull husband beholdeth his contract in marriage or a good Sonne that beholds the will of his Father who by it is incited to loue God and to glorifie him in workes and words iust in his actions humble in prosperity patient in aduersitie charitable to the Church burning in zeale of the house of God For without these things faith is a name without a thing a shadow without a Body and in stead of a beliefe a confusion and spirituall lethargie without this faith wee cannot please God Heb. 11. without this faith wee make God a lyar as doubting of the truth of his promises without this faith wee expose our selues naked to the temptations of the aduersary for it is a Buckler to beate backe the fiery darts of Sathan Be not yee then amazed that the blessings of Iesus Christ are sufficient for all yet neuerthelesse all cannot be saued because that all haue not faith for misbeliefe reiecteth the remedies which God presenteth and ouerthroweth the medicine This faith ought to be nourished and fortified by prayer by the hearing of the word of God by holy companies by all sort of good workes and although after all that infirmitie remaineth in you feare not your saluation with a trembling hand giue not ouer taking of Almes All those which beheld the brasen Serpent had not their sights equally good and neuerthelesse were equally healed God requireth not of vs a perfect faith but true without hypocrisie and which indeauoureth to fortifie it selfe and saith as the father of him that was possessed I beleeue Lord but helpe my infirmitie God which hath put these Treasures in a Vessell of earth which perfecteth his grace in our infirmitie in time of necessitie sustaineth our feeblenesse aboue all at the houre of death there he drieth vp the drops of bloud he saith to the faithfull soule feare not Christ Iesus is besides thee which sheweth thee a Crowne The faith of the faithfull cannot be confounded like the Nodes of Compasses in the middest of the sea remaine vnmoueable amidst the Tempest
which hee hath put into his hands you shall perceiue it to increase and to multiply it selfe in your hands and the blessing of God to be poured out vpon your trauaile Seeing that the Gospell is the sauing-power of God let let vs take heed aboue all we take not away this efficacie by a wicked life contrary to our preaching For as the staffe of Elizeus had not the same vertue in the hand of Gehazi that it had in Elizeus hand so the instructions that are in the mouth of a man fearing God are full of force but in the mouth of a prophane Minister they haue no vertue at all and therefore the eternall hath said to the wicked Wherefore dost thou take my words in thy mouth And Iesus Christ commanded Sathan to hold his tongue when he cryed thou art the Christ the Sonne of God knowing that the Gospell in the mouth of the Diuell loseth the authority For the people will neuer truely beleeue the Pastor as long as they see him do the contrary and be like the Trumpets who incourage to the Combat and keepe themselues out of the Battaile or like him thar carrieth the Lantern and seeth the least How will you that the people should come to be sober and modest in apparell to be chast and holy in words if the Ministers be disordered sumptuous in apparell and contemners of the name of God How would you that the people should be turned from their idlenesse and from Theaters and vnchaste loues and lechery if the Pastor himselfe be giuen to it Wherefore as in the time of Heli the sacrificer because of the sinnes of his Children the Oblation was not accepted Euen so because of the vices of Preachers the people misprise Preaching For which cause howsoeuer eloquent and learned they be they cannot escape the Iudgement of God they shall be like the Carpenters which builded the Arke and yet were drowned in the floud or like the Tirrians Sidonians who furnished Salomon with Materials for the building of the Temple and yet notwithstanding were strangers of the house of God and his allyance In generall Brethren wee exhort you in the name of God and for the compassion of the Lord by the precious bloud of his allyance by the honour which you haue to be the Children of God for that you are desirous of Gods glory and your owne saluation that you cherish and esteeme the Gospell of Christ and not be carelesse of this grace of God to haue made shine in this Country so clearely the clearenesse of his Gospell for it is arriued in these quarters that which happened in Ierusalem then when the Law was hidden in the Temple and they thought it to be lost it was found againe and came to light As to the wise men who reioyced with great ioy at the sight of the blasing Starre which brought them to Iesus Christ As to Saint Iohn Apoc. 5. who wept that there was none found worthy to open the booke because of the seales but afterwards hee was comforted for that the Lambe of God which was also called the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda came before and opened the booke to manifest to men the will of God You are of those to whom it was manifested with most clearenesse with least trouble and incommoditie But take heede that you be not of the number of those that Saint Iude speaketh of who turne the grace of God into dissolution and with Gods patience are become idle and negligent Take heed that the ease of the world do not make you forget what the Crosse of Christ is Know that although God exempt you to flie from your Countrey for the Gospel so it is that you ought to liue like Trauellers and Strangers on the earth for as much as God exempteth you from the Crosse that you ought to crucifie your flesh and mortifie euery affection Although you loose not your goods for Christs Gospell yet ought you to be ready to loose and to possesse as not possessing being charitable to the poore making you friends of vniust riches which will receiue you into euerlasting Tabernacles These things are represented vnto you by your Pastors with more Doctrine both of grace and familiarity But it is good that God bee glorified in euery tongue and that you acknowledge the ioy and delight which the Stranger Churches doe receiue of Gods benedictions poured out vpon you and the vnion which is betweene you in the same Doctrine and vnion of Faith The God of Heauen who hath giuen his Sonne for our Sauiour poure downe his graces from aboue vpon your gracious King inspire him more and more with holy resolutions for the good of his Church and conduct by his holy Spirit the Pastors of his flocke abundantly blesse the people which is chosen for his inheritance to the end that after hee shall bee serued of you to glorifie his Name in this world he may glorifie you in Heauen Amen FINIS THE COMFORT OF A Communicant Jn a Sermon made before the receiuing of the COMMVNION By Peter Moulin Minister in the Reformed Church at PARIS LONDON Printed by T.S. for Thomas Pauier and are to be sold at his shop in Iuie lane 1623. A SERMON made before the receiuing of the COMMVNION LVKE 2. VER 28.29.30 28 Simeon tooke the Child in his armes and blessed God and said 29 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy Word 30 For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation YOV know that in all Contracts of Marriage there is speach of death but the alliance of Iesus Christ with vs is a spirituall marriage The contract of this marriage is that which we call the Gospell a Contract whereof the Apostles haue beene the Writers and Iesus Christ himselfe hath sealed it with his bloud Let it not seeme strange vnto you then if we speake of death to day and of the preparation to die because we are to speake vnto you of a contract of marriage and of our coniunction with the onely Sonne of the Eternall God For these Sacraments which wee administer vnto you at this Holy Table are kinds of assurances which serue vs as pledges of the assurance that Iesus Christ is ours Now although the consummation of this marriage shall not fully be made but in the kingdome of Heauen and that no man can enter in but at this gate which is called death which in times past was the gate of Hell but Iesus Christ hath altered and transported it from that place and hath made it the port of Heauen from whence it followeth that no man can thinke of Iesus Christ and our coniunction with him but he must also thinke of death There is nothing more neerely conioyned together then the promises of life and the preparation to death it is impossible for vs to thinke of Iesus Christ but presently we must thinke that by his death he hath taken away the bitternesse and malediction of death like vnto that wood
end Otherwise where should be this assurance which the Apostle speaketh of of not being able to be separated from the loue of God in Iesus Christ Where should be this subsistance of things hoped for How should wee haue in our soules a solid peace with God How should wee finde our selues firme in this grace How can we glorifie our selues in the hope of the glory of God Such is then the incomprehensible bounty of this heauenly Father that he beginneth not in vs the worke of our saluation for to leaue it imperfect according as Saint Paul saith to the Philippians and in their persons speaketh also to all truely faithfull Phil. 1.6 I am assured that hee that hath begunne this good worke in you will perfect it euen to the comming of Iesus Christ As also he saith in another place Rom. 11.29 That the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance that is to say hee gaine sayeth not nor euer goeth from his word Against the obiection that this assurance of Faith should be a presumption It may not be that this certainty of Faith be blamed in vs and to be thought rashnesse and presumption for on the contrary it should be thought an extreame rashnesse and presumption if wee should not beleeue such excellent promises of our God And it is Humility and Obedience to receiue and rest vpon it with reuerence For it is said that he which hath receiued the Testimony of God hath sealed that God is veritable Iohn 3.33 that is to say subscribed and giuen approbation to the truth of God which he demonstrateth in the accomplishment of his promises and it is said on the contrary in the 1 of Iohn 5.10.11 That hee that beleeueth not God hee hath made him a lyar For hee hath not beleeued in the testimony which God hath witnessed of his owne Sonne and this is the testimony that God hath giuen vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne Two things might make vs rash and bolde in this assurance which we take of our saluation the one is if wee should build vpon the merit of our workes Rom. 3.20 For no flesh shall be iustified before God by the workes of the law and all those that seeke to be iustified thereby are vnder malediction so saith Saint Paul 3.10.2 It is not by our owne righteousnesse which is nothing whereupon wee build such an assurance but vpon the righteousnesse of him whom God hath made to be sinne for vs 2 Cor. 5.21 that is to say a sacrifice for sinne to the end that wee might be made the righteousnesse of God in him and by the obedience of whom we are made iust in exchange of our disobedience in Adam which made vs all sinners Rom. 5.19 The other point which might make vs bolde in this behalfe that if wee should presume to purchase such a knowledge of our saluation by the subtilty of our spirits as it is said that the Naturall man conceiueth not the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 But certainly we make account to haue receiued as the same Apostle 1 Cor. 2.12 Not the spirit of this world but the spirit which is of God to the end that wee should know the things which haue beene giuen vs from God Also hee saith in the same place 1 Cor. 2.9.10 That these things which are altogether incomprehensible God hath reuealed them by his holy spirit Finally hee addeth 1 Cor. 1.16 That by this meanes wee holde the intention of Christ But by this spirit of God are all those conducted which are the Children of God which the same Apostle saith Rom. 8.14 And hee is called The spirit of adoption and by him we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 that is to say wee cry and call vpon God as our Father And also it is This same spirit saith Saint Paul Rom. 8.11.16 which giueth testimony with our spirit that we are the Children of God In like sort the Apostle to the Ephesians saith 1.13.14 That when we belieue in the Gospell we are sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the purchased possession vnto the praise of his glory by which wee learne that the testimony of the Holy Ghost receiued into our hearts with Faith is like vnto a seale which the holy Spirit imprinteth in our hearts to assure vs of the promises of God and to assure vs that we are his Children and as men vse in the Market giuing of earnest that is to say a part of the price agreed for as well to beginne the payment as to make the bargaine irreuocable and assured that it may be kept firme Euen so the Holy Ghost which through Faith begetteth peace and ioy in our hearts is giuen vs for earnest of the Kingdome of Heauen Rom. 14.17 to the end to assure vs by this beginning of spirituall goods which God hath promised to his children that hee holdeth vs for his owne purchased possession to the praise of his glory and that without euer reuoking his promises hee will at last gather vs to the full fruition of the Inheritance in Heauen It is needfull if it be possible to draw from the mouth of the sicke person confession of his sinnes of his Repentance and his Faith if hee haue not the vse of his Tongue but of his vnderstanding it is necessary for him to answere by some signe Now Sir it behoueth you to take good courage and willingly to apply this holy doctrine for the comfort of your soule this doctrine hath been declared vnto you by the preaching of the Gospell in the Church of God whereof you haue beene a member it hath also beene confirmed vnto you by the vse of the Sacrament with whom you haue communicated Haue you not receiued it with Faith Patient I haue Also doe you not beleeue that God is not onely your Creator but sinne hauing lost you hee is your Sauiour in Iesus Christ Patient Yes Doe you not acknowledge that you are a poore and miserable sinner that if he should reckon with you according to your sinnes of necessitie he should make you perish in death and eternall damnation Patient Yes Are you not very heartily sorry and grieued so to haue offended and doe you repent your selfe euen with your whole heart Patient Yes Doe you not renounce all opinion and trust in our owne Righteousnesse for to repose your selfe intirely and your hope in the mercy of God by which he iustifieth and saueth vs in his blessed Sonne Iesus Christ Patient Yes Doe you not beleeue that he hath receiued you into his mercie that he is pleased and appeased with you and hath in grace reconciled you vnto him in the fauour and through the obedience and merit of the same Iesus Christ his Sonne who you firmely beleeue died for your sinnes and is risen for your iustification Patient Yes Now I beseech God to confirm increase you more more in this faith following the which
you need not doubt a certaine assurance to be iustified and saued seeing that God hath giuen you this grace to beleeue with your heart to Righteousnesse and to make confession with your mouth to saluation Rom. 1.1 For the sicke person to resolue whether it be for life or death according to Gods will Being thus resolued vpon this firme foundation of faith now you must take a holy resolution constantly to attend without all feare what the Lord will be pleased to send vnto you in this your sicknesse with a firme perswasion that all will goe well with you whether it bee you shall remaine here below or that it be his pleasure to make you more happy If his pleasure be to restore you to former health againe as he is powerfull to draw the dead out of the sepulcher and make them liue againe which will bee if hee please for to make you more affectionate to the honour and seruice of God then euer heretofore you haue beene But if it be his will to leade you by this sickenesse to the end of your course it will be to receiue you into the possession of that perfect felicity which the Sonne of God hath so dearely bought with the price of his blood And therefore goe your wayes vnto him with a holy chearefulnesse in the assurance of his mercies Reioyce your selfe in the happy exchange of your remouing from earth to Heauen from this short and miserable life to the blessed life for euer to endure from these triuiall and perishing goods to those that are heauenly and eternall which eye hath not seene nor eare hath heard which are not yet come vp into the heart of Man which God hath prepared for those that loue him Are you not then well resolued in all this to conforme your will to your Heauenly Father to the end that whether you liue you liue to the Lord or whether you dye you die to the Lord Rom. 14.8 being well assured that Christ shall be alwayes to you to liue or to dye Phil. 1.21 Patient Yes God giue you the grace For to assure and comfort the sicke in the infirmitie of Faith I am not ignorant that your faith how great soeuer it may be yet notwithstanding it is both little in you and feeble for whilest the infirmities of this life remaine the Holy Spirit is not giuen vs but in a certaine measure according to the which we know not but in part and our spirituall renuing is yet but in the beginning it is certaine that here below we cannot attaine to the perfection of faith and therefore I doubt not but that your faith is yet weake and infirme and that it cannot but be moued with diuers temptations and combated with diuers assaults of doubt and distrust But yet neuerthelesse it behoueth you to be of good courage for this combat which you feele in your selfe is the combat which as Saint Paul saith to the Galatians 5. v. 17. is in the soule of euery faithfull betweene the flesh and the Spirit and therefore this is a sure testimony which you haue by faith For as the flesh fighteth in you through vnbeliefe so doth the Spirit fight in you by faith and this faith neuer faileth being fortified by the Spirit of God which maketh a man victorious and whatsoeuer imperfection it hath God will make it sufficient to saluation for it is not said Who shall perfectly beleeue shall be saued but simply Who shall beleeue Moreouer as you perceiue in your selfe your faith feeble and imperfect also I doubt not but you perceiue in your selfe a Holy desire that it may be encreased in you and made stronger and that in your heart you make your prayers to God that it may be so Is it not true Patient Yes But seeing it is so and that this faith and desire may encrease in you and that this prayer which you make to God proceed from the fruit of the Spirit and not of the flesh and seeing these are the fruits which the Spirit of God bringeth forth in you is it not a sure testimony that you are conducted by the same Spirit and so consequently the child of God for all those that are conducted by the Spirit of God are the children of God which Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.14 Be of good cheere Sir and boldly say with the Apostle in the middest of your combats I am assured that nothing can seperate me from the loue of God which he hath shewed mee in Iesus Christ our Lord. For to assure the sicke against the affrights and temptations of Conscience There are foure things to be marked which in this spirituall combat may affright you shake your faith and trouble the peace of your conscience which is the feeling of your sinnes the apprehension of death the feare of the Diuell and the horror of Gods Iudgements before whom wee must make our appearance at the going out of this life But against the feare of all these things the bounty of God in the blessings of Christ and in the testimony of his Word furnisheth you with all sufficient remedies for to assure you and truely to confirme you in inuincible constancy Against feare proceeding from the feeling of sinne First of all for the respect of your sinnes it is very necessary to haue a liuely feeling thereof for to humble your selfe before God but seeing yon protest to haue a serious and true repentance and to search and apprehend by faith the satisfaction and expiation in the blood of Iesus Christ assure your selfe they can no way hinder the effect of your saluation If you bee a sinner So Iesus Christ is come into the world to saue sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1.29 It is his blood which cleanseth vs from all iniquitie 1 Iohn 1.7.9 And whosoeuer shall beleeue in him shall receiue remission of his sinnes through his Name Acts 10.43 And therefore he hath commanded that repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes should bee preached in his Name Luke 24.47 Hee himselfe inuiteth vs to come to him for to enioy this blessing Come vnto me all yee that labour and are ouer-laden and I will refresh you Matth. 11.28 Goe your wayes then vnto him if you finde your selues grieued with the burthen of your sinnes in assurance to finde remedy for your soules And for that very thing euery day hee maketh himselfe an Aduocate to the Father for vs. If we haue sinned saith Saint Iohn 2.1.2 wee haue an Aduocate with the Father that is to say Iesus Christ the Iust who is the propitiation for our sinnes Against the feare of Death In regard of death wherefore doe you feare it seeing that your sinnes are no more imputed vnto you for sinne was the cause that death entred into the world as Saint Paul Rom. 5.12 and by consequence there where no sinne is there can be no death And indeed concerning death eternall which the Scripture
pardon of all those that might haue beene offended by you Patient Yes Now Sir it behooueth vs to addresse our prayer to God to the end that he will be pleased to fortifie you in faith which hee hath giuen you and to make his graces more and more abound in you and it is your part to humble your selfe with vs before him and to lift vp your heart to him to implore his Mercy from the bottome of your Heart A Prayer for the sicke when there is any signe of death O Lord our God Mercifull Father we are very vnworthy to lift vp our eyes vnto thee our sins and wicked deedes are so many wherewith wee are so polluted before thy face neither is this out of the confidence of our owne worth to be thus bolde to present our selues at the feete of thy diuine Maiesty but in the assurance of the great Compassions and perfect obedience which thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord hath made for vs with the righteousnesse whereof wee beseech thee couer vs with thy grace to the end wee may be by his fauour made agreeable and reconciled vnto thee But wee beseech thee O good God particularly vouchsafe thy great mercy to this thy poore seruant so feeble mightily deiected vnder thy powerfull hand poore sinner remaining vnder the weight and rigour of thy high Iustice if thou doest not extend thy great clemency towards him Giue him grace good Lord to enter more and more into a serious examination and acknowledgement of his faults to conceiue that true detestation which alwayes bringeth forth true repentance and set him forward intirely to renounce himselfe and his owne way to haue all his refuge in thee and in thy bounty In the meane while receiue him gratiously O Lord shew him the face of a father and assure and comfort him Say to his soule Soule I am he that can warrant thee Dispose of his heart patiently to receiue with Action of graces this Fatherly correction which thou hast sent him and to put himselfe wholly into thy hands to submit himselfe peaceably vnder all that thou shalt please to lay vpon him by thy holy prouidence Lord thou knowest better then he himselfe or any of vs what is most conuenient whether he shall liue or die If thy good pleasure be that hee shall liue let it be that he may onely liue to thee in such sort that hauing profited well by thy chastisements he may learne to loue thee honour and serue thee all the dayes of his life in thy Church perpetually studying to bring sorth fruits of piety and holinesse worthy of thy Gospel and conuenient for a childe of such a Father so that in him thou maist be glorified and his neighbours edified But contrarily of the other part it be thy pleasure to take him out of this miserable world assure him that it shall be to put him into the possession of thy Heauenly kingdome which thou hast prepared before the foundations of the world and which thy Sonne hath purchased by the merit of his death To this end O Father of light from whom proceedeth euery good gift that thou wilt be pleased to giue him a true and a liuely faith with the which he may search find and apprehend the propitiation for his sinnes and the true righteousnes in the obedience of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who hath suffered for our sinnes and risen againe for our iustification and ascended into Heauen to take possession in our Name and by this meanes giueth vs accesse and entrance which sinne had banished vs from Imprint in his heart a full assurance of all these thy graces to the end that by this meanes he may peaceably repose himselfe in thy mercy and happily ouercome all the snares and temptations which Sathan and his owne flesh would put before him to trouble the clearnesse of his faith and tranquility of his conscience That his sinnes then may not make him despaire because thy Iustice hath been so well payed not with gold or siluer but with the pretious blood of thy Christ as of the Lambe without spot or blemish Let not death affright him seeing sinne is abolished and destroyed in him which is the sting of death who now is disarmed and without all power that his spirit being separated from the body by this corporall death it shall be to come triumphantly to thee and deliuered from the captiuity of sinne to the end to taste of the enioying the most happy life which he neuer tasted in this world but by hope leauing his body in the earth but not for euer but to be refined transformed in time conuenient made conformable to the glorious body of his Redeemer by the benefit of his resurrection So Sathan shall no more astonish him but by sinne and death which he hath vtterly lost all power in ouer our visited Brother Assuring him in the end that this accuser can intend nothing against him before the Throne of thy iustice seeing hee is absolued iustified by thy grace there is no iudge that can condemne him That thou wilt also be pleased O good God to be likewise mercifull to all other sicke soules comfort and fortifie them according as thou knowest them needfull and aboue all giue them grace alwayes to embrace with a true and liuely faith thy mercy in Iesus Christ wherein they may euer be comforted Good Lord vouchsafe vnto vs all this grace that this example may profite and teach vs to renounce the world and our selues to imploy that time we haue here below to meditate thy wisedome walke carefully in thy feare retyre our hearts from the vanities of this life to raise them vp to attend and meditate vpon the Heauenly life and to this end to be alwayes prepared to appeare before thee with assurance to be gathered and receiued into thy mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord In whose name we beseech thee O Father of mercy heere vs in these things and in all other things which thou knowest better to be necessary for thy poore seruant and for vs then we doe our selues as we doe now request thee in that prayer which thou hast commanded vs to present our selues before thee Our Father which art in Heauen c. Lord giue vs a good increase of Faith which thou hast planted in the heart of this thy childe and seruant defend him as with a Buckler by the which he may extinguish all the fiery darts of the Diuell and make him perseuere constantly therin vntill the very last breath of his life and that hee may alwaies at the least in his heart render vnto thee a pure and Christian confession as we now present with heart and mouth I beleeue in God the Father Almighty c. This is his Faith O Lord and ours giue vs grace to liue and dye in it through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord who in the vnitie of the Holy Spirit
one that goeth out of prison that is to say with cheerefulnesse and assurance of saluation yet neuerthelesse wee make too much lamentation for him which is wrong to Iesus Christ as if his children were with him in misery it is also a wrong to the deceased for if wee should but taste a few drops and behold but the sparkles of the glory and contentment which they receiue with God we would say our teares are iniurious and wherfore should we enuy their repose Doubtlesse if our tears could bring him againe we ought not to doe it for they would say Wherefore hast thou troubled our rest and brought our soules againe into this filthinesse and put vs againe into the combat after the victory They had rather that we would prepare our selues to goe to them and that we will thinke they are not lost but gone before vs and let our chiefe worke bee to prepare our selues to dye instead of mourning for them and turne our mourning with a holy feare into a holy care and deepe contemplation And indeed the reason why God so soone taketh from vs those we so much affect is that hee would haue a pledge of vs in taking the one halfe of our selues vnto him to the end we may so dispose of our selues that he may also haue the rest and that all our desires may runne that way in so much that there be nothing in the house nor in the chambers nor moueables nor bookes whereof the dead was owner but that it may aduertise vs to be dissolued and in good time whilest it is day-light to dispose of our Soules euer thinking to goe the same way and to follow that currant These thoughts ought to change our sorrowes and desires and turne our mindes from the memory of euils past towards the blessings to come and to change sadnesse into hope and forepast euils into aduertisements to come Yet notwithstanding I find it sometimes very fit to be sorrowfull but with such a kinde of respect as it be alike for those that are without as for those that are at home When God taketh any that was an example of vertue and that was of speciall worth in the Church we ought to say God is angry hee maketh a breach in his house this world was vnworthy of so great vertue it presageth our miserie as the death of Iosias was presently followed with the Captiuity of Babylon or like the death of S. Augustine after which presently succeeded the ruine of the citie where he was Bishop For the life of this good man stayed the iudgement of God and was a kinde of Rampart to the Church Also Elizeus althogh he were old feeble hauing nothing but a staffe to vphold his weaknesse yet neuerthelesse it serued Israel for an entire Army which is called by King Ioram The Chariot of Israel disarmed and his men of War As if he should haue saide that by his death Israel was disarmed and all the force it had quite taken away For euen as we see Swallowes remoue their yong from an olde house that is like to fall euen so the soules of the Saints flie from this earth here below before the ruine thereof This kinde of dolour is healed with feare and the euill that one feareth is cured by amendment of life and the death of the faithfull shall then greatly profit if with the sorrow we learne to forme our selues by the example of the deceased I thinke good Brethren that such thoughts as these possessed the kindred and friends of Simeon by which they were not onely comforted in his death but also instructed and edified But as for Simeon how doe you thinke he prepared himselfe to dye and with what resolution did he goe before His prayer to God sufficiently sheweth when hee saide Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace Note well what hee saith Now without asking any delay He was prepared for it long before hauing nothing else to doe in the world but to die Like a Ship at Anchor which is already rigged and trimmed attending onely the wind at last it came and that winde was the Messias Hee is not the first seruant of God nor the last that desired to die Elias before him 1 Kings 19. said to God he was sorry to see the Idolatrie of Israel It is enough O Eternall now take my soule for I am no better then my Fathers And after him Saint Paul Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ And in another place I desire to dye and to be with Christ The end wherefore Simeon desired to dye was to enter into peace He calleth death a peace or a repose as Isaiah saith The iust is dead hee shall enter in peace they repose vpon their beds whosoeuer shall haue walked before him and so the spirit of God saith in the 14. of the Apoc. Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for they Now saith the spirit rest from their labours Also death is called a peaceable sleepe as in the 2. of Iohn Lazarus our friend sleepeth but I goe to awake him And Saint Stephen slept after he had said Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Daniel 12. saith That many of those that sleepe in the earth shall rise to eternall life It is the language of Heauen the stile of the heauenly Court and the saying of the word of God to call sleepe that which we call death from whence it commeth that the Church-yard where the dead are buried is called a Resting place or a sleeping place For first of all euen as we put off our cloathes before we goe to sleepe euen so our soules going to rest put off our bodies Secondly if we sleepe quietly we must put off all care and lay it vnder the Pillow euen so to dye quietly and peaceably wee must put off all care and earthly thoughts and hauing disposed of our House as God said to Ezechias for the best Will you can make leaue your Soule to God who shall not be more rich but you shall be more happy Himselfe dying left his Purse to Iudas his Body to the earth but left his Soule to his Father for of that was his onely care Also euen as those that are sober and liue orderly sleepe with quietnesse but disordered people and Drunkards rest with terrour and griefe euen so shall they dye peaceably and religiously who haue so liued but those that haue liued disorderly and like Swine are in danger to dye wofully and lamentably And euen as the King Assuerus when he could not sleepe called for his Chronicle that after the reading thereof he might take rest so ought the faithfull during their liues exercise themselues in the reading of the holy Scripture which is the History and the lawes of the hand of their Father and to sleepe thereupon in a peaceable and sweet death And as in sleepe the body is vnmoueable but the soule moueth and exerciseth so whilst the Body remaineth in death
the Soule liueth to God and followeth the Lambe filled with the fulnesse of the presence of the Lord. And as one may obserue of those that sleepe very soundly yet if they be but called by their Names they will rise vp in astonishment so Iesus Christ at the last day shall call all the faithfull and they shall suddenly awake and come out of the Graue euen as he raised Lazarus when hee did rise after hee had called him by his name We may also say that after sleepe we finde refreshment our strength renewed so after death our strength shall be renewed with another kinde of vigour then euer we had before Briefly as the profound sleepe of Adam brought him forth a Wife so our death will bring vs neare vnto Iesus Christ our true Espouse who marrieth vs in Righteousnesse and Mercy for there is nothing but peace in Heauen in earth nothing but confusion Neare vnto the earth are Windes and Raine and heat after colde but high vp in the ayre nothing moueth So what peace must that be in Heauen where the King of peace himselfe raigneth and where the blessed spirits ioyne their Songs and affections to praise serue God with a holy Harmony Of the peace of the Blessed the faithfull feele here a kinde of taste which is the peace of Conscience giuing them repose euen vpon the torture which sustaineth Martyrs maketh them easily digest pouertie and misery by the inward contentment they feele in the loue of God to be reconciled vnto him through Iesus Christ For euen as a man that is in health will sleepe vpon a Bench but he that is sicke of the Stone cannot rest vpon a Bed euen so the tranquility of conscience maketh a man content amidst the incommodities of this life but the wicked in prosperitie finde no rest Doe you thinke it strange that Iacob slept quietly albeit he had but a stone for his Pillow seeing that God spoke to him sleeping and shewed him the gate of Heauen opened I thinke Ionas had more rest in the Whales belly then Iezabel in her bed or Nabuchadnezzar vpon his Throne whereof the Apostle in the 4. of the Phil. calleth the peace of Conscience the peace of God and saith that it passeth all vnderstanding Whereupon I gather that if the first Pastes and sparkes of eternall peace surpasse all vnderstanding how much more then the full repose and full peace with eternall contentment The faithfull seruants of God hauing but halfe dipped in the end of the finger into this Hony as Ionathan did had their eyes enlightened and with this sweetnesse ouercome the bitternesse of death and Saint Paul before he dyed tasted of this glory being rauished in spirit into the third heauens when hee came to speake of these things hee said that these are things which is not lawfull to expresse and putting his finger in his mouth glorifyeth himselfe in his infirmities and in his approbriousnesse for the name of Christ And Dauid in the 80. Psalme asketh in this life al the contentment that a man can haue in this world in asking That God would shine vpon him with the clearenesse of his face and yet this clearenes commeth from a-farre It is but like a little Raye of the Sunne shining through a little hole into a darke plaee what will this be then when the day shall shine all out so cleare and that God will shine clearely vpon vs so neare that he will shew his face vnto vs which no man did euer see and liue as God saith to Moses Many giue money for olde Coines and the formes of the buildings of auncient times but how much would a man giue to see the persons of those times and how much more would a man giue to see Abraham Isaack Iacob Dauid the Prophets and the Apostles To see the least of them you would trauaile a thousand leagues and how much more then would you giue to see all to see them all and all free from sinne and infirmitie such as they are in the Kingdome of God And how much more then aboue all the rest to see this Iesus Christ which is declared in the word and figured by the Sacraments who hath suffered all euill for vs who descended vpon earth for to raise vs vp to heauen who took vpon him our flesh to cloathe vs with his holy spirit who made himselfe the sonne of Man to make vs the Children of God who suffered death to giue vs life who daily receiueth our prayers presenteth them to God sendeth his Angels from aboue and maketh his blessings daily fall downe vpon vs your eyes see it which is declared vnto you amongst the troubles and throngs of this world you see it in the peace which Simeon did waite for Truely we doe but lightly esteeme these things a humane spirit moueth but with one wing we haue a greater desire vnto it then capacity to vnderstand it For wee ought to be more occupied in keeping on the high way to come to this peace then in the contemplation of the excellencie thereof We shall know it one day now let vs striue onely to tend that way This thought putteth another into my minde and maketh me admire many persons who know and beleeue these things and yet are not once moued therewith who knowing the truth being in their decrepit age and in the bed of death yet notwithstanding feare to confesse God for the displeasure of men they would willingly say with Simeon Lord now let thy seruant depart in peace but the feare of men hindreth them from making their peace with God what hope they for or what feare they in this world who for an houre of life that they yet haue in this world would lose eternall life who to please men in dying would displease God after death There is certainely besides hardnesse and rebellion a blindnesse and an euident folly Some will say this peace is to be wished for I aspire to it euen with all my heart but the way to come thereto is very hard to finde out the passage to death is dolorous fearefull and Sathan lyeth in Ambush euen in the way and all the feare and feeblenesse and sorrow that is there is purposely placed to intrap a man in such extremitie it is a good thing to be dead but a grieuous thing to dye I confesse that death is very terrible in nature Men care to dye when they can deferre it no longer Many cut off Legges and Armes to saue the rest and are very glad so to liue with the one halfe of their body there are many troubled with the stone that resolue to be cut and although the combat be great yet they hope to escape but if they were assured to die they would resolue to be twenty yeares tormented Neuerthelesse he saith that death is not so terrible as they make it principally to the faithfull which are prepared for it It is not death that is so grieuous but the
can value with any price Let our pietie shine cleerely for the instruction of our families and not shew our selues carelesse but carefull to make them know the riches of saluation with the means how it must be attained otherwise we are no better than the executioners of their soules worse than bruit beasts who but for a while care for their young ones or like those that sacrificed their children to Baal I say if we consent that they be nourished with the milke and venome of spirituall whoredome we doe as much as we can to make them one day participate of the malediction of the eternall euen as if we had vowed to be instruments to deliuer them vp into the hands of Satan which we do testifie if against our knowledge and conscience we nourish them not vp in the waies of the Lord. Let vs apply our whole studie to that after a sort doing as God hath committed to our charge for their holy conuersation to publish to euery one the truth of our profession as a thing that we make most esteeme of I pray you where is he that is borne of a noble familie who is not iealous to be acknowledged for one of that race What Lord will not set out his Titles and will not weare his Armes euen in the best places for to be most beheld although it be but of small continuance and little better than pure vanitie yet can it hold no comparison with this Title so high aboue all so full of glory the top of all Honour this Title I say of the childe and seruant of God coheire with Christ dignities O the most Noble and magnificent which make Monarks happie not for a while but eternally in regard whereof all other things be they neuer so pretious which are vnder Heauen are much lesse than nothing euen most vnhappy if this other be not adioyned vnto it and moreouer if the noble man of the family in his Armes will not suffer to take away or adde any thing lest the world should detract from his dignitie how much more should we be carefull to commit any thing that is not conuenient who are truly the children and seruants of God and in contempt of the world enforce our selues to walke in integritie and striue to be so esteemed which if we doe not how can we be esteemed to be in the grace and fauour of Heauen let vs not then be ashamed of the truth of Christs Gospell which is the vertue of God to saluation vnto all beleeuers for alas if it be so that we are become so bruit and bestiall that to possesse the world or for feare of it we will dissemble the knowledge that is in vs the Sonne of God himselfe saith vnto vs Luke 9.26 euen as we haue denied him before men he will also denie vs before his Father and there will be ashamed of vs and very iustly Let vs then hold the confession of our hope without varying for any thing according as S. Paul teacheth vs That that which is present and to come height depth pouertie nakednesse persecution affliction nor death nor life shall not separate vs from the loue of Christ alwaies prepared in euery place and before all to render a reason to euery one of the hope that is in vs and as truly faithfull let vs take our neighbours by the hand and say let vs goe vp to the Mountaine of Sion into the house of the God of Iacob and there will he teach vs his waies and let vs one stirre vp another to Charitie and good Workes without swaruing from the companie of the faithfull for S. Paul saith If we willingly sin after we haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there is no more sacrifice for sinne but a terrible looking for iudgement and a furie of fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Representing vnto vs that if any haue misprised the Law of Moses he was without all mercie put to death from thence then conclude how much greater torment doe they deserue who haue the bloud of IESVS CHRIST in no reuerence or holinesse by which they haue beene sanctified doing this iniurie euen to the spirit of grace afterwards that this commeth to be knowne the custom is to depriue such odious people of great mens fauours which maketh all faire designes proue abortiue this is no true nor faire proceeding but rather an incouragement still to continue in their wicked waies Here must the place be of the wrastling behold the Combat but before we enter the lists let vs know our enemies they are the World and the Flesh shall we aske of our enemies conuenient things to destroy them No that would be worse than to cast flaxe into the fire to quench it For to defend our selues from the first assault let vs ranke our selues like Daniel Sidrack Misack and Abednego let vs march their pace and we shall serue our selues with the like Armes of Martyrs which they did hauing our reines girt with the girdle of Truth cloathed with the brest-plate of Righteousnesse and our feete with the preparation of the Gospell of peace in euery thing taking the buckler of Faith the helmet of Saluation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God renouncing our selues to follow IESVS CHRIST as euery true Christian ought so shall we passe a greater conflict than this we haue at this present if we meete it and shall remaine conquerers as they haue done which haue not only knowne but also followed the will of the Eternall and not the sensualitie of the Flesh of the World a gift of God which he giueth to all that aske it of him with confidence knowing that the Almightie curseth the man that putteth his trust in Man and in the flesh of the arme for the greatest is but vanitie and lies and whosoeuer should weigh al the great ones of the earth against nothing yet should they all be found more light than nothing But they haue not waited for saluation from any other soueraigne but reposed wholly in him Doe we not see that there neuer was any Monarch in the world that displeased God but presently was reduced to nothing doe we want any proofes that God euer failed in his promises neither hath it beene euer knowne but the wrath of God followed him that trusted in his owne arme and power were it neuer so powerfull let vs at last renounce it for he that hath nothing but earthly force hath none at all Let vs therefore follow the counsell of Dauid and put our trust alwaies in God for he is good and will giue vs all that is conuenient mightie in power and truth and vnmoueable in all his promises for to bring euery thing to passe therfore let vs all say with him God is my force and my hope neither is there any other helpe but from him Psalme 28. Thou that fearest thy Honours and fearest that the goods of the earth will leaue thee which when they haue done so
in the Eucharist and euen at the same time the deuill entred into him can it bee conuenient or possible to thinke that Iesus Christ and the deuill entred into one body together and remained together One thing I thinke is very conuenient that in euery Sacrament as also at the sacrifice it is necessary that the thing which they administer to the people and that they offer to God bee consecrated but in the Eucharist of the Roman Church there is nothing of consecrate which is administred to the people nor which is offered to God for is this the bread which is consecrated No way for they say it is no more bread Is it the body of Iesus Christ it is not for Iesus Christ cannot bee consecrated but it is he that consecrateth vs. Are these the accidents of bread which are consecrated that they call formes that is to say the roundnesse the colour and taste of the bread It is not neither for these things are not offered to God in sacrifice neither are they giuen to the people for to sanctifie them But behold one Sacrament and one sacrifice where there is nothing consecrated where he doth make a Consecration but they cannot say what it is that is consecrated All this abuse commeth by the fault of some Priests who could if they would make vs all agree very easily in one way For all confesse that Iesus Christ hath instituted the holy Sacrament as it ought to bee and that there is nothing to say against it If then the Pope would reduce the Holy Supper into the same forme wherein Iesus Christ instituted it in speaking as hee did and doing as hee did without further dispute we should all agree and so wee should all come to be of one assembly vnanimously to glorifie God By this meanes diuine seruice should bee done in the vulgar tongue there should be no more priuate Masses All should communicate vnder both kindes there should be no more adoration of the Hoast nor any eleuation of the sacrifice the Priests bending ouer the Altar should not pray to God for saluation through the merit of Saints whose bones and reliques are hidden vnder the Altar But contenting our selues with the prescribed simplicity of Iesus Christ wee should reiect these additions which disfigure this Sacrament vnder the shadow of adorning it God giue vs grace to see this happy time and to that end dispose of the hearts of Princes and people for the loue of IESVS CHRIST our LORD Amen FINIS COMFORTABLE INSTRVCTIONS for the SICKE By Peter Moulin Minister in the Reformed Church at PARIS LONDON Printed by T.S. for Thomas Pauier and are to be sold at his shop in Iuie lane 1623. Short and Familiar Instructions to comfort the SICKE When the sicknesse appeareth not to be mortall For the comfort of the party one may thus beginne SIR it behooueth you first to acknowledge that this sickenesse is not fallen vpon you by chance but by the wise conduct and prouidence of Almightie God our Creator and Father who so disposeth of prosperitie and aduersity health and sicknesse vpon his children that he neuer sendeth either the one or the other but to his owne glory and the parties good and saluation As the Apostle Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.27 Wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God He purposely speaketh of afflictions wherein sicknesses are ranked Those people loue God who are first loued of him and as the Apostle saith called according to his owne determinated purpose That you are of this number you haue occasion to take assurance by the faith which hee hath giuen you in making you beleeue that he is your Father and Sauiour in his Welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord by which you receiue the spirit of adoption which is that that witnesseth with our spirit that we are the children of God Heires and co-heires with Christ Rom. 8.11.16.17 You must also take assurance by the sanctification of his holy spirit by which he hath brought you into his obedience For those that are led by the spirit of God are the children of God But to those which are such the Apostle Saint Paul saith that euery thing workes together for good afflictions sicknesses euen death it selfe all that they haue is turned by the grace of God to their owne profit and great good and for the aduancement furtherance of their saluation Three principall fruits God maketh vs gather of our maladies and afflictions The first is the amendement of our life which awaketh vs out of our sinnes For both in health and prosperity it is too ordinary to flatter and cherish our selues in sinne by reason of our great corruption in Nature which maketh vs inclined to all euill and vnprofitable to any good it is therefore necessarie to looke about vs and become more sensible of our sinnes to retire our selues and to be displeased with them which is made by the meanes of sicknesses and other aduersities of this life occasioned by sinne and very often purposely sent from God to chastise and correct vs and in that this good Father of Heauen sheweth how much he loueth vs hindering our vndoing and confusion in our inordinate life like a good Father that very well loueth his Children hee chastiseth and correcteth vs to hinder and draw vs backe againe lest we should be lost as Saint Paul saith in the 1. of the Corin. 32. Verse When we are afflicted we are taught by the Lord to the end we should not be condemned with the world and in another place he saith Heb. 12. Ver. 6.7 and 11. That the Lord chastiseth him he loueth and beateth euery childe whom he auoweth If you endure Chastisement God presenteth himselfe vnto vs as to his Children For who is the childe that the Father correcteth not and although that all discipline in the instant seeme not to be of ioy but of sadnesse neuerthelesse it brings a peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to those that thereby are exercised It behooueth vs therefore first of all to gather this excellent fruit of our sicknesses to feele the innumerable number of our sinnes and offences wherof we are culpable before God to aske pardon of him in all humility and repentance and to make a holy protestation to liue better hereafter and to walke in his obedience and feare by the grace of God and the conduct of his holy Spirit which we ought to aske with ardent prayers and with an assured faith to be heard according to his promises And so we may say with Dauid that excellent seruant of God Psal 119. Ver. 6â— 92. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I haue kept thy word It is good for mee that I haue beene afflicted that I might learne thy statutes Now we may behold the sicknesses of our Bodies how they come to be by Gods grace wholsome medicines for our soules The second good which sicknesses bring vs is to vnloose and pull away
liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally Amen If the sicke person continue long and still in danger of death it will be conuenient to repeat at times necessary the abouesaid Comforts but especially those which are to assure and fortifie against the temptations and combats of Conscience And if it happen the sicke party be troubled with idle talke or cannot vnderstand a long discourse vse short sentences such as hereafter followeth speaking but at sometimes Sir it behooueth you to take good courage it is the fatherly hand of God that visiteth you for your good and saluation For to those whom God loueth all things worke together for good Lift vp your heart to God and confesse your sinnes and offences and imbrace by faith his mercy in Iesus Christ which hee hath promised to all those that repent and beleeue in him Haue you not alwaies a good assurance in the mercy of God a firme faith in Iesus Christ your Sauiour Patient Yes Doe you not beleeue that Iesus Christ is dead for your sinnes and risen againe for your iustification Patient Yes Doe you not beleeue that hee hath before the Father beene your wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Patient Yes Doe you not thinke that hee hath freely iustified you by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Iesus Patient Yes Following this your faith doubt not but God will warrant you from all perdition and giue you euerlasting life For God hath giuen his Sonne to the end that whosoeuer shall beleeue in him shall not perish but haue eternall life Ioh. 16. Feare not death seeing by faith you imbrace Iesus Christ who is your life I am saith he the resurrection and the life who shall beleeue in me although he be dead shall liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall neuer dye Ioh. 11.25.26 If your sinnes doe afflict you addresse your selfe alwaies by faith and runne to Christ Iesus and you shall finde rest to your soule Come to mee saith Saint Matthew 11.28 all you that labour and are ouer-laden and I will ease you Doubt not the rigour of Gods iustice for there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Iesus as the Apostle Saint Paul saith Rom. 8.1 And who is he Rom. 8.32.33 that will bring in accusation against the elect of God God is hee that iustifieth who will be hee that shall condemne Christ is he which is dead and which is more is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. Be not sorry to leaue this miserable life which as Saint Iames saith 4.14 is but a vapour which appeareth a little while and afterwards vanisheth besides in exchange thereof euerlasting life shall be giuen vnto you and in that the very height of felicity so great and incomprehensible That eye hath not seene nor eare vnderstood and is not come vp into the heart of man that which God hath prepared for those that loue him When the sicke person is apparantly at the point of death or ready to yeeld vp the Ghost it is necessary to repeat this short consolation following with prayer Comfort your selfe Sir you now approach neare vnto the end of the Combat which cannot be otherwise but happy vnto you assure your selfe the victory is of your side by meanes of your faith which is the victory that ouercommeth the world and the Prince of the world Iesus Christ your head and Sauiour extendeth forth his hand and stayeth for you at the end of the lists to present vnto you the incorruptible Crowne of glory which he hath purchased with the price of his bloud commend your selfe vnto him now with all your heart goe vnto him with ioy throw your selfe into his Armes and say Into thy hands I commend my soule for thou hast bought me O God of truth Psal 31. Let vs againe pray to God that he will giue you his grace A Prayer O Lord Father of Mercy God of all Consolation let fall thy mercies and comforts vpon this occasion vpon this person thy poore childe and seruant Make him now gather and apply vnto himselfe excellent and abundant profit of the holy Instructions which in thy schoole thou hast taught him during the course of his life giue him an inuincible faith in this Combat Arme him with all thy spirituall Armour that hee may resist all the Temptations of Sathan and hauing ouercome all make him remain firme If thy Iustice astonish let thy mercie assure and comfort if his sinnes accuse him let the obedience of thy welbeloued excuse and iustifie him if the apprehension of death trouble him make him contemplate the open gate of euerlasting life to which thou goest to make him enter Thou hast giuen him it in thy Sonne make it perfectly happy to him Hee is of the flocke of this great Shepheard let it not be taken from him Thou hast begun his saluation let not the worke remaine vnperfect And now that thou hast brought him to the end of his sorrowfull course now receiue his soule into thy hands and bring it into thy heauenly paradice into the fulnesse of repose and beatitude into the company of thy blessed Angels and holy soules of thine Elect which thou hast gathered for euer to enioy together the perfection of all ioy which consisteth in the contemplation of his face Heare vs O Father of mercy for the loue of thy welbeloued Son Iesus Christ our Lord who in vnity of the holy Spirit liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally Amen A short comfort for those that are friends of the deceased to be giuen after the body is interred Friends it is needfull in this businesse for you to remember of the holy Christian instruction which you haue receiued in the schoole of Iesus Christ for to make your profit in bearing your affliction with patience and in humility resting in a quiet Spirit at the will of God to which we ought alwayes to be subiect and conformable Our Nature in such accidents leadeth vs to teares but the Spirit of God author of all Regeneration teacheth vs to keepe measure and not to afflict our selues like those that haue no hope 1 Thess 4.13 If we be men in weeping yet wee must shew our selues Christians adorned with faith and hope to assure vs that this corporall death is no other to the faithfull children of God but a happy port to enter into eternall life Ioh. 5.28.29 and as for the body it must remaine in earth vntill that day when they shall heare the voyce of the Lord which shall make them rise out of the graue into the resurrection of life That the deceased is of the number of Gods children the marks and testimonies which God hath giuen him by the good profession of piety and wisedome which hee hath made in the Church vnto the last breath of his life neede not leaue vs in doubt He hath liued to the Lord and is dead to the Lord by consequence is happy and resteth from his labour Apoc. 14.13 by the heauenly testimony of the Spirit of God himselfe You haue no cause to weep ouer him for the condition he is in being in euery kinde thrice happy He hath also a great aduantage of vs that remaine in this world behinde him For he is arriued at the port of saluation where as we are still beaten with the storme and torment of the confused and dangerous sea of this miserable world And therefore it is much better to aspire to go with him then to wish him to remaine here below with vs for the discommodity that you may receiue by his absence it behoueth you to consider that God that gaue him to you remaineth still with you who is enough for vs without all other things whereas all other things without him are nothing It is hee that will continue alwayes ouer you the care of his fatherly prouidence if you continue alwayes to walke in his feare I beseech God to giue you grace and fortifie you with a holy and constant resolution Amen FINIS