come burâ—hened and so ouer-laden wiâ—h all my sinnes that I cannot appeare before thee standing vpright but fall downe at thy foote Thou onely O Lord refresh refresh mee yea Lord I am confident that thou wilt Thy word is thy deede yea thou doest it already and I feele it My soule is releeued and refreshed with a rest with a peace that surpasseth all the worlds treasure And thy Spirit beareth witnesse with my Spirit Rom. 8.16 euen in this my greatest affliction that I am one of thy children Therefore doe I most thankfully say Blessed be thy name for euer and euer He that meditates hereon 4 Point A longing for death and as he ought comforts himselfe with the same may not he freely say with Simon Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Luk. 2.29 for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation May he not sing with Dauid Psal 27. The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraide And so consequently proceede to the end of that comfortable Psalme applying the same to himselfe against all his Spirituall temptations May hee not with St. Paul be assured that neither death nor life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate him from the loue of GOD which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Yea he will reioyce that he may follow his Lord euen at the heeles passing through the same dore of death which hee went through before him And will willingly setting light by this life and all what so euer hee hath in the world crie out with Salomon Eccles. 7.1 the day of death is better then the day of birth because it is a meanes to bring him vnto an vnexpressable ioy which will then especially quicken his heart when he shall consider what entertainment hee is then and there to expect The place of the soule If now wee enquire of the place of the blessed soules wee know that heauen is made ouer to them by promise Not the ayre that the cloudes and fowles houer in Math. 5.3.4 26.26 which sometimes is called heauen This is too narrow and subiect to dayly corruption nor that heauen neither or firmament that the starres glister in though it be somewhat more spacious and more permanent For euen this also at the last day shall be shaken and the starres shall fall downe Math. 24.29 It is a farre other thing that God hath prouided for his Elect. It is the third heauen which that chosen vessell Paul was caught vp into 2 Cor. 12.2 It is the vppermost heauen compassing all the heauens Eph. 4.10 whither Christ is ascended Ioh. 14.2 where is roome enough for many mansions Ioh. 14.3 This is stedfast and permanent vnto all eternity Wis 3.1 Hither Christ hath promised to take all his members vnto him Luk. 23.43 that they may bee where he is There be the righteous soules in the hand of God There is the penitent Thiefe in Paradise There is Lazarus in Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.23 There St. Iohn sawe them that were marked Reuel 7.9 before the Throne and before the Lambe One onely place set foorth by diuers names What a glorious comfort then is this for vs that our soule as soone as shee forsakes this earth shall bee receiued into so stately an habitation Concerning a mid way mansion or fiery prison which some haue endeauoured to settle by the way there to purge and purifie the blessed soules some certaine yeares before their ascention into heauen wee finde nothing at all in holy writ thereof set downe nor yet declared by the examples of any Saints deceased For euen as in this life there are but two kindes of conuersations set before vs to walke in light or darknesse 1 Ioh. 1. 〈◊〉 but two wayes through the narrowe or the wide gate so we read in the future life but of two hands of God Math. 7.13 the right and the left but of two kinde of men comprehended vnder the name of sheepe and goates Math. 25.32 and by consequence then but of two places heauen and hell Therefore when we are dying let vs fixe firmely the eyes of saith on the blood of Iesus Christ 1 Ioh. 1.7 which as his beloued Disciple speakes cleanseth vs from all sinnes and we shall directly ascend to that heauen Act. 7.56 which the first Martyr Stephen euen when hee was yet on earth sawe opened vnto him On what maner our soules get thither we may obserue by the fore-named Lazarus Luk. 16.22 who was carried thither by the ministrie of Angels Reu. 7.10 To St. Iohn it is also reuealed what they doe there to wit that they praise God hee saith farther Reu. 14.13 that they rest from their labours that is as well from the paines and diseases of the body which sicknesse did here bring on them and the troubles wherewith the wicked did oppresse them as from the labour and continuall warfare which they had against their owne concupiscences Concerning which the booke of Wisedome sayes very well Sap. 9.3 that they are at peace And principally at continuall peace with God and exempted from that trouble of minde whereby they feared to fall into Gods wrath And are not infinitely said to rest vnder an Altar in respect of Christ his onely sacrifice Reu. 6.9 whereby our soules are reconciled vnto God Ornaments of heauen As for the glory of this heauenly place no man can conceiue it Yet whosoeuer doth but obserue how glorious how comely God hath created this world which is but a temporall habitation as well of the wicked as of the good and what diuersity of delights he hath prepared for all kinde of men in the same he may in some sort guesse how louely how comely how full of pleasure that place must needs be which hee hath prepared to bee an habitation for his children whom hee hath elected to eternall blisse before the foundation of the world Saint Iohn when he faine would reueale some part thereof vnto vs writes that hee saw a Citie Reu. 21. A holy Ierusalem of pure gold whose walls were of Iasper stone and her foundations of most precious stone things that we here chiefely esteeme of and yet not to bee gotten in such quantity that thereof wee may build the least part of a Citie And yet all this is nothing in respect of the incomprehensible excellencie of this heauenly mansion Diuine Paul had a tast of this heauenly ioy but hee could not finde any termes wherewith to expresse the same But could onely say 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither haue there entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him
might suffer that wrath and punishment which man by sinne had deserued and so satisfie Gods Iustice for mans transgressions All which in due time being fulfilled Ioh. 19 36. so many are now still acquitted before God as come to beleeue in him For he that beleeueth in him is not condemned Ioh. 3.18 but he that beleeueth not is condemned already This Sonne of God as a Lambe without blemish and without spot hath offered vp his pretious blood vnto God for vs 1 Pet. 1.19 saith St. Peter And thereby taketh he away the sinne of the world Ioh. 1.29 saith St. Iohn and consequently the sting of death 2 Tim 1.10 Yea death it selfe is abolished by his appearanee sayes St. Paul Whosoeuer then is thus armed with faith in his Sauiour Christ how caÌ„ death or its sting hurt him Hee that beleeueth on the Sonne 1 Ioh 3.36 hath euerlasting life as St. Iohn witnesseth Death indeed doth retaine its force to kill our naturall flesh with a dart but this Shield or Buckler so defends our soule that this dart cannot touch it Now what a comfort is this for a dying man that now wee may freely vse the words of the Apostle O Death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55.57 O Graue where is thy victorie But thankes be to God which giueth vs the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ But many a one findes himselfe 3 Point but faint in faith Confirmation of weak faith How shall I know certainly thinkes hee whether I be one of those which God hath called chosen to enioy his gracious promises or of those thaâ— haue nothing to doe wiâ—h them A man mighâ— indeede here answere the Lord knoweth his 2 Tim. 2.29 And he that as St. Paul farther â—eacheth doth certainly feele the testimonie of the holy Ghost within him Rom. 8.15 may vndoubtedly assure himselfe of his saluation This is certaine and he that feeles this can haue not better inâ—â—ruction Yet will we endeauour to set these in the way to find true Christian comfort who through weaknesse of faith doe not feele such a testimonie in their sicknesse First then the Sauiour of the world giues vs this certaine token He that belceueth and is baptized shall be saued Mar. 16. â—6 but he that beleeueth not shall be damned Whosoeuer therefore findes himselfe to haue beene baptized in the name of God and besides hath often beene present at publique prayers and preaching of the word of God and beene inuited to the holy Sacrament may already hope that he thereby is called to the vniâ—ersall or at lâ—aâ—t to the visible Church of Christ And whosoeuer doth further perceiue in his heart that Gods spirit hath called him to his Church and doth beleeue that Christ his blood is sufficient for the wiping out of all his sinnes yea doth conceiuâ— that GOD himselfe doth proffer him his redemption if onely hee can but embrace it with stedfast faith the same though he cannot yet vndoubtedly beleeue it must know that God hereby sets saluation before his eyes And if we haue further found a continuall inclination in our selues to heare the word of God to obserue his commandements and as we said before to a true repentance of our negligence we may safely beleeue that wee are in the way which leades to Christ his sheepe-fold For he sayes himselfe My sheepe heare my voyce Ioh. 10.27 and I know them and they follow me Yea if we endeauour to imploy our selues in all good workes to be obedient to Christ we haue already some fruites of faith And if we haue the fruits wee must also haue the roote though yet couered with earth or with our earthly thoughts For we must assure our soules that the good Lord will 2 Chro. 30.19 pardon euery one that prepareth his heart to seeke God As King Hezekiah prayed for those Israelites that did eate the passeouer without due purification according to the Law As also St. Paul comforts and encourages the Corinthians saying If there be first a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath 2 Cor. 8.12 and not according to that hee hath not Besides if wee feele in our conscience that God loues vs we may certainly conclude out of St. Iohns words that we are of those vnto whom God hath sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for our sinnes 1 Ioh. 4.10 And if besides we finde that we loue God we may also vpon St. Pauls word expect the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him 2. Cor. 2.9 And what is this but a token of our faith Wee may then yea must still cry out and pray with the childs father in the Gospell Mâ—r. 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe thou mine vnbeliefe Assuredly trusting that as Iesus restored that mans Childe to his corporall health hee will also worke vpon our soule that cure that shall be effectuall to procur the saluation of it And if euer wee haue felt in our prayers especially being at deathes dore that the Spirit did beare witnesse with our spirit Rom. 8.16 that we were the children of God We may freely bee confident that this God his mercy remaines constant towards vs. For hee still continues the same towards them that doe not willingly for sake him Yea though our very conscience do witnesse against vs that with desire and greedinesse wee haue since that time committed many sinnes yet is it no small comfort if shee can also witnesse vnto vs that after the committing thereof we haue often cast our selues downe at Gods feete with true sorrow and repétance For this is indeed the fault condition of Gods children Nor can this true repentance proceede from any but from God who is the fountaine of all good If then he send vs true repentance hee endeauours our Saluation if hee endeauour it he will performe it God in his word bids vs Comfort the feeble minded 1 Thes 5.14.15 wee may therefore well beleeue that hee himselfe will doe it Let vs then as it followes there pray without ceasing 1 Pet. 1.13 and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought vnto vs at the Reuelation of Iesus Christ Comfort against the temptation of the deuill But if any man there be that cannot perceiue or feele in his soule a stedfast hope that his prayer is heard of GOD but finds himselfe deprest by meanes of his riotous and vnruly life he must not therefore giue himselfe ouer to despaire It is true indeede that Sathan our enemie who assaults euen the holiest minded men oft in their extreamitie hath sufficient matter to torment this miserable creature withall But shouldest thou marke iniquities Psal 130.3 O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiuenesse with thee The Lordour God is a mercifull God If we be sinners Deut. 4.31 wee are those that Christ came to redeeme For he came not to
in his hundred and sixteenth Psalme that being released we should call vpon him as long as we liue walke before him Psal 116. and pay our vowes vnto him in the presence of all his people which Psalme throughout ought then to be our meditation and our practise For wee doe neglect this and forgetting God and all godlinesse returne againe to our euill wayes wee must expect some greater punishment This the Lord demonstrates vnto vs in his words to the forenamed diseased person To whom because wee should not thinke it sufficient sometimes to appeare in the Temple hee said Sinne no more lest a worse thing befall thee That is worse then the sicknesse of eight and thirty yeares continuance which hee had endured before Behold how sorely he is threatned that after his release vngratefully rushes againe into his former sinne God graunt vs a better heart Finall conclusion To conclude all that hath beene said as we in the first part haue shewed that the death of the body is not hurtfull to man and in that respect ought not to be fearefull so we suppose that in this second part wee haue declared by what meanes we may make the same to be very profitable vnto vs and haue shewed in the first place how that wee must settle our house by a decent ordering of our goods that we ought to inure our body to a patient suffering of paine and that we must prepare our soules by a timely preparation to meet death couragiously After that we haue taught how we ought to disarme it and so to strengthen our selues through Christian faith that its sting may not pricke our soule and bring it to the second death And withall we haue endeauoured to establish the wauering soule in this faith and to relieue the troubled consciences with comfortable speeches and examples that may instruct them And lastly wee haue made it apparent that death openeth a dore for our soule to a life truly happy which shee shall receiue with all aduantage honour and perfect ioy from her Sauiour in heauen and shall possesse vnto all eternity Wherefore we iustly conclude that all Christian soules haue great reason to waxe weary of this temporall troublesome and sinfull life and earnestly to say with the holy Apostle Wee desire rather to remoue out of the body Rom. 5. â— and be with Christ Let vs then lift vp our soules to him and heartily entreate him that he would come quickly Yea Lord Iesu come The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with vs all Reu. 22.20 Amen A SHORT PRAYER CONCEIVED BY THE Author for his Seruant that lay a dying An. 1623. O Almighty God and most mercifull Father that hast created and by thy wisdome doest preserue and gouerne all things we poore sinners prostrate our selues at thy feete to powre out our Prayers for a sicke creature whom it hath pleased thee to cast into the snares of death But in doing thus our owne vnworthinesse representeth it selfe to our eyes What are we that we should dare to entreate for one who in thy sight it may be is holier and better then wee our selues are and we consequently haue more neede that some other should pray for vs. Notwithstanding O wise and most mercifull Lord seeing that thou hast commanded vs for to pray one for an other sanctifie wee pray thee our heart and guide our tongue that our weake prayers may be acceptable vnto thee Whereby wee desire of thee that thou wouldest fauourably behold this our brother lying in great distresse Doe not behold in him that corruption which as well by originall sinne as by dayly transgression hee is fallen into But O Lord regard him as thy creature and as the worke of thine owne hands Cast not thine eyes on his owne deformity but on the worke of thy mercy whereby thou hast renewed thine image in him Forgiue vs forgiue him all his sinnes and transgressions for his names sake whom thou hast mercifully appointed to bee a ransome for vs before the foundation of the world and reuealed in due time to wit Iesus Christ who descended from heauen to take on him mans nature and in the same to suffer for vs and by suffering to saue those that beleeue in him Grant him O Father and grant each of vs to bee of that little flocke which through his merrits is elected to saluation Strengthen him in faith that he as a member of Christ may assure himselfe that he is partaker of all his merits We entreat thee for our selues we entreat thee for him as our brother in Christ and especiall for him as one to whom our lone is confirmed by a long continuance of dwelling and liuing together O Lord we pray for him as for our owne soule Be mercifull vnto him Let him tast of thy meekenesse Let him feele in his soule that thou hast quitted him of all his sinnes and turned thy wrath from him Strengthen him in body strengthen him in soule Shew thy power in this wealie flesh of his Touch his tongue that he may call on thee and declare his good hope euen in this his greatest frailty Or at the least O God so infuse thy diuine light into his Spirit that it may driue away all dazeling and darknesse from him Turne away from him all distrust and distresse of minde O Lord be mercifull vnto him And by this example teach vs wisdome that we in our greatest prosperity may flye all vaine arrogancie beholding here what a tender worme man is when thou doest but visite him with sicknes But at this present O Father comfort him that feeles this by experience Strengthen him and mercifully receiue him into thy protection Shield him from the arrowes of that wicked one that still is wandring about but chiefely assaulting vs in our greatest extreamity Set him free O Lord and if it seeme good vnto thee restore vnto him his former health If not send thine Angels vnto him â—hat they in due time may bring his soule into thy bosome Let him with Stephen if not with bodily eyes yet with the eyes of faith see his Sauiour standing in heauen euen ready to receiue his soule This we desire this we begge of thee O Lord for thy Sonne our Sauiours sake euen in that prayer which he hath endited for vs and begunne with that comfortable word Our Father Our Father that art in heauen heare vs whom thou hast vouchsafed to name thy children Hallowed among vs be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heauen euen in this our weakest brother Giue vs this day our dayly bread not that of our body onely but the Spirituall and necessary foode also of our soules Forgiue him and forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Lead vs not into temptation take compassion on our weakenesse that hardly can resist any thing But deliuer vs all from euill For thine onely O Father is the Kingdome