appeared first after his resurrection to Marie Magdalene to shewe that he brought comfort to the greatest sinners of all This is a true saying saith the Apostle That Christ came into the world to saue sinners whereof I am the chiefe as if S. Paul put himselfe in the number as euerie one shoulde and say wherof I am one nay the chiefe And here we may call to minde that bottomles depth of Gods mercie who will bee called rather by the name of a father to intimate vnto vs his loue and to enconrage vs to call vpon him in time of neede whose goodnes is diffusiue and communicable vnto others whose bountie is delighted in nothing more then in doing good And is woont rather to giue great then small things God is not such a one as Adam tooke him to be from whom when he had sinned hee shoulde flie or hide him selfe for feare but God is such a one to whom Adam and all that haue sinned may haue accesse with hope and loue The seruants of Benadab in the first of Kinges and the twentieth when they saw and considered wel their distressed case began to aduise their maister Benadab after this maner We heare that the Kings of Israel are mercifull wherefore let vs cloath our selues in sackecloath that so we may goe and find fauour in their sight If this mercifulnes were a thing proper vnto the Kings of Israel what may wee looke for at the handes of him who is the God of Israel before whom they that humble themselues shall questionlesse find grace and mercie My sin is greater no Cain thou errest God his mercie is far greater couldest thou aske mercie Men cannot bee more sinnefull then God is mercifull if with penitent heartes they will but call vpon him But come we vnto Christ the fountaine of al mercie there shall we find God in his mediation onlie great without quantitie and good without qualitie as Saint Austen speaketh Christ in the Gospel was called of the Pharisies by way of reproach a friend of Publicans and sinners and so was hee in truth and veritâ—e Neuer was there such a friend to poore sinners such Publicans as he was who strake his breast saide God be mercifull to me a sinner The Parable of the lost shaepe doth shewe this loue in seeking the lost sinner the ioy of the Angels of heauen ouer our repentance may much comfort vs to cal for grace When the wandering sonne had consumed his fathers substaunce but yet returned sorowfully to acknowledge himselfe the father saith not whence â—â—mest thou or where is now all thy patrimonie but bring hither the newe garment â—il the fat calfe let vs reioyce my son was dead and is aliue Here was a welcome â—ome that might amaze this wandering sonne though wee sometimes lose the nature of children yet God doth neuer lose the name and nature of a father a name of priuiledge to his children we crie Abba father a name of care and prouidence your heauenly father eareth for you a name of loue If you giue your Children good things how much more shall your father in heauen giue you if you aske them of him And not onely a father but our father which should wounde our harts and kindle our affections in al distresses with comfort to â—al vpon him It may be said also in this case as before it was saide of the affection of a mother There is none knowes the loue of a father but a father nor any the loue of God but God himselfe who is loue That thou mightest bee blessed O man first hee created theâ— that thou mightest bee recouered when thou wert lost then hee redeemed thee which redeeming sheweth a price paied for thy raunsome which price was his dearest bloud When Christ wept and shed some fewe teares for Lazarus the Iewes reasoned and said see how he loued him but when Christ shedde his owne bloud for vs and that in great aboundance Osee how he loued vs. If hee bought vs with so deare a price will he refuse his owne peniworth If he sought vs flying from him shal be not much more receiue vs when we come vnto him Can a mother saith the Prophet Esay forget the childe of her wombe yea thoâ—gh she do yet will not God forget his people When my father and mother forsooke me saith Dauid the Lord tooke me vp We haue a good Samaritan that when the Priest and the Leuite left vs wounded to wit the Law and figures thereof passed by vs hee bound vp our wounds and paid for our curing that we might be recouered vnto euerlasting health Our Ioseph is gone before to prouide for his brethren was there euer such loue Looke how wide the East is from the West so farre hath hee sette our sinnes from vs. Nay like as the pillar of clouds was set betweene the host of their enemies and the tents of the people of Israel that no harme might befall them so hath hee set his prouidence betweene vs and all casualties that no hurt should oppresse vs Wee should be sutors vnto Christ and least our manifolde sinnes shoulde make vs bashfull he calleth vs vnto him saying Venite omnes qui laboratis onorati estis ego reficiam vos Come vnto me al that are wearie and heaâ—â—e loden and I will refresh you Did al the poore creatures come vnto the Arke to saue themselues Did the Angels carrie Lot out of Sodome and shall not wee come vnto him who calles vs so louingly and meanes no other but to bring vs vnto his euerlasting kingdome Wherefore let neither the multitude of our sins the terror of the lawe nor the feare of Gods iustice discourage vs in time of distresse Christ hath put theÌ„ al to flight as Dauid did the Philistines by killing the killing letter of the lawe who would not cast his burthen vpon him that doth desire to giue vs ease As I liue saith the Lord I woulde not the death of a sinner God woulde haue the sinnes to die but the sinner to liue whose creatures haue nourished vs whose-prouidence hath preserued vs whose mercies hath carried vs all along from our verie cradles vntill this dâ—y whose watchfull eye hath deliuered vs from so manie daungers both of bodie and soule haue we had such and so many experiments of his loue and should we now doubt thereof Is the Iudge become our aduocate and shall we feare to go forwards towards the throne of grace The Spirite and the Bride say come and let him that is a thirst comâ— and let who soeuer will drinke of the water of life come freely who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen who shall condemne Christ at the right hande of God maketh request for vs. The ninteenth Chapter Howe the sicke in the agonie of death may bee prepared towards his ende AL our life long haue we liued
should not take the way for our country or thinke of setting vp our rest where our state is so â—ombersome where wee haue much Wormewood but little Hoonny more motiues to reade the Lamentations of Ieremy then wee haue to sing the Songs of Salomon God would haue it so that we should looke for an other home and hope for a better rest If euery creature groane then much more may man the most excellent of all creatures waytinge for that adoption of the Sonnes of God which shal be giuen in the resurrection of the iust When the Prophet Micheas would raise vp the pensiue harts of the people in the time of their captiuitie he put them in minde of their departure as thus Surgiâ—e hic non habetis requiem Arise to be gone here is not your place of rest In like manner to quicken a little our weary spirites amidst many calamities the lifting vp of our hartes by a meditation of our deliueraunce from this earthly thraldome as the prison of the soule will tell vs of a blessed state to come where we shall haue rest which is the ende of euery motion and the perfection of all our labours The Fifth Chapter That a consideration of the liâ—e to come may mooue in vs the same remembrance of our ende IT is a rule in naturall Philosophy that to see the Planets and those superior lightes at mid-day men must go downe into some wondrous deepe pit or well cleane from the light of the Horizon where they liue To behold with the eye of the soule the light and ioyes of the life to come men must bee farre remooued from the loue and delights of this inâ—erior world The people neuer tasted Manna vntill they were come from the Leauen of Egipt Our auncesters when they saw no other but straw cottages they neuer minded any farther buildinges but when once they beheld more seemely mansions they began forthwith to dislike that which before was very acceptable vnto them Whilest wee set our affections on earthly thinges wee seeke for no beâ—ter we looke no higher but once taking a taste of heauenly we beginne to dislike that which before was very acceptable vnto vs and grow out of liking with the meanesse of our former desâ—res And therefore as Zacheus so long as he abode in the presse was vpon the low ground to see Christ vntill he gate him vp into the figge tree so while we are in the route of too many worldly affaires wee are too low and therefore should get vp into the sweete Figge-tree or contemplation of heauenly things that there and thence we may see the ioy of Israell or excellency of the life to come God saide vnto Abraham arise and walke about this lande this is the country that I will giue thee God sayes vnto Faith arise beholde thy heauenly inheritance that is the city where thou shalt haue thy blessed abode for euer Seafaring men hauing bene long weather-beaten in the surging and daungerous Seas are wont to shout for ioy when they do discry their hauen Ioyfully may the Christian behold a farre off after the manifold stormes of this world his heauenly euerlastinge harborough the remembrance where of may mooue vs either to wish with S. Paule to be dissolued and be with Christ or reply with the Saintes in the Apocalips vnto him that said I come Euen so come Lord Iesus Here we do but sow in teares there is the place wher we shall reape in ioy Here we are members of the church militant where is nothing but combatting there shall wee be parts of the Church triumphaÌ„t where is no other but reioycinge The state of the life present and to come is figured by the Tabernacle and Temple of the old Testament the Tabernacle for that it was mooueable may resemble the condition of the life present the Temple for that it was fixt and immoueable the fruition of the life to come To the framing of the Tabernacle came the Iewes onely but to the buildinge of the Temple with the inhabitants of Iewry the men of Tyre and Sydon to wit both Iewes and Gentiles all concurre in this building wherein is neuer heard the noyse of a hammer Blessed are they O Lord saith Dauid that dwell in thy house where the Sonne of God in glory is light vnto their eyes musicke vnto their eares sweetenesse vnto their taste and contentment vnto their hart where in seeing they shall know him in knowing they shall possesse him in possessing they shall loue him in louing tâ—ey shall receiue eternall blessednesse and blessed eternitie which is the garland we all runne for the crowne we all fight for All our watching and fasting and praying is like Iacobs striuing with the Aungell O blesse me Lord. Euery thing doth in nature require a perfection the heauens which are in continuall motion the Aungels which are ascending and descendinge are saide not to haue their full perfection but specially man in this troublesome motion vntill he come to the accomplishment of all his hope If the Apostle which was taken vp into the third heauen and is thought to haue seene part of this blessednesse could not expresse the excellency thereof being so high a subiect the more he did consider of it he more he seemed to wonder at it yet thus much he could say that eye had not seene care had not heard the heart of man could not coÌ„ceiue the things that God had prepared for them that loue him Reach as farre as humane vnderstanding can reach all is not aunswearable vnto the same Oâ— thinges infinite we cannot but infinitely consider To life vp our eyes towardes those glistering beames of Gods glory where the sharpest Eagle may be dazeled to wade into the depth of his excellency wherein a Camell may be plâ—nged the short reach of humane reason may mooue vs to cry with yâ— Apostle O altitudo O the depth of the loue and bouâ—ty and mercy of God They that come vnto the maine Ocean find water inough if they come by millions to take handfullâ— of it be there a multitude which no tounge can number God hath crownes for their heades and palmes for their handes when they shall follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goeth when they shall rest vpon Mount Sion when they shall 〈◊〉 with him and raigne with him If you aske saith Lactantius why God created the world it was for no other cause but that man should be created if you demaund why man was created it was because he should worship his Creator if you inquire farther why hee shoulde worship his Creator it was for no other cause but that he should be rewarded by him Lord what was man that thou diddest so respect him This was the bowels of Gods mercy who had no other cause of his mercy but his mercy no other ende but hys owne glory and our good which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
weakenesse and we beginne to shrinke from it but hauing confidence in God who hath willed vs not to feare we finde it a meane to â—iuide the waters of many tribulations to make vs a passage from the wildernesse of this world vnto a better land of rest T is strange we should make so nice of our selues as to count it a death to meditate of Death Nay to esteeme the very remembrance thereof as Ahab did the presents of the Prophet Elias to be troublesome vnto vs. Whereas Death is so farre from hurting them who put their trust in God as they shall rather finde it a gentle guide to bring them home to their owne Cittie where they would be to remaine for euer That which wee call life is a kinde of death because it makes vs to die but that which we count death is in the sequcle a very life for that indeede it makes vs to liue There is a death which some call mortall sinne and this is the death of the Soule which death wee should all feare There is also a moderate feare of the other death which is profitable to withdraw vs from the allurements of euill But so to feare it as if it were the vtter ruine and ouerthrow of all our beeing we neede not wee ought not When the Apostle S. Paule spake of the vnconquâ—rarable faith which was his stay and the stay of all them whose hope was in Christ Wee saith the Apostle know that if this earthly house of our Tabernacle be destroyed we haue a building not made with handes but giuen of God eternall in the Heauens As if he would tell the persecutors of his time that miseries for a moment could not disâ—â—ay them the perishing of the outward man could not daunt them nor present death could discourage them for they knew their habitation was in â—eauen and themselues incorporated Cittizens into that Ierusalem which is aboue A heathen man could say Degeneres animos timor arguit this â—biect feare is farre dissident from a generous ofspring Salomon saith The iust is as a Lion of whome the Naturalist writeth that hee is of such courage as beeing fiercely pursued he will neuer once alter his gate though he die for it With what constancy aunswered the second of those seauen brethren who all yeelded vp manfully themselues to torment for the mainetenance of the Law of God Thou O King takest these our liues from vs but the King of Heauen shall raise vs vp in the resurrection of euerlasting life The Philosopher might say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of thinges terrible none more then Death But it is otherwise with Christians Tertullian told the persecutors of his time that their cruelty did but open a doore to Gods distressed people whereby they might enter the sooner into a state of glory and therefore death was very acceptable to them Why should I feare saith the Prophet in the euil day As if Dauid saw no cause of dreading death howsoeuer nature may begin to tremble at the mention thereof Hilaâ—ion could not but wonder his soule should be so loath to depart after hee had serued God and God him so many yeares Consider death as in it selfe and so naturally we seare it Consider death as a meane to bring vs vnto Christ willingly we may embrace it When Iacob saw the chariots of Egipt and thereby perceiued his sonne Ioseph was aliue his fainting spirites reuiued saying I will goe see him before I die When faith dooth bring vs many testimonies our Ioseph liueth the Christian soule may recomfort her selfe in her panges and say Moriâ—r vt vidoâ—â— In the name of God to see him let me die Now for these corruptible bodies they take no dammage at all by death T is no harme to the seede though it hath for the time a little earth raked ouer it it shall spring againe and flourish and bring foorth fruite in due season No hurt is it to these our bodies to be cast into the grounde beeing sowen in wealienesse they shall rise againe in power being sowen naturall bodies they rise againe bodies spirituall being sowne in dishonor they rise againe in glory The keeping greene of Noahs Oliue troo vnder the floud The budding againe of Aarons rod The deliuerance of Ionas from the depth of the Sea The voice that calleth come againe ye children of men The hope of Iob that he should see God with no other but with the selfe same eyes The Prophesie of Ezechiell vnto the dry bones that should come os ad os bone to bone may stirre in vs a ioyfull hope and cheere vs vp against all the feare and terror of death But the resurrection of our Sauiour Christ that is the comfort of all coinforts Vox Christi vox Christianorum The voice of Christ is by Christ the doyce of Christians saith S. Austen Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victory As he was the cause efficient so was he also a figure of the Resurrection Hee risinge wee all arise Of a more powerfull cause there is a more powerfull effect If the sinne of Adam who was a liuing soule was the cause that death raigned ouer all much more the resurrection of Christ who was a quickening spirite shal be of power to raise vp all that beleeue to the hope of euerlasting life What greater ioy then to be able to know him as the Apostle speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the power of this resurrection Christ as in dying shewed what we should suffer so in risinge from death what we should hope To wit that all the bones in Golgatha shall rise and those that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall heare the voice of Lazarus come foorth Wherefore though Death doe swallow vs vp as the Whale did Ionas bind vs as the Philistines did Sampson yet wee shall come foorth and breake the bendes as the birde out of the snare The snare is broken and we are deliuered They may well feare death saith S. Cyprian that haue no saith in Christ but for those who are members of that head who vanquished the power of Hell and Death Death is to them aduantage and a gentle guide that bringes them home to euerlasting rest Hence is it that dying they are said since Christes resurrection to fall asleepe They that sleepe in Iesus saith the Apostle they lay them downe and take their rest and God it is that makes them dwell in euerlasting safety We should not then feare to fall a sleepe for sleepe is a refreshinge after wearysome labours The painefull labouring man after his dayes worke ended sleepes often more quietly then Diueâ— in his marble pallace on his bed of Iuory where hee tosseth and tumbleth hee sleepes not quietly either in life or death and of such is that verified O mors quam amara O death how bitter is thy remembrance Hauing wearied
in a departure farewell froÌ„ the worlde since our very first entrance wee were euer drawing towardes our ende our pilgrimage is almost ouer When we approach towardes the period of our course what else remaineth but a heartie commending our soules to God and a comfortable expectation of a better life to come when weaknes of humane nature doth not affoord habilitie to manifest our soules affections God shall accept at our handes the sending vp of our â—ghes and desires to heauen who saide vnto Moses why hast thou cried vnto me for this people yet we find that Moses spake neuer a worde to shew that hee heard the secret supplication of Moses heart Ionas praied in the belly of the whale when hee thought vpon God Susanna in her distresse when she lifted vp her eyes to heauen Haue I not remembred thee saith Dauid vpon my bed and thought vpon thee when I was waking And in another place O Lord my heart is ready my hart is ready As if his trust was that God would accept the readinesse of his heart wherefore the minde beating vpon a remembraunce of Christes passion shall mittigate in part the bodies paynes Nowe is the time that Timothie a good Soldiour shoulde fight by Saint Paules example a good fight Keepe the faith and so finish his course for after all there is a Crowne of glorie reserued for Gods children This is the last Secane of all the Comedie When a little brunt is ouerpast troubles cease but ioyes neuer ceasse And therefore a good remembraunce that wee are going from the darkenesse of this worlde to the lande of the liuing Where is no night no neede of the Candle nor light of the Sunne for God giueth them light and they shal reigne for euermore Hold thy peace Babylon sayeth Epiphanius and bee mute O Sodome because that article I beleeue life euerlasting is cleere and consequentlie bringeth comforte to Gods departing Children But let vs hearken to Christ himselfe I am the Resurrection and the life sayeth the Lorde whosoeuer beleeueth in mee yea though hee were dead yet shall hee liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me shall not die for euer O ioy of ioyes wee lay vs downe to sleepe and take our rest to dwell in safetie And here wee may not omitte to call to minde the manner howe Gods seruants of olde haue shut vp the day of their mortalitie As first that of Moyses who after beholding the lande of promise blessed God for all his benefites blesseth the people and so dyeth That of Iosuah who exhorteth Israel to feare God to stande stedfastlie in all his ordinaunces and so mildly goeth the way of all the worlde That of Dauid who enioyneth Salomon his sonne to walke in the waies of God that so hee might prosper in whatsoeuer he tooke in hand That of Tobie who called his sonne and his sonnes sonnes exhorting them to bee mercifull and iust that it might goe well with them That of Saint Steuen who praying for his persecuters and calling vpon the name of Iesus fell a sleepe And after this manner haue the godlie taught vs to depart this worlde That of Serapion a good and faithfull olde man sayeth Eusebius who after receyuing the holie Eucharist moste meekelie departed the worlde Now for things transitorie they leaue vs and we them the soule onely remaineth to bee commended vnto God If when thou art going a iourney thou wouldest be glad to commit thy remporall goodes to such a friend by whome thou mayest be sure they shall bee well and safelie kept how much more may the Christian man comfort himselfe in committing his soule to the custodie of Iesus Christ his Sauiour who will keepe it sure and safe for euer Reuben saide of Beniamin when Iacob was loath to let him go Deliuer him vnto me and I will bring him safelie home So of Christ it may be more rightlie said Commend thy departing soule vnto him and hee will bring it vnto her long and blessed home The Twentieth Chapter In what maner the sicke should be directed by those to whom this weightie businesse doth speciallie appertaine AMongest men those whom God hath set apart to helpe distressed consciences to loose or pronounce remission in his mercy to blesse in his name to teach his people and to doe theÌ„ good in times of need partly by matter of exhortation and partly also by offering vp in their behalfe deuout praiers towards the throne of Grace In the viâ—tation of the sicke so high a worke of mercie they are occasioned if euer to enter most seriouslie into the exercise of both That care may bee thought to bee of greatest importaunce which is imployed in helping them who be now least able to helpe them selues and had neuer more neede God knowes of ghostly direction There is nothing which the sicke in these extremities doe more desire agaynst the naturall terrours of death and many troubles of conscience which at this time are woont to assault them It is greatly to be wished that like as the serpent that olde enemie of mankinde who the shorter the time is the â—â—ercer his wrath is and chiefly entendeth ruine vnto the heele As the last part of mans life is at this time busie so those who in louing feede and in feeding loue Christ his lambes should now bee most carefull to keepe them from this deuouring Lion and endeuoure to present them sounde in faith hope and charitie vnto the great Bishop and Sheepheard of their soules Notwithstanding that the good grace of that spirite which directeth our highest proceedings can better direct a discreet and sober Agent in this case then all forms of direction whatsoeuer yet as in other duties so in this some aduertisements may bee obserued by those who are content also to heare the aduise of others First therfore death being that which all men suffer but not all after one sort care ought to be had answerable vnto the disposition of the dying Tediousnesse of discourse may soone weary the weake partie Few words those sometimes in priuate well ordered are woont for the most part to auaile most Impertinent speeches verie vnfit the presence oftentimes of those who haue beene associate in follie yea sometimes the presence of those who are nearest in alliance remooued is thought by graue indgement to bee the fittest oportunitie for the giuing of soule counsell bearing a simple and honest intent to doe good A premeditated exhortatioÌ„ after information taken of the disposition of the sicke is verie behoouefull this loose and sleight hudling vp of diuine matters and sometimes of Gods mysteries themselues doth often bring in contempt the high wisedome of holie Scripture which but with all reuerence watchfulnesse and prayer none should presume to search and open This disposing then of the sicke vnto a Christian ende being a worke of such moment they may
can offer at these times The mercie of man extends it selfe vnto his neighbour saith the Wise man but the mercie of God reacheth to all flesh and both can and will saue in a moment wherefore this suddennesse may not either giue occasion to others to iudge vncharitably or vnto the patients theÌ„selues to bee discoÌ„forted for want of time Non nocet bonis saith one si subito moriantur It dooth not hurt good men how suddenly soeuer they are called away so they depart when God calleth them which time all must tarrie For as the pleasures of this world should not cause vs to bee altogither addicted to the same so also the miseries of life shoulde not cause any how deepely distressed soeuer distrustfully to flie away or desperately with Saul to iucurre his owne daunger which foule attemptes nature herself doth abhorre but christianitie vtterly condemne To be any way accessarie vnto our owne decay or much lesse principall O God forbid Fie vpon that discontent or faithlesse cowardlinesse to run away or to flie where no feare is God is a sure refuge and wil neuer fail God is a present helpe in trouble He that brought vs into the worlde should haue the calling vs from the worlde At whose calling we may meekelie depart as becommeth vs Abridge the time we may not we ought not for all the afflictions that may betide the sonnes of men The lawes of nations haue forbid in this case the benefite of decent buriall to terrifie men from this shamefull fact of casting away themselues desperatelie At the verie motions wherof the true Christian is woont to say as Christ sayde vnto the tempter in the wildernesse Vade Satana auoyde Sathan Thus therfore an humble submitting our selues to Gods pleasure and also a faithfull commending our soules into his hands how soone soeuer we are called to depart is that direction which we should put in practise by the assisting help of Gods blessed grace A praier to be vsed of any who findes himselfe troubled in conscience or disquieted by euill motions STrengthen me O Lord against al mine enemies both bodily and ghostlye that they neuer bee able to say wee haue preuailed agaynst him By spirite is sorrowfull my heart is sadde and heauie within mee if thou be not my comfort I shal surely perish in my trouble For thy names sake O Lord haue mercie vpon mee rise vp to helpe me that hauing helpe in thee I may withstand my mortall aduersarie and say depart from mee thou wicked spirit that bringest euill thoughts and this deiection of mind goe from me thou deceyuer of man thou shalt haue no part in me for my sauior Iesus standeth by me as a strong chaÌ„pion and thou shalt flie away to thy confussion I had rather endure al affliction al punishmeÌ„ts and infamie of the world then consent to thy malicious motions Be stil therefore thou wicked spirit cease thy prouokements to euill I shall neuer assent vnto thee though greater trobles theÌ„ these come vpoÌ„ me our lord is my light my helth whoÌ„ shal I dread he is yâ— defender of my life of whoÌ„ then shal I be afraid Though an host of men set themselues against me though inâ—inite calamities ouercome mee I shall not bee discomforted for why God is my helper and redeemer in whom I trust he is my portion To whom be praise and honor now and for euermore Amen A prayer for a good departure out of this world ETernall God and most mercifull father seeing that the daies of man are as the flower of the field that soone fadeth and his time like a shodow that vanisheth away considering we are all straungers as were our forefathers and haue here no continuing citie make vs euermore Lord we beseech thee mindfull of our mortalitie that like wise virgins we may prouide oyle in our lamps to bee readie against the bridegrooms comming and that tarying thy good pleasure like watchful seruants we may bee so doing whensoeuer the maister shal returne And when sicknes summoneth vs to bee gone graunt we beseech thee thut neither the infirmitie of the flesh nor the sharpnesse of affliction nor any other meanes whatsoeuer remoue vs from a true and steadfast hope in the blessed passion of thy deare sonne Christ Iesus And when the houre of our rest is come graunt O Lord we may commend our selues into thy handes and die thy seruants to the glorie of thy name comfort of our soules through Iesus Christ Amen The fiue and twentieth Chapter A consolatory admonitioÌ„ for those who are often ouermuch grieued at the crosses of this world IF the world hate you saith Christ our sauiour vnto his Discipleâ— you know it haâ—ed me before it hâ—red youâ— that heauinesse might not dismay or cast them downe without hope of deliuerance where he proposeth the one he promiseth the other Blessed are they that mourne for they shall receyue comfort are not those happie teares well distilled froÌ„ the limbeck of a sorowful heart yâ— shall haue the hands of the sonne of God himself to wipe theÌ„ cleane away when al flesh saith Moses had corrupted his wayes it repented yâ— lord he had made man that is God was sory that man created to so excellent an ende should himself destroy himselfe Now God sends a deluge vpon yâ— face of our earthly pleasured these floods of teares extinguish the heate of vnlawfull desires clense the corruption of our sâ—nfull liues when all is ouerpast there ensueth a calme The church wel celebrateth solemne and sanctified feasts as publike memorials of Christes blessed birth his resurrection his ascention many others before which feasts she appointeth the eeuens to be fasted in this worlde we fast the â—â—uen we shall keep holiday when we come to heauen our lord master Christ Iesus as he did seldom laugh in the worlde so did the worlde as seldom laugh vpon him He tels his followers they must become as little children litle children we know haue no other weapons to auenge themselues but their tears and what other haue wee agaynst our crosses of this worlde but our sighes and supplications sent vp to God Iob saieth Before I eate I sigh whose suffering was such that all which wee doe or can suffer sayth Saint Ierome is in effect nothing We may not looke to find God in the Gardens of Egypt whom Mâ—ses â—ound in the thornie 〈◊〉 of manifold tribulation◠〈◊〉 â—e without crosses we may rather wish then hope The golden worlde is gone wheein men did ioy in nothing more then in sinceritie and loue now this yron age of ours yeeldeth store of crosses and vnconscionable wrongs such is the calamitie of our time wel heauines may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning Wee may not repine at these trials if we desire to solace our selues in the vanities of this worlde our desires are vnlawfull Lots wife her minde was vpon her substance
griefe is present Hope But the reward is yet to come Disc. But I often want mirth in this world Hope God doth humble vs a litle by want of worldly mirth but blessed are they who nowe weepe for they shall reioyce we thinke them happie that here laugh but Christ saith Blessed are they that mourne Discon Well Hope seeing the case is such and so full of comfort in times of distresse whatsoeuer befall me I will put my trust in God Hope Then assuredly thou shalt neuer faile eyther in life or death in this world or in the world to come A Dialogue between Presumption and Feare PResump I am more holy then others Feare So saide they who were most vnholy Presum But I am not so prophane as I see many men Feare What art thou that iudgest Pres. But may I not glorie in my vertues Fear Glorie in God Pres. But I haue more graces then others Fea. Dispise no man thou knowest what thou hast beene thou knowest not what thou shalt bee Pres. But I haue better gifts theÌ„ a number besides Feare Take heede thou knowest not howe long thou shalt enioy them Presu But I am sure all is saâ—e Fe. So saide they who counted themselues children of Abraham and are fallen Pres. But I am wise Fear So wert thou if thou didst not say so Presump But I am happie Fear S. Paul saith let him that standeth take heede least he fall Pr. But I haue many daies to liue Fear No thou hast no warrant for the least continuance Presump But I am strong and healthie Fear So haue many beene and yet taken away in a moment Pre. Me thinks I should not passe away so soone Feare Why not thou hast here no continuing Citie Pres. Wel I wil make lesse reckoning of the world then I haue done Fea. Then shalt thou doe well here hereafter Pre. Now I see my follie in being so confident Fe. Be carefull bee carefull too much selfe loue and boldnesse hath vndone many Presump Well I will not from henceforth glory in my selfe Feare Let him that glorieth onely glorie in God and know this that by how much the higher thou art by so much shouldst thou be the more humble Pre. Nowe I consider my owne frailtie Feare This consideration will make thee poore in spirite and blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heauen A short Discourse wherein is shewed the great commendations of a peaceable course of life vnto which course of life we are moued by a consideration of our departure hence TO passe ouer the daies of this our pilgrimage in peaceable maner is and ought to bee our Christian honest care The holy Ghost commanding vs to seeke peace and to ensue it It was Christs owne farewell from his disciples My peace I leaue vnto you And one of S. Paules last exhortations vnto the Corinthes Brethrâ—n be at peace and the God of peace shall be with you Amongst other great differences whereby Gods children are discerned from the children of the world this is not the least that they are the children of peace Saul that had an euill spirit had an vnquiet and troublesome spirit but Dauid that had a good spirit had a spirite of peace Amongst the punishmentes of Egypt that of the flies was not the least which would not suffer the Egiptians to rest In like manner amidst this worlds felicity these combersome thoughtes are wont much to molest yâ— worlds followers The graces yâ— flow from Gods spirit are resembled often vnto riuers and pleasant waters These riuers abide not on the higher mountaines but haue their course through the lowest vallies It is want of humilitie that makes men so far from a peaceable state and condition of life Our Sauior Christ exhorteth vs to learne of him to be humble and mâ—â—ke that so wee may find rest vnto our soules Was it not follie in the Israelites to desire rather to liue in the troubles of Aegypt then in the lande of promise where they might haue quiet and time to doe their sacrifices vnto God The same is the follie of many who choose rather to bee moâ—ling in the worlde about ambitious and contentious practises seeking reuenge and glorie rather then to retire a little to a peaceable state of life wherein they might applie themselues to deuotion Stories make mention of Arseniuâ— who of a glorious Senator becaâ—â—e a great louer of Christ and contemner of the worlde who was also said to haue by a diuine oracle this aduertisement Fuge tace quiâ—sce Arsenius flie bresilent giue thy selfe to quiet or peace The more we estrange ourselues from the loue of this world the neerer we draw to God if we draw neere vnto God saith S. Iames God will draw neere vnto vs. The most honourable state of life is to serue him all our inferior eyther pleasures or profits for a time like some small cloudes passe to and fro and are at last dissolued into nothing So we haue as much water as will carrie the ship or with Iacob food raiment for this iourney let God be our God and let his benefits bind vs vnto him An vnquiet or troublesome life is their life who haue not knowne the way of peace may also fear a time of trouble to come To liue religiously and peaceablie before God and man is their Christian conuersation whose praier is with the Prophete One thing haue we desired of yâ— Lord that we may dwell in the house of our God all the daies of our lines If Christ did call worldly men to labors and anguish of minde they might answer as those in the Gospell Lord haue vs excused but calling them to vndertake a sweet yoake and promiâ—ing rest vnto their souls peace internall in yâ— state of grace and peace eternall in the state of glorie how can they but fâ—nd in their hearts to come being so louingly called and to passe their time in that peaceable course which true deuotion is wont to afforde the well disposed for their euerlasting good The bird who for necessity is faine sometimes to staire vpon the earth is notwithstanding for the most part soaring in the aire where she tunes many a quiet and pleasant dittie In like manner for necessities sake onely our cogitations are sometimes on thinges here beneath but our chiefe delight should be higher where is quiet and peace of conscience where no distracting thoughts which are wont to disturbe the louers of this world do not come neere them they are risen with Christ and therefore seeke the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God The deuout mans life therefore is angelicall whose bodie walketh on earth but his desire as hath beene before shewed are aboue in heauen It is a wondrous case to see how apt men are to debates and quarrels at the least offences sometimes rather taken then giuen their stomacks are