harsh kind of doctrine to wise men and it is very distastfull to all men for it is a melancholy kind of teaching and of no such necessity Ye might rather in steed thereof stirre vp men to be merrie and to endure their miseries patiently Preachers do nothing more then fright and astonish men in the name of God let vs be merrie whiles we may sorrow comes fast inough The other sort reasoning and expostulating with flesh and bloud cannot determine vpon the generality of death They see not they say how it may be nor how it can stand to be true because then it is questionable say they who shall haue the dominion ouer other creatures in the world which are innumerable and most admirable 2 Pet. 3.1 1.3.4 Saint Peter saith these beleeue not that the world shall be destroyed with fire An answer to the first concerning the generalitie of death Interrogatiuely do you know this to be true by any sentence or example of holy Scripture No no you do not For if you did so know it the hearing of the same againe and againe would rather haue bene comfortable thē tedious vnto you That knowledge which is not grounded vpon the Scriptures of truth is nought worth meerly vnperfect True it is that men may know and be induced to beleeue that they which are a dying will die and that they which are in eminent dangers and perils present shall die But truly to beleeue and certainly to know that all men shall die or who or how many shall die flesh and bloud cannot reueale vnto men For the sense of hearing and seeing by the which men are brought to know and to beleeue reacheth no further then vnto things present because light which is the obiect of seeing and the aire which is the obiect of hearing vpon diuers occasions are sometimes giuen and sometimes taken away Therefore to see and to know certainly as an article of beleefe that all men shall die which is my generall doctrine no man can apprehend nor yet comprehend but by the knowledge of the holy Scriptures and by the holy influence of Gods diuine spirit because in verie truth the same reacheth vnto the apprehension of things in time to come and vnto that which is cleane out of sight and out of hearing Saint Paul speaketh directly of two sorts of seeing 2. Cor. 4.18 the one proper to the spirituall eyes or eyes of the vnderstanding in these words We looke not on the things which are seene but on the things which are not seene As if he had said We who are the children of God do not esteeme of that which we may apprehend with our natural eyes in cōparison but we esteeme and allow specially of that which we may comprehend and apprehend by faith And in that verie place he verifies the same calling the one in a sort an obiect temporall the other an obiect eternall The same Apostle saith to the like purpose We walke not by sight but by faith 2. Cor. 5.7 to wit We iudge not so highly nor so truly of that which the light or the aire doth manifest vnto our senses as of those things which the word of faith doth manifest vnto our soules The effects and fruites of the one and the other shewes the difference As the vertue attractiue was not in Noahs Arke Gen. 7.7.9.10 that drew famous and most worthy creatures and of all sorts into it nor the vertue attractiue was not in Elias cloke that drew Elisha frō his plowing 1. King 19.19 but both in the effectuall vse of Gods word Euen so the vertue of hearing seeing and beleeuing the general doctrine of death and life proceedeth not from any matter in nature nor from worldly reason nor yet from the wisest humane narration but from the holy Spirit of the liuing God who worketh in vs by faith which is grounded vpon the written word of God As for example briefly 2. King 6.18.19 Elisha his man as he was a naturall man saw onely an armie of the Aramites who were come to take his maister but when the eyes of his vnderstanding were opened vpon the prayers of his maister he saw a farre greater army of Angels that were come to protect them This made S. Paule to pray Ephes 1. That the eies of the Ephesians vnderstanding might be opened which was in effect that God would be pleased to inflame to kindle their hearts and their affectiōs with the splendor of his word and Spirit As the same host of the Aramites was led with blindnesse 1. King 6.18.19 vnto their mortall enemie the king of Israel at Samaria the eyes of their vnderstanding being shut vp and as the Sodomites did strike at Lots doore with blindnesse Gen. 19.10.11 when their naturall eyes were open or as Saule and his company 1. Sam. 26.12 being in the iustice of God striken into a dead sleepe euen so all such as haue not their sight and their knowledge for spirituall things out of Scripture they weare out themselues with wearisomnesse and in the end do bring thēselues as through ignorance into that ineuitable gulfe of perdition Labour you therefore ye seruants of the Lord labour ye the Scriptures and know you for certaine that ye know nothing as ye ought to know vnlesse ye know it by the Scriptures and beleeue it by the same Spirit that wrote the Scriptures As the light of the body is the eye Luk. 11.34 so the light of the inner man is the word of God and consider I pray you consider in due time I aduise you If I be to be blamed for this long discourse concerning the generalitie of death why then did the holy Ghost so largely discourse thereof Why did his holy Maiestie so often particulate one and the same matter so variably and in so many places of Scripture How can this be answered If you say fewer places would haue suffised thē you do directly blaspheme which God forbid Then you charge the holy Ghost with superfluities and tediousnesse where as through Gods mercies with such and so many iterations he doth importune you to remember your mortalitie and to make prouision for the same accordingly If you say this doctrine was not so needfull because you knew it long since out of your owne words you proue this doctrine of all others to be most needfull and my selfe of you most carefull And whereas you know alreadle as you say that you shall die neuerthelesse it is questionable whether you be readie prepared to die euerie houre for the testimonie of a good conscience as his Maiestie hath commanded yea or no. And it is questionable whether you be willing and desirous to die You wil say peraduenture you are of that mind you trust euer to be so that there is nothing vainly spoken in Gods word and you will count them vaine and friuolous that shall speake any thing out of this word that doth
not in some sort humour and applaud you Here I end this matter desiring God to enlarge your affections more more vnto the obedience of his word An answer to the 2. obiection concerning the generalitie of death Herein I will be briefe because indeed this sort of people are lesse worthy of further instruction who hold that this so goodly a frame of the world should not or cannot be destroyed Of whom Saint Peter speaketh thus 1. Pet. 3.3 There shall come in the last dayes mockers who will walke after their owne lusts and shall say Where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers died all things continue alike vnto this day There needeth no other answer for them then that which S. Peter maketh them in the verses following let them looke to it vpon their perill This doctrine concerning the generalitie of death serueth to reproue three sorts of people The first are those who wholly or for the most part do set their loue and liking vpon the things of this world as if they were to tarrie in it for euer or as if they were to chuse they would not change this world no not for the kingdome of heauen ioying and reioycing as Amos the Prophet said Amos. 6.13 in a thing of nought like vnto the tribes of Ruben and Gad and halfe the tribe of Manasses Num. 32.1.2 who chose the towns and lands on this side Iordan because there were goodly habitations and fertile soyle rather then the townes and lands in Canaan which for the fertilitie therof was said to flow with milke and honey and for the innumerable pleasures thereof like vnto the kingdome of heauen Saint Paul blaming such and seeking to draw them vnto better choise exhorteth saying Seeke ye the things which are aboue Col. 3.1 where Christ sits at the right hand of God and set your affections on heauenly things and not on earthly The second sort who are to be reproued by the generall doctrine of death Are they who murmure much or rather do mourne too much for the deceasse of their neare friends as though God had not done well to take one and not another to take this and not that or as if death had surprised them before their time and for euer or else that death had casually lighted on thē more then others Saint Paule comforting himselfe and others concerning this complaint 2. Cor. 5.1 sayd We haue a building giuen of God that is an house whose builder and maker is God The children of God die but one Luk. 20.36 they taste not of that second death in hell as the reprobates do This once to die is but a short interiection betweene two eternities to wit election and glorification with a kingly and a kindly passage as it were by calling and iustification vnto eternall saluation Rom. 6.9 Christ died once but in that he liueth he liueth for euer So ye likewise saith the holy Apostle are dead to sinne Rom. 6.9 but aliue to God through Iesus Christ The third sort who are to be reproued by this generall doctrine of death Are those who not minding their mortalitie nor accompts which they must make do treasure vp sinne vpon sinne being driuen as it were with the swinge of their nature set on fire of hell defile their bodies and the whole course of nature resolued with themselues to vndergo any sinne so as it may bring them either pleasure or profite Alwayes saying in their hearts and many times with their tongues If we must die for sinne as Preachers say and that as well for one sinne as for a thousand why then let vs eate and drinke and be merrie while we may Salomon out of his owne experience and specially from the holy Spirit of inspiration faith of such one a after this maner Eccles 10.9 Reioyce ô thou yong man in thy youth let thine heart cheare thee walke in the wayes of thine owne heart and in the sight of thine eyes But what followeth God will bring thee to iudgement Although his Maiestie be inclined to mercie yet when he is moued to iustice it is ineuitable it is innarrable it is intollerable To that effect said Dauid as if it were in the proper person of almightie God vnto all such desperate and gracelesse wretches that do abuse his holy patience Psal 50.17 I will set thy sinnes in order to wit thy sins in the night thy sinnes in the day thy sins in thy youth and thy sins in thine age thy sins against me and thy sinnes against thy brethren I will so muster and so ranke them together so place them by rowes and in euerie ranke and row such and so many as shall seeme to be more odious shamefull and detestable euen vnto thine owne selfe And what shall follow I will teare thee in peeces that is thy torments shall be more terrible and farre more horrible to nature then as if thou wert racked tormented peece-meale These are they who although in deed sinne is too too generall yet they rifle and runne ragingly after it in a more particular manner not minding their mortalitie or at least not regarding the accompts that they must make do maligne enuie vtterly hate yea and seeke the whole ouerthrow of vs the Preachers of his holy word and others the deare children of God who runne not into the same excesse of riot and damnable behauiour but with zeale do frequent the ministerie of his word with reuerence do keepe his Sabbaths with all care do keepe themselues vnsported of the world Therefore they esteeme them not worth their societie nor worthie to liue vpon the earth Ioh. 15.19 We are not of the world therfore the world hatethvs saith S. Iohn The manifold plagues to the Egyptians the fierie Serpēts to the Israelites and the Emerods to the Philistims were not so troublesome and tedious as these heathenish Atheists prophane Iewes are to vs. We liue not as enemies in an hostile manner among them but modestly and mildly and benignly as Christian cōforters bringing peace offering reconciliation The words of our commission are of 3. emphaticall and publicke narrations The first is Benedicite blesse ye the second is Benefacite do ye good and the third is Orate pray ye Thus are we enioyned to behaue our selues amongst many other religious duties towards God and good mē yea towards our enemies Where in so euer we do faile through frailtie it is not indifferent nor iustice for them being our enemies to iudge what we should do but rather out of charity to iudge what we would do Neither is it for them to reuenge themselues vpon vs it is his holy Maicstie to whom we must answer vpon our accompt We are whatsoeuer they say bringers of peace and we are peaceable 2. King 10.17 Come see said Iehu to Iehonadab so it were to be wished that these men would zealously and religiously
answer for the vse of means to preserue life Is the practise of holy men who were moued by the Spirit of inspiratiō as of Dauid the King and Prophet who although he had the word and promise of Almightie God for victorie against the Philistins yet he knowing the right rule of Gods will in his word and promise determined with himselfe to vse warlike meanes and therefore came vpon them valiantly with an alarum from the mulberrie trees 2 Sam. 5.25.24 So did Gedeon politickly and valiantly come vpon the Midianites with his 300. men only Iudg 7.16.17.18 hauing in sted of swords staues pitchers and lamps Ichoiada the priest though he did know that his cause and his butines was the Lords yet he gaue commandement vnto the Captaines to vse speares and shields which he gaue them 2 King 11.10.11 As the seruants of Benadab the King said to their maister when they were ouercome by the King of Israel We haue heard that the Kings of Israel are mercifull 1 King 20.31 we pray thee let vs put on sackcloth about our loynes and ropes about our necks and let vs go to the King of Israel it may be he will saue thy life So likewise we must all conclude and agree for the vse of all kind sorts manners of good meanes who can tell whether the Lord our King and our God will saue vs in the vse of meanes or not As Daniel said to his keeper Da. 1.12 Proue vs ten dayes let vs haue pulse to eate water to drinke so in like maner let vs say to our selues and to whom else soeuer Proue the meanes trie what God vouchsaseth to do thereby Although Saint Paul knew that neither he nor any one of his company should perish in that dangerous voiage yet he said vnto the mariners Except these tarie in the ship Act. 27.23 to 52. they cannot be saued as if he had said We and they haue one meanes of life let vs vse it and God will giue good issue thereunto Saint Paul also knew by the Spirit of inspiration and by the reueiled word of God that no man should die before his day yet he commanded Timotheus to vse wine for his stomacke sake and his often infirmities 1 Tim. 5.23 As the Gibeonites being leaft-handed vsed to sling stones whereby they became so skilfull that they could sling at an haire and not faile Iud. 20.16 euen so Gods people are to be so skilfull in the vse of meanes frō the least to the greatest that they may preserue life The third answer for the vse and meanes to preserue life Is proued by the practise also of holy women as that vertuous woman of Tekoha 2 Sam. 14.14 who importunately intreated King Dauid for the life of Absalon his sonne The Shunamitish woman being of great estimation and hauing her onely sonne dead 2 King 18.19.20 most labouriously vsed the helpe of Elisha the Prophet if it were possible to haue him restored to life As the inhabitants of Gibea though they were leaft-handed Iudg. 20.16 could sling a stone at an haires breadth and faile not euen so must Gods children labor to be skilfull in the vse of al good meanes for the preseruation of life The fourth answer for the vse of meanes to preserue life Is the practise of almightie God himself who vsually doth annexe the vse of meanes with his decree concerning the time as well for the destroying of life as for the preseruing of life whereby the one be not shorter nor the other longer Sometimes he vseth weake or small meanes to bring mightie things to passe and that for the manifestation of his mercy and readinesse for the chearing vp of such as were weake and miserable 2 Cro. 14.11 as Asa the King of Iudah said in his prayers vnto God being miserably distressed It is nothing with thee to helpe with many or with no power Likewise Gedeon with his 300 mē presumed vpon the promise of God Iudg. 7.16.12.18 to giue the onset to many royall armies at one time of the Midianites Ifrael had victory against the Philistims 1 Sam. 13.19 without speare or shield Sometimes God vseth base or as it may be said by a phrase of speech foolish meanes that thereby he might confound the wisedome of the wise So did he command Iosua to compasse the great and inuincible citie Ierico seuen times Iosua 16.11 to 8. sounding out their rams hornes and with the same to throw downe the wals and to open their gates of iron brasse Somtimes he vseth miraculous means 1 Sam. 14.15 There was feare in the hoast of the Philistims amongst all the peope the garrison also and they that went out to spoyle were afraid themselues the earth trembled for it was stinken with feare by God He vseth miraculous meanes for the manifestation of his inexpugnable power as at the winning of that royall citie of Gibeon Iosua 10.11.12 whereat fine Kings and their armies were discomfited in one day Iosua being the Lord Generall of Israel whereof some with the sword some with stones from heauen Sometimes his Maiesty vseth physical means as that plaister of figs which Hezechiah 2 King 20.7 was commanded to take for his plague sore Sometimes he worketh the good of his people euen by no means as he himselfe said by the Prophet Hosea I will not saue them by bow Hos 1.7 not by sword nor by battell nor by horses nor by horsemen but I will saue them by the Lord their God As if he had said Naturall worldly men shall not impute the deliuerance of my people vnto possible meanes on earth but it shall be done beyond all expectation cleane contrarie to the vse of reason besides the capacity of the most wise in the world The fifth answer for the vse of meanes to preserue life There is in euerie man both good bad by the instinct of nature an intollerable affected pronenesse to vse all sorts and all kinds of meanes for the preseruation of life drawne originally from a naturall manner of feare such as was in Adam who hauing in his owne conscience deserued death Gen. 3.8.9.10 fled and hid himselfe So Caine hauing murthered his brother durst not for feare of punishment acknowledge his offence and when sentēce was pronounced against him Gen. 4.13.14 he feared death exceedingly which made him to expostulate with God in a most desperate manner Act. 27.1 to 21. Saint Paul his company in that most dangerous voyage were maruellous fearefull which made them to labour and to vse all meanes possibles for their liues The heathen sailers with Ionas to Tarshis in that great outragious tempest Ion. 1.1 to 8. spared not their best commodities but threw them into the sea to lighten the ship and laboured innarrably and all with the feare of death So in like manner holy men such as were indeed the
death of Iesus Christ to whose holy protection I leaue you c. Newly from the Printers Presse the 3. Iuly 1612. Your Honours most humble in the Lord Edw. Vaughan TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL SIR IOHN HARPER AND SIR PHILIP STANHOP in the countie of Darby Knights And to the worshipfull Maister Richard Hall of London Maister Humphrey Bonner of Nottingham and Maister George Abney in the said countie of Darby Esquiers MY singular selected friēds hauing published many and sundry bookes of diuinity and resolutely cōcluded with my self there to surceasse knowing this to be the enuious and maligning age in which few men shal be condignely rewarded neither yet from vniust imputations and impious calumniations freed yet for all that I was occasioned or rather as I may say violently importuned for my owne better instruction and satisfaction being more surprised with sorrow then with the losse of all the kingdomes of the world carefully to collect answers to diuers questions and obiections which did assaile my soule for and as concerning the deceasse of some such as did most nearely concerne me and exceeding dearely appertaine vnto me And hauing therewithall receiued through Gods mercie that which of all other things I most specially desired I was drawne dutifully and respectiuely to consider that my case was or might be yours and the cōmon case of all men Wherefore I tooke in hand methodically to dispose of all those dispersed collections into this booke as your Worships may see Wherin I alledge nothing but true sentences examples of holy Scriptures and that so warrantably so briefely and so plainely as that I might not seeme tedious to the wise and learned nor yet obscure to the simple and sorrowfull hearted Humbly and heartily desiring you in liew of my labor and in recompence of my loue that you wil be pleased sometimes to sequester your selues from your publike affaires yea and sometimes from your most priuate occasions for the orderly and through reading thereof Assuring you vpon my poore experience and vpon the iudgement of the best learned writers that there is nothing so effectuall in Gods word except the graces of his holy Spirit to make a regenerate man to mourn in mirth to solace in sorrow and to apprehend the right vse of all the meanes which God hath ordayned for the preseruation of life vntill the time of death doth come as the meditation of mortality with Scripture answers cōtemplatiuely to euery such question and obiection as may be raised concerning death together with deuout prayers going before and thanksgiuing following after Or otherwise a thousand to one death brings with it feare feare brings an increase of naturall torments an increase of torments brings distraction of memorie Afterwards followeth all idle dissolute and damnable speech and so from one defect vnto another an obliuiō of Christ and his kingdome as the diuell would haue it Thus I end hauing timely inough I hope forewarnd you with my hearty desires vnto his holy Maiestie to comfot you in your affliction and tribulation that you may be able and readie to comfort others to the glory of his holy name and the euerlasting comfort of your owne soules From Stretton Lefield in the countie of Darbie this 3. of Iuly 1612. Yours in the Lord Edw. Vaughan The contents In the displaying of this diuine discouerie of death is necessarily to be obserued these foure generall heads of instruction approued by many sentences and holy examples of Scriptures viz. First the Generalitie of death to wit how inuincibly death reigneth ouer all the generation of mankind no place exempted no time priuiledged nor any person vpon any occasion fauoured Secondly the sundrie sorts maners and kinds of death that is to say how diuersly and how many wayes death seizeth vpon all people with the seuerall reasons thereof Thirdly the timelinesse of death relating by particulars the day the houre the moment and point of time in which almightie God hath decreed that euerie the generation of mankinde shall die so that no man by the diligent vse of the meanes can lengthen his life nor any man by the negligent vse of the meanes shall shorten his life Fourthly the memorabilitie of death that is to say the commemoration and religious solemnization which the liuing ought to haue for their dead with foure principall and Christian respects THE GENERALITIE OF DEATH DEath hath dominion ouer all mankind not all together as they are innumerable but one after another in their appointed time To which purpose the iust man Iob by the holy influence of Gods diuine Spirit said not onely of himselfe but also of all others Iob. 30.23.24 Surely I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all the liuing Salomon the wisest man then in all the world hauing duly considered of mans abode in this life said Eccles 6 6. Man shall be couered with darkenesse if he liue an hundred yeares twise told and shall not all go into one place Saint Luke speaking by the same spirit sets downe the diuine speech of Saint Paul to the Athenians among which he doth plainely relate the maner of mans creation in this wise Act. 17.26 God hath made of one bloud all mankind to dwell on the face of the earth As if he had said by a vulgar phrase of speech Where there is a contagion or an infection it goes through that familie because they are of one nature and of one bloud euen so he meant that all the generatiō of mankinde being of one bloud and of one flesh shall all taste of one death Saint Paul in his exhortation to the Corinthians for their enduring affliction and to liue well 2. Cor. 5.10 said We must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ as if he had said There is no helpe nor hope we must all die Iosua a man exceeding victorious and full of magnanimitie and Christian courage yet being prepared to die in his exhortation to his people points vnto himselfe saying Iosua 23.14 Behold I enter into the way of all the world as if he had said Maruell not my brethren at me who must needs depart this life the like must be your lots your posterity The wise womā of Tekoha amongst many other emphatiticall speeches which she vsed to Dauid the king in the behalfe of Absolon his sonne said vnto him We must all die 2. Sam. 14.14 and we are as water spilt on the earth which cannot be gathered neither doth God spare any person As Dauid said 2. Sam. 11.25 The sword deuoures as wel one as another euen so it may be said of all people that death seizeth one manner or other vpon euerie man without exception Furthermore Gen. 5.28 the ten holy Fathers who liued euery man almost his thousand yet died Deut. 2.3 Iosua 8.9.10.11.12 We may speake of diuers by examples as of Moses Iosua the most valiant most victorious warriours
begger why then should any man mourne or murmure at the death of his dearest friends and why should he not be moued to yeld himselfe with al willingnesse contentment to die Why should any one man thinke himselfe worthy of that prerogatiue and priuiledge as not to die yea rather willingly then of constraint Iosua the Lord Generall of Israel at his death tooke this as a strong forcible argumēt to perswade with his people to liue well and that they might die willingly therefore emphatically he said Iosua 23.14 This is the way of all the world to wit Although I be a man as ye know in an extraordinary acceptation with God yet I must die so must you and so must all mankinde that liue and are yet to be borne looke not you to be exempted from this sentence but prouide accordingly A voyce said vnto Esai Crie Esai 40.6 What said he That all flesh is grasse the grace thereof as the flower of the field This holy Prophet being suggested and instigated by the Spirit of God to prepare the way of Christ in the hearts of the people he receiues as from the Lord also the manner how to moue them effectually thereunto euen by telling them that they were all subiect to death and that the most wise and most excellent amongst them was subiect to the same end The second cause mouing willingnesse to die It is drawne from a threefold exchāge that we make with the Almighty the first is the exchange that we make of our bodies 1 Cor. 15.25.54 Phili. 3.21 Esai 49.10.25.8 for this corruptible body which is subiect to manifold miseries and to fall from God we shall haue incorruptible and immortall bodies For these our bodies subiect to hunger to thirst to cold to heate to manifold diseases to sundrie passions and other such like calamities we shall haue celestiall and glorified bodies euerie way freed of all those perturbations The Lambe which is in the middest of the throne Reue. 7.15.16.17 shall gouerne his people and shall leade them vnto the liuely fountaines of waters and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes 21.3.4 The tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be their God with them There shall be no more death neither sorrow neither crying neither paine Euery Christian is alwaies longing and desiring this exchange yea senselesse creatures do alway straine with a feruent desire to be vnburthened to be discharged of this life how much more euery good man As he that is in prison desires and longs to go abroad or as Hagar in her bondage so miserable is man liuing in the flesh as a liuing soule in a body subiect to death The second exchange that we make is of our goods as when we change earthly riches for heauenly momentanie and transitorie treasures for euerlasting and that which neuer fadeth To which purpose the holy Ghost saith Mat. 6.19.20 Lay not vp treasures where moath or canker corrupteth and where theeues breake through and steale but lay vp treasures for your selues in heauen As if it were to say The best things of this life are subiect to corruptiō to manifold casualties but the treasures which are in heauen are not subiect either to mutability or yet to decay And our sauiour Christ saith by way of a parable Luk. 12.15.10.22 that the abundance of worldly wealth auailes nothing for the time prefent which is but momentanie neither doth it any way minister comfort vnto the distressed soule Thus he saith take heed of couetousnesse for though a man haue abundance yet his life standeth not in his riches Saint Paul seeing and perceiuing the inordinate desire of riches which was in his time and knowing that the like would be continued he speakes by way of comparison verie disdainefully and contemptuously of worldly riches 1 Timo 6.17.18.19 and charges men to prouide for better things and to build vpon a better foundation In heauen is all kinde of plentie maturitie and satietie Iudg. 18.9.10 As the Spies said vnto the children of Dan their brethren concerning Laish Arise and let vs go vp we haue seene the land and surely it is verie good it is a place lacking nothing that is in the world be not slothfull to possesse it for God hath giuen it into your hands euen so do innumerable sentences and examples of holy Scripture say and assure vs as touching the kingdome immortall ioyes of heauē The third exchange that we make by dying willingly and well is of our societie of our companie as when we change the societie fellowship and cōpanie of men for the company and societie of Angels Heb. 12.22.23.24 Reuel 14.1 to 6. the company of whoremongers drunkards liers swearers oppressors and such like for the company of the Saints the company of children on earth for the company of children in heauen the company of husband or wife for the company of Iesus Christ himselfe As a virgine that is affianced to a man thinkes it long before the solemnization thereof so is euery one that is affianced with Christ euermore desiring his full fruition and holy fellowship The third cause mouing willingnesse to die It is the mitigations cōforts helpes that almightie God yeelds against the torments of death to such as do commemorate their mortality with prayers and intercessions vnto almightie God that they may be faithfully prepared Of which gracious qualifications of sicknesses and diminishing of deaths torments the holy Prophet Dauid speakes Psal 41.3 most plainely The Lord will strengthen him vpon his bed of sorrow thou Lord saith the Prophet hast turned all his bed in his sicknesse as if it were to say God wil enable a mercifull religious man to endure all that he will lay on him or else will diminish the qualitie or quantitie of the disease To whom also Christ Iesus saith I am the physition as if it were in effect to say I am a present discharge for the soule that is surcharged with sinne and also a present qualification of bodily griefes and naturall diseases as was manifoldly and plainely experimented by Christ vpon diuers poore people who were miserably and mortally distressed with both The second instruction Concerning the manner sort or kind of death to wit how diuersly and how many wayes death seizeth on all the generation of mankind I will distinguish into foure sorts The which for assignations sake I must call by foure names vnder the which the holy Ghost comprehends as in a close narration dispersed ouer the Bible all maners sorts and kinds of death whatsoeuer howsoeuer and wheresoeuer which are these 1. the Penall death 2. the Naturall death 3. the Vnnaturall death 4. the Politicall death These three are comprehended in that answer of Dauid the selected man of God to Abishai concerning Saul the king whom God deliuered into their
branch principall and a meanes speciall of that by the which the spirituall policie of the Church is royally maintained and supported and which is in very deed the life of the regall law As the iudiciall law of Moses was the coniunct and the inseparable companion of the morall law amongst the people of Israel so in like manner the politicall law may be said to be arteries and ligaments of the common lawes amongst vs here in England As if it were to say Where there is no political law wisely and mercifully contriued there is no regall law that can be vpholden and maintained take away the one take away the other A king I grant may gouerne regally and according to his will may enforce his subiects vnto obedience or patience yet without Christian policie no kingdome can continue For the order and frame of ciuill gouernment is broken if men may not possesse their owne in peace after a peculiar propertie so is it if men may nor be in their owne houses safely so is it if men mē may not trauel without danger of robberie so is it if men may not haue the free vse of the Sabboths by an ingresse and egresse for the seruice of God according to an vniform order throughout the Realm This I conclude We being defended by the kings lawes from all iniuries priuate and publike throughout his dominions and also hauing vnder his protection the peaceble profession of Iesus Christ in effect then Let vs subiect our selues vnto him as vnto the immediate Vicar or Deputie of the King of heauen The politicall law hath in it selfe these foure sorts or kinds of executions 1. Beheadding 2. Hanging 3. Burning 4. Pressing First the reason of this politicall law in generall or the cause why it hath euer bene held requisite and necessarie in euerie wel-gouerned kingdome it is occasioned or drawne from the foulnesse and most outragiousnesse of some mens nature breaking forth into an hatefull kind of demeanour towards their equals and a treacherous manner of behauiour against their superiours euermore and in all places preferring contentions and warres before quietnesse and peace liking and allowing in their corrupt iudgment deceit and rapine before truth and plain-dealing still pressing themselues vnto the dishonour of God and vnto treason against the king if it may carry any hope of profite or likelihood of pleasure And therefore haue need of such law as may restraine all such or if they will not be so restrained then without all partialitie to execute them The morall law of God the common law of this land do onely manifest and perswade with men what things ought to be done But the politicall law as the law judiciall doth enforce and violently presse men to the performance of that which ought to be done Of which sort of people Saint Paul speaketh as of the Romans Rom. 1.31 Though they knew the law of God that they which do such things are worthie of death yet not onely do the same but fauour them that do it This kind of law may be truly said to be the law of nature to wit a law common to all people where yet the law of God is not in force and duly executed they are a law vnto themselues To be briefe the politicall law is an executioner of the common law and therefore a cause principall and necessarie to haue it and to keepe it in vse Secondly the reason of such sundrie sorts and seuerall manners of execution which are vsed by vertue of the politicall law The manner sort or kind of executing malefactors worthily deseruing the same is not to be found in the grounds of the common law nor in any branch thereof but alway hath bin held as a matter indifferent and to be published and maintained according to the pleasure of the Prince for the time being specially as the manners of their subiects did enduce him thereunto by the cōsideration of the hainousnesse of the fact either more or lesse as we find by the order and maner of Moses in his gouernment which must needs be vnderstood to be figuratiuely related to all other kings and people as well as to the people of Israel whēce they should deriue the substance of their politicke lawes to be cōsisting of iustice equitie and alway vsing the maner the sort and kind thereof as being a matter of circumstance according to their owne wils as time place and persons require As for example briefly The iudiciall law for him that stole an oxe was Exo. 22.1.2 that he should recompence it to the owner with fiue oxen Some kings punish such an offence with stocking whipping some do punish it with banishment and our kings for many hundred yeares together haue punished it with hanging As for murther it was euer in all places punished with death and yet the manner of the death still remained in the will of the king according as the maner of the murther was found to be either more or lesse hainous The Iudiciall lawes of Israel were said to be appertaining vnto them and therefore can they not be said to be broken by vs when as indeed they were neuer giuen vnto vs neither yet made for vs. This doctrine serueth to reproue foure sorts of people The First are those whose nature is so froward and so rebellious that they are no way to be gouerned and guided but by force and violence yeelding rather their obedience and loyaltie to man that onely for feare of punishment then vnto almightie God for the loue of his fauour Secondly those who do most vniustly and most maliciously maligne the reuerend and commendable students of the law and generally all the learned and graue professors thereof being drawne thereunto out of their extreme folly and palpable ignorance or else being conuicted vniustly in the triall of some case through their owne wrong information or want of meanes iudicially to follow it or otherwise hauing had the ouerthrow and conuiction as iustly they deserued by reason of the vnlawfulnesse and vniustnesse of their case being plaintiffe or defendant Thirdly those who do vtterly scorne and altogether disdaine the verie law it selfe And no maruell for commonly they are such as do mocke and scorne the maiestie of Gods holy Scriptures and all the sincere Preachers thereof drawne thereunto as may be thought by a turne sicke spirit of giddinesse or rather from the stirring of the diuell who can away with nothing which is better then himselfe Fourthly those who most vncharitably and without all Christian reason or good consideration do make question and doubt of their saluation who are iudicially executed for their vnlawfull actes As though the manner of death did any thing at all derogate from the matter and substance of faith which is required of euerie one that dieth howsoeuer Or as though he that stealeth or he that murthereth or he that is a traitor were a greater sinner then Christ would or could forgiue or else
liue so withall euen in the same decree was set downe before the giuing of the law that long life should be a reward for him that kept the law and shortnesse of life for him that did breake the law when as yet he had done neither good nor euill Almightie God foretelleth the sinnes of Israel many hundred yeares before they were and their iudgements that should be accordingly in these words Deut. 31.16.17 This people will go a whoring after other gods they will forsake me and my couenant wherefore my wrath will wax hot against them that day and I will forsake them then shall they be confounded Almightie God to the like purpose by the mouth of his Prophet Esay speaks thus concerning the same people Esa 48.8 I knew that thou wouldest transgresse therefore haue I called thee a transgressor from the wombe Saint Peter speaking of Christs death therin of the death of his Saints saith thus to the Iewes Act. 2.23 Him haue ye takē by the hāds of the wicked being deliuered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God As if he had said This could not haue bene had it not bene so decreed before hand this is not happened by chance nor by aduenture but as it was foreseene good of God The second answer concerning conditionall lengthning and threats of shortning life The answer concerning the Prophets praying for and in the behalfe of Gods people for long life and sometimes praying for the cutting off of the wicked They being so graciously and so plētifully inspired by the spirit of God could not erre so grosly as to crosse contrarie other holy men who had written by the same Spirit They knew well that God had exactly concluded the time of all men for their life and time of death and therefore they did but pray as other religious mē drawne thereunto vpon the performance of other religious duties in that behalfe towards their brethren After this maner Daniel doth pray for the people of Israel being in Babylon Dan. 9.2.3 hauing found by bookes when the number of yeares was ended wherof the Lord had spokē by Ieremie that he would accomplish 70 yeares in the desolation of Ierusalem Therefore although he knew that God would deliuer his people out of bondage according as he had promised yet out of his loue to them and from his dutie to God he betook himselfe most importunately to pray for them and so continued vntill the Angell Gabriel brought him a direct an immediate answer from the throne of the Almightie Gen. 18.23 to 33. Abraham prayed for the Zodomites and that verie importunately though he knew very well that God had most iustly determined their ouerthrow The third answer concerning conditionall lengthning of life Thirdly concerning that addition of fifteene yeares to Hezekiahs life it is not so to be vnderstood when he was so mortally sick that his day was come to die But in such a case alwayes where such a Scripture seemeth litterally to disallow or crosse another as this doth men must looke for another sence yea such a sence as may agree with the analogie of faith It seemed indeed vnto Hezekiah as he was a mortall man and as the case stood between him God at that time that indeed fifteen yeares were added to his life Iob. 42.16 The like place is in Iobe Hauing exactly by many sentences proued the timelinesse of death and withall hauing answered some obiections that might be made in the discourse thereof Let vs now obserue sixe sorts of people who are to be reproued by this obiection of lengthning and shortning of life First it serueth warrantably to reproue those that do put off the time of their death vsing the world as if they were to dwell therein for euer Like the people before the floud Gen. 7.11 of whom Saint Luke speaketh who notwithstanding 120. yeares repentance giuen vnto thē in the which the arke was a preparing yet neuerthelesse they were carelesse and vnconscionable Luk. 17.26.27 They did eate and drinke maried wiues and gaue in mariage euen vnto the day that Noe entred into the arke and the floud came Likewise as it was in the dayes of Lot and when as they tooke his holy exhortation for mockage they eate Gen 19.24 Luk. 17.28 they dranke planted vineyards and builded but in the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all So the people in these dayes notwithstanding the manifold and variable warnings of the Amightie sometimes out of the element sometimes out of the earth sometimes out of the sea and specially out of his holy Scripture these I say are not yet moued in heart to prouide for their departure or at least they haue no willingnesse or resolutiō therunto They stand as it were vpon terms with his Maiesty vntill they be ouercome surprised sodainly as a bird in the snare of the fowler These are they whose affections being alienated do iudge better of earthly things then of heauenly of whom Saint Iohn saith They loue darkenesse better then light Io. 3.19.31 And he that is of the earth is of the earth and speaketh of the earth And as God said vnto the Israelites Iudg. 10.14 11.7 Deu. 32.29 Go and cry vnto the gods which you haue chosen let them saue you in the time of your tribulation so will the Lord say vnto all such as defer the time of their repentance and amendment Seeke you help elsewhere find it if you can for I will do nothing for you Why come ye vnto me now in the time of your tribulatiō did ye not thrust me out O that men were wise then would they consider their latter end Secondly it serueth to reproue those who wilfully riotously waste spoile and spend that which should necessarily appertaine to their posteritie Euen in nature and qualitie like the wilde Boare Psal 80.13 of which the Prophet Dauid speaketh who not onely eates and deuoures all that is aboue ground but afterwards roots vp all that should serue another yeare And in the same place also likened vnto wild sauage beasts who hauing eaten their fill do tread trample all the rest vnder foote and into the dirt that no other beast may or can eate thereof If they sinne that do neglect the vse of lawfull meanes how much more then they that vse lawfull meanes vnlawfully by surfetting by drunkennesse such like which God in his mercie hath ordained for the chearing and comforting of the godly Pro. 31.7.8 Euen as the people of Laish after the manner of the Sidonians Iudg. 18.7 dwelt carelesly and so were conquered Thirdly it serueth to reproue those who not knowing the Scriptures and therein not knowing specially the absolute decree of almightie God concerning the verie certaine day houre of euerie mans departure they fret they furne they weepe they waile excessiuely for the deceasse of
such as are nearely appertaining vnto them as if the want of meanes or the neglect of some dutie had directly shortned his or their liues all which is a plaine euidence of an vnbeleeuing heart Fourthly it serueth to reproue those who to preuent death in the time of danger do arrogate vnto the vse of vnlawfull meanes as forceries witchcraft and such like which God hath directly absolutely forbidden or else do first vse vnlawfull meanes and afterwards do applie themselues to the vse of lawfull meanes Da. 2.1.4.1 as Nebucadnezzer did who first sought to his astrologers soothsayers and others of that kind and afterwards sought helpe of Daniel the seruant of the liuing God For to attribute that vnto the meanes which is due to God is euery where inhibited as it was forbidden the people of Israel to say Deu. 8.17.18 My power the strength of my hands hath prepared me this abundance but remember the Lord thy God for it is he which giueth thee power to get substance Fiftly it reproues those who spend the time of their renowm the time of their dwelling here the time wherein they possesse their soules so vainly Euerie point whereof is precious although not riotously nor wantonly nor couetously yet carelesly vnconscionably spent without desire of the knowledge of God according to his word without groweth in zeale to his holy ordinances in the strength of faith and in the power of his spirit hauing all meanes therof brought euen home vnto them but euen as a people that doth neither good nor harme luke-warme or halting betweene two opinions The time of this ignorance want of zeale knowledge and such like God regardeth not in vs whiles we are without the meanes thereof as in his mercie he declared himselfe also towards the heathen But now it is called to day Christ said partly concerning himselfe and partly concerning others I must work while it is called to day Ioh. 9.4 the night commeth when a man cannot work Let vs also take it as spokē to vs we are Gods children and therfore may not be idle let vs be doing in time for time will away A man not knowing by the word of God the timelinesse of death to wit that death cannot take hold on him vntill Gods appointed time and that then he must needs depart the same man dieth willingly comfortably whereas a man that is ignorant thereof mournes and murmurs imputing the cause of his sickenesse and death vnto casuall meanes Sixtly it is sharpely and warrantably to rebuke those most ignorant and most prophane caluminators who do derogate from the worthinesse of the meanes which God hath ordained in his Church whose detracting tongs do manifest their hearts in speaking so maliciously so vntruly and euery way so indignely not only of graue learned Physitions but also euē of that laudable and honourable vse of Physicke it selfe which was highly commended carefully vsed amongst the holy Patriarches the Prophets and Apostles and thence from age to age successiuely by all and amongst all godly men ruling themselues by the former examples sufficient grounds of Scripture Some of which malicious profane persons wil neuerthelesse in their depth of danger vse the aduico and helpe of Physitions whom at other times before and after they vse in a parable of reproch disdaine as they do the Ministers and Pastors of their soules without whose ministerie they cannot possibly be saued and as indeed they do vse the learned the graue and most honest professors of the law who in their places do stand for the defence of their goods their good names and their patrimonies Euerie of which stately and most honourable professions is so needfull and so necessarily required in Church and in commonweale as that neither the one nor the other can be nor in any good seasonable sort continue And to be breefe the ignorant and dissolute man doth alway beare armor defensiue to defend his owne euilles and armes offensiue to assaile the good maners of others according to the old saying cōmon Prouerbe Yet according to my humble duty in Christ and in Christ his steede euen by the mercifulnes of God I do exhort all such as in an acceptable time to make vse of these honest and holy professors as of the meanes of his mercie towards them and as of effectuall instruments for their bodies and for their soules and that according to the directions of the Scriptures of truth and examples of holy men in all ages And as Abimelech said vnto his folke Iudg 9.48 What ye see me do make hast and do the like looke on me and do likewise euen as I do so do ye euen so say I and more also vnto you my good christian brethren let all things be spoken and done in the feare of God according to knowledge and according to the good example of such as guide themselues by the word and Spirit The fourth instruction concerning the memorability of death hauing in it these 4. principall respects or christian considerations as the persons are in place or in behauiour so is the cōmemoration either more or lesse after their decease to be solemnized priuatly or publickly with mourning fasting and praying First the person dead or dying Secondly whether priuate or publicke Thirdly whether spirituall or temporal Fourthly whether iust or vniust First whether the person dead or dying be priuate or publicke we are instigated vnto this mournefull memento for the terrors and torments of death which he endured in our sight and in our hearing as did appeare by his wofull complaints to such as were about him who would and should but by no meanes could minister any helpe vnto him as also by the galling griefes and griping grones he endured who being yet aliue was so surprised of al his vigor and force of spirit as made him blind yea deafe and dumbe O how detestable is sinne whence death and the intollerable pangs thereof are originally deriued Sinne being so odious and so detestable with God his Maiestie deuised an odious and detestable punishment and plague for it which is death A plague of all plagues and the most vnwillingest plague of all other for any man to vndergo There was neuer any punishment that God did inflict vpon man for the breach of his holy lawes nor any torture which the Imps of the diuell could deuise for the Saints of God but euerie man was more willing to endure it then death Not onely because it did depriue man of the world and worldly things but also and more specially because that man hath euen in nature a great loathing an vnspeakable feare of it as may partly appeare by the strange meanes by the notable deuices and by the desperate attempts which men haue vsed and indeuored onely to shunne and to auoide the torments of death and as also may appeare by the examples of many in the Scriptures and of others who are recorded in
life of another As a king that is to gouern a kingdom must be powerful and seuere in the execution of instice against the mightie and readie to minister mercie to the needie and distressed euen so the Maiestie of this eternall King hauing the whole world to guide and to gouerne must be powerful and seuere To which effect he faith by his Prophet Ier emie Feare ye not him faith he Ier. 5.22 who hath placed the sand for the bounds of the sea by a perpetuall decree that it cannot passe Againe he said Cannot I do with you ò Israel as this Potter Ier. 18.6 The holy Prophet Ezekiel speaking of his predomināt power ouer the wicked faith after this manner Ezech. 6.7 I will take the bloud out of his mouth his abhomination frō amongst his teeth The same prerogatiue our Sauiour Christ manifesteth himselfe to haue in his speech to his Disciples If any man saith he Mar. 11.3 do say vnto you Why loose ye the Colt say ye vnto them The Lord hath need and they will straight way let it go As if he had said Do but tell them of me vse but my name and they shall haue no power to withstand you The second question why God doth conceale the time of mans departure out of this life Why doth he keepe it secret to himselfe This seemes to be hard iustice that a matter of so great importance should be hid Eccl. 9.12 No man knoweth his time saith Salomon but is suddenly taken as a fish or as a bird Dan. 12.4 It is shut vp and sealed vnto theend of the time appointed said Daniel Gen. 27.2 I know not the day of my death said the holy Patriarch Isaac And as Saint Luke said to the disciples concerning the restoring of Christs kingdome It is not for you to know the times seasons which God hath rescrued in his owne power Act. 17. euen so is it not for any man to know the time and season of his departure out of this life I conclude this question with the forewarning of Saint Paul to Timothie in these words Put away foolish and vnlearned questions knowing that they ingender strife There are three speciall and diuine reasons why the time of death is concealed The first reason is That euerie man should stand vpon his guard lest the enemie come suddenly Watch and pray therefore said our Sauiour Christ Iesus Saint Luke knowing the manner of death exhorts to watchfulnesse in these words Luk. 12.35.36.37.38 Let your loynes be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selues like vnto men that wait for their maisters God told Moses where he should die but he told him not the time and why because he as all other men should stand vpon his watch or guard Deu. 28.66 Thy life saith the Lord shall hang before thee and thou shalt feare both day and night and shalt haue none assurance of thy life The second reason why the time of death is concealed It is for the continuall good of all succeeding ages that the one ought to prouide for the other Therefore specially it is said by Salomon Eccl. 1.4 One generation passeth and another cometh as of heauenly so in some proportion of earthly which made Christ to say One soweth and another reapeth Ioh. 4.37 Were it that some might know the time of their departure they would not renue any thing that might be for them that should come after partly through malice and enuie and partly through extreme idlenesse or superfluous expences The third reason why the time of death is concealed That all men should carefully conueniently vse the meanes for life which God hath appointed in his Church Whereas if they knew the exact time of their departure they wold hold it friuolous to vse any of those good means which his holy Maiesty hath inserted annexed to the decree for the time of mans departure So should the ordinance of God concerning the vse of his creatures be made frustrate and those his exceeding good creatures stand of none effect The fourth reason why the time of death is concealed If the time of death were knowne to some they would liue very desperately and damnably for many yeares and the more neare to the time of their death they would grow the more sad sorowfull and heauy and into such intollerable passions as would driue them into desperation or at least into an vnwilling and a most gracelesse striuing with death in a sort against God himselfe Therefore Moses said Deu. 29.29 Secret things belong to the Lord our God but the thing reuealed belong vnto vs and to our children for euer Besides these two questions which formerly you haue heard there arise out of this doctrine concerning the timelinesse of death three obiections First if God haue so resolutely decreed vpon the verie day and houre of euery mans departure To what end shall a man vse indeuor or any of the best meanes for the preseruation of life The first answer for the vse of meanes to preserue life As almightie God hath decreed the time of death so withall he hath annexed and commanded religious and pertinent meanes for the preseruation of life vntill the time come As for example The people vnder Moses and Aarō might haue perished in a naturall contagion of the leprosie therefore God commāded that the whole might be singled and seuered from the sicke and infected Leuit. 13.1.2.3.4 The same people might haue bene destroyed in the iudgment which God had prepared for others therefore God commanded some saying Separate your selues from the tents of Corah Numb 16.1.2 2 King 10.23 Dathan and Abiram Iehu the King said Search see whether there be any of the Lords seruants amongst the seruants of Baall lest they be also destroyed with them Good men may perish in the outrage of the wicked Mat. 2.12.13 therefore God forewarned the wise men to depart home another way And Saul said to the Kenites 1 Sam. 15.6 Depart from amongst the Amalekits lest I destroy you with them That vertuous woman so highly in the fauor of God might haue bene famished in that seuen yeares of dearth 2 Kings 10.23 had not God forewarned her by his Prophet that she should shift for her selfe and her houshold in due time All men by the iustice of God for their sinne might lawfully be destroyed together in this or that plague or vengeance yet he hath in his mercie forewarned some and so doth to saue thēselues with the vse of meanes which he hath commended and commanded in his Church And withall in the vse of the same meanes or the like to preserue very reprobates frō the plagues which falle vpon their fellowes to the end they may liue vnto the time which he hath decreed for their death in which their sinnes will be full ripe As may appeare in the foure recited examples The second