And follow thus through death his fore-runne trace Then shall our end be happy for they will Direct vs through this dale to Sions bill Vt terror Mortis tibi sit victoria larvam Aspicias intus Moâ—s fera vita placens Abr. Bush Art Mag. A DESCRIPTION OF DEATH TO euery thing there is a set time Eccle. 3.1 a time to bee borne and a time to die saith Salomon And betweene the time of birth and of death there passed in the first ages sixe eight or perhaps ten hundreth yeares But since the time that mans sinne drew the deluge ouer the whole world Man borne of a woman hath but a short time saith Iob. Iob 14.1 Iacob said that his dayes were an hundreth and thirty yeares Gen. 47.9 and that hee had not attained to the dayes of his Fathers But our dayes saith Moses comming after him Psal 90.10 are but threescore yeares and tenne and at the highest fourescore Yet not one among fourescore times fourescore attaine vnto that age 2 Sam. 12.18 Dauids beloued childe neuer saw the eight day yea the life of some is ended before they bee borne But how well so euer we are deliuered out of our mothers wombe yet hauing taken shipping in this world we still sayle towards our end And whether wee be fewe or many dayes by the way death is our last port vnto it we are all bound and at it must euery one arriue Now what man doth euer commit himselfe to Sea and doth not first furnish himselfe with necessary prouision against all vnexpected tempests How much the more then ought we to furnish our selues against the stormes of death which euery one of vs must certainly looke for hee that intends but a iourney by land enquires for the most commodious way And doe wee thinke to performe our iourney from Heauen to earth without any trouble or forecast at all This is a lamentable carelesnesse For whosoeuer doth then first goe about to prepare himselfe to dye well when he feeles sicknesse vpon him or seeth death before his eyes is like to a Souldier that beginneth then to forge his weapons when hee beholds his enemies on the wall Wee ought to spend the whole course of our life on the meditation of death for hee certainly hath liued well who hath learned well to dye Prouident Ioseph gathered in the seauen yeares of plenty that which fed him and those that were with him in the seauen yeares of famine Gen. 41.43 In like manner ought wee in our youth and health to make prouision of that Spirituall foode that may cherish vs towards our end when wee may chance to bee weake both in body and in minde Hee that is Lord of life and death open the eyes of our vnderstandings and endue vs with his Holy Spirit that hee may lighten and conduct our soules in and thorow the darknesse of death Hee I say that hath by dying ouercome death graunt that we may know it throughly to withstand it valiantly and hereafter as Souldiers vnder his banner happily vanquish it To treate hereof orderly The originall of Death we are first to know that God created not death Hee created the first man immortall in soule and body Zanch de Var. qual 4.1 so that hee might haue liued eternally had hee but obserued the will of his Creator Yet neuerthelesse hee also created him mortall so that hee might dye whensoeuer hee should transgresse the law of his Creator This appeares vnto vs by the words wherein GOD threatneth him on this manner In the day that thou eatest thereof Gen. 2.17 thou shalt surely die speaking of the forbidden tree of knowledge Wherefore Iesus the sonne of Sirach sayes that God himselfe made man from the beginning and left him in the hand of his owne counsell Eccl. 1â— 14.17 He set before him life and death sayes he and which hee liketh shall bee giuen him Now when Adam through the Serpents subtilty slighted this diuine warning hee straightwayes became lyable to death both in respect of his body which was dust Gen. 3.19 and shall returne to dust againe as also of his soule for through this sinne was hee adiudged to condemnation Rom. 5.16 And not hee onely but also all his posterity who all died in Adam 1 Cor. 15.22 as the Apostle teacheth So then this death as we may say was begot of the deuill brought into the world by sinne borne in Paradise the Mid-wife Eue the Nurse Adam It hath an abominable mother that mainely doth resist God It is lamentable of it selfe in respect that it is the fruit of our transgression It is ignominious because it is vnto vs as a brand of Gods wrath Yet is it not so abominable as the mother of it sinne it selfe because it doth execute Gods iust iudgement on vs slaying vs three manner of wayes whence it also may bee termed three-fold Death threefold First it killeth the body in separating the same from the spirit which is the life of it for the body without the spirit is dead saith Iames. This kinde of death is common vnto all men It assailes vs out of our owne nature or may be inflicted on vs by others And from this shall all men be freed at the generall resurrection Secondly it slayeth the soule by with-drawing the same from God her Creator Psal 36.9 who is the fountaine of life and from God her Redeemer Pro. 3.22 who is the life of our soule and the word of life This manner of death is also common vnto all those that walke as yet in Vanity and Blindnesse of heart Ioh. 1.11 It befalleth vs by meanes of our sinnes and trespasses Ephes 4.17 Ephes 2.1 And from this in this present life as many are freed Col. 2.13 as Christ hath quickned together with him and hath forgiuen them all their trespasses as the Apostle speaketh And this it is that Saint Iohn termes the first resurrection Thirdly it kills soule and body both together by excluding them both from the blisse of eternall life And of this kinde of death Christ saith If a man keepe my saying Ioh. 8.31 hee shall neuer see death Whereby the contrary is proued to wit that vnto them that do reiect the word of God this death shall befall and will come vpon them by the iust sentence which at the last day God shall pronounce against them Nor shall any of those whom it befalleth euer be released neither in this nor in the world to come These three sorts of dying are all comprehended by Christ in a speech of his where he saith Feare not them which kill the body Iohn 10.28 but are not able to kill the soule but feare him rather who is able to destroy both soule and body in hell Death twofold This hell Saint Iohn in his Reuelation at the last sees throwne into a lake of fire Reu. 20.15 and calls it
the second death And so he makes death but two-fold one corporall in this world the other spirituall in the other world whose diuision we also willingly embrace The death of the body That death then whereof we meane to treate is the first or corporall death to wit that which doth separate the soule from the body and is euery where vsually knowne by the name of death For whatsoeuer we speake or reade of dying as well in the diuine bookes of the Bible as in humane Writers it is for the most part to be vnderstood of this kinde of death This death is also chiefly feared of men and causeth them to bee troubled maketh them faint-hearted and vnconstant and vpon occasion of any euill rumour fearefull Yea that wise Naturalist Aristotle was of opinion Eth. 3. that of all things there is nothing more terrible then death The aduantage of them that doe not feare death If then this death be the most terrible thing in the world how happy is he that is released from the feare of it Yea verily wherwith can the world make him to tremble that contemnes the very vttermost of her power If hee liue in a Citie infected with the plague if hee dwell in a Country flaming with warre if he trauell in danger of theeues or if a tempest at sea ouertake him his spirits are not daunted nor his senses benum'd Hee hath the more rest and yet neuer the more danger Yea rather the lesse because a man that is affrighted by his very frights may bring some sicknesse vpon himselfe and so consequently death But such a resolute man is certaine that come the worst nothing can be exacted of him beyond his life which hee oweth and is willing to surrender where and when it shall please God If hee be called of God to a Souldier condition he fighteth boldly for the defence of his Country Yea certainely hee that oft-times through a cowardly feare would loose the field by this his couragious resolution putteth his enemie to flight Thus is euen our life sometimes lengthened by this willingnesse to dye Besides if such a one liue by enuious persons or vnder tyrannizing Princes he shall not neede to flatter nor to faine against his conscience He is not astonisht though they threaten to slay his body for hee knowes that it must dye whether they threaten him or no. Yea if they put him to death he knowes that they euen then bereaue themselues of power to torment him any farther And is not this a great liberty and worthy to be sought after whereas on the contrary how miserable is that man that is continually encumbred with feare and that not for some thing that hee may hope or chance to escape but for that which vndoubtedly may yea must sometime befall him Truly such a one walkes throughout the course of his life in a continuall flight farre worse then death it selfe The diuision of the Treatise Well then for the better ouercomming of this feare wee will assay for to vnmaske death and disrobe it of all terrible apparition that so wee may behold it naked and in his owne nature And first wee shall endeauour by foure naturall reasons and then by foure other obseruations to demonstrate that it hath nothing in it selfe that should be terrible vnto vs. And secondly proceeding we hope likewise in a foure-fold discourse manifestly to shew that to those that know how to arme themselues against it death is altogether profitable and consequently worthy to bee desired This death then 1 Reason though it be one of the twinnes which together by sin entred into the world Death is not bad Rom. 5.12 yet doth it in no manner of wayes resemble in iniquity the spirituall death its sister For though this death doe vtterly slay the body and the other doth not kill the soule but casts it into a miserable life yet is it better to dye by the first then to liue in the second Yea by meanes of this obtaine wee this benefit and profit that at the last it doth free vs from this toyle-some life to which God since the fall of man hath heere on earth condemned all mankinde In the which were it not that this death preuenteth it wee should continually remaine For this cause then as also for that God doth send it as well to his children whom he loueth as to his enemies whom he hateth it cannot in its owne nature be euill Howbeit God doth diuersly addresse it vnto vs. For the wicked hee consumes in his wrath Eccl. 45.19 as vnworthy of this temporall life But the godly hee takes away in his mercy and peace as esteeming them worthy of a better life 2 Reg. 22.20 And thus is death vnto the Reprobates a passage vnto eternall misery but to the Righteous vnto eternall life Ioh. 5.24 Euen as a Master thrusteth his disobedient seruant out of dores to deliuer him vnto the Iaylor and le ts forth his obedient to set him at liberty for euer Yet is it one and the same doore that both passe thorow Who then will terme this doore or this death euill If death in it selfe be not euill then from it directly no euill can bee expected Let this then be the first reason wherefore we neede not feare death But some may heere object that it is the occasion of this euill that wee by meanes of it loose this temporall life which is sweet to euery one But in sooth for vs to pay that we owe may not bee termed any losse vnto vs. And who knoweth not the condition of this life All things which by birth haue a beginning haue an end by death Whosoeuer therefore feareth the end must not desire the beginning Our life is like vnto a candle if wee desire it to giue light in lightning it must burne and burning draw and come to an end If the Sunne would not descend it must not ascend For the same course that causeth it to ascend causeth it to descend euen so doth this life conduct vs to death And who then can say this life is good and death euill Certainly whatsoeuer is spoken against death opposes life which is the cause of death Epictetus his saying is good Death saith hee is not frightfull but the feare of death Ar. 2. â— and to dye is not ill but to dye shamefully Hence Socrates 2 Reason Death Naturall when tydings was brought vnto him that the Gouernours of Athens had condemned him to dye And so hath Nature them A poph Eras 4. said hee without any farther alteration He knew well that it was no lesse naturall to dye then to liue And this shall be the second reason wherfore death is not to be feared All flesh we read in Ecclesiasticus waxeth old as a garment Eccl. 14.18 for the decree from the beginning is thou shalt dye the death As of the greene leaues vpon a thicke tree some fall and
our comfort delight and refuge Let vs then no longer lye weltring in sorrow lest by ouerlong lamenting wee encrease Gods wrath and prouoke him to correct vs with a heauier crosse If a Father should send one of his children into a farre Country to see and learne fashions and the childes brother in the meane while should neuer linne complaining that hee had lost his play-fellow would not this continuall whining at the last out-weary the Father Surely when his words could not herein preuaile with him hee would at the last better instruct him with a rod and so make him to be quiet Therefore let vs also willingly yeeld our necks vnto the yoake of Gods will and in patience possesse our soules Luk 21.19 that our impatience draw not his wrath downe vpon vs. Wee must not like children still cry and whine nor thinke that our loue due to the dead requires it of vs. They themselues would chide vs if our of heauen they should behold our endlesse lamenting for them True loue should giue vs occasion of ioy If ye loued me Ioh. 14.28 ye would reioyce saith Wisdome it selfe because I said I goe vnto the Father We must then bannish our of our hearts by a manly or rather a Christian courage this discomfort and manifest our strength by our patience For as Salomon sayes Hee that ruleth his Spirit Pro. 16.32 is better then he that taketh a Citie The holy Scipture that sayes Let the dead bury the dead Math. 8.22 whose buriall yet notwithstanding was necessary with more reason ought to perswade vs that wee should let the dead bewaile the dead which is not necessary at al. But why doe we still let our thoughts dwell in the graue whither we haue willingly caused the bodies of our best friends to be caried and there to be left Let vs lift our heads higher Let vs erect our hearts toward heauen whither God hath directed their soules There the best part of them is yet liuing There their soules remaine by the operations whereof their bodies did here delight vs. There I say our friends yet liue This wee may learne of Iob to whom God afterwards as the holy Scripture witnesseth gaue twice as much as hee had before To wit for seauen thousand Iob 1.2 Iob 42.12 hee gaue him foureteene thousand sheepe and so forth But in stead of tenne children he gaue him but tenne againe How then were they doubled his liuelesse Cattell were stone dead His deceased children were aliue still in heauen and the ten more giuen him here made them vp twenty Let vs then obserue hence that although our louing parents husbands wiues and children or friends are departed out of this world yet for all that they be not therefore dead but aliue yea that they may still be called ours And what greater comfort or reason then can wee haue to stay or stop our mourning then this Or if we cannot haile our senses out of the graue let vs at least behold and consider their bodies there with the eyes of the true Apostolique faith and wee shall finde them there constantly expecting the resurrection of the body Sym. Apost and life euerlasting And this is that which the Apostle on good ground charges vs 2 Thes 4.18 to comfort one another withall Calling on God And to conclude though wee haue set downe much comfort and diuers remedies against sorrowes yet except the Lord build the house Psal 127.1 they labour in vaine that build it In vaine doe we take in hand to cure the body In vaine doe we instruct the spirit vnlesse God stretch forth his ayding hand All sorrowfull hearts must then fall downe before him in whom is the fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 and call vpon him continually to release them of their sorrow Hee can soone scatter through the light of his spirit all those thick clouds of misery which often euen against our owne will doe compasse vs about Let vs take heed onely that with Martha wee be not too much troubled Luk. 10.39 and let vs with Mary rather set our selues at his feete and willingly embrace his comforts Or if we cannot wholy keepe our selues from sorrowing let vs not weepe ouer the dead but with the daughters of Ierusalem weepe for our selues that yet liue Luk. 23.28 Let vs freely mourne for our cōmon sins that brought death into the world and striue to diminish them daily more more by repentance so shall this religious sorrow be comfortable vnto vs and procure vs an eternall ioy Which we entreat that Comforter to grant vnto vs Ioh. 14.16 which our Sauiour promised to send his Disciples Amen A Prayer for the sicke written by Mr. I. KING Minister of Gods word in London ETernall and omnipotent God most kinde and mercifull Father I thy poore creature dust ashes appeare before thy high diuine Maiesty with a hearty confession of my vilenesse and manifold sinnes wherewith in soule and body I am defiled and so wounded that from the sole of my feere to the top of my head there is nothing sound in me For in my vnderstanding is nothing but blindnesse in my will nothing but obstinacie against thy commandements my heart is a root of all iniquity my externall members are weapons of vnrighteousnesse yea through my disobedience incredulity ingratitude I haue so farre turned aside from thee and strayed from thy wayes that I am become a slaue to sinne and a childe of wrath whereby I haue deserued not only temporall punishments but euen eternall death and damnation if so be thou shouldest enter into iust iudgement with me But seeing that thou O Father of all comfort doest not reiect those that come vnto thee with true repentance of their manifold sins but hast promised to heare those that call on thee with a broken heart and a deiected spirit I now come vnto thee in confidence of thy bottomlesse mercy which thou hast showne and offered vnto me in thy welbeloued Son my Sauiour Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent into to this world to bee a ransome for all my sinnes And entreate thee O faithfull God and Father that thou mercifully wilt heare my prayer which I offer vnto thee in his name being now visited with a heauy sicknesse Grant that I through this thy fatherly chastising may so feele the greatnesse of my sinnes and heauinesse of the same that yet thereby I may not fall into despaire But that rather through this thy fatherly correction I may be moued to flie vnto thee with whom is much forgiuenes that doest not desire the death of a finner but that he repent and liue Thou that strikest and woundest indeede as a seuere Iudge with the sword of thy law but againe as a spirituall Chirurgion bindest vp and healest with the wholesome oyle of thy holy Gospell that bringest indeede thy children to the vttermost extremity as if it were to the torments of hell
OF DEATH A TRVE DESCRIPTION And against it A good Preparation Together with A sweet Consolation for the suruiuing Mourners By IAMES COLE Merchant Printed at London by A. M. 1629. TO THE RIGHT Worthy his much respected friends Mr. Iohn Milleward Esquire one of the Captaines of this famous Cittie Mr. Iohn Awbrey Mr. Edmond Page Mâ— William Gillie Mr William Middelton and Mr Iohn Bludworth D. H. Merchant wisheth all happinesse in soule and body in this worâ—d and eteâ—nâ—ll glory and blisse in the world to come EXcuse mee I pray which am now the hand of my deceased friend that I commend these his Religious Instructions vnto your Patronages and Embracements The long time of your acquaintance honest mutuall traffique and former pious conuersation may iustly challenge it both of the Author and my selfe Yee often haue taken and built your credit on his word in your bought Wares which the effect hath confirmed to your profit Once more beleeue him and buy these his MeditatioÌ„s on his word the price is but your acceptance reading and application And if thus you will vse and trie these his last Marchandizes they will prooue vnto you of infinite worth and price for by them you shall obtaine that precious Pearle and hidden treasure of which the Gospell mentions It was your charitable Christian loue that accompanied his mortall body to his last home and it was his louing care here to direct those that followed him and others to the graue lest they should too long make their aboade with the Gaderenian among the tombes The graue is but a passage not a dwelling place It doth but preserue the pledge of our bodies vntill the day of resurrection Therefore those that truly follow deceased Christians follow them not onely vnto the dore of death and entrance of the graue but through death vnto life through the graue vnto heauen And lest death the way to life should seeme too terrible and rather affright from the way then inuite vnto it This our friend and charitable Author shewes and proues here that in respect of the body the soule the world the last Iudgement it properly is not to be feared And further to embolden the weake faith of a trembling Christian hee vnmaskes and vnarmes death hee so describes her and prepares our bodies to embrace her that death is no more death but victory no more the obiect of feare but desire Wherefore hauing thus farre set in a word the description of her description before you I dare no longer detaine you from the victory of her If you please but to follow either the prescription or example of this our louing friend through death vnto life through the graue vnto heauen J dare promise that you will attaine my wish all happinesse here and eternall glory hereafter Jn confidence whereof I rest London this 10. of Iune 1629. Your well-wishing friend DIERICK HOSTE In commendation of the Author and his Booke NOthing more sure to vs then once pale death to see Why then are we so blinde not once to thinke thereon What more vncertaine then when this our chance may be Why then goe we on still as if shee should touch none In seasonable time this Bookâ— is come to light To driue out of our hearts deaths feare and anguish still It is a Christian part t' instruct vs in the right How we may arme our selues against that feared ill For though at euery one grim death ne're leaues to ayme Yet in this Treatise small from her quite taken is Her sting Which iustly makes to tremble without blame But to vs that are Christs she brings eternall bliss O worthy Israelite thou hast spied out full well That this great Anakim cannot hinder at all To winne that Canaan of heau'n and there to dwell For IESVS CHRIST hath wrought that Giants great downefall How can we now reward thy loue O Author kinde Who in thy life time shun'dst mens praise from laud didst flie Thy pious vertuous life wee 'll euer beare in minde Which now the Lord hath crown'd with blisse eternally D. H. Of the zealous Author his much respected Vnkle and his comfortable Description SHall I reioyce because his Penne doth teach Vs how die and heauenly blisse to reach Or shall I mourne because to be our guide His worthy selfe he hath to vs denâ—â—d Longer on earth His words perswade beliefe Farther confirmance but augments our griefe His Booke suffu'd that pointing Mercurie He needed not to guid vs and to die His life wee wanted more that could vs tell That hee that liued godly should die well Yet what it was I dare not well set downe For feare his ashes modesty shâ—uld frowne But let them speake that comment on his name A man of pious learned vpright fame Whose words and deedes did so concurre in one That what he said t' was true t' was sure t was done Whose vertuous presence was so pretious deere That most did wish he still might haue beene heere But loe his liberall charity If thus His company was gratefull vnto vs He shewes vs how we may enioy it still And striues our wishes happier to fulfill Then we conceiue He cann't descend againe We must ascend and there by him remaine Thus while we enter his societie Ours will be Saints and Angels companie But lest wee should vnskilfull Pilgrims stray Not knowing how to goe which is the way Lest that our eyes waxe dim'd by sinfull slime That we perceiu'd not which way he did clime Behold in this good legacie of his He shewes vs the true way through death to blisse Lest we should feare th'aff ighting face of death And quake to heare the fare-well of our breath To his olde Mate he doth vnmaske the fiend Shewes her sting forcelesse prooues our foe our friend So that we bold mâ—y gaze her in the face And that we fear'd so much with ioy embrace She is no euill thing but naturall According to Gods will common to all The bodie 's but a sleepe it feeles no paine The soule dies not but mounts vnto the traine Of heauenly Saints Why should earths vanities Detaine vs from these happy glorious skies Or feare of iudgement by it we receiue A ioy which mortall minde cannot conceiue Therefore when sicknesse pale doth enter in By Gods command vsherd by in-bred sinne That messenger of death thy house befit Thy body soule and all to welcome it Thy selfe striue well to arme death to vnarme By shunning sinne with faith and feare no harme Repent and pray and to thy heauenly peace And certaine comfort will thy faith encrease So that death shall thy soule not terrifie But be to thee a wished victorie Which brings thee to a ioyfull Paradise Before the Lambe aboue the starrie skies There is our Author now and there doth shine Like a cleare starre our once Marchant-diuine There he 's in his reward If we desire To beare a pâ—rt in that celestiall quire Let vs these his directions embrace
some growe so is the generation of flesh and blood One commeth to an end and another is borne Euery worke rotteth and consumeth away Yea to what end doth the corne spring vp into eares but to bee reaped And doth not euery lowe ebbe make way to a new flood Doth not euery day by declining giue time vnto the approaching night The same course of enterchange is likewise among men the precedent giues place vnto the future The Elements and all things composed of them are subiect vnto mutation yea the heauens themselues shall be dissolued and renewed 2 Pet 3.12 How then can a mortall body for euer remaine Being but a house of clay that is soone broke downe It comes vp like a flower and is soone cut downe Iob 14.2 Yea what is the life of this body 1 Chron 29.15 A shadow a winde Iob 7 7. a vapour that appeareth for a little Ioh. 4.14 and then vanisheth away saith holy writ As an arrowe once being shot continually flyeâ—h to the place where it must be fixed So man once being borne passeth without intermission vnto that end where hee must rest Yea we our selues if we obserue it are continually dying from the first day of our birth Our childhood dyed in vs when we became youthes Our youthfull age when wee grew to bee men The day present destroyeth the day past and euery present houre yea moment slayes that that is newly past yet doth not the absence of the time past hurt vs nor doe we bewaile it though euen now we want time Much lesse then if death at this instant should hurry vs away Should the want of the present time then procure any losse to vs when as the time of this world in no wise further can auaile vs. So that there is not any naturall reason why death should affright vs. No reason I say which is hence also apparent in that the antienter sort doe oftentimes more abhorre death then the younger where as reason rather requireth the contrary This desire therefore of delay in olde men springs onely out of an habituated loâ—e of these two friends soule and body the coniunction of the which the longer it lasteth the closer is their amity knit together to wit so long till they be sufficiently enformed that their separation can be no losse vnto them and no longer Yea nature it selfe directs all things to their end The fairest blosomes shee causeth freely to shed their pleasant leaues that the following cods may finde place These doth she also cause to shrinke together and split that the seede may fall out of them into the lap of the earth where it ought to be Wee our selues also haue a continuall naturall longing towards our end and wish though wee doe not obserue it that our dayes might hasten their course What is it else when as children long to be great those of middle growth to be married the married to see their children come to age yet is it certaine that how much the more we obtaine of thâ—se our wishes we approach the neerer to our end and yet we wish for it Yea farther who knowes not that fire at the last shall bring this world to an end yet is it so farre from terrifying vs that in signe of publique and generall ioy we are accustomed to kindle extraordinary great bonfires We haue also farre more desire to see mens decease then their birth No body râ—nnes forth for pleasure to see a woman in labour you will say the reason is because there is nothing therein but calamity and paine And what is there else where two fighting hurt one the other and yet who desires not to be a spectator Or if any by the Magistrates command must suffer a painefull deaâ—h what running is there to see it And who among vs would not take great delight if he could but securely behold it out of a windowe to see some-where a battell fought in the field The Romane Emperors who in foretimes knew well enough how to entice the people and to get their fauour did on feastiuall dayes present them with certaine hundred paires of Fencers which freely sported till that commonly one of each couple couered his standing with his dead body And on this sport for so they called it did the people sit gazing whole dayes without showe of wearinesse Yea it seemes that the same was first brought in by the Israelites when Abner and Ioah caused their Souldiers to sport together on this wisâ— 2 Sam. 2.14 Behold then how farre man euen beyond all decencie taketh pleasure in seeing the death of others when hee suffereth himselfe to be led by his naturall inclination So that to dye is not onely naturall but it seemes there is also a secret desire to behold the Tragedy of it Thirdly 3 Reason Death vniuersaâ—l to whom can any thing seeme terrible that presents it selfe dayly before his eyes What is more common among vs then Christnings and Burialls Haue euer any beene knowne of all that haue beene borne not to haue dyed Old young rich poore honest dishonest all â—read that path Gen. 4.8 Abel it may bee was slaine in his youth Gen. â— 27 and Methusalah liued welnigh a thousand yeares yet hee died also Exod. 14.8 The impious Egyptians were drowned in the red sea Gods people perished in the wildernes Poore Lazarus died Luk. 16.22 the rich man died also saith St. Luke Yea that mighty Ahasueros Est 1.1 who raigned ouer a hundred and seauen and twenty Prouinces that great Alexander the valiant Iulius Caesar who conquered the whole world haue all bin conquered by this death All things that are created as fire ayre water earth and all things compounded and ingendred of them are able to inflict death on vs. Anacreon the Poet was choaked with a grape kernell Pope Adrian the fourth with a flye Yea in our selues doth not the least disturbance of our blood oft end our liues Anger heat colde a fright doe the same I spare to speake of a plague which in the space of seauen or eight moneths hath deuoured in one Citie of London eight and thirty thousand Or a siedge which without and within the Towne of O oslend hath swept away more then a hundred thousand men in lesse then three yeares This we see and this we heare dayly and such like accidents fill the greater part of leaues in all manner of Chronicles and this will bee common as long as men shall inhabit the world Haue we not theÌ„ great reason so to accustome our selues to these common chances that we may not be affrighted by them But what doe I number men we see whole Cities destroyed That mighty Citie of Troy now giueth the Plow-man leaue to fâ—rrowe her Holy Ierusalem can hardly shew one stone on the other The Maiestie of Rome must now be guessed out of her Ruines Gen. 19.23 Yea a fire kindled in Canaan and burnt foure Cities together
sowed whether it be corruption Gal. 6.7 or euerlasting life If so be then that any one feares that heauenly Iudge by whom the dead are Iudged according to their workes Apoc. 2â— 1â— what is this to death To sowe and to worke are properties of life not of death and therefore ought euery one to tremble at his life not at his death Yet may some say it is naturall with Adam in Paradise for a man to hide himselfe so long as he can from Gods voyce It may be naturall but it is not auaileable For first we cannot by running so out-runne death but that it will ouer-take vs. Secondly though wee could here on earth prolong our life some fourty or fifty yeares yet it were but to small purpose Though a man liue sayes Syrachs sonne a hundred yeares Ecclus. 18.6 it is but as a drop of water vnto the sea and a grauell stone in comparison of the sand so are a thousand yeares to the day of eternity Therefore Iacob called his dayes of a hundred and thirty yeares Gen. 47. fewe and euill Thirdly the longer a worldling who chiefly dreads death with vexation shunnes it he doth not onely the longer liue here in paine but the more also he encreaseth the number of his sins and consequently drawes on him the fearefuller Iudgement Yea the burthen of dayly sinnes doth so graciously ouer-load the consciences of godly men that it euen makes them weary of this life and causeth them with St. Paul to cry out Miserable man that I am Rom. 7.14 who shall release me of this body of death But if any man shunne death and feareth the Iudgement as desirous of further time to amend his life hereafter let such an one know that he that deferres his amendment may as well growe worse aâ— better The first world obtain'd of God a hundred and twenty yeares toward their conuersion yet it nothing auayled them they were almost all drowned in the floud Gen. 6.3 Yea Enoch in the meane while he walked before God Gen. 5.24 God tooke him and hee was seene no more saith Moses lest that wickednesse should alter his vnderstanding or deceit beguile his soule sayes the booke of Wisedome So that the taking away of Enoch out of this world was a more certaine way for him to auoyde the fiercenesse of Gods Iudgement then if he had liued longer in danger of being misled Thus wee see then that death cannot be any hinderance vnto vs at the day of Iudgement and that in that respect wee haue no reason to feare it Seeing then that death is naturall and generall Conclusion and according to the will of God seeing that of its owne nature it can hurt vs neither in soule nor in body nor will suffer vs to long after terrestriall things nor shall be any hinderance vnto vs at the day of Iudgement We suppose that it is hereby sufficiently demonstrated that by nature it is not euill nor can any way preiudice vs. Therefore ought wee more to shunne the feare of death then death it selfe For once more and for the last to vse the words of a Philosopher commonly when we feare the death of the body and by all meanes shunne the same wee neglect altogether the death of the soule I conclude therefore with the fore-named words of Christ our Sauiour Feare not those that kill the body How our time is ordained by God and accomplished by man With which couragious speech we would faine here conclude but being that death doth assaile vs diuers manner of wayes and that it is a question ready almost in euery mans mouth whether a man can shorten his life or dye before his time wee will touch this in a word or two as an addition vnto our former discourse We say then with Iob Man hath his appointed time Iob 14.5 the number of his moneths is with God He hath set a limit that he must attaine and that he must not passe This diuine decree and immutable will is hid from mens eyes yet remaines constant and comes to passe at his due time Sometimes publiquely by the reuealed hand of GOD. Whereby he prolonged Lots Gen. 16.19 and his daughters liues by withdrawing them out of the Citie which he meant to consume with fire Sometimes by that which wee call chance though the hand of God be in it too For thus an arrowe shot at a uenture by a Syrian 1 Reg. 22.34 lighted betweene the ioynts of his harnesse and shortned the life of that King Of whom GOD had fore-told that hee should not returne home aliue Commonly through mans nature that causeth the weake in their youth to dye by sicknesse 2 Sam. 22.15 and sustaines the life of the strong till like a sheafe of corne they come into the barne in their season Iob 5.26 And likewise by diuers other meanes Sometimes God doth effect his secret decree by a publique prolonging or else a contracting of time When he granted time to the corrupt men of the first world which he would bring to naught of an hundred and twenty yeares Gen. 6.3 then this prolonging of time brought them to the vniuersall flood as it was before appointed by God Againe if for the Elects sake the dayes shall be shortned as many doe conceiue then shall this shortning bring the world to the vniuersall fire appointed by God Math. 24.22 And according to this reckoning of time man himselfe may sometimes be the meanes of prolonging his life Doth not God speake by Moses and to Salomon also Deut. 5.23 If you walke in my wayes so that you keepe my commandement 1 Reg 3.14 I will giue you long life Yea God puts the meanes of prolonging our life in our owne hands This was apparent in the wildernesse by the fierie Serpents whereas they were only saued and healed of their venomous bites that beheld the brazen Serpent The King Ezekias likewise obtained by his prayers and teares Numb 21.8 that God added vnto his dayes fifteene yeares 2 Reg. 20.6 Was not then his last day certainly preordained of God Yea but it was also his immutable good pleasure that the King should euen thus entreat and begge of him these last fifteene yeares And now also whosoeuer he be that through prayers Physick is releas'd of any sore disease hee ought not foolishly to boast that he should haue liued out his time that was appointed for him though he had not vsed the meanes but he ought rather freely to acknowledge that by these meanes his life hath beene prâ—serued Secondly man is sometimes also occasion of the shortning his dayes Hence it is that the Kingly Prophet said Bloudie and deceitfull men shall not liue out halfe their dayes Psal 55.23 And who will not say Sam. 31.4 that Saul and his Armour-bearer who stabbed themselues were an occasion of shortning their owne liues As also that whosoeuer after Moses had
might suffer that wrath and punishment which man by sinne had deserued and so satisfie Gods Iustice for mans transgressions All which in due time being fulfilled Ioh. 19 36. so many are now still acquitted before God as come to beleeue in him For he that beleeueth in him is not condemned Ioh. 3.18 but he that beleeueth not is condemned already This Sonne of God as a Lambe without blemish and without spot hath offered vp his pretious blood vnto God for vs 1 Pet. 1.19 saith St. Peter And thereby taketh he away the sinne of the world Ioh. 1.29 saith St. Iohn and consequently the sting of death 2 Tim 1.10 Yea death it selfe is abolished by his appearanee sayes St. Paul Whosoeuer then is thus armed with faith in his Sauiour Christ how caÌ„ death or its sting hurt him Hee that beleeueth on the Sonne 1 Ioh 3.36 hath euerlasting life as St. Iohn witnesseth Death indeed doth retaine its force to kill our naturall flesh with a dart but this Shield or Buckler so defends our soule that this dart cannot touch it Now what a comfort is this for a dying man that now wee may freely vse the words of the Apostle O Death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55.57 O Graue where is thy victorie But thankes be to God which giueth vs the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ But many a one findes himselfe 3 Point but faint in faith Confirmation of weak faith How shall I know certainly thinkes hee whether I be one of those which God hath called chosen to enioy his gracious promises or of those thaâ— haue nothing to doe wiâ—h them A man mighâ— indeede here answere the Lord knoweth his 2 Tim. 2.29 And he that as St. Paul farther â—eacheth doth certainly feele the testimonie of the holy Ghost within him Rom. 8.15 may vndoubtedly assure himselfe of his saluation This is certaine and he that feeles this can haue not better inâ—â—ruction Yet will we endeauour to set these in the way to find true Christian comfort who through weaknesse of faith doe not feele such a testimonie in their sicknesse First then the Sauiour of the world giues vs this certaine token He that belceueth and is baptized shall be saued Mar. 16. â—6 but he that beleeueth not shall be damned Whosoeuer therefore findes himselfe to haue beene baptized in the name of God and besides hath often beene present at publique prayers and preaching of the word of God and beene inuited to the holy Sacrament may already hope that he thereby is called to the vniâ—ersall or at lâ—aâ—t to the visible Church of Christ And whosoeuer doth further perceiue in his heart that Gods spirit hath called him to his Church and doth beleeue that Christ his blood is sufficient for the wiping out of all his sinnes yea doth conceiuâ— that GOD himselfe doth proffer him his redemption if onely hee can but embrace it with stedfast faith the same though he cannot yet vndoubtedly beleeue it must know that God hereby sets saluation before his eyes And if we haue further found a continuall inclination in our selues to heare the word of God to obserue his commandements and as we said before to a true repentance of our negligence we may safely beleeue that wee are in the way which leades to Christ his sheepe-fold For he sayes himselfe My sheepe heare my voyce Ioh. 10.27 and I know them and they follow me Yea if we endeauour to imploy our selues in all good workes to be obedient to Christ we haue already some fruites of faith And if we haue the fruits wee must also haue the roote though yet couered with earth or with our earthly thoughts For we must assure our soules that the good Lord will 2 Chro. 30.19 pardon euery one that prepareth his heart to seeke God As King Hezekiah prayed for those Israelites that did eate the passeouer without due purification according to the Law As also St. Paul comforts and encourages the Corinthians saying If there be first a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath 2 Cor. 8.12 and not according to that hee hath not Besides if wee feele in our conscience that God loues vs we may certainly conclude out of St. Iohns words that we are of those vnto whom God hath sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for our sinnes 1 Ioh. 4.10 And if besides we finde that we loue God we may also vpon St. Pauls word expect the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him 2. Cor. 2.9 And what is this but a token of our faith Wee may then yea must still cry out and pray with the childs father in the Gospell Mâ—r. 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe thou mine vnbeliefe Assuredly trusting that as Iesus restored that mans Childe to his corporall health hee will also worke vpon our soule that cure that shall be effectuall to procur the saluation of it And if euer wee haue felt in our prayers especially being at deathes dore that the Spirit did beare witnesse with our spirit Rom. 8.16 that we were the children of God We may freely bee confident that this God his mercy remaines constant towards vs. For hee still continues the same towards them that doe not willingly for sake him Yea though our very conscience do witnesse against vs that with desire and greedinesse wee haue since that time committed many sinnes yet is it no small comfort if shee can also witnesse vnto vs that after the committing thereof we haue often cast our selues downe at Gods feete with true sorrow and repétance For this is indeed the fault condition of Gods children Nor can this true repentance proceede from any but from God who is the fountaine of all good If then he send vs true repentance hee endeauours our Saluation if hee endeauour it he will performe it God in his word bids vs Comfort the feeble minded 1 Thes 5.14.15 wee may therefore well beleeue that hee himselfe will doe it Let vs then as it followes there pray without ceasing 1 Pet. 1.13 and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought vnto vs at the Reuelation of Iesus Christ Comfort against the temptation of the deuill But if any man there be that cannot perceiue or feele in his soule a stedfast hope that his prayer is heard of GOD but finds himselfe deprest by meanes of his riotous and vnruly life he must not therefore giue himselfe ouer to despaire It is true indeede that Sathan our enemie who assaults euen the holiest minded men oft in their extreamitie hath sufficient matter to torment this miserable creature withall But shouldest thou marke iniquities Psal 130.3 O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiuenesse with thee The Lordour God is a mercifull God If we be sinners Deut. 4.31 wee are those that Christ came to redeeme For he came not to
come burâ—hened and so ouer-laden wiâ—h all my sinnes that I cannot appeare before thee standing vpright but fall downe at thy foote Thou onely O Lord refresh refresh mee yea Lord I am confident that thou wilt Thy word is thy deede yea thou doest it already and I feele it My soule is releeued and refreshed with a rest with a peace that surpasseth all the worlds treasure And thy Spirit beareth witnesse with my Spirit Rom. 8.16 euen in this my greatest affliction that I am one of thy children Therefore doe I most thankfully say Blessed be thy name for euer and euer He that meditates hereon 4 Point A longing for death and as he ought comforts himselfe with the same may not he freely say with Simon Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Luk. 2.29 for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation May he not sing with Dauid Psal 27. The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraide And so consequently proceede to the end of that comfortable Psalme applying the same to himselfe against all his Spirituall temptations May hee not with St. Paul be assured that neither death nor life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate him from the loue of GOD which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Yea he will reioyce that he may follow his Lord euen at the heeles passing through the same dore of death which hee went through before him And will willingly setting light by this life and all what so euer hee hath in the world crie out with Salomon Eccles. 7.1 the day of death is better then the day of birth because it is a meanes to bring him vnto an vnexpressable ioy which will then especially quicken his heart when he shall consider what entertainment hee is then and there to expect The place of the soule If now wee enquire of the place of the blessed soules wee know that heauen is made ouer to them by promise Not the ayre that the cloudes and fowles houer in Math. 5.3.4 26.26 which sometimes is called heauen This is too narrow and subiect to dayly corruption nor that heauen neither or firmament that the starres glister in though it be somewhat more spacious and more permanent For euen this also at the last day shall be shaken and the starres shall fall downe Math. 24.29 It is a farre other thing that God hath prouided for his Elect. It is the third heauen which that chosen vessell Paul was caught vp into 2 Cor. 12.2 It is the vppermost heauen compassing all the heauens Eph. 4.10 whither Christ is ascended Ioh. 14.2 where is roome enough for many mansions Ioh. 14.3 This is stedfast and permanent vnto all eternity Wis 3.1 Hither Christ hath promised to take all his members vnto him Luk. 23.43 that they may bee where he is There be the righteous soules in the hand of God There is the penitent Thiefe in Paradise There is Lazarus in Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.23 There St. Iohn sawe them that were marked Reuel 7.9 before the Throne and before the Lambe One onely place set foorth by diuers names What a glorious comfort then is this for vs that our soule as soone as shee forsakes this earth shall bee receiued into so stately an habitation Concerning a mid way mansion or fiery prison which some haue endeauoured to settle by the way there to purge and purifie the blessed soules some certaine yeares before their ascention into heauen wee finde nothing at all in holy writ thereof set downe nor yet declared by the examples of any Saints deceased For euen as in this life there are but two kindes of conuersations set before vs to walke in light or darknesse 1 Ioh. 1. 〈◊〉 but two wayes through the narrowe or the wide gate so we read in the future life but of two hands of God Math. 7.13 the right and the left but of two kinde of men comprehended vnder the name of sheepe and goates Math. 25.32 and by consequence then but of two places heauen and hell Therefore when we are dying let vs fixe firmely the eyes of saith on the blood of Iesus Christ 1 Ioh. 1.7 which as his beloued Disciple speakes cleanseth vs from all sinnes and we shall directly ascend to that heauen Act. 7.56 which the first Martyr Stephen euen when hee was yet on earth sawe opened vnto him On what maner our soules get thither we may obserue by the fore-named Lazarus Luk. 16.22 who was carried thither by the ministrie of Angels Reu. 7.10 To St. Iohn it is also reuealed what they doe there to wit that they praise God hee saith farther Reu. 14.13 that they rest from their labours that is as well from the paines and diseases of the body which sicknesse did here bring on them and the troubles wherewith the wicked did oppresse them as from the labour and continuall warfare which they had against their owne concupiscences Concerning which the booke of Wisedome sayes very well Sap. 9.3 that they are at peace And principally at continuall peace with God and exempted from that trouble of minde whereby they feared to fall into Gods wrath And are not infinitely said to rest vnder an Altar in respect of Christ his onely sacrifice Reu. 6.9 whereby our soules are reconciled vnto God Ornaments of heauen As for the glory of this heauenly place no man can conceiue it Yet whosoeuer doth but obserue how glorious how comely God hath created this world which is but a temporall habitation as well of the wicked as of the good and what diuersity of delights he hath prepared for all kinde of men in the same he may in some sort guesse how louely how comely how full of pleasure that place must needs be which hee hath prepared to bee an habitation for his children whom hee hath elected to eternall blisse before the foundation of the world Saint Iohn when he faine would reueale some part thereof vnto vs writes that hee saw a Citie Reu. 21. A holy Ierusalem of pure gold whose walls were of Iasper stone and her foundations of most precious stone things that we here chiefely esteeme of and yet not to bee gotten in such quantity that thereof wee may build the least part of a Citie And yet all this is nothing in respect of the incomprehensible excellencie of this heauenly mansion Diuine Paul had a tast of this heauenly ioy but hee could not finde any termes wherewith to expresse the same But could onely say 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither haue there entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him
And to receiue and enioy this glory there is no other way but by death Death onely fetches vs and brings vs thither Now as a young Prince liuing some-where in banishment would exceedingly reioyce to see a messenger sent by the King his father to fetch him home and to set him on his Throne Euen so ought a childe of God to reioyce when God sends vnto him his Messenger Death to fetch him vnto his eternall kingdome Yea so much the more then such a Prince by how much the more the Kingdome of heauen doth excell all the Kingdomes of the world For it is better to be one day in the Palace of heauen sayes Dauid then else-where a thousand Psal 84.11 Priuiledge of the life to come For what haue we on the face of the earth that should make vs desire to stay here If we giue ouer this life which is but temporall and full of miserie and trouble wee obtaine a life on high where there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying Reu. 21.4 neither shall there be any more paine If heere wee depart from our earthly parents we are entertained there of our heauenly Father Math. 5.45 If heere wee leaue our chiefest friends and kindred wee meete there with our brethren in Christ cloathed in long white garments Reu. 7.9 If heere wee loose our Gardens and faire Pallaces wee finde our selues there in Paradise where the tree of life is continually growing If heere we remoue out of a famous Citie wee become there Citizens of the heauenly Ierusalem Heb. 12.22 Or if here we forgoe our Princely honours there we are named children of the most high Luk. 6.35 Yea if here we forsake euen an earthly Kingdome we possesse there a heauenly Kingdome Luk. 1.33 whereof there shall be no end The seeing of God When further wee proceede and consider that we are promised there to see God and that we shall see him as he is Math. 5.8 how can wee but hope to see the holy Trinity with full satisfaction 1 Ioh. 3 2. Wee shall see him in whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy Psal 16.11 and who shall say then vnto vs Enter into thy masters ioy Math. 25.21 O what an vnexpressable ioy will this bee What can our mindes imagine or hearts wish more If the Queene of Seba cryed out that those men were happy which stoode before Salomon to heare his wisedome 1 Reg. 10.8 how happy will those be that shall stand before Iesus who is the wisedome of his heauenly Father And if Iohn the Baptist leaped for very ioy at the presence of Christ Luk. 1.44 while he was yet in his mothers wombe And Simeon was satisfied when hee had but seene the childe in the Temple Luk. 2.30 what ioy and satiety will those receiue that shall see him sit at the right hand of his Father in eternall glory The three Apostles of our Lord when they had but a very small resemblance therof in that short transfiguration of Christ how soone did they forget set light by the world with all her appurtenances cried out Master it is good for vs to be here Luk. 9.33 and let vs heere build vs tabernacles What doe those Apostles now feele Or what doe they say now with all those that perfectly behold his glory and dwell in it The honour of our soules When we farther yet consider that we our selues shall obtaine there the Crowne of glory 1 Pet. 5.4 that fadeth not away as Peter speakes And that Gods children being by Christ iustified shall shine forth as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father Math. â—3 43 and be as the Angels of God in heauen Math. 22. â—0 yea are there to raigne for euer and euer Reu. 22.5 What heart what soule can chuse but long exceedingly to forgoe this world and to attaine to the presence of God Dauid cries out As the Hart panteth after the water brookes Psal 42.1 so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God for the liuing God when shall I come and appeare before God Now that which he longed for euery true beleeuer after this life once ended shall for euer enjoy The meeting of the body and sâ—ule together But whosoeuer farther will cast his eyes on the generall resurrection of the dead may finde yet farther matter of ioy and comfort Euery one may in some sort conceiue how vnspeakeably these two old friends soule and body will reioyce when after many ages they shall meete againe and perceiue that each of them is in a happy estate 1 Cor. 15.45 But chiefly when this corruptible shall haue put on incorruption and this mortall shall haue put on immortality and bee partaker with the soule of heauenly delight Yea the Lord Iesus shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body Phil. 3.21 What is there in heauen or in earth more excellent or what can bee imagined that deserues rather to be desired Yea with our corporall eyes we shall behold Christ This it was euen this I say was it wherewith Iob comforted himselfe in his long continued miserie and which did releeue him in his greatest agony I know sayes he that my Redeemer liueth and that hee shall stand at the latter day vpon earth and though after my skinne wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Iob 19.26 whoâ— I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not another Stephen the Martyr had assurance hereof in this life for hee being full of the holy Ghost sayes the Scripture looked vp stedfastly into heauen Acts 7.55 and sawe the glory of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God With this firâ—t Martyr of Christ let vs then coÌ„tinually cast our harts eies of faith towards heauen and fixe them wholly on Christ crying out with him Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Yea when wee can neither crie nor speake any more Let vs all with Hanna 1 Sam. 1.15 powre out our soules before him And the Spirit will make intercession for vs Rom. 8.26 with groaning which cannot be vttered and wee doubtlesse with the afore-said Stephen shall see heauen open and when our time comes with him dye in the Lord. Yet if it shall please God after all our good preparation An appendix to lift vs as he did the fore-mentioned Ezechias from our bâ—d againe and to restore vs to health let vs take good heede that we doe not neglect likewise with the same King Es 38.20 to sing songs in the house of the Lord all the dayes of our life that is euermore to be thankfull vnto him to serue him and to praise him So the diseased person whom Iesus had healed at Ierusalem was presently found in the Temple Ioh. 5.14 The Prophet Dauid teacheth vs
the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen A Consolation or Remedie against the Mourning that may befall vs by the decease of our friends IT is a commendable custome that after any buriall the neerest friends returne to the Funerall house to comfort those that suruiue Wee in like manner hauing giuen some admonitions to the departing would faine heere minister some comfort to the liuing Not that we can imitate those prouident comforters who like Spirituall Physitians first diligently feele the pulse of their Patient and as by it they discerne and finde the disease prescribe accordingly some remedies for we know no mans disease in particular But wee will onely endeauour as faithfull Apothecaries to prepare some good matter out of the which the afflicted may chuse what they suppose most needfull for themselues Lamentation ouer the dead First then I say that it is neither vnseemely nor vngodly to be sorrowfull at any ones departure and to lament for the same Wee haue the examples of our Fore-fathers Gen. 23.2 Abraham mourned for Sarah and wept for her Iacob put on sackcloath Gen. 37.35 and mourned for his sonne many dayes when hee supposed his Ioseph had beene dead 2 Sam. 2.32 King Dauid and all the people wept at the Graue of Abner Yea Israell penned mournfull Ditties 2 Chro. 35.25 at the death of their Kings And among the first Christians the deuout men made great lamentation for the death of Stephen Acts 1.2 Euen the Sonne of God whether the death of Lazarus moued him Ioh. 11.35 or rather his sisters sorrowes wept with the weeping Rom. 2.15 Wee reade likewise Num. 20.29 that the lamenting for Moses and Aaron lasted each of them thirty dayes Deut. 34.8 On the embalming of Iacob they beslowed fourty dayes Gen. 50.3 Yea the Egyptians mourned threescore and tenne dayes And very fitly doth a man take the time of certaine dayâ—s to ease his heart of the burthen of griefe it surchargeth it by lamenting and weeping For this disease hauing so passed the worst is then the easier to be cured The sorrowfull finding himselfe wearied out by ouerlong mourning giues way the more willingly to comfort Which indeed ought not in due time be neglected but willingly accepted For though the first grâ—efe be not condemnable yet is the continuance thereof hurtfull For of heauinesse commeth death Ecclus 38.18 and the heauinesse of the heart breaketh strength sayes Iesus Syrachs sonne Remedies against sorrow The Remedies to bee vsed against this are either externall or internall The externall are foure-fold To wit a new ioy as Isaac after the death of his moâ—her conceiued at the fiâ—st approaching of his bride Rebecca Gen. 24.64 Or otherwise greater vnexpected sorrowes as when a woman doth lament the decease of a childe and presently after is bereaued of her dearely beloued husband Where neither of these two fall out there at last is all sorrow by time it selfe at length consumed or at the last vndoubtedly by death which is a sure Physitian for all diseases But these things are not within our power or reach And therefore the internall remedies are most profitable for vs which are two-fold to wit humane reason and the word of God The one teacheth vs not to be amazed at the losse of any kinde of thing which we knew could bee taken from vs at any time The other witnesses vnto vs that we say dayly and ought to say contentedly Our Father thy will be done Math. 6.10 This will of our heauenly Father if so be we be his children must bee the guide and gouernour of all our affections Wee must consider that whatsoeuer pleases him is best for his childrens welfare He hath appointed for each one his Mare in wedlocke his louing Parents his deare children his comfortable friends his trusty seruants and hath linked them in loue together But when when hee knew that it was needfull for them For how long time for so long as it was conuenient for them both And he that hath created all continueth Lord of all Hee giueth not his right to man euen in the smallest creature Hee doth but lend vs one to another Whensoeuer therefore hee shall demand his owne whether it bee wife childe or friend wee ought as to the owner willingly to surrender it vnto him againe And if we haue on them so set our affection which ought to be limited by Gods appoinâ—ed time as to things perpetually to continue wee ought to lament not any mans departure but our owne misreckoning Doe wee not know that Gods verdict Dust thou art Gen. 3.19 and vnto dust thou shalt returne must stand firme and be made good vpon Adam and all his posterity If any body should take great delight in the greene boughes and flourishing fruit of his Orchard would wee not esteeme him a very simple and silly person if he should vexe and pine away for griefe when the Winters frost came and destroyed them How then can hee be deemed very wise that troubles himselfe when he sees this earthly flesh which as the Prophet cries out is all but grasse Esay 40.6 to wither away This is the only difference of the Winters frost the certaine time is knowne where of Deathes approach the certaintie is well knowne but not the time When it pleaseth GOD but to call and say Returne Psal 90.3 we must on and finish our course in this world Wee then that heare and see this and also know that although the body wither yet the soule of the faithfull enters into eternall blisse ought to take heede we sorrow not 1 Thes 4.13 euen as others doe which haue no hope But considering that we haue beside this woâ—ted sorrow many other particular occasions also of griefe and sorrow and that euery one doth iudge his owne the greatest we will in briefe touch some of them and endeauour withall to finde out some special remedies for them Especiall occasions of sorrow The occasion then of our mourning is two-fold to wit either in respect of the deceased or in respect of our selues In respect of the deceased we sorrow for three reasons either because hee dyed in his childhood or because hee was taken away and brought vnto his end by some mischance or thirdly because we feare he dyed in his sinnes That which respecteth our selues hath also three reasons To wit either because his company was deare vnto vs Or because his helpe was very necessary vnto vs Or lastly because we had not sufficiently reconciled our selues vnto him First 1 Occasion wee bewaile our children as fruites not yet ripe too soone plucked from the tree as though this did not agree with Gods ordinance Yet we know that our Gardners doe not set all plants to the intent they should all bring their fruites to maturitie neither is it fitting they should so doe They let the Mustard and the Fennell stalke produce