A DIRECTION TO DIE WELL.
Question.
I Doubt not, but you are now well instructed for the direction of your whole life: but, because you haue heere no abiding citie, what are you to thinke of, that you may die well?
An. I am euer to meditae of fiue things:
1 Of mine owne death; which is most certaine that it will come, and vncertaine when it will come.
2 Of the death of Christ; which was bitter to him, but sweet to, and for, his.
3 Of the deceitfulnesse of this world, which is subtill to allure, and subiect to change.
4 Of the ioyes of heauen, which are com [...]ortable to thinke on, and glorious to pos [...]esse.
5 Of the torments of hell, which are [Page 112] endlesse in themselues, and comfortlesse to sinners.
Quest. And why ought you first to thinke oftentimes of death?
Answ. 1 Because it is appointed that al must die, Hebr. 9.27. Death spares none: and therefore there was neuer sacrifice offered to her.
2 It is vncertaine when, where, or how I may die; and therefore vncertaine, that I may euer thinke of it.
3 Many goe merrily to the pit of perdition, for want of this meditation.
4 Death by this will be more welcome vnto mee; for, Dangers foreseene, are lesse grieuous.
5 I shall more easily contemne this world by often thinking that I am a stranger in it.
6 It will kéepe me from many sinnes, which otherwise I would commit; and cause me to repent of sinnes committed.
7 Christ my Lord, and good Christians, his seruants, had euer such thoughts.
8 Many Philosophers haue done the like, and of it haue written many volumes.
9 As the day of death leaues me; so the day of iudgement shall find me.
Psal. 90.12 10 It was the praier of Moses to God, that hee would teach him so to number his [Page 103] daies, that hee might applie his heart vnto wisdome.
11 It is the end of all my hearing, and reading, and as it were the scope of a Christian Diuine.
12 It is the Art of all Arts, and Science of all Sciences, to learne to die.
Quest. How prooue you this last?
Answ. Moses saith, O that they were wise, and that they would consider their latter end. Deut. 32.29.
The Wise man saith, Remember thy end, and thou shalt neuer doe amisse. Eccles. 7.36.
An Emperour said, that,Fredricke the third. The best knowledge was to know God, and to learne to die.
Augustine said, that in this our pilgrimage, we must thinke of nothing else, but that wee shall not be euer heere; and yet heere should wee prepare for our selues that place, from whence we shall neuer depart.
Gregorie said, All the life of a wise man must bee the meditation of death: and, He is euer carefull to doe well, who is euer thinking of his last end.
Quest. Why then doe so few thinke of death, and put this euill day farre from them?
Answ. The reasons are: 1 Their infidelity, they beleeue not either the happinesse of heauen, nor the horrors of hell.
2 Their impenitency and euill conscience, [Page 114] they would not breake off their sinnes, by drawing neere to God.
3 Their ignorance of the soules immortalitie, the bodies resurrection, and the good things prepared for them in heauen by Christ.
4 Their ambition, in desiring the honors and preferments of this world, and being loath to leaue them, when they haue enioied them.
5 Their couetousnesse; by which, as Moles they would euer, by their good wils, liue vpon earth.
6 Their delight in the pleasures of sin, from which they are taken at the day of death.
7 Their want of Gods feare: for, Hee that feares God, feares not to dye.
8 Their vnwillingnesse to leaue this world; for, to die well, is to die willingly.
Quest. It seemeth then wee had neede to pray, that God would teach vs to number our, not yeeres, but daies: and now tell mee (you that haue beene taught this Arithmeticke) how you ought to number your daies?
An. I must number them after this sort:
1 I must abstract the time past; for that being irreuocable, will neuer come againe.
2 I may not adde the time to come, for it may be, it will neuer come vnto me.
[Page 115] 3 I must set down only the time present, and know that it is only mine. Our life is a point, and lesse then a point: a figure of one, to which we can adde no Cipher; it is but a moment, and yet if we vse this moment wel, wee may get eternitie, which is of greatest moment.
Quest. Is it not then, thinke you, a great folly, that men are so vnwilling to thinke of death?
Answ. Questionlesse it is: we sée the Mariner, with ioy, thinkes of the Hauen.
The Labourer is glad to sée the euening.
The Trauailer is merry when his iournie is ended.
The Souldier is not sorrie, when his warfare is accomplished: and shall wee be grieued when the dayes of sinne are ended?
Quest. It seemeth by this which you haue said, that this life of ours is verie troublesome: for we are Mariners, our hauen is happinesse: Trauellers, our iournie is to Paradise: Labourers, our hire is Heauen: and Souldiers, our conquest is at death: Is then our life both miserable and changeable?
Answ. Yea verily: for it is compared, to a pilgrimage, in which is vncertaintie: Genes. 47.9.
A Flower, in which is mutabilitie. Isay 40.7.
A smoke, in which is vanitie. Psalme 102.3.
An House of Clay, in which is miserie. Iob. 4.19.
A Weauers shittle in which is volubilitie Iob. 7.6.
A shepheards tent, in which is varietie. Isay 38.12.
A Ship on the Sea, in which is celeritie. Wisd. 5.10.
A Mariner, who sitting, standing, sléeping, or waking, euer saileth on.
A shadow, which is nothing to the bodie. Iob. 8.9.
To a thought, whereof wee haue thousands in one day.
To a dreame, whereof we haue millions in one night. Iob. 20.8.
To vanitie, which is nothing, in it selfe. Psal. 39.5.
And to nothing, which hath no being in the World. Psal. 39.5.
Quest. If all this be true, as it must needes bee, because God hath said it: the houre of death is farre better then the day of our birth: Is it so?
Ans. It is, & that for these reasons: by it.
1 We are fréed from many present miseries. Reuel. 14.13.
Wee are deliuered from many future calamities. Isay 57.2.
[Page 117] 3 Our soules are receiued into glorie. Luke 23.43.
4 Our bodies are reserued to like glorie. Philip. 3.20.
5 That wise man, Salomon, thought so. Eccles. 7.3.
6 That holy man, Paul, wished so. Philip. 1.23.
Quest. But because Paul desired to die, may we also desire to die?
Answ. Though the bodie and soule, bee as man and wife conioyned together; yet with some cautions, a man may desire the diuorce of these twaine:
1 If he resigne his wil to the wil of God.
2 If hee can tarrie the good leasure of God.
3 If he doe it that he may be with God.
4 That hée may bee disburdened of this bodie of sinne: and thus Paul desired to bée dissolued, and to be with Christ. Philip. 1.23.
Quest. What thinke you of such as are in miserie, and desire to die, to bee freed from miserie?
Answ. I thinke their desires are not simply vnlawful, especially if they submit them to the will of God. I am vexed with a long and lingering disease, I would bee fréed by death, if God would frée me: I am detained in Prison I would be deliuered by death, if [Page 118] God would deliuer mee: I am exiled from my Countrie, I would goe to Heauen, if God would send for mee. Doe I sinne in this? God forbid: Elias did it, when hee desired God to take away his life, 1. Kings 19.4. And Iob did it, when hee would haue béene contented to depart this life: and many of Gods children haue done the like.
Quest. Why then did Hezekiah mourne when he was to die? and why did Dauid say, Let my soule liue? and Christ, Let this cuppe passe from me?
Answ. Hezekiah did so, because at this time he had not receiued a promised issue to succéed him: Christ did so, because hee was to die the death of the crosse: and Dauid did so, both because he was in a grieuous temptation; and, if he had then died, his enemies would haue triumphed ouer him.
Quest. But all this while you haue not told me what death is.
Answ. It is nothing else but the priuation of this naturall life, or the departure of the soule from the bodie: or as it were the deposition of an heauie burden of troubles in this life, by which we are eased; especially if wee carry not with vs such a burden of sinnes, as may weigh vs downe to the pit of perdition.
Secundus the Philosopher being asked [Page 119] this question by Hadrian the Emperour, said: Death is an eternall sleep, the dissolution of our bodies, the feare of rich men, the desire of poore men, an ineuitable euent, an vncertaine Pilgrimage, a robber of Mankind, the Mother of sléepe, the passage of life, the departure of the liuing, and a dissolution of all.
Quest. Should Adam haue tasted of this death, if he had stood in his innocencie?
Answ. Hee should not: for, the stipend and wages of sinne is death, Romans 6.23. His bodie indéed was subiect to mortalitie, but should not haue died; as our bodies now are subiect to sicknesse, and yet we may die without sicknesse; to wounding, and yet it may bée they are neuer wounded: and as the garments of the Children of Israel did not, by Gods prouidence, weare, by the space of fortie yéeres, though they were subiect to wearing, so we may say of Adams bodie, it should not haue died though it were subiect to death.
Quest. Are wee then any better in Christ then we were in Adam?
Answ. We are much: for, in Adam wée might haue died, and by him doe die: In Christ wee cannot die, but change this life for a farre better.
Quest. Are there any Monitors or Messengers of death?
Answ. There are thrée: casualtie, sickenesse and old age. Casualtie foretels me my death is doubtfull; Sicknesse, that death may be grieuous; Olde age, that death is certaine: Casualtie foretels mée of death at my backe; sicknesse that she is at my héeles; old age that she is before my face.
Quest. That I may giue the better entertainment to death when shee commeth, who hath sent these three Harbengers before her; what can you aduise me for to doe?
Answ. Surely, I would wish you, first, to beléeue in Christ, by whom the sting of death is taken out: for, They onely feare death, who doubt whether Christ died for them.
2 To liue well so long as you liue: for, Hee can neuer feare death, who by a good life hath giuen entertainment to the feare of God.
Quest. What? euen in my youth must I begin to liue wel? Will not God accept of my seruice when I am old?
Answ. Will you wound your selfe, that you may goe to the Chirurgian? and will you sinne in your youth, that you may sue for pardon in your old age? will you lay all the burden vpon a lame Horse, when you haue many stronger in your teame? shall the Deuill haue your Flowers, and God [Page 121] your wéeds? the Deuill your wine, and God the lées? the Deuill the fattest and fairest of your flocke; and God an halt, a lame and a leane Sacrifice? God forbid.
Quest. Yet if I haue but time to say, Lord haue mercie vpon me, though I haue liued neuer so badly, God will haue mercie vpon me.
Ans. It is true indéed: That holy Théefe did it vpon the crosse, and God had mercie vpon him: Marie Magdalen did it after her lewd life, and God had mercie vpon her. But (first) are you not worthie to want fauour at your death, who haue refused it all your life?
Secondly, doe you thinke that your repentance is vnfained, which is but only for a few dayes or houres?
Thirdly, doe you not sée that such repentance is often hypocriticall, when men that recouer from sicknesse, fall againe to sinne, after such a kind of repentance?
Fourthly, doe not many fal into desperation at their death, because they haue not serued God in their life?
Fiftly, is it not a folly to doe that all day, which you must bee enforced to vndoe at night?
Sixtly, doe you not sée that God in his Iustice doth take sense, and reason from many at their death, who haue refused his [Page 122] mercie, all the dayes of their life?
Quest. Yet you cannot denie, but many bad men haue made a faire shew at the houre of death, haue called vpon God, and died like Lambes.
Ans. Like Lambes? why the most of them die like stones: they haue liued a sottish and a senselesse life, and so they die. Nabal did so, but hee died like a foole: the rich glutton did so, but he died like a beast.
Quest. And you know also that many persons, who haue liued a very strict life, haue died in despaire, and blaspheming of God.
Ans. By the gates of hell they went into Heauen: by the extremitie of their disease, they might speake they knew not what: and by the sense of Gods iudgments they might say, My God why hast thou forsaken mee? But know this, that he neuer dies ill, who hath liued well; and hee seldome dies well, who hath liued ill: We must iudge men by their life, and not iudge any by their death.
Quest. Now then of all men that die in this World, whose death is most miserable?
Ans. The death of sinners: for them we must mourne most, and their death is most miserable Their birth is bad, their life is worse, their departure is worst of all: their death is without death their end is without end, and their want is without want. But [Page 123] precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.
Quest. Can you giue mee any example to proue this?
Ans. I can: One, at the houre of his death, féeling alreadie the torments of hell, cried out after this sort; O lamentable destinie! O infinite calamitie! O death without death! O those continuall cryings, which shall neuer be harkened vnto! Our eyes can see nothing, but sorrowfull spectacles, and intolerable torments. Our eares can heare nothing, but woe, woe without end wofull. O thou earth, why doest thou not swallow vs? O yee mountaines, why doe you not couer vs from the presence of the Iudge? How farre doe the torments of Hell exceede all the tortures of this life? O you bewitching pleasures of this VVorld, how haue you ledde vs blindfold to the horrors of Hell? Woe, woe for euer vnto vs, who without hope are cast from the fauour of God. O that after tenne thousand yeares we might bee deliuered! O that in any time we might haue an end? But, it cannot be: our temporall pleasures haue eternall paines: our mirth it is now turned into mourning, and we are cast into eternall fire.
A King said, O that I had neuer beene a King.
Quest. Shew mee also some examples of [Page 124] good men, who haue vttered things comfortable at their death.
Answ. Christ said, Father into thine hands I commend my spirit. Luk. 23.46.
Steuen said, Lord Iesus receiue my spirit. Acts 7.59.
Simeon said, Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace, according to thy word.
Saint Augustine said, (as Hierom reporteth) Nature compels me to be dissolued: I, according to the Scripture phrase, am to goe the way of my forefathers. Now Christ inuiteth me, now I desire to see celestiall fights. O keepe you the faith: thinke you also that you are mortall men. Let this be your care, to keepe the commandements of God, that when you die, all the Saints may receiue you, as their familiars and friends, into the euerlasting tabernacles. If you regard mee, or keepe any remembrance of me your Father, thinke of these things, sauour these things, do these things.
Saint Iohn said, My little children, loue one another: my little children loue one another: and being demaunded, why he did ingeminate so often this spéech? He said, My Lord and Master taught it vs in his life, preached it before his death, and if yee doe this, it sufficeth.
Holy Effrem said, O Lord God, receiue, [Page 125] preserue, saue, and be mercifull to vs by thy grace.
Tobiah said to his sonne, Keepe thou the Law, and the Commandements, and shew thy selfe mercifull, and iust, that it may goe well with thee. Chap. 14. 9.
Mauritius the Emperour said, when Phocas caused his children, and wife, to be slaine before his eyes, and lastly himselfe: The Lord is righteous in all his waies, and holy in all his workes: Psal. 145.
Antonius, surnamed Pius, that is, the godly King, said: Why do you mourne for mee, and not rather thinke of that common, both death and pestilence? And when his friends were readie to leaue him, he said: If you now leaue me, fare yee well: I but go before you. And being demanded to whom he would leaue his sonne? To God, saith hée, and you, if he deserue well.
Master Deering, a little before his death, being by his friends raised vp in his bed, séeing the Sunne shine, and being desired to speake, said: There is but one Sun that giueth light to the world; there is but one righteousnesse; there is but one communion of Saints. If I were the excellentest creature in the world: If I were as righteous as Abraham, Isaac and Iakob (for they were excellent men in the world) yet must we all confesse, [Page 126] that we are great sinners, and that there is no saluation, but in the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus: and wee haue all need of the grace of God. And for my part, as concerning death, I feele such ioy of spirit, that if I should haue the sentence of life on the one side, and the sentence of death on the other side, I had rather chuse a thousand times (seeing God hath appointed the separation) the sentence of death, than the sentence of life.
The Earle of Essex said: O God, Creator of all things, and Iudge of all men, thou hast let mee know by warrant out of thy word, that Satan is then most busie, when our end is neerest, and that Satan being resisted, will flie. I humblie beseech thee to assist mee in this my last combat: and seeing thou acceptest euen of our desires, as of our acts; accept, I beseech thee, of my desires to resist him, as of true resistance, and perfect by thy grace, what thou seest in my flesh to bee fraile and weake; giue mee patience to beare as becommeth mee, this iust punishment inflicted vpon mee, by so honorable a triall. Grant mee the inward comfort of thy Spirit: let thy Spirit seale vnto my soule, an assurance of thy mercies; lift my soule aboue all earthly cogitations; and when my life and bodie shall part, send thy blessed Angels, which may receiue my soule, and conuey it [Page 127] to the ioyes in heauen. Then concluding his prayer for all estates of the Realme, hee shut vp all with the Lords Prayer, reiterating this Petition, Lord Iesus forgiue vs our trespasses, Lord Iesus receiue my soule.
King Edward the sixt said, Lord God deliuer mee out of this miserable and wretched life, and take me among thy chosen: Howbeit, not my wil, but thy wil be done. Lord I commit my spirit to thee. O Lord, thou knowest how happie it were for mee to bee with thee: yet for thy chosens sake, send me life & health, that I may truly serue thee O my Lord God, blesse thy people, and saue thine inheritance: O Lord saue thy chosen people of England. O my Lord, defend this Realme from Papistrie, and maintaine thy true Religion, that I, and my people, may p [...]aise thy holy Name, for thy Sonne Iesus Christs sake. I am faint, Lord haue mercie vpon me, and take my spirit. And manie of the like, you may reade in the book of Martyrs.
Quest. Are not they most happy that die in this sort, and sing these Cygnean songs as funerall hymnes?
Answ. O happie, and thrice happy are they, whose life is a continuall praysing of God, and whose death is an vncessant prayer to God.
Quest. Yet if it please God, I would not [Page 128] die in my youth, and the flower of mine age.
Answ. Why? are you of so couetous a disposition, that you would measure all things by the ell? Is nothing precious, but that which is durable? think you the tallest person, the comliest person? the greatest picture, the best picture? or the longest shadow, the goodliest shadow? Neither men, nor their liues are measured by the ell: in a great and a small circle, the figure is all one: and it is, hath béen, and will be fatall, euen to great and glorious personages, ordinarily not to liue long. Take Salomon, Iosiah, and Christ Iesus for example.
Quest. O but I would not die in a strange countrey.
Answ. No? Abraham did, and died quietly: Ioseph did, and he died honorably: many Saints did, and they died gloriously. Are you slaine in battell? you haue a tombe amongst the dead bodies of your enemies. Do you die in trauaile? you are héere a stranger, your countrie is in heauen. Death comes vnto you masked, in these & such like shapes, take off the maske, and it is the same death wherewith women and children die. Euery place is a like distant from heauen.
Quest. And when I haue seen all the world, would you haue mee willing to leaue all the world?
Answ. Why? you euer haue séene the same rising and setting of the Sunne: the same encreasing and decreasing of nature: the like sins, that haue béen in former times: and if you haue séene all the world, consider but the vanitie, & mutabilitie of this world, and either you will say that this world is a world of wickednesse, or that now in his old age it is passing away, as a thréed-bare garment ouer-worne.
Quest. Is it easie now, thinke you, to leaue wife and children, father and mother, and all my friends?
Ans. Where you go you shall find more, & such as you neuer saw: & they whom you leaue behind, shall shortly follow after you.
Quest. But what shall become of my wife, children, friends, and kins-folkes, who depend vpon me?
Answ. All these belong more to God, than to you: he loues them best, and will prouide best for them; and such so left haue often risen to high and great place.
Quest. Yet if I died not alone, I might haue more comfort.
Answ. Alone, why? how many thousand in the whole world die in the same moment of time, which you die in, and yet (which God may grant to you) but a few of them goe to heauen?
Quest. Once againe; would you haue me not to feare death, which causeth mee to lose life, looke like a ghost, and which taketh away from mee all the ioies of this world?
Answ. By losing a temporall life you finde that life which is eternall: you shall not be afraid when you looke gastly, and that gastly body of yours shall one day bee clothed with glory, and be made like to the glorious body of your most glorious Sauiour: and as for the petie, and peacocke ioies héere, you shall haue ioies eternall, and vnspeakable heereafter.
Quest. Seeing then I must needs die, what must I doe to die well?
Answ. 1 Labour that your sinnes die in you, before you die in the world.
2 Be euer ready and prepared, either for death or iudgement.
3 Endeauour that your death may bee voluntary.
4 Consider what an excellent thing it is, to end your life before your death; and in such sort, that at that houre you haue nothing to doe but to die: that then you haue no more néede of any thing, not of time, not of your selfe, but sweetly, and comfortably to depart this life; so that you may say in the testimony of a good conscience, I was not [Page 131] ashamed to liue, and I am not afraid to die because I know my Redeemer liueth.
Quest. How many waies may a man carry himselfe in death?
Answ. Fiue: 1 He may feare, and flye it as euill.
2 Attend it sweetly and patiently, as a thing naturall, ineuitable, and reasonable.
3 Contemne it as a thing indifferent, and of no great importance.
4 Desire and seeke after it, as the onely hauen of rest from all the troubles and torments of this life, and so esteeme it as great gaine.
5 He may giue it to himselfe by taking away his owne life.
Quest. What thinke you of the first: because it is the opinion of the most?
Answ. 1 Because the most thinke so, therefore it is most remote from the truth.
2 Such seeme to giue little credit to Gods word, which teacheth, that by it wée rest from our labours.
3 If death be euill, it is an euill only in opinion, and such an euill, as neuer did hurt to a good man.
4 Why should a man feare that which in truth he knowes not what it is, or what good it wil bring vnto him, as Socrates once said vnto his friends, when hee would not [Page 132] pleade for his life before his Iudges?
5 It argueth faint-heartednesse, and follie, to feare that which cannot be auoided.
6 If it be good, why should we feare it? if euill, why do we by sorrow adde euill vnto euill?
7 He that once begins to feare death, can neuer, by reason of this feare, liue a good and a contented life. He is neuer a freeman, that feares death.
8 Consider that if nature had made men immortall, so that will they, nill they, they should haue liued euer, how many thousands in miserie, would haue cursed nature? Surely if we had it not, in this vale of misery, we would desire it more.
Quest. Giue mee your opinion of the second.
Answ. Surely me thinkes they kéepe the golden meane: for they will neither desire death, as knowing it to bée against nature, nor flie from it, considering that it is against iustice, reason, and their dutie to God: they know right well, that the first day of their birth, setteth them in their way to death.
Nascentes morimur, finis (que) ab origine pendet:
At birth begin we life to end:
This end doth on that birth depend.
Why should wee feare to go that way, which all the world hath gone before vs? [Page 133] why to ariue at that hauen, to which wee haue béen sayling euer since we were borne?
Quest. And doe you thinke that the third sort of people do well, who contemne death?
Answ. To contemne death, yea and life it selfe, for the glorie of God, the good of the Church, the manifestation of the truth, the saluation of our soules, and the credit of our names, argueth a courage, Christian, and inuincible; & hath béen practised both by the Saints of God, & many famous worthies euen amongst the heathen. And surely, he that feares death too much, shal neuer be fit for any honorable action: nay he shall neuer be a frée-man: neither can he truly say that he beléeueth the immortalitie of the soule, or his resurrection to eternall life by Christ.
Quest. Need I not to craue your opinion of the fourth and fifth sort, wherof one desires to die, and the other in that desire, doth take away his owne life?
Ans. I haue in this treatise answered concerning the fourth, & shewed how a man may desire death: you shall find it if you reade on in this direction. But for a mā to take away his own life, though it may séem sometimes to procéed from the greatnes of a mans courage, yet it cannot but be a great sin. For,
1 It argues madnesse for a man to lay violent hands vpon himselfe.
[Page 134] 2 Impatience, that he cannot wait the leisure of God.
3 Cowardlinesse, that he wil not endure that which might be inflicted vpon him.
4 Vnthankfulnesse, not to preserue this Iewell which is bestowed vpon him. And in a word, such a practise causeth not onely the actors, but their actions, profession, posteritie, and Countrie to bee euill spoken of.
Quest. Well: say then, that I be cast vpon my sicke bed; what rules can you giue mee to obserue at that time?
Answ. You are first to set your soule in order, and sée how you stand in the fauour of God.
Quest. And what are the reasons of this rule?
Answ. 1 Because the sicknesse of the bodie doth procéed from the sinne of the soule. Lament. 3.39.
2 The cure of the soule procures often the health of the bodie. Matth. 9.2.
3 If your sicknes be a sicknesse to death, you shall die more quietly: otherwise death is most fearefull in sicknesse.
4 By this you shall take your sicknesse the more patiently.
5 You shall so giue example to such as come to visit you, to doe the like.
[Page 135] 6 All your friends shall by this bee perswaded, that you are the childe of God.
Quest. Doe you thinke in this case, it is fit whilest I am in good memorie, and it may be in some hope of recouerie, to send for my godly Minister to comfort me?
Answ. O it cannot, but bee very fit: for he is, 1 The Lords messenger, to declare vnto man his reconciliation by Christ.
2 Hee is able to beat you downe by the curses of the Law, and to raise you vp by the promises of the Gospell.
3 Hee hath experience to speake a word in due season vnto you.
4 Hee especially, as Gods Physitian, hath store of salues to cure your sicke soule.
5 You may boldly vncouer your sores to him, who will not discouer them to your future shame.
6 Hee can see further into the nature of your heart, then oftentimes you your selfe can.
7 He will boldly rip vp your vlcers, that after he may the better cure them.
8 If he comfort, or correct you for sinne, you may be perswaded, that both come from God.
9 You shall, by this, much ease your owne heart, by crauing comfort from a godly Preacher.
10 You shall cause others in the like visitation, to doe as you haue done; and you your selfe he fitter to die.
Quest. When I haue taken this course for my soule, what must I doe in the next place for my body?
An. You are then to vse the helpe of a godly Physitian, and that for these reasons:
1 Your body is the soules house: if it be decaying, you must seeke to repaire it by al good meanes you can.
2 God hath giuen expert Physitians skil to restore many diseases of the body.
3 God hath appointed many soueraigne remedies, to recouer man in his sicke estate.
4 You shall better satisfie your selfe if you die, in that you neglected not lawfull meanes.
6 For want of this dutie, many doe perish, who might recouer.
Quest. Now in taking Physicke, what must I doe?
Answ. You must, 1 Commend it to Gods blessing by praier.
2 Not rely onely vpon the meanes.
3 Know that it cannot preuent either old age or death.
4 Humble your soule, that God may heale your body.
[Page 137] 5 Waite Gods leasure in blessing the meanes.
6 Bée thankefull to God if by it you recouer.
Quest. What then may I thinke of seeking to vngodly, or superstitious Physitians, though learned?
Answ. 1 If you cannot haue any other, you may with good conscience vse such.
2 If they haue a peculiar gift to cure that disease which troubleth you, you may goe vnto them.
Quest. And may I not aswell vse them as Religious Physitians?
Answ. I thinke not: for, 1 They will make little conscience to cure you.
2 You cannot hope that they shall cure you.
3 You doe, as much as in you lyeth, countenance them in their sinne and superstition.
4 You make them able to doe much hurt.
5 It is an argument that you put more confidence in such meanes, then in God.
6 You discourage godly men in that calling.
7 You make the Gospell to bee euil spoken of.
8 What doe you know, whether it will one day bee a corrosiue to your conscience [Page 138] that you haue vsed bad meanes, when as God offered you good?
Quest. It seemeth then, that to vse the helpe of good Witches, or Cunning men, or women, as they are called, is most vnlawfull.
Answ. To vse their helpe is to goe from the God of Israel, to Baalzebub God of Eckron; from Samuel in Ramoth, to the Witch at Endor: from the Riuers of Samaria, to the Waters of Damascus; from the Liuing, to the Dead and from God, to the Deuill: and yet this is the practise of most people.
Quest. And why now, I pray you, would you haue mee first to send for a Physitian for my soule, before I send for a Physitian for my bodie? Surely this is not the customary course, but rather the contrarie.
Answ. It is so: first wee haue the Physitian, and when hee leaues vs, then the Minister is sent for; and when hee once comes, wee thinke all the World is gone with vs: but it is a preposterous course, for these reasons:
1 Neuer looke for health in bodie, til you haue a good soule.
2 You must desire God to blesse the meanes hee vseth: which you truly cannot doe, till your conscience bee perswaded of the pardon of your sinnes.
[Page 139] 3 The memorie of the torments for sin, may be a meanes to increase the greatnesse of your disease.
4 You shal else make the World beléeue that you are perswaded, that you hope still for life.
Quest. Well: say then, that I send for my Preacher (and why should I not send for him, as well as for my Physitian) what must I doe when he is come vnto me?
Answ. You are bound, 1 To acknowledge and confesse all such sinnes, as doe any way so disquiet you, that you cannot bee perswaded of the pardon of them.
2 You are to reueale those seuerall temptations, by which Sathan assaileth you in your sicknesse.
3 You are to desire comfort from him, against the burden of your sinnes, and those temptations of the Deuill.
4 You must beléeue, that whatsoeuer he saith to you, out of Gods word, is the voice of God.
5 You must hide nothing from him, by which you, like hypocrites, desire to bee thought to be in a better estate then you are
6 You must desire him to pray for you, that God may either recouer your health, or receiue your soule.
7 You must not be sorrie if hee say vnto [Page 140] you, that your sicknesse may bee a sicknesse to death, and that therefore you had néed to prouide for another World.
8 If you be ignorant in pietie, and godlinesse, you must neuer leaue him, till you haue gotten a sauing and sure knowledge of God in Christ.
Quest. And what must he doe then to me?
Answ. He must, 1 Examine your knowledge, faith, repentance, and reconciliation to your Neighbour.
2 Comfort you against the feare of death.
3 Pray for your continuance in faith.
4 Aduise you to dispose well of your goods, and as you are able to remember the poore.
Quest. But, It may be, I am sicke of the Pestilence: may I send then for my Preacher to comfort me?
Answ. If you labour to get comfort by the Word and Sacraments in your health, you will not so much desire his presence in this sicknesse: and this is the iust iudgement of God, vpon many at their death, that as they regarded not the publike meanes of comfort in their health: so hee will not vouchsafe it vnto them being sicke.
But, neither can hee come, nor you send vnto him in this visitation:
[Page 141] 1 He may not come: for, if he doe,
1 He cannot after come into the Church to preach vnto them that are well.
2 He cannot resort to his owne people.
3 He cannot visit any Christian friend.
4 If hee fall sicke, he may suspect that he is guiltie of his owne death.
5 If any in his Family fal sicke, and die, he may be guiltie of their death.
6 Hee is a publike person and must doe nothing that may hinder his Ministerie.
7 It hath troubled some Ministers at their death, in that they haue béene so bolde to aduenture.
8 He hath no warrant for such a seruice out of Gods Word.
9 There is now no extraordinary calling to such a seruice, as Isaiah had, to visite Hezekiah.
10 Zanchius, with many other learned men, thinke it not fit, that Ministers should visite such persons. Vide Zanch. in Epist. ad Philip. Cap. 2. Vers. 30.
11 You cannot send for him: for this is
1 To put confidence in the presence of a Minister, that hee is able to forgiue sinnes: and this ordinarie sending for Ministers, only at the last gaspe, sauours much of Popish Superstition.
2 Say that he infect others, you are guiltie of their death.
[Page 142] 3 If he be infected, and die himselfe, you rob the Church of their painfull Pastor.
4 You disable him to doe that publique and priuate good, which hee might else doe to such as are sound.
5 You doe not as as you would doe to others; for it may bee you would not visite them.
6 It argues little loue, that you doe not regard the life of your Minister.
Quest. But say that hee knowes me to bee a good Christian, that I would not send, but that Sathan assaults mee to desperation: my soule is in danger, shall not I aduenture his bodie, to saue my soule?
Answ. This is not an vsuall thing: but if I, that am a Preacher, should know of any such, whose knowledge was sound, faith good, life vnblameable, and loue to mee vnfained, if I should vnderstand, that such a man could find no comfort, but by my presence, I will commend and commit my selfe vnto God and vsing the best preseruatiues, before and after, which I could, I would draw only so néere vnto him, as hee might receiue comfort from mee: and looke for Gods blessing vpon my preseruation.
Quest. And what needs all this, if you haue a particular faith, that you shall not die of the plague: may you visite any for all this?
Answ. A particular faith? nay rather a presumptuous faith: a particular faith to be deliuered from a present danger, is a miraculous faith: He that hath such a faith, may with Daniel liue among Lions, the three children walke in the fire, and the Apostle Paul shake off a mortiferous viper; God seldome giues this faith now adaies, the presumption of it consumes many presumptuous people.
Quest. Yet for all your saying, my dayes are numbred, my death is appointed: If I shal die of that disease, I cannot flie it by not visiting; if I shall not, I shall not die of it though I visite.
Ans. True it is: but that God who hath appointed the end, hath appointed the meanes to the end; and you are bound to vse those meanes: hee hath appointed your saluation by the Gospell. Wil you say, I shall bée saued, though you beléeue not the Gospel, nor frequent the ministerie of the word of God?
Quest. Why, is it not true: If I shall be deliuered, I shal be deliuered; and if not, I shall not?
Answ. I wil answere you with a story, of the like argment. One Ludouicus, a learned man of Italy, yet wanting the direction of Gods Spirit, and so neuer considering aduisedly of the meanes of our saluation; he grew [Page 144] at last to this resolution, It bootes not what I doe, nor how I liue; If I be saued, I am saued. He grew at length desperately sicke, sends for a Physitian, and requires his helpe. This Physitian being acquainted with his assertion for his soule, begins to apply it thus to his bodie: VVhy Sir, you neede not my helpe. If your time bee not come, there is no neede of Physicke; if it bee come, no Physicke will recouer you. Ludouicus musing of the matter in his bed, and considering aduisedly the Physitians speech; finding by reason, that as means must be vsed for the health of the bodie; so God also had ordained meanes for the saluation of the soule: vpon further conference (with shame and griefe) hee recanted his former opinion, tooke Physicke, and so was happily cured of bodie and soule at one time. Apply this vnto your conceit, and you shall find, that if you meane to bee fréed from the plague, you must vse meanes to kéepe your selfe from it.
Quest. Yet many escape, who visite their friendes at such a time.
Answ. Bee it so: it is either by Gods speciall prouidence, or the constitution of their bodies, or the preseruatiues they vse, or that they are reserued for some other time, or that sicke persons may not want some to comfort them: yet many more doe [Page 145] perish in this case, then can bee preserued.
Quest. Why then shall none come to persons infected?
Answ. God forbid: they of a Family that are bound to come, ought to helpe one another: they that will bée hired to looke to such persons, haue a calling to come vnto them: and, such as Magistrates doe appoint (as they ought to appoint honest, and aged persons for that seruice) they also may come, and looke for Gods preseruation in doing their dutie.
Quest. But because you are to direct mee to die well: say that I am sicke, and die of the Pestilence, what comforts can you giue mee against that kind of death?
Ans. You had in truth then néed of much comfort: therefore consider vpon your sicke bed; that,
1 Euery disease is Gods visitation, and therefore you must bée content to endure it.
2 The Pestilence is not such a disease, as is sent only for the sinnes of them that die of it, but often for the sinnes of them that doe liue: and though it be a plague indéed to the vnbeléeuers, yet to vs Christians it is but a triall, and exercise of vertue, saith Cyprian in his booke of mortalitie.
3 That though it bee a sharpe sicknesse, yet is it also a short sicknesse, and more tolerable [Page 146] then the Stone, Dropsie, Gout, Palsey, or the French disease.
4 That Dauid desired it before either famine or warre.
5 That very many who die of this disease, haue their senses and memories till the last houre.
6 That the tokens which come out vpon you, are Gods tokens: so that before you die, you haue a good time to call vpon God.
7 That many Noble Personages, Godly Preachers, Expert Physitians, Skilfull Lawyers, and most Christian people haue died of it.
8 That by it, God taketh you from many miseries of this life.
9 That Iob was grieued, for manie Moneths, with a more fearefull disease.
10 That it hinders not the saluation of your soule, though you die of such a sickenesse.
11 If you bee sicke of it, God may recouer you.
12 If it please him to recouer you againe, you are like to bee after far more healthfull.
Quest. O but my friendes will not come at mee.
Ans. O, but God will neuer forsake you: and (especially in Cities) you shall haue so manie, as can doe you any good: the fewer [Page 147] you haue to gaze vpon you, the fitter you are to looke vp to God.
Quest. But alas, I shall want my solemne funerall.
Answ. What is that to the saluation of your soule, and resurrection of your body? comfort your selfe in Christian not costly buriall.
Quest. I see then, that as there is no antidote against death, so there is no perfume against the plague; I may die of it: but, good Lord deliuer me and mine, and all good people from it. But now when I am sicke of any disease, as I must reconcile my selfe to God, so ought I not to reconcile my selfe to my neighbour?
An. If you haue wronged him in his bodie, by striking; soule, by seducing; person, by imprisoning; goods, by stealing; name, by slandering; or any other way haue done him hurt, you must seeke to bee reconciled vnto him. Math. 5.25.
Qu. What if I be so diseased, that he dares not come to me, or be so farre absent, that hee cannot come to me; what am I now to doe?
Answ. In this case.
1 God accepteth the will for the deede.
2 You must testifie your desire to friends present.
Quest. You said that a Minister must exhort [Page 148] sicke persons to dispose their goods: Is this necessary to be done?
Answ. Of goods, yea, and offices too: Magistrates must be carefull of their godly successors, and Ministers of their fellow-labourers. Deut. 31.1. Iosh. 23.
Quest. As for my goods, is it fit to make my will in sickenesse?
An. Nay, rather you should euer haue it ready in your health; if you haue not, it is néedefull in sickenesse to make it for these reasons, (though many thinke they must die, if their Will be made.)
1 In regard of your own credit, that others may thinke you a wise man.
2 Of your own conscience, that hauing set all in good order, you may more fréely depart in peace.
3 Of your louing wife, for whom you ought to prouide.
4 Of your children, that each of them may haue a conuenient portion of your goods.
5 Of your seruants, that they may not depart empty away.
6 Of your friends, that some legacies may be allotted to them.
7 Of the Church, that you may, as you are able, remember it.
8 Of the Common wealth, that you [Page 149] may doe good to such societies as you haue liued in.
9 Of the poore, that by giuing to them, you may send that portion of wealth before you to heauen.
10 Of your possessions and goods themselues, that they may know their owners after you are gone.
Quest. How ought I to make my Will?
Ans. It must bee made according to the Law, 1 Of Nature, by which you are borne.
2 Of that Nation in wich you liue.
3 Of God, by whom you haue liued, and to whom you die. And th [...]s you must doe in few, plaine, and significant words.
Qu. Say that I haue gotten my goods badlie: what must I doe?
Ans. You must make restitution to the true owners, if you know them; if not, the poore are the best inheritors of such goods.
Quest. Who is the fittest to be Executors of my Will?
Answ. That person whom thou hast tried to bee faithfull to God, sincere in his conuersation, wise in his owne businesse, and who is like to be louing to thine, and trusty to accomplish the whole intent of thy Testament.
Qu. As I am about my Will, many friends [Page 150] will perhaps come and visit mee: how shall I know who are my best friends?
Ans. Surely they who giue you good aduice for your soules health, who haue a fellow-feeling of your sickenesse, and who wish rather your life to doe good, then your death to haue goods: especially your best friend is a good conscience: for that wil neuer leaue you nor forsake you.
Quest. Can you illustrate this by any storie?
Answ. I haue read of a man going to execution for Treason against his Prince: Hee meetes with three of his old friends, hee desires them all to sue for his pardon: the first saith, I dare not; but heere is money to buy you a Coffin and a shéete: the second saith. I may not; but I will bring you to your ende, and there leaue you: the third saith, O I will run, and sue vpon my knees for you, I will neuer leaue you. To apply this: Our first friend is money, it can doe no more but performe our funerals: the second is our acquaintance, they will but attend vs to the graue, and so leaue vs: the last friend is a good conscience, and it will neuer leaue vs, till we are assured that God hath pardoned all our sinnes.
Quest. But when my friends come to visite [Page 151] me, am I to performe no duty to them?
Answ. You are to will them.
1 To serue God heartily.
2 To obey Gouernours faithfully.
3 To continue in the truth zealously.
4 To be louing one to another.
5 To be kind to your suruiuing aliance.
6 To meditat of death by your example.
7 To pray that you may die Christs faithfull seruant.
8 To comfort you against the feare of death.
9 Not to be ouer sorrowfull at your dissolution.
10 To bee carefull that your goods bee disposed according to the true intent of your will.
And lastly, to speake such good words vnto them, that they may haue hope, that you die in Gods fauour.
Quest. I remember that you told me, that though death be masked in the time of health, yet it will shew it selfe vgly at the last ga [...]pe: what comforts can you giue me against the feare of death when it commeth?
An. If I were a worldling, I would say vnto you; neuer thinke of it till it come: but that it may not affright you when it comes, but you may encounter with it in its owne den, I wil giue vnto you certaine comforts.
Quest. Which are they I pray you?
Answ. I remember many; and it is necessary you should know them. For the day of death is the Master day, and Iudge of all other daies: it is the triall and touchstone of our life: if you die a good death, it honoreth all your Actions: if an euill, it defameth them all: it is the last act of the worlds Comedie, and most difficult: wherfore I will shew those consolations vnto you, and will repeate them in your health, that you may thinke of them better vpon your sicke bed: wherefore against the feare of death, consider:
1 That wee neither liue nor die to our selues: but, whether we liue, we liue to the Lord; and whether we die, wee die to the Lord. Rom. 14.8.
2 That Christ is to vs in life, gaine; and in death, aduantage. Phil. 1.21.
3 That Christ is to vs the resurrection and the life: and whosoeuer beleeueth in him though he were dead, yet shall hee liue. Iohn 11.25.
4 That God doth both mitigate and abbreuiate the dolours of death to his seruants.
5 That our death being conuerted into a swéet sléepe, is the complement of the mortification of our flesh; so that hee which is [Page 153] dead, is fréed from sinne. Roman. 6.7.
6 That we Christians know, that when this earthly tabernacle of our house shal be dissolued, we shall haue a building euen of God, that is an house made without hands, eternall in the heauens. 2. Cor. 5.1.
7 That if we die in the Lord, we goe to Christ, which is best of all for vs. Phil. 1.23.
8 That this way of all flesh, is sanctified to vs by the death of Christ.
9 That if euer at other times the Spirit of Christ doth cause vs to beare afflictions patiently; it doth especially, by the comfort which it ministreth in death, inestimablie ouercome the sorrowes of death.
10 That the spirit indeede is ready, but the flesh is weake, Matth. 26.41. so that the inward man doth not feare death, but only the outward man.
Quest. Can you yet giue any more of these most sweet consolations?
Answ. Meditate therefore againe with me, that.
1 The desire you should haue to behold the most bright eies of God, and so to be deliuered from this body of sinne, will extinguish and extenuate both the grieuous feare, and fearefull griefe of present death.
2 That though wée can bée content to liue with the faithfull that are aliue, and [Page 154] must die; yet we must as well desire to be with those Saints, who hauing ouercome death, are gone before vs to the kingdome of heauen.
3 That wee must not more estéeme of this naturall, then of the spirituall life; but that the loue of the one, must abolish the griefe of the other.
4 That we are assured of the soules immortality, that it shall goe by the transportation of Angels, to the assembly and societie of the first borne, which are written in heauen, Luk. 16.22. Heb. 11.23. and that our bodies doe rest in the earth: so that one doth not vnfitly call the graue, an Hauen for the bodie to arriue at.
5 That wee beleeue the resurrection of the body, and euerlasting life after death: for, this is the faith of Christians onely.
6 That wee, seeing euidently Gods great mercy towards our young children at their departure out of this life, ought at our last end to be the more couragious; especially, since wee know, that wee haue the seale and earnest of Gods spirit in our hearts.
7 That, as in our whole life, so in the agony of death, God doth not suffer vs his seruants to be tempted, aboue that which we are able to beare, 1. Cor. 10.13. but [Page 155] giueth an happy issue with, and out of that temptation. It is in truth admirable which Gregorie in his Morals saith, That some doe with laughter entertaine death: wee may better say, that by couragious patience they doe ouercome it.
8 That we ought not so much to thinke of a peaceable end, as of a godly life: Augustine said well; Where a good life goeth before, an euill death must not bee thought to follow. And, He cannot die ill, who liues well. And, He seldome dies well, who hath liued ill. And, Reade, saith he, and reade ouer all the monuments of learned men, and you shall find nothing more horrible, then that person, who doth liue in such an estate, that he is afraid to die.
9 That death is neuer vntimely, whether we respect the good, or the bad. They die soone, that they may no longer be vexed by the wicked: these die soone, that they may not euer persecute the godly, as the same Augustine said.
10 That this life is so full of miseries, that in comparison thereof, death may bee thought rather a remedy, then a punishment: as Ambrose thought.
Quest. Once againe giue mee more comforts against the feare of death: for, such is the corruptiō of my nature, that al is little enough.
Answ. I will: thinke therefore; but thinke you seriously:
1 That he onely feares death extreamly, who cannot be perswaded, that he shall liue after death, as Chysostome saith.
2 That it is best, to offer that willingly to God, as a gift, which one day wee must else surrender as a debt, to wit, this spirit and life of ours, as Chrysostome said.
3 That as death, to the euill, is euill, so is it good to the good; to whom all things worke for their good.
4 That death is the way to life, as Ambrose said very fitly. And another said, This day, which so affrighteth thee as if it were the last day, is the birthday of eternitie.
5 That this death is but a repairing of our life.
6 That, as Bernard said, the death of the righteous is good, in regard of rest: better, in regard of nouelty: best of all, in regard of security: and that, as the same Father said, the death of the godly is good, better, & best of al: Contrariwise, the death of the godlesse is bad, worse, and worst of al.
7 That death doth not abolish, but establish life in a farre better estate.
8 That then death frees vs from death, life from error, grace from sinne.
[Page 157] 9 That (if Chrysostome say true) death is but a bare name.
10 That God doth so temper death vnto vs, that it can be no cause of euil vnto vs. And therefore if you be wise, remember the saying, euen of an Heathen man: Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes: Nether feare death when it commeth, nor desire it too much before it commeth.
Quest. These are all of them sweet consolations indeed: yet because Satan and my flesh may bring vpon me many feares; as first, that God is angry with me, by reason of my sinnes: how may I comfort my selfe against this temptation?
Quest. Say vnto your soule, why should I feare the wrath of God? For, it is written:
God sent not his Sonne into the world, to condemne the world, but that by him the world might be saued. Ioh. 3.
Hee that beleeueth in him shall not sée death. He that beléeueth in him hath eternal life. Hee that beléeueth in him shall neuer perish.
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that iustifieth, who shall condemne? It is Christ which is dead, yea, rather which is risen againe, who is also at the right hand of God, and maketh requests for vs. Who shall separate vs [Page 158] from the loue of Christ? shall tribulation or anguish, or persecution, or nakednesse, or perill, or the sword? I am perswaded that neither death, nor life, nor hell, 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 separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Iesus my Lord. Rom. 8.
Say with Augustine, All my whole hope is in the death of my Lord: his death is my merit, my refuge, my saluation, my life, my resurrection; my merit is Gods mercy, I shall neuer want merit, so long as this God of mercy is not wanting to me. And if Gods mercies are great, I also am great in merit.
Say with Ambrose, Christ was subiect to the damnation of death, that hee might free vs from the yoke of damnation: hee tooke vpon him the seruitude of death, that hee might giue vs the liberty of eternall life.
Say with S. Paul, Christ hath redéemed me from the curse of the Law, Gal. 3.13. the Iudge is satisfied, he cannot be angry.
Say, that your Sauiour maketh intercession for you: for God no sooner looks on him, but he is forthwith well pleased with you.
Say, that his mercy endureth for euer. I [Page 159] shall iudge the world with him; why then shall I feare to be iudged?
He hath made a Couenant with mee, hée will neuer breake.
He hath giuen me grace to beleeue and trust in him, he will not now leaue me.
I confesse my sinnes he is ready to forgiue them.
I haue had his Spirit, he will neuer take it from me.
My Sauiour shall iudge me, he will not bee angry with mee, and for his sake the Father will not be angry: for hee is that welbeloued Sonne, in whom alone hee is well pleased.
Quest. O, but I may feare, that I am but a castaway, and that eternall death is due vnto me: if I fall into this pit, what hand can you giue me to helpe me out?
Answ. Will Satan now tell you that you must be damned? comfort your selfe with these sayings:
God so loued the world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne, that who so beléeueth in him should neuer perish, but haue life euerlasting. Iohn 3.16.
He that heareth my words, and beléeueth in him that sent me, hath eternal life, and shall not come into condemnation. Ioh. 5.
I am the resurrection and the life, he that [Page 160] beléeueth in me, though hee were dead, yet shall he liue; and who so liueth and beleeueth in me, shall not die eternally. Ioh. 11.
I giue to my shéepe eternall life, and t [...]ey shall neuer perish, and none is able to take them out of my hands. Ioh. 10.
As in Adam all men died, so in Christ shall all (that is, all the elect, whereof I am one,) so, I say, in Christ shall all be made aliue. 1. Cor. 15.
Death is swallowed vp in victory. O death where is thy victory! O hell, where is thy sting! the sting of death is sinne; the strength of sin is the law: but thanks be vnto God, who hath giuen vs victory through Iesus Christ our Lord. 1. Cor. 15.57.
We know, that when the tabernacle of this earthly house shall bee dissolued wee shall haue a building from God, euen an habitation made without hands in heauen. 2. Cor. 5.1.
Besides these sweete and sure promises, consider, that as the faithlesse can neuer liue, so the faithfull can neuer die.
That the promise of God doth quicken things that are dead, and calleth things that are not, as though they were.
You feare not the falling of heauen and earth, because they are supported by the word of God: and why should you feare [Page 161] your owne fall, you being supported by the same word?
Doe you not know, that God is present with you by his Spirit: and will you feare cold when this fire burneth?
Can you feare darkenesse, when this Sunne shineth?
Are you poore, that haue this gold in your Chest?
And thinke you to die of thirst, when you are at this fountaine of liuing waters?
Are you not a member of Christs body: Is there life in the head, and shall there bee death in the members?
Is your head aboue the water, and shall your body neuer come out of the water?
Doth the roote of a trée giue life vnto the branches, and cannot Christ (the Roote of Iesse) giue life vnto his branches?
Yea, rather say, My life is hid with God in Christ; when Christ which is my life shall appeare, then shal I also appeare with him in glorie. Coloss. 3.
By my first roote Adam, I bring foorth briers and thornes fit to be burned: by my second roote Christ, I am like a tree planted by the riuers of waters, which shall giue out her fruit in due season, and whatsoeuer I doe, it shall prosper.
Why, my deare friend, you doe beleeue [Page 162] the forgiuenesse of sinnes: can you then feare eternall damnation?
You doe beleeue the resurrection of your body, will you now doubt of the resurrection of your body?
Haue the Prophets & Apostles set down so much cōcerning saluation by Christ, that you should say, I am not saued by Christ?
You were initiated by Baptisme, confirmed by Catechisme, strengthened by the Lords Supper, and professed that religion which by Christ brings saluation, and you haue receiued many benefits as pledges of Gods loue: and will not all this perswade you, that you shall goe to heauen?
Yea, Christ hath ouercome that Diuell, that you might subdue him: subdued that strong man, that you might conquer him: and descended downe to hel, that you might with him ascend vnto heauen. Therefore be constant, my beloued, and vnmoueable alwaies in the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. 1. Cor. 15.
Quest. Thus, I hope, at the houre of death I shall not feare the place of darknesse: but, alas, such is the weaknesse of my faith, that I feare the Prince of darknesse.
Ans. And why should you feare him? the Egyptians are drowned, they cannot pursue you: Goliah is slaine, he cannot reuile you: [Page 163] the Philistims are ouercome; they cannot hurt you: Sathan is chained, hee cannot harme you. Hee will séeke to winnow you, but he can only séeke; and if he doe more, hée shall finde you Gods wheate, and then you must néeds be carried into Gods barne.
Hee is indeede Gods Executioner; but, why, should you feare the Hangman, when you haue the Kings pardon? or the Sergeant, when you haue his protection? or the Deuill, when you haue Christs intercession? You are strong, the Word of God dwelleth in you, you haue ouercome that Euil one: 1. Iohn 2.14. You haue faith: your aduersarie would deuoure you, by it you are able to resist him, 1. Peter 5.8. You haue put on the complete Armour of God, Ephesians 6.11. it is an Armour of proofe, the fierie darts of Sathan can neuer enter. You haue the sword of the Spirit, it is sharper then the sword of Goliah: you haue the sling of Dauid, it is more forcible then the speare of Goliah: you may walke vpon this Lion, and Aspe; this young deuouring Lion and Dragon, you may treade vnder your féete Psal. 91.13.
What if he bee wise? yet God is wiser. What if he be strong? yet Christ is stronger What if skilfull? yet the Lord is more skilfull. What if he be vigilant? yet the Alséeing [Page 164] is more watchfull. If you can call to God for aide against him, as Iehoshaphat did against the Aramite, and say, O my God, there is no strength in mee, to stand before this great multitude, that commeth against me, neither doe I know what to doe: but mine eyes are towards thee: 2. Chron. 20.12. feare not, neither bee afraid, goe out against them, the Lord will be with thee, and thou shalt ouercome.
Say that hee ouercame Adam by ambition, Saul by hypocrisie, and Iudas by auarice; yet by the grace of Christ hee shall not ouercome thee.
Thou dwellest in the secret of the most High, and shalt abide in the shadow of the Almightie: Hee will deliuer thée from the snare of the Hunter, and from the noysome Pestilence: hee will couer thée vnder his wings, and thou shalt bee sure vnder his feathers: his truth shall bee thy shield and buckler: hee will giue his Angels charge ouer thée, to kéepe thée in all thy wayes: they shal beare thée vp in their hands so that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
Quest. I confesse that God is able to deliuer me from Sathan: but, O my sinnes, my sins, mee thinkes, giue mee ouer to Sathan: helpe mee with comfort, against this temptation: I haue sinned, and may now die in my sinnes.
Ans. O consider with me what the word doth say, Where sinne abounded, grace hath superabounded. Romans 5. The bloud of Iesus Christ hath purged vs from all sinne. 1. Iohn 1.7. If any man sinne, wee haue an Aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righteous, and hee is the propitiation for our sinnes. 1. Iohn 2.1.2.
This is a true saying, and worthie by all meanes to be receiued, that Iesus Christ came into the World to saue sinners, of whom I am chiefe. 1. Tim. 1.
Behold the Lambe of God, that taketh away the sinnes of the World. Iohn 1.
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 1. Matth. 11.
The Sonne of man came to séeke, and saue that which was lost. Matth. 9.
Come vnto mee all yee that are wearie and heauie laden, and I will refresh you. Matth. 11.
Hee died for our sinnes, and rose againe for our iustification. Rom. 4.
Hee hath loued vs, and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud. Reuel. 1.6.
Thou shalt call his name Iesus, for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes: Matth. 1.
Hee gaue himselfe for vs, that hee might redéeme vs from all iniquitie, and purge [Page 166] vs to bee a peculiar people vnto himselfe. Titus 1.2.
I will bée mercifull to their vnrighteousnesse, and will remember their sinnes, and their iniquities no more. Hebr. 8.12.
Doe you now beléeue these sayings? are you perswaded that you haue faith in Christ? If you haue faith, you haue iustification; if you haue iustification, you haue no sinne; I meane no such sinne, as shall be able to condemne you in the day of iudgement: for it is God that iustifieth, who shall condemne?
Besides, you are a member of Christs Church, and this Church is without spot and wrinkle: which it could not bee, if you were yet in your sinnes.
Againe, if your iniquities were not forgiuen in Christ; to what end, thinke you, did he come into the World?
Furthermore, consider what your Baptisme doth signifie; that as pollution from your bodie is washed by water, so sinne from your soule is washed by Christ.
Haue you forgotten that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper sealeth vnto you the forgiuenesse of sinnes, by Christs death?
Is the Earth full of the mercies of the Lord, and shal not this mercie be greater to you: then all your miseries?
Doe you acknowledge and confesse your sinnes, and will not he be faithfull and iust to forgiue you your sinnes?
Doe you aske, and shall you not haue? doe you séeke, and shall you not find? doe you knocke, and shal not the dore of mercie be opened vnto you?
I thinke you know, that Christs is a Physitian: and to what end, but to cure the diseased? and what disease more dangerous then sinne?
I hope you know the Gospell of Christ is called the word of reconciliation, of grace, saluation, and of life: and that only because it offers all these to sinners.
And tell mee (you that doubt of the forgiuenesse of sinnes) what difference is there betwixt the sonnes of God, and the sonnes of the Deuill; but that they haue their sinnes forgiuen, these not?
To conclude, looke vpon the calling of the Preachers of the Gospell; if they haue power to pronounce the pardon of sinnes to penitent sinners, Christ hath power to giue pardon to the same sinners. Therefore bee of good comfort, your sinnes are forgiuen you. Matth. 9.2.
Quest. What euen my great and grieuous sinnes? mine infidelitie in mistrusting, impatience in murmuring, blasphemie in profaning [Page 168] the name of God? Is the couetousnesse of monie, the desire of reuenge, the loue of pleasure more then the loue of God, forgiuen mee?
Ans. If you beléeue in Christ, all things are possible to him that beléeueth: your sinnes past shall neuer hurt you, if sinne present doe not please you.
Though your sinnes were as redde as Scarlet, God can make them as white as Snow.
There is no cloud so thicke, but this Sun will dispell it; no staine so foule, but this Fullers sope will wash it out; no treason so horrible, but this King may pardon it; and no sinne so great, but God for Christs sake will forgiue it.
The infidelitie of Adam, the Idolatrie of Abraham, the incest of Lot, the adulterie of Dauid, the Apostasie of Peter, the persecutions of Paul were grieuous sinnes; but God in Christ did remit them all. And whatsoeuer was written before time, is written for your learning, that you through patience and consolation of the Scriptures might haue hope.
Applie them therefore to your selfe: If you owe to this creditor tenne thousand talents, if you can sue to him for mercie, hee will forgiue them all; his Iustice can punish [Page 169] any sinne, and his mercie can pardon any sinne.
When he liued vpon Earth, he cured all sicknesses: now hee is in Heauen, hee can purge all sinnes.
He hath promised, as a Porter, to beare our iniquities: is there any iniquitie too heauie for him? Neuer say then (despairing of Gods mercie) my sinnes haue taken such hold vpon mee, that I am not able to looke vp; as an heauie burden they lie vpon mee, I am not able to beare them.
Quest. I hope that I shall lay these comforts to mine heart, that the greatnesse of my sinnes shall not cause mee to despaire: yet when I looke vpon the multitude of those sinnes which I haue committed against God, I feele my selfe in a wofull estate: comfort me I pray you in this temptation.
Answ. Doe the number of your sinnes now disquiet you? yet comfort your soule with these meditations:
There is no man liuing which sinneth not.
The iust man falleth seuen times a day.
Who can tell how oft hee offendeth? Psal. 19.
The Apostle, and excellent man, cried out, I am Carnall, and sold vnder sinne. Rom. 7.
The good that I would doe, I doe not, and the euill which I would not, that doe I.
The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit lusteth against the flesh, Galathians 5.17. Yet for all this, hee trusted in the mercies of God, as others did, being perswaded, that his imperfections were not imputed to him, but couered with the righteousnesse of Christ. And this, the same Paul testifieth, in that he saith, Now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus. Rom. 8.1.
And what is the reason that wee daily pray, Forgiue vs our debts, but that wee sinne daily?
Yea, though the bloud of Christ were but once shed, yet by it is he an eternall Mediatour, satisfying the iustice of God for sinnes past, present, and to come.
He is not like vnto many in this World, who hauing once remitted some trespasse, wil remit no more; or paied a debt, wil pay no more: but as Esaus father had many blessings; so God our father hath many mercies.
If wee fall a thousand times, he will at our repentance recouer vs a thousand times He doth not forgiue vs till seuen times, but till seuentie times seuen times.
Larga Dei bonitas totum non dimidiabit:
Aut nihil, aut totum, te lachrymante, dabit.
[Page 171] The bountie large of God, will not diuide the whole:
He either al, or nothing giues, vnto the weeping soule.
Quest. Truth it is, as you say, that God will forgiue my manifold sinnes: but mine heart tels me, that Gods law requires perfect obedience: and this, alas, I cannot performe: what comfort can you giue me, now that mine obedience is imperfect?
Answ. Why? the obedience of the best is both perfect & imperfect: perfect in Christ, imperfect in vs: imperfect in this life, perfect in the life to come: perfect by imputation, imperfect by sanctification: perfect in parts, imperfect in degrée: that is, the whole bodie and soule of a Christian are in euery part sanctified: but yet both of them in all their parts and faculties grow vp to a greater measure of sanctification. A child so soon as it is borne is a perfect man, because it hath al the parts of a man; and this is a perfection of parts: it is not perfect in regard of that growth it may haue in strength and vnderstanding; and that is the perfection of degrées. We are babes in Christ, and so perfect Christians at the beginning of sanctification: we must grow vp to be tall men, that we may be perfectly perfect in our glorification.
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It is Gods mercie towards vs, that wee cannot come to perfection in this life; the dregs of corruption will neuer whilest wee liue be drawne out: the tares of vngodlines will neuer quite be pulled vp: the chaffe of iniquitie wil neuer be cleane remoued from the wheate: and the rags of the old Adam will neuer cleane be put off; and that, as I take it, for these reasons:
1 That we might giue al glorie to God.
2 That wee might euer depend vpon God.
3 That knowing our owne weaknesse, we should not presume too much on our own strength.
4 That by recouering our selues aft [...] falling, wee might haue experience, and patience, in Gods fauour.
5 That wee might worke out our saluation with feare and trembling.
6 That with Paul we might learne that the grace of God is sufficient for vs.
7 That wee might be the more whetted on to an increase of faith, and confidence in Christ.
8 That we might with greater earnestnesse call vpon God in all our feares.
9 That with more contention we should run the race set before vs.
10 That wee should know, that it is [Page 173] grace, not nature, by which we stand.
11 That receiuing many foyles our selues, we might better comfort and pitie others that fall.
12 That wee might the rather with the Apostle desire to be dissolued, and to be with Christ.
Know therefore, that it is good for you that you are not perfect; you would bee proud of it, if you were: the holiest men could neuer attaine it: the most holy God doth not require it.
If you haue truth in the inward parts, and desire to please God without hypocrisie, & labour to grow in the graces of Gods spirit, God your father will make more of you by reason of your imperfections; as a good mother doth of that childe that is diseased, or lamed.
It is pride that makes men dreame of perfection in this life: and they that thinke to goe to heauen this way, must goe alone, for none can follow them.
Let vs not glorie of our perfection, but let vs glorie in our Redemption.
The Church is a companie of sinners, saued by Christ; of sicke persons, cured by Christ; of Israelites, dwelling among the Cananites; of malefactors, crying with that holy théefe, Lord remember mee when thou [Page 174] commest into thy kingdome; and of Publicans, casting themselues down, and saying, Lord be mercifull vnto me a sinner.
The Church is but the Moone, and some times so eclipsed, that she is but a litle lightened by the Sunne.
God, indeede, as a good Physitian, prescribes vnto vs a perfect diet; but wee like vnto disordered Patients, tast of that, which causeth a relapse, and then we must come to the Physitian againe: and, like a skilfull Physitian, God out of our falls, doth make a preseruatiue to kéepe vs from falling.
Quest. By this that you haue said, I shall, as I hope, receiue much comfort, if God cast mee vpon my sick bed; yet because after death cō meth iudgement, how shall I bee able to perswade my selfe in death, that I may with ioy looke vpon my Iudge?
Answ. Consider that you are in Christ, and there is no condemnation to them that are in him: it is God that hath iustified you; who shall condemne you? it is your Father that shall iudge you, why do you feare him? be then of good comfort: he wil say vnto you, Come thou blessed of my father, inherit the kingdome prepared for thée, before the foundations of the world were laid.
Quest. If I lay all these comforts to mine heart in health, what benefit shall come to me at my death?
Answ. You shall shew your selfe an excellent scholler in the schoole of wisedome: and that you haue not spent your time ill, who haue thus learned to die well. For hée hath last his whole time, who knowes not how to end it. Hee liueth ill (saith Seneca) who knoweth not to die well: neither is he borne in vaine, who deceaseth in peace. We must learn all our life to die; and this is the principall office of life: To be briefe, by this you shall purchase libertie to your conscience, you shall feare nothing, you will liue well, contentedly, and peaceably; and without this knowledge, there is no more pleasure in life, than in the fruition of that which a man feareth alwaies to lose.
Quest. To draw to an end, and to come to my end, when the pangs of death come vpon me, and the wormes of the earth wait for me, if God giue mee then mine vnderstanding, what, I pray you, may bee my fittest meditation?
Answ. Say now inwardly to your sicke soule; Now, my pilgrimage is ended, mine haruest is inned, my iourney is finished: my race is run, my glasse is spent, my candle is in the socket: many of the godly are gone before, and I am now to follow them: now thinke, that you are come out of prison, gotten out of Babylon, and are going to Ierusalem. [Page 176] Now thinke that the Angels stand at your beds head, to carrie your soule into Abrahams bosome; where you shall see God the Father, behold God the Sonne, and enioy God the holy Ghost: where you shall enioy the societie of Angels, the companie of the Saints, and the knowledge of them whom you neuer knew héere: where you shall liue eternally, reigne triumphantly, and obey God perfectly. Meditate now, that you must not bee loth to leaue this world, because you go to that which is to come; to leaue your house, because you are going to Gods house; to leaue your temporall riches, because you are going to eternal riches; to leaue your earthly preferments, because God will set a crowne of pure gold vpon your head; and to leaue your friends and acquaintance heere, because you shall see them in glorie hereafter. These and such like must be your meditations.
Quest. Now it may be (and I pray God it may be) that I may haue speech vnto the last gaspe, what words are fit for me to vtter?
Answ. If God giue you that blessing, say now with Dauid:
Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
With Simeon: Lord now lettest thou thy [Page 177] seruant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation.
With Paul: Christ is to me life, and death is to mee aduantage. I desire to be dissolued, and to be with Christ.
I haue fought a good fight, I haue finished my course, I haue kept the faith: from henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue mee at that day: and not to mee only, but to all them that loue that appearing of his.
Say, How sweet is my Sauiour vnto mee? sweeter then the hony and the hony combe.
Say, Blessed are the dead, that die in the Lord: for they rest from their labours, and their workes follow them.
Say, Lord I haue sinned against thee. thou hast promised to forgiue me my sinnes: I beleeue, Lord helpe mine vnbeliefe.
Say with Steuen, Lord into thine hands I commend my soule.
Say with the Saints, Come Lord Iesus, come quickly.
Say, Lord, keepe thy Church and people in thy trueth and peace for euermore: now Lord, dissolue in me the cursed workes of the diuell.
Say, I am sicke, be thou my Physitian: I am to die, Lord giue me life eternall.
Say, Lord, bee good vnto my kinsfolks in the flesh, and my friends in the Spirit, that they may liue in thy feare, and die in thy fauour.
Say with Ambrose, I haue not so led my life, that I was ashamed to liue: neither doe I feare death, because I haue a good Lord.
Say to thy friends with S. Bernard, O ground the anchor of your faith and hope, in the safe and sure port of Gods mercie.
Say with Oecolampadius, to all that come to thée, I will tell you newes, I shall shortly be with the Lord.
Say with Luther: I pray thee Lord Iesus receiue my poore soule: my heauenly Father, though I be taken from this life, and this body of mine is to be laied downe, yet I know certainly, that I shall remaine with thee for euer, neither shal any be able to pul me out of thine hands.
Say with Annas Burgius: Forsake me not, O Lord, lest I forsake thee.
Say with Melancthon: If it be the will of God, I am willing to die, and I beseech him that he will grant me a ioyfull departure.
Say with M. Caluine: I held my tongue, because thou Lord hast done it; I mourned as a a doue, Lord thou grindest me to powder; but it sufficeth mee, because it was thine hand.
Say with Peter Martyr: My bodie is weake, but my minde is well. There is no saluation, but onely by Christ, who was giuen of the Father to bee a Redeemer of mankinde: This is my faith in which I die, and God will destroy them that teach otherwise. Farewell, my brethren and deare friends.
Say with Babylas, Martyr of Antioch: Returne, O my soule, vnto thy rest, because the Lord hath blessed thee. Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death, mine eyes from teares, and my foote from falling; I shall walke before thee in the land of the liuing.
Say, Blessed is God in all his waies, and holie in all his workes: Naked I came out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I returne againe. The Lord hath giuen, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed bee the name of the Lord. I know that my Redeemer liueth, and he shall stand the last on the earth. And though after my skin, wormes destroy this body, yet I shall see God in my flesh. Whom I my selfe shall see, and mine eyes shall cehold, and none other for mee, though my reines are consumed within me.
Say, in a word, Lord I thanke thee, that I am a Christian, that I liued in a Christian Church, that I die amongst a Christian people, that I goe to a Christian societie. Lord [Page 180] Iesu, sonne of Dauid, haue mercie vpon me, and receiue my soule. Euen so, Come Lord Iesu, come quickly. Amen.
Quest. If I haue time, these are fit, both meditations, and speeches: but I may die vpon the sudden: what instructions can you giue me against sudden death?
Answ. You may indéed die suddenly, either by fire in your house, or water in your ship, or earth falling into some pit, or casualtie in your way, or impostumation, and an apoplexi in your body, or by trauel in childbirth, if you be a woman, or the sword in warre, if you bee a man. Therefore thinke,
1 That death may come vpon you vnawares: wherefore as you would doe for a suspected enemie, waite so for it, that it may neuer surprize you.
2 Know that many worthie men haue died suddenly: Iulius Caesar, disputing the night before of the good of sudden death, was the next day by Brutus and Cassius slain suddenly in the Senate.
Ioannes Mathesius hauing preached a Sermon of the raising againe of the widow of Nains sonne (and therein handling the knowledge, that one friend should haue of another in heauen) within thrée houres after slept peaceably in the Lord.
Luther sitting at supper, and discoursing [Page 181] of the same argument, about midnight after departed this life.
One Master Reade, an Alderman of Norwich, hauing read in the morning the chapter of Henockes taking vp, in the Counsell chamber died suddenly at the table amongst his brethren.
And that wise Counseller, the Lord of Buckhurst, Earle of Dorset died suddenly, at the Counsell Table, in white Hall.
Mr. Flint a Preacher in London, a man of great learning, godly life and good report, hauing procured the new building of his Church (at which hee much reioiced) fell downe from a scaffold on the top of that Church and so died.
In the commentaries of Iohn Holcot vpon the book of wisdom, it is recorded of one who reading the fourth Chapter of the book of Wisdome, was found dead in his studie with his finger pointing to the seuenth verse of that chapter, Though the righteous be preuented by death, yet shall he be at rest; First, where you shall reade these two verses.
Mors non est subita cui praecessit bona vita:
Nec minuit merita, si moriatur ita.
If godly life do go before,
Through suddaine death our ioy is more
[Page 182] 3 Know, that if you liue wickedly, sudden death is a fearefull iudgment, for who then can bee perswaded of Gods fauour towards you? and this makes the wicked of all kinds of death, to pray to be deliuered from sudden death: they would liue like Nabal, but die like Dauid: liue like the rich glutton, and die like Lazarus: they would die the death of the righteous, but they would not liue the life of the righteous. And therefore their Prayer is the prayer of Balaam, Lord, let mee die the death of the righteous, and that my last end may bee like vnto his. Numb 23.
But if you liue euer in the feare of God, it may bee an argument of Gods mercie to take you away vpon a short warning: For so, 1 You die without any great paine.
2 You goe to God without any great trouble.
3 You are not in danger of blaspheming God at your death.
4 You will cause others to thinke well of your death, because you liued a godly life.
5 Many by your example will labour to prepare against such a kind of death.
6 Your translation is like that of Henoch and Elias, and of them that shall be aliue at the day of iudgment. 1. Thess. 4.17.
Quest. Is it lawfull to pray against a sudden death?
Answ. The godly may, and the wicked must pray against it. The godly may:
1 That as they haue honored God with their lips in their life, so (if it bee his good will) they may doe it at their death.
2 That because vpon the sudden, few men haue their worldly estate fully setled, they may haue time to order it.
3 That they may not be a griefe to their friends, that they are so soone taken from them.
4 That they may escape the censure of the world, which for the most part, iudgeth hardly of this kind of death.
5 That they may not die in such sort as diuers wicked men in the Scriptures haue died.
6 Lest being ouertaken in some strange place, they may so want the honour of Christian buriall, and their friends not know what is become of them.
2 The wicked must pray against it, left so dying without repentance here, there be no place left for them heereafter to repent in. But I doubt whether God will heare their prayers: For are not they worthy to want time of humiliation at their death, who neglected saluation in their life? [Page 184] The admonition of the wise man, Eccl. 18.18, is very good: Get thee righteousnesse before thou come to iudgement, and vse Physicke before thou bee sicke. Examine thy selfe before thou bee iudged, and in the day of destruction thou shalt finde mercie. Humble thy selfe before thou be sicke, and whilest thou maiest yet sinne, shew thy conuersion.
Quest. Now since my soule must depart from my bodie, ought I to take any great thought for my buriall?
Ans. As the graue at your death is readie for you, Iob. 17.1. so you also must haue care of it: and your suruiuing friends must haue such respect to your dead body, that it may be interred in a religious sort: for,
1 You are no Scythian, that your dead bodie should be eaten at some feast; nor Sabean, that it should be cast on a dunghill; nor Hyrcanian, that it should bee deuoured by dogs; nor Lothophagian, that it should be cast into the sea; nor Indian, that it should be burned with fire; but a Christian, that it may be buried in the earth.
2 Your dead body is a member of Christ.
3 It was, as well as the soule, the temple of the holy Ghost.
4 It was the ordinance of God, that earth should return to his earth, as the soule [Page 185] doth to him that gaue it. Gen. 3. Eccles. 7.
5 That Christ, who redéemed your soule hath also paied a ransome for your bodie.
6 It hath beene an instrument vsed by God, to performe many seruices vnto him.
7 It must rise againe out of the graue, and in the day of iudgement bee made like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ. Phil. 5.21.
8 Religious and godly friends haue had this care to burie their dead: so Abraham had to burie Sarah, Ioseph to burie Iaakob, Israel to burie Samuel, Nichodemus to burie Christ, and the Disciples to burie Iohn the Baptist, and Steuen the first Martyr that suffered after Christ.
9 It is one of Gods iudgements to want buriall. Iere. 22.19.
10 The Saints complaine for the want of it, saying, Psal. 79.3. The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to bee meate vnto the fowles of heauen, and the flesh of thy Saints vnto the beasts of the earth. Their blood haue they shed like water round about Ierusalem, and there was none to burie them.
11 Ioseph gaue commandement concerning his bones. Gen. 50. and Tobiah of his bodie. Tob 14.
12 Many heathen people haue been very carefull of this dutie. The Egyptians embalmed, [Page 186] and so buried their dead: and the Hebrewes made a law, that no enemy should lie vnburied.
Quest. What thinke you of the place of buriall?
Answ. Abraham bought a field for the buriall of his dead. Gen. 24.
Christ was buried in a garden, according to the custome of the Iewes. Ioh. 20.
The Turkes at this day burie none in their Cities: and it was one of the lawes of the 12. Tables, amongst the Romanes, that none should be buried within thē walles.
Amongst Christians, Churches and Church yards are appointed for the dead; and to the end that the dead might not annoy the liuing, it were well if Gouernours would be carefull to prouide larger places of buriall: for this would be a meanes,
1 To kéepe the City from contagion.
2 That our dead bodies should not bee raked vp againe.
3 To shew our care for the Saints departed.
4 To take away the fond conceit of many, who thinke it a great blessing to bee buried in a Church, especially if it bee in the Chancell, néere the Altar.
Quest. Ought there any care to bee had to keepe Churchyards in good sort
Answ. There ought: 1 They are the houses of Christians, and as it were chambers, or beds to sléepe in.
2 They are places to which we may resort, to bee put in minde of our future mortalitie.
3 It argues little charitie to abuse those places where our friends lie buried.
4 The Romans had this Law, Let the place where the dead are buried be accounted holy: and the Romanists haue diuers good Canons against such as shal any way abuse euen Church yards: and it were to bee wished, that it were looked to amongst vs.
Quest. What thinke you of making monuments for the dead?
Answ. I remember Tullie saith, that the Romans had a law that no man should build a more costly Sepulchre, then could be finished in thrée daies. Lib. 2. de Leg.
The Egyptians builded gorgeous Sepulchres, and meane houses, because the one was to them but as an Inne; the other, as they thought, an eternall habitation. Celius Rhodig.
Now that great, and good men should haue monuments, as it is a thing indifferent, so I thinke it not simply vnlawfull.
1 The Iewes vsed such: as wee may sée in the Bible: Dauid (saith the Scripture) [Page 188] is dead, and his Sepulchre is with vs to this day. Act. 2.29.
2 By them wee may be put in minde of that glorious habitation wee shall haue in Heauen.
3 It is an argument that we loued such persons, whom we thus honour after their death.
4 We kéepe a memorie of their excellent vertues.
5 We are moued to follow them in good actions.
6 It distinguisheth betwixt person and person: for though all die alike, yet all must not be alike buried. But note that the best monument is to be set vp in the heartes of good people, for good workes; and the next is to leaue a godly posteritie: as for the monuments which the wicked leaue, they argue.
1 Their pride, that they would leaue a name vpon earth.
2 Their infidelitie, that they looke not for the resurrection of the iust.
3 Their couetousnes, that they will carrie that to the graue with them, which better might haue béene spent vpon the poore.
4 Their folly, to build such a sepulchre, as when men looke vpon it, shall remember their bad and beastly life.
Quest. Are the dead, thinke you, to bee mourned for?
Answ. Solon gaue commandement, that the Common-wealth should mourne for him: but Ennius would not be mourned for. But as for vs Christians, though we must not, with superstitious Nations, hire mourning Women to lament for vs, yet it is lawfull to deplore the departure of the dead: for.
1 As the Egyptians mourned for Iaakob seuentie daies, so his children lamented him seuen daies. Gen. 50.
2 Abraham mourned for Sarah, Israel for Iosias and Samuel, the faithfull for Steuen, the women for Dorcas, and Dauid for his good friend Ionathan.
3 It was an argument of Gods wrath against Iekoniah, that no man should say for him, Alas my brother: Ierem. 22.18.
4 We receiue much good by the presence of our friends: and why should wee not bewaile their absence?
5 If they were godly wee must lament them:
1 Because they did much good in their callings. Acts. 9.39.
2 Because the World was blessed by them. Prou. 11.11.
3 Because wee may feare some iudgement [Page 190] after their departure. Isay 58.2.
4 Because oftentimes worse come in their stead.
5 Because the wicked will then be more readie to sinne.
6 Because they were great ornaments in the Church, or Common-wealth, in which they liued. Lament. 4.20.
And if they be godlesse, we must mourne for them, especially because we cannot bee perswaded, but that they are gone to the pit of perdition. 2 Sam. 18.33.
Yet we must remember that we kéepe a meane in mourning, and looke that our sorrow be not,
1 In selfe loue, because wee haue lost some good by them.
2 In distrust, as though we had no hope that they should rise againe. 1. Thess. 4.
3 In hypocrisie, that we may séeme only to men to mourne.
4 In excesse, as though there were no comfort for vs that are aliue, because God hath taken away the comfort of our life. Cyprians spéech is verie good in this thing: Why, saith he, doest thou take it impatiently, that he is taken from thee, whom thou beleeuest that he shal returne? He is but gone a iournie, whom thou thinkest quite gone. Hee that goes before, is not to bee lamented, but [Page 191] rather desired. And this desire is to bee tempered with patience. Why art thou grieued that he is gone, whom thou must follow? We ought not to lament them ouer much, who by the calling of God are freed from miserie; they are not for euer sent away, but for a while sent before. They are but gone a iournie, we must looke for their returne: sailed into a strange Countrie; they will, if we waite, come againe.
So also is that of the Wise man, Ecclus. 38.16. My sonne, powre out teares ouer the dead, and begin to mourne, as if thou hadst suffered some great harme thy selfe; and then couer his bodie according to his appointment and neglect not his buriall. Make a grieuous lamentation, and bee earnest in mourning, and vse lamentation as hee is worthie, and that a day or two, left thou be euill spoken of, and then comfort thy selfe for thine heauinesse, &c.
Quest. May mourning apparrell be vsed at funerals?
Answ. If the heart mourne as wel as the habite, I doe not thinke it vtterly vnlawful for:
1 By it we kéep a memory of our friend.
2 We are drawne to some humiliation.
3 We are put in mind of our owne mortalitie.
[Page 192] 4 It argues his loue that bestowes it vpon vs.
5 By this meanes many poore are clothed.
6 It is but a Legacie of the dead to the liuing
Quest. And what thinke you of funerall Sermons? for many thinke it sinne to preach at that time.
Ans. I doubt not, but they may be preached: for,
1 Wee must preach in season and out of season.
2 Many come then to the house of God: and why should they depart emptie away?
3 It is a fit time to teach that one day we must die.
4 Many accidents fall out in a mans sicknesse, which are fit to bee published at such a time.
5 Many worthie vertues haue shined in some mans life, which for the imitation in others, are not to bee buried at his death.
6 Many corruptions haue raigned in some, which then wee may bee exhorted to auoide.
7 They are not for the bare commendation of the dead, but for the instruction and consolation of them that are aliue.
Quest. And doe you thinke that any would bee content to haue his infirmities laid out at his funerall?
Answ. Whether hee will or not, if God may get honour, and the Church good; there is no wrong to the dead, to admonish the liuing that they take héed of such sinnes.
I will deliuer vnto you a rare example: I knew a Gentleman of good sort, who seldome came to the Church in the time of his health; I was sent for to him in the time of his sicknesse, and after many instructions deliuered vnto him, he vttered vnto me this speech: Sir, I am beholding to you for this paines, and thanke God for this comfort. But if God had now denied this fauour vnto mee, hee should haue dealt with me but according to iustice; I haue liued a good time in this Parish, I haue beene inuited by my friends, called by the Bel, mooued by the good report I heard of you and others, to come to this Church: but I made many excuses, as of sicknesse, and going to other places, and did not come. And though I haue many sinnes which I must answere for, yet none at this time grieueth mee more, then that I haue liued vnder a painfull Ministerie, and yet was neuer partaker of it: so that you, and the whole Parish may iudge that I am either of no Religion, or of a contrarie Religion to that which is professed in this [Page 194] Kingdome: pray for mee that this sinne may bee pardoned: heare me make a confession of my faith, and that I die in the faith of Christ, and am heartily sorrie for this mine offence: I pray you therefore make it knowne when I am dead.
An. This I did, and thus must we do, ye [...] in discretion, that we may not be thought biters of the dead: if either for crownes or gownes we doe otherwise, it is a sinne.
Quest. You propounded in the beginning fiue thinges which I ought euer to meditate on. The first is expounded to my great comfort: concerning the second, which is Christs passion and death, what ought I especially to thinke of?
Answ. It is necessarie indéed you should thinke often of it: for nothing will make you more willing to die, then to be perswaded that Christ by his death hath washed you from sinnes, and by his resurrection hath giuen vnto you eternall life.
I remember that Hierome complaining much of the people of his time, that they had little féeling of the passion of Christ, crieth out after this sort: Euery Creature suffereth together with Christ, at his suffering: the Sun is darkened: the Earth is mooued: the Rockes cleaue a sunder: the Vaile of the Temple is diuided: the graues are opened: only miserable [Page 195] man suffereth not with Christ, for whom alone Christ suffered.
And Saint Bernard complaining of himselfe, saith: I went on securely knowing nothing of that fearefull iudgement of God, which was in heauen denounced against mee: and behold, the Sonne of a Virgin, the Sonne of the most high God is sent, and commanded to be slaine, that by the precious balme of his blood hee might heale all my wounds. Consider, O man, how great are those wounds for the curing of which the Lord Christ must needs be wounded. If these wounds had not beene deadly, yea and to eternall death, the Sonne of God would neuer haue dyed, that he might cure them.
And that Augustine, meditating on the passion of Christ, saith, The Crosse of Christ it to vs the cause of all happinesse: it hath deliuered vs from the blindnesse of error: it hath restored vs from darknesse to light: it hath conioyned vs, being aliens, to God: wee were farre from him, it hath brought vs to his presence: wee were pilgrime Citizens, it shewed vs to him: his crosse is the cutting off of discord, the foundation of peace, aboundance and largesse of all gifts.
Quest. What then is the passion of Christ?
Answ. It is that al-sufficient sacrifice of [Page 196] the Sonne of God, whereby he offered himselfe to the Father, that he might merit for all that beléeue in him, iustification, by this obedience, sanctification, by his Spirit, redemption, by his death, and eternall life, by his resurrection from the dead.
Quest. What moued Christ thus to suffer?
Answ. 1 The good will and pleasure of the Father.
2 The misery of mankinde.
3 Gods infinite and vnspeakeable loue.
4 The voluntary obedience of Christ himselfe.
Quest. Of what continuance was this passion of his?
An. From the day of his birth, till the houre of his resurrection.
Quest. Tell me what he suffered from his birth till his death?
Answ. He suffered in his body, circumcision, hunger, weeping, and wearinesse: in his soule, temptation, and heauinesse: in his estate, pouerty, and needinesse: in his name, ignominy, and contemptuousnesse: in person, persecution, and weakenesse: and in his whole life, miserie, and wretchednesse: and to this end onely, that he, thus freeing vs from deserued ignominy, might bring vs in the ende vnto eternall glory.
Quest. But because his greatest suffering [Page 197] was about, and at his death, shew mee first what he suffered not long before he died?
Ans. When Dauid considered by the spirit of prophecie, of this point, he saith, The sorrowes of the graue haue compassed mee, the troubles of hel haue taken hold vpon me. And when Ieremy did consider it by the same Spirit, he crieth out in the person of Christ, Lament. 1.12. Haue you no regard, all yee that passe by this way? Behold and [...] if there bee any sorrow like vnto my sorrow, which is done vnto mee, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted mee, in the day of his fierce wrath: from aboue he hath sent fire into my bones, which preuaileth against them: hee hath spread a net for my feet, and turned mee backe; hee hath made mee desolate and daily in heauinesse.
He was in a Garden where Adam transgressed, his soule was heauy vnto death, hee sweat drops, or rather cloddes of bloud, trickling downe vnto the ground, and was constrained to cry, Father, if it bee possible let this cup passe from mee. There hee was assaulted by Satan, betrayed by Iudas, apprehended by Souldiers, and forsaken of all his professed Disciples.
Quest. And why, thinke you, was his soule thus perplexed?
Ans. Not for the feare of a bodily death; [Page 198] for that, he might, if he would, haue auoided: But,
1 The meditation of sinnes tyranny, deaths victory, and Satans malice, al which had made hauocke of mankinde.
2 The consideration of those cursed contumelies, and that damnable death, which he was to vndergoe in his blessed body.
3 The thoughts he had of mans ingratitude, who was not thankefull nor mindeful of so great saluation.
4 The sense and féeling of Gods wrath, which hee susteined, and satisfied for our sinnes.
Quest. When he was apprehended and brought vnto Caiphas, surely the high Priest would vse him well.
Ans. Nay, hee is by him arraigned as a theefe, mocked as a foole, accused as an incendiary, stricken as one contemptible, and spit vpon, as an execrable person; and all this to frée vs from that shamefull execration.
Qu. Was he no better vsed when he came before Pilate?
Answ. Not a whit: for,
1 Hee was accused as a seducer of the people, a seditious person, a conspiratour against the State, a subuerter of the Nation, an enemy to Caesar, and that he said of himselfe, [Page 199] he was Christ the King. This he suffered, that so he might deriue, and take to himselfe that rebellion against Gods Maiestie, whereof we all were guilty in Adam; and, by this humiliation, make satisfaction to God for vs. If he had defended himselfe, we had beene accused, or acquitted himselfe, we had perished; but as a Lambe before the shearer; he opened not his mouth, that wee might haue liberty to call vpon God.
2 He is ballanced with Barabbas, and thought lighter then a murderer: hee is condemned by a Iudge in the name of the whole Empire: and being thus condemned (though pronounced innocent) hee is scorned by Souldiers, attired like a foole, beaten with rods, spit vpon with reproch; and only because he bare the iniquities of vs all. Isai. 53.
3 He is cast out of the City, to giue vs a City; hee carried his Crosse, to carry our sinnes: he is brought to Golgatha, to suffer our reproach: he is crucified on the Crosse, to giue vs a crowne, euen a crowne of glory, reserued in heauen for vs. 1. Pet. 1.
4 He was crucified with theeues, that he might glorifie vs with Angels: with his hands spread abroad, that he might call all [Page 200] vnto him: with his naked body, that wee might not be ashamed of our nakednesse in heauen: with a feeling of thirst, that hee might shew his desire of our saluation: w [...]th drinking of gall, that hee might satisfie for t [...]at deadly iuice which Adam sucked out of the forbidden fruit: with his side pierced thorow, that the Church might bee washed with the blood and water that came out: with crying in feare, that wee might cry in faith: and with the losse of his life, that he might saue ours.
Quest. O cursed Caiphas, who thus arraigned him! O cursed Pilate, who thus condemned! O thrice cursed both Iewes and Romans, who thus did execute the Sonne of God?
Answ. Nay, rather cursed bee our sins, for which he was arraigned, condemned, and executed. Hee that knew no sinne, was made sinne for vs, that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him. 2. Cor. 5. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was broken for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was vpon him, and with his stripes wee are healed. All wee like sheepe haue gone astray, wee haue turned euery one to his owne way, and the Lord hath laide vpon him the iniquities of vs all. Isai. 53.5.6. Hee hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Law, [Page 201] being made a curse for vs, that wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him: Gal. 3.14. And, wee were not redeemed with corruptible things, as siluer and gold, from our vaine conuersation, receiued by the traditions of the Fathers, but with the precious bloud of Christ, as of a Lambe vndefiled, and without spot.
Quest. And at what time of the yeere did he suffer all this?
An. At Easter, at the feast of the Passouer, when the Iewes were commanded to kill a lambe in remembrance of their deliuerance out of Egypt, to shew that he was that lambe of God, that taketh away the sinnes of the world; yea, and that Lambe, which in Gods counsell, and its owne efficacie, was slaine from the beginning of the world.
Quest, You said before, that our Sauiour was crucified: to what end did hee vndergoe this punishment?
Ans. 1 That he might deriue the curse of the Law from vs vnto himselfe. Gal. 3.14.
2 That the corruption of our nature, being crucified with him, our inherent vitiositie might be abolished, that henceforth wee should not serue sinne. Rom. 6.6.
3 That hauing paied our debt, he might bring in, and cancell that hand-writing, wherewith wee were bounden, that so the [Page 202] memory of our sinnes being blotted out, they might not appeare before God, against vs.
5 That his bloud might bee a lauer, to purge our soules from all their spots of sinne.
6 That we might so haue iust cause euer to acknowledge and magnifie the loue of Christ towards vs. Ephes. 5.1.
Quest. I see by this why Christ was crucified: but why did he die vpon the Crosse?
Answ. 1 That hee might ratifie the eternall couenant and testament of grace. Heb. 9.15.
2 That he might abolish sin. Rom. 6.10.
3 That he might take away the stipend of sinne, which is death. Rom. 6.20. 2. Tim. 1.10.
4 That by death hee might ouercome him, who had the power of death, that is, the diuell. Heb. 2.14.
5 That he might take from vs the feare of death. Heb. 2.15.
6 That we by it should die so vnto sin, Rom. 6.11. that it should no more reigne in our mortall bodies. Rom. 6.13.
7 That wee might belong properly to Christ. Rom. 7.4.
8 That they which liue, should no more liue vnto themselues, but vnto Christ, who [Page 203] died and rose againe for vs. 2. Cor. 5.15.
9 That wee might know and acknowledge the great loue of Christ towards vs. 1. Ioh. 3.16.
10 That wee might liue with Christ. 1. Thess. 5.10.
11 That we might learne to die couragiously, for his and our brethrens cause. 1. Ioh. 3.16.
12 That by this meanes, Gods mercy and iustice might both be glorifyed, in this redemption and saluation of mankinde Iohn 3.14.
Quest. Is this death of Christ profitable to euery singular man in the world?
Ans. It was effectually profitable onely to the elect: for,
1 He gaue his life for his sheepe. Iohn 10.15.
2 Hee deliuered his people from their sinnes Matth. 21.
3 For them he sanctified himselfe. Ioh. 17.
He praied onely for them. Ioh. 17.
If he had died intentionally for all, and all had not beene saued, hee should haue missed of his purpose.
4 Els the sinne of man were of ability to disanull the intent of Christ.
Quest. How is Christs death thus meritorious?
Answ. 1 In that hée was both God and man. Acts 20.
2 In that it was a voluntary death. Philip. 2.7.
Quest. Tell mee now what benefit comes vnto me by this death of Christ?
Answ. Great euery way: for by it,
1 There is such a satisfaction made fully for your sinnes, that they shall neuer rise vp in iudgement against you. 1. Ioh. 1.7.
2 God is pacified, and reconciled to man Rom. 3.24.
3 Satan is ouercome. Gen. 3.15.
4 Death is swallowed vp in victory, and the feare thereof is so taken away, that to the faithfull, it is now nothing but a passage to eternall life. Hos. 13.14.
5 You are acquitted and iustified from your sinnes. Rom. 4.25. & 5.19.
6 The Partition-wall betwixt Iewes and Gentiles is broken downe. Eph. 2.14.
7 All the faithfull, vnder both the Old and New Testament, are become subiect vnto one Head, from which they were fallen, and are gathered into one body. Eph. 1.10. Coloss. 1.21.
8 The prophecies are accomplished, the Truth is become agreeable to the figure; of Sampson, killing more at his death, then in his life; the brasen Serpent, which cured [Page 205] such as looked vp vnto it; and the sacrifices which were offered before for sinnes.
9 By the death of Christ, you euer die to sinne, and crucifie the flesh, with the affections and lusts. 1. Pet. 2.24. Rō. 6.6. Gal. 5.24.
10 In a word, by it you haue remission of sinnes, sanctification of spirit, and euerlasting life after death.
Quest. What must I heere meditate of?
An. You must meditate: 1 Of the fearefull wrath of God against sinners, which could not be appeased by any other meanes.
2 Of Gods great mercy, who to saue mankind, would haue his Sonne killed.
3 Of Christs great humility, who thus abased himselfe to exalt vs.
4 Of the vglinesse of sinne, which could by no other meanes be purged.
5 Of the estate of the members of Christ, who in this world must bee conformable to his passion.
6 That wee hate all sinne and iniquity, for which Christ suffered, and by which we crucifie him againe. Augustines meditation is fit to bee thought on. The life of Christ (saith he) is to me a rule of my life; his death is my redemption from death. That instructeth my life: this hath for mee destroyed death.
And againe: Looke vpon his wounds, [Page 206] when he hanged on the tree, his blood when he died, the price wherewith hee redeemed vs. He hath his body so placed on the crosse, as if hee bowed it downe to kisse thee: his armes spred out ready to embrace thee: and his whole body giuen to redeeme thee: Consider how great things these are, weigh them in the ballance of thine heart, that he may be wholly fastened in thine heart, who for thee wholly was fastened to the crosse.
And againe, meditate thus with that holy Father in his Soliloquies, and say, O Christ, the saluation of my soule, I hartily thanke thee for all thy benefits bestowed vpon mee from my youth till this mine olde age. I pray thee by thy selfe, forsake mee not. Thou didst create me when I was nothing, thou didst redeeme me, when I was worse then nothing; I was dead, and when I was dead thou camest down vnto me, and tookest vpon thee mortality for my sake. Thou a King camest to a subiect to redeeme a subiect. Thou didst die and ouercome death, that I might liue. I was exalted by thee, when thou wast humbled for me: such was thy loue towards mee, that thou gauest thy blood to be shed for me. O my Lord, thou didst loue me more then thy self, because thou wouldest die for me. By such a meanes, by so deare a price thou hast restored me from exile, redeemed me from thraldome, preserued [Page 207] me from punishment, called me by thy name, signed me by thy bloud, annointed mee with that oile, wherewith thy selfe wast annointed, that of thee, ô Christ, I am named a Christian.
Thus thy mercy and grace hath euer preuented me.
Thus thou, my Deliuerer, hast deliuered me from many great and grieuous dangers. Did I wander? thou broughtest mee againe into the way. Was I ignorant? thou instructedst mee. Did I sinne? thou correctedst mee. Was I sorrowfull? thou comfortedst mee. Did I despaire? thou strengthnedst mee. Did I fall? thou didst helpe mee vp. Did I goe? thou didst leade me. Did I come? thou didst receiue me. Did I sleepe? thou didst watch ouer me. Did I cry? thou heardst the voice of my complaints. Grant good Lord, that it may bee euer pleasant vnto me, to thinke often of these thy benefits, to speake often of them, often to giue thee thankes for them, and to praise thee for euer and euer. Amen.
Quest. But because I cannot thus meditate of Christs passion, vnlesse I bee able to apply it to my selfe, how shall I make this application?
Answ. 1 By the word, 2. by faith, 3. by the Sacraments of Baptisme, & the Lords Supper. By the word, Christ is offered as [Page 208] by the hand of God; by faith, he is receiued as by the hand of man; & by the sacraments, he is sealed vp vnto vs as the Kings letters patents are by his Broad seale. For as by the word of God his fauour is signed vnto vs, so the same fauour is by the sacraments as a Broad seale ratified vnto vs, and by the spirit as a Priuy seale confirmed vnto vs.
Qu. Am I now bounden to follow Christ in his crosse?
Answ. You are assuredly. For,
1 You are a member of his body, will you not be like to your head?
2 You are a branch of him that true vine, will you not follow the roote?
3 You desire to haue heauen, do you not know that by many tribulations you must goe thither?
4 You are one of Christs grapes; Christ was pressed in Gods wine-presse: and would you giue out your swéet liquor without the like pressing which he endured? Augustine said well: When thou beginnest to liue godly in Christ, thou art put into the wine-presse, prepare thy selfe that thy wine may be pressed out.
5 It is an argument that God loues you not, if you endure no afflictions: you are a bastard, and no sonne, Heb. 12.14. An Heathen man could say thus much: No man is [Page 209] more miserable then he who endureth no miserie: it is a signe that hee is contemned of God as an idle and cowardly person. And if, saith Augustine, you will goe to Canaan, Nihil infelicius felicitate peccantium. you must goe as it were by fire and water thorow the wildernesse of this world. No creature is more vnhappy, then hee that is happy in sinning.
6 You must follow him also in his death; and know that as he died, so you must also be willing to die: especially, since nothing can free you from it. If Wisdome could, Salomon had not died: if strength, Sampson had not died: if Riches, Diues had not died: if beauty, Absalom had not died. Wheresoeuer we goe, if wée carrie with vs not the vgly picture of death, as some Romanists doe, but the true picture of Christs death in our hearts, we shall neuer bee too fearefull of death.
Qu. I trust I shall thus meditate of Christs death and passion: but is it not my duty at all times, especially in sickenesse to thinke often of his resurrection?
Answ. The Apostle Paul did account all things but losse and dung, for this excellent knowledge of Christs death, and the vertue of his resurrection. Phil. 3.10.
Quest. What is the vertue of his resurrection?
Ans. It is nothing else but the power of his Godhead, or the power of his Spirit, whereby he raised himselfe mightily from the dead, and that on our behalfe.
For know this to your comfort, that he did rise againe from the dead, not as a priuate, but as a publike person, so that all the elect haue, and are, by his resurrection raised out of the graue of sinne, by regeneration in this life, and shall one day by it be raised out of the graue of death, to eternal glorie in the life to come.
Qu. What vse may I make of this.
Answ. By it:
1 You may bee comforted against the feare of all your spirituall enemies, and say thus to your sicke soule; Christ is risen againe from the dead, and so hath subdued all mine enemies vnder me, & will daily more and more subdue them in me. I may haue afflictions in this world: but Christ bids me to bee of good comfort, for he hath ouercome the world, Ioh. 16.33. and, This is the victory that ouercommeth the world, euen my faith, 1. Ioh. 5.4. I will say with Dauid: Why art thou disquieted, O my soule, and why art thou troubled within me? The Lord is on my side, I will not feare, what either man, or miserie, or sin, or death, or hell, or the Diuel can doe against mee. I [Page 211] haue God to bée my Father, and Christ to be my elder brother; I will not feare in the euil day. I am not alone, Christ is my companion. This shall be my studie, to beléeue thinges inuisible, to hope for that which is deferred, and to loue God to the end, though he writeth bitter things against me, and maketh mee to possesse the sinnes of my youth. Though hee kill me, I will trust in him. I am in Christ Iesus, and therefore fréed by his bonds, healed by his stripes, crucified by his death, raised by his resurrection, iustified by his obedience, sanctified by his spirit, and glorified by his glorious Ascension into Heauen. Now my flesh, by the benefit of Christ, who rose againe in my flesh, is not spe, but re, not in hope, but indéede saued. For in him mine head, it is alreadie both risen and ascended vp into Heauen. My flesh, being safe in this her head, shall bee also saued in her members. Let them securely triumph, their head will neuer forsake them.
2 You must learne to rise from sinne, to newnesse of life; to séeke those thinges that are aboue, and not those thinges which are beneath: to set your affections on Heauen, and heauenly things. If you be partaker of the first resurrection, the second death shall take no hold of you, Reuel. 20.6. If you doe not this, Christs death shal doe you no good: [Page 212] For as hee died and rose againe: so must you rise from sinne to righteousnesse, and from death to life. Therefore awake thou that sleepest, and stand vp from the dead, and Christ shall giue thee life. Ephes. 5.14.
Quest. If I can thus meditate of Christs death and resurrection, I doubt not but death will bee better welcome: for if I weare his Crowne of thornes, I shall one day weare his Crowne of glorie: If I can pledge him in his Cup of gall, I shall drinke of his sweet wine: If I die with him in this World, I shall liue with him in that which is to come. But you told mee that I must meditate of the deceitfulnesse of this World: must I doe so, that I may leaue it more willingly?
Answ. You must néeds doe it; the World is like Laban, it will giue you Leah for Rachel: it will change your wages: it wil send you with Iaakob emptie away. It is a Syren; it will sing to you, to sinke you. It is as Iael, Hebers wife, it will offer you milke and couer you with a mantle, and in the end strike a naile into the temples of your head. It will salute you as Ioab did Amasa, and kill you as Amasa was by Ioab killed. With Iudas it will kisse you, and with Iudas also it will betray you. For this cause,
Salomon cried, Vanitie of vanities: all is but vanitie.
Iohn said, Loue not this World nor the thinges of this World; hee that loueth this World, the loue of the Father is not in him. 1. Ioh. 2.16.
To this purpose, the Fathers haue many notable Meditations. Augustine said;
This World is more dangerous fauning then fighting; and more to be auoided when she inticeth to loue, then when shee compelleth to contempt.
Againe: O yee louers of this World, for what doe you labour? haue you heere any greater hope, then to become friendes of this World? what is there which is not fraile and full of perill? and by how many perils doe you come to a greater perill? This life is miserable; death vncertaine, it comes vnawares: and after all the punishment of our negligence is eternall punishment.
Againe: The World passeth away and the lusts thereof. What wilt thou doe? whether wilt thou loue temporall thinges, and passe away with time, or loue Christ, and liue for euer?
Againe: Behold, the World is troublesome, and we like it: what would wee doe if it were calme? how would wee cleaue vnto beautie if wee so affect deformitie? how fast would wee gather the flowers, who fill our hands with the thornes?
Againe: This ruinous World is beloued of vs: what would we doe if the building were faire?
Againe: The Lords of this World haue true asperitie, false iucunditie, certaine miserie, and hopelesse felicitie.
Gregorie said; Beholde, this World which wee loue so much, passeth away. These Saints, at whose monuments wee stand, did contemne the then florishing World: they had long life, continuall health, rich estate, many children, long peace: and yet when that World florished in it selfe, it withered in their hearts. Beholde, now it withereth in it selfe, and florisheth in our hearts. Euerie where death, sorrow, desolation is at hand. Wee are beaten on all sides, filled on all sides are we with bitternesse and yet being blinded with carnall concupiscence, we loue the bitternesse of this World: shee flieth, we pursue her: she falleth, we leane vpon her: and because wee cannot keepe her from falling, we fal with her, whom we hold falling.
Bernard said: Hee that begins to thinke Christ sweet, will esteeme quickly the world as bitter.
Againe: This World is full of thornes: they are in the Earth: they sticke in thy flesh. To bee amongst them, and not to bee hurt by them, proceeds from Gods power, not our owne.
Againe: The World crieth, I wil faile th [...] the flesh crieth, I will infect thee: the Deuill crieth, I will deceiue thee: but Christ crieth, I will refresh thee.
Againe: The danger of this World is seene in the paueitie of such as passe well thorow it, and the multitude that perish in it. In the Massilian Sea, of foure Shippes scant one is drowned: in the Sea of this World, of foure soules scant one is saued.
Chrysostome said, The World is a Sea, the Church a Ship, the Saile Repentance, the Rudder the Crosse, the Pilot Christ, and the Holy Ghost the Windes.
I would with you therefore to bid this vaine World Adieu, and to say with the blessed Apostle Saint Paul: God forbid that I should reioyce in any thing saue in the crosse of Christ, whereby the World is crucified to me, and I vnto the World.
Quest. I shall doe this the better, if you tell mee what God hath prepared for mee in Heauen: and of this I desire to be instructed from you.
Answ. The Apostle Paul, thinking vpon this saith: The Eye hath not seene, the Eare hath not heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceiue the good things which God hath prepared for them which loue him.
The Eye, saith Augustine, hath not seene it, because it is not Colour; the Eare hath not heard it, because it is not a Sound; the Heart cannot comprehend it, because it must Comprehend the heart: and this wee shall more fully perceiue, by how much wee doe more Faithfully, beléeue, Firmely expect, and Ardently desire.
God (saith the said Father) hath prepared that for them that loue him, which cannot be Apprehended by faith, Attained to by hope, or obtained by charitie: it transcendeth our desires and wishes: it may be Obtained, it cannot be valued.
Quest. Yet that I may get such a glimpse of that glorie, begin with mine estate after I am dead; what shall I enioy in the Kingdome of Heauen?
Ans. You shall be carried to the Bosome of Abraham: the Celestiall Paradise: the House of your Father: the new Holy and durable Ierusalem: you shall then enter into your Masters Ioy: you shal haue an Inheritance immortall, vndefiled, which withereth not, reserued in the Heauens: you shall Rest from your labours, haue Peace from your Enemies, and behold the Glorie of God in Christ Iesus: in which place shall bee such, and so many ioyes, as all the Arithmeticians in the World are not able to number them: [Page 217] all the Geometricians are not able to weigh them: all the Grammarians, Rhetoricians, and Logicians are not able to expresse them in fit termes. There shall bee ioy aboue vs for the Vision of God, about vs for the vision of the Angels, beneath vs for the vision of the Heauens, and within vs for the vision of Happinesse. There Salomons wisdome shall be reputed but folly: Absaloms beautie but deformitie: Azaels swiftnesse but slownesse: Sampsons strength but weaknesse: Methusalaes long age but infancie: and the Kingdome of Augustus Caesar but beggerie.
Quest. By what meanes shall I obtaine this happinesse?
Answ. By Gods mercie that giueth it: by Christs Merit that bought it: by the Gospell that offereth it: by Faith that receiueth it: and by the Spirit that sealeth it vnto your soule.
Quest. What is the obiect of it?
Ans. The Vision, knowledge and comprehension of God in Christ. We shal indéed behold the Angels, and enioy their companie: sée the Saints and haue their societie. But as the ioy of a Courtier is in the presence of his Prince: so the ioy of a Christian shall be in the presence of his Christ. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God: Matthew. 5.8. Blessed are they that dwell [Page 218] in thine house, for they shall euer praise thee: Psal. 8.4. We shall see him as he is: 1. Ioh. 3.3.
The Angels doe this in the Kingdome of Heauen: and wee shall doe it in the same Kingdome. Here we liue by faith there we shall liue by sight.
Quest. Is this felicitie prepared for all?
Answ. For all that beleeue it is prepared. The Elect haue obtained it, the rest are hardened, Rom. 11.7. In euery Nation, hee that feareth God, and worketh righteousnesse, is accepted of him: Acts 10. There is neither Iew nor Gentile, Grecian or Barbarian, Male or Female, Bond or Free; but wee are all one in Christ Iesus. Gal. 3.27.
Quest. Shall my bodie only, or my soule only. or both bodie and soule enioy this felicitie?
Answ. Both bodie and soule: your soule shal be sanctified throughout and your body made like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus. Phil. 3.20.
Quest. Shall this very bodie of mine rise againe to life after death?
Answ. It shall assuredly: for,
1 The Lord keepeth all the bones of his Saints, that not one of them shall be broken: Psal. 34.21. and there shall not an haire of our head perish. Luke 21.18.
2 Euery one shall receiue in his bodie [Page 219] that which he hath done, be it good or euill. 2. Cor. 5.10.
3 God hath consecrated this bodie of yours, to be a Temple for the holie Ghost to dwell in. 1. Cor. 3.16.
4 This corruptible shall put on incorruption, saith the Apostle, 1. Cor. 15. This saith he, pointing as with the finger at the same substance; and could not speake more expresly, vnlesse hee should haue taken his owne skinne, with his owne hands, as Tertullian well obserued.
5 Christ rose againe in his owne bodie: and you shall rise as he did.
6 In this bodie, you haue suffered for Christ, liued for Christ, and in it you shall reigne with Christ.
7 You shall be happie: but how happie, if one part should perish: saith Tertullian, in his booke of the Resurrection of the flesh?
8 I am sure, saith Iob, that my Redéemer liueth, & though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie, yet shall I sée God in my flesh, whom I my selfe shall sée, and mine eyes shall behold, and none other for mee, though my reines are now consumed within me. Iob. 19.25.
Quest. O that you could teach me this by some such comparisons, as might confirme [Page 220] my faith concerning this doctrine: for there are many Sadduces in the world at this day who denie the resurrection of the bodie.
Answ. Indéed I remember, that Gregorie in his Morals hath a like saying of some in his time. There are, saith he, a number of people, who (considering, that the soule is dissolued from the bodie, that the bodie is turned into rottennesse, that rottennesse returneth to dust, and that this dust is resolued into the first elements) cannot see how that by reason there should be any resurrection; and, beholding drie and dead bones, mistrust that they shall not againe bee clothed with their flesh, and so reuiue. Such men, though they cannot by faith beleeue as they ought the bodies resurrection, yet let them be perswaded by this naturall reason; What, I pray, then doth the whole world, but imitate our resurrection daily in her elements? For wee see daily, that trees in winter want both leaues and fruit: and behold, suddenly in the spring time, out of a drie tree, as it were by a new resurrection, leaues bud out, fruits ripen, and the whole tree is apparelled with her reuiued beautie. Let them behold the dead kernell set into the earth, how a tree sprouteth out of it: and let them deuise if they can, where that great tree was in so small a seede. Where was the bodie? where [Page 221] the barke? where the branches? where the greene leaues? where that plentie of fruit? Do they not perceiue that all these were in the kernell, or seede, before it was cast into the ground? Why then should they wonder, how a little dust, resolued into elements, should, when God will, become a liuing bodie againe? seeing that so small a seed, comming first out of a tree, should by the power of God, become an huge tree againe. For, as the tree is in the kernell, so are our bodies in the glorified bodie of Christ.
In the man Christ (saith Cassiodorus) is the flesh of euery one of vs; yea, our very blood, and a portion of vs. Therefore I beleeue, that where my portion reigneth, there shall I reigne: where mine owne blood ruleth, there do I perceiue that I shall rule: where my flesh is glorified, there know I that I shall be glorious. And why then shall it séeme strange vnto you, that God is able to raise your body againe at the last day? A Tayler can rip a garment, and set it together againe, though it bee in a thousand pieces: a Clockmaker can take asunder euery wheele of a watch, and ioyne it together again: and shal not God be able to doe the like for your bodie? Why, my deare brother, did God create you of nothing, & can he not restore you [Page 222] from something? doth not he hold all the elements in his hands? is not he more skilful, then that Alchymist, who can extract the quintessence of any substance, or that goldsmith, who though many mettals bee mingled together, yet can he seuer each one to his first substance? is not he the Lord God of all flesh? is there any thing hard to him: Ierem. 32? Can the Phoenix rise out of her own ashes, and shall not you arise out of your owne dust? Can the trees reuiue againe in the spring, and cannot you reuiue againe at the last day? You sée that many birds and flies are dead all winter, and reuiue in summer: you know that the corne which at the séede time is cast into the ground, groweth vp in haruest. Shall God (saith Augustine) quicken the rotten and dead graines of seed, whereby thou liuest in this world, and shall bee not much more raise thee vp, that thou maiest liue for euer? Know then, that as euery night hath his day, euery Sunsetting his Sunrising, euery sleeping his awaking, euery labour his rest, and euerie winter his spring time: so, euerie death shall haue his life. Say then, euen when you are to die, Post tenebras spero lucem: After darkenesse I hope for light, Iob. 17.12. For, if the Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus Christ from the [Page 223] dead dwel in you, he that raised vp Christ from the dead, shal also quicken your mortall body, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Reade, and reade often the 1. Cor. 15. chapter, and those two golden Chapters of the last resurrection, and eternall life, in Bucanus his Institutions, and you shall be much comforted and confirmed in this point.
Quest. I beleeue that I shall see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing: but when I see him, what shall bee the qualities where with my body shall be adorned?
Ans. It shall be, 1 Immortall: for, this mortall shal put on immortalitie. 1. Cor. 15.
2 Incorruptible: for, this corruptible shall put on incorruption. 1. Cor. 15.
3 Spirituall: it is sowen a naturall body, it shall rise a spirituall bodie. 1. Cor. 15.
4 Strong: it is sowen in weaknes, it shal rise in strength. 1. Cor. 15.
5 Perfect: for, as Adam was in his first creation, and Christ after his resurrection, so shall you be at the resurrection of the iust.
6 Beautifull: it shall shine like the stars, be bright as the Sunne, and cleare as Crystall. Dan. 12. Matth. 22. 1. Cor. 15. The glory of the heauenly bodies is one, & the glorie of the earthly bodies is another.
Quest. Why saith the Apostle, that our bodies shall be spirituall bodies?
Answ. Not that the essence shall be changed, but the qualities of that essence: they are called spirituall;
1 Because they shall giue themselues wholly to be gouerned by the Spirit.
2 They shall be vpheld by the power of the Spirit: so that they shall need no meat or drinke: but, by the Spirit of Christ, shall be nourished to eternall life.
Quest. And why say you they shall be perfect?
Answ. Because as there is no pollution in heauen, so shall there be no imperfection. The yong infant shal not rise in his infancy, nor the aged person in his decrepite age, nor the blind person without his fight, nor hée that is borne lame or imperfect, with that imperfection: but séeing our resurrection is a new creation, we shall then be as in our first creation: Aug. lib. 11. de ciuit. Dei, cap. 13. And in his Enchiridion to Laurentius, he saith: The bodies of the Saints shall rise without any maime, without any deformitie, without any corruption, without difficultie, in which there shall be as great facilitie, as there is felicitie. Lyra ad Ephes. cap. 4. ver. 13.
Looke to the 1, Adam created a perfect man: the 2, Adam rising a perfect man: and Gods promise Philip. 3.21. 1. Cor. 15. [Page 225] 49. to make our bodies like Christs bodie, and you will resolue w [...] comfort of this truth.
Quest. As my bodie shall be thus renued, so shall not my soule be renued?
Answ. It shall: Then shall the glorious Image of God shine in it: for:
1 Your vnderstanding shall be full of the knowledge of God, which he shall immediately reueale vnto you.
2 Your will shall perfectly obey God.
3 All your affections shall be so purified and well ordered, that there shall be a swéet harmony betwixt all the faculties of your soule.
Quest. Can you shew me this by any comparison?
Answ. Lactantius will do it for me. As a candle (saith he) while it is in the lanterne, it giueth a good light, and enlightneth the lanterne it selfe: and if it bee taken out, although the lanterne bee left darke, yet the candle shines more cléerely, than it did before: so while the soule is in the body, it is the light and gouernour thereof; and when it forsakes the bodie, although the bodie bee left dead, and insensible, yet then the soule enioyes her proper vigour and brightnesse. Lib. 7. cap. 12. Diuin. Iustit.
Quest. That I may the better thinke of this glorious e [...]tie, and eternall glorie, tell mee what the ancient Fathers haue thought of it?
Answ. They indéed (sequestring themselues from the mist and mudde of this present world) saw more clearely than we, the happinesse of Paradise, and therefore they haue many diuine meditations of this matter. I will repeate some: and reade you to this purpose the two last Chapters of the Reuelation.
Augustine said: Such is the beautie of eternall righteousnesse, such is the ioy of that eternall light, that if wee might stay there but for one day, euen for that time alone, wee should contemne the innumerable yeares of full delights, and circumfluence of all happinesse.
Again: We can more easily tell what there is not in that eternall life, then what there is. There, there is no death, sorrow, l [...]ssitude, or infirmitie: There, there is no hunger, no thirst, no heate, no corruption, no want, no mourning, no griefe.
Againe: Haste, haste to that place, where you shall liue for euer: for, if you so loue this miserable and mutable life, where you liue with such labour; and for all your running, riding, sweating, and sighing, you can [Page 227] hardly prouide necessaries for your selues: how much more ought you to loue eternall life? where you shall not labour, but enioy all securitie, all felicitie, happie libertie, and happie blessednesse: where we shal be like Angels, the righteous shine like stars: where God shall be all in all vnto them, who shal be seen without end, loued without wearinesse, praised without irksomenesse.
Againe: This inheritance, I meane this of Christ, by which we become fellow heires with him, is not lessened by the multitude of possessors, nor straitned by the number of heires; but it is as great to many as to few; to euery one, as to all.
Againe: Doe we loue riches? let vs there keepe them, where they cannot be lost. Do we loue honor? let vs there haue it, where honor is giuen to none but the worthy. Do wee desire dignitie? let vs there affect to get it, where being once gotten, we may not feare to lose it. Do we loue life? let vs there seeke it, where it is not ended by death.
Againe: Such shall be there the delight of beautie, that thou shalt euer haue it, and neuer be glutted with it; yea rather thou shalt euer be satisfied, and neuer glutted. For if I say, thou shalt not be satisfied, there shall be hunger: if satisfied, thou maiest feare satietie there, where there is neither fulnesse nor famine. [Page 228] I know not what to say: but God hath what to giue.
Againe: Behold the Kingdome of heauen is set to sale: if thou wilt, thou mayest buy it. Thinke not much of the greatnes of the price: it is worth all that thou hast. Look not what thou hast, but what an one thou art. It is worth as much as thou art worth: giue thy selfe, and thou shalt haue it. Thou wilt say, I am euill, and perhaps he will not take mee: by giuing thy selfe to him, thou shalt become good.
Againe: The poore widow bought as much for two mites, as either Peter did by forsaking his nets, or Zacheus by giuing halfe his goods to the poore.
Againe: In the citie of God, the King is veritie; the Law, charitie; the dignitie, equitie; the peace, felicitie; the life, eternitie: but it is contrarie in the diuels citie: there the king, is falsitie; the law, cupiditie; the dignitie, iniquitie; the hapinesse, contention; the life, temporalitie.
Againe: Compare we this life temporall, with that which is eternall, and it is but a death, rather than a life. For, this continuall decaying of our corrupt nature, what is it else but a prolixitie of death? But what tongue can expresse, what minde can comprehend the ioyes of heauen? to be amongst the quire of Angels, to bee with the blessed spirits, to [Page 229] behold the presence of God, to see that most cleere light, to bee affected with no griefe, to reioyce in the gift of perpetuall incorruption.
Againe: There shall we enioy whatsoeuer shall be louely: nay, can we desire that which wee shall not enioy? There we shall rest, there we shall see, there we shall know, there we shal loue, there wee shall praise; wee shall praise that Being, which shall bee in the end, and without end. For what else is our end, but to come to that kingdome which is without end?
Againe: There this shall be the sole vertue, to see that thou louest; and the soueraigne felicitie, to loue that thou seest. There shall blessed life be drunke, out of her owne fountaine, where the vision of veritie shall bee most cleerely opened.
Gregorie said: Let vs runne and follow Christ: heere are no true ioyes; but there they are reposed, where there is true life.
Againe: Because in the elect, in this life, there is a diuersitie of workes, there shall bee without doubt, in the life to come, a distinction of dignities: that wherein heere one excelleth another, there he may surpasse his fellow in reward: yet though all haue not the like dignitie, yet all shall haue one and the same blessed life.
Bernard said: There are twelue starres in the Crowne of Christians in heauen: The first is memorie, without forgetfulnesse: the second, reason, without error: the third, will, without perturbation: the fourth, impassibilitie, in which the bodie shal rise: the fift, brightnes, by which it shall be like Christs glorious bodie: the sixt, agilitie, to mooue according to the mobilitie of our mindes: the seuenth, transparencie, that albeit it be solid and thick, yet shall it be impenetrable: the eight, to loue our neighbor as our selfe, in truth: the ninth, to see cleerely, that our neighbour loues vs as himselfe: the tenth, to loue God perfectly, but more than our selues: the eleuenth, to loue our selues, but for God: the twelfth, to see God louing vs, more than he loued himselfe.
Againe: O that blessed Region of Paradise! O that blessed Region of delights, for which I sigh, in this vallie of teares! where wisedome shall shine without ignorance: memorie without forgetfulnesse, vnderstanding without error: and reason without obscuritie. Blessed are they that dwell there: they shall for euer and euer praise God. The kingdome of God is granted, promised, shewed, receiued: Granted in predestination, promised in vocation, shewed in iustification, receiued in glorification.
Prosper said: The life to come is that, whereby [Page 231] wee beleeue that it is blessedly sempiternall, and sempiternallie blessed: where there is certaine securitie; secure tranquilitie; safe iucunditie; happie eternitie; eternall felicitie; where there is perfect loue, no feare; an euerlasting day, swift motion; and in all, one spirit,
To conclude, thinke you of the goodliest sights that euer could be seene; the most melodions musick, that euer could be heard; the most delicate diet, that euer could be tasted; the greatest honor, that can be enioyed; the best companie, that may be possessed; and all the comforts that you can haue in this life: and in comparison of the ioyes of the kingdome of heauen, they are but a point, and lesse than a point: they are petie ioyes, peacocke ioyes, the ioyes of prisoners and poore pilgrimes.
Quest. I shall like the better of this life eternall, if you giue me such a taste here of eternall death, that I do not feele it in the life to come: Can this eternall death be described?
Answ. It cannot any more, than eternall life: for as the heart cannot comprehend that one: so the tongue cannot expresse this other.
Quest. But what saith the scripture of it?
Ans. Very terrible and fearefull things: as,
Deut. 32.22. Fire is kindled in my wrath, & shall burne down to the bottom of hell.
Psal. 10.6. Vpon the wicked he shall raine snares, fire, and brimstone, & stormie tempests: this is the portion of their cup.
Mat. 25.41. Depart from me ye cursed, into euerlasting fire, prepared for the diuell & his angels. These shall go into euerlasting paine.
Reuelat. 20.10. The diuell was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, where the Beast and the false prophet shall be tormented, euen day and night for euermore.
Chap. 21.8. The fearefull and vnbeleeuing, and abominable, and murtherers, and whoremongers, and forcerers, and idolaters, and all liers, shall haue their part in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
2. Thessal. 1.7.8.9. The Lord Iesus shall shew himself from heauen with his mightie Angels, in flaming fire, rendring vengeance vnto them that do not know God, and which obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ: which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glorie of his power.
2. Pet. 4. God spared not the Angels that had sinned, but cast them downe into hell, and deliuered them into chaines of darknesse to be kept vnto damnation.
Matth. 22.13. Binde him hand and foote, take him away, cast him into vtter darknesse, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Esai. 30, 33. Tophet is prepared of old, it is euen prepared for the king: hee hath made it deepe and large: the burning thereof is fire and much wood: the breath of the Lord, like a riuer of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Chap. 34.14. The sinners in Zion are afraid, feare is come vpon the hypocrites. Who shall dwell with the deuouring fire? Who shall dwell with the consuming burnings?
Quest. And what say the Fathers of it?
Answ. Chrysostome wisheth that men in tauernes and all places would dispute of hell: for the remembrance of hell will not suffer a man to fall into hell.
Augustine saith: From hell there is no redemption: for hee, that is damned and drowend there, shall neuer come out. From hell there is no redemption: because there neither can the father helpe the sonne, nor the sonne his father.
There can bee found no friend, or kinsman which can giue a ransome of gold or siluer, which now like couetous persons they heape vp, suffering the poore to pine by pouertie, and perish for hunger and cold. But these miserable men shall be constrained to crie, What hath our gold profited vs? &c. Wisd. 5. From [Page 234] hell there is no redemption: there is weeping and wailing, and none to pitie them: there is dolor, and horror, and crying out, and none to heare them.
Gregorie saith: After a most fearefull sort, the wicked haue a death without death, an end without end, ceasing without ceasing; Because, that death, euer liueth: that end, euer beginneth: and that ceasing, knoweth not how to cease.
Againe: In hell there is vntollerable cold, vnquenchable fire, the worme that neuer dieth: an intollerable sauour, palpable darknesse, and scourgings by whippers: the most fearefull vision of Diuels, the confusion of sinners, and desperation of any good. There shall be a double hell: the one of intollerable heate, the other of surpassing cold.
Chrysostome saith: Let a man imagine ten thousand hels, all is nothing to this, Of being seperated from Christ: to heare this, voice: Depart from me yee workers of iniquitie: to be accused, that thou hast not fed the hungrie, clothed the naked, &c.
Bernard saith: Wee haue deserued hell, where there is no meate, no comfort, none end: where the rich glutton begged but a cup of cold water, and could not obtaine it.
Quest. Are all, thinke you, tormented there alike?
Answ. The least torment shall be endlesse, comfortlesse and remedilesse: yea Gregory saith, That as the same Sunne shineth vpon al, but yet heateth not al alike: so the same fire of hell burneth all the wicked, yet it doth not burne all alike. As heauen hath many mansions of glory: so hell hath many places of horror. According vnto the manner of the sinne, is the manner of the punishment.
The which if it be true, ought to keepe vs from abominable sinnes, that at the least there might bee a mitigation of torments. For, mighty sinners shall bee mightily punished: and, hee that knowes his Masters will and doth it not, bee shall be beaten with many stripes.
These are the lessons, my good Auditor, which I haue shortly giuen you as a direction to die: and the Lord so sanctifie them vnto your soule, that whether you liue you may liue to him, or whether you die you may die to him: so that whether you liue or die you may be his. Amen.
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