A PITHIE AND SHORT TREATISE BY VVAY of Dialogue, whereby a godly Christian is directed how to make his last Will and testament, to dispose, well and wisely of his temporall goods; and how to prepare himselfe to the Lord, to depart this world peaceably and comfortably, committing himselfe in soule and body, into the hands of God, his faithfull Creatour.
ESAY 38. Put thine house in order, for thou must die.
LONDON, Imprinted for WILLIAM IONES, 1612.
To the Reader.
THE holy Patriarch Iacob being demanded by Pharaoh how old he was, answered, his daies were few and euill; Gen. 47.9. and yet the time of his pilgrimage had bene an hundred and thirty yeares; welnigh double mans ordinary race in this latter age. Holy Iob also out of his owne sense & experience witnesseth in these words,Iob. 14.1. Man that is borne of a woman is of short continuance, and full of trouble. Our daies are few and euill, and full of trouble; to weane vs from setting o [...] affection and loue vpon this life which is subiect to so much vanity and molestation; and to teach vs to employ, and vse well and wisely the short and vncertaine time that is lent vs, being so deare and precious, [Page] as being once past cannot at any rate be recouered and got againe; and therefore while we haue time so to bestow it, as not onely our selues may be benefited, our soules comforted, our calling and election assured; but also God himselfe glorified, and our brethren and neighbours by our good example prouoked, and by our good instruction allured to religious and holy duties. And this duty of drawing others to God and godlinesse, as it concerneth the Ministers and teachers of Gods word publickly, so parents and maisters of families priuately.Esay 38.18.19. The father, saith the Prophet Esay, shall declare thy truth to his children: and so likewise the maister, who is the father of the family, is to performe the like dutie to his seruants. Oh that all whom it concerneth would be carefull in this case, and shake off that carelesnesse, security and forgetfulnesse of this duty, which too too much preuaileth in these daies! Then would they bestow more time than they do in instructing, [Page] gouerning and bettering themselues, their charges and their families, in the knowledge, seruice and obedience of God; and so should they rightly answer their name of Paterfamilias, & be true fathers of their families. Great wil be the anguish, sorrow, griefe, perplexitie and distresse, that the neglect and omission of this duty may hereafter procure vs vpon our death-beds, by a gnawing and griping of consciēce for our failing herein; & on the other side great is the comfort, ioy, peace, solace, quiet of conscience and tranquility of mind, that the godly and conscionable performance hereof will bring vs in that day when we shall lie vpon our bed of sorow, as Dauid calleth it Psal. 41.3. in the greatest extremities, paines and pangs of death. As it comforted Iob in his most grieuous calamity, that he had not cōcealed or denied the words of the Holy one.Iob 6.10. A full & certaine assurance hereof to the conscience, at that day will be more worth then all treasures [Page] of gold and siluer. This might be confirmed by many places of Scripture, and illustrated by many examples, but we a [...] in a preface, and not in a treatise, and therefore vnfit to be long and tedious; and the rather because the treatise it selfe is so short and cōpendious. Yet as short as it is, you shall finde therein the performance of this duety laid forth in very excellent manner, which many serue both for prouocation to moue vs vnto it, and for direction to enforme vs in it. It is quickly read being so short, & not hard to be practised if God giue grace. The God of grace from whom cometh euery good and perfect gift, enlighten our vnderstandings that we may know; quicken and stir vp our affections, that we may desire; & direct our actions, that we may do those things that are pleasing in his sight; that after his short and miserable life is ended, we may liue in heauen, where in his presence is all fulnes of ioy,Psal. 16.11. and pleasures for euermore. Amen.
Christian Instructions, giuen by a faithfull Pastor to one of his flocke, concerning making his Will.
I Am come to see how you do, good neighbour, hearing of your extreme sicknesse: that if it please God, to take you out of this life, I may set you right in the way to heauen, as I haue endeuored to do hitherto, since I came to be your Pastor. How do you man? how feele you your selfe?
I thanke you good Sir for this your great loue and kindenes, and also for all the cō forts I haue had by you since your first [Page 2] coming hither. I thanke God, I am wel in soule through the washing and purging by the bloud of my sauiour Iesus Christ, which through Gods superabundant mercie, cleanseth me from all my sinne: but sicke in body, I am so sicke as that I suppose my death & dissolution is neere, to the finishing of this life, of misery, and the entring and establishing of me in the blessed life of glory: which Lord I beseech thee to hasten for thy Christs sake, Amen. And now I am most glad that you are come now to helpe me, and direct me to the right end of my iourney, desiring your assistance by Gods word in euery duty yet to be performed by me, both to God and man: And then with ioy I will bid the world farewell, for I feele death aproach. I beseech you therefore to be as briefe as you may, and by Gods word direct me first for the disposing of my worldly goods, lands, and other things: for that it is vndone.
I am glad to see you so strong in the Lord, deare brother, and most willingly I will do that you request; but I must tell you by the way, that you haue done full euill, in not making your will in the time of your health, seeing your old age so to approach, that by the course of nature your daies could not be long: and if God should haue taken you away sodainely, as he doth in mercy some of his deare seruants, then should you thereby haue bene perhaps the Author of bitter strife and contention amongst your children; which is one of the things so abhominable & hateful in Gods sight,Prou. 6.19. namely to raise contentions among brethren. And how you can auoide that yet, though God in mercy do giue you time in this your sicknesse to make your will, I know not, except your children be [Page 4] the better disposed, and louing one to another, and you distribute so equally vnto them, that none of them haue cause to finde fault. But if in the time of your health you had disposed of your goods and lands, then should you haue seene perchance, whether any would haue bene discontent with your equall distribution; and they that had without iust cause, bene offended, might by you haue bene depriued of that which otherwise they should haue had. The feare of which would haue bene haply one motiue to moue them all, to haue bene content. But seeing it is otherwise, I will aduise you what is best yet to do in this case: first, you shall do well to call all your children together, and such else of your friends as you would haue present.
Should all my children be present at my last Will or testamēt making?
Yea surely for these causes principally, [Page 5] first, that all of thē might haue your blessing with incouragement in all good and Christian duties, wherin they haue walked; and reprehension with admonition, for their euils. Secondly, for the auoiding of strife, and the establishing of peace and loue amongst them; which is a thing much to be respected amongst all, much more of a father amongst his childrē. Thirdly, all that a father shall say at that time to his childrē in reproouing and rebuking of sin, & allowing and commending of vertue, shall be the more deeply imprinted in the hearts of his childrē, being so solēnly done, and the last words, as it were, of their father, vpon his death-bed: yea we see often that they which are farre from being godly disposed, do by the light of nature, much respect the things giuen them in charge by their father vpon his death-bed. Therefore it is meete that all your children [Page 6] should be present, and all this must be performed, by you with fatherly wisedome and iudgement without partiality: not punishing a small fault, with a great punishment, nor a great fault with a small punishment, but proportionable to the offence must the punishment be; for so doth God alwaies deale with his children, and so must earthly fathers with their children. A notable president of all this we haue, in that holy Patriarch Iacob and his sonnes, wherewith I know you are well acquainted. Gen. 49.
But what if some children be so euill disposed, that for that cause they should be thought not fit to be present at their fathers Will?
That any be so, is one principall reason that they should rather be there, than the other better disposed: [Page 7] for that, as before is said, they should be bettered, by their fathers last sharp reprehension, if any thing will preuaile with them. And this doth that former instāce of Iacobs sonnes, plainely set forth; for Ruben was present, though he had a curse, for lying with his fathers concubine; Symeon and Leui, though the like for their cruell murthering the Sichemites; all the ten sonnes of Iacob, beside Ioseph and Beniamin: though treacherously they had dealt concerning Ioseph, and sold him. Therefore they must be there the rather.
But what if distance of place do let that some cannot be present?
Such necessity then must be considered, and those absent the more carefully, not the lesse respected.
Hauing but one small possession of land, and that in my power to giue to whom I will, who should by Gods ordinance be mine heire?
Your eldest sonne, for he is the beginning of your strength, and your first borne. Deut. 21.15.16.17.
What if he be an euill and disobedient child, and likely to sell it?
You may tye him in some couenants best to preuent that. But if he be so dissolute, you may quite depriue him.
Is there any warrant of that in Gods word?
Yea plaine: Ruben before mentioned, and Adoniah, whom Dauid [Page 9] his father did disinherite, and made godly Salomon his heire; whose words to Adoniah his elder brother, are words to be written with the pen of a Diamond in the heart of euery father, that he may so giue warning to his children: If thou wilt shew thy selfe a worthy man, there shall not a haire fall from thy head, but if wickednesse be found in thee, thou shalt surely die. But this must be carefully looked vnto, that so great a punishment, as the depriuation of an inheritance, be not inflicted for too small offences, especially if the party offending be one that truly and vprightly feareth God, and those offences haue bene but slips of infirmitie. He that for a small fault in this kind will disinherit his heire, may looke himselfe to be by his heauenly Father disinherited of the kingdome of heauen.Mat. 6.15. & Chap. 18.35. And this is most fearefull against those fathers, which do least esteeme, [Page 10] or rather hate any child that shall incline himselfe truly to feare the Lord; and euery slip or small fault of theirs shall be esteemed great, and great offences indeede in others shall be counted nothing: yea those that are best disposed, many times haue that which is due to them, giuen to those that are meerely carnall.
What is to be done with the rest, besides the heire?
All being alike godly and dutifull euery way, and of like estate in wealth or want, to haue like portions giuen them.
What if some be in good estate to liue already, & others poore, yet not through any default of theirs?
The poorest must accordingly be holpen, and the richer must haue the [Page 11] lesse; for God commandeth all to pittie and relieue the poore, and there shall be iudgement mercilesse to him that is not mercifull:Iam. 2.13. to those that are distressed any manner of way, especially mercy and charity must be extended, to those that are neare of kin.1 Tim. 5.4.16. And fearefull is it for any child to couet that, which belongeth to another; for Gods curse, not his blessing shall be sure to go with that. And most vnnaturall were that father that would procure a curse vpon his child with his gift of some worldly thing, which by right according to Gods word and will, belongeth to some other: yet is it too cōmon, that many children care not, so they may haue all, or the most part, though some other farre better & godlier then they do want, and are ready to beg with pouertie: and they therewith get the fearefull curse of God vpon themselues, and all that they haue, yea, [Page 12] and their posterity also.
This were very fearefull, for any fathers, or children indeede. But now for children that haue had stockes already, as daughters to their mariage, or sonnes for lawfull and honest vses in their trades, or the like, they hauing had portions already are to rest satisfied.
All this is rightly to be considered and they all in some proportionable measure to be equalled at the last, as their estate with the other circumstances, as is before mentioned, do require. But for daughters if any part remaine vnpaid of that portion promised to their mariage, it must be satisfied. For in that, aswell as in all other things, no wrong must be done, nor any, neither neere nor farre off, defrauded;1 Thess. 4.6. for the Lord is an auenger of all such things. And they that regard not to deale vprightly with all, [Page 13] much more with those neere vnto them, do come within the compasse of those wrong doers, and promise breakers, that shall not inherite the kingdome of heauen. Psalm. 15.
May one sinne then, in disposing of his owne lands or goods, so haynously that he may by God in his iustice, be therefore depriued of heauen, and consequently be cast downe to hell to be tormē ted euermore? Me thinks that seemeth very harsh.
Yet so it is most certainly; for first we know, that euery sinne deserueth the same in it selfe, as saith the Apostle, the wages of sinne is death.Rom. 6.23. But in this, one may sin most haynously, as many do in giuing their goods, lands, or monie, to their lewde harlots, or bastard children; hauing liued most damnably in their former life, and leauing their owne lawfull [Page 14] wife and children vtterly destitute. Also those that make foolish and ridiculous Willes, disposing some to this prophane vse, and some to that; all being wanted by some neere vnto them,1 Tim. 5.4. to whom of right it doth belong. Also all those that do in disposing of it deale partially, without such iudgement as God requireth therein, so that those which are best loued of God, shall be sure to haue least, and such as are not religious, but meere carnall, or else open prophane, to haue most: or depriuing the heire of his inheritance, because he is more godly then he would haue him; or for some small fault, and passing ouer grosse offences in others. Finally he that loueth not as God loueth, and hateth not as God hateth, being mercifull to the poorest, louing to the godliest, sharpe to the wickedst, and comfortable to the distressedst, iust & vpright to all without carnall respects [Page 15] or partialitie; is culpable in this kind, and liable to the wrath and condemnation of the Almighty, euen for this last sinne.
If this matter be of so great weight and moment, then me thinkes it is not to be taken in hand rashly, without the aduice, and assistance of some who are able to counsell in all things, according to Gods word, and to iudge thereby aright of euery offence committed, with the circumstances, increasing or lessening the fault: also the punishment, by Gods word proportionable to the offence, as before you haue declared: but this rule is little regarded. Nay my selfe, though (I thanke God for his mercy) I haue learned something out of Gods word in all my dayes, little considered the weight of this poynt, as now I do see plainely by your godly instructions. And well I perceiue, that they which headily further their friends in making their Willes, without such as [Page 16] can thus instruct them, do most dangerously further them in the way to hell, as much as in them lyeth. I would not for a thousand poundes but haue had this your happie and blessed counsell and instruction in this my last action, as it were, or will making: for litle thought I of taking such rules or warrants in euery thing from Gods word about this.
It is indeede too much neglected, neither do any almost teach it, or write it effectually, that so it might be learned by all as it ought. But one thing is yet behinde, whereof I haue not yet aduised you from the Lord, and that is this, namely your remembring the poore members of Iesus Christ (your poore neighbours:) for all that you shall do vnto such,Mat. 25. our Lord Iesus Christ doth esteeme it, as done vnto himselfe, yea if one be able to giue but a cup of cold water, and hauing bene charitable, as euery true [Page 17] member of Christ is, and must be, in your life; you shall do well to testifie at the end, when you are going to giue vp your account to God, that you are not lesse louing, and pittifull to the poore, than you haue bene before. For they that haue not, for the loue of Christ onely, done any such good to his poore members, to them that cannot be said in the last and euerlasting blessing:Mat. 25. When I was hungry ye fed me, when I was thirsty, ye gaue me drinke, I was a stranger and ye lodged me, naked, and ye clothed me, &c. But that shall be said to all, that go into life eternall: Therefore they that haue done no such good to the poore, shall neuer enter into life eternall.
This poynt also I neuer was so effectually taught in before, as now you haue shewed it: and well I perceiue that they which regard not with pittie and compassion, [Page 18] to giue to Christ in his poore members, can iustly looke for no part of that blessing of Christ which you mentioned before. And most wofull is this, me thinkes, against all those, who haue little or no feeling of their poore distressed brethren. And alas, this is the most common charity now a daies, euen that which Saint Iames reproueth so sharpely: Go warme your selues, Iam. 2.15.16. and fill your bellies, but they giue them neither of that they want: so we vse to say in these daies, Alas poore wretches, God helpe you, and comfort you; and this is all. But here is one thing doubtfull, some are very wicked, and vngodly of the poore, and should they be pittied, as the godly and Christian should?
We must do good vnto all, but especially to them that are of the houshold of faith: but those that are not yet called we must loue, as our selues, for they are our neighbours, [Page 19] euen all men and women: as the example of the Samaritan doth notably set forth; and therfore in distresse ought to be relieued. And who knoweth whether our kindnesse, and good example, as also Christian admonition, may not be an occasion to win them to Christ? Therefore what you will giue that way, commit the distribution thereof to some Christian neighbour, with generall direction from you, and in particular, if you know any poore Christians that haue more neede then other; or to whom by any speciall band, you are more neere then to other, them in particular you may nominate your selfe: and you may also referre the like disposing of some, to your Christian friends or ouerseeers, vnto such particular distressed Christians as they know stand in neede, besides the generall.
I do most heartily thanke you, and God for you; and now I will craue your fauour and further assistance, to do all this that you haue shewed me: and I pray you, if I do faile in any thing, helpe me and assist me; for through my paine, or weakenesse of memory, or distraction other waies, I may, and shall surely do amisse.
I will be your assistant in what I can, as God by his grace shall enable me.
All that before said being finished and fully accomplished, here followeth a prayer, containing the summe of all, very profitable for one in that case to contemplate of.
O Lord my God, I am now ready, when it pleaseth thee, to appeare before thy iudgement seate, to giue vp an account of my stewardship,Luke 16.2. [Page 21] as all men must do, when thou shalt call them. Of thy bounty ô mercifull Father, I receiued and haue enioyed all these worldly things, for my better and more chearefull seruing of thee, in my Iourney towards heauen: and not mine, but thine they be ô Lord: and therefore now I leaue them to those whō thou in thy word hast commanded me to dispose them vnto. I know deare Father that the same which thy word saith, the same wilt thou thy selfe say, and nothing else, when my soule shal appeare before thy tribunall: whatsoeuer thy word iustifieth, that wilt thou iustifie; whatsoeuer thy word condemneth, that wilt thou condemne. Knowing therefore the terrour of thy wrath against all sinne, I haue endeuored to the vttermost, according to thy grace giuen me, (for of my selfe I can do nothing that is good) to finish and close vp this my [Page 22] mortall life, by the sacred line and rule of thy holy word in euery thing. As therefore, heauenly Father, thou hast ordained it a rule in nature, that fathers should lay vp for their children,2 Cor. 12.14. and giue them their portions to their abilities; so haue I endeuoured to do. As thou hast dealt with thy Churches and children, so haue I thy vnworthy seruant endeuored to follow thy example in reprouing vice,Reuel. 2.3. Chap. in commending vertue, in encouraging in goodnesse, and discouraging and condemning all euill: in blessing where thou dost blesse, and cursing where thou dost curse; in louing most those that loue thee most, and least those that shew least loue to thee. I haue giuen most to those whō thou in thy word commandest me to giue most vnto, and least to those to whom thou in thy word appoyntest least vnto. For I know ô Lord, that as thou didst appoint out the [Page 23] lots and seuerall portions of thy peoples inheritāces in the land of Canaā, namely of Iacobs twelue sonnes: and Ioshua whom thou appointedst to deuide it vnto thine,Iosh. 14.1.2. might not distribute any otherwise then thou didst appoint him, more, or lesse: so should I and all thy seruants, as neere as possible we can, follow thy direction therein. And if I haue not so done to the vttermost of my power, but dealt partially through carnall affection: if I haue looked least to thy glory, and most to worldly respects, then wo be vnto me, now I am approaching before thee, to giue vp mine accounts. But thou ô Lord seest the vprightnes of my heart, that I desire to do in all things as thou commandest: be mercifull vnto me deere Father in Christ thy sonne, according to the vprightnesse of my heart, and passe by all my infirmities. I know ô heauenly Father that there shall be iudgement [Page 24] mercilesse,Iam. 2.13. to him that sheweth not mercie. That he must be pitifull and compassionate,Mat. 18.33. that would haue thee pitifull to him. That he which will not forgiue,Mat. 6.15. shall neuer be forgiuen of thee. O Lord, I freely from my heart forgiue al that euer haue wronged me, and am therein comforted that thou also hast freely forgiuen me for Christs sake: and I beseech thee ô Lord to forgiue all those, that haue done me wrong, and pardon all their sinnes, if it be thy blessed will. And Lord in mercie behold all thy people; those that feare thy name in truth establish them to the end therein: those that are yet in blindnesse, open their eies to see the things pertaining to their saluation. And let the light of thy Gospell shine more and more brightly to the banishing of all errour & ignorance throughout the whole world, if it be thy blessed will. Particularly for my children & posteritie, [Page 25] (members of thy Church,) Lord blesse them and their seede to the end of the world; and let thy blessings both spirituall and temporall be powred plentifully vpon them: establish those of them, that are already effectually called to thy feare, and strengthen them euery way to the end therein. Conuert those of them that are not yet so effectually called, and make them all zealous in thy waies, to their euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ. Thou gauest them me O Lord, the greatest blessing of all worldly blessings: and now I resigne them vp to thee againe, beseeching thee to be a Father vnto them as thou hast bene to me, and them too, euer since we had a being. O teach them to bring vp their children in thy feare, and to esteeme that aboue all worldly things whatsoeuer. And thus Lord I commend my selfe, soule, body, and all that I haue, into [Page 26] thy hands, beseeching thee to qualifie my paines, and giue me strength and patience to the end to beare the extremitie thereof. And hasten sweete Sauiour to deliuer me out of miserie, and wipe away all teares frō mine eyes; euen so, come Lord Iesus, come quickly, Amen, Amen: and let thy whole family in heauen and in earth say, Amen.
Me thinkes I heare this ioyfull sentence sounding in mine eares, Come thou blessed of my Father, inherite the kingdome prepared for thee, from the beginning of the world. Mat. 25.34.