^s% 
 
 
 .•^m . 1 
 
 ,v. ^, 
 
 *'^ 
 
 A:-:.^i*^r 
 
 
 i# 
 
 t-^ 
 
 <J& 
 
 n' 
 
 ) 
 
 ^■a^?*^;^iP; 
 
 
 ^M^m^m^m^^^mm^^^ 
 
 «^^' -i^rX :• 
 
^ PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 1 
 
 \ 
 
 1 
 
 ', Collection of Puritan Literature. 
 
 1 
 
 Division *^ ^^^— ^ 
 Section f ^*^ f ^^ -^ 
 Number 
 
 h 
 
 I 
 
/*■.»- "'. 
 
IW l I f l I H «« 
 
 THE 
 
 ANATOMIE 
 
 OF MORIALiriE 
 
 ^e Ccnc^ 
 
 Di'videdinto the/e eight heads, 
 
 (I The Certainty of Death. ^^'-'' ^yy^rm. 
 
 2 The Meditation on Deaths 
 
 3 The Preparation for Death. 
 
 4 The right behaviour in Death* 
 vsK.i, S The comfort at our ovvnc Death. 
 
 6 The comfort againll the Death of friends. 
 
 7 The Cafes wherein it is unlawful! , and wherein 
 Iawfijll,to defire Death. 
 
 w8 The glorious eflatc of Gods children after Death, 
 
 Written ^^GeoRGE Strode Vtter-hartfter of the 
 
 mtddte Temple, for hU orone private comfort land 
 
 nowpHblifljedat the recfnejl of his friends 
 
 for the nfe ofot hers. 
 
 The fecond Edition fomcwbat enlarged 
 by thcj Author. 
 
 MATTH.13.52. 
 Sverj Scribe vifhieh isTanghtunto the Kingdomc of heaven, 
 u like unto an houjholder ^ whtch bringeth forth out of his \ 
 treaftsre, things both new andolde. 
 
 Vita mihi Chriftus, mors lucrum, patria coclum. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 Printed by vyillinm Tones , and arc to be fold by Th6m a s 
 
 W E AV E R^ dwelling at the ^reat T^rth-doore of 
 
 Saint VahIs, 1 6 3 2« 
 
1 «» »•« . 
 
 Si 
 
 i »«> • ' ' 
 
'"** lO^ /TLl^ /CJfc / /"i X / i»i» ^ ''"V^ 
 
 I 
 
 TO 
 
 THE HONORAB LE 
 
 SOCIETY OF THE MIDLE TE NI- 
 PPLE, ALL HEALTH AND 
 
 PRosPEjiirr 
 
 9 
 
 Hen it came ncere my turnc 
 to rcade,and that I had cntrcd 
 into the choyce of my Sta- 
 ture, even then my body ('wa- 
 fted witlilong ficknts and dif. 
 cafej called upon me to con- 
 fider rather oFmy death ; and 
 thatfo vvithdrevvmy mind from thepofitivc Law 
 I had in hand , as that it fetled my thoughts upon 
 that ctcrnall Law of God, -wheichy Statutuw efi 
 hominihtis ^c. It is a f pointed unto men thatthejjhall 
 once dje^ andafterrvardcomc to Judgement -^ and when 
 I had fpent fomc time thereon , it did not oncly 
 d (Tw^ide mec from mine intended enterprife, to 
 reade, and pcrfwade mce to give way to a more fit 
 Readcr,but gave me alfo fuch comfort & content, 
 as that thereout, I ftraight way affected to impart it 
 
 A 3 unro 
 
 ■ m wmm-^m^9» 
 
I 
 
 unto you, to whom I fhall ever wifli as your Fo- 
 ftcr-brotherj all fatisfaclion in the things of beft 
 ufe, toward your profpcrity in this life, and glori- 
 ous eftate in the life to come j excufc I pray you the 
 forme it.commeth to you in^as iffuing from a mind 
 affe(3ed at that inftant, with the oider of a Temple- 
 reading 5 and therefore could receive no other im- 
 prefTion then of the fame kindjwhich neverthclcffe, 
 as it is 5 I doe not prefume to addreflc unto you 
 for your inftru(Sion , but for your incouragement 
 and incitation , that you ("knowing me to be heavy 
 and flow by nature, and little bettered by any art, 
 and yet to have by conftant and diligent hearing of 
 Godly fcrmons , and that onely at our appointed 
 I hourcs 3 and by addition of lome things (foiting 
 with the matter) collc<fled out of my readings, ga- 
 thered fuch ftore of Div ine notes , as that thereout, 
 I may prefent you with fuch a common place as 
 this^raight from thence confider , what excellent 
 things may be compafled by you , who as well for 
 your naturall endowments , as your liberall brin- 
 ging up , doe farre cxceedenot onely my felf e, but 
 many other every way afore me^ and thisalfo you" 
 may performe without theleaft prciudiceto your 
 prefcribed ftudies 5 for if your indcavours this way 
 be but accocnpanied withdelight , the one will be 
 a recreation, yea, a very apt hclpe to the other • For 
 what maximc of ilie common Law of this King- 
 dome can you cite, whereby our infinite, and thofe 
 moft variable points and qucftions are dccided^ihat 
 is not grounded , or originally derived from the 
 
 eternall 
 
 
eternal 1 Law of God , cither by direct precept, or 
 by confcquent implication: What I have done in 
 this my poor and fimplc labours isa part of my ne- 
 gotiation with that one Tallcnt I have received 
 trom the Lord, which I am defirous to put to the 
 utteimoft profite. And although perhaps for my 
 felfc to bee fecnc in the prefle in a matter of this 
 kinde, will be to fome as great a wonder as Saula- 
 mong the Prophets , yet had I rather by doing of 
 fome good this way, lay open my infirmityes to 
 thecenlureofmen, then withtii idlefervant to 
 hide my Tallent in the earth. Accept therefore I 
 /pray you this my prefcnt, with that kinde aifedion 
 I doe intend it , and then I hope it (hall cither 
 profit you in the reading-, as it hath done 
 mec in the compiling,or at leaft,ftirre 
 you uptocorreft and amend it 
 by your owne endeavours, 
 for your better ufe and 
 comfort : And fo 
 wiihing to you 
 as to my felf, 
 I reft ever 
 at your 
 Ser- 
 vice. 
 
 
 George Strodi. 
 
 I 
 
 t^' 
 
?fe'^fe^'fe?'fec'':5t-3?'5^c^fee5fee:fe?:55i'>"t^p'5t'c''5fc) 
 
 
 The eight Divifions- 
 
 J 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 T^i cert aim ie of Death. 
 The meditation on Death, 
 The f reparation for Death. 
 The right behaviour in Death. 
 The comfort at ourotvne Death. 
 The comfort againfl theD eath of friends . 
 The cafes wherein it is unlavjf nil ^ and \v herein 
 lawfuUto defire Death. 26 3 
 
 Thegloriof^' cjl ate of Gods children after Death, 
 
 31^ 
 
 ]^age I 
 
 63 
 
 91 
 
 ISO 
 
 242 
 
 
 K^hAAMta 
 
[ATOMY OF 
 
 MORTALITY. 
 
 H E Statute which I haiie chofcnto 
 readevpoii, wanteth neither time to 
 fettle, authority to bind, nor notice to 
 auoid excufe. For in time it preccdeth 
 all time ; for it was, and is from all e- 
 tcrnitie; in authority of the Law-ma- 
 j kcr it exceedeth all that euer were, for 
 all the three Eftates in that Parliament 
 were, now are, and euer (hall be infi- 
 nite in power, glory, wifedome, forefight,mercy and lulHce, 
 and hath beene proclaimed to the World by many meanes; 
 firft in Paradile,then by the Prophets, and laftly by this holy 
 Author to the Hcbrcw^es,where it is thus \vnttcn,Help.9,26, 
 
 The Statvte. 
 
 It is apppoi/Jted ttnto men that they flj all once die, and a^fter- 
 ward commeth the Indtremcnt, 
 
 MY reading vpon this Statute may for the better appre- 
 henfion of the Law-makers meaning, be aptly put into 
 thefe eight Divifivns followingiv/;?:,. 
 
 B 
 
 1. 
 
 Th 
 
 ')e 
 
 ■ ii > n* 
 
1 - 
 
 The certainty of death. Diyision i. 
 
 1 . The ccrtaintie of deaths 
 
 2. The meditciHon on death, 
 5. The preparation for death, 
 
 4. Theriffht bthavionr in death. 
 
 5 . The comfort at anr owne death, 
 
 6. The CQTnfort a^atnfi death of friends, 
 J, The cafes yvherein it is unlawfully andirheycin I aw fall to 
 
 defire death , 
 8. The ^loriom e^att of the children of God after death, 
 
 THE FIRST DIVISION, OF THE 
 
 (jrtamue tif death. 
 
 THis firft Divifion containing the ccrtaintie of death , is 
 properlv fubdiuided into three parts -.The firft is into the 
 death (which is naturall) of the bodie ; the fecond is the fpi- 
 rituall death of the foule in finne : and the third is the eternall 
 death of body and foule in hell. 
 
 To thefe three deaths are oppofed three liues , the life of 
 Nature,of Grace,and of Glory. 
 
 Naturall or bodily death, which is called the firft/becaufe 
 in rcfped of time, it gocth before the third in our vnder- 
 ftanding) is a diffolurion or feparation of the foule ^rom the 
 body for a tiine,namely vntill the refurre(flion. 
 
 The fpirituall death which is termed the fecond, is a pcrpe- 
 tuall feparation of the foule principally, but confequcntly of 
 body and foule from God ; ofwhich,Sinne is the mother, the 
 Diucll is the father, and Damnation is the daughter ; and this 
 is when men die not to finne, but in finne. 
 . Eternall death is the hire and wages of the fecond, and this 
 cucr followcs the reprobate after the firil. 
 
 Both thcic latter arc a feparation of the whole man, bodie 
 and foule from the fcllowfhip of God:The firfl is an entrance 
 to death, the fecondand third arc the accompUll^mcat of iu 
 The firft is temporary, the fecond and third are fpirituall and 
 eternall. The firfl is of the body onely, the fecond and third 
 are ofboth body and foule. The firft is common to all men, 
 / the 
 
Division i 
 
 The cert .iint^ ofcldath. 
 
 the Iccoiid aPid third are proper oncly to the Reprobates. Eur 
 touching ihe iiaturall and bodily death, which is the proper 
 rubjcctotthisDivifion, it is (as was laid before) thclepara- 
 tioa of the loulc from the body, with the dillclution oi the 
 body iinrill the refurreclioii , as a puiulli men t ord-iined of 
 God , and iinpofcd on man for fume, though to the god- 
 ly the narure of it is changed. "For when God had letled 
 tyfdum in Paradil'e, a place of pleaiure, giving Him fuch liber- 
 ty ,as thefe \V;*rds import, Thoti (hdt eatefieely of everie tree 
 of the garden : yet leil he fhould prefumptuoufly cquall him- 
 Jeife with his Creatour, hec have him this bridle to champe 
 oriyBm oftjje tree ofk^oivledcre of aood and eviUtboH f^alt not 
 eat e, for in that day thou eat eft thereof, thou pj alt die the death. 
 9^dam had foonc forgotten this faying, (Thonfjalt die) and 
 barkened unto that lying fpeech of the ^tx^twt^efhallnot d^e. 
 The man gave care to f he woman, the woman to the Serpent, 
 they eate ofthe forbidden tree; fo the blind led the blind, and 
 both tell into the ditch. Buc now when Father ^dam hath 
 tailed of that forbidden fruit, Ohow was he bewirchedr' Hee 
 was once m the (late of grace but now of difgrace, hee was 
 once the child ofGod,but now in dangcr(for ought he know- 
 cth)to be the (lave ofthe Serpent. God did o ice care altoge- 
 ther for him,buL now he mulib care 3: (Lift for himfelfedie was 
 warme without apparel,naked without rhame,fatis(ied with- 
 out labour or paine,his meat was put into his mouthjbut now 
 it is come out of his noftril5,and is loathfomc unto him. And 
 now he mud be pinched wich colde,and fcorched with heate, 
 he muft travell hard, and m the fweat of his browes mud eate 
 his bread. VVh le hee kept himfelfe within his compafle hee 
 was a happy man,(for which he was to thank God) and now 
 being \\\ miferie, hee is accurfed and unhappy, for which he 
 may thanke himfelfe. A lamentable f-all, a pittifull cafe, the 
 wrath of God ovcrrunneth the whole world, as a gangrene 
 through all Adams pof|-erity,for his diibbedicnce: his treafon 
 hath attainted all his children, his whole bloud is corruptvd, 
 his fall redoundcth to all of us that came of him. Ala^ then 
 how fhall wc doe/* iXd.un is duft,hatcd of God, and ashamed 
 
 B 2 of 
 
 Gen. 11^,17. 
 
 Mattli.iy, 14, 
 
 Gca. U.40* 
 Gen, 3.19, 
 
 ^ 
 
 mmm 
 
^m^ 
 
 The cert ai /It J of death. D i v r s i o n i . 
 
 
 of himfelt-e, he is accurfed, he is ficke with finnc, he is dead, 
 twice dead, labjcil to mortalitie, and lub/ed: to eternall dam- 
 nation j his children be in the lame cale. Woe therefore be 
 unto us, we are fo beniimmed with our finnes, thatWefeele 
 not the IHng of death fixed therein, the impoftumc offinneli- 
 eth hidden iw our hearts, lo pleafingly to our carnall Icnie, as 
 that we thinke our f elves whole and found,as if we prefumed 
 we fhouid never ^iq. The incredulous and rebellious broode 
 
 I o^dy^damWiW not acknowledge their corruption andmorta- 
 lityjfuch and fo great is their ielfe-lovc and pride of heart. 
 
 (ty^damxhc Father of all Nations was once a free-man, a 
 blefTed man,the chi^de of God; themcrcie of God imbraced 
 him on every fide. In the earth there were bledings for him 
 ingraveuj as it were » in the hearbs, flowers and fruites;yea in 
 the heavens and in the waters, he faw innumerable tokens of 
 Gods love towards him : But alas,wretch that he was, when 
 he was in honor he forgot himfelf,he denied God his lervice, 
 yea he obeyed his Enemy , and therefore became accurled, 
 and debai red ofall his former bledings. He became a bond- 
 man, a curfed creature,the fervant of finnc and Satan, a(]-amed 
 ofhis naked [ie{re,and trembled at Gods voice. So that death 
 and the grave have obtained the vidlory ; for tXdam and his 
 wife are become a curled couple; yea,not onely they, but all 
 their poflerity ; they be the roote,we be the branches. If the 
 loote be bitter, the branches muft be fo alfo:they be the foun- 
 taine, wee be the Iprings ; if the fountaine be filthy, lo muft 
 the fprings be. Sinne and corruption be the riches that wee 
 bequeath to our children ; rebellion is the inheritance that we 
 have purchafed for them ; death is the wages that w^ee have 
 procured unto them : luch as the father is, fuch be the chil- 
 dren. For wee are all of the fame nature, and have eaten the 
 fame fowre grapc.The fathers have eaten fowre graces, an i the 
 childrens teeth are fet on edj^e. By 9ne man (tnne entred into the 
 wor/d.ard death bj fmne.andfo death went over all mcn,tn whom 
 all men have finned. In finning with e^^^w, we muft all die 
 with Adam : and this is the onely difference betwixt him and 
 us, that hee did it before us, and for us. For if any of us had 
 
 / beene 
 
/Division i . The ccrutnty of Deuh 
 
 \ becnein Adtmi (lead, we ha.idoiie tha; which Ad^m did, if 
 not morCjto procure death. And we receiving from AdAm 
 the infe(5lio!i of our ficlli, we received fiom him alio the cor- 
 ruption of our fleili. And this is the chicfcft and moft prin- 
 cipal caufe why all mud d.c. As the goodnefle of God ha:h 
 lent vslitc, io our ovvne dc(crts haue wrouglit our deuth. 
 
 It is an heauv but a true fciirence fpoken tocuer\' man, 7 hon 
 mi^ft dte: verified not in oiK, m tew, in many, but in all ; and 
 vniuerfal is this hiyin^ in relped oFthc elementary crearuie.^ . 
 Aiimufi ate, A lliort claufe of a large extenr,con:aining in it 
 the eftate of all morrall creatures whatfoeuer. i\ s the re are 
 certaine common Principles which do run through all Art% 
 fbthisisagenerall rule that conccrnes eucry man, AH mtji 
 dte. The truth thereof is daily to be (cenc, and all ofv; here- 
 after fhall prouc(die Lord knowcth how foone) by his ownc 
 experience. 
 
 Therefore it it faid in the lecond bookc o^EfdrM. O La -d 
 "who heareft rnle^ tho -^ fp^ksft 4t the he^tnnmg when thoH dtddefl 
 ^Uut the e4rtb (^a^-id (hat t hy fclfe ^nlor.e) a*}d command /? the peo- 
 pl'^andgntifft a hody vn(9 Adam vftthout fonle , which wm the 
 rvorj^nnjljtp of thine handt, rtnd didft Lna'b tn ts htm the hreath 
 of Itfe^and he wad made Itn'tng before thee, and thof* Uddefi him m 
 to Pair idife^vehich thfrtght h4*td had plavte^^ i^ff fore the earth 
 cume forward, an i vnto htm thou guHefl commAidtmtnt to Iqhc 
 thy way ^vphich he tr^ns^rfjfcdj andimmfdhtteij tho ft .-^pui^ttflfl 
 dedth to him 4»d his gensrntion ; of whom cnme N.Vion(^ Trtbti , 
 <^ Kindreds oHt of number, Kn6. in another place of that booke 
 it isfaid,^^«'^*« Adam trAMfotefJedmy SiattrtfJ^ then VV*» de- 
 creed that novf is done. Then xeire theentrnnces cf this vootUmade 
 narrcw.full offerrovf and trauell , they are hut fcTv and eufll, fu// 
 of penis and very priinefHff, But as a man cannot fo well iudge 
 of a fumme, whai it lyes in the heane, as when it is told and 
 numbred out: lb if this vnited and contra led prcfentation of 
 mifcrics, be not fo palpable enough in your conceits, behold 
 to your farther fatisfadion I come to particulars. The whole 
 denominates the pans.And doubtleffe when we come to this 
 
 B 3 precife 
 
 7- 
 
 i>U^» 
 
 lUd.y.it,!!, 
 
TheccrUinty ofD€Atb. Division i 
 
 Iob.i4.l,x. 
 
 precife diftribuc!on,aad narrow fcrutinie , to the finglin'* out 
 of mi(eaes «& mortality, you will blefle your felues that there 
 are lb Fe \v BedUin houfes and yet fo inanyoutofcheirvvits, 
 that ca mot perceiue aad difcerne the fame. And therefore let 
 us rippe vp the whole condition aid ftate of mankindc ; ; and 
 then you lliall perceiue the frailties and mifcries thereof,{ince 
 the fall of our riill; Parents.And this principally confifteth vp- 
 on the words of: the holy man /o^, in the beginning of his 
 fourteenth Chapter , where he faith, M^n that is bjme of a 
 ir >W4Wj is ofihjrt ccf3:/»u/i»Cff, Mnd fnll fvitfene/^ He Jhootcth 
 foTtk AsaR)wer^4indiiCUfdowne^ he vaut(hethAlfo as a fhAdo"^ 
 anicintinneth not. To the end we might want nothing in the 
 dcfcription of humane calamities, it ieemeth hispurpoleand 
 drift was to begin with t'^e very matter it felfe, of the which 
 man was made. For he is called H^wd>4Hvwo,becaufehewas 
 made and crca:ed of the earth^neither was he made of the bed 
 of theearthjbut of the flimeCas the fcripture doth teflifie)be- 
 ing the mofl filthy and abied part of the earth ; amongft all 
 bodies the mofl vile clement, amongft all elements the earth 
 is the bafeft,amongn: al parts of the carth^none is more filthy 
 and abie(5l then the flime. 
 
 Wherefore man was made of that matter, then the which 
 nothing is more vile and bafe. And whei eas he faith that he 
 was borne of a woman, he hath in few words comprehended 
 many miferies of humane condition. For firfl of all our very 
 fafhioning and breeding in the wombe, is fo vnpure and vn- 
 cleane,that it is not for chaft eares to heare , but to be paflfed 
 ouer in (ilencc. 
 
 Furthermore,aft:er that man is cnce conceiucd^doth he not 
 endure great calamities in his mothers wombe,as it were in a 
 filthy and vnclean prifon, where every moment he is in pcrill 
 of his life' At the lafl he is borne naked, weake,igno rant, de- 
 ftitute of all help and counfelI,not able to goe, to fpcake , nor 
 to helpe himfelfc ; and all that he can doe is to cry and that 
 is 'o (et fort'i his miferies.For he is born to IaboMr,a baniflied 
 man from his country, in poITibilitie to live a few daycs, and 
 
 rhofc 
 
 
/Division i • The ceUAtnty ifDesth. 
 
 thofefiillofmilcrieandperill, devoid of all qmctncfle aad 
 
 reft. 
 
 Behold then the very beginning from whence maa hath 
 his firft origi:iail and breeding. 
 
 In the next place the (horc time comes to be confidcred, and 
 for that /*^lauh further, ih^t mdnu of jhort (o^t$nf4UMce^ and 
 herein you may behold iome other calamities oF mansbodie, 
 the building being /carce finilhed is ready to totter , and fure 
 ere long to fall. Man is icarce cntred into the world, when as 
 he was adinonifhed to remember his departure out of the 
 lame againe. A^J^^ (laith holy loh) betno ht^rnf of awvm.^n^ ts 
 ojjhQTt ( tnttHUHttcf ^& full of m^firtes .'EMCvy w^ord hath a great 
 emphafis. He is fnli of mtfcriet euen from the [ole of the faate to 
 the i-rownt of the baJ^there ifMofo/ittdfseffe/n ir^ but wounds 4nd 
 hrHifes^^dpktrifym^ (nes. Not only the body, but the mind 
 alio, fo long as it i% captived i^^ the prifon of the body ; Thus 
 no place is left emptic and free from miferies. Mans miferies 
 are many and great, there i% no member, no ^^nc^^ no one fa- 
 ailtie in man, lo long as he i% here vpon earth, which fufi-e- 
 reth not his hell ; nay all the elements, all living creatiirest all 
 the Diucls, yea the Angels, and God himfclfc doc alfo bend 
 and band themielues againlt man for finne. 
 
 To begin with the ience of feeling ; with how many kinds 
 of Feaucrs, Impoftumes, Vlcers,Sores,is the body aWidcd? 
 
 The volumes of Phyfickc are full of dileafes, and of the 6^1^- 
 coucry of the probable remedies for the fame, and yet for all 
 this, there aic daily new dileales, and new (yet butQoniec^u- 
 red remedies) found out for many of them; and Phyfitions 
 know not what to make of lome of them. In f'limcj time 
 Phyfitions had found out about three hundred difeafes, and 
 yet all were not then knowne. Andtuery age fa token of 
 Gods wrath for the new and monftrous finnes of men' biia- 
 gcth forth new and ftrange maladies and difcafes j which oui' 
 forefathers neucr knew. For remedies of fome of which, 
 the Phyf.tions had need to goe to fchoole againe to learne; 
 All which doe lyc lurking and lingring for our life. And a- j 
 
 B 4 mongft* 
 
 Efay i 6 
 
8 
 
 iSam.j.iN 
 
 Gca.6 f. 
 
 Thiccrtdmy of VCAth, Division i • 
 
 mongft the remedies themfelues, it were to be wiilied, that 
 there were one to be found, that were no more vehement to 
 vexe the ficke, then the dileaie it idle. Long fading and ex- 
 trcame hunger is a bitter medicine, the incilion oF wounds 
 and lores, the cutting off oFmembers, the fearing of thellelli 
 and (ineweSjthe pulling out of teeth,are remedies for dilcafes 
 and gricfes, but yet llich^as many had rather chufe to die then 
 to vie them. * 
 
 Fu' thermore,immoderate heat,excecdin^ cold, one while 
 too much droughc, another while too much moin:ure,d3e of- 
 fend and hurt the very fenfe of feeling. The lenfe of tailing 
 is moil: of all troubled with hunger and thirft, & many times 
 medicines and meatcs that are bitter,ni:u*pe,falt and vnfauou- 
 rie doe diftcmper it. The fence of fmeiling is compelled to en- 
 dure many times all manner of ilinckes and noylome fmells, 
 ill vapours and fogges. As touching the (cnco. of hearing, 
 what ill tidings to make euen the eares to tingle, how manv 
 cuifcd fpeecheSjblaiphem^jsoadies & iniuriesdoth itheare, 
 which like Hiarpe (words doe pierce the heart? Touching the 
 fence of feerng. how many things doth it behold, which it 
 w^ouldnot, and no: lee, wh-'ch ir defireth. As fbi- thoughts, 
 how many horrible and fearef ill things doth it imagine and I 
 filine.T he Lordk»9Weth thhar^sofm nthjt they A^^ehi^t Vrt-^ie^ 
 And fo it is recorded, that Godf^ro tha' iutry imagtn4tionof the 
 vh9U^hts of m ifif heart rv-ts onelj ewil ccn^i-Uct'iy. 
 
 What fliall we fay ot the vnderdandi:ig, to ^vhat an innu- 
 merable fort ©f errors it is lubied ; ^^-c c:ih v^derfiaid lots cr^ 
 ror.l So as itfeemcth, to belike to ali-tlc child, to whom a 
 ver/ intricate and hard knotis dcliucred to bee dilTolved, 
 and he endcauvourcth to doe what he canvntoit and when 
 the knot bcginneth in one p.irt to be opened, hce fhewcth ir, 
 and I ciovceth and Teeth not that he knot in the other part is 
 more faft 'luir. So in the like manner God hath made this ge- 
 ne* altie of all things, and hath \(it the fame before mans mind 
 to be confldered and faith, Sfck^ And[e<^rch o^t the rf^fovsand 
 cnujes of all tfje/e tkhgstfthoti (,A»fi : when axindeed the truth 
 
 of 
 
 I 
 
 * «W. I 
 
 "•"•Wr* 
 
 'ymmm^i'mmm 
 
 w^*r* 
 
Io!i 7 4. 
 
 ! 
 
 Division!. T/^tf (CrtAmty ofVcath, 
 
 of the thing is more fccret and profound, then tlie vndcrdan- 
 din<^ ot inaTi, being placed in diis prifoii oF the body , can 
 reach and dine into. Neither is the man of nicaneil capacity, 
 and leaft vndcrilaiiding, Free from miierie^ . 
 
 V Veare iike vnto iickc men , which turnioile and toiVe 
 fromone fide of the bed vnto the other , and yet neucr hnde 
 reft, till we come to onr eternallrelt, of which aUo thelin- 
 full luih of the flelh feeme to depiiue vs. 
 
 As touching the \vii,it is vnaole (till it be changed by gracej 
 to moucic leife toward God and to will any good thing plca- 
 fii'g vnto him. To will euill things ii of nature , Dut to will ; 
 well ii of grace, our will being free m rclpeil of finf-uil ajl , 
 ' but bound in refped: of good workei , ^.. cV.'wit be ftt free by ; iob.8,.(?. 
 Chrifl* If he therefore fhall make you frwnjj^ou (lull be free ! 
 indeed ; Forrvtihyut w^,laithour Sauiour Chrift, jce cmn doe ' loh I5.^ 
 nothing, X 
 
 As for the mcmorie, To^r remfvohr^fices (fiith hb) are itk^ lob 15 ix. 
 vn^Q apes ; memory aiough for euill,but not for good, to ist 
 God^tfpo r^,')w>/3^, hi) word and benefits, (whereof follow- 
 eth chfobcdicncejUeglecl: of God . worlliip, and wicked con- 
 .rcmptoi God) i> a fruite, and confequent of fuch forget- 
 flilncfle. ^»^^ tict chtidren^f Ijrael did cui/l m tke fight of the 
 j Lord^atd format the Lerdih'ir GodMjpeoplt haae for£9tte'*t me 
 (faith the Lord) ^^iet ffuhom nHmherJYlwx m^^^xioi^Ql God, 
 the wicked wholly jthe godly in part. 
 
 Touching the earth, which i* the mother of vi. all, how 
 many doth fhe fwallow vp; with her downefiU , gulfes and 
 ^rmc^ There are thret rAm//^ faith the VVilcman) ibaiArene- 
 uer JAtu fied^yea f^nrc j^y it 1/ not enough ^ Thegra: e ii>.dthe ^Ar^ 
 renvotvihejthe idrtb that i£ net filled w$ih Water, andih^fi^e that 
 faith it is not er.ongh, 
 
 ! And what doe the StasfHow many do they dcuoinc?- they j Exod. ! >. 2 ? 
 haucfo many Rocke),fo many Flats and Sand , lo many Ca- i -'^^ ^^ ^;*_^^ 
 ribdev.lo many. Readier and perillou p'ac^- that it u a moft 
 hard thing of all other to efcape the danger of fliiprack.T ^rii*/ 
 (iaith the A^pHk)! jptpredjktptfrncks^a ntght & /$ aaj J hAdc 
 
 htene 
 
 iicb.i.I. 
 
 Ici-.:.3i. 
 
 Pro. JO. X J, 16. 
 
 1 - cr,v«.if> 
 
 7 
 
10 
 
 
 I Jam, 10, J, 
 
 Pfal.ip.^/« 
 
 Thecert4i»tjtfDetth. DivistoK i. 
 
 ^;« «« f Hrr dtftb^in perils #/ »'4r<fr/, w^^r#// iw i^^/^.^, ^nd thev 
 which are mod fafe in the ihip, hauc but the rhickncffc of a 
 plaiicke bctwcene them and death. AyjAcharfis the Scythian 
 Ipcaking ofthofe that failed by (ea, and hearing that a (liippe 
 was but tbure fingers thickc, Then are there (fairh he) but 
 foure fingers bctweene thena and death. 
 
 And at another rime he being demanded, who were more 
 in number the liuing or the dead, tellmcrtrfl (quoth hcc)a- 
 mong whether ofthem you reckon :hem that trauell by fea. 
 His meaning was that ho wfoeuer they Icem to Ii'je,to moue, 
 andtohauea being, yet they migh: with goodcongruity be 
 accounted euen for dead. For nothing is lo full of cafualties 
 as the fea, and chcain the turning of a hand. They (faith the 
 Walmift) that ^r iiioT»ns to the Je4 mjhips^ thst ist hufintjle tn 
 grt4t wattrs. The f flee the workes of (he L§rd , Mndhis wenders 
 iH the deepe. For hee commAndsth und raifeth thefiormj wtndes^ 
 which lift vf the 9?4vej theref^Thtj monnt vp to the heauen^ they 
 go down again to the depth f ^tije ir fiule is mdtedhegamfe of trouble. 
 The J reele to And fro^MdJi agger Itke a drnnl^n m4*$ ^ 4nd 4re at 
 their ^its end. So as cuery one of thefe that paffcth to the fta, 
 may fay as D4'^.$d iiid to fonathan concerning SmJ , Then u 
 hut a ficp betweene me and death. 
 
 That fame cleerc brightnefle which we call the Sun,which 
 i% a Captaine gcncrali,rather to all liuing things, (*i»ir^ fs m 4 
 Bridegrome commtngont of hisch4myer^ &retojcetb 4i 4flfong 
 man to run 4 rac, Hu going forth is from the end of the heatten, 
 4nd hie circtftt vnto the ends of it , and there is nothing htd from 
 the he4te thereof) doth iomttimc fofcorch with hisbcames, 
 that all things arc parched and burnt vp with the heat therof; 
 and at another time he taktth his courfe fo farrc from v$,that 
 all things dye with cold. 
 
 And what fhall wc lay of the ayrc ? Is it aot many times 
 corruptcd,and doth it not ingcnder and gacher clouds, thickc 
 mifts,pcttilent fickneflls and diicafes, the forerunners orra 
 thcr the inftruments of death ? 
 
 As for bruit beads , they yccld no rcuercnccco man their 
 
 Prince. 
 
t) IV I » X o w I. The WUintj $fDedtb. 
 
 Prince. And not ondv the Lyons, Scares, Tygcrs, Dragons, 
 
 and other great wilde beads, butthc very i^lyes alio, Ciuats, 
 Snakes,Adders,and others of the (mailed ibrt of liuiiig crea- 
 tures ^Qt. woiiderfiilly vex: , dllquict and annoy raaa, cucn co 
 dea:h,as appeareth by the ten plagues of Egypt. 
 
 And wha: mcaneth fo much armour, as Pikes,Bowes,Bills, 
 Swords and Gunnes, with divers other inftruments of mans 
 malice.^ Doo not thefe delboy and confume many times in 3^^ 
 great meallue as doc fickneO'es and dilcales? Hiiiones report 
 tiiat by iniiHs C^f4r (who is laid to haue bcenc a Luoii curte- 
 ousand gentle Emperor ; there were flainein ieucrall battels 
 eleuen hundred thouiand men ; And if a man of milde and 
 meek ipirit did this, what (Lai we cxpeil at the hands of molt 
 cruell mznyH^hoft mcrct:- (laith the Wileman j 4^c cr tell, 
 
 Netherlands nor Teas, nor delert places, nor the woods 
 (for m that battaile in the wood of Ephiaim, where Alffobn 
 was (lai ),it isfaid,That the wood devimed more p opUtbAtdij^ 
 then the /word) nor private houfes, nor open ftreets arefafe 
 from AmbufhmsntSjConfpiracieSjthc^ueSjpyratcsand (laugh- 
 tererr. Arc there not vexations inaumerable,perfecutions m- 
 finite,fpoyling of iields/acking of Townes, preying on mens 
 goods, firing of houles, impriibdments, captiuicies, gally- 
 flaueries, many and infinite torments infbrced, be(ides death 
 it felfc. which men doe daily fuffer at the hands of cruell men^ 
 And this is that ciuil and fociable creature which is called hu- 
 mane, which is borne without clawes or homes in token of 
 peace and loue, which he ought to embrace. 
 
 Alfo friends, and maintaincrs of peace and lulllce , arc nc- 
 ccffary inftruments of thedeathof man.Oman the very ftore- 
 houlc of calamities & yet thoucanft not be humble to thinkc 
 on chcfc things.Ncither hauc we only thofe forefaid corpc- 
 rail cnemiesjwhich we may fee and (liun, if we cannot make 
 1 cur part good enough with them, but (which is more peril- 
 lous j we hauc alfo ghoftly enemies which fee vs, and we lee 
 not them. For the Diuels which are moft crafty moll cruell, 
 mightic, and innumerable, praAife nothing elfe but our de- 
 I ^._^,^,^,_ .^ ftrudion. 
 
 IT 
 
 Prov. lo-it.. 
 
 Z.Sam. i8,8. 
 
 I 
 
 P M- ».«> '» ^ 
 
 ■^T^^T^P^T' 
 
ll 
 
 iPct 5^- 
 
 G:n. 19. 1. 
 
 2 King !9 3? 
 
 Tof^ tj. 
 
 Ad.ii.13. 
 
 Iol> t5.i4- 
 
 7 A^ certii/stj of Vfgth, Division 
 
 r. 
 
 Pral.77,7>8,5J> 
 
 Lam. J II. 
 
 Itrufiion. /^.•yu^.'r,^ift//^'//i«r, faith the ApofHe) tKc^uf-i^our 
 ^A'tcrltiry the dimll m Aroajtng Ljon ffdikeih ahont Icek^no tvbom 
 he vtAj d voare. 
 
 The h^ly Angels doe alfo many times fig'ic agaiiift {infiill 
 mcnjroi who burnt Sodom and Gomorrah, with the inhabi- 
 tan;sthcrcoF,\v'ith fire and brimItone?The /^«^W).Who flew 
 an hfmiirtd jourej!:ore an(i jitie tb:nfjivdtn the hoafl of Senache- 
 rib ? The AngeU. Who aFflidcd the E^jptU^f^ with ali thofe 
 ten p'ngues mentioned in the booke of Exodtu} The »y^rjgeis^ 
 Whoa.Tiited /Y^<^ the Lords Captaine, againli: the Cananites 
 and Jebii(ites ? The Angdt.\W\\o fmote Herod ^xh^t he was ea- 
 ten vp with "formes, hccanfe he gA»e r,ot God the glory ? The 
 Angeb;and not only the An^iels, bar God himfelfe more im- 
 mediately ; which caiiied that holy man lob to fay, H'hj doe ft 
 th^u hide Awa} thy jace^ r.nd takfji ms for thy enevty. 
 
 .What nicanerh thisjO Lord God? Thou which waft wont 
 to be my Farher and keeper, haft now bidden battell againft 
 me. And this caufed alf o the Prophet DauU to fay , ^tli the 
 Lord cx^ vs 'jffor et^er^a^id will he hefattoHrAhie no morei Is hu 
 mercy cleane gone from ^^f, doth his promtfe foiile for enermoref 
 Haih God forgotten to BigraciotUj ha^h be in anger pjut vp his 
 tender mefctesiAtid I faid,this is mine infirmity. And Co forth, 
 it is an infirmitie and weaknellc indeed for the child of God 
 to haue any fuch thoughts and palTions. 
 
 Moreouer and befides all thefe things, there is yet an inter- 
 nail warre,which man hath with his owne bowels continu- 
 ally : for what man is he,which fecleth not the ftriuiugs,ftrug- 
 lines, and contentions of his owne affcdion, will, (enfe, and 
 reaYon.'' Infomuch that man himfel^e doth afflicfl himfelfcjand 
 vnderftandech it not. Yea he is a greater enemy to himfelfe, 
 t then a ly other can be. For who doth greater harme to thee 
 then thou doft to thy fclfe f Who more then thy fclfe Ictteth 
 thee, and turneth thee away from thy fciicitic.^ Who then 
 Teeth not that man is (et in the very center of the Sphcrcs,thar 
 milcrics may fall vpon him from euery part; and as the white 
 in a butt, that the arrowes and darts of all miferics and kinds 
 
 
Division i , The certaint) ofddxth. 1 3 
 
 of death may be direflcd unto him ^ VValkeft thou m the 
 
 ilreetes.''thc tiles above thy head threaten thy dovvnfall:In the 
 
 helds-jthe ayre is ready to convey iiifedion i/ito thy iiings,the 
 
 earth grones under thee, as loath to bcare To unproHtablc a 
 
 burthen. At lait comes death with his napkin on his (leevc, 'Rom.g.ii^ij. 
 
 and his trcncher-knifc m his hand, and with his voider takes j 
 
 all away. j 
 
 But let us fee what folio we th./^^ telleth thee,that man [ho 0^ 
 teth forth its a flower, and 14 cut ^£'W';?d';whcrby he teache:h that 
 mans life \s fraile and tranfitory. A flower verily h a comely 
 and a beautiflill thing ; and yet for all that it is nothing, be- 
 caufc there is nothing found more fading and vaniiliing. Even 
 fo man during the time of his fading and flourifhing youth, 
 feemcth to be of a w'ondcrftill comelinefle; but this beauty is 
 of fmall price, bccaule it '\s more brittle than the graffe, feeing 
 that man carrieth alwayes the caufe of his ownc death m his 
 ueincs and bcwells.For mans fading away is fuch, and fo fud- 
 den oftentimes,that there can be no reafon given of his death; 
 for many have gone to bedde well in the evening, that Iw the 
 morning are found dead in their beds; a'nd many that have bin 
 well at their uprifingjiave beene dead before the evening^and 
 many very fuddenly have dropped downe in the ftreets and 
 high-wayes,as they have walked about their affaires: And this 
 is no wondcr,if we confider well the fabflance of mans body, 
 which being a building compacl of flhny clay, is eafily cver- 
 throw^nc with a fmall thing. 
 
 And how comes it to paife (I pray you) that clockes are fo 
 eafily flopped from their courle? Isic not becaufe they are 
 made with fo many wheeles, that if one be flayed, all the rcfl 
 be letted. Vl\\\\s befall clockes that have whee'es of iron and 
 flecle, how much more cafily may it come to paiTe in the hu- 
 mane clocke of mans body, the wlictles and engines whereof 
 arenotofiron, ntkhctp^rtef iron, and part of day, like the 
 feete of 7{^l>fichadnez,^fiars Image, but all of chy. And ^eho/de 
 AS the clay is in the Potters hand, fo are ye in mine handfi hoafe 
 of Jfrael, faith the Lord by his Prophers. 
 
 Therefore let us not wonder at the frailty of mans body, 
 
 tut 1 
 
 \ . ■ 
 
 Dan. 1,13. 
 Icr.18/, 
 
14 
 
 The certaifiiy ofD Cdth, Division i 
 
 I but at the fooliOinefle of mans minde, who upon fo fraile a 
 foundation is wont to build and ere<{^ fiich loftie towers. 
 
 Furthermorc^thcre is another mifery which is fignified un- 
 to us by the comparifon of a fiowcijas namely the deceitfulnes 
 of mans life; the which indeede is thegreateft mifery* For as 
 faincd vertue is double iniquity, fo counterfeit happincfTc is a 
 twofold miferic and calamitie.lf this prcfent life would Hicw 
 it felfe to be fuch as it is indeed, the milery thereof fhould not 
 greatly hurt us; but as it is, it doth greatly damnifie us,bccau(e 
 it is falfe and deceitfoll, and being toule, it maketb a very faire 
 and glorious fhew ; being ever mutable, it will (ecme to be 
 ftable and conftant ; being moil Oiort, it beareth us in hand 
 that it is.continuall; that io men(being deceivcd)may belccve 
 that they fiiall have time to fulfill all their lufts, and yet time 
 andfpace enough to repent. Holy lob concludeth this iow- 
 tence thus, Hf vAnifheth alfo as afl^a^ow, and never continufth 
 at one flay, To make this more plaine, behold and confider the 
 feverallages ofman,andthou ihalt evidently perceive the mi- 
 Icrable alterations of humane life. Childhood is weake,as well 
 in minde as in body ; flourifhing youth is weake in miide, 
 but ftrong in body ; ripe and manly age ftrong both in minde 
 and bodie;old age ftrong in minde, and weake in body; croo- 
 ked old doting age, is in this twice achildc, w^cakebothin 
 minde and body : therefore m^.n flieth Ai ap^adow, a>id never 
 continneth at onefiay. It is reported tliat the Cameiion chan- 
 geth himfelfe in one hourc into divers colors; and the fca cal- 
 led SMripta for the often changing is accounted famous : the 
 Moone hath like wife for every day a feverall tbrme and 
 fhape : But what Pretend was ever changed into fo many 
 formes as man altereth every houre/* 
 
 Eefidesthis.he is now wife,now fooli!l),now merry, now 
 f?d, now i\\ health,anon ficke^now ftro!ig,3non weake, now 
 rich,anon poorc,now he lovctb,anon he harcth, now lice ho» 
 peth, hy and by he fcaretli, one while hee laugheth, another 
 while he w.. cpeth, new he will, anon he will not ; yea many 
 times he knowcs not himfelfe what he would have ; The fca 
 cha' gcth not but when the windes turne contraiy unto it;, 
 
 but' 
 
\Dt 
 
 VI S ION I. 
 
 The certainty of cleat /j. 
 
 is 
 
 bur mans life (whadocver the weather and feufonsaie,eidicn 
 cahncor windy) is continually tioublcd with alterations and ! 
 llormes. Therefore ^<r'^«.W was not ahaid to i]\yy that her j 
 thought this life to bee little better tha:nhj life of hcii, were \ 
 it not f-br the liope to attaine and come to the kingdome of j 
 heaven. To conclude, the Moone, or any other thing that i« ■ 
 changeable, fheweth not fo many changes to us, as doc tlic 
 daily andmofl: fudden alterations of men : And yet for all this 
 they live as men in a frenzy, vvhich know not their owne mi- 
 feries; Yet if it were poiVible, they would make the place of 
 their exileand baniOimentjtheir countrie and inheriunce. But 
 m vaine they defire this, for death commeth ere they arc a- 
 ware, iLutting vp and finilliing the life it felfe. 
 
 So that the mileries incident to the feuerallai^es of man,are 
 from the firftcommingvp vpontheilage of this world, to 
 the lafh afl of going downe, in all parts of the life full ofvanl^ ■ Ealcfi.i 4, 
 ticandvexAttonofjptrtt. j 
 
 For the firft entrance is our infincie, when wee are in our \ 
 nurfes armcs; and doth not that begin with tearcs and feares ? \ 
 And is not al that time vnhappyMaving that we want reafon, 
 that is,the vfetherof to apprehend that vnhappincs. When I 
 wc come out of our nurfes armes,to goe in their hands, or to \ 
 go by our felucs^in our next age do wc not \veepc long vnder 
 the rodfallincrintothefubiedlion of a teacher? Amonirn: the' 
 ( ancient Romanes this \vas their maner and cuftome for their 
 I youth,They let their children fuck vntill tlicy were two yeres 
 oldjtill they were foure yecrcs old, they let them play,till lixe 
 they taught them to reade,till eight to wrire,til ten they learn 
 theGrammer. When a boy wa- once ten yeercs old,he was 
 fetfiraightway to fome good trade and occupation, orelfe 
 lent to the warres, which was a thing the Romans gloried in 
 moft, tobcgoodfouldiers. In all which ages they fuftained 
 i great miiericiJ, being all this time vnder Tutors and Gouer- 
 nours. 
 
 When we come out of the prifon of boyes and g^rles, and 
 arc fet at fome more liberty in a young mans life , are we not 
 toffcd; as vponafeaofvnquietncffe, failing bctwcene reafon 
 
 and 
 
 J ^ - 
 
 \ 
 
16 
 
 The certainty of Death. 
 
 Division i. 
 
 Icr.io^iS. 
 
 Icr.1,5. 
 
 and paflion.as between two contrary waters ficcroffe winds. 
 Then commeth perfefl age or mans age , and what haue we 
 here but blafts and ilormes of greater vnrcft then in any age 
 before i From one trauaile we pafle to another, neuer endin^^ 
 but changing our miseries. And when we come to old age.and 
 haue lined fo long that we are come to dotage : is there any 
 th ing in thefe ages exempt from miferie and travaiie^ that is 
 vnder the Sunne. 
 
 Surely our infirmities do then come vpon vs in multitudes , 
 yea To loade us with their weight and number,that they make 
 vs to bowe and goe double under them unto the earth. And 
 can there be any comfort in thele difeales (as I may call them) 
 and dayes of evil!, wherein doe meete and flocke together lo 
 many vultures of life,the weaknefTe of infancie, the lervitude 
 of childehood, the fickneffe of youth, the cares of mans age ? 
 All which come againe > and come all together , as many 
 ftormes upon one poore old ruinous houfe, that is fore fhaken 
 already, by death violently to overthrow it for ever. Here the 
 excefle and riot of youth is rccompenced with-goutes,pal{ies, 
 and (undry fearefull aches ; the watchings and cares of man- 
 hood are puniihed with lofTe of fightjof hearing,and offence, 
 except the fence of paine. 
 
 There is no part of man, which death in that age of y cares 
 doth not take, in hope to be aflured of him, as of a bad pay- 
 maftcr, which greatly feareth, and would gladly put off his 
 dayes of payment. And therefore it bringcth him low in all 
 parts,that he may have power in none to avoid his Creditor, * 
 and end f o neere. 
 
 And touching the mifcries incident to the feverall ages of 
 man,the Prophet ler emte cvicth out, How uit that I came out 
 of the womb to fee lahotir (^forrow, that my daies Jhoptld be con^ 
 fumed wttb/hame? How much more caufe have wee miferviblc 
 creatures, to cry out of our calamities and miferiesAvho were 
 conceived and borne in finne, feeing the Prophet complained 
 fo much, being fandified in his mothers woinbe. 
 
 O vaine,miferablc and unhappy man, before wee finne,wee 
 are flrait faftened to finne,and before we can offend, wee are 
 fafl bound with offence. Confidcr, f 
 
Division i 
 
 The certainty of death. 
 
 I 
 
 17 
 
 Confidcr,0 man,from whence thou camc(l,blu[}i wliithcr 
 thou gocft, and Fcare where thou liuelt. We are begotten in 
 vncleanncrfe, brought Foorth with paines and thro wes, and 
 nouriHied in darknede. Wee begin our tragedie with naked- 
 neflc and weeping, wc continue wiih pame and vcxation,aud 
 cake our farewell with lorrowand milery.Our beginning {% 
 lamentable , our continuance wretched, and our departure 
 grieuous.Thc whole life of man is befet and aicountred with 
 three capital! enemies,Paine, Care, and Son ow^• Paine pinch- 
 etli vSjCare coniumcth vS5arKi Sorrow eudeth vs. There is 
 no age of man free from afflidion, calamity and miferie. And 
 ro begin againc with the miferi^s ot infancie ; biehold in his 
 binh, intolierable is his mothers pain jand infinite arc the in- 
 fants calamities, who commeth into the world crying and 
 wxeping, poore and naked ,, Vi/eaJsC and milcrablc, without 
 fpeech, with out knowledge or ftrpgth, no fooner is the babe 
 borne, but ftraighc is he bound hand and foote,ondcaft into 
 a cradle, as into a prifon _, prefiguring the fervitude hec is to 
 fu&r. 
 
 In hisxrhildhood he beginntth to warrc with the lackc of 
 reafon, and tp fighr againft hisownc folly.not knowing what 
 hee is, w^here hec is, whence nor for what he came into the 
 world. 
 
 Now muft he be kept under the fearc of the rod,and leamc 
 fome Liberall Science, or fomc Mechanicall Arte or Trsde, 
 whereby to raaintaine his fraile life hereafter, if heeconti-' 
 nueit« 
 
 Then commeth youth/afh, head-flrong, voluptuous, ven- 
 trous, foolilli, prodigall,pa[TIonate. In this age he commeth 
 into great dangers, fighting againft the defires of the fleni;a- 
 gainft fond affcdions, and vaine imaginations , which caufe 
 the minde to wauer,and to be inconftant,and to be carried a- 
 way with fundrie phantafies. In this age hee becommeth a 
 driiiikard, agameftet, aquarreller,aloofeliver, and often- 
 times to be caft into prifon, to be hanged, and to lofe all that 
 hee hath, and to be a great griefe vnto his parents, iu caufing 
 
 C . them 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 ) 
 
 Gen4i.38. 
 
IS 
 
 Pfal 25.7« 
 
 I Cof.7.33 
 
 Hofca 7.94 
 loci i.i. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 ,1 
 
 Zk^qmatnty ofdcAth. Di y i s ion l 
 
 them thereby to end rhcir dayes m forrow s in the fence and 
 feeling wherof^thc Prophet crieth unto G od, faying, /^rwf w- 
 ber not the finnes of my jontb. 
 
 Afterward^as he hath to encouter with manhood^to which 
 gge is incident, the charg of wife & children,the mamccnance 
 pf faniily and care of poltoity.H^ th^tU maHed({^Q\ih the A- 
 pp {\.W)cArtfh fpr the. things that are of the werld^hoiv he maj 
 pUafehpiwife. Sometimes he is bcfie-ged with a defire and 
 carding care and couetouftcflej ibmetime with fearetolofe 
 his goods., and other infitilce fech vanities and afflidi- 
 
 * U . ' i 
 
 iiA^ ^Jiili 
 
 \jt i ^ 
 
 i'.JM m^ii J J I* k<^ti. 
 
 .;j - 
 
 pns, ^ , 
 
 ThenUfttycommcth old age dealing on unperceiVei/e'/i 
 
 fray hair^s (faith the ProphetJ^rf here and there upon him ,yet 
 €knQipt(thftnot, In this age man receives many incurable 
 wound* , as baldnefTe, bleared ^^Sj, deafe eares , wrinkled 
 bro we$» fti'-iking breath, trembling h^wit^^ faint fpirits,icane 
 cheekjes>CQTrupti«n of ftomacke,with like auferies innume- 
 rable»:whichncuef leaueto wound the body, difquietthc 
 minde,and torment the confcience. And thus are weetoffed 
 all thfe; daies oFour life with griefe^compafed with cares,and 
 . overwhelmed with miferie^ and calamities. And therefore 
 ?lat(^ wel ohferved that a man is,Arb§rirtHtrfa,z tree turned 
 j upward, his haire of his head the root, the armes the bran- 
 .ches,and fo of the reft. 
 
 So that our.infancic is but a dreanie,our childhood but fol- 
 ly ,our. youth rnadncs,our manhood a combate,our age a fick- 
 nelTe^our life mifery , and our death forrow. How weake is 
 infancie, how ignorant is childhood, how light & inconftant 
 adolefcencie , bv>w inti-a.'lr.ible and confident be young men, 
 how grievous and irkefome is old age f^V hat is a young boy 
 bur. as a brlitc bcaft, Slaving the forme on?y & fhape of a man? 
 What is a flourishing yonker, but as an untamed hor(e,what 
 is an old man, but a receptacle of all maladies and difeafes? 
 And this age is a degree necrer to dcath,by common courfe, 
 then the former ages ; for thefe yecrestakcall pleafiires from 
 our life, wherein affli^ion folio weth affliction, tisthcchfidsi 
 
 returne ) 
 
D t V I < 1 N r . ^ *<^ certamtj ofdtixh . 
 
 I 
 
 19 
 
 retftrtit after the rainc^idc in thcfc (looping ycares every ftep ^ 
 is in death, and they niay lay with ^urKjlU^How long have I 
 to hnt ? when their houfcs arc turned iwXo rheir ptilans, and 
 they have no talk in chac they eatc o^ drmk^. And they ha- 
 ving thus ihc marks of age in theii ficc, and upo their heads, 
 yetf as they that would ltd bcyoung^hey condder not that 
 they draw neere to their graved hSve tokens upon them of 
 a blafted lifc,iii which age they can neither put oft'nor put on 
 
 their owne clcathts. The aged men whok Ipring is paft, 
 
 whofe fummer is Ipent, & are even arrived at the tall of the 
 leafc,whofe heads are dyed with Inowc water coulours,and 
 whofe fliippe begins to leake and grate upon the grauell of 
 their graves, yet how feare fully ai'e th<|y axnaled to hcarp the 
 lafl found of dcathes trumpet. -'*'!■: ■•'.^ 
 
 Young men(faith Sen€tA)\s^\^ death behind them^lu men 
 have death before themiand all men haue death not fir from 
 them. Experience plainely tcachcth, & all ages approvcthit 
 Gods plague threatneth, fic^nclTe calletli, and oldcagewxr- 
 ncthjcfcath iuddenly taketh,mid the earth finally deuourethi 
 
 Death moft commonly hath three harbengers, that make 
 way againft he come,f »^. Cafualtie^ Sickneflc,and Old age. 
 Cafualtie telleth me death \^ at my backe, Sicknes tellcth me 
 flicc '\% at my hceles,and Old-age telleth me (he is before my 
 fece. Sickneflc is reckoned by HngQ amongft the meifengcrs 
 of death,of which there arc x}[\xc^yC^fHs^lnfirTnitM^SetteBHs, 
 C^fms nnnciat mortem latent em y Infirmitxt apparetftem^ Sene^ 
 ^Ms fr^fentem, Cafualties flieW vs death larking for us,Sick- 
 nefl'e, appearing unto us, Old-age faith death is preftnt and 
 ready to fetch us. 
 
 The aged man holdeth his life as an Eeleby the raile. which 
 be would faine hold faft^ but cannot, becaufe it is fo flipperie 
 and flideth from him. 
 
 Many times death taketh for a gage one part or other of 
 our body ^as an arme^or eye,or legg^orhand^finger or toothy 
 or fome of our fences,or fuch like, for an advcnifement^thac 
 Tic wiU very Shortly fetch away the reft.lf any man be long a 
 
 C z dyin 
 
 'g 
 
 
 rtuMi 
 
\ 
 
 TA^'^erSdtnty ofdeaih. J^kyi s ion i 
 
 dying and paying Death debt,Narurc(likca righteous credi- 
 tor^chat will be paid at the jull dayXuech our an execution a- 
 gainft her debt:or,taking from one his (ighc,froai a:iother his 
 hearing,& bo;b fionj fome.andhc that tarriech longcft In the 
 world.lhecfoundreth, maimeth.and vttcrly dilableth in his 
 limbes.So that as man, in rcfpefl of himfelFc , is vaine and 
 n1irerable,foa!fo, is he much more in regard of the quaUrie 
 and condition of his life and calling. For there is no kinde of 
 life(mcaing vvherby Hfe is maintained)but it is mingled with 
 frailety and many grieuances. If thou line abroad(to wit, in 
 OiIices)there are ftrifs^if at home^thcre are cares^in the field, 
 labours, in the fca, feare, in iourneying, if it be void of ieo- 
 pard^,yct it is painfoll; and cediousJfthoaart married, then 
 canii thou not be without care?|if not maried^then is thy life 
 weaiifom: Haft thou childten ? then fhalt thou haue forrow. 
 Hadthoa none? then is thy life unpleafant. Thy youth is 
 wii^.^id foolifl)^ thy age weak and frailc^and infinite are the 
 c^iigersthat depend thereon. For one bcwaileth his loflcs, 
 another weepet h -for lack e of health j liberty and- necc{&ry li- 
 uing.The workman maymcth himfelfc witb-his owne tov>Ie, 
 while he carneftly plieth his bufines ;the idle perfon is pined 
 wifl^faminejtlie, gambler breaketh his limbes with gaming; 
 ; the adulterer cpnfumcth hirnfelft w^ith botchc:^ and leprofie; 
 the dicer fuddenly ftabbed with a dagger;, & the lludent con- 
 tinually wrung with the gont,befidcs infinite more miferies 
 incident to mans life, too long hecre to rehearfe.For there is 
 no calling-, ftate or degree exLinpt or free from vanity, mife- 
 ryj&.dcath.All are yaincallare vexed,all are tormented with 
 , worldly tempefts, all doe fuffer the doleful] blaft of miferie 
 and calamity. 
 
 To begin with the ftrongeft Champion^thc mightiefl: Mo- 
 narch, the greateft Emperour or Prince that ever Hucd on the 
 earth, and to come downc to the pooreft wretch and mcanefl: 
 miier in the worlJ,you fhall find that all of all forts,poore & 
 rich, mailer and fcruant, married and vnmiried, fubfed and 
 Prince:toconclude,thcbadand the good are tormented with. 
 
 temptations 
 
 ^ >^ • 
 
I VI $ ION I 
 
 1 ht ccrtaint'j cf death. 
 
 21 
 
 
 Luke 1^,19, 
 Prov,T4- 2o« 
 
 lames a. j« 
 Luke 16.3. 
 
 temprations, tolled with tempcfts , difcpictcd with aducr- 
 fitics^ and therefore arc moli hailc, moft nukTable, yea and 
 nothing but mjleric. 
 
 The poorc man he is gricucd with taminxund thiril, fiip- 
 prefled with lorro w a id heauinelTe, and opprelFcd with cold 
 and nakcdMcHc he is delbiled and contem icd , buffeted and 
 icorned, he hcth grovelling at the rich mans fcete,and dying 
 at their heeles,as they goe in the ltrccte,or at the gates, and 
 yet uniegardcdj he is ihunned of" his brethren, loathed of his 
 friends and hated of his neighbor. And(as the Apoftlc(aitli) 
 hec isfet under the rtch mxns jootfioole , io that none account 
 '\s madeofliim.Toaske forGodsfakeheisottcntimes allia- 
 med, and it he will not askc he is pined,and therefore mecre 
 nccellity conftraincth him to bcgge.Heacculeth God of un- 
 righteoufnefle and partiality, bccaufehee diuided not the 
 good softhe world equally. He blawieth his neighbour of 
 vnmevcifnlnefTe and cruelty, becaufc he relieveth not his nc- 
 ccITitie. He frettcth and fiameth, he murinureth, repineth, 
 and curfeth. Whereupon it was raily faid, CA^fyfonne leade 
 not a heqgars Itfc, for ottter it is to die thoi to be f^gej^ egging 
 is fvpeete tn the month of the pjanuleffe ^ hnt in his hell) there 
 fiMi bnrne a fire, hguin€,on the other llde, the rich man him- 
 felfe is overthrowne in his abundance, he is puffed up with 
 vain-glory, he puttcth his truft and confidence in his wealth 
 mid lubftauce, whereupon he braggeth and boafteth. They 
 trult in tlic.'r wealth, and boatl themselves in the multitude 
 ofthcir riches , he ( welleth with pride and difdaine. Their 
 heart is /if ted tip (^(zkh the Prophet) hecaufe of their riches ^ 
 The rich (faith the VVifeman) rnleth over the poare , find the 
 hoyr^wer isfervant to the lender . Yet labour in getting, feare 
 in pofTcfTing, and forrow in lofing dotli ever trouble and 
 <3i[quiet his mindc. (*yfnd fo (as faith the ApolUt) they th4t 
 tvilthe rich fftll into temptations afcdfkares and into manyfo^- 
 lip) and hurtfull luffs ^ ivhtch drotvne men in perdittan and 
 defiruHion. Fgr the love of money is the rootc of all evill ; 
 yifhich rrhile fome covettd after ^they have erred from the faith ^ 
 
 . C 3 and 
 
 Matth;io.i I. 
 Ecclcf:40 zS, 
 
 JO. 
 
 prai:4p.^, 
 
 Pro:2J,7 
 
 I 
 
 i; 
 
 , 
 
 I Tim; 69,10, 
 
22 
 
 Ecclcni2,i4 
 
 Dcut.iS.^o 
 Pral4p,ii 
 
 Frou,37ji4 
 
 I 
 
 The certainty of deaths 
 
 D 
 
 I VI S ION I 
 
 Afid pierced themfelvcs thorowwith many furr owes ^ 
 
 Hue there thy riclics and trcadircs which thou haftfcia-, 
 pcci together by all iniiiry and uniuft'meanes, fraudulent to' 
 thy f-ncnds, deceitfull to thy companions , iniurous co thy i 
 neighbours, violent to ftrangers, cruell ro the poore, impi- [ 
 ous to thy parents, behold Death approching, Death, I lay, 
 theConquerour of all fledi , the EmperouroFgraues , the 
 forerunner of judgement ; the gate of [jeauen or hell is rea- 
 dica: hand to arrell and bring thee vnto judgement for all 
 the(c things ; againft which , this thy wealth conno: de- 
 fend thee , nor pleade delay one minute of an houre with 
 Death. Oh how can it bee that wee can befb blinde and in- 
 confiderate, that euen feeing , nay feeling death with our 
 fingers, that wee muO: forlakc the world , wee are yet (b 
 plunged m the world, as if wee fliould line for eucr. 
 
 Wee build (lately houfes, which perchance {grangers rhall 
 inhabite , perchance our enemies. Wee p'ace the hope of 
 our name in our children , which to our great forrow Ihall 
 perhaps ^[(^ before vs. 
 
 A\\ the riches and aboundance in the world (hauing a 
 mans life for a flay and foundation ) can ceitainely no longer 
 endure, then the fame life abideth 5 nay , but riches, honors, 
 and fuch like, of which men heerc on earth haue a great re- 
 gard, doe many times forlakc a man , hee being yet aliue. 
 For riches (faith the wifcnian) ccrtainely make themfclvcs 
 winq^s^ they fly e away, oa an Eagle ^ towards hcauen ; for riches 
 are not for eucr, and at the moil they doe neuer continue 
 longer with him then to the grauc , which is but for a y^vy 
 f];ort time. For heape thou together fo much wealth as thou 
 ca')fl, rauin and deuoure other mens goods, fuckc the bloud 
 ofthc poor«, hide thy baggcs, lockc thy cheftcs. buric thy 
 wcahhvndcr ground, yet (halt thou carry nothing away; 
 naked wafl thou borne , and naked (halt thou Ibnd brforc 
 tlic ftarefull tribunal! feate of Chrift. . r\' 
 
 We reade that the great Soladine^ of Babylon, and Con- 
 queror of all >4/4_^confe(rcd(though to late^chat dying in the 
 
 Cittie, 
 
DiVl S ION I 
 
 Tfjs certMTitj ofdcAth, 
 
 I 
 
 23 
 
 Citie of Askaloa, hcc coniinandcd that his fliirt fl^ould be | 
 Cirried about the Cidc on a ipcarc, with tlus proclamaiion, 1 
 behold, the rrrcat /w«^ of ail the t^AJl u dcud, and of all his 
 great riches, this is all he carricth with hiin away. VMiich 
 itthis wretched nun had well co.ilidcrcd , hce would not ; 
 hauc bccne Inch an infatiable Hcllno of kingdomes.For what j 
 is gold or lilvcr i nothnig clfe but concovtcd caith , fub/cil ; 
 to inconllancy, gotten with paine , labour and toylc , kept 
 with great care , and loft not without intollerable Ibrrow; 
 which by hre,thecucs,(liip wrack, war,and fuch like mca'ies, 
 may be taken away. And riches are but run-awaycs , euer 
 polting from one to another , and oncly conftant in uncon- 
 ftanc)'. And fuppofe a ftrangcr to come into the Pallace of 
 lome great Pnncc , and there to behold ftatcly furniture, 
 cuppes of pure gold,chaines j'ewels^ and fuch like ; but the 
 next morning he is to depart , and is permitted to carry a- 
 way nothing witii him j would he (if he were wife) greatly 
 admire at thefe things: or fuppofe thou wert in the CiriCjOr 
 in the Campe, where thou maid buy at a low price many 
 rich preycs taken from the enemy ; but at the gate ftaidcth 
 a fouldier^who will notfuffcr thee to take away any of thefc 
 thingSjWouId a man (think you) giue one penny for all this. 
 I what is this world but an Inne, a common Citic, a Campe? 
 What is our life buta percgrination^awarfaref \Vhatisman 
 but a gueft, a traucllcr^a fouldier upon earth i and Death is 
 the Porrcr,he ftandeth at the gate, and ftayeth all the riches 
 which we haue gotten and icrapecJ together, lie willeth and 
 conftraineth vs to leaue all behind, and fcndeth us out as we 
 came into the world^ naked, poore, and beggarly, oncly 
 with our winding fheet about vs acthemoft. Next let us '• 
 defccnd to tlie condition of a Seruant or a bondman : Is he i 
 not loaden with labour , wearied with watchings , and j 
 wornc out with flauery, he is beaten with ftripcs, fpoyled I 
 of his fubftance.and burdened with forrow ; the mafters of- 
 j fence isthc Icruants paine, and the feruants fault is the ma- 
 tters prey. If he haue wcalth,he muft fpend it at his mafters 
 
 I 
 
 plcalure. 
 
*^ 4« 
 
 I 
 
 TheccrtAintf of deal h. 
 
 D 
 
 IV I SIGN I. 
 
 Math; I P.M. 
 
 Num.s,i4. 
 
 lCor.7.33,18 
 
 i.Tim,j.8« 
 
 1 
 
 2 Cor.^.i4t 
 
 Prov.i^.M' 
 
 iSam.S.xi. 
 
 plcafure, if hee hav^c nought, then muH: hispaines make a 
 paiiiefull purchafe. Then comcch the mafter in his turnc^ 
 who ever liueth in feare led his leruants treacherie Iliould 
 fliortcn his daies. If he be gentle, then is hee contetnned, if 
 feuere, hated 5 for courtcfie bringeth contempt, and criicltie 
 breedeth hatred. And vngodly and vnthrifty leruants are alio 
 the miferies of their mafters. 
 
 Alio the vnniarried man fchteth a^ainfl fond defires. and 
 fleflily luds ; for that vnquiet lebufitc will hardly be reftrai- 
 nQ6,/All fnen cannot receitie the gifts df contirtsncicyfaHe they 
 to rvhom it isginen, Satan Kindlech the fire of nature in them 
 with the blaft offraile fuggeffcion , whereby the feeble and 
 weake minde isfecredy fauced with auaritious defires, and 
 the body made prone to perdition. 
 
 Now the married man \s at his wits end , burning with 
 iealofie : feare of lofing his goods doth vexe him , lo(Te of , 
 riches maketh him tremble,and the charge of houlhold doth 
 diuidc him diuerfly. He labours to prouide for wife and chil- 
 dren, and to pay his feruants hire, ^ee that Is married f faith 
 the ApoRle)^^r^^^ /^r the things of the world ^ how he may 
 pieafehr<swife. Such jhall hane tronhle in theftejh ; hnt Iff are 
 ^^/^ffaith the fame Apoftlej But if any (faith hc)proftide not 
 for his ow»e and fpecially for thofe ofhisowne honfe he hath de- 
 nied the faith , and is worfe then an Infidell. And therefore the 
 burthen of wedlock is grieuous and miferable, cfpccially, if 
 they bee vnequally yoaked together. 
 
 The fubjetl: alfo dependeth vpon his Prince , and muft be 
 careflill to obey. If his Soneraigne frownc,he m;ift ftoopej& 
 crouch : For the wrath of a Kin'T({z{x.\\ the Wiseman J^ 4/ a 
 meffengerofdeathihc mult imploy his goods aid his life alfo 
 in defence of bis Prince :yca he muft becomea martiall manj 
 and liucin a miferable mood , making his only felicitie ofo- 
 ther mens niifery. 
 
 Finally^ theKinghimfelfeliueth infearcofthe treachery 
 of tray tors 5 he is fet vpon a hill,as it were a markc •• A fmall 
 wart defbrmeth a Princes face, and in a King an error is de- 
 
 fperatc. J 
 
Division i . The certainty ofdauh. 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 fpcratc. Hcc eatcth the bicad of affiiLlion, and his drinkc is 1 
 care and lonow. Whereupon an Heat lien H i lion og rap her 
 maketh mention of a King, to whom the Crowne and Scep- 
 ter were oflR-'i td: who.bctore he wore iCjtookc the Crowne 
 in his handjAnd beholding it a while, cryed outi faying, O 
 thou golden l)t:^{cm,tfman kri^evp the miferics a>jd ^riefes than 
 hrtngeth rvtH) ihfCy there is none would fieope/o low ju f \nkc 
 thee vp from the ^rtand. Shewing thereby, that tlicUfcoF 
 Kings is more unhappy, then the lite of a private man. He 
 is fub/ecl to ciaw-backes and flacrerers: Itcomming to pafTc 
 oftentimes (Taith an ancient Father} that Courtiers are found 
 flatterers , and he is leldome without mendicant and beg- 
 ging Frieri about him, which are like the Horfeleaches two 
 daughters alwayes crying, Gtncygive, 
 
 As it i% true that Saint Cl^rian lpeakes,Gods ordinance is 
 not the midwife of iniquity, fo is it mofl: certaine that men 
 in authority , by reafon oFflefh and bloody doc travailc in in- 
 firmitie, and bring forth efcapes^ And verily, as the finncs of 
 Princes are neuer Imall, fo their great finncs require a great 
 and high degree of repentance. They may doc wrong, pu- 
 nifli the good, and fauour the bad,«^» volant Ate nocendi'ijdiih, 
 Saint Anci^Hftine ) fed neceffitate nefciendi , not with purpofe 
 to doe wrong , but becaufe they cannot come to the know- 
 ledge of the right. Who could better fee with hisowne 
 eyes^ and heare with his owne eares then T>nu%d, yet affedi- 
 ons (bmetimes dazelcd his cyes^ and uTong intelligence his 
 eares. The wifell gouernours ^ that in (peculation of jufticc 
 areadhiirable, intncir prafflifc may bee quite tranfported. 
 They that in the Thcfis arefl^arpe, in the application areof^ 
 ten very dul,and greatefl men haue greateft byafles to draw 
 then awry. Giue me leaueto produce an inflance from For- 
 teine hiftories. Vp©na.time when the "Bithymans ^ before 
 Clandttu the Emperour, cried againftone lani^is Clio ftheir 
 late Prefidcnt) defiring, that now his tin*e was come, hee of 
 all men might no more obtaine that place. The Emperour 
 not underflanding their de(ire , nor hearing diftindly their 
 
 words 
 
 I 
 
 Prov.jo.ij, 
 
 W' uw 
 
 \ 
 
z6 
 
 1 
 
 T^heccrtMYitjofdcAih. Division i 
 
 Pfal. loi 
 
 Efayi^j^^ 
 
 Rom 1,1 8 
 
 ludcxj 
 lob is,»o 
 
 Prou. »3, ii 
 
 
 ludc X4,i^. 
 
 -* — 
 
 or 
 
 £9 
 
 vvords/or the confofed noife of the multitude,dcmanded of 
 thofe next him what the people iiiid, to whom ^^rctffns.^k 
 familier, or rather an auricular buzze of the Emperours^an- 
 fwered like a falfe Eccho,that the people gaue his Excellea- 
 cie great thankes for their laft Pre(idcnt( which was nothin^ 
 fo) and rfqucftcd to have him appointed ovxr them againc, 
 which was wholly contrary to their fuite: The Emperour 
 meaning well, but ill informed , ( to gratifie them , as hee 
 , thought ) alTigned them their olde Prefidcnt againe. And 
 j thus was the Emperour abuled, and the people continued 
 under an Oppreflbr ftill, whereas they had bcene eafcd, but 
 for a crooked Interpreter. And this advertifcth what cir- 
 cumfpedl care the grcateft men fhould have to paflTe no 
 matters of great importance raflily, as alio to cleanfe their 
 traines & houfes (as T>*irtidvovjQA, but could hardly per- 
 forme) from all priuy -flanderers.deceitfull pcrfons and lyers. 
 Now as for wicked men , they alwayes liue in mifeiie. 
 There is no />r4f^(raith the Lord) vnto thewickedxhc worme 
 of confcience fhal neucr die and the light of reafon (hall ne- 
 ucr be darkened , as they haue forfaken God, fo hath God 
 forfaken them, and delivered them up into a reprobate (encc, 
 that they might doe fuch things as be not coavcnient , for 
 whom the blacknefle of darknefTe is refcrued. Thf vcicksd 
 w?^« (faith lob )travailetl) withfairie all his day cs, The vpkked 
 (faith the Prophet) are Uke the troubled fea^ when it camiot 
 refl, whojenvaters cafi vp mire and dirt.E mil {dsiith the Wife- 
 man) furfketh ^nners. 
 
 And <f»o^/-'alfo, the feventh from ^^d^m, prophefiedof 
 thcfc. izyingy Behold the Lord comnfeth with ten thoufand of 
 his Sai'^ns to e xec Pit e judgement vpon all , and to convince all 
 that arc vnarodly amonajl them ^ of all their vn^odly deedes^ 
 which they hane vnarodly committed ^ and of all their hard 
 fhecches^ivhich vnarodly Jinners have fpoken aqaiKfl him. 
 , But arc good men exempted in this life from mifcry I No 
 verily, they arc as it were m a continuall furnace, by reafon 
 of crofTes and pcrfecution? 5 they fuftaine mocks and taunts, 
 fetters 
 
 i 
 
1 — 
 
 DiV I S ION I. 
 
 The certdinty ef death. 
 
 27 
 
 Ecclcf 40, l,t. 
 
 fitters anJ impriionmciKS rvho tsTvcak^ , A»d they arc not ' 1 Cor. 11,19 
 weake ? IVhots off ended, And they btiryie not f We niujl (faith i ^^^ '■**^^ 
 V>ihI dLn^^iirnith^ti ) throi^i^h mnch tr^btiUthn eniertnto the \ 
 kingdome of God. I'lureforc the lame Apoftlc laith, Ifm this , Cor.i 5, 19 
 Ufeonely vpe h^ne hope in Chrtft^ we are of all men 7nofl wife- 
 rabU, 
 
 To conclude with the faying of the Preacher, Therefore F^clcrg,^ 
 the mifery of man is great Hfon him. And that holy man lob l:r 20,1 8 
 faith from his owne experience, Although affiiBioA commeth lob 5,6,7 
 not forth of the dufi , neither doth trouble Jprin^ ont of the 
 groHnd^yetmAn is borne vnto trouble, cVs the fpdrk^ file uproar d. 
 And lefiis the Sonne o{ Syrach fiich, Cjreat tmifcil hs created 
 for euery man^ and a heavie yoke is vpon th(r fonnes of hd^n\^ 
 from the day that they goe out of their mothers vpombcy till the 
 day that they returne to the mother ofaHthtnos : Their imAoi* 
 tioK of things t9 come , and the day of death trouble their 
 thoughts, andcaufefeare of heart fom him that fitteth on a 
 Throne of^lorie, unto him- that is humbled in earth and afhes-^ 
 
 ifrom him that reeareih 'Turple , and a (frowne, vnt» him that 
 is cloathed with a linnen fockc, 
 ' Behold themifericsofmortallman, behold their vanity. 
 Thought confiimeth them^ heauinefle harmcth them, pen- 
 fiueneifc pofTcHcth them,terrour turmoiles them, feare puc- 
 teth them out of comforr,horrour doth affliifl them afflid:!- 
 on doth trouble them, trouble doth make them fad and hca- 
 uie, mifcry doth humble them, and at the laft: death doth 
 end them. How many haue died with a furfet of fcrrow? 
 'By the Corrow of the he/irt the fpirit is broken. <iyf forrowfu-l \ Prou.i< ij 
 miidf drieth the hones. Therefore lacob (aich to his fonnes, Prou.17, 2 z 
 If mt/chiefe befall Bi^njamin in the way which yeegoe, then Ccn.42,58 
 J^yal/ ye bring downe my gray haires with forrow to the frave, \ 
 How many hauc died with ouermuch feare?And for fcare of : 
 him the keepcrsCfaith the Euangelift)did rhakc,and became 
 as dead mtnSophocles ,Dyonifius .IDiagoras ,^ ChilozhQ La- 
 cedemoniaijdied with immoderate joy. Oman very mor- 
 tal!, whom joy it felfc cannot fccure from death , joy being 
 
 the 
 
 Matth«2E,4^ 
 
28 
 
 I 
 
 Prov. I J. 13. 
 Prov,i7,i>. 
 
 
 I Cor: I Oil, 
 I lohn 1. iS. 
 
 iEfdr:i4,io. 
 
 I 
 
 . 
 
 The cert aim J ef death. D j 
 
 VI sion I, 
 
 the very friend to \i£c.For a mtrrj hean{Cmh the Wifeman) 
 ma^eth a checrfullct>HntertAncc^i% jojf all heart caufeth a good 
 health. 
 
 There \s but one way,and that very narro\v,by which wc 
 came into life, but there be inrinite,and thofe broad vvayes 
 which lye open for death to invade vs ; through euery 
 member of the body, yea through every joynt of the body ' 
 death hath found out a way to take away our life. 
 
 Wee that are in the laft part and end of the world, V^on f 
 yvhom{zs the Apoftle faith)r/;f ends of the world are co7ne,zi\d 
 which is the lafittmeand hourc (as faith Saint John) we are 
 Icffe in our marihgc-bed then our fathers were in the cradle. 
 The world left being a world, when z^dam left being obe- 
 dient. It was never beautifulland cheerfullfince, it waxed 
 olde in youth through manifold; attaxes and diforders j and 
 at this day lies bedrid, waiting for the comming of the Son 
 of God. And we fiiU well know, and ar€ taught by the rea- 
 ding of the Scripture, and alfo by experience, that men are 
 not fo long lined , nor of that goodly tall proportion or 
 ftrong conftitution of body > as in former ages. For the 
 Tiw/i/fasa voiccoutofa bufh telleth Efdras) hath loft his 
 yonth, andthe times he^in to waxe olde.^nd we are home wea- 
 ker and Wore feeble than all creatnres ; and had wee not fontt 
 Ifodj to receive HS when we come into the world wo were it with 
 vs, we might rhake a fhort and wofull flay or tragedy, to be 
 borne, to weepe, to die. We have no canfe to perlwade vs 
 that this is the goldt^n age ; but rather thar according to the 
 drcame o^ T^hnchadne^zar, Dan,i. Thegol^dsn head^thcftl- 
 tier hreafts^ thehra<.en thighes, are long fince'paft 1 and vvee 
 now live in the time of the iron legges, the feet e whereof are 
 partly tron, fart I j clay. 
 
 In the fortunate Iflands beyond the Atlantick fcas in the 
 vttcrmoft borders of Sthiopia , where the people that lihc 
 there are called C^^acrohij for their long life : a man perhaps 
 may live a long life ; but what Country may be found , 
 where a man may avoid the fickle of Death. Hence it was 
 
 that 
 
DiVl S ION I 
 
 ThscertMiUj ofdcAth. 
 
 I 
 
 29 
 
 that Hiprw/^^4 did anfwcre the Empcrour Confi^mtne, dc- 
 maunding him of the beauty of Rome, ftately buildings , 
 goodly Scacucs, ami (umptuous Temples, if he though: that 
 m all the world were any fuch Citry. Surely, laith HorrKtfdd, 
 there is indecdc none comparable unto it , ycc hath it one 
 thing Ciaith he) common to all other Citties , for men die 
 here, as they die in all other places. A:)d what doth it pro- 
 fit to \iwQ long and wickedly, and die at length. It were bet- 
 ter like C^dmtcs progeny , to dlz the fame houre wee were 
 borne. \Vh:it 'T>u el/ um is this betwecne death and nature? 
 And if God lliould not fuffcr us to die, alas what a mifera- 
 ble life would this be, when wc come to be oldc, and ftiU of 
 Ibrrowes, aches, fickncfles, difcafes and griefes ? l^yhe^ onr 
 fences nre gone^ and we hatie »o pleafnre in any thing. And when 
 (as the Plalmift faith) ourhfe U hut a Uhourandaforrow. 
 
 h\ wh ich age we had need (if we have our fences thcn)to 
 pray heartily to the Lord:^^y? w<? not of in the time ofoldage^ 
 forfik^me not when myflrengttj faileth «Af : And alfo , JVhen I 
 am old and gray headed fi God f or fake me not ^ And alas,it we 
 fliould not then die, we would wifli to die, and fay it were 
 better a thoufand times to di^ than to liue. For death ( faith 
 leffis the fonnc o^Sjrach) is better than a bitter life, or con^ 
 tinuaU fcl^ejfe, Ai^. therefore we reade ofacertaine IHand, 
 where they live fo long, that they are faine :o be carried out 
 thence^that they might die. 
 
 And God hath promiled wondrous well for mankinde, 
 tlut whcrcas.any man may take our life from vs , yet there 
 is none thatcai take Death from vs ; who canftoppcthe 
 wiride that ir blow not ? Who can hinder death that it come 
 not, 
 
 Iflacob counted his time but fhort, hauing already liued 
 an hundred and thirty yeeres, what reckoning may wc make 
 of our time which isfarre {hortcrf In the time before the 
 Floud, the age of man was great : Adam /if^M nine hundred 
 and thirty jeeres, Noah w*^/ hnndred and fiftie.McthuC^lem 
 nine hnndrcdfxtie nine jeer es^ but after the Floud in Terahs 
 
 daycs 
 
 PccIcf:iT.ii, 
 
 Pral.90.xo, 
 
 Ecclcfijo.i? 
 
 
 / 
 
30 
 
 I 
 
 the cert dint J of death. Division 
 
 Gen. 11.31. 
 
 Dcut.34.7. 
 
 PfaL^oizo, 
 
 j 
 
 ' 
 
 1 
 
 "^dayes, who was father to ^hr^hAm^ the age of man was a 
 great dealc fhortned,and from nine hundred brought downe 
 to two hundred and twenty and vnder : For Terah liued 
 cwo hundred and fiue ycares: Abraham his fonne not fb 
 long, one hundred feuenty fiue ycares : lacob in his time 
 brought it to a fhorter account,onc hundred and thirty, Mo^ 
 fes one hundred and twenty,and lofiua one hundred and ten 
 ycares. In the Prophet i^avids time it was fcantled yet 
 fiiorter by much halfe in halfe. For the doves of mon (faith 
 he) are three/core jeares and tenjAttd thoHgh/ome befoftrong 
 that they come to fourefcore year es J yet it their fir en^th' then 
 bnt labour andforrow^for it is foone cut ojf^ and we fly away. 
 Therefore the fiimme of our yearesiwhcreunto neverthelcffe 
 all doc not attaine, is thrcefcore ycares and ten^the ftrongcr 
 bodies fomctimcs continue till fourcfcore, from which 
 ycares if wc dedufl all the time of childhood, andflccpci 
 that which remaincth will fcarce anoount unto thirty or for- 
 ty ycares, and of thcfc thirty or forty yearcf wc have not 
 one moment of time in fuch wife in our power that wc can 
 affuredly fay we fliall not die therein. 
 
 And yet arc we not truly ftid to live any one of theft 
 yeares, vnleffe it be religioufly and holily in Chrilt,as a cer* 
 taine worthy fbuldicr fcruing in the warresa long time vn- 
 der Adrian the Emperour , yet in the end returned to his 
 houfc, and lined Chrifts fouldier, where and in which man- 
 ner (after he had liued feuen yeares) hce departed thii life j 
 andbeJQg readie to die, con^m^idjedlbat it fhould be writ- 
 ten on his tombe, Hereli^th Similis, (for fo was his name) 
 who was a mdn many yeares, and lined but /efien, accounting 
 that he liued no longer than he liued a Chrillian. Vixit dnm 
 vixit bene^ he hath liucd while he hath liued well , but all 
 the reft of his VSt is a mcere trance or image of death. 
 I But how many fpend their daies in war^after the fle(h,vn- 
 ' der the Emperour of the Ayrefnot vnder Adrian)^^\io yet I 
 cannot fay for feuen yecres, I would I could truely fay feuen 
 daies or feuen heures before their death , caft away thcfc 
 
 weapons j 
 
 '«» 
 
Division i . The cert aim j of death. 
 
 weapons of finiiCjthat it might be written vpon their grauc- 1 
 ftoncfor their Epitaph,tbat faien daics,or (caucn houics be- 
 fore their laft hourc, they noi onely had a being, but a life in 
 the world, and not onely were, but aUo lined. 
 
 Therefore it is our dutic to liue well, that at the day of 
 death we may Ipccde well , and to liue well iTionld be the 
 delight and Ivvcct perfume of every Chriftian.Thus iiue wel, 
 thatthoumaiftdie well, and after death, eternally Ipeed well. 
 Yea So teach vstonnmber onr ^^/>/,(faith the Prophet jr/r^f 
 wee may ^^pij onr hearts vrtto wifedome: where we arc to ob- 
 (eruc that hee fpcaketh heerc , not of weekes , or moncths^ 
 or yccrcs, but of daies, noting thereby the fliortncfTe of our 
 life^ in this word, Daie j. 
 
 And the fame phrafc is rfed of all the holy men of God, 
 vpon the like occafion. lacoh being asked by Pharaoh^ how 
 dde he was,tould \\imyThatfcw andevill were the dates of his 
 l^ilgrima^e, fpeaktng of the time, to note the fhortneffe of 
 the time, or ofliis life ; hee names not yeercs but dayes, and 
 fpeaking ofthc toyles and troubles of life , he calles ic a pil- 
 grimage , as to be every day haftily iourneying towards our 
 end. loh , in like manner numbring his dayesjcj^^/ dayes 
 (faith he) are more fwift then a poJi-^Aftd/wifter then the /hips: 
 And againe he fiith,j4n the dayes of my appointed time^wiii I 
 waite till my change come ^ The time of lohs attending or 
 Waiting on God for his hcIf>C5 is the whole terme or ad of 
 his life.which he calleth not yeeres^but dayes", fo hee mca- 
 ftireth his l}iortcimcT)ytheihch' of dayes, rather then by 
 the fpan of moneths , or long ell of yeeres ; teaching there- 
 by that the dayes of man arc few, and his lifefliort vpon 
 earth. Our SauiourChrift teaching us to pray , bids vsto 
 pray thus, (^iue as this day^ our daily bread ^ as if we fhould 
 reckon the continuance of our life no longer then a day or a 
 few daies, 
 
 •'And againe the Lord by his Prophet calling upon finners, 
 faith, To day ifyeneptU heare his voice, harden not your hearts^ 
 noting thereby, that if wee liue this day, wee arc not fare 
 
 to 
 
 Pfal.jo.ii, 
 
 I 
 
 CcMz/S,^. 
 
 lob 14,14 
 
 M4tth:^,ll 
 
 Ffal;5J:7A^ 
 
 iWM 
 
 ■w.«n 
 
ft. 
 
 32 
 
 1 
 
 The cert at nt J of death. Division i . 
 
 Lekc x.74-7f# 
 
 Pral,!^^. 
 
 Icr,5.4. 
 
 Pfal.^^17. 
 
 Ioni,ro.»3,T4. 
 
 Ejcod.8, f. 
 
 to liue the next. V\ here it is Taid in the Prophecie o^Zacha- 
 ria4 y T\\2.l P^ould ferve the Lord without fear c , in boUneJfe 
 and right eofiffiejfe before htm nil the dajes of our hfe^ Wce are 
 to note that the Holy Ghort defines life , not by yecrcs , or 
 m oncths,or \veek5,but by dayes , fhewing thereby that our 
 \\h is nothing el(e but a compoficion ofaTewdaycs, which 
 how foone they may be fwallowed vp by that long night of 
 death, wee -cannot tell, but it will be looner perhaps then wc 
 are aware* 
 
 The Sunne arifing in the Eaft , and falling in the Weft, 
 and all in one day, (liewcth our rifing and falling, our com- 
 mingand going forth of this world ; all which may bee 
 done in a day. W?^ vnto vs (faith the Prophet j/<?r the daj go- 
 eth array. 
 
 And a day confifteth but of a morning and enening , and 
 a noone, Efiening^ and mornings and at noone (faith the Pro- 
 phet ) will I fray and cry aloud^ and heejhall heare my voice, 
 Some are taken away in the morning of their life,maay feelc 
 northeheateoftheday, he that drawesoutthe line of his 
 life till the euening,liues but all the day. 
 
 If cuery day of our life were as long as that lon^ day of 
 Io{hfiayjhQn2LS the Sunne ftoodilill a whole day in the mid- 
 deft of heaven, it would availe vs nothing; for as in the end 
 the night came which diffolved that long day : fothe night 
 of death will atlaft afTailevs, and make the daics otour 
 life vanilh away how long foever they haue becne. 
 
 What pleafurc (faith onc)is there in this life , when night 
 and day wee cannot but thinke that wee muft pa^Te away i It 
 is but a carkas now, which yefterdiy liued, y eftcrday a man, 
 to day none. 
 
 The faying of Chryfoflome , the Lord liath promifed par- 
 don to him that rcpcnteth^but to liuc till to morrow, he hath 
 not promifed* 
 
 W hen l^haraoh called for Mofes and A^ro^^ to intreat the 
 Lordforhim., that he might take away the Frogges from 
 him, and his pcopica nd ^J'^ofes asking him when i c Hiould 
 
 intrcate| 
 
 «i 
 
DiVl SION I 
 
 The certainty of death. 
 
 I 
 
 33 
 
 imrcate foi him,bc faid to morrow .So many with Pharaoh^ 
 deferre matter j> oF gi cattd waight and moment dill till to 
 morrow, r-oc knowing what may happen to vs before to 
 morrow, cucn death it Iclfe/or ought wc know. Is to mor- 
 row in thine owne power i Canit ihou challenge any fuch 
 promife ar Gods hand f Happie is that man, which ot the 
 laftic of his loule, can lay with himleitc, as that oldc man 
 Mejfodamw did^wl^o being inuiied .odmner the next day, 
 anlwcrcdj why inuiteft thou mtefcr to morrow,who of 
 all the yeercs I haue liued haue not tc morrow day,but haue 
 eucry houre expeded death, wliich alwayes lyesiiiwaitc 
 for mc# 
 
 The rich man h the Cofpell, gathered much , pofTefled 
 much, enlarged his garners,and promiied to himfclfc fecu- 
 ritie, with a retired lareweli to the world. S§file (faith hce) 
 tbcu hafl nmch goods laid up for manjycereSy take thine eaft^ 
 edtedrinke And he mfrrie. But God laid unto him , Thou 
 foole, thU night [hall thy fonU he tak^n from thee, then whofe 
 pjal thoje things he which thonhaft prouided? A\2iS^thi'i was(ic 
 fcemeth).hc firft night of his reft, & muft it l^tthe lafl too? 
 Yes. f fay anfwercth thcm^T^rr^ u no nfi to the vngod/y,He 
 that hath a long iourncy to goc in a fhort timc^maketh haft, 
 and he who rcmcmbrcth euery day,runncth away with his 
 life, cannot (it ftill. But where men promife to themfelves" 
 long \ik^ arKl much time, there they waxe wanton, and be- 
 come fecure, and put farrc away the cuill day (as the Pro- 
 phet fpeaketh.) 1 hcrefore the Lord doth commend out 
 life vnto vs in al thefe Scriptnres which we haue h<ard,and 
 in other places in a (hort abftradl of dayes, and not in a vo- 
 lume of yeeres. So Chrift faith to Icrufzkm ^Jft ho fi hadjt 
 knowne, enen thoHMt leaftin thid thy d/iy the things which he^ 
 long to thypeAce ; hut'now they ^e hid from thine eyes : not 
 granting a longer tcrme, then the tcrme of one poorc day 
 vnto her: which was to teach hcr,and vs in her to think e c- 
 uery day to be our laftday^and thcrforc to do that thii day, 
 as in our time, which we are not fiire to doc rhc next day,as 
 
 D in 
 
 LDk.Xl 1^,30 
 
 Efiy57.it. 
 
 Amos ^.% 
 
 Luke 1^42. 
 
34 
 
 I 
 
 J he certAintj of death. 
 
 DiVI SIGN I. 
 
 jProv:2 7. I. 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 in the tiine tha: God hath taken to hiinfelfe^and from vs as 
 being more properly his,thca our day. 
 
 Tn^rdoic^l^oaftnot thy felfe (laith rhe Wifi^-maii ) of to 
 morrcw,for th^ak^orveflnot ivbat a day may bring forth '■hi'xA 
 
 there is one more this day of thy number ipent,and thou art 
 now nearer to thy end by a day. But if any man doth think, j 
 that he may liue as yet many yeares , his yeares may lacke 
 moneths, his moneths may lacke vveekes, his weekes may 
 lacke daies^ his daies may lacke houres, nay his houres may 
 lacke minutes ; an houre is but a niori time. 
 
 • But while one houre by continuall fucceiTion i$ added to 
 another,thc whole courfe of our \ik is finiHiedjeuery houre 
 runneth away with ibme part of our H^q : and euen then, 
 when our bodies grow and increafe , our Hues fade and de- 
 creale, yea euen this day (wherein we liuej wediuideand. 
 part with death.There is none ((aith Saint ^tigufline) but 
 is nearer death at the yeares end^ then at the beginning ^ to 
 morrow, riientoday, today, then yeiteday, by and by, 
 then juIlnow,and now^ then a little before. Each part of 
 time that we palTeCif time haue parts)cuts ofFlo much from 
 ourlife,and the remainder ftill decreafeth.When childhood 
 commethon^infeocydieth; when adolcfcencie commetb, 
 childhDOQ dieth ; whenyouthxomraeth, adolefcencie di- 
 eth; when old age commetb, youth dieth;when death comr 
 meth, all and eucry age dieth. So that looke.how many de- 
 grees of ages \ve defire to liue,fo many degrees ^f death we 
 defire to die. Aske an old man where is his infancy, where, 
 his childhood, where his adolefcency, where his youth, 
 ILall he not fay true, if he anivvcr,alas,all thefe are dead and 
 gone. What fpeake I of ages ? Euery yeare, monech, day, 
 houre of our life that we havelivcd,is dead to vs, and wee 
 are dead with them. What therefore is our whole [i^c, but a 
 loiig death? What is euer}^ day therof,but(as Petrarch [2xt\\) ' 
 arfegree of deach.what is euery moment thereof, .-but. amo- 
 tion vnto death ? 
 
 Againe, that the daycs of mau are but feW;> .and his life 
 
 ,, very 
 
Dl VI S ION I 
 
 The ccrtAjntj of death. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^5 
 
 very £hoit, experience, ard that which we lee in daily vfe, 
 doth riiewjbdidcs the word ot'God, which, for this,ipea- 
 king of mans fliort time, vleth to take the lliorteil dmifion 
 in nature to cxprcfle it. As that it is tlic life of: yeilcrday, 3S 
 in the Plalme : For ^ thoHfind y cares in thy fight are bnt as 
 yefterday, when it ispafi : a life which is gone as fbone as it 
 comes/a Hfc of few hoiires, as a watch in the mght ; the Ufc 
 of a thoughtjwherof there may be athoufand \\\ an houre.a 
 life ofnothing:this Prophet meafureth it with a lliort fpan. 
 'Seho/d(imh hc)thoH hafl made my dayes tu an hand-breadth. 
 
 The vah'ant Captaine lofljua bcuig now rcfoliicd to dxQi 
 callerh death the path that all muft treade. "Behold (faith he) 
 this day I enter into the way of all the world. So holy J)a~ 
 fftd being ready to die , calleth death the way of all the 
 earth. \:. . 
 
 Experience taught the very Heathen thus much , One 
 night tarrieth for aUmen , and rvee mnft all treAdthe path of 
 death. 
 
 This prefent tranfitory life is called a pilgrimage^ a path^ 
 atraucll, and a way,becaulc it continually plieth to an end : 
 for as they which are carried in coaches, or faile in lliippes, 
 finifli their voyage, though they fit ftill and flcepc: euen fo 
 enery one of vs.albeit we be bufied about other matters^and 
 perceiue not how thecourfc of our life palleth away, being 
 Ibmetime at reft^fomctimeidle, and lometime in fport and 
 daliancc . yet our life alwayes waftcth , and we in porting 
 fpeed, haitcn toward our end. The way-faring man crauei- 
 leth apace, and Icaueth many things behindc him \x\ his 
 way. He feeth {lately towers and buildings, he behcldcth 
 and admirerh them a while, and fo paflcth from them ; af- 
 terward he fecth goodly fields^ meadowes, flourilliingpa- 
 ftures, and pleafant vineyards, vpon thefe alfo he lookcth a 
 while, he wondcreth at the (ight,and ^o pafTcth by, then he 
 m.'eteth with fruitfull orchards, greei:e forrcfts, Ivveet ri- 
 uers with filuer ftrcamcs, and behaueth himfelte ?3 before. 
 At the length he mecteth with dcferts, hard, rough, and vn- 
 
 D 2 pleafant 
 
 Pfal^o^, 
 
 Pfal: 59,5. 
 
 X Kings 1,». 
 
 Cen*47.9. 
 
 Ecc!cC4o,l, 
 
 Pral.i.i^ 
 
3$ 
 
 I 
 
 The certatHtj of death. D i 
 
 VI SIGN I 
 
 I C0T.9 14, 
 
 plcafant waycs 5 foiilc and oucrgrownc with thoraes aiid 
 brycrs, here alfo he is imbrced tor a time to ftay ;he labou- 
 reth,fvveat:cth,and is grieued ; but when he hath travailed a 
 while , hee ouercommcth all thefe diiiicukics,and remem- 
 breth ao more the former griefes, but alwaycs he is trauel- 
 ling, till he comes to his journeyes end : euen lo it fereth 
 with us, one while we meete in our way with plcafant and 
 delightfiil things,anothcr while with forro wes and griefcs; 
 but they all in a moment paffe away. 
 
 Furthermore, in high-waycs and foot- pathcs this com- 
 monly wc fee,that where one hath fet his rootc,thcre foonc 
 after another takcth hisfteppe, a third deface: h the print 
 of his predeceffours foote, and then another doth the like. 
 Neither is there any, who for any long time holdethor con- 
 tinueth his place. And is not mans life fuchf 
 
 Askc (faith BAfil) the field? and pofTefllons, how many 
 names they have now changed. In former ages they were 
 faid to be (uch a mansj then his, afterwards a.iochers , now 
 they are faid to be this mans , and in (hort time co come^ 
 they fball be called J cannot tc'l whofe pofleiTionSjand why 
 fo i Becaufe mans life is a certaine way^ wliereiii on^ fuccce* 
 deth and expelleth another. 
 
 Behold the (eates of Stares and Potentates , of E mperours 
 and Kings, how many in euery age haue aipired vnto thefe 
 dignities and degrees ; and when they haue attained them, 
 after much trauell, labour and waiting, in Hior: time they 
 are compelled to glue way t© their fiicceffours, before they 
 haue well warmed their feates* 
 
 Yefterday one raigned, to day he is dead , and another 
 poileffech his roome and throne ; to moirow this man fhall 
 die. and another fhall /It in his feat.None as yet could there- 
 in fit Fall, they all play thispartas on a ftage , thej/ afcend, 
 they fit, they falute, they dcfcend, and fodainly arc gone. 
 
 The Apoftle'P^iK/, inrcfpec^ofthe celerity and fwift- 
 ncsoflifcjCompaierhittoarace.Whatis our life, faith St. 
 ayfu^fffiine, bat a ct^rtainc running to death i Our life while 
 
 it 
 
DiVl SION I 
 
 The C4rtamtj of death. 
 
 3 7 
 
 it iiicrcalcchjdccrcafethjour life is c!ying,onr death is lining. I 
 lhctrauelcr,the longer he goeth on hisiouiney/hc ni/:;ht:r [ 
 he is to his iourneycs cndjthe children oi Ifracl, the longer 
 they wandred from Egypt, the nighcr the were to the p!o- 
 mifed land ; fo every mortall man, the longer he liucth,thc 
 nighcr he is to his iourneycs cmi.De^thjimc, and Tide flay 
 for no man. No Bridle fo ftrong , that can kcepe in our ga- 
 lopping daics.Hc that runneth in a race,neuer ftayeth till he 
 come at the end thereof, fo euery morrall wight(wiU he,nill 
 he)naier ftayeth, till death the end of his race (byeth him. 
 The mirrour of patience {loh hy name) compareth the 
 rjce of man to the fwift daies of ji pofte, faying, CMy daies 
 arcfrviftcr then a fofte^ yedfrvifter then a fveAHers fhittle they 
 areA4 the motion of the fwift eft Jhipfe in thefea^and 04 the Sa- 
 gle that fiteth f aft to her prey. The Apoftle Peter compareth 
 our time to a Tent or Tabernacle pitched in the field, foonc 
 vp, foone dovvne. Otir ye Ares arefftnt , (faith the Pfalmift) 
 ! M A. tAle thAt u rc/dy yea enr life ie qnickly cut off, and vpce Are 
 fecne gone, 
 ' T>AHid a little before his death, offering with his Princes 
 
 erthc building of the Temple, freely confefTeth that they 
 ere ftrangers vpon ean:h,as al their forefathers were,their 
 idaies like a ihadow > and that heere was no abiding for 
 them. 
 
 , The Prophet ^y^j rebuking and checking mans forget- 
 full nefl'e, doth crie out and fay, AHfiefl ^^^^If^y and aS the 
 goodlinestherof AS the flewer of the field, the grajfewitbereth 
 the flower fadeth, becaHfe the ffirit of the Lord hloweth Hfon 
 it^furely the people ugraffe : the young grafTe as the old,and 
 flourirtiing as a flower. 'Grafle growes loonCjand foone de- 
 cayes. The poore, who in refped- of their bafe condition in 
 this world,are compared to thcgraffeithe noble and rich in 
 rcfpeA of their frerfi and flouriftiing flicw , arc refembled 
 vnto the flower : to both which forrs, noble and ignoble, 
 rich and poorc, there is no difference in death, vnlcfle fas 
 Amhrofe (aithjthc body of the rich being pampered with 
 
 D 3 ryot 
 
 1 
 
 lob 5.1 ;, 
 lob 7.6. 
 lob 9. 1 ^« 
 
 t.Pcr.t.i^, 
 
 Pfal.^o.^.io. 
 
 i.Chrc.if.1^. 
 
 
 
 Ifa. 10,^.7. 
 
 I 
 
i& 
 
 l! 
 
 Ion.4,7« 
 
 A(^SI2.l^, 
 
 T^e certainty ofdcdth. Division 
 
 ryot and variety cf mcates, fliall yeeld the more loathfoine 
 Imell. 
 
 . The graffe and the flower are mide by many m'anes to 
 wither, and wee by many more meanes are brought to our 
 end^ The flower oFthe field, may be by fuch as pafle by, 
 willingly plucked vp, or negligently troden on, an hu igrie 
 beaft may deuoure it, a wormc may eat it, or make it to wi- 
 ther, as it did the goard o^Ionas. The winds may blowe ic 
 downe,the lightning may burne it, the Sunne may fcortch 
 it^or at lead- wife the nipping winter will marreit.The like 
 may be (aid of vs,hunger may familh vSjabundance ofmeat 
 and drinkc may quench our naturall heate with furfctting 
 anddrunkenneife, the aire can infecfl vs, the water can poi- 
 x^on vs,the fire can burne vs,the beads can deuoure vs,wars 
 candiipatch vs, plagues can confume vSjdlfeafes can kill vs, 
 and a thoufand other things can deftroy vs. For AUx.^nder 
 the Great was poifoned by his owne Tafter. Antiochns of 
 Sjrict was poifoned by his owne Qaeenc Laodicea^ for that 
 he loued King P^*/<?w^«/ (ifter. By fire the Emperoiir K./- 
 lentme was burned by the Goathes. tiAtleHs , King of Ly- 
 dia, was hanged by his owne fubicv5ls. 'DiomedesYAng of 
 Thrace was deuoured of wilde be^aflrs. (leopatra Queenc 
 of Egypt was flung to death by fcrpents. "Diogenes was de- 
 uoured with doggQS.'Baftfifts Emperour of Macedbn was 
 killed by a Hart, A-'i^-crion dyed in eating of an egge 5 the 
 Emperour Fredericke ^^om^ to to Ieriifalem,wa? drowned. 
 Quecne Si[igambus^Y\\-\^'T^^riHs his mother , died of hun- 
 ger. 7?;rrW,KingofEpirus, wasflainewithatylc-ftone. 
 Fabian^ a Senator, was choaked with ahaiie. Pope Adrian 
 was choaked with a flye , getting into his throate. IhUhs 
 C'f^pir , Emperour of Hom-, was murdered in the Senatc- 
 \\oukrrh::iHs Hofttll hs was flaine with a thunder-bolr. He^ 
 ^^^ was deuoured of wormes. And if none of thefc>yetold 
 age will areft vs ; for young haircs doe fooncturne grfty, 
 and a^iue youth is foone metamorphofcd into crooked 6ld 
 which is the champio of death, who ncuer grapled with 
 ' any 
 
 age 
 
 l^v-%.' t.^ &X 
 
1 
 
 Dl VI SIGN I. 
 
 7f7e certainty $f death. 
 
 I 
 
 39 
 
 Pfal^T^io. 
 
 any but at length threw ihcm into the dufl.which (liewcth i 
 
 the coinparilon ohhc Prophet lo be moil: excellcnr, with- ^^^"^^^i 
 
 out conipai iion,chat all iki]i is gralTe, and the bed of vs but 
 
 as the fiower oi the field, this day flourifliin^, to morrow 
 
 fading. -^»*^ »<• all doefude as a /cafc^ laith the prophet £ja]f j 
 
 inanothtr pLice. i 
 
 Saint James compareih cur life to a vaporjthatappearcth lan^.^.r^;. 
 for a little while aixl aficrward vanilLcth away. Can any i 
 thiui; be f poken more plaincly to fet forth our mortalities ' 
 As a vapor, a mift,a thin watery ,and aicry fubitance,which 
 a imall puffe of windcmay difpciie^ or the heat of the ilinn'c 
 dilTolue. /:> 
 
 Now vnto this if our life may be refcmbled .then as a va- 
 por is but for one morning or cucnning at the moil, lo our pf | jo^.i,. 
 life is but a moment for a very fliort time. Againe I>amd 
 compares it rof moke, becaulcitis corruptible 5 toagraf- 
 hopperjbecaufe it hath but a fmall continuance.Nay he laith, 
 man us Hke a thing of nanght, andieffe then nothing, 
 
 Jacob calleth it a pilgrimage^T'^w/.a courfe. A pilgrimage 
 hath a full point;a courie, a ftop,and our life an cndi- 
 
 By -all which places of Scripture we lee thatthcfpiritof 
 God to fct fotth the frailtie and breuitic of cur life, compa- 
 rer h it (as we haue heard) to things of Oortcft continuance, 
 as to the wcauers Hiittlc, which he t^ktth,and prefently ca- 
 (icih it our of ^is hands againc,to the winde which is very 
 fwift,for the t^inde blotvetb (J'4\l\\out S^iUo\ir,)ivhere it /i- 
 fleth^^ thofi hearefi the found thereof, but canfl not telvohence 
 it ccrftmcth^ nor yvhither itgoeth-^to a poft which ftayeth not 
 long in a place;to a flow^er which quickly withcrcth , to a 
 Hiadow which foone vanifliethito athought,which is fwif- 
 tcil of all the refl;fo fraile is our eftate,fo trandtory our life, 
 (o (liort arc our dayes, and vncertainc, that as fbonc as wee 
 be borne w€ begin to dye. ^ 
 
 The brtuitie and vanitie of our life was fb noted of the 
 Heathen men themftlues, which made the Egiptians com- 
 pare it to an Inne.wherc lodging for a night, wc are gone. 
 \ D 4 Pindarus 
 
 pr3i.!4<.4. 
 
 Gen. 4 7.9. 
 1 Tim. 4.7. 
 
 Ioh.5,3i 
 
 
t 
 
 40 
 
 i 
 
 Ecdefi^.j. 
 
 Mar. 1 0.301 
 
 I 
 
 Pra!.i0 4.»^. 
 
 
 Wif.xj.8.1^. 
 
 The cert Aim J »f death. Division 
 
 Pindar w ^nd'Ba/il compare this life to a dreame, whcreia 
 are pleaiing anddifplealing {he\ves,bHtat our awaking, arc 
 all gone. Man (faith Pitidaru^) is to be compared to the 
 dreame of a ftiadow. Sophocles, to a fliadow. Horner^ vnto 
 leaues^that bud^grow out,decay3& blow away. Pythajror^^ 
 to a ftage- phy ^Jirifiot /cjto a beaft calIed^^/>^tf/»^ro», which 
 is ncuer but one day old. And many liich comparifbns wee 
 finde both in facred, and humaine hiltories , pointing out 
 the fhortnes and uncertainetie of mans life. For dreames are 
 but momentarie fanra{ies,of a difturbed braine,for a dreame 
 (faith the Preacher) commetb of the mn/tittsde ofhujittes. A 
 (hadow is a fhc w and not fubflancc. A play is but the hand- 
 ling of fbme {lately orbafepartforan hourc, then comes 
 the Epilogue and ends all;cuen fo our life is but a dreame to 
 be thought vpon, a fhadow to be looked upon^ and a play 
 to be aded. As therefore dreames arc forgotten, fhado wes 
 do vanifh^and plaics haue their conclufion^fb our Hues haue 
 their limits, and bounds, which they cannot paffe.For God 
 that hath niimbredthc haircs of our head,hatn numbred our 
 ycares and dayes alfo that wee cannot pafle them. 
 
 Life is nothing elfeffaith the heathen Philofopher)but a 
 glcw which fafteneth foule and body together, which pro- 
 ceedeth of the temperament, whereof the body is made ; It 
 paflTeth away as a trace of a cloud , and as a bird that flyeth 
 through the ay re , and as an arrow that is ftiot. Our life is 
 nothing but a little breathy and how eafic is it for God to- 
 take away our wcakc life, when weake man by flopping of 
 our breath is able fodainely and irioft certainly to fend vs to 
 ourduftf 
 
 Therfeorc the Prophet faith,rA#« hidefi thy face and they 
 Are trouhUdy when thoH takeft away their breath, they die and 
 tHrne to their dnfi. Our life it Iclfe is not giuen us in perpe- 
 tuity ,but lent vs for a timc;for mans fpirit is biit borrowed. 
 The wile-man calleth it a very debt which a man doth owe 
 to yeeld vnto death.Thereforc we ufually fpcakefand well 
 too)l owe God a death ; for every mans death is forefeenc 
 
 and. 
 
\ 
 
 DivxsioNi. "The certAintj of death. 
 
 I 
 
 4^ 
 
 and appointed in Gods ctcrnall decree with all the circum- 
 llanccs thcrepf. 
 
 The Prophet D^aid con^p^tth our life to the fat of 
 Lainbes, which waftcth away in, tl>e foiling ; and to aaievv 
 coatc,which is fpone waxed qld and eaten with modis./^^, 
 to che burning oFa candle, which in the cndcomrneth mto 
 the focket; and annoyeth^ and then euery oik: cryeth, put it 
 our. What thing die is mans lile buta bubble, vp.wi^h the 
 water, and dowue with the wind^j, 
 
 Againc the life of man is compared to a cobweb , for as 
 thcfpidcris occupied all his life time, in wcauing of cob- 
 webs, and draweth thofe threds out of his owne bowels, 
 wherewith he kniteth his nets to catch flies,and oftentimes 
 itcomraeth to paffe when the fpider fwlpcciileth none ill, a 
 fcruant going about to make deane the houfe, fwecpcth 
 downe the cobweb, ^nd the fpider together, and throwes 
 them into the fire 5 euen fo the moft part of men confumc 
 their whole pme,and Ipcndall their vvitjftrength^and labor 
 to hauc their nets, and bayts 'm a readineSjWith which they 
 may catch the flics of honours,richcs, preferment, & when 
 they glory in the multitude of flics which they haue taken, 
 and promife to thcmfclues reft m time to comc,and will fay 
 with the covcteous rich man in the gofpelh Si^ttie thou haft 
 mnch honor ,g09ds, 4ndfojfeffions /aidfip for many yeerts:li$te 
 therefore At eafe,eat€ydrinke and take thypafiime. But kchoid 
 God will iay tohifa^O foole this night wpii they fetch away, 
 thy foHle from thee* For death Gods leruant, and handmaide 
 wilbe prefrnt with the broomc ofdiuers(icknefles,difcares 
 and gricfes, aud will fweepe them away,»nd ib the worke 
 together with the workmafter in a moment of time do pe- 
 rifli^and then whofc iball thefc things be which thou haft 
 prouided.^ 
 
 Our life by an anpent father is faid to be more frailc, and 
 brittle thia glafic,for a glaiTwith good keeping may abide 
 and continue a long time without breaking, but fo cannot 
 man be kept from de4^th,with all the prcfcniatiucs& good 
 
 keeping 
 
 Pfiij/.zo, 
 
 lob 8.14. 
 
 Luk^ii.x^.' 
 
 •49iMi 
 
 •■•i 
 
< ■ ^» 
 
 4i 
 
 Luke 8. 43* 
 
 Iob2j.4« 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 7"/;^ certAtnty of death. D i t i s i on i| 
 
 ping that can be inccntcd by the art, 'skill and learnij-jg of 
 the LeftA mofl cunning Phyfiiions in the world_, although 
 with the expellee of all thou haft, euen with the woman m 
 the Gofpcll, that had an iffue of blood twciucyeares, but for 
 all this at length thou Oialt dye. For in this reipedas Ulf 
 faith in an other cafe. They ^re all Phyftions of no value. 
 As the arrow that is fhot at a mark^parteth the aire,which 
 immediately cometh together againe, fo that a ipan cannot 
 tell where it went through , euen fo man as foohc as hcc is 
 borncjhaftencth as faft to his end,as the arrow to the mark, 
 & that little time of flay is full of mifcry & trouble;^ there- 
 fore may rightly be callcd^as before^ a pilgrimage,in which 
 is vncertainty, a flower in which is mutability , a houfe of 
 clay in which is mifery.a weauersfhittlcin which is volubi- 
 lity,to t (liepheardstent in whicli is varicty,to a lUip on the 
 fea in which is celerity, to fmok which is vaity,toa thought 
 whereof we haue a thoufand in a day^to a dreame whereof 
 we haue many in one night,to vanity which is nothing^init 
 fclfej& to nothing, which hath no being in tlie world. Foir 
 the time pafl is nothing, the time to come is vnccrtaine^thc 
 time prcf ent is-but a momentiO life not a life but a death^to 
 be called and accountc-d rather death then life, becaufe it is 
 accompanied not only with deaths but with the very fhad- 1 
 dow of deach;,that is,with many miferics, affliciios & cala- 
 micies of this life, a liuing death,a dying life,dcferuing rather 
 to be called atrHicdeathjtheM the fliadow ofdeath,a fhadoVv 
 of Ufcjthen a true life* For the time which we haue liucd is 
 now no more in the effence of our life, for now our infancie 
 and childhood liueth notjand that wherein u^lkic, which \% 
 but the prefcnt time, is \o Oiort & fleeting that it cannot be 
 circumlcribed,/«/?^«/ eft ^moment urn eft, tBns eculieft. It is 
 ani:iflant,a moment, thetwinckling of an eye. Our life is a 
 poynr, and leffe then a poynt, a figure of one to which wee 
 can adde no ciphcr,it is but the leaft peece of time,that may 
 be meafurcd out,' a moment and IcfTe then a momcnc And 
 yet if we vfc this moment wcll^ we may get cternity>which 
 
 is 
 
Division i . T/a' certainty ofde^th. 
 
 I 
 
 43 
 
 »Timj.i,t,3, 
 
 4,5. 
 
 is ofgrcarcll moment. lam not ctcrnitie (faich one) but a 
 nvm^a liccle part oFche whole, as an hoiirc is oFthe day .Like 
 an honrc I came, and I muri: depart like an lioutc. 
 
 Thcrcafoin why oLir life is become lo fiailc and (liorc 
 arc principally thcfe ; hid, iniqiiicieinowabouidcth 1 and 
 more in thcfe latrcr times then in former ages. And hecaafe 
 iriiqiUtic {JjAilaboiiad ((2\\.\\0\X^S^\X\Q\x^ Chrillj the long of xt^,y,iA 
 mAnj PjaH wxx cdLl.ThU k^iow ^//o^faith the Apotlle th At in ' " "^ 
 the lajl d.ties fcriloHs times P? nil com$,for jmn [ha,lbs loners of 
 their orvnfeli*es,conetoiis, boAjiers ,proHd,hUfphemers ydifohe^ 
 dient to fArettts ^vnthAfikeftill ,vriholy ^ivuhoHt nattiraUajfe^li- 
 ort^trHce-hreakers falfcACCHfirs^inctntinent .fierce^dffpifers of 
 thofe th4t are ^osd^trAjtorSyheAdj.Jn^'O minded Jcuerf of ple^~ 
 ftires more then I otters of Cjodjjxning^ aformcofgodlinejfe bnt 
 dcnjiKg the power thereof. Which miill needs prouoke God 
 to cat ihorter thefe our daies,then thofc better dales wher- 
 ia our fathers lined ; vyhp lined more (imple^ and in fewer 
 finnes then we their children doe at this day. 
 
 Therefore it is faid by Afafes, in the booke oFnumbers 
 
 yi^td behold ye are rifen Hp in jonr fathers fleiid^an incre^-fe of 
 
 fmff'illm^n, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord ton>ard 
 
 I/rae/. huijfa f^e d^n^ ^^r/^^tail^^^.^ ^,^92\^. |cre;ftigj 
 
 then your fathers n ;r, . .v. -t, ...,'-^- "^ ' ' ^ 
 
 , Si^^oidiyoartinuisiniort, that the fhortnefTe tl^ercof 
 mt^lit moueus nottodcferre todoegood,as.the manner is, 
 (feeing eiien the dcuill hi/nfelfe is bulie, becaaCe his time is- 
 fli or t .therefore faith the fonneof God.^j^ be to t^he inha-n- 
 ta>Hsofthe ffi^th^^nd ofphe^fe^for the di'j^ll is corns, doxyfte, ta, 
 y9iiJ>utsi^ggreAi wrath ^ hi(^ii^c. he knowccbhehaxh t)ut a 
 (hort rime. Therforc the dragon was wr acli with the wo- 
 man, and went to m:ike war with the remnant of her fesdc 
 Wfhich kQ.^pe the comiiinde meats of God^and hane the te- 
 ftCmon^cof lefiis Chrift.* ' *- 
 
 ' . Thirdly, our life is as aorhIf|:;,thatG9dj Children might 
 foonc be deliuercd from their burdens, and from tliofe 
 that opprcfffi them in this lI^e.a.iAfbat the wicked, the c!nl- 
 
 dren 
 
 Nua3.^2,x4.' 
 
 Ier.!(5.ia, 
 
 Rcu<i».rxJz7 
 
 .* », M l 
 
 ^«." 
 
 V^ 
 
 * ■ ■■ 
 
44 
 
 I 
 
 The cert dint J ofdtAth, Division i 
 
 Efayfi.i 
 
 ix« 
 
 |iSam.i3 
 
 .«• 
 
 dren of this world , might hauc a Hlorter time to kccpe i)\ \ 
 bondage, and vnder the whip of malice thofe poore ones | 
 who defirc to facrifice their life to God in a conlcicnce of 
 his feruice, and to waike in foith before him. For if mans 
 I fe might now extend to the yeeres Which were before the 
 Floud, when men liued(as wee haueheard)fix, fcucn^eight, 
 nine hundred, and almoft a thoufand yeeres; this cruel age 
 m which we liuc, would too long torment , and too vilely 
 dealc with Gods faithful! ones, there being no hooke of 
 Hiort time in the iawes of the wicked , tokcepe them in 
 fcare,as now^when death is fuch a tirant,and fhort life fuch 
 a curbe vnto them,that they dare not, or cannot doe as they 
 would.' And indecde how can they doe that in their fortic, 
 and vnder fourefcorc, which they might and would bee 
 bold to doe , being men -of might in their hundreds. AI(b 
 how could the poore Church hold vp the head, and tonti- 
 nuc in good eafc , that (hould haue fo ftrong and long-liued 
 enemies to incouter with. And therefore our Sauiour Chrift 
 faith in the Gofpell. Except thdfe ddiei fhotdd be [hortned^ 
 th^epjoutd noflejh befauedJtMt fof the BleShsptks ^hofe dates 
 Jh'alllfe pyorined. And rrho art thou^Odth thcc Lord) that thon 
 p)OHldtfi be afraid of a ma» that fiall die , and $f the fcnm ♦f 
 man^hich Jbalibe made m grajfe, 
 
 j There is* no ptiiiiledge that can prcferuc a man fr& death; 
 Art thou ftrong i and doth the conceit of thy ftrength lift 
 the up in pride ? Confider that if in might, vigor and vali- 
 ditic of body , thou didft excdl Samffdnfiertutes^ or Milo^ 
 or *2>4wW/ three worthicft, when thou commeft to grapic 
 with Death , hee will quickly cmfh thee and cad thee into 
 the duft. For hei will admit of no comp ofition with thee; 
 for Death hath feete of wooll , but armes of iron , it com- 
 merh infcnfible, but it haning once taken hold, neucr lofctli 
 her prize. ^ vn 
 
 Is it for tTry beautie? Th'efe cyfei of thine,whicli now are 
 as bright as ftirres,Death will make a horror to the behol- 
 ders.Thefc cheekes of thine, wherein now the lilly and the 
 
 rofe 
 
 * ii> »« 
 
IDivisioki. iht certaifiky of death. 
 
 I 
 
 45 
 
 ir»y3,»4- 
 
 role (Ihuc for paheminencc, Death will make pale and 
 earthly; thclc corall lippes of thine will dca:h change to 
 black and wannc ; this mouth of thine, which in Iwectnefle 
 ycelds a cynamon breath , will lend forth the (linking (a- 
 uourofa Sepulchre. Therefore the Lord iaich by his Pro- 
 pher. It pj^lt come to pa(fe, that in ft end of fweet fmell, there 
 fhatihe afttnk^, a»dt»ftead of a ^trd/e ,a rem^ and in ftead of 
 well fet hatre, huIdncffe^And injtead ofaftormtcher^ a girding 
 ofjack^cloathy and lurning in ftead ofheantie. 
 
 The fubftancc of bodily beauty conilfteth in naught clfe 
 but in phlegme, blood, moifture, and gall or mclancholly, 
 which arc maintained by the corruptible /uicesof meates ; 
 hereby the apples of the eyes glifter^thc checkes are ruddy, 
 *ud the whole face is adorned; And unleil'e they be daily 
 moiftened with fuch juice,which afcendcth out of the liucr, 
 incontinent the skinne is dried up , the Qy^s waxc hollow, 
 all ruddineflc and beauty depart firom the vifage. 
 
 Now if thou confider what is hidden under that skinne 
 which thou judged (o beautifull,what is fhut up within the 
 noflrils, what in the jawes and belly, thou wilt proteft that 
 this brauery of body is nothing but a painted fepulchrc, 
 which without appeareth faire to men, but within is full of 
 filthinesanduncIcannes.Andifthou fee in a ragged cloatb 
 theplilegmeandfpittle that proceedeth from the body, 
 thou loatheft it, and wilt not touch it with the typ of thy 
 fingcTjlooking askew thereon. Therefore this cell and feate 
 of phlegme, this beautifuil body will be fo much altered , 
 that a man may fay,0 how much is he or flie changed from 
 that they were. Andhcieofit is that the Wife -man faith, 
 Tauour is deceit f nil, and beauty is vatne, 
 
 Sut to digreiTe a little,doft thou make thy felfc beautiful, 
 ^rt not contented with thatbcautie, which God thy 
 Creatour hath bedowcd upon thee^ Then hearken to that 
 excellent faying of Saint Cyprian , that women which ad- 
 vance themfclues in putting on of (ilke and purple , cannot 
 lightly putonChrill: and they which colour their lockes 
 
 with 
 
 Matth;23«}7< 
 
 Protji^jo. 
 
46 I 
 
 The certainty of death. Division I 
 
 1 
 
 Efay Jx.i, 
 
 Pral.14^.4, 
 
 with red and yellow, do prognofHcatc of what colour their 
 heads iliall be in hell , and they which loae to paint them- 
 fclues in this world other wile then God hath created them, 
 let the .71 feare, left when the day of the reiiirrcdion con> 
 meth^ the Creator will not know them. And befides,know 
 thou that there be aches/eauers,impofl:umeSjfwellings and 
 mortalitie in that flefli thou fo deckeft^and tliat skin which 
 is fo bepainted with artificial complexio fhal lofe the beau- 
 tie and It i^dfc. You that faile betwcenc heanen and earth 
 in your foure failed veflellsjas if the ground were not good 
 enough to be the pauemcnt to the foales of your fcet^know 
 that one day the Earth Oiall fet her feet on your faire necks, 
 and the flime of it (hall defile your fulphured beauries^duft 
 fliall fill up the wrinkled furrowes , which age makes, and 
 paint fupplies. Your bodies were not made of the fubflance 
 whereof the Angels were tnadcnor of the nature of flones, 
 nor of of the water,whereof the fire5ayrc,water,and inferi- 
 our creatures. Remember yoHrtnhe^ and jenr fathers feere 
 honfe, and the fit rpherout yofi were hewed,Han»iba/ is at the 
 gates, death ftandeth at your doores ; be not proud, be not 
 madde. You muft die, and then your fineneffe fliall be tur- 
 ned into filthinefle ; your painted beautic and flrength into 
 putrifadion and rottennelTe. Let him make what flicw he 
 can with his glorious adorn ations Jet rich apparel and pain- 
 tings difguife him liuing, fearc-clothes, fpices, balmes en- 
 wrap him 3 lead and Hone immure him dead , his original! 
 mother will at laft owne him for her naturall childe,and tri- 
 umph ouer him with this infultation. Heeismy howells^hee 
 returneth tohisearth.His body returneth not iramediatly to 
 heauen^ but to earth, not to earth as a ftranger to him,or an 
 vnknowne placcjbut to his earth , as one of his mod fagii- 
 lier friends, and of oldcft acquaintance.Powders, Liquors, 
 Vngucnrs, Odours, Ornamenrs deriued from the liuing, 
 from the dead, palpable in ftanccs , and demonllratiuc en- 
 fignes of pride, and madnefl'e to make them feeme beauti- 
 fully fuch tranflacions and borrowing of formes, that a (illy 
 
 country- 
 
\ — 
 
 Division i . 
 
 jfje ccrtiuntj ofdedth. 
 
 I 
 
 47 
 
 Icr.^.ir. 
 PiV. 1^.14. 
 
 couiitry-man walking in the City, can fcarce fay t hcrcgoes^. 
 a man^or dicrc a woman. 
 
 Is it for thy youth ? If thou thinkc fo, thou reckoneft 
 without thi:ic hoftciFor thy folly therein may happily caufe 
 thee to lay, Te.tcc,feace, till with Sifera thou fall into thy 
 lail flccpc of dcllruc^ion^and to goc tioiii thy houfe to thy 
 giaue. But who can be ignorant that on the itagc of this 
 world^lome hauc longerjand fbme fliortcr parts to plavjand 
 who knowcth not, though fomc fruits fall from the tree by 
 a full and naturall ripenelkj that all doe no: fo , nay that the 
 more part are pulled from it, and doe wither v pon it in the 
 tender bud or young fruit,thenarc fuff'ered to tarry till they 
 come to their perfect ripenclTe and mellowing. Th^ corne 
 falls ot it felfe,lbmetime is bitten in the fpring , oft troden 
 downe in the bl,ade, but neuer f dies to be cut vp in the care 
 when It is ripe. Some fruite is plucked violently from the 
 tree, fomc drop with ripenefTcjall mufl fall/o doe not more 
 (without comp3rifon)fall from the tree of time, young, ei- 
 ther violently plucked from it by a hafty dcath,or miferably 
 withering vpon it by a lingring death, perifliing in the bud 
 of ckildhoodjor bearen downe in the greene fruit of youth, 
 then come to their fliU age of ripencfTe , by a mellow and 
 kindly d.ath. 
 
 Further doth not God call from his workc, fome in the 
 morning, fome at noone, and fome at night i For as his la- 
 bourers enter into his vineyard, fo they goe out, that is in 
 liich manner, and at fuch houres ; fome die in the dawning 
 of their life, who paftc but from one graue to another ,fome 
 die in youth, as in the tliird day, fome at thirty , and fome 
 at fiftie as m the fixt and ninth, and fome yery old, as in the 
 laft houre of ^hc day. Yet more die yong then old;and more 
 before ten, then after thrcefcore. Befides all this, the frefh 
 life vvhich the yongcfl haue here, is cut off, or continued 
 by the fame decree and linger of God , that the oldefl and 
 mofl blafted life is prolonged or finifLed.For fay that a man 
 had in his keeping fundry britle ve{rels,as of glaffe or ftone,. 
 
 forac 
 
 Math.ioj* 
 
 .1 
 
 •t t«^A 
 
4S I 
 
 *lht ccrtAtntj ofdcAth, Division I 
 
 x.5aitt.i5,.3»i 
 
 Icr.^.^U 
 
 AA»j.f; 
 
 feme made forty,fiftic,or thrcefcore y ceres agoc,and fome 
 but ycftcrday.Wc will agree that the vcflell will looncft be 
 broken, not that js made firft, but which is firft (lricken,or 
 firft recciuedaknocke. So forthtfe brittle veflcllsofour 
 earthly bodies^ they that looncft receiue the blow of death 
 ("though but made yefterday) firft perifli not that were firft 
 made and haue longeft lined. What then is our life, and how 
 vaine and falie is our hope oFlong life, feeing no man can 
 tdl who he is that (hall receiue the nrft ftrokc orknocke to 
 the deftroying of this his mortall tabernacle? 
 
 In a prifon where are many condemned , fliould fomc 
 riot and forget dcath^ becaule they are not firft drawne out 
 to die , or becaufe one goes before another to execution? 
 Shall he that commeth Iaft,come forth pleafantly with %A^ 
 ^4^,aHd i^y^Surelj tht bittcrneffe ofde^th ii /rf/^, becaufe wc 
 d\!i not fo foone as others? And wc (hall not all die at once, 
 Iliall wee therefore count our felues iminortalli' If wee bee 
 old, wee may be fure our turnc is neere.and if wc be young, 
 it may be as ncere,for they that are old miy traucll long,buc 
 they that are young may haue a fhorter v/ay homcFor the 
 fl)ort liuer runneth his race no faftcr then hec that liueth 
 long ; both runne alike , both make fpecd alike , the diffe- 
 rence isjthc firft hath not fo farrc to runne as the latter. It is 
 one thing to runne further , another thing to runne faftcr* 
 Hce that Hues long runneth further, but not a moment fa- 
 fter«Every man hafteneth to death alike j though one haue 
 a leife way to goc then another. 
 
 DeAth u c^mc vp(faith the Prophet)i»i^o cur yptndoys^es^an^ 
 u entrtdinto our Valltices^to cnt off'th^ childrethat Are with^ 
 pftry& the yoftft^mcnjrcm the ftreetsSccin^ then this hope 
 of liuing till wee be old,is fo vaine and deceitfull,wc flaonld 
 make as great haft to God at twenty, as at fourcfcorc.W hen 
 we heare a folemnc knell, we fay iome body is departcd^nd 
 why (hould not we thinke that the fectc of them who cari«^ 
 tfd out that body , is at the doorc readie to carrie vs out 
 alfol ivt j !- 
 
 He 
 
ID 
 
 IVI SIGN I. 
 
 The ctrtAWt) ofdcdthn 
 
 A ^IMI^lA I 
 
 I 
 
 He was not an oid man.and had much pcact in his daics, 
 to whom It was h'ld.O foo/c tht^mjrhnhey will tak^a^vaj/ thy 
 /9Hie ; lo death workcth in vs, whether we will or nor. A- 
 gainc , che Ihong confUtucion in a young man perlvvadeth 
 him thathccfliailliue long; but no conlticution iha man 
 can chiaige liis charter of iitc one poore hourc# Indeed tlie 
 good complcjciou oFa man may be a flgnc of long life, but 
 he that pi oiongcth our daies on earth^hc onely can make v$ 
 to liue long. 
 
 Againc, ihe ftrength and beautic of youth maketh him 
 bdecue that he hath many yceres yet to liue. Therefore the 
 Wileman laitli,ihat the glory 9fjongmc» ^s theitftrength^hwt 
 
 how foone is this blighted & ftruckc^ as the faire flower of 
 grade with an Eaft-winde. For beautic and ilrength is but 
 a flower, which if fome (ickncric ftrik not fuddcnly, yet the 
 Ahttimne of ripe yceres impaircth, and the winter of oldc 
 agekillerh. And what carcth death (which is indifferent 
 to alitor a faire ftrong and goodly complexion \ Is not a 
 I beautiful! face as mortal! as a foulc hue I The like tnay be 
 fpoken of health and fhturc of bodie : for what are thcyf 
 and of what time i In their ownc nature they are fickle 
 thin^s.and without good vfe, crofles. 
 
 For touching health, the devouring vulture of fickncffc 
 doth after lome fliort time waft it to nothing. Strength is 
 common to vs with beafts ; and there are many beafts ex- 
 ccedc vs in ftrength. 
 
 And for our comely ftaturc it may as foone be brought 
 downc to death, and as deepely bee buried mthecoiJin of 
 the earth, as one of a meaner fize. And further, if men haue 
 not vfed thcfc to Gcds glory, but to pride and vaine glory j 
 nor haue made them helpes to godiinefl'e , bur haue giueo 
 them their head to finnc \ it will be (aid after death ofiuch, 
 tVrac a bcantifbll perfon , a ftrong yong nun , a gocdiy rail 
 fellow, and one that ncucrknew what fickncffc meant, is 
 lOnctohell. 
 
 Tkcrcforc ofbcawty & her attcndants,ai ftrcngth,hcalth, 
 
 E and 
 
 49 
 
 Luke ii.io. 
 
 HxodtiOk 1 1. 
 
 Prou^o.*^. 
 
 i 
 
JO 
 
 [i 
 
 The ccrtiuntj cfdsath. 
 
 ,v<.io*. 
 
 .t><.Ol.IK>l<i 
 
 
 I. 
 
 I 
 
 lob 3 r.15. 
 
 Division ni. 
 
 and a goodly ftature;, ihittfrtiai^ be L^ok en, which vruaily is i» 
 Ipoken o^ hieandA^'accT that chcy are^oodrcraants^but ill i 
 MalkTs ; where chey are ruled chey doc good icruice , but 
 where thcvouer-Kik- they make toulcwcrke. . • ,i 
 
 I •'■ 'txr is5c tor thy grca:rjcs^6ut thac cannot priuitedgbthce^ 
 fioin d€ath,foF Sa^or^nnyX^ ho i n w itdomc exceitcd a.l o:'iierJ 
 men, \vh^'in richeSrAceedud eucry maiij who in*powef as» 
 itiigijtie asan y tiiaa ^- and vviiio in birth was lurpa&d by no* 
 ma.i^who for his wifdoaic Vv^as admired of" all, tor his riches ■ 
 beloiie^dbfall,and for hi? power feared ofalha'nd honored 
 of Hi tor his birth,^cuo;>hcf i lay-couid not rcfranic to ooti-- 
 telicforall his \Viido)nlt which wasani^elicaUibr.ali his ri-' 
 ches which'werc innumbrable,ioraU his power fo inaiefti- 1! 
 call, Ji.xi tor ^11 his bir:h, fo regaii, He i iay could not chnfe j 
 
 I bnt cry out and lay. Imyfclfedin a mortallman hk^ toMl ^o-i\ 
 ' thc^offpu-nir of-itm hI^jH ivasfirjl^mndc of the.e:irthy a9U,tn my.. 
 
 t^cthcrsivGinhs^pai fupstor.MtG'be ficjfj in' the tims isfsen m^-* 
 Kcthj heiV:ff c^mfni^iAin blood t'fthcfffdofm:^fk\ c^ the ^Ita^ 
 fare thatc^merrithflecp. And when i^ias borne Ldrersi'/i tht 
 common Ajre^eind fell 'Vpn the eeirth \vhich h of. like nature^C^ 
 J th^ fiyfi.vojte ti.utrl z'tteyediivof . cry ittg iis all ethers doe, I 
 jv.-.s fiurfed iiifwadliyi(T clout he s and that with care. 
 
 lfthen4S'.r/<j;;c7,v,Aviit) was begotten. by a King andbocne 
 : CO be a King,and one AvhofeUninp: and conueriation( before 
 j^ he fell to Idolatry) fee mcd rather diuine then humane, if he 
 
 I I fay, were fubiecfl to Inch inibccillity^and had no more fa- 
 Qonr fhewcd h^m by nacarc then To'; to what' miiory'^id 
 
 : \ imbccHitythen llionldxiU U'C be lubiecl , or v;hat miy vjch 
 
 fay;that'ar6 lT1a^ic■o^■a! belter {tiilfc.faihioned inworfe moakl 
 
 ir'-dthx)rcobl>GU rely and poorely biou^^ht into'theAvorid^ 
 
 I for as mnchnvcakncs & fceblencite '\\\ birth bv nature is in-r* 
 
 9idc!it c<:ra?Pfiiice / ii to aipeaVint, tor rtiytli ^mhfniv in tb(3 » 
 
 C»riq place:, ': t(ji;jneu.rjta\i(iny,^^^t' A*«^^»CJ^ikil/^r^^/^'«r^<i5/ilj 
 
 o'^t/Dtd i:ot he that inade ync in the yvombc ('(aidll!fc^tjy.i'»v»'!/ ' 
 ii hfK A 
 
 1 1«, 
 
 ■^T — 
 
1 DiVI SIGN I 
 
 "J h: ctrt.rrat'j cfdcith. 
 
 /I 
 
 1^,' 
 
 A certamc man difiitdto ice (f<?«/*?w;;>/<'ihegrcar5\\ hc-m 1 
 intcntiuely btholding he cried our. I though- (,o^ijhi»tiiTfff 
 had biiK lomc gieat thing, bii: now I ice he is no- ning bu. 
 a nian;Ow7?.f«//wf anlwcrcd u'ltli thankcSj thoii oiKly I.iaUj! 
 iookcd on incAvith open a::d true iiidgmg eyes. | - -_ • 
 
 Saint u-inthrjie faith. How far will yea great ine^ fircrch 
 your^ouetilcf Will yc dwell alone upon ihetarth.aiid lua^ \ 
 I uo poore m;\n with yon Why put ) on out your fellow by 
 jkinde, and challenge to your ielfe ihepoileiijon commop 
 ; by Kinde ; in common to all , for high aiid lowe , rich au/d 
 ! poore the cai th w as madc.W hy will ye rich diaiige proper 
 fight hcreiiif Kinde knoweth not nches^that bi mgcdi forih 
 ail men poore, for we be not got with rich clcathcr , and 
 borne with gold , ne with filuer : naked hw bjingeth them 
 jjiRto the world;necdy of mear,anddrinke, & Cjo:|thir.g. ;irv- 
 ked the earth t;<ih,eth us as (l^.e naked brought vs hiihtr. 
 
 She cannch-Cible w^itli vs our pofTellion in fepukher , for! 
 kinde makcth no difference , betw'ecne poore' and ^rich m 
 comming hither, ne in goi.ng hence. All in one manner he 
 I bringeth fbrth^ and in one manner li e cloleth in grauc. ^ - 
 [. , Who io W'lil make ditfcrence bctweenc poore and,n*cH,{ 
 I abide till they hauc a little whiJciycn in grauc^then open ik), 
 looke among dead boneSk,wh6 \vas rich^oc who was poore, 
 but if it be thus that more cioathcs rot w-ith the rich then 
 J j with the poore, and that dotii harme to them that are then 
 I liuing,. not profiting them that be dead- Audit may be that 
 ! the woimes fhall feede more fwcetly on the rich, then on 
 I the poore. But thou wilt fay (faich Saint j4!^.giifi.]\am not 
 I fuch a one as he is, God forbid 1 Hiould be fodie is bafe and 
 \ bcggcrly, I am high, honorable and rich ; tell me not i^ faith 
 Saint ^«/«/?. jl heods of your apparrell.or other externall 
 things, but marke yec the equality of narureicmember the' 
 i dav of your birth , and the day of your death* There is no 
 I difference in the one or the other. both wcak«,borh mifcra- 
 ! bic ; for all of all forts and conditions arc made of one moid, 
 and one matter^of cla}- and car^h^whofe foundation is in the 
 \\vy. . E2 " duft, 
 
 Lan\<f.j, 
 
 Ioba<j,2o. 
 
 : 
 
52 
 
 I 
 
 The cert at nt) of death. Division 
 
 Iol> 4.l^» 
 
 xTiis.2«tc* 
 
 i 
 
 Ecdcf.^.ioi 
 
 dull, which fhalbc deftroyed before the moth. It is true 
 that as chere is JitFwrence oFftarrcs, though all made oFthe 
 faoie matter, and difference of mettals, iome gold^fbnje 
 liluer fomelead, fometinnc, but all made oFone earth; 
 and diff-rcnces ofvefilis^ feme gold, Iome filuer, fome 
 wood, fome tarth,and fomc to honor, & fomc to difhonor, 
 but all made of the fame mould, fo are there differences of 
 bodies, fome more e?:cellent then other, and made of purer 
 earth i but yet all lubjed to corruption , as the matter is 
 whereof rhey are made. It being the body,thcn that dyech^ 
 and feerh corruption, one muft dye as well as another. For 
 as great men haue no priuiledge from error, nor protecflion [ 
 from reproofe, for their faults blameablc ; fo hauc thej no 
 priuiledge from Death. For all men haueo le entrance into 
 the world, a like danger of life_, the fame neCCiTity of death, 
 reipc(ft cannot change nature , nor circumllance alter fub- 
 ftancc : a great man is a man,a man hath a body and a foule, 
 both haue their difeafes, which grcatneffe can neuer dimi« 
 nifh, but oftentimes augnnents. And therefore in a bodily 
 infirmity of fome noble perfonages , the Phifition takes 
 them in hand, not as noble men, but as men. Phyfick they 
 muft haue.although wirh better attcndance,morc exquifite 
 and coftly medicines, and skilfijller Do(ftors then the poo- 
 rer fort haue. Therefore doe they thinke becaufe they Hue 
 bettcr,and are in bci ter eftate^ & haue better meanes to prc- 
 Teruelife then poore men, that therefore they flialUiue 
 longer^ and whar difference concerning death betweene a 
 noble man and a begger, when botfe goc to one place.-^//^^ 
 to QHe flace ,h\\\\ the Preacher,^// are ofdufi^and allturne to 
 dfffi A^^airje.Hovj like arc liu'ing men to growing trees,dead 
 bodyes, to faplcfic ones, rotten confumed carkafes to burnt 
 ones, whole dufl: once mixt admits no feperation till the 
 Judgement day : for as trees while they liucare apparrantly 
 knowne by their (cuerall kinds , and commonly called by 
 their names, but being felled, fired, and confumed, none 
 can diftingiiifh their afties.So men while they liue doe very 
 
 much 
 
 \- 
 
1 
 
 DlVI SION I 
 
 ihe art ami J ofdcdth. 
 
 I 
 
 much diflfcr in oifice, title, perfon, place, and power , but 
 when they be dead and rclolucd to cinders , by no meaiies 
 can they then be diredly divided, as there is the like 
 aHiesoftheccaderandthc rtirub, To is there thehkedufl 
 oi the king & the bcggetjin this the mightieft more the the 
 nicancft have no priuiledge. When in thcfe ads and fcenes 
 of Iceming Iife,as at a game at cheire,thc higheft now upon 
 board may preietly belowcfl under board. And the breath 
 in the noftrels of the rich man may as foone be flopped,and 
 they as foone turne to the duft as other men. Deaths cold 
 impartiall hands arc vfcd to ftrikc priaccs, and pefants^and 
 make both alike. 
 
 Therefore in this rcfpc<fl the cafe of the rich and poorc, 
 great and fmall, high and loWjmay be refembled to the play 
 or game at ChtiTe. Here this therefore all ye people, ^ine eare 
 all ye Inhabit an fs «fthe rporld both low cr high^ nch drpoore 
 together, Yoi while the play indureth there is great differece 
 in the men,greater rcfpcd had to fome then to others •, but 
 whe the Check-mate is giuenj& play cnded.thcn the men 
 are tumbled together^and put up into the bag/rom whence 
 they were take out,& the Icrfcr men uppermoft many times 
 there being no difference. And fo k is in this world .There is 
 great difftrece in men,& greater rcfped had to fome then to 
 othcrs(as it is meet to bejbut when death c6meth(as furcly 
 it will come»to all forts)then there will be no luch differcce 
 in the sraue, neither doth Death know any fuch difference, 
 for he fpareth none ; the yong as well as the old dyeth, the 
 Lambcs skinne is brought to the market, as well as the old 
 Cronesjthe rich as wel as the poore.the prince as wcl as the 
 fub;e6t;fbr there is no difference in the mould,from the rich 
 Crowne of Kings to the poore beggers crutch , from him 
 that fittcth on a Throne of glory ,unto him that is humbled 
 ineanhand afhes;from him that weareth Purple and a 
 Crowne,unto him that is cloathed in a linncn frocke. 
 
 vSaint John in his vifion in the booke of the Reuclation 
 faw the dead ariaigned at the barre of the great ludge, borh 
 
 E 3 great 
 
 51 
 
 Pral.45.i,«^ 
 
 Ecc!cn4«,j.4. 
 
 Rcu.zo.u, 
 
J+ 
 
 1 
 
 7 he certainty of death. 
 
 Division i. 
 
 Mattia 27JJ 
 
 •, LnV.i^»if. 
 
 ) 
 
 great and rmall)Olde,and young. la Gol^^otha are skulls of all 
 lizes, laich tue Hebrew proucrbe. Death attcndeeh youth 
 behinde vfhcreth olde age, and walketh before it , and it i$ 
 hard at hand to aU,ai]d to all iovts*AllmHfi grirtde togreete. 
 Princes are old, cold aiid chillerie \ Princes as well as others 
 muil decay and weare away. 
 
 Againe in this reipeci they may be rcfembled to Adors 
 oFa Comedy upon a ftage, wherein one adeth the part of a 
 piince,an other of a DuKe, another of an Earle,an© therof a 
 Nobleman, another of a Gentleman , another of a Magi- 
 ftrarc, another ota Merchant , another of a Countreyman, 
 another of a fcruant, euery one aileth a feuerall part. And fo 
 long as they are upon the llage, fo long there is rcfpecl( ac- 
 cording to their parts)had owne of another, but when the 
 Comedy i^ er.ded,andthe Ilage pulled downejthen there is 
 nofuch refped had amongft them. Yea many times he that 
 plaies the bafcll part is the beft man. So likewife fo long as 
 men doc ad fiiudry parts upon the ftage of this woj:ld,that 
 isjfb long as men doc liue in feverall vocations and callings, 
 fo long there is refped had amongft them,and that worthi- 
 Iy;but when as the comedy Ihallbe ended, that is,when the 
 day of doome fhall come , when 3s the ftage of this world 
 flialbc pulled do wne, that is when the earth flialbe changed 
 (for the eaith fl all neuer be brought ^<i non-ens ^10 nothing, 
 but onely the corrupriue quaUties (h^^ll be confumed) then 
 there ilialbe no fuch relped of perfons amongll men. Yea it 
 may be that the poore man {halbe of greater refped before 
 God then the great,rich j and mightie. Thou cameft lately 
 into the world,& haft found much,thit was thy good hap; 
 he came lately into the world , and found little, and yet his 
 hap was not ill ^nay ic may be better then thine. And what 
 were it to haue a purple Coatc, and a poluted confcience, a 
 gay gowne andafick heart, abed of gold ai)d a difeafed 
 mindc, a full cheft and an empty foule, a faire face and foule 
 "flffcdions, to gliftcr in icwels, and to be filthy in manners, 
 to be in grace with men^and in difgrace withGod.He that 
 
 hath 
 
p 
 
 IVI SION I 
 
 The ccrtAinty ofd^ath. 
 
 I 
 
 5S 
 
 Ecclcfl I , u 
 
 1 King J.JO. 
 
 hath much woilds wealth and dignity, and but a (mall mea- 
 lure of grace is intcriour to him ihathatha great mtalure 
 of grace, and but little, or no worlds wealth. Voi Ipirituall 
 things among themfclucs admit companion,bur bttvvcenc 
 things ipirituall and earthly there is none at aiU But tarry a 
 while and nature will take away this od^. J^kcdca,nfithox lobi.n. 
 OHt of thy mothers wonti^e and n.iksd fi.j/( thon returne agnine 
 to the earth our common mother , thou knowefl not how 
 foonc.If tliou vvert this day as fairc as Ahfolon^^s fvveet and 
 loucly as Jonathan ^^s ftrong as Sampfon as glorions as Sale- 
 moH^ inlcfle then an hower Dea.h will repioue all thefe 
 things of vanitie.r-«2W7 of Vanity liauh the Preacher) ^/^ ^ 
 Vanity. A little fickncs ,a little I cad-ache,one fit of an ague, 
 two i'poonefiill of phlegme diftilJlng out of thy head into 
 thy throate turneth all uplide downe, and maketh a ftrange 
 alteration in thee, yea God in a peece of an houre can make 
 as ftrange an alteration in thee, as was in /r/^^^/that proud 
 painted-faced Queenc dilfratl^ who euen now looked out 
 ar the window in much brauery, painted, frizled and curled 
 to pleafethe eyes of/^/?i^,and by and by flie became as dung 
 vpon the ground, and the ck>g5 did eatc her up. And as was 
 (^otiah that mightie Giant , who hauing challenged and re- 
 uiled tlic lioft of the liuing God, ftraighc way wa;> laid upon 
 the ground groueling without a head. 
 
 1 here is nothing that can free any one from Death , no, 
 not Icr.gth ofdayes,aor wiicdome>ftrength/iches,bcautic, 
 nortalntlfcofftatuic. For if length of daies cculd , then 
 the annrient Fathers and Patriarches before th.e floud who 
 Hucd fome fcuen , fome eight , fomc nine hundred yearns 
 and more, as before, could not hauedy^d, of all whom the 
 conclufion is ftill after he had liued fo many yearcs he dyed, 
 If wifdome could then King Salomon the vvifLft that ever 
 was, who knew the nature of all fim'plrs trom the ver)' hy- 
 fop to the cedar, and therefore if any, he furtly could Hatie 
 preferucd himfelfe from death. And vet of him ic is iaid .», 
 the end he dycd.lf ftrength the Sampjon who being r'duf d 
 
 E 4 with 
 
 I Sam.iZ'J'* 
 
 Incfg.i^.i^. 
 
I 5« 1 
 
 I Sam.ro.ij, 
 
 
 ■. c ■ 
 
 ^"^ttZ 
 
 I 
 
 The cerratntj of death. Division 
 
 with extraordinary flrength at one time , (lew a thoufand 
 wichthcIawe-boneoFan Aflc, had not dyed. If talnes of 
 ftature, SahI higher then any of the people from the flioul- 
 ders up ward, had not dyed; If riches, 'Z)^«^/; if beauty, ^^>- 
 Un had not dyed.Take a man in all his abundance of riches_, 
 trcarures^grcatnefle.and pka(urcs,flourif}iing in his greacelt 
 felicity ,brauery^and prolperity ;yea let him bcfif he wil)an- 
 other PoUcrates of this world, what is he of himfelfc,but a 
 carkafle, a caitife, a prey to death , reioycing and laughing 
 in this world, but yet as one that laughech in his drcarnc & 
 wakcth in his forrow , fraught fulloffeares and cares of 
 minde^not knowing to day what will happen to morrow, 
 mortall, mutabc mifcrable, whofc beginning is in trauell, 
 ftanding unccrtainc^his end corruption, his body fubiecft to 
 fickneife , his foulc to temptations , his good name to re- 
 proches, his honor ro blaftncfl'e, his goods to lode, and his 
 flefh ta rotrenncfle. 7^bftchadrtcKjK.er is but duft, AUxan^ 
 d^fz(hcs» Whereof fliould we be proud ? Certaine Philo- 
 fophers earncfty beholding the Tombc of^lfxaffder'(fsiid 
 ©ne^alas yefterday he did treafure up gold, and to day gold 
 doth treafure up him* Another (aid. Yefterday the world 
 did not fufficc mm,to day ten cubits are too much. A thii;d 
 faid^ Yefterdav he did command othci s,to day ochers com- 
 mand him. A fourth faidjYefterday hedeliuered many from 
 the gi aue, to day he cannot free himfelfe from Death. A fift 
 faid, Yefterday he led an armic, to day an annic conduds 
 him. A fixt faid, yefterday he didoucr-pre(re the earth, to 
 dav the earth fuppreftth him. A (eucnth (aid, Yefterday he 
 made many ftand in awe, to day not many repute of him. 
 The eight (aid, Yefterday he was an enimie to his enemies, 
 and a friend ao his friends, to day he is equall, yea all alike 
 to all. J 
 
 Thefiif ilonarchesbr fo* momcnury/ why (Tiould mor- 
 talls be i'o proud ? It is tnic that one writeth wittily of the 
 Grammarian ^ of eucry fonne of J/itm that being able to 
 decline all other nowncs in cuery cafe, he could decline 
 
 f ii D cath 
 
 // 
 
DiVl SION I 
 
 The certainty of death. 
 
 I 
 
 57 
 
 Dea:h in no cal'e.Thcrc was ncuer Orator io eloquent, tliat 
 could pcriwadc death to fpare him , ncucr Monarch (o po- 
 tent that could withlbiid hiin. A'^^^^ the i^d'\rc^Tl9^r(itts the 
 foulc, Zeljm the cruelly Scljman the uiaguihcent , C^^S^is 
 the rich, Irtis the poo re, Damet^s the ^C3i^^\-\i^AgamemK9n 
 the PniKc , all fall do vvnc ac Deaths fcetc. If he comaiarii^ 
 \vc mud away ; no tcarcs, no prayers, no threacniugs , no 
 intrcatings will ierue theturne, lo ftiffe, lo dca^e, fo inexo- 
 rable is Death. There are meancs to tame the moft fierce 
 and (auagebcafts, to breake the hard marble, and mollifie 
 thcAdamait, but not any one thing to mitigate Deathcs 
 rage. Fire, water, thciword, may be refifled (faith Saint 
 Angnftine) and Kings and kingdomes may be refilled, but 
 when death commeth, who can refift icf Deah (faith Saint 
 Bentard) pitticth not the poorc , regardeth not the rich, 
 feareth not the mighty, /parerh not any .It is in mans power 
 'indeed, to fay unto Deaith^ as fbmetime King CanutHs faid 
 vnto the fea, when it began to flow. Sea I command thee 
 that thoH touch not rnj/ feet :bat his command was bootlcfle, 
 ^r hee had no fooner fpokcn the word , but the furging 
 Waue^ dallied him.- (b may txtany fay unto Death , when it 
 ^pftacheth , I command thee not to come neere mee,but 
 Death wil ftrike him notwithftanding^And no more power 
 hath man to keepe backe Death, that it ftrike not, then the 
 mightiefl: King on earth to keepe backe the Sea,that it flow 
 not. The Sea will hauc his fluxe | and Death will haue his 
 courfe,they both kccpc tlieir old wont.Since the firft diui- 
 fion of waters , the Sea hath bcene accullomed to ebbe and 
 flow;whohath eiicr hindered it .^ And flnce the firft cor- 
 jruption of Nature , Death hath beenc accuftomedto flay 
 and deftroy ; who hath rcfifted it i 0:her cuftomes haue 
 jand may beabolifliedja King may command, and it is done: 
 f but what Monirch io abfolute , what Emperour To potent, 
 j that can abrogate within his Dominions this cuftomcof 
 dying? 
 
 Nay,thcre ii no piiuiledge^ no not fpirituall, neither can 
 
 can 
 
I 58 
 
 lames i.i^. 
 Iohn3.j« 
 lohn i.tj. 
 
 ! 
 
 EccIcHi.!^. 
 pfaI.49*JO. 
 Pral,8i.6,7. 
 
 Zach.i.j. 
 
 Thccatdintj of death. 
 
 ^■rita 
 
 DiVI SION I 
 
 that grace andcxcccllentgiftofholinefle andpiecie, pre- 
 ferueari.anfromanaruralldeath(z'J>.. the firft deathjouc 
 of no Court or Church can a man fetch a writ of protc- 
 dion againft this Sergcanr. Yea the very wombe is not ex- 
 cepted, no place will prefcrue , no perlbncan bee prmiled- 
 gtd from it. For hcere the holy and good man , the righ- 
 teous and religious man , is taken from the earth and di- 
 eth. For if any fliould be fpared , he chat is begotten againe 
 of C rods owne will by the word of truth, he that is borne 
 againe of water and of the Spirit > and fo borne not of 
 bioud , nor of the will of the flcfh , nor of the will of 
 man , but of God. Hee that is borne a new , not of mor- 
 tallfced, but of immortal! , by the word of God , which 
 liueth and cnduieth for euen A man (Ifay^ would thinkc 
 that (uch (if anyj'fliould not dye j and yet behold the 
 whole generation of Gods children, they all dye in their 
 appomttd time, and vndergoc death, not as a puni(h- 
 menc but as a tribure (as Seneca, the Heathen man Ipeakes) 
 which euery man muft pay for his life. The foole dies, 
 the wife-man , the fubied: , the Soueraignc. Ihane faid 
 (faith tl-'Cpfalmift^/^' are gods ^ and jee aH are children 
 of the mofl high, but jeep^all die as aman ^ andjee T^rin^ 
 ces PjaU fall like others xzvA^o alfothe Prophets and holy 
 men of God •• l^auid was a man after Gods owne heart, 
 and yet he*dicd : CMofes faw God face to face , and yet 
 he died.'The Prophets were indued with a great meafure of 
 fan(5fificationjyet the Prophet Zacharj ioyncs them all to- 
 gether in one (late of mortalitie. Your Fathers, where arc 
 they f and doe the Prophets Hue for cuerf what fay I,thc 
 Prophets? Nay Chrifl lefushimfelfe the Sonne of God,the 
 onely Sonne, the Sonne in whom he was well pleafcd,more 
 faithful then >^^r4^.<w.morc righteous then /o^. more wife 
 then Salomon^ more mit^btie then Sampfon^ more holy then 
 ^atiid and all the Prophets, though hee knew no (iimc in 
 himfclfc , yer for taking on him ihc burthen of our finncs, 
 became fub/e(5l to the fame condition of mortality with us, 
 
 and 
 
Division I. ^ The certainty of death. 
 
 and he died alfo. 
 
 Death is not partiall but dealcth uprightly with all 
 men, making the ftatc ar.d condition of aii men alike, 
 that none can repine , for as well dyed righteous ^Ahell 
 whofe lacrihce Cjod accepted , as envious C^m whole 
 fervice he reied:ed : as well zAhr>,ihiim the father of the 
 faithlull , as ^bimeUch the infidcll , as well Ifack^ the 
 ibnr.eofrhc free woman,as JJntaelih^ Ibnneof thcbond 
 woman, as well lacoh whom God loued , as Efan w hom 
 God liotcd : astwell chaft; Jofeph inccftuous as ^mtnou\2is 
 well mceke He^ki^h as rayling Rabfljekah ; as well good 
 King hhofophat as ^^^/^Z a wicked King from whom '.jod 
 tooke his Ipirit: as well tender heancd lofiah , as heard 
 hearted Pharoah : as well Salomon the wife, as 'Njiball 
 the foole : as well poore Lazjirns ^ as Dmes the rich 
 glutton : as well Simon Peter ^ ^sStmon the forccror : mer- 
 cilcfle Death doth exercife her cruelty upon all alike, for 
 as it is impofible for any man to dye that liued not before, 
 fo none can pofliblc Hue that fhall not dye hereafter. 
 
 Examples of other times, experience of oxir owne teach 
 vs that all of all forts die , and.are gathered to their fathers 
 yea the dumbe and deade bodies cry this aloud vnto v5. As 
 Bafil oi^SeUucid faith of Nt'^^jhc preached without words 
 of Preaching ; for euery flroake upon the Arke was a reall. 
 Sermon of repentance, fo euery corpfc that wee follow and 
 accompany to the graiie,preacheth really this truth vnto us. 
 All the worthicft of the firft times & whomfoever elle the 
 word of God hath well reported of, where are they i Are 
 they not all dead? Doe they not all fee corruption ^ (our 
 Sauiour Chrift excepted). Are they not all gone downe in- 
 to the ^[mic valley i Haue they not long fince made their 
 bed m the darkc ^ None of them all (our Sauiour Chrift 
 excepted) was able to dcliucr his life from the power of the 
 
 / 
 
 graue. Art thou better then T>autd^^n^ wifer then Salomon^, 
 Niiy ,art thou greater the our Father Abrahamyjho is dead 
 and the Prophets which are dead/* Whom makeft thou thy 
 
 felfe? 
 
 59 
 
 / 
 
 lohn 8,53. 
 
 
 "^■■•^ 
 
 ■*■*■ 
 
 iW^ 
 
6o 
 
 The ctrtAintj of death. 
 
 DlVlSI OM t 
 
 
 
 Efay Ji.^. 
 
 
 Hebr.ii.r. 
 
 fa 
 
 felfe i If thou thinkeft thou fiiouldeft not die 5 Then furcly 
 if the holieft begotten and borne of man doe (^it , then all 
 muft die. And ifholincfle muft yeeld, then prophanencffe 
 cannot (land out.Andtherfore whether holy or prophanc, 
 lew or Greeke, bond or free, male or female, all muft die. 
 If the tender harted woman that wept for Chrift, then the 
 ^ ftony hearted men that fcoffed at Chrift* If thofe that im- 
 balmed him, then thofe that bufFetted him. If fbce that 
 owredoyntment onhishead, then hee that fpat in his 
 ace. ifM^hisbelouedApoftlci then /»^^/ that betray- 
 ed him. 
 
 Man is a little world, the world a great man, if the great 
 
 man muft die, how ftiall the little onecfcape ? We muft not 
 
 thinke much to undergoe that, which all are enioyncd unto 
 
 neceflarily, Equalitie is the chiefe ground- worke of cqui- 
 
 tie , and who can complaine to bee comprehended, 
 
 where all are contained. For there is not a (bnne'of man 
 
 in the clufter of mankinde , but Eodem [mode & ntdo^ 
 
 vinSim & viUns ^ is liable to that common and equal I 
 
 law of Death. And although they die not one Death 
 
 for timt and manner, yet for the matter and end, one 
 
 death is infallible to all the fonnes of men. Lift ftp your 
 
 eyes to the heanens (faith the Lord) andlooke vfon the 
 
 earth beneath , for the heauens [ball vanijh away like 
 
 fmoake ^ and the earth fljallw axe old Itkea garment ^ and 
 
 they that dwell therein pyall die in like manner, what mdnii 
 
 ^<?<!'( faith thePfalmift) liueth and [hall not fee DeathiBiii 
 
 if any (hall objecft that Enoch and Elias died not. I 
 
 anfwere , Wee know not. I rather thinke they did, 
 
 and that E/ias in his fiery Chariot had his body burnt, 
 
 and Enoch , who in his yeares matched the dayes of 
 
 the Sunne3^5» was without painediflblucd, when God 
 
 tookc his foule to hcaucn j or if they died not , yet (as Ori^ 
 
 ^^•w faith) thegenerall is not therefore falfe, becaufc God 
 
 hath difpenccd in fome particulcrs_, though one or two died 
 
 not, yet this is an vniuerfall truth of all men to be recciued, 
 
 and/' 
 
i«iM 
 
 Division i 
 
 The certaimy of de^th. 
 
 I 
 
 and duely pondcircl. Itts app^nted U4tff nil men that thcj 
 jhniL once dve , from which there is no auoidancc. For the 
 Lord oiTifc tid death hath fo decreed it j chc decree v^s 
 made in the beginning : For dafl thou art : ami to dufi thon 
 pjiiU rcturneXi it behis decrecic rauft nccdi hauc a certaine 
 cffcdl.The decree \% cercaine,thceiicnt is incuirable.^/^r God 
 (laith the Pfalmirt) ^ in heaven , Undhe doth whatfoever hec 
 wt/i. Gods will is tht deede (as faith Saint CjprUn)i£ hce 
 hath once willed ic , it is as good as wrought . if he hauc 
 decreed it, it is as certaine as if it were done. It is hcauens 
 decrcc,and it cannot be rcuokcd. 
 
 I haue beene fomewhat too tedious in this firft Diuifion, 
 which is fomwhat contrary tothe common prouerbe, that 
 he lliould no: be tedious that rcades a Leflurc of mortality, 
 but becaufe this is on the one fids a matter worthy to bee 
 obferuediand on the other fide,a matter too too much ncg- j 
 leded.I haue beene fomwhat the bolder to inlift the longer j 
 vpon it. And therefore to conclude with my Stature* It if 
 
 Appoint ed,C^c» 
 
 It is therefore a care that cuery one ought to hauc, viz.to 
 know that they mbft die, iixi that they cannot auoid it. 
 The decree is gone out againft them, from the highcft court 
 ofParliamentof the moftHigh. What contempt were it 
 not to take notice of it ? 
 
 Euery one therefore ought to labour to number his daies^ ! 
 
 at 
 the 
 
 id truely to know his mortality , the greareftas well as ' 
 lemcaneftj the wifeftasthe fimpleft.Forifany one, then ' 
 all, and if any more then other , then the greateft , for the 
 greateft are mod fubje^fl to death. As they challenge them- 
 felucs to be the fiiKft of the common mould, ^o they muft 
 know, that, by that they arc not exempted from the com- ! 
 mon law of Nature,and force of Gods decree. But as the 
 finer the mettall,or the purer the matter of any glaffc or car- 
 then ve{fell is, the more fubjecfl it is to breaking. and fo the 
 daintieft bodies the (boneft gone. It bchoucth vs all there- 
 fore to feekc for fpirituall Arithmcrickc , thereby to num- 
 ber 
 
 6i 
 
 Hck^.ii, 
 
 Gcn.^.ip. 
 
 Pfal.i'M* 
 
 Dan.5,?, 
 
 IWwi 
 
 M«i 
 
>•■•«« 
 
 6z 
 
 V' 
 
 »Mw 
 
 T/je certaint y cj'aeaih. Division l 
 
 r -. 
 
 berour daiesina religious mediraticn of the incertainties 
 
 of the time, and the certainty that that time will come. Let 
 
 vs therefore liue to die, yea liue the lite of grace-, that wee 
 
 may liue the life of glory. And then though we muft 
 
 . goe to! the dead , yet wee fhall rile from 
 
 ji the dead, and from thenceforth 
 
 liue with our God out of 
 
 the reach of death 
 
 for eucr- 
 
 .•^liob ;* more. -jua i. 
 
 more. 
 
 i4 
 
 1 ?d :< 
 
 IMZIW 
 
 
 . r- 
 
 Uj. 
 
 I ■ HI M I i ^ -» il^ t t j t ll »J <l li. 1 ' ^. J 
 
 ^■■i ^i. 
 
 ' 
 
 I 
 
 Ji ;^xwV/ 
 
 "♦ •fr'? 
 
 Thieudofthffirfi *Dimfiet$ 
 
 ff-C5 
 
 ■■ ■■ " V " * ^■•- ' r-' 
 
 •*-■ 
 
 1. ii. 
 
 
 THE 
 
 ol 
 
 I 
 
 10l^^mtmm 
 
.v^ ."a, 
 
 J ^irt.WUJ" 
 
 C^l 
 
 w ^''k • 
 
 r 
 
 .0<;:! --vQ 'vVs \"- ^»^r,t'.'. yj:' '• \^e»'^i\'»-^ 
 
 
 CO^ cO' Ckc' ^C'.^^ '^c 
 
 «,' 
 
 '■^ < * » I j » J 
 
 -J 
 
 ■n 
 
 (\jidw OF DE ATHi--.'3;/Hin:.;n;:rnv? 
 
 "■^ ^ i - Henif Death betbu^ceitainc,!!! the 
 
 c'xt pUccthe law ofi'Cjloii aduiieth 
 
 I 
 
 6 f '• 
 
 ^l.{ 
 
 • J 
 
 I .^«.ll.l^!l^^ 
 
 
 3^ r'^Ii^^ cfcape k.a'nddf heatich • to'dcfire, icv 
 ^jfe^i^L^r^^^ AiKithiiike4d/i^t )tik?cdkl3pi ohiw*! 
 
 learnc^ the cl^clefTi^corifider, aixl dieidjpgcrtFail rdmcmbab 
 thiat they all miiftdye. F'or as Ss^iazlA-^p^fi'^^'^'C laith;n6diing' 
 fo rccalletVv a man from' finne.QSt the Ficquciu reittcmbraificc' 
 jof d\fath. ]Pa^f he 0frc5r of aU fneh^for id-je moftpiVD ra^lerh'^ 
 h i .<?'dr jgii ifiit> fe>in 'iVctjcc: ' ; t bat ilicN^ forger jdx'xhd oft^f^irci 
 Iirc/w-hi<ih tl)(iv^i_4vir aluay^i^to iuds: feakb»dfirar xi^esh! ( 
 • And of rhc want of 'thi.v c<ftrn:7)erh pride. ambiciofLilyttji^T,, ; 
 'glory /^too iWjch Ga/etulln^fe of thebodv'^,; -too; fnad!i cii- 
 kll^ i^id'-t^^lriim'ifttti^ dw*hihc^i>of :hi*h 
 coiWft^tl^ fhn^wWjLiikilii^U'liffti «i5C»n:8licifcridjI£df ifjwa> 
 
 of lining; y/onid pcriiaps be more hiimble-p rcrxipei-are'tind- 
 
 gqdty « ffH* wHo tvoijId^anwaHighiiiofto^'OSKi a prood^fto- Pul.i 31.1, 
 
 fmackc ^ if hcc did witb the eves rtfhisi<mirfdr«bchokiiXvhac 
 »-^ manner 
 
 •^- 
 
64 
 
 Phil.J.i^i 
 
 The cert A int-j of death. Division i 
 
 pfa1.^o.li. 
 
 
 manner of one he fliordy after (hall be in his graue f who 
 would then worfliip his belly for a god, when he waigheth 
 with himielfe thac the fame muil in li ort time be wormes 
 mcatc? who would be ^o in loue with money ,that he would 
 runne like a mad-man by ica and land ( as if were through 
 fire and water) if he vnderilood that he mud ieaueall be* 
 hinde him. 
 
 i If this were well thought upon, our errors would (bone 
 be corre<fled, and our liues bettered. Wifti therefore rather 
 for a good then a long hfc. It is a thing doubtlcffe, worthy 
 of euery mans beft thoughts and intentions. For feeing e- 
 uery man mufl dic^ and hath a cotirfe to finifb,which being 
 finifhcd, hee muft away. It is fpeciall wifdomc to leame to 
 know the length of his daycs, as it were the length of his 
 leafe;forashehath vfcdhimfel&inhisfarme^he il all enter 
 at the expiration of his time upon a better or worfc 
 
 Dakidiox his learning a Prophet, for his acceptation ^ 
 man 4ft^ gods cwrt h<arf^for his authority a Kin^,was then 
 very iludious in this knowledge , when after iafting and 
 watching, he befought God to be inftiii(f^ed in it. Lord let 
 me k^ow my eud.andthe meafHre of my dayes yvhat it isjlct mt 
 S^ow how long I hane to iine. So CMofes^ wife in all the wi^ 
 dome of Egypt and ifraci , accounted fiithfijll in the houfe 
 of God, prayed yet for this point of wifedome to be infor- 
 med in it , and as well for himfclfc as others. Teach mfo to 
 number our <^^7//(faith \it)that we may apf/j onr hearts vnto 
 rpifdome :XiV.c carefull fchollers, who forfake their meat and 
 drinkc, and breake their fleepe, and are often in meditation 
 when they beate upon fome ferious fub/c<fl. 
 
 What thinke you it will profit a man, if by his skill in A- 
 rithmetikc , he be able to dcalc with ciiery number, and to 
 diuidc the lead fracflions , and neuer to thinke on the num- 
 bering ot his daies with the men of God, and yet his daics 
 arc few and evill. 
 Whar will it profit him, if by GeQxxKtrie hce bee able to 
 
 rke the longitude ofmoft fpatioui profpcds, a«dnocbe 
 able 
 
 m^ 
 
DivislONZ. 'I he mtditatton of deaths 
 
 I 
 
 65 
 
 able CO mcafurc that which the Pf ophcc hath meifi^rcd with 
 his ipanncc^ 
 
 Whac will it auaile him^if with the aftronomer he be able 
 to obferuc and know the motions ot the heauens , and yet 
 have his heart io buried in the car b, that he cannot chin kc 
 of that which pafllch away as iwiltly as any motion of 
 them alU 
 
 What profiteth it (I fay)lf he be able, with the PhilofcN 
 pher, to fcarch out the cauies ot many effects, and to know 
 the causes of many changes , as of the cbbijig and flowing 
 of the leas, the incrcalii:g ai^d wayningofthe Moone , and 
 the hke,and be not able to know his owne changes and the 
 caufesof them.*'Doub.le(rc all this wil profit them nothing, 
 all this knowledge wil be to litrle purpofe in the end. And 
 vi»Icfle they think upon death, they cannot apply and fafhi- 
 on themltlvcs to a godly life. Yea we finde daily by experi- 
 cnce» that the forgtthiintfle of death maketh us apply our 
 hearts to all kinde ok toily and vanity,. 
 
 I The holy men in old time were wont to keepe fuch an 
 account of their da es , and fo to thinke on dcarh,that aboue 
 ail chings they might appiy their hearts unto wiledomc. So 
 mindtuU of thcfe things was Saait lereme^ who (aith of 
 him(elfe,tha: whether he did eatc or drinke, or whatfoever 
 clfe bed d,he : bought alwaics this found of the laft trumpet 
 d d cucr ring in his cares. Artfe ye dead a»d come to indge- 
 m^nt, WhiCh when 1 confider •, faith he)it makes me (liakc 
 and quake, aiid not dare to commit finnc, which othcrwifc 
 I ' HoHid have committed. 
 
 Likevvife that ancient father /««^r^wfjw the fourth, was 
 fo careftill to avoid the vengeance to come, that to ftirrc up 
 all the powers and faculties of his mmde.wi .h due confide- 
 ration of the vanity of this world r he vilcneflc ofhis nature, 
 the fhortn«fs of hiS time the caufes of finne^ anu the punith- 
 mcnt for the fame, he ftill imagined to hearea damned foule 
 anfwere his denia id, as folio wet h> in manner of an interlo- 
 cution or dialogue* 
 
 P ThoH 
 
 Pral,j9.j. 
 
66 
 
 I 
 
 ihe meditAion of death. D i v i s i on 2 '. 
 
 lob 17. 1 4« 
 
 ThcH dufl an^ clay ^tell me( Ifaj^-where is thy bewtj flvdf ... 
 fVas it in vaine,or doth tt ^^atne ^thee favonr with the deadi 
 Thy hofifefo hiqjo, thy pleafures by ,thy cat tell more or leffe 
 Thy land Co ^^idefhy yvtfe be fide, a. granger doth poffejfe. 
 where is thy flrength J?ecoTneM le-figthythy yvit thy noble blood. 
 Thy woYldlycnre^thj dainty faire^doe thefe thee my goad} ■. 
 
 TheanlVereJ;:Ji 
 
 I mil notfatne^aH Is bnt vaine^there is no food to find 
 No wit, hor wealth ^no hire, no health. no hope in araue affian^d' 
 WhAt wilt thoH morc^. my goods tnftore my land jo large <:^ wtdc 
 A<fy glory gay, my braue aray , increafed haUe my pnde , - 
 .A iy pride nty paine^procfir^d againeyny fame, my qriefe alAs 
 My gy^efe . my griefe^ithout reletfe . my fences doihfsirpajje. 
 My Tva*ling v!>oe^fio mandoth l^nowno tongne can halfe dk^ilay \ 
 'Jfreife, jfric exceedingly y alas, andwell away, ' : -j^^j ^y:v'i | 
 / weepe^ I wayle , / faint ffa.il e ^ iflirre^ Jfi.ampe, I ft are ^ 
 I dye, I dye^e^relafiinqJy fareyvell by me beware* 
 
 Remember thou learned that hye thou muft , 
 
 .And fiifter coTne to iftd^ement iuft. 
 '^^ Behold thy felfe byme~fuch ene was Iy as thoH^ 
 
 And thok in tinfejhall be encn dt^ft'^as lam now* 
 
 Andfo mindfull hereof aifo was Anaxagoras 5 for when 
 word was brought unto him that his Ibnne was. dead , liee 
 was not much moued vvichthcnew£s.becaufe(^as he Taid^ 
 he knew and had well confidered, long before,, that; his ioy\ 
 was mortall. For a mortal! father cannot be^^et an immor- 
 taHfonnc. If thcv that brought us into the world are gone 
 out ofthe world ihcnifclvcs , wee may infallablv conclude 
 our owne following. Hee that may fay I have a man to my 
 farher^ a- woman to mv mother in this life, may in death lay 
 with lobfTo cnrrtiptwn thou art my father^to the worme^thou 
 art my mother and my fifter. 
 
 Xerxes that mightie Monarch and Emperonr of the Pcrfi- 
 
 ans 
 
Diyi siCN'll ifHrneditation of death, 
 
 I 
 
 ans,(uehuldi:ig froai a high place) the hugcncflc of his Ar- 
 niy^iiiltrengch invincible , iucjiiaiity diucis, iiinuiiibcrih- 
 hnite, in whofe courage and n^jigh: Ik had fully rcpuied the 
 Ihength othis Kingdome , tht lafcgard ot lu^ peilbn , a::d 
 giory oiWis Lmpire, could wot rctrauic his eyes tiom tcarcs, 
 co:iiidcring chat ot all thi5 marvelous multitude vyhich hce 
 faw> chat aFter one hundred y tares, theix ihould not a man 
 be left. And /Lall wee .hac are Chriftians, (at lead wife by 
 name) viewing from the hjghefl pinniclc ot our co'iceit,our 
 f elves^our glory, maguitiCencc and renovvne^our vvealth,our 
 ftrcngth,our triei ids, our. health, and ail our bravery ^w herein 
 we rcpoie all our feiicitie and happincfle, be nothing moucd 
 with the due confideraiion of our Death , and with the paf- 
 fingaway of the world, and the concupifcence thereof? 
 Therefore faith Afrfn/V,aiia'^i^"^^i*^^P,>w^'*^^ h^wQ we to 
 doe witli the delight of thc/world, chat it iJ^puld hinder us 
 ftom the tneditaaoaon Death ^ You may call it as you will^ 
 cither pleafure, paftime, gladneffe, mirth, ioy : but in Gods 
 dictionary it hath no fuch name, in the holy fcripture it is o- 
 th^cwile caJied, 1 1 is called v^^^wjgoodlie apple which be- 
 in^ eaten, deprtued him of paradife. £/^///reddc broarh, 
 Wtttchbbing Ibpt up bereaved, him of his birthright, hhi- 
 thdns fvveece hony combe, which being but tailed^ was like 
 to cod lum his iife.Tbus is all the delight in the world called 
 I m Gods didionary. It is called Adams apple, Efaus broath, 
 lonathans hony-combe»So that all thss delight is no delight, 
 or iuppofe it were,yet cen:aiuely.kfl>^JA¥?.t.ff>^^ ^9^ ^'^^ ^^ 
 fires of thy heart. > ^'^-^V^t .'-.n r :''?-* 
 
 As any lolide body,though it have never fo fair^ ^ colour, 
 as crimfon, or cornation, or purple, or fcarlet, or violet, or 
 fuch liKe,yet alwaicsthe lliadow of it h black>fo any earthly 
 thifig, though i: have never lo feice a fliewjyet alwayes the 
 riiadow of it is^ blacke^ and the delight thou takeft in it (liall 
 prone to bee grievous in the end when thou muft leaueail. 
 Therefore 'VLito cailcth ita fweete bitter thii^ ; Co likewife 
 if wef' meditate on Death , it will make us to call all thefe 
 
 •j^.. 
 
 ' i 
 
 Vi 
 
 thiniis 
 
 n 
 
 67 
 
 Ioi7.13.27, 
 Re U.I, 
 
68 
 
 I 
 
 The meditditon of death. D i v i s i c n 2 . 
 
 GaJ/.i^t 
 
 things of the world not fwcet but bitter. And it wouid make 
 iis fay with the Apoftle , Cjodferhid th.tt 1,'aMid delight in 
 any thing but in the crofe and death of (lortft^^y which the 
 World is crucified unto mc and I umo the world. 
 
 But of all amhmcticall rules, this is the haideft,to num- 
 ber our daics. Men can numbers their heards and droues of 
 Oxen and fheepc , they can account ^he reuenue^ of their 
 lands a id farmcs.chey can witha hftu paines number their 
 coyvK and game and yet they are perf waded that their daies 
 arc mfinit andinjiumerabic, and cbc efore rhey neuer begin 
 to number^hor thinkc on rheitl for the which they will ne- 
 utr find any leafure. Who faith not upon the veiw of ano- 
 ther ,furcly yonder man look-eth By h:s coufntenanee as if he 
 would not liuc lo:.g, yonder WomSrtisold her daies can- 
 hot be tnarty ^ Thus wvecan riunlbtr the daicji and yearcs of 
 others; and vtterly forget our oWrie. Buc the true wifedome 
 ef itiortiali men is to huttibtr their owne daycs^ap.d like skil- 
 fiill Geometiitians to mcafure all their adions , all their (In- 
 dies all their cares arid endcauours,aU their thoughts and dc- 
 fircs , atid all their counftUs by their dcparure ou: of this 
 life (as the cn6 whcreunto they are refer ved^> as if were by a 
 cercaitie rule, iuA thereunto to difcd ali thing.*; and io to fi- 
 nifti the courfe of our life which (jod hath g uen us 3 tha: 
 atlafl we may come to thehauenof eternall ufl and hap- 
 pinefTc. 
 
 ' What If we had dyed in the daycs of ignorance, like /«- 
 das t!at hanged himfclfc before he could fee the palTion, re- 
 furrc(5lion, or alccnfion of lefus ChriiU We fhould then haue 
 numbred our daics and our finnes too. Bur alaifc how many 
 daycs haue we fpent , and yet ntuer thought why one day 
 was giuen ns?But as tfct oldyearc went, and an other came, 
 fo we thought that a new would follow that , and fo wee 
 thinke that another will follow this , and God knoweth 
 how foonc wee fliall be deceiued, For (o thought many of 
 them before, who are now in their graucs, 
 
 Dearcly bcloued, this is not to number our daycs, but to 
 
 prouoke j 
 
Dl V I S ION 
 
 2. 
 
 The tneditAiion ofdeMh. 
 
 I 
 
 69 
 
 prouokc God to Hiorten our dayes. I that wiitc, you that 
 rcad,andail that hcarcthis,\vhichotui» hath not lived twen- 
 ty ycarcs, yea iome forty, ht-tic, or more, and yet we have 
 never la-iouHy thought on Death, nor applycd our hearts 
 aright unto wiledcmie. O if we had learned but every ycerc 
 one vertue , lincc wee were borne , we might by this time 
 have bcene hke Saints amongll men, whereas if C, od at this 
 prelent time iliould call us toiudgemcnt, it would appearc 
 that we had applyed our hearts , mindes, memories, hands, 
 fcetc, tongues, and all our whole bodycs to all kindeof finne 
 and wiekednclTe ^ but not applyed our felves at all to wii- 
 dome, godlinefle, vertue, and true piety. 
 
 Democntus was wont to walke a mongft the graucs, that 
 he might become a right Philoibpher ; for true philolphie 
 (faith Plato) is the meditation on Death ; and thou which 
 art inftruded in the true Chriilian Philofophie, howcaiift 
 thou behold the bones of the dead, but thou muft ntcdis fall 
 into this patheticall meditation with thy felfe. Behold thcfe 
 Icg^s that have made lo many iourneyes , this head which 
 is tnc receptacle of wiidome,& remembreth fo many things, 
 muft fliortly be as this bare skull and dry bones are. I will 
 therforc betimes bid worldly vanities ^i^/f«,betake my felfe 
 to repentance and newneffe of life , and fpend the reft of 
 my daycs in the (ervice of my God, and continuall medita- 
 tion on my t:n<\. 
 
 As the lafl: day of our life Icaveth us,fo fliall that lail day, 
 the day of Chrifts comming finde us. How good were it 
 therefore I cfbrc wc run into defperate arrerages, to cafe up 
 our bils of accompt, and the rather becaufe we fliall be u^ar- 
 ned out of our oiBce wee know not how foone. Some Em- : ^^^^c'^** 
 
 j perors amongft the heathen (^as bookes fay^were wontto be 
 
 I crowned over the graues , and fepulchers of dead men , to 
 
 j teach them by the certaine but unknownc end of their 
 
 flmrt life , to ufe their great roomes , as men that mufl: one 
 
 day be as they are, whofe graves they tread upon. 
 
 The old Saints, w^ho liucd in a continuall meditation of 
 
 F 3 their. 
 
70 
 
 I 
 
 I'he meditation of death. Division 
 
 Ioh.17.1^. 
 
 r 
 
 their fhort and uncertaiac time,were wont al waies like vvii'e 
 merchants to think ofchdr returne honicvvard;and therfbre 
 tooke up their treafure by bils of payment , not where they 
 were , but where they would be , and meant to make their 
 long aboade^ that is meant to be for ever. And the Philolb- 
 pheis (who faw not beyond the clouds ot humane realbnj 
 whe they perceiiicd how much men did decline by courle oF 
 yeares & waft of time,were wont to fay that the life of a wife 
 man was nothing elfe but a continual! meditation on death) 
 the remembrance whereof made the world (which wee for 
 want of this meditation fo willingly imbrace j vile and con- 
 temtible unto them ; and avayled greatly to guide them in 
 all godlines.So a Chriftian mans lifc,is,or fhoiild be nothing 
 els, but a continuall meditation on death. 
 
 \ All that is within us, and without us , arc fo many re- 
 membrances of Death ^ all things crye out unto us that wee 
 muft hence, as Chrift cryed, lam not of thus world. The ap- 
 parrell which we weare upoa our backs , the meate difgcf^ 
 ted and cgefted, and returning to putrefadion , the graves 
 rhrouding fb many corpes under our fecte, time the mother 
 ofall things, and the changeable flate of times , even win- 
 ter and iommer cold and heate,feedc time and harveft,all do 
 
 j crie unto us that wee fliall weare away, and dy and corrupt. 
 As they who were lining arc now dead, and lye iw the duft, 
 firfl we wax dry, then old, then cold, then ficke, then dead. 
 So that every thing doth ferve to put us in minde, that our 
 bodies which wc bare about us , are mortall ; for even on 
 our table wee have monuments of Death ; fbr wee eate 
 not the creatures till they be dead , ourgai'ments are either 
 the skinnes or excrements of dead bcafts ; we often follow 
 the dead corps to the grave, and often walke over t heir bo- 
 dies.and in Churches and Church-yards. cfpeclally men that 
 doe ufe to walke there, Hall doe well to rcmmember that 
 they trcade upon the dead, and others (hortly muft treade 
 r.ponthem. 
 
 Moreover in great Citties wee have almoft every day 
 
 iDeathi 
 
Division 2 
 
 The meditation of death. 
 
 I 
 
 71 
 
 I 
 
 Death rung in oureares, the deadly bdl tclleth us, that dufl ) 
 wcc arc, and to duit wee niuft goe againe. To this perhaps 
 the old Oracle hath retcrence , of whom the Phiiolophcr 
 ZcKg (being defirous to chulc the mod honcft and beii: rule 
 for the direcHon of this hfc) dcmciundtd ai the manner 
 then was, his opinion therein^ and receiving this anfwer. 
 That tfhe would frame the conrfc of hii life aright , he pjould 
 ufc the commerce & fociety ofthedead,K^(\ the Church-yards 
 which arc the houles of Chrilh'ans,and as it were the cham- 
 bers or beds to fleepe in , they are the places to which we 
 may relon to be put in minde of our mortallitie and future 
 mutability. 
 
 But weChriflians haveinftead of commerce and fociety 
 with the dead, O^ofes and the Prophets to put us in minde 
 of our dcathiand if we will not heare them, neither will we 
 be periwaded , though one rife from the dead to tell us of 
 our death. 
 
 Adam knew all the beads, & called them by their names, 
 but hisowne name he forgot. Adam of earth. What bad 
 memories haue wee, that forget our ownc names^ and our 
 felues, that we are the ibnnes of men corruptible and mor- 
 tallr Proud man (I fay J forgets this fentencc,that earth is his 
 natiuc wombe, when he was bornc^ and that being dead^the 
 earth is his tombc. 
 
 When we looke to the earth, it fliould put us in minde, 
 that earth we wxre, earth we are,and earth wee (hall bejthe 
 earth prouidcs for our neccffity^and feeds us with her fruits; 
 neither in life nor death doth fhce forfakc ws\ while we liue, 
 /lie fillers us to make long furrowcs on her back, and when 
 we dy, her bowels are digged up, and fhee receiueth us into 
 herbofbmc; here now a pit is digged leven or eight fbote 
 long, and fo as it may ferve for Alexander the great, whom 
 liuing, the world could not conraine. And how loftiefbcver 
 men looke, death only fhewes how little their bodies are, 
 which (o imall apeice of earth will con:ai;ie whom before 
 not'-.ing would content; and therein «i,he dead carcafl'e '\% 
 
 F 4 content 
 
 Fzcck.3.7, 
 
 
zL 
 
 \ 
 
 The mcditiUton ofdeat/j. 
 
 D I ^' I s I C s 2 . 1 
 
 PfaU^. 1^5X7. 
 
 content to dwell, whonie at his comaiing the woinies doe 
 welcome ; and the bones of ether dead men are conltrained 
 to give place. And in this hoQieofobliLiionand lilcncc 
 the carcaffc being vvoondiiialheete^ and buuiid hand and 
 foote^is lliut up though it necde not to have io great labour 
 beftowed upoi-i it^for it would not run away out ofthat ^xl- 
 lonjthough the hands and feetc were loofc. 
 
 And now ifweedoc but coiifider a little of the tombes of 
 noble men and Princes, whofe glory and maieftie wee have 
 feene when they liued here on earth , and doe behold the 
 ftill and lillie formes and (hapeSjWhich they now have, fliall 
 wee not cry out as men amafed r Is this that glory ^thiat high- 
 neife and excellencie. Whether now are the degrees of their 
 waiting fervtnts gonef Where arc their ornaments and iew- 
 els i Where is their pompe, their delicacy znd nicencffef All 
 thefe things are vaniflied away like the lmoake,and nothing 
 is now left but dull: , horror and rottennefle; fuch is mans 
 body now become; yea though it were the body of an Em- 
 peror, King, or Monarch 5 where is now that Ma/eftie, that 
 excellency^ and authoritie, which it had before time, when 
 men trembled to bclioki it, and might not come in prefence 
 without all rcuerence and obcyfancc. Where are all thefe 
 things become ? Were they a dreame or fhado w i After all 
 thefe things the funerall is prepared , which is all that meti 
 cafi carry with them of their riches and kingdomesjand this 
 alfothey fhould not- haue, if in their life time the did not 
 appoyntit for their dignity and honor. For the Pfalmift 
 faith, Beefiot then afrad though one be made rich, or iftheglo- 
 rie of his heufe be mcreajedyfor hejball carry atphj nothing Tfith 
 him -when he dyeth, neither Jhallhis pompe follow htm. O would 
 wee could but confider the equall necelTitie of dying \x\ all, 
 and the like putrefaction in all being dead. This would 
 plant in our hearts true humilitic, if wee call to minde what 
 we are now,and what we Hiallbe fhortly. We are now in our 
 beft eftare, but as a dunghill couered with fiiowe , which 
 when Death fhall diflblve , there Oiall nothing be feene of 
 
 all 
 
Di 
 
 VI S ION 2 
 
 T/jc ?^j.d;tdtion oj cUaiL\ 
 
 73 
 
 all our ponipc and gory, but ciuR^rottcmufTe^and coruipri- 
 ' on. The c jnikkrauonof all u h.ich things as a dyatl puttcth 
 us ill inindc tha: wcc mult all hciicc \ \\ hen wc have nmiiL 
 our ccrtainc race in an uiiccrraine tune ; the courfe whereof 
 becaule it lliall bee mcercepted , not \v hen wee plcale , but 
 whcnihe Lord will , ii is good that wee be forewarned to 
 meditate on Death, that wee may be the better armed to in- 
 counter with Deadi when it comes. 
 
 When wcelooke rotlie waters to, fee how fwifdy they 
 runne,let usrhinke, tliat lo our hfe pallcch ; when we be- 
 hold the tbules flying m the ayrc, whole paflagc is not ieenc, 
 fo is the path ofour iii^e. When wee fee the Sunne and the 
 Moone how the haftcn their courfe^ even lb doc wee. Wee 
 can turneour lelvesnoway, but (bmething there is which 
 may put us in mindc of our mortality. Cart yous eye upo:] 
 your hourcglartc, and coniider that as the houre, lo pafleth^ 
 our lite. Sit in your chaire by the fire, and fee much wood 
 turned into fmoakc and afhes , and fay with the Poet. 
 Sictn rton hominem vertitnr omnis homo. So man will fodain- 
 ly become no man. See in the fields fome gralTe comming, 
 fome come already, and fome withered and gene , and con- 
 j fcflc with the Prophet that allflcflj is grajfe^nndallthe bedn^ 
 tie thereof as a flower of the field •, when the ayre moues, 
 and the winde beates in your face^ remember that the 
 breath of man is in his noftrils, which being Itopt his 
 breath is gone , and that the ffcrongelf tenor of your life is / 
 but by a puffe ofwindc. Standing by the riuers fidcconfclTe 
 that as the riuer runneth^and doth not retnrne, lo doth your 
 life. As the arrow which yon fee flyc in the ayrc, fo fwifdy 
 conclude that your dayes doe palTe. Or i^ we be like horle 
 or mule without undcrdanding to confider this, yet I am 
 fiirc, wee cannot be fo fcnceleffe as to coniider that which 
 e\'ery dayes hght prefcnteth to our view. And furcly if we 
 goe no further then our ownc felver, and coniider how ma- 
 ^y dilcafcs we continunly carry about us , what aches afFcd 
 ur boncs_, what heavinelTe our bodies , what diranefl'e our 
 ^ eyes, 
 
 \ 
 
 Efay 40/. 
 
 Pfal.g 1,0, y 
 
 J- 
 
I 
 
 74 
 
 I 
 
 lob x.i^. 
 
 7 he mcditAtion of death. Divisionz. 
 
 eyes, what dcafneffe our eares, what trembling our hands, 
 what rottenneffe our teeth, what baldnefle our heads^what 
 grayncfTe our hay res ; all and every one of thcfe, as fo many 
 loud alarums would ibund unto us , Death '\% ncere. Or i^ 
 none of thefe did affed us within , yet how many thouland 
 dangers doe daily threaten us without, and feeme to fhew 
 us prefent Death : fitting on horfe-back, in the flipping of 
 one foote thy life is in danger; by an iron toole or weapon in 
 thine owne or thy freinds hand, a mifchance,and that dead- 
 ly, may happen. The wilde beaftcs , which thou feeil, are 
 armed to thy deftrudion. If thou fliut up thy fclfe in a gar- 
 den well fenced , where nothing appcares but fweete ay re, 
 and that which is pleafant, there perhaps lurketh fome dan- 
 gerous or venimous Serpent. Thy houfe fubfed to continu- 
 all mndes and [tormes , doth threaten thee with falling on 
 thy head. I fpeake not of poyfonings, treafbns, robberies, 
 open violence , of which^part doth befiege us at homeland 
 part doe follow us abroad. Examples tending to this pur- 
 pofe are infinite ; whereof fome have becne mentioned be- 
 fore in the former Diuifion : and I will produce heere fome 
 few more , thereby to put us in minde that the fame things 
 may happen to our felves. For which cau(c,hardly £hould a 
 moment of our life be fpent without due confiderarion of 
 our death. 
 
 If then wee afccnd the Theatre of mans life, and looke a- 
 boutjWe fhal fee fome to have perifhed with fodaine death; 
 Ananias zwASaphira : others with griefe, E/y : others with 
 )oy, RodtHs^T)iagoras : others with gluttony, Domitifis jifer 
 others with drunkennefle, Aitilla King of Hunnes : others 
 with hunger, C/^^;//^;//:others with thhdyThales MUeJins: 
 others in their lafcivious daliances ComeUus ^ alius: others 
 with over-watching,^. -r^/^//A«j':others with poyfonjP^^?- 
 cion, Henry 7. Empcrour , in a feaft by a Monke : fome by 
 fircfromheavcu,thc Sodomites, ^;?4/^ri«/ the Emperour 
 anEutichian Heriticke:fome by waters,-^, ^-/^^'^^-^ifome 
 by Earth-quakes, Efhafns Birfiop of Antioch : fome fwal- 
 
 lowed 
 
DiVI SIGN 2. 
 
 The meditation of deaths 
 
 I 
 
 iL 
 
 \ 
 
 lowed up quickc, Corah^Dathan and Al^ira»: iomc fbitlcd j 
 with tmoakc and vapours, ^w/////^;(bmc with a Bll^by (lip- 
 ping of chcir fcete, 'I^eftortfis the Hcritickcioinc at the di(- 
 burdening of- nature, Arrins the Hcriticke-.foine with a iun- 
 daine fall trom their borfe , 'Phtli^ King of Irance : others 
 killed and tornc in (under by dogs , HcracUtus Lutian the 
 Apoftata : by hoilcs, Hyppolttici : by Lions ^L)cns Emperor: 
 by beares, two and fortie children, by \jo:{vQS,AncctHs- King 
 of Samos : by Rats, Huto^ Billiop of Mentz , aiid the like. I 
 Ipeakc nothing of others,who have untimely pcrifhedjome 
 by one meancs, fome by another. vV'hat fliall I fay then^doc ' 
 fo many things within us, fo many things without us , fo 
 many about us threaten continuall death unto us ^ 1 hen 
 wretched man that thou art,thac docd not meditate on thefe 
 things, feeing thou art fo ncere thy deaths and mull: certain- 
 ly die. 
 
 HerodetHsvjntcthofScfofiris^ a King of the Egyptians, 
 that he was carried in a Chariot drawne with fbureKings^ 
 whom he before had conquered : One of the fourc calling 
 his eyes behindejooked often upon the wheclcs of the Cha- 
 riot,&: was at length demanded by Sefojlris what he meant 
 colooke backe foofteu. I fee (faith he) that thofe things 
 which were higheft in the wheele,became prefently loweft, 
 and the lowcll: eft-fbone became higheflagaine. I thinke up- 
 on the inconftancie of all things, .^r/d/r/^ hereupon adui- 
 fing himfelfe , waxed more milde , and delivered the faid 
 Kings. Which Hiftory putteth us in minde of our mortali- 
 tie add change. 
 
 As a birde guideth her flight with her trainc,fo the life of 
 man is bcft diredcd by conrinuall recoiirfc to his end. Doc 
 we not know by Scripture, that death ftealeth upon us, as 
 trauell upon a woman, or as a thcife in the night, which gi- 
 ueth no warning. And experience fhewcth the truth of this 
 plentifully. The rich Churlc in the Gofpell, that boafled of | I-ulc.i».i^,io, 
 {lore for many yceres,evcn that very night had his foule fet- 
 ched from him, when like a 7^7 he was prouning himfelfe 
 
 in 
 
 I 
 
76 i 
 
 The meditation of death. Division 2 
 
 lob xr.M. 
 
 t 
 
 in the boughes , became tumbling do wne with the arrow 
 in his fide; his glafle was ruiine^whea he thought ic but new 
 turned,& the axe was Ufted np to llrike him to the ground, 
 when he never dreamed of the flaughterhoule. 
 
 Wee had need of monitors^ oF Phttip boyes to put us in 
 minde of our end : not the oldeft man^ but thinkes he Hi all 
 live a yeare : and theyongman in the April ofhisage,when 
 his breads are full of milkc^and his bones runne full of mar- 
 row^ full little, thinkes of the flimic valley, and that he H^all 
 iliortly remaine in the heapes. 
 
 Certainly we dwell but in houfes of clay, and C^rmpion 
 is our father^ the ivormes our mother andftfler* \Vc arc crea- j 
 tures but ofadayes life , and the foure Elements are thc| 
 foure men thvit beare us on their flioulders to the graue. Af- 
 fure thy felfe,ere many yeares or months be pafl:,pale Death 
 will arreltthec, binde thee hand and foote, and carry thee 
 whither thou wouldeft not, to a land darke , as darknefl'e it 
 felfe. What then remaincth, but that thou make thy grave 
 prcfently,with lofe-^h o^^rimatheaj^n thy gardenCche place 
 of thy delight) to put thee in minde of thy death, and mour^ 
 ning cvey day amongfl: thy entifing pleafures, as if the fun 
 of thy life were to fee at nigh:. For time paft is irrevocable^ 
 t'me prefent , momentary , and time to comg, full of un* 
 certaintie. 
 
 When thon goell to bed, and art putting ofFchy cloathes 
 remember and meditate that the day commeth when thou 
 muft be as barely unftript of all that thou haft in the world, 
 as now thou art ofthy cloathes. And when thou feeft thy 
 bed let it put thee in mind.^ ofthy graue, which is now the 
 bed of Chrift,. which he hath fanc'Tifiedand warmed for the 
 bodies of hi: dcare children to reft in 5 and ler thy bed-cloa- 
 thes reprcfcnt unto thee the mould of the earth that flial co- 
 ver thce,thy fhcets, thy winding flieet,thy fleepe thy death, 
 thy waking thy rcfiirrecflion, for when we rife in the mor- 
 ning > wee miift remember thereby that wee fh all rife out 
 of the grave of the earth at the laft day. For all thefe things 
 
 appcr- 
 
Division 2. The meditatt»n of deaths 
 
 I 
 
 77 
 
 appertaining to Death , yea and Death it fclfe Chrill Jefiis 
 hach lantftihcd unfous, by layii^.g his bltflcd body three 
 daycs and three nights inthcgrauc, from whence the third 
 day he role againe,ovcrcoinmiilg thereby Death it (clfeand 
 stli the diibcuicies thereof, and the miicries incident to the 
 larnCjfbr as moft miferabiediftrcded Tinners. 
 
 With ihiskcy of meditation we Should open the day,and 
 ftiUt in the night, and what befalleth others in the duftof 
 their bodyes, we muftthinke will come rous,we know not 
 how foone in oilr ownc duft and mortality here. Artd there- 
 ford as the third Captainc fcnt from the King o^Ifracl to E'i 
 /*A^, to bring him , arid pcrceiuing chat the other two Cap- 
 tains wit^ their fifties were dcuoured with Hre from hcaucn 
 (at the reqaert of Etiinh) grew wife by their experience and 
 therefore ^cll dowhe 5 and belought fevour for him and b'S 
 fiftie, ro we hearing arid feeing ofio many fifties, young and 
 old; thai inchd^ late yeares of mortality haue ended cheir 
 hues in a fire of pcftileixc, fent from he Lord, /liould make 
 fupplicatioii day and night, noc as that Captaine to the man 
 of God , but as true Chriltians to the Man and God Chi ift 
 IduSj that our iiues and dcarhcs rtiay be precious in his eyes.- 
 And that vvc may not fbigct , that what is done to others 
 may come to our felves. Againe, the meditation of Death is 
 a mofl foucraigne andtffccluali medicine againft the diltaies 
 of the fouie, if we would well pra^ifc the lame, and applic 
 it to our fpirituall wounds. Other medicines arc auaileabic 
 to fome ccrtaine and particulcr difeafes , and ferue for their 
 feueral ufts,arid fcldome doth owrtc medicine profit for ma- 
 ny difeafes, though itexccll Triacle of Venice , CMythrida- 
 tHtn^ot the hcrbe Molj^io much extolled by Homer, but on- 
 ly the meditation on iJeath is profitable to the extirpation 
 ofallrhed ^afesofthefoule. Ofthisit maybcfaid as1><i- 
 Hid laid of the fvVofd of Goliah^ There is nt>ie to that^ giue it 
 mee, and I, by the grace of God , will be a conqaerour of 
 vices. 
 
 A^ bread is ncccffary for a man before all other elements, 
 
 fo 
 
 i.King.i.iJ. 
 
 itSan.ii.^i 
 
) 78 
 
 I 
 
 The meditcition ofdcatlju Division 
 
 Ecclcf, 7.3 i 
 
 I. 
 
 .^.Tx.r . « 
 
 fo the fcrious meditaiion on Death, beareth the priz^ aboiie 
 ail other good excrciies of pie.ieaud vertue. And furely as[ 
 wings are to the bird to fly^to the Marinars their failcs^Co- 
 paille, Pole-lhrre , government and diredion fortheirna- 
 vigacion : to fillies their taylcs and finnes to Iwiinmc, to a 
 Chariot wheeles tocarrieit^ to hories hoofes, and fhooes 
 for their trauell. So neceffarie is the meditation on Death, 
 to the leading of a holy,Chriftian and godly life. The Wife- 
 man iaith remember thy endj& thou ihalt neucrdoe amifTe: 
 and Seneca could fay , That nothing profitcth fo much to 
 keepe i\s within the bounds of temperance in all onr 
 adions , as the often meditating on our ILort and unccr- 
 taine life. 
 
 Aptly and elegantly fpeal^eth the golden mouthed Do- 
 dor, John Chrjfojiome^ of finnes(faith hec ) arc borne two 
 daughters, ^orrow and Death , but thefe two daughter de- 
 ftroy their wicked mother, as the wormc which is bred in 
 timber orcloath, doth by little and little confume the fame. 
 As the Viper killeth his Dam,andthe Dam the male in con- 
 ceiuing, and (as the Naturallifts aflirme) the biting of a Vi- 
 per js cured with the afhes of a Viper jtlje flinging of a Scor- 
 pion with the pyle of a Scorpion;rhe buing of a dogge with 
 the burnc haircsofadogjas Achilles {pc&TccurcdTeliephus^ 
 whom before it had wounded , the ruft thereof being caft 
 into the wound : 10 (inne which is more hurrfull then any 
 Viper or Scorpion , or other thing, hatlij begotten Death, 
 which hath ftfing and. hurtus , andof immorcall , made us 
 mortalf but the meditation on Death doth wound and kill 
 finne which begate it. The wound of this Viper, Scorpion, 
 Doggc, Speare* thatisour propenfion and grcedinelfe to 
 finne, the afhes of this Viper, the oyle of this Scorpion^&c. 
 that is ; the remuBbraiccand meditation on Death ^ doth 
 woMnd aiid flciy in uv, m a\much as Sinne is the parent and I 
 author of all yvi\l A'ld fhalla Chrifli .n man then be, fo 
 fcncelcfTc and cloirifh , to iitertaine and imbrace finne in 
 his heart, which hath becne xhe murthcrerand paricideof 
 
 man- 
 
 ' 
 
fDi 
 
 VI SION 2 
 
 The meditatiin of death. 
 
 79 
 
 nia'nkindc, and will alfo be our dcfbrudion, unlcffc by time ; 
 we bannifli it by oheii meditation on our end. 
 
 Had it not beene for linnc, D^^ath had never entrcd into 
 the world, ard were it not tor Death , (inne would never 
 goe out otthc world. 'BaftI laich, God made not dear h, but 
 wc our felves^ by. oiir wicktd mindes^ of our owne accord, 
 we have drawne it on our lei vcs^ which God did not at ail 
 forbid, left it fhould keepe in us an immortal! dilca'l'.Vor he 
 that mide hcauen and carth,ayre and nrCvSunne and Moone, 
 all elements, all creatures good^iurely woulde not make ^im 
 evilly for whom allthelc good things were made. How 
 comes he then thus bad i 1 he words of our royal! Prea- 1 Ecclc/l7,»9i 
 chu-,teach us to lay, Thi6 only have I found , that God hath ' 
 m^^de man upright , but hce hath fought out mam inventioyis. 
 (J^Taf7 was created happ^, but he found out trtckss to make him" i 
 feife miferaBle^ • ( 
 
 • ' Thevphrafus & Anflotle wrangled with Nature her felfe, 
 asif in a malignant humor fhee brought forth men (^borne 
 to great affaires) to be fnached away in a moment , where- 
 as to Ravens and Harts ilieegranteth many ages, which can 
 ncithc r prize nor ufe their time. But the truth is , our fclves 
 doefhortcn our Hues, with ryot, idlenefle, diflblutentlTe, 
 and exccfTe. Kingly treafurcs committed to evill husbands," 
 are quickly wafted. Life is Ihortonelyto the prodigall, of| 
 good hourcs# 
 
 For to fpeake as the truth is , -and as the matter defer- 
 
 uerh , we Hue not , but linger out a few dolorous dayes. So 
 
 much time onely wee docliue, asis vertuoufly btftowcd, 
 
 and no more. And 2ls Eptpha»ius brings m Methodius dif- 
 
 puting with Prodt^s the Originift/aith.Godas the true Phy- 
 
 fician.hathappoyntcd Death to be a phyfical purgation^, for 
 
 the vtter rooting out and putting away offinne, that wee 
 
 j may be made fauklefleand innocent ; and thatas a goodly 
 
 I golden image, (faith he)lightly . and fcemely in all things and 
 
 i all parts, if it be broken and defaced , muft bee new caft and 
 
 i framed againe,for the taking away of the bicmiflics and diC- 
 
 I grac cs 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
1 80 
 
 I 
 
 T'/S^ meJttati en ofdcAi h. Division 
 
 
 Luke I i.ie« 
 
 graces of it : even fo man,cbe Image of God^ being maimed 
 ana diigraced by finne. for the puctmg away of the di^gra- 
 cci.aiid repairmg his rumes and decaycs^miift h^ the medi- 
 tation on death be renewed by wcakning ot (innc, which i% 
 the caufe of death in us. 
 
 As for example , if the covetous man would fcrioufly 
 take a view of himfelfe in th s giafle of the meditarionon 
 Death, then would hce not fo milcrably torment himlelfe 
 with carding and caring, moiling and toiling in the world 
 by falfhood.deceirand opprelTion. grinding the hc^s ot the 
 poorc, and all to get a handfuil of feathers, or to catch at a 
 little fmoak of vanity. being every houre in danger to heare 
 this voice of the Lord : ThoufooU th^ night thry rptllfctclt 
 away thy foule from thee, then -whofe fhallthefe things be ^vf hick 
 thoH haft thti4 fcrafed and gathered together f Then would 
 they confider that death will deprive them of all their trca- 
 fures,their houfcs which they have buildcd by traud, their 
 rcntSjfor which they have made (hipwrack of their foules, 
 their fields, which they have gotten by dwceit,thcir (ilver & 
 gold, which they haue gotten by vfury and oppreUion, their 
 life,which they haue fo lewdly and vnprofitably fpent,ma- 
 king their pleafurcs their Paradiic and their gold chcir god. 
 Then fliall they perceiuc their error, that they have chofen 
 drofle for gold.grafle for grace,ruft for filuer, lofle for gain, 
 {hame for honour, paine for reft,yea for heauen hell. Come 
 al(b to this fchoole of che meditation on Death , you drun- 
 kards, fwearers, whoremongers, blafphemers,fwaggerers, 
 profaners of Gods Sabbaths,and all caruall, riotous and vn- 
 godly livers/mall pleafures would you take in thefe wic^s^ 
 nay,foonc would you leave and tbrfakc them, ifyou would 
 give your fclves to th's meditation. 
 
 The ancient Egyptians well knew the force of this me- 
 dicine . who in the middeft of their mirth at their folemne 
 Fcafts were wont to have the image of Death brought in 
 & laid before theni^wich thefe yNox\j^S'^Hoc intuens epuUre: 
 beholding this Image, eatc anddrinkc, bup within the 
 
 bounds 
 
I D I V 1 S I O N 2 
 
 The mcdiidtiBn af death. 
 
 8l 
 
 bounds of tempcTiince ; for you niuft ^H ^^ a^ thu dead car- 
 calicib whcicloevcrycc goc.Buc it wccariy not vvidi us rhc 
 ugiic picluic oi Dtach, ) cc let us carry in our hearts the true 
 pidure of our D<.ath, and then this meditation, wi«I corrcd 
 and amend thclc vices in us. Jt is written ot'ihole Philo/o- 
 phcrs, Q?i\\ti.\Brac}irrf.int that [hey were fo much given to 
 thinke upon their end that they had their graves ahvayes o- 
 pen before then- gates ^ that both going out and comming 
 in, they might aluaycs be miudfuii of their Death and lat- 
 ter end. Jt IS iikewilc reported that m the lie of Man , the 
 women of ihat country whenfbever they goe out of their 
 doorcs, doe gud themlelves about with the winding {hecte 
 that they pui pole to be buried in^to lliew themlelves mind- 
 full of their mortality. • 
 
 DionyfiHs the tyrant caufed hi^ notable flatterer Vamocles 
 
 (who ailirmed the life of a King to be moft happic) to bee 
 
 fet in his rcgall Throne in ftately robes and all Princely 
 
 cheerc and dainty taire before him^ and a naked Iwoid tyed 
 
 but with a horie-haire to hang over his head^menacing him 
 
 : Death. Could this Paralite(thinke youj take. any delight in 
 
 1 this princely fare and pompe i No verily, but as if he had lat 
 
 iamongil the greateft hagges of hell,hcdurft not once touch 
 
 the dainty di flies before him ; and ihall not the meditation 
 
 on Death cither preient or hard at hand and the fword of the 
 
 wrathfuU Judge drawneand hanging oyer thine head ic- 
 
 flraine thee from immoderate andfup^rflux^us eating and, 
 
 drinking. 
 
 It is recorded alto of a certaine King, whofeminde was 
 fo fixed in the dcepe meditation on Death, chat thereby he 
 became more lober and modefl: in all his ae^ions, who being 
 , incited by his lefter or Paralite to be merry , banquet and 
 carovvfe;hee commanded his Paralite to bee fet on a featc 
 ' made with rotten wood , fire to be put under , and a fword 
 to hafig over liis head , and alfo Princely dillies to be fet be- 
 fore ! im and willed himtoeare, drinkeand be merry, but 
 hii ftomake would riot fervc him fo much as to tail one of 
 
 G thcfe 
 
Sz 
 
 I 
 
 The meditMtton of death. Division 2 . 
 
 < 
 
 thcfedaiiuy difhes •, and wilt thoa O drunkard or glutton 
 (inne in cxcefle, and make thy beliy thy God,who fitteft up- 
 on a rotten body , wich the fire of nacurall heate continual- 
 ly devouring within it , which the fire of the elementaric 
 qualities on every fide difturbeth, hauing the Etna of hell 
 beneath, and the fword of Gods wrath above. 
 
 Even thus ftandeth our cafe ; a certaine diuLne writter u- 
 feth this comparilbn. A poore traucller purllied by and Vni- 
 '' corne, by chance in his flight , (lippesor falles into the fide 
 j of 2 deepe pit or dungeon , which is full of cruell ferpents, 
 and [n his fall carcheth hold of one fmall twig of the arme of 
 the tree. As hee thus hangeth^looking downevvard, he feeth 
 twowormes gnawing at the rootcofthetree.and looking 
 tip ward he lees an hiue of fw^eete bony, which inaKCS him to 
 climbe up unto it,and to (it and fcede upon it. A'hile he thus 
 feederh himfelfe and bccommeth fecure and carelefle of 
 what may come^the Vnicorne being hunger-bitcenjand by- 
 ting and brufmg on other boughes , is ca-h moment ready 
 to crop of the twigge whereon this wretched man (itteth. 
 Now in what wofuli pHght is this diPrrefTed creature P Then 
 after this the two wormes gnawe in Hinder the roote of the 
 tree, which falling downe^ both man and tree fail into the 
 bottom of that deepe pit. This hungry Vnicorne is fwift 
 death, the poore traueller that flieth is every fonne oi Adam, 
 the pit over which he hangeth is hell , the arme of the tree 
 and (lender twigge is the fraile and fliorthfc, thofetwo 
 wormes are the wormes of- cqnfcience , which day and 
 night without intermiHion cor.lume the fame , the hive of 
 honyisthe pleafures of this vvorld, to whtch while men 
 wholly denote themfelvcs ( not remembring their iafl 
 end J the roote of the tree, that is.the temporall li^e is fpcnt, 
 and the fall without redemption into the pit and giilfe of 
 hell. If thou thusicrioufly ponder this thy unflajle cifate I 
 fuppofc thou wilt take little pieafure iw ryot and difTulute 
 living. 
 
 Give thofethat arc condemned to dv; ^fc7^r,gwc them 
 
 ». « Mi- - 
 
n; 
 
 MtoMlMBidhAMW^ 
 
 DiVI SION 2 
 
 The miditatien of death. 
 
 I 
 
 83 
 
 Ambrofii^ give than M-ir^^-^ the bccad of Arigells^and will 
 they taib icrNo, they can neither ear,driiike,laugh or fleepe, 
 and wilt thou that art already condemned and guiltie of 
 death i^ perchance J this very moment to be inflicted upon 
 thee, Iccurely adid thy ItUe to drunRennefle , gluttonie, 
 excefl'e^and to all manner ohiotous and intemperate living^ 
 Remember rather xhf^rtch glutton mtheGolpell, whoat- 
 ter he had pampered his body ah the dayesothis life, in 
 the end Death made him a fat difli fot the wormes , his 
 fleili and bones were conlumed into dult , but ("which was 
 moik terrible) his foule was call into hell , the burning lake 
 ofbrimftone, and at this timecalleth for one drop of cold 
 water to ccole his tongue,which yet is denied him. 
 
 What adamantine and flintie heart can thinke upon this 
 without relentingfl (pcatkc not here of the harmes &: hurts 
 that intemperance in mearcs and drinkes bringcth to the 
 body, for meat fliould be ufed as oyle put into a lampe , to 
 keepe it burning not to quench it. And Galen the Pn:ice of 
 Phyfitians faith thzi/ihltinence u the whole fumme or abridge- 
 ment ofThyficke, How then can they live long , that 
 hvc by To many deaths^whofe bellies are fepulchers of lulls, 
 and very gulfcs and finckesofthe II ambles, to their owne 
 dLftrudionr For as he that alowes lefle to his body then hec 
 owes to his bcdy , kils his friend , fo he that gives more 
 to his body then he owes to his body , nourifheth his ene- 
 mie. If thcglutton did remember that God is able to come 
 againll him,yea at the very disburdening of narurc,he would 
 not make his kitchni his Church, gurmandizing his Cham- 
 berlainc , his Table his Alter , his Cooke his Preacher,thc 
 odours of h/S meate his facrifice, fwcaring his prayer, quaf- 
 fing his repentance ^and his whole life wanton faire.Did the 
 Drunkard but remember this , that God is ready to come 
 quickly againil him, yea euen in his drunkenneflc, he would 
 not rife early to follow ftrong drink, which doth trouble the 
 head, overthrow the fences , caufethefeeccto rcele , the 
 tongue to flammcr, the eyes to roule.and the whole fabrick 
 
 G 2 of^ 
 
 Lukcx^.i^, 
 
 i 
 
 Efay^/i. 
 
84 
 
 The meditAtion of death. D i v i s i o n 2 
 
 of his little world to be poflell: with this voluntary madnes, 
 loffe ot many friends credit atxi time. 
 
 It would make too great a volume to infifl: upon all other 
 linncs ; for thefubduing wherof the medication on death is a 
 moft foueraigne remedy. Are wee ilirangers upon earth and 
 \% our country '\\\ heaven , and muft \ve all dye^ Yea veril ; 
 this neceilitie then fhould inforce us to af pire to our hevenly 
 countreyjand let us rather meete Death in our meditation, 
 the careltfly attend it,ltft we be fuiprilcd by it at unawares. 
 
 Before thy milerable fpirit reiigiie over his borrowed 
 manfion, bethinke with thy fdfe what rhou art, and whe- 
 ther thou gocft , the remembrance whereof will breedc in 
 !.thy heart forrow , (brrow remorfc , remorfe repentance, 
 repentance humility , humility godly affc^^ion, and love to 
 <.3od-ward. And here affure thy Icife, that nothing in all the 
 world can inforce a man fooiier to Hue loberly, righteoufly, 
 and godly in this prefent eviil life, then theducconfideratf- 
 qn of his ownc infirmities , the certaine knowledj^c of his 
 fnorrality , and the often and continuall meditation and re- 
 membrance of his laft gafpc, death and diffolurion, when as 
 a man then becommeth no man. For when once he begin- 
 neth to wax ficke, and ftill by ficknes growerh more fickly, 
 then doth a wretched man difpaire of life, having onely his 
 paine and griefc in remembrance. His heart doth quake,his 
 minde is amazed with feare , his fences vanifh quite away^ 
 his ftrengrh decay es, his careRill breft doth pant, his coun- 
 tenance is pale , neither willing nor alMe to call for mercy^ 
 !his favor our of favor, his eares deafe, his nofe loath/bmely 
 foule and fharp, his tongue furred \vith phl^meand chol- 
 ler quire. 61 tereth and fSileth , his mouth vnfemly froa- 
 thing and foming , his body dycth and rots, at len^h his 
 ficfh confumcs, his Hiape his bcaat}',his delicacy leaue i^im, 
 and he i-erurnes t o aibes , and in flead and place of thefe fuo 
 ceedc filthy wormes^as one faith elegantly. 
 
 T^xt after man doe rvf^rmes fkcccde. 
 
 then 
 
DiVl SIGN 2 
 
 The mcditdtten of death. 
 
 85 
 
 ther.ftmck^ w his degree^ 
 So every miin to no mun mufit 
 retpsrne by Gods dtcree. 
 
 Behold here a Ifxrdacie boih ftrangcand dieadfull, and 
 aflurcthy leltt thac there is neither skill nor ineanes oFarr, 
 nor any kindc ot learning that can be more availeabie to 
 quaile the pride of man, convince his malice, confound his 
 lulls, and abate his worldly pompe, and vaine- glorious va- 
 nity, then the often remembringoFthele things. For in all 
 the world thei c is nothing lo irklbme,nothing io loaLhlomc 
 and vile as the carcafle of a dead man, whofe lent is lo tedi- 
 ous and infedious that it may not lodge and continue in a 
 houle foure dayes , but muft needs be cafh out of doores as 
 dung and deepely buried in the mould, forfeareof corrup- 
 ting the ay re. Then blufh for fhamethou proud peacocke, 
 who in death art lo vile, and wormes meat, and Hiortly fhall 
 become moft loathlome carrion. 
 
 Thmke therefore upon thefc things , and thou fhalt re- 
 ceiue great profit thereby. When the Peacocke doth behold 
 that comely fanne and circle of the beautifull feathers of his 
 taile, he jetteth up and downe in pride , beholding every 
 part thereof, but when he looketh downe & Iccth his black 
 feeie with great mifliking he vaileth his top-gallant, & fee- 
 meth to lonow. Even fo many know by experience that 
 when they lee themfelves to abound in wealth and honour 
 they glory much & are highly conceited of themfclves,they 
 draw piots^andappoynt much for themlclvts to performe 
 for many y cares tocomc.ThisyeartCfay theyjwc will beare 
 this office, and the next ycarethat, arLerward we lha!l have 
 the rule ot luch a province , then wee will build a pa!iace in 
 fuch a Cittic , whereuHto wee will adioyncfuch gardens of 
 jplcafure, and fuch vineyards andthehke. Aid thus they 
 make a very large rec oning before hand with the rich maii 
 in the Gof pell. Who if they did bur once behold their feete 
 that is, if they did but fee how faft they ftoope toward dtail. 
 and conlidcrcd ihe tliortnclTe of their hfc,lo fraile, fo i,.con- 
 
 G 3 ftanr 
 
 loh.ii.j^. 
 
 J' 
 
 
 .uk.i2%i6. 
 
86 
 
 I 
 
 The rncditAtion of death, D i v r s i o n 
 
 ftant and tranficory, and upon Death lo biacke and ugly,hovv 
 Ibonc would they let fall their proud plumes , foi lake their 
 arrogancy , and change their purpoks, their manners, their 
 mindes , their liues ? In that they tend and hailen as fall as 
 they can to death,lbme at one miles end , fome at t\\'o^ fome 
 at three, and ibme when they have gone a little further. And 
 thus it commeth co pafle thatfome are taken out of this life 
 Iboner.and iome tarrie a little longer, Abhorre therefore thy 
 haughtineiTCjavoid thy vanities, leave off thy lufh, & amend 
 thy life.For he rhat is godly wife vieweth his^dcath prcfent^ 
 and by the meditation and remembrance thereof, he armctlr 
 himfcife to amend. 
 
 l^ the grcatcfl man in the world doe in a holy meditation 
 ftrip himielfe out of his robes and cniaments of ftate, and 
 have the fcanningof his owne poynt often in his mindc 5 
 hence I muft, as great as I am^and whither t^-en ? Like men 
 who travelling , no fooner come to their lodging, bur they 
 are talking of their next Inne , the debating of this quell: f- 
 on in the minde would bring forth moft excellent fruitc ; 
 and foiikewife if every man would thus meditate and rea- 
 fon , I muft remove , and whither then ? Hell is my defert, 
 how iliall I efcape it? Heaven is the onely place I defire to 
 goe to, how n all I come to it ? And thus one good meditati- 
 on and thought would make way for another , andfo lead 
 us on by degrees unto the kingdome of God. 
 
 Marke the lif: and behaviour of the wicked to avoid their 
 
 fteps,and of the godly to provoke thy felfe to a holy imitaci- 
 
 on of the like ccurfe-as a thing beft plcafing to God. It is one 
 
 v;ay whereby we honor thole that are departed in the fnirh, 
 
 when wee refemble them, in thofe heavenly graces , which 
 
 (like the ftars of hcavenjdid flune within them, while they 
 
 wcrcalive.Mark alio rhcir death with li^e diligencc,& think 
 
 ferioLidy upon thy owne death , how^ thou mufl Hiorily dye 
 
 and lie dovvnein the duft^ and part with whatfoever delight 
 
 "bou docfl here enioy , that this may breede in thee a con- 
 
 .cmpt of the vvorld^and a longing after a better life 
 
 Gregorf! 
 
iDi 
 
 II II i n 
 
 "^ I S ION 2 
 
 7'Z'J wcditatien of death » 
 
 Gregory faid thkt the life of a r\nfe man mnfl he a c ontiHu.tll 
 meditation on Ve^tfj^^nd he oiicly is ever cure kill to do vvtli, 
 who is ever thinking on his lait end. 
 
 It were good that Chnllians, \vhich tender their falvaci- 
 on , would among i'o many homes of die day as they mil- 
 pend in idle , vamc and vvandnng thoughts , talke pjay^ or 
 hiiirleflecxercile , inploy but an honrc lA'thc day, aher the 
 example ot a holy man, in reading , meditating and ponde- 
 ring ofone little booke ( trifimjo/turum) but ot three leaves, 
 i which! will omit to your ChrilHan coniideratio/i. Ihavc 
 read of a ccrtaine holy man, who at nril: liad lead a diflplure 
 life, andcliancingonatimeinto the company of an honeil: 
 gcdiy man, he iniliorttime fo wrought by his holy pcrfvva- 
 lions, with his affections i^luch i s the force ot godly focictie) 
 Ithat he utterly renounced his former cour/e oHife, and gave 
 ihimfelfetoa mere priuate, auffere, moderate and icc.uie 
 'kindc of lining ; the cau(e wdicreof being demanded by onej 
 of Ijis former companions , who would have dravvne him 
 [(liich is the nature of evill company) to his uUiallriot, hee 
 janfwered, that as yet he was fo buiied in reading and medi- 
 tating on a little bookcAvhich was but of three leaves, that 
 he had no leifure fo much as to think of any other bufincffe: 
 I and being asked againe a long time after , whether he had 
 ' read over thele three leaves 5 he did reply , that thefe three 
 leaves were of three feverall collours,red,whitc,and black, 
 i which contained fo many myfheries,rhat the more he medi- 
 tated thereon, the more fweecnefl'e healwayes fbund,(b that 
 hechad devoted himielfe to rcade therein all the dayes of 
 his life. In the firit leafe,which is red, I medicate' quoth he) 
 on the Pallionof iny Lord and Saviour lelus Chrill: ^ and of 
 iiis precious bloud flied for aranfome ofmy finnes , and the 
 finnes of all his Ele(5l,without which wee had been allbond- 
 flavestoSatah, and fcwell for hell-fire: in the white Icafe, I 
 chcercupmy fpiriCwich the comfoi table confideration of 
 the unipeakable ioyesofthe heavenly Kingdomc, purcha- 
 fed by the bloud of my Lord- and Saviour lefus Chrill:, a 
 
 G 4 
 
 great 
 
 • / 
 
8S 
 
 I 
 
 The meditation ofdea. h. 
 
 D 
 
 I VI SION 2, 
 
 1 Sanvijao, 
 II. 
 
 Lani.i»9, 
 
 great motiue of rha'ikfulikfTe, In the third Itafe, v^'hich 
 
 IS blackc I mcdiiate upon the horrible and pcipttua i toi- 
 
 ments of Hell for the wicked and reprobate provided and 
 
 kept m flore 5 who^if they behold the heavens,froin thence 
 
 they are iuil:iy baniilied for their linncs : If they looke upon 
 
 the ear Ji, there are rhey imprifoned ; on the right hand the 
 
 have ':he SaintS5whole fteps they have not rightly fol'ovved 
 
 on the left hand the wicked, whole courle they have en- 
 
 fucd ; before them, they have Death ready to arrell them ; 
 
 behind them their wicked hfe ready to accuU them ^ above 
 
 them Cods iuftice ready to condemne t'^em;and under 
 
 'them, Hell-fire, ready to devoure them. From which the 
 
 godly are freed by the Death of lefus Chrift. 
 
 This booke of three leaues, if wee would a Iwayes carric 
 in our hearts, and meditate often therein, afluredly great 
 would be the benefit which wee fhould make thereby to re- 
 ftrame our thoughts, words and anions, within the bounds 
 and limits of the feareofGod. 
 
 hoi wee arc on the other fide/o bufied like ^^ W,about 
 white earth , and red earth , and blacke earth , in ga( hcring 
 and icraping of tranfirory trarh,and m uncharitabjcncflc and 
 fo devoted unto flefhly plealures and dcceitfull vanities,and 
 fpending our houies like T)omttian ^ in hunting of fl cs o- 
 thers like Httle children in catching of Butterflies, and play- 
 ing with feathers \ the reft likefooles in toyes and ieafings, 
 that wee have i.ot leafure ar all to readcand meditate on that 
 booke of three leaues , nor to thinke on Death. A nd fo on 
 th^ fudden the funne of our plcafure fetteth, the d2iy of our 
 life doth end. the night of our death commcth,a d we chop 
 into the earth before we be aware , like a man walkii^g \n a 
 greene field covered with inow , not feeing the way , run- 
 neth on, and fliddenly fa lies inro a pit. 
 
 When the Pn^hhet Jeremte had rememhred all the cala- 
 mities and finncs of the lewes , at the laO he imputed all to 
 this^Shee rememhred not her e»d : ib if I may iudi^e why natu* 
 rail and carnal I men care for nothing but the pompe , their 
 
 honor 
 
Divi sioN 3. Tfj^ meditation of death. 
 
 \ 
 
 89 
 
 Ecclcf.i 1,9, 
 
 honor and dignity : why covetous men care nor for any 
 thing, but their golden gainc.'vvhy vo'iiptuous Epicures 
 care f-or nothing but their plealurcs and Dilicares f whofe 
 poiic is, that Death hath nothing to doe with cheni j I may 
 lay with lev emi Ah They rvmember not their end : And U'iih | 
 EOtj J hoH dticiefi not lay ihcfe things to thme heart , nor didejt ^^^f ^'^"'^^ 
 rememher the Utter end oftt.O that they were yvifi({2i\z\\ Ado- Dcut.3 2,29, 
 jes)thut they underftood th.s^that they would confider their lat- 
 ter end , or that wee did conccine the happinejfe or f elicit ie of 
 
 our end ; and this wc Ihould doe, it we would thus mcditace 
 ill this ibrt on our end. 
 
 when Salamon h^ih fpoken ofall the vanities of man,at 
 laft he oppoleth this MemorandHm 2iS a couterpoylc a^^ainft 
 them all. Rememher that for all thefe things thou (halt come to 
 indgemefit.hs if he fhould haue f aid men would neve* fp^ak 
 as they fpeake, thinke as they thinkcnor doe as they doe if 
 they were perfwaded that their thoughts, words aiid deeds 
 iliould come to iudgcmcnt, Forfurely, if a man could per- 
 fwade h mfelfe that this day were his [aft day (as -od know- 
 eth it may bee J hee would not deterrc this meditation on 
 Death ; If hee could thinke that the meat now in eating , is 
 his laft meat, or his diinke now in drinking, his lalt drinke, 
 he would not furfec, nor be drunke thc-^with. U he could 
 belceue that the words which he fpeakes this day, fhall bee 
 the lall that ever he fhall fpeake,he would with the Prophet ' pfai.^^.i, 
 take heed to hus rvayes ^ that he offend not with his tongue, 
 in lying, (wearing, rayling and blafpheming. 
 
 7^4w^A//jone without learning, came to a cerraine man to 
 be taught a Pfalme, who when he had heard this firfl: verfe 
 of the 3 9. Pfalme, would not fuffer the next verle to bee 
 read, hying, this verfeisenongh ^ if I could fraEHfe it ^ and 
 when his teacher blamed him, becaiife hee (aw him not iw 
 dxQ moneths afrer. he anfwcred , that hee had not yet done 
 thatverCe. And one that knew him many yeares after asked 
 him whether he had yet learned the verfe ; lam , faith he J 
 for tie yeares old , andhane not yet learned to fulfill it. Now 
 
 then 
 
90 
 
 1 
 
 7 be fmdttnt'ton of death. Division 3 . 
 
 1 ^- ' 
 
 P^al.p^7,8. 
 
 Mattli.i^.^c. 
 
 then the harder it is to rule the tonmic , the more care is to 
 be had therein;, specially leeing the words we Ipeake may 
 be the lafl: words \iov ought wte know) that ever \ve iliall 
 Ipeake. 
 
 It he were or would be perfwaded, that this were the laft 
 leflbn, admonition, or Icrmon, thateverGod would afford 
 him for his converfion/hee would heare it with more care, 
 diligence aiid proht, then ever he had done before. Let us 
 therefore remember our felves whi/efi it i^ called to day, 
 leilour medication on Death come too late. For which of 
 us a'l can afllirc himielfc of life till to morrow, or what if he 
 fl;ould live one, two, three, foure or Hue year es longer , or | 
 what if twentie yceres longer , who would not liue like a 
 godly Chriftian \o many yeares , tor to liue in heaven with 
 Chiift for ever? Wee can bee content to live fevcn yeares 
 Apprtntife with great labour andtoile, to bee inftrufledin 
 fcmcrtradCjthatwe may live the more cafily the rei^ofour 
 daycs ; and about this we fpetid our thoughts and meditati- 
 ons,and cannot wee then bee well contented to labour a Ittle 
 while in ;he matters of our falvatiojandfpend our thonghts, 
 endevours and meditations therein, that we may rell from 
 all oufsiabours for ever after in heaven. 
 
 , Our Saviour Chrifc faid unto his Difciples, when he had 
 found them deeping , IVhaty conldyec not v^ittch one hoare} 
 And foliay unto all men, What, can you not meditate on 
 Dea:h lomc few houres? 
 
 VVhich meditation on Death we mufl not make a naked 
 difccurfe, or baye reading onelv, but a vehement application 
 of the mip.de to the thing itfelfe , with an inward fence | 
 and feeling of the heart, all the diftradions of our thoughts 
 being nhaj^doned. For meditaaon is an ac^lionor workcof 
 the foule, bcndirgit fclFcofien, earneftly, and orderly to 
 think upoi? at|iii^g;andit is either gf Gods word or works, 
 and Dearh is one of Gods workes, even a worke oFmercy, 
 to his ele(5V and chofen chi'drcn,biit a worke of iuftice to the 
 ungodly ani reprobate. Therefore that thou mayefl medi- 
 tate' 
 
DiVI S ICN 3. 
 
 J he ?neditatio)i of death. 
 
 tare proritabl y on Dcuch, whereby it may prove a workc of 
 Gods mcrcic unto thee, put thy kife humoly in the light of 
 God, who beholdcch thee in all thy anions , add rhus pve- 
 fent beggc ofhiin, that all thy though: s, words md \v»Orks, 
 yeaandallthy meditations, «iaywhglly be giujed and dt- 
 recledtohis glory^andthy ownc lalvation aiid intreazthy 
 God with hcanic afl-edions to give thee grace that thou 
 m\v eft take profit by thcconfideration, andthcmedita ion 
 oFthy Uftead. And let us not imitate: foolilli xncn , who 
 ' lookcand thinke upan prefent things onciy^ but let us 
 meditate on things to come ; and (o by the gi a^e Wt God 
 we (i al bring to pal'c hat the iame hour. .W'uchr.o 
 others that are iiiconiid>'rate , is th^ begin- 
 ning of ibnowes and . mileries , to us 
 lliall bee the entrance into all ioy 
 and happincire. 
 
 The endofthefecond Divifion. 
 
 91 
 
 
 \ 
 
 THE 
 
 ••■^ 
 
 I 
 
^z \ The f re far aiion for death. Division 3.! 
 
 ^^^^^^^^ ^^^__^^ I ■ ■- ■ — — — — \ 
 
 i'i.'^C^ 
 
 ^>c^ -'>$:>' 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 THIRD ^DIVISION, 
 
 OF THE PREPARATION 
 FOR DEATH. 
 
 Ow by way of preparation unto death , let us 
 obferve that the grcatcft worke we have to fi- 
 n^fh in this world ii,to die wel^and they which 
 die well die not to die , but to live eternally. 
 That man doth iinifh his dayes in his bcft fort, 
 that every day efteemcth the laft day of his life to be prefcnt 
 or neercat hand, and that a man may die well, Gods word 
 requireth a pre paration for Death. 
 
 The preparation for death is an adlion of a repentant fin- 
 ner, whereby he makes him felfe fit and ready every day to 
 leaue this life, and to die well. And it is a dutie very nccef- 
 farie a^id of great waight and importance, to which wee are 
 tied and bound by Guds Commandement , and therefore it 
 cwi in no wife bee omitted of him , thatdefires to make a 
 happic and blcffed end. 
 
 Wherefore this preparation is two-fold , Generall and 
 particuln'-. Generall preparation is that whereby a man pre- 
 pares himfelfe to die, through the whole courfe of his life. 
 The reafon.sare thc^cvi^. 
 
 Firfl:, Death which is ccrtaine.is moft vncertaine ; I fay it 
 
 is certaine^ bccaufe no man can avoid: and it is uncertainc 
 
 three wayes. Firfl, in regard of the time , for no man doth 
 
 know when he n^all die. Secondly , in regard of the place, 
 
 i>ecaufc no man knoweth where he fhall die;and thirdly , in 
 
 regard 
 
Divisions- ^ he preparation for death. 
 
 93 
 
 regard of the kind ol deaih , For that no man knowes whe- 
 ther Ik riiall die o^aiiordinary or cxtiAordinary death, whe- 
 ther ofa lingrmg or iodaine death, whether ealic or violent. 
 Therfore from thence it tollowcs that wc fhould every day 
 and in all places- prepare our leives for death. 
 
 Indcede if wee could know when, where, and how wcc 
 fliouki dye, the ca(e were otherwilc ; but feeing wee know 
 none of all thele, but are ignorant thereof,theretore it ftands 
 USgi*catly m hand tolooke about us to prepare ourfelves 
 for oLir latter end. 
 
 A fecond reafon ferving ftirther to perfwade us to the per- 
 forming of this duety, is this,that the moli: dangerour thing 
 in all the world to the hazard of" our fbules, is tonegled this 
 preparation. Ic muft not be put off till ficknefle, for then it 
 will be unfitting by rcalbnofthe paine , and of other lets 
 and hinderances at that time. It muit not be put ofFro bee 
 done when we will,for it is not in the power of man,to doe 
 this duetie at his pleafurc, but when God will. O Lord faith 
 the Prophet) I k^ow that the way of man Is not in himfelfe^it 
 t4not m m^in ^that u^alketh) todtreEthi-ifte^s, 
 
 And againe, this late pi cparation^ which confifleth chief- 
 ly in rcpentance^is feldome or neuer true : It is (icke like the 
 partie himfelfe, commonly languifhiMg and dying together 
 with us^ This preparation fhould be volunrary f^asall obe- 
 dience to God ought to bcej but preparation taken up in 
 licknefTe is ufually conftrained and extorted by the feare of 
 hell, and other iudgements of God. For in true and found 
 preparation Cwherein chiefely wee muft repent) men mufl 
 forfake all their (inues, but in this, the fin foHakes the men, 
 who leaues all his evill wayes only upon this, that he is con- 
 ftrained, whether he will or no, to ieaue the world. 
 
 Thcrefoi^ ponder with thy felfe , what then thou wou!- 
 deflthat thou hadft done, when being neere unto death, 
 thou hafl no more time to Hue , and the fame thing which 
 thou wouldell wifh thou hadefl done , when thou art ar the 
 point of death,the fame thing without delay do^while thou 
 
 art 
 
 
 ler.i 
 
 0.1 J. 
 
 
 •r 
 
9+ 
 
 1 
 
 The freparation for death. Division 3 
 
 !- 
 
 I 
 
 A£b»4. x^.! 
 
 I Mat.i7. 
 
 5o. 
 
 I Cor/ 
 
 •I 91 
 
 art in health , that thou maift be ready every houreto im, 
 brace the mcffagc of: Death, as Seneca perlwadcs./i/orj vbi- 
 qne nos expectat^ tu Jifapiens em vhicjne earn espe^ahisio it 
 ihall never take thee at any advantage. To this end remcm-' 
 ber -^/^^w/i^^ hisadmonicion, Ifee afraid to live in J nch an 
 efiatc , AS thoH art afraid to dye ya. And pray unto God that 
 by his grace thelc things may penetrate iiuothe bottom of 
 thy heart , and bee there fo fixed, that they may never ^^c 
 quenched;and that from this time forward thou maift maJvfo^ 
 luch ufe of the preaching and hearing of his holy vv^ord , of 
 the comfortable facraments of his Church, and all other the 
 good mcanes of thy falvation,that thou maill begin to vvalkc 
 now with a better confcience before him , that in the peace 
 of a quiet confcience ('after this preparation ) thou maift 
 thereby arrive at the heaven ofeternaU glory and happincs, 
 and (ay with the bleflcd Apoftle.H?mw oo lexercife myfelfe 
 to have alwayes agood confcience void of offence toward Cod 
 and toward men. 
 
 Thus then this point being manifeft , that a gcnerall pre- 
 paration muft be made , let us now fee in what manner it 
 muft be done. And for the right domg of it, fiuc duties muft 
 be pradifed in the whole courfe of our lines. The hrft is the 
 meditation on Death; for the life of a Chriftian is nothing 
 circ(as was noted)at large in the feconddivifionjbut a medi- 
 tation on Death ; A notable pradife whereof wc haue in the ^ 
 cxfaple o^ lofeph oi Arimathta,vjhoi[mAs.hxi tombeinhis 
 \i^t time in tl .e midft of his garden , to this erd (no doubt j 
 to put himfclfe in minde daily of his death , and that in the 
 midft of his delights and pleafant walkcs , he might be the 
 better prepared for Death. 
 
 And in this refped: a decent funerall is a dutic to bee per- 
 formed and a debt to be paid to the bodies of all Chriftians, 
 who are the Temples of the holy GhoU , and members of the 
 body of Chrifl , and therefore are to be laid with honor in- 
 to rheirgraves^, asinohowiesoffafe cuftody a'ldbedsof 
 reftjto re miane there in peace, untill the rcfurrcd-ion^to the 
 
 end 
 
 ■im 
 
Division 3. 1 he frefaratton for death. 
 
 I 
 
 95 
 
 Gen.'.?. 
 
 Gcn.2 N.: 
 Gcr.50. 
 
 end rhac thereby all others might be admoniOicd, to incJi- V 
 tare hercon^to prepare themlclvcs tor their cud. And there- 
 tore did not oiicly the tathers in the old te (lament , but the 
 faithtlil! alio in the new, pciiorme hmerals for their friends • 
 departed this hte. So Abrahcim perrormes a funerall for ^'^- 
 rah, Ifaac ^nd If maei tor Abraham, lofeph^ the Ifi-aelites and 
 the Egyptians a mull lumptuous one for Jacob, and all i frad js^mn.io.io. 
 at two times kept a ibiemne mourning thirtie dayes roge- ' Dciit.'34,*8/ 
 thcrfor ^'^^■'^^aiid 'J^f^oftrs. In the new teilament Z^?/:?^; the ! 
 
 "B.iptijl is buried ind in;ombed of his deciples. Our Saviour ^^^^;^^*^ ^* 
 Chriil by two great Counlellers. And Stephen is carried out '^' •* ^'*3* 
 to be buried by men fearing God,who niadc great lamenra- ' A6l.8.r. 
 tion for him. And likewifc all the rcil ot the patriarches and j 
 holy men of God. 
 
 This honor is to be given unto the dc!ad, which fi om the 
 Church was diriutd unto the very gentiles with whom to 
 violate the fepulchers of the dead , was ever accounted an 
 hainous ofi-lnce , and che place of buriall facrcd. But God 
 threaneth it as a iudgment to the wicked that they fhall not 
 be buried and iamenred. and dcnounceth it twice as a great 
 curfe againft lehouikm thefonne ofi lofiah^ that hee fl^All bee 
 kiif-ied as un zAjfe is bnried ^ and that his dead body Hiall be I J<^^'^^-^^-»^« 
 caflourwith contempt without any pompe or decencie of 
 burial !• 
 
 It appeare alfo in Ez^echlcl that it was a cuflomc in old 
 cimejto enttrrc valiant men in their armcs, to put them into 
 their graves with weapons ofwarre and to bury them with 
 their fwords under their heads, which thing God fccmcs 
 there to threaten that his enemies fhall not have; giving us j! 
 thereby to unde:ftand that the having of fuch funeralll 
 pompe and ceremonies is anhonor,a woJdIy blei]ing,and a' 
 gift of God of which hedeprines his enemies^ and therefore 
 thrcaens in theneKt verfe that they (li all ly by them that 
 are flaine with the Iword, that is. fhall not be hojiorably en- 
 terred like Conquerors, but bafely buried amongft the con- 
 quered. I 
 
 And * 
 
 Tcr. 1 6 4,^. 
 
 E2Cch.J2,27, 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 ■ ■•■» »< ' 
 
 ^MVv<T«r< 
 
749 
 
 6\ 
 
 The J^refardttonfor death. Division 3.I 
 
 Gcn.ifi.2.7» 
 lob.4iA 
 
 ludg.i^.^. 
 
 And although the wicked doe come to this honor of 
 fiimptuous i:uncrals , and to bee laid in coFdy and painted 
 tombcs and lepuichers fas it often f^Ucth out) yet it may be 
 laid of inch a one, that hce which was not long fince clad in 
 filke, purple, and gold, and fliined with diamonds ^ is now 
 aifaulted with troupes of wofmesj and breathes forth incol- 
 lerable tents ; while that his heire liueth plcaiantly in rvoc 
 and exceffe, polfeiling the fruite of his labours which heo 
 himfelfe never, or almalltimt enioycd. And herein his wt- 
 ry dull and corruption doth appeare , and his ambition, and 
 pride doth reft it felfe within this tombe ; for then behold 
 llatcly Scpulchers, engraven ftones^that report fome famous 
 ad:ions^ and proud titles upon his tombe ^ fet out with falfe 
 narrations , to the end that paflengers may fay here lyeth a 
 goodly flone, but a corrupted body. 
 
 But the ule that wee muft make of all burialls and fune: 
 rals for whomfoever they be, is to admonifti and put us in 
 minde, that we muft make preparation for our ovvne end, 
 and for the felicity & happinefle of the life to come. Which 
 kinde of preparation is of elpeciall ufe and brings forth ma- 
 ny excellent fruits m the life of man. For a worldling lurfc* 
 ted with vanities, a proud man m the mideft of his aTpiring 
 thoughts,the coueteous man \x\ the dogs-hunger of his ava- 
 rice , the voluptuous man in the fury of his fornication, the 
 enuious man in the torment of his malice , if they canbefo 
 bappie as once to prepare themfelvcs for Death in a holy 
 meditation . into what amazement will they be brought to 
 confidcroftheir wondrous folly in their dangerous elbcc? 
 Then pride will ftrike her failes , covetoufnclTe will be latiO ' 
 ficd volupcuoufneffe more continent, and envy more chari- 
 table , it will make us fay with Abraham J am but dufi a/id 
 af/jes; arid with rhc holy man lob, to abhorre our felves, and 
 to repent in duftand a'lics. 
 
 The fecond dutie in this generall preparation, is,rhat eve- 
 ry man muft daily indeavour to take away fi oni his owne 
 Dcathjtlie power and fting thereof The 'thtUflimes faw by 
 
 experience 
 
D I V I SIGN 3 . ThcJ^rcpardtionfor de^th. 
 
 97' 
 
 experience that Sarnfon was of great ftrcngt!-i, and thcrcforv 
 they uIlcI mcaiiCs to know in what part ot his body his 
 (hcngth lay ; and when they f our.d it to bee in thehaiic of 
 his hcad;they never cealcd pradifmg with 'D^/tah till it was 
 cut off, and then they had their wiil oi him. hi like manner ' 
 the time \\ ill come, when we mull incounter hand to ha.d, 
 and grapple with cruell death ; and theref-bre the bell ^vay is 
 before hand, while we have a bixathii^.g time to Icai ne where 
 the (ling of DeathCwhieh is liis ilrcngth)doth ly, which be- 
 incr once knownc^we muft with ail Ipced cut off his Sumfons 
 lockSjbereaue him off his power,di(ai me him,and make him 
 weake and unable to deftroy us. 
 
 Now to tinde out ihe way^ we nccde not ufe the ccunfell 
 of any 'T>nliah , but wee have the oracles and counfels ot 
 God , which dived us plainely , wherein the ftrength andj 
 fling ot Death confifls , namely in our finnes , The ftingofl i Cor.i j.j^^. 
 Death ("faith the Apoflle j^/««f. And feeing we now know i 
 that the power and force of every mans death doth lye in 
 his owne linnes,(T^f wages whereof is Death ^ as the lame 
 Apoflletellcth usj and the body is to dye becaufe of finne, 
 wee m.ufl therefore indeauour before Death come upon us, 
 to pull out this (lif ;g, and take fro him his power & ilrength 
 by humbling our felves in the time prefenc for all our finncs 
 paft, and by turning our felves to G od for the time to come; 
 and to labour to have our finnes pardoned and forgiven by 
 the pretious Death and blood-fliedding of our Saviour Ic- 
 fus Chrill ; by which meanes and none other ^ the power of 
 Death is much rebated. For Chrifl dvcd not to take awav 
 Death (as yet ) but to change Death, not to overthrow the 
 being of death , but to plucke out the fling of Death , not 
 quite to flop up the grave, but to remove and quell the vic- 
 tory of the grave. By which mc^nes Death cannot now 
 ning them that have tbeir finnes forgiven, nor the grave tri- 
 jumph Over them. 
 
 Death in it fclfe is the way to hcH unto the wicked, but it 
 is altered and changed unto the ch.Uren of God by grace. 
 
 H and 
 
 Rom.'^.2j, 
 
98 
 
 |Aajn.7,8. 
 
 Exod.S.g. 
 Ads ^. 14, 
 
 Nuwuxi^io. 
 
 Gala.ic- 
 
 1 
 
 Theprcparationfo r death. D i v r s i o n 3 . 
 
 fech 
 
 is become 11 ito the:n a portall , by which the foule paf- 
 —.1 one oFch^ fraile body into heave.i. In it feife Death is as 
 a Sergeant to arreft aien, and bring them to iudgemoit, but 
 to the elc.l children of God , by the Death of Cnaft, it is as 
 the ti-^^^'*'^ which guided the Apo'Ue l^eter out ofprifbn, 
 andfetsthcmat libercie, and leads thena from the vale of 
 teares, into the land of righteoiiftes ; and by this meanes of 
 a mighde and blv)ndie enemie, is fo far forth made traftablc. 
 and friendly , that wee may now with comfort encounter 
 with Deach.and prevaile, feeing now it is become a pecce of 
 our happinefle. 
 
 The mod notorious and wicked perfbn whe he is in dying, 
 perchance will pray , and (W\i\i'Tharaoh) defire others to 
 pray for him, and will promifc amendement oflifc with fb- 
 iemne proteftations, that if he might live longer , he would 
 become a praLlifer of all the good duties of faith , repen- 
 tance and rcforma:ionoflife, although God knowcs, there 
 be too many that after recovery do with Pharaoh brcake this 
 promife. This therefore is adutie which you muft be care- 
 full to doe every day- 
 Wicked "^-^/^^^w that falfe Prophet would /aine dye the 
 Death of the righteous , Lrr m- (faith \\^t)djc the 'Death of 
 the rl(Thteous ^ and let my lafl end bee like his 5 but he by no 
 meanes vvouldlive the life of the righteous. But this pre- 
 paration will bring thee to Hue the life of the righteous, and 
 then no doubt but thou fhaU- alio dye the death of the righ- 
 teous. 
 
 The third dntie in our generall preparation , is in this life 
 to enter into the firft degree of life eternall ; for eternall If fe 
 and happines hath three degrees^ one in this life, and rhat is j 
 when a man can truly fay with the Apo(We^ I live ^a»d yet mt 
 J hut Chrpfl liveth in me , and the life which I now lizje in the 
 flefJy I live by fatth in thefonnc of God^ who loved me^ ayid gave 
 himfclfefor me ; and this all (iich can fay as do unfaincdly re- 
 pent, and bcIcevCj and that are in llified from their finnes, 
 ianflificd againft their finncs , and have the peace of a good- 
 con fciencc,|< 
 
D I V I s I o N 3 . Thepcj^arationjor death. 
 
 99 
 
 conlcicnce, with other gcod gifts and graces of the holy 
 Spirit^ being the caineil pcny ot their lalvacion. 
 
 1 he Iccond degree is in the end oFthis life, that is, when 
 the bodie goes to the earth, iiom whence it came , and the 
 loule reiui nes lo God that gave it , and is carried by the an- 
 gels into Abrahams bolome. 
 
 The thud degree is in thecndofthc world, thatis^at the 
 rcfurrLclion and lall iudgeincnt, uhen body and foulc be- 
 ing reunited logcther, who were ancicn: loving familiars, 
 huiiig and lufttrirg together, and from their firl^ conueifi- 
 on did draw logetlitr as Ivveeteyoke-kllowcs in the King- 
 dome of grace , doe now iointly together enter into the 
 Kingdome of glory. So that the fir It ofthele three degrees 
 is in this life into which we muft enter. For he that wiiihue 
 in eternal) happineflc, muft firft begin in this life ro rile out 
 of the grave of linne, in which by nature he lyes buricd,and 
 then live in newneffe of life by grace. 
 
 The fourth dutie in our genei all prepararion , is to cxer- 
 cife and inure our felves in dying by little and little , before 
 wc come to that point that we mull needs die indeed. For 
 he that leaves this world^bcfore the world leaves him^gives 
 Death the hand like a welcome meflengcr , a.id dep?uts in 
 peace. Wheref©re,as they in open games of'adivity, as r jn- 
 ning, riiooting, wreftling and luch like, long before hand, 
 breath their bodies, andexercife themlelves, that in the day 
 of triall they may winne the game^&c. Even fo iliould wcc 
 beginne to die now while we are living, that we may be the 
 better prepared for it when it fliall Come indeed. 
 
 But lome may hccre objed: and fay, how can rbis be done .'* 
 jTheApoftlc Saint T^«/ doth anfvvere it in giving us di^c- 
 d^iofi by his owne example, when he faitli, B'j our reiojcu^^ 
 rvhtch wee have tn Chrtfl lefi^s our Lord, I die daily. And 
 doubtleife this Apoftle died daily, not only becaufc he was 
 often in danger of death by realon of his calling but alfo 
 becauie in all bis dangers and trembles Kee iiiurcd himrdfe 
 to die. For when men doe make the right ufe of rhcir af- 
 
 I 
 
 iCpr.if.jr. 
 
 H 2 
 
 fl'dions 
 
I •» * ■■p-*r»T 
 
 ■'• J!* mm 
 
 loo f 
 
 Theprefarattonfo r cleat h. Division 3, 
 
 ^ fli<flioDS, and doe with their might endeavour to bare them 
 I patiently, humbling themielues , as under the Lords cha- 
 ! ftifement and correction, then they are laid to begin to die 
 Svell. And he that would mortifie his greateftfinnes, mnfl 
 firft begin co doe it in his fmalleit (innes ; which being once 
 reformed^ he fhall with more eale be able to overcome his 
 mafter finnes. For this is the way to keepe finne from raig- 
 ning m our mortall bodyes. So hkewi(e hee that would bee 
 able to beare thecrofTe of all croffes, as namely death, which 
 is the eixiofall crofTes, muft firft of all learne to beare fmall 
 erodes, as iickntdes, difeafes, trouble^^ lolTes, povertie and 
 the like, which may fitly be tearmed little deathes, and the 
 beginnings of the greater death; with which Httle deaths we 
 muft iirft acquaint oqrlelves^ before Wee can bee able to m- 
 counter with great Death. For as one well i^kh^eath after 
 the crojfe is th-e /ejfe. 
 
 The world is fet unto us as a houfe, wherein we are but 
 tenants at will ; out of which the Lord by (icknefleandcrof- 
 fcs giveth us warning , and by death deter mincth his will_, 
 and requucth it againe at our hands and willeth us thereby 
 to prepare our felves for a better houfe ,* and the new houfe 
 for which we are to prepare our (elves is moft pleafant, and 
 notfofraile, ruinous and weake , as our worldly houfe •, for 
 the tiles do€ fometimes fall off this houfe, the wallesdoe 
 ! reele, the roofe doth drop^ the pillcrs doe leane, the founda- 
 I tion doth fincke •, and what are thefe, but fo many warnings 
 ^ of the Lord to us to depart hence , and prepare for a better 
 place? Therefore when thou doH: perceive thy falUng haires, 
 thy watering eyes, thy trembling hand^s, thy weake knees, 
 and thy ftooping bodie ; wha: are chcfe, but onely the citati- 
 ons of Death, W'hich feemcs to warne thee to prepare ta 
 packe up , that thou maift with more eafe be able to goe out 
 of this ruinous houfeof thine. 
 
 It is a table ^ but it hath a good morrall : A certaine man 
 did covenant with Death that he fhould never fui prize him 
 at unawares or fodainly , before that he had firft fent a mef- 
 
 fenger 
 
Divisions. The f reparation Jor death » i 
 
 fenger to him to give him warning that (hortly hee would 
 arrcit him j to which death aflcnted , th.it though h^ cou^d 
 not aiwa) es forbeare him , yet before he did itrikc him, he 
 would give him warning. Vpon Deaths promile thus paft, 
 this man lived Iccure, fpending his time mall manner ot not 
 and exccfle ; and when he thought full iittle of Death , then 
 came Dcach to taKC him away ; wich whom this man expo- 
 fl.iiating for breach of promife : Death in dilcharging of 
 his fideiitie. rephed, that with none, no not thofe that vio- 
 late all promiles, had he broken promiie , for (faith he) I 
 have fent many meffengers unto you^ from time to time, to 
 give you warning of my comming 5 thou wail fixe yeares 
 fince taken with a grievous Feuer •, within thefc two yeares 
 (fore troubled with Rhumes and diftiUations j fince that, ta- 
 ken with the cough and paine in the head ; & then troubled 
 with the confumption of the Lungs : And did I not lately 
 (end my brother Germainc unto thee , the droufic flceping 
 difcafe vetHmoJumjo^orem , in which thou didft lye for a 
 whilclikeadeadmaa ? All thefe were fore-runners of my 
 comming , to warnethee to make thy felfe ready for mce, 
 who was ncere at hand. Is there any amongft us, that is not 
 fometimcs admoniOied of Deathcs appraoching by (omc of 
 thefc his Apparators,that he muft fhortly depart ? The Poet 
 faith truely: 
 
 MtUe modislethi miferos mors vnafatigat^ 
 
 A thoHpattd kinds yet but one deaths 
 Hath dsath, to take awxy our breath. 
 
 From whence let all men Icame, that have care of tlieir 
 falvittion, what they ought to doe, and be wane to prepare 
 themfclves for Deach, bef^ure Death doth end their life, O^ 
 ten we ought to prepare for Death, and doe not, at laft wtc 
 die indecd,and would then and cannot. 
 
 Therefore while our feete are at liberty, and before we bt 
 
 H 3 bound 
 
 101 
 
lOZ 
 
 I 
 
 Tise preparation for death. Divisions.) 
 
 Piaf.i Jo.^. 
 £ccl.i2.4. 
 
 
 aKing.i.ir. 
 
 ^ bound hand and foote , let us runne the way of the Lords 
 Commandements, and while we have tongues, and before 
 we become fpeechleffe, let us ufe our tongues well, and not 
 fuffer them to finne. And wl#!e we have hands and armcs, 
 and before our armes rot from our ChOulders, let us worke 
 with our hands the things that are good;and procure things 
 honefl: in the fight of all men ; and while wee have breath, 
 before God Hop our breath, let us praife the Lord. And 
 while we have cares, before thefe daughters of linging bee 
 abafed, let us lift up our eares to hearc the word of God, and 
 not to vanity. 
 
 As wethe}'efore(f2\th the Apo{\:\d)^ave opportunity Jet U4 
 doe good unto all men ycfpeci ally to them that are of the hotipjold 
 of faith. Ail this is a good preparation for death,and by our 
 patience va fuffering afflicflions , it will make Death when 
 it comes , the eafier for us , and the leffe able to atflidl us. 
 Forheethacdyeth (faith one) before heedye, fhallnotdye 
 when he doth dye. 
 
 In a temporall building the ftones muft bee broken , cur, 
 hevven, and Iquared , ere they be fit to make up the worke. 
 The corne muil bee cut downe, bound up , carried into the 
 barne, threfhed, winnowed, clenfcd and grinded , before it 
 be ready for good bread. And the whirlewinde mufl firft 
 blow, before <f//*«^ be rapt up into heaven. And we muft 
 be cur, he wen, and fquared with a number of Deathes met- 
 fengers, before we can be wtade fit for the Lords building. 
 We mutt be toiTcd with the winde and weather, before we 
 can arrive in the haven of heaven. The very viclualls which I 
 wee eare , muft: firft from life be brought to the fire and be I 
 cieanealtered '\\\ lofing their propertie , from the fire to the 
 table, from the table to the mouth, io to the ftomake, a:-id 
 there be conco fled and difgefted, before they can nourifti 
 and worke their perfection in us. Even To Gods children 
 muft be mangled and defaced \\\ this world , which is the 
 mill to g' ii dw us the kitchin to receiue us a'd ^he fire to 
 boy le, toaft and bake us, to alter the proptrtie fi cm that we | 
 
 were 
 
 
Di 
 
 iMh 
 
 iMtmSmm^ 
 
 ..n\,.i. 
 
 VISIONS. Thefreparattonfor duth. 
 
 I 103 
 
 wereatthcfirll, that we thereby may bee made fit to bet 
 brought to the Lords table. For as raw fleih is unwholefome 
 meate for men ^ io unmortified men bee no creatures fit for 
 
 By all which meancs the Lord brings us to mortificati- 
 on^ which be the little Deathes^that thereby we may be the 
 better armed and prepared for the great death,when it com- 
 meth , to endure the lame with more eafe. For we muft 
 learnc to give intertainmenc, to the Herbengcrs , fervanrs, 
 and meflengers of Death, that we may the better intertainc 
 the Lord and Mafter when he eommeth. 
 
 This point, that bleflcd martyr, S ainr, 'Bylney , well con- 
 iidered , who often times before his burning and martyr- 
 dome, diid put his finger into the flame of a candle^not onely 
 to make tryall of his ability in fuftering , but alfo to armc, 
 ftrcngthen , and prepare hi mfclfe againil greater torments 
 and paine^n his death, which he did fuffer with the more 
 eafe. AncT thus you fee the fourth dutie which wee mufl in 
 any wife learne and remember , becaufe otherwife we can- 
 not be fo well able to bcare and endure the pangs of Death 
 j well, except we be firfl well fchooied^nurtured^and trained 
 up, by inuring our felves to dye through the fund: ieaffli<5ti- 
 ons and try als of this life. 
 
 The fift and laft duetieofour generall preparation is fet 
 downe unto us by the Preacher , who faith , All that thine 1 Ecclcf.o, low] 
 hand fljall finde to doe doe it with alithy power. And marke the 
 rQ<i(bn,For there U neither worke;nor invent ion, nor knowledge 
 nor nfifedome in the grave whither thoHgoefl, Therefore ifa- 
 ny man be able to doe any good fervice or oificc, cither to 
 the Church of God or Common- wealth, or to any publikc 
 or private perion,lerhim doe it with all fpeed, and with all 
 his might , left.by Death hee be prevented. He that hath 
 care thus to fpend his dayes ^ Giall with rpuch comfort and 
 peace of confcience end his dayes. Thus much of the gene- 
 rall preparation for death. • 
 
 Now folio weth the particular preparation for Death,and 
 
 H 4 this 
 
104 \ 
 
 Thefrefarati onfo r deal h, Division3 
 
 
 I this is in the time of ficknefTe j and in the right and true 
 manner of making this particular preparation, are contained 
 three forts ot duties .-one concerning God, another mans 
 lelfc. and the third, our neighbour. 
 
 T he fii ft concerning God^ is to feeke to be reconciled un- 
 to him in Chrift, and by Chrift, though wee have bin long 
 fiixe ailuied ot his favour : all other duties muft come afi.tr 
 in thefecoiid place, and they are of no value or effecl: with- 
 out this. 
 
 Touching the duties which hee is to pcrfbrmc to him- 
 felfe, they are two-fold , the one concerning his foule, the 
 other his body. 
 
 The dutic concerning his foule, is, that he mud arme and 
 fiirnirh himielfe againft the immoderate fcare of prcfentl 
 death, and rhe reaion hereof is very plaine, becaufe ho wfo- 
 ever naturally men feare Death through the whole courfc 
 of their lives more or lelTe , yerin timeoffickneflfe, when 
 death approacheth, this naturall feare bred in the bone, will 
 moft of all fhew it lelfe even in fuch fort , as it will aftonifh 
 the fences of the ficke partie. And therefore it is neceiTary 
 that wee Hiould ule fome meanes to ftrengthen our (elves a- 
 gainft the feare of Death : which meanes are of two forts, 
 Pracflife and Meditation. Pra'^ife, that the fickc man muft 
 notfo much regard Death it fclfe, as the benefits of God 
 which are obtaified after death. He muft not fixe his minde 
 upon the confideration of the pangs and torments of death, 
 but all his thoughts and afFeflions muft bee ' pon that blef^ 
 fed cftate that he is to enioy after Death, He that is to fwim 
 over fome great and deepe River , muft not lookc downe- 
 ward to the violent running of the ftreame, bur if he would 
 prevent feare , hce mu'f caft his eyes to the bancke on the 
 further fide, to the which place he i^ to pafTe : a^d even Co^ 
 he thatdrawes ncere unto death, mnft looke.as it were over 
 the waves of death,and directly ^\t the eyes of his faith up- 
 on the eternall life afid happineffe. 
 
 The meditation;s which ferve for this purpofe arc princi- 
 pally 
 
Division 3 . Thefref,irattonfor dtxth. 
 
 I 
 
 i05 
 
 A^s^.iS, 
 
 pally chree; the firftis borrowed from the fp«ci all pro vi»' 
 dence of God , namely that the Death of every mail, much 
 more of every child of God is not onely.forcfeene^ but aifo 
 appoyiKcdby God. Yea the deaih ot every man deierved j 
 arid procured by his ownc finneSj is laid upon him by God, ' 
 who i\\ this rclpcci may bee laid ro bee the caule ofcvery 
 mans death. 1 he Church ok. UrufAlem confcflcd that no- 
 thing came to pali'c in the Death of Chriil, but that which 
 the foreknow ledge and eternall counfel ofC^od had appoi 1- 
 red ; therefore alio the Death of every memberof Chriflis 
 foreieene and foreordained by the fpeciall decree and provi- 
 dence of God. I adde further that the very circiniiftancci; of 
 Death; as the time, place, and manner, the beginning of the 
 (icknefle, the continuance,the eiid of ir, every tit m the (Ick- 
 nes , and the pangs of Death arc fet downe particularly in 
 thecouncelloi^God. For unto the Lord (faith thePialmif}^ \ Pial.68,20* 
 belong the iffues of Death. The carefull confideration of 
 this one point will bee a notable meanes to arme us again ft 
 all fcnre, diflruft and impatience in the time of (icknes,as al- 
 fo of our Death. 
 
 The fecond meditation is to be borrowed from the excel- 
 lent promife that God hath made to the death of the righ- 
 teous, which is this, ^Bleffcd are they that dye tn the Lordfrr 
 they refifrom their labours and their worths follow them i 
 this the Atithor of truth that cannot lye, hath fpoken. 
 
 Now then let a man but throughly conlider this , that 
 Death ioyncd and accompanied with a reformed life, hath a 
 promife of bleiTrdncs adioyned with it, and it alone will bee 
 a fuiTjcient mcants to (fay chc rage of our affedions , and all, 
 immodcrare feare of Death. ' 
 
 The third meditation, is that God bath promifed his fpe- 
 ciall , blefled and comfortable prefence to his fervants ii 
 their fickncs, and at their death. And the Lord doth manifefl; 
 his prefence three waycs. The firft is by moderating and lef- 
 fentng the painjs and torments of (icknefle and Dearh ; and 
 hence it comes to paflc , that to many men the fbrrowes 
 
 and I 
 
 ■ 
 
 l^euc.i4.ij. 
 
 •V 
 
106 
 
 ^^ 
 
 It. . ■ - -Aff. 
 
 ».t*t 
 
 I 
 
 Thepref-irattenfor death. DivisIONj.j 
 
 Roin.y.j34» 
 
 % Cor i.f • 
 
 
 and pangs of ficknes and death are nothing fo greivous and j 
 troubklome, as the croffes and affldions which they fufFcr 
 in the courre of their fives. The fecond way of Gods pre- 
 fence is by an inward and unfpeakable comfort of his holy 
 fpirit(as Saint Paul faith IVg rcioyce tn tribnUtion ; but why 
 is this x^ioyciw^^Becatife (faiht he j the love of god isfljeda^ 
 broad in our hearts by the holy Ghofl^ which is given unto Wi 
 Againethis Apoftle having ingrievcous ficknefle received 
 the fentence of Death/aith of himielfe,that as the fufferings 
 of Chrift did abound in him , fo his confolation did a- 
 bound through Chrift. Here then wc doe fee , that when 
 eaithlic comforts doe faile , the Lord himfelfe drawes 
 neere unto the bed of the ficke , and (as it were) doth vific 
 them in his owne perfbh , and miniftreth unto them from 
 above refrefliing for their foulcs, with his right hand hec 
 holds up their heads j and with his left hand hee imbraceth 
 them ) yea the Lord ((dxth the PfalmiftJ willftrengthen them 
 upon theJhed of Ungui fifing y and he wtli maks all thetr beds in 
 their ficknejfe. 
 
 The third meanes of Gods prefence , is the miniflerle of 
 
 PfaU'.J. 
 
 Pfal.px.ii.iji 
 
 Luk.i^.i*. 
 
 his good Angclls , whom he hath appointed as keepers and 
 nurlesfor his fcrvants , to hold them up and to bcarethcm 
 in their armes as nurfes doe their young infants and babes, 
 and to be as a ftrong guard unto them againO the divell and 
 his wicked Angells. And all this is obferved efpecially in the 
 time of ficknes ; at which time the holy Angels are not one- 
 ly prefenc with the children of God to fuccor them, bur they 
 are ready alfo to receive their foules at their lafl: gafpe , and 
 carry them into Abrahams bofome. And thus much of tlie 
 firfl: dutie of aificke man,and the meanes to arme him againfl 
 the fearc of Death, now foUoweth the ^t^iow^ dutic concer- 
 ning the body,and that is,thatall ficke pcrfons mud: be care- 
 ful! to prelerve health and life, till God doe wholly take ita- 
 way. Tlicrcf<:>rc we mufl referre our life and our death to the 
 good will and pleafure of the Lord. And touching his tern- 
 porall life it \s a precious iewcll, and as the common faying 
 
 JS, 
 
D I V I s I ON J . Tfjc preparation for death, 
 
 I 
 
 107 
 
 is,iife is very iWcecc,being given to man to this cnd,that he 
 might hive fomc fpac^ of time , wh.Teiii he might prepare 
 hifulcltc for his hiippie eid , and u(c all good mcanes to ac- 
 ta inc unto ctcrnall lit'c. 
 
 In the preiervation oflifc two things muit be confidercd, 
 the mcancs and the rig'u ule of- the mcanes. The meanes, - 
 is good and vvholciome Phyiick, which inuft be eHecmcd as 
 anordina.iceandbieningofGod. We read that Kings-^^ ■ aCKrc.i^.ii. 
 is blamed for feeing to the Phyficians in the extremity of 
 his fickncile.vV hereupon a qucftion may anfe whether it be 
 lawfull fwhcnnecedkie ot licknes conflraindch j to flyro 
 the remedies of Phyfick, whereunto the anivvere is eafie.^- 
 fa is not here blamed for feeking the ordmarie meanes of 
 Phyfick , but bccaufe he fought not the Lord in his difeafe, 
 bu3 oncly to the Phyfitians. Is any fic^^e dmsn^q^fl y9u (faith ^"'•^^^• 
 Saint lames) let himc^i/iforthe elders of the Chnrch^ And let 
 them pray over him & that isi^i the very firft place before ali 
 other hdpe be fought.VVhere the divine ends,thcre the Phy- 
 fitian muft begin, and it is a very prepoftcrous courfe , that 
 the Divine Hiould there begin, where the Phyfitian makerf 
 an end jfor unrill heipe be had for the foule , and flnne which 
 is the roote offickncfle , be cured, Phy/ick for the body is 
 nothing worth : therefore it i.9 a thing much to be mifliked 
 that in all places almoft the Phyfitian is firftfent for, and 
 comes in the beginning of chc fickncs,& the Minifber comes 
 when a man is halfe dead , and is then fent for oftentimes, 
 when tlie fick partie lies drawing on and gafping for breath; 
 as though Mioiflers of the Gofpcll in thelc diyes were able 
 to worke miracles.The art of Phyfick therfore,nor the Phy- 
 fitian is here difalowed, but over much confidence in Phy- 
 fick and in the Phyfitian, without rd'^'iv^q^ upon ( iod he fo- 
 veraigne Phyfitian, without whSfebleiTingno phyficke nor 
 potion can be availcable to the curing of any maladie or dif^ 
 eafe 5 neither can the Phyfician any waycs profit the ficK and 
 difeafed patient, except the Lord iii mercv giveth a power- 
 ful! working and operation to the medicine againft the 
 
 dileafc 
 
 
 ■•^ 
 
103 
 
 I 
 
 7 he f rep . ratten for death. Division 3, 
 
 
 
 Math.^.x 1. 
 
 Gcn.l7.!i 
 
 difeale , to predominate over it for the curing of the 
 lame. 
 
 The doL^rine then from hence is , that the helps of Phy- 
 fick are not to be delpiled^nor too much to be depended on; 
 but our chiefeft hope is to be fixed upon God ^ who as hee 
 onely puts the loule into the body , lo he onely can take it 
 away againc when it pleafeth him* Yea thefe ordinary 
 meanes which God hath appoynted, are not to be contem- 
 ned or neglected, left welccme thereby to tempt God^cfpe- 
 cially in dangerous diieafes. Hereof lefus the Ion o^Sirach 
 (d\l\\itionor a Phyftuin with the honor due unto htm ^f or the v- 
 fes which y OH may have of him ^f or the Lor d created him^for of 
 the moft htqh commeth healing, and he fhall receive honor of the 
 King'^the skill of the Phyfittan fhall lift up hi4 head^ andm the 
 fight 9 f great men hejhallbe in admiratton,rhe Lord hath cre^ 
 ated medicines out of the earthy and he that is wife will not ab» 
 horre them^Was n^t the water madefweete with wood,that the 
 vertue thereof might be k^owMe;(^ he hath given men skill that 
 he might be honored in his marvellous work^With fnch doth he 
 %€ale men ctrtaketh away their paines^offuch doth the Afothe- 
 cary make a confe^ion ^ aad ofhUworke there is no end ^ and 
 from him is peace over all the earth. Aij fonne in thyficknes be 
 not negligent, but pray unto the Lord G^ he wilmake thee whole 
 then (live place to the fhyftian forthe Lordhath created him^ 
 let htm not goe from thee ^ for thou hafl neede ofhim.There is a 
 time when in their hands there is ^ood fuccejfe for they /hall aljo 
 pray unto the Lord that he wouldprojper that which they ^ive 
 for eafe & remedy to xrolong life. And hereof alio lefus the 
 fon of God faith, they that aretvhole neede net the Phyfitian^ 
 but they that are fie ke ; which fpeach of our bkHed Saviour 
 commendcth thar arr,& thesood fervice done thereby. T his 
 commendition alio the Prii^e of Poets giveth to the Phyfi- 
 tiari , The Phyfitian alone (faith hee) is to be equalled with 
 many other in honor. 
 
 Againe whereas God did not command circumcffion of 
 children before the eight day^hee followed a rule of Phyfick 
 
 obferved 
 
-*w 
 
 ♦'Di V I s ION 3 . Tfj:prcp4rdtior/f'or duth. 
 
 I 
 
 JC9 
 
 obfcrvcd ill all ages, that the life of the childe is very u:iccr- ., ^ 
 tainetill the firll: icveii dayes be expired. And upon die very I 
 fame ground tiic HL-achenrnen u fed not to name thtir chil- :.$aa),i:.i?, 
 den before the eight day. 
 
 And that Phylkk miy be well applied to the maintenance 
 of health, fpccia^ caremufl be had for the choofing offuch 
 Ph ' fitians as are knowne to be well learned, and mLn of ex- 
 perience, asalfbofagood conicicncc, offonnd religion in 
 the profcdion of the Gofpcll oFChiift, and of upright life 
 arid converiation. 
 
 Now tofithing the rHani"k:r of ufing the meanes , thefe 
 rules mufl be folio wed. Fir ft of iill,hc tha: is co take phyfick, 
 muft not oncly prepare his body , as Phyfitians doe com- 
 monly prelbribc, bur he mull alio prepare his fowle, by hum- 
 bling himtelfe undir the mercifiill hand of God in his fick- 
 nefl'e for his finnes; and making earnefl: prayers unto hitn for 
 pardon, before any medicine come in his body. 
 
 The fecond rule is , that when we have picpared our j Tim.i.r. 
 felvc s, aiid are about to ufe the Phyfick , we muft fanclifie k 
 IS wee doc our meat and drinke _, by the word of God and 
 pra3'cr. 
 
 The third rule is, that we mufl carry in minde the right 
 and proper end o^^ Phyficke, left we deceive our felv€s. We 
 muft not therefore thinke that Phyfickc ferv'cth to prevent 
 old age, or death it felfe ; for that is impoflible : neither doe 
 we eatc, drink c and Qcepe, that we may never dye 5 but that 
 we may prolong our life for a few dayes , and to fpend thofe 
 daycs in the icrvicc ofGod , preparing our (elves to dy^. j 
 For life confids in a certaine temperature and proportion or ! 
 Piaturall heatc, and radicall moifture , which moifiure being . 
 once confumed by the heate, is not by all arte rcpaircable;and 
 therefore Death mufl needs follow. But the true end of Phy- 
 fickeisto continue and lengthen our life to his fiill naturall 
 period, which is, when nature which hath bcene long pre- 
 ferved by all pollible meanes , is now wholly fpent. Now 
 this period though it cannot be lengthened by any art of 
 
 man 
 
 A 
 
 I 
 
 ' 
 
Il@ 
 
 I 
 
 2 he pyep.iratidn-for death. D i 
 
 VI SION 5 
 
 Exo(}.2j,t5. 
 
 Mat. 1^*2^, 
 
 Math.53i3.14. 
 
 Math.^.14^15. 
 
 man, yet may it eafily be fliortened by intemperance in diet, 
 by gluttony, by drunkennefTe, by violent dilcal'cs , and fucb 
 like* But care mult be had to avoide all thefe evills, and the 
 like , that the liccle lampe of corporall life may burne^till it 
 out ot It felfe by Gods appoyntment , and until! God 
 
 [0. 
 
 hath fulfilled the number of our dayes. And this very (pace 
 of- time is the day of grace and falvation. And whereas God 
 in his iuftice might have cut us off, and vtterly deilroyed 
 us long before this day, yet in his great mercy he doih give 
 us thus mtach time,that we might prepare our felves for our 
 end. Which time when it is once Ipent^Cwhich may be nee- 
 rer then we are aware j it a man would redecme it with the 
 price of icn thouiand worlds,it cannot be obtained. -F<?r»/;4/ 
 u a man profited (faith our Saviour) Jf/i^^ [hallgaine the tphole 
 world, and lofe htsfoHle ? 
 
 Ai d having thus feenc what bee the duties of the fickc 
 man to himfelfe : now let us fee what be the duties which he 
 o weth to his neighbour. And they are two, firft the duty of 
 reconciliation , whereby hee is freely to forgive all men, 
 and to defire to bee forgiven by all. In the old Tef lament 
 when a man was to oflFer a bullocke or a Lambe in facrifice 
 to God, He mufl leave his offering at the Altar ^ and fir ft god 
 and he reconciled to his brother if he had ought againft him ^ 
 then come and offer hi^ ^//r*much more then muft this bee 
 done , when we are dying , to offer up our felves, foiiles 
 a!:d bodies , as an acceptable and reafonable fervice and 
 laciificeto God, in forgiving of all men. And if the par- 
 tie bee abfent , or will not be reconciled , yet the ficke 
 parrieby forgiving, hath difcharged his owne corifcience, 
 and God will accept his will for the deede in fuch a cafc^V 
 ifyeforqive men their trefpaffes{{3Lkh our Saviour J r<^»^ hea- 
 venly Father wi/lalfofortrive you \ hut if yee forgive not men 
 their trcfpajfes, neither will your Father forgive you. 
 
 The feconddntic is, that thoie which are Rulers and Go. 
 venours of others mufl have great care that they which b^ 
 committed to their charge and governemcnt^ may be left i^ 
 
 dl 
 
 goo 
 
Division 3 . The prep.irdtionfor death. 
 
 I 
 
 II I 
 
 good cftatc after their death ; wherein are three duties ro 
 be hitidled , the firft of the Magiltrate , the fecond of the 
 Miuifter ot the Gofpcll, and the third of die Maflcr or Go- 
 vernour of the family. 
 
 The Magill:races dury before his death , is to provide as 
 ftrre forth as he can^ for the godly and peaceable llatc and 
 government of all fuch as are under his charge and govrern- 
 ment ; and that is done partly by procnrinj ilie mainrenancc 
 oi piety, godlineiie, and lound Religion, and partly by efta- 
 blilhing ot good and wholefome Lawes for their iafecie, 
 peace, and qnietnelfe. Whereof there are examples of the 
 praclife of thefc duties in Gods word. When Mofes was 
 an hundred and twcntie yeeres old, and was nor longer a- 
 blc to goe in and out befoie the people, he called them be- 
 fore him, and figniStd that the time of his departure was 
 at hand, and therefore he cooke order for their welfare af- 
 ter his deat^i. And hrd of all hee placed lofn^t over rhcm, 
 in his (lead to be their guide to the promifed Land, Seco id- 
 ly, he ga /e fpeciall charge to all the people, to be valiaic 
 and couragious againftall their enemves,and to obey the 
 Commandjmentsof their God. And /^,^/^^ rbllo Ares the 
 fame courfe , tor he called the people together , and tells 
 them that the time of his death is a • hand, and gives them a 
 charge to be couragioas^ and te wor/hip the true Qod ; which 
 beine done, he ends his dayesas a worthy Captaineofthe 
 Lord. And fo wheia King T>avid was to goe the way oFall 
 fTpcni, and lay ficke on his death-bed , he placed his owie 
 fonne Salomon upon his throne, and gave him charge, both 
 for the maintenance of true religion ^ and for the execution 
 ofciuill iuftice. 
 
 Touching thedutie ofMiniftersofthe Gofpell , when 
 they are going out of the world , they mufl: call about and 
 provide, as mnch as in them lies , that the Church of God 
 over which God hath made them overfeerSjmay flourifh af- 
 ter they are gone. An example whereof wee have in Saint 
 Pau/^Take heede therefore({zVi\\ \\<:)vntojourfelves , a»d to 
 
 all 
 
 Dcur.51.1. 
 
 lofliua 24.1, 
 
 2 King. T.I 
 
 -A 
 
 AAsic.iS 
 jo,3i. 
 
 .1P> 
 
 / 
 

 II2 
 
 J 
 
 I 
 
 Thepre^.iratien for death. Division 3 
 
 Gcn.>7. 
 Gen.4p.i, 
 
 6. 
 
 I 
 
 nil the fldcks ^^^^^ ivhtch the hoi) Ghoft hath wtide yoti evtrfe^ \ 
 ers^tofecde the Church ofCjody which he hath purcha/ed v.nth \ 
 hisotvne blond. For Ii(now this, that ^fter my departure Jh/^Jl 
 grievoui wolues enter in amongfl yon not jp^rtng the floche^ I 
 Alfo of your ovpy.e j elves piall men arifc, (peaktNo- pcrverfe ' 
 things^ to d^aw away difci pies after them. Therefore watch ^ ] 
 and remember thdt hj the /pace of three yeares 1 ceajed not \ 
 to warne every one night and day wtth tearcs, ! 
 
 If this duty had been well obfervcd and performed there 
 could not have beene fuch abundance of errors and herefies' 
 in the Church o^ God , as hath beene and are at this day* 
 l^ni becaufe men have had more care to maintaine perlbnall 
 iucceihon^ then the right Uiccedion, which {izuds and con- 
 n'iks in the wholefome word and docflrine of the Prophgts ; 
 and Apoftles, therefore Wolues , and unprofitable teachers' 
 have come into their places and roomcs of faithfiill and pain- 
 full Paltors and teachers, riot fparing the fiocke of Chrifl; 
 but have made havocke of th6 fame; the Apoftacie whereof 
 hatii overfpread che face of the Church. 
 
 Thirdly, houflioulders and mafters of ftmih'esjmufi: have \ 
 great care to fet their hcufhold and familie in good order 
 before they diQ, Which dutie the Lord himfclfe,by his Pro- 
 phet 8fai^ doth command tl^at good King Eaechiahxo per-' 
 Ifai 3 8, 1 « forme . Thm faith the Lord , fet thy houfe in order ^ for thou 
 
 [halt idie and not live. Arid for the procuring good order in 
 the family after dcath^ two things are to be done# The Hrft 
 tonccrriingthis life, dnd that is touching the ordering and 
 ^dilpofing of ^I^lids arid goods. And that this m^y bee well 
 ilrid \vifcly ciorie. if the lafl: will "and teft^mcnt be unmade in 
 ihe time of our health, ( wliich is a great fault ) it is with 
 ^odly advice a!id counfcil to be then made in the time of 
 fickiKfTc . gccqrdine to the praf^ife of ancient and worthy 
 incn. Abraham before his death makes his will, and give's 
 Legacies ^fodid /^^^ and /^r^^, in whofe lafl will andite- 
 flament are contained many worthy and no-able Icd'on*:.' 
 blclTings and prophecies of the cflatc of his children. And 
 
 our 
 
 1 
 
Division j. 1 he f reparation for death. 
 
 I 
 
 Hi 
 
 our Saviour Chrifl^wheii he was upon the Crofle provided , 
 tor his Motha, clpccially in iciiKinbiing htr unto /o^« his loki^.^s* 
 wdbCiOvcdDilciple. And indeed this autie ot making a 
 Will, is a ma.ccr of great conit^ucnce , lor it cu:s off much 
 hatred a- <icoiircntioii in famihes, and it prevents many ; 
 troubles a.d luits m Law. It is not theretort alwayes a mat- 
 ter of HiditieicnciCjWhich may or may not be done^as many 
 falfely imag ne , \\ ho upon blinde and linilkr relpeds ab- 
 ftaine from making their laft wilU.Some, becaufc they feare 
 they fhall die the (ooncr, and others for luch hke carnall re- 
 fpeds; butallfuch are greatly deceived , For by dilpofing 
 thy worldly goods in thy will and te lament, thou n.alt not 
 thereby die the more quickly , but the mere quietly , and 
 (halt thereby prevent the jarres and brawies, thar oiherwife 
 when thou art gone, may arife amongft thy children ^ kin- 
 dred and friends. T herefore that t harge given lo He^eki^h 
 concerning the fetting of his houfe in order is of lingular ufe; 
 men (hould with found advife fettle their outward tftates, 
 and difpofe of their worldly affaires, and according to ihcir 
 mcanes, provide for their wives and children ; a great part 
 of the ftareand trouble of men^ hearts is over ^ when their 
 will- are difcrettly made ; bur men are loath to iMo: lo long 
 a> their outward eftates are unletled, and u.^difp^fed: it is a 
 moil prcpofterous courfe for men to leave the making of 
 their wills to their (icknefic, forbefides their difabiliticJ of 
 memorie. and U'ldcrilandifig which may befal! r' em , the 
 trouble of it breedes unrcftin their mi des a"«d belidcs 
 I they live all the time in neglefl of the du-^y of p ei^aratioa 
 'for death. And herein remember that thou paire/} from 
 earthly pcflcITions , and art ^ 'V>% to take pnfleriion of 
 neavenly. And in the bcifowii.g of their prift ^<on and 
 g-"^' ds it muft he principa'lv upon their w«ve aj.c^ children, j 
 Thbi '%iw ((auh Qod uiro A^raham^ of flfAK^r a ftr iiigcr j Gcn.ic 4. 
 fi}*ill not h rhtieheire, ^^r rh<^ fony/e which Jha//'om<- forth of , 
 t^nne owneb w ls,P)all he thtiehire, Th rcf^o;. it j vtftrly 
 a fault in any man^ to alienare his lands or g:'()di^ hoi! a d 
 
 I ' fialy 
 
U4 
 
 1 
 
 Thefrep.irattenfor death. Division j.t 
 
 Deu. 11.17' 
 
 I Num.27.'o 
 
 Gcn.iSx^c 
 
 aHfdr.J4,T3, 
 M.I J. 
 
 finally from his blond and poftentie sit is a thing which the 
 very law ot Nature it felfc hath condemned. Agame it is vt- 
 terly a fault to ^wo. all to the eldeft , and little or nothing in 
 refpeit to the reft as though the ©idcfl: were borne to be the 
 gencleman onley, and the yoiwger bietheren borne co beare 
 th e wailet. Yet in equity the elded is. to have more then any 
 of che rcli, becaulc unto him there belongeth by thelaw of j 
 God a double por. ion, and becaufeStociLesand families in 
 their perfons are to be prelerved and maintained ; and be^ 
 1 caufc alio there muft bee alwayes fome that mull: be fitted 
 ' hereby , to doe iome fpeciall fervice for the good both- of 
 Church and.Common wealth* . 
 
 In the fccond.puee, in the will there mud bee provifion 
 made for the Godly preaching Miniiler , and poore of the \ 
 place, and for others well deferving the lame, according to j 
 every mans abilitie, and efpecially For want of children , the i 
 next ot kinne muft be remembrtd in their fttad. 
 
 The fecond dutie .of the governour.and maiter of the fa- 
 mily, conc^rneth the:good of the foulesof all th»>fe that arc 
 vnder their charge and government. And this confift. ch in 
 teaching and inftruv^^ing of them in the fcare of the Lord, j 
 and to 9,ive t hem charge that they may perievere and co iti- 
 niicinthefame, alter the example of fairhfull ^^raham^ 
 whom the Lord himrelfecommtndeth to his evenafting 
 praife and commendation, for the performing of this duty, 
 asappeareth inthebookeof^^w^/T/, ^or I f^ow him^ikxh 
 the Lord) that he wili command hvs children and his hoHpjold 
 after him, that thej Mi keeps the T?aj of the Lord^.todoeiu- 
 flice andiudi^ement that the Lord may hrin^ upo^ Abraham 
 that which fje hath Ifoken of him, and after the example like- 
 wife ofKing David , who gave his fonne Salomon on his 
 death-bed a moft excellent and.lolcmnc charge. And this 
 dutie is alfo commended vnto iis in the lecond bookeof 
 £rdra6 ^ W^herc it is iaid , 2{ow therefore fet thy houfcinor^ 
 
 der.^C, 
 Thusifmafters and govcrnours of families fliall fo carc^l 
 
 ; . — ' 
 
 '6 . 
 
jDivi siON 3. jhc f re f ATM ion for death. 
 
 \ 
 
 US 
 
 fulldifpolcoFthcirelbce, and give Ibch a godly charge to 
 them whom they ihall leave behindc thcin, then they il\all 
 hereby greatly honor God (^/n\gy as well as living. O that 
 they werew%fe{ faith U^Ujes)thut thej underftoo^ this , that 
 they tvohU confder^and prndentiy provide for their i.nter end. 
 Wherein fonrc things arecommcded untous^to wit^know- 
 Icdge^underlhidi/ig, wifedome and providence : whereby 
 it is appa: ant that L» od would have us to kno w,undcrftand 
 and wilely provide for our end. But firft to know ; what? 
 This our hfe to be both Ihort and dangerous , ftuffed with 
 mifcrics, fubiecfl to vanities, defiled with (innes^ corrupted 
 withlufts and dcfires, and ever flyding toward an end. 
 
 LikewifcGod wifKeth us well to u.iderftand, whatPOur 
 owne fraile eftate,that as naked as wee came out of our mo: 
 thcrs wombe fo naked we muft returnc againe. and as earth 
 we are , fo to earth eftloone we are to be converted. Well 
 may we be compared vnto men fcaling thewalles ofabe- 
 feiged Citty , ac whom the Cittizens difcharging their pee- 
 ces^encounrer their aflault with darts, ftones & other muni- 
 tion, the better todefead thcmfelve^, and to offend their e- 
 nemie. Who as they be wounded, fall downc^fome from the 
 top, (bme from the midft and at the bottomc of the wall^ 
 fome being wounded with gun-(1iot^ (ome with darts, and 
 fome with ftones, fome with one thing,lome with another; 
 even fo it fareth with the men of this world,if we wel under 
 iiood it. who while they labour to clim'dv up to the top of 
 honour & wealth are tumbled do wne by deathjfome fro the 
 highelldcg ec of honor, fome fromamidleclhte,&lome 
 fro a low & poorc citucfome in their old agc,fome [\^ their 
 midle age lomc in rhtir vourh and fome m their infancie. 
 
 Ifa man were tved fid to a ftake , ar whom a m >rt: cun- 
 ning archer did fliootc , wounding many about him a d 
 neerer himXomciabove. Tome under, and fome againft him, 
 iindthe poore wretch himfdfc fo fe ft bound to thcftake, 
 that it were not any way poITible for him to cfcape ; would 
 not be deemed madncs in him,if in the mcane while forget- 
 
 I t 
 
 ting 
 
 EccIc.J.i; 
 
 Dcut.^2.1^. 
 
 I 
 
 ■MWi 
 
Ii6 
 
 1 
 
 Jhefref^ ratwn for death. Division 3. 1 
 
 p^aI.7.Il,x^ 
 
 PfaUpr.j,^,?^ 
 
 PfaLpcii^Jo. 
 
 1 ting his mifery and danger, he (hould carelefly fall to bibbe 
 and qiiaft-e , to laugh and be merry as though he could not 
 be touched ac all ? who would notiudge luchainau befide 
 himieife , that would not rather in this cafe provide for his 
 end? And are not wee much rather to be accounted ftaike 
 mad^ w ho doc or \\ ouA know and underftand that the moft 
 expeit archer that ever w as , even God himlclfe hath whet 
 his /word, and bent his how(2LS the Prophet faith )^W made it 
 ready .avdhach alfo prepared for him thetnflruments ef death ^ 
 and ord.nnedhis arrowes. V^a he hath already ihot forth his 
 darrs and a.rowes of Death ^gdinfl: them that are aboue us, 
 chat is a^aiid our anceftors e.der.v and betters, and now oae 
 while he iliooterh a^ them that be right agaiifl us,ihati!»at 
 ourequalis , a:iorhcr while he hitteth inch as be very neere 
 us, as our neerdt a^id deercfi: friends , on the right hand hee 
 vounde h ourfric.ds on th:^ left ha id our enemies, and un- 
 der us uchasareoLir inTeriors and yo'iger*. And if among 
 fo many arrowes of death , wee in the mcanetime fhall be- 
 come fecure and carek(fc,and never provide nor prepare for 
 our end, as though we ilioiild evtr efcape , who woUid not 
 lay that we were worfe then luiatikt? 
 
 O then let us underftand thus much that wee are faft 
 bound tothe ftakeof mortaliicy , and that it is notpoffible 
 for us to efcape Gods arrow^es and darts of Death, but that 
 at one time or other wee fliall be as. deadly wounded, there- 
 with as others ; that fo by the right underll"anding of thefe 
 things we may prepare our fclves againit the time that it fhal 
 happen unto us •- a^d then thou lliilt not fas the Pfalmift 
 faith "^ he afraid for the te^-ror by niq^ht^ nor for the arrowe that 
 flieth by day , nor for the ^efltlence that wall\eth m the darl^es^ 
 nor for the deflrHftton that waff-fth at noone-day ; a thousand 
 (hall full at thy fide and ten thonfand at thy rtght hand , but it 
 fhall not come ntffh thee. 
 
 Let us therefore be wife, but in whnt ? Mofes in another 
 place telleth us i'l what. Lordfi^kh he) teach m Co to num- 
 ber OHY daycs that we may ^pp^J onr hearts to wifdamcSo that 
 
 this 
 
"Division 3 . ihtyre^^rationfor death. 
 
 I 
 
 ■ ■ ^mi 
 
 117 
 
 I 
 
 
 this wifedomc confilkth principally in numbring o£ our 
 daies, which may be done tburc way cs. 
 
 Firil: the account which Mofis makcch , the dayes of our 
 life arc threelcorc yecres and iQUyand though jome hefoflrong \ 
 that they come to fourefcore ye^cs^ yet is their (trength then 
 hut Ubonr and for row : for it isfoone cut ojf, and wcjiy ^way^y 
 Therefore the lummcofour ycarcs (whcrcunto neverthc- 
 IcfTCjall doc not attaine)is threclcorc ycarcs and ten. But this 
 number every childe can tell. 
 
 Secondly, by comparilon of three times, firfl:,paft,which 
 being once gone, and pafi,is nothing now it is pad , were it 
 a thoufaDd yeares , it is but as a thought ; lecondly , future 
 which being to come , is but uncertaine whether it will be 
 to us or no ^ thirdly prefent.and know that the fame is onely 
 OMrs, which is but a moment or inftant. 
 
 Thirdly deduflion,or abflrac^ion,as thus,take from three* 
 fcore anci ten yeares, thirty five fpent in fleepe ;and fifteene 
 yecres for our childhood, the tiaie of our vanitic 9 for this, 
 part of a mans life is fpent before hee knowcs what time isy 
 and ren yeares allowed, for eating and drinking, tricking 
 artdtriming, moyling and toyling, recreating andfporting, 
 idfc talking and complementing , and luch liKe ; then there 
 unillbec found but ten ye-ires remaining to bee well fpent, 
 (%<^hereof Lord how little is fpent in thy lcrvicel)thefe three 
 waics of nun^bring may be taught us of men. 
 
 The fourth way God oncly can teach us byaChriftian 
 and he-ivcnly Arithmaticke^ that is , io to number , as we 
 may by due confideration of the fliortncflc and uncertaintic 
 ofourlife , applic our hearts unto wifdome. And lo wee j 
 fhould Icarne to provide, what? To provide wuth /<?/>/>4 ! GcMi«3ii 
 for the dearth to come, and imitate the Ant., who pro- j 
 yidethhermcatcinthc fomrper , and gathercthhcrfoodc j 
 in the harvvfl for the wi'irer to coinc. (^ As the wile man Proucr,^, 
 
 h\ih)C]pcto thepifmre O jla^^gi^rd i heboid^Jicr Wiiyes undl>^: 
 f¥ife,T.(irftfchifviH^ no gmii .^^iVtrnof nor rnkr prcpArethhcr^ 
 meat in thcfpimmcr, tind gather eth h^rfoodniH barvfji: 
 
 I J Saint 
 
 
1 
 
 tin 
 
 1X8 
 
 I I ■ « 
 
 lob T.ZL 
 
 Hcbr.l3,i4= 
 
 Thefref rat: en for death. Division 3* 
 
 11. 
 
 1 Saint Aufline faith that in this our pilgrimage wee muft 
 chinke of nothing die , but that wee ihdii noc oe ever here, 
 
 ' & thit l^jere we iliould prepare for our iclves that place from 
 whence we flial never depart, f^amafccne reportcih an excel- 
 lent hillorie touching this purpofe. There was a ccrtainc 
 countrey f faith he) where they chole their Kingofthepoo- 
 rtftand'oafeft Ibrt ofpeoplc , and upon an^ diflike taken, 
 they would depofe him from his thro:;e^ and exile him into 
 an Ifland .where hee (hould be ftarvcd co death. Now one 
 more wiie the the rettconlidering hereof,lent mony before 
 hand into that Ifland , into which hee fliould bee baniflied; 
 which comming to palTe to him as to others before himjie 
 went and was received into that Ifland with great ioy & tri- 
 umph.. Even fo againft thoube banilhed by Death from 
 this world without penie or farthing (for nak^d thou came ft ^ 
 and naked thoH Jhalt ret time ) thou muft provide and prepare 
 for it, whileft thou art in this hfe whereby thou maift bee 
 received into Heaven heereaRer \vith great ioy and tri- 
 umphs . 
 
 And asa Merchant being to travel! into a farre coiintrey, 
 doth firfl: deliver here his money upon the exchangc/hatfo 
 hee may be fure to receive it againe at his arivall mro that 
 countrey , even fo for as much as we muft pafTefrom hence 
 having here ;io abiding, nor continuing Ci:tie, being out of 
 our owne Countrey, but we feeke one to come, let it there- 
 fore be our car,e,wifedome and providence, to pafle by thefc 
 things which will pafle from us, and to lay up fom^rhing 
 that may ferve us beyond the grave , againft our arrivall 
 there, which is heaven. To which purpofe tendeth that ex- 
 horratiou of our Saviour Chrift in the Goipels of Saint 
 Afatthcrv and L^ke, Lay not tip for your felves trea-^nrrs ftvoft 
 ea^-th rrhere moth ct^ ruft do corrupt, and ivhr>'C thcefies breake 
 through (^ fteale^but laj upforyourfelvcs trea^u^e.^ in heave. 
 Sell that yea h/ive^ and (^ive almes ^ provide your felves harr^^es 
 rohich wax not old a treafure in the heavcvs thutfaileth not^ 
 &cJor -where johk treafure, u there will jour hearts be al/o.So 
 
 that 
 
 ■•" 
 
^ Division 3. 1 he frefAr Alton for dcdth. 
 
 
 I 119 
 
 thac we muft fend our Ibbftanec & our trcafures beforehand 
 to our ftaiiding houic , and to our continuing Countrcy, a^' 
 ^hryfofiome i'ptzkcs , and our Saviour Chrilt doth advife 
 U6 here, tor we loolc thena it we lay rhem up here,whcre we 
 mull leave thcin, and can neither tarry with thein^nor carry 
 chem lieiiceibut we keepe them, if wc iend them to heaven, 
 as It wtrc by biis ofcxchang,by the hands oFChnfts poorc 
 iiumbtri, where wc lliall receive intereftforthemofthc 
 Lord himlciu . ^e that h^thpitty on thepoore (faith the wile- 
 era -X^w^^^r^ unto the Lerd, ttnd that which hehathgivenwtll 
 hepAj to himtiguvie. For they that do good and be rich in f^ood 
 ivories. And are ready to dtfirthnte and commnmcate^ do lay up 
 I J ft ore for themfelves agoodfohndatio again jl the time to come 
 that they may obt^ine everlafting life. So that the godly pro- 
 vident man iikewile'i?^^, either carries all with him, or ra- 
 ther hath lent them before him to his heavenly habitation. 
 T her} ore I jay Hm9yon[^{i\\\\ our Sauiour Jw^;^ to yourfelves 
 fr tends of Aidmon ef nnrighteoufnes , that when ye faile.they 
 may reeevve you into evcrUfting habitations. So that we may 
 hy when the world is on a hiC, 1 have loft nothing where I 
 loved nothing ; and 1 have my whole portion when I have 
 Chrifl; my ouely love and ioy with me* 
 
 Let us not therefore build, where wc cannot long continue, 
 but let us make our proviHon Br that place where wc may 
 live and remaine for ever. 
 
 Iciswii'edoincthenin everyone to labour to fitred for 
 this paflage. Let us be prepared for this iourrey ('as Chrifo^ 
 /?<?w^iiiirhjforwehaveiieedcofmuch provifion , bccacjfc 
 there is much hear, much droughr^much iblitude . no innc, 
 no refting place, no place of aboade , there is nothing ro be 
 bought by him who hath not taken all things here. Hwarc 
 what the Virgins (ay, gceyerathertothem th^t fell ^ bui g-'- 
 inq ihcy found not. v\''hat ought w'c then to due ^ Hve'.i thac 
 we d.>e fiot fo labour for the things of this life, from vhich 
 wc mult be taken, and which wc muft leave behind us , bu" 
 for thofw things whichconccrne a better hfcjwhich we rn^y 
 
 I 4 carry 
 
 Prov.1^.17. 
 
 Lukci^.9. 
 
 Mat.i^t^, 
 
\ 
 
 I20 
 
 lob.r. 
 Luke 1 2*20* 
 
 I 
 
 aCor.j/. 
 
 Luk.i^.2. 
 
 I 
 
 Thefrcp.iratten for death. Division^ 
 
 carry with us, not for thofe things, which (hall have either 
 fi»un tfiHm,V€lfinem[HHm{2iS ^Vr«^r^fpeaks)an endof chec 
 ifthou have not an end of them. Eidier fhall they be taken 
 from us as they were from loh-^or: elle we from them, as the 
 rich man was from his fubftance and wealth , but for thofe 
 things which we may carry with us, and may either bring 
 us to, or adorne us where we muft be perpetually euen for 
 euer. 
 
 It were a very foolifli part,and fencclefie prac1:ife for (Iran* 
 gers when they are in ex'le,or farre from their owue Coun- 
 trey,in a forrcn ioile, where they are line cither to be called 
 by their owne Prince;or call out by the Prince of the Coun- 
 trey, to lay out all their wealth upon fome land there^ncver 
 providing far that which they may carry with them to their 
 Countrey, for to adorne them when they come there -, efpe- 
 cially if the lo imploying of themfelves and there eflate be a 
 meanes to keepe them tirom cnioying, the happines of rheir 
 Countrey, yea a caufe why they Ihall be caft into prifon, or 
 plunged into raiferies^So is it mcere madneffe for us to im- 
 ploy all our care , and fpend our time and endeavours for 
 this life, and things pertaining to it,and the bcdy which we 
 found h^re and muft leave herc^ and being here from home, 
 flrangers in the body^ abfent from the Lord, and our owne 
 land(as the Apoftle fpeaketh) whence we know we Ihall be 
 called either by a naturall or violent death, ordinarie or ex- 
 traordinary^ taken away by God prthruftout by thecrticlry 
 ofman;never providing for that which muil adon:e us there 
 or further our paflagc, yea procure ovr enrran( e;& Ipccinlly 
 when fuch things and the care for them, (which was ioyncd 
 with the neglcd: of lb great things , even of fo great falva- 
 tion) fliall procure mifery and punilhmcnt, where the other 
 would prrruie mercy and happineffe ; here thefc things arc 
 Ictt bchinde us, thofe other goe with us , of chefe we Oall 
 give an accompt, of thofe there wee Ihall rcapc a rcwaid (as 
 Chryfoftome faith.) 
 
 We muft therefore imitate ftrangers,vvho provide for their 
 
 departures 
 
Divisions- The preparation for death. 
 
 I 121 
 
 dcparriirc,and floi e thcmfclvcs with Inch things as arc botli 
 portable and prortrablc , and ma); fkad us in our paflagc 
 and pc iTciIion of our Councrcy, i'o inult wcc provide toi 
 thir-gs Ipirituall ; and florc our Iclvcs with tlicin, which W'c 
 rhall oncly carry with us , and cannot bee taken from US;» 
 and llvall be oPitly comn-icdiou>3 to us when wee come to 
 our countrey. A goodhouflioIdcT makcth provilion For him- 
 fdi-e &: bmily and b) cth before-hand all necefl'^y p.ovifion 
 according to his power:much more ought a Chriitia to pre- 
 ! pare before for that Hfe that endureth to all eternity. In this 
 ^ life^iAxh. Af^^tifirae)nothtng is fo fivcet uyito mc.afto preDare 
 ! for my peaceable parage from this pilgrimage ofjinne to life C^ 
 I /;^/7/';«^/. One faith ot:himfelfe(dra wing toward the end of 
 his lift) vphen I was a Jong man my care was how to live well, 
 [ftnce age came on^m'j care hath bin how to'dy well. Chrjfoflome 
 falthjhe that is indued with vertue hath fuch agarmet,which 
 as moaths cannot Jo neither can death it felfe hurt. And not 
 without caufe,for the vertues of the mind take not their be- 
 ginning from the earth^but are fruits of the fpirit. They are 
 then erernal! riches , and wc fl^.all be cternall by them 5 and 
 though death diflblve body & foule, and dcftroy ourprcfent 
 i being in thislife,yct as lufiine martyr fpake for himfcife and 
 j others to their pcrfecutors^ you may kill us, but you cannot 
 hurt us:fo death may kill us, but it cannot hurt us ; whilcft it 
 comes cxpt(ffcd & provided for,it will be to our great com- 
 moditie and advantage* And thus iLall death, wheait com- 
 ratth, be Icfle hurtfulljas a tempeff before-hand cxpecfled. 
 
 Death is compared to the Bafiliske^yN\\'n:h if fliC fee before 
 
 flice be iccne is dargerous,but if a man fiifl difcry the Baji- 
 
 lisksythc .^erpent dieth,and then there is no fcare.So if death 
 
 j be not fcene, and provided for before-hand , there is great t 
 
 dangcrjbut if it be ieene and provided for, the danger is pafl; 
 
 •j before their death come. Ai dthey who with the glorified 
 
 \ Virgiris wait for Chrift in the life of the rJghtcous,are alwai"* 
 
 prepared for death, when it krccketh to open urto it , and 
 
 w hat i s a prepared death^but a happie death ? and what f ol- 
 
 lowes 
 
 MJu,l^Io. 
 
 \ 
 
 ^^1 
 
 ♦* 
 
12Z 
 
 I 
 
 ThefrefATdtionfor death. Division 
 
 ;Ac^sie7, 
 
 Mark. I ^.3 2* 
 
 Acl$ 1 7.30,51 
 
 ETay 4^.10, 
 
 \ lowes a happie death, but a happie life, never to die againe? 
 fiich go in with chrift to his mariagt^& have everlalling life. 
 
 let LIS not therefore forget htaven for earth, thcloule for 
 the body, and heavenly ioycs for earthly toyes, oneino- 
 1 ncth or day,for one houre or minute 5 let us not deprive our 
 4 fe^vts of that everlalting happineiie , that fliall never be ta- 
 ken from us, if we prepare our Iclves ibr it. 
 
 O that men would be wile to underihnd 5c know, what? 
 that the great and general! day oFludgement cannot befarre 
 ofF,as that likcwife of their owqe deathitbar they might in 
 time prepare themfelves for the fame. And although this 
 day cannot be knowne of mortall men , Tor it is not. for yon 
 ( faith our Saviour) a^ knsw the tirnes XT feafons ^hkh the Fa- 
 ther hathpHt tn his ownepower^ and 18 unknowne to the An- 
 gels, and to the Sonne, as he is man, yet neverthelefle they 
 muft know that this day cannot be .for re ofF.As ^'Damclii^^i^ 
 ched and found out by the bookes o? leremtnh ^ not only the 
 rcturne, but the time of the returne of Ifrael to their owne 
 land from their capriyitie. So by the ftudy of the Scripture 
 ought they to fearch , and fo may they come to know the 
 time of their returne from their exile on earth to their coun- 
 try m heaven. And though they cannot iinde the particu- 
 lar day or yeare, yet fliall they findc it to be moft certaiue, 
 and in fliort time to be finirhed. 
 
 Man fhould be wife to under fland and know the rcafons 
 of the certainty of this day of Judgement and they are thefe. 
 Firfl it is the will and decree of C j od, for the Apoftle faith, 
 jind the times of this ignorance God winked at M fit tJow com- 
 m^nds all men every where to repent Jbecan ^e he hath /JppotfJted 
 A day in rvhich he nill tud^e the tvoy/d tn rior^hteonfnes.by that 
 mAn whom he hath ordaincd\vpherofhe hath ^ivcn ajfftr^nce nn 
 to all men, in that he hath r at fed him from the dead. Now the 
 will & decree of God isuncha .gcablc,^^/ cofinfell({;xkh the 
 Vvo^\\^l)p}all (land ^ and he wiU^doe all his plcafure. 
 
 Secondly, it is an article of out fki:h grounded on the 
 wordof God,^«^(/?*^^^ ^<r??rr(faith the hnkkJh^/^^Hlicomr 
 
 to 
 
1 
 
 Divisions. The preparation jor death. 
 
 \ 123 
 
 to iudf t both the ^»icke a-id the dead, 
 
 1 hrd;> , the Scrrpcuic f^iich , That Cjodpjull bringeverj 
 vporkjiiito tttdgme^n^wuh every ecret thing^whether tt he good 
 ercviH, Blk all this is not done hecrCj, for hcerc many mat- 
 ters arc cloaked 'Jin(\ carried in a mili, that dclcfve ludgc- 
 mcu, and merit CO idcmia'ion. Therefore, that God may 
 be iuft ill his layings , rhere mnft Ik* a (cnions oFgaoIc-deli- 
 very, which the >criptnrcs cal the jndgmentof the lalt day. 
 Fourthly , the godly doc here groane under many mile- 
 lies and rhe ungodiy wallow in many dehghrs & plealures. 
 The rich hvc delicarely, and Laz^tru^ is in paine ; therefore 
 it is nectfl'arv i^as it is cercainejchar a day Hionld come,wher- 
 inthe Lord may make knowne his righteoufhcflc, and mag- 
 n 'fie his iuitice before his moft glorious throne; that they 
 who have hved merrily and diiLonored God, might live in 
 torments of ^tq and they whofc hfc hath becnc miferablc, 
 lerving the Lotd might be comforted For ever. »Some have 
 oflpcnded dceptly, aid have nor been touched by the Ma- 
 giftrate: lome have fufi-eredgi eat rebuke, ai'd fomerimes 
 death, who l,ave done gopd^ and defervcd not only favour, 
 but rccompence, and therefore a- day mnft come, and is ap- 
 poimed,w herein the Lord that \s ;nft, mHllrecompefirc tribu- 
 lation to all that have trembled the righteous^ and refit them 
 that were tronbled. On the other fide,would it not bee hard 
 for the godly, who have here endured the crofTc.for the ioy 
 that was fct before them, if there Hiould not come a rime of 
 refrtfhing from God. And would it not too much obdurate 
 the wicktd (who drinke iniquitieas water) if they fhonld 
 elcape all piiniOiment and vengeance here, and alfo after 
 death. <• 
 
 Fiftly,thls is fl adowcdout in that Houfliolder^who whc 
 evening wascome.calkd the labourers,and gave every man 
 his hire and peny. 
 
 And if a wifcmafter wil recken with his fervantSjflial we 
 thinkc that wiiedome it felfe will not one day recken with 
 impenitent finncrsjand call them before him for his money, 
 
 that 
 
 Ecdcf.u.M* 
 
 z Thdt.Xo^.r.S 
 
 \ 
 
 Matth,ij.x^i 
 
 J 
 
'♦- 
 
 124 I 
 
 Ads 14. 1 ^< 
 
 1 Pcr.j.jr* 
 
 Matt!i.7.zj. 
 
 
 TJbe preparation for death. Division 3 
 
 ^ that is ,precious graces of wit, learning, autlioritie, wealth, 
 and other outward and inward ornaments of hfc, which 
 they have confumed on their lulls. 
 
 Sixtly, every mans conicience doth by a trembling feare 
 fas in felix) at one time or another ,jiuftifie this poiat ot a 
 iudgement to come. And therefore as the Fiona oFwatcrs 
 once drowned the world, except a few who were laved m 
 the Arke ; fo it is certainc that the Floud and re mpeil: of the 
 laff day with fire fhal coufumc it,and all therem^t xcept fuch 
 as Chrifc hatli, or then will gather into the \vAc Ark« of his 
 Church. In the evening of the world, and when there fliall 
 ' be no more time,he wiU cal the labourers before him^giving 
 them the peny or pay of cverlaftiug life ; but for the idle and 
 loyterers, he will put them out of the vineyard , and out of 
 Chrift.and fend them with Tinners to the place prepared for 
 )them;as rhey have lived without the Church^oridle init/o 
 When the labourers receive their peny, they {hall hearethis 
 Sentence , Def Art from mceyee that rwrke im^uiti^ J ks^ow 
 jounat^ 
 
 I Thus it Is proved not onely to be ccrtaine, bat: ncceffarie ; 
 that there fliould bee a iudgement, which we arc lo ui:idcr— 
 :{landi KnoWj and wifely provide for. -otv\ 
 
 But fome will fay , feeing men come to their^accQun^ a^^ 
 their death, what needeth any other day oinndit or heanngj' 
 to whom I anfwere , That men at their death receive but 
 pt^vate iudg£menti but heare they Oiall receive publike fen» 
 tcnce, then they are iudgcd in their foules onely, heere they: 
 £haU be in foule and body, f hi5 fif ll is but a clofe fc/Tion s , 
 fthe other is an open and folemne alUfe* In thefirfl, much . 
 •of their fliamc is hid,heerethey ihall be afliamedco the full, ||^ 
 .and vttcrly confounded. If ourowiK lawesdoenot con-.r 
 <demne and execute malefa(^ors in prifon, but. in open plficelj 
 •and manner for their grcacer fl^ajne ; it is great reatbi) that I 
 wicked /inner s fliould not privately in the grave s^^ in pili^ , 
 Ton, be iudgtd, and led to execution, but be broijghtto the i' 
 publike 5 kaffold and barre of loleinnc fcnlons, there to re : 
 
 CC^VC • 
 
 ■••■ 
 
 i»^ 
 
 '»IWP 
 
! D 1 V 1 s I O N -3 . The pnpar Alton Jor death. 
 
 I Ii> 
 
 ceivc their Hiame and fentence together, and not to be exe- 
 cuted by a clofe death in the gaole, but be bi ought forth to 
 iWcT upon the high Ibgc otthe world , in the light oi 
 Saints and Angel s , where all eyes may ke and behold them . 
 And that this day cannot be farre oiijit may appeare,bo.h 
 according to the Prophecies ot holy Fathers,as alio tiic truth 
 of the Sciiptures.y^/^^/(/?*«<?in his booke on Cjenefis laith a- 
 gainft the Al^niches , that the vvcild fhoiild lail lixc ages. 
 The hi ll from A Urn to l>(jAh , the (ccond from 2^oah to 
 Al'rahdm ^z\\Q thiid from /ibrahumio'D.ivtd^th^ fourth fio 
 
 j Daztd to the Tranlmigration, to Babylon ; the fife from the i 
 Tranlinig^ation, ro the commingofour Saviour Chriil in 
 t the flcfli ; and the fixt from the comming of our Saviour in 
 j the flclh, to his comming againc to ludgcment. So that ac- 
 cording to this Prophecic we live in the lall age •, which laO- 
 ! ag J IS called by Saint John the Lifi honre. And how long this' 
 j lailhourc lliall continue, he oncly that is Alpha and Omcg,i^ 
 the rirll and the lart,knoweth. 
 
 The Hehrcwcs , chey boaft of the Prophecieof iE'/r*?^ , a 
 great man in thofe dayes ; who Prophecicd ihat the world 
 fhou!d laft fixe thoufand yeeres t two thoufund before the 
 Law , two thoufand ander the Law, two thoufand from 
 Chrifts comming in the fiefh , to his comming againeunto 
 ludgement. if this Prophecie be true , then cannot the 
 world laft foure hundred yeares. But leaving mcn^ and com- 
 ming to the Scriptures, which cannot erre. 
 
 Saint Piift/ iaith , Tha: rveeare they npon whom the ends of 
 the vporld are cowf;U therefore the end ofthc world were 
 come upon them that lived above one thou and and five 
 hiindred yeeres agoe^ then lurely Doomes day cannot now 
 be farre off. 
 Saint I^mes faith behold the Itidge ftandeth before the dore, 
 vSaint John "Bapttfi preached repentance to the lewes fay- 
 ing Repent^ for the Km^dame of heaven is at h fnd. 
 
 Saint Peter faith, The end of all thwgs w at hand. Though 
 no man can (liew the fingers of this hand. 
 
 The 
 
 1 lohn 2,1 ?. 
 Keuo.ix, 
 
 . 
 
 Cor.io.ii, 
 
 
 I Pcr.4o7# 
 
I 
 
 Tbefrefarattonfor death. Division 
 
 Rcu.f,i7- 
 
 iZepfi.ioT4o 
 
 MaIac4,Xj 
 
 ludc i.i4,x J. \ -The Apoftlc Saint ///^<?,fakk ^«^ Enoch, r^<r/^i/^«r^ alfo 
 \from Ad3imJ>r'ophccted ofthefefujing ^ 3ehold the Lord com^ 
 meth with ten thofiptnd of his Samtsfe execnte iudgement upon 
 aH-And to convince a/ithat are ungodly am&ftg them^sfallthetr 
 vngodlj deeds ^ which they have vngodly committed^ And of aU 
 their hardfpeeches, which vngodly fnners have ffok^n againjt 
 him. The t^k or time that the Apoftle Ipeaketh in noteth 
 the <:ertaintie , or (as I may hy) the prclentneffe of the 
 ludgcscommiiig, where he ufeth the time prefcntfor fii- 
 ture^f^i? commeth^ foijbe wi/lcome). And this is to teach us, 
 that a ludgeracnt will and murt moft certaincly be,ere long. 
 So It is i^id^Thsi: the great day of the Lords wrath is come not 
 will come as if that had bin comeathofand and five hun- 
 dred yeeres agoc,that is not come yet. 
 
 The like fpeech we have in the Prophecie o^Efay , Te- 
 hold the d^j commeth \M\\Qn it was further off. 
 
 In the time of the Prophet Zephany it is faid , The great 
 day of the Lord is neerejtis neere^Andhafleth greatly ^enen the 
 voice of the day of the Lord, 
 
 And Malachy^thQ lall of the Prophets /peaketh as Enoch, 
 For behold the day commeth that Pjallbume as an oven and all 
 the frond ^yea and all that doe wickedly fljall beflubble^ and the 
 day that commeth ftjall bnrne them up ^ faith the Lord ofHofls^ 
 
 The Sonne of God faith, behold I come quickly^ nay (^hee 
 i'3L\x\i)behold Ifland at the depre, as if he were come already. 
 And indeede, as the^day will moil Turely come, fo it cannot 
 be long in comming, as may appeare by the fignes & tokens 
 which fhould immediatly goc before this day. OF which 
 many , yea almoft all are already fulfilled. And although 
 Tome ilatter thcmfclves with an imagination of a longt r ^ 
 day, the God hath fet unto them, or perhaps unto the world, 
 for the laft hourc thereofC Who are fuch as the ApolHc Saint 
 Pef€> fpeakcth oiThat there P^a/i come in the Ufl daycs^fcof^ 
 fers.walkviti^ after their owne Itifls.Andfajtng whereof thepro^ 
 mife ofhu camming, for fiycc the Fathers fell ajleepe,a/l things 
 contimte as they were from the beginntJ^g of the creation, Jhut 
 
 let I 
 
 Rcue]«3.il.io« 
 
 iP€t3*3,4i 
 
1 
 
 Division 3 . T/je preparation for death. 
 
 I 127 
 
 let fuch know, that chough the clay of ludgcmenc were farre , 
 of[, yet the d.iy ami hoiire of every inans particular iudgc- 
 incnt in death cannot be farre off it being a common and true 
 fa) ing^'7^^ day a man, to m&rrow none. And vnto fuch then 
 Death doth Ipcially come, when they doe leaft thinkc of it^ 
 cvep ^s a theefe tn thcni^ht. 
 
 The 5onne of God alfo faith, Behold I yvillcome on thee Ai 
 a theefe , (kndthou P^lt not k^otv wht-it houre Iwt/l come Hton 
 thee. And theeues have thi^ propcrtic, to breakeopen hou- 
 fc5 when men flccpc foundly fufpecfling i^othing. 
 
 The Prophet Anios faith , It poallcome topajfe in that day 
 (faith the \,o\6)that I will caufe the Snn to go downe at noone ^ 
 and I will darken the earth tn thee leer e day. That is to fay, 
 when men thinke it to be the high noone of their age, when 
 they thinke they have many yeeres yet to live , and when 
 they dial 1 hy*Teaceandfaftie, then fodaine deftrnElion com- 
 meth upon them^as.travatle upon n woman with chUde^artd they 
 p)all not efcape. 
 
 And hereupon alfo our Saviour Chrift faith , But if that 
 evil ^ey vant fljal fay in his hart, my Lord delay eth hts comming 
 and p al heq^in to fmtte his fellow fervants ,and to eat and drinke 
 with the d*'Uhl^n ; the Lord of that fervant fijall come in a day, 
 when he lool^eth hot for him,c^ in an houre that he is not aware 
 ojf.and p'fillcf^t him tn ' under , and appoynt him his portionwith 
 the hypoo its There P all he weeping and gnap.nng of teeth. 
 
 And ^or the day ofthe general! dea.h of this languifhing 
 world, het rliat wifely confidereth thewaynirgsand decli- 
 nings that have beene found in it within theft fewyeares, 
 and how like a woman with child (which hath many pangs 
 and fits before , the throwcs of her great labour come) \x it 
 now in paine, till it be delivered having much complained 
 inthofcfignes and alteration which have gone before, I 
 fay , that bee that w'elfobferveth to the true purpofe of his 
 falvation , thcfe and fuch like throwes , or rather dovvne- 
 throwcs of things in the wcmbc of this old ^nd ficklie 
 world, fo nccre unto the time of her travcll, and appoynted 
 
 end 
 
 iPcf.J.XOfc 
 
 RcucJ.j.ji 
 
 Amos Sa^i 
 
 I ThcfHf.?. 
 
 
 
kM>M 
 
 I2S 
 
 
 
 Matth.i4.T}. 
 
 I 
 
 I Tie preparation for deai h, D1VISION3. 
 
 Ijend by fire, cannot but fay , that it cannot continue longer, 
 and that the Lord wiii come amongft us very iliortly. 
 
 whtn we ice a m-^n in whole face wearing age hath made 
 many wrincles,and dccpe furrowes,wc fay this man cannos 
 live longjlo when we lee the iurrowes of old age to appeare 
 and bte maniftil m fo many waltes and con(umpcions, as 
 this feeb'e world is entred into, why doe we not fee and con- 
 clude that the Death of ic is neere. 
 
 m More particularly and Ipecially , as there is no greater 
 figne that a man is drawing towards death , then when hee 
 aiwaies is catching at the ffieets and blankets, and ever pul- 
 hng at lorn vvhatjfo leeing char every one catcheth & pulieth 
 all that he can in this griple and covetous age, and that there 
 is loinfariableamindcofhavinginowin all conditions and 
 calli'igs of people, it is a fure (igne to the heart of a wife man, 
 that this world is fick even to death,foas it cannot hold out 
 long. And if there be no greater figne of Death then that the 
 body is lo cold , that no heate will come unto it ; furely the 
 cold charitic of the world , mens want of zeale m reli- 
 gion , our nullitie of faith , or poore growth therein (in fo 
 much as good fermons are leldome heard, and with fmall 
 amt-ndemcnt) thefe things cannot bur teftifie , that the 
 wo: id it fclfe can be of no long life. And if it be fo fhould 
 it not much concerne us prelently without delay to turne 
 unto God,to repent, andbeleeve theCofpell, to enter in- 
 to , ard keepe the way ohruth and vertue , and to prepare 
 our (elves for our end.Which fort of people are rare birds in 
 
 our daycs. 
 
 the reafons why God would not have ns to know ci- 
 ther the gcntrall or particular day ofiudgcme.it are princi- 
 pally thele. 
 
 Fii ft to prove and try our faith, pat xnce, love, preparati- 
 on for Death, and other venues, to fee whether wee will be 
 conftair in the in, till the very day it felfe fliall comtJ^e that 
 
 Secondly as it is the gloy of a King to know fome'hir^g 
 
 rbat 
 
tm I. 
 
 Divisions. 7 hefrefarAtionfor death. 
 
 I 1^9 
 
 omm 
 
 that no man els can know, fo it is a part oF Gods glory to 
 hide from men and Angels the particular houres of man s 
 dcath;and this worlds doome,which he hath doled up with 
 
 I' the feale of recrecy,and put in his ownc power. In which rc- 
 fpcdthe wiicman i'aith, tt nthe glory of God to conceaU a 
 thing. Therefore this is hide from us to bridle our curiofitie 
 and pcevilli inquifition after fuch high and hidden matters 
 above our reach and capacitic. For i t i s not in the fadom of 
 mans head to tell, orhcift toknowhow neereorfarre off 
 the day is;onely God kne\veth^ and Chriil as God m what 
 > care, month, day and aioment this frame fhall goc downe. 
 In an age long fince the iiay was necre ; now the houre is 
 neerc;but curiofitie is to be avoided m a concealed matter,& 
 in this fort>idden tree of knowledge, Forfecret things f laith 
 MQJ€s)helong unto the Lord our God. 
 
 Many men beare their heades about frevilous matters, 
 fomc C faith ^^r;y^y?^w^j being more bufietoknow where 
 hell is then to avoide the painc^ ofit, others plcafing them- 
 felves in pelting and ncedleiTc quellions ("ai this is^to feeme 
 lingular amongil men,neglc(fling in the meane time this du- 
 XXQ, of their preparation for their end , and fuch neceflary 
 things. But when they come to their departing they fhall 
 finde that they have beaten their braines about fruitlelle 
 matters ,and wearied themfelves in vaine. It is fufficient for 
 us therefore to know that fuch a day will come, and it lliall 
 bee wifcdome in us alwayes to be ready for it, that it come 
 not upon us as thelharc upon the bird unlooked for. There- 
 fore our Saviour Chrift faith,?*^^ heed to jonr [elves ^ lefl ^t 
 any time your hearts be overcharged with fnrfet ting anddrnn^ 
 k^Kfjes and cares of this life and jo that day come upon you mh^ 
 awares -^for as afnarepjakit come on all them that dwell on the 
 face of the earth. 
 
 Thirdly if we knew the day, houre , or certaine time of 
 our death , wee would put of all till the comming of that 
 day, and it would give us too much boldnes and incourage- 
 ment to wallow in all manner of finne^till that time or houre 
 came. K The 
 
 Prov. 2 f.i. 
 
 Dcut.tp.ip. 
 
 Luk. 11.34,3 f. 
 
. • 
 
 I30 
 
 Pro.7*xp>io' 
 
 I The fref. nation for death. Division 3 
 
 Mark.i 3.^^.3^ 
 37* 
 
 r 
 
 1 
 
 The vvhorirh woman bccaufe (liee knew the iuft time 
 when her husband would returne, who wentmtoa farre 
 Counticy , did the more liberally power out their fbule 
 to firine and wantonnefl'e. For the good man (faith fliec) 
 PS not at home , hee is gout a long iournej , hee hath taken a 
 hagge of money mth him ^ and will come home at the day ap^ 
 poyntcd. 
 
 Fourthly and laftly. It is therefore unknowne to u"? when 
 wee iLall dye, to the end that all the dayes of our appointed 
 time, we may waitc for this day, and all our time looke for 
 this laft time, and prepare our felves for it. Andofpurpofe 
 hath the Lord left the laft day uncertaine^ that we might e- 
 very day prepare. It were an admirable method if we could 
 make ev^ry day alike,to begin and end as the day begins and 
 ends. ArgHs (as is fained ; had his head invironed with an 
 hundred watching eyes , fignifing thus much unto us, 
 that he was every way indued with great wifedome, pro- 
 vidence, and (ingular difcretion. Therefore if a pagan and 
 Heathen man (b excelled in wifedome and providence,how 
 much rather ought a Chrirtia man to be well ftirniiLed with 
 wifdome &: circumfpedion for his latter end.Be thou there- ] 
 fore an other ^rgfts^n^Ly^morc wary then he, more wife and 
 provident then he,more watchfull & circumfpe^ thai hee, 
 that thou mayffc learne to know, to undcrftand,and finally to 
 provide for thy la ft end. 
 
 C^rego'ry upon the watches mentioned by our Saviour 
 Chrill in the Gofpell of Marks i 1 thefe words ; fVatch yee 
 therefore , fer ye know not when the Mafier of the houfe com- 
 mcth, at even or at midnight ^ or at the cockjCrowtHg^ or in the 
 morning-^ lefl cornmingftidenly hefindeyoujleeping ; and what 
 I fay Pinto you, I fay unto a /Lwatch ;\\c{giith that thce be foure 
 watches in a mans whole life , wherein it behoveth him to 
 be vigilant and careful!, and as a wakefull and warie watch- 
 man , to keepe his watch , and fo prepare bimlelfe for his 
 end. 
 
 Thcfirftis childhood, the fecond youth, the third man- 
 hood, 
 
Division 3. 7 fjc preparation for death. 
 
 I 
 
 X31 
 
 
 hood, the fourth old age. in all which ages he mu(t prepare 
 himieltc for death 5 but he that rcmiflcly pafTtth over his 
 childhood without this preparation and watchfulnefle , let 
 him be more carefiill of his watch in his youth, and pxay as 
 it is in lerimie, Aly father^ he thoH the gmdc efmyyottthAi he j Icr. j.f » 
 hath paired his youth diflblutely ,let him be more carefull of ' 
 his watch in his manhood. And ifhchathipaircd over his 
 manhood carekfTcly , let him in an cafe lookc to his lad 
 watch of his old age. Nay if wc prepare not for death be- 
 fore wee come to this laft watch of- old a^e (10 which very 
 few doe attaine) it is io fraile weake and feeble, and decayed 
 by the cullome of finne , that it is an age not fo fit for this 
 preparation and w^acchfulnefTe* For at luch an age men for 
 the moll: part are like to the Idols of the Heathen, vrhich 
 have moHthes^ If tit ff cake notjey€s,bt4tfee not^ cares JjHt heare 
 
 Therefore put not of this preparation and watch fullnefTe 
 to thy old age, which is thy dotage , but be thou watchfull 
 and prepared in thy childhood, youth, manhood. 
 
 Remember )ion> thy Great or {{2i\i\\ the PreacherJ>>/ the dates 
 of thy yotith^whtle the evill dayes come not^ nor the year es draw 
 mgh^rvhen thoH^jaltfay I haveno pleafnre iw/Z^^w.Wherfore 
 not without caufe our Saviour Chrift crieth fo often in the 
 GofpelljT/i^f ye heed.watch andpray.becatifeyee k^ow not the 
 day nor the honre, nsr yphen the time ^r^the which is as much 
 as if he had more plainely iaid , bccaufe yee know not that 
 yeere , \varch every ytare ; bccaufe yee know not that mo- 
 neth, watch every moneth ; becaufe yee know not that dny, 
 watch every day ; and becaufe yee know not that home, 
 warch every houre .That is tofay,watchcontinuaIly,yeares, 
 mor.eths, dayes, houres, yea all your life, if you have a care 
 of evcrlafting life. A^d let yonr loynes (^ faith our Saviour 
 C\\iii\) be girded About^ and yoHr ftghts bfirntng.andyee joffr , Lu\c 12.55 
 feives like unto men that VPAitefor thctr Lord^ when he will re- 3^'37j i ^. 
 turne from the weddma \ th^t when he commeth and l^ocketh, 
 they may open to him immediately, 'Blejfed arc thofe f€rvants^ 
 
 K 2 who m 
 
 £cc}.ii«i« 
 
 Maf.24.42. 
 Mar.ij,3i,55, 
 
i^i^mmm 
 
 K 132 
 
 Prov. 
 
 19.10. 
 
 - 
 
 \ T{?e preparation for death. Division 3* 
 
 - ■ I I I 
 
 whom the Lord when he comnteth^ pyali find rv atchmg,yeriiy I 
 (ay unto yoHy that he/hall^irde himfelfe, and make them to /ft 
 d9wne to meate, and will come forth andferve them. And if he 
 fhall come in the fecond watch, or tn the third y an d finde them 
 foy hlejfed are thofe fervants. Therefore heare my c^nnfell 
 and receive inftru^ion^ that than mayef^ be wife in thy Utter 
 end. 
 
 The end of the third Divifpn^ . 
 
 T H F 
 
 FOVRTH DIVISION, 
 
 OF THE RIGHT BEHAVIOVR 
 IN DEATH. 
 
 His behavionr is nothing clfe , but a reb'gi- 
 ous and holy behaviour , efpecially toward 
 God.wheu we are m or neere the agonic and 
 pangs of death. Which behaviour containcs 
 foure cfpeciall dutiei. 
 
 The firft is to die in,or by faith. And to die 
 by faith, is, when a man in the time of death, doth with all 
 his heart wholy rely himfelfe on Gods efpeciall love,favour 
 & mercie in Chrift, as it is revealed in his holy word. And 
 though there be no parr of mans life void of iuft occafions, 
 whereby he may put faith in pra<f^ife , yet the fpeciall time 
 of all IS in the pangs of death, when friends,riches,plcafiires, 
 the outward fences,tcmporali life^and all earthly helpes for- 
 fake us.Buc put thy truft, confidence & faith in God,which 
 neither fadcth nor vaniflieth, but abideth andcontinucth for 
 ever. For if thou be in amity with God, the night will be 
 
 fiiort 
 
'i>«r 
 
 
 Division 4. 2^/^r right bcIjAVtounn diAth. | 133 
 
 ihort^and thy (Icepc I'vvt ct,tliy grave wil be to thte as a bed 
 of doune, there to reii rill the daic oF jcfurrtdionjthy pra; - 
 er:» ac that time will iinell as peitiime, and thy prailes lound 
 intiiyloulc, as the harmonic oFthe heavens, where thou 
 /hale raigae For ever and ever. And then true faith will 
 make us to goc wi^olly out of our ielves, and to defpairc of 
 comFort and lalvation in rtlpe.l of of any earthly thing, and 
 eo left and rely wholly with all the pqwcr and ilrengch. of 
 our heart upon the pure iovc and mercie) oFlelus Chriil. 
 
 When iheiiraelitesin the wilderntflc were flung i^ith 
 fiery Scrpenstjand lay at the point of death » thej looked uf 
 (othckrai<rn Serpent ^ which was erecled for thac purpofc 
 by Gods ownc appointment, and then were prefently hea- 
 led; even fo, when any man fcclcs dceth to approchand 
 draw neere with a.fiery fling to peircehis heart , bee inuft 
 then pFclenily fixe theeye$ofatruc and lively faith upoa 
 Chriil his Saviour exaited» lified up, and crucified upon the 
 Crofl'e: which being done. He ihall by death enter into etcr- 
 nillliFe. It is recorded by the Author to che Hehrcwesy 
 tliatche holy Fatl>ers.t>fdic oldTdlament^7<rirf *n faith' a/d 
 J^fn/rcdimpghrTjf* -Ajodif wccAviU k)oJ^c to bee gibrified 
 with tdcm, then niuil we follow their (leps in dying in the 
 fame Faith with thcrn. And bccaufc. true Faith is no dead 
 thing it mud be exprefled by i'pcciall a^flions , ^s namely, 
 by thelaft we)ids,whiclj for chemofl part ifTthcmth^ hav« 
 (incftrd)^ iirtd tpucly ferved .«Gbdi*rc yci^f excellent arxi coirji- 
 fort«We, and full of gr aqe 1 foni^ -choice examj^es • whereof 
 I Will rehearlc for indruflions lake , and for imiratioir, viK>. 
 The Laft words of Ucok,0 JLord J have watted ftr thy faU 
 
 ThcLaft word li Mofe; ^ hij rhoft excellent fong fet 
 downe iir "^ct tfrtnd^y^ ; 7 1 1-. . . - ; . > . i • 
 
 Thelad wo)ds u Pavvid^ ThcSpiritofthe Lcrd'If^ikf 
 kyimf^andhiirfHd ffjH\nffiy i9rpH9^i 
 V Tlic lall words o^ Z4(r h^trias t\\c\or\ of lehoiada the Pi icft 
 V/lien he was ftontd ur dwath by King /f/«,'5 , the LotAl^oke 
 
 
 .rt> <• 'A A 
 
 Gcn4^I8. I 
 
 Dcuf.51, 
 
 iChro*i44i3, 
 
15 4 I ^^^ rtghtOehAviour in death. Division44 
 
 Luke ij.40> 
 
 Luk,i].34.^, 
 
 tohti ip.i^. 
 Mat.17.4^. 
 lohnip.iS'jo, 
 tukex^.4^, 
 
 
 60. 
 
 - 
 
 .f 
 
 , I* 
 
 upvnit^dndreqfiirett. 
 
 The laft word s of tbfe converted Thee fe upon the Croffe, 
 firft rebuking his fellow for railing on Chrl it , thenconfel- 
 ; fiDghisandhis fellowes guiltincfle ; thirdly his iuftificati- 
 onofChrilt, that he had done nothing amifTe : andlaftly, 
 his fweete prayerjl-^^^ remember me r^hen thou commcfi$nt9 
 thy Ktngdome, 
 
 The laft words of our Saviour Chrlft himfelfe, when he 
 was dying upon the Croffe^ are moft admirable » and ftorcd 
 with aboundance of fpirituall graces. Firft to his Father, 
 concerning his enemies, hee (aith. Father forgive tbem , for 
 they know not what they doc» Secondly to the Theefe upon 
 the Crofle with him, J fay nnto thee , this day [halt thon hee 
 with meein Paradpfe, Thirdly , to his Mother , H^oman hc^^ 
 hold, thy Sonne y and to lohn his beloved Deciple, ^^^^/^ thy 
 Mother . Fourhly in his agonie he faid , My God , my God, 
 why haft thoHforfakenme ? Fiftly, heearncflly defiringour 
 (alvation, faid, Ithirft, Sixtly , when he hadmade perfed 
 fatisfadion for us, he faid^ ir is finified^And feventhly,whcn 
 his body and foule were parting , he faid. Father intv thy 
 hands I commend my ffirit^ and havine^thu;$ feid he cave up 
 theGhoH:. ••.U?i^j|T\ runnio/it n?^^i 
 
 i The laft words-of the Maityr Saiiit Stephen at his fio- 
 ning. Firftj 'Behold I fee theheatJens oven \ and the Sonne of 
 Manfiandingartherighr kand of God, Secondly , as they 
 were ftoning of him, he calkd upon God , and faid , Lord 
 hfiu receive my fpirit* And thirdly, hee kncded downe, 
 and cried with a loud voice, faying. Lord lay not thi^finne to 
 their charge ^ and when he had faid th*s he fellafeepe. 
 
 By thele and fuch like examples we fee what a blefled 
 thing it is to learne to dye well , which is to d vein faith, at 
 which end true wiftdome wholly aymeth ; and he hath not 
 fpenc his life ill , that hath thus learned to dye well.For the 
 conclufion of our life is the touch-ftonc of all the adioqs 
 of our life, which made Luther both to thinke and fay, that 
 men were bcft Chriftiaus in dQSi,tb^:3indEpamynanda^,onc of 
 
 the 
 
 F 
 

 ] D 1 V I s I o N 4« Tf" '"'S^* behAvwur tn death, j j j j 
 
 the wife men of Greece , being asked , whom of the three 
 he crteemcd mofl, v%k., himlelte , Ch^ntu^ or Sphtcrates^ 
 anfwered 9 We muft hrll lee all dye before we can anfwerc 
 thatqucftion ; for the ad ot dying well [^ the fcience of all 
 fcicnccs, the way whereuiito, is, to live well ^ contentedly, 
 and peaceably. 
 
 But what mud we thinke,if in the ume of death fuch ex- 
 cellent (pecchcs be wanting in (omc of Gods children , and 
 iiiikad thereof idle taike beufed? Anfw.Wemuft confider 
 the kind officKncffc whereof men dye, whether it be more 
 cafie or violent j for violent fickntfTe is ufually accompanied 
 with fren2ics,or unfeemely motions^or geftures ; which we 
 are to take in good part in this regard, bccaufe we our felves 
 may be in the like cafe, & we muft not iudge of the eftate of 
 any man before God,by his behaviour in death or in a trou- 
 bled foule;for there are many things in Death,which are the 
 cffe(fls of the (harp Jiieale be dyeth off,and no impeachment 
 of the faith he dyeth in;and thefe may deprive his tongue of: , 
 the ufe of reafon,but cannot deprive his loule ofetcrnall life, f 
 
 0»ec{irth({2ikh holy Iob)inhis fHllfirett^th.beingwhoU^ttt 
 eafe and quiet , hts brea h arefuH ofmitkc , And his hones are 
 fnli of mur row '^another dyeth in the bitternejfe ofhis/ou/e^and 
 never eateth tvith pleafHre^ they Jhail lye downe aUke fn the 
 dnfl , 0^d the wormes Jh/tli cover them :y/hcrcfore in this cafe 
 we muft iudge none by the eye, nor by their deathes^but by 
 their lives. 
 
 The Iccond dutle is to .dye in obedience, othcrwifeour 
 death cannot be acceptable to God, becaulc clfe we feeme 
 to come unto God upon tearc and conftraint as flaves to 
 their Mafler,aiul not ofloveas children to their father. And 
 thus to dye in obLdiencc is when a man is ready and willing 
 to goeout of this world without murmuring, grudging, and 
 repiniiip, when it (1 all pleafe God to call him. Death is rhc 
 feareoirichmen, the defue of poorc men, butfurel) tijc 
 end of ill men \ to this ftcppe man commcth as (lowly as 
 hcc can , trembling at this p^flage, and labouring to fttti e 
 
 . 
 
 K4 
 
 him-c^fe 
 
 ai.i^. 
 
I j5 I TherightUhAviour in death. Divi sIOn 4 
 
 f 
 
 Amos 4-1^ 
 
 I Sam.1j1.37, 
 
 I Sam.i7.x0. 
 II. 
 
 f 
 
 1 
 
 } 
 
 himfeUe herejthe fole memory of Death, mournefull fune- 
 rals, and the reading oFinfcriptions, ingraven on fepulchcrs 
 doe' make the very haire to ftare and (land on end, and 
 ftrike many withanhorror,andapprehenfionofit : which 
 isareproote to thofe , who can (ee nothing in their owne 
 deaths, but what is dread ftiU beyond meafure , and (impHc 
 the end of man.Such conceive Death not as it is to the righ- { 
 ' teous, and as Chrift hath made him to bee by his glorious 
 death, but a$ fooles iudgeof him, who behold him through 
 falfe fpe<5lacle5 as he is in his owne uncorrected nature con- 1 
 fidered bat of Chrift that is, moft vgly,terrib!e,& hideous^ 
 fo did they behold him in Am^s, yj]\o put the evill day of his 
 comming, fthat which they call evill , and the godly long 
 for and iudge happic) as hrre from them as they could by 
 carnall delicacie and wantonnefle. So did Baitajhar looke 
 upon him , whofe heart would not fcrve him to read the 
 handwriting of his owne cndfo neerc. Ar.d l^halvjho 
 had no heart tody, whenhemuft necde dye, dyed like a 
 ftonCjthat {$> dyed blockifhly ^ and fo faintly , that he was as 
 good as llaine before death flue him. He had no comfort 
 in Death, being churlifli and profane, and no marvel! , for 
 this adverfary Death armed as (jaliah ^ and vau-^ring as 
 that proud Giant o^^ath commeth ftalking toward fuch in 
 fearefull manner, infulting over weake duft , and d.iri ig rhc 
 world to give him a man to fight withall. Therefore ^f tht 
 fight of hint the whole hofl of worldlings hewray frreatfearCj 
 turning their faces y and flying ^acl^ , as men rcrdv to finke 
 into the earth , with abated courages, arid driccl-ed coun- 
 tenances, ftayned with the colours of fcare and Death, trem- 
 bling like leavesinaftormc, andftricken with the palfic 
 of a fodaine and violent fhaking , through all the bodyc 
 But the true child of God , armed as "Davtd^ with truft in 
 God , and cxpetflation of vidl:ory by the Death of Chrift, 
 f who by Death overcame Death, as 7) ^z/zW cut off- the head 
 o£goliah with his owne fword)dares, and doth boldly and 
 .obediently incounter with this huge Philiftimc Death ffup- 
 \ f pofcd) 
 
«. ■ I.I - 
 
 D I V I s 1 N 4 Tht right bchavicur in dctth. 
 
 I 
 
 ppfcd iiivincil^k and icemcd greacj but neither r»ithfn>ord 
 norjpcdrc, Ifut i» the nAme of tia^ (Jodofthehtflefifmel 
 by whole might ondy be woundcth and llrikcth him to the 
 earth, trampling upon him with his feere , and reioycing in 
 chcrcturnc of his loulc to the place tVom whence it hift 
 came, he fingi th this loyfuil aiid triumphant fong of vi(5lo- 
 vy.O Death where us thyfting,&cMz hath the eyes o^ Stephen 
 to looke up into heaven , and therefore in obedience and a 
 willing miixk he dyeth. 
 
 But a wicked man dying may fay to Death as Ahab faid 
 to Eii^hhafl thotif^HndmeyO mtne enermehuX. whe it is told 
 the child of God thuc Death is come within his dorcs, & be- 
 gins to looke him m ihe face,lie to fhew his courage and o- 
 Ibcditncc, may Gy as 'David idiWho^ Ahjjnaaz Jet hint come 
 And welcome , for het is my fiend and a good man , and hee 
 co/nmeth tvith good tidings • io he , Death \s my friend, let 
 let him come he is a good man,and bringcth good tidings. As 
 for the wicked they doe with Felix, treiBble,if they do but 
 hcarcof Z)^//r/; and of ludgentent, and are like unto Saul ha- 
 ving no flretigth in them, , but fall into a found when they 
 heare of Deatn, and if they could but fee it^they would caft a 
 /auclin as Sat^l at *Da vid, to flay^ ito • 
 
 But the Children of God doe willingly welcome Death, 
 as Gods fervantand meflengcr , and applaud it as lacob ap- 
 plauded the Chariots that lefefh his fonne fent for the brin- 
 ging of him out of a Countrey of ra ifery into a land of plen- 
 tie, where he (hou'd have food enough, the beft in the land. 
 So the hope and expectation of the Saints is that they fhall 
 fee Cod , and come to Chrift by Death prcfantly in their 
 fbules , and in their bodie s at the lad day. So they may fay 
 of Death as Adoniah (gi\d unto Jonathan x.\\t fonne of Abi- 
 athar ihc Priefl:,^ow^ fn,for thoH art a valiant man^and brin- 
 gefi good tidtyi^s, 
 
 Crucll and unmercifjll Death make> a league with no 
 man, and yet the Prophet Sfay fayth that th^^ wicked man 
 doth maks ^ league with ^Death : how may this be ? There is 
 
 no 
 
 J37 
 
 iCor.xjojJ. 
 
 
 2satn.18.lx. 
 
 A6^$X4.i^« 
 
 I Sam.18.1i* 
 
 Gcn.4jjK7.48* 
 
 I Kings i,\i* 
 
 Efay 2 S.I 5", 
 
Mi^aki 
 
 mm 
 
 \ TJic right behaviour in death. Divisional 
 
 I 
 
 lob 2,4« 
 
 
 no league made indeede , but oficly in the wicked imagina- 
 tion orman , who faifely thinkcs chat death will riot come 
 neerehim, thongh all the world Ihould be deftroyed. And 
 therefore the ieperation of the foulc trom the body will bee 
 bitter to the wicked ^ which cannoti^tce fepcrated without 
 great griefe, woe, and lamentation. As the Oxe doth com- 
 monly lowe and mourne , when his yoke-fellow wont to 
 draw with him, is taken away, fo the wicked then mourne, 
 when the foule (hall be fepcrai:ed from the body 5 then will 
 the foule and the body wLh ceares repeat againe and againe, 
 doft thou thus feperatc us hitter Death ? O de/tth, &c, 
 Theng itfes follow griefes, and forrow comes upon for- 
 row, and then what a wound doth the heart of the wicked 
 receive which loveth this prefent lifei* When the Phyfitian 
 faith unto him , thou muft from henceforth thinke no more 
 en life but on Death; at the hearing of which heavie newes, 
 the body (hall dye once whei-her ne will or no, but the heart 
 flialldye foofcen, as the things and finncs bee in number 
 which he loved. Then (hall the moft cleere light be turned 
 into darkneffe, becaufe thofe things which afoietimc were 
 I occadons of great ioy fhall now become moft horrible vex*- 
 ations and torment, which vyill make the wicked fet their 
 throates upon tainter hookes, and lift up their voyces like 
 trumpets, and cry out at that time vpon Death, as the devils 
 did vpon Chrift in the Gofpell, faying, vphat have we to doe 
 ffiith thee O crnell Death ^ art thoH come hither to tcrmem w 
 before the time} And therefore well faid chcDevill,f>tf//r»f 
 pro pe/fe , ski» f^f ^ki^ , and all that ever a man hath will hee 
 give for his life, fb that he may cnioy that , although hut for 
 a moment longer . As Pharaoh ia id to LMofes depart from a^ 
 mongmy people , io fay the ungodly to Dca^i bee baniflied 
 from us,thy prefence.thy fl>adoWj& the very remembrance 
 of thee is ftarefull to us, to hcare Saint /'/r^/jpcakc of Gods 
 terrible itfd^ememtocome^ is too trembling a doctrine for 
 their delighttull difpofitions to hcare with FfU-r they arc 
 not at Icalure , for this is iarring mufickc which founds not 
 
 arrght 
 
 •f^^m^ 
 
, ■ -* ■ — ^— ■ 
 
 D I V I s I o N 4 . T/7e right LehAWur in deaths 
 
 I 139 
 
 arright in the confort of their worldly plcafurc, to thinke of- 
 death is Accldamu{{A\i\\ oncjcven afieUef blood: bucifany 
 Phyfitian would take upon him, to make men live ever in 
 this world what a multitude oi patients Ihould he have?And 
 how well would they reward himi^ 
 
 But the children of God rcioyceat the newes of Deith, 1 
 to fliew their obedience to it, and their ioy i^ accoi ding to 
 the ioy of harvcft (as the Prophet fpeaketh j and as men re- 
 iojce when thej dtvtde the fpojf/e. And they may fay of 
 Death when it commeth asthe people triumphantly fome- 
 time fpoke of the day of King *DavUs coronation , Tht6 is 
 the day which the Lord hath made, we rvvllreiojce and be glad 
 in tt : and they may^all_dcaib, as lacob did the place where 
 he came, Mahanatm^ becaufe there the Angels oi God met • ' 
 him , when he was to meete with his cruel! brother Ef^^ 
 even fo when the ch^dren of God are to meete with cruell 
 Death, the Lord will fend hisjholy Angels, (who are all mi- 
 niftring fpirits fcnt forth for minifter to them- who (hall be 
 |)eires of (alvation^ to carri-e them into Abrahams b^fetHe, 
 , Tell one of our gallants in hi« ficknefle , that Death is 
 come for him, and that ^'-f driving is Uk^the d^civingof le^ 
 fjH , comming furtohfly toward him, he hath theiAthcnian 
 queftion prcftntly ready, n^hat -wilUhisbabler fay ? But this 
 newes comming to the childe of God in his fickneflb , hec 
 may be talking vvithall 5 for he hath learned wilih Samuel to 
 fay,^/>^•^i^ Lord for thjjfiervant he^reth : and to f^ with £- 
 //, It IS the Lord, let him doe a's feemeth good to hijift.^'i^ with 
 David to lay, Heere am I^let hm doc to true ^ afjefmethgi^dd 
 
 Now the reafonof this great difference betwixt the wic- 
 ked and the godlf , why they ate thus diuerfly laftefted unto 
 Death, is this 5 the wicked enioy th^irbcft in this, lift* but 
 the godiy lool>e for their good, and arc walking toU'ard lu 
 And if it fliould be demanded when a wicked man is at hxs 
 bcft ; the anfwcr is , the bed is evill enough , and that his 
 bed isjwhen he comes firft into the*worldjfor then his fins 
 I ; 3re 
 
 I 
 
 Ifa.p.j. 
 
 Pfa)*it«,*V 
 
 Gen, 3 1.^,1. 
 Hcbr. 1.1 4« 
 
 1 King.^,lO# 
 
 A^sx7.i5» 
 
 I Satn«|*xo.x9. 
 
 *i 
 
 M»*" 
 
HO I 
 
 Tie right behaviour tn death, D i v i s i o n 4 . 
 
 Pfal.f 8.J, 
 lob j« 1 1,11. 
 
 
 
 
 Rotttijfi 
 
 P6l.fCb2I, 
 
 arefcwcft, his iudgements cafieft j theygoeaftraj nsfoone 
 Ai they ure home, laich the Plalmift. i c had bcenc good for 
 him therefore, that the knees had not prevented him , but 
 that he had dyed in the birth ; Nay^»> had beene geodfor him 
 fas our Saviour ChrLft Taid ef ludM that betrayed him j ifi 
 he had never beene borne. For as a River which is fmalleft at " 
 the beginning, iacrcaleth as it proceeds by the acceffion of 
 other waters into it, till at length it be fwallowed up in the 
 deepe. SothewickedthelongerheHveth,hewaxeth ever 
 WOrfe i*nd Worfe , deceiving , and being deceived (faith the. 
 Ap o^\t) proceeding from evill towerje (^faich Jeremy) till 
 at length he be fwalio'^ed upin that Uk^ thAtbumeth with 
 fre a»d brimftone. And this/the Apoftle exprefleth moft 
 fignificantly, when he compares the wicked men to one ga- 
 thering rrerfjre, wherein he heapes and Preafffreth rep wrath ^ 
 tc^hfimfeJfe^ a^ainfl 'th^ dayiff-rvr/ith , and the re velaricn of 
 the righteous lijdgementof God.For even as the worldlin^^ 
 who every day caftcfhin a pecce oMnony, into his treafure, 
 in few yeeres multiplies iuch a fummc^theparticulatrs whet*- 
 dfhe himfelfe is iftot'^t'c to keepeiri miodc , but when hec' 
 breaks wp his clieft,thefj he finds iri^i (lindry forts of coyncrj' 
 
 with thee,0 impenitent finner,who not only every day,but 
 every hourc and minute oT time multiplieft thy tranrgrcfli- 
 onsyttnd defiled thy confcicnccyhoording up one e\u[l work 
 #<Jhanot)ifc)fi'^'Owhata reckoning ftbinkeft tbouj rhall; 
 ^/4iiW4m<»)unt i^ the end ? thougli thou foriJctteft thcnr^i 
 
 ^te}UdG«?ftc6mit thcm;yct til 1^ Apoftle tclieth thee that thou 
 haft laid them up in a treafury^and not only fo,but that with 
 every finne/thou haft gathered « portion of wrath propoi- , 
 «ia«»bleto ihyTiwic, vyhich thou flialtpirfcfcf^ly know 'iii^ 
 tWt<fay,^hereirtxhe Loid fhall fereakeup ehy trcjrfure, dnil 
 open thebooke oi thy cottlcifence, ^mdfetthjjtnnes in^rder 
 bef ere thee* ' ;• ; 
 
 ' ■Bntifyou wilasVe when the children ofGfiitiire at thcit 
 beftjilianfwcrc,praifcd bcGodour worft isaway^ourg od 
 yit i 
 
 tm" 
 
 9t 
 
D I V I s I O N 4 . The rJght iefjuvicur tn death. 
 
 \s begun, our bcft h at hand. A s our Saviour laid to his kinl- 
 meii, fo may we lay to the vvoridlmgs , lottrtimc is alwates, 
 hut my time ts not yrtcowe : the childrcu of God are not at 
 their bell now , it is in the woi king, ojicly we were at our 
 worrkbcForcourconvcrfion j For our uliole life till then 
 was a walking with the children of diiobedicncc , in the 
 broad way that leads to damnation ; and then were wee at 
 the worft when wee had proceeded fnrtheft in the way of 
 unrighteournefle, bccaulethen we were fiirtheft from God. 
 Our bcfljbcgan in the day of our recalling wherein the Lord 
 by his word and holy Spirit called upon us , and made us 
 turne our backcs upon Satan, and our fact coward the Lord, 
 and cauled us to partcompanie with the children of difobe- 
 dience 3 amongft whom wee had our con verfation before? 
 then we came home with the penitent- forlorne , to our Fa- 
 thers family , but they went forward in their (ins to iudge- 
 ment. Tliat was a day ofdivifion betwixt usand our finncs, 
 in that day with Ifracl we cntred into the borders of Canaan 
 into ^^ig^^ , '^^^^ there we were circumcifed, andthe p)ame 
 of£^pt wM takenfromns ^ even our finne, which is our 
 fhamc indeed, and which we have borne from our mothers 
 wombe. The Lord granrthat we may keepe it for ever in 
 thankfull remembrance, and that wee may count it a double 
 £hame to letuiiK^ againe to the bondage of Egypt , to fervc 
 the Prince ofdarknefTe in hricke and clay , that is , to have 
 fellow il"iip any more with Thew/ifruitjHlhvorkesofdarknc-s, 
 but that like the redeemed of the Lord, we may walke/*cw 
 ftrength toflrength , till voce appeare hefore the face of our 
 Godtn Sion, For heere wee ?ie not at our bcft, but our 
 bcft is to come, ^<?>p our life is hid rvtth the Lord, and wee 
 know not yet what wee fjalL bee j bttt wee know when hee 
 {hall appeare, we fjall he like him^ the Lord fliall carry us by 
 his mcrcv, and bring us in his ftrength to his holy habitati- 
 on , hee fliall plant us in the mountaine of his inheritance 
 even the place which he hath prepared , and the Sandhiary 
 which he hath ellabliflicd , Then everlafiing loj fjall he tip- 
 on 
 
 1 HI 
 
 lolui 7 A 
 
 
 lofua ^i^. 
 
 Pral84.7o 
 
 I lohn j,i. 
 Exod.iJ.ij. 
 
 ' 'i«>r iij* 
 
 '■« H >- •» * 
 
 \ 
 
1 42 I The right behaviour m death. D r v i s i o n 4, 
 
 .z Sam««&.4. 
 
 PhiLlojA;,?. 
 
 ^en our heads ^and for rovu and moHrningJhallfly arvay from m 
 
 \f or ever. 
 
 Thereforefbr this caufe,we muft firft indeavour that our 
 death be voluntary ; for co die well is to die willingly. Se- 
 condly, we muft labour that our finnes die before us. And 
 thirdly, that wee bee alwayes ready ad prepared for it. O 
 whar an excellent thing is it for a man to end his lite before 
 his deaths that at the houre of death he hath nothing to doc^ 
 but only to be willing to die, that he have no need of time, 
 uor of himfclfe , but fweetly and obediently to depart tkis 
 life, flie wing therby his obedience to the ordinance of God, 
 for wee mull make as much confcience in performing our 
 obedience unto God in fuffering death , as wee doe in the 
 whole courfc of our lives. Die vv-e muft needs becaule our 
 bodyes are fiill of finne , and fo die we muft willingly, that 
 we may be delivered from this body of linne. Die we muft 
 needs , becaufe we are^ull of corruption and muft be chan- 
 ged .• and die we muft willingly as dedrous to put on incor- 
 ruption, that fo we may behold our good God. Di^ we muft 
 needes, becaufe we beare the image of earthly men . and die 
 we muft willingly that we may be like the new and heaven- 
 ly man lefus Chnft. Die we muft needs becaufe God hath 
 foot dained : and let us dio, willingly to fhcw our obe- 
 dience to his will. Chriftians muft be as birds on a bough to 
 remove at Gods plealureand that without rcfiftance when 
 the Lord flial viiit them. Our Saviour Chriftis a notable ex- 
 ample and patturne for us to follow in this cafe. And there- 
 fore the Apoftle QathyLet this mmde be tn yofi,7phich was alfo 
 in Chrift lefus ^ who being in the fcrme efCtd , thought it no 
 robbery to be equal wUh god but made himfelfofno refutation 
 andtooke upon him the formofafervant^andwas made in the 
 Itkenes ofmen.&beingfvuT^dinfafnd as manjhe hi'imbledhirn 
 felf& became obedient to death, even to the death of the croffe^ '■. 
 And although the wicked be ill aflcdcd unto death , fas 
 wee have already heard >and would(if it lay in ihcir power) 
 moftvilianouny inrrcateand handle death , ksf^amo/t the 
 
 fonne 
 
D I V I s I o N 4 . 7 he right bchAVtcur ni deaths 
 
 I 143 
 
 fonneofiYi'^.^Kineofthe AiHTionites, did chcmcflcn- ^ 
 ger> of King 'Djuti; yet lec every good man ;whea Death 
 lliall come for hinijas it may Iccmc to him untimcIy,before 
 the thi eed of his life be haltc ipunne out^be hecre informed 
 to entercaine it kindly , as Lot did the Angels , who came 
 to fetch him out of Sodom. For though he be pulled from 
 hisftatc, which was to him, as the plainecfSodom fee- 
 mcd to Lot y as a pleafant Paradife, yet fliall he finde with 
 Lot y that he ii taken away from the judgement to come, 
 howfoever he be taken away, either by the malice of wic- 
 ked men, or by the me.cicof God ; and that he is feparated 
 from the finnes of this world , which greiveth his foule ; 
 yea from (in.n'ng himfclfe, and t-irom his owne fins, which 
 'grieved the I ord his fo gracious and kind Father. How can I 
 jit be, but that death Hiould be a welcome gueft, and this a 
 choice blefling, which as a gentle guide kades us to Chrift, 
 carrieththe louleto her beloved Husband ? The refoluti- 
 on of Saint Ambrofe was, neither to loath life^ nor fear e ta 
 die^ bnt odedicrjtlj yeeldnnto Death, hecauje ( faith he ) fvc 
 have a good Lord to goe tinto. 
 
 The third dutie, is to die in Repentance , which mufl be 
 performed by us at all times^and efpecially at this time.TVr- 
 tnliian faith of himfelfe^ That he ts a notcrios^t^ (inner ^ and 
 home for nothing bnt T^epentance : and he which is borne 
 for Repcntance,maft pradife repentance lb long as he lives 
 in this (infuU world^iuto which he is borne upon this con- 
 dition, that he muft leave it againe , and repent at his end 
 alfo. 
 
 Pepentancc is a very fore difpleafurc, which a man hath 
 in his heart for his finncs^ even bccaufe they are the breach 
 of Gods holy Lawcs and Commandemcnts, & an offence 
 to God his moft mercifull and loving Father which ingen- 
 drcth in him a true hatred againfl: finne , and a fetled pur- 
 pofc and holy defire to live better in time to come , orde- 
 ring his Hfe and death by the will of God revealed in his 
 holy word. 
 
 Repentance 
 
 Gcn,ip.i* 
 
 ^ ta »!<■ f ^1 
 
 
 \ 
 
 T \ 
 
■Mitea 
 
 144 I T^^^ right behaviour in death, D r v i s i o n 4* 
 
 pan.^«1« 
 
 Luke t;«zx, 
 [Prov.i8.ij, 
 l,IohnT.;e ; 
 
 'pral.f1.i7. 
 Ifa.f7.I^ 
 
 WkMSc 
 
 »oCor, 7.x 0. 
 
 H 
 
 Math. 3.8c 
 
 \ — 
 
 \ Repentance confifterh offoure parts : the firft of confef- 
 (ion,by which the Prophet Daniel faith,i^^ acknowledge our 
 owne wickednejfe.and the wickednes of our fathers ^ for roe have 
 finned againfi thee-^ri^hteoufncs therefore helongeth unto thee, 
 ^Htnnto us fljame and utter canfftfion. Father (laith the pro- 
 digal childQ) I have firtfted againfi heaven^nd in thjfght, and 
 am no more worthy to be called thy fonne. He that cover eth his 
 finnes (ftith the wife-man)y^^// notfroffer , hut whofo con. 
 feffeth andforfa^eth them, fia/l have mercy. If we confejfe our 
 finnes (fairh the ApoiHe) he isfaithfull and infl to forgive us 
 QUr finnes, and to clenfe us from all unrighteou^n'^s. 
 
 Secondly , Contrition. The facrtfces of god ^fai^h the 
 Viophct) are a broken jpirit:,and acontrtte heart, O ^od^thou 
 wilt not defpife. For thus faith the high C^ lofiie one that tnha- 
 biteth et er Hit ie ^Vflhofe name is holy J dwell in the high and holy 
 place, with him alfo that is of an humble and contrite ffirit, to 
 reviue the ffirit of the hnmble^ and to reviue the heart of the 
 contrite ones, For all thefe things hath mine hand made^and all 
 thefe things haue heene{fid\h. the hordjbut to this man will I 
 looks ^even ^0 him that is poor e, and of a contrite fpir it ,Q^ trem^ 
 blcth at my words So that this contrition is the bruifing of a 
 finnersi^heart (as it were) to duft and powder, through un- 
 fainf d and deepe griefe conceived of Gods difpleafure for 
 finne $ and this is Evangelicall contrition, and is a worke of 
 grace, the beginning ofrencwed repentance. Therefore the 
 Apoftle ia\th^godlyforrow worketh repentance nntofalvation 
 not to be repented of 
 
 The third is faith. For without faith , neither by repen- 
 tance , nor by any other meanes are we able to pleafe God, 
 neither indeede can there be any true repentance without 
 faith. 
 
 The fourth and laft point is amendment. To amende is to 
 rcdrefle and reforme faults ; repentance is as the roote , a- 
 mendment the fruit. Bring forth therefore fruit f faith Saint 
 lohn) meet for repentance, or anfwerahle to amendment of Ipfc^ 
 Repent (faith the Apoflle Paul) and tnrnc to God^ and doe 
 
 I ^orkj - 
 
DiVI SIOM 4< 
 
 7 he Tight behaviour tn deaths 
 
 Tverkj meet far Refentance^io that firft: there rnuft bca change 
 oFthe hearc fromevillto God, by the gift oFrepentance 
 put into k of God^ and then will follow amendment of our 
 lives and manners, vVe muft in our praclile foundly mortitie ^ 
 our beloved fmnes, for our beloved iinncs muft dye before • 
 we dye, or elle it will not be well with us. And therefore | 
 men muft raakcfiire their repentance^ and iudge thcmlclves 
 for their finncs, and then they need not feare Gods condem- 
 ning chem. Forifvfe wenld indge ourfeives (faith the Apo- 
 ^IcJwejhr.ildnotbetHdged. if any aske me how they may 
 know when they have attained to this rule i I aniwer,whcn 
 they have fo long confefled their finnes m fecret to God^that 
 now they can truely fay , there is no finne they knowe by 
 themfelvcs, but they are as defirous to have God give them 
 ftrength to leave it , as they would have God to fhew them 
 Grace to forgive it.Hehath fouadly repented ofall finne^thac 
 defireth in his heart to IWc in no dnnQ. 
 
 There is no pare of Chriftian religion, of that mnine 
 importance, wherein men doe more voluntarily deceive 
 thcmfelves, then commonly they doe in this duty ef repen- 
 tance. In refpe(5t whereofit will not beamifle, but very ma- 
 teriall to deliver, certaine infallible (igncs , and unfcperable 
 fruics, whereby we may afliireour I'elves tliat we have rc- 
 |>€:ited. 
 
 The Apoftie -Saint Pant nameth feven fmits , which in 
 ibme mcalure al wayes follow , where true amendment go- 
 Cth before* Beheld (i'2i\t\)hc;)your jrodly forr^voes , what care 
 (l ]it hath vprenght in you^yett what c/eanng(t)ofyour [elves} 
 yea what %ndi^n<^.tton ( 5 ) i^yea what feare(^) f yea how ^rcat 
 dejlre (^) f yeawh^t^ea/e (6) ? yea whatfmyiifoment ? Thofc 
 then who are true converts,who douafeinedly amend their 
 lives they are not fiuggifli or fecure in finne , but carefull 
 to redrefie what is amiffe , not hidcrs or excnfers of evill, 
 butconfeilors, and by humble fupplication clearing their 
 offences; they are not contented to dwell m wickedneHej 
 but vexed in foule , 'and full of indignation againft them- 
 
 L felves 
 
 145 
 
 1 Cor.u.^i, 
 
 7. Cor 
 
 '.Jl« 
 
 mm 
 
 ■^tt 
 
1 4 ^ I *Thi right behaviour in death. D i v i s I o n 4- 
 
 prai.^i.T, 
 
 \ 
 
 Mat.t7.5^. 
 
 PfaL^/. 
 Icrcm.9.1. 
 
 felves for their finnes committed; they ftandinaweand 
 are ahaid of Gods.iudgemeats,they defire his favour as the 
 Hart defireth the water-Brookes , they labour by religious 
 zealc to aprove their lives to God and good men , afid they 
 are To &rre from favouring their faulrs^as that they I'everely 
 punifh them upon themfcl ves. 
 
 Muft then amendment oHife yeeld fuch worthy works 
 andfruitcsfis care, clearing, ingdignation/earejdefire^zeale, 
 and puniflunenc required thereunto ? O then to repent can 
 be no light matter , nor trifling labour , which a man may 
 have at commandement , or performe when he lifteth ,• no, 
 
 no/or much toilc and travaile belongeth unto it, • 
 
 Sinne cannot be caftofFasan upper garment, the hearts 
 of finners muft: fuffcr an earth-quake within them, ar.d-trem- 
 blc,and rend like the vaile of the Temple^which was re?it in 
 twaine from the top to thehottome ^ and like the e;^rth which 
 did quake, and like the rocks which rent at the yeelding vp 
 of the ^^^^7? of our ^Saviour Chrift for our (innebjto that muit 
 torment us at the heart, which delightcth us in our bodycs, 
 that mulibee fbure to our foules, which was A . cetc in our 
 lives 5 wee muft chaunge our vices into fo many Vvrtues, 
 and fo turne to our gracious God , as i'^never more wee 
 would returne unto linne. For mourning is in vaiiie,faKh 
 Saint A(^gtiftine^ if we finne againc. Great fmncs^fairh Saint 
 Amhrofe ^crave great weefing and lament at ioyj-^ the Angels in 
 heaven [ing at this lamentation ^ neither doth the earth af- 
 ford any fo fyveete muficke in the eares of God. And if wee 
 will purge our felves from the filthinefle of our finnes, wee 
 muft often rince our felves with tearcs , we muft nndergoc 
 the a^^ony of repentance, mingle our drtnhe vrith weepings 
 -water our couches with teares , vea the verv blood ( as it 
 were ) of our foules m.uft gufh out of our q^jqs. O that our 
 /?M^C faith the Prophet) were waters, and onr ejes dfotmtaine 
 of teares that we miqht weep day C-r night for our finnes. O that 
 I rivers of water s{{\\x}c\ the V{'sXvs\\^)'^*ouldrHn downeoure^Jer 
 I hecanfe wc hjepenot thelaw ofGod.Vs^^ muft be gretvcd bc-l 
 \ A caufcj 
 
_ I, I 1 . - 11 » . ■ II . . . 
 
 JDivi slON 4. 7 he right bchdviOHT tn deaths 
 
 
 caufe wcc cannot alwayes be grccved. Repentance isa bap- 
 tilinc ofcearcs,& the greater chat curtail hath bin,the grea* 
 tcr muft be the terreiit oFour teares. It is nauirall to men 
 that their lamenration bee in feme fort anwerable to their 
 lofle. u^^^w4«/body mud h^zfeven times yvapjedtnwa^ 
 t<rr y and our foulcs (cvcntJe times feven times purified by 
 repentance. 
 
 Will examples move us to the performance of this dutie? 
 Lookc upon repenting ^Duvid^ and be hold tl ere are ajhcs 
 Hpon his head, and jAckzcloth Hpon hi-s backc i hee did not I 
 brave it in attire, nor ly ftrcaking upon his bedjWithabarc I 
 (Lordhelpeme) in liis mouth. Looke upon the repenting j Luk.7.57, 
 T^mevitesy and beheld King and people are ftrangely hum- 
 bled ; men aridbeafis fafi and dnnl^ water yZhty fat not bel-. 
 ching at their boords/aying pardon Sir, and fo port it over. 
 Looke vpon repenting Olfa^da/en^i^ndbeho/di faith ^^ego^ 
 ry) [0 many pUafures /n Jfje found in herfeife pye htld abtt'ed, 
 fo many facrificesjhe made of her fclfe, fie had abufed her 
 eyes to wanton look^s, and thrrefore norv fiee caufeth them 
 to over-fiow with teares, fie had made her lips the weapons 
 of lafcivtottfiefc ^ dnd gates of vanitie, ^nd therefore now 
 pjc caufed them to kijfe her Saviours feete , her haire once j 
 \fet out and friUed after the newefi fafiion ^ doth fiee now 
 wake ferue infleed of a napkin , her prectotu oj/ntment that 
 »as her wonted perfume , fiec now powred v-pon Chnfls 
 feete , which her eyes had watred, her hatre wiped ^her mouth 
 hadkiffed,fo m^ny Jinnes, fo many facrtfices ,/uch fnnei fuch 
 facnfices : notable examples to teach all their dunes. Have 
 you delighted in pride ofattire ? Put on fack-cloth ; have 
 you olfendetl in unfeting and drunkennes ? Fallond di inkc 
 water. Hath your mirth bin immoderate? VVeepe and Aran 
 glc tha" finne with iIk flrcamc of teares. Have you robbed, 
 • opprefTcd, and wronged your brcthveu ? Make reftitution , 
 'Wi':h 7acheus. Norcftitucion,noattontm'~nt. Nay further, 
 ;revengc thatfinnc upon your fclves, by giving fcmcvvhat ^[.uke.ia.j, 
 !*of your o wnc. Have you becne uncleane and flcdiiy iiversi l 
 1 Li Cl.aftiftI 
 
) 
 
 1 4 S I Thi right hehsviour in death. Division^ 
 
 Luk.S.i.^o. 
 
 I Sam. I ^c J. 
 
 
 Luke 15. 4^'^ 
 Lukcip,8, 
 
 L'akc7.3r. 
 2Sam.12.1J. 
 
 i — 
 
 Chaftife your bodyes with Paul , and keepc it under , sml 
 bring it in fubiedion by all meanes poiTiblc ; avoid unclea-^ 
 nelTe, which commonly driveth two at once^to-the Divell 
 Together .Roarc with David ht very griefe of heart and not 
 for one finne alone, but For all. Chrift call not fix divills on- 
 ly, out of the woman^but the feventh alfo^ he left not one of 
 a whole legion : we are not freed till we be freed from all. I 
 We muft not flay ^^^/^^^onely,. which is a mafter-fin^but 
 iikewifc i^ll his cattell,even all our, beloved finnes, and fay 
 unto the divcll as C^fofes faid unto Pharaoh ^ we will not 
 lea ve a hoofe behiad which may caufe defire of returning 
 into ^^7/>^ It is not,fuiJicient to pluck out the arrow, but 
 wtmuft apply a plaiftcr to the woutid.We muft leave ofFthe 
 rotten raggeJof Adatmni be wholly reneued & turne unto 
 our God withaietled purpofeevcr whilft wehve,moreand 
 more to amend our lives. 
 
 Haft thou failed in thy &ith,and repeated ? Behold Gods 
 mercy to repenting 'Teter, 
 
 Haft thou robbed thy neighbour and repented? Behold 
 Gods mercy to the repenting thecfe. 
 
 Haft thou couetuofly gained and repcnted/'BehoId Gods 
 mercy to repenting Zachew. 
 
 Hift thou burned in uncleane luft , and repented ? Behold 
 Gods mercie to repenting Magdalen\ 
 
 Haft thou committed adultery , and repented ? Behold 
 Gods mercy to repenting David, 
 
 Vnto the repenting perfon he givcth a foft heart, for his 
 mercy endureth for ever. He fendeth the comfort of his ho- 
 ly fpirit, for hi<= mercy indureth forever. He giveth pe:ce 
 of confcicnce, for his mercy endureth. And bcftowcth on 
 them the ioyes of Heaven, for his mercy endureth for ever. . 
 
 We muft rcpct inftantly & continually without any delay. 
 God will not p ermk us to give the prime daies to the divel, 
 & the dog daies to him,to poure out our wine to the world, 
 andtofcrvc him with the dreggeSoWc may not repent by | 
 IqualmcsandftartSjbutgoe through ftitch.Wc muft followt 
 \ ' ■' repenrancef 
 
 ■.» I ■ ■» 
 
: 
 
 iDi 
 
 1 1 ii *^ ^ 
 
 VISXQN 4. 
 
 The right bchavtOHr in diAth^ 
 
 I 
 
 repentance as the widdovv in the Gofpell did her fuite , and 
 kcepc our hold as Ucob did in wreftliiig. Amend to day, 
 amend to morrow ^ runnc on not for a time , but even our 
 whole time with a cpntinued a(fl ; moderately at the ifirlt 
 time, conftantly in the midft, and qheerefiiUy to the end. All 
 the trees in Gods orchard muft bee Palmes , and Cedars; 
 Palmes, which bring tortfa fiuicbctimcs,and Cedars,wholc 
 
 fiuit iaflcth very long* ^-^ ^ 
 
 ySfid iCc us confidcr well the manifold dangers which fol- 
 low the wane eiJier of /pecde, or continuance m\ repentance. 
 Firfl our lives of ail :hingsare mofl uncertaine, as we have 
 at large oblerved in the hifldivifion. 
 
 Thcfbolilii Virgins luppoled the Bridegroome would 
 not come like a bat in the night \ there is time enough (laid 
 they}co it pent , what needs all this haft ? But poore foolcs 
 they were excluded. Many thoulandsare now (no doubt j 
 iw hell ^ who purpofed in time to have repented ; but being 
 prevented by death, arc fallen into the burning lake there to 
 be tormented for ever. Therefore let us elleem it as an immi- 
 nent daoger to live in that eftate>whej[^n w:c would be k>ath 
 chat death might fnide us." v^r '5?'- -fi" ^ rrhrlV ->^ V, - ' • - 
 Secondly bad cuftomcs are dangerous , and greatly to be 
 feared- Hcc that from his youth hath lived wickedly,in his 
 old age Oiall have fmnc in his bones, ^/^ hones (faith 1^) arc 
 fnUofthffinnesofhisjOHthf which pyall ly Aovpnc with him in 
 thcdufl, Sinnesarcnot like dilcafes in the body,the older the 
 forer , but ( faith Saint Ai4gii^ine)iht older the fweeter,and 
 yet the more toothlonie the mor^roublcfome. TheDifci- 
 ples of Chrift could not caft outafoulc fpiiit that had remai- 
 ned in one from his childhood j he that hath had long pof- 
 feflion will plead prefcription^a cuftome long retained is not 
 quickly changed ; and therefore it is very dangcrou not to 
 rcpefit before wccan fin no more. 
 
 Thirdly, werauft remtmbcr that the longer we continue 
 in finne without rcpenrance^the fiirthcr we runne from God 
 And there is no great likely hood that hee chac hath t tene 
 
 L 3 tunning 
 
 14^ 
 
 Lukci9.4« 
 
 ,t «i/- 
 
 Matth.zjA 
 
 I. -.103 
 
 Iob.>o.it« 
 
 Mark.^,i9.2i » 
 
 iW >* ■ ■! 
 
) 
 
 ^SO |{ Tfn right heh^iour in death. 
 
 
 .^ 
 
 [EzrajC'i j« 
 
 .^if^i 
 
 
 !cdc. 12.3.4. 
 
 Mac.iJ.ie.ij. 
 
 funning from G6'!t forty, fiftie"; or perhaps three or fourr- 
 fcore ycarcs together, and with the prodigall runneth irito a' 
 farfc Countrey > can returne agarne in the Ipace of fix daycs, 
 C\\ houtes , fix niinuces ; for it may 4)fe?his ficknes funto 
 whi<ih titne he deferreth his repentance) willnot be fo long 
 as rhe Otoftcft ofthefe thnes,howthen isitpofllble tofarnc 
 in time to ourGodby lepentance ? Neither is this a worke 
 of one day or two,as it is faid in the book o^S<ra\n another 
 c^it. Sa(om9H givith a yoiing fnan; counlcH -to remember 
 his Creator in thtdnjes ojf^htsyoftt/jr kardy to- begin repen- 
 tance, thatis^intheprime^ndbudofhislife, whileheis 
 frefh and gallant.and not to tarry till the dead winter of age 
 caufe his buds to fade, and leafe to falUor till the bra^\meof 
 hisflroncarmes fall away , or rill the keepers ofthehoufe 
 (the hanas whicti defed the ho(Sy )tremhle^ or til -every thinxr 
 -bee nhitrthert^ feeing even then the.graffe'hopperjhall bee a 
 bnrthen^^cr ttH they roax darke (t\iQ. tyts) that looks pyt^t 
 therptndoives , or nil the grinders ceafe,^ that is, his teeth 
 fall out of his head , sr ttli.the-.Aoores of his lippes bee 
 p)Ht\ andiarves fyllem^. or /ill the dafighers of JfJigt»^ (the 
 iearesj^^ aba fed, bcin^ not able any longer to hoare the voice 
 or found of inftruments , or till it bee too Jatcto knockc, 
 when the Lords doore is made faft ^ aud there fliall bee na 
 more, opening., ' ^^r --;'n'iv^ 
 
 Andlcftthisyoung•man fhould thinke the termc of his 
 ?igc(whlchSji/om</fj calls the evil/ day or ttme)\.o be the moft 
 convenienttime and termc of beginning repciitance/ m the 
 verfes following he brings the old man, dtafe ^blinde , /ame, 
 Oiort'Wirtded,. full of aches and dtf cafes in his body .trem- 
 blina vpon his ft^ffe^ his lippes Andh^nds Jhaktngx without 
 memories^ and almoftr^^^^^ of hts fences-^ as if he Oiould 
 jfav. :■ iooke myfonnews this man fit to learne or repent^, 
 jwho c.innot hcarr, fpeake, fec^goc,nor remember ?. Thus 
 i'*;?A;w^;^ fchoolcth his young man. 
 
 Further, God requiring thcfirfl: borne for his offering, 
 1 aodxhc firft fruitcs for bis fcrvicc, doth Cno doubt^ require 
 
 \; r -rr;- ^ thc 
 
 I 
 
 • X^t ■■ i ^p g 
 
 m i 1 ■ ■ 
 
 " ^f V ^ 
 
 | . y« >. »| . 'w . > i w»i'^ 
 
D ^v I s I o N 4> T^^ ^^&f^^ behanj'totir in dtAth^ \\ j 5 i 
 
 the prime and maidcn-hcad of every mans workc^and chat 
 wc mould repent betimcs,and lerve him with onr fit ft and 
 bcaft meanes. 
 
 It is for young men tobelccvc. And therefore the ordi- 
 nary Crccdc(' which is both for young & oid/laith Id^h^^ 
 leeve.ln the Leviticall tcmplc,therc was a (norning offering 
 as well as an evening (acrifice. Aud when the Angelloi the 
 Covenant fttrreth the pso/e , that is, offereth falvation , not 
 he that is oi deft, but he (h^t fieffes IJ'^^, (young or old ) 
 is healed, ' ■ ' * 
 
 Some fay, that youth mufthav>c atime^ but/Chriftians 
 muft redceme the whole, both of youth and yeares.For here 
 God will not be fatisfied with the §rfi fi^ifes, as ir\ the Lc- 
 gall Pricft-hood, but muft have the whole crop of time of- 
 fered to him in his fervice, and,perfo|*manceofhi^CQm- 
 manden^ents, £/*fia could fay to, his fervant ^ isth^s ^time 
 to t^k^ rewards ? And a mid ft the pangs ofdea^h _, i% this a 
 time to thinkc of amenment of life ? 
 I ' Aga'ine, let us remember that m time of ficknelTe wee 
 thinke moll vponthat which wecqioft fecle, De^rh doth 
 bcfiege us, finie affi ighteth rs , ouf; wiuesgrieve vs^ our 
 children with-d;:aw vsj being many wayes jdiftracfled, how 
 fhall wc then repent and amend i Being then at the weakcft^ 
 how can we rcfift Sath<tti,vj\\o is then at the ftrongcft? Our 
 repentance then will be late repentance, and late repentance 
 is never or very feldome true repentance $ according to! this 
 faying, r<^ra pdinltentia raro eft vxra^ ffd vcrAp^nftentia nun^ 
 ^uam ejl /era-, laterfpentAnce is [eldofhe true, hut trne reperi^ 
 tance is never too Ute, AKo thofc repentances that men 
 frame to themfelves at the lafl lioure, arc but falfe concepti- 
 ons', that come not to bearing , for in fuch repentance men 
 fbrfakc npt ;hcir fmnes,but their ti^iriesforiiike them. It will 
 be toolatc to coipe to the.kayAvhen the flu'p i$ laun^ li^d^ro^ 
 (atc.to tranlplaat'irec* vvh^i^jtlicy 'be many yearts growne, 
 too' late to fcafon Pc(}iv ^vjjcn.ij: crawleth n uh worm^i, 
 Ij^ late to WMdahoufevvhw 
 
 ' 1-4 'cale i 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 Color. 4.^, 
 
 '.T.T^ii^i^ 
 
 , ' 
 
 r 
 
 .or.^.^.L 
 
 I 
 
 ••V* 
 
 Kt4i 
 
) 
 
 ^ -^—i— ^ ■ I I t n an 
 
 153. j Th4 right behaviour in death. D i v 1 s lOi^ 4- 
 
 [of.^ 
 
 4. 
 
 . >J-V 
 
 praLprr,?* 
 
 Exod,8,^.io, 
 
 cafe with hijtt that hath lived lortg in finne without rc'^crt- 
 tance. 
 
 Such as by their prophanefTc, doe wilfully refu/e the oi' 
 ferofGi&dsflfKFityvartd doe prcfe^re tlitii* pleu(utes and pfo- 
 iks before , may rnitric fo tawe , that alf th^ mcan^^s they 
 caivufefhaii never ebt^ne mercy *i thfe h^nds of G'cd. Ifay 
 astherjj ts a time in the which the lord will vvooe us, yea he 
 fends bis Minilkrs to intrcat us, he will chide and expoflu- 
 I^e the matte!^ with us,why wc wii not accept of his mercy. 
 O Ephra$m({zkh the Lord) r^hat (hall I doe unto thee^ O 1uJ,a 
 •wharfyAll fdihHnt:&the<f? So there is «ind vvill be a time i hat 
 after the refiafing of grace , aitd contemning of mercy c tfe- 
 red, the Lord will lliut up and bolt the gate of mercy, fo a J 
 he will not be intreatedatour hands any mpi^. Thi: {% pro- 
 vedunt^u^ by th^ Prophet David in ofie of his P^ahnes, 
 where he ex!ior^s the people that they will rake a'iid accept 
 tfcetime^the Lord offers them, left itfcbrflfe to pafTe by tlieir 
 contempt, and, reftifmg the time of grace,the Lord call thenfi 
 ofFand reie<ft them. 
 
 I deny not!, btitthaft! iii'rcfpecPofns, till God harh mani- 
 f efted his will, t\i^tt Is H8pe ; biic in refpe<5V of G dd!^ fccrct 
 decr^fe, thetim^bf Gddsm'crc^ may bee oiit even during, 
 thislii^ ; therefore when mercy is offered , wee niuft take 
 heed we wilfully cbnbemne it n6t,left We provoke the Lord 
 to be gone, and utterly to reie(5V us. 
 * €) K of the molt fearefull'fignes'of a Cafl-aw^y is to dehy 
 and'putofiP the I'Oi'ds gt'acious offer of niercy ; as Avereade' 
 of.7'f:hiraoh\ who When c^<>/^/ offered himfelFe to pray to 
 the Lord fofhim, he put it off till tlie next morrow ; fo hce 
 that hath t'hc graces and mercies of God offerd him to day, 
 arid puts themoflpfrom his youth ro his age , andfroifi his 
 old daye^'tilf hrs'dctitlvbed; may iullly fcarc an vttct reiedi- 
 oW, cl'^entH^ wheinhe hobcsfor ibort coiiifert. '*; ; ^; 
 
 ' •'And ai it i*r liioft c^l^taine.tftit after dtath ,td^res a^^ PruTt-' , 
 
 \ 
 
 lefr< repentiiiicc unprofit^'alc , as after death ftomdrcy is to 
 be cxpccflcd, nathitlg'but mifer^', nothing but wrath, fo is I j 
 
 i . .y \ -t «i it] ' 
 
 «J»K 
 
■i 
 
 deaths 
 
 Divi $ ION 4 . Thertght bthaviourin 
 
 itdoubthill and vci^y dangcrcnW, tbilt our %hes, tearcs; aiid 
 groancs, arc of licrlc fm c€ at the very nccrc approach of 
 death, whccher by age, extemitie of difcafc or othcrwifc. 
 For at thtttime when our power^s arcdifladcd or fpent, 
 when we live fttuglifig or pantfi^g under the arrcil of death, 
 when no part is ftcceytHcr from the fence of fcare of hi^ \ 
 cruell gripe, we may well be faid to be \\\ death, or at Icaft- 
 wiiein (uch a condition or (late that doth IcfTe participate 
 of life then death. A<id therefore at the leaft it i$ doabtfuU 
 chat at tliat tirhe we (hall Hot remember Gt)d', arid th^ our 
 r-c pen ranee ifiall come too kite.- "'*'*^- 
 
 Whata l"hame is it that the children ofthis world afeWi- 
 fcr in their kind , then the children cf light? A good huf- 
 band will repaire hishoufe while the weather isfaire , and 1 
 not defence till winter doth rife A earcfull pilot will furnifli 
 his O^i'ppc while the Seas arc calmc, and not ftay untill tem- 
 pefts doe rage. The traveller will take his tiine in his iour- 
 ney^acd will hafteh when he {ii:\:.s night approach, left dark- 
 nclTcovtrtake him. The Smith will tlrike while the iron is 
 hor^ iefc it c<^o\q, upon him and fo hr lofe his labour. The 
 Marriticr willrtor let the tide palTe him, forf as the cbmmort 
 proverbe i s ) ? he tiirie and tide tarry for no man:The Lawyer 
 will take theteime bccaufe he knoweth thdt it being ended, 
 his clients will be gone. So we ougKt to make every day the 
 dav ofgur terme . and a provident ma:i will repent him of 
 his ^WiXxQ."^ in rhc feafbnable time of health and ftrength , and 
 notprotra-^till hebc in the very armes and the imbracc- 
 ment of death; when many occafions may cut from him 
 either his minde or power, or time to repent. For we have 
 iuft caufe to feare, that if we would not when we might ,wc 
 fhall not be able when we u^ou:d,and that by our will to do 
 evill,w^ may happily lofe the power to doe well. Thy very 
 tongue will condcmnc thee in thy trade ; if thou trull: a man 
 with tliy wares, thou wilt require a bill or bond, Taying , all 
 men are mortall, and at lefle then an houres warning. But 
 let the Preacher exhort thee to accept of the gracious time 
 
 I — of 
 
 1 
 
 1*5 J' 
 
 .^r 
 
 • T 
 
J54 I 
 
 i*B*i 
 
 The right behaviour in death, D i v 1 5 1 0N.4, 
 
 lHcKiaui7» 
 
 r 
 
 ' \ 
 
 U 
 
 wmmm 
 
 \.of the Lord,and put thee in mindc that thy life^as a vapour, 
 ks foone gone,yet thou wilt not beleevc him, but fo lead thy 
 life in fmnc, as if thouhadft the fame in fee Urine. 
 
 And to thee that callcft thy neighbours jtriends and com- 
 panions to Cards, Dice, or any luch pallime, faying, come 
 let us goe parte the time away. Is time io flow that it rauft 
 be driven ? I tdl thee there are at this day many ihoufands 
 in helljwho if they had many 4^ingdoms, wouid gladiy give 
 them all , for one houre of that time , whereof thou haft 
 ^ many , not to paffe it away and drive it from them, but in 
 hope to recover that which thou doft moft graceltfly con- 
 temner :,?,? 
 
 Alas>whodares truft to the broken re ed of extrcamc fick- 
 ncffe or age, bruifcd by-originali, but altogether broken by 
 our af^uall finnes. We have good caufc not to truft to this 
 deferring of time^a'xi late repentance. For i^Efan could not 
 pnde repentance Men he jcnghtiv wtth teares ; how may 
 we with good reafonfuipccl our extrcame late fecking for 
 repentance ? Not becaufe true i epentance can ever bee too 
 late J but becaufe late reperjtance is leldorne true, (zs wccj 
 have 6lr3ady heard ) JE.t [era rarsfnia^ that which is late is \^ 
 Jel^ome lively , as proceeding rather from ftarc , theai 
 from love , from neceflitie , then from willingncfle, and! 
 dcfire, rather outwardly pretended, then with the heart in- j 
 tended. 
 
 We all of ui in our iolitie, thinkc wc may doc what we 
 lift, and fo long as C»od fbrbeares to punifti , we will never 
 Ibrbcarcto finne^butftiii deferre the time ofrppentancc.But 
 God grant we may remember and lay to our hearts , what 
 that good Father Saint Angufline faith, T^hil efl infdltciw 
 ^r. ^^thing^ if more unfffrtrirtate then the felicitie of Jin- 
 fterf , wherehy their pena/i tmpirtic is noHrifjed , and thetr 
 nraiice strengthened and incrsafed* ; When God doth /nffet I 
 'Jinn^rstoprojper then hisindi^nation ts the greater toward 
 rhem[{^ilh that Father V^^^^'w heUavcth them mpHnipJcd^ 
 thcnhe punipicth them moft of.ill^ -■ • 
 
 Forj} 
 
 I 
 
 r ; J i ; 
 
D I V I s I O N 4 T^^ ^^S^^^ Lehdviour in death. 
 
 15S 
 
 - Forthehjrdicr-prciringoftbisdoflrineonourcon^icn- 
 ccs, let us obfervclome places oFSciipturc. Andfiiftletus 
 ice what tbt Lord iaith to iuch as deipile vvildomcs calljbc- 
 ing of thre Ibrts.'z^/^. 
 
 rhenriVthat like foo'.cf content thcmfclves with igno- 
 rance 
 
 The fecond, that fcoffe at the Lords offer by his fervants. 
 The third which are carricdaway by their owne lufts. . . 
 
 Becanfe I havec^e^,A>idyeercfnjcd^ Ihaveftretchedont |PfOV.x.i4.»». 
 my fM»d, and none would re^ttrd, and then they Jhall call ti^on 
 mee, hut I rvtll not anfwercy they puillfteks me early ^ bnt pji^ll 
 notfindeme. Noting to us-, thctasthey did refufe the time 
 in whicli he called lo they fhould call in hope of mercy , but 
 flndc none.Thc like we rcadchow tire Prophet £/ay calling | Efay ii«u.^3- 
 JcrnfiUm :o repentance in fack-cloth and aihcs for their 
 ^wr.t%^\Pj^<,ffll to.fportinjT andfeafiing, deffiftng. the Lords 
 we [fage,^nd coffer of grace by hii 'J'rophet; what camCof it? 
 You may reade pielcntly, that th^ir contempt comming to 
 the Lords care , hedochiinfwerc. Surely this inicjuitie [hall 
 not bee pur^geJ from you till you die ( jatth the Lord of^ 
 Hofies) giving them to underftand, that feeing they fet fo 
 light by the admonitions of the Prophet , thfere fhould be 
 left them lio time to repent in , till he had dcflroyed them. 
 But of all the places of Scripture for this purpofe, let us fee 
 w hat the Lord faith to lerufalem by his Prophet, E^cchieL 
 ^tf£"rfi</> (faith he) Iwould have f urged thee ^ and thou wafl, 
 not furgcd^thtu Jhalt not be purged ^tifl I have ctu fed mj wrath 
 to Itght' upoK thee, Mirke this place well, which may terrific 
 our hearts (if wee carry not the hearts of Tygers) in which | 
 the Lord tcflifies not onely to them, but to us , then when 
 by all kii;dc mcanes and loving allurements he ofFererh his 
 Favour,and w'e obftinateiy rcfufe it, let us be rure,ther when 
 wee would have mercy and favour from him though wee 
 I eggc it , crying and howling, he will ckny us. For there is 
 a trmc ftt in which we may repent , but being defpifcd and 
 outrun^there is after no houre to obtaine mercy. The rcafons 
 I whereof are fpeciall y three, vi^. The 
 
 Ezccb.i4.U"« 
 
MMMMM 
 
 !<*■ » 
 
 Ij6 I 
 
 
 itTCSp^X^aii 
 
 
 I 
 
 >• 
 
 I 
 
 •^•*t 
 
 T^^ r/j^r bcljAVtour m dmh, Pivi5iON.4. 
 
 The firft taken &om God^who^bccaufe it proceedes from 
 his love to offer mercy, it muft needs ftand with his iufticc 
 to puni(h the wiUiill contempt of it, wkh a perpctuall deni- 
 all of mercy. 
 
 The fecond from Sathan , who by contemning and neg- 
 lc(fling the Lordi gratious offer of mercy , gets great advan- 
 tage of us, and hereby. makes a way fur iuchiinncsas hardly 
 in time wc can repent us of. 
 
 The third is from the nature of this fiiiiic which hatcheth 
 three horrible finnes j for delay, breeds cuftome , cuftome 
 I breeds fecuritie,and fecuricie brcedes impcnucncic. A drun- 
 kard, we fee , \^ more easily reciaymeci ii om ihar (inp,e at 
 the firft , then when he hath gotten the cuftome of it \ a^.d 
 fo it \% of all other finnes. And hence it i^ i hat the Lord hy 
 his Prophet doth note it a thing impo/Iiblc in rcfpec^ of 
 liumane power to leave thofe fiiines which arc cuftomably 
 committed jfaying- Can the bia€kcf»ore change hu ski», or the 
 Leopard hisffots^ then may jee aljh doe good, that are accnftjo^ 
 medto doeevilL '' 
 
 Oh beloved, let us take heedc ofdefpifing the Lords kind 
 offer of mercy, lefi hee bee attgrj, ana fo wee perrifi in his 
 wrath* For which cauie let us call to remebrance thefe foure 
 motives to move us to accept of the time of grace, this ac- 
 ceptable day of fal vation. vi^, 
 
 Firft, how mercifuU the Lord hath beene to us , who 
 might have cut offvour time in*our youth,in which it may be 
 wee were unthriftic, or in the midft of lomc grievous finnc 
 tliat we committed heretofore, or of late dales, and fo has^e 
 lent us to hell* 
 
 Secondly, confider how many good motions of his holy 
 fpirit wc have let flip^ and made light accompt of, and f ent 
 him away from us with gricfe, which it may be we (hall nc^ 
 verenioyagaifw. 
 
 Thirdly call to thy minde how hee hath this day offered 
 thee his Maicftics gratious pardon upon thy willing accep- 
 ting pfit, which For ought that either I orthouknow, hvV 
 
 ..,i.,;.:. will] 
 
 'mmi 
 
D I V I s I o N 4 . The right behivtour tn death. 
 
 j^ 
 
 mr 
 
 159 
 
 will never oftlr againc unto thcc# 
 
 Fourthly conlidcr that as the Lord hath given thcc a timCj 
 fo he hath given thee thy icnccs, thy vvittes , thy memory, 
 which hce hath deprived others oF, and miy thee alfo, for 
 ought thou knoweft, bccaule thou hall made no better ufe 
 ofthem For hisgloiyand thy owne Salvation. Therefore 
 iay,Lord turne me unto thee, and deliver my foulc, enligh- 
 ten my underftanding from this groffe darknefle ^ free my 
 delircs from thcie iron chaines, frou^thefe mallic fetters of 
 finnc 1 that I may turne unto thcc in the fcalbnable time of 
 health and ftrength 5 and not dcfcrre the great and waightie 
 workc of my repentance , uutill either by long aiftomc of 
 (in, or by debility oFbody or minde or both, I (hall not^e a- 
 ble to thinke upon thee. 
 
 But fome will obiecflj what is there no hope of falvacion 
 for him that repenteth at the laft houre ? Anfwer. I will not 
 jfayC faith Saint AngHftine)\\^ lliali be Faved, I will not fay he 
 jfliall be dined. You will Fay>thc theefe was faved at the very 
 lad caft of life, or Fomc (hort time bcFore he departed from 
 the croffe to paradise. Anfwer. I confefle that the fcripture 
 fpeaketh of fuch a one crucihed at the right hand of the fon 
 of GodjWhocraving wiih faith mercy to falvation,recciv'ed 
 this'anfwer, to day fljalt tbou he rvith me irt parradife, Hc was 
 called at the eleventh hourc at the poynt oF the twelfc, 
 when he was now dying and drawing on; and therefore hi J 
 coverfion was altogether miraculous and extraordinary. 
 And there wasafpcciall reafon why our Saviour CbrifV 
 w^ould have him to be then calledjthat while he w^as in fuflt- 
 ring he might fliew forth the vertue of his paffion, that all 
 that faw the one, might alfo acknowledge the other. Now 
 it is not good fcr any man to make an ordinary rule of an 
 extraordinary exmaple.and bef des the fcripture fpeakes but 
 of one that was Fo Faved ; and it fpeakes oF another in 
 that very place , ard at that very ioflant that was damned. 
 And hereupon a father Faith , we rcade of one, that no man 
 {hould delpaire^and but of one that no man fhould prcFumc. 
 \ And 
 
 Lul:cl^4^'^ 
 
 
 ( 
 
 MMMMi 
 
•**- 
 
 ■*.«>. 
 
 ^■fi^M* 
 
 I 
 
 \5^ 
 
 The right bchAvtour in death, D r v i s i o n 4 . ' 
 
 And upon this alfo Origen writeth thus^thcre is no ma hath 
 caulcto iddpaire of pardon, feeing Chrifbfaid unrothetheefc 
 vervlj thii iey thoH Jhdit l^e w^th me in parndt/e^ and yet may 
 not too much prefume of pardon, becaule Chrift (aid not 
 vcnly this day ihall yee be with me in paradize* 
 
 This example thercbre is a medicine oncly againft deC 
 peration , and no cloake for finne. And therefore let us re- 
 member before we linnc, that Chrill pardoned not the mul- 
 titude, aqd thereby feare his iuftice , and after wee have fin- 
 ned, let us remember that Chi ill pardoned the thecfe; and 
 fo hope for mercy Etfi poenitentiA efi/ern , tamcn indfi/^etf' 
 tia non efifera. Saith Lombart^: Gods mercy is above onr 
 mifery^and an evcmiigTacrificeis accepted by him5& yet on 
 the other fide we never rcade that Chii^ cured one blind 
 man often, that he healed the fame leapcrs divers times,that 
 he raifed Lax^rHs twice. Markc welif faith one^ what i fay, 
 that a man which repenteth not but at his latter end iliall 
 be damned J doe not lay fo>what then doe 1 fay ? He fhali h(i 
 faved?No.Whac then doe I fayi*! fay I know not,I fay I pre- 
 /ume not, I promife not, yj\\\ thou then deliver thy felfe outj 
 of this doubt ? Wilt thou efcape this dangerous po) nt ? Re- 
 pent thou then whilft. thou art whole, for if thou repent 
 whilA thou art in health, whenfoever the laft day of all com- 
 mcth upon thee thou art fafc, for that thon didll repent in 
 that time when thou mightcft yet have finned .* but if thou 
 wilt repent when thou canft finn eno longer, tho u Icaveft 
 not finnc but finne leaveth tfieeTOnc being demaundqd i 
 when it was time to repent , anfwered, one day before o^ir j 
 Deafthjbut when it was replyed,thir no man knew that da)'; ' 
 he laid begin then to day, for feare of fay ling; and boaft not 
 of to morrow, for thou knoweft not what a day niay biing 
 forth : many pretend to mend all in time, and this time is lb 
 deferred from day to dav until! God (in whole hands onc- 
 ly all times confill J doth (luit them out of all rime and lend i 
 thsm to paines eternal! without timc,for that they abufc the • 
 fpcciall benefit of time in this world. ^ | 
 
 Again^j 
 
 —r* 
 
D I V I s I O N 4 T^^^ ^(?^^^ hcfjavtour in death. 
 
 159 
 
 Againe concerning thofc which poft off their repentance 
 till age, fickncflc, or Death , of thclc there are ipecially two 
 
 forts. z'i^» 
 
 TIk hrft fort are fuch as plead the fweete Promifes of the 
 Cofpell, as namely thefc. yitvrhat ttmcfoevcr afmner^oth 
 repent &c,CorneHnt9 meallyee that labonrandare heavteioa- 
 den ,and Imti refreflyjoH. Anfwer. True it is, and mod true, 
 but to whom are thele proiniles made;and to what finners? 
 They are made to all repentant finncrs that turne to the Lord 
 withall their hearts , but thou art an unrepentant wretch 
 and continued in thy (innes , therefore thofe comfortable 
 promifes belong not unto thee. And what finner-s doth he 
 bid come unto him? Thofe that he weary And heavte laden, 
 that is,whofc Cms pinch and wound them at the very hearty 
 and withall defire to be cafed of tht burthen of themoThere- 
 fore take not occafion to prefume of the promifes of the 
 Gofpell; for urtleffe thc^u turne from thy evill wayes, and re- 
 pent of thy (innes, they b^!ong nothing at all unto thee. I 
 know the Gofpell is abouke of mercy, 1 know that in the 
 Prophets there are many afperflons of mercy ; I know that 
 out of the eater comei npe*ite , and out of the firtng comes 
 fweetnejfe , and that in the ten commandements ( which be 
 the adminilirarions of death ) there is made exprtfle menti- 
 on of mercy, I will have mercy vpon thonfartds : yea, the very 
 fir ft words of them are the covenant of grace, 1 ^w the Lord 
 fhy god ; yct,if every Icafe and every linc,and every word in 
 the Bible were nothing but mercy , mercy •• yet nothing a- 
 vailcs the prefumptuous finner that lies rotting in his ini- 
 quitiesj Oh but he n mercifully gracioia ^ jlow to anger, ahoun- 
 a.Dit ingooineffe and truth, referving mercy for thsufands^ 
 forgiving iniquitie^ tranfgresfion, andfinne : is not here mer- 
 cy mentioned nine or ten times together i It is, but read on 
 the very next words], and not making the wicked innocent^ 
 vijitihg the intcjuity of the Fathers upon the children^ and vp- 
 on chddrens children unto the third and fourth generation : Is I 
 1 not this the terrible voice of jufticc.^ But ftay,inthe 136} 
 
 Pfal. \ 
 
 1 
 
 Ezcch.18.11. 
 Maui. 18 
 
•M- 
 
 l6o 1 
 
 prai.jg. 
 
 Maui^.ZI* 
 
 The right behaviour in death, Drvisio ^ -^ 
 
 [ Pfal.there is nothing but his mercy indtireth for cver,which 
 is the foore ohhe Plal.and is found fix and twenty times 
 in26. verfcs, yet harke what a ratling tbunder-clappe is 
 hccre, and overthrew Tharaoh and his hoft in the red iea. 
 and fmote great Kiijges, and flew mightie Kings &c.- 
 
 The fecond fort are fuch , that by hearing and reading of 
 the ftory of Lots drunkcnnes, of ^Davids adultery, of Peters 
 deniall, doc thereby blefTe themfelves, and ftrengthen and 
 comfort their hearts, yea they have learned to alieadge them 
 as examples to extenuate their iinnes, and to prefume that 
 they fhall find the like mercy. Am I a Drunk ardPfiaih one j 
 fo was that good man Lot, Km I an Adulterer ? (faith ano» 
 ther j (o was David , a man after Gods owne heart. Am I a 
 fwcarer3aforfw€aier^currer5adenycrofChri{l?So was the 
 holy Apoftle Saint F^r^r.Shalll defpaireoffalvacio/aith the 
 wicked per fifter in finne, and I read that the theefe repeated 
 on the crofTe^and found mercy at the laft hourc?0 vile wret- 
 ches, who hath bev/itched you to pervert Gods word to 
 your deftru(flion?It is as much as to poyfon the fou'e.Looke 
 on their repentance. Lot fell of infirmicie, and no doubt re- 
 pented with much griefe; ytt lookeupon Gods iudgenient 
 upon that inceftuousfeede. Lookc uponT^^m^. Read the 
 3 8. Pfalmc , ii made him goc crooked i his finnes were as 
 fire m his bones ;he had not a good day to his death,but the 
 griefe of his finnes made him to roare oj.il •, thou wouldft be 
 loath to buy thy finne fo d^are as he did. Lookc upon Peter 
 who wept for his Cmn^s moft bitterly. And as ror the ex- 
 ample of the theefe fas we have heard already , is^nd cannot 
 hcare to often) feeing it is fo often obicAed and urged ; the 
 Lord knocketh but once by one ftrmon , and he repented, 
 but thou halUieard many fermons crying and calling unto 
 thee, and yet thou hall not repented; and this isfas wee have 
 -heard)ancxtraordiary example, and thereof not the like in 
 allthefcriptureagainc ; andtke Lord hath fct our but one, 
 andyetone, thatno man flioulddeipairc , ard yet that no 
 man iliould prefume by this one example, for what man will . 
 
 fpi/z-T-e 
 
 m ii" ^ 
 
 •mmo 
 
D I V I £ I ON 4- ^ ^^ ^^&^^^ behaviour $n dciifh. \ 1 5 1 
 
 ^urre his Afle till he fpeakc, bccaufc "Balaam did fo, and yet 
 one,that no man H^ould dclpairc,buc to know that God is a- 
 1 blc to call home at the lalt houre. A nd by this he did declare 
 the riches of his mercy to all fuch as haue grace to rurnc un- 
 to him ; where contrary wc Ice , many choufands of thofc, 
 who hauing deferred their repentance , hanc becnc, taken a- 
 way in their linncs,and died impenitent. But this example 
 IS tor all penitent (inners, who upon their hearty repentance 
 may allure themlclucs that the Lord will rccciue them to 
 mercy. Now if thou canft promile to thy fclfe the fame re- 
 pentance and faith in Chrifl , that he had , then maift thou 
 promife thy leUe the fame fchcicic which he now cnioyes, 
 S. ylmifro/i C2ks the hillory ofthis man, pHtcherrtmHmaf. 
 fr^iancU conuerfionis exem^ln/n ^ a moft godly example to 
 moue men to turne to God, But looke thou on his fellow , 
 who had no g) ace to repent , and who hangs as an ex imple 
 to all impeniient wretches to looke upon , that they defpife 
 not the meicy ofGodj nor reie^fl his call by his mcflengers 
 and Miaiftei s , left it come to pafle , that when they would 
 repent they cannot. 
 
 To thee then that art priuie, thou had had many cales, 
 many offers of grace , yea that haft feencrhe painfull and 
 faithful! Preachers of Gods holy Word & Sacraments .fpend 
 their wits, their ftrength, yea overfpend themlelves for thy 
 good, what di veil hath bewitched thee to poll ofFall , and 
 willi'^i^Iy to caft away thy fclfc? 
 
 T(j chce therefore , that doft ftrcngrhcn thy felfeinthy 
 finnes npon prelumption of mercy to others,) rcfcrre thee 
 to thf words ch^t che Lord himfclfe fptakesin DeHterorjo- 
 mie. He that wh^rt he hfAreth the words of this cnrfe , bte(fcth 
 himCehfe h hts hear^ f^Jf^^^^* ^ (^^^^ hsvc ^eAce^thou^h J r^a/i^ 
 itccordtri^tothefnil'yorKnfntffcofmy owr.e heart, tfws adding 
 drunk^t^e^c toth^rf^jhe Lordivill nor (pare htm, nor be merci^ 
 ftillnnto him , ^nt the rvrAth oftho Lonian.i his teaioujie fjafi 
 fmoaks ag4ii»(l that rnjinand blithe curfes thu are written in 
 this books IhalUi^ht Hfon htm , and the Lord jh*Ul blot oHt his 
 
 M name 
 
 Nmn.L2.i8, 
 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
 DeUf,»^.i5>jio 
 
 ■M^ 
 
1 62 I T/j^ right behAviour in death. Division 
 
 Matci^.i.lcc. 
 
 LZCch.iS.i' 
 
 Lam.5-»7« 
 
 Ecckf.it^ii 
 
 nAmefrom under heaven, Befides this place, theic are many 
 others ill the Scriptures againftthofe that ilrengthen their 
 hearts in their finnes. If you preliime that a Lord Lord will 
 fervetht turne at the clofe of your life, it is nothing elfe but | 
 Infiddii pdttcia , a feithlclTc confiden(^e , as Saint "Bernard 
 calls it. 
 
 Againc, by that parable in the Gofpell of the Labourers, 
 that were called into the Vineyard at feverall houres in the 
 day , doe many wicked men take great incouragement to 
 negle(fl the time of their calling, & repentance, becaufc they 
 that were caUcd in the laft houre were accepted, and rewar- 
 ded equally with thofc,which came in the Hrft houre oi the 
 day. Butdiew rne which of thofe labourers ^ being called, 
 did refufe to come. It feemech rather unto me, that hcx'-eby 
 they (hould learne without delay to repent , ^vhen they are 
 called to repec, at what time foever it be, for he is not bound 
 to us, but we to him. Hee that faith , when the wielded man 
 tHrneth from hiswikedneffe that he hath committed^ afiddoth 
 that- n^htch is law full and rig^ht^ Jhallfave hisfonh ah ve ^ dblh 
 fay alfo. It 14 good for a man that he beare the yoke in his yomhx 
 for old age is like to fiint, ypu mav breake it before you can 
 foften \x.. In yoirrh finnes are few and feeble , but by conti- 
 nuance they grow to be as flrong as Giants , and increafe 
 into mightie armies. And where Salomon faid bcfoi e to the 
 young mznyRemcmher thji Creator m the dajes of thy youth yi\\ 
 the fame verfe hee alfo fl.eweth the reafon of the fame , and 
 therefore faith Before thy evi/i day es come, C^ jeares approach, 
 wherein thoH (halt fay^ I have no fie aj tire in them, Thcfe are 
 the reafons for which Salomon would have his young man 
 not toput off in the age of youth fwhich is mofl: prime and 
 teachable^ the remembrance of his Creator, and his rcpen- , 
 . tance; and they are ta^enfrom the many infirmities and' 
 withdrawings that are to be fou: d in old age , when youth ■ 
 isabufed .* As much as \^ Salopian fhould have faid ; Well, 
 my fonne, thou art now young lun:ie and a(flive,of good ap- 
 ! prehenfion and (liarpe conceit, indued with frcfli and flrong 
 \ faculties 
 
D X V I s I ON 4. *lfic right beljAVioar tn de^tk, [ i^-^ 
 
 Mal.i.Se 
 
 faculciesofwitandremcmbraiice, thy feet are nim-ble, xhy 
 fight is good, and thy hearing pcrfcd:, now therefore Icnic 
 Cod^nd repcnr, whiles thou mayefti the time will come , 
 when thou wile be old, weckcjand rickly,dull in apprehen- 
 ding,and of bad capacitie and remembrance^ witliout good 
 legges to bring tiicc to Church , without a good eaic to 
 heare at Church, and cither without eyes , or darke-fitcd , 
 and not able to read long,nor to fee a good letter, but thro- 
 row Ipccflacles. Then ic will bee to late to doc any good 
 icruice to God thy Creator- This I take to bee the Wife- 
 mans meaning in thefe words ; which teacher h us that old 
 age is no fit time wherein to begin repentance and go^i- 
 iicire, when the greenc and frefli.ageof youth hath bcene 
 confumed in vanities. 
 
 The Ifraelitcs are complained of by the Lord m Ma^ 
 lachy that they offered the blinde for lacrifiee, and the lame 
 and lickc for a hallowed thing. A»d tfjon offer the blind for 
 facnfice, is it net euil/^crifyee offer the Lime And. ficke , ts tt 
 not, evill? offer it now unto the Governor yWt/ he beple^ifedvaith. 
 thee?or accept of thy per [on ^ faith the Lord of Hoflcr, He that 
 would not have a bcafl:(while he had no eyes) in his ftrvice^ 
 woutdliavethce, while thou haft eyes, to iervehini; the 
 ficke and the lame were no good offerings then , as being 
 forbidden in the Law, and be they good ware now in the 
 ficke and lame body of a man, tliat hath defperateiy put off 
 his repentance and turning to God, till he can neither draw 
 winde nor \c^^c?Mofes knew this , ai:d therefore bore this 
 burden young,& whiles his kgges were able to bcare hiin ; 
 for the text faith, That when he w.u come to age, he refuftd to 
 be called the [on of Pharaoh^ d^uahtcr^ that is, would not live 
 in dilicacies, while he had ftrtngch to live unto God. lofeph ' ^^^ je.ion 
 alfoinhisbeautie, and fairepcrfon, turned his backe to his ' 
 tempting Mi'lielfe, and his face to the Lord, hce would not 
 putoffcofcrve '-.odtillold age had made wrinkles in his 
 faire fjicc^ and his skinne withered. Iof,jh^ ^ good King, in 
 the eight yeere of his raignc, and fixtcenth of his age f when 
 
 M2 h* 
 
 
 Lev, 12. 20. 
 
 Hcb.il.i4» 
 
 
I 
 
 * ■ I M ■ I ■■ 
 
 64 I T/'* r/^^/ behAviour in death. D1VISION4. 
 
 I Sam.j.ip, 
 
 liTim-Jcrr. 
 
 hevp^uyeta childe) Ifeg^n to feeke after hn (jod ^ the god 
 of ^Davpdh%s Father , and w the twelfth jeer e of his raiane, 
 and twentieth of his age^ made ftfamonsreformatio-n. Whacr 
 So Ibone and lo yong ? So faith the Scripture ; and lb it was 
 without controverlie. For Gods children rake the good 
 dayes of youth for good duties, andnot rheevilldayes of 
 sickly and faplcfle old age, as commonly the children of the 
 world doc- Samuel i^i\^A God in his minoritie, and grew 
 in fpirit^as he fViOt up m yeares 3 he was a good man, and tba 
 better, becaufe a good yong man. And Timothy from a child 
 did ki^orv the holy Scriptures^ as the Apoftle Saint T^^/ wit- 
 ncfleth for him. 
 
 The reafons why we muft thus begin to repent betimes^ i 
 arethefe.t'^'^. 
 
 Firrt, repentance,as It can never come too fbonc , where 
 fmnc is gone before, fo it mufl: needs with much adoe, and 
 not without fome fpeciall worke of God , overtake fo ma- 
 ny finnes of youth and manhood , io farre , and much be- 
 fore it. 
 
 Seconilly, old age is full of wearineiTe and trouble , and 
 where we have clbowroome in youth , we cannot turne us 
 in old age ; perhaps we fhall neither hearCjnor fee, nor goe, 
 nor fit, without paine and torment in all parrs ; and is this 
 /(ay you j^a fit condition of life , and time of age toferve 
 God in. But biy that the forcible working of the holy Spi- 
 rit, like a great gale of winde, be able to blow thee home on 
 the fodaine,yec art thou not fure to have it, Anddoe'ft thou 
 thinke, leeing thou wilt not repent and know God in youth, 
 that hee will know thee at thefe yeares, and in t^is cafe and 
 Itate ? And wilt thou beftow on Satan the beauty, ftrcngth 
 and freflincfle of youth, & offer to God the wrinkles, weak- 
 nc(1<^. and foule hew of old age r* or when thou hafl given a- 
 way the flower of thy youth to Gods enemy, wilt thou of- 
 fer to God ( who will have the hrfbjand defervcstbe beff ) 
 thedregges and leavings ? To all fuch I fay , if yon wii not 
 know God in your youth , hee will never know thcc, ("for 
 
 ought 
 
 \ 
 
DivislON4' ^^^ r/^^/^ behaviour in death. j i^ ^ 
 
 oifght that thou knowcftj whciuhoii art gray-hcadcd. If 
 ("as hath bcene laid j thou wilt not give him the young and 
 foundjand that which is without blcmA(li,hc wil never take 
 in good part the old and (icke, and evill favoured, which no 
 manwill give to his friend, nor dare offer to his Prince. Jf 
 thou wilt not, when thou arc quick-witted , when thou art 
 come to the yearcs of dotage , he will nor. If thou wilt not 
 heare him in his day, thou llialt cry in thy day,that is^in the 
 evill day, and flult not be heard. Yea God hath told thee 
 (^as we have faid before; 'Becaufe I have calUdyand you refn- 
 fed^j OH fhall call upon me, Andlvoillnot anftverejOH.h dolcfuU 
 and heavy doome for a dying man.Tt is too late to fo w, when 
 thy fruite fliould be in, and no time to leave finne, when fin 
 mull leave thee* 
 
 Dives prayed.but was notlieard, Ef^n wept^but was not 
 pittied. The foolifh Virgins knocked^ but were denied, hy 
 which fearefuU examples it appearethjthac it will be too late 
 to call for mercy after this life , when the gates of mercie 
 will be fhut up, and repentance comes too lace. For {£ wee 
 ihrough our negligence and careleflencfl'e overflip this op- 
 portunities which the Lord in mercy ofFerreh us, we cannot 
 recover it afterward, although wee feekeit with tcarc^; 
 'which we find trudy verified by the fore-allcdged fearcfull 
 C\'3(\T\^\'^sJ^oryotir iniquities have feparated hetweene you and 
 your Cjod,andyour fnnes have hid his face from you ^that hee 
 vpiHnot heare, t is therefore the furefl and lafeft way , and 
 belter by many degrees, for thefalvationof our foulcsi to 
 leave our finnes now in our youth , and now to repent in 
 our heakh, then hereafter falas Ijwhcn it may be too late. 
 
 But if yourg men will fay it is too heard for them to re- 
 pent now. and therefore they wil' repent when they be old; 
 this isafoolifli laying : For fay I were commanded upon 
 paine of death to pull up a young oakeof twentie ycares 
 grou'-h , and * fi'.dlrg him heard to pull up Hiould 1_ 
 I cjme away and lay hee i fo faft in the ground that 1 
 1 cannot get him'up, but doe let him alone Twcntic yea^s 
 
 I M ^ more 
 
 ^^ . . . . — ^^^ 
 
 Prov 1.24,^8 
 
 I 
 \ 
 
 Hcb.12,17. 
 Mat,ij,xi.iic [ 
 
 Efa 
 
 ay 5^a. 
 
 J 
 
1(56 
 
 
 I 
 
 Ti6^ r/^Ar hchavieur w death. Division 4 
 
 \ more and then fay I will pull him up } would not all 
 wife men laugh at me and fay I were worthy to die ? 
 For if it were hard for me to pull him up now ^ it would 
 be harder to get him up when hee hade taken deeper roote 
 in the earth. So if it. be hard for youth to repent and pull 
 up this plant offinne , it will bee harder for us in our old 
 age to repent ai^d pull up this old tree of Cnne. There 
 is (lo wife maii that will delay the pulling up of this plant 
 oi finne till his,, old age j when hce will bee deeper 
 rooted in his heart, feeing there is fuch a great pei.aliy 
 fet upon him if hee doth not pull it up , not of Death 
 onely ^ but of eternall damnation ; and if it bee hard fon 
 young men now to repent , then it will bee harder when 
 they bee olde, as I will make it plaine by another (imiliH 
 tude. 
 
 Sav there were a bufKell offtones put ina facke , and I 
 commaunded to carry them to the loppe of a hill 6eing a 
 mile hence , and if I did not carry them thither, I fliould 
 loofe my head ; now after this charge given I take up thefe 
 ftonesupon my backe , and then iFeeic them heavie and. 
 an hard taske to doc and caft them do wne ?gaine , and come, 
 every day and put in more (tones untiil ' had filled up the 
 facke. Is it likely Ohinke you^ that I fhoiild carry ihcm' 
 better when the facke was full, feeing k was /o heavie 
 when there was but a bufhell in it .'' Would not every 
 wife man laugh at.mee that fliouldekhei lee or heare of 
 it ? For if it were hard for mee to beare a buHicll , it 
 would bee much more hard , nay almr/l impr^/Ub'e to 
 to beare foure. To apply this to our lei ves. it is had for 
 you to beareabufhdl of finncs amilc, that is, till you 
 have faith in Chrifl: that he may cafe you .- yet: wtUyou 
 bee fo fooliTh to call downe the facke and put in every 
 day more ftoncs offinne till you have fil! :d f ure bufliellsf 
 ifit werehard for you to beare one bnflicll offinne ^toi 
 ([ cake according to the fimilitude^ it will bee harder to / 
 
 beare) 
 
 ». > 
 
/ D I V I s I o N 4 . The rtght behaviour tn death. 
 
 bcarc fourc, nay almoft impoUiblc , and therefore all 
 wife men may laugh at you, to hcarc you dcferre your 
 repentance till olde age, when your ftrcngth will faiic 
 you , but thty have more caufe if it were pollibic to weepe 
 rivers oftearcs, to fee how the divell hath blinded the 
 eyes or the world, to make them belecve they may re- 
 pent when they bee oide (and yet they concede, it is 
 to hard a worke for them in the prime of their health ^ 
 and ftrength) when wocfull experience proveth the con- 
 traiie. Asihofe who being dived in the bottome offonae 
 deepe water, doe not fecle the waight of that which is 
 above them, whereas if they were pulled out of the wa- 
 ters , they would bee overwhelmed ivith the burden of 
 one tunne. So jthofe who are deepcly plunged in the gulph 
 of (innc , doc not feele the waight of this intollerable 
 burthen of finne , but if once they come out of their finnes 
 by true and unfained repentance , the waight of lome few 
 of them would prcflc them do wne unto the gates of hell, 
 if they bee not fupported and freed from this burthen by 
 •Ghn(U 
 
 The holy Ghofl in the Scriptures poyntcth us to the 
 prefent time , and exhoneth us to make that the time of 
 our repentance^; and iJpon this Theme many of the ho- 
 ly men of God fpcnd their Sermons. Looke InEfay , Ic- 
 remie :and the reft , and you fhall ever finde that they 
 beatc 4ipon this prefent rime. How tnrne nnto the Lord; 
 now ffhihsitistAfl^dtc day ; to day if yee will heare his 
 voyce ^ thU is the accented time; and therefore wee may 
 not come for it many jc.rcs hence, being promifed to 
 day« 
 
 Injquitie did tTicnabbarfl (^as nowit doth J and prorra- 
 ftinarit)n was ever dangcrous^and therefore they indged no 
 dod^Pitiefo fitte , as often to urge repentance without all 
 delay. 
 
 So that now even now is the time of repentance , even 
 ROW whilft he callcth^now vvhilft he fpeaketh^now whilft 
 
 M 4 he 
 
 l<57 
 
 Math.ii.i8 
 
 Hcf>.j. 
 loci i» 
 
 s 
 
( I6S j 7hirightbchAviourw death. DivisI0N4.^ 
 
 
 Mat,24.z5. 
 
 i 
 
 lice knowkcth, now let us. take up this diy, and make it the j 
 loy full day of our repeutancc.F^r ioj [hall be in heaven ^((2iith. 
 our Saviour iii the CJclpell) over one [inner that refenteth. 
 Theieforelet us now ray,this fhall be my day of repentance 
 I will defci re it no longer 5 and fo let us repent from day to 
 day, even to our dying day ; and then whofoever {hall con- 
 cinuc fo repenting to the end, hee (liall furcly and undoub* 
 ctdly befavcd- 
 
 Now for conclution of this dutie of repentance , markc 
 heere how happily we fall upon repentance ; God grant re- 
 pentance to fall upon us. It is a grace (^ whe^i it h\s upon a 
 (infiill foulejthat makes the Dj vels murmure^q id vex them- 
 felves in hell, and the good Angels reioyce in heaven. 
 
 This is that which makes the eternall Wii'dome content 
 to forget our iniquities , and to remember them no more, ^ 
 then it they had never beene ; and this is Afagnafpongia fas 
 Saint AHgtffime calles it jthc great fpunge that wipes them 
 all away out of the fight of God; this fpeake^ to mercy to 
 feperate our finnes from the face of God, to binde them up 
 in bundles, and drowne them in ths fea of oblivion, this is 
 that mourning Mailer , that is never without good atten- 
 dants, teares ofcontrition , prayers for remiflion, and pur- 
 pofes of amended life. This makes Af^ry Afagdale-n of a f in- 
 ner, a Saint : Zachem of an extortioner , charitable ; and of 
 peifecutingi'^«/, a Profefling F^«/. Repentance is the St4^ 
 ferfedeas that difchargeth all bonds of finne. Behold the 
 office of repcn ranee, fiieeftandeth at the doore, and offers 
 her loving fervice lentertainc mee, and 1 will u'lloadetliy 
 heart of that evill poyfon , and returne it to thee emptie, 
 though it were full to the brimme. ?ecca^% ? pocniterc^miU 
 lies peccafii?miilies^^oefiitere;mili(S poenitet^adhftc etiaritpoe- 
 nitcre : Haft thou finned "^ repentjhafi: thou a thoufand times 
 finned ? why then a thoufand time . repent : haft thou re p)cn- j 
 ted a thoufand times ^ 1 fay difpairc not, but iliil betake thy \ 
 felfe to repentance. 
 
 If you welcome repentance* knockingSat your dore,fiT^m 
 \ Gcd 
 
 
 
 i W-' i I. 
 
D I Y I s I o N 4 . The right beh<^vicM in deMh. j 1 69 
 
 Godjkniallknockc ac Gods doprc of mercy for you. Ic 
 askcsofyou amcudmenc, of God forgivncfle. Receive it 
 thercbreand imbiucc ic. 
 
 The fourth duac is to die iu pxayer ; for when it fliall 
 , pkafeGodinthcvveakncfleofour bodies, to give us a re- 
 membrance of our mortalitieaud our eud:lct us pray to God \ 
 for grace, that vvemay fpend the rime oi our fickncllein lea- 
 ding God^ word and comfortable bookes, in Godly confe- 
 rence, in holy meditation^and in fervent prayer to the Lord: 
 firlt tor patience in thy fickncffe : fccondiy , for comfort in 
 Ch. ilk Icius : thirdly, for (Irengch in his mercy: and fourth- 
 ly, for deliverance ac his good pleafure 5 yea endeavour as 
 much as thou canft to die prayingo For when thou art in the 
 depihes of miferics , at^.d as it were at the gates of Death, 
 there is a depth of Godk mercy, who is ready to heare and 
 helpe thee : for mifcr / muft call upon mercy, and Prayer is 
 the chicfeft thing that a man may prcfent God withalL For 
 by prayer we are ofccn times in lpirit(wiLh the biefled Apo- 
 ftlej rapt tip into the third heavctjs ^whcrc wc that are other- 
 wise but wormcs, walke with the blefted Angels , and even 
 continually to our very end,talke familiarly with our God. 
 
 And hence it is, that holy m?n and women in former times 
 could never have enough of this exercife. 
 7^az4a}j^n in his Epitaph for his filler Gorgonia^^^; ritcth 
 
 that fliec was fo given to prayer, that her knees feemcd to 
 
 cleave unto the earth, and to grow to the very ground , by 
 
 rcafon of her continuance in prayer. 
 
 greaorie in his Dialogues writeth, that his Aunt TraJilU 
 
 being dead^was found to have her elhiowes as hard as home, 
 
 which hardnelTe fliee gate by leaning to a deske j on which 
 
 fliee uled to pray- 
 
 Eufebei^ in liis Hiftorie, writeth , that lames the brother 
 
 of our Lordjhad knees as hard as Camels knees,benummed 
 
 and bereaved of all fence and feeling, by reafon of his conti- 
 
 nuall kneeling in prayer, 
 H^rom^id the life o^Panl thp Ermite, writeth that he was 
 
 found 
 
 1 Cor.x 2.V 
 
 y 
 
17 Q 
 
 I JhiTighi behAvtour w death. Di vi s iom 4. 1 
 
 ft.fts7.5^ 
 
 Hcb,i.*X, 
 
 PraUo.17. 
 Pra!.X4J,i5. 
 
 ■ found dead kneeling upon his knees, holding up hfs hands 
 lifting up his eyes,io that the very dead corps fecmed yet to 
 live, and by akind ofrciigious gtllure to pray ftill unto 
 God.X) how blefled was that foule without the body,when 
 as that body without the foult feemed (o devout I 
 
 O v/ould to God ihat we likcwife might be fo happfe,fo 
 blefled as this holy man was, that w; might depart hence 
 in fuch fort as he did;nay in luch fortas our Saviour Chrill 
 did, who died in prayer : Father (faith he j imtf thj hands 1 
 commend my ^irit : and in ftich Ibrt as Stefhen died, for 
 when Death had feafed his body , he dyed in prayer^ior^ 
 /((?/«^ (faith hz)r€ceLv£my fpirit, Andin fuch-iort as lacob 
 diedj who in the faefm e of death upon his body , raifed up 
 himfelFc, and turning his face toward his beds head, leaned 
 on the top of his ftafte, by reafon ofhis fcebleneffe , and fb 
 pravediinto God^ Which prayer of his at his death ^ was an 
 excellent fiirit of his faith : For hyfatth^ lacob rvhen hee yvas 
 inJyingy Ifleffed^hoth thefonnes 0/ 1 of ? p h , and werjfnped lea^ 
 ning upon the top ofhisftajfe, God grant when hee Cometh, 
 that he may finde us fb doing , that when we fliall lye upon 
 our death- beds gafpi'g foi breath, ready to give up the 
 ghofl that then the precious foule of every one of us,rcdec- 
 xned with the moft precious bloud of our fweete Saviour 
 Chrifl lefus ,may paffe away in a prayer,iu a fccret and Tweet 
 pfayer,fnay paire(l fay) out oi Adams body into Abrahams 
 bofomc. 
 
 But heerc it may be obie(^ed, thar in the p^ngsoFdeath 
 mcsn vwint their fences, and convenient vtteranGe,and there- 
 fore arc unable to pray- Anfwere : The very figbcs,fobbcs^ 
 aT]d groanc> of a penitent andi^Iecdin^ hcart.arc prayers be- 
 fore God at fuch a time, even as cffcduall as if they yveie 
 uttered by the beft vovcc in rhe world For praver (landcth 
 in the affcflion ofihe hrart,whereof the voice is but an out- 
 ward mcfTc.iger. For .od at^uch atime cfpecially lookes 
 not upon the fpccch nud voice, but upon the heart. A.'id 
 therefore the Pl'almift: faich, That (jodheares the dejire vfthr 
 
 humble 
 
Di V I s ION 4. ^^c ^^^^^^ behaviour tn death. \ 171 I 
 
 humble, the Lord rvtll fulfill the defre of them that feare him. 
 
 Whac prayer makcih the litde infant to his mother ? Ho 
 vvecpcth and crytth, not being able to exprclTe what he lac- 
 keth^ the mother otfcrs him the breaft.or giveth him ioiac 
 other thing, Inch as Ihcc thinketh his neccHicic r^quircth 5 
 much more then the heavenly Father, hcetlcth chedefires, 
 fighcs;groaneS;&: teares oHiis children, and doing the oilice 
 ota Faihcr^hehearcth them. and providcthfor thcni. 
 
 Wee read in the booke ot Exodus , that the Lord faid 
 Uf^to Mofcs^ wherefore cry efi. thou unto me ? and yet (ai it is 
 there faid J there wm mo vojce heard. vVte reade alfo in ihe 
 Hril booke of ♦y^w^^/, that H^«^^ continued praying be- 
 Fore the Loi:d,th^t pjce Jp^k^ iff heart onelj^ her Itfpes mooued^ 
 hut her vojce was not heardy2ind yet theXcrd heard her hear- 
 tie praycr> and granted her requelV Yea the very teares of 
 the children of God are loud, and founding prayers in his 
 eares, who n>tll(-ds the Pfalmift Ukhjput them into his bottle^ 
 and regifier them in his booke ; yea the very bloud of his 
 Saints are crying prayci s u'^to him. Ajid therefore the Lord 
 faid unto Cain^ when he had ilaine his brother uibel^ jyhat 
 hafhthoH done? the voice of thy brothers bloud crieth unto mee i 
 from the ground. 
 
 If thou can ft not pray diftrnf^ly and* orderly ^ lifting up 
 thine eies on I iighiwichH^-?:'^)(^<»^ chatter like the Swallow, 
 morune like Jk dovc.For the (orrow of his heart did lo op- 
 prefl'ehisfoule_,that-ilK>ug!iheremembredGod , and loo- 
 ked up unto him, andhadall hii> defircs waiting upon the 
 hand of God » yet he was nor able to pray taGod m any di- 
 ftincfl manner , like a w'cll advifed man 5 his praying was all 
 OMt of order, it was more like the mourning of a Dove, and 
 the chattering of a fvvaliow , then like the holy and orderly 
 prayers of a wife and Godly man , as wee may rcadc in the 
 Prophccieof i:/^^. Wee reade not in what words Teter 
 prayed , but oncly that he weptbktteriy •, let thy teares flo-w 
 likcvvifc when thy words cai findenofrcepaflage.Which 
 teares of HnnersS. Bernard caiS the wine of Angels. 
 
 And. I 
 
 { 
 
 prai.^g.^: 
 
 Mauh,7-xi, 
 
 £xo<i«i4.i5«^ 
 
 X Sam.iili*i3' 
 
 Gcii>4^zoC 
 
 Efayi^lM* 
 
 Lukcii.61 
 
 ■•^•vw^ 
 
iMMMlBte 
 
 I7i 
 
 vCiiex 
 
 km.f.i^^ 
 
 ,Rom,8.i^. 
 
 I 
 
 Tic right behaviour in death. Division 4.^ 
 
 \ And as concerning the true vigor of praying, S. e^/v- 
 gnfttne in one place layth ; It (lands more in teares then in 
 words : for inltruding a certaine rich widdovv how to pray 
 unto God, among other words he hath this faying, Tle^ 
 rnrnque hocnegouHm pins gemitibiis qHamfermombw agitttr, 
 plHsfletff, qHamafjiutH. This buiuiefTe of prayer ("for the 
 moft part j is performed rather with groaning then with 
 words^with weeping then with fpecch.Let ^od heare thy 
 fighes and groanes, let him fee thy teares , when thou canft 
 not (hew him thy dcfire in words. Water thy couch with 
 teares as did the Prophet , and God will gather up , and put 
 
 I every dr opinio hvs bottle. Thus doing, when thou chinkell 
 thou haft not prayed, thou haft prayed moft powcrfiilly. 
 For as Saint leromeiz:^^ OrAtio Y^envi lemt ^ Uchrjma cogit^ 
 prayer greatJy movtth God, teares fbreeably compell him; 
 he is allured and wonne with the words of praycr,to heare 
 us, but with the teares of a contrite heart, he is drawne and 
 inforced to heare and helpc , where other wife hee would 
 not. And in this cafe wee muft rcmember,that God accepts 
 affe^ing for effe(5ling,wiLIi'^ for worlcing.dcfires for deeds, \ 
 purpofes for performances, pence for pounds. Prayer is lb / 
 powerfull with God ifit be put up with a lively faith, a 
 holy zcalc, and a pcnircnt he air, that as a learned Fa- 
 ther (^ faith Aagt^fline) Vwcit invmcibilem , it ovcrcom-1 
 meth the moft invincible God ; and therefore the Apoftle 
 i^xth^The effe El nail and fervent prayer ofarighteons mand^ 
 vaileth much, 
 
 S. Qhryfoflcme faith, That prayer is the foule ofourfeulcs^ 
 and in this atiii6^ion growini.^ in thy foule , bccaufe thou 
 knowcft not how to pray, heare a notable comfort t'lat the 
 Apoftle gives thee, i^yio^,ThcJf^irit hclpcth our tnfirmities ; 
 for vpc k»ow not how to pray as we ought , but thr fp^rit itfc/fe 
 maketh rccjHejl for us with fahes that cannot bee exprcjfed. 
 Where thine ownc ftrcngfh and wifedomc faileth in this 
 fervice of prayer unto God, there the wilcdomc and power 
 of Gods (piric kindleth in thee ftrong dcfires , and earncR I 
 
 longin 
 
 
/ D J V I s I O N 4 • T^^ ''<?^^ hchAviour in death. 
 
 173 
 
 Thcff.^i^. 
 
 longing afccr mercy •, and the meanings of thofc; dcfircs and ) 
 longings God pciiedtly iindcrltandcch, and nctdesi:ot be 
 informed by thy words. So that rhongh thoucanfl not pray 
 as thou oughelt to doc^ yet that icrvict gocth forward vvel^ 
 while heartily thou deliied Gods favour. And it pjollcome \ Efay 65.14 
 to paffe (laidi the Lord) th.tt before thtj call to me for ajdc, 
 (thac is, in our purpolc of prayer) / »^f^ anfwcre^ and whiles 
 they ^irejctfpeak^njr^ I will hear e. 
 
 Remember that many goc to bed , and never rife againe, 
 till they be railld up and wakened by the found of the laft 
 trumpet* If therefore thou dcfire to fleepe fafcly and fccurc- 
 ly, whether in health or fickncflc , goe to bed with a reve- 
 rence of Gcds Maieftie, and a confideration of thine owne 
 weakneil'e, frailty and mifcry,which thou maieft imprint in 
 thy heaic infomepooremeaiure, and pray thcu thus, and 
 lay ; If it bee thy bleffed will to call for mee in my fleepe, O 
 Lord for Chrift Icfus fake have mercy upon me, forgive me 
 all my finnes, and receive my parting foulc into thy heaven- 
 ly kingdomc.But if it be thy bltfled wil and pleafure^to adde 
 more dayes unto my life, then (good Lord) adde more a- 
 mendcment to my daycs, and weanc my minde from the 
 love of this world and worldly things ,• aiid caufc me more 
 and more to fettle my converlatlon and meditations on hea- 
 ven and heavenly things. 
 
 And whether thou llialt recover ornot recover thy for- 
 mer health againe by prayer. that belongeth to thy God,and 
 refteth altogethu: in his good will and pleafure. For god 
 (faith wiftdomCy/^^/^ power of life and death. And to God 
 the Lurd{{^\\\\ the Pfa!mift';^r/ow|^ thet^nes of death. And to 
 fpeake truth Godifor the mofl partX^^emeth to (lecue^that 
 fo he might be awakened bv our intreaties. For God fas S. 
 Angftfttne nolQS ) iimat nimifrmvch ententes^ and is fo deligh- 
 ted with our prayers , as that ht'doth many times deny us 
 ourfuites, that he might heareus continue earneftinour 
 prayers, and againe, ifhefhould upon every motion wee 
 make unto him,grantourrequclbj his benefits at laft would 
 
 come 
 
 VVifd.i^.iJ, 
 Pral.68,10, 
 
I Saaua.6. 
 
 Plul.nzj; 
 
 ►•: / 
 
 
 Prn!.5.^, 
 
 ly^ I TberighthcbAviOHrin death. Division ^A 
 
 \ come to be contemned of us- For ueeknow it an ordinary 
 pradife amougH men, cito data ctth vilejc-unt^ wc account it 
 Icarce worth the taking, thut is not twic: worth the asking. 
 Therefore before he grant hec would have us earned with 
 iiim indeed,& to awake him with our prayers, iFpcrchancc 
 he fhould feeme to u^ to be afleepe, For God loveth, and i% 
 efpecially dehghted with anearnell luter,anci therefore doth 
 many times deny mc their requefts at the firft,that he might 
 find them.mor e fervjent and conftant m their prayers to him 
 :afcerwardSo 
 
 But if God of his mercy be awakened by thy importuni- 
 tic, and hath at length heard thy prayer , or the prayers of 
 others for thee, and hath reftored thee to thy health aj^aine, 
 (Forthe Lord^^'iS^ Hanna)kilUth animaketh alive J^e hrin- 
 geth dovfne to the grave ^jind Ifrirjgeth up. And the Lord him- 
 felfe faith in. Exodpt4 ; } am the Lord that healeth thee, and a- 
 vairte Ihitlandgitte Ufe^ Irvound^and I make whole )tho\i haft 
 thy defire^or rather perhaps not thy dclire/eeiog the holieft 
 and beft men ofall enclinc neither this way nor that way, 
 but wholly refigne thcmfeives^as in all other thiu^s/o .efpe- 
 cially in this eale, to Gods good will and pleafure;or if they 
 determinately defire any thing , it is for the mc ft part with 
 thcApoftle, to be defol ved, and to be with Cbrift, which is 
 beft ofall. But fuppofe thou defircft to recover, anddoeft 
 recover indeed, confidcr then with thy (elfe, that thou haft 
 now received from God, as it vvere another life, and know, 
 ' that it is but for a fhort time , and therefore fpend it to the 
 .honour and glory of God, that reftored it unto thee , and in 
 newnefle of life: let thy finnes dk with thy (ickncfTe, but 
 
 . live thou by grace to holincfl'c* 
 
 But the^i as tliou obtaineft thy defire.thou muft pcrforme 
 thypromife which thou madeft when thy body wns grie- 
 ved with fickncfle andpaiiic even ready to die , and when 
 thy foule was opprefl'cd with hcavincfTc, pcnfivcnefte , and \ 
 fadncffc, when thou ) with the propliet J diddeft water thy / 
 couch with ihy tcarcs.Aud what was that promifc ? namc-( 
 
 - —^ — . , ■■■ ' « 
 
I D I V I s ION 4 ^^^ ^^S^^ bcfmvtour m death, 
 
 175 
 
 ly,tlucificplcared God to granc chec life and health , and ' 
 addc unco thy daics fome few y ceres morc,as he did to King 
 
 iEz^cchmh J then thou wou! deft love hiin more fincerely, 
 ferve him more obcdieiuly . tender his glory more dcerciy, 
 pray unto him m:)re heartily, repent moreloundly, follow 
 ' thy calling more faithRiliy, hate finne Uiore effedually , and 
 hveheieafter more warily and rchgioufly then ever, thou 
 didft btibrc. And ii:^ thou haft offended him with pride, to 
 l;iumble thy iSc hereafter •, if with difl'olutencfie^to be more 
 fuber ; if with f\v earing, to leave it ; if with prophaning of 
 the Sabboaihs, to make more confcience in landifyingit;if 
 with urxieannefle , to be chaftc and unblameable ; if with 
 couvei fion with the wicked to abandon their focietie, and \ 
 to fay unto them with the Prophet David .- Depart from mc 
 alljes workers of iniquity ^ for the Lordhath heardthevoyce of 
 my weepin-g.the Lord hath heard my fuppiication^the Lordwtll 
 receive my praj/eri^A againe. Depart from me yeeevill doers ^ 
 for I vpHI kcepc the coTTtrn.^.yidements of my God, 
 
 Remember that thou haft promifedand vowed amendc- 
 mentand newnes of life , deferre not to performe the fame. 
 iVhen thoti vowefi a 'Vow umo^ God ( faith the Preacher ) defer 
 not to pay it for he hath no pieafnre wfools;pay that which thon 
 hafi vorved: for better it ts thon (honldefl not votv^thcn vow^c^ 
 not paj AgSLinC^yphen thoufha/t vow a vow vnto the. Lord thy 
 <Jod(i2i\i\\ y,io{t%)thou pjalt not he jlack^to pay. ■^t fir thy Lord 
 thy Cjod vill require it ofthee^and it would he fwne in thee* 
 
 Thus , if thcfe and lijch other hke promiles and v'owes 
 thou wilt moftconlcionabley andconftantly performe, then 
 in a good hourc (as wee fay) and in a happy time thou didft 
 recouer. A nd be thou not then the more ierurc and care- 
 leiTc in that thou art reftored to healih , neither (with the 
 chiefe Pu:Icr}be thou forgetfull of thy promifes, nor in fuh 
 in thy felfe that thou haft efcaped death, but call thy finncs 
 and faults to remembrance with the fame chiefe Buder,and 
 remember rather, that God feeing how unprepared thou 
 waft, hath of his iufinit mercy fparcd thee ^ and giuen thee 
 
 fomc 
 
 1 Kinp,i©«6. 
 
 PfaU.S.^i 
 
 PfaUi^.u^ 
 
 Ecdcnj.4.f. 
 
 D«uMj«xx« 
 
 
m * 
 
 The rtgkt bchAvieur tn dmh. Division4,\ 
 
 FfalcH^.i^o 
 
 ■A 
 
 ifome little longer time and fpacc of breathing and re fpite 
 that thou n:iayei?^erforme thy vovvesandpro.nilesin the, 
 amcnciemcnt of thy finftiU life , and m putting thy lelfe in a 
 better readineffe againft another limcj i and how foone thou 
 knoweft not : Jfor though thou haft clcaped this dangerous 
 fickncffe, (which many others have not j and then canfl: 
 fay with the prophet. The Lordhath chafienedmeforebut he 
 hath not give me over unto death ^yct it may be that thou fhalt 
 not cfcape the next* It may be when a (hip is come to the 
 mouth of the haven , abiatldrivcih itbacke againe, but 
 there it wil arivcat the lall,(o rauft thou ac length at the gats 
 ofdeah though thou haft efcapedthis. We die no: f faith 
 onejbecaufe we are fickc, but bccaufe we live , fo when 
 we recover fickneffe, we efcape not from death , but trom 
 the dcieafe. 
 
 Too roo many there are that when God vifirs them with 
 fliarpe dneales , thar wakeps up their confcicnces,and then 
 ficke, ficke, and then if God will reprive them untill a lon- 
 ger day, oh what Chriftians courfcs chcy vow to takc.God 
 proves them they mend in bodies, yeercs : in manners ? no 
 no more then Pharaoh after the phgues remove all:for ma- 
 ny in their afflictions and fie *neftcs looking for dea h, how 
 liberall are they in their promiies i bur afterward how 
 bafcly niggardly are they in their performances > they play 
 childrcns play withGod, they rake away a thing aitone as 
 - they have given it. When Tfjbftchadn-^^ar belicged leru- 
 falem, then the levves made a lolcmnc covenant with tlic 
 Loid to fetf ee their fervants : but no fooner had the King 
 removed his fiedge , but they rciraCled and repealed their 
 vow, and brou^^bt backc againe their fervants into their 
 former bondage, /<?rfw. 3 4.10 So farcrh ic withthcfe kind of 
 men^ when God laycrh litgc to them by fickncffe offbmc 
 other pinching aiiiicfllon then covenants and promifes are 
 made concerning thcput.ingaway ofthcii finnes, but no 
 fooner d<^^th Goc beginc to depart and llackc his wrath, but 
 werctt*rne with the do^gc to the vomit , ^d rvith the (owe f^ 
 
 {. « »>'i 
 
 the 
 
•«*■ 
 
 ^mk 
 
 ' D I V I s I o N 4 . T/je right iehavicur tn death. 
 
 ^11 
 
 the wallowing in the mire, like /'^*^rxtf/> that difmifled the 
 ifraelitcs whe death entrcd within his palacesibut prcfcutly 
 after in all haft makes after them to fetch thefii back againe. 
 
 Confider therefore how fearefull a reckoning thou hadft ^ 
 made before Gods iudgement feat ere this rime^if tliou hadiV' 
 died of this ficknefle , and fpend the time remaining in liich 
 pleafing fort to thy gracious God, that thou mayelt be able 
 to make a more cheerefull and ioyfiill account of thy life 
 when it muft expire indeed- Therefore put not farre otFthe 
 day oTthy death, though the Lord for thy good f if thou ule 
 it welUhath put it ofFitor thou k no weft not for all this how 
 neerc it is at nand , and fee that thou ( being fo f airely war- 
 fi^djbe wiferagainft the next time. For if thou bee taken 
 unprovided againe 5 thy excufe (hall be the lefTe , and thy j 
 iudgement the greater. Thy worke is great which thou haft 
 to doc, and thy time can be but OiOrt , and hee who will re- 
 compence every man according to his worke , ftanderh at 
 thedoorc. Thinkehow much worke is behind , and how 
 (lowly thou haft wrought in the time paft. The uncleane 
 ^irit is caft out, let him not enter and come in againe with 
 (even worfc then iiimfelfe.Thou haft fighed out the groanes 
 of contrition , thou baft wept the teares of repentance, thou 
 art washed in the poole of Bethefda ft. earning with five 
 bloudy wouiids, nor with a troubling Angel ^ but with the 
 Angel of Gods prefence, troubled with the wrach due for 
 thy finncs ; who defcendcd into hell accordii^g to our 
 Creed, that IS, the extreame humiliation andabafement of, 
 Chrift in his manhood, under the power of death and of the 
 grave , beeing kept there as a prifoncr in bonds untill the 
 third day, to rcftorc thee to faving health and heaven. Now 
 therefore returnc not (with th<s dogj to thy vomit nor like 
 the waflied Sow to willow in the mire againe,and the filthy 
 ^puddle of thy former ftnnes ; kft being intangled and over- 
 come againe with the filthineffe offmnc, (which now thotl 
 haftefcapcdj thy latter end prove much worfe unto thee 
 •then thy firft beginji^g 
 
 N Twice 
 
 Mat.u.43« 
 
 lohn Uf* 
 
 i 
 
 •Si*zn3j*r 
 
178 
 
 lolin 8.11. 
 
 Luke ijAf. 
 
 1 Pin. 1 5^.11.1 
 
 — . *» 
 
 Ti^e right'hehAvteur in death. DrvisiON 4 
 
 lohnj.j.M* I Twice therefore doth our Saviour Chrift give the fame 
 cautionarie waiiiing to healed (inners : The firfl to the man 
 cured oFhis eight and thirtie yeares difeafe: thefecond to 
 the woman ta4sen in adultery, goe artdjlnyte no more : here- 
 Tby teaching us J how dangerous 3 rclafpeand falling againe 
 is into our wonted and accuftoraed finnes. And for ;his pre- 
 fent mercy and healthy imitate the thankeftill Leper in the 
 Gofpell, and from henceforth tarry thou the Lords leafure, 
 bccaufe the Lord tarrieth thine ; he tarricth for thce^till thou 
 change tliy evill Hfe, rarrie thou for him therefore untill he 
 crowne thy good life 5 and remember thefe two things to 
 thy dying day, and thou fhalt never doe amiife ; Firft, that 
 there is about thee an all feeing eye , and an all-hearing eare. 
 He that pUntedjhe eare {{^\\\ the V('A\vn\{}iyfl>^ll^efiothcare? 
 he that formed the eye,jha/lhe not fee? go ft thou out?he fccth 
 thee, teturneftthou home? he feeth thee : do:h the candle 
 burne ? he fceth thee, is the candle put out f he feeth thee: 
 belt light or darkenefle , hee feerh thee : hee feeth how 
 thou doc ft converfe with thine owne heart, and how with 
 other men. Therefore in this cafe the counfell of the Philo- 
 (bpheris good: Sic viue cum homtnihus qnafi ^Detu audiat 
 fie toquere cum Deo qua ft homines videant\ So converfe with 
 men as if God heard thee^ fo conferre with God^ as if men 
 law thef . 
 
 Butfuppofe that thou defireft to recover^ and yet neither 
 thy felfc fees any likeUhood, nor God fees it good that thou 
 ihouldeft iecovcr;then ifthou haft inured thy felfe to repen- 
 tance heretofore, and to prayer, it will be the more familiar 
 with thee now at this time. Fervent prayer, heartie repen- 
 tance, and watering thy couch with teares are moftbfall 
 neccflary at this time , that the fearc of death may not af- 
 fright thee, but be a welcome gueft unto thee. For that be- 
 ing trucly peniDentacthy departure, thou maycft be fure 
 with -Vrw^^w to depart in peace. And fo God granting not 
 thy will, but his will , may indeed grant both thy will and 
 his will; thy wilLwhichisnotfimply to recover but if God 
 1 will. 
 
 Pftl.^.^^ 
 
 Luke 1.29, 
 
f D I V I s 1 N 4 • ^/^' ^*S^^^ MjA^'lmr m dtixth. 
 
 "^19 
 
 Wilt 3 and his will , which is not co have thcelyt lingering 
 and la ignifhing any longer in this (hor: pilgrimaged war-, 
 faic but to triumph for ever in heaven. 
 
 Therefore wheo the pangs ofdeach doe come uponthec, 
 and chc wormes oFthe earth doe waice k)r thee : if God gi-. 
 ' v€th thee then thine underllanding, lay thou then inwardly 
 to thy Iclfe, to thy licke fouleNow my pilgrimage is ended,, 
 my harveli is inned, my iourney is iiniflicd, my race is run, 
 my houre-g.'aflcfpent> my ca;idle burning in the focket.Ma- 
 ny of the Godly are gone before me,and 1 am now to Follow 
 after, / h^vefonght a good fight ^ J havf fimp^td my courfe ; / 
 have ks^t thefutthhence-forth there ts fatd Hpfdr me a crorpne 
 ofr$ght€OU^nej[e vehich the Lord, the righteotis ludgeJJjaligtve 
 me at that day and not to me only, but to all them aljo that love 
 his appearhtg. And O Lord, 1 thanke the, that I am a Chri- 
 ftian, that . have lived in a ChriiHan Church,that i iliall die 
 amongft: a Chriftiaa people, and that lam going toaChri- 
 ftian focietie. 
 
 And whereas the Lord (aid unto Afofes, My prefencefhall 
 goe vhth thee^ and J-wtU give thee refi Act Us at this time pray 
 unto the Lord as Mofesdoth, and fay, Ifthy-^rercncegoe not 
 wfth me at this time^ then cArry me not up hcnec. Tor wherein 
 pjallit be knovfne heere that I have found grace in thy fight f Is 
 it not in that thougoefi with me? — 
 
 And if we thus fpend the time of our fickneffe in this 
 fortjthe Lord when he calleth for us by Death,fhall finde us 
 either readi'^g orhearing, or meditating. orcouncelling, or 
 refilling evili, or doing fome good, or repenting or prayir.g; 
 and then we may be fure that God will be our guide even 
 unto Death, and willalfo fend us his Angels to (land a: our 
 beds head .waiting for uV<^ carry our foulcs imo A'^r ah am s 
 bofome where wc fhall lee C iod the Farher behold God the 
 S^onnc. aid looke upon God rl-^e holy G hod .vhcre v^'t; fha.'l 
 eiiioy the fellow fhip of the Angcls,the focietie ai>d compa- 
 -ny of the Saints , and u here we (hall live eternally , obey 
 "Cod perfedly, and ralg c with him triumphantly. And be- 
 
 N 2 fides 
 
 iTtm»4.7,8. 
 
 
 Pral.4?.T4. 
 Luke i6,i2. 
 
 i«*» 
 
1 8 o i The right behaviour in death . D r v i s i o n 4 > 
 
 , 
 
 Ecclef.7, 1, 
 Pror.xMi 
 
 Ads 9.35. 
 
 EccIcCT'I. 
 
 \ fides all this, if we (pend the time of our health , of our fick- 
 nefle, and of our death in this fort, wee fhall leave a good 
 name and report behind us, which is better (faith the Prea- 
 cher j then precious oyntment , and is nither to be chofen 
 (faith the Wifeman) then great richcs.and it will be like the 
 coates and garments which Dorcas made , that will remaine 
 bchinde us after that wee are dead and gone, for the good 
 example and mcouragement of all others which are to fol- 
 low us. 
 
 The endofthe foHrth Divifion, 
 
 i?^*" 
 
 ><*ia^rii 
 
 T H F 
 
 FIF TH DIVISION,) 
 
 THE COMFORT AT QVR 
 O^A^NE DEATH.^ '" •' 
 
 HE Preacher faith^Ttar the day of our death, 
 it better then the daj of our birth. In which 
 parcel of holy Scripture for our comPort at 
 death/hree points are to be confidcred.Firft, 
 What is death that is heere mentioned. Se- 
 condly , how it can be truely f that is hecre 
 mentioned) /aid, that the day ok. our death is better then the 
 daj of our birth.Thirdly, in what rcfpcftit Is better. 
 
 For the firft. Death \^ 2i privation of life as a punifliment 
 ordained of God , andimpofcdonmanfcrhis finne- it is a 
 privation of life, becaufe the v^ry nature of drarh is an ab- 
 fence or defed of that life , which God vouch'ated man by 
 
Division 5 . The comfort at our $tv/7e death. 
 
 181 
 
 Gcn,i,i7. 
 
 Eray4j*7» 
 
 Hofca 
 
 I^^. 
 
 his creation, ] adde further, that death 15 a punilTiincntjmore^ 
 clpecially to intimate the nature and qualitie oFdcai h ,ai}d to 
 (hew that i: was ordained as the meant s of chc execution ot 
 Ciodsiudgcment and lulbce, 
 
 Fur. hci more, in every punifLment there bee three wor- 
 ker^ the oidainei* ot ic, the procurcr,and the executioner. 
 
 The ordainerof this punilliment is God^ in the cflate of 
 mans innocecy,by a ioicmne law then made in ihelc words, 
 //^ the day that thoneatejt thereof ^thou p}^t die the death The 
 Executioner oFthis pnniii.met i^ alio God himlelfe, as him- 
 ici^ tcih'ricth m the Prophet Epij , in thtle words , / make 
 peace and creiite evilL And this is materiall ornaturall e%'ill, 
 to the latter ot vvhich,Death is to be refeired ; which is the 
 dcftriidion and abolifhment of mans natir e created. 
 
 The procurer of this punidimentis not Cod but man 
 himfelfe,in that ina»i by finneanddifobedieixe did put up- 
 on himielfe this punifliment.Tbeiefore the Lord in the pro- 
 phet ^^JeA (aithjO IfraclthoH hafi deftroyed thj felfeybut it) me 
 is thy helfe, 
 
 Ag -inll: this \x. may be obieded that man was mortall in 
 the cilite of his mnocencie before the tall. 
 
 Anfrvere^ 1 he frame and compofition of mans body con- 
 fidcred i\\ it felfe, was mortall, becaufe it was made of water 
 and earth, and other elements, which are of themfelves al- 
 terable and chang ible ; yet if we refpecfl the grace and blef- 
 fing which God did vouchfafc mans body in his creation, 
 it was anchangeabie and immortall and fo by the fame blef- 
 ^v^% fhould have continued, if man had not fallen ; and man 
 by his fall, depriving himfelfe of this gift, and the bleding, 
 became every way mortal. And hereoFir i rbat the Preacher 
 faith, ^0^ this onely have Ifoundjhat God made man upright ^ 
 yHt they have I ought out many fWZ'<?«f>'JM/. A gaine, before the 
 fall , mans body was but fubied to dcarh , and could not 
 then 6e faid to be dead, but after the fall, it was then not on- 
 ly fubiecfl to death, but might alfo be faid to be dead. Ar.d 
 the-^eforc now in this refped the ApofHe faith, 7hehodji4\ Kom.9.io. 
 dead hecanfe ofjinne, ^ 
 
 N ^ Againc . __ 
 
 ( 
 
 Ecclcf.y.t^. 
 
 I 
 \ 
 
 \\. 
 
I i8i 
 
 The coivfort At cur owne cicAi h. Divisions 
 
 
 Gen. 2.7. 
 
 \ 
 
 1 
 
 
 Eccler3,ii» 
 
 / 
 
 A"iiinc mans body in his innocencie , was like unto the 
 bociic ot Chrift , when he was upon the earth, that is, onely 
 I'ubiccl: unto death, for he coald not be laid to bee dead , be- ' 
 cauie in him there was no finne 5 and this was mans cafe in 
 hi^ innocencie before his fall. 
 
 Thui it appeares in part what diachis. And yet for the 
 better clearing of this pv'int , wee are to confider the difFe- 
 fence betweene the death of a man, ar.d a bead. The death 
 of a beaft is the totall and finall auclliihmcnt of the whole 
 crca u;e, for the body is refolvcd to the firfl matter, and the j 
 loiile riGng fro the temoera^^ure of the body, i-. but a breath, 
 at:dvani(heth to nothing. But in the death of a man it iso- 
 thervvife ; For though the bodie for a time be refolved and 
 turned into dufl:;out of which it came, yet it muft rife agiine ' 
 at the lafl day , and become immortall ; but the foule Tub- j 
 filleth by it leife out of the bod - ,and is immonall. The rea- j 
 Ton of which difference is,for that the foule of man is a fpi- 
 rit grfpiritiiall fubflance, whereas the ioule of a bead is no 
 lubftance, but a natvrall vigour or qualitie, and hath no be- 
 ing in it lelfe without the body, on which it wholy dcpen- 
 deth. The foule of a man contrariwife, being created of no- 
 thing , it is fai J , GoA breathed into his no finis the brent h of 
 life^ and then man became a living foule, and ^o as well fub- 
 fifling forth of it, as in it. But when God made the beads of 
 the earth, he breathed not fuch matter mto them, but their 
 bloudis as their ioule, and their life; for the hfe of all flefK 
 is the bloud thereof.. Sothat,w/7^w^^/?/?j die, they perifh. as 
 the Pfalmid faith , and thatps their end, and thtrfptritfoeth 
 downewnrd to the earth , bm thefpirit of mangoeth upward, 
 faith the Preacher. 
 
 Saint Ambrofe takes occafion br this difFerer»cc, & from 
 the O.ape of mans body -j to advartiie our mind what our 
 affedion (hould be. It is well ordained ( faith he ) that man 
 hath oncly two feetc with birds, and not foure ^eete with 
 bcafts, for by this he may learn e to fly aloft with the bnds, 
 and not with the bcafl: encline and decline to the groffcr and 
 earthly things of this world. 
 
 A Heerc 
 
Division 5 . The comfort at diir d\v?iC death. 
 
 
 183 
 
 Here then we fee, that iincc the fall of man^ man is not 
 onely fabied to death, but alio may be (aid adw'ad man , bc- 
 caule he lliall as lurely die^as if he were dead ahe?.dy, where 
 asnotwithlhnding he ha:ha forme and ihcw of immorti 
 litie. Other things, fo long as they retaine then- forme, lo 
 long they doe rcmaine 5 A houle falleth not all the time that 
 his^rmeandfalhionlalkth; thebrnrcbeaii: dicth not ex- 
 cept he hrft forgoe his lite , which IS his forme, but man 
 hath 2 forme which never is diiVoived,as namely , a minde 
 endued wich reafon, and yet he liveth now but a very fhorc 
 time, in rcf pcc^ that hii body , by reafon of iinne and dilo- 
 bcdience, is become mortal! , w^hercby man is the procurer 
 of his owne death and pani Ihmenr. 
 
 Therefore it is a tiuc laying of Saint ^>'<^gory^ Man is the | 
 worke ofGod , linne is the worke of man ; let us therefore 
 dil'cemc what God hath madc,and whac man hathdone;and 
 neither for the error committed by man , let us hate man, 
 whom God made. nor for the man that is Gods worke, lone 
 the fiiinc that man haLhcommiLted^ And agame here n^tc 
 we mufl hate none in reiped: of his creation , but in refpefl 
 he pervertern the ufeof h:s creation, for they beare the I- 
 mage of God which is louely, but they deface and fcratch it 
 out to their owne damnation ; (o that we mufl hate not t'l- 
 .rum^ but vitium^ih^ wickedncfTe of the man , and not the 
 wicked as he is man. 
 
 The kinds of death, as wc have hard in the iirfl: divifi- 
 on,are three-fold ; Narurall, Spirkuall, Eternall, but th^y 
 may be reduced into two onely, as the kinds of life are,that is 1 
 bodily andfpirituall. Bodily dcaJi i, nothing elle but the j 
 feparation of the ioule from the body, as bodiiy hfc U the 
 coniundionof body andfbule. And this death is called tke 
 firfl , bccanfe in rcfpec^l of time it goes before the lecond. 
 Spirituall death is the feparation of the whole man , both in 
 b dy and foule, from the gratious and glorious fellowdn'p 
 of God. Of chefe two, the firO: is bu'" an entrance to death, 
 and thefecond is the accomj)lii'hment ofit ; for as the foule 
 
 N4 is 
 
I 184 I 
 
 jEphcfLj. 
 
 X.ukci5.IZj*3> 
 
 Mat.iJ.4X» 
 
 The comfort at our owne death. D i v i s i 
 
 ON 5.\ 
 
 u 
 
 is the life of the body, ioGodis the iifeof the foule^ and 
 his Spiiit is the foule of our ibules. 
 
 Againe, this fpiriiuall death hath three diftincfl and feve- 
 rall degrees. The firft is, when it is alive in refpcd of tem- 
 poralUife^andyetit lies dead in (inne. Of ihis degree the 
 ApolHe ^eakes when he faith Shee that Imeth in pieafftre is 
 dead yphile Jhee /ivtth ^■^nd this is the elhtc of all men by na- 
 ture, who are faid to be dead in finne. 
 
 The fccond degree ii in the very end of this life, when 
 the bodie is laid into the earthy then the foule dcfcends into 
 the place of torments • as the foule ot the rich man in the | 
 Gofpell. 
 
 The third degree is in the day of iudgement , when the 
 body and foule at rherefurredionof the laft day meete to- 
 gether againe^and fhall goe to the place of the damned, there 
 to bee tormented for ever. Andrliis is called by the name 
 ofthelecond death, which doth belong onely to the Re- 
 probate. 
 
 Having thus found the nature , difference, and kinds of 
 death , it ib more then maiiifcft, that thac place of the Prea- \ 
 cher is to be underftood , not of the fpirituall death, but of 
 the bodily death , becaufe it is oppofed to the nativitie and 
 birth of ma.i. The words then mufl: carry this fence, The 
 time of bodily death, in which there is a feparation of the 
 foule of man from the body, either natural! or violent ("be- 
 ing called a bodily or worldly death j is better to the childe 
 of God , then the time in which one is borne, and brought 
 into the world 
 
 Now followeth the fecond point , and that is , how this 
 can be true, which the Preacher faith. That the day of ones 
 dentb is better then the da) of birth, I make not this queftion 
 to call the Scriptures into controverfie , which are the truth 
 it fclfe, but 1 doe it 10 this end and purpofc , that we might 
 without doubting or wavering be rcfolved ofthetrurhof 
 thiSjWhich the Preacher hecre avoucheth for the comfort of 
 all the children of God at their death. For there m«y be fun- 
 
 dnei 
 
|DivisioN5- ihcCimfortat eur owndcAth. ( 185 
 
 dry r€;dbns brought to the contrary of chis^ which the Prea- 
 cher hccrc avoucheth. 
 
 Therefore let us now handle the quftioni, reaforjs , and 
 obiec5tions, which may bealiedged 10 chc contrary ; which 
 all may be reduced in:ofixe heads. 
 
 The firft is taken from theoppinionoFwife men, who 
 thinkeitthebeflthin^^ofall never to bee borne. And the 
 next, bcft to die quickly as foonc as he i% borne. For Ctcero 
 an Heathen man, and renowned for his eloquence and lear- 
 ning, complaines that nature hath brought man forth into 
 the world, not as a motherjbuc as a ftep mother, with a body 
 naked, wea>^e and lickly, and with a minde diftracled with 
 cares, dcieded with fcarcs, faint with labours, and addided 
 to lufts and pleafures ; And hence grew this common fpeech 
 amongft the G entiles related by Anfiotle, repeated by Ctce- 
 ro and Plutarch , and & he red upon Sjiemiu , by all three, 
 That the beft thing in the world was , not to be borne at all, 
 and the next, beft to 6\t foone ft. N o w if it be the beft thing 
 in the world, not to be borne at all, then it is the woril thing 
 that can be* to die after a man is once borne. A*i[w, T here* 
 be two forts of men, the one that hve and die, in their fins; 
 the other, that doe unfainedly repent, a^d bcleeve in Chrift, 
 the one goates, the other fheepe, the one good, the other c- 
 vilh Now this fente nee and fpeech of thofe Heathen men, 
 may betruely applied & avouched to the firft forc,ofwhom 
 we may fay, as our Saviour Chrift :aid o{ ludas, Ithadbecne Mat 1^.14 
 good for that man that he had never heene borne. But the fay- 
 ing applied to the fecond fort, is moft falfe. For to them that 
 in this life turne to God by true and unfained repentance, 
 the beft ching of all is to be borne , becaufe their birth is a 
 degree of preparation unto all iov and happinefTe , and the 
 next beft for them is to die qnicly, becaufe by death they 
 doe enter into the prflelTion and fiuitionof the fame ioy 
 and happinefffjfor their birth isineitranccintoit,and their 
 death the accomoHHimenr ofthefamc. A :d this was the 
 caufe that made Saa/amCo dtfirou to die the death of the 'Num.»j.io, 
 
 righteous ' 
 
 
8 <^ I The comfort at our own death » Division s 
 
 Rom. 5. 2^. 
 i.Cor.ij. 2^, 
 
 j 
 
 / 
 
 I righreoiis.and to wifh that his lail end might be like theirs. 
 And chcrefore in this refpecl the Preacher in this place pre- 
 ferrcs rhe day of death before the day of birth , vnderflan- 
 ing thereby, that death which is ioyned, coupled, and ac- 
 companied with a godly lite ; and this is called the de ath 
 of the righteous. 
 
 The Iccond obiedion is taken from the teftimonles of 
 the holy Scriprures, and namely thefe. 'Death ( laith the A- 
 poftie ) is thewatres ofjinne. Death ii an enemie ofChrifi, 
 Death li the curfe of the Law, Hence itfeemes to follow that 
 in and by death men receive their wages, and payment for 
 their finnes ; and fo thereby che da/ of death is become the 
 dolefull day , in which the enemie prevailes againft us , for 
 that he which dieth is curfed. A^fw, We muit dilHnguifh 
 he ere ofdcath : it muft be confidered two waies •, firfl; as it 
 IS m it ff Ife in his owne nature-, iecoiidly, as ins altered and 
 changed by the death of Chrift. Now'dcath by it felfecon- 
 iid^rtd, isDidecd che wages of linnc, the enemie of Chrift, 
 arid o^all his members , a id the curfe of the law, ye the ve- 
 ry tui^urb^ a'ul gates of hell , and fo it is ftill unto the wic- 
 ked ; yet in the fecond refpecfl it is not fo; for by the vcrtue 
 of" the dea.h of Chrift it ceafeth to be a plague or punifli- 
 ment. and of a curfe is made unto us a bleiling, and become 
 unto us a friend, and a palTage or middle way bctwcene this 
 life and eternall life;ana is become as it were a little wicket, ■ 
 entrance or doore , whereby we paile out of this world in- 
 to heaven. And then in this refpec^^ this faying of the Prea- 
 cher is mofttruc •, for in the day of birth men arc brought 
 forth and borne into the vale ofmifery;but afterward when 
 the children ofGodgO'j hence, having death altered unto 
 them by the death of Chrift^ they enter into eternall life and 
 happineffe. 
 
 The third obicflion is taken from the example of mod 
 worthy men , who ( as it lliould fecme ) have m^de their 
 prayers againll: death a :> our Saviour Chrift. 
 
 Wee read when our Saviour Chrift was borne ,ir wat a 
 
 ioyfull 
 
Divisions. 7 h( comfort at our own deAth. \ 187 
 
 ioyftill time 5 ar vvhofc birch there was ^aat ioy and mirth. I I 
 
 Simeon and A'^/ia^yQA and the Angels oi" heaven did ling and ^ ^^f^'l' '^* ' ^' 
 
 rral,6,4.j. 
 
 ,0 .0 
 they bid the ShephardUing, becade they brought them , j „f^^ ,^^^j^ 
 glad tidings of great iov, which Oiould be unco all the peo- Mark 1 6.10, 
 plc.Buc w'henour Savionr Chrift riifTercd death, then it lee- Luk z ?.i8.4f. 
 mcd that it was a dolcFull time;f-or then there was as mnch ^^-^^th. 17. 5 ». 
 lamentation and weeping. Our Saviour Chrift himlelfc ; 
 wept (' whom we reade to have wept three times, at the dc- ■ lohn. i r.3^. 
 Ihudion of 'ei ulalem, at the railing oi Lazarus and in his ! 
 agonv ) the diiciples wepcjthc daughters or icrufalcm wept, Hcb.5.6, 
 the i^uiint^vas ddrkencd, the vaile oFthe "i cmpie was rent, 
 the Hones were cloven in lunder. Yea all thele and all lence- 
 IcHe creatures in their kind did weepc and lament the death 
 and pailion of their maker. And To it ll.ouid leeme that our 
 .saviour Chrift prayed againft death on this manner , Father 
 tf tt he thy will ^/et this CHp paffe from me. VVc rende alio that 
 the Prophet /^^i'/^ prayed againfl: death , RetumeO Lord 
 ( faith he ) deliver myJoule/Jjave me for thy mercy fu^e'^ for 
 in death there is no rcmtmhrance of thee y in the grave yoho (Ji all 
 give thee thankfs f Againe , wereadeihat King Ez^echidh ; Eiay.jo^i 
 prayed againft death 5 for when the Prophet brought him 
 woid from the lord, that hee fhorld dW a id not live, rhis 
 good king at this newes wept very forehand prayed for fur- 
 ther hfe. 
 
 Now by the examples of thefe mofl: worthy men. yea by 
 the example of the Sonne of God himlelfe, it lliould iecme 
 that this lliould not be true, which the Pre-Kher doth I cere 
 avouch , That the day of death fjould be better then the day of I 
 
 btrth , but lathcr that the day of death iliould be the molt 
 dolefull and terrible day of ail. 
 
 Anjw, W e are here to underftand, that when our Savi- 
 our Chrift prayed in this fort as we have hard,he was in his 
 agony, and he then, as our Redeemer ftood in our rooine 
 andftead, to fufFcr and endure all thinj^s, which wee our 
 lelues (hould have luffered in our own perfon> for our (inns, 
 if he himielfc had not vouchiafed to f offer for iis and there- 
 fore 
 
 ■PWMwan 
 
■fe— <U1 
 
 188 ( Jh6 comfort At our own death. Division > 
 
 Hcb.f.7. 
 
 Pral,6.i, 
 
 pral.a3.4. 
 
 / 
 
 fore hec did not pray fimply againft the bodily or naturall 
 dcathjbut againft che curled death oi the Croiie,for he fea- 
 red not death it felfe, which is the Itparatiiig or Ibule and 
 bodyjbuc the curie of the Law which wcni with death as 
 namely, the unfpeakeabic wrath and judgcmtntofGod, 
 which was due tor our imnes.Thc hill dcatli troubled him 
 not , but the firft and fecond joyned uOgether. Therefore 
 the Author to the Hebrewcs laith ^That Chriftin thedayes 
 ofhi^flejh^ when he had offered vp his prayers and fupp/tcati* 
 arts with Urong crying and te^res nnto htm that was able to 
 fave htm from death j^h at he was hear din that he pared. By 
 which place it appeareth^that Chrift did not pray fimply a- 
 gainft the naturall death, but againft the curled death oFthe 
 Crofle, which was the fecond death. 
 
 Concerning Tiavids praying againft death, we arc to vn- 
 derftand, that when he made the fixth Pfalme, he was -lot 
 oncly ficke in body, but alio perplexed with the grcuitft 
 temptation of all,in that he wraftled in conlcience againft 
 the wrath ofGod.asappeaies by his owne words. For hec 
 there faith, O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger ^(^c, \^ 'here- 
 in we may fee thjt he prayed not fimphe againft death, but 
 againft death at that inftaLit, when he was in that greivous I 
 remptation,foratotheriimeshe had no luch feare of death* 
 And therfore in another plalme he faith Teathough Iwalk^ 
 through the valley ofthefhadow of death, I will fear e none i'-l, 
 &c. Wherefore he prayed againft death onely in that fixth 
 Pfalm, as \t was joyned with apprehenfion ofGods wrath, 
 as our Saviour Chrift did* 
 
 Laft'y, touching King Hez.ekiah, wee are to underftand 
 that he prayed againft dtath, not onely becauTc he defircd 
 to live, and to doe fervice to God in his kingdomc, but alfo 
 it was vpon a fiirtlief and more fpccial rcgard^becaufe when 
 tht Prophet brought him this meflage of dearh,he was the 
 without iffue , havii^-g none ol his owne body to fucceede 
 hifi>in hiskingdon^e.-" '"^ 
 
 But then it will be ob/ef^ed>what warrant he had to pray 
 gainft death for this caufe. (-Xn/rver, 
 
^»*- ^^ 
 
 D I V I s 1 N 5 . '^ ^<? comfort at Our own deaths | 
 
 189 
 
 tAnfw. His warrant was good; for God had made a par- 
 ticular promifeuiuo DnvUkn(\ his poltcritie a^cr him,chat 
 as long 35 they Feared him , and walked in his commande- 
 mcnts with all their hcarts,and with all their fouk^thereffa/l ^ 
 notfAile thee f iaith he j ^ man on the throne oflfrael. Now j 
 this good King He^kiah at the time of the Prophets mcf- 
 fage oi dea:h, remembring what promife God had made to-' 
 David and to his Teed, anid how that he for his part in Ibme 
 poorc and vveake mcafurc had kept the condition, in that he 
 had walked before God with an upright hearr,and had done 
 that which was well plcaling and acceptable in his fight,as 
 he himfclfc Tairh in the fame place 5 therefore he prayed a- 
 gainft d ath, not for that he feared it, but he defired to have 
 ilTue of his own to fuccecd him according to the Lords pro- 
 mife to his fcrvant David, Which prayer ot his was io well 
 accepted of God, that hee gave him his requeft, and added 
 unto his daycs fifteene yeercs j and three yearcs after God 
 
 gave him Manajfef. 
 
 Againe befidcs thefe examples it will be further obiec^ed, 
 that the godly have feared Death, or elfe why did £/iuh flie 
 from it m the perfecution of /^^^^c/ and Chrift teach his to 
 flie it in the perfecutions of men:and Chrift himfelfefas we 
 havealready heard J did pray againft the bitter cup of it in 
 his agonie,and before his apprthenfion, 
 
 A»/rv,Tho(c Saints did not , nor were to flie from death 
 as it is the end of life j and a moil blefled end of a good life, 
 but ufcd the meancs of flight onely to prevent violent and 
 haftic death till the houre appoynted fhould comc,that they 
 were to give their fpirit in peace into the hands of him that 
 made it ; and becaufe fuch untimely death was enemy to the 
 good they had to doe, andcourfe they were to finifli , there- 
 fore they went afide by flying for fometime, and till the 
 time of their depanurc come, that they might doe the good 
 to which they were appointed , and finiSi the courfe for 
 which they were fent. For if a removing or flying for thine 
 cafe in this refpc<ft may be cffe6\ed by fliifting thy place,that 
 
 iKing.1.4. 
 
 Ifay J 8.31 
 
 iKlni».io'2 x; 
 
 iKlng.ip 30. 
 Mat. 10.13. 
 Maui5.3^ 
 
 
 may 
 
)_— — — — ^ I III I I iw 
 
 ^^o I Thtcomfert at our orpn death. Divi$ion^5* 
 
 
 ^.{at.io.ij. 
 
 iMat.*6^9*42, 
 
 yr^'J^'^^jl 
 
 Exod.^.ji 
 
 may both be dcfired and ufed without finne. JC^akScm his 
 fonne lacob away from his brother Efan, when Bjan in his 
 anger, had Iworne to flay him : ^^t//^ fled from the hand 
 andiaiielin diSnul^ and (hified for himlelte by remouing 
 from place to place, andconvayed all his Fathers houfeinto 
 the land of Moabfrom ^auls reach. The Lord lefus often » 
 times withdrew himfelfe from the rage of the le wcs, and he 
 gavx his Diciples a rule for times oTperfccution , faying, 
 when they ferJecuteyoH in this citj ^ jUe tnt9 another, And ma- 
 ny honell men have removed their habitations to a voide 
 evifl neighbours, and free themfelves from being troubled 
 by them. 
 
 But where k isagaine alleged that Chrift himfelfe prayed 
 againft the cup of death; for thefiinher^itisfyingofthis 
 poynt, I anfwerc further two wayes : Firfl, that he prayed 
 witout finne againft it, feting that in his fupplicacion of 
 teares^and much feare he fubmittcd to his Fathers will al- 
 waycs. 2(jverthe/ejfe (faid he) not 4U I vpiU^bm as thoumlt. 
 And againe, O mj Father, if thii cH^may notpaffe away from 
 miycxcept Idrinkeity thy will be dene. Alio death was not to j 
 him as it is to us ; for to us the lling ofit is conqu.red and 
 the force broken, but to him it was in fiili power he felt the ^ 
 fling ofit, and wreftled with the force of it in fouie aud bo- 
 die.Sccondly I fay (as was faid before Jthat it was not mcer- 
 ly a bodily death f though unfubdued, fave where himfelfe 
 fubdued it^ that he trembled at, but by the burthen of our 
 finncs, which he was to undergoe^ in which he beheld the 
 whole.There he faw his Fathers countenance turned againft 
 him, and there knew that he muft bearc his wrath, becaufe 
 he bare our finnes. And be fides V hnft feared d.ath bccing 
 cloathed with our flefti,to f]iew,rhat he tooke our infirmi- 
 ties _, and hore onr forrawes andwas perftSl man, 
 
 A nd fo death may in fomc cafe be feared aiid a*- fometime i 
 prayed againft;but ever under the corre(flionof Gods will. / 
 For the rod of death turned intoaferpent , made C^fofcsi 
 fcarc I and the bcfi have moderately declined and ftirunke at I 
 
 the j 
 
, I I ■ ^ - ■ ■■ 
 
 Division 5 . Tht comfort at our own death. | 1 9 1 
 
 the ftrokc of dcath,wbcn it came in lomc tempeft 5 and who] 
 doth not daad all Gods terrors^ whereof death is one, and- 
 fcarc thai which is the puniilnncnt of linne,and ciirfe of fin- 
 nerSjUnd decline that which is the ruine and dcllriidion of | 
 hutnaine nature, and llirinkc at that which hath made the 
 ftrongelc, the wifcft, tlie grcatcll:, the richcft, to fall downe 
 flat before it. 
 
 Therefore the feare of death thus rcproved,is not the na- 
 
 turall fcareof it , which is in all , but the fervile feare of ic 
 
 , proper to evil! doers , and common to thofe who can have 
 
 no hope in death, becaufe they never cared to live, till they 
 
 were compelled to die. 
 
 The fourth obiedion is^that thofe who have bccnc repu- 
 ted to be ofthe better fort of men, have oftentimes miiera- 
 ble end> ; for feme end their daycs defpayring fome raving 
 andblafpheming, (ome ftrangely tormented. It may there- 
 fore I'eenaethatthed-jyotdeatli is the day ofgreateftwoe 
 and mifcry- 
 
 To this I anfwer firfl ofall gcrietally , that we muft not 
 iiidge of the eftate of any man before God by outward 
 things whether they be bleflings or iudgcments, whether 
 they fal in life or in death. For as the Preacher laith,^<' w^« 
 kpoweth etther love or hatred bj ati thirtas that are hefor thew; 
 all thin q^s come alike to all ^ and the fame condition is to the 
 itifi andto the rvicked , and to the good and pure, , and to the 
 poilntcd^ and to him that facri fleet h ^and to him that facn fie eth 
 not ; as is the ^ood.fo is the [inner ; he that fweareth as he that 
 feareth an oath, Againe, the Preacher faith , There is a vn- 
 nity that is done upon the earth, that there be iufl men to rvhom 
 it happeneth according to the tvorke ofthe wtcl^ed, and there be 
 wicked men to rvhom it happeneth according to the rvorke ofthe 
 righteous, 
 
 A godly ma can have no fuch bleffings oatwardly but a j 
 wicked man may have them in as great abundance : nor doth 
 there any mifery fall upo the wicked in outward croffes^buc 
 the like may befall the godly 7'/^// // f laith Salomon) an evilt 
 
 Among 
 
 Ecdci^^.i,!^ 
 
 Ecclcr,8»t4^ 
 
mat^m 
 
 * ^2 j Tffe comfort M our own death. Division^- 
 
 
 among all things that wc doe Hnder the Shme^that there ii one 
 event nnto aU^ 
 
 Secondly, 1 anfwerc to the particufars which be allcaged, 
 in this manner ; Firfl for difpaire : it is true , that not onely 
 wicked and lool'e perfons deipairc in death , but alfo godly 
 and penitent (inncrs, who often in their ficknefle tclUhe of 
 themfelves, that being alive and lying in their beds ^ they 
 feeic themlelves to be as it were in hell, and to apprehend 
 the very pangs and torments of it 5 and I doubt not for all 
 this,but that the child of God which \% moft deare unto him 
 may through the gulfe of difperation attaine to everhafting 
 life and happineffe. Which appeares to be lo, by Gods dea- 
 ling in the matrer of our falvation^ For all the workes of 
 God are done in and by their contraries. In the creation all 
 things were made not of fomething, but of nothing , clcane 
 contrary to the courfe of nature : In the worke or redemp- 
 tion God gives life not by \\^z^ but by death. And if we con- 
 fider aright of Chrift upon the CrolTe, wee fhall fee our pa- 
 radifc out of paradlfc,in the midft of helljfor out of his own 
 curfcd death , hee brings us a blefled life , and etcrnail hap- 
 pineffe. Likewife in our cfFe<5luall vocation, when it plea- 
 fethGodtojconvert and turne men unto him, he doth it by 
 the mcanesofthe preaching of the GorprU,which \\\ reafbn 
 fhould drive men from God , for it is as contrary to the na- 
 ture of man , as fire to water , aiid light to darknrffe. For 
 the Apoftle i^iith ^j4fter that in the wtfedome ofgodjhe rcorld 
 by wifedeme knew not God^ it f leafed God by thefoolipjneffe of 
 pyeaching to fave them thatheleeve. Tor the lerces require a 
 figHe.andthe Greekes feekjifter wifcdcme-^hHt r^e preach Qhrtfi 
 crnctfied^ftnto the lervesaflumhltng biockj^ndunto the Grcekes 
 foulipjnejfe.And yet for all this, though it be thus agair ft the 
 nature and difpofition of man, it prevai^cs with him at 
 length, and tames him unto his God , ifhec belong unto 
 him. 
 
 Furthcrmore.when God will fend his ov;nc fcrvaiits un- / 
 to heaven he fends fome of them a contrary way, even as it 
 
 were 
 
 ^ t^ v m 
 
F) I V I s I o N 5 . The comfort at eur orvfie death. 
 
 193 
 
 were by the gates of hell. For our way to heaven is by conv 
 pafle, even as the Lord led the KVaehtes ouroFHq\pt into 
 cheLaiidot Caram, not through the Land of the Phi.i- 
 fiins, although that were neere, tor Godlai.ilej} per^iven- 
 ture the Dcople repent ^ whe?i they fee warrc^ and returne to E- 
 gyptt but God led the people about thorovv the way oFthe 
 wildernciVe of the red lea. So God for many cauics beft 
 kiiowneto himlelfe, doth bring his children out of thi^E- 
 gyptian world umo i he tpirituall Canaan,which is the king- 
 dome of heaven ; not the neereft way •, but by many win- 
 dings and turnings ^ and the flirthtlf way about , even as it 
 were thorovv the red lea of milerie. and afFli(5lions , that all 
 Gods waues and bellowes m.\v goe over them. 
 
 The Lord can ( if he pleafe ) bring them, as he doth many I 
 other of his children , the neereil way to hcaucn, but this 
 further way about is for Gods owne glory^and for his chil- 
 drensownegood. And God as a moft wife Father, is note- 
 ver killing his child, but many times correcting him : and 
 the fame God that doth mercifully exalt us, by giving usa 
 fweete tafte, and lively fecUng of his grace, and the cfhcacie 
 -of it in us J doth in much love many times for our health 
 humble us, when he leaues us withour that fence and fee- 
 ling iaotw'felives, and then doth he cure us of the mofl dan- 
 gerous difcafe of pride and confidence in our felvcs, lectlc 
 in us a true foundation of humilitie, caufe us to deny our 
 felves,anddcpend wholly upon him, to call our felves into 
 the armes of his mercy , to hunger for his grace , to pray 
 more zealoufly and with greater feeling of our wants , and 
 I to fet an high price upon the fence of Gods favour, to make 
 moreef^eemeof it, when wehave itagaine, and to kill and 
 morrifiefome fpeciall finne,for which before we had not fe- 
 rioufly and heartily repcnred. For when ic is his good will 
 and pleafure to make men depend on his favour and provi- 
 dence, bee maketh them firft to fecie his anger and diiplea- 
 Ture and to be nothing in themfelvcs.to the end they might 
 value and prize their vocatiop and calling at an hjghcr rate 
 
 O and 
 
 I-:xo<i.i5.i7.» 
 
 Pfal 41.- 
 
 f 
 
194 
 
 The comfort at cur owne death. D t v i s i 
 
 
 pfa.ioS.^. 
 
 r""- 
 
 ON sA 
 
 and eftimare.and vvholy and altogether rely and depend up- 
 on him, and bee whatloever they are, in him only. 
 
 This point being chen well weighed and confidered, it is 
 more chen manifefl , thac the child of God may palte to hea- ! 
 ven even chorow the very depth and gulfe of hell. For the I 
 love, favour, and mercy of God is like to a Tea, into which 
 when a man is cad, he neither feeles bottom,nor fea banke : 
 For thjf mercy ' hkh the Pfalmiitj ii great above the heavens , 
 and thy truth reacheth^unto the clouds. So that touching dc- 
 fpaiie, whether i: arifeth of the weaknefTe of nature,or of the 
 confcienceoffinne, though it fall out about the time of! 
 death , it can be but the voice and opinion of their fickneffej j 
 and a ficke-mans iudgement of himi'elfe, at fuch time, is not 
 to be regarded 5 and befides,it cannot preiudize the lalvati- 
 on of their foule, that are cflfedually called : For the gifts 
 and calling of (jod({'i\\\\ the Apoftle)^r^ without repentance ; 
 and thole whome God loveth,heloveth to the end, in the 
 end^^ world without end. And as for other ftrange events 
 which fall out in death, they are the efteds of dileafes. Ra« 
 vings^blafphemies Scidlcfpeechesarifeofthedifeafe of me- 
 lancholy & phrenflesjwhich often happen at the end of hot 
 burning feavers, the choler Diooting up to ^hc braine j the 
 writhing of rhe lips, turuing of the necke, and buckHng of 
 theioyntsandthe whole body, proceed of crampes and 
 eonvultions , which follow afcer much evacuation; and 
 wdiereas Tome in ficknefle are of that ftrcngth, that three or 
 foure can haidly hold them without bond> ; it comes not 
 alwaye s of witchcraft, as people commonly thinke, but of 
 
 choler in the veines;and whereas fome when they arc dead, 
 become as blacke as pitch, it may rife by a bruife or impo* 
 ftunv, or by the blacke laundife, or thcputrefacflion of the 
 liver , and doth not alwayes arque fbme extraordinary 
 iudgement of God ; in the wicked it doth, but in the god- 
 ly not. 
 
 Now thefe and the like difeafes with their fymptomes, 
 and rtrangc cffcds , though they doe deprive man of his 
 
 health 
 
 I- 
 
t)ivisiON 5 . The comfort at our 6WKC dcAth. 
 
 195 
 
 I. Pa.2.24. tf. 
 
 health , and of the right iifc oFthc pares of his body , andj 
 the life of leafon and undcrllanding , yet they cannot de- 
 prive his fouleofeternall lite and happincfle,\vhich with the 
 loule oi'T>^vici is bound up in the bundle of life , with the 
 Lord his God m eternall peace and blcflednefle. And all finsi i.Sam.ij.i^ 
 procured by thefe violent and iharpe dileales, proceeding! 
 from repentant fmners, are (ins only ot infirmity and weak- 
 nefle, for which if they knew them, and came againc to the 
 ulc of rcafon and undcrftanding, they will further repent, if 
 not, yet they are pardoned and buried in the bloud of Chriff 
 and in his death , who is their Saviour and great Bi- 
 Hioppc of theiv foules •, for hee that forgiveth the grea- 
 ter fmners, will alfo in his children forgive tlie lefle. And 
 againe , wee ought not to Hand fo much upon the (f range- 
 nefl'e of any mans end , when wee knew before the good- 
 ncfle of his converfion and life. For wxe muft iudgc a 
 man in this cafe, not by his unquiet death, but by his former 
 quiet godly life. 
 
 And if this be true that flrangc difeafes , and thereupon 
 very ftrange behaviour in death may befall the bc(l childe 
 ofGod, wemuft thenlearnetoreformcour iudgements of 
 fuch as lyc thus at the point of death. 
 
 The common opinion is, if a man lye quietly in his fick- 
 neffe, and goe away like a lambc ( which in fome difeafes^as 
 in conlumptions and fuch like lingring difeafes , any man 
 may doe ) and paflc out of this world ( like a bird in a n^ell) 
 that then hee goes flraight-w^ay to heaven, though hee 
 havclivcd never fo wickedly. Although neither holineffe 
 was in his life , nor God in his mouth ; g' ace in hi. hearr, 
 nor yet repentance faith or feelling at his death. Such 
 men ( faith one ) excepting their feather-beds and pil- 
 lowes , die liker beaftes then Chriftians. But if that the 
 violence of the difeale flirre up impatiencie , and caufe 
 in the part e frantic'^e and unfeemlie behaviour , then 
 m en i\(c to fay , though hee bee never fo godly 
 a man, that there is a iudgement of God , icrving 
 
 Oi cither 
 
196 
 
 The comfort At cur owne death, DrvisiON 5.I 
 
 prai.73 4.r. 
 
 
 I Sam. 31. 2 
 
 \ either to difcover an Hyprocrite^or to plague a wicked man. 
 But the truth is far otherwile,for in truth one may die like 
 a Lambe,and yet goe to hcIJ . For the Plalmift laith , There 
 are no bonds in their deaths but their ftrcn^th u §,rme^ they are 
 1 not in trouble as other men^ neither are they flagned as other 
 Inen, And againe, another dying in exceeding torments and 
 ftrange behaviour of the body, may goc to heaven 5 exam- 
 ples whereof we have iw that holy and iuft man lob, as may 
 appeare throughout hiswhole booke ; and in diver s others 
 Gods dearc Saints and children. Therefore by thefe ftrange 
 and violent kinds of ficknefle and death, which doe many 
 times happen to the deare Saints of God; wee muft take 
 great heed that we iudgc not raflily of them in condem- 
 ning themjto be wicked and notorious Hypocrites and of- 
 fenders ; for it may be our owne cafe for ought we know. 
 We ought not in confcience to cenfure any man (imply for 
 his manner of death, or fudden departure; for many fick- 
 ncfles flay men iuddenly , even while they have meate in 
 their mouthcs , and are full merry. Many are fliarpe and 
 oflong continuance. AsthePalfie, Sciatica, or hip-gout, 
 ( as phifitions beft doe know ) fome take away the ufe of 
 the tongue, and other members ;. as the Apoplexy or falling 
 cvi'l, fomcthe wittes, as the Phrenfic and burning feaver, 
 & other ftrange & unknowne; difeafes as experience it felfc 
 doth prove. Ai^d therefore it is good to be prepared m our 
 Chriftiancftate,but inall chefe ilrangealTaultes of our bre- 
 thren , we muft iudge the beft. For there never can bee 
 'an evill dea^h, where aconftantgood life hath gone before ,- 
 for as many arnidft their torments doe fnddeniy pafte to the 
 paradifc of Gods Saints, :^o many ^y\x\2, peaceably in iheir 
 beds, arefwiftly tranflated from earth to hell; yet ftill, 
 treciom in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his Saints , E- 
 
 h wasaprieft anda good man> vet brake his neckewith 
 filling backewarde from his fear, ^?7^r/7/!w a godly man and 
 a fair hfull friend to D^'z;;W, yet washc flaine in battaile by 
 the uncirciimciicd Phxhfiines' The Prophet that came frr m 
 
 ludah 
 
D » V I s I o N 5 . The comfort M our emic death. 
 
 ^97 
 
 Iiidah to Bcthell, to fpeak againft leroboam ar5cl his Aultar. 
 was a good man, yet killed by a lyon. So was lofiah fl .inc 
 \u\\\c\:i\\y oiO\fegiddo>i , /v^/ children lo well nuiturcd 
 and brought up by their god y (-arher, were fiainc by the 
 ruineot a houlc in a violent wind , wte mufl \\o\i tiicrefore 
 iud^'^e lo much of men by their manner ot death as by iheir 
 lif-c, tor though lomctimcs a godly dt-^ath may follow an e- 
 vill life : yet an evill death can never follow a conftant good 
 life. Correct thereibrc ihy evill life , and th'.n feare not an 
 cvill death , for he cannot die ill rhar lives well •• fo that lud- 
 dcnd^ath isonely cvilUothem uhich live an evill life, it 
 hnding them unprepared carneth them fuddcnly to hell, 
 but It cannot be evill to thim which live well, tor find-\ 
 ing them prt pandit frceth them from paine, which o- 
 thers endure by long and lingring ficknefle, and bring 
 them forrhvvith to the p. ace ot happincfle. This rafli cen- 
 furingaiidiudgii.g, wasthe linne oF the wicked Barbari- 
 ans, as we may read in the Ads of the ApolHes.This rafh cen 
 furing and indging, was alfo the finne of the wicked lewes- 
 as we may rcade m the Gofpell of Saint Luke^ wherein they 
 did utter a fecret corruption ^ naturally ingendered in ah 
 men, that is, very iliarpelyto fee into the finncs of o- 
 thers , and feverely to cenfure them ; but in thje meane 
 time to flatter themfelves, and be blindfold in feeing their 
 
 2,Chro.3J.i5. 
 lob.l. 
 
 Luke I 3.1. 2.3. 
 
 
 ownc 
 
 for theie men thought, becaufe the like iudgcments 
 did nov fall on themldves, that therefore they were lafe e- 
 nough, and not fo great (inners , but rather highly in the fa- 
 vour ofGod ; even as many in the world doe now^ adayes 
 falfly imapine and fuppofe that they are alwaycs the worftj 
 fort of people, whom God doth moft ftrike and prefle with 
 his punifhing hand ; having forgotten that God doth not 
 keepe an ordinary rate here below, to punifh every man as 
 he is worft , or to cocker and favour him as he is befl: ; but 
 oncly taketh fome example as he thinkcth good for the in- 
 ftrutflion and advertifcment of others , and to be as it were 
 looking -glafles, wherein every man may fee his owne fice , 
 
 O 3 yea, 
 
I 
 
 19S 
 
 The comfort dt our ow/ic death. Division 5 
 
 I.nm. i.n. 
 Pro?. 17. J. 
 
 J 
 
 
 i^ct 4.17.18 
 
 L 
 
 \ yea, and his ownc caute handled and that God is a lev ere re- 
 1 vcngcr of fmnc , thar ail men may leanie by ihe example of 
 Uome to cremble and beware, kft they bee conflraincd in, 
 their ownc turnes to know and feele the punilhmenc they 
 have defervcd. Whereupon our Saviour Chriit i^ luftly oc- 
 cafioned to correal their erroneous and finifter iudgement , , 
 and to teach them that they mult not reioyce at the luft pu- 
 niiliment of o:her>.For this is the propertie of the wicked , 
 as appearcth in the booke of the Lamentations , where it is 
 ioAd. All mine enemies have heard of my trouble ^ thej <£re glad 
 that thoujMfidons tt^hnt he that is glad[ faith the wi(e-man) 
 at calamities^ piallnot be WJptimfied : but he fhoald rather bc 
 inftru.'led thereby to repent. And to all fuch barbarous, vn- 
 chriftian and vncharitable cenfurers of the children oF God, 
 the Lord by his Prophet {^KhyLoeJ beginne to bring evill tip- 
 on the City which is called by my nxme,and pwnldye be utterly 
 unpHfiipjedfTee fljMl not be Hnpmnjhed. And againCj^^/^o/^, 
 they whofe indgment vtoi not to drmke of thee Hp .have affuredly 
 drunken-^ And art thou he that [halt go e altogether unpHnijhed} 
 Thou [halt not qoe Hnpuni[hedbnt [haltfttrely drinke of it. And 
 the Apoflle faith,T^^ time is come ^ that indgement mufl begin 
 at the hoHJe of G od, A^d if it frfi b egin at Pts, what [hall the end 
 be of them that obay not the Gofpell of(jud? Therefore iudge 
 not thus rafhly of thofe that are thus grievoufly handled in 
 this manner, but think thy felfe as bad a finncr, if not worfe, 
 and that the like defects may defall thee, and thinke fome 
 great temptation befell them, and that thy felfe fiiouldeft be 
 ' wprfcjifthe like tempration (liould befall thee^and give God 
 thankes that as yer, the like hath not happened unto rhec. 
 
 The fiftjObiedion is this: when a man is moft neere death, 
 then the devill is mod bufie in temptation;and the more man 
 is aflaultcd by Sa:han,thc more dagerous is his cafe;and thcr 
 fore It may Item that the day of death is the worft day of all. 
 ^«/ir. 'The condition of Gods children inearth is two- 
 fold; fome are not tempted, and otherfome arc, Some are ' 
 not tempted ( I fay )as Simeon ^yf\\o ( as we read in the Gof- 
 
 pel 
 
[) J V I s I O N 5 . The comfort at our evrfJC dc4th. 
 
 199 
 
 pel oFS. Luke ) vvhenihc had Iccnc his Saviour Chriiljbiakc. 
 
 Foith into th^ie WOidb : Lcrd ;:<?>? Icttejl thofi thjfcrz'iii'nde- 
 purt s» peace according to thy word for mine eyes h^vefeene thy 
 falviitton : tbrdigiui"ying no doubt , that hce flioiild \:Y\d his 
 dayesinall m anncr ofpcacc : And as Al^rahum-^ For thou 
 pjalc goe ( as God laid uiKO him ) nyjto thy fathers tn peace , 
 andbs hftrtedfriA aoodo Id A(re, And as lojJah that sood k.ini. 
 Behold therefor e{ laich the Lord unto him )lwitl ajther thee 
 unto thy fathers ^ /ind thoti jhult he gathered ptfito thy grave 
 in peace ^ and thirte eyes JJjall not fee a// the evtil which I will 
 hnna upon this place* 
 
 Aid as for them that are tempted ( as divers of Cods chil 
 drcn arc fubied thercnnto ) though their caie be very trou- 
 blefbme, yet their lalvation is not the further otl; for God 
 is then more fpecially prclcnt by the unfpeakable comfort 
 of his holy Spirit,and when we are moft vveake, he is moit 
 ftrong in us,btcaufe his manner is :o Oicw his power in our 
 wcakntffc. An example whereof we haveiiuhe Apoftlc 
 S. Paul, who was greatly aifaulttd and tempted by Sathan, 
 ji-id lift /ficMld(U\th he ) be exalted ahove weafure^threyffh 
 the abundance oj the revelation, there was given to me a thorne 
 ft; theftejjthemeffenger of Sathan to buffet mcjcft I fhoM be 
 exalted above mcafure. Tor this thing 1 befouqht the Lord 
 thrice^ that it mtaht depart from me, and hefai.drtnto mi? my 
 grace i^ fufficient for thee ^for my flrcngth is made perfeH: in 
 weahneffe. And for this caufc even in the tmic ot death, the 
 devil! receiveth thegreateft foile , when he lookcs for the 
 greated victory, ! 
 
 Thelixc and lad obicdion is this : ihat violent and fud- 
 de . death is a grievous curfe,and of all evils which befall m 
 this life, none is fo terrible, therefore it may fcemethac the | 
 day of fuch a kind of death is moft milerable. 1 
 
 I anfwer ; it is true indcedtf.that inch a death as is fuddcn, 
 is a curfe and grievous indi^cment of God;and therefore not 
 without good caufe feared of men in this world. Yet ill 
 things confidered , we ought to be more afraid of an impc- 
 
 O 4 nitenc 
 
 I uK 2.1^.30, 
 
 Gcp.iT.if. 
 
 z.Ki!i2?.ii.io 
 
 i.Cor.i 1.7.8.^ 
 
 1 
 
200 
 
 The comfort At cur owne death. Division 5 
 
 Rcv.14,15, 
 
 pra.n6.15. 
 
 tfo.M'ji. 
 
 \ nitent and evill life, then of Hidden death. For thougli it bee ' 
 \ evill as death it fclfe in it owne nature, is, yet we niuft not 
 thinkeictobefiraplv evill^bccauleit is not evill to all men, 
 nor in all refpe'fls eviil : I lay, it i^ not evill to all men, con- 
 fidering that no kind of death is evill, or a curie unto them 
 that are ingrafted in Chrift J for that they are free in him 
 from the whole curie of the la we. B/ejfed are thcy( faith the 
 Sonne ot Qjod)that die in the Lord^for the) re fi from thetr/a* 
 hours.and their work^s follow them- Whereby it is fignified 
 that they which depart this life>( being members of Chrift 
 lefus, of what death loever they die,yea though their death 
 be never fo ludden and violent) doe enter into cverlafting 
 ioy and felicitie. Againe, P^•^«<?«f in the Jight of the Lord 
 ( laith the Pfalmill ) mhe death ofhu Saints, Their death 
 therefore ( be it never fo fudden or other wife J muft needes 
 be precious; yea, though death commeth upon the children 
 of God never lo iliaipcly , and fuddenly ^yet the rtghteotts 
 ( faith the wifeman ) hath hope in his death , Againe , that 
 ludden death is not evill in all refpeds, is apparent. For it 
 is not evi'l becaufe it is fudden, but commonly it takes men \ 
 unprepared, and therefore evill , and fo ma'<es the day of 
 death a blacke day , and as it were a fpeedie downcfall to 
 
 Iohn.i4.2.j. 
 
 the gulfe of hell; otherwife if a man be ready and prepared 
 to die ( as he ought alwaies to be ) then fudden death is in 
 cffeL^ no death , but a quicKC, cafie, and ipecdie paflage and 
 entrance into eternall liR ajd happinelle. For why fhoul- 
 dcft thou, being thechildofGod unwillingly fuffera Oiort 
 dearh,that will bring thee to the fruition of life ereinalLand 
 all happincflc ? Rather perfvvade thy felft that ifthou live in 
 the feare of God thou (halt doe well, and fo living, though 
 thou die neverib fuddenly thou (lialt dee better ; and that 
 ihc\vortl hurt that li;ddcn death can doc thee (ifthis ma. 
 be called hurt } is to lend ihee bnt a little looner then ( pcr- 
 adventure ) thy fraile flcOi would be willing, to thy Saviour 
 lefus Chrilliwbois gone buta liilc before thee , through 
 great and manifold dangers and temptations, to prepare a 
 
 placL 
 
 1 
 
D I V I s I ON 5 • ^ ^^ ccmfort at our own duth. \ lo i 
 
 place(as he himfdfc laich ) for thcc.> and to receive thee un- 
 to hiiniclfc, that where he is, there thou mayed be alio; and 
 remember that that worl^ is thy beit hope.Thc worft there- 
 fore ofl'uddcii death is rather a helpe then a harme. : 
 
 Now all thelcobiedions being thus anlwcred at large, it' 
 doth Appcare plainly to beamanif-eft truth, which the Prea- 
 cher here laith, Th,n th€ day of death w better then the day of 
 ones birth, ■ \ 
 
 Now I come to the third point, in which the reafons and 
 refpccfls are to be conlidered, that make the day of death to 
 furpaile the day of ones biith; and they may all be reduced 
 to this one, namely , that the birth day is an entrance into 
 all woe and milerie; whereas the day of death ioyneda nd 
 accompanied with a god y and reformed life, is aii entrance 
 and degree to eternall ife and glory . Which appeareth thus: 
 viK., Eternall life hath three degrees ; one in this life , and 
 that is, when a mancantru y lay with the Apoft'c, lamcrn- 
 ct§edwith Chrtfi,r7everthe/ejfe I Itve -^ yet not I^ but Chrj.fi /i- \ Gal.i.io 
 vetb tn me. And this al I fuch can fay , as truely repent and 
 beleeve, and that are iuftified, (ancftified , and have the peace 
 of a good confcicnce, and are furniflied with the giftes and 
 graces of Gods holy fpirit j which is the earneft of their fa!- 
 vation. 
 
 The fccond degree is in the end of this life, when the bo- 
 dic goes to the earth from whence it came, and thel'oule 
 returnes to God that gave it. 
 
 The third degree is in the end of this world at the 'aft 
 iudgement, when body and foule being re-united^ doe ioynt- 
 ly enter into the kingdome of heaven. 
 
 Now of thefe three degrees, death it fclfe(being coupled 
 with the feare of GodJ is the fecond, in as much as death is 
 as it we' e the hand of God, to fort and fingle out a I thofe 
 that are the fervants of God , from amongft the wicked of 
 this wretched world. So that death is a frcedome from all 
 miferies , which have their end in death 5 and which is the 
 firll benefit that comes by^death , and the firll Hep to eter- 
 nall I 
 
ZO'2. 
 
 1 T/je c&mfdrt at ourowne death » Division^ • 
 
 or ta 
 
 
 / 
 
 nail life and glory. And the fccond benefit thar comes by 
 death, is, that it gives aii entrance to thelbiile, and makes I 
 \M2iy for It, and c:otti(aiic were ) vfher it into the glorious t 
 prci'encc of the eveiiallring God, of Chrift, of the holy An- 
 gds,a!id the rell of- Gods Saints in heaven. And this is a no- 
 cable comfort againlt death: for as all other evills of painci 
 are to a godlv Chri'lian changc^d into another nature, and 
 oFpu.'nfhmentsare become favours, and benefirs; fo is it al- 
 io in I his of dead ; for now it is not a token ot Gods wrath 
 tor linnC; but an argmnentof his love, mercy , and favour 
 to his children. It is not properly death , but as it were a 
 Dridge by which we pafle to a better life; from corruption 
 to incorrUprion.from mortalitie to immor;alitie,from earth I 
 ^o hcavenjrhai h in a word, from vanity and miferie^to per- 
 fect: loy and fclicitie, and away thereby made for the refur- 
 redion. Now who would not willingly pafle over this 
 bridge that is fo eafie, whereby he goeth from all cares and 
 lorrowcs, to aU delight and pleafure, leaving all miferies be- 
 hind him, and having all conteatation and happincfife be- 
 fore him. 
 
 The gentiles taking it for granted, that cither after death 
 \vc fhou.dbe happie, or not be at all, concluded that at leaft 
 dc^rh would free us from all evill and miferie, and thcreup- 
 ondid willingly embrace death, as a rich treasure. The E- 
 gyptians alfo buildcd gorgeous Sepulchers, but meane hou- 
 iei bccaufe the one was to them but an Inne, the other , as 
 chcydid thinke/^neternall habitation, which free J them 
 from all mifery- And SenccA again e exclainres that our whole 
 life is a penance , which zYi^TJoracians confirmed by their 
 pa ^ifc, celebrating their childrens birth with wt cping and 
 iamcntarion, but their death with great ioy and mirth, as d'- 
 ver^andcnt Writers record ; whereby iniinuating, that our 
 li^e is !iothing but mifciie, and death the end of mifery. But 
 they have bcenc all greatly miftaken thercin,f()r it is the god- 
 \v Chrillian only whicli inioyeth thefc benefits by death,as 
 namel5^,thcexemption and frecdome from all cares, trou- 
 
Division 5- 7 fje comfort at our own death. | 103 
 
 iuke.S.jx. 
 lohn.ir.ii. 
 
 blesand miferics. For which caufc the death of the godly is 1 £(-^-.^7,1. 
 
 called in the Scriptures by the name oFBed and Peace. //<?«■ j 
 
 pjiill enter uito peace/hcy Jhullrefi in thftr Ifeds ( laith the Pro- ! ^^^ 
 
 phec. ) it is c.\llcd by the name of Ktll , Tht-y pjail refi from . 
 
 their Lil; Mrs (i^iih the Sonne of God.) And clie Aiuhorto , Hcb'4.9. 
 
 thcHcbrewesfaich, T'/^f?*^ remaineth therefore a rejl to the 
 
 people of Gjd' 
 
 Againe, the Scripture entitles death by the name of flecp, 
 and Ipeakcth of the dead, as of (uch as ai e aflcepe; and :her- 
 fbre the Prophet 'DAvtd {^2i\ih, Many oftiocm th.it flee pe in the Dan.iz.i 
 dtift of the earth pjall awake, fome to everlafling life^ and fome 
 to ever Ufitn^pjiime and contempts And our Saviour Chrift 
 fpeakingof/rfrV/i/ daughter which was dead, {<tt\K\2, all the 
 people weept and lament her, faid unro thein,^<?f/'<? »or, /5tr 
 ti not de^d, hnt fiecpeth. And touching L^^-t,^)'^ death, our Sa- 
 viour faith, 0;/r^<^W Lazarus /Z^^/>^//7. And couching Ste- 
 phens {^c^'d^^ it IS faid, hie fell afleepe. For this eaufe our fore- 
 fathers called the place allotted for the buriall of the dead, 
 DormitoriHm^ a bed-chamber, wherein ihcir b('diesreff,cx- 
 petling the ioyfuU refurre(5lion. Homer calleth fleepe />'<?- 
 tr em mort^Sy the brother of death. "Diogenes awa."- ed out of a 
 deepe (leepeby the Phyfitian, and asked how hcedid, an- 
 fvvered^ Re^e^ nam frater fatrem ampUElttur, Well, quoth 
 he ) for one brother cmbraceth another. The like i s repor- 
 ted o^Gsrgtoi Leontin>i.s : and the Poet faith , Sleepe is the 
 kinfman of death ; ^ideFi fomni^ ( {^AxhonQ ) nifibrevis 
 zwor/,What is fleepe but a Ihort dcarh? Et cjuidcft morsnifl 
 longfis fomntis ^\\\\ix. is death but a long fletpc? 
 
 By beds,the Scripture underftandeth the places, where 
 the Lord be ftoweth the bodies of his fervants after their 
 death,whether fire or water,or the paunches of wild beafts, 
 or the chambers of the eathjtea, or ayre;and thefe are cal- 
 led beds, becaufethey fhall reft: quietly in them, as in their 
 bedsjtill the morning bell, or loud trumpet ofthe laft great 
 day , warning all flefli to rife, Hiall raife them. And therefore 
 it is fuch an ufuall thing in the Scriptures , fo focwie as men 
 
 dye 
 
 12. 
 
2 04 I The comfort as our owns death, D x v i s i o n 5 • 
 
 
 Pra.4.8. 
 
 dye to fay they falla{Ieepe,becaufe therby is meant that they 
 are laid in their beds of peace ; and they are called beds of 
 rell , to put difference betweene thelc beds of our nights 
 fleepe^and thole oi our (leepe in dearh.for heere be our beds 
 never lo foft or well made, we otten take no reft^ by reafon 
 of fome diftemper in our bodies, or fancies in out head; but 
 m thefe fleeping places , which are called beds of reft; wee 
 may lay m downe ( faith the Pfahnift ) and flee pe in peace ^he- 
 cattfe the Lord our life being onr keeper^ will make m dwell in 
 fafetie. 
 
 Indeed in its owne nature,the grave is rather an houfe of 
 perdition, then a bed of refl: j but bemg al^ed to the le vves 
 in promife , to us in performance , by Chiifts grave , who 
 was buried in the earth^to change the nature of it, it is made 
 to us a chamber of reft, and bed of downe. 
 
 Thefe titles which are thus given unto death is a f A'^eete 
 comfort to the chidren of God agaiuft the terrors of death, 
 for the graves of the righteous, which by nature are the 
 houfcs of deftrudion, and chambers of fcare, are by Chrift 
 and the grave of Chrift made unto them chambers oflafe- 
 tie, and beds of reft. Chrift by his beriall hath confecrated 
 and perfumed our graves,making them which were prifons 
 to hell,gates to heauen. At night we take our chambers, and 
 lye downe in our beds, fo when death comes f which is the 
 end of life,as the night is of the day ) we goe to the cham- 
 bers of the earth , and there lye downe in our beds, till the 
 day of refreftiing ( which is the day of riling ) come, that 
 commeth from the Lord. 
 
 This is a confutation of that phanfie , that hath fb long 
 deluded the (imple world, which is^ that dead bodies walke 
 after their death, and appeare unto men. For how can that 
 he, when the bodies of Gods children reft in their beds, (b 
 foone as the breath departerh , and the bodies of the wicked 
 are in their prifons, till the day of aflife. Whereof, if any 
 make a quell:ion, let him open their graves, and fee. And 
 feeing the foule returneth not after it hath left the body, 
 il ,, how 
 
D I V I s I o N 5 . 1 hec: mfort at our own death. 
 
 i05 
 
 how can the body walkc that wanteth a foulc, or the foulc | 
 
 be feenc. ifit rhoiild walkt;which hath no body? or if death Phil 1.1.3 
 
 be a looftng oFour ionics from our bodies, how can there be \ 
 
 any death, when ibulc and body arc not parted, and when 
 
 the man is not dead, but liveth. 
 
 But this phaniie came From Pttha^oras , and is but a 
 PhilofophersdrcainCjtold by him to the world, which was 
 that the Ionics of men departed, did enter into the bodies of 
 other men, good loules into good, and bad into bad mens 
 bodyes. T he world then bclecvcd him jand fmcc that time 
 Satan, who can turnehimlelfc into all formes, did ui the 
 darke night ot Popery( to deceive chat ignorant age jchangc 
 himfclfc into thejimilirudcot lome perion.thac was lately , 
 or had bcene long dead,a)Ki was bclecvcd by fuch a tranf- 
 formation to be the partic, man or woman , that hee rcicm- 
 bled.Soentredthecrror,that Ipiritsdid walke,and that dead 
 bodies came out of their graves, and haunted fundry honies 
 in the nig'it, which were not the bodies ofthe dead, but the 
 Divc'U in thofe bodies or fliapcs , as it is to be fecne m Sa- 
 mue/s c-onnrcrfeit Iliape , raifed by the Witch at Endor. And 
 this error, as it deceived the blinde world , and fomcwhat 
 troubled the feeing, f^ itisllillin the mouth and faith of 
 credulous fnperftition at this day. But God having given 
 eyes to us to fee his truth, and the light of iudgement to dif • 
 ccrne it ; let us not walke in fo great darkneflc, as they that 
 know not the truth, nor whether they goe. But the eipec;- 
 all drift of the holy ( ■ hod in the holy Scripture, by entitling 
 death by the name of bed, of peace, ofrcft , ofllcepeand 
 fuch like ( being all names of fmgular commoditic and bene- 
 fit ) is for the fi;-,gul3r comfort of all Godschildien , fignifi- 
 ing unto them thereby, that they fhall feele no bitternelTc in 
 death, but rathet ioy, and rejoice in their deliverance , as if 
 they wcregoing to rheir beds -, and their lives are not loft, 
 but their bodies fleepe , as in a bed, mod fweetly , untiii 
 the refurree^io:!. 
 
 How fwcet is peace to them which have bin lorg trou- 
 bled 
 
 I Sam.x8.14, 
 
 Mat, 14 ^6, 
 
^^^ I The comfort at ouroivne death. Division 5 
 
 bled with vvarres and tedious contentions ; how pleafant is 
 the bed, refl and fleepe , to them that have overwatched 
 themlelves. 1 he Laborer is glad when his taske is done, 
 the traveller reioyceth when he cometh to the end of his 
 iourncy ^ the Mariner is happie,whcn after a dangerous voy- 
 age hearrivcth in his harbour. All men fhunnc paine , and 
 dcHre eafe, abhorre danger, and love fecurity. It were mad- 
 iiefTe then For a godly Chriltiai-i to fcare fo advantagiousa 
 death, and to wifli for continuance of fuch a wretched 
 
 TertullUn hath a moft excellent and elegant faying. That 
 ( faith he jis not to be feared^ which fees us free from all that 
 is to be feartd^and that is death, which putteth an end to all 
 feares and miferies. But the true Chriftian hath yet a farrc 
 gerater benefit by death, for it doth not only put an end to 
 evils of paine, but alfo to the evils of faults , not .oncly to 
 the punifliment for (inne , but to (inne it felfe. Now the e- 
 vils of faults are farre worfe then the evils of paine 5 yea th» 
 leaft (inne is more to be hated , abhorred and fhunned , then 
 thegreateft puniflimentfor finne. How comfortable then 
 and welcome Hioul i death be unto us, that endure not on- 
 ly our forrowes, but alfo our finnes • 
 
 A s long as we live heere,aixl bcare about us thefe earthly 
 and finfull tabernacles, we daily multiply our traafgrcHions 
 and rebellious againft our gratious God, and fuftainc fierie 
 conflicfls and continuallcombates inour very bofomes. O 
 bondage ofall bondages, to be in bondage unto finne/ 
 
 The Gentile that apprehended vice only as a morall evil! , 
 could fay that men being in bondage to their luftes , were 
 m 're cruelly handled by them then any flavcs were by moft 
 cruel! ryrants and monfters , how much more then fhould 
 we that fcele finnc as a fpirituall cvill , and grone under the 
 burthen thereof, account that'bondage more intollcrablc and 
 
 wor/c 
 
foT 
 
 VISION 5. 7 fje comfort at our own de At h. \ 207 
 
 worfe fubicdion , then can bee to the moft barbarous and 
 crucll tyrant in the world , from whole tyranny hec that 
 fhouldlctiisfrec, mull needs be welcome. Which death, 
 and onely death can doe. Whatgrcatcaulchave wee then 
 with all willingncHe to embrace deatUand be greacly com- 
 forted when It approacheth i 
 
 Flit death doth yet much more for us, then all this; for it 
 not onclj frees us from all evills, even finne,but puts us alfo 
 into afluall and peaceable pofleHion of all good things , 
 and bringeth us to that good place, where(if there were any 
 place for any pailionj we would be offended with Death for 
 not bringing us thither long before. And though the body 
 rott in the grave, or bee eaten of wormes, or devoured by 
 beads or fwallowed up by fifhes, or burnt to aflies,yet that 
 will not be to us a matter of difcomfort, not onely becaufe 
 ( as we have hard before ) they are at reft: and doe fle^^pe in 
 peace in their beddes till thelailday , but alfo (if we doe 
 well confider the grourid of all grace ) as namely our union 
 and coniundion with Chriil our head ) it i» iu deede a fpiri- 
 tuall,and yetmoftreallconiundion and union. For we muft 
 not imagine that our foules alone are ioyned and united to 
 the body or foule of Chrill , but the whole perfon of man 
 both body and (bulc , is united and conioyned to whole 
 Chrift. "For we are united wholy to whole Chrift: ( who is 
 not devided) even according to both naturesjby which hee 
 is wholy ours;but after this good order,jas firrt to be united 
 to the manhood, and then by the manhood unto the God- 
 head of Chrift, And when we are once ioyned and united 
 to whole Chrifl in this mortall life by the bond of the Spi- 
 ritjWe dial fo abide and remaine eternally ioyned and united 
 unto him. And this coniundion and union being once tru- 
 ly made, can never afterward be diffolved. 
 
 Hence it followes that although the body bee fevered 
 
 from 
 
 i.Cor.T. xj, I 
 I. Cor. 3.11. 
 
i.Cor. I f , 
 
 zos I T{?e comfort m our omit death. D x v i s I o s 5 
 
 , from the foule by death, yet neither the foule nor body are 
 fevered or fuiidrcd from Chrift , but the very bodie ro.ci la 
 in the grave, or howloeverdleconluined, abide ftill ioyned 
 and united unto Chrift , and is then as truly a member of 
 Chrift, as it was before death. For looke what was the con- 
 dirion of Chrill in death, the lame or the like is the conditi- 
 on ofall his members. Now the condition of Chrift was this- 
 though his body and foule were fevered and fiindred for 
 the time the one from the other, as farre as heaven and the 
 grave ,yet neither of them were fundered from the Godhead 
 of the Sonne, but both did in his Death fubfift in his perfon. 
 Even fo though our bodies and foules bee pulled in funder 
 by naturall or violent death ,yet neither of them^ no not the 
 body itfclfe, fliall be pulled or difiovned fom Chrift the 
 head; but by the verrue of this coniundion aixl union (hall 
 the dead body ( howfoever it be wafted andconliimed)arife 
 atthelaft day to eternall glory. For although the dead bo- 
 dies of Gods Saints are often mingled with the bodies of 
 beaft>>,(bules , fifties or other creatures that devour them ; 
 
 I 
 
 yet as the Goldknith by his art can fever mettah , and ex- 
 tratfl one mett all out of another .• even fo God can and will 
 diftinguifl^ thefe dufts of his Saints at tlic laft day of the glo- 
 rious rcfurrecflion. A man that had never itzw^ the experi- 
 ence of it,perhaps would have thought that the feede caft 
 into the ground had beene fpoiled , bccaufeit would roc 
 there; but nature haui' g fhewedthererurneofthatgraine 
 with advantage^ a man can eafily be cured of that folly. The 
 husband man is never fo (imple as to pity himfelfeor his 
 ^toA : he faies not , alas is it not pity to throw away this 
 good Ctzd, Why brethren whatare our bodies but Hke the 
 beftgranie i The bodies of the Saints are Gods choifeft 
 come and what doth earth more unto Gods graine , then 
 caft Lt i?]ro the death i* Doe wee not be!eeve our bodies Oiall 
 rife like the graine better then ever they were fowcd ? 
 
 In the u^interfeafon the trees remainc w^ithout fruit or 
 leaves, and bein;; beaterl with the wind and weather, they 
 
 appcarc 
 
'division s '^^^^ comfort di our dwne death. 
 
 109 
 
 appeare co the eyc^j & view ofali mci),asil- they were vvi hc- 
 rcd, and rotten dead trees;yet wlieii the ^prhig tifiiecoinej,, 
 they become aUve againe, and ( us before ) doe brin;; t-oit'n 
 thcir^budSjblolloms, leaves, and truit; the rtaion is becaule 
 the body, grayneand arintsof the tr^e, arc all ioyntd and 
 faftoned to the roore, where all thelappc and nujlluie lies 
 in the winter time, and hoin thcnee by region ot this con- 
 iundion it is derived m ihefpring to all the parts of the tree. 
 £vcn lo the bodies otmen have their winter alfo, and fhis 
 is in death, m which time they are tinned into duft anJ fo re- 
 maine tor a time dead and lotten. Yet in the Ipringtimejthat 
 is at the laft day at the rciurredion , by mearits ot the milti- 
 call coniundionand union with Chrilh his diuine &: quick- 
 nine vertue (hall ftreame and flow from thence toa'l the 
 bodies of his eled and cholen members, and caufe them to 
 live a:5aine, and that to life eternal'. For the bodies oi Gods 
 cled being the members of Chrifl, though they be never fo 
 much rotten, putrifiedand confumed , yet are they dill in 
 Gods favour,and in the covenant of gracejto which ^becaufe 
 they have right, being dead ,they H a'l not remainc {o for c- 
 vei m their graves, but fhall arile againe at the laft day unto 
 glory. And by reafonofthis union and coniundion with 
 Chrift,we gaine the pravers of the v'^aints yet living witjijos 
 theloveof the Saints glorified before us, theminiihic of 
 Angeh working for us.grace in earth, ard glory in heaven. 
 And \n Chnft,our gaine is luch,as that we iliall have all lof- 
 fts recompcnccd, all wants fupplyed, all curfts removed ^all 
 erodes (andihcd, all graces incrcafcd, all hopes confirmed, 
 all promifes performed all blefledneffe procured, Saran con- 
 quered, death deftroyed, the grave fweerened , corruption 
 abohilied, fancf^ificationperfeded, and heaven opened for 
 ourhappv entrance. And as fordeach it felfe,weare tocon- 
 fider, that it is chiefly fuine that makes it fo tcrrib'e unto 
 us, for in it fcU'e, and by it ielfe, it is the wages of finne. and 
 the revenging fcour^^c of the angry God , but unt(^ thofc 
 that beleeue in Chrift,it is champed into a mod fweet fleene. . 
 
 Vor 
 
 ( 
 
\ ' 110 [ 
 
 T/je comfort at cur orvne death. Division 5 \ 
 
 1 
 
 'Rom.f, xo. 
 
 1 Cor. 1^. J 4. 
 Rev. I.I 8, 
 
 J 
 
 Por although the regenerar,and rhofe that beleevc in Chrift, 
 
 doe as ycc carry about chc rcliqnes ot IIdiic in their fltfli ^ 
 
 fioin whence alfo the body is dead, that is to fay, lubied to ! 
 
 death, for the Cinwt thatdvvel'eth in it, yet the fymt is life | 
 
 for righteoiifneffe , that is, becaule they are itilHtied from! 
 
 finne by ti uc faich in Chrift , and refift the lults of the fledi i 
 
 through the Spirit 5 therefore that (inne which yet remai- 
 
 neth in the flelh, is not imputed unto them, but is covered 
 
 with the iliadow of the grace of God. Therefore by death 
 
 the true and fpiritua*! life of the foule doth not die in them, 
 
 but doth rather begin; to which death is conftraincd to doe 
 
 ( as it were ) the ofhce of a mid wife.So that now we are de- 
 
 hvered from finne, in Chri(l,that it cannot hurt us, nay it [^ 
 
 converted to our owne profit ; and therefore death having 
 
 her ftrength from finne, is not to be feared , fith finne , the 
 
 lling of death , is overcome. What need wee feare the 
 
 Inake that hath loft her fting, fliee can only hifle and make 
 
 a noyfe, but cannot hurt; and therefore wee (ec that many 
 
 having taken out'the fting. will carry the fnake in rhcir bo- 
 
 lomcs without any feare. Even fo although we carry death \ 
 
 about us inourmorrall boc^yes, yea in our bofbmes and 
 
 bowels, yet finne which was her iHng, being pulled out by 
 
 the death of Chrift, Oiee can onely hiile and make a ftirrc , 
 
 and ordiaanly looke blackc and grimme , but can no wayes 
 
 aiinoy it. 
 
 Which will be the more manifcft, if we will weigh how 
 Chrift our head and Captaine hath quelled and conquered 
 this mighty Gyant for us , whereby none that are Chrifts 
 members need ftand in ft are thereof. 'Death [ iuith the blef 
 fed Apoftle ) ufv^ allowed up in victory, and Chrift was dead, 
 and now liveth, and that for ever, A^^d he hath the ksjes of 
 hell a?jd death, ds hcteftificth of himielfcin the bookc of the 
 Revelation. Now he that hath the keyes of a place, hath the 
 command of that place. It is as much then as if it had been 
 faid, he had the command of death, and power to difpofe of 
 it at his pleafure. And will Chrift then that hath fuch an ene- 
 
 mic 
 
D I V I s I O N 5 . 'The comfort at eur ony/ic death. 
 
 2 I I 
 
 - 1 
 
 mic at his meicic, let hiin hurt and annoy his ckarc friends jj 
 nay his ovvnc inLinbeis, and lo w\ cfi^ccl hunillt-c ? No , no, \ 
 he conquered death tor us , not for himlcltc, feeing death 
 had no quarrell to hini# 
 
 By his uniuit death then, hee hath vanquiflied our iuft 
 death, as Saint yiff^rftj}tt;e very exec lently iaith,death could 
 not be conquered, but by death, therefore Chriit luffered 
 death, that an uninil: death might overcome a iuil dea:h,and 
 that he might deliver the guiltie iuftiy , by dying for them 
 uiiiufUy. Whereuntoagreeth thatl'peech, 1 he uniull iin- i 
 ncth,and the iui\ i^ punjlhtd ; the guiltie trar.fgrtlfech, and 
 the innocent is beaten ; the wicked offender h,aiid the godly 
 is condemned ; that which theevilldefervcth, the good luf- 
 fereth ; that which the lervant oweth , the maimer payeth; 
 that which man committeth,God lliftaineth For although, 
 becaulc he was man, he could die,and did fo,yet becaulc he 
 was iuft, hee ought not to have died; and hec that had no 
 cau^e to die for himlclfe , in realon and equitie , llaould not 
 die for others unprofitably ; neither did he furely , but to 
 the greatell purpofe , that the Sonne of God dying forj 
 fonnes of men, the lonnes of men might thereby bee made 
 thefonnes ofGod; yea that they ot bad fervants, might 
 be made good fonnes. And this glorious myftery oF our 
 Saviours Incarnation and pailion muil needs bring forth 
 glorious cft'ecfls : this ftrange and unfpcakable love of God , 
 that his oncly Sonue fl-iould dy for us, that the Lord iLould 
 dye for difobedient fervancs , the Creator tor the creature. 
 God for man, this ftrange love ( i !ay ) muft needs bee of 
 Ibangc operation, as it is, even to make of linncrs iuft men. 
 of (laves brethre i, ofcaptivcs fellow-heirs,and of baniilicd 
 pcrfons Kings, and to make of death , as it were, no death i 
 but a very cafic paflage to eternall lifeifor the death of Chrill 
 is the death of our death, fith hee died chat wee might live ; 
 And how can it be , but that they fhould live/or whom lite 
 it felfe dyed ? 
 
 Surely Death bj ufurping upon the innocent, foifeitcd 
 
 P I her 
 
i 111 
 
 The comfort At c ur owne ckat h, DrvisiON5 
 
 Rom.s.57. 
 
 I 
 
 her lidit to the giiiltie, and while fiie devoured wronafui_ 
 
 ~& 
 
 ly, fliee her (e'ie was devoured. Yea in that Chiift hath van- 
 quifl ed death, we may be truely (aid to vanqiiilh it. i^or in 
 thu (fairh the Apo 11:1c) y^e are more thin concjueronrs throHi^h 
 kirn that lovcc\ m , he being our head and we his members ; 
 and where the dead is conqueror, the members cannot bee 
 captives. 
 
 Let us then reioyce,that we have already feized on hea- 
 ven in Chrifliwho hath caricd our flelli ihitber in his ownc 
 perfon, as an eameft pcny and pledge of the whole Himme 
 that m time fhall be brought thither. We may then boldly 
 fay, that there is fomewhat oFours above already , yea the 
 beft part of us , as namely ,our head, from which the mem- 
 bers cannot be farre; yea we may alTure our felves, that wee 
 being members offu' ha head, yea bodie to it we are in ef- 
 fed where our head is. For S. Augn^me Jaith , This body 
 cannot be beheaded, but if the head triumph tor ever ^ the 
 members alfo muft needs triumph for ever* 
 
 And that we have this benefit by Chrifts afcenfion into 
 heaven aforehand for us, ^<fr«i«r^ excellently fheweth. Be it 
 ( faith he jthat only Chrift is entrcd into heaven, yet I trow, 
 whole Chrifl mufl enter; and if\vholc ChriO", then the bo- 
 dy as we i I as the head , yea every particular member of the 
 body. For this head is not to be found in the kingdome of 
 heaven without his members. 
 
 In a word^rhehcad being above water, the bod^/ can ne- 
 ver be drowned, although ic be never fo much beaten and 
 toflcd in this world vvith wave^ and tempcfts. Call a man 
 into a river^ though all the body be under water, yet the 
 manislafcif his head be above water , for the bend will 
 brin" out all the bodie after it •, lo it is in the bodv of Chrift, 
 thougli all we link in the river of death, yet our head is rifen 
 and is above warer,& therefore the whole bod; is lafe. Oh, . 
 but life is Iweet & death is fearefull,how then may 1 be pre- 
 pared againft that houre.to undergoe it in a Chriftian piri- 
 ence without earth -y padions' i anfvver, this is indeed th^ 
 
 infirmity 1 
 
2IJ 
 
 lolinJctS. 
 
 i.Tofin.i r, 
 ».Tin7.j.j. 
 
 Iohn.5«22, 
 
 Division 5 . The comfort at enr owrie death. 
 
 infirmiric of our flefli, & the propcrtic of our conlipc nature [ 
 that wc are more dcfirous otthi:> life fading, tlKiiot i he life 
 to come that is not flitting, and hence comes th.tt tcarc and 
 terror of death. Death m it leLte,and outotChrilt is f as 
 \ we have heard! J very drcadl-ull, and we have rcalon tojfeare 
 it, as it is an tflvd ot finne. But wc ipcake not of death con- 
 fidered out ofChrifl, orconfidcrcd ink Iclfc, but of death 
 altered by the death of Chriil:; f©r to it is no dreadful! thing, 
 but much to be dciircd : he is our Pailor, wc need not fcare 
 to be taken out ot his hands ; our Advocate, therefore wc 
 
 need not dread damnation jourMediator^therefore we need .., _,. 
 
 not fcare the wrath of God, our light , wee r)<Lin\Q not feare ' lohn. 8.12. 
 darkneiTe, our fhado w, wee need not feare the heat of hcfl ^^3'•9I•^ 
 firC3 our judge, we need not feare that fentence fhall bee de- 
 nounced againft us ; our life, and therefore wee need not 
 feare death. Well nnay the bruit beads fcare to die, whofc 
 end of life is their end of being : well may the Epicure feare 
 and tremble at death, who with his life looketh to loofe his 
 fchcitie: well may the faithlcfle and impenitent (inner feare 
 and quake, whofe death is the beginning of their damna- 
 tion : well may the voluptuous worldling/ whofc feiicitie 
 confiftswholy in the fruition of^thefe tranfitoric things ) 
 greatly feare death as that which dcprivcth him of his pomp 
 and preferment, of his honours and high calling , robbeth 
 him of his iewels and treasure, fpoileth him of his paftimes 
 and pleafures, exilech him from his friends and country,aad 
 utterly bcreaveth him of all his expe(5lations,foIace a d de- 
 light. Which Icfu^ the (bnne of ^ir^c^ noting, raid,0 death 
 how bttter 16 thy remembrance to the man that Itveth at refi in 
 htspo(f&/linns unto the man that hath nothing to vexe him^and 
 that hath pro '^pertttc in all t^oini^s.jea nnto htm that is yet able 
 to retetve meate ? Yea it is for wicked and ungodly men to 
 feare death exceedingly ^ becaufc death in them , is not ioy- 
 ncd with a godlv and well reformed life, they have not done 
 that good for which they came into the world; and thcrforc 
 it is for them to feare to 6\Q» They apprehend death as a 
 
 P I ftrong 
 
 Ecclc.4i,r. 
 
 
214 
 
 i'."*^" nu-arw 
 
 I 
 
 PfaLii^p. 
 
 • ' 
 
 T/jc comfort At iur o\v?ie death. D lv 1 5 1 6 n 5 
 
 . 
 
 ftrong enemy, finding in it ("through their continuall wic- 
 kednetle andinhdeUty) no hkehhood of falvation, noiigne 
 of peace ; and therefore it is for them to fearc to bee diiVol- 
 vcd.and to think death to be no other change then a plague, 
 death to them is a beginning of crernall death, and no padi- 
 way to Chriftjbut a portall-doore to deftruclion^ and there- 
 fore they may iuftly tcare death. Adam might have had more 
 realbn to feare death that never favv a man die an ordinary 
 death. But for us to be aflf. ighted with death that fee thou- 
 fands die at out right hand, and ten thouland at our left, and 
 that daily, is an inexcufable diftemper ; the gate of death is 
 continually open, and wc fee a preffe of people that daily 
 throng into it» But feeing the Lord hath vouchfafcd you a 
 penitent and beleeving heart,go on boldly^ and receive your 
 portion in the land of the living, and although the alTault of 
 death be very violent, bitter and ftrong to the triall ofyour i 
 faith, yet call to minde that our Saviour Chrift hath over- 
 come death and hell, (as we have heard) he hath broken the 
 ftrength of this battell,confounded the Captaine of this hoft, 
 & fet up the fongs of triunnph to all true beleevers, that they 
 may have the fulneffe of ioy. 
 
 So now it rettiaineth that you do as one that hath his houfe 
 on fire , burning a'l in a flange , that it is unpoiTrb'e to bee 
 quenched, who will throw out from thence and fetch his 
 treafures and iewels, that fo hee may with them build ano- 
 ther houfe ; even fo muft you doe : Let your ownc ruinous 
 houfe burne, let it perifh , ieeing it mav not be otherwife. 
 Onely thinke and beftirre your Iclfe how you may favc 
 your trealure and iewel s , I meane your foule, and that is by 
 a true and ively faith in lefus Chrift ; that io at the refurre- 
 di on of the iuft, you may come unto a new houfe that can- 
 not fadc,nor perrifh^but remaine immortaU for ever. One- 
 ly let us be faithful! atid couragious, for fo hath our Cap- 
 taine Icfus Chrift becne , who already is proved the Con- 
 queror, and if wc faint not, nor turne backe, he will alfb 
 make us conquerors. Therefore kt not the violence and 
 
 multitude 
 
Division 5 . The comfort at our »}VfJC death. 
 
 2 IS 
 
 .\ 
 
 \ 5.101.17.49. 
 
 1 Kings 7.^4. 
 
 multicudc oFtormcnts afFiight us, wc have but one 'iFc, and ^ 
 we can looie but one ; aud wcc ll all findc cceinall Jitc and 
 happiiufle by lofing it. 
 
 Coltah chat mif^hty Giant, was as much hurt by Davids 
 little llonCj as Sampfoyi by the waight of a whole houlc. Ely ludg. '^.jo. 
 had as much hurt by hllmg backward, as lezabcl by uVing ^ Sam.4.iH. 
 downcout oia high window. The Shunamices fonne had ^ Y^l^^f^t'^l' 
 as much hai inc by the headache, as Ahtmelech by a pecce of i 10. * ' 
 amilllone cail upon his head. And they that (toned Ste- ', ludg.p.^. 
 /)/7<f« to death, tooke no more from him then an ordinary A6ls7.^9. 
 licknclfe did from La^t^artu^ and dodi daily from us all. One j Luke 1^.12. 
 death is no more death then another , and as well the cafiefl 
 as the hardeft take our life from us. And therefore the foure' 
 leprous men faid one to another, ivhy fit wee here till we dte; 
 If we fay we will enter into the Ctttie, the famine is there^ and 
 yve pjalldie 5 and ifweftfiillhere^ we die alfo . 2{jw therefore 
 let Hsfallinto the hoafl of the Syrians, if they fave tis alive wee 
 fltall live, and tf they kill us ^ wefjali but die* 
 
 Thou likelf not death becaufe of the paine of it, why, 
 thereispainein the curing of a tvouPide, yet men will en- 
 dure \i. And fhall death doe fo great a cure as to make thee 
 whole of all the w^ounds and diieafes and art thou fo loath to 
 come to the cure .^ There is diiiiculty in getting into a ha- 
 ven, haddefl: thou rather bee in the tempefc Hill then put 
 into the haven f Thou likeft not death for the paine of it : 
 why then likeft thou ife which puts thee to w'orfe paine? 
 Men obiedl not at the paincs oflife which they endure with-J 
 out death, there is almoil no man but hec hath endurecJ 
 worfe paincs in life then he can endure in death, and yet- 
 wee are content to love life ftill , yea fuch is our folly, 
 that whereas in forac paines of life wee call for death 
 to come to our fuccours , yet when wee are well a-l 
 gnine, wee love life and loath death. If our comming 
 into the wor'd , bee with tcares , is it any wonder if 
 our going out bee fo too. Confider yet more the hu- 
 mours of molt men. Men will fuffcr infinite paynes 
 
 P 4 fori 
 
 \ 
 
 r 
 
21 6 I 
 
 The comfort At our owne death. Divisior^ 5 
 
 '•'5.57* 
 
 t 
 
 
 for a fmall living or preferment here in this worlds yea 
 wecfeclouldiors for a fmall price, wjII put themklvss in- 
 to unfpcakable daungers , and that many times at the plea- 
 fures of oihers that command them without any certaine 
 hope of advantage to themfelvcs , will men put them- 
 felves inco danger of death for thuigs of no value , and yet 
 bee affraid of a little paine to bee indured when fuch a glo- 
 rious eftate is immediatly to bee inioyed in heaven. A- 
 gaine let no man pretend the paine s of <l?ath which is 
 but a figge leafe to cover their little faith, for they will 
 languilh ofthegoute or ilone a long time rather then die 
 one fweete death with the eafieft conditions poffible. A- 
 gaine feare not the paincs of death , for death i^ terrible 
 when it is inflicted by the Law » but it is eafie when it is 
 inflicfled by the Gofpeli > the curfc is taken from thee, 
 thou art not under the Law but under grace. And befides, 
 for this caufe did Chrift dye a terrible and a curfed 
 death , that every death might be blcffed unto us ; and fur- 
 ther^ God that hath greatly loved thee in life, will not 
 negled thee in death . W hat fhall I fay againft the terrour 
 of death but this text of the Apoftle. Thankes bee to God 
 that hath given ta theviElorj throt4gh our Lord lefm Chriflt 
 Againe,thou haft the fpirit of Chrift in thee , which fhall 
 tuccour and ftrengchenand eafc thee , and abide with thee 
 all the time of the combacc. Why fhould wee doubt of it, 
 but that the God y die more cafily then the wicked .^nei- 
 ther may wee gueffc at their paine, but the pangs upon the 
 body , for the body may bee in grievous pangs when the 
 man feeles nothing , andthefouleis at fweet eafe prepa- 
 ring it ielfe to come immediatly into the fight of God:from 
 hence then iris otaine and evident, that wee make the 
 pafFipre morediilicu't by bringing unto death a troubled and 
 irrcfolutf mindc ; therefore it ii long of our felvcs there is 
 terrour in parting. 
 
 And indeed our torments fhow great and grievous foe- 
 ver j cannot be fo great and fo grievous, as thofe which the 
 
 Martyrs 
 
Division 5 . ^^^ eomfort at our oivh death. j a. 1 7 
 
 Martyrs and Saints of God in foraicr ages have fulhined 
 andlutfered. 
 
 Of the Fathers in the oldc Teftament, the Author to the 
 Hebrcwes faith, That/i'Wtf>»'<'^^^<«^^^ am^ tortured , others Hcb.i i.jj;,3<5, 
 b^d triads ofcrttell moaktrtgs, andfcourgwgs, efi?9nh and im- | 37^3 ^« 
 frifonments,8>cc.ofwhomthe 7Vor/d rvasntft worthy ,dcQ, And 
 of the Saints and Martyrs of God in the Primitive Church 
 in the ten pcrfccucionSjthey were thnift out of their houfes, 
 fpoilcd ofthgir patrimony, loaded with irons^ locked up faft 
 in prifons and dungeons , burned withhre, beheaded, han- 
 ged, and preflod to death, rofted on fpits , broiled on gridi- 
 rons, boy led in hot oyle and icalding lead, throwne downc 
 from high and ileepe mountaines upon iLarpe ftakes, tome 
 with vvilde horfes, rent in funder with the violence of 
 bowed trees, condemned to toile in the mettall mines ^thruft 
 thorovv with Ipeares, brayned, racked, pricked with pen- 
 kniues, their eyes bored out , their tongues cutout , their 
 bowels ripedout of their bellies^ their uodyes difmembred 
 with variety of puairhments,rome whipped to death, others 
 famiihcd to death,fome ftabbcd in with forkcs of iron,fome 
 drowned in fackcs^ fome their skins plucked ofFalive, fome 
 killed with cold , and left naked to the open Oiame of the 
 world. Cities lay full ofdead mens bodyes J and the bloud 
 r^ne ilreaming in the ftreets, their torments wf re Tq great, 
 that the lookers on were amassed, and they were fo mangled 
 that the inward v^ins and arteries 3ppeared,and the very cn- 
 trailes of their bodyes (eene;they were fet upon,{harpe fhcls 
 taken out of the Tea, and made to goe upon fharpe nailesand 
 tbornes , and rolled up and downe in vcfTels full ofiliarpe 
 Daiics , plates of iron were laid red-hot to their arme-pics, 
 they were torne and pulled in peeccs , jfti angled in prifons, 
 gnawne with the teethof cruell favagc beafts , toffcd upon 
 bulks homes, their bodyes were laid in hcapes, and dogges 
 left to keep them that none might come to b.urie them,tbey 
 were put into beares skins, and baited by dogges , and yet 
 were not difmai^ at any kinde of torment or cruelty ; the 
 
 tormented 
 
2 I s 1 Th^ comfort at ourowne death, D i v i s 1 n 5 • 
 
 ' 
 
 i 
 
 tormented were more flrong then the Tormenters , and 
 their beaten and torne members overcame the beating 
 Icburges, and tearing hookes, the tormenters were wcarie 
 with tormenting, ai;d beii^ overcome ^ were tainethem- 
 iclves to give over. Againe^ fomc were pincht with fieric 
 ;tongs , and were roiled on a loft fire , as out would roft 
 ficfii to eat: fbme were choaked and fmotheicd with 
 imoake by fmale and foft fires ; lome were fcorched and 
 broyied-on hot coaies ; lome their lingers eqds under the 
 nailcs thruftin withflrarpe bodkins; fbme were put into 
 CO de ponds in cold winter nights and taken out againe 
 ^nd calt into the fire ; fome were cut and choptall to pee- 
 ces; lome were buried quicke after they had luffered di- 
 •.vers torments; fome were grinded betwixt millftones; 
 :lome were put to drawe in the plough like horfes, 
 and after put to torments j fome had their nofcs with 
 fiery pincers violently pluckt from their ftces ; fome 
 iwere put to the pineback where they were kept han- 
 ging in thetrufle inapritbn called litle eafe, which made 
 them through the grievoufnes of the paine to fweate all- 
 mofl very bloud 5 lome were hid over with hares, geefc, 
 and hens, andthrowne to hungry dogs which did all to 
 rent them 5 fome were moft pitifully broakcn with the 
 rackc, that their bodyes and ioynts were allmoft pluck-j 
 eda lunder and afterwards cariedto burning : ibme were 
 killed like calves : bootes were filled with boy)ing grealc 
 and put on their legges •, fome were put in ftrqight 14 
 rons, called the divill on the necke, which will bieakc! 
 and crufh a mans bicke and body in peeccs-, fbme had 
 a ball of liiMicn cloth put downe their throats to thebot- 
 tomcof their ftomackc tied with a fmall ftring and when it 
 was downe they pulled it up againe with violence through 
 the meat pipe verie often,& then were tycd to an engine 
 ■ by a pully puUcd up and downe, the fire burning by pccce-, 
 -; ;[ ; , yy-:-'^) 'jr f mealcj 
 
Division 5. 7 ht comfort^ ai our own death. A ^ j 9 j j 
 
 .—J 
 
 meale tor their greater paines and torments , (bine were 
 chained in pnlon bolt upright to a great pQll in I'uch lort, 
 that {landing €»nely on tiptoe , they vvcie Jiine to (by up i 
 the whole poyle or waighc oi: their bodye* there by, and bad . 
 allowed them every day onely two or three mootbfulis 
 of bread , and three Ipoone^ulls of water, to the end 
 they might bee rciervcd , to further torments : fon^ 
 were put into the bull of Phaiarts^ which is a kinde of! 
 torment made of bralfe like a bull with < fire under it^ | 
 to torment luch as were put into it, which made thtm 
 to roare like a bull •• fome of them having their hands 
 bound behind them , were lifted up from timberlot^gcs, 
 and certaine inftrumencs their members were Itretehcd; 
 forth , whereon their whole bodyei hanging were lub- 
 iedto the will of the tormentors, who were comman- 
 ded to afBid them with all manner of torment ; and that 
 theyOiouldrhew not fo much as one Iparke of mercy up- 
 on them, and the cruell tormentours did fo extrtamely & 
 with furioufly handle them and dcalc with them, as though 
 their foules and bodyes lliould have dyed iOgc:her ; for 
 what thing did lacke that either death could doe or tor- 
 ments could worke , or cruelnes of mans invention could 
 plor , or the gates of hell could deviie, all was to the ut- 
 termoft attempted. But who .is able to recite all the kinds 
 of torments of the Saints of God , which tbey fuffercd 
 under the old and new teftamcnc for the verity of God, 
 and yet all the fury and malice ofSathan and his wicked 
 inftruments, all the wifedomc and policie of the world, 
 and ftrength of man , doing, devifing , plotting , a.dprac- 
 tifing what they could , notwithltanding the religion of 
 Chrift hath had the upper hand* 
 
 ^''' And in truth, what h it that wp fufFer , being compared 
 with theit fufferings ? even nothing in a manner ; 7eehave j Hcb.11.4. 
 »(?r(faith the Author to the \l^h^QvH)jct reftfied unto blond. 
 
 And 
 
 ^Uw'» 4 
 
 t 
 
 -i 
 

 2^0 I ThccomfoYt at our oxvnc death. Divisions, 
 
 And why then Hiould we feare death in the Icail degree/ee- 
 
 i.Cor.^.j. ^"gall thofe holy Martyrs and Saints of God feared it not 
 
 Liik.9. 1 . ' at the highcft degree ? Nay, why l"hould we/eare racn,thait 
 
 i.Cor>,i, arc our fdves feared of the Angels f for we Ihalliudge the 
 
 \ very Angels. We were feared of the divels , for over them 
 
 God giveth us authoritie ; yea that are feared of the wholej 
 world ; for we fhall iudgc the world. 
 
 Let us therefore with our whole might ^arme our fclves 
 for this compate of death. The periccutors , when they 
 wound \^% moft, are deepelieft wounded themfelvcs , and 
 when they think moft of all to be conquerer$,thcn are they 
 moft conquered. I gnat m s <^0]Xi% to his martyrdomc, was 
 fo ftrongly ravifhed with the ioycs of heaven, chat he burft 
 out into thde words .* Nay, come fire , come beaft , come 
 breaking of all my b6nes , racking of my body, come all 
 the torments of t he di veil, together upon me,comc what can 
 come in the whole earth or in hell, fo that 1 may enioy le- 
 fts Chriftin the end. ^-^^- — -'" '• ' ' 
 
 ' One feeing a martyr fo merry and iocond in going to his 
 death^did aske him why he wasfo merry at his death/ecing 
 Chrift himfelfe fwet water and bloud before, kis paiTion f 
 Chrift ( faid the martyr ) fullaincd in his body all the for- 
 z;uk.ii.44. rowcs and conflids, with hell and death due unto us for 
 our finnes^ by whole forrowes and tufftrings ( iaith he ) wc 
 are delivered from all the forrowes aiid leares of hell , death 
 and damnation. For fo plenteous was the paHion and re- 
 demption of Chrift , as, that faint and cold fweat that is up- 
 on us \x\ the agoiiie of our death, the tame he hach fanflificd 
 by the warme and bloud/ I'wcatof hi^ agony , and making 
 the grave a quiet withdrawing chamber for our bodies. \\^ 
 death which before was fo terrible to body & ioulc, is now 
 by his meanes become the very doore and entrance into 
 thekingdome of glory. And hereof PkflVd ^tlUry \ u/ho 
 from the fourteenth yecrc of his nge fcrvcd rht Lo' d i" fi»- 
 glcnes of heart and in ^nceritio of life to his lives end/pakc 
 thelc words upon his death-bed, Goe forth my foule goc 
 
 forth, 
 
 I 
 
 .. >^y.. 
 
Division 5« 1 htecmfort M om oxvndcMh. | ;,2i 
 
 forth, why ar: thou afraid .' Thou hail fervcd ChriU thefe 
 leventy yctres , and art thou now ah aid to depart i* Biihop 
 Rtdly the nighc bctoi c he did iliffcr , a: his lait liippcTj invi- 
 ted hi $ holielie and the reil at the table with hi.n ^ to his 
 mariage, fur, laich he, lo monowl inuft be married, Ihcw- 
 ing thereby liow Joyfull he was to die,and how htrle he fea- 
 red, leeiiig that hec well knew hee was to goe to Chrift hi»_ 
 Saviour. Aid to this purpolc the Aory of Mafter lames 
 "BajnhAm, a Lawyer of the Temple ( who is a lingiiler ex- 
 ample to all Luwyeis)ii> not unneceifary here to be jnlerccd* 
 Hee was of a vertiious diipolicion , ot a godly converfation; 
 mightily addi-.^ed to prayer , an earned reader of the holy 
 Scriptures, a maintainer of the godlv , a vifittr of the poore 
 diUrcflld prifoncrs , liberall tofcholkrs , very merciRill to 
 his Clients , ufing equity and juihce to the poore , very dil- 
 ligent in gi vin^^ councell to the needy , widdowes , father- 
 lelTe and affiided without m ^ny or reward , he was cruelly* 
 handled in prilon , a miracle of God at his burning , when 
 the fire had halfe confumed him, he fpake ^ Oh , y e papiftes 
 behold ye iookc for mu-aclcs and here now may you fee 
 a miracle , for in this hre I feele hoc more paine then if I 
 were in a bed of downc, bu: ic is to me as fweet as a bed of 
 ro/es. 
 
 A Martyr taking his dimer before he went to martyr- 
 dome , faid , I cat now a good and competent dinner , but 
 I iLall paiTc a httle (harp fhower erre I goe tofupper. 
 
 APidtothis purpofe alfo tendeth the lamentable flory 
 and marryrdome of ^^/".Z^/^r^wr^-. The tyrant Emperour 
 commanded the tormcntours to whippc him with fcour- 
 ges, toierkt him widi rod>, tobiifl-ethim with fiftes, to 
 braine him wichclubbes.to pinch him with fierce tongs, 
 to gild him with burning plates , to bring out the ftrong- 
 eftchaims, a-'dchc fire forkes, and the grated bed of iron 
 on the fire with it, to bii^de him haiid ai>d foot , and when 
 the bed is fire hot, on with hiin, roff him, broylc him, 
 tofL him, turne him, and the word wasnoclooner Ip^ ken, 
 
 but 
 
222 I The comfort at our owne death. D i v i s I o n 5 •• ^ 
 
 
 .__ I 
 
 but all was done : after many cruell handiinges this meeke 
 lambe wiis laid , 1 vvili noc lay on his hery bed of iron , hue 
 butonhislbtc bed ofdowne, io mightily God wrought 
 with this Martyr, io miraculoufly God tempered his cle- 
 ment of fire, not a bed of conluming pame , but a pallet 
 of nounlliing reft was it to him ; not Laurence buc the Em- 
 percur might Iceme to bee tormented , the one broyling 
 intheflelh, the other burning in the heart# When this tri- 
 umphant Martyr hadbeene prelled downc with fire pikes 
 for a great fpace , in the Spirit of God he Ipake to the van- 
 quiilied tyrant ; t his fide is now rofted enough on the fiery 
 gridiron ; Turne up O tyrant great,aflay whether rofted or 
 raw thou thinkcft the better meat. C) rare and unaccufto- 
 mcd patience, by Ch rift this glorious Martyr overcom- 
 mcch his tormentSjvarquiftieth this tyrant,confcundeih his 
 
 j enemies, confirmcth the Chriftians, llccpeth in peace, and 
 raigneth in glory, The God of might and mercie grant us 
 grace by thclikofi^^«''^»^«' to learnc in Chrift tolivc, 
 and oy his death to learne to die for Chrift. Amen. 
 
 Alio vyiiliam Wolfie Martyr was fo defirous to glorifie 
 God by his fufFcring, that he being u^o"dcrfull fore tor- 
 mented in prifon with the tooth-ach , he feared nothing 
 moie then that hcc ftiould depart before the day of his 
 execution { which hee called his glad day ) were 
 come. 
 
 Sobythefe examples wee lee what great troubles the 
 Saints, and fervancSjand martyrs of God endured, and how 
 ioyfull thev were as at aroyall feaftjn all thofe troubles 
 and (ufferings of Chrift , that they might enter upon that 
 comfortable death of the righteous. They were fo farre 
 from fearing death , as worldlings fcarc it, that they ran 
 gladly unto it, in hope of the Rclurrecfl-ion , and reioy- 
 cedin the welcome day of death , as in a i^i'j ofthegrea- 
 teft good that could befall them. Why then fliould wee 
 fcare death at all, to whome many thing,«i happen farre 
 more bitter and heavie then death it lelfe , and yet nothing 
 
 1 ^o 
 
Division 5 . The scmfort M oin orvft death. | 
 
 fo bitter and hcavie, as happened to thcle Martyrs and] 
 Saints of God. j 
 
 Therefore when thou commeft to die, fee before thine 1 
 eyes Chriil: thy Saviojr , in the nmideil of all his torments j 
 upon the Crc (I'chis body \vhippcd,head thorned.face fpit- 11 
 ted upon, his chcckcs bufFcted,his fides goared. his bloud .1 
 ipiltjiis heart piLrctd,& his iouic tormented,rcplenillxdon 
 the Croffc with a threefold plenitude5as true God true man, 
 God and mTkn^q^loria^^ratta poena; full of gloric and all mag- 
 niHcence, Becaufe true God;fLill of grace and mercy, bccaufe 
 God and man;& full of paine & milcry,becaufe perfect man ; 
 a paine continuing long, various in affli<-1ion,& bitter iniuf- 
 ferings. One laith he continued in his torments twenuc. 
 houres at the leaft^others fay^he was fo long in paine on the 
 crofle,as Adam was in Paradife with pleafure.-for it was con- 
 venient that at what time the doore of life was (liut againft 
 the finnerjn the fame moment the gate of paradile (1 ould be 
 open to the penitent,& at what hour the diilAda^ brought 
 death into the world by finne.in the lame the fecond ^4^1 am 
 iliould deftrov death in the world by the CrofTe^ Others re- 
 port that Chriii flept not for hfteenc nights before hi^ Padi- 
 on in remembrance of the paine; yea from the firfbhoureof 
 his birth to the laft minute of his death , he did carry the 
 croffe of our redemption. In the beholdingof which fpc(fla- 
 cle to thy endlcflc ioy and comfort,thou llialt lee Paradiie in 
 rhemiddeftof hell, God the Father reconciled unto thee, 
 God the Sonne and thy Saviour reaching forth his hand to- 
 ward thee, for to luccour thee, and to receive thy foule unto 
 himfelfe, and God the holy Ghoft ready to embrace thee, 
 and thou fhaJt lee the Croflcof Chri{l,as lacoh Ladder fet 
 upon the earth, and the toppe of it reaching heaven, and the 
 Angels of God afcendin^ and defcending on it,to cary & ad- 
 vance thy fouleto eternall life & glory. Then feeing we are 
 thus graced by God both in our life & at our death, be not 
 afraid to die. And fure it is the vvil of God, that you (liould 
 drink of the cup he hath filled for you^thcrforepray that you 
 
 mav 
 
 i23 
 
 1 
 
 r 
 
 Gen. 18 12, 
 
 Matth*20«i 2* 
 
2 24 I ^^^ comfort at otirorvnc death. D i v i s I o n 5 
 
 Ecclcr.8.8. 
 
 I Cor^if.ji. 
 Ecclcr.38.11. 
 
 Ecc!cr4i.4» 
 Ecclef.^.xo. 
 
 i 
 
 I may ftippc it up with patience, and receive great comfort 
 thereby. 
 
 AgainCj there bee three things that make death tollcrable 
 CO every godly Chriftian.The tirftis the iKcelTicie of dying; 
 the fecond, the facility of dying ; the third, the fcucitic of 
 dying. Fur the firft, that which caniiot be avoided by any 
 power, muft be endured with all patience. There u no man 
 ^ faith the Preacher ) hath powey over thejprtt to retai:ie it 
 neither hath heporver in the day of death, Tlie hril a^c had it 
 and therein may plead antiquine; the iecond agiff'elt it, and 
 may pleade continuance; the Ia(l age hath ir, and may plead 
 propcrtie in all flefli , till (inne and time iliali be no more. 
 Call it then no new thing rhat it is lo ancient, nor a ftrange 
 thing that is louluall; neither call it an evili properly thine 
 which is to comoii to all the world. Wilt thou feare that to 
 be done, which is alwayes in doing,I meane thy dying;and 
 doit thou feare to die in thy lalt day ,whcn by little and ii'tle 
 thoudycft every day? Oh v, e!l <aidthe Apoftle Saint Pahl^ 
 Iproteflhj our retoycin^ ^ which J have m (^hrift- lefns our 
 Lord late daily. 1 hen 1 rnay well fay yt are alwayes dying-, 
 aM ■ deah is f'lll m^^\'^'g,R€7nembcr my iKdgment({^\\\\ lefm 
 the fonne (^t Syrach \for thtneal'o P^aU befo^ycft-erdayfor me^ 
 and to day for thee. Salomon lairh, -^// tbtrigs have here their 
 time, y OH to day^and 1 to morrow ^and fo the end of Adams line 
 is foone iimwt out* Death is the EmprefTe and Lady of all 
 the world, itifeafeth upon all fleOi without furrendcr of any^ 
 till the day of rcflauration; no place . noorefeoce, no time 
 can backe ic; there is no priviledgt againft the grave , there 
 is no inquifition in the gravx , there is no pitic to be ^l^ewed 
 by the grave, there is no pleading with the grave : J'or there 
 16 no worke({^\''\\ the Prcach.tT i no>- devife,nor knowledge yKor 
 wffdome in the ^rave, whither thop. g^orfl, \nd therefore anti- 
 quitie never inade altar to Dearh ^or devotion to the grave, 
 bccaufe it \va5 implacable, ever found to be crucll,and never 
 felt to be kinde. 
 ' 'And licere fiom the neceTfity ofdyrng, vve come to the 
 
 \^^^ facility 
 
I 
 
 Division 5. 1 htecmfort at our o)vn death. j iz .^ 
 
 facilirie of dying , which makcth it/tflc fearcfuil, and more 
 tollerable, for that rhc fence oFdcath \s ok no continuance ^ 
 it is buried in us own biith,K' vanilLech in its own thought, 
 and the painc is uo looncr btgunnc., bu: is prclcntly ended. 
 I hough the flclh bee wcake and Fraile, yet the Ipirit is 
 ft o;ig to CiK :)U)Ker the cruelcie of Death and to ma^c it ra- 
 ther a ki;ide kilVe, then a cmell qilo'^'z^Vc farnt not ( faith the 
 Apullle ) for thoufhthe oHtrpur.l man pertpy, yet the inrpurd ' i.Cor.j*'^. 
 man t^renueddaji by daj.Qwv Saviour Chri (I (aid at his death 
 andialt Harwell, Fjtherthehoure u come,glortfie thy Sonne , \ 1013^,17.1. 
 thnt thy Sonne aijo may glortfic thee. Is there glory in death, 
 and is death but an houre i It is of no long ai^ode, tha: abi- 
 dethbutan hoiire-, and little doe I doubr , but that in that 
 houre the foule is more ravillicd with the fight ofGod^then 
 the bodie is tormented with the lence of death. Nay I am 
 further pcrfwaded that in the houre of my dea-h, the paili- 
 ou of mortalitie is lb beaten backe with imprelTjon ^f ctcr« 
 
 nitie, that the flefh feeling notheth , but what the foule of^ 
 fereth, and ihat is God,fiom whom itc.me, and whither it 
 would(as Saint Ati^ufttne laich) with as great haft as happi- 
 ncflTc. And therefore, whether you pleafe to define or divine 
 of death, whatit is, if it bee rightly broken into parts and 
 paffiges, the ele(fl of God lliall findc it a very eafie paflage , 
 even as it were but a going out of prifon , a fiiaking off of 
 our giues, an end of banifhmenc, a breaking off our bands , 
 a deltrudion of toilc, an arriving at the haven, aiourney R- 
 nifhed, thecafting off an heavie burthen the alighting from 
 a maddc and furious horfe , the going out of a tottering and 
 ruinous houfe, the end of all griefcs , the efcape of aU dan- 
 gers, the dcftroyer of all evils. Natures due Countries ioy, 
 and heavens blifle. And from hence doe flow thofe fwecte 
 appellations, by which the holy Gholl^ which is the Spirit 
 of truth, doth deicribe the death of the godly,in faying that 
 they are gathered or coiigregited to tlieir people, that is, to 
 thtr company of the blelTed and triumphant Church in hea- 
 ven : to come to thofe which have decealed before them in 
 
 a 
 
 the 
 
22 6 1 The comfort at our owf^ie death, DivislOS5i 
 
 Gen. J ^•''9» 
 
 Gen. 4 9.3?. 
 J Numb.ao ^4. 
 
 I. Per. 1.1 4« 
 2, Cor. 5.4. 
 
 Phill.i'. 
 
 Phil.i.iK 
 
 ' chc true faich j or rather have gone thicher before them« So 
 that the holy Ghoft iifeth a moii: fvveet Veriphrafis of death; 
 as fpeaKiiig of the death o^ Abraham^ Then Abraham gane 
 tip the ghoft, and dted in a good old age^ a.n old man and full of 
 yeeres, and was gathered to his people. And of the death of /- 
 Caac, And Ifaacgave up the ghofty and died, and was gathered 
 unto his people : and fo hkcwile oilacob yoi Alo^fes, of Aa- 
 ron O-c, - • I 
 
 It is but the taking of a iourney, which we thinketo bee! 
 death, i t is not an__e nd,but a paflage , itjis not fo much an c- I 
 migrationjas atranfmigration from worfe things to better, I 
 atakingaway oftheloule, andamoftbkfled conveying of; 
 it from one place to another^not an aboHfliingjfor the loulc 1 
 is taken from hence, and tranfpofcd into a place of eternall 1 
 reft ; it is a palTage and afcenix>n to the true life, it is an out- 
 going, becaufe by it the godly pafTc out of the flaveric of 
 finne, to true libertie, even as heretofore the Ifraelites out 
 ofthe bondage of Egypt into the promifed land. And asS, 
 Teter termes it it is,a laying downe of the tabernacle,for fb 
 he ftiles our bodies. And as S.Tanle termes it, it is an unclo- 
 thing or putiwg off ofit , and a removing out of the bodie 
 from a mofl: filthy lodgirg to a mod glorious dwelling. 
 They are laid to be loofed from a port or from a prifon jaiid 
 to come to Chrift, feeing they are led out of the Inne of this 
 prefent life to the heaven y Country , and out of the dregs 
 of wicked-men to the mofl bicfled Ibcietie of Chrift and his 
 Saints in heaven. They are loofed by death out of the bonds 
 of the bodie; for even as cattcli,when they havedifcgarded 
 the labour of the whole day at laft about the evening are fet 
 free : and as they which are bound in prifon arc loofed from 
 their fetters, fo the godly are led foorth by death from the 
 yoke of their labours and forrowes of this lifc,and out of the 
 filthie prifon of finne, and by a wondcrfull and moft fvvcct 
 tranfntion are caricd to a better 'ife. 
 
 Out of all which itckarely appeal eth, how tnicly the A- 
 poftle ha^h called the death of the godly advantage , feeing 
 
 It 
 
»^— ^ I 
 
 Division 5. Theconfort at oitr owudedth. | 127 
 
 1 
 
 it is advantage to have tlcapcd the incrcaic of (innc, advau- 
 tage by avoydinf^woife thin^scopalk'Co better, from la- 
 bour aixl danger to ptrkd rcilanditciiruic , and winch is 
 all in al!,to etcri^all blcircdntUf. All which appellations of 
 death, doe teach us to bclo farrc from being afraid of it, 
 that we ought willingly to we'come it, as the ealie and ioy- 
 fullmellenger of our happy deliverance, and not fiiig loth 
 to depart, as all worldlings doe, who tremble at the very 
 nameoFit. ' 
 
 And thus ' pade from the facility ofdying, to the felicity 
 of dying, of which 1 may lay as Sam^fon did of his riddle, 
 Ont of the eater CAme meat, and ont of the flrong camefweet- 
 neffe* Now the meat that commeth out of this cacer , and 
 fwectncfle th:it procecdeth forth of this flrong one, is a cti- 
 (ation ofall evill , and an indowmcnt of all good , and by 
 this doore wee have an eafie and readle pafl'age to all blefleA 
 nefl'e and happinefTc, where God, and with him, all good is. 
 Man that is borne of a woman[{d\iV Job )hath but a pjort time 
 to hve^and is full ofmtferj . Q Tweet death that tunic th time 
 intocternity, and mifery into mercic* lo gracioufly hath 
 our Saviour done for us, making medicines of maladies, 
 airesof wounds, and falves of fores, and to his Children 
 producing health out of ficknefTcjightout of darkneffe, and 
 hfe out of death. This made -D^^'^3 todauncein the midfl 
 ofall his afHi(5lion and calamitie , when he faid, I fwuld ve- 
 rily have fainted^ nnleffe 1 hadbeleeved tofeethegoodneffe of 
 the Lord m the land of the Uvina^ This hath fupported the 
 foules of Gods Saints in the leas of their forrowes, when 
 they thought upon the day of their diifolution, wherein j 
 they lliou d be made glorious by their deliverance. It is faid 
 by the Apoftle/'^«/, that all creatures groaiie waiting for 
 the liberty of the fonns of God : and Hall wee bee worfe 
 then brute beaftes I doth the whole frame of nature as it 
 were call for this time of change , and fhall man beefoffu- 
 pid or carried with fuch fencelefl'e feares; as ro fl^unne his 
 owne felicitie ? 
 
 CLi For 
 
 Judges 14.14. 
 
 Iob,l4.r. 
 
 PfaF.17.i3. 
 
j 22 
 
 ■ — - ■ ■ ■ ■ r I 
 
 8 \ Thicomfert At our owne death. Division 5.] 
 
 Iohni4.^. 
 
 j 
 
 I For as our Saviour Chrift tookc his flight from the hea- 
 ven to the Virgins vvombe, from her wombe to the world, 
 from the world to th^ croflc , hom the crofle to the grave, 
 from the grave unto heaven againe:£y€ii fo from the womb 
 wee muft follow his fteppes,a'id tread the lame path that he 
 hath trace d out for us. I amthe way ( faith oar Saviour ) the \ 
 
 lohn x.ij. 
 Revel. 1 4.4. 
 
 Numbers i.^», 
 Numb. 10.15, 
 
 truth and the /ife.Hc is the way without wandring,the truth ' 
 without (liadowingjthe life without ending 5 he is the way 
 in our peregrination, truth in deliberation, life in renume- 
 ration: the way whereby our pathc* are diredcd , the truth 
 whereby our errours are correc1:ed,and,the life whereby our 
 fiaile mortalitic is eternized. Therefore you may not looke 
 to leape out of your mothers warme wombe , into your fa- 
 thers hot ioy :For the dif'ciple ( faith our Saviour)^ not above 
 his mafter , nor the fervant above his Lord : you muft for a 
 while endure death, that you may be dignified, I had almoft 
 faid;deified;and furcly you ihali be neere it.f •r we are borne 
 ofgod(fsLkh the Ev^ngdii\)4»dwe/^a/ibefafiio»ed Uk^ unto 
 the glortoyts bodie of(%rtFi ; for he Jhali change our vile bodie^ 
 that it may be fajhioned Itke unto hisglorioti^ bodteiand we [hall 
 follow the Umbe ( faith the holy Ghoft ) whitherfoever hee 
 goeth. 1 1 is enough that Chrift dyed, neither would hee 
 have dyed but that we might die with fafetie & pleafure.* 
 how truly m ay we fay, O this our David thou art worth 
 ten thoHfand of w ^y&2L worth a world of Angels,yct he dyed, 
 and dyed for us ; who would therefore live that knowcs 
 hi^ Saviour dyed , who can bee a Chriftian and would 
 not bee like him that would not ^\t after him? Thinke of this 
 and judge whether all the world can hire us not to die. 
 
 A id now tell mcc in lieu of all I have (aid , if death do- 
 cth thus divide vs from all evill , and bring us into all 
 good ^ If death bee like unco the gathering holle o^T>an, 
 that commcth laft to gather up the loll and forlorne hope 
 of this world , that they may bee found in a better.^ 
 whether it is better to live in forrow or to die in fo- 
 lace? 
 
 Let 
 
DivisioN5- '^^^ ec^fort at our ow/ic deuth. 
 
 Z29 
 
 Let Agam.ides and Trophomus aflbi'c the doubt,ot whoni^ 
 it is written by P/ato in his yixtaca^ihsiz atcer they had buil- 
 ded the tLiupk oi'yipo//o' Oe/phtcks'.hty btgi^cd oKjod tha: 
 he vvouid grant to thcni that which would D.e moft beneh- 
 ciall tor ihcnii who atter this luitc aude^ went to bed j and 
 there tooke their ult fle^pe, btitig DOLh tbu:.d dead the day 
 artcr; in token that ti^ day oFdea Ji is better then the day of 
 hfe 5 this btinj^che cnirariCe intoaii mileryiand that iheend 
 ot allmilery : yea ourdillo luion is nothing elie, but eterm 
 «.im/;/, the biuh-djy ofeternitic, as Seneca calles it more 
 truely then he was awai^' : Dtach is our birch day , we (ay 
 faifly when we call death the lalt day, tor it is indeed the bc- 
 bcginningotancvcrlaflingday,and IS there any gieivance 
 in ihat ? For this dinblution gives to our (bu'es an entrance 
 and admilTion into the inofl blcfl'ed (ocietie of cternall glory 
 with God himfeife: For what other thine is death to the 
 
 \ 
 
 bithfull, but the funerall oFtheir vices, and the reiuiTedion 
 ot their vertues. Chriflians therefore ( one vvouid thinke ) 
 need not as pagans ^conlblationsagainft death , but death 
 iliouid <^crvc chcm a^ a confblarion againd all milery. Death 
 is the day oFour coronation , we are heires apparant to the 
 crowne in this life, yea we are kings eled:^but caitnot bee ' zTiixu4»8, 
 crowned till death , and fhall not that make us love the ap- 
 pearing oFChrilt i Is a King afraid oFthe day oFhis corona- 
 tion* in thecercmoniall Law, there was a yeare they called 
 theyearc oFlubilc, and this w^as accounted an acceptable 
 yeare, becaufe every man that had loll or fold his Iande-,pp- 
 upon the blowing oFa Triunpet returned and bad pofldlion ' Lcvlr.if. 
 of all igaine, and fo was recovered out oFall the extremities | 
 in wh'ch he lived before. Li thi s life we arc like the poore j 
 menoflfraell that have loft our inheruance. and live in a i 
 manner and condirion every way ftraighrned, now death is I 
 our lubile, and when the Trumpet of death blowes, wee all 
 that die returne and enioy a better eftate then ever we Ibid"! 
 Of loft : flnll the lubile be called an acceptable time, and ll ail Efay 6i.j. 
 not our lubile be acceptable to us ? 
 
 Q^ I But 
 
 
23 o I The comfort at our owne death. Divisions. 
 
 Pra,io2,2 4, 
 
 ' 
 
 p^u.5'^l^ 
 
 But you will here obiedand fay, me thinkes I am called 
 backc coo timely out ot this life^God Ihatcheth mc a way in 
 the midft of my daies. I might yet live longer, for I am 
 young and in my Wood. I feare therefore leaft this be a fignc 
 of the wrath ofGod/eeing it is written^ ^/«>«^ff and deceit- 
 full men pjall not live out halfe their daies. 1 anfwer, there is 
 no time now to confult with flefh and felood, but readily to 
 obey the heavenly call. And for your few yeeres , Seneca 
 faith wcllj He that dieth when he is young, is like him that 
 hath loll a dye, wherewith he might rather have loll then 
 wonne} more yeeres might have enfnared you with more 
 finnes^and have hardened you in your impenitcncie, to the 
 hazard of your life in this world, and your ibule in another. 
 And for the flower of your youth^ if you compare it with 
 eternity, whether now you are going, and ought to long 
 after it, indeed all are equally young and equally old. For 
 the moft extended age of a man in this world is but as a 
 point or a minute, and the molt contracted can bee no leflc 
 And lefii^i the fonne o^Sirach faith, A q^oodlife hath but few 
 daies ^nothing is to timeh vfith God, which is ripe. Long life 
 truly is the gift of God, and the hoary head a crowne of glory 
 ( faith the Wifeman}//^'r he found in the way ef right eon fnes. 
 Yet fliort fife is not alwayes a token of the wrath of God, 
 feeing God fometime commands the godly alfo , and thofe 
 that are beloved of him to depart timely out of the houfe of 
 this world, that beeingfteed From the danger of finning, 
 rhey may bee fctled \\\ the fecurity of not finning, neither be 
 conftrained to have experience of publike calamities , more 
 grievous ofcenrimes then death it fclfe. It is certaine to live 
 long , 15 but to bee long troubled, <S: to die quickly is quick- 
 ly to bee at reft, 
 
 An immature and vn timely death , for a man to be taken 
 awny before he become to the full period of his X\^c ,that by 
 the courfe of nature and in the eye of rcafon he might have 
 attained unto , is a thing that may betide good men, and not 
 be a curie to them. The righteoiu man perifiethy and no man 
 
 laycth 
 
 Ecclc.4i.ij» 
 
 Prou.1^.31. 
 
 Eiay^t?.!. 
 
Division 5. 7he€0»^fort at our orvndeMh. 
 
 :.3i 
 
 1 
 
 Ujah It te his heart , faith the prophet , the mcrctfaUm^n u 
 taksH^tray ^ ( namely, untimely. ) For \t they dyed m a f-ull 
 asc it were not blame worthy For a man iioc to co:ifider it 
 in his heart. UcoIp knew this full well, th:it untimely death 
 belongcihto Gods children, For when lofcvhcs parthco- 
 louicdcoit was brought to him all bloudic, it is laid that he 
 knew it, Imntjfonnescoate{^ iaith he )fome evtllbeaft hdth Gcn.jr.J j. 
 devoured him, lofeph is irtthoHt doubt rent tn pieces So At^iah,' Gen. ;4. 18. 
 the Tonne oF Jeroboam billing (ickc , leroboum lending his '-Kuigs.M. r. 
 wife to the Prophet Ahiiah withprelents , to tell her whac J•^^'•^ ^'U* ^ 
 Hiould become of the chfd;when (l:ec was come, the Pro- 
 phet told her,that he was lent to her with hcavie tidings. ^- 
 rtfe thou therefore C faith he ) f ff thee to thine owne houje, and \ 
 vphen thy feete enter int9 the [ttie, the child fljcill die, and all if- 
 rael fhallmoHrne for him-^ Or bury htm;for he only of leroboam 
 pjallcome to the grave , becaufe in him there is found fome qtsod 
 thtn^ toward the Lord (Jod of Jfrael^in the houfe of leroboamy 
 
 Now this truth is confirmed unto us by two arguments, 
 the one drawne from the malice of the wicked againil the 
 godly, the other from the mcrcie of God to the godly. 
 
 For the firffc, the wicked through their malice leekc by all 
 meanes to cut off the godly , becaufe their wickedneffe and 
 finfull life is reproved by their godly converfation , neither 
 can they follow their fins fo freely as they would, nor quiet- 
 ly without detcdion or checkc. Thev^poftle faith, Cain 
 that wicked one, cut off and ^ew his brother Abel-^ and where, 
 forefl ew he him^becaufe his one workes were evill^ndhis bro- 
 thers good. l^\\tV2iX.n2iXQ\\^S^o\6. lofeph their brother and 
 fent himoutofthchouie of his Father, becaufe hee was a 
 meanes that they were checked for their evill layings. And 
 this is that we have in the booke of Wifdome. Therefore 
 the ungodly men fay Jet m lye m wait for the righteous, becaufe \ WiTd.i.iiji 4» 
 he is not for our turne, but is cleane contrary to our doings, he ^^'* * •'F»'» 
 Hpbraideth its with our offending the law^ and ob^eBed to our 
 inftmie m the tranfgreffion of our education. He w,u made to 
 reprove our thoughts. It qrieveth us alfo to looke upon htm: for 
 
 ' CL4 his 
 
 \ 
 
 i.Tohn.j.iii 
 Gcn.37.1. 
 
\ 
 
 232 I The comfort at ourowne death. D*i visions. 
 
 1 
 
 Gcn.19.16'17. 
 
 2 King.2i.ic. 
 
 Efay J7.I. 
 
 \his life 16 not like other mens : his wayes are of another fifhion. 
 He coHnteth us as hufi:ards, and he tvithdraweth himjelfefrom 
 oMr rv.ijes as from fl/thtnejfe:he commendeth greatly the latter 
 end of the tf^fi, an x ho.tfteth that Cjod is hts Father. For if the 
 rtghteo'AS ynan be thefonne ofGod.hewi/lhelpe him,anddeltver 
 ht/H from the hands of his enemies. Let us examine htm with 
 rebukes and torments , that wee may l^ow his meck^effe , and 
 groove hi ffatienceilet us condemnehim unto a fh^msful death: 
 for he pyxli be preferved as he himfelfe fatth. 
 
 For the Iccoiid, bcxaule in the goodncfTe of God where- 
 with he affccleih his children,he taketh them from theevill 
 of the plagues to come, as Lot out ot Sodome, and as good 
 king lofiah : Therefore I wtU gather thee unto thy fat hers, and 
 thoupjalt be gathered into thy grave in peace, and thy eyes pjall 
 not fee all the cvill, which 1 will brina upon this place. 
 
 The righteous man perijheth {^i^xith the Prophet as we heard 
 before J and no man layeth it to heart ^ and mercifull men are 
 taken away, and none confider that the righteous is taken away 
 from, the evillto corm^. And though he faith he peril^eth,he 
 meaneth not (imply thAt they were periflicd. but as Chryfo- 
 flome faith oFone, he flecpeth, he is not dead; he lefteth, he 
 is nrt periflicd. For the prophet fpeaketh according to the 
 opinion of the wicked, who were fixed in the world , and 
 therein had their felicity ^ and fo iudgcd them to bee peri- 
 fhed, who were taken out of the world I'omewhat untimely 
 and vnfeafonably , as it feemed to their fence and iudgement. 
 Rut all this is in Gods mercy, from the evils to come. That 
 bei'des the prefenc miieries , there are many miferyes to 
 come, fo as it is an argument to prove the happi neflc of the 
 dead , that they are taken away from the miieries to come, 
 which fhould Iike\Viie move us to love life the lefle, be- 
 caufi.' wc know not what fcarefull alterations may come, 
 cither m outward cftntc . or in matters of religion. 
 What cafe were wee in if warre Hiould come upon us 
 with all the delolations ard terrours that accompanie 
 It ? What if the peflilence fliould come againe , or 
 
 we 
 
Dl V I s I O N 5 . The comfort M our o\v/iC dcdth. 
 
 -^33 
 
 we be left in the liandcsof the violent ? or God fighc agjinft'^ 
 our eftaces by Hre or iniiiidations or the like? Who cJn 
 tell what fcarcFiiU alterations may be in religion , and is it 
 not belt to be in heaven, and then we are lafe,bcfides the ini- 
 feriesthat may fall upon our owue bodyeSyOrchildrcn^ or 
 friends «» 
 
 To this purpofe VVifdome f^ith, Though the righteous be Wirrl.4.7,.",9, 
 preventedby death , yet pjall he be in refl* For honor Able ^ae is 'o* ' ^'^jijj 
 not that which fiandeth in lenq^th of time y nor that is meu^ ured , ' **'* ^'* * 
 by number of year cs^ but ivtfedome u the gray haire unto men, 
 and unfpotted life is old a^e.He ple,ifed God, and tvas beloved of 
 htm, fo that livintT amonirfl frnners ,he v.\ts tranfldtcd-^yeafpee' 
 dily was he taken away , left that wicksdneffefhould alter his Un- 
 der ft andina, or deceit beattile his fouls. For the bewitching of 
 naughtmejfe doth obfcure things that are hone ft ^ and the wan- 
 drina ofconcupifcence^doth undermine the ftmple mind. He be- 
 ing made perfeEl in a ftort time fulfilled a log time for his foule 
 pleafed the Lord,and therefore hafted he to take him away from 
 amongft t hewicked. This' the people faw and under ftood it not^ 
 neither laid they up this in their mindcs,that his err ace and mer^ 
 cie is with his Saints, and that he hath refpecl unto his chofen. 
 Thus the righteous that are dead ftoall condemne the untrod/y 
 that are ltving,and youth that is foone perfeEled^the many jeers 
 and old age of the unrighteous, 
 
 Tlottnus the Philolopher(as S.A'iguftme hath it)rawe \'[\. 
 part this very thing that men are bodily morral,and thought 
 it an appurtenance to the mercy of Cod the Father, left they 
 Oiould alwayes bciicd to the mifery of this life. It is no leiTe 
 mercie to be taken fooncr away , that they may fee and fuf- 
 ^vT lefle mifery , which the length of their daies would 
 cfFcdl. Therefore the godly man dies weU v whether he dvc 
 in a good age, orin the firft flower of his youth. By how 
 much the more timely the heavenly Generall doth call thee 
 backe out of the ftation of this life, by fo much the fooner 
 doth he place thee in a place of reft, peace and vidory. It 
 may bee you will obicd and fay, I would live longer 
 
 to / 
 
\ 
 
 \ 234 
 
 Icr.4j.j. 
 
 L 
 
 T/jc co/nfort At our owne death. Division 5 
 
 to doe good and to benefit others and to doe God fervice, 
 and to benefit others by mine example, & therFore : am loth 
 yet to die» Anlvver , fcarch thine one heart, it may be this 
 pretence ot doing good to others, is pleaded only bejanfe 
 thou wouldcft further thine ownegood, and^jod that let 
 you to doe this worke, knowes how long it is fit for thee to 
 be at the famt . He knowes how to make ule of all the la- 
 bours of his vvorkemcn,he will not call thee from thy work 
 till he be provided todilpatch his bufincs without thee: 
 and it may be if thou be long at thy worke thou wouldcft 
 marrt all.thy laft workes wotild not befo good as thy fiift^ 
 itisbeflto give over while thou doeft well for though 
 thou maift doe much good heere,yet it is certaine thou doft 
 much evill hcere too. Againc if any others obied the 
 loathneffc to leave his honours or high place in the world. I 
 anfwer > confider ferioufly the thraldome which thy prefer- 
 ment brings thee, thou canft not live free but ftill thou arc 
 fettered with the cares and feares and griefes that attend thy 
 grcatnes ; there is litle difference betwcenethec and a prifo- 
 ner ^ lave that the prifoncr hath his fetters of Iron and thine 
 are of goM, and that his fetters binde his body and thine thy 
 minde, he wares his fetters on his leggs and thou thine on 
 thine head -and in this thou art one way leiTe contented then 
 fome prifoners for they can (ing for ioy of heart when thou 
 art deie(5led with the cares and griefes of thy minde : if 
 thouhadefta crowne it were but acrowne of thornesiii 
 refped of the cares it would put thee too; fay thou fliouldeft 
 get never fo high, thou canft not protcd thy felfe from the 
 miferies of thy condition, nor preferve thy felfc in any cer- 
 taintie from the lofle of all thou enioyeft , if thou wert 
 as high as the toppe of the Alpes thou canft not get fuch a 
 phcebuttheploudcs, windcs, ftormes, and terrible light- 
 
 nings mav R'i^t thee out fo as thou wouldcft account the lo- 
 
 wer g'-ounds to be the iafcr place •• a^^nd ffekrft- thou great 
 things for thy felfe : [eeke them not, for behold I will bring evil 
 upon allfleftffattlb the Lord, I hou ftandcft as a man on the top 
 
 of 
 
 
Divisions. The comfort at our orvne dcuth, 
 
 235 
 
 ofapinack thou canftnot know how loone thou maicft,; 
 tumble downe, and rhat tcarcfully, and if thou Hiouldcfl: bee \ 
 luretoenioy thy grcatncllc of place in the world, yet thou 
 art not iuie to prclcrve thine honour , for cither it may bee 
 blemidicdwithuniullarperfions orcllc fome fault oF thine 
 ow.n may marre all thy praifes; for as a dead ily may marrc a E*^^'*".^^*!. 
 whole box of oyncmrntjlo may one fin thy glory. Thou loo- 
 Icll not honour by dying, for tli^re are crownes of glory in 
 heaven^ Inch as iliall never wither nor be corrupted, fuch as 
 can neither be htld with care or cnwy or loft with infainy. 
 Againe, it may be you will obied and fay, I, am loth and un- 
 willing to dic^ becauiethen I mull leave my loving wife my 
 deerc children and kinsfolkes. I anlwer, howfoever we bee 
 left & forlakcn, or rather fequcftred & feparated from our 
 wiues,children,kinsfolkcs & friends by dcath,yet arc we not 
 forfakenofGod^norof bis Sonne Icfus Chrifi:. But take 
 heed that ihou be not fo carcfull for the bodily fafety of wife 
 children, kinsfolkes & friends, that inthe meanetime thou 
 neg!e(5lthe care of thy foulc. Behold, he cals thee by dearh, 
 take heed thou doe not fo love thy wife and children , that 
 therefore thou refufe to follow God caling thee with a ready 
 heact The love of thy heavenly Father mufl: be preferred 
 before the love of children ; the love of our bridcgroorae 
 Chrift Icfus before the love of thy wife, the benefit muft not 
 be more loved then the bencfa(flor. And we muft confider 
 that we,our wives,children,kifisfolks & friends are all as it 
 were travel?crs,going forth of this world, in a maner,wc tak 
 our voiage togetherjif we go a litle before, they llial follow 
 riiortly after. Wherfore as at the begin ing of our mariage & 
 acquaintance, God did appoint that wx lliould leave father 
 &: mother,& cleave to our wives, even fo now in this cafe,it 
 ought not to grieve us to leeve them when God wll have it 
 ro,& to return to him, who is better unto us, then father,mo 
 thcr, wifc,children,or any thing efs:yca worth ten thoufand 
 of them, as the people laid of ^^^Wjyea he ihen ilial be al in 
 all to us . T hcrefore let the godly ones fetch comfort from 
 
 hence 
 
 Mat. (p. J. 
 
 i.S.im 18.5. 
 i.Cor.i y.i3. 
 
 T 
 
 f 
 
2 36 I 
 
 The comfort At cur ownc death. Division 5 
 
 hence that though by death they leave the world , wife , 
 children , and Friends and kinstoikes , yet they iliaUbee 
 o-athered to their fathers , kinsblkes and hicnds. Againc, 
 ala^ the moll of us have not lo much a^ one found encire 
 and perfect Friend m all the world worthy to bee recko- 
 ned as the Hay of our lives. Thole that can plead Fclicitie 
 in their Friends , yet what is it i One pleaiing dreame, hath 
 more in it then a monthes contentment which can bcc 
 reaped from thy Friends, Ahs it is not the thoulandth part 
 oFthy lite which is (arifKed with delight From them, and 
 thouFccllthyji-riendsdroppe away From thee from day to 
 day : For either they die or they are (o Farrc removed From 
 thee that '^ hey are as it were dead to thee , and fith they are 
 gone , who would not long to goe aFter them ? And the 
 friends that are left are no: lure to thee , men are mutabk as 
 well as mortall , they may turne to be thy Foes that are now 
 dearell unto thee 5 or iFthey Fall not into tcarmesor flat en- 
 mity they may grow Full and wearie oFthee, and fo carelefle 
 of thee: and what are the Friends on earth to thy Friends 
 thou (halt finde in heaven j" And by death thou docft not 
 loFe thy Friends neither, for thou fhalt finde them and cn- 
 ioy them 113 an other world to all eternity. Who couldMivc 
 here iFhe were not beloved ? Or what can an earthly Friend- 
 fhippe be unto that in heaven, where fo many thoufand An- 
 gels and Saints fliall be glad oFus,and entertaine us with un- 
 wearied delight 5 iFwe had but the eyes of Faith to confider 
 oFthis , we would thinkc every houre a yeare till we were 
 with them; and For thy wiFe and children,thou leaved them 
 butFor atime, God will rcltore them ro thee againe in a 
 better world , thou gaineil the prefcnce with God and his e- 
 ternall coniundion , he can be hurt by the lolTe oFno com- 
 pany that findeth God in heaven. 
 
 lYCzAoi^ Socrates being buc an heathen man, that when 
 Crito pcrfwadcd him/hat iFhe would not regard his liFe For 
 his own fake,yet for his wiFe,children,kinsfblksand ^\k\M\s 
 fake, which depended on him : he anfwered, God will care 
 
 for 
 
X) I V .1 s I o N 5 . The comfort at our awue death. 
 
 237 
 
 for my wife and children, who firft gave them unto me,and \ 
 for my kinsfolkc and Friends, I lliali hnd the like unto thcm^ 
 and farrc better in the life to comc,neithcr lliall I iong want 
 your company , for you alfoarc going thither, and fliall 
 (liortly be in the fame place: and they arcnotlod but lent 
 before us, neither are they dead, buc fallen aflccpe, here- ' En»y.i5.ip. 
 'after theyihal awake, faith Saint C;/)r/^« , and they /hall ' 
 rife againe , and wee Ihali lee one another, and reioyce and 
 fing. 
 
 Againe, another obiedion : Ok, but my debt is grcat,if 1 
 die now, how can I be comforted at my death, for after my 
 death my creditors witl come andfeize on all that I have, (o 
 cruell are they, and mercilefTe , and lo fhall my poore wife 
 and children be undone for ever: and therefore I would to 
 God I might live to be out of debt, and to leave my wife 
 and children free, though I left them little or nothing , be- 
 fides. Alas I how fhall 1 doe,nay ,how fhall they doe?Thi$ is 
 it that tormenteth my heart, when I thinke of it : thefe care- 
 fijll thoughts goe to bed with me, lodge all night with mee, 
 and rife with mee , and lycth all day m my bofome ; thefe 
 things conddcred, what comfort can I have in death , dying 
 in iuch a cafe? 
 
 \ 
 
 Anfw^ Stitl be patient I pray you,and drinke often of the 
 Lords Fountaine fome fwcece water to refrcfh you in this 
 cafe. I know this you Ipeake of is a very great griefe,aiid bi- 
 teth the heart, and rhat even this makech many a man and 
 woman more loath to die , then othcrwife they would be, 
 and becaulc divers men have divers means to rid their debts 
 by/ome by leafcs and livings in reverfions,fome by difchar- 
 ging every yeare a portion by fuch helpes as already they 
 enioy,evcry man wiOieth as his cafe is,fome to live till thofe 
 leafes and rcverfions come to them and theirs, till they may 
 by fuch yearcly parcells acquit the whole,and fo forth,everv 
 one wifhethlifc, trembling, and leaking to thinke on death 
 xill thefe things be fo. To all which mindes thus grieved and 
 pinched, I fay this, you cannot commit yoiu* wife and chil- 
 dren 
 
 
238 
 
 I 
 
 iPct.j.^.7. 
 
 Luk. 12,14.27. 
 
 Pra.147.9. 
 Pfa 1,104. 17. 
 
 Mar/. 2^. 
 
 J 
 
 The comfort <tt our ownc death. DrvisioN S 
 
 dreninrothe bands of a more faichfiill guardian and over- 
 I (ecr, then God is ; tor he will take them into his charge and 
 prorcclion* And therefore heaiken and give care, what the 
 Spirit of cofnfort (pcaketh , with great comfort m the firft 
 Epift'e o FSaint Peter Mumble yonr /'elves therefore under the 
 mightiehund ofGod,that hee may exalt you in due time, caJI all 
 joHr care tipon htm for hee carethfor joh. As if he (hould fay, 
 I know your woe and carefull thoughts , bee not difco ura- 
 ged, Qor faint in feare under the Crofle j you have care in 
 your heart, caft it upon mee, and 1 will difcharge it ; what 
 you cannot, I can, and of my will bee aflured , 1 doe care for 
 you. O my God, what fayeit thou ? Docft thou care for me/* 
 and fhall 1 remove it from my feife to thy Maicflie^ and lay 
 it all upon thee i So indeed ihou fpeakeli^minc eyes fee^and 
 mi«e cares heare. Why.then will I indeed both beleeve and 
 doefmofl: dcare Father) heere groveUingintheduft before 
 thee, humble my foule, and blcffe and praife thee for eafing 
 me of fo grievous a burdcnjmy care be hereafter f my fweec 
 God J caft wholly upon theCj and as thou haft fpoken, fo do 
 for mee and mine ^ i humbly befecdi thee, for Icfus Chrift 
 
 his fake. 
 
 Confider the Ravens (faith our Saviour Chrifl:) ^<?^ ^^^/ 
 neither fow nor reape,rvhich have neither florehoufe nor barne, 
 and yet God feedeth them. He gives to the beafl his food( izith 
 thQViz\n)i{\i)^»^tothejfottng Ravens which crte^Thefeivait 
 all upon thee, that thou maiefi give them their meat in duefea- 
 fon. How much more ( faith our Saviour ) are yee better then 
 beafts orfowles f Confider <f(^(faith our Saviour) of the Itllies 
 of the field , how they grow , thcjf neither labour nor fpinne.and 
 yet Salomon himfelfe, in all his royalty, was not cloathed like 
 one ofthefe, &c. What concludeth then our Saviour there? 
 Surely even this, your heavenly Father knoweth, that you 
 have need of all thcfe things* As if he fliould fay,let this ftay 
 and ftrcn^rhcn you, and fatisfle and content you evermore , 
 thatGod,yca God your heavenly Father knoweth your cafe, 
 what you and yours from time to time and ever are in need 
 
 of 
 
 1 
 
' Division 5- The comfort dt our oivne dctth. 
 
 i39 
 
 of. O Itrange and llrong comfort drawnc from Gods mer- 
 cic", love and knowledge, how ovcrvvliclintth it all, that e- 
 vcr fcarcFull anddilhulUall man can objed ? 1 am unwor- 
 thy , it is true ( for lo wee mull acknowledge with the Pa- 
 triarch /^fr<?^ ) that wee are not worihy oi the leall of all 
 God> mercies . My debts be great, be it To that they are ten 
 thouiand talents ; the Creditors are vcr}' cruelland merci- 
 kfle, yea ^o cruell as that mercilefl'e Crcditor,vvhi di our Sa- 
 viour Chrift ipeakth of in the Gofpell , niy'^^Ife void of 
 i^riends and the like. Be it io that all thy 'overs/riends and 
 acquaintance are put farre from thee 5 as the Prophet David 
 complaincth in the Pfalme;y ea let all thy brethren hate thee, 
 SLS lofeph was of his brethren ; let all thy friends goe farre 
 from thee,and be wanting unto thee;as it is in the Proverbs, 
 or whacfoever elfe it bee, put it all off with this (faith our 
 b^cfled Saviour ) that your heavenly Father knoweth the 
 fame, and delpaire you of heipe, when hee faileth to know_, 
 and not before, I charge you : but take it at any hands as a 
 fequelc furc •, he knoweth, and therefore he will provide in 
 fit time for all things j and this care (1, all doe, what yours ne- 
 ver can, both for you and yours if you commit it unto him. 
 It is God which cales himfclfe the God of Orphans , and 
 defender of the Widowes; commend them therefore to 
 his patronage and defence. Ever in luch griefcs as thele are, 
 we riiould remember the promifc of the Lord , which hee 
 made to Abraham ^luA to his feed. ^«^ / yvHl eflabUflj my 
 covenant bet ween c thee and me, and thy feed after thee in their 
 generations for an everUfting covenant, to be a Cjod unto thecy 
 and to thy feed after thee. 
 
 All foul es are mine { faitlithc Lord ) both thefoulc of the 
 father andofthefonne are mine. God which is thy God,wi4 
 aifo be the God of thy feed, thy children are not only thine, 
 but alio Gods, yea more Gods then thine; therefore doubt 
 not of the fatherly care of God towards them. The Psophec 
 of the Lord doth tcflifie that hee hath beene young, and alfo 
 old, yec never did he lee the righteous forfaken, or his fccde 
 
 to 
 
 Gcn.3i.10. 
 
 I 
 
 -Ma.t,I8,^P,^9. 
 Pra.88.i8. 
 
 Prou.1^.7. 
 
 Pra.fo.14. 
 P/a.6g.5, 
 
 Pfj. 14^.9. 
 
 Gen. 1 7.7. 
 
 Ezceh.i^.-t. 
 
 pnj.j7.»r. 
 
 / 
 
240 
 
 Pfal.m.i. 
 
 Hcb.i3.j. 
 
 tKm[;s4.xi. 
 
 
 I Sam.i.\ 
 
 ProT.i7.14. 
 
 The comfort At our ownc dcAth, Division S 
 
 to beg their bread ; not meaning that it was impoHible that 
 the child oFa righteous man ("hould goe a begging, but that 
 it is a thing very rare,and that he was now tourelcore years 
 old, yet did he in ail his iiFe never lee it 5 and fo have many 
 men ived rill they have beene of great yeares, and yet (el- 
 dome, or not at bH, have they Icene any luch thing come to 
 pafie. And againe he laith, The feed of the righteous fljallhee 
 mightte upon earth, the generation of the Hf right Jhall beblef-^ 
 fed, God hath promifed to thy children the heavenly trca- 
 fures, he will not luffer them to pcrifli for hunger ; hee hath 
 given them life , and will not deny them maintenance for 
 life ; he hath given them a body, which he hath wonderfu'- 
 ly framed , he will alo kindly fuftaine, he will never forfakc 
 hisowne, nor give over to nourilh them whom hee hath 
 crcated.and hitherto by our (elves through his bleiling pro- 
 vided for. Therefore feare not at death, for if he take you 
 away , he will give fome other good meanes to performe his 
 promtfe by. He is your God, and their God after you, and 
 will not faile thcm/or he hath faid it , IxhU never leave thee, 
 nor for fake thee, 
 
 Jn the very matter wc fpcake of, fee the experience by a 
 moil memorable example, and be comforted with it. The 
 husband died being one of the fonnes of the Prophets , and 
 a man that feared God, he died much in debt, not by reafon 
 of any prodigalitie or untbriftincffe { as many doe ) but by 
 the hand of God, and he left his poorc wife and children to 
 the crueltie ofthe cruell Creditor, who came in fierce man- 
 ner to take away the children from their mother, to anfwer 
 the debt by bondagc.This was a heavy crofle to a man fea- 
 ring God to live in debt & die in debt, efpecially debt being 
 fo dange rous to his poore wife & children .• yet this it was, 
 That we may not be di(couragc:d our felvcs or be over heady 
 toccnfure tofaijifthelikcbcfall anyoneoFus.^'<9r the Lord 
 doth make poor e^and the Lordmakcth rich-jjc brin^eth low and 
 itfteth r//7. And as the Wifcman hxih^Riches are not for ever. 
 Happily this man wiihed that he might live till he had paid 
 
 his 
 
 I 
 
D I V I s I c N 5 • 7 he ecmfort at our owfic dcutij. 
 
 41 
 
 i.Twn.y.8 
 
 DciiMi.12. 
 Abac.z.z. 
 
 his debt, as you doe, and with condition of Gods good li- 
 king •, ic was but well il" he did io. For a man is t) ed and 
 bound to provide t-or his owne tainily . But it lo pleated not 
 God, for he died and left the debt unjaid, and his Creditors 
 will be anlwcied with che bodies ot his poore cryiiig chil- 
 dren^ which hec left with a very lorrowhiU and hcauy mo- 
 ther behind hinij how now llrall this wof'ull widow and Fa- 
 therlclVe children doe ^ Now fee it God faile to provide for 
 that thing, he law this poorc widow had need of, to relieve 
 her lelfe and her children ? He direded his prophet to bid 
 her borrow^ vellclsof her neighbours , and hiini'elfe by his 
 powcri-uli mercie, and mercifull power, fo cncreaied and 
 multiplied that iutle oyle, which Ihee had in a cruTe, that it 
 paid her ctcditorsj and yeelded her further maintenance for 
 her and hers to her unipcakable ioy and comfort-.you know 
 the llorie. Thus then behold and thinkcof it,and write this 
 in the pahncsofyour hands that you never forget ir, <*yf}id 
 n^nte tt upon the doorc-po(l ofthr/ie hotife^ and upon thy ff^atcs^ 
 yea write it^Cr m^ke it piatneJi-pym tables^that he may rttn that 
 readethtt. God is not the God of this man alone, or of his 
 wife and children, which hee left behind him, but he is your 
 God and our God, yea, hee is a God moft merciful! to all 
 thofe tkat doe wholy rely and depend upon him. 
 
 If you may live to free things your lelfe,it is to be wiflied 
 and you may with condition aske it if it may (fand with the 
 good will and plcafuix: gf God; but if it pleafe God to have 
 It otherwife , then grieve not to depart , left you appeare to 
 tye God to your providence, life and meanes, when you fee 
 by this example what hee can doe when you are gone 5 and 
 not what he can doe, but what he will doe,if you waver not 
 but bclecve. God was to this Widow in Head of her huf- ; ^*"^^* • 
 band, and farre better, fo Hull he be to your wife. God was 
 to thcle children in ilcad of their father, and better farre, io 
 Hiall hec bee to yours. God was the Executor and paid this 
 dcbtj& the ovcrfecr that all was wel, friends were not wan- 
 ting to mother or children,but God was a friend in the grea- 
 
 R tcft 
 
 Iohn.io. 1 7. 
 
242 
 
 I 
 
 Thecomjort agiurift 
 
 Dl VI s I0n6 
 
 \ f .SanR.i.8 
 
 Rom-j..!, 
 
 
 ceft need, that mofl: fully, mercifully, and bountifully perfor- 
 med all ^ and fufl-lircd not the care of his deceafed fervant to 
 be uncared for, nor uncomfortcd. 
 
 Wherefore, ktitnocgiievc thee to die, but thereby re- 
 ceiue comfort, if God will have it fo, leave all to him , and 
 remember his promiles.together with this pradifejcommic 
 ting your wife and children to God, and he will proted and 
 provide for them.Therefore what is unpaid by thee, he will 
 pay as fhall be beft,and effed what you connot thinkc of,to 
 give teftimony of his mercy to you & yours. So God is not 
 tyed to your leafes and livings,whcn they Hiall defcend un- 
 to you, if he plcafche will ufe them, if not,he can w^ell want 
 them, and yet pay all,and fetup the poore fatherlelTe child 
 even with the rulers of the people , as hee hath done in all 
 ages. 
 
 The endofthefift Divifion. 
 T H F 
 
 SIXTH DIVISION, 
 
 THE COMFORT AGAINST 
 THE DEATH OF FRIENDS. 
 
 Tght welJ faid Chryfbffome of the word 
 of God, Had rhou the Oracles of God ? 
 care not for any other teacher,for rhcre 
 is none fliall teach thee like them. So fay 
 I for comfort in this cafe,as C^^'JffofloTn 
 doth for dodrine. Haft thou the holy 
 ^ ^ Scriptures ? care not for other comfor- 
 ters, for none fhall comfort thee as thcfc doe, nay without 
 
 thefe 
 
Dl VI S ION 5. 
 
 thcdcAth of friends. 
 
 ^45 
 
 -- . / 
 
 chcic there is no coinbic to be lud at all, and as D.ivid laid ^ ^^^^ ^ _ ^^ 
 to Abimeiech the Priell conceniing the iwoid ot Cjoltnh^ ^^ 1 * 
 let LIS fay otthde holy Scriptures, There is none like unto 
 this^give it me.lor if: thele will not ierve, then nothing will 
 lervc. tor whatluevcr woe wringech,vvhar(ocvcr lorrow j 
 nippethjwhatloever erolVcgrievcth , ai^d whaJoevcr lolle ' 
 troubleth , tlKrc is for tiiem all in the word ol God nioft 
 fwett cointort;if It be diligently lough: , and truly and care- 
 tuUy applied* 
 
 VVc reade in the booke of Gcncfis , that prophane Efan 
 mourned upon his father /(^^^r,and crycd out m jft pittilully 0011.17,58. 
 to him, laying, ^*(/? thonhm one ble^ina^ wy flit her f^ 01 one, 
 but many and infinite are the conlolations ot God our hea- 
 venly Father ; for the llorehoule of his conlolacions can ne- 
 ver be emptied; he hath not dealt with us niggardly or Spa- 
 ringly, but a good meaiureoFconlolations prtllld downe , 
 and running over hath he given to us in our bolome. For ' '^ 
 cuery croffe and lofl'ebe hach feverall comforts and confb- 
 lation in the holy Scriptures. Ble\Jed be God ( faith the A- 
 porlle) even the father ofoHrLordIefif^Chrtfithef<^therof 
 mercies ^Cr Godofall contfort ,-xvho comfort eth us tn all onr trt' 
 hhlattons^ that we may bee able to comfort them , which are in 
 any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our [elves are comfor- 
 ted of God. No marvell therefore if Chrjfosiome faith againe 
 in the true feeling thereof, Ever I exhort , and I wil never 
 , ceafe exhorting, chat not onely here in tl>c Church of God, 
 I you would arrend unto thefe things, which are there faide 
 ' and taught; ( and to fay as Comeli't^ laid unro Veter , T^ow 
 therefore arc we all here prefent before God to heare all thinqs 
 that are commanded thee sfGod.) But at home alfo , that you 
 would daily give your klves with the men of Berca to the 
 fcarching and reading of the holy Scriptures* Search the 
 cS'rr//3;«rcf,( faith our Saviour Chrift for in them ye thinly to 
 ; kfAVe eterndll life ^ and they are they that teflife of me. If you Iohn.^.3^, 
 j will not utterly warre againll: all truth and reafon, and even 
 ! againft ( jod him^elfe , I know you will hearken unto thefe 
 
 z.Cor.f.3.4. 
 
 Aclj.10.33. 
 
 A(f>$.i7.ii. 
 
 R2 
 
 things 
 
244 
 
 1 
 
 The comfort ^g^iinji 
 
 Divi sI0n6. 
 
 a, Tim. 1.7. 
 
 Iohn.7.4^> 
 
 PfA 1.8^4?. 
 
 1 things. (f<?«y^^^^ ( iaith the Apoftle ) y^hat I fay, and the Lord 
 aive thee under fi an dtng tn all thefe things , 
 
 It is luilicicnc to vvaigh thcfe matters with the vvaights of 
 the Lords Sanfluane , and not needfoll to try them by fet- 
 ching helpes ot humane realon. Yet to give them over mea- 
 lurc, that will not reft fatisfied with the comforts which the 
 holy Scripture doth afford, let it bee firft coufidcrcd what 
 humane wit and reafon hath faid in this cafe. 
 
 And touching this matter which now is mooved , I have 
 read, andyouma) lee what Heathens by learning and na- 
 turall light, have fnid to themfelves and their friends in fuch 
 lofles; but this did 1 never read, neither fliallyou finde, that 
 allthtir comforts have countervailed one promife out of 
 Gods bookc.I confefTe thebookes of heathen V^ritcrs doe 
 promife comfort in this calqbut (alas) they pcrformeit not, 
 ' but are like a brooke that fwels in winter when there is no 
 need of it , and is dry in Summer when the paffenger fain- 
 tech and pantcth for heat : no, if we will have good goId,we 
 mult goe to Ophir : if good balmCjto Gilead : if good wine, 
 to Ch lift ac the wedding of C<t«^ : and if good tidings^ to 
 the bookc of God. They did fay well in many things , but 
 never like this word that is from the Lord. Fer never man 
 fp^tks ^^k£ ^his r»an ^2is the ofliccrs told the chiefe Prieftes and 
 Pharilies concerning Chrift. They confidered the necefli- 
 tie of death^thcmiierics of life, the examples of great men 
 that had gone before them, and fuch like* But what are thefc 
 to thofe that the word ofGod will (hew us ; our fafetie in 
 Chrift, our refurrcdio'iin immortality in the prefence of 
 the Fatherahe Sonne,and the holy Gho(l,with fuch like,yet 
 boh i^ood unto a fanclihed mind. 
 
 I irfc the ncceffity of death is a irue comfort againft: death, 
 be itof ourfcU-es, or ofour friends; no living flelli but muft 
 die as we have heard in the firll Divifion. ivhatman is hee 
 ( faith the Pfalmift ) that hveth and fmllnot fee death ? And 
 fhall we fear that in our fclves.or bcwaile immodcratly that 
 incur frinds, which cannot be avoided f This were with 
 
 witlelle 
 
D I V I s I o N 6 . the death of fr tends , 
 
 wirlelfc wilto dilturb the peace oi our whole hfe, and with 
 a Ici vile dread of the laft houre.to bereave o^ comLrc all the 
 rcllof ourhouresthat we are to live ni this prelcnt evil! 
 world, which in your iudgment conceive hov/ tond a thing 
 it were* 
 
 ThccareFull view of natures courfe.doth Hicw us degrees 
 From age to age till wee come to a full, and a .ike dtcrealeby 
 ilcp af er ftcp.rill wc come to the change aganc. Youih fol- 
 lowcth childhood,and age foUoweth youth by allured ne- 
 ceditie, if we live. But when we arc children, wee feare not 
 to be men, either when wc are men, to become olde ; but 
 many rather wifh it, why then Oiould we either feaic in our 
 Iclues, or lament in our friends , death to follow age in his 
 courfc appointed , more then age to follow youth , as was 
 faid before ? Surely the one mult bee received as well as the 
 other without choice. And whereas Chrift faid in the Gof- 
 pell touching man an wife , if^hat therefore God hath ioyrted 
 together Jet no man pftt in /under, it may be more perempto- 
 rily (aid of thi s ,whac God hath ioy ned or coupled'together 
 no man can (cparate nor put a funder. And therefore a wife 
 content both in our friends , and in our fclves fball become 
 us befl.VVho wilnotdie,lec him nevcrlive;for we receive 
 the one to endure the other when God appointeth , and we 
 mull all die both friend and toe : to wife men neceflitic is a 
 comfort and fo f I hope J toyow. 
 
 Secondly, the miferies of this life is another head, from 
 whence heathen men have derived coraf:ort againft death , 
 be it of our felves , or of our frinds. Confider then with 
 yourfelfe from the firft age unto the lall houre, chedifeafes 
 incident to our bodies, to vexe us with woe, according to 
 their feverall nacures,fome more,foHielefle,and yet the leaft 
 too much, all the changes and chances of this mofl wret- 
 ched (infiill world, whereunto, whilft we live wee mull lie 
 upon, will we nill we;from aU which our death doth free us, 
 and our friends. Therefore how fhould wee either feare or 
 forrow for our felves or for our friends,for that which doth 
 
 R? fo 
 
 ^45 
 
 Mattlui^.^, 
 
I -4^ 1 
 
 [xod,4,j. 
 
 i.Sam,i8,r, 
 
 / 
 
 T he comfort ^^ati^Ji 
 
 D 
 
 ivi sXOn 6. 
 
 
 fo befriciicl us : If wc conceive hereof as we ought, wc muft j 
 needs be o[ the fame iiidginent with 5<?^(ff^^and iii fbme fort 
 approve his ipeech ; O men mofl: ignorant ( faith he j of) 
 their owne mi(eries,who praiie not death as the beftinvcn- i 
 ti :)ii ; hat ever nature had,which includerh fehcity,excludeth 
 miferie,fini(heth tbetoyles of age, prcventeth the peri s of 
 youth to many is a remedie, to lome a wiih , to all an end, 
 and defervcth better of none then thc-m, to whome it com- 
 meth before it be called. Yea we muft confeiTe (thcle things 
 beeing wellconfideredjthat it befalleth to men concerning 
 death, as unto young children concerning their friends. Li- 
 tie children if their friends be difguifed with fome ftrange 
 
 rheweSjthey are afraid of thcm,andcrying,fly from them as 
 fome that would hurt them-, as Moyjes fled from his rod of 
 death^ when it was turned into a Serpent. But take off thefe 
 vizards that their friends may appeare as they are^ and then 
 by and by they are comforted and reioyce , and imbrace 
 them gladly againe: even fo ir is of death,when wc arc mif- 
 Icd, it appeareth unto us difguifed and covered by igno- 
 rance of the truth, and his approaching maketh us fhrinke , 
 but plucke off that vizard of fuppofed cvill, and behold it as 
 it i% to us in Chrift , and ir is then but a painted death , and 
 we fee him then our great friend, that cutteth the thrid that 
 we do wcave,and then we neither flie nor ftarc any more , 
 butaretruely comforted, and imbrace him moft willingly 
 as we ought, and love him as lonathatt loved his friend 2>4- 
 -iz/Was his owne foule. 
 
 Thirdly, the heathen confidered againe the famous and 
 worthy rnen that died before thcin and what they endured, 
 and could not avoid ; and thereupon thought great fhame 
 either to ftarc or fl-ie , to lament in themfclues or in their 
 friends. The greateft lights that ever were amongft them 
 died all; Secrates^ DcmofthenesfPUto,Tompfj,CefAr^(^icero^ 
 learned, martial!, or whatfoever ; yea what wifcdome and 
 knowledge, what valour and pro wc(Te, what ad, what go- 
 verment foevcr they had all gifts and graces, all pompe 
 
 and 
 
Di 
 
 VI SIGN 6. 
 
 thedcdth of friends. 
 
 
 and power, all empire and maieftie,were it over thoufauds, 
 or thoufand choiilands,yecldcd to dcjach, death had his place, 
 when his time was come; and as well thele grc^c lights and 
 lofcic gallants, as the lowcft w: etches and poorell wormes, 
 the high okes, as the Imail ihrubs, drniike otdcarhj cuppc , 
 when they were invited and inioyiitd. 
 
 Shall ic not then even in rcafon jttmc uninll and une- 
 quall, it any of IcfTe merit , yea oF no merit , incompariion 
 ot luch men , ihall grieve for thcmlelves , or any friend oP 
 theirs to indiire that which thcie indnrtd. Surely not oncly 
 rogrievC) but not molt willingly to welcome,whac all thele 
 men imbraced, is tcndtrnefle intolerable folly, unfi.ting, 
 and a fault no way to bee excufed. Yea the fault i s io much 
 the greater, by how much either you or your hiend are in- 
 feriour to thele men in iervicc aiid ufc unto the common 
 ftate. 
 
 Thus did the heathens fcek to fal ve the fore which grew 
 by death of' any , and to this end many things of like per- 
 fwafioHjthey heaped up, which I paife #(^erT^s hallening to 
 the word of God, without all compaiiioii the founraine of 
 all comfort. This oncly I fay, and pray on to obferve con- 
 cerniiig the mention made of the heathe^, that it is ment 
 only to 1/ eWjchac they were alLamed to fcarc death in them 
 lelves , or immoderatly bewaileit in any friend, and wili_ 
 you hi^'C of the llrcn2:th ofan heathen i fha'l they fight bet- 
 ter again ft fool ifh affL'dions by the light of nature, then 
 you by the power ofgrace,and the moil bright Sunfhine of 
 Gods word ? God forbid : and as you tender your credit to 
 be ludged truly a fou'dier that anfwererh the promile mide 
 in baprifme, that you would fight manfully under Chriftes, 
 banner , and not yee'd to your foe , and your Gods enemy : 
 let not Sarhan (overcome you in this to make you worfc; 
 then an heathen , more pailionatc , more impatient, more 
 fubie^towill, and IcfTelubicd: to reafon , nay more dif- 
 obedicnt to God and of kfTc reputation before men , for go-j 
 venimcnc of your mind then they were. You know more, 
 
 R4 per for me 
 
i- 
 
 248 
 
 I 
 
 The comfort ag^i^Ji 
 
 Divi sIOn 6. 
 
 Luk.'i 
 
 i^io. 15,2^. 
 
 Ifay.t.io, 
 
 I«uk«l5.jz, 
 
 
 Iob.i«ai.i2, 
 
 /^ 
 
 perforine not leflc then they d.d;you have feenea light chat 
 they never law, nor many other worthy mtn^Bieffedare tht 
 eyes{i2i\t\\ our Savioui)>^'^/^^ fee the things which je fee. for I 
 tell yen that mAny Prophets and Kings have dtfred tojeethofe 
 things which yefee^andhave not feene them,and to here thofe 
 things which ye hear, and have not heard them.W^lk therfore 
 in that Hghc as a child of light, that you may bee more com- 
 foried for the death of your friends, then the very heathen 
 were ^Seneca faith,he that laments that a man is dead,laments 
 that he was a man. And now to come to the word of God to 
 the Law, & t© the teftimony (faith the Prophet) even to the 
 fweet fountain of IfraeU that cooles in deed the fcorching 
 heat of all forrowes,& by name of this,when God taketh a- 
 way any of our friends by death, if Af^^/i?/ and the Prophets 
 wil not comfort us in this cafe,then(as Abraham cold Dives 
 in another cafejnothing can pcrfwad^nor prcvaile with us. 
 
 Many are the places of holy vScripturcs, whence comfort 
 anfe and flow, if they be weland duly confidercd, but mea- 
 ning onely to give you a tafte , fome few (hall ferve at this 
 time,to which may be added .^ by your owncdeligence)fomc 
 more at your beft leifure. 
 
 The Lord gave { faith lob) and the Lord taketh away yble fed 
 be the name of the Lord. Where, 1 pray you, confider well 
 what lob lofl, when he faid thus, & condder w^hat you have 
 lofl now at this time, and you fhall finde your cafes far dif- 
 fering. /<?^ had his Oxen and Afles taken away by ftrangers, 
 and his Tervants flainc with the edge ofthefword.T his was 
 his firfb newcs. The fire of God fell downe from heaven^ 
 and burnt up hisflieepe andhisfcrvants , and confumed 
 them. This was the fecond ncwes, his Camels were taken 
 by the Chaldeans , and his fcrvants (laine. This the third 
 newes , all of them bitter and grievous to happen at once. 
 You will confeflc this was foreyand any one of them falling 
 by it felfe alone upo many of us in thefc daies,would plunge 
 us very fore. Yet fee farre greatcr,his fourch and lad newes 
 waSj that his fonncs and daughters were eating and drin- 
 king 
 
D I V I $ I O N 6 . the death of fr tends . 
 
 i49 1 
 
 king winne in their e'dcfl brothers houfe , and there came a \ 
 great vvifide horn the wildcrneffi-^and (mote the totire cor- 
 ners of the hoLi(c,and the hoiile Fell upon them, and they all 
 died, yea all, and all at once, by this ludden meaiics , to the 
 ucter amazing andallonilLingofallthat Ihould (ee or think 
 ; ofit. Yet for all this( laith the holy Gholl) loh did noc fin j 
 to wit, by raving and raling impatiently, !K)r did he charge 
 God foolill-ily, as dealing nniuitly or cruelly with him; but 
 conlidcred with himfelfe, who had given, and who had ta- 
 ken, and weighed with himlelfe that they were Gods and 
 not his, and Oiould he forbid ihe Lord to doc with his owne 
 what was his good plcafure? Istt ndr/awffffi^i^izh our Savi- 
 our Chrift in another cafe)/or mf to doe what I will with mine 
 owne. Therefore fweetly and meekely, patiently and peacea- 
 bly he calf up his cyes,his heart,his foule, his minde, his af- 
 fedion s , and all unto the Lord, and faid, B/efed be the name 
 of the Z,^r^;of which Lord?furely ot this Lord that had thus 
 dealt with him, and taken away all that ever he had. 
 
 God hath not dealt thus with you , by many and many 
 degrees at this time 5 and will you then take, on , and ( as 
 it werejj bid battell to the Lord , by weeppings and wai- 
 lings J by fobbings and fighings , by groanings and cry- 
 ing, by mutterings and murmurings, and by fuch like tefti- 
 monies of a difcontcnted and offended minde , about that 
 which can Hand with a dutiful childes behaviour to his hea- 
 venly Father r* If your lofics were as great as lobs was , yet 
 you fee wnat he did,and this was Gods Spirit in him, much 
 more in a farre lefTe lofTe mufl you doe it, if you bee endued 
 with the lame fpirit* Thinke with your ielfefas you lee lob 
 didjwhateftatcyouhad in this friend of yours , that now 
 you have loft; you held him not in free, but for a t3rme,aiid 
 what tcrme ? no certaine terme, but during the Lords good 
 will and pleafure. Now your termc is out and the Lord will 
 have his owne againe. Grieve not for^the lofTejthen but bee 
 thankefuU for the loane lo long. 
 
 Againc^I warrant you,M did carefully ponder with him- 
 
 felfe. 
 
 
 Mat.io. I f , 
 
2jO 
 
 T he comfort agmnH Division 6. 
 
 Math,i6.i3, 
 
 
 ramy.ii. [ 
 
 fdfe, what the Hcathen,and ftrangers to religion about him 
 would fay. iFhc fliould be impatient and outragious , they 
 would (ay, behold now the man that feared God, and was 
 fo religious, that he taught others, and rebuked many when 
 they did oftend, that (pake fo much of the Lord, and had his 
 will foever in his mouth,that gave fuch teftimonies fundry 
 wayes to the fhew of man of a reformed life, now where is 
 all become I Now fee this mans pradife, how it anf^vereth 
 his fpeeches, before he was tried ; what doe we fee now in 
 him more then in^ny others that made not ha'fc the fhew? 
 Is there but fo much in him^ as in many i Heathen that knew 
 not his religion ? Have they not taken patient.'y lofle of fa- 
 thers, mothers, husbandij wives» children and friends, &c. 
 and never fhrted at it, in comparit'on of this man /* O vaine 
 fable thenohdigion, that yeelds no more patience nor 
 quiet content of need. Wee will no fuch religion for our 
 parts, neither will wee hereafter regard this man, as in for- 
 mer time,&c. Wha: a fearefuU fruite had this beene oOobs 
 impatience ? how could the Lord have indured it at his 
 handSj if he had in this lort opened the mouthes of che wic- 
 ked againlf his holy feare. Therefore lob laid his band up- 
 on his mouth , and fubmited himfelfc wholly with all his 
 affcdions to the Lords good will and pleafure, withe at cau- 
 (ing any one ro fptake evil by his meancs,to his praifc,and 
 Gods good liking as a memorial for all pofterity.For as our 
 Saviour Chrifl: told the Difciples, touching the commenda- 
 tion of the woman thatanointtd him with a very precious 
 and coftly oyntment to his buriall, faying, Vertlj I fay unto 
 y OH, wher foever this CJofpe/I/ha/ be preached iff the wholeworid, 
 there Jhall alfo this, that this woman hath done be told for a me- 
 moriall of her, Even fo it may be faid touching the commen- 
 dation of the patience of Job in this cafe. That wherefoever 
 this ftory oHob fliall be read and Preached , there iliall alfo 
 this that he hath performed betoM For a memoriall of him. 
 And therefore to this pui pofc the ApofHc Saint lames fairh. 
 Tec have heard^f the patience Qflob,aftd havcfeeve the end of 
 
 the 
 
 I— * ■■ 
 
D I V I s I o N 6 . the death of fmnds . 
 
 25 I 
 
 the tord ^ that the LordU verj pit if all and of tender mercy. \ 
 
 The ca(c is yours ac this rime , in loinc lore aiid mcafiire, 
 you have loll a lolH',and mens eyes are vpon you, yoj have 
 loved the cruth,and lpokei>otthe Lords fcare before divers, 
 now they looke for the power oFit in your felfe,and as they 
 fee you now to governc your affections according to the 
 famcjib happily will they thinke both of- Religion, and of 
 your lell-e, whi'c they live. 
 
 Therefore plLic'<e up your heart in Gods name,and fhe.v 
 patience and comfort, andcaufc not the name oFcjod to 
 be blaf phcmed amon^ the wicked and irreligious, through 
 your impatience : but honor the Lord by bleHing his name, 
 as /<?^ did honor his truth, which you proFefl'c by a godly 
 government and flay of a weakc nature,and as the Lord li- 
 veth^he will honor you againe, as he did lob , with mercie 
 andcompafIion,thatrhallcountervaile thisiofTe, andfarre 
 exceed ic, for all is the Lords that you inioy, and this friend 
 of yours was his alfo. He hath not taken all, but part , and 
 left you much more then he hath taken. Both now and ever 
 be content with his holy will, he gave, and none but he ; he 
 hath taken,ard none but he,not minc,but his own^ my time 
 was out, and the right returneth to the true owner. I may 
 not grudge a mortall man his owne, when my time is out, 
 much lefte God , my deare God, my mofl mercifii'l Father, 
 that yet fendsth mee many mercies and comforts , though 
 this be gone. 
 
 Secondly, to your comfort confider, what this holy man 
 /<'^ faith ag line to his impatient wife^fhee rageth andftor 
 meth , not onely like a weakc woman, but like an ungodly 
 woman, and comming to her husband in his greateft affli- 
 dioHjincreafed now much more by Satans malice upon his 
 bodyjfhec faid unto him./^''(? thonfttllretaine thy integrity} 
 cMrfe God and die. To whom this fwcet and meeke fpirited 
 man made this anfwere u ko her. Thouf^eal^fi like afoolipj 
 woman^Piall we receive g^ood at the hand of (^od.andnot receive 
 9vtll alfo^Unt fmn'tng yet for all thU with hts /ips^ as the holy 
 
 Ghoft 
 
 _ I 
 
252 I 
 
 The comfort agAin U Drvi$iON6. 
 
 ■ Ghoil there faith/Duc bridling his afFcdions^that his tongue 
 through iiitemperaacie did not once irjiirmure againft ihe 
 Lord, 
 
 Now marke, I pray yoM Jobs rcafons to his wife: He tel- 
 leth her that both hee and fliee had received many good 
 things at God» hand,and therefore they were bound to wel- 
 come luch woe as the Lord fhould lend, without any way- 
 ward grudging or repining at the change , bccaufe by good 
 things we arc bound to take worfe thmgs in good*part , if 
 the Lord doe fend them. As for himfelfehe followeth this 
 rule, and for the manifold mercies which he had received, 
 he will now endure with willing heart and quiet minde the 
 mifery which was prefcnt. Bleffed loh ^ thou man of God, 
 for thy thus doing,how fwect was this argument in Gods 
 cares, that prevailed To little with thy wayward wife? 
 
 Apply this now to your owne cftate, and tell me, as you 
 tender the truth,whether God hath not'^beenefb good to 
 ^ ou many waies as untoj/^^f Caft up the bils of your receits^ 
 and call your felves to a Chriftian audit ^ and I warrant you 
 the l»mma totalis will amount very high , and yet yon can 
 never remember the one halfe. Thinke then what lob faid 
 for his part, that lie tookc himfelfc bound by the good , to 
 endure the evill.and fee if your cafe be not all one, you may 
 not gainefay iVy and therefore unleffe you will wilfiilly fight 
 againfl: the Lords good will and pleafurc, you muft yeeld as 
 hee did, and in effedl of words fay with him O my deare 
 God and bleffcd Father, God of all comfort and confolati- 
 on, how many have thy mercies beene upon mc,and to me.' 
 How deepe a draught have I drunke of this fwect cup of 
 thine ? Now thou haft taken one comfort from me, (Tiall I 
 not fet the one againft the other,as thy fervant loh did? f^a// 
 I receive good things ef thine hand, & not evilliih^l I prcfcribc 
 unto thee what 1 will have ? O farre be it from mc, I thankc 
 thee my deare God, for thine infinit and manifold mercies, 
 and in this change I humbly caft downe my felfe at the foot 
 of thy Maieftic , and let thy will bee done, and not mine. 
 
 Lord 
 
^ I D I V .1 s I o N 6 . the death of friends . 
 
 i53 
 
 Lord make mc content, and I am content as a weake vvrccch \ 
 may be content. By my loilc thou haft gained, and 1 doubt 
 not, but that this friend of mine is removed from mee to 
 dwell with thee , at the which I may not grudge ; many 
 mercies 1 enioy ilill, and they fliall content and pleafe mce. 
 Thus iFyou realon, you (liall pleafe God^relemble Icb hcere 
 before your eyes, and that eye of God that fpied him > and 
 was glorified by the patience oFhis Tervant, he (liall doe the 
 liketo you, to your great ioy and comfort. Comfort your 
 fclfeinthcLord then, after this fort, and remember this 
 fpcech o^ lob to his wife. lob received good things, fo have 
 you : lob received cvill^and fo muft you; yet lob was pati- 
 ent, fo ought you to be ,• which the Cjod of patience grant 
 unto you. 
 
 Thirdlyjl rhinkc in this cafe of the bicffed Apoflles words, 
 which are xhtiQ.lVe k^orv that all things worke together for the 
 hefl 1 them that love ^od. If the dead belonged then to God, 
 this was beft for him to be rcleafed'and if your felfe belong 
 to God, it is beft for you alfo at this time to loofe him ; beft 
 I fay, in the wildome of God, and to fomc end ; ( although 
 notfo in your ownereafon, which feeth not fo farrc ) and 
 in all rcfpecn:^ beft. Mow thinkc with your felfe thus much , 
 ifyou had done good to one, and pleafured him much , and 
 all the friends he hath, or any of them lliould crie out for it, 
 would it not griev e you?furely it would grieve you fo much 
 the more, by how much thatunchankefulldiflike ftiould 
 be more vehement and laft long. So it is with God 5 and 
 therefore lee what you doc, and whom you move to anger. 
 The Apoftles words are plaine. AH things works fi^ the befi 
 unto them that fear e God : i^ vou beleeve it, and alfo think of 
 your dead friend and your felfe: God the holy Ghoft ( who 
 cannot lye jconcludcth that the fame was beft both for him 
 and you, which now is come to pafTe. 
 
 When good is done,we fhouldnot'greive^and when the 
 beft is done, much leffe fhouldwe greive, for God calleth 
 him out of this life,when he is at his beft, if he be good, that 
 
 hce 
 
 aom.8.1?. 
 
254 I 
 
 The comfort agiinU 
 
 Division^' 
 
 Phil.1.13. 
 
 hee turne not to evill; iFevill, that he waxe not worfe. A- 
 way then with ioriow and lower lookes, and let the Lord 
 for his mercy, receive your thankes, from faithfull con- 
 tent, and not murmuring and repining from unbridled af- 
 fections : not onely good is done> but the beft, even the ve- 
 ry beft, by the belt that onely knowes what is beft ; and it 
 lliouid appeafe and fatisfie you : God is no Iyer, neither can 
 he be deceived, but if onehoures life might have beene bet- 
 ter either for him or you , then is it not the beft done ; and 
 then the Apoftles words are not true; but that were wicked 
 once to imagine fo. Therefore no longer life would have 
 profited him or you,but the very beft is done; blelTed there- 
 fore be God for his goodneffe ever- 
 
 Fourthly, 1 confider what the fame Appoftle faith in ano- 
 ther place, / defire to he loofedand to be with Chrifi , which is 
 hefl of all. And 1 aske of you,whether your lelfe doe not the 
 hke,as you are ableaf you doe notjou are yet over earthly, 
 and fiirther in love with rhis wicked and finfuU world then 
 you n^ouid be. If you doe it, why then grieve you r hat your 
 friend hath obtained that which you de(ire?this will feeme 
 rather envie then love in you to conceive diflike for ones 
 welldoings What, againc if your friend wifh as the Apo- 
 ftle doth, long before he obtained his requeft, and now the 
 I Lord hath granted, what he fo heartily wifliedi'this is mer- 
 cie to be reioyced for , and not any miferie to be wept for. 
 A true friend acknovvledgeth a debt for the pleafuring of 
 his friend,and is nor mooved with anger or griefe for the 
 fame : ftay then your reares, if you will bee iudged a friend, 
 and neither grudge to God the companie of his child,nor to 
 the child the prefencc of his God, becaufe this i^ wicked. 
 Thinke ofthe glory , company, immortalitie, aixl ioy, 
 and comfort with the bklTed Trinitie, and all the hofte 
 of hc;ivcn , that now your friend enioyeth , thinke of the 
 woes and mifcrics in this wretched vale of teares , from 
 whichheisfrccd,and then iudgeyouifthe Apoftle fay not 
 truc,that itisbefttobe'oofedandtobcwith Chrift. If this 
 
 beft I 
 
D I V I s I o s 6 . the de^h ofjricnds . 
 
 i55 i 
 
 i.Cor.f.i.i. 
 
 i.Cor.j,5,8, 
 
 bed be now at this inftai.t Fallen to your good friend by 
 Gods good mcrcic,bIctVc God For ir,aiid comtort your lelFe, ! 
 that your friend cnio.cth lu.h cndltflc ioy and comfort \ \ 
 and thereby fhall you flievv your fclte friend indeed , and \ 
 all that are godly and uiic cannot but thinke wcllof you. ' 
 Againe.ifthe fecondEpillle to the Corinthians it is laid. 
 For rre knew that tfonr earthly houfe of this tai^ernacle were 
 dtjfolved we have a huildtnj^ of Cjod , an ho fife not made wtth 
 hands eternall tn the heavens -.form this we groane earncftly 
 dejiringto he cloathed upon with our honfe which is from hea- 
 ven, ifyour dead friend have now obtained what all tlie 
 Apoftlc and faithfull men and women (igh to obtaine, and 
 is now dwelling in that heavenly houfe that they fo covet, 
 mournenot for it, but ioy in it, conceive no heavineffc, 
 but comfort , that God hath been io kindw to one whom 
 you fo dearely loved. 
 
 Againe,the Apoftle ^zkhXhat we k»ow,that yphilefl we are 
 at home in the body , we are ahfent from the Lord : therefore we 
 love rather to remove ont of the body , and to dwell with the 
 Lord. From which abience from God your friends is freed, 
 and by prefenceand dwelling with God he is now blcfTed 5 
 a true caufe , and a great caule ( as hath beene laid ) of good 
 content. Then doc not you provoke the Lord with un- 
 thankfull tcares, fighes , and groancs , but fcay that courfc 
 which offendeth greatly ; and tread the ftcppes ofall luch as 
 upon the like occafion have walked nghclv by their dncreet 
 mourning.Who are ever patient and moderate in lorrow, 
 repreffing and ruling their aft-edions, and gave them not a 
 loofe reinej and fo ought you. r" gaine, in the firft Epiftle to 
 the Thcffalonians, it is laid ; I would not have you ignorant, , - 
 
 brethren^concerning them that that jleepe^'that yeforrow not as '•Thcil.4,15. 
 they which have no hope. Read the place, and examine your 
 owne courfe. whether you hope orno.Firftjthat your friend 
 is wel!^ndthcn,that Almightie God will fupply his want 
 toyoufome other way : For both thefe are neceHarie : our 
 friends are our comforts if they be good. But iFl tie God to 
 
 them, 
 
 
 ( 
 
2S6 
 
 Tbc comfort agAinH D r v i s i o n 6 
 
 Levir«io.3 
 
 RCV.!4.T J 
 
 them, and thinke all \% gone when they are gone , where is 
 my hope i what pleaiure to God, fo to tmlt in him, that I 
 trult more in my friendis and cry out when they goe ? how 
 iliall I doc \ how ll^all I \iv^ I what ioy can I now have ? Is 
 this hope f is this truft ? is this faithc fie,that ever afFcdions 
 and pallions fhould carie any good child of God lo far from 
 his dutie^and from true knowledge. I fay againe, our friends 
 are our comfort, while the Lord lendeth them , and when 
 our friend rcturneth to his earth, yet the Lord is in heaven, 
 where he ever was/if I have loll my father j to be my father 
 mother fifter friend, yea all in all to me, whatfoe ver I want. 
 Therefore while he livcth^wbichisandihallbefor ever,I 
 cannot be friendleffe, though my friends die or depart from 
 me, but that either for one,he will raife me up another , or 
 himfelfe iupply the place which is belt of all. Mourne riot 
 then I pray yon as one without hope , but harken unto the 
 Apofl:le,andfhewfoorch your faith, hope, and obedience 
 vnto God, to the gloric of God and your owne praife. 
 
 Againe, wee rcade in thebooke of Leviticus, that the 
 fonnes oi A^ron^ Nadah and Ahthn were flaine by the Lord 
 in his anger , for their finnefull prefumption in offering up 
 flrange fire, which the Lord commanded them not , which 
 was a fcarefull fight and fpedacle to the fathers eyes , to fee 
 two fonnes at once, and in fuch fort deadr Yet what did 
 ^^rd>«, I pray you mark e the text, Jrvill faith theLordbee 
 fanSitjied in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I 
 will be glorified. And Aaron(Qiitli the holy Gholl there jW^ 
 hi^ peace. And what an example is this, if any thing may 
 moove you to flay your affccflions for the death ofyour 
 friends. Againe, itis (aid in the booke of rhe Revelation , 
 And I hard a voice from heaven^faying unto me^H^rtte^Blef- 
 fedarethe deadivhtch diein the Lord from henceforth ^ yea 
 f faith the Spirit J ^^^f they may reflfrom their labours ^ And 
 their worlds follow them.Yom friend is dead in theL6rd,and 
 therefore blcHtd; will you then wecpe and lament for him ? 
 his workes follow him,and the Lord in mercie hath crow- 
 ned 
 
Division 6. the death cf friends. 
 
 '^■j7 
 
 ncd his obebicnce, according to his proinile , and vviil you 
 look c awry at it ? God torbid. Againc, coiilidcr with your 
 fclFc that your friends walk with God, and arc gone lo rhcir 
 heavenly Father m peace, they art gathered unto their peo- 
 ple, th3y arc not dead, but Ikcpe, and their liclli reilcch m 
 hope, they are gone the way ot all tklL , and doe now be- 
 hold the face ot God in heaven,and what caufe of- lorro w is 
 this to any friend that lovcth them J* Jt your friend were 
 difchargcd and relealed out of prilon and miferie , aiid pre- 
 ferred to the palace of an earthly prince,and to his Cuurr/o 
 •his great and exceeding ioy and content, would you iLcw 
 your love and contentment toward him in bewailling the 
 fame? how much Itflb then fhould you lament his prepLT- 
 mcnt into Gods everlalling Court and kingdomcj to his 
 unfpeakablc'ioy and comfort ? 
 
 Thus may you gather many places of holy Scripture, and 
 on this fort meditate on them. For fweet is the word of God 
 againftall fbrrow and griefes, and by nameagainft this. 
 
 But it mav happily be obieded, it is your child that is 
 dead, and it died before it could well be baptized , this grie- 
 veth me more then otherwifeit would, and fo you flare 
 your child seftare. 
 
 A'^ftv.Cjod forbid that we fliould either fpeal<eor thinkc 
 fb ^iQcrn^ the Lord never faid fo, but contrari wife the Sci ip- 
 turcwitnefleth, that they arc in the Covenant of God, and 
 fo in Ifate of falvation fo foone as they are borne : and Bap- 
 til me doth not make them Chriftians that were none be- 
 fore, but it is the Sacrament,the fealc, the ilgne^the badge of I 
 them that are Chriflians before. Btfidesit is not the want 
 of the Sacrament, that depriveth a man of Gods favour:for i 
 the children of the Ifraelites were not circumcifed all thofe 1 
 fortic yceres wliich they lived ia the wilderneffe; the reafon j 
 whereof was,becaufe they were ever to remove and iourney ■ 
 whcnfocver the pillar of the cloud that was their guide, nf- ! 
 cended and went forward , jS^mb. 9.18, &:c.fo that they 
 were alwaics to attend upon the cloude both night and day, 
 
 S noc 
 
 ?i 
 
 'i 
 
I- 
 
 2j8 
 
 I 
 
 J h^ comfort again ft 
 
 Division 6. 
 
 
 / 
 
 not knowing when it would remoove; and therefore could 
 nor cucumCile their children i\\ the wildernelle ,as ycc may 
 read,/»./?^,5.2,&c. but it is the contemning or diipifinc? ot 
 the Sacraaient , that deprived men of Gods favour vvhen 
 they make no more account of ic^then Ef^iH did of his birth- 
 right, Gen. 25-. 3 2 then Aha,:^ (Ijd of the Lords htlpe, ^f'^y^y. 
 and it is alio the wegleding of it , when God offereth time 
 atid opncrtunitie that we might have it. Againe, the Lord 
 never laid, tharwhofoeverdied uncircumciled or unbapti- 
 zed rhould be wiped out of the bookeof life, but hee hath 
 faid, 6>«,i7.i2.i4. that whofoevcrcontemneth , or care- 
 lefly negledeth the ^'acraments, fliall be cut off from among 
 his peop'C. And foread you the notes upon that levcnteenth 
 chapter ofGenefis , and 1 hope they fliall content you for 
 this matter. God is not tied to the Sacrament,nor ever was. 
 The contempt hurteth , but not the waiit^ when it is againft 
 vour will. 
 
 ObuEi. Happily your chi'd was of ripe yeares^ and with- 
 all lo toward, that it could not be, but that he fhould come 
 to fome great place and preferment if he had lived, both for 
 the good of himfelfeand his fricnd8;and that he in his youth 
 and the flower of his age, fhould thus bee taken away, is a 
 great lolfe fay you. 
 
 Anf-n>er, True it is, that thelolTc is great in refped of the 
 world, but whac \s that if we confider GodjGod is alfo able 
 to fupplie all thar/omc other way, if we take it welU This 
 is apparanr,that what good or preferment could have come 
 to him any way or tohivfriendsif he had lived the Lord 
 for fomc purpofe as yet happily hidden^hath prevented;but 
 yet his arme is not fhortened, as I (aid, to doc us good fome 
 other way,but it might perhaps proove otherwife contrary 
 to our expedation, if he had lived longcr,and then it would 
 have beene a great gricfe unto us. But admit that it would 
 have beei> as you hope if he had lived longer, ycc he is more 
 highly preferred even to the higheft heavens, & to the pre- 
 fcaceofGod, and this no earthly Preferment can match. 
 
 And 
 
Divis1on6. the dc^ith of friends . 
 
 .lS 9 
 
 And except we be wholy earthly our felves , we cannot but 
 favour this, and not let this yonch gri ve us, for no youtli nor 
 age is coo good for God, wlien he is pleated ro take thenr 
 A Foole or a child Ictmga goodly c'ulkr of grapes , 
 thinkcth it pit; ie to nut tlum in:o the p; tlVe to <\dxc^ them, 
 but he chat is wile knowctb ;hat ihercb. the hqnoLii which 
 is in them is prelerved, and that this ciineiy gathering '\s a 
 m^anes to keepc them from conuption.So we thinkc iomc^ 
 tiinc,Oh, it is great pitcy Inch a one iliould die lo loi^ne, fo 
 cowardly a youth, lo gooda crta ure can hardly be fpared : 
 but God Hi his wifedeme knowcth it to be good. And it he 
 cue oFclie hfe oFrhac good and godly king lofmh^ as it were 
 '\x\ the middle of rhe ftemme , doubticiVe it '\^ for chis caufe, 
 thac his e\esmay nocfeerhe ma ufoid evils tocome.Ifyou 
 will be ruled to w Jigh things with realon , you may well fee 
 mcrcie even in chis timely death; for many are the perils 
 both of body and fonle , that young men avoid when they 
 are taken hence, falfe dofl:rine,here(ies, errours, and many 
 grievous (innes, wounding the very conlcicnce with abi- 
 ting worme that ever gnaweth;publikc calamities^and ruine 
 ' of llate^many private miferics grc^t and grievous, which no 
 \ mancanthinke of beforehand, more bitter to good men 
 chenany death : from all which this happy deliverance in 
 time of youth doth free your child,and (et him fafe^that you 
 fliall never mournc with him, nor for him that way. And 
 lierein we have David an example of godly fortitude, who 
 having a child ficke, did whi'e it lived atflid his foule , bc- 
 fought God for the child, and failed and went in , aiid lay 
 all night upon the earth, and would not be comforted Thus 
 while there wa. hope of remedy, he gave way to the f^^rrow 
 ofhis heart, but when /)^i'/W perceived that the child w^as 
 dead, then he arofe from the earth, and wafhed and anoin- 
 ted himfelfe, and changed his apparell, and came into the 
 houfeof the Lord, and worfhipped, and after came to his 
 ownehoufc, jnd bad that they Hiouldfet bread before him 
 and he did eat. Hisforrowended when he once faw there 
 
 S 2 vvas 
 
 2.Kings.»i.lo 
 
 I.Sam, r J. 1^, 
 
1 260 
 
 ! 
 
 The comfort agair/Jl 
 
 Divi SION 6. 
 
 i.Sam.ii.if. 
 
 l.SaKl. iS. 33. 
 
 was no hope of- inioying any longer the company of his j 
 child, ^owthis coude fcemtd unto his icrvants a new I 
 a:id llrangc kind oFPhilolbphic,chat he Hiould mourn in the 
 danger ol-death.and yet reioicc, or at Icaft comfort himfelfe 
 with any content in death. And therefore his fervants faid j 
 unto him^ M^hat thing is this that thon hafl done, t^ion dideft- \ 
 faf CT- roeeffor the child whtlethatwas aliue^but now he psdead 
 thofi docfi arife and eat meat. And what realon had hee tor 
 this ftrange and unwonted behaviour? He laid, Ji^htie tije 
 child was altve ifafted and wept , for I faid^JVho can tell wbe^ 
 ther (^odwillhavemcrcie onme, that the child ma-) live ^ but 
 now being dead^ wherefore fhall I fafl ? Can I bring him acraine 
 any more, I Jhullgoe to him, but he fhallnot returne tome any 
 more, Pehold the fame thing that maketh thee to mourne, 
 name'y^that chy dead fhall not returne tothee^thc;very fame 
 confideration David made the ground of his quiet and con- 
 tent. AiKi thereupon he comforted his heartland would not 
 continue in heavineffe for thaL which could not bee helped* 
 So that it ii to a right underftanding man , ground enough 
 to build content and quietneflc of heart upon , that God 
 hath don his worke which thy forrow cannot revoke. But 
 peradventure it will be here obiedod, that afterward when 
 'DavidhtSL'd of his fonne Abfolons death^hee did To greatly 
 lament and bewaile the fame, that hee would in no fort bee 
 comforted quite contrarie to that which before hee pracfli- 
 zcd for it is fa'd that he w a*, much mooved, and went Hp to the 
 chamber over the (rate ^ and wept as he went faying, O my fonne 
 Abfolon,»2y fonne y mj fonne Abfolon, would God J had died 
 
 for thee, O Abfolon my fonne, my fonne. ^ 
 
 For theanfwcringofthis obicdion, and your better fa- 
 tisfad:ion herein , wee are to underftand that Da^vtd knew 
 that he had a \vickcd and rebellious fonne, of the eflateof 
 whofe falvation he had great caufe to doubt , becaufe he died 
 in rebellion , which indeed may feemeto bee the principall 
 caufe of his exceeding forrow and lamentation , and not fo 
 much for the death of his fonne, as for that caufe. But of his 
 
 chi d 
 
D I V I s I ON 6. t^'^^ ^^-^^^ of friends . 
 
 rOI 
 
 child hcc bdccvcd thae Ik dial in die Rate ofgrace, a id fo 
 was made pcrtakcr of'lalvatior. jWhich was the caufc dKit l)c 
 was cointoitcd presently aiccr \\\% dja:h Jaying, tha: his Ibn 
 iliou'diiotrcturiK', lait du: lichiinlelfclhoukl gocto him# I 
 Even lb in iikc manner , rfwe 1-taie the efca.e o\ our chi de 
 or friend that is dead, then indeed have wee great caijlc to > 
 weepe, mourne and lament for bun, as 'D.md did hcerc for ' 
 Abfolon : but: jf we have no lueh {"eare^ and do l^.opc well & 
 the bcft of the clhtc of our childe or friend 5 then muft wee ■ 
 with '7^^^'/^/ comfort our lelues,andlay, h'fft nowhets dend^ I 
 yvhercforc pyonld Ifdjl Htidyv epc}can I hrina him hackjt^aii^c^ ' 
 J pj*ill (Tocto himy but he PmH not rcttirne to me, 
 
 Letth.cm mourne for tlieir d^^ad diat know nor the hope; , 
 of the dead, and fuppoie them cxiind tliat are departed. I^nr i 
 let them that in the Schco'e of Chrifi have learned what is \ 
 the condition &: hope ofthc d^-'ad jiow rhcir fou'cs doc pre- I 
 fently live with Chrift.^i'Jd d.at their bodice fliall be raifed i 
 vp in clorv at the laft dav Jet them reiovce on rhe hehalfc of i 
 dieir dead, and throw ofFthat burden of fcrrow^which is ^o 
 hcavic unto thcm« But you w^'l fay he was my onely childe^ 
 and therefore his death muft needs be grievous. I ndced the 
 death of an oncly chiidc \s, very great and grievous to pa- 
 rents, and a cau^e of grca*: hcavinefle and lamentation; yet 
 remember that yf^r«^^<i^?; was rcadie CO have facrinced his 
 ondy fonae //^«t^, thepromifedfeede, at Gods commande- } Gon.a2.?.io, 
 menc. And God gave his oncly Sonne Chritl: lefus to death \q\^^ , ^ 
 for our falvation. And to comfort you to the full, as Elk^.. j 
 fi^h faid to A^n<!^i fo aifo much more may the Lord fay to us 
 Am not I better to youthen ten (ortnes ? Then thouMi hcc be ' ^'^''^^••^ ^>* 
 your onely cl>ildc,and all that you have,there is no iud caufe 
 of complaint and griefe , (being the Lord hath taken but his 
 owne, and alfo fccmg in his taking of him.you give him but 
 as yourplcdgo and carncft, to bindc unto you the right of 
 ' that inheritance, that you exped, or as your feoffee in trufl 
 gone before to take poiVeffion, and kcepe a place for you in 
 heaven, 
 
 S ^ Trud 
 
 Amos 8,10. 
 
) 
 
 26z 
 
 I 
 
 Thecm^fcrt againji 
 
 D 
 
 IVISION 6. 
 
 JLukf.s3.a8. 
 
 Truft me now, or elfe the time will come when you {hall 
 truft me, that you have caufc^and caufe againe to lament and 
 mourne, not for them, who dying in the Lord , are happic 
 with the Lord, and reft from all their labours and mi/eries 
 but as Chrift faid in thcGofpell to the woman that Followed 
 him, IVeefe not for mej^utweepe for jour felnes and your chit. 
 dre»'fa we for our lelves and our children-jfor having beene 
 lafe by them, and llrengthned through them, they are taken 
 away from the plague, wee lye open to ii, and it commeth 
 the &fter,becau(e they which kept it from us, are removed. 
 And the greater our loiTe is, the greater is their gaine , and 
 the more cauie have we to forrow for our felves ^ althouf^h 
 to reioyce on their behalfe^and to lament for our (innes,that 
 have deprived us of their graces, goodneffe, prayers and ho- 
 ly company ? and let us follow them in their faith , vcrtue, 
 V^icty, godiinefTe and gooc' vvorkes. 
 
 And yec,if for all this,their Io{^q^&c the want of their prc- 
 fence be grievous unto ycu , and that you ftill defire their 
 prefence, and would fee themilet me fpcake to youjas^^r;'- 
 foftome did to fome that were lo aflfeded- Doe you defire to 
 fee them? then live a life like unto them, and fo you llial foon 
 enioy their holy and comfortable prefence, but if you refufc 
 fo to doe^ never looke to enioy or lee them agai.ic. 
 
 It is written o^Ierome, that when he had read the X\^t and 
 death o{HdUrion^ and faw that after he had lived religiouf- 
 ly, he.'dicd mod comfortably and happily, faid, Well, HilU-' 
 rion rhail be the champion whom I will imitate : even fo let 
 us fay with Jerome y^j^W^ this godly friend of ours,which is 
 dcccafed.niall be our champion, whome we will imitate, we 
 will fol'ow his chaftirie, iuilice, pietie und godlineflc. And 
 fo . if you endeavour and doe , fay and performe, you fhall 
 be fure to enioy that in future time , which he pofTefTeth in 
 the prcfent, that is ^ heavenly and eternall blifTe and hap- 
 pinefTe. 
 
 What Pilgrimc doth not make fpeed to returne home in- 
 to his ownccountrie /* Who hafting to fai'c homewards, 
 
 doth 
 
DiVl SIGN 6. 
 
 the death offriendi^ 
 
 *.63 
 
 ^oth not wilh for a proipcioiis windc ^ that hvi may fpcdily 
 embrace his long ckiircd friends and parents ? and what are 
 we but pilgrimcs on earth i what is our country, but rar<i- 
 dilc, who are our parents, buc the Patnarkcs ? Why make 
 we not hall to runne unto them , that wc may fee our coun- 
 try , (alute our parents i an infinite number of acquaintance 
 expCL^ us there ; our parents, brethren, hftcrs, fricnds,chil- 
 dren, kindred, that are alrcadie fecure of their ownc immor- 
 talitic, but yet (ollicitous for our fafetie, what ioy wall it bee 
 to lee, to embrace them ? 
 
 Conclude then with your heart, that^'ou wi'l bee ftrong 
 againft luch lollVs, and pray to the giver of ftrength that 
 you may be fbrong , and k ave your lofles to the Lord your 
 God , that l-arli ;^.niied them, blefled for them , bleffcd for 
 you, with ma-?} thankes for ever and and ever. 
 
 The endofthefixt Bivifion. 
 T H F 
 
 SEVENTH DIVISION, OF 
 
 THE CASES WHERIEN IT IS 
 vnlawfvlland WHERIN LAVV- 
 
 FVLLTO DESIRE T>EATH. 
 
 Ouching the cafes wherein itisvnlawfuU 
 to defire death , they may be reduced prin- 
 cipally into three. 
 
 Tne firlf is, if God can bee more 
 honoured by our life , then by our death, 
 then in fuch a cafe , it is altogether unlaw- 
 full to defire death , but rather on the contrary wee are to 
 
 wS 4 defire 
 
^ 
 
 264. 
 
 Tie CO ?^jfi r t ^g^iiiifl 
 
 Di 
 
 VI s ION 6 
 
 Pnil.6^.4,^, 
 
 (PraI.3c.S.cMo. 
 :PraL88.9,iOj 
 
 p/;i!.ii8.i7. 
 Eray.38.81, 
 
 iKir,P.?.i8, 
 
 I'J.clireand pray forliPc. For which purpofe wee have di- 
 vers examples in the holy Scriptures co warrant the lame 
 as oi' King Davi^y and king £-?:^^^/^?^. 'David bewaiied 
 himfelfe m imny of his Pliilmes^ that itGodtooke him 
 away, he iLould lackc occafion to honour and prayf'e him , 
 as he was wont to doc whikft he was amonglt men; and 
 therefore he defired longer hfc , that he might fee forth the 
 honour ot God amongll: the people. RetHryje O Lord (faith 
 he) delivsrrny Soalcy O pave me e for thy mercies fake {for in 
 death there is no remembrance of thee ^ in the grave who fhall 
 give thee thankj ? Againe , / cryed unto thee O Lord, Ctt. 
 fVhen /go down into the pitte,pja// the dufl praife thee ? o^c, 
 Againe, C^fine eye moameth by reafon of a^itlion^ q^c. fhall 
 the dead rife andfratfe thee ? And againe , / fljall not dye but 
 ii.ve , and declare the workes of the Lord, 
 
 8z.echtah bewayled himfelfe , when hce heard the mef- 
 fage of death. and praied for longer life, knowing thcrby that 
 God /liould bee more honoured by his M^c-, then by his 
 death : And therefore faythhec, The grave cannot prajfe 
 thee-^C^c. 
 
 And thus may every godly Chrifliari defire life , and net 
 dcath^ to this end onc'y that God thereby may be glorified: 
 But yet in this caie^aJthcugh it be un'awfull to defire death, 
 fo long as God may be glorified by our L'fe, yet in pray- 
 ing for liic to this end , we inufl referre all to Gods good 
 will and picafure. Therefore if any wi1obie(fl and hy ^ I 
 might in my place by mine endeavour f fuch as it is J for 
 the time to come ; further profite the Church of God , 
 and greatly honour him; for this end therefore, I could 
 willi that the (pace ofa longer life might bee granted unto 
 
 m 
 
 ^ • 
 
 An fiver. As t!ie Lord faid Uiiro T>avid ^ Whereat it yvoi 
 in thine he-vt to build an hotifc to my name thopt didii vr el that 
 ityv as in thine heart, T^jvcrthelcjfe thou /halt not build the 
 hvufe, OHt thy fonne which fljall come forth of thy loyneSyhepjnl 
 biitld the hofife unto my name. Even (o it may bee faid to 
 
 thee 
 
^■^ — — — 
 
 D I V I s I o N 7 . a/jd where in law [nil to defirc death. 
 
 265 
 
 to 
 
 thcCj th.it whereas it is 'n thine heart to glorific Go J , and 
 ) proHc his Church : aid therefore thou couldelc wiili^ i 
 lac rhclpaccota .ongcr lite mighr bccgran:cd u'iro thee ; • 
 to chat end thou doelt well that it is m thine heart to doe 
 io^ NeverthelciVe a.lthis mud bee commended to Gods 
 difpoling, that is, how long God will have thee to remainc 
 in health and lifc for his glory, and foi the good oF his 
 Church. Vor hec that hath furninicd chce with the giTces 
 oFteaehing or exhortation , or any other good gift For the 
 glory of God and good ol: his Church , he doth Know how 
 to Furnilli others alfb with the Fame , when thou art gone: 
 and as God would not let D.ivid build his Temple , but 
 didreferveitto bee perFormed afterward by Sohmcn\ Fo 
 God For Fome iccret caulc; will not have that good workc 
 furnillied by thee > buc refervech it For Fome other time, 
 and Fome other perfon. ThereForc iF thou art Fcraight- 
 ned with the Apoftle , that thou doefl: not know which 
 oFtheFe thou fhouldcfl: chuFe, having a defire to bedilFol- 
 ved, and to be with Chrifh (which is better For thee)orto 
 abide in the flefli, which is more profitable for the Church; 
 Know that to dye is advantage unto thee , but to live , is 
 advantage to the Church. ^<? man of us (Fayth the A- 
 poftlej Uvcth t3 himfelfe , and no m.tn dyeth to himfelfe :for 
 whether ra^ee H^ve y wee live to the Lord^(^to the end that wee 
 may glorifie him , and gainc more Foules to him in the 
 Church ) or whether weedye^ we dye to the Lord, (that we may 
 obey his Fatherly will, calling us out of our Station.) JVhether 
 therefore weehveor dye ^we are the Lords, (that moft: mi<^h- 
 ty, gentle, and merciFull Lord, Frora whojc love^ neither life 
 nor death can federate hs. 
 
 Thou haft hitherto obeyed the will oF the Lord moft: 
 FaithFulIy , fpendingthy fervices on the Church militant; 
 obey him Further moft readily , embracing his will , that 
 callcs thee to the Fociety oFthe Church triumphant. 
 
 Thou art rightly carefullout oFcharity for the encreaFc 
 ofthcchurchj notwithftandingthou oughteft out of Faith 
 
 to 
 
 Rom.?.38,j9, 
 
 Rom. 1 4.7 j8. 
 
 Phi 
 
 •p.f.ij. 
 
 I 
 
 y 
 
 t 
 
\ 266 I 
 
 Pral37.4.^ 
 
 
 
 Numb. 1 1. 10 
 
 
 i.Sam.i8.jj. 
 
 ihe Cafe rv herein it is unUxvfuli, Division 7 • 
 
 to commit the care ofgoverniiig , teaching and confer vine 
 the fame unto God» 
 
 There is nothing heerc more whoKome , nothing bet- 
 ter f nor more contorrnable to pi.ctie , then for a man tore- 
 figne himfelfe wholy to the will of God; and to commend 
 the full power ofdilpofing our life and death to him with 
 godlie prayers. And one oi thefe two thinges, wee 
 may undoubtedly hope for 5 that either hee will give us 
 that which wee aske , or that which hee knoweth to bee 
 more profitable 5 Delight thy f elf e in the Lor ^ ( fayeththe 
 Pfalmifc ) ^^d heejyMgine thee the defire of thine heart, com- \ 
 mit thy VVaj ftnto the Lord,trfffi,alfo in him/ind hee Jhall bring 
 it to pajfem 
 
 Secondly, it is altogether unlawfall to defire death 
 through impatience , in that wee cannot have our owne 
 willes, wiriies, anddcfircs. In which cafe /^^c^^/Z offen- 
 ded, for feeing that fhee bare Jacob no children , fhee en- 
 vied her fifter , and faid unto Jacob , give mee children^ or 
 elfe J dier I n like cale al fo the ^children of Jfrael offended , 
 who murmured againft Mofes and Aaron in the Wilder- 
 neflc , and faid , Would to God wee had died by the hand of the 
 Lord in the Land of 8gyft,vi>hen -wee fate by thefielh pots^ and 
 did eat bread to thefp/lljjn this cafe Mofes offended who faid 
 unto the Lord ; PVherefore hafl thou affliSted thy fervant and 
 wherefore have not J found favor in thy fght. that thou laieft' 
 all the burden of this people vpo*t me?PFhence /hould J have flefi 
 to Hve vnto all this people? For they weepe vnto tnefaying^give 
 tis flefhthat wee may eat , Jam not able to beare all thts peo- 
 ple alone Jbecaufe it U too heaviefor mee, and if thou deale thu4 
 with me ^kill me (I pray thee) out ofhand^ &c,ln this cafe 
 King David offended, when hee hearing ofthe death of 
 his rebellious and wicked fonnc a^bfolon, being much 
 moved, he faid mourning ; Would to God J had dyed for thee 
 O Abfhlonmy fonncymyfonne. 
 
 In this cafe alfo the Prophet Jonas greatly offended , for 
 when God law the workes ofthe Nincvites^, that they 
 
 turned j 
 
Divj[siON7. and wheninUwf till to dcpre death, 267 \ 
 
 turned from their evill way at the preaching oi Isrtah ^ and , 
 that then God repented oFthe evill that hee had laid for , ^"^"^^''^ 
 their dcfti Liilion , and did ic not. lonah is lo much dilplea- ionali.4 
 led, that hce belought the Lord to take his lite from him , 
 faying, It was better for him to dic^ then to live. 
 
 Thirdly , it is altogether unlawlull to ddire death , to 
 bee revenged upon our ownelelves , which is molt mon- 
 Ihous, barbarous , and mod unnatural! for one to laye 
 violent hands upon hiinfelfc, to whom hee is tycd and 
 bound by all bones : for one to rend his owne body and 
 foule in fundcr ( which God hath coupled together, and 
 no man but hee muft feparate J is a linne mod horrible and 
 fearefull , and breakes the bonds of God and Nature , and 
 this no Bcaft ( bee it never fo favage and cruell ) will do. 
 Sometime they will tearc , rend , and gore one another ; 
 but no beaft was ever in fuch extreame painc and mifery ^ 
 as to rage and leeke to deprive himfelfe of life . For the 
 caufe that one growes to this ( more then beaflly ) rage and 
 cruelty, againft his owne body , isfirftamonftrous prid> 
 that hee will not beat it, unlefTe hee may bee as hce lift 
 himfelfe, hee will not fubmit himfelfe co Gods will: Second- 
 ly, that hee hath not any bcliefe in God, nor ever lookes 
 for a good ilfue one of troubles. Thirdly, it is noted of moft 
 impious and dcfperateperlonsj that who firft were barba- 
 rous , and cruell to others ^ at length they turned the point 
 of cruekie a^jainft themfelves. And this was the linne of 
 the heathen people which knew not God ; for they taught 
 and pradliltd voluntarie death , and lelfe murther , where- 
 by men might free themfelves at their owne will and plea- 
 iure from all evill of paine. And yet fome of them ( as 
 "Plato that approached fo neerc to a Chriftian truth in ma- 
 ny points ) maintained alfo the lelfe fame murder 5 yet hee 
 did appoint iome publikc fliame andinfanaiein the man- 
 ner of buriall , for thofe that killed themfelves. Yea fome 
 others of them , having gone farther ( as Vergil ) vvho fee- 
 ing the dangers thereof, { as namely, that is is punifhcd in 
 
 10. 
 
 1 
 
 the 
 
\ 26^ I 
 
 j/jc Cjfe 7V herein it is unUwfuliy Division 7 . \ 
 
 Gen. 4.8.13. 
 
 Gcn,(? 2. 
 
 Gcn.^.ii,ii. 
 
 the life to come) bath placed thole that offend in that kind 
 in Hell, and that in rnch tormentb as they wiOi thcmlelves 
 backc agame, and upon that condition, would be content to 
 endure all the torments, miferies and calamities incident to 
 
 this life. 
 
 Sothatthisfclfe-murtheris nottoavoyde miferie, but 
 to change miierie ; yea , and to change the lelTe for the 
 greater mirery,and;as we ule to fpeakjleap cut of the frying 
 panne Into rhe fire ; who are in a very wofuli cafe after this 
 hfe , dying out of Gods favour , as they needcs muft that 
 thus make away themfclves. 
 
 In the whole Hiflory of the Bible that containeth the 
 Records belongmg to the Church of God, and to the peo- 
 ple thar pretend co have any knowledge of good, of how 
 many hath hee heard or read that did lo f and what were 
 they ? In the firll age of the world that lalfed from the crea- 
 tion to the fioud , lixeteene hundred fifty and fixe yeares^ 
 wee read of much wickedncfTe , how C^^in unnaturally 
 killed his brother Ahel , how Lamech tranfgrefled Gods 
 ordinance for mariage, and gloried in hisowne crueltic" 
 Wee reade of thecarnall licentioufneffeofthe men of the 
 beftline, how the fonnes of God faw the daughters of 
 men that they were faire , and tooke them wives of all that 
 I they lifted. Yea, of the whole race of mankind wee reade, 
 that the earth was corrupt before God , and their wicked- 
 neffe lo vile in his fight^that hee repented that hee had made 
 man, and he brought a deluge upon the earth , wherewith 
 he deftroyed all living Creatures, in whhle noftrels was the 
 breath of life. And in all this time it is not read, thata- 
 ny grew to this height of wickednefle to incroach fo farrc 
 upon the right of God, asmofl: vnnaturally and finfully ro 
 
 kill himfclfe. 
 
 In fo many yeares the Devill that w^as a murderer from 
 the beginning, could not prevaile fo farre amongft the moft 
 wicked , as to perfwade any to lay violent hands upon 
 himfeUe. This wickednefle was then unknowne from the 
 
 floud 
 
 I 
 
 ••.V"" 
 
D I V I s I o N 7 . ^^^ where m Uwftdl te dejire deat/j. 
 
 269 
 
 floud to the nativity of our Lordltfus Chrift , for the /pace ^ 
 of two thoiiiiuid three hundred and a eleven ytarcs. Wee 
 reade oF inofl horrible wickednclfe of bloudy warrcs a- 
 mong Nations, of the tyranny of ^^w^<7^, oftlie building 
 of^^^^/, of thcunclcancsofthc Sodomites-^ of the flaugh- 
 rer of the Snhtmttes ^ of the tyranny o{'7^htiroah , of the (in 
 o^ the C^nanttes^ of the ;rcbellion of Korah^ of the cove- 
 toufhcifc of i>' i/^rfw^ of the fornication o'a Ztmry y and of 
 infinite ungodlincfl'e in every age of man, in every gene- 
 ration; but of this kinde of unnaturalncfle , for men to lay 
 violent hands upon themfelves , wee have very few exam- 
 ples , of which Saulis one, who fell upon his owne fword, 
 and killed himfeife, and his Armour bearer by his Lordes 
 example incouraged, did the like unto himfeife. And not 
 many yeares ofter# Achttophel the great Counfeller , that 
 followed Abfolon^ upon dilcontent left Ahfolon^ went home 
 to his owne houfe and hanged himfeife. Wee reade of a 
 fourth, named Ztnry^ that being befieged in Tvrz.ah , and 
 nor able to defend himfeife and the place , went into the 
 Kings Palace;3c and fctting the houfe on fire^burnt himftlfe. 
 And thefe are all that I remember mentioned in the olde 
 Teftament,that are guilty of this impiety. For we are not 
 to number Sampfon amongft them , whofe purpofe was 
 not to kill himfeife, but to execute the iudgement of God 
 upon the Thilifiwes, which was a worke oFhis calling , in 
 the faithfull and zealous performance whereof, hee loft 
 his life, 
 
 The hiflory o^Razis that fell on his fword , aud flew 
 himfeife, I wittingly pafTe over , leaving the credite of that 
 Hiftory to the authority of the Writer •, whom yet if you 
 adde to the former , the number is not much encreafed by 
 hma. So few they were in fo many yeares , with whom the 
 ancient murderer could prevaile , to make them enimies 
 of their owne lives. And if we confider what manner of 
 perfons they were , with wh )m he did fo farre pre vayle; 
 their wick ednefTe will ferveto warne any man that hath 
 
 any 
 
 i.Sam.3i.1»r 
 
 2.Sa5n,i7. 2 j. 
 I.Kings. 16,18 1 
 
 Iudg.i^.30. 
 
 2 Mach.14. 
 41.41. 
 
270 
 
 7 he Cafe w herein it is unUtvfuliy Division 7. 
 
 any one drammc ofpiety , vvifedome, or care of his credit, 
 not to pur himlelfe in rankc with them- Saul was a man 
 envious tray terous, perfidious, cruell and prophane, who 
 being bloudily minded againft the Priefles of God , and 
 againd David Gods owne annointcd, he made his confci- 
 ence fo fierce and cruel 1 ^ as that it fet upon himlclfe , and 
 hee became his owne Butcher. Whole Armour-bearer 
 verified the Proverbe , Like ^J\^after , like man. As for 
 Achttophel^ ht? was a great Statefman 5 butwithall a great 
 Tray tor ; he was very wile in matters pertaining to go- 
 vernement, but therewithal! very wicked ; he alTifted the 
 fubiediagainit the King, therein was treafon : the Sonne 
 againfl: the Father, that was unnaturall , a wicked, ungodly, 
 proud foi-ine againll a godly father , even holy David^zhzv^- ' 
 inmoft impious treafon. Zimh likewife was a traytor, 
 who flew ^l^f^ his Lord and Mafter , and invaded the 
 Kiiigdome oilfrael. 
 
 Such were the men , with whom the ancient Murde- 
 rer prevailed m three and twenty hundred yeares , few in 
 number, and men of moft wicked hearts and lives. And fhall 
 any imai^ine or thinke to match himfelfe with fuch forlornc 
 Wretches ? In wickednefle fo rare, will he be (b forward 9 
 and with men fo vi le will he ioyne ? 
 
 For the time after the comming of our Lord lefus in the 
 flcfh, we have record in the Scriptures for feventy years. In 
 which time we read of much wickednefTe , of the rage of 
 the! ewes , in crucifying and killing the Lord lefus , the 
 Lord of life , of the pcrfecution of Saul^ wherein Stephen 
 was ftoned ; the perfecution oi Herod , wherein Saint lames 
 was flainc with the fword •• of the malice ofthe lewes in 
 every place , forbidding the Apoftles to preach the Goi- 
 pell to the Gentiles, and of their cndlefTe malice againft 
 Paft/ being converted, and become a witncfle of lefiis. 
 
 And amongeft all the inraged finuers of this time, in 
 whom the Prince of this world exercifcd his power moft 
 impcrioufly: We read but of one that laid violent hands 
 
 upon 
 
D I V I s I O N 7 . and where tn Uwfull to dejire death, 
 
 upon himfclfe, even /W.^^ the Apoftlc , and he is marked; 
 out by the names of a Tr^jtor^ a 'Devill^ the Child of perdt- 1 
 tion, Sorareis thb iniquicy in companion ot other (innes, 
 and f^notorioufly and uncLirablieevillare thole in compa- 
 nion of other finncrs. 
 
 And (lull any one finner bee fo wicked , as refolvtd to 
 increal'c this number:, and toiraatch , if not exceed thefc 
 men . 
 
 Let the rarcncfTc of the finne , ( wherein the Divill fee. 
 methtohavelome modcfty , as fearing to allure too many 
 tofuch cxtreame wickcdnefl'eand madnefle j and the ex- 
 trcame incurable iniquicy of the.men,as it theDivill thought 
 it not fit to tempt any to fo great wickednelTe , but fuch as 
 had already out runneal' his alluremcntes , by their owne 
 forwardnelTc in finne ; Let thefe things fi:ay the rcfolution 
 of any finner , and make him feare to execute this iniulHce 
 upon himfclfe. Whom loveth he that loveth not himlelfe , 
 whofe friend can he be that in this manner , and in this 
 mcrcilcflc meafurc is his owne enemy ? Goe then and bee 
 more cruell then ever was murdering theife, opprcfiing 
 Tyrant, bloudy C^i^, Senachenh , ungratious Imps , goe 
 and be more cruell , then any cruell beaft, that though an e- 
 nemy to other creatures ; is yet a refolvcd defender of his 
 owne life. Ifthouftrivc for the name and fhame of moft 
 cruell 1 yea more cruell then man or beaft^ yea then the Di- 
 vell himfelfc ; ( For the Divels ftady not to doe themfelues 
 hurt } then goe, and doe that violence that thou intended a- 
 gainft thy fclfe, buc if thou be willing to let the cruelleil of 
 men, the fierceft of beafts, yea, the Divels themfelues to go 
 before thee in mercilefl'e cruelty, then preferve thine owne 
 Life. 
 
 Befides , confider whofe thy life is, who quickncd thee 
 atthcfirft, who preferved thy life hitherto, who hath 
 numbred tbydayes, and appointed thy time , to whom 
 the fervicc of thy Life doth belong to ufc whi'e hce 
 
 pleafeth 
 
 271 1 
 
 
>fc ■■ 
 
 272 
 
 1 he C jije TV herein n is mi law full, Division 7. 
 
 P/a.ii9 7j 
 
 
 pral.100.3. 
 
 p'eafeth, to whom the^ifTues oF Death doe appertaine; 
 and who hath the Keyes of Hell and of Death, and in 1 
 whole hands the ru!e of all thefe things remayneth j fo ! 
 jflialt thou difcerne whether thou have any powder and 
 authoritie or no , to rncddle in this bufincflfe. Diddeft 
 thou appoint the beginning of thy owne Life . Diddeft 
 thou falhion and quicken the fleih in thy Moihcrs 
 wonihe/' Doth not the Prophet fay (^(peaking unto 
 God^ ) Thme hands have made mee andfapjioned me. Hec 
 confeffeth God to be the workemalter^and himfelfe to bee 
 Gods worke^wherein he doth no more then the pot,which 
 takcch not his owne fLape, but receivcth it from the Pot- 
 ter. Hereof hee fpeaketh more folly in another place. 
 KnoTvyee that even tke Lord hee is ^od , hee hath made us 
 andnotwee our [elves. And wilt thou pull the building 
 downe that God hath fet up ? Goe to then , and pull 
 downe heaven, which God i^ath fpreade , roule it up 
 in a bundell, and calf it into thedeepe, Icatter it in the aire, 
 in the water of the Sea , and fling abroad the droppes of 
 it , untill it bee dryc ; pound the earth into dull, and raife 
 a mighty wind to Icatter it, that the place of it may bee 
 found no more. If thou have a purpole to dcilroy that 
 which God hath made, and wouldeft oppofe thy hand in 
 dcftroying againft the hand of God in building 5 attempt 
 fome of thele things, and try thy ftrength, that thou maieft 
 lurviuethy fa(fl, and live to reape the glory of it. Ifthefc 
 things be too great for thee, then ceafe to hold this conceit^ 
 to attempt the pulling downe o\ that which God hath built 
 up ; oppofe not thy lelfe againft his VVorkes, efpecially in 
 pullingdowne the frame of thine owne Life', where thou 
 muft needes pcrifh wih thy owne Workes; and not live to 
 glory in that thou haft done. 
 
 As God made thee at the firft a living Wight ; foitis 
 he that hath preferved thee m all thy time , in the feeb^enes 
 ofthine Infancie , in the caiclefnefrc of • hy youth , in the 
 raftincfle of thy riper yeares , all which fcafons of thy life, 
 
 made 
 
Division 7 . and where in law full to defiredeath. 
 
 -73 
 
 made thee (ubied to many dccaycs , through their proper 
 fra ilctics. B ut God made thy feeble Infancy ibong with 
 his (Irength, thy ignorant and careleflc youth advikdj and 
 wile by nis Wildome , thy rafli and boldc manhood /afc 
 through his Providence 5 Hee thatkecpcth //r^<f/ncythcr 
 flu m bring nor flccping, hee it is that hath kept thee. Tiic 
 Prophet Ipeaketh thus to God in one ot the Pialrncs ; 
 Thondtddeft draw me out of the Tifombe.thougavcfi me hope, \ Pfal.is.^. 
 even at my mothers breaft, /was cafl upon thee even from the 
 womhe.thoHartmy God from my mothers helly. By which 
 vvordes hcegiveth us to underiland , that the fame God 
 that gave us liFe in our mothers wombe , is hee that kee- 
 pcch us from the wombe tothegrave,hee prcvcnteth dan- 
 gers, hecgiveth food ; hee healcth our fickneflc , anddif- 
 appointeth our cnemyes ; he is our guard to defend us, he 
 is our rheild and buckler to fave us from hurt. Hee hath 
 done this forthee from thy conception to this day ; and 
 wilt thou in one houre attempte to overthrow , and 
 deflroy that which with (b much care God hath cheriHicd 
 fo long i Wilt thou make thy felfe hateful! by making op- 
 pofition againft his lo7e ; Wilt thou malicioufly oppofe 
 thy idk againfc the workc of his care , while in fatherly 
 love he is defirous to keepe thee in fafety ; wilt thou ftrivc 
 more then all the world befides, to workc thineowne de- 
 cay i The Angells in heaven underflanding the care of 
 God forthee , doe willingly pitch their tents about thee; 
 and refufe not for thy lafety to beare thee in their hands , 
 and keepe thee in thy waycs \ the Divels of Hell by Gods 
 providence are kept oflTrom thee, as with a fbrong hedge, 
 which they can neyther clime over, nor breake through, 
 wherebv to impeach thy fafety. And while the Creator ! ^'^^* 
 of all things remayneth thy keeper , the creatures are in 1 
 league with thee, and thou liveffc in peace amongft them ; 
 andwhilc the worke of God that preferveth thy life, hath , 
 this power amongft all Creacures,that the creatures of hea- 
 ven will not attempt thy hurt ,the creatures of the earth do 
 
 T nor-. 
 
I I«b.7.if 
 
 274. 1 The Cafes wherein it is unlawfully Division 7 
 
 :10c, nor dare actcmpc it, and che creatures of Hell cannot. 
 Wile thou alone Teeke unmercifully to crofiTe the care of 
 God, in working thine owne woe r Thou art then worthy 
 whom the heavenly Creatures fhould abhorre, whome the i 
 earthly creatures lliould forfake, and che hellilli Creatures 
 embrace, receiving thee into their Company with this 
 greeting. This is he whom God would have kept, but a- 
 gainft the love of the Angels of heaven , againft the peace 
 of the Creatures of the earth , and beyond the power and 
 malice of^ vs the Angels of darknelTejhe hath dcftroiedhim- 
 icifc. Bcfides , it is God that hath aligned to every one of 
 us the meafure of our time 5 hec hath appointed to us the 
 number of our dayes : our life did not begin, till he appoin- 
 ted the firfl day of it ; asd fo long it muft laft^ until! he fay, 
 this is the laft day of it. 
 
 No man did fet downc for himfelfe when hee would 
 ' come into the world, nor no man may fet downe for him- 
 felfe, when or how he will leave the world. The foule of 
 liian(faith the O ator) before her departure from che body, 
 doth oftentimes divine, butihenitdeftroiesnotitfelfe,'fbr 
 God lent us into the world giving us life, and God muft 
 call us out by taking our life. We muft caft the world out of 
 our hearts, and not caft our ielves out of the world. It is 
 the faying of lob, ts there not an appointed time to man vpon 
 earthy Ana are not his dayes, as the dayes of an hireling ? The 
 beginning and end of mans rime is appointed by God, hce 
 cannotlcngthcnit, whcntheend commeth, nor ought to 
 fhorten it before the time come. Saint <iAmhrofe faith, wc 
 are bound to maintainc our bodies, and forbidden to kill ; 
 ourfoules and bodies the v' are married together by God 
 himfelfe, and thofc whom God hath ioyned togcther,Ietno 
 man be fo bold to put in funder. QoHmnr diltgere vt fpon- 
 ftis fponfam^ Ai^rn Evam, faith S. Barnard. Wc muft be 
 fb farre from hating our owne flcfti, as that we arc com- 
 manded to cherifti it , to lone it entirely as the husband 
 ought to love his wife, Adam his Eve. We may imploy it 
 
 in 
 
Division 7 . and wherein law full to dcfirc de^th. 
 
 i75 
 
 in labour, but vvcmuft not flay it ; and the more we fliaii 
 imploy ir, the leil'c hurtt-ull and dangerous it will proue vi> 
 to us. His dayesaieas thedayLSot'aiiHircliug : an Hire- 
 ling is entertained tor fo many dayes , longer then his 
 covenant he may not ftay , and a (Lorter time, he 
 may not (lay. Such is the life oi man^ he is Gods Hireling, 
 for lb many dales and yecres hec hath hired him in this 
 world, as in Gods Vineyard to worke in fome honeil cal- 
 ling- W hen we haue (erued out our time here , wee may 
 iUy no Ionger,and nil we hauc (erved out our time here,we 
 may not depart. Thou wilt therefore be round to be a fugi- 
 tiue fervant from God, if thou depart his fervice before the ^ 
 time be full out, and that belongech to God and no: to thee 
 CO /et downe. 
 
 The Prophet David fayeth of God in one of the pral.6S.io, 
 Pfalmes, To the Lord CjodbeUng the tjffte of death* To 
 God it belongeth, and not to man, to fet downe 
 who fliall dk y when, and by what meanes he fhall die. 
 Sometime he ufeth the hand of the Magiitrate, fometimc 
 thehandofthe violent, and fo cndeth one mans HFe fas 
 we thinke } by the counfell and worke of another man. 
 But never did he give licence to any man to kill himfelfc, 
 he hath forbidden murtherbyhis commandement. Thof4 
 pjaltnotkjlU He condemned it in C^tn from the begin- | ^^o^^^^o.ij. 
 ning of the World, to whom (having flaine Af^el) he faid, ' Gch 4 10 
 H^at hafl thou done ? the voyce of thy brothers blond crjes to 
 me from the^^roftnd; T^w therefore thou art Cfirfed from the 
 earth, rvhich hath opened her month to recetue thy brothers 
 blond from thine hand. And after the floud, when he began 
 againetorcplenifh the earth with Inhabitants, he made a 
 "taw againft murder, to reftraine both man and bealt from 
 committing \Vy(2LnngJ rwill fnrely require yonr bloud where- Gcn.9.5. 
 in yonr lives are^at the hand of every bcaft yptll I reijnire it,& 
 at the hand of man, even at the hands of a mans brother , 
 roill I require the life of man, Whofo fheddeth mans blondy by 
 
 T2 
 
 man 
 
2 7^ I The Cafes vohcnin it is iirliwfull^ D i v i s i o n 7 f 
 
 \ 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 
 without warrant and authority to kill any , becaufe man 
 was made in the image ol God , a creature of underftan- 
 ding , endued with excellent vertucs of knowledge and j 
 rightcoulnefle, with refemblance in thefe vertues unto' 
 God himfelfe, in making of whom it pleafed God to jfhew 
 his excellent power, his wifdome, and his mercy. Man 
 \sA7icr6cofmos ^ faith one , an abridgement of the world 
 he hath Heaven refembiing his foule, earth his heart , pla- 
 I ced in the middeft as a Center ,■ the Ly ver is like the Sea, 
 whence flow the lively fprings ofbloud, the braine, like 
 the Sunne, gives the light of underllanding, and the fences 
 are fet round about like the Starres;the heart in man is like 
 the roote of a tree , the Organe or Lung-pipe that comes 
 of the left cell of the heart , is like the ftocke of the tree, 
 which divides it fclfe into two parts , and thence fpreades 
 abroad (as it were J fprayes and boughes into all the bo- 
 dy, even to the arteries of the head 5 the head is called the 
 Tower of the minde , the throne of realon, the houfe of 
 wifedome, the treafure of memory, the Capitoll of Judge- 
 ment , the fhoppe of affedions^ And concerning man ^ 
 %th another , God hath madefuch divers and contrary 
 elements to meete together in one and the felfe fame bo- 
 dy, and accord in one , fire and water, ayre and earth, 
 heate and cold, and a^I in one and the felfe lame place , and 
 yet hath fo tempered them together, as that one is the 
 defence and maintenance of another. Nay more then this, 
 fayth Saint Bernard , mirabtlisfocietas , in man hee hath 
 made a wonderfuU fociety ; for in him heaven and earth, 
 Maieftieand bafenelTe , Excellency and poverty hee hath 
 matched together. What is higher then the fpirit of life, 
 what bafer then the (lime of the earth ; his foule it was in- 
 fiifed into him the fpirit of life , his body was made of the 
 dLiffc ofrhc earth. This was that which made Grej^orie 
 ?{jztanzen rojbrcake into that exclama tion of himfelfe : 
 ~f9fJn]ha/rhis biond hee (hedde •yfoFJfTTfjT ImAge Cjdd hath 
 
 ^hee made man. So ofTea iivc unt o God it is , fo r a man _ 
 "^ WEaT 
 
Division 7. ^ /^^^ rvheran Uivfull to dcjirc death. 
 
 ^77 
 
 What g! eat and wonderfull Miracle was within himf cite 1 
 i amlicclc(laithhcc)and yet I am great, I am humble, and | 
 yet txaltcd; I am mortall, and yet immorcall ; i am earth- j 
 iy and yet heavenly ; little in body, but great in :oule;buni- 
 bicas being carth;and yet ixalted above tliecarth;mortal, j 
 as hec thac mull dye, and immortall as he that lliallrirea- 
 gainc ; earthly , as whole body was taken from chc earcli, 
 heaveiily,ai whole loule was breathed fro:n above. Nay, ' 
 more then this, laith the Prophet i^^W in one othis 
 Plalmes : JVhat is man that thou art mtndfnU ofhtmfund the 
 fonne of man that thoH vtfitrfl htm? for thou hafi made him a P^al«^.4,f ,^,7, 
 /title lower then the ArKTclls , and hafl crowned htm ^vith fflo- ^»9' 
 rie Or honour, than Tftadfi htm to havedomtnio over the worl^ \ 
 ofthj hands, &c, T herefore no man , no bcall can deftroy ' 
 l\i\s excellent Creature in this talliion framed , and bee in- ! 
 nocent before God. It belongeth onclytohim that gave 
 life to take it a way : Where hec takes it away , none can 
 rcftorc it,nor oug'it to take it away being given , but onely 
 by him that gave it. So that the whole rule ohife mull 
 remaine in the hands of the Lord of life ; who of himfelfe 
 fayth, I kill and give life : except thou canft doe both, doe 
 not a; tempt to doe eyther* Firft, make a living man if thou 
 cand , and then kill him to whom thou gavell life 5 thou 
 llialt then herein hurt no worke , but the worke of thine 
 ownehands^ but if rhou canft not give life , prclumenoc 
 to take away life , thou fhalt therein violate the worke of 
 another, And if ti^ou mayell not killanother,thou may- 
 tft much lefle kill thy felfe. Owi:, God made thee and them: 
 and if thou fhal: bee guilty of bloud m killing thy neigh- 
 bour, thou fha't bee guiltie of bloud in killing thy ncereft 
 neighbour f thy lelfe.) When T.Uoi was wearie of his life, 
 bein" perfccutcdby leK^hel^ hee faid unto God. Itise* 
 nouvh, O Lord, take my Soule, for I amns better then my ' ^"^^ '^"♦' 
 fathers. He was weane of his travells and dangers,and de- 
 fired to be out of this world , but hee did not lay violent 
 hands upon himfelfe or let out his owne Soule. Hee re- 
 
 T 3 membreth 
 
 I 
 
 Deut.jx.j9. 
 
278 I Th^ Cafes wherein it is ufjlawfuS^ Division 7 
 
 Phil, 1.13. 
 
 ^ membreth that God had placed hisloule in this earthly 
 Tabernacle , and he intreateth God to let his ioulcac li- 
 berty. He held his hands , howfoevcr his heart was affe- 
 cted : So hold thou thy hands from any fad of violence, 
 hfting them up with thy heart unto God in heaven , defi- 
 ring him to take thy foule when he thinkes good. When 
 Saint Tanl was in a ftraight betwcene two , and wift not 
 whether he fhould defire life or death , becaufe his life 
 iliould be profitable to the Church 5 but death gainefuU 
 to himlelfe : hee expreffedthe inclination of his heart to 
 death for his owne advantage , in thele words : dejlring 
 to be loafed , and to be wnh Chrtfl , yvhich is befi of all. His 
 reward was in heaven, which he defired to obtaine , his 
 Redeemer in Heaven, with whom he wifhed to be. And 
 becauie he could not come to enjoy the fame , except by 
 death, he fhould pafleout of this world ; he was vvillingto 
 depart, and for that end to be loofed, and fet at liberty trom 
 his flefh 5 but did he encline to fet himfelfe at liberty , to 
 loofc the bondes of his owne life, by which his foule was 
 tied, and fad bound to the fellowfhippe of his body?No,he 
 defired to be a Patienr,not an Agent, a Suftcrer,not a Doer 
 in this bufinefTe ; his words are defring to beloofed, not de- 
 firing to loofe my felfe s this he longed for, and in time ob- 
 tained it. 
 
 \\\ thefe men behold and fee how to crave, and how to 
 dcmeane thy felfe. Learne oiEliah and TuhI to feare God, 
 and not of iS*/^/*/ and Indas . Learne not of wicked men that 
 went aftray in i heir doings. And tell me if at any time thy 
 were fo vile in thy fight , and the glory of God fo deare 
 unto thee , that thou wcrt dei irons or content to give thy 
 life unto God, aixi to put it m hazard for his ?iame, and for 
 hi $ truths fake i Where haft thou defpifed the threatnings 
 of Tyrants ? Where haft thou contemned the fword, the 
 fire, or any other death i haft thou bcene caft into the fiery 
 fiirnace ^ or into the Lions denne,or imprifoned, or ftoned, 
 or fuffcrcd rebuke, or loffe of goods for the name ot Chrift, 
 
 as 
 
Division 7. and rv her em Uwfull to dejire deith. 
 
 2.79 
 
 as divers the Saints of God have done before thcc^ In 
 thelc cales iKthy life had beene vile in thy fight, it had been 
 hoiv )urable and Chnlban-likc, becaulc ihou docll iioc take 
 it thy leife , but yeld it up f-br his lake that gave ir. VVher- j 
 in thou haft the Prophets of God, and Ap.^Hes of ielus 
 Chiift to be thy Paterne •, who were ever ready a.^d wil- 
 ling to laydowneand loofe their lives in the fervice of 
 God ; but did not kill theinlelves, to be delivered from the j 
 fury of Tyrants ; but they yecldtd themlelves to the erticll ] 
 will of Tyrants , as Uremic told them that went about to icrcm.16.14, 
 kill him for preaching, as God had commanded him. e^/ 1 
 for me, behold J am in your hand doe with me as joh thmk^ 
 goo^ and right. It was all one to him, and equally welcome 
 to dye or live, lo that he might faithfully dee hisoiljce. 
 Of the like minde was Saint Taul^ laying to the Elders of A<fV.io.ii* 
 Ephefii4. "Behold, I goe bonnd in the fpirtt to lertifAlem^ and 
 know not Tvhat things /ha/icome unto me there,fave that the 
 Holy Ghofl wttnejfeth that in tverj City, hondes andaffHEli- 
 ons abide me : but I pajfe not at a/l^ neyther tt my life deere 
 unto me Jo that I may fulfill my courfe vtth toy ^ CTc, Heere 
 was a jnoft godly contempt of fraile life. If thou hadft re- 
 folution in any likcquarell , to yeeld thy life , when 
 there Hiould bee any attempt to take it ; thou haft the 
 Prophets of God^ and the Apoftles of Chrift, thine exam- 
 ple , and thou hall alfo the promife of the Lord lefus, to 
 recompence that lofte of life with the gaine of etcrnall life, 
 faying ; He that will fave hts life [hall loofe it , and heethat ' jy{atfc.To.?a, 
 loofeth his life for my fake, [hall fave it. That is, if any ftiall 
 to fave his life, deny to confefle me before men , his life 
 Oiall be taken from him by fome fuch judgement of God, 
 as that he Hiall have no comfort in the lode of it, bur fhall 
 dye eternally ; but if any conftantly confefle me , putting 
 his life in danger, either God fhall moft miraculofly de- 
 Hver him, and fave his life in this world , or for the lofTe 
 of his life here (in which loflc he fliall have abundant com- 
 fort J he fhall have cternall life in thcKingdome of heaven. 
 
 T4 Here 
 
I 280 
 
 I Thi Cafes xvhenmU IS tinUwfuH^ Di 
 
 VI sion 7 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 Here are comforts for thee, if chou have, or Hiall come (iw 
 thefe cafes; inco clanger, ihhouretaine thisrelolution to 
 lay downc thy life for God, and his glory 5 for (efus Chrift 
 and his truth. But there was never in thee any luch refo- [ 
 'ation, thou didft not love God fo well ^ and thy {(^{^c fo i:'l 
 as to dye for the truth, for the glory of God, for the name 
 of leius 5 thou didft never efteemc the Gofpell true Reli- 
 gion , and Rightcoufncflc at io high a price. O vile man, 
 O unworthy linner, wouldeft thou not gratifie God with 
 contempt of lite, and wilt thou gratifie the Devil! with it? 
 Wouldeft thou not loofe it for him that \s the Truth ; and 
 wilt thou loofe it for the Father of Lyes ? Was he not wor- 
 thy (in thy fight) to bee ferved with this manly rcfoluti- 
 on, that gave thee this life, and for the loflfe of it, is ready 
 to recompence it with cternall life , and '\% hee worthy to 
 bee ferv^ed with it, that was ever an enemy to it, and 
 when he hath Ipoyled thee of this life, makes thee amends 
 with a higher miichiefe, to plunge thcc in eternall death i 
 O monftrous abfurditie to bee admitted amongft the pro- 
 fcflbrs of Chriftianity I Paui'e a while, and confider of this 
 point, that if it bee poilible , thou may eft bee recovered 
 from this defpcrate purpole. Thinke what is to have held 
 God off at the flaves end, and never to have ycelded in 
 thine heart to dye for his love : though he gave thee life,to 
 lofe one drop of blood for his fake , though he filled thy 
 vemes, to have thy breath ftopped for his glory 5 though it 
 was he that breathed into thy noftrcls the breath of life, 
 and made thee a living fou'e ; yet to embrace the Devill \x\ 
 thy bofome, as if he were thy God, to tell him that he /]iall 
 have thy life 5 thy bloud Hull flowc for his fake, if thou 
 gettea fword or knife : that thou wilt ftrangle thy felfc, 
 and ftop thy breath for bis love, if thoucanftgeta halter. 
 Where is thy wifedome that refolvcft I'o foolifhly ? thy 
 lufticc to rcfolve fo injurioufly, thy love to God, and 
 thine owne fbule (ro whom thou oweft thy love) to God, 
 to procure his glory ; to thy foule, to procure the falvation 
 
 oF 
 
I D I V I s I O N 7 . and w herein law f till to defire death. 
 
 ofit, that doft rclolvc fo hactfully. For more Foolillily for 
 himlelfe, more in/urioufly agiiiiJlGod, aid more hartftil- 
 iy agaiiill both liimielfe and God. Did ever any man con- 
 clude and relolve in any cliing then thou docd in this ,mo(l 
 fooluhly determine for rhy Iclfc, that runncfl: inco that dc- 
 ftructioii : from which thou iliouldcffc flie with all poilible 
 fpeed, as the Kraelitcs fled from the tents of Korah and his 
 companic, when the earth : wallowed them up 5 and moft 
 unjullly thou dealelf with God , to take that which is his 
 without his leave -, for we are his, and not our owne ;they 
 are the words of the Apoftle Partly Tee ^re not your oirne ; 
 and a little after fpcaking of our bodies and fpirits,hec iaith 
 thej are Gods, And before his face without any feare or re- 
 verence of him, to deft toy them both at one inftant. For 
 thou deftroieft the bodie in killing it, and thou deftroieft* 
 thy foulc that muft perifh for that murther, and moft hate- 
 fully thou procecdcft againft God and thy (elfe in this refo- 
 lution i hatefully againft God, in deftroying his Creature ; 
 and ha:cfully againft thy felfe, in deftroying thy felfe. The 
 Fa t of the Philiftines in ftopping up the wels that ^hra- 
 ham had digG;ed^ to the end that Ifaaks his fonne fliould not 
 life them for his cattle, is interpreted to bee an evidence of 
 their hatred; //"<€./<:jt.^ laying unto them ; JVh eref ore come yee 
 unto me, feeing yc hate me ? How much more muft thy facfl 
 bee interpreted to bee an evidence of hatred againft God , 
 and thine owne loule, that filleft up and choakeft the Well 
 of life, that God d'gged and opened for thy nfe , and deft- 
 reft to water ar the pit of death and hell: where thou ftialt 
 not obtaine one drop of water to coole thy tongue , when 
 I thou art in torments. 
 
 How commcth it to pafTe among deceived men , that 
 I when as in the cafe of iuftering for God, where death is 
 j accompanied with comfort , and rewarded with glorie , 
 ; they ftirinke'and fcare , as for their lives withdrawing 
 • themfclves , which then are fweet unto them , and death 
 bitter i and in thiscafe of laying violent hands upon them- 
 
 felves, 
 
 23l 
 
 t Cor. 6,1^,10 
 
 Gcn.i^.^T. 
 
 Luk,i5,24, 
 
282 
 
 7 he Cjifes wherein it is unLrvfuli, D r v i s i o n 7 . 
 
 Iarr..3.5, 
 
 Obic£V. 
 
 Arts and Mo- 
 numents, 
 
 1708. 
 
 170^. 
 
 \ 
 
 felvcs, where death is accompanied with terrour, and (hall I 
 be rewarded with etcrnall damnation; here they Hep forth, | 
 and are dcfperatcly bold, life being bitter unto them, and ; 
 death ("weet i This is a dangerous errour, wherein the De- 
 will the ancient Murderer , hath bcene their Couniellour, 
 the Giver of I ife never perfwaded thereunto, the very fad 
 bewrayeth from what head that (inne came, even from 
 him that labourech by all meanes the deflrudion of man- 
 kind. Manas he is the work manfliippe of God, is every 
 way fo marvailouSjthat no marvailethe Philofophers called 
 him a little world, the Epitome and abridgement of the 
 world, in wl^om the epilogue and lumme of the world is 
 contained. ^H^vtflme in his eftimation accounted man a 
 greater miracle then all the miracles that ever were 
 wrought amongft men : but as he is perverted thus by fin, 
 and become the workmanfhip of Satan, he is fofraughtcd 
 with iniquity, that S. lames cals one member of his body 
 a world of wickednefl'e , and if in the tongue onely which 
 is but a fmall member of the body there is fo much wicked- 
 nefle , that the fpirit of God , who giveth names to all 
 things as they are, called it a world of wickednefle, what 
 fhall we thinke of the reft f what botomUfle depth of 
 iniquity muft their bee in the fotintaine , when there is fo 
 much in the ftreame. 
 
 Lay thefe things together, and I hope the thing that thou 
 art refolved to doe, will appeare fo foule and odious before 
 thee,that thy refolucion will alter & vaaifh away. And the 
 moft mighty prefcrver change thy mind by his fandifying 
 fpirit and blefle thee from this fearefull ruine. 
 
 But what if one that hath profcfled finccrely the true 
 Religion of the Gofpell, fhould through terrour o^ con- [ 
 fcience, and for very anguifh of heart defpaire, and \n 
 that cafe fliould make away himfelfe 1 What may bee 
 thought of the eftate of fuch a one ? Mailer T^oxe in his 
 Bookc of Ads and Monuments , in the lamentable^ 
 Storic of Maftcr Umes Hales a ludge , (aith ,• that I 
 
 this I 
 
D I V I s I O N 7 . and wherein I aw fit II to defire death. 
 
 ^^i 
 
 this ludgc graunting to foaicthing by the aflault and craF- 
 tie perivvalion of Stephen Gardiner BiQiop oifVinchefier , 
 and ot the reft of the perfecuting Prclars, being by their 
 greatnelVe and imporcanity overcome , did iliortly ahcr 
 call hiin!clf-c CO better remembrance, and with extreame 
 griefc and angailli of heart , hee was read/ with his Pen- 
 knife to have killed himfelFe in prifon ^ and had no doubt 
 fo done, had not the mercifull providence of the Lord 
 rcfcued him Hiiraculonfly ac that time. After that f-f^in- 
 cheficr hearing that hee had fore wounded hi mfelfe^ takcth 
 occafion thereby to blafphemc the Golpcll , calling it 
 openly in the Stane-Chamber, theDodrincof Deipc- 
 racion : But the faid Judge wichin a while afccr reco- 
 vering of thofe wounds , and delivered out of prifon, 
 gets himfelfe home to his houfe m Kent , where he either 
 For the greatncffe of his (or row, or for lackc of good coun- 
 fcll, or For that hee would avoidc the necellitie of hearing 
 MaiTc , having all things fet in an order , a good while 
 before that appertained to his Tcftament , cafting himfelfe 
 into a ihallow river , was drowned therein ; which was 
 in lanuary or February, 15^5. which unhappy chance 
 of this fo worthy a ludge (as Mafter Poxe faith was furely 
 the caufe of greac forrow and gricfe to all good men , and 
 it gave occaiJon bcfides to (bme Divines , to doubt with 
 themfeivcs whether he were reprobate or faved. Of which 
 matter faith he, it is not for me to determine. Our ludge 
 is his Judge , who will lay all things open when the time 
 commeth* Thisin the meane timeiscertaine, that the 
 deed of the man ought in no wife to be allowed ; Jf 
 wittingly, J difcommcnd his reafon ; if in a phrenzy , as 
 one out of his wit , then doe I greatly lament, and pit- 
 ty his cafe. Yet notwithftanding feeing Gods judgements 
 bcc fecret , and we bee likcwiic in doubt upon what intent 
 hee did thus punidi himfelfe ; nor any man can be ccrtaine 
 whether he repented or not before the laft breath, I thinke 
 their opinion herein is more inditFcrcnt , who doe rather 
 
 difallow 
 
 T- 
 
rrmm* 
 
 284. 
 
 j/je Cafes wherein it is uniarvfuli. Division/.. 
 
 difallow the example of the dead , then delpaire any w ay 
 of his falvarion. Otherwile , if we will adjudge all thcie to 1 
 hell chac hath departed the world aiier this lort,how inany 
 examples have we in the hrft perlecutions of the Chmh of 
 thole men and women,who being regiftred m the Works 
 of worthy Writers; have not withfcanding their praile 
 and commendation. For what iLall we thmkc of thole yong 
 men, who being fought for to doe facnlice to heathen 1- 
 dots, did call downe themfelves headlong and brake their 
 ncckes to avoydc fuch horrible pollution of themlelves^ 
 What lliall 1 lay of thoie Virgins of A*ttioch , who to the 
 end they might not defile ihemfelves wich uncleanntHc, 
 and with Idolatry,through the perfwalion of their mother, 
 calling themfelves headlong into a river, (together with 
 their mother) did fordoe themfelves, though not m the 
 fame water 5 yet after the fame rnaner of drowning as this 
 M. tiales did, 
 
 W hat fhall 1 fay of other two fifters , which for the 
 felfe fame quarel did vio'ently throw themfelves headlong 
 into the Sea, as Eufebit*s doth recorde i In whom though 
 percha. ice, there was lefTe confidence to beare out the pams 
 that Ihould be miniftred of the wicked unto themj yet chat 
 their good defire to keepc their Faith and Religion unlpot- 
 ted, was commended and prai fed. Another like example of 
 death is mentioned by 2{Jcef>horn4 in another Virgin like- 
 wife,whofe name is exprelTed in Urome to be 'BrajfiU *T>i. 
 rachtma^ who to keepe her Virginity, fained her fclle to be 
 a Witch, & fo conventing with the yong man which went 
 about to deflowre her , pretended that fhe would give him 
 an hearbe , which fliould preferve him from all kind 
 of weapon s , and fo to prove it in her felfe, laid the 
 hearbe upon her owne throat, bidding him f mite, whereby 
 (lie was flaine, and fb by the lofle of her life faved her Vir- 
 ginity. 
 
 Hereunto may be joyncd the like geath otSophrartia^z 
 Matron of Rome, who when fl^ee was required of C^fax- 
 
 entttu 
 
_ ^ - 
 
 Divi SION7. and where in Uwfull to c/efiredcdth, 285 
 
 cnti'ts ch:TyraiK to he cU'rt'ed •, and (aw her husband more 
 (lacke then he ought to have bcenc in laving her hoiiefty, 
 biddiii" them cha: were lent for her, to tarry a while till 
 lliee mivlc her ready, went into her Chamber , and with a 
 weapon thruft her lelfc through the bread, and fo dyed. 
 Likewife -Achetes biting oflF his owae ton^uc^ didfpit it 
 inthefaceofthehirloc. Which example (laith Vi^ox) \ 
 I doe not here al ledge , as going abouc to excufe or main- 
 taine the hainou^ fact of M. Hiles, which I would willi 
 rather by lilence might bee drowned in oblivion. But yet 
 notwichftaiiding, as touching the perfon of the min (what 
 foever his taf^ was) bwCaufe wee are not fure whether he at 
 the lall breach rcpenced agiine ; for that we doe not know, 
 nor are able to comprehend thebottomlefledepdi of the 
 graces and mercies otGod , which are in Chrift fefus our 
 Saviour. Wee will therefore leave the finall judg.:ment 
 of him, to che determination of him , who is appointed 
 the onely ludge of the quicke and dead. And thus farre,M, 
 Tox^ 
 
 Touching the Cafes wherein it is lawfiill to defire death, 
 they may be reduced principally into five. 
 
 The firft \% ^ that if G 3d can bee more honoured and 
 glorified by our deach then by our life ; then in fuch a cafe 
 itislawfulltodefiredc^ath. lu which cafe Sa,m^fondiZ^\~ 
 red death, knowing well thereby, that he fhould (lay more 
 of the uncircuincifed Phiiiiti les, the enemies of God , at 
 his death, thei hee (lie va his life. In this ziXt .Mj^es the 
 fervant of God dcdred to die ; yea , hee went further 5 for 
 hee d;;(ircd nota tem^iorall but an cremall death , for the 
 glorie of God in the falvation of his people. For when 
 CMofes perceived that the Lord was greatly oflFended 
 with the people for mikiig aid worfhipping the gol- 
 , den Calfe , and that the Lord; wrath waxed hote againg 
 them , and that hee n. -ant to co ifu ne them for the lame : 
 Itisfaidthit 'Mo^er retuneJ to the Lord aid faidi Oh 
 this people h4vejirt4ed a great jin^ani have m/ide them gods of 
 
 gold 
 
 Iudg.l6,iJ,i9 
 30. 
 
 Exod.3i,3t,}t 
 
\ 2.S6 
 
 1 he Cefexv herein it ps twlarvfu/i, D r v i $ i o n 7 
 
 Rom.9.i,i33, 
 
 A(\s and Mo. 
 numcnis.1 13. 
 
 gold:yet now ifthon wtlt forgive their fmne, and ifnot^hlot me 
 I fray thee out of the booke which thou haft written, Ailb in 
 this cale, the Apoltle Saint Pafii went as fane as O^o- 
 fes indefiringthe famedeath^, fortheUkecaule as OVUfes 
 did , w hich was for the glory of God in the lalvation of 
 his people. Who being exceeding much iorrowftill for 
 the Lords rcieding, and cafting offthe levvcs^ faith, if^; 
 the truth y I lye not, my Confcience aljo hearing mee witvejfe 
 in the holy ghofi.that I have great heaviueffe and cominnall 
 fsrrowinmy hearty for I could wijh that my felfe were ac^ 
 CHrfed {or feparated)from Chrififor my "Brethren my Kinf- 
 men according to thefiejhywho are Ifraelttes, to whom pert a j^ 
 neth the adoption, and the glory ^and the covenant s^and the gi- 
 ving of t he Law , andthefervice of God and the promifes, 
 whofe are the Fathers y and of whom, at concerning the Vlefhy 
 Qjriji came. Who U over all God blejfedfor ener y ^men. In 
 this caleaifo the holy Martyrs greatly longed after^ and de- 
 lireddeach, and ramie moft joyfully and gladly vnto it • 
 Well knowing with Sampfon^ that they fhould flay more 
 ac their death, then they flue in their Life 5 as firft , that 
 they fliould (lay thdr laft cncmie by death, which is not 
 llame but by dying : And fecondly , that by dying they 
 fliould kill the (pawne of all enmitie , finrie that caufeth 
 death; and thirdly, they knew that God fhonld bee " 
 more glorified, and honoured by their death, then hce 
 could be by their life , m that it would thereby be an occa- 
 lion of daunting his enemies, and of the increafing and flou- 
 rishing of his Church and Children. For the death of the 
 Martyrs was the feed of Gods Church , In which refpe(5l 
 M. Foxe in his Ads and Monuments faith that in old time 
 Marty rdome was more defired then Eiflioprickes bee 
 
 now. 
 
 Secondly , it is lawful! to defire death in refpe<5l of 
 the wicked, through zcale to Gods glory, to the end 
 that wee may bee freed from their fociety , whereby wee 
 might not be eye-witneflcs , nor eare-witnefles ofcheir 
 
 dayly 
 
D I V I s I o N 7 ■ "'"i wherein Uwfnll to deftre death. 
 
 287 
 
 I King, 19.3,4. 
 
 xKin.i.li, 12. 
 
 dayly blafphcining and diflionouring oFGod. In which^ 
 calc KebeckA dciircd death. For when <5/^« had taken iin- Gcn.i6.3^5<. 
 godly wives , it is laid , that thej J^erc a grief e ofmindttnto 
 Ijaack^And hrr^hecatijc thfj k^nv that God wAsgreitlj dijho- 
 nourei thereby, theretorc Rebeck^ laid unto Ifaacks y I 
 am weary of my life , tfecaufe of the d.iHghters of Heth, .Gcn.i7.4^. 
 And tf Jacob take a wife of them , fnch as thofe that \ 
 areof the daughters of the land y rvhat good/ha/i my life doe 
 mee I In this cale alio the Prophet £/f^^ defircd death; 
 For he feeing the Idolatrous pra.liles of the Ifraelites, and 
 the Itrange cruelcies oitAhab and lexjabel againll the Pro- 
 phets and feruants oF the Lord , and how they had forla- 
 ken the Lords covenants, call downe his Alters, and 
 flayne his Prophets with the fword,and that they did alfo 
 (eekc his liFe to take it away -, therefore through the great 
 zeale which he had to the glory oF God , that he might 
 not fee thefc abominations wherewith the Lord was fo 
 much dllionorcd by them : It is faide , That he recjuefted 
 for himfelfe that hee might die , and fatd tt ts enough now 
 O Lord , tak^ arvajf my life y for I am not better then my Fa^ 
 thers. Acid afterwards (as wee reade) God granted 
 unto him more then hee did defire , For the Lord tooke 
 him away up into heaven in a whirlewinde, which ta- 
 king up ofEliah after this fort into heaven, was farre bet- 
 ter and m")re ealie for him,chen the ordinary and common 
 death of all men. 
 
 It is the will and pleafure oFGod , to fuffjr the godly to 
 live and dwell where the wicked arc , and where Sathan 
 hath his feate and throne : and to fuflTer wicked men to live 
 where the godly men are , not onely in the world, but m 
 the fame country, in the fame Citcy, in the fame pari fh, in 
 the fame Church, in the fame houfholdand the reafons why 
 God will have it f ),are principally chefc five. 
 
 The firft reafonis, (as it feemes) for the tryall of Gods 
 fervants : I P<fr. i.^^7, i Pet, ^.it. Revfla.i,io. 
 
 The fecond reafoa is, for purifying clendng and purging 
 
 of 
 
 
 I 
 
V 238 
 
 1 he Caje rv her em it is unUrvfuli, D r v i s i o m 7 • 
 
 Pfa.iio.$,9,7. 
 
 1 PcM.7,&. 
 
 of his fcrvants whicich wee gather ruft; Pfa/.^c^.i/Tfan. 
 1 1. 3 5. *Z) <?»♦!*. 10, 
 
 T he third realon is even for neceffity , that fuch of tlic 
 wicked which doe belong unto God may in time bee con- 
 verted, for there are many of Gods eled amongft that 
 heape. 
 
 The fourth reafon is for the extolling and magnifying 
 the power of Chrift , that can redifie and maintainc his 
 fcepter and Kingdome in the midft of his enemyes. 
 
 The fift and lafi: realon is , for the prolonguig of Gods 
 matchleffe patience toward the wicked worlcl:til Lot came 
 out of Sodome God doth not deftroy it. 
 
 Who can cxprdfle what griefe iris to the chiMe of 
 God to bee inclofed and compafTed about with wicked 
 and ungodly miscreants , by whom God is all the day 
 long blalphemed and difhounoured ^ What a torture and 
 torment is it to fuch as fearc the Lord, and are godly min- 
 ded , to Hue in the midft of a fro ward, perverfe, and croo- 
 ked generation , continually provoking Gods wrath by 
 reaion of their wicked lives and deedes ? It would make 
 a mans heart to bleed to hearc and con(ider,how fwearing, 
 biafpheming, curfed fpeakinS , rayling , flandenng,quar- 
 relling, contending, icafting, mocking, fcoffing, flattering, 
 lying, diflfembling, vaine^ corrupt, filthy, fcurri ous, loofe 
 and idle talking , that overflow in all places , fo that 
 men that feare God , had better bee any where , then 
 in the company of moft men. This made the Prophet 
 T>avi^ to cry out and lay ; IVoc is mee that Ifoiourne in . 
 LMefechj that I dwellin thetentsof Kedar,my foule hath too 
 longdypelt with him that hateth peace, I am for peace , but 
 when Ifpeake^ they areforvparre. 
 
 Lot was fore vexed and grieved with the uncleane 
 converfation of the wicked: and therefore it is faid , that 
 the Lor4 delivered iuft Lot^ vexed with the filthy conver- 
 fation /^f the wicked/iJ??- thatrighteow man drrelltngamongfl 
 ther?/y in feeing And hearing vexed his righteous foule from 
 
 day 
 
iDlv.i SION7. and wherein Luv full to dc fire death . 
 
 — ''-■-*■ -- 
 
 289 
 
 dn^ to day mth thetr unluwfnll deeds. This World is verily 
 like Sodom full of gencrall and unfpcakcablc filthincflb. All 
 the whole l^orld Iteth tn wuk^dnede^ vScarce ojic Lot to bee_ 
 found in a whole City or paruli, if God would fcekc but 
 tcnnc righteous men, that are trucly or ablblutdy god- 
 ly they arc not to be found in the inolt afl'emblies otthe 
 world, nay in the Church too ; Yet more, this world is a 
 very pell-houfe , I'piritually confidered, every man that a 
 godly man comes necre hath a mifchievous plague-fore 
 running upon him: Yea, the godly themlelves are not 
 withouc the Difeafc through inf-ediou, fo as there is a ne- 
 ceility, as it were to infccfl , or be infedled ilill in all places, 
 or Companies: oh, who would love to live in a peft-houfc, 
 that may dwell in a place for ever free from all infe:iion i 
 yet more, this world; why, it is a very Golgotha, a place of 
 dead men, we live among the graves.* almoltall we lee or 
 have to deale with are but men truly dcadjalas,what lliould 
 wee reckon of the life of mens carkafes , when their 
 foules are dead, and both foules and bodies fentenccd to e- 
 ternall deatli ; in this wor'd the dcadburj the dedd^:i\mo{k. 
 all that we mcete with, arc malcfa(?lors under fentence , 
 ready to be carried to execution , the wrath of God hang- 
 ing over their heads,andunquencheable fire kindled againft 
 them.. And lliall we be lb befotted as to love the dead, 
 more then the living i or the fbciety of vile and miferablc 
 malcfadors in a prifon, rather then the fcllowll-iippe of the 
 glorious princcsof God in their palace of endlcffe &: match- 
 Icfle blilVe i 
 
 As the \vorld m all ages heretofore hath not knowne the 
 pure and flraight paths of God, fo in thefeprefei^tevill 
 daiesofours.the true and right profelTionof Chrirtianiryis. 
 counted of many Puritanifmeandprecifenefle.phantafticaU 
 affc^acion of fingularity , and popularity , and hipocridc. 
 True it is indeed . thar as t'.ere are true Preachers, and tnie 
 Beleever?, lb Satan (lirres up counterfeits, that have an out- 
 ward fhew and rcfemblance of them, bur are not purged 
 
 V from 
 
 \o\\a J.i^" 
 
 [cr.f.T. 
 
 Mat*8.ii. 
 
mimam. 
 
 mSm»^m 
 
 2P0 
 
 
 PrOU.30.1 2- 
 
 Afis 28.11, 
 
 7 he C fifes \v her an it is unlarvfuli, D r v i s i o n 7 . 
 
 from their inward filthincfle. Thefc are they that World- 
 Jings fhimbleat, concluding thus 5 Even fo are they all j ! 
 therefore their profeinoa is but a kind oiSed , and to fol- 
 low the common coi-irfe & praflife of the world, is the fu- 
 T^il & lafu^fl way. And here Sathan hath his defire.Againe, 
 if any godiy man that hath alwaies made confcience ot* his 
 waies iLail otFend,although of meere infirmityjor occafio- 
 ned fay fomc ftrong temptation, but yet fo, as he may iuftly 
 be raxed; why then the mattter is out of all doubt, both he 
 and all hisraiike are hypocrites, and none elfe. Such is the 
 blindncffe of the world , and their prciudicate opinion of 
 the children of God. But to you that are of this vncharita- 
 ble opinion^ give me leave to fpeake thus much; You boaft 
 your Iclves to be the children of God-, and the truemem-l 
 bers of Chrifl, though carelefTe of your waies 5 but as for 
 others , who make confcience of their w^ayes , you make 
 mockes on them with your mouth es^and you devife terms 
 for them^ to make them accounted factious, ledaries, hy- 
 pocrites, -and I know not what; they are your gazing 
 (iockes and taunting Proverbes 5 Concerning which fccfl, 
 we knoWjthat every where it is fpoken againft;but where 
 is your devotion ? where is your zealc, where is your re- 
 pentance, where is your fervency, fobriety, prayer ^thankf- 
 givi!'ig,humility? What fruits of the Spirit appeare in you, 
 what love of God in zealous exercises of Gods worfhip ? 
 what contempt of the worlds pompe, pride, pleafure, 
 vanity in your moderate living and converfation i What 
 regard of ihe afflic!l:ions of lofeph I Yea, your bodies are 
 your Jdols, and your foulcs like drudges doe homage to 
 your bodies ; this appcareth in your exceflive fare , co- 
 ftly apparrcll, varieties of fafhions, in your curiofity in 
 the putting on thereof, in your wanton (ports, daliances, 
 pleafures, and fuch like. But for a conclufion 9 let mee 
 leave this as a bone for you to gnaw on , That flumbling 
 b'ockcs n-ial ever be caft before the feet of the wici<ed,yer 
 {hall the Lanthorne of Gods Word feine unto them to 
 
 guide 
 
1 D i V I s I o N 7 ^'^'^ ^v her an lawfull t o dejirc death . 
 
 291 
 
 \ 
 
 
 gu dc them wirhout fbiaibling or ciring:not\vithIknding, 
 itumbic they will , and fall dovvue even to the brca^.ing ot 
 tiitir ncckes 5 for their ownc wickcdneflcbhndcih rhcni ; 
 yea and they wilfully out of the hardccfllpF their h'car:s 
 clolcther eicsacjaind the waies of truth ibecaufe the waiei 
 oferror,dcach;»nd dcftruflion.are more pleaiantiiiito ch.m. 
 
 Irnrthennore^woe ihall be to tlicm th^t wrong by word 
 or dtt.d,or writing, the leait of God5> little onts,who are fo 
 dearc to the Lord, as the apple of his eye: Therefore let the 
 k'ornersand enemies of good irn:n remember, That Ifrael is 
 AS 1.1 thmq hullovpcdto the Lordydilthej th.tt e^te tt frail ojfcndy 
 Evilipniilcome Hfon them ^ laii h the Lord. J Men may diWp'pz, 
 their tongnes in venome, and their peniies in poylon, and 
 keep the garments of fuch as Itone Stephen : biat the Lord 
 will avenge the canlc othispoorconesjhc will not alwaies 
 hold his pcace;Gor hide his face* 
 
 It 1 s the lot and portion oFGods people to be fpoken e- 
 
 vill of asofcvill doers, it was the pra.life of Satan from 
 
 the beginning to rai'e up flanderers.This was the lot of the 
 
 godly before the law^and under thelaw^and under the ' jo- 
 
 Ipell. Before the law, as in ^brahAms family, Ifm.tel 
 
 mocked Ifa^icke\^ \vi Ifuackss family, Efan hated /^r<r^;a.id 
 
 in lacohs family, lofefh was hated of his brethren: and of 
 
 iob^ the wicked had him in derifton ard he was their fong ^^ .^ 
 
 and their by- word; vnder the lawns of the Prophet "Daztd-^ [^^ ^o. i,y. 
 
 for he faith, Falfe tvuneffes did rtfc up^thcy laid to my charge I 
 
 things I kjJew not : they rewarded me evill for ^ood, to the •■ P^i!.? f.r i , i x 
 
 jjjotltna of my foule. But in mine adverfty they reioyced^ and ' i Tj ^ ^j ^'^' ^ ^' 
 
 gathered themjelves together , yea thevtrj abjeEls (fathered 
 
 tijtm/elves totretiier a(T.iiifl me,a<id I k^ew it not they did fear 
 
 me and ceaCednot, tritii hypocrtticall mockers in feajfs they 
 
 \ ^nufljed f4pOH me with t^^eir teeth : tf)ey fpeakj notpeace hnt 
 
 j they dcvife deceitful matters a^ainfl them that are quiet in the 
 
 \ iandyjea they opened (hctr month wi ie aqai-ifl me and faid ah.t 
 
 aha J Oi.r eye hathfeene it. A gain, Thou makeft i^ a reproch to 
 
 ^ur neighbours, afcorneand denf^n to them $hat are round 
 
 Vt About 
 
 
 Gen.i.c^. 
 
 G.\'.4.i«?« 
 Gc 1.17.41* 
 
 Pr.ih7i7.4« 'i 
 
292 
 
 Pfal.jMl;,!!; 
 
 EfayS.iS. 
 
 
 Efayjp.ij, 
 Icr.iS.i8, 
 
 1 Cor.4.p. 
 
 
 1 Cor.4-S. 
 
 2 Cor, 6.4. J. 
 
 T^^ C^j'^j wherein tt is unLnvftiliy D r v i s i o m 7 
 
 aboHt ta, ThoH make ft m a by~rpord among the henthen.dfha- 
 king of the head, among the -peofle, A^aine^^^f^ that fit in the 
 gatejjmke (igainft mee , and I was the fong of the drunkards^ 
 And of the Prophet //2^<^/, for he faith, Behold I and the 
 children whom thou haft given mec^arefor fignesandfor 
 yoonders in Ifrael : from the Lordofhojles which dwelleth in 
 mount Zion. A nd in another place he faith, T^-^ truth fai- 
 leth^ and he that depart eth fomevill, maketh himfelf aprey. 
 And alio of the Prophet leremuh , for he faith, Then f aid 
 they ^ come and let la devife devifes agatnfi leremiah^/^r the 
 layv Jhall not pcriflj fom the Prieft^ nor conn fell fsm the wife ' 
 nor the word fern the Prophet y come let yti fmite him withthe 
 tongue^ let Pti not give heed to any ^of his words. And al(b 
 under the Gofpell , as of our Saviour Chrift, who was de- 
 rided, mocked,revilcd, flaundered, reproched, evili fpoken 
 of as appeareth through the whole flory of the Evangelifts I 
 and alfo of the blefled Apoftles^ as appeareth in the firft E- 
 piflle to the (^orlnth, where the Apoftle faith, Por Ithinke 
 that ^od hathfet forth m the Apojilesjaft as it were approo^ 
 vedte death ^ for we are made a Ife^acle unto the worlds and 
 to Angels, and to men : we Oi'efool-esfor Chrifis (ake , but ye 
 are wife in Chrifi : we are weake^ hut ye are Ffrong : yee are 
 honourable, but we are defptfed : Even to this prefent houre 
 we both hunger and thirfi^ and are naked, and are buff'etedj 
 C^ have no certaine dwelling place^ G^ labor working with eur 
 own handsxBeing reviled we bleffe , being per fee ut edwe fuffer 
 it.: being defamed^ we entreate : wee are madethe filth of 
 the w or I d^ and are the offfcouring of all things even to this 
 day, AgainCj TVe are troubled on every fide, yet net drfiref^ 
 fed : we are perplexed, bnt not in defpaire t perfecutcd, but 
 notforfaken: cafidowne, butnotdeflroyed. Agai^e, In all 
 things we approve ourfelves as the Aiiniflcrs of God in 7nuch 
 patience, in affiiflions, in necefiities, in difireffes, in fi'ripes, 
 intmprifonmentSy in tumultes, in labours, in watchings,in 
 faflin^s : by honour and dipjonour , by evill report and good 
 report : as deceivers, and yet true. And this is alfo the lof, 
 
 and 
 
Division 7 . and wherein lawful/ to deft re de^th. 295 
 
 and portion of the feivants of God at this day and will be \ 
 
 (o to the end of the world: For as then ("faith the Apoillt) ! 
 
 hec that was borne after the jie/h perfectited htm that w.u ^^' 4 ^,9. 
 
 borhe after the fptrtt ^evenfo tt n now. 
 
 The realons of this are principally foure. 
 
 T he hrfl, \% in the wicked theinlclves, in that they have 
 of their ownc naruiall Condicion ever hated , and maliccd 
 the fervants of God from the lirll bcginnii g of the 
 world. 
 
 The fccond reafon is, in the Dev' ill himfelfe , whofe 
 pollicy is toloadethe fervantsof God with reproches, 
 ar.d flaunders to keepc men from the good waycs of God, 
 for the incrcafing and inlarging of his owne king- 
 dome. 
 
 The third reafon is , in God himfclfe, whofe pleafure 
 ishcerein, for totry the (inceriry of his fervants , and 
 to make them more waichftill and careful! of their 
 waies. 
 
 The fourth and laft reafon is , in profeffors thcmfelves, 
 and theleareof threcfoits. 
 
 The firft fort are feeming profcflbrs , which doe make 
 
 bjt a ihew onely ofgodlinefle , and thefe are hypocrites. 
 
 IVoe unto the world ("faith OUT Siviom) b^cAufe of ojfencts^ 
 
 for tt muft needs he that offences comcy but woe to th^t man by 
 
 whom the o^ence commeth. 
 
 The fccond fort arc the wcake Chriftians,by their indif- 
 crction. 
 
 But ufually it Is in regard of the beft CKriftians which 
 are the third fort, becaule they doc with :he Prophet ^a- 
 vidj Follow the thtn^ that good is. And therefore the Apo- 
 ftle S. Peter faith, /f?r it is fuffctent for HS,that we havefpent 
 ti:e times pafl of our life yaft er the lufl of the Gentiles, walking 
 inwantenneffejufls^drunk^nneffe trt (jlutonj ^ drinkings andin 
 abominable idolatries ^wherein It ^eemeth to them fi'range that 
 jfiH runne not with them unto the fame excejfe of riot, there- 
 fore /peaks ^^^^y ^'^^l^ of you , which fhallgive account to htm 
 
 V 3 ' that 
 
 Mat.iS.7* 
 
 
294- 
 
 The Cafes wherein it is unLaxvfuli, D r v i s i o n 7 . | 
 
 lIoh.3*ii,i2. 
 
 Math.j.li»'i« 
 
 I PcU4.i4. 
 
 '! 
 
 Rcv.^i.ii, 
 
 that is ready to ihdge the cj^tickc and the dead : and to this 
 purpoic the Apoftle S. hhn faith. p9r this is the mejfa^e that 
 jee heard from the beginmngythat we PjohU love one another^ 
 not as CaineyVpho was of that wicked one and [lew his brother, 
 and wherefore few hee him ? becanfe his owne worses were e- 
 vtlly and his brothers righteous : and therefore for this caufe 
 our Saviour Chrifl: faith mth^Go^^dh'B leafed are ye when 
 men fjall revile y OH and perfecHte y OH, and fiall fay all matr- 
 ner ofevill againfi yoH^falfyfor my fake, retoyce and bee ex- 
 ceedmg gUd for great is yoHr reward in heaven Jor fo f erf e-^ 
 CHted they the T?rofhets which were before yon. Ifyee be re^ 
 prochedfor the name of (fhrifi, happy are ye, for the ffirit of 
 gloria, and of God refieth upon you , on their part hee is evill 
 ffoken off, bnt oneyonr part he is glorified. 
 
 Therefore in the meane time till wee can have our 
 defire in this cafe 5 We muft take great care that we deUgtit 
 not in their evill company j and if it bee our hap fometime 
 tobecamongftthem, let us take heed wee bee not pol- 
 luted and defiled by their company ;for it is a 'common, 
 and a true faying , that hee that toucheth pitch fliaH be de> 
 filed therewith ; fo hee that doth convcrfe with them^ 
 mull looke to bee defiled with their company. Ifaman 
 that had wallowed in the myre , and tumbled in the filthy 
 channell, fhould offer to company with us , wee would"^ 
 loath and fliunne him , becaule hee would eUe foone make 
 his filth cleave unto us. So wicked and ungodly perfons^ 
 doe fet their dnwQS as markes upon thofe, with whom they 
 company J and dilperle and Icattcr their filth where they 
 come , and leave a print or badge of their prophanefTe be- 
 hind them ;and fhall wee fit lo cofc unto them, who 
 havefo plunged themfelvesin the myre of fin, who fhould 
 rather labour eyther to draw them outoffilchinefie , or 
 withdraw our felves , that we prove not as loarhfome and 
 filthy as they are f Should we not rather fay, IfaKywillhe 
 filthy, let him be filthy fiill by htmfelfe. If any will be uninB, 
 let him be HmnflfitHbj himfelfe : If any will be beaftly, let 
 
 him 
 
D I V I s I o N 7 . and wherei n Uwfnll to dcjire death. 
 
 2pi 
 
 I S.im.i4.ij 
 
 Pfal.H^.^j, 
 
 Pral.1^.4,7. 
 
 him be be beaftly alone. The fi'chy peifon and bcaflly man | 
 fliall HOC tiavcinc for a companion. Aiy foule fjall h,iveno """ '^^-^ " 
 pUaJHre in htm. And asiaich the Provcrbcs of- the An- 
 cients ; IVickedne'fe frgceedeth of the yvkksd, but mine hand 
 fMllnot he HpoH thee. 
 
 We cannot alwaycs withdraw our felv^es , and avoyde 
 thole that be inch ; yet \vc miift in aftcdion feperate from 
 them , when we cannot in place , but not delighr to fitre 
 dovviie With them un one lloolc^ that is, wee mud not bee 
 as they are. Davtd had an eye to this blcfled hope of being 
 one of Chrilts attendants hereafter, and therefore would 
 not bee for all companies, but profeflcd himfelfeto bea 
 companion onely of Inch as feared God. lam a companion 
 (faith \\CQ.)of all fuch 06 feare thee , and of them that keepethy 
 precepts. Hce would not hazard his frailc potfheard upon 
 therocke of evill company for any thing. And where- 
 fore did David iay in one of his Pfalmes , I have notfitten 
 with vaine perfons neither wil I go in with dijfemb/erSylh-ave 
 hated the congregation ofeviH doers ^ and will not ft with the 
 ■wicksd i but becaufe having fellowOiip with God , he fea- 
 red to have any ftllowfhip with the contemners of God, 
 and was peri waded that as God will not take the ungodly 
 by the hand (as /o^ fpeakcth j fo none of Gods compa- 
 ny fhould. A^fo hce was loath to make them his compani- 
 ons on earth, of whom he could have no hope that they 
 ilicu'dbehis companions in heaven* Wc are more in- 
 clinable to vice then to vcrtue , fo vice is more ftrong in 
 the wicked then vertue in the good 5 whereby it follow- 
 -cth, that the fcciety of evill men is dangerous to the good, 
 and that as an hundred found men fhall fooner catch the 
 plague from one infecflcd perfon , then hee recover his 
 health by them ; fo the good are more often perverted by 
 the wicked, then the wicked converted by the good ; and 
 for this caufe God loveth not to fee his children amongfl 
 the wicked : for this caufe hce commanded his peo- 
 ple to deftioy the Inhabitants of the Countrey which 
 
 V 4 they 
 
 lob 8,20, 
 
 
 Niim. i<^.x^. 
 
 ; 
 
1 
 
 296 
 
 I Cor, j.^. 10. 
 xt. 
 
 aThc/;3,6. 
 
 I Cor.^.io, 
 
 |Pral.97.i<5. 
 Rom.lx«i8. 
 
 The Cafes wherein it i$ unUwfml, Division 7 . 
 
 they were to pofll'ffe,lcft by their fociety they rhould bee 
 dra vnc into their (iiines, as afterward they were iadecdc: 
 He cosnmauadcd ah'o not to toach any creature char was 
 unckane,and chat wholocver touchcth a dead body fhould 
 bee undc'ane;but no Creature is lo uncle ane asafinner, 
 no death like CO the death of finne. And therefore f will 
 avoyde wicked men , as the moH uicleanc of all Uving 
 creatures^ and as the molt loachfome ofchofc which are 
 dead. 
 
 I ipeakc to the faith full, whom I would not have to goe 
 out of the world to avoide the wicked that arc in it , but 
 intreat by the render mercies of God, and of Chrift, to be 
 as carefull as they can to avoide them, and their wicked 
 affemblie ; and if they muftufe them for necellity , not to 
 ufe them as companions, ney ther to draw with them in a- 
 ny yoake of afFw(^ion ; but rather to draw backe when 
 the wicked are in place, that they may not be eye, or care- 
 witncffes of the dayly diflionouring of God . Wee are 
 commaunded in the name of our Lord lefus Chrift , to 
 rvithdraw our felves fram every brother thatwAlketb difor^ 
 derlj. All this may be done when wc love the men , and 
 hate the vices, when we (ufFcr them to have no quictnefle 
 in their finnes , and yet live quietly , andoflSer quietneflc 
 to themfelves : Hee that will wholy abandon the com- 
 pany of them that arc evill , muft(as the Apoftle faich)get 
 hmfeife out of the world 5 and therefore Saint ^^mhrofe 
 fayeth fitlietothis purpofejWec ought to flie the com- 
 pany of wicked men, in refpccl of private fellowrhippc, 
 and not in refpec5l of publike communion, aid that ra- 
 ther with our hearts and afFe6>ions , then with our bodies 
 and outward ac^lions ; wee may not hate our brother , but 
 love him 5 yet if wee love the Lord, wee muffc hare that 
 which is evill -, where the Apoftle laith ; Iftt hfojftble, at 
 much 06 lieth in yon, live peaceably with all men* We may 
 have no peace with the manners, yet wee muft live peace- 
 ably with the men. Thus then in a word out of the words 
 
Division 7 . and wherein lawfullto deft re death. 
 
 ^97 
 
 of the Apoftlc, the comroveifie may be decided : U it bee 
 poIliblc,lo Farre For:h as may ftaiid with oar faith and pio- 
 reilion^as much as lyeth in you , let us doc our part , and 
 perFormc our belt endeavour to live peaceably j if wc can- 
 not have peace, yet let us live peaceably with all men^wicTT 
 the bad CO reforme them, wiih the good toconFormcour 
 lelvcs unto them , with our enemies to winne them; with 
 our Friends to kccpe them, ^nd have no fclldyvP)ippe with 
 the unfrHitfttH worlds of darknejfe , iffit rather refrove 
 them, 
 
 A:id here is comFort for the children oFGod,whom the 
 wicked thruft out of their company ; and would (iFthcy 
 could^ thruft out of the world^ bccaulc oFthcir con(ciencc 
 to God , and becaufcthey follow ths thing that good is. 
 And hcrcoFit is that the wile man faieth^ that Hee that 
 is upright in the way ii abomination to the wicked, ^d hence 
 it is alio that the Prophet fayeth ; Hee that depart eth from 
 evilly maketh himfelfe a prey^ and the Lord f aw it, and it dtf 
 pleafedhtm. And though they be not accepted , where e- 
 vill men bearc fway (which is no difparagement to them, 
 but glory , nor loffe , but gaine) yet they arc efteemed of 
 the good , and admired ofthe evil! , though not follow- 
 ed oFthem. Doe the wicked hate themc'thcy (hall lofe no- 
 thing by fuch hatred/or God & good men wil love them. 
 Will not the unrighteous have any Fellowfhippe with 
 them? It is fo much the better for them ;For they arc in lefle 
 danger of corruption, and in more poffibiHty oFgracc and 
 goodneffe* And where men that bee cvill avoidethcm, 
 Chrifl & histhoufands oF Angels wil flick cloFe unto the. 
 And why fhould wee love the world that hateth us , and 
 cartes us ofFas men dead out of minde ? are wee not cm- 
 cified to the world ? and doe not wicked men hate us , and 
 /peakc all manner of «vill fayings of us , becaufc wee 
 follow the good wayes of God , the world loves 
 her owne , but us it cannot love , bccaufc wee arc 
 not of the world. Can darkcnefle love light, or the 
 
 fonncs 
 
 Ephcf.y.x 
 
 Pral.38,20, 
 Prov,29,i7- 
 
 EfayS^,iS, 
 
 
 I 
 
 Gal. ^•14. 
 
298 
 
 l^ht Cafes rv herein it is unlawfully Division 7, 
 
 I 
 
 Ecclcf.4.iai. 
 
 fonnes of Bciiall care for the Tonnes of God ? in this world 
 we {hall have rroublc,and if we found not peace in Chnft, 
 we were of all men the mod miferable./o^, 15. 19.7(7,16.3 3. 
 loh. J 7. 14. 2 Cor, 6, 1 4, And if they hate us for well-doing, 
 how will they Triumph, if our footedoc but fllppe i We 
 fhould dcfirc death even to bee delivered from the teare of 
 giving occafion to the world to triumph, or b'afpheme in 
 rcfpeS of us. Yea fo extrcame is the hatred of the world, 
 that a juft mat) may perifli in his righteoufnefle , when a 
 wicked man prolongs his daics in his wickcdnefTe, do wc 
 fall into any Ipeciall mifery in this world ? Why ? behold 
 the teares of the opprefl'ed , and there is none to comfort 
 them J we are cither not pitied or not regarded , or the 
 compalTion of the world is like the morning de we , it is 
 'gone as a talc^hat is told. Our mifery will lafl^ but there 
 -will bee foone none to comfort us , miferabie comforters 
 are the naofl that can be had in this world, and for this rea- 
 fon Salomon praiftd the dead that are already dead above 
 the living that are yet alive. 
 
 Thofe Worthies of whom we reade in the Epiftle to 
 the Hebrewes^were mod cruelly dealt withall, and pcrfe- 
 cuted in the world. Of whom the world was not worthy; 
 for the wicked did drive them out of their companies by 
 fharpe perfecmions inro defarts, mountaincs, and holes of 
 theearth.But they were worthy ^and had farre better com- 
 pany, having a kind of feUowfhip with Chrill, and all the 
 Saints that were gone before thcm.So,for the faithfull that 
 now live, if the wicked & ungodly make no moie of them 
 then ofthe filth of the world, and as of the offcouring of 
 all things fas the Apoftle (peaketh) ir is bccaufe they are 
 too goov-l to live amongft them,and too precious to be caft 
 before fwine, that fo treade and trample them under their 
 fret. And where.they fay, away with fnch fcllowcs from 
 the earth, for it is,not fit that they fliould live. Chrift will 
 in his due time take them from the earth by a bJeffed and 
 noflfweet death » to have the company and fcllowHiip 
 
 with 
 
 I 
 
Division 7 . and wherein U(vfull to dcjire dcith. 
 
 2.P9 
 
 
 12. 
 
 / |.^.•»^!T I 
 
 with him , his Angels and SaiiKs , and with all the hoi j 
 company of Heaven ^ and then they (hail have thirir 
 delire. 
 
 A:id in the mcanc time that wc miy give no jnft occad- 
 onto have ill language given us , or to be depraved and e- 
 vill fpokcn of, let us have a great care of our converfation, j 
 Therefore to this end doe tend thuie exhortations tbllow- ' 
 m^flnel) 1st your converfation be as ifecommcth the Cjofpell pj^j)^ j^^,^ 
 of^jrifl, Againe, ^tit as he whtch ha.'h called you 14 holy.fo j 
 Ife ye holy trt all mxriHgr of converfatioyiybec an fett t^ written^ ' ' PcM.iJji^. 
 he ye holy for I am holy, Againe, H^ve yoptr converfation ho~ 
 neft amoH^ the ^ eat ties , that yvhercis they f^eake again fh 
 youas evill doers ^they m<iy by yonr good worlds which they 
 Jhall behold glorife God in the day ofviJttation,as Chriflians 
 have reafon to looke to their conver^tiow^ fo they muft 
 looke to the honelly of their converr3tton;as for pieCy and 
 the duties of the firfl table, the Apoftle iu this laft place 
 takes it for graunted that wc are i^nftruilcd in that already, 
 and therefore his priucipall fcope and. drift there is to ex- 
 hort us to have a fpeciall care of the duties bf the fecorKl 
 tabic, wi>kh will prcvatk mofl: with wicked men. ^There- 
 fore our converfation muft not onely bee religious, as ha- 
 ving a relped to the duties of the firft tabic, but it muft al- 
 fo be honeftjas having a refpciiflbto the dutiesof the iecond 
 table, tliat is,oiii; cotiverfatiofiinuft be fairc, amiable,love- 
 ly, praife- worthy, alluring;, and winning. There be divers 
 things that doe greatly grace and beautify the converfation 
 of Cliriftians , and are an excellent ornament unto them, 
 therefore they rauft be praftifed 5 and they are principally' 
 thefefix. • -A^v. .,><.0>-;-A, 
 
 I. The firft is harmelefnefTe to live without ofFencejit 
 is a marvellous incoura^ement to dye in peace , when a 
 man can live without oft-encc, and can /uflly plead his inte- 
 grity of converfation, i Sam 12.^. f^ci.io^^S^zy^ 2 Cbr. 
 l.lX^GiverJd ofence^yfcithfy tathe lawes^ar>tw rheGeutiles^ 
 uortothci Church of Gad, Againe, Give m fence trtarty 
 
 thing 
 
 .ii.t I . 
 
 i.?f 
 
 1 Cor,io.3i, 
 
3CO 
 
 The Cafes vpherein it is unUrvfuUy D i v i s i o n 7, 
 
 1 Cor.6. J, 
 Mat. 1 0.1 ^« 
 
 
 C0L4. f . 
 X The.4.iiji2. 
 
 M'.h.6.S. 
 
 lanACs v*7» 
 Ephcr.4.Bi. 
 
 Col.3ti1.13. 
 
 RoiTVlj. 13. 
 Eph.5.3-J. 
 
 I 
 
 f/;;«^. Sg2A\-\Q, that ye may f rove things that are excellent 
 that je may befmcere & without ojfence til the day oj Chrijh, 
 Againc, 'Doe all things without murmHrmg and difpntm^, 
 that ye may he bUmelejfe and harme/efe^ thefonnes of God 
 without rehfikcyin the midefi of a crooked and ferverfe nation 
 amongjl whom yejhine as lights in the world* Let your liaht 
 (faith our Stlw'ioux )fo Jhme before men that they may fee your 
 good works s, ^f^dglorifie yonr father which is in heaven. 
 
 The Iccond is wiredome and diicretion, and therefore 
 to the former and this tcndeth that exhortation of our Sa- 
 viour C hii[i:Beye therefore wife as ferpents and harmelejfe 
 as doves. Againe, fee then that yc walke circumfpeFlly^ not 
 as fooles hnt as wife, redeeming the timeJbecaHfe the dates are 
 evill. h'^Tixwt'i^Valkeinwifedome toward them^ that are 
 without redeeming the time. 
 
 The th' rd ah quiernes and gentlcncs. Study to be quiet 
 
 and to doe yeur owne buJtneSythat ye may walke hone ft ly tO" 
 
 ward them that are without. There are three things herein 
 
 comprehended. The firft is lowlines and humblencs of 
 
 ^m^.Bf hath pjew.ed thee, O man^^what is goodjC^ what dot If 
 
 the Lord require oftheelbut to doejuftly & to love mercy ^and 
 
 to walke humbly with thy Cjod. The fecond is pcaccablenes. 
 
 Follow peace with all men and holines^ without which no man 
 
 [hall fee the Lord. Thethird iseafic to bw entreated. 'But 
 
 the wifedome that is. from Above, is.firft pure^then peaceable^ 
 
 gentle, and eafe to be entreated full of mercy and good fruit Sy 
 
 without partiality and.without hipocrifie. Againe, And beyi 
 
 ktnde one to another , tender hearted, forgiving one another, 
 
 euen as Qod for Chrifls fake hath forgiven you. Again, />«f on 
 
 therefore ( as the eleB of Cjod holy and beloved) bowels of 
 
 mercy , ^indnes^' humblenes of mind meeknes^ long fuffering, 
 
 forbearing one another ; if any ma/t have a quarrel againfh 
 
 any even as Chrift forgave you fo alfodoe ye, 
 
 .The fourth, is fobriety not only as it is oppofed to drun* 
 
 keneffe and vnclcancs, but even that alfo which is oppofi^d 
 
 to covcteoufncs.to be fobcr in the vfe ofthc lawfiil things 
 
 of 
 
Division 7. and wherein law full to deft re ' death. 
 
 301 
 
 I 
 
 of this life and to learne that leflbn hartily ,to ufcthis world 
 Ajtfrvc H/ed tttJot.ioihis parpolc tendcch this exhortation 
 to Ut yonr csuHcrfation be without conetoufnes. 
 
 The hftis plaiiincs, fidelity and faychfulncs.Thcre muft be 
 plainc dealing^ which (as the prouerbc is) is a IqwcW-E/^h 
 was a llibtile & polliticke man, but Jacob was a plaine man; 
 we mull: be faythfull in pciibrminge our words and pro- 
 mifcs,for w'e muft be as good as our word. Lord who pjall 
 abide inthy t,xbern.ick, who pjAlI dwell in thy holy hill } he 
 thatfyvsAreth to hts ow/ie hnrt and chanaeth not, Morcouer 
 It U refjHireei inflcwards^ that a man bee found fAitPifnlL 
 
 The hxt and lad is profitablcneiTc , wee mull ftudy to 
 become helpcFulI and profitable to other^. €'hhti laid unro 
 lob : thy riahteoufneffe may profit thefenne Bfman, I befeech 
 thee{{vj\\\ Paul to Philemon )for myfenne OneJimHsyvhom I 
 begotten in my bondf^which in times pafl yvas to thee unprofita- 
 bleJ^Ht now profitable tothee Qj' me. As every man hath recei- 
 ved the gift , even fo minifter the fame one te another ^ a^ 
 goodftty^xrds of the mamf old grace of God. Thefe things do 
 not onely diTcharge a great deale oFour duties, but it gaines 
 and bringcs in great glory to God ^ and makes men accep- 
 table to the world. « 
 
 There arc likewife divers finnes which doc much 
 flaine and blemilh ourconverfation , and that arc hurt- 
 full , troublcfome , and hatefull unto others , therefore 
 they muft be fhunned and avoidedjand they are principally 
 thelenine. 
 
 The firftarefinncs offurftting, gluttony, riotoufneflb 
 aud drunkennes,thc light of nature abhorreth thelc things: 
 Take heed to your fdves ( faith our Saviour) lefl at any time 
 jofir hearts be overcharged withfurfeting and drunkenneffe, 
 and cares ofthi4 life^and fo that day come upon jou unawares. 
 Againe, Let us walke honeflly (faith the Apoftle) as in the' 
 day, not in rioting Qr drunkjnnss,A^Ci\ne,and be not drunl^tt 
 with wine wherin is exceffe^but be filled with theJptrtt,A^2L{n^ 1 
 For the timepaftofoHrlifemayffifilceuSyto have wrought 
 
 ^ths 
 
 I Cor.7.31. 
 
 Hcb.i^.f. 
 Gen. 15,27. 
 
 1 Cor. 4. 2. 
 
 lob. 3 J. 8'. 
 Phllcm.io.n. 
 I Pet, ^10. 
 
 .♦. 
 
 Luk.z 1.3.4, 
 
 Rom.i j.i^. 
 
 Ephcr.f.i8. 
 
'v- 
 
 J 02 
 
 T/j€ Cafes where: n it is unlawfully D 1 v 1 s 1 o n 7. I 
 
 Rom. 13.^ J. 
 Ephd, 5.3,4j5« 
 
 I TIi.4.3,4,5»7 
 
 j Ephc-4.z6>»7; 
 
 Col.3.8. 
 xPct.i.i. 
 
 Color. 3.9.10. 
 
 I (T Kef. 4.^. 
 
 //7f will of the Gentiles when we walked in iacivtoufnesjufts, 
 excejfeofwpne, revellings .bAncjHettngs , and abomimible ido- 
 latries^ 
 
 Theltxond are fiiines of Chambering and wantontfle, 
 unclcanes andcorrupcand fil hy IpeaKing • l^t uswoilkeho. 
 nefily as in the daj^not %n Chambring and want ones, Agamc, 
 bnt fornication dr alnncleancs or coveteonfnes , let it not be 
 once named amongyou becommcth oi Saints ^neithtr flthmes , 
 nor foolipj talking norjefiing, whtch are not convenient , but 
 rather givtng of thankes. For th 6 yeeknow that no whore- 
 monger ^nor Hncleane ^erfon^ nor covet eoHS man who is an f- 
 dolater, hath any inheritance tn the Ktngdome of Chrifi, and 
 of Cjod, fi^gzivx^forthisis thewtllofGodevcnyoarfin^lif' 
 cation, that ye pjouldabftainc fom fornication that every one 
 of yoH [hould ks?ow how to pojfejfe his vejfe/l in fanflification^ 
 and honofir^Kot in the IhUs of concupifcence,even as the ^en^ 
 tiles which k^ownot God,^or God hath not called us nnts «w- 
 cleanesbutnnto holiness 
 
 The third are finnes of anger, paffion^ choltoj wrath, 
 malice, envie^evill fpeaking and (uch like ; bee ye angry and 
 [tnne not : let not thefnnnegoe downe upon your wrath , ney- 
 [ ther giveflacetothe divel. Let all bitternes, and wrath, and 
 anger J and clamor ,an^ evilljpeaking, bee put away from you 
 with all malice, A^zinCy But now yffu alfo put off all thefe, 
 anger ^ malice ^wr at h^ blajphemy, filthy communication out of 
 your mouth es, A gaine, wherefore lay aftde all malice ^and all 
 ^uile, and hypocrifes and envies, and evillfpeakings. 
 
 The fourth are finnes of lying and deceiving ; wherefore 
 putting away lying-, fpeake every man truth with his neigh- 
 bour, for we are members one of another. A j^aine, lye not one 
 to another, fectng^ that ye have put ojf the old man with his 
 deeds ^ have put en the new man which is renewed in know-^ 
 ledtre after the Imaii^e of him^ that created htm^ Againc, 
 That no man gee beyond or defraud his brother in any matter, 
 becaufe the Lord is the avenger of all fitch as we alfo have 
 
 forwarnedyopt andteftifedy Lcvit. 1 5?. I « . 
 
 The 
 
I 
 
 Division 7. and wherein U tvfu II to dcjlre He. it h . 
 
 303 
 
 TheHKc, arc (i.ncs oU nbirion, pride, vainc glory, and 
 ConcciccdiiciVf . He ?iot htah rmndeJ. bktfc^vrf : AgiiiK, f^ce 
 of the fame mirtdc one towards a>iother^mtyidc not high things, 
 hnt condtfcend to men of lorve cf}Atf , bee not wife in j 3 ur 
 owne conceits : Ag.iine, let «/ not bee defirons of vJtne glory, 
 prevokintr one mother, envying one another : xAgiine, if there 
 bee therefore any confoUtton in Chrifi, if any comfort of love ^ 
 ifanyfellowpnppe offpirit , if any bowels and mercy es : fnlU 
 fllyee my }oy , thatjee be like minded having the fame love, 
 beina of one accord, of one mmde, let nothing be done through 
 ftrife or vaine ^lory , bnt m loweltnefe of mmde, let each e- 
 jleeme other better then themfelves. 
 
 The fixe, arefianes ofidlencde, fl ^arhfnlnefle , negli- 
 gence in our gcncrall or particular calling : ^^^r^?/^^^'?^ 
 thoH (lttg^ard,confder her wayes and be ivife : Againe , and 
 about the eleventh houre heyvrnt out (^ found others flandm^ 
 tdle, and faith u'tto them^ whj fiandj/ee here all the day idle? 
 Againe, be not (loathfttll in bu^neffe : Againc, Brethren let e- 
 very man whrrein hee ts c Ailed ^ therein abide with God : A- 
 gaine, /therefore the prifoner of the Lord befeech you, that ye 
 waike worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all 
 lo wlmejfe and meekne^fe , with long fuffering ^ forbearing one 
 a nOther in love : A^zine, and that yeifiudie to be quiet ^ and 
 to dte your owne bufineffe, and to works with yenr owne hands 
 as wee commanded you , that fee mxy walk^ honeflly toward 
 them that are wtthtut , and that yce may have lack^e of no- 
 thing : Ko^dimc y For even when wee were with you^this wee 
 commanded yo'd , that tf any would not worke neither flould 
 hee eate. 
 
 Thefeventkarcfinnesof Curiofiry , meddling and pry- 
 ing into other m:^ns matters, as bufic-bodyes , to this 
 end we fhould rcftraine all needlefTe cares and bufinelTe of 
 this world, and fludy To to be quiet as to meddle with our 
 owne bufinciTc: : and to abridge them into as narrow a 
 fcaiitling as our Callings will permit. For wee heare f faith 
 I the Apoftlc^^^*t/ there arefome which walks among you dif- 
 1 orderly 
 
 Rom. 1 1.20. 
 
 Rom. 12.1 6» 
 Phil.2.t,i,j. 
 
 Matth,io.<>. 
 
 Rom. It. 1 1. 
 I Cor.7.24. 
 
 Ephcr4,i,i, 
 
 iThcr.4.11.12 
 iThcfoj. 10. 
 
 iThcf.^.lijlx 
 
3 04- 
 
 I Tim' J. 1 1, 
 
 iPct,4.if« 
 
 
 
 Gai.^I^ 
 
 lames 4,1 !• 
 
 Pral.iox.^, 
 
 ihi Cafes, rv herein it ts unlawfully Division 7, 
 
 I Ther.J.2i. 
 
 1. 
 
 orderly ^Tf>; or king fiot at all^but are hufie bodies. 7{ow thi^m 
 that areftich we command and exhort by our Lord Ujus 
 (^hriTh^that vpith qmetnejfe they works ^^d eate their owne 
 bread, Againe, the Apoille accufcth the younger wid- 
 do vves with thefe (innes. But the younger wtddowes (faith 
 he) refnfe^for when they have begun to wax wanton atr^unfl 
 Chrtfi they will marry Jo aving damnation, becaufe they have 
 cafi off their firFl faith, andwithall they learne to be idle, wan- 
 dring about from heufe to houfe,and not onely idle but tatlers 
 alfo, and bnjie bodies^ fpeakings thing whtch they ought not* 
 AgziiK, but let none (faith another Apoftic ) fuffer as a 
 murthercr, or as a thief e, or as an eviil deer, or as a bufie bo" 
 dy tn others mens matters^ 
 
 The eighth are (innes of Iudging,ccn(uring, backbiting 
 and flandcring. Judge not (faith our Saviour ) that ye be 
 not judged. Againe, TAo/^ art inexcHfnble, O man, what - 
 foever thou art that iudgefi , for wherein thou iudgeji^ 
 another thou condemneft thy felfe,for thou that iudgefi dee fi 
 the fame things * Againe j if ye bite and devour e one another, 
 take heede ye be not confumea one of another, A ^TantiSpeake 
 not evill one of another brethren, he that ifeaketh evtll of his 
 brother^ andtudaeth his brother ^fpeakcth evillofthe law and 
 iudgeth the layvjbut if thou iudge the law^ thou art not a doer 
 of the law but a iudge, Againe ^ "who Co frivily flandereth hi^s 
 neighbor (f^kh the Prophet) ^^;?? will I cnt off. An ancient fa- 
 cficr wrfteth that he that fladcreth hath a divel in his togue: 
 he to whom the (lander is made hath a divcll in hiseare, 
 and both of them a divellin their heaits; another father 
 wrircth , that a flanderer or a fallc accufcr is a three-fold 
 murthercr, he murthereth himfelfc^ he murdeieth him to 
 vvhome he maketh it, and him againft whome it is made 
 as much as in him lyeth. 
 
 The ninth and laft is that wee mull abllaine from all ap- 
 pearance of evih^^y^^e/w^rflaith the h^o^z) from all appea- 
 rance ofevUly as firfl, from the vanity of 3ppaircll,for luch 
 perlousas would fecmc to be religious^and yet doe follow 
 
 the 
 
Division 7. andwhercm Uwfull to dcfire death. 305 
 
 the vanity of the new falLioni/heir convcrlacion is great- 
 ly thereby ilaii>ecl and bk inillicd, though thou cloth t ft thy 
 ^ jelfc rvtth crtmfonjhati^Jj thoH decksft ^^^^ wuh orn^mift^ of 
 qold, , thoHffh thoH rmteft thy face vtth pAinttr.gi tn 
 v^une^ (halt thou mak^ thy Jelfefatre^thy lovers wttl defj^i^e 
 thce^ they vpiiljeike thy hfe Agaiiic, and it fiall come to pajfe 
 in the cLiy of the Lords Jacri fee ^that I ntll pumfi the princes 
 and the Ktn<^s children, and ad Juch as are clothed with 
 ftrange ^pparr ell, A^ainc^ the Aportle Saint y^«/ Oievvcth 
 how women proFeiling the Golpeil rhou!d be attired : in 
 like manner alfo that rvominadorne themfelves in modeft ap- 
 parrel voith fliamefuftnes andfohriety.not with hroided haire 
 9r gold or pearles, orcoftly araye\ but (rvhtch hecommeth W9^ 
 men prof effing godlines : with good rvorkes. Againe, the A- 
 poflle S.7^^/^'*concurrcth aid agreeth with the ochcrA- 
 poftlc touching the apparell of women, that in the mourh 
 oftwoorthrcewitncills the truth of this mactcr might 
 be cflabliil^ed. Likewifeje wives (laith he) be in fuhielli- 
 OH to your hnjbands that tfany obey not the word, they alfo 
 may without the word be wonne, bj the converfation of the 
 Wives while they behold your cha/l converfation coupledwith 
 fear e J who e adorning let tt not be that outward adorning of 
 pUintin^the haire ^ or wearing of gold, or putting on ofappa^ 
 rell, but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which if 
 n9t corrupttble.^even the ornament of ameeke and ejuiet fpirit 
 which is tn the fght of God of great price^ for after this man- 
 ner in the old time the holy women aljo who tru^ed in God 
 sdorned themfelves , being infubieElion vnto their owne huj^ 
 bands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham^ calling hirn-> Lord, 
 whofe daughters ye are^ as long as yee doe well and a^e not 4- 
 fraidwith any amaz^ement. Therefore in this cafe that fay- 
 ing of the -^ poftle may vvcll bee heere applyed. ^or what 
 k^owe^ thoH, O wt'e_^ whether thou {halt f by this ) fave thy 
 husband (or any other ) or how k»ow&ft thou, O man, whe- 
 ther { by this) thou foal t fave thy wife (or any other. ) 
 Secondly , wc mufl abflaine from reforting unto cvill I 
 
 X or'' 
 
 Icr.-'. 
 
 :9. 
 
 Zcpli. i.g. 
 
 » Tim.i.^jio. 
 
 i Ccf.l J.I, 
 
 
 1 Cor.7,15, 
 
3 o6 
 
 The Cafes wherein it ts unUrvjull, D i v i s i o n 7 
 
 pral.119.101. 
 
 Prov^.i.ijjiC, 
 
 Prov. 4*MjM- 
 
 iCor«ia.75^>5?« 
 
 or fufpicious perfons and places^ I have f faith the Prophet 
 David ) refrained my feet frerru every evtll wajf^ that I may 
 keefe thy Word, Agauic , M^ fonne (laith the wifeman j 
 walks not thott in the way with therru , refratne thy foote 
 from^ their path, for thetrfeete rnnne to evilly and make haft 
 to fbedbloni^ Againe^ enter not into the path of the wicked^ 
 and goenot in the way ofeviMmen avoide it^pajfe not by it, 
 tHrnefroTTL* it and p^jfe away. 
 
 Thirdly, it is lawfull to defire death in refpe(5l of our 
 CmiKS , to the end we might not offend God any more by 
 (inning, for if we refpjed God as we fhouid, there is efpe- 
 cially one thing that fhould marre the taft of life, and make 
 it out of liking, and that is the danger of diTpleafing God 5 
 who would live to offend God ? or grieve his fpirit ? or 
 any way make hin angry i though chis reafon will move 
 little in the hearts of wicked men, ycc it is of lingular force 
 in the heart of an humble Chriftian , who as hee accounts 
 Gods loving kindneffe better then life, fo findes nothing 
 more birter then that he (hould dilpleafe God , that God 
 1 fay who is io great in maicily, and haih iLewcd him- 
 rfclfe fo aboundant in mercy to him. It would lie as an hea- 
 vy loade u|)on our hea- ts , to thinke of the difplcadng of 
 our bed friend , cfpeciaily if he were a great perfon or a 
 Prince, how much more fhouid we defire to be rid of that 
 condition, wherein we may difpleafe our good God, and 
 to be there where wc are lure never to anger him more, 
 for who can tell how oft heoffendech? And what a miiery 
 ajid bondage it is to be in fubicdion to fin , may appeare 
 by the mollcarneft and fervent prayer of the bleffcd Apo- 
 ftle Saint Taul^ who feehng the waight and heavy burden 
 thereof, he defired God with earnefl zcalc and fervencie, 
 and with deepe fighcs and groanes that he might be deli- 
 vered from it. And againe, after the long and lamentable 
 complain*' that the Apoftic made of the Law that was in 
 his members, ftriving againft the lavv of the Spirir^and lea- 
 ding him captive ii:ito the law of finnc, he breaketh forth 
 
 into 
 
 
D IV 1 s I ON 7. and wherein Uwfullto dcfire death. 307 
 
 into this molt pacbcficall exdaniacion» O wretched man 
 
 tfjAt J Am^^nho fijtill delever mefrom^ thebolj of this death , 
 
 for chisbodv ot death) 1 thAnl^ijod through lefus (^hnft ^'^>lr\,^<>. 
 
 oHr Lord, The Piophec 'David alto f-ccling ilic heavy p^^j « 
 
 waighc ofhisfinncs, maketh his grievous complainc and 
 
 mc.a >c thereof unto God, laying \Therets no fonndne^^ein 1 
 
 m^ fiejh , hecanje of thine Atigcr^ neithgr is there anj refl tn 
 
 my bones ^ becaufe of my fmnes ; for mtne tniqtnties are gone 
 
 over my head as a heavy burthen^ they are too htavj (or me, 
 
 IF a man would invent a torment for fuch as kare 
 God, and deiire to vva<ke i\\ ncvvnefle of life, a.:d to have 
 part in the firft relurredion 5 he cannot dcvifc a greater 
 rormenr, then to be difquietcd with this tyranny of iinne, 
 and with this unquiet &: unhappy Icbufite, even the rebel- 
 lion and corruption of our owne flcfh; and this heavy 
 weight ol fip.nc that doth cleave and hang (o fad vpon vs« 
 Chappy therefore and bleffcddea h that dilchargcth and 
 frectli vs from fo lore, combcrloine and cruell bondage, 
 and from Rirther offending of him, who dyed for our fins. 
 So that d( arh freeth u> from the ncceflity of finning, and 
 aifo brings us to be with Chriit ; And to defire dca:h '\\\ 
 this cafe, is not a .'oarhing to hvc,but a loathnefle to finne* 
 In which cafe hb defijcd d^ach, becaufeof his (innes, that 
 he might not offend God any more-, and rhere'^ore hee 
 faith ; O that I might have my re^'-^efi^ and thut Cjod would 
 grant mee the thing that I long for^ even that it would please 
 ^od to deflroy me^ that he would let loofe his hand and c ut me 
 ojf , then [hould I yet have comfort. 
 
 Now in the mtane while, ti'l we can have our dcfire in 
 this cafe accompHllied, we muG: refillandftrive againlt 
 o r (innes, that they may nor raigne in our mortall bodies; 
 and let a^l our endeavour a id care incrcaleagaiilt our fiiis, 
 that the force of them may be davly weakened, their r.um- 
 berkflencd and all (^ccallons of fin uj.g avoided. 
 
 Fourthly ir is lawful! fo defire d.^a:h, in rcfpe'^ of the 
 miferies^ calamitieb and ti oublcs of" this lite i a. id fcr the j 
 
 Xi P'cven- 
 
 I 
 
 
 lob ^.8.9.10. 
 
 Roni.6.12. 
 
308 
 
 The Cafes wherein tt is unUw fully Division 7 ■ 
 
 preventing of the miferies to come. And yet this holy de- 
 iire muft not be limple and abio'ute, but it muft be retrai- 
 ned with ccrtainc relpcds , and with thele refcrvations. 
 Firll, itmuftbedefiredfofarrcforth, as it is a meanes to 
 put an end to all our mireiics,to all the dangers oFthis life, 
 to al the corruption oFnaturc , and to the ncceility of fin- 
 ning. Secondly, as it is a gate by which wee enter in- 
 to the immediate fellowlhip with Chrift and of God. And 
 ourdefi;C alfo for thefe ends muft keepeitielfe wiJiin 
 thefe limits 5 wherein two Caveats mult be obfervcd. 
 Firll, it muft not bee immoderate, exceeding the golden 
 meanc ; Secondly, it muft alwayes bee with a refervacion 
 of Gods good plcafurc , and with an humble fubmidion, 
 and (ubjedion of our wilstothe wiUofGod. For if ei- 
 ther of thefe be wanting , the defire of death is dcfcclive, 
 faulty and dangerous. Death frees us from the miferies 
 and perils of this world ^ abolillieth all prefent, and pre- 
 vents all future da igcrs>and brings us to be with Chrift. 
 What man wearied with labour,defires not rcfl,whac Ma- 
 riner tofled upon the feas , wifheth not to come into fafe 
 harbour?What traveller toiled with a tedious and perilous 
 iourney^ would not willingly come to his wayes end.'' what 
 fickc man accepts not health i what flavc imbraceth not 
 freedome?whac prifonerdoth not entertaine inlargement? 
 what captive would not welcome liberty:* what husband- 
 man wou d be ever toyling and not at length receive the 
 fruit of his labourf what marchan: is content to live ever in 
 danger by fca and by land^amongfb l^yrats and robbers,and 
 not to come at lafl fafe home with his wealth ? And laftly, 
 what man having the reverfion of a goodly kingdomc, 
 would be loath to receive tkc pofleffion of it ? And fure 
 we are all m this cafe by reafon of the manifo'd miferies 
 incident to us in this world : and there is no difcharge in 
 this warrc jbu^ that a man muffc every day looke for croiTcs 
 and miferies, Every day hath his gnefe, Ecc/cf.y^.S, 'J^lat, 
 <) 34. Lnks 9-* 3' Therefore we have good caufc to 
 
 wi/jh 
 
^^ — -■ ■ — . -. - - I 
 
 1 D I V 1 s I O N 7 . And whcrcih Utvfttll to dfjire dcat/j. 
 
 309 
 
 vvilli with a holy defire to be loofed from al thefc milcrics 
 and to be with our Saviour Chrift, aud in the meane time, 
 till wc can have our deiirc in this cafe , Let futtencc pof- 
 fcjfe enr Joules. 
 
 Fifthly,and lallly,it is lawfull to dcfire death for the pcr- 
 fe(f\ing and full accomphllimcnt of that coniundion and 
 union which wee have in Chnll Icfus our head, that we 
 might bee where he is to cnioy his prefeiKe* For we are 
 (faith the h^o^\c)mempers ofhisi-^ly^nfhisjiept^^mdofhis 
 iones: that is, we are moft ftraighti> coupled to Chrift by 
 the Ipirituall band ofourfaith;which union is mod admi* 
 rable;For firfl we are united to his Godhead, that is not by 
 transfusion of the divine fubflance , but by eflfeduall wor- 
 king by the manhood ; and fecondly, we are one with his 
 manhood, that is really and fubftantially, as appcareth by 
 thofe Similitudes by which this union is exprefTed in holy 
 Scriptures; as namely, Firft ofthc Vine and branchcf^ Se- 
 condly^of the Bridegroome and the Bride; Thirdly, of the 
 Olivotree and the branches ; Fourthly, of the foundation 
 and the building; Fihly,and efpecially of the head &: mem- 
 bers. 'Concerning which union Cjr^i htth made this re;^ 
 
 Lukcxi,»5«' 
 
 Ephcf.jfjo. 
 
 tiphcf.i.io, 
 iphcCi.t> 
 
 fcmblanee, that as two pceccs of w«xe moulten up toge- 
 ther,do make up one lumpe,fo Chriils flefh with our flcl"h 
 ioyned together make up one body which is his Church. 
 And this coniundion and union which we have in 
 Chriit, is alfo fet down in that heavenly prayer, wliich oar 
 Saviour Chrift made unto God his Father, at his la(l fare- 
 well our of this world immediately before his palTion and 
 fufferii^ •, where he prayeth at large for the accomplish- 
 ment ofthis union in us with him. And if our Saviour 
 Chrill himfclfc did pray unto his Father for the ful acccm- 
 plifliment of this union ^ that we might be where he ts,for 
 to behold his gloric, thenit is lawfull for us to dcfire the, 
 fame. And this is true love indeed unto Chrift our head, 
 todeHrcto be with him; for tlie property of true lov^^ 
 is an ardent and burning dcfire to obtainc that which is be- 
 
 X'3 loved 
 
 loKh 
 
 /• 
 
 «*«■ 
 
 iW l > 
 
«*»** 
 
 1 
 
 3IO 
 
 iCo.Ji.ii. 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 Pral.7j.2j» 
 
 i 
 
 The Cafes wherein it is unUyvful!^ D i v i s i o n 7 . 
 
 loved. And as a woman that lovetli her husband unfained- 
 ly, cannot be content vviih any lovx token Chtit leceivcth 
 from him in his ablence, but Ioni»eth and wiOieth^arid de- 
 fircth more and more till fhe receive hm Jeifr; even lo, 
 the Souie which is wounded withthelove of Icfus her 
 mercifull huiband, hath continuall dcfirc tobcwithhim. 
 1 grant every token fcnt from him L 1 ings comFoit^ but no 
 contentment till flic enjoy him- it the love of men com- 
 ptllai the ^ poftlc to lay to the Corinthians, /f is not jours, 
 butjoH Ifeeke. How much more fhouid the lore of God 
 compell us to fay to our Lord lefus ; It is not thy gift, but 
 thy iclfe O Lord that I long for ; for ' hou art the portion 
 of my fouie, feeing I am nothing without ihce,letme tafte 
 the bcncfic ofFbeing thine, I dtfire thee, and wot thine, for 
 thy k\k) not for thy gifts j I defire thee onely,nothing for 
 thee, nothing with thee, nothing bcfidcs thee. 
 - The godly Chriilian hath ibmc lively forcrafl & fwcet- 
 nes of this blcfied and happy con iundlion and union with 
 Chrift, and therefore it is a griefe unto him to be holden 
 from him, and a /oy to remove uiKo him* But certamely 
 he fhall never goc outof ihis earthly body with io^', who 
 lives not in thisfraile body with grief for his abfenct from 
 him. Ifthoudefir^ftthat which thou haft not f which is 
 heaven ) thenfheddethoa^tearcshereon earth, that thou 
 mayeft obtaine it. We are taught in the Lords praver to 
 pray that Gods kingdcrme may come , and by his king- 
 dome hcemeanes the kingdomc of giory , aswel. asthe 
 kingdoms of grace, now in chat we arc taught to pray for 
 the kingdome, it fhewes w^efliould defire it, and ^that by 
 praycrweeihould bee more and more-lieated in oui* dc- 
 fires» 
 
 A nd hereofcomcs thefe and fuch 'ike complaints, e-^-f 
 the hart panterh after the tpater btoolcics^ fo p.i^Jtfth my 
 fonle after thee O Cjod , my foule tkirfleth ■ fer (^oel , 
 for the livint^ God, when fhuil I come appeare before 
 (jodl We have the example of divers men in particular. 
 
 f A 
 
 who 
 
D I V .1 s I o N 7 . A^d wherein Liwfull to dejlre death. 
 
 311 
 
 whohavedclircdco dyCj as I*Kob waited for (^ods faiva- 
 
 tion^ 
 
 III rhis cafe vSaint TahI dcfired death in refpCvfl of 
 himfcifc, Fortomce (Tayth hcej toUvcis Chrtjly and to 
 dje U gaine. ^Ht if 1 Uvcmmj fcflj, this ps tioe frmt of 
 my lahotir; jet yvhut I fhalt choofe Irvdtte not ^for I ^m^ 
 tnafirAight betweene twOyhavin^ a dtfire to dep^rt^ and to be 
 with Qortfi which t^farre better for me, For the Apo- 
 ftle to have a defirc , is more then /imply to dclire; for 
 k witnefTcth two things, fii (t, a v'diement,{econdIy, a per- 
 petuall defirc to palle to Chrilt his head, and 
 thisis a fettled defirc which isagift of Gods grace pe- 
 cuhar ondy to the eled of God. Yea the ApolHe is ve- 
 ry vehement in rhis cafe, O wretched man that I am^^ who 
 pjull deUvermeef-onu this body of death f and the Prophet 
 GOrf^'/Jiiuhc name of the godly , faid lon:^ before Chrift, 
 O th.tt the falviition of Jfrucl were come out of Sion, and in 
 the kco id Epiftle to the Corinthians, the godiy arc faid to 
 (igh tor it, that they might bee abfent from the body and 
 prefect mrh the Lord y and fo the firlt fruits of the Holy 
 Ghofb,thofe eminent Chriftians mentioned in the Epiftle 
 to the Romans, a^sd not onely they bnt onr felves alfo which 
 have the firfi fruits of the Spirit, even we onr [elves groane 
 within our felveSfWaitini^ for the adoption ^ to wit the re- 
 remption of onr body, .^nd ni the fccond Epiftle toTimothj 
 the 1g , f of the appearing ofChrtfi i<sthe periphrafis of the 
 childof God, In this cafe alfo i'lVw;?^ defired death ; for 
 when the Holy Ghoft revealed to him, that hee 
 fliould not fee death before he had fcenc the lord 
 Chrifc , after that hee had {Q.^\\t him in the Tem- 
 ple , Hee t3c\^ himj up in his armss , and b/ejfed 
 God and faidc , Lord now iettejl thy fervant depart in 
 peace ^ ace or din t to thy word, for mine eyes have feene 
 thy falvaiion, Wherefore hidcft thou thy face 
 ( iayeth' Sai..- ^AugHtUne to God) happily thou 
 wilt iay^ Jo man fliall kc mee and live. Oh then 
 
 PHil.I.2l,li, 
 
 Roni.7.14.^ 
 Pral.14.7. 
 
 iTlm,4.8, 
 
 X4 
 
 Lord 
 
 3^. 
 
3ii 
 
 Hcb.io.37- 
 
 lC<^t»l»^, 
 
 Tf;c Glorious Eft ate of Gods* Division S ^ 
 
 Lord , that I were dead/o I might fee thee. Oh let mc fee 
 th«e that I niay die;even here I will not live-jDye I would, 
 yea I dcfire to be loofcd and to be with Chrift, I refofc to 
 live, that I may live with Chrift. Andinthis refpedall 
 the godly may defire death. Though beJArry, wait, for yet 
 A very tittle "while , and he that Jhall come vrill come, and mil 
 ndt tarry. And not onely fome particular godly men have 
 defired this, but the whole Church is brought in the i2» 
 cap. ofthe revelation* praying forthe comming of lefws 
 Chrill and defiring too that he would come quickely. ^or 
 he which teftsfieth thefe thnigs , faith, Surely J come qnickely ^ 
 ty^meyt, lAmen* Evenfo come. Lord leftu^ 
 
 ThecndofthefeHjcmhVivifiOK. ,, 
 
 
 
 l«;<3< 
 
 It/ 
 
 
 
 \t'3i 
 
 e 
 
 THE ' I 
 
 EIGHTH DIVISION, OF 
 
 THE G LOR lOVS ESTATE OF 
 
 GODS CHILDREN, AFTER TiEATH. 
 
 T 
 
 Ouching the glorious eftate of the children of 
 God after death, which way (hall I beginne to 
 exprcfl'e the fame , when as the bkffed Apoftle 
 iaycth ^yc hath not feene. Bare hath not heard^ 
 
 neither 
 
Divi SION 8. 
 
 :h:ldr en after death. 
 
 3x3 
 
 ntithtr hrith it (Htred into the heart of man the things 
 which Cod hath f re fared for thtnuthAt love bim^, 
 
 i remember what lb rcgiftrcdof a certainc Painter, i 
 who becing to exprcflc thclorrovy ot a weeping Father, 
 having ipcnt his skill befoje in letting forth of the fayde 
 pallionsof his children, did thinkeit bed toprelcnthim 
 upon his Table to the beholders view, with his face co- 
 vered i that io he might have thatgricfcto be imagined 
 by them, which he found himfelte unable to fee out at the 
 full.- 1 he hke muil 1 doc in this calc, for the gjory of that- 
 glorious eftate which the children of God (hail hereafter' 
 cnioy : I mull commend to you with a kinde of filent ad- 
 miration , that io you may with your filencc fuppofc that 
 to be infinite, which you fee that I will not adventure to 
 exprcfTe. What hand can meaiure the bounds of infinite ? 
 What mind can number the yearcs of eternity? what hand, 
 what mind can meafure, can number the unmeafurablc 
 mcalurc,and innumerable number of the ioyes of Heaven I 
 O that I had the tongues of the glorious Angels in fome 
 fort for your fakes to uttcr,or rather that you had the harts 
 of the glorified Saints, in fome little fmall meafure to con- 
 ceive ot lome part of this glory. But this glorious Sunne 
 doth fodazell my weake eyes, this bottomlefTe depth fo 
 ov^rwhclme my ("hallow heart; and the furpafTing great- 
 ncflc of thcie loyes do every way fo overcharge me, that I 
 muft needs ftand a while filent^amazed^ and aftonifhed at 
 the ierious confideration of the exceeding, aboundant ex» 
 cqllency of this giory , which requires rather the tongues 
 and pennesof Angels then of men to defcribe and ex- 
 prefle the fame •, > ca rather it cannot bee perfedly defcri- 
 oed andexprertld by Angels themfclves. And therefore I 
 muft be contciK then darkely to Ihaddow it out, fith lively 
 reprefentation of it is meerely impoffible. This I may fay 
 in a word, that looke what difference there is in proporti- 
 on betwixt the cope of heaven^ and the earth , which rcf- 
 
 pe(ftively 
 
 1 
 
314- 
 
 The glorious Efiate of Cods Division's 
 
 Exod.JJ.Jj. 
 
 Pror.»J.M, 
 Dcunj4.x,t, 
 
 Efay I-*, 
 
 Mau4»8, 
 
 f pc<flively to it is but as a prickc in the midckfl of a center, 
 the fame and much more there is betwixt the^Iorie oFall 
 the Kingdomes of the world unitcdtogetherCif it were 
 podibk J into otie, and that which the Apoftle -calleth 
 the<glory> which (hall be ftiewed hereafter: Better it is 
 with a kindeoffilentalloni{hmenc to admire it , then to 
 to take on cs^ither to delcribe it^ or to comprehend it in 
 particular. 
 
 Yet give me leave to fet before you for the furtherance 
 ofyour private meditations , a little (liadow or glympfe 
 thereof,even as it were but the^backe-parts thereof, which 
 CMofes was permitted to fee ; betwixt which and it,not- 
 withftanding, there is as much dift^cf ence,as betwecne one 
 dropof water -^nd the maine Ocean <ea. ' — ;~^ ^ ' 
 
 tyf -word fitly ffoken f faith the Wiieman) uH^app/es 
 of gold, andftSlnres •ffilver. We reade in the booke of 
 Deutronomy, that when CAiofes went up from the plaines 
 oi.CMoab unto the mountaine of ^^^», to the top o^Pif- 
 g^ that is over againfl lericho^thzt there the Lord iliewed 
 him all the land of ^ileaduuto Z)4ff,andall T^vthaly ^ and 
 all the land of Ephraim and LMartajfes^ and all the land of 
 Iffdahy unto the utmoft fea, and the South and the playne 
 of the land o^ lericho^ the City of Palme trees unto 2'^^r. 
 ^Andthis U theUnd which Jfware ( layth the Lord J ff»to 
 Abraham ^and HHto*Jfaacke,and unto Jacob fajingJiviUgive 
 unto thy feed J and I have caufed thee to fee tt with thine etes, 
 And this was that earthly Canaan , even that promifed 
 land which is fo much commended in the holy Scrip- 
 turci. Even fb, if we will take a little paines to goeup 
 to the mountaine of the Lord which the Prophet Efay 
 fpcaketh of, then there , in fomefmall meafarcmay wc 
 take a fight and view,not of the glory-of the earthly C^na- 
 an^ but of the glory ot heavenly C^inaan : and where 
 'the>Ii)evill Tasit isfaid intheColpellj tookc Icfusup ^in- 
 to an exceeding high mountaine, and Hicwcd him all the 
 
 King- 
 
 1 
 
 in »■ 
 
I D I r I s I o N S . chldren after death. 
 
 315 
 
 Kin-domcsot the world, aad the glory ol: tliein Here' 
 upon ;his mountainc of ihc Lord, there is llievvcd uuto , 
 us the Kmgdonic ot God;, ar.d the glory of the fame $ Ail 
 which,thc Lord will give us(bcingche right owner there- j 
 ofj, if.wctcarc, rcrvcaiidwoill>4> hiiw 5 and wtxijeed 
 not with Mofcs t;o clime up to any canhly moutitaiiic^to 
 fie and behold the Kingdome of God, aiKl-the glory 
 thereoK It is not in heaven ( faith Mofcs in anotlicr 
 cafe) that thou Ihouldefl fay 3^-; ivho- fjaH, go^^ Hp_ to 
 heaven for us , ^ni hrtng it ^nto ta, that ^ tt^eci may 
 heare tt , ^nd doe it ^ neither is tt beyond the fea, 
 that thoH Jhonldefi fay, }Vho fljali goe over -the Sea, 
 fer us. And brfngit. unto us , that wee may heareit^ and doe 
 it ? But the word is very nigh unto thee^ in thy meuthyaudin 
 thine heart ^ and there we may beholdthis glory. Search 
 the Scriptures [idiiihom Saviour Chrift in the Gofpell of 
 Saint loh'n ) for tn tiient^je thinks to have eternal! hfe^ and 
 th'ey are they which tefitfe of me. And we niay addc fiu'ther 
 atfo^.that theyiare rhey which teftifieof this glpriou^; estate 
 of tlic childrepi'oC God after death ; Jofefh gave his'br^h- : 
 ren proviiToii for the way : but the full facks were kept iu 
 {lore untill they came to their Fathers hcufe : God ^\\^% 
 'u5 heiea tafteandaflayof his goodnelTe 5 but the ipaine 
 Tea of his b^Ujic^and ftorc ijs hoprdcd up X^^g^ l^ii}g4pn]ei 
 
 ofheaven. '^ •,.:.!. ^• 
 
 It is a 1 ufuall thing in the Scripture to rcprefent fpiri;^ 
 tuall and heavenly things by bodily and earthly thiiTgs, 
 that therein as in. glaffes wc may behold heavenly things, 
 although .obkurcly ; which notwitiiiknding> we cannot 
 othcrwife perceive, a;id fee immediotly being too glorious 
 and vehement objccls for our eyes. Therefore as wccat> 
 not bthold the light of the Sunne in the Sunne, but by 
 reflexion thereof in the Moonc, in theStarres, in the 
 water, or other bright body, or clfc by refracflion thereof 
 in the miflie ayre 5 focthe foule while it is in the body hca-" 
 
 retb, 
 
 \^ ! . 
 
 \ 
 
 f ;," '0 
 
 X J. I 4. 
 
 
»••» 
 
 ■L 
 
 3I<5 
 
 7 he glorious Eflate of€ods D i v i s I o ^%^ ■ ■ 
 
 t Cor.y.ii. 
 
 
 rech^ ftcch, imdcrftandech, imagiaeth with the body, and ! 
 in a bodily manner, and diereforc is not capable of fuch ! 
 hearing, Iccing, under (landing^ imagining as it (hall bee 
 when K is fcparatc boia the body ; hence it is,that the- A- 
 ^o^\QizxK\\, fVcnowfeethf'^Hgh^gMjfetiArkeij, We con- 
 ceive of heaven by a City, whole walies^ pavements and 
 manfions arc of gold, pear'c, Chciftall, Emeralds, as it is 
 defcribed in the booke of the Revelation, which we fhall 
 afterwards beare more at large. 
 
 Aixi to begin firft of ail with the comforts and be- 
 nefits of this hfe, even they /although miferable) do ar • 
 igue that a far better cftate is refervcd for us in htavch.We 
 . Ice that God cuen here upon earth notwithrtaixiing our 
 manifold finncs whereby we dayly offend him, and which 
 may iuftly caufe hitn (as the Prophet (peakcth ) to with- 
 hold good thills from us j yet he in great mercy vouch- 
 fafeth us many pleafures, and furnilhcth us not onely 
 with matters of neccHity ( who dayly , fayeth the Pfai- 
 mift, loiadeth us with benefits) but alio of delights. There 
 is a whole Pfalmc fpcnt onely in this matter, which is the 
 104. Pialmc; a Plalmc worthy to be written in letters 
 of gold, and as C^'fofes fpeakcth in Deuteronomy, updJi 
 the dorepoftes of thine houfe, and upon the gates, yeau- 
 ponthe Table of thine heart (as the Wife-man fpeaketh, 
 for the admirable exceUency thereof. 
 
 God caufcth ( faith Saint CjfrUtf) the Sunnc ro rife 
 and let in order, the feafons to obey us, rhe elements to 
 fcrve us, the winds to blow, the fpring to flow, the come 
 to grow, the fruits toiliew, the gardens and orchardes 
 to frudific,ihc woods to raftle with lcaves,rhe mcadowcs 
 to fhine with variety of grade and flowers. And Chry-- 
 /oftomc very excellently handling the fame point with Cj- 
 fw^ff^ further (hewes, that God hath in*aibrt made the 
 night' more beautifull then the day, by infinite variety 
 of bright and glittering ftarrcs, atxl that hcc hath bcene 
 more mindfull and mctcifull thcn.man would have bin 
 
 ofl 
 
 Icremicf.if. 
 
 VC^^M^l9- 
 
 .Prov,7.3# 
 
 
 P&I47.18. 
 
 J 
 
 \ 
 
Division 8. children after DtAth. 
 
 Si? 
 
 Pfal. 1 44. J. 
 
 Mar. f. 4 J. / 
 
 oi himfclte, who through the grcedincHe of the World, 
 would have ovcrcoylcd himlcltc ; but thar God made the 
 nif»hc oFpurpoI'c for his rcpolc and reft In a word, he 
 faycs (^aiid that truly j evciiofthclc earthly bencHrs and 
 commodities, that although we were never lo vertuous; 
 nay, if weflioutd dycathoufanddcathe^, we Ihould not.' 
 be worthy of chcm. And the very heathen Poet co:i(i- [ 
 dcriiig this, coii!d not choofe but breake out into an ad- I 
 miration, faying : O how many things hath God created | 
 for mans delight,and heaped ioycs upon him with a boun- 
 tifullhand? Nay the Prophet 'D avtd coMidcrm [ this, 
 could notchufc but breake out into this wonderful! admi- 
 ration; Lord what tsmAn that thoHtakeft knowledge of him, 
 or thefoH of man that than makefl account of htm, A id all 
 this hath God done f 'aith Cjpnan) to go(xl and bad, 
 to the harmelede and the harmefuU, to the religious, 
 and irreligious, to the holy and prop'-^ane, to the 
 fwearcr , and to him that fcareth an oath. And hee 
 mak^th (as our Saviour Chrill fayeth m the Gospel! 
 of Saint Aiatthew) hts fnnncto j^nne on the evtU , and 
 on the (rood andfendeth ratne on the lufi and umud, vVhcnce 
 wee may well reafon thus , that if GOO dealeth 
 fo gracicufly with us on earth , hee will do much 
 more for us, and to us in heaven ; if he befbowed fuch be- 
 nefits upon ftra'^gers, nay upon enemies ; he hath hct'er 
 things in (lore for his owne boulehold j yea for us, which 
 are his friends: If he dealeth To liberallv aid bounn-ully 
 with (laves , he will be much more liberal: and bouiri'u I 
 to us which are his (bnnes in heaven. Againe, the excel- 
 lency of the creatures ofOod argues agreacr, yea,incom- 
 parably greater excellency in the Great "»r himfelfe, as well 
 doeth '^^=r«^^*<^obferve• Thou wondrell < faierh he ) at 
 thcbrirghnefTc of the Sunne, beauty ni the flowers, favo- 
 ry rclifh in bread, fertility in the earth, Now confider that 
 all are the gifts of God, and t' ere is no doubt but that hee 
 hatb referved much more co himfelfe for thee in heaven, 
 
 then 
 
318 
 
 Luke 1 1. 17, 
 
 lob 41. i« 
 
 I Kings 19.IX. 
 
 Exoiip.i^. 
 
 1 
 
 T^^ Glorious EH ate of Gods Divisions. 
 
 1 then bee hath communicated and imparted ro the Crea- 
 cures here upon earth. Agaiiie , wcc conceive of thele 
 ioyes of heaven , by taking a view of the inferour beau- 
 ties. Confider (faith our Saviour Chnft^ the LilUes of the 
 fieU how the grow and flour tjh , Ifay nnto yon that Salo- 
 mon in all h^ glory was notlii^eto oneofthefe, A\[ Salomons 
 glory not like to one Lillie ? Hath God put luch glory 
 and glad lefle up.'>ri the grade of the field i hath he lo gor- 
 geoufly attiied them , which today have a being , and to 
 morrow are cut downe , and caft into the turnace i How 
 much more then fhall bee the glory and ioy otyou in hea- 
 ven , Oyee oflitcie faith i Therefore when wee meece 
 with any thing that is excellent in the Creatures, wc may 
 fay to our fclves , how much more excellent is hec that 
 gave them this excellenc}'. When wee finde admirable 
 wifedome in men , how they rule all creacures,b) cuijning 
 overcome them that are farrc llronger then thvintclves, 
 overtake them tha a c farrefwifterthcnrhemklvcSjCur- 
 runne the Sun.iC a »d Moone indilcourle, te;iing many 
 ytares befortha id v h.iccourfesthty mjll hoid,an J when 
 they fhall be ccipled, Let us lay to our (elvt.s, how wife is 
 that God, which gave luch wifcdom.eunto men? 
 
 Agalne, when wee fee any thing ftrong, as the Lyon, or 
 the Elephant, whole ilrcngih is dclcribcd in the booke of 
 lolf, or the Whale, whole ftrength is alio there dcfcnbed 5 
 or the windc which is faidm the firft booke of ihc Kings 
 to becfo great a -d ftrong, that it rent the mounraines and 
 brake in pecces the rockes; or the thunder or fuchli'<e at 
 the huge noyfc whereof (as it is laid in the booke o£ Exo~ 
 dus) it made all the people in the Campe to feare a 'd 
 tremble ; Let us then lay, how ftrorgisthatGod, that 
 gi verb this ftrengch unto them ? Agaiie, when wee fee 
 ra- e bcaury in men or women , or moil: glorious colo' rs 
 in flowers, birdes and other crearures;Let lis hen (ay hmv 
 farre more beauri^ull ar.d amiable is tha^ God that giveth 
 this beauty and comlinefle unto thtm f A .d when w-e 
 
 tadc 
 
 1 1 « . ■ 
 
Division 8. dnldrcn after Deith. 
 
 3 19 
 
 Pfal.i^.u. 
 
 caftc thingcs that arc cxccccding comfortable and f'weet,as 
 honey, and luch like 5 Let us then lay ; how iwcctc and 
 comfortable is that GOO that givcth that I'vvcetc- 
 nclTw i 
 
 Now from all this let us conclude, that if the Creatures 
 can affoord fnch plcalure , comfort, contentment, and de- 
 iigh: ; what will the creator himlelfe doc ? When we fhall 
 immediately en/oy his glorious prelence after death i* In 
 thj prefence ("fayth the PlalmiftJ isfulne^eofioj. And at thj 
 right hand there are pleafnresfor evermore. 
 
 Surely this world compared to the world to come , is 
 as it wxre but a little village ro ehcgreatcft and moll fpa- 
 tious Citty ; nay,it is but as ic were a gatehoufc, or Porters 
 lodge to the molt wide, glorious and magnificent Pallace 
 of the greatelt Prince hi the World ,- and it the Gatehoufe 
 bee I'o fayre , how fayre and glorious is the Pallace it 
 felfcf 
 
 Moreover confider what great ods there Ls bctwcene 
 Gods mediate and immediate prefence , to enjoy him in 
 tHecrcaturcs,and to enjoy him in himlelfe. The crca?"ures, 
 yea the moll excellent creatures, are as it were but a vaylc 
 or curtaine d' awne betwccnc God and us which vay le or 
 curraine being drawne afide, we Ihall lee God face to face; 
 and then how glorious will that fight bei^ And though 
 we know not what it is to behold the face of God; yet 
 herein confilleth the higheft degree of our happineffe. 
 Therefore arc the joyes of the Saints in heaven Juper/ltper- 
 lative, bccaufe their eyes doe alwaycs behold their King in 
 the excellency of his beauty and g'ory. It is a pleaflng fight 
 and dclightfomcto the eye to behold the Sunne , but that 
 IS (faith Bernard) the true and onely /oy indeed , which 
 is conceived from the Crtator,not from the creature, lohn 
 rhc Bapttft leaped in his mothers wombe , when but the 
 mother of his Maker cnmc ncere u ito him. The wife men 
 rcjoyced exceedingly whenrhey faw but his Srarre. The 
 Bcthfliemites rcjoyced greatly at the fight of the Arke. 
 
 Were 
 
 Ifay 3 J. 17. 
 
 LuJce i.4i» 
 
 Matth,!. 10, 
 I Sana.5.i3« 
 
3 20 
 
 i 
 
 i C;?cl3.ll. 
 
 The C Uncus Efiate of Gods Divisions. 
 
 Were thefe caufes of grtrar and unwonted /oy and giadnes 
 then much more arc the Saints of God raviQicd with joy 
 in htaven,vvhert:they Ihall continually lee and behold God 
 {jlcc to face. Shall uc more eileeme this wretched carkafle 
 than our glorious God? whole ondy prelence in giory Ihall 
 fill us with etcrnall delight? O the vifion of God. if we had 
 bur once fcene Gc^d face to face, we would abhorre that ab- 
 fcncctqat (hoLi d hinder the huinon ot luch unlpeakablc 
 beaucies,as would enamour the moll lecure heart to an un- 
 quenchable love. 
 
 Wee are to confider , that there is a twofold vifion or 
 fighr of God, the one, called by lome ot the learned vtfi9 
 vtSsxht fight ot the way , and meanes thac bringcth home 
 to God ; the other vifio patrm , the fight oi the Country, 
 where G«od is, that is his home and habitation with his 
 
 Sainrs ar-d Angels. • 
 
 Th.varc happy that fee the way , that bringeth and 
 leadeih home to Go .'>, but more happy, that are at home 
 in heaven dwciii'g , neverto be removed out of his pre- 
 fcnce a;^d Country. Of thefe two (orts of vifions meaneth 
 the Apoil:ie Sainr Tanl : When hee faith; For norvuvce 
 Cee through a glaffe darkely , hnt then yvce pjall fee fscc t9 
 face, 
 
 1 onching the firft kind of the fight of God , which is 
 rcrmcd vtfw vt<e, or (as Saint Paul) inag/ajfedarkelj : in 
 a wojd rhi$ fight cop.fifi:eth in true faith and knowledge of 
 God. And t lus to fee God by found and faving know- 
 It d^egrouded upon his word, and by a true and lively 
 jurt'fying faith from this knowledge arifing •• This, I fay, 
 isonely proper to Gods eledchi'dren , who in time fiiall 
 come to fee him at home face to face in the fulnes of /oycs 
 ^or ever. And touching vijio patri<e , a feeing of God in 
 his Country or his home,or his heavenly habitation. <?>^«- 
 f ft[/?*«<f writing upon Genefis, faith , That the blcfled fiiall 
 havea th eefbld fight of God in heaven. To wit,they fliall 
 firfl have a fpirituall.or they fliall fee the bltffed fpirits and 
 
 Angels J 
 
 i 
 
DiVI S ION 8. 
 
 children ^after Death. 
 
 321 
 
 Luke 13. i8. 
 r Sam. 25.19. 
 
 Angels ; next, a body or corporall figh: of tli c blclkd re- 
 deemer. And childly, a lupcrnaturall or intellect uul liglui 
 and a fourth may bcaddcd, that they fhall hktuiii: icLch^ 
 holy Ghoft. 
 
 For the rird ; their fpirits and (ourtcs (hall behold and Ici; 
 with great comfort and loy the bkffcd Angels, and Spa its 1 Mattii.i8,io. 
 of all the faihtfuli departed: They (hall fee the blight court 
 of Angels, Chciubins and Scraphins , al waits beholding 
 the face of our father which is in heaven, atrending the 
 Deity; and ever preilingto (^oc his will, faithfully, Ipeedi- 
 wj lingly, never wearv of watching, becauie ih^y are ne- 
 ver weary of wel-doing. They fhaii lee the faire afT^^mbly 
 of thw Saints of God, the Patriarckes,l'rophets and Apo- 
 itles, vjiMzy^brahAnLj^ Ifaacke and Licoh in his glorious 
 Kingdf-mcjthey (luii be tyedup with thtm iu thebundell 
 oflivnig;never to be loofcd any more. As they before them 
 have d()ne,lo lliaii they returne into their refl: as into a reti- 
 ring Camjie after the day of ba tell. This isthegreuteft joy 
 upon the firlt (ighr.And if (^as Chryfofteme faith j to fee the 
 Divellard ».viU Spirits, beahorriblepunifhment, anda 
 ' kind ot htlljthen to lee good Angels and good Spirits muft 
 beagrcatioy, and : he beginning and entrance into hea- 
 ven. And this is a feliowlliip matchekfle j if we either con- 
 lider the perfection of the creatures whofe communion we 
 fliall enioy : or the perfed manner of enioyirg it: who 
 would be withh<;id from the congregic.on ot ihe firfl:- 
 borne, fronts the focietj with mmmcrdble Angels ana the Heb. ii.ii^ij. 
 fprits oftafi men ? I 
 
 T he itcond is that corporall and bodily bcho'din g of 
 our Saviour ieliis Chrifl, ftaijding at the rght hand of 
 God the Fa her, and his comfortable face and c^ untenai ce 
 fairer then the fonncs of men, and wh( me the very An- 
 gels dtfirc to behold and whereby in their Spirits the 
 Saints, doe prefently fee thenatiirall and humane body 
 I of Chrift leliis, at the right hand ofGod the Fjrh(.r:hom 
 whole glorious fight doih arifeagrcarer meafurc andde- 
 
 
 iPct.Mt. 
 
 grce 
 
1 
 
 3ii 
 
 Cant.3.11. 
 
 Matth.11.4}. 
 
 X King.1.40, 
 
 Mat.i.io^i J. 
 
 I Cor.i3«i2. 
 
 2P(;M-4<. 
 
 
 The G Ion (f us Eflatt of Gods Divisions. 
 
 grce of comfort and ioy. Then come the godly to lee v^ 
 lubihnce,thac which was fpoken of the type by SaUmon, 
 Come foorth O jee danghters of Sion, and behold the Kinq- 
 Salomon with the (^rowne. To lee then this true Salomon^ 
 more great then Salomon^ even our Redeemer, thus ftand- 
 i!ig crowned i:i glory, and have accede to him, mull needs 
 bee a fecond, and higher meafure of joy to the beho ders* 
 Icis laid, when Salomon was crowned,the people rc/oyced 
 exceedingly, that the earth rent with the found of them. 
 Oh what ioy and greater ioy is it then to fee Chrifl: Icfus 
 thus crowned wich glory in Gods Kingdome at home ? , 
 
 When the Wife-men came aferre iourney , fceking 
 Chriil:, and found him new borne, lying moft meanely & 
 bafely m a Crarch amongft the beads jyet did chey reioyce 
 feeing him in the Cratch, and did offer to him. 
 
 Oh how much (hall yee reioyce, feeing him that was 
 in the Cratch, cloathed with great glory, and wearing an 
 immortall Crowne ? 
 
 The third fight h that inrcllecfluall and glorious fight 
 fupcrnaturall of Gods elTence face to face ( as Saint Paul 
 namethit) yea God himfelfe offo great Maicfty, might, 
 beauty, goodntlfe, mercy and love, as if a man were filled 
 with all other bklTings temporall and etcrnall , and yet 
 without this fas Tlottn faith) all were but mifery and ac- 
 curfednes. And chis is fuch a fight, in fuch a manner , and 
 after fuch a meafure (which notwithftanding fhall be infi- 
 nite) as is or can be poffible, for the glorified Creatures to 
 behold the glorious Creator. And ( as the Apoflle Saint 
 Teeter faith j to be made partakers of Gods divine nature, 
 farrc beyond that fight of Moyfes or Peters^ when being 
 clogged with mortality, they yet did fee that was glorious 
 to behold. 
 
 Of this fight of God, the holy man fpeakcth in his 
 Booke. Oh (^ faith he j That mj words were now written, 
 O that they were printed in a 'Bool^e, that they were graven 
 with an jron penne, And lay de in the Rocks f^^ cver^ For / 
 
 k^ow 
 
DlVlS ION 8. 
 
 children after Death. 
 
 32J 
 
 j^w^w that my Redeemer itveth, and that he Shall ftand at 
 the latter day Hpon the earth, and though after my sl^n 
 wormes deflroy thts body , yet in my flefi /hall I fee God^ rvhom 
 Iflyallfeefor myfelfe, and mine eyes fiall behold and not ano^ \ 
 ther, though my retnes be conjHmed wtthiK mee* Yet this I 
 fight fhall exceed, and goe beyond chat otour Foicfichers i 
 before the fall, or that oFthc ApolHe Panls ^ for it '\^ (aide 
 by him, th.»tvvcniall lee him face to face. Aiid by the 
 Apofdc 'Tcter^ being made partakers of his divine nature, 
 more then ever man could have dreamed of^ then iLall the 
 hied: fee lb, as they fliall bee with him for ever, yea 
 and Icrve him continually, in finging praifcs unro him. 
 Which fight is called the (pirituall life, not \vl relpeci of 
 fubftance, but qualities, in fo farre that after thole fights, 
 the tlecT: ll al! ipiritually livc,andthat without any naturall 
 or bodily hclpes or meanes, as in this prefent tranficory 
 life. 
 
 In that Life fhall be no neede of meate; drinke, 
 light, artificial! or naturall. Candle, Starres , Sunne, or 
 Moonc; For God fliall bee all in all. By which fight 
 and fupcrnaturall knowledge, it fhall come to pafie, That 
 thefeour mort all bodies Pi aU bee like to his glorioHs body , and 
 
 fhall p)ine like the Sunne in the firmament ^and be made like * *^* 
 
 ty^nq^els, 
 
 Tnlgenti^ fpeakingofthis moftgMrious & fupernaturall 
 fight, laith thus • In a looking glafle wee may fee three 
 different things ; theglafle, our felves, and what is neere 
 us : So by the glafl'c of Gods divine clearenes, we fhall 
 fee him our lelvcs, Angels, and Saints befide us ; yea wee 
 fhall fee God face to face, not as now through the glafl'e of 
 his word;but we fhall know him as we are knowne of his 
 Maicfty. As a man (landing upon the fhore of the Sea feeth 
 not the bredth or depih of it, lb the Angels in Hcaven,and 
 the Eledl on earth may lee God really, and yet not compre- 
 hend the depth of his greatnes, nor the height of his ever- 
 UftingcfTcnce. 
 
 Y 2 The 
 
 Philli 
 
 p.^.tf. 
 
5^4 
 
 jheGlari^fis Bjhteof Gofils Divi sion 8 
 
 1 Cor, I J; 12. 
 
 Luke ij.iS. 
 
 The fourth fight is, that we {hall hkcvvife fee the Holy 
 Ghoi'l proceeding From them boch, and breaching upon 
 our laved loa'cs, I ike a gentle loft ayre upon a g irdeo, and 
 more Iweet then all the trees of Incenle. Againe, the 
 Apoftie fayerh, 7^w I kjf orpin part ^ htit then fh ill I k^ofv 
 even as I arrL* knowne. The Apoftle is bold here to iay 
 char all the knowledge we have here, is as the knowled ^c 
 a.id itucreringofayoungcbi d, yea, thuhisowne knovv- 
 ledge too, was llieh, although he wc e an- Apolt e, and a 
 prii]cipall Apoftle ; and thereby hee indnuaceth that our 
 knowledge here is as farre inferiour to the knowledge wee 
 fhall have there, as the knowledge of a childe chat ftuc- 
 tercth and ftammereth , and yet cannot fpcake plaine is 
 to the knowledge of the orreatcll Cicarke in the 
 world. 
 
 The very heathen thought this to bee one great bene- 
 foe, that men^ el'pccially wile men had by death, that their 
 knowledge was pcrfe:'bed m the other world , and that 
 none couid polTibly attainc to perfefl wiledome & know- 
 ledge^ until! they came thither How much more fhould 
 we cxint thisanineftimable glorieand benefite, that in 
 the life to come we Ojall have the perfe(fl knowledge of 
 heavenly things, yea, a id ofal' things in the Kingdome of 
 Heaven ; yen^ we fhall know God with a perfe(fl know- 
 ledge^fi)far'c as Crtatures can poiTibly comprehend the 
 Creator. Wc {hallknow the power of the Father, the 
 wifedomcofthe Sonne, the grace of the Holy Ghoil^ 
 ai^-d the indivifible nature of the bleffed Trinity. And 
 in hun wee fhall know, notonely all our friends ( who 
 dyed \n the fairh of Chriftwithus) but alfo all the 
 faithfull that ever were or fhill be. For firft, our Savi- 
 our Chrifttels the lewes in the Gofpell of Saint LhI^^ 
 that they Hiall iVe ^brahAYru^lfaac\^\\d^ I^coh^ and all 
 the Prophets m rhe Kingdome of God,and you your felves 
 thruft ou». Then if rhe wicked Ihall know thegodly,much 
 more fhall wc know tbim. 
 
DiVI S ION 8. 
 
 children dfur Death. 
 
 32-5 
 
 Luke 16.13, 
 
 Mat, I y. 18. 
 
 StcondlVj Addrru'm his Innoccncy knew Eve, {q Q^n.z.^ic 
 
 foonc as hcc awaked one ot his ilccpc to bee bone of his_^ 
 
 bone, and tlelli of his Hclli ; much more then nail wee, 
 know our kindred and friends in the taith, when wee 1 
 fhallawake,and bee perfected, and glorihed in the Relur- 
 rcc.ion. 
 
 Thirdlyihe Apoftlcs knew Chrift after his rclurredion, Mat.i7.5x.53. 
 and the Saints which arofe with him, and appeared in the 
 holy City, as is recorded by the Evangclifl S Aiatrherv,^ at, 17.4' 
 therefore we lliall know one another then. ; 
 
 Fourthly, Peter ^Inmei2LW^ lohn knew A/o/^jand EU.ts 
 in the rransriguration ot Chrill much more iLall we know 
 one another in our glorirication. 
 
 ^\h\y^ Dives knew La<,<irus a farre off in Abrahams bo- 
 fome;much inore j"hall one child oFGod know another in 
 the Kinsdome ot God. 
 
 Sixthly, our Saviour Chrift in the Gofpell of S^ Mat- 
 therv [^\x\\ unto Pettr, and the reft of his Apoflles, verelj 
 Jfaypi*Jtoyof4ythatyee which have followed me tn the reaene- 
 ration vphtn the [on of man /hall (it on the throne of his giory, 
 ye aIiO (hall fit »p9n twelve thrones indging the twelve Jrihes 
 of IfraeL^Mi this place of Scripture being fomwhat oblcu- 
 rely uccercd. Our Saviour Chrift there alluding to the pre- 
 fent (late of things, the nuHi)er of che twelve Tribes of 
 Ifrael, and of the twelve Apoftles, the Apoftle Saint Paul 
 iu his fiift E pi (fie to the Corinthians exprefleth more 
 plainely and clearely. apply ins^ ingenerall to all the faithful 
 . under the new TeftamentjAilirming, that the Samtspjall 
 iftdge the World^ Yea, even the Angels , ( that is to fay ) 
 Wicked > and V'ngodly men, and wicked and ungodly Spi- 
 rits* And hence TcrtHlltan norably comforteth and encou- 
 rageth tie Martyrs that were in durance, dayly cxpeding 
 the ludges comming,andto receive fentence of death per- 
 1 baps (laithhe) the ludgc is looked for, yea, but you iha'l 
 I judge your ludges your felves. But here by the way wee 
 are to underifand, that the authority of iudgement doch ! 
 
 Y3 n^ 
 
 1 Cor.^.i,|. 
 
326 
 
 he Olon^us Ejhtt of Gods 
 
 Di VI sioN 8 
 
 hds IO.4Z. 
 
 X Tim, 4, 1. 
 
 not belong eicher to the Apollles or Saints ; & that in their 
 ma incr ot judgement they reie^nble luiHces^ who at an 
 Ailile are in a manner ludges, and yet give no ientcncc, 
 but oiiely approve the lentcnce that is given. The Judges 
 For the :\v:iC have the whole authority, the luftices on the 
 Bench arc but AHiftants & witncfTesj the definitive ludge- 
 ment is proper to our Saviour Chnft , who is the lu- 
 prcme Judge himfelfi ; 'For he it is 1 laith the ApoiHe S.Pe- 
 ter)that was ordained of God to he the ludge of the ejuicke C^ 
 the dead: a:id he it is (laith Saint T^aul) that pmllindge the 
 £]ut<;ks ^^^ ^^^ ^f^^ at his appearing, and in his kl^gdome • 
 The ^ poftlcs and Saints are not Judges, but as Judges ha- 
 ving no voice of authority , but of confent.So that although 
 our Saviour cTiritl our head, principally and properly fLail 
 be the Judge, yet we that are his members fliall have a 
 branch of hi> authority, and iliall be, as it were ioyned in 
 commiilion with him 5 (b the Bench, and noc the Barre, is 
 J j our place there in heaven, which is part of our glory and 
 
 joy. Then if the Saints lliall be adifting in judging wicked 
 
 menand wicked ipirits 5 it then folio weth that they fliall 
 
 know the wicked from the good,thc goats from the (heep 
 
 and then much more Hiall they know their fellow-Iuftices 
 
 and CommilTioners. And the Apolfle l^at// confirmeth 
 
 thib in thefc words before ailedgedjaying ^'^^r th en (hall I 
 
 I Cor. 13,1 1. kj!}ow^ even as I alfo am k^ioyvne. And AtigHjline out of ibis 
 
 I placecomfortctha widow, alluring her, as in this life fhee 
 
 i faw her husband with external eyes , (o in the life to come, 
 
 I fheOvjo'd know his heart, and what were all his thoughts 
 
 { and imaginarions.Thcn husbands and wives looke to your 
 
 I thought."? a ;d a1-ions,forall lliall oneday be manifefl. 
 
 Seventhly, The faichPulI in the old Teflament are faid to 
 
 be gathered to their Fathers, therefore the knowledge of 
 
 onr friends remaineth. 
 
 E'ghtly, The Apoftle Saint T^f^/ faith, IhzKlove never 
 falltth ^K'^/jtherefore knowledge one of another being the 
 ground thereof, rcmaines in another life. 
 
 Ninthly, 
 
 » Kinj^.za.zo. 
 1 Cor,)j.8, 
 
DiVl S ION 8. 
 
 children after Death. 
 
 3i7 
 
 
 3^ 
 
 Ninthly,The Apoftlciaith, That the iafl day fha/ii^e adc- ^om. i^,6. 
 cUrotion of the tnft ludaement of God, who ivtii render to every \ 
 mA» dccordtng to hts deeds, \v[^ the Preacher (isirh/rhat Cod i * * ' 1 
 
 fhullhrinw every worketo indg-ement with every fecret thvia-^ 
 whether tt be iTood or evtlLc^nd ill the bookcofchc Re vela: i- . 
 Oil it is i:3L\(\fBehold I come qfiu\/y ,and my reward is with me, ^^'^''•*^«**' 
 to give to every m.in accordtng as his workjs jha/l be. 1 heil if ' 
 every mans workes (lull bee broughc to li^hc, much more m.u. i i.3<^. 
 the worker. And it" (as it is '\w the GolpelJ wicked men Hull 
 account For every idle woid,inucii more ihall the idle Ipea- 
 kers thcmfclves bee knowiic •, for iFthc perlons be not 
 know:ie, then in vanic Hiail rhcir workes be made manifeft 
 and kr.owne ; then iFthe wicked ("hall be knowne as well as 
 their wicked works^ much more ihall the Saints know one 
 another. 
 
 Tenchly and laftly , is faid in tbe bookc of Wifedome, 
 Then fhall the mi^hteom m.vaf}-t,indtn great boldnef[e, before the 
 face offfich as have affiiBed htm,& made no account of his /a- 
 bottrs-^when they fee it, they fjnlbe troabledwith terrible feare 
 and p'al be ama-cedat theflranfreneffe of his fa/natton ,fo farre 
 beyond all that they looked for -^ and they relenting (^ groaning 
 for angHijh ofjpint , /ha/lfay within themfelves, 'This was he 
 ivhom we had/ometime in derifion^and a proverbe of reproach: 
 fVefooles accounted hts life madnejfe^and his end to be without 
 honor. How is he nnmbred amon^ the children of Cjod^ a id his 
 lot IS among the Saints?Therefore have we erred from the way 
 of truth ^and the U^ht of rig-hteoftfneffe hath not [hined vnto vs , 
 and the Sunne of right eoufneffe rofe not upon us, Out of which 
 place it inay be gathered, thatif the wicked thcmfelves iliall 
 know the children of God after death,whom they have de- 
 rided, mocked, fcofFcd and wronged ; nay, it the wicked 
 n all ar that day know Chrift himtelfc,as it is teftiHed in the 
 bookeofthe Revelation. where 't is hid-tB ehold he comr>eth ' Rcvcl.1.7. 
 with clouds, and every eyefialfee him, cr they alfo which pier- 
 ced him .and all kindreds of the earth pull waile becanfe ofhim^ 
 then much more undoubtedly fliall the Saints of God know 
 
 Y 4 rbe 
 
32S 
 
 J he ulor:^us E/Utc of Gods 
 
 Di 
 
 VI S ION 8* 
 
 R.cvcl,ii,io, 
 
 %Cor. 1 2.2.,^, 
 
 PfaUijkf. 
 
 cht lame, nud chcir Saviour lelus Chrift^ and they fhail aifo 
 know oncaiiochcr ; bucche Ful and ccrtaine cruch hereof 
 ihallbc revealed uatousinthelait day 5 and rherefbre itii 
 iiotgood CO approch necrer this holy flame of Gods lecrecs 
 ie{t we be chcrvvirh coiilumedjnor dive any deeper into this 
 botcomleflc depth, tor feare of drowning : we herein mult 
 not be over curious, but be wife to iobriety, a; id eipecially 
 labour to know thole things thar more concerne u^ m this 
 life,andrhat are more evidently difco/ered unco us, that we 
 and our children may doe them.- it is a learned ignorance 
 not to know that which God would have us to be ignorant 
 of j but it is a pernicious conrempt n ot to bee willin g to 
 know char which God would ceach us : true wi'Tedome and 
 modclHeinthe children of God, confiftcch in opeiwngchc 
 earesto learnc, when Chrift openeth his mouth to ceach,& 
 in not ddiring col 'arne that which heeis unwilling to re- 
 veale unco us : the holy Scripture i^ the fch< )o!e of the holy 
 Ghoft, wherein, as there is nothing omitted hat is necefla- 
 ry to falvation, To is there nothing taught^ but what is re- 
 quifite for us to know. Againe. call thy conceit earneftly 
 upon thedcfcription of the holy City, new 'erufalem, come 
 downe from heaven as a Bride prepared for a husband, a 
 City oflolace, whole ports are ever parent, whofe ftrects 
 are paveJ with gold, and garnillied with all manner of pre- 
 tious ftones ; ever fplcndent (hall this City be, and there is 
 reprefented unto thcc a place full of all glorie, pleafurcs and 
 excellencies that heart can imagine, aud thofe perdurable e- 
 ven for ever. 
 
 The firll point is to confider what manner of place it is 
 that the bleffed Saints doe inhabite ; it is the heaven of hea- 
 vens or third heaven, caMed Paradife, where Chriftin his 
 hunjane nature afcended farre above al vifible heaves. which 
 by the firmament, as by an azured curtainc , fpangled with 
 glittering llarres and glorious planets, is fo hid, that we can- 
 not behold It with thcfe corruptible eves of flelh.This place 
 therefore (the holy Gholl framing himfclfe to our weakc 
 
 capa- 
 
 
Division 8 . children after Dtuh. 
 
 329 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 capaciriesjdcfcnbes by things moll glorious, which no mja 
 ca.j cliiiiiacc, by chmgs ot mc^lt vaiiii^, in chcaccou^uandc- 
 Itnnacion ot men ; and rhcjetore he djtU Iikc;i k H) a great 
 and holy City, named tht New, h<)iy and heavenly leru- 
 km, where onely God, and his people who arc lavcd and Rcv.»i,i,i, 
 wricccn in the Lam^cs booke, d )e inhabicc and dwell, | 
 all built of pure g>^>ld, iiKe unto clcare glaill* or Ciiftai, 
 the walles oF lalperdoncs the toundacions ot the walles 
 with twelve manner of precious ftones , having twelve 
 gates, each buiJc of one pearic, three gates toward each of 
 the foure corners ot ihc world, and at each^ate an An(»ell as 
 io many porters to keepe it, tha: no unclcane thing may en- 
 ter into the lame. It is foure fquare, therefore it is pirFe.l. 
 The Ic igth, the breadth, the hwighc of it are equa I, twelve 
 tboufand furlongs every wav, therefore it is ipacious aiid 
 glorious. Thorow themiddeftofthe ftreets there ever run- 
 neth a pjre river of the waterof he, ascleereas Cryilall; 
 therefore it is wholefomc. And on either fide of the river is 
 the tree oFiifc ever growing, which bcares twelve man er 
 oFfruits,and veld truics every monech,and therefore huit- 
 full. And tke leaves of the tree are health to the nations , and 
 therefore wholefome There is therefore no place lo glori- 
 ous by creation, (b bewtifull withdeledtacion,lo rich m pof^ 
 fcilion, nor focomFort ible for habication;for there(as Saint 
 ^y^Hgulhne faith ) the King is verity, the Law is charity , the 
 dignity is equity, the place felicity a id the life eternity. It 
 is in fight moll high, in fpace moft ample and large,in mat- 
 ter moll fumptuous, in lliew and bewty moll fpacious and 
 glorious, therein no night nor darknelfe, for the Sunne of 
 righteouficffe which knowes nor to be hid, doth ever fend 
 his beames into it. It is a place of holineffe and puntic, for 
 yio HHcleane thing (hall enter into it.Xx. is a place of brightnede \ Rev.a 1.17*16. 
 and beauty, for it is as cleare as Crvftall. It is a place of, Kev.ix. 
 roomth and largeneiTe, thereForeitis fnid in 'Barnch, If- ^ Baruci3.i^j 
 rael how irreat is the hom^e ofGoJ,and how Urje is the place of ^^' 
 bts foffeJfton}^xt2Lt and hath no end, high and unmcafurable. 
 
 And 
 
3?o 
 
 The GUriousofEHate Gods 
 
 Division 8. 
 
 Luke ig.tf). 
 
 And into this pure, bright, and large place of glorie, fliall 
 all the Saiucs ot God enter andpoflclle it# So that it is who- 
 ly plealant,whoIy defirable, removed from all cvill, and re- 
 pleniilicd with all good. In vvhichfas AagHJiiH faith) there 
 IS a life prepared oi'God for his friends, a lecure life, a quiet 
 life, a bcaatifull life, a cleane Hfe, a chafte life, a holy iife^ a 
 life that knowes not death,a life without ftreitneffe, without 
 neceility, without lorrow, without corruption^ without 
 ptrrufoaLion, without variety, without mutation, a life full 
 of beauty and honour. \Vhere(as Bernard imh)zh^xi: ib no 
 thing prefent that otfends, nothing abfent that delights. 
 
 Now if the Fabrickc of this world , which is as it were 
 butaftable for beafts, a place of exile, and valley of teares 
 to raen^ hath fo much beauty and excellency, that it ftrike* 
 him into admiration that doth contemplate it, and doeth a- 
 ifonifh him, and luch plencieof good thing that no fences 
 can dv (lie more, fuch variety ot^beaffs, biids^ fillies, foun- 
 taines-, townes, provinces, cities, dilagrceing in inftitutes, 
 mai]eri,aiid lawts, fuch choice of all precious (fonts of va- 
 lue, gold, (ilver> and txquifite filkcN naturall and artificiall •• 
 if f iTayjthis buidmg of fo fmalla frame of the Sun,Moone, 
 and Starres (liine with luch brightnefle, what Hiall then our 
 , heavenly countrie doe, not now the habitation of fervants, 
 bur of fonnes;no: of beads, but of bleffcd fou'es f Where is 
 the hall of the great King of Kings, the omnipotent God, 
 who can and will performe to his beloved children much 
 more then they can conceive ? And doubtlcfle fo farre as 
 this wide world exceeds for light and comfort the narrow 
 anddirke wombeofthe mother, wherein the childe was 
 wrapped before it was borne;fb much and much more doth 
 that other world (whereinto all the faithfull after this life 
 are received) oceedthis world. What things will not the 
 eternall God frame in his mofc glorious pallace for his 
 Saints? Whatioy (liall there be, when (faith the Evangelifl 
 S*Lplkf) they pmll come from the EaFh ^andfrom the }Vcfl ^and 
 from the Tfjrth , and from the South yartd fit downetn theki^g- 
 ' dome of God ? Againe, 
 
Division 3 . children after Dedth. 
 
 331 
 
 Rcv,7.9, 
 
 Rcv.4.8, 
 
 Againe, contcinplacc of that blertld fociety of moll pure 
 minds iiuheirlcv'crall Qaircsdclcrib^rd, Angels, Arch-aii- 
 gcls, Priiicipalicie-i, Powers, Domiaionv.Vci rues, fhroncs, 
 ; Cherubins, Scraphins, whcrcoF there is luch a miilrirudc, • r)an.7.io. 
 that chc Prophcc Dantcl faith, Thoufand thoufAuds miyttftrcd Kcv.5.1 1, 
 unto him-jCr ten thopifand times ten [honfund ft-jod hefore htm^ \ 
 Behold vvich chelc lb many holy loules oFincn and women, 
 Patriarchs, ApoftIcSjProphccs,Martyrs,Virgins-, 'iifioccnts, 
 even fo many, thac lohn laid, they could not bt.c numbred* 
 Ijchold the bcautie of every one, and with fo gieat love ani 
 charity, that rhcy noleflc' reioyce ofanothcrs giory,thenoF 
 their ownc. 
 
 Againc, conceive what is the exercife of thefe bledVd 
 fbules ; hrlito know the di vine elTencciiithree Perlbns,the 
 Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoft, with which k no w- 
 ledge they are fo illuminated and inflamed, thac inccfTintly 
 they Cm^y^olj ,hoIy ,holj Lard Cjod •y^lmirhty, which was^ts, 
 and%s to come, the whole earth is full of his (^lory^K^<\ they do 
 not onely fee God^ and know God, but doe alio love him 
 with a vehement love a full love, a perfe-vfl love,vvith all the 
 heart, with all the ftrength, and in loving, they enioy him; 
 a:]d in enioying, with an inexplicable ioy are raviOicd : No 
 cclfation of praires,admiration,rhankigiving,and ioy which 
 they receive by the prefcrcc of God, whom with all reve- 
 rence and reft the.' aiTift ; and by that fociety of lb many 
 Saints, with whom they Ice themlelvcs m glorv, in a place 
 fo fublime, fccure, andpleafant, doe eternally reioyce to- 
 gether. 
 
 Againe, confider withall the multitude and FulnefTe of 
 thefc ioyes ; fo many, that God can one'y number them -. fb 
 great, that onely he can cftimate them ; of fuch variety and 
 perre(5lion, that this world hath nothing comparable to 
 them. Tn fome they are moft free, moft pure, mofi beauti- 
 fulI,moft infinite: They are fo great ( faith one) that they 
 cannot be meafurcd, fo long, that they cannot bee limited ; 
 fo naany,that they cannot be numbred;fo precious,thar they 
 
 cannot 
 
33^ 
 
 2Cor.4»J7»*^* 
 
 Hcb. lM4jiT3 
 l6. 
 
 J/'^ Glerious EHate cfGods Division 8 . 
 
 cannot be valued;yet we lliall ke them without wearincfle? 
 love them wichoLKincaiure, and praiie them without: end- 
 A game alio, the lojr which rhe Saints conceive oftheir 
 Iccuricy* is very fit for meditation, feeing thcmfelves to 
 have eicaped the deceits of the world, the flelli, and the di- 
 veil, and ufe from the iawes of hell, into winch they lee lo 
 many milerably plunged. How doe they reioyce of the occa- 
 fionsoffmne they have declined, of thciruidiiftry in van- I 
 quifhing cheaffiults oftheir fpincuall enemies, of reftraining ! 
 the appetites anddefiresof the flelh , of overcomming all i 
 diiHcuUies in this life in the way oj^vcmie and_obedience 
 to God? With what praiiesfhall faffing, prayer, mortifica* 
 tion of the f^Llli^ repentance, with f^ith (the mother of all 
 thefej as alio all the holy counfels^ and happy examples of 
 others (^whereby they have beene ftirred up to vertue, and 
 holpen in the way to falvation) be extolled ? 
 
 A^aine, thinke upon the eternitic of this glore. For our 
 
 light affii^ton faith the Apoiile S.l^anl ) which is hm for a 
 
 moment y doth caufe unto tis AJarre more excellent and et email 
 
 waight of glorj^whtie we looke not at the thingswhtch are feen, 
 
 b'^tat the things which are nit feefff^ for the things which are 
 
 jeene are temporall,bHt the things which are not [eene areeter- 
 
 nail. Aflii^ion fhallbe rewarded with excellent glorie,light 
 
 aifli t on with a weight of glory, and momentary afflicff ion I 
 
 u ith crer laU g'ory. Who W)l! then for the fhort fpace of 
 
 time which is grauited us to live, nay for many ages of 
 
 worlds refuse to iuffer ad verfiry , to repent in fackcloth and 
 
 afhcs, to beat downe the rebeilious body, that wee may at 
 
 length ai rive at the haven of this glorious eternity/' And 
 
 the more to in flame us hereunto, let us know for certainc, 
 
 that(as Crfjro^'^ faith Jit is but momcntany,wharioever it be 
 
 in this Jifc that can delight us, but is for ever and ever tbat 
 
 will torment us i Our delights live and dye in a moment, 
 
 but the punil"hment is interminable and endlcflc. By faith 
 
 \^ faith the author to the y{Qbxt\\JCs) A'fofes .when he was come 
 
 to jecres, refufed to he called the fonne of Pharaohs daughter ^ 
 
 chfiftn<r 
 
Division S . children after Dexth. 
 
 333 
 
 chnfing rather to fiffer afjiiClton with the children of Go J, 
 (hen to cHjoj the pleAJure of jinnefor n feafon, efteemmg the 
 repr&^chofChrtfi (greater rtches, than the tre^fitres of E- 
 fypt., for hee hudresffecl to thereeomp^nce of the reward 
 whpch rv>ts etertttiii, 
 
 Agaiiie, inca accouac it a great benefit to live onely , 
 thoui^h it be ID iniiery : To live well then a:id happily is 
 mo f,but to live well, happily and ltorever,is moilofall, 
 & iDorff than this world ca i afcrd, and yeeld to any man 
 ciclx.T CO live happily ,or to live forcver.Theieforc in the 
 Scrip ure, that lire to cumj in the other world, is called 
 cverlalliiig or cternall liFe* It is (o calkd,'jecaLile by li^c iz 
 figniricd .hcgrca-ncfVeotchehcippines andg ory, and by 
 etcrnali or cverlafti'ig the inii nee grcatnefle and perpetu- 
 ity ofic. Icis inconiprehcnfi )le for the greatnclle aixl in- 
 finite for the eternity. For there our life IS a communion 
 wirh the blcllld Trinity , our ;oy the prelence with tTie~ 
 
 I Tim. 6. 1 2. 
 I Xoha 5. 1 1« 
 
 LambCjOur exeiaie fi Jging our ditty Alleltijnh, the qui e 
 Angels and.Sainti ^ where youth flourilhech that never 
 waxeth oLd, fc^ea[ity'Iaftct>li that never tadeth,love aboun- 
 deththat never cooleth , health concinuech that never 
 flacketh^and life rcmameth chat never endeth. For there 
 ihall be health withi^uc {ickne(l"e,youth without old age, 
 liberty without bondage, latiety wi:h >ut loathing, fairc- 
 nes without deformi£y,abu idaic« without want, know- 
 ledge without ignorance, g'')ry without ignominy, joy 
 without heavincfl'e, Security without feare, peace with- 
 out perturbation, light with ^utdirkncfTe, mirth with- 
 out lad leifCjWtatth without poverty,credit without dil- 
 grace beauty wit^'ont blemi(h,eaic without labour. rich- 
 es without ru(l, blefTcdneire without miferv, life wirh- 
 outinconvenici'ceor end of happineffe, and confo'ation 
 that never kno verb end, there fhal be full acc^mp'ilTi- 
 ment of true life , both in body and foule united u.ito 
 Chrift as memb rsto their head, and by Chnft uito 
 Godj the fountaii'ij ofall happineiTe and felicity. A:)d by 
 
 this 
 
334 
 
 7 he Gkrtous EH ate of Gods Divisions. 
 
 MaM3.4 3 
 
 pral.36,8. 
 
 Luke 19.17. 
 
 this moft bleil'cd union we fliall have community with 
 Chnft of ail fuhieflc of good and glory, where we Ihali be 
 filled with joy^and for ever and ever freed from iniquity 
 ucceflityjCalamKy and mortality, en;oying (ecure quict- 
 neS;, quiet joy fulnes, joy full blefl'edncs,bkflcd evcrlaliing- 
 ncs, and everlafling happines.W here is alio cercainc ailu- 
 rance,perfed deliverance, alTured eternity^ctcrnall quiet- 
 ' nes,quiet happines , happy pleaiure, and piealurablc joy 
 artd glory : the happy Trinity, and Vnity of Triniry^and 
 Deity of Vnity, and bleflcd light of Deity ;this is the Ma- 
 fter > /oyjohjjoy above all joy; befides which there is no 
 joy / And what can we imagine thac may ddight us, that 
 we {hall not have there in infinite fulnes?" Wouldefl thou 
 have fweet muficke? there (lialt thou enjoy the harmoni- 
 ous melody of tl e heavenly Saints and Angels which 
 fing day and nighr before the tbrone.Wouldell thou have 
 beauty and excellency of body? there thou ilialt be like to 
 the Angels,and (halt fhinc as the Sun in the kingdome of 
 thy Fathcr.WouIdft thou have plealure and delightPchcrc 
 thou l>,alt be abuj^dam/j/fitisfied (faith the Plalmift) with 
 thefutnejfe of Gods honfe, and heepjall make thee drinke of 
 the rivers ofhi^ pleafures.^ouX^^ thou have wifcdomc? 
 there thou ibalc enjoy the full view and fight of wifdome I 
 it felfe. Wouldft thou defire concord, unitic and friend- 
 lliipf there thou fhalt love God above thy felfc,and God 
 fhall love thee better, than thou canll: love thy felfe; and 
 there all the Angels and Saints have but one will and one 
 mind ard /hall be of one accord, and that fliall be agree- 
 ing with Gods will. Wouldft thou have power ? there 
 thou that haft beene here fattifntl of a little, [halt be made 
 ruler over much. VVouldft thou have honour? there thou 
 fhalr come to honour by inheriting of a kingdome;and in 
 this kingdome the Lord wi U honour thee with his ownc 
 attendance. Wouldfl thou have bleffcd companie? there 
 fhalt ti^ou enjoy the blefled focierie and companic of his 
 1 Saints and ADgels^and the prefcnce of Ghrift,and of God; 
 
 and 
 
Division 8 . children After DcAth. 
 
 335 
 
 and dial; (as rhs; Piahnift faith) heholde the face ofGoi tn \ PiaLiy.! y. I 
 
 riqhteoHlneffc^and Pj'illbefttisfiedTvith hu image And Uke^ \ 
 
 «fj[/V.AMiiic,evcr-lplciideiu ihall the habitation oKjods 
 
 Saints bc,it (hall not need Sa!i,for the Lam jc i> the light 
 
 oFit, the Saincs that arc (avediliall vvalkc in thchght oF 
 
 it,and the Kings ot'thc earth fliall bring their honoui and 
 
 glorie unto it, the gates of it Hiall not be llmt by day ; for . 
 
 ttiere Ihall be no night there, and the gloiie both of the 
 
 lew and Gentile lliall be brought unto it. 
 
 What liiould I iay more?as I could, fo have I told 3 let , 
 the heart conceive the reil ; and yet fo as a moft pleafant I 
 place, and moft joyfuU prelence, a moll happie elhte ot' 
 blefTednes , rtiall be your portion in an eiidklT-: glory. I 
 cannot fpeak as I would,and yet my heart is full,breake it 
 will, if I may not vent ic; pardon me therefore a while to 
 beat back thefc fearefuU pallions of your mortalitie, with 
 further imprelTions ok your etcrnitic ; and confider then 
 how great and glorious thi^ change and alteration wil be. 
 
 There rhallbe tranquillitie withou ftorme, libertie 
 wi:hout reftraint , joy without interruption , etenitie 
 without ceir3tion,yc ilial have eies with ^ut teares, hearts 
 without (orow, loules without (mnQ, Your knovvlcdge 
 rhall be without doubtint^ or difcourle, for ye iliall lee 
 God and all goodneflea'latonce ; your love fhall leveli 
 at the higheft, nor Ihall it faile to fall upon the lowed of 
 his Saints : ye fhall have what you can defirc,and yefhall 
 defirc nothing but what is good ; ^ov as one hath truly 
 laid, hce is not blefled who en/oyeth not all heewill, 
 and yet willeth nothing but what is good ; yee Diall 
 hcare melodious fongs, even the fongs of Sion, Pfalmcs, 
 Hymncs and Praifes, more fweete than the harmonic of 
 the heavens, when all that celeftiall hoaft fhall fill that 
 holy vault with an Hallcli4.]ah to the Almightic, and 
 fay, Honoftr, Glorie, C^'fajeflte , Tower, '^Dominion and 
 Might he afcribed to him that fnteth ufon the Throne^both 
 now and for eve) .And here (as the bkffed Apofllc faith) 
 
 God 
 
 IIcv.^I3jI4. 
 
 Rcv.i^.i. 
 
i}6 
 
 iCor.i$.i8- 
 
 pfal. 87.^ 
 
 Luke 1.33. 
 
 Rev. xc. ^. 
 
 Rom. 8.1 1. 
 
 Luke 1^-47. 
 I John z. i8« 
 xC0r.1j.5a. 
 
 The cUnous EH ate of Gods Divisions. 
 
 God (hall be all iv\ all unto us,mcate to our taft,beauty to« 
 our eyes, perfumes co our IiiilII, luulickc to our eares. 
 What fliali 1 lay more, butasxhe Pfaimift laith,9^/orxow 
 things are^oken efthee City of(jod. SeUh. Againe,aU 
 this aid ail the former joycs fhall bee for ever , and 
 \^ii)\o\M'\x\x^n\Ji^nov\y a>tdofthii Kingdome (laiih the Er 
 vangelift Luke) there pjali be no end. The King hereof is 
 Chrift,the law is love,the fub/eds are the Saints>,and the 
 bounds of thii Empire are enditflV, tycd to no returne ei- 
 ther of terme or time, for time (Lall be no more. Divines 
 are wont to fhadow out Eternity by the fimilitude of a 
 little bird, drinking up a drop of water out of the ka ; if 
 every thouiand thouland yeares the bird fliould come, 
 and drinke up bur one drop, yet the iea might be dry at 
 length .• but yet this lafting of the fea is nothing in com- 
 parifon to the lafl-ing of the glory of heaven. 
 
 And for your Iptcdy paflage out of this world into that 
 endleffe glory •, ye lliali goe^nay ye {hall fly (a. ^t, Attga- 
 fime fai[h)with as great haftc as happinefTc.T'/^^^^^/efairh 
 our Saviour Chrid^ft^f/^ now huh St, John } In the twmk^ 
 A«^ o/^?i<?;^( faith the bltlTed ApoflIe^'.T^i«^/j all iLail 
 be changed at the day of Doome, and why not ac the day 
 of Death* For if the body fhallbc where the minde will, 
 when it ls glorified, why Hull not the Ibule be where and 
 when God will>when it is delivered? 1 lav ^delivered out 
 of the bondage ofcorruption,wherein it is, in. o tl'e glo- 
 rious I'bcrty of the fonnes of God, where it fhouid be? 
 The (ir V eye of flcfh a id bloud may happily demur upon 
 the diflancc,& think how it can be poilibie that the foulc 
 fhould pafTe with (jch fpted from this earthly h ufeof 
 c'ayjp that high, glorious, a id heavenly habitation and 
 welling, the eight Sphere (as fome write) bcin\", diflant 
 from the earth every where tv/cnty thoufand Scmidia- 
 meters, vvhich calcu'atcd a Ighr, a:\i numbrcd with our 
 miles makech a million of Germane miles, which is one 
 thoufand thoufand. Suiely I dare dcteniruie of no parti- 
 cular. 
 
DiVI S ION S. 
 
 children after Death, 
 
 337 
 
 NumS. t r.io 
 
 Markc 10.17. 
 
 cular,but lay iiigenerall, as ^BAlaam did oflfrael in the 
 
 book of Numbers, where he laich , W'^^ cah cnurtt thr Af4J}- 
 
 of J acob,**"^ the numher of the fourth part sf Ifrael?So who 
 
 can tell the dillaiicc of the luavens? The hcnvcn for haq^ht Prov. sf . 3. 
 
 (laith the VV'ilc-man) and the earth for depth, ami the hearts 
 
 of Ktncf^sare nnjearchable. Ho vvbcit,bc the diilaiice never 
 
 lbgicat,&; ihe roonie never loclofe, where the party dicth-. 
 
 yet ipecdy may be the lou'ts pafl'age to this glory, when 1 
 
 ic is done by the power of God, with whom all tilings are \ 
 
 poilible^as our Saviour c hrirt laith in the Cjolpcll I 
 
 Ai^aine, we may rove at the glorious eibccof he chil- j 
 dien of God after diath,by that high price which was let \ 
 on tliem. Our Saviour Iclus Chrillchc Son, ando.jlv Son 
 ofC-od,notby adoption^ but by nature, loving and bed be- 
 loved, bought them not with money, but with bloud,and 
 not with the blood oi Goats and Rammes , but with his 
 ownc blood ,and not with the blood of his head, hands or 
 feet, but with his owne heart blood. A;:das he pravcd 
 (oundly for them himitlfe '\?i his laft prayer , which he 
 made unto his heavenly Father a little before his luft ring, 
 as appeareth in the Evangelift St, lehriy fo hath he priled 
 them unto his friends and children, and none can enter in- 
 to them but by many tribularions : For wee mufl through 
 many tribuUtions enter i;ito the kingdome of God, 
 
 They didcollTrti^/a behcading,r<frfr a crucifv'ing,>S'f^- 
 phen a ftoning, millions of Martyrs racking, burning, tor- 
 turing. tormen'ing,and a thoufand other kindes of deaths, 
 and our deai c Saviour Chrift himlelfe a (uffering i Ou^ht 
 not Chrift to havefuffered thefe things y and fo to enter tnto 
 ht^ glory ? God who is faithfull and true (as the Apoffle 
 fpeakethjhath not deceived his Son,nor oveHbld his joyes 
 unto his Saints and children ; and therfore un'peakablcarc 
 thofe joyes which Chrift hath purchafed,and his children 
 obtained through a world of mifcries. 
 
 Againc,we have a refemblance of thefe joyes in Chrffts ^ 
 
 tranlfigui-ation upon the Mount, whena;, the fariiionoF' ," !.^'\'!^' 
 
 ^ his 
 
 lohn 17.x, 
 
 AcVs 1 4. 11. 
 A<as7,59. 
 
 Luke 14 i6. 
 I Cor.io, 1 5. 
 
I 
 
 3}8 
 
 > Cor. I fi49. 
 
 
 Scr. j.4j fc 
 
 The glorious ejf ate of Gods Division 8< 
 
 his countenance was altered , and his rayment was white 
 aixi gliftcring whcrtbj welcarnc v\ hat glory our bodies 
 rhail have inthcday of the rcfurrecfVion , when (as the 
 blefl'ed Apof}lc^r,T^«/tciIcth us) that<« vpe.ha.ve borne 
 the image 9fthe earthly, we [hall alfo heare the imAge of the 
 heavenly y and be like the Sonne of God in glory. 
 
 Againcj we raay make con/edure of thcfc ;oyes by re- 
 flcding our eyes upon thoic innumerable perills , which 
 W,e have here cfcaptd .- For it fuch as are delivered from 
 the dangers of the fea,do wonderfully re;oyce,when they 
 cgme fate on fhprc, much greater then is the /oy of thcfe,. 
 whaJiavingbintolFcdin the waves of this troublefomc 
 wprld,troubled with finnes, with Satan, with frailties of 
 the fltfh, with the fcare of hell/ whofe dangers(faith Gre- 
 gory) appeare by the multitude of thofe that peri/L) arc 
 now arrived at heaven for their haven, and are wholly 
 freed from all their calamities and miferies.And as St,Au^ 
 guHtne well (peaketh,the more dangers efcaped,th€ more 
 joyes increafed , as the mod doubtfull battcll makcth the 
 mofl: joy full yidory. 
 
 Againe,wc doe reade in the booke of ^-f/f^^*, that when 
 
 Haman was by King Ahajhuerofh willed tofpeake, what 
 
 fliall be done to the man whom the King would honor;he 
 
 fuppofing that the King had no meaning to honour any \ 
 
 but himfelfe.faid this : Let them bring forth for him royall j 
 
 appar ell, which the King ufeth to vfeare, and the horfe that j 
 
 the King ufeth to ride on, and that the ^rowne Roy all may be j 
 
 fet Hpon his head, and J hat his apparel I and horfe be delivered \ 
 
 to §ne of the Kin^s ff?ofl noble 'Trtnces, that they may array \ 
 
 the man withall, v^hom, thje King delight eth to honour, and 
 
 I brhng him^on horfe-Jfackf thorow the flreetes of the City, and j 
 
 ! proclaime before him: Thtufiallitbe done to the man trhom ■ 
 
 the King delight eth to honor. Then the Kingfaid to Haman, [ 
 
 Make ha/le^Scc.Evcn To (hall it be done unto them, whom j 
 
 theKin^ of kings,and Lord oflordswi' honor after death. I 
 
 Firft^chere /halbe put upon them royaUpp3rel,cven lon^ 
 
 white 
 
 * wm ' 
 
\ 
 
 Division S . childrfrt ^ftr deAth. 
 
 359 
 
 white robes , which arc iuch as lefus Chrift riic King of , 
 gloric hiinrdtc isdcicribcd to wcirc. Secondly, they f!iall 
 lie upon Icfus Chnll his ownc horfc, which is faid in the 
 booke ohhc Revelation to bee a white horfe ; for Ioi:H 
 there Ulihjfaw heaven opened ,aHd behold a white horfe.And 
 hethM fate Hpon htm wm calied ffHthfuli and true, To^trrij 
 theref0re(Uilh the Sonne o{Cjod)fhat overcommeth,m/l J 
 grant to fit With me iH m^y throne, even as I alfo •vercttfnCy 
 andamfet #» mj fathers throne. Thirdly, the Crowne roy- 
 allihallbe let upon their head>« ^e th»H fat th full unto 
 death^f^X^ the Son oi God J and J will give thee a crowne 
 of life. And i\\\% i% that moft excellent gloric which the 
 Saints have '\v\ heaven, Shadowed out unto us by a kingly 
 crownc^whichof all earthly things is mofl glorious. 
 
 Fourthly, this glory fhalbc funhercd by the hands of the 
 king'of heavens moll noble Princes, He {hall fend his An- 
 gels with a great found of a trumpet yand they Jfjall rather his 
 ele^ fro ihe four winds ^fo the one end of heaven to the other. 
 Fifthly and laftly/he Saints ftiall be entrcd into the fall 
 fruition of their inheritance, with fuch joy and triumph in 
 the glorious afTcmbly of all the Saints and holy Angels, as 
 the hke was never (eenc in the world, no not in lerufalem 
 that day when King Salomon face do wne in his father D<<- 
 T//^/ throne .• But all that is nothing comparable tothfs 
 joy,-triumph and glory of Gods Saints. And it fliall be as it 
 were proclaimed before them : Thus fijail it be done unto 
 thentj whonu the King of glory will honour. And this ho^ 
 nour (faith rhe Vh\r[\\'i\.)have all his Saints, 
 
 There is no King on the earrh can produce fo ancient 
 
 right to his Crowne as the Chridian effedually called, 
 
 can to thcfe ;oyes of heaven : no man on the earth can 
 
 bee acknocvledged his fahcrsheire upon fuch fuificient 
 
 warrant as the godly Chriib'an. No free-holder fo 
 
 'lijrely infeofFcd m his lands, having fo many confir- 
 
 , mations of his right , as hath the juiHficd Chriftian, 
 
 'wiicJu{>on his gift hath received the camcflj the pledge, 
 
 i . v Z 1 the 
 
 lev. X ^. 1 1. 
 
 [Icv.j.ii. 
 
 flcf.i.io. 
 
 Mat. 14.3 1. 
 
 I Kiags f .4o« 
 
 Pfal.M?.?. 
 
 J 
 
3 40 
 
 7 ht b briffiis Eft ate of Gods 
 
 Dl V I S ION S./ 
 
 I Kings lo.to 
 icx. 
 
 Watch, 12. 41 
 
 tlev.i.i/. 
 
 the reale,and the witnes of the great King of glory. We 
 doe rcade ia the Hrit bookeof- the Kings , that rrhen the 
 ^Heene of Sheixuheard'tf the fame of Stdomon, concernintr 
 the name of the Lord^pjee came frorru a vcrjfarre Country 
 to prove hi-'TLj jfvith hard (jfieilionSy and pje communed rvtth 
 hirru of all that woi in her heart, and Salomon tolde her aH 
 her cjHejltoHs, and there was tJot any thing ht-dfomthe Kirjf, 
 which hee tolde her not. ^yfnd when jhee had feene all Salo- 
 mons wi^edomey and the houfewhich he had if hilt , and the 
 meat of his ta^lcy and the fitting ofh ''4 fervants, and the at- 
 tendance of his minifters, and their apparell, and hts C up- 
 bear ers, and his afcent hy which he went up into the honfe of 
 the Lord: It is there laid, that there wot no more fpirit in 
 hei^. ^ndfhe ftidtothe Kin^.it was atruerep')rt that I heard 
 in mine owne land of thine aU:s,and of thy wtfedomeyhewbett 
 I beleevednot the words unttll I came , and mine eyes had 
 fctnCy and beholde the one halfe was not tolde me^, thy wtfe^ 
 dome and proiperity exceedcth the fame which 1 have heard. 
 Happy are thy menjoappj are thefet'oy fervants which-fland 
 continually before thee, and hcare thj wiftdome, iJ 1 • 
 , ,Novv if the Qaecnc of Sheba could fay fo miic^ that the 
 one halfe was noc told her .and that his vvifedomf& prof- 
 pcrity exceeded the fame which ilie before had heard of 
 him,thert much more may the child oPGod truly fay,whe 
 he commL^th in his owne p-ribn to behold a farre greater 
 than Salomon, nay^iiOt (o much as one quarter of the glory 
 and/oyes of heaven was told him, and that the glory a id 
 .joyes ther^ f farre exceed the report, fame, aid dclcription 
 which he hath heard. For all the joycs which we have 
 heard, or can heare of, being put aJl together, they are all 
 but as one pooredrop of w;rer to themaine Ocean fea, in 
 comnariron of the joyes which the Saints oFGod fhall be-' 
 hold and enjoy in their owne pcrlons in the kingdome of 
 gloric.For no man knoweth them, but luch as en joy them, 
 according to that which is faid in the book of the ReveTa-' 
 tion:T* htm that overcommrth J will pve to eate ofthehid^ 
 den Alannayand will qivc hint a n?hiteftonc,andin theftone a 
 
 new j 
 
DiVI $ ION 8. 
 
 children after Death, 
 
 34-r 
 
 new name written^ whtch no man k^owcth fiv%ng ht that re-- 
 ceiveth tr. 
 
 Let iiic but Hievv you now wliat St. Augnfitne ipeakct 
 of the ;oycs ot heaven ; We may i'ooncr tcil you^laith he) 
 what they arc not,than what they arc. And hence it is than 
 the Evangelicall Prophet <5y2/ laith, That fence thebegtn^ 
 nuig of the world men have not heard, nor perceived hj the 
 eare, noither hath the eyefeene{ O Qed) befedes thee, what he 
 hath prepared for htm^ that wait eth for hint^. For there we 
 ihaii lee hght which pafleth a I hghcs, which no eye hath 
 I'eene; there we ihail heare a glorious Ibund or harmony, 
 which palVeth all harmonies , which no care hath heard; 
 there we ihall f mell a moft fweet lent and {avour,that paf- 
 fcih all Iwcet lentsand favours, which nolenfc hath imelti 
 there we ("hall tad a mofl pleafant and delightfull taft,that 
 pafleth all pleafant tafts,which no tongue hath taftcd; and 
 there we fiiall find (uch plealiire and contentment, as pai- 
 leth all contentments and plcafures , which no body ever 
 had. Nay 1 cannot hold my heart for ray joy,yea I cannot 
 hold in ray joy for my heart , to thinke upon this joy and 
 gloric,and to think that 1 that am now a (lily poore worm 
 upon earth, (liall hereafter be a glorious Saint in the king- 
 dome ofglorie, where is not oncly true happines,but per- 
 fedion of happines, not fou nd /oy only, but fulnes of joy, 
 which arc lb abfoluce and ftrange , that neither eye hath 
 feene, to wit,eye mortall, neitiier eare hath heard, that is, 
 care of man hath not heard the like , neither can they enter 
 into our heart , (though al our hearts were as large every 
 one as the heart of Salomon , which God gave unto him, 
 even as large as the ^and that is on the fca-lliore ) to con-, 
 cetve and f4nder (land thenu,\j[\hi:y were told us, which are 
 revealed by thefpinr, and but lifpedout by Sr, John in 
 thole earthly fimilitudes of gates, of pearles, of walls of 
 jasper, and a ftreet whofe pavement is gold, as we heard 
 before, ^nd unto thefe may be added the proximitie of 
 I this gloric : the day of the Lord is at hand. It were forae 
 ' 2 5 leilin 
 
 Ifay 64. 6, 
 
 I Cor.t.^. 
 
 I Kings 4.19. 
 
 11,12. 
 
 ZCph.1.7. 
 
 
342 
 
 Dan. 11*3. 
 
 
 ' 
 
 lohn 
 
 14. X. 
 
 X Cor, lt.4(. 
 
 Luke 6, ^ S^ 
 
 Tf?e Glorious Ejlate of Go^s Division 8 • 
 
 leiling of our happineflc, if it were a long time to it. 
 
 But it may be here objC(fled,^«f in heaver; i^fmh the Pro- 
 phet T)amel)they that he wife fhall pjine 04 the bri^htnes of 
 t he firmament , andthej that turne many unto right eoufneffe 
 Jhail be as the ftarsfor ever and ever. Now the firmament 
 hath not fo much light as the ftars, which lighten it^ and 
 the ftars have iclfe light than the Sun that lighccneth them^ 
 from whence tTicrforc it feemeth that in heaven alfo there 
 fliould rather be lomc want, than fuch fulncs of heavenly 
 joyes and glory? I anfwcr, though in this condition of our 
 heavenly life there may be degrees of gloryj(/« my Fathers 
 j hoptfe((nhh our Saviour) are manj manlions)ytl there iliall 
 be no want of glory; fomc may be like the skie, fome the 
 ilars of the skie^yet all fhall {\\\wt : fome vcflels may hold 
 more, Ibme lefle^and yet all be full : fo one may have more 
 joy than another^ & there arefundry meafures of more or 
 IcfTe glory \n heaven. There is one glory of the i'//^«^, (faith 
 the A^o[\\^)(inother of the Moone, and another glory of the 
 ftarsfor onefiar differ eth from another in glory :\)\i^ no mca- 
 fore fhall lacke his fulnefle of life and glory there, where 
 fhall be a mtafure of joy heaped up,{liakcn together^pref- 
 icd downc and running over. And (as Bernard very excel- 
 lently fpcakethja meafurc without mealiire, where we (hal 
 be filled with joy; yet being filled we fhall flill defire, left 
 our fulnes procure a loathing, and in deflring we fhall al- 
 waics be fillcdjeft our dcfiring beget a grieving ; neither 
 can God give more, nor man receive more than we (liall 
 there cnjoy. for there we Oiall be replenifhed and fatiffied 
 with fuch a fulnes of life, glory, &: happines, fo as we (hall 
 not be able to defire^or have any more; even as vedels cafl 
 into the water, being fo filled with water, that they can 
 defire or hold no more; and he that hath leafl^diall have e- 
 nough. The rcafons hereof are thefc .- Hell is contrary to 
 heaven ;In hdl there is a fiilnes of torment, in heaven ther- 
 fore there noufb be a fulncs & perfedion of glory & happi- 
 nes. Secondly,earthly kingdomes, and the Kings thereof 
 
 have 
 
Division 8 . children after Dedth. 
 
 343 
 
 ^ 1. 18, 
 
 Dait.34. IjZj 
 
 have as f^rcar an abloliiceiies as earth can affoord and give 
 thcm5& l"hall we think that heaven which can give an en- 
 tire, will give an jni.)crfcd crowne of righccoulncs & glo- 
 ry? Will I he Kings of the earth dwell in bafc cottngcs, and 
 not in royall Courts and PailacesPand iLall thde Kings ofa 
 farrebetter kingdoine want joy and glory, wheras mortall 
 Kings have (b great glory & power?Princes on earth dwel 
 in royall pallacesjometimcs of Cedar and Ivory, but they [ 
 whom the Son of God hath m:idc Kings and Priefls unto I^cv. ' •^• 
 God his Father, (as it is in the booke of the Rcvdarion) 
 iliall raigne in a glorious City and pallace, whole cwelve j Rev. 
 gates arc twelve pearles, whofe wall is of lafper, and buil- ' 
 ding of gold, and whofe llreetes Hiine as clcare glalTe. So 
 ia:d he tliat favv all this glory, but darkly, or as A^fofes faw 
 the land of Canaan in a very ihort map or card afarre off, 
 as it doth appearc in the booke of Deuteronomy. 
 
 We fee but the outward wall of this heavenly Court and 
 City,and yet how glorious is it?and how deckt with ffars 
 as with fparkling Diamonds ? What would we fay, if we 
 could fee intoit,and bchold(though with Peter, Lime s,2in^ 
 lohn at a glance or blulli fuperficially)rhe goodly pavement 
 of heaven within^whofe Hoore is of gold, and wall about it 
 garniilicd with precious ftones. And what '\s akingdome 
 herc,where all the kingdomes of the world and the glory 
 ofchein were fhc wed in the twinklingof aneye, as it is in 
 chc Gofpel? if there were not hope ofa better kingdome; 
 where all lliall be Kings, and reigne with Chrift eternally. 
 And they which here have reigned as Kings upon earth, 
 iihall lofe nothing, bucgaine immeaiurably by the change: 
 yea Kings and Qncenes which have bin nurfing fathers 
 & nui/ing mothers to the Church of God (as the Prophet 
 fpeaketh) when tbey come thither , Hiall caft away their 
 Crownes as <f//4^,when he went up by a whirlewind into 
 heavcn,let his cloak or mantle fall from him,and they fhall 
 pepenr nothing there, fave that they came no fooner thi- 
 ther : and when they (hall compare their earthly and hea- 
 
 Z 4 venly 
 
 Mat. 1 7. f. 
 
 Mat. 4.8. 
 
 Luke 4, f. 
 
 Ifay 49.*?. 
 
 1 Kings 1.1 
 
344 
 
 The Glenous Eliate of Gods Divisions. 
 
 Mat. 17.4. 
 
 PfaU^.ti. 
 
 pral.S7.3* 
 
 
 1 Cor. 5.7,8,9, 
 xo,ii. 
 
 ve:ily kingdomes together ,they lliall fay as S, Peter faidof 
 the moimz, i^onnm eft ejfe hie. It la good to be here in hea- 
 ven, but for the earth, they Qiall be as loath to iooke back 
 unto it, as A^ofes to goe backe into the land oFEgypc. For 
 their paliaces lliall then feeme prifons, their golden chains 
 goldci fetters, their crownes erodes, and all their earthly 
 honours but burdens, and vexations. But when chey (hall 
 loc ke upon the face of God^rhcv lliall lay to him with tri- 
 umph ,as It is in the Plalme, JVnh thee u the well of life, in 
 thy pre/ence u the ftilnejfe of joy, and at thy rtght hand nre 
 vlcafuresfor evermore, » 
 
 Thirdly, i^ Adams paradife and ga den was fo delight-^ 
 fome and plcafantjhow pleaiant and giorious is Gods own 
 feat of his ownc rtlidencc f He fpake it with a wondring 
 tongue, whofe heart could not comprehend io infinite 
 an excellencie, in faying (as wc have heard before) 
 How glorioHS things are fpoken of thee O thottctty of God! 
 For though in the letter , this worthy Prophet fpake of 
 that earthly heaven, which he confefled to be in the ma- 
 tena'.l tabernacle, becaufe ©f Gods prefence, and the godly 
 excrcifes of Gods people performed there , yet his mea- 
 ning was under the cloud of the phralc to dircd Gods 
 children to a higher tabernacle and houfe of greater glory 
 than that which was earthly , and under the doome of 
 time. 
 
 Againe, faith the blefled ApofVe, If the miniTlration of 
 death written andingraven in theflones woi glori-^us fe that 
 the children of Ifrael could not ftedfaftly behold the face of 
 Mofesfor the glory of his countenance, which glory was to he 
 done away, how (hall not the mimftratiou ofthejpirtt be ra- 
 ther q^loriou6 ?For tfthe m^niftration of condemnation be Ho- 
 riom .much more doth the miniftratton of right eoufneffe ex- 
 ceed in ^lory ,For even that which was made glorious , had no 
 glory tn thisrefffeBjby reafon of the glory that excelleth. For 
 if that which was done away wis glorious , much more that 
 whichremaineth is glonous. And if the preaching of the 
 
 Gofpell 
 
U5 
 
 I lohn j.i. 
 
 Division 8 . children after Deuh. 
 
 Gofpcl whereby God givcth his quickning fpiric , wor- 
 king the life of grace in his elecfl, be giorious,chen much 
 more (hall rhc c. ue profcflbrs of the Gofpcll be made par- 
 takers ot rarre greacer glory in the kingJome of heaven. 
 
 .Agniiic^wcdoercadein thcfiri^ booke o{ Samuel, that | 1Sam.18.z3. 
 whcu Odvid was per( wa 'ed by S.tfs/, by the mcanes of his 
 fcrvanc to become the Kings Ion in lavV, it is there laid by 
 DavidySeemcth trtoyort 4 It^ht thin9 to he the Kiykt^s fon %n 
 Uvp.fecino thnt I am a poore mAr),arjdit^hriy cl}ecmjd?T\\t\\ 
 if it be accounted a great honour and glory to be a Ton and 
 child to an earthly King, nnich more honourable a'ld glo- 
 rious it is to be the (onneand child of the Ki ig of heaven. 
 ^Brho/d({2\zh St, John) vphnt manner of love the Father hnth 
 heftowed upon hi, that we [honldbe called the fonnes of God? 
 Which glory all the tongues of men and Angels (as we 
 have heard before} can in no wife exprcfle, as wicnefTcch 
 i the ble(T.d and glorious Apollle St.'Taul himfelfe , who 
 was in ir,and faw it; and therefore he faith,/^"^^ a man in 
 jChriJl above foaretcenc yeares agoe, whether in the body, 1 
 cannot tell or whether out of the body J cannot telyCfod k^iow- 
 eth^fich a one wa6 canght up into the third heaven, and heard 
 Hn!J)eakeahle words , whtch it ii not lawfuH or pojjlblefor a 
 man to utter. Happines beyond all language cf mortall 
 man, if we did but (erioufly fet before our eyes the glory 
 to comCjCould ou'cycs be lo d^Ztled as not to (ee,admire 
 & haft to itrifthtrc were as much faith intarth as there is 
 glory in heaven, oh how urould our hearts be on fire with 
 fervent defires after it ? This fhould make us with lacob 
 (ore long after our heavenly Fathers houfc, as hedidafrer 
 his earthly fathers houfe. So great and infinite are the glo- 
 ry and joycs of the kingdome of God as they cap.not enter 
 into us : and therefore it is appointed, that we mud cnier 
 intothcm.Therefore ir is (M^^cll done good and faithfull 
 fervant , th^n hafl he^ene faithfft/l over a few thtn^f , / will 
 make thee rnler over many things, enter thou into the ]oy of 
 thy Lord. 
 
 Now 
 
 X Cor. 1 1. 1 yi. 
 
 i 
 
 Gcn.jj^^o, 
 
 MjttLi^.il* 
 
 I 
 
■■) 
 
 34^ 
 
 TheglerioHS Efiate of Cods D i v i $ i o n^J 
 
 I Kings 10.8. 
 
 Mat, iS.ro. 
 
 I 
 
 praLl44«U. 
 
 f 
 
 Ioliai5.lI. 
 
 Pi'aUr j. >4, 
 
 Now iftbe Queene oF*yir^^4(as wc heard before )pro- 
 nounced the fervancs of King Saiomo happy, for that they 
 flood continually before him^and heard his vvifdome, then 
 much nK>re happie are the Saints and fervants of God , 
 who-doe continually with his holie Angels, fland and be- 
 hold the glorious prcfence of one which is greater than 
 King Salomon, even the God of glory himfelfc. In which 
 refpedi'r. Ambrofe on his death-bed fa id. We are happic 
 in this,that wc ferve fo good a Mafter^TV^ ha^fy ur the fee- 
 ^/^(laith the Pfalmifl)rW u infich a cafe, jca happy u th^t 
 people, wh^fc God is the Lord.Yc^ blefTcd and happie are all 
 chofc which fo live in this worlds that departing hence 
 they may be afTurcd to come into iJo glorious a place and 
 prefencc. Wc fee by experience , when a Country-mao 
 hath bin trained up fometime in the Court , he forgetteth 
 his downifh kindc of lifcjand becommeth a Courtier : let 
 us therefore leave the fpceches,habit,fafhion and manners 
 of this wicked world wherin we live, and inure our fcl ves 
 wirfuheoourfcs and cuftome of the Court of heaven : let 
 all ouftEoughts, words and communication teftifie , that 
 (infpirit)wearc already there. Let my mindc (faith «x^ir- 
 gHfiine)m\x(z of it, let ray tongue talke of it, let my heart 
 love it, and my whole fbule never ceife to hunger and 
 thirfl after it. Thefe things (faith our Saviour) have [(p§^ 
 ken Hnto y oh, that m^ joy ms^ht remaine in yon, and that jour 
 FJ ^(^^^ Ifefhll, 
 
 In the meanetime, till thou come into this glorious 
 place and prefetice , aske of God by hearty and faithfiill 
 prayer, to give thee grace entirely & from the bottome of 
 thy heart, both tounderfland and dcfire the /oyes & glory 
 f herof, and fo to bcaflFc(^cdandraviflicd with the delight 
 thcrof,that everiind every where thou maift be (tirrcd up 
 to ferve fogood a Mafler in purenes and newncs of life , 
 that thou maift beraadc partaker thereof; and pray with 
 the Prophet that theLord would guide thee with jiis cou- 
 fclL and after wards receive thee into his glory I Asks and ye 
 
 ShaU\ 
 
 X 
 
 J BJj il' 
 
Id 
 
 If I f ION S. 
 
 chUdren a fur aUath. 
 
 347 
 
 
 jhAHrec€ive{{i\t\\ our Saviour)r^4f jour^oj may befnlLSud , lolm \6.x^ 
 alio labour &i endeavour to bring as many as thou canlt to | 
 this ^ovy.For thej that be 7r*/r(laith the Prophet Darnel) j 
 P>AlllhtneAi the Inqhtnrjle of the firmament , auu they that I 
 tunte munj to r\qh7eoHfne^e,M thefi^irres for ever a»d ever. 
 
 Lift HpyoHr heads O je he tivenij gates, and he ye Itft Hp ye 
 ever/ajJtri^ dodres,that the ^i^g ^f^^'^^J ^^J brtug fisin, I 
 might much further amplific and inlarge this matter; but ; 
 the worke growing bigger than I thought it would, I for- j 
 bearejbut as Painters, when they have many millions and 
 armies of men to fet downe in a Imall mappe, ufe oncly to ! 
 draw out fome number of heads of men, & fet them toge- f 
 ther, leaving the whole number of heads and all the other \ 
 parts and lineaments to the meditation of the beholders; | 
 even fo am I conftraincd through abundance of matter, to 
 propound only fome generall heads , and to leave the am- 
 plification of them to your private meditation s:and I hope 
 wife men will not refijfe precious kwels, though they be 
 brought in a plaine and homely receptacle. 
 
 T^w unto him (faith the holy Apoftlc St. lude) that is 
 tihle to keepe you from fallings and to freferve yon fanltleffc 
 before theprefence of hvs glory with exceeding joy ;to the only 
 vp$fe ^ odour Saviour, be Glory and Majeftj , Dominion and 
 Tower , now and for ever, A men. 
 
 'Bleffedbethe Lordgod.the Godofjfrael, who onely eUth ! Pfal.jXoiS,!^ 
 wondrow things. And bleffed be his gloriow name for ever, I 
 and let the whole earth be filled mthhtj glory .Amcn Amei). ! 
 
 To the which moft bleifed placcof glory, the Lord bring t 
 every one of our foules, at the day of our death and diflo- 
 lution, and that for Icfus Chrift his fake , to whom with 
 God the Fathcr,and God theblcffed Spirit,three glorious 
 Pcrfons, but one immortall God , be afcribcdall honour 
 and glory, both in heaven and earth , this day 2nd ever, 
 ty^men,'. 
 
 ludc i.i4iif. 
 
 I 
 
.1- ■. f 
 
 jli i ,. 
 
 I , 
 
 ^fl * . 
 
 mru 
 
 
 i 
 
 I v. 'J* "^t fv^V^ik',- - vi^lk 
 
I- 
 
 f 
 
^ 
 
 L 
 
^^S^f^^^^^^^^^;^^ 
 
 '^^^^^^mm^ 
 
 ^9 
 
 
 "*\.« 
 
 ■ i'*'*« 
 
 ,-*•*-, 
 
 fM 
 
 .e' 
 
 l^'V 
 
 ■f*>^ 
 
 :^- 
 
 *:.z 
 
 m 
 
 li. 
 
 *>v 
 
 •im 
 
 '«^^^*^5^^'^^«^^S^^^:^^?^^55j*(gias^