The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 24 – Envoy
The dying-mans deuotion. Suppart. vlt.
The Admonitions.
The man that is breathing out his last gaspe needeth…
1 MEeke patience to endure God's good pleasure: Of which see the Admonitions for Good-Fridaie; for Thursday Euening, and for the sicke before.
2 Godly sorrow for all the sinnes of his life, wherby he hath grieuously displeased his heauenly Father: Of which see the Admonition for Tuesday morning.
3 Assured confidence to commit his Soule to God as a faithfull Creator. Of which, see the Admonition for the Child-bearing woman after her deliuery.
4 Constant perseuerance to hold on to the end. Of which, see the Admonition for Saturday morning.
5 Liuely apprehension of the ioyes of heauen, and powers of the world to come. Of which, see the Meditation for the Sabbath Euening.
6 Christian resolution, cheerfully to lay downe his Tabernacle, and go willingly to the Father of spirits. Of which, see the Admonition for Saturday Euening.
7 A peaceable disposition to forgiue all his enemies, and depart in peace, as with God, so also with all men. Of which, see the Admonition for Thursday Morning.
8 A charitable, and compassionate aflection to consider the poore and destitute, according to his estate and wealth to help and succour them, that so by their prayers he may be receiued into euerlasting habitations. Of which, see the Exhortation for Wednesday morning.
In the extremity of bitter pangs consider ô deuout Christian:
1 Thy sins deserue a sharper scourge yet.
2 All thou sufferest is nothing to what Christ endured for thee.
3 Other Saints and holy Martyrs hauehave abided a harder tryall, and more grieuous afflictions, & many more terrible conflicts, and yet hauehave been more then Conquerours through Christ.
4 It is a thousand times better to be corrected here (though neuer so seuerely) then eternally tormented in hell.
5 God wil not lay more vpō thee thē he will giuegive thee ability to beare, & therfore will vndoubtedly asswage thy paine or increase thy patience.
6 The extremity of thy paines wil be but a short time; for God wil either take them from thee, by recouering thee; or thee from them, by deliuering thee out of the body.
7 The more grieuous thy paines are, the greater thy reward shall be, if thou patiently endure them.
THE TEXTS.
IT is the Lords mercy that wee are not vtterly consumed, In thy extremest fit, meditate vponupon,because his compassion fails not, Lam. 3. 20.
If thou Lord shalt marke iniquities,1 The heinousnes of thy sin deseruing a sharper scourge. O Lord, who shall stand, (or who may abide it?) Psalm. 130. 3.
He hath not dealt with vsus after our sinnes, nor rewarded vsus after our iniquities, Psal. 103. 10.
Like as a Father pittieth his children: so the Lord pittieth them that feare him, ver. 13.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembreth that we are but dust ver. 14.
The sinners in Sion are afraid;2 The vnsufferable torments of hel, which by these tē porall chastisements …re preuen…ed. fearfulnes hath surprized the hypocrites, who shall dwell with the deuouring fire; who among vsus shall dwel with euerlasting burning? I…. 33.
Topheth is ordained of old; yea for the King it is prepared. Hee hath made it deep and large; the pile therof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a streame of Brimstone doth kindle it, Isa. 30. 33.
A fire is kindled in mine anger, and it shall burne to the lowest hell, Deut. 32. 22.
The Sonne of man shall send his Angells, and they shall gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend, and them wch doe iniquity, Mat. 13. 41.
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth, verse 42.
Whose fan is in his hand, and hee will throughly purge his floore, and gather his wheat into his garner, but burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire, Mat. 3. 12.
Suffering the vengeance of eternall fire, Iud. 7.
Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and coole my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame, Luk. 16. 24.
Where the worme dyeth not, and the fire is not quenched, Mar. 9. 44. 46.
In flaming fire, taking vengeance of them that knowe not God, 2. Thes. 1. 8.
Binde him hand and foot, cast him into vtter darknes, there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth, Mat. 22. 13.
To whom the mist of darknes, is reserued for euer, 2. Pet. 2.
He hath reserued in euerlasting chaines of darknes vntounto the iudgement of the great day, Iud. 6.
… same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lambe, Reu. 14. 10.
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp for euer, and euer, ver. 12.
These both were cast aliue into a lake of fire burning with brimstone, R…u. 19. 20.
Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuel and his angels, Mat. 25 41.
And they hauehave no rest day nor night, Reu. 14 12.
And the diuel that deceiued them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, 3 The vnconceiuable paines and sorrowes which Christ endured for thee.where the beast and false Prophets are, and shall be tormented day and night for euer and euer, Reu. 20. 10.
How much she hath glorified her selfe, and liued deliciously, so much torment & sorrow giuegive her, Reu. 18. 7.
He began to be sorrowfull, and very heauy, Mat, 26. 37.
Then sayd he vntounto them, My soule is exceeding sorrowfull, euen vntounto death, Mat. 26. 38.
And being in an agony he praied more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great droppes of bloud falling downe to the ground, Luke 22. 44.
There stood by the Crosse of Iesus his Mother, and his Mother's sister, &c, Ioh. 19. 25.
And Iesus cryed with a loud voice, saying; My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee! Mar. 15. v. 34.
Pilate released Barabbas; and deliuered Iesus vntounto them, when he had scourged him, to be crucified, Mar. 15. 15.
The Souldiers plotted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, Ioh. 19. 2.
And hee bearing his crosse, went forth into a place called, The place of a skull, ver. 17.
Where they crucified him, &c. ver. 18.
One of the Souldiers with a speare pierced his side, and forthwith came there out water and bloud, ver. 34.
In the daies of his flesh when he had offered vp prayers & supplications, with strong crying and teares, vntounto him that was able to saue him from death, and was heard in that he feared, Heb. 5. 7.
Though he were a sonne, yet learned hee obedience by the things which he suffered, v. 8.
Christ also suffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example that wee should follow his steps, 1. Pet. 2. 21.
There hath no such tentation taken you, but such as is common to men, 1. Cor. 10. 13.
The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world,4 The afflictions of Gods Saints equalizing & farre surpassing thine Iob. 1. Pet, 5. 9.
Satan smote Iob with sore biles from the sole of his foote to the crowne of his head, Iob. 2. 7.
And he took him a potsheard to scrape him withall; and hee sate downe in the ashes, ver. 8.
I hauehave sinned, what shall I do vntounto thee, ô thou Preseruer of men? why hast thou set mee as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to my selfe? Iob. 7. 20.
Let the day perish wherein I was borne, and the night in wch it was sayd: There is a man-child conceiued, Iob. 3. 3.
Let that day be darknesse, let not God regard it from aboue, neither let the light shine vponupon it, ver. 4. & seq.
I am troubled, Dauid.I am bowed downe greatly, I goe mourning all the day long, Psal. 38. 6.
My loynes are filled with a loathsome disease, and there is no soundnesse in my bones, v. 7.
I am feeble and sore-smitten; I hauehave roared by reason of the disquietnes of my heart, v. 8.
Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee, ver. 9. See Psal. 6. Psal. 22. Psal. 102. Ps. 30. ps. 142. psal. 143.
I am the man that hauehave seene affliction by the rod of his wrath,Ieremiah. Lam. 3. 1.
He hath filled me with bitternesse, and made me drunke with wormwood, ver. 15.
I think God hath set forth the last Apostles as it were appointed to death; The Apostles and first Disciples.for wee are made a spectacle to the world, and to Angels, and to men, 1. Cor. 4. 9.
In iournying often,Paul. in perils of Waters, in perils of Robbers, in perils by mine owne Countrimen, in perils by the Heathen, in perils in the Citie, in perils in the Wildernesse, in perils in the Sea, in perils among false brethren, 2. Cor. 11. 26.
In wearinesse and painfulnes, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakednesse, 2. Cor. 11. 27.
For thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheepe for the slaughter, Rom. 8. 36.
If in this life onelyonly wee hauehave hope in Christ, then are we of all men most miserable, 1. Cor. 15. 19.
Others were tryed with mockings and scourgings, yea moreouer with bonds & imprisonment, Heb. 11. 36.
They were stoned, they were sawed asunder, they were slaine with the sword, they wandred about in sheep-skins and goateskins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, v. 37.
Of whom the world was not worthy. They wandred in deserts, and mountaines, and in dennes, and in Caues of the earth, verse 38.
These are they that came out of great tribulation, and hauehave washed their robes, and made them white in the bloud of the Lamb, Reu. 7 14.
I saw as it were a sea of glasse mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victorie ouer the Beast, and ouer his image, and ouer his name, &c. Reu. 15. 2.
And they sang the Song of Moses and of the Lambe, v. 3.
God is faithfull,5 The faithfulnesse & goodnesse of God, who will not tempt vsus aboue our strength. who will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able, but will with the tentation also make a way to escape, that we may be able to escape, 1. Cor. 10. 14.
The God of all grace, who hath called vsus to his eternall glorie by Christ Iesus, will (after that you hauehave suffered a while) make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you, 1. Pet. 5. 10.
For a small moment hauehave I forsaken thee,6 The short continuance of these paines and sorrowes. but with great merciemercy will I gather thee, Isa. 54. 7.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with euerlasting kindnesse will I hauehave mercy on thee, sayth the Lord, thy Redeemer, ver. 8.
His anger endureth but a moment, in his fauour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but ioy commeth in the morning, ps. 30. 5.
The diuell shall cast some of you in prison that ye may be tried, and ye shall hauehave tribulation tenne dayes, Reu. 2. 10.
And it was sayd vntounto them, that they should rest yet a little season, vntil their fellow seruants also, and their brethren which should be killed (as they were) should be fulfilled, Reu. 6. 11.
The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be reuealed in vsus,7 The incō parable reward of our patience Rom. 8. 18.
The light affliction which is but for a moment,See the Admoni…ion for good-Fryday. worketh for vsus a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie, 2 Cor. 4. 17.
No chastening for the time seemeth to be ioyous, but grieuous; neuerthelesse, afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse, vntounto them which are exercised thereby, Heb. 12. 11.
If thou art terrified in conscience with the gilt of thy sinnes, and fearefully tempted to despaire, support thy selfe with these helps
1 Most earnest prayer
of thy self
of others for thee.
2 Bitter teares in aboundance for thy particular sinnes.
3 Restitution.
4 Reconciliation.
5 Almes deedes.
6 The comfort of thy Pastor.
7 The absolution of the Church.
8 Meditation vponupon these heads especially,
1 The infinitnesse of God's merciemercy.
2 The price & value of Christ's bloud.
3 The efficacy of his intercession.
4 The vertue of the Sacraments.
5 The vniuersalitie and certaintie of Gods promises to the penitent.
6 Exampls of mercy shewed to most grieuous sinners.
THE TEXTS.
ANd being in an Agonie,Pray instantly and feruently. he prayed more earnestly, Luke 22. 44.
Pray alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseuerance, Eph. 6. 18.
Be feruent in spirit, seruing the Lord, Rom. 12. 11.
Reioycing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, ver. 12.
Pray one for another, Desire others to pray. …that yee may be healed: the effectuall seruent prayer of a righteous man auaileth much, I am. 5. 16.
What prayer,… open thy sins and griefe in particular. or what supplication shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when eueryevery one shall know his owne griefe, and his owne sore, and shall spread forth his hands vntounto thee, 2. Cron. 6. 29.
Then heare thou from heauen thy dwelling place, and forgiue, ver. 30.
Then Dauids heart smote him after he had numbred the people; and Dauid sayd vntounto the Lord, I hauehave sinned greatly in this I hauehave done; and now, I beseech thee, ô Lord, take away the iniquitie of thy seruant, for I hauehave done very foolishly, 2. Sam. 2…. 10.
I make my bed to swimme, Weepe abundantly.I water my couch with my teares. Psal. 6. 6.
And hee went out, and wept bitterly, Mat. 26. 75.
He shall restore that which hee tooke violently away,Restore. or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was deliuered to him to keepe, or the lost thing which he found, Leu. 6. 4.
Or all that about which hee hath sworne falsly; hee shall restore it in the principall, and shall adde a fift part more thereto, v. 5.
If I hauehave taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him foure fold, Luke 19. 8.
Goe thy way,Reconcile. bee reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift, Mat. 5. 24.
Agree with thine aduersarie quickly, while thou art in the way with him, ver. 25.
Forgiue, Forgiue freely.and ye shall be forgiuen, Luke 6. 37.
If ye forgiue not men their trespasses, neither will my heauenly Father forgiue you, Mat. 6. 15.
If thy brother trespasse against thee seauen times a day, and seauen times a day, doe returne vntounto thee saying; I repent, thou shalt forgiue him, Luke 17. 4.
Be yee kinde one to another, tender hearted, forgiuing one another, euen as God for Christ's sake hath forgiuen you, Eph. 4. 32.
And his Lord was wroth, and deliuered him to the tormentors til he should pay all that was due vntounto him, Mat. 18. 34.
So likewise shall my heauenly Father doe also vntounto you,from the heart. if yee from your heart forgiue not eueryevery man his brother their trespasses, v. 35.
O King, let my counsell be acceptable vntounto thee, and breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poore, Dan. 4. 27.
Many sins are forgiuen her, for she loued much, Luk. 7. 47.
GiueGive almes of such things as ye hauehave,GiueGive as thou art able liberally. and behold all things are cleane vntounto you, Luk. 11. 41.
Sell that ye hauehave, giuegive almes, prouide your selues baggs that waxe not old, and a treasure in the heauens which faileth not, Luk. 12. 33.
Lay not vp for your selues treasures on earth, where rust and moths doe corrupt, and where theeues breake through and steale, Mat. 6. 19.
But lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where theeues doe not breake through, nor steale, v. 20.
And I say vntounto you, make vntounto your selues friends of the Mammon of vnrighteousnesse, that when yee faile they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations, Luke 16. 9.
While ye hauehave time, doe good vntounto all men, but especially to them of the houshould of faith, Gal. 6. 10.
Charge the rich in this world, 1 Tim. 6. 17.
That they doe good, that they be rich in good workes, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, v. 18:
Laying vp for themselues a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternall life, v. 19.
To do good, Seeke to thy Pastor, and desire comfort frō him, and the Church absolution.and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifice God is well pleased, Heb. 13. 16.
His soule draweth nigh to the graue, and his life to the destroyer, Iob. 33. 22.
If there bee a messenger with him, or an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vntounto him his vprightnesse, ver. 23.
Then he is gracious vntounto him, and saith; Deliuer him from going downe to the pit. I hauehave found a ransome, ver. 24.
He will pray vntounto God, and he will be fauourable vntounto him, hee shall see his face with ioy, v. 26.
Is any man sicke among you, let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray ouer him, I am. 5. 14.
And the prayer of the Faithfull shall saue the sicke, &c, and if hee hauehave committed sinnes, they shal be forgiuen him, ver, 15.
Verily I say vuto you, whatsoeuer ye shal bind in earth shall be bound in heauen, and whatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth, shall bee loosed ia Heauen, Matth. 18. 18.
And when hee had sayd thus, he breathed on them, and sayd vntounto thē, Receiue the holy Ghost, Ioh. 20. 22.
Whosoeuers sins ye remit, they are remitted, vntounto them; and whosoeuers sinnes ye retaine, they are retained verse 23.
Thy mercy is great aboue the heauens,Medit at vponupon, & by faith, apply to thy selfe Gods infinite mercy. and thy truth reacheth to the clouds, Psal. 108. 4.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy, Psal. 145. 8.
The Lord is good vntounto all, and his tender mercy is ouer all his workes, Psal. 145. 9.
Thou Lord art good, and ready to forgiue, and plenteous in mercy to all them that call vponupon thee, Psal. 86. 5,
Thou O Lord art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, plenteous in mercy and truth, ver. 15.
O giuegive thanks vntounto the Lord for he is good, and his mercy endureth for euer, Psalm. 136. 1. 116. 1. 107. 1. 118. 1.
In whom we hauehave redemption through his blood, according to the riches of his grace, Eph. 1. 6.
By his owne blood hee entered once into the holy place, hauing obtained eternall redemption for vsus, Heb. 9. 12.
The precious blood of Christ, as of a Lambe without blemish, 1 Pet. 1. 19.
This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you, Luke 22. 10.
The Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood, Act 20. 28.
Much more, being now iustified by his blood, we shall bee saued from wrath through him, Rom. 5. 9.
Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ, Eph. 2. 13.
For he is our peace, v. 14.
If the blood of bulls and of goates, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the vncleane, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, Heb. 9. 13.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe to God without spot, purge our consciences from dead workes? verse 14.
The blood of Iesus Christ his Son clenseth vsus from al sinne, 1 Ioh. 1. 7.
If any man sin, wee hauehave an Aduecate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righteous, 1 Iohn. 2. 1.
And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours onelyonly, but also for the sins of the whole world, v. 3.
These hauehave washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lambe, Reu. 7. 14.
Thou hast redeemed vsus by thy blood to God, Reu. 5. 9.
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keepe them from the euill, Ioh. 17. 15.
Sanctifie them through thy truth; thy Word is truth, v. 17.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them which shall belieue on me through the word, v. 20.
I hauehave prayed for thee that thy faith may not faile, Luke 22. 32.
In that day ye shall aske in my name, and I say not vntounto you that I will pray the Father for you, Ioh. 16. 26.
For the Father himselfe loueth you, because ye hauehave loued me, v. 27.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that dyed, yea rather that is risen againe, who is euen at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for vsus, Rom. 8. 34.
Hee is able to saue them euermore that come vntounto God by him, seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them, Heb. 7. 25.
IOHN did baptize in the wildernesse,The vertue of the Sacraments. and preach the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sins, Mar. 1. 4.
According to his mercy hee saued vsus by the lauer of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Ghost, Tit. 3. 5.
The like figure whereunto euen baptisme, doth now saue vsus by the resurrection of Iesus Christ, 1 Pet. 3. 21.
Repent and bee baptized eueryevery one of you, in the name of the Lord Iesus, for the remission of sins, Act. 2. 38.
This is the Blood of the New Testament,The vniuersality of promises to penitent sinners. which is shed for many, for the remission of sins, Mat. 26. 28.
Seeke the Lord while hee may be found, call ye vponupon him while he is neere, Isa. 55. 6.
Let the wicked for sake his way, and the vnrighteous man his thoughts, and let him returne to the Lord, and he will hauehave mercy vponupon him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon, v. 7.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my waies your waies, saith the Lord, v 8.
As I liue, saith the Lord God, I hauehave no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turne from his way and liue, Ezekiel 18. 22.
Turne you, turne you from your euill waies, for why will yee dye ô yee house of Israel? Ezek. 33. 11.
I hauehave no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turne your selues, and liue, Ezek. 18. 32.
They shall know me from the least to the greatest, saith the Lord, and I will forgiue their iniquity, and remember their sin no more, Ier. 31. 34.
Thou shalt finde the Lord, if thou seeke him with al thy heart, and with all thy soule, Deut. 4. 29.
For the Lord thy God is a mercifull God, he will not forsake thee, nor destroy thee, v. 31.
If my people shall humble themselues, and pray, and seeke my face, and turne from their wicked waies, then I will heare from heauen, and will forgiue their sinne, 2 Chro. 7. 14.
If thou returne to the Almighty, thou shalt be built vp, Iob 22. 23.
I hauehave blotted out, as a thick clowde, thy transgressions and as a clowde thy sins: returne vntounto me, for I hauehave redeemed thee, Isa. 44. 22.
Cease to doe euill; learne to doe well, Isa. 1. 17.
Come now, let vsus reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as skarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall bee as wooll, Isa. 1. 18.
Goe, proclaime these words to the North, and say, Returne thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall vponupon you, for I am mercifull, saith the Lord, and will not keepe anger for euer, Ier. 3, 12.
OnelyOnly acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed the Lord thy God, verse 13.
Come, let vsus returne to the Lord, for he hath torne, and hee will heale vsus; he hath smitten, and he will binde vsus vp, Hosea 6. 1.
I will heale their back-slidings, I will louelove them freely, Hosea 14. 4.
Seeke the Lord, and yee shall liue, Amos 5. 6.
Turne yee vntounto mee, saith the Lord of Hosts, and I will turne vntounto you, Zac. 1. 3.
Come vntounto me all ye that are heauy laden, and I will ease you, Mat. 11. 28.
Likewise I say vntounto you, There is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God ouer one sinner that repenteth, Luke 15. 10.
The Son of Man came to saue that which was lost, Luke 19. 10.
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, Luk. 5. 32.
That repentance, and remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name among all Nations, Luke 24. 47.
Repent ye therefore, and bee conuerted, that your sinnes may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3. 19.
The Lord is not slacke as some men account slacknesse, but is long suffering to vsus-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Pet. 3. 9.
If wee confesse our sins, hee is faithfull and iust, to forgiue vsus our sinnes, and cleanse vsus from all vnrighteousnesse, 1 Ioh. 1. 9.
Manasses built altars for al the Host of heauen,The example of Gods mercy in pardoning heinous and grieueus sinners. 2 Chron. 33. 5.
And he caused his children to passe by the fire in the valley of Hinnon; also he vsed Witch-craft, and dealt with familiar Spirits, &c. v. 67.
But when hee was in his affliction, hee besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the Lord of his Fathers, v. 12.
And prayed vntounto him, and he was intreated of him, and he heard his supplication, v. 13.
He denied before them al,Peter. saying, I know not what thou sayest, Mat. 26. 70.
And againe he denyed him, v. 72.
Then he began to curse, and to sweare, saying, I know not the man, v. 74.
And the Lord turned, and looked vponupon PETER, and PETER remembred the words of the Lord, Luk. 22. 61.
And PETER went out and wept bitterly, v. 62.
And behold a woman in the City which was a sinner, Mary Magdalen.brought an al abaster box of ointment, &c. Luk. 7 37.
Her sinnes which are many, are forgiuen her, for she loued much, v. 47.
A woman which had bin healed of euill Spirits and infirmities, Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seauen diuels, Luk. 8. 2.
The younger tooke his iourney into a farre countrey,The prodigall. and wasted his substance with riotous liuing, Luk. 15. 13.
When he came to himselfe, he said, &c. v. 18.
I will arise, and goe to my Father, and say, Father, I hauehave sinned against heauen, and against thee, &c. v. 20.
And he arose, & went to his Father; but when he was yet a great way off, his Father sawe him, and had compassion, & came, & fell on his neck,The theefe on the Crosse. and kissed him, v. 20.
And he said to Iesus, Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome, Luk. 23. 41.
And Iesus said vntounto him, Vetily I say vntounto thee; This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, v. 43.
Him ye hauehave taken, The Iewes that crucified, or consented to the crucifying of IESVS.and by wicked hands hauehave crucified and slaine, Act. 2. 23.
Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Iesus whom yee hauehave crucified both Lord and Christ, v. 36.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in heart, and said to Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall wee doe? verse 37.
Then Peter said, Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins, v. 38.
Then they that gladly receiued the Word were baptized; and the same day were added vntounto them about three thousand soules, verse 41.
This is a faithfull saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners, of whom I am chiefe, 1 Tim. 1. 15.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in mee Iesus Christ might first shew forth all long suffering, for a patterne to them which should hereafter belieue on him to eternall life, v. 16.
A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death;
wherein The humble and faithfull Christian
1 Layeth open his affliction
In body.
In minde.
2 Confesseth his many and grieuous sins.
3 Earnestly prayeth for
Audience.
Sence of Gods fauour.
Pardon for his sinne.
4 Acknowledgeth God's great mercies through his whole life.
5 Professeth his
Trust in God.
Ioy in the holy Ghost
Peace of conscience.
Desire of Death.
Assured hope of eternall blisse.
6 Commendeth his soule to God.
O Lord God of my saluation,Layeth opē his afflictions in body and soule. I hauehave cryed day and night before thee, ô let my prayer enter into thy presence, Psal. 88. 1.
For my soule is full of trouble, and my life draweth nigh vntounto hell, v. 2.
I am weary of my groaning; eueryevery night wash I my bed, and water my couch with my teares, Psal. 6. 6.
I am accounted as one that goeth downe to the pit; I hauehave bin as a man that hath no strength, Psal. 88. 3.
Free among the dead like vntounto them that bee wounded, and that lie in the graue, which be out of remembrance, and cut away from thine hand, v. 4.
Thine indignation lyeth hard vponupon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes, v. 6.
I am powred out like water, and all my bones are out of ioynt; my heart also in the middest of my bowells is like melted waxe, Psal. 22. 14.
My strength is dryed vp like a potsheard, and my tongue cleaueth to my gummes, and thou shalt bring mee into the dust of death, v. 13.
The sorrowes of death compasse me, and the ouerflowings of vngodlines make me afraid, Psal. 18. 3.
The paines of hell come about me; the Snares of death ouertake me, v. 4.
Thine arrowes stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth mee sore, Psal. 38. 2.
There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure;Confesseth. neither any rest in my bones by reason of my sin, v. 3.
For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head, and are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare, v. 4.
If thou Lord wilt bee extreame to marke what is done amisse, ô Lord, who may abide it? Psal. 130. 3.
Out of the deepe hauehave I called vntounto thee ô Lord, Lord heare my voice. v. 1.
O let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint,Prayeth for audience. v. 2.
Lord,Sence of Gods fauour. why abhorrest thou my soule, and hidest thy face from me? Psal. 88. 14.
I am in misery, and like to him that is at the point to dye: from my youth vp thy terrors hauehave I suffered with a troubled minde, v. 15.
Thy wrathfull displeasure goeth ouer me; and the feare of thee hath vndone me, v. 16.
HaueHave mercy vponupon mee ô God after thy great goodnesse;Pardon for his sin. according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences, Psal. 51. 1.
Wash me throughly from my wickednesse, and clense me from my sinne, v. 2.
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me, v. 11.
O giuegive me the comfort of thy helpe againe, and stablish me with thy free Spirit, v. 12.
Neuerthelesse I am alwaies with thee,4 Acknowledgeth Gods mercies. for thou hast holden me vp by thy right hand, Psal. 73. 23.
Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell,5 Professeth trust. and after that receiue me with glory, v. 24.
Whom hauehave I in heauen but thee ô Lord? and I desire none in earth in comparison of thee, v. 23.
Returne to thy rest ô my soule,Desire of death. for the Lord hath rewarded thee, Psal. 116. 7.
Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then theirs,Ioy in the holy Ghost. whose corne, and wine, and oyle increaseth, Psal. 4. 8.
I will lay me downe, Peace of conscience.and take my rest; for it is thou Lord onelyonly that makest mee dwell in safety, v. 9.
I will behold thy presence, Assured hope of Eternall blisse.and when I awake vp after thy likenesse, I will bee satisfied with it, Psal. 17. 16.
I shall be satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thine house, and thou shalt giuegive mee drinke of thy pleasures as of the riuers, Psal. 36. 8.
For with thee is the well of life; and in thy light shall I see light, v. 9.
Thou shalt shew me the path of life, in thy presence is fulnes of ioy; and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore, Psal. 16. 12.
Into thy hands I commend my Spirit, 6 Commendeth his soule to God.for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord, thou God of truth, Psal. 31. 6.
A Prayer for the sicke lying at the mercy of God, and ready to depart.
AETernall, and omnipotent, infinite, & incomprehensible God, Lord of my life, and determiner of my dayes: My body now is resoluing into dust, and my soule returning to thee that gauest it. O Lord most holy, ô God most mighty, draw neere vntounto me, who make hast to come vntounto thee. GiueGive mee a cleerer sight of thee, by how much the neerer I am out of the darke prison of my body. GiueGive me also a quicker taste of the powers of the life to come, that I may more comfortably passe ouer these last troubles of this present life▪ O Lord, my soule is heauy euen vntounto death; for the weight of al my sins aggrauated by the diuel is at once vponupon me; and I sink and faint vnderunder this burdon which is too heauy for me to beare. Neither is there any meanes vnderunder heauen to ease mee of it, but by laying it vponupon him that hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes. O Father of mercy, and God of all consolation, let not the guilt of my sins or horror of thy iudgements, or Sathans suggestions, or the feare of death, or terrors of hell driue me to desperation. I confesse that for my vnmindfulnesse of thee, and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life, I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death. But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts, nor thy affections like mine. Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe, yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee. Thy gifts and graces are without repentance; and whom thou louest, thou louest to the end. Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede, nor quench the smoking …lax. Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation; yet thou hast not, and I know wilt not giuegive me ouer to eternal death. Deare Father, shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes; confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery; apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity. Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts; and diminish the feare of death, by the assured hope of a better life. Call to my minde (whilest yet I breathe) all the errors of my vnderstanding, that I may timely reuoke them; all the sins of my will, that I may heartily bewaile them; all the testimonies of thy louelove, that I may gratefully acknowledge them; all the promises of thy Gospell, that I may comfortably embrace them; all my holy vowes and purposes, that I may finally confirme them; and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede. O let me that am now returning to dust, and ashes, speake but this once to my Lord & maker. With all my heart, soule, and strength, I beseech thee, by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath▪ done and suffered for mee, I intreate thee, speake peace to my soule at her departing, and say vntounto her, I am thy saluatiō. Make my election sure by my true repentance, perfect charity, assured confidence, constant patience, comfortable perseuerance vntounto the end, and in the end.
To the TRINITY.
GLorious Creator, gracious Redeemer, euerlasting comforter, Lord God Almighty, send me ayde & helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell & darknes. Arme me with thy compleat armour, and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands, and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer. I am thine, ô God the Father, by the right of creation; I am thine, ô God the Sonne, by the right of thy purchase; I am thine, ô God the Holy Ghost, by the right of thine inhabitation, and possession. Saue me, Father, by thy power: saue me, Sonne, by thy merits: saue me holy Spirit, by thy grace. O holy, blessed and glorious Trinitie, whose power no creature is able to resist: Rebuke & confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me; to spoile thy creature; to destroy him for whom thou, ô Sonne, offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father. O Father, be now to me a father in my greatest need. O Iesus, be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger. O Comforter, bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions. Holy & Righteous Iudge eternall, Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me; he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse. Now hee rageth most furiously, because his time is short. He assaulteth mee eueryevery way, by subtill suggestions, by fearfull visions and apparitions. Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death; he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement, and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire. O Father of spirits, deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue (that mourneth to thee day and night) as a prey vntounto him. Though neuer so deformed, yet I am thy worke, O God my Father; though neuer so vile, yet I am thy purchase, ô God my Redeemer: though neuer so polluted, yet I am thy Temple, O God my sanctifier. Faithful Creator, preserue the worke of thine hand; faithfull Redeemer, preserue the purchase of thy bloud; faithfull Sanctifier, preserue the Temple of thine honour. I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes, and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes, ô Father, thy Word and Sacraments, ô Sonne, thy gifts & graces, ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power: Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome; Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace. Most mighty Father, giuegive mee thy protection; Most mercifull Son, giuegive me thy peace; Most gracious holy Spirit, giuegive me thy comfort, that I may safely, peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares. Father, possesse me of the kingdome which thou, O Sonne hast purchased, and thou, O Spirit, hast sealed vntounto mee. Into thy hands, O Father, who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life; Into thy hands, O Sonne, who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee; Into thy hand, ô Holy Spirit, who renewedst a right spirit within mee, and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe, I now commend my spirit, Amen.
To the Lord IESVS, at the howre of death.
VVElcom blessed houre, the period of my pilgrimage, the terme of my bondage, the end of my cares, the close of my sighs, the bound of my trauels, the gole of my race, and the hauen of my hopes. I hauehave fought a long fight in much weaknes; I hauehave finished my course, though in great faintnesse; and the crowne of my ioy is, that, through the strength of thy grace, I hauehave kept the true faith, and now I dye in it. I willingly resigne my flesh, I despise the world, and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee. And now, what is my hope? My hope, Lord Iesu, is euen in thee. For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest, and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule, and raise vp my body also at the last day, and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes, and none other. My heart fainteth, my strength faileth, my tongue faltereth. Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities, and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed. I submit my selfe wholly to thy will. I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER, who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud. I professe to all the world, I know no name vnderunder heauen, by which I may be saued, but thine my IESV, my Sauiour. I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine; I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings; I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes; I stedfastly belieue all thy promises; I heartily forgiue all mine enemies; I willingly leaue all my friends; I vtterly loath all earthly comforts; I entirely long for thy comming.
Come Lord Iesu; come quickly. Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit.
The Hand-Maide's Posie, written in the end of her Manuell.
Birth is a bragge; Glory a blaze;
Honour's earths pompe; Riches a gaze;
Fame is but winde; Beauty a flower;
Pleasure a dance; the world a bower.
In heauen with thee, Lord let me be;
On earth my heauen's alone in thee.
FINIS.