The Resolved Christian Exhorting to Resolution, Book 1 · Chapter 5
Chap. V. Of the ſecond cauſe that maketh death fearefull to a worldly man, which is the paines and ſickneſſes which come before or accompany Death. And the remedies againſt the ſame.
Vnmortified men, no fit inhabitants for the heauenlie Hieruſalem. Sect. I.
WHen a Condemned-man is returned to priſon, all his mind runneth vponupon death, he deteſteth his former life and conuerſation, he prayeth earneſtly vntounto God, and regardeth no worldly pleaſure, ſoft bedding, delicate fare, or coſtly apparrell: Yea, if he be a man that feareth God, all his aPhilip. 3.20cogitatiōs are bent to life euerlaſting, greatly reioycing that he is ſo neere thebMatth. 25.34 heauenly kingdome, that he may take poſſeſſion of hisc1. Pet. 1.4 inheritance. And is not thedHebr. 9.27 ſentence of death paſſed vponupon vsus, the firſt daye that wee came into this world? Be not our ſoules in our bodies, as in a priſon? Do not we onelyonly expect the time of our execution? How commeth it to paſſe then, that we do not feele, or ſhew vsus ready, & prouide our ſelues to die, as doth the priſoner that hath receiued his ſentence from an earthly Iudge? Why do we fixe our whole delight on the world, why do we ſo much encumber our ſelues with earthly buſineſſes, and why do not we willingly embrace death, that by it we may take poſſeſſion of our inheritance? O let vsus not build where wee cannot long continue, let vsus make our prouiſion that we may liue where we ſhall remaine for euer; let vsus not forget heauen for earth, the ſoule for the bodie, and heauenly treaſures for earthly goods▪ for one monethmonth or day, for one houre or minute, let vsus not depriue our ſelues of thateMatth. 25.21 euerlaſting ioy that ſhal neuer be takē frō vsus: let vsus endure ſtormy weather for one monethmonth, that we may hauehave a thouſand miliōs of yeeres of faire weather: let vsus patiently beare thefActes 14.22 tribulation of one day, which will breede vsus exceeding great conſolation for euer: let not the paines of one moment of time fray vsus from takinggLuke 12.32 poſſeſſion of our kingdome, leſt we ſhal be caſt for euer into thehMatth. 25.30 kingdome of darkeneſſe. In a temporall building, the ſtones muſt be broken, hewne, and ſquared, ere they be fit to make vp the worke. The Corne muſt be threſhed, winowed, and purified, before it be ready for good bread.i2. Kings 2.11 whirle winde muſt firſt blow ere Elias be rapt into heauen. And we muſt be cut, hewn, & ſquared vvith a number ofkActes 14.22 2. timot. 3.12 luke 9.23 marke 8.34 tribulations, ſickneſſes, and diſeaſes, before vve can be made fit & liuely ſtones for the heauenly Hieruſalem. The very victualls vvhichwhich nouriſh and maintaine vsus come to very great loathſomneſſe, before they doe vvoorke their perfection in vsus. From life they are brought to the fire, and cleane altered from that they vvere vvhen they vvere aliue, from the fire to the trencher, from the trencher to the mouth, from the mouth to the ſtomack, & there ſo boiled & digeſted, before they noriſh, that vvhoſoeuer ſavv the ſame, he vvould loathe & abhorre his ovvne nutriment, before it come to full perfection. And ſo muſt thoſe children vvhom God delighteth in, be mangled and defaced in thislIohn. 16.33 1. iohn 3.13, 14 vvorld, vvhichwhich is the kitchin and mill to boyle and grinde the fleſh of Gods children in, till they attaine their perfection in the vvorld to come: and as a man looketh for the nouriſhing of his meate, when it is full digeſted, and not before: ſo muſt vve looke for our ſaluation, when the troubleſome turmoiles of this vvorld are paſſed, and not before. Ravv fleſh is not meate vvholeſome for man; and vnmortified men be no creatures fitte for God.
That ſickneſſe and tribulation is a token of Gods louelove. Sect. II
Affliction, what it is vntounto the godly.THe holy Scriptures plainely teſtifie, that the paines and pangs of Death, or whatſoeuer dolorous ſickeneſſes, or other grieuous maladies we ſuffer either before or with death, are no other thing in vsus chriſtians, then the rod of our moſt mercifull and louing father; wherewith he correcteth and chaſteneth his children, either to amend in vsus whatſoeuer offendeth his Maieſtie, leſt we periſh; or elſe to trie our faith and patience, that we may be found vnreproueable, laudable, & honorable before the tribunall ſeate of Ieſus Chriſt, the Iudge of the world, at his ſecond comming.aHebr. 12.5 proue. 3.11 My ſonne (ſaith he) deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the Lorde, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him. bHebr. 12.6For whom the Lorde loueth, he chaſteneth and he ſcourgeth euerie ſonne whom he receiueth. c7If ye endure chaſtening, God offereth himſelfe vntounto you as vntounto ſonnes; for what ſonne is it that the father chaſteneth not? d8If therefore ye be without correction whereof all are partakers, then are you baſtards and not ſonnes. e9Moreouer, we hauehave had the fathers of our bodies which corrected vsus, and we gaue them reuerence: should not we much rather be in ſubiection vntounto the Father of Spirits, that we might liue? f10For they verilie for a few daies chaſtened vsus after their owne pleaſure, but he chaſteneth vsus for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holineſſe. g11Now no chaſteſing for the preſent ſeemeth to be ioyous, but greeuous; but afterward it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteouſneſſe vntounto them which are thereby exerciſed. h12Wherefore lift vp your hands which hang downe, and weake knees: i13And make ſtraight ſteps vntounto your feete, leſt that which is halting be turned out of the waie, but let it rather be healed. Hitherto out of the Scriptures. An excellent comfort, and a ſoueraigne ſalue for all them that are in ſuch a caſe, viſited with the hand of God, & tempted with this temptation. ThekExodus 3.2 Buſh which Moſes ſawe in Mount Horeb, burned, and yet conſumed not; ſo muſt the faithfull be tried in the fire of affliction, but not deſtroyd. They are compared tolCantic. 2.2. lillies growing among thorns, becauſe they are placed in the midſt of tribulation: to mLuke 22.31wheat, becauſe Satan will ſift vsus as men ſift wheat, and as wheat is flailed, ſo the world afflicts vsus: and tonIohn 15.5 vine branches, for as Vines being let out at large, in ſmall time becomeoEſay 5.6 wild and fruitleſſe, ſo we being giuen ouer of God, and left to runne after our owne luſt, are eaſily allured; but being pruned and dreſſed as their nature requireth, they bring forth greater and ſweeter grapes; ſo we being kept in awe, and obedience by the band of affliction and ſickneſſes, wil bring forthpPſalme 23.4 fruit, both in quantity more abundant, and in quality more ſweet and pleaſant. Thus then, that carefulqIohn 15.1 Huſband-man euen GOD our Father, pruneth his vines that they may beare much fruite. Wheerevpon the Prophet Dauid maketh a ſolemne proteſtation, declaring what good affliction wrought in him,rPſalme 219.71 It is good for me (O Lord) that thou haſt corrected me, s67for before I was afflicted, I went wong. And in another place,ePſalme 23.4 thy rod and thy ſtaffe hauehave comforted me.
That God hath appointed his holie Angells to guard and preſerue vsus in our ſickneſſes and troubles. Sect. III
WHat a comfort is that vntounto vsus, that in all our tribulations and ſickneſſes, yea, in the verie ſorrowes and pangs of death, Almightie God hath giuen his holy Angells charge to direct our pathes, and toaPſalme 91.1… keep vsus in all our waies, as he hath promiſed in his worde.bExodus 23 20 Behold I ſend an Angell before thee to keepe thee in the waie, and to bring thee to the place which I hauehave prepared. cPſalme 34 7The Angell of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him and deliuereth them. Examples hereof, we hauehave in the holy Scriptures plentifull:dGeneſis 19.15 Lot when Sodom and Gomorrha ſhould be deſtroyed was by Angelles conducted and brought thence, and ſo, he and his Daughters eſcaped the daunger.eGeneſis 16.7 The Angell of the Lord comforted Hagar Saras maide, flying from her Dame, into the Wilderneſſe, and preſerued her from preſent perill.fGeneſis 32.1.2 Iacob in his iourney towards Meſopotamia, when he was in danger by the way, the Angells of God met him, which Iacob called Gods hoaſt. The AngellsgExodus 14.19 and 23. and 32 conducted the children of Iſrael in the deſart. Troupes of Angells in the likeneſſe or horſemen and charets of fire, defended Eliſha the Prophet, againſt the king of Siria. And when his ſeruant was afraide and ſaide vntounto him;h2. King. 6.15 Alas Maiſter, what shall we doe? i16He anſwered, Feare not, for they that be with vsus are more then they that be with them. An Angell preſeruedkDan. 3.25 Shadrach, Meihach and Abednago in the middeſt of the firie furnace, ſo that the fire had no power ouer their bodies; andlDan. 6.22 deliuered Daniel from the Lions mouth. An Angell from heauenmLuke 22.43 appeared to our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, in his paſſion, comforting him.nLuke 16.22 And Angells carried the ſoule of Lazarus into Abrahams boſome. There are other infinite examples tending to this purpoſe, which for breuitie ſake I omit. Now therefore, ſeeing we are thus graced by God, what remaineth but that we patiently beare theoPſalm. 23.4 heb. 12.5 prouerb. 3.11 rod of our heauenly Father layde vponupon vsus, and like obedientpHebr. 12.7 children kiſſe and embrace the ſame, when it is offered vsus, that we may be found ready to ſuffer all temptations and trialls, wherewith it ſhall pleaſe the Lord to exerciſe vsus, hauing ſure truſt and confidence, that he whichqMatth. 27.35 mar. 15.27. luke 23.33. ioh. 19.30 ſuffered and wasrMatth. 4.1 tempted, is able tosHebr. 2.15 deliuer them that ſuffer and are tempted out of trouble, daunger, and affliction.
Comforts taken from the conſequents following Death. Sect. IIII.
COnſidering, that after ſickeneſſe followeth Death, and after death enſueth eternall life, and euerlaſting felicitie: why ſhould we be ſo faint and ſo weake in ſickenes? Let vsus plucke vp our hearts therefore, that are afflicted with paines, and call to remembrance the life, and ioyes of heauen, that are reſerued for all them that patiently do ſuffer here with Chriſt. Let vsus conſider, that Chriſt himſelfe ſuffered farre greater & heauier torments then we do, who ſaith,aLam. 1.12 HaueHave yee no regard, all yee that paſſe by this way? Behold and ſee, if there be any ſorrow like vntounto my ſorrow. bIohn 15 20 and 13.18 matth 24.9. mar. 10.24.The ſeruant is not greater then his maſter. Oh, let vsus therefore take our viſitation in good part, and the Lord, when he ſhall ſee his good time, wil ſend vsus helpe and comfort; onelyonly let vsus ſubmit, and commit our ſelues to his heauenly protection and will.c1. Corin. 10.13 There is no tentation hath taken you, ſaith the Apoſtle, but ſuch as appertaineth to man, and God is faithfull, which will not ſuffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able, but will euen giuegive the iſſue with the tentation, that yee may be able to beare it. d2. Pet. 2.9The Lord knoweth to deliuer the godlie out of tentation. eApoc. 2.10Feare none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer; (ſaith Chriſt) Behold, it ſhall come to paſſe, that the diuell ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon, that yee may be tried, and yee ſhall hauehave tribulation ten daies: Be thou faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life. Furthermore, wee muſt cal to mind, that the Lord neuer*Pſa. 33.18.19 leaueth them that faithfully ſerue him, and commit themſelues altogither into his cuſtodie, but keepeth themfZach 2.8 as the apple of his eye.gZach. 2.5 Hee will be as a fire round about them, that nothing do them hurt. Whereupon Dauid could ſay of his owne experience,hPſal 23.4 Though I ſhould walke through the valleie of the shadow of death, I will feare no euill, for thou art with of death, I will feare no euill, for thou art with me, thy rodde and thy ſiaffe, they comfort me. And to the end that the Lord might make vsus certaine of his helpe and comfort, he earneſtly exhorteth vsus, to call oftentimes vntounto him, and to ſue for helpe, ſaying;iPſalme 50.15 Call vponupon me, in the daie of trouble, ſo I will deliuer thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. And againe,kPſalme 91.15 Hee shall call vponupon mee, and I will heare him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliuer him, and glorifie him. So knowing aſſuredly, that the Lord will helpe vsus at the laſt, in his good time, according vntounto our owne deſire, if we patiently beare in the meane time, whatſoeuer his gracious goodneſſe ſhal lay vponupon vsus; It remayneth that we hauehave an inuincible courage againſt all aduerſities, and ſickneſſes what ſoeuer, patiently expecting the reward of our hope,lRom. 8.18 For the afflictions of this preſent life, are not worthie of the glorie which shall be shewed vntounto vsus.
Straungers that are euill intreated in a forreine land; where they ſoiourne, hauing parents, friends, and great poſſeſſions in their natiue ſoyle, being now vponupon the point to returne into their owne countrie, are vndoubtedly exceeding glad; for euen already they ſeeme, in a maner to ſee their houſes, landes, and poſſeſſions, to talke with their parents, friends, and acquaintance; and to enioy their wealth already. Euē ſo alſo, if we cal to mind, that here we arem2. Chro. 29.5. ſoiourners and ſtrangers, verynIohn 16.33 hardly intreated by the worlds friends; hauing in heauen, our own countrie, great riches of eternall treaſures, aoMatth. 23.9 heauenly Father, that dearely loueth vsus in his beloued Sonne, and many louing frends, our eldeſtpRom. 8.29 brother Ieſus Chriſt, and all the holy Angels and Saints in glory, and an vndefiledq1. Pet. 1.4 inheritance holy and immortall: If we conſider, that we are at the very point, going thither, to take poſſeſſion of ourrLuke 12.32 kingdome and royaltie, we cannot chuſe but be exceeding glad thereof, euen rauiſhed with a feruent deſire to be lifted vp thither, with Paul,sPhilip. 1.23 deſiring to be looſed, and to be with Chriſt. For ſhall not the feeling of ſo grieuous, and ſo many bodily afflictions, whereto we are ſubiect in this ſtrange land, and of the mortal wounds our ſoules do daily receiue by offending God, cauſe vsus earneſtly to deſire, and feruently to pray to be deliuered from the ſame? eſpecially conſideringt2. Cor. 5.1 we know that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle be destroyed, we hauehave a building giuen of God, that is, an houſe not made with handes, but eternall in the heauens? Shall not the incomprehenſible excellencie of the glory and dignitie, which we ſhaluApoc. 22.5 enioy in the kingdom of heauen, encourage vsus to enter in thither, though the entrance bexMatth 7.13 narrow and ſtraight? And ſhall not the certaine and aſſured knowledge of the renewing of our bodies beingy1. Cor. 15.52 riſen againe immortall, like vntounto the gloricus body of Chriſt, and ioyned to their ſanctified ſoules; and then of thez1. Theſſ. 4.17 tranſlating of the ſame into the kingdome of God our father, aboue all heauens, where we ſhall ſee thea1. Cor. 13.12 face of God, as the Sunne in his brightneſſe, and enioy the effect of the prayers of Chriſt Ieſus our Redeemer, made in our behalfe, whē he ſaid,bIohn 17.24 Father, I will that they which thou haſt giuen me, be with me, euen where I am, that they may behold that my glory, which thou haſt giuen me; moue and ſtirre vsus vp to take poſſeſſion of ourcEpheſ. 1.14 inheritance, beeing now offered vntounto vsus? When Ieſus Chriſt hathd1. Cor. 15.28 rendred vp the kingdome to God his Father; then ſhall God the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt, be vntounto vsus all in all; we ſhall be repleniſhed and ſatisfied with ſuch aeIohn 17.13 fulneſſe of life, glory, and ioy, ſo as we ſhall not be able to deſire or to hauehave any more: euen as veſſels caſt into the ſea, being ſo filled with water, that they can deſire or hold no more. We ſhall befApoc. 21.7 inhabitants, and citizens of that holy Citie, which is ofgApoc. 21.18 pure gold, hApoc. 21.2%which hath no need, neither of the Sunne, nor of the Moone, to shine in it, for the glorie of God shall light it, and the Lambe is the light of it. And finally, we ſhall be in the fellowſhip of Angels, ſhining as theiMatth. 13.43 Sunne in his pride, and rauiſhed with ioy that ſhallkIohn 16.22 neuer be taken from vsus.
Teſtimonies out of the holy Scriptures, that God is alwaies ready to helpe and aſſiſt them, that ſeeke vntounto him, in the time of affliction and miſerie. Sect. V
IOſhua, The Lord ſaid vntounto Ioſhua,Ioſhua 1.1 ſaying: Ariſe, goe ouer this Iordan,2 thou and all this people, vntounto the land which I giuegive to the children of Iſraell: I will be with thee,5 I will not leaue thee, nor forſake thee;6 Be ſtrong, and of a good courage.
Dauid, Pſalme 33.18Behold, the eye of the Lord is vponupon them that feare him, and vponupon them that trust in his merciemercy: To deliuer their ſoules from death,19 and to preſerue them from famine.
I ſought the Lord and he heard me,Pſalme 34.4 yea he deliuered me out of all my feare. The poore man cryed,6 and the Lord heard him, and ſaued him out of all his troubles. The eyes of the Lord are vponupon the righteous,15 and his eares are open vntounto their crie. The righteous crie,17 & the Lord heareth them, and deliuereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is neere vntounto them that are of a contrite heart,18 and will ſaue ſuch as be afflicted in ſpirit.19 Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all.20 Hee keepeth all his bones, not one of them is broken. Reade the ſeauen and thirtieth Pſalme throughout, and you ſhall find therein excellent comfort.
The Lord is neare to all that call vponupon him, yea to all that call vponupon him in truth:Pſalme 145.1… he will fulfill the deſire of them that feare him:19 he alſo will heare their crie,20 and will ſaue them. The Lord preſerueth all them that louelove him.
Iſaiah, Behold, God is my ſaluation,Eſay 12.2 I will trust, and will not feare, for the Lord God is my ſtrength and ſong: and alſo is become my ſaluation.
Thou art my ſeruant,Eſay 41.9 I hauehave choſen thee, and not cast thee away.10 Feare thou not, for I am with thee, be not afraid, for I am thy God, I will ſtrengthen thee and helpe thee.13 I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, ſaying vntounto thee:14 Feare not thou worme Iacob, and ye men of Iſrael; I will helpe thee, ſaith the Lord and thy redeemer, the holy one of Iſrael.
Feare not,Eſay 43.… for I hauehave redeemed thee, I hauehave called thee by name, thou art mine: when thou paſſeſt through water,2 I wil be with thee, and through the floods, that they do not ouerflow thee. When thou walk…ſt through the very fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle vponupon thee.
Tſion ſaid,Eſay 46.14 the Lord hath forſaken me, and my Lord hath forſaken me. Can a woman forget her child,15 & not hauehave compasſion on the ſonne of her wombe? though they ſhould forget, yet will not I forget thee.16 Behold, I hauehave engrauen thee vponupon the palme of mine hands.
Ieremiah, Ieremie 32.2Thus ſaith the Lord, They ſhall come weeping,9 and with merciemercy will I bring them againe. I will leade them by the riuers of water, in a ſtraight way, wherein they ſhall not ſtumble, for I am a father in Iſrael.
Ieſus Chriſt, Iohn 16.33In the world, you ſhall hauehave affliction, be of good comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world Feare none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer.Apoc. 2.1… Be faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life.
Paul, God is faithfull,1. Cor. 1.13 which will not ſuffer you to be tempted, aboue that you be able, but will euen giuegive the iſſue with the tentation, that yee may be able to beare it. If wee ſuffer with Chriſt,2. Tim. 2.12 wee ſhall raigne with him.
Peter, 2. Pet. 2.9The Lord knoweth to deliuer the godly out of tentation.