The Last Battle of the Soul, Religious tract 1 · Part 8

The Last Battle of the Soul · Religious tract 1 · Part 8

p. 1041THE EIGHTH DAYES Conference.

A Conference with a carnall Friend concerning his Buriall: Concerning Funerall Sermons: Diuerse prayers: Death approaching: A Soliloque… betweene the Soule and the bodie in a trance, their last adewes: The last gaspes: Michael and Sathan disput for the Soule.

The sicke Man.

THE troublous toyles of this world are the bane of Mans life, they surfet his minde with car…s: My Spirit is much wearied, Oh, that I had wings lik a Doue, then would I flie Psal. 55 7Ps 55:7away and rest: **NoteO with how manie rootes are wee fastened vntounto this earth: p. 1042The World, Wife, Life, and Children, but most of all our owne corruptions are burdens which hang so fast on, y^t none hand but that of the Almightie is able to shake them off: So long as wee hauehave health and wealth wee stalke in our vanities, like Nebuchadnezar in his palace of confusion: Wee neuer perceiue that wee dwell in Bable till one judgement or other bring vsus to confusion: Wee will not suffer to bee reproued while the time is fittest for repentance: Wee are offended at the word except that it glyde by our faults: Wee will not with Peter bee with-stood to the face:Gal. 2, 11.Gal 2:11

**NoteThe Preacher must whisper his reproofes behind our backes, or he must speake vntounto vsus as vntounto Princes into Parables: Wee heare like stones, and2 Sam. 12. 12 Sam 12:1 goe like snailes: Fye vponupon vsus; Oh, that wee were wise.

A carnall Friend.

What are yee now doing Sir? In all appearance yee are shortlie for to p. 1043leaue this world, yee hauehave said all your adewes and hauehave turned your backe vponupon all worldlie things as Hezekiah did when hee turned his face Psa. 38. 2.Ps 38:2to the wall.

I desire Sir▪ to knowe of you but one thing, Where would yee bee buried? Were it not expedient that your Corps lye into y^e Church, where are buried these which are in greatest account in this world?

The sicke Man.

What hauehave I to doe with this world▪ 2 Cor. 7. 312 Cor 7:31or with the fashions of this worlde▪ which passe away? **NoteWherfore should I make the glorious House of my God a flesh pot of corruption? Fye vponupon our folie: Should it be conuenient that my stinking bones cast vp anie noysome vapours, for to trouble the liuing at the seruice of the euerliuing?

What aduantage shall it be to my Soule to come and fetch this bodie out of a Church more than out of a p. 1044Church yeard? What prerogatiue shall it bee to my bodie in that day, that it hath beene buried into Gods House? Gods House in Scripture is called, An House of prayer; but inMatth. 21. 13Matt 21:13 no place is it called, A place of buriall: Let no mā mak me an euill example after my death: **NoteWhat is this; How long shall foolish man goe round in his course and compasse of vanitie, like a blind horse in a Mill?

The carnall Friend.

But would yee not at least hauehave a Tombe Sir, and your name written vponupon it with this, Heere lyeth such a man?

The sicke Man.

**NoteVaine man is glutted with vanitie euen vntounto the gorge pype: Why trouble ye me with vanitie in death, who is now mourning for y^e vanitie of my life? mine accoūt is cast vp for another world: My name is written into the Booke of life, what care I forReuel. 3. 5Rev 3:5 Letters into stones? away with such p. 1045Banners of pride: Such things are but cold comforts to a wearied Conscience: Such thinges are but vanities of none abode: Where are nowe the Mausels and most glorious Tombes of Emperours: It was well said by a Pagan,

Sunt etiam sua fata Sepulchris.

That is for to giuegive a glosse to these words, Tombes wherein the dead are buried, will bee buried themselues: Nothing is heere permanent, Triumphs hauehave their Tombes, and Crownes hauehave their compasse. O my God, faste… A prayerand fixe the eyes of my Soule vponupon that which is eternall.

O the folies of mens hearts, who vainelie and needleslie waste vponupon their dead vanities that which might builde houses for the poore: But let proud men lye vnderunder their statelie Towers, such lifted vp stones must at last fall downe as he fell who now lyeth vnderunder them.

I like well of Beza his answere on p. 1046his death bed to one that spak to himBeza his reply on his death bed. of a Tombe, Sub cespi…e viridi, said he That is▪ Lay mee vnderunder the greene Turfe: A notable word of humilitie:Gen. 35. 8Gen 35:8 Good Deborah was buried vnderunder an Oke tree: Manie may lie vnderunder painted stones whose Soules are pined into Hell: God will neuer inquire of a mans Soule where was thy bodie buried? But how hast thou liued into that bodie▪ shall he say:

Lay mee then vnderunder the greene Turfe: **NoteHow manie Martyres hauehave beene burnt into ashes which hauehave beene cast vp into the winde, and scattered vponupon the waters?

Coelo tegitur qui non habet vrnam.

Hee is couered with the Heauens who wanteth a graue.

Facilis jactura Sepulchri est.

The losse of buriall is no great losse.

O that my Soule▪ were truelie humble: **NoteI hauehave alas in the dayes of my vanitie beene too much pined p. 1047with y^e prid of life, scādalously appearing without: but, O, O, O, Si trabes in oculo strues in corde, a litle beame of pride in the eye telleth that there is a stake of it in the heart: And yet in this Turfe of humilitie which I cry for, I spy a lurking pride: Pride is a secrete thing so small spun that hardlie can it bee discerned: A man will bee proude that hee is not proude, or rather because hee will not seeme to bee proude: This is priuie pride: The humblest heart is not euer couered with coursest apparell, yet certainlie it is good both in life & in death to shew good example: Lesser sins at the first make way, and paue a causey for greater: folies framed by some are followed by others: Woe to the world for scandales.

The chiefe thing at burials whereof men would take heede, is that the dead burie not the dead▪ Woe to these buriers when these who are dead in sinne burie them who are dead for p. 1048sinne: As for you Friend, bee wise in your words, The lippes of the foole, Eccles. 10. 12Eccl 10:12said the wise man, will swallow vp himselfe▪ In many men the affections keepe captiue the vnderstanding.

The carnall Friend.

I pray God to make mee wise. In all this which I hauehave spoken there is no great matter of follie: Seeing the pompe of buriall displeaseth you, yee may bee willing that a funerall Sermon bee▪ made for your praise & commendation, no man of anie worth now wanteth this honour.

The sicke Man.

So manie men so manie mindes: Away with the flattering panegyricks of such funerall praise: Let Christ be preached and not sinfull man: Away with that preaching whereof man is the Text: **NoteSolomon speaking of the good wife, sayeth wiselie, Let Prou. 31. 31Prov 31:31her owne workes praise her in the gates: So let the by past life of a man praise him in his death: All men are lyers, p. 1049but Dummie cannot lye.

**NoteIf I hauehave liued well, my life shall grace and praise mee sufficientlie: If not, wherefore should I make the Trumpeter of truth to become a libeller of lyes?

Vivorum sunt haec solatia non mortuorum.

Such comforts are onelie for the liuing but not for the dead: O the vanitie of stinking pride which blasteth the soules of men with most filthie staines.

**NoteTell mee I pray you who made Christs funerall Sermon when hee was laide into the Graue? Hee whose life could neuer preach, is not worthie to bee preached vponupon after his death: If while wee liue our life preach, it will preach also after our death: **NoteThe best funerall Sermon a man can hauehave is when his life maketh all his godly neighbours to say, This man while hee liued … a Nathanael an Israelite indeede, without p. 1050anie fraude or guile: Hee was a man who truelie and sincerlie liued in the feare of his God.

But men must be preached, will yee say, for such is now the fashion: Well, if men will be preached with Seraphicall tongues, let him who preacheth their vertues also preach their vices, as the Prophets did of olde, not sparing Kings: Dauids treachery2 Sam. 11. 42 Sam 11:4 and his adulterie, his murther and his numbering of the people are as2 Sam. 24. 12 Sam 24:1 well set downe as his desire of the building of the Temple: So Solomons 1 Kin. 11 41 Kgs 11:4idolatrie and foolishnesse is2 Chr. 32. 25 2 Chr. 20, 372 Chr 32:252 Chr 20:37 as well put in write as his wisedome: So Hezekiahs pride, and Iohoshaphats louing of these that ha…ed the Lord, and Iosiahs rashnesse in2 Chr, 35, 22 battell against Pharaoh Neco, are plainelie declared & faithfullie penned, that all the world may knowe that they were but poore sinners: It is written of Gods beloued people, that for their sinnes God deliuered p. 1051his strength into captiuitie: ByPsal. 78. 6Ps 78:6 this appeareth euidentlie that the best Kinges and best people are in Gods word as well painted in their vices as in their vertues.

He who would rightly draw a mans portrature must paint his blamishes as well as his beautie: In such a case his wrats & his wrinkles must be wroght with the pinsell, that his image may bee like vntounto himselfe: **NoteIf men be onelie portreyed in their vertues, the halfe of their face shall not be seene: What is the most part of mans life heere but a sinning against God, and a prouocation of the eyes of his glorie? **NoteThe best men that liue here in the greatest perfection of Gods image are like a quarter Moone, inlightened but in a fourt part: How many hauehave but a sharpe edge like the Moone first seene after the change?

If funerall Sermons were made after this fashion, that mens vices were as well reproued, as their vertues p. 1052commended, the Preacher should bee desired to keepe silence. If yee would preach my vertues, ye must also preach my vices, and then when should that Sermon hauehave an end? Fye on the pride of life, which all good men chieflie at their death should both condemne and contemne.

Of olde in Scripture wee read of the pride of life: But now in this last age Satan hath hatched a new pride called, The prid of death, euē of death which bringeth all men low: **NotePride printed into stones cryeth to the liuing, Heere lyeth a proude Fellow: Hee that will bee proude in death, when shall hee bee humble? * Away with that which is both hatefull vntounto God and hurtefull vntounto man.

For all that is said, I would not absolutelie blame Funerall Sermons; for the death of Gods Saincts is precious in his sight: **NoteThat which is precious in the eyes of God, may bee declared p. 1053glorious in the eares of men. But yet with leaue I must say y^t with reason in a great part of our Churches they hauehave beene abrogate and casseered because of abuse: **NoteSeeing the Brasen Serpent which was made at y^e first by Gods own appointment was broken in pieces for the abuse thereof and disdainefullie called, Nehushtan, a lumpe of Brasse, much more things which God neuer commanded in his word for to bee, beeing filthilie abused, may be rejected▪ **NoteFor is it not now come to passe and that to the great disgrace of manie Preachers, to the hearkening and hardening of lewd liuers that men whose life was full of scab & scandales, their names being rotten fore their bodies, are so decked & busked vp with flowers of Rethorick, so wrapped vp into hyperbolicke commendations as it were into a seare-cloath, for thereby to keepe close within smothered the stinking smell of their most filthie memorie.

p. 1054Let all abuse bee taken away: As for me I would not that men should bee too contentious and eager in things neither bidden nor forbidden by God: **NotePaul and Barnabas for an indifferent thing came at last to such an heate, that they departed oneAct. 15. 39Acts 15:39 from another: But I cannot reade that euer they met againe.

**NoteIf none but these whom God set out as lights of life were praised after death for to bee a spurre vntounto the liuing, for to follow their footesteppes, it should not bee a misse brieflie to say some-what to y^e praise of the defunct: **NoteWhy should not the glorie of Gods graces in his Saints passe along & glaunce clearely in the eyes of these that are aliue? But let euer the bodie of the Sermon run vponupon Christs life & death wherefrae issueth all the grace and vertue of mans life, within one periode of a preaching the praise of anie mā may find sufficient bounds▪

Now I thanke you louing Friend p. 1055for your kindnesse and good will: But also let mee intreate you not to bee so worldlie minded: It may be that shortlie as I am now, so shall ye bee: Mans life at the longest may bee measured with a spanne: Behold, said the Psalmest, thou hast made my Psal. 39, 5,Ps 39:5dayes of an hand-breadth: Mine age is as nothing before thee: Our life is but a vapour and a wind which once passethIam. 4, 14, Psal, 78, 39Jas 4:14 away returneth not againe: It should therefore bee your best in time to prepare your selues for a better life and not with many to relye securelie vponupon a possibilitie of pardon: If yee bee wise, venter not vponupon such broken staues which faile in greatest neede.

The carnall Friend.

Thinke not the worse of mee Sir, if I desire you to be honoured with the best in Buriall, bee not too precise, I hope that wee all shall come to heauen at last, wee are all sinners: I hope before I die, to repent mee of all my sins.

p. 1056The sicke Man.

**NoteS. Augustins wordes are of great power.

Metuendum est ne te occidatS. Augu. spes: & cum multum speres de misericordia incidas in judicium.

It is to be feared that while men hope for nothing so much as mercy, euen then they fall into damnation.

I pray God that such hopes deceiue you not: **NoteMany foolishlie make a packe horse of Christs merites and Gods mercies, not caring what burdens they lay on: **NoteA broken heart is onelie an heart qualified for the pardons of heauen: If Christ Iesus his wordes bee of anie credit among men, this wee must hold that none shall come to heauen but by the narrow way.Matth. 7. 13Matt 7:13

**NoteSathan with his temptations hath bored out the eyes of many as the Philistins did to Samson: ButIudg. 16, 21Judg 16:21 alas, who hath the courage of Samson p. 1057to seeke to be ledde to the chiefe pillars that he may pull them down for to bee reuenged vponupon his foes?

Alas, this is the fashion of this world, men like the sluggard liue inProu. 24. 33Prov 24:33 delayes in steepe and in sloth; Yet a little while, and yet a little while: No man will build an Arke vntill theGen. 19. 16.Gen 19:16 floode come: Lot himselfe did linger to saue himselfe from a brime stone fyre: **NoteMen hauehave no leasure to bee saued; so hard is it for the most part to pluke their feete out of the clouches of this world: **NoteIf wee could ouercome the louelove of this worlde which is the great Goliah of our enemies then shuld we easilie ouercome the pride of the Philislins and the feare of Israel: But carnall men know not what it is to mortifie olde Adam with his corrupt lustes: **NoteFooles feede on folies, and tickle their fond fancies with imagined contentments, not knowing the strick & narrow course of sanctification: Such mens speach p. 1058is often both vnseemelie and vnseasonable.

**NoteBlessed bee my God who hath giuen mee the staffe in the hand, and the stone in the scrippe wherewith I hauehave stricken all my strongest corruptions in the temples: Sathan is tread vnderunder foote, my flesh is subdued, mine heart is in Heauen, I care for the worlde no more, neither desire I to speake anie longer of clay, or of anie thing below: My minde is aboue farre from the dirt & drosse of all earthlie thoughts.

O my heauenlie Father wrap myA prayer Soule, wrappe it vp in the righteousnesse of thy Sonne: Let that bee the white long robe of my Soule while my body wrapt in its winding sheete shal lye rotting into the graue: O my God, fill my fainting heart with a joyfull confluence of the precious sufferings of Iesus, of the promises of life & of the joyes of heauen: mak mine ende with that of the vpright p. 1059man to bee peace: Bee not cast downe Plas. 37. 37my Soule, neither bee thou disquieted within mee: Hope in God, for I shall …sal. 43. 5.yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Oh, but mine heart is sicke: Oh, where is my deare and louing Pastour? His conference is most comfortable vntounto my Soule.

The Pastour.

I am heere Sir, waiting till I see the end of your Battell: I hauehave heard all your wordes with great contentment: I hauehave plainelie perceiued that Gods Angels these noble Spirits attend both to guide & to guarde you: God by the arme of his power hath brought you out of the thicket of thornes and pricking thistles of monie temptations: He who hath made all things in number, weight, and measure hath not surcharge your Soule aboue that which he hath made you able to beare.

God in great grace hath made you p. 1060first to know your selfe in your offences and miserie, and after that to know him in his Majestie and merciemercy: The Lord God in great kindnesse hath furnished you with firme Faith, constant Hope, and sincere LoueLove: He hath led you thorow many trauerses and perplexities: Now hauehave ye passed the most dreadfull & darkest houre of all your temptations.

Now the dawning of a new day approacheth, now labour might & maine to be prepared for you: GodMal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2 within a short space Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse that day spring from Luk. 1. 78.Luke 1:78on high shall arise vponupon your Soule neuer for to goe downe: Continue in your prayers to God, that he wold possesse your Soule with true hearted holinesse, without which no Soule shall see Gods face: What now Sir are yee doing?

The sicke Man.

My sillie Soule is heere waiting till Death come and open the prison p. 1061doore, y^t she may flee to her God & to her Contrie from whence she came: Fogs & mists arise before mine eys.

O my God, from the Throne of thy A prayerGrace r…ine downe vponupon my wearied Soule the refreshing showrs of thy most iender mercies: Vouchsafe vponupon mee some crummes of thy comforts.

Oh, that I had the wings of a do…e for to flee to the woundes of IesusPsal. 55. 6Ps 55:6 as to the holes of the Rock: **NoteMy poore Soule in this bodie is like a Bird in a Cage looking through the wyres, Faine would it bee free of this sinfull captiuitie.

O but my Soule panteth fast after my Sauiour: **NoteWhat now shall stay mee from my God, from my Christ, from my Father, & my brother, and my Comforter, & my dearest Darling of delight? I long to bee in Heauen the place of my rest: My desire is to goe to Goshen the Land of light, of Life, and of Libertie: Mine heart is fast linked vntounto Christ in louelove: O p. 1062Lord, what is man that thou art so mindfull of him.

O man what is God that thou art so forgetfull of him?A prayer

O my GOD, prepare mee to meete thee with a bruised Spirit: Melt my sinnes into sighes, and my troubles into teares: Let thy good Psal. 143. 10Ps 143:10Spirit leade mee into the Land of vp▪ rightnesse: Lord, let neuer this clay returne to clay till my Spirit be readie to goe to him that gaue it: O quicken & sharpen my care of heauen dulled and blunted with earthlie thoughts: Make sound wisedome and discretion to bee life vntounto my Prou. 3. 23Prov 3:23Soule and grace to my necke: Make my Soule trimme with that costly wedding Garment bought with thy Blood: O Iesus, the blessed Bridegroome, who hast by thy Gospel of Grace betrothed my Soule vntounto thee, in righteousnesse in judgement, Hos. 2. 19.Hos 2:19in louing kindnesse, & in mercies, come now and perfect the marriage in glory p. 1063before the Sainctes and Angels that are Psal. 16. 11Ps 16:11aboue, where pleasures are for euermore.

The Pastour.

Amen, Amen: The Spirit of God Sir is with you, & within you: Continue in such holie and heauenlie thoughtes: Contemne still the transitorie triffles of this world, that gladlie yee may desire to goe dwell with your God.

Naturallie all men are so stiffenecked, and so steele hearted that they cannot submit their will to the good pleasure of their God: O that men would bee wise in time, and could consider how they must bee accountable for euerie houre of time they hauehave imployed in their life! **NoteOur Soules, alas, are so sensuall, that they will not knit into acquaintance with Right and Reason, but like factious & ligged lieges rebell stifelie against their Lord: Hardlie will mans heart rander vntounto that petition which is often in his mouth, viz. Thy will bee p. 1064done in earth as it is in heauen: **NoteThe pride of mans heart perketh it selfe aboue the Lawes of humble obedience.

Blessed bee God, whose merciemercy hath made you a resolued man: such wordes as I hauehave heard of you were neuer teached in the Schoole of Nature: Nature cannot speake the language of Canaan: We hauehave nothing to rander vntounto God for his working mercies but the mites of praise.

O but ye are much beholden vntounto GOD, who hath endued your Soule with his louelove, & subdued the raging power of temptations whe… with your Soule at y^e first was caried lik chaffe or dust before a gale & mightie winde: O but your heart at the first was fearefullie hacked and mangled with most terrible temptations!

O but the Spirite of Iesus hath wrought wonderfullie within you: Now by him are ye made free from all the terrors of temptations which like venemous hornets did flie in your face.

p. 1065The sicke Man.

I finde now all that to bee true: Glade is my Soule that euer it knew that Lord: Full welcome is his Spirit to me: Christ is now my LoueLove & mine hearts delight: Hee hath ridde my Soule of all mine heauie-hearted thoughts: By his blessed Spirit hee hath perswaded mee, that my Soule hath a true and reall enterest in these blessed tidings of peace and Saluation, which hee by his Blood hath bought and broght from the Heauens.

O the merciemercy of my God! O the Ocean of his compassions, which hath swallowed vp the most hudge mountaines of mine iniquities! O what a redemption is this? to bee deliuered from so great a death? 2 Cor. 1. 102 Cor 1:10wherin the damned must die so long as God shall liue! **NoteO death of torments without anie end! O life of continuance without anie ease▪ O the immortalitie of that death, wherein sinners shall euer bee dying, but p. 1066neuer dead, wherein the least touch of paine cannot bee counteruailed with the millions of pleasures! O the tumbling and tossing that shall bee there where the wrath of God shall infinitelie burne!

Now Christ the Lord of life hath made mee free of all these fear…s: I hope shortlie to bee with him: I rejoyce in hope of the glorie of God: To him will I say as hee said to Zacheus, Today I must bide with thee: I longLuk. 19. 5.Luke 19:5 to bee out of this state of strife: My bodie is weake and mine …eart fainteth within mee.

O Lord, recreate and refresh myA prayer Soule with the blessed Blood of the Lambe orientle streaming thorow the channell of his wounds: GiueGive mee a constant assurance that all my sinnes are blotted out of thy Register: Where no woode is, there the fyre Prou 26. 20Prov 26:20goeth out: Where sin is taken away, there wrath ceaseth to bee: O Lord, conduct the Ruther of my Soule, till it p. 1067hath sailed thorow al the seas of sorrows and become to the Port of pleasures Psal. 16. 11Ps 16:11for euermore?

The Pastour.

Take courage and continue so: Lift vp your head, with the eye of Faith behold the other Shore, euen the Land beyond the riuer, The Psal. 143, 10Ps 143:10Land of vprightnes, Canaan which is aboue: Bend vp all your heart-strings with hauenlie desires: Fixe fast your eyes vponupon that Crowne of immortalitie: Let now all your thoughts claspe fast about the mercies of your God: Hee nowe imbraceth you, his hand is a sure hold fast, which neuer letteth slip, y^t which it once hath seized on: In al appearance your Battell is neare an end: Waite stedfastlie vponupon the Lord: Christ shortlie with a soft hand shal loose the knot of your life, that your Soule may goe free to the place of its rest, your Soule alreadie by the mercifull Arme of Iesus hath beene deliuered from the painefull p. 1068racke of repentance, and now is sette vponupon the rocke of your Saluation: The gracious God hath beene your Father, Feeder, and Defender: Your desirs which of before, were grappled to the ground, now only aspire to things which are aboue: **NoteAfflictions to the Soule is like the gade to the The Hebrewes called the Gad… Iudg. 3. 3 Malmad quod boves doceat arare.Judg 3:3Oxe a teacher of obedience.

Finde ye now the tempest of your Conscience so allayed as yee would wish? Is all calme and at quiet within? I hope that the blessed droppes of the Lambes Blood hauehave quenched that wilde fyre wherewith once your troubled Conscience was enflammed: Yee as I esteeme are no more troubled for your sinnes, as though God neither would nor were able to forgiue: I pray God that yee may boldlie say with a godlie Father.

What shall I returne vntounto my gracious God, that I darre nowS. Aug. looke my sinnes in the face, and not bee afraide?

p. 1069The sicke Man.

My sinnes, I blesse God, fright mee no more: O the rich bowels of Iesus wherein is a Myne of merciemercy.

I remember now of a sweete saying of a godlie mā on his death-bed.

**NoteWhen mine iniquities, saide hee, are greater than thy mercies, O God, then will I feare and despaire.

The comfortes of my God now refresh my Soule lik the Riuer of Siloah Isa. 8. 6.Isa 8:6that watered the Citie of God: I blesse God for all my try all & troubles which hee hath made to worke together to my well: **NoteGrace in the heart is often like fyre in flint insensible vntill it bee beaten.

It is good for vsus that wee bee afflicted: The bluenesse of the wound Prou. 20. 30Prov 20:30purgeth away euill: My Saluation now is surelie sealed by the hand of y^e Spirit: By his seale it is made sure and authenticall: O how my Soule hath with a bright eye discouered the fauours p. 1070of his face: **NoteO if God forsake a man, hee will shortlie with Iudas * Notepasse from the horror to the halter: O the mercies of God towards me.

The Pastour.

O how much are yee beholden vntounto God, who by his Spirit hath so directed your heart and mouth, with wordes perfumed with the sauour 2 Cor. 2▪ 162 Cor 2:16of life vntounto life, yee hauehave refreshed all our Soules as with a sweete breath: **NoteIf the Spirit of Grace guided not our tongues in our temptations, our mouths to our euerlasting shame, should breath out stiffe and stinking blastes of blasphemie against y^e Lord our Creator: Praised be the Name of the most High, who hath borne and broken that vnspeakable burden of wrath where with yee were surcharged at our first meeting.

The sicke Man.

Amen, Amen: Blessed bee the Name of Iesus: At that Name the knees of my Soule bowe in a most p. 1071humble manner to the ground, for to kisse it with my mouth a thousand times vponupon Conscience of my bygone miserie, and of his present merciemercy: All mine affections are set on foote and are so cheered and rauished with the louelove of my God, as no tongue can expresse.

O happie, & thrise happie change: **NoteOnce I feared damnation, nowe Christ is my Saluation: Once I sat in darknesse▪ hee is now my Light▪ Once I was in Death, hee is now my Life: Once I was in bondage, hee is now my Libertie: Once I was in want, hee is now my Wealth: Once I was in sicknesse, hee is nowe mine Health: Once I was in shame, hee is nowe my Glorie: What shall I say mo…e? Hee is mine onelie Deare, and and dearest heartes desire: Hee is my strongest Tower: I hauehave none other Arke to saue mee from the flood. Mine heart is prepared, mine heart is prepared: **NoteOh that I were where p. 1072without let I shall sing Halleluiah for euer, where all earthlie objects shall seeme but filthie abjects in comparison of him.

Now Sir I intreat you to conceiue another Prayer, that thereby as by the Charet of Elijah my Soule2 Kin▪ 2. 112 Kgs 2:11 may bee carried vp into Heauen: Commend my Soule into the hands of Christ the Redeemer: Yee the Lords Priest stand still with the Arke till my Soule hath passed the Iordan for to enter into Canaan.A prayer

O Lord Iesus, pittie this poore Soule that panteth at thy feete, draw it out of this clogge of clay: B…e with mee vntounto the end: Graue thine owne shape deepe within mine heart, that it may bee in judgement as a piece of euidence, that the Heauens are mine heritage: O look vponupon mee, who am heere, waiting vponuponTit, 2. 13 that blessed hope: Comfort & refresh mee with the sweetest breath of thy blessed Spirit: Set my sillie. Soule upon Pisga the sight hill of Canaan: p. 1073Guarde mee with the invinsible troopes of thine Angels: O thou whose Name and Nature is merciemercy, take my wearied Soule and lull it sweetelie in the softest armes of thy most tender compassions.

Ioyne your prayers vntounto mine: The effectuall feruant prayer of a righteous Iam. 5. 16.Jas 5:16man auaileth much.

The Pastour.

According to your desire Sir wee shall worsle with God in prayer that your end may bee peace.Psal. 37. 37Ps 37:37

The Lord gather all our scatteredA prayer thoughts, that beeing as twisted together into one threede, they may be likeEccles. 4. 12Eccl 4:12 the three-fold corde which is not easilie broken, powerfull to draw downe Gods Graces from aboue.

Let vsus pray.

A Prayer for the sick mā.

O Lord, settle earnest prayer in our Soules vponupon true sense of p. 1074our neede: Let not our prayers be tumultuous: Tune thou our words by thy Spirit, while our lips walke, make our hearts to moue: Preserue vsus from vaine babyling, lest our prayers Psal. 109, 7Ps 109:7bee turned into sinne.

O God, the God of all Spirites who hast the keyes of Heauen and of Hell: Thou steeketh and no man openeth: Thou openeth and no man steeketh: Open now thy mercifull doores vntounto this poore Soule which panteth after thee as the chassed Hart Psal. 41. 1Ps 41:1panteth after the water brookes: Let none of his sinnes stand betweene thy face and him for to ecclipse his Soule the light of thy countenance: Seale vp in his heart by thy Spirit▪ y^e free & full forgiuenes of all his transgressions. Thou who by the vertue of thy death made y^e vaile of the Temple Matth. 27. 51.Matt 27:51to rent for to mak an open way to the Holie of holies, mak also the partition wall of all his iniquities to cleaue from the toppe to the bottome, that his p. 1075Soule remoued from his bodie, may get entrie to the Highest and holiest of the Heauens where thine honour dwelleth: Make thy Graces in him to growe like Elias his cloud which at the first no bigger than an hand, at last by and by did ouer spread the whole skie. Sanctifie his Soule and soften his heart, with the diuine dew of thy Grace: Say vntounto his Soule, I am thy Saluation: Behold, Lord, his Soule is seeking thee, let nothing in his search carie him on the by.

Keepe fast in his remembrance the blessed bloodie passion of his Redeemer Iesus: When Death shall come, let him die with thy Christ in his Armes.

Strengthen and increase his desire to be dissolued, assuring him that it shalbe much better for him: Furnish him with strength, whereby he may row against the strictest streams of all temptations, till hee arriue into the hauen of the Heauens▪ the sole p. 1076and safe harberie of Saluation.

And seeing no vncleane thing can enter into Heauen, Lord, wash this thy seruant, and wash him throughlie, that by the vertue of thy Blood, his sinnes though they were red like scarlet and crimson, may bee Isa. 1. 18.Isa 1:18made white like wooll, and whiter than the snow. Pull off his Soule the menstrous cloath of his owne righteousnes, and cloth him with the righteousnes, of him whose statelie style is, THEIer. 23. 6.Jer 23:6 LORD OVR RIGHT TEOVSNES.

Thou who hast alreadie added strength vntounto his Faith while it was scant like a smoking flaxe, let not theIsa. 42. 3.Isa 42:3 sparkle which once thou hast kindled for euer bee quenched: Amid the sight of his sins, make him to lay hold vponupon the merite and full satisfaction of his Sauiour: Let him with all the Faithfull receiue of that fulnesse, Ioh. 1. 16.John 1:16and grace for grace.

And seeing nowe, Lord, hee is comming vntounto thee thorow the snakie p. 1077fielde of manie temptations, letteEccles. 6. 15Eccl 6:15 his feete bee shod with the preparation of thy Gospel: Thou, Lord, wilt neuer suffer anie that trust in thee to bee confounded: Hee followed thee constantlie in his life, nowe let thy Spirit tryst him at y^e houre of death: Hee disclaimeth all hope of helpe by anie other than by thy selfe alone: Though hee knoweth not perfectlie what to say, yet his eyes are on thee: Thou who is Alpha and Omega hast begunne this good worke in him, crowne it with the perfection of thy goodnesse: Let him more & more feele that hee is euerlastinglie acquite by the Blood of the Lambe from the terrors of Gods Tribunall: Refresh his Soule more and more with celestiall spirituall joyes proceeding from the Spirit of Grace: Let him feele himselfe assuredlie knit & vnited to thee: O thou preseruer of men▪ that in and by thee hee may be presented blamelesse before thy p. 1078Majesties Iustice-seate.

Furnish his minde with light, and his memorie with strength, that hee may vnderstand and remember that Christes death is an absolute and all sufficient Sacrifice for remouing the guilt of all repenting sinners: Shewe him a signe of thy louelove: Multiplie in his heart the pledges of thy kindnes: Make him faithfull vntounto death, that hee may receiue the Crowne of life.

Thou hast alreadie subdued in him alloue and liking of this world: Nowe graunt that the hope of that glorie, which is to bee reuealed, may bee so strong in his Soule, that it may shield and fence him from the force and furie of the last assaults: The nearer he draweth vntounto death, inlarge the chanell of thy graces like a Riuer which is broadest towards the end of its course: Make his heart in the …orest pangs of death to bee still lifted vp towards thee.

And seeing Death and the Deuill p. 1079mans two last enemies are euer busie the one for to fright, the other for to tempt: Prepare him, Lord, and furnish him so with thy Graces, that hee may proue victorious in this last assault.

O gracious GOD, assist him by thy force against the most violent blustering winds of the last and most fearefull temptations: If Satan looke in at the doores of his heart, seeking for an entrie, let him neuer get so much as one chamber-roome set a part for his sojourning: Make thy grace vntounto him like a Sunne, like a Bridegroome comming out of hisPsal. 19. 5,Ps 19:5 Chamber to disperse the darknesse of his mistie minde.

VntoUnto his last gaspe direct him so by thy good Spirit, that his Soule may cleaue so fast vntounto thee y^t neither sinne, nor sicknesse, life, nor death▪ may bee able to separate him from thee: Thogh thou shuld slay him yet wil hee trust in thee: Faile him not now p. 1080in time of neede: vphold his heart in this heauie houre: Let his Soule lurke vnderunder the winges of thy merciemercy, till the tempest of wrath bee calmed & past ouer: Bee thou to him a shelter against the heauie showers of the last agonie.

O gracious Lord, in wrath remember Hab. 8. 2.merciemercy: In the multitude of thy compassions blot out his transgressions, and that for the dearest drops of that sacred Blood that gushed vponupon the cursed crosse: Rinse and cleanse his heart from all vncleannes: GiueGive him courage in his greatest fears: Let not Death bee vntounto him as a king of feare, nor hee as one of the wicked, whose hope doeth perish with their breath: O Lord, let thy Name bee vntounto him like a strong tower for to hid him into the time of trouble: Let this bee the cleare candle of his comfort neuer to bee quenched, that Christ by his death hath for him and all the Faithfull, ouercome Death p. 1081and disarmed it of its sting: Declare by the inward motion of thy Spirit to his Soule, that the nature of death by the death of Christ is changed into a sleepe vntounto all the friends of Christ, who by the infinite power of his diuine Nature, hath swallowed it vp in victorie, and hath so digested it, that now the bitternesse thereof is past.

As the Arke was to Noah, and Zoar vntounto Lot, so bee thou a refuge to this faithfull Soule fighting thy battels, not onelie against flesh and Ephes▪ 6. 12Eph 6:12blood, but against principalities and powers, against the gouernours of darknesse of this world, and against spirituall wickednesse in high places: Let thy strength bee made perfect in his weaknesse: As thou hast vp holden him hitherto by the strength of thy Spirit, so continue with him vntill the end: The battell is the Lords, fight Lord, for thine own cause, euē for this Soule one of thy redeemed p. 1082Ones: obtaine thou the victorie, and take the glorie to thy selfe. O God, both of grace and glorie seale surely vp in his bosome the pardon of all his iniquities: Perfect the comfortes which thou hast begunne, say vntounto his Soule; That heauen is not so high, nor hell so low, nor the world so wide, as are thy mercies towards him: All thy creatures hauehave their owne dimensions, but thy merciemercy, Lord, like thy selfe is without measure: Out of these infinite compassions make this sillie Soule partaker of the dearest mercies that euer rould together, the relenting bowels of thy tenderest louelove.

Heare vsus, Lord, in all these our sutes, and that for the sake of thy best beloued and onelie begotten Sonne the Lord Iesus Christ, in whose Name, and at whole command wee powre out our heartes to thee in that prayer which by his own sacred and most blessed mouth hee hath taught vsus, Our Father, &c.

p. 1083The sicke Man.

Lord, heare thou in Heauen: Blessed for euer be thy Name, for such spirituall comfortes, for so manie mercies, I can rander nothing but the little mites of praise and thankesgiuing.

Mine heart is filled with songs of Gods merciemercy: If his Spirit of grace had not vpholden mee in my first feares while (as I thought) I was wrapped into an infinite wrath, I had certainelie beene swallowed vp with ouermuch sorrow: But now blessed eternallie bee the Lord who hath made the earth to swallow vp all the floodes of temptations and tribulations, which that red Dragon the Deuill a bloodie murtherer hath cast out of his mouth after mee for to carrie my Soule down head-longs to perdition: Now finde I Gods word to bee true, that hee is ouercome Reuel. 12. 11Rev 12:11by the Blood of the Lambe: Except that the Lord had beene on my p. 1084side, O in what a dumbe dumpe had my poore Soule beene driuen into ere now.

The Pastour.

Hee who followed aaGen. 3. 8Gen 3:8Adam thorow the thicke bushes, and bbIno…. 2, 1Ionas in the bottome of the sea, Hee who ccGen. 32. 29Gen 32:29blessed the crooked man, and made the dd1 Sam. 1. 181 Sam 1:18barren fertile, and the eeLuk. 1. 62Luke 1:62dumbe to speake, the ffLuk. 7. 22Luke 7:22deafe to heare, and the ggIoh. 9. 7.John 9:7blind to see, hath made his grace perfect in your weaknesse: He best feeleth the pulse of our heartes and the force of our life.

Loth would hee bee to breake the Isa. 42. 3…Isa 42:3bruised reede, or to quench the smoking flaxe: **NoteAll men by nature are but like an vncleane Dung-hill of drosse, their heartes at the first are but a den of Dragons: But so soone as the Spirit of grace hath begunne to drawe the draughts and lineamentes of Gods image within the soule of a man, nothing shall bee able to deface or mangle that liuelie image: To all sorts of p. 1085temptations Gods wisedome shall finde an out-gate: **NoteNeither the traines of Sathan, nor the treason of our bosome sinnes, nor the terrors of hell, nor the trashes of the world shall euer be able to preueale againstpsal. 16. 3. Adirim Gods excellent Ones: According as Zacharias filled with the holie Ghost prophecied, It is granted vntounto vsus that wee beeing deliuered Luk. 1. 14.Luke 1:14out of the handes of our enemies, may serue him without feare.

The sicke Man.

I blesse God for such inestimable comforts: Sathan hath shrewdlie assaulted mee, but could not preuaile: My corruptions hauehave beene subdued and awed by the Majestie of the Spirit of Iesus: My Soule rejoyceth in GOD: In the merites of Christ as in a glasse I see him a meeke & a mercifull Father: I am not now afraide to come to a tryall at his Tribunall, I am no more dismayed for the vnquencheable flammes of the fierie lake.

p. 1086I thinke certainelie that there was neuer a man so much beholden to my God as I am: Truelie may I sing with the Psalmest, I waited patientlie Psal. 40. 1Ps 40:1or the Lord, and hee inclined vntounto mee, and heard my cry: Hee vers. 2.brought me out of an horrible pitte, out of the myrrie clay, and set my feete vponupon a Rocke, and established my goings: He hath put a new song into my mouth, vers. 3.euen praise vntounto our God: many shall see it and feare, and shall trust in the Lord.

O that I had breath for the setting foorth of his praise! Happie is he who while he may vtter words, praiseth God continuallie: Blessed is that man who may call his tongue his Glorie: **NoteO my Soule, I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hindes of the fielde, that thou cease not to praise his Might▪ his MercieMercy, and his Majestie: O my Soule, take heede and listen vntounto his voyce: O Iesus, the great Deputie of merciemercy sent by p. 1087the Father, forsake mee not in this heauie houre.

Now I sore sicken, so that all naturall▪force faileth me: My words now so wea…ie mee, that I thinke ere it be long this bodie shall bee lodged in the place of silence: But let mee intreate you Sir; so long as ye shall perceiue life to bee in mee, let it please you to continue in some good purpose concerning the world to come: By some holie discourse rouse vp my drousie Spirit, hold mine heart vponupon an edge: Let me not die like a senselesse Nabal, of whom it is written, that his heart died within him, so that 1 Sam. 25 37.1 Sam 25:37hee became like a stone: Manie blindlie and boldlie rush into hell.

I beseech you Sir: to waite well vponupon mee till yee see the ende: I thinke that ere it bee long my Soule shall bee at the farthest tryst.

O Lord, warme my frozen SouleA prayer with the sense of the kindled compassions of the bowels of thy louelove▪ p. 1088Inlighten my mistie minde & cleare it with thy countenance: Bee thou the comforter of my Conscience, vntil the day break and the shadows flie Cant. 4 6.Song 4:6away.

Take now Sir my Soule into the armes of your prayers, lift it vp and lay it into that blessed bosome of my Lordes mercies: Bend yet againe your knees before God in prayer, that hee for his mercies sake would receiue mee into my Masters joye: O but my Soule fluttereth fast within mee for to bee at my God: Let it please you to bee feruent in prayer for mee, that I may foile vnderunder my feete the Deuill, Death, and all the powers of hell: The Deuill in death will not faile to giuegive mee a furious assault at the chiefest fortresse of my Saluation, for to batter it downe to the ground: Intreate the Lord that his merciemercy may bee a strong rempart and a blessed Bul-wark against all the Engines of hell which are readie bent p. 1089to waste and hauock all Gods graces within mee.

O Lord, campe thine Angels aboutA prayer mee: Place thy Pauilions of war betweene mee and mine enemies: Refresh mee more and more with thy comforts: GiueGive mee the earnest of these joyes which passe all vnderstanding: Possesse mee with the Spirit of gladnesse, for that thou in merciemercy hast forgiuen mee my sinnes: Continue so vntounto the end, that in the heauens for euer this may be the burden of my song, For his merciemercy Psal. 136. 1 2. 3. &c.Ps 136:1indureth for euer.

Let it please you Sir on whome God hath vouchsafed the Spirit of Prayer in a good and great measure, to assist mee with your comforts and prayers, lest by temptations I should beginne to slacke off my care and watchfulnesse.

The Pastour.

Hold fast your eye vponupon Christ your Redeemer: Follow him thorow p. 1090the valey of death, for hee hathPsal. 23, 4Ps 23:4 not onelie pointed out our path, but asHeb. 2. 10,Heb 2:10 Captaine of our Saluation, hath troden eueryevery steppe before vsus: Yee may well sticke a little in the narrow throate of Death, but that one steppeGen. 26. 22Gen 26:22 being past yee enter into Rehoboth a place of roome, farre from the reekie smoke, vaine shadowes, and dreames of earthlie vanitie, and perishing pleasures: **NoteBee glad Sir, to flit from this barren moorish ground and muddie mortalitie for to goe to a paradise, Psal. 16. 11Ps 16:11a Palace, a place of pleasures for euermore. According to your desire wee shall returne to God by prayer.

A Prayer for the sicke man drawing neare to the doores of death.

O Father of mercies and God of all comforts in whom all goodnesse and graces are treasured, let it p. 1091please thee fauourablie to regard the soule of this thy seruant here, whose heart panteth after thee, as the wearied Hart panteth after the water brookes: Refresh his Soule with thePsal. 42. 1.Ps 42:1 diuine dew of thy grace till it bee entered in at the gates of Glorie: Powre into his hearte the sweete streames of thy louelove: Settle his soule in a right and vpright course, so long as it remaineth in this mistie & muddie mortalitie, send out thy light and guide it by thy Grace, till it hath passed the straites of Death for to enter into the Land of vprightnes. O Father of mercies, perswade him by thy Spirit, that the comming of Death shall bee to him a time of discharge, a time of freedome from sicknes of bodie, anguish of Spirit, trouble of Conscience, and from all possibilitie of sinning anie more: Let him know that while hee is going to the Graue, hee is going to a bedde of ease, where most quietlie heIsa. 57. 2.Isa 57:2 p. 1092shall rest from all his toylesome labours.

Turne all feare of Death into a chearefull expectation, and longing for the houre of dissolution: Make quiet his Conscience, that he may die with comfort. O thou Sauiour of mankind, whose boweles are filled with mercifull compassions, spreade the wing of thy righteous garment ouer this Soule of thy seruant: Thou hast shaken him with thy terrours in diuerse assaults: Thou hast broght him low for to make him a fitte passenger for the little doore which leadeth vntounto Glorie.

Leaue him not now, Lord, in his greatest neede: Make thine Angels camped about him, powerfully to assist him against al the last assaults of y^t euill one: Thou who hast heard all his groanes, registrat thou his sighs, and put all his teares into thy bottels, suffer not thy kindled zeale to coole in him: In an holie despaire of p. 1093his owne worth, make him whollie to relye vponupon thy meere mercies in Christe, the onelie salue for sicke Soules, and remeed for broken bones.Psal. 51. 8Ps 51:8

While hee is weakest, work with thy Spirit feelinglie and powerfullie into his hearte: Subdue euerie euill motion that may arise therein for the troubling of his soule: Draw vp his desire aboue the pitch of all natural knowledge: Banish all earthlie thinges cleane out of his minde, and make all his thoughts to attend vponupon thee: In thy diuine might rebuke Sathan, that hee interrupt not thy comforts: Let him not bee able by his secret craft and vyles to steale from him the pledges of thy louelove.

O Sonne of GOD, O Sunne of Mal. 4. 2Mal 4:2Righteousnes, send a quickning heate with a shining light into his sillie Soule: Make thy blessed Beames to strik on his heart for to warme it with thy louelove: Set all his desires a floate p. 1094from the moode of sinful mortalitie: Thou at diuerse times hast affrighted him fearefullie with dreadfull visitatations of Conscience: His Soule hath bene sore racked with y^e pitifull perplexities of a vexed minde: Now death is approaching: Sight & senses & all are failing, but thou Lord will neuer faile him: While the naturall eyes of his bodie beginne to growe dimme, then cleare thou the spirituall eyes of his soule, that hee may with Stephen see the heauens opened, Act. 7. 56.Acts 7:56and the Sonne of man readie to receiue him: And alwayes, Lord, as the time of death shall approach, so let his Soule draw nearer vntounto thee, that while sicknesse shall take away the vse of his tongue, his heart may cry to thee, Come Lord Iesus come, in thine hands I resigne my Spirit.

Nowe Father of mercies, seeing thy Girnels are prepared for him, by the power of thy grace fanne this Corne cleane from its chaffe that it p. 1095may bee treasured vp therein: Put his life in a readinesse, that hee may giuegive thee a chearefull account of all wherein hee hath imployed thy Talents: Let him heare these words of joye, Faithfull seruant come and enter in thy Masters joye.

Long hath his Soule beene wooing the heauens with weake fluttering desires: Nowe open the window of thine Arke and let in this wearied Doue crouding for thy Rest Manie depthes bee betweene vsus and heauen: One deepth calleth vponupon another deepth, for flesh and blood there is no possibilitie of passing thorowe: But, Lord, that which is impossible with men is possible with thee: Let therefore the vertue of thy death be to him like a Bridge for to sette him safe ouer all the gulfes of miserie: In his journey to thy Kingdome remoue all rubbes out of the way.

O Lord, listen to our cry: Put these our vnworthy prayers into thy p. 1096golden Censer: Perfume them with the incense of thy righteousnesse, and offer them vp to thy Father vponupon the Altar of thy diuinitie: And thou Fatherof mercies, for the merites of thy Son his all sauing death which hee hath suffered for al repēting sinners: Receiuein mercy this Soule which Sathan hath sought to sift: Receiue the deare price of the Blood of thy Son: Let thy Iustice say, I am satisfied: Let thy merciemercy so smile vponupon him, that it may bee the health of his countenance and the comfort of his Conscience: While hee shall finish his course, finish thou his Faith with perfection whereby hee may die, hauing a settled assurance of that blessed Inheritance and massie Crowne of immortalitie, which Christ hath conquised by his bloodie merites: To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace, bee all Glorie, honour, dominion and euerlasting power for now and euer, Amen.

p. 1097The sicke Man.

Lord heare thou in Heauen. O blessed God, and Father of eternity, A prayerseeing my time nowe is short, giuegive mee grace to manage it well: Shute not thine eares to my sighes, while my tong in the jawes of death shall cleaue fast to the roofe of my mouth: O follow me with thy fauours, euē thorow the valey of the shadow of death: O Lord, because thou art faithfull, & cannot lie, I look shortlie to receiue in hand that which I hauehave in hope: O come now and put an ende to the dayes of my vanitie.

The Pastour.

Blessed & magnified be the Lord of eternitie for such wonderfull mercies towards you: **NoteHe most powerfullie & most wonderfully hath brought you back from the corrupt course of Nature, as a Boat rowed against the streame by the force of Armes and of Oares: Behold, now ye approch vntounto your Heauen Be of good heart Sir, ye are neare vntounto your rest, the place ofPsal. 16. 11Ps 16:11 pleasures for euermore.

p. 1098Nowe seeing the ende draweth neare, yee hauehave to remember well if yee hauehave anie grudge against anie; that before yee decease, they may be fetcht and friended with you.

The sicke Man.

I wish all men to be well: I hope that no man wisheth otherwise to mee: **NoteMy desire was neuer either to reuile or to reuenge: I am readie to satisfie where I hauehave failed, and to forgiue where I hauehave receiued the greatest wrong: Mans wronges against mee are but light in comparison of my wickednes against God: **NoteHee is not worthie that God shuld forgiue him his sinnes who will not forgiue his neighbour an injury: My good God hath forgiuen mee all: As hee hath forgiuen mee, so I forgiue all men, and desire the lik to be done by others vntounto mee: **NoteMy Soule abhorreth these words of ranckour, I may forgiue him, but I will not forgete him: The softning Spirit of God p. 1099cannot dwell where there is such stonie steelie hardnesse of heart.

O Fountaine of Grace, powre the powers of thy Spirit within my breast, A prayerthat, my Soule, may bee refreshed with thy blessed balmie comfortes of sauing grace: Draw vp my spirit toward the Tabernacles of immortalitie: O when Psal 42. 2,Ps 42:2shall I come and appeare before God! Put to the Spure to this dull jadde of my foggie flesh, that I may make more haste in my journey.

The Pastour.

Lord, heare thou in heauen.

Seeing God hath blessed you with Wealth, I doubt not but that ye will doe some thing for the well of Colledges & Hospitales: **NoteColledges are the Seminaries or seede-plotes of vertues, out of which come these who become Rulers of the Church & Common-wealth: Hospitals are shelters for the poore the friendes of Christ: Christs counsell to the rich is that they make friendes of the Mammon of Luk. 16. 9,Luke 16:9vnrighteousnes: p. 1100Such words were not spoken by our Lord without great and weightie reasons.

The sicke Man.

All these things were done in my Testament, while I put mine house to an order: I hauehave not forgot that point of duetie: Hee is not worthy to be called a faithfull man who leaueth not behind him some fruits of his Faith: **NoteThat Faith which cannot justifie a man by good works before men, will neuer justifie his soule before God: Remember mee, O Lord, Nehem. 13 14Neh 13:14cōcerning this, & wipe not away my good deedes which I hauehave done for thy glory.

Let men dreame of Saluation as they please, S. Iames his precept is, that men shewe their Faith by their Iam. 2. 18.Jas 2:18workes: **NoteThough Pharisees doe all that they doe for to bee seene, men must not in mens sight forbeare to doe well: Because Hypocrites come to preaching & prayers publicklie, true Israelites for that must not sitte at p. 1101home: The Godlie must not bee so base in heart as to abstaine from all publicke good, because the wicked worshippe but outwardlie: Shewes without substance in some, should not bee able to banish the shewes of substance from others.

The Pastour.

Indeede Sir yee speake wiselie: As the tree is first seene in the budde and then in the flourish, and after in the fruite, so muste the life of manMatth. 21. 9Matt 21:9 bee: Because the barren figge tree had nothing but leaues, the fruitfull tree must not grow bare, the leaues of the tree hauehave their owne vse among the fruites: So hauehave godlie shewes good vses when they are joyned with true substance: **NoteThe Faith of a Christian should not think shame to shew her faire face, because Hypocrisies face seemeth to be faire while it is fairded: No not: God will hauehave true faith to come out, that the world may see her into works: Shew p. 1102mee thy Faith by thy workes: ChristIam. 2, 18Jas 2:18 who desireth that the niggard or ambitious Matth. 6. 4Matt 6:4left hand know not or see not the liberalitie of the charitable right hand, commandeth that wee let ou… light so shine before men, that they may Matth. 5. 16Matt 5:16see our good works, and glorifie our Father which is in heauen.

The graces of Gods Spirit in a man are like a light candle: No man light a Candle, and put it vnderunder a bushell, but on a Candle-sticke, & it giuethLuk. 11. 33Luke 11:33 light to all that are in the house: **NoteThe good life of the godlie man should bee like a Citie sette on an hill Matth. 5. 14Matt 5:14which cannot bee hid: **NoteThe labourer soweth not his seede on the ground that it may still remaine hidde vnderunder the cloddes; neither doeth God sow his graces in our heartes that there they may lu…k & still abide secret: **NoteI like not these who feare to seeme godlie left they should bee thought to be Hypocrites: Euen in that are they Hypocrites, that for feare they seeme to affect godlinesse, will not p. 1103doe good that may bee seene which would moue the true Israelits to glorifie our Father in heauen, yea, and also allure these to come to God who as yet are strangers from the Commonwealth of Israel.

I confesse that fewe bee troubled with such a feare: It is a sin whereof verie few in this Land are guiltie, yet seeing it is a sinne, it would bee carefullie auoided: **NoteBecause Papists whollie relye on their workes, Protestants with great scandale will onelie bragge of their Faith: Thus both the one and the other against the truth of doctrine separate that which God hath joyned together.

The sicke Man.

O Lord, GOD of gods, O Father of euerlasting compassions, whose blessed A prayerbowels did bleede vponupon the crosse for to saue sinners, pittie heere a fraile & feeble creature yet tugging and wrestling in the Barras of this sinfull flesh: Furnish mee with strength, p. 1104whereby I may surmount and vanquish all difficulties which are betweene my Soule and the place of its euerlasting rest: I am weake, forbeare mee, Lord, in thy great merciemercy: Ioyne thy Grace with my grief…: O that I were with my Christ, the Marke whereat I aime, the Port whereto I saile, the rest of my desires: Let thy good Spirit, O Lord, assist mee: Let thy fauour and grace bee my vade-mecum till I come to thy Glorie: O who shall giuegive to my soule the wings of a Doue, that it mayPsal. 55. 6Ps 55:6 flee out of the Douket of this bodie vp to its God: O deare Sauiour, setCant. 8 6. Cant. 1. 4,Song 8:6Song 1:4 mee as a seale vponupon thine heart: Draw mee and wee shall runne after thee: Holde mine heart aloft, that it may onelie minde the things aboue.

The Pastour.

Lord, heare thou in heauen, and grant the sute of thy seruant: I feare Sir that yee bee wearied with speaking: As I perceiue yee force your p. 1105selfe in your words aboue the reach of your strength: Seeing yee trauell thus in paine of your speach, spend the little space of life that resteth in holie meditations concerning the bloodie wounds of Christ your Sauiour.

The sicke Man.

Christ now is onelie my comfort: I louelove him with the best bowels of mine heart: In the bowels of his merciemercy I reade by the eye of Faith most faire lines of his louelove, all written in great Capitall letters of an heauenlie impression: **NoteChrist is to mee in stead of all, for alreadie in my neede hee hath stood mee in more stead than all.

O in what a pitifull plight my sillie and forlorne Soule was once into! Bl…ssed bee hee for euermore who in so great kindnesse hath shined vponupon me with y^e blessed, bright, and vnspotted beames of his mercy.

O but my Soule panteth after him! Oh, how this heart of mine p. 1106is euill to breake! What a piece of clammie teugh clay is this that settereth so my Soule, that by no meanes can it bee loosed from it, that it may soare vp to its God, from griefe to glorie: O that I were with him with whom I shall not want the thing that I can wish: Now, Lord, the time is come; pull off mee the dull wiede of sinfull mortalitie and cloath my soule in white with the Robe of Christes righteousnesse, that it may followe the Lambe: O but I am wearied: My Soule longeth to see the Face of my God.

The Pastour.

Waite vponupon the Lords will, when it is time hee will open the prison doore and let your Soule flie vp to your Glorie: Thinke on Heauen still:**Note Mount vp your minde to your Maker, who shall shortlie roofe with Glorie the graces which hee hath reared vp into your heart: Let the hope of these thinges hearten you p. 1107in the mudde and myre of this sinfull mortalitie.

The sicke man.

O Lord, pittie this Soule, whichA prayer I hauehave defiled and defaced with scarlet transgressions and crimsin iniquities. Thou hast begunne the good worke in me: It is now neere to perfection: Put to now the last hand, and perfect the worke: Rub out perfectlie with the Blood of thy Lambe the least staines which sticke in my Soule, that while thou shalt look vponupon mee, thou may know mee to bee thy redeemed one by the stampe of thine owne Image.

O Lord, fixe mine heart so intoA prayer thine owne heart, that nothing bee able to pull it out, without pulling out thine owne: It hath beene like a crooked twigge, O writh it so nowe the right way, that it may bee according to thine owne heart.

p. 1108The Pastour.

Lord, heare thou in Heauen, and graunt the sute of thy Seruant: Let nothing bee able to tickle, tempt, or trouble his Soule.

Be of good heart Sir, the Battell is neare an end: Fight out the good fight, finish your course, and keepe the Faith, hence-foorth is laide vp for you a Crowne of righteousnesse which2 Tim. 4 82 Tim 4:8 the LORD shall giuegive you at that day. Make now full proofe of your courage, which shall shortlie be couered with a Crown. Hold out still in your holie exercise till your change come.

The sicke Man.

I wearie of this cottage of claye: I am at a point with all that is vnderunder the Sunne: I care not for this worlds fauour, no more for its frowne: But O but my Soule longeth to be with my Lord, that I may see his face with fulnesse of joye.Psal, 16. 11

O thou with whom nothing is impossible,A prayer p. 1109make the scales of mortalitie to fall from mine eyes, that I may fee thee before euen as thou art: My Soule longeth to be out of this myry lak of miserie, for to dwell with thee into the Pallace of immortalitie: O when shall I get ridde of these sinfull bonds! O Sauiour of mankind giuegive eare vntounto my sute: Deliuere mee from this seeming life, that I may die to liue the life of ple…sures for euermore: O drawe, drawe out this Soule entombed into this bodie: Before thou separate them s…ale surelie thy pardons within my Conscience, and doe perfectlie away all my transgressions: Guarde mee & assist mee and harnesse my Soule against Sathan his last on-sette.

Let my Soule graspe with an holy greedinesse in the hand of Faith, such spirituall comforts as thou, O Lord, makest to come from the boundlesse and bottomelesse fountaine of thy merciemercy toward all these p. 1110whō thouloueth: Let my soule feele more and more sensiblie these mercies which fairelie & oriently streame thorow the bloodie wounds of my blessed Sauiour Iesus the …: wash and bath my drooping Soule in the well of life: GiueGive vntounto it a drinke of the riuers of thy pleasures.

O Lord of louelove, shedde thy louelove into mine heart thorow the bleeding bowels of my blessed Sauiour: O blessed Redeemer of lost mankinde, O Pelicane of pittie, whose heart did euer melt with m…rcifull compassions, pittie my Soule in this painefull plight: Mine heart strings are racked, my bowels are rent, the house of the Soule is falling downe, nowe open the doore of thine euerlasting Tabernacles, that my Soule may goe from Grace to Glorie: Make the power of thy louelove like a load stone for to draw mine heart after thee from the mudde of this mortalitie.

p. 1111The Pastour.

Lord, heare thou in heauen, andA prayer fulfill the sute of thy Seruant, burie all his sinnes and his sorrowes in the bottomelesse sea of thy merciemercy: Entombe in the Tombe of Iesus where they may lye for euer without anie hope of a resurrection.

The sicke Man.

I waite for the Lord, my Soule doe…h … sal. 130. 5waite & in his word doe I hope: My soule vers. 6waiteth for the Lord, more thā they that watch for the morning: I say, More thā they that watch for the morning: My Soule is wearied of this earthlie Tabernacle:Psal. 42. 2.Ps 42:2 O when shall I come and appeare before God? O that I were at my wished home: O nowe moue the poole of thy merciemercy, and moue my Soule to runne into it.

The Pastour.

It is likly that within an hou…e God shall grant you your desire: Could not Matth. 26. 40Matt 26:40you watch with mee but an houre? said Christ to his Disciples: Yee hauehave nowe but an houres absence from p. 1112your God: Yee hauehave but an houres voyage from the bodie to the sight of Gods face the place of your rest: Fixe fast your eyes vponupon the Crowne of immortalitie, till your Soule be past from toilesome Time to Eternitie: Yet a little while & God shall retire you from the tyring trauels of this life: Watch but an houre, and your end shall bee peace.Psa. 37. 37Ps 37:37

The sicke Man.

The Lorde sende a good houre wherein I may lay downe the loade of this mortalitie: Alas, manie an houre hauehave I euill and idlie spent in pam pering this foggie flesh with the light and loose pleasures of this life.

O Spirite of Grace, drawe neareA prayer vntounto my Soule: Make thy residence into this broken heart: Correct, cure, and couer all the corruptions of my Nature. Beginne and end & crowne the worke with thy goodnes: At last close in me thy graces with thy glorie: O make mine eyes to see, and p. 1113mine armes to carrie and mine heart to bee filled with thy Saluation: Conuoye vntounto my Soule the warmest blood that euer heated the heart of Iesus: Let that euer recking blood wherein is a Sauour of life vntounto life: Comfort and vp-holde my Soule in this last heauie houre.

Now Sir, seeing the end draweth neare, helpe mee to spend well this houre, which in all appearance shall be my last: I wish that all my thoghts and affections bee nowe so bended toward my God that they neither sway nor swerue from him by anie idle wandering of minde.

O Thou that art high and excellent A prayerIsa. 57. 15.Isa 57:15who dwellest in the high and holie place: Thogh thou be high, thy promise is to dwell also with him y^t is of a contrite & humble spirit: According to thy promise reuiue the Spirit of the humble, and giuegive life to him that is of a contrite heart: O Lord, according to thy wonted grace make mee p. 1114in my last agonie, to possesse my Soule in peace and patience: Disapoint Satan in all his craftie fetches: O couer this sillie Turtle vnderunder the mantle of thy merciemercy: All other couerings are but light and slight like Spiders webbes which cannot endure the breath and blast of thy mouth.

The Pastour.

Lord, hearken thou in heauen, & giuegive eare vntounto the sute of thy Se…uāt.

I perceiue indeede that now your words wearie you: Lest yee faint I shall tak the speach vponupon me: If it be your will I shall let you heare a most diuine discourse taken from a godly preacher on his death-bed, y^e words surely are weighty & of great power: If ye please I shal let you heare them, while I speake them, meditate yee, and in your minde make them your owne wordes.

The sicke Man.

I intreate your Sir, for to let mee heare them: I shall follow you in p. 1115mine heart as I can: I finde that my tongue almost now faileth mee.

O God, while I heare, let the Spirit of grace take harbour into mine heart: A prayerSet all mine affections on bensell, that I may carefullie giuegive eare vntounto thy comfortes the cordials of thy Gospel: O cleare the sight of my minde, dazeled with the mist of my corrupt affections.

The Pastour.

Lord, heare thou in heauen, and forgiue the sinnes of thy seruant.

After this manner Sir, the man of Quis hic fuit non liquet.God spake vponupon his death-bedde.

I owe to God a death, as his Son died for mee: Euer since I was borne I hauehave beene sayling to this Hauen, and gathering patience to comfort this houre; therefore shall I bee one of these Guestes nowe, that would not come to the banket when they were inuited? **NoteWhat hurt is in going to Paradise? I shall lose nothing but the sense of euill: And anone I p. 1116shall hauehave greater joyes than I feele paines: For mine Head is in Heauen alreadie, to assure mee that my Soule and bodie shall follow after.

O Death, where is thy sting? Why should I feare that which I wold not escape, because my chiefest happines is behind, & I cannot hauehave it vnlesse I goe vntounto it? **NoteI wold goe through Hell to Heauen: And therfore if I march but through death, I suffer lesse than I would suffer for God: **NoteMy paines doe not dismay mee, because I trauaile to bring foorth eternall life: My sinnes doe not fright me, because I hauehave Christ my Redeemer: The Iudge doeth not astonish me, because the Iudg…s Sonne is mine Aduocat: The Deuill doth not amaze mee, because the Angels pitch about me: The Graue doeth not grieue me, because it was my Lords bedde: Oh, that Gods merciemercy to mee might moue others to louelove him: **NoteFor the lesse I can p. 1117expresse it, the more it is.

The Prophets and the Apostles are my fore-runners: EueryEvery man is gone before mee, or else hee will follow after mee: If it please God to receiue mee into Heauen before them which hauehave serued him better, I owe more thankfulnesse vntounto him.

And because I hauehave deferred my repentance till this houre whereby my Saluation is cutte off, if I should die suddenlie: Loe how my God in his mercifull prouidence, to preuent my destruction, calleth mee by a lingring sicknesse, which stayeth till I bee readie, and prepareth mee to mine ende like a preacher, and maketh mee by wholesome paines, wearie of this beloued world, lest I should depart vn willing like them whose death is their damnation.

**NoteSo hee loueth mee while hee beateth mee, that his stripes are plasters to saue mee, therefore who shall louelove him, if I despise him?

p. 1118This is my whole office nowe to strengthen my bodie with mine heart, and to bee contented as God hath appointed, vntill I can glorifie him, or vntill hee glorifie mee: If I liue, I liue to sacrifice, and if I die, I die a sacrifice, for his merciemercy is aboue mine iniquitie.

Therefore if I should feare death it were a signe that I had not Faith, nor hope as I professed, but that I doubted of Gods trueth in his promise wh…ther hee will forgiue his penitent sinner or not. **NoteHee is my Father, let him doe what seemeth good in his sight: Come Lord Iesus, for thy seruant commeth, I am willing helpe mine vnwillingnesse.

Heere is the end of that godlie mans speach.

As at that Brydell in Cana, the best Ioh. 2, 10.John 2:10wine came last, so shall it be heer…: After the words of a godlie man I shall let you heare the words of God spoken by a man inspired by his Spirit, euen the last words of Dauid the man p. 1119whose praise is this, that hee was a man according to Gods owne heart.

The last words of Dauid.

Dauid the sonne of Iesse said, and the 2 Sam. 23. 12 Sam 23:1man who was raised vp on high, the a…ointed of the God of Iaacob, and the sweete Psalmist of Israel said.

The Spirit of the Lord spake by mee, vers. 2.and his words was in my tongue.

The God of Israel saide the Rocke vers. 3.of Israel spake to mee: Hee that ruleth ouer men must bee just, ruling in the feare of God.

And hee shall bee as the light of the vers. 4.morning, when the Sunne riseth, euen a morning without cloudes; as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine.

Although mine house bee not so vers. 5.with God, yet hee hath made with mee an euerlasting couenant, ordered in all things and sure: For this is all my Saluation, and all my desire, although hee make it not to growe.

But the sonnes of Belial shall bee all p. 1120vers. 6.of them as thornes thrust away because they cannot bee taken with hands.

But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with yron, and the staffe of a speare, and they shall bee vt…er lie burnt with fyre in the same place

Alittle before his death at the inauguration of his Sonne Solomon he spake manie notable words; among others these bee of great weight.

O Lord, wee are heere but strangers 1 Chro. 29 151 Chr 29:15before thee and so…ourners, as were all our fathers: Our dayes on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and vers. 18.of Israel our Fathers, keepe this for euer in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heartes vntounto thee.

That hundreth and two Psalme is excellent: It is intituled a prayer of the afflicted when he is ouerwhelmed and powreth out his complant before the Lord.

Heare my prayer, O Lord, and lette p. 1121Psal. 102, 1Ps 102:1my cry come vntounto thee hide not thy face from mee in the day when I am in trouble, incline thine eare vntounto mee: In the day when I call, answere mee spe… dilie.

For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an hearth, &c.

Seeing, as wee see, that nothing is stable in this world but as it is in that Sermon of the Preacher, vanity of Eccles. 1. 2.Eccl 1:2vanities, and all is vanitie, wee hauehave to intreate the Lord earnestlie as Moses did a little before his death; That hee would so teach vsus to number Psal. 90. 12Ps 90:12our dayes that we may applye our hearts to wisedome, and to well doing: All things below wither and decay, our best beauties are w…ithed and wrinkled by time: But the beautie of the Lord is of euerlasting continuance:Psa. 90. 17Ps 90:17 Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vponupon vsus.

O the beautie of the things aboue: O the beautie of the Firmament: O p. 1122these azured Curtaines spangled with stars of light: What jewels of joy are within, no mortall tongue can tell.

Looke vp nowe Sir with the eye of your Faith and visite these heauenlie Ioh. 14. 2.John 14:2Mansions and blessed buildinges for immortaltiie: Yee are shortlie for to change for the better.

So long as our sillie Soules are here, they are but poore Soules reading and meditating the mercies of God within a cottage of clay, hauing nothing to see with but the weak light of the small Candle of grace; a light dimmed and darkened with the reekie smok of our sinfull corruptions: But so soone as wee shall bee dissolued by Death, we shall come to the euerlasting Beames of a Sunne which by nothing is able to bee ecclipsed, alight which knoweth no darknesse, euen that Light which bringeth light out of darknesse.Ioh. 1. 5.John 1:5

Now Sir, vp with your heart saile out your course: Be like the Pylot who p. 1119duplicate page p. 1120duplicate page p. 1121duplicate page p. 1122duplicate page p. 1123while hee hath hand on the Helme, hath his eye fixed on the heauen: Take now the Cuppe of Saluation the…sal. 116. 13 great Mazer of his merciemercy, and call vponupon the Name of the Lord: Hee is worthie to bee praised for his vnspeakable fauour toward you: **NoteHe in great mercy hath toward you turned all the sharpe corrasiues of the Law into most sweete cordials of the Gospel: He hath now made you free of all these terrours whereinto yee found your selfe once lyable.

Oh, Lord, how did once the sharpe edge of thy Law laide to his mourning heart, cutte him thorow the verie gall! But blessed bee thou, who in thy great merciemercy hast cut the Cartropes of his sinnes where with hee was once kept fast vnderunder the most heauie bondage of Hell.

What say yee now Sir: How is it of all? HaueHave yee heard all these words, and laide them vp into your minde?

p. 1124The sicke Man.

I hauehave heard them all, & that with great comfort; now mine heart is in heauen: Christ by the vertue of his vnualuable Blood-shed hath takē away the gall of my guiltines: **NoteNow my bodie is wholly dead to its paine and my Soule is whollie aliue to its glorie. **NoteI see a Crowne of immortalitie which my Soule would not sticke to fetch thorow the brimstone beames of hell: My Soule seeth the face of its Redeemer: Christ with a soft hand is now loosing all the bondes of my miserie: **Note.His most sacred Blood hath melted my marble heart.

Nowe come Lord Iesus come: Long hauehave I looked for thy Saluation: Nowe let thy seruant depart in Luk. 2. 29Luke 2:29peace, for mine eyes hauehave seene thy. Saluation.

O my deare Soule I summond thee with all thy powers and faculties to bee thankfull vntounto thy good and gracious Lord: O what tribulations p. 1125am I come thorow! O with what balmie comfortes hath the Lord asswadged the dolours of my Soule, O my Soule I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hynds that thou haste thee vntounto thy God in thy strongest affections: Keepe nowe tryst with the Spirit of thy God, who is now here waiting till thou bee readie.

The Pastour.

My Soule and all that is within mee praise the Lord, for the powerfull working of his Spirite within you, whereby hee hath made such a change as is wonderfull.

**NoteThis particula… remembereth mee of a certaine Martyre who beeing condemned to bee burnt, could feele no working of the Spirit within his hearte till hee came neare to the stake: But beeing once come…ox. Act & monū. Fol. 1555…. … impression. there, with a cry hee clapped his hands, and crying out amaine, said, O Austen, hee is come, hee is come: The Martyr was called Master Goner.

p. 1126The sicke Man.

By the grace of God I hope shortlie to say as much: My Soule is readie bent waiting for his comming: O come Lord Iesus come: Let this mineReuel. 17. 7Rev 17:7 hungrie Soule win in now at the ports of thy Palace for to get a share of y^e mariage supper of the Lambe, in hope already I feast vponupon the joys of eternitie: **NoteIn my Soule is now the Charter of my Saluation sealed with that most pure and purifying Blood of the immaculate and spotlesse Lambe that came to take away the monstrous and menstrous sin…es of the world: **NoteIn the vertue of his Blood is my strongest comfort and highest resolution: By it alone all my blacke and bloodie Isa. 1. 18.Isa 1:18sinnes are clensed from their crimsin colour.

The Pastour.

Indeede Sir, it is onelie that Lambes Blood that can purge away sinne and iniquitie: **NoteThough man should wash himselfe with nitre, and p. 1127I…r. 2. 22.take him much sope, yet for all that shall his iniquitie bee marked before God, except that hee bee bathed into this blood of sprinkling.

Seeing now your Charter is well sealed, hold fast these writtings, that nothing aboue or belowe, no not principalities and powers bee able toEphes. 6. 12Eph 6:12 wrest them out of your hands.

Happie is your heart now wherein is that white jewell of the Reuelation Reuel. 2 17Rev 2:17euen the white stone wherein is a new name which no man can knowe except the receiuer: **NoteO the boundlesse bleeding bowels of Gods compassions! O that infinite store-house of Christs merites and mercies, which no sinne were they neuer so hainous, can bee able to stint or restraine before the repenting sinner get a parte of that purchase: Neither Death, nor Life, things present nor to come shall be able to with hold a mourning sinner from a share in our Lords dearest compassions.

p. 1128Christ now Sir is readie to receiue …ou: Make your selfe readie for him: Lift vp your hea…, for your Redemption draweth neare: The ende of your time and toile is fast comming: The Angels of God are here waiting vponupon your Soule, which is now looking Cant. 6. 10Song 6:10out to Christ as the morning, faire as the Moone, cleare as the Sunne, and terrible as an Armie with Banners: Wherevpon is your minde nowe fixed?

The sicke Man.

All mine affections are bended toward God: **NoteO what shall bee able to hold or hinder me from hastening to my Lord, the repairer of life, the destroyer of death, y^e conquerour of Heauen, & the vanquisher of Hell? **NoteO my Sauiour come neerer yet vntounto mee, let my Soule creepe in byA prayer thy wounds, euen to the verie bowels of thy merciemercy: Warme it like a Chicken vnderunder the vvinges of thy louelove▪

p. 1129The Pastour.

In Christ alone is Saluation: Out of his side did issue the water that hath quenched the vnquencheable fyre of Gods wrath, with the Blood that taketh away the sinnes of the world.

**NoteHis holie Heart was racked, his Armes of compassiō were stretched out vponupon the Crosse for to declare to all repenting sinners the infinite widenesse of his mercies: **NoteHis sacred Head hang down bowed for to giuegive eare vntounto the gronings of his prisoners: **NoteHis blessed Bowels rumbling with compassions rolled together, made him to proclaime that Oyas of merciemercy,Matth. 11. 28Matt 11:28 Come vntounto mee all yee that are wearied and ladened with sinne and I will ease you.

Much hath hee suffered for our cause: **NoteLike a painefull labourer hee powred out sweate not onelyonly of water but of blood, at the working the great worke of mans Saluation: At last by laying downe that Life of p. 1130louelove, hee achieued the victorie ouer Sathan, flesh, the world, & all the enemies of mans Saluation: Them all hee hath crushed and trodde vnderunder foote: Stand fast by Iesus: In Faith and Hope thrust your heart vponupon him: What now, Sir, thinke ye vponupon?

The sicke Man.

Christ hath bund vp all my woūds; he hath perfectlie closed them with the blessed Balme of his comfortes: Now at the end of mine appointed time I am waiting earnestlie till my changing come: I hope ere it be long to bee translated from grace to glory.Iob. 14. 14Job 14:14

The Pastour.

O Lord, set this Soule as a seale vponupon thine Hearte, and as a seale vponupon A prayerthine Arme: Out of thy greatCant. 8. 6,Song 8:6 louelove make this Soule beautifull as Tirzah, comelie as Ierusalem terrible as armie with banners: Thou, Lord, who crownest the yeare with thy goodnesse Psal. 56. 11Ps 56:11tak in thine hand the crowne of immortalitie & in this Soule crowne p. 1131thy graces with thy glorie. Now Sir, yee are neare the borders of Canaan, three or foure steppes more would set you in that Land of life and louelove.

The sicke Man.

Mine heart like an Hart braying after waters, panteth after God: O Psal. 42. 2.Ps 42:2when shall I come and appeare before him? Now mine heart shiuers within mee, I am so sicke that I feare to faint.

The Pastour.

O Lord, now be mercifull & shew fauour A prayertoward this thy seruant: Distill thy graces into his heart vvith a blessed influence from the Spirit of thy louelove, pull in all his spirits to Thee, and thrust out all distractions: O Lord, of Life and LoueLove breath into his soule the life of immortalitie.

Take heede now vntounto him ye who are neere about him, for death now approacheth with its last assaultes in all appearance: Looke well to him for hee seemeth to bee fallen into a sowne.