The Christian Armory, Book 1 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. The third supposed euill of death, in that it depriueth vsus of most worthy and excellently deseruing Princes, Magistrates, Ministers, patrons, friends, kinsfolks, &c.
Question.
HOw shall wee comfort our selues against the vntimely death of any worth… Christian, whether Magistrate, Minister, kinsman, speciall friend, or any priuate Christian?
A. By marking and meditating vponupon these (or the like) propositions and grounds following. First, no man dieth before his time: for it is appointed for all men once to die,Heb. 9.27. Acts 1.7. and this time not man, but God hath in his eternall certainty appointed.
Secondly, they are loosed from the bonds of sinne and this earthly misery, and how can this be out of time?
Thirdly, they as well as any others, owed a death vntounto God, and were (at Gods call) to make present paiment: now this death is due eueryevery day, how then demanded before the day?
Fourthly, these worthy instruments in Church and commonwealth, these pillars in Gods house, these noble Cedars in Libanon, these starres in the firmament, these Phen…ces, and déere saints and seruants of God, were fitter for heauen then earth and therefore, partly because we were vnworthy of them, and vnthankfull to God for them,2. King. 22.20. Esay 57.1.2. partly because they should not see the euils to come, and partly, that they should not be changed and infected with the worlds wickednes, God hath iustly depriued vsus of them, but crowned them with the crowne of euerlasting glory.
Fifthly, a long life is a long labour, and a suspension (as it were) of their life from immortality; and hee that liueth long, what hath he but increase of sins, manifold cares, griping griefes, and distastefull discontentments? and will he count these his gaines, gettings, winnings and aduantages?
Sixthly, they die not suddenly, that soone hauehave growne old, and hauehave spéedily sailed ouer the troublesome and tempestuous sea of this world, into the blessed Canaan.
Lastly, if God sée vsus truly humbled for the losse of these glorious lights, and earnestly to sorrow for our sinnes and vnthankfulnes, that hauehave bereaued vsus of them; God can and wil raise vp a new succession in their stead; he can cause Iosua to succéed Moses, and Iehoshaphat to succéed Aza; Salomon to follow next after Dauid; Elizeus to execute the office of Elias his predecessor, & can (as he did) cause very many worthy and vigilant Bishops, and faithful Pastors to succéed the Apostles: and therefore in this, though we ought to be humbled, yet we must hope well, and know that Gods arme is not shortned, nor his power abridged.
Q. What vse are we to make of vntimely death, either in regard of others, or else in respect of our selues?
A. First, in regard of others, we must lament and bewaile our sinnes and vnworthinesse, whereby we hauehave depriued our selues of them, and that we did not more praise God, nor better serue him when we enioyed them.
Secondly, we must not enuie at, but congratulate their aduancement and euerlasting happinesse, sed eodem animo ferenda mors, Sence. epist.quo nostram expectamus: that is, we must so take their death as our owne.
Thirdly, it is our duty to pray vntounto God to raise vp new in their place; and if their equals, or those that doe in some good measure resemble them doe succéed, it is our duty more to esteeme them and hauehave them in the higher account, nam bona nostra, carendo magis quam fruendo cognos…imus: that is, we know good things more by wanting of them, then by enioying of them.
Fourthly, in regard of our selues, if we (as we ought) purpose to doe well, let vsus doe it quickly, lest we be preuented; and if we hauehave begun to doe some worthy acts,1. Chron 39.2, 3, 4, 5. as Dauid did, when he made preparation for the building of the Temple, &c. God the righteous Iudge, will regard and reward not onelyonly our action, but our affection, and our desire as well as our déed.
Lastly, let vsus, laying aside all other works, intend and study this one thing, which is, to die well; for this is instar omnium, that is, this instead of all, (for according to the antient Prouerbe) All is well that ends well.
Q. How shall we comfort our selues when death hath depriued vsus of very good benefactors, friends, fauorites?
A▪ First, you hauehave not lost them, but sent them before to God: for death hath not consumed them, but eternity shall receiue them.
Secondly, they liue in their better part;Heb. 12.22.23. for though death hath taken away his body, yet not his friendship past) nor our friends▪ who are forth comming, and whom we shall see, know, and conuerse with after the day of iudgement. 1. Cor. 13.12.
Thirdly, their vertues are immortall, and for thy practise and imitation, and the remembrance of them is swéete, delightsome, and comfortable vntounto vsus.
Fourthly, it may be when we enioied them, we did not (as our duty required) honour, reuerence, and esteeme or them.
Fifthly, if our friends be remooued hence, and translated into heauen, we must labour by our godlinesse▪ humility, and weldoing, to gain & get new friends.
Lastly, if all our chiefe friends and benofactors on earth, be flowen vp into heauen, it must abundantly suffice and content vsus, that the whole holy and vndiuideable Trinity, God the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost are our friends, fauorites, benefactors, vpholders: for they are all in all, and therefore let vsus as well trust in God when our friends faile, as when they abound.