The Sick Mans Catechism, Chapter 16
The xvi. Chapter.
Question. VVHat are those duties that a man is to performe to him selfe or his owne person?
An. They are two-fold, for they belong, either to the soule or to the body.
Qu. What is the duty which he oweth to his owne soule?
An. Hee must arme and strengthen him-selfe agninst the feare of Satans assaults, against the immoderate feare of death, and against the Terrour of the last iudgement.
Qu. How is a man to be armed and strengthned against Satans assaults?
Ans. By considering and beléeuing that Christ hath ouercome and bound for vsus the strong man Satan, that had the power ouer death.
Qu. What is the second duty that he oweth to his soule?
Ans. To arme himselfe against the immoderate feare of death.
Qu. Is it not good then that men should in some moderat sort feare death?
Ans. Yes, for it putteth vsus in mind of the greeuousnesse of our sinnes, and what wee deserue if God should deale strictly with vsus.
Secondly, it holdeth men backe in their extremities from laying violent hands on themselues; for they that are thus desperately minded do not so much as once thinke of Hell and the torments of it.
Ques. Séeing the feare of death is thus profitable, why must the sicke bée armed against the feare of it?
An. Because death approaching, naturall feare doth most of all shew forth it selfe, astonish the sicke mans senses, and causeth despaire.
Qu. What are the meanes to comfort him against the feare of death.
An. They are of two sorts namely practises and meditations.
Q. What are the practises?
A. They are two. First the sicke parties must not so much feare death, as cast their eyes vponupon euerlasting life.
Secondly, they must consider death not in the bright coullor of the lawe, for then our weake eyes cannot endure to behold it, for then it is a cruell sergeant armed with the anger and curse of God; nor in it selfe, for then it is (to men vnregenerate) the very entrance into hell, yea hell mouth it selfe.
But we must take from it the fearefull maske and visard of the law, and behold it as it is set forth in the mixt and tempered coullor of the Gospell, and as it is changed by Christ his death, who hath not onelyonly deaded it by his owne death, but also quickned it, so that it is to the beléeuers bodie a temporary, and a swéete sléepe, and to their soules, the gate of saluatiō, wherby they enter into ye possession of life euerlasting.
Q. Why must not a Christian man vnmeasurably feare death?
A. First, because it is to the godly the end of all euils, all sinne, errour and misery.
Secondly, because after death he passeth presently to a better state.
Thirdly, because he hath immediate fellowship and communion with the holy Trinity, with the elect Angels and the glorified Saints.
And thus much of practises.
The 2 Section.
Qu. What are the Meditations which serue for this purpose.
An. They are principally foure, which are the foundation of all the rest.
Qu. What is the first meditation?
A. That eueryevery mans death (as hath bi… before prooued) procured by his own sins, is fore-séene and appointed in Gods eternall decrée together with all the circumstances thereof. Psal. 139. 15. 16.
Q. What benefit will hereby redound vntounto vsus?
Ans. It will arme vsus against all feare, distrust and impatiency in the howre of Psa. 39. 1…death. Psa. 39. 10. Gen. 42.
Q What is the second meditation?
A. The consideration and contemplation of the in…stimable glory laid vp for vsus, and of the eternall and vnspeakable blessednesse prouided for vsus.
Q. What profit shall we receiue hereby?
Answ. It doth withdraw vsus from the resting in this temporall & miserable life and lifteth vp our mindes and affections vntounto God, yea and maketh vsus with Iob, Moyses and others, cherefully and willingly to endure afflictions.
Q. What is the third meditation?
Answ. The spirituall and vnseparable coniunction and fellowship, which the beléeuers both in their soules and bodies in life and death hauehave with Christ.
For, for their bodies and soules are in the fauour and couenant of God, and they both shall be re-united together in the last day, & be both eternally glorified.
Que. What is the fourth meditation?
Ans. The speciall promise of Gods presence and assistance in death and in all other distresses, for we hauehave Christ our companion in affliction. 1. Pete. 4. 13.
Qu. What vse are we to make hereof.
Ans. Wee must liue by faith and not …. 2.by sense, beléeuing the things (promised) which we sée not, and hoping for things that séeme desperate.
Que. How, or how many waies doth God manifest his presence in sickenesse?
Ans. Thrée manner of waies; first by, lessning and moderating the paines of sickenes and death, and by giuing them strength and patience. Secondly by 2. Cor. …refreshing and comforting the spirit after a wonderfull manner. Thirdly, by the gard and ministery of the good Angells which defend the Godly against the Diuell and his Angells. Psa. 34. for Apoc. 12they are present with and attend vponupon Gods seruants in their sickenes, and are Psa 6. 1.ready to carry the…r soules into heauen.Luk. 16.
The 3 Section.
Quest. How are the sicke to be armed and strengthned against the strictnesse and terrour of the last iudgement, where in the diuell, the law and our owne conscience shall accuse vsus of infinite faults?
Ans. First wee must acknowledge our sinnes, for that is the way of iustification Ioh. 1. 9. Psa. 32. 5.
In matters of felony as we say, confesse and be hanged, but in matter of diuinity, confesse and be saued. Secondly wee must flie and appeale to Iesus Christ and content our selues with his righteousnesse onelyonly, and then hee absoluing vsus who shall condemne vsus and he making intercession for vsus, who can preuaile against vsus. Rom. 8. verse. 34.
And thus much of the duty that the sicke man is to performe in respe… of his soule.