Coals from the Altar, Part 18 – Part 21
A Prayer for the ſicke when there is any ſigne of death.
O Lord our God, & Mercifull Father, we are very vnworthy to lift vp our eyes vntounto thee, our ſins and wicked deedes are ſo many, wherewith wee are ſo polluted before thy face; neither is this out of the confidence of our owne worth to be thus bolde to preſent our ſelues at the feete of thy diuine Maieſty, but in the aſſurance of the great Compaſſions and perfect obedience which thy welbeloued Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord hath made for vsus; with the righteouſneſſe whereof, wee beſeech thee couer vsus with thy grace, to the end wee may be by his fauour made agreeable and reconciled vntounto thee. But wee beſeech thee O good God, particularly vouchſafe thy great mercy to this thy poore ſeruant, ſo feeble, mightily deiected vnderunder thy powerfull hand: poore ſinner remaining vnderunder the weight and rigour of thy high Iuſtice, if thou doeſt not extend thy great clemency towards him.
GiueGive him grace, good Lord, to enter more and more into a ſerious examination and acknowledgement of his faults, to conceiue that true deteſtation which alwayes bringeth forth true repentance, and ſet him forward intirely to renounce himſelfe and his owne way, to hauehave all his refuge in thee, and in thy bounty: In the meane while receiue him gratiouſly, O Lord, ſhew him the face of a father and aſſure and comfort him: Say to his ſoule, Soule, I am he that can warrant thee. Diſpoſe of his heart, patiently to receiue with Action of graces, this Fatherly correction, which thou haſt ſent him, and to put himſelfe wholly into thy hands, to ſubmit himſelfe peaceably vnderunder all that thou ſhalt pleaſe to lay vponupon him by thy holy prouidence. Lord thou knoweſt better then he himſelfe, or any of vsus what is moſt conuenient, whether he ſhall liue or die: If thy good pleaſure be that hee ſhall liue, let it be that he may onelyonly liue to thee: in ſuch ſort that hauing profited well by thy chaſtiſements, he may learne to louelove thee, honour and ſerue thee, all the dayes of his life in thy Church; perpetually ſtudying to bring ſorth fruits of piety and holineſſe, worthy of thy Goſpel, and conuenient for a childe of ſuch a Father; ſo that in him thou maiſt be glorified, and his neighbours edified. But contrarily of the other part, it be thy pleaſure, to take him out of this miſerable world, aſſure him that it ſhall be to put him into the poſſeſſion of thy Heauenly kingdome, which thou haſt prepared before the foundations of the world, and which thy Sonne hath purchaſed by the merit of his death. To this end, O Father of light, from whom proceedeth eueryevery good gift, that thou wilt be pleaſed to giuegive him a true and a liuely faith, with the which he may ſearch, find, and apprehend the propitiation for his ſinnes, and the true righteouſnes in the obedience of thy welbeloued Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, who hath ſuffered for our ſinnes, and riſen againe for our iuſtification, and aſcended into Heauen to take poſſeſſion in our Name, and by this meanes, giueth vsus acceſſe and entrance, which ſinne had baniſhed vsus from. Imprint in his heart a full aſſurance of all theſe thy graces, to the end that by this meanes, he may peaceably repoſe himſelfe in thy mercy, and happily ouercome all the ſnares and temptations which Sathan and his owne fleſh would put before him, to trouble the clearneſſe of his faith, and tranquility of his conſcience. That his ſinnes then may not make him deſpaire, becauſe thy Iuſtice hath been ſo well payed, not with gold or ſiluer, but with the pretious blood of thy Chriſt, as of the Lambe without ſpot or blemiſh. Let not death affright him, ſeeing ſinne is aboliſhed and deſtroyed in him, which is the ſting of death, who now is diſarmed and without all power: that his ſpirit being ſeparated from the body by this corporall death, it ſhall be to come triumphantly to thee, and deliuered from the captiuity of ſinne, to the end to taſte of the enioying the moſt happy life, which he neuer taſted in this world, but by hope: leauing his body in the earth, but not for euer, but to be refined, transformed, & in time conuenient made conformable to the glorious body of his Redeemer by the benefit of his reſurrection. So Sathan ſhall no more aſtoniſh him but by ſinne and death, which he hath vtterly loſt all power in ouer our viſited Brother. Aſſuring him in the end that this accuſer can intend nothing againſt him, before the Throne of thy iuſtice, ſeeing hee is abſolued & iuſtified by thy grace, there is no iudge that can condemne him. That thou wilt alſo be pleaſed, O good God, to be likewiſe mercifull to all other ſicke ſoules, comfort and fortifie them according as thou knoweſt them needfull: and aboue all, giuegive them grace alwayes to embrace with a true and liuely faith, thy mercy in Ieſus Chriſt, wherein they may euer be comforted. Good Lord vouchſafe vntounto vsus all this grace, that this example may profite and teach vsus to renounce the world and our ſelues, to imploy that time we hauehave here below, to meditate thy wiſedome, walke carefully in thy feare, retyre our hearts from the vanities of this life, to raiſe them vp to attend and meditate vponupon the Heauenly life, and to this end to be alwayes prepared to appeare before thee, with aſſurance to be gathered and receiued into thy mercy, for the louelove of thy welbeloued Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord: In whoſe name we beſeech thee, O Father of mercy, heere vsus in theſe things, and in all other things which thou knoweſt better to be neceſſary for thy poore ſeruant, and for vsus, then we doe our ſelues; as we doe now requeſt thee in that prayer which thou haſt commanded vsus to preſent our ſelues before thee: Our Father which art in Heauen, &c.
Lord giuegive vsus a good increaſe of Faith, which thou haſt planted in the heart of this thy childe and ſeruant: defend him as with a Buckler, by the which he may extinguiſh all the fiery darts of the Diuell, and make him perſeuere conſtantly therin, vntill the very laſt breath of his life, and that hee may alwaies, at the leaſt in his heart, render vntounto thee a pure and Chriſtian confeſſion, as we now preſent with heart and mouth: I beleeue in God the Father Almighty, &c.
This is his Faith O Lord, and ours, giuegive vsus grace to liue and dye in it, through Ieſus Chriſt thy Sonne our Lord, who in the vnitie of the Holy Spirit, liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally, Amen.
If the ſicke perſon continue long, and ſtill in danger of death, it will be conuenient to repeat at times neceſſary, the aboueſaid Comforts, but eſpecially thoſe which are to aſſure and fortifie againſt the temptations and combats of Conſcience.
And if it happen the ſicke party be troubled with idle talke, or cannot vnderſtand a long diſcourſe: vſe ſhort ſentences, ſuch as hereafter followeth; ſpeaking but at ſometimes.
Sir, it behooueth you to take good courage; it is the fatherly hand of God that viſiteth you for your good and ſaluation: For to thoſe whom God loueth, all things worke together for good.
Lift vp your heart to God, and confeſſe your ſinnes and offences, and imbrace by faith his mercy in Ieſus Chriſt, which hee hath promiſed to all thoſe that repent, and beleeue in him.
HaueHave you not alwaies a good aſſurance in the mercy of God, & a firme faith in Ieſus Chriſt your Sauiour?
Patient.
Yes.
Doe you not beleeue that Ieſus Chriſt is dead for your ſinnes, and riſen againe for your iuſtification?
Patient.
Yes.
Doe you not beleeue that hee hath before the Father, beene your wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, and redemption?
Patient.
Yes.
Doe you not thinke that hee hath freely iuſtified you by the grace of God, through the redemption which is in Chriſt Ieſus?
Patient.
Yes.
Following this your faith, doubt not, but God will warrant you from all perdition, and giuegive you euerlaſting life.
For God hath giuen his Sonne, to the end that whoſoeuer ſhall beleeue in him, ſhall not periſh but hauehave eternall life, Ioh. 16.
Feare not death, ſeeing by faith you imbrace Ieſus Chriſt, who is your life. I am, ſaith he, the reſurrection and the life, who ſhall beleeue in me, although he be dead, ſhall liue: and whoſoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me, ſhall neuer dye, Ioh. 11.25.26.
If your ſinnes doe afflict you, addreſſe your ſelfe alwaies by faith, and runne to Chriſt Ieſus, and you ſhall finde reſt to your ſoule; Come to mee, ſaith Saint Matthew, 11.28. all you that labour, and are ouer-laden, and I will eaſe you: Doubt not the rigour of Gods iuſtice; for there is no condemnation to thoſe that are in Chriſt Ieſus, as the Apoſtle Saint Paul ſaith, Rom. 8.1. And who is he, Rom. 8.32.33. that will bring in accuſation againſt the elect of God? God is hee that iuſtifieth, who will be hee that ſhall condemne? Chriſt is he which is dead, and which is more, is riſen againe: who is alſo at the right hand of God, and maketh interceſsion for vsus.
Be not ſorry to leaue this miſerable life, which as Saint Iames ſaith, 4.14. is but a vapour, which appeareth a little while and afterwards vaniſheth; beſides, in exchange thereof, euerlaſting life ſhall be giuen vntounto you, and in that the very height of felicity, ſo great and incomprehenſible, That eye hath not ſeene, nor eare vnderſtood, and is not come vp into the heart of man, that which God hath prepared for thoſe that louelove him.
When the ſicke perſon is apparantly at the point of death, or ready to yeeld vp the Ghoſt, it is neceſſary to repeat this ſhort conſolation following, with prayer.
Comfort your ſelfe Sir, you now approach neare vntounto the end of the Combat, which cannot be otherwiſe but happy vntounto you, aſſure your ſelfe, the victory is of your ſide, by meanes of your faith, which is the victory that ouercommeth the world, and the Prince of the world. Ieſus Chriſt your head and Sauiour extendeth forth his hand, and ſtayeth for you at the end of the liſts, to preſent vntounto you the incorruptible Crowne of glory, which he hath purchaſed with the price of his bloud, commend your ſelfe vntounto him now with all your heart: goe vntounto him with ioy: throw your ſelfe into his Armes, and ſay, Into thy hands I commend my ſoule, for thou haſt bought me O God of truth. Pſal. 31. Let vsus againe pray to God that he will giuegive you his grace.
A Prayer.
O Lord, Father of Mercy, & God of all Conſolation, let fall thy mercies and comforts vponupon this occaſion, vponupon this perſon, thy poore childe and ſeruant: Make him now gather and apply vntounto himſelfe excellent and abundant profit of the holy Inſtructions which in thy ſchoole thou haſt taught him during the courſe of his life: giuegive him an inuincible faith in this Combat.
Arme him with all thy ſpirituall Armour, that hee may reſiſt all the Temptations of Sathan: and hauing ouercome all, make him remain firme.
If thy Iuſtice aſtoniſh, let thy merciemercy aſſure and comfort: if his ſinnes accuſe him let the obedience of thy welbeloued excuſe and iuſtifie him, if the apprehenſion of death, trouble him, make him contemplate the open gate of euerlaſting life, to which thou goeſt to make him enter. Thou haſt giuen him it in thy Sonne, make it perfectly happy to him. Hee is of the flocke of this great Shepheard, let it not be taken from him. Thou haſt begun his ſaluation, let not the worke remaine vnperfect. And now that thou haſt brought him to the end of his ſorrowfull courſe, now receiue his ſoule into thy hands, and bring it into thy heauenly paradice, into the fulneſſe of repoſe and beatitude, into the company of thy bleſſed Angels, and holy ſoules of thine Elect, which thou haſt gathered for euer to enioy together the perfection of all ioy, which conſiſteth in the contemplation of his face. Heare vsus, O Father of mercy, for the louelove of thy welbeloued Son Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, who in vnity of the holy Spirit, liueth and raigneth with thee God eternally, Amen.
A ſhort comfort for thoſe that are friends of the deceaſed, to be giuen after the body is interred.
Friends, it is needfull in this buſineſſe, for you to remember, of the holy Chriſtian inſtruction which you hauehave receiued in the ſchoole of Ieſus Chriſt, for to make your profit in bearing your affliction with patience, and in humility, reſting in a quiet Spirit at the will of God, to which we ought alwayes to be ſubiect and conformable. Our Nature in ſuch accidents leadeth vsus to teares, but the Spirit of God, author of all Regeneration, teacheth vsus to keepe meaſure, and not to afflict our ſelues, like thoſe that hauehave no hope (1 Theſſ. 4.13.) If we be men in weeping, yet wee muſt ſhew our ſelues Chriſtians, adorned with faith and hope, to aſſure vsus that this corporall death, is no other to the faithfull children of God, but a happy port to enter into eternall life, Ioh. 5.28.29. and as for the body it muſt remaine in earth, vntill that day when they ſhall heare the voyce of the Lord, which ſhall make them riſe out of the graue, into the reſurrection of life. That the deceaſed is of the number of Gods children, the marks and teſtimonies which God hath giuen him, by the good profeſſion of piety and wiſedome, which hee hath made in the Church, vntounto the laſt breath of his life, neede not leaue vsus in doubt. He hath liued to the Lord, and is dead to the Lord, by conſequence is happy, and reſteth from his labour, Apoc. 14.13. by the heauenly teſtimony of the Spirit of God himſelfe. You hauehave no cauſe to weep ouer him, for the condition he is in, being in eueryevery kinde thrice happy. He hath alſo a great aduantage of vsus, that remaine in this world behinde him. For he is arriued at the port of ſaluation, where as we are ſtill beaten with the ſtorme and torment of the confuſed and dangerous ſea of this miſerable world. And therefore it is much better to aſpire to go with him, then to wiſh him to remaine here below with vsus; for the diſcommodity that you may receiue by his abſence, it behoueth you to conſider, that God that gaue him to you, remaineth ſtill with you, who is enough for vsus without all other things, whereas all other things without him are nothing: It is hee that will continue alwayes ouer you the care of his fatherly prouidence, if you continue alwayes to walke in his feare. I beſeech God to giuegive you grace, and fortifie you with a holy and conſtant reſolution. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Peter du Moulin Jr, Coals from the Altar (1623)