The Right Way to Heaven, Prayer 2

The Right Way to Heaven · Prayer 2

p. 277A FAMILIAR Inſtruction to comfort the Sick.

When the ſicknes ſhall not as yet have any probabilitie to be mortall, there may be ſaid to the ſicke for his comfort that which here followeth.

SIR,

You muſt firſt of all know, that this ſickeneſſe came not to you caſually, p. 278nor by chance, but rather by the wiſe government of the providence of God our Creatour, and Father, who ſo diſpoſeth of proſperity and adverſity, of health, and of ſickneſſe towards his children, that he never ſendeth them, either the one or the other, but it is for his owne glory, and for their good and ſalvation. Which the Apoſtle Saint Paul ſetteth forth, Ro. 8.28. That to them that love God, all things worke together for good. Now hee there ſpeakes expreſly of afflictions, in the ranke whereof are ſickneſſes. Now they love God, who p. 279firſt of all are beloved of him, and as the ſame Apoſtle ſaith, called according to his determinate purpoſe. That you are of this number, you have occaſion to take your aſſurance thereof by the faith he hath given you, in making you to believe that he is your Father and Sauiour in his welbeloved Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, and cauſing you to receive his ſpirit of adoption, which is he that giveth teſtimonie and beareth witneſſe with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God, his heires and co-heires with CHRIST, Rom. 8.11.16.17.

p. 280Hereof ought you to take yet further aſſurance from the ſanctification of his Spirit, thorough the which you are led and guided in his obedience: For they that are led by the Spirit of God, are the children of God.

Now unto them that are ſuch, the Apoſtle Saint Paul ſaith, that all things worke together for good, afflictions, ſickneſſes, death it ſelf: All are turned unto them by the grace of God unto their great good and profit, to ſerve unto the furthering of their ſalvation.

There are three ſpeciall p. 281fruits which God cauſeth us to reape from our ſickneſſes, and afflictions.

The firſt is, the amendment of our life, awakening us out of our ſinnes. In health and in proſperity, it is a thing too ordinary with us to flatter and to lull our ſelves aſleep in our ſinnes, by reaſon of the great corruption of our nature, which maketh us inclinable unto all evill, and unprofitable unto all good. Very neceſſary then is it for us to be awakened and to be made ſenſible of our ſinnes, to be diſpleaſed with them, and to recover our ſelves out of them. All p. 282which is wrought by the meanes of ſickneſſes, and other adverſities of this life, which are the iſſues of ſinne, and oftentimes are ſent unto us from God to chaſten and correct us for our ſinnes. And therein our gracious heavenly Father ſheweth how he loveth us, withholding us by this meanes that we periſh not in our diſſolutions, as a good Father, and one that loveth his children, he chaſtiſeth them, and gives them the rod, when need requires it to ſtay them, they run not upon their owne deſtruction. This is it which Saint Paul ſaith, p. 2831. Cor. 11.32. That when we are afflicted wee are chaſtened of the Lord, that wee ſhould not be condemned of the world. And elſwhere he ſaith (Hebr. 12. ver. 6.7. & 11.) That the Lord chaſteneth him whom he loveth, and ſcourgeth every childe, he approoveth; if you ſuffer chastiſement (ſaith the Apoſtle) God preſenteth himſelfe unto you as unto his children: For what ſonne is he whom the Father correcteth not? And although all chastiſement for the preſent time ſeemeth not to bee joyous, but grievous, nevertheleſſe afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of p. 284righteouſnes unto them that are exerciſed thereby. Wee muſt then in the firſt place gather this excellent fruit of our ſickneſſes to have a ſenſible apprehenſion by them of our ſo many and ſo grievous delicts, and offences, whereof we ſtand guilty before God, to the end to crave pardon for them with repentance and humility, and to make unto him an holy proteſtation to m…ke better performance of our duties hereafter to walk in his obedienee and feare, thorough the aſſiſſance of his grace, and conduct of his Spirit: Which we muſt ask of p. 285him by our fervent prayers, with faith and aſſurance to be heard according to his promiſ…s. And ſo ſhall we be able to ſay to him with David, that excellent ſ…rvant of God, Pſal. 119.67. & 72.

Ere thou didſt touch mee with thy rod,

I er'd and went astray:

But now I have thy holy Word,

And make it all my ſtay.

And alſo,

O happy time may I well ſay,

When thou didſt me correct:

For as a guide to know thy Lawes,

Thy Word did me direct.

p. 286And behold how the maladies of our bodies are unto us thorough Gods grace, good and wholeſome medicines for our ſoules.

The ſecond benefit ſicknes brings us, is to unlooſe, and pluck up our hearts from the earth, to lift them up unto heaven.

Experience ſhewes us that our hearts remaine over much faſtened and rooted here below, whilſt we are here in health and at our eaſe, we could be content never to budge hence. Nay, we could be content our felicity were here aſſigned us, and our ſoveraign p. 287happines, ſo farre are wee blinded. But God who hath ordained us for a better life, makes us ſee and feele how vaine and deceiveable are the ſweet allurements and imaginary proſperities of this mortall life, when it pleaſeth him to croſſe it thus with ſicknes, and with ſo many miſeries and diſcomodities, which accompanie us therein perpetually, from the cradle to the grave. This makes us know, yea maketh us cry out with Eſay, ch. 47. v. 6. That all fleſh is as graſſe, and the glory thereof as the flower of the field. With David Pſalm. 90.6. That the p. 288flower of this ſhort life is ſuch that men are in perpetuall travell and martyrdome. And with Iob, chap. 14. That man that is borne of a woman is of ſhort life, and fraught with ſorrow. And this is it God putteth us in mind of chiefly, when we feele our ſelves ſick, or otherwiſe afflicted, to make us contemne the earth, and to aſpire up unto heaven, to cauſe us to diſtaſt this miſerable life, & to make us earneſtly and heartily to reliſh and meditate on the heavenly life, to the end, that there where our treaſure is, there alſo might bee our heart: and that our faith p. 289and hope might be weaned from the world, and from the things of the world to be raiſed up thither where they have their true objects, unto God, and to everlaſting life: For alſo faith is not of things viſible, but of inviſible: And hope is not of good things preſent, but of good to come; that is to ſay, of good celeſtiall and eternall, obtained in Ieſus Chriſt, good ſo tranſcendently great, and ſo incomprehenſible, that as Saint Paul ſaith, 1. Corinth. 1.6. Eye hath not ſeene, nor eare hath heard, nor hath entred into the heart p. 290of man, that which God hath prepared for thoſe that love him.

There is yet a third excellent fruit, which God makes us reape from the ſickneſſes, he ſendeth us: that is, that by this meanes he puts us to triall, and to the touch-ſtone, to purifie and to amend our faith, to make it eminently to appeare to his glory, and to the edification of our neighbour. For as by this meanes our faith is ſtirred up and elevated from the world unto God, from the earth unto heaven, from this life unto a life moſt happy and laſting p. 291for ever: as alſo is it by ſuch tryalls exerciſed and examined, and as it were refined and made more pure after the manner of gold, which is tryed and purified by fire: Even as Saint Peter, 1 Pet. 1.7. It is alſo by this meanes drawn forth into evidence, and ſet in the light, with patience, conſtancie, and other Chriſtian vertues, which God hath infuſed into us, and which otherwiſe without this would not be knowne of any, and thereby would remaine without uſe, and without profit in regard of our neighbours. And indeed p. 292we could not know what was the faith, and the patience of Iob, of Abraham, of David, and of ſuch a number of other excellent ſervants of God, if God had not made them paſſe thorough the fire of ſundry temptations and tryals, and we ſhould not have at this day the worthy examples which we have to lead us to conforme our ſelves unto their imitation. It fareth with the faith and patience of Chriſtians, as with the courage and valour of the ſouldier, which is not well ſeene, but in the midſt of the battell: As with the light of the Starres, which p. 293appeares not but in the night: As with the odour and ſweet ſmell of frankincenſe, which is not ſmelt, but when it is caſt into the fire. Even ſo doth God make knowne unto our brethren the courage which he hath given us, when he cauſeth us to come into the hands of ſome rough and violent ſicknes; he maketh to appeare unto them the brightnes of our faith, when he ſpreadeth over us ſome night of affliction, he maketh them ſmell the good perfume of our patience, when he caſts us into ſome fire of adverſitie; and by this meanes p. 294our brethren not onelyonly are inſtructed, edified, comforted by our good example, but withall led to praiſe and glorifie God, who it is that ſuſtains and ſtrengtheneth us amidſt the infirmities of our fleſh, ſheweth forth and perfecteth his great ſtrength in our great weaknes.

Lo then the principall and more remarkable ſpirituall fruits, which God of his goodnes propounds unto us to be reaped from our bodily ſickneſſes.

And for this cauſe then, Sir, now that God viſits you with this ſicknes, and layes you on this bed of infirmitie; p. 295you muſt acknowledge, that it is his fatherly hand, that handles you on this faſhion, as one of his children, and that hereby he calls you to the fruition of theſe excellent fruits and benefits, which have been declared unto you, for his glory, and for your good and ſalvation.

Acknowledge then that he would awaken you from out your faults and ſinnes, that he would have you to have a feeling of them indeed, to breed in you a diſlike of them, that ye might ſeek for the free pardon of them in his mercy, thorow Ieſus Chriſt, that you may p. 296renounce them with your whole heart, to take a ſound reſolution to ſerve him from henceforth, and to walk in his feare with more zeale and affection then heretofore thorough his grace. Is not this that which you promiſe?

Yes.

Acknowledge further, that it is his will to make you by this meanes to hauehave a feeling of the miſeries of this life, to contemne, and trample under foot the world and the vanities thereof, to the end to aſpire with your whole heart unto the heavenly and everlaſting life, and thereby to p. 297anſwer unto the dignity of that condition, whereunto you are called, to be the child of God, and not the child of the world; to have your converſation as a Citizen of heaven, and not of the earth, and thereby to have you to ſeeke as Saint Paul ſaith, Philip. 3.20. The things that are aboue, and not thoſe that are here below. And is not this alſo the thing which you proteſt you will do all the dayes of your life, Gods grace thereunto aſſiſting you?

Yes.

Acknowledge you laſtly, that the good pleaſure of p. 298God is to trie and examine you by this ſicknes, to the end that your faith and patience might be made more perfect, and that they might be ſeen and known of your brethren and neighbours, that they might thereby be edified and comforted, and might thereby give glory to God, when they ſhall ſee that you ſhall beare patiently and conſtantly the ſorrow, and the violence of this affliction, and that you ſhall diſpoſe and apply your ſelfe to reſt with a calme and peaceable mind, in all and whatſoever handling it ſhall pleaſe God to impoſe upon you with his p. 299fatherly hand. Is not this alſo moreover the reſolution you take?

Yes.

I beſeech God, give you grace thorowly and happily to accompliſh your holy promiſes, to his glory, and your owne ſalvation. It is your part alſo to pray unto him for the ſame, with your heart; otherwiſe you can never be able to performe it of your ſelfe. But if you ask it fervently with a true and lively faith in the name of his welbeloved Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, doubt not but that according to his promiſes he heares you, yea from p. 300this very time forward he is neare unto you, and fils your ſoule with holy conſolations, ſtrengthening you with patience, and even ſolacing you as much as he ſhall know it to bee neceſſary for you, and by that meanes by ſo much the more will he oblige you to rejoyce and ſolace your ſelfe in his goodnes, and to glorifie his holy Name by thankſgiving. And this is it which he ſaith himſelf unto you, and unto whomſoever is afflicted as you are, call upon me when thou ſhalt be oppreſſed, and then will I helpe thee, and thou ſhalt honour me for p. 301the ſame. Would you not then have us now addreſſe our prayers altogether joyntly with you, that it would pleaſe him to aſſiſt you with his grace?

Yes.

A Prayer for the ſicke, in whom there ſhalbe no appearance or ſigne of death.

LORD our good God and mercifull Father, we proſtrate our ſelves in all humilitie at the feet of thy Divine Majeſtie, to acknowledg that, which is but too true, that we are utterly unworthy of any grace p. 302or mercy from thee, and are worthy of the lower-moſt hell: if thou ſhouldſt deale with us in the rigour of thy juſtice, by reaſon of the numberleſſe number of our ſinnes and offences, wherewith we feele and confeſſe our ſelves tainted and guilty before thee. But we beſeech thee (that having regard to thy great and infinite goodnes, thou wilt be mercifull unto us poore ſinners, and be mercifull unto us for thy deare Sonne Chriſt Ieſus ſake our Lord, looking upon us not in our ſelves; but rather in the perſon of that Sonne of thy love, as members of his p. 303body, reconciled unto thy Majeſtie thorow the benefit of his death. And as thou art the Father of Mercy, and God of all conſolation, rich in compaſſion and free grace towards all them that call upon thee, and put their truſt in thee. We beſeech thee be graciouſly pleaſed to ſhew unto us thy plenteous mercy both towards us, and generally upon us all that now call upon thee for thy grace, and particularly towards the perſon of this thy child and ſervant, lying on this his bed of infirmity. Give him to acknowledge in the firſt place, that he is not ſtrucke by any other p. 304hand, but by thine; that he may learne to ſubmit himſelfe unto, and under the ſame in all humility and obedience. And to this end, let him remember that it is a fatherly and a ſweet hand, which ſtrikes not to deſtroy, but rather to ſave: and who after he hath wounded, healeth and quickeneth by the ſame wounds which he hath made. Make him to ſeele that he is a poore and miſerable ſinner, not onelyonly to be iſſued forth of that maſſe of corruption out of which we are all ſprung in Adam, but alſo and chiefly becauſe that after it pleaſed thee to give p. 305him the grace to know thee the only true God, and him whom thou haſt ſent, Ieſus Chriſt, in whom abideth eternall life, manifeſting unto him by that meanes thy free adoption in thy welbeloved, reconciling him to thy ſelf, and ſo having done him the honor to hold the rank and place to be one of the number of thy children and ſervants in the midſt of thy Church, he hath not duly acknowledged theſe abundant riches of thy mercy, to love and ſerve thee with his whole heart, as he ought to have done, in renouncing the world, and in denying p. 306himſelf: even as our ingratitudes are infinite, by which we fight ordinarily againſt thy bountifulnes and grace. O God and Father, touch him then in his heart with a lively ſenſe of all his infirmities and offences, that without any way flattering of himſelf, he may eſcape and be freed from condemnation before thy ſacred Majeſtie, may acknowledge that unto thee belongeth juſtice, and to himſelfe confuſion of face: may be altogether diſpleaſed at, and wholly deny himſelfe, and may confeſſe that juſtly and by good right thou doſt lay upon p. 307him thy chaſtiſements: and that if thou ſhouldſt deale with him according to his deſerts, thou ſhouldeſt utterly overwhelme him under the unſupportable waight of thy juſtice, and ſhouldſt caſt him into the bottomleſſe depth of eternall death. But withall make, Lord, this acknowledgment to ſerve onelyonly to humble him, and not to precipitate him into the gulfe of deſpaire, and that he being on the one ſide beaten downe, and dejected to the earth by thy mighty hand, not ſo much by the ſenſe of this ſicknes, as in the ſenſe and feeling of his p. 308ſins, he may on the other ſide by the ſame hand of thine be ſuccoured, relieved, and raiſed up againe in firm hope, thorow the conſideration of this thy incomprehenſible mercy, out of which thou haſt given us ſo precious; ſo rich a pledge as thy deare Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, whom thou haſt not ſpared, but rather haſt given him up unto death, yea unto the ignominious and accurſed death of the croſſe, to redeeme us from the ignominy and curſe of ſin. Graunt Lord, that this thy poore ſervant may have his whole refuge there, excite and ſtrengthen p. 309his faith, by the which he may ſeek and find in that death and entire obedience of thy Sonne, the expiation of all his ſinnes and diſobediences, and may firmely imbrace and lay hold on his perfect righteouſnes, with the which being prepared and cloathed, he may find peace with thee, and boaſt himſelfe in and of the hope of thy glory, even in the very midſt of his troubles: And that thus the ſorrowes of the curſe wherewith thou viſiteſt him in his body may be ſweetened thorow the reſt and contentment of his ſoule, that if it be thy good p. 310pleaſure to raiſe him up againe from this ſicknes, and to prolong his dayes, as thou doeſt not thereof as yet bereave him of good hope, give him grace to uſe them aright, to thy glory, and that perpetually nouriſhing the memory of this gracious favour received from thee, it may ſerve to conſecrate the remainder of his life to ſerve and honour thee with ſo much the greater affection and zeale. And to this end, give him to receive this ſicknes as a fatherly chaſtiſement comming from thy hand to awaken and to withdraw him from his ſinnes, and to p. 311make him take up an holy reſolution by thy grace, all the dayes of his life thorowly to make a deep impreſſion in his memory, of his duty and of that obedience, whereunto hereby he ſtands obliged unto thee to walk in thy feare more purely, and more affectionately for the time to come then he hitherto hath done. Bleſſe unto him the remedies which thou permitteſt him to uſe, whereby to receive eaſe in his diſeaſe: moderate the ſharpnes of his griefs, and ſhorten the courſe of them, if thou knoweſt it to be expedient for him, that thereby p. 312he may have a ſubject of glorifying thee, and of rendring thanks unto thee for the ſame. But if it be thy will yet to continue any longer, or even to augment unto him this ſicknes, grant it may be alwayes for his good, and give increaſe of ſtrength and of conſtancie to be able to beare theſe thy trials with a calme and meek mind, without any impatiencie or grudging: and that thus in theſe truly chriſtian teſtimonies of his faith and Patience, thou maiſt be glorified, and his neighbours edified and comforted. And that even he alſo by this experience p. 313had of the miſeries of the world, and of this life, may be taught to wean his heart and affections from them, to raiſe them up heartily unto the meditation and diligent ſearch of that repoſe and incomprehenſible happines which is ſet before us in heaven, and in everlaſting life. Grant alſo Lord the like graces unto all others that are ſick and afflicted: Comfort them, and ſtrengthen them, as thou knoweſt ſhalbe needfull for them: and above all, give them power evermore with a true and lively faith to embrace thy mercy in Ieſus Chriſt, therein to p. 314find matter of conſolation. Heare us Father of grace, for the ſame thy deare Son Ieſus Chriſt our Lord his ſake, as we humbly beſeech thee in that forme of prayer, which he himſelfe hath commanded us to offer up unto thee: Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

And becauſe, Lord, that without faith we cannot pleaſe thee, we beſeech thee ſo to increaſe the ſame in this thy ſervant, and in us, that he may be enabled even unto the laſt gaſp of his life, and we with him, to perſevere in the ſame, and to be evermore readily p. 315diſpoſed thereof to render unto thee a pure confeſſion both with heart & mouth, as we now do: I beleeve in God, &c.

Such is his faith Lord, and alſo ours: give us grace both to live and die in the ſame: thorow Ieſus Chriſt thy Sonne our Lord, who in the unity of the Holy Ghoſt, liveth & raigneth with thee, GOD eternally.

p. 316When there is ſome likelihood, that the ſickeneſſe will be mortall, there must be added other conſolations▪ ſuch as theſe following.

SIR, You muſt ever be of good courage in the midſt of this affliction, wherewith God continueth to viſit you in your body; then you muſt know, that he ſends it you, and continues it unto you, but for your good, and for the ſalvation of your ſoule: To teach you by this meanes, to come to a true knowledge of your ſelfe, as being p. 317a poore ſinner; to deteſt more and more your ſins, to deſpiſe the world, to lift up your ſelfe wholly unto God, and to call upon him ſo much the more fervently, with aſſurance to be heard, according to his holy promiſes, and to obtaine from him Chriſtian conſtancie which is neceſſary for you in this triall.

The aſſurance of Gods mercy in Ieſus Chriſt, the foundation of all comfort.

NOW that which ought moſt to comfort you, and to ſtrengthen p. 318you with courage and patience, which is that aſſurance which you muſt evermore take, that God for his welbeloved Sonne, Ieſus Chriſt our Lord his ſake, embraceth you in his love and free gracious good will, hath pardoned your ſins, hath adopted and received you into the number of his children, to make you an heire of the kingdome of heaven, by vertue of that purchaſe which Ieſus Chriſt hath made for you by his death. Such an aſſurance will ever make you certaine, that nothing can befall you, be it in life, or be it in death, which p. 319ſhall not be unto you a favour and a bleſſing from your heavenly father, and which by conſequence ſhall not be an helpe and a meanes ordained by his wiſe providence to advance and lead you unto a happy life.

This aſſurance comes from Faith.

TRue it is, that this aſſurance we cannot take of our ſelves, but it is this our good God, who gives it us, when by the power of his Holy Spirit, and by his Word, he creates in our hearts a true and a lively p. 320faith, with the which we receive and appropriate to our ſelves the promiſes of his grace, which he addreſſeth unto us in the preaching of his holy Goſpell. Theſe promiſes briefly import thus much. That God ſo loved the world, that hee hath given his onelyonly Sonne, to the end that whoſoever beleeveth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlasting life, Iohn 3.16. If then God give you the grace to believe in his only Sonne, and to embrace and lay hold on him for your Redeemer and Saviour (as we gather you do, by the profeſſion you hitherunto have made p. 321thereof, and do ſtill make the ſame in the midſt of his Church) you may and ought to take from thence an holy aſſurance, that God according to the infallible truth of his Word, hath received you into his love, that you ſhall not periſh, but you ſhall have eternall life. Now this being ſo, what can you be afraid of? Rom. 8.30, 31. If God bee for us, who ſhalbe against us? He who hath not ſpared his onelyonly Sonne, but hath given him for us, how ſhall he not alſo give us all other things with him? He hath given us the greater, namely his owne Sonne: ſhall he denie p. 322you then the leſſe, to wit, what ere may be neceſſary and expedient to keep you, and to uphold you againſt all manner of evills, both corporall and ſpirituall, as well in life, as in death.

Faith applieth unto every faithfull one the promiſes of the Goſpell.

NOw this application, (I ſpake of) which you ought to make of the promiſes of the Goſpell, to draw from them ſuch an holy aſſurance, it is neceſſarily to be looked for in faith. For to believe in Ieſus Chriſt, is not to believe p. 323onelyonly in the groſſe, that there is a Ieſus Chriſt; and that he that believeth in him hath eternall life: and it is not enough to believe that the promiſes of the Goſpell are true in general, and out of us; The Devill himſelfe believeth indeed all this, and yet hath no true faith for all that. But to believe in Ieſus Chriſt, it is when the faithfull believeth, that there is ſalvation in Ieſus Chriſt for himſelf; which the Devill cannot believe: And true juſtifying faith, and by which the juſt liveth, conſiſts properly in this, that we apply unto our ſelves, and that every p. 324one of us appropriate in his owne particular to himſelf, the promiſes of ſalvation, to be able to ſay, every one in his owne behalfe, that which Saint Paul ſaid in the perſon of every faithfull man and woman. Gal. 2.20. I live in the faith of the Sonne of God, who hath loved me, and who gave himſelfe for me. Alſo, Tim. 1.2. I know in whom I have believed, and am perſwaded, that he is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him, even unto that day. And againe, Rom. 8.37, 38. I am aſſured that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, p. 325nor things to come, neither height, nor depth, nor any other creature, ſhalbe able to ſeparate us from the love of God which he hath ſhewed us in Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. This ſame faith bringeth us not a ſimple opinion, or conjecture of our ſalvation, but even an aſſured knowledge of it, according to that which Saint Iohn ſaith chap. 5. ver. 14. We know that we are tranſlated from death to life. Alſo 1. Iohn 10. Wee know that wee are borne of God. And, I have (ſaith he Ioh. 5.13.) written theſe things unto you, that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you might know p. 326that you have eternall life. This faith gives us to go to the throne of y^e grace of our God. Heb. 4.10. With aſſurance, ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 10.22. Yea with a true heart, and in full certainty of faith. As alſo S. Paul, Epheſ. 2.12. ſaith that by Ieſus Chriſt wee have boldneſſe and acceſſe in confidence thorough faith which we hauehave in him. This faith is called Heb. 11.1. an hypoſtaſie or ſubſtance of things that are hoped for: That is to ſay, which maketh to ſubſiſt, and to have a being in our minds of the things believed and hoped for, nor more, nor leſſe, then as if already p. 327we were in the actuall poſſeſſion and fruition of them. This faith makes us find peace and reſt in our ſoules and conſciences, and drives forth of them the feares and terrours which the ſenſe of ſin brings into them, and the apprehenſion of the judgment of God▪ according to that which Saint Paul ſaith, Rom. 5.1. That being justified by faith we have peace with God thorough our Lord Ieſus Chriſt by whom alſo we have beene led thorow faith unto this grace, in whom we hold our ſelves firme, and boast our ſelves of the hope we have of the glory of God.

p. 328The gift of Perſeverance aſſured to the faithfull.

MOreover theſe paſſages propound and ſet forth unto us this holy aſſurance of faith, not onelyonly for the preſent, but alſo for the time to come; and containe a promiſe, that God will give us to perſevere in this faith even unto the end. Otherwiſe, where ſhould this aſſurance be whereof the holy Apoſtle ſpeaketh, not to be able to be ſeparated from the love of God in Ieſus Chriſt? Where ſhould be this ſubſiſtence and being p. 329of things hoped for? How ſhould we have in our ſoules a ſolid peace with God? How ſhould we hold our ſelves firm in this grace? How ſhould we be able to boaſt and glory in the hope of the glory of God? Such then is the incomprehenſible bounty & goodneſſe of this Heavenly Father, that he begins not in us the work of our ſalvation to leave it imperfect, according to that which Saint Paul ſaith to the Philippians, and in their preſence unto all true faithfull ones, Philip. 1.6. I am aſſured that he that hath begun this good worke in you, p. 330will perfect it even unto the day of Ieſus Chriſt. As beſides he ſaith elſwhere, Rom. 11.26. That the gifts of God are without repentance, that is to ſay, that he never unſayes them, nor ever retracts them.

Againſt the objection, that this aſſurance of faith is a preſumption.

NOr is there cauſe why finally this certainty of faith ſhould be cenſured in us for raſhnes and preſumption: For on the contrary; it were extreame raſhnes & preſumption in us, if we vouchſafed not to p. 331give credit unto ſo excellent promiſes of our God: and it is humility and obedience both to receive, and to reſt in them with reverence. It is likewiſe ſaid, That he that hath recei…d the witneſſe of God, hath … to his ſeale that God is true, Iohn 3.33. That is to ſay, he hath (as it were) ſubſcribed and given approbation unto the truth of God, which he ſheweth in the accompliſhment of his promiſes: And on the contrary, it is ſaid, 1. Iohn 5.10.11 That he that believeth not God, hath made him a lyer: becauſe he hath not beleeved the record which God hath p. 332given of his Sonne: And this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life, and this life is in his Sonne.

Two things might make us raſh and overweening in this aſſurance which we take of our ſalvation. The one if we found it upon the worthines and merit of our works; Rom. 3.20. For no fleſh ſhalbe juſtified before God by the works of the Law, and all they that ſeeke to bee juſtified by them, are under the curſe. This ſaith Saint Paul, Galat. 3.10.2. But it is not upon our own righteouſnes, which is none at all, that we found any ſuch p. 333aſſurance, but even upon the righteouſneſſe of him, whom God hath made to be ſinne for us, 2 Cor. 5.21. that is to ſay, a ſacrifice for ſinne: to the end that wee might bee the righteouſneſſe of God in him: and by whoſe obedience we are made righteous, in ſtead as by the diſobedience of Adam wee were ſinners, Rom. 5.19. The other point which might make us overweening in this behalfe, might be this. If we preſumed to acquire and get any ſuch knowledg of our ſalvation by the ſubtilty and acutenes of our owne ſpirits or wits: it being ſo, that the naturall p. 334man perceiveth not the things which are of God, thus ſaith Saint Paul, 1 Corinth. 2.14. But ſurely we make account to have received, as the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 1 Corinth. 2.12. Not the ſpirit of the world, but the ſpirit which is of God, that wee might know the things that are freely given unto us of God. He ſaith yet further in the ſame place, 1 Cor. 2.9.10. That the things which in regard of us are altogether incomprehenſible, God hath revealed unto us by his ſpirit. He addeth finally (1. Corinth. 2.16.) That by this meanes we apprehend the will of Christ. Now by p. 335this ſpirit of God are led all they that are the children of God. And this more yet, ſaith the ſame Apoſtle; Rom. 8.14. And it is called the ſpirit of adoption, and thereby wee crye Abba Father. (Gal. 6.4.) to wit, we invoke and inſtantly call upon God, as our Father. As alſo it is the ſame Spirit, (ſaith Saint Paul, Rom. 8.11.16.) which witneſſeth to our Spirits that wee are the children of God. The ſame Apoſtle yet further ſaith, Epheſ. 1.13, 14. That when we believe the Goſpell, wee are ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe, which is the earneſt of our inheritance, p. 336untill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion unto the praiſe of his glory: teaching us hereby that the record of the Holy Ghoſt received in our hearts with faith, is unto us as a ſeale which the Holy Ghoſt imprinteth in our hearts, to make us awfull of the promiſe of God, and to aſſure us that we are his children, and that as in contracts which are made betweene men, they give ſomtimes earneſt, that is to ſay, a part of the price agreed upon, as well to begin the payment as to make the match or bargaine irrevocable. And to give aſſurance, it ſhalbe p. 337firmly and conſtantly kept: Even ſo the Holy Ghoſt which by faith begetteth peace and joy in our hearts, is given us for earneſt of our celeſtiall inheritance, (Rom. 14.17.) to aſſure us by this beginning, of the ſpirituall goods, which God hath promiſed to his children, that he holdeth us for his purchaſed poſſeſſion, unto the praiſe of his glory, and without ever revoking his promiſes, he will gather us finally into the full fruition of this heavenly inheritance.

p. 338There must (if it be poſſible) bee drawne from the mouth of the ſicke a confeſſion of his ſinnes, of his repentance, and of his faith. And if happily he have not the uſe of ſpeech, but yet of underſtanding, he muſt be exhorted to anſwer by ſome ſigne.

NOw then M. it is now your part to be of good courage, and to apply unto your ſelfe ſoundly and heartily this holy doctrine, for the comfort of your ſoule. This doctrine hath been addreſſed and declared unto you by the p. 339preaching of the Goſpell in the boſome of the Church of God, whereof you have the honour to be in the number: it hath been alſo confirmed unto you by the uſe of the Sacraments, in which you have communicated. Have you not received them with faith?

Yes.

Do you not believe according to the ſame, that God is not only your Creator, but that ſinne having made you a caſt-away, he is your Saviour in Ieſus Chriſt?

Yes.

Acknowledge you not that you are a poore and p. 340miſerable ſinner, and confeſſe you not, that ſhould he enter into a reckoning with you, to impute your ſinnes unto you, you ſhould of neceſſitie and unavoidably periſh in death and eternall damnation.

Yes.

Do you not proteſt you are exceeding ſorrie and much grieved for having ſo offended him, and that you do repent the ſame with all your heart?

I do.

Do you not utterly renounce all conceit and confidence in your owne righteouſnes, to ſettle entirely and wholy your hope in the p. 341ſole mercy of God, by the which he juſtifieth and ſaveth us in his beloved Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord?

Yes.

Believe you not that he hath received you in this his mercy, that he is appeaſed and at peace with you, and hath reconciled you into his favour and grace with him, in regard of, and thorow the obedience and merit of the ſame Ieſus Chriſt his Sonne, whom you firmly believe died for your ſins, and roſe againe for your juſtification?

Yes, I do.

p. 342Now I beſeech God to be pleaſed to eſtabliſh you, and to increaſe in you more and more this faith, according to the which you muſt take a full aſſurance of being juſtified and ſaved, ſeeing God hath given you this grace to believe with the heart unto righteouſneſſe, and with your mouth to make this confeſſion unto ſalvation, Rom. 10.10.

p. 343To induce the ſicke perſon to ſet up his reſt, and to reſolve, bee it for life▪ or be it for death, according to the will of God.

BEing thus ſupported and ſuſtained by the firme foundation of faith, you muſt take up an holy reſolution, and expect conſtantly without all feare, ſuch iſſue whatſoever it ſhall pleaſe God to ſend unto your ſicknes, with a ſetled perſwaſion, that it cannot chuſe but be profitable and wholſome for you, be it that it pleaſe him p. 344to cauſe you to injoy yet longer life here below, or be it, it ſhalbe his pleaſure to withdraw you hence, to make you more happy. If it ſhalbe his pleaſure to returne and reſtore you to health, as he is almighty, to fetch even the dead out of the grave, and to make them to live againe: This ſhalbe (if he pleaſe) to give give you to ſerve yet further to his glory, yea more affectionately then ever hitherto, for which you have to pray unto him for the grace. But if his will be to lead you by this ſicknes unto the end of your courſe, it ſhalbe to receive you into p. 345the fruition of that perfect happineſſe which the Sonne of God hath ſo dearly purchaſed for you by the price of his bloud. And therefore go you unto him with an holy cheerfulnes, in the aſſurance of his grace and favours, cheere up your ſelf, and rejoice in the happy exchang which you ſhall make of the earth with heaven, of this miſerable and ſhort life, for one that's moſt happy and permanent for evermore; from theſe wretched and periſhing goods, unto goods celeſtiall and eternall, which eye hath not ſeene, nor eare heard, and which farre ſurmount p. 346the thought of man, which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Are you not then well reſolv'd to conforme in all this your will unto the will of your Father in heauen? To the end, that be it whether you live, you live to the Lord, or be it that you dye, you dye to the Lord, Rom. 14.8. Being well aſſured that Chriſt ſhalbe unto you alwayes gaine, both in life and in death?

Yes.

God graunt you that grace.

p. 347To comfort and aſſure the ſicke in the weakneſſe of his faith.

IN the meane time, I am not ignorant, that your faith, how great and ſtrong ſoever it may be, may yet for all that be ſmall and weake in you: For during the infirmities of this life, the Holy Ghoſt is but given you in a certaine meaſure, according to the which we know but in part, and our ſpirituall renovation is but yet here begun. Certaine it is, we cannot attaine here below unto the perfection of faith. And therefore I p. 348doubt not but your faith yet is infirme and weake, and cannot chuſe but be toſſed with ſundry temptations, and skirmiſhed with divers aſſaults of doubts and diſtruſts. But you muſt not therefore ſhrinke or bee creſt-fallen in courage: For this combat you feele in yourſelfe, it is the fight, which as Saint Paul ſaith Galat. 5. ver. 17. is in the ſoule of every faithfull one, between the fleſh and the ſpirit, and therefore it is unto you an aſſured teſtimonie that you have faith. For as the fleſh fighteth in you by diſtruſt, the ſpirit alſo fighteth in p. 349you by faith; and this faith will never yeeld it ſelfe, being backt and ſuſtained by the ſpirit of God, which will make it victorious. And how imperfect ſoever it be, God will make it ſufficient unto you unto ſalvation: For it is not ſaid, he that ſhall believe perfectly, ſhall be ſaved, but rather ſimply, he that ſhall believe. Beſides as you feele in your ſelf your faith weak and imperfect, ſo I doubt not, but you therewith feele an holy deſire, that it might be ſtrengthened and increaſed, and that your heart prayeth and maketh requeſt unto God for the p. 350ſame. Is it not true?

Yes, it is.

Now ſith it is ſo, this faith, this deſire that it might be increaſed, and this prayer you make for it unto God, are not theſe fruits of the ſpirit, and not of the fleſh? And ſeeing they are the fruits of Gods Spirit produced in you; is not this a ſure teſtimonie that you are led by the ſame, and by conſequence the child of God? For all they that are led by the Spirit of God, are the children of God, as Saint Paul ſaith, Rom. 8.14.

Courage then, Sir; ſay boldly with that holy Apoſtle in the midſt of your p. 351combats: I am aſſured that nothing ſhalbe able to ſeparate me from the love of God which he hath ſhewed me in Ieſus Chriſt our Lord

To aſſure the ſicke against the temptations and terrors of conſcience.

FOure things there are indeed, which in this ſpirituall combat may give you terror, ſtagger your faith, and trouble the peace of your conſcience: Namely, the ſenſe of your ſinnes, the apprehenſion of death, the feare of the Devill, and the horrour of the judgement of God, before p. 352whom we are to appeare at our going forth of this life. But againſt the feare of al theſe things, the goodneſſe of God in the benefits of Chriſt, and in the teſtimonies he gives us in his Word, furniſheth you with good and ſufficient remedies, thorowly to aſſure and eſtabliſh you in invincible conſtancie.

Against the terrors proceeding from the ſenſe of his ſinnes.

FIrſt for the regard of your ſinnes, it is indeed very neceſſarie to have a thorow ſenſible apprehenſion p. 353and lively feeling of them, to humble you before God: But in as much as you proteſt you have a true and ſerious repentance of them, and do ſeek and lay hold of by faith the ſatisfaction and expiation of them in the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, aſſure your ſelf they can in no ſort hinder the effect of your ſalvation. If you be a ſinner, why, Ieſus Christ alſo came into the world to ſave ſinners: 1. Tim. 1.15. He is that Lamb of God that takes away the ſinnes of the world: Iohn 1.29. It is his bloud which cleanſeth us from all iniquitie. 1 Ioh. 1.7.9. And whoſoever p. 354ſhall believe in him, ſhall receive remiſſion of his ſins thorow his name: Act. 10 43. For this cauſe is it that there ſhould be preached in his name repentance and remiſſion of ſinnes: Luke 24 47. Yea he himſelfe invites us to himſelfe to endow us with the fruition of ſuch a good, come unto mee all yee that labour and are heavie laden, and I will give you reſt, Matth. 11.28. Go you then unto him, if you feele your ſelfe overwhelmed with the burthen of your ſinnes in aſſurance to find remedie and reſt to your ſoule. And for this ſelfe ſame cauſe performes he p. 355yet ſtill dayly the office of an Advocat with the Father for us, If we have ſinned (ſaith Saint Iohn, ch. 2. ver. 1, 2.) We have an Advocat with the Father, to wit, Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, who is the propitiation for our ſinnes.

Against the feare of death.

NOW as touching death, why ſhould you feare it, ſeeing your ſinnes are not imputed unto you? For by ſin it is that death entred into the world, (thus ſaith Saint Paul, Rom. 5.12.) and by conſequent, where there is p. 356no ſinne, there can be no death. And indeed, as for eternall death, which the Scriptures call the ſecond death, you have from it a full and a perfect releaſe by the meanes of this faith, which God hath given you. Ʋerily (ſaith the Son of God, Iohn 5.24.) I ſay unto you, that hee that heareth my Word, and believeth in him that ſent me, he hath eternall life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, but is paſſed from death vntounto life.

And as for the death of the body, whereunto we remaine ſtill ſubject, it is not unto the faithfull a teſtimonie p. 357of Gods anger upon them, as it is ever ſuch unto the reprobate, but rather a great and ſingular favour of his bounty, and which bringeth them an infinitenes of excellent commodities. Firſt of all it delivereth and ſetteth us free from all manner of evils, and dangers, putting an end unto ſuch a number of miſeries, vexations and griefs, which exerciſe and diſquiet us unceſſantly both in our bodies and in our mindes, during the courſe of this miſerable life, or rather of this continuall death, wherein we languiſh here below: and p. 358by drawing us out of this corrupt world, imbrued in malignitie; with the corruption wherof we cannot chuſe but be infected, as with a contagious ayre, to ſee our ſelves brought to this unhappy neceſſity of offending daily the goodneſſe of our heavenly Father, ſo many wayes as we do.

Secondly, corporall death is an entrance to us into a true life, by the benefit of Ieſus Chriſt, who hath himſelfe paſſed thorow this death, to make the paſſage happy and dangerleſſe unto us: it is a ſafe bridge unto us, to paſſe us and convay p. 359us out of the world unto God, from earth to heaven, and out of the calamities of this tranſitorie life unto the incomprehenſible bleſſedneſſe of life eternall: unto that fulneſſe of joyes, which is (as David ſaith, Pſal. 16.11.) in beholding the face of the Lord. This is the happineſſe which your ſoule ſhall injoy even from your very inſtant departure out of this body. And as for your body, which ſhalbe put into the earth, this ſhall not be for it, there to periſh for ever, but rather there to reſt only for a time in expectation of a bleſſed reſurrection: p. 360For this cauſe is it, that the death of the faithfull is called a ſleepe in the Scriptures, and they are called, they that are aſleepe, in regard of their bodies, which at the laſt day ſhalbe awakened, and raiſed up out of the duſt, to poſſeſſe together with their ſoules glorious immortality, being made conformable unto the glorious body of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Philip. 3.21. He is the head, and they are the members: And therefore it muſt needs be that the members be made like and conformable to their head.

What do you then find p. 361now in death, which ſhould aſtoniſh or affright you, ſeeing it will deliver and ſet you free from all evill, and will mount you up to the higheſt pitch of all happineſſe? But rather you ſhall find in it nothing, which makes not f… your comfort, and to ſettle and warrant you, and which for that cauſe ought not to make you wait for it with reſolution and repoſe of ſpirit, yea to breath and long after it with all your heart, when the houre therof ſhall come. And to ſay with Saint Paul, My deſire tendeth and endeavoureth to go hence, & to be with Chriſt

p. 362Againſt the feare of the Devill.

AS for the feare you may have of the Devill, you ſee now how you have no great ſubject to fear… …im, ſeeing that death cannot hurt you, but by that death whereof he hath the empire and power thereof. Now the Apoſtle witneſſeth that Ieſus Chriſt hath not onelyonly by death deſtroyed death, but alſo him that had the power of death, to wit, the Devill, Heb. 2.14.

Our Lord ſaith himſelf, that the Prince of this p. 363world hath nothing in him: Nor then hath he ought in thoſe that …ire his members, of the number of whom (by the grace of God) you are one. Beſides for us, and for our profit it was, that the Son of God fought with, and hath vanquiſhed and overcome him upon the Croſſe, upon the which he hath (as Saint Paul ſpeaketh, Col. 2.15.) dispoiled the principalities and powers of hell, which hee openly led in ſhow, triumphing over them in the ſame.

I doubt not but this enemie of our ſalvation will performe his utmoſt againſt p. 364you to aſtoniſh and trouble our faith. For as S. Peter ſaith, 1. Pet. 5.8, 9. Our adverſarie the Devill goeth about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devoure. But Saint Peter addeth: That we muſt reſiſt him, being ſtrong in faith. Reſiſt you the Devill (the ſame ſaith S. Iames, ch. 4.7.) and hee will flye from you. Now to reſiſt and overcome him, you muſt be furniſhed with the armour of God, whereof S. Paul ſpeaketh to the Epheſians, chap. 6. ver. 16. Taking above all (as he ſaith) the ſhield of faith, by the which you may quench all the fierie p. 365darts of the Devill.

Againſt the apprehenſion of the judgement of God.

THere remaineth the feare you may happily take of the judgement of God, before whom you muſt appeare. But wheron now ſhall this apprehenſion be founded? Seeing your ſinnes ſhall not be imputed unto you, ſeeing you ſhall not be condemned thereby unto death, ſeeing it ſhall be to no purpoſe for Satan there to accuſe you, you being there abſolv'd and juſtified by the grace of God. This is the doctrine p. 366which S. Paul affords us, Rom. 8.32.33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect, it is God that juſtifieth? Who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that died, yea rather that is riſen againe, who is even at the right hand of God, who alſo maketh interceſſion for us.

Thus then you muſt indeed appeare before God, but not as before a ſevere and rigorous judge, but rather as before a mercifull and an appeaſed Father towards us in Ieſus Chriſt, By Ieſus Chriſt, I ſay, whom you have himſelfe for an Advocat and Interceſſor with the Father: p. 367Now he ſhall not be denied by the Father in his requeſt for you, by Ieſus Chriſt, whoſe member you are. Now there is no condemnation to them that are in Ieſus Chriſt, ſaith Saint Paul, Rom. 8.1. By Ieſus Chriſt in the end, in whom you believe. Now he that believeth in me (ſaith he) hath eternall life, and he ſhall not come into condemnation, but rather is paſſed from death unto life.

Is not this then, Sir, your faith, and firm beliefe, that by the benefit of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt you have the remiſſion of your ſins, p. 368Iohn 5.24. That you are ſaved from eternall death, and ſet free from the rigor of the judgment of God, and that by conſequent Satan cannot prejudice or bring you any hurt by his accuſations and temptations, and that your bodily death cannot but he happy and profitable to you every way.

One must alſo draw from the ſicke a proteſtation of his charity towards his neighbour.

FInally, Sir, it being ſo that faith worketh by charity, and neceſſarily produceth p. 369it, ſeeing it hath pleaſed God, that you are at peace with him by faith, you muſt alſo be at one and in peace with all your brethren and neighbours thorow true Chriſtian charity. And therefore tell us if you renounce from your heart all hatred, rancour, and enmity againſt all men, without any exception, and do deſire the welfare and ſalvation of all in generall, and of every one in particular, as your very owne?

Yes, I do.

Do you not forgive honeſtly and with a good heart all them who have any way whatſoever it be p. 370offended you, as alſo reciprocally you do ask forgivenes of all them whom you have any way offended?

Yes.

Now Sir, muſt we herewithall addreſſe our prayer unto God, to the end it would pleaſe him to ſtrengthen you in the faith, which he hath given you, and to make more and more to abound in you all graces, it is your part to humble your ſelfe with us before him, and to lift up unto him your heart to implore his mercy from the depth of your ſoule.

p. 371A Prayer for the ſicke, in whom there ſhalbe likelihood of death.

O Lord our good God, and mercifull Father, we are indeed every way unworthy to lift up our eyes towards thee, for the multitude and grievouſneſſe of our ſinnes and tranſgreſſions, wherewith we are tainted and blemiſhed before thy face. But it is not in the confidence of our owne worthineſſe that we dare preſume to preſent our ſelves at the feet of thy ſacred Majeſtie, but rather in the aſſurance p. 372of thy great compaſſions, and the perfect obedience which thy deare Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord hath performed unto thee in our name, with whoſe righteouſneſſe we beſeech thee to cover and adorne us with thy grace, that thorow him, and in thy favour we may be reconciled and acceptable. But now we beſeech thee, O good God, be pleaſed particularly to impart this great mercy unto this thy poore child and ſervant, caſt downe under thy mighty hand, a poore ſinner indeed, and ſuch a ſinner as ſhould for ever remaine overwhelmed p. 373under the heavy waight and rigour of thy ſoveraigne juſtice, if thou affoordeſt not him thy infinite mercy.

Graunt him grace more and more to enter into a ſerious examination and acknowledgment of his ſinnes, that thereby he may conceive a true deteſtation of them, which may beget in him true repentance, and may further him and put him on forward unto an entire and abſolute deniall of himſelfe, to have his whole refuge unto thee, and to thy mercy, in the meane time receive him graciouſly, Lord, ſhew unto p. 374him a fatherly countenance, eſtabliſh him, and comfort him, ſay unto his ſoule, I am he that is able to enſafe thee, diſpoſe his heart to receive patiently and with thankfulneſſe this fatherly correction which thou ſendeſt him, and to reſigne up wholly himſelfe into thy hands, to range himſelfe peaceably unto whatſoe're it ſhall pleaſe thee out of thy ſacred wiſdome to ordaine for him. Lord, thou knoweſt better then he himſelf, or we, either whether is more expedient for him, that he ſhould live, or die. If thy good pleaſure be he ſhall live, let it be that p. 375he may live wholly unto thee: So as that having well profited by theſe thy chaſtiſements; he may learn to love thee, to honour, and ſerve thee all the dayes of his life in the midſt of thy Church, by ſtudying perpetually therein to bring forth the fruits of pietie and holines worthy of thy Goſpell, and beſeeming the child of ſuch a Father, and the ſervice of ſuch a Maſter: And ſo thou mayeſt be glorified in him, and his neighbours edified. But if otherwiſe it be thy will to take him out of this miſerable world, give him aſſurance that it ſhalbe to put p. 376him in poſſeſſion of thy heavenly kingdome; which thou haſt prepared for him before the foundation of the world, and which thy Son hath purchaſed for him by the merit of his death. To this end, O Father of light, from whom deſcendeth every good and perfect gift, be pleaſed to give unto him a true and a lively faith, wherewith he may ſeeke, find, and lay hold on thy mercy for his ſins, and true righteouſnes in the obedience of the ſame thy deare Son Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, who was delivered up unto death for our ſinnes, and roſe againe for our juſtification: p. 277Yea aſcended into heaven to take poſſeſſion thereof in our name, and by that meanes give us acceſſe and entrance thither, whence ſinne had baniſhed us. Imprint in his heart by the Power of thy holy Spirit a full certainty of all theſe thy graces, that thereby he may be enabled to repoſe himſelf peaceably in thy mercy, and to overcome happily all temptations and croſſes, which Satan and his owne fleſh would lay before him, to trouble the ſerenitie and cleereneſſe of his faith, and the tranquillitie of his conſcience. Let not his ſinnes then plunge him into deſpaire, p. 378ſeeing they have been ſo fully payed and ſatisfied unto thy juſtice, not by gold or ſilver, but by the precious bloud of thy Chriſt, as by that Lamb without ſpot and blemiſh. Let not death affright him, ſeeing that ſinne being deſtroyed and aboliſht in him, which is the ſting of death▪ it may remaine unto him diſarmed, and without power to hurt him. Yea that his ſoule being ſeparated from his body by corporall death, it ſhalbe to go unto thee victorious, and freed from the captivity of ſin, therby to taſt thorow y^e fruition of it that bleſſed p. 379life which he hath not taſted of in this world but by hope: leaving indeed his body in the earth, but not for ever, but rather to be refined, transformed; and made (in due time) conformable to the glorious body of his head by the benefit of his reſurrection. Let not Satan daunt him any more, ſeeing he cannot hurt him, but by ſinne and death, the dominion whereof he hath loſt in his behalfe: Aſſure him in the end, that in vain that accuſer ſhall lay ought to his charge at the throne of thy juſtice, ſeeing that he being already abſolved and juſtified by thy grace, p. 380there is no Iudge that can condemn him. Let it be thy good pleaſure, alſo O good God, to ſhew thy fatherly mercy unto all other ſicke perſons, comfort and ſtrengthen them according as thou knoweſt they have need thereof: And above all graunt them the grace to embrace evermore with a true and a lively faith thy merciemercy in Ieſus Chriſt, that therein they may find all matter of comfort. Graunt alſo unto us all that grace, Lord, that by this example we may profit, and learne to renounce the world, and our ſelves, to imploy thoſe few dayes we have here below p. 381to live, to meditate on thy wiſdome, to walk carefully in thy feare, to weane our hearts from the vanities of this life, to raiſe them up to the meditation and expectation of the celeſtiall life; And to this end to be alwayes prepared and in a readineſſe to appeare before thee, in aſſurance to be entertained and received in thy great merciemercy, even for thy deare Son Ieſus Chriſt our Lord his ſake: In whoſe Name we beſeech thee, O Father of merciemercy, to heare us, and in all other, which thou knoweſt better then we our ſelves to be neceſſarie p. 382for us, and this for thy poore ſervant, as we pray unto thee in that forme of prayer, which he himſelfe hath commanded us to offer up unto thee.

Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

Lord increaſe that faith which thou haſt planted in the heart of this thy ſervant and child: defend him with it as with a ſtrong ſhield, wherewith he may be inabled to quench all the fierie darts of the evill one: And graunt that perſevering conſtantly in the ſame unto the laſt gaſpe of his life, he may evermore (at the leaſt in heart) make p. 383thereof unto thee a pure and Chriſtian confeſſion, as we will preſently do both with heart and mouth: I believe in God the Father Almighty, &c.

Such is his Faith, Lord, as alſo ours: give the grace to live and die in the ſame, thorough Ieſus Chriſt thy Sonne our Lord, who in the unitie of the Holy Ghoſt, liveth and raigneth with thee, God eternally. Amen.

p. 384If the ſicke perſon continue long time, and yet alwayes with appearance of danger of death, it ſhalbe good to repeate unto the ſicke now and then ſome of the aforeſaid conſolations, but eſpecially thoſe which ſerve to aſſure him, and to ſtrengthen him againſt the temptations and combats of conſcience.

And if happily the ſicke perſon bee troubled with raving and fond imaginations, or otherwiſe be not of perfect memorie and good understanding, to heare any long diſcourſe p. 385in a continued ſpeech; there ſhal not be uſed unto him other then ſhort ſentences, ſuch ſhort questions as theſe here following, alſo ſuch as theſe, or others the like: And but talking to him by reſpits, and ſome pauſes interpoſed.

SIr, you muſt take a good heart.

It is the fatherly hand of God which viſits you for your good and welfare. For unto them that love God, all things do work together for their good.

Lift up your heart unto God to confeſſe unto him p. 386your ſinnes and offences, and to imbrace by faith his mercy in Ieſus Chriſt, which he hath promiſed unto all thoſe that repent and believe in him.

Have you not alwayes a good aſſurance in the merciemercy of God, and a ſtedfaſt faith in Ieſus Chriſt your Saviour?

Yes.

Do you not believe that Ieſus Chriſt died for your ſinnes, and roſe againe for your juſtification? (Rom. 4.25.)

Yes.

Believe you not that he hath been made unto you by the Father, wiſdome, p. 387righteouſnes, ſanctification, and redemption? (1. Cor. 1.30.)

I do.

Do you not believe that you are freely juſtified by the grace of God, thorow the redemption which is in Ieſus Chriſt?

Yes.

According to your faith doubt not but God will free you, and ſecurely protect you from perdition, and give you everlaſting life. For God gave his Sonne, that whoſoever ſhall believe in him, ſhall not periſh, but rather have everlaſting life. Iohn 16.

Feare not death, ſeeing p. 388by faith you imbrace Ieſus Chriſt, who is your life. I am (ſaith he) the reſurrection and the life: He that believeth in me, although he were dead, he ſhall live: and whoſoever liveth and believeth in me, he ſhall never die. Iohn 11.25.26.

If your ſinnes trouble and diſquiet you, have recourſe ever by faith unto Ieſus Chriſt, and you ſhall find reſt for your ſoule. Come unto me (ſaith he Matth. 11.28.) you that labour and are heavie laden and I will eaſe you.

Feare not the rigour of Gods juſtice: For there is no condemnation to them p. 389that are in Ieſus Chriſt. So ſaith the Apoſtle S. Paul, Rom. 8.1. And who is he (ſaith he, Rom. 8.32.33.) who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? It is God that juſtifies, who is he that ſhall condemne? It is Chriſt which died, or rather (which is more) which is riſen againe, who alſo is at the right hand of God, and who maketh interceſſion for us.

Be not loath to leave this miſerable life: which as S. Iames ſaith, chap. 4.14 is but a vapour which appeareth for a ſhort time, and then vaniſheth away: ſith in exchange therof p. 390there ſhalbe given you life eternall, and therein the height of happines ſo tranſcendent and incomprehenſible, that neither eye hath ſeene, nor eare hath heard, nor hath entred into the heart of man, that which God hath prepared for them that love him.

p. 391When it ſhall appeare that the ſicke doth notoriouſly draw on unto death, or ſeemeth indeed readie to give up the ghost; there may be yet further added (if need require) and repeated this briefe conſolation, with the prayer following.

COurage, Sir, you draw neare now unto the end of the combat, which cannot but be happy for you, as you are aſſured of the victorie, by the meanes of your faith, which is the victorie which overcommeth the world: and the p. 392Prince of the world Ieſus Chriſt your head and Saviour ſtretcheth out his arme unto you, and ſtayeth attending you at the end of the fight, to preſent unto you the incorruptible Crowne of glory, which he hath purchaſed for you by the price of his bloud. Commend and commit your ſelfe then unto him with your whole heart: go unto him with cheerfulneſſe, caſt your ſelfe into his armes, and ſay unto him, my ſoule into thine hands I come to yeeld, for thou haſt redeemed me, ô God of truth, Pſa. 31. We will beſeech God againe, that he will give p. 393you grace ſo to doe.

A Prayer.

O Lord, Father of mercy, and God of all conſolation and comfort, unfold plenteouſly in this exigencie thy mercies and boundleſſe comforts upon the perſon of this thy poor ſervant and child. Give him to reape now and to apply unto himſelfe an abundant and excellent fruit and profit from thoſe holy leſſons, which thou haſt (during the courſe of his life) taught him in thy ſchoole: Give him an invincible faith in this combat, arme him with thy p. 394whole Spirituall armour, that he may be able to ſtand againſt all the temptations and ambuſhes of Satan; and having vanquiſht them all he may abide ſtedfaſt. If thy juſtice aſtoniſh him, let thy mercy eſtabliſh and comfort him, if his ſinnes accuſe him, let the obedience of thy beloved Sonne excuſe and juſtifie him. If the apprehenſion of death trouble him, make him behold the gate of eternall life. Open unto him, wherunto thou goeſt to give him entrance: Thou haſt given him thy Sonne, make good unto him ſuch a gift, that it may not be vaine nor p. 395unprofitable. He is one of the ſheepfold of that great ſhepheard, let none take him out of thy hands. Thou haſt begun in him his ſalvation, let not thine owne work remaine unperfect. And ſeeing thou haſt led him on forward to the end of a painfull courſe, receive now his ſoule into thy hands, and carrie it into thy celeſtiall paradiſe, to that height and full accompliſhment of reſt and bleſſedneſſe in the companie and fellowſhip of thy bleſſed Angels, and of all the holy ſoules of thine Elect, which thou haſt already gathered thither, there p. 396jointly to injoy together for ever the fulneſſe of joy, which ſtandeth in the beholding of thy face. Heare us Father of grace for the ſake of thy deare Son Ieſus Chriſt our Lord; who in the unity of the Holy Ghoſt liveth and raigneth with God eternally. Amen.

A brieſe conſolation to give unto the neare friends of the deceaſed perſon, of whether ſex ſoever, eſpecially afther their returne from the funerall.

DEare friends, in this exigent it is, that you p. 397are to call to mind that holy and Chriſtian inſtruction which you have received in the ſchoole of Ieſus Chriſt; to make your profit thereof, by bearing patitiently your affliction, and reſting with humilitie and with a quiet mind in the will of God, whereunto evermore ours muſt conforme and ſubmit it ſelfe: Our nature indeed in ſuch accidents carrieth us to nothing but to teares, to plaints, and ſorrowes: But the Spirit of God, the author of all new-birth, teacheth therein to keepe me…ſure, and not to grieve after the manner of thoſe p. 398that are without hope: (1 Theſſ. 4.14.) If we be men in mourning, we muſt withall ſhew that we are Chriſtians, adorn'd with Faith and with Hope, to aſſure us that this corporall death is unto the faithfull children of God (by the benefit of Ieſus Chriſt) nothing elſe but a doore to enter by into everlaſting life, Iohn 5. verſ. …8.29. and that for the regard even of their bodies themſelves, that the earth receiveth them but a pledge, they ſhall heare one day the voice of the Lord, that ſhall cauſe them to come forth of their graves into the reſurrection p. 399of life; that the partie deceaſed (he or ſhe) may there be of the number of the children of God, the witneſſes, and the mirks, and badges, that God hath given him thereof by the good profeſſion of pietie and integritie which he practiſed in the midſt of his Church, unto the laſt gaſp of his life, ought not hereof to leave any ſcruple or doubt in us. He lived to the Lord, and he is dead to the Lord, by conſequent he is happy & reſteth from his labours, Apo. 14.13. by the heavenly witnes of the Spirit of God himſelfe. You have then no p. 400ſubject matter to weepe over him, in regard of his eſtate, which is not to be bewailed: he being every way moſt happy. He hath likewiſe a great advantage above us, that remaine ſtill in the world after him: for he is arrived at the haven of happines, whereas we are ſtill toſſed under the ſtorme and tempeſt of the troubleſome and dangerous Sea of this miſerable world. And therfore farre better is it for us to breath after our going to him, then to wiſh him here againe with us. As for the regard of your ſelves, who, in that which may concern p. 401this life, may receive ſome inconvenience by his abſence, you muſt conſider that God who gave him you, abideth for evermore for you, who is ſufficient for us without all other things, whereas all other things are nothing without him. He it is who will continue evermore over you the care of his Fatherly Providence, if you continue alwayes to walke in his feare. I beſeech him to give you the grace ſo to do, and that he will therein ſtrengthen you with an holy reſolution and with conſtancie.

p. 402Conſolation for the ſicke (extracted out of the holy Scriptures) to prepare them unto death. F. S. N.

HE that is of God, heareth the Word of God, and he not only heareth it, but keepeth it, and bringeth it into practice: For all things ſhall come to an end, and ſhall wax old as a garment: but the Word of God ſhall abide for ever. Now ſeeing it is ſo that by one man ſinne came into the world, and by ſinne death, and conſequently all afflictions and adverſities do thereon depend, upon juſt p. 403occaſion the life of man is but a continuall battell upon the earth: in like manner, the fleſh fighteth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the Devill, the world, and the fleſh. Which are the enemies of our ſoules. But following the Apoſtles counſel to obtaine the victorie in this Spirituall battell, we muſt reſiſt conſtantly by faith: For the victorie which overcommeth the world it is our faith, which is a certaine and aſſured knowledge of the love of God towards us, according as by his Goſpell he declareth himſelfe to be our Father p. 404and Saviour by the meanes of Ieſus Chriſt. Having then ſuch a firm faith for your principall foundation, know ye and confeſſe unfainedly before the Majeſtie of God, that you are a poore and a miſerable ſinner, conceived and borne ini…niquitie & corruption, prone▪ unto the doing of evill, unprofitable unto every good thing, and that by your ſinnes you have tranſgreſſed without end and unceſſantly the holy commandements of God. In the committing whereof you have purchaſed and brought by his juſt judgement ruine and deſtruction p. 405upon your ſelfe. Notwithſtanding you are ſorry and grieved in your ſelves for having offended him, and do condemne your ſelves and your ſinnes with true repentance, deſiring that Gods grace may help and relieve your calamitie. Pray then in this firm faith, if you cannot with mouth, ſpeak it in your heart: that God our moſt gracious and moſt mercifull Father enter not into judgment nor into an account with you; but would be pleaſed to have pitie on you in the name of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, and that he would blot out your ſinnes and p. 406blemiſhes by the merit of the death and paſſion of the ſame Ieſus Chriſt, in whoſe Name offer up unto him his holy Prayer, which he hath taught us, ſaying from your heart: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdome come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven: give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our treſpaſſes, as wee forgive them that treſpaſſe against us: and leade us not into temptation, but deliver us from evill. For thine is the kingdome, the power, and the glory, for ever & ever. Amē.

F. S. N. Acknowledge from the bottome of your p. 407heart your unrighteouſnes, be ſorry for your ſinnes, repent unceſſantly, and the kingdome of God will draw neare unto you: Acknowledge there is no righteouſneſſe, no innocencie, nor any good works of yours, nor in you: But rather as the children of wrath, conceived and born in the ſinne of old Adam, you deſerve death and eternall damnation. Notwithſtanding let not this, nor all the ſinnes of the world, (when you ſhould have committed them) affright you. For Ieſus Chriſt the true Sonne of the eternall God, is made true man, p. 408conceived by the Holy Ghoſt, borne of the holy Virgin, to ſanctifie and cleanſe you: He ſuffered under Pontius Pilate many afflictions, injuries, and outrages, making himſelfe a ſervant and captive to ſet you in full libertie. Ieſus Chriſt was crucified as accurſed, upon the tree of the Croſſe, to deliver you, from the eternall curſe. Ieſus Chriſt died ſhedding forth his bloud, his precious bloud, to waſh you, to redeem you, to deliver and wholly ſet you free from the death of hell, and from the power of Satan. Ieſus Chriſt was buried in the p. 409grave to burie all your ſins, which he tooke away and blotted out. Ieſus Chriſt deſcended into hell, inſuffering extreame ſorrowes, to free you from all the paines and ſorrowes of death. Ieſus Chriſt roſe againe from the dead, to cauſe you to riſe againe in your owne body, and unto glorious immortalitie. Ieſus Chriſt aſcended into heaven, to make you to aſcend up thither after him. Ieſus Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God his Father Almighty, being your Advocate and Interceſſor towards him, and the attonement of all your ſinnes. p. 410We look for his comming to judge the quick and the dead, to render unto every one according to his works. But unto his faithfull ones, that believe in him, he will not impute their ſinnes, but having entirely juſtified them by his grace, will make them raigne with him in his heavenly throne for ever.

F. S. N. Such is the great myſterie of our redemption, which by the working of the grace of the Holy Ghoſt, you m…ſ… firmly believe was wrough… for your ſalvation: And doubt not but that by the merit of Ieſus Chriſt the p. 411head of his Church, you are a member incorporated into the ſame, returning him thanks in great humilitie, that he hath been ſo gracious unto you, to have graunted you the happines to have lived in the communion and company of his faithfull ones, for having fed you with his Word, with his Body and Bloud, acknowledging (as being fully aſſured) the great mercy of God, in the remiſſion of all your ſinnes, which is made over unto you in Ieſus Chriſt, who will raiſe you up againe at the laſt day, to make you raigne with him in life everlaſting, p. 412which he hath promiſed unto all thoſe which believe in him, being baptiſed into his name.

Now, F. S. N. ſeeing you have this faith, doubt you not to receive the promiſe of Faith: for God is true, he cannot lie as man; Sooner ſhall heaven and earth periſh: But the Word of God ſhall abide for ever. God is your Father and Creator, you are his creature and the worke of his hands: He hath not made you to deſtroy you: for he is the Saviour of all men, and will not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he be converted and live. p. 413Wherefore I declare unto you in the Name of God, that out of his great goodneſſe and mercy he gives you full pardon and forgiveneſſe of all your ſins thorow the ſole merit of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, in the ſhedding of his precious bloud, for he is the propitiation, not only for all your ſins, but for all the ſins of the world.

F. S. N. Ieſus Chriſt ſaith with his own mouth, that all things are poſſible unto him that believeth. Believe then (without doubting at all) that Ieſus Chriſt putting on our fleſh, was made true man, wherin p. 414he died for you, having taken upon him all your ſinnes in his body, to aboliſh and blot them out. Set before and preſent unto God the precious death of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, and for the merit of the ſame death and Paſſion ask his mercy, in ſaying from the bottome of your heart in great humilitie and repentance.

O Lord God Almighty, be mercifull unto me a poore and miſerable ſinner, for thy deare Sonne my Lord and Saviour Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, and by the merit of his Death and Paſſion be graciouſly pleaſed p. 415to receive my ſoule, which I commend into thy hands.

F. S. N. Put your whole aſſured truſt and confidence in God. For ſeeing he is for you, none ſhalbe againſt you: for Ieſus Chriſt, who is the Lamb without ſpot or blemiſh, hath overcome all for you: He offered up himſelfe once for you, and by the ſame ſole oblation hath wholly aboliſhed all your ſinnes. He hath abrogated, made void, and forceleſſe your follie, unrighteouſneſſe, abomination, and obligation. With this good Lord Ieſus Chriſt God the Father p. 416hath given you all things.

F. S. N. Be ſtrong in Ieſus Chriſt, who calls and inuites you by his Prophets, Apoſtles, and Evangeliſts, to reſort, and freely to make towards him, ſaying, you that thirſt, come unto the great fountaine, come unto me all you that travell and are heavie laden, and I will eaſe you.

F. S. N. Believe ſtedfaſtly that Ieſus Chriſt hath diſcharged and ſet you free from all your ſins, and hath reconciled you unto God his Father: VntoUnto whom in all humilitie and repentance, ſay from the bottom of your heart.

p. 417LOrd God Almighty, have mercy upon me a poore miſerable ſinner, for thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt my Lord and Saviour his ſake: and by the merit of his death & paſſion be pleaſed to receive my ſoule, which I commend into thy hands.

F. S. N Bee of good hope: For aſſuredly he will receive your ſoule, as his, for his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lords ſake, who is the Saviour and Redeemer of all thoſe that believe in him. Moyſes and all the Prophets have teſtified, that all Nations ſhall receive ſalvation and bleſſednes by Ieſus Chriſt. The p. 418Apoſtles and Evangeliſts do teſtifie, that Ieſus Chriſt came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance, and to give his life for the redemption of many: for he hath ſhed his bloud for the remiſſion of ſinnes: Believe then, and doubt not in any wiſe: for Ieſus Chriſt hath made you cleane from all your ſinnes, having promiſed, that all they that ſhall believe in him, and in his Father that ſent him, ſhall have eternall life, and ſhall not come into judgement, but ſhall paſſe from death unto life.

Well then, F. S. N. take a good courage in Ieſus p. 419Chriſt: For he hath loved you, and waſhed you from your ſinnes in his bloud. Have then this ſtedfaſt faith to fight valiantly againſt the adverſarie, uſe no other buckler to defend your ſelfe withall, but this precious bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, which by vertue of his Death and Paſſion hath reconciled you unto God his Father: unto whom in great humility and repentance offer up this Prayer.

O Lord God Almighty, have mercy upon me a poore miſerable ſinner, for thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt my Lord and Saviour his ſake: and by the merit of his p. 420Death and Paſſion be graciouſly pleaſed to receive my ſoule, which I commend into thy hands.

F. S. N. Let this be your hope & ſtedfaſt faith, that that good God full of all mercy, will receive your ſoule, as his, into his hands, for his Sonne Ieſus Chriſts ſake. For there is no other Name under heaven given unto men wherby we muſt be ſaved, nor is there ſalvation in any other but in Ieſus Chriſt. Arme your ſelf then indeed with this gracious Ieſus Chriſt: for he hath done all for you; he hath fulfilled the Law for you, he hath overcome all for you.

p. 421Well then, F.S.N. cheer up your ſelf in God, be you ever unmooveable in this lively faith: follow and imitate you the holy Patriarks, Prophets and Apoſtles, who are all ſaved in this faith, who aſſure you all of them, that the adverſarie can no wayes hurt you: For your ſuit is won by Ieſus Chriſt, who is both your Iudge and Advocat together. Wherfore ſay evermore in this ſtedfaſt faith: that though I ſhould walke thorow the midſt of the ſhadow of death, yet would I feare no manner of evill. For thou Lord God art with me. p. 422F. S. N. Alſo ceaſe not to ſay from the bottome of your heart in great humility and repentance.

LOrd God Almighty, have mercy upon me poore miſerable ſinner for thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt my Lord and Saviour his ſake: and by the merit of his Death and Paſſion let it pleaſe thee to receive my ſoule, which I commend into thy hands. So be it.

A ſingular Prayer for a perſon greatly afflicted with ſicknes, which ſeemeth to approach nearer to death, then to life. With a ſhort Catechiſme, purpoſely made to inſtruct the ſicke, and to make him contemplate by faith the great myſterie of our redemption.

Eccleſ. c. 18. v. 19.20. Ʋſe. Phyſicke ere ever thou be ſick, before judgement examine thy ſelfe, and in the day of viſitation thou ſhalt find mercy.

NOw the Lord admoniſheth us to pray p. 424continually, eſpecialy when we are touched with his rods, wherefore all kinſfolks and faithfull friends, that viſit the ſick perſon, ought not only to viſit and be carefull for the body: but withall to ſeek and ask for the ſpirituall phyſick for his Soule. This muſt he do by good prayers, confeſſion of ſinnes, and Chriſtian exhortation according to the Word of God, without which man cannot live: and to this end that all things may be done in good order and with zeale. Firſt of all it is meet to caſt downe himſelfe before the Majeſtie of God, and to call upon p. 425him by beginning: Our helpe is in the Name of the Lord, &c.

Then to preſent unto him the generall confeſſion of ſinnes; and conſequently this preſent prayer as it followeth.

O Lord God Almighty, and Father of mercy, we are here aſſembled together in the Name of thy welbeloved Son our Lord and Saviour Ieſus Chriſt, thorow whom we are bold to preſent our ſelves before thee, to call upon thy holy Name, having our ſole refuge unto thy Soveraigne and tranſcendent goodnes, which we not only deſire p. 426to be ſenſible of, and to taſt in our ſelves▪ but alſo in the neceſſitie of thy poore creature here afflicted with corporall ſicknes, and with the affliction and calamity of mind. We know Lord, that juſtly thou viſiteſt and chaſtneſt him with thyrods to make him to underſtand thy fatherly affection. But thy great mercies, which thou haſt uſed towards our fathers, are not extinguiſht, nor exhauſted. For thou art that great eternall God, gracious and mercifull, that never changeſt, with whom there is no variablenes, nor ſhadow of change. Thy holy Word p. 427teacheth us moſt evidently that the whole earth is full of thy mercies, which are farre above thy juſtice. Whe…fore Lord, mitigate thy rigour towards thy creature, have pity▪ and compaſſion on him, for thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lords ſake. Looke not upon his ſins, but looke upon the face of thy Chriſt, who hath fully ſatisfied thee for him, by offering up unto thee that great ſacrifice of his body upon the Croſſe. We beſeech thee then; O moſt gracious God, full of mercy, to make him ſenſible of thy grace, which thou haſt never denied to p. 428thy children. And becauſe thou art our eternal Father well knowing whatſoeve… is needfull and expedient for our ſalvation. We pray not unto thee to lengthen unto him his life, or to abridge it: for we repoſe our ſelves upon thy holy will, whereunto onelyonly we deſire to be conformable. Thou art wiſe without counſell, to diſpoſe of thy creature according to thy good pleaſure. That if it ſhalbe thy pleaſure to call him hence, who is he that ſhalbe able to reſiſt thee? But if it be thy good pleaſure to ſend him health againe, who is he that ſhall p. 429reprehend thee? For all things are in thy hand, and nothing is done without thy will and holy providence. Yet Lord, if out of thy grace thou prolong unto him his dayes, thy rod ſhall ſerve him for a chaſtiſement to amend him, and to convert him unto thee, and we together with him will render unto thee thanks and praiſes. But if thy will be determined to make him paſſe hence into a better life, wee beſeech thee for thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt his ſake to forget all his ſins and tranſgreſſions, which thou haſt been pleaſed to blot out and towa… p. 430away by the effuſion of his precious bloud, be graciouſly pleaſed thorow the merit of the Death and Paſſion of thy Sonne to receive his ſoule into thy hands, when as thou wilt call him out of this world. Lord God, deſpiſe not the work of thine owne hands: for behold here thy poore creature, as it were wholly overwhelmed, who calleth upon thee out of the depth of all theſe evills, preſenting unto thee his ſad and penitent ſoule, with his dejected and humbled heart, which we beſeech thee to be pleaſed to accept as well pleaſing unto thee, for thy p. 431Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lords ſake: in whoſe Name thou haſt promiſed to heare our requeſts. Wherefore Lord we beſeech thee to receive us into thy holy protection, to illuminate our hearts and underſtandings, to addreſſe our ſelves unto thee, to call upon thy holy Name, as thy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lord hath taught us to pray unto thee for the relieuing of all our neceſſities, ſaying: Our Father which art in heaven, &c.

Finally, O God, moſt gracious Father, full of mercy, be pleaſed evermore to ſupport us by thy p. 432grace and power, that by the infirmity of our fleſh we fall not away. And becauſe that of our ſelves we are ſo fraile, that we are not able to continue firm one minute of time, graciouſly ſtrengthen us by thy Holy Spirit, and arme us with thy graces, that we may bee enabled to perſevere conſtantly in the faith without which it is not poſſible to pleaſe thee. Bee graciouſly pleaſed then to confirme and eſtabliſh us daily in the ſame, whereof we will make confeſſion with heart and mouth.

I believe in God the p. 443Father Almighty, &c.

Prayers being ended, notice ſhalbe taken how the ſicke perſon doth, and hee may bee asked how he feeleth himſelfe touching the ſtate of his health with gracious talke, and Chriſtian Speeches. But if it appeare that he decline, and no token of recoverie appeare: a while after a fit time ſhallbe choſen to ſpeak unto the ſaid ſicke perſon, and to aske him whether he be not willing to heare talk of God, and to hearken to his Word: Whilſt he is ſtill in perfect memorie. So that if he be inclinable p. 444to entertaine diſcourſe concerning God, the ſhort Catechiſme following ſhall be begun.