The Christians Defense Against the Fears of Death, Chapter 13
CHAP. 13.
The Firſt Conſolation againſt the fears of Death; God will not forſake us in our moſt grievous pangs.
MAn is naturally afraid of pain, and abhors all ſufferings and grief; now the moſt of us are perſwaded that it is impoſſible to dye without enduring great pains; therefore they abhor Death, not ſo much for its own ſake, as for the evils that it cauſeth to ſuffer.
That we may be able to drive away this ill-grounded Fear, and ſtrengthen our minds againſt all apprehenſions; we muſt firſt conſider, that death is not ſo dreadful and painful, as commonly imagined; the Holy Ghoſt calls it a Sleep, and the Heathens themſelves have ſaid, that Sleep is Death's Couſen-german, and the Image of frozen Death: Now Sleep creeps upon us inſenſibly, it charms our Sences ſoftly, and with inviſible Fetters it ties and ſtops all our moſt active faculties; although we ſleep every night, we are not able to diſcover how this happens to us. It is ſaid of Socrates, one of the moſt famous Men of the firſt Ages, when he had, in obedience to the Decree of the Judges of Athens, drunk poiſon, when he felt the venom benumming his Sences, and Death creeping into his Veins, he declared with a pleaſant countenance, That he had never ſwallowed anything more ſweet and comfortable. Nothing can be imagin'd more pleaſant, than the death of the old Patriarchs. The Holy Scripture tells us, That when Jacob had made an end of commanding his Sons, he gathered up his Feet into the Bed, and yielded up the Ghoſt, Gen. 49. The ſame is related of King David, That when he had perſwaded Solomon to fear God, and to do juſtice, he ſlept with his Fathers, 1 King 1. God is as merciful to many in theſe latter days, to cauſe them to dye in ſpeaking and calling upon his Holy name; their Souls are not pluckt from them by violence, but of their own accord they ſeparate from the Body, and fly into Heaven with an Holy chearfulneſs. The ſeparation of ſuch Souls from the Body, happens without pain, grief, or ſuffering. Such are like to a Taper, that extinguiſheth without any blaſt of Wind, of its own accord, when the Wax that kept it alive, and nouriſheth its flame is totally ſpent. If you perceive ſome toſt and tortured with grievous pangs in their death-bed, they are not properly the pangs of death, but the laſt ſtruglings and motions of life; for I cannot imagine, that at the moment of the ſeparation of our Souls from our Bodies, we ſuffer any pain, becauſe at that inſtant, all the Senſes are then lulled aſleep, and our Bodies have no more ſtrength, nor life to hinder the Souls departing.
Death is ſo far from being ſo dreadful and painful, as we commonly imagine, that on the contrary, it is that very thing that puts an end to all our pains and miſeries. And I am perſwaded that the diſeaſes that bring us to our graves, are not ſo grievous as the other diſtempers, that we endure whilſt we live here on Earth; ſuch as are a cruel Gout, a Stone in the Kidneys, or a Canker in the Breaſt, for they are tortures that rack us continually, and a Fire that conſumes us without ceaſing. But when our pains ſhould be far more ſenſible, and that we ſhould have reaſon to impute them to death, we have no reaſon therefore to fly from it, or to abhor its approaches, for otherwiſe we have as good cauſe to curſe the hour of our Birth, and weep for our Victories, for there is no Birth without pain, nor Victory without ſtrugling; the moſt Glorious and flouriſhing Laurels are watered with Bloud and Sweat.
The moſt excellent things are the moſt painful, and to ſpeak according to the common ſaying, that One nail drives another, ſo one evil is a Remedy to many other evils; we commonly ſeek with an earneſt longing, as a good thing, that evil that frees us from the violent pains, that we can ſcarce endure. To be healed o… our diſtempers, we ſwallow moſt bitter Pills and Potions, that gripe and torment our Bowels. To be freed from the Stone, we ſuffer a moſt painful cutting. And that the Gangreen that hath ſeized upon one of our Members, might not get to our Heart, we endure it with patience, to be cut off, whether it be Arm or Leg; therefore, when Death ſhould be much more grievous, bitter, and more cruel than it is commonly repreſented; yet we ought to embrace it willingly, becauſe that it delivers us not only from ſome diſeaſe or ſome particular pain, but generally from all pains, aches, and diſtempers. The Phyſick works not always out the humour that diſquiets us. When we have drawn out a Stone from the Bladder, many times others grow in the place that are worſe. The Surgeons hand, let it be never ſo perfect, anſwers not always his Patients expectation; inſtead of removing his pain, it increaſeth it; But the working and cure of Death, is always certain, and never fails, the ſucceſs is always happy to a Chriſtian Soul.
That I may ſupply thee with ſome comfort in the midſt of thy great pains and ſufferings, My Brother, or My Siſter, remember that theſe things happen not to thee by chance, but it is God who ſends them to thee, according to the decree of his Wiſdom. Aſcribe not thy Diſeaſe to the influences of the Stars, to blind Fortune, but lift up thine Eyes to his appointment, who hath ſtretched out the Heavens, and Commanded the ſucceſſion of the Seaſons, and who is the Author and Lord of thy Life. We need not tempt God, as the Philiſtins did of old, and require from him a miracle, to know if it be his hand, for God aſſures us, that he himſelf inflicts the Wound, and binds it up, that his hand ſtrikes and heals again, 1 Sam. 5. Affliction cometh not forth of the Duſt, neither doth trouble ſpring out of the ground, Job 5. Who is able to ſay, that theſe things are come to paſs, and the Lord hath not commanded them, doth not evil and good proceed from the appointment of the moſt High? There is no evil in the City, but God hath done it; that is to ſay, that there is no diſtemper, nor affliction, but he over-rules and governs it by his wonderful Providence.
This perſwaſion will ſtop our murmuring in the midſt of our greateſt troubles and violent paines, it will cauſe us to ſay with David, I have held my peace Lord, and have not open'd my Lips, becauſe it was thy doing. Or if we offer to ſpeak, it ſhall be in the language of a bleſſed Servant of God, Lord, thou troubleſt me, but it is ſufficient for me to know, that it is thy hand, Job 2. As if he ſhould have ſaid, this Phyſick is very bitter. O great Phyſitian of my Soul and Body, but I will freely drink it up, becauſe thou haſt preſcribed it: It is not juſt to receive good, at the hand of God, and refuſe evil, to complain of a diſeaſe that he hath ſent us, for a few days, inſtead of bleſſing him for the health which he hath continued unto us many years. In ſhort, when our Souls ſhould be troubled with the anguiſh of death, when drops of bloud ſhould come out of our veins, we muſt in ſuch a caſe lift up our Eyes to Heaven, and ſay with our Lord and Saviour, Father, if it pleaſe thee that this Cup ſhould not paſs away from me except I drink it: Nevertheleſs, O Father, not my Will, but thy Will be done, Luk 21.
This ſame conſideration will keep us from falling into deſpair, and from fancying, that the evils will ſwallow us up. For ſeeing God ſends both evil and good, and that he is faithful and juſt, that he is true and merciful, he will not ſuffer us to be tempted, that is, that we ſhould be afflicted above that we are able, but with the temptation he will make away to eſcape, that we may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10. He kindles not all his wrath at once, and employs not all his fury, he diſcovers not all the ſtrength of his Arm, Pſal. 78. but when his anger is hotteſt, he remembers to have pity and compaſſion on the afflicted, for he knows of what we are made, that we are but Duſt and Aſhes, Hab. 3. He remembers that we are but Fleſh, that is to ſay, weakneſs it ſelf, a wind that paſſeth away, and returneth not again, Pſal. 103. He regulates his chaſtiſements, not according to the horridneſs of our ſins, but according to our great weakneſſes, Gen. 18. Pſal. 78. Therefore when God ſpeaks of David's Son, the true and lively Image of the Holy Seed, with which he hath concluded an Eternal Covenant, he ſpeaks in this manner, If he commits ſin, I will chaſtiſe him with the Rod of Men, and with the ſtripes of the Children of men, but my mercy ſhall not depart away from him, 2 Sam. 7. And St. Paul ſpeaking in general, of the afflictions, with which God viſits his Children, 1 Cor. 10. he ſtiles them Humane temptations, to aſſure us that they ſhall never exceed the ſtrength and power of our weak Nature.
The wiſe and experienced Phyſitian appoints neither Phyſick nor Bleeding to the Patient, until he hath well examined his Pulſe, and underſtood thereby the diſpoſition of his Body; and ſhall not God's Eternal Wiſdom, that never acts without good reaſon, and that perfectly knows the Pulſe and Temper of our Souls, that ſearcheth our Reins, and that ſees our very Heart, proportion his Phyſick and Remedies to our weakneſſes? for his deſign is to heal, and not to deſtroy us; He once inflicted puniſhments upon Babylon by meaſure, and numbred the Viols of his Wrath, which he poured upon the ſeat of the Beaſt, and ſhall not this good God meaſure the Rods, and weigh the Afflictions with which he reproves his Children? ſhall not he number their Sighs and Tears? This conſideration comforts King David, Thou, ſaith he, O God, telleſt my wandrings, put thou my tears into thy bottle, are they not in thy Book? Pſ. 56. Although Fleſh and Bloud may think otherwiſe, I am perſwaded that Diſeaſes may be looked upon as the ſweeteſt and moſt favourable afflictions. It was David's perſwaſion, for when he was to chuſe one of theſe three Plagues, either War, Famine, or Plague, which is the moſt grievous, moſt hated, and dreadful of all diſtempers, he choſe the Plague; We ſhould never forget the reaſon of his choiſe; Let us fall now, ſaid he, to the Prophet Gad, into the hands of the Lord, for his Mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of Man.
The evils which God ſends to us, are expreſſions of his Love, and of his Fatherly Care of us, for God begins his Judgements, that is, his Chaſtiſements, at his own Houſe, and ſhews moſt ſeverity to the Servants whom he loves beſt, 1 Pet. 4. Therefore he tells the Angel of the Church of Laodicea, As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten, Revel. 3. The greateſt affliction that can happen to us in the World, is never to be afflicted, and the moſt grievous temptation, is never to be tempted; St Paul to the Hebrews ſpeaks moſt excellently upon this ſubject, Forget not, ſaith he, the exhortation which ſpeaketh unto you as unto Children, my Son, deſpiſe not thou the chaſtening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him, for whom the Lord loveth, he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every Son whom he receiveth; If ye endure chaſtening, God dealeth with you as with Sons, for what Son is he whom the Father chaſteneth not? but if ye be without chaſtiſement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye Baſtards and not Sons, Heb. 12.
All things work together for good to them that love God, Rom. 8. The Diſeaſes of the Body are the Phyſick of the Soul. The Aches which thou ſeeleſt in thy Body, are Inſtructions of thy Mind. God intends to make thee ſigh for thy ſins, water thy Couch with thy Tears, and abhor the remembrance of thy former miſcarriages, Pſal. 6. The cauſes of thy preſent pain and grief. He intends to make thee partaker of his Holineſs, Heb. 12. If it pleaſe God to ſanctify his afflictions to thee, thou wilt be able to ſay with David, It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn thy Commandments. Before that I was afflicted I went aſtray, but now I keep thy Word, Pſal. 119.
Although our Lord and Saviour was the only Son, and the beloved of the Father, Heb. 5. yet he learned obedience by the things that he ſuffered; God hath predeſtinated thee to render thee conformable to the image of his Son, that he might be the firſt-born amongſt many Brethren; God intends to ſtrengthen thee with an Holy conſtancy, and to teach thee to poſſeſs thy Soul with patience, Luk 21. He cauſeth thee therefore to learn by experience, that all Fleſh is as Graſs, and all the Glory of Man as the flower of Graſs. He intends to teach thee how to humble thy ſelf under his mighty hand, that he may lift thee up in due time, 1 Pet. 5. When God purpoſed to bring the Children of Iſrael out of Egypt, Ex. 21.5. He cauſed the yoak of their grievous bondage to be more heavy, and loded them with more unſufferable burdens. For the ſame reaſon God ſends afflictions, and gluts us with bitterneſs, becauſe he would bring us to a loathing of the World, and of its Vanities, and to think upon Heaven and its Eternal Happineſs, 1 Cor. 11. He chaſtiſeth thee that thou mayeſt not periſh with the World; He puniſheth thy Body, that thy Soul might be ſaved.
As the Gold is tried in the Fire, thus the Lord caſts us into the flames of affliction, that our Faith might be tried, and appear more precious than fine Gold, 1 Cor. 5. We Glory in God, in the midſt of Tribulations, knowing that Tribulation produceth Patience, Patience Experience, and Experience, Hope, 1 Pet. 1. Now Faith doth not make us aſhamed, becauſe the love of God is ſpread in our hearts, by the Holy Ghoſt, which hath been given to us. God will kindle again thy languiſhing Zeal, and enliven thy Prayers, that they may be more acceptable to him. Tell me not that thy diſtemper is an heavy burden, that hinders thy Soul from lifting it ſelf towards Heaven; and that thy grievous Aches, dry up the Humidity of thy Tongue, and cauſe thy Lips to ſtick together; for, I mean not the Prayers compoſed by Art, but the Holy Affections, and earneſt Sighs of the Soul, ſent up to God. A groan of an oppreſſed Soul, and a Sigh forced from us by neceſſity, and a Tear dropt from a penitent Heart, are far more acceptable to him, than Prayers of Forty hours, that come forth of an hypocritical Mouth.
When the Prophet Moſes ſaw himſelf incloſed between Pharaoh's Army, and the Red Sea, he was ſo grievouſly perplexed, that he could not open his mouth; but God heard the voice of his Heart, and anſwered to his ſilent Requeſt. King Hezekiah muttered as the Crane, or as the Swallow, and groaned as the Pidgeon; and God had a reſpect to his groaning, and tears, and heard him from his Holy Sanctuary. The ſighs of Jonas in the Whales Belly, mounted up through the waves of the Sea, and aſcended to the ſacred Habitation of God's Glory. The Cries of Jeſus dying upon the Croſs, have pierced through to the boſom of our Heavenly Father, and have moved the Bowels of his Eternal Mercies. In ſhort, God ſpeaks thus of all his Children, Before they cry, I will grant them their requeſt, and as they ſhall yet ſpeak, I ſhall have heard them. Therefore the Royal Prophet ſaith not only, That God hath heard the Prayers, but hath heard the deſire of the humble; thou wilt prepare their Heart, thou wilt cauſe thine Ear to hear. For that reaſon, when the Apoſtle St. Paul make; mention of that Spirit that ſupports our weakneſſes, and that teacheth us to pray, ſaith, That he crieth in our hearts Abba Father, and that he maketh requeſt for us with ſighs and groans, that cannot be uttered, Rom. 8.
Take good courage, my Brother, or my Siſter, and be not frighted at the ſight of Death. Thou ſeeſt a narrow paſſage, a way all beſet with Thorns and Bryars, but it is Heavens Gate, and the way that leads to thine Heavenly Paradiſe. For we muſt of neceſſity march through a Valley of Tears, before we can enter into the City of the living God, Pſal. 84. We muſt paſs through many tribulations to come to the Kingdom of Heaven, Acts 14. Bleſſed are they whom God afflicts, for they ſhall be comforted, Matth. 5. Bleſſed is the man that ſuffereth temptation, for when he ſhall be ſufficiently proved, he ſhall receive the Crown of Life, which God hath promiſed to them that love him., Jam. 1. The Lord ſends thee this affliction, and this grievous temptation, not only for thine own good, and Salvation, but alſo for the benefit of others: by his wonderful Wiſdom he preſerves the communion of Saints, and ſo diſpoſeth of every one, that we all contribute to the building of his Tabernacle. Upon one he beſtows Riches, that he ſhould be bountiful in Alms-deeds; to another he gives Learning, that he might inſtruct the ignorant, and comfort the afflicted; he raiſeth others to great Honors and Dignities, that they might be able to protect the innocent, and deliver the oppreſſed; others are afflicted with deſperate evils, and grievous, and long diſeaſes; others are deprived of their moſt needful ſenſes, as of their Eye-ſight, or of their Hearing, that they might edify their neighbors by an Holy Conſtancy, and Chriſtian Patience. The Aſhes of poor Joh, have more luſter than all the Gold and the precious Stones of the World. It is many Ages ſince he endured greivous and dreadful calamities; Nevertheleſs, his patience is yet propoſed to us for our example, and to the end of the world, it will always inſtruct the Church of God; God teacheth thee by the evils which thou endureſt, to be moved with mercy and compaſſion towards others in the ſame condition; for as he required, that the Children of Iſrael ſhould be gracious to ſtrangers, becauſe they had been ſtrangers in the Land of Egypt, Likewiſe, he ſends to thee afflictions, that thou mighteſt pity the afflicted, and ſuffer with them as Members of the ſame Myſtical Body. This appears in Jeſus Chriſt our Head, for although the chief end of his ſufferings was to redeem us, and reconcile us unto God his Father; nevertheleſs, the Holy Ghoſt informs us, That he was like unto us in all things, Sin excepted, that he might be a merciful High Prieſt, and have compaſſion of our infirmities.
Finally, the affliction that grieves thee, is not only ſent to thee for thy Salvation, and for the inſtruction of thy neighbors, but alſo for the Glory of the Great and living God, who hath made and formed thee: for we may ſay of every diſeaſe that happens to good Men, as Chriſt ſaid of Lazarus's diſtemper, This ſickneſs is not to death, but for the Glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified by it. Thou mayeſt be ſevere to thy ſelf, but thou muſt be charitable to others, and judge diſcreetly of thy Brethren's affliction; when thou art in pain or trouble, think ſeriouſly upon thy miſcarriages, and turn unto God with all thy heart. But when thou ſeeſt others caſt upon a bed of ſickneſs, don't argue from thence, as David's Enemies, that it is, becauſe they have committed ſome grievous crime; Rather conſider, that it may be a means which God hath a deſign to employ to declare his Power, and his Servants Patience, Faith, Piety, and Vertues. Therefore our Lord and Saviour tells the Apoſtles, when at the Sight of a Man, blind from his Birth, they enquired from him, whether the Man had ſinned, or his Father or Mother, becauſe he was born blind; That neither the Man nor his Father, nor Mother, had ſinned, but that the Works of God might be manifeſted in him, John 5. By theſe words we are not to imagine, that theſe perſons were without ſin, for there is none juſt, no not one; but we muſt underſtand that they were not guilty of any grievous ſin, and they had not committed any ſuch crime, as had drawn upon them God's vengeance from above. It was God's Will that this poor man ſhould come into the World with that natural imperfection, that he might make him an inſtance of his Grace, and declare in him his Almighty Power: and that our Saviour, in giving him his ſight, might make it appear that he was the true God, who faſhions the wonderful Eye, and that he was the true Light that enlightens every man coming into the World, Pſalm 94. John 1. Likewiſe, when ſome came to inform this Great and Wiſe Saviour, what had happened to the Galileans, whoſe Bloud Pilate had mingled with their Sacrifice, he replyed in this manner, Suppoſe ye that theſe Galileans were ſinners above all the Galileans, becauſe they ſuffered ſuch things? I tell you, nay; but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh: Or thoſe eighteen, upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell, and ſlew them; think ye that they were ſinners above all men that dwelt in Jeruſalem? I tell you nay, but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh, Luk 13.
God is glorified divers ways by the afflictions and calamities which he ſends to his Children; for firſt, he juſtifies them before all the world, from the calumnies which are caſt upon them, and he diſcovers thereby, to all, the ſincerity of their Love, and their unfeigned Obedience. Satan accuſeth us for ſerving God for the advantages which we receive in this life, Job 1. and becauſe he is pleaſed to protect and favour us by his over-ruling Providence; Therefore God removes many times from us, that which is pleaſing and delightful to the Fleſh; he gives us the Bread of Affliction for our Food, and the Waters of Sorrow for our drink; He preſents us with cups full of bitterneſs, and cauſeth his Rod to return upon us often. By theſe grievous temptations, he ſtops the mouth of the accuſer of our Brethren, who accuſeth them day and night before God, Iſai. 30. He declares by that means to all the Enemies of our Salvation, and of his Glory, that we put our full confidence in God alone, and in his unchangeable promiſes, and not in the outward tokens of his Mercy and Favor, Revel. 11. He ſhews to all the World, that the Anchor of our Hope is not fixed here below, but that it is caſt into Heaven, where Chriſt is entred as our forerunner, Heb. 6.
As God is glorified in our Afflictions, he is alſo honoured by our deliverance; If the Land of Judea had not been peopled with deaf, dumb, lame, blind, decrepid, and poſſeſs'd with Devils, Acts 9. If Aeneas had not been ſick eight years; If a poor Woman had not been grieved with a Bloudy Flux twelve years; If another had not been vexed with a diſeaſe that had bended his Body; If the ſick of the Palſie had not been lying in his bed thirty eight years; If the Daughter of Jairus had not been dead; If the Widows Son of the City of Nain had not been carried to his Grave; In ſhort, If Lazarus had not been buried four days, the Glory and Divine Miracles of our Lord and Saviour had not been admired all over the World, Matth. 9. Luk 13. John 5. Matth. 9. Likewiſe our deſperate diſeaſes, and our unexpected recoveries, when humane skill can do nothing, declare to the moſt ſtupiſied Souls, that it is God alone that can give the wound, and bind it up, and that leads to the Sepulchre, and brings back again, Luk 7. John 11. Job 5. 1 Sam. 2. God's deliverances of his People from their afflictions, are of two ſorts, for either he takes away the burden from us, or elſe he ſtretcheth out to us his merciful hand, and helps us to bear it; either he removes our affliction, and pacifies our grief; or he ſtrengthens us with Power and Courage, and arms us with Patience, and a generous reſolution, needful in ſuch a caſe. This appears in a notable manner in the Apoſtle St. Paul, for fear that he ſhould be lifted up in pride, becauſe of the excellency of his Divine Revelations, God had given him a Thorn in the Fleſh, and had ſent the Angel of Satan to buffet him, and to increaſe the bitterneſs and ſharpneſs of his diſeaſe. This Holy man prayed often to remove it from him, but God took not this Thorn away from his Fleſh, nor did not check that meſſenger of Satan that afflicted him; but he delivered him from the inconveniencies, in a more illuſtrious manner; for he ſtrengthened him with his Divine Spirit, and enriched him with his Graces; he made him feel the Vertue and Power of Chriſt within him, and accompliſh'd his Vertue in Pauls infirmity: Inſomuch, that this great Apoſtle cries out in the deepeſt of his afflictions, with tranſports of joy. I take pleaſure in infirmities, in reproaches, in neceſſities, in perſecutions, in diſtreſſes for Chriſt's ſake, for when I am weak, then am I ſtrong, I can do all things in Chriſt that ſtrengthens me, 2 Cor. 12. This may be alſo ſeen in the Martyr St. Stephen, for he was condemned to dye by a death, the moſt painful and grievous that we can imagine; but God gave him ſuch powerful Comforts, and fill'd his mind with ſuch Joys, that his face ſhin'd as that of an Angel. You muſt underſtand the words of St. Paul in that manner, in his Epiſtle to the Hebrews, Acts 6. Heb. 5. Jeſus Chriſt having offered up Prayers and Supplications with ſtrong Crying and Tears, unto him that was able to ſave him from death, and was heard, in that he feared; for he was not altogether freed from the ſufferings and torments of the Croſs, but he underwent it couragiouſly, and was more than Conqueror in all things; he drunk up the very dregs of the Cup of God's wrath, but by his Divine Power, he overcame the ſtrength of the poiſon; His Heavenly Father took him not down from the Croſs, nor out of the hands of his Murderers, but he hath upon this Croſs raiſed up his Glorious Trophies: the Croſs hath been as his Triumphing Chariot. Likewiſe, when you ſee a Chriſtian bear up in the midſt of a grievous affliction, and overcome his grief by his conſtancy and patience, who inſtead of murmuring, rejoyceth, and comforts himſelf in his diſtreſſes; you may then conclude, that ſuch an one is ſtrengthened by God's Divine Spirit, who upholds him, and accompliſheth his Heavenly Vertue, in his Servants infirmity. This is the moſt wonderful and excellent of all Deliverances.
I confeſs, ſome approve this diſcourſe very well, and admit theſe Conſolations in their ordinary diſeaſes, but aſſoon as any extraordinary and violent griefs ſeize upon them, they are apt to murmure againſt God, and to complain that their puniſhment is too grievous. Some proceed further, to curſe, as Job, the day of their birth, and being hurried into deſpair, are ready to cry out with Cain, My puniſhment is greater than I am able to bear, Unhappy Man! Wilt thou imitate the barbarous Heathens, who curſe the Sun when it burns them, and let fly their Arrows againſt Heaven when it Thunders, wretched Man! What will it avail thee to affront thy Creator? what advantage wilt thou reap from the Blaſphemies which thou doſt belch forth againſt the Son of Righteouſneſs? miſerable Worm of the Earth, leſs than Duſt, and nothing, wilt thou undertake to contend againſt God, to pluck him from his Throne, and to break the invincible Arm of his ſtrength? Doſt thou imagine to ſtop the hand of his Vengeance, by offending and ſinning againſt him? Wilt thou quench the fury of his wrath, by ſpitting in his Face? Believeſt thou, that he will ſtretch forth his hand to deliver thee, and to increaſe thy Bleſſings, whilſt thy mouth is open to blaſpheme him, who is thy Soveraign Lord. Liſten well, I beſeech thee, friend, to my advice, and I will draw thee out of the Abyſſe, where thou art unhappily fallen, and with God's help I will cauſe thee to underſtand, that thou complaineſt wrongfully againſt him, who doth all things adviſedly, and with Juſtice and Reaſon.
Firſt, run over the whole courſe of thy life, and conſider how many wicked deeds thou haſt committed, ſome by indiſcretion, others wilfully; how many words have gone out of thy mouth, how many thoughts have been entertained in thy mind, againſt the Commands of Almighty God. Conſider ſeriouſly the number, and grievouſneſs of thy ſins and miſcarriages; and thou ſhalt find, that God's puniſhments are far leſs than thy deſervings; and that for one ſenſible word and bitter pain that thou feeleſt, thou haſt deſerved many thouſands; ſo that thou ſhalt have cauſe to confeſs with the Prophet Daniel, O Lord, Righteouſneſs belongeth unto thee, but unto us confuſion of Faces, Dan. 9. And thou wilt ſay with David, Innumerable evils have compaſſed me about, mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, ſo that I am not able to look up, they are more than the hairs of my Head, therefore my heart faileth me, there is no whole part in my Fleſh, becauſe of thine indignation, nor reſt in my bones, becauſe of my ſin, Pſ. 40.
2. Conſider how many there are in the world, more righteous than thou, who ſuffer more grievous and longer evils than thou haſt hitherto endured, and yet have not had ſo much comfort and aſſiſtance. If thou compareſt thy condition with theirs, thou ſhalt find that God ſpares and favors thee very much.
3. Caſt thine Eyes upon the death and paſſion of our Lord and Saviour, who being righteous and innocent, hath ſuffered for us, wicked and abominable ſinners. Thine affliction is painful, I confeſs, but that which this merciful Redeemer hath ſuffered for thee, was far more unſufferable. Let his Exclamations, his Tears, and drops of Bloud which came out of his veins, be witneſſes, and that earneſt Prayer which he repeated three times upon his bended knees, Father, if it be poſſible, let this cup paſs from me, that I may not drink it. Let that doleful voice upon the Croſs be alſo witneſs; My God, my God, why haſt thou ſorſaken me?
4. Weigh in juſt and equal Scales of the Sanctuary, all the ſufferings of this life, with the torments of Hell, which thou haſt juſtly deſerved, and compare them together, thou wilt quickly conclude, that all thy pains are nothing, if compared, with the grievous tortures of that lake of Fire and Brimſtone, where there are weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth. If thou art ſo ſenſible of theſe vaniſhing pains; conſider well, how much thou art obliged to the goodneſs of God, who hath freely pardoned all thine offences, and redeemed thee from that eternal and unſpeakable Miſery of the t'other life,
5. Thou muſt imitate thoſe men, who having their Sight dimmed with the extraordinary ſplendor of bright Colours, or of a Body of Light, turn off their Eies to look upon leſs offenſive objects; inſtead of handling always thy Wounds and Sores, inſtead of thinking of the afflictions that lye heavy upon thee, meditate upon the goodneſs and favors of God, vouchſafed to thee ſince thy Conception until now; I give thee leave to put in one ſide of the Scales, all thy croſſes, loſſes, diſeaſes, pains, and grief, upon condition, that in the t'other Balance, thou wilt put all the Mercies, Favors, Bleſſings, and Deliverances which thou haſt received from God's liberal Hand. It is true, thou groaneſt under thy Miſery, and complaineſt of thy condition; thou verily believeſt that there is none ſo miſerable as thou art, ſo that willingly thou wouldeſt ſay with the Prophet Jeremiah, Doth not this move ye, O ye that paſs by; behold and ſee if there be any ſorrow like unto my ſorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. But when there ſhould be nothing elſe but this alone, that God hath called thee to the knowledge of his Holy Will; enriched thee with the Graces of his Divine Spirit, and ſown in thy Heart the ſeeds of Eternal Life, and the bleſſed hopes of ſeeing his Face in Glory; thou oughteſt to look upon thy ſelf, as one of the happieſt Creatures under Heaven.
6. Finally, thou muſt meditate with a Religious attention, upon the joys of Heaven, and the Eternal Bleſſedneſs of Paradiſe, for I reckon with the Apoſtle, that the ſufferings of this preſent life, art not worthy to be eompared with the Glory which ſhall be revealed in us, Lam. 1. When we caſt our Eyes upon the Earth alone, we judge it to be very ſpacious and large, our ſight is loſt in the contemplation of ſo many Provinces, Cities and Kingdoms, but when we compare it with Heaven, we find it to be but a point. Likewiſe when we look upon, and reckon up the hours, days, weeks, months, and years of our ſufferings, the time appears very tedious and long; but when we compare all theſe parcels of time with Eternity, they ſeem to us but a moment, when we ſhould have been overwhelmed with evils and miſeries, from the firſt inſtant of our entrance, into the World, until the laſt of our going out. Yet we have reaſon enough to ſay with St. Paul, Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, while we look not at the things which are ſeen, but at the things which are not ſeen,, for the things which are ſeen are Temporal, but the things which are not ſeen, are Eternal. 2 Cor. 4.
The chief Spring of all our Comforts is God's Gracious promiſe of ſeaſonable help in time of need; Imprint therefore in your minds theſe Divine paſſages, When he that loveth me ſhall call upon me, I will anſwer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honor him, Pſal. 91. The Lord delivers from all temptations, them that honor him, he is rich unto all that pray unto him. 2 Pet. 2. He is near to all them that call upon him, yea, to all them that call upon him faithfully, Rom. 10. He accompliſheth the deſire of the humble, he hears their cry, Pſal. 145. The Righteous is encompaſſed with many evils, but the Lord will deliver him from them all, Pſal, 34. Call upon me in the day of thy diſtreſs, and I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorify me, Pſal. 50. When a poor Subject is courted and viſited by his Prince, in the time of his ſickneſs, he looks upon it as a great favour, and an happineſs indeed; And when we enjoy the preſence of a dear friend, whom we deſired to ſee in the midſt of our moſt grievous pains, we are wont to ſay, Methinks I feel no more pain, now that I have the ſatisfaction of your good company. Now the Glory of God's Majeſty, doth accompany the tenderneſs of his Love; He is the Father of Mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions. He is like that faithful friend who never forſakes us, for in our greateſt calamities, he ſuccors us, Prov. 18. He is the King of Kings, and yet our moſt cordial and ſincere friend, who frequently viſits the Houſes of ſorrow, and is near to every broken and bruiſed Heart, Pſal. 34. The more we are oppreſſed with evil, the more he remembers us, Pſal. 136.
Notwithſtanding our Childrens imperfections and miſcarriages; we cannot ſuffer to ſee them in diſtreſs, but we are moved with compaſſion, and perſwaded to help them, according to our ability, and ſhall thy God, who loves thee more ſincerely, and more cordially, than the beſt Fathers, and the moſt tender-hearted Mothers do their Children, forſake thee in the day of thy diſtreſs? This Merciful and loving Father, who hath taken thee into his protection, when thou didſt enter into the World, and who ſince hath furniſhed plentifully all thy neceſſities; ſhall he deny his Gracious aſſiſtance now in the time of thy calamity? He who hath fulfilled his praiſe by thy mouth, when thou didſt yet ſuck at thy Mothers Breaſts, who hath crowned thy youthful days with his Divine Bleſſings, will not forſake thee now in thine old age, he will not caſt thee off in the laſt moments of thy life, when thy ſtrength is decayed; and thou art ſcarce able to help thy ſelf,
When we offer any aſſiſtance to our ſick or wounded friends, we labor to leſſen their pain; we employ all our skill, and diſcover our moſt excellent Secrets; at leaſt, we endeavour to make them ſenſible of our diſpleaſure and grief for their diſtemper by our Sighs and Tears, and by all good Offices; their complaints and outcries, are Darts that ſtrike to our very hearts; Likewiſe our merciful God is ſenſible of our calamities, when he ſees us oppreſſed with grievous pains, his Bowels earn, his Heart is as it were moved, and his tender Love for us is concerned; In all our afflictions he is afflicted, and whoſoever toucheth us, toucheth the very Apple of his Eye, Hoſea 1. Iſai. 63. He is ſaid to weep and grieve at the torments that we feel, and to be ſenſible of our infirmities, Luk 2. He binds up our wounds, and poures into them his Divine balm; he cures the diſeaſed Heart, and cauſeth the bruiſed Bones to rejoyce, Job 5. He caſteth into our beds of Sickneſs, his moſt excellent Perfumes, and drives from thence all grief and diſpleaſure; when a peſtilentious Feavor hath ſeized upon you, this Heavenly Phyſitian can give you ſome Carduus Waters, powerful Antidotes to keep the poiſon from the Heart, Jer. 30. Pſal. 147. Pſal. 51. Pſal. 34. Cant. 1. His Gracious Hand can drive from thy Soul the venom with which the old Serpent labors to infect it; He will in thy need, clap upon thy Head, thy Stomach, or rather to thine Heart, not a bleeding Pidgeon, but the living and cheriſhing Vertue of his Holy Spirit; only diſcover to him the afflicted, and diſeaſed part, or member of thy Soul or Body; and he ſhall anoint it with the Oil of Joy and Gladneſs, that ſhall run down into thy Joynts and Marrow. If thou feeleſt thy ſelf weak or fainting, ſay to him as the Spouſe in the Canticles, Comfort my Heart with wine, Chap. 2. and he will not fail to preſent unto thee of the new Wine of his Kingdom. If thou art thirſty ask him ſome drink, and he will give thee of that Water, which if a man drink, he ſhall never be athirſt.
My Brother, or My Siſter, caſt thy ſelf upon God, for his Power is as great as his Love to thee; he underſtands better than thou or we can, what is expedient and good for thee; in his due time he will make thy pains to ceaſe, and will pull out of thy Fleſh its incomodious Thorn; either he will drive from thee the Spirit that afflicts thee, or accompliſh his Vertue in thine Infirmity; He will ſtrengthen thee in ſuch a manner, and with ſuch Patience, Conſtancy, and Faith, and fill thee with ſo much extraordinary joy and comfort, that every one ſhall viſibly perceive, that God himſelf is thy help, and that his Vertue ſuſtains thee. O how ſweet and pleaſant is God's aſſiſtance to a Chriſtian Soul; it brings along with it ſo much pleaſure, and admirable delight; it cauſeth ſuch undeniable teſtimonies of our Predeſtination to appear; it gives us ſo many rare fore-taſts of our Celeſtial Inheritance, that St. Paul doth not only prefer it to all the Pleaſures and Honors of the World, but he prefers it alſo to his being raviſh'd into the third Heaven, and to his ſeeing unſpeakable things which cannot be uttered, 1 Cor. 12.
If Afflictions are increas'd with Chriſt, Joy and Comfort increaſe alſo with him; for as God commands Wine to be given to a Man whoſe Heart is oppreſſed with ſorrow, to drive away his ſadneſs, and bury his troubled thoughts in oblivion. Thus in the greateſt evils, God ſupplieth us with the ſtrongeſt and moſt cordial Conſolations. It is in this occaſion that he declares his greateſt Power, and pours out moſt plentifully his Divine Graces, Iſ. 4. When thou ſhouldeſt walk through the Flames, the Fire ſhall not burn, nor touch thee; for as the Son of God was in the Furnace with Daniels three Companions in Babylon; Thus in thy moſt violent fits of the Feaver, in the midſt of thy moſt grievous aches, he will ſatiate thy Soul, and thou ſhalt be like a watered Garden, Dan. 5. Or as a living Spring of Comfort, that can never be ſtopt, nor dried up. Let the Storms and Flouds beat againſt thee; Let the defluxions endeavour to check thee, Iſ. 58. thou mayeſt ſay with King David, I have ſet the Lord always before me, becauſe he is at my right hand, I ſhall not be moved, Pſal. 16. When I ſhould walk in the valley of the ſhadow of Death, when I ſhould have no other help nor aſſiſtance in the World, when there ſhould be no more ſtrength remain in my Body, I would not fear; for, O God, thy ſtaff, and thy Rod will comfort me, Iſ. 26. God will not only draw near to thy bed of Sickneſs, but he will embrace and receive thee into his protection, he will kiſs thee with the kiſſes of his mouth, and make thee taſte of the ſweetneſs of his Divine Comforts, Cant. 1. He will cheriſh thee as a Mother doth her Child, to pacify it, and make thee ſo ſenſible of his Love, that thou mayeſt ſay with the Spouſe, his left hand is under my head, and his right doth embrace me. With his Gracious Hand he will wipe off thy cold ſweat, and into his boſom he will receive thy ſighs; thy groans, and thy tears, he will gather up into his moſt precious bottles. And as it happened when our Lord and Saviour was in his Agony, when drops of Bloud fell from him, the Holy Angels appeared to comfort him, Luk 22. Likewiſe, in our greateſt and moſt difficult encounters, when thou ſhalt be at handy-blows with death it ſelf, his faithful Miniſters, h…s Meſſengers, the Angels of his right hand ſhall viſit thee, to ſupply thee with ſpiritual Comforts, 2 Cor. 5. Revel. 5. And when theſe earthly Comforters ſhall fail, he will ſend to thee ſome of thoſe powerful Spirits, that wait before his Glorious Throne, Dan. 7. O good God, if we could but perceive the things that are of themſelves inviſible, and if thou didſt but give us eyes, like unto thoſe of the Holy Prophet, we ſhould behold Legions of immortal Spirits, flying about in the houſes of Sorrow, with an intent to comfort the Chriſtian Souls, Iſ. 6. 2 King. 6. Finally, as the Sun with its Light, and the ſtrength of its Beams, drives away the thickeſt Clouds, and comforts, with its delightful countenance, the face of the whole Earth; Thus Jeſus Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs, that carries healing under his wings, baniſheth all ſadneſs with the light of his Divine Graces, Mal. 3. and with the preſence of his Holy Spirit, he drives away the moſt ſenſible griefs, and fills us with unſpeakable joy, and with the Peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding.
A Prayer and Meditation for a ſick Perſon, who deſires to prepare for Death.
O Almighty and Gracious God! who haſt created both light and darkneſs, and who doſt, by the wiſdom of thy Providence, beſtow good and evil things upon us, I acknowledge that thine Hand hath caſt me upon this bed of ſickneſs, and that this diſeaſe proceeds not ſo much from the diſorder of my Body, … from the corruption, and extravagancy of my Soul; far be it from me to complain of thy juſtice; I adore thy Goodneſs and Wiſdom. O Lord, how favourable are thy puniſhments, if compared with my deſervings; I have miſerably abuſed thy former Mercies, miſpent that time of health that I received from thee, in whom we live, move, and have our Being. I confeſs, that I have loved the vanities of the World, and the ſatisfaction of this wretched Fleſh, more than the Glory of thy great Name, … the Salvation of my Soul; therefore I could willingly water this Couch with my Tears. O God, who underſtandeſt all things, thou knoweſt that my weeping proceeds not from any fretful humour, but out of a ſincere diſpleaſure of having offended ſo good a Father, and merciful Lord; In th… thy chaſtiſement, I feel the workings of thy tender compaſſion, and I perceive thy moſt wonderful Love. I ſee th… thou doſt not rebuke me in thy wrath, nor doſt not corre… me in thy fury; Thou doſt not puniſh me as a Judge, b… doſt chaſtiſe me as a Father; ſo that this diſeaſe is a teſ… mony of thy Love, and of thy Fatherly care of me, … thou doſt correct all them whom thou loveſt, and cauſeſt t… to feel the ſmart of thy Rod, whom thou owneſt for … Children; therefore if we were without reproof, wh… … all are partakers, we ſhould be no longer Children, but baſtards: If this chaſtiſement is at preſent grievous and painful, one day it will produce the Peaceable Fruits of Righteouſneſs; and as at the end of Jonathan's Rod, he taſted Honey that comforted him, and opened his Eyes; Likewiſe when I ſhall have felt the Rods of thy diſpleaſure, I ſhall taſte the ſweet comforts, and unſpeakable joys of thine Holy Spirit, and my underſtanding ſhall be more enlightened. O Almighty and ever wiſe God, who draweſt Light out of Darkneſs, and cauſeſt, that all things work together for good, to them …hat love thee; it matters not how thou ordereſt this diſeaſe, ſo that it may advance thy Glory, and further my Salvation. Thou beholdeſt mine affliction and poverty, and thou knoweſt, better than I can, what is good and expedient for me. O great God, I know that thou canſt do all things, and that thou giveſt the wound, and bindeſt it up, thou ſtrikeſt, and thy hands muſt heal, thou caſteſt into the Grave, and bringeſt up again. The moſt deſperate and irrecoverable diſeaſes thou canſt cure; the dead thou canſt bring to life again, and call the things that are not, as if they were. O Almighty Phyſitian, thou canſt not only vouchſafe thy Bleſſing to theſe Remedies preſcribed and adminiſtred to me, but if thou ſpeakeſt the word, I ſhall be perfectly whole, and well again; But if thou judgeſt expedient to continue this diſeaſe upon me; continue, O merciful Lord unto me, and increaſe thy Fatherly aſſiſtances, and the comforts of thine Holy Spirit. Strengthen me with a Chriſtian patience, and with a reſolution worthy of my h…nourable Profeſſion; ſeeing that thou art the Soveraign Phyſitian both of Soul and Body. I beſeech thee, my God, if thou doſt not remove the diſtemper of my Body, at leaſt, pluck out of my Heart and mind, all the grief and diſpleaſure, that torments me; Fill my Soul with thy Peace, Joy, Love, and Heavenly Comforts, while my Body languiſheth upon this Earth, and while I am kept from my former ſocieties of Men. Let my mind be lifted up to Heaven. Let my Soul delight it ſelf in a familiarity with thee; I have loſt too much time already about the affairs of the World, that is nothing but vanity and vexation of Spirit. Give me Grace to employ now theſe few moments of leaſure, which thou doſt grant to me, to think ſeriouſly upon my ſins, to beg thy pardon with an earneſt Repentance. Give me Grace to meditate upon thine unſpeakable and eternal Mercy, to embrace it with a true and lively Faith, upon thy Glory, and the Happineſs of thy Kingdom, that I may labor to attain unto it with tranſports of joy; ſo that I may ſay with the Prophet David, My Soul ſhall be ſatisfied, as with Marrow and Fatneſs, and my Mouth ſhall praiſe thee with joyful Lips; when I remember thee upon my Bed, and meditate on thee in the night Watches. My Sickneſs ſeems very tedious; but alas, Lord, my Sins have continued longer, and all this pain that afflicts me, and forceth from me ſo many ſighs, is nothing in compariſon of the advantages and happineſs, that waits for me in Heaven. When the whole courſe of my life ſhould be a continual languiſhing, it is but a moment in reſpect of Eternity; And this moment of affliction produceth in us a weight of Eternal Glory, that excels all things elſe. O Lord, Let the diſtempers and pains of my Body, turn to the health of my Soul, and a powerful obligation, to the Practice of Piety, and of all Chriſtian Vertues. Let me learn thereby to renounce the World, and deny my ſelf, and to caſt my ſelf wholly into thy Divine Hands, and ſubmit my ſelf to thy Holy Will. As Jeſus Chriſt is gain to me, whether I live, or whether I dye, give me Grace to be ready to praiſe and glorify thy Mercy, both in Life or Death. If it be thy pleaſure to ſpare me my life; O that I may live more circumſpectly than ever I have done in the fear and obedience of thy Sacred Commandements; and as St. Peter's Wives Mother roſe up from her Bed of Sickneſs, to ſerve our Lord Jeſus; if thou freeſt me from my plague, let me riſe out of thy Couch, to glorify and ſerve thee, until the laſt moment of my life. But if thou art pleaſed to call me out of the world, here I am, O God, ready to do thy Will, and obey thee, without the leaſt reſiſtance; for my Soul is already ſeparated from this languiſhing Carkaſs, and reſolved to follow thee; It is not grieved to ſee this wretched Body weakened, and crazy, as an Habit worn out, becauſe thou haſt prepared for it a Garment of immortal Colours. It is not vexed, becauſe this earthly Tabernacle decays, for it hath a more laſting Dwelling in Heaven, whereof thou haſt been the Builder. I have long looked upon this Couch, as a repreſentation of my Grave, where I ſhall ſhortly lye down to take my laſt repoſe; I have long expected Death, that will break in pieces the laſt link of this chain of Miſery, to put a period to all my pains and grievance, to take me out of this woful and rotten Lodge, that falls to pieces, to introduce me into a Glorious Palace of immortality, where thy Divine Majeſty dwels, and where I ſhall for ever Glorify thee, with the thouſands of Angels, and with all the ſanctified Souls, Amen.
A Prayer and Meditation for a ſick Perſon tormented with grievous pains.
O Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort, have pity upon me, thou knoweſt that I am vexed with fearful pains, that diſturb my Mind, and torment my Body; thine Arrows run through me on every ſide, and my Soul hath its fill of bitterneſs. Thy wrath hath torn me to pieces, and thou ſeemeſt to have ſet thy ſelf againſt me. One depth calls for another. At thy Command, the Waves and Flouds have paſſed over my head; Thou haſt given me many days of affliction, and nights of torment; I am like a perſon breaking upon a wheel, or burning in hot flames; I feel a fire that conſumes me as a Worm that gnaws, and darts that pierce through my Heart. Sure my ſins muſt be abominable and grievous, ſeeing thou infflicteſt this great puniſhment upon me, for thou art Mercy it ſelf, and it is not willingly that thou afflicteſt the Sons of Men. O good God, conſider what thou art, and what I am; wilt thou ſtretch forth thine invincible Arm againſt the Leaf that the wind toſſeth up and down? wilt thou declare the fierceneſs of thine Eternal diſpleaſure, againſt Chaff and Stubble? wilt thou let fly all thine Arrows againſt a wretched Worm of the Earth? and wilt thou caſt out all thy Thunderbolts againſt a little Duſt? O Great God, I am not a worthy Object of thy wrath, againſt which thou ſhouldeſt kindle all thy diſpleaſure Remember that I am but fleſh, a Wind that paſſeth away and returneth not again; but rather remember Lord, that I am thy Child, and that thou haſt redeemed me with the Bloud of thine only Son. O my God, it is not poſſible for me to withold my complaints, ſuppreſs my groans, and to dry up this torrent of Tears; my Soul is wearied out with this languiſhing life, or rather with this unmerciful Death: for is there any ſorrow like unto my ſorrow? Is there any torture or pain like unto my torment? When the Prophet Jonas ſaw a little Goard withered, that afforded him before a favourable ſhelter and ſhadow from the Sun-beams, when he felt them beating hot upon his Head, he cried out, Death is better to me than life. How much more cauſe have I to ſpeak in this manner; I, of whom the ſtrengh is withered as the parched Ground in the midſt of Summer; I, who feel a Fire in my Bones, and an Heat in my Bowels, that burns and conſumes me by day and by night; Shall not thine Almighty and Merciful Hand, that hath freed me from Hell, take me out alſo of this deep Abyſſe of Miſery? Thou, who delivereſt thy Children from the burning Furnace, wilt thou not quench the fury of this Flame that devours me? O Lord, ſhut up my Lips, and let there come out nothing repugnant to that reſpect that I owe to thy Divine Majeſty. To thee, Great God, belongs Juſtice, but to me, ſhame and confuſion of face; when thou ſhouldeſt cauſe me to endure a thouſand Plagues and Torments more, if this poor Body were able to ſuffer them; and when thou ſhouldeſt caſt me irrecoverably into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone, I ſhould have no cauſe to complain of thy ſeverity. It is true, my pains are great, but they are nothing in compariſon of my ſins and offences; my torments are violent, but they are not to be compared with my Saviours bitter ſufferings, with that cold ſweat, and thoſe drops of Bloud that fell from his precious Body: My affliction is unmerciful, but it is not to be compared with the Glory, that ſhall be revealed in them that worſhip thee, and perſevere to the end, in an obedience to thy Holy Will. When thou ſhouldeſt kill me, Lord, yet would I hope in thee, for thou afflicteſt me, that I might not periſh for ever, with the reſt of the World; Thou cauſeſt my Body to be deſtroyed, that my Soul might be ſaved. Bruiſe me, Lord, and cruſh me to pieces, ſo that I may become ſome of thy precious Wheat; Cut and burn me in this momentary Life, ſo that thou wilt be favourable to me in the life to come. Cauſe this bitter cup to paſs from me, that I may not drink up all its dregs. Nevertheleſs, O Heavenly Father, not my Will, but thy Will be done. Pluck this Thorn out of my Fleſh, or vouchſafe unto me ſufficient ſtrength to endure its deadly wounds with patience. O good God, thou knoweſt that my Spirit is willing, but my Fleſh is weak, and that my miſery is heavier than the Sand of the Sea-ſhore; but thou that quickeneſt the dead, wilt accompliſh thy Vertue in mine Infirmities; Therefore, inſtead of ſpeaking in Cain's Language, My puniſhment is greater than I can bear. I will ſay with St. Paul, I can do all things in Chriſt that ſtrengthens me. O Lord, puniſh me not in thy wrath, nor correct me in thy heavy diſpleaſure, but chaſtiſe me in reaſon, that I may not be reduced to nothing. When thou didſt wreſtle with Jacob, thou tookeſt upon thee an Humane Body, and didſt ſtrengthen thy Servant by the vertue of thy Divine Spirit. O Merciful and Graciouus God, let thy puniſhments be proportionable to my great weakneſſes; ſuffer not any temptation to ſeize upon me, but only Humane, and give me, with the temptation, an happy iſſue, that I may ſupport it, that neither Death nor Life, nor Pain nor Torment, may ever ſeparate me from thy Love, or pluck me out of thine Hand. Good Lord, forſake me not, that I may never forſake thee, but, enable me with Strength, Patience, and Conſtancy, to bear my burden, and make me more than Conqueror, by Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Merciful God, pity thy ſervant; or rather thine adopted Child. Awaken thy jealouſie, and let thy Bowels that are hardened againſt me, move thee to compaſſion, Strengthen me in this encounter with the aſſiſtance of the good Angels that comforted thine only Son, in the night of his moſt bitter affliction cauſe this black night of my Sorrows to paſs ſpeedily away, or rather in the midſt of theſe dark ſhadows, cauſe me to ſee the raviſhing beams of thy Mercy. Heal my grievous wounds, or elſe pour into them the refreſhing Balm of thy moſt tender and Divine Conſolations; my Heart and my Fleſh fail, and faint away, but look upon me with a Gracious Eye, and receive me into the embraces of thine Eternal Mercy. Declare, I beſeech thee, how ſenſible thou art of my affliction, by a preſent relief, receive my Sweat and Tears, and put them into thy Bottles. O good God, thou ſeeſt that I am fainting, and that my Soul is weary within me, comfort me therefore with thy Cordials, and with thy moſt Divine refreſhments; Give me to drink of the Wine of thy moſt effectual Conſolations, that may reſtore unto me my ſpirits, apply the right hand of thy Mercy, that it may ſtrengthen my Soul, and drive from thence all poiſon and infection. Let thine Holy Spirit, the Spiritual Dove light upon me, to bring joy unto me. O living God, thou ſeeſt that I dye, but give me ſome of that living Water, whereof if a man drink, he ſhall live Eternally; my Friends are grieved with me, and weep for my bitter affliction, but can give me no aſſiſtance, but thine only look would be able to deliver me. O my God, either pull me out of this Sea of Trouble, into which thou haſt caſt me, or cauſe me to paſs through theſe waves, to the Inheritance prepared for me from the foundation of the World. Quench theſe violent Flames that burn and conſume me, or let them ſerve as fiery Chariots, to carry me in triumph to Heaven. O how mad and ſenſeleſs ſhould I be, if I did fear Death, ſeeing that it will put an end to my torments, it will break in pieces my grievous Chains; it will wipe away all Tears from mine Eyes, and baniſh all grief from my Heart. O my God, when ſhall all my Cries, my Sighs, and Groans, be changed into Songs of Praiſe, and Thanksgiving? when ſhall I ſee my ſelf in the Glorious company of the Bleſſed, who are come out of the great tribulation, and who have waſh'd and cleanſed their Garments in the Bloud of the Lamb. Draw me, and I ſhall run after thee, and Glorify thee for ever in thine Heavenly Temple, Amen.