Christian Directions, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Of Dying well.
IF thou apprehendest thy Disease to be mortal, and that it is like to be thy last Sickness, then it will be thy wisdom to prepare thy self after the best manner thou canst for death.
For thy better help herein, take these Directions.
I. Set thine House in order; I mean, settle thine outward estate, by making thy Will; which will no way hasten thy death (as many foolishly doe imagine) but rather put thee into a better capacity, to set thy Soul in order for a blessed departure. And as God hath blest thee with an estate, so fayl not to give some proportionable part thereof for the relief of the poor members of Jesus Christ. Though that charity which is exercised in a mans life-time is questionless the best, and the most acceptable unto God,Beneficium est quod quis dedi…, …um posset & non dare. Sen. de Benif. l. 3. cap. 19 when wee make our own Hands our Executors, and our own Eyes our Overseers; yet I condemn not that Charity which is shewed at the last, for better late than never.
II. Send for some godly Minister, or experienced Christian, to advise thee about setting thy Soul in order, in reference to thy great change. This direction the Apostle Iames giveth, for saith he, Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him. Jam. 5. 14And this I would advise thee to doe in the first place, not putting it off to the last, when thine understanding and memory begin to fayl thee, as the practice of the most is, who when the Physician hath done with them, and in a manner given them over, then send for the Divine to begin with them, as if a short Prayer, and a few words of Ghostly counsel, were enough to send them to Heaven.
III. Labour to make, or rather to renew, thy peace with God; for though the making of thy peace with God ought not to be put off to thy Death-bed, yet must it then be renewed in an especial manner, as being the last time of doing it. In order thereunto,
I Look back into thy former course of life, and call to mind the manifold aberations thereof; as the vanity of thy thoughts, how vain and empty how carnal and prophane they have been; as also the unsavouriness of thy words and speeches, how Godless, and Christless, yea how unprofitable they have been for the most part; as also the wickedness of thine actions. And in examining thy self concerning thine actions, call to mind, as thy sinful Omissions, and Commissions, I mean, as what Duties thou hast omitted, and what Sin… thou hast committed; so likewise thy sinful manner of performing holy Duties, how thy most religious Services have had a mixture of Sin in them. Likewise run over the several Ages of thy life, and consider what Sins thou committedst in thy Childhood, what in thy Youth, and what in thy riper years.
And together with the number of thy Sins, conside… the aggravating circumstances of them; as how thou hast sinned against a gracious God, a loving Fa…her, and bountiful Lord and Master; how thou hast sinned against the admonitions of Gods Ministers, the motions of his Spirit, and the checks of thine own Conscience; against the patience and long-suffering of God, which should have lead thee to repentance; against the manifold vowes and promises thou hast made unto God for newness of life, and better obedience; and how thou hast sinned out of a presumptuous hope of mercy, making the mercy of God an occasion of Sin, and thereby turned the very grace of God into wantonness. Thus goe on aggravating thy sins, till thou find thine heart in some measure affected with grief and sorrow for the same; and then,
2 Confess thy sins unto God in Prayer; spread them before him in a true and unfeigned acknowledgement and confession of them, freely judging and condemning thy self before God for the same.
That thy Confession may be performed after a right manner, it must have these properties,
1 It must be particular; and of special Sins; I mean, in thy confession thou must descend to thy special and particular Sins; the prophanest wretch in the world may in a general manner confess, and say, I acknowledge my self to be a Sinner. But if thou wilt make a true confession of Sin, thou must lay open thy Sins in particular before God; and for thine encouragement thereunto, know, that the more particular thou shalt be in thy confession, the more comfort thou shalt find therein.
… Thy Confession must be as particular in respect of Sins, so likewise full in regard of the aggravations of them. This did David in his confession of that Sin of numbring the People, I have sinned greatly, saith he,2 Sam. 24. 10 in that I have done, and now I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy Servant, for I have done very foolishly; see what terms of aggravation he heapeth up. 1 I have sinned; 2 I have sinned greatly; 3 I have done foolishly; 4 Very foolishly. And as thou desirest pardon of thy Sins, set them forth to the full, let no circumstance of aggravation be wanting, by which they may appear the more foul and filthy.
3 Thy confession must be with inward remorse, and sorrow of heart, that thou hast sinned against so good, and so gracious a God; Thou must not content thy self with a meer verbal acknowledgement of thy Sins and Transgressions, being affected with no more grief in the confessing of them, than thou wast in the committing of them. But every Sin confessed should be as a Dagger piercing thee to the very heart; at least thou shouldest grieve that thou canst no more grieve for thy Sins; thine heart should bleed, because thine eyes cannot weep.
3 Having thus confessed thy Sins, as thou desirest to renew thy peace with God; earnestly begge of him the pardon, and the forgiveness of them in and through the merits of Iesus Christ; for thou canst look for it only through the Free Grace and Mercy of God in Jesus Christ.1 Joh. 1, 9 And as there is a promise of forgiveness to such as unfeignedly confess their Sins, so there is likewise a promise of forgiveness to such who heartily pray for the same; for saith the Lord in answer to Salomons Prayer,2 Chro. 7. 14 If my People which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins; and therefore if thou canst pray heartily unto God for the pardon of thy Sins, thou hast thereby some comfortable evidence of their forgiveness; for as the Lord in the Parable forgave his Servant that was indebted to him,Mat. 18. 27 and had nothing to pay, even because hee prayed him; so if thou canst pour out thy Soul in a true and hearty Prayer unto God for the pardon of thy Sins, he will questionless forgive thee, even because thou prayest unto him; for as David speaketh, The Lord is not only ready to forgive, Psal. 86, 5but plenteous in mercy to all them that call upon him.
4 Sprinkle thy Soul with the blood of Iesus Christ. Ephes▪ 2. 4Christ is our peace, as the Apostle calls him; neither canst thou (by all that thou art able to doe) make thy peace with God, but only th…ugh faith in his blood.Exod. 12. 23 When the destroying Angel saw the blood of the Lamb sprinkled on the Posts of any Door, hee passed by that House, and they within were safe; so that Soul which is sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ, is so safe from the destroying Angel of God, that he shall not doe it hurt; for death is an advantage to that Soul which is sprinkled with the blood of Christ, being the door of Life, Ianua vitae. Cyprian.and a gate to Heaven, as Cyprian calls it. Though the blood of Christ be the means of our peace and reconciliation with God, yet unless that blood be sprinkled on thy Soul, thou canst find little peace there; and therefore the Apostle Peter speaks not only of the blood of Christ,1 Pet. 1. 2 but of the sprinkling of the blood of Christ. It is not enough that Christ hath shed his blood, but there must be besides the shedding of it, the sprinkling of it. Christs blood was shed upon the Cross, yet all men are not reconciled unto God thereby. And what is the reason? Surely because that blood is not sprinkled upon their souls; and peace and reconciliation with God must be had, not only from Christs blood poured out, but from his blood sprinkled.
Quest. How is Christs blood sprinkled upon our souls?
Ans. By Faith, applying the blood of Christ unto our own souls comfort; Faith is the hand of the Soul, and the soul by faith puts her hand into the Wounds of Christ, takes of his blood, and besprinkles her self therewith, applying the merits and the vertue thereof unto it self, and thence follows peace, and reconciliation with God.
Obj. I would willingly apply the Merits of Christs Death and Passion unto my self, but oh, I am conscious of so much unworthiness, seeing nothing in my self why the Merits of Christs death should belong unto me, that I cannot, yea I dare not apply them to my self.
Ans. 1. It is good to be conscious to thy self of thine own unworthiness, but not so as to bee kept thereby from applying of Christ, and the Merits of his Death and Passion unto thy souls comfort. And truly, if thou wouldst but consider, that God respecteth his own goodness, and not ours, in the offering of his Son, and that his grace is everyway most free, this conceit of thine unworthiness can be no just plea against the applying of Christ, with the benefits of his Death and Passion unto thine own souls comfort; it should rather be an incouragement unto thee, because the more unworthy thou art in thine own sight and sense, the more worthy thou art in the account of Christ. The greatest worthiness that any Christian can here attain unto is, to be sensible of his own unworthiness.
2 Thou who complainest of thine unworthiness, I would ask thee, Whether any man before he made application of Christ, and of his Merits unto himself, did see any thing in himself why Christ should belong unto him rather than to any other? The Scripture saith, There is no difference, for all have sinned.
Obj. 2 My Sins are so many for number,Rom. 3. 23 and so hainous in their quality, that I cannot imagine that Christ should belong unto me, and therefore dare not apply him, nor the benefits of his Death and Passion unto my self.
Ans. The more sinful thou art in thine own sense and apprehension, the fitter thou art to close with Jesus Christ, and to apply the Merits of his Death unto thy self; for in that gracious invitation of Christ,Mat. 11. 28 we find no other qualification put in, but a sense of sin, Come unto me all yee that labour and are heavie laden, and I will give you rest; where the Parties invited to come unto Christ, are such as are sensible of, and thereupon groan under the weight and burden of their sins,foreign. as the words in the Greek there properly signifie; and Luke 5. 32. Christ professeth, He came not to call the righteous, but sinners; not such as were righteous in their owne conceit, but such as were Sinners, in their own sense and apprehension, truly sensible of their sins; so that sense of sin is the only qualification requisite to an application of Jesus Christ.
Obj. 3 I have often sinned against knowledge and conscience, and therefore fear I have committed that unpardonable Sin, the Sin against the Holy Ghost, and so dare not apply Christs blood unto my self.
Ans. Though the Sin against the Holy Ghost bee a Sin against knowledge and conscience, yet every Sin (yea every grievous Sin) against knowledge and conscience, is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost; for they may be without malice of heart, which this cannot be; and therefore though thou hast often sinned against knowledge and conscience. yet if thou hast not sinned with a malicious heart, i. e. thou hast not sinned meerly because thou wouldest displease God, and grieve his Spirit, thou hast not committed the Sin against the Holy Ghost.
IV. Having made thy peace with God, then make thy peace with men, by an hearty forgiving of all who have wronged thee. This is a duty to be per…ormed by thee in the whole course of thy life, as any occasion thereof is given, without which the Lord will not accept of any Christian service, and sacrifice that thou offerest unto him; and therefore saith our Saviour,Mark 11. 25 When thou standest praying, forgive, if thou hast ought against any; for indeed, how canst thou ask God forgiveness of thy sins, when thou wilt not forgive man his offences against thee? How canst thou begg peace and reconciliation with thy heavenly Father, when thou wilt not be reconciled on earth to thy Brother? As therefore this Duty is to be performed by thee in the whole course of thy life, so especially in thy last Sickness, for thereby thou maist gain some assurance in thine own Soul of the forgiveness of thy Sins committed against God; which our Saviour implieth in that expression of his, If yee forgive men their trespasses, Mat. 6. 14your heavenly Father will also forgive you; wouldst thou therefore be assured of Gods mercy towards thee in the forgiveness of thy sins committed against him? search narrowly into thine own soul, and if thou canst find thou dost as heartily forgive thy Brother, as thou dost desire forgiveness of God, then maist thou assure thy self of Gods mercy to thee in the forgiveness of thy sins committed against him; so much is hinted to us in the fifth Petition of the Lords Prayer, Forgive us our trespasses, Mat. 6. 12as we forgive them that trespass against us; which latter clause is added, partly to stir us up, readily to forgive those who have wronged us; and partly to strengthen our faith in the assurance of the forgiveness of our sins committed against God, from our readiness to forgive those who have wronged us; in that our forgiving of our Brother is a fruit proceeding from Gods forgiving of us.
V. Labour to clear up thine Evidences for Heaven, that thou maist upon good ground be able to say with the Apostle Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 1I know that when the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, I shall have a building with God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. The Scripture layeth down sundry clear evidences of a true right and title unto Heaven, which who so finds in himself, may rest assured of a blessed life after this; I shall instance only in one, which indeed is the principal of all, and a very comprehensive one, viz. Faith in Iesus Christ, which we find often set down in Scripture,Joh. 3. 16 as a sure evidence for Heaven, for saith our Saviour, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton Son, that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; and saith Iohn Baptist, Vers. 36.He that beleeveth on the Son hath everlasting life; i. e. he is as sure of it, as if he were in actual possession of it.
Q. How may I know whether I have a true s…ving faith?
A. Most Divines doe hold forth the frui…s and effects of faith, as the only signs thereof, and means whereby men should try and examine their faith; but the truth is, the fruits of a saving faith in many Christians are often times so weak▪ that if they should examine their faith only by them, they would bee apt to question the truth thereof, yea to conclude against themselves that they have no true faith at all, therefore I shall briefly shew thee the Antecedents of Faith, by declaring the ordinary method o… Gods Spirit in working true faith in the soul, which is this,
1 God by his Spirit in the Ministery of the Word, doth awaken a mans Conscience, and maketh him to see and discern, as, his manifold sins and transgressions, so, his misery by them, in regard of the dreadful punishments due unto him for the same. This method the Lord observed in those three thousand Converts mentioned, Acts. 2. 37. Examine therefore whether thou hast by the Ministery or the Word been convinced of thy Sins, and of thy miserable condition thereby; how thou art liable to the Wrath of God, to all Judgements and Plagues here, and to Eternal Death and Condemnation hereafter; for till thou beest convinced of thy sins and misery, thou canst see no need, nor want of Jesus Christ. Hence the Law is said to be our School-master, to bring us to Christ, because it doth discover, as our sins, and our misery by reason of them; so our need of Christ.
2 The next Work of Gods Spirit, is to make the soul sensible of its wretched, miserable condition, affecting it with some measure of grief and sorrow for the same. This method likewise the Lord observed in those three thousand Converts, mentioned Acts 2. 37. where it is said, When they heard this, i. e. when they were convinced of that horrible Sin of theirs, in Crucifying the Lord of life, they were pricked in their hearts, viz. with the sence and apprehension of their wretched, miserable condition. Examine therefore whether thou hast been truly sensible of thy wretched, miserable condition, and whether the sence thereof hath affected thee with true grief and sorrow for the same. Though all men are no… alike afflicted with a sence of their wretched, miserable condition, but some much more deeply than others; yet few pass through the pangs of their New Birth, without some throws, some grief and sorrow for their sins; neither can I conceive how any should cloze with Jesus Christ as their Saviour, till they have been so sensible of their sins, as that they are sensible of their need of a Saviour.
3 Another Work of the Spirit is to convince the Soul of its own unrighteousness, that so it may the more willingly seek out after the righteousness of Christ, to be cloathed therewith; for so long as a man is conceited of any righteousness of his own, he will never be beholding unto Jesus Christ for life and for salvation: for as our Saviour saith,Mat. 9. 12 The whole need not a Physician, they need neither Physick, nor Physician, and therefore care for neither. In like manner, such as are strongly possessed with a good conceit of their own estate and condition, of their own righteousness, see no need they have of Christ and his Righteousness, and so regard him not. Examine thy self therefore, whether thou hast ever been truly and thorowly convinced of thine own unrighteousness, whether thou hast discerned the Sins of thy holy services, whether thou hast cried out with the Church,Isa. 64. 6 All my righteousness is as filthy raggs? &c.
4 The next Work of the Spirit, is to convince the soul of the perfection of Christs Righteousness, and of the All-sufficiency of his Sacrifice; that his righteousness is a most perfect and exact righteousness; that his sacrifice upon the Cross was a full satisfaction to Gods Justice, for the sins of all the Elect, it being the sacrifice of the Son of God, even of him that was God, as well as Man; which indeed added an infinite value to all which Christ did, and suffered for mans Redemption, in which respect the redemption wrought by Christ is called plenteous redemption; Psal. 130. 7enough and enough for all the sins of his people, how many or how hainous soever they were. Now, examine whether thou hast found this work of the Spirit upon thy soul, so that thou art convinced thorowly, as of thine own unrighteousness, so of the perfection of Christs righteousness, and of the all-sufficiency of his Sacrifice, which far exceedeth the merits of thy sins.
5 The next Work of the Spirit is to convince the soul of Christs willingness to receive all poor Sinners, sensible of their sins, who will come unto him, and cast themselves and the burden of their sins upon him, by affecting them with a serious apprehension of the manifold gracious invitations of Christ unto poor Sinners,Isa. 55. 1 as that in Isaiah, H…, every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters, he that hath no money, i. e. no goodness nor righteousness of his own, let him come; and that fore-mentioned place, Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all yee that labour and are heavie laden, and I will give you rest. Examine thy self therefore whether thou hast been thorowly convinced of Christs willingness to receive all poor Sinners that will come unto him, and cast the burden of their sins upon him.
6 The next Work of the Spirit is, to stirre up in the soul some earnest longing desire after Jesus Christ, so that the soul cries out, Oh that Christ were mine, oh that upon any terms my soul might enjoy him; which desires are the lifting up of the doors and gates of the soul for the receiving of Jesus Christ.
7 The Spirit of God having thus prepared the soul to a closing with Jesus Christ, then he works the grace of faith in it, whereby it throwes it self into the armes of Christ, rolls it self upon him, and rests upon his perfect righteousness, and all-sufficient Sacrifice, for the pardon and forgiveness of its Sins here, and for eternal life and salvation hereafter. Thus have I shewed thee the ordinary way and method which the Lord useth for the working of true saving faith in the hearts of his people.
Wouldst thou then know whether that faith thou pretendest to, be a true saving faith, try & examine it by the fore-mentioned particulars; consider whether it was thus kindly wrought in thee, according to the ordinary method of Gods Spirit; if so, then though the fruits of faith are very weak in thee, yet thou hast a comfortable evidence of the truth thereof, and so consequently hast a sure evidence for heaven.
Obj. Though I cannot deny these fore-mentioned particulars to bee wrought in me, yet notwithstanding I have no comfortable evidence and assurance of Heaven, nor of my interest in Iesus Christ.
Ans. For answer hereunto, I shall lay down three comfortable considerations.
1 A man may have the faith of adherence and dependence, though he hath not the faith of evidence and assurance, For the better understanding whereof you must know, there is a two-fold faith, as Divines distinguish, viz. The faith of adherence, whereby we roul our selves upon Christ, and rest upon him and his Merits alone, for …ife, and for salvation; and the faith of evidence and assuran…e, whereby wee know and are assured of our interest in Christ, and consequently of our right and title unto Heaven. This latter is the refle… act of the soul, by which a Christian clearly seeth his own happiness, whereas the former is the direct act of the soul. Now, a man may have the faith of adherence, which is true justifying faith, that giveth him an interest in Christ, and a right to Heaven, and yet may want the faith of evidence and assurance, so that he knowert not his own happiness. As the child may truly hang about the mothers neck, or cast it self into her armes, and yet receive neither kiss nor smile from her, so a poor soul may truly roul it self upon Christ, cast it self into his armes, and rest in his bosome (which is true faith) and yet have neither kiss nor smile from him; therefore far be it from thee to question the truth of thy faith meerly for want of Christs smiling upon thee, or to question thy faith of adherence, because thou hast not the faith of evidence and assurance.
2 Assurance of our interest in Christ, and of our future happiness, though it be requisite to the consolation of a Christian, yet not to his salvation; though to his comfort, yet not to his safety; his condition may be safe, though not very comfortable at present: for a Christians safety doth not at all depend upon his assurance, but upon his faith. That Christian that can by faith roul himself upon Christ, cast himself into his armes, resting upon his merits alone for life, and for salvation, his state and condition is safe, though he hath not that assurance which he doth desire: for the promise of life and salvation is made to faith, and not to assurance; the tenour of the Gospel is, Beleeve and thou shalt be saved, as Ioh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. It is not said, that whosoever hath assurance of his interest in Christ, and of eternal life and salvation, but whosoever beleeveth in Christ shall be saved. This consideration may revive many drooping souls, who though they doe renounce all confidence in themselves, and in any righteousness of their own, and place their whole confidence upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and the merits of his Death and Passion, yet have no comfortable assurance in their own souls of their interest in Christ, or of their eternal life and salvation; let such know, that their condition may bee good and safe for all that.
3 Assurance of Salvation is not so ordinary as many Christians doe imagine, for indeed they are but for Christians who doe here attain to a clear evidence and full assurance of their salvation; such whom the Lord here calleth forth to hard services, or great sufferings, to them he is pleased many times to give some clear evidence and assurance of their eternal life and salvation, for their better comfort and support. Thus many Martyrs have expressed their full assurance of a better life after this, whereas such a measure is not usually granted to ordinary Christians, their trials being but flea-bites in comparison of the others.
VI. Then especially act the graces of Gods Spirit in thee; as,
1 Thy Falth, which is a grace of special use to thee so long as thou livest in this world, but most of all at thy last Sickness, and in the time of Death; therefore then especially bee often actuating, and exercising thy faith in Jesus Christ; with the eye of faith look upon Christ hanging upon the Cross, there offering up his life as an all-sufficient Sacrifice, and full satisfaction to Gods Justice for thy Sins, and cast thy self into the armes of Jesus Christ, resting upon his Merits alone for life and for salvation: with a disclaiming of all confidence in thy self, or any righteousness of thine own, place thy whole confidence upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and upon the merits of his death and passion.
2 Then especially act thy zeal for Gods glory, by giving good counsel to those who are about thee, or come to visit thee; it is the last time thou canst doe any thing for God in this world, therefore then shew thy love to him, and zeal for his glory, by calling upon others to fear him, and serve him, by a conscionable discharge of the duties of their places, callings, and relations; perswade them to minde the things of this world less, and the things of Heaven more; to prize health, and improve it for the good of their souls; to lay up a stock of graces and comforts against the evil day, and to get their evidences for Heaven clear, before they be cast upon their Death-beds. Words of dying men are of most efficacy and authority, and therefore improve thy dying speeches to the glory of God, and the good of thy neighbour.Joh. 13. 14, 15, 16, 17 Thus our blessed Saviour, when he was to leave the world, shewed his zeal for Gods glory, and love to his Disciples, in leaving with them many precious counsels, comforts, and exhortations;Acts 20. 18, &c. and the Apostle Paul being aged, and knowing the time of his departure was at hand, called for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, and leaves with them many excellent and weighty exhortations.
3 Act thine obedience, by resigning up thy self unto the Will of God,Culpaiest nolle mori, culpa que velle mori. to be at his dispose, either for life or death; As thou must not be unwilling to dye when God calleth thee, so neither must thou be over eager to dye before hee call thee; thou maist not desire Death out of discontentment of mind, because of some present miseries and afflictions which lye upon thee; nay, thou maist not absolutely wish to dye out of a desire to be rid of thy sins, and to bee with Christ, but it must be with a submission to the Will of God, if he see it meet and convenient for thee; though Paul knew it were far better for him to dye than to live,Phil. 1. 23 yet did he not desire death absolutely, but with a submission to the Will of God.
VII. Be frequent in reading the holy Scriptures, or cause them to be frequently read unto thee, for there thou shalt find,
1 Examples of Gods mercy shewed to the afflicted.
2 Instructions how to bear, and improve thy present Visitation.
3 Comfortable promises of support under the sorest trials. And know for certain, that one Promise in the Book of God will bee more effectual to yeeld thee comfort on thy Death-bed, than all the counsel of thy friends that shall be then about thee.
VIII. Be often lifting up thine heart to God in Prayer. And when through weakness of body, and faintness of spirit, thou art not able to pour our thy soul in any set and solemn Prayer, send up some short ejaculatory Prayer unto God, as that of the poor Publican, Lord be merciful to me a Sinner; Luke 18. 13and also that of the poor man, Lord I beleeve, Mark 9. 24help thou my unbelief; and that of the Apostles, Lord increase my faith; Luke 17. 5and that of Stephen, Lord Iesus receive my spirit. Acts 7. 59These ejaculations going from the heart, they are acceptable and pleasing unto God; let us therefore as Austine adviseth us, endeavour to dye praying,Demus operam ut moriamu… in precatione. by a frequent breathing forth of these or such like ejaculatory Prayers.
Aug. de v…ra …. cap. 33IX. Be often resigning up thy soul into the hands of God, saying with our blessed Saviour, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23. 46Little Children for the most part desire to dye in their Fathers bosome, or upon their Mothers lap; even so shouldst thou in the hour of death, cast thy soul into the arms of thy heavenly Father, and rest in the bosome of Jesus Christ.
If thy Disease be painful, turn to those Direction; in the fore-going chapter How to bear afflictions willingly and cheerfully.