A Sovereign Salve, Section 4
SECT. IV.
I Will conclude all with the Chriſtian, and charitable judgements, and opinions of ſome worthy Divines touching theſe caſes.
What (ſaith Mr. Greenham) if you ſhould In his grave counſels, and godly obſervations, pag. 9.dye in this diſ-comfort? For my part (as I my ſelfe looke for no great things in my death) I would not thinke more hardly of you, neither would I wiſh any to judge otherwaies of Gods child in that ſtate of death. For we ſhall not be judged according to that particular inſtant of death, but according to our generall courſe of life; nor according to our deed in that preſent, but according to the deſire of our hearts ever before. And therefore we are not to miſtruſt Gods mercy in death, be we never ſo uncomfortable, if ſo be it hath beene before ſealed up in our vocation, and ſanctification.
The common opinion is (ſaith Mr. Perkins) In his ſalve for a ſick man.that if a man dye quietly, and goe away like a Lambe (which in ſome diſeaſes, as Conſumptions, and ſuch like, any man may doe) then he goes ſtraight to Heaven: But when the violence of the diſeaſe ſtirre up impatience, and cauſe frantick behaviours, then men uſe to ſay, there is a judgement of God, ſerving either to diſcover an Hypocrite, or to plague a wicked man.
But the truth is otherwaies; for indeed a Iob 21. 23, 25.man may dye like a Lamb, and yet goe to Hell; and one dying in exceeding torments, and ſtrange behaviours of the body, may goe to Heaven.
Yea, to goe further (ſaith he) when a Profeſſour In his declaration of ſpirituall deſertions.of the Goſpell ſhall make away himſelfe, though it be a fearfull caſe, yet ſtill the ſame opinion muſt be carried. For firſt, Gods judgements are very ſecret. Secondly, they may repent in the very agony, for any thing we know. Thirdly, none is able to comprehend the bottomleſſe depth of the graces, and mercies which are in Chriſt.
There be ſome (ſaith Mr. Richardſon) that Ubi ſupra.in phrenſy, and diſtraction of their braine, doe make away themſelves: who, howſoever they may be blamed for other ſinnes formerly committed by them; yet in this caſe they are rather to be pitied, then raſhly cenſured: for they have not free election, and therefore the action is not to be reputed as done by them. Againe, we are to conſider the whole courſe of their former life, and to judge according to that. Indeed, if their life had been wretched, and ungodly, and they dye in this manner, there is great cauſe to doubt of their eſtate. But if they have †Prorſus confirmo, audeo dicere, non poteſt male mori, qui benè vixit. Auguſt. de Diſciplin. Chriſtian. In his Book of Melancholly, pag. 543.lived in the feare of God, and have given teſtimony of their godlineſſe in the former courſe of their lives, we are to hope well of them, whatſoever their end be.
If a man (ſaith Mr. Burton) doe put deſperate hands upon himſelfe by occaſion of madneſſe, or melancholly, if he have given teſtimony before of his regeneration; in regard he doth this not ſo much out of his will, as †By the force and violence of his diſeaſe.ex vi morbi; we muſt make the beſt conſtruction of it, as *Busbequius.Turkes doe, that thinke all fooles and mad men goe directly to Heaven.
There are ſome (ſaith Mr. Sims) that are In his lifes preſervative.ſelfe-killers, which are not ſelfe-murtherers; of which ſort are theſe poore diſtreſſed ſoules of which we ſpeake.
This onelyonly let me adde (ſaith Mr. Burton) ubi ſupra, pag. 188.that in ſome caſes thoſe hard cenſures of ſuch as offer violence to their owne perſons, are to be mitigated; as in ſuch as are mad, beſide themſelves, or knowne to have beene long melancholly, and that in extremity they know not what they doe, deprived of judgement, reaſon, and all: As a Ship that is voyd of a Pilot, muſt needs impinge upon the next rock, or ſands, and ſuffer ſhipwrack. And indeed good reaſon we have to be thus charitable towards ſuch; For who knowes, how he himſelfe may be …ledge…empted? It is his caſe to day, it may be thine if God leave thee to thy ſelfe, to the Devill, …ledge… to a melancholly fit) to morrow. Charity …ledge…ill judge the beſt. God be mercifull unto us …ledge…ll.
THE END.