short instructions for the sick: especially who by contagion, or otherwise, are deprived of the presence of a faithfull pastor. / by richard baxter. baxter, richard, 1615-1691. 1665 approx. 13 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a76214 wing b1416a estc r172655 45097537 ocm 45097537 171152 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a76214) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 171152) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2562:1) short instructions for the sick: especially who by contagion, or otherwise, are deprived of the presence of a faithfull pastor. / by richard baxter. baxter, richard, 1615-1691. 1 sheet ([1] p.). printed by robert white, for francis tyton, at the three daggers in fleet-street: and for nevill simmons, book-seller in kederminster., london, : anno dom. 1665. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng church of england -prayer-books and devotions. sick -prayer-books and devotions. broadsides -england -17th century. 2008-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2009-01 megan marion sampled and proofread 2009-01 megan marion text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion short instructions for the sick : especially who by contagion , or otherwise , are deprived of the presence of a faithfull pastor . by richard baxter . those happy persons who have made it the chief care and business of their lives , to be alwayes ready for a dying hour , have least need of my present counsel : it is therefore those unhappy souls , who are yet unprepared , whom i shall now instruct . and , o that the lord would bless these words ; and perswade them yet , ere time be gone ! if sin had not bewitched men , and made them monsters of senslesness and unbelief , it could not be , that an endless life , so sure , so neer , could be so sottishly made light of , all their lives , as it is by most , till they perceive that death is ready to surprize them . but , poor sinner , if this have been thy case , supposing yet that thou art unwilling to be damned , i earnestly intreat thee in the name of christ , for the sake of thy immortal soul , that thou wilt presently lay to heart these short instructions , before time and hope are gone for ever . i. at last bethink thee what thou art ? and for what end and work thou camest into the world ? thou art a man of reason , and not a brute , and hast a soul which was made to know , and love , and serve thy maker ; and that not in the second place , with the leavings of the flesh ; but in the first place , and with all thy heart and might . if this had been indeed thy life , god would have been thy portion , thy father , and thy defence , and thou mightst have liv'd and dy'd in peace and comfort , and then have liv'd with god for ever . and should not a creature live to the ends and uses which it was made for ? must god give thee all thy powers for himself , and wilt thou turn them from him , to the service of the flesh , and that when thou hadst vowed the contrary in thy baptism ? how wilt thou answer for such treacherous ungodliness ? ii. it is time for thee now to have serious thoughts of the life which thou art going to : if thou couldst sleepily forget it all the way ; it is time to awake when thou art almost there . when thy friends are burying that flesh in the earth , which thou didst more regard than god and thy salvation , thy soul must appear in an endless world ; and see those things which god foretold thee of , and thou wouldst not believe , or set thy heart upon : as soon as death hath opened the curtains , o what a sight must thou presently behold ! a world of angels and of holy souls adoring , and praising , and admiring that god , whom thou didst refuse to mind , and love , and serve : a world of devils and damned souls , in torment and despair , bewailing their contempt of christ and grace , their neglect of god , and their salvation , their serving the flesh , and loving the world , and wilfully losing the time of mercy , and all the means which god vouchsafed them . believe it , sinner , there is an endless joy and glory for the saints , and an endless misery for all the ungodly ; and one of these must quickly be thy case . thy state is changeable while thou art in the flesh : if thy soul be miserable , there is yet a remedy : it s possible christ may renew and pardon it : but as soon as thou goest hence , thou enterest into a state of joy or torment , which must never change : no not when millions of years are past . and dost thou not think now in thy conscience , that such an endless misery should have been prevented with greater care and diligence , than all the sufferings of this life ? and that the attaining of such an endless glory , had been worth thy greatest care and labour ? and that it is far better to see the glory of god , and be filled with his love , and joyfully praise him with his saints and angels , for evermore , and by a holy life to have prepared for this ; than to please the flesh , and follow the world a little while , and be undone for ever ! hast thou got more by the world and sin , than heaven is worth ? thou art almost at the end of worldly pleasures , and hast all that ever they will do for thee ? but if god had had thy heart and service , he would not thus have cast thee off ; and his rewards and joyes would have had no end . o how much happier are the blessed souls in heaven , than we ? iii. and seeing you are so neer to the judgment of god , where your soul must receive its final sentence , it is high time now to judge your self , and know what state your soul is in ? whether in a state of justification , or of damnation . for this may be certainly known if you are willing . and first you must know who they be whom christ will justifie , and whom he will condemn : and this the word of god will tell you : for he will judge them by that word . in a word [ all those whom christ will justifie and save , are made new creatures by the renewing work of the holy ghost : their eyes are opened to see the vanity of this world , and the certainty and excellency of the glory of heaven ; and to see the odiousness of sin , and the goodness of a holy life , and to believe that christ is the only saviour , to cleanse them from their sins , and bring them to that glory . and therefore they forsake the sinful pleasures of the flesh , and set their hearts on the everlasting blessedness , and seek it before all things , and lamenting and hating their former sins , they give up themselves sincerely , to their god and father , their saviour , and their sanctifier , to be taught and ruled , justified , sanctified , and saved by him ; resolving whatever it cost the flesh , to stand to this choice and covenant to the death . ] this is the case of all that christ will justifie and save : the rest who never were thus renewed and sanctified , will be condemned , as sure as the gospel is true . therefore let it be speedily your work , to try whether this be your case or not ? have you been thus enlightened , convinced , and renewed , to believe in christ , and the life to come , and to give up your self in a faithful covenant to god your father , your saviour , and your sanctifier ? to hate your sin , and to live and love a holy life , in mortifying the flesh , and seeking heaven before the world ? if this be not your case , i should but flatter and deceive you to tell you of any hope of being saved , till you are thus renewed and justified . never imagine a lye to quiet you , till help is past . no one that is unregenerate or unholy , shall ever dwell with god. yet you may be saved , if yet you will be truly converted and sanctified : but without this , assuredly there is no hope . iv. therefore i counsel you in the name of christ , to look back upon your sinful life with sorrow ; not only because of the danger to your self , but also because you have offended god! what think you now of a sinful and of a holy life ? had it not been better that you had valued christ and grace , and lived in the love of god , and in the joyful hopes of the life to come , and denyed the sinful desires of the flesh , and been ruled by the law of god , and spent your time in preparing for eternity ? do you not heartily wish that this had been your course ? would you take this course if it were to do again ? and god recover you ? repent , repent from the bottom of your heart , of the time you have lost , the mercy you have abused , the grace you have resisted , of all your fleshly , worldly desires , words and deeds ; and that you gave not up your soul and life to the love of god and life eternal . v. and now resolvedly give up your self in a hearty covenant to god! though it be late , he will yet accept and pardon you , if you do it in sincerity . take god for your god , your portion and felicity , to live in his love and praise for ever ; take christ for your saviour , to teach , and rule , and justifie you , and bring you unto god ; and the holy spirit for your sanctifier , and certainly god will take you for his child . but see that you be truly willing of his grace , and resolved never to forsake him more . o happy soul , if yet at last , the lord will make this change upon thee ! and i 'le tell you certainly how to know , whether this late repentance will serve for your salvation , or not . if it be but fear only which causeth your repentance , and the heart and will be not renewed , but you would turn again to a fleshly , worldly and ungodly life , if you be recovered ; then it will never save your soul . but if your heart , your will , your love be changed , and this change would hold if god recovered you to health again , then doubt not of pardon and salvation . vi. and if god have thus changed your heart , and drawn it to himself , be thankful for so great a mercy ! o bless him for giving you a redeemer and a sanctifier , and the pardoning covenant of grace . and now be not afraid or loath to leave a sinful world , and come to god! pray harder for grace and pardon , than for life . commit and trust your souls to christ ! he had never done so much for souls , if he had not loved them , and been willing to receive them ! how wonderfully came he down to man , to bring up man to the sight of god! he is gone before to prepare us a mansion in the city of god , and hath promised to take us to himself , that we may dwell with him , and see his glory ! the world which you are going to , is unlike to this ! there is no pride , or lust , or cruelty , oppression , deceit , or any sin ! no wicked men to scorn or persecute us ! no vanity to allure us ! no devil to tempt us ! no corruption of our own to burden or endanger us ! no fears , or cares , or griefs , or discontents ! no poverty , sickness , pain , or death ! no doubtings of the love of god or our salvation ! but the sight of god , and the feelings of his love , and the fervent flames of our love to him , will be the everlasting pleasure of the saints ! these will break forth in triumphant and harmonious thanks and praise in the presence of our glorified redeemer , and in concord with all the heavenly hosts , the blessed angels , and the spirits of the just ! this is the end of faith and holiness , patience and perseverance : when hell is the end of unbelief , ungodliness , sensuality , and hypocrisie . how justly are they condemned , who sell their part of endless joyes , for a shadow and dream of transitory pleasures ? and can delight more in the filth of sin , and in a fading vanity , than in the love of god , and the fore-thoughts of glory ! what love can be too great , what desires too fervent ; what prayer and labour can be too much ! what suffering too dear for such a blessedness ? vii . lastly , because there are many cases of the sick , which require the presence of a judicious divine ; if it be possible get the help of such ; if not , remember that god is just , in denying men that mercy in their distress , which in the time of their health and prosperity they rejected with scorn & contempt , and cleave to him whom you may enjoy for ever . london , printed by robert white , for francis tyton , at the three daggers in fleet-street : and for nevill simmons , book-seller in kederminster . anno dom. 1665. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a76214-e10 deut. 6.5 . & 10.12 . & 11.1 , 13. deut. 32.29 . matth. 6.19 , 20 , 33. matth. 25. rom. 2. 2 cor. 4.18 . & 5.1 , 7 , 8 , 9. phil. 3.18 , 20. 2 thes . 1.9 , 10. 1 pet. 4.18 . 1 cor. 11.31 . 2 cor. 13.5 . pet. 1.10 . john 3.3 , 5. 2 cor. 5.17 . ephes . 1.18 . joh. 3.16 , 19. gal. 5.24 . rom. 8.9 . mat. 6.21 , 33. mat. 28.20 . heb. 12.14 . rev. 2.7 , 10. prov. 11.7 . job 8.13 , 14. luk. 13.3 , 5. luk. 15. matth. 18.3 . matth. 11.28 . 2 cor. 8.5 . act. 11.23 . psal . 78.34 , 35 , 36 , 37. hebr. 8.10 . & 10.16 . jer. 32.40 . phil. 1.21 , 23. 2 cor. 5.1.8 . rev. 14.13 . act. 7.59 . john 17.24 . & 12.26 . rev. 21. & 22 ▪ mal. 2.7 . james 5.14 . psal . 73.26 . the sicke-mans catechisme, or path-way to felicitie wherin is contained great variety of sound directions and most sweete co[n]solations collected and contriued into questions and answers, out of the best diuines of our time, by thomas draxe minister of gods word. wherevnto is annexed two most comfortable and powrefull prayers. draxe, thomas, d. 1618. 1609 approx. 135 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 67 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a20806 stc 7186 estc s117551 99852764 99852764 18107 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a20806) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 18107) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1234:26) the sicke-mans catechisme, or path-way to felicitie wherin is contained great variety of sound directions and most sweete co[n]solations collected and contriued into questions and answers, out of the best diuines of our time, by thomas draxe minister of gods word. wherevnto is annexed two most comfortable and powrefull prayers. draxe, thomas, d. 1618. [126] p. imprinted [by g. eld] for henry holland, and are to be sold by i. w[right] at christ church dore, london : 1609. printer's and bookseller's names from stc. running title reads: the sick-mans path-way. signatures: a-h (a8, blank?). some print show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng catechisms, english. consolation -early works to 1800. sick -prayer-books and devotions -early works to 1800. 2003-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-02 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-05 john latta sampled and proofread 2003-05 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the sicke-mans catechisme , or path-way to felicitie . wherin is contained great variety of sound directions and most s●●●●●e cosolations collected and con●ri●ed into questions and answers , out of the best diuines of our time , by thomas draxe minister of gods word , wherevnto is annexed two most comfortable and powrefull prayers . london . imprinted for henry holland , and are to be sold by i. w. at christ church dore to the right worshipfvll learned , religious and martiall gentleman , sir richard warbarton knight , grace , peace , and plentifull increase of all holynesse and happinesse . amongst all the temporary and ordinary penalties and punishmēts of mās transgression : surely , sicknesses , diseases , malladies , aches , yea most of all , death it selfe , together with all their seuerall accidents , and temptations , are most grieuous , yrkesome , and vnwelcome . for they are simply in themselues , and in their owne nature cōsidered , plagues and curses , & they produce fearefull effects , in the vnregenerate , namely impatiency , vnquiet nesse , horrour , blasphemy , desperation , and the practise of vnlawfull cures and remedies . wherefore it is ( right worshipful ) a worke of no meane art , skil & experience , soundly to catechize the sick , to rectifie their iudgements , to bring thē to a true sense & confidence of sin , to begette faith in them , to cause them in hope and patiency to wait vpon god , & to prepare them to dye well and blessedly ; but it is opus & labor . it requyreth the tonge of the learned , and a messenger ( or interpreter ) one of a thousand , such as haue bin of late times m r spineus , and m r perkins , two bright and glo rious stars in the french and english firmament , but now saintes in heauen , who haue learnedly and largely trauaild in this point . wherefore it may s●…eme a needles matter for any man to write further of this subiect , & my self may bee thought morebolde then wise , in presuming to put forth any newe matter , or to change or ad ought : yet because no mans worke is absolutely perfect , and for that variety of treatises is both delightsome and desireable , and because the fraile memory , and the simple capacity of very many cannot comprehend large and profound discourses , but best profiteth by short and easy instructions . i haue vppon these groundes , drawne and contracted the large treatises of the aboue-named authors into plaine and compendious questions & answers , with diuers additions and illustrations of mine owne , hoping that in the dilligent reading hereof , the ignorant shall get knowledge , the wauering finde resolution , the distressed receiue comfort , the presumptious bee humbled , the tempted armed against satans assaultes , and all that are well affected , bee prepared for god , and directly guided to eternall glory . wherefore vppon this expectation , & also induced by the earnest request of a much respected friend , i haue thought good to publish it , and vpon due consideration , to consecrate and commend it to your fauourable protection & patronage . for first , you are very learned , and wil iudge well , you are most kind and curteous , and wil take all in good part , and you are vnfainedly relligious , and wil giue intertainment to any matter of godlynesse . secondly you in an heroicall zeale and r●…solution , haue both in the time of queen elizabeth a princesse of most renowned memory & of incomparable excellency , & sithence , fought for christ & his blessed gospell , and therefore what thing more pleasing vnto you then matters of religion & consciēce ? lastly hauing receiued so manifold kindnesses from you , i can by none other meanes better testifie my thankful heart . thus intreating your worshippe to read , accept off , and make vse of my catechisme , and yeelding you many thankes for all your fauours , i heare most humbly take my leaue . god almighty who hath giuen you recouery of health , and increase of spirituall comfort in a religious cittie , perfit both the one and the other in you ; blesse and protect you and your most godly and vertuous lady , grant you both a long and blessed life in this world , and consumation of holynesse and happinesse in the world to come . february . 12. 1609. your worships in the lord at commaund thomas draxe . a table of the principall points contained in this catechisme . the 1. chapter . sicknes described . the causes of it . obiections answered . the way to find out secret sinnes . the ends why god ●…mposeth sicknesses . the diuers effects of them according to their subiects . certen rules of comforting the sicke . the first rule what ? the benefite of it . the 2. chapter . sinne the cause of sicknes . sinne to be confessed . sinne of omission . the knowledge of the lawe a meane to find out sinne . gods iudgements to be made knowne to the sicke to bee sencelesse of gods iudgements how dangerous ? the 3. chapter , perswasion of gods loue and presence in sicknesse , necessary . the greatest sinnes pardonable , and pardoned in them that repent . obiections of other mens vnworthines . obiections against want of feeling . faith neuer wholy lost . generall calamities no preiudice to the saluation of the godly . obiection of a mans owne vnworthynesse answered . the 4. chapter . the sicke to be prepared against death . what death is . how brought into the world . why were adam and eue spared . why enoch and elias were translated aliue into heauen ? the 6. chapter . bodily death what ? why the time is vnknowne ? why the godly die ? q. what spirituall death is . the seuerall degrees of it . sundry obiections and exceptions against death confuted . q. whether sudden death bee simply euill ? q. whether all that kill themselues , be certenly damned ? the 7. chapter . the priuatiue benefits of death , or the euill it freeth vs from . the positiue benefit of it . the temporary death of the body no curse to the godly . the body shall rise and why . whether it be lawful to mourne for the dead and how ? the 8. chapter . the way to happinesse conteined and declared in the scriptures . preparation against death what ? the necessity of it . when to be performed ? the example of some that repented at their death is no rule for vs to delay our repentance . the 9. chapter . the meditation of death necessary . it is very profitable . the obiectes of it . the 10. chapter . wherein the sting of death lyeth ? quest. how knowne and taken away ? the 11. chapter . the first degree of entring into eternall life . the diuers kindes of it . the 12. chapter . why and how a man must enure himselfe to die well . the 13. chapter . preparation must be speedy and hearty and why ? the 14. chapter . offalse preparation . auricular confession superstitious , needeles , impossible . for ●…he sicke man to receiue the sacrament it is not ( simply ) necessary . obiections answered , extreame vnction not now necessary , the 15. chapter . reconciliation and the renewing of faith and repentance towards god , necessary . thankes-giuing necessary . the 16. chapter . the sicke must haue a care of his soule . feare of death how good ? how we are to be armed against it ? practises and meditations against it . the 17. chapter . phisike lawfull and necessary . it is meanes of preseruation of life . what physitions are to be chosen . preparation of soule and body in the vse of the meanes , the end of phisike . the 18. chapter . the sicke must sorgiue and desire forgiuenesse of others . the magistrats , the ministers , and the masters of the familes duty . the making of a will necessary . according to what rules it must be made . the 19. chapter . to die in faith necessary and what it is . to die in obedience necessary and what it is . the end of them that die well is blessed . consolations against the imagined calamities of our posterity , viz. wife & chilldren consolations against losse of honour , profit , and pleasure in this life . death how farre forth to be feared . q. how farre forth not to be feared ? whether that a man may lawfully , desire death . in what respects ? the summe of the whole treatise . the sick-mans path-way . the first chapter , concerning sicknesse . question . what is sicknesse ? ans. it is , according to philosophie and phisicke , a priuation of health , or an ill disposition and passion in the body contrary to nature . qu. but how define you it according to diuinitie ? ans. it is gods rod and instrument to chastice vs for our sinnes , and to put vs in minde of our mortalitie , it is the herbinger and messenger of death , and by vertue of christs death , it is a narrow and spéedy passage to euerlasting life . q. from whence , or from what causes doe sicknesses and diseases procéede ? a. they procéede from god as the inflicter and imposer of them , for he is the author of the euill of punishment ; but they arise from sinne , as the de●…eruing and procuring cause . psalm . 39. leuit. 26. 16 , deut. 28. vers . 22. 23. 24. q. how can god , that is simplye good , yea goodnesse it selfe , be the cause of euill , namely , sicknesse , diseases , paine , &c. a. gods goodnesse and iustice doth , and may , very well consort together in the beléeuers , for as god in his iustice doth correct his children for their disobedience , so doth he temper and qualifie it with his mercy and goodnesse , that these afflictions are finite , tolerable , and tend both to the temporall and eternall good and profit of his children . psal. 25. v. 10 rom. 8. v. 28. q. what vse are we to make of this point ? a. wée must first descend into our selues , acknowledge our sinne and wickednesse , yea and condemne our selues for it . 1. cor. 11. 31. secondly , we must be so farre of from fretting , murmuring & repining against god , that we must iustifie god in all his chasticements , & not to require the reasō of them , for they are alwayes good and holy , albeit we doe not alwayes sée the particular reason of them . thirdly , we committing our selues to gods will , must earnestly entreate the lord to restore vs to our former health ; or else to receiue vs to his euerlasting kingdome . obi. but god hath in his beloued sonne christ iesus , forgiuen , yea and taken away the guilt , dominion & curse of sinne , which is the cause of their sicknesses , and why then doth he not withall remooue the effect , viz. sicknesse , diseases , & c ? a. albeit the guilt , curse , and dominion of sinne be remooued from the beléeuers , yet the reliques and stumpes of sinne remaine , and inherent corruption is but in part abolished , and therefore so long as we liue in this world ; the lord must néeds , ( more or lesse ) one way or other , fatherly chastice & exercise vs. 1. cor. 11. 31. heb. 12. v. 6. & 8. obi. 2. but gods children cannot alwayes finde out the peculiar sinnes that are the proper and immediate causes of their sicknesses and diseases ? a. yet not withstanding , we must suspect , accuse and condemne our selues , and withall iustifie and cléere the lord ; for there is some secret and hidden sinne of pride , worldlinesse , lust , enuie , vanitie , oppression , &c. for which wee are corrected , albeit it bee not presently made knowne vnto vs. q. what course must we take to finde out this achan or secret corruption ? a. we must ( as i will in the next chapter more fully shew , examine our selues by the strict rule of gods law . secondly , we must entreate the lord by prayer to reueale the sinne vnto vs. thirdly and lastly , we must take notice of the checkes of our conscience , yea and the taunts & reproches of our enimies . q. what are the principall ends why god laieth sicknesses , diseases , aches , &c. vpon his children ? a. they are principally these foure , to witt , mortification and preuention of sinne ; triall and exercise of gods graces in vs ; manifestation of gods glorr ; and lastly our saluation and eternall happinesse . q. but to speake of each of these ends particularly ( yet briefely ) how doth god mortifie and preuent sinne by sicknesse ? a. first god doth hereby declare his iustice and anger against sinne past , and present , that his children might be more effectually stirred vp to search them out , consider of them , and be sory for them . secondly , god hereby doth correct the pride of prosperitie , and remooue all vaine confidence in carnall wisedome , riches , beautie , friends ; that we may waite patiently and onely vpon his power , truth , & promises , and learne to séeke for heauenly things , so that by this his correction , he taketh away the myst of errour from our eyes , purgeth our hearts from the drosse of corruption , and fanneth vs from the chaffe of sinne , and hereby prepareth vs either for health or heauen . q. doth god by sicknesse , and the like afflictions preuent sinne to come ? a. yes certainly : thus pride was preuented in blessed paul. 2 cor. 12. ver . 7. & 8 security in dauid psal. 30. 6. 7. and neglect of preparation in the corinthians , 1. cor. 11. v. 31. q. what is the second end of gods chasticements ? a. to trie and make knowne to themselues and to others their faith , hope , patience , repentance , constancie , yea to exercise , quicken , and encrease in them these and other graces , that they may , be thankfull to god for them , and may be as mirrours and lamps vnto others . q. are not also by this triall and exercise , decayed graces recouered ? a. it is most certaine ; for hereby , deadnesse and drowsinesse of heart is cured ; and men are mooued more feruently to séeke and pray vnto god then they did before , psal. 30. 6. q. what is the third end ? a. the declaration and manifestation of gods power , glory and goodnesse in their deliuerance , either by life or death . iohn 9. vers . 3. q. what is the last end ? a. after that god hath reformed , humbled and exercised them , and made them to relie wholy vpon him , and to waite & wish for their saluation , to bring them by death into the heauenly canaan , where they shall haue immediate fellowship , and raigne with christ for euer-more . q séeing that sicknesses , diseases , and the like chasticements haue such comfortable and blessed effects and euents in gods children , what is the reason , why they should not be the same in the wicked and vngodly ? a. the difference lieth first in their persons , the elect are accepted of god , and therefore like the good golde , they are made more pure and bright by visitations and afflictions ; but the persons of the wicked and vnbeléeuers are not accepted with god , and therefore like drosse they are not purified but consumed by the fire of affliction . secōdly , in his secret counsaile he neuer intended the amendment & saluation of the reprobate , neither do they reprobate euer by pure meanes and in pure sort , euer intend the same , but the case is far otherwise with gods children , whom alone god hath pre-ordained to saluatiō and to the meanes thereof , and whom he maketh ( outward ) instruments of their owne saluation . 1. ioh. 5. v. 18. q. is there any certaine forme , rule , or way , to comfort and instruct the sick ? a. yes , for god in wisedome and mercy , hath ordeined a meane and medicine for euery distresse and temptation . q where is this forme and direction conteined ? a. generally and aboundantly in the bookes of the old and new testament , for these containe sufficient rules , examples and directions of comforts and instructions , 2. tim. 3. 16. & 17. q. what is our duty herein ? a. to collect and compare them together , or receiue them so gathered and compared by the godly learned , & then to apply them to our owne vses and occasions . q. what is the first generall rule seruing for consolation ? a. wee in our sicknesse and the like visitations , must be perswaded , that all sicknesses , diseases , and infirmities , yea , and all their particular circumstances , whether we respect , time , place , person , or the qualitie , maner , continuance , and remoouall of them : procéed and are sent of god , and depend vpon & are ordered by his onely prouidence . amos 3. 6. lament . 3. 41. psalm . 39. v. 10. & 11. q. what benefit shall we reape and receiue by this perswasion ? a. we shall hereby be the better enabled to vndergoe our visitations with patience and comfort , and shall learne the more obediently in all things to submit our wills , to gods diuine will and pleasure . the second chapter . sinne the cause and originall of all diseases and sicknesses , must be found out confessed and bewailed . question . vvhat is the second thing whereof the sick must bee resolued of before he can be capable , and so partaker of comfort . a. hee must bee resolued that sinne from whence all sicknesses and diseases , both of soule and body haue their beginning , and which is the malignant matter of it , must bée remoued and taken away , before sicknesse the effect of it can cease . q. by what meanes is sinne abolished ? a. onely by gods mercy in christ iesus . rom. 3. v. 24. 25. 26. qu. to whom are sinnes forgiuen ? a. to all the elect and them onely , for christ with all his merites and sauing graces is proper to them , and they alone in time beléeue and repent . act. 13. 48. q. when are the sinnes of gods elect forgiuen ? a. they are in the decree of god forgiuen from euerlasting ; but then onely actually and in our sense and apprehension , when wée truely beleeue and repent . act. 3. q. that we may be partakers of remission of sinne , what conditions are there required on our part ? answ. two conditions principally . first fréely and truely to confesse our sinnes vnto god , with contrition of heart , and to acknowledge that wée are worthy of all , both temporall and eternall plagues and punishments . secondly wee must firmely beléeue that christ is our only and all sufficient redéemer and mediator , and we must by the eye of faith behold , and by the hand of faith apply the promises of the gospell , particularly to our selues & soules . que. is confession of sinne necessary for the obtaining of the pardon of sinne ? a. it is simply necessary , for it is the very foundation and first degrée of repentance . secondly it is the way and meane of our iustification before god , for hee will neuer pardon vs vntill we accuse our selues , nor pronounce and accept vs for iust vntill we condemne our selues . pro. 28. lastly , without confession of sinne no pardon can be procured . q is the sicke man to make confession of all his sinnes vnto god in particular ? answe . yes , if hée be conuinced in conscience , and know them to be sins , and especially hauing not repented of them before ; whether they be sinnes of commission , or of omission●… : but for his vnknowne sinnes , which are the most in number , he must onely confesse them generally , and it sufficeth , psal. 19 , 11. q. but are sinnes of leauing good things , and duties vnperformed to bee confessed , such as are neglect of prayer , want of zeale in gods cause , defect of charity and compassion : omitting of thankes-giuing . a. yes verily , as we haue examples in daniel , paul , and others , dani. 9. v. 13. rom. 7. v. 15. secondly , we offend as much in omitting of these , séeing gods lawe doth require them , as in committing euill . thirdly , the elect are notably herein distinguished from the reprobate , for the reprobate doe not discerne , much lesse doe they confesse their particular wants . q. but how shall we in our sicknesse make a true confession of our st●…nes to god , séeing that there are in vs so many remainders of blindnesse , ignorance , and selfe-loue ? a. we must set before our eyes the law of god , and by it and euery precept and circumstance of it , trie and examine all our thoughts , words , life , actions . q. why so ? a. because god hath ordained it for that end . for it is a true and perfect glasse wherein wee may sée and behold all our wayes . it is a light to discouer all our blindnesse and workes of darkenesse . lastly , it is an exact and exquistte rule , according to which all our opinions , purposes , and practises , are to bée tried , examined and directed . q. but how come we to be so blind , erronious , rebellious , sinfull and miserable , that we haue néede of , and are referred to the lawe and word of god , to sound and trie our selues by it ? a. through the sinne and fall of our first parents , adam and eue , who fréely assenting vnto the perswasion of the diuell , did eate the forbidden fruite , and so corrupted and stained themselues and their posteritie . in so much that their posteritie sinning in them , and also adding continuall and innumerable transgressions , lost and defaced gods image , and so b●…came mortall , miserable and subiect to et●…rnall damnation . q. what shal we finde by examining our selues according to gods law ? ans. that we haue all sinned , that we are vtterly by nature depriued of all goodnesse , and prone vnto all euill continually , and by consequence , children of wrath , and heires of condemnation . ques . is it sufficient to examine our selues , life and actions , according to the letter of the law ? an. no , except withall the spirituall nature , intent and meaning of the law be considered and obserued , for it requireth purity of heart and thoughts , & perfect obedience both in omitting euil , & in doing good . rom. 7. 15 , and 16. q. but is the bare inspection and considering of our selues in the law , a sufficient means to bring vs to the true knowledge of our selues and a due confession of sinn●… ? ans. it is sufficient in it selfe , but not in respect of our corrupt disposition : for wee are to fauourable and partiall in ●…udging our selues , but especially in prosperity : and therefore god doth , & must , some-times , by his rod of correction , remooue the mist of errour from our eyes : round vs in the eare : & bring our sinnes to our rem●…mbrance . ho●…ea 5 , ver 15. q but why is man more punished with sicknesse and other afflictions , then all other creatures besides ? a. because , all other creatures reteine ( for the most part ) the order wherin they were first created , but only man is become degenerate , rebellious , and an heteroclite : ●…o that man may iustly say of himselfe that which dauid did when he had numbred the people , it is i that haue sinned and committed euil , but these creatures what haue they done ? secondly , the brute and dumbe creatures are ( in their kind ) more sensitius of the bondage and corruption that our sinnes haue brought vpon them , and more ( in expectation and desire of deliuerance ) grone vnder them , then we our selues are , or doe . for where are our grones teares , sack-cloth , ashes , shame , compunction of heart and repentance ? q. what further helpes haue we to direct vs in this duty ? a. not onely to pray vnto god , to reueale our sinnes vnto vs , and to marke the checkes of our consciences , and the reuilings of our enemies ( as we haue before shewed : ) but also to frequent those that be sicke , and to behold gods chasticements vpon others , and especially lazars and vleerous persons , that hereby we may take notice of the vglinesse of sinne , and our owne deformitie in gods sight , that wee may the more pittie the distressed , and be stirred vp to be more thankfull to god for his benefits receiued . the second section . q. when all these meanes and helps of confession haue béene vsed , what further course is to be taken with the sick man ? a. he must by doctrine , admonition , and by laying open vnto him gods iudgements , be made to sée the guilt and desart of sinne , the curse of the law , the torment of an ill conscience , the vnspeakable wrath of god , and the fearefull and most accursed state of the damned . q. but is it not a most blessed state for a man to bee alwayes merry and frolike , to follow his pleasures , and to féele no sinne , or paine of sinne at all ? a. no certainly : for of all plagues it is the greatest to be pricked and not to féele it , and to be smitten and not to bée humbled . and therefore as he that goeth blind-folded to execution is not happy , but most miserable : so neither the senselesse and regenerate sinner is at hell mouth , and discerneth it not . secondly , as those maladies and diseases , ( especially which are certaine fore-runners of death at hand ) are most dangerous that are least felt : so those sinnes , whereof wée haue no touch , remorse , nor repentance , are most to bée feared , for they send men vnawares , posting and packing to hell . the third chapter . 1. the doctrine of faith . 2. the infinite and vnmeasurable mercies of god. ques . when the sicke person hath thus applied gods law to himselfe , arraigned himselfe before the barre of gods iudgement , and made a true confession of his sinnes , and hath béene brought to true contrition , what is in the second place required of him ? an. hée must by a firme faith be persivaded of gods gratious presence and euerlasting loue towards him , that his sinnes are pardonable , and that christ hath by his sufferings , fréed and deliuered vs from the power of satan , slauery of sinne , feare of death and condemnation , and that he also hath by his actuall obedience , imputed vnto vs and apprehended by faith purchased vnto vs and prepared for vs euerlasting glory and happinesse . obiect . but how can the sicke-man be perswaded of gods fauor and mercy , séeing that his sinnes are so great and so innumerable ? ans. albeit his and our sinnes quoad nos , in regard of our selues be heynous yea and vncountable : yet compared with gods endlesse and vnmeasurable mercies in christ they are but few and finite . for his mercies are infinite his compassions faile not , and with him is ple●…teous redemption , in so much ( as we may sée in manasses , the lost sonne , paul , mary magda●…ene and diuers others ) ●…here sin hath abounded , grace hath a ●…ounded more . questi . what further reasons haue you to euince and demonstrate the ●…nitenesse of gods mercy ? answ. first , gods purpose in giuing and sending his sonne to cure and redéeme the world ; and in giuing his apostles commission and commandement to preach repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes to all nations , can neuer his voide and fru●…rate . secondly , the natiuitie : life , doctrine , miracles , obedience , death , resurrection and ascension and intercession of christ , yea and the sacraments , of baptisme and the lords supper , which are onely in●…nded and effectuall for the calling , conuersion and saluation of gods elect , can neuer want their scope and proper end . q. what conclude you hence ? a. though one man had committed all the sinnes that be in the world ( the sinne onely committed against the holy ghost , whereof no man can possibly repent , and which no elect can possibly commit , being excepted ) hée must not despaire of gods mercy , but repent him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart , and turne to the lord , and then though they were as crimson , they shall be made as whit●… as snowe : and though they were redde like scarlet , they shall be as wooll . q. but not-with-standing all that hath béene said , many doubts , difficulties , imperfections and transgressions so trouble my minde , that i cannot bée perswaded of the infinite extent of gods mercies . a. propound your doubts and scruples , and i will doe my best endeuour to remooue them . the sick-man . i feare , that the world being so wicked , and men ( generally ) so vngodly , prophane , and irreligious , that i shall fare the worse for their sake . minister . thou hast no cause to feare , for the impenitencie of the whole world , could not preiudice the saluation of noah and his family , nor the horrible sinnes of the sodomites depriue lot of gods fauour and protection . secondly , the godly are to answer for their owne sinnes onely , which are all pardoned in christ , and they liue by their owne faith . gal. 2. 20. rom. 1. 17. thirdly , as h●…e that wilfully closeth his eyes , that hée may not behold the sunne-light , cannot depriue him of the light of the sunne who openeth his eyes : so another mans vnworthinesse and wilfulnesse , cannot hinder thée ( if thou be prepared by the spirit of god ) from beholding and enioying gods bottomlesse mercies . 2. obiection . but i finde and féele in my selfe many wants , errours , imperfections , ye●… and grose offenses . minister : a. déere brother , be not discouraged , thou hast more cause of triumph then of terrour . for first thou committest not that shine ( namely of desperate malice against god ) and the knowne principles of christian faith ) vnto death . secondly , thou féelest , yea and art grieued for thy sinne , which is no worke of nature , but of grace & regeneration . thirdly , the séed and roote of grace in gods elect , is neuer wholy taken away , for gods gifts are without repentance , and christs int●…rcession , for their encrease and preseruation in grace , is alwayes effectuall ioh. 11. v. 42. the sick-man . but my faith is often-times dead , and without all life and motion , how 〈◊〉 can i be assured of gods mercy ? the minister . thy faith is not extinct , but only for the time ouer-clowded with the mist of sinne , and couered vnder the ashes of infirmitie : it is like to a trée , which in 〈◊〉 winter season , albeit it bring foorth neither 〈◊〉 , flowre , nor fruite , yet it hath life and s●…ppe at the roote , which 〈◊〉 the spring time will ascend vp and appeare . secondly , god respecteth rather the qualitie of faith then the quantitie ; if it be a true faith though as little as a graine of mustard séede , god accepteth of it : for one drop and dramme of faith , is of m●…e force to saue then an ocean sea of sinne and corruption to condemne . thirdly and lastly , faith without present ioy and feeling , is more forcible and preuailing then faith with it , for it onely relyeth vpon gods power , truth and promises , yea , when god sheweth himselfe an enemie to vs , and séemeth to kill vs , we by it beléeue in god , and by faith waite on him , whereas it is an easie matter for a man in the apprehension of sensible comfort and ioy , to beléeue . the fourth obiection , the sick-man . but the fearfull iudgments of god , such as of late years haue bin that most inf●…tious and destroying pestilence , the horrible and vn-matchable gunne-powder treason : the vnheard of breach of the sea , and inundation of waters , the late extreame and killing frost , this present pinching and vnexpected dearth ; vnseasonable wether , and many other publike and priuate iudgements vpon church and common-wealth , which i sée and heare of , doe much dismay mée , and cause me to doubt of gods mercy . minister . a. true it is , that these and diuerse other punishments haue béene executed vpon vs , for the neglect , yea contempt of the blessed word of god , and the powerfull ministerie of it , for our want of zeale against the enimies of the truth , for prophanation of the sabboth , for oppression of the poore , for blasphemie , for hypocrisie , and for licentious liuing , &c. but notwithstanding , if there be but one good man in a generation , hée shall not for the multitude of transgressors be depriued of gods mercies , but finde comfort in the greatest plagues and punishments whatsoeuer . secondly , though being once by faith ingrafted and incorporated into christ , yea and maried vnto christ the author and fountaine of life and happinesse , thou canst neuer miscarry nor perish . for euen as the disciples in the ship , when a mighty storme for their triall and demonstration of christs power , was raised vp , could not possibly perish , the lord of glory being there present in the ship : so hauing christ the lord of glory dwelling in thine heart by his spirit , how canst thou do amisse ? or why should thou doubt of gods mercifull prouidence , who ordereth all things for thy good ? the fift obiection the sick man. but my great vnworthinesse and vnthankfulnesse , maketh me to suspect and feare that god will not performe that hée hath promised , nor finish the good worke that he hath begun in me . minister . a. this is indéed a gréeuous temptation , yea the sorest of all others , but this cannot hinder god from performing his promises . for as the making of his couenant of grace with vs , and the offer of his sauing promises vnto vs , procéeded onely from his frée goodnesse and méere mercie , without any respect to our workes , or worthinesse : so the accomplishing of his promises is to be onely ascribed to the same grace and goodnesse . thirdly ( as hath before bin particularized ) not the greatest ●…rmers and offenders in the old and new testament , haue euer , by reason of their owne vnworthinesse , bin denyed or depriued of gods mercies : but vpon confession of their sinnes , desire of pardon , and the purpose and beginning of amendment of life , were pardoned and receiued into gods euerlasting fauour . q. is it necessarily then required of vs , that we confesse and acknowledge our owne vnworthinesse ? a. yes without question , for hereby we are made capable of gods mercies and blessings . god doth depresse the proud , and exalt the humble , & he filleth the hungry soule with goodnesse , but the rich ( in their owne conceit onely ) hée sendeth away emptie , luke . 1. 52. & 15. and christ was sent not to call the righteous , ( in their owne opinion ) but sinners ( in their owne sense and confession ) to repentance . q. séeing that god doth not simply forsake or cast off any for his vnworthinesse , what vse make you of this point ? a. we must learne hence neuer to call gods mercy , truth , and goodnesse into question : but we must make it the foundation of our confidence and hope , for it is vnchangeable , infinite , and euerlasting : and thus dooing we shall haue no cause to feare euill , but to looke to finde all good things in christ our treasure , husband , and head . the fourth chapter . of death , and the cause of it . question . vvhen the sick person is once perswaded of the pardon of his sinnes , for the time past and present , what further duty remaineth to be performed ? a. he is to be prepared and armed , against the feare of death , the assaults of satan , and the ●…errour of the last iudgement , 〈◊〉 . q. now that hée may bée prepared and armed against death , what points are to be considered ? a. seauen points specially . i. what death is : ii. the certainty of it . iii. the causes and kindes of it . iv. the exceptions that are taken against it . v. the benefits of it . vi. the preparation and furniture against it . and vii . what disposition and behauiour is required in death it selfe . of these in order . chapter the fift , of death , his causes and kindes . question . vvhat is death ? a. it is the taking away of life , or the dissolution and separation of the soule from the body , ordeined of god , and for the punishment of sinne imposed vpon adam and all his posteritie . rom. 6. 23. 1. cor. 15. 21. & col. 2. 13. q doth god yet impose death as a punishment ? a. yes , for euery man sinneth and the very infante is not without originall corruption , and therefore all must of necessity , ( no persons , order , or degrée excepted , ) at length die the temporall death . eccle. 3. ve . 3. psal. 49. v. 10. heb 9. 27. q. what is the procuring and deseruing cause of death ? ans. sinne , whereby man brake gods commandement . q. how was sinne first brought into the world ? a. satan in the forme of a serpent perswaded eue to eate of the forbidden aple , eue assenting to satan , did eate of it and gaue it to adam who harkned to her , : and thus they both of them sinned and brought death vpon themselues and all their posterity . q why then were not adam and eue , immediately after their fall , put to death ? an. first , because the threatning of death was not absolute , but included a condition of faith in christ , that was to be borne , and that should breake the serpents head . secondly , adam and eue incontinently vpon their fall became mortall in their bodies , and accursed in their soules . thirdly , god by his clemency and indulgence towards them , would make a way to make knowne his mercie . quest. if all men by reason of sinne must néedes die , why did not enoch and elias in the time of the old testament die the death of all , but were rapt aliue into heauen ? ans. first , their translation was extraordinary , and proper to themselues onely . secondly they were figures and tipes of the generall resurrection . thirdly , their translation was nothing els but an extraordinary death , for they were changed in a moment from mortality to immortality . obiect . but at the day of iudgement many shal be found aliue , howe then can all men bee said to die ? answ. all the elect at the sound of the trumpet , shall in a moment , bée changed from corruption to incorruption , and from mortality to immortality which is a kinde of death . qu. now seeing that sinne is the cause of death , what vse are we to make of it ? ans. wee must bée mooued hereby , to take notice of , and acknowledge gods seuere wr●…th against sinne , and ( by consequence ) we must learne to hate and shun all kind of sinne . the sixt chapter . of the diuers sortes of death , and of the degrees of spirituall death . question . of how many sorts is death ? a. of two sorts , ●…mely ●…ily , or spirituall . q. what is bodily death ? an. it is the first death , or the separation of the soule from the body . q. is the particular time of bodily death made knowne to any directly before hand ? ans. no , for that time in respect of vs , is most vncertaine , and god hath reserued it in his owne power and disposition only . q. why so ? ans. that wée should not defer and put off our repentance from day to day , but labour to be in a readinesse and waking , yea and waiting for our lords comming euery day . mark. 13. v. 37. q. what then may this present life in consideration of his short continuance and vncertaintie , bée compared vnto ? ans. to a vapor , to smoake , to a shaddow , to a weauers shutle , to grasse and to the flowre of the field , which are of short and vncertaine continuance . qu. but why doe the children of god die this temporall death , séeing that their sinnes which are the cause thereof , are forgiuen ? a. first , because their sinnes ( howsoeuer forgiuen ) are not wholy in regarde of the corruption and remainders of them , taken away and abolished before death . secondly , this corruptible flesh and bloud , cannot inherite the kingdome of god , 1. cor. 15. 50. thirdly , that they may be ( in some sort ) made conformable to christ his death . lastly , that the godly may learne and finde by experience , the difference betwéene this mortall life , and that immortall glory , in the world to come , and that they may haue experience of gods power in raysing vp the dead . q. what is spirituall death ? a. it is a separation of the whole man both in body and soule , from the fauour and gratious fellowship of god , and a subiecting of him to eternall condemnation and hell fire , begun in this world , and accomplished in the world to come , q. what is the cause of the spirituall death ? ans. sinne , so farre foorth as it is ioyned with vnbeliefe and impenitencie , for not sinne simply , but sinne not repented of , damneth . que. are there degrées of spirituall death ? ans. yes , there are thrée in number . q. what is the first degrée of spirituall death ? a. it is , when a man by reason that his soule is depriued of spirituall life , faith and repentance , and for that his body is a fitte instrument to put any sinne in execution , is subiect to gods wrath , and appointed to punishment . quest. what is the second degrée of it ? an. condemnation , or euerlasting forment , whereby ▪ the soule immediatly after the departure of it out of the body , is carried by the diuells into hell ? quest. what is the third and last degrée of it ? an. when in the nay of iudgement the soule and body being reunited and ioyned together , shall for euer-more féele gods intollerable indignation , and endure the vengeance of eternall death . quest. how can this last kinde of death , be so called properly ▪ séeing that both the bodies and soules of the reprobate shall alwayes suruiue and remaine a●…ue ? answ. that life is no true life , for such an vnhappy condition deserueth rather to be called death then life , for the damned are vniuersall ▪ excommunicated from the fauour and glory of god , and are vtterly and for euer bereaued of all holynesse and happynesse . qu. are gods children fréed and exempted from these kindes of spirituall death ? an. yea , for they are deliuered from the first degrée of spirituall death by regeneration , whereby they are renewed in all the part of their soules & affections . they are deliuered from the second kinde , when their soules ( forthwith after their departure out of the bodie ) are carryed vp into heauen . apoc. 14. 13. the third degrée they are fréed from , at the day of iudgement , when both body and soule shall be glorified together , and liue together for euer in heauen . q. is it not good , yea and the entrance into eternall blisse , for the godly to dye ? a. yes certainly , for it is better to dwell with god then with men . secondly , they hereby forth-with enter into the possession of euerlasting happinesse . the sick-man . q but there are many fearefull accidents and occurrences , to which the godly themselues are subiect in their sicknesses and deaths , & therefore how can it be good for gods children to dye ? a. propound and impart them vnto me , and i will giue thée the best satisfaction that i can . the sick-man . 1. obi. death is the wages of sinne , the curse of the lawe , and the enimy of christ and his children : how then can it be good ? a. it is not such by it owne nature , and in it selfe , but it is changed , and the property thereof is altered by christ his death ; in so much that of a curse and punishment it is turned into a gentle and fatherly correction , and is made a narrow entrance and a short cut into euerlasting life . and in this last respect it may bée aptly compared to the redde sea , which drowning the aegiptians , gaue a miraculous passage to gods people into the blessed land of promise : and euen so death which sendeth the reprobate spéedily to hell , doth in a moment let in the godly into the kingdome of heauen . q. in what respects and considerations may death be said to be an enemy ? a. first , in respect of the originall of it ( for the enuie of the deuill brought it into the world ) namely as an outward and remote cause . secondly , because it is opposite to gods promise touching mans immortality in paradice . thirdly , because by meanes hereof satan séeketh to remooue good men out of the world , that they may not crosse and hinder his purposed designes . lastly , because hée through feare of ( violent ) death , laboureth to kéepe men from the practise of holy duties , math. 13. vers 21. que. haue you any more obiections against death , that i may doe mine vtmost endeuour to resolue you herein ? ans. yes truly , and they are fiue in number . q. what is the first of them ? obiecti n. ob. ch●…st iesus , dauid , ezechias , pray●… against death , therefore it is euill . a. 〈◊〉 ar●…ment foll●…weth not : for first , christ praye●… not against death simply , for ●…o died willingly , and otherwise he could not haue merited ought , but hée prayed for the remoouall of the curse of it , and destred his heauenly father to take away the cup of his wrath , which was the beginning and part of the second death ; & of this iudgement are maister caluin , beza , whitaker , perkins fulke , maister doctor willet ; and in a word , all sincere diuines , &c. and as for dauid , when dauid prayed against death , it was onely in time of some grieuous temptation , in distresse of minde , and as it was ioyned with the sence of gods wrathfull indignation . thirdly , touching ezechias that good king , hée prayed against death , that he might bée more reconciled vnto god before his death , and that hée might establish and farther the true worship of god in his kingdome , which by his death was like to be defaced . and lastly , that according to gods promise made to godly kings , he might haue an heire and successour out of his owne loynes , which prayer god heard , otherwise he was willing enou●…h to dye . quest. what is your second doubt or obiection ? ob. gods children often séeme to dye in desperation , how then can death be good and desirable ? a. this is not to be imputed to want of loue toward god , but to weaknesse of nature , and tendernesse of conscience for sinne , and therefore they may , notwithstanding all this , bée saued . for god in the matter of saluation , worketh by contraries , and by the gates of hell bringeth his seruants to heauen , 1. sam. 2. vers 6. 7. que. what is the third exception or obiection against death ? gods children doe some-times in their sicknesse , raue , blaspheme , and behaue themselues like frantick men . a. these , and the like effects , are not to be assigned to any deliberate purpose of the godly , but onely to be imputed , to melancholy , burning feuers , the cholick and other violent diseases , and ( in a word ) to their infirmity onely . q. what conclude you hence ? a. we are not vpon these occurrences , rashly to iudge them , much lesse to condemne them . for first , if they euer recouer the vse of reason , they repent of those infirmities , and if it fall out otherwise , these with all other vnknowne sinnes , are pardoned , yea and buried in christ his death . secondly , we must not like arrogant critikes condemne them of impiety and hypocrisie , but wee must iudge charitably of them , as wée would bée delt with-all in the like case . lastly , wée must not so much giue iudgement of a man by his death , as by the former course and conuersation of his life . obiect . 4. what is your fourth exception ? ans. the saints and seruants of god , when death approacheth , are most of all and more then other people , tempted assaulted , and molested by satan how then can death be good ? an. first , it is no good argument , hence to conclude that they are none of gods seruants but rather the contrary : they are gods deere children , ergo satan must now or neuer séeke to sift them , whereas the wicked are his own and refist him not . secondly , i answere that it is not generally true that the godly are thus in death assaulted for many with simeon die as a torch or fire-brand without sense of paine . isay. 57. lastly in the very agony of death , god doth so assist and strengthen them by his spirit in so much that when satan looketh for the greatest victory , hée receiueth the greatest foile . q. how must we behaue our selues in this temptation ? a. we must flie vnto iesus christ , commit the managing of our cause to him , for he absol●…ing vs what néede we wee feare satans assaults . lastly we must hold our selues to gods promises , and not depart an haires bredth from them . obiect . but satan is mighty , subtill , diligent , bold , cruell , malicious , and i am weake simple , remisse , fearefull , and how then can i resist and ouercome him ? ans. thou must not yéeld to him , but by praier , faith and gods word resist him , and hée like a crocodile pursued will flée from thée . iames 4. verse 7. 1. pet. 5. 9. secondly , thou must make god thy strong hold , and firmely beléeue and trust in him , and then the gates of hell shall not preuaile against thée . qu. what is the fift and last exception against death ? answ. sudden death is an euill , but many men die suddainely , ergo death is euill . ques . how answere you this argument ? answ. i answere to the first proposition , that death is not euill , because it is suddaine ( for the last iudgement shall come suddainely , and yet it is not euill ) but good to gods children ; but because it findeth onely the wicked vnrepentant and vnprepared . luk. 12. v. 20. and 21. secondly , christ by his death and suffering hath taken away the course of the lawe and the feare of condemnation which is the very sting of death , therefore death though neuer so suddaine , is not accursed to the true beléeuers , but a speedie conueyance of them into the hauen of eternall rest and happinesse . lastly séeing that with ezechias wee haue no lease of our life , if any of gods seruants , with good mephibosheth , and iobs godly children and the young infantes that herode caused to bée massacred , die suddainely and violently , wée must iudge charitably and the best of them ; for the manner and time of the ending our life is onely in gods power and not in our owne will. questi . but what if a professour of true religion and formerly of an vnblameable behauiour , bee brought through the extreamity of temptation , kill himselfe , is not he certainely damned and so death euill to him ? a. although this be a ticklish point , and albeit saul , achitophell and iudas that killed themselues bée noted in scripture for reprobates , and albeit they that late violent hands on themselues neuer for the instant may bée iudged to thinke on hell torments , yet séeing that god neuer finally forsaketh his chosen , seeing that his mercy is bottomlesse , and that he may giue them repentance ( for ought we know to the contrary ) at the last point of time , let vs if they haue béene formerly good professors , iudge the best of them , and pray vnto god that he would giue vs grace neuer to yéeld to the like temptations . q. but why must not a man kill himselfe ? ans. first because he shall not hereby escape misery but runne into it . secondly , it is not lawfull to kill another to ease him of his paine , muchlesse to kill a mans selfe . thirdly it is commonly a note of a reprobate . and thus much touching the obiections . the seauenth chapter . the benefites and priuiledges of death . question . haue the godly any profit and aduantage by death ? a. much , and many waies . q. what benefits and priueledges haue they by death ? a. two sorts of benefits , priuatiue , that remoue euill , and positiue , that ad good . q. what are the priuatiue benefits of death ? an. foure : first it perfectly fréeth gods children from all temptations , and from all sinnes both originall and actuall , and herein consisteth a maine part of our blessednesse for if he be blessed whose sinnes are not imputed , much more hee whose sinnes are wholy taken away . secondly it easeth vs of all the miseries afflictions , paines and aduersities of this present life . thirdly , it deliuereth from the euill world , and from all sinnefull company , and from all the tiran●…e of gods and our enemies , in so much that our eyes shall neuer sée , nor our eares euer heare the abhominable practises of the wicked much lesse can they hurt or infect vs ; and what an vnspeakeable blessing is this ? lastly , it preuenteth sinne and misery to come , for the godly are taken away that their soules should not bee infected with sinne ; and that they should ●…ot with their e●…es behold euill , nor the inordinate confusions in church or common-wealth . q. what vse is to be made of th●…se priuatiue blessings ? an. we must first learne patience and suffer temporary afflictions without fainting , because shortly our euill shall determine . secondly , let vs pray and s●…ke for , and wish and waite that blessed time , ●…hether of ●…eath , or the last iudgement , that shall f●…ée vs from all the euills whereof in this world we labour . section 1. question what are the positiue benefites that wee receiue and enioy in death ? an. first death bringeth our soules into the immediate , the glorious , and euerlasting fellowshippe , with god the father , god the sonne , and god the holy ghost , where wee shall haue perfection of knowledge , absolute purity of will and affections , and fulnesse of ioye for euermore . psalme 16. vers . 11. secondly , wee shall with all the saints and angells , behold and haue communion with christ in glory , world without end . lastly , death putteth vs into actuall and perfect possession of all the good things that christ hath purchased for vs , which should we●… and withdrawe vs from the loue and liking of this vaine world , and inflame vs with an earnest desire of enioying the heauenly canaan so long agoe purchased and prouided for vs. section . 2. q how can death make the faithfull and the godly perfectly blessed , séeing that their dead corps lie and rot in their loathsome graue ? an. it may very well be , for first he that hath redéemed both body & soule , and giuen vs two excellent sacraments namely baptisme and the lords supper to signifie and seale the same , hath by his death embaulmed , yea buried our death . secondly it being mistically spiritually and vnseparably vnited vnto christ the fountaine of life , and so remayning in the couenant of grace and fauour of god , frée from all sinne and paine cannot be but in part blessed and in a sort partaker of life . lastly , it resteth swéetly in the earth as in a bedde of downe vntill the last iudgement , in a blessed expectation of the generall and glorious resurrection . que. shall the body then certainely arise againe ? an. it shall vndoubtedly be raised vp againe at the last day . for first the sacred scriptures , the almighty power and promise of god , and the effects of christs death doe sufficiently proue it . 1. cor. 15. ve . 13. & 14. secondly the bodies of the saints raised vp in the time of the old and newe testament , explane the same . thirdly , gods mercy cannot perfectly appeare in the glorious resurrection of the godly , nor his iustice in the perfect punishment of the wicked vnlesse there be a resurrection both to glory , and confusion . lastly the death of the righteous , is but a swéete sleepe , wherein they rest from the labours of this life , and out of which they shall in a moment , be raised at the sound of the last trumpet . quest. the bodies of the reprobate , shall as well bée raised vp againe as the bodies of the elect , and how then can it bee any such singular benefite ? an. yet notwithstanding it is a rare benefise , for the resurrection of the iust and vniust is distinguished the one from the other by the causes and endes . for the godly arise by vertue of christ their head and by vertue of his resurrection , but the bodies of the wicked by the power of christ as their iudge onely , who shal arraigne and condemne them . secondly , they differ in their endes ; the bodies of the saintes arise in glorie to eternall glorie : but the bodies of the wicked shall rise in shame to eternall shame and confusion . qu. if the godly bee thus blessed as soone as they are dead , is it then lawfull to mourne for the dead ? ans. it is lawfull , so that our mourning bee moderate and ioyned with hope , for wee haue many holy practises in the scriptures of this mourning . 1. thes. 4. 14. i●…h . 11. phi. 2. 27. questi . what shall wee thinke of them that bewade the dead immoderately ? ans. it is contrary to the hope of a blessed life and resurrection , and calle●… gods wisdome and iust decrée into question . qu. for what ends and in what considerations are wee to mourne for those that are dead in the lord ? ans. first , because our sinnes and vnthankefulnesse haue bereaued vs of their confortable fellowship . secondly , we must here by bee more effectually stirred vppe to entreate the lord to bée good vnto vs and to turne away from vs those euills that their vntimely deathes many times prognosticate . the eight chapter . touching the way whereby wee may attaine to blessednesse . question . vvhere is the way to attaine true blessednesse to be found ? answer onely in the worde of god , that is the meane , seede , and instrument of eternall happinesse . isay. 30. 21. q. how many things are by gods word required , that a man may die well ? answ. two things . first a preparation before death . secondly a right behauior and disposition in death . q what is the preparation against death ? answer . it is the ac●…on of a repentant sinner , whereby hee prepareth himselfe for the lord. q. is this duetie necessary ? answ. yes , for f●…t god so commandeth in many places of scripture . mark. 13. 37. luk. 12. v. 40. secondly this present life is the onely time of getting the wedding garment , and of reconciling and preparing our selues for god and his kingdome . titus 2. verse 11. 12. luk. 13. ver . 25. thirdly , we shall neuer ( lightly ) die the death of the righteous , vnlesse wée liue their life , and as death hath left vs so shall the last iudgement finde 〈◊〉 . quest. may we not defer this duetie vnto death ? an. no in any wise , for the longer that wee delay our preparation the more vnfit and vnwilling shall we bee to performe it , for it is an hard thing for an olde man to enter into his mothers wombe , & consuetudo fit altera natura . secondly , the time and manner o●… death is many times so suddaine and vncertaine , that we may bee so ouertaken , that wée shall haue neither time nor grace to repent and to prepare our selues . lastly , late preparation is seldome true preparation , being rather enforced then voluntary , and rather in forme of words then sincerity of heart . math. 7. verse 22. et 29. qu. of how many sortes is this preparation ? an. two fold , generall and particullar . qu. what is generall preparation ? a. it is that whereby a man , through the whole course of his life , prepareth himselfe to die . ques . is it not sufficent to prepare our selues when wee beginne to bee sicke ? answ. no , for first ( as hath béene before shewed ) late repentance is seldome true repentance . secondly , the time of sicknesse , both in regard of the sharpenesse of the disease , decay of memory , senses , vnderstanding , consultation of worldly goodes , and sathans subtill and malicious practises , is the most vnfit and vnseasonable time to beginne a preparation . obiect . but the theife vpon the crosse repented at the eleuenth houre , and why may not wee doe so likewise ? answ. there is a great difference betwéene him and those that purposely delay their repentance , for first hee was neuer so much as outwardly called by the ministery of the word . secondly , the théeues conuersion was extraordinary , yea and miracu●…us , that christ thereby might shew forth some effect of his god-head , but mirackles are altogether , and extraordinary courses ( for the most part ) ceased . lastly that theife condemned himselfe , and his fellow , iustified christ in the open sight of the world , and praied for saluation &c. but where shall wée finde such singular effects in them which post and put of their repentance ? obiect but it is in our power and will to repent when we will ? answ. no , repentance is the onely guift of god , and from himd alone proceedeth bath the will and the deed . phil. 2. 12. secondly , many late repenters and ●…ack-graces shall séeke to enter into heauen , and shall not bée able because their heartes are become insensible , and the time of grace is past . and thus much of the matter of preparation . the ninth chapter . of the manner of preparation . question . in the manner of preparation how many duties are required ? an. fiue speciall duties . q. which are they ? an. i. the meditation of death . ii. the les●…ing and abating of the sting and power of death . iii. the beginning of eternal life here in this world ▪ iiii. the enuiring of our selues to die dayly . lastly the manner how these seuerall duties are to bee performed . quest. is the meditation of death necessary ? answer . yes truely , for a christian mans life is , and should bée nothing but a meditation of death , therefore wée must looke for it alwaies and in euery place , and herewith accordeth that excellent saying of seneca incertum est , quo loco te mors expectat : ●…u vero eam in omni loco expecta . that is , it is a matter vnreuealed in what place death waiteth for thée , but waite thou for it in euery place . q. what benefit , profit and comfort dooth the meditation of death yéeld vnto vs ? ans. manifold . for first it causeth vs to humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of god. secondly , the feare and meditation of it , dooth remooue all securitie , and further our repentance , as wée may sée verified in the example of the niniuites , it cutteth of delayes , and bringeth our promises and purposes into performances and practises . thirdly , it maketh vs content with any condition of life , be it neuer so miserable , for if wée liue in affliction and aduersity we shall after death neuer be more subiect to it , and if wée liue in prosperity , wée rest not in it , because wée shall carry away nothing with vs. 1. tim. 6. 7. fourthly , it encourageth vs in gods seruice , and in all well dooing , for as much as wee knowne , that our labour is not in vaine , in the lord , and that in seruing of god , there is great reward . lastly , it ●…oth sequester and withdrawe our delights and desires from earthly and perishable things , and canseth vs earnestly to desire and séeke for euerlasting life . q of what things must we meditate ? ans. of thrée things . first we must ●…hinke and consider of the cause of death , namely our sinnes . secondly , we must meditate of the remedie of it , viz. the cursed and bitter death of christ. thirdly we must thinke of euery day and night , as if it were the very day and night of our death . q. what must we do that we may be the better enabled to perform this duty ? a. we must not vainly dreame of long life , and so 〈◊〉 our selues , but mourne against this corruption of our nature . secondly , we must pray vnto god that he would giue vs grace and knowledge , whereby we may be ●…nabled to resolue our selues of death at hand . the tenth chapter . question . vvherein dooth the sting and power of death lye and consist ? answ. in sinne , for that is the sting thereof . 1 cor. 15. 56. q. how shall we know this ? ans. by the lawe which is a glasse wherein we may sée our sinnes and the effects and punishment of them , for hereby commeth the knowledge of sinne . q. how shall we depriue sinne of his strength and sting ? a. by beléeuing and relying vpon christ , who hath by death destroyed him that had the power of death , that is the deuill , 1. cor. 15. 25 , & 26. q. what distinct and particular duties and fruites of faith are we to performe and shew forth , that we may remooue our sinnes , and take out the sting of the serpent death , that it may ●…euer hurt vs ? a. we must first , ( for the time past and present ) confesse our sinnes , humble our selues for them , and crie earnestly vnto heauen for pardon . secondly , we must for the time to come , with a resolute minde , beware of euery knowne sinne , and in all things to reforme and conforme our selues according to gods word . for euery sinne vnrepented of , is a sting to wound our soules vnto destruction . luk. 13. verse 3. and 4. lastly if we would liue for euer , wée must dye here , and that da●…ly , for he seldome or neuer dyeth well , who liueth euill , et qualis vita , finis ita , like life , like end . the xi , chapter . of entring into the first degree of eternall life . question . how shall a man in this world enter into the first degrée of life euerlasting ? a. when a man by the testimonie of a sanctifyed conscience , and by experience can say that christ liueth in him . quest. when doth christ liue in a man. a. when hée doth by his holy spirit , direct , guide , and gouerne his thoughts , will and affections . q. how shall a man discerne this ? a. when hée dooth frame and confirme all the powers and abilities of his soule and body , according to the rule of gods word . for the spirit and the word neuer ●…arre , but the holy spirit breatheth in it , and worketh by it . acts. 10. vers . 44. and 45. qu●… . in how many things dooth this first degrée of eternall life consist ? a. it consisteth in thrée 〈◊〉 or graces of god. first , in the 〈◊〉 and sauing knowledge of god the father , god the sonne , and god the holy ghost . secondly , in the swéete peace of conscience , which flowing from the death of christ , is life and peace , for this is the way to , and the beginning of euerlasting happinesse . thir●…ly , in the gouernment of the spirit , when we assent vnto the directions of it , and in acte approoue and obey them . q. but what néede all this paine and trouble : is it not enough when a man is dying , to say , lord haue mercy vpon mee ? ans. no , for first , not euery one that saith , lord , lord , shall enter into heauen but hee that doth the will of god. secondly he that prorogeth and putteth of his repentance vnto death , is ( for the most part ) so be-sotted with the custome of sinne , and with-all so forsaken of god , that he ( as experience teacheth ) can vtter no good word . the xii . chapter . of accustoming and enuring a mans selfe to dye well . question . how shall a man bring him-selfe in fashion , and accustome himselfe to dye well ? answ. by the performance of thrée things . first seeing that gods corrections and chastisements are the instruments and fore-runners of death , hee must humble himselfe vnder them . secondly , he must begin to mortifie little sinnes , that so he may mortifie the greater afterwards . thirdly , hee must not let goe the fruite of the least crosse , but learne to beare and endure smaller crosses and afflictions , that he may be the better enabled to vnder-goe the torments of death it selfe . the xiii . chapter . of the speedinesse and carefulnesse of preparation . question . vvhen and how must a man prepare him-selfe ? a. with all expedition and vtmost diligence . qu. wherein must this expedition and diligence chiefely appeare ? an. in dooing all possible seruice to church and common-wealth . psal. 122. vers . 8. and 9. q. why must he take this course ? a. otherwise , d●…th , ( for it giueth no man warning ) will ouer-take him , and hée will wish that hée had done it , when it is too late . and thus much of generall preparation . the xiiii . chapter . of particular preparation . question . of how many sorts is particular preparation ? a. it is two-fold , either false and vnperfect , as is that which the synagoge of rome prescribeth , or true and perfect , as is that which all protestant churches teach and practise . q. wherein doth the false and vnperfect preparation of the church of rome consist , a. in thrée things . q. what are those thrée things or members ? a. first auricular or eare-confession made to a priest. secondly , the receiuing of the eucharist or hoast . thirdly , extreame vnction , or anointing with oyle . q is not auricular confession , or the secret enumeration of all a mans particular sinnes , necessary ? ans. no ; certainly . q. why is it not necessary ? a. first , because the word of god requireth no such matter . secondly no man can possibly sound euery corner of his heart , and finde out all his sinnes . ierem. 10. 23. thirdly , there was no such practise neither in the apostles times , nor in the primitiue church for the space of fiue hundred yeares . forthly , dauid , and the prodigall or lost child had their sinnes forgiuen them vpon a generall confession . 1. sam. 12. ver . 12. luk. 15. ver . 18. 19. lastly , god hath not made men absolute iudges of reconciliation , but hath onely giuen them the ministerie of reconciliation . ques . wherein doth this ministerie of reconciliation consist ? ans. when the ministers of gods word doe in the name of the lord according to his word , preach , declare and pronounce a mans sinnes to be forgiuen or not forgiuen . the second section . que. is it necessary for the sicke to receiue the eucharist or the lords supper ? answ. there is no such ( extreame ) necessity , for first not the want but the continuall contempt of the sacrament formerly in faith receiued , doth extend it selfe to the whole course of a mans life . lastly , the lorde supper is an ecclesiasticall or publike action and therefore according to christ his institution , is to be administred and receiued in the greatest concourse and assembly of the church . obiect . as the paschall lambe was eaten , so may the lords supper be eaten , but the paschall lambe was eaten priuatly in particular houses , therefore may the lords supper ●…ee likewise eaten in the same forme . ans. i answer to the first proposition that the argument is not good and the consequence followeth not . for first they iewes then could not obtaine leaue nor be permitted to assemble them-selues togeither , as wee doe and may gods name be blessed for it . secondly i answer to the seco●… proposition , that the pascall lambe though it was eaten in particular houses , yet it was by gods commandement , and eaten at one and the same time in all places : which is all one as if the action had beene publike . the 3 section . q. is extreame vnction and especially the anointing of the instruments of the senses in spirituall respects now necessary for the sicke ? ans. no truely , for it concerneth not vs at all ; the miracle is ceased long since , and then what vse of the ceremony . obie . but in saint iames daies they anointed the sick with oile , and why may they not doe so now ? ans. first , because ( as i formerly noted ) all miracles are ceased , but that anointing was miraculous . secondly , the sicke the●… anointed with oile by vertue of gods promises , recouered out of their sicknes , but those whome the papistes anoint , commonly die and so neuer recouer . lasty , the ancient anointing was appointed and vsed for the recouery of bodily health , but the papists abuse and preuent it to false endes , namely to obtaine forgiuenesse of sinnes , and to procure strength and comfort against all the temptations of death ; and to obtaine saluation it selfe . and of the false preparation hetherto . the fifteenth chapter . of the seuerall duties and branches of particular preparation . question . in what and in how many things doth particular preparation consist ? ans. according to their thréefold obiect they are thus distinguished , they concerne either god him-selfe , or our owne person , or our neighbour . q. when we are sicke what duty are we to performe towards god ? ans. we must dayly seeke to be reconciled to god in christ , other-wise all other duties are of small or nons effect . quest. how must this reconciliation be sought and obtained ? ans. by renewing our former faith and repentance , and by repayring the de●…s of it . quest. what mouing cause haue we to 〈◊〉 vs vp to performe this duty ? an. because ordinarily , and for the most part , sickenesses and diseases are sent of god in his iustice for the punishment and chasti●…ment of sinne . lam , 3. 39. math. 9. 2. ioh. 5. 74. quest. in renewing our faith and repentance what particular duties must we performe ? an. three especially , first wee must make a new examination of our hearts and liues . lam. 3. 40. psa. 119. 11 , secondly when god sendeth new corrections wee must make new confessions of our particular sinnes . psa. 32. 10. thirdly we must make new and earnest prayers to god for pardon of sinne , and for reconciliation with god in christ. psa. 6. 4. 5 , 2. chr. 34 , 12 , 13. que. what vse is to bee made hereof ? ans. first , hereby are iusily taxed and checked those that spend the whole space of their life in the church , and that many yeares , and at lenght when their best and most daies are spent , begin to enquire what faith and repentance should be , and how their soules should be sau●… , as though it were so easie a matter to know and obtaine it . secondly we must in sicknesse especially practise and put in vre these duties of examination , confession , prayer and of renewing our faith and repentance ; other-wise , qui minus est hodi●… eras minus aptus erit . que. but what if the sicke person , is not able of him-selfe to renue his faith and repentance ? ans. he must séeke for helpe and direction of his fellow members , who must like them that bare the man sicke of the palsie to christ helpe and assist him by their counsaile , aduice and prayers . que. what are the particul●…●…uties that are herein to be performed ? ans. they bee of two sorts according to their obiects , for they concerne either the sicke them-selues , or their help●…rs . q. what is the duty that concerneth ●…e si●…ke man ? ans. to send for helpers , namely the elders and ancients of the church , who in saint iames time and after-wards were endewed with the gifts of healing and of miracles . q. doth not this duty of comforting the sicke be long to the minister onely ? obi. if a man sicke of the plague or p●…stilence send for his pastor , is he bound in conscience to go to him in his owne person . ans. no except it may so be ordered that the minister bee in no danger of infection . secondly , the pastor or minister may and must not for the comfort of one particular person ●…ndanger his owne life , and so bercaue the whole congregation of their guide and teacher ; more regard is to be had of the good of the whole then of one par●… of it . thirdly , as the leprous person by reason of the contagion of the disease might not be resorted vnto , so it fareth with him that is visited with the plague . fourthly if the pastor and preache●… should in person visite euery man thus visited , he must separate himselfe from his owne family and neglect them , and his people and congregation would shun his company . lastly , the visited persons friendes and kinsfolke , are to supply this dutie . obiect . but isaias visited ezechias who was thought verily to haue the pestilence . ergo ministers must now do the like ? answ. the argument followeth no●… for first isaias had an expresse commandement from god so to do , and therefore could not be infected . secondly , hee might for ought any man can obiect to the contrary , stand aloofe off in some conuenient place . obiect . but the plague commeth now by gods immediate hand , as it did in dauids time , and therefore a man may bee as secure with infected persons and infected places , as any where else . an. the plague in these dayes ( as experience verifieth ) commeth not immediatly by the immediate striking of gods elect angell , as in dauids daies . for then no man might auoid the infected , and the reason is , they that are hundred of myles off from any place of infection might be as soone tainted as any other , which to affirme is most absurd and crosseth all experience . secondly , none is now infected but he that is in company with the infected , or receiueth their clothes , or some thing about them . lastly , albéeit the pestilence infecteth not euery man that is outwardly in dangers , yet this proueth not that it is not in it owne nature contagious , but that all persons were not capable of it , and that god in his mercy preserueth some from infect●… , whom it pleaseth him , as is to bee séene in all other infectious places whatsoeuer . ques . but why are the elders who are no pastors and ministers of the word , to visite the sicke ? an. first , because they are fitted herevnto , beeing indued with the gift of knowledge and prayer . secondly , it is a dutie of charity , and therefore not proper to any one man. thirdly , and principally , that they may hereby ease the pastors or ministers heauy and difficult burden and charge . q what vse is to bée made héereof ? an. it condemneth the silence and ignorance of most friendes and neighbours , who either speake neuer a word , or to small or no purpose , beeing not able to instruct and comfort him , and yet they promise to pray for him , when god knoweth they cannot pray for themselues . ques . when must the sicke send for the elders to instruct and pray for him ? ans. in the first place , before any physicke , medicine , or restoratiue for where the diuine leaueth , there must the physitian begin . qu. what vse is to be made of this point ? answ. it reprooueth their madnesse and folly , who neuer send for the minister vntill he be halfe dead , or lieth gasping as though the presence of the minister before that time were not necessarie , or as though ministers could worke mirackles . the second section . qu. what is the second duetie of the sicke ? ans. to confesse his sinnes , those especially which disquiet and trouble the conscience , either to the minister , or to any other christian brother that is both able and willing to informe and comfort the sicke . iames 5. ver . 16. qu. is this duety simply necessary to saluation ? answ. no , but only conueniently profitable . que. what is the duty of the helpers ? answ. to pray ouer him , that is with him and for him , and in their prayers , to commend his whole person and state to god. 2. kings , act. 32. act. 20. 4. q. why must the visiters thus pray for the sicke ? a. the better hereby to stirre vp their affection in prayer , and to declare their charity and compassion to the sicke person . q. what if those that visite the sicke person find him impatient and full of griefe and wrath , what must they then doe ? a. they must beare with humaine infirmities , for being them-selues quiet with god , they must learne to bee quiet with men . secondly they must shew vnto them how all things fall out by gods prouidence , and exhort him to wait vpon god by faith , vntill he either take away or diminish the paine , or at least a●…e to his strength and patience . qu. what other duty besides the seeking of reconciliation , oweth the sicke to god ? an. he must praise god for his former mercies , and declare this thankefulnesse ▪ euen for crosses and corrections , for the lord according to the proportion of our thankefulnesse will shew mercy vpon vs , more or lesse . and thus much of the duties which the sick person oweth vnto god. the xvi . chapter . question . vvhat are those duties that a man is to performe to him selfe or his owne person ? an. they are two-fold , for they belong , either to the soule or to the body . qu. what is the duty which he oweth to his owne soule ? an. hee must arme and strengthen him-selfe agninst the feare of satans assaults , against the immoderate feare of death , and against the terrour of the last iudgement . qu. how is a man to be armed and strengthned against satans assaults ? ans. by considering and beléeuing that christ hath ouercome and bound for vs the strong man satan , that had the power ouer death . qu. what is the second duty that he oweth to his soule ? ans. to arme himselfe against the immoderate feare of death . qu. is it not good then that men should in some moderat sort feare death ? ans. yes , for it putteth vs in mind of the greeuousnesse of our sinnes , and what wee deserue if god should deale strictly with vs. secondly , it holdeth men backe in their extremities from laying violent hands on themselues ; for they that are thus desperately minded do not so much as once thinke of hell and the torments of it . ques . séeing the feare of death is thus profitable , why must the sicke bée armed against the feare of it ? an. because death approaching , naturall feare doth most of all shew forth it selfe , astonish the sicke mans senses , and causeth despaire . qu. what are the meanes to comfort him against the feare of death . an. they are of two sorts namely practises and meditations . q. what are the practises ? a. they are two . first the sicke parties must not so much feare death , as cast their eyes vpon euerlasting life . secondly , they must consider death not in the bright coullor of the lawe , for then our weake eyes cannot endure to behold it , for then it is a cruell sergeant armed with the anger and curse of god ; nor in it selfe , for then it is ( to men vnregenerate ) the very entrance into hell , yea hell mouth it selfe . but we must take from it the fearefull maske and visard of the law , and behold it as it is set forth in the mixt and tempered coullor of the gospell , and as it is changed by christ his death , who hath not onely deaded it by his owne death , but also quickned it , so that it is to the beléeuers bodie a temporary , and a swéete sléepe , and to their soules , the gate of saluatiō , wherby they enter into y e possession of life euerlasting . q. why must not a christian man vnmeasurably feare death ? a. first , because it is to the godly the end of all euils , all sinne , errour and misery . secondly , because after death he passeth presently to a better state . thirdly , because he hath immediate fellowship and communion with the holy trinity , with the elect angels and the glorified saints . and thus much of practises . the 2 section . qu. what are the meditations which serue for this purpose . an. they are principally foure , which are the foundation of all the rest . qu. what is the first meditation ? a. that euery mans death ( as hath bi●… before prooued ) procured by his own sins , is fore-séene and appointed in gods eternall decrée together with all the circumstances thereof . psal. 139. 15. 16. q. what benefit will hereby redound vnto vs ? ans. it will arme vs against all feare , distrust and impatiency in the howre of death . psa. 39. 10. gen. 42. q what is the second meditation ? a. the consideration and contemplation of the in●…stimable glory laid vp for vs , and of the eternall and vnspeakable blessednesse prouided for vs. q. what profit shall we receiue hereby ? answ. it doth withdraw vs from the resting in this temporall & miserable life and lifteth vp our mindes and affections vnto god , yea and maketh vs with iob , moyses and others , cherefully and willingly to endure afflictions . q. what is the third meditation ? answ. the spirituall and vnseparable coniunction and fellowship , which the beléeuers both in their soules and bodies in life and death haue with christ. for , for their bodies and soules are in the fauour and couenant of god , and they both shall be re-united together in the last day , & be both eternally glorified . que. what is the fourth meditation ? ans. the speciall promise of gods presence and assistance in death and in all other distresses , for we haue christ our companion in affliction . 1. pete . 4. 13. qu. what vse are we to make hereof . ans. wee must liue by faith and not by sense , beléeuing the things ( promised ) which we sée not , and hoping for things that séeme desperate . que. how , or how many waies doth god manifest his presence in sickenesse ? ans. thrée manner of waies ; first by , lessning and moderating the paines of sickenes and death , and by giuing them strength and patience . secondly by refreshing and comforting the spirit after a wonderfull manner . thirdly , by the gard and ministery of the good angells which defend the godly against the diuell and his angells . psa. 34. for they are present with and attend vpon gods seruants in their sickenes , and are ready to carry the●r soules into heauen . the 3 section . quest. how are the sicke to be armed and strengthned against the strictnesse and terrour of the last iudgement , where in the diuell , the law and our owne conscience shall accuse vs of infinite faults ? ans. first wee must acknowledge our sinnes , for that is the way of iustification ioh. 1. 9. psa. 32. 5. in matters of felony as we say , confesse and be hanged , but in matter of diuinity , confesse and be saued . secondly wee must flie and appeale to iesus christ and content our selues with his righteousnesse onely , and then hee absoluing vs who shall condemne vs and he making intercession for vs , who can preuaile against vs. rom. 8. verse . 34. and thus much of the duty that the sicke man is to performe in respe●… of his soule . the xvii . chapter . of physicke , and preseruation of bodily health . question . what is the duty that the sicke are to performe to their bodies ? ans. they ought to be carefull to preserue health and life vntill god take it wholy away . que. then it is lawfull for any man to kill himselfe ? ans. no , for wee must in no wise depart out of our standing vntill god out heauenly generall command vs. secondly euery man is bound to cherish and nourish his owne body and therefore he must not destroy it . thirdly all murder is forbiden and interdicted , and therfore much more the killing of a mans selfe . fourthly if a man kill him-selfe hee doth not escape misery but runne into it . fiftly if it be a wickednesse to kill another man for to ease him of present paiae , then it is a more horrible wickednes to kill himselfe . lastly the killing of a mans selfe is commonly and generally noted for a marke of a reprobate and faithlesse man. que. why must we preserue life and health ? a. for two reasons , first that we may haue time and place to prepare out selues for eternall life . quest. then long life is good ? answ. it is a great blessing , for herein men haue time to repent , whereas after death there is no time and place for repentance and reconciliation . quest. what is the second reason ? answ. that wee may referre and reserue the whole disposition of our liues to god , for whose glorie we ought as well to line as to die . q. in preseruation of life what things are to be considered ? ans. the meanes , and the right vse of them . que. what are the meanes ? ans. good and holesome physicke , for it to an ordinance of god , and whereof we haue sufficient warrant and practise in holy scripture , and therfore we must estéeme and vse it , as a blessing of god. isai. 1. 6 , 7. obie . but phisicke cannot change gods eternal decrée , or saue vs from his anger , why then should it be vsed ? an. because the ●…nd and the meanes are not to be diuided , for god hath ordained the one as well as the other . wherefore as in war , f●…ine , pestilence , which are gods roddes and chasticements , we may lawfully vse the meanes to lessen or auert them , so wée may and must in physicke , but wée must commit the issue and euent to god alone . quest. whome must wée entertaine for physitions a. not sorcerers , wisards , enchanters , or any that vse and practise any superstitious meanes , for this is the ready and néerest way both to temporall & eternall misery , but onely men appointed for their sincerity of religiō , learning conscience and experience . ob. but by charmes , inchantments , and the s●…ell of wisards ; many recouer out of their sickenesse , therefore we may lawfully vse them . answ. the consequent is not good , namely the effect is good , ergo the meanes are good , for satan is very expert in physicke , and god many times , partly for the triall of his seruants and partly the more to harden and blind the wicked , permitteth c●…res to be done by the ministerie of satan . 2. the. 〈◊〉 . 10. and thus much of the meanes of health . the second section . of the manner of vsing the meanes . que. in what things doth the right vse of meanes consist ? ans , in thrée . quest. what are those thrée meanes ? ans. first , the body is not onely to bee prepared by physicke , but the soule also by true humiliation , prayer , and repentance . q. why must the soule be thus prepared ? ans. because sickenesse ) otherwise curable ) is by reason of the impenitency of the sick , many times , made vncurable . q. what is the second meanes ? ans. wee must be assured by gods word , that the phisicke prescribed is lawfull , and we must not depend vpon the phisition ( as some doe ) but by praier craue gods blessing . q. what is the third meanes ? an. the right and perculiar end of physicke , which is to continue mans life vnto his naturall period , namely vntill the radicall heat and moisture be wholy consumed . qu. what is the phisitians duty ? an. first he must in the absence of ministers exhort the sicke to prayer and repentance . secondly , when he perceiueth maninifest signes of death in the sicke , admonish the sicke of death , that casting of all confidence in outward helpes hee may wholy rely vpon gods mercy . and thus much of the duties which the sicke man oweth to him-selfe . the xviii . chapter . of the duty that the sicke person is to performe to his neighbour . question . vvhat duty doth the sick man owe to his neighbour ? an. hee must fréely forgiue all that haue offended him , and desire forgiuenesse of all , for if hee doe not so , hee cannot dye in peace of conscience . q. what if the person offended cannot be met withall , or wil not be reconciled ? a. in this case the very desire of reconciliation , is accepted with god , as if it were reconciliation it selfe . 2. cor. 8. vers . 12. q. is there no other duty that the sick is to performe to his neighbour ? an. yes , and that he is to performe , is he is a magistrate , a minister , or the maister of a family . qu. what is the duty of these three sorts in general ? ans. they must do their vtmost endeauor , that ( what in them lieth ) the people committed to their charge , may be left in a good condition , and state after death . q. what must the magistrate be carefull of before he dies ? a. he must by the procuring , defence , & execution of true religiō , virtue , ●…l iustice & outward concord , prouide for the godly and happy estate of town , citty & common wealth . deu. 31. 23. 1 king . 2. 23. qu. what is the ministers duty ? a. he must after the apostles example , be careful , & labor ( what in him lyeth ) to prouide & take order for the good estate of y e church , wherof he is made ouerséer . qu. what good will come here of ? an. by this meanes , sh●…ismes errors , heresies , and other inconueniences will be preuented . qu. what is the maister of the family his duty ? ans. hee must set his family in order before his death . qu. what must hee doe that good order may bee preserued and obserued in his family after his death ? a. two things . first he must dispose of lands , liuings & goods . secondly , he must commaund those that be vnder his charge to beléeue & obey sound doctrine . qu. what must he doe that hee may rightly dispose of all his goods . an he must ( following the examples of holy men in scripture ) make his wil & testament , if it be not already made . qu. is not the making of a will a thing indifferent ? an. no , but a matter of great waight , for hereby much hatred , contention and suites in law are cut off . qu. what rules are to be obserued in making of a will ? an. first , it must be made according to the order of nature , the written word of god , and the politique lawes and statutes of his country , secondly his vniust gotten goods are to be restored to the iust owners if they be knowne . qu. uuhat if they be vnknowne ? an. thē they must be restored to their executors , assignes , kinsfolks , friends , and if none of these can be knowne , then in way of ciuill satisfaction , they are to be restored to the church or poore people . que. what is the second rule to be obserued in making of a will ? ans. a man must bequeath the chiefest and greatest part of his goodnesse to his sonnes , daughters and kinsfolk . 1. tim 5. 8. an. who must haue the greatest portion ? an. his eldest sonne or his heyre . qu. why so ? an. first , that he may preserue the stocke and family . secondly , that hee may performe some speciall seruice to the church or common wealth . qu. must the younger brother bee neglected ? an. no , but they must bee in some equall proportion prouided for ; otherwise many times for want of maintenance they fall to be théeues , or take very ill wayes . qu. what is the last rule ? ans. the testament is of no force vntill the testator be dead . qu. what is the second duty of the maister of a family ? an. hee must ( as i before noted ) commaund his people that they learne , beléeue and practise the doctrine of saluation conteyned in the writings of the prophets and apostles . 1. king. v. 2. 3. and 4. quest. what fruit and comfort shall the sicke receiue , who rightly performe these duties ? an. god will honour them as well in life as death , and make the memory of them pretious after death . psalm . 112. ver . 6. and of the twofold preparation before death hetherto . the xix chapter . of the second maine proposition , to witt the right disposition of a man in death . qu. what is the right disposition of a man in death ? an. a religious and an holy behauiour of a mans selfe , specially towards god. qu. what are the parts of it ? an. thrée especially : first , to dye in faith . secondly , to dye in obedience . thirdly , ●…o resigne our soules into the hands of god. qu. what is it to dye in faith ? an. when a man being ready to die , doth wholly depend vpon gods fauour and mercy in christ , as it is reuealed in how scripture . qu. uuhy must this duty bee now performed ? an. because all other helps and comforts fayling , it is the very time to practise faith . qu. how is faith to be expressed ? an. by pra●…er and thankes giuing . iob. 2. 9. hebr. 11. 22. iames. 5. v. 15. qu. what if sense , vnderstanding and vtterance be wanting ? an. praier consisteth rather & more in the affection of the hart , then in the voice which is onely the outward instrument and messenger of the heart , and god most of all looketh vnto the heart . secondly , the very sighs and gron●…s of a repentant sinner , are prayers , as much accepted with god , as if they had béene vttered by the voyce . exod. 14. verse , 15. qu. how is faith else to be expressed ? ans. by the last wordes , which commonly in the true seruants of god , are excellent and full of comfort , as many examples out of scripture , and the experience of all ages prooueth . qu. to what principal and ordinary heads may all that the godly speake in death be referred ? an. to omit extraordinary gifts and reuelations many hundred yeares ago ceased : they either wonderfully recount gods benef●…s in their life past , or do greatly reioyce in that they are shortly to be translated into a better condition , or do discourse of the vanities of the world , the comforts of death , and the beginning of euerlasting life , and the presence and assistance of the holy ghost , or in a word , they all desire , wait , and pray for eternall li●… . ques . what if gods children in their sicknes vtter no such apothegmes or heauenly spéeches , but rather speake foolish and vnsauory spéeches ? an. it may be that the nature of the disease is violent , and therefore accompanyed with fren●…es , and vnséemely gestures , and then no diuine matter is to bee expected from them , but al are to be constru●…d charitably & in good part . qu. why so ? an. because wée also are subiect to the like extremities . qu. how must wee then iudge of them ? . an. rather by the godly course of their life past then by their death . and thus much of the first du●…y which is to dye in faith . the 2. section . qu. what i●…●…he second duty in the right disposition to dye well ? an. to dye in obedience ? que. why must wee dye in obedience ? an. because otherwise our death cannot be pleasing & acceptable vnto god. ques . what reason moueth you to say so ? an. because they that doe not die in obedience , séeme like slaues to come vnto god , rather of feare and compulsion , as though the lord were come to torment vs before the time , then of loue and duty like sons and childen , hence it is that by reason of their impatiency , they wish that they neuer had béene borne , resting more in these outward deceitfull and ●…ransitory thinges then in the life to come . ques . what is it to die in obedience ? ans. when a ●…an ●…s willing at gods command to leaue ●…he world without murmuring or discontentment . ph. 1. 23 and therefore we are to make a conscience of this duty as well as of any other . qu what ought to make vs willing to die ? an. because the godly are respected of god in their death , and their death is pretious in his sight . the third section . ques . what is the third duty ? answ. to commend our soules into gods handes as vnto a faithfull creator . que. is it not an easie matter to performe these thrée duties ? ans. no verily , for ordinarily these duties cannot be performed in death , vnlesse much preparation hath gon before in our life , for otherwise we shall come vnto christ our indge no otherwise then a malefactor to the executioner . secondly , for a man to be resolued that both god can and will saue his soule , procéedeth onely from the holy ghost and is no easie matter to be perswaded of . quest. what is the end of those men that die in faith , obedience , and that commend their soules into gods hands . ans. their end is most blessed , for death is to them a swéet sléepe onely , and it is no enemy but a friend to soule and body , it accomplisheth our mortification , it fully endeth the battaile betwéene the flesh and the spirit , & it is the ladder of heauen & the gate of paradice . the 4 section . obie . but i shall leaue my wife a poore widdow and succorlesse , how then can i die in faith , and obedience ? ans. god will prouide for the widdowes that feare him . secondly christ will neuer forsake them . thirdly they shall shortly méete together in heauen . lastly as a man for his wiues sake willingly left and departed from his parents , so they must without griefe , or discontentment goe vnto god , that is more to be beloued then all creatures whatsoeuer . quest. but my poore children shal be left to the wide world , destitute and vnprouided for . a. first god , according to his couenant is the god as well of the children , as he was of the parents and therefore he will alike prouide for them . secondly , if they séeke the kingdome of god first and make the lord their sheapheard they shall want no good things and they shal be fed in the time of famine . psa. 34. qu. what vse is to be made of this last point . ans. first let the parents commend their children vnto the prouidence and protection of almighty god. secondly , the children , if onely they feare and serue god , must not doubt hereof . obi. oh , but i must forgoe all the honors , pleasures and profites of this life : how then can i with comfort performe the thrée aboue named duties ? ans. first these things are but vaine deceitfull , temporary and they cannot make vs blessed . secondly we are strangers and pilgrimes in this world , and therefore we must not set our hearts and affections vpon these things , but mind and meditate vpon heauenly and eternall thinge . thirdly christ his kingdome is not of this world , but is heauenly , and the goods ▪ wherewith he enricheth his are spirituall , ergo we must not looke to haue our rest and heauen here . fourthly they that dote and surfet vpon these earthly and out-ward things , are void of faith , hope and repentance , and so perish , and therefore it is better willingly to forgoe these things then to bee vndone by them . lastly , we must looke for true and euerlasting honour the pretious and proper riches : sincere and neuer discontenting pleasure in the paradice of heauen onely , and bid auant to these earthly matters , when they hinder vs in the course of godlinesse , and most destrously forsake them , when the lord by death calleth vs to the kingdome of glory and the felicity thereof . que. ought a man to feare death ? ans. he ought partly to feare it , and partly not to feare it . questi . why must a man feare death ? an. first because it is the destruction of nature , and a paineful correction . ques . what vse is to be made hereof . ans. we must feare sinne that is the cause thereof , and acknowledge christ an enemy to it and offended with sinne . que. what is the second reason why we must feare death . an. because by the death of the godly , the church or common wealth suffereth losse and we are beréeued of the saffe and stay of our comfort . 2. reg. 2. qu. what if a man in death sée no way how to escape satans temptation ? ans , he must close his eyes , commit his cause to god , and put on the spirituall armour of faith , hope and the word of god. que. what if a godly man doubt , and his flesh tremble to enter into another life ? ans. we must not yeeld to these temtations but resist them , and our spirit is to be commended into gods hand and then christ with all his angells will come and bee our guide to eternall life . secondly we must stoutly vndergo it and meditate vpon christs sufferings , and the issue and end wil be happy deliuerance . que. what if satan contrarywise laboureth to expell all feare , to make a man careles , and laboureth to perswade him as he did maister knoxe , to rest in an opinion of his owne merits , and so would puffe him vp with pride & arrogancy ? ans. he must consider and confesse that his owne righteousnes is foule and deformed , he must resist and withstand that temptation , and attribute all the glory of his saluation to god alone . que. in what and for what causes must we not feare death ? ans. for fiue causes , first because we haue hence a cause and an occasion to shew our subiection & obedience to god. secondly , because we are fréed from sin which is a principal part of our glorification . thirdly , because the very body lying in the graue is refreshed against labours , and is deliuered from death and misery , and shall rise againe in glory . fourthly , it conueieth & translateth the soule vnto eternall life , wher god is perfectly serued , & it hath blessed fellowship with christ and all the angells and saints of heauen . lastly , because by death god purgeth and disburdneth his church of euil men . qu. séeing that death is the cause of so great good to the godly , may a man lawfully desire it ? an. yes , so that it be not of impatiency or desperation . secondly , iob & many others haue desired death again & again , and are not therfore reproued . qu. may a man simply desire death ? an. no truly , but a man must walke in his calling and standing , so long as it shall please god : for the godly had rather liue to sette forth gods glory , thē for their owne temporall commodity . qu. in what respects is death to bée desired ? an. so farre forth as it is a meane to frée and deliuer vs from the burden and contagion of sinne , and from the miseryes and troubles of this life . secondly , as it is a meane and instrument to the manifest vision of god , and to the immediate fellowshippe of god and christ. lastly , our desire must bee moderate , and agréeable to gods will and good pleasure . quest. may a man contrariwise desire long life ? an. yes , so the end and scope of his life be to doe acceptable seruice to god , and to further and maintaine gods religion and glory , and labour to help and forward other mens faith , &c. phil , 1. 24. 25. quest. if the death of the godly bée so blessed , what shall wee thinke of the death of the wicked ? an. it is altogether accursed and fearefull . que. why so ? ans. first because it is the dissolution of nature , and the wages of sinne . secondly , for that by reason of gods iustice pursuing the wicked in euery place , and because they haue no peace of conscience , death is to them the beginning of euerlasting damnation . for they féele no mitttigation of theyr gréefe in death , nor haue so much as the least hope and expectation of ease and deliuerance . qu. what is the conclusion and sum of all that hath bin said an. wee must striue and continually indeauour to liue and dye well and godly , that wée may bee blessed both in life and death : and that we when this earthly life and pilgrimage is ended , may liue and triumph for euer with our lord iesus in heaue●… : which the lord in mercy graunt and effect amen . a prayer to be vsed of a sick man. o lord god great and fearefull , iust in thy iudgements , intollerable in thy displeasure , and yet bottomlesse in thy mercies , & kéeping couenant , and mercy to them that loue thée , and obey thy commandements . i poore wretched sinner that am but dust , earth , and ashes , vnworthy of the least of mercies , and most iustly deseruing all temporall and eternal iudgements , doe here present and prostrate my selfe before thy throane of grace . and i fréely confesse vnto thée that i am conceiued & borne in originall corruption , prone vnto al wickednes , vntoward & backward to any goodnes , ful of alimperfections , & that i haue by mine actuall transgressions ( which are many & mighty ) broken all thy holy lawes and cōmandements , and that therefore amongst many other euils , this present sicknesse , ache , pain , and weakenesse is deseruedly come thée my purposes and vowes of obedience and thansgiuing : doe better and further seruice vnto thy maiestie , and be the more prepared for thy kingdome . but if it be thy will , decrée and pleasure , by this sicknesse , to finish my daies ; i then intreat thy good maiestie to renue me in the inner man , as the outward man decayeth , and grant that as the bodie dyeth , so thy grace may liue and grow in me ; & open the eyes of my vnderstanding , that i may know what the hope is of my heauenly calling , and the riches of the glorious inheritance that thou haste laid vp in store for me , that by this meanes , i may dye in the true faith of christ , in willing obedience to thy maiesty , and in thy fauour and loue of my neighbour , and so when this life endeth , i may beginne a better , and dwell with thée : and with all the triumphant company of saintes and angels praise and magnifie thy name for euer . blesse and inlarge thy sion and thy ierusalem ( euen ) after my death , build vp the wals of it , repaire the decaies of thy church and confound antichrist and the vpon me , yet notwithstanding , i herein acknowledge thy infinite goodnesse and compassion in christ , that thou haste in slicted them vpon me not as plagues and curses ( as they are in their owne nature to the vnbeléeuing and vnrepentant ) but as fatherly corrections and chastisments & messengers of death and immortallitie , and meanes to prepare me for , and conuay mee to thy kingdome . for hereby thou ( my most deare father ) intendest and workest mine amendment , makest triall of my faith , hope , patience , and thankefulnesse : preuentest sinne to come , and stirrest vp in me a desire and longing expectation of euerlasting rest & happines . uuherfore i most humbly beseech thée to pardon and remoue my sin the cause thereof , perfit my repentance for the same , increase my faith and hope , graunt me strength and patience , with comfort to indure this thy visitation , sanctifie it vnto me , and conuert it to my saluation in the end . restore me ( if it be thy good pleasure ) in thy good time to my former and perfect health , that i may performe vnto turke , and the rest of the obstinate enemies of it . uouchsafe to bee a father vnto my wife , children and family , supply their wāts whether spiritual or boddily : plant thy feare in their hearts , and make them constant in all duties of holynes & righteousnes , that they may liue and die in thy fauor , and at length be made partakers of eternall ioy and glory . giue ( o my heauenly father ) a blessed assent to these my petitions , and graunt me all other thinge which thy wisdome séeeth good for me , for thy sonne iesus christ his sake , mine onely redéemer & mediator : to whome with thy maiesty , & god the holy ghost , bée giuen al honour , praise , and glory now and for euermore amen . a thansgiuing to be vsed of a sicke man if he recouer . i yéeld render and ascribe vnto thée ( o lord my god ) al honor praise , thanks , and glory , for all thine infinite , vnmeasurable , vndeserued mercies in christ , whether they concern my body or soule , this life , or a better , and in particular for his present benefit of redéeming my soule from death , and my body from the graue , that i should yet liue the longer in the land of the liuing , to set forth thy glory , to do more good in my calling and standing , and the more perfectly to prepare my selfe for my latter end and for thy kingdome . o lord my god , this is thy work , & it procéedeth only from thy grace and mercy , and not from any goodnes or merit of mine . but séeing thy might and mercy so meruailously appeareth in my recouery , and i of my self am more ready to forget thē remember , and to grow remisse & carelesse for the time to come , then to serue thée in godly feare and grow vp in grace & sanctification : i beséech thée to write the memory of this thy mercy in my heart w t the diamond of thy spirit , graunt me grace y t denying mine own wit , wil & sence , i may follow y e direction of thine holy word , and : submit my selfe to the blessed gouernment of thy spirit . make mee a willing and happy instrument of further good in my vocation and trade of life , and grant ( déere father ) that , as i growe in yeares , so i may grow and increase in grace and obedience , that i may liue in thy feare and fauour ; and die in peace , and then see thy glorious face , and inioy the immediate and most blessed fellowship of christ my sweet sauiour , and of all thy saints and angels , for euermore . uouchsafe me ( louing and gratious father ) these mercies and al other things néedfull for me , for the merits , obedience and mediation of thy beloued sonne , iesus christ , to whom with thée and the holy ghost , thrée persons & one al sufficient god , bee praise in the church , throughout all generations for euer . amen . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a20806-e1650 amos. 3. 6. ioh. 5. 14. 2. sam. 12. psal. 16. 7. iob. 13. 26 lam 3 41. psal. 30. v. 6. deut. 8. 2. & 13. 3. cant. 5. 5. 6 hos. 5. 15. rom. 8. ●…say . 8. 20. 〈◊〉 . 33. 15 act. 4. 12 isay 43. ve . 25. ier. 31. 34 〈◊〉 . sam. 12 , 12. 13. psal. 51 , ve . 3 , and 4. dan. 9 , 6 luk. 18 , 13 iob. 19. 25 1 ioh. 1. 〈◊〉 . psal. 119. 59 iam. 1. 23. isay. 8. 20 rom. 3 , ver . 23. gen. 6 , 〈◊〉 . 5 eph. 2 , 3 iob. 33. ve . 16. 17 , 18. 2 chr. 21 , 17. rom. 8. ve●… . 20 , & 22. iere. 5. v. 3. lam. 3. ver . 22. psal. 130. 6. rom. 5. ve . 20. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . v. 18 gen. 7. 〈◊〉 . &c. gen. 8. v. 1 simile . ●…sal . 30. v. 7. 8. & 9 , 1. ioh. 〈◊〉 . iob. 13 , 1●… mat. 15 , v. 23. ad 29. gen. 7. 1 , mat. 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 & 28. rom. 3. v. 3 luk. 5 , 31. vse . phil. 1 , 23 gen 2 , 17 heb. 9 , 27 rom. 5 , 12 rom. 5 , 1●… psa. 96 , v. 〈◊〉 et 10 〈◊〉 1. ioh. 3. 〈◊〉 gen. 3. v. 6 rom. 8. 1●… 1 tim. 2. 14. 1 thes. 4 , 14. 1 cor. 15. 51. phil. 1. 23 luk. 12. v. 40. rom. 8. v. 29 luk. 13. v. 3. & 15. rom. 6. 2 luk. 12. 20. & 21. luk. 16. 23 2. thess. 1. vers . 9. rom. 6. v. 23 gal. 3. 10. a similitude . math. 26 , v. ●…9 . luk. 2. ve . 29. ●…om . 8. v. ●…3 . & 34. math. 4. ve . ●…4 et 7. psal. 31. 15 rom. 7. ●…4 . isay 57 ve . 1. & 2. 2 kings 22. 20. isa. 57 , 1. math. 22. 32. lu●… . 23. ve . 1●… , 32 a●… 44. luk. 23. 〈◊〉 40. 2. tim. 2●… 25. luk. 13. 〈◊〉 24. senec. lib. 3 epist. 26. iob. 42. 6. ionah 4. 〈◊〉 . 4. & 5. 1. cor. 15. v. vl●… . hebr. 11. v. 9. & 10. iam. 1. 〈◊〉 rom. 3. v. 〈◊〉 & rom. 7●… v. 7. hebr. 2. 1●… gal. 2. 20. rom. 8. 13. math. 7. 2●… luk. 13. vers . 25. 〈◊〉 . c●… . 5. 〈◊〉 . luk. 5 ▪ 19. leu. 13. 45 46. psa. 39. 1●… 〈◊〉 . 2. 2. cor. ●… apoc. 12 psa 6. 1. luk. 16. 〈◊〉 . 5. 29. ioh. 9. ●…in . 20. 7 act. 7. ve●… . 60. math. 5. v. 25. math. 10. iosua . 24. v. 14. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 1. 15. act. 20. 28. rom. 8. 17. heb. 9. v. 16. gen. 18. 19. 1 sam 2. 30. pro●… . 15. 16. io●… . 4. 24. rom. 8. ver . 26. psa. 31. 5. gen. 12. 1●… 1. 23. 1. 〈◊〉 . 18. 1. cor. 4. 7. ●…hil 1. 23. ●…om . 7. 〈◊〉 . cor. 5. ●…oc . 14. 〈◊〉 . isay 38. 18. a manuall of directions for the visitation of the sicke, with sweete meditations and prayers to be used in time of sicknesse whereunto is added a short confession of the faith, with a forme of thankesgiving, and prayers for morning and evening / by lancelot andrevves ... andrewes, lancelot, 1555-1626. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a25390 of text r222276 in the english short title catalog (wing a3134b). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 128 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 130 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a25390 wing a3134b estc r222276 36273121 ocm 36273121 150548 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a25390) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 150548) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2224:12) a manuall of directions for the visitation of the sicke, with sweete meditations and prayers to be used in time of sicknesse whereunto is added a short confession of the faith, with a forme of thankesgiving, and prayers for morning and evening / by lancelot andrevves ... andrewes, lancelot, 1555-1626. [256] p. printed by r. cotes for samuel cartwright ..., london, 1642. includes added engraved t.p. imperfect: tightly bound, with loss of text. identified on film as wing a3134a (number cancelled). reproduction of original in william andrews clark memorial library, university of california, los angeles. eng sick -prayer-books and devotions. a25390 r222276 (wing a3134b). civilwar no a manuall of directions for the visitation of the sicke, with sweete meditations and prayers to be used in time of sicknesse. whereunto is a andrewes, lancelot 1642 23773 14 80 0 0 0 0 40 d the rate of 40 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2001-06 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2001-07 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2002-12 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a manval of directions for the visitation of the sicke wth sweete meditations & prayers to be vsed in time of sicknesse . by lancelot andrewes late bishop of winchester . london , printed for samuel cartwright at the hand & bible , in duck-lane . 1642 a manvall of directions for the visitation of the sicke , with sweete meditations and prayers to be used in time of sicknesse . whereunto is added a short confession of the faith , with a forme of thankesgiving ; and prayers for morning , and evening . by , lancelot andrevves late bishop of winchester . london , printed by r. cotes , for samuel cartwright , and are to be sold at the signe of the hand and bible in ducke-lane . 1642. to the right honorable , sir edward littleton , knight , baron littleton of mounslowe , lord keeper of the great seale of england , and one of his majesties most honorable privy covncell ; grace & peace be multiplyed . right honorable , may it please you in these troublesome daies of ours , to behold the man , who though ( with open mouth ) he telleth not all things that every one hath done , yet ( by lively example ) teacheth what every one ought to be ready to doe ; even for kings , and for all that are in authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life , in all godlinesse , and honesty . his person , whilest hee lived , wanted not the love and favour of a king , to advance him to dignity ; & let not this posthume worke of his lacke your honors protection and patronage , to keepe it from indignity . a midwives care reacheth no further than the safe bringing the infant into the world , the maintenance and protection thereof , she commendeth to the father and other friends . this orphan by my meanes hath happily seene the light , but wanting a father , as being deceased before his birth , i presume to commend its defence and tuition to your honour as a friend , & your lordshippes selfe to the gracious protection of the lord , who grant you ever the continuance of your honour , to you and your posterity for ever : so prayeth your honours humbly devoted i.g. to the christian reader . courteous reader , i shall not neede , i conceive , to use many words by way of preface . the authour of this manuall , and his former workes , have beene of such note and esteeme amongst us , as that i doubt not , but it may justly be said , concerning them , even to most men , which jehu , of the prophet that annointed him to be king over israel , 2 king. 9.11 . ye know the man and his communication . for this , how like it is the rest of its brethren , i leave you to judge , and yet i doubt not but some way may be made to your more willing entertainment of it , by telling you it was conceived about that time the reverend authour was parson of saint giles creplegate , and used by him in his ordinary visitation of the sicke . to this let me adde , the love of publique good , not respect of private profit , hath moved him to fit this to the presse , who otherwise would never have seene his name in print , and now desireth the praise of the worke may be given to the right author , resting yours in the lord i.g. inquiries to be made by the minister . the parties . the sex , 2 the age , the condition of life . 1 whether learned , structed , 2 sound in minde , memory . 3 the sense of heari●● perfect . 1 whether patient , unquiet , 2 cheerefull of deje●● 3 if being well , found comfort , 1 reading , 2 hearing , 3 repeating any particulars . whether any mate●● all point , whereof to admonished . to take occasion out of ●is owne words . vvhat man is hee that liveth , and shall not see death ? psal. 89.48 . it is appointed for all men once to dye . heb. 9 , 27. i am a stranger and sojourner with thee , as all my fathers were , psal. 39 . 12. wee have here no abiding city , heb. 13.14 . the night commeth when no man can doe any worke , ioh. 9.4 . where the tree falleth whether to the north , to the south , there it ●●eth , eccles. 1.1.3 . a manvall for the sicke . 1. comfortable scriptures to be used to the sicke party . esay 54.10 the mountaine may remove , and the hills may faldown , but my mercies shall not depart from thee , nor the covenant of my peace come to nothing , saith the lord , that hath compassion on thee . heaven and earth shal passe , but my word shall not passe . all the promises of god are in him , yea and amen . in whom wee have most great and precious promises , that we should be partakers of the divine nature . ieremy 31.18 . i have heard ephraim lamenting thus , thou trast corrected me , and i was chastised , as an untamed heifer ; convert thou me , and i shall be converted , for thou art the lord my god . surely after that i had converted , i repented , i smote upon my thigh , i was ashamed , yea confounded , because i did beare the reproach of my youth . since i spake to him , i still remember him , therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; i will surely have compassion on him , saith the lord . i will visite their iniquity with a rod , and their sinne with secourges , nevertheles my mercy will i not take from him , nor suffer my truth to faile . prov. 3. 11,12 . my sonne , refuse not the chastisement of the lord , neither be grieved with his correction ; for the lord correcteth him whom he loveth , even as the father doth the child in whom , for all that , he delighteth . ioh. 5. 17,18,19 . behold , blessed is the man whom god correcteth ; therefore refuse not thou the correction of the almighty . for he maketh the wound and bindeth it up ; he smiteth , and his hands make whole againe . he shall deliver thee in sixe troubles , and in the seaventh , the evill shall not come nigh thee . heb. 12. 5. forget not the consolation that speaketh unto you as unto children . if you indure chastening , god offereth himselfe unto you , as unto a sonne , for what sonne is it whom the father chasteneth not ? if therefore yee bee without correction , whereof all are partakers , then are ye bastards and not sonnes . moreover , wee have had the fathers of our bodies which corrected us , and yet wee gave them reverence , should we not much rather bee in subjection to the father of spirits , that wee may live ? for they verily for a few dayes chastened us after their owne pleasure , but he chasteneth us for our profit , that we might bee partakers of his holinesse . now , no chastening for the present seemeth joyous , but grievous ; yet afterward , it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnesse unto them which are thereby execised . wherefore lift up your hands which hang downe , and your weake knees . ioh. 16.22 . and you now are in sorrow , but i will see you againe , and your heart shall rejoyce , and your joy shall none bee able to take from you . esa. 54. 7 , 8. for a little while have i sorsaken thee , but in great compassion will i gather thee . for a moment in mine anger i hid my face from thee , but with everlasting mercy will i have compassion on thee , saith the lord thy redeemer . modicum & videbitis me . a little time and yee shall see me . psal. 94. 12.13 . blessed is the man whom thou chastisest ( o lord ) and teachest him thy law , that thou mayst give him rest in the dayes of evill . 1 cor. 11. 31. but when wee are judged , we are chastened of the lord , because we should not bee condemned with the world . they that sow in teares , shall reape in joy , psal. 129.5 . the lord hath chastened and corrected me , but hee hath not given me over unto death , psal. 118.18 . iam. 1. 2 , 4. my brethren count it exceeding joy when you fall into divers afflictions : knowing that the trying of the faith bringeth patience ; and let patience have her perfect worke , that you may bee compleate , intire , taking nothing . blessed are they that mourne , for they shall be comforted , mat. 5.4 . when i am weak , then am i strong , 2 cor. 12. 10. 2. ejaculations for the sicke . cast me not away in the time of my weakenesse , forsake me not when my strength faileth me . though i be afflicted on every side , yet let me not be distressed ; though in want of some of thy comforts , yet not of all . though chastened , yet not forsaken ; though cast downe , yet not perished . as mine outward man doth weare and decay , so let mine inward man renew dayly . o let this light affliction , which will quickly be over , cause unto me a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory . in the middest of the sorrowes that are in mine heart , let thy comforts ( o lord ) refresh my soule . my flesh and my heart fayleth , but bee thou the strength of my head , and my portion forever , psa. 73. 26. thou ( o lord ) up-holdest all such as are falling , and liftest up those that be downe . thou healest the broken in heart , and givest medicine to heale their sickenesse . as thou art faithful ( o lord ) so suffer me not to be tempted above that i am able . but ( good lord ) give me an issue with the temptation , that i may be able to beare it . 3. heads of comfort to be administred from the consideration of god . christ . god . a creator {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} and so faithfull , 1 pet. 4. ult. a possessor or owner , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} i am thine , part of thy possession , gen. 14. 19. a redeemer at large , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} psal. 130. 7. a redeemer {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} as of the same flesh and blood , iob. 19.25 . 26. i. christ a mediator , 1. betweene god and us , his priesthood and sacrifice . a lyon . 2. betweene us and satan , his kingdome and conquest . ii. a lambe . 1. betweene us and sinne , his innocence . 2. betweene us and our concupisence , his charity . iii. 1. betweene us and the punishments due to our sinne , his passion , and blood-shedding satisfaction . 2. betweene us and our conscience , and the judgement of god , his advocate-ship . iiii. 1. betweene us and our want of righteousnesse , his absolute and compleate obedience . 2. betweene us and our want of desert of the eternall reward , his merit . v. betweene us and our want of sorrow in repenting , his agony & bloody sweate . these recount . shew . offer . set betweene . 4. things to be recommended to the sicke : such as are prayer , almes , repentance , faith , love , hope , wel-doing . prayer . pray unto the lord if happily this may be forgiven thee , act. 31. 6. almes . blessed is the man that considereth the poore and needy , psal. 41.1 . by mercy and truth are sinnes cleansed or forgiven , prov. 12. breake off thine unrighteousnesse by mercy to the poore , dan. 4. 14. they shewed the garments which shee had wrought with her own hands , act. 9. 39. {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . 1. except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish , luk. 13. 5. 2. without faith it is impossible to please god , heb. 11.6 . 3. if i have all faith and no love , it profiteth me nothing , 1 cor. 13.2 . 4. we are saved by hope . rom. 8. 24. 5. hope thou in the lord and bee doing good , psal. 37.3 . and they shall come forth that have done good , to the resurrection of life . iob. 5.29 . make you friends of the unrighteous mammon , that when you must hence , they may receive you into everlasting tabernacles , luk. 16.9 . 5. propositions and inferences to be made to the sicke . 1. you are perswaded that no sicknesse or crosse commeth by chance unto any . 2. but you beleeve that it is god that fendeth them , without whose providence they fall not on us . 3. you acknowledge god to be most wise , and to suffer nothing to befall us , but what is expedient it so should . 4. therefore god having sent this his visitation now to you at this time , that it is expedient for you thus to be sicke . say , i know ( o lord ) that thy judgements are just , and that thou of very faithfulnesse hast caused me to bee troubled , psal. 119.75 . 1. you know and confesse that god to al , but christian men especially , carryeth the asfection of a father towards his children . 2. you know also that a father , whether he maketh much of his childe , or whether hee chasten him , continueth a father in both , and loveth him in the one no lesse than in the other . 3. thinke the same of god touching your selfe , that while he gave you good dayes , he loved you ; and that now he sendeth you some evill , he loveth you also , and would not have sent these evills , but to be a cause unto you of greater good , that being cal'd home by them , you might be at perfect peace with him . say , before i was troubled i went wrong , but now shall i learne thy word , psal. 119. 67. 1. you are not onely to take it patiently , ( i held my peace and opened not my mouth because it was thy doing , psal. 39.9 . it is the lord , let him doe what seemeth him good in his own eyes ) but ( 2 ) even to give him thankes for it , as for an wholesome medicine ; the lord hath given , and the lord hath taken away , as it pleaseth the lord , so is it come to passe , blessed be the name of the lord . i will take the cup of salvation , and give thankes to the name of the lord . 3. especially for that we in the time of our health forgetting him , yet he is so mercifull , that he giveth us not over with the world ; but for all wee have grieved his holy spirit , and fallen from grace , he visiteth us againe , and offereth it afresh unto us . 4. that if his will had not beene to have shewed mercy by his chastisement , hee could and would suddenly have taken you away with a quicke destruction , and not given you this time to bethinke your selfe , and to seeke and sue to him for grace . say , when i am judged , i am chastened of the lord , that i might not be condemned with the world , 1 cor. 11.32 . gods very punishment is a part of his mercy , psal. 89.31 . it is the great mercy of the lord that we are not suddenly consumed lam. 3. 22. for giving you a time and space . o tarry thou the lords leasure , be strong , and he shall comfort thine heart , and put thou thy trust in the lord , psal. 17. 14. o cast thou thy burthen on the lord , and he shall refresh thee , and shall not suffer the righteous to faile for ever , psal. 55.22 . o put your trust alway in him yee people , powre out your hearts before him , for god is our helpe , psal. 62. 8. he will not alwayes be chiding , nor keepeth he his anger for ever , psal. 103. 9. in his wrath will he remember mercy , hab. 3. 2. heavinesse may indure for a night , but joy commeth in the morning . psal. 30. 5. for a little while have i forsaken thee , but with great compassion will i gather thee : for a moment in mine anger i hid my face from thee , but with everlasting mercy have i had pity on thee , saith the lord thy redeemer . esay , 54. 58. 6. questions to be urged to the sick , and scriptures to bee propounded in answer of them . 1. do you acknowledge your selfe , not to have lived so well as you ought , but to have sinned , done amisse and dealt wickedly ? 2. doe you call to mind the yeares of your life spent amisse in the bitternes of your soule ? 3. doe you desire to have your minde illuminated by god , touching those sinnes you never knew , or which you once knew , but have now forgotten , that you may repent you of them ? 4. doe you desire to feele greater sorrow in your soule , for the sins committed , than you doe ? would you be glad if you did feele it , and are you grieved that you feele it not , that you are no more grieved ? 5. be there , or is there any speciall or peculiar sinne that doth lye heavy on your conscience , for the which you need , or doe require the benefit of private absolution ? say , thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin , and makest his beauty to consume , as a moth fretteth a garment , psal. 39. 11. there is no health in my flesh , by reason of thy wrath , neither is there any rest in my bones , by reason of my sinne , psal. ●,8 . 3 . lord be mercifull to me , heale my soule , for i have sinned against thee psal. 41.4 . lord , i confesse my wickednesse , and am sorry for my sinne , psal. 38. 18. i call to minde the mispent yeares of my life past , in the bitternesse of my soule , esay 38.15 . my misdeedes have prevailed against me , o be thou mercifull unto my sinne , psal. 65.3 . for thy names sake ( o lord ) be mercifull unto my sinne , for it is great , psal. 25.11 . o remember not the offences and fraileties of my youth , but according to thy mercy , think thou upon me ( o lord ) for thy goodnes . psa. 25. 67. namely ( o lord ) and especially , be mercifull unto me ; herein the lord be mercifull unto his servant , 2 kin. 5.18 . o lord , lay not my sin to my charge , acts 7. 60. if thou ( lord ) be extreame to marke what is done amisse , lord who may abide it ? psal. 130. 30. o enter not into judgment with thy servant , for no flesh is righteous in thy sight , psalme 143. 2. my confusion is dayly before mee , and the feare of death is falne upon me , fearefulnesse , and trembling are come upon me , and an horrible dread hath over-whelmed me , psal. 55.4 . 5. the lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart , and will save such as are of an humble spirit , psalme 34. 18. a broken and a contrite heart ( o lord ) thou shalt not despise . psal. 51.17 . 7. questions to be added further , upon answer of the former . repent you of these your sinnes ? that is , 1. have you a purpose to judge your selfe for them , if you live ? 1 cor. 12. 31. and to inflict upon your selfe , punishment for committing them , according as you shall be directed ? 1 cor. 7.11 . lev. 5.18 . 2. are you resolved , if god send you life hereafter to amend and live more carefully , and to avoyd both those meanes and occasions that may provoke you to sin againe , and those signes and marks which testifie you delight in it ? 3. doe you holily promise thus much in the presence of god , his grace ayding you ? 4. doe you desire , if god send you health againe , to be specially put in minde thereof ? turne us ( o god our saviour ) and let thine anger cease from us . psal. 85.4 . 1. beleeve you the christian creed , or confession of our most holy faith , once delivered to the saints ? 2. beleeve you , that you cannot be saved , except you beleeve it ? 3. are you glad in your soule , and doe give god hearty thanks , that in this faith you were borne , have lived in it , and now shall die in the same ? 4. do you your selfe desire , and doe you wish as to desire at the hands of god , that this faith may not faile you untill the houre , and in the houre of death ? 5. if your sence faile you , or if the paines of your disease , or weakenesse other-wayes , so worke with you , as it shall happen you with your tongue to speake ought , otherwise than this your faith and religion would , doe you now renounce all such words as none of yours , and is it your will , wee account of them , as not spoken by you ? is there in your mind any scruple touching any matter of faith or religion ? say , lord i beleeve , helpe thou mineunbelief , mar. 9. 24. 1. doe you forgive them , that any manner of way have offended you , as freely as you your selfe would be forgiven at gods hands ? 2. doe you likewise desire of god that hee would forgive them ? 3. that amends which they are bound to make you , in that they have offended you , are you content to remit them also ? 4. are you willing that so much be shewed them from you , that you have forgiven them freelie , lie , and fullie , and desire god to doe the like ? say , father forgive them , they knew not what they did , luk. 23.34 . o lord , lay not these sinnes to their charge , act. 7. 60. you your selfe living in the world , it cannot bee but some you have offended . 1. doe you desire that all such as you have offended , would pardon and forgive you ? 2. doe you remember or call to mind any person or persons in speciall , whom you have so offended ? 3. will you , that so much bee signified to them in your name , that you desire them to forgive you ? in as much as the offences against the seaventh commandement , of getting any children , ( by the act of adulterie ) committed with the wife of another man , and against the eighth commandement touching mens goods , are not forgiven , unlesse restitution bee made to the parties wronged : and against the ninth commandement , touching mens credits and good names : are you willing and ready to restore and make satisfactiō to such as you have wronged , in thrusting in a childe , begotten by you , and likelie to deprive the true children of the party , and begotten by him , of a childs part , or portion : and to such as you have wronged in their goods : and to satisfie those whom you have any way touched in their name , and that without all fraud or delay : can you call to minde any persons in particular , whō you have so offended ? 8. severall parts of prayer to be used by the sicke party , taken out of scripture . and now ( o lord ) what is my hope ? truely my hope is in thee , psal. 39. 7. thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth , and of them that remaine in the broad sea . though hee kill mee , yet will i trust in him . ioh. 13. 15. though i walk through the vale of the shadow of death , yet will i feare none evill , psal. 23. 2. 4. lord , thou knowest whereof wee bee made , thou remembrest we are but dust , psal. 103. 14. call to minde , we are but flesh , a winde that passeth away , and commeth not againe , psa. 78. 39. remember ( lord ) of what time i am , what our substance is , wherefore hast thou made all men for nought ? psal. 89. 47. lord , considermy complaint , for i am brought very low . let my present misery more prevaile to moove compassion , than my sinnefull life past , to provoke thine indignation . lord , how long wilt thou be angrie with thy servant that prayeth ? behold lord , i shew the lowlinesse of a suppliant , shew not thou to me the rigour of a judg. ne ( quaeso ) premat sententia iudicis , quem sic submittit petitio supplicis . o deliver not thine owne inheritance over into the will of thine enemy , psal , 119. 94. i am thine , o save me ! i am thine , carest thou not that i perish ? mar. 4. 38. behold ( o lord ) how that i am thy servant . i am thy servant , and the sonne of thine hand-maid . psal. 116. 16. thine unprofitable evill servant , yet thy servant . thy lost unkind child , yet thy child . luk. 15. though i have not shewed to thee the duty and affection of a child , yet doe not thou cast from thee the naturall kindnesse and compassion of a father . i commend my selfe into thy hands as unto a faithfull creator . 1 pet. 4. 19. receive ( o lord ) thine owne creature , not made by any strange god , but by thy selfe , the onely true , and living god , despise not ( o lord ) the worke of thine owne hand . psal. 138. ult. lord , i am created to thine owne image , and likenesse , gen. 1. 26. suffer not ( o lord ) suffer not thine image to bee utterly defaced , but renue it againe in righteousnesse and true holinesse , ephes. 4. 24. i commend my selfe into thine hands , for thou hast redeemed me , o lord god of truth , psal : 31. 5. behold ( lord ) i am the price of thy blood , of thy most pretious blood , 1 cor. 6. ult. suffer not so great a price to perish ; suffer not that to be cast away , that thou hast so deerely bought . o lord , thou camest downe from heaven to redeeme that which was lost , suffer not that to be lost , which thou hast redeemed . behold ( o lord ) thou art in the middest of us , thy name is called upon us , we are called by thy name , christians , dan. 9. 19. for thy names sake be mercifull unto us , psa. 25. 11. spare thine own name in us , psal. 19. 9. and doe not ( good lord ) so remember our sinnes , that by remembring them , thou forgettest thine owne name . lord we call upon thy name , there is no name under heaven , wherein we can be saved , but onely it , act. 4. 12. though we be unfaithfull , yet thou art true , and canst not deny thine owne name , 2 tim. 2.13 . i commend my selfe into thine hands , as to my true and onely sanctifier . lord , i have beene the temple of thy holy spirit , 1 cor. 3.16 . though it hath beene polluted by my frailty , yet lord destroy it not ; but dedicate it , hallow it anew , and sanctifie it to thee yet once againe : make an encaenia of it . spare us good lord , spare thine owne handiwork , thine own image , thine owne name , the price of thine owne blood in us . the good lord bee mercifull unto every one that prepareth his heart to seeke the lord god , the god of our fathers : though he be not according to the cleannesse of the sanctuary , 1 chron. 30.19 . behold ( o lord ) ae bruised reed , o breake it not ; smoaking flax , yet ( o lord ) quench it not , esa. 42.3 . mat. 12. 20. lord , i have never denied thy name , but confessed it ever , and in the confession and invocation of it , i desire to spend my last breath , and to depart this life . lord , i have desired to feare thy name , neh. 1. 11. my soule hath beene desirous to long after thy commandements , psal. 119.20 . lord , i doe acknowledge my wickednesse and i am sorrie for my sinne , psal. 38.18 . lord , i beleeve , help thou mine unbeleife . lord , i hope verily to see the goodnesse of the lord , in the land of the living , psal. 27.13 . let not this hope confound me , nor make me ashamed , psa. 119.16 . lord , i freely forgive whomsoe'r i have ought against , those poore pence or mites they owe me . mat. 18.28 . lord , i held my peace and opened not my mouth at thy chastisements , because it was thy doing , o lord , psal. 39.9 . lord , i seeke thee , and thou never failest them that seeke thee , psal. 9. 10. i come unto thee , and of them that come unto thee , thou castest none out . ioh. 6.37 . neverthelesse , though i be sometime afraid , yet put i my trust in thee , psal. 56.3 . o lord , in thee have i trusted , let me never be put to confusion , psal. 71 1.31.1 . o lord my god , in thee have i put my trust , save me from them that seeke after my soule and deliver me , lest hee devoure my soule like a lion , and teare it in peeces whiles there is none to helpe , psal. 7.1,2 . the snares of death compassed me round about , the overflowings of ungodlinesse made me afraid , psal. 18.4 . the sorrow of death overtooke me , and the paines of hell gat hold upon me , psal. 18.5 . i have found trouble and heavinesse , and i wil call upon the name of the lord , psal. 116.3 . o lord , i beseech thee deliver my soule . psa. 116 4. heare my voyce ( o lord ) out of thy holie temple , let my complaint come before thee , let it enter even into thine cares , psal. 18.6 . send downe from on high , and deliver me , take me out of many waters , psal. 18.16 . gracious is the lord and righteous , yea our lord is mercifull , psal. 116.5 . the lord preserveth the simple , i am in misery , but hee will thinke upon me , psal. 116.6 . turne againe then to thy rest , ( o my soule ) for the lord hath regarded thee , psal. 116.7 . psalme 22. verse 1. my god , my god , looke upon mee , why hast thou forsaken me , and art so farre from my health , and from the words of my complaint ? ver. 2 , 3. o my god , i cry in the day time , and thou hearestnot , and in the night season also , i have audience , yet thou continuest holy , o thou worship of israell . ver. 4. our fathers hoped in thee , they trusted in thee , and thou diddest deliver them . 5. they called upon thee , and were holpen , they put their trust in thee , and were not confounded . 9. but thou wert he that tookest mee out of my mothers wombe . 10. thou wert my hope when i hanged upon my mothers breasts . 11. i have beene left unto thee ever since i was borne , thou art my god even from my mothers wombe . 16. o goe not farre from me , for trouble is hard at hand , and there is none to deliver me . 20. deliver my soule from the sword , my darling from the power of the dogge . 21. save me from the lions mouth , deliver me from among the hornes of the unicornes . psalme 25. ver. 11. for thy names sake ( o lord ) be mercifull unto my sinne for it is great . 16. o turne thee unto me , and have mercie upon me , for i am desolate and in miserie . 17. the sorrowes of my heart are enlarged ; o bring thou me out of my troubles . 18. looke upon my adversity and misery , and forgive mee all my sinne . 20. o keep my soule and deliver me , let mee not be confounded , for i have put my trust in thee . psalme 28. verse 1. unto thee do i cry ( o lord ) my strength , think no scorn of me , lest if thou make as though thou hearest not , i become like those that goe downe into the pit . 2. heare the voyce of my humble petitions when i cry unto thee , when i lift up my hands towards the mercy seat of thy holy temple . o hide not thy face from me , neither cast thy servant away in displeasure , psal. 27.9 . thou hast beene my succour , leave mee not , neither forsake mee , o lord god of my salvation . psalme 40. verse 11. withdraw not thou thy mercy from me , ( o lord ) let thy loving kindnesse & truth alwaies preserve me . 12. for innumerable troubles are come about me , my sinnes have taken hold upon mee , that i am not able to looke up , yea , they are more in number than the haires of my head , and my heart hath failed me . 13. o lord , let it be thy pleasure to deliver me , make hast ( o lord ) to helpe me . 17. as for me , though i be poore , and in misery , yet the lord careth for me . thou art my helper , and my redeemer , make no long tarrying , o my god . psalme 31. 14. lord , my hope hath been in thee , i have said , thou art my god . 15. my life is in thine hand , o deliver me , and be mercifull unto me . 16. shew thy servant the light of thy countenance , and save mee for thy mercies sake . psalme 38. 21. forsake mee not ( o lord my god ) bee not thou farre from me . 22. haste thee to help me ( o lord god of my salvation . ) psalme 54. 1. save me ( o god ) for thy names sake , o deliver mee in thy strength . 2. heare my prayer ( o lord ) and hide not thy selfe from my petitions , and hearken unto the words of my mouth psalme 55. 1. heare my prayer ( o god ) and hide not thy selfe from my petitions ; take heed unto me , and heare me , how i mourne in my prayer , and am vexed . psalme 61. 1. heare my crying ( o god ) give eare unto my prayer . 2. from the ends of the earth will i cry unto thee , when my heart is in heavinesse ( o lord ) let me make my prayer unto thee in an acceptable time . psalme 39. 13. heare me , o god in the multitude of thy mercies , even in the truth of thy salvation . 14. take me out of the mire that i sinke not : o let mee be delivered from them that seek my soule , and from the deep waters . 15. let not the water-floods drowne mee , neither let the deepswallow me up , and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me . 16. heare mee ( o lord ) for thy loving kindnesse is comfortable ; turne thee unto mee , according to the multitude of thy mercie . 17. and hide not thy face from thy servant , for i am in trouble , o haste thee , and heare me . 18. draw nigh unto my soule and save it , o deliver me . 19. as for me , when i am poore and in heavinesse , thy help ( o lord ) shall lift me up . psalme 109. 21. but deale thou with me ( o lord ) according to thy name , for sweet is thy mercy . 22. o deliver me , for i am helplesse and poore and my heart is wounded within me . 23. i goe like the shadow that departeth , i am driven away as the grashopper . 24. my knees are weake through fasting , my flesh is dryed up for want of fatnesse . 26. helpe me ( o lord my god ) o save me according to thy mercies . 27. and men shall know that it is thy hand , and that thou ( lord ) hast done it . psalme 74. 1. oh god , why art thou absent from us so long ? why is thy wrath so hot against the sheepe of thy pasture ? 2. o thinke upon the congregation , which thou haste purchased , and redeemed of old . 17. o deliver not the soule of thy turtle unto the multitude of thine enemies , and forget not the distressed of thy servants for ever . o let not the simple goe away ashamed , but let the poore and needy give praise unto thy name . turne us againe , ( o lord god of hosts ) shew the light of thy countenance , and wee shall be whole . psal. 80.3 . psalme 85. 2. o forgive the offences of thy servants , and cover all their sinnes . 3. take away all thy displeasure , and turne away thy selfe from thy wrathfull indignation . 4. turne us then , o god our saviour , and let thine anger cease from us . 5. wilt thou be displeased at us for ever , and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another ? 6. wilt thou not turn againe and quicken us , that thy people may rejoyce in thee . shew us thy mercy ( o lord ) and grant us thy salvation , haste thee to helpe me , o god of my salvation . psalme 70.1 . haste thee ( o lord ) to deliver me , make haste to helpe mee , o lord . psalme 44. 23. up lord , why sleepest thou ? awake , and be not absent from us for ever . 24. wherefore hidest thou thy face , and forgettest our misery and trouble ? for our soule is brought low , unto the dust , our belly cleaveth to the ground . arise and helpe us , and deliver us for thy mercy sake . psalme 86. 1. bow downe thine eare ( o lord ) and heare me , for i am poore , and in misery . 2. preserve thou my soule , for thou gavest it me , my god , save thy servant , which putteth his trust in thee . 3. bee mercifull unto me , ( o lord ) for i will call daily upon thee . 4. comfort the soule of thy servant , for unto thee doe i lift up my soule . 5. for thou ( lord ) art good and gracious , and of great mercy to all them that call upon thee . 6. give eare ( lord ) unto my prayer , and ponder the voyce of my humble desires . 7. in the time of my trouble , i will call upon thee , for thou hearest me . 15. for thou ( lord ) art full of compassion , and mercie , long suffering , plenteous in goodnesse and truth . 16. o turne thee then unto me , and have mercie upon mee , give thy strength unto thy servant , and helpe the son of thine handmaid . 17. shew some token upon me for good , that they which love thee , may see it and be glad , because thou ( lord ) hast holpen and comforted me . psalme 142. 1. i cryed unto the lord with my voyce , yea , even unto the lord did i make my supplication . 2. i powred out my complaint before him , and shewed him of my trouble . 3. when my spirit was in heavinesse , thou knewest my path . 4. i looked also on my right hand , and loe there was none to helpe me . 5. i had no place to flie unto , and none was able to deliver my soule . 6. i cryed unto thee , and said , thou art my hope , and my portion in the land of the living . o consider my complaint , for i am brought very low . 9. bring my soule out of prison , that i may give thankes unto thee ; which thing , if thou wilt grant me , then shall the righteous resort unto my company . psal. 141.8 mine eyes looke unto thee ( o lord ; ) in thee is my trust , o cast not out my soule . psal. 88. 1. o lord god of my salvation , i have cryed day and night before thee . 2. o let my prayer come into thy presence ; incline thine eare unto my calling . 3. for my soule is full of trouble , my life draweth nigh unto the grave . 9. lord , i have called daily upon thee , i have stretched out mine hands unto thee . 10. dost thou sher wonders among the dead ? or shall the dead rise up againe and praise thee . 11. shall thy loving kindnesse bee shewed in the grave , or thy faithfulnesse in destruction ? 12. shall thy wonderfull workes be knowne in the darke , or thy righteousnesse in the land where all things are forgotten ? 13. unto thee doe i crie ( lord ) and early shall my prayer come before thee . 14. lord , why abhorrest thou my soule ? and why hidest thou thy face from me ? 15. i am in misery , and like unto him that is at the poynt to dye : from my youth up , thy terrors have i suffered with a troubled minde . 16. thy wrathfull displeasure goeth over me , and the feare of thee hath undone me . psal. 141. 1. lord , i will call upon thee , haste thee unto me , and consider my voyce , when i cry unto thee . 2. let my prayer be set forth in thy presence as the incense , let the lifting up of my hands bee as an evening sacrifice . psal. 79. 5. lord how long will thou be angry ? for ever and shall thy jealousy burne like fire ? 8. oh , remember not mine old sinnes , but have mercy upon me , for i am come to great misery . 9. help me o god of my salvation , for the glory of thy name ; oh deliver me , and be mercifull unto my sinnes , for thy names sake . psal. 143. 6. lord i stretch forth my hands unto thee ; my soul gapeth unto thee like a thirsty land . 7. heare me ( o lord ) and that soone , for my spirit waxeth faint , hide not thy face from me , lest i become like unto them that goe downe into the silence . psal. 13. 1. how long wilt thou forget me ? ( o lord ) for ever ? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? 2. how long shall i seek counsel in my soule , and be so vexed in my spirit ? how long shall mine enemies triumph over mee ? 3. consider and heare me ( o god ) lighten mine eyes that i sleepe not in death . psal. 30. 6. in my prosperity i said , i shall never be removed , thou ( lord ) of thy goodnes had'st made my state so strong . 7. thou did'st turne away thy face from me , and i was sore troubled ; 8. then cryed i unto the lord , and gat me to my god right early . 9. what profit is there in my blood , if i goe downe into the pit ? shal the dust give thanks unto thee ? or shal it declare thy truth ? 10. heare me ( o lord ) and have mercy upon me , and be thou my helper , psal. 77. 1. i will cry unto the lord with my voyce , yea even unto god will i cry with my voyce , and hee shall hearken unto me . 2. in the time of my trouble i sought the lord ; my sore ran , and ceased not : in the night season my soule refused comfort . 3. when i am in heavinesse i will thinke upon god , when my heart is vexed i will complaine . 4. thou holdest mine eyes waking , and i am so feeble that i can scarce speake . 5. i have considered the dayes of old , and the years that are past . 6. i call to remembrance my songs , and in the night i commune with mine owne heart , and search out my spirits . 7. will the lord absent hinselfe for ever ? and will he be no more intreated ? 8. is his mercy cleane gone for ever ? is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore ? 9. hath god forgotten to be gracious ? and will he shut up his loving kindnesse in displeasure ? 10. and i said , it is mine owne infirmity , but i will remember the yeares of the right hand of the most high . o god , there is no strength in us , neither doe we know what to do , but onely we lift up our eyes unto thee . 2. chron. 20.12 . o lord , how long wilt thou looke upon this ? this thou hast seene , ( lord ) hold not thy tongue then , go not farre from me ( o god ) psal. 35.17.22 . save me ( o god ) for the waters are come even unto my soule . psal. 69.1 let god arise , and let his enemies be scattered , let them also that hate him , flee before him . psal. 68. 1. lord it oppresseth me , answer thou for me esay . 38. 14. thou shalt answer for me ( o lord ) my god . psa. 38.15 . 9. a prayer to be used by the minister . o lord , it is a great presumption that one sinner should dare to cōmend another to thy divine majesty , especially , the greater , the lesse ; and who would not feare to undertake it ; but only that thy commandement it is by thy holy apostle , when any is sick , that the minister should be called for , that they should pray for the sick party , and that their prayers thou wilt receive , and save , and forgive the sinnes of the party so prayed for ? and now behold ( o lord ) we that are no way meete , but unworthy , utterly unworthy to sue for ought for ourselves ( charitie and compassion so binding us ) are enforced to become suitors to thee for others . even ( o lord ) for this thy servant ready to depart this world . to thee we hope , to thee we desire , to thee we intreat and pray in all meek manner , and even from the bottom of our hearts . o lord , that which justly thou mightest deny to our unworthinesse , deny not , we beseech thee , to thine owne gracious goodnesse . o lord forgive us our sinnes , our great and grievous sinnes , oft and many times committed , long and many yeares most wretchedly continued ; that so we may be meete to pray for others , that so we may make our prayers unto thee in an acceptable time . graciously looke upon our afflictions , pitifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts . mercifully forgive the sinnes of thy people . favourably with mercy heare our prayers . both now and ever , vouchsafe to heare us , o christ . graciously heare us , o christ . graciously heare us , o lord christ . 10. a letany to be used for the sicke . oh god the father of heaven , have mercy upon him ( or her ) keepe and defend him . oh god the sonne , redeemer of the world , have mercy upon him : save and deliver him . oh god the holy ghost , proceeding from the father and the son , haver mercy upon him ; strengthen and comfort him . oh holy , blessed , and glorious trinity , have mercy upon him . remember not lord , our offences , call not to minde the offences of his forefathers , but spare him good lord , spare thy servant whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood , and bee not angry with him for ever . from thy wrath and heavy indignation , from the guilt and burden of his sins , from the dreadfull sentence of the last judgement , good lord deliver him . from the sting and terrour of conscience , from the danger of impatience , distrust , or despaire , from the extremity of sicknesse , anguish or agony , that may any way withdraw his minde from thee , good lord deliver him . from the bitter pangs of eternall death , from the gates of hell , the power of darkenesse , the illusions and assaults of our ghostly enemy , good lord deliver him . by thy manifold and great mercies , by the manifold and great mercies of jesus christ thy son ; his agony and bloody sweate , strong crying and teares , bitter crosse and passion , mighty resurrection , glorious ascension , effectuall and most acceptable intercession , & mediation ; by the graces and comforts of the holy ghost , good lord deliver him . for thy names sake , the glory of thy name , thy loving mercy , thy truths sake , thine owne selfe : in this time of his most extremity , in this his last and greatest need , in the houre of death , and at the day of jndgement , good lord deliver him . deliver him ( o lord ) from all danger and distresse , from all paines & punishments both bodily and ghostly , amen . as thou diddest deliver noah from the flood , so save and deliver him . lot from the fire of sodome , so save , &c. isaac from present death , so save , &c. iob fnom his tentations , so save , &c. moses from the hand of pharoah , so save , &c. daniel from the lyons den , so save , &c. ionas from the belly of the whale , so save , &c. and as thou hast delivered all thy blessed saints , and servants from all their terrors and torments , so deliver his soul , and receive it to thy mercy . we sinners do beseech thee to heare us good lord . that it may please thee to remember him with the favour thou bearest unto thy people , and to visit him with thy salvation . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee to save and deliver his soule from the power of the enemy , lest as a lyon he devoure it , and teare it in peeces , if there be none to helpe . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee to be mercifull , and to forgive all his sinnes , which by the malice of the devill , or by his owne frailty hee hath at any time of his life committed against thee . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee not to lay to his charge , what in concupiscence of his eyes , in pride of life , vanity , or superfluity he hath committed against thee . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee not to lay to his charge what in carnall desires of the flesh , in lust , or in the uncleane passions therof , hee hath committed against thee . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee not to lay to his charge , what in the fiercenesse of his wrath , in the eagernesse of an angry spirit , hee hath committed against thee . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee not to lay to his charge , what in vaine and idle words , in the loosenesse and slipperynesse of the tongue , he hath committed against thee . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee to make him partaker of all thy mercies , and promises in christ jesus . we beseech thee , &c. that it may please thee to vouchsafe his soule the state of joy , blisse , and happines , with all thy blessed saints , in thy heavenly kingdome . we beseech thee , &c. that it may pleasethee to grant his body rest and peace , and a part in the blessed resurrection of life and glory . we beseech thee to heare us good lord . sonne of god we beseech thee to heare us . o lord god , lamb of god , sonne of the father , that takest away the sinnes of the world , have mercy upon him ; thou that takest away the sins of the world , grant him thy peace . thou that sittest at the right hand of god the father , have mercy upon him . lord have mercy upon him ; christ have mercy upon him ; lord have mercy upon him . our father which art in heaven , &c. oh lord deale not with him after his sinnes . neither reward him according to his iniquities . o god mercifull father that despisest not the sighings of a contrite heart , nor the desire of such as be sorrowfull , mercifully assist our prayers which wee make before thee , at such times specially when our greatest and grievous extremities are ready to oppresse us : and ( o lord ) graciously heare us , that those evills , those illusions , terrours and assaults which thine and our enemy worketh against us may bee brought to naught , and by the providence of thy goodnesse bee dispersed , that we thy servants , beeing swallowed up with no tentations , may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy church , through iesus christ our lord . 11. severall choyce expressions of prayer to be used for the sicke party . in the midst of life we are in death , of whom then may we seeke for succour , but of thee ( o lord ) who for our sinnes art most justly displeased with us ? yet ( o lord ) most holy , o lord most mighty , o holy and most mercifull father , deliver us not over to the paines of eternall death . thou knowest ( lord ) the secrets of our hearts ; shut not up against us the cares of thy mercy , but spare us , o lord most holy , o lord most mighty , o immortall and most mercifull father . thou most worthy judge eternall , suffer us not in our last houre , for any terrour of death to fall away from thee . we commend unto ( o lord ) the soule of this thy servant . he ( or she ) is the worke of thine hands . despise not ( o lord ) the worke of thine owne hands . the likenesse of thine image . suffer not ( o lord ) thine image to be utterly defaced . the price of thy blood . let not so great a price be cast away . a christian man ( or woman ) the name of thy son is called upon him . for thy names sake , be good unto thy name . thine ( ) o save him . give not over that which thine is , to the will of the enemy . though he have sinned , yet thy name hath hee not denyed , but called upon it , and confessed it , unto his lives end , and there is no name under heaven , but thine wherein he expecteth salvation . though he have sinned , yet he hath not hid his sinne , nor excused it , psal. 141.4 . but acknowledged it , and beene sorry for it , and wisheth even teares of blood wherewith to lament it . though he have sinned yet others also have sinned against him , which from the heart he forgiveeth , and desireth forgivenesse of them at thy gracious hands . o establish thy word with thy servant , and let him not be disappointed of his hopes . though he have sinned , yet in thee he trusteth ; o suffer him not for ever utterly to be confounded . though he have sinned , yet he seeketh thee . and thou lord never failest them that seek thee psal. 9. 10. yet he commeth to thee and of them that come to thee , thou castest none out . ioh. 6.37 . o lord , let not the guiltinesse of a sinner more prevaile to condemne , then the gracious goodnesse of a most mercifull saviour to acquit , to pardon . o let not the unrighteousnesse of man , make the goodnesse of god of none effect . o lord , doe not so remember the unkindness of this thy child , that thereby thou forget the compassion , and kindenesse of a father . doe not thinke upon our sinne , that thou therby forget thine owne nature and property , which is alway to have mercy . doe not so remember our sinne , that thou therby remembrest not thine owne name , which is jesus , a loving and most kind saviour . lord if thy life in our life , have not sufficiently appeared , yet let not thy death lose the full power and effect thereof in our death also . suffer not ( o lord ) in both , so great a price to perish . lose not ( o lord ) that which thou hast redeemed , since thou camest to redeeme that which was lost . that which was so deere to thee to redeeme ; suffer it not to be lost , as a thing of no value . have mercy upon him , ( o lord ) consider the pains which he suffereth , thou , who onely dost deliver from the gates of death . psal. 9.13 . shew thy marvellous loving kindenesse , thou which art the saviour of them which put their trust in thee . psal. 17.7 . o keepe him , as the apple of thine eye : hide him under the shadow of thy wings , psal. 17.8 . o iet thy mercifull ioving kindnesse bee his comfort , according to thy word unto thy servant . psal. 119.76 . he ( or shee ) is troubled above measure , o be mercifull unto him , according to thy goodnesse . o consider his adversity , and deliver him , for he is brought very low . his eyes long sore for thy word , saying , when wilt thou comfort me ? his eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health , and for the word of thy righteousnesse . o thinke upon him ( o lord ) as concerning thy word , wherein thou hast caused him to put his trust o look thou upon him and bee mercifull unto him : as thou usest to do to those that love thy name . cast him not away now in the time of his weakenesse , forsake him not now , when his strength faileth him , psal. 71.9 . in the multitude of the sorrowes that are in his heart , let thy comforts ( o lord ) refresh his soule . o lord , when it oppresseth , comfort thou him , esay 38.14 . o lord , let thy strength bee made perfect in his weakenesse , 2 cor. 12.9 . let no tentation oppresse him , but such as is incident to thy children ; but as thou art faithfull ( o lord ) so suffer him not to be tempted above that he is able to beare . but ( good lord ) with the temptation , give an happy issue , that he may be able to overcome it , 1 cor. 10. 13. o lord , though he be afflicted on every side , yet let him not be distressed ; though in want of some of thy comforts , yet not of all ; though chastened , yet not forsaken ; though cast downe , yet not perish 2 cor. 4 , 8,9 . remember him ( o lord ) with the favour thou bearest unto thy children : o visit him with thy salvation . that he may see the felicity of thy chosen , and rejoyce with the gladnes of thy saints , and give thankes with thine inheritance , psal. 106. 5. o remember not his former sinnes , but have mercy upon him ( o lord ) and that soone , for hee is come to great extremity , psal. 79.8,9 . helpe him ( o lord god of his salvation ) for the glory of thy name : o deliver him , and bee mercifull unto his sinnes , for thy names sake . call to remembrance ( o lord ) thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesse , which have beene ever of old . o remember not the sinnes and offences of his youth ; but according to thy mercy thinke thou on him ( o lord ) for thy goodnesse . clense him ( o lord ) from his secret sins : from whatsoever hee hath offended : by thought , word , or deed ; by ignorance , or error ; by frailty , or negligence ; in excesse , or in defect ; by leaving good undone , or by doing evill ; in publicke or private ; by day or by night ; against thee , his neighbour , his owne body . before , or since his effectuall calling ; by himselfe or by other ; remembred or forgotten . from them all clense him ( o lord ) even from them all ; lay none of them to his charge , cast them behinde thee , bury them , drowne them , scatter them as the mist , and as the morning cloud , make them to vanish away and come to nothing . and wherein soever his conscience most accuseth him , therein ( o lord ) be thou most mercifull . o enter not into judgement with thy servant ; if thou shouldest , no flesh should bee righteous in thy sight . if thou ( o lord ) shouldest be extreame to mark what is done amisse , ( o lord ) who may abide it ? psal. 130.3 . but ( good lord ) one deepe calleth another ; the deepe of our misery , the deepe of thy mercie , psal. 42. where sinne hath abounded , there let grace over abound , rom. 5. and in and through all sinnes and offences , ( o lord ) let thy mercie triumph over thy justice , iam. 2. o lord heare . o lord forgive . consider ( o lord ) and doe it . dan. 9. delay not ( o lord ) for his spirit waxeth faint ; turne not thy face from him , lest he become like those that goe down into the silence . be favourable ( o lord ) be favourable . for thy names sake . forthy truthes sake . for thy mercies sake . thy many great wonderfull mercies sake . for thine owne selfe , o lord , our creator and redeemer . our lord and our father . our king and our god . commendatio animae . 12. the commendation of the soule to god , immediately before the departure . lord , now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace . luke . 2. into thy hands ( o lord ) we commend his spirit , for thou hast redeemed it o lord thou god of truth . psal. 31. bring his soule out of prison , that it may prayse thee psal. 142. oh deliver him from this body of death . rom. 7. say unto his soule , i am thy salvation . psal. 33. say unto him , this day shalt thou be with me in paradise . luke . 23. let him now feele the salvation of jesus . let him now feele the anoynting of christ , even the oyle of gladnesse , wherewith thou art anoynted . guide thou him through the vale of the shadow of death . psal. 23. let him see the goodnesse of the lord in the land of the living . psal. 27. o lord command his spirit to be received up to thee in peace . o lord , wil him come unto thee . mat. 14. lord iesu receive his spirit . act. 7. and open to him the gates of everlasting glory . let thy good spirit conduct him into the land of righteousnesse . psal. 143. 10. into thy holy hill and heavenly kingdome . psal. 15. send thine angell to meete him , and to bring him into abrahams bosom . luke . 16. place him in the habitation of light and peace , of joy and gladnesse . receive him into the armes of thy mercy and give him an inheritance with thy saints in light , there to raigne with thine elect angels , thy blessed saints , thy holy prophets and glorious apostles , in all joy and glory , felicity and happinesse for ever and ever . 13. scriptures to be applyed to those who survive , when the party is departed . pretious in the sight of the lord is the death of his saints . psal. 116. i heard a voyce from heaven , saying , write ; blessed are the dead , that dye in the lord , for they rest from their labours , and their workes follow them . moses . wee have sinned ( o lord ) thou hast set our faults before thee , and our secret sinnes in the sight of thy countenance . psal. 90.8 . returne ( o lord ) how long ? and bee pacifyed towards thy servants , psa. 90. 13. iob. i have sinned , what shall i doe unto thee , o thou preserver of mankind ? why hast thou set mee as a marke against thee , that i am become a burden to my selfe ? iob 7. 20. have mercy upon mee ( o lord ) and restore unto me my righteousnesse againe . say , concerning me , ( lord ) deliver him , for i have received a reconciliation , iob 33. v. 24 that i have offended thee , woe is me , iob 10.15 yet if thou kill mee , i will put my trust in thee , iob 13.15 . david . my misdeeds have prevailed against me , psal. 65. 3. o bee thou mercifull unto my sinne , ibid. i have gone astray like a sheepe that is lost : o seeke thy servant , for i do not forget thy commandements , psalm . 119. ult. wee have sinned with our fathers , wee have done amisse , and dealt wickedly , psal. 105. for thy names sake ( o lord ) bee mercifull unto our sinne , for it is great , psal. 25. my foote hath slipped , let thy mercy ( o lord ) lift me up , psal. 94. esay . behold , thou art angry ; for we have sinned : we all have beene as an uncleane thing , and all our righteousnesse as a defiled cloath . wee all fade as a leafe : and our iniquities ( like a winde ) have taken us away . but now ( o lord ) thou art our father : wee are but as clay , and thou art our potter : wee all are the worke of thy hands . be not angry ( o lord ) above measure , neither remember our iniquities forever . lord , we beseech thee , remember , wee are thy people . jeremy . lord , our iniquities are against us ; our rebellions be many : we have sinned against thee . yet deale thou with us according to thy name for thou ( lord ) art in the middest of us , and thy name is called upon us ; ( o lord ) forsake us not . o lord , thou hope of israell , the saviour of it in the time of trouble , forsake us not . daniel . wee have sinned , ( o lord ) we have transgressed , and done wickedly ; yea , we have rebelled , and have departed from thy precepts , and from thy commandements . o lord , righteousnes belongeth unto thee , but unto us confusion and shame of face , because of all the offences wee have committed against thee . yet compassion , and forgivenesse is with thee ( o lord , ) though wee have rebelled against thee ( o lord ) according to thy goodnesse , i beseech thee , let thine anger and thy wrath bee turned away from us , and cause thy face to shine upon thy servant ( o my lord ) incline thine eare , and heare , open thine eyes , and behold my affliction , for wee doe not present our supplications before thee in our owne righteousnesse , but for thy manifold and great mercies . o lord , heare , o lord , forgive , consider , and doe it ( o lord ) deferre not for thine owne sake , o my god . ionas , o lord , in following lying vanities , i have forsaken mine owne mercy , for the which i am cast out of the sight of thine eyes . ion. 2.4 . yet i remember thee , ( o lord ) yet will i look againe towards thy holy temple ; o lord , heare , and have mercy . the prodigall child , father , i have sinned against heaven , and against thee , i am no more worthy to be called thy sonne . but forgive mee , and make me one of the meanest of thy hired servants , luke 15. 28. lord bee mercifull unto me a sinner ; jesu , master , have mercy upon us . have mercy upon mee , ( lord ) thou son of david , mat. 15. o lord helpe me . o lord , even the little whelps eate of the crums of thy table . paul , o lord , i am carnall , and sold under sinne , and in me , that is , in my flesh , dwelleth no good . the good things i doe not which i would : the evill that i would not , that doe i. though i consent to the law , according to the inner man , yet i feele another law in my nature , rebelling against the law of my minde , and leading me captive to the law of sinne . o wretched man that i am , who shall deliver me from this bodie of death ? rom. 7.14 . but this is a true saying , and by all meanes worthy to bee received ; that jesus christ came into the world , to save sinners , whereof i am chiefe . peter , we have spent the time past of our life , after the lust of the heathen , walking in wantonnesse , lust , surfetting , uncleannesse , and other excesses . 1 pet. 4. but thou hast redeemed us ( o lord ) by the precious blood of christ , the undefiled lambe , 1 pet. 1. have mercy upon us in that name , besides which thou hast given none under heaven , whereby wee must be saved . act. 4. iohn . if we say wee have no sin , we deceive our selves , and the truth is not in us . if our heart condemne us not , god is greater then our heart , & knoweth all things . but wee confesse our sinnes , and confessing them , we have an advocate with the father , jesus christ the righteous , and he is the propitiation for our sinnes . iames , in many things we offend all . but lord let thy mercy triumph over thy justice . 14. a forme of confession according to the tenne commandements . 1. 1. i have not studyed to know and seeke thee as i ought . 2. knowing thee , i have not glorified thee , nor beene thankefull to thee ; especially not for thy chastisements . 3. i have doubted of thy promises , and not trusted to thy helpe . 4. i have made flesh mine arme , and have hoped for prosperity from man , rather then from thee . 2. 1. i have , touching thee , been full of roving imaginations and evill thoughts . 2. i have not worshipped thee in spirit and truth . 3. i have not performed the duty of invocation , with that reverence which i should . 4. i have drawne neere unto thee with my lippes , but my heart hath beene farie from thee . 3. 1. i have not with due regard taken thy name into my mouth . 2. i have with rash oathes and eager execrations oft abused it . 3. i have not given occasion to others , to sanctifie thy name , but have caused it to bee evill spoken of through mine evil dealing . 4. i have not duely regarded and reverenced those things wheron thy name is imprinted . 4. 1. i have not spared to absent my selfe from thy holy assemblies without sufficient cause . 2. i have not to thy sabbath or sanctuary broght that care which i should . 3. i have not spent the dayes assigned to holy exercises , upon them onely , but have in them intended mine owne private businesse . 4. i have been content in them with the use of the meanes onely , without any practice at all . 5. 1. i have not so reverently spoken of , nor so dutifully carried my selfe toward some whom thou hast placed over me , as was meete i should . 2. i have not so carefully prayed for them as was requisite . 3. chiefly those who had mee in government touching my soule . 4. i have not opposed to them , who unreverently in termes have used them . 6. 1. i have not wished or provided for the good of my neighbor as i should , but rather maligned , been angry and quarelled with him , and sought revenge , upon every light occasion . 2. i have not rejoyced in the good successe of my neighbour , but envied his welfare . 3. i have not had due compassion on the poore , nor ministred to their necessities . 4. i have not defended them against the wrongs of others as i might . 7. 1. i have suffered my fancy to wander licenciously . 2. i have not eschewed the occasion of lust , nor made a covenant with mine eyes , not kept mine eares and tongue as i should . 3. i have not brought under my body , nor kept it in subjection with abstinence , but have wore studiously , and with more cost intended my flesh then my spirit . 4. i have not possessed my vessell in holinesse and honour , nor preserved it from pollution , as became the temple of god . 8. 1. i have not reckoned godlinesse great gaine , nor been content with mine estate , but wished an higher . 2. i have not been so exact in paying , and dealing with those i had to deale with all , as in justice i was bound . 3. i have by undue meanes interverted to mine owne use that which was not mine . 4. i have not , of that i had more then enough , been willing to part with to the reliefe of the needy . 9. 1. i have not been so studious of speaking the truth as i should . 2. i have beene defirous to seeme , and to bee reputed more then i was . 3. i have not had that care of the good name of my brother , which i was bound to have . 4. i have not hated flattery as i should . 5. i have not stood for , and defended the truth , as was meete . 10. i have beene full of wandring desires , wicked affections , unlawfull concupiscences , evill suspitions and surmises , and inordinate lusts , touching my neighbour , and that which is his . 15. severall remembrances of gods mercy . god in his mercy is {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} 2 cor. 10. 1 gen. 18.32 . takes all in the better part ; if it will admit any good sense , so he construes it . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , meeke , 2 cor. 10. 1. not irritable , not easily stirred up or provoked . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , sees , and sees not , makes as if he did not see . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , overlookes , beyond our sinnes ; not at them . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , passeth by , or over them , dissimulat peccata propter poenitentiam . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , when hee cannot but see , yet he forbeares , is patient . m {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . forbeares long , suffers long , many times , many yeares . {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , when he can suffer no longer , yet stands as over ephraim , asking , how shal i stay yet ? expect at ut misereatur . when hee can stay no longer , but punish hee must , he doth it not from the heart , lam. 3.33 . but against his will . when he punisheth , he doth it , not suffering his whole displeasure to arise , containing himselfe and his anger . not according to our deserts ; nothing so much . not long , it indures but a moment in comparison , psal. 30.5 . he thinkes every stripe two , is quickly weary , esa. 54.7,8 . in his wrath remembers mercy , hab. 3.2 . repents him of the evill , is mooved with the fight of our misery , ioel 2 13. psal. 106. hath mercy , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} great mercy , multitudes of mercy . hath compassions , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , the bowells of compassion , the bowels of a parent , of a mother , psal. 103.15 . esa. 49. many bowells , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . is soone appeared , and easily , esa. 30. 15. forgives , pardons , is reconciled , mat. 18.32 . 27. takes into favour againe , receives to grace , 2 cor. 5.19 . luk. 15.22 . rom 3.25 . all have sinned , and are defective in giving glory unto god , rom. 3.23 . in his angels he found folly ; the starres are not cleane in his sight , ioh 25 5. & 4.18 . & 15.15 . but god hath not made all men for nought , ps. 89 yet if god should bee extreme to marke what is done amisse , who were able to abide it . psal. 130. 3. if he should enter into judgement with his servants , no flesh should bee found righteous in his sight , psal. 147.2 . none were able to answer one for a thousand , no not iob himselfe , iob 9.3 . therefore god hath shut up all under sinne , that he might have mercy upon all , rom. 11.32 . hee would have none to perish , but to come to him by repentance , 2 pet. 3,9 . he would not the death of a sinner , but that hee should turne and live . eze. 33.11 . hee would have all to be saved , 1 tim. 2.4 . all that know their sinne , psal. 51.3 . know , and acknowledge it , psal. 31.5 . luk. 15.18 . acknowledge it , and be sorry for it , psal. 38. be sorry for it , and bee ready to leave it , prov. 28. 13. not onely to leave it , but to judge themselves for it , 1 cor. 11.31 . eze. 36. and to punish themselves for it . by the fruites of mortification , ioel 2.13 . ion. 7.5 . accompanyed with prayer , psal. 32.6 . aliens , esa. 58.7 . prov. 6.6 dan. 4.24 . at the estimation of the priest , who may forgive us in the person of christ ioh. 8.9.2 cor. 2.10 . ioh. 20.22 . which his mercy is not onely for common and ordinary sinners , but for the chiefe : such as manasses , paul ; such as david , peter ; such as ionas , the thiefe on the crosse : such as rahab , mary magdalen ; such as the corinthians , 1 cor. 5.1 . et eratis , the jewes his betrayers and murtherers , act. 3.15.19 . david was a man according to gods owne heart . christ is the sonne of david , and david forgave shimei , and wept for his rebellious sonne absolon , 2. sam. 19.29 . the preface or stile of the law , exod. 3.46 . the lord , the lord , gentle and mercifull , patient and of much mercy , which keepeth mercy for thousands , and forgiveth . the discourse of elihu , ioh. 3. 23. tast and see how gratious the lord is . psal. 34. 8. 1 pet. 2.3 . his mercy is sweet . psal. 109. 10.69.17 . his mercies are many , there is a multitude of them . psal. 5.7 . 51.1 . there is plenteous redemption . psa. 130. ult. the mercies are great , they have a magnitude , psa. 86.5 . 119. 56. in height . psa. 103. 11. psal. 36.5 . 108.4 . in depth . psa. 42.9 . in length . psal. 26.6 . 13.6 . there is no end of his salvation , psal. 71.13 . mercy shall be set up for ever . psal. 89. 4. his mercy is over all his workes . psal. 145.9 . as is his majesty , so is his mercy . psal. 102.40 . his propertie is to have mercy . esay . 28.21 . hee is the father of mercyes . 2 cor 1. 3. hee is mercy it selfe . psa. 59. he was so mercifull , that he forgave their misdeedes , and destroyed them not . yea many a time turned hee his face away , and wold not suffer his whole displeasure to arise , for he considered they were but dust . psal. 78. 1.38 . the lord waiteth , that he may have mercy on you , esay . 30.18 . in the father of the lost child his image . luke . 5. 22. god hath shut up all under sinne , that he might have mercy upon all , rom. 11. 32. where sin aboundeth , there grace doth over-a-bound . rom. 5. 20. mercy ttiumpheth over iustice . iam. 2. 1. this is a true saying , and by all meanes worthy to be received , that iesus christ came into the world to save sinners . in this god set forth his love to us , that when wee were his enemies christ dyed for us . rom. 5. 10. christ dyed once for our sinnes , the just for the unjust , that he might offer us unto god . 1. pet. 3. 18. wee have an advocate with the father , jesus christ the righteous , and he is the propitiation for our sinnes , and not for ours onely , but for the sins of the whole world , 1. ioh. 2.2 . i came not to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance . mat. 9. 13. come unto mee , you that travaile and be heavy laden , i will refresh you . mat. 11. 20. of them that come to mee , i cast none out . ioh. 6.37 . thou never failest them that seeke thee . psal. 9.10 . why art thou so heavy o my soule , and why art thou so disquieted within mee ? o put thy trust in god , for i shall yet give him thanks , for he is the helpe of my countenance , and my god . returne thou unto my rest , o my soule , for the lord hath beene gracious unto thee . if the lord had not helped mee , it had not failed but my soule had been put to silence . in the middest of the troubles that were in mine heart , thy comforts have refreshed my soule . neverthelesse , my soule , waite thou still upon god , for of him cometh my salvation . he verily is my hope and my strength , he is my defence , so that i shall not greatly fall . let us goe with boldnesse unto the throne of grace , that wee may finde mercy in the time of need , act. 4. ult. 16. expressions of gods mercy , fit to be used to him in prayer . lord of life and death , of sickenesse and health , and al things thereto belonging . by whose appointment wee were borne , and againe , by whose appointment wee m●● dye ; our time is in thine hand ; and unt 〈…〉 belong the issues 〈…〉 . th 〈…〉 est nothing th 〈…〉 made , nor doe 〈…〉 terly forsake the workes of thine owne hands . thou that art a defence for the oppressed , a refuge in the needfull time of trouble . thou that never failest them that seeke thee , and to whom none ever prayeth without hope to be heard . thou that promised , the poore shall not alway be forgotten ; that the patient abiding of the meeke shall not perish for ever . for the comfortlesse troubles sake of the needy , and for the deepe sighing of the poore , arise ( o lord ) and men shall know that it is thy hand ; and that it is thou lord that hast done it . o lord , whose mercy reacheth to the heavens , and whose faithfulnesse to the clouds of whose mercies there is neither number nor end the greatenesse of whose goodnesse is not shut up under any time . who callest unto thy vineyard , even at the eleventh houre . which rulest not with rigour , but with meekenesse doest governe the things thou hast made . thou that killest , and revivest , that bringest to the gates of death , and bringest backe againe . that hatest nothing of that thou hast made , that hast shut up all under sin , that thou mightest have mercy upon all . lord , the saviour and saving health of all the faithfull . the fountaine of all grace and goodnesse . the father of mercies and consolation . thou that upholdest all such as are faling . and liftest up those that be downe . thou that healest the broaken in heart . and givest medicine to cure their sicknesse . the comfort of them that be in heavinesse . the strength of them that be in weakenesse . the health of them that be in sickenesse . heare ( o lord ) and have mercy . looke downe from heaven , behold and visit , visit with thy salvation . a confession . the foundation and ground-worke of prayer is faith , theoph. the ground of faith is the promise of god . lift up your hearts . he which giveth us life , teacheth us to pray . the prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds , eccles. 35.17 prayer , is a conference with god . i will set my sinnes before mee , that they may not appeare before thee . lord my heart is ready lord , i feare it is not ready . would god it were so . woe is mee that it is not so . lord , i fit and prepare my selfe . assist my preparation , and make me more fit . a confession of the faith . lord i beleeve , helpe my unbeleefe . first , in god , 1. the father , 2. almighty , 3. creator of heaven and earth . in the father , naturall affection . almighty , power of deliverance . creator , providence ; to preserve , to governe , to perfect , & consummate all things . secondly , in jesus christ , his only sonne , our lord . the great mystery of godlinesse . god manifest in the flesh , for us men , and for our salvation . god and man , the son of the father anointed of the spirit our lord , as creator . as redeemer . 1. that he was conceived . to purge forth the sin wherin we are conceived . 2. was borne . to clense us of the sin wherein we are borne by nature . 3. suffered . what we should have done , that we might not suffer . 4. was crucified . to take away the curse of the law . 5. dyed . to take away the sting of death . 6. was buried . to take away the corruption of our bodies in the grave . 1. that he descended into bell . whither we should have gone , that wee may never come there . 2. rose againe from the dead . that being made the first fruites of them that sleepe , he might raise our nature together with himselfe . 3. ascended up into heaven . that he might prepare a place for us . 4. now sitteth at the right hand of god . that he might make intercession for us . 5. whence he shall come . that he may receive us . 6. to be a iudge . for the consummation of all things . thirdly , in the holy ghost . and in him power from on high , to sanctifie and quicken unto eternall life . outwardly , and visibly , but powerfully and manifestly working in us , by the illumination of knowledge , infusion of grace . in reproofe , in instruction , in long sufferance , in assistance , in witnesse-bearing , in consolation . grace is the fruite of the spirit . fourthly , the holy catholique church . the mysticall body of christ the head , and them which the spirit hath called out of the whole world . to the beleife of the divine truth . to a holy conversation . to the mutuall participation of all the members of the body . to the communion of saints , and remission of sins in this world , and hope of resurrection , and translation to life eternall , in that to come . i beleeve , ( lord supply the defects of my faith . ) that i may love thee the father . reverence thee the almighty . that i may commit the keeping of my soule to thee , as to a faithfull creator . 1 pet. 4. that i may ever give thankes to thy word , and onely begotten sonne , as the purger of our nature , in our conception and birth . as the redeemer of our persons , by his passion , by his crosse , by his death . as the triumpher over hell in his descension , over death his resurrection . as our forerunner in his ascension . as our advocate in his intercession . as the repairer of our faith , in his second comming . that christ may bee formed in us . that wee may be conformed to his image , in good workes . conception , in faith . birth , in humility . for his passion-sake , to have sympathie with him as suffering for us . to suffer for him , when it shall please him to have an antipathie with sin , as the cause of his passions . to revenge sin in us . to crucifie sin in us . to mortifie sin in us . to burie sin in us . to make us conformable to his descension into hel , by our often comming there by meditation . to his resurrection , rising againe to newnesse of life . to his ascension , seeking and labouring after those things that are above . to his judgment , judging our owne selves , that we may not be condemned with the world . to make us remember , when wee are cold in prayer , and want any grace or heavenly comfort , thy seate , thy appearing , thy intercession . to make us never forget , when wee burne through concupiscence , and sinfull lust , his dreadful and fearefull tribunall , and often to thinke on the last trumpe . that for thy christ his sake , the onely begotten of thee the father , wee may receive thine anointing , the grace of sanctification , the unspeakeable gift of the holy ghost . in a happy conjunction , flowing knowledge , fervent prayer , diffusion of charity . that i may not quench the spirit , or resist him , or make him sad , or at any time dishonour him . that we may be called in thy catholick church , living members both by now and holy affection . that we may be common partakers of holy persons , actions , prayers , liturgies , or publique service , to the full assurance of remission of sinnes . hope of resurrection , and translation to life eternall . lord increase my faith , as a grain of mustard seed . not a dead , faith . not a temporary , faith . not a hypocritical faith . destroying the law , but working by charity co-operating with good works , subservient to vertue . a living faith . a pure faith . a holy faith . amen . a confession of sins . lord , i confesse , i was borne in iniquity , and in sinne did my mother conceive me , psal. 51.7 . a roote of bitternesse , a vine of sodome , a spawne of vipers , a wild olive branch , a son of wrath . a vessel of wrath , 1. a rebellious heart , like a deceitfull bow . 2. a mouth , like an open sepulchre , full of folly . 3. polluted lips . 4. a tongue , a world of wickednesse . 5. eyes , full of adultery . 6. vncircumcised eares , like a deafe adder . 7. a whorish forehead , like brasse . 8. a hard necke , like an iron sinew . 9. hands , slow to good . 10. feete , swift to evill . whatsoever i have done , either was a spiders web , or basiliskes egge . i have sinned before the lord ; thee the lord , and done this evill in thy sight . i am by nature , corruption , a worme , very dust . by sin , a slave of satan , and most vilde firebrand of hell . i have sinned sins many in number , more than there are drops of water in the sea , starres in heaven , haires on my head . of many kindes . in many places , on every greene field , under every greene tree : often reiterated , at severall turnes , as a fountaine casteth out her waters , ier. 6.7 . till they became habituall as skarlet , esa. 1.18 . i sold my selfe to doe wickednesse , 1 king. 21.25 . till they became naturall , like a leopards spots or ethiopians skinne . i have sinned large sins , esa. 57.8 . hard sins , ier. 30. 14. great , in quantity v. 15 long , from my mothers wombe , psal. 24.11 . thicke , cords of vanity , esa : 5. 18. deepe ; heavy , as a burden , lead , psa. 38. 4. having their cry reach to heaven . i have sinned , heinous sinnes , because fruitelesly , vainely ; for a handfull of corne , for a peece of bread because with greedinesse , ephes. 4.19 . one sin after another , because with a whores forehead , ier. 3. 3. because deceitfully , gal. 2.18 . iam. 4. 10. because even to offence , because i have been unthankfull , rom. 1.21 . as a dog to the vomit , as a sow to the wallowing in the mire , 2 pet. 2.22 but deliver mee from them , o lord , because thou art righteous , and upright are thy judgements , psal. 119.137 . i eate the fruit of a lye . for what fruite have i now of those things , whereof i am ashamed , rom. 6.21 . broken cisternes , which can hold no water , ier. 2. 13. my dayes are passed away in thy wrath , my yeares are as a tale that is told , psal. 90.9 . thou hast given me up to a reprobate minde , to doe the things that are not convenient , rom. 1.28 there is no soundnesse in my flesh , because of thine anger : neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne , psal. 38.3 . adde hither the confusion that is continually before me , and the shame of my face that hath covered me , psal. 44.15 . moreover my troubled minde and feare , because of thy judgements . lastly , bitternesse worse than of death , both because i have forsaken god and am forsaken by him . woe be to me revolter , that i have done these things . see , o lord , how vilde i am become , even abhorring my owne selfe . i waste for very griefe . what shall i say ? or how shall i open my mouth ? what shall i answer , seeing i have done these things ? esa. 38.15 . to which of the saints may i flee ? wretched man that i am , who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? rom. 7.24 . since i can neither say or doe more , i will lift up mine eyes toward thee . though i bee unworthy to looke towards thee , yet i will looke towards thee . out of the deepe have i called to thee , o lord , lord heare my prayer , psal. 130.2 . if thou beest strict to observe what is done amisse , lord , who shall be able to abide ? enter not into judgement with thy servant , o lord , for in thy sight shal no man living be justifyed , psal. 143.2 . i appeale therefore , o lord , from thee , to thee . from thee being just , to thee being mercifull . from the throne of justice , to the throne of grace , from thee ; being a judge , to thee being a father in christ . accept , o lord , this humble appeale . suffer me not to perish lord carest thou not that i perish ? mar. 4.33 . which wilt that all men be saved . 1 tim. 2.4 . that no man perish , 2 pet. 3.9 . lord i am thine , therefore save me , psal. 119.94 . despise not the worke of thine owne hands , wis. 10.4 . thy servant , and sonne of thy hand-maid , psal. 116.15 . thy servant , a prodigall , mat. 18.27 . yet a servant . first , thy sonne : the price of thy sons blood , that i might be adopted . though i have forgotten the duty of a son , yet remember thou the love of a father . though i am a wicked prodigall son , yet i am a son , luk. 15.17 . i am called by thy name , dan. 9.19 . thou art not ashamed to be called my god , heb. 11.16 . we are christians , thy christs ransomed ones , we are called by his name . spare thy worke , spare thy name the price of thy blood , though thou spare not us . secondly , but i am a sinner , and god heareth not sinners , iob. 9.20 . yet consider i beseech thee , of what i am made . remember that i am but flesh , a wind that passeth away , and commeth not againe , psal. 78.39 . consider our frame , remember wee are but dust , psal. 103.14 . fraile dust , light wind , corruptible flesh . lord wilt thou breake a leafe driven to and fro ? wilt thou pursue the dry stubble ? iob 13.24 . wilt thou hunt after a flea ? 1 sam. 24.15 . thirdly , thy creature . but miserable , humble . spare me being humble . david spared railing shimei , 2 sam. 19.19 . and david was a man after thine owne heart , act. 13. 22. spare me therefore , o lord . behold , we have heard the kings of israel are mercifull ; let us therfore put sackcloath on our loynes , and ropes upon our heads , and goe to the king of israel , and say , let my soule live , 1 king. 20.31,32 . it may be he will save us . is any king of israell mercifuller then thou ? thou lord sparedst ahab , which sould himselfe to doe wickednesse , because he humbled himselfe . 1 king. 21. 27. spare mee also . how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people ? psal. 80. 4. lord , i cover not my sinne as adam . iob 31.33 . i doe not extenuate and lessen my sinnes . i freely confesse i have sinned . wrought wickednesse . transgressed . beene rebellious . but i condemne my selfe . 1. cor. 11. 31. call it often to mind . confesse it . punish my selfe for it . spare me o lord . accept the sacrifice of a broaken spirit . contrite heart . troubled mind . afflicted reines . wounded conscience . i have sinned against thee . fourthly , but lord thou wilt have pitty on some ; hast thou made man for nought ? shall thine enemy say , thou hast made us to kill us ? because thou hatedst us thou hast made us for to be destroyed ; or that thou couldest not save us ? num. 14. 15. remember this that the enemy hath reproached , o lord , & that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name . psal. 74. 18. as also that all have sinned and come short of the glory of god . rom. 3. 23. if thou wilt contend , the most holy cannot answer for one of a thousand . iob. 9. 3. neither the infant of a day old , nor the starres are pure in his sight , yea he hath found folly in his angels . iob. 25. 3. if thou , o lord , shouldest marke iniquities who should stand ? psal. 130. 3. if thou enter into judgment , no man shall bee justified . and what shall become of thy great name , of the riches of thy mercy , of the blood of thy sonne ? gal. 2. 21. shall he dye to no purpose ? let the world rather perish ; then thou shouldest not multiplie thy mercies upon us . be it farre from us . thou hast included all under sinne , that thou mightest have mercy on all . all which desire to acknowledge your sins , and the misery due for them , returne to the lord with your whole heart . all those thou hast loved , in thy beloved . not small sinners . but manasses , and paul . that in them thou mightest manifest the excellency of thy mercy , and open a gate of hope . the chiefe of sinners . fifthly , wherefore spare me desiring to returne into thy favour . for what profit is there in my blood , when i goe downe into the pit ? psal. 30.9 . in death there is no remembrance of thee , in the grave who shall give thee thankes ? psal. 6.5 . shall thy wonders be knowne in the darke , and thy righteousnesse in the land of forgetfulnesse ? ps. 88. 12. verily the grave cannot praise thee , death cannot celebrate thee , they that goe downe into the pit , cannot hope for thy truth . esay . 38. 18. 19. the living , the living shall praise thee , as i doe this day . i shall not dye , but live , and tell the workes of the lord . psal. 118. 17. sixtly , but if i have knowne thee , o lord , and thy dealings , thou art good to them that are good and deserve wel . gracious to strangers and mourners : merciful to the bad , and them that deserve ill . here i insist . when thou canst not for any one , for anything , yet for thine owne sake thou pardonest sinnes . esay 43. 44. i may come so easily . seaventhly . david the prophet adventureth thus to pray . be mercifull unto mee , according to thy law , psal. 119.24 . as if the law set forth thy mercy , and indeed so it doth ; the very law from thy mouth soundeth , the lord raigneth , the lord god , mercifull and gracious , long-suffering , and abundant in goodnesse and truth , keeping mercy for thousands , forgiving iniquity , and transgression , and sinne , exod. 34.6 . and by this very word thy servant moses besought thee to spare thy people , num. 14.15 . eightly , the prophet isaiah , & habakkuk , presume to call mercy thy work , as if to punish were strange to thee , and belonged to another , esa. 28 20. hab. 3.2 . neither doe the law , and the prophets onely , but nature it selfe , but the direction of the holy ghost teach iob this . if there bee a messenger with him , an interpreter , one among a thousand , to shew unto man his uprightnesse , then he is gracious unto him , and faith , deliver him from going downe into the pit , i have found a ransome , iob 33. 23. he shall pray unto god , and he will be favourable . o taste and see that the lord is gracious . blessed is the man that trusteth in him , psal. 34.8 . his mercy is good , psa. 109.21 . tender , psa. 69.16 . better than life , psal. 63. 3 the mercy of god , is great , psal. 5.7 . manifold , psal. 51.1 . abundant , 1 pet. 4. 10. large , psal. 130.6 . broad to the east , psa. 86.5 . to the west , psal. 119. 156. deepe as a pit , psal. 103 12. high , to the heavens , & above the heavens , psal. ●2 . 9 . & 36.5 . eternall every way , psa : 25.6 . & 103.17 , & 13.6 . his mercy is above all his workes , psal. 145.9 . above our sins , ro. 5.20 . above his justice , iam. ● . 13 . according to his greatnesse , so is his mercy , his salvation infinite . psal. 71. i know no end thereof . he is the father of mercy . it is naturall to him . god is called mercy it selfe , psal. 59.10 . oh happy name , under which , no man may despaire ! aug. great is the pit of my sins , but more , the deepe of gods mercies , chrysost. first , kind , patient , long-suffering , slow to wrath , long containing it selfe . winking at the sins of men , because they should amend , wisd. 11.23 . hee being full of compassion for bare them 40. yeares , and forgave their iniquity , and destroyed them not . yea many a time turned he away his anger , and stirred not up all his wrath , psal. 78.38 . o that thou hadst knowne this ! it is the mercy of god that wee are not all consumed . secondly , milde in correction , so that his judgments want not mercy ; his punishments are parts of mercy . i will visite their transgression with a rod , and their iniquity with stripes neverthelesse , my loving kindnesse will i not utterly take from him , psal. 89. 32. he hath not dealt with us after our sins , nor rewarded us according to our iniquities , psa. 103. 10 little correction sufficeth a father , for great offences . how shall i give thee up ephraim ? hos. 11.8 . thirdly , placability , because his wrath is easily appeased . hee will not alwayes chide , neither will hee keepe his anger for ever , psal. 103.9 . his anger endureth but a moment , psal. 30.5 . in a little wrath hid i my face from thee , for a moment : but with everlasting kindnesse , will i have mercy on thee , &c. esa. 54.8 . in wrath hee remembreth mercy , hab. 3.2 . when i said my foote slippeth ; thy mercy , o lord , helped me , psal. 104. 13. i said , i will confesse my transgression unto the lord , and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin , ps. 32.5 . david said , i have sinned against the lord : and nathan said unto david , the lord , hath put away thy sinne , thou shalt not dye , 2 sam. 1. 8. though for no other cause , yet for mine owne sake , saith the lord , esa. 43.25 . the lord is mercifull , and will not keepe anger for ever , ier. 3.12 . the lord waiteth that he may be gracious unto you , esa. 30.18 . fourthly , compassion , for though we suffer deservedly , yet hee pityeth us in our misery . he is said to have bowels of mercy , or tender mercy , luk. 1.78 . the lord is very pityfull , and of tender mercy , iam. 5.11 . neverthelesse , he regarded their affliction , when he heard their cry , psal. 106. 44. hence hee heareth sinners , being in trouble , who in their prosperity knew him not . if wee seeke him in the time of trouble , he will heare us , and be mercifull to us . fifthly , readinesse to pardon , psal. 130.4 . as david at first would not looke on absalon , yet afterwards kissed him . a father will not only pardon a prodigall son , returning , but put on him a robe , and a ring and kill a fatted calfe , lu. 15.22 . there is joy and triumph in heaven , over one sinner that repenteth , luk. 7. neither doth god onely pardon small faults , but great sinnes . they say , if a man put away his wife , and shee goe from him , and become another mans , shall hee returne unto her againe ? shall not that woman be greatly polluted ? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers , yet returne againe unto me , saith the lord , ier. 3. 1. and thus he did to his disciples leaving him . peter denying him with an oath , the theefe blaspheming him , and the jews crucifying him , act. 3.15.19 . he is kind unto the unthankfull , and to the evill , luk. 6.35 . sixthly , neither doth he onely grant pardon , but grace also ; preventing , following , compassing about on every side , psal. 79.8 . & 23.6 . & 32.10 seventhly , what ever good worke we doe , being assisted by his grace , he will reward it . hee crowneth us with loving kindnesse , and tender mercies , psal. 103.4 . he is mercifull , and rewardeth us farre above what we deserve . he suffereth not a cup of cold water to be given without a reward . eightly , neither is he mercifull by nature onely , but also by practice . hee hath learned to be gracious , and shewed it for ever of old , psal. 25.6 . we say rightly therefore , our fathers trusted in thee , they trusted , and thou didst deliver them , psal. 22.4 . hath god forgotten to be gracious ? hath he in anger shnt up his tender mercies ? psal. 77.9 . the fountaine is not dryed up , his hands are not shortened , his eares are not heavy . where are thy former . loving kindnesses ? psal. 89.49 . i will sing of the mercies of the lord , for i have said , mercy shall be built up for ever . ninthly , as god sheweth mercy , so he promiseth it : so saith david , remember the word unto thy servant , upon which thou hast caused mee to hope , psal. 119.49 . for what if some did not beleeve ? shall their unbeleefe make the faith of god without effect ? rom. 3.3 . if isaac could not . change his word , gen. 27. 33. the persians theirs , dan. 6.8 . nor pilate his , iob. 19. 22. surely gods promises shall never be altered . i will not let thee goe , except thou blesse me , gen. 32.26 . yea lord , even dogges eate of the crummes that fall from their masters table , mat. 15.27 . but all these are as one in christ , whereby are given unto us many great and pretious promises , 2 pet. 1.4 . and in whom all promises are yea , and amen , 2 cor. 1. 19. whom to have named is sufficient . jesus thou sonne of david have mercy on us , mat. 15.22 . jesus , this is his name , because he saveth us from all our sinnes , mat. 1.21 . lord , do not so remember my sins , as to forget thy mercy , aug. sonne of david , who forgave railing shimei , thy sworne enemy . and thou lord forgive . christ heare us . christ , intercede with us , and for us . expiate our sinnes . procure thy fathers favour , give us what thou art thy selfe . say to my soule , i am thy salvation . thy apostle hath not said in vaine , this is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation , that christ jesus came into the world to save sinners , of whom i am chiefe , 1 tim. 1.15 . where sinne abounded , grace did much more abound , rom. 5.20 . he hath concluded them all in unbeleife , that hee might have mercy upon all , rom. 11.32 . he commandeth his love towards us , in that , while we were yet sinners , christ dyed for us , rom. 5.8 . and another apostle speaketh to the same purpose ; christ also hath once suffered for sinnes , the just for the unjust , that he might bring us to god , 1 pet. 3.18 . so a third , mercy rejoyceth against judgement , iam. 2.13 . and a fourth , if any man sin , we have an advocate with the father , jesus christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sinnes , and not for our sins onely , but also for the sinnes of the whole world , 1 io. 2.1,2 . yea , he himselfe saith , come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and i will give you rest mat. 11.28 . i came not to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance , luk. 5.32 . these words have not beene uttered in vaine , they cannot be so uttered wherefore in the multitude of my thoughts within me , thy comforts delight my soule , psal. 94. 19. let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace , that wee may obtaine mercy , and finde grace to helpe in the time of need , heb. 4. ult. now therefore , o our god , heare the prayer of thy servant , and his supplications , and cause thy face to shine , dan. 9.17 . lord be mercifull to me a sinner . lord heare me , and that soone , for my spirit faileth me . a forme of thankesgiving . prayse is comely . i was formerly unworthy let me not now bee unthankefull . the soule that blesseth shall be made fat . when ye shall have eaten and are satisfyed , ye shall praise the lord your god , for that good land which hee hath given you . blessed bee the lord god of iethro . let us sing unto the lord god of israel . thou art my god . i will magnifie thee , and praise thee . another . blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ , which according to his abundant mercy , hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope , by the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead , 1 pet. 1.3 . blessed bee the lord god of israel , who hath visited and redeemed his people , luk. 1.78 . blessed he god , even the father of our lord jesus christ , the father of mercies , and god of all comfort , which comforteth us in all our tribulations , 2 cor. 1.3 . i will praise the lord with my whole heart , in the assembly of the upright , and in the congregation , psal. 111.1 . i will praise the lord , for i am fearefully , and wonderfully made ; marvellous are thy workes , and that my soule knoweth right well , psal. 139. 14 , 15. my substance was not hid from thee , when i was made in secret , and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth . thine eyes did see my substance , yet being unperfect , and in thy booke all my members were written , which in continuance were fashioned , when as yet there was none of them , psal. 16. thine hands have made and fashioned mee together around about . thou hast powred mee out like milke , and cruddled me like cheese , iob 10.8,9,10 , thou hast cloathed me with skinne and flesh , and hast fenced mee with bones and sinewes . thou hast granted mee life and favour , and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit , iob 10.11,12 . i will blesse the lord , who hath given me counsell psal. 16.7 . i am not worthy of the least of thy mercies , and of all the truth , which thou hast shewed unto thy servant : for with my staffe i passed over this iordan , and now i am become two bands , gen. 32.10 . o blesse our god yee people , and make the voyce of his praise to be heard , which holdeth our soule in life , and suffereth not our feete to be moved , psal. 68.8,9 . for thou lord hast made mee glad through thy work , i will triumph in the workes of thy hands , psal. 92.4 . blesse the lord , o my soule , and all that is within me , blesse his holy name , psal. 103.1 . blesse the lord , o my soule : and forget not all his benefits , v. 2. who forgiveth thee all thine iniquities , who healeth all they diseases , v. 3. who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; who crowneth thee with loving kindnes and mercy , v. 4. who satisfyeth thy mouth with good things : so that thy youth is renued like the eagle , v. 5. thou hast turned my mourning into dancing , thou hast put off my sackecloath , and girded me with gladnesse , psal. 30.11 . to the end that my glory may sing praise unto thee , and not be silent ; o lord , i will give thanks unto thee for ever , v. 12. thou which hast shewed mee great troubles , quicken me again , & bring me up againe from the depths of the earth . psal. 71.20 . my lips shall greatly rejoyce when i sing unto thee , and my soule which thou hast redeemed , psal. 71.23 . my tongue also shall talke of thy righteousnes all the day long , v. 24. lord god , who is like unto thee ? blessed bee the lord god of israel , who onely doth wondrous things , and blessed be his glorious name for ever ; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory , amen , amen , psal. 72.18 . blessed be the name of the lord , from this time forth and for evermore , psal. 113.2 . blessed be the glory of the lord , from his place , ezek. 3.12 . honour and glory , rev. 4.9 . and power , v. 11. and wisdome , re. 5.12 and strength , and blessing , v. 13. and salvation , re. 7.10 and thankesgiving , and praise , to the blessed and individuall trinity , now and ever , amen . another . that i , have any being , live , have reason , that i , am civill , am a christian , am of honest parentage , am of a right minde , sense , members , am borne freely , am brought up with learning . for deliverance from danger , disgrace , trouble . for health , for a competent estate , for redemption , for regeneration , for instruction , for vocation , for thy patience , for my repentance , for hope of pardon , for prevention , for healing , for benefits which wee have received , for that wee have done any good , for present comfort , for future hope , for good and honest parents , for masters , for benefactors , for good friends , for children , for faithfull servants . for all that have beene presidents to me , by writing , by preaching , by discoursing , by prayers , by examples , by reproofes , by injuries . for these , and all other things , knowne , or unknown , manifest , or hidden , remembred , or forgotten , i doe , and will praise thee ; i doe , and will blesse thee ; i doe , and will thanke thee , all the dayes of my life . morning prayer . lord the day is thine ; and the night also is thine , thou hast prepared the light and the sunne . psal. 74.16 . they continue this day according to thine ordinances , for all are thy servants . psal. 119. 91. evening , and morning , and at noone will i pray , and cry aloude ; and thou lord , wilt heare my voyce . psal. 55. 17. my voyce shalt thou heare in the morning , o lord , in the morning will i direct my prayer unto thee and looke up . psal. 5. 3. blessed art thou o lord , who turnest darkenesse into light , and renuest the face of the earth . psal. 104. 30. who deliverest us from the terrour by night , and from the pestilence that walketh in darkenesse . ps. 91. 5. who makest sleepe depart from mine eyes , and slumber from my eye lids . psal. 132. 4. blot out o lord , as a thicke cloud , my transgression , and as a cloud my sinnes . esay . 44.22 . make us children of light , and children of the day . 1. thes. 5. 5. grant that we may walke soberly , and wisely as in the day . vouchsafe o lord to keepe us this day without sinne . preserve us from the arrow that flyeth by day , and from the devill , which walketh at noone day . deliver us from the snare of the hunter , and bitter words , preserve us from the malice of this day . this day let salvation and peace be unto this house . cause me to heare thy loving kindenesse in the morning , for in thee do i trust : cause me to know the way wherein i should walke , for i lift up my soule unto thee . psal. 143 8. deliver me o lord , from mine enemies , i flie unto thee to hide me . teach me to doe thy wil , for thou art my god : thy spirit is good , lead me into the land of uprightnesse . psal. 143.10 . let thy worke appeare unto thy servants , and thy glory unto their children . psal. 90.16 . establish thou the worke of our hands upon us , yea the workes of our hands establish thou . set a watch ( o lord ) before my mouth , keepe the doore of my lips . ps. 141. 3. let my speech be alway with grace , seasoned with salt , that i may know how to answer every man . col. 4. 6. let the words of my mouth , and the meditation of my heart , be acceptable in thy sight , o lord my strength & my redeemer . psal. 19. 14. lord prosper our going out and coming in , now and ever . amen . evening prayer . by night lift up your hands in the sanctuary , and blesse the lord . psal. 134.3 . evening , and morning , and at noone will i pray , and cry aloud , and thou lord wilt heare my voyce psal. 55. 17. the lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time , and in the night his song shall bee with me , and my prayer unto the god of my life . psal. 42. 8. let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense , & the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice . psal. 141. 2. blessed art thou o lord , who makest the day and night , and givest rest unto the weary . who givest songs in the night , and makest the out-goings of the morning , and evening to rejoyce . psal. 65. 8. who deliverest us from the arrow that flyeth by day , and from the devill that walketh at noone day . psal. 91. 4. who hast not cut off like a weaver my life , and from day unto night wilt not make an end of us . es. 38. 12. lord as one day succeedeth another , so have we added one sinne to another . a just man falleth seven times & riseth up againe , but the wicked shall fall into mischiefe . prov. 24. 16. this day hath both massah and meritah . but we returne unto thee , and all our bones cry out we repent . luk. 17. 4. let not the sonne set in thine anger . lord thou hast done all our good workes for us , whatsoever hath beene well done , accept favourably . lord , sinne and destruction proceede from us . pardon us wherein we have offended . accept of the good we doe . forgive what we doe amisse . blessed art thou o lord , who givest thy beloved sleepe , and makest them that feare thee to rest quietly psal. 127 . 2. deliver us from the terrour by night , and from the pestilence that walketh in darkenesse . behold , hee that keepeth israel , shall neither slumber nor sleepe . ps. 121. 4. lord deliver us from evill , lord preserve my soule . lord i sleepe , but my heart waketh . visit me with thy salvation , and shew me thy visions by night . let my sleepe be a cessation from sinne , as well as labour , that so by dreames i may neither offend thee , nor pollute my selfe . make me to remember the darkenesse hideth not from thee , but the night shineth as the day . psal. 139. 12. make me when sleepe departeth from mine eyes to remember thee , that i may keepe thy statutes . make me to commune with mine owne heart upon my bed in the night to search mine owne waies , & not to neglect the chastning of my reines . what is right , what more right , how i may be more pleasing to thee , better usefull to men . thou that compassest my paths , bed and reiues with a cleare lanthorne to see thee , with a darke lanthorne to see thee . make me thinke long sleepe , to be the sleepe of death , and my bed to be a grave , whose stuffing is wormes , and covering dust . i will lay me downe and take my rest , for thou lord makest me dwell in safety . psal. 4. 9. into thy hands o lord i commend my spirit , because thou hast redeemed mee , o lord god of truth . 1. pet. 4. 1. finis . the contents contained in this booke . 1 comfortable scriptures to be used to the sicke party . 2 ejaculations for the sicke . 3 heads of comfort to be administred from the consideration of god , christ . 4 things to be recommended to the sicke , such as are , prayer , almes , repentace , faith , love , hope , well-doing . 5 propositions and inferences to be made to the sicke . 6 questions to be urged to the sicke , and scriptures to be propounded in answer of them . 7 questions to be added farther upon answer of the former . 8 several parts of prayer to bee used by the sicke party , taken out of scripture . 9 a prayer to be used by the minister . 10 a letany to be used for the sicke . 11 severall choyce expression of prayer to be used for the sicke party . 12 the commendation of the soule to god , immediately before the departure . 13 scriptures to be applyed to those who survive when the party is departed . 14 a forme of confession according to the ten commandements . 15 severall remembrances of gods mercy . 16. expressions of gods mercy , fit to be used to him in prayer . a confession of the faith a confession of sinnes . a forme of thankesgiving another . morning prayer . evening prayer . finis . a manual of directions for the sick with many sweet meditations and devotions of the r. reverend father in god, lancelot andrews, late l. bishop of winchester : to which are added praiers for the morning, evening and h. communion / translated out of greeke ms. of his private devotions by r. d. ... andrewes, lancelot, 1555-1626. 1648 approx. 138 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 132 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a25388 wing a3132 estc r10193 13289879 ocm 13289879 98826 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a25388) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 98826) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 444:14) a manual of directions for the sick with many sweet meditations and devotions of the r. reverend father in god, lancelot andrews, late l. bishop of winchester : to which are added praiers for the morning, evening and h. communion / translated out of greeke ms. of his private devotions by r. d. ... andrewes, lancelot, 1555-1626. r. d. (richard drake), d. 1681. 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review (qc) and xml conversion a manual of directions for the sick . with many sweet meditations and devotions of the r. reverend father in god , lancelot andrews , late l. bishop of winchester . to which are added praiers for the morning , evening , and h. communion . translated out of a greeke ms. of his private devotions . by r. d. b. d. london , printed for humphrey moseley at the princes armes in st. pauls church-yard . 1648. to the christian reader . the great errand of our coming into this world , is but to prepare ourselvs for a better . which being the chief scope and aim of this manual , i cannot but commend his pious intention , who formerly presented it to publik view . but , observing a great want of that impression , besides many literal imperfections , omissions and misquotations of holy scriptures therin , and generally so great a want of that care and exactness , which was due to any piece of him , to whom it claim'd relation , and which made the child so unlike the father , i counselled this second edition of it , assuring myself that it would be an acceptable service to the church of god , and not a little ingage the world in a reverend estimation of this holie prelate , who not only taught them the way to heaven by his incomparable sermons , but also assisted them in it by his example and devotions . it hath been too great a fault in all ages , to wrap up their drugs in gold , and to vent false wares under glorious titles , imposing an the world , and on famous authors many broken and imperfect reliques . that this reverend father hath suffered somwhat by this false play , is too notorious in the world : and in the former impression of this manual there were som crude additions , which , though not justifiable by any authentik evidence or remain of his , were yet impos'd on him and us , and dar'd to call him master . these being hence remanded to their proper place of silence and obscuritie , i give you this as his genuin issue . which i am the rather induced to beleive so , not only by the internal arguments , the spirit and genius , the method and peitie thereof , but also , by the external testimonie and conveighance of it to us , as his , under the fair hand of his amanuensis ; from which collated with another manuscript , and that in print , i give you this corrected . that it was conceived and used by him in his ordinarie visitation of the sick , when he was vicar of st. giles creeplegate , though i take for no good topick to gain your entertainment of it by ; yet this persuasion it may happily beget , that all the business of a parish-priest is not consined to the pulpit ; but that there is other business , if the people could think on it , wherein to imploy men of that profession : which if so wel attended as it ought , we should not hear of so many scandalous complaints against a lazie clergie , nor be so much infested by sacrilegious intruders into our sacred office. your pardon , if i tell you what i mean , not in mine own , but his expressions , who knew better what belonged to the court of conscience : i take it to be an error , to think the fruits of repentance , and the worth of them , to be a matter any common man can skil of wel enough : needs never ask s. john , or s. paul , what he should do ; knows what he should do as wel as s. paul or s. john either : and that it is not rather a matter , wherin we need the counsel and direction of such as are professed that way . truly it is neither the least , nor the last part of our learning to be able to give answer and direction in this point . but therfore laid aside and neglected by us , because not sought after by you . therfore not studied , but by very few , quia nemo nos interrogat , because it is grown out of request quite . we have learn'd , i know not where , a new , a shorter course , which flesh and blood better likes of : to pass the whole course of our life , and , in the whole course of our life , not to be able to set down , where , or when , or what we did , when we did that which we call repenting : what fruits there came of it ; what those fruits might be worth . but even a little before our death , ( and as little as may be ) not til the world have given us over , then , lo , to come to our quid faciemus ? to ask , what we shal do ? when we are able to do nothing : and then must one come , and ( as we call it ) speak comfortably to us , that is , minister to us a little divinitie ladanum , rather stupefactive for the present , then doing any sound good , and so take our leaves to go meet with ira ventura . this way , this fashion of repenting saint john knew it not ; it is far from his fructus dignos ; s. paul knew it not ; it is far from his opera digna . and i can say little to it , but i pray god , it deceive us not . it is not good trying conclusions about our souls . this i take for so fair an item to a tender and pious christian , as i doubt not of diverting him therby from deferring the making of his accompts eaven with heaven , til the cross or bed of sickness call upon him . sure , that 's no time , or place , to contest with two such enemies , as are infirmities and sins : and an age is too short a time to provide ourselvs in for eternitie . with this protest and caveat against this unchristian course and fashion of the world , i commend this to you as your vade mecum ; and as your faithful friend and counseller . which , though it speak in special to the sick , will be found upon serious thoughts to be servieeable to all estates and conditions whatsoever , whether in sickness or health , prosperitie or adversitie ; making in us such deep impresses of the divine excellencie , and our human frailtie , as must needs force us from the cobweb comforts of this , to the desire of enjoying those more solid and immutable in a better world , in the expressions and with the longings of the roial prophet , my foul is athirst for god , yea even for the living god : when shal i come to appear before the presence of god! psal. 42. 2. i need not mind you of the reading of the psalms after the old translation of the liturgie . for , besides that there was no other then in being , the constant use of those expressions , to which the church was so habituated in her dailie offices , had made them so familiar and known to all , that any other reddition of them might have been taken for the greatest injurie and invasion that could possibly have been made upon devotion . one presumption i shal promise myself your pardon of , my affixing titles and inscriptions , they being wholy designed out of charitie , for the better use and service of the many ; who , not being able to digest and apply what is given in gross , may under these special and distinct heads find matter proper for their meditations and devotions , according to their several exigencies . the forms of morning and evening praier , being very lame and broken in the former edition , i give you here complete and perfect . to which i have added , as the crown and complement of all our services , his devotions for the holie communion ; all translated out of the greek copie of his amanuensis . you will need no other reason of the addition of this last , when i shal tell you , that ( besides that i find it in latin annexed with the manual for the sick ) the participation of that sacred mysterie is the most proper companion for persons in that condition , as being the viaticum of the soul , and a pledg of the resurrection . i shal add no more , but the promise of my praiers for a blessed improvement of this intended for your good ; and a desire of your for him , who accompts himself happie in nothing more then the praiers of christian people , as the highest obligation that can possibly be laid upon april 21. 1648. your most humble servant in our lord jesus . r. d. the contents of this manual . inquiries to be made concerning the partie . pag. 2. general considerations of the mortalitie of man. p. 3. comfottable scriptures to be used to the sick partie . p. 5. several duties recommended to the sick. p. 15. propositions and inferences to be made to the sick. p. 19. concerning the wisdom and providence of god in the ordering of all afflictions in general , and this in special . p. 19. concerning the fatherlie affection and love of god. p. 21. concerning the patience and thankfulness required in the sick . p. 23. concerning the contrition and repentance of the sick . p. 28. concerning the belief of the sick . p. 35. concerning the sick parties forgiving offenders against him . p. 38. concerning the sick parties desire of forgiveness from them whom he hath offended . p. 39. praiers and expressions of the souls affiance in god. p. 42. the commendation of the sick partie to the blessed trinitie . p. 46. a profession of the christianitie of the sick partie , demonstrated in many special graces . p. 52. heads of comfort to be administred from the consideration of god. p. 55. christ. p. 55. a collection of praiers out of the psalter , suitable to the exigencies of the sick . p. 58. a praier to be used by the priest , begging pardon of his own unworthiness , and aceeptance of his devotions for the sick . p. 91. a letanie for the sick person in danger of death . p. 94. an humble recognition of human frailtie , and a deprecation of falling from god. p 108. an affectionate recommendation of the sick person to gods mercie , grounded upon his special relations to god , and the sinceritie of his soul. p. 110. a praier for mercie and divine assistance to uphold the sick person in his present affliction . p. 117. a praier for the grace of god , and the pardon of the sins of the sick partie . p. 121. commendatio animae : or , the recommending of the soul to god. p. 128. comfortable scriptures to be applied to the friends of the deceased partie . p. 132. a general confession of sins , collected out of the holie prophets and apostles . p. 133. a confession of sins , according to the branches of the decalogue . p. 147. the triumph of mercie , in many gradual expressions , and remembrances , propounded to us in the holie scriptures . p. 156. spiritual comforts and confidence issuing from the contemplation of gods goodness . p. 172 devout ejaculations grounded on the consideration of our human frailtie , and the divine providence and mercie . p. 175. praiers for the morning . p. 181. evening . p. 201. h. cōmunion . p. 220. a manual for the sick . set thine house in order , for thou shalt die , 2 kings 20. 1. p. isa. 38. 1. is any sick among you ? let him call the priests of the church , and let them pray over him . and the praier of faith shal save the sick , and the lord shal raise him up . and if he have committed sins , they shal be forgiven him , s. james 5. 14 , 15. inquiries to be made concerning the parties 1. sex. 2. age. 3. condition of life . whether 1. learned , instructed ? 2. sound in mind ? memorie ? 3. the sense of hearing : perfect ? whether 1. patient , or unquiet ? 2. cheerful , or deject ? if being well , he found comfort in hearing , reading , repeating particulars . whether any material point , whereof to be admonished ? to take occasion out of his own words . general considerations of the mortalitie of man. what man is he that liveth , and shal not see death ? psal. 89.48 . it is appointed to men once to die . hebr. 9.27 . i am a stranger with thee , and a sojourner , as all my fathers were . psal. 39.14 . here we have no continuing citie . hebr. 13.14 . the night cometh , when no man can work . s. john 9.4 . if the tree fall toward the south , or toward the north , in the place where the tree falleth , there it shall be . eccles. 11.3 . comfortable scriptures to be used to the sick partie . the mountains may remove , and the hils may fall down , but my mercie shal not depart from thee , nor the covenant of my peace come to nothing , saith the lord , that hath compassion on thee . p. isa. 54.10 . heaven and earth shal pass , but my word shal not pass . s. mat. 24.35 . all the promises of god are in him yea and amen . 2 cor. 1.20 . in whom we have most great and precious promises , that we should be partakers of the divine nature . 2 s. pet. 1. 4. i have heard ephraim lamenting thus , thou hast corrected me , and i was chastised , as an untamed heifer . convert thou me , and i shal be converted : for thou art the lord my god. surely , after that i had converted , i repented : i smote upon my thigh : i was ashamed , yea even confounded , because i did bear the reproach of my youth . since i spake to him , i still remembred him : therefore my bowels are troubled for him : i will surely have compassion on him ( saith the lord. ) p. jerem. 31. 18 , 19 , 20. i will visit their offenses with the rod , and their sin with scourges : nevertheless my mercie will i not utterly take from him ; nor suffer my truth to fail . psal. 89. 32. my son , refuse not the chastening of the lord , neither be grieved with his correction . for the lord correcteth him , whom he loveth ; even as the father doth the child , in whom , for all that , he delighteth . pro. 3. 11 , 12. behold , blessed is the man , whom god correcteth : therefore refuse not thou the chastening of the almightie . for he maketh the wound , and bindeth it up ; he smiteth , and his hands make whole again . he shal deliver thee in six troubles , and in the seventh the evil shal not touch thee . job 5. 17 , 18 , 19. forget not the consolation that speaketh to you , as unto children , my son , despise not the chastening of the lord ; neither faint when thou art corrected of him : for whom the lord loveth he chasteneth ; and scourgeth everie son whom he receiveth . if you indure chastening , god offereth himself unto you , as to a son : for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? if therefore ye be without correction , whereof all are partakers , then are ye baftards , and not sons . moreover , we have had the fathers of our bodies , who corrected us , and yet we gave them reverence ; should we not much rather be in subjection to the father of spirits , that we might live . for they , verily , for a few days , chastened us after their own pleasure ; but he chasteneth us for our profit , that we might be partakers of his holiness . now no chastening , for the present , seemeth joyous , but grievous : yet afterwards it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness to them who are thereby exercised . wherefore lift up the hands that hang down , and the weak knees . heb. 12.5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. and ye now are in sorrow , but i will see you again , and your hearts shal rejoice ; and your joy shal none be able to take from you . s. john 16. 22. for a little while have i forsaken thee , but with great compassion will i gather thee . for a moment , in mine anger , i hid my face from thee , but with everlasting mercie will i have compassion on thee , saith the lord thy redeemer . p. isa. 54.7 , 8. modicam & videbitis me . s. john 16. 16. blessed is the man whom thou chastisest , o lord , and teachest him in thy law ; that thou maist give him rest in the days of evil . psal. 94. 12 , 13. but , when we are judged , we are chastened of thee , that we should not be condemned with the world . i cor. 11. 32. they that sow in tears , shal reap in joy . psal. 126. 6. the lord hath chastened and corrected me , but he hath not given me over unto death . psal. 118. 18. my brethren , count it exceeding joy , when ye fall into divers afflictions : knowing that the trial of your faith bringeth forth patience : and let patience have her perfect work , that ye may be complete , intire , lacking nothing . s. jam. 1. 2 , 3 , 4. blessed are they that mourn , for they shal be comforted . s. mat. 5. 4. when i am weak , then am i strong . 2 corinth . 12. 10. thou , lord , upholdest all such as are falling ; and liftest up those that be down . psal. 145. 14. thou healest the broken in heart , and givest medicine to heal their sicknes . psal. 147. 3. my flesh and my heart faileth ; but be thou the strength of my heart , and my portion for ever . psal. 73. 25. as mine outward man doth wear , and decay , so let mine inward man renew daily . o let this light affliction , which will quickly be over , cause unto me a far more excellent and eternal weight of glorie . 2 cor. 4. 16 , 17. several duties recommended to the sick . praier . pray unto the lord , if haply this may be forgiven thee . acts. 8. 22. for this cause shal everie one that is godlie make his praier unto thee . psal. 32. 6. almes . blessed is the man that considereth the poor and needie . psalm . 41. 1. by mercie and truth are sins cleansed , and forgiven . prov. 16. 6. break off thine unrighteousness by mercie to the poor . p. dan. 4. 24. they shewed the garments which she had wrought with her own hands . acts 9. 39. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. except ye repent , ye shal all likewise perish . s. luke 13. 5. ii. without faith it is impossible to please god. heb. 11. 6. iii. if i have all faith , and no love , it profiteth me nothing . i cor. 13. 2. iv. we are saved by hope . rom. 8. 24. v. hope thou in the lord , and be doing good . psal. 37. 3. and they shal come forth , that have done good , to the resurrection of life . s. john 5. 29. make you friends of the unrighteous mammon ; that , when you must hence , they may receive you into everlasting tabernacles . s. luke . 16. 9. zacheus stood forth and said unto the lord , behold lord , the half of my goods i give to the poor , and if i have taken any thing from any man , by false accusation i restore him four-fold s. luke . 19. 8. propositions and inferences to be made to the sick . concerning the wisdome and providence of god in the ordering of all afflictions in general , and this in special . 1 you are persuaded that no sickness , or cross , cometh , by chance , to any . 2. but you beleeve , that it is god who sendeth them , without whose providence they fall not on us . 3. you acknowledge god to be most wise , and to suffer nothing to befall us , but when it is expedient it so should . 4. therefore , god having sent this his visitation to you at this time , than it is expedieent for you thus to be sick . say , i know , o lord , that thy judgments are just , and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled , psal. 119. 75. concerning the fatherlie affection and love of god. 1 you know and confess , that god to all , but to christian men especially , carrieth the affection of a father toward his children . 2. you know also , that a father , whether he make much of his child , or whether he chasten him , continueth & father in both ; and loveth him in the one , no less then in the other . 3. think the same of god , as touching your self : that , while he gave you good days , he loved you ; and that now he sendeth you some evil , he loveth you also ; and would not have sent this evil , but to be a cause unto you of a greater good ; that , being called home thereby , you might be at peace with him. say , before i was troubled , i went wrong : but now sbal . i learn thy word . psalm 119.67 . concerning the patience and thankfulness required in the sick . you are not only to take it patiently , ( i beld my peace , and opened not my mouth , because it was thy doing , ) psal. 39.9 . it is the lord , let him doe what seemeth good in his eyes . i sam. 3.18 . 2. but even to give him thanks for it , as for a wholesom medicin : the lord hath given , and the lord hath taken away : as it pleased the lord , so is it come to pass : blessed be the name of the lord. job 1.21 . i will take this cup of salvation , and give thanks to the name of the lord. psal. 116.12 . 3. especially , for that we , in the time of our health , forgetting him , yet he is so merciful , that he giveth us not over with the world : but , for all we have of grieved his holie spirit , and fallen from grace , he visteth us again , and offereth it afresh unto us . 4. that , if his will had not been to shew mercie by this chaftisement , he could & would have suddenly taken you away with a quick destruction ; and not given you this time to bethink yourself , and to seek and sue to him for grace . say , when i am judged , i am chastened of the lord , that i might not be condemned with the world . i corinth . 11.32 . gods very punishment is a part of his mercie . psal. 89.32 . it is a great mercie of the lord , that we are not suddenly consumed . lament . 3.22 . for giving you a time and space . revel . 2.21 . o tarrie thou the lords leasure , be strong , and he shal comfort thine heart , and put thou thy trust in the lord. psal. 27.16 . o cast thy burthen upon the lord , and he shal refresh thee , and shal not suffer the righteous to fail for ever . psal. 55.23 . o put your trust in him alway , yea people : pour out your hearts before him ; for god is our hope . psal. 62.8 . he will not alway be chiding , neither keepeth he his anger for ever . psal. 103.9 . in his wrath he will remember mercie . p. hab. 3.2 . heaviness may indure for a night , but joy will come in the morning . psal. 30.5 . for a little while have i forsaken thee , but with great compassion will i gather thee : for a moment in mine anger i bid my face from thee , but with everlasting mercie have i had pitie on thee , saith the lord thy redeemer . p. isa. 54.7 , 8. concerning the contrition and repentance of the sick. do you acknowledg yourself not to have lived so well as you ought ? but to have sinned , don amiss , and dealt wickedly ? do you call to mind the years of your life spent amiss , in the bitterness of your soul ? do you desire to have your mind illuminated by god , touching those sins you never knew ; or which you once knew , but have now forgotten ; that you may repent of them ? 1 do you desire to feel greater sorrow in your soul , for your sins committed then you do ? 2 would you be glad if you did feel it ? 3 and are you grieved that you feel it not ? that you are no more grieved ? be there , or is there any special sin , that doth lie heavie on your conscience , for the which you need or would require the benefit of private absolution ? say , thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin , and makest his beautie consume as a moth fretting a garment . psal. 39.12 . there is no health in my flesh by reason of thy wrath : neither is there any rest in my bones , by reason of my sen. psal. 38.3 . lord be merciful unto me : heal my soul , for i have sinned against thee . psal. 41.4 . lord , i confess my wickedness ; and am sorrie for my sin . psal. 38.18 . i call to mind the mispent years of my life in the bitterness of my soul. p. isa. 38.15 . my misdeeds have prevailed against me : o be thou merciful unto my sin . psal. 65.3 . for thy names sake , o lord , be merciful unto my sin , for it is great . psal. 25.10 . o remember not the offenses and frailties of my youth ; but , according to thy mercie , think thou upon me , o lord , for thy goodness . psal. 25.6 . namely , o lord , and specially in — be merciful unto me . herein the lord be mertiful unto his servant . 2 kings 5.18 . o lord , lay not — to my charge . acts 7.60 . if thou , lord , be extreme to mark what is don amiss , o lord , who may abide it ? psal. 130.3 . o enter not into judgment with thy servant : for no flesh is righteous in thy sight . psal. 1 43.2 . my confusion is daily before me , and the shame of my face bath covered me . psal. 44.16 . my heart is disquieted within me , and the fear of death is fallen upon me . fearfulness and trembling are come upon me , and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me . psalm . 55.4 , 5. the lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart ; and will save such as are of an humble spirit . psal. 34.17 . a broken and contrite heart , o lord , wilt thou not despise . psal. 51.17 . repent you of these your sins ? that is , 1. have you a purpose to judg yourself for them if you live ? 1 cor. 11.31 . 2. and to inflict upon yourself punishment , for committing them , according as you shal be directed ? 2 cor. 7.11 . levit . 5.18 . 3. are you resolved , if god send you life hereafter , to amend and live more carefully ? and to avoid both those means & occasions that may provoke you to sin again ? and those signs and marks which testifie you delight in it ? 4. do you holily promise thus much in the presence of god , his grace aiding you ? 5. do you desire , if god send you health again , to be specially put in mind therof ? turn us then , o god our saviour , and let thine anger cease from us . psal. 85.4 . concerning the belief of the sick. beleive you the christian creed , or confession of our most holie faith , once delivered to the saints ? beleive you that you cannot be saved , except you did beleive it ? are you glad in your soul , and do you give god heartie thanks , that in this faith you were born , have lived in it , and now shal die in the same ? do you yourself desire , and do you wish us to desire at the hands of god , that this faith may not fail you , until the hour , and in the hour of death ? if your sense fail you , or if the pain of your disease , or weakness otherwise , so work with you , as it shal happen you with your tongue to speak ought otherwise then this your faith or religion would , do you renounce all such words , as none of yours ? and is it your will , we account of them as not spoken by you ? is there in your mind any scruple , touching any matter of faith or religion ? say , lord , i beleive , help thou mine unbelief . s. mark 9.24 . concerning the sick parties forgiving offenders against him . do you forgive them , that any manner of way have offended you , as freely as you would be forgiven at gods hand ? do you likewise desire of god , that he would forgive them ? that amends which they are bound to make you , in that they have offended you , are you content to remit them also ? are you willing that so much be shewed them from you , that you have forgiven them freely , and fully , and desire god to do the like ? say , father forgive them : they knew not what they did . s. luke 23. 34 o lord , lay not these fins to their charge . acts 7. 60. concerning the sick parties desire of forgiveness from them whom be hath offended . you yourself living in the world , it cannot be but some you have offended , do you desire that all such , as you have offended , would pardon and forgive you ? do you remember or call to mind any person or persons in special , whom you have so offended ? will you that so much be signified to them , in your name , that you desire them to forgive you ? inasmuch as the offenses against the seventh commandment of getting any children by the act of adulterie committed with the wife of another man ; and against the eighth commandment , touching mens goods ; and against the ninth , touching mens credits or good names ; are not by god forgiven , unless restitution be made to the parties wronged ; are you readie and willing to restore , and make satisfaction to such as you have wronged , in thrusting in a child begotten by you , likelie to deprive the true children of the partie , and begotten by him , of a childs part and portion ? and to such as you have wronged in their goods ? and to satisfie those whom you have any way touched in their good name ? and that without all fraud or delay ? can you call to mind any persons in particular , whom you have so offended ? praiers and expressions of the souls affiance in god. and now , lord , what is my hope ? truly , my hope is in thee . psal. 39.8 . thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth , and of them that remain in the broad sea . psal. 65.5 . though he kill me , yet will i trust in him. job 13.15 . though i walk through the vale of the shadow of death , yet will i fear no evil . psal. 13.4 . lord , thou knowest whereof we be made ; thou remembrest that we are but dust . psalm . 103.14 . call to mind we are but flesh : but a wind that passeth away and cometh not again . psal. 78.40 . remember , lord , of what time i am : what our substance is : wherfore hast thou made all men for nought ? psalm . 89.46 . lord consider my complaint , for i am brought very low . psal. 142.7 . let my present miserie more prevail to move compassion , then my sinful life past to provoke thine indignation . lord , how long wilt thou be angrie with thy servant that praieth ? psal. 80.4 . behold , i shew the lowliness of a suppliant : shew not thou to me the rigor of a judg. ne quaeso premat sententia judicis , quem sic submittit petitio supplicis . o deliver not thine own inheritance over into the will of thine enemie . psal. 74.20 . i am thine ; o save me . psal. 119.94 . i am thine ; carest thou not that i perish ? s. mark 4.38 . behold , o lord , how that i am thy servant : i am thy servant , and the son of thine handmaid . psal. 116.14 . thy unprofitable evil servant . s. matth. 18.32 . yet thy servant . thy lost unkind child . s. luke 15.24 . yet thy child . though i have not shewed to thee the dutie and affection of a son , yet do not thou cast from thee the natural kindness and compassion of a father . the commendation of the sick partie to the blessed trinitie . into thine hands i commend myself , as unto a faithful creator . 1 s. pet. 4.19 . receive , o lord , thine own image , not made by any strange god , but by thyself , the only true and living god. despise not , o lord , the work of thine own hands . psal. 138.8 . lord , i am created to thine own image . gen. 1.27 . suffer not , o lord , suffer not thine own image to be utterly defaced : but renew it again in righteousness and true holiness . ephes. 4.24 . into thy hands i commend myself , for thou hast redeemed me , o lord , thou god of truth . psal. 31.6 . behold , o lord , i am the price of thy blood , of thy most pretious blood . 1 cor. 6.20 . suffer not so great a price to perish . suffer not that to be cast away , that thou hast so dearly bought . o lord , thou cam'st down from heaven , to redeem that which was lost . s. luke 19.10 . suffer not that to be lost , which thou hast redeemed . behold , o lord , thou art in the midst of us : thy name is called upon us . ( p. jerem. 14.9 . ) we are called by thy name , p. dan. 9.19 . christians . for thy names sake be merciful unto us . psal. 25.10 . and 79.9 . spare thine own name in us . and do not , good lord , so remember our fins , that , by remembring them , thou forget thine own name . lord , we call upon thy name . there is no name under heaven whereby we can be saved , but only it. acts 4.12 . though we be unfaithful , yet , thou art true , and canst not denie thine own name 2 tim. 2.13 . into thy hands i commend my self , as to my true and only sanctifier . lord , i have been the temple of thy holie spirit . 1 cor. 3.16 . though it hath been polluted through my frailtie , yet , o lord , destroy it not : but dedicate it , hallow it anew , and sanctifie it to thee . yet once again make an encoenia of it . spare us good lord. spare thine own handie-work . image . name . the price of thine own blood in us . the good lord be merciful to every one , that prepareth his heart , to seek the lord god , the god of our fathers , although he be not according to the cleaness of the sanctuarie . 1 chre. 30.18 , 19. behold , o lord , a bruised reed ; break it not . behold smoking flax ; and yet , o lord , quench it not . p. isa. 42.3 s. matth. 12.20 . a profession of the christianitie of the sick partie , demonstrated in many special graces . lord , i have never denied thy name ; but confessed it ever : and in the confession and invocation of it , i desire to spend my last breath , and to depart this life . lord , i have desired to fear thy name . nehem. 1.11 . my soul hath been desirous to long after thy commandments . psalm . 119.20 . lord , i do acknowledg my wickedness , and am sorrie [ cogitabo , anxius ero , take thought ] for my sin . psal. 38.18 . lord , i beleive , help thou mine unbelief . s. mark 9.24 . lord , i hope verily to see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living . psal. 27.15 . let not this hope confound me , nor make me ashamed . psal. 119.116 . lord , i freely forgive , whomsoever i have ought against , those poor pence , or mites they ow me . s. mat. 18. 28. lord , i held my peace , and opened not my mouth at thy chastisement ; because it was thy doing , o lord. psalm . 39. 10. lord , i seek thee ; and thou never failest them that seek thee . psal. 9. 10. i come unto thee ; and of them that come to thee , thou castest none out . s. john 6. 37. nevertheless though i am sometime afraid , yet put i my trust in thee . psal. 56. 3. o lord , in thee have i trusted , let me never be put to confusion . psal. 31. 1. and 71. 1. heads of comfort to be administred from the consideration of god. christ. god is a creator . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so faithful . i s. pet. 4. 19. a possessor or owner . gen. 14. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i am thine . psal. 119. 94. part of thy possession . a redeemer at large , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 psal. 130. 7. a redeemer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as of the same flesh and blood . job 19. 25. christ is a mediator between god and us , his priesthood and sacrifice . a lamb. between us and sathan , his kingdom & conquest . a lion. between us and sin , his innocencie . between us & our concupiscence , his charitie . between us and the punishment due to our sins , his passion & blood-shedding satisfaction . between us & our conscience , and the judgment of god , his advocateship . between us and our want of righteousness , his absolute and complete obedience . between us & our want of desert of the eternal reward , his merit . between us & our want of fervor in praying , his intercession . between us & our want of sorrow in repenting , his agonie & bloodie sweat. these recount , shew , offer , set between . a collection of praiers out of the psalter , suitable to the exigencies of the sick . psal. 7. o lord my god , in thee have i put my trust ; save me from them that seek after my soul , and deliver me . ver. 1. lest he devour my soul , like a lion , and tear it in pieces , while there is none to help . ver. 2. psal. 18. the sorrows of death compassed me round about ; the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid . v. 3. the snares of death overtook me ; the pains of hell gat hold upon me . ver. 4. psal. 116. i have found trouble and heaviness ; and i will call upon the name of the lord. o lord , i beseech thee , deliver my soul. ver. 4. psal. 18. hear my voice , o lord , out of thy holie temple : let my complaint come before thee ; let it enter even into thy ears . ver. 6. send down from on high , and deliver me ; take me out of many waters . ver. 16. psal. 116. gracious is the lord , and righteous ; yea , our god is merciful . v. 5. the lord preserveth the simple : i am in miserie , but he will think upon me . ver. 6. turn again then to thy rest ( o my soul ) for the lord hath regarded thee . ver. 7. psal. 22. my god , my god , look upon me , why hast thou forsaken me ; and art so far from my health , and from the words of my complaint ? ver. 1. o my god , i crie in the day time , and thou hearest not : and in the night season also i have no audience . ver. 2. yet thou continucst holie , o thou worship of israel . ver. 3. our fathers hoped in thee ; they trusted in thee , and thou didst deliver them . ver. 4. they called upon thee , and were holpen ; they put their trust in thee , and were not confounded . ver. 5. but thou art he that took me out of my mothers womb : thou wast my hope , when i hanged yet upon my mothers brests . ver. 9. i have been left unto thee , ever since i was born : thou art my god , even from my mothers womb . v. 10. o go not far from me ; for trouble is hard at hand ; and there is none to help me . ver. 11. deliver my soul from the sword ; my darling from the power of the dog . ver. 20. save me from the lions mouth ; deliver me from among the horns of the unicorns . v. 21. psal. 25. for thy names sake , o lord , be merciful unto my sin , for it is great . ver. 10. o turn thee unto me , and have mercie upon me ; for i am desolate and in miserie . ver. 15. the sorrows of my heart are inlarged : o bring thou me out of my troubles . v. 16. look upon my adversitie and miserie , and forgive me all my sin . ver. 17. o keep my soul , and deliver me : let me not be confounded ; for i have put my trust in thee . v. 19. psal. 28. unto thee do i crie , o lord my strength ; think no scorn of me ; lest , if thou make as though thou heardest not , i become like them that go down into the pit . ver. 1. hear the voice of my humble petitions , when i crie unto thee : when i hold up my hands toward the mercie-seat of thy holie temple . v. 2. psal. 27. o hide not thou thy face from me ; nor cast thy servant away in displeasure . ver. 10. thou hast been my succour : leave me not , neither forsake me , o god of my salvation . ver. 11. psal. 40. withdraw not thou thy mercie from me , o lord ; let thy loving kindness and thy truth alway preserve me . v. 14. for innumerable troubles are come about me ; my sins have taken such hold upon me , that i am not able to look up ; yea , they are more in number then the hairs of my head , and my heart hath failed me . v. 15. o lord , let it be thy pleasure to deliver me ; make haste , o lord , to help me . ver. 16. as for me , though i be poor , and in miserie , yet the lord careth for me . ver. 20. thou art my helper and redeemer : make no long tarrying , o my god. ver. 21. psal. 31. o lord , my hope hath ever been in thee . i have said , thou art my god. ver. 16. my time is in thy hand , o deliver me , and be merciful unto me . v. 17. shew thy servant the light of thy countenance ; and save me for thy mercies sake . v. 18. psal. 38. forsake me not , o lord my god ; be not thou far from me . v. 21. haste thee to help me ; o lord god of my saluation . ver. 22. psal. 54. save me , o god , for thy names sake ; and deliver me in thy strength . v. 1. hear my praier , o god ; and hearken unto the words of my mouth . ver. 2. psal. 55. hear my praier , o god ; and hide not thy self from my petition . ver. 1. take heed unto me , and hear me , how i mourn in my praier , and am vexed . ver. 2. psal. 61. hear my crying , o god ; give ear unto my praier . ver. 1. from the ends of the earth will i call unto thee , when my heart is in heaviness . ver. 2. psal. 69. o lord , let me make my praier unto thee , in an acceptable time . v. 13. hear me , o god , in the multitude of thy mercies ; even in the truth of thy salvation . ver. 14. take me out of the mire , that i sink not : o let me be delivered from them that seek my soul , and out of the deep waters . ver. 15. let not the water flood drown me , neither let the deep swallow me up : and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me . ver. 16. hear me , o lord , for thy loving kindness is comfortable ; turn thee unto me , according to the multitude of thy mercies . ver. 17. hide not thy face from thy servant , for i am in trouble : o haste thee and hear me . v. 18. draw nigh unto my soul , and save it : o deliver me . ver. 19. as for me , when i am poor , and in heaviness , thy help , o god , shal lift me up . ver. 30. psal. 109. but deal thou with me , o lord god , according to thy name ; for sweet is thy mercie . ver. 20. o deliver me , for i am helpless and poor ; and my heart is wounded within me . ver. 21. i go like the shadow that departeth ; and am driven away as the grashopper . v. 22. my knees are weak through fasting ; my flesh is dried up for want of fatness . ver. 23. help me , o lord my god ; o save me according to thy mercie . v. 25. and men shal know how that this is thy hand ; and that thou lord hast don it . v. 26. psal. 74. o god , wherefore art thou absent from us so long ? why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture ? ver. 1. o think upon thy congregation , which thou hast purchased and redeemed of old . ver. 2. o deliver not the soul of thy turtle dove unto the multitude of thine enemies ; and forget not the distressed of thy servants for ever . ver. 20. o let not the simple go away ashamed ; but let the poor and needie give praise unto thy name . ver. 22. psal. 80. turn us again , o lord god of hosts ; shew the light of thy countenance , and we shal be whole . v. 3 , 7 , 19. psal. 85. o forgive the offenses of thy servants , and cover all their sins . v. 2. take away all thy displeasure , and turn thyself from thy wrathful indignation . ver. 3. turn us then , o god our saviour , and let thine anger cease from us . v. 4. wilt thou be displeased at us for ever ? and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another ? ver. 5. wilt thou not turn again , and quicken us : that thy people may rejoice in thee ? ver. 6. shew us thy mercie , o lord : and grant us thy salvation . v. 7 , psal. 70. haste thee , o lord , to deliver me ; make haste to help me , o lord. v. 1. psal. 44. up lord , why sleepest thou ? awake , and be not absent from us for ever . ver. 23. wherfore hidest thou thy face , and forgettest our miserie and trouble ? ver. 24. for our soul is brought low , even unto the dust : our bellie cleaveth unto the ground . ver. 25. arise , and help us ; and deliver us for thy mercies sake . v. 26. psal. 86. bow down thine ear , o lord , and hear me : for i am poor and in miserie . ver. 1. preserve thou my soul , for thou gavest it me : my god , save thy servant who putteth his trust in thee . v. 2. be merciful unto me , o lord : for i will call daily upon thee . v. 3. comfort the soul of thy servant : for unto thee , o lord , do i lift up my soul. v. 4. for thou , lord , art good and gracious , and of great mercie to all them that call upon thee . ver. 5. give ear , lord , unto my praier : and ponder the voice of my humble desires . ver. 6. in the time of my trouble i will call upon thee , for thou hearest me . ver. 7. for , thou , o lord god , art full of compassion and mercie : long-suffering , plenteous in goodness and truth . ver. 15. o turn thee then unto me , and have mercie upon me : give thy strength unto thy servant , and help the son of thine hand-maid . v. 16. shew some good token upon me for good , that they , who love thee , may see it , and be glad , because thou , lord , hast holpen me and comforted me . ver. 17. psal. 142. i cried unto the lord with my voice : yea even to the lord did i make my supplication . v. 1. i poured out my complaint before him , and shewed him of my trouble . ver. 2. when my spirit was in heaviness , thou knewest my path . v. 3. i looked also upon my right hand , and lo , there was none that could help me . ver. 4. i had no place to flie unto : and none was able to relieve my soul. v. 5. i cried unto thee , o lord , and said , thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the living . ver. 6. o consider my complaint , for i am brought very low . ver. 7. bring my soul out of prison , that i may give thanks unto thee : which thing if thou wilt grant me , then shal the righteous resort unto my companie . v. 9. psal. 141. mine eies look unto thee , o lord god ; in thee is my trust ; o cast not out my soul. v. 9. psal. 88. o lord god of my salvation , i have cried day and night before thee : o let my praier enter into thy presence ; incline thine ear unto my calling . v. 1. for my soul is full of trouble , and my life draweth nigh unto hell . ver. 2. lord , i have called daily upon thee , i have stretched out mine hands unto thee . v. 9. dost thou shew wonders among the dead ? or shal the dead rise up again , and praise thee ? ver. 10. shal thy loving kindness be shewed in the grave ? or thy faithfulness in destruction ? ver. 11. shal thy wonderful works be known in the dark ? or thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten ? ver. 12. unto thee do i crie , o lord ; and early shall my praier come before thee . ver. 13. lord , why abhorrest thou my soul ? why hidest thou thy face from me ? ver. 14. i am in miserie , and like unto him that is at the point to die : even from my youth up thy terrors have i suffered with a troubled mind . ver. 15. thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me ; and the fear of thee hath undon me . v. 16. psal. 141. lord , i will call upon thee , haste thee unto me ; and consider my voice when i crie unto thee . ver. 1. let my praier be set forth in thy sight as the incense : let the lifting up of my hands be as an evening sacrifice . ver. 2. psal. 79. lord , how long wilt thou be angrie ? and shal thy jealousie burn like fire for ever ? v. 5. o remember not mine old sins , but have mercie upon me , for i am come to great miserie . v. 8. help me o god of my salvation , for the glorie of thy name : o deliver me , and be merciful to my fins , for thy names sake . ver. 9. psal. 143. lord , i stretch forth mine hands unto thee : my soul gaspeth unto thee , like a thirstie land . ver. 6. hear me , o lord , and that soon , for my spirit waxeth faint : hide not thy face from me , lest i be like unto them that go down into the silence . ver. 7. psal. 13. how long wilt thou forget me , o lord , for ever ? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? v. 1. how long shal i seek counsel in my soul , and be so vexed in my heart ? how long shal mine enemies triumph over me ? ver. 2. consider and hear me , o lord my god ; lighten mine eies , that i sleep not in death . v. 3. psal. 30. in my prosperitie , i said , i shal never be removed : thou , lord , of thy goodness hadst made my state so strong . ver. 6. thou didst turn away thy face from me , and i was sore troubled . v. 7. then cried i unto thee , o lord ; and gat me unto my lord right humbly . v. 8. what profit is there in my bloud , if i go down into the pit ? v. 9. shal the dust give thanks unto thee ? or shal it declare thy truth ? v. 10. hear , o lord , and have mercie upon me : lord be thou my helper . v. 11. psal. 77. i will crie unto god with my voice , even unto god will i crie with my voice , and he shal hearken unto me . v. 1. in the time of my trouble i sought the lord ; my sore ran and ceased not : in the night season my soul refused comfort . ver. 2. when i am in heaviness i will think upon god : when my heart is vexed , i will complain . ver. 3. thou holdest mine eies waking ; i am so feeble that i can scarce speak . v. 4. i have considered the daies of old , and the years that are past . v. 5. i call to remembrance my song ; and in the night i commune with my heart , and search out my spirits . v. 6. will the lord absent himself for ever ? and will he be no more intreated ? v. 7. is his mercie clean gon for ever ? is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore ? v. 8. hath god forgotten to be gracious ? and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure ? ver . 9. and i said , it is mine own infirmitie ; but i will remember the years of the right hand of the most high. ver . 10. 2 chron. 20. o god , there is no strength in us : neither do we know what to do ; but only we lift up our eies unto thee . ver. 12. psal. 35. lord , how long wilt thou look upon this ? ver . 17. this thou hast seen , o lord ; hold not thy tongue then ; go not far from me , o lord. v. 22. psal. 69. save me , o god ; for the waters are come in , even unto my soul. ver . 1. psal. 68. let god arise , and let his enemies be scattered : let them also , that hate him , flee before him. ver . 1. p. isa. 38. lord , it oppresseth me , answer for me . v. 14. psal. 38. thou shalt answer for me , o lord my god. ver . 15. psal. 130. out of the deep have i called unto thee , o lord : lord hear my voice . ver . 1. o let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint . ver . 2. psal. 79. o let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee : according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die . ver . 12. a praier to be used by the priest , begging pardon of his own unworthiness and acceptance of his devotions for the sick . o lord , it is a great presumption , that one sinner should dare to commend another to thy divine majestie ; especially , the greater , the less : and who would not fear to undertake it ? but thy commandment it is , by thy holie apostle , when any is sick , that the priests should be called for : that they should pray for the sick partie , and that their praiers thou wilt receive ; and save and forgive the fins of the partie so praied for . and now behold , o lord , we that are no way meet , but unworthie , utterly unworthie , to sue for ought for our selvs , charitie and compassion so binding us , are enforced to become suitors to thee for others . even , o lord , for this thy servant , readie to depart this world . to thee we hope , to thee we desire , to thee we intreat and pray in all meek manner , and even from the bottom of our hearts . o lord , that , which justly thou mightst denie to our unworthiness , denie not , we beseech thee , to thine own gracious goodness . o lord , forgive us our sins , our great and grievous sins , oft and many times committed ; long and many years most wretchedly continued ; that so we may be meet to pray for others ; that so we may make our praier unto thee , in an acceptable time . graciously look upon our afflictions . pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts . mercifully forgive the sins of thy people . favorably with mercie receive our praiers . both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us , o christ. graciously hear us , o christ. graciously hear us , o lord christ. a letanie for the sick person in danger of death . o god the father of heaven , have mercie upon h. keep and defend h. o god the son , redeemer of the world , have mercie upon h. save and deliver h. o god the holie ghost , proceeding from the father and the son , have mercie upon h. strengthen and comfort h. o holie , blessed and glorious trinitie , have mercie upon h. remember not lord h. offenses . call not to mind the offenses of h. forefathers : but spare h. good lord , spare thy servant , whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud , and be not angrie with h. for ever . from thy wrath & heavie indignation ; the guilt and burthen of h. fins ; the dreadful sentence of the last judgment . good lord deliver h. from the sting and terror of conscience ; the danger of impatience , distrust or despair ; the extremitie of fickness , anguish , or agonie , that may any way withdraw h. mind from thee . good lord deliver h. from the bitter pangs of eternal death ; gates of hell ; power of darkness ; illusions & assaults of our ghostlie enemie . good lord deliver h. by thy manifold and great mercies ; by the manifold and great merits of jesus christ thy son ; by his agonie and bloodie sweat ; strong crying and tears ; bitter cross and passion ; mightie resurrection ; glorious ascension ; effectual and most acceptable intercession and mediation ; by the graces and comforts of the holie ghost ; good lord deliver h. for thy names sake ; the glorie of thy name ; thy loving mercie ; thy truths sake ; thine own self . in this time of h. most extremitie ; h. last and greatest need . in the hour of death , and day of judgment . good lord deliver h. deliver h. o lord , from all danger and distress ; from all pains and punishments , both bodilie and ghostlie . amen . as thou didst deliver noah from the flood ; so save and deliver h. lot from the fire of sodom ; so save and deliver h. isaac from present death ; so save and deliver h. job from all his tentations ; so save and deliver h. moses from the hand of pharaoh ; so save and deliver h. daniel from the lions den ; so save and deliver h. jonas from the belly of the whale ; so save and deliver h. and , as thou hast delivered thy blessed saints & servants from all their terrors and torments ; so deliver h. soul , and receive it to thy mercie . we sinners do beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee to remember h. with the favor thou bearest unto thy people , and so vifit h. with thy salvation . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee to save and deliver h. soul from the power of the enemie , lest , as a lion , he devour it , and tear it in pieces , if there be none to help . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee to be merciful , and to forgive all h. sins and misdeeds , which by the malice of the devil , or by h. own frailtie h. hath at any time of h. life committed against thee . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee not to lay to h. charge , what in concupiscence of the eie , pride of life , vanitie or superfluitie h. hath committed against thee . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee not to lay to h. charge what in the fierceness of h. wrath , or in the eagerness of an angrie spirit he hath committed against thee . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee not to lay to h. charge , what in vain and idle words , in the loosness and slipperiness of the tongue h. hath committed against thee . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee to make h. partaker of all thy mercies and promises in christ jesus . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee to vouchsafe h. soul the estate of joy , bliss , & happiness , with all thy blessed saints , in thy heavenly kingdom . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. that it may please thee to grant h. bodie rest and peace , and a part in the blessed resurrection of life and glorie . we beseech thee to hear us , good lord. son of god , we beseech thee to hear us . o lord god , lamb of god , that takest away the sins of the world , have mercie upon us . thou that takest away the sins of the world , have mercie upon us . thou that takest away the sins of the world , grant h. thy peace . thou that sittest at the right hand of god the father , have mercie upon us . lord have mercie upon us . christ have mercie upon us . lord have mercie upon us . our father , who art in heaven , &c. o lord deal not with h. after h. sins . neither reward h. according to h. iniquities . o god merciful father , that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart , nor the desires of such as be sorrowful , mercifully assist our praiers , which we make before thee ; at such times specially , when our greatest and most grievous extremities are readie to oppress us . and , o lord , graciously hear us , that those evils , those illusions , terrors and assaults , which thine or our enemie worketh against us , may be brought to nought , and by the providence of thy goodness may be dispersed , that we thy servants , being swallowed up with no tentations , may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holie church , through jesus christ our lord. amen . an humble recognition of humane frailtie , and a deprecation of falling from god. in the midst of life , we are in death : of whom then may we seek for succor , but of thee , o lord , who , for our sins , art most justly displeased with us ? yet , o lord most holie , o lord most mightie , o holie and most merciful father , deliver us not over to the bitter pains of eternal death . thou knowest , lord , the secrets of our hearts ; shut not up against us the ears of thy mercie ; but spare us , o lord most holie , o lord most mightie , o immortal and most merciful father . thou most worthie judg eternal , suffer us not in our last hour for any pains of death to fall from thee . ch. engl. office for burial . an affectionate recommendation of the sick person to gods mercie , grounded upon his special relations to god , and the sinceritie of his soul. i. we commend unto thee , o lord , the soul of this thy servant . he is the work of thy hands ; despise not , o lord , the work of thine own hands ; the likeness of thy image ; suffer not , o lord , thy image to be utterly defaced . the price of thy blood ; let not so great a price be cast away . a christian ; the name of thy son is called upon him ; for thy names sake be good unto thy name . he is thine , o save him . psal. 119. 94. give not over that thine is into the will of the enemie . though he hath finned , yet thy name hath he not denied ; but called upon it , and confessed it unto his lifes end : and there is no other name under heaven , but thine , wherby he hopeth to be saved . acts 4. 12. though he hath finned , yet he hath not hid his sin . job 31. 33. nor excused it . psal. 141. 4. but hath confessed it , and been sorrie for it , and wisheth even tears of blood , wherwith to lament it . though he hath sinned , yet others also have sinned against him , whom he from the heart forgiveth , and desireth forgiveness of them at thy gracious hands . o stablish thy word with thy servant . psal. 119. 38. and let him not be disappointed of his hope . psal. 119. 116. though he hath sinned , yet in thee he trusteth ; o suffer him not for ever utterly to be confounded . though he hath sinned , yet he seeketh thee : and thou , lord , never failest them that seek thee . psal. 9. 10. though he hath sinned , yet he cometh to thee : and of them that come to thee , thou castest none out . s. john 6.37 . ii. o lord , let not the guiltiness of a sinner more prevail to condemn , then the gracious goodness of a most merciful father to acquit and to pardon . o let not the unrighteousness of man make the goodness of god of none effect . rom. 3.3 . o lord , do not so remember the unkindness of this thy child , that therby thou forget the compassion and kindness of a father . do not so think upon our sins , that thou therby forget thine own nature and propertie , which is alway to have mercie . ch. engl. liturgie . do not so remember our sins , that thou therby remember not thine own name , which is jesus , a most loving and kind savior . iii. lord , if thy life in our life hath not sufficiently appeared , yet let not thy death lose the full power and effect therof in our death also . suffer not , o lord , in both , so great a price to perish . lose not , o lord , that which thou hast redeemed ; since thou camest to redeem that which was lost . s. matth. 18.11 . s. luke 19.10 . that , which was so dear to thee to redeem , suffer not to be lost as a thing of no value . a praier for mercie and divine assistance to uphold the sick person in his present affliction . have mercie upon him , o lord ; consider the pains which he suffereth , thou who only dost deliver from the gates of death . psal. 9.13 . shew thy marvellous loving kindness , thou that art the savior of them that put their trust in thee . psal. 17.7 . o keep him as the apple of thine eie : hide him under the shadow of thy wings . psal. 17. 8. o let thy merciful loving kindness be his comfort , according to thy word unto thy servant . psal. 119. 76. he is troubled above measure . psal. 119. 107. o be merciful to him according to thy goodness . o consider his adversitie , and deliver him : for he is brought very low . psal. 142. 7. his eies long sore for thy word , saying , o when wilt thou comfort me ? psal. 119. 82. his eies are wasted away with looking for thy health , and for the word of thy righteousness . psal. 119. 123. o think thou upon him , o lord , as concerning thy word , wherin thou hast caused him to put his trust . psal. 119. 49. o look thou upon him , and be merciful unto him , as thou usest to do to those that love thy name . psal. 119. 132. cast him not away , in the time of his weakness ; forsake him not now , when his strength faileth him . psal. 71. 9. in the multitude of the sorrows that are in his heart , let thy comforts , o lord , refresh his soul. psal. 94. 19. o lord , when it oppresseth , comfort thou him . p. isa. 38. 14. o lord , let thy strength be made perfect in his weakness . 2 cor. 12. 9. let no tentation oppress him , but such as is incident to thy children : but as thou art faithful , o lord , so suffer him not to be tempted above that he is able : but , good lord , with the tentation give an happy issue , that he may be able to overcome it . 1 cor. 10. 13. o lord , though he be afflicted on every side , yet let him not be distressed : though in want of some of thy comforts , yet not of all : though chastened , yet not forsaken : though cast down , yet not perish . 2 cor. 4. 8 , 9. a praier for the grace of god , and the pardon of the sins of the sick partie . remember him , o lord , with the favor thou bearest unto thy children : o visit him with thy salvation : that he may see the felicitie of thy chosen , and rejoice with the gladness of thy saints , and give thanks with thine inheritance . psal. 106.4 , 5. o remember not his former sins , but have mercie upon him , o lord , and that soon ; for he is come to great extremitie . help him , o lord god of his salvation , for the glorie of thy name : o deliver him , and be merciful to his sins for thy names sake . psal. 79.8 , 9. call to remembrance , o lord , thy tender mercies , and thy loving kindness which hath been ever of old . o remember not the sins and offenses of his youth ; but according to thy mercie think thou upon him , o lord , for thy goodness . psal. 25.5 , 6. cleanse him , o lord , from his secret sins . psal. 19.12 . from whatsoever he hath offended by thought , word , or deed. ignorance or error . frailtie or negligence . in excess or in defect . by leaving good undon , or doing evil ; in publik or private ; by day or night ; against thee , his neighbour , own bodie ; before , or since , his effectual calling ; by himself , or by others ; remembred or forgotten ; from them all cleanse him , o lord , even from them all ; lay none of them to his charge ; cast them behind thee ; burie them ; drown them ; scatter them as the mist , and as the morning cloud ; make them to vanish away and come to nothing . and , wherinsoever his conscience most accuseth him , therin , o lord , be thou most merciful . o enter not into judgment with thy servant . if thou shouldst , no flesh should be righteous in thy fight . psal. 143.2 . if thou , lord , shouldst be extreme to mark what is don amiss ; o lord , who may abide it ? psal. 130.3 . but , good lord , one deep calleth another . psal. 42.9 . the deep of our miserie , the deep of thy mercie . where fin hath abounded , there let grace over-abound . rom. 5.20 . and in and through all fins and offenses , o lord , let thy mercie triumph over thy justice . s. james 2.13 . o lord hear , o lord forgive , consider o lord , and do it . p. dan. 9.19 . delay not , o lord , for his spirit waxeth faint : turn not thy face away from him , lest he be like unto them that go down into the pit . psal. 143.7 . be favorable , o lord , be favorable . for thy names sake ; truths sake ; mercies sake ; for thy many mercies sake ; great mercies sake ; wonderful mercies sake ; for thine own self ; o lord , our creator and redeemer ; lord & our father ; & our god. king & our father ; & our god. commendatio animae ; or , the recommending of the soul to god. lord , now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace . s. luke 2.29 . into thy hands , o lord , we commend his spirit ; for thou hast redeemed it , o lord , thou god of truth . psal. 1.6 . bring his soul out of prison , that it may praise thee . psal. 142.9 . o deliver him from this bodie of death . rom. 7.24 say unto his soul , i am thy salvation . psal. 35.3 . say unto him , this day shalt thou be with me in paradise . s. luke 23.43 . let him now feel the salvation of jesus . let him now feel the anointing of christ ; even the oil of gladness , wherwith thou art anointed . guide thou him through the vale of the shadow of death . psal. 23.4 . let him see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living . psal. 27.15 . o lord , command his spirit to be received up to thee in peace . o lord , will him to come to thee . s. matth. 14.28 . lord jesu receive his spirit . acts 7.59 . andopen to him the gates of everlasting glorie . let thy good spirit conduct him into the land of righteousness . psal. 143.10 . into thy holie hill , psal. 15.1 . and heavenlie kingdom . send thine angel to meet him , and to bring him into abrahams bosom . s. luke 16.22 . place him in the habitation of light and peace , of joy and gladness . receive him in the armes of thy mercie ; and give him an inheritance with thy saints in light . colos. 1.12 . there to reign with thy elect angels , thy blessed saints departed , thy holie prophets , and glorious apostles , in all joy , glorie , felicitie , and happiness for ever and ever . amen . comfortable scriptures to be applied to the friends of the deceased partie . pretious in the fight of the lord is the death of his saints . psal. 116.13 . i heard a voice from heaven , saying , write , blessed are the dead , who die in the lord : for they rest from their labors , and their works follow them . revel . 14.13 . a general confession of sins , collected out of the holie prophets and apostles . p. moses . we have sinned , o lord. thou hast set our faults before thee , and our secret sins in the fight of thy countenance . psal. 90.8 . return , o lord ; how long ? and be merciful toward thy servants . psal. 90.13 . h. job . i have sinned : what shal i do unto thee , o thou preserver of men ? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee , that i am become a burthen to myself . job 7.20 . that i have offended thee , wo is me . job 10.14 . have mercie upon me , o lord , and restore unto me my righteousness again . say concerning me , o lord , deliver him , for i have received a reconciliation . job 33.24 , 26. yet , if thou kill me , will i put my trust in thee . job 13.15 . p. david . my misdeeds have prevailed against me . o be thou mercifull unto my sin . psal. 65.3 . i have gon astray like a sheep that is lost . o seek thy servant , for i do not forget thy cōmandments . psal. 119.176 . we have sinned with our fathers : we have don amiss , and dealt wickedly . psal. 106.6 . for thy names sake , o lord , be merciful unto our sin ; for it is great . psal. 25.10 . my foot hath slipped . let thy mercie , o lord , lift me up . psal. 94.18 . p isai. behold thou art angrie ; for we have sinned : we have been as an unclean thing ; and all our righteousness as a defiled cloth . we all fade away as a leaf ; and our iniquities , like a wind , have taken us away . but now , o lord , thou art our father : we are the clay , and thou art the potter : we all are the work of thy hands . be not angrie , o lord , above measure ; neither remember our iniquitie for ever . lord , we beseech thee , remember we are all thy people . ch. 64. v. 5 , 6 , 8 , 9. p. jeremie . lord , our iniquities are against us : our rebellions are many ; we have sinned against thee . yet deal with us according to thy name : for thou lord art in the midst of us , and thy name is called upon us . o lord , forsake us not . o lord , the hope of israel , the savior of it in the time of trouble , forsake us not . ch. 14. ver. 7 , 8 , 9. p. daniel . we have sinned , o lord , we have transgressed , and don wickedly : yea we have rebelled , and have departed from thy precepts , and from thy judgments . o lord , righteousness belongeth unto thee , but unto us confusion and shame of face , because of all the offenses we have committed against thee . yet compassion and forgiveness is with thee , o lord our god : though we have rebelled against thee : o lord , according to all thy goodness , i beseech thee , let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from me , and cause thy face to shine upon thy servant . o my god , incline thine ear and hear ; open thine eies , and behold my afflictions . for we do not present our supplications before thee for our own righteousness , but for thy manifold and great mercies . o lord hear : o lord forgive . consider and do it , o lord. defer not for thine own sake , o my god. ch. 9. v. 5 , 7 , 9 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19. p. jonas . o lord , in following vanities , i have forsaken mine own mercie : for which i am cast out of the fight of thine eies . yet i remember thee , o lord ; yet will i look yet again toward thy holie temple . o lord hear , and have mercie . ch. 2. v. 8. 4. prodigal child . father , i have sinned against heaven and against thee . i am no more worthie to be called thy son . but forgive me ; and make me one of the meanest of thy hired servants . s. luke 15.18 , 19. god be merciful to me a sinner . s. luke 18.13 . jesu , master , have mercie upon us . s. luke 17.13 . have mercie on me , o lord , thou son of david . s. mat. 15.22 . o lord help me . v. 25 o lord , even the little whelps eat of the crumbs of thy table ver. 27. s. paul. o lord , i am carnal , and sold under fin : and in me ( that is , in my flesh ) dwelleth no good . rom. 7.14 , 18. the good thing i do not , which i would : the evil that i would not , that do i. v. 15. though i consent to the law , according to the inner man. v. 22. yet i feel another law in my nature , rebelling against the law of my mind , and leading me captive to the law of sin . v. 23. o wretched man that i am ! who shal deliver me from this bodie of death ? ver. 24. but this is a true saying , and by all means worthie to be received , that jesus christ came into the world to save sinners , wherof i am chief . 1 tim. 1.15 . s. peter . we have spent the time past of our life , aster the lusts of the heathen ; walking in wantoness , lust , surfeting , uncleaness , and other excesses . 1 s. pet. 4.3 . but thou hast redeemed us , o lord , by the pretious blood of christ , the undefiled lamb. 1 s. pet. 1.1 , 18 , 19. have mercie upon us in that name , besides which thou hast given none under heaven , wherby we must be saved . acts 4.12 . s. john. if we say , we have no fin , we deceive ourselves , and the truth is not in us . 1 s. john 1.8 . if our heart condemn us not , god is greater then our heart , and knoweth all things . 1 s. john 3.20 . but we confess our sins , and confessing them we have an advocate with the father , jesus christ the righteous , and he is the propitiation for our sins . 2 s. john 1.2 . s. james . in many things we sin all . ch. 3. v. 2. but , lord , let thy mercie triumph over thy justice . ch. 2. v. 13. a confession of sins according to the branches of the decalogue . i. i have touching thee , o lord , been full of roving imaginations and evil thoughts . i have not studied to seek and know thee , as i ought . knowing thee , i have not glorified thee , nor given thanks to thee accordingly . i have doubted of thy promises , and not trusted to thy help . i have made flesh mine arm , and hoped for prosperitie from man , rather then from thee . i have not performed the dutie of invocation , with that reverence i ought . i have not been thankful : specially not for thy chastisements . ii. i have not worshiped thee in spirit and truth . i have drawn neer to thee with my lips , but my heart hath been far from thee . i have been more careful of the outward ceremonial part of thy worship , then of the inward and spiritual . iii. i have not with due regard taken thy name into my mouth . i have with rash oaths and eager execrations oft abused it . i have not given occasion to others to sanctifie thy name : but have caused it to be evil spoken of , through mine evil dealing . i have not duely regarded and reverenced those things wheron thy name is imprinted . iv. i have not to thy sabbath or sanctuarie brought that care which i should . i have not spared to absent my self from thy holie assemblies , without sufficient cause . i have not spent the days assign'd to holie exercises , upon them chiefly ; but have in them too much intended mine own private business . i have been content in them with the use of the means alone , without any practise at all . v. i have not so reverently spoken , nor so dutifully carried myself toward some whom thou hast placed over me , as was meet i should . i have not so carefully prayed for them , as was requisite . i have not opposed to them , who unreverently in terms used them . chiefly those who have had me in government touching my soul. vi. i have not wished or provided for the good of my neighbor as i should : but rather maligned , been angrie , and quareled with them ; and sought revenge upon everie light injurie . i have not had that compassion on the poor that i should ; nor ministred to their necessities . i have not defended them against the wrongs of others , as i might . i have not rejoiced in the good success of my neighbor ; but envied his welfare . vii . i have not possessed my vessell in holiness and honor ; nor preserved it from pollution , as the temple of god should be . i have suffered my phancie to wander licentiously . mine ears and tongue i have not kept , as i should . i have not eschued the occasions of lust , nor made the covenant with mine eies that i should . i have not brought under my bodie , nor kept it in subjection with such abstinence as i should . i have more studiously , and with more cost intended my flesh then my spirit . viii . i have not reckoned godliness gain : nor been content with my estate , but wished an higher . i have not been so exact in paying and dealing with those i have dealt withall , as in justice i was bound . i have by undue means interverted , to my use , that which was not mine . i have not of that , whereof i had more then enough , been willing to part with , to the relief of the needie . ix . i have not been so studious of speaking the truth , as i should . i have been desirous to seem , and to be reputed more then i was . i have not had that care of the good name of my brother , i was bound . i have not so hated flatterie , as i should . i have not so stood for and defended the truth , as was meet i should . x. i have been full of wandering desires , wicked affections , unlawful concupiscences , evil suspitions and surmises , and inordinate lusts , touching my neighbor , and that which is his . the triumph of mercie , in many gradual expressions , and remembrances , propounded to us in the holie scriptures . god , in his mercie , is , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 corin. 10.1 . gen. 18.32 . takes all in the better part . if it will admit any good sense , so he construes it . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 cor. 10.1 . meek : not irritable : not easily stirred up or provoked . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wisd. 11.24 . sees and sees not : makes , as if he did not see . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acts 17.30 . overlooks , looks beyond our sins , looks not at them . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. micha 7.18 . passeth by ( or over ) them . dissimulat peccata propter poenitentiam . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rom. 2.4 . when he cannot but see , yet he forbears , is patient . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rom. 2.4 . neh. 9.28 , 30. forbears long , suffers long , many times , many years . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. hos. 6.4 . and 11.9 . when he can suffer no longer , yet stands ( as over ephraim ) asking , how shal i ? staies yet . expectat ut misereatur . p. isa. 30.18 . when he can forbear no longer , but punish he must , he doth it not from the heart , lament . 3. v. 33. but against his will. when he punisheth , he doth it , not suffering his whole displeasure to arise . psal. 78.39 . containing himself and his anger . not according to our deserts , psal. 103. 10. nothing so much . not long : it indures but a moment in comparison . psal. 30.5 . & 103.9 . and p. isa. 54.7.8 . he thinks everie stripe two . p. isa. 40.2 . is quickly wearie . in his wrath he remembers mercie . p. hab. 3.2 . repents him of the evil . p. joel 2.13 . is moved with the sight of our miserie . psal. 106. 43 , 44. is soon appeased . easily appeased . p. isa. 30. 18. and 55.7 . s. mat. 18.32 . hath mercie . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multitudes of it . hath compassion . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the bowels of compassion , s. luke 15.20 . a parent , psalm . 103.13 . a mother . p. isa. 49.15 . many bowels . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . s. james 5. 11. secundìon edit . complut . forgives , pardons . s. mat. 18.27 . is reconciled . 2 cor. 5 19. takes into favor again . s. luke 15.22 , 23. receives to grace . rom. 3.25 . all have sinned , and are defective in giving glorie to god. rom. 3.23 . in his angels he found follie ; and the stars are not clean in his fight . job 4.18 . & 15.15 . & 25.5 . but god hath not made all men for nought . psal. 89.46 . yet , if god should be extreme to mark what were don amiss , who were able to abide it ? psal. 130.3 . if he should enter into judgment with his servants , no flesh should be found righteous in his sight . psal. 143.2 . none were able to answer one for a thousand . no not job himself . job 9.3 . therefore god hath shut up all under fin , that he might have mercie upon all . rom. 11.32 . he would have all to be saved . 1 tim. 2.4 . he would have none to perish : but to turn to him by repentance . 2 s. pet. 3.9 . he would not the death of a sinner , but that he might turn to him and live . p. ezech. 33.11 . all that 1 know their sin . psal. 51.3 . know it and 2 acknowledg it . psal. 32.5 . s. luke 15.18 . acknowledg it , and 3 be sorrie for it . psal. 38.18 . be sorrie for it , and 4 be readic to leave it . pro. 28.13 . not only to leave it , but 5 to judg themselvs for it . 1 cor. 11.31 . p. ezech. 36.32 . 1 cor. 9.27 . and to 6 punish themselvs for it . 2 cor. 7.11 . by the 1 fruits of mortification . p. joel 2. 12 , 13. p. jonab 3.5 . accompanied with 2 prayer . psalm . 32.7 . acts 8.22 . 3 alms. p. isa. 58.7 . pro. 16.6 . p. dan. 4.27 . at the 4 estimation of the priest. levit. 6.6 . 5 who may forgive us in the person of christ. s. john 8.11 . and 20.23 . 2 cor. 2.10 . which his mercie is not only for common and ordinarie sinners ; but for the chief : such as manasses . paul. such as david . peter . such as rahab . marie magdalen . such as jonas . the thief on the crosse. such as the corinthian . 1 cor. 5.1 . the corinthians . 1 cor. 6.11 . et haec eratis . such as the jews , his betrayers , murtherers . acts 3.13 , 14 , 15. david was a man according to gods own heart . christ is the son of david : and david for gave semei . 2 sam. 19.23 . and wept for his rebellious son absolom . 2 sam. 18.33 . the preface or stile of the law. the lord , the lord , gentle and merciful , patient and of much mercie , who keepeth mercie for thousands and forgiveth . exod. 34.6 , 7. the discourse of elihu . job 33.23 , 24. if there be a messenger with him , an interpreter , one among a thousand , to shew unto man his uprightness . then he is gracious unto him , and saith , deliver him from going down to the pit ; i have found a ransom . taste and see how gracious the lord is . psal. 34.8 . 1 s. pet. 2.3 . his mercie is sweet . psal. 109.20 . his mercies are many . there is a multitude of them . psal. 69.17 . & 5.7 . and 51.1 . there is plenteous redemption . psal. 130.7 . his mercies are great . psal. 86.5 . & 119.156 . have a magnitude . great in height . psal. 103.11 . 108.4 . 36.5 . depth . psal. 42.9 . length . psal. 26.3 . & psal. 136. there is no end of his salvation . psal. 71.13 . mercie shal be set up for ever . psal. 89.2 . his mercie is over all his works . psal. 145.9 . as is his majestie , so is his mercie . ecclus. 2.18 . his propertie is to have mercie . p. isai. 28.21 . he is the father of mercies , 2 cor. 1.3 . he is mercie itself psal. 59.17 . he was so merciful that he forgave their misdeeds , and destroied them not . yea many a time turned he his wrath away ; and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise . for he considered they were but dust . psal. 78.38 , 39 , 40. the lord waiteth that he may have mercie on you . p. isa. 30.18 . in the father of the lost child , his image , s. luke 15.22 . without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins . heb. 9.22 . god hath shut up all under sin , that he might have mercie upon all . rom. 11.32 . where sin aboundeth , there grace doth over-abound . mercie triumpheth over justice . s. james 2.13 . in this god set forth his love to us ward , that , when we were his enemies , christ died for us . rom. 5.8 . this is a true saying , and of all men worthie to be received , that jesus christ came into the world to save sinners . 1 tim. 1.15 . christ died once for our sins , the just for the unjust , that he might offer us unto god. 1 s. pet. 3.18 . we have an advocate with the father , jesus christ the righteous ; and he is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for our only , but for the sins of the whole world . 1 s. john 2.1 , 2. i came not to call the righteous , but sinners to repentance . s. mat. 9.13 . come unto me , you that travail , and be heavie laden , and i will refresh you . s. mat. 11.28 . of them that come to me , i will cast none out . s. john 6.37 . thou never failest them that seek thee . psal. 9.10 . spiritual comforts and confidence issuing from the contemplation of gods goodness . why art thou so heavie , o my soul ? and why art thou so disquieted within me ? o put thy trust in god ; for i shal yet give him thanks : for he is the light of my countenance , and my god. psal. 42.6 , 7 , 14 , 15. and 43.5 , 6. return then to thy rest , o my soul ; for the lord hath been gracious to thee . psal. 116.7 . if the lord had not helped me , it had not failed , but my soul had been put to silence . in the midst of the troubles that were in my heart , thy comforts have refreshed my soul. psal. 94.17 , 19. nevertheless , though i be sometimes afraid , yet , put i my trust in the lord. psal. 56.3 . nevertheless , my soul wait thou stil upon god ; for of him cometh my salvation . he verily is my hope , and my strength ; he is my defence , so that i shal not greatly fall . psal. 62.5 , 6. let us go with boldness to the throne of grace , that we may find mercie in the time of need . heb. 4.16 . devout ejaculations grounded on the consideration of our humane frailtie , and the divine providence and mercie . i. lord of life and death , of sickness and health , & all things therto belonging ; by whose appointment we are born ; and again , by whose appointment we die : our time is in thy hand , psal. 31. 17. and unto thee belong the issues of death . psal. 68. 20. thou that hatest nothing that thou hast made , nor dost ever utterly forsake the work of thine own hands : thou that art a defense for the oppressed : a refuge in the needful time of trouble : thou that never failest them that seek thee , psal. 9.9 , 10. and to whom none ever praieth without hope to be heard : thou that hast promised , the poor shal not alway be forgotten ; that the patient abiding of the meek shal not perish for ever . psal. 9.18 . for the comfortless troubles sake of the needie : and for the deep sighing of the poor , psal. 12.5 . arise o lord : and men shal know that it is thy hand , and that it is thou , lord , that hast done it . psal. 109.25 . ii. o lord whose mercie reacheth to the heavens , and whose faithfulness to the clouds . psal. 36.5 . and 57.11 . of whose mercies there is neither number nor end ; the greatness of whose goodness is not shut up under any time ; who callest into thy vineyard even at the eleventh hour . s. matth. 20.6 , 7. who rulest not with rigor , but with meekness dost govern the things thou hast made ; thou that killest and revivest ; that bringest to the gates of death , and bringest back again ; thou that hatest nothing that thou hast made ; that hast shut up all under sin , that thou mightst have mercie upon all . rom. 11.32 . lord , the savior and the saving health of all thy faithful ; the fountain of grace and goodness ; the father of mercies , and god of consolation . 2 cor. 1.3 thou that up holdest all such as are falling , and liftest up those that be down . psal. 14.5.14 . thou that healest the broken in heart ; and givest medicine to heal their sickness . psal 147.3 . the comfort of them that be in heaviness , the strength of then that be in weakness , the health of them that be in sickness , hear , o lord , and have mercie ; look down from heaven ; behold and visit ; visit with thy salvation . finis . praiers for the morning , evening , h. communion . translated out of the greek manual , of the private devotions of the r. reverend father in god , lancelot andrews , late l. bishop of winchester . never before printed . london , printed for humphrey moseley at the princes armes in st. pauls church-yard . 1648. morning praier . glorie be to thee , o lord ; glorie be to thee ; glorie be to thee , who hast given me sleep , for the refreshing of my weakness , and for the eas of my labors of this flesh subject to weariness . * that this day and every day may come on perfect , holie , peaceable , healthful , and without sin , grant lord , we beseech thee . * that an angel of peace , a faithful guide , a guardian of our souls and bodies , may pitch a tent about us , and ever suggest what is needful for my salvation , grant lord , we beseech thee . * the pardon and remission of all sins , and of all transgressions , grant lord , we beseech thee . * what things are good and profitable to our souls , together with peace in this world , grant lord , we beseech thee . * that we accomplish the rest of our life , in repentance and godlie fear , in health and peace , grant lord , we beseech thee . † what things are true , what are honest , what are just , what are pure , what are lovelie , what are of good report , wherin there is virtue , wherin there is praise , that we may reckon of these things to do them , grant lord , we beseech thee . * a christian end of our life , without sin , without shame , and if thou think good , without pain , and a good apologie at the dreadful and terrible tribunal of our lord jesus christ , grant lord , we beseech thee . o being above all being , o uncreated nature ; thou framer of the whole world , i set thee , lord , before me ; psal. 16.9 . i lift up my soul unto thee ; psal. 25. 1. i fall down on my knees and worship thee ; psal. 95.6 . i humble myself under thy mightie hand ; 1 s. pet. 5.6 . i stretch forth my hands unto thee , my soul [ is ] for thee as ground without water . psal. 143.6 . i smite upon my brest , and say with the publican , god be merciful to me a sinner ; s. luke 18. 13. to me altogether a sinner ; to me the chief of sinners ; 1 tim. 1.15 . to me a greater sinner then the publican , be merciful , as to the publican . o father of mercies , i beseech thee , by thy fatherlie bowels of compassion , despise me not ; an unclean worm , psal. 22.6 . a dead dogg , 2 p. sam. 9.8 . a stinking carcass . despise me not , the work of thy hands ; psal. 138.8 . thine own image ; gen. 1.27 . despise me not , though i bear the brands of mine iniquitie . lord , if thou wilt thou canst make me clean : lord , speak the word only , and i shal be cleansed . s. mat. 8.2 , 8. and thou , o savior christ , o christ my savior , savior of sinners , of whom i am chief , 1 tim. 1.15 . despise me not . despise me not o lord , the price of thine own blood ; upon whom thy name is called ; o lord despise me not . but look upon me with those thine eies , with which thou lookedst , upon marie magdalen at the feast , peter in the high priests hall , the thief on the cross. that with the thief , i may humbly call upon thee , saying , lord , remember me in thy kingdom ; s. luke 23.42 . peter , i may weep biterly ; s. matth. 26.75 and o that mine eies were a fountain of tears , that i might weep day and night ! p. jer. 9.1 . marie magdalen , i may hear thee , saying , thy sins are forgiven thee . and that with her i may love much , because my many and manifold sins are forgiven me . s. luke 7.47 , 48. and thou all-holie , and gracious , and quickning spirit , despise me not : despise me not thine own inspiration , holie thing ; but turn thee again , o lord , at the last , and be intreated to look upon thy servant . psal. 90.13 . blessed art thou , o lord our god , the god of our fathers , who turnest the shadow of death into the morning ; p. amos 5.8 . and renewest the face of the earth ; psal. 104. 30. who hast dispell'd the darkness , by the presence of the light ; who separatest the night , and bringest in the day ; who hast light'ned mine eies , that i sleep not in death ; psal. 13. 3. who hast delivered me from the terrors of the night ; and from the pestilence that walketh in darkness ; psalm . 91.5 , 6. who hast driven sleep from mine eies , and slumber from mine eie-lids . psal. 132.4 . who makest joyful outgoings of the morning and evening . psal. 65.8 . for i laid me down , and slept , and rose up again : psal. 3.5 . and thou , lord , madest me to dwel in fafetie , psal. 4.9 . for i awaked and beheld , and my sleep was sweet unto me . p. jer. 31.26 . o lord , blot out as a night-mist mine iniquities ; p. isa. 44.22 . scatter my sins as a morning cloud . grant that i may become a child of the light and of the day . i thes. 5.5 . that i may walk soberly , chastly and honestly , as in the day . rom. 13.13 . vouchsafe to keep me this day without sin . te deum . uphold me , when i am falling , and lift me up when i am down . psal. 145.14 . that i may never harden my heart , as in the provocation , psalm . 95.8 . with the tentation , or deceiptfulness of any sin . heb. 3.13 . moreover , deliver me this day , from the snare of the hunter , the noisome pestilence , the arrow that flieth by day , mischance , the noon-day destruction . psal. 91.3 , 5 , 6. preserve this day from any evil of mine ; and me from the evils of the day . let not my days consume in vanitie , nor my years in trouble . psal. 78.33 . let one day certifie another . psal. 19.2 . let this day add some knowledg , or practise to yesterday . psal. 143. o let me hear thy loving kindness , betimes in the morning : for in thee is my trust : shew thou me the way that i should walk in , for i lift up my soul unto thee . ver. 8. deliver me , o lord , from mine enemies ; for i flee unto thee to hide me . ver. 9. teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee , for thou art my god : let thy loving spirit lead me forth in the way of righteousness . ver. 10. quicken me , o lord , for thy names sake , and for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble . ver. 11. remove from my mind thoughts that are without understanding . wisd. 1.5 . inspire good thoughts into me , even such as shall be wel pleasing unto thee . turn away mine eies , lest they behold vanitie . psal. 119.37 . let mine eies look after that which is right ; and mine eie-lids after just things . prov. 4.25 . hedg in mine ears with thorns , that they listen not to foolish discourses . in the morning give me an ear to hear with ; and open mine ears to the doctrine of thy oracles . p. isa. 50.4 , 5. set a watch , o lord , before my mouth , and a dore , with a guard , about my lips . psal. 141.3 . let my speech be season'd with salt , col. 4.6 . that it may minister grace unto the hearers . ephes. 4.29 . let me do nothing that shal make my heart ake , or be a scandal to me . 1 sam. 25.31 . but let my doings be such , for which thou maist remember me for good : and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercie . nehem . 13.22 , 31. into thy hands i commend my spirit , soul and bodie ; for thou hast created , redeemed , regenerated them , o lord , thou god of truth . psal. 31.6 . and with myself , i commend unto thee all mine , all that belong unto me : thou , o lord , hast graciously given them unto thy servant . genes . 33.5 . preserve us , o lord , from all evil : o lord , i beseech thee , keep our souls . psal. 121.7 . keep us from falling , and present us faultless , before the presence of thy glorie , s. jude , ver. 24. at that day . 2 tim. 1.18 . o lord , preserve my going out , and my coming in , from this time forth for evermore . psal. 121.8 . prosper , i beseech thee , thy servant this day ; and grant him mercie in the sight of all he shal meet with . neh 1.11 . haste thee , o god , to deliver me ; make haste to help me , o lord. psal. 70.1 . o turn thee unto me , and have mercie upon me ; give thy strength unto thy servant , and help the son of thine handmaid . shew some good token upon me for good ; that i be not put to shame in the sight of them , that hate me ; because thou , lord , hast holpen me , and comforted me . psal. 86.16 , 17. evening praier . having passed over this day , lord , i give thanks unto thee . the evening draweth nigh , make it comfortable . an evening there is , as of the day so , of this life . the evening of this life is old-age . old-age hath seiz'd upon me ; make that comfortable : cast me not away in the time of age ; forsake me not , when my strength faileth me . psal. 71.9 . be thou with me until old-age , and even to hoar hairs do thou carrie me . p. isa. 46.4 . do thou do it , do thou forgive , do thou receive and save me , o lord. tarrie thou with me , o lord , for it is toward evening with me , and the day is far spent , s. luke 24.29 . of this my toilsome life . let thy strength be made perfect in my weakness . 2 corinthians 12.9 . the day is vanished , and gon ; so doth my life vanish ; my life no life . the night is coming on , and so doth death ; death without death . the end , as of the day so , of our life is at hand : we therfore , remembring this , beseech thee , o lord , that the end of our life being christian , and acceptable to thee , without sin , without shame , and , if it please thee , without pain , thou wouldst guide us in peace , o lord our lord ; gathering us together under the feet of thine elect , when thou wilt , and as thou wilt , only without shame and sin. grant that we may remember the days of darkness , that they are many . eccles. 11.8 . that we be not cast out into outer darkness . s. matth. 22.13 . and 25.30 . and that we may remember to prevent the night , by doing some good . judgment is at hand , grant us , o lord , that we may make a good and acceptable account at the dreadful and terrible tribunal of jesus christ. in the night i lift up my hands toward thy sanctuarie , and bless the lord psal. 124.2 , 3. the lord hath granted his loving kindness on the day time , and in the night season will i sing of him , and make my praier unto the god of my life . psal. 42.10 . as long as i live will i magnifie thee on this manner , and lift up my hands in thy name . psal. 63.5 . let my praier be set forth in thy sight as the incense , and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice . psal. 141.2 . blessed art thou , o lord our god , the god of our fathers , who didst create the interchanges of the day and night ; who givest us occasions of songs in the night . job 35.10 . who hast delivered us from the evil of this day ; who hast not cut off , like a weaver , my life , nor in this day before night didst make an end of me . p. isa. 38.12 . lord , as we add days to our days , so we add sins to our sins . ecclus . 5.5 . a just man falleth seven times a day ; prov-24 . 16 . but i , a wretched sinner , seventie times seven times . s. mat. 18.22 . wonderfully and horribly , o lord. p. jerem. 5.30 . but i turn from my wicked ways , and bewailing them , p. isa. 30.15 . i return to my heart ; p. isa. 46.8 . and turn to thee with all my heart , deut. 30.2 . o thou that art the god of them that repent , o savior of sinners . and evening after evening 1 return , with the utmost strength of my soul ; and , out of the deep , my soul crieth unto thee , psal. 130.1 . lord , i have sinned against thee , i have finned grievously against thee : forgiue , forgive ; alas , alas ! wo worth my miserable condition : i repent , wo is me , i repent ; spare me , o lord ; i repent , wo is me , i repent ; help my want of repentance . have pitie , spare me , o lord ; have pitie , be merciful unto me : i said , lord be merciful unto me , heal my soul , for i have sinned against thee . psal. 41.4 . have mercie upon me , o lord , after thy great goodness ; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offenses . psal. 51.1 . forgive my guilt , heal my sores , take out the stains , deliver me from shame , rescue me from the tyrannie of sin , and make me not an example . deliver me , o lord from my necessities ; psal. 25.16 . cleanse me from my secret faults ; psal. 19.12 . keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins . psal. 19.13 . impute not to me the wanderings of my mind ; wisd. 4.12 . nor my idle words ; s. mat. 12.36 . stop the black and filthie inundation of unclean & wicked thoughts . o lord , my destruction is from myself . p. hos. 13.9 . whatsoever i have don amiss , graciously pardon ; deal not with us after our sins ; neither reward us after our iniquities . ch. eng. letanie . mercifully look upon our infirmities , and for the glorie of thy most holie name turn from us all those evils and afflictions , which to our sins , and to us for them , are most justly and worthily due . and , o lord , give rest to me that am wearie ; renew my strength to me that am tired with labor ; lighten mine eies that i sleep not in death . psal. 13.3 . deliver me from the terrors of the night , and from the pestilence that walketh in darkness . psa. 91.5 , 6. grant me wholesom sleep , and to pass this night without fear . thou keeper of israel , who dost neither slumber nor sleep , psal. 121.4 . preserve me this night from all evil , o lord keep my soul. ver. 7. visiting me with the salvation of thy children : open my understanding in the visions of the night . h. job 33.15 , 16. but , if not this , for i am not worthie , i am not worthie , yet , o lord , thou lover of men , let my sleep be a rest as from labors , so from sin ; even so , o lord. and sleeping let me not dream of any thing , that may offend thee , defile myself . let not my loins be filled with illusions . psal. 38.7 . but rather let my reins chasten me . ps. 16.8 . preserve me , without grievous fear , from the dismal sleep of sin ; and lay asleep in me all earthlie and wicked imaginations . give me sweet sleep , free from all carnal and diabolical phancies . lord , restrein the malice of my never sleeping invisible enemies ; and the inclinations of my sinful flesh , o thou who madest me . let the wings of thy mercie shadow me . psal. 17.8 . and 61.4 . raise me up in due time , in the hour of praier , and grant that i may be earlie up , psal. 63.1 . at my praises and worship of thee . bless o lord , thy creatures ; mankind . all in affliction or prosperitie ; error or truth ; sin or grace . the universal church : the eastern , western , this among us. prelats , clergie , laitie . the governments of the earth ; christian ; about us ; our : the king , queen , prince . counsellers , judges , magistrates , officers , people . husbandmen , merchants , artificers , even to the laborers , poor . all , whom kindred , good turns , ministring in carnal things , charge formerly , now , moral friendship , charitie , neighbourhood , my promise , their desire , want of their own leisure , compassion on them being in extremitie , worthie acts , good works , scandal given to , want of any else to pray for them , commends to my praiers . lord , into thy hands i commend myself ; my spirit , soul , bodie : thou hast created them , redeemed them , o lord thou god of truth . and together with myself all mine , and all that belongs unto me : thou , o lord , hast graciously given them unto thy servant . gen. 33. 5. preserve my lying down , and my rising up , psal. 139. 1. from this time forth for evermore . psal. 121. 8. grant that i may remember thee upon my bed ; psal. 63. 7. and search out my spirit . psal. 77. 6. that i may rise again , and still be with thee . psal. 139. 18. i will lay me down in peace , and take my rest ; for it is thou , lord , only , that makest me dwell in safetie . psal. 4. 9. praiers for the holy communion . before the receiving of the blessed sacrament . o lord , i am not fit , nor worthie that thou shouldst come under the filthie roof of the house of my soul. s. matth. 8.8 . because it is wholy desolate and ruinous ; neither hast thou , with me , a fit place where to lay thy head . s. mat. 8.20 . but as thou didst vouchsafe to be laid in a stable and manger of unreasonable beasts ; s. luke 2.7 . as thou didst not disdeign to be entertain'd , even in the house of simon the leper ; s. matth. 26.6 . as thou didst not reject the harlot , a sinner like unto me , coming unto thee , and touching thee ; as thou didst not abhorr her foul and prophane mouth ; s. luke 7. 37 , 38. nor yet the thief , on the cross , confessing thee ; s. luke 23.43 . even so vouchsafe to admitt me also , an over-worn , miserable , and out of measure sinful creature , to the receiving and communicating of the most pure , most auspitious , quickning and saving mysteries of thy most holie bodie , and pretious blood. s. chrysost. liturgie . attend , o lord , our god , from thy holie habitation , and from the glorious throne of thy kingdom , and come and sanctifie us . o thou who sittest on high with the father , and art here invisibly present with us , come and sanctifie these gifts here presented , and those also by and for whom , and the end wherto they are brought hither . s. chrysost. and s. basil's liturgie . and grant us to partake of them in faith , that need not be ashamed , love , without dissimulation , rom. 12.9 . for the keeping of the commandments , stirring up of all spiritual fruits , healing of soul and bodie . for a symbol of our communion , act. 2.42 . memorial of thy dispensation , s. luke 22.19 . for the shewing forth of thy death , 1 corinth . 11.26 . cōmunion of thy bodie and bloud , 1 cor. 10.16 . participation of thy spirit , 1 corinth . 12.13 . remission of our sins , s. mat. 26.28 . for an amulet against all evil , 1 cor. 5.7 . for the quieting of our conscience , s. mat. 11.28 . for the blotting out of our debts , col. 2.14 . acts 3.19 . purging of our spots , heb. 9.14 . healing of the infirmities of our souls , 1 s. pet. 2. 24. renewing of our covenant , psal. 50.5 . viands of our spiritual life , s. job . 6.27 . increas of strengthning grace , heb. 13. 9. soul-ravishing comfort , psal. 104.15 enforcing of our repentance , i corin . 11.29 . inlight'ning of our understanding , s. luke 24.31 . exercise of our humilitie , s. john 13.11 . for a seal of our faith , 2 cor. 1.22 . the fulness of wisdom , s. john 6.35 . a sufficient accompt of our oblations , 1 cor. 16.1 . for the armour of patience , 1 s. pet. 4.1 . for the stirring up of our thankfulness , psal. 116.11 . for confidence in praier , psal. 116.12 . mutual inhabitation , s. john 6.56 . a pledg of our resurrection , s. joh. 6.54 . an acceptable apologie at the bar of judgment , 1 cor. 11.29 . a testament of our inheritance , s. luke 22.20 . a type of perfection , s. joh. 17.23 . that we , with all thy saints , who , from the begining , have pleased thee , may be partakers of thy most pure and eternal good things , which thou hast prepared , o lord , for them that love thee , in whom thou art glorified for ever . o lamb of god , who takest away the sin of the world , s. john 1.29 . take away mine also , who am a notorious sinner . wee therfore , o lord , in the presence of thy holie mysteries , being mindful of the saving passions of thy christ , his life-giving cross , pretious death , three daies burial , resurrection from the dead , ascension into heaven , session at the right hand of thee the father , glorious and dreadful return , humbly beseech thee , that we , receiving a part of thy holie mysteries with a pure testimonie of our conscience , may be united to the holie bodie and blood of thy christ. " let me so receive these mysteries , that i may be worthie to be ingraffed into thy bodie , which is the church ; that i may become one of thy members , and thou my head ; that i may remain with thee , and thou with me ; that now , not i in myself , but thou in me , and i in thee , may for ever continue in an indissoluble bond of love. wash out the stains of my old & fresh sins ; never let any sinful spot abide , where so pure sacraments have ent'red . through this sacred mysterie which i here call to mind , burie me , already dead to this world , with thee in thy grave . " and receiving this sacrament , not unworthily , let us procure christs dwelling in our hearts , epbes. 3. 17. and be made a temple of thy holie spirit , 1 cor. 6. 19. even so , o lord. and make not any one of us guiltie of these thy dreadful and beavenlie mysteries ; nor weak in soul or bodie , by our unworthie partaking of the same 1 corin. 11.27 , 29 , 30. but grant that , to our utmost and last gasp , we may worthily receive the hope of these thy mysteries , to our sanctification , illumination , strength'ning ; to the eas of the burthen of our many sins ; as a preservative against all the assaults of the devil ; as a deleterie & impediment of our evil customs ; for the mortification of our lusts ; keeping of thy commandments ; increas of thy divine grace , and possession of thy kingdom . after the receiving of the blessed sacrament . " it is good for me to hold me fast by god , and to put my trust in the god of my salvation . " we have now , o christ our god , finished & perfected , according to our abilitie , the mysterie of thy dispensation : for we have had the memorial of thy death ; seen the type of thy resurrection ; been filled with thy endless life ; enjoied thy never failing dainties ; wherof vouchsafe to make us all partakers in the world to come . the good lord pardon everie one , that prepareth his heart , to seek the lord god of his fathers , though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuarie . 2 chron. 30. 18 , 19. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a25388-e280 see bishop andrews's eighth sermon of repentance and fasting . notes for div a25388-e21170 * s. chrysost. liturgie . * s. chrysost. liturgie . * s. chrysost. liturgie . * s. chrysost. liturgie . * s. chrysost. liturgie . † philip. 4 . 8. * s. chrysost. liturgie . notes for div a25388-e25390 [ these praiers [ thus " marked ] are not in the greek , but in the latin ms. ] [ in the latin , not in the greek ms. ] the balme of gilead prepared for the sicke the whole is diuided into three partes: 1. the sicke mans sore. 2. the sicke mans salue. 3. the sicke mans song. published by mr. zacharie boyd, preacher of gods word, at glasogw [sic].august. boyd, zacharie, 1585?-1653. 1629 approx. 282 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 141 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16535 stc 3445a estc s117235 99852450 99852450 17774 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16535) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 17774) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1598:11) the balme of gilead prepared for the sicke the whole is diuided into three partes: 1. the sicke mans sore. 2. the sicke mans salue. 3. the sicke mans song. published by mr. zacharie boyd, preacher of gods word, at glasogw [sic].august. boyd, zacharie, 1585?-1653. [8], 57-125, 127-128, 128-130 [i.e. 132], [1], 131-147, 147-157, 178-265 p. printed by iohn wreittoun, edinburgh : 1629. has dedication to james [law] archbishop of glasgow--stc. variant: has an extra quire, [par.], printed by "the heirs of a. hart" and containing "a christian watch-word". imperfect: lacking leaf d4, blank?. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). 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where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sick -prayer-books and devotions -early works to 1800. 2003-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-09 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-09 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the balme of gilead prepared for the sicke . the whole is divided into three partes : 1. the sicke mans sore . 2. the sicke mans salve . 3. the sicke mans song . published by mr. zacharie boyd , preacher of gods word , at glasogw ▪ avgvst ▪ latet vltimus dies vt observentur omnes dies : sero parantur remedia , quum mortis imminent perscula . edinbvrgh printed by iohn wreittovn . 1629 psal. 102.6 . i am like a pelican of the wildernesse . to the right reverend father in god iames by the providence of god , archbishop of glasgovv . right reverend , the preacher speaking of himselfe , said , that for his preachings hee sought to find out acceptable words , words of delight , which in the same verse he calleth words of trueth : where i obserue that words of trueth , may bee words of delight , delight not being contrarie to trueth , neither pleasure vnto profit : such words are compared to goades & nailes , which christ the great pastour giveth vnto his ministers , the masters of assemblees , who are appointed by him for to fasten ; yea , and to naile mens soules vnto him selfe : such words are full of substance : they are faire without faird . as it is not good in preaching to make vse of swelled hydropick words of man his invention , neither must man take that for simplicity of the gospell , which diverse call simplicity , viz. words wanting a due & painefull meditation , which is the very digestion of the spirit : ill studied words can not be these acceptable words of solomon : of them can bee made no nailes for the fastening of loose and v●stable soules . i ever thought this part of the ministrie a painefull part , not to be done without great paines : some speake of a booke day , but all our dayes should be booke dayes . if a pagan could be moved for any thing to say , ab perdiat diem , alace i haue left a day , what shall he say , who is a labourer in the lords vineyeard ? they who would doe this worke as they should , must with earnest prayers , painefull reading , and serious meditations emptie their veines of their blood , till palenesse the stvddie marke bee printed vpon their face : they must watch while others sleepe , and labour at the candle : they must forsake the feathers and the downes at the chirping of the birds . in some measure i striue to this , though not as i would : happie is the servant that is vigilant , hauing ever his loines girded and his candle in his hand , waiting for the coming of his lord . let it please your lo. to take in good part this part of my labours , wherein is a boxe of balme , a little testimony of my thankfulnesse for the great kindnesse , whereof in my great affliction it pleased you to make mee partake : the bloody persecution in france did scatter many churches , and mine amongst others : at my coming heere you refreshed mee with your comforts , and placed mee besides your selfe , where i find the lord's blessing vpon my labours : to him alone belongs the glory . and seeing it is the lords will that man bee thankfull vnto man , let me heere name three speciall friends to whom neither name not blood haue bund mee , but great loue and kindnesse in time of mine adversitie , the bond whereof as i hope shall never bee broken . at my first coming to edinburgh , good doctour sibbald , the glory and honour of all the physicians of our land , would haue mee to abide with him : but afterward , a preaching at a fast hauing made mine acquaintance with sr. william scot of eli , that great scots mecenas , patron to great rollocvs , hee after that did keepe me with him , as one of his owne children : the lord grant vnto him that hee may finde mercie in that day : from sr. william you brought mee to glasgow ; of that your favour let mee not forget a speciall instrument , even that wise and godly man , mr. iames r●bertoun , comisser of hamiltoun , with whom i wish that i might both liue and die . i heere in the dedication of this treatise acknowledge your bounty with a thankfull profession . and seeing our bookes are our children , the bi●sb of our braines , it is most convenient , that you who haue the patronage of the father , should also vouchsafe a blessing to the children . which looking after . i intreat the most high to preserue you vnblameable both in soule and body , vntill the day of his appearing . at glasgow the 23 of december , 1628. your lo. in all duetie mr. zacharie boyd preacher of gods word , at glasgow . to the reader . there was never an age more fertile in reproofes and reproches than this : we are come to the dregges of dayes , where it is counted vertue to point out the imperfections of our brethren : many are like the flee , that can not rest but vpon a scabbe . charitable reader , take in good part these my paines taken for thy profit : as for thee , whose countenance is cast downe , because of gods graces in others , if thou doe well shall it not bee accepted ? but if not , sinne lyeth as the doore : doe better thy selfe and that shall be my reproofe . it was well said by st. ierome : aut profer meliores epula● & me conviva v●ere , aut qualicu●que nostra coe●ula contentus esto : that is , if thou can prepare better cheare let ●nce partake : if not , bee content with such as i haue . the sicke mans sore psal . 107. v. 17. fooles because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities are afflicted . v. 18. their soule abhorreth all maner of meate and they draw neare vnto the gates of death . v. 19. then they crye vnto the lord in their trouble : hee saveth them out of their distresses . v. 20. he sent his word and healed them ; and delivered them from their destructions . v. 21. oh that men wold praise the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull works to the children of men . this text may be called the sicke mans text . the division of the words . the text divideth it selfe in three speciall parts . in the first is : the sicke mans sore . in the second is : the sick mans salve . in the third is : the sicke mans song . the sicke mans sore is in these wordes , fooles because of their transgressions , and because of their iniquities are afflicted : their soule abhorreth all manner of meate &c. the sicke mans salve is in these wordes , then they cry to the lord in their trouble : he saveth them out of their distresses : hee sent his word and healed them , and delivered them from their destructions . the sicke mans song is a song of praise in these wordes : oh that men wold praise the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men . 1. part . the secke mans sore . in the words of the psalmist here : first the ordour is to bee considered : judgements heere goe before mercy , ( or for to speak so ) take the fore-gate of mercy : when god was desired by moses to shewe him his face , god said vnto him that no man could see his face and live . but behold , said hee , there is a place by me , and thou shalt stand on a rock : and it shall come to passe , while my glory passeth by that i will put thee into the clift of a rocke , and will cover thee with my hand : i will make all my goodnesse passe before thee , and i will cover thee with my hand whiles i passe by : after i will tak away mine hand : and thou shalt see my backe parts but not my face : now as the lord said , so hee did : he passed by , and while he passed he made a proclamation . the lord , the lord god mercifull and gratious , long suffering and abundant in goodnesse and trueth : keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquitie , transgression and sinne : behold how in the lords comming to moses , mercy came before , and after iudgement in the words following that will by no meanes cleare the guilty visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children . the lords sluggorne in his comming to moses was mercifull and righteous : first was mercy and then iustice : this was the order of davids song : i will , said hee , sing of mercy and of iudgment : first of mercy & then of iudgement , like gods passing by moses . but here in my text gods order is inverted , for there is first a song of judgement and after of mercy : what should be the cause of this ? this is as the apostle calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multiformis ●lla sapientia dei , that is , the manifold wisdome of god , or the wisdome of god that is of many forms : as there be diverse faces and formes of men , so there be diverse hearts & diverse dispositions : some be thrown faced , and some be thrown hearted : with with the pure thou wilt shew thy selfe pure , froward with the froward : * to one that is of a meeke disposition and of a gentle nature like moses , let the pastour preach first of mercy , as god came to moses : making all his goodnesse to goe before him : but having to doe with fooles ; such as are into my text , it shall bee wisedome first to sing to them of iudgement and thereafter of mercy : * gods comming to elias declared with what method he had to preach to that rebellious people with whom hee had to doe : while hee was into the caue of horeb the mount of god ; the lord bade him come out , and stand vpon the mount before the lord , and behold while god was comming to him , there came from before him three mighty messengers for to make awaye to the king of glory . the first messenger was called the wind : a mighty strong winde rent the mountains and brake the rockes before the lord : but the lord was not in the winde : after the winde , came another poste called an earthquake ; but the lord was not in the earthquake : after the earthquak came yet one more furious called fire ; but the lord was not in the fire : after the fire , came a still and foft voyce wherein was the lord : by this god teached elias how he shuld teach that stiffnecked people & how he should bring the lord to them : viz. that first he should preach judgments ; whereby as by a wind the proud heartes like hie mountaines might bee shaken : and the harde hearts like rockes might be rent : if that did not the turne , let him yet threaten iudgments like earthquaks which might mak all hearts to quak : if that did not the turne , that hee should preach hell fire , death and damnation against the sonnes of men : now if men did tremble at the fire , gods will was that hee should preach with a soft and still voyce the mercyes of god , the promises of the gospell : this order and methode is plainely sette downe by saint iude , of some have compassion , making a difference ; that is , to some first preach mercy : but others save with feare , pulling them out of the fire ; there is a preaching of iudgment : * to some , preachers should bee as barnabas , sonnes of consolation : to others they should bee as iames and iohn : boanerges ; duo fulmi na belli ; two sonnes of thunder . ill men like nettles must bee first gripped left they burne thee . gods naturall dealing with men is first to offer mercy vnto them if they will repent . * this was a law of warre prescribed by god himselfe vnto his people , when thou comest night vnto a city , saith god , to fight against it , then proclaime peace vnto it . but if it will not make peace with thee , but will make warre against thee , then thou shall be beseidge it . as it was ordained by god in that warre , so shuld it be practised in the christian warrefare : while pastours come from god to a people , they must first proclame peace vnto them : but if they will not make peace : then they must beseige them with the cannons of gods judgements . * if barnabas cannot winne the citadell of mens hearts by consolations ; let james and iohn boanerges sonnes of thunder besiege their hearts : with the thunders of gods iudgements they must shoot downe the strong holdes of sin , that every thought and imagination may bee taken and brought captive to the obedience of the lord jesus christ. i know that preaching of judgement is vnpleasant preaching to flesh and blood : * but heere is the command , thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour , and not suffer sin vpon him : most men will heare onely the piping of mercy , songes of loves ; but ditte their eares from the dinne of judgements . * they like well of barnabas with his consolations : but cannot abide the thunders of boanerges : * none so fain as fools would haue their head clapped : fooles fedde on folly would bee fed in their follie . infelix felix , more vnhappy in deede than hee was happy in name , could not heare faul preach : pauls text was of righteousnes , of temperance and of iudgement : as he reasoned vpon the point of iudgement , felix interrupted him crying vnto him in a feare ; god thy way for this time , when i have a convenient season i will call for thee . * there bee many vnhappy like felix sold vnder sinne , like ahab , who could not heare mecaiah gods prophet : i hate him said ahab , for hee doeth not prophesie good concerning me , but evill : * but who can speak good to him that doth euill and bee a trumpeter of trueth ? the word of god bee it of iudgement or of mercy , should not bee concealed from them to whom it is ordained : while a man is become a fool in his sinnes , a sermon of iudgment is for him : the faithfull pastour must denounce against him what ever is in his roll , not keeping vp a word , were it to call him a foole in his face . * this was iobs great comfort in his distresse that he had not concealed the words of the holy one : the office of teachers , the lords servants is to blowe the trumpet and warne the people with alarmes : * they are compared to the hewers of wood i have hewed them by my prophets saith the lord : * as a man that is for to cut a hard oke will first sharpen his axe : so he that is ordained for to hewe downe the old oken hard iniquities of a people , must sharpen his reproofes and therewith strike at them , till the spailes flee off : yea till at last the highest cedars of of sinnes , were they caesars sinnes , may fall down vpon their sides . * jf a king be afoole against god , feare not to call him a foole that he may become wise : gard vp thy loynes said the lord to his prophet , arise and speake all that i command thee , be not dismayed at their faces , left i confound thee before them : woe to dumme dogges , yee that make mention of the lord keepe not silence . sometimes pastoures are so branded with the reproaches of fooles , because they hurt their galled backes , that they will resolve to preach no more of iudgement , but to remaine silent : this is their weaknesse , but when the spirit of their calling begins to stirre within them ; it shall not lye in their hearts to hold their peace . * this was ieremiahs resolution once : because hee saw the word of the lord made a reproach to him , and dayly derision , hee said , i will not make mention of god nor speake any more in his name : but did hee so ? o no : not : the spirit of his calling kindled such a fire within him , that hee could no more forebeare : his word , said hee , was in mine heart as a burning fire , shut vp in my bones , and i was weary w●th forbearing , and i could not stay : a man of god will call a foole a foole . * jt is his calling to sing as well of iudgement as of mercy : if by want of discretion he spill the tune of gods musicke , preaching iudgement , when hee should preach mercy , or preaching mercy , where hee should preach iudgement , he himself shall be found the greatest foole in the daye of comptes . this consideration made paul to pray for wisedome to his disciple , who was become a teacher : the lord said he , giue thee wisdome in all things : * by this wisdome while we preach to hauty or humbled sinners : we are teached to practise that precept of s. iude : which is , to make a difference . the lord give vs the spirit of discretion . this much concerning the methode of the wordes which wee have read in your audience : wherein first mention is made of iudgements , and after of mercy . now let vs come to our sicke text , or text of sicknesse . in the sicke man his sore , which is the first part of this treatise vpon the fiue verses heere set downe , wee haue these three things particularly to consider . first , who are those who are said heere to bee afflicted ; secondly , what is the cause of all their afflictions : thirdly , what is the particular affliction set downe in this text. 1. who is said to be afflicted heere . * in this part of scripture wee haue a visitation of the sicke : looke to your bookes , and the first word of my text shall tell you who is sick : vvho ? fooles , fooles saith the psalmist , because of their transgressions , and because of their iniquities are afflicted . * i read in scripture of foure sorts of fooles : of these two bee wise , and two be fooles indeede . first these are called fooles in scripture , that acknowledge their ownefoolishnesse : if any man among you , saith the apostle , seemeth to be wise in this world , let him become a foole th●● bee may be wise : * this was wise agurs confession which hee made to ithiel and v●●l , surely , said hee , i am more brutish then any man , and haue not the vnderstanding of a man : i neither learned wisedome nor haue the knowledge of the holy . * secondly , these are called fools in scripture , who are so in the wickeds estimation : according to this the apostle saith , wee are fooles for christs sake : but yee are wise , wee are fooles , that is , we are so esteemed to bee by the worldly wise : after that a prophet of god had anointed iehu to bee king , one said to iehu , wherfore came this madde fellow to thee ? godlinesse to wicked men is not only foolishnesse but madnesse . the great knowledge of letters hath made thee madde : ( said festus to paul ) what wonder seeing the wisedome of god himlsefe is esteemed folly . * in scripture yee reade of the folly of god , yee reade in scripture of the folly of preaching , in a worde all spirituall wisedome is folly : but to whome ? s. paul saith that it is to them that perish . thirdly , these are said to be fools who are gods elect and chosen ones , but , as we all doe , faile in many things , when they either turne in any point frō the trueth which once they did embrace , or when they are slow of heart to believe , or when they run away from god by any sin , then are they said to be fools : their failing is their folly : for the first s. paul called the galathians foolish galathians : for the second ; christ called his two disciples going to emans fooles , and slow of heart to belee●e : for the third , it is said that the forlorne sonne was madde or by himselfe : because when hee repented , it is said that he came to himselfe againe . fourthly , the wicked to whome the wisedome of god is folly are called fooles : according to this the rich man in the gospell that made greater provision for his bellie in his barns , than for his soule in the heavens , is called a foole . o foule , this night thy soule shall bee taken from thee ! this was his folly , hee never thought of heaven till hee was in hell . it is of these two , viz. of the godly sinning by weaknesse , & of the wicked sinning by wickednesse that mention is made heere : while they sinne they are both fooles and as they are both but fooles , and as they are , so heere are they called , viz. fooles . the hebrewe word heere is guilim , a word that commeth from a root that is not in vse , haveing no signification which is the lyfe of a worde : a roote worthy of such branches : the roote is not in vse , neither are the branches : wherefore serveth the roote of follie ? what are the fruites of follie ? they are like the apples of sodome . they maye have some shewe outwardlie ; but have nothing but rottennesse for the in-meate . hee that tasteth them will doe best to spitt them out again . as the wicked wil taste the good gift of god , and after spit it out , so that it doth them no good : so should the godly hauing tasted the fruites of follie incontinent spitt them out , and after spitt at them with despight , so should they not bee able to doe them evill . though fooles bee called from a roote that hath no vse in god his word , they seeme to themselves to bee most fast rooted : in their prosperitie they both think , and say that they shall neuer bee moved . they will also seeme vnto others of all men to have the strongest rootes . to david who was on of gods seers they appeared for a space like greene bay-trees . all such greenesse , and greatnesse , is but in thinges earthly : as health , wealth , houour and preferment . but because they are not rooted in the heavens , the earth is not able to furnish substance for the vpholding of such things : and therefor● like grasse vpon the house tops they wither before they grow vp . i have seene , said eliphaz , the foolish taking roote : but tooke hee root for to continue ? no , not : suddainlie , said hee , i cursed his habitation : incontinent his children for whose standing and preferment hee solde himselfe to wickednesse were crushed in the gate ; neither was there any to deliver them . as for their harvest and expected crop , others did devoure it , not leaving them the miserable stalkes which grew among the thornes . * thus god doth with the wicked as he did with the amorite . thogh in appearance hee high like a cedar , and strong like an oke , yet hee destroyeth his fruit from aboue , and his rootes from beneath . the folie of sin is like a foolish tale , which as men commonly say , hath neither toppe nor root . the iesson is this : all sinners are but fooles : a wicked man were he never so wise in the world ●is but a foole before god : the wisedome of this world is foolishnesse with god : wisedome in evill is nothing but guile and craftinesse , guile guilded with wisedome like a tombe covered with the foile of gold , having nothing within but a contagious corruption . the vse let all men that would be wise indeede studie to an innocent life . this is our wisedome that denying vngodlinesse and worldlie lusts w●e liue soberly , righteously and godly in this pr●sent world , soberlie for our selves , righteouslie for our neighbours , and godly for our good god. what is beyond that is no thing but foolishnesse : hee that exceeds the square of that rule in scripture language , is a foole . obiection . heere some may obiect and say , how is this that scripture speaketh thus ? doth not scripture forbid vs to speake so ? christ speaketh plainly , whosoeuer is angrie with his brother without a cause shall bee in danger of iudgment . and whosoeuer shall say to his brother racha shall bee in danger of the counsell ; but whoseouer shall say , thou foole , shall bee in danger of hell fire . behold their three iniuries which the iewes thought to bee veniall sinnes of the papists : the least is a motion of anger keept close within the breast , which i may call a warded wrath : for such a fault christ sayeth , that a man is in danger of iudgment , that is , as though wee should saye , in danger to bee brought before the commissionar an inferiour judge : for the least sinne is the least punishment . the second iniurie is , racha , that is , wrath broken out of warde into wordes : the word is a worde of iniurie , which signifieth , vacuus , a man as wee say that hath not harnes , or braine , a toome headed man. beza out of chrysostome maketh it as the french word tutoyer , which we call to thou a man. this greater iniurie came before the sanhedrin , which were the counsell of seventie and two . the third and last iniurie is greatest , viz. when a man not onelie thou's his brother , but saith thou foole . some distinguish these three iniuries after this manner : the first , say they , is ira restricti animi , that is , a warded wrath within the heart . the second is , ira effervescens , an anger breaking foorth . the third they call ira erumpens in apertum convitium , that is , scoffing or rayling : for this word , saith christ , a man shall bee in danger of hell fire : how is it then that in the first part of my text sinners are called fooles ? the answere . i answere , that to call a man foole is not simply forbidden ; for christ called two of his disciples fooles : s. paul called the galatians foolish . that threatning then is against them that out of wrath and malice bring this worde of rayling against their brother . it is in this sense said that the archangell while hee disputed against satan about the body of moses durst not bring against him arayling accusation : that is , hee durst not in anger call him a foole , knave or lowne , as one by way of rayling will call his brother . their is no rayling in my text : my text is rather a teaching wherby fooles may learne to bee wise . the doctrine i gather heere is this : if hee that calleth his brother a foole deserves hell : what shall hee deserve that is a foole indeeede ? a man may call his brother a foole , and yet not bee a foole : the one is but a simple act , the other is an habite purchased by custome : the greater the sinne bee , the greater must bee the punishment . if god scourged his people , for eating swines flesh , the abomination , and the mouse , what shall hee doe to these that eate vp the poore and the widowes house ? great sinnes and great iudgments . the vse . let vs beware to be that indeed whereof the simple naming of another to bee , putteth the soule in danger of hell fire . the apostle his precept is that fornication , and all vncleannesse , or covetousnesse bee not once named among vs as becommeth saints : seeing to name such thinges with a filthie tongue is forbidden , howe much more should wee bee carefull for to avoide to bee that , which is not to bee named ? 2. what is the cause of the affliction of fooles . vve haue alreadie heard who is afflicted viz. fooles : now followeth into the order of my text the cause of their afflictions : the cause is sinne , and iniquitie : fooles because of their transgressions & because of their iniquities are afflicted . it is an ordinarie question made by the most part while they see any in affliction , what coulde bee the cause of such a iudgment ? wherefore hath god thus wise done ? god told this to ierusalem when hee threatned to destroy . many nations , said hee , shall passe by this citie , and they shall say every one to his neighbour , wherefore hath the lord done this vnto this great citie . see howe of nations of passers by , there is not one but hee saith , wherefore ? every man saith vnto his neighbour , where fore ? now what is the answere that god makes to their wherefore ? it is into the verse following ; then they shall answere because they haue forsaken the covenant of the lord god : that is , as my text saith , because of their transgressions , and because of their iniquities . the lesson is this . our sinnes are the cause of all our plagues : so long as rebellious ionah was in the shippe the tempest increased : it is saide , that the sea wrought , and was tempestuous ; what could be the cause of such tempestuous working ? the rebellion of ionah flying from the presence of the lord : take mee vp said hee , and cast mee into the sea , for i know that for my sake this great tempest is vpon you . vvhen ioshua saw israel beaten before the men of ai , hee put dust vpon his head , crying , oh lord what shall i say , seeing israel hath turned their backe before their enemies : now what could bee the cause of that flight ? israel hath sinned and haue also transgressed saide the lord : therefore they could not stand before their enemies : there must ever bee a wherefore of sinne before the therefore of affliction : can the rush grow vp without myre ? can the flagge grow without water ? no more can affliction grow without sinne . sin to affliction is like myre to the rush and like water to the flagge : it maketh a division betweene our god & our soule : god cannot shine vpon the counsell of the wicked : so soone as men beginne to sinne ; the clowds of his glowmes beginne to gather . then thou markest mee , and thou wilt not acquite mee from mine iniquitie : if i be wicked woe vnto mee . as a man soweth , so shall hee reape : even as i haue seene , said eliphaz , they that plow iniquitie , and sowe wickednesse reape the same . who ever hee bee that takes pleasure in sinne , shall possesse moneths of vanitie : wearisome nights are appointed for him . the vse of all this is , that wee studie to sinceritie of life if wee would bee free of afflictions . the wicked while they are afflicted are bound with afflictions , like a murtherer cast in the stockes ; but godly ioseph in the stockes is a free man. the sakelesse soule is ever in libettie : their is no such buckler for holding off afflictions as innocencie of life . if because of their transgressions , and because of their iniquities bee away , the words following are afflicted , should bee as scraped out . let a man keepe himselfe from sinne vnspotted of this world , and hardlie shall affliction come neere him . doe what balaam could doe hee could not curse israel , though hee was waged for the same . the reason thereof is declared by himselfe , god hath not beheld iniquitie in iacob , neither hath hee seene perversnesse in israel : the lord god is with him , and the shout of a king is among them . so long as god beholdeth not iniquitie into a man , a house , or a nation , the lord god is there , and they shout as kings : that is , they triumph over all their enemies . if afflictions come for to trye their forces , they likewise shout as kings triumphing over death it selfe , and the grave , whome they boast with doubled interrogations ; o death ! where is thy sting ? o grave ! where is thy victorie ? what wonder that fooles bee afflicted for their follie ; seeing other innocent creatures smart for the same ? doth not scripture record that senselesse creatures sicken for our sinnes ? thus wee see the walls of an house became leper of a freting leprosie : a wonderfull thing to think how hard stones of the house wall where the sinner dwelt could become sick . because of the transgressions and iniquities of fooles in an house , the dead stones in the wall were afflicted . yea , which is more for the sins of man , the whole creation groneth , travelleth in paine together ; as if it were a woman in her shewers ; their sicknesse is vanitie caused by our iniquitie . * seeing then other creatures that cannot sinne are afflicted because of mans sins , what wonder if fooles because of their transgressions , yea , and also because of their iniquitie hee affl●cted ? observe heere howe the worde because is doubled : first , because of their transgressions , and againe because of their iniquities . is not this all one ? what neede was it then that hee should have thus doubled the worde because and againe because ? i answere that this forme of speach is , as were the dreames of pharaoh of the kine and of the corne : of one thing hee had two dreames : the dreame of pharaoh is one , said ioseph ; but wherefore was it doubled ? joseph ●aith that it was to shew pharaoh what hee was about to doe : that is for to assure him that the matter should surely come to passe ; god of one thing doubled pharaohs dreames ; for that the dreame was doubled vnto pharaoh twise , it is because the thing is established by god : and god will shortly bring it to passe . so for to assure vs heere that sinne is the cause of all our afflictions it is saide that men are afflicted , because of their transgressions , and againe because of their iniquities . the word doubled is lyke two witnesses for to confirme the trueth . the first lesson i observe heere is , of the great stupiditie of man , that very hardlie can rightly take vp the cause of his troubles : it must bee told him againe and againe : line after line , commandement after commandement , because after because . the first bell ringes to the preaching and yet wee slumber : the second ringes yet we are not ready : the third must ring also with a doubled sound and yet we come behind : either preface or prayer is past before wee come to our place . wee come to the lords house as to a place of girth or as to a city of refuge for to saue the the lyfe of our soules : & yet beholde how sluggish wee are like lot , who would not leaue his house till hee was pressed out by the angel : so heere behold thy senslese nature that can not take vp the cause of thy troubles till it be told againe and againe because of transgressions will not waken the sleeping sinner till it be doubled into an other word , because of iniquities lyke the doubled crowe of the cock to peter : let all men learne heere the cause of all their woes . now o man would thou knowe the cause of thy afflictions , it is because of thy transgressions ; hast thou not hard that ? was thou sleeping while i said it ? heare me againe , it is b●cause of thy iniquities : if the because of thy transgressions hath not weakned thee , let the because of thy iniquities rouse thee vp , god cryed once samuel , but hee made no answere to god ; hee cryed againe samuel , but yet hee answered not to god ; the third tyme hee cryed samuel neither as yet could hee answere vnto god : last of all , the lord doubled his cry samuel samuel : then samuel said , speake lord forthy servant heareth : many preachings haue many heard , and yet haue not learned the cause of their afflictons . many strokes haue many gotten , and as yet never could take vp the cause of their stroakes , and so they continue into their sinnes like the drunkard in his drinking , who though in his drunknesse he hath gotten many a sore fall & many a sore stroake , yet can not refraine . they haue stricken me , will he say , and i was not sicke , they haue beaten me , and i felt it not : when i shall awake yet will i till it againe . woe to him that is not sensible to his afflictions for to seeke out the cause thereof that it may bee removed . if a sinner hath beene stricken and hath not beene sicke , if also he hath beene beaten with the drunkard and hath not felt it , it is a sure token that he will yet to it againe : let all men learne heere in their afflictions to seeke out the cause of their trouble . when the philistims sawe them selues miserably plagued with a filthie and shamefull disease , they tooke counsell how it might bee tryed , wherefrom their affliction came : they had the arke of god a prisoner among them : this was the summe of all the counsell . now therefore make a new cart , and take two milk kine on which there hath come no yoke , and tie the kine to the cart , and bring the calves home from them : and take the arke of the lord and lay it vpon the cart , and send it away that it may gee : and see if it goeth vp by the way of his owne coast to beth-shemesh , if that bee , then he hath done vs this great evill : but if not , then wee shall know that it is not his hand that smote vs , but a chance that happened vnto vs. there be many christians in their afflictions worse then these philistims , though they see things more than two kine drawing a cart by his owne coast , yet can not say that it is god that hath done it , lesse can they tell that their sinnes haue beene the cause of it , but such a thing fell foorth , such a thing hath chanced to be : it happened so vnto me : such was my fortune . this is philistimes language worthy to be banished with buffets ; as nehemiah buffeted the little children of the israelites , and pluckt off their haire when he heard them speaking the language of ashdod : it so happened : such was my chance ; it was my fortune , is not christian but ashdodian language . this is gods question , wherefore is the living man sorrowfull ? this is also gods answere , man suffereth for his sins ; they are worthy to be scourged and buffeted who while they are afflicted speake of fortun or chance : sathan in his words may teach many christians to speake : when he desired god to scourge iob , he said not god send him an hard weird an evill fortoun , or god send him a sudden chance , or ill must hee happen : but , streach out thy hand & touch all that hee hath : and againe the second tyme : put furth thyne hand now and touch his bone and his fl●sh : the magicians of egypt called the plague the finger of god , or gods send . what a shame then should this be for christians to speake of fortune or chance or hap , seeing the divell and his magicians can call afflictions the hand of god , or the finger of god. let the lyars of ephraim , say they are not ephramits , but shibboleth shal proue then to bee ephramits . let the vngodly deny that they are wicked , and giue thanks with the pharisee that they are not lyke other men , but by their very language incontinent yee shall know : some filthie words or bloody oathes , for toun , hap , chance , or such words will bewray them : by their accent yee shall know , that they are of galile , that is of this world . surely said one to peter , thou also art a galilean , and thy speach agreeth thereto . the tongue betweene man and man , is lyke an interpreter betweene two strangers : the heart of every man is a stranger to every other man : but out of the abundance of the heart the tongue speaketh bee it good , bee it evill : the words are the interpretation of the heart . if words beguile works , dummy can not lie . againe in the doubling of the name of finne before affliction , i obserue that god is loath to afflict till he bee provoked by transgressions & by iniquities in the plural number that is againe and againe . till sinnes be multiplyed god scourgeth not the foole : gods wrath commeth not out vpon man till hee bee pressed with mens sinnes , as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaues . the doctrine then is this , god is slowe and loath to come to stroakes till he be provoked againe and againe , yea , and againe also . this is well set downe by the prophet amos , who declaring gods iudgments against divers peoples , setteth downe first men sinning againe and againe , once , twise , thrise , yea , foure tymes before that god began to afflict . the first is gaza , thus saith the lord for three transgressions of gaza and for four , i will not turne away the punishment thereof . the second is tyrus : thus saith the lord , for three tarnsgressions of tyrus , and for four i will not turne away the punishment thereof : the third is edom : thus saith the lord for three transgressions of edom , and for foure i will not turne away the punishment thereof . the fourth is ammon : thus saith the lord , for three transgressions of ammon and for foure i will not turne away the punishment thereof . the fifth is moab : thus saith the lord , for three transgressions of moab and for foure i will not turne away the punishment thereof . the sixt is judah : thus saith the lord , for three transgressions of iudah and for foure i will not turne away the punishment thereof . the seventh is israel : thus saith the lord , for three transgressions of israel and for foure i will not turne away the punishment thereof . the eight is britans : thus saith the lord , for thirtie transgressions of britane and for fourtie i will not turne away the punishment thereof : our transgressions are thirtie for three , fourtie for foure . see how god delighteth to afflict : one man sinneth and god forgiveth , againe man sinneth and god forgiveth , againe yet man sinneth and god forgiveth : but at last when men multiplie their transgressions god punisheth , saying , i will not turne away the punishment thereof . the vse is , let men beware of doubling and tripling of sinnes : if iniquities come after transgressions , it is to be feared that god say for three transgressions and for foure , i will not turne away the punishment thereof : they are but fooles that say , let vs sinne that grace may abound : though while men sinne , god seemes to them to bee inclosed vp into the heavens , yet hee sees men into their sinnes . though he come to iudgement softly with foote of wooll , when he is come he striketh with armes of yron . the longer the stroake be in comming it commeth downe the sadder . a sudden or hasty blowe is not of such force as a stroake fetcht from necke to heele : let no man therefore sooth him selfe vp in his sinnes , thinking that there is nothing in god but mercie , no , not : as hee is mercifull and gratious , long suffering , abundant in goodnesse and trueth : hee is also a righteous lord , a god of iustice , who will in no wayes cleare the guiltie : bee what men will bee , if they be fooles , because of their transgressions , and because of their iniquities they shall bee afflicted : otherwise where should bee the god of iustice . objection . heere some man may object that this seemeth not ever to bee true , viz. that man is afflicted for his transgressions , and that for two reasons : first , because there be some afflicted without cause , secondlie , because there bee many transgressions , who among all men are most free of affliction : many are the troubles of the righteous : while the wicked are at their ease in zion : that some are afflicted without cause , it seemeth to bee cleare in scripture : god seemeth to say it him selfe , after that he had permitted sathan to scourge job with many plagues , while hee perceived that in all these troubles job had still keept fast his integritie , hee said to sathan , thou hast mooved mee against him to destroy him without cause : this seems to bee against the doubled wordes of my texte , viz. because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities they are afflicted . the answere . j answere that while god saith to sathan that hee had afflicted iob without cause , it is cleare , job of these sinnes that sathan layed most falsly to his charge , viz. that hee was but an hypocrite and an hireling that served god but for rewards : thus in these words without cause : job is iustified by god onely in these sinnes whereof sathan did accuse him . jt is said of the borne blind that he was afflicted , neither for his fathers sinnes nor for his owne sinnes , but for the glory of god : jt is certain that if hee had had no sinne hee could not haue beene made miserable by blindenesse , but the cheefe cause of that blindnesse , was , that the workes of god might bee made manifest in him : the question is moved by jeremie , wherefore is the living man sorrowfull ? the answere is subjoyned , man suffereth for his sins . there bee many for 's in mans afflictions , 1. for the manifesting of gods glory . 2. for to stirre vs vp to prayer . 3. for to make men beware of sinne the cause of woe . 4. for to distaste vs of this earth and to waine vs from these transitorie pleasures , least we should say with peter on tabor , it is good for vs to bee heere : these all be the ends of afflictions , but the cause wherefore men are afflicted , are their transgressions and their iniquities . there is no ludgeing for affliction but where their is transgression . though thy father should eate the soure grape of sinne , it shall not bee able to set thy teeth on edge : the soule that s●nneth it shall die : god shall grind the faces of these that are fatted into their pleasures : but as for the righteous , say yee to him that it shall hee well with him . the vse of all this is , that we studie to sinceritie of lyfe , that when this lyfe shall bee spended and ended , wee may heare that joyfull voice of our master , faithfull servant enter into thy masters ioy : to god be glory for ever . the other difficultie is in this , viz that fooles are not ever afflicted because of their transgressions : are fooles ever afflicted ? but will yee say : what then are the wicked , who are often of greatest health , so that their eyes stand out for fatnesse ? the prosperitie of the world seemeth so bee theirs . jndeede often this is true : while the king and esther sit downe to drinke , the citie sushan is perplexed : how then is it said heere that fooles are afflicted ? i answere the godly haue all their troubles and teares heere , but it is not so of the wicked ; in that god spareth so many of them in this world , it is a cleare argument that there is a judgement to come . though incontinent god scourgeth not wicked men for their sins , yet he thinkes vpon them , as nehemiah in his prayer desired him to thinke vpon wicked tobjah and sanballat : my god , said he , thinke thou vpon tobiah and sanballat according to these their works : let sinners thinke vpon this , that god though hee spare for a space , yet hee thinketh vpon them : if these who are fooles by transgressions and iniquities are not in this world afflicted because of them , they shall be afflicted into the world to come . if thou be a hid sinner & yet is in no wise afflicted , thy day is comming . so long as this world lasts . isa. 13. v. 21. z●im and ochim doolefull creatures will rejoyce : one divell will daunce to another : but when the daunce is ended , then shall be miserie for evermore . againe , let vs remember heere that all these that are afflicted heere for their sinnes , are not therby exeemed : jt may be , thou bee pyned and pinched with povertie , with gouts , and with gravels , and at the end of all goe to hell : many are deceived , thinking that if they suffer much in this world , god will challenge them no more heerafter : this is a common follie worthy of affliction . take heed to thy selfe , o man how thy afflictions work vpon thee : if they make thee to grone and to cry vnto the lord , if thou find them spurres vnto prayer , and to all exercises of godlinesse : if in a word they make thee become a new man for to detest that which once thou loved best , well is thee : god hath sanctified thy affliction : but if thy disease be so that it refuse the remedie , if thy afflictions worke not vpon thee for to purge out the pride of life or for to chase out the spirit of vncleannesse , thy fornications & adulteries . it is a token that god is keeping thee for a more fearefull judgement . it is written of king ahaz , that in the tyme of his distresse hee did more yet trespasse against the lord : that said , hee is poynted out with a nota , this is that king ahaz . for to draw to an end , let vs observe two generall thinges in the words of the first verse : first i obserue that the sinnes of these fooles are not particularized heere , but in generall it is said , because of their transgressions and iniquities . this is for to be an aw-band aboue the heads of all men , least they should sinne in any particular maner against god , wee faile all in many things : if it had beene said heere , fooles because of their extortions or of adulteries are afflicted , the proud pharisee would thinke to goe free : lord i thanke thee , said hee , that i am not lyke other men , who are adulterers , extortioners , &c. but was hee free of pryde or of hypocrisie ? that was his transgression , for being free of one sinne or other hee was not without the compasse of trangressours : david was not an idolater , but hee was an adulterer , that was his transgression . i reade not of ashan that hee was an adulterer , but because hee was a theefe , hee was stoned , and burnt for that transgression : cain was not a theefe , but because hee was a murtherer , the lord made him a vagabond . c ham was not a murtherer , but because hee was a scorner god cursed him . noah he was not a scorner , but because he was a drunkard god scourged him with scorning . ananias & saphirah were not drunkards , but becaus they were lyars , they fell both downe dead at the apostles feere . iudas and iulian were not guiltie of all these fore-said transgressions , yet because they were traitours and apostate they died shamefully . many of our weemen if they can say , j am neither whoore nor theese think that all is well . the second generall observation j make here , is , that in generall sinners are said to bee afflicted in this verse : indeede thereafter the affliction is specified : viz , sicknesse . but in this generall word afflicted , i find as it were a meeting of gods judgements with mens transgressious : as all sorts of sinnes may be included into these words transgressions and iniquities : so all sorts of iudgments may bee contained into that word afflicted : if one affliction be not fearefull to the sinner another will bee terrible this is gods aw-band aboue the heads of men . the doctrine j gather heere : is , that as there bee diverse sortes of transgressions and of iniquities , so there bee diverse sortes of iudgements that are all in readinesse at the first call to helpe the lord , to helpe the lord against the iniquities of men . if god but cry vpon his plagues : ●aying , whome shall i send and who will goe for vs ? there is not one but it will come our before the lord , saying , with that evill spirit , send me when god is angry against man for sinne , the famine will say send me , and i shall eate him vp : send mee faith the pestilence and i shall destroy him : send mee saith the sword and i shall hewe him in peeces . these bee gods three great captaines , which are appoynted by him to runne through the world for to scourge men , because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities . not only those three , but all the creatures of god are in readinesse in coats of armes for to execute his will against transgressours . there is no creature of god either aboue or belowe , but when they see god angry for sinne they will desire to be sent for to revenge the lords quarrell against sinners : the fire saith , send me and i shall burne sodom : send me saith the water , and i shall drowne pharoah & his host : send mee saith the earth , and j shall swallow vp dathan and abiram : the winds crye send vs , and wee shall chase and chastise ionas for his rebellion : the lyons cry send vs and wee shall roare & devore the enemies of daniel : the deares cry send vs , and wee shall destroy the mockers of elisha : the dagges crye send vs and we shall eate the flesh of iozahel : the lyce crye send vs , and wee shall bring downe the pryde of herode . againe , there bee legions of disenses waiting vpon his nod , for to afflict sinners : send mee saith one , and i shall strike him blind : send mee saith another , and i shall make him dease : send mee saith another and i shall make him dumbe : send me saith another , and i shall lame him : send mee saith another to his head : send mee to his heart will another say : send mee to his lights and to his lever will others say : thus migrims and phrenesies , fevers , and fluxes , gouts , gravels , catarres , quartaines , and cataractes , armies of diseases will at gods command runne vpon miserable man , till from the sole of his feete to the crowne of his head there be nothing without or within but boils , botches and putrifieing sores . see what diseases , feesters , fevers , fluxes , &c. see what beasts , and vnbeasts , beares , dogges , lyons , lyce , &c. these with all the elements are ready to afflict man , because of his transgressions and because of his iniquities . moreover , not only will other creatures bee in readinesse for god for to afflict and execute his vengance against sinners , but even sinners them selues will runne as posts this earand for to be against them selves for the lord. send me , said iudas and i shall hang that traitour judas , that betrayed his maister : send mee said zimri and i shall cast zimri into a fire : send me saith achitophel and i shall hang achitophel for abuseing of his wisedome : send me saith king saul and i shall put a sword through king saul , to teach all the kings of the earth obedience to the king of heaven : see what armies god hath for to afflict all men in all sorts of afflictions , because of his transgressions , and because of his iniquities . the vse of all this is , that we stand in awe and feare to offend so great and so high a majestie : jf any man be guiltie of many transgressions , & of many iniquities , god as yee see he are hath many judgements ready at his nod , for the afflicting of such fooles : a whip for the horse , a bridle for the asse , and many strips for the fooles back . the lord giue vs wisedome in all things , to god be glory for ever . the sicke mans sore . the second sermon . psal. 107. verse 18. their soule abhorreth all maner of meate , and they drawe neere the gates of death . verse 19. then they cry vnto the lord in their troubles , and hee delivereth them out of their distresses . in my former sermon : ( beloved in the lord ) the cause of the sicke mans sore hath beene declared in these words , that because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities they are afflicted . i wish from my heart that all sinners could thinke well vpon this , that sinne is the very seede of affliction for the godly , and of fearefull iudgement for the wicked . every man while he sinneth thinketh to escape , even as god could bee false : as god is a righteous lord hee will not suffer sinners to escape vnpunished . as the shaddow followeth the body , so there is a thing that followeth sinne , which job calleth a rod , which the wicked man never thinketh of before he hath done : when the lowne hath faulted then is hee beaten : when belshazzar is drinking , then god is writing his dittay vpon the wall , after the wicked hath sinnsed the hand of gods justice shall catch him by the hairie scalpe , which shall make all his joynts to tremble . the particular affliction wherewith the sinners of this text are said to bee afflicted . now according to my division made in the former sermon : it followeth that wee knowe with what particular affliction fools in this text are said to bee scourged for their sinnes : the rodde is sickenesse , sore sickenesse , deadly diseases : this is plainely set downe into these words : their soule abhorreth all maner of meate , and they drawe neere the gates of death . the sickenesse as yee see , is not some light trouble , a tooth ache , or an head-worke ; as wee say , but a deadly disease declared in these words , their soule abhorreth all maner of meate , &c. beholde heere j say the description of a deadly disease : first it begins with want of appetite : after that the sicke man draweth neere the gates of death . the first doctrine j obserue heere is , towards man , in that hee maketh sickenesse to come before death , that man being forewarned may stryue to bee fore-armed : behold how god stealeth not a dint vpon these fooles that are heere sicke . god in justice might strike the sinner dead in an instant , as if hee were an oxe felled with the housle of an axe : if god should slay vs all vpon the sudden , and as we say make vs even shoot to dead , hee should be righteous and we should get shame and confusion of face : but such is the mercy of god that often he forewarnes sinners , making them to sicken by degrees : first by taking away their appetite , and thereafter by making them to abhorre all maner of meate : then their hands become feeble and their knees waxe weake as water , thus all their joye by litle and litle doth wither away : after that they are thus warned , god draweth them neere the doores of death : this is gods custome to send some forerunners to tell that the decree is coming foorth against sinners , except that they gather them selues , and search them selues for to prevent his judgements : hee sent vnto ninive his prophet to giue them a charge of fourtie dayes either to repent or to be destroyed : kings hornings get but commonly fixe dayes , god gaue them fourtie dayes leasure to consider whether it was good or no to returne home againe to god : after that god had sent vnto jerusalem his prophets both great and small for to receiue the fruits of his vineyard whom they abused : hee sent at last his owne sonne , saying , they will reverence my sonne , but they killed him , and cast him out of his owne vineyard as being the heire : yet for all that god would not destroy them : thereafter hee sent the apostles to preach , & to doe miracles amongst them , yet for all that they would not repent . after as joseph their owne writer records they gote warning from god of their woe to come : first a comete before the destruction of jerusalem was seene into the aire , hauing the forme of a sword ; for all this they would not yet repent : after that a voice was heard into the temple , saying , let vs gee out of this place : for all this they would not yet repent : last of all there was a certaine man that night and day ranne about the temple , crying voice from the cast , and voice from the west , voice from the four winds : woe to the citie and to the temple : as at last he was crying woe vnto me , he was slaine by the cast of some stone , and incontinent thereafter the temple was burnt and the citie taken and destroyed . what need j bring testimonies from forraine nations : haue we not eyes to see what god hath done to britan ? what cryed the famine vnto vs into this land , when in the most glorious streets of this kingdome it made the poore to fall flatlings to the ground ? what cryed the pestilence that walketh in darkenesse ? while the best cities of this land were almost laid waste ? and now what cryeth the sword drawen our of the scabert ? can we say but that we are well forewarned ? though god should come this yeere , and sweepe vs quite away , none of vs can say that our god hath beene too hasty to take vengeance . such forewarnings by sickenesse , by famine , by pestilence , by sword , are given to sinners to let the world see that god is true in his oath , viz. that as hee liueth hee taketh no delight into the death of sinners . but because , if god should giue to all such forewairnings the wicked world , yea , the best of vs would become secure : therefore the lord often will take away both godly and vngodly into a moment , that every man may be continuallie vpon his watch , least hee should be taken away vpon the sudden , and so dye without preparation : while the philistims were seeking to see samson sport , the house fell downe vpon them , and they died into an instant : while nadab and abihu brought in strange fire before the lord the fire of god consumed them into a moment : fiftie men with their captaine , and againe other fiftie men with their captaine that came to lay hands vpon elias were consumed into an instant with fire from heaven : all iobs children were smothered at a feast : the aegyptians in their greatest rage against god his people were all drowned into a moment . ananias and saphirah shot to dead , while they were lyeing against god : lots wife in an instant was turned into a pillar of salt . all these are set out in scripture to giue warning vnto sinners , not to lippen to the last , as if one gods mercy at the last gaspe were enough for al their sinnes . not one of all these fore said persons gote once leasure for to say lord haue mercy vpon mee . what can thou tell o man but thou mayst die vnder the fall of an house with samson & the philistims ? jt may bee thou be burnt with a blast of powder as nadab was with fire ? what if satan get licence from god to raise a wind , which shall smite the corners of the house , whereby in an instant thou shall be overwhelmed ? the lord may drown thee with the aegyptians into the sea . j knew a man in france fall downe dead as hee was washing his hands into the basen , for to goe to dinner after the communion . i knew a man in scotland , who died at the dinner hauing the cuppe in his hand not feeling any sicknesse of before . what doe all these cry vnto vs but that we ever be prepared . is not our lyfe a vapour , a breath into our nostrils , which departeth so soone as the lord but saith , returne yee children of men ? the vse of this for great comfort to these that are afflicted with long diseases . yee that haue such sicke persons at home , whose names are prayed for heere , take home to them this comfort , that they are much beholden to gods mercies that proceedeth in such a maner with them , whereby they may haue tyme to repent and recken with their god , what if god had slaine them vpon an evill thought , word , or worke ? * it is a fearfull thing to goe directly from sin to judgement . well is the man that hath tyme to craue mercy from his iudge . comfort your sicke with this : let them see how they are beholden vnto god for his delays . after that , tell them what hath made them sicke . the physitians can discourse and tell diverse naturall causes : but alas , this is too sparingly told to the sicke that they suffer for their sinnes . the physitian will say the humour must first be purged : but the minister must say , sinne must first bee purged . many never send for the minister till the physitian can doe no more . this they will verifie , vbi medicus desinit , ibi deus incipit : where man leaveth off , there god beginneth . o foole , god should be begun at in thy sicknesse . seeke first the minister the interpreter one of a thousand , that he may cry to god for remission of thy sinnes the cause of thy sicknesse . if this cause bee not removed , the physitian shall by his drogges waste both thy health and thy wealth . my counsell is , that thou proceede orderly into thy cure : bee first friends with thy god , and he shall direct the physitian : otherwise the tyme shall come that thou shall say to all wordly meanes , as iob said to his fectlesse friends : we are all physitians of no value . let vs now visite this sicke man into his bed , let vs see what aileth him : my text saith that his soule abhorreth all maner of meate : the hebrew word taban signifieth properly abomino● , that is to abhorre , avoide or scunner at a thing that standeth against our heart . his sicknesse is so sore , that all sortes of meate stand against his stomack : ●ewe men in health can eate of all 〈◊〉 of meate : some like not flesh some ca●e not fish , some abhorre one thing , and some abhorre another . but for a man to abhorre all maner of meate , so that he can taste nothing , as the sicke man of my text , it declareth the greatnesse of the disease : this is then the affliction heere sent against man , because of his transgressions his soule abhorreth all manner of meate , that is god taketh the appetite from him . the doctrine i obserue heere , is this , god hath many whips wherewith he can chastise his owne children and scourge the wicked : let all other plagues be removed , let vs see what god can doe to man in matter of meate . first god can giue thee meate enough , and yet scourge thee with such a niggard heart , which like an hungry steward will not vouchafe vpon the stomacke it s owne due : such a man wee call a wretch , or worlds worme , that is feared to eare of the earth least the whole earth bee not sufficient for it . j compare such a man to a currish dogge , lyeing vpon a heape of hay , that neither can eate himselfe , neither suffer the beast to eate that would eate . * heere is the plague of povertie , or rather plague of plentie , magnas inter opes inops , to bee poore in the middest of wealth . secondly god can scourge a man in his meate , when he both giveth him meate and a heart , and a hand to take it , and a stomacke to digest it , but hee beseigeth the heart with hunger , by taking the passage of his throate ; there he will set downe a squinacie , crowels , or boils for to hinder all sorte of victuall for to be caried to his enemies that are lying into the heart , rebellious imaginations that haue lifted vp a banner against the lord : god will take this passage of the throate , as iephre tooke the passages of jordan for the overthrowe of the ephracaits , thirdly god will giue meate vnto men , but will take away the strength and foison of it , which is called , to breake the staffe of bread : according to this he said to his people threatning them for sinne , yee shall eate much and shall not bee satisfied , when gods plague after this maner is on meate , men are like these leane & evill favored kine that pharaoh sawe in his dreame eate vp the fatre fleshed kine that were fed in a meadow , who after they had fed so fatly , it could not be knowne that they had eaten them , they remained as leane and evill favored as ever they were before . see how god can plague his creatures with leanuesse , even while they feede in fattest medowes . but againe let the lord bee pleased : let him blesse a little portion were it of pulse , it shall haue greater force to feede thy body then all the kinges dainties with gods displeasure . thus daniel and his fellowes , whose portion was but pulse , were fatrer and fatter in flesh then all the children , which didcate the portion of the kings meate . fourthly , god can plague man in meate , when hee suffereth a man to become foolish , either for to tarrowe of his meate , because he geteth not such meate as he would haue hee w●ll take no meate at all , and so depriveth him selfe of gods comforts : this wee see often into little children . others more foolishly will make vowes not to eate till they haue done an evill turne , like these jewes , who banded together , and bound them selves vnder a curse , that they would neither eate nor drinke till they had killed paul : this was sauls follie , he discharged the people all sorte of meate ti●l the battell was ended , he band them vnder a curse : but what came of it ? the people vexed with hunger , did eate flesh with blood : thus gods command was broken by occasion of such a foolish injunction . fifthly god can scourge man in meate while he cursed the meate , which man desire against his will : it is said of israel , that they tempted god in their heart , by asking meate for their lust : yea , they spake against god : they said , can god furnish a table in the wildernesse : thereafter it is said that the lord heard this and was wroth : what did hee into his wrath ? by his power hee brought in the south wind . hee rained flesh vpon them as dust : and feathered fowles lyke as the sand of the sea : so that they did eate & were filled : but how soone came judgement , the psalmist sayeth , that while their meates was in their mouths , the wrath of god came vpon them and slewe the fattest of them , and smote downe the chosen men of israel . behold the end of all their good cheere : behold how shortly their greening was cooled , sixtly god can scourge man in meate , when hee maketh meate to discord with man : from this is the proverb , that which is one mans meat , is an others mans poyson : it is a righteous thing with god to putte discord betweene man and his creatures , when man hath sinned against his god : the least discord between man and food , declareth that man is at feade with his god. seventhly , god can afflict man in meat , by withdrawing all meat from man : this is famine , a fearefull plague : jeremie calleth it a punishment greater then the punishment of the sinne of sodome : in that famine of jerusalem the tender hearted weemen for lack of bread did eate their children of a spanne long : the little children came to their mothers , crying , where is bread ? and after that they swooned and fell downe dead , and their mothers did eate them : these who in tyme of abundance were nazarits , purer then the snowe , and whiter then milk , in tyme of famine their visage became blacker than a cole , their skinne withered , and became lyke a sticke . jn samariah two weemen made paction for to eate their two children , first the one and then the other . eightly god can scourge man in meat , while hee letteth him eate till hee surfet : thus when israel lusted after flesh , the lord gaue them flesh and they did eate vntill it came out at their nostrils : but while the flesh was betweene their teeth , ere it was chewed , the wrath of the lord wat kindled and smot the people with a very great plague : from thence the place was called kibroth-hattavah , that is , the graues of lust . these that surfet either in meat or drink till they sicken are plagued in their meat and drinke : woe vnto them that are mighty to drink wine , & men of strength to mingle strong drinke . last of all god scourgeth man in meat , when by sore sicknesse hee maketh a man to losse his appetite , or when he maketh his soule ( as my text saith ) abhorre all maner of meate . the lord in his justice can put a man at variance and discord with that meate , which once hee loved best : yea , hee will sowe such seed of discord betweene man and his meat , that man will bee at deadly feade with his food : yea , & abhorre it , of whatsoever sorte it can bee : were thy fare never so daintie or delicate , the lord can make the soule of the sicke man to abhorre it , the doctrine i obserue heere is , that there is no such loue and friendship amongst the creatures , but if the creature offend god , god can set them at variance . * god that put an evill spirit of dissention betwixt abim●lech and the men of shechem , can put stryfe and contention betweene a man and the meate hee loveth best . hee can make the best meate to be vnto man after he hath abused it , as hee made tamar to bee to amnon after his lust was satisffied : his last hatred was greater then his former loue : hee abhorred her at last after whom he sickned for lust : heere is such hatred against meat : their soule abhorreth all maner of meate : yea , of meat , which once they lusted most after . god will not suffer his enemies to haue the vse of his creatures . jf man cast out with god , god can make man cast out with his meat : yea , and cast it : yea , and make his drinke to cast him vpon his backe . god may for a space delay , and suffer sinnes to haue a stomacke : but what saith hee into the psalme ? when i see a convenient tyme then will i execute judgement . god is not slacke while he delayeth , but hee stayeth till sinne bee ripe . the vse of this is , let vs never offend god in our meat . let vs beware to make of our bellyes kibroth hatavab , graues of lust . what is a gluttons belly but a graue of lust , wherein hee burieth the good creatures of god ? let all men learne heere not to set their affection too much vpon that which shall goe to the draught . he that loveth his meat or drinke better then his god , god shall make him hate his loue : yea , and abhorre it . what is a man given to his belly , but a belly-god ? stinke must hee , whose god is his belly . fye on the follie of that foole that for meat forsaketh god , and cleaveth vnto his belly , which god one day shall destroy : yea , and shall make of it a nest of wormes . often in this lyfe hath it beene seene that god hath marked the abused belly with some judgement , for to bee a prophecy of torment vnto others , least they should bee like vnto them . gods judgements vpon others should bee vnto vs , as if a messinger had beene sent from the dead for to giue warning to the gluttons , brethren , least they also should fall into the like torment . the second doctrine i gather heere is this : it is a great benefite of god to man to haue his appetite , so that hee may eate of all maner of meat . the vse : thou hast a stomacke , thanke god for it : abuse it not in gluttonie or drunkennesse : st paul hath a notable speach : viz , that the grace of god hath appeared vnto all men , teaching vs. what is the lesson ? that denying vngodlinesse , and worldly lusts , we should liue soberly , righteouslie , and godly in this present world . soberly , in regard of our selues : righteously , in regard of our neighbours : and godly in regard of our god. see how in these three severall dueties , fobrietie is sent before , for to prepare a place in the heart for the lord , who can not dwell into an heart full of surfet . the third lesson j obserue heere is , that sinne is the cause which maketh a man to losse his appetite . the vse . let every man that sindeth a decay in this benefite , considder how this euill is come vpon him : i remember of a comfortable laying , which that worthy and learned man my lord of plessis morney , whom i knew in sanmur , was wont to say concerning the sight of his eyes almost lost , is say a quel ieu ie les ay pardus ; j know ( said he ) at what play i haue lost them . hee had worne-them away with great reading : hee was not bleare eyed as many amongst vs by much drinking well is the man that hath such bosome and secret comfortes while hee is afflicted . health is a great benefite and would bee meekill made of : let vs so spend it that while it is spent wee may haue some comfort to remember how wee haue spent it . seeing my text is of health & of sicknesse , let mee say something against these that are enemies both of their owne health , and of other mens . to you first j addresse my speach , who are drinkers of strong drinke , or rather strong in drinking . men of strength to mingle strong drinke , to scoll as wee say : how call yee such scols ? scols of health . what folie is this , that a man should losse his health by drinking the scolls of health ? what sicknesse is this when a man is sick of healths : the very names of this sin declareth the madnesse of men . what meaneth thou ô man , to say before a drinke , that will make the sicke : this is to such a mans health ? a scoller , whose schoole is the tavorne , is not a scholer of christ that sayes learne of mee . j never heard tell that christ scolled to any mans health : and yet hee is the man that onely can in all things say learne of me : j will not follow st paul him selfe in all things : hee desired not to be followed in all things : but bee yee follow●rs of mee , ( said hee , ) as i am of christ : take my counsell o man , follow not the fashions of this world : if thou would bee a man of health be not a drinker of healths . bee a scholler of christ , but bee not a scoller of strong drinke : drinke soberly , but scoll not . a scoll is a thing sacrificed to idols : viz. to bellyes that are drunken mens gods , belly gods . the counsell of st paul is wise : if any of them that beleeveth not , ( saith hee , ) bid you to a feast , and yee bee disposed to goe ; whatsoever is set before you , ea●e , asking no question for conscience sake : but if any man say vnto you , this is offered in sacrifies vnto idols , eate not for his sake that showed it , and for conscience sake ? that which hee said of eating that may j say of drinking : drinke of any drinke that is set downe before you , but if a scoll come to the table , drinke it not , because it is a sacrifice offered vnto the stinking idoll of the belly . let vs not onely flee all evill , but all appearance of evill . what hurt to health such scolls haue bene , the conscience of many will beare mee record : i wish that the force of gods word could sweepe that out , which mans corruption hath brought in . when the brasen serpent made by gods command was abused ; good hezekiah brake it in peeces and called it nehushtan , that is a lumpe of brasse . seeing scols haue beene so vilely abused , let vs breake them in peeces : away with all appearance of evill : this much concerning these enemies of health , who by excessiue drinking , drowne their spirits and the gifts of god within them . there be now another sort of drunkards who spoile their health with reeke and smoke : tobacca-men , who goe about to smoke the soule out of the body , as if it were a foxe chased out of his hole : this fire may be called as the fire of nadab was called : viz. strange fire . i speake not of the vse but of the abuse of gods creatures : my reproofe is against these that spend the tyme with plussing of reeke , which should be better imployed . what count should such firie pipers make to god if death in an instant should feaze vpon them with that fire pipe at their mouth ? if god should say to that man , what was thou doeing while i sent my servant death for thee ? will that bee a gratious answere : lord i was spending the tyme that thou gavest mee for repentance , at such and such an exercise . i will not insist against this sinne that was once a great streanger in this land . onely this will j say for the present : this taking of reeke seemeth to be a gracelesse thing . jf a man come in into a house and take but a drinke : he wil first pray to god for a blessing but there is no grace for tobacca , as if it were not a creature of god : every creature of god is good , and nothing to bee refused , if it bee received with thanksgiving : away with such new inventions , whereof the event is this , the soule abhorreth all manner of meate . away with these creaturs which are nor received with thanksgiving . let vs now proceede in our text . and they drewe neere the gates of death . vvee haue heard how all the sicke mans appetite , is lost : that which followeth is , that they drawe neere the gates of death . see how the living man sickneth and decayeth : see how his sinne goeth downe by degrees : first he can not eate , after that , all natural strength failing him , hee draweth neere the gates of death : yea , so neere that with job he is not able to swallow downe his spittle . the doctrine j obserue heere , is , that sicknesse commeth formest , & death followeth after . there is no disease that commeth to a man , but it is like a warning peece of preparation for death . the vse when ever wee find our appetite decay : let vs remember the doores of death . againe let vs obserue heere that the psalmist speaketh not heere of any light disease : as of a tooth-ache , or of some little throwing of the belly , but of a deadly disease , wherein all the cunning of the physician is gone . see what doloures the sinne of man is able to bring vpon him . sinne while it is in doeing goeth merrily on , like a ship falling into calme waters with flaunting failes ; but tary till the revenging tempest of gods wrath come & rush vpon the sinner , and tumble him vp & downe , then is hee forced to know that there bee some great power provoked : but let vs see what is vnderstood heere by the gates or doores of death . by the gates or doores of death , some vnderstand the graue : when your graues are opened for to receiue your bodies then are the gates or ports of death opened , that yee may enter in . the graue maker is deaths porter . a man is said to bee neere the gates of death , when he is so sicke that there be more appearance of death then of lyfe . some are so sicke that they must make their testament : some are yet neerer : yea , so neere that no hope of lyfe being left , the living will cut off their winding-sheete . the last yeere , when j came out of that fever in all mens opinions deadly , i found my winding sheete cut off , lying in my studie amongst my bookes : in such a case man may well bee said to be neere the gates of death , when at every moment wee thinke that his breath should goe out . in this drawing neere the graue , j obserue also the weaknesse of man. were hee never so strong , death at last will drawe him with sicknesse to her portes . samson for all his force yelded vnto this draught . let mee dye , ( said hee , ) with the philistims : there is neither force nor bewtie , nor wisdome able to resist this draught . man in his name may learne his weaknesse : the hebrewes call him enosh , quasi●●ger di●●us ●● mortifera agritudine in quam 〈◊〉 peccatum incidit , that is , from ●iseases wherevnto hee hath beene made subject by sinne . eliphaz speaking of mans weaknesse , faith that wee dwell in houses of clay , whose foundation is in the dust , which are crushed before the moth . see what an house thy soule , ô man dwelleth into : it is but a little lodge so ruinous , that if a moth but creepe vp vpon it with the weight thereof it will be crushed . the vse , let no man lippen to his strength or youth . while thou art into thy greatest force , remember that god can cause thee to be crushed before a moth , which shall drawe thee perforce in at the doores of death , for to dwell amongst the crawling wormes . others by the gates of death heere vnderstand the power that death hath over all the living . they call the power of death , gates of death , quia judicia olim in portis exercebantur , because the magistrats in whose hand was the civill power , sat into the portes of the city , while they did exercise judgement . in this sease christ said that the gates of hell should not prevaile against his church : by the gates or portes of hell is to be vnderstood the power of hell : so heere by the gates of death , learned interpreters vnderstand the power of death . the doctrine j obserue heere , is , that great was the power of death before the coming of christ. it is heere set foorth , as a king or a magistrate , sitting with great power , rule , and dominion . this impire it keept ever till christ came , who tooke part of our flesh and blood , that through death hee might destroye him that had the power of death , that is the devil ; and deliver these , who through feare of death were all their lifetyme subject vnto bondage : let vs remember , then that death before christs death had portes of power : but so soone as the captane of our salvation came , hee cast downe the portes and dang death from the portes : yea , hee beseiged death : yea , hee overcame death even into the graue , deaths dungeon and strongest hold : yea , not onely that , but also hee put the devill , that had the power of death to such a straite , that hee was forced to quite his castell , for to goe lodge into swine . the vse of this is our great comfort against the feare of death : what neede wee now to feare death , seeing christ our fastest friend hath conquessed the portes of death . when a christian seeth christ hee groweth bold : yea so , that hee will boast death and the graue , saying , o death ! where is thy sting ? o graue ! where is thy victorie ? heere againe i obserue , that hee saith , that the sicke fooles drawe neere the gates of death : they drawe neere and yet enter not in . the lesson is this , so long as there is lyfe in a man there is hope : all is not lost that is in perrill : epaphroditus was sicke nigh vnto death , yet god had mercy on him . the vse of this is , so long as there is lyfe in man in sickenesse , let both spirituall and bodily dueties be done : let prayers be made and other lawfull meanes sought , whereby the precious lyfe of man may be preserved : say not there is no remeed , all hope of lyfe is past , and therefore wee neede not care what bee done to him . mans extremitie is gods opportunitie : when man lest looketh for it , god at his will can bring backe the sicke man from the doores of death . the best vse wee can make of that , that sinners sicken , and at last drawe neere the doores of death , is , that we remember that we all haue this voyage to make . we are all dayly drawing neerer and neerer vnto death , vnto our long home , as salomon saith : and therefore the neerer our bodies drawe to the doores of death , let our soules drawe neerer the portes of heaven . all things giue vs warning that wee must flit and remoue : thy beard , thy face , thy skinne , thy acquaintance , the season of the yeere : are all crying we are subject to changes . the houres , the dayes , the nights , are all as it were vpon horsebacke posting to their end . the heavens crye vnto vs our powers are shaken and wee waxe old as doeth a garment : see yee not that sand running out of my houre glasse : jt cryeth vnto you that tyme is running away with your lyfe : as yee see that sand running out , so is also the tyme of your lyfe running away : and now yee haue neere by an houre of lyfe lesse since j reade my texte : and shortly shall yee goe out with lesse naturall lyfe than yee came in : the lord increase our spirituall lyfe . j wish j could let you see the vanitie of this lyfe , that yee may learne to looke for a better . there is a swift motion into man from lyfe to death : my dayes , said job , are swifter then a weevers shittle : yea , swifter then a post : yea , they are swift as ships , as the eagle that hasteth to the preye . what is man but a broken leafe driven to and fro with dayes of trouble , as with mightie tempests ? and yet for all thi● , while hee is driving swiftly vnto death he dreameth that he is drawing neere to the doores of life . put thy house to an order , yee must make your testament , are fearefull wordes to a naturall man. most men even while they are a-dyeing desire to dreame of lyfe , neither without some wrath will they suffer them selues to bee wakned out of this dreame : and yet doe what they can they are ever drawing nearer and nearer the doores of death . i wish that these doores were ofter into our memorie then they are . if yee will take heede and considder , i shall let you knowe two pages that god hath commanded ever to be watches in man , so long as hee hath lyfe for to advertise him that hee must die : the one is called the pulse , which god hath set into the arme of man , knocking night and day , for to tell him , that at the last knocke hee must enter in at the doores of death . the other page is called the breath which god hath set into the breast of man : this reciprocation of the breath is like reciprocatio serrae , the drawing to and froo of a sawe . this breath o man is night and day going to and froo like a savve : man is the tree : when the tree is cutted then must it fall : and where it falleth there shall it lye , whether in a myre or vpon the cleane : as a man dieth so shall he be for ever : if being well prepared hee enter in at the doores of death , happie shall his lyfe bee for evermore . yee who of before did never obserue these two watching pages : the pulse and the breath ; take warning by them that dayly yee drawe neerer to the gates of death . the second part . the sicke mans salve . wee haue hard in the first part of the verses , which wee haue reade concerning the sicke mans sore : now it followeth that we heare of the second part , wherein is the sicke mans salve : it is contained in these words : then they cry vnto the lord in their trouble : hee saveth them out of their distresses : he sent his word and healed them : and delivered them from their destructions . in the words j see tvvo speciall things , first the sicke man crying to god for helpe , secondly god delivering the sicke man. the first is in these words : then they cry vnto the lord in their trouble : the second is in these words , hee saveth them out of their trouble . &c. heere then is both mans part and gods part : mans part is in these words , then they cry vnto the lord : gods part is in these words , he saveth them . &c. heere first in mans part let vs obserue , that while hee is neere the doores of death , hee cryeth vnto god for lyfe : where we may learne that it is lawfull for a man , beeing in danger of death to begge his lyfe from his god : this hezekiah did while hee was sicke of his boile : he weept before god in his bed , and besought him that hee would spaire him for a space . moses had a great desire to liue and to enter into canaan : this was the prayer of him that compiled the hundreth and two psalme , that god would yet let him liue : i said o my god take mee not away in the middest of my dayes : in the kings psalme the prophet saith vnto god , he asked lyfe of thee , thou gavest it him . i confesse that men had great need to bee wise in this sute : for if a man desire lyfe for to eate & drinke and make good cheere of his provisions laide vp for many yeeres , it were better for him to die before such riots . lord keepe me from the gift of lyfe , except it bee that j may amend my lyfe : lyfe should bee desired that it may bee better spended . the vse of this doctrine is , that every man in his sicknesse try , wherefore hee desireth his lyfe . jf it be for to glorifie god , and to redeeme evill spent tyme , to doe some more good in the world ; such a desire is godly : such a request is holy , whether it be graunted or not . well is the man that hath gotten lyfe , and thereafter so liveth and learneth to die that hee may dye to liue . let him whom god hath afflicted with sore sicknesse , and thereafter hath brought even from the doores of death : let him i say learne to be circumspect in his wayes . when christ met afterwarde with the sicke man , whom hee had cured at the poole of bethesda , hee gaue him a godly counsell : behold , ( said hee ) thou art made whole : sinne no more lest a worse thing come vnto thee . it is a token of a deadly disease , when the phisicke can not worke . againe heere i obserue the sluggishnesse of mans heart in prayer . he will not pray till hee bee at the extremitie , even at the doores of death : then , and not till then , saith my text , they cry vnto the lord. why would they not cry , while they perceived their appetite decaying ? why would they not cry , while their soule began to abhorre all maner of meate ? doeth the wild asse bray when hee hath grasse ? or loveth the oxe over his fodder ? no not . so long as a man hath the grasse of prosperitie , and the fodder of wealth , hee can neither loue , nor bray , nor pray . the young man will not quite the harlot , till a dart strake through his liver . if the vntamed colt be not sore ridden and beat●● hee can not bee broken : hard hearts like hard knots must haue hard wedges . a small wind is notable to fanne away meakell chaffe : a hautie heart will not stoupe for a little distresse . jt is not the little touch of affliction that will waken a snorting sinner . except it bee an imperious crosse , which cause him smart , hardly will hee yeeld ; so head strong a thinge is sinne . so long as the mariners can worke among●t their cordes , they runne , ra●●le , reele , and sweate in the tempe●t : but after that they haue reeled to &c fro , and staggered like drunken men , when all their running is gone , then as it is said in the psalme , they cry vnto the lord in their trouble : yea , though the ship reele and crack , as thought it should bee crusht : yet jonas will not waken , till a pagan pull him vp and buffet him with rebukes . what meanest thou o sleeper ? arise call vpon thy god. the vse . while god giveth vs warning by any disease , let vs take it as a precept of warning from god , and prepare our selues for death . * jt is to bee too venturous not to cry till thou be at the doores of death : that is , to put craig in perrill : wise salomon forbiddeth a man to delay a day . this was his watch-word : boast not thy selfe of to morrowe , for tho● knowest not what a day may bringe foorth : age hodie quod moriturus agas , doe that to day that thou would desire to bee doing in the day of thy death . but alas ! what order for all this haue wee taken with our soules , though wee know not how neere wee are to the doores of death ? who amongst vs can say with the psalmist , my heart is prepared , my heart is prepared ? alas for our heart , it is like the field of the sloathfull , and like the vineyard of the man voide of vnderstanding : i went by it ( saith salomon , ) and loe it was all growen over with thornes , and nettles had covered the face thereof . our hearts for the most part are either pricked with the thornie cares of the world , or burnt so with the burning nettles of lust , that we remember not our latter end . so soone as wee come out of the burning nettles of youth , wee fall into the pricking thornes of worldly cares , the sicknesse of colde and olde age . except that wee take heede to our selues in tyme , our damnation shall come , as one that travaileth , & our destruction like an armed man. for this cause , let every man rouse vp him selfe at the first touch of affliction , and no more put the lord , as it were to paines , for to stretch out his arme still . why should yee bee striken any more ? said god to his people : though god spare man in his sinnes for a space , yet at last shall hee not disdaine to bee crossed of dust & asses . i will tell thee ô man , that if thou sit the lords first summonds , hee vvill send to thee a new charge , which shall make thy griefe to grow . if yee walk stubbornly against mee , ( said the lord ) i will bring seven tymes more plagues vpon you according to your sinnes : if seven will not worke , god hath seventie seven at his command , every one readier than another , to say with that spirit , send me . jf for the gentle corrections of his rodde thou will not turne , hee shall scourge thee with scorpions , till hee cause thee c●y : if a sinner overcome a little affliction , and come out of it , not being bettered thereby , gods armie shall bee stretched out still by some greater judgement . after that hananiah had broken the yoke of wood , which was about ieremiah his ●ecke , for to bee a token of a great judgement , god commanded to tell hananiah , thou hast broken the yokes of wood , but thou shalt make for t●●m yokes of yron . if yokes of wood can not da●ton stif-necked sinners , the lord shall change wood into yron : malo nodo malus cuneus , for a hard knot he can make a hard wedge : nill wee will we , god will haue his blowes felt . againe heere in that a sicke man at the doores of death , is said to cry to god , i obserue a powerfull working of the spirit of god in his owne children . while they are at the doores of death and can not speake vnto man for weaknesse , yet are they said to cry vnto the lord. at such a tyme all the force of nature is spent , and words are said to be swallowed vp : yet such are said heere to cry vnto the lord. wherefrae commeth this force to cry ? not from nature : it is from the spirit within . while the godly man is at his last gaspes , and hath layd speach before men , even then is a voice of power within him , crying through the heavens vnto god. the vse . in confidence of gods assisting power , let vs comfort our selues against the houre of death , the houre of our greatest weaknesse : heere is the ground , while all naturall strength will faile his owne children , yet gods strength will not faile them : my flesh and my heart faileth ( said david , ) but god is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever . what can make a man cry at his last gaspes , but this strength of god in the heart ? this is a great mercy , that while there is no force in nature to make a man but speake vnto man , there shall be into his heart a spirituall force , which shall make him cry vnto his god. the wicked also , when they drawe neere the doores of death , will cry vnto the lord : that is , they will gaspe , gaze , grinne , glowre , and grone : yea , powre out their roarings as waters : and such is the great mercie of god that for plaine pittie he will grant vnto the wicked man his lyfe . so hee pittied ahab clothed with sackeclothe , hauing nothing but the outward skinne of repentance : because the lord sawe him rent his cloaths and put sackcloth vpon his flesh , & fast , and lye in sackcloth , hee said to elijah , seest thou how ahab humbleth him selfe before mee ? therefore i will not bring the evill in his dayes : see what god did to a wicked man but outwardly humbled . such is the mercie of our god , that hardly can hee punish sinners in his justice . as he did to ahab , so will hee doe to a wicked sicke foole : when he heareth him groaning , and seeth him gaping for lyfe , lyke a hungry dogge gaping for a smush bone , he will cast vnto him that bone of life , and let him gnawe vpon it for a number of yeeres . the wicked man loveth not god , but looketh for health as a dogge will looke for a bone that hee seeth into a strangers hand : as the dogges eye is ever vpon the bone , and not vpon the stranger , so is the wicked mans eye ever vpon his lyfe and not vpon god. when the dogge hath gotten the bone , he runneth to some corner and gnaweth vpon it , and never regards any more the stranger that cast it to him : even so the wicked man , as it were , gnaweth vpon a number of yeeres , which god hath cast to him , but after he hath once gotten that which hee glowred so meekill for , he looketh no more vpon god. the gift of naturall lyfe as j see is a gift both given to the godly and the wicked : they will both come to the doores of death , and god will bring them backe againe to lyfe . but wouldst thou knowe whether or not thou hast gotten that gift in mercy or but for a greater judgement ? trye whether or not thou amendeth thy bygone lyfe . if thy loue be greater to god then of before : if thou depends more vpon his providence then of before : jf thou walke more circumspectly , and more carefully into thy calling then of before : jf thou make greater conscience of thy thoughts then of before thou did of thy words and workes : if that bee , well is thee ; the lord in mercy hath added as vnto hezekiah that tyme to thy dayes . but if after thou hast made so many faire promises to god in thy sicknesse : so many vowes to redeeme that evill spent tyme : yet if after thou hast gotten health , thou forget thy miserie and remember it , as waters that passe away , and so returne to thy old bayas againe to bee friends with thy old sinnes , neglecting thy former vowes ; assure thy selfe that thy lyfe is prolonged but for a curse , that thou may see the evill to come : though god spare the wicked for a space , yet the day of vengeance is in his heart . god is fully mynded to breake him vvith his tempest , & to make him perish , like his owne dung for ever . a vvicked man in his greatest glory is like amal●cke of vvhom balaam prophecied , saying amaleke was the first of nations , but his latter end shall bee that hee perish for ever . many never vveepe for sinne till their soule is in hell . againe heere obserue to vvhom the sicke fooles are said to crye : i● is to the lord : then they cry vnto the lord. heere vv●e haue to learne to vvhom wee should cry in our trouble : jt is vnto the lord. st. augustine saith very well : n●n est quod fugias à deo irato , nisi ad deum placatum : there is no refuge from an angry god , but vnto god being pacified : whom haue i in heaven but thee ? said david . cursed be the man , ( saith jeremie , ) that trusteth in man , and whose heart departeth from the lord : for hee shall bee like the heath in the wildernesse , and shall not see when god commeth : but blessed is the man that can say to god with jeremie , thou art my hope in the day of evill . the vse , let vs learne wisdome at these sicke fooles come to their witts againe : in all our distresses let vs runne to the lord . who is so powerfull to helpe as hee ? who is so mercifull to helpe as he ? it shall therefore be our best in the tyme of out prosperitie to make our acquaintance with him , that in affliction wee may the more boldly goe and cry for his helpe . * if god bee a stranger vnto vs , wee will thinke shame to imploye him : but if he be our friend , wee shall finde that of salomon to be true , there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother . againe in that the afflicted are said heere to cry vnto the lord , but not vntill they bee so straited with sicknesse that there is no more appearance of lyfe : j obserue the profite of affliction : yea , of sorest sicknesse : it is a powerfull meanes for to chaise a man home to his god. while the mariners of the ship , wherein jonah was , perceived the tempest arise , they were busy in doing what men could doe : they cast out the wares that were in the ship to lighten it of them , but seeing that the sea wrought still and was more and more tempestuous , they tooke them to their prayers : every man cryed vnto his god. when their gods could not answere they wakened sleeping ionas , who should haue beene the cock of the ship for to craw day vnto others : him they exhorted to cry & to try what his god could doe : arise , said the poore pagan , call vpon thy god , if so bee that hee will thinke vpon vs that wee perish not . there was no crying vnto god into that ship , vntill the ship was like to bee broken : jn the great distresse the pagans that knewe not god before , seeing the perill , boasted the prophet to his prayers , saying , what meanest thou o sleeper ! arise and call vpon thy god ? when there is no appearance of helpe from any creature , then men are forced to runne to god. so long as man can see a creature , that can helpe him , hee will runne to it as to his best refuge . jf hee be mynded to conquesse houses or lands , hee will cry vnto his coffers : come out thousands of silver & gold and buy this : but if he be drowned into deb●e , and cast into prison , then and there he will cry vnto the lord. so long as the forlorne sonne had a pennie into his purse , he thought never of home ; but when he was forced to feede with the swine , he said , i will returne to my father againe . so long as wee haue peace in our land , and barnes full of corne and purses full of money , we ly in securitie lyke these of l●ish : but if the foraine enemy come and depriue vs of such comforts , then we shall crye vnto the lord. so long as iehoshaphat in the battell sawe his partie to be equall , he fought as he could : but so soone as hee sawe him selfe neere straited by the enemie , then hee cryed vnto the lord. so long as hagar had water into the bottles , she and ismael dranke together , enjoying the creature : but so soone as all was spent , then she weept and cryed vnto the lord. so ●long as the raven can find a fleshy carion , hee will quietly feede vpon it : but while hee is straited with hunger , hee beggeth his meate from god : the young lions , ( saith the psalmist ) roare a●ter their prey : and seeke their meate from god. all things , men , beasts , fowles : yea , papists in their greatest pinch are forced to quite all other vaine hopes for to cry vnto the lord. i remember that in the tyme of the french persecution , j came by sea to flanders , and as i was sailing from flanders to scotland , a fearfull tempest arose , which made our mariners reele to and fro , and stagger like drunken men : in the meane tyme , th●re was in our ship a scots papist , who lay neere me , while the ship gaue a great shake , his ordinarie cry was o lord : j observed the man , and after the lord had sent a calme , i said to him , sir , now yee see the weaknesse of your religion : so long as yee are in prosperitie , yee cry vnto this sainct and that sainct ; jn our greatest danger j heard you cry often , lord , lord , but not a word yee spake of our lady . j compare a papist in his pilgrimages to creatures , to a sheepe that is hunted of a flie : it runneth from bush to bush : every bush catcheth a l●ck , till the silly sheepe bee threed-bare and tirred of all his fleece , sinne lyke a cleg-flee maketh the soule to startle like a beast : there is no sure refuge but in god. away then with papistrie and with all that draweth a man from the lord vnto any other : the highest point of tribulation , or some great danger of death , wakning a man , will tell a man that there is none that can helpe but the lord , and that hee onely is to bee called vpon : call vpon mee in the day of trouble , ( said the lord : ) whom haue i in heaven but thee ? said the psalmist : all things are for the lord , and from the lord , and all things in their troubles must come to the lord , as the hunger-bitten aegiptians came all to joseph for meate . thus yee see the great good of greevous afflictions : they chase the creature till it cry to the creator : i will goe , ( saith the lord , ) and returne to my place , till they acknowledge their offence , and seeke my face : in their affliction they will seeke mee early . this is hee●e declared in these words of my text , then they cry vnto the lord in their trouble . the vse , let vs rejoyce in tribulation , seeing god hath made it a spnrre vnto prayer . man is like waters : putrescunt ni movcantur aquae , waters spill and stinke if they stand without any motion ; so will the soule stinke without affliction . before i was afflicted , ( said david , ) i went astray , but now i learne thy statutes : indeede it is true , that no affliction for the present seem●th to bee joyous but grievous : neverthelesse afterward it yeeldeth the p●●c●able f●uit of righteousnesse to these that are exercised thereby . this is a quiet fruit of righteousnesse when the soule is moved to cry vnto god. cryes in prayer vnto god are the quietnesse of righteousnesse . i confesse that both the wicked and the godly will crye in their distresse : but the wicked cry like dogs beaten with a staffe : the godly crye into their hearts , like children with moses , to whom god said , why cryest thou vnto mee ? let vs praye the lord that hee would rouze vp these sleepie soules of ours that sleepe so oftin sinne , like jonah in the hatches : well is the man to whom god shall send some affliction crying to the sinner as the ship-master cryed to jonah : what meanest thou , o sleeper ? arise , crye and call vpon thy god. it is goode that man while hee is forewarned by any affliction strive to bee friends with his god. men may rebell for a space , and may turne the grace of god into wantonnesse , yea and harden their hearts with pharaoh against his plagues : but at last when all their excellencie is swept away like a spiders web , as eliphaz sayeth , they die without wisdome : as a man liveth ordinarly , so dieth hee : he that liveth a foole shall readily die without wisedome : a fore-warning affliction doeth goode to the godly man : it maketh him to be fore-armed : but as for the wicked man though god send sicknesse after sicknesse , and delaye his death , yet hee is not a whit the better . but while hee liveth hee letteth the debt run on , like a spender or waster , who carelesly puts more and more vpon the score . jt were good for the wicked that hee had never beene borne , as christ said of iudas : or that hee had died in the birth : yet seeing life in itselfe is a benefite , while it is abused by those that have gotten it by crying vnto the lord , it is righteous with god to punish them in rigour for the abuse of his benefite , which should have beene to them a large time well imployed in repentance , where-with as with a brush they should have clensed their hearts from the scailles of wickednesse . againe heere some may obiect , how is it that the godly man beeing sicke , and neere the doores of death shuld cry so earnestly for life ? should not a godly man bee glad to goe to god his father , to his long home , where are pleasures for evermore ? what see wee heere , but the back-parts of iehovah ? are wee not in this world as david was in kedar , and in meshech , or as israel were captives in babilon ? is not this earth a strange land , wherein wee can not sing the praises of our god ? are not our harpes heere hung vpon the willowes ? our musick is dumbe . i answere that indeede if the godly well prepared as they should bee when sicknesse commeth vnto them , they would not crye for health of body : but their chiefe crye should bee , come lord iesus , come , and fetch away my soule that panteth after thee like a cha●ed hart , desiring the rivers of waters : the chiefe desire of a godly heart is all in this wish , when shall i come and appeare before god ? item , i desire to bee dissolved , and to bee with christ. but for some reasons the most godly whiles will seek life from god : some desire to live , because they desire yet to doe some better service for god , than hitherto they have done : they are sorie that in their calling they have not beene so busie as it became them to bee : the desire of their life is onelie that they may redeeme the time by dooing some one good turne or other for their god. jn my iudgment this chieflie made hezekiah to weepe , to croude , and to chatter while hee heard the message of death . this chiefly made the psalmist crye , take mee not away in the midst of my dayes . * others even of the number of the godly will crye for life , because they finde not themselves so well prepared for to come before the face of their iudge : they see that as yet they have not put the affaires of their soule to an order . it is likelie that this also made hezekiah to weepe so fore , that he chattered at the words of the messinger of death : god by isaiah bade him put his house in order : if that had beene already done it had not needed gods command : seeing then his house was not set in order , which is but an easie matter , it would seeme that his soule was not so set in order as that hee found it ready to compeare before the iudgment seat of god : o how fearefull is that tribunall for an vnprepared soule ! what terrours are these , sinne , and sicknesse , death , the grave , & an vnprepared soule . the vse of all this is seeing there is nothing more certaine than death , and nothing more vncertaine than the time and place thereof , let vs ever be vpon our guarde ready to flitte and remove out of our tabernacles of clay : my time is in thine hand said david : wee cannot tell how soone our glasse shall end . let vs therefore resolve with hezekiah in all the way of our pilgrimage , to goe softly in the bitternesse of our soule . againe , in that it is said that the sicke men cry vnto the lord in their trouble let vs observe the perversnesse of our nature . troubles make vs to crye , bodily afflictions rouze vs vp to crye : but alas while wee sinne we keepe silence : while the thiefe is cutting a purse hee is quiet : but while hee is scourged for his fault , hee will shoute for every stripe : while satan is forcing vs with his tentations to offend our god , wee often yeelde therevnto without any crye to our god : jt is then especially that wee shoulde crye vnto him when wee finde sinne comming against vs to force vs to offend our god. god in his word hath set downe a notable lawe for a damsell betrothed to a husband : i will let you heare the law. if a damsell , saith the lord , that is a virgin● bee betrothed to an husband , and a man find her in the citie , and lye with her : then yee shall bring them both out to the gate of that citie , and yee shall stone them with stones that they die : the damsell because shee cryed not : and the man because hee humbled his neigboures wife . but if a man finde a betrothed damsell in the field , and the man force her , and lye with her : then the man only that lay with her , shall die . but in the damsell there is no sinne worthie of death : for hee found her in the field , and the betrothed damsell cryed , and there was none to save her . now what is to bee inferred vpon this ? this is the matter . the soule of a christian is as a damsell , a virgin betrothed vnto christ the blessed bridegrome of our soules : sathan the tempter is like a russian comming to force and defile this damsell : jf the soule crye not while sathan is vsing violence , the soule and sathan shall die : the soule because it cryed not , and sathan because hee forced the soule : but if while sathan is vsing violence rhe soule cry vnto god for help , then sathan shall only die : yea though in that case the soule in something should bee defiled , yet shall shee not die , because she cryed vnto the lord. the vse of this is , that whensoever wee shall perceive sathan comming with force for to deflore , or defile our soule christs damsell , we incontinent crye with all our force vnto god. lord help mee : lord leade mee not into tentation : o god of my m●●●● prevent mee and keepe m● from these snares : bee thou a shelter for mee , and a strong tower from the enemie . this was pauls doing when hee feared to bee forced with that bodie of death , hee cryed , miserable man that i am who shall deliver mee from this body of death ? this was the practise of joseph while his mistresse saide to him ; lye with mee ; hee cryed vnto god. how should i doe this wickednesse ; and sinne against god ? * hee that will not crye to god before hee sinne , gods plagues at last shall cause him crye for his sins . * well is that man and that woman , that can crye to god for to save them from the houre of tentation , if a damsell was forced in the fielde , her sinne was not thought worthye of death : because it was supponed that shee cryed , but that there was none to help her . but it is not so with our soule , whether it crye in the citie , or in the field : if shee cry shee shall find that there is a god for to help her , and therefore if shee be forced , shee can have no excuse : well is that soule that is continually crying to god in prayer . jf a palliard knowe that a woman will crye hee will feare to make an onset : but if hee see her smyle , hee knoweth that hee hath found his match : it is so with sathan that great palliard , and the soule of man. if sathan knowe thy soule to bee a crying soule , a soule that will tell all his te●tations to christ her husband , hee will feare to tempt that soule : satan is feared for christ , hee beleeveth and hee trembleth . but if hee see a soule that is quiet , a soule that heares his filthie language and smileth vpon him with a wanton eye , there the vncleane spirit knoweth that hee hath founde his match . well is that soule that sathan finds weeping for offending christ her husband . o what a difference is betweene a soule whose eyes are drumly with teares of repentance and a soule whose eyes are wanton ' light and smyling , eyes filled with spirituall adulterie ? remember this vse o man , when ever sathan shall come to tempt thee vnto sinne , then crye thou vnto the lord vnto christ thy husband , and sathan that filthy russian shall flie awaye in haste : so long as wee breath let vs pray that the lord would lead vs into the land of righteousnesse . last of all , in that these that are troubled crye to god , j observe a comfort for these that crye in trouble : when a man can once crye to god in his trouble , it is a token that god shortly will deliver . one that is pined with the stone gravell , so long as hee but whineth for the difficultie hee hath in making water , the surgeon will not cut him , but will say let him bee till hee crye : from the time once hee beginneth to cry then is it time to cutt : that once done he is delivered from his paine . there is in man a stone harder than the stone of the bladder , viz. the stone of the heart : the heart stone is of sinne : the bladder stone is but of sand . sinne gravell is a stone gravell : for hardnesse there is no flint so hard as a hard heart . as the stone gravell is from sand , one pickle ioyning to another , till at last manie pickles beeing knit together in a lumpe become a confirmed stone ; even so the heart gravell is from one sinne joyned to another , till they be in an huge number together like a cluster . at last in length of time by custome they harden together : from thence is the confirmed stone of the heart . so long as this stone is not very painefull in affliction , but onely maketh the sinner to whine , the lord will let that sinner suffer still : for a space hee will delay his cure : but if once the paine bee so ▪ that it cause the sinner to cry , god that most cunning surgeon will cut out the cause of his cry . behold the trueth of this into my text , then they cry vnto the lord : there is the cry : and he delivereth them : there is the cure . the vse : let vs try our soules in trouble whither they cry or but whine : if the soule but whine in afflictions , it is a token that deliverance is yet far off but if the soule once begin to crye , god is ready to deliver . by our prayer to god we shall know the mind of our god in our troubles , & the working of our afflictions : . in this crying to god there is a great difference , the wicked cryeth more for his sore than his sinne : the godly man cryeth more for his sin than his sore . so to doe is not the practise of a prentise . the lord teach vs both how wee should cry to our god , and wherfore chiefly we should cry . to god bee glorye for ever , amen . a short meditation against mans securitie in life . as intensive colde in time of frost maketh water to congeale and bindeth all vp ; so that the earth is neither fit for plowing , or sowing : so into the hearts of manie there is a frost , yea a lying frost , so that the fallow ground of their heartes cannot bee riven vp . an excessive cold at gods service stayeth the pleugh of gods ●grace . yee all woulde thinke it an vncouth thing to see pleughsly in frost in the moneth of may , and yet more into august . the yeere is but of the age of twelve monethes , maye is but the youth thereof : and yet if in that moneth there should bee no appearance of fruites , what would you thinke of such a yeere ? and yet alas many of vs who have past the june , yea the august of our age are as yet frozen in the dregges of our sinnes , as though the beames of christ the sunne of righteousnesse had never shined vpon our soules . what is this that wee cannot remember our mortalitie ? * one sythe cutteth down both prince and people . how manie kings of this land are dead , and but one alive ? the rest are gone for to give account how they have swayed the scepter , when they sustained the person of god. all the glorie of the greatest , except they bee godly shall perish like the snuffe of a candle that is trodde vnder-foote . let vs therefore so live to die , that wee maye die to live . if wee digge not the myne we shall never find the treasure . if wee could lay this to our heart , wee should bee swifter than hazael in running to our god. the sicke mans salve . the third sermon . psal. 107. v. 19. then they cry vnto the lorde in their trouble : hee saved them out of their distresses . v. 20. hee sent his word , and healed them , and delivered them from their destructions . in my former sermon it hath beene declared , what the sicke fooles did while they were neere the doores of death : it is saide : then they cryed vnto the lord : jn this sermon wee shall heare gods part : it is in these words ●ee saved them out of their distresses : hee sent his word and healed them : and delivered them from their destructions . the division of these words . jn these wordes i see two things : first , god after hee hath heard afflicted sinners saveth them , and delivereth them out of their distresse : secondly , it is set downe by what meanes hee delivered these sicke persons , in these wordes , hee sent his word and healed them , and delivered them from their graves , or destructions . as for that it is saide in the first part of my d●yes text , that god saved these sicke out of their distresses j observe the great mercie of god : there is no sinne , or sicknesse i see so great , but if the sicke sinner can crye to him , god hath mercie for him : as it is of sicknesse , so of all other affliction . if man can crye vnto god , god is readie to send succour . this moses declared well vnto jsrael : the lord , said hee , shall scatter you among the nations , and yee shall bee left few in number : and there yee shall serve gods , the workes of mens handes , wood and stone , which neither heare nor see , nor eate nor smell : there is gods iudgment against mans sin : but shall the lords arme bee stretched out still ? will not god bee any more mercifull ? heare what is subioyned : but if from thence thou shalt seeke the lord thy god thou shalt find him , if thou seeke him with all thy heart , and with all thy soule . manie a time had the sicke fooles of my text offended his majestie , yet here is mercie ; they cryed : and hee saved . god sometimes indeed while hee hath beene often provoked by the sinnes of men after diverse deliverances , will seeme to bee more hard to bee intreated , that men maye beware to be relapses from such he will hide his face for a space : verily , said jsaiah , thou art a god that hideth thy self , o god of israel the saviour : hee may hide himself for a litle , but not long . while hee heareth the heart-cryes of his creature , hee is forced to draw the curtaine , and shew himselfe vnto it . he that forbade man to hide himself from his owne flesh , can not long deny himselfe to a sicke sinner crying in his distresse . of this we have a notable speach in the psalme , i sought the lord and hee heard mee , & delivered mee from all my feares : they looked vnto him , and were lightened , and their faces were not ashamed . now let vs see the kirnell of that comfort in the verse following ; this poore man cryed , and the lord heard him ; and saved him out of all his troubles . behold a progresse of seeking , and of deliverance : first hee sought god : secondly he looked vnto god : thirdly the poore man cryed : so first god mett mans seeking with deliverance from the feare of trouble , secondly , while man looked vnto him hee made him to bee inlightened , so that hee knew both who did afflict , and wherefore hee did afflict him . but last of all , while god saw this sinner humbled like a poore man and heard him crye , then hee saved him from his troubles . this poore man cryed , saith the psalmist , and the lord heard him , and saved him out of all his troubles . see how the lord at the first saved him not from all his troubles , but by degrees till hee cryed vnto him like a poore man crying for an almes . the harder health is more come by , the more it is set by : a disease easily cured , is easily incurred . the sooner a sinner bee helped , if hee returne againe to his sinnes , hee shall find god the slower to come to his helpe againe : god will let him seeke and looke and cry , yea , and crye againe to teach him better manners . this wee see in the booke of iudges to have beene gods doing with israel . the israelites beeing oppressed by the philistimes , and ammonites in their miserie they sought vnto god : they looked vnto him : yea , and they cryed : but what answere got they at the first ? god sent them vnto their false gods at the first and yet vpon their repentance hee hee pittied them : the wordes are so weightie that they are worthie to be heard : these be they euen as they were writen by gods pen-man : when the israelites sawe that they were so sore afflicted by their enemies , it is said : they cryed vnto the lord , saying , wee haue sinned against thee , both because we haue forsaken our god ; and also serued balaam : let vs now heare what answere god made vnto them : hee said vnto them , did i not deliuer you from the egyptians , and from the ammorits and from the children of ammon , and from the philistimes ? the zidonians also , and the amalelikites , and the maonites did oppresse you , and yee cryed vnto mee , and i deliuered you out of their hands : yet ye ha●e forsaken mee and serued other gods : behold their relaps : what saith the lord to that ? i will deliuer you no more : goe and crye vnto the gods which ye haue chosen , let them deliuer you in the time of your tribulation heare what a hard answere : now what did the jsraelites ? they said to god , we haue sinned , doe thou vnto vs whatsoeuer seemeth good vnto thee , deliuer vs onely we praye thee this day : as if they should haue said lord but for this one time : thus after they had cryed they amended their life by putting away the strange gods from among them and serued the lord : what did god then ? it is said that his soule was grieued for the miserie of israel : so at last they got help , but after many prayers and after the amendement of their life . o the great mercy of our god! o the preseruer of man ! let vs make vse of this by applying it to our present purpose which is concerning these that are so sicke that they seeme to bee neere the doores of death while god delayeth to bring them from their sicknesse notwithstanding of all their prayers , and of all our prayers private or publicke , let vs not grudge , neither let the sicke murmure . god while hee delayeth their health , hee as it were sayeth to them , as hee said to israel , i will deliver you no more : yet if the poore patient persist to murne before him god will not faile to give him full contentment at last . god afflicteth not willingly the children of men : no not : his soule often is grieved for the miserie of israel . how can hee but deliver repenting sinners , seeing their miserie grieveth his verie soule ? it is not wonder that god repented himselfe to have made man , because that hee is the chiefe matter of his griefe . as for the devils they grieve god by their sinnes ; but he is not grieved for their torments : god gladly shall cause scourge them with scorpions : but as for his owne children heere hee is grieved , and grieved againe , first for their sinnes but most for their sufferings : hee is grieved for their sinnes , as a father for his childrens faults : and againe he is grieved to strike them . last of all hee is most grieved after that hee hath striken them . these bee wonderfull wordes , his soule was grieued for the miserie of israel : god that forgave david his sinne could as gladly have spared him in his iudgments : but the wicked were looking on wondred how god did spare : and therefore ●or his honour , and for his names sake he could not let david go vnpunished : so soone as david had said , i have sinned against the lord : nathan answered that the lord had put away his sinne : but as for afflictions and troubles hee could not put them awaye , because by that deede hee had giuen great occasion to the enemies of the lord to blaspheme . jf all the wicked were blind god would often spare to afflict his children . an obiection . heere some may obiect and saye that this our text is not ever true : js it not cleare that god delivereth not all men from the gates of death , though they cry vnto him ? the answere . it is certaine that it is not aye done : for if men by crying to god were ever brought backe from the doores of death ; death should bee a rare thing among men . if life could bee had for crying to god , the world should be deafned with din : for all that a man hath he will giue it for his life jt is but one of a thousand that can say with s. paul i desire to be dissolued : what then shall we say to our texte wherein is said that when the sicke man cryeth then god deliuereth ? surely this is not euer done , but if it be once done to a man in his life , they be fewe here of anye age but once in their lifetime god hath brought them from the doores of death : if god once hath done this to thee by thy owne experience subscribe to the trueth of my texte . neither doth my text say that this is done to all , left that anye should beguile himselfe , saying , i may sinne , seeing as yet i haue neuer bene so sicke as to be at the ports of death : before j die i must first be neere these portes and be broght backe againe to health and so shall liue a space and afterward die : no not , god hath not astricted himselfe by promise to anye that he shall get but an houres sicknesse before he die . if a nadab and an abihu come in with strange fire before the lorde , god in an instant will slay them with fire from heaven . ananias and saphira dyed having a lye against god in their mouth : dathan & abiram were swallowed vp into an instant : these are set downe in scripture as pillars of salt to tell to the passengers of this world that they looke not back to sodome but haue euer their eyes vpon their god. as for the godly in their sickenesse if at last when their glasse is at the running out they crye to god for life , god shall giue them an answere that shall content them : he shall let them see that death is better then life : moses desired to liue and to goe to canaan , gods desire was that he should die for to goe to the heauens : behold how god desired better for moses , then moses for him selfe : the death of the righteous was the wish of balaam : let mee die , said hee , the death of the righteous : the death of the saints is a precious thing : it is promised to them as a releese of all their distresses , as a rest from their labours , a refreshment to their wearied bones : there the weary be at rest saith iob , speaking of the graue : they rest in their beds saith isaiah : this was gods promise to good iosiah made by huldah the prophetesse : i will gather thee to thy father , said the lord , and thou shalt be gathred to thy graue in peace : thus the godly man ( except it be that god will haue him neere to him selfe as enoch , or that he should not see the ill to come ) getteth his full of dayes : such a man shall come to his graue with his gray haires in a full age like as a shocke or ricke of corne commeth in his season : what is a gray headed goodly man but as a field that is ripee for the lord the countrie saith christ is all white speaking of the cornes in their rypnesse : a gray headed godly man is like ripe corne ready for the lords barne-yeard , that is vp into the heauens . according to this , salomon speaking of the hoarie head , saith that it is a crowne of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse . the last thing i shall touch heere concerning gods deliuerance from sicknesse or from any other troubles is , a counsell i would giue to these that haue bene deliuered : the counsel is this , hath god once brought thee from the doores of death to life ? or hath hee deliuered thee from any imminent danger ? be wise in times to come : be thankefull and sinne no more : sinne no more for feare of worse . this was christs counsell to the man whom he had healed at the poole ; while afterward he found him into the temple he said vnto him , behold now thou art made whole : sinne no more , lest a worse thing come vnto thee . there was neuer a man deliuered from so filthie or from so fearefull a disease , but if he returne to his sinne like a dogge to his vomite , god can make a worse thing come vnto him : this like a wakener cryeth to all ; stand in awe and sinne not . sinne at the first is like a little chet or young plant of the first yeeres planting , yee may easily nip it in two with your naile : sinne doubled is like a plant of two yeeares growth which requireth the strength of the hand : but sinne tripled is like a tree of three yeeres growth , of faster roots then of before : last of all it commeth to passe that that which with thy singer most easily thou might haue pluckt vp once , can not now be shaken with all the force of thy body . it is goode to correct and rebuke sinne while it is young and will blush for shame . a little correction of the rod will chase away folly out of the heart of the yong child : but old follie , hardened folie , brasen browed folie returned after many deliuerance , after many mercyes must haue a tit in a towe : such a one will proue a wagstring : prov. 27.22 . bray a foole in a morter among wheat with a pestell , yet will hee not quite his foolishnesse . after that the theefe is burnt on the cheek or behind the shoulder for his pickerie , because hee escapeth with his life , so soone as hee is free hee saith as the drunkard saith after that his winesicknesse is past , yet will i till it againe . but how is hee answered ? gods iudgment , yea a worse than of before maketh an answere like an eccho , yet will i till him againe : thus as christ saide of the man that was repossest with ma●s ye devils , so may be said of him , the last state of that man is worse than the first . by what meanes god is said heere to heale deadly diseases . now it followeth that wee see particularly with what salve god healeth the sicke mans sore . it is set downe into these words : hee sent his word and healed them , and delivered them from their destructions . the word here as you see is gods malagma , or healing plaster . gods worde sent to the sicke man is the messinger of health , a medicine sent from god for curing of all diseases . upon this part of my text , j shall gather eight , or nine severall doctrines . first , in that god is said to send his word for healing of sicke men , j observe the great majestie of god : hee healeth men by a messinger , so that hee needeth not to come himselfe , but onlie to send a messinger , called his worde : a noble man in the bed of sicknesse neere vnto the doores of death hauing sent for the physitian would not be content that he should send a messenger , and not come himself ; the most wnderstanding haue no more knowledge then is needfull : elisha gods prophet was beguiled in this : he sent gehazi his seruant with a staffé for to quicken the dead child of the shunamite , but all in vaine : jt behoved him to come him selfe : and when he was come what paines had hee before life could bee gotten ? first , hee went into the chamber where the dead chyld was , and shut the doore vpon them twaine , and prayed vnto the lord : he beganne with prayer then he went vp vpon the bed and lay vpon the child , and put his mouth vpon his mouth , and his eyes vpon his eyes , and his hands vpon his hands , and he stretched him selfe vpon the child : what wrought that , will ye say ? after that done , it is onely said that the flesh of the child waxed warme : there was no appearance of life yet , but onely that the cold dead flesh grewe a little warme . after elisha returned and walked in the house to and fro : see what difficultie he had : after that the went vp againe vpon the bed and stretched himselfe vpon him . at that last action it is said that the child neesed seuen times , and the child opened his eyes : see what toes-and froes the man of god had before life could be gotten : though he should haue walked to and fro and streatched himselfe vntill now , except that god had sent his word , elisha should haue said as gehazi said that was sent with his staffe the child is not awaked : there is no force in man against death to make either voice or hearing . heere then let vs obserue the great power of god who by the message of his word cureth such deadly diseases : a physitian may helpe a sicke man by application : but what can he doe by explication . mens wordes are but wind : wordes can not worke : mens wordes are but of dead letters : but the word of god is quick and quickening : it is mighty in operation , the power of god to salvation both of soule and of body : that which is able to saue both soule and body from hell fire may easily be a power for to heale the sicke body : the centurion after that hee had sent a man for christ to come and cure his sick seruant , hee bethought himself what power was in gods word , and therfore he sent back word againe to christ that hee should not come him selfe but only send his word . tell him said the centurion to his friends whom he sent to him , tell him ; lord trouble not thy selfe : for i am not worthie that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe : wherefore neither thought i my selfe worthie to come vnto thee : but saye in a word , and thy servant shall bee healed : saye in a word that is , send a word , and it shall heale him . i read of ioseph that he was cast into the stockes in a prison : but by what meanes was he deliuered . it was by gods word : the psalmist saith that they hurt his feete with stockes , and that he was laide in yron : but how was he deliuered ? there he laye vntill the time that his word came : god had giuen to ioseph the word of his promise in a dreame that he should be a sheafe before whom all others sheaues should bowe : yea that before him the sunne and moone and elleuen starres should doe reuerence . so soone as the time of that word came the stockes could keepe ioseph no more : as ioseph lay in the stockes so must the sicke man ly in his bed , vntill the the time that his word came ; then shall he goe free : heere behold the great power of the word of the lord. turne thee yet againe and behold the power of this word in a greater cure in ezekiel j see a strange worke wrought by this word : in a valley there was a huge great number of bones both bare and drye : loe , saith the prophet , they were very drye : god hauing showne them to his prophet said vnto him , sonne of man can these bones liue ? the prophet said lord thou knowest , as if he had said there is very little appearance : j will make them liue said the lord : but how ? by my word : i will send my word vnto them : prophecie vpon these bones , and say vnto them , o ye dry bones heare the word of the lord : behold i shall cause breath enter into you , and ye shall liue : and i will lay sinewes vpon you , and will bring vp fl●sh vpon you and couer you with skin , and put breath in you , and ye shall liue : as soone as the prophet had giuen the bones this first charge of gods word , at that first prophecie there was a noise , and behold a shaking and the bones came together euery bone to its owne bone : but there was no breath in them : behold how the first charge of the word made onely the bones to be conueened , and to be couered with flesh and skinne : but how shall life be gotten ? god must send his word againe : god sent his word to the wind for to fetch breath for the quickning of these dead men : prophecie vnto the wind said the lord , prophecie son of man , & say to the wind : thus saith the lord god , come from the four winds , o breath ; & breath vpon these slaine that they may liue . at that second charge of the word the wind fetcht breath which entred into them and all those bones lived and stood vp an exceeding great armie . he who by his word prophecied made dry bones to creepe together , and by this word made the winde to breath life into them , may easily send vnto sick men a word that will heale them thought they were even at the doores of death . secondly in that the word of god is said heere to be the meanes whereby god healeth the sicke , j obserue the diuersitie of the operation of his word : what ever god hath to doe , let him but send his word and it shall be done . when he made the world he vsed no other hand but his word : let there be light : let there be a firmanent . gods word let wrought all the creatures : he said , and it was ; and as he said , so it was . the word of god is like a mine of diuers veines either for to help gods friendes or for to hurt his foes , as the cloudy pillar was darkenesse by day vnto the egyptians , and light in darkenesse vnto the jsraelites . as that pillar was a darke cloud by day behind israel for to hide them from the egyptians ; and a burning pillar of fire by night going before israel for to let them see the waye . so the word that god sends is euer for the good of israel . it is a quickning spirit and sauour of life to life vnto these that are saued , but it is a killing letter and a sauon of death to these that perish . when christ had a will to ding his enemies vpon their backe he sent his word to doe it : i , with i am he , he made them goe backward to the ground . with his word he dang his enemies vpon their backe and with his word he raised vp lazarus his dead freind out of the graue . gods greatest wonders were done by his word . when israel at massah and meribah tempted god in their thirst for to get water : god directed moses to find water : but how ? was it by sending him for to delue downe in the ground for to find some water spring ? no not : he sent him to a place where naturally was rather fire then water euen to a hard flint rocke . but how was that water gotten ? god sent his word vnto the rocke : speake vnto the rocke said the lord to moses , and it shall giue forth his water . thirdly seeing gods word is of such power that for all things it is a soveraine remeedie : let vs beware to doubt of its power these gluttons that cryed for flesh are branded with this blot : they spake against god , saying can god furnish a table in the wilderenesse ? beware to say can god ? were the difficultie neuer so great in appearance . moses his doubt made him double his stroke against the rocke , while he should haue spoken to the stones , who for a word would haue wept and shed teares to be drinke vnto jsrael , he in steade of speaking to the rocke scourged the rocke once and againe . that rocke was christ , and who would haue thought that euer moses would haue scourged christ ? for that deed particularly he neuer bowe the lord by his prayer for once to let him set his foot in canaan , the type of heauen ? because he dishonored the word of faith with doubting he neuer entered into the land of promise . the wordes of his doubt were these , here now , yee rebels ; must wee fetch you water out of this rock . hezekiel his answere to god was better , when the lord inquired of him if the dead bones could liue ? o lord said he thou knowest . o but god thinketh much of his word . god hath said a great word , heauen and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away . christ speaking of the power of this word said that a word spoken with as great of faith as a graine of mustard seede should remoue a mountaine hence to yonder place s. luke saith that such a word should be able to pluck vp by the roots a sycamine tree and plant it into the sea , a most vnfit place for planting . * see how gods word can cause a tree take roote in an element which naturaly is more bent to pluck vp trees by the roots : shall we doubt of the power of this word were our distresse neuer so great ? no not : there is such a power in this word that in time of miracles it made the shadowe of the messinger to heale these that were sicke : while peter passed by : the people brought foorth the sicke into the streets , and laid them on beds and couches , that at the least the shaddow of peter passing by , might ouer-shddowe some of them . such was their faith that they stroue for the shadowe of peter , and all that but for to be cured of a bodily disease , o if men now a dayes were as bent for to come to this word of god , as they were for the shadow of a man ! the power of this word within s. paul put such vertue into his napkins that wypt the sweate from his body , or the teares from his eyes that these to whome they were brought , were cured of all their diseases , yea , and thereby euill spirits were cast out of some : such vertue came from the shadowes and clothes of such men that men might belieue that they were sent with this word that healeth the soule . these miracles were done by the word and are writen for our learning that we may belieue gods word to be true . fourthly , seeing this word sent by god should be receiued by faith , it must also be preached with faith , let him that speaketh it , speake it with boldnes not fearing the face of man : hee must not be like the trumpeter who trembleth while hee foundeth alarmes for to stirre vp the courage of others . fifthly , seeing it is gods word , that is the word of power : let him that heares a word preached consider well vvhose worde it is : the touch stone of spoken wordes is the writen word : this was the nobilitie of the men of berea , they tried the word after it was preached : they searched the scriptures daily , whether these things that were preached were so , or not . sixtly , in that it is said in my text , that the word is a messenger of health , a messenger sent from god for to cure diseases , we should make it welcome . when eglon a pagan king heard ehud saye , iudg. 3 v. 20. i haue a message from god vnto thee , it is said , that he arose out of his seat , that is , hee stood vpon his feete for to beare reverence to the worde of the lord. when hezekiah heard many sore wordes of threatning sent to him from god , all that he said , was , good is the worde of the lorde : what then should we say of the word of health , the healing word , which is sent for to cure both soule and body viz. the worde of the gospell ? goode is the gospell , goode is the gospell , the word of health , may all sicke sinners now say : this is that word sent for to cure the diseases that would not yeeld vnto the dead letters of the law ; blessed are the feete of these that fetch gospell , the word of good tidings . seuently seeing the word sent from god ; is god his appointed meanes for the recouering of health , when euer we are sicke : if wee pray for health let vs intreat god to send his word vnto vs , but seeing the word now commeth not downe from heauen in a voice thorow the aire , but is committed to a messenger , we must not looke for revelations , but seeke that word from the messenger , gods interpreter to whom it is betrusted : we must looke for a blessing from the word spoken by him who is called of god. if god had not bidden ezekiel prophecie vnto the bones , the bones had neuer stirred for all his preachinges . if profite had called him to be a prophet , his prophecie had neuer bene able to quicken these slaine : but because he prophecied not till god bade him prophecie , so soone as hee prophecied , the sent word vnto the scattered dead bones , they all got life and stood vp an exceeding great armie . men that run and speake vnsent , find that their speach take no effect : certaine of the vagabond jewes , exorcists , and among others , seuen sonnes of sceua who was chiefe of the priests tooke vpon them to adiure a deuill that was in a man and that by jesus whom paul preached : but what said the divell ? iesus i know , and paul i know , but who are yee ? thus god as yee see hath appointed certaine men for to carie the word that he sendeth , such a man the sickenesse of a man will knowe : but if men runne vnsent , though they should preach jesus whome paul preached , the diseases like diuels shall say to them but who are yee ? yea the disease shall leape on them and ouercome them and preuaile against them as the diuell did to the exorcists . when gods word is sent for to heale : most ordinarly it is sent by a rare man , a pastour whom elihu calles one of a thousand : i know that by the word that god in my texte is laide to send may bee vnderstood the power of god : god indeede can heale men without a pastour either to speake to them or to pray for them : but ordinarly he sendeth this word of healing by the mouth of some rare interpreter : the words of elihu are plaine for the clearing of my text : behold first how he bringeth in the sicke man in his sickenesse . hee is chastened with p●ine vpon his bed , & the multitude of his bones with strong paine : so that his life abhorreth bread , and his soule dainty meat : his flesh is consumed away that it can not be seene , and his bones that were not seene sticke out : his soule draweth neere vnto the graue , and his life to the buriers . behold his sickenesse . but how shall he be cured ? let him send for a faithfull minister : if there be a messenger with him , an interpreter , one among a thousand , to shew vnto man his vprightnesse ; then he is gracious vnto him , and saith , deliuer him from going downe to the pit . i haue found a ransome . his flesh shall be fresher then a childs : he shall returne to the dayes of his youth . consider well these words and they shall giue light to these words of my text , he sent his word and healed them , from this may be gathred that he must be a rare man that caryeth the word sent for health : hee must be a man sent of god that caryeth the word which god sendeth for the healing of the sicke . little good may be looked from the preaching of many , because they preach vnsent : they preach not the word that is sent , which is the word of power : they may preach gods word but they preach not a sent word : they take gods statuts in their mouth , but god shall reproue them saying what hast thou to doe to declare my statutes , or that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth ? when god was angry at ahab he desired to send out some against him : while he was vpon this thought he looked to all his creatures saying , whome shall i send ? and who will goe for vs ? that said ; an ill spirit came out and said send me . there be many like the ill-spirit who will not waite till god send them , but will preueen him saying , send me . the world now runnes to be sent . there be none so ready to preach as these whom god neuer sent . jn this they are worse then the diuell who before he went out ; heard god first say goe forth and doe so see how the diuell would not goe to the lords vvorke vvithout a commission and a warrand . these vvho run and speake vnsent shall find their speach take no effect : it is the sent vvord that is the vvord of conversion , and of health . a people had great neede to bequeath themselues to god , that he would keepe them from a pastour that commeth vnsent . i will giue you two tokens of a pastour that carieth the sent word of god : the one is inward into the mans selfe , the other is outwarde and appeareth amongst the people . first the pastour himselfe must haue in his owne bosome a warrant from god that he is called to beare the word that god sendeth : this warrant he shall knowe in two things : first he shall find within him a drawing desire to serue god in such a calling : this is for the generall . secondly he shall haue a privie particular draught within him moving him to desire to be with such a flocke . not so much for to cloth him selfe with their wooll and feede him with their rents , whereby he may haue a life by them , as that he may winne some poore soule to the loue of jesus , or drawe some clogged heart out of the snares of the diuell : that when he hath ended his ministrie he may say , behold heere i am , and the children that god hath giuen mee : this is the inward calling without which if a man goe to speake the word , he shall be like vzza who putting his hand to helpe gods ●●●arke was stricken dead with a breach into an instant . because hee wanted a calling , god slewe him for doing that which otherwise was good in it selfe . the second token of a pastour sent with gods word to any particular people , is an vncorrupt desire of him by the flocke , not because he is their carnall friend or of their blood or because he is such a mans sonne , or because some guider of the parochin favoureth him : but because they see him furnished with giftes and graces whereby their soules may be helped vnto god : when s. paul was at troas a vision appeared vnto him in the night : there stoode a man of macedonia , and prayed him saying , come ouer into macedonia and help vs : we must not now j confesse looke for visions : but certanely if god hath called a man effectually to bring his word for the well of a people , he will make these of the flocke that are most godly to pray him to come and helpe them as the man of macedonia did vnto paul. jf these things be away it shall proue at last that such a man was neuer a pastour but a hireling : what euer words he preached , shall in end appeare not to haue bene wordes sent from god. eightly let vs obserue here whose word it is , that being sent healeth the sicke folkes of my texte . it is the word of god : jt is in my texte called his word he sent his word and healed them : his word then and not mans word . long shall a man continue jogging before that he waken a sinner by words of mans braine . the words of men being but wind can no more waken these that are soule-sicke of the lethargie , then the tempest could waken ionas . but the word of god like that ship master will rouse vp a sinner with reproofes and chase him with glowmes to his god : the flowers of eloquence neuer so sweet smelling are not able to reviue the dying soule : what are mens wordes , though writen in letters of golde , but words of no vertue : such words may be like agrippa clothed with great phantasie , but they shall neuer almost perswade a man to bee a christian : they may skippe about a dead soule as the priestes of baal skipped and cryed about their dead sacrifice , but all in vaine , their god was on his iourneye , or asleepe , there was none to make answere : there is no comfort to the soule from the words of man ? papists traditions are but mens words , and wordes that god neuer sent vnto men , and therefore are not able to comfort a man vpon his sicke bed : they are liveles without any power or force : but the word of god is lively and mighty in operation : my words , said christ , are spirit and life . the vse of this doctrine is , let all these that are sent by god to carie his word to a people to sicke or to whole , let them take heed that they deliuer gods word as gods word with the mind of the sender : such must neuer faine nor flatter vnder the paine of damnation . when it was told to micaiah that he should prophecie good things to wicked king ahab because all the rest of the prophets had done so , what said micaiah ? as the lord li●eth , said he , what the lord saith vnto me that will i speake . all the rest of the prophets made preachings of their owne head for to please the king : but micaiah only preached the word that was sent : in this baalam shall condemne manye that preach as their humour carie them in feede or in favour as the matter toucheth their particular : said i not vnto thy messenger said baalam to king balak : if balak would giue me his house full of gold and silver , i can not goe beyond the commandement of the lord to doe either good or bad of mine owne mind ? but what the lord saith , that will i speake because he had a couetous heart & loued the wages of iniquitie , though hee transgressed not in his wordes , he was but a villaine : hee caried the sent word and spake the word that was sent , but because he spake it not as it was sent in sinceritie of heart , baalam is branded with infamie for euer . jn this last age many are become worse then baalam : his greatest fault was that hee loued the wages of iniquitie , but as for his doctrine amongst the moabits , it was sincere , he f●attered not the king : he would not curse where the king commanded , but blessed where he was commanded to curse ; till the king in wrath did smite his hands together , commanding him to flee to his owne place : 1 called thee to curse mine enemies said the king , and behold thou hast altogether blessed them these three times : who amongst vs in open viewe before a king dare thrise transgresse a kings command for the honour of his god ? mens preachings to great men are become like the echo's of their affections , the last syllabe at least must be theirs . others great flatterers are like these greater echos of longer breath that vvill go out the vvhole verse in repetitions . what is an echo ? vox , sonus , aura , nihil : mercifull god what shall become of this age wherin the sent vvord of god the vvord of reproofe is concealed , smothred and chocked , as though god durst not be angry at the sinnes of grands ? mercifull god vvhat shall become of this age , vvherein the sent word of god is thus despised , except it be decked with words of mans wisdome ? j take this to be a fearefull plague vpon this land : jt is righteous vvith god that so he repaye home againe the loathing of his sent vvord : it is iustice on his part that these that delight not in the word of god vvhich is the only sent word , should bee giuen ouer to eares itching after humane eloquence , and delicate phrases made of wordes that are but winde . such vvordes like sweetest meats may vvell make men sicke , but shall neuer make the sicke to become whole . ninthly , in these vvords of the text , hee sent his worde , i obserue that the vvord that a faithfull minister speaketh either in preaching to sicke or to vvhole or in praying for the sicke are vvords sent from god : such vvordes are not in vs by nature , but by grace : they are sent vnto vs and by vs vnto you : how shall they preach except they bee sent ? saith the apostle : yea how shall they speake except that the word be sent vnto them ? o lord said moses , vvhile god vvas sending him to speake to pharaoh , i am not eloquent , or as in the hebr●w , i am not a man of vvordes : but i am slow of speach and of a slowe tongue : because he vvanted vvords of his ovvne hee doubted : but god that sendeth vvordes to his ovvne in neede told him , that it vvas he that had made mans mouth when god sendeth a man hee will send words into that mouth that hee hath appointed for his seruice . the vse seeing it is so whensoeuer in our preachinges or in our prayers any good word come not of our mouth that be sent for to doe good t● your soules , remember that the word is not ours , but a present that god hath sent to you by vs , who are nothing but the lords stewardes , to whom the dispensation of his mysteries is committed . now for so many good words that hee hath sent vnto vs in sicknesse and in health , in povertie and in riches , in ioye and in sorrow , let vs give vnto this god all glory , praise and honour for now and evermore . amen . the sicke mans salve , the fovrth sermon . psal. 107. v. 20. hee sent his word and healed them , and delivered them from their destructions . v. 21. o that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse : and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men . in the last part of my former sermon , we have heard what salve the lord sends for to heale the sicke mans sore : it is set downe in these words , hee sent his worde and healed them . out of these words wee did gather diverse doctrines . 1. that great is the majestie of god , that maketh his word a worthy messenger for all his affaires . 2. that great is the power of gods word that cureth all sorts of sicknesse . 3. seeing god is so powerfull by his worde , that wee doubt never of his power , or of his promise . 4. that seeing this word should be received by faith it should also bee preached by faith . 5. seing it is only gods word , that is this worde , let him that heareth the word consider well whose word it is . 6. seeing gods word , is a messenger of health , wee should make it welcome , and blesse the feete of these that carrie it . 7. seeing gods word is his appointed ordinarie meanes , when vvee sicken let vs pray god to send vnto vs this messenger of health . 8. it hath been observed that there is no word , but gods vvord , that can make the sicke man vvhole : there is no health in the vvordes that are forged in mans braine . 9. it is god that preacheth orpraveth , in and by his faithfull servants . hee that hath made the mouth , is hee that putteth his vvord into the mouth . this farre haue vvee proceeded in the doctrines vpon these vvords , hee sent his word , and healed them . and healed them let vs now consider what is it that god healed by his word : it is said heere that hee healed them , viz. these that vvere sicke , without anye exception of disease , hee healed them saith the text. let vs first heere observe the great power of gods word , no man by a word can heale any disease , but there is no sort of disease but god can heale it by his word . if it had beene saide , fooles because of their follie had the fever , and god by his word healed them . some would have doubted if this word could haue healed also of the fluxes : no , not : while it is saide that god healed them in generall ; it is to bee vnderstood of all sortes of diseases . our god is not only a god of the mountaines , but also of the valleyes . the papists that run to saints for health , not finding any that can cure of all diseases , have appointed them slaves to runne to diverse saints for diverse diseases , to one they must go for s. iohns ●ll , to another they must goe for frenesie , to another for leprosie , to another for barrennesse , to another for sicke horse , to another for sicke kine , to another for their swine : i neede not goe farre : beholde into the same house where j preach , that place of s. 〈◊〉 mooles : in my time j sawe a deepe hole at the side of that stone , where the miserable ignorāts of this land had digged for to get the dust of that pretended saint : as if it had had power for to give health . mercifull god what blindnesse of ignorance was that ? what could be the cause of this ? this was the cause ; the poore people could not find the worde , gods messenger for health : the bible was a clasped booke then : the antichristian seales were as yet not loosed : they heard nothing but mumbling of masses , wordes that they vnderstood not : wordes that could not heale their hearts sicke of sinne , and what wonder that like hennes they came seraping and scarting among the graves , seeking if they could find any pickle of comfort to their comfortlesse soules ? blessed bee our god that hath sent his word to this place for healing of sicke sinners , whereas of before they were wont to bee sent to seeke comfort from the dead , that had no comfort for themselves . gods word is a salve for all sorts of sores . to come to my doctrine there is no disease vncurable to the word , when it shall please god to send it . i confesse that there bee diseases like devills , some of a kinde that are more hardly driven away than others . this sort of devils said christ , cannot bee cast out , but by fasting and prayer , to the worde of prayer fasting behoved to be ioyned , not that the word wanted force for to chase out these devills , but because of vs whose prayers are sluggish while the bellie is full . a full bellie maketh the spirit lumpish : fulnesse of food sends vp such thicke vapours , which become clowdes betweene the face of god and our prayers , so that they can not passe thorow . againe seeing gods word is his appointed meane whereby hee not onlie giveth health to the body , but also to the soules of his children , let vs not wonder that sathan the enemie of mans salvation bee a great enemie to this word , to the teachers , and to the hearers . there is not a sermon made to a people , but sathan is affraide to losse a soule , for this cause especiallie hee beares a great ill will at pastours , because they carie the word of health . such men are the lords ensigne-bearers , against whom sathan shooteth his greatest peeces . if they fall , the men of health fall : the sicke can no more get salve for his sore : for this cause let no man wonder that sathan raiseth slanders vpon preachers . this maketh that dragon often to stretch out his taile that hereby hee may sweepe downe the lights of the world , which shew vnto vs the way of salvation . jf once hee can make this word of god to bee ill spoken of , and by the reeke of calumnie darken the light , or make it to bee loathed , hee thinkes that hee hath wonne a field . as for you who take vpon you any profession of godlinesse by frequenting sermons and often hearing of this word . beware that by a scandalous life yee make others to loath that which is gods also appointed meanes for the healing of soules : woe to them that make the worde of god to bee ill spoken of . againe seeing the word is so powe●full a meane for to recover the health that is lost , it must also bee a most powerfull preservative of health . the vse : seeing it is so , let vs make meekle of gods word in our health : for it is the word of health , the messenger of health , the word of good tidings : what better tidings would a sicke man have than that hee should bee healed . * there was such a desire of health in christs dayes , that the people thro●ged so about him , that some not being able to enter in at the doore of the house where he was , clambe vp vpon the house , & vncouered the roofe above his head , and let downe the sicke into beds by the hole they had broken vp . jf wee knew the vertue of gods word : before that wee were debarred therefrom by a multitude , wee should vncover the roofe of the house where it is preached , that we might bee let downe by cords : as wee loue our health , wee should loue this word of health . all men wish for health , heere is the best preservative , feare god : and heare his word diligentlie . if thou losse a preaching needlesly , it is a wonder if thou contract not some disease : if thou also be sluggish to come to gods house , or if thou come , but yet heares carelesly and receiues not the word with greedinesse , that is a spirituall lumpishnesse of heart , a forerunner of some painefull disease : men ordinarly before some sicknes find a certain heauinesse with want of appetit : there is no surer token of a fearfull disease to come , then a lumpish loathing of gods word . it is of the word as of the sacrament , jf the sacrament of the supper be eaten vnworthily by the children of god , though god after their repentance forgiue them the sinne yet he will chastise them with diuers diseases : for this cause , said the apostle , many are weake and sickly amongst you and many sleepe , euen so when the word is heard negligently without due preparation for this cause many are plagued with diuers diseases : there is no such token that god will keepe the health of a people as when a people hath appetit of the word and heares it with greedinesse : these delicate soules that are not content with the sincere word of god , except that it be saused into the entising words of mans wisdome can not be but sickly soules : such men must be filled with some filthinesse within , which bursteth out into scabs which scripture calleth the itching of the eare : thus as solomon faith the full soule lotheth the honi● combe , euen gods word that is sweeter then the honie combe : but to the hungrie soule euery bitter thing is sweet . a morsell of drye bread is more pleasant to a hungry man then wild foule is to him that is blewe burstex as we say : this land , ( let me be familiar ) is as it were blewe bursten vvith abundance of gods word : we are well fed but it is not seene on vs : because we are filled we loth the honie combe : j see no greater token of great diseases to come vpon this land then this , scotlands appetite of gods word is lost . let vs heere also obserue the craft of sathan who in all things goeth about to counterfeit god in his doings : heere in my text it is said that god healeth the sicke with wordes : he sent his worde and healed them : sathan goeth about to make men beleiue that he can heale diseases also with words which wee call charmes . in my iudgement it it is from this place that by an apish imitation he hath learned the first inuention of charmes or of healing by words . this of before did i neuer obserue : often did i wonder where frae he had taken the vse of healing by words : all that sathan doeth in draweing ●oules vnto him , he hath learned it out of gods wisdome by counterfeiting the lords workes as the magitians that turned their rods into serpents as moses turned his rod into a serpent : but as moses his serpent swallowed vp the serpents of the magicians , ●o gods word shall at last swallowe vp and destroye the devils charmes : sathan is an apish creature striuing euer to counterfeit god in all his actions : so from god hee learned to teach men to make sacrifices to himselfe , as if hee had bene the god of the world : as god is euer turning euill vnto good so sathan is euer turning good vnto euill . out of this place in my iudgement are all witches charmes by imitation . jf yee would have the definition of a charme take it in these words , it is a word sent from the deuill for healing of these that put not their trust into god. o , but will ye say , they doe good and helpe vs , o follie , if god in such a case remoue his heavie hand , it is for to lay it on againe with a greater burden : such a deliuerance is by breaking the prison to be clogged with more fearfull fetters : heere is gods precept psal. 50.15 . call vpon me in the day of trouble : heere is a promise ; and i will deliuer thee o but will yee say , in all that they say , j heare no thing but good wordes : o foole , if the baite were not sweete the fish would not plucke : the poisond gloves must bee most sweetly perfumed , the most deadly drinke must bee most sugred : there is no such liquour for the mouth as the deuils posset , sweet in the mouth , but death into the belly . obserue also that it is a righteous thing with god to suffer sathans wordes haue power , to giue such a bodily benefite to these that loue their health better then god : he that seeketh his health by vnlawfull meanes loueth his health better then god : and therefore iust and righteous is hee , when hee giueth ouer to a reprobate mind these that like not to retaine god in their knowledge . a mind voide of all iudgement , is a plague ordained for all these that desire not to retaine god in their knowledge : because they receiued not the loue of the trueth that they might be saued , for this cause god sent them strong delusion , that they should belieue● a lye : if men and women will not desist from seeking such vnlawfull meanes , but leauing the word that god hath sent for health , will beetake themselues to the word that the deuill hath sent , let them knowe that god hath plagued them with strong delusion , because they haue not the loue of the trueth : what rage is this for a man to goe and seeke health from the devill in his sickenesse ? is it not as elijah said concerning ahazia who in his sicknesse sent vnto baalzebub , because there is not a god in israel : these that thinke that there is a god in israel will neuer seeke to be healed by the deuiles wordes . so long as god would speake to saul , saul sought not to sathan : after that god was departed from him and would answere him no more , then hee ranne to the deuill of endor : but what comfort gote hee there ? euen that which the deuill himselfe abhorreth , viz. torment before the time . which made him fall straight way all along on the earth . these were the cheefe wordes of the deuils comfortes tomorrow thou shall be with mee . so must they bee heal●● that desire the deuill to send wordes for their health . an obiection . heere some curious spirit may object that where as it is said heere that god sendeth his worde and healeth the sicke , and that therefore in sicknesse this word should be sought vnto , that seemeth not to be needfull : my dayes are they not numbered ? a man can not dye before his dayes , what needs a man then in sicknesse seeke his life from god ? the answere . jt is certaine that mans time is determined : mans dayes are bounded like the sea ▪ to mans age god saith as hee saith to the waves of the sea. hitherto shall thou come but no further : and heere shall thy proud ●a●es be stayed . the proudest dayes of mans age are s●ayed at a certaine hitherto : when they are come to that , they can w●nn● no further . but yet till they come there , man must vse the meanes where by his life may be preserued : god promised to adde to hezekiahs yeeres other fifeteene : hezekiah knew well that god would keepe his promise and yet for all that he left not off to eate and to drinke whereby his life might be preserued . this is most forcible against these that obiecting against predestination , say most profanely , that if they know they were predestinate to life eternall they should not care what ill they doe : why ? because they would be assured not to goe to hell : first that were great ingratitude to giue the goodnesse of god such a meeting : what ignorance is this , that a man should not know that the goodnesse of god leadeth him to repentance and not to sinne more and more ? againe though god hath promised to him life eternall and that god can not lye , yet man should no more neglect the meanes of his spirituall life then hezekiah neglected the meanes for keeping of his naturall life : as for vs though wee knowe that our life can not ouerreach our spanne , yet seeing the day of our death is concealed from vs we may lawfully c●y to god for help in our troubles : jf we be sicke let vs intreat god to send his word the messenger of health , that with the liuing as hezekiah said , wee may praise his name ? but if so be that our day be come , that god say to vs concerning life , as he said to moses concerning canaan , let it suffice thee , speak no more vnto me of this matter , then let vs resolue to pray with simeon that the lord would let his servant depart in peace . and delivered them from their destructions . in the former wordes wee haue heard what good the sicke persons haue gotten from god by their prayers , viz health . hee sent his word and healed them . jn these words the spirit of god letteth vs see from what ill by his word he hath delivered them , viz. from destruction , and deliuered them from their destructions . behold in the coherence of the words two things , first a positiue good viz. health secondlie a deliuerance from a great , ill viz. from their destructions . heere obserue the great wisdome of god , who for to stirre vp men to thankfulnes letteth men first see what great good he hath done to them ; secondly from how great a miserie he hath delivered them : the miserie wherefrom a man is deliuered , being set in viewe besides the benefite received is a commendation of the guift . as a candle seemeth clearest in the darkest house : and as the starres are brightest in the darkest night , so good received appeareth most , when wee see from what ill we haue beene delivered . the greater the danger hath beene , wee esteeme the more of gods deliverance . if any man hath saved our lyfe by drawing vs out of the water , wee being almost at the last gaspes , wee would thinke of it so long as we liue : but to bee helped out of some shallow place , where was no danger of the death , for such a benefite a light grand-mercy is thought to bee enough . let vs behold heere in the word destructions the greatnesse of gods deliverance . the word destructions like death or darknesse commending lyfe or light , setteth out the greatnesse of the positiue benefite in those words : hee sent his word and healed them . let vs consider the word in the original : the word which is heere turned destructions signifieth ditches or graues , which are deathes lodgings . the graue in the first language hath diverse names . 1. the most proper is keber . 2. bor , that is a pit or ditch : ●arcer subterraneus , a prison vnder the earth . the estate of all the dead by nature is miserable : they are all in prison , and there must they lye , till the trumpet of the resurrection blow the blast of libertie . at that sound the earth shall open , and in its owne language shall say to the dead , goe out my prisoners i am not able to keepe you any longer . 3. the graue is called sheol , a petendo from ●eeking , quod ore hiant , & dilatato repleri expetat . of all begga●s , death and the graue are the greatest : they ever see●e and are never satisfied . they are the two daughters of the horse-●●ach , which evermore crye , bring , bring : the graue is one of these that never saith , ●t is enough . 4. jn the text which j haue redde , it is called shechithah , from a word that signifieth to kill , or corrupt , or destroye : according to this the word heere is turned destructions : hee delivered them from their destructions , that is , from their graues . the lesson j obserue , of all the names of the graue , and particularly of this in my text , is , great is the horrour of the graue : naturally all flesh abhorreth it . when the wicked man that is in god his debt booke is buried , hee is like one catcht and clapt vp in prison : the barres of death are about him as about a theefe in a pit . this is a part of wicked mens penaltie , the graue is vnto them the very porch of the prison of hell. this is the prison appointed for all desperate banquerupts laden with debt and danger , vnable to satisfie the l●ast farthing . many may goe to the graue free of all worldly debts , whom god shall challenge and arrest of an infinite summe , which they shall not bee able to paye , though they had all this world at their dispose . such shall be the end of all prodigall ding-thrifts , who while they lived , turned the grace of god in wantonnesse : while they are caried to the graue , they are caried to their destructions . seeing the graue is naturally to all men a destruction ; let the consideration thereof stirre vs vp to a godly lyfe : jt is a place most fearefull to flesh and blood . job speaking to god concerning the graue , for which hee was preparing him selfe , declareth in most powerfull wordes what a dwelling place it is , cease then , ( said hee , ) and let mee alone , that i may take comfort a litle , before i goe , whence i shall not returne , even to the land of darknesse and the shaddow of death ; a land of darkenesse , as darkenesse it selfe , and of the shaddow of death without any order , and where the light bee as darkenesse . those bee the most pleasant fields of the graue , viz. a land of darkenesse , where the light , ( as job saith ) is as darkenesse it selfe : there shall all flesh be clothed with wormes , and with clods o● dust . there is the place of silence : many there be lying together heapes vpon heapes , as samson said , but there is not a word of conference . so long as men liue together on earth , they haue both companie & conference , whereby they may sweeten the da●es of the lyfe of their vanitie . o but so soone as they are gone to their destructions , such perishing shad●owes of pleasures flee away : there is no worke , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisedome in the gra●e whether they goe . job is very plaine concerning this : as the cloud , ( saith hee , ) is consumed and vanisheth away , so hee that goeth downe to the graue , shall come vp no more : hee shall returne no more to his house , neither shall his place know him any more . bildad considering mans mortalitie & his necessitie of going downe ●o the graue , said , wee are but of yesterday , and know nothing , because our dayes on earth are a shaddow , that past man must goe to his destruction , viz. to the graue : thus as yee see , the graue of its owne nature is properly a destruction : such is it also to all those who in their lyfe were not partakers of grace . to goe to the graue without grace , is to goe to destruction . men may striue by artifice to make the graue pleasant by painted and carved stones , but when men haue done their best it is nothing indeed but a painted destruction . while it glistereth like the heavens with●●t . ●t is but the belly of hell within . as for the man of grace , though he should be deprived of the graue , hee hath one thing to cover him , which the whole world can not take from him , coelo tegitur qui non habet vrnam : he is covered with the heavens , who wanteth a graue : the godly in their graues rest in their beds . behold what a mercifull god we haue , whose cursings by grace become blessings . the graue at the first was appointed by god as a ward house for malefactours , and now behold how it is turned by grace into a bed of downe , a resting place for the wearied bodies of the saints . see how god in his most fearfull judgements hath ever some comfort infolded for the comfort of his saints , as a kirnell within a h●ske . for them hee can keepe light in darkenesse , and also bring light out of darkenesse . for them he can in that which is not , find out that which is , by calling things which are not as though they were : yea , which is most for his owne , even in destruction , hee will keepe salvation . in the graues of the godly , which by nature are destructions , there is a sort of salvation , which shall bee seene at the great and last day of the resurrection . the vse of this doctrine is t●●o sold , first for ●●se godly , secondlie for the wicked : as for the godly let them bee thankfull vnto god , who hath changed their destructions into beds of rest , where they shall sleepe most softly vntill the great blast of the last trumpet . this is one of the speciall comforts which god hath prepared for the godly man in his bed of languishing , that god will make all his bed in his sicknesse : beh●ld heere a greater comfort : in death god will make all the godly mans bed : the graue to him is but a bed made for him by the lord. o man of god for thy graue bee thankfull vnto god. when death is drawing neere , comfort thy selfe with this , that god is preparing a well made bed for thee in the graue . blesse him who hath turned thy destruction into rest . as for the wicked , let the fearfull word of my text , viz. destructions ; let it bee as it were a remembrancer vnto them , that there is a thing after this lyfe prepared for them which god his word calleth destruction . while they heare of it let them come out of their chaire of ease for to be friends with god in time . o mercifull god , what terrour must this bee , while a man on his death bed perceiveth nothing but gods wrath , a gape●ng graue , and an v●prepared soule ? let this memorandum rouse vp all slippry soules so to liue in this lyfe , that they losse not that lyfe which is to come . no man can tell how soone his glasse shall runne out . what a follie is this for a moment of pleasures to losse eternitie , and to goe to destruction . happy then ( i see ) is the man that liveth well he●re : blessed is he whose god is the lord : thrise happy is hee that hath faith in christ , for in the very graue he shall find salvation . hee hath a cordiall antido● against the poison of destruction , who hath christ to bee his salvation : christ our salvation hath destroyed this destruction . he hath gotten such a victorie not only for him selfe , but also for all his saints , that the least and weakest of them may defye both death and destruction with those words of boast : o death where is thy sting ? o graue where is thy victorie ? death like that viper of malta may hang vpon a godly mans hand : but in the day the lord shall purge the world with fire : the godly man shall shake death from him , as st. paul cast the v●per from him into the fire without any hurt : but as for the wicked that are not in christ their graues are their destructions : death in the graue feedeth on them as on sheepe : to euery one of them death may say as christ said to death i shall be thy death . while christs friends with lazarus are said to sleepe into the graue , the wicked man there is but a destroyed creature : while he is there he is in destruction , hee is in abstracto mall into evill it selfe , hee is nothing there but the carion of a creature . vvoe be to him to whom the graue is a destruction : let therefore all men st●●e so to liue , that while they goe to their graues , their graues may bee a bed of rest vnto them . jf the graue bee a destruction to thy body , the place of damnation is prepared for thy soule . let epicures , while they liue , sport , and say , hell is not so ●●te , nor sinne so heavy , nor the divell so blacke , nor god so severe as preachers prattle : the day shall come , when they shall find it farre other wayes . shall god suffer the whole creation to groane vnder the burden of our sinnes ? shall god him selfe be pressed vnder the weight thereof , as a cart laden with sheaues ? and shall he not be avenged of vs in death except we repent ? let vs therefore , least our graues after death bee our destructions amend our lyfe in tyme : let vs abhorre the filthie shape of our sinnes : let vs lay hold on god his mercy and christ his merits , which are two shoulders that shall carie away all the weights of wickednesse . well is that soule , whose bill & bond before death is cancelled and crost : with great joy may he goe to the graue , to whom the lord hath said , i haue put away thy transgression like a cloud , and thy sinnes as a mist : lord make our eyes nimble to rip our hearts to the bottome that wee may bring out our sinnes from thence , that they may get a dead stroake before wee dye . heere let vs obserue who is hee that is said heere to haue delivered the sicke from their destructions , it is the lord : the greatnesse of the worke declareth plainly that it could bee no other then the lord : when iohn and peter went a fishing after christs resurrection , christ appeared vnto them ; after they had toiled the whole night in vaine , at last at christs command they cast the nets : christ at the first they knew not , but by the great draught of fishes they began to know him : the disciple , whom jesus loved considering the draught , said vnto peter , it is the lord : so may a man who hath beene delivered from his destructions easily know that none could deliver him but the lord : the text is plaine heere , and hee delivered them from their destructions . heere is a lesson of the great power of god , the angell of the covenant said well , when he sawe sarah laughing at the promise , is any thing too hard for the lord. christ speaking of the hard entrie of rich men into god his kingdome , compared it to the passing of a camell thorow the eye of a needle : this thereafter hee made more cleare , saying , with men it is impossible but not with god , for with god all things are possible : this great power heere appeareth in that , when the sicke man is hard at the doores of death vpon the very brime of destruction , yet the lord by his infinit power delivereth him from his destructions . the vse is this , when ever we find our selues perplexed , let vs haue recourse to him that is only able to helpe vs : who can deliver from destruction the abstract of ill , but god who is salvation , essentially that which is good , yea goodnesse it selfe ? no man can deliver his friend from feare in the dayes of evill , when the iniquities of his heeles shall compasse him about . though men were never so wealthy boasting them selues in the multitude of their riches ; none of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother , nor gius to god a ransome for him : all the gold of ●ndia is not able to deliver a man from his destructions , no not to prolong his lyfe but an houre . hee only who ga●e the lyfe is able to preserue the lyfe : he only who gaue the lyfe is able for to take away the lyfe : vnto god the lord alone belong the issues from death , and also the issues vnto death . in his mouth alone are the quickning or killing words , returne yee children of men , either from lyfe to destructions , or from destruction vnto lyfe : and therefore in all our distresses and greatest sickenesse , let vs haue our recourse vnto him , saving with the psalmist , whom haue i in heaven but thee ? and there is none on earth whom i desyre besyds thee : my fi●sh and my heart faileth , but god is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever . we haue heard how those that were sicke drewe neere to the doores of death , and how god , while none could help them delivered them from their destructions in bringing them from death to lyfe , from sicknesse to health . before i passe foreward to the last part of the text , i desyre you all to consider well , that albeit god in great sicknesse by his word recall vs from the graue , once or twise , yet for all that we must carefully remember our mortalitie : for though at diverse tymes god either in sicknesse or in dangers , by sea or by land hath by his power delivered vs from the graue , wherein long since wee had beene rotten ; yet for all that at last these bodies of ours must come to the hands of the buriers , who shall lay vs downe into our destructions . consider and weigh well the matter o man , though god should prolong thy dayes , so that every one of them should bee lyke that day o● losual● , when the sunne stood still vpon gibeon and the moone in the valley of at●lon , yet should all those dayes come to an end . the standing sunne at last must goe downe : yea though god should bring backe the shaddow of thy lyfe many thousand degrees , at last it shall goe downe in the diall of thy mortalitie . though the house were never so strong , at last it must decay and drop thorow . there is no ludging for eternitie in things below . methuselah with his nine hundred three score and nine yeeres is followed with , hee died , as well as hee who lived but an houre . i wish that this my sermon could bee to you like the house of mourning , which salomon calleth better then the house of feasting : his reason is , for that is the end of all men , and the living will lay it to his hear● : a feast is made for laughter , which will not admit the companie of so graue mediations . laughter will not suffer the living to lay his end to his heart . oh that yee all could lay well this my sermon to your heart , before that death by sicknesse come and make a breach , & by that breach runne away with your soules ! alas it is hard for men in prosperitie to be moved to thinke that they shall be moved : i said in my prosperitie , ( said david , ) i shall never be moved . o how hard it is for men and weemen that haue hearts desire , and wealth at will , to desire to bee dissolved . they are so taken vp with their pleasures in this lyfe that they haue no leasure to think vpon death . men take no heede to the graue that is before them : though they be even vpon the brinke or brimme thereof , they can not thinke that they shall fall therein , though thousands haue fallen before them . j compare the most part of this world to men walking over a field so covered wich f●o● , that they can not perceiue the way : when they thinke to run they fall into a pit with a jumpe . it is even so of men in prosperitie , while their eyes are dazeled with the brightnesse of their pleasures & profits , which as s●ow cover all the way , before that ever they be aware , they rush downe into the ditch of death . many like mariners in a mist make ship wracke in the calme sea . the lord bee our pilot and so direct our soules into this perillous navigation ; that at last by death wee may arriue into the haven of the heavens , where wee may liue with god for ever . well is the man that is ever wating for his god. well is him that can say with david , when i awake i am still with thee . the third part : the sicke man his song . vvee haue heard of mans miserie in the sicke man his sore , wee also haue heard of god his mercy in the sicke mans salve : man being sore sicke cryed vnto god by prayer , and god heard him and hee sent his word and healed him : now it followeth that wee see what man his duetie should bee toward his god , for delivering him from such miserie : the duetie is set downe into those words , oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men : this is the sicke man his song . heere let vs obserue what is the duetie of him who hath received health and lyfe from god in a most dangerous sicknesse , it is heere set downe , viz. that hee should praise god for his goodnesse , &c. god seeketh nothing from man for his benefits but thankes and praise : the doctrine is this , god his yoke is easy ; if by our owne wickednesse wee make it not vneasy : there is no yoke so easy as god his yoke . see how for all his blessings hee requireth but thankes . after that the physitian of the body hath vsed his cure , whether it cure thee or not , thou must giue him gold : after that thy god hath cured both thy soule and body ; he seeketh but thankes , he craveth but a grandmercy from the heart : and yet alas , hee who doeth most , and seeketh least , is least considered , and worse payed of his due . first heere obsetue that the duetie of him who hath received his health from god is to praise god for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes : our god for all requireth nothing but thankes : hee hath no neede of our guifts : as hee hath no neede , so neither doeth hee seeke any thing from vs : i will not , ( saith hee , ) reproue thee for thy sacrifices , or thy burnt offerings to haue beene continuallie before me● : i will take no bullocke out of thy house , nor hee goates out of thy foldes : for every beast of the forrest is myne , and the cattell vpon a thousand hils . i know all the fowles of the mountaines : and the wild beasts of the field are myne : if i were hungrie i would not tell thee , for the world is myne and the fulnesse thereof . behold how god will not seeke any worldly thing from man , for all the world is his , and the fulnesse thereof . what is it then that hee would haue for all his benefits ? the lord declareth him felfe what hee would haue : offer vnto god thankesgiving , and pay thy vowes vnto the most high thankefulnesse as yee see , is the onely impost that god requireth of vs. so soone as man hath received a benefite from god , hee is bund to repare to his god with thankes : every new benefite should bee vnto his soule like sela in musicke , a note of intention , or a lifting vp the voice . the vse , seeing the lord for all his blessings given vnto men requireth nothing but praise , let vs praise him from our hearts seeing god thinketh more of thanks then of the world and of the fulnesse thereof , let vs bee carefull in this poynt of duetie . as the bird vpon the bush welcometh the day with a song , so soone as it beginneth to spring , so should wee welcome our god with thankes , so soone as wee see the least of his benefits begin to spring . for to inforce this duetie vpon vs , wee must consider that god aboue all things respecteth his praise , hee will reveale great secrets to a man. this made him reveale all his heart vnto abraham : for the loue of his praise hee will saue a people that is worthy to bee destroyed : for my names sake , ( said hee , ) will i deferre my wrath , and for my praise will i refraine it from thee that i cut thee not off . moses his strongest argument , while he interceeded for the people , was grounded vpon god his praise , while hee had a purpose to destroy his people : lord , ( said hee , ) what will the aegyptians say ? by this we may see how deare god his praise is vnto him . behold how before hee should want praise hee will deferre his wrath , and refraine it from sinners that deserue to bee cut off . seeing then wee know that our god aboue all things it most desirous of praise , wee should be most desirous to doe that which hee desireth : my father , ( said the servant of naaman , ) if the prophet had bid thee doe some great thing , wouldest thou not haue done it ? how much more may i say to you , if god had bid you doe some great thing would yee not haue done it ? and now seeing hee requireth nothing but praise , who should refuse it . js it not more easy for vs to praise god then it was for naaman to wash him selfe seven tymes in the jordan ? man may praise god , in his hote bed , at his table , in the fields , in his garden . if the heart were sanctified it should bee no paine but pleasure to praise the lord jah . in this is the chiefe happinesse of saints and angels aboue , they praise god continuallie . praise as yee see is that which god chiefly requireth of man for all his guifts , whether of wealth or of health . but how j pray you is this duety payed ? the wordes of my text giue notice : oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse ; &c. the word oh declareth plainely the vnthankfulnesse of man. when fooles because of their transgressions were afflicted , it is said : then they cryed vnto the lord in their trouble . but after that god hath delivered them , is it said that they thanked god for their health ? not : what than ? oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse , &c. learne the lesson : jt is a common thing to cry to god in any adversitie : the reprobate will cry to god in his distresse : but only those who are truely godly giue thanks for benefites received . ten lepers in their miserie , lifted vp their voyces , crying , iesus master haue mercy on vs : but at the thankesgiving nyne were absent . were there not ten cleansed , said christ ; but where are the other nyne ? the buttler in the prison was comforted by joseph , but while hee was restored , was hee thankfull ? n●t : while hee enjoyed his prosperitie according to joseph his prophecie , it is said , yet did not the chiefe butler remember ioseph , but forgate him fooles in my text were healed : in their afflictions they prayed earnestly ; they all cryed for salue to their ●ore : but what was their song ? j heare it not : but the psalmist regrating their vnthankfulnesse cryeth out , oh that men would praise the lord , &c. the vse , seeing vnthankfulnesse is a disease wherevnto nyne or ten are subject ; let vs so much the more take heede vnto it . let vs inure our selues to be thankfull to god for the least of his blessings : let vs pray before we get them ; & let vs praise god after we haue gotten them , before wee take meate let vs pray , after meate let vs praise : before we preach let vs pray , after preaching let vs praise while we put on our clothes in the morning let vs pray , while we put them off at night let vs praise : while wee enter into a water to passe thorow let vs pray , while wee are come to the yonder side let vs praise : while wee begin a journey let vs pray : while wee are come home againe let vs praise : while merchands goe to a market let them pray : while they are returned let them praise : while children are borne into the world , let parents pray : if god take them to him selfe , let them praise . let vs all striue to bee as chearefull to praise god for a benefite received , as wee were earnest in prayer to receiue the same . let vs not follow the ill example of the sicke of my text : they all cryed vnto the lord in their trouble , but j heare not a word of their thanks : only the psalmist saith : oh that men would praise the lord , &c. this is the burden of the song four severall tymes in the psalme . i lyke not men that pay their dueties with an oh . this is a sure token of ill payment , when the godly man heere is forced to cry : oh that men would praise the lord away with rents that are payed with an oh man his praises are the lord his rents , god will not be praised with those that praise him with an oh. god loveth a cheerfull giver . as hee giveth cheerfully , so will hee bee praised cheerfully : god must not be praised with regrate . jt is good that the godly lament , that men will not praise the lord for his goodnesse , but god will not bee praised of those that praise him vnwillingly . such a praise will proue like that doeing of ananias and saphirah a part of the price will bee kept back , such men can not faile but they shall lie to the holy ghost . the second vse wee haue to make heere is , that wee learne humilitie in the consideration of our ill nature . what a miserie is this that man by the mercie of god should be healed of a deadly disease , and yet not doe so much as to giue thankes to him from whom hee hath receiued the benefite . jn the wicked we may see the corruption of our nature , lyke swine they gather greedily the acorns of god his benefits , but beeing animalia prona ; creatures that haue the face headlong downe , they snatch vp the gifts , but can not looke vp to the giver with a thankfull heart . the wicked while they are in distresse will haue some forme of praying , but while they haue gotten their desire they haue not so much as a shewe in praising . praise is a sorte of godlinesse , whereof the wicked haue not so much as a shew . pharaoh could cry for helpe in tyme of plagues ; but after nyne severall deliverances i never read that he said once god bee thanked . many while they are sicke will giue god many faire wordes , which scripture calleth to flatter with their lips , but all that forme of devotion is nothing but a wyle for to winne out of god his hands . this is cleare , for so soone as once they are free of their trouble , at once they grieue the spirit of grace : yea , often they become worse , lyke that man that was but for a space delivered from that divell , which was but gone out for to bring in other seven worse then him selfe , for to make his partie the stronger . let those that after so many mercies giue libertie to their lusts consider well how the deceit of spirit over-reacheth them : let such weigh well in the ballance of the sanctuary , whether or not they haue praised the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes toward them . heere some men will say , what is this that is required in praising the lord ? is it not enough for to say with our mouth , the lord bee thanked ? what would the lord haue more ? j answere to that , god must haue more : my sonne . ( saith he , ) giue mee thy heart . god indeed must bee praised with the tongue , for which cause it is called our glory : awake my glory , said the psalmist vnto his tongue . god also must be praised with the heart , without which all the praise of the mouth is but a pranke , the sacrifice of fooles : this people draw neere mee with their mouth , but their hearts are farre from mee , said the lord. a neere mouth , with a heart a farre off is an abomination to the lord . those who in singing psalmes are ledde away more by sound , than by sense , respect the musicke more than matter : such sing to man , but not to god : god his praises must be sung both with heart and tongue . heere is a reproach for those , who in the congregation joyne not their voyces with others for to praise the lord for his goodnesse , but sit as if they were dumb . the booke is too deare for singing of god his praise . o what secreet atheisme ●urketh into the hearts of men ! jf men thought that the lord should bee praised for his goodnesse , and that god were present in the congregation of his saints , they durst not come in before him without the booke of the psalmes . wee often forget our booke , because wee forget that god is in his church ; but who forgetteth to put his hat on his head while hee cometh to the church ? who forgetteth his clothes ? no man ; because before hee goeth forth , hee remembereth that man will see him by the way . the wine & aile will command many to speak who are dumb at the service of their god. many never want words but when they should praise the lord for his goodnesse . filthy ballads and loue songs are vaine mens delight , but oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse , &c. it is not enough that men praise the lord with their heart and tongue , but also they must praise him with their lyfe , the true tryall of the other two . after that the psalmist had said that he would praise god that had chastned him sore , but had kept him from death , hee cryed , open to mee the gates of righteousnesse , i will goe into them and praise the lord. to goe into the gates of righteousnesse , is to lead a good lyfe ; such only are fit for to praise the lord. as for those that praise not god in lyfe , while they are holy in words , they are but monstrous persons , all mouthes , and tongues , and voices without hearts to thinke well , without hands to doe well . when the for●orne foole come to his wits againe , hee said not only , i will returne to my father , but hee did as hee said . the sluggard is ever in feare of lyons : the imagination of a beast in the way hind●eth him from doeing . the pharisees could say well but because their workes belyed their words , christ called them painted tombes or whited sepulchres . many would content the lord with a part of his service : some lyke the pharisee will paint the outward profession , but hold backe their heart from god : others lyke n●aman will bowe into the house of ●immon , but keepe their heart as they imagine vnto god : but o fooles , god will not lyke the pretended mother haue his service divided : god that made all must haue all . seeing hee hath made the heart as well as the hand , he must haue both our thoughts , and our actions for to praise him . the whole man that is a continuall receiver is litle enough for to set forth the glory of the giver : doe not the favors of god follow the whole lyfe of man ? why then should not his whole lyfe bee framed for to expresse his thankfulnesse . well is the man whose tongue , heart , and hand can sing to god with jeremie , thou art my praise . againe in those words , oh that men would praise the lord , i obserue the fervent zeale of the godly , for not only praise they god , but they are grieved when men whom god hath blessed with wealth , or health are slow to praise the lord for his goodnesse . this word oh heere vox dolentis a word of mourning is an evident demonstration of sorrow . in my judgement true zeale is not better known then in sorrowe for the offence of god. the vse : let every man try himselfe , whether hee bee a godly man or not : if true godlinesse be in thy heart thou shalt bee grieved to see god offended , thou shalt striue to keepe thy brother from sinne . this was the cursed man his language , am i my brothers keeper ? when ever wee see god dishonoured or deprived of his praise , wee must mourne for that sinne . well is that soule that can cry , oh for god his dishonour : woe to him that rejoyceth while god is offended . many thinke the vices of others commendations of their vertues . if they stand while others fall either into whoredome , or drunkennesse , they haue a ce●taine joy of such filthy fals , which they take to be praisers of their sobrietie , and chastitie : but oh is not the lord offended by such sinnes ? js not the profession ill spoken of : js not every sinne a scandale . is not every scandale a woe ? woe to the world for scandals . woe to him that is not sory for sinne , whether it bee in him selfe or in others , seeing that god thereby is dishonoured . j will tell thee o man , if thou cry not oh for god his dishonour , god shall cause thee cry oh in thy distresse . againe in those words : oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse . i obserue how sensible the godly are , when the least point of god his service is neglected . if a godly man cryeth , oh that men would praise the lord , because hee seeth them flow vnto it , how grieved will his heart bee , when hee shall see men not only not praising god , but dishonouring god for his goodnesse . many haue gotten health from god , god in great mercy hath brought them from the gates of death , and hath restored vnto them their former strength , but what thankes ? they haue lyke the dogge returned to their ●●nite againe : the drunkard resto●ed , runneth backe to the taverne , and the harlot to his old acquaintance , lyke that divell returning from dry places vnto his house whence hee came out . the last of such persons is worse then their first . good had it beene for many that they had never beene brought backe from the doores of death , because that after a newe t●●ke of their lyfe they dishonour god more then ever they did before . as iacob said of simeon , and levi , so say i of such : o my soule come not thou into their secret : vnto their assembly mine honour bee thou not vnited . the vse , let vs striue to be sensible of sinne , so that wee make conscience of the least sinne . many thinke vnthankfulnesse to god no sinne . the leav●n of the pharisees hath sowred the whole lumpe of many mens hearts : jf they bee not adulterers ; but can fast and giue almes , at once they will thanke god that they are not lyke other men . god desyreth no such thankes , when man praiseth god for his owne goodnesse : but oh that m●● would praise the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men . let man praise god for his goodnesse , but in his owne goodnesse there is no matter of praise . what can bee said to the praise of a m●●st●u●us cloath ? such is all our righteousnesse . let vs also obserue heere another lesson : the deliverance from death is said to bee from the goodnesse of god , and it is also called a wonderfull worke : for while it is said , oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse , it is cleare that the deliverance from death in sicknesse is from the goodnesse of our god. the vse : let all those who are sicke haue recourse vnto the goodnesse of god , by which only wee haue health . when wee seeke health from god , let vs say , for thy goodnesse sake o lord. the second vse i make of those words is for them that are recouered of their sickenesse . let such learne to bee good seing their health is from the goodnesse of god. a lyfe given in goodnesse should not bee spent in wickednesse : the goodnesse of god inviteth all men to repentance . againe obserue heere that great must bee that goodnesse of god , whereby hee bringeth man backe from the doores of death : the preservation of mans lyfe in his sicknesse , is also called a wonderfull worke . js it not a great goodnesse of god , and a wonder , that hee should spare the lyfe of a rebellious foole ? what a wonder is this in god his goodnesse , that the lyfe of man should be so precious in his sight ? is not man naturally the enemie of god ? it must bee a great goodnesse that will make a man spare his enemie his lyfe : and who , ( said saul to david , ) ) finding his enemie will let him goe well away ? o but in god then must be a wonderfull goodnesse , in that not onely he spareth his enemie , but ▪ which is more euen preserueth the life of his enemie . did not god dye for his enemies ? did he not suffer for them by whom hee suffered ? by this meanes ( such was his goodnesse ) hee heaped vpon their heads coales of fire , that is , as st. augustine saith , vrentes poenitentiae gemitus , the burning sighs of repentance . who can not bee but burnt with sighs , while hee considereth the goodnesse of god that hath rendered him so mekle good for so mekle ill ? what a great mercie is this , that god should prolong the lyfe of a sinner but an houre . the vse : seeing the deliverance from death and destruction is called a wonderfull work , and seeing it is so indeede , let vs wonder at it : when j arose out of that deadly fever ; anno 1626 in the moneth of september , and j fand my winding sheete wrapped together into my studie amongst my bookes , j began to wonder at god his great worke , i thought it wonderfull . but alace we wonder at god his works of mercie , as at other common worldly thinges but for a litle space . from thence is the proverb , a wonder lasteth but nyne nights into a city : fy vpon vs that can not wonder still at the wonderfull works of our god. the hebrew word pala in niphal signifieth both admirabile & occuitum , that is both secret & wonderfull , a fit word for to declare the worke to be wonderfull : indeede david speaking of his making in the belly , vseth this word : i will praise thee , ( said hee , ) for i am fearfully and wonderfully mad● : likewise in another psalme , speaking how christ the stone , which the builders refused , was become the head stone of the corner , he said , this is the lords doing it is marveilous or wonderfull in our eyes : so heere the bringing from the doores of death is called a wonderfull worke of god tovvard the children of men . obserue the lesson : only the workes of god are wonderfull . men may wonder at some workes of men , but no works of men are wonderfull : no created wisdome can fill a worke with wonder . there is nothing that man can doe , but man may come after and doe better : plus vident oculi quam oculus : many eyes see better than one : this is true amongst men . but all the eyes of men can not perceiue that god in any worke hath either beene defectuous or superfluous : looke vp to the heavens , and consider the sunne in his goings : behold how in the spring he commeth slowly by degrees till our day be at the longest : behold and wonder at such slownesse in such a swiftnesse : if hee were not slow in such swiftnesse , what fearfull changes should ensue ? if from the elleventh of december in the space of a day the sunne should be into that part of heaven , whereinto he is seene into the elleventh of iune , what discorder should be in the creatures below ? all men know how dangerous are sudden changes from heate to cold , and from cold to heate . behold then and wonder how the creator hath so ruled that bridgroome of light , that no man can imagine how his course could be changed for a better . what shall i speake of the sea tide , which made that most subtile searcher of secrets , as some thinke to haue drowned him selfe in the creature , whose motion hee could not vnderstand ? as for the earth it is a worke so wonderfull that no man tell wherevpon it hath beene founded . tell me o thou most learned philosopher , what can vphold such a heavy masse ? thou wilt say that is founded vpon its centre . but what is that centre but a point ? what beareth vp that point that beareth vp all the rest ? but how can a point bee a fundation of so hudge a masse ? but imagine a man standing in the centre , tell me what should be his situation ? according to the rules of philosophie , both his head should be vpward , and his feete should be vpward ? now what braine is able to conceiue this ? some may think all this to be very easy : but god did propound it vnto job , as a great argument : wherevpon , ( said hee , ) are the fundations of the earth fastened ? we must therefore confesse , that this worke of god , which is but earthly , is so wonderfull , that it overfloweth all humane capacitie . when a vessell is filled to the brimme , it must at last overflow . when our heart is filled with that which is wonderfull , the wonders which we can not containe must runne over . what shall j say more ? behold o man all the par●es of the mekle world , bend thy wits , and see where thou can correct god his wisedome . come fo●ward i pray thee , and teach him a lesson if thou can : if not , confesse that his workes are wonderfull , and that thou is filled with wondering , so that gods wonders in thy heart doe overflow . from the mekle world , let vs come to man , the litle world . behold the fabricke of his body , his browes , his eares , his eyes , his nose , his mouth : behold the wonderfull worke of god : teach god a lesson if thou can . wilt thou say , that his mouth had beene best in his brow , and that his nose had beene best behind his eare , and that his eyes had beene more fitly into his chinne ? no not . there is no part , which can be devised to b●● better then it is : the worke is vvonderfull , and therfore say that thou art filled with wondring : oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men . to come from the body to consider god his workings in the soule , they are so wonderfull , that no man can declare them . who shall not wonder to consider the workings of the soule ? j admire the mind and vnderstanding , the will and the affections agreeing , discording , considering , judging , loving , or hating , making the body to laugh , or to weepe , according as the spirit is disposed consider the spirit of man furnishing the body with fiue watches , as with a guard for its preservation : viz , hearing , seeing , smelling , feeling , tasting , and touching , all set about the body for its preservation , for as many watches , to tell who is a foe , and who is a friend . the worke is so wonderfull , that while i consider it , my spirit doth overflow with wondering : oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men . last of all , seeing the curing of the sicknesse of the body is called a wonderfull worke , how wonderfull must the curing of the sicke soule be ? for this cause , and for others also christ the saviour of soules , was called wonderfull : vnto vs a child is borne , ( said the prophet , ) and his name shall bee called wonderfvll : this is he , who hath not only filled the earth , but the heavens with wondering . the heavens at the first could not well perceiue , how by god his stripes man should haue health . the cherubins , which represented the angels had their heads ever bowed toward the mercy-seat , for to see the calling and healing of the gentiles : the fellowship of that mysterie had beene hid in god from them , and that from the beginning of the world : but so soone as it was revealed vnto them by the church , that is , so soone as they sawe god his promise accomplished in the church , as in a glasse , they all with one voyce praised god for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men : all the spirits of heaven did praise him that day with that divine song : glory bee to god in the highest heavens , peace on earth , and toward men good will. but what shall j say of men , who are so much beholden vnto god ? hath not god created vs ? hath he not redeemed vs with the blood of his sonne ? hath hee not delivered vs from many dangers at home and a field ? hath bee not made all our bed in our sickenesse ? hath he not brought vs backe from the doores of death ? but where is our thankfulnesse ? i say againe , oh where is our thankfulnesse ? oh that men would praise the lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men . to the father , sonne , and holy ghost bee glory and majestie , dominion , and power ; for ever and ever , amen . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a16535-e210 eccles. 12. v. 10. eccles. 12. v. 11. bernar. super cant. qu●rit a●●●a● ver●u● , cui consentiat a● corre●i●●em , 〈◊〉 illumi●n●●ur ad cognitionē , cui innitatur ad virtutem , quo res . ●nctur ad sipienti●m cui 〈◊〉 tur ad de●●rem , cui ●●●●tetur ad s●●u●●illa●●● , 〈◊〉 s●uatur 〈…〉 . eccles. 12. v. 4. luke 12. v. 35. note . 2. tim. 1. v. 18. libri liberi . notes for div a16535-e960 gen. 4. v. 7. hieron . ad pam●nach . epist. 5. cap. 8. notes for div a16535-e1100 exod. 33. ●1 . v. 22. v. 19. v. 23. exod. 34 v. 6. v 7. note . psal. 101 v. 1. ephes 3 v. 10 psal. 18 v. 26. * note . * note . 1. king. 1● v 11 , jude . v. 22. v. 23. * note . act. 4. v. 36. mark. 3. ●7 . * note . * note . deut. 20 v. 10. v. 1● . * note . 2. cor. 10 , v. 4. * note . leut. 19. v. 17. ezek. 33. v. 3● * note . * note . note . act. 24 v. 25. * note 1. king 22 , v. 8. * note . * note . job . 6. v. 10. ezek. 33 v. 3. * note . * hose . 6. v , 5. note . * note . jere. 1. v 17. note . isa. 62 ▪ v. 16. * note . ierem. 20. v. 9. * note . * note . * note . * note 1. cor. 3 v 18. * note . prou. 30 v. 2. v. 3. * note , 1. cor. 4 v. 10. 2. kings 9. vi . 1. act. 26 v. 24. * 1. cor. 1. v. 25. note . 1. cor. 1. v , 21. 1. cor. 1 v. 18. luk. 24. v. 2 , . luk. 15. v. 17. 1. cor. 1. v. 18. note luk. 12 v. 20. note . heb. 6. v. 4. note . psal. 37 v. 35. ps. 129. v. 6. iob. 5. v. 3 , iob. 5. v. 4. v. 5. amos. 2. v. 9. the doctrine . 1. cor. 3. v. 19. the vse . note . tit. 2 v. 12. note . note . note . note . note . luke . 34 v. 25. note . iude. v. 9. note . the doctrine . note . note . isay. 66. v. 17. the vse . note : note . ephes. 5. v. 3. note . ier. 22. v. 8. note . v. 9. the doctrine . note . ionah . 1. v. 11. v. 12. iosh. 7. v. 8. v. 12 , note . iob. 8. v. 11. note . note . iob. 10. v. 14. v. 15. iob. 4 v 8. iob. 7 v. 3. the use . note . note . note . note . numb . 23. v. 21 note . 1. cor. 15. v. 55 note . note . levit. 14. v. 44 note . rom. 8. v. 23. note . gen , 41. v 25. v 23. note . the 1. doctrine . note . note . note . the vse note . note . 1. sam. 3.14 . v. 6. v. 8. v. 10. note . proverb . 23. v. 35. note . note . 1. sam 6. v. 7. v. 8. note . note . nehem. 13. v. 25. lam. 3 v. 39. note . iob. 1. v. 11. iob. 2. v. 5. exod. 8. v. 19. note . note . mark. 14. v. 70. note . note . the second doctrine . note . amos. 2 v. 13. the doctrine . note . amos. 1. v. 6. amos. 1. v. 9. amos. 1. v. 16. v. 13. amos. 2. v. 1. v. 4. v. 6. the vse . note . note . exod. 33 v. 19. psalm . 34. , v. 19 iob. 2. v. 3. note . note . iohn . 9. v. 3. lam. 3. v. 39. note . note . note . ezek. 18 v. 4. isa. 3. v. 10. the vse . math. 25. v. 21. esth. 3. v. 15. note . note . neh. 6. v. 14. note . note . note . note . note . 2. chron. 28. v. 22. luke . 18. v. 11. note . ioshu . 7. v. 21. genes . 4. v. 8. gen. 9 v. 2● . gen. 9. v. 21. act. 5. v. 3. note . the doctrine . note . 1. king 22. v. 21 note . note . note . gen. 19. v. 24. exon. 14 v. 27. num. 16 v. 31. iona. 1. v. 4. dan. 6. v. 24. 2. king. ● . v. 24. 2. king. 2. v. 3● . act. 1● . v. 23. note . isa. 1. v. 6. note . math. 27. v. 5. 1. king. 16. v. 18 2 sam. 17. v. 23. the vse . proverb . 26. v. 13. note . note . note . iob. 9 , v. 34. dan. 5. v. 4 , note . psal. 68. v. 21. note . the doctrine . note . zeph. 2. v. 2. iona. 3. v. 4. note . note . note . psal. 91. v. 6. note . note . iudg. 16 v. 27. levit. 10. v. 2 2. king. 1. v. 10. v. 11. iob. 1. v. 19. ezod . 14 v. 27. act. 5. v. 5. gen. 19. v. 26. note . note . iudg. 16. v. 29. levit. 10. v. ● . exod. 14. v. 21. note . note . iam. 4. v. 14. isan . 22 psal. 90. v. 3. the vse . note . note . note . note . note . iob. 13. v. 4. note . the doctrine . note . note . note . note . iudge . 12. v. 5. note . levit. 26. v. 26. note . gen. 41 v. 21. note . note . note . din. 1. v. 15. note . note . a●t . 23. v. 12. 1. sam. ●● . v. 37. note . psal. 78. v. 18. v. 19. v. 21. v. 26. v. 25. v. 30 v. 31. note . note . lam. 4. v. 6. note . lam. 2. v. 20. lam. 2. v. 12. lam. 4. v. 7. v. 8. note . numb 11. v. 20 v. 23. v. 34. note . isa. 5. v. 22. note . note . the doctrine . iudg. 9. v. 23. note . 2. sam. 13. v. 15 note . note . psal 37. v. 2. the vse . note . ●umb . 11. v. 34 ▪ note . note . note . the doctrine . the vse . tit. 2. v. 11. v. 12 , note . note . the doctrine . the vse . note . note . note . note . isa. 1. v. 22. note . math. 1● v. 29. note . note . note . note . 1 ●or . 10 v. 27. v. 28. note . note . note . 2. king. 18. v. 4. note . levit●● v. 1. note . note . note . note . note . note . 1. tim. 4. v. 14. note . iob. 7. v. 19. the doctrine . note . the vse . note . the doctrine . note . note . note . note . 1● september anno 1626. the doctrine . note . note . iudg. 16 v. 30. note . note . ioh. 4. v. 19. note . the vse . note . note . math. 16. v. 18 note . the doctrine . note . heb. 2. v. 14. v. 15. heb. ● . v. 10. the vse . note . 1 cor. 15 v. 55. the doctrine . note . philip. 2 v. 27. the vse . note . note . the vse . note . note . eccles. 12. v. 2. note . note . note . psal. 102 v. 26. note . note . iob. 7. v. 6. iob. 9. v. 2● . v. 26. note . note . note . note . note . note . eccl. 11. v. 3. note . v. 19. v. 20. the doctrine . note . isa. 38. v. 10. deut. 3 v. 25. psal. ●0● v. 24. note . note . the vse note . note . note . iohn . 5. v. 14. note . the second doctrine . note . note . iob. 6. v : 5. note . proverb . 7. v. ●3 . note . note . note . psal. 107 v. 28. note . ion. 1. v. 6. the vse . note . note . proverb●7 ●7 . v. 1 psal. 108 v. 1. note . proverb 24. v. 31 note . note . isa. 1. v. 5 , note . note . levit. 26. v 81. ier. 28 v. 13. note . note . th● 3 doctrine . note . note . iob. 6. v. 3. note . the vse . note . psal. 73. v. 26. note . note . iob. 3. v. 24. 1 king. 21. v. 29 note . note . note . note . note . note . isa. 57. v. 1 isa 63. v. 4. note . note . numb . ●4 . v. 20 note . the 4 doctrine . august . in ●sal . 74. psal. 37. v. 25. ier. 17. v. 5. v. 6. ier. 17. v. 7. the vse . note . note . proverb . 18. v. 24 the 5 doctrine . note . note . ionah . 1. v. 5 , note . v. 6. note . note . note . note . luk. 15 v. 7. note . iud. 18. v. 7. note . 1 king. ●2 . v. 32 note . gen. 21. v. 16. note . psal 104 v. 21. note . note . psal. 107 v. 27. hosea 5. v. 15. the vse . note . heb. 12 v. 11. note . note . ion. 1. v. 6 , note . iob. 4. v. 21. no●e . note . mat. 2● . v. 2● . obiectiō eccl. 12. v. 5 psal. 16. v. 11. ps. 120. v 5. ps. 137. v. 4. v. 2. rev. 22 , v. 20. ps. 4● . v , 1. v. 2. note . note . isa. 38. v. 14. ps. 102. v. 24 : 2. king. 20. v. 1. note . the vse . iob. 4. v. 19. ps. 31 v. 16. note . isa. 38. v. 15. the doctrine . note . note . note . deut. 22 v. 23. v. 24. v , 25. v , 27. note . iob. 3. v. 27. the vse . note . rom. 7. v. 24. note . gen. 39. v. 9 note . note . iam. 2 v , 19 note . note . note . note . ps. 143. v. 10 the doctrine . note . note note . note . note . the vse . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . the doctrine . note . deut. 4. v. 27. v. 23. v. 9 note note . exod. 33 v. 6. note . note . psal. 34. v. 4. v. 5. v. 6. note . note . note . iudg 10. v. 10 v. 11. v. 12 v. 13. v. 14. v. 15. note . v. 16. iob 7. v. 20. the vse . note . iudg. 10. v. 13. note , note . note . note . note . note . 2. sam. 12. v. 13 v. 14. note . note . note . note . note . levit. 20.1 . act. 5 9.3 . numb . 16. v. 32 note . gen. 19. v. 26. note . note . note . numb . 23. v. 10 iob. v. 17. isa. 3. v. 2. 2. chron. 34. v. 28. note . isa. 57. v. 1. iob. 5 v. 26. note . iohn . 4. v. 35. note . note . prou. 16. v. 3. note . note . 〈◊〉 5. v. 14. note . 2. pet. 2. v. 22. note . note . note . note , note . note . note . note . the 1. doctrine . note . king. 4. v. 33. v. 34. v. 34. v. 35. note . v. 31. note . note . note . note . heb. 4. v. 12. rom. 1. v. 16. note . note . luke . 7. v. 6. v. 7. note . note . psal. 105. v. 18. v. 19. note . gen. 37. v. 7. note . note . note . ezek. 34. v. 2. note v. 4. v. 5. v. 6. note . v. 4. note . note . v. 9. note . the● doctrine . note . gen. 1. v. 3. v. 6. note . note . exod. 13. v. 21 note . note . 2 cor. ● . v. 16. iohn . 18. v. 6. note . iohn . 11. v. 44. note . note . note . numb . 20. v. 8. the doctrine . note . psal. 48. v. 19 note . numb . 2● . v. 11. cor. 10. v. 4. numb . 20.10 . hezek . 37.3 . note . mark. 13. v. 3● mat. 13. v. 20. luk. 17 v. 6. note . act. 5. v. 15 note . act. 16. v. 12. note . the 4 doctrine . note . the 5 doctrine . note . act. 17. v. 11. the 6 doctrine . note . the 7 doctrine . note . note note . note . note . act. 19. v. 15. note . note . note . note . note iob. 33 v. 16. v. 20. v. 21. v. 22. note . v. 23. v. 24. v. 25 note . psal. 50. v. 16. note . 2. chro. 18. v. 19. note . note . note . note . 1. king. 22. v. ●2 . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . sam. 6. v. 7. note . act. 16. v. 6 note . note . the 8 doctrine . note . note . note . note . note . note . iohn . 6. v. 63. the vse . note . note . note . king 22. v. 14. note note . numb . 24. v. 12. v. 13. note , note . note . numb . 24.10 note . note . note . note . note . note . the 9 doctrine . note . note . rom. 10. v. 15. exod. 4. v. 10. note . the vse . note . note . the doctrine . note . note . 1. king. 20. v. 23 note . note . note . note . note . notes . note . mat. 17. v. 21. note . the doctrine . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . the doctrine . the vse . mar. 2. v. 4. note . note . note . note . note . cor. 11. v. 30. note . note . note . 2. tim. 4. v. 3. prou. 27. v. 7. note . note . note . note the doctrine . note . note . note . exod. 7. ● . 12. note . exod. 7. v. 12. note . note . note . note . rom. 1. v. 28. note . 1. thess. ● . v. 10. v. 1● . note . note . 2 king. 1. v. 3. note . note . note . 1 sam. 28. v. 7. v. 20. note . note . 〈…〉 . v. ●● . note . note . note . isa. 38. v. 15. note . note . note . rom. 2. v : 5. note . isa. 38. v. 19 deut. 3. v. 26. luke . ● . v. 29. the doctrine . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . proverb 3● v. 15. ● . 16. the doctrine . note . note . note . note . note . the vse . note . iob 10. v. 20. v. 21. v. 22. note . iob. 7. v. 5. note . iudg. 15 v. 16. note eccles 9 v. 9. eccles. 9 v. 10. note . io● . 7. v 9. v. 10. note . iob. 8. v. 9. note . note . note . ion. 2. v. 2. note . isa. 57. v 2. note . note . note . note . note . note . the vse : note . psal. 42. v. 3. note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . 1. cor. ● 5 v. 55 note . 〈◊〉 . ●8 . v. 3 psal. 49 v. 14. note . h●s . 1● . v. 14. iohn . 11. v. ●1 . note . note . isa. 57 . ● v. 2. note . note . note . r●● . 8. v. 20. amos. 2 v. 13. note . col. 2. v 14. note . isa. 44. v. 21. the doctrine . iohn . 21 v. 7. not● . the doctrine . ●en . 18 v 14. n●● . mark. 10. v , 27 the . vse note . the vse . note . psal. 49. v. 7. n te . psal. 68. v. 20. note . psal. 90 v. 3. psal. 37 v. 2● . v. 25. note . note note . 〈◊〉 10 v. 12. note . note . note . note . note . gen. 5. v. 27. eccl●s . 7 v. 2. eccl. 10 v. 19. n●●e . note . note . psal. 3 v. ● . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . psal. 13● v. 18. note . the doctrine . math. 11. v. 30. note . note . note . psal. 50 v. 8 v. 9. v. 10. v. 11. v. 12. note . v. 14. note . note . sela frō salal to lift vp . vatable the vse . note . note . note . note . gen. 18. v. 17. isa. 48. v. 9. note . numb . 4. v. 13. note . the vse . note . 2 king. 5. v : 13 note . note . note . note . note . note . note . the doctrine . note . note . luke . 17 v. 13. v. 17. note . gen. 40 v. 23. note . the vse . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . act. 5. v. 2. th● 2 vse . note . note . note . note . note . psal. 78. v. 36. note . math. 12 v. 45. note . prov. 23 v. 26. note . psal. 57 v. 8. note . isa. 29. v. 13. note . note . note . note . note . note . n●te . note . note . note . note . psal. 118. v. 19. note . note . note . luk. 15. v. 18 note . note . mat 2● . v. 27. note note . 2 king. 5 v. ●8 . note . 1 king. ● v. ●● note . note . note . ier. 17. v. 14. the doctrine . note . note . the vse . note . note . gen. 4. v. 9. note . note . note . note . note . note . mat. 18. v. 7. note . note . the doctrine . note . note . 1. pet. 2 v. 22. note . luck . 11 : v 24. note . note . note . gen 4● v. ● . the vse . note . note . note . note . isa. 64. v. 6. the doctrine . the 1 vse . note . note . the 2 vse . note . note . rom. 2. v. 4. note . 1 sam 24. v 19. note . note . rom. 12. v. 20. note . the vse . note . note . psal. 139 v. 14 psal. 118 v. 23. the doctrine . note . note . note . note . psal. 19. v. 5. note . note . note . iob. 38. v. 6. note . note . note . note . note . note . note . note . isa. 9. v. 6. note . isa 53. v. 5. note . ephes. 3. v , 10. luke● . v. 14. note . psal. 41. v. 3.