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PERFECT W 4 Y ^ I 
 
 . T.O S 
 
 D I E in PEACE,! 
 
 .'■i* 
 
 OR, j 
 
 A Trcatife of D e a t h. 
 
 Divided into two Parts. 
 
 Shewing how certain and unavoidable it is to 
 all, how uncertain the hour thereof to any: Together 
 with the fearful condition of the wicked > and happy 
 eftate of the righteous in Death. 
 
 Also 
 
 Declaring the right way of preparation for 
 
 Death, and.whereiu this duty confilis. How neceflfary 
 it is to all,and advantagious to fuch as rightly perform it* 
 
 Illuftrated by prafticall Applications,* holy Meditations j 
 
 and derout Prayers. 
 
 Ufefull at all times, efpecially thefe daies of com- 
 _mon danger. 
 
 By Edward Burqhall, Minifier of the 
 Gofpelat Adon near Namptwich in Chefhire. 
 
 He (hall enter into Veacej I fa. 5 7. 2. 
 
 L OM D O 
 
 rdnud for Brands Eglesfieli at the Marj/goU in St. P 4 «/*s | 
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To the very much Honoured, Vertu- 
 ous, and Religious, the LADY 
 
 ELIZABETH WILBRAHAM. 
 WIF E to 
 
 S' THO. WILBRAHAM 
 
 oiWoodhey Baronet* 
 
 The increafe of all faving graces 
 here, and the fruition ofeternall 
 happinefs hereafter. 
 
 Dear Madam* 
 
 Uefe Meditations of Deaths 
 which now offer them/elves to 
 your Ladishtps view * were 
 pen'd at firfl for my own pri-^ 
 vate ufe , and the ufe of my Vamlj^ upon 
 the approach of our late great troubles , 
 when the /word was drawn among uS) and 
 L did fear full execution upon us, 
 
 I had then my full share of forrows and 
 fufferings ywhen I durjl neither lodge in my 
 own bed , nor fit at my own board i when 
 my goods were expofid to plunder t and my 
 
 \nd lif^ danger, e- 
 
 Liberty a 
 very day 
 
 I 
 
The Epiftle 
 
 / thoughts it was high time then^ to 
 make my peace with God , feeing there was 
 fo little hope of peace with men. I thought , 
 it mainly concern d me toprep'arefor abet^ 
 ter life i feemg this grew worfe andworfe ’ 
 ev ery day> and I knew not how foon (bad as 
 it was) It might be fnatchsd away from me. 
 
 Having tlierefore fet pen to paper to 
 compofe this Treatife, to the end I might be , 
 armed againfl the laft enemy^ Death, which ' 
 (otherwife) I knew would come arm'd a* 
 gainU me^ I review'd it, readit over ando- ^ 
 ver , to my felf, and thofe of my Family, and 
 found much benefit m fo doing. The danger of 
 the Times , my own Perfonall infirmities , 
 afflictions and temptations: together with 
 the frequent fpectacles of mortality, and 
 noyfe of much bloud-shed up and down the 
 Land > put me upon this taskj and 1 hope I 
 shaU never repent the hours I fpent in it. 
 
 Gods decree is long fince pajfed upon us, 
 that we muflall die ^ and as death leaves 
 Hs,fo the judgement will find us. At all^^ 
 times therefore we ought to remember death, 
 and prepare for it, but efpeciaUy in times of 
 common danger , fuch as of late years have 
 befallen us. IVhen thy judgements are in the^' 
 ifa. i8. 9-earth (faith the Prophet) the Inhabitants 
 of the world shaU learn righteoufnejfe. And 
 
 - how 
 
Dedicatory. 
 
 hgy; ^tid mighty judgements have 
 ^ been upon us, in aU three J^Atious, by [word, 
 feftilence, famine,And many other wales ( u 
 ^ fay nothing of fpirituaJl judgements , which 
 ' are worft of all ) I know your Ladiship doth 
 ferioujly confider, and fadly refent. 
 
 And other Nations are now drinking of 
 the fame cup , that we have taHed of: for 
 God is shaking the very Pillars of the earth, 
 and making way for his ftrange work 
 . judgement every where i fo that we may 
 truly fay oftheje times, as was faid of thofe 
 f ( 1 Ghron.i 5. 5> 6 ,) There was no peace 
 to him that went out, nor to him that 
 came inj but great vexations were upon 
 all the Inhabitants of the Countreys. 
 And Nation was deftroyed of Nation , 
 and city of city: for God did vex them 
 with all adverlity. 1st not time then to 
 hnmble our felves under the mighty hand of 
 God, and make our peace with him I The 
 lion hath roared, who will not fear? the 
 Lord hath ipoken,who can but prophe- 
 fie?Amos $.8. 
 
 Sad thoughts of death are therefore fuita* 
 hie to thefe fad dates and times, in which we - 
 live. 
 
 It is reported of two Emferours , Adri¬ 
 an, and Charles the fift, that in their life* 
 
 3 timct 
 
TheEjpiftlc 
 
 time, they caufed their coffins to be carfied . 
 before them ^and their Exequies to be folemn- 
 h celebrated, for this end ( 14/e may charita¬ 
 bly cohjebiure)that they might be put m 
 mind of their mortality by that doleful de» 
 monflration. 
 
 The like is faidofthat great Saladine, 
 Conquerourof aUhfi^ andagreat part of 
 the earth, that he caufed a Shirt to be fixed 
 to the top of an elevated fpear , and Procla* 
 motion to he made to 'all his Army , That of 
 all his royall victories, he mufi carry nothing, 
 but that to his grave. 
 
 •Tis time wellfpent,to fequefter our ft Ives 
 for fitch ferious meditations; and atlpofsi^ 
 ble care and diligence is little enough to 
 fence our felves againft the king of fear es, 
 when he shall invade us with all his troops. 
 
 I have hinted to your Ladiship the occafion 
 gf this Treati fe 5 but little did I thinly to 
 have expos'd it to the publick viewand cen- 
 fure of this curious and criticall age, k now<- 
 ing my own wants and weaknejfes to be fit 
 many and great : hut the counfell and per* 
 fwafion of feme fpectall friends, who have 
 feen and perus'd it, and profefs*d to receive 
 feme benefit by it ( among whom your Lady* 
 ship is one of the chiefeft ) and the imp mu* 
 mte defires of feme of mynearefi relations, 
 
Dedicatory. 
 
 have fi far prevaitd with me, as to field it 
 might be printed^ 
 
 Mj comfort is this, that as at the fir ft ik 
 penning, fo now tn printing it, my end and 
 aim was and is , to help my felf and others 
 (if any should perufe it ) in that great worf^ 
 of preparation for death, then which no-> 
 thing if or can be more necejfary, 
 
 Befides, the hand of God having been 
 lately out among us, in a more then ordina^ 
 ry manner, as by other judgements, fo by ma* 
 ny deadly diftempers, and fore EpidemicaH 
 difeafes up and down the land, whereby 
 many have been brought to the grave^ arid 
 that in a ftrange and fudden manner { And 
 who knows how foon worfer things may 
 yet befall us I) This fmall mite of mine will 
 (I hope ) be call in feafonably enough, as a 
 warning-piece for preparation: and Solomon 
 faith , A word fpoken in feafon is like 
 apples of gold in pidiures of filver. 
 
 Accept therefore, good Madam, this fmall 
 teliimony of my humble refpells and thank- 
 fulnejfeto your ladiship: caft a favourable 
 and propitious eye upon it: weigh not fo 
 much the gift as the mind and good mean- 
 ing of the giver ^ And, if in reading this Book 
 ' you shall meet with any thing that may help 
 yotiforwar d tn thewaies of God, may ftirre 
 
 * 4 up 
 
The Epiftlc 
 
 i^p any good defires and affedionsymay quich 
 in any fp ark of devotion may^helpyou to m* 
 prove any of Gods Ordinances anddtfpenfa- 
 iionSi to the end you may live ho lily here, and 
 die happily hereafter t remember him in 
 your prayers, who is refolved never to forget 
 you nor yours m his , but to be an humble 
 fuppliant at the throne of Grace continually, 
 that as the Lord hath made you very eminent 
 in parts and place, and hath enriched you, 
 not only with a large meafure of earthly blef 
 ftngs, butalfo ( which is far better ) with 
 many excellent gifts and graces of bis holy 
 fpirit ; foyou may faithfully improve them, 
 to the advancement of his glory, the good of 
 others, efpeciaUy the poor and needy mem* 
 hers of the Lord lefus Chrifi C for a fpeciall 
 charge is given from him , to thofe that are 
 rich in this world, to relieve fuch, i Tim. 
 
 17> 18:, 19. ) and the eternall happineffe of 
 your own foul, when all earthly convorts 
 shall leave and for fake you» 
 
 Madam, The Lord blefie you in all your 
 'Relations, imployments, and actions. The 
 Jhord firengthen and flablish you in his 
 truth and fear, in thefe dayes of defection 
 and apofiafie^ The Lord comfort you in all 
 inward forrowes , and outward fufer* 
 tngu The Lord confirm you more and 
 
 mrey 
 
Dedicatory. 
 
 wore in the kingdom e of Grace herej and 
 bring you to the' k'mgdome of Glory hereaf¬ 
 ter: fp prays 
 
 A don !♦ 
 
 An. i^f8. 
 
 Your Ladifhips humble fctvanfc 
 and fuppliant at the Throne 
 of Grace> 
 
 Edw. Burghall. 
 
(gis) ^ 
 
 To theGiriftiaa 
 
 READER, 
 
 more efpecully to thofe of my 
 Char^Cithe Inhahitants of the Parish ef A- | 
 
 don in the County Palatine a/Gheftcr,. 
 
 Grace and Peace^. 
 
 T is ufuall with thofe that expofc thci^ 
 labours o the publick view of ot crs^to 
 make their Apologies for fat sfpftion to i 
 fuch , asotherwife might take offence, j 
 wherefhappily ) noneis juftly given. I I 
 hope therefore it will not difpleafe thee (gentle Rea- I 
 det )if I take t!'.at liberty that others arc wont to doc 
 upon like occafion. 
 
 Know therefore, that thefe meditadons of mine 
 were penned many ye^'rs .igo,for hny o vn private ufe, 
 upon the fad and ferious forefight of the mifericsthat 
 were coming upon us in our late bloudy wars. For, 
 as ufually there are apparent figns and prognofticks 
 ofa pelting ftorm,before it fall upon us, whereby we 
 are warned to take fhelter in timej fo, no wife-heart¬ 
 ed ChtiOian could ( 1 think) be ignorant of the fad 
 prefagesthat God held forth in the difpenfation of 
 his wife and righteous providence, before the fword 4 
 Pro. was drawn amongft us j fo that the prudent man 
 ^2’ 5* might fee the evil,and hide himfcif. 
 
 This Treatife then was penn'd at firft, as a fence a- 
 gainft the fear of death , and as a means and motive 
 to prepare for it ,* the times calling continually up- ' 
 on us, for more then ordinary care, in that great and 
 weighty bufineffe. 
 
 I 
 
 And 
 
To the READER. 
 
 And thatwhichat firft was intended only for pri' 
 yate ufe, is now made publick by the importunity 
 fomeChriftian friends i who having feen and read 
 thefe meditations of Death, and received fome good 
 from them ( as thcmfclves profeiTed ) have fo farre 
 prevailed with mej as now at laft to print them. 
 
 I know there are far more excellent Treatifcs 
 penn’d upon the fame fubjeft, now extant j but we 
 are Wont to fay, Store is no fore, and The more the 
 better of any good thing. 
 
 Be fides, here may ( happily ) be found fomething, 
 that thou haft not met within other Books. And, 
 admit the matter Ihould the fame, yet I conceive 
 the method is not, being yet (I hope ) fuitablcc- 
 noughtoa difeourfeof this nature, wherein upon 
 every particular, handled in each chapter, there are 
 pra^ticall applications, whereby things are (fo fai as 
 may t>e ) brought home to the neaft,that were no io- 
 nall in the head, and a fhort prayer added to the 
 end of each chapter, according to the contents of it, 
 that God would give his blcfting to every thing deli- 
 yered. 
 
 And moreover, inthisfmall Treatife are briefly 
 handled many points of Chriftian Religion, as name¬ 
 ly, the foul nature of fin and the fcarfull eftetfs of it, 
 the feverity of Gods judgements both here and here¬ 
 after upon the wicked, the riches of his grace and 
 goodnefte upon his children, the efficacy and all-fufi 
 ficiency of Chrifts merits, the way and means how 
 We may apply them, the nature and neceftity of 
 faith, repentance, prayer, patience ; the mortifica* 
 ticnoffin, the right ufe ofaffliftions, the Panoply of 
 a Chriftian, C^c. 
 
 To fay nothing of that which properly falls in 
 with the fubjeft here handled, vi;^. the vanity, bre¬ 
 vity, and inftability of mans life, With the many mi- 
 feries incident unto it} the certainty ofdeath to alU 
 
 the 
 
To the reader, 
 
 the uncertainty of the time of it to.any j the tpofull 
 conilition of the wicked, and the happy eftate of the 
 lighteous in and after death. 
 
 Now the manner of handling thefe things is plain 
 and homely, which I hope (good Reader) thou wilt 
 not be offended with,if rhou eitherconfidet the mat¬ 
 ter here treated of» which is Death j and therefore 
 more fuitably fet forth in fad and fable colours, then 
 thofe that are more frefh and flounfhingi or the 
 mcanneffc of his perfonand parts, whoprefents thee 
 £35 with this poor piece. We read of one of the kings 
 iLIi- ofPeryi^, who, when a poor pcafant j knowing the 
 aao. cuRome of that cou ntry,that none rnuft come empty* 
 handed before the king, having nothing clfe to give 
 him, took ody a little water in the hollow of his 
 hands, and prefented it in duty and obedience to 
 him i thefaid king took it in good parr, and amply 
 newarded him; and no marva Ij for the King of 
 kings himfelf, at the rearing of the Tabcrnaclei re¬ 
 quited a ftee-will offcring of meaner things from 
 meaner petfons. Thofe that had not liiver, nor gold, 
 preciousftones,blew purple, fcarlet, fiJk, fineJin- 
 ncn, nor the like, muft offer fuch things as they had, 
 as Goarts-hair, Rams and Badgers skins, whicn were 
 j€or* equally accepted, PAod 25.3,4,5. 
 
 4 7. Had I better abiiiiics, I would gladly impart 
 them. Let not therefore weaker parts be defpifed of 
 thofe that have ftrongerdor who made thee to diffeil 
 
 And withal! know, that God is wont to perfed his 
 flrengthin weakneffe, and his power in fceblcncfTc j 
 and by contemptible means to beftow unvaluable 
 mercies upon his people. 
 
 To you therefore , my dear friends, the Inhabi¬ 
 tants of ^cifo»(where God hath caufed my lot to fall, 
 in the work of the miniftry ) let me addreffc my fclf 
 in a more cfpcciall manner. 
 
 M.y carneft dtfire , and hearty prayer to God for 
 
To the READER, 
 you is, that you may be faved ; and ail my pppr 
 pains in private and in publick)! dtfire may ever tend 
 to this happy and bicffcd end. 
 
 When I read that terrible place in chap. g. 
 vcr. 17, 1 8, I 9 . Son of wan , 1 have made thee a xoatch- 
 man to theboafe of Ifrael^ c^c. ir makes my flcfhto 
 trembJcjlcft the bloud of any ofyour fouls Ihould be 
 required at my bunds,lor not warning you in time. 
 
 Let me therefore humbly befeecb you,in the bow¬ 
 els of Ghrift lefus, to makefure work concerning 
 your precious and immorcall fouls. One thing is necef Luk. 
 pyjy : Oh neglect not that. 10. 
 
 Know forceitjin , that the world is vanity, and'^-* 
 will deceive you if you put confidence in it. You 
 havefeen many changes and alterations bo'h in 5tatc 
 and Church, within the compafie ofa few yeatsj and 
 •who knows how foon you may fee rhoreand greater. 
 
 Therefore mind not thefe things that are fofalfe, 
 fading, and dcceitfullj but labour after ihofc that arc 
 more fure, certain, and fatisfadory. 
 
 Get therefore a furc intert ft in him who is the rock 
 of ages, that abides from generation to generation » 
 with whom is no variablenefle nor fhadow of turn¬ 
 ing, Jtfw. I. 17. And to th’S end fcrioufly confidcr at 
 what a diftance your fins have fet you from him, 
 
 j/tf. 59. I. 
 
 Be {^nfiblc therefore of and forrowfull for the vile- 
 nefle of that contagion of nature which hath invaded 
 all the powers of fob), .and pairs ofbodyj as alfothe 
 fbulncfle o|thore-adua!l tranfgreilions of your lives, 
 which, like f^thy ftreams, haveiftued from that pol¬ 
 luted fountain. And withall reinember that free ten¬ 
 der of Grace that is made in the Golpcl to the vileft 
 linners, if they will accept of Chrift upon the terrnes 
 that he is offered to be their vSaviour. Cod jo loved the 
 tporld) that he gave hts only-htgotten Son , to the end , 3 
 that whofoever belieyeth in him jhoitld not perish) but have 
 evetlafiinglife. Oh, 
 
To the reader. 
 
 Oh, clofe with this gracious promifc, huggc it ia 
 your bofoms, lodge it in youi; breafts, make it your 
 own by a particular application. Many rhoufands 
 undo thcmfclves by rcftiag in generalls. Take heed 
 therefore) you be not fo deceived. 
 
 Andifyou do believe in Chrifl, ftiew it hy the 
 fruits of holinefle through the w’xole courfc of youi 
 2, lives* Know,that faith without works is a dead faith> 
 i8. and a Devils faith, that may further your condemna- 
 Ro. tion, but can ( no waies) advance your ctcrnall fal- 
 i*i6. vatipn. 
 
 To this end makeconfcience of beating the word 
 preached,which is the power of God to falvation. 
 
 It is a great fin in many (among you)to turn your 
 hacks on this facred Ordinance,as alfo to ncglcft that 
 ot' Cl of catechizing, the want of which caufeth pal¬ 
 pable ignorance and notorious profanenefTe. 
 
 Oh, repent ofthisgteat fin,and fpeedily reform it? 
 
 There arc others alfo, who( I fcarjwholly negleft 
 prayer in their families, and fo bring thcmfel ves un¬ 
 der that curfcjler. < o.z$.Toure out thy fury upon the hea¬ 
 then that know thee not-, and upon the families that call not 
 on thy IsLame. And how many are there alfo that arc 
 groffely guilty in neglefting, if not contemning, the 
 .holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper, which he hath 
 commanded to be often received for thecommemo- 
 ration of his Death, and the confirmation of our 
 faith in it? Oh, that thefe would alfo be fenfiblc of 
 this great fin, and amend it*' 
 
 A nd as for you who have received the truth in the 
 love of it, and do walk in the light and comfort of it, 
 in a holy and blamelefs life & converfation, careful¬ 
 ly attending upon all Gods holy Ordinances in pub- 
 lick and privatej what can I fay more then only this > 
 ler good old \vay without halting or turn- 
 
 (5. i6. turningback^ and you fball find 
 
 reft to your fouls. 
 
 And 
 
To the READER. 
 
 And as for me , my prayer ftiall be for you, that 
 the Lord would ftrengthen and ftablifti you more and 
 more,that the Lord would continue you in your holy 
 profeflioD,& make you more ftuitfull in well doing; 
 that the Lord would keep you from errours and 
 fchifmsyon the one hand(the lad effeds of which you 
 have viCbly feen in fome that have unjuftly feparated 
 from us,and have taken three degrees(at Iead)in the 
 fchocl offcparation)and from loofnefs and profane- 
 nefs of life on the other hand > which will prove no 
 lefs huttfull and dangerous. 
 
 It is for your fakes efpecially that this Treatifeof 
 Death comes forth to thepublick view. If it may 
 therefore ( any way)increarc knowledge in your 
 minds,and grace in yourhearts;ifit may help you to 
 lead a holy life, & prepare you to die a happy death 
 (for which it is chiefly intendedji have my defire,end 
 and aim^ & therefore^all notceafe to pray for you 
 and your neighbours on each hand, efpecially the In¬ 
 habitants oiBunhury^Wnnhuiy,^ami^twich,tx. Hajling-’ 
 
 Un y endeated to me in many refpeds; that the Lord 
 would give his bleffing to thefe Meditations and all 
 other good meansy both publick and private, for the 
 begetting and cncreafing of grace'/ here, 5 c the obtain- 
 ing of glory hereafter ; that in the day of the Lord I Phil, 
 may re|oyce,tbat I have not laboured in vain,nor run < 
 
 in vain , and that after my dcceafe you may havc^^“* 
 thefe things ftill in remembrance. *** 
 
 Now to this end the God of peace fanftifie you 
 whollyjand I pray God your whole fpiritjSc foul,and 
 body be preferved blamclefs unto the coming of our 
 Lord lefus Chiifl, which is & (hall be the prayer of 
 
 Yqhy faithfuR friend and Seryattt in the things 
 that mcem your fouls reel fare, 
 
 Eoy. Burchall. 
 
The contents oftheChapters. Parti. 
 
 Chap, i- ^oe Introd’^Bion to the ^reattfe t shewing the endatii 
 fcope of tty VIZ. to he altpaies prepared for death, and how dan- 
 Heron’S It is to negle^l it * * • 
 
 Chap. 2.. Of fame na/n?.s given to deathywith the redfon of them 5. 
 Chap, What deal) island the canfe of it ib. 
 
 Chap. 4. Of the kmds of death 15, 
 
 Chap. V Of the kinds of bodily death iS, 
 
 C ha p. 6 Th^t death befals i*s ihnarhsrable waies, and of the cer^ 
 taintie of it iz; 
 
 Chap. 7. of the shortmjf: of m ins life,and the uncertainty of the 
 day of death j r. 
 
 Ch'p. 8. That death mikes a difference y and full feparationbe^ 
 tween the godly and the toicked 
 
 Chap.9.0/ the mof} tP'^full ^ lamentable death of the wicked 4(j. 
 Chap. I o. of the mojl happy , comfortable, and bleffed death of 
 the rtgIneoHS - 5 7, 
 
 , The fecond Part. 
 
 Chap. I. Shexing ingeneratl what preparation for death is, and 
 who they are that can rightly prepa re for it 75. 
 
 Chap. a. The kinde oj preparation for death, viz. the one general, 
 required of all men in their h ealth andJlrength , and rohereinit 
 confijlsithe oth^r more fpecial,refpe^mg the time officknefs S r. 
 Chap. 5. The necefsitie of faith in chftdfor out reconcil'ation with 
 GodyilJ?* fo confequently for ouJcright'>reparation for death 90. 
 Chap. 4. The Fanoplie, or rvhol? armour of a chri/lian , whereby 
 we mud he armed again /2 death 
 
 Chap. >. How ws may further arm nurfehes again/l death by me¬ 
 ditation, I. Of the commmn fs of it, z. The evils it wiU free us 
 from, The good it will pofsefs us of I 04 * 
 
 C ha p. 6 . shewing how we may be armedaga'injl death by pra- 
 Hic*t oj divers Chri/lian duties r 15 . 
 
 ChaD.7.0/' the fecon I praHicaH duty to prepiration, viz the mar- 
 tifying oj our affflions to the world I20, 
 
 Cha p. 8 of the often meditation of death,(P' the getting affuranct 
 of our falvation’, which are fp cial helps in our preparation ii 
 Tl,.\.^>Of three ot ^er praSlicxl helps to out prep aratio for death,viz. 
 at a right ufe ofafjiiHions. tfetting our houfein order 5 prater 129. 
 Chap. 10. of fpectall Preparation for death , when God layes a 
 m.i.n upon his fic\ bed 142, 
 
I 
 
 THE 
 
 P.ERFECT WAY, 
 
 T O 
 
 DYE in PEACE. 
 
 O R 
 
 A treatife of Death. 
 
 ^ The firft part. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 v 
 
 That ffreparation to death is nec^ffarj for all men ,* 
 the benefit thereof great , the danger of the negUB 
 thereof deadly. 
 
 ]► 
 
 Orafmuch as nothing is more Hcb. 9.1- 
 certaine j then death? and no- ^ 
 thing more uncertaine then 
 the hour of it, it ought to be 
 the care of every Chriftian ^ through Tota vita 
 the whole courfeof his life, to prep are 
 himfeif for the end of it, I mean 
 diiTolution. * piato. 
 
 The Scripture every where exhorts 
 us to this duty,* to watch, to prepare, to Mark u. 
 be alwayes in rcadinefs for our depar-- 
 ture hcnce. The Lord himfeif cryes 
 
 A out 
 
 
Deui.32L. 
 
 lob 
 
 Gen.49* 
 
 I 8. 
 
 2 Tim. 4. 
 7.8. 
 
 Phil. 1.23. 
 
 Death', as 
 £he laft, fo 
 a thing of 
 the great- 
 eft con¬ 
 cernment. 
 Eternall 
 liappinefs, 
 or cver- 
 laftingmi- 
 fery de- 
 pendVup- 
 on death. 
 
 The Perfect l»ay Chap.I. 
 
 out in a patheticall manner. Oh that my 
 people were wife! that they would confider 
 their latter end. And the pratftife of the 
 Saints (hould teach us this lelTon : lob 
 faith, Jill the dayes of mine appointed time 
 will I wait fill , till my changing shall come. 
 And lacob Lord, I have waited for thy 
 falvatton > and S*. Paul tcITs us 5 that he 
 had fought a good fight, that he had finished 
 his courfe , that he had kept the faith i and 
 that from thenceforth there was laid up for 
 him the crown ofrighteoufnefs. Nay he had 
 fo prepared} that he longed after death, 
 hence his vehement expreflion. Cupio 
 dtjfolviy &c. 1 defire to be difrolved,and 
 to be with Chrift which is beftofall. 
 
 Therefore(I fay)it fhould be the care 
 of every Chriftian, ferioufly to prepare 
 for death, we know, that bufinelfes of a 
 high nature , and great confequence 
 cannot ordinarily be done extempore^ 
 and with little adoe. No,* there mufi: 
 great care be hadjptovifion and prepa¬ 
 ration bemadfe afore-hand ,now death 
 as it is ultima rerum linea , the laft thing 
 that befall’s us in this world: fo it is Pes 
 maximi momenti , a thing of the greateft 
 concerment} inafmuch as eternailhap- 
 pinefs, or everlafting mifery depend’s 
 
 upon 
 
 ' 1 , 
 
 
Part. I. to Die in Peace, 3 
 
 upon our well, or ill dyings for as the 
 tree falfs? fo it lies 1 as death leaves us? 
 fothc Judgment find's us. If we die in 
 the faith and fear of God >wearepre- 
 fently received into Ahaham^s bofome> Luke ic, 
 and reft in peace in the kingdome of 
 our heavenly Father. And this befalFs 
 us immediatly after the firft ^and parti¬ 
 cular judgment , when the foul of every 
 man appeares prefently , aflbone as it 
 leaves the body before the tribunall 
 feat of Ghrift , to receive either the fen- 
 tence of abfolution, Euge,hneferve, well Mat. 25.' 
 done good and faithfull fervant> enter 
 into thy Mafters joyj or the fentence of 
 maledi&ion. Serve male ^ ignavCi^c, 
 
 Thou evil, and flothfull fcrvant > &c. 
 
 Take him,bind him hand and footjand Death bc- 
 caft him into utter darknelsj there fhall 
 be weeping, and gnafhing of teeth be- therefore* 
 fides> though death be a matter ofthe 
 greateft confequence yet ( we know) it Siewdi!^ 
 befalfs us but once; and therefore inbeiiomn 
 there be an errour committed then j it 
 can never be amended afterward. In^oUcon. 
 earthy matters it many times fo fall’s 
 out, that one a(ft:ion makes or mart’s all. Hk mim 
 And therefore if we have time and liber- 
 ly to amend an overfight, we think we femfl 
 
 A t are 
 
4 The PerfeB Chap.l 
 
 are well > and afually former overfights 
 make us more heedfall for after times. 
 Death ad- But death will neither admit of delayes, 
 
 delayes x\ox otNofi parati fumm. We are 
 
 notcxcu- notyet ready. It Ifrik’s iliddenly , and 
 irrevocably > and when it hath once 
 We areei- (Irucken, all is done with us. We are ei- 
 nahy^Mef- eternally blefl'ed in the firft mo- 
 fed, or ac- ment alter death, or eternally accurfed. 
 
 There is no pofiibility ofgettingche 
 inoment Patent ofoLir life new dated, though we 
 after death could give I oooo worlds for it. And 
 thereis no time of repentance inano- 
 zCor. 6.7. ther world. Now is the acceptable time, 
 now'is the day of falvation. Whatfoever 
 thy hand doth, do it quickly; for there 
 Eccl.9.10. is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, 
 nor wifdome in the grave whither thou 
 Apphea^ goefl. Oh then how mad are moft of 
 the Tons of men, that forecafi:, and pre¬ 
 pare aforehand for the commodities 
 and matters of this life,and for the right 
 
 Maos tol- r ^ ^ r rr ^ "• 
 
 ly in pro managing of their bulinelies here in 
 viding for this World , which is but for a moment >* 
 negied" but Utterly lay afidethe careofprepa- 
 ration for death Mfhappily through in* 
 cogicancy, and want of care , we run in* 
 to ibme danger, or loole Ibme great be¬ 
 nefit : ho'vV do we take on, and are ready 
 
 to 
 
 ing hea 
 ven. 
 
5 
 
 Part.I. to Die in Peace, 
 
 to bite our fingers by way of revenge 
 upon our felvesr But to loofe heaven, 
 and thruft our felves down into helJ^ 
 by our carnal fecurity in this world,and 
 neglect of a timely preparation for 
 death,doth now very little move us,but 
 hereafter (withoutGods great mercy) 
 we fhill too late fee& bewaile our own 
 madnefs, and wifh, that in time we had 
 ferioufly be thought us ofthefe things. 
 
 I Oh then (my foul) take ir^ed in time. Applica- 
 ! Now there is a price in thy hand. Now 
 ; there is time and fpace of repentance. 
 Nowthou hafl: oportunity , and means 2 cor.6 7 
 offered to prepare, and fit thy felffor a 
 happy diffolution. Negled it not, de¬ 
 lay it not, leafi: hereafter it be to late. ' 
 Happy is that man, that now fo lives, 
 that he needs not be afraid to die. Hap¬ 
 py is he, that every day bethinks him 
 of his laft prepares againlt the word:, 
 
 that can then befall him. 
 
 0 Lord my God , fandifie unto me the prayer, 
 mediitmon of my mortality. Prepare me 
 for death: ti/henfoever , wherefoever 3 or 
 howfoever h shall befall me , and give me 
 grace fo to live , that I may rather defm 
 then fear to die. All the time, I have in this 
 
 A 5 worldi 
 
6 The PerfeSthfay, Chap.II. 
 
 worlds is little enough for this great task^of 
 preparing to remove hence ^ let the remem* 
 brance of my lafl end be ever in mj mindi 
 lob 14.14. that with Job, I may wait all the dayes 
 of my appointed time , till my chang¬ 
 ing (hall come. And when that day and 
 hour shall draw near : draw thou near in 
 great mercy to my poore foul. Save me from 
 the paw of Satan, and power of Hell; And 
 let not the inf email pit shut her mouth up¬ 
 on me, Arme me with the shield of faith, 
 the helmet of hope , and the buckler of pa¬ 
 tience, that no adverfe power may prevaile 
 againft me : But grant (good Lord) that 
 trough the ftrait gate of death , I may 
 pajfe into the land of ever la fling life,through 
 lefm ChriH , &e. Amen. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 of fame names given to death with the reafon of them. 
 
 The Me- ^Eing that preparation for death is 
 pounded, fo neccffary , let us confider what 
 andprofe- death is , the nature, kinds and 
 thh^flrft caufes^the effe^s and confcquence of 
 pait. it,with other adjundls , and circum- 
 ftances , which may fit us with matter 
 of meditation j fit for our purpofe. 
 
 To 
 
Part.I. /o Diem Peachy ' 7 
 
 To begin then, with the mmes that some 
 are given to it,becaufe thefe fome 
 light to the thing it felf. D&^th in death. 
 Latine hath it’s name ( as fome give 
 the Etymology') from biting, becaa(e it 
 not onely bites., but fwalioWs up and 
 devoures all the Tons of men. There¬ 
 fore the grave is faid to be one ofthofe 
 four things, that are never fatisfied. Pro.30.1tf. 
 
 Others will have Uors [ Death ] to 
 come of Mora which iignifies delay, ^ .^od o~ 
 or tarrying,but it expeds & waites for 
 all men , and women , that lometimes 
 or other it may attach them. And fo, simile 
 death is like a Sergeant,or Officer,that Deathlike 
 having a Capias Corpus to apprehend a 
 man , waites all oportupities for that 
 purpofe, & never ceafeth dogging and 
 purfuing him , till at laft he lay hands 
 upon him , and carry him away with¬ 
 out mercy to the Goal or prifon. And 
 fo , there is another name ufed among 
 humane Authours , which by a hgu- Parex A 
 rative fpeech among them, notes unto p^rcenUo 
 us Its impartiality : for death ipares rneparcanu 
 noman, no not the greateft orproudeft 
 of the fons ofmen. Trueis thatprover-^^'*^"**^”' 
 bial fpeech, 
 
 Serim ant citm, dec. 
 
 A 4 
 
 Sooner 
 

 S T!he Per feci ^Ay Chap.II. 
 
 Sooner or later goe wemuft 
 - - , Vnto our Den below the du§i, 
 it is called Tfac ume rcaion may be given of o- 
 tber appellations in other Languages. 
 
 ! What man is he that liveth ( faith 
 difinbiio, David)m 6 . fhall not fee death?and fhall 
 Tifjfefit he deliver his foul from the hand of the 
 dijiribfita. gravc? P/^/. 85). 48. And the Authour 
 
 brew.^the Hebrews, It is appointed unto all 
 
 gravels men once to die , and after death comes the 
 
 So then thefe names, or titles given 
 to death (to let paffe others)may teach 
 us to Arme our felvesj and prepare for 
 it. Death is acruellbeaft, a greedy 
 Monfter > which though it have been 
 feeding upon- mans flefh ever fince the 
 firfi: man lived on the earth , yet it is 
 notfatisfied, but is as hungry now as e- 
 'pxsw'/w- ver. It^s thin checks can never be fatisfi- 
 ItT/c ^dif greedy belly can never be filled. 
 
 Jolutio, KOI- Therefore(O my foul) fince death 
 muft bite this flefh of thine j and fince 
 ma-teSec. it’s biting is deadly^ take heed, that it 
 todcath hhe not thee alfo. Happy is thitman, 
 tnanother that is onely bitten in his body,but not 
 eonfidera inbig.fbul. That biting is but a flea- 
 
 tion^ ^ 1 • ' 
 
 namely as biting 
 
 it is fweetned to the godly by the death of Chrift, and Co become 
 an entrance to everlafting happinefle, death a cruel monfter. 
 ^nd iteverfatisfied. Application. 
 
 pofiiilavft 
 becaufe 
 it ftill 
 craves. 
 Other 
 names as 
 
 ‘&WKatT0^, 
 quafl rtyot 
 eis 
 
9 
 
 Part.I. to Dietn Peace, 
 
 bitiflg in comparifon of the other. 
 
 Death is a ferpent that hath a cruel 
 ftingjwhich to the godly is either quite 
 taken out,or at leaf! fo dull’d chat it 
 cannot hurt them. Therefore they may 
 cry out in a holy Triumph with the A*- 
 poftle 3 O death where is thy fling ? O HeU j 
 where is thy vidlory? But lo the wicked the s?. 
 ftingremains,and is more,and more en- 
 venomedjthat it not onely kilFs the bo- rcmainsto 
 dy,but the foulalfo. Therefore (many 
 times)they howl upon their death-beds* 
 
 & are tormented not onely in body,but 
 in foul alfo ; their confciences begin¬ 
 ning now to feel the fling of death, 
 their fins inwardly gauling, and per¬ 
 plexing them, which in their life time, 
 they made the matter of their chiefde- 
 light. Or if it be otherwife jthat they ifthefting 
 feel not the fling, or feel it not info 
 
 ^ . , r • felt. It IS 
 
 grievous a manner: it is not , becauleit becaufe 
 is leffe dangerQUS or deadly, but be- thecon- 
 caufe their confcieiices are benumm'd, benum’d. 
 ora fleep. There is a kind of Serpent, 
 whofe fling rather tickleth & delights, 
 then any way torments for the prefenr, 
 butit kill's in the ead, death is like this 
 Serpent to foine kind of finners. It 
 flrikes men deadly,and yet they feehao 
 
lo The FerfeB^VfiAy Chap.III. ] 
 
 danger. It fends them down to Hell, u 
 
 Pra7cr. 
 
 teeth of this Monfler , and the of this ' 
 
 Serpent. If tt mufi needs fling me {as needs 
 itmufl)iet It onelj fling my body, but let my 
 foul efcape it's venome. Give me that An- 
 tidote of a lively faith,in thy fon lefts Cbrifl, 
 that I may he inu/ardly flrengthened a' 
 ga'tnfl its deadly dart,that my foul may live, 
 and praife thee everlafling in the number of 
 thy Saints through lefts Chrifl, &c. Amen. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 what death is and the caufe of it, 
 
 JKors efio- T \Eath (as the Philofophers define 
 mmttmani- 11 if) is a ceafing of all the fun- 
 
 ku.m cefauo dions of life by reafon of the 
 
 ■propter com- diffolution of foule and body. Or 
 Divines give it)^death is a depriva- 
 scai. tion of life 5 as a puniftimcnt ordained 
 of God j & impofed on man for his fin. 
 Perkins in So then it is manifeft> that death 
 way^of^f- hath no real, formal or elfentiall being, 
 ing well, as Others of Gods creatures have feeing 
 it is a mere privation of life accompa¬ 
 nied 
 
 and yet they defeend in a mad kind of 
 laughter. 
 
 Lord my God, deliver my foul from t(je 
 
It 
 
 Wifdom: 
 
 I. li. 
 
 God made 
 not death. 
 
 Gen. K31. 
 
 Part.I. to Die in Peace. 
 
 nied with pain. Therefore the wife man 
 faith God made not death,neither hath 
 he pleafure in the deftrudion of the 
 •living' If death had been created of 
 Godjit muft needs have been good: for 
 God beingthe chiefeftgood,yea good- 
 nelTeitfelfj mart needs create things 
 good in themfelves: and therefore it is 
 faid j that God faw all that he had made^ 
 and behold it was very good. But death 
 limply confidered is not good but evil: 
 inafmuch as it is the defacing of Gods 
 work, and adiffolution of the creature, 
 which nature it felf abhors. 
 
 Therefore we muft know that the 
 firft procurer of death was Satan , by 
 tempting our firft parents to fin againft 
 God, and fo it was inflidled upon them 
 and all their pofterity as a juft punifh- 
 mentfo-r their difobedience, according 
 as the^ord had threatned. In the day 
 thou eateft of the forbidden fruit , 
 shall die the death. And therefore the 
 Prophet cryes out. Thy dejiru^hn 9- 
 is of thy felf (^Olfrael) but in me is thy 
 help. To this purpofe, a reverend Di¬ 
 vine faith. The Devil is the Authoiir 
 of death bv his malicious nature. He 
 
 Satan the 
 procurer 
 of death. 
 
 Death in- 
 Hidted as a 
 punifh- 
 ment of 
 (In. 
 
 broughtit into the world,forGod made 
 
 it 
 
 Dearbir 
 
 O 
 
 ia hisle- 
 ftures on 
 the epilUe 
 to the 
 Hf;b, ch.l. 
 
12 
 
 Heb. 2 . 14 - 
 Our firft 
 parents al- 
 lifted Sa¬ 
 tan in 
 bringing 
 death into 
 the world. 
 
 Kotn.f.li 
 
 Rom,6.25 
 Howdeath 
 w faid to 
 be of God. 
 
 Atnos 5.(5.* 
 
 The Perfect Chap.IH* 
 
 it not j nor hath any (delight in it, nei¬ 
 ther is it good in his eyes, nor was it 
 ever mentioned among the works of 
 his hands: but from the Devil and of 
 the Devil, and in the Devil it began, 
 and is, and abideth,and therefore in the 
 Apocalyps his name is given h\v(\-, Abad- 
 doHy that IS the Deftroyer: and he is fdd 
 to have the power of death. But Sa^ 
 tan could not have brought death into 
 the world , had not Adam and Eve affi- 
 fted him by difobeying God and yeild- 
 ingtothe tempter. And therefore the 
 Apoftle Sf. Paul attributes the bringing 
 in of fin and death to Adam 5 As by one 
 man ftn entred into the u^orld, and death 
 by fm > fo death went over all , inafmuch 
 as all men have finned. And that it is a 
 puniQlment for fin he afErmes. likewife, 
 faying, The wages offn is death. And 
 in this refpe< 51 : it may be faid to be of 
 God,nameiy as it is a punifhmentoffin, 
 and fo it hath in it, rationem bonty fome 
 refpe( 5 l of good, being an effcd of 
 juftice in God,for to this end it was firfi: 
 ordained and infli(9:ed on man 5 and in 
 this fence God may be faid to be the 
 Author of it. Is there any evilltn the Ci¬ 
 ty C faith the Lord ') and have mt I done 
 
 it\ 
 
Part.!. to Die in Peace. 
 
 it. and in another place I make peace cJ* 
 create evill. And ofCbriftitis faid That 
 he hath the keyes of death and hell. 
 
 And here let us note the difference 
 between the death of a man and a beaff. 
 The death of a beaft is the totall and fi¬ 
 nal! abolifhing of the whole Creature^ 
 for the body is refolved to its firft mat- 
 ter,and the foul arifing from the tempe¬ 
 rature of the body vanifheth to no¬ 
 thing, but it is otherwife with man Tor 
 his body only dyes,& not his foul: for 
 the fouie of man being a fpirit or fpiri- 
 tuall fubftance, and created of God im- 
 'mortalj liveth even out of the body. 
 And though the body die and be turn¬ 
 ed to dufl 7 yet it fhall rife again at the 
 lafi: day and be joyned to thefouband 
 fo enjoy either eternal hapinefie ore- 
 verlafting mifery together with it. 
 
 Now then ( O my foul ) fince death 
 is not of God as a Creature, but as a 
 punifh^mentdearn here to lay the blame 
 where it defcrves to be laidj namely on 
 thy felf and on thy fins. Had Adam thy 
 firfi: Father continued in his integrity, 
 he had never died , but in as much as 
 being warned of God whar fhould enfiie 
 if he eat of the forbidden fruitjhe would 
 
 13 
 
 1ra.45.tf. 
 Rev. 1.18. 
 
 Difference 
 between 
 the death 
 of a man 
 5 c a beaft. 
 
 The foul 
 of man 
 liveth out 
 ofthe bo- 
 by. 
 
 Applicat. 
 
 We muft 
 lay the 
 blame on 
 our felves, 
 not on 
 God. 
 
 1 
 
 vet 
 
 
14 *TheFcrfe6t^dy Chap.IU. 
 
 yet venture upon the pikes of Gods dif' 
 pleafure, & attempt that rebellious ad:| 
 It was juft with God to make good his 
 threatning againft him and all his po- 
 fterity which where then in his Ioyns> 
 
 pfal 145 death. The 
 
 17. Lord is jufiin all his wajes , and holy in all 
 his works. He hath a thoufand wayes 
 Ier.i8.6. topunifhman for his fin. We are all in 
 his hand 5 as the clay in the hand of the pot¬ 
 ter. He can make us ? and marre us a- 
 Apittifuii in a moment.. How glorious a 
 change in creature was man in his innocency be- 
 Jiis fore he fell I how deformed in the ftate 
 of corruption after he had finned! Be¬ 
 fore,he was a fon ofIife,and heir of glo¬ 
 ry? after he was an heir of death, and 
 child of confufion. 
 
 Prayer. therefore 1 befcech thee ( O Lord 
 
 V my God) to mak^ me every day motet 
 and more to hate fm, which is the Vs her and:\,. 
 Harbenger of death. Ohworkjn me true' 
 repentance-, both for my naturall corruption, 
 received by propagation , and alfo for my 
 many thoufand attuall tranfgref tons. And, 
 as I muH once die for frn^/o 7nake medayly 
 in the mean time to die to fin that the daugh¬ 
 ter may /it length dcjlroy the tnothex ■) and 
 
 m 
 
15 
 
 Part.I. to Die tn Peace, 
 
 in death fin may he abolished , through him 
 that tafled of death for this purpofey Jefus 
 Chrifi my Savioury Amen. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 of the kinds cf death. 
 
 T He kinds of death generally con- TwoJcinds 
 fidered are two> vi'L corporal and • 
 
 fpirituall.The corporal death(we andh^irU 
 have heard ) is a fepliration of the foul 
 from the body 5 and iris common to 
 all men, good and bad, regenerate, and 
 unregenerate^ for (as the woman of Te- 
 koa faid to David) we mufl all diey and are 
 as water fpilt upon the ground , that cannot 
 be gathered up again. And this is called 
 the firft death, becaufc in refped of 
 time it goes before the otheV, at leaf): 
 before the laft degree, and full accom- 
 plifhingofir. 
 
 Spiritual death is a fearfull fepara- What fpi- 
 tion both of foul and body from God, 
 
 ii* • « i^i dcstli IS* 
 
 and his gracious prelence> and a curled 
 fellowlhip with the Devil and his An- Mat.25. 
 gels in endlelfe torments, and this be¬ 
 falls onely the wicked,that live, and die 
 in fin without repentance. 
 
 Of 
 
i6 The PeyfeB l^ay Chap.IV. 
 
 Peikins. of thofe twain (as one faith) The firft 
 
 is but an entrance to death , and the 
 fecond is the acc«mplifhment ofit.« For 
 as the foul is the life of the body 5 fo 
 God is the life of the foul, and his fpirit 
 is the foul of our fouls; and the want of 
 fellowfhip with him brings nothing but 
 ^theendleffe and unlpeakable pangs of 
 death, 
 
 5 . Degrees Of this fecond death there are j.De- 
 
 offpiri- 
 
 tual death ^ 
 
 Frft, when a man is alive in body, 
 but dead in foul towards God through 
 fin, and wickednefs 5 of this the Apoftle 
 2X110.5.6. S^,Paul fpeaketh, that the n/oman that 
 liveth in pleafure , is dead while she liveth. 
 And this is the condition of all men 
 , and women , that live in the ftate of 
 
 iinregeneration,and have not repented? 
 nor forfaken their fins. 
 
 The fecond Degree is when this mor- 
 tall life ends, and the body defcends in- 
 Rom. 2.p. grave , and the foul into Hell to 
 
 be tormented with unfpeakable tor¬ 
 ments. 
 
 The third is at the laft: day of judge¬ 
 ment, when both body and foul being 
 again united together by the mighty, 
 power oi God,as a terribleIudge,fhail 
 
 be 
 
Part.I. to Die in Peace, 1 7 
 
 be caft down into the place of endlefs 
 and eafelefs torments ,and fliall fufFcr 
 the vengeance ofeternair fire. 
 
 Strive therefore(0 my fouljandpray 
 earneftly, that thou maift have a part in 
 the firft refurredion , for on fuch the 
 fecond death hath no power. Now the 
 firft refurredion is in this world, when 
 the foul that was dead in trefpalTes and 
 fins,is quickned through the fpirit of 
 Chriftj and inlivened to walk in the 
 way es of God. Happy is he that hath part AppHcat. 
 in this refmreciion yfor neither the firfl nor 
 fecond death shall have power to hurt him. 
 
 The firft death to him fliall be an en¬ 
 trance to everlafting life^ & the fecond 
 death fliall never touch him. But woe 
 unto him that is dead in his fins here in 
 this world, and never hath the grace gi¬ 
 ven to rife from them: for to him the 
 firft death is the very entrance to the 
 fecond and the fecond fliall feife upon 
 him with it’s full power. Therefore it 
 had been good for that math if he had never 
 been born. 
 
 0 Blejfed Saviour , who by thy death hafi 
 fubdued death and opened the gate of ever* ' 
 
 lafiing life to all that live , and die in thee, 
 
 B I be^ 
 
1S 'The ?crfeB li?ay Chap.V. 
 
 I befeecb thee quicken me more andmoreby 
 thy holy Spirit ^ that I may live the life of 
 grace here and the life of glory hereafter^ 
 that neither the fir ft , nor fecond death may 
 feparate me from thee, who livefi & raignefi 
 wuh the Father , and the Holy Ghofi 
 .BLESSED for ever. Amen. 
 
 TWO kinds 
 of bodily 
 deathjW^ 
 naturaljfic 
 violent. 
 How na¬ 
 tural 
 death is 
 caufed. 
 
 Life com¬ 
 pared to a 
 burning 
 lamp. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 of the kinds of bodily death. 
 
 N Ow of the death of the body 
 there be two kinds in the gene¬ 
 ral, natural and violent. 
 
 Natural is when the diflbluiion hap- 
 peneth through defed: of that radical 
 moifturc, and hcate, that is implanted 
 in every mans body ( which two are (as 
 it were)che pillars of life in every living 
 creature) As in a burning lamp ? while 
 the oyl remaineth, and the fire enkind¬ 
 led that is fed by it > the lamp ftill 
 burneth: but when the flame hath con- 
 fumed all the oyl, oris extind by fome 
 other accident,the lamp mufl needs go 
 out; fo it is here. For as^ long as the 
 native moifture of the body lafleth (in 
 a natural pourfe) life lafleth with it; but 
 
 when 
 
19 
 
 Part.I. to Die in peace, 
 
 when that is exhauftedjfpent and done, 
 through the native heat (which then 
 confumeth alfo for want of matter to 
 feed upon) then ofnecefBty death muft 
 enfue. 
 
 Violent death is, when through fome Whatvio- 
 accident, the natural moifture is con- ^ 
 fumed or the heate is extinguiflied,*and caufed. 
 that either by fome inward or outward 
 oppreffion or violence 5 Inward, as by 
 poifon, difeafes5gluttony,drunkennefs, 
 and fuch like intemperance: for this is, 
 
 . as if a fire were covered and choaked 
 by a heap of ftonesjor earth,or a bucket 
 of waterpowred upon it: outward, as 
 by fome fudden and mortal blow,ftroak 
 or wound, flifling ,ftrangling, &c. 
 
 Now there are but very few,that live Few live 
 fo long, till nature have fpent her felf^M/®“S 
 
 ^ r- • till nature 
 
 the hrltway, for want ef innative havefpcn^ 
 moifture :for moft men die either 
 fome difeafe, proceeding from fome in¬ 
 ward or outward caule,or die untimely 
 deaths (as we call them) being killed, ;v 
 drowned, burned, hanged, &c. though 
 in our ordinary manner offpeechjwe 
 fay he dies a natural death , that dies of 
 fome ordinary difeafe. 
 
 But which way foever we die, either 
 
 B ^ a na- 
 
■ 20 
 
 Our life 
 depends 
 upon 
 Gods pro¬ 
 vidence. 
 
 Pfa.ji.i 
 loh.i^’.i I. 
 
 Luke u. 
 
 6 . 7. 
 
 Applicat. 
 
 We havd 
 no leafe 
 of our 
 lives, 
 lob 1413. 
 
 The Ferfecl C hap. V. 
 
 a natural ? or violent way 5 we muft 
 know , that the Lord ordereth all thefe 
 fecondary caufesjthat our life may tru¬ 
 ly be faid to depend upon his provi¬ 
 dence, good-will and pleafure. Mj times 
 are in thy hand (faith Davtd) fo that mine 
 enemies cannot prevail againft me , without 
 thy permtfsion. And our Saviour faid to 
 dilate. Thou could*ft have no power over 
 me, unlefs it u ere given thee from above, 
 
 if a fp arrow cannot fall to the ground 
 without the will of our heavenly Father , 
 and if all the hairs of our head be numbred. 
 furely the time of our life is limited with 
 the Lord, and the kind of our death appointed 
 alfo. 
 
 Therefore ( O my foul) ‘be afTured 
 that thou holdell thy life by a tenure 
 from the Lord. He that breathed this 
 breath of life into thy body at firft, 
 maintains it there to his good will and 
 pleafure , and call's for it again at the 
 time appointed. Thou haft no feafe of 
 .thy life for term of years 3 no nor. 
 moneths 3 nor dayes 3 but are tenant at 
 will, wait therefore his good will and 
 pleafure. It is his mercy , that he hath 
 fpared thee fo long. Be thankfuil for 
 it 3 and ferve his good providence by 
 
 fuch 
 
Part.I. to Die in Peace, z i 
 
 fuch means as he hath appointed for 
 the prefervation of life, but reftnoc 
 upon them. Meat and drink he hath 
 ordained ? to fuftain our fraile bodies; 
 ufe them thankfully, foberly and featb*- 
 nably ; but withall remember that h\an The fame 
 liveth not by bread onely. It is not 
 bread , but Gods bleffing that main-fhyfick, 
 tains life. Meat without a ff-omack, and 
 inward principle of heateto digeft it, bleffing it 
 doth not help? but hurt us. And how 
 
 I i*Li_ 1 curCj but 
 
 can that which hath no Jjte in itlelhkiii. 
 
 give life, or preferve it in another ?Itis 
 
 not bread then, but the ftaffe of bread 
 
 Gods bleffing that keeps our bodies 
 
 alive. 
 
 Being therefore ( O Lord) that I am thy 
 Creature, Thou haft made me of nothing, ' 
 and made me a living Creature, and reafon- 
 able man, and of the chief eft of the works of 
 thy hands : and feeing that my life depends 
 upon thy good wid and pleafure, I befeech 
 thee, that it may be prolonged in mercy to 
 me. And let every moment of it be confecra- 
 ted to thy fervice, thatfo whether 1 die a na^ 
 turaljor violent death, it may be a free-will 
 offering unto thee, and an end of all mtfery to 
 mcithrough lefus Chrift my Saviour, Amen. 
 
 B 3 CHAP, 
 
 \ 
 
T 
 
 Death be 
 fairs us 
 innume" 
 xable 
 nayes< 
 
 iz ThePerfeffTvay Chap.VI. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 that death hefalVs usinnumerahlewayes , and 
 of the certainty of it, 
 
 ^Hough we have faid? that there are 
 but two kinds of bodily death in 
 the general, viz., natural, and vio¬ 
 lent; yet this doth nothing hinder, but 
 that in particular there are innumerable 
 wayes, whereby we are brought to the 
 grave, we have a common faying, that 
 Oneway isin every mans mouth , that we have 
 hut one way of coming into the world , but 
 world, a u thoufaud wayes of going out. This is 
 thoufand ygj-y iyMC. I WOuld tO God WC COUld 
 make that ufe of it, that we fliould j 
 namely to be alwayes arming againft 
 death , fince he hath fo many wayes 
 Hcb.p.ay. whereby he armes againft us. Die we 
 muft; the decree is paft , it cannot be 
 recalled; but who knows what kind of 
 death fllall befall him; whether he fliall 
 die a natural, or a violent death ? 
 
 There are innumerable difeafesjthat 
 accompany therbody of man;nay every 
 member of it is loaded with infirmities. 
 Headland heart; back and belly; armes, 
 and legs; yea no part is free, (Dnecryes 
 £ Kings Shunmites child y My heady 
 
Part.I. to Die in feace. 2 3 
 
 my head. Another with the Prophet, 
 
 My belly y my beUyl One man dies of the 
 Stone t another of the Strangury , a third 
 of the Dropfy; Fearers , Apoplexies , Plu- 
 rifles^ Palftes, Gouts , Tympatnes , IVmns, 
 PejiilencesjZ^ke away thourands5yea and 
 thoufands fall by the edge of the fword. 
 
 One man dies in the held with Abel^ Gen.4 s. 
 another in the prifon with John Bapttft; 2! 
 a third at the Altar with loab; a fourth 28.U.34. 
 on the Judgment feat with Herodi a fih h jY. 
 by the way with the Prophet, killed by Z4. 
 a Lionja fixth in his chaire with old Eli; * 
 a feaventh in his bed with lacob. Gcn.49.$i 
 
 The fire burns fbme 5 as it did the So- Gen.15.24 
 domites; 'Vhtvr^ZQi' drown others, as 
 xhQ Egyptians; the earth fwallows up a 
 third fortj as it did Corah > and his com- 
 plicesj the aire poifons a fourthjas thofe ^ * 
 that are infeded by the Peflilence. Nay, 
 what fhall we fay more ? Notonelythe 
 four Elements, but every creature may 
 be Gods Executioner to put an end to 
 our lives, if he command it. 
 
 We know wha^^t milchief the Frogs, ^^•**^ *°* 
 and iies, Caterpillars, and Locufts did 
 to the Egyptians; yea, and the Lice not 
 only confounded their Magicians; but 
 alfo at Gods command devoured Hero/i. Aft.11.2j. 
 
 B 4 And 
 
• lAp 
 
 'The *f^ay Chap.VI, 
 
 And if the bafe and contemptible crea¬ 
 tures can end our life, no marvail 9 that 
 the ftronger and fiercer can eafily do it, 
 Every age Every age of mans life is fubjed to 
 jifefub- ^ thoufand dangers 9 which all may 
 feftto bring death if God prevent not. How 
 many thoufand Infants have died at 
 the breft9 or in the cradle ? how many 
 children in their tender age? How ma¬ 
 ny young men in the flowei' of their 
 youth ? how many ftrong men in their 
 full and ripe age And thofe that come 
 toold age? have one foot in the grave 
 already. And to fay truly? it is ainiofl: 
 a wonder 9 that any attaine to it? confi- 
 dering the manifold dangers 9 that the 
 other ages paffe thorough. 
 
 But however? let a man live to the 
 longcfl: period of time 9 that any have 
 attained untoj yet at laft die he muft ; 
 for what man is he (faith David) that 
 Uveth, and shall not fee deathl Pfal.89,48. 
 
 We read in the fifth Chapter of Ge* 
 nefis, of all the Patriarch's, that lived be¬ 
 fore the Floud 9 that though they lived 
 lived nagny hundred years ?yet they died at 
 died’ar^ l^ft. Adam lived 930.years? and then 
 Saft. be died, Seth lived 912. years? and then 
 he died,. Mahalaleel lived 895, years? 
 
 and 
 
 Death 
 cannot 
 poflibly 
 be avoid- 
 edr 
 
 The Pa¬ 
 triarch’s 
 though 
 
.'Part J. to Die in Peace. 
 
 and then he died. lared lived years, 
 and dxtd.Lamech lived 777. years , and 
 died. MethufaUh lived 969. years, and 
 died. Let us look our face in thefe 
 glafTes, and we fhall plainly fee death in 
 our faces: for if thofe that lived 900. 
 years and more,could not be exempted 
 from death , but muff needs die at laft; 
 how can we think to efcape, with whom 
 the ftrongeft, and of beft conftitution 
 live not much above 70, or 80. years at 
 moft. 
 
 We were born to die , and as Toon as 
 we were born we began to die, look 
 how many dayes,or weeks,or moneths, 
 or years we have lived , fo many, death 
 hath devoured. And he that hath lived 
 longeft, of him death hath the fureff 
 hold ,as having eaten up moft of his 
 time, and that which remains is uncer¬ 
 tain. 
 
 Every ache and pain; every hcknefs, 
 and infirmity; every wrinkle,and gray- 
 hair, fhould teach us, that we muftdie, 
 for thefe are deaths Harbengers for that 
 purpofe. Nay, can we walk through the 
 Church-yard by the graves , and, fe- 
 pulchres of our friends & neighbours, 
 and not be admonifhed of death ; 
 
 Can 
 
 25 
 
 
 We were 
 born to 
 die. 
 
 Magna pars 
 rnntis jam 
 prateriit. 
 c^icquid 
 atatis retro 
 ejij mors 
 tenet: Sene¬ 
 ca. 
 
 Every in¬ 
 firmity of 
 body 
 
 fhould pul 
 us inminp 
 of death. 
 
26 
 
 Dead 
 corpfes 
 and bu¬ 
 rials 
 (liould 
 mind 
 of death. 
 
 Death is 
 inexora¬ 
 ble & im- 
 pattiall* 
 
 Wifdome, 
 
 firengthi 
 
 beauty, 
 
 cannot 
 
 prevaile 
 
 with 
 
 death. 
 
 The Perf Bu^ay Chap. VI. ‘ 
 
 Can we fee a dead corps carried to 
 the earth 5 or hear the belj*s ring for a 
 Funeral, and not remember death? Are 
 not the (cuFs, and rotten bones of the 
 dead laid up in Charnel houfes,and 
 dark vaults ,fo many wicnelTes , that we 
 mufl; all die? As fure as the night fuc- 
 ceeds the day, and Winter follows after 
 Summer; fo fare mull ficknefs enfue 
 after health, and death after life. 
 
 Death is inexorable, impartiall, and 
 cruel. It pitties none. Itlparsnone* It 
 regards none. High nor low, rich nor 
 poor; old, nor young, learned, nor un¬ 
 learned, fair nor foul. 
 
 Death cannot be deferred by threats; 
 nor out-fac’d by looks;nor maftered 
 by might; nor bribed by rewards; nor 
 deceived by fair words. 
 
 Wifdome cannot prevaile with deathi 
 for then Solomon might not have died. 
 Strength cannot prevaile with death/or 
 then Sampfon might not have dicd.Beau- 
 ry cannot prevaile with death, for then 
 Abfolon would not have died. Wealth 
 and riches cannot prevaile with death, 
 for then the rich glutton would not 
 have died. And yet we read of fome 
 that have been fo far befotted and pufc 
 
 up 
 
 I 
 
27 
 
 Part.I. to Die in Peace* 
 
 up with pride, that they have thought 
 themfelves immortal. 
 
 Alexander the Great had Rich a crotchet 
 in his headjtill being ftruck with a ftonci 
 he felt the pain of a feftered wound, 
 and then he Raw and acknowledged his 
 folly. 
 
 Antigenus his Succetfour in part ofhis 
 Dominions had a touch this way; and 
 therefore being recovered of a certaine 
 ficknefsjhe faidjHe had learn’d thereby, 
 that he was mortal. 
 
 And therefore to roote out this con¬ 
 ceit, and to put him in mind ofhis 
 mortality; we read of Phillip ofMacedoniPhnnpoi 
 that he conimanded the Groomeof his 
 chamber, every morning at his firft 
 waking, to found thefe words in his pradicc. 
 eares. Remember Phillip that 
 
 THOU ART MORTAL. 
 
 And furely,it was a commendable pra* 
 dfife in a Edeathen ,& may juftly fhame 
 many Chriftians, who (it is to be fear¬ 
 ed) leldome or never think upon their 
 death.Every man,be he never lb wicked 
 will fay,we muR: all die: But moft mens 
 lives make it manifeif, that either they 
 think, they (hall never die; or at lealE, 
 not of a long fealbn. 
 
 We 
 
2S The PerfeB'^ay, Chap.Vr, 
 
 We read offome wicked finnersjthat 
 Ifa. 12.1% have made a mock at death, Letuseate 
 and drinks j for to morrow we muH die* 
 1ra.2S.1j. And others havefaid? we have made a 
 covenant with death , and with Hell we 
 are at agreement. Though a fcourge 
 run over, and pafle thorough, it (hall 
 not come at us. 
 
 And S^. Peter tell’s us of others ,that 
 ^ in the later dayes will mock at the day 
 z Pct.j.3. of Judgment, faying , where is the pro- 
 mife of his coming for fince the fathers died, 
 all things continue alike from the beginning 
 of the Creation. 
 
 And though many are not gone fo 
 raf from far in (in , as to mock at death & judge- 
 thdm. ment: yet moft men put it far from 
 
 them, and with the fool intheGofpel, 
 
 . fpeakfair, and flattering words to their 
 
 Luk i2.r5 fouls, laying, Souleat, drink^andbe mer^ 
 ry; thou haft goods laid up for many years > 
 not remembring what follow si Thou fool 
 this night will they fetch away thy foul ^ 
 from thee, 
 
 Jfmenbeyoung, they think it an in¬ 
 jury to hear calk of dying,though even 
 
 then, happily death be not far of. And 
 who is fo old, but thinks he may live 
 one vear longer ^ Thus we deceive our 
 
 felves 
 
Part.I. to Die m Peace, 29 
 
 felves by a falfe reckoning, and our life 
 fteals away from us ? ere we are aware j 
 and death knocks at the door, & looks 
 in at the window , before we ever fe- 
 rioufly think of him. 
 
 Oh then { my foul) feeing it is moft Applicat. 
 certain ? that this earthly tabernacle of 
 thine miifl: be diffolved:, for it is made 
 of clay,* and clay is a mouldring thing. 
 Though thou mend and dawbe it of¬ 
 ten, yet ic will down at laid. And feeing 
 there are fb many wayes of dilTolving 
 it, and thou knoweft not which way 
 thine muft fall 5 In the fear of God let 
 it be thy care to prepare for a better,a- 
 gainft the time that this houfe of thine 
 fhall be djffolved. That Tenant will 
 not be light at heart, that knows he 
 (hall quickly be turn'd out ofdoors) 
 and yjet hath no place provided, where 
 , he may put his head. And how can'id 
 thou eat, or drink ,or fleep in quiet, if 
 thou have not afllirance of a better 
 dwelling, v;hen this houfe fhall fall? 
 
 Chrifthath told mejthatheafeended 
 to prepare a place for his own. And 
 St. Paul faith, IVe k^iow r.hat if our earth- ^ 
 Ij houfe of this tabernacle were di ffolved^ wj 
 have a houfe not made with hands , but eter -, cor s^t 
 
 nail 
 
^0 The Ter(eEl'VoAy Chap.VI, 
 
 mil In the heavens. Surely the Lord thy 
 God 5 that great Land-Lord hath not 
 been wanting to thee. He hath provid¬ 
 ed a better habitation » then any that 
 hath it’s foundation in the duft. All 
 that he require? of thee is to fit thy 
 Kev.zi.i 7 fslf Ihi* h. It is a holy places and no 
 ^ Cot. 7.1. unclean thing can enter into it. oh 
 therefore labour to cleanfe thy felf from 
 all filthinejfe of flesh , and fpirii , and to 
 perfect holmeffe in the feare of God, 
 Here is the place of thy Pilgrimage. 
 Oh fet not thy heart upon it. Thou 
 draweft every day nearer, and nearer 
 to thine own countrey. Oh prepare thy 
 felf for the pofl'efllon of it. 
 
 Remember what Joshua faid to the 
 children of Ifrael. Prepare you vi^ualsy 
 for within three dayes-, ye shall pafs through 
 this lordaUitogo in to poffefs the land,which 
 the Lord your God gtveth you to poffefs it. 
 Who knows, but within lefTe then three 
 dayes he may paife through this earth¬ 
 ly Jordan , this vale of teares into the 
 heavenly Canaan ? Let us therefore pre¬ 
 pare our vicftLials. But what viduals ? 
 Surely the word of God is the food of 
 • our fouls, let us (lore our felves wi h 
 4ret.i^4* the promifes of it ^ with thoferich , and 
 
 pie- 
 
Part.I. to Die tn Peace. 3 i 
 
 precious promifes, that can comfort 
 and ftrengthen our hearts in themidft 
 of all miferies, that can befall us here. 
 
 Let us feed upon this Manna in the wil- 
 derneffe, till we come, and tafte of the 
 fruits of the heavenly Canaan. 
 
 0 Lord, 1 know , that I am made of earth, Prayer. 
 
 and anon shall return to emrth again. 
 
 Thy decree is paffed-, that once I muji die, 
 hut by what kind of death it is known onely 
 to thee. Ever make me to prepare for my 
 removing hence; and tn my waft age over 
 this Iordan into the heavenly Canaan ,fave 
 my foul from drowning , that I may fafely 
 arrive at the land of the living ,at my ap¬ 
 pointed time through lefus Chrifi my Sa¬ 
 viour, Amen. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 of the (Jjortnefs of mans life, and the knsertainty 
 of the day rf death. 
 
 W E have heard, that death cannot b ut Seneca 
 be avoided,but mofi: men com- 
 
 r u rt • u L ' diprtur VI- 
 
 lort tnemlelves with the nope ta tranfcy^r- 
 oflonglife< They will grant, that they 
 muftdie j but they hope the time is far 
 
 off. 
 
3 2 The PerfcSi Tt>ay Chap.VIL, 
 
 I.ak.Ez.ip off. Thus the fool in the Gofpel over- 
 meafured his life 5 not by dayes, or 
 moneths,* but by years,and many years. 
 And the evil fervant incouraged him- 
 felfin his wickednefs with this hope? 
 Mar. 24. Mj mafter doth deferre his coming t But we 
 4«-45>a 50- ]^now, they were both deceived. For to 
 the one it was laid,Thou fool this night 
 will they take away thy foul. And 5 tor 
 the other. The mafter of that fervant 
 will come in a day, that he thinks not 
 off, and in an hour that he is nor aware 
 off,' and will cut him off, and give him 
 his portion with Hypocrites and unbe¬ 
 lievers. 
 
 Avaine Alas! How vaine a thing is it for any 
 hopf for hope for long life , wx heard in the 
 
 longlife, former Chapter, how many wayes, and 
 means there are to bring us to our lovg 
 home. A thoufand dangers do compals 
 us on every fide; and we are fafe in no 
 condition.V/ho then can have any fare 
 Iebr4.r.z hold of long life? Hear what faith, 
 Man that is born of a woman is but of few 
 dajes, and full of trouble; He comes up likf 
 a flowerj and u cut down : he fiyeth alfo as 
 <5cn.47 9. ^ shadow 5 and continueth not. And lacob 
 faid to Pharaoh. Few and evil have the 
 dayes of my life been, and I have not yet at¬ 
 tained 
 
Part.!. to Die in Peace. 5^ 
 
 tained to the dayes of the years cf my Fa^ 
 thers. 
 
 The holy GhofI: frequently in the 
 Scriptures compares mans life to thofe 
 thingSi that are of leah continuancejas 
 namely to the flower and grajje of the roi.u. 
 field,to a bubble, to a vapour, to a dream, to 
 a watch in the night, to the flying of a bird Jam. 4.14. 
 in the air^to the gliding of a Weavers shuttle, 
 to a race , to a fight , to a fpan , or hand- Pf. 71.20. 
 breadth; yea ,arid as ifthefe things were 
 too long to rneafure mans life by, 1)4- 
 v/i/faith 5 His time is nothing. The Hea- 
 then have given us expreliions not Hons of 
 much unlike to thefe. One of them 
 iaith, that our life is a race trom one 
 
 then? 
 
 s con¬ 
 
 cerning 
 
 O 
 
 mother to another; meaning from our fltort- 
 nacuralmothers womb to the earth. maL^iifc, 
 Another of them hath the fame ex- 
 prefllon mentioned before»vi::^that man 
 is a bubble. Another being as ked> what 
 the life of man was, turned himfelf a- 
 bout, & immediately went out of their 
 fight, that asked him ; intimating , that: 
 the hfe of man is but a turn-about, and 
 then^tis done. Another not unfitly, 
 compares it to a flafh of lightning. i 
 
 And indeed ifwe except the time of 
 
 a 
 
 Infancy, wherein we cannot well belaid 
 
 C to 
 
34 
 
 'E^vera bre- 
 vti eft vita, 
 
 AYS AUUm 
 ionga, & il^ 
 la pracipue 
 ^ua morbii 
 animi mede 
 ri poteft, Ze¬ 
 no. 
 
 Timeflioit 
 and un¬ 
 certain. 
 
 Iam.4,14. 
 
 Death 
 flealerh 
 upon us 
 like a 
 thief. 
 
 We are fe - 
 cure from 
 death in 
 no time, 
 place, or 
 condition. 
 
 The PerfcB Jeay Chap. VII. . 
 
 to live, becaufe we have not then tbc 
 life of reafon j and the time of child¬ 
 hood , wherein we trifle, and play away 
 our timei and the timeof fleep> wherein 
 we are as dead menjwithout adion and 
 imployment ( unlefle it be by dreams, 
 and fantafies) we (hall find, that our life 
 is far fllorcerjthen we imagine: but if we 
 compare it with thelong line of eterni¬ 
 ty, it will appeare to be lefl'e then no¬ 
 thing. But though our life be fhort, 
 yet if it were certain to us,it were ibme- 
 thing : but (alas!) herein alfodoih the 
 vanity of it no klTe appeare 5 fof who 
 knows whether he fhall live till to mor¬ 
 row? How many have been fnatch'd a- 
 way in the midfl of their dayes I how 
 many in the prime of their flrength, ere 
 they have been aware ? death fteales up¬ 
 on us as a thief, and comes like foule 
 weather unlook’d for. Sometimes he 
 fmites us in the houfe, fometimes ill 
 the field, fometimes at our rabies,(ome- 
 times in our beds , fometimes in the 
 Church,rometimes in the market,fome¬ 
 times in company of others, lometimes 
 when we are alone, fometimes in the 
 midft of our mirth , and height of our 
 proiperity, fometimes in the midft of 
 
* Part.I. to Die m Peace, 5 5 
 
 our mourning j and depth of our miTe- 
 ry. When we go forth of doors, we 
 know not whether we ftiall return alive. 
 
 In the morning ^ we may be dead ere 
 nightj and at night we may be dead ere 
 morning. 
 
 Little did Belshaz.si 4 rxhiT\k of death, Dan. 5.5, 
 when he was caroufihg in theveffels of 
 the Temple with his Princes, his wives, 
 and concubines,though then (we know) 
 it was near athand« 
 
 Little did Herod think of death when Aft. iz.25. 
 he put on his beft robes, and made his 
 eloquent oration, & yet (we know) even 
 then it was not far o IF. 
 
 Little did the old world think of Gen. 7.2}, 
 death by drowning, when it begun to 
 rain,and yet (we know) they periflied in 
 the floud. Little did the Sodomites drtim Gen.ip. 
 of death by a fhower of fire and brim* 
 fione , when i t was ready to pour down 
 on their heads. 
 
 Little did Ananias and Sappbira think Afts s 5. 
 r of death , when they diflembled, and 
 lyed concerning the price of the polTefi 
 fion , they had Ibid j and yet they both 
 , fell down dead fuddenly. 
 r And in humane ftories, we have re¬ 
 markable examples of the ftra'hgenefs, 
 
 C ^ and 
 
 I 
 
3 6 
 
 7he Per feci leay Chap.VIf. 
 
 and fuddennefs of many mens deaths* 
 Little did our William Rufus thmVoi 
 ^hunt-” deat^ ? when in his Hunting he was fud- 
 denly flain by an arrow (hoc at a Hart. 
 
 Little did Bafilm Mjce^/c^the Empe- 
 rour think of death when in the fame 
 ipo,' c he was killed with the ftroke of a 
 H?- 
 
 Little did C^mand F. Valerius Anafta^ 
 think of death, when theyperiflled 
 by lightning. 
 
 Lirrle did young Drufus Pompey think 
 of death , when he was choaked with a 
 peare , which he caft up, and caught m 
 his mouth in fport. 
 
 Little did Anacreon think of death, 
 when he eat that Raifin , tl;iat choaked 
 laifinfand *^ 0 ^^ Murtus that had the fame end 
 by a hair in a mefle of milk. 
 
 And in like manner, little do the Gal¬ 
 lants ofeur lime think of death(ihough 
 it be near them)which fpend their time 
 in ryotmg and revelling , chambring, 
 and wantonnelsjfportSjand recreations, 
 without any bounds or moderation j 
 which fay (atleallin their hearts) as 
 thofe tpicures in the Prophet did. Bring 
 Ifa. s 6 - li- wine and flrong drmkiand to morrow shall 
 be as this day, and much more abundant* 
 
 The 
 
 in 
 ing. 
 
 TlAfllitiS 
 Mitcedi) 
 (lain with 
 a Bait. 
 
 Cams and 
 dl 
 
 ning. 
 
 Drufii^s 
 Pompey 
 choak’d 
 with a 
 pear. 
 
 ^Anacreon 
 choak d 
 
 •Marius 
 with a 
 hair. 
 
Part. I. to Die in Peace. 37 
 
 The Pfalmifl:difcovers the ^^anityof 
 the men of this Wvorld, faying thinks 
 they shall continue f r ever, and cJl their Tal 49.11. 
 houfes after their oi^n names. B i r he adds. 
 iVI.in being in honour underftanjs nor5 
 he is like rhe be.afl: rhperifh-*;h. And . 
 the ApolHe faith. IVhcn. thcf shall cry. iTher5 3. 
 Peace, Pe.ne; then shall fud en clefiru^t on' 
 come upon them,as on a woman in tra hnle, 
 and they shall net ef(ape. 
 
 Oh [hen (my foul ) effeem not much 
 of this life, for it is bur vanitv , vea and 
 a fhort uncertain vanity. Remember, 
 that many have been taken napping by 
 death, in the very ading of their fins, 
 and the midff of their iniquities. And 
 vvhatcanft thou tell,but if thou be bold 
 to fin,death may be bold to do the like 
 by thee alfo ? remember that the time 
 ofdeada is uncertainj and therefore be- 
 caufe thou knoweft not the day, nor 
 hour of It, live fo every day, as if k were 
 thy lafl:, and take thy Saviours counfel 
 to IVatch continually. For therefore the 
 time of our departing is unknown to 
 iis,that we might not prefume to go on 
 in fin ; but ever be in readinefs, that 
 whether it come in the day, or in .the 
 night5 at the Cock-crowing, or in the 
 
 C 3 dawn- 
 

 iSam.iS* 
 
 17 - 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 vfa, po.iz. 
 
 All men 
 divided 
 into two 
 tanks. 
 
 The Ferfect Chap. VIII. 
 
 dawning, we may be ready to open to 
 
 himjand fay as Dxvtddid of 
 
 He is a good man ? and brings good tjdtngs. 
 
 My Gody teach me therefore fo to number 
 , ^ my dayes i that I may apply my heart to 
 wlfdome. And feeing my time is fo short and 
 fo uncertaim give me grace to be the more 
 diligent in thy fervice , and more carefull to 
 redeem the timey that I have formerly mif- 
 pent , by a wife and frugal! improving of 
 that talent , that thou haft committed to my 
 truft y that I may render it into thy hands 
 with increafe and advantage. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 That death makes a diferencet and full feparatioit 
 hettpeen the godly and the wickeds 
 
 A ll the children of Adam are di¬ 
 vided into two ranks,& Nations, 
 for either they be the Sons of 
 God, or the flaves of Satan: Chrifts 
 fheep, or the Devils Goats: good corn, 
 or evil t|res,the fervants of the Lord of 
 Hofts, or the retinue of the Prince of 
 darkne/s. 
 
 And though there are infallible notes, 
 
 and 
 
 / 
 
39 
 
 Part.I. to Die in Peace. 
 
 and rnarkes whereby they may be di* 
 llingijlfhed ? and known the one from 
 the other,even in this )ife,as great mens 
 fervants are by their Liveries that they 
 wear , yet inafmuch as thefe notes, and 
 rnarkes are more in the inward> rhen the Godschild- 
 outward man,.and therefore known to 
 none fo well as to themfelves , and the from the 
 mailers, that they ferve (thoughfome* 
 times, through weakneis, and tempta- the inner, 
 tion, the fervanc of Chriil may think 
 himielf to be none of his: and through 
 ignorance and prefumption, the Devils 
 child may think himielf to be Gods) a full dif- 
 hence it comes topaife , that, there can* 
 not be a full and manifeil difference ^made ^ 
 made in this world. For, as the Devil is 
 Gods Ape, imitating by his juglings,TheDe- 
 and impoilures the miraculous works vil, Gods 
 of the moil High : fo his fervants learn fransform 
 of him , to counterfeit , and imitate in himfeif 
 fome outward performances the f^t*-^ngeipf 
 vants oi the Lord. And as Satan tranfiig^tjfo .. 
 forms himldfinto an Angel of light, fo 
 
 ^ cj o ^ vdntscdQ • 
 
 can his miniilers do likewife. Hence it leam to 
 is , that there is fo great a miilakein the 
 world. For many Hypocrites go under ^ cor u. 
 the name of true Chriilians, and have 
 counterfeit Li very,like Chrifts, that in- 
 
 C 4 deed 
 
2Cot.4 4‘ 
 
 40 The PerfeBn^ay Chap.VIII. 
 
 deed is none of his, but appertaines to 
 the Prince of the Aire ,thar rules in the 
 children of difobedience. Many are ta¬ 
 ken for fhecp , that hereafter will ap' 
 M 'M3 30. pg^ir to be goat^i: and mcny tares grow 
 up together with ihe Wheat, that here¬ 
 after fiijH be phicked up and burnt.' 
 Thewodd Th s world IS a great Inne , wherein 
 toTn inne there is no difference made betwixt the 
 good and the bad , nay many times a 
 bafe condition'd fellow (hall have bet¬ 
 
 ter ufagethenan honeftman. 
 
 To a great 
 common 
 of rafturc. 
 
 To a 
 Corn 
 
 It is the great Commons of Pafture, 
 wherein there is no difference made be¬ 
 tween fheep,and goats,lambs, and kids, 
 clean, and unclean beaffs : nay many 
 limes thefe have better feeding then the 
 other, and there/ore they wax wanton 
 againtt them ,and pufh them with their 
 horns and hoofs. It is the great Corn- 
 held wherein the tares grow together 
 with the Corn, and have as much moi- 
 fture , or more from the foyle, then it; 
 and therefore many times they over- 
 Indeirha grow, and overtop it. 
 
 But now in death there is a plain diftin- 
 dfion , and full difference made, which 
 themfelves do fenfibly enough perceive 
 in the very moment of doffolution; and 
 
 others 
 
 full liiife- 
 
 ledce is 
 
 mad? be- 
 tweoQ 
 good and 
 bad. 
 
 1 
 
41 
 
 Part.!. to vie in Peace, 
 
 others might fee alfoj were iheir eyes o- 
 pened in a fpiritual manner to behold it* 
 
 For now the counterfeit Liveries are In death 
 plucked ofififalfe marks are wiped awayj fe^^iYve-' 
 the fheep are known to be fheep , & the ties are 
 
 * I 11 ^ J cC 
 
 goats to be goatsj the Corn to be good 
 Wheat, and the tares to be evil Weeds. 
 
 Death , which is the end.of all mens Death 
 journey, hath two turnings, one on the 
 right hand, another on the left,* one up¬ 
 wards , towards heaven, another down¬ 
 wards towards Hell. In this life, which 
 IS our journey , there are m^ny palien- paflengers 
 gers, and fuch a crowd ofcompany,that 
 men can hardly be difeerned who they 
 are, or whither they go. 
 
 If two Lords with their Retinew,were simile, 
 riding together on the road,you could 
 not eafily diftinguifh the fervants of 
 the one from the other ( efpecially if 
 the one fhould counterfeit the others 
 Liveries) but when they come to the 
 
 , the parting way, then you may Death, 
 cafily difeern, who appertain to the one, which is 
 and who to the other ,* tor every man onparting 
 now follows his own mailer , waites on waydiCed^ 
 him to his houfe , and manfion , goes jendams, 
 in with him, Tups in the Hall with his 
 fellows, and lodgeth there all night. So 
 
 it 
 
This 
 worM is 
 O'Ur jour¬ 
 ney. 
 
 I Cor. z.s. 
 
 Rev.20. 
 2 . 3 . 
 
 If we have 
 ftucic faft 
 to Chrift 
 in the way 
 he willnot 
 leave us at 
 our jour- 
 xieies end. 
 loh. 14. 
 
 Rev 3-20. 
 loh.17.24. 
 Satan will 
 own fuch 
 at their 
 death,as 
 have fer- 
 ved him 
 in their 
 life. 
 
 jhe Perf Chap. VIII. 
 
 it is with us, we are all in our journey* 
 while we are in this world , and cannoc 
 well be difeovered here , whom we be¬ 
 long unto ^ whether to the Lord lefus, 
 the Prince of lii e, and Lord of glory; or 
 to Eelzchub the Prince of darkneffc,and 
 Lieutenant of the Boctomlefs pif.But at 
 our journeies end it will eafily appear* 
 at our death it will be clearly revealed 
 to our I'elves j and to the eledt Angels* 
 and fpirics of juft men; and at the gene¬ 
 ral liidgement >* (which will find us as 
 death leaves us) it will be manifeft to all 
 the world ,ofwiiofe family* and houfe- 
 hold we have been. If we have gone 
 through thick and thin with the Lord 
 lefusjand have not left him for the foul- 
 nefs of the way, he will not leave us in 
 the end of it, but will lead us on the 
 right hand, and bring us up to the houfe of 
 his heavenly Father , to the P allace of ever- 
 lajling Peace , and Glory in the highefl Hea¬ 
 vens ; & there we shall fup with him, lodge 
 with him , and abide with him for ever. 
 But if we have ferved Satan incur life 
 time , he will own us at our death. And 
 ifwc haveforfaken Chrifts narrow way, 
 becaufe of its roughnels * and walked 
 in Satans broad way, becaufe it hath 
 
 been 
 
Part.I. to Die in pe^ce, 43 
 
 been pleafing to ourflcfhi he will hale 
 us, and dragge us on the left-hand, and 
 pluck us down-ward to the bottomlefs 
 pic, where we (hall receive the wages of 
 iniquity ,everl3fling perdition and de- 
 ftrudion both of body and foul. 
 
 Oh thenCmy rou])think it not .much, Applkat. 
 if in this life there be little difference 
 made between thy felf, and others that 
 have not received the like mercy 5 nay 
 be content,if thy cafe were as who lob.so.v, 
 was had in derilion of thofe that were 
 younger then he ; of fuch as were chil¬ 
 dren of fools,and children of bafe men, 
 that were viler then the earth , and fuch 
 whofe Fathers he would have difdained 
 to have fet with the dogs of bis flock. 
 
 Be content though with David, thou 
 fhould’fl: become the fong of the drunk- 
 ards > and be counted with the Apoflles 
 the off-fcouring of the world. 
 
 Remember what Solomon faith, Eccicrsi.z., 
 things come alt!^ to all men in this life: to the 
 righteous and to the wicked: to the good, to 
 the clean , and unclean ; to him that facrU 
 ficeth, andto him that facrificeth not. As 
 u the goodfo is the [inner,and he that fwear^ 
 eth as he that feareth an oath. 
 
 Becoatenc then though others cen- 
 
 fur 
 
4^ The Verfect'^iy Chap.VIII. 
 
 fure thee robe an Hypocrite /and mere 
 out-fide; (b ehac thy own confcit nce do 
 acquicand difcharge thee. The bed: of 
 Godsfervants have bad the fam^ mea* 
 fure. r pafTe not to be judged ofyouj or 
 1C014.3. ofmans judgraenr ( (aith Paul) there 
 is one that jutigeth^and that u the Lord. Re¬ 
 member that yet thou art in thy jour¬ 
 ney. It is no nia. vaile , if a true man be 
 hardly ufed on he road , if he fall into 
 the bands of inieves. Comfort thy 
 felf with the remembrance of thy joiir- 
 Wemuft ndes end. Onely take heed that thou 
 fakVour I^tarfake not thy mafler, for the foulneis 
 mafterfot of the vvav, if ihoii flick to him 7 he 
 
 behind him» but will 
 theway. carry thee through all the dangers and 
 difficulties of the way, and own thee at 
 the end of it. 
 
 And be content with rough fare, 
 courfecloaths, and hard lodging. It is 
 , but for a ni^ht, and away. Think on 
 
 Lukej6. I ^ j 
 
 jp^o.&c. ihcricngJuuon*and poor The 
 
 one was ckathedtn purplefine linnenitbe 
 other hadfiarce aragge to cover hU fores ^ 
 The one fared debmujly every day; the ether 
 had fcarce a mor/el of bread to put in his 
 mouth, Herewasa great differencejbut 
 where was it? In the way,on their jour¬ 
 ney, 
 
45 
 
 Part. T. to Die tn Peace. 
 
 ney,and at their Innes,& baiting-places, 
 bucwhcn they came to their joiirneics 
 end the matter was altered. The one, 
 for his purple, & bne linnen>was cloath- 
 ed with flames of fire,at{d confubon of 
 face; and for his dainty fare, could not 
 have fo much as a drop of water to cool 
 his tongue .-the other had his fores cu¬ 
 red with ihe leaves of the tree of life,his 
 belly filled with the fruits of it, his na- 
 kednefs covered with the robes of glo¬ 
 ry 5 and himfelf received into Abrahams 
 bofome was made evcrlalfingly happy. 
 
 ^^yi/fO(i blejfed Father ^ and Sovereign p^ay 
 Lord of heaven and earth , be plea- 
 fed to entertain me tilt0 thy fervtce here in 
 this world, and give me what pay ttpleaf 
 eththee. Make me one of fhy sheip , and 
 put me in what Failure thou pleafefl. Let 
 me be a gram of good Comm thy field, and 
 expofe me to what winds and weather thou 
 Wilt. Onely I btftech thee^make me faiths 
 full tnthy fervice ; an obedient sheep to the 
 voice of 7ny shepjjeard ; a fruitful! grain, 
 that may bring much ir.creafe', and then I 
 know in due timei I shall be inned in thy 
 Barn ,when the tares shall be burned ; I 
 shall be jet on the right hand,with the sheep, 
 
 when 
 
4-6 The '^erfeBli’ay Chap.IX. 
 
 when many shall ftand on the left with the 
 goats 5 I shall follow thee at the end of my 
 travailes , and be admitted into thy heavenly 
 Manfionsywhen others shall be dragged to 
 Helltsh mifery. Oh let death be to me the be^ 
 ginning of that life that never shall have end 
 through lefts Chrifi, Amen 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Of the mofl ivofully and Lamentable death 
 of the wicked. 
 
 EccI,3.2o. 
 
 Great dif¬ 
 ference 
 be tween 
 the godly 
 and the 
 wicked in 
 death. 
 
 T Hough to a carnal eye, there may 
 feeme to be very little, or no dif¬ 
 ference at all between the godly 
 and the wicked in death,* becaufe pre» 
 vailes over both ? and brings both to' 
 the grave : For C as Solomon laith , all go 
 to one place: all was of the duft, and all shall 
 return to the dufi: yet if the eyes of our 
 minds be enlightened > & if we look nar¬ 
 rowly into the matter, we (hall find a 
 vaff difproporrion between them ; as we 
 may perceive by that whichhath been 
 faid in the former Chapter, and now 
 fhall be further manifelfed in this. For 
 to the one it is a curfe , to the other a 
 blefilng; to the one it comes armed 
 
 with 
 
47 
 
 PartJ. toDiein peace. 
 
 with a (harp fting, to the other the fting 
 is pullM our that it cannot hurt; to the 
 one it is theendofalpleafure&delight, 
 and the beginning of everlalHng pain; 
 to the other it is the end of all painjand 
 the beginning of everlafting pleafjre. 
 
 Oh how miferable, wretched-, and 
 fearfull is the death of the wicked ! As 
 he hath lived fo he dies. He lived with¬ 
 out confcience ,and dies without com¬ 
 fort. He lived out of Gods fear, and 
 dies out of his favour. 
 
 How will it cut him to the heart to 
 bebid ftand in his evil dayes, and pur- 
 fuitof his evil courfes, to be taken in 
 the (hare ere he is aware, to be violenr- 
 Iwju^Lto the bar of Gods Iu[l:ice;co 
 to all things that have been 
 moft dear to him in this life / 
 
 Profits, pleafures, honours, favours, 
 high places, preferments; houfes, lands, 
 mannours, Wifcjchildren, friends, and 
 companions; filver,golcl, brave appa¬ 
 rel, dainty fare, flrengih, beauty ,and 
 what elfe foever he bath taken delight 
 in, muli: now leave him. And by how 
 much his heart bath been immoderate¬ 
 ly taken up with any, or all ol thefe; by 
 fomuch will his griel be greater to leave 
 
 them. 
 
 The death 
 of the 
 wicked 
 moft fear- 
 full and 
 n.ifeiabie. 
 
 All earth¬ 
 ly con¬ 
 tentments 
 leave the 
 finnerin 
 death. 
 

 The PerfeB Chap.IX. 
 
 them. Imagine a man,defl:itute of Gods 
 grace, and fear , to be call: upon his Tick 
 bed, by that ficknefs that (hall end his 
 dayes,* to be (hot through with deaths 
 The wick- envenomed arrow: how doth he to(re 
 edhavcno and tumble day and nightjwithout eafe 
 on^heir * In the morning, be wi(hech it 
 
 death-beds were evening , and at evening, it were 
 morning; there is no reft in his body? 
 nor peace in his foul. That may be laid 
 moft truly of him , which lob once faid 
 lobjo.i;. ofhimfelf. His'bones are pierced in him in 
 the night feafont and his [mews take no refl^ 
 The arrows of the Almighty are within 
 him y thepoifen thereof drinks up his fpirit, 
 and the terrours of God do fit themfeIves in 
 array againjihlm. And in this mift raWe 
 condition, how will it increafe his ve:^a»* 
 
 lob 5 4* 
 
 tion to fee his wife wayling, and wring¬ 
 ing her hands : his children crying,his 
 friends lighing , his neighbours condo¬ 
 ling his miierable condition ! How will 
 it perplex his loul to chink, and fee,that 
 his glalle is now run , and his life at an 
 end! we fay , life is fwelr , and ’tis true 
 indeed, and cherelore Satan (aid oilob. 
 
 •» r / 
 
 1O02.4.' ^ktnfor sktn ■> and all that a man hath will 
 he give for his life. But hqw would he 
 give the whole W'Oild ( if it were in his 
 
 power) 
 
Part.!. to T)ie in Peace. 49 
 
 power ) he cannot lengthen his life one 
 moment, or inch of time. There is no 
 manffaith Solomm) that hath power over Ecclers s, 
 thefpirit to retain tH neither hath he power 
 in the day of deaths there is no difcharge in 
 that warfare-i neither shall wickednefs de¬ 
 liver thofe that ate given to it. How will The con- 
 his confeience now torment him , that 
 flloulcl be his greateft comfort ? It will edtor- 
 tellhim of the time, that he hath mis- 
 Ipent; of the day of Grace, that he hath death, 
 neglededj of the acceptable time offal- 
 vation, that he hath contemned^ of the 
 many oportunities offered, that he hath 
 refufed. It will repeat unto him the fins 
 of his youth, and of his riper age* It 
 will forcibly bring into his mind thofe 
 fins that (happily) have been longfince 
 committed , and he thought would ne¬ 
 ver have been remembred any more. 
 
 Oaths, and blafphemies; lies, and flan- sins fore- 
 ders j injuries and oppreffionsj fornica- fo bJre^*^ 
 tions, and adulteries^ pride and world- membred 
 linefsj drunkennefs ,and quarrelling , 
 with innumerable other fins will come 
 thick,and three-fold into his mind. And 
 though he would willingly forget them, 
 and thruft them out of his thoughts, as ^ 
 
 Amnon did Ihatnar out of his chamber: ,7. 
 
 D yeg 
 
so The ^^rfeEt Tifay Chap.IX, 
 
 yet they will'break in upon him, and 
 forcibly return , do what he can. They 
 wjII fay unto him,we are thy works^and 
 we will follow thee. 
 
 Thewick- W^hat Can the poor man do in this 
 indeath.^^ extremity ? his body is tormented with 
 ficknefs^ his foul with horrour. Live he 
 fain would, but he may not; die he 
 m’uft, and yet he dare not. That little 
 time, that is left to him, and fliould be 
 fpent in calling upon God for comfort 
 at the laft gafpe, is now too little to dif^ 
 pofe of his eftate,& (perhaps) ill gotten 
 goods; or (if he have made his will) to 
 perufe, and review it. 
 
 Satanmoft And that nothing may be wanting to 
 
 ind'ea°h* make his eftate miferable, Satan now 
 fteps in, and Shootes his fiery Darts 
 of defperate temptations , to drive 
 him even to delperation. In his health 
 and life time, his manner was to flat¬ 
 ter him in his fins, and to mince, and 
 leflen great and grievous offences; but 
 now he changetfa his note , and makes 
 Satan sg- little fins great, and mole-hills moun- 
 tains. And withall, he aggravates them 
 death. by every circumftance he may,and pre- 
 fents before him the levcriiy of Gods 
 luftice, & the ftridnels of that account, 
 
 that 
 
► 
 
 r 
 
 
 part. I, to Die Peace. [51 
 
 that is prefently to be made. Nothing 
 can now comfort his foul, but hope of 
 mercy from God ; but ( as Bildad faith) iob«. i4» 
 his hope is like the fpiders web, or the gi¬ 
 ving up of the Ghoft. For (alas) what 
 hope of mercy can he have in death, 
 thatdefpifed the riches ofGods boun¬ 
 ty, long-fuffering and patience in his ^om.z 4 
 life ? 
 
 Oh (thinks he ) that it might be per- The dc- 
 mitsed to me to live a little longer ! pjfomifSf 
 How would I redeem the time, that I of the 
 have mifpent! how would I humble my 
 felf before God> and repent of my fins ! vain, and 
 how would I reform my life, and re- 
 drelTe my wayes! how diligently would 
 I frequent Gods houfe, how attentive¬ 
 ly would I hear his word , how would I 
 reverence his minifters, love his people, 
 call upon his name,fandify his day, 
 obferve his ordinances! how would I 
 improve every offer of grace, & oppor¬ 
 tunity of mercy. But whiles he is thus Deathpre-^ 
 in his vain wifhes ffor now it is too latej 
 death dragges him like a mercilcfs Ser-ihe wick-, 
 geant to the Bar of Gods luftice, and®^- 
 hales him like a cruel layler to the pri- 
 fon ofHell. He ftrives with death, but 
 it is too hard for himjhis eyes nowbe- 
 
 D z gin 
 
52. The Perfect l^ay Chap. IX. 
 
 gin to be dimmcjthathe cannot feei his 
 eares to be deaf,that he cannot hear)his 
 
 mcixiDCts^ PI i_ I p f 
 
 andffenfes tongiie to taulter, that he cannot ipeak; 
 of the bo- i\ands are fo feeble, that he cannot 
 
 death. lift them up , his feete fo ftiffe that he 
 cannot put them down.All his outward 
 members now fail him,* yea and his vital 
 parts begin to yield to a diffolution. 
 The cold fweat of death is now over 
 all his body , and now is that evil day 
 Eccl. iz. 3, come , that Solomon fpeaks off. The light 
 is now darkened i the Keepers of the houfe 
 tremble, the jirongmen bow themfelves,the 
 grinders ceafe , and they that lool^ out of the 
 windows , are darkned. The filver Cord 
 is now loofed, the pitcher is broken at 
 the fountain, and the wheele at theci- 
 ftern. Dull now returns to dufl:,and the 
 Ipirit returns to God that gaveitjnotto 
 be glorified : for then, it were the hap- 
 Goinot pielt day , that ever befell it: but to re- 
 
 riAVbut fentence of condemnation. 
 
 Take him, bind him hand and foot, and cafi 
 him into utter darknefs, there shall be weep¬ 
 ing and gnashing of teeth. Ah Lord, who 
 doth not tremble to think upon this 
 wofull parting ; whofe heart doth not 
 ake within him, to think upon the poor 
 damned foul thaf is now in the pawes 
 
 of 
 
 The foul 
 of the 
 wicked re¬ 
 turns to 
 
 condem¬ 
 ned. 
 Mar. 24. 
 51,25,50. 
 
53 
 
 
 Part.I. to Die in Peace, 
 
 of Satan 5 defcending towards the bo.t- 
 tomlefs pit! what fcreeks, and grones, 
 what bowlings 5 and lamentations doth 
 it make! well might Adrian the Empe- 
 rour cry outj Mi anhnule , blandule, tre- 
 mule j quo vadis ? My poor Iweet trem¬ 
 bling foul whither goeft thou? whither? 
 himfelf might anfwer himfelf thus. 
 Even to the infernal pit: to the lake that 
 burns with fire , and brimftone; to the 
 place of torments, that are endlefs, eafe- 
 lefs, and remedilefs. The foul being 
 now deported ? hath left the body , a 
 lump of earth, ugly, loatbfome, and de¬ 
 formed : cold as a fione , ftiffe as a tree, 
 fit for no place, but a hole in the earth, 
 fit for no company, butputrified corps 
 in the Church-yard. The dearefl: friend, 
 that it had in it's life time,can have now 
 no pleafure in it, nay cannot abide to 
 behold i^. What then becomes of it fit 
 is carried on a bier to the place of its 
 burial, laid in a grave, where in afhort 
 time the worms confume the flefh, and 
 rottennefs eats the bones: fo that as Job 
 faith it may truly fay; The grave is my 
 houfe : I have made my bed in darknefs ; I 
 have faid to corruption. Thou art my Fa> 
 ther) to the worm thou art my Mother, and 
 
 D 3 my 
 
 The 
 
 fpeech of 
 Adrian at 
 his death. 
 
 Thebody 
 ugly, and 
 lothfome, 
 when the 
 foul is de¬ 
 parted. 
 
 lob 17.1 j. 
 
54 
 
 The bo¬ 
 dies of 
 the wick¬ 
 ed muft 
 life again 
 to receive 
 punifli-^ 
 menc. 
 
 Applicat, 
 
 if we 
 -would 
 ilmn the 
 
 The Perfcci Chap.IX. 
 
 mj fifter» And yet this is not the end 
 of it’s mifery,for as it hath been partner 
 with the foul in finningjfo muftit arife 
 again at the laft day ? and being joyned 
 with it again , mufi: be a {barer alfo in 
 fuffering fuch torments as for nature 
 are intollerable? and for durance ever* 
 lafting. 
 
 Ah then (my foul) is this the death of 
 the wicked 5 tremble at the very re- 
 membra’nce of it; and endeavour by all 
 means to be delivered from it. But in 
 vain it is to wifh to avoid his death, un- 
 ihe'death leffe thou firfl: forfake the manner of 
 of the lifejfor as a man livesjfo he mufi: die. 
 wemuft Therefore fay with Away from 
 
 me ye wicked/for I will keep the command¬ 
 ments of my God. And again , I have hated 
 the congregation of evil doers , and will not 
 fit with the wicked, ^c. Gather not my 
 foul with fmners,nor my life withbloudy 
 men , in whofe hand is mifchiefl and their 
 right hand is full of bribes: But as for me I 
 will walk in my innocency^ Redeem me, and 
 he mercifuU unto me. 
 
 Therefore, iffmners intice thee, confent 
 thou not. When thou art tempted to any 
 fin , think upon thy end. Remember 
 the good counfell that is given the by 
 
 forfake 
 his courfe 
 of life. 
 Tfal. ii5>. 
 
 us. 
 
 Tfal.z6.s, 
 
 6 ,9,10. 
 
 
 a god* 
 
55 
 
 Part.!. to Die in Peace, 
 
 a godly and learned man who faith thus. 
 
 Think on thy eyes that (hall wax Doftor 
 dimme in death, and thou (halt eafily 
 turn them away from vanity. Think tation of 
 on thy eares, that fhall wax deaf in 
 death, and thou (halt eahly flop them tion of 
 againft wickednefs, and obfcene words. 
 
 Think on thy tongue, that fhall wax 
 ftifFe in death, and thou fhall have a 
 greater care of thy fpeech. Let the 
 fweat, and anxiety ofchofe that die,be branceof 
 continually before thine eyes: foihalt ^eathpro- 
 thou eafily contemne the delights 
 the world. Let the nakednefs of thofe, 
 that go out of this life, be continually 
 in thine eyes, and poverty in this life 
 fhall not be grievous unto thee. Think 
 on the hon our of the whole body in 
 death , and thou (halt eafily contemne 
 the glory of the world. Think upon 
 Cardinal WoolCefs complaint, when it 
 
 r T ^ I T I ^ r 11 Woolfey s 
 
 was too late. Had I been as carerull to complaint 
 ferve the God of heaven , as my great at his end. 
 mafter on earth, he had never left me in 
 my gray hairs. 
 
 Remember how the wicked (hall com¬ 
 plain and cry out after death,as we have 
 it in the book of iVtfdojne, What hath chap. 5.8, 
 
 or 
 
 pride profited 
 
 what good hath riches 
 D 4 with 
 
 10, U,I 2 , 
 
 3,14. 
 
5^ Pcrfelfi^ay. Chap.lX. 
 
 •with our vaunting brought us} Jill tbof& 
 things are puffed away like a fhadow ^and 
 its a Polly that paffeth by. And as a f hip that 
 paffeth over the waves of the water j and 
 when it is gone by^ the trace thereof cannot 
 he found, dec. Even fo we in like manner tos 
 foon us we were born , began to draw to our 
 end, and had no figne of vertue to fbew: but 
 were confumed in our own wukednefs. 
 Tor the hope of the ungodly is like duft,that 
 is blown away with the wind; like thin 
 froth, that u driven away with the form : 
 like as the fmoak^that is dtfperfedhere, and 
 there with a tempeft , and paffeth away as 
 the remembrance of a Guefl , that tarryeth 
 hut a day. 
 
 The fear- Call to mind the fearfull examples 
 of of Gods Judgments in the wretched, 
 wicked 3 f*d defperate ends of Spira , Bofmefler 
 not to be crefeentm, Latomus , and fuch like wick- 
 forgotten. enemies of Gods truth , arid other 
 
 Hypocrites 5 and notorious offenders? 
 which have died in defperation , and 
 without any hope of Gods mercy. 
 
 Prayer. ^ Lord my God , I befeech thee worJ^the 
 • ^ true fear of thy name in my heart, that I 
 may never walk in the paths of the wicked, 
 leaft I come to their end. Shew me the path 
 
 of 
 
'Part.I. to Die in Peace. 
 
 S7 
 
 of peace, and guide my fee i in it, that I may 
 notJlide, O let my foul live, and it shall 
 praife thee. But gather not my foul with 
 finners, nor my life with hloudy men. Guide 
 me with thy counfel here , and receive me to 
 
 V •' t r in ffial. 73.Z^^ 
 
 glory hereafter through I efu Chrtft my Sa¬ 
 viour, Pimcn. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 of the moft happy y comfortable, and hleffed 
 death of the righteous. 
 
 A Holy life is ever accompanycd 
 with a happy deathjanci therefore 
 it cannot be , but a godly man is 
 then moft blefted, when he leaves this 
 world; and offiich it is that Solomon 
 faith? The day of death is better , then the 
 dayy that one is horn. And David Prettous in 
 the fight of the Lord is the death of all his The world 
 Saints, Death to the righteous man is dem'efs 
 the end of all travails, and the haven of death 
 reft. This world is a wildernefs, where- 
 in we wander here and thercjas Pilgrims, home, 
 and ftrangers, fubjed: »'o a thouiand 
 dangers; death brings.us to our home, troubiesj 
 This world is a fea wherein we float, 
 and are toiled to? and fro,with contrary icit. 
 
 T ' ~ ^ waves 
 

 The PerfeB Chap.X.. 
 
 waves,and winds^ as j fometimes ofpro- 
 fperity lifting us up5 fometimes ofad- 
 verfity cafting us down. Death is the 
 Port of eafe, and the Haven of refrcfh- 
 
 This p re¬ 
 fen t life is 
 our feed¬ 
 
 ing. 
 
 time, 
 death the 
 liarveft- 
 
 Death o- 
 pens the 
 ptifon 
 door. 
 
 JMr. T)(ni- 
 fon in his 
 3. Fold 
 jRe^oUi- 
 
 tion. 
 
 The foul 
 as a prifo- 
 ner rejoy- 
 ceth at 
 herfree- 
 dome. 
 This life 
 compared 
 to along 
 fit of fick- 
 nefs; 
 
 This prefent life is the time j and fea- 
 fon of fowing; now we know, that feed- 
 time is a bufy time, and full of Labour, 
 death is the Harvefl:> wherein we reap a 
 plentifull crop of everlaiUng comfort. 
 And as the pleafure, that men take in 
 reaping rhe fruits of the earth, doth 
 make their toyl in Harveft feeme light 
 and eafy; fo that abundance of reft and 
 peace,that death brings with it, doth 
 infinitely countervail the pangs & pains 
 of it. Here the foul is in a dark, and 
 loathfbme prifonjdeath opens the door, 
 let^s it out, and let’s it at liberty. 
 
 The bird (as one raitb)that hath been 
 kept a great while in a Cage, will chaunt 
 it merrily, when fhe comes forth. 
 
 The prifoner, that hath layen long 
 in the Dungeon , rejoyceth exceeding¬ 
 ly, when he hath obtained liberty. So 
 {hall it be with the righteous in death. 
 
 This life is a long time of ficknels, 
 wherein for extremity of pain we can 
 take little, or no quiet reft, but in death 
 
 we 
 
Part.L to’DieinVea.ee. ^9 
 
 we fleepfoundlyjfweetly , and without 
 difturbance. And therefore we may fay 
 of him that dies in the Lord , as the Di- 
 fciples of Ghrifl did of La^^rm, Lordif roh.ir;ia; 
 he jleep he shall do well. Hence it is that 
 death in the Scripture is frequently 
 called a fleep ; and the righteous, when 
 they depart this life are faid to fall a- pture 
 
 n compared 
 
 to fleep. 
 
 In this world 5 while we bear about 
 with us this body of death, we cannot 
 choofe but fin daylyj and to a good from fin. 
 heart, what greater grief is there, then 
 to fin againft God? But now death cures 
 this malady, ' 
 
 Sin brought death into the worldjand 
 to the godly death takes away fin; and 
 as a learned and reverend Divine faith, 
 flops all the pipes , and conduits of it Bp, Coropef. 
 in our nature. 
 
 And as in this world wefinagainfl 
 God: fo here we fuffer for lin: Oh who 
 knows, the miferies, troubles, forrows, 
 afflidlions and temptations, that befall 
 us in this prefent life ? now death puts 
 an end to thefe alfo ,• as S^. Walter Raw- ends all 
 leigh faid of the (harp axe, that fhould 
 behead him. It would cure all his infir¬ 
 mities. Bleffed are the dead that die in the Re7.i4.r 3; 
 
 lord, 
 
6o "ihe FerfeEi'^Ay Chap.X/ 
 
 LorEi ,, even fo faith thefpirit ^that they refi 
 from their labours and their works follow 
 them. 
 
 Inward temptations fhall then no 
 more moleft us 5 outward calamities 
 fhall no more opprefl'e us. All teares 
 3R.ev.zi. 4 . fhall be wiped from our eyesj all for- 
 rows removed from our hearts ^ all re¬ 
 proaches done away from our names. 
 Fear^ fhall no longer perplex us j cares 
 lliall no longer diilradl us 5 nor any o- 
 ther kind of evil any more moleft us. 
 But this is not all* It is but the one half 
 Death good, that death brings us : for 
 
 puts us in-it not onely puts an end to all themi- 
 feffion^of of this life ; but alfo puts us into 
 
 Jhappinefs. the pofteflion of eternal happinefs. 
 
 Death ( indeed) is but a grim Porter, 
 but it opens the gate of everlafting life 
 Simile, to US* It brings us into the glorious prefence 
 Hcb 12 2z Almighty i ofChriji lejiis^and of all 
 
 the blejfed Saints, and Angels. And there¬ 
 fore who would not defire to die f 
 Imagine now a fincerc ChriUian,to be 
 walking on in his journey towards hea¬ 
 ven, fighing, groning, and grieving un¬ 
 der the burden of fin , and many mife- 
 ries ofthis prefent life , and crying out 
 ^om.7. with S^,Paul) IVretched man that I am, 
 
 ~ ~ who 
 
i Part.I. to Die tn Peace, 
 
 ! • 
 
 who shall deliver we from the body of this 
 f death. How welcome is death , when he 
 comes5to fuch a one? How willingly 
 doth he fubmit to Gods hand on his 
 death-bed ? what fweet prayers 3 and e- 
 jaculations doth he fend up to the 
 throne of Grace ? what gratioiis words 
 do proceed from his mouth , to all that 
 come to vifit him ? How fweetly doth 
 he comfort 3 and counfel his wife; 
 bleffe and admonifli his children 3 in- 
 ftrud and exhort his friends3andneigh- 
 I hours? what a comfort is it to fee 3 and 
 heare him fo willing to die 3 To defi- 
 rous to bediffolved? what an impref^ 
 fion do his laft words ufually make 
 in the minds of all that heare him. Lord 
 (faith he with Idcob) I have waited for 
 thy falvation ; with David , when shall I 
 come and appear before the prefence of God? 
 with Paul 3 1 have fought a good fight j I 
 have finished my courfe, I have kept the 
 faith: from henceforth there is laid up for 
 I me the crown of right eoufnef} , &c. with 
 Chrifi Vather into thy hands 1 commendmy 
 fpirit. 
 
 In the mean while j he is not at reft 
 i with himfelf, but ftill his heart cryes 
 out. When shall I remove out of this 
 
 houfe 
 
 61 
 
 Death 
 welcome! 
 to the 
 godly. 
 
 TheSaiatS 
 fweet be- 
 havioui iir 
 death. 
 
 Gen.<49-i^ 
 Pfal.42. 3 - 
 
 z Tim-.-jlTj 
 
 s. 
 
 Luke 23:. 
 ^ 6 , 
 
 z Cor. s.ij 
 
 tf h 
 
* 6z ThePerfeffytfay Chap.X. 
 
 houfe of clay j and enjoy that houfe that 
 u above j not made with hands but e- ^ 
 ternal in the heavens \ . When shall I | 
 put off thefe rags of corruption , and 
 be cloathed with the robes of Glorjl ^ 
 , f fal.izo.s. Woe is me that I dwell in Mesheck 9 
 and have my habitation in the tents of 
 Kcv.za. Kedar, Come therefore^ Lord lefus^ come 
 quickly. 
 
 Appiica- Well then (myfbul) isit thus with 
 tion. » 25 the Lord ? Is their death 
 
 fo happy, bleffed > and glorious ? Oh 
 then, ftudy to live the life oftherigh* 
 teous, and then (without doubt) thou 
 (halt die the death of the righteous, 
 prai.37.35. marke the upright man (faith David) 
 and behold the righteous , for the end of that 
 Ifa. 57.i. man is peace. And the Prophet Ifaiah) 
 They shall refl in their beds each onewalkz 
 i« his uprightnefs. The grave to a 
 Saints a good man is as a bed of fpices. He (hall 
 bed of fvveetly there till the general Re- 
 
 pic».s. furred:ion ; and then his body (hall be 
 Phil 3.ti, raifed in tl\e virtue of Chriils Refur- 
 Thebo- reefion , changed , and made like his 
 glorious body, that fo being joyned 
 (haiibe to the foul again, it may together with 
 it, be made partaker of everlaftingglo- 
 
 And 
 
. Part. I. tv Die in Peace. 6^ 
 
 And therefore Solomon faith truly^^^^ ^ 
 righteous hath hope in his death. 
 
 Remember therefore what the Apo- 
 ftle lohn faith. Every man that hath ^ 
 thu hope-i purijieth himjelf even as he is ^ 
 pure. And S^ Eaul, Having therefore 
 the/e promifes , let us cleanfe our /elves from ^ 
 all fiithinefs of flesh and fptrit , and embrace 
 perfect hoitnefs m the fear of God, Let Hope of 
 nothing therefore fceme hard to thee 
 in Gods lervice. Let nothing be grie- ftimsup 
 vous, irkfome or tediousdook unto the 
 end. The end will be peace. 
 
 Therefore be not weary of weldoing for Cal, 6.p. 
 in due ime thou shalt reap if thou famt 
 
 not. 
 
 0 Lord my Godj help me , 7 befeecb thee. Prayer 
 in all the tryaWs and troubles of this ' 
 mortallltfe. Enable me patiently, and peace* 
 ably to paffe through them. Let my heart 
 he upright in thy fervice , that when I 
 shall recteve the fentence of death I may 
 fay with good Hezekiah, Remember ^ ^'” 3 ’ 
 now I befeech thee (O Lord) how 
 have walked before thee in truth , and 
 with a perferfl heart, and have done 
 that which is good in thy tight. Oh let 
 
 my 
 
^4 'The Verfe5i Chap.X. 
 
 * my life be holy ^ that my death may be 
 Num.23. ^^PPy- Let me die the death ot the 
 10. righteous j and let my laft end be like 
 hisj Amen. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 * 
 
 • j 
 
 ! 
 
 i 
 
65 
 
 The fecoHd 
 
 TREATISE. 
 
 To the Worfliipfullj and much honoured, 
 
 ROGER WILBRAHAM 
 
 O F 
 
 Decrcfold Efquire, the blefsings of 
 , this, and a better life be multiplied. 
 
 Worthy Sir, 
 
 He Dedication of 
 Books to Perfons of 
 worth, and eminen- 
 cy, is very ancient, having al- 
 fo warrant from the word of 
 God. 
 
 E S\Luhe 
 
66 
 
 Luke X,3." 
 
 A£t$ 1.1 
 
 The Epijile 
 
 S*. L«^e,the beloved Phy= 
 fitiatijmade chocic o^Theophi- 
 lus^ an eminent Profeflbur of 
 Chriftian Religion, to whom 
 he gives the title of moft Ex¬ 
 cellent, to Dedicate, not on¬ 
 ly the fafi:s of Chrift , in the 
 Gofpel, by him written j but 
 alfo the JSis of the Apoftles, 
 in his otherTreatifcrletitnot 
 therefore (I befeech you) of¬ 
 fend your worlhip , that I 
 have prefixed your Name to 
 the enfiiing part of this Trea- 
 tife , as 1 have done in the 
 former , to that worthy 
 Lady , fo nearly related to 
 
 yom 
 
 For, the fame reafons, that 
 ufually prevaile with others, 
 
 in 
 
‘Dedicatory. 
 
 in the like cafe,have embold- 
 ned me to this attempt. 
 
 As, I. the teftification of my 
 love, and thankfulncls, for 
 your undeferved refpefts ta 
 me, manifefted upon all oc- 
 cafions, ever fince my lot 
 fell, by Divine Providence, 
 to be your unworthy Mini- 
 fter. 
 
 a'^That under the fliadow 
 of your wings,I might flielter 
 my felf, and thefemy Me¬ 
 ditation's , from the biting 
 teeth of any envious 
 or jeering tongue of any 
 fcoffing Minim , that might 
 unjuftly affault either me, or 
 them. 
 
 5 ’^ That I might ftiew my 
 
 E 3 wil- 
 
6S 
 
 Pr0.i6 .31 
 
 The Epifile 
 
 willingnefs to further yout 
 Faith, Hope, and Patience, 
 in that great work of prepa¬ 
 ration for death , which is a 
 main duty incumbent upon 
 all men, efpcically fuchas 
 have filver hairs upon their 
 head, which ftiould put theni 
 in mind of a more fpeedy dif- 
 folution jfor weare wont to 
 fay, Young men may die, but 
 old men muft. • 
 
 Sir,The Lord hath length- 
 ned your life to a good old 
 Age, and ('which is far more 
 and better) thofe gray hairs 
 ofyours, are (I doubt not) 
 found in t)ie way of righte- 
 oufnefs, which So/owom faith 
 ■ are a croTt^n of Glory to a man. 
 
 You 
 
Dedicatory. 69 
 
 You have feen the good- 
 nefs of the Lord, in the land 
 of the living , manifeftcd to 
 you, and yours, in a more 
 then ordinary manner. He . 
 hath abundantly bleffed you, 
 both with fpirituall blef- 
 fings, in heavenly, and tem¬ 
 poral , in earthly things. You 
 have not lightly tafted , but 
 largely drunk of the upper, 
 and neither fprings of com¬ 
 fort. 
 
 I might mention many par¬ 
 ticulars, but I forbear, leaft I 
 Ihould incurre the fufpicion 
 of flattery, only let me name 
 one, or two,in fl:ead of many 
 more, i>/^. thp great blefllng 
 God beftowed on you, in a 
 
 E 3 gra- 
 
70 
 
 The Epijlle 
 
 gracious and dear confort , 
 •yvhile fhe lived with youj and 
 another as great as that, and 
 the main produQ: of it,to witj 
 the great comfort, and con¬ 
 tentment you have had,from 
 pious, dutiful, and obedient 
 children, both living, and 
 dead. And that now alfo,you 
 fee the hopeful iflue of divers 
 jfa. 118.3. of them , your childrens child¬ 
 ren , like olive-branches round 
 about ) our Table. 
 
 And now, Sir , what doth 
 the Lord your God require 
 of you ( as was once faid to 
 Ifrael) but to fear the Lord 
 your God , and to walk in 
 his wayesf to love him, 
 and to ferve him with all 
 
 your 
 
your heart,and with all your 
 foul,Dm. 10.12. for, Non 
 datur benejicinmy nijt propter of- 
 ficium. 
 
 God expeSls a return of his 
 Talents luith advantage. Mat. 
 25. 27. ^nd he to whom much 
 is given, of him much shall he re¬ 
 quired, Luke 12. 
 
 Some ofthe Heathens,have 
 fcen this. It is reported of 
 Marcus Jurelim, that, after he 
 had vanquiflied ^opilion, ge¬ 
 neral of the fotent Tarthians, 
 he fpakc thus unto him after 
 the Battels I tell thee of a 
 truth, that I Band in greater 
 fear of fortune , at this pre- 
 lent, then I did before the 
 Battel, for (he carcth not fo 
 
 E 4 much 
 
*The Epijlle 
 
 much to overtake the con¬ 
 quered , as to fubdue, & van- 
 quifh the conquerours, 
 Sceingtherefore,the Lord 
 hath abounded, in his good- 
 nels, mercy,and loving kind- 
 nefs to you, let it be your 
 care, to abound in thankful- 
 nefs, lov-e, and obedience to 
 him again : and I hope, it is 
 your care,fo to do, & in truth 
 of heart, to fay with David, 
 Quid retribmm t^omino ? What 
 shall I render to the Lord for all 
 his benefits to me ? I TriU take the 
 cup of Salvation,IWiU call upon 
 the name of the Lord, < 3 ^ pay my 
 VoVVes unto him. 
 
 Goon ftill worthy Sir, in 
 the name , ^nd ftrcngth of 
 
 your 
 
Dedicatory. 7 i 
 
 your God, to abound more 
 and more in wel-doing, that 
 you may be as a tree of righte- 
 oufnefs,planted in die courts 
 of Gods houfe , and watered 
 with the ftreams of the San- 
 £iuary that may ftill even in 
 old age be more fiourifhing, 
 and fruitful 5 that fo , when 
 you have finiflied your courfe 
 ill this vale of milery here,you 
 may receive the crown ofiTim4.s. 
 righteoulhcfs hereafter , w'** 
 is laid up in the highefi; Hea¬ 
 vens, for all thofe who love 
 the Lord, and long for his 
 appearing, which he humbly 
 prayes for, who prefents you 
 with this poor Paper-token 
 of love , and fervice, inflead 
 
 of 
 
7Ar Epljlie Vedicatorjy 8cc. 
 
 of a better gift, and profef- 
 feth himfelf to be, Sir, 
 
 y, Tourl^orships ever- 
 
 much obliged : 
 
 E. B. 
 
5 
 
 ♦ 
 
 THE 
 
 PERFECT WAY, 
 
 T O 
 
 P Y E in PEACE, 
 
 O R 
 
 A Treatife of D e a t h. 
 The fccond Part. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Shelving in gmefalrvhat preparation for death is, and 
 who they are that tan rightly prepare for it. 
 
 T h but loft labour to medi* ingrain 
 tate of death, unlefte that me- 
 Citation draw us to ferious dcath,un^ 
 preparation for it. And there- 
 fore all that hath been faid heretofore for it. 
 ought to be a preparative to this prepa¬ 
 ration. It is in vain to know the nature, 
 kinds, caufes, adjunds, & confequents 
 of death ; the wofull eftate of the wick¬ 
 ed, the happy condition of the godly 
 after this life, unlefte the knowledge of 
 thefe things work in our hearts a holy 
 care to pafle the time ofour fojourn- 
 
y6 
 
 ler. lo.tj. 
 
 Pfa. 50.12, 
 
 Xukei.ap- 
 What pre¬ 
 paration 
 for death 
 is. 
 
 Though 
 there be 
 jnanya- 
 ^ions in 
 this pre¬ 
 paration, 
 yet here 
 they are 
 taken 
 conjm£Iim, 
 
 as one. 
 
 The VerfeEl l^ay Chap.I. 
 
 * 
 
 ing here in Gods fear ? that we may end 
 our dayes in his love 5 and favour. And 
 therefore becaufe it is not in our power, 
 or flrcngth to do this > ffor it is not in 
 man that walketh to dired his way,) we * 
 (hould dayly beg itofGod, by fervent 
 and earneft prayers,that he would teach 
 us fo to number our dayesjthat we may 
 apply our hearts to wifdome. We have 
 heard in the former part, that this pre¬ 
 paration we fpeak off is neceffary for all 
 men; the benefit ofic exceeding great, 
 thje danger of the negled ofit exceed¬ 
 ing deadly. It remaines therefore now 
 to confider , what this preparation is, 
 wherein it confifts, and how we may 
 through Gods grace fo perform it, that 
 when death comes, we may be willing 
 and ready to die having nothing elfe 
 to do, but to fing withold Stmeon^a 
 Nunc dimittU Lord now lettefl: thou thy 
 fervant depart in peace , according to 
 thy word. 
 
 Preparation therefore for death is a ^ 
 holy adion of a true believer wher^eby 
 he is made fit and ready to dy well? and 
 happily. 
 
 It is an adion} Therefore fomc-^ 
 thing is to be done , ere we can end 
 
 our 
 
Part.II. to Die in Peace, 
 
 77 
 
 our dayes in peace. Thofe that think 
 they flaall die well ? and yet never take 
 any paines in this fo neceffary work of 
 preparation > much deceive themfelves. 
 
 There is fome difficulty in every 
 thing that is excellent 5 and by how thing to 
 much a thing is more excellent, by fo 
 
 1 1 1 < or I • , ^ . for dcst-h* 
 
 much thedimculty is greater to obtain w 
 it* Now a blefled death is the greateft'^®^'^®^** 
 blefEng that can befall us ,• and Chall we 
 think to obtain this without any care 
 orinduftryi* 
 
 Arts and fciences are not learned 
 without much ftudy, and diligence j 
 and (hall we ever think to learn the kxUmgerelie^ 
 of dying well, which is the chiefefl: of all 
 Arts, as being the end , to which the 
 meanes are fubordinate, with one Lord 
 have mercy upon us ? no it cannot be. 
 
 It is an adion 5 and a holy adion ] Prepara- 
 and therefore , we are not to think it 
 
 *it lilts noc 
 
 conlilts in civil or ceremonii^all re-in out- 
 
 (beds. It is not fo much the labour of 
 
 1 j 1 j r t monies* 
 
 the outward, as the endeavour or the 
 
 inner man. Bodily ftrength is not re¬ 
 quired, but (pirituaH in this bufinefsi 
 It confifls not in mumbling over a 
 formal confefHon to aPrieft, receiving 
 abfolution from him,/holy water ,crof- 
 
 fing,. 
 
S I’he Perfect ^ay Chap.I, 
 
 fing, oylingjand fuch like trumperiesj 
 no, nor yet in making a mans will, fet- 
 ling his eftate,preparing his CofBn,and 
 winding flleet,appointing a place where 
 his corps may be laid 5 though thefe 
 things be lawfull and commendable; 
 but in the inward dilpofition of the 
 foul, & a holy frame and temper of the 
 heart, to be willing to be abfent from 
 a Cor. the body (as S^, Faul [peaks ) and prefent 
 with the Lord, 
 
 A man/in therefore it is added of a true 
 
 Jbisnatu- Believer] one that by a true faith is in- 
 
 cannor Chrift, and hence it fol- 
 
 ptcparc lows, that he that is in his natural eftate, 
 foideach. and out of Chrift cannot perform it. 
 
 A natural man is only led , & guided 
 by nature. And it is againft nature to 
 defire to die 5 for nature defires the 
 continuance of it felf, and abhors a dif- 
 folution. 
 
 A man merely natural wants thofe 
 graces, that are requifite for this work. 
 And howcan a dead man do the adlions 
 of life, which are required in this duty? 
 Adlions of fpirituall life are required 
 for a happy corporal death. Now the 
 Eph.i.i,iz Apoftle tell’s us ^that by nature we are 
 dead in trefpajfes ^ and fins )aliens from the 
 
 Common- 
 
Tart.II. to Die in Peitce, 79 
 
 Cottifhon-wealth of Ifrael , and fir angers 
 from the covenant ofpromife. 
 
 It is added that it is fuch an action Moftmen 
 
 r 1 1* _ 1 1 ■ r 1 know not 
 
 of a believer j as makes him ht and rea- 
 dy to die ] And by this we fee planly, paration 
 thatmoft men in the world know not 
 what it means. For moft mens care is 
 how they may live long , not how they 
 may die well. How they may enjoy the pp^j 
 good things of this life in abundance. How Hab.2.6. 
 they may obtaine Corn ^ andWme^and Oyl. 
 
 How they may lade themfelves with 
 clay 5 liveateafe , eat, drinl^ and be merry. 
 
 This is the greateft care of the Epicures 
 of our time. And that they may neftle 
 themfelves in their fools Paradice here 
 long enough) how do they pamper 
 ther bodies? ho w nice and curious are 
 they in their di'etdodging and apparell? 
 what Peeking is there to the Phifician to 
 continue or recover health? 
 
 ' But whereas the man that cares a Fewmen 
 
 right for his death, that is mindfull of 
 
 his mortality , & every day fitting him- mortality. 
 
 felf for his departure hence? though 
 
 this ought to be every mans care, and 
 
 in this doth this preparation cheifly 
 
 confift. 
 
 Therefore ( O my foul ) apply this AppUcat, 
 
 bufineft 
 
So 
 
 phii.413. 
 and z. 13. 
 
 Jfa.26. iz. 
 
 The Ter fed l^ay Chap.L 
 
 bufinefs withall thy might. It is a hard 
 task indeed, but what laith SKPaul, I 
 can do all things , through Chrift that 
 firengthens me. It is God that worketh the 
 •wtllandthe deed. And he hath faid, He 
 
 tile vincet u'Qrkjtd OUT worksfoT US, Fly there- 
 innobii,fi fore to him by earnellprayer,and beg 
 medonostn prace ofhlm to do that which nature 
 
 Eraf. cannot. The Lord lefus Ghriit who 
 inPrap. ad fj^th ovei'come for us, will alfo in due 
 time overcome in us. He hath faid, O 
 death I will be thy deaths O grave I will be ' 
 thy deJlruHion, 
 
 Fear not therefore nor be faint heart¬ 
 ed : but buckle thy felfto the combate, 
 and(without doubt)the vidory is thine 
 own. 
 
 Prayer. J Befeech thee (OgraciousXord) that once 
 faid^ft to Hezekhh 9 Set thy houfe in 
 order,for thou muft die and not livctbe 
 fie a fed to fet my heart in order , that I may 
 live and not die; I mean not the death of the 
 wickedy neither let my lafi end be like his. 
 Oh manifefl thy power in my weaknefs,and 
 let thy grace be fufficientfor me , that I may 
 make fuch a holy preparation for death , that 
 the day of it may be better to me , then that 
 wherein I was born ? Amen. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Part.IL to Die in Peace. 
 
 Si 
 
 c H A P. II. 
 
 The kinds of pYeparation for death , viz. the cne 
 general , required of all men in their health and 
 firength ^ and wherein it confifls ; the other more 
 [pedal refpeEbing the time of (icknefs. 
 
 W E have heard what this prepa¬ 
 ration is ,* let us now conlider 
 the diftindions of it. 
 
 Preparation for death is either more Prepara- 
 general, refpeding our whole life? efpe- [i^ngujl 
 cially the time of our health & ftrength, fiied, 
 or more fpecial ? refpeding the time of 
 firkncfs ? or other calamity , whereby 
 God fummons us to make our account 
 before him. 
 
 The firft of thefe is done by two ^ Means 
 means in the general? i. By making our ofgeneral 
 peace with God. ab-By Arming our 
 i'elves againft death. 
 
 The fecond is done,by renewing the i v/emuft 
 fame peace once made?zb By reviewing 
 the fame armour, buckling it on us,and God. 
 exercifing it in the very brunt and heat 
 ofthe battel. 
 
 Concerning the firft, we muft maka 
 our peace with God, for death is Gods 
 Seirgeant, and therefore w^e muft fue 
 out our pardon fromthe judge, 6r then 
 
 F the 
 
to a Bay 
 liffc. 
 
 r Means 
 of lecon- 
 citiation 
 Repen 
 
 Sz The Perfect Chap.lT. 
 
 the Sergeant will releafe ^us. We are 
 compared Gods debters, and death is Gods Bay- 
 lifFe; when the Creditor is fatisfied >the 
 BaylifFc looks for no more ? but his fee 
 arid is gone > nor will trouble us any 
 more. Now our pardon is fued our, and 
 our peace niadc by two means efpecial- 
 ly 5 Repentance and faith. Which are 
 two graces fo near a kin, that they can¬ 
 not be feparatedj though they may,and 
 tancc,and be diftinguiflied. For, like two 
 
 Faith and twins >they are conceived, bred , and 
 lepen- born together 5 or iFthe one thruft out 
 twinV^° before the other like Efau; yet his fel- 
 Gcn.z5.z6 ]ow, like Jacob , holds him by the heels 
 and ftayes not long behind him. Faith 
 indeed is the elder fifter, and born firft; 
 but being weak and not able to make 
 her voice heard , repentance that cryes 
 firft, is firfl: obferved , and known to be 
 a living child. Hence it is, that file is 
 taken of fome to be the elder fifterjand 
 fometimes hath priority of place , as 
 We ^re at here now , in this prefent difeourfe, we 
 odds with arc at odds with God by reafon of our 
 
 rcafon^of he hath a controverfy with us for 
 fia* them. Repentance fues forpardonj but 
 hath nothing to offer by way of fatisfa- 
 dion^but faith goes further^for though 
 
 it 
 
Part. IT, to Die in peace, 
 
 it petition for grace and mercy,and that 
 without any defert on our parts 5 yet 
 without it humbly prefents anallfulB- 
 cicnt ranfome once paid to theluftice 
 
 A 
 
 of God 5 for acceptance by our ever- 
 bleffed Mediatour, and Advocate , who 
 hath difcharged our debt, pleaded our 
 caufe,and purchafed everlafting redem¬ 
 ption for us. 
 
 Sin is the great Make-bate between ^infhe 
 God and man. Repentance and faith S^Tke-bate 
 are required on our parts 3 as means of between 
 reconciliation. 
 
 Firftthenwe muft repent of fin, or 
 clfe we can have no peace with God,nor 
 any true hope of it. As lehu (aid to la- 2.Kin.s>.ii. 
 ram. What peace can there be , while the 
 whordomes of the mother lezabel, and her 
 witchcrafts remain^. So may God fay to 
 that man, that hopes for peace, and yet 
 repents not of his fins. Whatpeacecan '' 
 
 there be, whilethou repents not of thy 
 wickedneffe? while thy whordomes,and 
 adulteries fwearing,lying ,pride, and 
 .drunkennefs remain ? There is no peace ifa. 
 
 {faith my God ) to the wicked , as the Pro¬ 
 phethath it. Wherein 
 
 Now repentance confifts in a holy '^pen- 
 forrow, grief, and compunction 
 
 F z hearty 
 
H 
 
 Repen¬ 
 tance 
 muft not 
 be difFet- 
 
 led. 
 
 Vain con¬ 
 ceits of 
 ivicked 
 men. 
 
 ddt pit' 
 aiitanu vc- 
 Tj-iarn, non 
 dahit 
 
 tami p^ni- 
 fmtiAtn 
 
 The PerfeB "Vpaj Chap. II. 
 
 heart, for'^that we have offended fo 
 good a God 5 fo gracious a Father 5 fo 
 fvveet a Saviour, fo holy a comforter; 
 joyned with a fincere purpofe of heart* 
 refolution, and endeavour to forfake e- 
 very fin ( fo far as we fhall come to the 
 knowledge of it)and to walk in holinefs 
 and newnefs of life before God for af¬ 
 tertimes. 
 
 Therefore that man , that will ever 
 die well 5 mull: not differre his repen- 
 tanccjbut v.^ith all fpeed mufi turn from 
 fin, forfake his evil waves , and walk in 
 new obedience the remainder of his 
 dayes. Many undo rhemfe’yes for ever, 
 by putting of the time of their repen¬ 
 tance., thinking that repentance is the 
 eafieft thing that can be; and that they 
 may,and can repent when they v/illfand 
 that it is time enough to repent when 
 they can do nothing elfe. 
 
 Tuih (fay they) God merciful and 
 ifl can but fay Lord have mercy upon 
 me, at. the hour of death it is enough. 
 But Oh that fuch men would remember 
 that worthy faying of a Father! Fie 
 that hath promifed remiffion of fin to 
 all that repent, hath not promifed rc- 
 p^ntanee to all ^hatfin. Noej erentar.t e 
 
 h 
 
Part.n. to Tf c in Fsdc6, S 5 
 
 is Gods gifc, and one of his chiefeft^^epen- 
 iewels, that he doth not caft before e- codrfpe* 
 very Twine. God now calTs,and invites cialgift, 
 us to come home unto him by repen¬ 
 tance 3* if we will not, but turn a deaf 
 eareto his call ,it .is juft with him 3 to 
 refiife usj and turn away his cares from 
 our cryes,w/;f« our defir nation comes upon 
 us as a whirUw'mdi andoiir ruinas extern- 
 pefl. Oh that we know in this our day 
 the things that belong to our peace! 
 
 Now is the acceptable time *y now is the day 
 of falyation. To day, if ye will hear hiS2CQr.6.4, 
 vo'iczyharden not your hearts: the Lord 
 may fay tofuch as differre their repen- 
 tance. 
 
 Hodie t hi , eras mihi^ 
 
 Today is thine. To morrow is mine. 
 
 To day thou maift repentjand be favedj 
 to morrow it may be too late; thou 
 may’ft perifhj and be damned. 
 
 Alas! how many thoufands have funk Many 
 down into hell this day, that ^^^ve 
 dreamed of to morrow, but never Taw that 
 ic! Are w'e not then happy that we have <*reamed 
 10 nappy an opportunity^ Who is lOjow. 
 mad, as if a looo pieces of gold , were 
 offered to him to day, would refufe it, 
 and fay; not to day, but to morrow, 
 
 F I And 
 
dome 
 
 found. 
 
 TheTerfeB'Vpay Chap.II, 
 
 And yet a far greater price is nowin 
 our hand?> and we wilfully caft it from 
 us h whereas it may be we fliall never 
 have the like offer againe, 
 sick mans Befides, the fick mans repentance is 
 icpen- very feldome a found repentancejthere- 
 tancefel- good to take Solomous counfell 
 
 to Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy 
 youth. Is it not a mad part to lay the 
 greateft load on the weakefl horfe ? Old 
 agc,and Sicknefle is not a fit time for 
 repentance, 
 
 God win God will not be ferved with the Dc- 
 ved with vils leavings. He will have the beft and 
 the devils not the worftj Curfed is he that hath a 
 Mal.T.14. hisflock^& offers that which is lame^ 
 
 or haltyor tome,o^cr it now to thy Prince 
 will he accept it? God will have the firft 
 Fruits, and not the gleanings. 
 
 How would that man be laughed to 
 fcorne, that went to fow in time of 
 harveftjwhen other men went a reaping? 
 old Age and SicknelTe , (hould be the 
 time of reaping not of fowing comfort, 
 Obje^ i But was not the theif faved 
 at the laft hour, and in the Parable we 
 Mai.xo.6.7 read of fbme that were called at the e- 
 Icventh Solut. It is true indeed. It is not 
 impoffible to repent on a mans death¬ 
 bed, 
 
 simile. 
 
 Luke 13* 
 
S7 
 
 Part.I r. ro Die in Peace, 
 
 bed, and fo to be faved, but it is very 
 improbable ', for us to expedit, if we 
 contemne or negled the offer of grace. 
 
 We do not ufe to reft upon poffibilities We muft 
 in matters of our commodity in this 
 world, but go the likelieft way to ob- fibuities. 
 taine them. And (hall we be fb defpe- 
 rate,as to venture our fouls upon a bare 
 poffibility.? It’s poftible fuch a one (hall 
 be faved j but it’s a thoufand to one 
 more probable he (hall be damned. We 
 read Ondeed) of one that was fo faved, 
 that we (hould not defpair j and but of 
 one, leaft we fhould prefume. And for 
 that one that is now in heaven , repent¬ 
 ing at the laft hour, many millions are 
 in Hell putting of repentance to the 
 laft hour. 
 
 Othen (my foul) be not deceived j Applicat. 
 God is not mocked 5 Ur whatfoever 
 man foweth that he shall reap. Sow Icr. 4,}. 
 therefore the good feed of forrow for 
 fin, in the fallow ground of thy heart, 
 plowed up with the (harp culter of 
 Gods word 5 and water that feed with 
 the tears of true repentance, now in the 
 feed-time of thy health , and ftrength, 
 and then thouQialc reap a full crop of 
 comfort at the time of Harveftj I mean 
 
 F 4 in 
 
No Agag 
 muft be 
 foaied. 
 
 I Km.io. 
 
 42- 
 
 S8 The Perfe5i l^ay Chap. II. 
 
 in the daycs officknefs ^weaknefs^ and 
 wearinel's,& at that laft houre of death* 
 when thou had: mod need ofir.Oh fpare 
 no now, lead thou be not fpared 
 then. Make a Catalogue of all thy fins* 
 as far aj thou can’dj muder them* view 
 them , and then draw out the (harp 
 Sword of repentance, and kill them all > 
 fpare not any, lead the Lord fay unto 
 thee 5 as he did byLis Prophet to Ahaby 
 Beca-ufi thou haft let a man efcape * that I 
 appointed to death > thy life shallgoefor h'ls^ 
 Oh remember how unlit the minde will 
 unfit CO be for fo great a work as repentance is * 
 vdien the body is tormented with paine, 
 and every member of it. Belides, if 
 thou wer\ fure to repent thenjy et con- 
 dder thou (halt not have while to do it 
 (o throughly* as fb great a work ought 
 impedi- to be done. The vifit of friends, the 
 advice of the Phylician, care of fetting 
 things in order & difpofing thine e- 
 date 5 with many more incumbrances 
 We may wiil hinder thee. And (which is mod of 
 fuVd^en^iy, tobe'conddercd) who knowes, but 
 he may be taken fuddenlyrand not have 
 time to do any of thefe,much lelfe to 
 repent I And wilt thou loofe the fweet 
 comforts of Repentance here now in 
 
 this 
 
 repent m 
 tiiTie of 
 iickaefs. 
 
 jTicnrs of 
 repen¬ 
 tance in 
 ficknefs. 
 
 and to 
 have no 
 fpace to 
 xepent. 
 
89 
 
 • Part.II. io Die in Peace. 
 
 this gracious time of Gods vifitation 
 for the (linking pleafure of (in; I dare 
 fay, there is more true fweetnefTe in 
 one tear oftrue repentance for (in, then Janc^ 
 in all the main Ocean ofworldly lu(i:s> ^wecr. 
 and flefhly pleafures. if there were no 
 heaven to be expedted hereafter, repen¬ 
 tance is a little paradife, or Garden of 
 Eden here. 
 
 cr. 
 
 Uou therefore ( O Lord God ) that haft 
 this gift in thine own hand-, and haft ^ 
 promtfed to give repentance to thinelitOitU 
 & remipon of fins ^eny it not to me thy mofl 
 unworthy fervant. Teach my heart that I 
 may tremble at thy word; wound my foule^ 
 that I may greivefor my fins; anoint mine 
 eyes that I may looke upon him whom I 
 have peirced by them; that by the chrifiall 
 tears of true repentance-, Imay %uitb Mag- Luk 7.3s. 
 di2L\&x\ wash his feet, wipe them and kjfs 
 them that were befineared with bloud for 
 mine iniquities^ And that now in this blejfed 
 day of Grace, that hereafter with her, I 
 may behold his blejfed face in glory, in who ft 
 prefence there is fulneffe of joy , and at 
 whofe right hand there are rivers of plea- 
 furefor evermore. Amen. rfa.i 6 .wM 
 
 CHAP. 
 
90 
 
 The Perfect l»Ay Chap.III,. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Thevecefsity of faith in Chrif for our teconciliatioit 
 with God iUnd fo confeqnently for our right jpre- 
 paration for death. 
 
 R Epentance- and faith are both 
 humble Suiters to God for us>and 
 have concluded a happy peace for 
 thofe that have made them their own. 
 What repentance can do we have 
 heard. Faith doth no leffe > if not 
 
 Gods iu- 
 Oicecould 
 not be fa- 
 tisfied 
 without a 
 Surety. 
 Mans 
 debt to 
 God two 
 fold viz., 
 of obe¬ 
 dience, 
 and fuf- 
 fcxance. 
 
 more. 
 
 Man having offended God by his fin? 
 his juftice was fuch, that ( though he in¬ 
 tended him mercy) yet he would not 
 receive him to favour without fuch a 
 furcty, as both could and would fatisfie 
 fo rman's offences, and pay the debt* 
 that he owed to God > which debt was 
 double j of obedience , and fuffe- 
 rance; obedience to all the perfect law 
 of God 5 and fufferance for the breach 
 
 of that law, whereof man flood deeply 
 Men and guilty before God.Buc alas>where could 
 
 coiUd^not finfull man find fuch a furety,fuch 
 have amediatour, as would undertake to fa- 
 
 found a tisfie an infinite luflice, and fuffer an in- 
 
 fjt media- ^ ^ r 1 ' 0 i 
 
 tour. finite punilnment for him s men and 
 
 Angels 
 
91 
 
 Part.II. to Die in Peace, 
 
 • 
 
 Angels could not have found a fit Per- 
 fon for fo great a work. 
 
 Godhimfelf therefore of his infinite 
 wifdome and mercy,findes out & preor- 
 daines a fit Perfon for this great imploy- 
 ment 5 even his own dear Son , the Son 
 of his bofome, the fecond Perfon in the 
 glorious Trinity , to take mans nature 
 upon him,to be clothed with flefh,made 
 of a woman and made under the law, 
 & fubjed: to the curfe of the law, which 
 alfo he endured for us , that fo hereby 
 wee might be brought into favour a- 
 gain with God, and made his adopted 
 children. 
 
 So then by our furety, the Lord le- 
 fus Chrift,wehaveintercfi:inGodjand 
 are at peace with him, and by faith we 
 we have intereft in Chrift, and are one 
 with him. 
 
 Now faith is arefling, relying, or de¬ 
 pending upon Chrift alone for life and 
 falvation. It prefuppofeth knowledge 
 of our own vilenefs by fin 5 weaknefs, 
 and inability to help our felves ; and 
 therefore makes us go out ofour felves, 
 and to hang oncly upon our furety, as 
 who is fufficiently able to fave thofe 
 that come unto him. 
 
 The 
 
 Gai.4.4,5. 
 
 Gal. 3 .13- 
 Ioh.1.12.. 
 
 By Chrift 
 we have 
 intereft in 
 God, and 
 by faith, 
 in Chrift. 
 
 What 
 faith is. 
 
 Faith 
 makes us 
 go Out of 
 our felves, 
 and reft 
 on Chrift. 
 
92 
 
 1‘he PerfeSi Chap.Iir. 
 
 The ground of faith is Gods ti^ord^efpe-- 
 
 the prom} fes >> and 'that main onemoTt 
 Gen. 3.15. of all ; that Chr'tfi came to fave ftnners , that 
 • tbefi:ed of the ^uoman shall bruife the fer- 
 pents d-! &c. that Gcd fo loved the worlds 
 loh 3.16. fjyat /V ^ave bis only begotten Son that who^ 
 fuever believes t'-'. him^ should not perish , but 
 pfa.34.12. ev-‘rUHi\ f^ ? that he that bclieveth 
 Aothour in him shall be conf unded j &:c. The' 
 offauh. Authour or eflicitnc cau-e vTfaich is 
 Phil. 1.29. God. To you It is given to believe. The 
 end oi it i> j jllincacir-n 1 and n> confe- 
 
 End ot 
 faith. 
 Rom.5.1. 
 
 Till a 
 man be¬ 
 lieve, he 
 can nei¬ 
 ther have 
 
 peace 
 
 quendy falvarion. Beingju(Itf ' byf fithy 
 io'e have peace with God , thro^^^b our Lord 
 le/iis Chriji, So then till a nian come to 
 believe in ChriR j he cannot have peace 
 with God. God is his enemy 5 and all 
 the Creauires are at enmuy \yir,h him 
 
 with God, for his fake> all the ciiiTes of the Law are 
 
 nor the 
 cieatttce. 
 
 No true 
 
 due unto hirPowhereof death is one,and 
 not the leaftjdeathimean with the fling 
 and ftrengtti of it, and the fearful! con- 
 ftquc its of it, the excution of Gods 
 wrath, and eternal damnation. 
 
 Therefore it is evident there can 
 
 piepara¬ 
 tion a- 
 gainft 
 death 
 without 
 
 no good pfeparadon againlt death , 
 <Vichout faith; for without faiths God is 
 our enemy,and fo death cannot be our 
 friend. 
 
 W€ 
 
.Part.n. io Die m peace, ^ ^ 
 
 We in ufl live by faith. Itisofhngu- 
 lar ufe, and fruit in all oiir adions ? and 
 feafons unto us all conditions; and we faithTni 
 mufcdieby faith, or elfe our death will 
 be moft miferable unto us. 
 
 All tiiat cloud of wirneffes, mentio-TheLords? 
 nedfJe^. 1 1 Jived,and died in r/;^/^ir^.And 
 verb He fumjns^ up luhat he had Urge- died in 
 
 Ij difeonr/ed of Ufore ,* that fome of tbofe^^'^^* 
 worthies , by fanh fuhducd kingdomes , 
 wrought righteoufnefs , obtained the prro- 
 niifesy flopped the. months of LionSi &c. 
 
 Death is a cruel beafl->more fierce and Faith , 
 cruel, then any Lion; Faith can flop the 
 mouth ufthis monfler, or at leaf!:, pull mouth. 
 
 . out his teeth, that he cannot hurt us. 
 
 We may, and we mud be cad into the 
 Lions den, as was,but the Lion Dan.6.22. 
 
 fhall not devoure u'. This grace of 
 faith is as an Angel lent from heaven to" 
 fave us. O then let us t^et fakh, elfe our 
 preparation is to no purpofe. 
 
 Many deceive themfelves, thinking 
 they have! 3 ith,and heading of the anti* boaftof 
 quiry of it, that they have believed ever 
 fince they were born , or at lead fince none, 
 they were baptized , or bad the ufe of 
 reafon. But even in this they fhev; their ^^hh not 
 own folly, and niadnefsj for faith is not 
 
 bred* 
 
 us. 
 
94 * The ^erfecfTi^ay Chap.III^ 
 
 bredj and born with us» Wemuftbe' 
 new born? elfe we cannot believe aright. 
 Aft* 15. Faith purifies the heart, and brings 
 forth many and gratious fruits ofholi- 
 nefs towards God , righceoufnefs to^ 
 wards men,and temperance towards our 
 We muft felves. And therefore let men examine 
 our faith, ^b^i^^^lves Concerning their faith , whe- 
 Gcn.27.9. ther it be not a mere fancy , whether it 
 
 iJimio benot, like foonegotto 
 
 17. * be of the right kind; whether it come in a 
 
 right way, and by aright means , viz. The 
 hearing of Gods word preached 5 whe¬ 
 ther it have cleanfed the fountain, and 
 the ftreams, that iffue thence; I mean the 
 heart, and life , if it be otherwife, they 
 do but deceive themfelves, 
 
 Apphcat. Q foul) fee thou be not 
 
 wanting in this fearch , deal impartially 
 with thy felf. Be not deceived with a 
 a counterfeit faith, look that thy faith 
 
 abide tryal; a faith with- 
 iTim.i.j. out hypocrify; the faith of Gods eled, 
 that thou maift be able to lay with 1 
 Theleaft Paul y I know whom I have believed. 
 
 fa^th thou canlf find but the waight 
 
 more of a grain of mufiard feed of this faith; 
 
 ' O praife God for its it is his gift, ancfit 
 bkaings, is more then if he had made thee the 
 
 heir 
 
95 
 
 to T)ie in Peaces 
 
 heir of a kingdome; nay the poiTefToiir 
 of the whole world. It will (land thee 
 more inftead at the hour of death, then 
 all that the earth can afford. Thou be¬ 
 lieved, but it is but weakly; Be dili* vr^ 
 gent in the ufeof thofe means jthat may r® 
 drengthen faith, hear Gods word wiih 
 reverence; Vaith comes by hearhig , and f- ifh. 
 hearing by the word preached : and as it is 
 begotten, fo it grows by the word. Re¬ 
 ceive the holy Sacrament with due pre¬ 
 paration. Obferve Gods gracious deal- 
 ling with others , but eipccially with 
 thy felf. Let no work of God pafTe with¬ 
 out diligent confideration. Gather ex¬ 
 perience of Gods former dealing, that 
 thou maid fay. The Lord that delivered ^'rim. i. 
 me in life , he wtU deliver me in death : and ^ 
 
 J z Till 3 « 4 - 
 
 keep me blamelefsto his everlaftmg ktngdome. 17. 
 
 'Taithisweak^ t^ordJirengthen it. p 
 I believe , Lord help my unbelief ^^ 7 ^*** 
 Oh give me the exercife of this grace , that ts 
 fo iifefullithat I may live by faith and here¬ 
 by have every ejiate fanblijied unto mei that 
 hereby I may overcome the worlds & quench 
 the fiery darts of Satan ,p^(fe through thefe 
 trouble feme times in patience , and lay down 16. 
 my head in peace in thy due and appoint- 
 
 ed 
 
96 
 
 The PerfeEi Difay Chap.IV^ 
 
 ei, time through lefus Chrtfi my Sa* 
 viour. Amen. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The Tanoplji or whole armour of a Chriflian ^ where~ 
 hji we mufl he armed againft death. 
 
 We muft 
 arme our 
 felves a- 
 
 gainft 
 
 death 
 with the 
 Panoply 
 of a Chri 
 flian. 
 
 y erf. 13. 
 
 VVe muft 
 
 pc con ^ 
 our ar¬ 
 mour in 
 cur life 
 time, and 
 exerc'fe 
 • our felves 
 therewitti 
 6 Pieces 
 ot our ar- 
 jnour,r.nd 
 V.hich 
 rhey arc. 
 
 A Fter we have made our peace 
 with God : we muft in the next 
 place arme our Felves againft 
 death j with that compleat armour of a 
 Chriftkn? mentioned Bph. 6, 15, That 
 armour 3 that will enable us to ftand in 
 the evil day of trouble and temptation 
 in this world: and when we have done 
 all to^ftand ftedfaftin the hour of death? 
 
 this feems to be the meaning of. 
 tbofe words, And wjien ye have done 
 all to ftand. 
 
 Therefore, it muft be our care to 
 put on this armour in our life time, and 
 to be trayning and exercifing our felves 
 dayly before the combate, that then, w e 
 may be Conquerours through Chrift 
 that hath loved us. 
 
 Now there are fix pieces of this ar- 
 mou'\ I. The girdle of verity. 2, The 
 breaft-plate of righteoufnefs, -3. The 
 — feooes 
 
 / 
 
Part.II. to Die m Peace. 97 
 
 fliooes of peace, 4. The (hield of faith, 
 
 5. The helmet of falvation. 6 . The 
 (word of the fpirit. 
 
 The firft piece mentioned is the i. Girdle 
 girdle of verity , which is uprightnefs 
 and fincerity of heart in all our anions, and how 
 This piece is very acceptable to God, 
 and no lefle ufefull to us in our fpiritual 
 combatc. The upright in heart are the prai.33.5. 
 Lords delight. He loves the truth tn the 
 inner parts. He fee*s and obferves thofe 
 Nathanaelsi in whom there is no guile. 
 
 And this is called a girdle, becaufe it Why c»u 
 bucklers about us, and ties faft unto us gii^ic. 
 all the other parts of oUrharneffe,which 
 otherwife would hang loofe without it. 
 
 This girdle put once about a man will 
 make him bold and couragious in the girdle 
 fight. This was it that made David Co uj 
 confident, that though an hoft of men battcU- 
 were fet againlf him, he would not 
 afraid. And though he walked in the midft pfai.s.c. 
 of the shadow of death, yet he would fear 
 none evil. AndHezekiah, Remember, Lord, 
 how l have walked before thee in truth,and zo.j 
 with a perfe^ heart, Thchy- 
 
 On the contrary,the hypocrite being d^Tnot 
 without this girdle, and having nothing . 
 about him , but the rotten skin of un- th^facc. 
 
 G found 
 
9« 
 
 2. The 
 brcaft- 
 plate of 
 lighte- 
 oufnefs, 
 what it is. 
 
 fral.ii9* 
 
 xo6. 
 
 Iofh.2415 
 
 3. Shooes 
 of peace 
 what. 
 
 The'^“rfe5fl»Ay Chap.lV. 
 
 foundnefs &clifSmulation cannot ftand 
 in tbe evil day ot tryal; cailnot abide to 
 look death in the face, but is afraid at 
 the very remembrance of him. 
 
 The z. piece is the breaft plate of 
 righteournefs, which is a lure and con- 
 ftant refolution, to withftand?Chun,and 
 avoid all unjuft and unrighteous deal- 
 ling,and to pradife all manner of good- 
 nels and righteoufnefs in our whole 
 courfe, and converfation. And this is 
 fo neceffary, that without it, we (hall be 
 wounded every day3& alfo fo weakened, 
 that we (hall never be able to (land out 
 in the laft, and worft aflault. David had 
 put on this piece,when hefaid, I have 
 [worn t and am ftedfafllypurpofed to keep 
 thy righteous judgments. And when 
 
 he faid 5 choofe you this day whom you will 
 ferve, &c. hut I and my houshold will ferve 
 the Lord» 
 
 Thirdly the (hooes of peace,or having 
 our feet (hod with the preparation of 
 the Gofpel of peace , is that fweet and 
 furpafling peace of confcience, which 
 proceeds from the alTurance of Gods 
 favour and love through Chrift , the 
 pardon of our lins, and everlaffing life. 
 This peace makes a man patiently 
 
 and 
 
Part.11. to i)ie in Peace. 99 
 
 and chearfully topafle the piles of all 
 troubles} that can befall us in this war- con- 
 fare, and wiidcrnell'e of the world { and 
 to walk, and march on in Gods wayes, man 
 though they be fet with many prickes? '^i**^**!* 
 and thorns of afflidions. the pikes 
 
 Thefe (hooesjwhen we have once put ofworid- 
 on,and worn them,will make us to walk b^s?*' 
 bold ly in the dark land of death, and to 
 fay with S^ Paul , 1 pap not at all, neither Aftsi®.i4 
 U my life dear unto me, and with hm to fing 
 that triumphant fong. I amperfwaded^that 
 neither lifcy nor death) dec, shall ever be able * 
 to feparate us from the love of God in Chrtfl 
 lefui. What was it but thefe fllooes, that 
 kept Peter fo warm in prifooi dc made Afts iz. 7. 
 him (b confident, even in the very jawes 
 of death (for ought he knew) that he 
 fleptfo foundly, that the Angel muft 
 give him a found rap on the fide to 
 awake him ? What was it but thefe 
 fhooes that i#ade David to comfort him- 
 felfin his God , when the people were 
 ready to (lone him? What was it but 
 thefe fhooes, that made Paul , and Stlas 
 fo heart-whole, that notwithftanding 
 they had been whip't, and fcourgedj 
 and caft into prifoh, yea the inner pri- 
 fon or dungeon, 2c fetfaftinthe flocks* 
 
 G z yet 
 
ICO jhePerfc^f^ay Chap.TV. 
 
 yet at mid-night they could fing Pfalms 
 fo merrily ? that the prifbncrs heard 
 them ? And what was it but thefe fhooesi 
 that made the martyrs both in the pri¬ 
 mitive times , and of late in our Marian 
 dayes, to go fo boldly into the flames, 
 to the gibbet j to the rack, to the wild 
 beafts, yea to any kind of torments? 
 
 Therefore, if ever we would die fafe- 
 ly, we mufl be fure to get thefe fhooes, 
 which willferve us both to live and to 
 die in. Let us therefore put them on, 
 buckle them faft, and wear them conti¬ 
 nually, night and day, for thefe fhooes, 
 Dcu. 29.5. thofe (the I fraelites wore in the wiU 
 dernefs) will never wax old, norbeworfe 
 for the wearing^ 
 
 4. Shield The fourth is the Oiield of faith,that 
 offaith. is a found, and unfained belief in the 
 Lord lefus Chrift, and a firm, and con- 
 ftant depending upon the merits of his 
 death and pafEon,for pardon of fin,and 
 eternal life,together withal %thcr graces 
 needfull for us, even in this our prefent 
 Why Pilgrimagej And *tis called a fhield, be- 
 calieda caule hereby we are fhielded, and faved 
 {hieid. from the affaUlts of our fpirituall ene- 
 sr.u A .A niies , fo that the fiery darts of Satan 
 cannot hurt us, nor the poilonous 
 
 pricks 
 
Part.ll. toDieinjpeace, loi 
 
 pricks of the world, oj* the flefll wound 
 our fouls to death. The benefit of 
 thjs piece both in life and death, the 
 former chapter doth fufficiciently de¬ 
 clare, and therefore I fay no more of it 
 now. 
 
 The 5. is the helmet of falvation, s- Helmet 
 which is a ftedfaft hope, & Joyfull look- 
 ing, and longing for the accomplifli* what, and 
 ment of all tho/e promifes both tempo- 
 rail and eternal,which God hath promi- 
 fed to beftow upon us in his duetime$ 
 efpecially that main promife of eter¬ 
 nal glory hereafter. And this (as one 
 faith) is fitly called the helmet of falva¬ 
 tion, becaufe it faves the head,which 
 next the heart (which the fhield , and 
 breaft-platedo defend ) is the principal 
 inftrnrnent of life. While the head is 
 held up, a man drowns not, be the wa-* 
 ter never fo deep; and while hope con- 
 tinueth, a Chriftian defpaires not, be 
 his diftreffe and danger never fo great. 
 
 And truly this pieceof armour is fb ne- How 
 cefl'ary for our preparation to death, 
 that without it we can never die confi- ofomai- 
 dently, nor comfortably. For who can 
 willingly leave the earth, thathathno 
 hope of heaven ? Hope inlargeth the 
 
 G 5 heart. 
 
102 
 
 Hope en- 
 largeth 
 the h^iart, 
 fear con- 
 it. 
 
 Heb. II. 
 lo. i6, 
 
 Rom. 5,5 
 
 X Fet.1.4, 
 5 - 
 
 5 The 
 fword of 
 thefpirit, 
 what it is, 
 and how 
 ufeful. 
 
 The word 
 helpful a- 
 gainft er-* 
 zoursy and 
 jcorru- 
 fl^ions, 
 
 I10.30 5 * 
 
 The Perfe^'^ay, Chap.IV, 
 
 heart, and makes it bold,* fear.contradls 
 it, and makes it daftardly: what is it that 
 makes the couragious fouldier fight, 
 but hope ofvid:ory,whereas the coward 
 dare fcarce ftrick a blow becaufe he de- 
 fpairesofit? 
 
 It was the hope of heaven,that upheld 
 the Patriarchs , Prophets , and Apofiles in 
 all their travailes and troubles, fo that 
 they fainted not,for(as theApolfle faith) 
 They looked for a City whofe builder , and 
 maker was God. Therefore Paul faith, 
 Mope maketh not ashamed. And S^. Peter 
 praifeth God , who hath begotten m again to 
 a lively hope by the re(urreilion of lefus 
 Chriftfrom the dead , To an inheritance in- 
 corruptible and undefiled , and that fadeth 
 not away referved in heaven for us. 
 
 The oth is the fword of the fpirit,that 
 is (astheApoftle himfelf expounds it) 
 the word ot God, and namely a found, 
 and faving knowledge of it, not in the 
 head onely, but alfo , and efpecially in 
 the heart, and affedions, whereby we 
 are enabled to withfiand thepoifon of 
 errours, the corruption of our own 
 hearts, the dcceitfulnefs of fin , and the 
 fubtilhy of Satan, and the world. This 
 WQrdof God is not only a fword to wound 
 
Part.!!. toBtem feace. ' 103 
 
 our enemies , but a shield to fave our felves. 
 
 By this weapon our Saviour Chriil o- 
 vercame for us. And by this it is ? that 
 he overcomes in us both in life, arxi 
 death. By this David was wifer then the 
 aged, yea, then his teachers. The fweet- 
 nefs of this he perferres before the pfai°°’5>,j. 
 hony, and the hony comb 5 and the Pfa.ip.xo. 
 riches of it before filver, and gold? and 
 all prctious treafures. 
 
 Therefore ( O my foul) let it be thy Applicat. 
 care to fumjCh thy felfwith this fpiri- 
 tuall armour. Every piece of it isneceP 
 fary? none can be fpared. 
 
 Put it on dayly, wear it, and exercife 
 
 itdayly. Thine enemies are many,and Popart 
 
 ftrong. The warfare is dangerousjwith- ©four at- 
 out intermiflionj lafting as long as life J^rparcd. 
 lafls. Therefore (land upon thy watch, 
 and be ever armed with this harnefs. And in leflet 
 learn not to ufe it as fouldiers do in 
 fer skirmiflies, that in the maine battel, we muft 
 when the King of fear muffers up all his 
 troopes , andaffaults thee with all his 
 if rength, thou maid: be found a well ex¬ 
 perienced fouldier. And becaufe all that 
 thou canft do,is nothing without the 
 help of thy Captaine 5 take the Apoftles 
 counfel, who after he had commended 
 
 G 4 the 
 
10+ The VerfeSt fvAy Chap. V. 
 
 the forefaid armour of proof, bids thee 
 
 f ray alwayes with all manner of frayer, 
 
 and watch thereunto witball perfeverance, 
 
 ♦ 
 
 Prayer. ^ ^ord q-Ho/ 1 ^ teach my hands to warjand 
 
 Tfal.143.,1. ^ my finders to fight put on me this complete 
 armour , and give me firength , and skill to 
 ufett in the day of battel. Let me not fuffer 
 thu armour to ruftfor want oj exercife; but 
 feeing mine enemies ajfault me dayly^ grant 
 . that I may dayiy defend my felfy and offend 
 them jby thefptntual weapons thou hafl put 
 into my hand^ that fo ^fighting the good fight 
 oj faith) both in life, and death; I may in due 
 time be crowned as a conquerour , through 
 Jefus Cbriji my Leader^and Caftaine,Amen* 
 
 the 
 
 f 
 
 of 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 fjotvtpe may further arme our felves againfi death 
 by meditation, i. Of the eommonnefs op it, 2 The 
 evils it will free us fromt 3. The good it will 
 poffejjeus off. 
 
 B Efides this fpiritual armour be¬ 
 fore mentionedjwe may be further 
 fenced againft death, i. By medi¬ 
 tation. 2. Prad-ice in our meditationj 
 we may confider. i. The commpnncfs 
 of death. 2, The evils it will free us 
 
 from 
 
105 
 
 •Part ir. id Vie in Peace, 
 
 from, ?.The good it will poffeffe us bfF. 
 
 And of thefe briefly, becaufe they have 
 been mentioned before in the i.parc 
 chap, 6 . and to, 
 
 Firft for the commonnefs of death, i^com- 
 why (hould it trouble us to taft of that 
 cup, that all the fons of Adam ( Enoch 
 and Elias excepted ) have tailed offbe- 
 forc us, or muft do after us ? From fome 
 other calamities it is polEble fome men 
 may be freed ^ but from death no man 
 can be delivered. 
 
 For (as one faithj God hath of pur* m . 'Syfieid 
 pofe made that moft common, that is 
 mpft grievous, that thereby he might fear of 
 abate the terrour of it. As it is Gods or- 
 dinance to be born 5 fo is it to die. And 
 who can refifl: that decree, Heb.^.zy^ 
 
 Jt is appointed unto all men once to die^ 
 
 Therefore David askes a queftion^ 
 which all the fons .of men muft alfent 
 unto. What man is he that Itveth and shall pfo-sj 4s. 
 not fee death , and shall he deliver his foul 
 from the hand of the graved. In this thing 
 there is no difference betwixt the 
 and the beggar 5 for the one muft die as 
 well as the other. 
 
 The heathen much incouraged them- 
 felvcs againft death, by this confidera- 
 
 tions 
 
IIo6 The PerfeB "^ay Chap* V, 
 
 5 /tioDi though to them & to many Chri-' 
 ^zerlT^ ftians alfo in profeffion i whof'e life is 
 obufet,jjaii- not concordant thereunto ? it be but a 
 poor comfort,* I mean to fuchaslive, 
 cimirtcn- and die IP their 1 ms wunout repentance. 
 But to a true Believer,that can make ufe 
 
 this hath it*s 
 
 of ftronger arguments , 
 
 ijuoniam 
 hitr/io nata 
 
 f^ratsctv. waight alfo; to chink , that (as the Apo 
 iaith.) Nothing doth hcrctn befall 
 but that •which is common to the nature of 
 I Como. Therefore Death is called, the way of 
 
 io&.2j.i4 ^//flesh : cfpeciaily.if we apply that which ' 
 follo^u€th , that God is faith full , who wilt 
 give an ijfuethat we may efcape. 
 
 Therefore let us Willingly yield to 
 that which of necellitv wemufl: under 
 
 It is bet¬ 
 ter to 
 
 meet ./ 
 
 death by go. Death is arming againll: US, let US 
 
 ri^onthVn him. And being arm- 
 
 to have cd, let US go out couragioufly to meet 
 dwjh death, lealt otherwife death meet us un- 
 wirhout provided, and fo having the advantage 
 , againft us, foil us in the combate. 
 
 ft. Death 
 
 free's us 
 from all 
 iniferics. 
 
 Death 
 frees us 
 from fin, 
 forrow, 
 and Sa¬ 
 tan. 
 
 Secondly, Theconfideration ofthat 
 freedome from mifery that we have by 
 death , (hould greatly Ifrengthen us a- 
 gainft the fear of it? and incite us rather 
 to long for it5&: willingly to embrace it. 
 
 Death free’s us from fin, and from 
 forrow, to both which vve are wotully 
 
 enbon- 
 
JPart.lI. io Diein peace. 107 
 
 * cnbondaged,whiles we are in this world. 
 
 It free’s us from Saran , and all his fiery 
 darts, and filthy temptations. z. From 
 
 It free’s us from all common calami- 
 ties, as famine, plague,peftilenccjfword, ties, 
 fire, 
 
 T r r in neimes*Sc 
 
 It tree s us from open and fecret ene- faifc- 
 mies, and all their plots, and prai^fices, 
 from Teeming, falfe-hearted friends,and 
 all their falfhpod , and diffimulation. perfonat 
 
 It frees us from all perfonal troubles, 
 di(couragements,and difcontents; fick- feafcs. 
 neiTes, and infirmities t>fbody, cares, 
 and incumbrances of mind, from all cures, 
 contentions of neighbours, unkind- 
 neffes of kins* folks; fuics ofLawjoppref- 7. suits oV 
 fions of great ones; racking of Land- 
 lords, excefEve rents, and fines, fion of 
 
 It free’s us from all toile, and labour “cn 
 of our callings, which weaken’s the bo- 
 dy, and vexeth the mind. callings. 
 
 It free’s us from all blots, and ble- 
 raifhes , that may be caft upon our uponouc 
 names; from all railing, and reviling 
 fpeeches;opprobrious language,falfe re- perfecu- 
 ports, and furmifes, tiQn,im- 
 
 It tree’s us from perfecution, impri* ment,€^^c. 
 fonment,bani{hment, lols ofgoods;en- 
 
 mity and need of the Creature; perils, crLturc. 
 
 and 
 
10 % 
 
 All 
 
 dangers. 
 14. Pover¬ 
 ty, 
 
 15 - Hu¬ 
 mane 
 frailties, 
 and paf- 
 lions. 
 x6. From 
 all real, or 
 acciden¬ 
 tal evils. 
 
 jiy;* Death 
 puts us 
 into tke 
 poiTel&on 
 of ail 
 good. 
 
 Iclievcrs 
 have but 
 a taft of 
 good 
 things 
 here. 
 
 Ji.t.'Byfield 
 in the 
 fore nam¬ 
 ed Tiea- 
 tifc' 
 
 6, Things, 
 Which 
 
 cannot be 
 attained 
 in this 
 life. 
 
 The TerfeEl 1^47 Chap.V: 
 
 and dangers by day rand nightjpoverty,, 
 want,hunger thirft, weaknefs.wearinefsj 
 want of deep? difl:r 3 d:ion, iadnefs of 
 heart, folicary dumps , melancholick- 
 paffions, anger, fear, 
 
 What (hall I fay more,ifmore can be 
 faid ? Briefly, let me fumme up all in 
 this. Death free’s us from wharlbever 
 is either evil initielf, or by accident 
 may be evil to us. And is there any 
 caufe then, why we fhould fear to die ? 
 
 Thirdly, death doth not onelyfree 
 us from all evil, but puts ujprefently 
 into the poffeflSon of all good. 
 
 It is true indeed that believers have 
 many excellent bleffings beftowed up' 
 on them, even in this life, but thefe arc 
 but earned pennies ofthered. They 
 have but a tad of good things here 5 and 
 that tad many times isimbittered with 
 much gall, and worm wood of worldly 
 calamities, and difeontentments :biit in 
 the life to come they are fully fatisfied 
 with the pleafures of Gods houfe and 
 heavenly Temple. And deathic i ,thac 
 open^s the gate thereunto. 
 
 A learned Divine mentioneth fix 
 things of excellent worth , that in this 
 life we wantj and cannot poffibly attaine 
 
 .. unto> 
 
fart. II. to Die in Feace, 109 
 
 \into,whiles we live herejand death puts 
 us into the pofTeffion of them. I will 
 cite his own words 5 which indeed are 
 worthy our beft confideration. 
 
 The fir ft is the glorious preftnee of Sods gi<y 
 God. While the body is prefent, the pi°fence. 
 Lord is abfent, 2 Cor, We 
 
 arealwayes confident ( faith the Apoftle) 
 know 'tvg that whiles we are at home in the 
 body we are abfentfr67n the Lord (for we 
 wulk^by faiths and not by fight) We are con¬ 
 fident 1 fay , and willing .rather to be abfent 
 from the body tana prefent with the Lord, 
 
 O the vilion of God ! If we had but 
 once feene God face to face, we would 
 abhorre that abfence , that fliould hin¬ 
 der the fruition of fuch unfpeakable 
 beauties, as would enamour themoft 
 fecurt heart to an unquencheable love. 
 
 The fecond thing we want here is the 
 fweet fellowfhip without beft friends. Oiip with 
 A fellowfllip matchleffedf we either con- 
 fider the perfedion of the Creatures, 
 whofe communion we fhall enjoy,* or 
 the perfed manner of enjoying it. 
 would be withheldfro7n the congregation 
 the fir ft born tfrom the focteiy of innumerable 
 Angelst and the fpirtts of juft men\ Alas 1 
 the moft of us have not fo much as one 
 
 intire 
 
1 1 o The Perfect T^ay Chap. V. 
 
 Qm intire 5 /perfed friends in all the world, 
 friends a And yet we make fuch friends as we 
 have, the ground of a great part of the 
 earthly contentment ofour lives. Who would 
 feomfons. j-yg ^ beloved? Oh 
 
 what can earthly friendfllip be to that 
 in heaven* when fo many thoufand An¬ 
 gels and Saints (hall be glad of us, and 
 entertaine us with unwearied delights? 
 If we had but the eye of faith * to confi- 
 der of this * we wguld think every hour 
 a year till we were with them. And death 
 reftores us to this fellowfliip. . 
 
 ^10^5* "thirdly in this world,we want the 
 ourna- pcrfedion of our own natures jwhich 
 turcs. death relf ores unto us. Here we are but 
 maimed and deformed Creatures. We 
 (hall never have the underftanding of 
 men in us, till we be in heaven, Ourho- 
 linefs of nature and gifts will never be 
 confummate till we be dead. 
 
 4 . Liber- Fourthly in this world we want liber* 
 
 ty. Our glorious liberty will norbe had 
 here, Pom* 8 . a 1,2.2. O who would live 
 in a prifony a dungeon yratber then in a PaU 
 lace of royallfreedome, mto which death fets 
 us ! 
 
 5. Fuincfs Fifthly, we want fulnefs ofeontent- 
 
 temment. ^ hve many years, fo that 
 
 the 
 
Ill 
 
 •Part.II. to Vie in fence. 
 
 the dayes of his years be many 5 ifhis 
 foul be not nHed witH.eoodj Solomon Eccl.6,3. 
 faith) that an mtmelj lirth is better then 
 he. Now there is noihiug in this world 
 can give a man /olid , and dureable con¬ 
 tentment. But death makes us drink of 
 thole rivers of pleafureS) that are atpfa.isii. 
 Gods right hand. O therefore how 
 Qlould we long for it. 
 
 Sixthly ) in this world) we want our 
 
 6 Ouc 
 
 crowDjwhich death puts upon our heads crown, 
 in another. We want the immortall and 
 incorruptible inheritance, bought for 
 us with the bloud ofChrift,which death 
 purs us in polTefllon off. And fliill we ‘ 
 not long alter it I (hall we delire flill to 
 live in wants and be underage? What simile. 
 Prince would be uncrowned,il he could 
 help it, and might polTeire it without 
 wronger danger? and whar great heir 
 would be grieved at the lyding, that all 
 hisjandsv/ere fallen unto him? Hacille, 
 
 To thefe we may adde two more, Two o- 
 which defervetobe named particularly, 
 for though ( happily ) they may be in- good 
 eluded in fome of the former, or at 
 not excluded , yet they deferve pun- thisiifc 
 < 9 :uaily to be diftinguilhed, and hand-wewaar. 
 
 ledj though (indeed) to do it complete¬ 
 ly^ 
 
112 
 
 ^.The vi- 
 
 ifion of 
 
 Chiifts 
 
 glorious 
 
 body. 
 
 Mat.17.1, 
 
 Afts I. XX. 
 
 lob. 14.1, 
 2., &c. 
 loh.i6.6. 
 1 , &C. 
 
 ne Per felt Tifay Chap.V^ 
 
 lyipaffeth the capacity of men and An- • 
 gels. 
 
 Seaventhly therefore ,in this life^e 
 wane the v»fi >n of the glorious body of | 
 our bltffed S iviour. WHen Peur, lawexf 
 and John beheld his transfiguration here up» 
 on eatfb, when hu face did shine as the Suth 
 and his rajment was white as the light > and 
 when iVlofe > and E’i ih appeared unto 
 therm they were aHonted, and Peter faid 
 Mafterj it is good to be here : let us make i 
 here three tabernacles , 5 cc. What might 
 Peter fay^ now, and the reft of them,that 
 not onely faw that transfiguration in 
 earth (which was but a glimpfe of that 
 unutterable glory wherewith he is now 
 invefted) but do now behold to their 
 endleffe folace and exultation the re- 
 fplendant rayes, ever-dazling bright- 
 nefs of that moft glorious body , which 
 the heaven of heavens containes? and / 
 muft do till the reftitution of all things. 
 
 How did his difciples defire the con¬ 
 tinuance of his earthly prefencejherein 
 the ftateof his humilitation; and were 
 fo filled with heavinefs,when Chnft told 
 them ofhis departure from them,tharhe 
 was fain to make a confolatory Sermon 
 to them , to fuftain their hearts, telling 
 
 them 
 
Part I f, to Die in peace. 113 
 
 them that it was expedient for them that 
 he fhould go away ; elfe the comforter 
 would not come unto themi And that 
 he went to prepare a place for them^and 
 would come again , and receive them. 
 
 Now I fay j if they were fo loath to leave 
 that humbled , dejeded, and debafed 
 body here, how loath would they be to 
 part with that exalted , magnified , and 
 moll magnificent body now in heaven? 
 
 And therefore how fhould every true 
 believer long for death, that admits us 
 notonely to the fight of that glorious 
 body , but alfo to a moft fweet fellow- 
 (hip with it, and ever-ravifliing delight, 
 that proceeds from it! Andhowfllould 
 we long alfo for the day of the general ... 
 refurredion, when our vile bodies (hall * ’ 
 be made like his glorious body j accor¬ 
 ding to the mighty power, whereby he 
 is able to fubdue all things to himfelf! 
 
 Eightly, and laftly, we are here de* place of 
 prived of the place of glory» the Celc- 
 ftiall Paradife , the Heaven of Heavens, 
 or (as S'. Paul calPs it) The third Heaven, * * 
 
 the Palace of Gods fpecial refidence; 
 which to deferibe according to the 
 beauty and magnificence ofit, pafleth 
 the tongue of men and Angels. Thefe 
 
 H vifible 
 
114- TerfcSi Chap. V. 
 
 vlfible heavens above us 5 befpangled 
 with the Sun,Moon 5 and Stars, are ad- 
 ifal. ly.i. mirable to behold. Thefe ( as the Pfal- 
 niift faid) declare the glory of God, and the 
 firmament sheweth his handy work* But 
 thefe arc but the Curtain, or Portal (as 
 I may fay) to the glorious habitation 
 of the Saints. Now in this life it is not 
 pofilble for us to enter into this mod 
 happy place, but death makes way for 
 us to enter. 
 
 When we have put offthefe rags, then 
 offou\ we iliall afeend up on high, and be re* 
 earthly reived to glory, and the place of glory. 
 
 Oh then! why fhouldwe be afraid 
 afeend on to die, and unwilling to depart hence? 
 were not he a mad man, that muft be 
 drag’d out of a ftinking, fmoaky-cot- 
 tage, that hath a (lately Palace provi¬ 
 ded for him ? 
 
 Oh then (my foul) why art thou not 
 alhamed that this fhould be faid of 
 thee^ Notvvithftanding , that thou art 
 convinced of the great benefits, that we 
 reap by death 5 as freedome from all e- 
 vil, and iruition of all good , that heart 
 can conceivejand notwithftandingjthat 
 thou fee'll multitudes die before thee, 
 and fo knoweO: the commonnefs of 
 
 death. 
 
 hi i’ll. 
 
 Applipat. 
 
Part.II. to Die in Peace. j j | 
 
 death, and that it cannot be avoided > 
 yet thou art timorous , and daftardly, 
 igredere animat egredere. Go forth (my 
 foul) go forth willingly. What arc 
 thou afraid off? why doft thou linger 
 in Soionh and choofe rather to fit by the 
 flelli'pots of Egypt, then to efcape to 
 the mounts and to cate the Manna of 
 the heavenly Canaan ? What fee’fi: thou 
 here , that can give thee any true con- eccI.m; 
 tent ? Is not all vanity j and vexation of 
 fpirit ? Oh therefore cry out with Saint Rom.7.a4 
 Paul,Wretched man that I am! who shall Phil. 1,21 > 
 deliver me from the body of this deathl And 
 feeing thou canft not be delivered but 
 by dcathjlong for it, as for a blefled day 
 offreedome; and fay with him, I de- 
 fire to be dijjolved 9 and to be with Chrifij 
 which is beH of all. 
 
 0 Thoss God of all power and grace, who Prayer, 
 art the Father of the fpirits of all fleshy 
 who haft pafs*d a decree that earth muft re* 
 turn to earth , and that all men mufi taft of 
 death fooner or later; I befeech thee make 
 me willing to laydown this earthly Taber^ 
 nacle, when it shall pleafe thee, that fo I 
 may/ make a benefit of necefiity , and that 
 which cannot be retained^ /nay chearfully 
 furxendredyupon affured and conftdencct 
 
 H X that 
 
ii6 The^erfecil&Ay Chap. VI. 
 
 that whatfoever is committed to thy care 
 and charge shall never perish, o let me be 
 armed againft deaths that death may come 
 * unarmed againft me^ that I may not perish 
 by the Hing of it , but may pajje by it y as a 
 ftweetfieep from all the miferies of thispre- 
 fent wretched lifcy to that eternal reft, that 
 is prepared for thy people through lefm 
 Chrift,hm(tn, 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 7 Praftical 
 duties re¬ 
 quired in 
 our prepa- 
 lation. 
 
 I. To keep 
 a clear 
 con- 
 fcicnce. 
 
 The con- 
 fcience 
 God’s Au¬ 
 dit. 
 
 i^CV.20,12, 
 
 I 
 
 ShttPtng hotp we may he armed againfl death by 
 praHice of divers chriftian duties, 
 
 T is not enough to be frequent in 
 the meditation of the things former¬ 
 ly mentioned, but we muft adde the 
 pradice of 7 principall duties, if ever 
 we would rightly prepare for death. 
 
 I. To keep a clear confcience before 
 God and men. A wicked man cannot 
 poffibly die willingly, for want of this. 
 Our confcience is Gods Audit, or lefTt r 
 Court of Inquihtion, which he holds 
 here below in every mans bofome^ and 
 according to the evidenc^^ofthis, he 
 will judge us at the laft g|^at Affifesj 
 when the books be opened^and all men 
 
 shall 
 
Part IL to Die in Peace, iiT 
 
 shall receive according to that they have done - cor.Mo 
 in the flesh»whether it be good or evil. 
 
 As a mans confcience isjfo is his com¬ 
 fort both in life and death. Davidhdid 
 a good confcience, and therefore he 
 could fay, Search me (O Lord)and try my pfai. 
 hearH And to Saul^ The Lord be judge he- * sam. 
 twixt thee and me, 
 
 Hezekiah had a good confcienccjand 
 therefore he could comfort himfelf with 
 the remembrance of that, even when the 
 meflage of death was brought unto him: 
 
 Remember (O Lord) how / have walked be» ifa-s? j. 
 fore thee^ in truth i and with an upright 
 hearty and have done that which is right iu 
 thine eyes. 
 
 And S^ Paul profelTeth this was his 
 comfort. Our comfort is this ( faith hej ^ 
 the teflimony of our confcience , that in fincer 
 rity^ and godly purenefs, we have had our 
 converfation in the world, 
 
 S^, Ambrofe was not afraid of death, 
 and that becaufe he had a good con- 
 lcience:for(faith he) I have not ib lived, 
 that I am afraid to live any longer,* nei- verei me 
 ther do I fear to die, becaufe we have a 
 
 “ tno,qma. bo- 
 
 gOjOd Lord. num habit-’ 
 
 But Pelix had an evil confcience, 
 whichmadehipato tremble;when 
 
 H 5 rea- 
 
XI 
 
 'The Perfect Chap.Vl^ 
 
 rcafoned of rigkteoufnefsj andtempe- 
 ranee, and the judgment to come. ISeU 
 $ha 7 ^r had an evil confcienccjand that 
 made every Joynt of him to tremble at 
 the fight of the hand-writing on the 
 wall. 
 
 ittdds had an evil confeience, and that 
 made fuch a torment within him, that 
 he could not ftay death's leafure (as I 
 AftH.jS.niay fay) to come to him ,but with a 
 halter Was his own executioner, and 
 made a fpeedy riddance ofhis mifera* 
 ble life, by a forced wilIingnefs,choofi 
 ing rather to die a dogs death, then to 
 live in the garboyles of art evil con* 
 fcience, 
 
 O then ( my foul) in the fear of God 
 take heed of an evil confeience,for that 
 is a Hell on earth; and labour to get and 
 beavcaonkcep a good confcicnce, for that is a 
 earth. heaven before thou come there. Repent 
 Means te therefore of all thy former fins. Lay 
 hold upon the cleanfing blond of 
 fcience. the Lord lefiisdive foberlyjdghteoufly, 
 and godly in this prefent world* Get an 
 ukfeheed unerring light out of Gods word jand 
 bffins walk according to it. 
 
 Ihrcon? Take heed of all fins, but efpecially 
 icicacc. fuch as ^aft the confeience* 
 
 -■ Fob 
 
 Applieat. 
 
 (Goodcon* 
 fcience a 
 
Part.ir. io Die in Peace, 119 
 
 Follow the motions of the good fpi- 
 rit of God 5 and fin not againfl: thine 
 own confcience* Remember that a 
 good confcience will be thy fureH: 
 friend ,and ftick faftefi: to thee 1 when a good 
 all worldly friends will fail, and forlake 
 thee. Happy is he) that (o lives nowjthat the fmcd 
 his confcience may comfort him at the 
 hour of death. 
 
 0 Mofl grations God, forgive me^l tnoft Prayer. 
 
 humbly befeech thee 3 that many times I 
 have finned againfl thee, and the light of 
 mine own confcience. And nowgive me grace 
 never to do the like again, O let me draw ^eb 10 zz 
 near to thee in full affurance3having my ‘ 
 heart fprinkled from an evil confcicnces 
 and my body wafhed with pure water. 
 
 Let me hold faft the profeflion of my 
 faith unto the end without waveringj 
 for thou art faithfull, and haft promi- 
 fed not to fail in life nor death thole 
 that put their truft in thee. 
 
 H4 GHAP. 
 
 r 
 
120 
 
 The VerfeSi Chap.VII. 
 
 t. 
 
 call duty, 
 viz., mor¬ 
 tification 
 of world¬ 
 ly affe- 
 ftions. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 0 / tht fetond^raBkall duty to^tepdfation , viz. 
 the mortifying of our affeBions to the world, 
 
 S Econdly , if we would rightly pre¬ 
 pare for death,we muft mortify our 
 afFe( 5 lions to the world. For the 
 world is a main enemy to us in this pre¬ 
 paration and it is impoffible for us to 
 be willing to die5unlefre we firft be dead 
 in our affections to the world. 
 
 Moft men are fb taken up with the 
 love of this world, that they utterly 
 forget God, and their own fouls? and 
 Mat. 17 4-as Peftfr faid to Chrifton the mount in 
 his transfiguration, Mafter it isgoodto be 
 here, though he knew not what he faid; 
 God'schil- fo do the men of this world fay; yea 
 drcn are children of God are too much ena- 
 
 too ITlUCft « 1*0 II 
 
 enamour- moured on this itrumpet, and there- 
 edon the fQj-g frequently admoniflled 
 
 * in the Scripture to take heed of her. 
 iioh.3.i6. I-ove not the M^orld(C^ithS, John) nor the 
 things of this world. If any man love the 
 world ithe love of the Father is not in him, 
 Saviour faith, cannot ferve 
 lam, 4*4. God and Mammon. hnd S^^Iamesy If any 
 man be a friend of the world, he is an enemy 
 : . to G)^d, ■ 
 
Part II. toDiein feace. 121 
 
 Let every man therefore in the fear 
 of Godj take offhis affedions from the 
 worldjand fee them on thofc things that CoU.i: 
 are above. 
 
 Let him remember 3 that in death jn death 
 the world will forfake him ,and prove a world 
 
 deceitfull friend. And in the mean times 
 (he hath but a painted beauty put up¬ 
 on her 3 and an appearance of good on¬ 
 ly ^but no truejfolids nor fubftantial 
 good at all. 
 
 Thefeare butflaadows of pleafurcs, xhewoti 
 and (hadows of profitSs and fhadows of “o- 
 contentments that are here below. Solo- Jhldows* 
 wow dooms them all to be vanity 3 and of good 
 vexation offpirit. S^ ranks all that 
 the world hath 3 under thefe three 
 headsjThe luft of thefle(h,the luftofiioh.Mj 
 the eyessandthe pride of life. And 
 thefe he faith 3 that together with the 
 world they pafTe away3& continue not. 
 
 Honours 3 riches, beauty > friends3 
 houfesslands,high places, wit, ftrength, 
 children>acquaintance,and what elfe fo- 
 ever we can here enjoy, are but empty Dt-Prefim. 
 viols 3 as a learned man faith. They can¬ 
 not faiisfy. They are full of labour. 
 
 They are blafts, that are foon gone. 
 
 There is a fnare in them. They cannot 
 
 help 
 
Ill 
 
 AppUctti 
 1 Cor. 7. 
 
 fluke i6.£ 
 
 lob 
 
 When 
 death 
 comes > be 
 not un-' 
 willing to 
 part with 
 tkc«rdiid> 
 
 7 he PerfcSili^ay Chap.VIL 
 
 hdp us in the evil day* They are com¬ 
 mon to the wicked as well as the godly. 
 A man may have them , and not a heart 
 to ufe them. They may be,and (for the 
 moft part ) are thorns, and pricks to a 
 man, that pierce his foul thorough with 
 many forrows here,and further his con¬ 
 demnation hereafter. 
 
 O then (my foul) let not the love of 
 the world bewitch thee: remember the 
 Apoftfs counfelj This Ifaj brethretiythe 
 time is short; It remameth that they that 
 have wives, be as though they hud none, and 
 they that weep as though they wept not, 
 and they that rejoyce , as though they rejoy• 
 ced not , and they that buy as though they pof- 
 fejfed not , and they that ufe this world , as 
 they that ufe it not, or (as the laft tranfla- 
 tion hath it) asnotahufing it. 
 
 Think thus with thy felf, that ere 
 long it will be faid unto thee, Givean 
 account of thy few ardship, for thou mayeji 
 he no longer fteward. What then will all 
 wordly things avail thee? Naked thou 
 camefi into the world , and naked thou muf 
 go out of it: Oh then , delay not to pre¬ 
 pare for death , for any thing that the 
 world can afford ;& wlien death comes, 
 be not unwilling to part with the world.. 
 
 It 
 
.Part.lL ioDieinPedce. I2j 
 
 It is a priforij a Pilgrimage, a turbulent 
 fea,an Egypt, a vaft gulf of mifery. 
 
 Oh happy wer’t thou if thou wer’t deli¬ 
 vered from it. 
 
 CJ^Herefore (mofl gratious God) I befeech) Prayer. 
 
 theeiimbltter unto me the jinfull delights % 
 the pleafures, and profits of this worldi that 
 every day I may be more and more mortified 
 to them in mine affections. Give me a fan^ 
 Ctifiedufe of all law full things here below ^ 
 and let me tafi thy goodnefs in them. And 
 keep^me from the evil that .is in this worlds 
 that my foul be not poifoned thereby i and 
 made unwilling to remove hence ; but that 
 with 5 .Paul, I may count all things here jhil. j. 
 to bebut drolTe and dung, in comparb 
 fon of Chrift my Lord and Saviour. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 of the often meditation of death , and the getting 
 ajfurance of our falvationi which are ffecial helps 
 in our preparation, 
 
 A Third fpcciall help to fit us for 
 death > is a frequent & confeion- 
 able meditation ofit, with an im¬ 
 partial application to our fdves. Die 
 
 mufti 
 
IobX 4 >t 4 > 
 Mat. 25.10 
 
 X24 Perfect Ti^ay Chap.VIII. 
 
 muftj It cannot be avoided; but when, 
 no man knows. It is left uncertain to ^ 
 us, to the end we fhould alwayes watch 
 and be in readines. Let us therefore do 
 as lob didiWaitall the dayes of our appoln»$ 
 tedtime till our change come. And like the 
 wife Virgins ,let m be •watching with ojl 
 in our lamps , againfl the coming of the 
 Bride^groome, that we may he fit to enter in 
 with him into the weddings chamber. And 
 let us begin to think of death betimes. 
 Bemember thy Creatour in the dayes of thy 
 youth. As foon as we were born we began f 
 to die (as was faid formerly.)Death lets 
 upon us betimesjand begins to war with 
 us affoon as we have a being. Let us be¬ 
 gin betimes to waragainfthim. Agood 
 Souldierwill be exercifing before the 
 day of battle: And he that means to get 
 the race,will run the ground over many ‘ 
 a time afore-hand. So muft we do , if 
 we will be conquerours over death,and I 
 fo run that we may obtain the prize.Let 
 us therefore by our dayly meditation 
 of death , fee where his flrength lieth, 
 that we may deal as wifely for our 
 Ma6.i9- felves, as the Philiftines dealt wilicly a- 
 gainft Sampfon, by fhearing offhis locks 
 while he was a fleep. Death feems now 
 
 £ccl. 12.1. 
 
 SiMtidie 
 morirmfy 
 ^otidte e- 
 nim demi- 
 mr pars 
 vita : & 
 tunc qmqy 
 €Hmcrefci‘ 
 vms, vita 
 dtertfeit- 
 \ivcs. 
 
125 
 
 Part II. to Die in Peace. 
 
 » 
 
 to be a fleepj while we enjoy health and 
 'ftrengtb. Now is the time for us to 
 (hear off his locks^ before he awake, be- ' 
 fore he look us grim in the face > and 
 “arreft us fuddenly by fome painfull 
 (ickneft and difeafe. Let us now in our i Cor.9. 
 dayly thoughts 5 ever and-anon be 
 running over theftiort race ofour Jivesj 
 that in the laft day of them we may 
 gain the goal, and obtaine that incor¬ 
 ruptible crown of glory. 
 
 Let us do by death , as it is reported 
 S^ llierom did by the day of judgment j 
 Whether he ate, or drank, or whatfoe- mTndSii 
 ver elfe he did, he thought alwayes that pf the laft 
 he heard the found of the laH trumpe, 
 
 Arife ye dead , and come to judgement. 
 
 So let us think, that whether we eate, or 
 drink, or fleep or play, or fit, or ftand, 
 or go, or walk, we hear deaths feet at 
 the door, and he at hand to arreft us, to 
 make our appearance before the judge acath al- 
 of quick and dead. This frequent me* waiesac 
 ditationofdcath is needful at all times, 
 even in our beft health; but Specially in com- 
 in the times of common calamities, as “°”*^**** 
 
 C r 0-1 muieswe 
 
 ot wars,or rumours of wars, peltilences, are called 
 burning feavers , and other infedious 
 
 difeafes, though kffe feared,* as namely prepare 
 
 fmall ^’^*^*^* 
 
126 
 
 4 . Prafti- 
 calduty. 
 
 aTim.x.iz 
 
 Phil.i.a3* 
 
 Ifal. aj. 
 J» 4 . 
 
 Want of 
 afTurance 
 makes us 
 afraid Qf 
 
 <deatli* 
 
 The Perfeiilufay. Chap.VIII, 
 
 fmall pocks, meafilsj ire. And therefore 
 feeing at this time^od^s hand is ftretch- 
 cd out by many greivous infirmities in ; 
 many places, both of City and Goun- | 
 trey, and many die continually both ^ 
 young, and old } and feeing we are not 
 free from rumours 9 and fears of war 
 both within and without the land 5 Let 
 us, in the fear of (Sod,daily call to mind 
 our own mortality,and by a ferious and 
 frequent meditation of death arme our 
 felves againftit. 
 
 In the 4. place, let us labour, by all 
 means poflible, to get aflurance of our 
 falvation. For if once we could fay with 
 St. Paul I know whom I have believed)WC 
 would prefcntly cry out w‘*^ him, I defire 
 to he difiblvedy and to he with Chrifiy which 
 is heft o/rf//.Ifonce we could fay withD^- 
 vid.The Lord is mj Sheapbeardj shall want 
 nothings we would prefently triumph 
 with him. Though I walk in the vale of the 
 shadow of deaths I will fear none evil. 
 
 The want ofthis alTurance is that which 
 makes us afraid ofdeath, and unwilling 
 to die. And no marvailej for who is 
 willing to change at uncertanities? who 
 will part with a poor cottage that he 
 hath in pofleiSion 7 for a fair tenement 
 
 oneiy 
 
f 
 
 
 Part.II. to Viein Peace. i;s7 
 
 ’ onely upon uncertain hopes ? A bird 
 in the hand (we fay) is worth two in the 
 Wood. This worldly men know well 
 enough 5 their confciences didating to 
 them the guilt of manifold fins 5 where¬ 
 of they have not repented. And there¬ 
 fore, becaufe they have no affurance, 
 nor good hope of heaven ,they are fo 
 loath to part with earth; yea, the beft of 
 men , becaufc they are Stfh, as well as The beft 
 fpirit, & favour too much of the earth, ^ 
 
 1 ,1 I .11- 1 much ado 
 
 have much ado to be willing to leave tobewu- 
 it. 
 
 Let us therefore defire of the Lord 
 by earneft prayer , to give us that 
 7 rA» 0 p<|>o/!iotv 3 on rullnes of affurance^that we 
 may fay with VauU I am perfwadedy 
 that neither death, nor life , nor Angels , nor 
 principalities, nor powers, nor things pre^ 
 fent , nor things to come , nor height , nor 
 depthnor any other creature, shall be able 
 to feperate us from the love of God , which is 
 in Chrifi lefrn our Lard, 
 
 Oh therefore ( my foul ) that thou 
 could'fl; get this affurance! that thou 
 could’fi: lay with holy Job , J know that 
 my 'B.edcemer Itvethl with S\ John on his i loh.j.it 
 own behalf, and other- Believers; IV ? know 
 that we are pajfed from death to lifel with 
 
 St. Paul 
 
12S The Perfe 5 i "lifay Chap.VIII.^ 
 
 Paul 3 We know that all things shall 
 work^ together for good to them that 
 Till we love God, dec. And if all things 3 then 
 
 wnoVol^ Surely till it be thus with 
 
 faivation, thccs it is not fo Well as it (hould be,* O 
 fowcU°^ therefore labour for it with all thy 
 witk usas might and power. Repent of ifin. Let 
 itfliould it not bear (way in thy heart; for fin un- 
 
 iJcansto fobdued hinders affurance. Acquaint 
 gcraffu- thy felf with the promifes, and fweetly 
 xancc. upon them, Obferve former ex¬ 
 
 periences of Gods mercies: often com^ 
 municate at the Lords, table , and that 1 
 in a fit and worthy manner. And ever- 1 
 more pray that thy heart may be com¬ 
 forted w*** the riches of full underftand- 
 ing and afl'urance in Chrift lefus. And 
 having gotten this aflfurancesor at leafo 
 wife a well grounded hope of thy falva- ' 
 tion, be evermore thinking of death, 
 and fo thinking of it, as if thou kneweft 
 it were ready at the door to attach thee. 
 Simile. The feven dayes in the week are as 
 
 leven fervanis, that minifter totheej , 
 now one of thefe will confpire with 
 death againft thee, and take away thy 
 life. Oh therefore obferve them all 
 with greater obfervation, that when ' 
 that day comes 3 that will end the life of 
 
 thy 
 
129 
 
 Part II, to Die in peace, 
 
 thy body j it may be the begin ning of 
 .eternal] life to thy foul. 
 
 dll that I can do , is nothing without P^^yen 
 thine ayd and grace (0 Lord God;') I be^ 
 feed) thee therefore^ make me much and 
 often to meditate on my lafi end with much 
 fruit 5 and benefit to my poor foul , that 
 death may not come upon me unthought of„ 
 
 And give me (O Lord ) j befeech thee ? this 
 full ajfurance of my reconciliation with thee 
 through lefusChrift-ithat I may not doubt of 
 exchanging for the better when the day of 
 my change shall ceme^ but that then I may 
 leave this vale of mifery j finging with old 
 Simeon , Lord nowletteft thou thy fer- 
 vant depart in peace. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 of three other praHicall helps in our preparation for 
 death) viz. i. aright ufeofaffUBions, z. Jet¬ 
 ting our hotife in order. 3. Fraj/er. 
 
 A Fife pradicall duty that wemuft s prafti^ 
 perform, is to make a good ufe 
 of the alBidions that befall us uSofaf- 
 in ouf life rime. There is no man in the 
 world, but fome way or other hfe hath 
 his CroileSi And this is one fpeciall 
 
 1 end 
 
130 The Perfeffl^dy Chap.IX. 
 
 end of them, or at leaft fliould be, to 
 wean us from thevvorldjand to make us 
 prepare for our removing from hence. 
 
 Cor. St. Paul tells us, that he dyed dajly : and 
 one fpeciall way ofhis dayly dying was 
 by afilidions. And he was crucified with 
 Chrijh (as he tells us in another placej 
 1 - 24 . And he rejoyced in his fujferings for the Co- 
 lopanSi whereby he filled up that which 
 was behind of the afilidions of Chrift 
 in his flelli, for his bodies fakcjwhich is 
 the Church. Paul was martvred in his 
 aircctioDS,a long time before his reall 
 martyrdorne under The Lordhad 
 
 appointed him to fuffer great things ^or his 
 name fake. And by thole great fufFe- 
 2.Cor.I. rings he came to have great experience 
 of Gods wifdome, power and good' 
 ^ nelTein fufieining , relieving and com- 
 xorting him. So that the more he was 
 afflided, the more conformable to 
 Chrifihewas made, and the more hea¬ 
 venly minded. Hear the compendium 
 of his Sufferingsjas himl'eif relates them 
 ^ Cor. li. 21,23. &c. in labours more 
 ^bundaitt; m Jiripes above me a fur e \ in pn 
 vcifcrj p^s more frequent: in death oft. Of the 
 xejic.4 times received iforty firipes 
 
 fave one. ‘ 
 
 '' Thrice 
 
P I. 10 Die in Pe/tce, j ^ i 
 
 Thtice WAS I beaten with Tods: once was 
 I floned: thrice I fuffered shipwrackj 4 
 night and a day I hav e been in the deep. 
 
 In journeying ofteniinperills of waterskin 
 per ills of r obbersy in perills by my own coun* 
 irey-men , in perills by the heathen^ in perills 
 in the city , in perills in the wilderneffe , in 
 perills in the fea, in perills among falfe 
 brethren. 
 
 In wearineffe ambpamfullneffe > In wat* 
 chings often , in hunger and thirfly infafi* 
 ings often ? in cold j and nahedneffe, es^c. 
 
 See the meanes whereby Saint Paul 
 was dead to the world ? before he was 
 de^d in the world. And this was that 
 he dcfired fo much , that he counted all 
 things Ioffe , and dung , that he might know 
 Chrifi y and the power of his refUrre^ion , 
 and the fellowship of his fufirings > being 
 made conformable to his death. 
 
 And this bleffed example every Ghri* Every 
 ftian (hould imitate, namely to be bet- chriftian 
 ter by his afllidionsj to be more wea* 
 ned from the world , more mortified in better by 
 his afFeclions) and more mindful! of 
 bis changing. 
 
 Every trouble of mind , every fick- 
 neffe and infirmity of body y every out¬ 
 ward calamity in what other kind foe- 
 
 I z ver 
 
132 
 
 Jl4cr} eft 
 v.ltinmm 
 terrihtliHra 
 Atift. 
 
 The holy 
 Manyrs 
 |)aiterns 
 of pati¬ 
 ence. 
 
 ifee path 
 ci: c£ oT 
 the Mat¬ 
 ty IS in, 
 the primi¬ 
 tive , and 
 Marian 
 da yes ad- 
 miraye. 
 
 The Perfedi li^ay Chap. IX* 
 
 verj fliouldbeas fo many little deaths 
 unto us3 that hereby we may be inured 
 to bear patiently and peaceably the 
 great death , which is the up-(hot 3 and 
 end of all the reft. 
 
 And therefore we had need both of 
 a great meafure of patience to under- 
 goe the troubles and miferies of this 
 wretched life, and to bicker with the 
 pangs of death, which to flefh and 
 blond is grievous to think of^ but 
 much more grievous to undergoe and 
 pafte thorough in the hour ofir. And 
 here it will not be amiffe to call to mind 
 thofe admirable patterns of patience in 
 many of the Saints and holy martyrs, 
 that have to the aftoniOiment even of 
 their enemies, fuffered exquihee tor¬ 
 ments, both in their life time , and at 
 their death, with undaunted courage 
 and refolution. Read the Catalogue of 
 the .Saints Heb.11.35. They were mtu» 
 red -iUot -accepting deliverance, ver.36, 37. 
 11 ad try all of cruell mocktngs, andfcotirg^ 
 ings ■) of bonis and hnprtjonments: They 
 were flonedj they were fawn afunderiwere 
 tempted , were flayn with the fword, &c. 
 
 Read the lives of the Marivrs both 
 ill ti e primitive times , and alfo in 
 
 Qi^een 
 
Part.II. to Die in Peace. 
 
 13 3 
 
 Queen Maryes dayesj and it v;ould 
 make a man admire that fo many poor, 
 naked ? and unarmed fheep and lambes 
 of the Lord lefus jfhould by their pa¬ 
 tience and meeknefTe weary out and 
 overcome the horrible cruelty of their 
 bloudy Perfeciiter*;. A volume might 
 be written of this fubje( 5 i:, examples are 
 fo full and frequent. I will onely give 
 ataftoffomefew that were very remar¬ 
 kable. 
 
 Vincentiits y a Spaniard ,who fuffered 
 martyrdomc at Valcme under Daciamis Monu- 
 the Preiident of the cruell tyrant Dio- ments. 
 cleftafii^ds thus iifed. Firil the Pr?(i- 
 / dent caufed the Martyr to be layd up¬ 
 on the torture (or rack) and aU the 
 joynts of his body to be difl:ended\ till 
 they crack’d again. This being done 
 in moll: extream and cruel! manner > all 
 the members of his painefull and piti- 
 full body were grievoully indented 
 with deadly wounds. Thirdly? that 
 his dolours and griefe might be aug¬ 
 mented? they miferably vexed his flefh 
 with Iron combes fharply filed. And 
 to the end the tormentours might vo* thererfe- 
 mit out their vengeance on the meek > 
 and mild martyrs flefh, they them-S?j/” 
 
 I 5 felves 
 
134 The PeyfeB^ay, Chap.IX* 
 
 felves were vilely fcourged at the Prefi- 
 dents command. Then they laid his 
 body on a grate ofironj and when they 
 had opened his flefli with iron hookes ^ 
 they feared it with fiery plates, fprink- 
 ling the fame with hot burning fait. 
 Laftof all they caft him into a vile 
 Dungeon) the floor whereofwas firfl: 
 thick fpred with the (harpefl: fhells 
 that might be gotten^ his feet then be¬ 
 ing fafl: locked in the flocks > there was 
 heleft alone without all worldly com¬ 
 fort $ but the Lord his God was with 
 him 5 and over all thefe torments, yea 
 and death it felf j Vincentm was (as his 
 name imports)aConquerour by his pa¬ 
 tience. 
 
 ' cAfUms a Anothe)* notable example we have of 
 maftc°c" wfeo with abundance of pati- 
 
 Martyred encc and meeknefs indured a n\oft 
 by his cruel Martyrdome from the hands of 
 s^olars. own Scholars 5 who (at the com* 
 mand of the cruel Tyrant)became their 
 IVlaflers executioners I fome with their 
 Pen-knives lancing and pricking his 
 flefh, others calling flones athim>o- 
 tabie thers breaking their tables on his face, 
 for cou- i\\\ hacl made a cruel end of him* 
 fa¥enng« Women alfo,and Virgins were ad- 
 
 mi- 
 
Part.II. to Die in Peace, 1 3 ^ 
 
 mirabk patternes of invincible ecu* 
 rage, and magnanimity in fuftering for 
 the Lord lefus bis teftimony. 
 
 Eulalia , a chaft Virgin of a Hoble fa¬ 
 mily in Portugal , being for a time kept 
 fecrct by her Parents in a Country 
 houfe j remote from the City Emerita, _ 
 where file w^as bornjand brought upjfor 
 fear Icaft by her bold profeffionpfhe 
 fhould provoke the Perfecutors to 
 Martyr her ; dole forth priviely in the 
 filent night, and paffing through Brie¬ 
 ry and Thorny places 5 without any o- 
 ther guide then the good fpii it of God, 
 in the morning early (hecomes of her 
 own accord before the Tribunal,* where 
 boldly, and openly (he thus fpeaks to 
 the heathen Judge, What afhameis^"^^ 
 it for you thus rafhly , and without ad- fpeechss 
 vifcmenttodeftroy,and kill mens fouls, 
 and to throw their bodies alive againO: 
 the rocksi&c. Behold I am one of the 
 Chriftians, an enemy to your devilifh 
 facrifices. I fpurn your Idols under my 
 feet, I confelTe God omnipotent with 
 my heart and mouth, ifis 7 Apollo, and 
 Vejim what are they ? yea Maxhninm him* 
 felfe, what is he ? Thefe and many fucli 
 like fpeeches (he utter'd in contempt of 
 
 I 4 the 
 
J 5 6 The FerpS "Way Chap. IX. 
 
 the Idols and Idol*worfhipperSj where¬ 
 upon the Tyrant being inraged? firft 
 ibreatned her with fword ? wild beafts 
 and fire’; but (he perfifiing (till in her 
 refolution,hebe^an to allure her with 
 
 o 
 
 fair fpeechcs, telling her of her tender 
 age5 noble parentage* efpoufalsj all 
 which he wifhed her to have refpe^t 
 untoj but when neither his threats* 
 
 , norblandifhments could prevaile with 
 her to take a little fait in her fingers to 
 offer to the Idols (for that they would 
 have been content with)the tormentors 
 were then commanded to excrcifeex- 
 
 Exquiiite Cruelty upon her; firfi two hang- 
 
 cruelty. men with all their ftrength and might 
 rent her joints in funder* then her flefh 
 was fcratched from her fidcs with the ta¬ 
 lons of wild beafts, afterward (he was 
 miferably tormented on the Iron-grate* 
 
 or, hurdle: laftly hot burning torches 
 Ex Tvuden- bum her fiefh, 
 
 which catching in her hair jfeafed alfo 
 on head and face * and fo (he ended her 
 mortal life. 
 
 How admirable was the conftancy, 
 courage, & patience of our own bleffed 
 Martyrs in thofe bIoudy*M4r/4» dayes? 
 And what inward comfort they felt from 
 
 the 
 
/Part II. to Die iri Peace. 157 
 
 the Spirit of God even in the prifon, Mr. rk7- 
 and at the (lake, hear Mr. Phtlpot for 
 himfelf and the reft of them: The world der the 
 ( faith he) wonders, how we can be 
 merry in fuch extream mifery. But our m a letter 
 omnipotent God turneth our mifery 
 
 r 1 c' CL dyV-*«<r. 
 
 into rehcity. Believe me , dear Siitcr, 
 there is no fuch Joy in the world as the 
 people of Chrift have under the CrofTc. 
 
 I can fpeak experience. For when 
 they imprifbn our bodies, they fet our 
 fouls at liberty with God: when they 
 caft us down I they lift us up: when 
 they kill us, then they bring us to ever- 
 laftinglife. And what greater glory can 
 there be then to be at conformity with 
 Chrift, which aftlidions do work in us? 
 
 A 6 , thing to be done in oUr prepara* 6. Dirp®r- 
 tion, is 5 the difpofing of our outward 
 eftate. Set thy boufe in order -ifor thou muH eftate. 
 
 ^/r^jfaith the Lord to Hezekiab, 
 
 The condition muft be undergone of 
 all men; and therefore it is a duty, that 
 all who have any eftate muft perform. 
 
 - And it is not to be put off to our laftoffthe*^ 
 ficknels, which muft end our dayes; for ««king 
 that is a very prepofterous courfe, and wmwill 
 uncertain: for who knows, whether he the time 
 (ball have time to do it? Many that have ^ 
 
 put 
 
13 S The VerfeB Chap. IX. 
 
 put off the making of theirWills in their 
 health j have been ftrucken fuddenlyi 
 and if they have had a will to make their 
 Will then, have not had a tongue to 
 Many that cxprefs what their Will was.And though 
 would they (hould have time to do it, yet the 
 
 have made . \ cr \ r • r i • 
 
 their Violence or licknels is luch many times , 
 Wills on and the diftemper of mind fo great,that 
 death- are no wayes fit for fuch a biifinefs. 
 
 bed*,have Befides, we (hall have enough to do, to 
 vented^^ difpofe our fouls for that great journeyj 
 and cherQfore upon our death-bed, it is 
 good to have as little to do with the 
 world 5 as we may* What ? fhall wc be 
 then mod: bufyed in the world ,when 
 we are ready to leave it I (hall we be 
 then rooting ( like fivinej in the earth, 
 when our pretious fouls are ready to 
 expire , and afeend to him that gave 
 them ? Therefore ( as our Saviour faid 
 ioh.1i.27. another matter , Qmd facts, 
 
 faccito') fo fay I, in this. If thou haft a 
 Will to make, make it quickly $ for (as 
 Pro.27.1. Solomon faith) thou knowejl not what may 
 he to morrow. And here (me thinks) the 
 poor man hath a great advantage of the 
 
 nians^Will ^ horfe(we fay) is foon cur- 
 foon ried,and a little eftate is foon difpofed* 
 made. The great rich men of the world have 
 
 much 
 
•Part II. to Die m fence. 13 ^ 
 
 much to do in making their Wills.They 
 mufthave the advice oflearnedcounfelj 
 and men expert in the Law i and it re¬ 
 quires a large time, and great delibe- 
 ‘ ration todifpofe of this demefnc, that 
 Lord-fliipj this farm, that tenement^ 
 this joynture, that annuity: Great por¬ 
 tions are to be left to children , and Le¬ 
 gacies to friends* He had need be a 
 good Arithmetician Geometrician too, 
 that can rightly proportion the Lands, 
 monyes,and goods, Gattels and Chat¬ 
 tels of the rich of our time. But 
 the poor man, that hath little to leave, 
 hath foon bequeathed it* The firft 
 claufe of his Will, I give and bequeath 
 my [ohI into the hands of Almighty GodjScc. 
 and the laft, namely the appointing of 
 his executours, is many limes more 
 then the reft of his Item's. 
 
 Laftly,beGaufe all our endevours,ei- 7- rrafti- 
 ther by meditation or pra( 5 i:ice,are very 1 ^^., Pia- 
 deficient artd imperfef^, and for the yet* 
 moftpart we fail in nothing more then 
 thefe duties of preparation for death; 
 ourfureft way is to be frequent in pra¬ 
 yer, that the Lord would affift, and help 
 us in this fo great, & neceffary a work. 
 
 Let us fay therefore with David , Lord 
 
 let 
 
140 The PerfeB'Tpay Chap. IX^ 
 
 rfalj9 4 /^/ me know m'tne end ,and the number of 
 mj dajes^tbat I may be certified ho%v frail 
 pfal.^o iz j Mofesy So teach ustonum- 
 
 her our dayes, that we may apply our hearts 
 towifdome. Every day, let it be one of 
 our Petitions, that we may alwayes be 
 in readinefs; and that death may nf-ver 
 find us unprepared. 
 
 Applicat. Therefore (Omy foul) make good 
 ufe of every crcffe, and calamity , that 
 befalls thee, that hereby thy afFc(^fions 
 may be mortified to the world,and thou 
 thy felf made conformable to Chrift, 
 that thou maift be weary of fin, that 
 caufeth forrow, and of the world it felf, 
 the place of thy Purgatory. 
 
 2. Thank God who hath given thee 
 a mind to fet in order that portion of 
 worldly goods, that he hath lent thee* 
 Remember that thou art but a Steward 
 of them, and mull give an account for 
 the well, or ill disburfing of them: ufe 
 them therefore to Gods glory , thine 
 own good, and the good ofothersj that 
 they may be helps to thee in thy jour¬ 
 ney towards heaven,St no impediments. 
 Pray earneft}y,ferventlyj and frequent¬ 
 ly, that the Lord would pardon thy 
 great negligence in preparing for death. 
 
Part II. to Die in fcace, 
 
 and that he would give thee more care 
 hereafter for this great bufinefs, that 
 thou maift rather wait for thedav of 
 thy difiblutionjihen it for thee. 
 
 many times upon me^fo give me grace to 
 makegood ufe ofit^ and by thofe httie deaths 
 ofafflibiions that many times 1 have fufferedy 
 prepare me for that great death, the end of 
 all the refi which once 1 muft endure. Give 
 me ^raceyfirli tofct my heart, and then my 
 houfe in order. And fir me up to beg grace 
 of thee dayly-i and hourly, to be dayly and 
 hourly prepared for mine end ■> winch ever 
 draws nearer and nearer to me. Oh prepare 
 mein life for death, and in death for that life 
 -(hat never shall fee death again j through 
 Jefus Chrifl-i w'ho once died for me to deliver 
 me from the fear and bondage of death , to ^ 
 whom be honour for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Thus far of general preparation for 
 death: that which is moreipeciali 
 folioweth. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
142 
 
 The Perfe 6 t Chap .X. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Offpeciall Vffp^Y^'ttion for death , when God lajes 
 a man upon his fck-hed. 
 
 T all times we ought to beprepa- 
 
 j^^red for death (as we have beard 
 before) but efpecially when God 
 
 We muft 
 efpecially 
 prepare 
 our felvcs 
 
 when^God US on our fkk-beds > becaufe then 
 vifits US God calls uT to it in a more efpeciall 
 manner. Sicknefs is the ordinary fore- 
 runneri ^ procurer of death. And God 
 deals gracioufly with us, in that he is 
 pleafedby this means to warn us ,ye^ 
 and to arme us too (ifwe will not be 
 wanting to our felves) againft death. He 
 might fmite us deadly by one ftroke in 
 a moment, fo that we fhould not have 
 time fo’ much as to think a thought 
 tending to preparation (& many times 
 we have fearfull examples ofGodsjur. 
 ftice this way ) but for the moft part, 
 God gives men warning by a longer 
 beds Gods timeofficknefs. Our {rck-beds(ifthey 
 ftoves. be fandified to us) are Gods ftoves, 
 wherein we fweat out corruption: They 
 are Gods refining fires 9 whereby our 
 droffe is melted away , and we made pu¬ 
 rer Gold, and more fit for his heavenly 
 
 Ta. 
 
were our 
 iafi. 
 
 ; Part IL toDte tnpeace. 143 
 
 Tabernacle:They are theLords coachesj 
 or Chariots 5 which he fends to fetch us 
 to bimfelf. 
 
 Therefore when ficknefs comes, en¬ 
 tertain it quiet]y 5 Cont£ntedly,& thank¬ 
 fully. Account of any,the leafl ficknefs, Wefhould 
 . to be fuch as may end thy dayes, if the 
 Lord will fo have it. And fo prepare thy ficknefs, 
 felf in every ficknefs, as if it were thy 
 laft. ^ ^ 
 
 Thou (halt lofe nothing,but gain 
 a great deal by this carefulnefs: for if 
 thou cfcape death and recover health 
 again, thy life (hall be prolonged in 
 mercy to theej and the oftner thou 
 prepareft , the readier thoufhalt be for 
 death when it comes. Many ads perfed 
 habits. The way to be throughly pre¬ 
 pared indeed , is to prepare often. And 
 when that laft ficknefs fllall feife upon 
 thee, that (hall end thy dayes,thou hafl 
 ’ not a new work to do, but an old work 
 in a new manner. 
 
 Repentance and faith areneceffary at Repen- 
 all times to make our peace with 
 andmuft be exercifed every day , that renewed 
 hereby every day we may be in 
 nef . But they will hand us in fpeciall * * 
 head when we lie upon our death-beds, 
 
 and 
 
j qhe Chap. X. 
 
 and are ready to be diffolved. 
 
 _ r.- And as at ail time'we are to be armed 
 
 againft death , by ibe uho)e armour oi 
 
 God mentioned Epfotf. (>* and by thole 
 roadeuTe Meditations and pradicall dutiesmeiiw 
 tioned before > To elpecially jWe are to 
 make life of the fame armour 5 and the 
 fame means of Meditation 5^ pradicej 
 when death by fickneis hath attach d us. 
 
 Therefore now adfs and cxerciies of 
 thefe graces are required 5 which it W'ill 
 not be unprofitable for us to take no¬ 
 tice o£ Exercife therefore thy repen¬ 
 tance thus. 
 
 How Rc- I . By calling to mind thy fins , that 
 muftbe thou hail committed againft God, or 
 exercifed. j^.an in thy life time. 
 
 2. By making humble confeflion of 
 them with grief, forrow? andfhame. 
 
 5.By making fatisfadtion to any that 
 thou haft offended 5 if it may bej and if 
 thou have not done it formerly. 
 
 4. By humble prayer to Almighty 
 God for the pardon and forgivenefs of 
 all thy finSsin the narae5and for the fake 
 
 !am, 5 .i 4 . of lefus Chrift. And call for the Elders of 
 the Church, and inti'eat than to pray for \ 
 thee, and with thee; defire their fpiritual 
 
 comfort, and advae, Ncgled not alio the 
 
 pray- 
 
Part.n. to DieinPeace. 145 
 
 prayers of the Congregation in pub¬ 
 like ? if conveniently it may be done. 
 
 And , as for thy faith , of all graces it Faith moft 
 muft noAvftand thee in moft ftead > and 
 therefore now it is moft of ail to be ex- 
 ercifed. As we mu ft live by faith , fo 
 wemuftdie by faith(as was faid before:^ 
 now to die by faith is when a man in the 
 time of death doth with all his heart re¬ 
 lie himfelf on Gods fpeciall love j and 
 favour and mercy in Chrift ? as it is re- 
 vealed in his word. 
 
 True faith renounceth all hope of 
 falvation , in any other way or means, 
 fave lefus Chrift, and him onely. 
 
 Therefore in the very agony of death, ramam 
 caft thy felf into the mercifull, and me- vim habet 
 
 ritorious armes of thy blefled Saviour, nJhUcmci- 
 Believe in him alone, for the pardon of fxt comem- 
 all thy fins, and the falvation of thy^^'^^^j* 
 foul. Call to mind what he hath d one vertaturin 
 and fuffered for thee. Behold his blou-^^^’J"*"* 
 dy death, and paflion , in the merits nem,^i2S‘ 
 whereof believe affuredly to be made 
 partaker of everhfting life. Remember 
 the fweetpromifes of the Gofpel, made 
 to all that believe in him, and hereby 
 thou (halt repell the fiery darts of Sa¬ 
 tan. For there is no queftion , but that 
 
 K Satan 
 
146 
 
 Satanmoft 
 bufy in 
 death. 
 
 Comfort 
 againft 
 the great 
 nefs of 
 our fins. 
 
 2. Com¬ 
 fort a- 
 gainft th 
 fi rift nefs 
 of Gods 
 jufticc. 
 Mat.3 17. 
 Againft 
 the curfe 
 of the 
 Law. 
 
 Gal 3.13 
 
 The VerfeB Chap.X.' 
 
 Satan will alTault thee more fiercely in 
 death 5 then he did in all thy life-time? 
 iinlelfe the Lord retrain him. For he 
 knows that then his time is very Qiorc 
 indeed; and iinleffe he gain the con- 
 queft then jhe lofethit for ever after¬ 
 ward. By iaith therefore in the pro- 
 mifes thou maifl: put him to flight. 
 
 I. If he alTault thee? by fetting the 
 greatnefs and multitude of thy lins be¬ 
 fore thee, remember that fweet place of 
 the Prophet Mhab) Chap. 7. 18. Who is 
 a Godlike unto thee , thatpardonethiniqui¬ 
 ty, and paffeth bj the tranfgrefiion of his he* 
 yitAge\ beretameth not his anger for ever, 
 becaufe he delighteth in mercy. And that 
 ini [a. 1.18. Though your fins were as skur- 
 let, they shall be made white as faow. 
 
 1. II he objed; the flridfnels ofGods 
 gluftice? Remember to thy comfort? 
 that Chrifl: hath fatisfled it; fo that 
 God the Father hath faid? In him I am 
 well pleafed. 
 
 5. Ifheobjed unto thee,that thou 
 art under tlie curfe of the Law, and fo 
 an heirofHell; Remember that com- 
 , for table place? Chrijl was made a curfe 
 for us, that be might redeem us frotn the 
 curfe of the Law, that we might receive the 
 
 adoption 
 
Partll. ’ to Die in peace. ' j ^7 
 
 adoption of Sons, kx\d that other, Odeathi^^^^-^s- 
 where u thy fitng ? O Hell , where is thy vi- 
 cloryl The jling of death is pn > the ftrength 
 offin is the Lawfbut thanfs be to GodiWhkh 
 bath given us victory thorough lefusChrifi 
 our Lord. 
 
 4. If he objed , that thou haft no Agaitift 
 part in ihefe promifes, becaufe thou art 
 
 not eleded; Remember Gods free Co- not being 
 venanr. All are invited to receive mer- 
 cy. God excludes none, but luch as ex¬ 
 clude themfelves. Hoi everyone that^^^:ssaa^ 
 thirfieth come to the waters ^ and he that 
 hath no money \ tome ye , buy and eat , yea 
 comei buy wine and niilk^^uithout nypney, 
 and Without price. 
 
 Call to mind the fruits of thy faith, Agalnft 
 and effedual calling , that at any time pfgtioTof 
 thou haft known in thy felf, and thence Lworthi'^ 
 conclude that the Lord hath eleded 
 thee to life & falvation , and that there¬ 
 fore thou (halt never perifh. 
 
 5. But if he fay. Thou art unworthy^ 
 
 Aniwer him, that fo were the beft , as 
 well as thou. God finds none worthy, 
 but makes them,The greateft linners re¬ 
 penting have found mercy. Remember 
 Manajfeh, Magdalene, Peter^ Paul, yea the 
 thief on the croflT^jthat at the laft breath 
 
 K i found 
 
' 14S I'he Ferfe 6 i Ipay Chap.X. 
 
 fin 
 
 abounded , there Grace hath abounded much 
 more. Thus (hould we exercife our 
 faith againflthe temptations of Satan 
 even when the pangs of death do feife 
 upon us. 
 
 Comforts So alfo againft the worlds and the 
 
 iMvhlg love of it,and loathnefs to leave it, faith 
 thcworld> is of excellent ufe. Why fhould’ft thou 
 be unwilling to leave the world ; Is fhe 
 not a cruel ftep-dam unto thee? doth 
 (he not dayly annoy thee,or elfe de¬ 
 ceive thee ? Faith looks beyond the 
 world, and above the world 5even to 
 that crown of righteoufnels that is re- 
 ferved in heaven for all that love the 
 Lord lefus, and wait for his appearing. 
 Wife,and j. Faith will allay thy grief oflea- 
 ckiidren. vvife, and children 5 For it believes, 
 
 that God will provide for them , when 
 thou arc gone. 
 
 Againft 8. Faith will ftrcngthen thee againft 
 o/deathf ^he painsof death For it believes that 
 God will mitigate them, and make the 
 paflage of thy Ibul from thy body eafy, 
 Againft at leaft will give thee ftrength to bear 
 the lofle them in a comfortable manner. 
 
 5>. Faith will help thee againft the 
 dLth. thought of the Ioffe of the body in 
 
 death, 
 
Part 1 L to Die in feace, 149 
 
 death, and the corruption of it in the 
 grave 5 by remembring that the body 
 as well as the foul is joyned to Chrift, 
 and that as well dead as alive : and that 
 Chrifthath perfumed the grave by his 
 own blelTed body > io that now to his 
 ownfervants it is a fvveet refling place, . 
 and bed of eafe* And though the body a 
 muft turn to rottenncfs, yet at the ge- hefting 
 neral refun cdion it (hall be raifed a-the^l^ims 
 gain in the vertue of Chrifls refurre" 
 
 , (^ion, and (hall be reflored to the foul 
 a glorious, and immortal bod}^ And 
 fo, though there muft needs be a part¬ 
 ing ofthofetwo dear friends,yet itfhall 
 be but for a time , and their meeting a- 
 gain (hall be more joyous jthen their 
 parting was grievous, and after this 
 nappy meeting they (hall never part 
 again. 
 
 10. Faith will fubmic to Gods good ^aith will 
 will, and not deftre to live any longer, 
 when once it fees that the appointed gyodplea- 
 time is come. It will alfo fend forth fcn^foufe 
 fweet prayers, and holy ejaculations to hoiyeja- 
 God. Lord I have waited for thy 
 tion. Leave me not, nor for fake mewbenv^^\.^l,% 
 my flrength faileth, nay when my heart 
 faileth 5 Lord be thou my helper. DelL 
 
 K ^ ver 
 
156 Thel^crfeStl^ay Chap. X. 
 
 ver my foul from Hell ^ my darling 
 pr.115.175 from the power of the dog. Oh let my 
 pfal.31.5- foul live i and it shall praife thee, Lordinto 
 thy hands I commend my fpirit^for thou hafl 
 redeemed it )0 lord God of my falvation^Scc, 
 Faith will n ^ Faith will utter words of faith, 
 cid^s ^hat may miniftcr grace to the hearers, 
 fpecches, even fo long as the liberty of fpeech re- 
 fpeiTch^re- niaineth (if the violence of the difeafe 
 rhaineth. do not prevent.) And ufually thofe,that 
 have been moil holy in their life, have 
 been mod: comfortable in their death, 
 ind left the rweeteil breathings, and re¬ 
 membrances behind them >* their lail 
 fpecches having favored of heaven be¬ 
 fore they came thither. As firil of alf 
 Luk.z3.48 our bleifed Saviour, Father into thy 
 7. iS, hands I commend my Spirit. Stephen, 
 "Behold I fee the heavens opened , and the Son 
 ofman jlanding at the right hand of God. 
 
 The Isft 
 Words of 
 foHie of 
 
 art a God without lying 5 Therefore in 
 1 *^°“ jjjj things I praiie thee, and bleife thee, 
 and glorify thee, the eternal God, and 
 high Pried lefus Chrid thine onely be¬ 
 loved Son, Jgna'ttm, I care not what 
 death I die. lam the bread of the Lord, 
 and mud be grownd with the teeth of 
 
 Lyons? 
 
 Lord lefus re>:eive my (piyfit. Lord lay net 
 this fin to their charge. Polycarp, Thou 
 
Part.II. to Die in Peace, 151, 
 
 Lyons 3 that I may be clean bread for 
 Chrift. ^ 
 
 St. Amhrofe , I have not fo lived that TauUhm tn 
 I amafliamed to livelongerjneitherdo 
 fear to die3becaufe we have agoodLord 
 S^.A^gujUne^HQ is no great manj that 
 thinks it any great matter , that treess 
 and ftones fail jand inortall men die. 
 
 So the Martyrs in Queen Maries daies. Thelaft 
 Hoopers lad words were, O Lord 
 Son of Davidjh^Lve mercy on mcjand re- tyrs in 
 ceive my foul. 
 
 Latimer, Lord lefus receive my fpirit. 
 
 Ph'tlpot, I will pay my vowes in thee 
 O Smith-field, 
 
 Bradford took a fagot in his hand, 
 kifs’d it, and faid to a young man, that 
 fuffered with him, Take courage (bro¬ 
 ther) we (hall have a blelTed fupper this 
 night with the Lord.' 
 
 Saunders , Welcome Croffe, welcome 
 Eternal life. 
 
 Cr4«w/er, firft putting his right hand 
 in the fire, with which he had fubfcri- 
 bed, uttered thefc his lad words. Lord 
 lefus receive my (pirir. 
 
 Thus as faith guides men in their 
 lives,to live to Gods glory; fbitdi- 
 r eds them in their death to die to Gods 
 
 K glory, 
 
152 ?erfeB Chap. X. 
 
 glory > and to their own unfpeakable 
 peace 3 and the rejoycing and encou¬ 
 ragement of the beholders. 
 
 And as faith muft be exercifed 3 fo 
 inuft the reft of the armour mentioned 
 before^ for there is not any piece of it3 
 but will fome way or other be ufeful to 
 us even in the hour of death3as namely3 
 
 1. The girdle of verity3 that is3 fince- 
 rity3and uprightnefs jwhich onelycan 
 give a man boldnefs to appear before 
 Chrift. 
 
 z. The breft-plate of righteoufnefts 
 which will fliield us againft the affaults 
 ofour fpirituall enemies. 
 
 3. Peace of confcience, which will 
 more comfort us in death then all the 
 world befidej for a good confcience 
 then is the fureft friend, and the inward 
 peace of it will allay the very pangs of 
 death it felf. 
 
 4. Of the fhield of faith we have 
 heard admirable efFe< 51 :s. 
 
 5. The helmet offalvation is that 3 
 which in expedation of Heaven, and 
 ftedfaft hope of eternall life, makes us 
 willing and delirous to leave this 
 world. Therefore make good ufe of 
 this piece 3 for it will wonderfully 
 
 ftrengthcn 
 
153 
 
 Part II. to Die in Peace, 
 
 ftrengthen thee in thelaftand hotteft 
 conflid with death. 
 
 6 . The fword of the fpirit is that, 
 which can chafe away the evill fpirits 
 which in thy lafl: hour will endeavour to 
 affault thy foul with all their power and 
 fubtilty. Therefore 5 as Chrift over¬ 
 came the Devil when he was tempted 
 by him, with a Scriptum eft; fo muft 
 thou in thy laft and greateft diftrefs. 
 
 Now therefore (O my foul) quit thee AppUcat, 
 like a man in this laft combat. Thou 
 haft been exercifed a long time under 
 the banner of the Lord Jefus. He hath 
 fhewedthee theftrength, malice ,&re- 
 cret devices of thine & his enemies. He 
 hath given thee armour towithftand, 
 and fight againft them. Oh pray to 
 him to give thee skill; and will to ufe it. 
 
 Thou haft been foyled many a time, 
 
 &yet haft recovered footing. Be there¬ 
 fore affured, that he that hath not left 
 thee in the lefter skirmifhes, will not 
 leave thee in the main battel. Remem¬ 
 ber what Elisha faid to his fervant, who 
 was afraid,when he faw an Hoft compafi 
 fing theCity where they were befet with 
 horfes, and Chariots ; Alas (faid he ) 2 icings^ 
 Rafter what shall Fearnot faid 
 
 the 
 
154 
 
 Kcv.iaj* 
 
 s. 
 
 rfal.pi.ii. 
 12, 13. 
 
 Heb.1.14. 
 
 Lukezz, 
 
 43. 
 
 Lukei6.zi 
 
 7he Pcrf cl lt>ay Chap. X. 
 
 the Prophet , for there he more with ns, 
 then with them. And the Lord open’d, 
 the young mans eyes at Elishas prayer, 
 and behold the mountain was full of 
 horfes & Chariots of fire roundabout 
 Elssha, Comfort rhyfelf with the re¬ 
 membrance of this ( O my foul. ) 
 Though Satan the Prince of darknefle, 
 with all his curfed legions of damned 
 fpirits war againfl: thee, at that lalf hour 
 of trouble,* yet benotdifmaid: Michael, 
 that is the Lord jefus, the Prince of 
 peace, and his bleffed Angels, will take 
 thy part. He will not leave thee in thine 
 enemies hand , nor condemn thee, 
 when thou art judged. He himlelfhath 
 Paid I will be wich him in trouble , 1 will 
 deliver him, becaufe he hath put his 
 trufi: in me; His holy Angels are all mini- 
 firing fpirhs ,fent out for their defence , that 
 are the heires of falvation. And as an 
 Angel was Pent to comfort Chrifl: in his 
 agony , Po ( no doubt) he now being 
 in heaven Pends his holy Angels to 
 comfort his Pervants in the hour of 
 death , and to carry their fouls (asL^- 
 z.arm was) into Abrahams boPome. Fight 
 therefore that good fight of faith in 
 thy laft agony coiiragioufly;the Ppeda- ^ 
 
 tors j 
 
155 
 
 Part n. io^Vie in peace. 
 
 torsareGod ,and his glorious Angells; 
 who arenot onely fpedatorsj but ac- 
 tours for thee 5 that thou maift over¬ 
 come. But whyio I fay fight? Fight 
 thou not 5 but (land ftill, and fee the 
 falvation of the Lord, The Prince of 
 life (ball fight for thee , and fubdue 
 thine enemies under thy feet: nay they 
 arefubdued already: for he hath fpoyled Roni.i 6 . 
 Principalities and powersy andmade a shew 
 of them openly 3 triumphing glorioujly over 
 them through his croffe. So that once more 
 I fay, as Mofes did to the Ifraelites, Fear ex.h.u? 
 noty but ftand fiillt & fee the falvation of the 
 Lordi which he %mllshew thee this day*^ for 
 the enemies which thou hafl feen this day , 
 thou shaltfee them no more. The Lord shall 
 fight for thee, and thou shalt hold thy peace.. 
 
 Therefore with Mofes will I fing to thee-^ Prayer, & 
 (O Lord) yea to thee will I fmg ; for thou 
 hafl triumphed glorioufly. The horfe and^j&cc. * 
 hU rider thou hafl throwen into thefea. 
 
 O Lord thou art my flrength and my Pf ayer. 
 ^^fong. Thou art become my falvati' 
 on. Thy right hand is become glorious 
 in power. Thy right hand(0 Lord)hath 
 dallied in pieces the enemy. O conti¬ 
 nue 
 
156 TheFerfeEi^iiy.^c. Chap.X. 
 
 nue forth thy loving kindnefs to me 
 unto the end and in the end. Leave me 
 not j norforfake me (OLord; for in 
 thee is my hope , and confidence. 
 prai.37.25, have / in heaven but thee : and there 
 
 26,27. is none in the earth with thee to be compa^ 
 red. When my heart and my flesh faile me^ 
 then be'thou my comfort y andportionfor e- 
 lfal.?i.5. ver. Into thine hands I commend my fpirit, 
 for thou hafl redeemed it 3 O Lord God of 
 truth. Amen. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 AN 
 
157 
 
 A N 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 O F 
 
 Some occafionall Meditations > fitly 
 
 agreeing co the matter handledin the 
 former Treatifej 
 
 Pen’d by the fame Authour, and pur- 
 
 pofed for the fame End. 
 
 Isaiah 40. d. 
 
 flesh is gYaffej and the goodlines thereof as the 
 flower of the field. 
 
 Job 7 . 6 . 
 
 Mj dajes are fwifier then a Weavers Shuttle^and are 
 fpent without hope. 
 
 An Advertifement to the 
 
 R E A D E R. 
 
 Chrihian Reader, 
 
 £ find It true by experience , both 
 in Divine and Humane thing 
 that the more excellent any thing 
 iS) the greater is the difficulty to 
 
 obtain it. 
 
 Hence arofe that proverbial faying^Dii- 
 ficilia quas pulchra. For inftance What 
 more excellent a duty, then Divine medita- 
 
 tion ? 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 iionl PFhat wore p leafing to God I What 
 more profitable to .man ^fior his thriving in 
 grace ? And jet how hard, and difficult , do 
 we find it ^ to \je up cur thoughts j and make 
 them attentive to this heavenly workfi. 
 
 Tet-i daily ufe^andpractice will make that 
 ea/jj & delightful to a fan&ifiied foul,which 
 to a carnal heart is harsh j and hard , if not 
 impofsible. 
 
 I advifiethee therefore(gentle Reader^to he 
 much in this holy exercife : for 1 affure thee 
 much good will accrew unto thee thereby. 
 
 Tor ) by Meditation ? we enjoy God, cur 
 felves, and the Creatures. 
 
 God-, by a holy contemplation of his glo¬ 
 rious ejfence , properties, word, and worfs. 
 
 Ourfelves, by a jad, and fieri ous confide• 
 ration of otlr own eflate, both by nature cor¬ 
 rupt, ti/here in we have matter of humilia¬ 
 tion; and of grace, and refi duration , where- 
 in we have abundant caufe of comfort, and 
 rejoycing through lefus Chr/fl, 
 
 And the Creatures alfo, by a diligent exa¬ 
 mination of the infinite V ariety of them, their 
 natures, properties, ends and ufes; and how 
 admirable the power yWifdome , and good^ 
 nefs of God appeares in them all. 
 
 Befides , Meditation, in the confcionable 
 ufe of It, sharpens the wit, clears the under- 
 
 fi and- 
 
To the Reader. 159 
 
 (landing-i dire^is the judgment., foftens the 
 heart 5 quickens the affe^ions, flrengthneth 
 the memorj -i and puts the whole man into 
 a holy frame and difpofition towards his 
 Creator, 
 
 It feparates a man from wen ^and makes 
 him converfe with Angels , yea with God 
 himfelf: for by this .Enoch walked with Gen.5.22 
 Gody and hereby David fet the Lord alwayes pfal. 16. s 
 before his eyes^ 
 
 "4t dr awes our affeciions from earth to 
 heaven. 
 
 It gets good out of every company and oc- 
 cafion j andfanctifiesto us every ftate and 
 conditiony being fet a work, to follow Godin 
 all the wayes of his doingSy and dealings , to¬ 
 wards our [elves and others. 
 
 It is(as one faithy he companion of watch- 
 fulneffe , and filler of Prayer if or, thefie two 
 go hand in hand together , and cannot be fie- 
 paratedy no more then two Twins, that 
 live, and die together. 
 
 And, being thus excellent in itfielf, it shall 
 be as excellently rewarded by God : For a 
 promife of blefjednefs is made to that man 
 that meditates in the Law of God day and 
 Pfal. 1.2. 
 
 The Saints of God have found abundance 
 of fiweetnefs in it, Gods word On the medi^ 
 
 tation 
 
l6o 
 
 Mr. 2o, Fa- 
 pet, in his 
 Med, of 
 death. 
 
 To the Reader. 
 
 tation oftt) was to David Tweeter then 
 the honey and the honey-combe, P/^/, 
 19.10. It WA6 dearer to him, then thou- 
 fands of gold and filver, P/^/. 119.72. 
 And therefore he tells w^verf, 147. that he 
 prevented the night watches 5 that he 
 might meditate in Gods ftatiites. And 
 m another place he ja 'ith-^ My Meditation 
 of him (hall beiweec, PfALio^.^2\, Now 
 Meditation is of wo forts^ 
 
 Ptrjiy fet, anddeliberateyWhen^of purpmfey 
 we fequefier our felves yfrom all worldly oc- 
 eafions (fifar as may be) and fet a parttimey 
 andplace for this holy mployment, 
 
 2. Sudden, and occafionaU from the fight 
 of the Creattlres , above, or below, or any 
 paffageofGods Providence, either in mercy 
 or judgement, in reference to our felves , or 
 others. 
 
 Of this lafi it is, that 1 have given thee a 
 finall tafiid^ touch in r^wAppendix ,where* 
 in are twenty short Meditations, upon feve^ 
 rail obje^s, and occafiohs, all intended , and 
 applyed, to further the defign of the former 
 Trcatife, viz. to mind us of, and prepare m 
 for, our death, and dijfolution. 
 
 There is nothing almoft, in thevifible 
 Heavens above, or Earth, or Seas b elow {as 
 a reverendj and learned Autbeur wellob- 
 
 ferves, 
 
To the Reader. i6i 
 
 ferves, and proves ) which, feme waj, or ®« 
 they may not mind us of death. 
 
 The fwift motion of the Sun , Moon , and 
 Stars , which are the makers & meafurers of 
 time, tell us how faft our time pajfeth away. 
 
 The airei that nourisheth our heathy 
 teacheth usy that we are but a blafty and our 
 breath but a puffe of breathing. 
 
 The water , tn the fpeedj gliding of if, i«- 
 forms usythat our dajes pajfe apace , one af¬ 
 ter another y as the waves of the Sea , till 
 they arrive at the shore of death: yea , the 
 earth^which is the dulleft Element tU a tjuich^ 
 Schoole-mailery to teach us this lejfon. That Gcn.M6. 
 duft we are,arid to duft wc muft return. 
 
 Birds ibeafts , fowls , fishes , the flowers 
 of the Garden y the grajje of the field , trees t 
 and plants , the feafons of the year , and the 
 viciftitude of them , the change of our con* 
 dition, as ofprofperitytand adverftty, health] 
 andfuknefsy plenty and poverty , preach this 
 Do^rine , that our great change is ha fling 
 * upon us, and therefore we oug ht to prepare 
 for it. 
 
 To conclude therefre ichrtfiian Reader) 
 let it be thy care, and mine^ by holy Medita¬ 
 tion , to ex rail fomething out of every Crea* 
 ture. Calling , condition and relation, to mind 
 of and prepare us for our death^c^ departure. 
 
 L To 
 
i6z To the Reader. 
 
 To this end y having now gray hakes upon 
 7ny head,I have fet my heart to this task>and 
 have fet before thee a rude draught of fome 
 particulars , in this kjnd , which thou, thy 
 fel^, maifi infinitely inlarge , as God shall be 
 p leafed to inlarge thy heart. And,,if thou re¬ 
 pent of learning this Art of fpirttual Alchy- 
 mie, by holy Meditation 5 1 dare (to ufe the 
 In his Art words of reverend Bp- Hall) give thee leave 
 
 Medir”^ curfe me on thy death-bed. 
 
 But, 1 have exceeded my intended limitsy 
 and perhaps, offended thy patience. But bear 
 with me*. It is out of a good deftre, to further 
 thee and my felf, in our jonrney towards 
 heaven*, where 5 that wernay fafely arrive, 
 after the many labours, and travailes of this 
 painfull, and pitiful life, let me beg the help 
 pfa.po.iz* of thy prayers. That the Lord would fb 
 teach us to number our dayes , that we 
 may apply our hearts to wifdome; 
 whichis alfo the prayer, and I deftre , may 
 he the pradtce of 
 
 Thy unfained 
 
 vvcll-vviiler 
 
 Edward Burghall. 
 
 AN. 
 
i6j- 
 
 A N 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 O F 
 
 Some occafionall Meditations, fitly 
 
 agreeing to thefubjed handled in the 
 former Treatife. 
 
 1 . 
 
 Vponthe fight of a Mower in a Meddow. 
 
 His labourer began early in 
 
 the morning to cut down the 
 graffe, and yet layes hard at 
 it till almoft Sun-fet. He hath 
 made plain work where he came » not 
 {paring any, no not the mofi; beautiful 
 gralTe in the Meddow. Death is like this 
 Mower. It began to cut down betimes 
 in the morning of the world , and {par¬ 
 ed not the moil beautiful graffe in the 
 ’ fame, no nor thofe long living Ccdarsj 
 the Fathers before the Floud, 
 
 Adam j Seth, Enoch , Methufalah were 
 cut down. This wai his mornings work. 
 
 His mid day task was to lay along 
 the pofterity after the Floud? not fpar- 
 ing thofe worthy Patriarchs , Noah, A- 
 braham, ifaac, Jacob , no nor ihe holy 
 
 T 7 , Pio- 
 
164 Appendix of fome 
 
 ProphetSj Mofes, Samuels ifaiabi lere^ 
 miah.Scc* no, norChrift, our bkfTed • 
 Saviour, the faireft Branch, And yet is 
 not this labourer weary, but now in the 
 evening of the world beftirs him more 
 frefhly, becaufe the day draws towards 
 y an end, and by multitudes cuts down 
 
 us, the fhort€ft,mof]: tender,and fading 
 gralfe. The husband-man will gather in 
 the Hay, when it is withered cnoughjin- 
 to his Barn, and referve it for ufe. 
 
 So will the great Husband-man of 
 his Church in due timeraife up thofe 
 bodies, that now not only are withered, 
 but alfo turned to dufl:, and take them 
 into his heavenly manlions. 
 
 Vpon the taking of Phyfic^, 
 
 Lam 5-39. l^Hencecamc ficknefs, butfrom fin? 
 
 ^ Man by his firfi: Creation was made 
 free from infirmities and imperfections . 
 
 Eph424- of nature. His foul after the likenefs 
 ofGod , in knowledge 5 righteoufnefs, 
 and true hofinefi:his body, beautiful, 
 lively, firong , active, able. Whence is 
 it then, that we become fo degenerate ? 
 
 ip'i 4.v8. Qm- foiih (luffed with blindnels,errour 
 
 and impurity : our bodies full of infir- ) 
 miiie"., pains, aches, and difeafes ? Ah j 
 
 Lordl i 
 
 
occajlond Meditations, 165 
 
 Lord! the caufeis in ourfelv^s j not in 
 thee. Thou madeft us ftrong, but our 
 fins have made us weakj thou madeft us 
 healthy, but our fins have made us full 
 ofdifeafesj Thou madeft us long-lived? 
 yea to have feen the ages of Eternity, 
 but we have curtailM our own dayes, 
 andmade them as a fpan-long, yea as 
 nothing in refpedi: of thee. That which 
 brought forth death, the end of us, 
 brings forth ficknefs aifo, the caufcjand 
 means of death. And (indeed) every 
 ficknefs is as a little death,* becaufe it 
 hinders the adions of life, weakens na¬ 
 ture, and makes way for a diffolution. 
 
 Thefe bodies of ours are fitly compa- zCor. 51. 
 red to houfes of clay, that foon will fall 
 down upon our heads ,* and though we 
 patch them up with the beft art we may,* 
 yet we repair them ftillbut with clay, 
 which is a mouldring,and brittle thing. 
 Though the dauber mend often, yet an 
 habitation of clay will down at lafi. 
 Though the Phyfician afford his beft 
 skill, to repair the ruins of this earthly 
 body,*yet in as much, ashischoiceft 
 Compofitions are but of earthy drugs; 
 earth cannot long uphold earth , but 
 the ftrongeft body muft ere long yield 
 to a diffolution. There- 
 
166 
 
 ^ Ghto.ifi* 
 12 . 
 
 I>ra.5»0.i2 
 
 An Appendix of fome 
 
 Therefore in the mean whilcjas I ufe 
 food or Phyfick for my bodily health? 
 
 I will wait upon God for a bleffing? and 
 not like Afa truft in the Phyfitian* 
 
 3 . Vpon the breaking of an hour-glafe. 
 
 VJ^Hile the glalTe was whole it kept in 
 the fandjbut being broke thefand 
 runs out. luft fo it is with the life of 
 man. The foul? that firft quickened the 
 body, lives? and moves in it ? and by it? 
 while the body is unbroken j but when 
 death comes ? and gives a knock to this 
 craziemetal? it prefently falls in pieces? 
 and then the foul leaves if. Though 
 theglafle run many hours ? yet atlaft 
 there comes a fatall hour to it ? that 
 breaks it in pieces. So mans life? that is 
 made up of hours? and meafnred by the 
 hour-glaffe? is at the iaft broken with it. 
 Oh therefore,that I could number mine 
 hours aright? & mifpend none of them! 
 Teach me (O Lord) fb to do. And fee¬ 
 ing it cannot be avoided ? but fliorcly I 
 mufl: fall to the earth, and be broken in 
 pieces? yea into pieces of the fmallefl: 
 duftj in one part of me? do thou fo pro¬ 
 vide? that in the other I may be prefer- 
 ved whole? untouched ? to glorify thee 
 
 in 
 
occdfiond Meditations, ^ 167 ' 
 
 in the number of thy Saint's, through 
 lefus Chrift my Saviour. ’ 
 
 4. Vpon the many changes of this world, 
 
 TH eWorld for the inftability of it is 
 
 compared fometimes to the fea, 
 which is never at reft, but ebbs and 
 flows continually , whofe waves and 
 furges are never at quiet, though fome¬ 
 times more, fometimes leife turbulent. 
 Sometimes it is likened to the Moon, 
 which feldome appears with the fame 
 face. Such then is the ftate of this 
 world, that nothing in it is fure, and 
 fhablej nothing pure , and without mix¬ 
 ture: which fhews plainly, that there is 
 not that excellency in it, that world¬ 
 lings dream of. O mj fouU love not 
 world, nor the things of the world: for why 
 shouldfi thou mind that which is fo full of 
 changes, Is^t notfoolifhnefs for a lover 
 to beconftant to her , that wavers con- 
 ftantly ? And if the world could be con- 
 ^ftant to thee (which is impoffible) yet 
 were Che not a fit match for theej for lo¬ 
 vers fliould be like,* but there is no pa¬ 
 rity betwixt avarioufly compounded, , 
 and groffe thing, & an uncompounded 
 C))irit. Now therefore, fince Che is nei- 
 
 L 4 ther 
 
i6S jin Appendix of feme 
 
 ther fit for thee j nor can be faithful to 
 thee, bid her adieui and betake thee to 
 another loverdn whom thou maift have 
 fare and conftant delight. Say there- 
 f fal.57.15. fore with David , Whom have I in heaven 
 hut theej (O Lord) and there is none in the 
 earth with thee to he compared^ And with 
 Can. 5.10. the Ipoufe in the Canticles, Mj beloved is 
 wine, and I am his. Cant. 2. 1^. He is the 
 cheifefi of ten thoufands» 
 
 5. Another upon the fame. 
 
 t lohn in the 'Revelation chap. 1 f. v. 2. 
 
 hadavifion,* He y^w' Casit were) afea 
 of glaffe mingled with fire, and them that 
 bad gotten viblorj over the Beafi, and over 
 bis mark, See. Among the divers inter¬ 
 pretations, that are given upon thefe 
 words, this is giveh by fome, that are 
 learned,& judicious,‘That by this glaffy 
 fea is meant the world, called a fea, bc- 
 caufeofits turbulency, and glaflybe- 
 caufe of fragility. And it is laid to be 
 mingled with fire; becaufe of the fiery 
 pfaUs.u. troubles, that befall men in it .Thou haft 
 made us to pajje through fire and water 
 (faith the Pralmift)that is through great 
 & piercing evils.So then howfoever the 
 \VOfi4 makea gliftering (bewj and here- 
 
1 
 
 ocjcafonal ^Meditations. 
 
 by deceive many, yet it is butaglaf- 
 fy fea,which hath only fome appearance 
 ofgoodin it> but no folid good at all. 
 
 It hath an outward fplendour^that Toon 
 vaniflieth. Even as foon as glafle is cru- 
 (hed, fo foon is the glory of this world 
 changed into (hame ignominy. And 
 in this glalTy fea? how many are there 
 that make fhipwrack of faith & a good 
 confcience, and fo (brink down, and 
 are drowned in utter perdition.? It is 
 faid alfo to be mingled with fire, figni* 
 fying that the feeming good j that is in 
 this world,is mixed with much real evil. 
 
 In heaven there is a pure River of water 
 of life. In Hell there is wine of wrath rcv 
 without mixture: but in earth there is a 
 fea mingled with fire,a firange commix- 
 ture of two contrary Elements. There 
 is joy in heaven without forrow^ there 
 is grief in Hell without comfort. In this 
 worldjno ftate without mixture. The 
 Saints of God have their rejoycing, yet 
 fo that they are in heavinefs through 
 manifold afilidions, i Vet, i.^. And the 
 wicked in their greatefi: pleafures want 
 not their own forrowsj for even in 
 their laughing their heart is forrowful? 
 and the end of theix mirth is heavinefs. 
 
 What- 
 
170 An Appendix offome 1 
 
 Whatfoever change befalls me here ? I I 
 matter notj fo that I may attain to con- 
 ftant reft hereafter. I fee every week 
 begets changes, and feldome for the 
 better. O Lord ? when my change (hall 
 come ) let it be for the beft to my poor 
 fouUand then thy will be done for timej 
 or place, or manner. 
 
 6 , Vpon the fight of a proud Gallant, 
 
 ^^Las I poor man! why is he proud of 
 that which ought to humble him? 
 did not nakedneft come from fin , and 
 was not raiment firft invented to cover ! 
 nakednefs.Let us therefore rather think | 
 
 i of our wretchednefs by reafon of our 
 wickednefs, then be puffc up with pride 
 of that which ouoht to (hameus. Be- 
 Tides 3 how foolifh a thing is it to be 
 proud of that which ftiewes our begge- 
 ry.This is the fhamefull mifery of man, 
 that being at the firft made to Gods 
 image, and Lord of all the creatures > 
 he is now by his tranfgreflibn become 
 a beggar to many of them , before he 
 can be clothed in his holy-day rai¬ 
 ment. 
 
 The fheep muft le^d his wool, the ^ 
 oxe his leather j the worm his filk, the 
 
 flax 
 
occafional edit at ions, 
 
 flax linen, the birds feathers, the fifhes 
 pearlSiSo thatjwhen he is the beft cloth¬ 
 ed, then he isthe greatefl: begger. Let 
 the thought of this humble us^as alfo to 
 think how foon the prowdeft Peacock 
 may become the pooreftPeafant, yea 
 to morrow be dead on a dung-hill, caft 
 into a hole in the earth, and his proud 
 flefli become meat for the wormes. Let 
 us alfo hereby be drawn to an earnefl: 
 defire of our eftates in glory, wherein 
 our firft innocency fhall be reftored to 
 us , and then we fhall not have need of 
 the creature, but be clad with immor¬ 
 tality. / 
 
 7. Vpona mans removetng from one 
 houfeto another. 
 
 ^ Atiety of any earthly thing cloyes 
 and annoyes us, and therefore there 
 is no place fo commodious, but fbme 
 time or other we are weary of it. Hence 
 it is that to abide alwayes at home is 
 tirefbmej for a mans own hoiife may be 
 his prifon, and fo an enemy to his li¬ 
 berty, whic*h every man defireth. When 
 wilt thou once be weary of this earthly 
 cottage? (O my/bill) when wilt thou 
 fay with S, Paul) I defire to remove 
 
 out 
 
 z Cor.f. 
 
 *•> 4t 
 
172 Appendix of fome 
 
 out of the body and to dwell with the 
 Lord? furely in this world is the place 
 of thy exile? and in this body , that is 
 thyhoufe, thou art abfent from the 
 vcrfc 8. Lord, Therefore be content to leave it, 
 that thou maift be received into that 
 verfc I. habitation ? thAt is not made with hands , 
 but eternall in the Heavens, Alas! what fol- 
 hy is it to defire to dwell in earth , in a 
 cottage ofclay, when thou art called to 
 be a Citizen of heaven I how grcathad 
 our mifery been , if we had been borne 
 alwayes to have lived here in mifery ? 
 but thanks be to God who hath prepa¬ 
 red and purchafed a better place for us. 
 The wombe could not hold me longer, 
 then the appointed time 5 the world 
 cannot contain me longer, then the 
 hour of my change ; nor the grave can- 
 verfeio. not inclofe me for ever : for 4i/wtt/J arife 
 Rev.zo.i3 to judgement <1 and thegravemuft render her 
 dead. Happy is that man, that foliveth 
 in this world, that in his own houfe, in 
 his own bed, yea in his own body he 
 effeems himfelf but a ftranger. 
 
 8 . Vpon the approach of thefpring. 
 
 TJOw gladly do all the creatures wel¬ 
 come the fpring! The birds fing,the 
 ^ tree-s 
 
occdjioml Meditations* 173 
 
 trees bud j the graflTe and flowers grow; 
 (hortly we fhall fee anew face of this 
 earth, and the creatures arrayd in their 
 befl: clothing. Can the fun of the fir¬ 
 mament do fo much to fo many crea¬ 
 tures that are under his fhine ? and can¬ 
 not the Sun of righteoufnefs j before 
 whofe brightnefs this Sun that we fee 
 gathers blacknefsido much more to the 
 difconfolate foulesof his fervants, that 
 have had a long winter of ftrong tem¬ 
 ptations? and wafling afflidions ? yea 
 furely; though they have layen among 
 the potSjyet (hall they be like the wings 
 of a dove covered with filvcr) and her 
 feathers with yellow gold 5'Py^/. 68, 13. 
 
 Light is fown for the righteous ? and 
 gladnefs for the upright in heart, VfaL 
 P7. II. Be flill therefore (my foul) in 
 the winter of nipping calamities, and be 
 alTured that the fpring of flourifhing 
 and refrefhing comforts will come, 
 which though they may again decay 
 for a time (for here is no ftabilicy) y et 
 hereafter they will be everlafting. 
 
 9, Another up on the fame. 
 
 'Y^Tmethe meafure of motion is a ve¬ 
 ry fvvift thing. As fall: as I think, 
 
 fpeakj 
 
X 74 Appendix of fome 
 
 fpcak , or write, it runs with me, and 
 over-run’s me , and return^’s not again. 
 It*s the deareft thing that is, and yet 
 the moft negledted. Would 1 give 4 
 world for a moment of time, it might 
 not be. And how foon are the feaions 
 of the year gone one after anocherrvdn- 
 ter was lately with us, but hath changed 
 for fpring. Spring is now ourGueft, 
 but will loon be gone, and reftoreus 
 Summer. And Summer lafts but a while, 
 but ends in Autume^ Autime QgSiin in 
 Winter. And thus our time runs in a 
 round, till the thred be cut, and we fall 
 to the Center. Our child-hood is as 
 ;he flower of the fpring , flourifhing , 
 ' a while, and foon fading.,* Our youth 
 as the Summer's fruits fweet raft¬ 
 ing, but foon falling. Our man-age 
 as the corn in Autume, which to day 
 ftands, to morrow is caft down. Our 
 old age is compared to the Winter j 
 for our gray-hairs fall quickly to the 
 grave, as the melted Snow and Froft 
 defeend into the earth. Oh that we * 
 could remember this in time , how 
 fhort our time is, and how uncer- . 
 tain .t The leafons keep a conftanc 
 courfe, and fucceed one another; but 
 
 the 
 
occajional Meditations, 
 
 the ages of man do not alwayes fo 5 for 
 child-hood oft-times never comes to 
 youth,youth oft-times never comes to 
 Man-hood j Man hood oft-times never 
 comes to old age (athoufand things 
 may prevent thefe.) But old age ever 
 comes to death; for nothing can pre¬ 
 vent that. 
 
 I o. V^on the occafion of a faintingfit, 
 or [wound, 
 
 CLeep is an image of death, but 
 '^fwounding is a more lively repre- 
 fentation thereof. How pale was my 
 .face, how cold my hands and feet, how 
 dimme mine eyes in my fit of fainting I 
 What rubbing and chafing to get heat 
 again. Thus it will be in death,and more 
 then this. In a fwound, the foul but re¬ 
 tires for a while, and quickly revives 
 the body half dead,* but in death fhe 
 takes along farewel, leaving her com^ 
 panion ftark dead till the lafi great and 
 general aflembly. And in that ftatCathat 
 (he leaves it in , fhe is fure to find it a- 
 gain, be it good or bad. Happy is that 
 body, whom the foul leaves rejoycing; 
 it will furely return, and bring greater 
 joy with it; but wo^ unto that carcaffe,. 
 
 whofe 
 
 175 
 
, 176 Appendix offomt 
 
 whofe foul expires howling > for when 
 it returnS)it will bring greater horrour. 
 Lord be thou at that laft parting j and 
 then it cannot choofe but be happy. 
 
 iitVpon the fight of two bayes wreflling, 
 
 CEE what tugging there is for the ma- 
 ftery ! He that eiewhile was ready to 
 fall, now recovers jand gives the fall to 
 the other; and perhaps the next joy ning 
 loofeth it again.Thus it is i^tween our 
 two counter-parts) fleQl Si^irit.What 
 
 wreftlings do the Saints of God find 
 within them? what ftrivings ? what 
 contendingsf and how hazardous is the 
 fight? To day they find the better part? 
 playing the better partjto morrow (hap¬ 
 ly ) the worfe gets the better. Thus it 
 is 9 and will be with us, while we are 
 Gals-i?* here below in this PaUJira, The flesh 
 Roni.«.24 againfl the fpirit, & the fpirit againfi 
 
 the flesh. Oh wretched man that I am, who 
 shall deliver me, See. This is my com* 
 fort, that myblelTed Saviour j who in 
 his bitter agony (or wrefl:ling)overcame 
 forme, will ftand by me at my right 
 ^ * hand, and help me againfl: him , that is 
 
 too flrrong for me.And thoughi fall,yet 
 he will life me up again. And as the' 
 
 houfe 
 
occa^on^l LZieAitdtions, 
 
 houfc o^S 4 ul Waxed wea^ef and wedJ^eT^ % 
 but the houfe c/David fironger and fir on-' 
 gcYy fo fhalj it be with thele two adver* 
 laries within me. The flefh (hall de- 
 creafejtill atjengih it (hall langui(h;buc 
 the fpirit-^ill (till increale more and 
 
 more, till at length it get a full con- 
 quell:. Fight thou (OLord) againft 
 thofe that fight againft me. 
 
 177 
 
 Sam-3.t. 
 
 1 2 , Vpoti the Jig ht of a Labourer clofely 
 applying his wotk. 
 
 J"His man needs not be afraid of bis 
 mafters coming, while he continues 
 faithfull in his work; he may look for^*‘*^^-^** 
 praife, and pay too 5 but the (loathful 
 loyterer deferves chiding and ftroaks. 
 yvhyfiand ye here ail the day idlel (was his 
 fpeech in the Parable;) but a greater 
 check will the great Mafter give tc> 
 thofe that are called to do his work,and 
 yet negled it. It’s a fearfull faying 
 Curfied be he that doth the work of the Lord icr..<is.c 
 negligently;niOYQ fearfull will theexecu- 
 hon of that curie bej Takg him ^bindhim J^***!^*^^^ 
 hand and foot, While the day lafts, ® 
 let/apply ouv ^oxk,T he evening drawes Mat.io.?. 
 on, when the mafier will come, andgive 
 
 M (om* 
 
17S K^n Appendix of fome 
 
 comm^tnd to caU the LabourerSj & give every 
 trian his fenny, 
 
 15. Vpon OUT going to bed at night, 
 
 Y bed mindes me ofm^raVej my 
 '^pillow of the green clOTTundermy 
 headi my ftieets of that wherein my 
 body fllall be wrapt ^ my bcd-cloaths 
 reprefent the digged earth, that (hall 
 cover me$ my fleep refembles death. 
 Lofdjfandlify to me the Meditation of 
 my mortality. The lOngeft day ends 
 in night j and the longed: life is (hut up 
 in death. I go willingly to bed,becatife 
 Ihopeto taketjuietred. Why fhotildl I 
 not be as Wilting to dye? for death 1 
 puts an end to our labours , and begins I 
 Our perfe( 5 i: red. Blejfed are the dead that \ 
 
 die in the Lord , for they red from their la- 
 boiifSi and their works follow theth. Make 
 rhe thus blcffed in death ( O Lord) 
 though my life be the more miferable. 
 The fick man fornetimes fears to go to 
 bdd, led he cannot deep. And We fear 
 to die? becaufe We are fick of fin, which 
 onely didUrbes otir red in life& death. 
 Heal my foul (O God) Of this fickneffej 
 aiid when! lie dowritn the gravejet me 
 reftitipeaee. { 
 
 14. Vpon 
 
occAfional U\€€ditations, 
 
 179 
 
 W»! 
 
 14. V^on our rifingfrom bed in the 
 morning, 
 
 fen we have refted quietly all 
 nightj how pleafant is the light of 
 the morning to us ? how gladly do we 
 entertain the approach of the Sun jand 
 with chearfullnefs leave our beds j our 
 fleep having not hurt 5 but helped our 
 natures ? In this there is a lively repre- 
 fentation of our glorious rerurre< 9 'ion. 
 
 What tongue can expreue the joy of 
 that morning, when all the glorified oan.iz. 
 bodies of Saints? that have flept in their 
 graves,(as in To many doune-beds)fhall 
 rife to immortality ? How glad will z.Thei’f. 
 their hearts be to meet the Sun of rigb- ’' 7 - 
 teouineis aelcending down to meet 30,51, 
 them in the clouds? what a bleffed meet¬ 
 ing and greeting will that be ? Jacobs Gen.45. 
 heart fay led him for joy, when he heard 
 thsit lofeph was alive , and advanced in 
 Egypt > and lofeph was filled with glad- • 
 pels, to hear that his old Father was 
 not yet dead in Canaan. But their joy 
 was confummate at their meeting. So 
 we rejoyce here to know, that lefus is 
 aicended for us into heaven ; but then 
 fliall our joy be fulfilled, when we fhall 
 
 M 2^ afcend 
 
 
X S o An Appendix of fome 
 
 afcend in body alfo , and he defcend a- 
 gain to meet us> & to bring us to thole 
 heavenly manlions 5 that he hath prepa- 
 loh. 14. j.g j fQj. Qs, O my fouljthink of that day* 
 prepare for it) and rejoyce in the con¬ 
 templation of that future jbut certain 
 happinefs. 
 
 j). ypon the fight of a houfe burned with 
 fire^ or blown down with wind, 
 
 A Las!(we fay)what a rueful fpedlacle? 
 ■^whofe houfe wa^ this ? when fell this 
 accident outf And though the lofl'e of 
 
 O 
 
 the houfe &: lurnicure thereof be great? 
 yet if the Inhabitants efcaped danger? 
 t Sam.i4- the matter is lefle.Thefe earthly houfes 
 l^Cor-5.i. of our bodies mufi: be overturned 
 lob/.zi. quickly with the tempelt of death. It' 
 cannot be avoided , though the pillars 
 thereof were of braflc;, and the founda¬ 
 tion of marble. Yec let us not be dil- 
 mayed. It is the common lot of all the. 
 In-dwelltrs of the earth. 
 
 I'or. Vdllida, mors A’Cjiio pidjat pede 
 
 ranpemm tabirnJSj rtgumque turres. 
 
 P Je dciuh fpuiTs down tht Pallsas of Kings? 
 AiulpoGi n.eiiS Co(ti.scs it ovcr£ings. 
 
 Qncly let us be carcfull? that our 
 
 fouls 
 
occafiondl Meditations, x g I 
 
 {ouh»thehoufllolders,may befafejwhetv 
 this houfe of chy (hall fall on our heads. 
 
 O Lord provide rhou a better habita¬ 
 tion for me in heaven, when this earth¬ 
 ly houfelliill be diflblved. 
 
 1 ^, Vpon the ted’mifnefs of immoderate 
 •waHng tn the long Wtnter-mghtsl 
 
 A' immoderate fleep dulls the mindj 
 “^and hurts the body, caufing divers 
 difeafes and diftemperatures, whereby 
 men are made unapt and indirpofed to Somnus 
 their dayly employments,and therefore 
 
 / . r 7 cjHe carports 
 
 the very heathen have much condem- hits, neque 
 ned it; So on the contrary exceffive 
 watching is no leffe dangerous; for it %rendit^ 
 exhaufts the fpirits, dryes the brain, 
 hurts the eyes, and weakens the whole 
 bpdyjbefides the mind is hereby dulled, 5 ?. 
 and every faculty thereof. So true 
 that adage, Omne nimtumnocet, YectoMarcial. 
 a mind difpofed to Meditation much 
 good may (pring out of this evil. When 
 we cannot deep let us pray, and ponder 
 with our felves of heavenly matters. Let Pfal. 77.4, 
 us (peak to God, when we cannot con* 
 verfe with men. Mme eyes watte and vCaUz.i, 
 look for thee ( O Lord ) more then the 7* 
 
 morning watch. 
 
 will remember thee pfai.130.5 
 M I . 
 
iSa Appendix cffme 
 
 in vty hed,atid thinks uponthee in the night 
 feafon. O Lord deliver me from the 
 Xoh. 3 .ia. works 3 and place of darknefle. Let 
 me not walk in the night of fin i left I 
 ftumblC) and fall. In the midft of dark- 
 neft, and the fhadow of death? Lord be 
 thou my light. 
 
 17. Another upon the fdme oceafton, 
 
 ^Hink (O my foul) how lamentable 
 theftate of the damoedis. If it be 
 tedious and wearifometometo lieup- 
 on a foft bed, warmly covered? becaufe 
 1 cannot fleep: If mine own wandring 
 thoughts>which I cannot tye up?do 
 tire mej and my tumblings ? & toflSngs 
 fo much trouble me:Howinfinitely un^ 
 happy are they that never have reft?day 
 jfo 30S. nor night? I lie in abed of feathers, they 
 in a bed of fire? kindled by the burning 
 wrath of an irefull God ?that never can 
 be quenched. I am free from extremity 
 , of pain 5 they are unfpeakably tormen- 
 » ‘ ted with horrour? anguifb? and ever- 
 
 iafting confufion. I comfort my felf 
 with the approach of the morning ? and 
 each while look for the break of day. 
 But (alas) this muft needs to them be a 
 Hell in Hell? to think that the day (hall 
 
 never 
 
occajioml Meditations, j S ^ 
 
 never dawn to them anjr more? nor the 
 light fhine any more upon them j but 
 iUcknefs ofdarknefs the place of their akid- z Pet. 2.7. 
 ingfor ever ^ever, JVly thoughts though 
 they be fometimes irkfome, yet not al- 
 wayes5 for fometimes they pleafe me, 
 and help away the tedious night:but 
 theirs are ever full of horrible amaze¬ 
 ments,* the biting of their confeience is 
 that worm, that never dyeth. I have the 
 company of neereft friends to call to, 
 and fometimes to talk withj but (Oh) Mat.2s.41 
 their companions are curfed di vels,that 
 being inraged with the fury of theLord, 
 and the inftruments of his wrath , like 
 mad dogs furioufly wreak their malice 
 in rending, tearing, and tormenting 
 thofe miferable caitifs. I can rife out of 
 my bed, and walk in my chamber, or 
 elfewhere for my eafe contentment; 
 but (alas!) they are bound hand &foot 2 Pet. 2.4 
 in that dreadfull priron,and muft fuffer 
 the torments of that fearfull bed from 
 ^ which there is no hope of recovery. The 
 torment of fuch as were caft into Phala- 
 ris his Bull, or Nebucadnez^z^ars furnace 
 was pittifuljbiit nothing comparable to 
 th eirs , ho are caf into the la]^e that burtt^ Atsr. 3 4^• 
 eth 74/ithfire & brimflone. Thofe Tyrants 
 
 M 4 fires 
 
184 Appendix offome 
 
 fires were but (hadows of fire in refpe^f 
 ofthis. Theirs were kindled with con- 
 fumeable matter? this with the brim- 
 ftone of Gods wrath ? that ever yields 
 new matter of burning, and never can 
 be quenched. Their fire confumedthe 
 body only,and not that alwaies (for the 
 »an.| i 7 * children efcaped, and had not fo 
 much as the fmell of fire on their €loaths')h\it 
 this fire of Hell feizethon the foul alfo 
 after an horrible and unfpeakable man¬ 
 ner. O my God fave me from this tear- 
 full place, and puniQlment : and for 
 temporal calamities, do with me as it 
 pleafeth thee. 
 
 Heb n 
 
 18 . Vpon a mans return home after a 
 ttouhlefome I ourney. 
 
 THe Journey was tedious 5 but now 
 that he is returned home, he is well 
 contented^ and may reft in his own 
 houfe without difturbance. Reft(in^ 
 deed) is acceptable to all men, but la¬ 
 bour and toyle,which is the ullier of ifi 
 diflikes moft. That glorious reft, which 
 theblelTed enjoy in heaven was not at¬ 
 taint but with much toyling ,* but they 
 were content to undergo any thing for 
 the hope and expedation of it: for this 
 
 is 
 
otcajlond ^[editations, I %s 
 
 is the reafon given of the manifold fuf- 
 feringsof the Saints be- 
 
 caufe they fought a heavenlyCoimtrey. 
 
 And that which they fought, they have 
 nowfoundj thatbleffed kingdome of , 
 glory ? flowing with everlafting and 
 never-fading delights. That reft which 
 they fo much longed for, they now 
 fweetly enjoy. A reft indeed» in com* 
 parifon of which all other refts here be¬ 
 low are travails and turmoylings: A 
 reft vgloriousj happy ^blefted ,biisfull: 
 
 A reft pure? and perfed ? conftant and 
 pgpecuall; A reft that admits no enter- 
 CiTOrfe of labour? rorrow?fear or care; A 
 reft without interruption? fatiety? or fa¬ 
 ding ; A reft beyond the conception of 
 the heart ? or expreflion of the tongue. 
 
 Eye hfttb not feen,ear hath not heard,nett her i cor.i.?. 
 hath it entred into the heart of man what 
 things the Lord hath prepared for thofe that 
 love hint. ( 
 
 Be content therefore (O my foul) to 
 take any toyle or travail here in this 
 dry and empty defart, fo thoumaift 
 obtain a fetled reft in thy heavenly ha¬ 
 bitation hereafter. In the night? when 
 deep departs from thine eyes ? pray for , , j, 
 that Reft that needs not fleeptocom- ' 
 
 mend 
 
An Appendix offame 
 
 mend it. In the many labours of the 
 day 5 fblace thy felfwith the cpnteni-* 
 plation ofthat^Reft that looks for no 
 night to fecureit.Say to thy f^lf often, 
 There remaines areft to the people of God. 
 O Lord, let me be affured of this reft 
 with thee * 5 c then I fball reft contented^ 
 
 Tp. Vpon the conf deration of 7 dayes iri 
 
 a weeh 
 
 He life of man upon earth is but 
 
 the length of 7 dayes, a little multi- 
 plyedj how many years fo ever he liyej 
 5 c Ibme never fee the end of that 
 IVlany Infants die before the weeky^||p> 
 many at their Birth i many , when they 
 have their iirft being in their mother^ 
 womb. But the longeft life that is, is 
 (punout of7 dayes, till thelaft come, 
 which will not be long a coming. As 
 be therefore, who having 7 fervants to 
 wait upon him, if he be told forcer- 
 tain that one of them will flay him, 
 takes feryicefrom them all with more 
 heedfull obfervation , and watchethe- 
 very one, as they come in their courfes 
 tofervehim: So man^whofe life runs 
 upon 7 dayes, fince he is told»that in 
 one of them he muft die, and he knows 
 
occap<^ml Meditations, 
 
 not in which 3 ought moft carefully to 
 watch them all; that living holily every 
 day 3 his death rtiay be happy in Aat 
 which Cball be his lail. 
 
 zoypon the fight of a man laid in his grave, 
 
 'CAith tells US3 that to the Godly death 
 ^ is buta fweet fleep» The Saints reft 
 in their beds3that is^ in their gravess till 
 the general rerurre( 5 i:ion,and then they 
 (ball rife to glory. Who is not glad to 
 reft in the night after a wearifomeday 
 oFtrouble ? Our life is full of mifery; 
 death puts an end to it. Le^’s therefore 
 willingly imbrace it 3 and fay with the 
 Apoftle3 I define to he dijfolvedj and to be ^ 5 * 
 •u/ith Chrifti which is befi ofi all. 
 
 This is our happineft 3 that now in 
 Chrift lefus deathis notacurfe to US3 
 but the greateft blefting that can bejin 
 as mucb3 as it wholly mortifies fin, and 
 makes us everlaftingly happy : for 
 though our bodies feem tobe confu- 
 med, yet they are but fown 3 like grains 
 of wheats in the Lords field,which muft 
 die before they can be quickned; but*^^°‘^‘*^* 
 in the day of the Lords Harveft they ' 
 (hall rife again incorruptibUi 
 
 And, as for our foulsrthey are rclea- 
 
 fed 
 
Appendix offome > 
 
 fed out of this houfe of bondage ) that^ , 
 they may be made partakers of perfe( 3 r' i 
 freedome. And therefore death may > 
 not unfitly be compared to the red feaAi, 
 wherein Pharaoh , and his Egyptians 
 were drowned i but the Ifraelites went 
 through fafely to the Land ofpromife. 
 The wicked fink through the gr^ve in¬ 
 to Hell I but the Godly walk fafely 
 through the valley of the fhadow of 
 death to the eternal manfions of glory. 
 
 j| PrajeTiCofifamng thefumme of thuJBpoko 
 hut efpeciallyj that we may be atwayes 
 prepared for deaths laftdie happily^ 
 
 O Lord, God Almighty ? who haft 
 created Heaven, and Earth, and 
 all creatures in them both 5 who 
 art the giver of life , and the preferver 
 of ir> who yet (for fin) haftinfiicfted 
 death upon man , as a juft punifhment 
 for his tranfgreffion: 1 befeech theC) 
 look down from heaven upon me , a ■ 
 poor, weak, and unworthy wretch. 
 
 O Lord ) I confefl'e» it is thy great ^ 
 mercy)thati am yet alive. Thou might- ' 
 eftjuftly have ftifled me in the womb’i " 
 or ftopt my breath as foon as I came 
 
 thence, 
 
 . if' 
 
 i 
 
chajtoml Meditations, 189 
 
 Whence, bccaufe I was then a brat of an 
 uncl-ean brood j and had that ftain and 
 pollution of nature ? that made me a 
 child of wrath , and Son ofconfufion. 
 
 , And ? Oh ! how often , (ince that time? 
 'mighteft thou have met me in the waies 
 of my rebellionj&: have ftruck me dead 
 forrnyactual fins, which every day I 
 have mu'niply*d againfttheewi ha high 
 1 hand , Itiffe neck, and brafen forehead. 
 
 My whole life hath been fpent in the 
 fervice of fin ? and breach of thy holy 
 Law, which I have tranfgrefied in every 
 leafe,and line ofit.ThereforejCO LordJ 
 I confefle 5 thy patience hath been ex¬ 
 ceeding great,that thou haft (pared me 
 fo long, and given mefo large a time of 
 repentance.Ohjthat I had made fo good 
 ule of it, as 1 ought to have done ! 
 
 OGratious God , have mercy upon 
 me, have mercy upo^ me, and forgive 
 me my manifold failing»herein , toge¬ 
 ther with all other my fins5& tranfgrefi 
 •fions, of whatfoever kind or condition. 
 Lord,give me true and unfained repen¬ 
 tance for them , a lively faith in the 
 Lord lefus, to believe the free pardon 
 of them , and a confcionable care to 
 break from the power of them all , and 
 . to 
 
19 ^ Appindix of fomt 
 
 td fpehd thefe few dayes,tbat yctrc-^ 
 main) in thy fear and ftrvice. 
 
 And j becaufe my life is very (hortj 
 frail, fading.and uncertainj(for I know 
 pot whether I fhall live till to morrow)^ 
 1 befeech thee, give me grace, to be al- 
 wayes in readinefs, and prepared , that 
 death may not Ileal upon me fo as to 
 take me unprovided. 
 
 Thou hail innumerable wayes jand 
 means, to bring me to my grave, either 
 ordinary, as thole many difeafes ,and 
 infirmities , that accompany the nature ^ 
 of man 5 or extraordinary , by a thou- 
 fand cafuall dangers. I cannot promife 
 fafety to my felfin any place, or con¬ 
 dition. I may be arrefted in the houfe, 
 or in the field,* in the Church, or in the 
 Market 5 in company , or when I am a- 
 lone. And, if death overtake me in my 
 fins,having not repented, nor mortified 
 them , having ifor made my peace with 
 thee, by thole means,that thou haft ap- ] 
 pointed to that end,* If death overtake j 
 me unarmed , having not well fenced ^ 
 my felf with the whole, armour of thee 
 my Godi 
 
 If I be not ftrengthned by tfaofe means J 
 of holy Meditation, and Chriftian pra- 
 
 ^icea 
 
 - 1 
 
 . -J 
 
[ ^ icfAfional tJpteditathns . 
 
 dice, that may, through thy grace, 
 
 ^ weaken the power of this ertemy: Oh! 
 then my flate is very wretched, and mi- 
 ferable,* for , as death leaves me , lo ih^ 
 ^<judgement Will find me, and the foiiU 
 in tneinean time, muft indure unf|)eak- 
 able torments* 
 
 But,if, on the contrary, I rightly im* 
 |)rove this blelTed leafon ofgraceipro* 
 fitably, and to my fpiritual ad vantage; 
 If by true repentance, and a lively faith 
 in Chrift lefus , I make my peace with 
 theemyGodj If I arme my felf againft 
 death, by thofe means, that thou haft 
 appointed, and pradife thofe duties of 
 holinefs, ahd mortification , that thou 
 requireftj 
 
 in keep alwaies a clear confciehce, 
 be mortified to the world, often num¬ 
 ber my dayes aright, to apply my heart 
 to wifdome, labour to get aflurattce of 
 my falvation, order wifely my outward 
 efface, that it may not be a hinderance 
 to me 5 in that great work; Ifl pray to 
 thee Continually for grace to affiflme 
 in thofe holy duties 5 and when death 
 comes, willingly yield my felf and ftib- 
 micto thy holy will & pleafure without 
 grudging, or repining; being inabled 
 
 through 
 
 191 
 
j 92 -dn Appendix ojjome 6 CC, 
 
 through the ftrength and comfort of 1 
 thy holy fpirit j to commit my S^oiil in¬ 
 to thy hands , that fo I may depart in 
 peace, and rcfl Iweetly, in thecjfrom all 
 the miferies of this prefent life: Oh ! 
 then I am bleffed , and happy for ever? ' 
 I Qiah be numbred among the juft, and 
 bepartaker ot that lite, that is eternall 5 
 enjoy that crown of glory, that is in¬ 
 corruptible, and that iadcch not away, 
 and drink of tht River of thofepl^- 
 fures, that are at thy light hand, for 
 ever and ever. 
 
 O let it be thus unto me ( moft gra- 
 tious Lord God, 1 befeech thee) for my 
 dear and bleffed Saviours fake , who 
 died for my fm$, is i ifen again for my , 
 juftihcation, and is afeended into the 
 higheft heaven, there to prepare a place 
 for me; To whom, with thee (0 Father) 
 and thy bleffed Spirit of truth, be all 
 glory,honour,power, dignity,and do¬ 
 minion aferibed , throughout all ages, I 
 and beyond all time. Amen, 
 
 FINIS. 
 
% ’V. 
 
 S'.