Are we persuaded with the Prophet of God Psalm. 16. that we shall be raised and freed from corruption? that our death is a sleep, our grave as a bed? and that, that God, that raiseth the Sun daily out of his den, will draw us also out of the earth? then have we true faith, which undoubtedly we shall find more strong, if long before death come, we would exercise our selves with the meditations of death. Many we see by deferring all unto the last end, die heathenishly; many, who would seem to have more heroical1 spirits, desire unnaturally to dye, not that they are surcharged with the burden of their rebellion and corruption, but because as beasts, they neither can rejoice in things in heaven, nor fear the pains in hell. These are more drowsy and senseless beasts, than those, who are more loth to depart, in whom appeareth more nature, and some conscience; but the other degenerating from nature, are a far more monstrous and dangerous kind of people. Howbeit the common sort of people commend this kind of death, they say thus, he departed as meekly as a lamb, he went out of the world as a bird goeth out of the shell, he died very quietly never speaking a word; nay they might say more truly, he died beastlike, he gave no token of repentance, in acknowledging2 his sins, he showed no fruit of faith how he was saved in Christ, he gave no testimony of his hope in witnessing a joyful resurrection, and changing to a better life. Thus we see, how ready we are to extremes, either fearing death too much, or fearing3 it too little. Well, if we will be rid of that fear in excess, behold here is a remedy: My flesh doth rest in hope, for thou wilt not leave my soul in grave. But there are othersome, who can yield quietly to death also; what is their reason? what is their faith? forsooth they say, they must pay that willingly, which is due of necessity; and seeing they owe God a death, they had as lief die at first, as at last, when the debt is payed, it can be no more required. It is far otherwise with the children of God, who of all others have the greatest preferment by death, yet having tasted of the land of the living even in this life, cannot satisfy themselves in the multitude of many days with the sweet s•ppe thereof, until their measure be brim full.
ARe wee perswaded with the Prophet of God Psalm. 16. that wee shall bee raised and freed from corruption? that our death is a sleepe, our graue as a bedde? and that, that God, that raiseth the Sunne daily out of his denne, will drawe vs also out of the earth? then haue we true faith, which vndoubtedly wee shall finde more strong, if long before death come, wee would exercise our selues with the meditations of death. Many wee see by deferring all vnto the last ende, die heathenishly; many, who would seeme to haue more heroicall1 spirits, desire vnnaturally to dye, not that they are surcharged with the burthen of their rebellion and corruption, but because as beasts, they neither can reioyce in things in heauen, nor feare the paines in hell. These are more drowsie and senselesse beasts, than those, who are more loth to depart, in whom appeareth more nature, and some conscience; but the other degenerating from nature, are a farre more monstrous and daungerous kinde of people. Howbeit the common sort of people commend this kinde of death, they say thus, he departed as meekely as a lambe, he went out of the world as a bird goeth out of the shell, he died very quietly neuer speaking a word; nay they might say more truly, he died beastlike, he gaue no token of repentance, in acknowledging2 his sinnes, he shewed no fruite of faith how he was saued in Christ, he gaue no testimonie of his hope in witnessing a ioyfull resurrection, and chaunging to a better life. Thus wee see, how readie wee are to extreames, either fearing death too much, or fearing3 it too little. Well, if wee will be rid of that feare in excesse, behold here is a remedie: My flesh doth rest in hope, for thou wilt not leaue my soule in graue. But there are othersome, who can yeeld quietly to death also; what is their reason? what is their faith? forsooth they say, they must pay that willingly, which is due of necessitie; and seeing they owe God a death, they had as lieue die at first, as at last, when the debt is payed, it can bee no more required. It is farre otherwise with the children of God, who of all others haue the greatest preferment by death, yet hauing tasted of the land of the liuing euen in this life, cannot satisfie themselues in the multitude of many dayes with the sweete s•ppe thereof, vntill their measure be brimme full.
- 1Meditations of death.
- 2A dull kind of death.A dull kinde of death.
- 3Great quietness & meekness in the death of many sinners.Great quietnes & m••knes in the death of many sinners.
