A Golden Chain

Thus then this point being manifest that a general preparation must be made, let us now see in what manner it must be done. And for the right doing of it, •u•e duties must be practised in the •ourse of our lives. The first i• ⟨p. 786⟩the meditation of death in the life time. For the life of a Christian is nothing else but a meditation of death. A notable practise hereof we have in the example of Joseph of Arimathea, who made his tomb in his life time in the midst of his garden: no doubt for this end, to put himself in mind of death, and that in the midst of his delight and pleasures. Heathen Philosophers that never knew Christ, had many excellent meditations of death, though not comfortable in regard of life everlasting. Now we that have known and believed in Christ, must go beyond them in this point, considering with our selves such things as they never thought of, namely, the cause of death, our sin: the remedy thereof, the cursed death of Christ, cursed I say in regard of the kind of death and punishment laid upon him, but blessed in regard of us. Thirdly, we must often meditate on the presence of death, which we do, when by Gods grace we make an account of every present day as if it were the present day of our death, and reckon with our selves when we go to bed as though we should never rise again; and when we rise, as though we should never lie down again.

Thus then this point beeing manifest that a generall preparation must be made, let vs now see in what manner it must be done. And for the right doing of it, •u•e duties must be practised in the •ourse of our liues. The first i• ⟨p. 786⟩the meditation of death in the life time. For the life of a Christian is nothing else but a meditation of death. A notable practise hereof we haue in the example of Ioseph of Arimathea, who made his tombe in his life time in the midst of his garden: no doubt for this ende, to put himselfe in minde of death, and that in the midst of his delight and pleasures. Heathen Philosophers that neuer knew Christ, had many excellent meditations of death, though not comfortable in regard of life euerlasting. Now we that haue knowne and beleeued in Christ, must goe beyond them in this point, considering with our selues such things as they neuer thought of, namely, the cause of death, our sinne: the remedie thereof, the cursed death of Christ, cursed I say in regard of the kind of death and punishment laid vpon him, but blessed in regard of vs. Thirdly, we must often meditate on the presence of death, which we do, when by Gods grace we make an account of euery present day as if it were the present day of our death, and recken with our selues when we goe to bedde as though we should neuer rise againe; and when we rise, as though we should neuer lie downe againe.