A Golden Chain

For the text saith, when he saw that his counsel was despised,¹ he saddled his ass, and arose and went home into his city, and put his household in order, and went and hanged himself. And the five foolish virgins contented themselves with the blazing lamps of a bare profession, never seeking for the horn of lasting oil of true and lively faith, that might furnish and trim that lamp both in life & death. But let us in the fear of God, cast off this damnable folly, first of all seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and leading our lives in faith and obedience, that we may die accordingly.

For the text saith, when he saw that his counsell was despised,¹ he sadled his asse, and arose and went home into his citie, and put his houshold in order, and went and hanged himselfe. And the fiue foolish virgins contented themselues with the blasing lamps of a bare profession, neuer seeking for the horne of lasting oyle of true and liuely faith, that might furnish and trimme that lampe both in life & death. But let vs in the feare of God, cast off this damnable folly, first of all seeking the kingdome of God and his righteousnes, and leading our liues in faith and obedience, that we may die accordingly.

1. 1• •am. 17. 23.

And thus much of the first point of doctrine, namely that there is a certain way whereby a man may die well: now I come to the second. Whereas therefore Solomon saith that the day of death is better then the day of birth, we are further taught that such as truly believe themselves to be the children of God, are not to fear death overmuch. I say overmuch; because they must partly fear it, & partly not. Fear it they must for two causes: the first, because death is the destruction of humane nature in a mans own self and others: & in this respect Christ feared it without sin: and we must not fear it otherwise then we fear sickness and poverty, and famine, with other sorrows of body and mind, which god will not have us to despise or lightly regard, but to feel with some pain, because they are corrections and punishments for sin. And he doth therefore lay upon us pains and torments, that they may be feared and eschewed: and that by eschewing them we might further learn to eschew the cause of them, which is sin; and by experience in feeling of pain, acknowledge that God is a judge and enemy of sin, and is exceeding angry with it.