A09387:17
Deaths knell
Deaths knell: or, The sick mans passing-bell summoning all sick consciences to pr[e]pare themselves for the coming of the great[t] day of doom, lest mercies gate be shut against them: fit for all those that desire to arrive at the heavenly Jerusalem. Whereunto are added prayers fit for householders. The ninth edition. Written by W. Perkins.Deaths knell: or, The sicke mans passing-bell summoning all sicke consciences to pr[e]pare themselues for the comming of the grea[t] day of doome, lest mercies gate be shut against them: fit for all those that desire to arriue at the heauenly Ierusalem. Whereunto are added prayers fit for housholders. The ninth edition. Written by W. Perkins.
London: printed by G. Purslowe for M. Trundle, 1628
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
but being ⟨image 9⟩once at deaths door, notwithstanding our teeth gnash, our eyes cry out, our throats become hoarse with howling, our eyes gush Rivers of tears, and our hearts send out sighs as loud as Thunder, yet will it not avail us; for then none shall hear us, none assist us; no, nor so much as comfort us: Then, O then, shalt thou find, though (alas) too late, that thou hast lost thy labour, hast trifled away thy time, and let slip the opportunity of thine own gain. Thou shalt then perceive thine error irrecoverable, thy punishment insupportable, thy penitence unprofitable, thy grief, sorrow, and calamity irrecoverable: Let thy soul then enjoy her lawful Sovereignty, and thy body follow the footings of her directions: let not thy servile senses, and lawless appetites overcome her, and make her a Vassal in her own Dominions. Doest thou desire to have all good necessaries: as good house, good furniture, good fare, good apparel? and yet wilt thou suffer thy poor soul, thy principal charge, and above all these worthy the best respect, to lye cankering and custing in all kind of evils? O unspeakable blindness, that thou wilt be nice in wearing a bad shoo, yet carest not to carry an ugly & betattered soul! Alas, do not thou set so light by that Jewell, which ⟨image 9⟩thy Maker sets at so high a price; nor rate thou thy soul at so base a pennyworth, being of so peerless worth. If the soul be so inestimable, that neither gold, nor treasure, nor any thing of less price, then the precious blood of that immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus was able to buy it; if not all the Delicacies that Heaven and earth could afford, but only the glorious Body of our Saviour, were deemed a fit repast to feed it; If not all the Creatures of this, or millions of new worlds, if they were, but only the unlimitable goodness and Majesty of God, can satisfy the desire, or fill the compass• and capacity of it (for who is so unsensible, that finds not the insatiety of his soul?) Who then, but one of perverse will, incredulous mind, or pitiless spirit, would set more by the world then his souls worthiness; or suffer so peerless a Paragon, so many hours, days, months and years, to lye enchannelled in the filthy mire of sin?
but being ⟨image 9⟩