Yet a third question riseth out of these words, and that is this; Whether a Christian may wish for death? As Paul desired, so may we desire,1 if we have Pauls spirit. As Christ told his Disciples when they asked him, whether they should pray for fire from heaven, as Elijah did? Christ answered, that they knew not of what spirit they were: as if he should say, If you were of Elijah spirit, and did pray with the same mind, and to the same end that he did, then you might pray as he prayed. The wicked wish to die, because they would be rid of the cross, and suffer no more for God: as Cain,2 so soon as he was cursed, and knew that his life should be a torment, he sought to dye, to prevent the just judgement of God▪ & spite him (as it were) which should punish ⟨p. 538⟩sins. So do the people oftentimes, which have not to satisfy hunger, & the sick which saint of an incurable disease, and the weary captives in prison, galleys, and bonds. As for the faithful, if they at any time wish to die, they pray for death, as the last remedy against sin and Satan: even as they pray in the Revelation, for the hastening of Christs coming to judgement,3 Come Lord Jesus, come quickly, for the shortening of the days of sin, least all flesh should perish. But they which wish for death in this sort, would dye as the will of God hath ordained, and mortify their flesh to abide these troubles, and still by faith suppress the dolorous grief of sin, by frequent meditation of inward joy, received by grace in Christ, and therein revive themselves, as with the earnest penny of their inheritance, which they shall receive at the fit time, when it shall comfort them much to have suffered so long. Much therefore have they to answer, which are not contented to die in peace, and stay till they be dissolved, but as though themselves were the authors of life & death, from cruel heart give wrongful commission to the bloody hand, to cut asunder that which God hath joined, the loving soul and their body; as Judas, Ahithophel,4 Saul, and Pilate did: not one of these was good in life or death. Yet the Author of ⟨p. 539⟩the Maccabees commendeth Razz is most of all, for that which was the greatest sin that ever he did, for killing himself. Man was not borne of his own pleasure, neither must he die at his own lust;
Yet a third question riseth out of these wordes, and that is this; Whether a Christian may wish for death? As Paul desired, so may wee desire,1 if wee haue Pauls spirit. As Christ told his Disciples when they asked him, whether they should pray for fire from heauen, as Elias did? Christ answered, that they knewe not of what spirit they were: as if he should say, If you were of Elias spirit, and did praye with the same mind, and to the same end that he did, then you might pray as he prayed. The wicked wish to die, because they would bee rid of the crosse, and suffer no more for God: as Cain,2 so soone as he was cursed, and knew that his life should be a torment, he sought to dye, to preuent the iust iudgement of God▪ & spight him (as it were) which shuld punish ⟨p. 538⟩sinnes. So doe the people oftentimes, which haue not to satisfie hunger, & the sicke which saint of an incurable disease, and the wearie captiues in prison, galleis, and bonds. As for the faithfull, if they at any time wish to die, they pray for death, as the last remedy against sinne and Sathan: euen as they pray in the Reuelation, for the hastening of Christs comming to iudgement,3 Come Lord Iesus, come quickly, for the shortening of the daies of sinne, least all flesh should perish. But they which wish for death in this sorte, would dye as the will of God hath ordained, and mortifie their flesh to abide these troubles, and still by fayth suppresse the doloruos griefe of sin, by frequent meditation of inward ioy, receiued by grace in Christ, and therein reuiue themselues, as with the earnest pennie of their inheritance, which they shall receiue at the fit time, when it shall comfort them much to haue suffered so long. Much therefore haue they to answere, which are not contented to die in peace, and stay till they bee dissolued, but as though themselues were the authors of life & death, from cruell heart giue wrongfull commission to the bloodie hand, to cut asunder that which God hath ioyned, the louing soule and their body; as Iudas, Achitophel,4 Saul, and Pilate did: not one of these was good in life or death. Yet the Author of ⟨p. 539⟩the Macchabees commendeth Raz is most of all, for that which was the greatest sinne that euer he did, for killing himselfe. Man was not borne of his owne pleasure, neither must hee die at his owne lust;
- 1Luk. 9. 54.
- 2Gen. 4.
- 3Reu. 22. 20.
- 42. Macc. 14 37.
