A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…

3. No good man need be affrighted at the approach of Death. For the power and sting of Death is utterly taken away by our Saviours Death, and so it can do us no hurt^w. A Child of God doth not so much as taste Death. The true Believer now hath not to do with Death, but with its shadow, with a toothless Dog, with a dead Lyon, with a Wasp without a Sting, with a conquered Enemy. What man in his wits is afraid after a tempestuous Voyage, that he is drawing nigh his Haven. It was a sweet saying of S. Ambrose, near his end: I have not so lived, that I am ashamed to live among you, neither do I fear to die, going to so good a Master. The unprepared and the ungodly may dread Death. As Aristippus told the wicked Mariners trembling in a Storm; You may well be afraid, going to receive your just punishment, but hoping for my reward in the other Life, I am not amazed with this at all. But now when a man hath set his House and Heart in order, and finished his work, he may sing his Nunc dimittis with comfort, ⟨p. 191⟩and say as that holy Woman x, I am one that neither wisheth Death, nor feareth his might, but as merry as one that's bound for Heaven.²

3. No good man need be affrighted at the approach of Death. For the power and sting of Death is utterly taken away by our Saviours Death, and so it can do us no hurt^w. A Child of God doth not so much as tast Death. The true Believer now hath not to do with Death, but with its shadow, with a toothless Dog, with a dead Lyon, with a Wasp without a Sting, with a conquer'd Enemy. What man in his wits is afraid after a tempestuous Voyage, that he is drawing nigh his Haven. It was a sweet saying of S. Ambrose, near his end: I have not so lived, that I am ashamed to live among you, neither do I fear to dy, going to so good a Master. The unprepared and the ungodly may dread Death. As Aristippus told the wicked Mariners trembling in a Storm; You may well be afraid, going to receive your just punishment, but hoping for my reward in the other Life, I am not amazed with this at all. But now when a man hath set his House and Heart in order, and finisht his work, he may sing his Nunc dimittis with comfort, ⟨p. 191⟩