A69538:157
The last work of a believer his passing prayer recommending his departing spirit to…
The last work of a believer his passing prayer recommending his departing spirit to Christ to be received by Him / prepared for the funerals of Mary the widow first of Francis Charlton Esq. and after of Thomas Hanmer, Esq., and partly preached at St. Mary Magdalens Church in Milk-Street, London, and now, at the desire of her daughter, reprinted by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by B. Griffin for B. Simmons, 1682
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.
10. Lastly, I esteemed it the height of her attainment, that she never discovered any inordinate fears of death; but a cheerful readiness, willingness and desire, to be dissolved and be with Christ. This was her constant temper both in health and sickness, as far as I was able to observe: She would be frequently expressing how little reason she had to be desirous of longer life, and how much reason to be willing to depart. Divers times in dangerous sicknesses I have been with her, and never discerned any considerable averseness, dejectedness or fear. Many a time I have thought how great a mercy I should esteem it, if I had attained that measure of fearless willingness to lay down this flesh, as she had attained. Many a one that can make light of wants, or threats, ⟨p. 69⟩or scorns, or any ordinary troubles, cannot submit so quietly and willingly to death: Many a one that can go through the labours of Religion, and contemn opposition, and easily give all they have to the poor, and bear imprisonments, banishment or contempt, can never overcome the fears of Death: so far even the Father of lies spake truth, Joh. 2. 4. Skin for Skin: yea all that a man hath will he give for his Life. I took it therefore for a high attainment, and extraordinary mercy to our deceased friend, that the King of Terrors was not terrible to her: Though I doubt not but somewhat of averseness and fear is so radicated in natures self-preserving principle, as that it is almost inseparable; yet in her I never discerned any troublesome appearances of it. When I first came to her in the beginning of her last sickness, she suddenly passed the sentence of death upon her self, without any show of fear or trouble; when to us the disease appeared not to be great: But when the disease increased, her pains were so little, and the effect of the Fever was so much in her head, that after this she seemed not to esteem it mortal, being not sensible of her case and danger: And so as she lived without the fears of death, she seemed to us to die without them: God by the nature of her disease removing death as out of her sight, when she came to that weakness, in which else the encounter was like to have been sharper than ever it was before.
10. Lastly, I esteemed it the height of her attainment, that she never discovered any inordinate fears of death; but a chearful readiness, willingness and desire, to be dissolved and be with Christ. This was her constant temper both in health and sickness, as far as I was able to observe: She would be frequently expressing how little reason she had to be desirous of longer life, and how much reason to be willing to depart. Divers times in dangerous sicknesses I have been with her, and never discerned any considerable aversness, dejectedness or fear. Many a time I have thought how great a mercy I should esteem it, if I had attained that measure of fearless willingness to lay down this flesh, as she had attained. Many a one that can make light of wants, or threats,