The exercise of a christian life. Written in Italian by the Reuerend Father Gaspar Loarte D. of Diuinitie, of the Societie of Iesus. And newly translated into Englishe. by I.S.

WHAT a good Christian ought to doo, when he falleth sicke, and draw∣eth nigh the houre of death.

¶ Cap. 27. (Book 27)

AL SVCH thinges as I haue hitherto intreated of, wil helpe thee, during the time it pleaseth God to graunt thee health and strength of bodye. But because this temporal life of ours is subiect to many infirmities, and in th'ende, no remedie, but al of vs must needes once dye, a 1.1 according to God his good ordinance and appoyntmēt; I haue, for this cause, thought good in this Chapter, to adde certain adui∣ses and instructions, to teache thee the better, howe to gouerne thy selfe, both in time of sicknes, and in the houre of death. Neither oughtest thou with worse wil to reade these, nor with lesse diligence to execute them in their time, then the former.

Neuertheles, these aduises shal prin∣cipallye * 1.2 profite those, that in their health did employ their time in such exercises, as haue beene heretofore spoken of in this litle Treatise; pre∣paring them-selues continuallye to death, as al good and faithful christiā people are bound to doo. For such as prolonge their properation and con∣uersion vntil the houre of death, ha∣uing liued loosly, and without the feare of God al the time of their health; albeit they be not to dispaire, but to make the best shift they can for their poore soules in the smal * 1.3 time that is left behinde; yet are they in great daunger, no doubt, and in a verye perillous estate; these being they, whose saluatiō S. Austin doub∣teth of Let vs therefore (as S. a 1.4 Paule fore-warneth vs) doo wel whiles we haue time; continually watching, and pre∣paring our selues to death, according to our Sauiours b 1.5 counsaile; sith we

neither wott the day nor houre ther∣of. Neuerthelesse, when thou suspec∣test that houre to be alreadye come, then oughtest thou to be more curi∣ous and careful in thy preperation.

THE FIRST aduise therfore, whi∣che * 1.6 in this matter thou shalt take, let be this; that so soone as euer thou fal∣lest sicke (albeit the sicknes seem not greatly daungerous) to be careful for phisiking thy soule first, before thy bodye; and therfore take order, that thy spiritual phisitiō come to purge * 1.7 thy soul by confession; eyther before, or assoone as the other, to cure thy body by potion; and expect not, til the bodily phisition doo bidd thee to doo thus, as he is bound to doo, if * 1.8 he desire to obeye that the sacred Ca∣nons doo commaunde him. Where this moste true, sentence is also writ∣ten, that God doth many times sende sicknes a 1.9 of bodye, for the sinnes of the soule; And therefore it maye be,

that the cause once ceassing, to witt, sinnes; the effect shal also ceasse, to witt, sicknes.

NOWE, if hauing vsed this reme∣die * 1.10 of confession, thy sicknes doo stil continue, then take this for a second aduise; to accept it with a cheerful & willing minde; as a gift, which thy * 1.11 heauenly father hath for thy soules health, with singuler loue, sent to thee; offring vp thy selfe, to suffer for his sake, what-soeuer his diuine pro∣uidence shal ordeine, and laye vppon thee; and see thou purpose fully, in al thinges to conforme thy self wholly to his moste holye wil. But because mans frailtie is great; and feeling the gripes of greeuous and painful sick∣nes, it shal-be a very hard matter, to haue that patience and conformitie to his diuine wil, which were meete and requisite for to haue.

LET THIS be therefore the third * 1.12 aduise, to make thy humble pray∣ers

to God for the obteining of such * 1.13 graces as thou wantest, and he know eth to be needful for thee. Procure like-wise, that others praye for thee, folowing therin S. a 1.14 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Apo∣stles counsaile, who saith: If any man a∣mongst you finde him-selfe sicke, let him cause the priests to come, that they may pray for him. And wel maiest thou hope, that their prayers made with fayth, shal-be no smal helpe to mittigate thy pains & grieuous sicknes.

THE FOVRTH aduise is, that as in * 1.15 thy health either thou diddest, or at least wise oughtest to haue endeuou∣red thy selfe to edifye, and geue good example to those thou diddest con∣uerse * 1.16 withal, that nowe in time of sicknes thou be careful to doo the same; obeying those that keepe thee, taking willingly the medicines, and what-soeuer for thy health shal-be geucn thee, be it neuer so lothsome and painful to thee; In like maner, to

shewe none anger or impatience in thy speeche, especially to such as at∣tend vpon thee; and to geue gratious aunsweres to those that visite thee; not complayning too much of the pain thou feelest; but recommending * 1.17 thy selfe in humble and lowly wise to their good deuotions. And so in al other thinges art thou with suche good discretion and mildnes to go∣uerne thy selfe, as al those that see thee, or deal with thee, may be wel e∣dified by thee; and consequently, take greter compassiō of thy griefes; and help thee more willingly, both spiri∣tually and corporally too, if neede be.

THE FIFT aduise is, that albeit * 1.18 thou must take for the recouerie of thy health, al outward remedies and bodily phisicke that may be applied to thee; yet oughtest thou to put gre∣ter * 1.19 confidence in the celestial phisi∣tion, and in his diuine mercy & pro∣uidence, then in any artificial and hu∣mane

medicines; least otherwise it might happ to thee, as it did to king a 1.20 Asa; who being visited with exces∣siue paines in his feete, deserued not to recouer health, yea, mcurred death; for that, as the scripture telleth, he trusted more to his phisitions skil & facultie then to Gods diuine succour.

THE SIXT aduise is, that if tho∣rough * 1.21 Gods good grace thou recouer thy health againe, and be cured of the infirmitie which lately greeued thee; that presently thou remember to geue God, the authour of al good thinges, moste humble thankes, for * 1.22 this his great benefite; acknowled∣ging and confessing freelye, that it came principally by him, rather then by any other helps & humane reme∣dies. See therefore thou shewe thy selfe grateful euery wayes thou mai∣est, least otherwise, thou be like the nine b 1.23 ingrateful lepors that Christe

clensed: yea, rather resemble thou the tenth, who albeit he was a forrei∣ner, yet did he by and by, after he had receaued health, returne backe to thanke his benefactour; whereby he deserued to be commended of the same our Lorde and Sauiour; and th' other nine to be found fault with∣al, and condemned for their ingrati∣tude.

THE SEVENTH aduise is; that * 1.24 nowe, hauing receaued the health, which thou earst lackedst, thou be * 1.25 verye careful hereafter, to auoyde al sort of sinne; and to amend thy life hereafter; assuring thy selfe, that for this cause was it, that thy health was thus restored to thee. Thou oughtest therefore to be very diligent, in exe∣cuting suche good thoughtes and purposes, as thou haddest, or shoul∣dest haue had in thy sicknes, if God did vouchsafe mercifullye to graunt

thee health againe, as he nowe hath done; for other-wise by forgetting the benefite receaued, and returning backe again to thy vomite, and wen∣ted beastlines of offending, thou shouldest by this meanes deserue to haue some worse thing to light vpō thee; like as our a 1.26 Sauior him-self ad∣uertised the man, whom he had cured of his thirtie and eight yeres palsey.

These aduises maiest thou vse, du∣ring the time of such sicknes as God wil haue thee to escape, and to be re∣cured of. But if thy maladie be mor∣tal, and no remedie, but this tempo∣ral life must be determined and en∣ded by it; then ouer and aboue what hath been alreadie said, take these ad∣uises folowing.

THE FIRST is, that perceauing * 1.27 thy sicknes to increase, and to growe more greeuous; thou then awake thy selfe with more vigilant care, to dis∣pose, both of thy temporal and spiri∣tual

affaires, as if those wordes were then spoken to thee, which were de∣liuered by the prophete Esaye a 1.28 to king Ezechias: Dispose of thy house, for thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dye, and not liue. Dispatch therfore, and make perfect thy wil, which eue∣rye * 1.29 good Christian ought to make in the time of health; when he maye with better case, sounder iudgement, and more mature aduise perfourme and doo the same; and not to driue it til the last houre, when al these com∣modities doo faile him; sith daylye experience doth informe vs, howe through the letts and encombrances of sicknes, the wils that are made in that time, be very rawlye performed; and many times vnperfectly drawen and penned. Hauing therfore thy wil in a redines by thee, with thy satis∣faction therin conteyned, thou mai∣est then, as shal seeme best vnto thee, alter, or adde thereto any thing by way of codicil: But if thou hast bene

heretofore negligent in this matter, & haddest not made it, or not so ex∣actlye, as to content and satisfie thy minde withal; then maiest thou make it anewe, at such time, as thou shoul∣dest finde thy selfe best at ease, of ri∣pest iudgement, and least letted with thy sicknes; procuring to haue some trustie frend by thee, to prompt thee at that time in necessary and needful remembraunces.

THE SECOND aduise, to helpe * 1.30 thee in this case, is; that when thou haste once finished thy wil according to thy mind, with a true and perfect satisfaction; and disburdened thy cō∣science, as-wel for restitution ma∣king, and debtes paying (if thou ow∣est any;) as also touching other dis∣crete and godly legacies: Briefly, ha∣uing * 1.31 disposed of al thy temporal cau∣ses, force thy selfe forth-with to for∣get quite 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thinges; which thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here behinde thee; and

wholly to occupie thy minde in hea∣uenly matters, which thou shortlye hopest to enioye; that by this means, the remembrance of such thinges, as earst thou louedst wel, and nowe must needes leaue, doo not disquiet thee, or cause thee to receaue death more vnwillingly, then were meete thou shouldest doo. And to ridd thee the better of al these encombrances, and daungerous distractions, let this be-

THE THIRD aduise; to commaūd * 1.32 al those of thy house, and require al others that come to visite and assist thee, not to deale, or breake with thee in any temporal matters; nor to put thee in memorie of such worldlye things as earst thou bare affection to; as might be riches, wife, children, frendes, with other thinges, wherein thou delitedst gretly heretofore. And then see, that this be chieflye done, when death is at the doore, and the

life draweth fast to an ende; then, I say, let this aduise be moste carefully executed; least the sight or hearing of such matters, might then allure or * 1.33 draw thine affection to them; and so thy minde be distracted and caried awaye from dinine and heauenlye matters, wherewith thou oughtest in that time to be onely in loue, and on∣lye to desire, and thinke vpon.

THE FOVRTH aduise, when thou seest thy selfe in these termes, is, to * 1.34 cause some deuout, spiritual & godly mē to be called for, who in this so bu∣sie & important a time, may assist, & geue thee good counsaile and exhor∣tations; * 1.35 comforting thee eyther with their good speeches, or by good les∣sons, which they may reade out of some such spiritual booke, as maye serue most fitly for thy purpose; that by this meanes, thy soule maye more easily eleuate it selfe vp to the consi∣deration of celestial and heauenlye

matters; wherin, but specially in the * 1.36 blessed passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christe, thou oughtest principallye to occupie thy minde. These men may like-wise doo thee great good with their zelous and feruent prayers, cal∣ling vpon God for his diuine mercye towardes thee; and beseeching our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe, and his blessed mother, with al the whole court of heauen, to helpe and fauour thee in that houre of thy departure, being a time so tedious, and so ful of imminent peril. And thus must thou pray thy selfe too, in the best maner thou canst.

THE FIFT aduise is, that when * 1.37 thou supposest thy life to drawe fast awaye (yet before such time as thou losest the vse of reason) thou then craue the last Sacrament of Extreme * 1.38 Vnction, or anneling with holy oyle; and this thou must indeuour thy self to receaue with great faith and deuo∣tion;

and hauing once receaued it, then to make a protestation of the * 1.39 Catholike faith, if thou canst it by heart; if not, to let it be read vnto thee; wherin thou protestest to liue and dye, beeleeuing and confessing al that our holy mother the Catho∣like, Apostolike, and Roman Church confesseth and belecueth. And there∣fore oughtest thou not to driue off the receauing of this last Sacrament, vntil the very latter ende, as some ve∣rye indiscretly doo; to th'ende thou maiest be of sound iudgement, and haue perfect vse of reason, to receaue it deuoutly; and to make the foresaid protestation sincerely and aduisedly. * 1.40

THE LAST aduise, which I haue to geue in this matter, is; that hauing alreadie performed, what hath beene tolde and taught thee in this chapter, * 1.41 thou prepare thy selfe to attend the last conflict, which is yet behinde, in the houre of thy departure; arming

thy selfe against such temptations, as are wont then commonly to assaile vs. And to th'ende thou maiest the more manfully resist and vanquishe them, and by vanquishing, attain the crowne of conquest; it shal not be a∣misse, to tel thee before-hand, with what temptations the fiends doo or∣dinarily disquiet the soule at her de∣parture, according as we are infor∣med by the holy Doctours that haue writtē vpon this matter. See therfore thou mark wel, what I shal hereof tel thee in the Chapter next ensuing.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Heb. 9. g.
• * 1.2

  Note wel.
• * 1.3

  The wicked liuers wel dying to be doubted.
• a 1.4

  Gala. 6. c
• b 1.5

  mat. 24. d.
• * 1.6

  The first aduise in time of sicknes.
• * 1.7

  The soule to be pur∣ged before the bodye.
• * 1.8

  The body afflicted for the sins of the soul.
• a 1.9

  Ioh. 5. b.
• * 1.10

  The. 2. ad∣uise in time of sicknes.
• * 1.11

  Acceptatiō and Resig∣nation.
• * 1.12

  The. 3. ad∣uise.
• * 1.13

  Praier for patience.
• a 1.14

  Iac. 5. c.
• * 1.15

  The 4. ad uise.
• * 1.16

  Obedience and mild∣nes in time of sicknes.
• * 1.17

  Too much complay∣ning not commen∣dable.
• * 1.18

  The. 5. ad. uise in time of sicknes.
• * 1.19

  Gods helpe chieflye to be atten∣ded.
• a 1.20

  2. par. 16 c.
• * 1.21

  The sixt aduise.
• * 1.22

  Gratitude after our recouerie.
• b 1.23

  Luc. 17. d
• * 1.24

  The. 7. ad∣uise.
• * 1.25

  Diligent amendmēt of life, and perfor∣mance of good pur∣poses.
• a 1.26

  Ioh. 5. a.
• * 1.27

  The first aduise in time of mortall 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• a 1.28

  Esa. 38. a
• * 1.29

  Touching last wils and Testa∣ments.
• * 1.30

  The. 2. ad∣uise in time of mor. mal.
• * 1.31

  A forget∣ting of worldly affairs.
• * 1.32

  The third aduise is, an aduer∣tisemēt to those that visite.
• * 1.33

  Note wel, and exe∣cute in time.
• * 1.34

  The 4. ad∣uise in time of mor. mal.
• * 1.35

  The assis∣tance of spiritual persons.
• * 1.36

  The memo rie of Christes Passion.
• * 1.37

  The. 5. ad∣uise in time of mor. mal.
• * 1.38

  The Sa. of Extreame vnction.
• * 1.39

  A protes∣tation of the Catho∣like fayth.
• * 1.40

  The 6. ad∣uise a∣gainst mor. mal.
• * 1.41

  Prepara∣tiō against the last as∣saults.