An eye to heauen in earth A necessarie watch for the time of death, consisting in meditations and prayers fit for that purpose. With the husbands christian counsell to his wife and children, left poore after his death.

MEDITAT. II.

NOw then, I hauing by the grace of God, in some mea∣sure, learned to liue, and to know I shall dye: what remayneth, but that I * 1.1 looke for the day, and at∣tend the houre, not know∣ing when it will come? And therefore to bee al∣wayes ready: hauing also (through Christ,) receiued * 1.2 the spirit of boldnesse, to re∣mooue out of this bodie, to bee with the Lord. This boldnesse, I confesse, I haue not of my selfe, it is the gift of God, who in the beginning made mee to his Image, without spot; but spotted before I

was borne, by him that was once without spot, whose fault is now by im∣putation, nay, by action mine: whereby I bringing sinne and corruption into the World with me, haue deeply defiled my selfe, by like actuall disobedience, and therefore may iustly feare the face of that se∣uere and iust Iudge; e∣specially hauing so many, and so strong Aduersaries; Satan with his principalities * 1.3 and powers, and spirituall wickednesse, a million of sinnes, and a guiltie con∣science; besides the hor∣rours of Death and the Graue, enough to cast my sinfull soule into vtter de∣struction, were there not

a power aboue his power and principalities, to sub∣due his.

I thanke God in Christ, I haue beene taught, and I know that the seed of the * 1.4 woman hath subdued Satan, led him & all his powers, principalities, and spiri∣tuall wickednesse captiue, triumphing ouer him and them vpon the Crosse, ma∣king a shew of them open∣ly. And this I am not only taught to know, but I be∣leeue the same, stedfastly: Lord, strengthen my be∣liefe.

As for my siunes past, I feare them not: for Christ suffered for them once, the iust for the vniust, to bring me to God. As touching

death: I knew that my Re∣deemer * 1.5 liueth, and he hath taken away the sting ther∣of; and made a way for mee through the graue to come vnto glorie: through the valley of death, to passe vn∣till I come to the Lord my God in Sion.

I cannot yet but con∣fesse, that notwithstan∣ding my boldnesse, I feele many wauerings, I am not at all times alike bold, but often tremble at the consi∣deration of death, because I haue had no experience of the terrour thereof: and therefore though the Spirit be willing, my flesh is weake. But I am so much the more strengthened, by how much I doe consider, that

euen the dearest of Gods * 1.6 Children haue sometimes staggered at the conside∣ration of death: Saint Paul himselfe confesseth, that he had fightings without, and terrours within. Peter for * 1.7 feare of death denyed his Master. And our Sauiour Christ, being lest vnto his manhood, wished (though contrarily resolued) that the Cup of the Crosse might * 1.8 passe, and that hee might not drinke of it.

Death comes with an vgly and fearefull counte∣nance to all, but especial∣ly, to them that haue their consolation here. Death, * 1.9 nay, the remembrance of death (as the Wiseman af∣firmeth) is better to him,

that hath the wealth, the pleasures, and happinesse of this life. And vnlesse the Lord by his grace support and sustaine the best man, he will feare and faint at the approching of death. Therefore will I make my prayer vnto God in Christ, to giue me strength, and an holy resolution, to imbrace death when it shall come.

A Prayer against the feare of death, fit to be said at all times, especially in sicknesse. The Prayer.

O Lord my God, and gracious Father in Iesus Christ, who hast for∣med

mee of the dust of the Earth: and by thy Spi∣rit made me a liuing soule in a mortall bodie: Giue mée grace continually to remember my mortality, how I am borne to dye, and that after death I shall come to Judgement, yet hast thou hidden the time when, the place where, and the maner how I shall dye, from mee, all knowne to thée.

Teach mee therefore, Gracious Father, teach mée so to number my daies, as to consider, that the more they increase in number, so much the nee∣rer I draw to the time of my dissolution: therefore giue mee wisedome and a

heart, whereby I may ap∣ply me thereunto, that I may be at all times, and in all places, watchfull and readie to imbrace the comming of that, which I cannot auoyde.

Let mée not rest secure in health, nor be dismayde in sicknesse; but let my heart bee euer set on the things that are; where I desire, and hope to come: and not on the things which I sée, and partake herein this life.

Teach mee thy wayes, instruct me in thy Lawes, giue me a repēting heart, a sanctified spirit, that I may walke here before thée, and here doe thy will, as thy Saints and hea∣uenly

Companies doe thy will in Heauen: that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may bee numbred among thy Saints Militant, that I may not feare to bee translated from this place of banishment, vnto that Inheritance purchased by Christ my Redéemer: where I shall partake of his glory with thy Saints, now Triumphant in that most glorious new Ierusa∣lem.

While I liue here, let thy Word bée deare vnto me, let the Crosse of my Lord and Sauiour Christ, be e∣uer before the eyes of my mind, euer assuring my selfe, that his death is my life: make mee therefore

holy, as he is holy. And as hee layd downe his most sacred bodie in the Earth for a time, and rose againe to glorie, and as hee re∣signed his afflicted (yet innocent) Soule, into thy hands, euen for me to fol∣low him: so grant that whensoeuer or howsoeuer my soule shall leaue this mortall bodie, it may fol∣low my Loue Iesus, to the place to which hee is gone before.

While I liue here, leaue me not (Father) vnto my selfe: for I am weake, and mine enemies are strong, but thou art Truth, the strongest, kéepe mée vnder thy feathers, and bind mée vp in the bundle

of thine Elect, neuer to be deuided or set apart from them that shall bee saued: make my life perfect to e∣uery good worke, and worke in mee that which is pleasant in thy sight, through Jesus Christ, A∣men.

Lord, increase and euer confirme my faith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luke 12. 39 Iam. 4. 13.
• * 1.2

  2. Cor. 5. 6.
• * 1.3

  Col. 2. 10.
• * 1.4

  Col. 2. 15.
• * 1.5

  The bene∣fit of Christs death.
• * 1.6

  The best men often stagger at the consi∣deration of death.
• * 1.7

  Ioh. 18. 17.
• * 1.8

  Mat. 26. 39
• * 1.9

  Ecclus. 41. 1