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.

MEDIT. VII.

WAtchfulnesse then, being a principall meane to preuent the sudden surprise that death might make vpon mee, there followeth ne∣cessarily Patience, an in∣separable companion of Watchfulnesse; which im∣plies care, attendance, and attention.

The care here meant, is not for any worldly thing; for these I cast my care vp∣on God; for he careth for me.

But such a care as Paul had of all the Churches, 2. Cor. 11. 28. seeking the kingdome of God and the righteousnes thereof, Matt. 6. 33. then will not God faile mee nor forsake me.

The care therfore that I couet to haue, is, how to preuent sinne, and flye Se∣curitie, which are contra∣ry to a godly care; and con∣sequently, contrary to true watchfulnesse, and therefore farre from true patience, which worketh not vpon securitie and carnall peace, but vpon wayting for the promise of Redemption. This is the patience which the Children of God haue, whose patient abiding shall be gladnesse.

I will not therefore ren∣der euill for euill, nor rebuke for rebuke, but contrariwise, I will blesse, knowing that I am thereunto called, that I should be the heire of blessing 1. Pet. 3. 9. And if I be ray∣led on for the name of Christ, shall I discouer my weake∣nesse through impatience? no, there is a blessing pro∣mised: for the Spirit of glo∣rie and of God, resteth on the patient man, which on their parts that rayle on him, is e∣uill spoken of, but on his part is glorified. The Lord is a God of iudgement, and they are blessed that waite on him with patience.

Attendance, another branch of Watchfulnesse, may bee said an expectati∣on

with patience, for a thing feared or desired: how feare and desire may bee of one and the same thing, in one and the same subiect, being of contrarie effects, may bee thus an∣swered; Feare in this place is not seruile, but filiall; and therefore may well stand with the desire.

A sonne hauing a charge imposed by his louing fa∣ther, though hee indeuour to performe the thing cō∣manded neuer so carefully, feareth yet that hee may come short of some part of his dutie; and therefore feareth how his father wil accept of what hee hath done; and yet being per∣swaded through a cleane

and cleare conscience, that hee hath done his best en∣deuour, hopeth his father will take it well; and there∣fore desireth that his fa∣ther would returne to ob∣serue the performance of that he had in charge. Al∣though hee cannot make his account with such ab∣solute perfection as hee should, yet, no doubt, his father cānot but hold him excusable, in shewing his good will to doe it well; so stands his feare with de∣sire.

So I, hauing charge of mine heauenly Father, to doe his Commandements, I confesse, I cannot per∣forme them as I ought, though I haue a desire,

and a feare, lest when I haue done all what I can, I may yet bee found vnprofi∣table, not withstanding my greatest care, and most di∣ligent attendance of the outward part: to which attendance is required At∣tention, namely, the minde and will, which I conceiue to be two-fold.

The first is, to the Will and Word of God, to pra∣ctise it.

The second, to mine owne imperfections, to re∣forme them, and to keepe mine affections in due cō∣formitie with the Cōman∣dements of God.

Attention to the Will and Word of God, is that, where∣by I am directed to per∣forme

that, which is ho∣nest, iust, and right, and that in faith, wayting with patience the reward set be∣fore me, not as a reward for my worke done, but as a free gift of God in Christ, in whom, and by whom, my worke is accepted as perfect, though imperfect.

Attention to mine owne imperfections, is also double of the soule and of the bo∣die. As touching the first, it is to hearken vnto (as it were) and obserue the mo∣tions of my corrupt heart, not to yeeld vnto, and to fulfill them; but to suppresse and preuēt the fruits that grow from them, euen in the buds, though they seeme and shew themselues ne∣uer

so pleasant, sweet, and delectable: for, they breed Securitie & a carelesse life, insensible of true patience, and so become subiect to a sudden surprize. And the rather, for want of the se∣cond attention; namely, to the vncertayne estare of my feeble bodie, which is subiect (besides infinite ca∣sualties, being in health) to a thousand infirmities and mortal diseases, which may suddenly dissolue this mortall life, though they bee not at the instant fea∣red nor felt.

This Attendance & At∣tention, are the fruits and effects of Watchfulnesse, through Patience; for, without patience who can

waite for any future be∣nefite?

The Husband-man is brought in by the Holy Ghost an example of way∣ting with patience; for he committeth and commen∣deth the seed to the earth, with great diligence, hee waites for the crop with patience, and attends the former and latter raine, and by due attention hearkens, how the course of things goe, that he may make the best of his commodities.

Doth nature afford men this care, patience, atten∣dance, and attention, in vvorldly and perishing things? And shall I come short of these in spirituall and heauenly things? and

not rather in watchfulnes, patience, and godly obe∣dience looke for the end of this mortalitie, in hope to reape and receiue cele∣stiall and eternall glorie? God forbid.

But I acknowledge, that all my whatsoeuer watch∣fulnesse in patience, or suffe∣ring, deserues not the least graine of glorie: for, I am often, not only beset with temptations to sinne, but also pressed with the con∣tinuall cares and troubles of this life; and I through weaknesse doe yeeld vnto the one, and faint vnder the burden of the other▪ and in stead of true watch∣fulnesse with patience, I fall either into the slumber

of Socuratia, o•• ••nto a kind of seruile feare, or despaire; and most seldome watch I with the open eyes of true attention and patience: A kinde of patience I seeme to haue, but mixed often-times with a kinde of grudging discontent at my corporall and domesticke crosses, and worldly, trou∣bles, where with I often finde my selfe much op∣pressed; which yet God (I know) for no other cause layeth vpon mee, but to make me sensible of mine owne imperfections, and to correct mee for, and to reforme sinne in ••e, while I liue in thè world, that I b•• not, condemned with the world; though it bee vnto

me for the time very vn∣pleasant, vntill I enter into consideration, that through many tribulations I must en∣ter into the Kingdom of hea∣uen: and, that the man is blessed whome God corre∣cteth: and God giueth that blessed man patience to bear his corrections, with-out grudging, and giueth alwayes a comfortable is∣sue to euery temptation.

There is a kinde of pa∣tience, wherein a man in∣dureth that which hee would and cannot auoid; this hath the name, but not the nature of that true pa∣tience, which I wish to haue.

The patience which I indeuour to attaine vnto,

is a constant bearing of my crosses, and a settled expectation through faith, for the end of that which cannot bee auoyded, nor better obtayned, but by death.

Therefore, casting aside all hope of temporall free∣dom, & the feare of death; I only relie vpon, and wait the performance of his promise, who hath reser∣ued all true freedome of those that are his, of his owne free mercy in the heauens onely, as from hunger, thirst, nakednesse, enemies, labours, sicknes, sinnes, and all other mise∣ries whatsoeuer, which in this life short and euill, I am inforced (yet with

patience) to endure.

This freedome, I know, I cannot attayne vnto, but by changing this life by death, and therefore with patience I daily expect it, reuerencing the intire loue of mine heauenly Father, in chastising me here, and doe acknowledge the ri∣ches of his bountifulnesse, patience, and long suffering, that he hath spared mee so long to liue, where hee might iustly haue cōfoun∣ded me long agone for my sinnes: but contrarily hath fauourably kept me vnder his Fatherly discipline, thereby to leade me in the way I ought to walke in, as in watchfulnesse, pati∣ence, attendance, and at∣tention,

according to god∣linesse, through IESVS CHRIST, in whose name I will addresse my prayers vnto my heauenly Father, for the Spirit of patience, to wait for a better life by death.

A Prayer for patient way∣ting for a future better life by death, fit to be said in sicknesse. The Prayer.

O Lord my God, I waite on thée: My soule keepeth silence vnto thee, for, of thee commeth my saluation; therefore do I submit my self vnto thy will, giuing thée thankes for thy patience towards

me in Jesus Christ; nor thou hast shewed thy selfe towardes mee slowe to wrath, and full of good∣nesse and mercy.

Increase euer, more and more thy graces towards mee, that in this my Pil∣grimage towardes my graue, I may possesse my soule in patience, waiting thy good time for my deli∣uerie: for, here where I now dwel, I neither hear, nor sée, taste nor touch any truly comfortable thing, only thy Word is my spi∣rituall consolation, and the hope of future glorie, my ioy.

And were I not fed with the hope of a better life by death, I were of all men

most miserable: for nature could not with patience beare the burden of this miserable life, being so ful of all infirmities both of body and mind, so fraught with sins of all sorts, and accompanied with so ma∣ny and sundry crosses, and finally, subiect to thy se∣uere Judgement.

But thy fauour and thy loue, and thy patience to∣wards me, worheth in me patience, knowing that the time is comming, and at hand, wherein I shal be fréed from this mortal and miserable, to enioy a life immortall and glorious.

O confirme therefore & increase the patience, at∣tendance, and attention,

which thou hast begun in me; that after I haue here done thy will, I may re∣ceiue the promise, wherein thou hast assured me, that the patient abiding of the righteous, shall be glad∣nesse.

Thou art a God of mer∣cy, and blessed are they that waite for thee. Grant therefore, Lord, that I may be found blamelesse in the day of my distati∣on: and that I may here walke worthy of thee through Christ, beeing strengthned with al might thrugh thy glorious pow∣er, to all patience and long suffering, with ioyfulnes. Amen.

Lord, increase my faith.

Notes

• Patience.
• Matt. 6. 25. 1. Pet. 5. 7. Psal. 55. 22.
• 2. Cor. 11. 28
• Heb. 13. 7. Matt. 6. 33
• Pro. 10. 28.
• 1. Pet. 3. 9.
• 1. Pet. 4. 14.
• Esa. 30. 18.
• Atten∣dance.
• How feare and desire stand to∣gether.
• Example.
• The most diligent may bee found vn∣profitable
• Attention two-fold.
• 1.
• 2.
• Attention to selfe imperfec∣tions.
• The Hus∣band mans attēdance and atten∣tion.
• Watchful∣nesse in patience merits no∣thing, be∣cause it is all vnper∣fect.
• Correcti∣on neces∣sarie.
• Counter∣feit pati∣ence.
• True pa∣tience.
• The place of free∣dome is heauen.
• Gods for∣bearance to punish.