The sicke-mans catechisme, or path-way to felicitie Wherin is contained great variety of sound directions and most sweete co[n]solations collected and contriued into questions and answers, out of the best diuines of our time, by Thomas Draxe minister of Gods Word. Wherevnto is annexed two most comfortable and powrefull prayers.

The 4 Section.

Obie. But I shall leaue my wife a poore widdow and succorlesse, how then can I die in faith, and obedience?

Ans. God will prouide for the wid∣dowes that feare him.

Secondly Christ will neuer forsake them.

Thirdly they shall shortly méete to∣gether in heauen.

Lastly as a man for his wiues sake willingly left and departed from his parents, so they must without griefe, or discontentment goe vnto God, that is more to be beloued then all creatures whatsoeuer.

Quest. But my poore children shal be left to the wide world, destitute and vn∣prouided for.

A. First God, according to his couenant is the God as well of the children, as he was of the parents and therefore he will alike prouide for them.

Secondly, if they séeke the kingdome of God first and make the Lord their sheapheard they shall want no good things and they shalbe fed in the time of famine. Psa. 34.

Qu. What vse is to be made of this last point.

Ans. First let the parents commend their children vnto the prouidence and protection of Almighty God. Second∣ly, the children, if onely they feare and serue GOD, must not doubt hereof.

Obi. Oh, but I must forgoe all the honors, pleasures and profites of this life: how then can I with comfort performe the thrée aboue named du∣ties?

Ans. First these things are but vaine deceitfull, temporary and they cannot make vs blessed.

Secondly we are strangers and pil∣grimes in this world, and therefore we must not set our hearts and affecti∣ons vpon these things, but mind and meditate vpon heauenly and eternall thinge.

Thirdly Christ his kingdome is not

of this world, but is heauenly, and the goods▪ wherewith he enricheth his are spirituall, Ergo we must not looke to haue our rest and heauen here.

Fourthly they that dote and sur∣fet vpon these earthly and out-ward things, are void of faith, hope and repentance, and so perish, and there∣fore it is better willingly to forgoe these things then to bee vndone by them.

Lastly, we must looke for true and euerlasting honour the pretious and proper riches: sincere and neuer discon∣tenting pleasure in the paradice of hea∣uen onely, and bid auant to these earth∣ly matters, when they hinder vs in the course of Godlinesse, and most dest∣rously forsake them, when the Lord by death calleth vs to the kingdome of glo∣ry and the felicity thereof.

Que. Ought a man to feare death?

Ans. He ought partly to feare it, and partly not to feare it.

Questi. Why must a man feare death?

An. First because it is the destruc∣tion of nature, and a paineful correction.

Ques. What vse is to be made hereof.

Ans. We must feare sinne that is the cause thereof, and acknowledge Christ an enemy to it and offended with sinne.

Que. What is the second reason why we must feare death.

An. Because by the death of the God∣ly, the Church or common wealth suf∣fereth losse and we are beréeued of the saffe and stay of our comfort. 2. Reg. 2.

Qu. What if a man in death sée no way how to escape Satans temptation?

Ans, He must close his eyes, commit his cause to God, and put on the spiritu∣all armour of faith, hope and the word of God.

Que. What if a Godly man doubt, and his flesh tremble to enter into an∣other life?

Ans. We must not yeeld to these tem∣tations but resist them, and our spirit is to be commended into Gods hand and then Christ with all his Angells will come and bee our guide to eternall life.

Secondly we must stoutly vndergo it and meditate vpon Christs sufferings, and the issue and end wilbe happy deli∣uerance.

Que. What if Satan contrarywise laboureth to expell all feare, to make a man careles, and laboureth to perswade him as he did maister Knoxe, to rest in an opinion of his owne merits, and so would puffe him vp with pride & arro∣gancy?

Ans. He must consider and confesse that his owne righteousnes is foule and deformed, he must resist and withstand that temptation, and attribute all the glory of his saluation to God alone.

Que. In what and for what causes must we not feare death ?

Ans. For fiue causes, first because we haue hence a cause and an occasion to shew our subiection & obedience to God. Secondly, because we are fréed from sin which is a principal part of our glo∣rification. Thirdly, because the very bo∣dy lying in the graue is refreshed a∣gainst labours, and is deliuered from death and misery, and shall rise againe in glory. Fourthly, it conueieth & trans∣lateth the soule vnto eternall life, wher God is perfectly serued, & it hath bles∣sed fellowship with Christ and all the Angells and Saints of heauen.

Lastly, because by death GOD pur∣geth and disburdneth his Church of euil men.

Qu. Séeing that death is the cause of so great good to the godly, may a man lawfully desire it?

An. Yes, so that it be not of impatien∣cy or desperation. Secondly, Iob & many others haue desired death again & again, and are not therfore reproued.

Qu. May a man simply desire death?

An. No truly, but a man must walke in his calling and standing, so long as it shall please God: For the godly had ra∣ther liue to sette forth Gods glory, thē for their owne temporall commodity.

Qu. In what respects is death to bée desired?

An. So farre forth as it is a meane to frée and deliuer vs from the bur∣den and contagion of sinne, and from the miseryes and troubles of this life.

Secondly, as it is a meane and instrument to the manifest vision of God, and to the immediate fellowshippe of God and Christ.

Lastly, our desire must bee moderate,

and agréeable to Gods will and good pleasure.

Quest. May a man contrariwise desi∣re long life?

An. Yes, so the end and scope of his life be to doe acceptable seruice to God, and to further and maintaine Gods re∣ligion and glory, and labour to help and forward other mens faith, &c. Phil, 1. 24. 25.

Quest. If the death of the godly bée so blessed, what shall wee thinke of the death of the wicked?

An. It is altogether accursed and fearefull.

Que. Why so?

Ans. First because it is the dissoluti∣on of nature, and the wages of sinne.

Secondly, for that by reason of Gods iustice pursuing the wicked in euery place, and because they haue no peace of conscience, death is to them the begin∣ning of euerlasting damnation. For they féele no mitttigation of theyr gréefe in death, nor haue so much as the least hope and expectation of ease and deliuerance.

Qu. What is the conclusion and sum of all that hath bin said

An. Wee must striue and continually indeauour to liue and dye well and god∣ly, that wée may bee blessed both in life and death: and that we when this earth∣ly life and pilgrimage is ended, may liue and triumph for euer with our Lord Iesus in heaue•…•…: which the Lord in mercy graunt and effect

Notes

• Gen. 12. 1•…•…
• 1. 23. 1.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 18.
• 1. Cor. 4. 7.
• •…•…hil 1. 23. •…•…om. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cor. 5.
• •…•…oc. 14. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Isay 38. 18.