Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1606] Gods comfortable appearance to his People in the hour of Death.

MAster Dering,* 1.1 a little before his death, being raised up in his bed, and seeing the Sunshine, was desired to speak his mind, said; There is but one S••n that giveth light to the whole World, but o••e Righteousnes••e, one Communion of Saints; As concerning Dea••h, I see such joy of spirit▪ that if I should have par∣don of life on the one side, and sentence of Death on the other, I had rather choose a thousand times to dye then to live:* 1.2 And another, one Mr. Iohn Holland lying at the point of Death, said; What brightnesse do I see? and being told it was the Su••shine; No, saith he, My Saviour shines, Now farewell World, welcom•• Heaven, the Day-star from o•• high hath visited me▪ Preach at my Funeral, God dealeth com∣fortably and familiarly with Man, I feel his Mercy, I see his Majesty, whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God he knoweth, but I see things that are unuttera∣ble:

Thus it is, that the People of God have the comfortable appearance of him self at the time of their dissolution, the door of Heaven standing then as it were a charr, they are ravished with the very glimpse of those things that are at Gods right hand;* 1.3 Whether they look up to God w••om they have offended, or downward upon Hell which they have deserved, backward upon Sins commit∣ted, forwards upon Iudgments to be feared, the Spirit helpeth their Infirmities, Christ intercedeth for them, and God standeth by with the arms of his Mercy ready open to receive them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Clark in vita.
• * 1.2

  S. Price Serm. in Sh••••pshir••, on Rev. 7 17.
• * 1.3

  P••eti••sa san•• sanctorum mors est, tan∣quam vitae ••anua, ••t per∣fectae securita∣tis ingressus. Bern. in Cant.