A POSTSCRIPT OF A LET∣TER WHICH DOCTOR WHITE WRlT to a friend of his, who hauing found comfort thereby, is desirous it should be printed for the comfort and good of others also.
LET him that will liue reposedly, and die chearfully, heare, pray, meditate, do. First heare Gods word in the Scriptures, and in the pulpit, in the Scriptures daily, and in the pulpit make choise of a fit tea∣cher, and sticke to him; for the practise of Gods word giues knowledge, workes holinesse, breakes downe naturall corruption, and fils with strength and com∣fort against all assaults.
Secondly, prayer hath three rules: dayly, without intermis∣sion: free, that the mind be vnladen. Go to prayer as you go into the water to swim, go not hote in, but take a time, and first coole your selfe, feeling that the words touch your soule. The day I neglect either Gods word or prayer is vn∣happie. That God being so neare, and within me, I should neither speake to him, nor he to me, that were too much betweene a man and his wife.
Thirdly, meditation is the mod soueraigne cure of the soule that is. My course is this: I misse no day but I retire my selfe (if I be at home) to my studie, or the field, and there first I pray to God to giue me a recollected mind; se∣condly, I enter into consideration of my sinfull state, and examine my selfe, I call for helpe to God; thirdly, I take notice of my passion, disposition and inclination, and so I come to the knowledge of my selfe. Fourthly, I arme my selfe by vowes, resolutions, and prayer, to conquer my, selfe as a Citie. Fiftly, I call to mind if anything hath pas∣sed betweene my neighbour (any other) and me: if I re∣member any vnkindnesse offered, or receiued, I wash it out, I cleare the score, I suffer no mans infirmitie to pos∣sesse me with conceit. Sixtly, I enquire after the day of my death in this sort; first I set it before my eyes; next I exa∣mine whether I be fit, prepared, readie, willing to die: thirdly my cowardly soule I encourage, and teach it to looke death in the face: Lastly I end this point with flying to my Sauiour for helpe, till I become more then a conqueror. I wil with great and tender passion, in this point powre out my selfe and weakenesse to him. Seuenthly I thinke also (in the next place) of my worldly state; and if it prosper, I giue thankes, and lay humility and compassion in my mind: if it be poore, I pray for supply, and bethinke me of some honest and lawfull meanes: (here I remember wife, chil∣dren, seruants, and purpose to bring them towards God.)
Fourthly, doing is the life of all; for it is nothing to be religious in ceremonies. Here are foure principall points. First, beware of doing against your conscience. Secondly, omit no occasion, place, or time, or person, if you can do good. Thirdly, follow the good of your owne cal∣ling: too many meddle with the good that belongeth to o∣thers to do, as Vzzah. Fourthly, the best good in the world, is compassion, and almes, and comforting in distresse, as sicknesse, &c.
Life is short, the dayes are euill, our company is small, the account is certaine, the comfort vnutterable.
