A riche storehouse, or treasurie, for the sicke, full of Christian counsels holesome doctrines, comfortable persuasions, and godly meditations, meete for all Christians, both in sicknesse and in health. Wherevnto is annexed a comfort for poore prisoners, and also an exhortation to repentance. Written in Dutch, by Gaspar Huberine, and Englished by Thomas Godfrie, esquire, late ... fruits and ... at the request of his dangter Marie, wife ... Iohn French, gentleman of the Inner Temple

A short exhortation to them that be present, and shall attend vppon the dead body.

WElbeloued in our Lord, you haue nowe seene for a time the course of this departed bodie, and howe like a good Christian and warriour, it is de∣parted out of this life. Yea rather, howe fatherly and gratiously our Lord God hath visited it, & how at the last he hath deliuered it from al aduersitie and trou∣ble, wherevnto the old Serpent of all mans progenie had brought vs. There∣fore, séeing this dead person is so Chri∣stianly departed out of this life full of miserie, let vs, to the euerlasting praise & thankes of God, say ioyfully, We praise thee ô God, &c. And to conclude, in∣wardly with all our heartes call vppon him, & pray vnto him, that he wil vouch∣safe, wh••n we shal be in extremitie and perill of death, gratiously, defende vs, and blesse vs, and giue vnto vs a blessed houre, thorough Christ his onely begot∣ten sonne. Therefore wéepe not as the

heathen and infidels, that beléeue not the resurrection, and haue no hope ther∣vppon. For, If we beleeue (as witnesseth S. Paule, 1. Thess. 4.) that Iesus died and is raised vp againe: likewise also shall God with him lead all those that bee departed through Iesus.

Heare may we sée what it is to die well, namely the death of Christ that of necessitie died for vs wretched sinners, whereby through his death he hath pur∣chased, that we shal neuer die, but sleepe only. Out of which sléepe Christ a migh∣tie Lorde and king shall at the last day raise vs vp, if we beléeue vppon him, and lead vs with himselfe into euerla∣sting blisse and peace. Therefore, suffer this sléeping bodie lie and rest, and his soule in y^e meane season refresh it selfe, and reioyce vntill that day, when body and soule shall come againe together, and enioy euerlasting felicitie. Wher∣vnto our Lord Iesus nowe helpe vs all together. Amen.

Secondarily, it is not possible that man may so much bridle nature, that

we should not be heauie and complaine after the death of our friendes. And also Syrach saith, the 38. chapiter. My sonne, powre foorth ••eares ouer the dead, and be∣ginne to mourne as if thou haddest suffered great harme thy selfe, and then couer his bo∣dy according as he hath appointed, and neg∣lect not his buriall. Make a greeuous la∣mentation, and be earnest in mourning, and vse lamentation as he is worthie, and that a day or two, least thou be euil spoken on, and then comfort thy selfe for thine heauinesse. For of heauines commeth death, & the hea∣uines of the heart breaketh the strength. Of the afflictions of the heart commeth sorrow: and the life of him that is afflicted is accor∣ding to his heart. Take no heauines in heart, driue it away, and remember the last end. Forget it not, for there is no turning againe, thou shalt do him no good, but hurt thy selfe. Remember his iudgement, thine also shalbe likewise. Vnto me yesterday, and vnto thee to day. Seeing the dead is at rest, let his remem∣brance rest, and comfort thy selfe againe for him, seeing his spirite is departed from him.

Thus we sée, that also the good Pa∣triarches

and holy people haue after this maner mourned, as Abraham, Io∣seph, Dauid, &c. But at the length they haue layd mourning aside, and comfor∣ted themselues with the ioyefull resur∣rection: Yea, Christ himselfe mourned for dead Lazarus. Iohn. 11.

Thirdly and last of all, you shal wor∣shipfully bring this dead body to the earth, and shewe vppon it such manner of worke of loue, as Syrach willeth vs in the vij. Chapter, saying, Shewe thy good will vpon the dead, specially worshipful∣ly accompanie him, conuey him, and help him to his graue, for the resurrection sake. As Syrache also saith in the 38. Chapter, When any dyeth, burie him decently, and bring his body worshipfully to the graue. As did good Tobie, Dauid, and many moe, to giue vs example how we ought to be∣haue our selues towardes the dead.

Our Lord God graunt vs his grace, that euery of vs, each one for other, may be diligent in this behalfe, whereby we all, to the prayse of God, and to the pro∣fit of our neighbours, without let or of∣fence

may begin, goe forward, and hap¦pily end through Christe our Lorde, in the holy Ghost. Amen.

Thus you sée, welbeloued in Christe our Lord, vpon this dead body, the ear∣nest and high iudgement of GOD, and what an extreme horror our Lorde God hath vpon sinne. For who hath thus iud∣ged this dead body, taken from him his comely countenaunce, giuen vnto him such an ougly looke & face? Onely death. But wherfore? Only bicause, Death is the wages for sinne. But if this dead man since his birth had not sinned, then had sinne neuer had suche power ouer him. But from whence hath death this po∣wer? Only from Gods wrath and iudg∣ment. Therefore tremble, looke vp to GOD, auoyde sinne, for this dead body maye be a warning vnto you, that ye kéepe your selues from sinne. Christ Ie∣sus kéepe and defend vs altogether. A∣men.

Notes

• 1. Thes. 4.
• ••cle. 38.
• Iohn. 11.
• Eccle, 7.
• Eccle. 38.