Yet the Apostle saith in the first of Corinth. 15.21. we shall not all sleepe, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twickling of an eye, at the last trump.
True in deede it is, that some shall be reserued till that time, & suddainly changed, yet that no exception, because suddaine death shal be to some persons, yt therefore none shal pray against it. For it needs must be, that heresies shall come, yet that no hinderance Page 118why we should not doe all diligence by prayer, studie, rea∣ding the word of God, or any other good holy meanes to stop them. And if the Lord shall dispase of any of vs, (other wise, then in the point we intreate of) calling vs on the suddaine, as he hath done many good men, yet to pray against it, is no disobeying the Lords will, which is his owne secret, and vnknowne to vs. For if a man may wish contrarie to that which he knoweth will fall out, so man he be otherwhiles extraordinarily affected, and yet in a holy manner, as did Saint Paul desiring himselfe to be cut off,* so his kinsmen in the flesh all Israel might be saued, yea if a man in the earnestnesse of his loue, may wish contrary to that, which he seeth already come to passe, as appeareth in S. Paul, when he would he were with the Galathia•s, whereas he then was absent, and in that very instant could not at once be pre∣sent; we see not,* but a man praying against suddaine death, may be farre from iust reproofe, specially, when a man knoweth not ought to the contrary, touching himselfe, and if he did know, or notwithstanding this particular clause should die suddainely, yet his, prayer made in what manner the Church giueth direction, is not so much distributiuely in his owne person, as collectiuely in the name of the whole congregation. For the soote of the auswere is not deliuer me good Lord, but deliuer vs. The effect of which petition howsoeuer some one person may misse of in the particular of suddaine death, yet the greater part doth not. And although he that dieth suddainely, may haue his prayer trustrated in that one point, yet some other way it taketh place, namely that he be neuer vnprepared for death. So as in a word to cut off all controuersies, & meete withall exceptions, this may giue full contentment to a peaceable, honest hart, that when we pray against suddaine death we pray against vnprepared death. And howsoeuer it may preuent a kindly opportunitie for mini∣string of comfortable instructions to our selues, and others, which we might yeelde vpon respite giuen by sicknesse, yet the substance of that clause is, that suddaine death may in no case preuent vs of the glorious inheritance prepared of God for the Saints.
