A defense against the dread of death, or, Zach. Crofton's meditations and soliloquies concerning the stroak of death sounded in his ears in the time of his close imprisonment in the Tower of London, anno 1661 and 1662 : digested for his own private staisfaction and support in the vale of the shadow of death, and now made publique for the advantage of such as abide under Gods present visitation in London by the pestilence.

SECT. VII.

IN death I shall feel pain; It is like I may; yet, God can make it easie: I feel more pain in the precursors, then I can feel in the stroak of death: the pain and ex∣tremity of a killing disease, is of∣ten, and ordinarily more, then the pain of death; it is usually such as maketh life a burden, and death defireable; how many in the bur∣nings of a Feavor, a fit of the Stone, or Collique, have wished for death to ease them of their pain? my fear of pain in death is much greater, then what I shall feel in the stroak thereof; the pomp and passage unto death, doth, and will more perplex my soul, then the pain thereof can possibly pinch my sence: but suppose the worst; yet,

The greatest pains of death are

tolerable, and pass away in a mo∣ment: with how much ease did the Lord Jesus give up the Ghost, in that dying act, the dreadful ex∣pectation of which, made him sweat blood and water? how many of the Martyrs have with most calm and composed spirits, lien under the most cruel and exquisite tor∣ments; and as Lambs before the Shearer, breathed out their last breath in the greatest pains of death, that envy could devise, or enraged malice could inflict? Haukes (that holy Martyr, in our Marian Persecution) in the midst of the flames, did not forget to lift up his hands towards Heaven, before he gave up the Ghost; as a token to his Friends, that the raging pain of that siery death was tolerable. All Gods Saints have lien on this rack; and sitten down on this little ease; and shall I give back because of a little tolerable pain? Be the pains of death never

so peircing sharp, and intolerable; yet they are short, soon pass away; and are the Period of all pain; in respect of this, nature hath con∣ceived, and Scripture hath ex∣presly concluded, better is the day of a mans death, then the day of his birth: all my life hath been nothing else but sorrow and pain; my days have hitherto passed in anguish, affliction, and anxiety; yea, my resting time, place, and state, hath scared me with Dreams, and terrified me with Visions in the night, so that stran∣gling death, any kind of death, hath been more desireable then life; Shall I now fear that one stroak, which though it cut me to the heart, will at once cut off all my pain and greif? doth not na∣ture teach men to chuse the pain of cutting off an Arm or Leg, rather then to lye conti∣nually under a festring, burning, and incurable wound? Plotinus

the Philosopher, accounted mens mortallity, Gods special mercy, as the expiration of their mise∣ry: Cato Major, that wise Ro∣man, reflecting the pains he had endured, professed if he might be rendred young again, and renew his age, he would not desire it; he would refuse it: Did the pain of life, take away the pain of death to Heathens? and shall it not much more do so unto Christi∣ans, who have other, and better hopes of future happiness then they ever knew or expected?

My soul! stir up thy self, make out a little faith and patience to endure this one pinch, and stroak of pain, which shall presently cease and be the period of all thy mise∣ry; the cure of all thy maladies; and will heal thee of all thy fears, griefs, cares, diseases, and di∣stempers: the afflictions of my bo∣dy, and anguish of my mind: though I walk through the vale of

the shadow of death I will fear none ill; for Lord thou art with me: be with me O my God, that I may not over-passionately fear that little short pain I must feel; make thou a lively faith in me, to bear up under, prevail against, and tri∣umph over a lively sence; that so my last little pain being past, I may possess eternal health and ease; and therein rejoyce, for that al∣though the stroak of death did for present cut, it did for ever cure my soul.

Notes

• Death is painful, but puts an end to pain.
• Eccles. 7.2.
• Job ••.13, 14.