Jw&>li*i.
 
• "ST                .
# 
                  THE
AFFLICTED MAN's  C O MP ANI O N :


    DIRECTORY
       PERSONS , a n d * FAMILIES,

             AFFLICTED WITH

SICKNESS  OR  ANY OTHER  DISTRESS-
    DIRECTIONS to the  SICK,

         Both under and after Affliclion.

                 ALSO,

Directions to the Friends of the Sick, and others who
    vijlt them. And like-wife to ALL, hoiv to pre-
      pare both for SICKNESS and DEATH;
        and hovj tobeExercifed at the time
                OF DYING.

      TO  WHICH  IS ADDED,

A  Collection of Comfortable  Texts of Scripture, very
 fuitablefor dying Believers.—The Choice Sayings
  of Eminent Dying Saints.—The Authors La ft Ad-
  vice to his Wife and Children: AnThis L)ying Words,
  written by hlmfelf and found among his Papers after
  his DEATH.


  By  the Reverend Mr.  JOHN WILLISON,
     Late Mifiifter of the Gofpel in Dundee.
               # * :jf: v -*■ ■*- ■*; *- -*• %%%-
         Very necejfary foil alt'Fqr'iilies, • -  >
     WILMINGTON,   ■
PRJNTED by JOSEPH JOHNSON.
              1796. 
•   *       »   c      «•« 
.    **}§§§§§§$§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§}§**'

               to  the   READER

          THE fubjectof this Book, however melancholy
          it may appear to fome, yet it is neceffary. unto
     all; feeing the word of God,  and our own experi-
     ence do allure us, that " man who is born of a wo-
     man, is of few days, and full of trouble;" and that
     he is born to trouble,  as the fparks  fly upward."
     Nay, God's deareft children are not exempted from
     this common fate.   We fee what is the character
     God giveth his church, Ifa. liv. n. "O thou  aiflict-
     ed,and tolled with tempeft,  and not comforted!"
       If in this world then we mult look for tribulation,
     it is highly neceffary for every man to feck direction
     how to provide for it, and behave under it fo as he
     may glorify God, edify others and attain to eternal
     happinefs at laft.  The' tribulations we have to look
     for here are  manifold; but  among thofe that  are
     outward, I know none about which men ought to
     be more thoughtful and concerned, than bodily fick-
     nefsj that ufual harbinger of death, an^ which ulhers
     the way to judgment.
       This  is a lubject not much handled  in public fer-
     mons, which are delivered only to them  that are in
     health,  the fick being incapable  to attend  them.
     "Wherefore it feems the more neceffary handle it
     in writing thatfo the' aniicted may have a book in
     their houfes, and at their bed fides, as a monitor to
     preach to them in private, when they are reflrained
     fr^m hearing fermons in public.
        And though fometimes Hiinifter's  fermons may
     be very fuitable to the cafe of  the fick and  af-
     flicted; yet, alas! the  molt part are carelefs and
     forgetful hearers of thefe things  while they are in
     health and profperity, as reckoning the evil day ar
     fome dilhmce  from  them.   A book then,  fuch as
     the following dire&ory, being with them in time of 
t-o the  READER.
hcknefs and aiTiicticm, may by the divine blelTing, be
ufeful  to I ring to their remembrance thefe counfels
and admonitions which  they  very much neglected
in rhe time of their health.
  Again, minilters  of the gofpel though never fo'
much inclined to attend the-lick,  yet by reafon of
n'iabilitv and multiplicity of  other work,cannotbe
a'.ways with them to direct,  refolve, and comfort
them.  But fuch a book as this they may have iliU
iit hand to confult with.
  And in regard the afflicted,  for the moft part, are
out of cafe to read for themfelves,  it would be a moft
charitable work for friends or neighbours that attend
them,  to lay hold on proper feafons for reading fuch
a book as this in their* hearing, and efpecially fuch
chapters or directions as they judge molt fuitable for
them.  Thus you might be  helped in fome meafure
to exoner your confeiences, and do your lalt offices of
kindnefs  to your fick and dying friends,  when you
can ferve them no no longer in this world.
  I might have.brought in  and handled fome con-
troveriies (had I been  fond  of them) in the enfuing
treaties,  about the adminiftration  of the Lord's flip-
per to the  fidK, and about extreme unction, which
fome alfo begin to plead for,  and thence have tak-
en occafion to touch at fome other new ufages,  fuch
as the middle ftate, prayers for the dead, and other
popilh errors, that  fome (called Proteftants) would
have revived and introduced among us.  But I have
induitrioufly ihunned what is controverfial, and kept
clofe to  what is  practical, and owned by  all true
Chriltians.
   For preventing the growth of thefe, and other er-
rors, (from which this nation hath been much longer
free than others),  I wifh all ranks among us would
clofely obferve the facred rule  of faith,  God's word,
and remember the folemn and national engagemets
 we of this land are under, to maintain the pure truths
 of God therein contained, in oppofition to all forts of
 error, w nether Popilh, Pelagian, Arian, Antinomian, 
to the  READER.           5
&c.   And may we ever abhor the doctrine that
would teach us to break thefe bands afunder.
  Have we not ground, this day, to fufpect that Sa-
tan is cai rying on a deep and fubtle plot for ihaking
our covenated reformation, and weakening a Prot-
eftant intereft? when, upon one hand, fome  are
beginning openly to advance and propagate the old
abjured Popilh doctrines, which our reformers did
throw out, and with axes and hammers would go at
once  to cut down all  our carved work; and at the
fame time, on the other hand, fome would be at the
breaking down the excellent fences of our reforma-
tion,  viz.  our  covenants, confeffions,  the magi-
ftrates power,&c.   For this end,papers are fpread,
and politions advanced, impugning the warrantable-
nefs of our national covenants and confeffions, and
the obligation thereof; reflecting alfo upon our wor-
thy reformers  and anceftors, as unenlightened,who
framed and took them, or died adhering thereunto;
and alfo denying the magi Urate's power circafacra^
(for the fupport of truth, and fuppreffing ofherefies),
acknowledged by the word of God, and our Confel-
fion of faith; and all this forfooth ;to make way for a
toleration of all errors and fects among us: though
they cannot but know, that tolerating of falfe relig-
ions is exprcfsly ranked among the fins forbidden in
the fecond  commandment, according to the expofi-
tion of our larger Catechifm; and is alfo condemned
by the xxiiid chapter of our confefilon: in both which
we may fee clear fcripture texts, cited by the af-
fembly,for refuting and condemning any fuch toler-
ation.  Ah ! what joy may all this  caufe at Rome \
therefore tell it not inGatn,&c.
  As  the Lord did fignally countenance our reform-
ers practice, in entering into foiemn and national co v-
enantswith God, andamong themfelves,for religion
and reformation, by the pouring out of his foiritfrom
on high, for bringing in of many fouls to himfelf, and
for overnrrning idolatry andfurperltitionand advanc-
ing reformation to a great pitch, in fpite of all the
                      A 3 
6            T <•  1 H E KiLAUr' K.
 /
enemies and'  difficulties that were in the way; ft>
their practice of national covenanting, even tinder
the New-TeUamcntdifp'enfatiou, is ftifficiently war-
ranted both by the light of nature, and by the word
of Cod. and that in both Tcltaments.  And this will
appear, if we confuler the  fcripture-precedents, to-
gether with the prcmifesand prophecies of the Old-
Tefta'n?-;rit rehdr.g to gofpel-timcs, and compare
them with the New ; and  efpecially thofe which fore-
tel the unchurching of the JewiJh notion a:id the in-
grafting of the GcHiIc nations  in their room;  and
that thereupon the national church-ftate and' privi-
iedges  of the Jews, were w be transfered to. Chriftian
nations, and particularly  this of being nationally in
covenant with God.   Which prophecies are to have
their  fpecial  and full  accomplifhment at Babylon's
ciownfaj.  For illustrating thefe points,, and applying,
tl: e fcripture-texts relative thereto, I might expatiate
in fever';.1 Iheets of paper, if it were proper  here.  I
ihr.il only at this time cite fome of the texts that  may
be well improyen to  the forefaid purpofes; which
the reader may turn to,  and confider at his leifure,%
fuch. as Ifa. xyc. 18,  21,23,24,  25. Ifa.  xlv.~ 23
lor. l.j., 5. the lx. lxi. and lxii. chapters ofKaiah
throughout. Ifa." iv. 3, 4, 5. Micah iy.  1, 2.  Zech.
vhi. 21, 22, 23. Rev.  ii. 15. Rom. xi. 17,19.  Rom.
  .12,19. Matth. iii. 5,6.  Acts, viih 6,12. 2Cor. viii.
5. Matth. xxi. 43.  Rom. ix. 24, 25, 26. compared
v. -tli Hof.i. 9,10, 11. Hof. ii. 23. Likewife I might
a-iefeyeral prophecies with refpect to the ifiands, and
i.'cnoft ends of the earth, which were peopled by
Japhet, that have a  very peculiar and favourable
i.fject  to this covenanted land.
   Befidesall  which, it is evident from the  fir ft and
great command of the law, which is directed to Ifl
rae], as a nation, and obligatory xmder the New Tef-
tament as well as the  Old, that it is moral duty u-
iiiyerially and perpetually binding upon nations and
locietics,  ?s  well* as  {ingle perfons,  to chufe, ac-
knowledge, and avouch the Lord to be their God, to 
to the  READER            7
walk in his ways, and keep his ftatues.   This is re-
quired in the firlt commandment, according to the
exposition  of our Larger  Catechifm, and  is there
confirmed by thefe texes, that warrant and  eximpli-
fy the practice of national covenanting, fuch as Deut.
xxvi.  16,  17.  Jolh.  xxiv.  22   In fuch  a  national
way did  our fathers of old acknowledge  and avouch
the lord  to be their, god ar.d devote  themfelves and
their  poiterit'y  to the Lord.  And  blefled be  the
Lord our God, who did many ways   declare himfelf
to be well pleafed with' the bargain,  and efpeciaily
by filling the temple with his glory.
  As the prophets  and  godly Jews were  at great
pains to conyey to poftenty hiitorcal accounts 6f the
wonderful  deliverances God wrought for   I(real at
the Red  fea and in   refcuing  them  from   Egypt,
Babylon, and other enemies: So it would be ufeful
to fortify our reformation, if we  were  careful to
hand down to the rlfing generation a fenfe of God's
diftinguifhing  mercies to  this land, in delivering us
from fpiritual Babylon, and in refcuing us from time ,
to time from thefe captains that have  fought to lead
us back  thither.   Many,  a time  hath he delivered
us, when we have bjen brought very  low.     '
  By many inftances  it hath appeared,  that the glo-
rious Jehovah  hath  not been  amain eel  to own his
covenant-relation to this finful and unworthy land.
God forbid that we  of this age mould be afhamed to
own our covenant-relation to him.   This hath been
both  our glory  and  our fafety;  and  I  hope, there
will full  be found a remnant to own it, ancl  plead it
with God  in the time of danger.  Surely,it is  not
time now to difclaim  it,when the enemies of our Zi-
on are combining together and feeking  to raze  her
to the foundation.  Let  all her lovers cry mightily
tq her covenanted L6rd,in her behalf,in thefe mak-
ing ifltnes : Let them join to put up  that prayer of
the  Pfalmift,  Pfal.  lxviii 28.  "Stengthen,0 God,
that which thou halt wrought for us ;"  and that of
Habakkuk,  Hab. iii. 2. ^ O Lord, revive thy work
in die midft of the years."     May 27, r'727. 
8             to  the READER.

  N. B.  The  forefaid digreffion in the preface to
the firft edition  was occalioned  by  the broaching ot
fome Sectarian notions, which introduced great reel-
ings and ihakings  in this  corner, and other parts of
tins church ;  fince which time, alas! fhe hatn enjoy-
ed little peace within her walls, or poftenty within
her palaces; but inltead thereof, Ihe hath been tolled
with tempefts and troubles ax various  kinds, where-
by  the children of Zion  have been brought and full
lie under great diftrefs and afliction.
  The firit impreffion of this bopk being difpofed  of,
andafecond called for,- I  have more readily consent-
ed to it, at this time  of general calamity and diftrefs-,
feeing the book is  intended as a directory  to Chrift-
ians under aihicton, whatever fort it be.   It cannot
but be  obvious to every  ferious  obferver, that the
Lord's judgments are in  the  earth  at  this day, and
that the inhabitants of this land  are  generally vifitei
with calamities of  divers kinds, both fpiritual and
temporal; which  makes a Diredory how  to  manage
and carry under them the more  feafonable  and necef-
fary.
   Ah! the  Lord's hand is v'rfibly lifted  up againit
 us at this day, aitfl hath been  for fome  years paft,  in
 fhutting up the church's womb,   blafting gofpel ordi-
 nances, and withdrawing his Spirit from  the affem-
 blies of his people,  and from our judicatories.   The
 flood-gate is opened for error,  infidelity,  and  loofe-
 nefs, to overlpread the land ;  (o  that the gofpel of
 Chrift, the holy fcriptures, and all revealed religion-
 are contemned  and ridiculed by many.  "  The an-
 werofthe Lora hatl1 aivideci us botnin church  and
 ftate, and hath mingled a perverfe fpirit in the midil
 of us ;" yea, hath made fuch  woful  breaches  amongft
 trodly'minifters and Chriftians,  who are aiming at the  '
 lame things, that no balm can be found  for healing
 them.  There is a way opened  for a carnal felLfeek-
 in<* miniltry to get into  the  vineyard, when faithful
 labourers are  thru it out, and godly  preachers and
 undents  are difcourr £e.d  fr°™ entering  in.  Not a 
to thb  READER.           9
 few Chriftian congregations, who lately were harmo-
 nious and united in partaking of gofpel-ordinances,
 are now fo  miferably  rent and fcattered,  through
 mournful intrufions, and dividing coorfes, that they
 cannot worlhip God together;  and many of them
 are wandering like lheep having no Ihepherd, ex-
 pofed to beafts of prey, and liable to perilhin a ftate
 of ignorance or negligence.
   Likewife, the Lord's hand is remarkably lifted up
 againit us, in the variety of temporal judgments and
 calamities brought upon us within a very ihort time
 paft.   Sometimes  the  Lord fends forth his ftormy
 winds with extraordinary violence, fo as to carry ter-
 ror and deftruction along with them,  both by fea and
 land, and even threaten to bury us in the ruins of our
 houfes.  Sometimes he fends fuch  long continued
• rains in time of harveft, as threaten to deftroy the
 whole crop before our eyes.  Sometimes fuch extra-
 ordinary Itorms of fro ft and fnow, as to bind up the
 waters and mills that food cannot be prepared for us,
 and we are ready to familh in  the midlt of plenty.
 Sometimes he fends fuch deftructive ftorms of light-
 ening and thunder from heaven, and kindles fuch
 violent fires on earth, that whole cities, with there in-
 habitants are like to be confumed therewith.  Upon
 our  neighbouring countries dreadful  inunclatiGns
 have been fent of late,  For deftroying the inhabitants
 with their cattle and effects. Again, God hath vifited
 us with long continued drought, cold, and unnatural
 ftorms in the fpring, and fometimes with fro ft in midft
 of fummer, which hav  bro't on extrordinary fcarcity
 and dearth of victual; fo that there are great diforders
 committed in the land by riots and tumults for want
 of food, and multitudes of families are dilfolvd, and
 forced to wander begging  their bread; and the cat-
 tle alfo are familhed for want of grafs  and food to
 fuftain them.  In the  mean time we are engaged in
 war with cruel enemies, who feize our fhips, carry
 our  countrymen  captive, throw  them into dun-
 geons and noifome prifonsj  where they ufe them bar- 
10
to the  Kli.ADrJK.
 baroufly; yea, much of their blood is flied and many
 valuable lives are loft in our defence.   And bcfides
 our other calamities, we furTer greatly through de-
 cay of trade and merchandife, and penury of money ;
 in many places merchants,  tradefmen  and artificers
 want bufmefs; there is no work nor hire for labour-
 ers, and for thofe who would ufe honeft induftry for
 bread, wheather men or women; fo that want"  is
 come upon us  as one  that travelleth, and poverty
 like an armed man;" and many are reduced to ex-
 treme mifery, andftarvhig circumftances for lack of
 bread
   By all which proceedings it appears  that God hath
 a  peculiar controverfy with Scotland, and  threat-
 ens to puhilh her remarkably for her hinious  fins
 and provocations.   The' Lord's hand hath been long
 liiteu. up againit us, and now it is higher lifted up
 than ever; and the higher it is lifted up,  the blow
 is like to be the feverer when given,  lie  hath fent
 many leifer Itrokes and judgments upon us,  as fore-
 runners  and warnings- of 'greater, which he hath
 ftill in referve for us, if we repent not; for his mag-
 azine is far from being exhaulted.  As there are ma-
 ny caufes for  thefe calamities of ours, fo I think there
 is a principle one mentioned, Matth. xxiv.  i2. " In-
 xv~uiry 'i^ch abound,  and the loye of many  is waxed
 cold." Infidelity, immorality,  and contempt of the
 gofpel, are come to a prodigious height; our hearts
 are become cold and frozen to Chrilt and his intereit
 to his people  and holy  laws ; for which caufe  God
 is provoked to fend fuch judicial cold and frolts upon
 our land,  and the  fruits of the Earth, fo as to mar
 and diminifli our  crops, and reduce both men  and-
 beafts to the greateit  ftraits.—And yet fo great is
 our impenitency and perverfnefs, that we will not
 fee the Lord's hand, nor be reformed by all thefe
judgments.
   It might well be expected, when the Lord's judg-
 ments are fo  vifibly in  the earth, that not only his
 people by profeffion, but even the inhabitants <.>fthe 
to t he  READER.
XI
world  would learn righteoufnefs, according to Ifa.
xxvi. 9.  Bnt, alas! lb perverfe arev,e in walking
contrary to God, that neither the inhabitants of the
world,  nor thofe who profefs to be feparated from
the world, will alter their courfe, nor learn righte-
oufnefs; nay inltead of that, many are learning ftdl
more wickednefs ." Shall I not vilic for thefe things?
faith the  Lord; and' mall not my foul  be  avenged
on fuch a nation as  this?" Alas! hath he not been
provoked to fay concerning us, as he ditl concerning
his ancient people, Lev. xxvi. 23. 24.tw If ye will not
be reformed by thefe things, but will walk contrary
unto me;  then will I alfo walk contrary unto you,
and will bring feven times more plagues upon you,
according to your  fins."  And likewife to  fay unto
us, as  unto  them, " When  ye fpread forth your
 hands, I will hide mine eyes from you;  and when ye
 faft and make many prayers,  I will not hear; but I
■ will confume yon  with the fword, with the famine,
 and with the peftilence," as in Ifa. i  15. Jer. yiv. 12.
   The fword, famine and peftilence, are God's three
 mortal-arrows, which he  commonly  threatens to
 Ihoot  againft impenitent and incorrigible  offenders.
 Two  of thefe are  already {hot againft us: the fword
 is drawn, and much of our countrymen's blood is al-
 ready ftied; and what further ftreems of it may flow
 before it be put up in its {heath, God only knows.
 The evil arrow of famine (as God calls it, Ezek. v.
 16) is let fly againft us at the  fame time, and fam-
 ine is  the arrow which is- the foreft qf the three.—
 When it was put to David's choice which of the three
 he would be the butt of, he would not chufe fam-
 ine.  The prophet Joel doth bewail and deprecate
 this judgment in the moft pathetic manner, and calls
 the whole land to fairing and prayer for removing
 it, Joel  i. 10,14. and we fee, when God is moft an-
  gry,  and threatens to fpend his arrows  upon a guilty
  people,  he begins with the arrow  of famine, as the
  foreft, as in Dent, xxxii. 23, 24. " I will fpend mine
  arrows upoa themj they mall beb  **t with hun- 
ia          to the  READER.
ger."  And we fee what the Spirit of God faith of
t ioj? who die by this arrow,Lam. iv. 9. " They that
b? flain with the fword are better than they that be
flfn with  hunger ;  for thefe pine away, llricken
th ..uoh  fcr want of the fruits of the field ;" and
there ore their death is moft lingering and miserable.
L iew ne famine ufeth to bring  on the moft noifome
a:;d  mortal  difeases, and freepjently the peftilence
doth follow upon the back of famine.   Is it not high
time then, for our land to take the alarm,  when God
begins  to {Loot his evil arrows? When the lion roars
it becomes us to fear,  yea, to humble ourfel ves in the
duft, and mourn for our iniquities, which  kindle the  '
fre of  his wrath.
  Let  us fearch and  try our  ways, and turn again to
the Lord, from whom we have deeply revolted: and
particularly, let us mourn for and turn from thefe
fins which the word of God points out as bringing
on  famine;  fuch as,  1.  Afcribingour earthly com-  '
forts and bleffings to other things than God, the true
author.  This tin we find threatened with  fcarcity
and famine, Jer. xliv. 17, 26, 27. Hof. ii.  5. 9. 1.
Perverting of plenty to luxury and prodigality, fen-
fuality andexcefs, re veilings and dancings, balls and
affemblies.   We fee how  thefe are threatened, Ifa.
v.  n, 12, 13.  Amos vi.  4,6,  7. 3. Rejecting the
bread  of life, and defpifing the food of our  fouls.—
God ufeth to punilh men for this fin, by depriving
them of bread for their bodies, Jer.  xi. 21, 22.  4.
Men'sminding their own things more than the things
of God; and neglecting to build his houfe,  and put
refpect upon his  ordinances.  Upon fuch accounts
God brings on fcarcity aud famine, Hag. i. 9,10,11,
5. Covenant-breaking, and dealing cruelly with the
poor,  or with jtrangers  that live among us; it  is
for thefe fins  that God fent the  three years famine
upon the land of Ifrael, 2 Sam. x>. i. i.
  Moreover,  let us look upon all thefe  temporal
ftorms  and calamities which  are come, or coming up,
on the  land, as warning to  prepare for  a more aw- 
to the  READER
r3
ful  ftorm that we muft all  meet with, namely, the
ftorm of death and judgment; "let us ft and liabitxuJ.iy
prepared for  that itorm, and then other ftorms will.
not fo much affect us.  If it be allied, What wefhall
do to be fafe  in the time  of that trying ilor: 1 ? the
anfwer is, Let  us fee that  we be among the broken
in heart,  or  fincere penitents,  who heartily griev-
ed for all known fins: that  we be  true believers m
Chrift, whotruft in nothing but his righteoufnefs and
merits for juftification  and  falvation:  that we be
born again, and made  new creatures  by  a faving
change bGth in heart and life :  that it be our great
buiinefs to clear up our evidences of peace with Go.i
through  Chrift, and our title to the man lions which
he hath purchased by his blood.   O that God's judg-
ments, when the-/are in the earth, were  means to
awaken us to flee from the  wrath to come,  to Chrift
our refuge!  When • the floods of great waters are*
fwellinguptothebrim, our only fafety is to feeure :;
hiding-place in Chrift's  wounds.
   Let us follow the example of Noah, who when he
faw the flood coming, took warning, and  prepared
an ark forfaving himfelf and his houfehold, Heb. xi.
7.  Let us even imitate the Egyptians that feared the
Lord; they; when warned of the  dreadful ftorm of
hail that  was coming on the land, made their fer-
vants and cattle to flee into the houfes, Exod .ix. 20.
God hath in mercy  provided chambers for his peo-
ple  to hide themfelves in when ftorms  are coming,
even the chambers of his atributes  and promifes,
 and the  chambers of Chrift's wounds and hitercef-
fion ; in thefe only we  can find fafety: let us then
enter into them by faith, when he invites us, Ifa. xxvi.
20, 21.
   Seeing, in thefe evil days, we have fo many har-
bingers and forerunners  of death before our eyes, it
will be highly our wifdom to keep ourfelves ftill in a
waiting posture, always ready and willing to die.—
What is there  in  this weary land to tempt us to de-
 fire to abide in it? Is it  not a land overwhelmed with
                        B 
x4              Comfortable Text
 fin and forrow? O believers,  are you toiled with tem-
 peftshere;  Seek the wings of a dove, that you may
 flee away, and be at reft.   Be habitually de-firing to
 depart, that you may be with Chrift.  Surely for you
 to die is gain,  yea,  infinite gain!   What are the im-
 aginary pleafurcs of this world to the real happinefs
 of the next? Though the  ftruggles ofdeathbe griev-
 ous to nature, yet the gain of dying fhould reconcile
 you to it.   You do not {tick at the trouble of putting
 off your clothes at ni^ht' to gain a little reft to your
 bodies; and w hy fhould you ftick  at unclothing your-
 felves of the garment  of fleih at God's call, to gain
 everlafting  reft to your  fouls,  and the fruition of
 Chrift's glorious prefence forever? Let the  thoughts
 of this gain put you upon ufing all means to get
 your hearts weaned from the love of the world, and
 its comforts.  Keep the  mantle  of  earthly  enjoy-
 ments hanging loofe about you,  efpecially in thefe
 calamitous times, that fo it may be ealily dropt when
 death comes to carry you  to the  eternal world.  O
 for more of the lively faith of that world, and of him
 that is the Lord and purchaier of it !   But feeing this
 fubject is more largely inlifted on  in the bookitfelf, I
 fhail add no more here upon it.   Only I fhall fub-
join a collection of fome fweet and comfortable texts
 oifcripture, very proper for dying believers  to med-
 itate and feed on by faith,  to grip to and plead  with
 God, and fuck confolation from, when they have a
 near profpeft of going through the dark valley, and
 entering into the unknown regions of eternity.   God's,
 word will then be our hope.
             « #  * #- *  * * *  ■■•■  ■*
              * *• « ■<■ * :>:■  * * '  *
      Comfortable  Texts for Dying Believers.

    COME unto me all ye that labour,  and are heavy
      laden, and I will give you reft, Matth. xi. 28.
 li'uii that corrxth to me, I will in no  wife caft out,
 [ohn vi. 37.
   In   my father's houfe  are many manfions; if it
 were nut iOj I would have told you: I go to prepare 
               for Uying believers.            15

  i\ place for you.   And if I go and prepare a place
  for you, I will come again, and receive you to my-
  ielr, that  where  I am,°there ve may be alfo,  Tolm
  xiv. 2, 3.
    Becaufe I live,  ye live alfo, John xiv.  19.
    Chrift faith, "Surely 1 come quickly." anfw. "A-
  hien. Even fo, come Lord Jefus," Rev. xxii.'20.
    There remaineth a reft to the people of God, Heb.
  iv. 9.
    I have waited for thy  falvaticii, O   Lord,  Gen.
  sdix.  18.
    Lord, now letteft thou thv  fervant  depart in
 peace. For  mine  eyes  havo'feen thy  fidwitioa,
 Luke ii. 29, 30.
    He is the rock, and his work  is perfect. Dcr.t.
 xxxii. 4.
    The Lord will perfect that  which coneemeth me
 Pfal.cxxxviii. 8.
    Being confident----that he which hath begun a
 good work in you, will perform it until the day of
 Jefus Chrift,Philip, i. 6.
   I know that my P.edeemer liveth,  and that  he
 lhall ftand at the latter day upon I lis earth.  And
 though after mv {kin, worms deftroy this bodv  v-c
 in my flefii ihall I  fee God;  whom I lhall  fee' for
 inyfelf, and mine eyes mall behold, and not anoih-
 er; though my reins be confumetl  wi dun me  job
 xix. 25,26,27.
   Although  my  houfe be not fo with God;  yet
 he hath made with  me  an everlaftin?- covenant
 ordered in  all things  fare; for this is  ail  my  fid-
 vation, and all my deiire, 2 Sam. xxiii. 4.
   Yea, though I walk  through the valley of the
 fhadow of death, I  will fear  no evil;  for thou arc
with me, Pfal. xxiii. 4.
   Into thine hand I commit my fpirit: thou  haft re-
deemed me,  O Lord God  of truth  Pfai.'xM*-;
   For this  God is our God for ever and ever  ]
will be our guide even unto death,  Pfd  ^-lviii j -'
   Thou malt -aide me wim thv connicC^a'.vl'r
                      J3  2   "              "
i.e 
i6          to the  READER.

v/.iTv.U receive me to glory.  W horn have I in hea-
ven but thee.? and there is none upon earth that I
dtlirc beftdcs thee.   My flelh and my heart faileth:
hi:* Gcd is the ftrength of my heart,  and my per-
ron forever. Pfal. lxxiii. 24,25, 26.
  The facrifices  of  God are  a broken fpirit: a bro-
ken and a contrite heart,  O  God, thou wilt not  de-
ft nr. Pfal. Ii. 17.
  O that  I h:.d  wings like a dove! for then would
[ Hv v,v."tv.a<u! be ;d veil-.   1 would  haiten my el-
c.-mc fromthe windy ftorm and tempeft, Pfal. lv.
c
     ■ jtgh ye have lien among the pots ,  yet Ihall ye
   .8thc'Jv»ings  of a dove covered with filver,  and
 ..r feathers with yellow gold, Pfal. Ixviii. 13.
   The blood of "jefus Chrift his fon cleanfeth us
from ad fin, 1  ]ohn 1.7.
   Having boldnefs  to enter  into the hoheft by  the
bluod of Jefus, Heb.x. 19-
   Hs hath faid, I will never leave thee  nor  foriake
jhee.  J1 us Chrift, the fame yelterday, to-day  and
Mrcver".  Heb. xiii. 5, 8.
   lie rct:i'metJi not his anger forever, becauie he de-
 li ahteth in mercy, Micah vii. 18.
   Though  he (lay me, yet  will I truft in him, Job

  "%!hhnamefl.aHthe Gentiles truft,Matth.xii 21.
   lidded *re all they that  put  their truft in him,

  'i'le Vnov/eth  our frame, he rememhereth that we
 a-c  duft,  Pnlciii.  14.                    ..
   • iotbe L, I would not live alway, Job vn. 1-.
    .- eknow that if our earthly  houfe of this taber-
 nacle w-*re d^Volved, we have a^buildin- of Gcd an
 Ii , ie 11 ■«- made  with hands, eternal in the heavens.
  We are willino- rather to be abfent from the body,
  and rrefent with the Lord, 2 Cor. y. 1. 8.       _
    For mcto live is Chrift, and to  die  is  gain.
  H-ivinca deiire to depart,  and to be with Chrift;
  vi-H»ferle;tcr. Philip, i. 21.23. 
             to  the READER.           17

   And now, Lord,  what wait I for? my hope is in
thee, Pfalm xxxix.  7.
   My beloved is r.d.iie, and I am his.  His left hand
is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace
me.   Awake, O north wind, and come thou fouth
blow upon my garden,  that the fpices thereof may
flow out: let my beloved come into his  garden, and
eat his  pleafant  fruits.  Until the day break, and
fliadows flee  away.  Make hcifte, my beloved, and
be thou like to a roe or a young hart on the moun-
tains of fpices, Cant. ii.  6, 16, 17. and iv. 16. ana
viii. 14.
   O death,  where is thy fting? O grave, where is
thy victory ? But thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift,  1  Cor.
*v. 55-  57-
  The time of my departure is at hand, I have fought
a good fight,  I have  finilhed my conrfe, I have kept
the faith.  Henceforth there is  laid up for  me a
crown of righteoufnefs, which the Lord, the righte-
ous Judge ihall give  me at that day ;  and not to me
only, but unto all them alfo that love his appearing,
2 Tim. iv. 5, 7, 8.
  The day of death  is better than the day of one's
birth,  Ecclef. vii.  1.
  And  God  mall wipe away  all tears from their
eyes,  and there {hall be no more death,  neither fo'r-
row, nor crying, neither Ihall there be any more pain,
for the former things are palfed away,  Pcev. xxi. 4.
  This is a faithful faying and worthy  of all accep-
tation, that  Chrift Jefus came into the world  to
fave fmners,  of  whom I am chief 1 Tim. i. 15.
  God fo loved the world,  that he gave his only be-
gotton fen, that whomever believeth in him fhovdd
not periih, but have everlafting life, John hi. 16.
  For he hath made him to be fin for rs, who knew
no fin;  that we might be made the righteoufnefs of
God in  him,  2 Cor v. . 21.
  Thanks be unto God for his unfpcakable o'ft., 2
Cor.  i*. 15.
                      #3 
i8          to the  READER.

  iPe.Vcd be the Lord  God of Ifrael, for he hatll
v'hted and redeemed his people, and hath raifed up
.a a horn of ialvaiion for us in the houfe of his fcrvant
David,  Luke i. 68, 69.
  T:\cm which {ieeo in lefts,  will God brinp with
him. Then ihall we be caught up togetoer with them
in the clouds to meet  the  Lord in  the air: and fo
{had; we ever he wiih the Lord, 1 Theft, iv. 14, 17.
  Unto him that loved us, and warned us from our
I: ns in his o w n blood, &c.  Worthy is the Lamb that
 was ff:i i, to receive power, and glory, Rev.  i. 5. and
v. 12.
  Yv'e know that  we have paned from death unto
fid, becaufc wc love the brethren, 1 John  iii. 4.
  I am perfuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angles,  nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
pruftnr,  nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
roor any other creature, Ihall be  able to feparate us
 from the love of God which is in Chrift Jefus our
 Lord, Rom. viii. 38, 39.
   I know whom I have believed, and lam perfuaded
 that he is able  to keep that which I have commited
 unto him, againft that day, 2 Tim.  i 12.
   I count all  things but lofs and dung, that I may
 win  Chrift, and be found in him, not having mine
 own righteoufnefs, &c. Philip, iii. 8. 9.
 Chrift jefus who  of God is made unto us  wifdom
 and righteoufnefs,  an  fanctification, and  redemp-
 tion, 1 Cor. i.  30.
   \ ie rejoice in Chrift Jefus, and have no confidence
 in the fleih, Philip, iii.  3.
   Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made"
 ns meet to ,be partakers of the  inheritance of the
 faints in light, Col. i.  12.
   Behold, he  cometh .with clouds;  and every  eye
 Ihall fee him.  Amen.   Even fo, come Lord Jefus,
 Rev. i. 7. and.xxii. 20.
Dundee, 5th June 1741.
§ 
            uying iLjacmations.                19

Some of the Author's Dying Ejaculations,as they were
  written by himfelf a few days before he died, and left
  with his Bible lying on his pillow, the—day of may,
  1750.
      OLet me deep in Jefus !
      I would not live always in this evil world,
that has little in it tempting, and feems ftill to grow
worfe, and where the torrent of lip. and backfliding
feems to grow ftronger.
  I would defire to  depart, and  to be with Chrift,
which is  far better than to be here.  I am willing
rather to be abfent from the body, and prefent with
the Lord.  Whom have I in heaven but thee? and
there is none upon earth I  defire befides thee: for
though my heart,  ftrength, and flefh fail;yet the
Lord will be the ftrength of my heart, and my por-
tion for ever.
   Now, Lord, what wait I for; my hope is in thee;
I have waited for thy falvation,  O Lord.
   O for Simeon's frame, to be faying,"Lord, now
letteft thou thy fervant depart  in peace, for mine
eyes have feen thy falvation."
   When Chrift fays,  "Surely I come  quickly;"
may my foul anfwer, "Even fo, come Lord Jefus."
   I am living on the righteoufnefs of Chrift, yea
dying in  the Lord.   Even fo come.  I am detain-
ed  here upon the fhore, waiting for a fair wind to
carry  me  over  this Jorddn.   I have waited, and
will wait  for thy falvation, O Lord.  The Lord is
a Rock, and his work is perfect: Lord, perfect what
concerneth me.
   O that  I could fay  with Paul," The time of my
departure is at hand.   I have kept the faith, I have
fought the good fight,  I have run  my  race, I have
fmiihed my courfe ; henceforth is laid up for me a
crown of  righteoufnefs, which the righteous Lord
will give  me at his coming."
   I am vile and polluted, O how ihall I be cleanfed !
But that  is a comfortabe  promife, "The  blood of 
20              Some of Author's
 Jefus Cbrift his Son clean'cth ns from ah fin." And
 lb is that, ••'{ licgh ye hive lain  among the pots,
 ye ihah be as doves, whole wings  arearvered with
 iiiver, and their feathers with yellow gold."
   I refolve to obey, to fubmit to the Lord's will, to
 die like Mofes  ar.d Aaron,  the one at mount Her,
 the other at mount Abaiim.  They went up, and
 died there at the command of the Lord..
   O that when my fieih and ftrength fail,  God may
 be the  ftrength of nay  h-.v.rt, and  my portion for
 ever!  When now the keepers of the  houfe do
 tremble, O that God may be the keeper! when the
 grinders ceafe, bcaufe  they are few,  O that  God
 would feed my foul with manna, that will need none
 of thefe implements!  when the daughters of mu he-
 are brought low, O to be fitted for ihe heavenly muf-
 ic above! when the lookers out at the windows are
 darkend, O  that my foul may be enlightened to fee
 Jefus my Redeemer,
  Lord, help the unbelief and infidelity of my heart;
 and help to more of the  faith  of a rifen  Jefus, and
 afcended Redeemer.   O let me believe and feel the
 fweetnefs of that word of Chrift, tkI afcend  to my
 Father and your Father, and to my God  and your
 God."
  O how  ihall fuch an unholy creature as I prefume
 into fuch a pure and holy place! But as the apoftle has
 taught us, we may  have boldncfs to enter into the
 bolieft of all by the blood cf Jefus.
  O that when the time of my la ft combat comes
 with my laft enemy  death, I  may be helped  above
 ail to take the ihield of  faith,  where I may lie re-
lieved from the iting of death, and may quench the
fiery darts of the wicked one.
  O that I maybe helped to adore the fovereignty of
 God, kifs his rod, and humbly fubmit to it.  Save me
from both extremes; let me never  defpife the chaft-
ning oftheLord,nor faint when Tarn rebuked of him.
  Now the prince ofdarknefs will ftudy to raii'e tem-
pefts of temptations  to ihipwreck the poor  weather 
Dying Ejaculations.            21
 beaten veflel of my foul, when it  would enter into
 the harbour ofreit above; may Chrift come to be-
 pilot, fteer the helm, and it ihall be fafe.
   O for more faith! may my  faith ripen  to  a full
 affurance,  that I may go off the ftage  rejoicing, and
 that an abundant  entrance may be minihered to me
 into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift
   O for more faith, that I may die  like Simoon when
 he had Chrift iu his arms, faying. " Now let thy fer-
 vunt depart in peace, mine eyes have L'een.  thy falva-
 tion."
 Lord, one fmile of thy countenance  would baniih
 away all my doubts and Fears,  and  make me fing in
 pains.
   Is my Redeemer gone to  prepare a place  for us?
 why ihould I be fo llothful to follow his fteps, when
 he is faying, Come up hither; come up, dwell  here;
 come up, reign here; come up, ling here?
   O Lord,  deliver my  foul from death, mine eyes
 from tears,  and my feet from failing.   O fave me
 from the horrible pit, draw me out of  the miry clay,
 fet my feet upon a rock,  and eftabliih my goings, and
 put a new fong in my mouth.
   O give grace to ftrive by faith and prayer to enter
 in at the ftrait gate.   Lord, thou haft bid me knock,
 and it ihall  be  opened; aik,  and ye Ihall receive;
 feek, and ye iliall find.   Lord, I knock, open unto
 me;Lord, I would be in, I mud be in; let me but
 in over the threfiiold; let me in within fight of my
 Redeemer's face,  within fight of the  flniles  of his
 countenance' let me within hearing of the fongs of
the Redeemed; let me get to the outfide of chat
 praifing company ;  I will be well enough if I get in.
Lord,  in I mult  be, out I cannot ftay: O ihut me
r.o: out with fwearers Sabbath breakers, and profane
pcrfons.  Lord,  I never chufed their company while
 in this  world: Lord, do not gather  my foul with
 tinners hereafter.
   Pie redeemed are gathering, and the wicked are
 gathering, Lord,  gather me with thy flock: they arc 
22
Home of Auther's
 faft a gathering;  the church's head is gone;  he lm;.<
 left the earth,  and entered  into his glory; rny bre:
 thren and friends, many of them have arrived where
 he is; I am yet  behind.  O how great is the differ;
 ence betwdxt  my ftate and theirs.  I am groaning
 out my complaint, they are tinging God's praife I
 am in darknefs,  and  cannot fee thy face, but they
 behold thee face to face:  O fhould I be fatisfied to
 ftay behind, when my friends arc gone! Shall I wan-
 der here in a hungry defart, when they are triumph-
 ing aboie,  and dividing  the  fpoil?  O  help me to
r look after them with a ftedfaft eye, and cry, O Lord,
 how Ion?!
    O heavenly  Father, draw me after Jefus; for none
 can come to him without thy aid. O Father, draw •»
 me up there where he  is,and I will mount up as on
 eagle's wings.   O draw me; and when  thou feem-
 eft to fly from me, Lord, enable me to follow hard
 wi'itr thee.
   O thou who  remembereft the dying theif, when
 on the way to thy kingdom, O remember me when
 now featedtyi thy kingdom, and fay to my  foul, when
 I  am  dying, -"This day  ihalt thou be with me in
 paradife."
   Lord, I  am called to the work  I never did, O give
 me the ftrennth I never had.  O ftrengthen  me like
 Sanifon for this once,  when at death, to pull down
 the itrong holds of fin in me.  Lord, wafh awry my
 iins in the blood of Chrift, and chen my foul ihn.il not
 fin): in the ocean of thy  wrath.
   O what is my life  but  a vapour! a fand  glafs of
 fixty or feventy years! O how faft does it run down!
 howfoon runs it out!  Vain, vain is the love  of life J
 O give me grace to overcome the love of life, and the
 fear of death.   O for more  patience and lefs fret-
 ting.  If the dmined had hope of being faved from
 heil alter a thoufar.d years of my pain,  how willing-
 ly would-they  endure it ? B'xv.ed be God, my pains
 are no't hell, their ftate not mine.
   Lord,  draw near to me, and five me ;  my body 
Dying Ejaculations.
23
 is fuii of trouble, and my life draws near to the grave.
 But Lord, thy loviug-kiudiiefs is better than life: O
 r.ia.h.e diy lovirg-khuhueis lure to me, and I will will-
 ingly par: with tins dying life.
    Cii tiut I eoi.ld make  ad the world fee the beau-
 ty of my preciou:; and adorable Saviour.
    Nodi.jtg but an intereft in Chriit can give peace in
 life,  or comfort in death.  He is the chief among ten
 thou fan d, and altogether lovely.  My body is in part
 dead, but i know, I cannot die eternally v hile jefus
 live;:.   I-muft go down  to  the grave; but what is
 the gr.i.vc; it  is but a refining pot fince my Saviour
 lay in it, it is but a bed  of roles.  " He is tiie rofe of
 Sharon, and the lily of the valley.
0   It was his free grace that  drew me and  made me
 willing in  the day of his power; no defire, no merit
 in me,  it  was all  free and undeferving.
    O let the chaftifement  of my body be the medicine
 of my Lul, to cure me of fin, and bring me to fincere
 repentance for it: for  Chriit was  wounded for our
 tranfgreffions, he was bruifed for our iniqitiues;  the
 chai(.dement of our peace  was upon him.
    Lord remember the chaftifement of Chrift for tin,
 and let my pains be the chaftifement of a father, and
 not  the wounds of an enemy.  Let Chrift's bufferings
 mitigate mire.
    I rejoice in the profpect of that glorious inherit-
 ance referved faie.   I  could not   comfortably enter
 eternity any other way but in and through this God-
 man Mediator; if he was not God as well as man,
 I  could not be fupported, but he is God.
    Oh,  this precious Saviour, he is my all in  all; he
 is my all fufiicient good, my portion, and my choice;
 in him my vaft defires  are  fulfilled, and  all  my
 powers rejoice;  I am travelling througji  a wilder-
 nefs to  a city of habitation, whofe  builder and maker
 js God.
    Oh, delightful thought! that I, who was going
 on in fin, ihould  be plucked as a brand out of the
 burning.  Oh how will they  lie on  a death-bed 
24
Dying Ejaculations.
who have nothing  but their own wcrks to fly to!
with only this to depend on,  1  ihould be the moft
miferable of all creatures; but the long white robe
of my  redeemer's  righteoufnefs, is all  my defire.
They are truly  blefled.  they alone are happy who
are enabled to  exult in the garment of celeftial glory,
which never waxcth old, in the illuftrious robes of a
Saviour's confummate  righteoufnefs which are in-
corruptible  and  immortal.  This is a robe which
hides every  fin,  of thought, word,  or  deed,  that I
committed.  Oh how unfpeakably happy are  they,
who are jufiified by  this all-perfect  righteoufnefs of
the Lord Jefus Chriit, and who therein can conftant-
ly triumph and glory \
  Lord, I live upon Chrift,  I live  upon his  righ-
teoufnefs, I live upon  his blood and merits;  yea I
die alfo leaning wholly upon this bottom.   It is not
paft experiences or  manileftations \ depend upon-
it is Chrift a prefent all-fufficient Saviour, and perr
feet righteoufnefs in him, I look to.   All my attain-
ments are but lofs anil dung befides him. ,
  When  I find myfelf polluted, I  go  to this foun-
tain  for cleaniing.   Lord, give me delight in ap-
proaching to  thee; delight to be  at a  throne  of
grace.   O that I could make my bed there, lie and
die there.
  The kingdom  of  heaven fuffers violence,  and the
violent take it  by force.   O for ftrength to offer a
holy violence by faith and prayer,

" Thus the  Author died as he lived, teftifying the
  power of religion upon himfelf; and  that  at  a
  time when men  have  moft need  of its comforts
  The  foregoing words  are  tranfciibed from his
  own manufcript,  now lying in die hands  of Mr
  Bell, minifter at Aberbrothock."
                          WILLIAM BELL. 
§§§§§§§§*§§§*§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
                     THE  '

AFFLICTED MAN's COMPANION^

                       O R

A Directory for a Family or  Per/on under Afficlion,

           by Sicknefs or otherwife.
          THE INTRDUCTION.


      MAN,  when he firft dropt from his Maker's
       hands, was  a  holy  and  innocent creature,
pure from Tin, and confequently free from ficknefs,
and trouble, enjoying uninterrupted health and pro-
fperity both in body and foul.   But no fooner was he
tainted with dm, but he became liable to all forts of
miferies, temporal,  fpiritual, and eternal:  his foul
being the relidence of fins and lults,  his body turned
the receptacle of ficknefs  and defeafes.  And feeing
God's own children have the relicks of fin and cor-
ruption in them, while in this world, they are not to
expect exemption from fuch afflictions; and the infi-
nitely wife God fees meet to make ufe of bodily dif-
tempers to correct the corruptions, and try the graces
of his people, and  to promote both their fpiritual
and eternal advantage.  Hence it is faid of Lazarus,
John xi. 3. "Behold, he whome thouloveft. nfick.'?
He was beloved,^ and yet fick.   It is.no iai« thing;
for the deareft of God's faints to be put to chattfc.r'
like cranes, and  mourn like doves,  by reafon of fore
ficknefs; as Hezekiah did, Ifa.  xxxviii, 14.  "feanc- 
26           Afflicled Mini's Companion.

tified and healthy fouls may be matched with weak
and  iickly bodies,  as was Gaie.s,  3 John 2.  Not-
withftauding the cafe is  fometimes molt trying and
eKerciiinj; to the belt of  G'jd's people: and they are
never more ready  to queftion Ceei s love or quar-
rel with his providence,  than under heavy  ficknefs
and bodily diftrefs.   It is therefore highly the con-
cernment of all, whether  families  or private perfons,
to inquire how they ought to behave under or after
afflicting ficknefs; and how  they ihall provide for
fuch an evil time  before it comes.   And for the help
of all that  defire inftruction  in this matter,  I  have
written the follow ing directory; which, for method's
fake, I ihall divide into feveral chapters.

  I. I ihall give fome general directions to all  fami-
lies and perfons vifited with ficknefs and affliction.
  II. Some particular  directions  to thofe who are
lharply aihicted with fore ficknefs and long trouble.
  III. Directions to the  children  of God under fick-
nefs.
  IV.  Directions to unregenerate perfons  under
ficknefs.
  V. Directions to the people of God, when recov-
ered  from iicknefs.
  VI. Directions to unrenewed perfons recovered
from ficknefs.
   VII. Directions  to thofe  fick  perfons, who are
apparently in a dying condition.
  VIII. Directions  to the relations,  acquaintances
and  neighbours of the- fick,  who are  themfelves  in
health for the time.
  N.B.   Let it be remembered, that  what I fay  to
thofe vifited  with iicknefs, is likewife applicable  to
aft other afflicted perfons, whatever their diftrefs be*
CHAP. 
              jrijjiiciea man s wapunhn.         2.7

                CHAP.      I.
Containing  general  directions  to  all  families  and
          perfons vifited with ficknefs.
Direct,  i   Diligently inquire into the ends andde-
  figns, for which  ufually God fends ficknefs  and
  afflictions upon perfons.
     AN infinitely holy and gracious God hath vari-
       ous and wife ends in afliicting the children of
men,  whether they be converted or  unconverted ;
which ought to  be duly confidered by all, and eipe-
cially by thofe who are vifited with ficknefs ; fome
whereof I ihall inftance.
  I. God vifits with iicknefs, to  canfe carelefs fin-
ners bethink themfelves concerning their fouls eitate
and condition,  who perhaps  had  never" a ferious
thought about it  before.  There are many  who,
when in health and ftrength, are fo intent upon the
pleafures and profits of the  world,  that  they mind
nothing elfe; all  the warnings,  exortations,  and
counfels of minifters, teachers, and friends,  are loft
upon  them: They  cannot endure, to  entertain a
thought  of God, of the foul, of death, of heaven, of
hell, or  of judgment  to come; till God  doth cait
-them into fome  ficknefs or bodily diftrefs; and then,
fometimes, they begin, with  the  prodigal, to come
to themfelves, and bethink themfelves, concerning
their fouls, and  a future  life.  Now, this  is God's
delign, 1 Kings viii.4*7. " If they bethink  themfelves
" in the land whether they are carried captives, and
repent, " &c. By ficknefs, God gives a  man.  that
before was wholy diverted from foul  matters by bu-
finefs, company, and pleafures, occafion  to bethink
himfelf. The man is now  confined to his chamber,
is deprived of his former  company  and  diverfions,
and fo gets  time and leafure to commune with  his
own heart, and refteel on his former ways, and  to
hear what confeiene {peaks concerning a judgement
day, and a world to come, and ths need of a  Sav-
iour.  And fo by the bleffing of God upon  fuch  af-
 flictions, not a  few  have begun their firft acquaint- 
20          Aj/noreti iviaris L,o>nj>antu;:.
 ance  with  God and  Chrift, and ferious  religion
 Nay, the furnace is Chrilt'sufual work-houfe, where
 he has formed the molt excelent  veffels of honour
 and praife, Ifa. xlviii. 10.   " I have chofen thee in
 the furnace of affliction."  Manaffeh, the Prodigal,
 Paul, and the Jailor, were all chofen there.
  II. God vifits us with ficknefs, in order to inftruct
 and teach  us thefe things we know not,  Pfal. xcvi.
 12.   It was a faying  of Luther,  Schola crucis eft
 fchola lucis.  And indeed the fchool of affliction is
 the place where many of Zion's fcholars have made
 good  proficency in  fpiritual  and  experimental
 knowledge.—Now,  there  are feveral remarkable
 leffons which God would teach us by the rod.
  i ft. Trie  knowledge of God.  It is faid  of  Ma-
 naffeh,  2 Chron. xxxiii.  12, 13.  "When  he was
 " brought to affliction, &c. then Manaffeh knew that
 the Lord he was God."   Though  Manaffeh  was
 well  educated, and  early taught  the knowledge of
 God, yet till now he knew not the Lord: But now
 he knew him in his  power and greatnefs, his holi-
 nefs and -hatred of  fin; now he knew God  in his
 goodnefs of mercy,  and wondered that he had kept
 him fo long out  of hell.
  2dly, Another leffon is the knowledge of ourfelves.
 In time of health and profperity,  we are apt to for-
 get ourfelves, and oar mortality; but ficknefs caufe-
 eth us to know that we are but men,  and frail men,
 Pfal.  ix. 20, that God hath an abfolute  fovereignty
 over us, and can as eaiily crufh us, as we do a moth.
  3dly, He teacheth us the emptinefs of the world.
 How  vain a help is that, which fails a man in  the
 time of his greateft need! and oft-times we fee, that
 worldly means and friends can neither give the leaft
 eafe to the bodies, nor comfort to the  fouls of per-
 fons under ficknefs and diftrefs.
  4thly,  Another leffon is the great  evil of fm,
which is the  caufe  of all fickneifes and  difeafes
whatfoever,  1 Cor xi.  30"  For   this  caufe many
are weak  and lickly among you."—Ah! what a, 
Affile! ed Alans Companion.          29
root of bitternefs muft  that  be, which brings forth
fuch bitter  fruit!
   5thly, Heflieweth us ti:.e precioufnefs and excel-
lency of Chrift and his promifes;  which only can  en-
able a Christian to rejoice in  tribuladon,  and be eafy
under  the  greateft pains and difeafes.   There  are
many who  ore indifferent about Chrift in time  of
health, that when ficknefs  conies,  do change their
note, and cry, O  for an intereft in  Chrift,  above all
things!
   III.  God fends  fuch trials and diilrefies, in order
to mortify and kill  fin in us.   Ifa. xxvii. 9 ." By  this
ihall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all
the fruit to take away  his fin."  And  indeed iick-
nefs and affliction, through the  Inciting  of God.
hath a native tendency to weaken  and fubdue  our
prevailing fins and  luits.   O man, is thy heart turn-
ed hard fo as thou art not  fenfible of thy own fins,
or of others bufferings ? God fees meet to  try  the
fire of affliction,  to fee if it will melt thy frozen  heart.
Haft  thou  undervalued  health, and flighted  thy
mercies? Now God removes them  from thee, that
by the  want of them, thoumayeft know the worth of
them.   Art thou turned  proud  and  felf-conceited ?
God fends  thee  a  thorn  in the  fleih,  to  prick  the
fwoln  bladder of pride, that thou mayft not be puf-
fed  up above mcafure ;  God lays thee low upon
thy  bed, that thou mayft be lowly in thy  heart.
Doth love  to the world prevail in thee ? God fends
affliction  to difcover its  emptinefs, and wean thee
from it.  Art  thou fallen  feenre, dead, and  for-
mal? God fends affliction to awake  thee,  that thou
mayft not fleep the ileep of death.
   IV.   God fends ficknefs, to  awaken in us  the
fpirit of prayer and fupplication, and make us more
earneft  and  importunate in our addreffes  to  the
throne of Grace.   There is a great diiierence be-
twixt our prayers in health and in ficknefs, betwixt
our humiliations in profperity, and in adverhty.   In
profperity we pray  heavinly and drow fily,  but atlver- ^
                       c 3 
                       r....>. r> „*. _  •  .
3°          ■'■' -  <•"-</ Man's Cvrnpams,:.

fity adds wings to ov.r dcfec^. Ifi xxvi. i>'-.   Lord in
t route have they •.■'fried thee, they poured out a prayer
vren thy chafiening  was upon them.  Tho  gh they
were i ;icAward enough lo prayer before, yet they
|-orr  :c out  met fieci.y now.   Tin: very  heath:.,1
mariners cr'ed  a'oud to God  in a horn.— What a
fauoj, prayer did Manaffeh  make wi'.uu }>.?. was un-
dtr his iron fetiviv, !  We tid it  thrice  mentioned, 2
Chron. xx:dd.  13, i¥>,  19.   And the  voice of fer-
v;:- ;•. prayer,  is w hat t lie Lord defines to hear.
   V.  Another end  is, to ioofe  our hearts from the
dungs of this  world ; and caufe us to look and lonp-
for heaven.   Y/kcn we enjoy health and  cafe in this
world; we arc apt to fay with Peter on the mount,
it isg-Aulfr us to be here:  but when didrcis cometh,
God's people  Avi!]  turn  their tongue, and fay  with
the Piaimift,  Pud. Ixxiii. 27.  It is  good for me to
draw nigh to  God.  Yvhen things  here go wed
with us, we are apt to th'udu ourfelves at home : but,
when t: ouble ariiedi, w e hegin tofay, " rirife , let us
depart-  this is  not our roil.  Thoagh heaven was
much out of fight  and out of mind before1  yet,  when
afflicting ficknefs com:??, the poor believer will figh,
and fay with  David,  Pkd. Iv. 6. 0 that I had xvf.gs
like ad-jve! fir then would I j}y away, and be at reft.
Iwould /'».'.•-ft'-amy efcape ft ova the windy tempefiP
   VI.  Gad;  deiigns to make the v.01 Id bitter, and
Chrift fweet to vs.  By  fuch a Mictions, he lets men
fee,  that the world is nothing but vanity, and vexa-
nou of fpirit  ;  that  riches avail not in  the day of
wrath : ihen.tis, that the/  may fie  die  infuiricien-
<:y of the world toreheve them: that,  as cue fiiith
"  A vehct n'n.per cannot  cere  the gout  : a  golden
u  cap  cannot drive away  the  heid-ach; nor abed
aofdoun give eafe in a  fever.'1   And as the  world
turns bitter,  fo Chrift grov/s fweet to  the believer.
In time of eafe and health, Chrift is often very much
neglected  and forgot.  As  the  difciplcs, v. bile the
fea was calm  inhered Chrift to  ileep with them in
the Ihip,  thinking they nught  make their  voyage 
            AffJUlc-d Man's Companion            31

 wed enough without his help ; but wdien they were
 ready to bo drowned, then they  fee their need of
 Chrift, they awake him, crying, Mafter, ftive us, or
 elfe we perifk.- So  the belt of faints, when all is eafy
 about then, are prooe to buffer Chrift to fleep with-
 in them, and fo to neglect  the lively actings of faith
 on Chriilg  but when die ftorm of addiction begins to
 :i rife, antl they are  ready to be  overwhelmed with
 diftrefs then they cry,  *" None but Chrht, none but
 Chrift."
   VII.  God tryfis  with  ficknefs and diftrefs,hi or-
 der both to prove and  iniprove his people's graces.
 Dent. viii.  2. Re\\ ii. 10. Grace is hereby both tri-
 ed and  ftreughtened.   ift.  Such afflictions do prove
 both die trr.th and ftrength of our graces, as they
 feme to try if we love God for  himfelf;  if we  can
 endure and hold out in ferving him, waiting and de-
 pending upon  him, notwithstanding of  difcouraoe-
 ments.  That  faith will  fufficefora little  affliction,
 that will not fuffice for a great one.   Peter had faith
 enough to come upon the fea at Chrift's calif but as
 foon as the waves began to  fwell, his faith began to
 fail, and his feet to link, till Chrift mercifully caught
 bold of him, faying, " O thou of little faith, where-
 fore didft thou  doubt :" Matth, xiv. 31.  Little did
 Peter think his faith was fo weak till now.
   2dly.  They tend to improve our graces alfo, by
 quickening  and ftrcugtheuing them.   They ferve
 as a  whetftone  to  iharpen  faith, fo  as the  foul is
 made to renounce earchlv ihelters, and to clafp about
 God in Chrift, as its only refuge and portion.   They
 excite to repentance and ferious mourning for fin ;
 for,4ike  the winter froit and fnows, they  make the
 fallow ground  of our heart  more  tender.    They
 prompt us to heavenly  mindcdnefs, felf denial, and
 patient waiting on  God.  Yea,  the experience  of
 God's people can atteft it, that Grace is never more
 lively, than under  anilet.on.   David never  found
hhnfc ft better, as to his fpiritual ftate, than when he
 was  pcrieaitcd and hmucd as a patridge on the 
 32         Aj':iJ7ed Man's Companion.

mountains;  and hence  fays,, Pfal.  cd.x.  71. u It is
good for me, that I have been afflicted."
   MIL  God's aim  is, to awaken  us  to redeem
ti  i:-,  to prepare for  fhhtmg, end clear ap o :r evi-
dences for heaven.   In the time of health we are
apt to tridie away time, to loiter in our joarney, and
forget that we are piigrhui on the earth;  where-
fore  God fends fickneL as his meiienger, to mind
us thereof.
   Now it highly concerns us, when ficknefs attacks
us, to conlider  and meditate upon thefe ends  for
which God brings on diftrefs, and pray earneltly
th:«t  they may  be  accomplished  in us; and fo our
ficknefs dull not be unto death (fidrirua! or eternal)
but to the glory of God, and goeft  of our fouls.

Direct. 11. Let all vjho are vifited with ficknefs and
   dijlrefs fearch for the Achan in the camp, and in-
   quire diligently  vjhat is the ground and caufe of
   God's controverfy w ith them.
   IT hath been the  practice of God's people in fcrip-
   ture times, to inquire  into the caufe and mean-
ings of God's  rods which  have been laid upon them.
So David, 2 Sam.  xxi.  when the land of Ifrael was
three  years  under the itroke of famine, he enqtnred
into the meaning of it.   So  Job is exceedingly de-
firous to know why God fet  him up as a  mark for
his arrows, Job vii. 20.  and hence it is that he makes
that petition, Job x. 2. which is molt fuitable for eve-
ry  man in diftrefs,  '• ihew  me  wherefore  thou
contendeft v ith me."
   I grant indeed,  that God  fometimes vifits his
people with affliction, for  the  trial and exercife of
their grace, and  for their fpiritual inftruction, more
than for the  correction of their iin.  Bat tin being
the original and foundation  of all  affliction.   It is
fated, when it is our own cafe, and moft acceptable
to God.  to  look on fin as the procuring caufe.  Or
if  our fins have not immediatelv procured the pre-
fent  affliction, yet the  beft of God's children nuaft
own that they have at lca'.tdefervcd it.  Wc fee the 
            Affitted'Man's Compankn.         33

fin of the Corinthians is mentioned as the cau{e of
their iicknefs, 1 Cor. xi. 30. " For this caufe many
are weak and fickly among youd; The Pfamift con-
cludes the very fame thing, Pfal. cvii. 17. 18. " Fools
"  becaufe of their tranfgreffions, and their iniquities,
"  are  afflicted  their foul abhorreth  all  manner of
u  meat: and  they  draw nigh unto  the gates of
death." But ordinarily, by ficknefs, the Lord points
at fome one fin in us. more than another, fome Jo-
nah in the  ihip, that hath raifed the  ftorm, which
the Lord, would have us to fearch out and throw
over board without delay.
   QuefL But how  fhall we difcover and find  out
the particular  fin for  which  God afflicts us with
ficknefs and diftrefs!
   Anf. if},  ftudy the Lord's word and the chaftife-
ments there recorded, which he hath inflicted upon
people for their fins; and inquire if you  be  guilty
of the like.   Obferve what hath been God's mind to
his people, and what fin he hath pointed out to them
when they have been  brought under fuch  a rod:
and fo you may learn his mind to you, Rom. xv. 4.
u  For whatfoever  things were written  aforetime,
were  written for our learning."     ^
   2.dly, Confider what is the fin which confidence doth
moil of all accufe thee  for, in thy moft ferious  and
fqlitary hours.  Confidence is God's deputy, and  thy
bofom-monitor, whofe voice, perhaps, thou halt little
regarded in the day of thy health, wherefore God
hath fent a fiiarpermeffenger, to fecond the voice of
confidence.  Hear now the voice of the rod, for  it is
the fame with the voice of confidence.   In  the day of
profperity, carnal profits and pleafures made fuch a
noife,  that the  voice  of confidence  could  not be
heard: wherefore God hath brought on thee thefilent
night of adverfity,  that his deputy may  obtain au-
dience.   Well  then, give  ear; what faith  confid-
ence now?  may you not hear  it faying, as Reuben
fo his brethren  i*i diftrefs, '•'' Spake I  not to you in
the day of health, do not commit fuch  a fin ?  and do 
  34         Afflitted Man's Companion.

  not delay repenting for fuch a fin; but you would not
  hear?" O man,  kt confidence get a hearing at laft as
  it got with the patriarchs, when they were brought to
  diftrefs  in Egypt,  and made them to confefs their iin
  in felling of Jofeph,  Gen. xlii. 21. " We are verily
  guilty concerning our brother, in that we law the an-
- guiih of his foul,  when he befought us, and we wotdd
  not hear:  therefore is this diftrefs come upon us."
     %dly, Confider  what are thefe evils, that  others
  have obferved in  you,  w hether they be friends or
  foes.   Harken to what a chriitian friend noticeth in
  you, cither when fpeaking to you, or to others about
  you.   " Let the  righteous fmite me (faith  David)
  and it  ihall be a  kindnefs."  Yea  do not  difregard
  what evil  enemies fay of you: as David got good
  by the malicious reproaches of Shemei,  in the  day
  of his affliction,  fo may you in the time of diftrefs ;
  for fometimes malice itfelf will fpeak truth.  Ene-
  mies are fharp-fighted to fpy out our  faults, and fo
  may, through the  divine bleffmg prove monitors to
  us, both with refpect to fin and duty.
    qthly, Confider  the  nature and  circumftances of
  thy diftrefs.  Oft.times the affliction is fo fuitable to
  the tranfgrefiion,  that  we  may clearly read our fin
  written on  the forehead of our puniihment, as in the
  cafe  of Abonibezek, and many others.   And  alfo
  you may be helped to find it out by the Lord's tim-
  ing of the rod to you.   Was it fent when you  was
  under much formality in duty? or when  you  was
  eagerly purfuing the things of the world?  or when
  you was under the power of fome prevailing lull or
  other?  then  the  rod comes  to reprove you,  and
  awake  you to fee the evil thereof.
    5thly, Confider  what is the fin that hath been for-
  merly moft affrighting to thy thoughts, and perplex-
  ing to thy  confeience, when  thou  haft been  in the
  immediate  view of death and a tribunal.   It is very
  likely  (if  thou haft not truly repented  of it) that
  is the iin   which God  now intei«ls  to  awake thee
  to fee the eyiiof, that thou mayeit fincerely mourn 
           Ajjlicled Man's Companion.         35

for, and turn from  it,  looking to God in Chrift for
pardon and  mercy.
  Objecl.  Ah (faith one) it is my lot to die under a
dumb and iilent rod, I do not  underhand its lan-
guage, I cannot hear its voice, I  cannot find out the
{in  thatis pointed at by it; whatcourfe ihall I take?
  Anfv. 1. Be deeply humbled under this trial,  and
bewail thy cafe btfore the Lord; for it very  much
aggravates the affliction to God's people, when they
know that the language  of it :  Hence was it  that
Job lamented fo heavily,  that his way was hid, and
he  knew not the reafon of God's contending with
him, Job iii, 23.
  2. A believers cafe may be fometimes  fo dark
that it requires a great deal of fpiritual art  and w if-
dom to enable him to hear the voice of the rod, and
underitand  its  language.   Hence  it is faid, "  He
is a man of wifdom  that feeth  God's name upon
it"  Micah vi. 9.  Now, this wifdom rauft only come
from above  ; therefore.
  3. Go to  God, and earneftly beg ferthis wifdom,
that you may know his  mind,  and the meaning of
the rod.   Do as llebekah, when the children itrug-
gled in her womb, ihe went to enquire of the Lord.
faying, " Why am I thus  ?" Gen. xxv. 22. Cry
to God to give you his fpirit, to  teach and enlighten
you to fee iin in this evil, and the particular evils you
are guilty of. This  was Job's courfe in his  afflic-
tion ? " thew  me (fays he)  wherefore  thou  con-
u  tendeft with me.  That which  I  fee not, teach
thou me.   Make me to know  my  tranfgreilion and
my fin. "   There is no better way for a prifoner to
know the reafon of his confinement,  then to aik the
magiitrate who committed him.  God is  a wife a-
gent, and can give belt  account of his own actions.
  4. If thou canft not find out the particular iin for
with God afflicts thee, then labour to repent of eve-
ry  known iin, and cry for pardon, of every unknown
and forgotton iin  alfo.   Do that  out  of wifdom,
which iierod did out of malice^  who  becaufe he 
36         Afflicled Man's Companion.
could not find out the babe Jefus, killed all the chil-
dren of Bethlehem, that he might be fire to kill-je-
fus among them.  Let us feek the utter ruin and
death of all our fins,  that we may be fure to deftroy
that fin for which God afflicts us.
  5. Study to exercife a ftrong faith, and a humble
fubmiffion, while  God keeps you  under the,  filent
rod.  Believe firmly, that God is juit, though you
know not what he contends.  And however long he
thinks fit to make you walk in the dark, refolve hum-
bly to wait on him, and commit  yoarfelf to him,
who has many times guided the blind in the  way
they knew not.

Direct.  iii. When any fit of ficknefs attacks you,
  thinkferioufly upon deathy and make deligent pre~
  parationfor it.
I DO not mean that any man may  delay the work
     of preparation for death, till ficknefs cometh ;
No, m-,  this ihould be the great and up-taking bnfi-
nejs of every man  in  the time of  his healdi and
ftrength.  But ficknefs aud difeafes being the harbin-
gers of death, and the meffengers fent from  God  to
warn us of its coming ; every man is thereby called to
renew the work of preparation for death, with all ear-
neltnefs  and application.  God's voice by  every  fit
of ficknefs, is that in Deut. xxxii. 29. u Othatthey
were wife, that they underftood this, that they would
confider dieir latter end  ?" God  knows our  folly,
and readinefs to fprget this great work.in  the day
of health; and therefore, in  his mercy,  he fends,
ficknefs  and affliction, to  teach us  fo to number
©ur days that we may apply our hearts to this peice
of heavenly wifdom, of making preparation for death
   And here I ihail drop,  \ft, Some motives to prefs
it.  idly.  Adyice for the doing of it aright.
   I. For motives, confider thefe things :
   iff. Confider God's mercy and patience towards
you; in giving you fo many warnings, and fo many
years to  prepare for death; and in lending his mef-
fengers and warnings fo gently and gradually to excite 
            .ipjiicted iWad's Companion.           37

 you to this work ;  when,  many younger  and f iron-
 ger than you, are hurried,  into eternity, and litule or
 110 time given them to think where they are goin<r.
 Have you not been fnarcd many years, in the midit
 of dangers, when you have feen that bold archer
 Death ihooting his arrows, and killing thoufands of
 your  neighbours  and  friends  round  about you?
 Sometimes the arrow hath glanced ever  your head
 and llain fome great man,  your fopc-rior:  Sometimes
 it hath alighted at your feet, and cut of a chil 1 cr a
 fervant, your inferior: Sometimes it lurdi gone by
 on yom left hand,  and killed your enemy ^ at od;er
 times  it hath pa (led on your right hand  and hilled
 your near  relations.  So  that you have fecn  friends
 and foes,   fuperiors  and  inferiors, relations  and
 ftrangers dropping down dead roundabout you ;  and
 all this for a long tract of  time, to give you warning
 to prepare for death.  O let the goodnefs and forbear-
 ance of God,  towards you, lead you to reyentance,
 and perfi.adc you to flee fpeedily to Chrift, for refuge
 and protection from wrath.
   2dly, Confider how terrible death w ill be if it
 meet you in an unprepared ftate, in a Chriftlefs and
 impenitent condition.  What a fearful change  wili
 it bring upon you.' A change from earth to hell,
 from hope to  defpair, from  pleafure to pain, iro i
 comforts to terrors; a change from the offers of grace,
 to the  revelation of wrath  : a change from probabili-
 ties,  to utter impoifibilities of falvation.   Death
 will cut offal! your hopes and expectations of mercy
 for ever, Job  xxvii. 8.  There is no coming back,to
 amend wdiat hath been done amifs here;  and there
 is no work nor device in the grave, whither you go.
 As the tree falls,  fo will it lie, through all eternity.
 . If. I come to give fome advices,  in order  to the
right preparation for death,  iff, Set about felf-ex-
amination  work.   Inquire if you  be  in  Chrift or
not; if you be yet  far off  from  God,  or  if you be
brought near  by  the blood of Jefus.  And fee that
you  be impartial in this fearch,  and willing  to fin. 1 
 -8         Afficled Man's Companion.

 out the truth of this  important qnellion.  Be  not
 fooliihly tender of yonrfelf, and apt  to bclic\ c that
 you arc fafe, when it is not fo ;  for, this way, diou-
 fands do ruin themfelves.   But be  content to know
 the worft of your cafe, and thoroughly  to  under-
stand your foul's danger,  that  you may be moved
 to take the right way to efcape  it.  Wherefore take
 a  view  of the marks of Chriitlefs  and unconverted
 perfons fet down in God's  word, and judge yourfelf
 by them:  And confider alfo the figns of true grace
 there recorded, and fee if  they be  applicable to you
 or not.
   idly, If after inquiry, you find your ftate  is bad;
 that you have been a lover of the world,  more than
 of God;  you have minded your  body  more than
 jour foul: you have lived in the neglect of precious
 Chrift; allowed yourfelf in known fin:  O then be
 convinced of your inability to help yourfelf,  and
 your need of Chrift to help you.   And labour to be
 deeply  humbled before God, under  afenfeofyour
 fin and  folly.  "Ah, how fooliihly, how rebelhouf-
 ly, how unthankfully have I carried? I have ajjufed
 God's mercies, and left undone the work for which
 I  was made, and preferved, and enjoyed the gofpel.
 Oh!  I  had all my time given me,  to make prepara-
 tion for endlefs  eternity,  and I have never  minded
 it, till now that ficknefs, the harbinger  of death, is
 come upon me: And  now, what ihall I do to be
 laved r" Well, then,  in order to convince and hum-
 ble you the more, cait back your eyes upon the fins
 of your nature,  and  of your by paft life ; view them
 in their nature,  number  aggravations  and  deferv-
 ings.  O do not fo  many  years'  fins need  a very
 deep humiliation ? O  do  you  not ftand greatly in
 need of fuch a perfon as Chrift, to be your  Saviour
 and Ranfomei from fuch a vaft number  of fins ?  O
 but their weight willprefsyou eternally down to the
 'oweft hell; if left to yourfelf, and laid upon your
 back. 
            Afflicled Man's Companion.         39

  3d/;',  O iinncr,  art thou deeply humbled, andde-
firoas of mercy upon any terms ? Believe then, that
thy fake is not remedilefs, but that there is a facrifice
provided for your fins,  and an  able and all ft.fricient
Saviour in your offer.   Believe  that the Lord Jeftis
Chrift is the Sou of God;, and  become field to be a
lurety for you ;  that Ivj  is both able and willing to
Cave to the uttermoft  all that come unto God by
hi.n.   Though  your iins, your dangers  and  your
fear?, were never fo js/cac, y< t he h able and willing
to lave.  O flee, prefeutly to tins refuge city, whole
rues are open to receive  you.   Truft your finds up-
on Chrift's  facrifice and meritorious  blood' for mer-
 cy and falvtuion.  Apply humbly to him, that ho
 may teach, you the will of God, reconcile  you to his
Father,  pardon your fins, renew you by his Spirit,
 •and fave you from'eternal wrath.
   e.thly, Give up yourfelf to God in Chrift, by way
 of covenant and  lolcmn refignation.  Every  man
 doth this  faciumentally in baptif 1; but you  muft
 alfo renew it perfonally and explicitly, and thereby
 give a cordial  and voluntary confent to the cove-
 nant of grace.   Acquiefce cheerfully in  the gofpel
 way of ialvation  through Chrift and his  righteous-
" nefs;  and accept  of God in Chrift,  as thy portion.
 Make choice of God thy Father,  as thy  reconciled
 father  in  Chrift ; and God  the  Son, as thy He
 deeuier and Savour ;  and God the Iloly  Ghoft, for
 thv  Sundtiner, Guide  and Comforter.   And  like-
 v.dfe <ftve up  thy;elf,  foul  and body, and all  then
 haft' to be  the  Lord's ; engaging, in  Chrift's
 ftrength, to live  for  God, and waik wdth  him in
 newnefs of life.   And ftudy  to do all this deliber-
 ately, unfeigned!y  and  cheerfully.  Though,  per-
 haps, you have done this, hypocritically, ?.: fermcr
 thuen,  yo 1 have profaned God's   covenant,  and
 behaved  unfteadfaftly  and pern-dic-iny   therein ;
 yet  now   endeavour  to  be  fincere  with  God fcr
 once.
                        D 2 
 40         Affiieied Man's  O.irjanhn.

   5thly, Be living daily in the exercife of faith and
 repentance  : renew  the acts  tb.ereof frequently, in
 proportion  to your renewed fins  vnd  guiltineis.
 Cleave cloth to glorious Chrift, your High Prieft and
 Surety, and be ever wafhing in his blood.  As long
 as you are in  the work!, you'll need to waih yoi r
 feet, John xiii. ic.  Come death when it will, letit
 find you at  the  fountain, always looking to, and
 making ufe of Jefus  Chrift.   You have j.,ixvt  need
 of Chrift every day of your life,  more cfpeciahy in
 iicknefs; but moft of all at a dying hour.   O what
 need will you have of Chrift, then,  as an Advocate
 with God,  when the queftion is to  be determined,
 ^•Vhere your  manfion  is to be aihgned, through all
 tt Tiiity, whcdicr in heaven or  hell ? O  then, be
 looking always to Chrift,  with th* eye of faith. Live
 in the conftant thoughts  of this  bleflcd  Mediator.
 Let him be firft in your thoughts, in the morning,
 and kift in your thoughts,  at  night.
   6thly, Be ftriving to  mortify every fin and luft,
 both outward and inward.   Be dying to Iin  daily,
 that fo you  may  not die for fin eternally.  O that
 iin may be  daily lofing its ftrength, and dying in
 you ! fo  that  it may be certainly  dead before you.
 Pray earncftly, that  your fins may die, before you
 die : For, if they die  notbeforeyou, but out-live the
 flying  body, they will live eternally  to  fling and
 torment  ho never-dying foul.

 Dikf.j.". Id .  lie not an^io::.; for recovery tohrrl:! ;bui
   'eaveil.e ijfae of the pri lent  ficknefs, to t]:e will and
   cleafure of the .' f nldy r.d/r God.
     RLdMEMBLR, O man," thou art the clay,  and
      God  is  the  Potter? h_  is  abfolute Lord; of
 thy life and time ■■., therefore learn  to adore his fove-
 rrdgnty over thee, and all thy  enjoy::.cuts.   David
 did Jo, v. hen  he  fid," Lord, my times are in  thy
hand," 1'fiih nxxi. 15.   And  indeed they ;'e only
belt in hi, hind, for he heft knows  how to  difpofe of
 die?;::.  T'..  prophet  frith, !fa.  xxx. 18.  '• the 
            AfilittedMans CompanP,:           41

Lord is a  God  of judgment, blefed are they that
wait for 3dm." judgment there fignifies  wifdom :
The Lord is  a God of wifdom,  and will order and
time all things well ;  and therefore it becomes us
quietly to wait for his pleafure, faying.   „ The will
of the  Lord be  done.''  Ic is taken  notice of, as a
rreat fin in the Ifraelites, that they waited not for
his counfel,  but limitted the holy one  of Ifrael,
Pfal.lxxviii. -ix.   What an unaccountable folly and
prcfumption is it, for the worms of the earth, to feek
to ftint and huik  the  Sovereign of heaven, to their
meafurcs ;  It  becomes  us at  all times, and efpecial-
ly  in iicknell and affliction, to have low, fubiniiuve
rhou?hts of ourfelves, and high exalted thoughts of
God's llr,  ctdynt\ , fuch as   Nebuchadnezzar h:-:d,
Dan iv.  35.   l" And all the inhabitants of the earn?
arc  reputed as  nothing:  And he doth according to
his will  in the army of heaven, and among the in-
habitants of the earth: and none can ftay his hard,
or fay unto  him, Whatdoft  thou  ?"   We  Ihould
therefore refer all to his wife determination, and be
willing to die or live,  as he  ihall be pleafed to  ap-
point.  I remember I  have read of a godly woman,
 who, in her  ficknefs, being a Iked by one, Whether
 fhe was molt defirous to die, or to live ? She anfwer-
 ed, 'I have no choice in that matter,  butrefer my-
 felf to the  will of God.'  k But, (faid the other) fup-
pofc God  ihould refer it to you, whether to die or
to live* which of them would you chcofe?' If God
(replied fhe) ihould refer it to me, I wotdd even re-
 fer it back again to  him.'    11  becomes  thee, O
 man, to be  entirely  refigned  to  the will of  thy
 Maker, and to  ikmd like a  fentinel  in thy .ftation,
ready to move, as thy great General and Command-
er ihall give  order, concerning thee.   It would be
 pleafant, and acceptable to God,  to fee  thee more
 defirous to be delivered from fin, than  from iicknefs.
 O but I'm  is a far worfe difeafe, than any iicktied; in
 the world! beg importunately, that the great Phy-
 iician may cure this woful fouhdifeafe, and let him

                         U  3 
  '"           ■ j,  ■ - - >t -1/ .(find n:pam ',,>..

 cio wind the f\'y what he pbafcth.  Thio w as Lt;-
 v ,d's practice in hi.-, affliction, Pfal. xxv. id.  k- Look
 upon iny affliction, and my pain.;  and  fer.dve  all
 my find'  As if" his  pains and induction •/ he a (.••:;.
 no  more, but that  God  woAd layy-rd then), and
 look upon them, and  do u ith the:/ as  he thought
 fie ;  but, as for his fins, no lefs will fatisfy hmi than
 a par Jon, and Ld acting them entirely out, Idas then
 m'-ghtbe remenftered no mere.

 L l.tr mr. \ . Bind yo ftlf vjilh holy parpyfs und re-
  join lions,  in ChrffFs ftrength, to be  mors watchful
   againft Jh:, more diligent in duty, and to improvet/.e
   time cfhealth  belt:r.if Codfbdtlbe pleafedtir.fcre
   it again toy a:.
         WHEN God  is vifitlng^our iniquities  with
         rods, and p'ttuiing a controverfy with you
 for  your omiilions and ilacknefsin  duty, he exptdts
 that you  will return from your back-ilidings, and fet
 about a  feidovs  reformation   and  change of life.
 Hofea v 15.  "I  will go, and return to  my place,
 till  they acknowledge their offence, and leek my
 face : In their affliction they  will  feek me early.''
 See   then  that you opui   your  car  to  difcipliuc :
 ftudy to anfwer God's  call and  expectation, and in
 .'ns   duength refolve to  enter upon a  new life.
 " Surely now it is meet to be faid unto God, I have
 borne chaftifement.  I will not  offend any  more.
 Th.it which I fee" not, teach  thou me: If I ha\0
 done iniquity, I  wiildo fo 1.0 more,"" Job,xx.-dv. ot,
 32.    Nov/  is  the  feadou you  ihould  fay   v.uli
 Ephraim, Hofea 'xiv. 8. "-What have I to do any
 mere with'idols ?"
  Having duly examined your felves, and fcarchcd
 out your  iins, you ought to pat a bill of divorce in-
 to each of their-hands.   Deliberately refol \ e againft
 all your fins, whether feeret, or open ; and efpecial-
 ly refolve againft your, dardng  and  beloved fins
-thefe fins of which do  moft  eaiily befet you.   R.e-
 folve alio againft all temptations to fin, and partic-
 ularly againft the firarcs of bud voa'p.m'/  whereby 
             Ajficled Mar:-; Cnmpaniw.         43

 you have been  formerly enticed;  fay  now with
 David, Pfal, cxix. 115. "* Depart from me, ye evil
 doers:  For I will beep the commandments ofmv
 God."
   \o\\  mult not only  propolh to forfake all fin, but
 alfo to  mind every  known duty :  that yon v.dh
 make rehton yo.r one thing needidd :  the rdcafino-
 of  Cio.l, the Chief buiiuef; of yo. r iifc;  that you
 will fet the Lord  always before you, give him your
 hear.: in all dntics, aim  at  nearneisandcommnnion
. witu God in every one  of them ;  and  ftill prefs for-
 ward   to  the  full  enjoyment of Cod  in heaven
 through eternity.
   lleiolve alio, through nrace, that  you will, in a
 fpecial  manner, mind fecret dudm, which the eyes
 of men  do not ohftrve,  anul thefe duties which con-
 fidence  doth  mot  challenge you for negleefini.
 And you  that are  heads of families, refolye to make
 more confidence of  familv  religion,  of worfnipping
 God with your families, both morning and even-
 ing ; inura cling yon- ehildren and fervnuts in the
 knowledge of Chrift;  and recommending  religion
 andgodliuefi to all round  about you, wdiether rela-
 tions or {hungers.
   And  if you would have your refolutious cdefteal,
 fee  that they be  accompanied  with  a deep n-mle of
 your in ldfliciency  to perform them in  your  o.vn
 ftrength..   Bear  always in  mind the cor caption and
 decettfrdueft of your own  heart, and make all your
 refolutious in a humble dependence on  the iddicieu-
 cy  ofjefis  Chrilt yoi r i.irmy.  Gbferve  the apo-
 tle Paul's advice to his fon Timothy, 2Tim. ii. 1.
 u Be ftrong in the grace that is in Jefus  Chrift." All
your ftock, Obeliever, is in his hand, fo that v/ithout
him you  can do  noching ; but, through Chrift
ftrengthening you, you are able to do all things.
t 
44
Afflided Man's Companion.
Diar.CT. VI. £:•/ your houfe in order,  Iy making your
latter-wills, andfe ltlingy9ur domefi ir andfec:-d ar affair s
while yon lave freedom and capacity for doing it.

     AFTER the  heart  is fet  in order,  the  next
       work is to fet your houfe in order,  according
to God's counfel to Kezekiah, Ifa. xxxviii. i.   Lis
recorded  of the patriarch Abraham, that  he was
cmedal to fettle the affairs of his family before his
death, Gen.  xxv.  5, 6.   He diipofed of  his  eftatc
ta Ifaac, and legacies to  the  fons of his  concubines.
It is too general a fault, that  men delay and put oif
making their wii!<?, as  they do their  repentance, io
the very kilt, and fotoo frequently never m?ke  them
at all.   Confider the evil of deferring or negketim-
this  necefiary affair : For if yon, upon v.lmui  God
hath beitowed means,  ihall die  inteitate,  your cftate
may defcend otherwife than you intended ; much of
it may be  fpent in tedious and expenfive  law-fuits:
fuch differences may  fall out among  relations, that
ihould  live in friendfhip  and  mutual  affection, as
cannot be  healed ;  fome of them may be reduced to
extreme want, when a finall legacy might have put
them  in a way of living  : And many  fuch incon-
veniences may  follow.   Well  then,  if your neglect
fhould bring on thefe evils, and  involve   pofterity
into endiefs ftrifes and contentions ; may  you  not
juitly  fear  that the guilt thereof will purfne you into
another world, whofe wretched careleflnefs was the
occaiion of all that  mifchief?
   Pray, what is the reafon that men put off this af-
fair ? Is it not, beca he they do not incline to  think
fo ferioufly  on death, as this will  occafion them to
do? Doth  not this fmtll of  abominable earthly-
mindednefs, and fpeak as if a man  defired all  bio
 pertlon in  this life, and cared not for a better  ?  and
that he is  fo far from preparing  for  death,  that he
 cannot endure to think of it ? Alas that this  worldly
difpofidcti ihovhl fofar prevail among  us 1 But ibrely
 there  is no wife man will fay, that  the putting eft'
 the thoughts of death will keep death at the greater 
Affileded Man's  Companion.          45
 diftance; for that preparing for death, and making
 onrwihs, will bring on death the fooner.
   It were finely bet to order our affairs thneouffy ;
 yea, do it in time of health, rather than" delay it un-
 to a fick bed, or a death-bed;  for either you  may
 be {hatched off fuddeuly,  and  have no time for it;
 or you may be taken with fuch a diftemper as  ihall
 feize your  tougnc,  fo  as  you cannot exprefs your
 mind;  or  feize  your understanding, fo as you  can-
 not rationally  difpofe your effects.   And  though
 none of thefe ihould happen, yet certainly it proves
 a great difturbance to a dying man, to be calling
 up,  ordering and fettling  the affairs  of his  family,
 when he iho dd be fecuring a heavenly manfion for
 his  f »v 1, and clearing  up  his evidences  thereunto.
 It is great  wifdom to put  this affair by hand;  that
 you may have as little to do with the world as  may
 be,  and all occafions of detraction  to your immortal
 foul may be prevented,  when it is near to its flitting
 into an eternal and unchangeable ftate.
   Moreover,  in fettling yonr fecular affairs, obferve
 thefe following advices.  1. Make your wills cheer-
 hilly, and  freely  lay  down whatever you  enjoy,
 when God  calls  you to it.  Fraife God that  you
 had  thefe things while you  needed them ; and when
 you have no longer ufe for them, leave them w ith-
 out  repining, to thefe that come after  yon.   Look
 not back to Egypt, when you are upon your march
 to Canaan.
  idly,  See that  you deal  jnftly,  in providing  for
 your family, paying all your juli debts, and making
 reftitution if you have wronged any.   Abhor all de-
 iigns of defrauding  any of your lawnd  creditors:
For, if your laft ait Ihould be unjuft, you leave a blot
upon your  name here; and  finceyou cannot repent
 of thii wickednefs, it being ammg your laft deeds.
 you  expo ft' yourfelf to a fearful doom in the world
whither you are going.
  3'//)',  In   fettling your eftates,  fee that God  and
good n.fes to be not forgot urn- Lft out.   V.7 hen  you 
45          elfjlieied Ma;:,s  Conpa-iiun.

are leaving the world, and can glorify God no long-
er here by your  words or actions, lee to honor the
Lord with  your fubftance, by  leaving  fome part
thereof to a  pious and charitable ufe.   I  know,  it
is  a work of charity to give for maintaining the
bodies of the  poor; and efpccially the poor of God's
people, who belong to  his family;  But  it is much
more pions   and charitable,  to leave  fomewhat for
propagating Chriftian knowledge in dark places, for
educating poor  children to read  the fcriptures, and
initructing ignorant fouls in the  knowledge of Jefus
Chrift.  It is much to  be lamented, that fo many
rich men among is die, and  leave  nothing to fuch
pious ufes.  The  liberality of papifts on their death-
beds, may give a lharp  challenge to many profeilcd
proteftants.   O  what a lhame it is to the profelfcrs
of the  doctrine of  grace, that the falfe dodrines  of
merit and purgatory ihould produce fo  many dona-
tions and mortifications  among  the papifts, and the
faith of Chrift's muft glorious gofpel ihould not do
the like among true believers  ! bhail the  proud con-
ceit of merit, and the imaginary  fear of purgatory,
prompt men  to do  more this  way, than  the certain
perfuafion  of the love of  God  in  Chrift, and the
well grounded hope of eternal life through the alone
merits of Jefus Chrift  ? O what a repro.ieh is this to
our holy reft "-ion 1
   <\thly,  It might be much to the glory of God, and
good of  fouls, that a  great  part of our teftaments
and latter wills ihould  coniiit  of  folemn charges
and cxortations and  bleifings  to our children"or
thofe to whom we bequeath  any legacy;  fo as
timy can never  (.yen.  oi r  teftaments,  or look into
them, but they might hear fomething that may malm
imprefuons on their fouls,  for their qd ritual edifica-
tion, and fbr quickening them to the diligent prac-
V-.e of both family and peifonal godbmfsT 
            Afflicled Man's Companion.          47

            CHAPTER.     II.

Containing  fome  particular  Dlrccdions  to thofe
   who  are  fiiarply  addicted  with  Sicknefs and
   long  Trouble.

Direct. I. Jufiify  God in ihe greateft affliclions
                 which befalyou.

     THOUGH God ihould. condemn  you,  fee that
      you acquit him, and fay, he is righteous in all
his dealings.    When  the  church  was under  the
heavicit diftrefs, Ihe finds caufe to juftify God, Lam.
i.  18.  "The  Lord is righteous, for 1 ha\e rebell-
ed  againft  his commandment."    So doth  godly
Nehemiah, Nth. in. 33. "Howbeit thou art  juft  in
all that  is  brought upon  us;  for thou haft done
right, but we  have done wickedly." The fame doth
holy David acknowledge, Pfal. cxix. 75. "I know
O Lord, that  thy judgments are right, and that  in
faithfulnefs thou haft afflicted me."  Now,  in order
to bring you to this agreeable frame, and to convince
you of the equity and juftice of God in his difpenfa-
tions, however heavy  and  long your diftrefs be, I
ihall lay before you the following coniiderations:
   if}, Confider the infinitely holy and righteous na-
ture of that  God whofmiteth thee, Pfal. cxix'  137.
'•Righteous art thou,  O Lord: and upright are thy
judgments."  We prefume it of a righteous man,
that he will do righteous  things; and ihall wc not
much more believe fo of a holy  and righteous God?
We cannot be infalibly certain  that a righteous
man will always  do fo; for a righteous man may
leave his righteoufnefs, becaufe  the creature  is mu-
table: but uod is immutably righteous; fo that  we
may be confident of it, that the Judge  of  all  the
earth will do right, for it is impcifible, he can  do
otherwiie, Zech.  iii.  5. ""The juft Lord is in the
midft thereof, he  will not do iniquity."  He will
not,hc cannot; for it is contrary to his nature. 
49         Afflicted  Man's  Cjtnpanhn.

  zdlv, Confider that  God never brings on any aft
flieLon without a caudn i Cor.  xi. 30. tk  Fortius
caufe many are fick."   He hath  ftill juft  ground
far  the Inavieft  ailiftdion, from thy fim and provo-
cations, and  may always fay to thee, as to liiael,
Jer. ii. 1 7.  19.   *; Plait thou not proa red this unto
thyfelf, in that thou haft forfaken the Lorb thy  God,
when lie led thee by  the way ? Thine own  wicked-
nefs {hall correct thee,  and thy backilldings ihall re-
prove  thee: know therefore,  and  fee, that it is an
evil thing and bitter,  that thou halt forfaken the
Lord."  There  is ftill ground enough for afflic-
tion to be  found in  the belt of God's  people; and
therefore it is faid, Lam.  iii.  33.  For he doth not
afflict willingly, nor grieve the children* of men."
No; it is our fins that  oblige him to it.   As Chrift
whipped  the  fellers  of oncn and ihecp, out of the
temple with a whip  (as is generally thought) made
of their own cords:  fo God never fcourgeth us but
with  a whip  made  of our  own fins. Prov. v.  22
" His own iniquities ihall take the wicked himfelf,
and he ihall be holden with the cords of his fins." If
we confider the  mighty  God as a  Lord  difpenfing
grace, then we find he  acts fovereignly, and accord-
ing to his will and pleafure,  Matth, xi. 26. "Even
fo,  Father, for fo it feemeth  good  in thy fight."
But, if we  confider him as a Judge difpenfing judg-
ments, he never doth it without a foregoing caufe on
the creaturcs's part.  God's  treafure of mercy is al-
ways full and ready to be let out to them that feek
it;  but his treafure of wrath  is empty till men fill it
up by their fins, Rom.  ii. 16.  u Thou treafureftup
to thyfelf  wrath  againft the day   of wrath." We
do  always  provide fewel for God's wrath  before it
kindle and break out  upon us.
  odly, Confider fatrher thisinftance of God's  equi-
ty, that when there  is  a caufe given, God  doth not
prefently take it, but continues to  threaten oft, and
warn  long, before he execute the fentence of  his
word.   He fends lelfer  ftrokes  as warnings of great- 
           Affiicled Man's Companion.          <9

 er,ifwe repent not  ; and he repeats his warnings
 many times both by  his word and providence, be-
 fore he finite.   Yea, even  when  repeated warnings
 are flighted,  he delays a iong time;  and waits to be
 gracious,   Ifa. xxx. 18.   And when man's cbftinacy
 and incorrigiblenefs arrive to inch a height, that he
 can fpare  no longer ; yet, how  loth is he  to give
 them up to fevere judgments ! Ilof.   :.i. o.  " Ido.v
 ihall I give thee up, Ephraim ?  How mall I deliver
 thee,  lfracl ? How ihall Ji make thee as Ad mail?
 How  ihall I fet thee  as  Zeboim ?  Mine heart is
 turned within me, my repentiugs are kindled togeth-
 er."   Vdhen  the Lord 'hadi  firmer.-, in  his  arm-,
 ready to give them up to fevcre judgments, yet in-
 makes a itand, and would fain be prevented iaf >re
 lie proceed to his ftrange weak ;  for fir he calls his
 acts of judgment, Ifa. xxviii.  21.   Acts of mercy
 are co-natural{ moft agreeable and pleafant to God
 Micah vii.  18.  " He delighteth  in  mercy: but
 judgment is his ftrange act, and his ftrange work.
   4thly, Confider, that when at  laft he fends itroke •
 on us, they  are always ihort of  the  caufe ; he ex-
 acts not the whole debt that tinners own to  his juf-
 E :e,  as Ezra doth acknowledge, Ezra. ix. i^d1"  Thou
 halt punilhed  us  lefs then our iniquities  deferve.k"
 The itroke he there is fpeaking of, was a moft heavv
 judgment; fearful ruin and defolation  came  upon
 Jerufalem, and the whole land of Judah ; the city and
 temple  were burnt to aihes, the people carried cap-
 tives  to a ftrange land, and treated as bond filaves
 among  the heathens; Yet,  faith  the holy  man,
 "Thou haft punilhed us lefs than our iniquities de-
 ferve."  q. d. It is true,  we have  been carried, to
 Babylon, but  injuftice we  might have been fent to
 hell .•  our  houfes ware  burnt,  but our bodies might
 have been  burnt too :  We have  been drinking wa-
 ter  but we might have beeji^pjS^nfteB^Vv^61
have had grievous burdens^cArearth,  but  vvemtaht
have  been groaning in Iliell; We  were baniihfed
 
 5 o          .. 'fficletl Man's Lor, pa,.ion.

 ly banilhed from God's prcftmee."  We  think it a
 great favor  among me.,  when any  punbhmcot is
 mitigated, wheal  the fentcrice  of dcadi  is chaaged
 intobandihment, or whan baniihment is turned into
 a fire ; cr a great fine  is made  fmaller : find will
 you thind: that  God deads  feverely  or  rigorpully
 v. ith you, when he lays you on afick-bed,  when he
 might juftiy  have  laid you in  bell, and poured  out
 .dibit- wrath upon you there ? You but tafte of  the
 brim of the cap,  when God might caufe you drink
 of the bottom and  dregs thereof.
   Have yon not caufe  then  to acknowledge God's
jr.ftice, nay,  even his mercy too, in Ids dealings with
 you, however rough they i'cem to be?  May you not,
 with crood reafon fay, anv thinpTefs than hell is a
 mercy to  fuch  an  il 1 -deferving creature as I am?
 If even a hard-hearted Pharaoh, under diftrefs,  came
 the le;. gti i to  own the juftice of God, Exod.  ix. 27.
 " I have finned ; the Lord is righto ?s :"   ihall  any
 prcddlcd Chrndan hill fhort of that obftinate  Egypt-
 ian ?
 di iirci. II. Labor fill tobefenfible of Coil's hand under
   heavy afjiicliui,  andbtware  offlupidhy  and  uncon-
   cernednefs ur.dt r it.
   IT is a fin to faint under heavy affliction,  but it is
     a duty to feel it,   Heb. xii. 5.  '• My  fon, def-
 pife not thou the chaftening of the Lord, nor faint
 when thou art  rebuked  of  him."   The  Apoftle
 there doth  caution  againft two  extremes  which
 every Chiiftian  under the rod ihould be careful to
 avoid, r.  Defpifing or malting light  of affliction.
2. Sinking or desfponding upon affliction.  We arc
 m great hazard ol running into the one or the  other.
 As to the firft, We may be faid to difqife the chaft-
 mftng of the Lord when  we do not obferve  God's
 hand  in  oar ^flUflJIgfl^fo as  to  reform  the  things
 whereby he was mlpTOfcd : Or when we refolve to
 abide  the trial, by the ftrength  of our own refplu-
 • ions and ftoutheartednefs. without looking to God
    V*  f          "  ' 
            Afjl'.Jed  Man's Companivm         5.

for dnpnm-ving grace :  Or when we turn ftnpid and
infimfibia under  the heavy and '-ni^ continued rod.
This defpifing and  flighting of the rod,  is not ra-
tienc?,but ftcqddity; It is not Chriftain magnanimi-
ty, but a  ftocial  temper of mind, molt  'nn.'i.-i  and
provoking to God.   We fee how angry God it with
linners when  his ftrokes  are  not felt.. Fa. xii.  25
14  He hath  poured  upon him the firry of his anger ,
..ad it hath fet him on fire round about, yet he Im.f.w
not ;  and it hath  burned him; yet he  laid it not to
heart." Jer. v.  3.  u  Thou haft flrkken them, but
they have not grieved : Thou haft con fumed them,
but they have refufed to  receive ccrrection ;  They
have made their faces  harder than a rock, they hme
redded to return."  There islittle hopes ol a fchoh :
.minding his !c(Ton, that is regardlefs  of  whipping.
It is a  dreadful fign to be like Pharaoh, decmr-pm.
our fins, when God  is thundering in his wrath.   Sin
that willfleep when his houfe is on fire, or lie fiili
in bed,  as   if he  was  not concerned, mar alfuredh,
expect  to be  confi  med in its flames,   ds  fdav-c'
cot Id. not bear it, when the meffer.gere, he fent to the
Ammonites  out of  good  will, were adronved  hnd
defpifed ;    neither will God endure  it, when the
meaengers he fends to finners are flighted;  for he
that flights a  meffengor, chroma his mafter.  7'hafc
who make light of  affliction, make light of Gckl ti=a:
lends it, and make light of fin that p:m:t res it.
   eddy/cy?. But, when is it that people  are fuitably
concerncd  under a  heavy rod ? Anjw.  When they
fee God's hand:, fear God's voice, aniwer his intent;
arc curious  to know  his  mind, defirous to do thefe
things  he requires,  and mfarm thefe things he is dif-
plcafift w"th.
  Remember, every  affliction  is a me Termer from
Gc.l, and dnferves  a  hearing from you.  It con.n-n
to th.ee with fnr'u a mefihge as Ehud did hot Eglon
Judges  du   20. u I lane  an eirand  from God tn
thee, O king  :'ft have a  me Page from God to tier
OChrbla'n,' O  iinner.   Well. Jemi  an mr  and
                        E 2 
 5-2.          'fjl'ulid Mans  Crriadsn.

 hearken with rcver mce and attention  to this  er-
 tand;  fay, "• Speak,  Lord, for thy fervant heareth,
 what w ouldft ihou  have me  to do ?"  Believe it
 that God fpcaks as really to you by his  rod,  as by
 his wcrd;  therefore  he fays,  ik  Hear ye the  rod."
 God {pake  as truly by his ten plagues to Egypt, as
 he did  ly  his ten precepts to  Ifrael.  And  if  the
 calm  voice of the word were more  regarded,  we
 fhould hear lefs of the rough voice of the rod.   As
 Gideon  tcok briers  and  thorns of the wddcrncm,
 and  with  them  taught the men of Snccoth, who
 would not  be taught  by  fairer  means,  Judges \iii.
 id. fo God takes the  idarp prickles of fore  afflic-
 tions, to teach you   his  ftatutes, when you will
 mac be  taught by foftcr methods.  Beware then of
 grieving God's Spirit, by turning ftupid and infalli-
 ble under  fharp or long continued trials:  I'm, the
 more pains God is  at with  you by his rod, hearken
 the more carefully  to his voice ; and labor to make
 ihe greater proficeucy in the fchool  of affliction,
 where he thinks  fit to continue  you ; that fo you
 may inherit that blefling, Pfal. xciv. 12. " Bleifed
 is  the man whom thou chafteneit, O Lord,  and
 tcaeheft  him out of thy law."

 Diarcr. III. Beware of' mifconfiru cling God's deal-
    ings towards you, and of charging himfoolifhly.
 TX7E are apt to believe Satan's fuggeftions un-
 VV    c'er heavy trials, and to entertain wrong
 thoughts of God and his difpeniations.  Now,  theft;
 you ought  to guard againit: as, for inctauce, iff
 ftc-ware of harbouring  atheiftical thoughts, as if dure
 were no Providence, no wife Governor of this to v. en
 v. oriel,  no  diftinctlon betwixt the good and bad;
 and that it is to no pnrpofe to be religious, like thefe
 mentioned in Mai. hi.  14.  k- Ye June faid, it is vahi
1.0  ferve God:  and v.  hat  profit  is it, thatweha\c
kept his  ordinances, and walked mournfully before
 the Lord of Holts 1" Yea, even the  Pfalmift,  when
he h'-gms to compare  his  own iharp trials with the- 
             Ajflicled  Mam's  Companion,         53

 wicked's eafe and profperity. is tempted to think all
 religion in vain, and fiiy, Pfal.   Ixxiii.  13.   14.
 tl  Verily I have cleanfed my heart in vain, and wash-
 ed my bauds in innoeency.  For  all the day long
 have  I been  plagued,  and  chaftened every  morn-
 ing."  But thefe are  nothing but the hell:!h fuggef-
 tions  of Satan,  that  irreconcileabie ene?:ry of God.
 and precious fouls, againft wdiich we ihoeld clofely
 ftcp our ears.
    idly, Beware  of charging Gcd  in your  heart?;
 with  rigor  or injufilce in his dealing,  like theie.
 Eark.  xmij.  25.  Yet ye fay, the way of'tie Lord is
 not equal.   How  highly  unjuft  and bdmous,  are
 fuch  thought: to  him, who is the  junge of aft  the
 earth, and cannot do but right !
   . pdly, Eeware of thinking that heavy afdl-tlon do
 ah/ays  fpfak  wrath in God againft thee : No, feme
 t'mes they fpeak  forth love, and God  may carr\■
,. ingon aiove-defign thereby tathy foul, viz. to fi b-
 thie  thy  ftrong lufts,  and ('raw  thee  ncaitr vnto
 himfeft. As for thefe who tiiink tlrt the imar'd.ng  red
 and divine lo\ e cannot dwell together, let them read
 that paftage, ileb.  xii. 5,6.  "■  And ye have for-
 go1, ten the exhortation which fpeaketh unto you a-;
 m.to  children, My fon. defpife not thou the chaften-
 iag of the  Lord, nor  faint when thou art rebuked
 of him.  For whom the Lordloveth, he chaitcneth
 am! fcourgtth every fon whom he reccivethd'
    4///-, "Beware  of  defrauding  and  diftuftftd
 fno'ght? of God, under fharp addictions.   Some  are
 ready to  raid the foundation, quit their intereft in
 God.  and  ill.? prcmifes.  and cat  away their hope-;
 and  confidence, faying with  Gideon, Judges vi,  ty.
 Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this
 evil befallen us ? So David was ready to draw a hairy
 conchiiion,  Pfal.  mud. 22.   I faid in my hafie, I
 am cut of from before thine eyes.  But this was the ef-
 fect of unbelief;  for he that believeth, v. ill not make
 hallo.
                        E3 
54          sip"jlidled Ma.is Cj,npn/.iw.

Diuect. IV.  under  fore  trouble and diftrefs  labor
         to exercife a flrong and lively faith.
   IT was a noble and heroic rcfolution in that holy
     mat  job,  vmhrhisfi  gular trials, Job *iii.  jr.
'1 hough hej lay  a\yet will I truft in. hi a.  q. d.  Let my
broke;, be ne\cr fo fore and heavy, yet I will not let
go  my  grins of his word and promifes  ; I will not
raife  theft'  fotmdations of my hope.  It was the
way  the Pfalmift  kept himfelf from finking under
his heavy burdens, Pfal. xx-\ iii. rg.   I had fained
md:/)Ibadbe!!evedtof?e thegrJmjI.oftheLord, inthe
land of ihe fving.   Confider but  a little, the noble
influence that faith hath to ftrengthen and ihpport
the foul under fore trials.
   ift, Faith grips to  the  great  gofpel  promife  of
falvation in ami through Jefus Chrdi, and fo fecures
the foal's nr.fm intereft through  eterity;  which
may make the foul eafy in  every  lot.
  idly, Fahh views God in Chrift, *. the he1, m in the
gr^a'.e-.t ftorm,  and foit endures, as feeing him who is %
?nvi/:<-le  H;d.  xi. 2m
   oadiy, Faith caiis the foul's'anchor upon the Rock
of Ages, and  days itfelf on  God, and the faithful
promifes; whereby the foul is ceded and dilbarden-
cd of its fears and melancholy apprehenfious,  Pfal.
iv. 22. Ifa.  h 10.
  erthly, Faml.-.  Lr'mgs  new ftrength  and au.ddi .ry
fuppucs of grace from htuan, w hen the former fi;p-
ply is exhamled and fpent; whereof David had the
fi.vce: experience,  Pfal.  xxvii.  13.   As God doth
pdmt and actt.ate grace in  the foul, fo he is pleafcd
to come  in  with feafonable fupplies  and  reinforce-
rnents to the weak and decayed graces of his people,
anfwerablc to their preldnt exigencies and preflures :
And thus he doth  from time  to  time feed the be-
liever's   lamp  with frtih oil, give  in  more  faith, ■•
more  love, more  hope, and  more  defires  ; and
thereby he gives power to the faint, and ftrengthens
the things which remain, when ready to die. 
             Afflicted Man Companl^:.          55

   Sthly, Fahh keeps the  foul  from finking under
 I.eavy triad;, by bringing  in  former experiences of
 the power, mercy and farthfulneid of God to the af-
 1 acted foul: Hereby was  the Pfahnilt  fupported  in
 ii.firms,  Pfal.  xiii." 6.  Pfal.  lxxxvii.  4.  O, faith
 hidii, remember what God hath  done  both for thy
 c<atward and  inward man; he hath not only deliv-
 ered, thy body when in trouble,  but he hath done
 prent things for thy foul; he  hath brought thee out
 ora ftate of black nature, entered into a  covenant-
 relation with  thee; and made his gooduefs pafs be-
 fore thee; he hath helped thee to pray,  and many
 t* men hath1 heard thy prayers and thy  tears. Hath
 he  not formerly brought  thee out of the  horrible
 pit, and out of the miry clay,  and put a  new fong
 m  thy  mouth, and made thee to refolve never  to
 give way  to  fuch  unbelieving doubts  and fears  a-
 mihi3  And how unbecoming is  it for  thee now to
 fc>   •                      o
 fink in trouide ?
'  fully, Faith fupucrts  the foul, by giving it a picaf-
 ant view ami proipect of a happy oatgate from  all
 trouble ; w hen it  shall be admitted to fee and dwell
  with Chrift htreafier. Thus was Job fupported in
 his greateft diftrefs, Job. xix. 25, 26,  27.   L For I
 know  that my Redeemer liveth; and  that he  fhall
 hmd at the latter  day upon the earth.—Whom I
 iuatl fee  for  unyftlf, and" mine  eyes fhall behold,"
 uC.  A believing view of the  foul's meeting with
 its  Redeemer, and receiving a crown  of glory from
 himatlait, is an excellent idpportto a Chriftian un.
 thr the heavieit  affliction;aud fo was it to Paul,
 1 Eim. iv. 7,  8.
    -Ahly. Faith gives great fi.pport, by the encourag-
 ing reprefentations  it makes of  Chrift, and of  his
 1 .relent concern for the believer while  under ailiic-
 'tion.  AsJorinitance, if, Faith reprefents Chrift to
 a believer  under trials, as fympathizmg  with him
 mm r  his  diftrefs, feeling  his  pain,  hearing   his
 groans, bearing  his burdens, and ready  to releive 
$6           AjLeled Man's Ca^wdnn.

him  in  his own appelated time,  which it well be-
cometh him to wait for.
  idly,  Faith reprefents  Chrift as putting, his al-
mighty arm under the believer's head, and convey-
ing inviiible  ftrength to  fuppcrt  and hold 1dm up
under his greateft preffures.
  3/-//)',  Faith represent. Chrift  as pleading the af-
flicted behe\ er's caufe wdth God, and anfv.cr.ug al1
die charges of the law, the challenges of conic.ence,
and accufations of Satan againit him.
  e^ihly, Faith  reprefents Chrift as itanding  by the
furnace  as a refiner where his gold  is melting;
carefully  overfeeing the  trials of his people,  that
they may work for their good; and ready to bring
then out thereof, when they are fudiueutly purified
from their drofs.
  Stkly, Faith  reprefents  Chrift as  finiiing on his
people under the crofs,  whifpering peace  into their
ear,  and faying, Will done good and faithfulfervant. q

Direct. V.  Labour to bear withpaliena whatever
      load of trouble ihe Lord af points for you.
       WE  will  perhaps  obferve  fome  who  are
         ftrangers to religion  contentedly end  ring
very painful evils;  and this they may  do by virtue
of a natural bardnefs and  refolution wh'nfti lorne are
endowed  with, or  upon  the  account  argmoems
farrddn.fi by  human prudence: 'id is is only pa-
tience as a moral virtue, which fome attain to. but
it is  patience as a fpiritual grace,  or  a fruit  of the
Spirit, which we maft aim at under our trials;  that
we may  hear them commtedly  from divine princi-
ple?, to divine  ends. Now this grace of patience we
muit tameftly  beg  from  God  under heavy afflic-
tions, for it is  only  he that muft work it in vs; and
therefore he is called the God of patience, Horn. xv.   •
5. And  in order to your  attaining of this grace, 1
dual  lay before  you the  following cordiderations,
which may be  uftf.d;  through the Lord's bleifing,
for that end. 
             Afficled alafi's Companion.          57

    rft,  Confider  the patience of our  Lord  Jefus
 Chrift  under fufFerings  inexprellibly greater than
 yours.   When  it pleafed the Lord  to  bruife him,
 and put him to grief; how patiently did  he bear all ?
 according  to that  remarkable  word,  Ifa. liii.  7.
 u  He  was oppreffed, and he was afflicted, yet he
 opened not his mouth; he is brought as  a lamb  to
 the {laughter, and as a fheep before her ihearers  is
 dumb, fo he opened not his mouth."  Now,  Chrift
 fidfered as an example of patience,  though it was not
 liis chief  end;  and  furely  all the members of the
 body  ihould ftudy to imitate the head  in patience.
 Did  your idelfed Saviour patiently endure fuch ago-
 nies and pre fin res of wrath for you;  and, will you
 decline to undergo  fome fhort pains or ficknefs  in
 obedience  to his commands ?
   adftg Confider God's foverelgnty over you.  He
 is the great Femcr, and you are  his clay:  and why
 may  ha  not do with you as he  pleafeth ? If your
 children olfmd   yew, you fcourge  them, and perhaps
 da it  do me times without reafon;  yet how ill do you
 take  it  when they refufe to fubmit?  How will you
 drive and  fpnr your horfes  under you,  and may be
 fometimes unreafonably ?  Yet they bear all quietly,
 and make no refiftance.  Shall they take blows from
 their maftcr; and will not you from your Maker,
 that has fur marc power over you ? If any challenge
 \ ou iae cruelty to your children or bealts, you take
 it not well, becauie yon think you may do  what
 son wall  with your o.vn,  and no n^m hath a right
 to  cp,aired  with yuu: But  hath  not God a greater
 property  in you  than  you'in  your  children  or
 cattlcAud, wiliyoa,not patiently fadmit to your wife ,
 aid t! id lute Sovereign [
   •x/A,  ConfuLr  th  y fins as the meritorious caufe  of
all chy a'll'cti > r;, ho  v.ever heavy they be. If thou haft
 right thoughts of thy fins,  and   the aggravations
thereof, thy m'nd  may be  cornpofed to a patient
ihbuiftujn to God's hand: If fin be heavy on thee
all thy adfiacd) i^ will be light. Luther gives this as 
58         AffiicledMards Companion.

a reafon why he flighted the rage  of the pope and
emperor,  and all  his outward troubles: They  are
all little to me, becaufe iin is fo weighty on me.
Hence it was that  Paul  complained not at all of his
fufferings, for as great as  they were: but he cried
out much of his fins, Rom. vii.  24.   0 wretched man
that I am, who fhall dtliverme from the body  of this
death I  Senfe of fin doth fwallow  up the fenfc of af-
fliction, as the ocean doth  little brooks.   For, with
whom ihouldft thou qnarrel, but thyfelf, when thou
bringeft troubles  on  thyfelf?  This conlideration
fhould bring thee to refolve and fay with the proph-
et,  Micah vii. 9.   I will bear the indignation of tbe
Lord, becaufe I have fumed againfl him.
  qthly, Confider, how fharp  ioever the pains are,
you are called to bear, yet they fall infinitely ihort
of what you have juitly deferved  at God's bauds.
It is of his infinite mercy  that death and cvr Halting
deftruction have not been  yovr portion  long fmce;
and that you are not now roaring under  the cutrem- •
ity of his indignation in the bottomlefs pit, together
with  the  devil and his  angels.  And  confeqvent-
ly,  whatfecver falls ihort of this, is  truly a great
mercy; and is fo far from being grc nd of quarrel-
ling,  that the greateftfu'ferer on this fide hell,  hath
juft caufe, to admire God's clemency in dealing more
favorably with him than he hath deferved.
  $thly, Compare  thy cafe  with others that have
been, cr prefently are in dilhud..  Do not f?y there
is none fp hardly dealt with as thou arc: for thou
knoweft not the addiction of others. Confider duly the
trials  of that eminent  faint Job, in all  the clr< mn-
ftances  thereof, and fee if you can  fay that your
forrow is near fo grtat as  his  Sorrow was.   Again,
compare your cafe wmh that of the  damned in hell,
who lie and fry  in endlcft  and  eallefs Harms,  fo
that they have no reft day nor night,  but the fmoke
of their torment afcenda for ever: Ar :1 think what
a bleifmg itis,  that you are. yet in a ftate  of faivamm,
and not delivered eva to thefe everlafting dumdums 
            4ydd led Man's Companion           J9

 v. Inch we'-e the due demerits of your fins, and to
 which you  might  long  ago ha  .  <. ten juitly  con-
 demned, had it not  beau  mr the patience and long-
 fuiferiug  of  A''-'      ^od,  who  waitcthto  be
 gnu urns togtm:; . ..,.ers.   When you confider thefe
 things, inftead  of being dhTmLfmd  v/idii the divine
 difpenfations. yon have   caufe  to  blefs God, that
 matters are  not worfc with  von ; and that you are
 kept  out of hell to this day,  where thoufands, no
 more guilty than you,are prefently rearing in end-
  lcfsdefperation.
    Unto thefe co-tdderations I fhall fubjoin fome few
 kelps or  advices, in order to  the attaining  of pa-
 tience under  foee troubles,   i. Labour to get pardon
 eft dm and peace with God, fecured  to thy  foul,
 and this will enable you  to bear the heavieft crofs
 with,  patience:   Hence it  was that Luther cried,
 "  Smite, Lord, as thou wilt, I take all in good part,
 feeing my Iins are  pardoned:  Ol   pardon of fin is
 the  crowning  hlelfing,  therefore will  I bear any
 thing, I  will  fw allow up quarrelling into admiring;
 I wdii welcome the  pruning knife, feeing there  is no
 fear of the bloody ax to fell me down."
    2.  Labour to fee God's hand in thy affliction. Do
 not,  like the dog,  fnarl at the itone, but lookup to
 tin? hand that throws it.   And finely a view oi the
 hjnd of a holy God, ma/  ferve to calm all theboif-
 terous waves of thy corruption; fo  did it with Da-
 vid, Pfal.  xxxix.  9.  / was dumb, I opened not my
 mouth-, becaufe thou did/} it.   When he looked to the
- inftruments and fecond caufes  of his afflictions, his
 heart waxeft hot, and the fire of his inward paifton
 began to bum and  break  out; but when  he once
 efpied God's hand and feal to the   warrant for his
 correction, he became filent, and patiently fubmitted
 to the divine will.
   3. Get a humble  and  felf-denial frame  of fpirit,
 that you may  have  low thoughts of yourfelves, and
 of  all your atcainments  whatfomever.   A proud
 man cannot  think of fubmitting to the  divine  will, 
f.o          yipptidted amau's Co■;/;anion.

but will break before he bow.  Hence we fet a vail
difirence betwixt  a proud  Pharaoh, and an humble
Eli, under  the rod: The one fays. I'dho is the Lord,
that Ifhould obey him ?  But the other faith. // is the
Lord Jet him do what feemeth him good.
  4. Get love to Jefus Chrift.  Love is an enduring
principle, 1 Cor.  xiii. 7. Itemlureth all things.   It
makes the foul, like the kindly enhd,draw nearer to
Chrift,  the more it  is beaten.
  5. Interpret God's  ways  and  dealings  with you
always  in  the belt  fenfe.   And, la/Hy, He earned in
prayer, that God may  conquer your rebchiouswill,
and fubdue  thofe mutinous  rifings of heart wnhhi
you againft himfelf.

Di:iect.  VI. Beware of envying wicked men, when
  you fee them in  health and profperity.
     THE  Pfalmift, when he was cbaliened every
      morning and in great adverfity, was  liable
to this evil, Pfal. lxxiii, 3.   I was envious at the fool-
ifh, when I faw the profperiiy rfthe wicked.   Corn pi
nature doth ftrongly incline us to  this linft.l dif'u/u-
tion, efpecially in the day  of fore affliction ; for the
fpirit that dwelleth in us, lufleih to envy, James iv. 5.
But, did we rightly confider the ftate of wh ked men,
we  woukl fee  greater ground to pity than envy them
in the moft profperous condition ; Why ? The prof-
perity of the foils fhall deflroy them, Proy. i. 32, It make;,
them forget God, and turn  hardened ami fecure in
Iin  which  haftens  their ruin.  W ho would envy a-
malefactor's going   upa  high  bidder,  and  being
mounted above the reft of the people, when it is on-
ly for a little, and  in order to his being turned over
and hanged?  This is juft the caufe of wicked men<
who are mounted up high in profperity i for it is fo,
only that they may be caft down deeper into  de-
ftru<ftion.   Obferve that word, Pfal.  xxxvii.  1, 1.
" Fret not thyfelf becaufe  of evil-doers, neither be
thou envious againft thofe that work iniquity :  For
they {hall foon be  cut down like grafs."  &c.   And 
             At fd. tied Man's Compandor..         eft

 that word,  Pfalm xcii.  7.  U'\Vhen die wickad fating
 as  the  grafs, and whan all the vmrk'<fi>  of iniquity
 doflouriih, it is that they ihall be deitroyed forever."
 It  would be a hrutilh thing to envy v.,\ ox his high
 ami fweet Pafture, when he  is only thereby fitted 1
 the day of {laughter.  'Who would have envied  dm
 beafts of old, tne garland and ribbons with which
 the heathen adored them when they went to be fidr-
 riltred? Thefe external ornaments of health, wealrh,
 pleafures and preferments, v. herewith wlch'cd men
 are endowed, cannot  make  their ftate  happy, nor
 change their natures to the better.   Whatever  ap-
 pearance thefe things make in die ryes of the world,
 they  are  but like a  noifo.n  dunghill  covered  with
 fcarlet, as vile and loathfoum in God's fight as ever.
 How quickly is the beauty  of earthly things biaf!ccl ?
 The .triumphing of the  wicked is fl^ort,  Job. fv. 5
 Tf.jy live in pleafures on  the earth, for a  while; but
 God fets them in  flippery places, from when ae 1 hey
 foo 1  Aide into perpetual pain and anguilh.   They
 have a ihort time of mirth,  but. they fhall have an
 eternity of mourning.  The longer their  profperity
 is,  their fins are the'greater, and their buffering's
 will  be more grievous.  But, O believer, it  is in
 mercy  to  thee, that God doth  hedge up thy way
 with  thorns, that thou may eft  not find  thy paths;
 whilft he turns the wicked loofe, and fuffers them tj
■ftray  and wander windier th:y will, to their eternal
 vein.   God  takes this method with thee, to make
 yon meet for an inheritance,  and prepare you for a
 crown of glory; but he takes a  conti'ary way with
 the wicked, to.fit them for  deft ruction;  Therefore
 you ought  not  to be fretful under his  hand, hut
thankful.  We read of queen Elizabeth,  when  ihe
was in prifon, how ihe envied the poor milkmaid fhe
faw palling  by  and would have  thought her  fiejf
happy to have  been in her condition: but had.that
afflicted princefs known the  glorious reign of forty-
four years ihe was foon to enter upon,  ihe  would not:
have repined at the bappineis of ib mean a pcrfon . 
(l          Afflicted ft Jans Co m.par.hn.

But, O afflicted believer, it is not a glorious reign
for a fet number of years, thaL is provided for thee ;
it is even a reign with glorious Chrift thy Redeemer
forevr and ever:  And, haft thou any ground tobe
difcontented or envious?
Direct.  VII.guard againfl repining complaints and
  difcontented murmurings  againfl the  pi evidence of
  God, under heavy ficknefs and affliclion.
       E.  fee, the murmurers and complainers  are
       claifedwith thefe that walk after their own
lufts, Judge ver.  16. I know,  the people of God are
liable to murmuring  and impatience alio  under af.
fliction; but there is a great difference betwixt them
and  the wicked.  I'll have occafion to fpeak of be-
lievers, murmurings afterwards, when I  come to
fpeak of their  cafe in  particular; but hear 1  ihall
handle the fin of murmuring in general,  and as it
appeals mainly in the  unregenerate, under heavy
affliction.
  This fin of murmuring is the froth of impatience
and fcum of difcontent; it is  iirft cheriihed  by re-
pining thoughts,  and then vented by unfuitable com-
plaints and expoftulations, taxing the adminiftration
of providence,  as if God dealt too hardly with ns.
Our very thoughts are audable with God,  yea,  as
loud in his  cars, as  words are in ours; but it is yet
worfe, when  reping thoughts are not  cruihed, but
fettered to break, out into words tending to the dif-
honor of God.
  Quefl. But, it  is"altogether unlawful to  complain
of affliction, whatever be our cafe?
  Anfw. Humble complaints  are not murmurings,
ror iinful in themfelves; otherwife there  would be
no room for prayer,  and for fpreading out  our dif-
trcfied cafe before the  Lord.  We find God's  chil-
dren making complaints in affliction; but  then  they
do not complain of God, but to  God,  wdth a hum-
ble inquiry into the  caufe  and meaning  of his difi
 penfations, and laying  all the blame upon themfelvep
w 
           Afflicted Man's Companion.           63

 as did Job, chap. x.  1, 2.   I  will leave my com-
 plaint upon  myfelf ; I will fpeak in the bitternefs of
 my foul, I will fay unto God do not ^ondem.n me :
 {hew me  wherefore   thou  contendeft  with inc."
 Thus the  bleifed Son of God himfelf did, in his dif-
 trefs, when he cried,  My God. my God. why haft thou
 forfaken me ?  But there  we may obferve, he com-
 plains to God, not of  God ;  he hath not  1 hard
 word or thought  of God, but expreifcth a holy con-
 fidence  in God,  My God,  my God:  he hath tao
 words of faith for one word of fear, he humbly in-
 quires into the caufe of the difpenfmien, andcieiue
 to bring up his will  to God.  not that God fhould
 bring down his will to him :  If it hepoffdole,ficy%eae,
 list thiscuppafs ; however,glorify chyname, provide
 for thy  own  glory,  and do with  me wdiat tlmu
 pleafeft.   in this  matter our Lord doth  fet himfelf
 as an example  of patience to us, teaching us tone-
 ware of impatient mur  uaring  and quarrelling with
 God's providence in  our affitction ;   which marry
 dines we are guilty of, cidier when we harbour ha: m
 thonghts of God's dealings, or break forth into run
 and  unadvifed  fpeeches;  when we  charge Gcd
 foohlhly, and complain cither of too much ie verity,
 as Ezek. xviii.  2, 25.  or too long, delay,  as  Ida.
 xlix. 14. or  when our complalncs are mixed wfth
 unbelief and diitruft, as Pfal. ixxviii. 19. or when  una
 complain more of 01 r puniihment than  we  do of
 our fin,  and nothing  will fathfy us but deliverance
 from trouble.
   Now, to deter you from  thefe murmurings  and
 complaints in trouble, I fhall  lay before you the fol-
 lowing confiderations : lit, They who deferve word
 do commonly complain  and  murmur moft,  and are
 moft ready to think  they are  hardly dealt with.
The muhankfd  Ifraehtea  were  ftill  murmuring.
Aaibitious  Abfalom   was  difcontented.     Bloody
Haman,  in midft of  all his  greatnefs,  cries  out
What doth all this avail me ? But humble Jacob faith
he was not worthy of the lead of ail the merft'-and
                 F 2 
 64         Afdeled Man's i ompamon.

 :rmu which  God had ihewed him.  And holy Jul'
 uhfles- God, and'patiently  fi.bin-it%  when he took
 iron: him, as well as when he gave him.
   idly, .Mi ran ring  is a fin  that  God takes fpecial
 notice of,  ami looks on as an injury  and affront
 done  immediately  againft himfelf,  u\'umb. xiv.  27,
 '• I have heard the  murmurings  of the children of
 brae!, which  they murmur againit mc."  He that
myves  e.n- to the groan of  his own  fpirit, doth  alio
 near tut  grumblings of thine, and will reckon with
 tnee for litem.
   3<-'*'/v, It cannot no wife benefit or relieve usiu dif-.
 tmfi.   I may  fay of finftil complaining,  (as Chrift:
 of fin fid care)  'Which of you, by  complaining, can
 add one  cuidt to his  itature?   V. hat cafe or relief
 can you get  by contending with  God?  Nay,in-
 il'-ad oi eafing you of ycur burden, it will make it
 the heavier ; as a child the more  he firuggles with
 his  parents, he is the more beaten,  The ifraelitcs
 were  once  within eleven  days" journey of Cmaan ;
 rut  by their  uu rmurings, they  pro\oked  God  to
 lead them forty years march in the wilderncdl before
 they  ccudd reach it.
   4thly,  "Whatever be your diftrefs, there is no juft
 rround for complaints, whilft thou haft thy life for
 a  prey.     Remember  that  word of  the afflicted
 chtu'ch, Lam.  id. 39.  "  Wherefore doth  a living
 man  complain, a man for the puniihment of his
 fins!"' A nam  living, a  man upon the earth, a man
 out  of hell hath no caufe to complain, whntev-. r he
 his aidftUon.  For,  let   him  compare   lfib fin and
 pnniihrnent together, he  will  find  there is no pro-
 rorden^  fin is  a  tranfgrcflion againit  the infinite
 God:;  puniihment  is ftntt an affliction upon the finite
 ■.reature: fin  ftrihes at the very being of God ;  but
 pmdlinnent only at the couu'drt of the creature,   fa
 that whatevrr  \ urn- punifhment  be, you  have more
 caufe to  give thanks than to complain ;  and to fay
 w ith Ezra, Thou haft par: 'ft.ed us lefs than our iniquities
 ■d-eyrve   It mi .-he ha' ■. betu a  th nufand times worfe 
Apjiictea man's companion.
65
 if ftrift juftice had been the rule:  It is of the Lord's
 mercies we are not con fumed.
   Sthly, When you murmur  under ficknefs, you
 quarrel with the meifenger of that fovereign God,
 who gave you your lives,  and can take them  again
 when he thinks fit;  and we know meffengers ought
 not to be maltreated or abided,  whatever be  their
 commifiion, and far  lefs  wdicn  they are fent upon a
 good defign.  Now, if  you confider the deiign of
 this nieffenger and  his  errand to you,  inltead  of
 fretting and quarrelling at  his  comeing,  you ought
 rather to blefs God that fends f'ucii a fuitable har-
 binger and  forerunner to tell you that death  is ap-
 proaching, and that he  vouchfafes to take fo much
 pains on you, to wean you from the world, and  make
 you willing to be gone,  by long continued trouble;
 when he migh have feized you  in a violent  man-
 ner, and driven you aWay by main force, without
 ufing any means to obtain your confent.   Have not
 many, who were moft unwilling to  die, at die be-
 ginning of a ficknefs, been brought, by the increafe
 and continuance of it, to be well fatisfied to leave
 the world, and long to be with  Chrift? And  was
 not this for their advantage?
   dthly, Confider the  great evil   and finfulnefs of
 impatient murmurings, complaints and quarrellings
 ueidi r  afllicton.
   i- Murmuring hath in it much unbelief and dif-
 truitofGod, Pfal.  cvi. 24, 25.   They believed not his
 word, but murmured in their tents.  They could not
 believe that  the w ildernefs was the way to Canaan,
 that God would provide and furnifh a table for them
 there,  and  relieve them  in all  their itraits. So it is
 with us in  trouble, we quarrel with  God's provi-
 dence,  becaufe we do not believe his  promifes; we
 do  not believe" that this can conliftent with love,
or can work for good in the end.
  2 .It hath in it unthankfulnefs.   While  we com-
plain of  one  affliction,  we  overlook a thoufand
mercies.  The Ifraclites murmured fo for what they
                      *3 
(6            /''"Hied 7mfiJ* 'Companion.

h..d  or, thatthey u -a hand fully fargot aft ;hey h:uf.
 '• htrt-a.  a thankf  pmdm  is fo far from fveting
that God  do.h not grVc hdn' every thing, that he
wcnd.erj- tiiat '.'od uboiudgive him any thing.   I am
'. m itantheleafl 'falltlymerci'u faid Jacob, lie are
pcrpii x-d. add Paul, but not in d-Jjair: v. a have God
to ^o to, which  is matter of pianfe.  lh.it the mur-
 uurar unthankful-.- overlooks  all his pvefent, and
fa:gets all  his tenter mercies;  and gives not God
thanhs fer' any  thing.  Becaufe God rxmoves  his
 <o:nfor:s,  his health,  ftrength and  eafe ftdr a time;
 ali tha years de formerly enjoyed rhem,  umagh molt
' mid.c ftrvehty,  arc quire buried in omivion.
   3. it  imnlies  much pride and  feif-conceit.-  He
 that complain; of God's dealings, fecretly  applauds
 hisoun defi-rvii-gt.  Only by pride  conies contention.
 When men have a cbnceitjof themfelves, they pick
 quarrels V: di God's  rroyidencc, being art to  think
 they define  better treat men tut his hands: Where-
 as the humble  foul is fcnfible  he deferves nothing
 but wrath, and therefore lays his hand on his mouth
 when the Lord  afflicts him.
   a., ft  involves men into rebellion againft God.
  When Godl itrikes men for  fin, munnuis fiy  hi his
 face,  and kick againft  his {broke;,  like  bullocks up.-
 aecuftomed to the yoke.   They in fome refpect re-
 femble that ctefperate apellate Julian, of whom it is
 v/rdt»'-n,  that he  ihot up ids darts againft heayen,
  ■.'/hen he  was in diltreh..  They  fulfil that word,
  Pijov. xix. 3. Thefool'fhnefsofmanprevertcihhisway,
 Jnlhis heart ft etteth againft the Lord. The repining
' heart finds with rage againit God  and  his difpanfa-
  tioi'-d, line thefe 'wiched Jews when  hungry and
  hardly  behead, Ifa. viii.  21  They /hall fret them-
 felves, •fund carafe their kin-?  and their God, and look v.<>
  ward. T
    5. It  imports much impenitency and  unhumbkd-
  r.cfs for  fin ;  and  that we bane femi little of the in-
  tr'mfic  evil  of fm;'and of ot r ill-defervings for ft.'
  Can  we'trad, believe  that our Tin's dfttfvc hell-fire. 
            Arjiided Man's Companion          67

and  yet  impatiently  repine at fichneft,  and leffcr
(trokco upon cm bodies ?
  6. It include a  much  adiclf.11 ami  bluftdnemy  a-
grinft God, and  has infinite perfections in feveral
rtfpects :
   (i.)'By ov.r  impatient nmrnmrings,  we  either
virtu d.'y deny  that  things  here below are governed
by God's providence ; or elfin
   (?.,) We tax his providencewithunrightecufnefi
 in the managements thereof; as  if God  did  with-
 hold from  us whit is  due,  or iniddi on us w hat wo
 have not deftm. d.  Oh what atheifm is this :  fhall
 not the  Judge of all the earth do right? May fee
 not, upon  the julteft ground, anfwer every murmur,
  .. Matth. xx.  m. Friend, I do thee no wrong.}
   (3.) We in effect grafp  at  the  foveriegnty, and.
 ufui-p dm throne of the moft high.God,and wotild
 have the  dlfpofal of things'  in our hands  ; yea, wo
 ptcfume to fnmmon  Cod to our bar togive accou/ t
 of. his admin i it ration, wd en we  take upon v.o  to
'quarrel  any  of his difpenfations.   Ala-, we  little
 retncmlcr  the  wo  that  is  pronounced  agiiuftffo
' doing, Ifa,  >.lv.  9.   tk Wo unto him that ftriveth
  with nis Maker ; ihall  the  clay fay to him thatfaih-
 ioncth it;  What makeft thou? or  thy  work, He
 bath no  hands ?"
   (4.) We  on the matter  take  fin's part againft
 Cod ; we either jaitify it,  or  extenuate its evil,
 and alledge, but our murmurings, that God is un-
 righteous  to puniih fuch fmall fins with fuch heavy
 afflictions.
  ' (5-) ^e virtually queftion  God's  power to reach
 iw a greater blow,  when  we  enter  the lifts with
 V; on,  and contend  with our Maker; is it not in ef-
 fect to fay,we know how to reduce him to our terms,
 ur make or party good againft him.
   (6.) We  difiparage his wifdom, and  taaeuponus
 to be his  co.mftllors,as if we could inftruc. him bet-
 ter in the management of affairs, and  teach  him
  what is fit to be done with  his  creatures.   Hear 
68          Afflicted Man's Companion.

what the  Lord ftmh, Job xi.2. " Shad he that con-
tendeth with  the  Almighty, inftruct dim ? He that
reproveth God, let hiua anfwer it."  Murmuring is
a reproving of God,  and a charging him  with ill
conduct, faying, in effect, with Abfatom. tk There is
none tl^at takes care to  order men's affairs : O that
I were  king of the world !  then iliould things be
better ordered than they now  are,"   So blafphe-
mous is the language of our impatient murmurings.
Let us  therefore  be afhamed of them, and abhor
ourfelyes in duit and afihcs for our fooliihnefs in cen-
furiug the actions of the  only  wife  God.—Shall a
poor  ignorant  paffenger,  that underftands  not the
ufe of the compafs, be angry that the  fkilful  pilot
will not fteer the  vefl'el according to hispleafure ?
  (7.) We  hereby flipdit and undervalue the riches
of  divine goodnefs,  of  which we  have formerly
ihared,and I do ftill partake : Like fooliih and pettiih
children, if they  cannot  have  their will,  or get
fome  things they  want,  do prefently throw away
the things  which they have, laying with unthankful
Haman, All this availetb me nothing.
  Laftly, I  might  add, Tins iin hath  fome refem-
blance to hell itftu; fcr there the damned do con-
tinually vex and torment themfelves  with their fret-
ting and  impatient thoughts, which caufe them to
break out in fearful rage and  blalphemy   againft
God.
  S£ueft. But  how fhall we prevent fuch difcontent-
ed  murmurings!  for fometimes  trouble isfo great,
we  cannot bear it patiently.
  Anfw.  God  hath given  you  reafon, to bear rule
over  paifion, and  furniihed you  with ftrong argu-
ments to prevail   againft  difcontents   Why  then
iliould you be fo  brutiih as to dethrone reafon, and
fuffer fienfe  and paifion to govern in you ?   Are you
not Chriitians,  aud fworn to  live according to the
rules of  tint excellent religion ?   Why then do you
aft  fo contrary to  yo.u profcllion and engagements? 
etfjiieteaavian s c.mm.ntf.
69
   Bedidns what I have already find,  I fhali add feme
 few remedies more  fur the cure of tills murmuring
 diftempcr.
   1 ft. Look on thy murmurings as worfe than all
 thy .pains a.nd troubles whaffoever; thofe are but
 aillictions from God, but thefe are fins grevious and
 provoking unto  Gut!.
   idly, Remember the judgments which murmur-
 ing hath  brought down from heaven upon turners'
 Miriam  was fmitten  with leprofy  for  it; Dathan
 and Abirain were  fv/allowed  up alive:  fiery fer-
 pents, plagues, and  exclufion  from Canaan,  were
 Ifracfs jndgments for this fin, 1 Cor.  x.  10. " Nei-
 ther murmur ye, as fome of them  niurmured, and
 were deftroyed  of the  deitroyer."  The  arrows
 which murmurers  ihoot  againft heaven,  do foon
 lVmru urcn their own heads.
   idly, Whatever thy bufferings are for the^prefent,
 ye-;  itill  believe  thy  cafe might be  worfe.  The
 troubles  that light  upon  the body are  uodiing fip
 tjrril h? as thefe  that light on the foul, Prov. xvni.
 14.  A wounded fpirit wl.o can bear ?  They are nothr
 thing to what  thy innocent Saviour fullered upon
 the crofi, yea nothing to what fome martyrs have
 endured for the trudis of the gofpel.
   4.-^/1', Get very low thoughts of yourfelf, and a
 dean lenfe of ill-tLftrvings for  fin.   O! iheniki  a
 href-rand of kadi, mannu'r^ for temporal  aftdddor.s?
 ■  pfh'r, Be fall examining thyfelf,  rather th.an cen-
 furaiug God.  Doth God i'emn  to neglect  thee, fay
 ala-,. it is  moft  juft!   Have  not I  ntghfled  ium,
 and given a de.a car to lfts calls many a day..1
   Cihly Bear in mind that il.ei'e troubles will not
 laft, there i;  a great change near;  either they will
 iffuc iii life or death.  If life, you will be aihamed
 \ ou  had  no more  patience when  tick; if death,
 then, if \da belong.to Chrift, it v.'iii give a finifhing
 ftroke  to  all  troubles  and complaints,  and heaven
■wilt malm amends for aft.   But if  you  be  not in
 Chdil, whatever yuan aillictions be now, trouble-  a 
70          Afflicted a lards Companion.

thoufimd  times  worfe are abiding you in another
world:  death will turn thy croffcs into pure unmix-
ed curfc; and then, how  gladly wouldcft thou  re-
turn to thy former  aftiifftcd  ftate, and  purchafe it
at any rate, were  there any poihbility of fuch a re-
turn? You  now fly out in a paifion, and fay,  you
are not able to  bear what you complain  of:  But
confider,  if you  wdll not obediently bear God's rods
now, you will then' ear more,  whether you will or
not; and God  wdi  make you able  to bear  more,
when there will  never be any hopes of relief.
  "jthly, Study to give vent to thy fofrows in a way
of prayer and prabd .   An oven flopped is the more
hot within;  but the breath  of prayer or praife gives
eafe.  If  we did complain more to God,  we  ihould
complain lefs of God.  What a mercy is it, i hat you
have  itill God to go  to ? improve  the  privilege,
confefs unworthiurft, and  beg  the grace of patience
and fubmiiiion cut of Chrift's  full treadles.   Be al-
fo praiting God for mc-rdes recieved;  and however
bad thy cafe is, blefs  God it is not in hell, you are in
the land of hope*

              CHAP. III.

Contahdmg fpicial Disections to  the Children of God,
  when under Sieknefs or any othtr affliction.

Direct. I.  Let believers efpeciadly guard  'ga:-fl
  fan! lug or dejponding under God's af/liSling Land.

     THIS is an exhortation which God in a peculiar
      manner directs unto hft Children, licb. xii. 5.
My fon  deft'je not  the chaflening  of the  Lord,  m-r
faint vj.hen thou art rebuked of him. There are two ex-
trems mentioned, defpifing and faintino ; I fpeke
of the firft before, in Chap. II. Direct. Ii. It   is a
duty to feel our  affliction, but a fin to fiftut under it.
God's people may be laid to faint under th ir  ltd- 
Afflicted Man,s Companion.         71
 als, when they fink, or defpond, or give away to
 fretting  or repining under them.  In the preceding
 Direction, I {poke of the evil of murmuring in gen-
 eral ; here I Ihall fpeak of believers, ftfir.tings in par
 ticular.
   1.  I ihall inquire whence their fainting under af-
 fliction doth proceed.
   2.  Bring fome arguments and helps againft this
 evil,
   I.  As to the firft, Whence thefe faintings in  be-
 lievers  do  proceed,  iff They  proceed - from the
 grievonfinefs of their afili&ion, and the heavineft. of
 their burden, which is ready to amaze and ftagger
 their thoughts, and fink their fpirits with fear and
 defpondency.  Hence  did  the  Pfahnift  complain,
 Pfam lx  3.   u Thou haft  fhewed thy people hard
 things: thou haft made us  to drink the wine of af-
 toniihment."  And Piajm lxix. 2. u I fink in deep
 mire, where there is no {landing: I am  come into
 deep waters, where the floods overflow me."
   idly, From   the  fmallnefs  of  their   fpiritual
 ftrenght,  and  particularly  the weaknefs  of their
 faith, Pov. xxiv. 10.   Lf thou faint in the  day of ad-
 verfity, thy ftrength is fmall.  Whence was it,that
 Peter fainted and began to fink in the waters, but
 from the  weaknefs of his faith, Matth. xiv. 30, 31.
 We know not our ftrenghth till it be  tried. Some-
times we have  fuch  a  conceit of it,  that  we think,
like Peter, we can walk upon a fea of  trouble: but
in a little, behold, fome furpriling blaft affaults our
confidence:  and then  we  faint,  or  cry  out with
him. Help, Lord, or elfe we perifh.  Peter reckoned
only upon the fea, but  he did not think of the boif-
terous wind; and he looked to dangers, more than
to the power that was to carry him through them.
   odly,  From then  impatience of delay,  when de-
liverance is long a coming, it is not eafy  to wait
God's leifure, and to keep  the heart from defperate
qonclufious, Pfalm xxxi. 22.  " I faid in my hafte;
I am cut off from before thine eyes." 
 - 2          Affile;ed Man's I  npanioa.

  Mlly.  From the power  of  V nan's temptations'
and  furious  affaults.  When Satan .. let loofe  in
-ime of affliction to throw in his fiery darts, tumbe-
iiever is ready to faint,  and fay, as Pfal.  Ixxvn.  8.
 " Is his mercy clean gene for e- cm" oc
  %thlv.  For  their wearuiome conflicts with a b.viy
of death  and an ill heart.  Tin Id  in time of afflic-
tion do add affliction to the afflicted.
  6tllv,  From long and great defertions.   When
God hades his face  from the believer in  affliction,
his foul faints  under it,  as in Ifa. xliv. 14.  " Zion
hath dud, the Lord hath  forfaken  mc, my God
hand, forgotten me."
  nthly^Fcora the concience of their guilt,  and  ill
defervings  before God. upon the  account  of old
fins, abufieofmen-ic:, and untender  walking before
God.   Aidiction  doth revive old fins, as  witlijob.
Job xiii.  26.  l>  Thou  writeft  bitter things againit
me, and  makeft me to peffefs the fins of my youth."
His old fins, and guilt  of  his youthful follies, now
revived  upon him, and fat clofs  to his confidence;
which  occaiioned his fainting under his burden.
  Laftly, Great  afflictions do  frequently cloud the
believer's graces and evidences for  heaven, and dif-
cover their corruptions;  whereby  they are made to
fink under their trial.  They fee more unbelief, im-
patience, diftruft and enmity to God  in them, than
they  faw  before: Whereby   they   are  fometimes
tempted to raife  die foundation, and fay all their
former attainments  were  but delufions, and their
profeilions but hypocrify.   Thefe things  make  af-
flictions fometimes very heavy and  linking to the
people of God.
  II.  In the next place, for preventing and helping
this evil  of  fainting  under affliction; let believers
confider.
  iy?,  Thefe  heavy trials are all  needful for  you.
Deep waters arc not more needful  to carry a ihip  in-
to the haven;  dian great afflicrmns are  to carry the
veffels of our fouls into the port of  bind  Strong 
          AfJUeled Man's Companion.            73.

wind and thunder are frightful, but they are neccf-
fiary to purge the air.   One of the iharpeft calami-
ties that  ever befel Ifrael, was the Babyioniih eao-
tivity, yet even this was in mercy to  them; for the.
Lord faith, jer. xxiv. 5.  k'I.have fent them outo;
t'nis place into the land of die  Chaldeans for their
good."  Strange!  Of freemen to be-made priftm-
crs, and  that in a ftrange laud among the heathen;
to be removed far from their own houfes, vineyard-,
friends, nay, and from the  temple of God and hft
ordinances;  and yet all this for their good! why?
they were hereby effectually  weaned  and broke em
from their darling  fin of idolatry.
    idly,   Confider,  that your  affliction, 'however
heavy it be, will foon have  an end; lid.  Jvii.  10.
u For I  will not contend for ever, neither will 1 be
always wroth; for the fpirit fhould foil  before me,
and the fouls which I have made."  The goidfmlih
will not let his gold lie any longer in the  furnace
than it is purified.  The wicked have a fea of wrath
to  drink: but,  O drooping believer, take comfort;
you have but a  cup of affliction, which will  feon be
exhauited.  The time is near  when all thy trials
iholl have an end: -In heaven  there is no crofs, no
complaint, no tears nor forrows for ever.
   3dty,  Faint  not,  O  child  of  God; for thefe  af-
flictions are all  the hell wdiich  thou {halt  have; thou
haft nothing to fear  hereafter.  Judas had two hello,
one in time, by terror in his confidence, another after
this life, wdiich endures to eternity: but  all the hell
that a believer hath is but this light affliction, which
is but for a moment.
  e\.thly,  Defponding  or murmuring in  affliction is
evil in any, but  in none is it fo bad as in the chiitiivu
of God.   It doth very ill become their  covenants,
their privileges, their hopes.   Have  they reiigne 1
and given up themfelves and all  they have  to Got),
by  a folemn covenant, and will they fret when h '.
difpofeth of them?_Didft thou not fay,0  believe:,
in the day when thy heart was ftung with iin' *■■'> i 
74          Afflicted Maris  Cmpamon.

theterrowsof God made thee afraid, O let me have
jefus Chrift for my Saviour and poinds, and I will
be content,  though I  ihould be  ftricken with  boils
like  jeb,  or beg my  bread with Lazarus? Now,
God tries thee  if thou wilt  ftand to thy word:  O
bev are of retracting,   Hath not that  foul enough,
who hath an all-fufficient God for his portion ? If
God be thine  in covenant, that comprehends  ail
things.
   pptlAy, It  doth  difcompofe  and unfit the foul  for
any dutv.   It is ill failing  in a ftorm, fo  it is ill
praying when the heart is in a ftorm of difiuuiet and
defpondency.
   dthiy, Your fainting under affliction, and carry-
ing  as  if the confolations of God  were  fundi, is
enough to  {tumble others at religion,  and make
ihem call the truth of it in  qecftion.  When they
fee thofe that profefs religion, and have oft declared
that their rejoicing is in Chrift jefus as their portion,
begin to fink and defpond under outward affliction:
O mav thev not be tempted to  fay, "Where is the
truth of religion? Where are thefe divine fupports
and confolations we have often heard of?"
   Laftly; O  then feek to get faith  re\ived,  and
ftrenthened, and refolve with Job to  truft in God,
Though he  ihould flay you.  This  would be of no-
ble uie to keep the heart from finking under preffures
of affiidtion, as the Pfahnift found it to  his fweet ex-
perience, Pfalm xxvih 13.  Wlt had fainted unlets I
had believed to fee. the goodncfs of the Lord in the
land of the  living."
   III.  I come to anfwer fome objections or excufes
of fainting  believers, v. inch they do  commonly al-
ledge as the ground of their difcouragement iu their
additions.
   Object, I. uO (faith one) my afflictions are not
ordinar)-; they are fore preffures I he  under, and
of various kinds too."
   , Anfiv. 1.  O benever, God hath taken the ordering
'ff your lot  in  his own hand ?aud he knows what is 
            AfpiCtea  a.lans Lompanva:.         yy

fittefVfor  you.  Should  a man be left to carve out
his own portion,  it would foon appear lie would be
his own greateft enemy.  We would all be for the
dainties of pleafure and profperity, whhh would not
be for  oor foul's  health:  as children think green
fruit th-2 belt diet becaufe they  pleafie their tafte ;
but their parents  are wifier to keen them from them.
   idly, God may fee  you  have many and ftrcmg
luits to be fubdued, and  that  you need  ma ly and
fore afflictions to bring you  down.   Your rride and
obitinacy  of heart may  be ftrong, your mftempem
deeply rooted, and therefore the phytic meit be pro-
portioned to them;  as with  the iiu.icdter.,  fifid. evii.
n. 12.  '" Becaufe they rebelled againit the word.;
of God, and  contemned the coanfcis of the Moft
High : ••.herefore  he brouglit down their heart with
labour."  O believer, your God  and Father, that
hath the mixing of your cup  and portion,  is a wife
and ikilful phyiician,  who knows your con dilution
tun! your need, i Pet.  i. 6.  lt If need be  you are
in heavinefs  through manifoki temptations."   And
as he  knows  your need,  fo  he under,lands your
ftrength,  i Cor. x. 13. Faithful is be, that will ; ot
fupfer you to be tempied alone what.yoi* ■are a>■lei'
   ylly, God fends great and ''ore tropes,  that you
may 1  ave the more experience of Godds wiidom a ml
mercy in  yoi r  fupport and  deliverance:  i'falnn
Ixxii 20.   Li Thou which haft  lhew cd rne great and
fore troubles,  fnall  cpiicken and  bring me up again
from the depths of tin:  earth."
   Oljed.  If.  "  But (faith  ancrher) my affliction is
finguiar ;  thtra was never any in. my couoidon."
   Anfw,  1 ft.  it is very  ordinary for every man in
great diftrefs to reckon his  cafe lingular, i eeaife ha
feels belt what is neared hiuifeif, bat is a[fi ranger  to
what his neighbour fee ha
   idly, This fi.ggedluu is one  ci'  Satan's device?,
tint In.' may  tempt a  child of God  to quedion his
Father's love ; but he  is  a liar,  u d  not to he cred-
ited u: wmu he faith ;  For others of your  drediren
                        G 2 
- 6        Afjlicted Man's Companben

have been afflicted in the fame kind and degree, if
not worfe, i  Pet. v. o.   '-Knowing that the fame
affididlcm, arc accempiiihed in  your brethren that
are in the world."
  ?f'}'i Whatever your cafe be, you muft own your
fmi firings are not fo great as your fins.   The  trials
of God's people in  Babylon  were lingular;  yet
Ezra owns,  Ezra ix.  13.   Thou haft puni/hed us lefs
than curl,acuities de/'ene. If our provoked Judge ihall
in his clemency feud  us to Babylon inltead  of hell.
we have no can fa to complain.
  epihly. But, O child of Gcd, however thou  com-
ppined: of the fingnlarity Of affliction now, all fuch
complaints will  be  taken  out of  thy  mouth ere
long, and that time is near  when thon ihalt be made
to wonder at the  wifdom of God in  gmding fo
many fons and daughters to glory,  through fuch a
variety of Trials, Exercifcs, Afflictions and  Tempta-
tions ; and made to fay as diefe in Mark vlii.  37. He
hath done all  things vie 11.
  Object. II. " But, faith one, my  affliction is long
continued, and I fee no outgate;  and how  can I
but faint under it?"
  Ar/w. iff.   It is not fo long as your  fins deferv;
for injuftice it might be  for  ever,  it might be, the
wrra that never dieth and the fire that is never cyurnel.id.
  idle,  Your fidfirings  011 earth are not io mug as
your  reward in heaven,   Koin. viii. 18.   "-Furl
reckon that  die letterings of the preftnt time, are
nut  worthy to be compared with the  giory wbmh
i.udft be  revealed in us.',
  Ojdly,  No length or continuance of afdidtion here
ihou id hinder a  believer's comi'ors, if wc take  a
view of our  head and pattern  jefus Clnift.  How
dual did his afflictions continue! No end was put to
ih,em, till decried with  a loud voice,  and  gave up
\aee ghoft.  Though he was the Son  of God, yec
horn the hour of his birth to the  moment, of his
(haith, from his manger to his crofs, his afflictions
It'dl en-arcafed, audi  ho cmhu his  days in the midfi 
             Afflicted Man's Cl mpanion.          77

 ofthcam  Now, Chrift is the head  of the church,
 and your  great rerrefentative, O believers into a
 conformity  with wiiom you are prodeftinated :  be
 content tlien to be life your  head and pattern, to
 have no eaie or reft from afflictions tdl you lie down
 in  the  'grave;  itis " there the wicked  ceafe from
 troubling,  and  there the weary  be at red," Job
 iii. 17.
   ajbiv. Remember that your afflictions are a part
 of Chrift's  crofs, which yourloying Redeemer hath
 contrived  for.  your good, and bath appointed you
 t > take up  and  bear with him.  Now love to Chrift
 iuould  keep you  from wearying 10 bear oft'a part
 of Chrift's  crofs, efpecially when  he himfelf bears
 the heivieft end of it, nay, bears you and your crofs
 bath.   It is faid of Jacob, Gen. xxix.  2c.  that " ho
 fcraed  feyen years ibr  Rachael, and they feemed to
 him but a  few days, foe the love  he had to herd'
 And, ihall  we  not -endure a few years affliction fee
 orrfmrd Jefus  Chrift,  who lived a life of for rows.,
 and died a curled death  for our fakes ?  Had  we
 1.a>rc love  to Chrift, his crofs would not be fo tedi-
 ous to  ns.
   Sthly, Should it  not  be good news to thee, that
 there is a deliverance for thee at death from  all thy
 irmibia;. and  that this  time  is battening and very
 near? Be not anxious for  an ot.cgate hern in time,
 for that favours too  much of unbelief and love  to
 the world.   Doth it notfeem to fay, that you would
 be  better con rent  to he turned back again  to the
 ftormy tumult., or s fea of this world, than to ho fafc-
 ly lauded at your  reft above ? That yon would  bo
 g'a.d lev of  a lev/ temporal mercies on earth, tuau to
 enter upon  your eternal inlieri.-a.mce with CLridt ?
  Object. IV. iL No wonder (faith one) that  I faint
 under my  affliction,  for I want them confolations
and fuppurcs which God ufetn to reftrue for afilic-
edudbu-,''
  Avfee. lit. If God be prefer.tly clmftcning you f-m
yo-.r iin?, you  malt be  content to feci die bft.e:mt;s 
"^          Stf/lii'ted Man's t. ■ mpauuon.

c: fin. before you can taftc o'i the fwectnefs of God's
confolatiom,.
  idiy,  C;ui \ en fay that your afflictions have duly
humbled you, and  fitted  yi-u. for  comfort  ? Have
they yet  brought von to a willingnefs  to quit and
renounce all your beloved  fins,  and even  to part
with  ail your earthly enjoyments and com "arts at
(hod's call, and  be content with God iu  Chrift a-
Jonefibr your happinefs and portion ? Ifdiisbenot
done, your afflictions  have not had their due effect,
to prepare you for comfort, and till then you cam-
not expect it.   You are in  the hands of a wife and
ikiiftd  phyiician, who will  not  too hadiiy heal and
bind up yovr  fores, fo as to let them food and fefter
at the bottom.
  ■jdly, Though  you have  no  fcnfible confolations
from God in your  prefent trials, yet  yon muft  itill
labour to keep in the way of duty,  and live by faith
on  his  promifes.  Believe  firmly that God  is good
to them that love him, and that thereisforgivenefs
with him  to the penitent finner. .  And if  all liars
withdraw their  light whiift you are in  God's way,
rhtu adore yourfelf the fun is mar the riling.
  Object.  V. " But my  affliction is fuch, that it  dif-
abies  mo  from duty, and makes me ufelefs andun-
proutabie  ; and  this makes me  faint under my bur-
den,"
  A -f'vi. ift  Godi fends afflictions ne'er  to unfit, but
to  quicken you  for the performance of duty ; to
make you repent more thoroughly, pray more fer-
vently, fiec to Chrift more earned dy, and mind hea-
ven more intenfely.
  idly, If it be your duty to  others that yonr*af-
fiictlou incapaciates  you for, then remember, if  God
in his providence dii'able you for that, it is no long-
er  a  duty incumbent  on  you, and  you  muft not
grudge if God take you off, and put others in your
room.  God is  a free and fovcreign agent, and will
be  tied to no mean  or  inftrmneut whatfomever for
carrrying on his work. 
            Afflicted Man's Companion.         79

DinrCT. II. L et all the cl. lldren of God be exemplary in-
patience and ful miifam to God unier their  a}ftillion.
   ITftEATFD of patience,  and gave fome motives
     and helps to it, to all affbeted perfons in gener-
al, Chap.  II. Direct.  V. Bat here iihallbring dome
fpecial argument to Chiiftian patience and fubmif-
iion  proper for believers.  You that God hath done
fo much for beyond others, ought to ihine in this
grace  of patience, and be examples  to  others for
it, when God chaftens you,  though with very foie
affliction.
   \ft, Study patience  under affliction:  for it  is the
common path and beaten road to heaven, that all
the faints have trod, who have gone thither  before
you.   Behold the  print of the foot-fteps  of all the
cloud  of  witneftes in this road : and would  ye be
lingular and  choofe  away of your own?  When
God folenmly renewed his covenant with Abraham,
and  he had prepared the facrifice, whereby it  was to
be ratified anal  confirmed,  God made a finoking
furuance  to pafs betwixt the pieces of  the facrafice,
Gen. xv. 17.  tolet him know that there was a farm
ace of affliction attending the covenant of grace ami
peace, and all that entered thereto.   God has ao-
poiut^Lthat all the ftoues of this fpiritnal and have-
cnly WPding  ihall be hewed and poliihed by  afi fic-
tion here; and we are not to think that  God's or-
dinary way will be changed for us.  We mad; not
think to walk on rofes' when fo many worthies have
marched through briars and thorns to  heaven.
   idly, Corcddaze, that the  greateft afflictions you
meet with are coniiitent with  the love  of God, nay,
fpring from his love to you.  Every  lanetified rod
is a  gift  and  royal donation fent by  the hand of
God  gov on, Phil. i.  29.  LTo you it is given, in
behalf of Chrift, not only to believe 011 him,  but al-
fo to fulcer flu- his fake."  Now furely,  if we look-
ed on the croft, as  a gift,  an honor, an advantage,
and  biedutg  we  would  bear it  patiently,  Pfaini
xciv.  12.  '"Bleifed is the man whom thou  chaft- 
i 8o          Ajjileled d ban's Co -npanloa.

 eneft,  O  Lord."  O  believer,  thy temporal  crofs
 comes from the fine love tint th / eaumal  crown
 comes from, according to Rev.  iii. 19, i*.   Men.
 will  not take  pains  to correct  ftubborn  fervants,
 but wall turn  then  oat of doors; but  love con-
 itrains them  to e'naftife  their fons.  God out of ha-
 tred lets any a iin nor go unpunilhed in this world:
 for, why  ihould he prane  or  drefs the tree which
 he intends for  the  fire;  the malefactor  efcapes
 lco irging  that is condemned  to  the  "allows, Job
 xxh  3.   *LThe wicked is refer red to me day of de-
 ftruction ; they fliall be brot.ght forthto the day of
 wrath."   But it is far otherwife  with   the children
 o God.  That is a  ftrange word which Job  hath,
 job vii. 17,  18.   "vVhat is man  that  thou ihould-
 eit m ignify him; and that'thou  ihouldeit fet thine
 heart upon hdn ;  And that thou  ihouldeit vifit him
 every morning, and try him every moment?" Now,
 it  we  compare this place with others  in  the  con-
 text, we will  Le how  he. acknowledgeth  that the
 moft o.omvhclnfmg diflrets  proceeds loom the love
 and care of Go ', yea,  from his fixing his heart on
 him,  to magufy him,  and  do  him good; and that
 for this  endue  doth chaften him  every  morning,
 and try  hi n  every  nmmc.it ;  and that v^j  fuch
 a di let ions as  for the  prefant  are  fo fee: fr^F being
 joyous, as that they  give the foul r,o  reft,  but even
 make the man weary of his life; as he exprelfcuh
 what eflects his a diction had  on himfelf.   Yea, it
 may be ohihrved hi the providence of God from dm
 foxidathm of the v/omd, that  thofe who have had
 mat aldictmn have  had  molt  grace,  anal thm moft
 eminent teftmmuies of acceptance widi God: Jefus
 Chrift the bm  of God, had the mil  afflictions of
 any;  and yet dm Father always lo-. ^d him, and was
 well n-eafed with hdn.
  fty'dy-  CoAwdc: the bright examples  of  patience
 winch Go.1 lets before you in his wor 1.   Beiides
 ^.V °h  h.-s c,!:" y°:ri  z'lls  LorcI JfA's Chrift,  of
 wmieh I  fimke bef mcf conduer th /'patience of job, 
             sipjiicteci Man's Companion.          Si

 when  he was  ftript of all earthly comforts, and laid
under  the greateft afflictions, yet he  calmly falls
down  and worihips God,   Job   i,   i\.   and faid
u Naked came I out of my mother's  womb, and
naked  ihall I return : The  Lord gave, and the lord
hath taken  away, blended be the name of the Lord.
In all  this Job  finned not, nor charged God fooliih-
ly."   Confider the patience of David when he was
driven from his throne,  from his houfe,  and from
God's  fanctuarv, and all this by his own fon : yet
how fubmbiive is he to God  ?2 Sam. xv. 26.   " Be-
hold,  here x an, let him do to me as feemeth good
to him."  And  when Shimei eurfed  him: and threw
ftones  at him,  he patiently  bore it, and would fuller
no harm to be done him for it, faying as in 1 Sam.
xvi. 11.  "  Let him  alone, and let him curfe, for
the Lord hath bidden him."  Confider the patience
of holy Eli when, though he heard fuch  news as
like a ilidden  clap of thunder made the ears of fuch
as heard it to tingle, and their hearts to  tremble,
ye; ha calmly  and quietly  fubmitted to  it, 1 Sam.
iii.  18.  " It is the Lord, let him do what feemeth
him good-"  He dodi not  fly in God's face in a
paifion, but falls  down at his feet in a humble fiib-
m'niion. ,  Gbfirve alfo the  wonderful patience of
Aaron when God afflicted  him very fore he is fi-
lent and fubmiilive under the Lord's hand. Lev. x.
3. Aral Aaron held  his peace.  If we confider the
greatuefs of the puniihment, we wdll fee the  mora
caufe   to  commend  the  greatnefs of his patience,
1. Aaron loft his children  ; not his eftate or world-
ly fubltaneo,  but his children, thefe arc apart of a
man's  bov. el's ;  other tun thv lolies are  not compar-
rable to this ; there/ore it was tint Satan that cun-
ning-enemy referved the loft  of Job's children to
the laft on let, as Ids  great mafter-piece  and iiuirpeft
attack.  How fadiv  did  Kachael  lament  and  \\ aep
for her children ! Pi atfti.  ii.  18. Aaron held his peace
1. Aaron ion his two Ida's  ;it once,   flow patheti-
callv did  ifavid bewail the  lofid of one dm. 2.  Sam. 
82*        Afflicted Man's Companion.

xv'ui.  gt>.  O mv fon Abfalom, my fon. my fon,"
fnc. yet Aaron loft both his fons together, and faith
not oe.c.  word;   He held his peace.—3. /Aaron loll
them bv  a  hidden  -mud, of which he had no  warn-
ing ; Sickncfs  ufually prepares men for the  ilroke
that is  coming by death ; but Aaron met  with a
furpriling blow,  yet  he held his peace.—..;..  Aaron's
fons were  not taken  away by an ordinary  ftroke of
God's  hand, but by  an  extraordinary  fuptrnatural
rod ; for it is faid.  "■ There went  out fire from
the Lord, and devoured  then, and they died  before
the Lord," Lev. x. 2. He loft them in  inch  a man-
ner as might fp.cak forth God's anger ;  now,  a reli-
gious  father had rather  le.ofe all his children  in the
favor of God, than  one  child in  his  auger  ; yet,
whatever were  the  bitter ingredients  of  this cup,
Aaron  was not impatient againit God that mixed it
for him, but held  his peace, been add God did it.
   4/d/y, To engage you to padeuce under your tri-
als do  but compare \oar cam with  that of others.
Do not fay, there is none a.dieted as  you are ; for
there are many  far deeper plung.d in the waters of
Mara  than you are; fome are ftill  t.[Oii the rack
and fpend their  whole days  and  years  in *. ontinual
fighting  and itruggi'mg ; as in ftf.ii. x;oti, 10.  u My
life is lpcnt with grief and my years with flghmg."
Have you  fore diftrefs in your boo. it a; others have
grievous wounds in  their fouls.   Do you  fear the
w rath  of man ? ofliers bear the wrath of God.  You
have but one tingle trial, others ha\ e many twilled
together.  Some are ftript of all comfort, you have
comfort  itiil remaining.   You may  have many fad
things in your trial, but you have  not ground  as
yet to  complain  as the  Pfalmiii dodi, 1-fid.  :ftd.  7.
"■ All  thy waves  and thy Inflows are gone o\er
me,"  Take a view  of what the  mm of God, what
the apofiles, and what the martyrs andoftu-r worth-
ies have endured.  They had trial of cruel mock-
iugs,  icom-fdngs,  bands and imprifonments: they
wandered in defines, in mountains,  and in dens and 
           Afflicted Mans Comanplon.        • 83

caves of the earth,  being deftitute,  afflicted, tor-
mented.   They were tempted, they were crncmed
ftoned to death, fawn afunder {lain with the fword,
vac.   And yet, how well did they take with the
crofs? faith Paul, " We  glory  in tribulation."
Horn.  v.  2.   And what .finth James ?  James i.  2
" My brethren, count it  all joy when ye fail into
divers temptations."  As if he had faid,  Rejoice aye
more and more that you are  ahiiclcd:  God is mag-
nifying you, he is  vifiting you,  doing you good,
taking the more pains on you, and  fitung you  for
glory.
   $thly. The confideration of God's former mercies
and  kindneffesto you fhonld engage you to patience
in trouble,  and make you bluih to  take  any thing
ill out of God's hand.   Thus Job  taught his im-
patient wile, Job ii.  io.   "What? fliall we receive
good at the hand  of God,  and ihall  we not receive
end!?" O believer, let not thy afflictions caufe thee
to bury thy  mercies in  oblivion.   Has  not God
broughtth.ee from Satan's family, and put you  a-
mong his children;  and  will you  forget  to under-
value  that  hour ? Hath he  {truck oft' thy fetters,
taken of thy prifon-garments, and  fet you at liberty ;
and, will you be unthankful? Hath he given thee
Chrift for thy  treafure  and portion,  and  entitled
you to his  nufearchable  riches;  and  will you  be
difcontented ? hath  he given you the graces of his
Spirit,  which are more  precious  than rubies; and,
will you quarrel when he fmites  in fome outward
things?  hath he made you an heir  of glory, and,
provided eternal maniions  above for you; and will
you be fretful  for want of fome  trifles here? The
view Mofcs had  of the recompence of  revyard in
heaven, can fed him to  choofe to  fuller affliction pa-
tiently with the people of God.
   othly, The  time  of  affliction  is ufually God's
gracious trying feafon  with his people, in the time
.of their rareit comforts and  fweetelt  foretaftes of
jieaveu, according to 2 Cor. i 5.  Paul  and Silas did 
 84 i       Afflicted Man's Cnnpuuion.

 never fing more joyfully than  when the} were laid
 in ihe  inner  prifon,   with their backs torn  with
 fcourges, and  their feet faft in the  ftcnks, Acts xvi.
 24.  And when was  it that  j.uod law the angels
 of God afcending  and dcec uhog  1 pon the ladder
               o               or
 that reached betwixt heaven  and canh, but at die
 time when he  w;u in a deftitute cafe, forced to  lie
 in the open field having no canopy  but the hea-
 vens, and no pillow but  a ftone? When was it that
 the three children  faw Chrift  in the likenefs of the
 Son of mum walking with them, but when they were
 in the furnace, and when it  was  hotter than  ordi-
 nary ?  When  was it that  Ezekiel had  a  viiion  of
 God, but when fitting fobftary by the river Chebar
 in the land  of his  captivity ? When was  it  that
 John got a glorious viiion of Chrift, but w hen he
 was an exile in the ifle offi'armos?  And  when  was
 it that Stephen faw  the heavens opened, and Chrift
 ftandmg at the right hand of God pleading for  him,
 but when they were  ftoning  and  bruiing him  to
 death? JSo that the  moft remarkable experiences of
 God's kindnefs, that  believers get  in  this world,
 have been tryfted to 'the time of affliction: the  con-
 fideration whereof flmuid move  every  Chriitian  to
 wait on the Lord, and bear his crofs with patience.
  "jthly,  "When you are helped to chriitian patience
 and fubmiihon under God's  hand, it doth contribute
much to the credit of religion,  and to the conviction
of the world,  that  there is a certain reality in the
truths  of the  gofpel, and a great efficacy in the
grace of God,  which bears you up,  and  carries you
 through, beyond the ftrength of nature.
  Laftly, O believer,  bear up with patience under
the crofi, for thou haft not long to bear it  God's
wrath on the  church  abideth but  for a moment,
 yea, a little momem, Ifa. > uvi. 20.  "  Come, my
people, enter thou into thy chambers, and fhut thy
doors about thee,  hide thyfeif as  it  were for a little
 moment, until the indignation  be ovcrpaft."  Sure-
ly a moment, a little moment,  which is the fmaileft 
Afflicted Man's Companion.            85
part  of time  will   foon be over; and wilt thou not
have patience for a moment? The Pfahnift fuppo rt-
cd  himfelf  widi this confideration,  Pfal  cub   9.
" He will not always chide, neither will he keep his
anger forever."  The  time of indignation will loon
be  over-paft, and the time of conloiatlon willfuc-
ceed.  O believer, the end of all thy trials is near ;
think on it, and look  for it.   Is it bodily pain or
ficknefs that is thy affi idtlon ? then confider, the end
of it  will be either  he or  death;  if death,  then
what thou  fuftercft is  the laft burnt, bear it patient-
ly.   Thefe  enemies you now fee, you will fee them
again no more.  In  the  maniions above there is no
pain nor  crying : the  inhabitants there ihall never
fay  they  are fick ;  and one  hour with them will
make thee forget all thy  momentary  afflictions.  If
the  iil'ie jhai'i  be Ihe,  you wilibe afiflamed, when
well, that }ou had no more patience whilit fick.
   I ihall  clofe   this  direction  with the  words of the
apoftle James James v.  -o.  "  Take,  my brethren.
the  prophets, who have  fpoken in the name of the
Lorn, for an example of fufferi.ug affliction^ and of
patience.  Behold, we  count   them  happy  which
endure.   Ye have  heard  of the patience oi Job, and
have fcen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very
pitiful, and  of tender  mercy."
                       ft
Direct. IJT. Let believers, be much employed in the
praifes of God, while they  are  under affiidlion,  by
ficknejs or otherwife.
      AS .we iliould blefs the Lord at all times, and
      keep  up good thoughts of God on every oc-
cafion:  So  efpecially  in  the  time   of affliction.
Heme we  are  commanded to glorify  the Lord  in
the fires, Ifa. xxiv. 15.  And  this the three • chil-
dren  did in the  hotteft furnace.  So Job blefed God
wnen he had  taken  away  his greateft  comfctts
Job i. 21.   And this is agreeable to that command,
1 Theft", v.  ir-  "  In every thing give thanks.'I
grant indeed we cannot give thanks for affliction  as 
 86         Afflicted Maids Companion.

 affliction, but either as it is the  means of fome good
 to us, or as the gracious  hand of God is fome way
 remarkable  therein  towards us.   In  this  refpect,
 there  is no condcion  on this  fide of hell, but we
 have caufe  to praife God in, even  in  the greateft
 calamities.  Hence  it was  that David, when he
 fpeakes of his afflict ion, Pfal. cxix. 67. adds prefent-
 ly' "Thou  art good and doit good."   And he de-
 clares,  ver.  65.  "Thou haft  delt  well  with thy
 fervant,  O Lord'  according  unto  thy  word."
 Hence Paul and Silas praifed God  when they were
 fcourged and imprifoned.
   Well then, O believer, obey the command .' of thy
 God, and imitate his worthies,  by praifing God un»
 der thy affliction.   1. This  practice would be very
 pleafant and acceptable  to God; for as  mufic  is
 fweeteit on the waters,  fo praife is moft agreeable to
 God from an afflicted foul on the waters  of  trouble.
 Iris a figu of a noble  and  generous fpirit, to ling
 the praifes of  God's  gooduefi, while his hand is af-
 flicting us.   Diftrefs and  danger will  make  fhe
 wickeclcft to prey; but it is a principle of love and
 gratitude that makes  the foul to p;aiie.  2. It would
 bring credit to religion, to fee faints thankful and
 praifing God under the crofs: it would make peo-
 ple fay, finely they  find  f.veetnefs in God and his
 ways,  that  we fee not;  they have nnet to  ca.t that
 the world  knows  not of.'   And tins would inmtc
 ftrangcmto  come and try a religion?  lite,   the joy-
 ful praifes of the martyrs at the flakes, .and in the
 flames,  made people  go home with love to  religion
 in their  hearts.  3.  If  the  blue of yo.r  afidction
 fhould be death,  this employment of  piaiie would
 be a fweet preparative to  fit and d. droit \ 011 for  the
 work of heaven.   Ufe yourfelf much to this heaven-
ly life, and  be oft trying to ilng the fong of Mofes
 and dne Lamb in time of fickueft  and trouble; and
 tin, would fa mttn the thoughts of death, and make
 you  incline  to be  ;here,  were  praife  L their con-
 ffcmt work. 
           Afflicted Man's Companion.          87

  ^ueft. What ihould be the fubject of a believer's
thanksgiving and praife under aifliction ?
  Anfw.  He hath manifold grounds of praife;  as
1 ft.  Upon  the  account of God's  mercies to nim
thnmgh  the bypaft part of his life.   His mercies to
thee, O  believer,  cannot be numbered;  compare
thy mercies wdth thy erodes, and thou wilt foon fee
thy receivings arc far  greater than  thy fufferings.
Tiiou haft  had many days of plenty for one day of
fcarcity, many  days  of liberty  for one  day  of
{traits, many days of health for one day of ficknefs.
   And are not thefe to be remembered with praife?
   idly, And more particularly  in.thy  greateft  af-
fliction, thou haft ground to praife God,  O believer,
thou waft born in a land of light, where thou hadft
the means of convcrfafion to God, and acquaintance
with Jefus Chrift;  and especially, that God of his
free grace  made thefe means effectual to work a hav-
ing change on you, when others were palled by.  Is
not  this matter of praife that he opened your  eyes,
humbled your foul, and  renewed your heart ? that
he gave.you Chrift, forgave your fins,  and adopted
you into his family, ana made you an  heir of hea-
ven ? Oh ! what a fad cafe would it be, if you were
yet  ia your  fins, and  in  the bondage of Satan; if
you had converfion work to  begin to, if you had
your faith  and juitificaticn and intereft in Chrift all
to  feeh, and all  your preparations for heaven to
make :  if yoa had all  this  to  do with a  lick and
pained  body, and a  difcrdered mind  that cannot
command  one  fettled thought  with  the  terrible
view of death and eternity before your eyes.  This
is the cafe that  God in juitice might have left v on
to.   Well  then, ought you not to praife  God, that
fent his Holy Spirit in time to determine your heart
to clofe with Chrift, and be reconciled to  that God,
you are fliortly to appear before; and that thefe fins,
which now would have been your terror are all for-
given, and wallied away through the blood of Jefus
 Chrift.
                      H2 
 88         yjji:e:ea men's companion.

   pft'y,  Is  it not matter of  praife in thy greateft
 troaf» e,  that thou haft a  great High Pried,  that is
 palled  into  the heavens, to provide a muftion with
 the Father for time,  and to receive  thy  find when
 f paratad from the body?  " that, where he is, there
 you may be alfo ?"
   ag.hly.  Yon have caufe to biefs God, that  he fends
 fuch hilt.ibie Inirbe igers,  as  fickneft and  trouble,
 to tell  you that death is approaching,  and that  he
 ihould  ta.e fuch  pains On you lo wean you from the
 world, and nndj you willing  to be gone.   Many of
 God's peoph?, that have  been  averfe to dying at the
 begun tug  of a  ficknefs, by  the  increaie and  con-
 tlnuancc  of it, have been brought to be well finished
 to depart that they may be with Chrift.
   5'ily,  You have ground to blefs God for timing
your afflictions fo well, that he fent them not till he
law you ftood in need  of them; he  faw  a need for
thern, as  i Pet. i. 6.  and he would not let you want
what was needful.
   6thly,  You ought to praife God, that he mitigates
 your trials,  and proportions  your burden  for your
 back that when he takes  a rod to you, he hath not
 made it a fcorpion ;  that when he deprived  ycu of
one comftrt and enjoyment,  he did not ftripyrm of
ad, and  leave you wholly comfortlefs;  that when
you fidftr in one thing, lie hath not made you to
filter in every thing, in foul, body,  eftate, relations
and all together; that  iuftcad of afflicting you for a
few days, he  hath  not made your whole life a i'cene
of iiiii'try and affliction.   Blcfs  God  that he purdih-
c'h you left, unfpeakably lefs, than  your iniquities
deferve ;  that yoar fick-bed is not hell, your fever
is  not  everlaiting burnings, voir pain  is not the
gnawing of the v. orm that never dic'fti.
   ".thly,  You have cattle  to  praife God, that yom.-
afdiction  is not fo great as tha- of fome others, and
even of fome that were wry dear to God, ami had
not grieved  hiiu fo much as  you  have done.   Re-
member  the trials  that  fome  have  endured of 
             Afflicted Man's Companion.        -.80.

 " whom the world was not worthy." which I men-
 tioned  before as  recorded, Heb.  xi.  Yours  are
 nothing to theirs, nothing to Job's, that eminent
 fervant of God.  Obferve the differences with thankf-
 gh'ing and praife.
   Sthly,  You have  reafon  to blefs God for the
 ftrength aud  fupport he hath given  you  under af-
 fliction.   You would  foon  fink and  fuccomb under
 a fnall  burden,  if he did  not fupport  you by his
 grace; but,  when he bears you up, the  heavieft tri-
 al ihall not fink you.  Have you not met with  fome
 afflictions, you have thought at a diftancs you would
 never have been able to bear up under  them? yet,
 when they that come,  you have found them light
 and portable,  by reafon of the ftrength  God hath
 beitowed on you.
   f)thly, You have ground of thankfgiving that the
 mercies and  bleifings which  God  hath  continued
 with you, are far  grater than thefe he hath taken
 from you, For  though he hath taken this and that
 temporal blelling from  you, yet he hath not taken
 Chrift from you, nor his holy Spirit from  you; he
 hath not feparated  you from his love, nor cut you
 oft* from all hopes of heaven.  However  great  your
 trials be, yet itill there is a mixture of mercy in  your
 lot which ihould be matter of praife.
   Laftly, 'You have caufe,  O believer, to blefs God,
 that ail the afflictions he brings on you are in  love,
 and  for  your prodt.  All  his ways  are mercy and
 truth to you.  If he fmile,  it is in mercy ;  and if he
 finite, it is in mercy.  God may change, his difocn-
 idtions, but his heart  is itill towards them, and the
 cords wherewith he  feourgeth them, and cords of
 love.  Their profit  is  th: great  thing lie aims at, in
 all their chadifements,  Heb. xii.  10.  He deflgns
 thereby co reclaim them from their wanderings, cut
 off provilions  for their luits. make diem  pant and
long for a better ftate, and caufe them to mend their
pace  toward  it.   Hence David faith, " It is o-cod
for  mo that I was afflicted:  For before I  was afflict-
                     «3 
90'          AfftiAed Mar's Companion.

ml, I went aftrav, bat now I have  learn;d to keep
tfty word."   P ft. cxix. 67. 7<. From all which it
appeals you have manifold grounds of praile, even
111 the time of addiction.

Dirfct. IV. Let the children  of God,  when  aid ted
   with flcknfs, fet about actual preparation for death
   arid eternity,
     EVERY believer hath his main  work done, and
      is always in a gracious ftate,  by reafon of his
union with Jefus Chrift, his reconcilation with God,
through  the  merit of his blood, and the u.nivcrfal
change that is wrought  in him by regenerating and
fauftoyiuo- arace; upon which account every child
of God hath  habitual preparation for meeting with
deadn.   Yet becaufe frequently, when ficknefs com-
 eth,  there are many  things out of order with them,
 that make death frightful  and undclirable,  they
 muft fet about  actual  prcpaniiton  for death,  and
 feek to, have their  fouls made ready for the bride-
 nroouds coming. And here i iliaii ihevv^ wherein
 udis a-taal rcadinefs of believers doth confift, which
 ihould be their proper  work and exercife in tune of
 ficknefs, efpecially  when fick-uls  is lingering, and
 doth not destroy the ufe  of  reafon. Bat beware of
 thinking that  this ihould  bo  delayed ^ till  fitkntis
 come:   No,  no; the time  of health   is the  main
 working feafon, and all  ihould be  dam  by  hard, as
 far as  joft.hlc.   But, feeing even the belt generally
 find ui'ch to do at the very laft, I  Ihall give the
 following advices for yo .r actaal preparation.
    1 ft,  deedig  fickueis is a mean appointed of God
  for'his pcdpVc's good, and pman marly for  {filing
  them  %>r a  better world; labour  carneffiy to reap
   he benefit offickncfi, leek God's bleiiing uron it
  that thereby yon  may  be  helped to  diftover more
  of due  evil of  fin,  that you may hate  and  abhor  It
  the more, and that you  may fee more  cdectmdly the
  vanity  and vexation  of the worhi.  and  ;,ct ^our
   heme loofed from all die flung-, of  tune;  a.m brought 
            Afflicted Mai's Companion.         91

to a w ifimrncfs to be diuolved, that you may be with
Chrut.
   idly. Seeing the time of ficknefs aad death is the
time of your greateft need, beg  earueuuy of God,
lor your Kedmmer's fake, fuch ipecial aihitaucc, in-
fluences  and operations of his Holy  Spirit,  as he
knows needful for you in your prcfent low and weak
condition, in ordier to carry on and complete your
actual  read'mefs  for  meeting with himfelf at death,
and entering into the invilible world, and being Fix-
ed unalterably in your everlaiting date.
   3<'//y,Ii.enew the exercife of repentance, and of faith
in the  blood of  Chrift,  for rcmo\ iny; all << rounds of
quarrel and  contrcn, erfy betwixt God and your foul.
And in order thereto, review your by paft fife, aud
look into your heart  ado, and ibarch out every pre-
dooilmmt iin and idol  of jealouiy ; for if there be
aiy iniquity regarded in your heart, and murepeated
of by you, it may occaliou no little ang.dih and  bit-
ter; efs o'fp rit ma dying hour.   Well,  when thou
halt difcovered fin, humbly confefs and be vail it be-
fore the Lord,  and alk forgiveaefs for it  dtro' the
blood of jefus Chrift the Son of God, which  cuea-af-
tub. from ..11 fin.  Yea,  make confedion of all  thy
finb, and particularly reflect upon the fountain art
fpring  of them, viz thy original fin.  know  the
p' ig ;e of thy o-n ii heart,  and mourn e\ er -ft,  rac.cn
for dne  lofs  aud  nnfpeud'mg of much precious time.
Mourn for the miwrohdabftmefs of thy  life.  Nov/,
v. hen the ax is laid co the root of the tree by ficknefs,
it is high tune to mourn for your unfruitful  efi; un-
ci m the means of given  and waterings of the holy
Spirit,   fidorini  for your fin rung againit  fuch light
and love as have buen many day: dud:ayed to you ia
the  g'or.o ;s  gofpel.   And m  a ipecial 11 .muer,
in." ru for  your fins of omulion, whl-.h  commonly
are but little  minded by us.  'Fin s  mourn  for all
thy fie-g till thou doit water thy conch with tear.-.. It
h  • .. d fi.itabie tlmt  death iho.dd find  every man,
tven every  child oi God, in 1.0c enomidc of mourn- 
 ■./2.         Afflicted Mais Companion.

 big and repentance : for they that thus fow in tears,
 ihall eternally reap in  joy.   Hut fee that your tears
 run much from the gofpel channel, and flow ironi the
 believing views of a crucified Chrift, w iu»m you have
 pierced by  your fins.   And, in the midil of your
 mourning, be  ftill aiming to take faith's grips of the
 clefts of this  rock, for ineitering thy fotd from the
 guilt of by paft fins; fay, "" Lord Jefus, I have no
 refuge  but  thy  wounds,  no  fountain  but  thy
 blood, no covert bat thy righteoufnefs.   And feeing
 thou freely  make ft olfer  of thy merits  for my pro-
 tection, and in- iteft even the chief of fin ners to come
 unto  thee,  faying, Look  unto me, and  be ye faved.
 Lord, I  embrace the offer, and flee  to thee to cover
 me."   O believer do this, not once or twice, but do
 it a hundred times o^eu ; do it  as long  as thou haft
 breath to  draw  in the world.   Be itill  breathing to
 the very laft, after a crucified Jefus for relief againft
 the guilt of fin, which  thou art  always  contracting,
 and wiit be till the earthly houfe of this tabernacle be
 diffoKed.
   4-thly, In order  to  your  actual readinefs  to go
 forth  to meet the bridegroom, when  coining  to you
 by death, you  mait  do as the wife  virgins,  Matth
 xxv. 7.  ll Arii'e and trim your lamps."  As it is on
 enc-i.gh to have a fair lamp  of a profeifion,  fo it  is
 not iulticieut to have only the  oil of grace in  the
 lamp;  nay,  to have   it burning in fome  degree.
 There is more  reqmflte at thus  time, that the foal
 may be actually re :dy ;  the  lamp malt be trimmed,
 which imports, ift, Ai'uppiymg it with more -oil.you
 muft feek to have your  grace iucreafed, to have new
degrees, new ftrength, and new 11 pplies  of grace giv-
 en yon from God, to fit you for the laft  conflict with
your fpiritual cnemes, and efpecialiy the laft enemy
 death.  2t//y, It imports a ftirrmg up of the oil, and
ra'uuuig the wick fome higher: So there mult be an cx-
cutmion ol grace, which may be in a low declining
coud uon; you muft endcavoer to ftir  and raife  it
up to a more lively exercife, and more elevated acts. 
             ytfJltCtect Man's Companion          93

 S//V up the gift that is in thee: make the oil burn clear
 and fhine bright.  Bring faith, loye, repeinan.ee and
 holy defines, to a  lively exercife.   ^diy, This trim-
 ming imports the  clcanfing of the lamp, by  tadmg
 away the dead allies that hinder the light, or prevent
 its burning fo clearly as it  otnerwife would.  So you
 muft labour to take  away  the dead aihes of  corrup-
 tion, that'hinder the ihining of grace: remove all
 unbelief, carthl'mcfi, deadimfs,  felf,  and formality,
 and whatever elfe doth fupprefs the. exercife of faith,
 lo/c,  and heaveuly-miucfi inefs :  let all thefe dead
 aihes be fin.{fed away by  repentance and  mortifica-
 tion.  As you 01  ght to drive earueftly againit  all
■ thefe heart evils in time of health, fo now labour to
 glue diem a  dead itroke  when  death's harbinger
 gives you a fununons.
   pjhly, We diligent in gathering and furnmhig up all
 yo.;r evidence . for heaven and eternal life,  that fo
 you may  not venture into  the dark valley at an un-
 ccrtaint,-.   The com urt of dying will much  depend
 0.1 the  clearnefs  of your eviueuces ;  it is therefore
 vour wifdom to examine them carefully, and fee  if
 you cam  fay, k- A. know in whoml have  believed ; I
 have confeuted with my foul to the method offalva-
 t:ou laid down in the covenant of grate.  I am defir-
 ous that tfic glory of it flo del be  eternally  afcribed
 to dare free grace of God, and the cia at: re be  wholly
 abaied in his fight.  1 have chofen God :or my por-
 ticm. and  Chrdt idr  my only Saviour; and the hap-
 rinefi winch 1 aim at is, to enjoy God in Chrift for
 ever,  rime!, in order thereto, I depend  on the holy
 bp'rit to  apply  the  redemption which Jefta  Chrift
 bath purchaftd to me, and to fanudfy me perfect y.
 There is no fin but what I hate and defire to part
 with.  I would rather have  more  hoiinefs, than  to
have health and aft  the pleafures  in  the world.   I
 cmncmly defire the flourahing of Chrift's hiupdom,
and prefer Jcrufiflem to m_>  chiefeft  joy."   ii dfts
your evidences be clear, you may cheerfully take death
 bv  the eohl hand, arm v theme its grim  medcuuurs 
94         JLpfntted man's  umnanuon.

and long to be gone that you may be with Chrift.
You may fay  as Pl'alm xxiii. 4. "  When I walk
througii the valley of the ihadow of death, I will fear
no e-.di, for dmu art with me.  You may go off the
ftage with the fi'fahn'flt's words in  your mouth, l'falm
xxxi. 5. k- Into thine hand I commit my fpirit, for
thou haft redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.."
  dthly, Labour earneftly to overcome the  love of
life and fears of death, fo as to  be content to part
with ail things here at God's  calk   O believer, what
is there in this earth to tempt  thee to hang back,
when God calls you to depart? while you are here,
you may lay your account with many loffes, croh'es,
cliiappointments,  griefs, and calamities of all forts.
Frauds will fail you, enemies will hate  you, lnfts
will moleit j on, Satan will tempt you, and the world
will deceive you.  Death is the way that the deareit
of God's faints, and all the cloud of v. itnelfes have   '
gone  before you ;  yea, the Lord Jefus your head
hath trod  this  pmh and hath taken the iting out of
death, and hath paved a way througii its dark valley
that his people may lately fifiiow him.  Hath the Cap-   I
tain of your fah.adon gone before yum, and will  any   I
of his foidicrs fhrink to follow  him?  Art thou con-   I
tent to remain always  at  the  fame ddftance from
him, and to enjoy no more of his  pretence than now
you have? are  you finished to live for ever with no
more knowledge of God, no more love to Chrifl, no  '
more holincfs or heavenly-mindednefs than at pre-  .
mmt you have?  Do you not groan  under your re-
nin dng  ignorance,  deadnefs,  wanderings,  pride, <<
paihon^ unbelief, fdfhimefs, worldlinefs and other
in.a and lufts that here befet  you  ?  And are you not  .
dehrcms to go to the place where  you will be eternal-
ly  free  of .hem  all, and where you  ihall  never
complain-  of a  dull,  dead,  and  fenfelefs frame of
1 art, or of any heart-wcarinefs or wandering in du-
x^auy more?  For the heart ihall then be as a fixed.
pnlar iu the temple of God, and  fiadl go no more
out: die eternal  adoration and prance of Cod ihall 
Afflicted Man's Companion.
be the foul's delight and element forever.  By fuch
confiderations ftrive to conquer the  fears of death
and defines of life, which are often great clogs to the
people of God in their prepartions for Hitting.
  "jthly, Be oft meditating upon the heavenly glory
which ihortly all  believers  will fee and enjoy.  Be
much in the contemplation  of the glorious  company
above;  behold Chrift upoi  his glorious throne, at
the right hand of God and Abraham,  David, Peter,
Paul and all the reft of the  faithful ones, with  their
crowns of righteoufnefs, triumphing about their re-
deemer.   Think, O believer,  how happy wall that
day be, when thou ihalt mec  with thy father, and
brethren, and thou  ihalt fee thy elder brother on the
throne, ready to pafs fentence  in thy favour. What
melody will that  fentance found in thine ears,  Come
ye blc'fed of my Father, &c,  What frame wilt thou
be in, when hefets the crown of glory on thy head ?
O eternally free love! wilt thou cry,  u O Saviour,
thou didft wear a crown of thorns,  that I might wear
a  crown  of glory;  thou didft groan  on the crofs,
that I might now ling.  Wonderful free  love, that
chufed me, when thoufand  were paffed by; that fav-
ed me from ruin, when my companions in fin muft
burn  in hell for ever."   Think how raviihing it will
be to meet with your godjy acquaintances  in heaven,
vfth  whom you prayed,   praified,  aud converted
here!  Will you not then cry out, *•'■ O my brethren
what a change is here! this  glorious place is not
like the poor dwellings we had on earth; this body,
this foul, this ftate, this place, our clothes, our com-
pany, our language, our   thoughts,  are  far unftke
thofe we  had then! The  bad hearts, the body of
death, the corruptions and temntauons we then com-
phuned of, are ail now gone. \V e have no more fears
c'" dean u or hell, no  m.re vSe for repentance or pray-
er, fiutu or hope; riicie are now fwaliowed up in im-
mediate viiion, emrmd  love,  joy aud praife." And
for thy xie'lp, O believer, in mod caungen thefe things,
read fome parts of the book 01 Ac relation, or caufe 
  96         Afflicted  Maids Companion.

  them to be read to yoa;  and fuppofe with yourfelf
  you had beau a companion with joim in the file of
  Patinos. and had got fuch a view  of the  gioiaous
  Majedy, the bright inronca, the heavemy hobs, and
  fihhdmg fplencku i wdiich he fiiw; dm faults in their
  white robes, with crowns cm their heads and palms
  in their hands,  and heard  them flinging  the* fong of
  Modes  and the Lamb. a.id  trumpeting forth their
  eternal  h fllelujahs ;  what  a  heavenly   rapture
  would'ft thoa have been in!  \Vell then, (J believer,
  thou ihalt Ihortly  have clearer and tweeter lights
  than all  thefe win dn John or-any of the flints ever
  faw here :pon  earth.   Surely that heavenly glory is
  a fiubject worthy of thy thoughts,  and moft fuitable
  for dice  to meditate on in time of iicknefs, and when
  in elm vie-., of death.
    oh//;■•, It would be  alfo very fuitable at this time,
  in order to -/our actual readinefs for death, to be frc-
  quendy looking out and longing for Chrift's coming.
  As  Aor.diam  itood  in his tent door, ready to go
  forth to meet the angels that were lent unto him, fo
  fhould the believer keep himlfef in a waiting pollure
  at this time.  He ihould be like the loving wife, that
„ longs and looks for the coming of her abfent hulband,
  according to lus letters to  her.   By this time (thinks
  fhe) he  will be at fuch a  place, and againft fuch a
  time he will be at anodier place, and fo in a few days
  I will fee him.   It is the character of believers,  they
  are fidch as love his appearing, i Tim. iv. 8. They de-
  fire his coming, Cant. viii.  14. Make  hafte, my belov-
 ed:  avert fo com:, Lord 'Jefus, come quickly. Believers
  flionlu look upon thcmfelv-o as pilgrims here, wan-
  dering in a wilderuefi, anient from  home, and at a
 diita.ue  from  the.r mtiam's  houfe;  and hi  time of
  ailurft.on  i: is ^ ery prop r for them  to be crying as
  Daw J doth, fifld.lv. (,. •' O that I had" wings like a
  dove.'  or than  would I fly away, and be at reft;  I
  would iiater my efinite from the  wiody tempeft."
    O wraea i'.aii uit miie of my pilgrimage,  aud the
 days of my baudmiieui.be limmed,  that i may get 
Afflicted Man's Companion.         97
home to my country and friends above !  Oh !  my
Lord is gone,  my  Saviour  hath left the  earth,  and
entered  into his  glory ! my friends and brethren
are gone to their  bleffed rcit, where they fee God's
face, and fing  his praife forever:  and, how can  I
be willing to ftay behind, when they are gone? iVIuft
1 be finmug here, when they are ferving God above?
Muft I be groaning and fighing, when they arc tri-
umphing and dividing the fpoil ? Surely I will  look
after them, and cry, O Lord how long ?  when  ihall
I be with my Saviour and my God?"

D1 r t. c t. V. Let believers in time of ficknefs endeavour
   all they can to glorify God, and edify thofe that are
   about them, by theirfpeech and behaviour.
    IF ever a child of God be active to promote the
    honor and glory of God, it Ihould be in time of
ficknefs, and when death may be approaching.  And
there is good reafon for it;  for  if I, This may be ther
laft opportunity that ever thou ihalt have to do any
thing for  God,  and .therefore  thou fhouldft ftudy
to  improve it to the utmoft.   Heaven, to which
thou art going, is  the place where thou {halt receive
thy reward; but thou canit have no accefs  there to
advance  God's  glory,  by  commending God and
 Chrift,  and religion to finners, or weak believers.
 Upon  this account  many  of God's children  have
been content  to lufpend their  heavenly happinefs
for a while, and to ftay upon the earth for fome lon-
ger time.  I have read of  a certain martyr, when
going to fuller, who expreifed fome forrow that he
was going thither, where  he fhould do his God no
more fervice,  to  wit,  in the fenfe above explained.
And of another, that faith, " if it were poilible there
could be a place  of any grief in  heaven,  it would
arife from the Chriitian's  eonfidering,  that he did
fo little for God while he was  upon earth."  Now
is the working feafon, O believer, be bufy while it
lafts, according to  the example of thy bleilcd Saviour,
John ix. 4.  f-  I muft work the word  of  him.  that
                        I 
o8          Afflicted Man's Companion.

fent me,  while it  is  day ; for the night  comcth
wherein no  man  can  work."   This couiideration
Ihould make thee beftir thyldlf with the greateft ac-
tivftv, like Samfon before his death, who, when he
could have no  more opportunity to fervc God and
.his church, he cried to God, and faid, Judges xvi.
18.  " O  Lord God, remember me  I pray thee, and
ftrengthen me  this once."  And then he bowed him-
felf with  all his might to  pull down  the pillars of
Dagon's temple, being willing to facrifice his life to
tfie  ruin thereof.
   idly, The holy fpeech and carriage  of dying be-
lievers may,  througii the bleiiing of God, make
deep impreilion upon the hearts of unregeneratc men
that are witnelfes to them.   Thefe who have deri-
ded the  people  of God  for the itrictneis  of their
lives, and defpifed their couufels  and  reproofs  as
proceeding from humour or prccifenefs; yet have
 beo-un  to notice their words and actions, when they
 have feen them on fick-beds,  and on the borders of
 eternity, and to have  other thoughts of religion and
 hoiinefs than.formcrlv timy had.   Now they thud:
 the man  is in  good earneft,  and   fpeaketh  the
 thoughts of his heart: and, if ever he can be bebev-
 ed, it muft be now.  It is  moft convincing to car-
 nal perfons, to fee believers bearing  up  with  pa-
 tience  in their iicknefs ; to hear them fpeaking good
 of God,commending his ways,aud rejoicing 11: God
as their portion,  in miciit  of  their lliarpeit pains: ^
 to fee  them behaving as  thofe  that  are  going to"
ft well with Chriit, finfimg and praifing God, when I
friends are fighing and weeping about them.  This  |
 inclines them to think, fnrely .there unit be a reali-
 ty in religion, there is a v ftible difierence betwixt die j
 death o'm rightoous and of the wicked.   Hence a '
 wicked mifiaui w dded to die the death of the righ- '
jteous,  and to hav.e his laft end  like his.   it left a
 co.. r jet on  i ;.oo  that  yo u:g man's confidence, who
 faid to his  loom coumaniou, after they had vifited
 godly  Anibrofe oa  his  death  bed, and faw' how 
         Afflicted  Mans  Companion.           99
                                             «
cheerful  he was, and triumphing over approaching
death.  "Oh that I might'live with tiiec,  and  due
with Ambrofc !'? Nay,, fuch bghts might draw them
not only to defire to die the heath or me righteous,
but alfo  to rei'olve  to  live their  lives,  if carnal
men faw  beldn.cm going off the itagc with fuch con-
fidence'and joy, as  becomes thefe mac are entering
into eternal reft with Chrift, and thefe that are  go-
in g'out of a howling wildernefs to a glomot s Caua-
an; it might be a powerful invitation to them to go
and feck  after the fame felicity.
   2fHy. This like wife would be very edifying and
confirming to all that fear God.  How much would
ft contribute to eftabliih them in the practice-  of  ho-
liuefs, . aud to qdiehco them in their  diligence in
ferving  and glorifying  of God in the days of their
health, to-hear a dying believer  lay,  tlOf a1! the
time  which I  have ever lived, I have  no., comfort
now in reilicting upon one hour, but what I fpent
in the fervice of God.  Where I to begin my life,
I  would redeem  time  more   carefully  than ever.
One  hour in communion-with God is far fweeter
than many years fpent in worldly pleafures.   Come
here, then, all ye that fear God, and I will tell  \ ou
what he hath  d\o-\e for my foul.   O .tafte and ice:
that God is good;"
   aihly, Confider  the examples of God's children
in former ages, how ufeful  and edifying their words
have been, at fuch a time  to all round  about them.
fmt this  head 1 intendto hunt fully  upon afterwards:
   fdtiutft. ikit  how  ihall 1 behave io as I may glorify
God and edify others, when I am fick or doing?  i
would have lome particular directions for it.
   Anfw. ift, \ou  may  cio this by your pndeuce un-
der pain, a.:d fufinal.ion to God's wnl!,  with  refpect
to urn event, whether life or .death. It is 1 tumbling
to mhms,  to  i.ee behevers fretful hi  trouble   and
unwiiLing to leave me world,  when God end's them.
"bun it isi  molt con-, inting and  confirming- to  fee
thein franhly refigmug tUe:nfeives  to  Cod's chfpof- 
ioo            Afflicted Man's Companion.
 al,  faying, "Let God himfelf choofe for me: he
is wife, andknoweth belt what is needful and moil
proper for me; I  have no  will  but God,s  will."
For any mm to defire to live when God calls him to
die or to defire to die vvhm  God calls him to live, is
equally  a fin  of  cowardice:  for he that defires to
live, is  afraid to look  death  in  the face; and  he
that defires to  die, would flee from fome  calamity,
and take inciter in death.   But he is the molt va-
liant man  that can die willingly when God  would
have him die, and  live as willingly when G od would
have him live;  this is true chriitian valour.
   idly,  By pious exhortationsand warnings to thefe
that are about you.  It may  be  the laft occaiion
yon may have of  glorifying God this way:  O do
not loofe the feafon which may be ufcfully improved
 or the good of fouls. For thus a believer may bring
finorc honor to God,  and  mere  advantage topre-
cious fouls by his  ficknefs and  death, then ever he
did by all his health and life  in the world; for their
fpeeches have more weight with people at  fuch a
time  then  at  any other.   Hence   the  Patriarchs,
knowing the prevalency of fuch words,do urge Jo-
feph with  Jacob's dying, charge, Gen  i, 16.  iy,
"•And they fent a meflenger unto  Jofeph faying,
Thy father did command before he died,  faying, fo
iuaii ye fay unto Jofeph' Forgive,  I  pray thee now,
thee the trefpafs o.f thy brethren ,'• &c.   And as we
ought to be raidyto give good  counfel to all when
,\ve iie on fick becfi,  fo  eipecially we ihotdd be con-
cerned for  children  and  near relations: they  are
more .affected than others with our fickneft-, and fo
will they be with our layings; our admonitions may
do then good,  when  we are rotting  in the dm ft.
  Qcdf-'ft- tVhat ought to be the fubject  of our  dif-
cour.e-j and exhortations to others  at fuch a time ?
  Afljj.  ift. It is very proper to be much in co;n-
mcuding the mater you have ferved, and the excel-
lency of  his  iervice,  to thefe that  are  about  you
 Fed them  of the equity and goodnefs of thefe Ir-si 
          Afflicted Man's  Companion.          101

whi-h you have  obeyed, and of the  bounty  and
fiuthfulnefi of that  Lord whom  you have worfhip-
ped;  loved, and praifed ,-  and of the greatneis  and
eternity  of that  reward you  are  going to poueift
Let the children of God  extol their father, and his
care  of them  and kindnefs to  them.  Let the ran-
fomed of the Lord  iiingnrfy their  Redeemtr, and
his wonderful love and  fuiferings for  them.   Tell
others what  fweetnefs and  fata faction  you have
found  in your own experience in attending God's
ordinances, and in  fecret duties; wnat comfort you
have found in Chrift, and the promifes  of his cove-
nant.  And thus let your  laft breath  be fpent in
exalting and  commending Chrift and religion to o-
tiiem.
   idly. Be warning others of the vanity of the world,
and of all itsi wealth and pleafures.  Tell them that
they m.iy fee by  your cafe, that  thefe things which
people are bewitched with in the day of their health,
can  figuify nothing to a lick or dying man ;  they
cannot eafe us in our pa'mr,  they can afford no peace
to a  trouoied  foul, they cannot lengthen our lives
one hour, and far lefs can they fave from the wrath
of an angry God. "■ Oh," may you fay, *'• what a
urfcmble cafe had  1 been in at this time, • if I had.
no better portion than this world, and nothing elfe
to looh  to but its riches aud pleafures!  Wherefore
dims, fet not you hearts upon it, but forfake it be-
io v  you be foriaken by it, and make choce of that
which will be fupporting to you in  dm evil day."
   pftly,  Be warning them of the e\ ii of iin, and what
milcbu.ef and  decenftdueds,  you have  found in it.
Tell  them, that though.the devil  and the flefli would
tempt you look  on fin as a harmlefs. thing, yet
the pftafurc* will foon he gone, and a {harp iting will
be left behind.   Sin will  appear no  light-matter,
when the foul i, going hence into the av.ftui pretence
of a holy Go !.  You would give a thoufand worlds
then  tor  Chrift. and the blood of atonement to an-
fwu* for your fins.      . ,        ,  y ■
                       1-3 
 *ea         Afflicted a.i.-ads  Companion.

 . 4^/j\ Tell them the .great  difference  betwixt
 !i'e godly and the wicked man's choice.   i he godly
 nam chufeth the Letter  part that cannot be taken
 from hi in ; he lays ip h'.s treafi i e in heaven where
 none can reach it,  id that it fields  him rich fup.
 phes when  ficknefs  and  death come  upon him.
 dyei Q how foolifh is the wicked man's choice, that
 i^r a moment's fielhly pleafure,  doth  loie his im-
 mortal foul  and everlaiting happinefs!  Warn them
 to mind  the one thing needful in time, and not to
 pamper their body for the worms, but  to fet them-
 feives prefently to dole with the  offers of Chrift, and
 make litre an intereft in  his righteoufnefs to cover
 them in  the evil day.
  pjihly. Be  telling them of the evil of floth and neg-
 ligence in the work of their falvation;  and be exhort-
 ing them to mind it, and  do it with all their might.
 For however fome may cenfnre  and deride God's
 people now  for their itrictnefs, diligence, and  zeal
 in the matters of religion ;  yet when they come to
 die, they will be ready to wiih that  they had been
 more diligent in falvation work;   that they had
 Joved God, fled toChriit, and had fought and ferved
 him with all their hearts and fouls: and to cry, " O
 for a little more time !  O if God would recover and
 try us  once more with health, how  diligent would
 we  be ]" And tell them that thefe who have been
 moft ferious and painful in falvation work, yet, when
 they come to die, do much lament their iloth and
 negligence :  yea, thefe that have been  moil  re-
proached by  the world for their  diligence and fer-
vency, do often wiih  at that time, " O that we had
been a  thoufand times more diligent  and laborious
in God's fervice!"
  6thly,  Labor to perfuade others of the preciouf-
neis of time,  the wifdom of improving  the time  of
youth, and of health, and  the great folly of delay-
ing repentance, and of putting it off to a lick-bed. Say
to them, u I find now by experience, that a time of
 ficknefs is a m0ft unfit feafon to do any thing to 
'Afflicted Man'-s Companion.
J°3
 purpofe for the foul; my mind  is fo diverted  and
 indn'pomd for  lbirfiual work by fbknefs and pain,
 that f cannot attain to any fuitable compofure for it.
 And how. uufcr.dne were ±,  iff had all my  work to
 begun at this tune! o  take  warning, and  improve
 precious time,  and efpecially the day  of the  gofpel,
 the time  of die fpimt's itnvings,  and the  chne of
 youth, which  is tlm moft ufiad feafon of the conver-
 iion of fouls, and  of bringing tinners into acquain-
 tance with Jefus Chrift."
               *     . - ■
 Direct. VI.  Let God's children; whenfek or dying.
   be exprefling a great concern for the advancement
   ef the kingdom of Cbrift' and of true religion in ihe
 fifing generation,
 ?~jf fLPdL and public fpiritednefs for  Chrift's inter-
 £_j cit is very becoming his people in all  the peri-
 ods of their  life, but more  especially at  this time.
 When Chrift is ready to take you to his kingdom in
 heaven,  O be  not unmindful of  his kingdom on
 earth.   It would  be acceptable to God, and pleu.-
 aut in the light of men, to fee you expreidmg a warm
 co' corn for the riling age, and for promoting  the
 welfare of the fouls of your children, and others chat
 iarrive you : and feeing you can be no longer ufeful
 to thefe you leave behind, By your councils, exam-
 ples,  or prayers,  as  formerly ; do your utmot for
 them now.  And  this concern the children  of God
 in time of ficknefs may evidence feverai ways.
   iyV, By earneft prayers to God, both for the prof-
 qerity of his church, and theflouriihing of religion iu
 general, and alfo for your children and relations in
 particular, that they may be a holy  feed, and a gen-
 eration to ferye God, and ihew forth his praife in the
 world, when you  are gone oif the itage.
  2..for, By intruiting the care of your children's ed-
ucation to fuch tutors and guardians as will be much
concerned for  their fouls, and will fet before them
godly examples aud inltin.ctious in  their young and
tender years.
  3.dy, By filling   your latter-wills and teftaments 
104         Af tilled i*/ :>>'s Ca-mpanion.

with  many pious ■ advfirs and folemn  charges to
your  children  and rehndons,  with  re'pect to their
ferving of God, and w oriiiipp'mg him  in their fam-
ilies and ia fecret:  fo as t!u y can never  look  into
your  teftaments, and  the legacies leit  to them, but
they will hear fome thing that may be aifecling. up-
ftirring,  and edifying to their  fouls.
   4thly, By honouring the Lord with your fubftance,
and leaving  fomediing of what God huh blefl'ed
yoa with to pious ufes; particularly for the religious
education of the  children of the pr>or, for buying
Bibles to them,  and other good books; and for pro-
pagating of Chriftian knowledge in ignorant places,
fuch as tii-e highlands  and blanch,  by  erecting and
ma'mtai ding  fchools therein; which glorious  work
is happily  begun, and  pretty far advanced by that
honorable  fociety at Edinburg,  vvhofe treafurer is
ready to receive donations from all fuch as  the Lord
pleafeth  to move  to make  a  fice-will olfering for
promoting that pious  delign.  Many pious perfons
have contributed already thereto; and it were defina-
ble that others,  whom  Gcd hath enabled for it,
iliould mind it before they die; for by fatal experi-
ence we may obferve,  that the moit godly parents do
not know how their children will employ  the eftate
they leave  them,  whether as  fuel for their lulls, or
as oil to feed  the lamp's in God's  fancli.ary.   It  is
proper for  themfelves  then,  before they go oft the
itage  to difpofe  of fome part of their  fubftance, for
the glory  and. f'crvice  of  that  God  who gave  it
unto  them.
   5thly,  it-mflght  contribute to promote piety, and
to make  the  deeper hnprcinons upon the mams of
your children and friends, if under the warnings of
death, you ihould imume die example  of the proph-
et Li-jah, who m  lift life time made a v\riting  v.bich
he procured to be de.dvered to  lung  jehoram after his
ucutn, i Ci.ron. xxi.  -.a.  So in like  manner  you
mignt: write J,cum, aud leave them in the bauds of
your friends an 1 executor,. full of advices, charts,
achnomtiomij confolations, or tnreatcnmgs,  to be m' 
Afflicted Man's Companion.         105
livered  to your  children or friends, upon  occafion
either of their good or had converfation  after your
death: which probably would be more regarded by
them, than the counfleis you gave  them in the time
of your life;  for in fome relpect they would be re-
ceived and read by  them, as if they were letters from
heaven.
Dirf.ct. VII. Let the children of God labor to fortify
   themfelves what they can againft all Satan's temp-
   tations and affaults, which they may expect to meet
   with in time of ficknefs and affliction.
A TIME of  affliction  is commonly a time of
      temptation : for  the  old ferpent knows the
fitteft feafons  for afiaulting the  children of God;
and he will not be wanting to improve this opportu-
nity of  advantage for fetting upon  die poor foul.
When Pharaoh heard that the people were entan-
gled in the wildernefs, he purfued them : fo when
Satan fees a foul entangled with diftreifes and trou-
bles, he thinks it high time to make an attack.  He
fceks to winnow and lift away die believer's grace,
and therefore he comes when the corn is a threlhing
by the rod.  When  Job was finittenftn his eftate,
health, and all other comforts,  then this coward falls
upon him, and tempts him to impatience, murmur-
ing and wrong thoughts of God.
   At this time, O believer, you have fpecial need to
be on your guard,  and lookout.   Reckon alway s,
when iicknais or trouble cometh,  the prince of this
world comcth  alio.  Stand  then  to your defence,
and put on your armour, efpecially the ihield of faith,
that yoa may be able to quench the fiery darts of the
devil.  You hive need at this time to put in practice
oar Lord's direction, '• Watch and pray, that ye en-
ter not into temptation."  Pray i'or wiidotn and ikiil
to counteract him, and that you may not be ignorant
of his devices,  and pray particularly for grace to
make you proof againit all his  faife representations
of God and his providence to you; for he that durft
reprefent Job faifely to an all-feeing and all-knowing 
io6        eaJllctedMa-'s Companion.

God., will with much boldnefs reprefent God falfcly
to you,  who fee and know  fo  Jmle.   He w tH be<
ready to icmut you to think that God is angry v.ali
von, and dealing wiih you as an enemy,  ft has was
job tempted, job xxx'ui. 10, n. li Behold he imd-
cth oecaiions againft me, he counteth me  for his e-
nemy: he putteth  my feet m the flocks, he markedi
all my paths."  But obicrvc what filihu  aufvvers,
'• In  this thou art not juft; God is greater than
man.   Why dolt  thou ftrive againit him?  for he
giveth not account of any of his m.atters." But fee-
in y I {poke before of the wrong thoughts of God,
which we are apt to harbour  in  time  ofailnctlou,
Chan. II. Direct. 3. I fhall proceed  to fpeak of fome
other temptations   wherewith  Satan  dodi  alfault
God's peoole when in diftrefs, and  furniih fome an-
fwers thereto.
   1. Saith the tempter,  u Thou art nothing but a
hypocrite : ail thy  religious performances  have been
done in hypocrily. to tae ihen of men :  thou never
haft repented or btheved  fmccrely in ti»e  light  of
God."
   Anfw. I aclmow ledge there hath been  much hy-
pocrify  in me, but i hope  it  is  not allowed and
reigning hypocrily ; I afl.v ays  wreftled againit  it :
wherefore I am not  an hypocrftc.  I regarded the
efteem of men too  much, but I hope I value  the ef-
teem of God much  more.   My faith and repentance
are weak, but ihopc they areiincere. And whatever
defects and ihort comings have  form tidy  cleaved to
thefe graces in me, I do now nnfeign.ccliy  repent of
all my fins, I look to him that i pierced, and moi rn.
lam  luaartdy willing to  bejmflnedby  the rght-
te<)' luefs of Chrift alone,  and co  be cieauft'tU and
fanctified by  his  Spirit; and here I give  up  myfelf
to Chriit as my ouiy Saviour.  Aim this i hope  is,
through _•/•'-..,-, true rep cm dug and belie\iug, wnich
Godt  wiii  aceeuuu for  Chrutft  fake, whatever my
former  defect- na\ c oeen.
   Terra t. 1. butfaith tae tempter, uThy repentance 
          ~Apflitted MrrAflfomanpion.          107

 cannot be true; for thy heart is  not  Lrohen, and
 thine eyes do not died tears for fin.
   Anfw.  It is my very  great burden  and conftant
 complaint to God, that I cannot attain to a greater
 meafere of furrow and comritiou for fin : but yet it
 is my comfort that repentance is not to be cor.hued
 to fuch degrees and  lymptoms oi' forrow as fome 00
 win at.   I hope I can lay throi gh  grace, that my
 he jiu is fet againit all  fin, great  and finall: and I
 would give all I have in the world to be wholly de-
 livered from hn.
   Tempt. 3. Saith the tempter, "  But thy  day of
 grace is paft, it is too  kite for thee  to  think  of re-
 penting or believing :  God  will not accept of thee
 now."
   Anfw.  But I hope it  is not fo with me,' feeing God
 gives me  a  heart that  pants after God, and Chrift,
 in the way  of  commanded duty.  The offers of fal-
 vation  through Chid it are made to  all who believe
 ami  repent; and late penitents  are not excluded
 from the  benefit  of  theie gracious offers more than
 others.
   Tempt. 4. But faith the tempter. " Thou art none
 of God's  cleft, and if thou be not chofen to falvation,
 thou canit not  be fevecl."
   Anfw.  Secret things belong  to God, and it were
 prcfumption in me  to pry into his  fecret  decrees;
 but  one  thing I am fure of,  that every foul  that is
 chofen  to faith and repentance, is alfo chofen to fal-
 vation; but i truft God hath cholen me to the for-
 mer, aud  therefore to  the latter.
   Tempi,  j. But faith the tempter, " You over-value
 vour graces  and dudes, ami id they cannot be true
 and  real."
   Anfw. But i  count  them all but  lofs  and  dung
 in compirifon of C drift.   I defire always to be deep-
 lv In mlded lu.Uer a  fenfe 01 my fimfninefs and un-
 worthu cfs,  ail to abhor every motion that would
carry ine  away from Chrift  and his righteoufnefs, 
 jo8        Afflicted Mans Companion

 and wool J tempt me to inly on my grace and duties,
 or put them in the lead m iftudifis room.
    Tempi. 6. '• The lift c of thy ficknefi may be death,
 and thou art  not ready:  for ihou bait no a libra ace
 of thy falvation."
    Aifw.  A pci feet  certainty is not to be eapcctccl
 here; there will be itill fome op. eidous. fome doubts
 and fears ; but thefe I refolve not to indulge now
 but to break through all. that I may embrace Chrift
 and be found  in him. The defires of my foul are to
 Chrift, and the remembrance of his name : aud fuch
 I believe, he  will not buffer to perijh,  " I believe'
 Lord help my unbelief."
    Tempt. 7. " But thou art a ftranger to the invifibJo
 world ; how  wilt thou adventure into  that  world
 of fpirits, with  which thou haft  fo  little  acquaint-
 ance?"                                   *
    Anfw.  But  Chrift, who  is my  head  and  belt
 friend, is no ftranger to it; he is the Lord of  that
 land, and provides maniions "for all his people there ;
 aud he will recieve every one of them home, and
 lodge them fafely.   " The fpirits of juft men made
 perfect,"  were once what my fpirit now  is ; they
 were ftrangers to that vvorid before they came to
 it, as well as I; but  their  head being in it, encomv
 aged  them to go to it ;  and now they rejoice in it as
 the kindly dwefiir g-place of all the faints.
   Tempt. 8. "  But thou art vile, and God is infinite-
 ly pure and glorious; how canft thou think  of ap-
 proaching fo near to him ?"
   Anfw. 1 hough a weak eye be not able to look up,
on the fun, yet I hope to be fitted and itrengthened
for that glorious  fight.   Beiides, God doth now ap-
pear to , s m his Son Chrift, where hi* infinite glory
is pieafantlyv ailed fo as the faints may behold him.
 Thefe glorified fouls above were once vile as well
as ornery  but their  Saviour did cleanfe them,  and
prefent them to the Father wuhout fpot or wrinkle.
And whatever be my onworthinefs,  I am  relieved
by confidermg  my union with  Chrift, and looking 
           Afflicted Man's  Companion.         io-j

 on the glory and dignity of my head.  Surely God
 will  not defpife the members *>f his dear  Son, nor
 trample on any that are  his flefii and bones.
   Tempt. 9.  '• But what will become  of  thy  wife
 and children, when thou art taken from them ?
   Anfw. If I  truft God fo willingly with my foul,
 and my  eternal concerns, why I may not trull him
 with my relations alfo ?  Have  I not feci how won-
 derfully he  hath  provided for others? Doth not
 every thing  in the world depend on  his will  and
 pleafure ?  How eafy is it then for God to fupply his
 own ?
   Tempt. 10. " But ftill death is terrible to nature,
 even the king of terrors."
   Aafw. But my  Redeemer haft  tailed death for
 me, and taken out its fearful  iting ; he hath con-
 quered death, and keeps  the keys of death and hell.
 Wherefore  through him  will  I fing, " O death
 where is thy Iting ? O grave, where is thy victory?"
   Tempt. 11.  " But it is terrible to think of appear-
 ing before God's tribunal, to be tried andjudged."
   Anfw. But my friend and intercelfor  will be  the
 Judge there.   Will Chrift  condemn the members
 of his own  body, and thefe  he hath fo  often com-
 forted ?'
   But beiides all thefe, a  holy  God  may fometimes
 fuffer the tempter to ailault has own people in time
 of their affliction with his fiery darts and his fierceft
 battering engines,  fuch as temptations to Atheifm,
 blafphemy, defpair,  &c. whereby their fouls may be
 terribly ihaken, and fore amazed.
   Your relief in this cafe is to look to your head
 and remember how he was himfelf buifetted by  this
 enemy, aflauLted with the moft odious temptations
 that he  might thereby get an experimental  toucii
 and feeling of your condition, in order to his fympa-
 thizing with you,  and relieving you from this ene-
my, whom  he hath  already  conquered  in your
name;  But for thefe things he will be  enquired of
K 
no         Afflicted Man's Companion.

by the houfe of Ifrael.  You muft act faith on your
exalted head.       •

              CHAP. IV.

Containing fome fpecial direftionr to  unrcgenerate
   perfons, when afflicted by ficknefs or otlmrwife.

Dirkct. I. Take  a ferious view of the miferable
   condition of a  Chrift lefs p erf on  under ficknefs  or
   heavy iflllclion.

 sft.  /CONSIDER the vaft difference betwixt yonr
     V_^  cafe, and that of  a true believer ;  he hath
ground of confutation in the greateft diftrefs, but
you have none.  However fharp the 'rod of correc-   j
tion be  to him, yet it  is in the hand of a Father :
but  you have to do with an angry and fin-revenging   '
 God': and  who may hand in his fight, if once  he
 be angry? for he commands both  the firit and fe-   ]
 cond ueath, and he can caft you both into the grave
 and hell  at once,   Rev. vi. 8. " Hell followed the   j
 palehorfe."   Death is the king of terrors, but hefl
 is a thoufand times rflore terrible.  When God  af-
 flifts his children,  he Hands to them in the relation
 of a loving father ; but  he deals  with you  as an
 incenfed judge.  Though  he fees  it necehary  for
 their good to chaftife them, yet he doth it with a  |
 relenting hand; yea, every ftroke goedi as it were
 to his heart, Ifa. Ixiii. q.  li In all their affliction he
 was afflicted."  But when  he arifeth to puniih  his
 enemies, he ftrll-cs them with hatred and detefta-
tion, as  a man would do  a toad or venemous crea-  j
 ture.  Thoi gh they cry he hath no pity, Prov. i.
 20.   "  I vvui laugh at your calamity,  and  mock
 when your  fear cometh."
   idly,  If yotr ficknefs threaten you with death,
what a  dark and  melancholy profpeft muft  you
have of your approaching change ? Why, O Cbrlit-
kfs  foul3 it is what you are wholly unprepared lor, 
            Afflicted Man's Companion.        111

The old houfe fall downs about your ears,  before
you hiae another lodging provided.   \\ hen death
cats you to the door,  you hfcye" no where  to lay
your  head, unlets it be on a bed of fire and brim-
ftcme.   C how furprifing and fearful will the change
be, that death will  make on you!  A change from
earth to heli, from light to darknefs, from comforts
to terrors, from hope to difpair, from the  offers  of
grace to the revelation of wrath ; a change from the
iociety of faints  on earth, to the  company of the
damned in hell.  Whatever fond hopes of falvation
you have now, your hopes ihall lead you no further
than to the king of terrors, and then  " your hopes
fhall be cut off, and your trail like a fpi fir's web."
Job viii. 18.   Though  it  coft you much pains  to
weave and fupport  this  web  now, it will prove a
weak and {lender defence to your foul, when death
comes with his befom of deitruftion, and fvveeps both
yon and it away  to hell.  You will then be taken
from all the means  of grace you have abufed, and
be forever deprived of an opportunity of buying oil :
your lamp fliall go out to death, and never be light-
ed any more.
   3rA'y, In this extremity you have no airth  to look
to for co.nfort.  O  Chriitlefs dinner, what will you
do in the day of vilitation ? To whom will you flee
for help ?  Yo  r houfes, your lands, your nioney,
your honour-., your companions,your relations, will
all be miferable  comforters to you..   Every thing
will look black and  difinal round about you.  If you
look without  you for help, you may fee you  friends
weeping and  lamenting  yo-.ee ca'b; but thi- will do
1 o.mng but incre ue your  vm aden and mifery.  If
yo  look wfthm you for relief, confidence, that be-
fore-yon would not fuft'ur  to fpouk,  will  meet yo.i
witn bitter ft logs and tupbraidings.  It v/ul bring to
yo; r view the tins you had forgot, the time yon have
niihpent, the health you have ufuhnprovenftthe of-
fer,, of graae you have  refuftd, the great fiftvatio 1
you hare negftftcd.  Wluic foil,- was it -for  thee to
                     K 2. 
111         Afflicted Man's Companion.

pro.ohc God, and (light Chrift, for a little worldly
profit, or a little brutiih pleafvre ? Can thefe vdieyc
thee when the arrov& of the Almighty flick within
thee, and the terrors of God do fet themfelves in ar-
ray againit thy foul ?  In the  mean time the devil,
that tempted you  to your foul-ruining courfe,  will
ftep in, and reprefent your fins in their blackeft co-
lors  and  aggravations  to  render you  altogether
honelefs and defperate.   O {inner, thou that rcfuf-
eft reft from Cbrift in the day of health and grace,
fhait find no eafe from  the creature in the day of
Iicknefs  and death. Your  ficknefs will allow  no
reft to your body, and your Iins  will permit no eafe
to your foul,  You may expect the fulfilling of that
threatening,Deut.xxvviiLo*;--—67. "The Lord fliall
 give thee a trembling of heart, and failing of eyes,
and  forrovv of mind.  And thy life  Ihall hang in
doubt before thee, and thou {halthave fear day  and
night.  In the morning thou Ihalt fay, Would God
it were even: and at even  thou {halt fay,  Would
God it were morning," becaufe  of the pain of thy
body and anguifh of thy fpirit.

Direct. II. Let unregeneratedperfons carefully im-
  prove their ficknefs and affliction, as means to fur-
   ther their converfion; and pray that God may blefs
   it for that end.
      MANY have  begun their  acquaintance with
        God, and with themfelves in the time of af-
fliction;  the furnace is frequently the Spirit'b worh-
houfe, where he forms his veiiels of praife.  There
.are many who, while health and ftrength continue,
mind nothing but vain pleafures; one day they go
to their games and fports, another day to their cups,
and  lafcivious  company, another  day  to  vJ^flug
their friends;  aud thus they fpend the whole time
of their health and profperity in fin and vanity.   All
dim warnings, counfels, and exhortations of parents,
friends and  minifttrs,  do them no good, they  can-
not endure to entertain a ftrious thought of God or
 of Chrift, of death, of heaven, of hell, or imfiment 
             Afflicted Man's Companion.         113

  to come.   But when God doth caft them into fick-
  nefs,  or  fo:ne great affliction,  they, through the
  dieting  of God, begin to come to themfelves, like
  the prodigal, and  think of returning again to  then-
  Father.   Several  inftances to this pnrp.ofe might be
  gi\len.  The earl  of Rochefter is a kite one, whofe
  hfe  was notoriously lewd, profane,  and  atheiftical,
  and who  had wickedly employed  his wit and  parts
  to  reticule all religion;  yet when he was  adhdted
  with pain and iicknefs, and brought to the gates of
  death, he began to entertain  quit other  apprehen-
  flons then he  had  done before; he profeffed he had
  fcrious and rmerend thoughts of religion and  holi-
  m.'fs, which before he laughed at; he moft earneftly
  and  affectionately  warned others  to abandon their
  evil courfes, and to live reiigioufly and  foberly,  and
  to look upon religion as th°.  greateft  reality in  the
  world ; he retracted all his impious and profane  lan-
  guage, wherewith he ufed to reflect on the ways of
  god duels, and  willingly attcfted  all this under  his
  hand.
   Pray then for the divine bleifmg on your ficknefs
  that it may contribute  to the converfion of your
  fotd ,-.which it doth feveral ways,   ift,  By opeodm ;-
  men's eyes to get  a true fight  of  things,  to  behold
 religion in its true ikape,  an. 1 fin in its proper  col-
 ours; hence the  rod is  faid  to give  wifdom,  Prov.
 xnix. 15.   They who have mocked at religion,  and
 nude fi-tit of final! their days, have been taught by
 bodily iicknefs to change their tune.  Then they be-
 gin to hive an edeem of the Bible,  and to value  and
 ienci i'or a pious minifter, and to defire the prayers of
 the people of God.  Now they preceive iin" to be
 fitter a? gall and  wormwood, they lothe and abhor
 that   which they  hked  before; now the word of
God  makes deep imwefiion  on then, and particular-
ly ftdch a word as that, Jer,  ii.  19. kW Koo.v  there-
fore a id fee,  that it is an evil thing and bitter that
thou haft forfaken the Lord thy Goth"
                      *3 
rr4
Afflicted Mans Companion.
  idly,  Sicknefs helps to fet the word preached home
upon the heart.  When God fpcaks to us in the day
of health and profperity, we oft give him a deaf ear,
Jer. xxii. 11.  But when diftrefs comes, it brings  the
uords of God, and  of his miniiters, to our remem-
brance,  as it brought Jofcph's to  the remembrance
of his brethren. Gen. xliii. 21.
  -v//y, Sicknefs contributes to loofe a man's heart
from the world, and to cool his love thereto;  where-
by  a great hindrance of converfion  is removed  out
ot the way, and the man is made to  fay, " How vain
and helpit'fs are the world's  comforts to me now !
thefe things I delighted in formerly are tafteleis to
me at this time.  There is no portion can fuit  my
foul's needs, but God himfelf."
   4thly, It fpurs a man on  to prayer that formerly
 neo-lected it.  When the prodigal is brought to  dif-
 trel's, he fays, " 1 will arife  and  go to my father."
 Heforo-athis father before, but now he  will addrefs
 him  Hoft v. 15. " in their affliction they will leek
 me early."  Thus the Lord  frequently begins  and
 promotes the converfion of fouls to himfelf.  And
 O finner, if diisbe the fruitof thy ficknefs, it will not
 be unto death, but the glory of God.

 Direct.  III.  Be careful to obey  Cud's  voice in the
           rod, and beware of flighting it.
     EVERY ficknefs hath a meifage from God, and
      his voice you ought to  harken to  with rever-
 tnce and attention, Micah  vi. 9. What faith he to
 you at  this time ?  O finner, he faith, " Retire  from
 the world, think on death and eternity, abhor thefe
 lufts and  idols which  God is fmiting you  for, flee
 fpeedilv to the ftrong hold; repent, and be  convert-
 ed, that your  fins may be  blotted out."  This is
 God's voice to you, and confider  how provoking it
 will be to him, if you flight it.
   ifl^  You will provoke God to flight your  voice
 when you cry to him, and  flop his  car av.unit the
 voice of your ^applications,  Zech. vii. 13. 
Afflicted Man's Companion.            i r5
  2dly,  You will provoke God to ceafe from being a
reprover to you, fo that he wdll fpeak to you nomore-
  3*//y,  You will provoke him to bring heavier judg-
ments on you,  yea,  fo to draw  his fword of juftice
againit you,  that he will iheathe it up no more, ashe
threathens, Ezek. xxi. 5.
  dfthly, God may break off all intercourfe aud cor-
refpondence  with you, as  with thofe, Ezek.  xx. 31-
"As I live,  faith the Lord  God, I will  not be in-
 quired of by you."
  $thly, He may fealyou  up forever under your fins,
bardnefs, and pollution; and fay to you   as to fome
we read of, Ezek. xxiv.  13.  Hof. iv. 7.  Rev. xxii.
11. "Becaufe I have purged thee, and thou was  not
purged,  thou Ihaltnot  be purged from thy filthinefs
any more, till I have cauled  my fury to reft upon
thee.   Ephraim is joined  to his idols, let  him alone.
He that is filthy, let him be  filthy ftill."  He that
is heardened againit the voice  of my rods,  let him be
hcardened Itill.   Well then, O iinner, while God is
in fpeaking terms with you, harken to his  voice,  and
obey  it  ;  fay J" Lord,  what  wilt thou have me to
do ?"

Direct. IV. Caft back your eyes upon the fins of your
bypafl life, and labour to be deeply humbled for them be-
fore the Lord.
   SEEING you are fummoned  to prepare for go-
     ing to the judgment feat of God, where your
foal is to receive its final fentence; labour to pre-
vent the terror of that appearance, by your judoino-
yourfelf beforehand.   And  this you muft  do,  by
fummoning yourfelf before the bar of confeience,  ex-
amining mtrrowly into your ftate, accufimg and con-
demning yourfelf for your fins.   And fee that you
be impartial in this work,  willing to  know the truth
and difcover the worit of your cafe.  You muft fee
and be duly fenlible  of your clanger, otherwife yon
cannot  think to eftape .   lake a narrow view  of
your fins in their nature, number, aggravations, and 
  Il6        Afflicted Mms Cm [anion.

  dcfervings.   And in order to this,  if thou haft  any
  meafure of ftrength for it, let the  cxpofition of the
  ten comaiandmeuts in our Larger  Catccluhn bo dih
  tinbtly  road  over  voto thee.  "Make a  paufe i.po.i
  every queftion, and fay within thyfelf, " Have I not
  not omited what is here required by G od ? and have I
  not committed what  is here forbidden by God? how
  oft have I repeated thefsiins? how long have I Jiv-
  ed  in  the practice of them? O!  do not  fo  many
  years fins need very ferious repentance, a very deep
  humiliation? ;t O!  doth not fuch a vile finner as 1,
  ftand greatly  in need of Chrift to  my cautionar aud
  ranfomer for fuch a vaft number of fins? will not their
  weight prefs me eternally down to the  loweft hell,
  if they remain unpardoned, and be  laid upon  riiy
  back?"  Wherefore view them  clofely,  and confefs
  them particularly before God.
    zft, In the firft place,  bewail thy original fin,  the
  fountain  of  all thy actual tranfgreihons, as did Da-
  vid, Pfal. II. 5.  " Behold, I was fhapen  in inipoity,
  and in fin did my mother conceive me."
    idly,  Acknowledge  and mourn over  the  fir.ftl
  ou.tbreakings of thy life, whereby  thou  haft dilhon-
  ourncd God,  and grieved his holy Spirit; and efpec-
  ially fins againft light.
    ptfl-ly, Be humbled for thy fins  ofomifiam, for neg-
  lecting  of commanded cb.ties, particularly for  the
  neglect of prayer in fecret, and of family religion.
   sjhly, Mourn for  the lofs of precious time.   Alas
  for the  time of yot.th  mifpont,  mmy bbmbath clays
  trifled away!
• fyih'.y, Lament thy  long flighting  of  Chrift,  and
  falvation through his righceo duet's, which fo  preff-
  ingly hath been ouered to thee in the gofpel.
   Cthly, Bewail  thy itiffing the  couvhftons,   and
  quenching 'he motions  of  the  neurit, and thereby
  provoking hdn to de  art  from you.
   l-hly, ftio.ru for  .h ' : uduu-kfidueft  to God for
  mercies and deliver., u^sp which udght have allured
  yo.. to ceeeazex me mm new a Ac ol ihe. 
            Afflicted Man's Companion          117

   Bthly, Confefs thy  ftubbornnefs under former af-
 flictions, which hath provoked God to fend new tri-
 als upon you.
   <)thly, Be humbled for thy earthly^mindednefs, in
 that thou haft all  thy days been careful and cumber-
 ed about many things,  and haft negjefted the  one
 thing needful.
   lOthly, Mourn for the latenefs of thy repentance,
 and thy prodigious folly in delaying fo long  to be-
 think thyfelf, and turn to the Lord.  " Oh how un-
 wifely have I acted, to miffpend the time of health,
 and  delay fo great a work till now, that I am laid on
 a fick-bed!  and now, if I die before I am converted,
I am loft forever.   O Lord,  I am afhamed and  con-
founded at my madnefs-and folly, and have no excufe
to plead for myfelf, but muft ftand afar off with the
poor publican, and finite upon my breaft,  and  cry,
God be merciful to me a finner."
 Direct. V. flee prefently to Jefus Chrift by a true
  faith, andclofe with him as offered to you in the go/pel.
      ART thou  fenfible, O Imner, of thy grievous
       guilt and ill-defervings before God? then do
 not delpair: for Jefus Chrift, who hath  offered to
 divine juftice an all-fufficient facrifice for fin, is offer-
 ing himfelf to thee, faying, " O  diftrelfed finner,
 look unto  me and be laved.  Turn unto me, why
 will ye die? Come unto me, heavy laden foul, and I
 will give you reft.  He that cometh to me, I will in
 no wife caft off."  Will not fuch  gracious  words,
 fuch  moving calls, melt thy heart within  thee, andflp.
 make thee cry to Ifim, lk Lord Jefus, I flee to thee as
 iny refuge, for deliverance from  iin, and proteftion
 from the wrath to come:  I look  to thy wounds  I
 truft in thy righteoufhefs,  I depend on thy merit, I
 lie at thy feet, and this I am refolved to do as long
"as I have breath to draw in the workk" 
 u3         Afflicted Mans Companion.

 Dirfc r. VI. Call for the elders of the church that
    tl.ee me. y pray over you in your ficknefs. ^
 r~!l"\Liid is the  apoloe Jamc-, his direction to die
    Si    iieh, James1 v. 14. ;hc cloth  not fay, if any be
 fiT . let him fend for the phyficians. but for the elders
 or uuuilters.
    It is true, phyficians are to be called, but not in
 the firit place.   It was Ala's fault that in his dif-
 eafe he fought not the Lord, but to the phyficians ;
 and, alas, how many follow his example! Miniitcrs
 are only caftcd for in the laft place, and very often
 when time is  paft,  the fick being at the point of
 death, and fcarce  capable to fpeak  or  hear.  But  if
 you defire  to reap benefit by the inflruftions  and
- prayers of  miniiters,  call for them tiuicoufly,  and
 open your cafe unto them ; feek dieir counfel,  and
  beg for their prayers.  It is their office to teach and
  pray for you, and they have authority to offer fal-
  vation to you through Chrift, and to minifter com-
  fort to them that  are  cait  down;  wherefore a bleii-
  ing may be  expected  on their miniitrations aud per-
  formances  more  than others.  Hence  God faid to
  Abimelech of Abraham, Gen. xx. 7.  u He is a pro-
  phet, and he fhall pray for thee." And to Job's friends
  concerning Job, job xiii. 8. " (Soto my  fervant job,
  and he fliail pray for you. for hiiu will 1 accept: left
  that I deal with you after  your folly."
 ' -  And laitiy, Remember that as the apoltle James en-
 joins the fick to call for the elciem to pray over then,
  fo at the fame time he directs you, james  /. 16.  to
» ccufeis you.r faults one to another. Chrdikm to Chrift-  1
  ian, one friend to anodmr.the peop.e  to their mmft-
  ter.   Not that this gives any warrant for (he lapilis
  their auricular con fe iii on, which they force upon all
  men  to their prlefts as a  fatisfaft.on  for Ira, and
  where they rack  their confidences (when  they feci
  110 diftrefs)  to confefs their moll fecret fins, to enu-
  merate them all under pain of damnation, aud which
  they ufe as a politic to dive into the fecrets of princes,
  ftates, and aft private perfons :  tint as Ludmr, Cal- 
          Afflicted Man's Companion.          119

vin. Buza. and many  others of orthodox divines do
to trh. it is \ cry prodta fle and neceffary ror thefe diat
are inwardly troubled with a fenfe of the r u it, to
eafe and difburden their confidence-., by co.fte dug of
them to the faithful minifters of Chr.lt in  orier to
their  receiving f. itahle  roundels and  ed (o.nions
from them, fuch as Chrift  hath left in his word for
contrite-hearted penitents
  Thus let every man in ficknefs ufe all appoint-
ed'means for preparing his foal  for a future itate.
Thy preparation  will by no  means haften death,
but five-men it to you.  Death muft furely have a
moft formidable  afpeft to an unprepared  finner :
he may fahate it  asV-ftiab did Elijah,  " Haft thou
fo mid me, O mine enemy ?"  why?  it brings her  y
and doleful  tidings to him.  But a prepared  ft  1
may  filiate death, Welcome. O my friend, thbu
bringeft me tidings of great joy ; everlaiting deliv-
erance from fin, and all the  bitter  fruits  of it.   I
lhali never complain of thefe any more.

              CHAP.   V.

Containing directions to the people of God, when the
   Lord ispleafed to recover them from ficknefs and
   diftrefs.  .
Dir *-cm I. It it very proper both under ficknefs and
  after it,  to examine if the affliction be fanctified to
  you. and hath come from the love of God.
  JT  would  be vexy  comfortable  for us to know5*
    d:at the  a diftdoas  which God vifits us with,
ara  not  ihe pmfiihmcnt of a judge,  but the chaftife-
ment of a  father ; that  they  do not  proceed from
wrath, but from love: that they are not cv.rfes, but
b'',,rmgr, to us.   Now, the beft way of knowing
tbh is by the effects which they work and produce
in us. thromdi the blelfing of God.
  */?. »\mft thou fay,  th.it thy affliftion hath hum-
bied thee in the fight of God,  and made thee confefs 
120         Afflicted ft dan's Companion.
and bewail thy fins and ftrayings from  God as the
procuring caufe thereof ?  Hath it been like Mofes's
rod, that fmote the rock, and  fetched out much
water? Did you water your couch with tears, and
mourn humbly before bod, for all thy God-provok-
ing fins ? Then it is a good iign iicknefs is fanftified.
   idly, Doth  thy affliction drive thee nearer  God,
and caufe thee aim at elofer communion with  God,
in duty than formerly, faying, " However carelels
and  overly I  have been in duty in  time paft, it is
finely good for me  now to draw nearer to God ?"
Then thy ficknefs is a blelfing to thee.
   2/dly,  Atfliftion  is fanftified, when the conniption
and deceitfulnef6 of the heart is the more difcovered
and laid open to the view of the  foul:  fo as the'man
is made  to abhor himfelf in duft and afhes, and cry
out  as  the leper,  " Unclean,  unclean."  I never
could haye thought my heart was fo wicked as  now
I fee it.
   4//;/y, It is  a fanftified ficknefs, that purgeth the
heart and changeth the life, and gives a dead itroke
to thy fins and idols, and makes thee to lothe and
abhor them more than ever, faying  with Ephrainij
" What have  I to  do any more  with  idols?
   Sthly, It is a blefl'ed rod, when grace is more quick-
ened  and itirred up thereby, and the  man turns
more fruitful in holy duties and good works; when
it is  a budding and bloiToming rod, like to Aaron's,
r^bmb. xvii.  It is  recorded there of Aaron's  rod,
that it brought forth buds, blooming bloffoms, and
yielded almonds.  So it is happy with us, when our
rods and fickneifes do produce in us, not only the
buds of aprofeifion, or the bloflbms or fome begin-
ings of a reformation;  but even caufe us  to  yield
almonds,  fruit favoury  to  God.  Is  confidence ber-
come more tender with  refpeft to fin ? Are we more
jealous over our hearts ?  Are we more  fervent in
prayer, more lively in praife, more mordfied to the
world, more   defirous  of  communion with  God?
Then may we  fay with David, "  It is good for us we 
Afflicted Man's  Companion.        121
have been afflicted ?" and with Hezekiah, " Thou
haft, in lo\ e to my foul, delivered it from the pit of
corruption."
  D1 r e c t. II. Make confidence of offering to God the fa-
    crifice of thankfgiving, upon his recovering the:
   from ficknefis or any diftrefs.
    I^HE Pfahnift gives its this dircftion from God,
    _   Pfal. 1. 14, 15. and he ihews us that it was his
  own practice in fuch a cafe, Pfal. cxvi. 17. Pfal. ciii.
  1, 2, 3, &c.  The command  is juft, let^ us obey it;
  the  example excellent,  let us  imitate it.  Praife is
  comely for the upright.   Here I Ihall give fome mo-
  tives and advices.
    lft,  God,  who is the author of ail  thy mercies
  and deliverances,gives you tongues fortius very end,
  that you may  blefs and praife him  for  thefe mer-
  cies, James iii. 9.   Hence  man's  tongue is called
  his glory above the reft .of the creatures JPfal. lvii. 8.
  There is none in the creation fo endued and qualifi-
  ed for  praifing God, as man is.  Angels have rea-
  fon ^ and mil ids, whereby they adore  and admire
  God's goodncis and excellency, but have no tongues
  to praife him; beaits have  tongues, but without
 fpeech  or roaion to uie them : but man hath bo
 reafon  and fpeech,  that he  may both admire Go
 goodncfs. and  with his  tongue found forth God
 praife.   See then,  O believer, that you ufe  yom
 tongue to anfwer the end of your creation.  God
 lofeth his  due rent of praife from the reft of the
 world, but he expects it from his children, whom he
 hath formed for this end, and on whom  he hath be-
 Itowed  many diitinguifhing favours.
   idly, The facrifice of  thankfgivino- is moft pleaf-
 mg and  acceptable  to God.   He  loves your tears
 and prayers, U believer, but much more your praifes
 How  well pleafed was our Lord with the poor leper
 Samaritan, that returned and gave him thanks for
 curing n, bodily  chitemper? Luke xvii. He difmiff-
ed hnn with a Ipecial bleifing, and cured him of his
                       L
  h
>.?'s
  s
  ir 
Afflicted Man's Companion.
foul's difeafes as well as of his body's.  And  there-
fore,
  %dly, Confider that thankfulnefs for thy mercies
received is a moft profitable courfe for ourfelf;  for
it is the way to get more and better blellings beltow-
ed upon you, according to Pfal. lxvii. 5, 6. " Let the
people praife thee, O God.  Then ihall the  earth
yield her increafe : and God, even our own  God,
Ihall blefs us."  Thankfgiving for former mercies is
a kindly way  of petitioning for new favours, and
God will uuflerftand it in this fenfe.
   dfthly, God is fo well pleafed with the duty of
thankfgiving, that he honours it to be the eternal
work of heaven.  Whereas other graces, fuch as
faith, hope, and repentance, will then  be melted into
love and joy forever, fo other duties of worihip, fuch
as reading, hearing, and prayer, will then be chang-
ed into that of preufe and  thankfgiving: the glorifi-
ed company above will never be weary of this work j
and Ihall not we delight in it now, when God is call-
ing  us to it by fo many new mercies?
   In the next place, that thou mayeft offer the fac-
rifice of diankfgiving to God for thy recovery, with
gracious acceptance, I fhall lay before you the  fol-
io wing advices.       .-'
   1. See that your heafit ^e touched with a fenfe of
the  greatnefs of the rnercy, and of the gooduefs of
God manifefted therein.   We muft put a  due value
upon our mercies, and have pur hearts affected with
God's kind dealing towards us in them, if we would
be rightly thankful to God the author  of them.—
Hence it was that David  called upon his hearc,  and
all  within  him, to  blefs the Lord for his benefits,
Pfal. ciii. 1. and in  Pfal.  exxxviii. 1. he faith,  " I
 will praife thee with  my  .whole heart."  As in an
initrument of  muiic,  the more found comes  out of
 the  belly of it, it is the fweeter ; fo our praife is the
 more acceptable to God^ when the heart is  full  of
gracious affeftions. 
            Afflicted Alan's Companion.       123

  2. Let your prsKfe be the native refult of faith and
love in your foul, otherwife it will be but an empty
found.  Faidi is neceilary to draw by the viel, and
fhew  us the perfections of the invilible God, who is
the fpring and author of all our mercies ; love gives
a deep fenfe of his goodnefs, enlargeth theheart to-
wards God, and  opens  the lips  to  fliew forth his
praife.
   •3. Study to have a deep fenfe of your own unwor-
thinefs and ill-defcrvings at the Lord's hand, upon
the account of yoar fins, and  ill  improvement of
former deliverances, faying with Jacob, Gen. xxxii.
10. "1 am not worthy  of the ieaft  of all thy  mer-
cies."
   4. Look above inftruments and fecond caufes, and
do not afcribe your recovery to  phyficians or out-
ward means, but to the Lord,  the prime author of
it, whofe blelfmg alone it is that gives  efficacy and
fuccefs to the appointed means, and by whofe mercy
only  we are fpared and brought back from the gates
of the grave.  To  this the  apoitle attributes Epa-
phroditus his recovery, Phil* ii.  27. ,,,■ Indeed he was
lick nigh unto death,  but God had mercy on him."
Hence we are told, 1  Sam. ii. 6.  "  The Lord bring-
eth down to the grave, and bringeth up."
   5. Obferve narrowly the remarkable circumftances
of the Lord's goodnefs, and the fweet ingredients of
thy mercies.  As for inftance, (1.) How difrernable
the Lord's hand was in thy deliverance, which oblig-
eth thee to fay,  Surely  this is  the finger of God ?
this is the Lord's doing, aud it is marvellous in mine
eyes.   (2.) How thy  deliverance  came to thee as
the return  of prayer, makes  thee fay, Surely he is a
prayer-hearing God.  (3.)  How deliverances came
when there was but little ground to hope for ic.   See
how Hezekiah obferved  this ingredient in his recov-
ery from Iicknefs.  Ifa.  xxxviii. 10.  11. L" I faid in
the cutting off of my days, I ihall go to the gates of
the grave : I am  deprived  of the relidue  of my
years.  1 laid, I  ihall not fee the Lord, even the 
124       Ay idled Maris Companion.

Lord in the  land of the living:  I  fludl behohl man
1:0 mere, with the ii bdutants of die world." vcrfe
15. l" \v hat  li.all iiayr' he  had. bofti ipoken to  u.c,
and himfelf ha.h done it." f- o 11 c times' God fends de-
ft-, crauccs to his people when they arc moft kopek is,
and 'dv lug,  wiih the  captives of Babylon,  Ezek.
xxxvii.  11.  Behold  our bones  arc  (hied, and our
hope is loft,  and we are cut oft" for our parts."  (4.)
Remember  how  the extremity of thy dihrtfs v.as
Goci's o- j. ertunity of fendm.g m 1 eft Abraham ne\ cr
h rgat  dm fcafonableneis of  Gin's  appearing  for
him in his extreme need m on mount Moriah, v.he \
he called the name of dm place  Jthovab  Jireh.  icr
pj efcrving the memorial of it; tl in the mount of die
cord it will be feen."  bo doth David. Pfal. cxvi.
I was brought low, and he helped me."
   6. Let the prefent deliverance  bring all  former
mercies  to  thy  remembrance, that  fo  thou max it
praife God  for them all,  whether they be national
or perfonal  mercies, public or private,  fpiritual or
temooral.  New mercies ihould  revive the memory
of die old, and all of them ihould come above board
at fuch a time;  fo  doth the Pfidmiit direct, Pfal.
cv. 1.Li Sing to the Lord, talk  ye of all his wondrous
works."  And what he ciirefts others to, he pratfftfeth
himfelf in fuch a cafe, Pfal. cxvi. 11.  a What fhall I
render to the Lord for all lift  benefits towards me?"
   7. 1m  ready to communicate toothers  an account
of the  Lord's  kmel deaijags towards you,  and the
ftweet inmeciicr.ts of his  mercies ; and pr.rthvuariy
of his fin .ding fpiritual deliverance to your  foul, as
well as outward deliverance to your body,  when he
is plea dd to do fo.   And do this in order to recom-
mend the fervice of God to  others, and to engage
ami in-, itc them to aflift you in bleiiing and praifing
the Lord.  Yv e fee how David obferved  his foul de-
liverances, Phil. <-. yi. 7, 6. and declares his experi-
ence To other-, Pfal. xxm 11. " 1 vv ill declare thy
name unto my brethren :  in the  mid!! of the congre-
gation  ..ill 1 prade idee."  Pfal.  lxvi. it. '- Come 
          Af flitted Man's  Comanpion.          \1$

 and hear, all ye that fear  God, and I  will declare
 what he hadi done for my  foul."
   Laflly, Remember always to give thanks for mer-
 cies to the Father, in  the name of our Lord Jefus
 Chrift,  as direfted, Eph.  v. 2.0.   Your fpiritual fac-
 rilices are  only accepted to  God, when  you offer
 them up by Jefus Chrift, 1 Pet.  ii. 5.   As we muit
 feek all  our mercies in Chrift's  name,  fo  we muft
 give thanks for them alfo in his name.  He is the
 Mediator of our  praifes,  as well as our prayers,
 Believers have  not one  mercy, but what  comes
 fwimnfmg to them in Chrift's blood, and is the fruit
 of his death and purchafe to them : and therefore he
 is to be owned  and looked to in there  ceiving of ev-
 ery mercy.  And  as Chrift is the only mediator for
 conveying blellings and mercies  from  God to us, fo
 he is the fole mediator  for conveying all our fervices
 and  fpiritual  facrifices to  God.  God  accepts of
 them only as they are  perfumed by Chrift's merito-
 rious facrifice,  and potent  interceilion.

 Direct. III.  17hen the Lord ispleafed to grant thee
   any fignal mercy or  deliverance from  trouble, be-
   ware of forgetting the Lord's kindnefs towards the.
    FORGETTING of God's remarkably  kind pro-
      vidences is an evil we are naturally prone unto
 when we arc in a profperous ftate.  Hence it is that
 the fpirit of God gives fo many cautions againit it in.
 his word ; aud  the faints  of God do  fo folemnly
 charge their own fouls to beware of it,  as in Pfalm.
 (iii. 2. Ui Blefs the  Lord, O my foul, and  forget not
 all his benefits; who healeth all thy difeafes, who re-
 deemeth thy life from deitruction."   Forget not his
benefits, but carefully  preferve  and  treafure them
up in  thy  memory. It was ufual for  faints under
the Old Teitament to fet up fome vifible monument
to remind them of God's fingular favours to them;
they erected {tones, and built alters, to be mbrao-
riahsof the  mercies they received, and put names on
the places for this  end.  Let all this teach you to
                      L3 
 126        Afflicted Mads CpaAon.

 guard a?;ainft  this  c   1  (f forgetting dm Lord'*
 kind  providence in recovering you ire ;n iftkncls.
   1 oa. are guilty of this e\ ft, when you do not duly
 value the mercy,  but let it pais as a turn of com-
 mon  providen<-e.  V, hen you let the imprelnou of the
 mercy wear foon oif your  hearts; when you  make
 bad efe of it, or do not rightly improve it to God',
 glory, and your own foul's good ;  when you do not
 put cm new refolutious to  \. aid more exact1/, live
 more fruitfully,  and  ferve God  more  holy  and
 humbly ; then are you guilty of forgetting Ins ben-
 ches.
    this  is an evil moft grievous and provoking, to
 a good and gracious  God, as  is evident  from  the
 many heavy complaints he makes of his people  for
 it, as in  Judycs vni. 34. Pfam.  lxxviii. 11. Pfal. cvi.
 13.   VVliereiore wateii and pray againft it.

 Dirt.ct. IVd Inquire after thefe fruits of righteouf-  ]
    ue/s, which are the genuine  effects of affliction in
    the children of God, who are duly exercifed thereby.
 r_jf^RE apoltie fpcaks of thefe limits, Heb. xii. u.
  J^    as natively  following  upon fanftmed afilic- k
 doas, and a kindly exercife of fpirit under  them.
 A<e.d "therefore it  is your  duty to inquire if they
 l.c produced in you.
    u//, Tneiuereafeof true repentance is one of thefe  :
 fruits which is the precinct of  fanctified trials.   Job
1 found it in bimmft on the back  of his aitfiftion, chap.  1;
 xlii.  ().  L-  Now I abhor myfelf,  and repent in di.it
 and aihes."  Ic  would be happy,  If we  could  find  |
 O'-r hearts more  id ft and melting  upon the view of
 Si 1,  alter we mice been in the furnace of aitfiftion.
   idly.  Another fruit is the improvement of faith.
 The  airiicted believer is taught to look to, and de-
 pend more upon God  for help in time of need,  and
 iefs upon the creature.   He now fees that vain is the
 help  of man in the day of calamity,  and that God
 m  Chnit is the only proper object of the foul's truft.
 This was the fruit of the apoftle's affliction, 1 Cor. i. 
          Afflicted Man's Companion.         H"j

6, 9,  10.  ' We were rreiTed cut of mcaft-re, above
iuenutli,  infomuch  tiiat we  difpaired e\ c.u of life.
Vv'c ..ad the fen.ence of death in ourfcdves,  that we
llo.dd not truft in ourfeh es, but in God that raifeth
the dead ; who e.cnvereth us from fo great a death,
and doth ocli.er :  in wuoui v.e  trt.u mat he will
yet deliver."
  3«7y, Humility  and low thoughts  of ourfelves is
one of the fruits of i iyhteoufnefs which fanftified af-
flict.on doth yield.   Ho a proud  and lofty was Neb-
uchadnezzar before he  was afflicted, Dan. iv. 29, 30.
But afterwards he  is made to own God, and hum-
bly ft bu.ft to him  as his fupreme and incon tradable
Sovtrc.gn, and to  acknowledge that thefe who waik
in pi.tic,  he is  able to cft-afe, ver. 37.   This was
Cod's ceiian in the various trials  of his  people If-
raei  in the  wiidernefi, Leut. viii. 16. -1- That he
might humcic thee,  prove thee, and do thee  good
at thy bauer end.."   bee  then,  O  believer, if this
fruit he produced in tl.ee.
  eably. Another  fruit is the fpirit of prayer  and
fupplication.   This  was  vufiblo  in  the  ftiaimiit's
cafe, after Gpd had.delivered him from the forrows
of death, and heard his voice, lied. cxvi. 1. "w  There-
fore, fays  he, will I call upon him as long as I live."
O, faiiii the true believer, God's  mercy  to me in
trouble,  and his fending me relief when I  cried to
him, will  make me love prater the better,  and en-
gage me to be more  diligent in  it ail  my  days ;  for
1  lull fee 1 have daily need of his helping hand.
  Sthly,  Heavenly-mindedueiL is a limit of fanftified
affliction.   Bemre  the man  was inclined  to  that
language, It is good for  ns to be here, let tis build
tabernacles in this  lower v\oriel.   But now he turns
his tongue,  and changeth  his thoughts,  and faith
with the Piahniit,  " it ft good for mt to draw nigh
to God.   Arfie let us  depart, this is not our reft."
This  world is nothing but the houfe of our piierim-
age, heaven only is  our home. 
128        Afflicted Mans Companion.
  othly, Another fruit of fanftified trials, is greater
love to God  than formerly.  How  much jwas Da-
vid's heart warmed with love and gratitude to God
upon the back of his afthct.on, io that he wants
words to cxprefs the affections of lift foul ? Pfal. exvi.
i. 8. 12.  '"I will love the Lord becaufe he hath
heard my voice.  I was brought low, but he helped
me.   Thou halt  delivered  my foul from  death,
mine eyes from tears, and my feet  from failing.—
What ihall I render to the Lord for all his benefits
towards  me ?"
  "fthly. Learning and keeping of God's word is a
fruit of fanftified affliction, Pfal. cxix. 67. 71.  Let
us inquire if this fruit be produced in us after Iick-
nefs.  Do we attend to the word more clofely ?  do
we believe it more firmly ? do we embrace its offers
more earneftly ?  and do we live more in the expec-
tation of that glory  which the word doth reveal to
us ? " Then it isgood for us we have been afflicted ;
for we have learned more  of God's word."
   8thly, Tendernefs of confidence is a happy fruit of
fanftified trouble ;  when the believer, after it, be-
comes exceedingly afraid of fin, and of making new
wounds  in his confidence.   He cannot think of ad-
venturing again upon any  known fin : for the fniart
of former wounds, and the pain they occafioned in
his foul, when diitrefs lay upon him, makes deep and
lafting impreifion on [his mind,  as it  did on the af-
flicted church, Lam.  iii. 19,10.  u  Remember mine
affliction, and my mifery, the  wormwood and the
gall, my  foul hath them itill in remembrance, and is
humbled within me." Now fuch fruits of righteouf-
nefs are an evidence we have been fuitably exercifed
under afliiftion : O  to find them produced in us af-
ter ficknefs is over. 
          Affl'rcled Man's Companion.         129

Dirf.ct. V. Be careful to perform thefe re/olutions,
  emi-aremends or vowi, you have  come  under in the
  time of ficknefs : and walk fuitably to  them.
     AS a time of ficknefs and affliction is a proper
      feafon for making vows to God,  and binding
oar iouls with refolutions to mortify fin  in the heart,
and purge it away from the life, and to be diligent
in duty, and walk more humbly  with God ;  fo  a
time of recovery from ficknefs is a proper feafon for
paying and performing thefe vows.   This was the
royal Piahnilt's practice in fuch a cafe, Pfal. cxvi. 6.
16,  17,  18.  "  I was  brought low and he helped
mc.   Truly I am thy fervant, I am thy fervant.  I
will  oilier  to thee the  facrifice of thankfgiving.   I
will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the prefence
of all ins peop'e."  Now for your aiidumce in this
matter, I otter you thefe few advices.
  iff Defer not to pay your vows,  but be fpeedy,
and take the firit opportunity to pay them. Delays
in this cafe arc molt dangerous: Solomon, that wife
man, was fimiible of this, which made him giv e thee
this advice, Ecclefi v. 4.  '•  When  thou voweit a
vow unto God,  defer  not to pay it."
   idly. Be ftill jealous of thy heart  which  is prone
to deal treaeheroufly with God after affliction is oyer.
The Ifraclites practice is a fad inftance of diis truth,
Pfal. Ixxviii. 34, Sec.  k* When he flew them,  then
they fought  hun, and they returned and incpfirtd
early after God, &c.  Neverdielefs they  did flatter
him  with  their mouth, and they lied into him with
their tongues; for their heart was not right with him,
neither were they itedfaft in his  covenant."   The
purpoies of many in affliction are like the vows of
manners in a norm ;  they are the firit things vhich
they forget and break when once they winiafeaihore.
However  pat.cm iome item  to be in  ficknefs, yet
when they reeo-.tr from it, they foon return to their
old 1ms again.   They are like metals in a  furnace,
diey melt and turn;hquid while in it, but when out
they fo jn return to their old hardnefs. There is  good 
130
AffliRcd Mans Companion.
reafon for that caution the Lord gives us, Mai. ii. io".
*■ Therefore take heed to your fpirit, that you deal
not treacheroufly."
  2,dly, Cry continually for ftrength from above to
enable  you to perforin your  vows.   The  Pfahnift
took this courfe,and found it fuccelsful, Pfal. cxxx viii,
3. "  In the day when I cried to thee, thou anfw cr-
edit me, and itrengtheneft me with ftrength, in my
foul."  And forget not,  O  believer,  that God has
treafidred up ftrength for thee  in thy head and fure-
ty Chrift Jefus; wherefore  be ftill borrowing from
him,  for the performing of all thy engagements, 2
Tim. ii. 1. " My fon be ftrong in the grace that is in
Chrift Jefus." Put thy treacherous heart in thy Sure-
ty's hand, for though thou art weak, yet diy redeem-
er is ftrong. Whenever then you firft perceive your
heart begin to ftart aiide from God,be fure to  check
it,  and look up to God in Chrift for ftrength and fe-
cure  it againft treachery and perfidious dealing: cry
with the Pfahnift,  " Be furety for thy fervant fox
good."
  qthly,  Guard diligently againft thy predominant
fin, the fin that hath moft ealily befet thee, the fin
that was moit bitter and uneafy to thee in the day of
diftrefs.   Keep a narrow eye  upon it now ;  for if
once  that Iin be got vanqiifihed, the reft  will the
more eafily be put to flight.
  5thly, Be frequently meditating on thy vows, and
on  the condition thou waft in when they were taken
on, and ftudy to keep alive in  thy heart the fame
apprehenfion  of things after  ficknefs which thou
hadft  in the time of it.  How  vain and comfortlefs
did  the world and its vanities then appear  to thee!
how awful were the truths of God on thy fpirits !
how far preferable was the loving-kindnefs of God
to thee than life !  how precious was Chrift then in
thy eyes!  O  that your judgment,  thoughts, and
impreilions of  thefe things may continue ftill ue
fame. 
Afflicted Mans  Companion.         131
  6thly,  Keep  up the  imprelfions  of precioufnefs
of time,  that  you may diligently improve  it; and
fliake off (loch and idlenefs. liemember what a view
you got in  the time of ficknefs, of long-laiting eter-
nity ; and  what a  trouble it was to you  to look
back, and fee how much time you had loitin fin and
vanity.  When fometimes we are brought to the
brink of eternity, the near views we  then get of its
vaitnefs and unchangeablenefs, are fometimes fo aw-
ful and  amazing to us, that we  are ready to think,
though we had Methufalem's years to live, it would
be unreafonable  wilfully to miilpend  one  hour of
them all.   Well then, is ficknefs over,  our time fo
ihort, and  f© litd  of it remaining bemud ? wdl we
be fo fooliih, as to be laviiii of it  itill, and umie it a-
way as before ?
   jtbly, Set a fpecial mark upon all thefe fins, whe-
ther of omillion or commiilion,  that  made death to
look grim and ghaftly upon yoa in the time of fick-
nefs, and againft which you refolved; and fee to get
every  one  of  them amended  and  removed,  Ke~
member and confider how fad it will be for you, if
iicknefs find you again in the very fame fins which'
formerly ftung  you.  What will you fay to con-
fcieuce, when it ihall challenge you ? How  will you
look death  in the face, if it mould find you living in
the very fame fins yoa formerly mourned for, and
promifed againft!   Death, would chen.be the king
of terrors to tiiy ibed indeed.
   O then,  mind thy vows, and fay with the Pfahnift,
Pfal. Ivi.  12, 13.   '"Thy vows are upon  me, O
God: I will render praifes to thee.   For thou haft
delivered my foul from death: wilt not thou deliver
my feec from falling*  that I may  walk before God in
the light of the living?"
CHAP, 
132            Afflicted Maids Companion.

                 CHAP.  VI.

Containing directions to the unregenerate, when they
  are recovered from fiekncis, and  reitort ft  to health.
DutCT. I.  Seeing the afflictions of the wicked are
   unfa'ictifi d. it is neceffary you examine what fort of
   affliction yours hath been,  and what ft nits it hath
   produced in you.
I HAVE in  the preceding chapter Ihe wed, that
    die afflictions  of believers are fiuhcrly chaiiiie-
nieuits proceeding from love;  that they  are fancti-
fied, and yield  the peaceable fruits, of righteoufnefs:
I  have given the  marks of fanftified afflictions, and
mentmuml the happy fruits  which they  produce  in
the c mid reij of God.
   On the other hand, it is nece.Tary to letChriftlefs
per Ions know,  that their aifluthons are of a different
In d;  they  are even puniihmeuts  from God as a
jucLe, pro-.ecming from v\rath: they are unfanctb
fi. '-ft to thern, and produce  no  fruits, but what are
bitter  and unfavo  ry.
   Weil then; O Chriftlefs foul,  thou haft reafon to
fufpect cue worft concerning thy ficknefs, that it hath
not been  fanctified,,  and its fruits are not good.  0
then,  labour to know the truth of the matter, that
thou may eft  be humble under a fenfe of thy mifery,
ai.diiee to jefus Chrift for  relief.   And for thy af-
fimirme m this  inqmry, I  will give fome marks of
imlanctified afthft.ons.
   fi.  if  ficknels hath not  humbled thee  under a
fenfe of diy fins,  the procuring caufe  thereof, nor
any wife hath weakened fin  in  thee, nor reclaimed
thee from it, but it remaineth in thee as ftrong as
ever ; it i;> a figu thy afiliftion is unfanftified.  This
was the cade of thofe of whom God complaineth,
Jer. u.  30. **In vain have I  fmitten  your children;
they receive no correction." As if he had faid, The
phyfic  I gave  them did  not  purge out fin ;  nor
weaken corruption in the  leaft.  They have been 
           Afflicted Man's Cd mpanlo m          133

ftricken, but not grieved for fin ; the fire hath burnt
round abo.t them; but  they  have not laid du t)
he.irt, that kindled the d:mic.
   idly, itis a mark of unfanftified aflliddon. v. hen,
it hath no influence upon a finner to brim_; Han to a
ferious communing with  his own  heart concerning
the eitate ©f his foul, and to inquire in what tern.3
he Hands with God that affftfts him.   God's voi.n
by affliction  is that in Ha;?;,  i. 7.  " New  confider
your waysd' In the day of adverffiy confider where
you  are, what you are, what you have done,  and
what is the meaning  of the rod, and  what will be
the iifiie of it through eternity, in cafe it hath a-corn-
million to cut the thread of life.   Now when a m,.m
remains ftupid  and carelefs about  thefe important
matters, and never noticeth the voice  of addition,
fo as  to inquire feriouily about his foul's condition ;
tw Am I under a covenant of  works, or a covenant
cf grace? Am I a child of God or an enemy of God?
Hud fled  to  the  city of refuge,  or am I itill in a
iliehcrlefs ftate? Am I ftill under a cloud of wratli,
oram I brought under the banner  of lo.ef" 1  day,
where there are no fuch inquiries, the affliction  is
unfanftified.
   ■%y!!y, It is a certain fign of unfaftified affliction,
when a perfon grows worfe by it, and revolts Uie
more he is ftricken, like thefe, Ifa,  i. 5.
   ^neft.  When may it be faid, that a perfon prows
worie by affliftion ?
   Anfw.  1.  When  the tinner's heart turns harder
than it was before: fo every  plague .on Egypt, in-
crcafed the plague of hardnefs in Pharaoh's,' heart.
It fires with  many  hearts, as with iron  that is of-
ten heated in the iire and quenched in the water, it
ftill increafeth in hardnefs,   2.  When a perfon gry-
eth way to impatience and  murmuring againit God
while he  afflicts him.   3. When  the  luits of  the
heart grow more  ftrong  and impetuous, and cfter-
ivtrds rage the more;  that they have been ftopt in 
i-m.         Ajficted Man's  Companion.

their  courfe by  affliction.  In fuch cafes  a perfon
grows world by the rod.

PiaECT.  II. Confider th" great danger of  not being
  betteredbyficknes,and of not complying  with  the
  voice of God's rod.
     GOD's voiceby  hisrod doth loudly call finners
      to repentance^ and fleeing to the Lord Jefus
Chrift for refuge from wrath.  Now, when  this voice
is not barkened  to,  but  men go on in their fecure
and Iinful courfe as before, God is highly provoked,
and the iffue will be terrible.   For,
   ift, Though Iicknefs be removed, and the furnace
of afliiftion be  cooled for the time; yet the wrath
 that kindled  it, continues ftill to burn.  And you
 have ground to fear left you be ranked among thefe
 who are the generation  of  God's  wrath, againft
 whom he will have indignation forever.
   idly,  If leffer  rods do not awaken you, you may
 expect greater and forer judgments are coming on
 you.  Yea,  God may caufe diem to  come rolling
 thick upon you, as waves and billows in a ftorm,
 one upon the neck  of another.   The  great depths,
 both above and below, may be opened together; the
ftifpleafure of God,  and wrath of men, may confpire
 and meet to pour out themfelves as water-fpoi.ts up-
 on you at once:  and to whom then will ye look for
 help ?
   34y,  The Lord may give over dealing with  you,
 or tiling any fi rther means to reclaim you; he may
 refufe to correct you any more, or beftow a rod upon
 you for  your good,  and fay of you, as of Ephraim,
 Hof. iv.  17. "■  Ephraim  is joined to his idols, let
 him alone."
   4thly, The Lord  may  give you up to  fpiritual
 plagues  and judgments; and indeed this  commonly
is therefiftt and obftinacy and incorrigiblenefs under
outward rods.  When Ifrael would not harken  to
 God's voice, he gave them up  to their own hearts
:lufts? Pfal. lxxxL n. 12.  No\v; thefe plagues are 
           Afflicted Man's Companion.         135

the lV-verc ft of all others.   External judgments are
God's rods, but fpiritual judgments are his f won-s,
which pierce the very  foul.  Blindnefs of mind,
hardneis of heart, fearednefs of confcience, vile aue,-
tions, and a reprobate fenfe, are the very forerunner'}
of hell and damnation.  Thefe who are impenitent
and unfruitful under outward aftiiftions, have cau'o
to tremble left God  be provoked to inflict thefe spi-
ritual judgments.
   5/ '!-,>, Be aftured, though God ffpare you long, yet
the glais of his forbearance will at length run out.
God's patience towards fmnners'hath a term  and
bound, over which it will  not pafs.  The  time will
come, when a  long buffering God  will at laft fiiy,
"  My fpirit ihall no  loimer ftrive ;" and the  angel
will cry, as in Rev, xiv. 7.  u The hour of God's
judgment is com 1."  You that abufe God's patience,
and prefume  upon it, his  treaty of peace will end
with you in a little,  and the maiter of the hoafe will
rife up  and ihut to the door.  Then  patience will
comedown, and juftice  will  afcend the ftage, aud
traiiiple upon, and  triumph over, all that abufe di-
vine patience.  Sodom  was a wonders of God's pa-
tience for a long  time; but now it is a hilling niDim-
ine.it of hft anger.
   tiihly, If you  be  not bettered  by God's rods or
fpmdm nurcie.;,  then your prefervation ut prefent
will be nothing but a reiervation for the day of God's
wrath.  And the longer your cup  of iin is  a filling,
the fuller ihall the cup of God's wrath be for you ;
by your impenitence and abufe of God's patience,
you treafure up wrath for yourfelvcs againit the day
of wrath, Rom. ii. 4. and though  you be delivered
from  fome judgments,  you are referved  for worfe,
yea,  feven times  worfe, according to Le,u  xxvi.  2?.
24.  Nay, there is  a ruining blow defigned a^-finft
you,both foul and, body,as foon as your cup.is full;
and the axe  is already laid to the root of the tree,
Matth. iii. to.   One blow of God's axe will c ut vou
oif forever. 
i j')        Affined Man's Combaalun.

  Remember this, O finner, tlmugh Cod's band be
intcd oft v.-. u at pre font, aud his  lncliengcr death be
foralvuic recalled,  yet  be whi  tpfickly return cud
knock fo  loud  ut your  four, as not to be  re'l id.
And what will you do in the day of vifitadou ? how
pnai'dy  muft the pale  hcuut  fe,  when  hcil follows
n'mi ut the heeds? and how hot and fiery muft that
imfi bo. which  is inflamed and blown up by fo lono
lmuum ruce und abufe of patience ?
    Di a r.cT, Iii. TVonder at the patience of God infparin%
     dach htll-dtficrviur jlm.crs as yon are, aud be thank-
     fldjlr it.
      IJg AfHa long filtering Godprcierved the thread
       J^ ofyorr life, when it wasuhnoftfnapt afi.mlcr
    by the violence of ficknefs? hath he freed you from
    racking  pains, under which you  were groaning ?
   " nay, faved you from the grave and hell, into which
    yon were falling ? and have you not caufe of won-
    dering and thankfgiving ?  To move you to it, con-
    fider thefe few things.
      ift, How miferable had you been through all e-
    ternity, if your ficknefs had carried you oil to ano-
    ther world in your fins ? You had been howling with
    ciamned fpirits, under endlefs and eafelefs torments,
    and forever  cut off  from diefe hopes and  oifers of
    mercy you now have. Then the mafter of the houfe
    would iuuc  had   the door fo barred amdiih you as
    it could never h.tve been opened again to you, km.md
    us yen would, Luke era. 2.5.
      idly, Confider h'ov. he:n. ily v on lucre burdened his
    patience with vol r neinous iins, ami  fnone ut re-
    kmfm  thereinto;   and tint after comficions,  cad-,
    and various rods feat to rechum you; fo that he was
    \ ut to in, as hi Ames ii. 13.  '• Lchohl I am  preii'-
    cd under;, on, ;i;,  a  cart is prefled that  is foil of
^   iheaves.''  He waso/er In rdened v/hdi your dm, fo
    that the ?xei teae of patience  was ready  to bre.ik,
    .m<I k: you fail huo  hell, and  yet, hcdold he  bmm
    with you ftill.
      nly, Confider how foon he could liavc eafed him- 
Afflicted Man's Companion
r37
 felf of the load, and {haken you off into the pit of
 dtfiruction.  In  a  moment cou'd he  have done it,
 ami yet he bears many years with your iins that are
 fo grievous to him.  Yea, it is with  a  fort of reiuc-
 tancy tiuit he eafes hmififtf of iinners, after he gets
 the uttnoft provocation, Ifa. i. 24. u Ah! I will eafe
 inc of mine adverfaries."
   ^tbdy, How ready is he to turn away  his anger,
 and reprieve Iinners from deltruction. when in their
 diftrefs they  make  but a fhew of repentance, and
 turning unto God !  as we fee in Pfal. Ixxviii. 3d, 30.
 flu, like a  tender hearted prince, calls back the war-
 rant for their execution, after it was gone forth.
   $thiy, Confider how much many Chriitlefs iin-
 ners are beholden to jefus Chrift for fparuiy mercy.
 He is reprefented by the  dreii'er, Luke  xhi. inter-
 cccding  that the fruitlefs fig-tree might be fpared
 and tried fome  time longer, after orders given  to
 cut it down.  Were ic  not for Jefus Chrift, O fin-
 ner, however much you forget and  fliodht him, you
 had fmely been in  hell long ere now.  How  oft
 cloth he obtain another  year, and after that another,
 for the unfruitful  finner, and unthankful abufers  of
 divine patience!
   6tbly, Confider how fparing mercy  hath diftin-
 guiihed you from many  others, who lived not  fo
 Jong, nor finned fo much as  you have done.  God
 huh wounded the hairy fcalp of many,  and taken
 them away in their youth; when he  hath continued
 you to  manhood, and  perhaps old to age:  though
 your fins and ill  defervings be greater than  thefe
of many, on whom he hath long lince  taken vence-
ance.
  God hath left many  alfo toifmg and groaning on
buds of pain, when he hath eafed and railed you up.
O then, return like the thankful leper, and magnify
the God of your health.   Hath God  diftinguilhed
you from others by his goodnefs? It  becomes you
to diitinguifh yourfelves from  others, by  your
thankfulncfi.  O time  men  would praife the Lord 
r -?         7: "CJed Ma is Co mptmhn.

for hft goodnefs 1   uu'eftrvcd  and  didlnrnnftin^
gOvuiilvfi 1                                        •.
   'i'^-iuovc ^ on to this, let ire  fa the example of  \
Her.ckiah hi -fire v on. Ifa. u> xviii. ami thei t he how
 thankfully  and ftfft dL'iomm 1)  he rcinembmcd  the
 word's nuuvb-s  in  recovering rmci delivering him
 from the bluer afriidtion be h;id  been  under.  "  I
 dud, I am  dc; rived of the  rclidue of my  years,  I
 iiiail beheld man  no more  with the  inhabitants of
 the w. rhl.  Like a crane or fwallow, fo chd I chat-
 ter ; I did mourn as a  dove.  Behold,  fcr peace  I
 Intel great  bitternefs;  but  thou haft in lo\e to my
 foul delivered it from the pic of corruptiou.   '1 he   '
 living ihall  praife thee  as 1  do this [day."   Yea, he
 was fo oveitome  with a  fenfe  of the Lord's pa-
 tiea^c and rnercy towards  him;  that he is at a lofs
 how to es.prefs it.  verfe 15.  "  What  ihall I fay ?
 "He hath  both f okeii  unto me, and himfelf luuh
» done it."                              _           1
    Let nil who arc  recovered from ficknefs, ftudy to
  imitate that  good  king  in  holy  admiration aud
 thankfidnefs to the God of their fife.

 Direct. IV. St'-dy io improve the fparingmercy ani
   g ooduefs of God to you ia a t mil and fuitable maimer.
    C'\ dlftJfJf'dl. hath  God drought  you back from'
     J?  the mtes of deith, unci brink of hell, reftorcft
 vou to health, cud yiven  you a new offer of mercy
 andnhathm  throc^h Chrift in   a  fremmd gof, cl,  m
 vvdftli you formerly del] iluci ?  fitrive  now to im-
 jrjv'c tlm Lord's  patience  and kind deahuj-.s  to-  I
 \\.i\U you with the  utmoft care, and abide his pa-  -
 tfiucenno longer.   And in order thereto, take the
 iod.u-ftu^ comvfcls.
    s.  lie deeply  hxrmlcd for your  former  obftinacy
 2nd inuymitcney, notwithftauding of God's gracious
 and pa dent dealing.  O let  the jl] aring mercy and
 gocdncis of God  towards thee lead thee to repent-
 au.ee, v. Inch ft the  native deftm of it, according to
 Rom. ii. 4.  *•'• Defplfini thou tim riches of h ■  good- 
          Afflicted Mans par pardon.          T39

ncft, forbearance, and long-fufferftm. not knowing
that the goodncfs of Go:i leadcth thee to repent-
ance ?"  As if he had 'aid, ." Doit thou noffee, O
man J the kind providence of God in fpariug aud re-
co/crhp dice from ficknefi, takhyy thee by the hand,
aud pointing out  to thee to go to thy  chftbt  to
mourn and weep for all thy by paft fins, and parti-
cularly for thy mi/bending the time of dicanh, end
abulinp- of the  Lord's  patience?"  "fhe confidera-
tion of David's  gooduefs and  forbearance towards
Saul,  incited Saui's heart, for  as hard  and rugged
as it  w;u, and made hiim  to  lift up his voice  and
weep, and  i\iy  to David, i  Sam. xxiv. 17. &c.
"■  Tim.: art  more righteous than I; for thou baft re-
warded me «;ood, whereas I have rewarded, thee evil.
And thou, haft ihewed this,day, hov/ that thou haft
ucau  well with me;  mr at much as when the  Lord
had delivered me into thine hand, thou kukdft  me
not.  For (lays he) if a  man find his enemy will he
fit Km go  well away?" Oh  fur more rc.den h.>ft
thou, O man, to v. ecu aud cry, *"■ God hath found me
hu, enemy,  yea in my  cmufty  and  'mis, %btrng
aminft  himfelf; he had me on a fick  bed, auu on
the very brink of hedfiand the leaft touch of his hand
would have tiuuit me in : but yet he hath  {pared his
ieaanf, and  let me go v\ ell away.  Oh, will not thefe
lords of ioyc draw me,  and this matchlefs goodnefs
invite and hire me to repent ? Can any toniiclcration
in the world be more powerful than this to melt  my
hard  heart into tears of holy ihame and forrow  for
my ftilf-neckcdnefs and rebellion ix.ftuft a gracious
and Ionp;-fullering God ? Avvay with  thefe curfed
God-provoking iins of mine ! down -with thefe wea-
jmub of rebellion! let me never lift them more againft
fi.cli a merciful fovereirm !"
   Ii. 7euloully  improve the Jtluie which God in his
lon^  fiuferu g huh lengthened out to you in working
o  t the falvation of thy  foil.  Have  you fo lonp-
lx. '  !-;;. hug the patience oi' c}od with  your fins?
 In. u you many  a iin been grievhn, his holy  Spirit, 
140        Afflicted Man's Companion.

by trifling away your time, flighting his motions and
venturing on iins againft  light ?  O then beware of
burdening  his patience any more:  but  diligently
harken to every motion of God's lp'ndt, and of your
own confidence for the time to come.   You have
much work to do and but little time to do it in ,
therefore lay hold on every opportunity for carrying
it on.   The  confederation  of the much time  you
have already loft and miflpent, ihould make you the
more diligent in what remaineth.  How much of it
have you loft in youth ?  how much  in ignorance ?
how much more in negligence?  bow muchinworld-
linefs?  how  much in  paftim.es? how much in idle
 words ? how much in actual fins and provocations
 againft God? and now it may be near the evening
 of your day.  And will you not fpend the evening
 (which-God is mercifully lengthening out) with ex-
 traordinary  care and diligence?  Ifa traveller  lofe
 the beginning of the day,  he muft travel the falter
 in the evening, otherwiie  he may fall ihort of his
journey, and have his  lodging  to feek when night
comes.   Paul had miifpent much  of the beginning of
his life; and this conlideration (when his eyes were
opened) did ftir him up to be the more diligent in the
iervice of God, fo that  he was more zealous than any
of the reft of the apoitles. O  man, follow his exam-
ple, and trifle no longer in the  work of God.  Art
thou not convinced  thou hait fquandered  away  e-
nough  of this  precious  treafure of  time already ?
And wilt thou alfo miffpend and throw  away the
little that remains ? Oh J be not fo foolifh.
   III. Be careful to raze all falfe foundations, and
build your hopes of fifth mloii,  upon the only  fore
rock, Jefus Chrift.   Let  it  not  difcourage thee  to
dig to the foundation,  that fo much of thy day is
loft; for it is better to  do it late than never.   Re-
member how  miferable is the condition of that houfe
which-is built upon the fand, Matth.  vii. 27. " For
when tne flood  comes,  and  the  ftorm arifcth,  and
beats upon it, great and difinal ^ ill the fall of that 
          Afflicted Man's  Companion.         141

honfe be."  Do not build your hopes of heaven up-
on God's abfolute mercy, upou your convictions, up-
on your freedom from profs fins, upon  your prayers
or tears,  1 1 mi your morality and jvit dealings with
men:  tlio-.i-h  thefe be neceilary  and excellent hi
themfelves,  yet chey are faifo foundations for to build
the hopes of  your jufiilkation and falvation  ujton,
feeing they are  whoiy infulficient  to bear  fuch a
weight.   However much thefe things have been ef-
tee.ncd and  valued by you formerly, in the matter of
hihification;  yet if you refolve to be a wife builder,
you will let them allow  go,  yea,  count them  all but
iofs and dung, that you may win Chrift, (our only
hope) build on him alone,  and be found in him, not
having on your ov/u righteoufuefi, which is butfilthy
ra-->:-,.
   Well then,  raze and tear up every  falfe founda-
tion dig deep,  till you win to the rock  Chrift.   Dig
deep into the holy law and nature of God, dig  till
you fee the infinite ftrictnefs of divine juftice, iheun-
fpeakable evil  that is in  fin,  the hidden viieneis  and
abominations of the heart, your own inability to do
any thing for your help and relief.  Dig yet further,
till you fee the mm-fiic ft ineis  and  freeuefs of God's
grace in Jefus  (..drift,  that fuitable remedy that an-
i. er s ali a poor finner needs.  Digdeep, and digon,
till you win to this rock;  let your cry be ibil to
Cod,  Lord, lead me to the rock Chrift, and his  all-
luiueieut rmhteoufinefs  only   Act faith  ipon  this
ro«.k,  rely on  it,  build all your hope's on it,  and  fay,
u This is my red forever, here  will I dwell, fori
have defhvd u.  Lord,  the defire of my foul is only
to Cr.rdo,  and to dje rememberance of Ins name, fids
name is as omtmnt pot red  forth;  therefore do the
virgins  love him.,,
  IV.  If you   would ri.ftufty improve the fparing
mercy  and poodneflof  God, let it lead vou  to re-
pentem-e and  reformation of life.   Turn  from  all
tucfe fins, v\ heftier of 01 aliiim or commilfion, novv
in the  day of heafih, which confidence challenged 
t^2          AfJ'icled Man's Companion.

you for in the time of ficknefs.   Mind Chrift's cau-
tion and warning to  healed  tinners, John v.  14.
" Behold thou art made whole: fin  no more  left a
worfe thing befal thee." O let fin die with thy iick-
nefs; and do not  relapfe into thy former fecurity and
finful ways.  Beware of returning with the dogs to
thy vomit, and  like the fovv that is  wafhed,  to the
wallowing again in the mire of thy former fins and
uncleanneues; left being  entangled  and  overcome
again with the filthinefs which thou  now haft efcap-
ed, thy latter end prove worfe than thy beginning.
   Laftly, And to fum up all I ihall fay in  this  chap-
ter, be careful to redeem time, and active in provid-
ing for an eternal ftate. O prize and vrlue the mer-
cy of health aud ftrength mere than ever. Sympa-
thize with thefe who are ftill lying on lick-beds, and
under  languilhing diitempers  ; neglect not to pity
and pray  tor them.   Remember the diitreffed cafe
you were in yoerfeives, v, hen you had no reft in yoi.r
bones,  when  weanfome  nights were appointed to
you, and you were full of to)dugs to  the dawning of
the day.   Confider how ilippery is your {landing.
Though the late ftorm of trouble be  over, yet the
clouds will return zfx.tr ram.

              CHAP.   VII.

Containing directions io thofe fick perfons who are ap-
   parently in a  dying condition, and drawing near to
   another world.
J HAVE  already  in the  firft, third, and  fourth
    chapters, given feveral directions concerning our
fubmiflion to the will of God,  makhm preparation
for death,  calling for minifters, edifying others by
our difcourfe,fettling our worldly ud'au.C&c. which
are very proper for dyings perfons, and therefore  I
{hall not repeat  them,  but proceed to fpeak of other
things.  Only let me  add  this word,  if you have
hitherto neglected to make your vvilft, fettle your
worldly affairs,  fend for minifters to difcourfe  with 
Afflicted Man's Co mpanion.            143
and pray  over you;  delay  it no  longer, but do it
fpeedily,  while you have the ufe of yo r reafon and
mulerhandiiig.   And what I have  more  to  fay,
take it in the follwing directions.

Direct.  I.  Confider mhen death flares you in  the
  face, lb at  now is the time if ever to exert the ut-
   moft  activity in preparing to meet with it
      ALAS, it is to be regretted that the moft part of
      men neglect their  fouls,  miffpend  their lives,
mifimprove   their  healths, and  leave  undone  the
work for which they  were created, preferved and en-
joyed the  gofpel.  Surely a near profpect  of death
and judgment cannot but be  uneafy to fuch  perfons.
What a melancholy thought muft it be for a dying
man,  " Oh!  I  had all my  time  given me  to make
preparation for  cndlefs eternity:  and  alas,  I never
minded it till now, that I muft leave the ftage of this
world.  Is there any hope for  fuch a carelefs and
miferable  finner ?"  I acknowledge the cafe is fad.,
but yet it is not  remedilefs nor defperate; feeing
there is a  facrafice provided for your fins, and there
is an all-fuilicient Saviour in your offer, who never
did call out any  humbled foul, that came to him for
mercy.   You have great reafon indeed to abhor and
condemn yonrielf before God, for your fin and folly ;
yetdeipair not, but believe, whatever be your fins,
your dangers, your fears, and temptations,  that Je-
fus Chrift  is both able and willing  to fave to the ut-
termoitall that come to  God by him; and-that his
grace  aboundedi more than your fin aboundeth.   O
how glad  would devils and damned fouls in hell be,
if they were but in  your cafe, and had your offers
and hopes! how diligently  would they improve the
time of mercy!  O be perfuaded  then to fpend  the
little time that now remains with the utmoft  care,  in
making penitent confeuion of fin to God, and apply-
ing the blood  of Chrift for pardon. Nay, even the
belt of God's people have  need  to be diligent at this
thne; in making actual preparation for dying. God is 
j 44        Afflicted Mais CompanWn

now faying to you, as Joflmn did to the Ifraehtcs,
jolh.  i. n. l- Prepare you victivds. for within three
days ye ihall  pafs over this Jordan, to go in to poiiels
the land which the Lord your God givedi  you."
Lay in provifion for yo r nailing over this Jordan of
death: you know not how rough the padage may be,
   I ihall give fome motives to prefs this dihgcmt and
active preparation ; and therefore  confider,
   ifl, The ihort time of yo  r life that remains is all
 the dune you have  for  working outyotr  falvation.
 What you do for attaining heaven, and avoiding hell,
 muft be done now or never ;  for there is no work nor
 device in the grave whither tho.i  goeft,  nor is there
 a.iy coming back to this world to amend what hath
 been  amifs.   Dying is a thing  you cannot get  a
 trial of, it is what you can, only do once, aud no
 more, Heb. ix. £7.
   idly, Be diligent now, for as  foon as death gets
 commdfion to md you off, it will execute it: it will
 not fpare yo 1,  nor allow you one minute more time
 to rrepare for eternity.   The moft inercilefs eneaiies
 h-^\e  foructi -ucs been  overcome by the prayers ami
 tears  of lftch as on their  knees do beg a lucle more
 time  .o pu; pare for another world,  and do harken
 to their rtij-.eds:  bur  this  enemy, death, will not
 gram one mo.newt's refpite.
   3 lly, Conlider that your eternal ftateand condition
 w'wl  be according  to  the  ftate in  which you ihe.
 Death will  open the  doors cither of heven  or hell
 to v/ou, in one of which you Ihall take up your eter-
 nal abode.   As the tree falls at death,  fo will it lie
 through eter «it v.
   4thly,  Confider what a ferious and awful matter it
 is to die, and go  into another world,  for then you
 will  in e mimed.a ely to do with Godyoir judge;
 there will be no veu die 1 betwmt him andyo. r foul
 \o-  .viii then e.ictr into a world of fpirits.   where-
 with  you ar-' .'o litfte  actpuilntcd: you  are  frighted
 now to  vo  ia o  a room alone,  that is  laid to be
 haunted by  a  fpunt; how  frightful then umft  the 
         Afflicted Man's Companion.           i.u;

 cafe of thofe be,  who  are hurried into a world  of
 ip.ru,, not knowing bat devils muft be  then* com-
 panions forever !  Surely then it is yum intereft to
 give*  all dd.gence now,  to make yoer acquaintance
 with tiic Lord of that  world, before you enter into
 it.
   5/'/", Put forth thy utmoft activity for  thy  foul
 no .v ; for,  to be  if re,  Satan will put forth his t tmolt
 agaiuft it.  If thou be m  a  Chnftiefs (hue at this
 time,  he will ufe all his efforts and ftramgemsto keen
 thee from Chrift; cither by  flattering thee that thy
 ftate is good, thereby to lull thee alleep  in. iin and
 fiv.irity;  or by telling thee, itis out of time to help
 matters with thee, thereby todrive you into defpair.
 The devil will leave no method unattempted to ruin
 thy  ioul,  when death is near: for he knows his time
 is ihort ;  and if  he  catch not the foul then, he will
 never get it: and neither can he hurt it hereafter;
 tor if once it enter heaven,  he can trouble it  no more.
   If thou art a believer in Chrift; Satan, thy malic-
 ious enemy will not fail to attack thee, at this time
 with all his might; for though he may know he
 cannot keep thee out of heaven, yet he will  labour to
 render thy  piffage towards it, as dark, tempeituons,
 and uncomfortable as poifibly lm can.   But  it is the
 believer's happinefs this  cruel enemy is  under  a
 ftrong chain, and cannot do all he  would;  for jefus
 Chnd is the good fhepherd that hath undertaken for
.all his :men.  Neverthelefs, by ids  wife  permiifion,
 this  adveriary  may fometimes gb.e great miforban.ee
 to a dying  faint; "which cads'thee to the greateft
 dnumuce and  watchfulnefs  at this time,   kis the
 obiervation of one, that as the devil is  moit bufy  at
 the coiicluiion of a duty, as of  prayer,  that dm
 Chriitian may be  moft dilturbecl and attracted when
he is to elofe up all in the name of Chrift, and fo all
nisdeiires  be iru{{rated: fo he is moit bufy in the
concluiion of ourda\s, and when death is at hand
 leeku.ig by  temptations, detractions, and falfe i o ■>-'
manors, to do us all the mifchicfi he  can, and  "i\
&. 
146        Afflicted Ma^is Co-rpanim.
becaufe he knoweth his time  is fliort ;  according
to that word, Rev. xii. 12.  ik  The devil is come
down, having great wrath, becaufe he knoweth that
he hath but a ihort time."  He may  fitly  be cadcd
the wolf of ihe .evening, mentioned in Jer. v. 6. in re-
gard  he  comes forth moft fiercely  in the evening
of  men's lives, to  fet upon their  precious fouls.
Yea  fo  bufy is he fometimes with believers under
dano-erous ficknefs, feeking to overthrow their faith
and affurance, that it is the observation of a good
man,  that he  feldom feeth  a  fick  faint, followed
.clofe  with  temptations, recover of  that  ficknefs -f
for Satan, knowing  he hath  but little time, proves
as uneafy to him as he can.   Hence that great man
of God, Mr. Knox, faid, when he came to die ;  "■ In
my life time the devil tempted me to defpa'r, calling
my fins in  my teeth:  but now in my ficknefs, he
tells  me, I have been faithful in  the miniitry, and fo
-have  merited  heaven : but  blelled be God, who
-brought thefe  texts into my mind,  Not I but the
grace of God in me : What haft thou that thou haft
not received*" 1 he children of lfrael  had never,
fuch  hot work from  their enemies as when they juft
came to enter into the promifed land.
   "What need then bait thou, O believer, to be dili-
gent  in thy  preparations on a dying-bed to quicken
grace, put forth ftiy utmoft ftrength, bring all the
ailiitance dnm canft from the Captain of thy falvation
when thou haft fuch a cruel enemy  to encounter
with J  Now is  the  time for action, though yet it
will be  yo. r wifdom to leave as little to be done at
■this time as poihble.

Dirfct. II.  Continue to the laft in the  exercife of
   {rue repentance and humiliation for fin.
    POSSIDONUIS, who wrote the life of Auguf-
     tiue, faith, that he heard him often  fay in his
health, that  repentance was  the  fitteft dilpofition
both  tor dying Chriitians and minifters ;  aud for
hfimbft, that  he died with tears iu his eyes, weep- 
Afflicted Alan's Companion.       147
ingfor iin. When death approachethneareft,we fhould
thus ftir  up ourfelves to  give fin the moft deadly
blow of any we have given it all our life.  As it is
moit  laudable  to  die  forgiving tinners  that have
wronged  ns, fo alfo taking revenge  upon  fin that
hath injured a  gracious God«  The apoftie  tells us,
2 Cor. vii. 11.  that indignation and revenge attend
true repentance.  Wherefore, as Samuel took ven-
geance on Agag a little before his death, and Mo-
les (at  God's command) avenged the children  oft
Ifraelof the Midianites juft before he was gathered
to  his people,   Num.  xxxi. 1.  and  dying Sam fon
gave the  moft fatal blow to  the Philiftiues  of any
he had  given  them before : fio a dying Chriitian
ihould take  the fevereft revenge  upon fin at laft,
which hath fo oft through his life diihonoured God,
pierced Chrift,  and grieved his holy Spirit.  It is the
laft opportunity you will have to fhew yo.r indigna-
tion at it, and therefore  do it effectually.
   Again, confider it is old  fins unmourned for,
that many times keep believers fomuch in the dark,
when  they come to die, thefe do raife fo many thick
clouds about their evening-fun, and hinder them
from going off the  ftage' with fuch comfortable affur-
ance of God's  love  as  they might otherwife attain
to.  Thefe  did very much hinder Job's peace and
fettlement in the day of affliction, as he complains,
Job xiii. 26.  "■  He  makes me to poffefs the iniqui-
ties of my youth."  It is a fad thing  when young
fins and  old bones meet together.   O that young
people would mind this  in time !  you are doing that
now which will abide with you to age, if not to eter-
nity.   Sin muft be bitter  fome  time or other,  for
God caiis  it  a  root that bears gall and wormwood,
Deut.  xxix. 18.  lirael could not have  peace nor
fuccefs while there was an Achan in the camp :  fo
neither can  you have coniolation or affurance while
any h-1 l;es unreckoned for in tke confidence. Make
a  thorough le.ircn  then into old iins and mourn over
ihcm.   'Wc find Paul  frequently  cafiino- over  the
                      N  2 
irid         Afflicted Man's Companion.

fms of id■-. life, and even thefe he  w as guilty of before
converfion; " I was inji run.s,  a bhii'jheiner,"  &c.
whereby he uui'uua.ned much inward peace and con-
foiatiom  Be oft looking buck to  old tins with  in-
ward furrow  and  faith in  Chrift's blood,  if  you
would ha\ e a ticdli-bcm eafy and foft to \ on.

D iRtcr. III. Be mn dful of all ails of juftice and cha-
   rily,which na.y be 'recumbent upon yoa at this time.
 >, T us nrcat w fdom in men to fettle their worldly
 j'l  uddut in the time of health, that fo  their minds
may be free for fpiritual exerciies, and not diftrrbed
v.ddi '.nrtldy cares and bnfinefs  when they come to
a ch.dn.'^-bed; but if this hath been'neglected hitherto
it muft not be omitted now. I have given directions
about it,  chap. I. direct. 6.  fo that  1 ihall fayjittie
here ;  only be careful to do juftice to every man, as
much  as in you lieth; and particularly,  i. By mak-
 ing a juft and rational proviiion for your v. lie  and
 children,  i.  By  ordering payment of all your juft
 debts; without defrauding any of your lawful credit-
 ors.   3. By  making reltitution in  cafe you have
 wronged any man.  If juftice be not done in thefe mat-
 ters how can your fouls be difburdened of guilt?
    In the next place, forget not the acts of  charity
 which  God rec, aires of ail the profc.fors  of the  gof-

    1//,  Seek reconciliation  with  your  ne'f;hbom*s,
 where any dd-Tcrence cr  nfiikftcs have fcii.  m ;
 that fo you may die in peace ami charity wnh all
 about you.
    idly, Be ready  from the heart  to fin-give thefe
 that have done you any wrong.  If the natural fun
 iliould nor go  clown upoi^ our  wraiii, much lefs
 fhould  the fun of our liv ct.  If vou carry an unfor-
 giving fpirit with you into another world, how can
 vou eupect to meet with a forgiving  Cod there:
 when lie hath e>:prefdy declared. Match, vd. 15.ki If
 ve for-dve not men their trefipahes, neither will your
 father  forgive your trefpailes ?" O the 1  imitate  your 
Afflicted Man's  Companion.         149
  glorious Saviour and his  martyr Stephen, who at
  their death begged mercy  from God for thofe that
  mortally heated them, Luke xxiii. 34. Acts vii. 60.
    %dly, If the Lord  hath  given  you fubftance, ho-
  nour the Lord with it, by  leaving fome part of it to
  die poor,^and'to pious ufes.  I* have  preffed this
  once and again before, but I mention it frequently,
  becaufe it is  much  forgotten by dying perfons in
  our age.  Remember, it is not left arbitary to you
  to  give or  not,  as you*pleafe: no, for God  doth
  charge  it upon you as a duty, yea a debt that you
  owe him, 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. " Charge them that are
  rich in  this  world, Sec.  that they do good, be rich
  in good works, ready to diftribute."  And he pro-
  nounceth them blelfed who confider the poor, Plafi
  xli.  r.  Igfant that people are not to leave all  their
  works of charity to a death-bed; thefe ihould alfo be
  minded in our lifetime, fo as to make our own hands
  our excutors, and our own  eyesour overfecrs of bur
  charitable projects:  but furely it  is a proper feafon
  for {hewing  charity  to  God's poor, when  we are
  leaving them, and cannot have occaiion for fhewdng
  it more. Remember what is recorded of Dorcas af-
  ter her death, Acts ix. 36. that ihe was a woman full
 of good works and  alms-deeds.   And her friends
 vcr.  39. ihewed the effects of her charity  to Peter
 after her death.  All which is written  for  our ex-
 ample and admonition, that  we may  be rich in  fuch
 pood works, that our friends may have them to ihow
 ■alter our death.  Surely it is a lign of the degenera-
 cy of this age, and that religion is on the declining
 hand, when people generally fall fo ihort of the  zeal
 and  piety of their fathers in this matter.
  4/d/y, It would be a commendable work of chari-
 ty in dying perfons, to be giving many good coun-
 fels to their relations and children,  and to be putting
 many fervent prayers to God  for them.   So Chrift
 when near to death, committedftiis fpiritual children
 to his Father,  and earneftly begged his protection
and care  of them, John xvii. u.  «  \ am no more
                    N -i 
l JO        AJlitled Mans C wpani-yn.

in the world, bit thefe are in the world : keep them
thro.ghthy name, keep  them from the evil,"  ike.
in ike manner cry  to  God  for  )oir  children:
"* Lord, thou haft  graciotfty cdve 1 themdo  me, I
now reitore them back to thee.—d'hey arc born to
me once, O that chey may be born to thee a foe on d
time!  1  am leaving them  in  the micnt  of l'mircs
and temptation,, O that  it may  be their  happinefs
io he the preferved in C drift jefus ! ft eep them by
thy power through faith^into  falvation.   O take
t.'iem within the bond of thy covenant, and be thou
their Father,  to protect,  direct,  and provide for
them.  Give them a name in thy houfe Letter than   '■
of {fins ami daughters, that I may meet with them
 at thy right hand with evcidafting joy."              j
   Lai fly, Be fuitably concerned  alfo  fcf*the whole
 church of Chrift, and efpecially for thefe that are in
 adhebon, that God may loofe  their bonds, fend
 them liberty and profperity in his due time,4l Do   \
 good in  thy good pleafbre unto Zion, build up the
 waits of thy  jerufalem.  Peace be within her v, aius,
 and  profperity within her palace.."

 D? Finer. IV.  La\or what  yoa can to overcome the
   love of life, and fears of death : that you may attain
   to wali.tgncfs to die, and leave the world when Cod
   c.di. .'■'■> you to at.
 IT is no wonder, that a wicked man,, or one that
 jj_ hath a.o h.a-rcftin Chrlit, be unwilling to die:   *
 win,-,  he is tdrightcci with  the  guilt of pait fin?,,
 and  tne ic-am of future  torments;  and it is  inipolli-
 bie to be rid of thefe till he become a true believ cr in
 Cuiu'ft.   No man hath  ground  to welcome death
 but  the believer;  yet it is to be  regretted,  that fo   '<
 many of them  ihould appear unwilling to  leave this
 wurid,  which  is nothing  to them but a wildernefs
 and  weary land.  Lot's foul was vened and troub-
 led in Sodom,  and yet he was  loath  to leave it; fo
 fome believers, when called to leave a vexing world,
 do ihew  much  hankering towards it, and hu^er be-
 hind.  This proceeds urn-dm  fr<~>n* nmure  v Id, h 
          Afflicted  Man's  Lomanpion.          ijt

dreads a diffolution, aud partly frem the weaknefs
cu  t.ra:c.   but U let  all God's  children  labor to
cmcinouie this averiion, and go forth to  meet death
half-way, aud bid it weicome.  And for their help
m this matter, I ihall lay before them the following
arguments.
   ift, Confider how-  little reafon a  believer hath
to bo mucu in love  w'uh this pre.ent life.  i. It is  a
iinful life, iin dwells in yo; r nature, breaks out in
your life, and pollutes ail  yom duties.   Row often
have you groaned  under this burden ?  and  Ihould
vou not be glad  to he eternally  delivered fre n it?
i. h is a file of difeafes aud infirmities : and Ihould
you not be willing to be cured of them all at once? 3.
It is a life of temptation, Satan is duli harraifing thee,
and ihould v ou not be defirous to be out of his reach?
4. It is a life of ptrftdcutions irom the wicked :  they
hate leproach and injure you many ways: and is it
not definable to be  "• where the  whked team  from
troubling and" the weary be at red." 5. It is a life of
 clouds and ciarknefs,  your fun is often  vieit-d,  and
 vo; r evidences ubfeured, which occalions many bit-
 ter complain lj-;  and ihould you not defire that n.ne
 when the day ihall break,  and all ihadows iiy a-, ay?
 6. It is a life of calamities and  fears : It is life a
 ilormy foa,  where one wave rolls upon the  bav.lt  of
 another ;  and when one calamity is nail,  we many
 times fear a greater is coming ;  and fometimes the
 heavens tnrn fo black and gloomy, that we fear a
 hurricane of judgments  is  ready to  blow:  ami
 Ihould you not  bleis God, when he comes by death
 to houie your fouls, and fet you out of harm's way ?
 It is in mercy that God takes away  the righteous
 from the evil to come, Ifa. lvii. 1. So dealt he with
 Jonah, 1 Kings xxii. 10. "" I will gadier thee to thy
 huhem, and thou  ihalt be  p- t  mm thy grave  m
 peace, and thine eves ihall not fee all dm evil which
 1 ihall bring upon this place."   So is it obforvable
 tha  ftleth lfelah died the \ cry year before die flood:
 Anemone a Ifttlc  before the hacking of Hippo  ; Pa- 
 152       Afflicted Mads Companion.

 reous juft before the taking of Heidelberg.   Luther
 obferves that all the apoftles died before dm deliruc-
 t-onof jerufalem.  And Luther himfelf died before
 the bloody wars broke out in Germany.  Thus God
 frequently  hides his  people from the temptations
 and troubles that are coming on the earth.   Why ;
 he fees many of  them not in cafe to endure them :
 and therefore he in  mercy takes them away from
 a  tempting and finning world, to  a  land of holinefs
 and reft. Whiie we are here, we live in a world that
 lies in wickednefs ; every fenfe of tho. body betrays
 the foul into fin: the poor foul can fcarce look  out
 at the eye, and  not be infected ; nor hear by  the
 ear, and not be diffracted ; nor  finell at the noitrils,
 and not be tainted ;  nor tafte at the tongue, and not
 be allured ; nor  touch  by the hand, and not be  de-
 filed.
    O believer, what is  this life that thou art fo fond
 of: it is but a living death, or  a dying life.   It is
 full of grief for things paft, full of labour forthmys
 prefent, and  full of fears  for things future.  The
 firit part of our life is fpent in folly :  the middle part
 is overwhelmed  with cares;  and the latter part  of
 it is burdened with  infirmities  and a^e.  And what
 gain we by the prolonging of this life ? nothing  but
 to do more evil,  fee more evil, and fid ft r more evil.
 And iliould a Chriitian be unwilling to  Le  rid of
 thofe grievances ?
   idly, Confider that dying is appointed as the way,
 and the only way to glory ; theie is no way to  en-
 ter the promifed land,  but by crolimg the Jordan of
 death.  And  ihould not a  ftrrmger defire  to be  at
 home with his friends, ttmuyh he dath a rev <di way
 and itormy fea to pais ? L there any home like
 heaven, where your incomparable  friend Chrift  is ?
 O  what a happinefs  is it to be with Chrilt. and to
fee him as he is ?  how  happy do you tkdnk Pmcr,
James and John were, in being taken up to mount
Tabor, to be eye-witnelfes of their Sa. four's, crans/ig-
uratioii? but, O believer, deadi  procures a  greater 
            Afflicted Man's Companion.          153

happinefs  to  you; it  uihers you to mount Zion,
where you ihall not only fee your  Saviour .whiter
than the ihow , and brighter tuan the fun, but your-
felf transfigured with him, made like him, and eter-
nally fecured of his prefence.   The three apoitles
faw  but two prophets; but you fhafi fee aft the pro-
phets, all the apoitles, all the patriarch , all the mar-
tyrs, all the holy perfons you once converted with on
earth, and in general all the faints in heaven, each of
them dnning as the fun; and how fweet will their
company be.J O how foon will the trifles of the world
vanilh, and  all its  pleafures be fogot,  when  once
the believer gets a view  of that captivating  glory
above! When the ihepherds heard but fome few notes
of the angels fongs, who praifed God at the nativity
of ot.r Saviour, they prefently left their flocks, and
ran to Bethlehem to behold  the child Jefus lying  in
the  manger; but much more caufe hath a believer
to leave ail the plefaures of the world, and run to be-
hold an calced Jefus  fitting on the throne of his
glory, with aft his  faints and angels iiuging  praifes
around hhn.
   If Cato and Cleombrotus,  two Heathens,  after
reading Platoe's book of the immorality of the foul,
did voluntarily, the one fall on his fword, the other
break his neck from a precipice, mat diey  might
the  fooner  come  (as tne  fancied) to partake  of
thefe joys;  what a ihame is it  for Chriitians, who
have a far finer and clearer difcovery of thefe things
from God's own book, to be found unwilling  to en-
ter into tnefe heavenly joyi., when their biened lle-
deemer calls for them thither?
   .yd],\ Confider how  willing  Chrift was to  come
from heaven to earth  for you;  and  ihould yon  be
unwdhu£ to remove from earth to heaven for  him?
yea. for youri'elves. for  the gain is yours?  O did
 Chrift aifumc yo. r  nature, I-emme obedient to death,
 and pureluife an inheritance for,you with his blood ;
 and will  vou be  backward to go and take  podedie 1
 of it? O  fur a Cdrift- idee obedience at death [ 
154
Afflicted Man's Companion.
   Laftly, Confider what a reproach is caft on Chrif-
tianity, by  a believer's unwillingnefs to die.  For
Chriitians  to pray, au<*  Ipeak  much of  Chrift,  of
heaven and glory,  and yet be unwilling to enter in-
to that glory;  what is it but a raiibelieving of God,
and a  tempting of itrangers to think there is no re-
ality in religion ?
   dfZuefld1- Since death is not eafy to grapple  with,
how fhall I attain to this bleifed dilpofition, a w ilhng-
nefs to die ?
   Anfw. ifl, Be frequently putting, forth  the acts of
 faith upon  the righteoufnefs of Chriit; and believe
 that Chrift died to bring in a perfect righteoufnefs
 for believers, that they all might be complete in him.
 Now  why Ihould a believer be afraid to appear before
 God  in  Chrift's  righteoufnefs. which is fo pleafmg
 and acceptable to hnn? Rev.  xiv. 4. 5. they are
 faid to be kt  without fault before the throne of God."
 If a believer were to  appear before God in his own
 righteoufnefs,  clothed with his own duties and per-
 formances,  it would be dreadful  to think of dying;
 but to have the white garment  of an elder brother
 to put on,  gives another view of dtadn.  Alas, it is
 our neglecting the daily e>,ercife of faith in the righ-
 teoufnefs of Chriit, that makes the thoughts of death
 fo unwelcome.
   idly, When you attain to peace and reconcilation
wdth  God,  labour to  preferve it.  Be itating and
clearing counts with  God  every day,  and   watch
againit thefe fins that  wound confidence, waile com-
fort, and grieve the Spirit  of adoption.   V> hen we
think  God is difjpleafeu with us, we will be afraid of
going to him.
   2,diy, Study to be more denied to the enjoyments
of this  life, and to life them with a holy indnierency ;
otherwife there will be an uuwimneft 10 leave thefe
things.
  4thly, Labour to be  deeply feniduie of the burden
of indwelling fin aud corruption,  and the  workings
thereof in  your hearts;  and this  wifi  nuke tluj 
            Afflicted ft fan's Companion.        r 55

thoughts of death welcome, becaufe it eternally de-
livers yo,. from it.
  tythly, Seek further difcovcries of the lovelinefs of
Chrift,  and the  daily exercife and increafe of your
fouls love to him; for it is the nan re of fove to long
after communion with the perfon that we love.
  dthly, Make death familiar to you by the frequent
forethoughts of it.  Retire  oft  from  the worf d Sq
think of dying, when you are in belt health.
  "-fthly, Be much taken up in the fweet employment
of praifing God, and exalting the worthy Lamb that
was flain; and  this will  incline you to be there,,
where this is the continual work.
  Laflly, Be oft dm.king  of thefe warnings andfor-
runuers of death, which God fo.;ds  to v. eau your
heart from the love of life, and difpofe you to a wil-
hngnefs to die. Forthftend, God lends mamfold dif-
eafes, pains, infirmities, wants,  drafts, loifies, croifes,
difappointments,  &c.  And in a ipecial manner, let
old people view the forerunners and  harbingers  of
death  which  God fends  to prepare his way: fuch
as the decays and infirmities of old  age,  which we
have elegantly  defenbed  in figurative expreilions,
Eccicf. xii.  2. "Then the fietit of the fun,  moon,
and itars ihall be <k.rkeueu;" i. e. in  old perfons, the
intellectual powers and tacult«es., which are as lights
in the foul ihall be weakened.   And then do "■ the
clouds return after rain ;" /. e. their diftempers are
freqient like a continual  dropping  in  a  rainy day;
and the ending of one is but  the  becoming of anoth-
er— v erfe 3.  *" Then  the keepers  of  the  houfe do
tremble;" /. e. the head and nanus which were em-
ployed for the  prefervation  of the body do ihake.-—
*• The itro ig men bow themfelves;" /. e. the legs and
thighs which are the pillars of the houfe become weak
and feeble.—'" The grinders ceaie becaufe  they are
few;" /'. e. the teeth which like the upper and nether
millftone do grind out meat and prepare it for con-
coction  then ceafe to do their  part —■* Thofe that
iook out of the  windows are darkened j" i. c, the 
156        Afflicted Man's Companion.
eyes wax dim, whereby God calls us to  turn  them
away irom bcnoid'uig  vmfity, and to look alter  the
things that are not fee 11.— V erfe 4. " The daughtc rs
of muiic are brought low;" i. e. they have  neither
voice nor  earn; they can neither ling themielves,  nor
take pleafure in the voice o'i fengmg men  cr  monien,
Then death pulls us,  as it were by the  ear,  to think
on the muiic above.— v erfe 5.  **  idie  ahuonu-tree
flouriihedi;" /. e. the hair mows white,  like the al-
mond-tree  in the  blohom.  And as  the  outward
parts of the body do weaken and  decay, fo alfo do
the iii ward parts thereof: therefore it is faid, Verfe
6. u The iii-.er cord ihall  be loofed, the golden
bowl broken, the pitcher broken at the fountain, and
the  wheel  broken  at the ciftern;" i. e. the  filver
cord of the  finewsis loofed, which carries the  facul-
ty-of fenfe and  mcau.i from the head, through  the
body.   The head,  winch like a golden  bowl or box,
contains the brain, that is the fountain of fenfe and
motion umo^gh age  is broken,  and  turns crazv.
The many  pitchers of the vains,  which carry  the
nouriihiug  b.ood from the  well  to the hver unto
each part of the body, become  like broken veffels.
And the  wheels of the arteries, which  convey  the
vital "ipirirs from the heart to the feveral members,
for cp .ekening tftem,  begin  to  turn faint  and  lan-
guid.  All thefe things do warn  otd perfons to  take
thc.r affect tons o*f time's things,  and fet them upon
things above, that  they may he helped  to  fay, we
" defire to tieparc and to be widi Chun."
   But after aft,  fome believers wdl have objections
againit vvilhngiiefs to  die,  fome whereof 1 ihall  con-
finer.
   Object.  I.  " I am  threatened to be  cut off in the
flower of mine age."
   A"/w.  Liftcud of  fretting on this account,  you
ovghL  rather to adore a id j.rah'e a gracious God,
that is v.iftnig to beftow  dn reward of the  whole
a<u-uiO:  thte, who haft  omy  labored  fome  hours
offtc.   Praife him, that is wiiiuig to take you fo foon 
Afflicted Man's Companion.         157
home; whereby you will prevent much fin and fur-
row in the world.
  Object. II. "I have houfes and lands, and a com-
fortable dwelling on the earth."
  Anfw. Thefe arc only needful in  your  pauagc
through the world ; above there is no  ufe ftr thcic:
comforts.  Their  God provideth maniions  for his
people a thoufand  times more comfortable,  John xiv.
2.  2 Cor. v. 1.  Surely houfes of God's building, and
of Chrift's furniihing, are preferable to the cottages
built by men's  hands.
   Object. 111.  u But I am loth to leave God's ordi-
nances, and die fweet communion I have had with
him therein."
   Anfw. Above there will be no need of ordinances,
facramentes,  bibles, orminiiters; for the Lainb wiii
be the fight of the heavenly temple, and a 11 hid things,
in religion will be  difcovered in Christ's face,  there
you will celebrate  an  eternal Sabath, drink the fruit
of the vine new with  Chrift,  be ever with the Lord,
without any clou dor interruption of yourcommtndon
with him.  Is it any lofs to  be  taken  from the ihal-
lowitreams, and fet by the foundation that isever fidl
and nmnh.y over?
   Objeil. 1 Vd  4T am loth to leave the company of
godly friends and  relations."
   Anfw. Death v.u  take you to your friend Chrift,
that is far better than d mi all.   And for one friend
y*m lofe  upon earth, you  ihall find  an hundred in
heaven; and thefe godly relations you leave here,
yon ihall foon meet with then; .main there; w here you
will have far fv eeter commm.jon .than pofiibly you
can have upon earth with them, cr the belt of men,
who while here, ea^  e feveral infir unties and palfions,
that many times nuke their convene uncomfortable.
   Object.V. " But 1 would fain fee the glory of Zi-
on upon earth, when God's promifes to her ihall be
accomplilhed."
   Anfw.  So Mofos would fain have feen Ifrael'shap-
pinels in the promiied land: but his dying in uiefixr 
 T58       Afflicted diaas Companion.

 belief of God's  fulfiilling all  his  promifes to them
 iherc, was more acceptable  to God, than his fi hold-
 ing the performance.  And the glory of the church
 militant is  a fmht nothing comparable  to that of the
 church triumunu-mt above.
   Object.  Vl."  But I would  incline  to ftay to do
 God more fervice in his church below, whofe nc-
 cedides arc cl;uuant."
   Aa/w. i  You will  not  want oppotunity  for
 .feryiug and glorifying  God above, and where you
 will be in fdr better cafe for it.   Here our hearts arc
 oft  out of tune  for God's work, and we are forced
 to hang  our harps upon   the willows; but above
 there are  no  willows to hang thein  on ;  no faint
 there will ever  complain of any indifpofition of heart
 .or tongue.
   idly,  God kngws the necellities of his church, and
 is  more concerned for  them  than thou canlt be;
 and  it  is  eedd/ for him to raife up initruments to
 carry on his work when thou art gone.
   Object.  VI. u I am afraid of the pain and pangs
 ofdecdi.  The  thoughts of thefe make me lhriuk
 back."
   Anfw.  \ft. Many die without much fceming fenfe
 of pain,  and it is probable have lefs pain at the hour
 of death,  than they have felt  under  feveral former
 difeafes.
   idly, If they  be fliarp, they  are foon over ; and
 each pang of death  will firt iin  a itep nearer die
 door, and thy foul a  itep nearer home: and there-
 fore it becometh a Chiiidan to  die cheerfully, and
 to be glad  when he can find  the grav e.
   Now, what I have faid in this  chapter  is to the
 believing foul: for it is no wonder  though the fouls
 of the ungodly,  at death, ikrink back into the tody
 and tremble to  go forth, when  they can have no
profited of any better lodging than utter durhuefi. 
            Afllctcd Man's Companion         i/19

Direct. V. Study to imitate the ancient  worthies,
  by dying  in faith.
Hf^IfiS\vas the character  and epitaph of the old
 JL  Tenement faints,  ileb. xi. ipr '• Tiieic ail di-
ed »n faith."  As they  had lived by  fifth, fo they   ,
died in faith. They not o.dy continued true benev-  y
ers to the  laft,  dying in the ftate of faith, but they
died in the exercife of faith alfo.  Now, the exer-«j^
cife of faith in dying includes feveral th'mm, worthy  >
to be imitated by all dyin?; believers.
   ift,  An open  and profeded  adherance to the dor-
trine of faith,  and truths  of Cindftkmity.   This
faith all  Chriitians ihovdd  zealoufly own in the
view of death, and pcrfevere  in it to the  laft with-
out waverm;;.  This would be to die like martyrs,
though we die in our-beds.  How fteuchadly did old
Polycm-p adhere to Chrift and his  tinths to the ialt,
and focilcd in faith!  When  he was  umed  by the
procoufift to -deny Chrift, he anfwcrci, 'w 'iddciefidre-
fcore and ii -t years have I ferved him, and he never
once offended me: and how lhalU now deny him r"
   ■idly, Laying in faith imports an  inward,  hearty,
and firm belief  in the  fundamental articles of the
Chriitian faidi: and improving iAee\  fo as to make
 them  the  foundation of our  comfort and hope  at
 dm hour of death.  As for  inftance,  we m  it-yield
our departing foul:., in the firm belief of their living
and exiitin^  in a depurate condition  after mis life,
and of tint'future ftate  of biehbdnefs and  reft vvhlfti
God hath prepared for all believers. Aram,  we rm.fi:
dil'mifs the body to the t'rave, in  a  dim belief and
1.jpeofjoyf.il a refirreft'un at the lad day.  Tims
that holy" mm Job both lived and died in faith,
 Job viva, i -, ?-'■• ,; I know that my redeemer iiucdi,
 aud that lie  ihall ftand at the latter day upon the
 earth.  And  though afo r iny :kdi,  worms defiroy
 this body,  yet in my deih I ihali fee God.  A Chriit-
ian then dds iii fahh, when he believes thefe truths
fo. as cheerfully to obey God's call, and venture in-
 to the  iuvuible world, upon the tcftimom- wdiich
                        GU 
   160        Addicted Man's  Companiou.

   God hath given concerning it:  As Abraham did in
   iyuug out to an unknown iaud.  iicb. xi. 8.  tk  By
   lunh Abraham, when he was called to go out into
   a place which he ihov-.ld after receive for an inheri-
   tance, c. eyed, and he went out, not knowing wile-
s'  ther he vmnt."
%    eyhy, The believer dies in faith, when he makes
  ' freih apy licadon to Chriit as his  only hope and Savi-
   our, takes  him in his arms Of faith, as old Simeon
   did before his death, faying, u  In the  Lord Chriit
   I have righteoufnefs and ftrength ;"  though I have
   neither righteoufnefs nor ftrength in myfelf, yet I
   have both in him,  my bleffed furety and redeemer.
   We have many ufes for faith in Chriit at the hour
   of death.  By faith we muft depend upon Chrift's
   blood  for  making  atonement, and  walking  away
   the guilt of all 01 r by paft fins.  By faith we muft
   put on the righteoufnefs of Chrifl for covering  our
   naked fouls, when  they are to  appear and ftand be-
   fore God.   By  faith we muft rely on Chrift for
   ftrength to buffer pain, reftft temptations, and con-
   quer death and all  our  enemies.  By faith we muft
   look to Chrift as our leader,  and truft him for our
   fafe conduct through the dark valley  of death,  and
   for fafe landing  on the fhore of glory.
      spthly, The believer dies in faith, when he tr uft
   his departing foul with confidence in his Redeemer's
   hand,  faying with  l'aul, 2 Tim. i.  m. "  I  know
   whom I have believed, and I am perfuaded that lie
   is able to keep that which I have committed to him
   ymuuft  that day."   This was the Pfalmiit's practice,
   I'dd. xxxi. 5.  u Into thy hand I  commit my fpirit ;
   for thou haft redeemed nn , G Lord God of trmh."
   Ico the man  that dies in kith,  commits  the  icwel
   of hi* fo-ul to his idedcemt r's keeping,  and confides
   in his care of it. \\ iiy, he m- e it, he hath redeem-
   ed it. he loves it, it is hft own, a  member of his body,
   and he  will  not ham bus o wm fleih.  he lo v es, his dy-
   ing faints much better than we love an eyu, a hand
   cr any  other  member  of our  body, which, to be 
           Afflicted Maa's Crapaal-n.          161

 furc, wc will not lofe, if it be in our power to fave
 it.
   rfid.y, Dying in faith imports,  du.it  the dyirn;
 fdmt confides  in  God's fftthfulnefs and  trutii fere
 mikhm yo.nl all thefo promifes  to  his church  and
 people adm  his death, winch are not yet aceomphfh-
 ed.   We ihoald go oft' the itage in the firm belief of
 God's fuhiding all  his  promifta   co teaming  dm
 profperity of his  church, thd  calling  of die Jewr,
 the dedumct'.on of Antichrhfi and the focond coming
 ei our Lord?  and likewife concerning cjur f in lilies,
 that God w'hl  be as good as his  word, and be a fa-
 ther  to the fmhtrlefs,  and a huibaud to the widow.
   Would  wc  then be fo happy as to die  in faith,
 let us take thefe advices.
   ift, Let us be  careful to  yet fundi beforehand :
 for death is a time to the faidi, no: to get  it.   They
 were foodlh  virgins who  hud  their  oft to  buy when .
 the bride? room was come.             -.-.-:
   idly, ht..iep to five  every  day in tlm excivlfe cf
 faith, and be Kill hup roving and  making nib of
 Ghrid, in  ad ids odices, and icr all thefe ends  and
 ufin, i'or which God hath  gfi en him to  belicers.
   3..y, Be frequently clearing vp yot r-e . idenees for
 In aven, and  beware oflettino  fin blot the.n to yoa..
   4tbly. Kccord and lay up the experiences of God's
 kind  dealings with yen,and be often mm ceding upon
 them, dun; yo : may have them ready at  hand in
 tne hour of dead:.
   Lzftly,  Meditate much  on  tlieie proud urn which'
 ha- e ' eeu fweet and ^omidrmfie to you in doe time
 of {trait: i<ead bug  that  tl\e Lend may bring them
 to your remembrance  when you come to die.

 Dane, . VI. Set tbe examples of other  dying flilnts
   l.cfjre  yoa, and ft a :'.y in  like manner to fhtne i;i-
  grace, heaatody dafourf , and be  easmplary in pi-
   11 •/. and for the glory of God,  and good of f lab:,when
  yoa are gd"g off the f m e.
 fiT^ilLS is  the laft oppotunity you have of doing
 J[_  for vim to God,  and the intereft cf religion
_______ —■HT(* ^____', 
I'm         AfP.iclcd Ma>ds Companion.

^ hcueforeftrive to improve it diligently for thchuuor
of God. and the edification cf ihoie that iurvive yen,.
Low plcaiant is it to fee Cod's rcoole leaving  the
worm, commending Chriit and his lermcc. and per-
fuming the mace they lie in vfth their laft breath?
1 havf, chap. UI. direct. 5. and 6.  adduced feveral
n.odes'to prefs this point, and give directions con-
arrhm- the fpeech and behaviour of the children of
 Vrncf when on fick-beds, which I ihall not repeat.
   That which I deb yn here is, to fet before you the
 e> ammes of fome eminent faints, and their exempla-
 ry, pfous, and holy fpeeehes and fayings, when they
 v ere a-dylng; and  that  in  order  to confrm  and
 edrfiftifh cfih': rs in religion, and alfo to excite them to
 imitate dime  fhinim.i worthies when they  alfo come
 to die.   Surely ft is for this very  end that God hath
 ordered us to be compared about with fo great a
• cloud of witueifes, Ideo. xii. t.  Thus doth theapof-
 tie improve their example, Heb. xi. And how tar-
 red is he in this matter ?  Heb. vi.  11,12.  tk  And
 v e defire, that every cne of you do  fliew the fame cli-
 li-veuce, to  the full aiidranee cf hope unto the  end;
 that ye be nor. fodifvl, but followers  of them who
 throuuh fahh'-and patience inherit the promifes."
    I fdf?M benin with fome  examples from  the facred
 Lfiiery;  and in the  frit place, with  the Ling of
 faults, 01 r Lord  Tcfus Chrift.   O how  fweet and
 roi'ifoi-iab'.e v. ovd'his du'eonrfes unto  his difciples,
 when his death drew  niyh 1  and what a  heavenly
 prayer did  he make for tlmm,  and all his elect ones
 at  that time ! Thefe we have recorded in the 14th,
  i*tli  1 nth. and  17th  chapters of John : which are
 rnoftVeafonable at all times for us  to read and medi-
  tate upon, butefpecially when death is  approaching.
  And hkewife let us read  the  hiitory  of our Lord's
 paifion, in which we may obferve the wonderful ex-
  m-ehdms cf his faith in God, his patience under ftf-
  forin s, his p: ty to his enemies, his love to his mother,
  and his difcipies, his  concern for his father's  glory,
  his ol eclience in his death, 'and his wdiingneis to be
  oftkred 1 p. Tims the biclicd Sun oi ri^htcouh.efi cud 
         Affll. ted Man's Companion.           163

fhme forth more glorioufly at his fietting,with the ra-
diant  beams of his heavenly grace and virtues: and
herein he luuh fet himfelf a pattern to all dying
faints to the end  of the world.
   Jacob, when he was on  his death-bed, called his
fons together, and gave them many fpecial charges
and bicifings; we have his excellent words record-
ed in  Gen. xlviii. and xlix.  chapters.  And in par-
ticular, how fweetly doth he fpeak of the coming of
the "vie iilal-.  to them? Gen. xlix. 10. 18.  And how
affectionately doth he commend God's goodnefs and
ku.d  providence  towards  him  through  his  life?
Gen.  xlviii. 15, 16.  " The God  which fed me all
my fife long unto this day," ut.
   Jofeph, when lie was a-dyingfpoke lovingly to his
brethren, who  had dealt cruelly with him; and af-
fined them of the Lord's faithfulnefs in keeping his
promife to  their  fathers,  Gen. 1.  20.  tk I che, aud
God will Icrely viift you, and bring you out of this
laud."
   Mofes, when he was to go up  to mount Nebo to
die there, left many bleflings, and gave many weigh-
ty charges to the children of Ifrael; w e have his ho-
 ly aud ravlJhing words recorded, Dent, xxxii. and
 xxxiii. chapters.  And particularly how pleafimtly
 doth  he commend God, and his ways, to the people !
 Dent, xxxii. 4. " fie is the rock,  his woim is per-
fect :  for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth,
 and without iniquity, juit and right is he."
   Joihua, when  he was near his  end, gave many
 folenm charges and exhortations to the people, which
 we have narrated, Jolh.  xxiii. and xxiv. chapters.
 And  there we may fee the remarkable methods he
 takes to rivet impreinons and convictions upon them,
now  when he can inftimct  them no longer.  And
 particularly, he apuenft to their confidences co ictrn-
 ing the fa allium ens of God in keeping  lib. word to
 id,.u,  that fo fie might  enyie  them to fidelity to
 him, join.  xxui. 14.  " t\-.A behold this day I am
 £oin£.the way of ah the e.rm, and ye kno^.  in all 
164         Afflicted Ma;ds  Companion.

your hearts, and in all your fouls, that not one thing
hath failed of all the good things  which  th.c Lurd
your God fpake concerning yon."
   David, when his end was mar, nl.enabled the
people, and  folemidy charged them,  as in the audi-
ence of God, to keep his couuuauchnents, i Chron.
xxviii. 8: 9.   An.d particukudy, he charged his ion
and fucceffor, Solomon, to wt  know the God of his
father, and to  ferve him with a perfect  neart, and
with a willing mind."
   The apoftie Paul, when taking his laft farewell of
the  elders  of Ephefus,  he moft folenmly  charges
them,  to u take heed to themfelves, and the Hocks
over which the Holy  Gholt had made them ovcr-
feers," Acts xx. 28.  And how  fweetly doth he ling
in the view of approaching death ! 2Tim. iv. 6. 7,
 8. "■  I am now ready to be otic red, the time of my
 departure is at hand.  I  have  fought a good fight,
I have finiihed my courfe, I have  kept  the faith.
Henceforth there is laid  up for me a crown of righ-
teoufnefs, which the Lord, the righteous Judge ihall
give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto
them alfo that love his appearing."
   In imitation of thefe  fcidpture-faints,  the people
of God in all ages  have ftudled to glorify God and
edify men at their death, by commending God and
godiinei's to  their friends aud families.   Thefe we
ought  to teach by onr example, both how to live and
how to die, as others have done before us.  Thus
faid once a dying faint  to his family,  'k I have fi r-
merly  taught  you how to five, aud how I teach you
how to die."
   mow, becaufe in  all ages the  fpeeches of dying
Chr'dft,t:s have been much odferved, ami God hath
remarkably  blcihdd them to the  eftablillnnent and
confirmation, cp.dckcning and exciting  of others to
imftauethc.n; i Ihall bid :g feveral examples from
human hiftories and  wrid. g,.  and rnoftiy  from
Clark's Lives, of fundry  eminent faluti, whofe gra-
ces have fl.eae brlglmit,  and  their  ipceches were 
           Afflicted Man's Cq mpanion.          165

 moft  heavenly, when the fun of their  life  was at
 tiie fetting.
   1.  That old difciple, Folycarp, when he came to
 the itake at which he  was ftrnt. defired to ftand un-
 tied,  faymg,  " Let me alone, for he that  gave me
 ftrength to come to the fire, will give me patience
 to endure the  iiame without your tying."
   2. So holy Cyprian triumphed over death, faying,
 " let him only fear death, who muft pafs from  this
 death  to  the  fecond  death." When he heard  the
 fentence of death, pronounced againft him, he faid,
 l* I thank  God for freeing me from the prifon of
 this body."
   3. Baiil, when the  emperor Valens fent his offcers
 to tcinpt   him  with   great  preferments  to   turn
 from the faith, he rejected them wdth fcorn, faying,
 "You may offer thefe things to children." And when
 they threatened him with bufferings, he faid," threat-
 en your  purple gallants  with thefe  things,  that
 give themfelves to their pleafures."
   When Modeitus the perfect threatened  Bafil, to
 confifcate his goods, to torment him, to  baniih him
 or kill him. he anfwered, " he need not fear confifca-
 tion, that  had nothing to loofe: nor banifhment, to
 whom heaven  only  is  a country: nor torments,
 when his body would be daihed with one blow ;  nor
 death which is the only way to fet him  at  liberty."
 The perfect telling him he is  mad,  faid. Opto me in
 sternum, fie  delirare, I  wiih I mav forever be thus
 mad.
   2. Ignatius  being led  from Syria to Rome to be
 torn in pieces of wild benfts, he ex 5 roiled his fear left
 it ihould happen to imn  as to fome others, th a: the
 lions out of a  kind of reverence, would  uc.ndrc to
 touch him.  And  therefore  he  oft  v. yhed,*" j hat
their  appetlt-s might  be whitted to udpa.-h  nmi.
l*  For (find he) the iious teeth arc  but like a md!,
which though  it bruifeth, yetwa.teth not the gc d
 wheat, only  prepares and  fits it to be me pure
bread.   Let me be broken  by them,  fo I may be
 made pure  mauchet for heaven." 
166         Afflicted Man's  Companion.

  5. The great Mr. Knox, our reformer, when he
lay a dying, was much in prayer, ever crying, uCome
Lord Jefus; fweet jefus, into thy hands I commend
mv fpirit." Being a iked by thofe that attended him,
if hfi pain  was great? he anfwered, t*  that he did
not efteem  that a pain,  which would be to him the
end of all trouble, and the beginning of eternal joys."
Ofames, after  fome deep meditations,  he faid,"0
fcrve the Lord in fear,  and death ihall not be terri-
ble to you; bleffcd  is the death of thofe that have
part in the death of jefu ."
   After  a  fore temntitlou from Satan,  (which I
formerly mentionedN( over which he triumphed at
lenght,  he find, '' Now the  enemy is gone away a-
lhamed,  and ihall no more return.  I am lure now
my battle  is at an  end, and that  without pain of
body, or trouble  of fpirit. I fhall ihortly change
this mortal and miferable life, with that happy  and
immortal life which fliali never have an end."  Af-
ter one had prayed for him, he was aiked whether
he heard the prayer? he ruiwered, " Would to God
you had heard it  w fin fuch an ear and heart as I
have done  ! adding, Lord Jefus, receive my fpirit."
With which words,  without any motion of hands or
Let,  as one falling aileep, ivther bum  dying, he en-
ded his life.
   9.  Dr. Gouge,  when he  was old and dying was'
fore afflicted with the done, and other painful mala-
dies; yet though by rendu  of his  pains he was oft
heard to groan, he never once grumfded againft die
uupenhau cms of God.   He never cried  out, a gi cat
fafferer, butch';, a great finner : yet itill comforted
humeh,  that there is a great Saviour.  In his great-
eft torments he would fay, t- Well, yet in all thefe
there is nothing of hdl, or of God's w rath.   O  my
foul, be  iileut be patient:  it is diy God and Father
that thus orders thine efface.   Thou arc his clay;
he may ireadand trample upon thee as  he plcafcdi;
thou  haft e'eferved much  more.  Itis  eno..gh  that
thou art  kept out of hell; though thy pains be o-ricv- 
            Afflicted Man's Co^pai•':■ a.         167

■eus, yet they are not  intolerable, day God affords
fome inter,udlious ; he w ill turn it to thy good,  and
at length, put an end to all; and none  of thefe com-
forts can be expected in hell."  In his greateft pains,
he ofc ufed holy  job's words, "  Shad we  re -eive
good from the hands of the Lord,  and not evii alfo ?"
When any of his friends would have omforted him,
with telling him of his eminent gifts  and iervice in
the mdftftry, he would anfwer, *"• i dare not think
of any fuch thing  for  comfort: only  Jefus Chrift,
and what he hath done and endured,  is the  ground
of iny  fore comfort."   The thoughts of death were
plcalant to him,  when he often  termed, his  heft
friend, next unto Jefus Chrift.  And he would blefs
.Co,', that he had nothing to do but to die.
   6. I have read of another milliliter under the  like
extreuii pains.   When he  was aided,  how he did ?
hisfrecuient anfwer was, " The bafti always burning,
J)ut not coufumed; though my pains  are above the
ftrength of nature, yet tfiey  are not above the  fup-
ports of grace."   He  would pray,  " Lord  drop
comfort into thefe bitter waters of Marah.  Let the
blood of i'pinnkling, which eutinguijheth the fire of
.thine anger, allay my burning pain.   Oh, if my pa-
cience  were more ai/ pains  would be lefs; Lord,
give me padeem, and indict  what thou wilt.  This
is a fiery chariot, bm it win carry me to heaven. O
my God break  open the prifon  door, and  fet my
poor captive  foul free:  I defire to be  dhfolved, but
enable me wdhngly to wait  thy time."  He would
again cm ,  '- When ihall the time come, that I fliall
neither tin more, nor forrow  more: Lord, keep me
from diihououring thy mime by  impatience.   Oh,
who would not,  even in burning, have honourable
thoughts of God! Lord, thou  gaveft  me no oeca-
lion to have bud thoughts of thee." BleiTed be
God, for  the peace of mine inward man, when my
outward man is fo full of trouble.  This is a bitter
cup, but it is of my  Father's mixing; and fhall I
/lot then drink it ?" 
x68         Afflicted Mae's Companion.

   8.  Mrs. Jean Afkew,  who was a martyr in king
Henry's reign, to her coefeifion in New gate ihe thus
fubfenbed;  "■Written by  me Jean  Aikew, that
neither wiiheth  death, nor fear, th its might,  a no as
merry as one bound towards heaven."   \\ hen die
chancellor fent her letters  at the ftakc, offering her
the king's pardon,  if ihe would recant;  ihe  refoftd
to look upon them, gave  this anfwer:  "That ihe
came not hither to deny her Lord and Mafter."
   9.  Mr. James   Bainham,  w hen he  was  at the
Itake in the  midit of the'burning fire, which had
half confnmed his legs and  arms, fpake thefe words;
"G ye Papifts! behold  ye look  for miracles,  and
here now ye may  fee a miracle;  for  in  this fire 1
feel no more pain,  than if I were in a bed of down;
it is to me as a bed of rofes."
   10. jonu Lambert, as he was burning in Smith-
field, and ins legs were quite confumed with die
fire,  he lift up  his hands,  his fingers  flaming like
torches, but ins  heart abounding with comfort, cry-
ing oat, *u.fouebut Chrift, none but Chriit."
   11. Mr.  jL.obei't Gkwer. a  little before his death,
had mit the fenfe  of God's favor, for which he was
ir. 0n u hcavinets  and forrow; but when he came
v. thin fight of the ftake  at wdiich he was to  niftier,
he was 0.1 a fuddenTo  filled with divine comfort,
that, cupping his hands together, he cried out to his
for a. t, 'dee is come, he is come;" and fo died moit
ch'-erti fty.
    2. it  ,vas  a  faying of  Auguftine, "Boughs fall
o:  iren,. and  ftones out  of  buildings;   and why
fo.; id it teem ftrange that mortal men die ?"
   ■ 3. Am. jmm  Dodd had a violent fever, that there
wa. om Jituehopeoflus life; yet at length his phy-
fi n'i coimng m hnn,  faid, 'hNow I have hope of
yo, , recovery."  To v horn Mr.  Dodd anfwered,
Vm Liuuk co urn fort me with  this, but  you make
n.  ucarc lad.  it  is  as  ii you fhould tell one who
he   een fore v. eather-beaten at fea. and conceiving
he w.ib now  arrived at the heaven where his foul 
             'Afflicted marft Co. up a Aon..       169

longed to be, that he mult go back  again  to  be
to heft with new winds and waves."
  He would often lay in his laft ficknefs,  "I  am
not afraid to look death in the  fine.  I  can fay,
Death v. here is thy iting? death cannot hurt me."
  He uihd to fay, "The knowledge of two tilings
wo aid make one willing to die, viz. What heaven is,
and  that it is mine."   "Yes, (faid one)  ifa man
were fure of that." To whom he anfwered, '-Truly
aiLdrance is to be had ; and what have  we been  do-
ing all this while?"
  oome others of the fayings of this holy man v .cm
fo pithy and remarkable, I cannot pafs them here.
  Once Mr. Dofd coming to viii.; a godly minifter
on his death bed, who was much opprelfed  with me-
ancholy, and  complained to him, faying,  "O Mr.
Dodd, what will you fay of him who is going out of
the world, and  can find no comfort?"  To whom
Mr.  Dodd  anfwered, "What will  you fay of  ou.r
Gavionr Chrift, who, when he was going out of the
world, found no comfort, but cried out, My God,
my  God, why haft thou forfaken rnc;-"  trie faid
of afflictions,  "they are God's portions, which  we
may fweeten by faith and  faithful prayer ; but we,
for the moft part, make them bitter, putting into
God's cup the evil inp-redients of our impatience  and
unbelief.—He called death the friend  of grace,
though it be the enemy of nature; for whereas  the
word, facraments, and prayer, do but weaken  fin,
death kills it."   He ufed to fry.  "A man  is never
in a  hard condition, unleid  he have a hard heart,
and  cannot pray,"  He inftrucceci Chriitians how
they ihould never have a great nor lafting  a!:action,
and that was by looking upon the things  that  are
not feen, which are eternal,  2 Cor. iv.  17, 18. For
what can be  great to him  that counts the world
nothing ? And what can be long to him, that ac-
counts his life but a fpan long ?—When  .he  faw a
Chriitian look fad, he would fay as jonadab did to
Amnon, "Art thou a king's fon, and lookelt fo ill?" 
*7°         Afflicted Ma.is Companion.

And when fuch complained to him  of their lofics
and croffes, he  would v.fe the  words of Lliphaz to
job, "Do the confolations of God feem iinall  unto
you ? God hath taken from you your children, your
goods, Sec. but he hath not taken from you himfelf,
his Chriit, nor his Spirit, nor  heaven, nor eternal
life."
   To  a friend of his that rofe from a mean to a great
eftate, he fent word, "That this was but as if he
ihould go out of a boat into a barge or ihip; but he
ought ferioufly to  remember, that whillt he was in
this world, he was but upon the floating fea."
   lie oft faid, "That if it were lawful  to envy any,
 he would envy thofe that turn to God in their youth,
 whereby thy efcape much fin  and forrow, and are
 like Jacob, that itoie the bleiiing betimes.  He ufed
 to compare reproofs given in a paifion, to fcalding po-
 tions, which the  patient could not take down: in
 reproofs we ihould labour for  meeknefs  of wifdom,
 ufing font words and hard arguments.
   Ho was a moft popular miniiter, but much perfe-
cuted.  Once he took a  journey to fee his father-in-
 law, Mr. Greenham, and to bemoan himfelf to hdn,
 upon  account of his croffes  and  hard uiage.   IV!r.
Greenham, having heard all he could fay, anfwered
 him thus: "Son, fon, when  affliction lieth heavy,
fin lieth  light."  Mr. Dodd  ufed oft to blefs God
for this fpeech, faying, "If Mr. Greenham had be-
moaned him as he exipected, he had done him much
hurt."  He  forgot not this faying  in his old age,
but made excellent uie of it for himfelf and others.
   14. Oecolampadftus, that famous  divine of Swit-
zerland,  when  lying on his  death-bed,  and  being
afked' Whether the light did not offend him? he an-
fwered,  pointing to his breait,  Hie fiat lueis, "Here
is abundance of light;" meaning  of comfort and
joy.   He afked one of his  friends, What news? His
friend anfwered, none.  Then, faith he, I will tell
you fome news; I  fhall prefently be with my Lord
Chriit. 
           Afflicted MuusCompanion.          171

  15. A certain golly man paifing through his laft
(ftdmefs with extraordinary calmuefs of cenfeienee,
baaing afked by fo no of his friends about it,  he aa-
iwerxd, that he had Itedfaidy fixed  his heart upon
that fweet promife, Ifa. xxvh 3.  " Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whofe inmd is ftaidon thee ; be-
caufe he truftcth in theed'   And my  God, faid he,
h:\di grac-loufly made it fully good unto my foul.
   if.  die.  3 lodert Bolton, mbiifter  at  Brougton,
well known by  his writings,  in the  time of his laft
ficknefs, which was long  and fharp, he often breath-
ed oat thefe words: "Oh, when will this giod hour
con-? when  fhall I be  diifolved? when ihall I be
with Chrift." Being told, that to  be  cliiTolveft  was
indeed better for him, yet it  would  better for the
clinch that he would ftay here ; he anfwered, "  If
I ihall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will
bring me  again, and llm .v me both it and his habita-
tion : but  if other wife, lo here  I am, let him do wm.c
idcuneth him good in his  eyes."  Being aided  by an-
other, if he could not be content to  lme, if it pleaf-
cd God?  he anfwered, " I grant that life is a great
bloding of God, neither will I neglect any means that
may prelbrvj it; and do heartily  fubmit to  God's
 will: but of the two, I infinitely ckhirc arrec to lm
diifolved  and to be with  Chrift."  He bade all  th m
c uneto fee him, make fine of Chrift before tftry cam::
to die ; and look upon the world now as a lump  of
vaiity.   He euco..raged the  minifters that came to
him, to be diligent and  courageous in .the work  of
td. .■ Lord, and not to  faint nor droop for any ailhc-
 tion that  Ihould arife the-vuyoi.
   W uea.  ho  found him 1'JIf very weak, he caned for
 his wife aud  children,    lift dedireu her  to bear  his
 diiloh.tion v Inch was near at  hand, with a Chrlfiiau
 fordtv.de, a tiling he had. been preparing tier  for by
the fp.u.o of twenty years ;  aud  bade her mtd.e  no
doubt but fim iliould meet hiiu again in heave. 1.   He
exhorted  his children to remember  thefe things ho
 h-mfrcupjendy told them before; ad-dinn, " That he
                    ___P 2 
 l7'2        Afflicted I\Pan's  Companion.

 horcd and believed, ih.at none of them durft  think
 to meet himat that dread tribunal in an unreaencrate
 ftate."
   Some of his parifh coming to watch v\ ith him, it
 was moved, that as by his doctrine he had difcovcred
 to  them the exceeding comforts that were in Chrift
 fo he would now tell them what he felt in his  own
 foi i. " Alas, faid he, do you look  for that  of me
 . o>v,  that wants  breath and ftrength to fpeak ? 1
 have told you enough in my  miniftry:  but yet to f;i-
 tisfy you, I am, by the wonderful mercies of God, as
 full of comfort as my heart can hold ;  and I feel
 nothing in my foul but Chrift, with whom I heartily
 defire to  be.  And obferving  fome  weeping, he
 looked to them and faid, " Oh, what a deal ado there
 is before one can die.",
   When the pangs of death  were upon h'nn, being
 told, that fome of his dear friends were about him,
 to take their laft farewell, he  caufed himfelf to be
 raided up in his  bed,  and after a few gafpings for
 breath, he faid, " I am now drawing on apace to
 my  diilbh don: hold out faith  and  patience,  your
 work will fpeedily be at an end." And then fhaking
 them -•' ;-y the hands, he prayed heard'y and particu-
 larly for them, and d.odr-rci  them to make fure of hea-
 ven, and to bear in mind what he had formerly told
 them in  his miniftry, ^protefting to them," that the
 doctrine  fie h.ul preached  to-them for the fere of
 twenty year: was tic trmh of God. as be iliould an-
 fwer jt at the trftm.al cf Chriii, fold re whom he
 ihm  Id fhortiy appear.
  V. hen he wusftrurg'mg with death, a  very  derr
friend taking him by the baud, ;dk<m him if he felt
r,0t much pain? " Tr ly no (fa'.d he) the gueacch I
ieel is y°l r eo'.d hand."
  ..-,.  .Mr. John  Lollard, a godly  indui'cr, con-
tinued fi»s' !Vi- pi"-ctice of expounding the impure
j-t ids  fondiy  to the laft;  and  tlie ody before  Iv,
d ath. -U'e <-Alcd for a Bible, and earning another to
read tlfo l^''~'L crIT)tcr ui Lou.ans, he difiouried up- 
        Afflidlcd Maids Corpral.a.            l^ff,

on it, verfe by verfe : but on a hidden he faid, " Oh
itay  your  reading ;  what briglitue.fi is this I  foe ;
have you lighted up any candle? A fancier by faid,
no, it is the fun-ihine (for it was about five  o'clock
in a  clear hummer's evening). "  Sun-dune, faid be,
nay,itis my Saviour's fun-ihine. Now fire well wo rid;
w clcome heaven ; the day-ftar from on  high  hath
vifited my  heart:  O fpeak it when I am gone,  and
preach  it  at my funeral: God dealech familiarly
with man: f feel his mercy, I fee his majefty, whe-
ther in the  body or out of the body,I cannot ted, God
he knoweth ; but I foe things that are tmutrmable."
And in this rapture he continued till he died,"
   18.1 knew not long ago, an eminently godly man
G. Ivi. that fell into  feveral fuch extraordinary rap-
tures iomethue before his  death, fuch as his bodily
ftrength and iplrit were not able to fupport under,
though he had no iicknefs.  Sometimes  he  was fo
fwallowed  up and overcome by the manifeftations of
Cot's love to his foul, that his words could not be
well  tmclorftood; his  natural  colour,  beat   and
ift'-. ygth, would  fo go off, that all  about him would
conclude him to be dying;  but when he was able to
get words uttered, they were fo heavenly and raviih-
ing concerning the love of Chrift, and freedom of
grace,  that by-ftanders could not hear  him without
w e pnig.   Sometimes mhfiiters,  when  they  came to
vide  hum, and found him  in thefe raptures, were forc-
ed to ti v\\ all their prayers in his behalf into praifes;
except fome  petitions they would put up to Gcd,
" That he  might gracioufly fpare and be tender of
his weak body, and  enable him  to bear that load of
loving-kindnefs,  Cod was pleafed to let out  to mm,
and  which his prefent  bodily ftrength was not feii-
ficlentfor." Yea, they would be put to  cry," Lord,
if it be thy  will.,  Imld thy hand, for he  is but a clay
vefiel;  this  new wine will burft the old  bottle ;  pre-
fer ve hi m in hie as a monument of the rich  grace of
God, for tne convidtion of Atheifts and carnal peo-
rie. and for the continuation of the faith cf the elfti- 
17 x        Affllel ed Mads Carpanlon.

fh-cn of Godd"—Sometimes be woill  cry in  abrnpt
orrriuons,  G angels! in. Ip me to praife hi:n !  O
finnts adnfre his love; and wonder at him.—Again,
O flames eft' lovel mr foul feedn Chrift 1 die hca\ ens
open 1 i fen nth-rone, and the Lamb in the midit of
tlie throne 1  O what  think  \e of Chriit? my foul
beadles, breathes towards him! my fpftit is cnhalcd
out of me bv th.c manifeftations cf God!"—lie ufed
frequently to fay with a heavenly ;Tir to his friends,
 O v.hat think yc cf Chriit?—When his ecfiacy did
 fomewhat abate, fo that he attained apleafimt calni-
 riefs of thought and freedom of fpeech, he would dif-
 coi rre of the myfteries of religion, the electing love
 of God, the freedom of grace, the unfcarelufbie rich-
 es cf Chrift, and the glorious contrivance of rccleuip-
 don through his death and facrifice; I fay he would
 talk of theie things more like an angel than a man.
 For itch was his heavenly elooueucc, fluency of
 v. ore's,  arc! facility of ipcaking upon thefe  fnbjuts
 (which otherwife was not natural to him) that thcib
 who came to fee him were exceedingly li.rj riled ;nd
 idiot lined to hear hdn.  His body gradually weak-
 cited under thefe  raptures of fpirit,  and he longed
 much to be oil' the  world,  becaufe  he thought lie
 could be fo little ui'efi.l in it fir advancing God's ho-
 nor,  fie reckoned  himfelf hound to improve the
 ihort time he wa: like to have here,  in commending
 Chriit and religion  to all that he had acct-fs to, and
 alio to admouim them of any thinp^ he knew  r.mifs
 in them, which be  did  moit  convincingly.   Ard
 having  occafion to fee fome  v. ho vilipended the el-
 tabliifed church, and the ordinance.-, and told them
 ;hat from his own fweet experience heccuh! fi.y.that
 God was to be found in them.—He itemed,  to have
 fin  wonderfully mortified;  for ho con:] lained of no
 other heart-plague but felf,  and it was his great ex-
 ercife to ret ielf  wholly fi.bck.ccl;  he  prided  it
 through many of  its winding1, a.d h rid ig places,
 and inter aft he would re- ret his fittie luce eft, a><,'o it
 :c.  Tor (fin!  lmN -u- ''
 humics, and adm 
         Affflldlcd Men's Comanphn.          175

deemcr, that fol do  enemy felf  will enter  in with
me, ancl o fir to pull the crown  oh his head before
my face."
   On.ee after healing a fermen  on Pfal. Ixruxv. 8.
"  I  will hear what God die Lord will fpeak," he
1 roke out in a rapturous difcourfe .0 ore that came
to fee him, bicifmg God  that he had fpoke to him in
that i'ernmn.  " And O  (faid he)  what am 1, that
the Rode or Ifrael iliould have fpoke to me thefe three
fermon-days bygone, alluring mc that all my fins are
forgiven! W nac am fo a vile worm, that he iuouLd
be  fo kind and coatiefcendmg, as to chfeover Chriit
and heaven in fuch a manner to me, and autre me
mat I drill Ihort by be with hum ! Ch I thought that I
had iinu-e 1 him  away from me, but i fee he  will not
b u • away!  C admirable free grace ! O help me to
pruumhun!"                            ^ v
   When death drew near, there  was fome alteration
in  his cafe, yet he never queitioned his intereft in
Chriit ;  but ml! audited, " I know he is my God
a id my Redeemer, audi will ilmrriy be with him."
And one when he was  ready to complain for want
of God's wonted mmuhhuioiis, he find, "• The Lord
knew his body  was now weak, and could not bear
what formerly he had met .with, yet (fide!  he)  glory
to his name, tie hath given me three blinks finite my
laft illncft began."
   19. .Or. Harris, head of Trinity- college in  Onford,
in Ins kdt ficknefs ufed to exhort all about him to get
fiuth above all tiling;. " It is (faid he) your victory,
your  peace, your life, voir croon, and  your chic foit
piece of fpiritual armour,  ilowkrit. get on  all other
piece;,, and go firth in the Lord's might:  Stand to
the fight, and the nine ihall be gforictm  Only forget
not to call  in the help  of your General.  Lfo all
from him and  under him."—Ca the  Lord's days
ho world nothave  any kegtiromthe ordinances upon
h>. account; a.. 1 v hen they returned from the fer-
mons, he would fay to  then,  k* Come, what have
...v, r-., ,.,«>»  A,,U  » :..... .-..-   -,  U11U ^c^.n: 0f 
           Afflicted Ma As Companion.         176

what they have heard, he would rcfium? the heads
thereof, and fay, "U what excellent truths are thefe!
Lay them up careful"y, for you  will have  need of
then."—Whenfrien Is came to vifit him, he would
f.y, " I cannot fueak, but I can hear." Lfoing aided,
where his comfort lay ?  lie anfwered, " Li Chriit,
and in the free grace  of Go.!."
   One  telling him, that he mipjht take much comfort
in his labours, and  the good he had done;  his an-
fwer  was," All is nothing without a Saviour, with-
out him my belt  works  would condemn me.  Oh,
I am afhamed of them, they are fo mixed with  fin.
I  have  done nothing for God as  I ouoht.—Oh
lofs of time fits very heavy upon my fpirit.   Word,
work  apace; aifure yourfelves  nothing  will more
trouble you when you come to die,  than that you
have done no more for God, who hath done fo much
for you.
    Sometimes he  ufed thus to breathe out himfelf,
I  never in all my life faw the worth of a Chriii, nor
 tailed the fweetnefs of God's love in  that meafure as
now I  do."—Being aiked by  minifters, what they
iliould chiefly requeit for 1dm ? he anfwered, "■ Do
not only pray for  me, but-praife God that  he fop-
ports me,  aud keeps oft* Satan from  me in my weak-
nefs ; beg that I. may hold out.  I am now  a good
way home, near the ihore, 1 leave you toiling on the
fea :  Oh, it  is a good time to dm in."
   In aft the  letter.wills which he made, he took care
this legacy  ihould ftill  be infertecl ; "• Item, I be-
cg.auun  to ail my children,  run! to  their children's
oiiM.lrcn, to  each of them a  Jilb'o, with this infirip-
tion,  Iftone but Chrift."   He ufed to dee, -k It is a
hard thing for a faint  to forgive himfelf fome faults,
when God hath forgiven them."
 _ 20. David Chitamms, when he lay a dying, lift up
his head from the piiiow to hear the difi-ourfo, of his
friends  that fat by him, and faid, kk  That he hmmd
die with the gremm comfort, if he mfoht die learn-
ing fome tin >6." 
          Afflicted Man's Companion.         177

   21. Mr. Cooper, when a-dyingfaid, " I faw not my
children when they were in the womb, yet there the
Lord fed them  without my  care or knowledge.  I
ihall not foe  them when I go out of the body, yet
ihall  they  not want a father."   Again, - death  is
fomewhat  driery, and the f'reams of that Jcrdon
between us and our Canaan run furioufly, but they
ftand ftill when the ark comes."
   22. The Reverend Mr. Halyburton, that fhinir.g
light in St.  Andrews,  when a-dying commended
Chriii and  godilnefs  with  great earneftuefs,  to all
that came to  fee him.  He exhorted his brethren
to diligence in the minif ry. " It was  the delight of
my heart (faid he) to  preach the gofple :  I defired to.
deer eafe, that the Bridegroom might increafe ;  and
to be nothing, that he might be aft.  I repent I did
not more for him.  O that I had the tongues of men
and angels, to praife  him!" When he was advifed
to lie quiet, he faid,  " Whereon  ihould  a man be-
ftow his laft breath, but in commending the Lord Je-
fus Chrift, God clothed in our nature,  dying for our
fins?"
   He can fed  read one  of Mr. Rutherfod's letters,
viz.  that to  Mr. John Mem, and  thereafter  faid,
"  That  is a book I would commend to you all, there
is more - practical religion in that letter, then in  a
book of a larger volume."
   He exhorted fome  minifters that came to fee  him
to  faithfulneis.  k-  As for the work- of the miniftry
(dud he) it was niy deliberate choice, were my days
lengthened out much more,  and days as  trouble-
ldme as  they are like  to be, I would rather dc a con-
temmd minlftor of God, thin the greateft prmce on
earth."—He  faid, when taking farevei oi ids wife,
children and  fir cants, " Here is a demonitration of
the reality of  rei g'.on, that I a poor, weak, timorous,
man,  as much afraid of death  as any,  am now ena-
bled, by the power of grace, co.nnofedly and with my
to  look  death in ihe  face  I dare look  it in  the iace
in  its moft ghaftiy ihape.  and  hope within a li.tie to 
J78         sifjlic.ea .Man's Lorapaaaon.

have the victory. I cannot but commend the Lord
Jefus.   As far "as  my  word  will  go, I  mult pro-
claim it, he is the belt mafter that ever I  faw." To
his fon who was a child,  he faid," If I had as many
fons as there are hairs in your head, I would  beitow
them all on God"—To'fome prefent he  faid, "  O
Sirs,  I dread mightily that a rational fort of religion
is coming in among us ;  I  mean by it,  a religion
that confiits in a bare attendance on outward duties
 and  ordinances, without the power  of  godlinefs;
 and thence people ihall  fall  into a way of ferving
 God, which is mere Delfm,  having no relation to
 Chrift Jefus and the  fpirit of God."—He exprefled
 his fears of a ftorm coming on  the  church of Scot-
 land; but he faid, " The day would break, aud the
 Lord would arife, and he hoped the church would be
 made a wonder, and the Lord  will  lay, Lo, this
 people have I  formed for myfelf;  he can make a
 nation to be born at  once." He  cried often with the
 fpoufe in  the fo.r.g, " When ihall the day break, and
 the ihadows fly away? Turn  my  beloved, and be
 thou as a roe, or a young hart on the mountains of
 Bether."
    He faid, " Shall I forget Zion? Nay, let my right
 hand forget her  cunning, if I prefer not Jeruialein
 to my chieieit joy.   O to have God reenrn'mg to
 this church, and his  vvork going on in the world ; if
 every drop of m  blood, every bit of my body, every
 hair of my  heed, were all men; then fhould all go
 to the fire  to have  this going on."—He find, " If
 I  would  fay, that I would fpeak  no more in the
 name of the Jvord, it would be  like a fire whhm  inc.
 I am calling you to fee a miracle, God is melting me
 down into corruption and daft, and yet  he  is  keen-
 ing me in a calm.—i could not believe that I would
 have born, and born cheerfully this real fo  long;
 this is a miricle, pain without pain ; and this is not
 a fancy of a man  difordered in his brain, but of one
 lying in foil  compofure.  O blefied be God,   that
 ever I v, as born.  I have a father and mother  and 
            Afflicted  Man's  Companion.       1-9

ten brethren and filters in heaven, and I ihall be the
eleventh. 1 ihall ihortly he at  that glory that I have
been long expecting.  Though I come not near Mr.
Shield's  glory, nor Mr. Anderfon's, yet I  will be
well enough if I win it.   Worthy is the lamb ^re-
ceive glory."
   ig.  Mr. Hugh Mackaill,  in his fpeech before his
do.uh, laith," I have  efteemed the loiemn  engage-
ments of this nation to the Lord, pregnant preiorm-
ances of that pronme,  Ifa. xliv. 5. where it is evident
that where church reformations come to any maturi-
ty, they arrive at this degree of faying, I am the
Lord's,  and fubferibing with the hand unto the
Lord.   So was it in the days of the reforming kings
of jndah, and after the reitoration from the captivi-
ty of Babylon  in the days of Nehemiah.  This fame
promife did the Lord jefus  make yea and amen to
us, when he redeemed us from fpiritual Jiabylon—
I glorify him,  that he  hath called me forth to buffer
fin his name pud ordinances, and the folemn en-
gagements  of the land  to  him.  Hereafter I  wdll
not talk with fieifc^and blood, nor think on the worlds
confoiatio.'s.   Fatswel all my  friends, whofe  com-
pany hathjieen reffeihful  to me  in my pilgrimage.
I have* done wid^l tjie light of the fun  and.moon.
Welcome elernal life,;^everlaiting love,  everlaiting
praife, everlaftirt^glory.  Praife to him that fits up-
on the throne  ainfcto the Lawfrforever."
  24.  The famoulMr. Duraam  being vifited by a
mini iter in his laft iicknefs, which was  long  and lin-
gering, who faid to'1 him,  fir, I,iiope you have fo fet
all in  order, that  you have nothing elfe to do but
die. "  I blefs  God (faid Mr.  Durham) I have not
had that to d& neither thefe many years.
  25. fvir. Rowland Nevet,  his dying prayer for his
children  was that the  Mediator's bleiiing might be
the portion of every one of thenu  Adding to them,
I  charge you all, fee to it, that you meet me on the
right hand  of  Chriit at the great day.   When he
was fometimes much fpent with his labours he would 
i To         Afflicted MaAs Company.

appeal to God, that though he might bo wearied in
lrn iervice,  he would never be weary ol it.   Being
oft thftempered in hit body, he would fay,  he was
never better ih.m in  the pulpit, and that u was the
heft place that he could wiih to die in.
   26. Mr.  ih'dip Henry, when  a-d dug. his pains
were very ihe.rp, he find to hd. neighbours who came
to fee him, O make fire work for yovr fouls  by gen
 ting an increft in Chriit, whfte you are in health ; for
 if I had that  work to i.o no-.v, what would come of
 me.  A little before his foil illuefs  he wrote to a rev-
 erend brodier, "Metlunks it is ftrange, that it (i;cudd
 be your lot and mine to abide fo long on earth by the
 ftulf,  when fo many of our friends are dividing the
 fyoil  above ; but God  will  have it fo;  and to be
 willing to live in obedience to his holy will, h as trie
 an act of grace as to be willing to  die when he calls."
 One aiking him  how he did, he  anfwered, " I find
 the  chips#y of apace, the tree will be down ikortly."
 He  was fometimes taken with  fainting fits, which
 when he recovered from, he would fey, " Lying is
 but  a little  more."  Once he fa'uiafter  recovery,
 " Well I thought I  had been putftjlg into  tfie har-
 bour,  but  I  find I muft yet  to i|2 again." •
   £7.  Mr. Matthew Henry, hjsTdeath fwas fome.
 what fudden, he faid a little bej|re it, to]fium about
 him, " You have be ufed tcC take^flrkiee of the fay-
 ings of dying men ;  this is iriijjj^", That  a life  fpent
 in the  fervice  of God",'Jnd ccfmmfnion with him,  is
 the  moft comfortabgjnid  pleaijnt  life that any
 one can live in this wH*ld."   ^
   89.  Holy and  learnpti i/lin^RflEherford, a little be-
 fore  his death, let avvVitten^tgitimomy to our cove-
 nanted work of r$j^Sarion ;'. and therein he proves
 the  wuna, cablenel?  of  nations  entering into  cove-
 nant with God uriftef the New Teftameut times, and
 fhevs, that this  practice  is the  accoinpliihnient   of
 fevered Old- i eitanient  prophefics, fuch as Jer. 1.  4.
 5. lid., ii.  3. Zech.   viii. ii. Ifa. xix. 23,  24, in.
 which  refine  to  gofpel   ri:ne=.   And when he was 
             Aflllcl:TdJa;ds Companion.         x8i

 cf. fog, he fent feveral melTages to the prefbyt :ry  of
 St. Andrews,  defiring   them  to adhere  to God's
v^aufo and covenant.—In his  ficknefs he  oft broke
 out in u-crod raptures, extolling  and commending
 the  Lord Jeftis,  whom  lie often  called his bleffed
 Mailer, his  kingly hang.   When his death  drew
 near, he laid, I ihall ihine, I ihall fee him  as he is, 1
 ihall fee him reign, and  all his fair  company with
 him, and I (hall have  iny large iliarc: my eyes fhall
 fee my Redeemer, thefe very eyes of mine, and no
 other for inc."—When euhordng one to be diligent
 in feeking God, he laid,  *■• It is no eafy thing to be a
 Chriftian ;  but for me, I have gotton the  victory, •  -^
 and Chrift is holding  out both  his arms  to embrace
 me."—He  was  wonderfully  ftrengthened againit "^
 the fears of fuffering ahd of death, "  For," fays he,
 " I fiiid to the Lord,  if he flio- hi flay me  five thou-
 fand times,  I  would  truft  in  h .i; and I  fpoke  it
 with much  trembling, fearing I ihould  not make
 my  heart good.  But as really as ever he fpoke  to
 me by his Spirit, he  vfttneffed unto my hear{,  that
 his grace ihould be fiftdedent for me."—He faid  to
 fome minifters  that _camc to  fee him, "  My Lord
 and Mailer is the"ciuef of ten thoufand of thoufands
 none is comparable to him in heaven or  in earth.
 Dear brethren, do all for him, pray for  Chrift
 preach for Chriit, feed the flock committed to  your
 charge for  Chrift; viiit and   catechiffe for Chrift;
 do ail for Chrift, and'beware of man-pleafing. Feed.
 the fleck out of love,  the chief ihcuherd will appear
 fhortly."----Once when he recovered from a faint-
 ing fit he find, " I feel, I feel, I believe,  I enjoy, I
 rejoice,  I fee/1 on manna."—As he took  a little
 wine in a fpoon, Mr.  Robert Buirfaid to  him, You
 feed on the dainties of heaven, and think nothing of
 our cordials  on earth.  He anfwered they are all
 but dung, yet they are Chrift's creatures,  and in o-
 bedience to his command, I  take them.—After dome
 difcourfe Mr. Blair faid to him, What  think you now
.of Chrift? to which he replied, I ihall live and a-
                       a 
   18 i        AffliAed Man's Cc mpanion.

   dore him; glory,  glory, to my Creator, and to myft
   Redeemer forever.  Glory iliines  in  Emmanuel's
   land.—Afterwards he faid,  O that my brethren did
   know what a Mafter I have forved, and what peace
   I  have this day!  I fhall fleep in Chrift, and when   \
   I  awake I ihall be finished with his likenefs." Then
   he faid this night ihall clofe the door,  and put iny
   anchor within the veil; I  ihall go away in a ileep
   by  five o'clock  in  the  morning:"  which  exactly
   fell out.  That  night,  though he  was very weak.
   he oft had this exprellion,  O for arms to embrace
   him 1  O for  a well tuned harp!
      When fome fpoke to him of his former painfuinefs
   and  faithfulnefs  in the work of God ;  he  faid, " I
^  difclaim all  that; the port I  would be  in at,  is re-
   demption and forgivenefsof iins through his blood."
   His lait words  were, " Glory, glory dvvelleth  in
   Emmanuel's land."
      29. Hugh Kennedy, provoftof Ayr, when he was
   a dying, a miniiter faid to him, You have caufe, Sir,
   to be allured that the angles of God are now wait-
   ing at the ftoups of this bed to  convey your foul to   I
   Abraham's bofom:  to  whom his anfwer  was, " I
   am fore thereof: and if the walls of this houfe could
   fpeak, they could tell how many fweet days I have
   had in  fellowfhip with  God, and how familiar he
   hath been with my foul."— He was one of the great-
   eft wreitlers with God that was in the age  w herein
   he lived, and had moft remarkable returns of prayer^   \
   The great Mr. Welch, in a letter from France, laid
   to hiw," Happy is  that city,  yea, happy is that na-
   tion,  that hath a Hugh  Kennedy in it; 1 have my-   ]
   felf certainly found  the anfwers of his prayers from
   the Lord iii my behalf."
      30. The great Mr. Robert Bruce, minifter of Fdn-
   burgh,  when dying through  weaknefs and old age,
   being afked  by one of his friends, How matters flood  I
   now betwixt God and his foul? anfwered, "  \\ hen  ™
   I was young, I was diligent, and lived by faith on the   i
   Son of God ,• but now I am old, ytnd not able to da   j 
            AjpiiCtea .Mans companion.        183

fo much; yet he condefcends to feed me with lumps
of fenfe-"   That morning before he died, he came
to breakfaft at Instable, and having eat, as he ufed,
one iingle  egg; he faid to his daughter, I think I
am yet hungry, you may bring me another.  But
prefently he fell into a dren m.ditation ; andhaving
nu 'Ad a while, he faid, " Held, daughter, hold, my
Mr iter  calls  me."   With thefe words  his  fight
failed him. whereupon he called for the Bible; but
finding his light gone, he faid, " Caft me up the
eighth chapter of the epiftle to the Romans, and fet
my finger  on  thefe words, "I am perfuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, &c. fliall be able
to feparate me from  the love of God, which is in
Chriit Jefus my Lord."   Now, faith he, is my fin-
ger npon them? they told him it was.  Then, with-
out any more, he faid. "Now God be with you, my
children,  I have breakfafted with you, and Ihall fop
with  my Lord Jefus Chrift this night." And fo gave
up the ghoft.
   ?i. John Stewart, provoft of Ayr, was a  fingu.
larly  pious man; yet when he lay a-dyfiig, he faid
to fome about him,  "I  go the way of all fieih, and
it may be fone  of you doubt nothing of my  well-
being: yea, I teftify, that except when I  fiept, or
was on bnfinefs. I was not thefe ten years without
thoughts of God, fo long as  I   could be  in  going
fro :i  my houfe to the ami's;  and yet I doubt myieil,
and am in great agony, yea, at the brink of d'u'p.dr."
But a day or two before he died, he turned his face
to the wall from company for two hours.  Then Mr.
f'ergufon the mufifter coming in, aiked what he was
a-domg ? upon v hich he turned  himfelf, with thefe
womb, "I have been lighting and working out urn/'
falvation with fear and trembling;  and now I blefs
Cod,  it is perfected?  foaled, confirmed, and all fears
are gone."
  32. Luther,' wh.cn he fell fick. made his will, in
which he bequeathed his deteftation of Popery to his
Q.2 
 !i4         sijjiiLicu Claris (..ompanim.

 fi amd:;.. and to the pallors of the cd. i\h, b.aving be-
 fore m.fte this verfe,
     leftist eram vivus, moriens ero mors tau, Ta>a.
   In hk laft will, he faith,  kkO Lord God,  I  thank
 thee that thou w ouldii have me live a poor and indi-
 gent perfon upon earth.   I  have neither houfe  nor
 lands, nor  tuheifions, nor money, to lea\e.  Thou
 Lord, haft given me wife and children ; them,  Lord^
 I give back unto thee.   No.rlfh, infomct, and keep
 therm  ^ O  thou the  Lather  of orphans,  and judge of
 the widow 3, as thou, haft done to me fo clo to* them "
   In his lait vruyer. Feb. iffth,  r546 he hath thefe
 word::  "I  p.n,y  God to  prcferve his  gofpel anions
 us; for the Pope, and  the  Council of Trent,  have
 p-ievous things in hand.  O heavenly father, I give
 unto thanks that tl*Du haft revealed to me thy i'on Je-
 ius Chrift, whom I  believe, whom I profcfs, whom I
 glorify, and w horn the Pope and the root of the  w ick-
 cd pendente and diihonour."   Mr. Fox faith of Lu-
 ther, "That  a poor friar ihould be able to hand a-
 gainit the Pope  was a great miracle;  that he mould
 prevail againft the Pope was a  greater;  and afte all
 to die in peace,  having fo many enemies, was the
 greateft or all."
   33-  J'-1*- Jofeph Allein, a moft painful, laborious
 miidfter, being deprived of the ufe of his arms and
 fogs before hisdm.rh, was afked by a friend, how he
 could be i'o  v tdi  contented to lie lo long in that con-
 ddlon?  foe anfwered, "Vfhu! is God my Father,
 Jems Chrift my  Saviour, and the Holy dp'uft  my
 uanctificr and Co nfortcr ; and ihall I  not be contenf
 whkour  hmbs  mid health? He is an. imreafonab.'e
 wretch that cannot be content with a God, tho.  i kke
 ha 1 nothing elfe."
  "When his people of Taunton came  to Dorchcficr
 to lee lum, where he lay; he was much revived, ami
 would he hd up in g,e j,,^ ,]ave ^ ci;rt.ims tlravui
 by, and  defined them to ilaud  round-about  d.cbed;
amlcaufodtotake out his hand, and  Imld  it out to
tnem, tiiat .uey mfthttakc it,  as he nfod nrnierlyto 
             Afflicted Man's  Companion.       185

 do, when he had been abfent from them.   And tho'
 very weak, yet he fpake to them thus, "  O how it
 rejoiceth my  heart to fee your  faces, and to hear
 your voices, though I cannot fpeak as heretofore un-
 to you.  Methinks, I am now like old Jacob, with
 all his fons about him.  Now you fee my weak  ef-
 tate ; thus I have been for many we&ks fince I part-
 ed with  vou, but God hath  been  with ine.  My
 itiends. life is mine; death Is mine ; in that covenant
 of which I preached to yon, is all my falvation,and
 ;.d my  defire: although my body do not profper, I
 hope through grace my  foul doth.   1 have lived a
 iwec t life  by the promifes, and hope through grace
 Can die  by a j romife.   It is the promifes of God that
 will ftand by is.   Nothing but Cod  in them will
 ftand us in a day of affliction.   Mv dear friends, I
 feel  the power of thefe doctrines 1 preached to you
 on iny heart, the doctrines of faith, of repentance, of
 felf denial, of the covenant of grace, of contentment,
 ike. C that you would live them over, now I cannot
 preach  theui to you !  It is a limine for a believer  to
 be caitdov.n under  afflictions, that  hath  fo many
 glories privileges, juftification, adoption, fanctifica-
 tion,and eternal  glory.  We  fhall be as the angels
 of God in a little  while;  nay  to fay the truth, be-
 liever, are, as it were, little angels already, that live
 in the power of faith.  O my friends, live like be-
 lievers,  trample this dirty  world under your  feet;
 be not taken with its  comforts, nor difquieteel with
 its crofles, you will begone out of it fhortly."
   When they came to take leave  of him, he would
 needs pray  with  them as his  weak ftate  did  fuller
 him.   Than he faid,  " Farewel, my  dear friends ;
 go home and live over what I have preached to you
 and the Lord provide for you when 1 am p-onc.  Nov/
 I cannot preach to you, but let my waited ftrencth
 and uftlei's limbs, be a iermoo to yon. I am afraid of
 fome of you, after all I have fpoken to you. Tl'^cre are
many profe.fors who  can oray well,  and tajk  well
 whom we fhall find at the left hard of Chrift'another 
 1*6         Afflicted  Man's  Ccmpauivu.

 day.  You have your trades, your estates, your rela-
 tions ; be not tid.cn with thef-, but  with God; O
 live on hi n. For the Lord's fake, go  home and take    ,
 heed  of the world, worldly cares, worldly comfort-,,
  worldly relations, cm. Oil ! let not my labours aud
 fifth rings, let not my wailed ftrength and  ufileis
  links, rife up in fodgmcu t againit you  at die great
  day o'i  die Lord."  Then he faid, ^  The Lord hav-
  ing <nven uuchoritv to his.miniiters to blefi his people,
  accordingly I Id els you in his name," (tiling the    '
*  words he always ufed after facraments) " The Lord
  blefs you and keep you, the Lord caufe his face to
-  fume vpon you, and give you peace.  And the Ccd
  of peace, that brought again from the dead, our
   Lord Jeftis, that great ddnuhcrd of the iheep, thro'
   the blood of the everlafting covenant, make you per-
   fect  in every good work to do his will, working in
   you that which is w ml pieafing in his fight, through
   lefus Chriii; to whom be glory  for ever and ever.
   Amen."
     In the mornings,his firft fpeeches v/ould be (width
   he alfo ufed in his he-.dth) " Now we have one day    j
   more;  thL is one more for  God;  now let  us live    I
   well this clay, work hard for our fouls, lay up much,    |
   treafure in heaven this day, for we have but a hw
   to live."
     fiomg taken to the Bath, where he met with e. -
   trr.ordinary  kindnefs from {hangers, for many rc-
   forteft to him, to fee him, and hear himlpcak, hav-
   ing heard  what a monument of mercy he was :  he
   did  delight hbuftlf much in the confidemaon it" the
   Lord's kindnefs to hi ■!!; and the tokens of ft rangers
   thcil fove, ami v/ould often fay,  " I was a ftranger,   |'
   and mercy took  me  in;  in prifon, and it came to
   me; fick and weak, aud it  vifited mc."  N. B. lie    j
   had been  much  perfecuted, and put in prifon,  for  j
   no o.her crime Out preaching the,gofpel.            M
     He had a molt pious and affectionate wife, that  ■
   waited c^ofo'y upon  hi nr to whonihe find, " Now,  J
   my dt tf hBjirt, my  companion' in all  my  tribida-   1
   Corns add  anjictiorjs, Ivrbu.uk, dire for all thv n.-f-is   A 
          A'fliAed Man's Companion.        i87

and. labors for me at home and abroad, in prifon and
liber: y, in health and  iicknefs."   And  he  prayed,
tin; the Lord would raor.ite her, fill her wdth  ail
manner of grate and comoiatiom,  and fupport and
carry her through all diificidtic-s.
  He had  fome co.dlidts wdth bat an a little before
his  death:  once he uttme 1  thefe words,  " Awav,
thou vile  fiend, thou enemy  of all mankind,  thou
fiibtle lbyhifter, art thoa now come to moleft  me ?
Kow l am juft going !  Now I am  fo weak and
death upon me 1  Trouble  me-not, i'or I am none
of th'u.e 1  I am the Lord's ; Chrift is mme,  and I
am  ills, his by covenant;  i  have  fworn myfelf to
be  the  Lord'-:, and his I  will  le:  therefore  be
gone."  Tncfo lait words  he  repeated  often,  as
pleading his covenanting with Gcd, as  a mean  to
iodic the devil and his temptations.  When he look-
ed  on  his  weak  confomed hands, he  would ft: /
u Thefe lhaii be  changed:  this vile  body fhall  be
made like  to  Chrift's  glorious body.   O  what  a
glorious day w ill the day of  ren.rrection be !  Me-
thinks I fee it by  faith; how well the  fa hits lift up
their head;,, and rejoice ! and how fadly will the
wicked world look then ! O come let t s make hade
our Lord  will conic ih.ortly !  If we lo lg to be  in
lna\ei, let us haften  with,  mr  work: for when
ihat is doue,r.w.iy we ihall  be fetched.  O this vain,
foofoh,  dirty  world J  l wonder  how  reafon able
cre.urues etui io doat upon  it I  What  is  in it worth
the looking after I I care not to be in it longer than
while my  i\Lifter hath  either doing or -fidierinn-
work ior me: wume that done, fare wed to earth."
  This eminent faint had this leftmmuy given him
by o. e; It may be laid of him, in as fo«h a dejree
as of moit hunts on earth, chat each thought was  to
him a prayer, each  pmycr  a fong,  each da; a  Sab-
I :nh, each meal  a  hurameit, and fo his"  life on
tun th a foretafte of that eternal repait, to which he
hath now urriv el. 
188         Afflicted Man's  Companion.

  34. The noble Marquis of Argyll, -being  a zeal-
ous friend of our covenanted reformation, was put
to death May  27th 1661.  His  friends contrived
methods for his making his efcape out of  the caftle
of  Edinburgh; but  he  thanked them,  and told
them, he would not difown the good  caufe he  had
fo publicly  efpoufed, but rcfolved to  buffer  the ut-
moit.   W hen the fentence of death was  patted by
 the  parliament on  Saturday May 25th, he  faid,
 " I had the honor to fet the  crown upon the king's
 head, and now he haitens me to a better crown than
 his own."  Then he was fent to the  tolbooth.  His
 excellent  lady embracing  him  when  he entered
 wept bitterly, faying,  feveral times, " The Lord
 will  require it."   Not  any  in the room could re-
 frain from tears;  but the Marquis himfelf was per-
 fectly compofed, and faid, "Forbear, forbear; tru-
 ly I  pity them they know  not  what they are  do-
 ing : they may fliut me in .where they pleafe, but
 they cannot fhut out God from me.  For my part,
 I am as content to be here  as in the  caftle, and as
 content in  the caftle  as in  the tower of  London,"
 (where he was fir ft put) " and as content there as
 when at liberty :  and I hope to  be as content upon
 the  fcaftbld as any of them all."—He added,  that
 he remembered a fcripture cited  lately to him by an
 honeft miniiter in the caftle, and endeavoured to put
 it in practice,  when  Ziglag  was taken and burnt,
 and  the  people fpoke of honing David,  "  He en-
 couraged himfelf in the Lord  his  God."  All  his
 ihort time, till Monday, he fpent with  the greateft
 ferenity and  cheerfulnefs, and in the proper exer-
 cifes of a  dying Chriitian.   lie faid  to foine minif-
 ters, allowed  to  be with him in the  priion,  that
 Ihordy they would envy  him who  was got before
 them.—And  aided,  " Mind what I tell you, my
 fkill  fails me, if you who are minifters  will not ei-
 ther fuffer much, or fin much: for though you go
 along with thefe men in part, if you do it not in
 all things, you are but where you  where, and fo muft 
             Afflicted Man's Companion.         189

 fiu'cr •  and if you go not at all in with them, ycu
 ihall but fidier."                  ,
    Ihe  M.rcpds was natural Iv timoroer, but he de-
  iced  thofe about bun  to obfon e, as he could not
 hut do. that the Lord had  heard his pravers  and
 removed  all foar  from   him.   And  hi deed Ids
 finends work was to reftrahi and qualify his fervent
 longings after his diflbludon, and not to  fupport
 him  under the  near views of it.  The Lord \vas
 exceeding kind to him at thft time: for upon Mon-
 day-morning, that day he fuffered, when he was in
 the midft of company, and thronged with fubfiribing
 papers relating- to his eftate, he was fo overcome
 with  a  lingular  mamfeitation from God,  that he
 broke out in a rapture, and faid, " I thought to have
 concealed the Lord's goodncfs, but it will not do ;
 I am now ordering my aft'airs, and God is  fealiim-
 my  charter  to a  bsttrr inheritance,  and juft now
 laying to me, dm, be of good cheer, thy fins are for-
 given thee."   After  he had retired foinetime alone,
 when he opened  the door, Mr.  IIatchefon, one cf
 the minifters that attended him,  faid to hum' What
 cheer, my lord r\ he anfwered, " Good cucer, Sir
 the Lord  hath  again confirmed and find  to me,
 from ded-een,  Sou, be of good cheer, thyfi.es are for-
given  thjed'  And he guided out in abundance of
 tears of joy, fo that he retired to the windows, aud
 wept there.  Afterwards  he faid in a perfect rao-
 ture to Mr. Hi tehefon, -k I think his kindnefs ovcr-
 com..-, me :  but God  is  good to  me,  and lets not
 out too much of ft here,  for  he knows I could net
bear it ;  ge: my douk and let us go."  But being
told that  tiie town-dock was kept buck, fo that the
hour was not yet come:  he anfwered, '"■ They are
far in the wrong;"  and  prefenriy kneeled  down
audi prayed before all prefont, in a moft fweet and
heavenly manner, to the  refrediments of ail that
were prefont.
  When he was going out to the fcaffold, he  fiid, I
cotdd die like a iiomau,but I cheofc raditr  to die. 
lyo         Afflicted d\Ian s Companion.

as a chriitian.   Come away, gentlemen,he that goes
firit,  goes  cleanlieit."—When  going  down,  he
called Mr.  James  Guthrie  to him, and embracing
him in the  moft endearing way, took his farewell of
him,  Mr. Guthrie, at parting,  addreffed the Mar-
quis thus, " My lord, God hath been with you, he
is with you, and God will  be with you ; and fuch
is my refpedtfor your lordihip, that if I were not un-
der the fentence of death myfelf, I could cheerfully
die  for  your lordihip."   So  they parted for  a
fliort feafon,  in two or three days to meet in a bet-
ter place.
   The Marquis,  in his fpeech on the fcaffold hath
thefe words,   "  God hath laid engagements upon
Scotland ;  we are tied  by covenant to religion and
reformation.   Thofe that were then unborn are en-
gaged to it, and it paifeth the power of any under
heaven to abfoive a man from the oath of God."
   35. Mr, John  Vv elih, ininiiter of the gofpel at
Ayr,  whom  Mr. Rutherford (in his preface to his
furyey of Antinomianifm) calls  that apoftolic hea-
venly and  prophetical man  of God :  and there  tells
is, that he had it from thofe who were witneffes of
his life,  that  of every  twenty-four hours he gave
ufiudly  eight  to prater, and  that  he fpent many
nights in prayer to Goit, intcn eding  for fullering
Proteftants abroad, as well as for his  niother-chureh
This holy  man,  when prifoncr in the  caftle of
Blackncfs,  and in the view of death  (being  con-
demned to it  for maintaining  the liberties of this
church,though afterwards the  fentence was chang-
ed into banifhment) in a letter to his Chriitian lady
hath  thefe words:
   " I long to eat of that tree wdiich is  planted in
the midit of the paradife  of God,  and to drink of
the pure river clear as cryftai that runs througii
the itrcet of the I\Tcwr Jerufidem.   I long to be re-
freihed with the fouls of them that are under  the
altar, who were  (lain for the  word of God, and
the  tcftimony that  they  heid;  and to have  thefe 
Afflicted Man's Companion.        191
long  white robes given  me, that I may walk in
white raiment with thefe glorious faints,  who have
waihed their garments, and made them white in the
blood of  the  Lamb.  Why iliould  I  thmk  L a
ftrange thing to be removed from this plate, to that
where my, hope, my joy, my  crown,  my  eider
Brother, my Head, my Father^- my comforter, and
all the glorious faints, are and where the long of Mo-
les and the Lamb is fung joyfully ;  where wc  ihall
not be compelled to fit by the rivers of Babylon, and
hang up our harps on the willow-trees, but ihall take
them up,and iing the new hallelujah, Bieding,honor,
glory, and power, to him that fits upon the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever? What is there
under the old vault of the  tmavens,  and in this old-
worn earth, which is groaning under the bondage of
corruption, that  fhould make me defire  to remain
here ? I  expedt that new  heaven and new  earth,
wherein righteoufnefs dwelleth, wherein I fhall reft
for evermore. I fook to get entry to the New Jerufa-
lem at one of the twelve gates, whereupon are  writ-
ten the names of the twelve tribes of Ifrael. I know
that  Jefus Chriit hath prepared them for me.  Why
may I not then, with boldnefs in his blood, ftep into
that glory, where my head and Lord hath gone be-
fore ine? Jefus Chriitis the door and the porter; who
then  ihall hold me out.  O thou faireit among the
children of men,  the delight of mankind, the light
of the Gentiles, the glory of the Jews, the life of the
dead, the joy of angels and faints, my foul panteth
to be with thee.   I refufe not to die w ith thee, that
I may live with  thee ;  I refufe not to fuffer with
thee, that I may rejoice with thee.   O when fhall
I be filled with his love ! Surely if a man knew how
precious it is,  he would count  all things but drofs
and dung to gain it.   I long for that fcaifold, or
that  ax, or that cord, that might be  to me that laft
Itep of this my wearifome journey, to go to thee,
my Lord.  Who am I, that he fhould firft  have call-
ed me, and then conftfttute me a minifter of the glad 
192         Afflicted Man's  Companion.

tidings of the gofpel of falvation thefe many years,
and no»v laft of'uii to be a finhdrcr for thy caule and
kingdom ? Thefo two point?, ift, That Chriit is ih.e
head of the  church: -idly.  Tint Hie is free in her
government from another jurbVlct'oe, except Chrift;
yea, as free as any kingdom under heaven, not only
to convocate, hold, and  keep iter meetings and af-
femblies, bm alfo to judge of all her aiihirs amongit
her  members and  fubjects;  thefo  are the caufe of
our  bufferings.   I would be moft glad to-be otic red
up as a faciuuce for fo glorious  a truth : but, alas J
I fear that  my  11ns,  and the abufe of  fo  glorious
thingsasl have fo md,deprive me of fo fair a crown :
Yet my Lord doth  know, if he would call me to it,
and iirengihen  me  init.it would be to me the moft
 glorious day, and gladeit' hour I ever faw in my life;
but I am iii his hands, to do with  me  whadoevcr
 ihall pleafe  him.
   This eminent faint fpent much of his time in the
mount of-prayer and wr,eftlmg with God; was ad-
mitted to very intimate uearutfis with him,  and had
many foeret things  revealed to him from God.  He
ufed to fay.  "  He  wondered how a Chriitian could
lie in bed all night, without riling to fpend fome of
die night in  pra) er and praife."
   In hi* laft iiluefs  he had.a great weaknefs in his
knees, caufed by his  continual kneeling  at prayer,
the ileih thereof became  infeniible,  and hard like  a
fort of horn  : but when in his weaknefs he was de-
fired to remit fome what of his former painfulnefs, his
anfwer was, "  He had his life of  God, and there-
fore  it ihould be fpent for him."  During his fick-
nefs  he was fo filled with the fenfible enjoyment of
God. that he was fometenes overheard in praoer to
haw;  thefe words ;  -w Lord, hold thy hand, it is e-
ncu gh. thy fervant is  a clay veffol, and can hold no
more."
  30. Mr. Chriftopher Loye, minifter of Laurence-
Jury in L,o;:.:on, who Win- beheaded on Tower-hill,
Auguii 22, 1651 an time  of Cromwell's uforpation, 
             Afflicted Man's Companion          193

 and for fufpected plotting  againft his government;
 his words  on the fcaifoid  were  moft pathetic  and
 .weighty.—"Although, laid he,  there be but little
 between me and death; yet this bears up my heart,
 .there is bat little between me and heaven.  It com-
 forted Dr.  Taylor the martyr, when he was going to
 execution, that there were but two ftiles between him
 and his Father's houfe: there is a leiTer way between
 me and my Father's houfe, but two fteps between me
 and glory.  It is but lying down upon that block,
 and I ihall afcend upon a throne.   I am this  day
 failing  towards the ocean of  eternity, through  a
 rough paifage, to my haven of reft, througii a red fea
 to the pro mi fed laud.   Methinks I hear God fry to
 me, as he did to Mofes, Go up to mount Nebo,  and
 die there;  fo to me, Go up to  Tower-hill, and die
 their.   Ifaac faid of himfelf, that he was  old,  and
 yet he knew not the day  of his death: but I connot
 fay fo.  I  am young, and  yet I  know the day of my
 death; and I know the kind of my death, and  the
 place of my death alfo.  I  am put to fuch a kind of
'death, as two famous preachers of the gofpel were
 put to before me;  John the Baptift,  and Paul
 the apoftle, thy were  both beheaded.  I read  alfo
 in Rev. xx. 4.  The faints were beheaded for the word
 of God, and teflimony of Jefus.  But herein is the diff-
 advantage  which I lie under in  the thoughts of  ma-
 ny; they judge, that I fuffer not for the word of
 God. or for confcience, but for meddling with ftate,
 matters.  To this I fhall  briefly fay, that it is an
 old trick of Satan, to impute the caufe of God's peo-
 ples bufferings, to be contrivements againft the ftate-
 when in truth, it is their religion and confcience they
 are perfecuted for.  The rulers of Ifrael would have
 put Jeremiah to death upon a civil account, though
 indeed it  was only the truth of his prophefy that
 made the rulers angry with  him: and yet upon  a
 civil account, they pretend he  muft die, becaufe he
 fell away tothechaldeans,  and would have brought
 in foreign  forces to invade them.  The fame thing 
 194        -afflicted IMuns Lompamvu

 is laid to my charge, of which I am as  innocent  as
 Jerimiah was.   So Paul, though he did but preach
 Jefus  Chriit, yet his enemies would have had him
 put to death, under pretence that he was a mover of
 fedition.  Upon a civil account, my life  is pretended
 to be  taken away; whereas it is, beeaufe I purfue
 my covenant, and will not proftitute my principles
 and confcience to the ambition and  lufts of men.   I
 had rather  die a covenant.keeper, than live a cove-
 nant breaker.   Beloved, I am this day  making  a
 double exchange:  I  am  changing  a  pulpit  for  a
 fcaffold, and a fcaffold for a throne;  and I might
 add athird,  I am changeing the prefence of this nu-
 merous multitude on Tower.hill, for the innumera-
 ble company of faints and angels in heaven, the holy
 hill of Zion ; and I am  changing  a guard of foldiers
 for a guard of angels, which will  receive me and
 carry me to Abraham's  dofom.  This fcaffold is the
 belt pulpit that ever I preached  in ; in  my church-
 pulpit, God through his grace made me an inftru-
 ment  to bring others to heaven, "fout in this pulpit
 he will bring me to heaven."  Afterwards he faid, *
 ,,Thoughmy bloodbenot the blood of the nobles, yet
 it is Chriitian blood, miniiter's blood yea mote, it is
 alfo innocent blood.  I  magnify the  riches of God's
 mercy and grace tov/ards me, that I who was bornin
 Wales, anobfeure country, and of obfeure parents,
 fhould be tingled out to honorable  fuffering.  For
 the firit fourteen years of my life I never heard a i'er-
 mon preached; yet in the fifteenth year of my life,
 it pleafed  God  to convert me.  Bleiied be  God,
 wno not only made me a Chriitian,  but alfo a mini-
 rter, judgeing me faithful and putting  me into the
 miniftry,  which is my  glory.  I had  rather be a
 preacher in  the pulpit then a prince upon a throne;
 I had rather be an inftrument  to bring fouls to hea-
 ven, than that all  nations iliould bring tribute to me.
Formerly  (faid he) I have been under a fpirit of
bondage ;  yea, fometimes I have had more fear in
drawing out a tooth, than now I have for cutting off 
             Afflicted Man's-drapanion.        105

my head.  When fear was upon me, death was not
near;  now  death is  near  me,  my  fear is  eyan-
ilhed.   I am comforted in this, though men kill^ne
they cannot  damn me; though they thruit me out
of the  world, yet the  cannot hunt me out of heaven.
When I have fhed my blood I  expect the full decla-
ration of the remilfion of iins through the blood  of
Jefus Chrift.   I am going to my long home, and
ye to your fliort homes; but I ihall  be at my home
before ye  be at yours."  He  prayed, that   feeing
"  he was called to do the work which he never did,
he mio-ht have the ftrength wdiich he never had."

       Dr. Wild,  in  his elegy, hath thefo lines.
    Mc thinks I hear beheaded faints above
    Call to each other, Si>u, make room for Love.
    Who when he came to tread the fatal ftage,.
    ( Which proveM his glory,  and hi- en'mies rage)
    His blood n^'er run to's heart;  Chi.it":, blood was there*
    Reviving it; his own was all to fpare;
    Which, tiling in his cheeks, did  feem to fay,
    Is this the blood you ihirft for? Tak't I piay.
    S^euuno s in his looks fuch life did fee,
    That they appear'd more like to  die than he.
    Lii.iht'n.n^, which filTd the air with blazing light,
    Did ferve fo. torches at that difnal night ;
    I:t which, and all next day for m-iny hours,
    Heaven  g oan'd in thunder, and did weep in fhowers:
    A »r do i wonder thai Clod ihunder'd fo,  *■
    When's Boanerges muiou'd lay  beiovv.

   3-7.  Mrs. Joyce Lewis being condemned to be
burnt  for  the Proteftant  religion in queen  Mary's
reign, when fhe heard that the writ for her  execu-
tion was come, ihe faid to her friends, " as for death,
I fear it not; for when I behold the  amiable counte-
nance of Jefus  Chnlt my  dear  Saviour,  the ugly
face of death doth not much trouble me."
   38.  Buliinger of Zurich,  in his ficknefs, find to his
friends, "  if the Lord will  make any further i.fo of
me and my miniftry in his church,  I willingly obey
bum ; but  if  he pleafe, (ai  I much defiru) to take
1:1: out of this mifei able life,  I fhall exceedingly  re-
joice,  that'he pleafoch to take me out of this  coirunt 
I96         Afflicted Man's Companion.

and wretched age to go to  my faviour Chrift.  For
(faid he)  if Socrates was glad when  his  death  ap-
proached, becaufe he thought he  ihould go  to Ho-
mor, Hefiod, and other learned men, whom he ex-
pected to meet with in tlie  other world; how much
more do I joy,  who am fire that I Ihall fee my fav-
iour Jefus Chriit,  as  alfo  the faints, patriarchs,
prophets, apoftles, and all the  holy men who have
lived from the beginning of the world ?  Now, when
I am fure to fee them, and to partake of their joys,
why  ihould I not willingly  die, to enjoy their per-
petual fociety and glory ?"
   39, Mr. Theodore Beza, a famous pallor in Ge-
neva, when he apprehended the approach of death,
reviled his well; and fo eaiing himfelf of all w orldly
thoughts, wholly betook himfelf to expect: the  time
of his departure, which he  had much longed  for.
He oft ufed the apoftles faying, " We are his work-
manfhlp, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works."
And that of Aguftine, Domlne quod cxpifti  perflce,
tie inportue naufragium accidat. "Lord, perfect that
which thou haft begun, that I fuffer not ifdpvvreck in
the haven."  And that faying of Barnard ; Domine,
fequeraur te, per te, cdte. 7 e qui averitas ;  Perte,
aula  via: Ad te, quea vita. '■ Lord, we will follow
tree, by chee,  to thee. Thee, becaufe thou art the
truth; by thee, 1 rcarfe thou art the way;  to thee,
becaufe thou art ihe hie,"
   _,o. Mekufothon  of  Wittemberg,  Luther's dear
companion, faid *•'• That he much longed to be dii-
folved ; and that for two reafons;  \ft, 'Ihat he nno lit
enjoy che much defired prefence and fight of Chnft.
and of the heavenly  church,   idly, That he might
be freed  from the cruel and implacable difcords of
divines."
   41. Mr.  John Bradford, a  minifter and martyr
in<^ueen Mary's reign, when the keeper told  him
that the next day he was to be burnt in Sinithfield,
he put off his cap, and lifting up his eye, to  heaven,
find,  I thank Cud for it, it comes not now to me on 
            Afflicted- Man's Companion.       ~*^£

a hidden, but as a  thing waited for  every day and
hour;  the Lord make me worthy thereof."  One
CrcflwcU, ohdrlng to intcrpofe for him, and defining
to know  wlun: his recpceft was, he fail,', I have no
requeft to make; if the queue give me  my  life I
wifi thank hcr; if  fee will baniiii  me  I wiii thank
her ; if Ihe burn me  I will thank her; rf Ihe will con-
demn  me to perpetual imprisonment,  I will thank
her."  The Chancellor prcifing him to do  as others
had done, in  hopes of the queen's mercy; he faid,
t-  My lord, I defire mercy with God's mercy, that
is,  without doing or faying any  thing  againit God
aud his tr  th.   But mercy  with God's  wrath, God
keep me  from.   God's mercy (.'•.died he)  I defire,
and alfo   would be glad of the Queen's favour
to live as a fubjecl wfihouc clog on concience: but
otherwise the Lord's mercy is better to ine  than life.
Life in his difpleafiire is worfe than death, and death
with his favo.ir is true life."
   In his letter to Dr. Cranmer, Dr. Ridly, and Dr.
La dune t,  he hath thefe words; u Our dear brother
Rogers hath broken the ice valiantly.   This day or
to-morrow at the uttcrniolt, hearty Hooper, iincere
Saunders,  and trufty Taylor,  will end their courfe,
and receive their crown. The next am I, who hour-
ly  lend  for the porter  to open  me the gates afier
them, to  enter into the defired reft. God forgive me
niy unthauhfiilnefs for this exceeding  geci: mercy.
Though I fiufer juldiy, (for I have been a great hyp-
ocrite, unthankful,  due. the Lord pardon  me, yea,
he hach done it, he hath done it indeed) yet what evil,
hath he done? Chrift, whom the prelates perfecutc,
his  tin.th which they hate in me,  hath done no evil,
nor deferved death.   O what am I, Lord, that tho-j
ihnuidd thus magnify me? Is it  thy wont, to fend
foe  fuch  a wretched hypocrite in a fiery chariot, as
thouilidit fond for Elias?"
  In one of his meditations, after confefdfog of fin,
faith he, "' O what now may we do \  defpair? no,
for thou  arc God,   and  therefore good;  thou art 
198            Afflict 0! Ma As Companion.

merciful, and therefore thou forgive ft fin : with thee
there is mercy unci pnphduifion, aud  therefore thou
art worihippe'd.  V\ hen Adam finned,  thou  gaveh
him iufi\-« 1 -c-fore he defired it; and w.lt thou deny
v.., niercv, who tunc defire the here; Adam  excul-
cd his fault,  and acceded thee ; but wc  acenfe our-
felves, andecufe dnee: and fliall we be font  empty
 away?  IIovs  often-in the wildcrnefs didft thou fpare
Ifrael, and defer thv plagues at the requeft cf Iviof-
 tu,  when the people  themfelves made no petition to
thee?  Now  we do not only  make our  petitions to
thee, but alfo have a Mediator,  far above Mofcs, to
 appear for us, even jefus  Chrift thine  ov\n Son;
 and fhall  we (dear Lord)   depart  alhamed?—O
 merciful Lord, for thine oven glory  fitter not the
 enemy of thy Son Chrift, the Romifli  Antichrift,
 thus wretchedly to delude  and draw from thee 01 r
 poor brethren, for whom  thy dear Son once died,
 Sec. Suffer him not  to feduce  the limple fort with
 his  fond opinion,  that his falfe gods,  his blind,
 mumbling, feigned  religion, or his foolifh fuptrfli-
 fion, doth give him fuch  conquefts,  fuch victories,
 and fuch triumphs over  us.  But, O Lord,  this  is
 thy righteous judgment, to  puifilh us with the ty-
 rannical yoke of blindnefs, becaufe  we have call a
 way from us  the fweet yoke of the wholefome words
 of thy Son cur Saviour."
   In his letter  to Mrs. Anne Warcup,  he faith,
 My ftafF ftandeth  at the door.  I look  continually
for tl e fheriff to  come for me;  and I blefs  God  I
 am  ready  for him.—Now  go  I to pracfife  that
which  I  have preached.—Now  I  am  climing up
the hill; it will  caufe me  puff and  blow  belore  I
come to the  cliff.   The lull is ftcep  and high, my
breath  is fliort, and my  ftrength is  feeble" Pray
therefore to  the Lord for me, that,  as  I have  now
through his goodncfs even almoft come to the top,
I may by his  grace be ftrengthened,  not to reft  till I
come where 1 ihould be." 
              Affldcted Man's  Companion.        ' roa

      He was lingular for humility and felf-abafement,
    ihough a  moft  eminent faint.   He fobfcribed fome
    of his letters, the moft miferable  hard hearted un-
    thankful Jinner, John Bradford.   A  very panned
    hypocrite, John  Bradford.   Miferrimus peccator,
    John  Bradford.  The finful John Bradford.
      42. Mr.  Edward Deering,  a  little before  his
    death, find to bus friends, " As for my death, I blefs
    God  I feel and find fb much inward joy, and com-
    fort to my foul, that, if  I  were put to my choice,
    whither I would  die or  live,  I would a thoufand
    times  rather  choofe death than life, if it may  ftand
    with the holy will of God."
t     43.  iVlr. Ptobert Rollock, when a-dying,  prayed
    Lorn, I have hitherto feen  but darkly in the dais
    of thy word; now grant that I may enjoy the eternal
    fruition of thy countenance, which I have fo much
    defired and longed  for.   Hafte, Lord,  and  do not
    tarry; I am weary both of nights and days; come,
    Lord Jefus, that I may come to thee.   Break thefe
    eye-firings, and give uie others: Idefireto.be dif-
    folved, and to be with thee; hafte, Lord Jefus, and
    defer no longer.   Go forth, my weak life, and let a
    better  fiicceed.   O Lord jefus, thruft thy hand into '
    my  body,  and take my foul to thyfelf.   id my fweet '
    Lord,  fet this foul of mine free,  that it may enjoy
    her hufband."
     44.  Galeacious  Carracciolus,  marquis of Vica,
    when  a-dying,  took leave of his  wife, and all his
    Chriitian friends, telling them, he would lead them
    the  way to heaven.  And he cried to Jefus Chrift,
   that  "• As  he had fought him all his life, fo  now he
   would  receive and acknowledge him as his own."
     45.  The famous Lord Dupieflis in France, when
   a-dying, was  much concerned for the church  of Gcd
   in diftrefs, praying earneftly for her deliverance. He
   particularly blelled foch of  his grandchildren as were
   following the flu dies of learning, faying,  that he was
   ahured they iliould be blelfed with the blelfuus both
   of heaven above, and of the earth beneath."  \\ hen 
200        Afflicted MuAs Companion.

a minifter fpoke  of the  forvice he  had done  the
church by his  writings he faid,  u Alas, what  was
there of mine in that work ? day not, that it was I,
but God by me."  'Phca, lifting up his hands above
his head, he cried three times, Mercy, mercy, iner-
cv.  Acldino-,  "  that he did it, to ihew that it was
the alone mercy of God to which he had recourfc."
----A.nd  declared,  that his  faith was altogether
founded upon the goodnefs of God  in Jefus Chrift,
who by the Father had been made unto him, as to
all others that believe in him, wifdom, righteoufnefs,
fancYification, and redemption.—u Away (faid he)
with all merit; I call for nothing but  mercy, free
 mercy."  Y/hen one  was bleiiing God for giving
him fuch peace  and comfort at his  end, he  faid, I
 feel, I  feel  what I fpeak.  As to his faith of  the
 truths of God, he find, lw He was entirely perfuaded
 thereof, by the demonitration of God's holy Spirit,
 which  was more powerful,  more clear, and more
 certain  than  alP  the  demonltrasions of Euclid."
 When fecretly praying, he was overheard faying in
 broken fentences, " I fly, I fly  to heaven.   Let the
 angels carry  me to the bofom of my Saviour."   Af-
 terwards, he  faid,  " I know that my Redeemer liv-
 eth,and I ihall fee him with thefe eyes, Hifce oculisfl
 which words  he repeated four or five times.
   46. Jerome of Prague, when he  was fattened to
 the (take, and the executioner began to kindle the
 fire behind him, he  bade him kindle  it before his
 face.  "• For (faid he) if I had been afraid of it, I
 hud not come to  this place, having had fo many op-
 portunities offered  me to efce.\ e it."
   47. Mr. Hooker, a mlmiter in  New  England,
 when one that flood weeping at his bed-fide, when
 he lay  a-dying,  fain to him,  bir,  you are going  to
 receive  the reward  of all your labours, he replied,
 " Brother, I  am going to receive mercy."
   ^.8. Mr. Hero.i,  another minifter  there, when dy-
 ing, and leasing a family  of many fiiudl children;
 his  poor  wifo fell a-weeoinp-. and faid. A!.->- '  *.,!,-,«. 
          Afflicted Man's Comanpion.         lot

will become of all thefe children ? He prefently and.
pleafantly replied,  " Never fear ; he that feeds the
young ravens, will not  ftarve the young Herons."
And indeed it came  to  pafs accordingly.   It was
an ancient obfervation concerning the Engliih mar-
t) rs under the bloody Marian perfecution, " That
none of them went more joyfully to the ftake, than
thofe who  had the greateft families to commit unto
the Lord.
  49. Chryfoftom, whom the emprefs Eudoxa, (an
Arian) font a threatening melfage to him, he faid,
"Go tell her, Nil nifipeccatum timeo, I fear nothing
but fin."   When he was fentenced to banifhment,
he faid, None of thefe things trouble me : for I faid
before  within myfelf, if the  emprefs will, let her
banifli me ; the earth is  the Lord's, and the fullnefs
thereof.   If flie will, let her faw me afunder; Ifaiah
was fo ufed: If ihe  will,  let her caft me into the fea,
1 will remember Jonah: If fhe will,  let her caft me
into a burning fiery  furnace, or  to the wild beafts,
the three children and Daniel  were fo ferved  : If ihe
will, let her {tone me, or cut off  my bead :  I have
St. Stephen and the Baptift for my companions.   If
Ihe will, let her take away ail my fubftance ;  Naked
came I out of my mother's womb, and naked ihall I
return thither again."  But  I muft  break off, for
thne would fail me to enumerate  the many inftances-
of the faith, love, paueiice, hope, courage and con-
f fancy of the faints and marty r., of Jefus, when in the
view  of death.   Some  have tolet the perfecutors,
u That they might pull their hearts out of their bo-
dies, but they could never pluck the truth out of their
hearts/"'   C hers have faid, tw That if every  hair of
their  heads were men they  iliould ail fuller death
for Chrift and his  truths.—Oh (faid  one of them)
can 1 die but once  for Chrift ?"
  To  conclude; let thefe  examples prompt us  to
feek grace from Cud, and make it our earneft ftudy
to imitate and folio a'  fuch a cloud of witneffes, that
wc may die martyrs in refolution, our graces may  be 
202        Afflicted Man's Companion.

moft lively at the laft, our evening fun may  fliine
brighteit, and we may go off the ftage  glorifying
God, and leaving a fweet favour behind us, as theie
famous  worthier:, whofe  praife  is in the churches,
have done before us.
Direct. VII. Let  dying perfons be much in prayer
   and ejaculations to God.
    PRAYER is the native breath of renewed fouls;
     it  is as neceilary to their fpiritual life, as breath
is to die natural life,  Lam. iii. 56. " Hide not thine
ear at  my  breathing."   The firft thing  a  child of
God doth, when he is new-born,  is to breathe by
prayer.  Acts ix. 11. "■ Behold he prayeth."   And
it is  alfo his laft work in the world  to pray,  Acts
vii. 59, 60. " And they ftoned Stephen, calling up-
on God, and faying, Lord Jefus  receive my fpirit.
And he kneeled down,  and cried with a loud voice,
Lord, lay  not this  fin to their charge.   And when
he had  faid this, he fell afleep."   A dying Chriitian
hath many to pray for ; he is to pray for the church
of God, for his friends and relations, and alfo for his
enemies, as Stephen  did,  of which I fpake before.
Butefpecially he muft pray for himfelf, that fin  may
be forgiven, and that  he may  have  fafe  conduct:
through the ftark  valley.  I have heard  of fome
that have been found dead upon their  knees;  a no-
ble polture to die in !  How agreeabl. is it, to enter
praying into the land of p-ra -c?  So did Stephen,
yea, fo  did our bieffed  Sav four hiinfel.'";  '"  Father,
forgive  them, for they know not what they do.  Fa-
ther, into thy hands! commend my fpirit." The laft
words that holy  Uihcr uttered were, "• Bet,Lord,in
fpec-al  forgive  my fins of  omifion."   Lord  (faid
dying Beza) perfect that which thou haft begun; that
I  foiier  not ihinwreck in the haven."   I remember
to have  read of an old mhfilfor, when he found death
approaching, he faid,  "■ I dehre to die tike the  poor
thief,  crying to  the crucified Jefus for  mercy. I a,a
nodfiug, I have liothlu;';, I can do nothing, execitf 
            Afflicted Man's Companion.         203

 what is unworthy.  My eye, and hope, and faith, is
 to Chriit on his crofs.   I bring an unworthinefs like
 that of the poor dying thief unto him, and have no
 ;nore to plead than thee. Like the poor thief crucified
 with him, I am waiting to be received by the infinite
 grace of my  Lord, into his kingdom."  Let us in
 like manner die, crying to a crucified  Jefus for mer-
 ■cy.   Lord, remember me, now thou art in thy king-
 dom.
   O dying Chriftians, remember the time  of prayer
 is near an end ; after death there will be no more oc-
 calion for prayer.   O  then beg  that  the fpirit of
 prayer  may be fo poured down upon you at this
 time,  that you may be enabled to pot r out your heart
 before God, both for yourfoif and others.   O how
 earneftly ihould you pray then, when you are taking
 your leave of prayer ! Mind the example which your
 Redeemer gave you ; it was before his death that
 he offered  up prayers and fbpplications  with ftrong
 crying and tears unto God.   I acknowledge fick and
xlying perfons are frepuently out of cafe for making
 prayers of any great length or continuance (which
confideration ihouldexcite us to the greater diligence
in prayer in the time of our health) and  therefore
they ought to be the more frequent and fervent, in
fliort and fuitable ejaculations and petitions to God,
as their exigencies do require.

Some meditations and ejaculations proper for fick and
   dying perfons, and efpecially for a dying believer.
      OLord, thou art the God of my life, and haft
      the keys of  death in  thy hand.  Thou haft
meafured the length of my  life, and appointed  the
hour of my death.   The number of  my months and
days is with thee*, and thou haft appointed the bounds
over which I cannot pafs.
   What  is my life but a vapour, that, appeareth  for
a little time, and then vaniiheth  away ? At the long-
eft how fliort is it! and at the ftrongelt, how weak !
lk  What  man is it that liveth here, and ihall not fee 
204        Afflicted Man's  Companion.

death?  When a'few days are come,  I  will go the
way whence I fliall not return." God hath decreed
it, fin hath delerved it, my frailty deinonltrates it,
death's harbengers proclaim it, and I  muft expect it.
   There is no difcharge in this war, no exemption
from death's ftroke.  Dentil's melfongers are come
to warn me, that my laft day and laft hour drav\ etb
nigh.  The found  of their  mefter's  feet is  behind
them.  This clay-hoefe muft be diifolved, my fo d
diflodged,and my place here ihall know me, no more ;
I  will be quickly as water fpilt on the ground, that
cannot be gathered up again.
   O that I may  be fuitably exercifed in ray prefent
 weak  and dying condition !  When my flefii faileth,
and my heart fainteth within me, O  that God may
be the ftrength  of my heart, and portion forever  !
\V hen the keepers of the houfe do tremble, let God
watch over it, and be the keeper of my foul! Wlien
 the grinders do  ceafe, becaufe they are few, let my
foul be fed with manna from heaven.  When ihe
daughters of mufic are brought low,  let ray foul be
difuofod for hearing the fong of Mofes and the Lamb,
in the temple  above.  When  thefe that look out at
the  windows are darkened, let the eyes of my foul
be enlightened to behold, with the  dying martyr
Stephen, the heavens opened, and the glorious Jefus
ftanding on the right hand of God, making intercef-
fion for me, and ready to receive me.   Let my hope
and defire look out at the windows, and fay,  "Why
is his chariot fo  long a coming? and  why tarry the
wheels of his chariot? Make hafte, my beloved, and
be thou like a  roe or a young hart on  the,mountains
ofScuher."
   O that I may  obferve the afflicting hand of God in
my prefent ficknefs! Surely affliction cometh not out
oftheduft, nor doth trouble fpring out of the ground.
O Lord, rebuke  me not in  thy indignation, norchaf-
ten me in thy  hot difpleafi.rc.   Have mercy on me,
OLord, for I am weak;  and heal me, for my bones
are vexed*   When thou with rebukes doth correct 
           Afflicted Maa's Companion.         I05

man for iniquity,  thou make ft his beauty  to con-
fume away like a moth : Surely every man s vanity.
The ibrrows of my heart are enlarged, O bring me
out of my diftreffes. Look upon my affliction and mv
pain, and forg;*e all my fin.  I look for fymnudty to
my great High Prl-efi. who is touched with th* feel-
ing of my infirniitie... My help and ftrength it if him.
   O that when I am adduced,  1 may not defplfe the
chaftening of the Lord, nor feint wh.cn I am redoub-
led of him ! Let me hear the rod, and him thai hath
appointed it.   Let  me kifs the rod, and accept of the
puniihment of mine iniquity.  O that in my affliction
I may be helped to humble myfelf  greatly  before the
God  of my fathers, and jmalce. a true  and penitent
confeffion of my iins !
   Oh !  what ihall I fay to  thee, O thou preferver of
men, ? I will fay, Lord, be merciful  to me; heal my
foul, for I have finned againft thee.  I acknowdedge
that through  an evil heart of unbelief, I have many
a time departed away from the living God.  O how
vainly and fooliihly have I lived in the world] How
iaviihofmy  precious time ]  How unmindful of my
latter end ]  How  carelefs  of my  immortal foul !
How little in preparation for eternity!  Oh, my own
heart condemns nie, my fins teftify againft me ; and
thou who knoweft  them better than I da rnyfolf, to-
gether with their feveral aggravations, mighteft juft-
ly condemn me too.   But my comfort is, that with
thee the Lord there is mercy, that  thou may eft be
feared;  and  with  thy  Son there is plenteous re-
demption ; wherefore, for his fake, be pleafed to for-
give me air my paft tranfgreilions, whether in tho't,
word, or deed, thofe I remember, and thofe I have
forgotten, and let them neither be charged on me to
my ihame  and confufion in this world, nor to  my
everlafting ruin in that, wdiich is to come.  Lord,
forgive  the follies of my childhood,  the extravagan-
cies of my youth,  and all  the iniquities of my riper
years. 
 206         Afflicted M.ads Companion.

    Oh! I am pollutrd with fin, aud dure not appear
 before God vvith  mv own filthy rags uqonmc.----
 When Ada n loft the garment of original nghteoui-
 nefe, he fled from  God,  and dreaded the fummons
 .of o.fouded jvilice.   Now, there is *o appearing 1 c-
 -fore God wide  acceptance, but in the garment of his
 •Son my  elder  brother.  Now can have boidnefs to
  cuter into the holieit of all, but by  the blood of Je-
  fus.  O  enable me to difclaini whatfoever duties I
  have "crfieuncci, or graces  I have exercifed, and to
  rely on  a  crucified Ldrift alone for pardon and ii-d.
  Though thou  day eft me, let n-c <»e tr citing in and
  ^leaving to a crucified joins.
    Now°the powers of dmknefs will feck to raife  a  ,
  tempeft to ihipwreck the \ effel  of my foul,  v. hen  it
  ■wo j id enter into due eternal haven : O that like the
  wife mariner, when  the ftorm approacheth, C may
  endeavour to  fecure  the velfel  with the anchors of
  faith and hepe fattened on the  Rock Chrift.
     O that, vthen the time of combat with my lad ene-
  my comcth, I may above all take the fotld of faith,
  whereby I may be iheltercd from the iting of death,
  and mav quench the fiery orrrts of the wicked one !
     O that the  Lord oi u.ods, the Captain of my fab/a- jj
  tion, may >*e with me in my  laft conflict:, and may |
y iieln me'tu put on the whole armour of Good and
  give me Ikiil to ufo it, that I may be able to ftand <
   fn the evil day ! Teach  my hands  to war, and my
  finger$ to fight, that  through thee  I may.do valiant- ,
   ly, and tread down all my enemies.   O that nomrj
   I  may finiih my courfo,  and fight the  good fight
  jof faith, that at  death I may  receive -The crown cf
   righteoufnefs, which the  righteous Judge will give
    to all that love his appearing.   O that my faith may -
    ripen into a full affurance, that I may go off the itage
    with jov^ and an abundant entrance may be auminii- ^
    tered  unto  me into the  kingdom of my Lord and
    Saviour jefus Chrift!
      O  that the  night of my death may  fhine bright
    jvich the fparkling ftars of heavenly graces! Lcrjl 
           Afflicted JMaas Lompaurn.        16J

incrcafo my faith 1 let  the pilgrim's fluff of faith bn
never out  of my  hand till I come  to my journey's-
end.  O let me get Chrift  ail in iny arms, like old-
bun^oe before his tie a. It, that  I may fay, like him,
u Now let thy fervant depart in peace; for my e-. e;
have feen thy falvation." Kindle the free cf heaven-
ly love in  my foul, and give me a  tnfte of heavenly
joys.   O for one beam of thy light., to bauifh away
ail my doubts and fears!  Lord, foe hi  fomethhig of
heaven to my foal, before itfelf go into heaven.
  Lord, take me not out of this life  till thou haft
fitted me for a better.  May  f be fitted fee heaven.
before I leave the earth, and finiih my work before I
fiaddh my courfe ! Make n:e ready to meet thee at
thy coming, that fo thy coming nnn,r not be the mat-
ter  of my  terror, but die matter of my  hone, cledrnc,
and joyful  ex peculations.  O that I may be in a long-
ing frame  for that bleiicd time, when he will  come,
and put a  period to aU my fins, forrows, troubles,
and temptations  here; and when I ihall exchange
my prefent being in  the body, for an everlaiting be-
ing with the Lord !  Lord, ftrengihen  my faith and
hope, that fo neither the fweetnefs  of life, the pani
of death, nor apprehenlioas about  my future -due,
may make me unwilling to die.  Is my Redeemer
afcende.d, and gone before me to prepare a pla c fel-
ine  ; why tucn  ihould I be ffothfed to go in, ana poff-
fefs the good laud.
  i.Iercy hath filled up all my  life, and brought me
near to the end of it;  O let it not leave me lun.e,
when all the  enjoyment? of the work! are nothing
to me, and I  am  to  take en everhudug farewell of
then all.   Now  one finlie ol  thy fixe, one telle of
thy love, would be ftrength and jo;, to my  clepa.rdug
foul.  O remember  the word to  thy for rant, in: ore
which  time caceei   me  to hupe;  haft  thoa no:
find, 4,I will never  leave thee, nor forfuke finer"
O fulfil tills word to me  in tiu dime of my need, O
let  me never go off the itage with a heavy heart, or a
gadcy coeftie.-tc ; but may I fi_p:u t in peaee7 aud
                      fi  2 
 o3         A Jilted dAuris Cd mpani<n.

fiecp in jefus.   Let mc breathe out my d» parting
foul to th.c, vend truft it in foy hand and fiuc-heep-
nig ; and let my fieih reft in hopes of riling gloriouf-
ly at the laft day, through him who is  tin. lefirrec-
tion and th-elifo, the Lord jefus Chriit.
   Love and praife is the ee.ercifo of faints for ever ;
may  i be acquainted with  it here !  O fnall I not
love and praife him, who hath forgiven ail my ini-
quities, heeled  all  my difeafes, redeemed my life
from deftrucilon, and crowned me with loving-kind-
nefs and tender mercies?  lie hath caufed goodnefs
and  mere   fellow me  all the days of my^Iife ; and
foal! i not follow him with praifes at the end  of it ?
   Now the time of my departure is at hand , and
the lamp of life is ready to be extinguifned. O that
I may die-in faith, that whether the lamp go  out of
its own accord, or by fome fudden blaft, it may be
lighted again by the immortal beams of the Sun of
righteoufnefs !   And though I  be overtaken with
the fleep  of death,  and lie down in the bed of the
grave : yet ihall I awake  again  in the morning of
therefnrrecelon, that morning which ihall never be
fucceeded by an evening;  when I fliall behold thy
face in righteoufnefs, and be eternally  fatisfied with
thy likenefi.
   Now I am going the way of  all the earth, ready
to launch forth intu  e.ernity, where I ihall be fixed
in me euerladdng condition.  Grant me, Lord, the
perfect ufe of  my fevfes, of my reafon,  and m der-
fiuuuu.T, that  I  may  pjoriby  thy name, and edify
my ifogheours to the Lift moment of my departure.
dead now,  when I am to conflict with  the king  of
terrors, O fupport and ailift me in my foreft ex trend-
ties and laft agonic-:.;.  O mercifully  mitigate de;uids
p nigs, and  lee  my paffage  be eafy, and my lauding
nife.   Stand by mc in my dring moments, and fuc-
cnur my foul in thy hands  from all its deadly ene-
mies.  And when I  am numbered among the dead,
let me alfo  be  numbered among  the redeemed  and
blelfed of the Lord for  ever. 
            aippiii tea man s looipaa., ■-..         209

   O Lord, thon determine!* both t! e bounds  of
 man's life,  and the bounds cf hi, habfonkm.  if a
 hair  of my heal caunot fall to die ground without
 thy jrovide.rce, for  folk can my wdede body led into
 the grave without  it.  Thou haft- t. Id me plauily,
 that Janet A.c-.  b-.t mercifidiy haft cmceuled the
 tune, place, and manner, that I might always hand
 upon my guard, excey hour expect thy coming, end
 have my accounts in my inrnd.  always  \ repared to
 glee the.e 1 j)  to thee my judge,   jtuily m. .'tteit
 thou have fiatched mc  away by a ifoprdin- call,
 and fodJen drohe ; but in thy goodnefs thou foveit
 me war..:'..g, aud time to let my houfe  and foci  in
 order.  O gracioufly findh \, hat Is r„ov/ wanting of
 the work  of thy  grace in iny necr; and  lo.d, m.d
 thoroughly accompli:!; and f.evddi rue'to appear  hi
 thy bleuea j.rcfouec.  May I  now che to fin every
 lie/ur, chat 1 may riot die for  iin  nereuicifr.  Caufe',
 ii-i wholly to die before me, that it may not  rife  ie
 j.id^.nc.it t=g;m;d me afterdeath.
   O God, be  thou  my  refuge and firengd;, cad  a
 very prehene help in trouble : and then I v. ill nor. fe,.r
 though the waters of udlltLioa  rage, and be tro.V-ed,
 mid tho.jgh all the  muuntains oi er.rthjy co.eiV-3
 iluike veitii the  fivelllng there of-  Thtre is a  rivel*,
 the  i I reams whereof ihad i.^ake glad the city   c-d
 Cod  U Jet my id .1 dwed beiiyc ihti'e living ftr.amr,
 nad drink of cue u lor ever,   fe foie valley  of the
 Ida.low of death, Lm\l, be ihou prefont ac, die good
 b.i'ue.rd   v.ifli thv uuidmo-  rod, arfo im-wecdm-
 i;m;  and  uiake  my departure  eae.y, ami foil   of
 peace aud iiope.  Lord,  carry me dee through the
 dark pauige cyai  widen I am entering, and let me
 find it a gate of gm-ry, a  d or opened hue. tne ever-
 Luting kumdo.n aud joy  of me Lord.   Lend Jeff :,
 r. reive my  foudc, una let it  Ice-pre muted, juiuued,
 a.-i I footled; to  tee xcitlicr, that It may come  to me
 id-, cms of jtdtmee mid? pmfea:, a.;d join widi the.n
fo  fingmg. th-  ^^v-foug, •-  Worthy is the  Lamb
 tint ,v.u ihfo,  a id h.uh redeemed ns to Con  fo- h;s
                       b 3 
■i io         *[fil led d\ T  ds Companion.

S'oacg to receive power,  houci,  glory,  and blcff.ng
for ever. Amen."
 S- ae meditations for drooping irdi^vers, vehen death is
   rear.
 r_jr'dL\YFfLLLllS, who  have  met with  many
   Ac  fioruns. cue, dies, and dangers in their journeys,
 rejoice vehen they  crate near io their own country  ;
 ynd fhall not I, a ftranger and pilgrim, that hath
 i>cendlong wandering in a wdncrnefs, be glad when
 t conn; i ear my bieded home, my dear  friends,  and
 eternal hrd.ltat'on.
    frith what ch.eerftinefs  do fome  women endure
 the pains  of child-bearing, being fupported with the
 hopes of u child's  being born in the  world? And
 v, hat is the joy oi a man child being brought into
 this finful and miferable world, to the joy of a fancti-
 fied foul'-being'brought out of it into heaven for
 ever? I.; is pkaddnt when  the hard winter  gecdu
 over, the  meifengers  of the fpring, the  fingiug of
 birds cloth come, and ihall  not I rejoice vehen iick-
 neh\*duJ 'forerunners  of death do tell me, that the
 w;rtcrofniy  darknefs and tremble is paft, and the
, '..'miner of my eternal light and joys is at hand ?
    What thot gh death he the lung of terrors? is not
 fs-Ioriou. Chrdt the kh y-  of comforts? Have not  I
 met a'ready with thlr, bleiled king : and wny Ihould
 I fear to  meet with the other?  O let my ftrength
 am! luunort at this time come from Chriit, my co-
 ve nmited redcciner.
    (> Lord, dedver my  foul from death, mine  eyes
 from tears and my feet from failing !  O bring  me
 out of ihe  miry clay, fet my feet upon a rock, and
 eft; fllih  my goings,  and  put a  new fong  in  my
. n.cuth, even praifes to our Cod!
    If Jc.ccb  w-'t  down  fo  cheerfully into Egypt,
 vruen  Gcd had faid  unto  him,  "  fear not to go
 cu.v. u ; fori will  go down \\ iih thee, and  I  will
 bring thee vp again," why fhoidd a  believer  fear to
 £0 uov.ui to the grave, when Gcd  hath underial.cn
 to go daven with mm thither, aud to briug him Up 
            Afflicted Man's Companion.         2i i

;igaiu ? His body may be turned into duft, but God is
in covenant widi his duft and well not fufler the leaft
p...riicle of it to be loft.
   Ar« not the  righteous  take away from the evil
to come ? Do they  not reft in their beds, and enter
into pence?  Why  then ihould I grudge  at dying?
Vt'heri the Lord is to bring heavy wrath and judg-
ments iqron  a land, he  frequently houfeth many
of his people in heaven before hand: and how hap-
py are thefe that win thehonfe before the fweeping
haibihower  cloth fall.  A believer needeth not to
1 >ok for  any fettled- fair weather in this world: it
wni be  iioming but  one ihower up, and  anoth :r
down, did he be hoafed  in  heaven.  O why  then
humid I  linger in this wildernefs .'
   in >.v  himily dignified  is the  believer, in  being
made an hear of  God, and a joint heir with his own
:-dm jefus Chrift! fo that Chriit and the believer do,
as it were, divide heaven betwixt them;  they  have
the fame Lather, dwell in the fame  houfe, fit at the
iame table, reign on the fame throne, and partake of
Lie fame glory.  O what honour is  this, which is
put upon a worm of the earth ! It is indeed but lue-
tic th-'.c the  young heir  enjoys of  the  inheri-ance
while in this world ; no more than will ferve to bear
his en urges to heaven, where  he ihall get all, forget
Ins prefont  id alts,  and  remember  his poverty  no
more.   Cwhy then iliould not I, like a young heir
be hooking and longing for the expiring  of my mi-
nority,  when I ihall arrive at ripe age, and enter up-
on t!to full polfefiion of the inheritance!  O  that I
could feml oat faith and hope, thefe  two faithful
fpies, tofurvey thepromifed land, or at leaft to viiit
the borders of my cider brother's country ! what an
encouraging  report wo-ld they bring back !   My
glorious  Lord is  gone,  he hath left the  earth,  and
entered  into  his glory;  my brethren and- friends
have many of t been a rived there alfo.   How great
is  the difference betwfot my ftate and their's ! I am
groaning out  my compia'-nts, but they are  fiugfog 
ill          Afflidftd Ma ds Companion.

God's praife ;  I am in dmknefs aud cannot fee God ;
but they are in light, and fee him face to face.   O
my Lord, ihall I \v.ij behind, when tiny are gone ?
fhould I be fatisfied to wander in thewudceme^, u r
diftant from my Father and my Cud, when they are
triumphing above, dividing  the fpcol ? No, 1 will
look ftill  after them with -a  fieadfait  eye, and cry
O Lord,  how long? I  will went now in hope,  ye a,
rejoice in the fore then cgqts of the day, when my  mi-
 nority  ihall be expired,"  my pilgrimage iiniflied,  my
 baniihment over, that I may get home to my coun-
 try and friends above.
   What  though my days be dark  and gloomy now,
 my winter be iharp and ftormy ? why, it is but ihort,
 and  near over;  the eternal fummer approacheth;
 the long  day, the high  fun,  and  the fair garden of
 m; welbbeloved, above thefe vdible heaven:;, will
 quickly make amends for ad.  Let me get  up  by
 faith, and vifit the the new land,  view the fair  city,
 and behold the white throne, and the Lamb dial fits
 thereon, that I may rejoice in hope of the glory of
 God.
   Shall many of the heirs of wrath go finging  and
 rejoicing to  hell;  and will an he.r of God go circop-
 hig and  forrowmg  to  heaven?  Oh, let  me not,
 by my behaviour  on a death-!.ed,  him g t p a Lai re-
 port upon Chrift's good  way, ana  tin, heici wench he
 hath purchafed.  ,
   Have i fuch  great and precious promlies left me,
'and ihall I not live  and iced upon them in the time
 of my  need  ? Shad I not truft the word cf him  mat
 is faithful and true?  Hade i.e not faid to me, '• V. hen
 tlmu puifeft through the water.., i will be  wdth thee;
 aud threi.gh the rivers, they fhall  not ov crflow thee;
 when thou walked through the fee, thoa  {halt 1:0c
 1 e burnt; neither ihall die flame ki die upon tl.ee !"
 When the difoiples were fare 'folded wu.h v, iuds and
 waves, diio.-. cummi to them in  the fo. rdi v\atuh of
 the ni- he,  v. a iking on the water. ;  and  when their
 faess were increaf-d, :hou foidft, *" l>'^ I, be uct a- 
              AffliiledfdIan's Conpankn.        it

  Iv followed a great calm.  My Redeemer's compaf-
 ■ lions continue; his bowels are not ihut up this day,
  snore than in the days of his fiefn.  ll Jefus Chrift is
  the fame to day, yefterday, and forever."
    Ah! I haye too little improven my acquaintance
  with precious  Chrift in the day  of my life! how
  ready am I to mifken  and miitake  him, when he
  chaugeth  his  difpofitions towards me!  Though I
  have been long at Chrift's fchool, what fmall profic-
  iency have I made hi the work and myftery of faith ?
  How little have I learned to believe  in the dark,
  and to drop an anchor at  midnight  upon the rock
  of ages, and to look out for the dawning of the day ?
    Surely the day ihall  break, and the fliadows fiec
  away: my King cometh, my well-beloved-is on his
  way; he hath  fent his letter before him to warn me
  of it, faying, " Behold I come quickly."  O  that
  like  the  cold  and  wearied night-watch, I may be
  looking  out for the appearing of  th. morning-itar,
  and the breaking of the eal'tern fky;  and may be
  ftill crying,  " Even  fo come  Lord  Jefus,   come
  cfoekfo."
    Thou haft faid," Light is fown for the rignteous,
  and  gladnefs for  the  upright in heart."  Surely
  God's feed ihall not lie always beneath the  clods;
  the  tune  is at hand, when it ihall fpring; andjoyfa/l
  v.- -II the crop be at left.  O that, like David  in  af-
  fliction,  I would encourage myfelf in the Lord my
  God, and lay," The  Lord  liveth,  bleffed be my
  rock!"  why  luould I droop while  my Lord  liueth,
* and my rock ftandeth?  My hopes may die, my com-
  forts may die,  my gifts die,  my riches  die, my re-
  lations  die, and my  body die;  but  good   news,
  tv The  Lord  liveth,  bieiled be my rock!"   The
  difilpies  had a melancholy  time while Chrift  was
  de.xa, and lying in the grave;  but that lad time is
 "over, he  is.now rifen, aud will die no more.   Nay,
  he  hath  proclaimed  it fir  my  comfort, faying,
  '• Fear  not,  I  am the  firit uod the  laft-  I am He
  that liveth m.d was dead: and   Leuokl 1  am  alive 
2i4        Affl'uted Ma.is Companion.

forevermore, amen; and haye  the  keys of hell and
death."
   When my  foul is caft down within me, let me re-
member  God from the land of Jordan, and the hill
Mizar : that I may reafon myfelf out of all my fears
and difcourageinents ; for yet '• the Lord will com-
mand his loving kindnefs hi the day time, and in the
night his fong Ihall'be with me. and iny  prayer to
the God of my life."
   " Why then art thou caft down, O my foul, and
why art thou difquieted within  me ? hope thou  in
 God, fori ihall yet praife linn, who is the health of
 my countenance, and  my God."
,   Now, when death is at hand, let not my Saviour be
 far off.  He  who  remembered the  dying thief and
 fpoke comfortably to hhn, let him now  remember
 me when he is feated in his kingdom; and fay to my
 foul, "  This day thou ihalt be with me in paradife."
 When it is  abfent from the body, let it  be prefent
 with the Lord.  Let  the angels now be ready to do
 their office, to carry my departing foul  into Abra-
 ham's bofom.  Let me now depart, that I may be
 with Chrift; yea, be  for ever  with the Lord., that I
 may fee his face.   Let me dwell there, where they
 have no night, need  no candle, nor light of the fun
forever;  where God  fliail  wipe away all  tears  from
 their eyes, and there  ihall be no more death, neither
forrow nor cryhig.
   Father, into thy hands I commit mv fpirit.  By
the hands of him who hath redeemed ic, lee it be pie-
fen ted to thee without fpot or wrinkle, or an}- inch
 thing.

An addilio-i to fome further Meditations proper for any
   fick perfci  in the vie re cfdeatb.
fjT^HL Lord is  pfoukd  fometimes to  cad  men
  j[_   down  on bed.-, of  helmed,  and  draw the cvr-
taie betwixt the  world  and them, that they may
take a view  of their by paft  life, and f.-ture ftate.
Now is it time for uie to look into my find, and ex- 
             A Aided Mans Companion.       215
                                          *
amine my ftate.   Ch,  bow  many do ndfs falvation,
v. hen they third, themfeivcsfoee of id They mihake
a form of^odiuiefs for the power of :L, and thereby
deceive lhem!en.e?,  thfok.ng memieives iomething
v. he a they are nothing.
   fome  come the length as to ihed feus, as Efim
did; pro'e's fur, ,ye.i, dght for the Lord, as Saul
antl Jehu did ; wiih for the  end of the righteous, as
ljuhumi did: defire  Coeds  people to pray for them,
as fiiiaraoh and Simon  Magus did;  v. alkfoftly, aud
mourn for fear  cf judgmeuts,  as  Ahab did;  joy in
gofpel ordinances, and reform in  many things, as
Herod did;  prophefy  and  fpc.de well  of Chrift, as
 Caiarhas and Judas  did ; be convinced arid tremble
at healing  a demon,  as Felix did ; yea,  tafce the
good w ord of God,  and the powers of the  world to
come, as cpoftateo have done :  and yet for  all thefe
attainments, remain itraugers  to the faxing work of
 the Spirit on the heart.
    U that the confederation of hypocrites attainments
 might aiaPm me but of my fecurity, and make me
 reiileis till  I  find the diitinguifhing marks of true
grace, and fincere faith in my  foul ! O  that I could
lay,  there is a principle in me, that will not fuifer me
to build on any  foundation  in the world but Chrift
and his rlglitotifnefs ; that  makes  me content with
Chriii, With all  his offices,  with all his precepts, and
 with his very crofs for his  fake!  Doth the  love of
 Chriit keep me back from fin,  mere than thelaw,or
 four of Ileal? lLu:e I aimed at God's honour  in  all
my actions, civil, natural, and religious? Am I hum-
 bled,  and denied to mine own will, wit, credit, eafe
and honour, and to all the enjoyments  of the  world?
 Am I acquainted with the throne of grace, and  de-
 firous to  keep up a conitant correfpondence with it?
 O !e: me not reft till I preceive thefe  things in  my
 foul which accompany falvation.
    O how comfortable would it be to me  now, if I
 could fay with good Hezekiah in  his ficknefs, "! Re.
 .member  now, O Lord,  how  I have walked before 
 l\6        Afflicted Maids  Companion.

 thee  in truth, and with a perfect heart, and  have
 done that which is  good in thy  fight ?" O  that I
 could pray, and fay, vvi.h Jefus my Saviour,  when
 in the view of death, " Father, lhave glorified thec
 on die  earth ; I have finifoed the work whicii thou
 gave ft me to do : and now,0  Father, glorify thou
 uie with thine own felf,  with the glory which thou
 hadft ordained for me before the world was !"
   Alas, Lord,  I muft  confefs, my  iniquities  have
 gone up above  mine head; my miffpent  time, my
 unfruitfulnefs under the means of grace, .and water-
 ings of ordinances,  may caufe me to cry out, Who is
 me for the leannefs of my foul, and barren nefi of my
 heart!  I have been an empty vine, bringing-forth
 fruit-only  to myfelf, I have hid my Lord's money,
 and therefore deTerve the doom of the  wicked and
 flothful fervant.  But my relief is in my Surety's
 righteoufnefs.   Bleiied be the Lord, who hath fent
 his Son to  blefs  thofe who by nature lie under the
 curie,  and to intercede for thofe that cannot fpeak
 for themfelves.   O how fuitable' is he to my foal's
 cafe ! Ihave indeed a multitude of fins, but hehath
 a multitude of tender mercies; I have  deep and
 heinous guilt, but he hath a deep fountain for walk-
 ing it out; I am fold under fin, but hehath a ranfoin
 to buy  me back again; my  fore is  broad, but his
 plaiiter is anfwerable; my wound is great, but his
 balm is  excellent.  Surely it is my wifdom to go to
 Chrift with all my grievances, and always to lie and
 cry at my Redeemer's door.
   O  that now, when the fun of my life is fitting,the
 blefled Sun of righteoufnefs may arife and fliine up-
 on my  foul!  Goodnefs and  mercy  hath followed
 me while I lived ; O that Chrift and glory may meet
 me when I  die! I muft acknowledge  thy goodnefs;
 were  this the laft hour I had to live, and this thelall
 word I  had to fpeak in the world, I behoved to fay,
 Lcrd  thou haft been a merciful and gracious God to'
me ;  my whole life hath been  a  continued tract of
mercy;  Lord, crown the end of it with mercy alfo 
            Afflicted dAan's Companion.       2.17

Surely the fea is not fo full of water, nor the fun fo
full of light, as thou art full of grace and mercy.
O let not my  fins ftop the curreut of thy tender
mercies at tiro time.  Lord,  drown all my ii is in
the fea of Chrift's blood,  that  my foul may not be
fimk by  them  in the ocean of divine wrath.  Lord
Jefus,  e.nbrace my perifhing foul in  thy arms: let
thy crold be iny fecurity, aud thy wounds my refuge.
   O tiio 1 that hearelt the young ravens which.cry
be not iileut to me at this time, left if thou be filent
to arc, 1 be like to  them that go down to the pit.
   Lord, I am now called to the work I never did ;
give me  the ftrength I never  haul.  Surely it is an
important matter  to die, and my eternal  ftate  de-
pendeth upon dying aright.   What I  do nmifs in
my life one  day, I muft amend it is the next:  but
not fo  here, I can die but once ; if I mar this piece
of work I cannot come back to mend it again ;  if X
forget any thing neceffary for my journey, I cannot
return to fetch it.   Oh, a wrong itep  in going out
of this life is highly  dangerous.  In one reipcci it is
like the fin againft the Holy Ghoft, and can never be
forgiven: for  I cannot come back to mourn for it.
Of ail  the bufmefs I ever undertook,  1 have moft
need to take care of my dying.
   Oh, is death coming  to take down this earthly
tabernacle, and to put the one half of mc in the dark
grave, and the other half of me in heaven or in hell;
and ilia: 1 I give fleep to mine  eyes, or fiumber to
mine eye-lids, till I find myfelf in that cafe, that I
dare look death in the face, and dare hazard my foul
upon eternity-?
   O to have right impreflions  of the  certainty of
death,  and the  uncertainty of life? What is my life
but a vapour, a fand  glafs of fixty or feventy years,
which  will foon run  out.  Eternity and a judgment
feat are now hard upon  me.  The blaft of the laft
trumpet is at hand.  There will fhcrtly be a proclr-
mition by one itanding in the clouds, that time ihall
be no more.—The world looks big hi men's eyes in 
2i0          s-.y.iciia itxar. s  Companion.

time of health : but when the eyc-ftrings break, the
breath turns cold,  and  the  iinprifoned foul  looks
out at the windows of the clay-houfe, ready to leap
out into eternity, can the world give any iatisfacfion?
No, no : a lamp full of oil will be valued then more
than a houfe full  of gold.   The fineit  things on
earth will then appear nothing but a piece of paint-
ed duft,  and gilded clay.  How gladly  would  the
greateft worldling then, give all his gold and iilvcr
riches and honors,  for one fight of Chrift's  fair face
one fmile of his countenance ?  O wherefore ihould
men in health neglect the market of grace, and flight
the pearl of great  price? Why  fhould they fpend
their money for that which  is not bread, and  their
labor for that which fatisfieth not.
   I^ord, fave me from the hypocrite's cafe  at death,   ,
 whofe candle of profeilion  and of hope burns and   i
blazes fair all the  way with  him, but goeth out in
the dark trance of death; and there he Humbles and
falls, and ihall rife  no  more.   O that my profeilion   '
and hope may be of God's  creating! If God  light   *
my  candle, then ihall my feet be enlightened through
the  dark valley, and death nor hell ihall not be able
to put it out.
   Lord, fubclue fin in me, and let it be continually
dying now, that it may certainly be dead before me.  *
God forbid that my fins  ihould furvive me.
   O that, when the  ftroke of death difiblves  my
body,  my foul may efcape as a bird out of the  fnare
of the fowler, and may afcend to the heavenly regi-
ons to enjoy God himfelf.
   Olet me look through the  grates of mortality, and
long for the jailor's coming to  fet  me at liberty,   j
God help me to overcome the love of life,  and fears   A
of death.   If my neighbour  lend me any thing,  I   j
pay it  again with thanks ; and ihall I not reftore my
life to God with thanks, who hath been pleafed to
lend it me fo long ? Arife,  and  let  me depart, for  ♦
phis  is not my  reft.- heaven is my  home.  Lord 
             Afflicted Mmds Companion.        219

 bring me to it: the joys of it are too great to enter
 into me, O make me fit to enter into them.
   While 1 lie on a lick bed, Lord help me to patience
 in my iicknefs without murmuring.
   How willingly would the  damned in hell endure
 my pains a thoufand years, if they had  my hopes of
 being faved  at laft !  Bleffed be God, that my fick-
 nefs is not hell, that my pains are not eternal.
   O that I  may  look on  my affliction as coming
 from the hand of him that  is the Lord of health and
 of iicknefs, of life and of death; who killeth and mak-
 eth alive, bringeth  down  to the grave, and  raifeth
 up again? That fovereign and wife Lord hath deter-
 mined the time when my affliction ihall end, as well
 as the time when it began.  Thirty-eight years were
 appointed the  fick man at  Bethefda pool; eighteen
 years the to woman that Satan kept bound ;  twelve
 years to the woman with the  bloody iffue? ten days
 tribulation to  thofe of Smyrna :  three davs  ifo'~ue
 to David.   The number of the wA-ecy man's tears is
 regiftered in God's  book:  yea, the r.airs of his head
 are numbered.
   When David got his choice of his own chaftife-
 ment, he chofe rather to be  corrected  by the hand
 of God, than by any other means, faying,  " Let me
 fall into  tne hands of die  Lord, for his"mercies are
 great."   I  was dumb, and opened not my mouth,
 becaufe  thou didil.it.  Glory to God,  that I am fall-
 en into   his  merciful  hand.  Hath  God  annointed
 that man's coming into die  world ii ail be attended
 with pain and crying, and  his going out of it with
grief and trouble ;  and ihall  1 qualeel at it ? Ida,
1 delirc  humbly to  underly  the  correction cf mine
iniquity, and to bear the  indignation  of the  Lord
becaufe I lnvc firmed  agaiuft fom.   Q that the iick-
nefi  of my body may be a means of health to  my
fori I May 1 be chaftened of the Lord, fo that I may
not be coiidcuiiued with the world.
  It is good for the l-eliev er that he is affileded, win ^
iifiVi.ms from divine love, aud it works for his foul's
                     _1*__________ 
220         Afflicted Man's Companion.

good.  Affliction is a foal of his adoption, and  no
iign of reprobation.   The pureit gold is often tried
the fweeteft  grape is hardeft preffed, and the trued
Chriftian is heavieft crolfcd.   But O how foon will
the Chriftian forget all his groans when he comes to
keaven ? As  foon  as Stephen faw Chrift, though at
a diitance,he forgot all his wounds and Lruiffo ;  he
.minded no more the terror of the  ftcnes about  his
ears, but fweetly yielded his foul into his Redeem-
er's hands.
   I read  of many in the gofpel, that by fickneffes
and difeafes  were driven unto  Chrift, who, if they
had enjoyed  health and profperity, would  have neg-
 lected, like many  others, to  come to him.   O blefled
 is that crofs that draweth a finner to Chrift, to lay
 open his  own  mifery, and implore  Chrift's  mercy.
 And blefled  be that  Chrift,  who never rcfufeth the
 finner that comcth to him,  though driven by afflic-
 tion and mifery.   To whom fliall fuch  a diftrefled
 creature as I go, but to him who is the only phyiician,
that can cure  both me foul from fin, and my body
from ficknefs.
   Lord, thou never denied thy mercy to any fin-
ner that afked it with a penitent heart. There were
many forts of fick finners that came to thee  in  the
 days of thy  tfofh; the Hind, the deaf, the lame,  the
 iepc re; theft that were fick of paliics, dropiics, fo\ ci .->,
ti\a,t:., and were po.defied with eiev 11.-. ; and yet never
one of t'uem  came crying fur mercy, that  v ent away
without his errand, were his iin ne\er fo great, his
diieafe never fo grievous.   Nay, fo merciful !*.  my
Redeemer, that lie offerc cl  and gave bis mercy to
many that never  afked it,  being  moved with  ike
bowels of his own compailion, and the light ol their
mifery ; fo dealt he with the "woman of Samaria,  the
widow of Nain,  and the man that lay thirty-eight
years at the  pool  of Betdcdu.   Oh, if he gave his
inertv fo wiidugly to them  that did not afk  it, ami
w as ioundof them that fought hin-i not, will he tltuy
mercy to my foul  that is cm ing for it ? 
             Afflicted Maids Companion         ill

   There is but a ftep betwixt me and death ;  Lord,
feal my pardon to me,  before I go hence, and be no
more.   O  draw  nigh  to me, and fave me : for my
foul is full of trouble, and my life draweth nigh unto
the grave.   Thy loving-kindnefs is better than life;
O make me fure of that, aud I will willingly part
with this mortal life.
   O thou  who willed not that any  iliould perifh,
but that all ihould come to repentance ; be pleafed
to meke ude of the  chaftifinent of my  body, as a
mehciee to cure my foul, and bring to me a  true
and iincere repentance.   One day  is with thee as
a thoufand  years :  O work in me in this, which may
be my  laft  day, whatfoever thou, foeii  wanting in
me. Enable me to prefent unto thee the facrifice of a
broken and contrite heart, which thou haft promifed
not to  defpife.   Give a true  andj lively faith in the
hfoifed Jefus, who is the  propitiation  for our fins!
He was wounded for oar  tranfgreifions, he was
brufed for  our  iniquities, the  chaftifement of  our
peace was  upon  him:  O heal  me by  his itripes.
Let the cry  of his blood drown the clamor  of my
fins.  1 am indeed a child of wrath,  but  Chrift is
th.c fon of thy fove ;   O  pity me for his fake, and
h. my  ionl find fiauctnary in his wo ends.
   O Lord, the waters of afflicton are come in even
upon my foul.   O let the fpirit of God move on
thefe waters, that, like the pool of Bethefda, they
may cure whatever fpiritual difeafes thou feeftin me.
O Lord,  coniider my  affliction, accept my tears,
addage my  pain, increafe  my  patience,  and  finiih
my troubles.  Corrcel me with the  chaftifement of
a father, and not with the  wounds of an enemy :
and though  thou take  not off thy rod, Lord,  take
away thine anger.
  Lord, the prince cf this  world comcth,  O let
him have naming in me ; but, as he  acculeth, do
ihjtt abfolve.  I have  nothing to  fay for myfelf,
but be thou  my advocate, Lord: and do thou  an-
fwer for me.  I am  clothed with filthy garments,
                       T3 
12a        Afflicted Mans Co-r.fanion.

a:-.1 Satan fiands at un? right hand to reft ft  me;  O
Lord, rebuke  him. and l luck me as a brand, out of
the fh a.  Caufe  nunc iniquities to pafs  from me,
and clothe me with the rlglucoufuels o'i thy  dear
ion. iknow, O Lord, that no unclean tiling tan cu-
ter into thy huyy-om, and  thou feeft 1 am nothing
but poduhoo, yea, my  vera righteoufnefs,  is filthy
rag;;  O wain me, and make me white in the bio. d
oi due Lamb, that I may be fit to ftand before thy
throne.  O take  me from the tents of lledar, to the
maufions of light and purity.  When my earthly
houfe of this  tabernacle is  diifolved, O let  me have
 a building of God, an houfe not made  with hands,
 eternal hi  the heavene.  O bring my foul out  of
 priion, that I may eternally give thanks unto thy
 name.  Amen.

                 C II A P.  VIII.

 Containing directions to the friends and neighbours of
    the fick, who are themf.lv.es in health for the  time.
        HEN the Lord fends ficknefs and  afuiriion
          to our neighbour':, we ought not to be idie
 and  unconcerned fpectators of his difpeniations: but
 we fhould harken to the voice of God's rod  upon
 others, and confider what it is that the  Lord iseal-
 iug  for  at tree-  hands.   Thefe following directions
 may be ufeful to thofe that are in health.

 Dr: ect. I. Be very thcaikfi.i to Hod for thereat mer~
    cy ofhtalth and ft; -.ngth.arul improve it to hi sp lory.
    S* UK ELY   an head foul perfon  hath itill  great
    ^  caufe to be. a thankful  perfon.  Health  is a
 mercy that doth feafon and fwecten every  other
 temporal mercy; without it the greateft wealth and
 honors, nay, a king's crown,can give no fatisfaction.
 It is  far more eligible to be a healthy  beggar than a
 lickly king.  What con fort  could it afford  us under
 toiling ficknefs,  and  tc tiering  pains, to have  the
 greateft  heaps of money to look  to, or thcufiinds
w 
Affi.t. dMr A A.-npaAar
223
coming to pay us homiym alas, for our unthank-
iufief: to him 'wlu< is die God of our b.eaith ! How
httle do we prize his yood.iefi  in continuing with ns
inh a long tract of health and ftrength, together
w eh the uie of our reafon  and fouies,  when many
otj'ier:-; are deprived of  them.  Surely God were
rlgkti.ens. ihould he  teach us to value the worth of
thcie nancies by  the want of them. -
  Let us confider how many miferable perfons there
are in the world, and who it  is that maketli us to
differ from them; how many  difeafod, diffract, de-
formed, lame,  blind, deaf,  and dumb people, there
are ;  and hove eafy it had been for God to have put
i-s in  their condition,  and  them in ours.  fine dif-
ference is not owing to  any thing in us;  their fins
are not greater than  ours.   Had  we a due fenfe of
o..r fins and ill defervings ,we couldacknowledgeour-
icives unworthy  of the leaft of all God's mercies;
we v.otdd reckon every common mercy a  fpecial
bleiiing, and unmerited favor to us.—Again, let us
take a view of the fainting iicknefs,  racking pains,
and reftlefs nights of others.  Let us look upon our
lit k friends fi.veating aud burning under fo'ere- let
us hear them gro'ining and  moaning  uede-r  firorm-
pain.  "Their foul  abhors all manner of  meat, and
they  draw near unto  the gates of dea.h." boene-
tlijies we fee them panting and fainting, and not
abie to fpeak  a  word to  us.  And what is the lan-
guage of all this to us ?  Is it  not, that  we ihould
thankfully adore our  gracious God;  and blefs and
inaynifiy him, for his diitingufliing goodnefs  to us?
O how much are we bound  to the Lord, that it is
not fo  with us as with  others !  while wearifonie
nigfos are appointed to them,  and their  bones  ere
fid I of toiling; all the comforts of this life are tafte-
lefs to them, the-.r friends are  weeping about them
but cannot help them :"■  It is for otherwife  with me
(may you lav). my mercies and relations art com-
fortable and helpful  to  me, I relifh  my  food,  iny
bed gives me tale, my fleep is refreihing :  I have 
2.2.4          Afflicted Man's  Companion.

freedom to re id and and pray, meditate and attend the
public ordinances.   Praife  the Lord, O my  foul ;
and all  that is  within  me,  blefs  his holy  name.
Forget not this benefit of health, that is the chief of
all my outward bielfiegs.   Some  would, part  wi.h
all their  worldly wealth,  to have  fo much boclilv
health as I have.   Long have I undervalued  and
abufed this choice mercy of health:  O that I could
mourn for  my negle»f±, and refolve in God's ftrength
to  improve my remaining health,   for the  praife
and iervice of that merciful God who is the author
and prefarver of it! let me fpend, and be fpent for
God, that gives me all my  health  anditreugth for
his glory.   Let mc abhor  the ingratitude of thofe
who employ the health  which  God giveth, in the
fervice of his enemies; and  make a  facrafice  of it
to the devil, the world,  and the flefii.   O what pro-
digious folly are thefe guilty  of, who, for fatisfying
their fenfual appetite, do often deprive themfelves of
health, wihch  is in  itfelf a thoufand times of more
value than all their brutiih pleafure ;  God  help me
to  prize   this  mercy,  that  can  never be  prized
 enough."

Direct.  II. make confcience of vifitlrgyour fickfriends
   and neighbours, believing  that it  ii your duty anil
   intereft fo to do.
      VISITING of the fick is not only the duty of
        the minifters of Chrift ; but  hkewife  of all
the members of Chrift:  for  we are  all enjoined to
remember them that are in adveriity, and to fympa-
thize with the  aiihcted£ as  being ourfelves alfo in
the body.  '' To him that is addicted, pity  ihould be
fhown by  his friends," faith  Job.   And  our  Lord
gives  it as a character of thofe whom he v\iil own
and acquit at the great day, Matth. xxy. 3d. "• I
was fick,  and ye vifited  me." -  This is the way to
be like him, who is  the father of mercies, and whofe
foui was  grieved   for the mlferies of Ur-ul,  Judg.
1. id.  Wc read how tenderly David fympaclfized 
            Afflicted  dban's Companion.       225

with his enemies when they were fick, Pfal. xxxv.
13. 14. and much more ought we  to vifit and fyin-
pathize with our fick  friends.  To vifit the  profi-
perous, aud healthy, is an act of courtefy and civili-
ty; but to  vifit the afflicted and fi-ckly, is  art act
of charity and chriitianity.
   And as it is yov.r duty, fo it is your intereft and
advantage to vifit the  fick. The wife man tells you,
Ecclef. vii.  2. " It is better to go to the houfe of
mourning, than to the houfe  of feafting."  King
Joaih  went  to fee  Elifha in his ficknefs, and  wept
over him; and he  loft nothing by fo doing, 2 Kings
uiii. 14. for he obtained thereby three famous viedo-
ries over the Syrians.   Though it be not warrant-
able to enquire at the dead, Deut. xviii. 11.  yet we
may learn many wholefome lelfons from the dying,
and even though  they be fpeechlefs.  As for in-
ftance, we may  hereby be inltrucfed how to prize
health, mind our own  frailty, and provdde for the
time of ficknefs.   When we behold  their ftrength
languiihing, their  tongues faultering,  their  eyes
failing, their  countenances pale;  we fhould think
with ourfelves, u This  will be my cafe ere long; the
next arrow  that death ihoots, may be levelled at
me:  how much is it my concern to prepare for it!"
Alfo we may think, what  a bitter thing fin is,  that
fi the caufe of all thefe paitis and diftrelies,.and how
mad they are who love fin and take pleafore in it.—
W e may fee Hkewife the great folly of courting and
tniting the  world, which leaves the fick and dying
man  in the  time of the greateft extremity.—dvntf
we may obferve, how  happy the man is, that hath
an in, reft in Chrift, the peace of a good confcience,
and a well grounded hope of heaven;  to  yield fup-
port aud confidence  to him under  his ftrcigglings
with ficknefs and death.  When we hear the dying
man's conudaints of his fins, and  his lamenting his
neglect of duty, and  ndfpeudfmg of precious tune,
we may  learn repentance and ifoonnnticn.  When
we obferve  their recleh.ous of love to Chrift, and 
226        .Afflicted Man's Companion.

theirhopeinhim  to the laft,it doth contribute  to
the quickening and itrengtheningof our faith. Aright
fight of dying perfons, is a good mean to increafe
the fpirit of grace and fupplication in us.  W e  may
fitly aiude  here to the anfwer which Elijah gave to
Elifha, when he  fought a double portion of his fpirit,
2 Kings ii. io. "  If thou feeit me when I am tak-
en from thee, it  ihall be fo unto thee."  A double
portion of the fpirit fhall be the allowance of thefe
who make confcience of this duty.

Direct. III. Let he friends of the fick, and thofe who
 vifit them,  deal faithfully withthem about their fouls.
 CCONSIDER, this may be the  laft opportunity
   j you  may have of  doing any  thing  for your
 friend's foul.   If he die,  he is fixed in his everlait-
 ing ftate, fo that all  advices and counfels then will
 befruitlefs. It is now, or never, you muft exert your-
 felf for your friend's advantage;  there is no knowl-
 edge nor wifdom in the grave, to which he is going,"
 God's  loving-kindnefs  cannot be  declared  in  the
grave,  nor his  faithfulnefs in  deftrucfion,"  Pfal,
Ixxxviii. ii.  Now is the  proper time for doing good
to your neighbor's foul.  YV hen affliction opens the
ear  to difcipline,  be careful to drop in wholefome
inftructions into  it; and  when  the heart is made
tender by ficknefs, it is a  fit feafon for good counfel
to  make impreilions on  it.  Let  the  opportunity
then be  improved  with faithfulnefs and prudence.
And, in order thereto, obfit rve the following advices,
  I. Labour to know the fick man's fpiritual condi-
tion; that your applications may  be fuitable there-
unto.   The knowledge of the difeafe is previoufly
requiiite unto the cure:  as  the ndnlake of a phyii-
cian about  a man's difeafe may be as dangerous as
the difeafe  itfolf;  fo here it is  highly dangerous to
miftake the cafe of the fick man's fo d;  for then len-
itives nuy be  applied, when corrolives are needful;
promifes may  be adminiftred, wheu  tnreatenugs are
more proper. 
           Afflicted Man's Companion.          227

   II. Beware of flattering the fick with vain hopes
of life, when he is  more likely to die;  left he be
thereby tempted  to delay or ilacken his preparation
for another world.  It is fit that plainnefs  be ufed
with refpecf to his danger, that he may be quickened
to his work.
   III. The fick  perfon  is to be  amoniihed  and
told, that ficknefs come not by chance, nor by  fe-
cond caufes merely; but by  the wife direction  and
fpecial  providence  of  God:   that  fometimes God
iinites, out of ehlpleafure for  iin,  and for  the  tin-
ner's correction  and  amendment;  and  fometimes
for the trial and exercife of his peoples graces; that
the iiiarpeft afflict ions ihall work  together for good
to them that love God, and are rightly exercifed un-
der God's hand: that it is a great mercy to a finner,
when God by his rod gives him warning and fpace
to repent,  and flee no the blood of fprinkling, and to
cry to God for pardou.; and  doth not fnatch  him
out of the world by a hidden death.  Upon  which
account  the  voice  of  the rod iliould  be carefully
hurkened to, and thankfully obeyed.
   IV. If the fick perfon be ignorant,  he is to be
cutcchifed and inftrucfed in the principles of religion,
efpecialiy concerning his faith and repentance,  and
his uptahkig of  the  covenant of grace,  and  the
method of pardon and falvation through the righte-
oufiufs of Chrift apprehended by faith.  And it may
be propper to demand his aifent to  fome of the fun-
damental  truths of Chriitianity, or his anfwer to
fuch queftions as thefe: lit, 'Do you believe in God
the -dither, Son,  an holy Ghoit, one God in three
per one,  the maker and governor of the world? idly
Do you believe that Jefus Chrift. who  a (fumed  our
nature, obeyed the law, died on the Crofs, rofe from
the dead, and afcended to heaven, is the  eternal
Son of God, and the only Saviour of tinners? ryliy
Are yon fenfible  that you are  a loft finner  by Ael-
am's fall, and,  beiides that, guilty of innumerrble 
228        Afflicted Man's Companion.

actual fins; and  that  yo i  have broke Gecfis  holy
commandments in thoughts, weed., au.o eee'.ls, and
for if> doun^,  do tie...rvc  God's  wr.iui  bodi  m
this file and chit which  is to come? <+thly, Are you
truly greyed yndforry for breaking Cod's law, nc;>-
leete g his worth'p. mifipendhgyo. r time, and p. r-
filing the vamdes of  the  world? And would  you
do as vouha\e clone,  or five otherwife, if you were
to begin your life again?  3thly,  How do  you think
to get your guilt removed, your fins-pardoned, and
your peace made up wdth  God? Are  you  debtees
from your heart to be  reconciled  to God thrcu:  h
Jefus Chrift, the blefl'ed peace-maker? (tthly, Dojuu
heartily approve of the gofpel mediod of recondi-
tion, bv the righteoufnefs and facraiicc offered up by
the Lord Jefus Chrift as your furity, in your name
and ftead ! Aud is your foul defirous to choofe and
accept of Chrift for your mediator  and Saviour,  in
all his offices,  of prophet, prieit, and king? ~jtbly,
Do you renounce all confidence in any other, all de-
pendence on  your own  duties  and righteonfne.fi,
and put your  whole truft and  confidence in Chriit,
and the merits of his blood, faying, " Whom have I
in heaven but thee ? and there is none on earth
that I defire  befides  thee." Do you believe  that
there is no falvation in any other;  and that there is
no name under heaven  whereby yon can be faved,
but Jefus Chrift only?  8thly,  Do we defire to be
wholly renewed and fanctified  by virtue  of Chrift's
blood, and to ihew forth the reality of your faith by
good works and a holy  life for  the time  you have
to live in the world?  And, as an evidence thereof,
are you willing  to  reitore what you have taken
wrongfully from any, and to forgive all  wrongs
done to you by any,  and to caft out all  malice or
hatred you have borne to  any, and aik forgivenefs
of any you have injured? othly, Do you  believe
that Chrift is coming at the laft day to judge all the
world, both the quick and the dead, whom  he fliall
then raife from the grave, and that your dead body 
                Afflicted Man's Companion.     229

  fliall rife  with the reft? lothly, Do  youbelievethe
  immortality of the foul, and its living in  a feperate
  ftate after death, and that the  fouls of believers  do
  immediately  pafs into  glory, where  they fliall  be
  ever with the Lord ?
     V.  In dealing with the fick you are to  foparate
  betwixt the precious  and  the vile, and make a dif-
  ference betwixt the converted and the unconverted.
  And feeing different applications are  requiiite, you
  are, according to your  knowledge, to ftudy to fuit
  yourcounfels, admonitions, aud prayers, totheirftate
  and condition;   not* ufing the  fame  words to the
  ungodly as you life to the godly, left you flatter
  them with ill grounded hopes that their ftate is fafe,
  while they are itrangers to a work of regeneration.
  That great truth is to be declared to all, that, " un-,
  lefs, a man be born again, he cannot  fee the king-
  dom of God."   O it is dangerous  to fpeak peace,,
  where God fpeaks war.
    \ I. If the lick perfon feein to be fecure, or have not
  a dv.e fenfe of his fins;  endeavours inuft be ufed  to
  convince him of the guilt, pollution,  and danger of
  there,  in order  to his  humiliation.  Prefiunptuous
  Iinners are not to be flatered, left  we betray their
  fouls into eternal ruin, and fo their blood be required
  at our hand.  No fond love, no  flavifh fear, muft
  keep us from telling them the hazard of of their pre-
  fent ftate. The fecure confcience muit be  awakened
  to fee the demerit of fin, and the terriblenefs of the
  juftice  of a  fin-revenging God,  before  whom no
  Chriitlefs impenitent finner can ftand : this is necef-
  fary in order to a tinner's diicovenng his loft cafe  in
  himfelf,  and his fleeiug  to  Chriit for  refuge.  It is
^ God's method, firft to caft down the  foul before he
  lift it up  ; to plow the heart by conviction, before he
  caft in the feed of confolation.
     VII.  If the fick  perfon  hath ffudied to walk up-
  rightly, but is at prefent difcouraged upon account of
  the fliarpnefs  of the rod,  Satan's temptation , the
  guilt pf fin,  fear of death, or the like; then fuitable 
230        Afflicted  Maris  C mpanlru

conn feus, refolutious, and comfirtr. ere tube tender-
ed, inoraerto  his feitlenent and fupport.   Partic-
ularly he may be told, that iharp rods are no-wifcin-
tonfilte-.it with divine love ;  nay, frequently,  they
are align  of it  : for as handing wata rs turn corrupt,
becaufe  they have no current; and thefe who are not
poured from veded to veiled,  their tafte remains and
 their fcent is not changed ; therefore, God, in order
 to take  away the fcent of the corrupt uaturcfromn:,
 is pleafed  to change us from ftate to ftate, by crolfcs
 and ficknefs;to  falvation. And as Noah's Ark, the
 higher  it  was toiled  with  the  flood, the nearer it
 mounted towards heaven;  fertile fanctified foul, the
 more it is exercifed with affliction, the nearer it ishk-
 ed towards God.  Again, it  is proper  to fet before
 him the freenefs and fulnefs of God's grace, the fuf-
 ficiency of rightoufnefs  in Chriit, and his rich and
 graciot.r offers in the gofpel, by which we are alhfo-
 ed, that ail who repent and believe with all their heart
 in Godi's mercy throi gh  Chrift. renouncing theirov. 11
 -rightoi  feed, ihall not periih in their fins, but have
 hfe and falvation in bun ; and that believrs in Chrift
 areafldred of victory  over Satan, death, and all their
 enemies, becaufe Chrift  their head  hath by his crofs
 conquered the devil, u 11 itinged death, triumphed o-
 ver the grave,  and obtained victory for all his  mem- ;
.ders.   So that neither life  nor death, principalities
nor powers, fliall be able to feparate them from  God's
 lovAn  Chrift.                                  _  I
    VIII.  Tf a fick man be fo tempted and troubled in I
confcience that  he  is in hazard of defpairing of Cod's j
mercy : it is necelfary to inform him of the greatnefc J|
and infinitenefs  of God'smer«y ; that the moit notori-
ous finners have been pardoned and faved by it, and
it is ftill o  ferccl  in the,gofpel  fo the vileft of finners.
Tho gh God forefaw all the  fins which the world
would commit,  yet-thefe did not hinder him from
loving the world fo that he gave  his  only  begotten!
Son to death, to fave us many as would bene . e and!
.repent ;iotbcit  the firn. nf one man can never hinder 1 
          Afflicted Man's Caaaanplon.         ' 23.

 God from loving his foul, and forgiving his fins, when
 he iieccrciy deiires to repent and believe.   Theory
 of the mod grcvlous fins that  are recorded (fuch as
 thefe of Sodom) could never reach higher than unto
 beacon, Gen. xi::.  13.   hut  David aifv.rs  us, Pfal.
 cviii. 4  that the mercy of God is great, and readi-
 es  higher than the heavens,  fo that it  overtopped!
 the greateft of all our fine.  If the mercy of God be
 yicater than all his work, it mnft finely be greater
 t'Uuu all our fins—Again, lay  before  him  the  in-
 fhfite  virtue of Chrift's blood:  why? it is  not  the
 blood of a mere man, but the blood of God, Acts x;e.
 id.  And ai'e  there any fins fo  great,  or guilt fo
 heinous, but the blood of God can waih away ?  This
 was godly  Craumer's fupport that  day  he  fuftered
 martyrdom,  when  his iin of renouncing the Pro:: f-
 taet doctrine ftared him in the face: l"  Surely (faid
 he) God wasrmade (je-.h, and ihe.1 his bloo.l, not  for
 leifer fins only, but for  greater fins alfo."  He was
■fadly diftdoaraged, and. wept abundantly, till he eyed
 this meritorious blood:  and then he took heart and
 died with courage.   O  this price was fo great, that
 it could have merited pardon  for the fins  of all the
 devils in hell,  as well  as of all the men on c-^rch,
 though every one of the,11 had been red as cud nfon.
 \ea, the leuft drop of this bloo.l is of more merit to
 procure the mercy  of God for our fifivadon, than rui
 o ,-r fms can be of force to provoke the wrath of God
 fur oar damnation ;why, the greateft of  our  fins are
 but the iins of a man, but the  leaft  drop; of Chrift's
 blood is the blood of Go..\.
   Moreover, Let him be put  in rnind of the wililng-
 nefs and read.uefs  of our Redeemer to receive  a 1
 fi.mers teat came  to him in the days of his field,
 though driven  to hi a by ficknefs ami auTidc.on: f'o
 tli it he never put any of them away  without their er-
 re. id,  that came crying  for nvrcy.   Nay, he many
 Iunes foight out objcdL for hij mercy, tine: were not
 tnuik'nig of coming to him, as ikened before.  Oi>
 ftrcc tlie neuitlcuefs of our  Lord's carria-e to Treks
                   U 2 
 232         Afflicted d ban's Companio n.

 himfelf, in calling him Friend, after his moft trcaclt-
 erous dealing, Matth. xxvi. 50.  *" Friend, (laid he),
 wherefore art thou  come?" Had wretched  Judas
 laid hold 011 the word Friend, out of the mouth  of
 Chriii, as Benhadad did the word Brother from the
 mouth of Ahab; doubtlefs Judas ihould have  found
 the Gcd of Ifrael more merciful than Benhadad fond
 the king of Ifrael.
    Laflly, Let him confider, that to difpair of  God's
 mercy,  caft the greateft  difhonor upon  the divine
 T.Inicfty, and is a iin more heinons than all  the fins
 which  we have before  committed: why,  it  doth
 charge the great God as guilty of perjury, who hath
 fo-emniy fworn, that lie defires not the death of a fin-
 ner, but rather that he ihould repent and live, Ezek.
 xxxiii. it.  God was more difpleafed with Cain for
 defpairing of his mercy, than for murdering his bro-
 ther; and with Judas for  hanging himfelf, than for
 betraying his Mailer:  why, becaufe that by  their
 defpair they  would  make the fins of mortal  men
 greater than the infinite mercy of the  eternal  God.

   Direct. IV. Be earneft in prayer to God for your
friends when fick or dying. Pray with them and for
 them.
 T^IIEQUENTLY fick derfims are fo difquieted
 gy  v. ith pain aud  trouble, that they are out of cafe
to prey for them'civ^s, and therefore they have the
more need of the prayers of others.   David fmled
and prayed for his enemies  when they were fick, Pfal.
fox.  13.  much  more ought we to pray  for our
friends in that cafe.   I\e\er~did they need our pray-
ers fo much,  as when they are called to enter  upon
an unchangeable condition, to go to their long home,  j
even  that place  wherein  thev muft abide for  ever.
Now  they are in the land of prayer, and it is now or  1
never that you. mo.ft pray and beg mercy for diem.
Vdhen their fife  is  gone,  they go from the  land of  .,
prayer, and are fi>:eci in that place whence they fliall
never remove: then all vour prayer, and cries for  ;
them  vriii be in vain.  If , our frimid Lc a itranecr 
             AflliAzd Man's Conf aalon.       233

to Chrift, he is  on the brink  of hell, ami knows it
not; and will you not cry to God to open  His eye,
and fine him from falling  into that devouring pit,
out of which there is no redemption? You would be
willing to fit up a whole niglit for the relief of his
body? and will you not fpend a  part of a .fight for
the good of hie  foul,  that  is a thoLand times more
valuable? Now the  queddou is,  whether this pre-
cious foul fhall he Chrift's or the devil's  for ever?
And  when will you wrelfi;* for  your  friend, if
you do it not now ? If the fick penon be  a child
of God, yoa may pray with him with the more com-
fort, and  expectation to be  heard.  You may,  fo
that caie,  fond the famemedage by prayer to Chriit,
that, the  idler  of fick Lazarus  fin!,  John rdl.  3.
k- Lord, behold, he whom thoa loved, is fick." Lord
pity bin, comfort him, adatc his dlftemner, and, re-
lieve hi,,i from it if it  be thy will: if not,  grant him
thy gracious ; re-fence arid line conduct  through the
Jordan of death, and a happy landing in the Canaan
of rriorv-.
   Wcm-ct-dd,  that the prayers of the righteous,  in
fuch  cafes,  cioch avail much, James  v.°re.  And
this to encourage us topi ay  one "dm another.  -What-
ever he the  fick  perfon's  condition.  i'.ch cofifofimus
aud pcfit.H)..: as thefe fol'ov.fog may be  made ufo  in
pra\ er for him.            '  ^

              Pctilio-isya-ihefeb.

T   OI. D.' thou firil Neacheft into man the breath
jt_j of die : and when thou takeit away that breath.
he  uies, a ui remrus again  to his dud.  Iviev we  be
eitdy den dole 0: 01 r'dependence, on thee for'afi :d t
wee.joy.    \ve  acknov ledge, thm oar gin at abufe of
the many days of health an J veddre dion adbrddi:
is. dothju.uy deforvc the  viiitat  on  of dekued a•<1
difeafes.   W'oC  us, we he under a b rden "of fo^
bo.h  original  and ;nt.:ai:  wc. are ad children  or
wiacuby  nature,  ami under  the curie of a bro;  en
lav., aad  all ether mifories  temporal am' h intual 
234        Afflicted Maids Companion.

dlfte-npe-:.-, *)dns,dcudn, and hell it felf, are the iflucu
thereof,   fie merciful to the fick perfon under  thy
band; difcocer .o hum his  fius, and the caufe  v. hv
thou contended, with him.   Make him fee  that he is
loft in himfelf, card wholly unable to fatisfy the de-
mands of odievded juftice; and do thou reveal Chriit
to his find for righteoufnefs and life.  O  give him
thy holy fpirit to create and itrengriiui huth,  that
lie u;jy  lay hold on Chrift as offered in the gofpel:
woe/, in hem the grace of true repentance.  Enable
him to foareh his heart, and try his ways, fo as  he
may d:/cover  every accurfed thing  e\ery  Achan in
.the camp, that hath provoked the Lord againit him.
 'V.hen ihou putted him in the furnace, be pleafcd to
ftand by it,  and ovcrfee the metal while it is melting
in  it.  Try him as filver is  tried, and bring him out
 purified, and let him lofe nothing in the furnace but
his drofs.   Ilemove Ids fins from thy prefence as far
;iseaft is from the weft, that they may never trouble
his confcience, nor rife in judgment againft his loul.
However bitter the cup may be, let it be  medicinal
to  cure ail die difeafe, of his foul.    O that thefe af-
flictions, which are but for  a moment may work tor
him a far more exceeding and eternal weight ofiglo-
ry, through Jefos Chrift the purchaier !
  ' Look  (iavni from heaven, the habitation of thy ho-
dueic, behold his ailliction aud has pain, and ibrghe
all  ids f.a.  ; Shew inch phy to him as a father cloth
to his child, and iay no more upon  him  than he is a-
nle to bear.   Lord,  give patience and ftrength  an-  '
fwcrahie to the burcten of trouble thou haft Jaid  on
him.   In rime  cf his weaknefs, uphold him by  thy
ft length- Relieve hi<, wantcout of thy infinite fulneis. t
Cmd, thou k.uov. eft his frame, and remeuibereit that
he  is del'.;  fcac him from extremity  of trouble;  ei-
ther abate his..pain,  or  increafe his  patience to en-  1
dure  what  thou lueutiucft  out  to hum   Give bun
the evidences  of all  the- graces of thy Spirit.^ Arm
and tit fend him againit all the fuggeibous a fid temp-
ts tienc. of Satr"   TM *> ia* lu.-M-r   \. holiv off the
                                                   i 
           AffllAed Man's Companion.       235

v orhi,and fet his affections on things above.  Lord,
make <;fe of this  chaftifement of his body as a medi-
cine to cure his foul, by drawing his foul, that is fick
of fin, to thyfilf.  O enable him in a penitent  be-
lieving manner to come by repentance to  Chrift his
fbtil-peydci in,  to  get it  healed of all its-maladies.
Sanctify his ficknefs,aiidlet the fruit of it be to purge
away his fin.
   If God fhall be pleafed to add to his days, blefs all
means of his recovery. Pvemove the difeafe : renew
his flrennh both outward and inward; heal his foul
as well as his body. And enable him to walk  tender-
ly before God, and  carefully to remember and per-
form fuel 1  vows and promifes of obedience as men
are apt to made in time of iicknefs.
   If God hath determined to  finifh his days by the
prefent vifitation,  let him find fuch evidence of the
pardon of his iins, of his intereft in Chriit, and eter-
nal life, as  may caufe his inward man to be renewed,
while  his  outward  man  decayeth ;  that he  may
meet death without fear,  caft  himfelf wholly  on
Chriit wichout doubting,  and  defire to be diifolved,
that he may  for ever be  with jefus Chriii.—Lord,
make his laft .works better  than his. firit, and the day
of his death better than the day of his birth.   Make
his laft words his belt  words,  his lait thoughts,  his
bell thoughts, and his laft hour his belt Jhour.  O
let iii.n die  the death of  the righteous,  and let  his
laft end be like his.   Let the eyes of his  foul be
opened to  fee  his fins and his Saviour, before the
eyes of"fiis  body be ihut by death.   Take away  the
iting of death,  the  guilt of fin, that he  may walk
througii  the valley of the ihadow of death, and fear
no evil.    Open  thou his lips, that his mouth may
ihevv  forth thy praife, before be goto the  place of
thence.  And when his  ftrength doth lull,  and his
tongue is not able to utter v.-erds, let the blood of
Chrift fpeak  for  him hi  heaven ;  and let thy holy
Spirit  v. ithlii lnm make re an efts for h*m  with figks
and "roans  that  cameo,  be  uttered.—When  tne 
o->6         A'dlAcd Man's Companion.
■—o           ■'•'
fight of his eves doth fad h'un, let the eyes of his
fouh be ftredgtheued, then his foul  (with  Stephen
at his death) may behold J tins  Chrift in hea  < o
ready to  receive him.  Lord, ftand by him in ins
left conflict with his enemies, Satan and  death, that
he may overcome both, and be more tlum a conquer-
or throt gh Chrift that  hath  loved him.  Into thy
hinds we  commend his fpirit
   Lord, teach us v. ho do furvivo, by this and other
 like daily fpecftacles of our mortality, to fee how frail
 and  uncertain  our condition  is, and fo to number
 our clays,  that we may feriouily  .apply our hearts to
 heavenly  wifdom, througii jefus Chrift.  Amen.

 D1 r e c T.  V. Be careful to furif.fh your friends -eelth
   'fuitable confey, and fpiritual converfe, when they
   are fick or dying.
       AS  worldly company  and  converfe are great
       hindrances, fo fpiritual company and  converfe
 are ipecial helps to the iick and  dying.  Now, that
 the friends  of  the  lick  may  prevent the one, aud
 provide the'other, let the following advices be re-
 membered.
   ifl, Mind your friends tlmeoufly to make their
 wills, and difpatch  the  lettlement of their worlCy
 e.dlurs, that fo they  may not  be difttebed  at  the
 laft, nor any wife, diverted ham.  .heir main .work, by
 thoughts  or difcouries  about tne world.   A mi: d
 abducted  from the wo.ihi is a muft fuitable cffou.h-
 tioa for  a dylerpo man.   \ou  cannot carry  the
 things of"  ties  v.Oi ed with  you v. ken you go hence ;
 and it, it not";.t  dint yon ihould carry tne thoughts of
 the m.
   wily.  Keen  ct.uc.al  company  from  them as much
 as poifib.e, and an thefe that  wofod  im.ert them by
 idle or worldly cdfco.rde.   L is both  i;u;..rcu.c..t
 unci camel, to throw ia li.ch impc-iuci is d. the way
 of  dic.fe  daaed  are  goiuo fa± c.miy to  il.eec  cnufofo 
Afflicted Alan's Companion.        237
  ylly, Do what you can to get faithful minifters and
godly  Chriitians  to be much about thein, who are
fit to  iuftruct and counfel them about their foul's
matters, and alfo to pray  with them and for them.
  eftdly,  Be often minding your iick friends of their
chief work, and thefe things which belong unto their
peace.   Whatever be their  itate,  whether gracious
or gracelefs, it is proper to be  minding them, 1.  Of
the vanity and emptinefs  of the world, that can nei-
ther give eafe to die  body, nor comfort to the foul,
when either of them is in trouble.   2. Of the finful-
nefs of fin,which is the fpring of all difeafes and mi-
ferics  whatever.  3. Of the precioufnefs and ufeful-
n'efs of Chrift  to a finner  in all cafes and efpecially
at a dying hour.  4. Of the inexpreilible felicity of
believers in Chrift after death, etc.
  Laflly, If you think yotirfolves not able to inftrucl:
or advife  your iick friends  as they ftand in need,
then read fome good book to them, that may be fuit-
able to the condition of their  fouls; and if you  have
not  a  fitter at hand,  read fome chapters and direc-
tions of this book to them, as you may fee moft pro-
per for them.  But above  all books, read to the lick
the holy fcriptures, particular chapters and Pfalnis
there,  fuch as the three laft chapters of Gen. the laft
chapter of Deuteronomy,the 17th chapter of the iirft
book of Kings, and 2d chapter of" the 2d  book of
Kings, and 14th and 19th chapters  of  Job, the
Pfahns of David, and  particularly  the 6th, the 23d,
C^d  dfo!-'fo d^th, 41ft,  aid, 49th, 51ft, 71ft, 73d,
77th, ddth, 89th, 90th, 103d,  116th, 118th, 130th,
i42d,  143d, and feveral other Pfalm.----the i2th,
chapter of Ecchfiadcs:  the  38th, 53d, 54th, and
55th, Ifaiah ; the three laft chapters of Luke  ; the
14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 20th chapters of John  ;
the 18th chapter of the Romans:  the 15th chapter
of the  1 ft Cor.—the 5th of the 2d Corinth.—the 4th
ofift'fheif.—the nth and 12th ot Heb.—the  three
laft chapters of the Revelation, and the like. 
23S        AfllAed Man sCtny.uilm.

Direct. VI.  Be Hkewife fu. tally concerned for the"
  bodies of yours frier ah. when I hey m e fick.
  IF you would evidence a fuitable concern for them,
    then vou muft deed  tenderly and coiopuffionately
with  them in their ficknefs, bear  with their impa-
tience and fretting, weary not of them, ucr grudge
at the trouble they put yoa to : for ihortiy youyour-
felves may  be in the like cafe, when you fhall  be as
great a trouble  to others,  as your friends are  now
to you.
  Again, it  is neceiTary  to employ phyficians, and
ufe the belt means for the recovery of your friend's
health.  The means indeed muft not be truiieel  to
inftead of God, but ufed in fubferviency to him, who
hath  appointed them, and can only give fuccefs  to
them.  We muft beware of A fa's fin, that fought  to
the phyficians, and not to the Lord.  Let us neither
take food nor phyfic  without prayer to God for his
bieifmg thereupon.

Direct. VII, JVhen thefitleaefs of your relations or
   neighbours doth iff lie in death, ftudy a chriftian and
  fact cade behaviour under finch a defpafaiion.
 T 71 THEN a parent lofeth a prom'ifing child, cr
  VV   a  Cndd lofeth a  loving  parent,  or when
 death dearie, es us of any near relation, it is a fpeak-
 ino- and trying providence : and we have much need
 of grace and counfel from God to carry aright under
 it.  Let us obferve thefe advices.
   I.  It  is neceTary in fuch a cafe that  we have a
 tender fenfe and feeling  of God's afflicting   hand/
 There are two extremes which we multeqt.aliy avoid,
 viz. to make  light of Lite death  of relations ; and to
 be  excelfively grieved on  that  account.   God well
 have us neither to defpife his rod,  nor to Hint under
 it J led. xii. 5.  God is difpieafed v. ith thole that  are
 ftupid and iufeufibie  under flub, afflictions..  Why?
 They defpife  his rod, and make light  of his cor-
 rection,  icence he complains  of thefe* Jer.  v. o
 tl 1  ln.ye fmltten them, but they have not grieved/'' 
             Afflicted Man's Companion.        239

Gael v.ud hive us feel his hand to enquire into the
meaning of the rod, and  fearch for thefe  fins that
have  provoked  God to  finite us.   It is a  iign of
naughty, felfiih, and unckriftian fpirit to be uncon-
cerned for the deadi of friends, and it is much more fo
in children, who have a fecret fatisfapf ion in thedcath
of parents, becaufe of the worldly riches of liberty
which, they get thereby.   God ufeth to follow this
wicked temper with his heavy judgments even in
this life.
   II. Confider,  that God is calling  you by the
death of others, to keep up lively and laiting impref-
fions of death and eternity upon your fpirits  God
knoweth how advantageous it would be for  men fo
to do; and  therefore he  fets frequent fpectacics of
morifofty  before their eyes for this end.  But fuch
is the corruption and earthiinefs of our minds, that
we foon  forget  the thoughts of  death.  When vee
fee our friends in the pangs of death, or laid in the
grave, it  llinkes  us with fome fear and concern, to
think, that this well one day be our own cafe ; but
no foonor is the dead interred, and the grave filled
up again, than  all thefe  ferious thoughts begin to
vanidi,  aud men return  to their fins and pleafures
as before.  Ah, what folly is this !  Should not men
always keep alive the ferious thoughts of death and
a  future itate ?  Are we   not  always alike mortal ?
Are wc not as liable  to death's arreit at other times,
as when examples arc before our eyes ?
   III.  When God takes away your children or re-
lations, let it draw your hearts and affections mire
towards God aud  things  above.  As when  a  ihep-
herd taketh up .hi his arms a lamb of the flock, the
ewe  followeth him oi ner own accord and will not
leave him:  fo  when  the great ihepherd  of the
lheep taketh a child or friend from  you, it fhould
caufe yon to follow after him, and defire to be with
him.  Bat one may  fay,  that is not the cafe with
me ; I fear  the wolf harii got the ftraying  fheep
and devoured it.   Then even that fufipicion  ihould 
240        Afflicted Man's Companion.

make you run to the good ihepherd, abide with him,
and keep clofe by the footlteps of the flock, aud be-
ware of ftraying in thefe parts wherein deftroyers go.
When God taketh from you thefe relations whom
you  dearly loved, he calls you  to take your love  off
the fading creature, and fet it on the eternal Creator;
when the weak branch is  lopt off, then clafp to the*
body of the tree, which will not fail  you.
  IV.  In fuch trials,  ftudy a humble and  patient
fubmiflion to the will of God, who in his fovereigu
wifdom and  pleafure hath taken your child or friend
from you.  Remember who hatfi done it, even  he,
who gave all men their lives, aud hath  the  abfolute
power and  right  to  difpofe  of men's lives as  he
thinks belt.   If your fellow creatute do any thing
that  difpleafeth you, you may both all: who did it,
why he did fo ? But when God doth any thing to
you, you muft remember  he is the Potter,  and you
are the clay ; and that he  may make or  mar  his
clay  veiTels,  yea, break them in pieces at his plea-
fure  ;  and |'' there is none cr.n ftay|his hand, or fay
to him, what doit thou? be ftill, and know that I
am  God," Pfal. xlvi.  io.   The mafter of  a family
gathers at his pleafure the flowers and fruits cf his
garden ; fometimes he cuts  oif the buds, fometimes
he fuffers them  to  bioifom: fometimes  he   gathers
the green fruit, fometimes he itays till they be ripe,
and  every  body thinks he may do with his own
what  he pleafeth : and fliall not the almighty God
have liberty  much more to  difpofe of all that grows
in his own territories at his pleafure ? The mafter of
the  family hath not  created the trees and  plants of
his garden; but God hath  made and  fafhioned all
the children of men with his almighty hand.
   It is the fenfe of this foverign right and  domini-
on of  God over his creatures, that  hath  made  his
people to be filent under the greateft loifes.   Hence
Aaron when he loft his two  fons by a fudden and
extraordinary ftroke, it is  faid  of  hiiu,  Lev. x. 3.
^ And Aaron held his peace."  He opened not his 
            Afflictededian's Companscn.         £41

 mouth, becaufe it  was a fovereign God that did it.
 So holy,  Job, when he loft all his children by one
 biove, patiently fobmits to this abfolute  Lord, Job
 1. 2t. '- The Lord gave,  and  the  Lord hath taken
 away ; ble died be the name of the Lord." Job knew
 that God's relation to them was far nearer than his,
 and his right to difpofe of them was indifputable.
 It  was a holy  and excelent fpeech of that honora-
 ble perfon, lord  Dupleflis, at the death  of his only
 Ion ;•• I  could not have borne  this from a man,
 but I can from  God."
   V.  Guard againft immoderate grief and exceffive
 forrow for  the death of children or near relations;
 for this is iinful and o fenfive to God.  Now, grief
 is finfol and immoderate, when it makes you grudge
 at  God's  difpeufation,  mte-niur at  his will, turn
 unthankful  to him for the merch.s you  enjoy, over-
 look  all by paft favors,  and lament a temporal more
 than a fpiritual lofs.  Alas!  there  are  many who
 can bewail a dead friend foe more than a dead heart,
 and the lofs of a  child more than tne  lofs of God's
 countenance.  Now, for preventing this  exceifive
 forrow, confider thefe things.
   ift, If you be Chriftiefs and impenitent, you have
 reafon to blefs God  that  the ftroke  was not at your
 own life, for then yo.i had  been eternally miferable,
 and without hope.   What  is  the temporal lofs of a
 child, to the eternal lofs tldue  own foul ? O it is
 far better to  be chiidlefs and  friendlefs on earth,
 than  to-be hopelel's  and  remedilefs in hell.
 idly,    Confider how little ground you have to com-
 plain  of any lofs or ftroke you meet wide on earth.
 1. If youeye God'sfovereignty and power oyer you,
 you have  caufe to be thankful that hehath not anni-
 hilated you  and  your relations both long ere now,
 feeing he  hath as full  a domion to  reduce you to
 nothing, as to bring you from  nothing.   Though
 God ihould  daih us againft the wads as  a potter
doth his veifel, no  man could have reafen to fay,
What doft thou ? or why doft  thou ufe me   id) ■> Tm-
                     W                     J 
242          sijjiurea iviarcs Companion.

xviii. 6.  " O houfe oflfreal, cannot I do  with you
as this potter ? faith  the Lord."  Nay, he  hath a
greater right to deal fo with us, than a potter  with
his veifel' for God hath contributed all to  his  crea-
ture that it hath;  but the potter never  made the
clay which is the fubftance of the veifel, nor the wa-
ter  that is needful to make it tractable.   All that
the  potter doth, is only to mould the clay into fuch
a ihape ;  befid.es  the potter's body is no better than
the  clay he makes his veffel of;  nay, perhaps that
very clay  might  once have been  fome part of the
body of a man as good as the potter himfelf.   Now,
fhali the potter have fuch abfofute power over that
which is fo near alike  to h.im ;  and ihall not God
have it over that which infinitely diitant from him?
That word, Dan.  iv. 34, 35. "The Moil Highdoth
according to his will," is enough to  fileuce the mur-
murinp-s of all men under ftrokesandloh'cs.
   2.  If you eye the hand of God,  as moit juft and
rightous in what you have met with,  you have  no
good ground to complain. "  Have you not procur-
ed all this  yourfelf .'' Is not God  moit juft  in  all
that hath  come  upon you?  Nay, if  you confider,
your fins, and God's  abfolute dominion over you,
you mail own he  might have  dealt  with you in a
linarter way than he hath done : inltead of one afflic-
tion, you might have had a thoufand.
   3. Look to the mercy that is mixed with the rod.
It is a wonder that this great So\ creign,  who is lb
provoked by us  iliould follow us any mercy  at  all,
and yet we receive innumerable benefits from him.
Whatever be our  afflictions, forely they are far  lefs
then our iniquities deferve.  Hath he caftyot.r child
into the grave ? he might juiily have thrown your
foul into hell. It is of the Lord's  niercies  you are
not confuined.  Why fhould a livdng man complain ?
a man out of a grave, and out of hell too, hath fore-
ly no reafon.
   4. if you compare your affliction with the trials of
/other's  of God's people,  yea,  and  thefe   faints 
           Afflicted Mads Companion.        243

who have been moft eminent,  you have no reafon tt>
grudge at your lofs.  You have one child dead,  but
Aaron (vvho  is called  the faint of the Lord, Pfal.
cvi. 16.)  had two  at a ftroke;  nay, Job, whom God
commends  above  all the faints in his  day, had  ail
his  children flain  by one blow, and both thefe emi-
nent faints had thefe loifes by an immediate and ex-
traorcduary ftroke from God.  Sonne godly parents
have feen their children live to prove fcandals to re-
ligion, and a grief of mind to  themfelves,  and would
have  thought it  a mercy  if God  had taken  them
away when young,  Say not then, there  is no for-
row like your forrow ; for the cup which many oth-
ers k-ncc  drunk, hath  had more bitter ingredients in
it than yours.
  fflly, Confider that  etcceflive  grief cannot  better
your  cafe,  it may well make it worfe.   If you ftrip-
le and contend under God's hand, you  acta foolifli
part; as  a  bullock unaccuftomed to the yoke,  that
by  his ftruggling  galls his neck, and makes the yoke
the more uneafy: or like a bird fluttering in a net,
that,  inftead of freeing, doth the  more entangle it-
felfi Thus by immoderate forrow and fretting under
the ftroke, you fin the more againit God,  and make
yOi.r  burden  the more heavy.
  4-thly, Remember the transactions of thy foul with
God in the day thou enteredft into covenant with him.
When thou fa weft thyfelf on the brink  of-hell,  and a
burden of fin preifing thee down,  and no hope  for
thee but  in Chriit; then  your cry was, " none but
Chrift: take children, relations, riches, and all things
in a world  from me, and give me Chrift.  I give up
m-.-felf, and ail I have, to be difpofed at thy pleafure ;
thy well, Lend, fhall be my will, ode.   Now, God is
takine thee at thy word, and trying thy lincerity in
what thou fiddit and profefiedft  to him fo foiemnly.
lie hath didpofed of diy dear relation as pleafed
lum ; O believer dod thou rue the bargain? wouidft
thou take thy word again ? where is thy covenant-
                     W  2 
2--]4         Afjueied Man's Companion.

t d fubnulTion to the will of God, and thy proiififed
contentment with all his difpofals?
  p,thlv, Doft thou not believe that a convcnanted
God is better  to  thee than  all the friends in the
world? cannot God foon make up the greateft lofs
to thee, if thou turn to him by prayer, and pour out
thy heart and iberows in his bofom? what  arc the
world's  comfort to  God's  comforts? a fmile of
Cod's  face in prayer,  can  foon fwecten  thy bitter
cup, and make thee forget  ail  thy  forrows, Plain.
xciv. T9. '' In the multitude of my thoughts within
me,  thy comforts delight my foul." The author of
tiie fuiiiling of the ft rim tire.-, tells us of one  Patrick
iMacilwrac. an emenent faint, in the v. eft of Scotland,
 v. ho having fori his dear and only fon, got  to his
cioiet, and  there poured out his foul  to the Lord.
"When  he  came out to his  friends at length, who
were waiting to comfort him,  and  fearing how he
would take fuch a heavy itroke, he  returned from
prayer with a cheerful countenance,  and told fome
of his friends who aiked him the reafon  of his  checr-
fulnefs, '■  that he had got that in  his  retirement
with the Lord, that to have it afterwards renewed,
he would be content to lofe a foa. every day."
  6thly, Serioufly confider  that you are but  a few
clays journey behind him for whom you mourn, and
that you will, quickly overtake him, and be with him
Cauda,   ldds  al'.-y.ed  David's forrow for his  end.',
2 Sam. xii. ','.3. l'  I ihall go  to bun."   It is our c .-
peering,  to live here,  to enjoy the con.fort of relati-
ons chat commonly makes us grieve fo much for their
death; for  if  we  looked on  ourfohes as men that
were to die in a lew days we would not be  io trou-
bled for our friends that me gone but a little ft ace
before  us.
  ~}i!.ly,  If yo-\ friends  are gone to  heaven  yotu
have  in ore  reafon to rejoice  with them  than  to
mourn for them: feeing tiiey are ie;fneahably l!:!li.
pier where  they now are, than they could have bemi
win-, you. It is the molt  for /cut .fount: aud v. bu yf 
           Afflicted Man's Companion.         245

every true chriftian to be in  heaven : and will you
grieve,  becaufe God-hath taken your relations thith-
er, where you defire to be yourfelf above ail  things?
As Chrift faid to his  difcinles  before  his death,  John
xiv. 2.8, ''• If ye loved ine you would rejoice  becaufe
I go unto the Father: fo, if your departed friend
could fpeak to  you from heaveu, he  would fay u If
ye loved me with a pure fpiritual  love, ye would
rejoice that I am gone to my Father, where  I am
more iuuppy than you can poifibly conceive of me."
   Objct. "■ Had  I ground to  think  that any friend
is gone to heaven, it would eafe me; but, alas,  I fear
it  is otherwife."
   Anfw. i. It doth not belong to us to dive into
the eternal ftate and condition of thefe that are gone
off the itage.  Thefe fecret  things belong  to God,
who exercifeth his mercy or juftice towards finners
according to his fovereign will.
   2. buppofing  the worft,  you ought to fubmit  to
the  incontrolable  fovereignty of  God who   hath
mercy on  whom he wdll have mercy, and whom he
will he  hardeneth.  u He is of one mind and who
can tern him?" The Lord cut  off Aaron's two fons
in the very act of fin and rebellion againft him, and
yet Aaron held his peace, and fo ought you.
   3. Whatever be the lot of others  hereafter, you
have reafon to be thankful  to God, for his diitin-
guifhing mercy;  in faving you from thefe flames that
others fall into,  and giving you good hope   through
grace of glorifying God above forever.

Direct.  VIII. Let the ficknefs and death of others be
   a war airy io you in time of health to make  due pre-
  paration for the time of ficknefs aad of dying,  which
   is before your hands,
       WHEN  you fee your  friends  and neighbours
        in a fickly,  weak, or dying  condition, the
Iaimuao-e  of the  difpeufation  to  you that are in
health Is. prepare for ficknefs alfo.  Nay,  the fee-
ble voice  of the  fick doth proclaim this warning a^
                       W  e> 
'le/y        Afflicted Mdrds Companion.

lordly, ns if rimy fhould  lift vn rifor voice like t>
trumpet, and fay  to you, ''•  ivceneiul er  that  you
muft lie in the fame  cafe ere  long; you muft  ae.o
grorm under  pain,, lofe-your  ftrengtii and  beauty,
leave your mlrdi .md company, bid adieu to all the
.world, and look  out for the grim medengcr death,
that is a con dure to ciilfolve tne earthly tabernacle,
fend the body to  lie  in a putrid,dug  grave,  and the
foul to hand Define Cod's tribunal, a; be fon ten ted
to and enellefs itate." This will be thy cafe. O young
man,  ftrong  run, healthful man, as really in a little
as it is of thofe now before yci.r .e; ecu  O how  foon
 wiii.it come!  what thoughts will -you then  have of
the  world,  of fin,  and  vein  company? Will  any
 thing comfort you then but the fin or of God,  the
 fove of Chrift, and the review of a holy  weil-fpent
 life? Wherefore  do with ail thy might now  what
 thy hand finds  to do, employ the  time  of health
 well in preparing'for  fickneu, and  leave nothing
 to do in time of iicknefs, which  is a molt  unlit  fea-
 fon for a man to do  foul work, and  falvation  work
 in.
   I. I fhall betrin  with thofe  of the family   v. here
 the harbingers of death do prefently rehde.  St rely
 the warnings of iicknefs and death ought  to be  lou-
 der .in your  ears than other, and noil diligently
 barker cd unto by you, that lodge under the  fame
 roof with the meliengers cf thekuag of terrors,   i/f.
 Remember   that  word,  i Pet.  v. d.  "  litem le
 yoi.rfe.iVes therefore under the mighty hand of Gedd'
 It v. eli becomes  guilty finners,  ad the members of
 the family to be humble  before a holy God,  when
 he is fmiting any of them.   Humbly acknowledge
 his  fovere'gr.ty  aud abfolute dominion over  you,
 faying,'-'' Lord,  thoa art the  author and founder of
 families,  and thou mayft  afflict  and punifh ihem as
 thou think eft fit.  Thou  fetteft theiblitary in fami-
 lies, and nudtlpiieft their number;  and  thou mayft
 diminifli them, yea, lay them defou.te according to
 thy  pieaficre.  Thou might eft  have made ali Lpt 
            Afflicted Man's Companion.         247

nie.u  :rs of the family fick, as well as one ; thou
ruighte.t have given  a deadly blow to parents, chil-
dren, and  fervauts, at  once, yea, have made the
houfe ui which  we five a  common grave, and buri-
ed  us  altogether  in  its ruins,"   Humbly acknow-
large tne juftice  and mercy  of God in the prefent
viiuatuon.   " Lord, inltead of one, we all deferred
to have  been thrown on  fick beds,  and ail of ns to
have  been  fin!teen  by death.   Thou ptmifheft u§
lefs than our iniquities deferve."  Acknow ledgeai-
fo  (j|od's vrifdom  ana  love in the prefont addiction.
and humbly fubnret to take the cup  which he hath
mingled  for you.  L" due  cup  which our heavenly
fther hath  ordered  for  this family, fhali  we not
drink it ? It is a wife aid gracious God  that doth
whet is  done in  the  family ;  therefore  it  is our
part  to  be  dumb, and not to open  our mouths to ,
quarrel it."
   idly,  The command w'iiich the  Ling of Nineveh
gave to all  his ibb,eels, when threatened with ruin,
Jonah id. 8. is \ecy  proper for a  mafter of a fami-
ly  to  give to ail  leuier  charge,  when  ficknefs
doth  range  among them;  u Fait, and cry mightily
to God.  ami ti.ro  every one from his evil  way,—
—Who  can tell if  God  will turn  covey from his
fierce  anger that  we  perifh not?" when  the  de-
flroying angel  gets a  commiilion to finite families
with mortal and  infectious  difeafes, which  fome-
times go from houfe to houfe  like a plague,  fvenep--
ing many old and  young off the ftage: then especi-
ally  it  ihould  be a  time of mighty  crying and
pleading wdth  God  for  mercy.   And  iince  our
pleading is wholly ine.lectual  without an  atoning
facrifice  to incene'ed juftice,  let  us  not' forget to
bring the  all-fuficient facrifice  of  Chrift's  blood
alon-n with us, and  plead it with Gcd for  awrt-
in«v ids  wrath  from our  houfes  and families.  As
lvioies faid  to Aaron in a time of common calamity,
NuniT :•  iv.  46.  fo may  I  lay  to you that are heads
of families,  *L A eke  a  ccuier  and incenfie, and  go

                              ...^ A : 
248         Afflicted Man's Companion.

 quickly  and  make an atonement  for  them ;  !,r
there is wrath gone out from the Lord ; the plague
is begun."  Bring the inceufe of Chrift's fafoifotion,
that  great atonement  to divine juftice, which was
typified by the legal facrifices and  oblations.   Hum-
bly  and earneftly  plead that  great facrifice with
God, for turning away the  fiercenefs  of his wrath.
Get  the bunch  of  hyffop,  faith, in order to  the
fprinkiiug of your  houfes with that atoning blood,
that  fo you and your  families  may  be among  the
preferved in Jefus Chrift.
   La fly, Let all the family  where ficknefs is, and
efpe.ua.dy  the head  of it, remember that word, Job
xxii. 23.  ■■' Thou  ihalt  not put away iniquity far
from thy tabernacles."  God hath  fent ficknefs with
 this  menage to you,  '*  Search  out  family  fins,
 whether  of omiifion  or commiiiion : mourn  over
 them,  turn from them, banifh them far away.  Let
 no vice lodge under  your roof.   Let family wor-
 fliip  be no more neglected, nor flightly performed.
 Lee  ood have both the morning and evening facri-
 fice."   Now, if the members of thefe families vifited
 with ficknefs, who are in health for the prefent,
 who thus humble  themfelves  cry to  God, plead
 the blood of Chrift,  and reform what is amifs among
 them;  the  prefent affliction  would be  fanftified,
 and  they  in fome meafore prepared for the like trial,
 when  God ihall be pleafed to  put the  cup in their
 hands.
   II. In the next place, let me warn  all the friends
 and neighbours of the fick, whether they  be in the
 family  or not,  to  improve the  day of health,  in
 making ready for the time  of ficknefs.  Be much  in
 the  e..ei cifc of mlf-examination, humiliation for fin,
 believing in Chrift, renewing  covonant with God,
 mortifying of iin, trimming the laipp, meditating
 of heaven, living by finch,  deniednefs to the world,
 fttubdng :,) overcome  the love of life, and fears  of
 death.  "" Concerning all  which I  have given direc-
 tions in the foregoing chapters of  this  book, when 
             Afflicted Man s Companion.        249

 fpealdug to the  fo k and diftreiTed.  Thefe exercifes
 arc not only proper  for the fick, but alfo for thefo
 in health ; and are fuitable preparations for iicknefij
 and death, to be ftudled by all men in every  condi-
 tion.  But there are fome things further moft necef-
 fary to be minded  by people in time of their health,
 in order to prepare them for the time of ficknefs and
 of dying, before it come.
   iff, Make your  latter will, and keep it by you,
 that you may not be encumbered  with your worldly
 affairs, pin  time  of ficknefs, or  at a dying hour.
 Surely it is great wifdom to put this by-hand in time
 of health.  But  I have fpoken largely of this chap.
 I. Direct. 6.
   idly. Take heed in  time of health, that you lay
 not up fad provifion againft the day of ficknefs,  by
 your  carelefs and untender walk.   As it is fin that
 brings on ficknefs upon us, fo it is fin that  embitters
 it unto us.  O beware of all known fin, and particu-
 larly  the fin of earthly-mindednefs, unthankfulnefs
 for mercies, luke-warmnefs  in religion, neglect to
 improve Chrift,  neglect of prayer, and formality in
 it, quenching of the fpirit,  falling  from your firit
 love,  breach  of vows, mifcarrying after fignal mer-
 cies, finning after  afflictions, turning to  old fins.
 Gunrd againft thefe evils now in the time of heahh,
 enhcrwifo they will put thorns in  your pillow when
ficknefs cometh.   Dare not to live in  fuch a courfe
as you would not adventure to die in.  How do you
know  but  yoor next ftep may be into the grave?
and would you be wining to lie down there- in your
fins, with earthly dead, formal, wandering, and un-
believing hearts ?
  %dly. Sit loofe from the world, and live as ftran-
gers ia  it, that you may be able to  pack and  be
gone from it on a  ihort  warning.  Let death find
you dead before hand, dead  to the world.   If your
affections be glued to the world,  it  will be  a vio-
lent rending  and fad parting  you will have with it
when the dying hour ^ouietu.  \'ou will be readyy 
250        Afflicted i\Ian's Companion.

like Lot's wife, to linger, hanker, and look greedily
back again.
  qlkly, Keep fliort reckonings with Cod and con-
fcience, that you may not have old fcores to reckon
upon  when you come  to the death-bed.  O what
flinging pain  and torment may one fin unmounted
for coit you at that time.  Let confcience then bring
in the accounts every day before you fleep, and fpec-
dily take up  every controverfy that may  fall out
betwixt God and thy foul.
   Sthly, Dwell much upon the thoughts of death,
that you may learn to be  acquainted  and familiar
with it; as Job  was, who faid before-hand, " to cor-
ruption, Thou  art  my father ; and to the worm,
thou  art my mother and iny  fifter,"  Job xvii.  14.
For this caufe  the Egyptians ufed to place a  dead
man'slkull in fome confpicuous place of their rooms:
likewife the Jews had  their fepulchres in their gar-
dens  of pleafure, that fo in the inidft of their delights
they might think on their dying time.  We read of
Philip king of Macedon, that ordered  a page every
 morning to rouze him from  fleep with  thefe words,
" O  king, remember thou art a mortal man."   By
this often repeated  leffon, he  laboured to humble his
 lofty mind, and make  his acquaintance with death,
 that  it might not feem ftrange or furprifing to him
 w hen it ihould  actually come and fnatch him away.
    (nl.ly, Study  to  fpend  every  day as jt  were to
 be your laft,  arid perform every duty as it were the
 kit, ftill looking on ficknefs and death as very near.
 That which makes  moft men fo unconcerned  about
 ficknefs, death, and eternity  is, tehy view  them as
 things  afar  oif, at thirty or forty years  diftance.  •
 '•"  They think  their time will be long here : why,
 they are healthy, of a ftrong conftitution, and their
 fathers lived  fo long :" which furely are falfe  rules
 to judge  by.  It   was  the expectation  of  many
 years that helped  on  the  ruin of that rich fool in
 the gofpel.  It  were far better for every man to look 
             Afflicted Maids  Companion.       251

 on himfelf as (landing  every  day and night at  the
 very door of eternity ; and hundreds of difeafes rea-
 dy to open the door and let him in.  When you lie
 down  at night,  leave your heart with Chriit, and
 coinpofe your fpirits fo, as if you were not to awake
 till the heavens are no more; for certainly that night
 cometh, of which you will never fee the morning, or
 that morning, of w hieh you will never fee the night.
 But which of your mornings or nights thefe will be
 you know not, feeing  your  times are not in your
 own hands.
   ~)thly, Set  apart fome time,  daily, for  thinking, in
 a retired way, upon your time that is paft, and upon
 eternity that is to come.  The neglect  of this duty
 of meditation, and retired  thinking, is  very preju-
 dicial,   both  to   the  godly  and  ungodiy.   It was
 David's practice to think, and to think upon his ways;
 which engaged him to reform  whatever he found
 amifs in them, Pfal. cxix. 59.   Oh J it is the ruin of
 many a foul, they are utter itrangers to this way of
 thinking.  I  have read of a lather,  who  on" his
 death bed, left it as a folemn charge upon  his only
 fon, who was a prodigal ;  that  he ihould  fpend  a
 quarter  of an hour every day in retir ;d thinking,
 and let him chrfejany fubjeri:  he pleafed.   The fon
 thinks  this an eafy tafk, uimeriiakes it, and after  his
 father's  death fet himfelf to  perform  his promife.
 One day he  thinks upon his by-paft  pleafures: an-
other day he contrives his future delights  ; after
a while  he begins to  think feriouily  what might be
his father's deiign in laying this talk upon him ; at
length he  thinks, his father  was a wife and good
man,  therefore furely he intended and hoped that
among the reft of his meditations, he would fome-
t'une or other think of religion.  When this had tru-
ly poffefled his thoughts, one thought and  queftion
comes upon the  back of another, about his by-paft
life and  future ftate, that he could not contain him-
felf in fo ihort a confinement,  but  was that night
 without  fleep: yea,  and afterward  could have  no 
25*v       Afflicted Man's  Companion.

reft till lee become  ferioufly religious.   O  that I
could perfuade all carelefs and  urn. ninking fouls to
go and  do hkewife !  Ah! how many fpend their
days in a hurry  about  their worhdy affairs, and
perifh for want of dunking 1
  8/fv/y,  Among  other  fifty,cuts of  your  retired
thoughts, fpend fome time in thinking;,  how awful
and terrible a  thing it muft be for a poor Chrift]efs
foul  to  make  its  appearance before an angry  God
after death.   "■ For who (faith the  prophet) can
dwell with devouring fire? who can abide with ever-
lafting burnings?"  I have read of a certain king of
Hungary, who being at a time marvelloully fad and
heavy, his brother, who was a brifkand gallant man,
would needs know the reafon : " Oh brother (fays
he) I have been a great  finner againft God, and I
know not how I  fhall appear before his judgment-
feat."   His brother  anfwered, "• thefe are but me-
lancholy  thoughts;"  and fo made  light  of them,
as moft courtiers ufe to do.  The king replied  no-
thing at that time ; but the  cuftom  oi that country
was  (the  government being abfolnte) if the execu-
tioner  founded a trumpet at a man's door,  he was
prefently  to be led to execution.   The  king fent
the executioner in the dead time of the niglit, and
caufed him to found his trumpet at his brother's door,
who hearing  and feeing the meffenger  of death,
fprang in  trembling into  his  brother's prefence, falls
down upon his knees, and befceches the king to let
him  know wherein he had  offended him.   " O
brother (faid  the king)  you never  offended me,
but loved me; but  is the fight of an earthly execu-
tioner  fo terrible  to thee; and ihall not I who am
fo great a finner, fear much more to be brought to
the judgment-feat of an angry God ]"
   othly, Think often how  reiigioufly men ufe to
wiih they had lived, when the come to the fick and
dying time.   Thefe  who have fpent their time moit
carelcfsly, begin  to have  other {notions  of religion
%vhen  they fee the  grim meffenger  approaching, 
               Afflicted Man's  Companion.       253

   Go to their bed-fides, and afk them, whether floth or
   diligence, formality  or fervency, drinking  or pray-
   ing, loving the world or loving Chrift,  be the heft ;
   would they not tell you that there is none fo wife as
   they  that  are moft  religious ?  Think, O man in
   health, with thyfelf, if thou was juft now upon thy
   death-bed, andfaweft thy friends handing mourning
   round about thee, but unable to  help  thee, what
   would be thy thoughts and difcourfe at that time ?
   O then, let fome  of the fame thoughts and difcourfe
,   fill up every day and hour of thy life now.  Why
   thou knoweft not but this moment thou may eft be as
   near death, as if thy friends and phyficians too were
   defbairing  of thy hie, and had given you  over for
   dead.
     lothly, Be employed now in fighting the good
   fight  of faith.  You  have many enemies to deal
   with,  and  death is  the laft of them.  Would  you
   obtain the victory over them ? Then get on the Chrif-
   tian armour, and make  much  ufe of the iuicld of
   faith.   We read  in  the book  of Efter, that  king
   Ahafuerus would not recall the proclamation he had
   emitted againft die Jews ; but he gave them full li-
   berty  to take up arms to defend themfelves, and at-
   tack their enemies ; fo here, God will not recal the
   fentence of death  he hath paft upon  ail  men in  the
   garden ; but neverthelefs he allows, yea  commiilion-
   ates all true Ifraelites to take up arms, againft death,
   to contpuer and trample it underfoot  by  faith.
     Laflly. Be bufy now in health, providing, and lay-
   ing up a ftock againft the time of ficknefs and afflic-
   tion ;  which may contribute  to your  comfortable
   living then, when the world's  good  things will be
   taftelefs and comfortlefs to you.   As thefe who have
   a voyage to go,  do viftual the fhip ;  and thefe who
   have a fiege to hold out, take in provitions; even fo
   tlo ye.
     i. Get a  ftock of graces againft that time, efpeci-
   ally a ftock of faith, of patience, of humility, felf-de-
   nial, ckc. There will be ufe for all thefe then.  A
      '                    X  • 
2.V4        Auiicted Maids Companion.

little grace, or a little faith, is not enough ; for this
w ill  faint under afflictions.  We read, Matth. xiv.
that, when the wends began to blow fiercely, Peter's
little faith began to fail.  You have need of a great
meafure of patience againit that time, that you may
wait quietly on God, till he come to  your  relief.
You know not but he may lengthen out your  trials
and tarry till the fourth watch of the night before he
come with  deliverance.
  2. Provide a ftock of evidences or marks of grace,
and of the love of God, that you may be able  to af-
fert  yorr intereft in him as your portion in Chrift,  -
and  may be perfuaded, that neither death nor  life
will  ever feparate you from him.
  3. Get a ftock  of divine experiences.   Lay vo all
the experiences you have had of God's loving kind-
nefs, and thefe will give great relief and encourage.T
ment to the foul in the day of diftrefs.
  4. Lay  up a ftock of fermons. Treafure up  the
counfois  a:id cordials  which they  bring you from
God's word, that fo you may, according to Ifa. >dii.
23.  "  Hear for  the time to  come :" and efpecially
for fick-beds, when you cannot get fermons to hear.
Then it  is, that  you ought to live and feed upon the
fermons you have heard.
  5.  Lay  up a ftock  of prayers.  Be much  in
wreftling with God for help and through bearing in
the  day of affliction :  and fo you  may  expeel the
gracious returns thereof in the day of calamity.
  6. Provide a  ftock of promifes.   Be now gather-
ing thefe fweet cordials from God's  word, lay them
up in your heart and memory, and they will be very .
refrefhing  and fupporting .to you in the day of af-
fliction. 
         AfActed Man's Comauplon.        _ 255

  Direct. IX. Let thefe who are in health fet about
  the work of repentance, and turning to God in C'n ifi
  tiraeoufy and quickly ; and beware of delay lag tl.nS
  work until the time of ficknefs and dyi e.g.
     GOD's command to you  is, to fet about  the
      work prefently, without  any  delay, Heb.  ink
15.  u To day  if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your  hearts."   Matth.  xxi. 28. "  Go work to-day
in my vineyard." Ecgjef. xii.  1 "  Remember new
thy  Creator in the days of thy  yoedu"   Well,
God's voice to you, O man  in health, is to day.
But  the devil's voice to you  is to-morrow.  And
which-'of the two  will you hearken  to?  Surely it is
your wifdom to obey the voice of your Creator an J
friend, and net of your enemy anddeftroycr.  Why,
to-day thou art in health, to-morrow thou mayft be
in ficknefs:  to-day  thou art on earth, to-morrow
thou mayft be  in hell: to-day Chrift is inviting  you
to come to hdn, to-morrow he may be fentencing
you to  depart  from him.   And confider, that the
devil, who tempts you to delay this day, will be  as
ready to tempt you to  the fame to-morrow ;  zid
fo the devii's to-morrow will never come.   It  will
ftill  be  to-morrow  with him to the laft hour, that
fo he may get  you cheated out of your  whole time
and falvation torether.
  Here  1 fhall endeavour two thinps:  1. Erinp-ar-
guments to pcrfi.e.de you to repent and  clofo with
the offers of Chrift prefently,  without any delay, as
God requires.   2. Shew the evil and danger  of  de-
laying tdl the  time of ficknefs aud of dying.  As to
the  firft,  viz. Arguments  for prcfceit  repentance,
and againft delaying the work-.
  1/?, Confider the uncertainty of your life and time
to repent.   Your life is but a vapour, a litde warm
breath  that is going out and in  at -your nofirils,
which may be ftopped by death ere yon be  aware :
thou  kiiowcft  not what will  ic to-mae-ow, Frov.
xxvii. 1.   It  was the faying of a gen:-/ man, vehen
invited  to  a fcait  upon the morrow, il  I haye no:
                          X 2 
  2■-6        Afflicted Man's Companion.

  had a morrow, for thefe  many years."   It  vvas a
  bad ufe tl efe  Epicures made  of  this uncertainty.
  ifa. xxii. 13. u Let us eat  and drink,  for to-mor-
  row vye Audi died'   It is much wifcr to fay,  kk Let
  us prav,  and tern  to the  Lord, for  to-morrow  wc
  Head die."  Nav,  yon  have not  fecurity for  one
  hour to repent in;  for God  hath a thoufand difeafes
  mid accidents  ready  to flop your breath, and end
  your clave,  whenever he  plqpfeth  to give them or-
  ders.  There are many fecure iinners who prefume
  on long life, but there are  none nearer  deftruttion
  then fuch ; for God  loves  to difappoint thefe  that
  promife themfelves a  long life in fin  and impeniten-
  ey. ns he did that rich mdn  who was laying up for
  many years, Like  xii. 19.   u This night fliall thy
- foul be required of thee.    And O what a dark and
  difnud night will it be, if death  come before thy re-
  pentance !  O man, thou never didft lie  down one
  night with  affurance of rifing again, thou  never
  heardft one fermon with anurance of hearing  ano-
  ther ; thou never didft draw one breath with afliir-
  ance of drawing another.   What madnefs is it then
  to delay falvation work one day or hour longer, and
  fo to leave the weightieft matter in the world at the
  greateft uncertainty !
     idly, Confider, that though God in his wonderful
  mercy  and patience  ihould  prolong your days, yet
  the longeft life is  ihort enough for  the  work ymi
  have to clo, fimpofe  you  begin it  prefently.   Lhiy,
  Intel you Mathufalem's yearn to fpend, they would
  be no more than fofficient to repent and mourn fir
  the fins and pud it which you have  been fo long <on-
  tuaridug: to reform  and amend  the many  things
  that .have been amifs: to perform  all the duties hi-
  e-unbent on you;  to make  lure your  calling  and
  elect ton, and  put your fouls in a  good pofture and
  preparation fir an  eternal ftate, and get them made
  meet to be partakers  of die  inheritance of the faints
  jnfi|i:t.  Now, do  ye  think that all this work can
  be done  in an uridine, or in a time of fickiu.l, or 
                Afflicted islands Companion.        257
                                          ✓
   old age, when yoa are  hardly fit to do any  thing ?
   When a man's fpirit is unable to bear the infirmities
   of nature, how will he be able to bear the lathes of a
   guilty confcience, or a wounded fpirit?  When the
   understanding is weak,  the memory frail, the will
   obflinately bent the  wrong way by a fong  cuffom
   of finning, and neglecting of duty ;  will that  be a fit
   time to begin the work of repentance and converfion
   to God ? When nature is decayed, and the candle of
   life juft  finking in the focket, will you begin  then to
   act for God, and make your fight fliine before men
   to his glory ? O remember, your work is long, your
   time is Ihort;  and though you begin  this very hour
   you will have no time to fpare.
     ^ddy, Delay not this work, becaufe it is not in your
   power to do it when you pleafe.  It is a dehiiion of
iJ*.the devil,to imagine you may repent when you will.
   No. no:  it is God only  that giveth  repentance and
   he gives it when, and to whom he pleafeth, Acts v.
   13. Aid it is a mere peradventure,  if ever he odve
   it tofo ddaying finner,  2  Tim. ii. 25.  When is it
   that yo'u may hive  hopes he will give repentance
   but when he  calls you to  it, and prefcribes  means
   to be ufed for that end ? Now that is to-day.  " To-
   day, if ye will hear  his voice: now  is the accepted
   time, now is the day of falvation."   To-ela/,  when
   God is calling, and  the fpirit ftriving, is the time of
   finding the Lord, and  getting repentance from him.
   To-morrow it may  be too late; the Lord's hand
   may be cloftd, and  the door of mercy ihut.  If yon
   refufe the Spirit when he itrives with you, he may
   leave you, and never put another ferious thought in
   your heart  of turning to the Lord.   O  defer not
   feeking repentance  till it be too  late: for there is a
   time  when the Lord will not be found, and then re-
   pentance will not be  found, though you feek it with
   tears.  Indeed God  hath promifed mercy to peni-
   tent tinners: but he hath  no where promifed the
   aids of his grace and  fpirit to  them that put off their
   repentance,; and he hath no where promifed accept-
                         X 3 
  2^3          ylffllttcd dean's Conipaedon.

  ance to mere grief ami fi«rro\V forfin without faith ;
  and  fruits  meet for repentance : he hath no where
  prtnnifed to pardon thefe, who only promife to leave
  their fins, v. lien they can keep theon no longer.
     atl.b;, Tile longer repentance and  doling with
  Chrift is delayed,tiie  di fatuity  thereof is every day
  i rue re a fed.   Whv,  i.  Becaufe of the'deceitful na-
  ture of iii, which doth daily bewitch and harden the
  heart more  and more in the practice of it. 2.  Cu-toui
  iii  any thing hath  a  ftrong  influence on us, and
  becomes a  kind of fecond nature, and  breeds  an
   ahuoft invifibie inciiuadon to  whatfoever we have
   long addicted ourfelves nuto, whei.hcr it be in actions
   natural.or moral.  Hence  ri*vid gives that good ad-
   vice,
        $ed f» 'a ern, r-cc /• i cntwn\ d i ; r in htrai \
         itm >.on (Jt h-ue^ cat tnimti oytut cnt.              at

     ." Be fpeedy, put not off till another time ;
     «' He who .is  not prepared to-day,  will be  more unprepared
               ••  to-monow."              __     pm.
__   He that  goes on from eh y to day in fin^wil! find
   his iudfo.'odition  to repent d.ally  increafed, the  habits
   of fin  fdeagthened, and  himfelf drought at length
   under the novycr of an invetcraic cufiom.  And it it
   be hard to  freak any  cuftom, much more a cuftom in
   linniiuv,  which  is fo agreeable to  depraved  naf re.
   Hence faith the Spirit of bod, jer. xiii. 23.  l" Can
   the Ethiopian charge  his ikin, or the leopard h;s
   foots ? Then may  ve alfo do good that are  accuf-
,  to ned to da evil."  '3.  The longer Satan keeps pof-
   feiiion. the more  di/dcult will ins ejection  prove.
   The devils that po.Teifed the man from the wombup,
   coald not be call out butby fome extraordinary way.
   4.  Delays bring on  fforitoal judgments from God,
   fuch as judicial bardnefs on  the heart,  which  will
   make repentance impoihlde,  according to that ter-
   rible piece, Ifa.  vio, io.   " Make the heart of this
   peoole fat," &c. "Which is cpttoted no lefs than fix
   time's in the New Teitament, as if it  belonged only
   to them that linger and fit impenitent under gofpel.
   calls. 
               Afflicted Man's Companion.        259

     Laflly, We would reckon fuch delays madnefs  in
  earthly affairs, which ace "hut trifles when compared
,  to fiilvation-work. If a men's houfe were on fire, we
  would count him mad, if he fhould  fay, it is time e-
  nough, to quench it  to-.rnt rrow; or, if he were ftung
  with a  venomous ferpent,  he  would be mad  that
  neglected to feek a  prefent cure:  or,  if he had got
  pen io 1 in his ftouiach, he would never think he could
  loon  enoutih vomit it no.  If a  malefactor were
  condemned  to a  cruel death to-morrow, but had a
  promife of a reuudlioe if he ihould look after it to-
  day ; would he be fo  foolifli as delay it till next morn-
  ing?  But how much greater madnefs is  it to delay
  repenting au'd fleeing to  Chrift, when  God's calls
  and promifes relate to the prefent time, and our dan-
  ger in delaying is infinitely greater than in any of the
%-forefaid cafes? Surely there is no iting fo da.igerous,
  no poifoii  fo deadly  as tin;  and  can we too foon
  feek after the balm ofGdcad, the blood of Chrift for
  its cure?  There is no death like the fecond death, no
  fire fo'dreadful as the eternal fire of God's  wrath:
  Now, this hre is already kindled  againft your fouls;
  and if k be not timeo -fly quenched, it will  burn to
  the lowed hell.   Lofe no time to get it e-fonguiihed,
  bv fleeing to the blood of jefus.
     II. Tiie next tluug is to ihew the evil  and danger
  of delavuug  ibis  work until the time of ficknefs aud
  of dying.  Alas, it  is the common practice of the
  mod part! But confider, -fl, What wretched ingrat-
  itude ami bafeneis there is in it.   Whether is it fit ye
  ihould five the belt of your time to God that made
  you, or to the devil  that leeks your ciehruction? Is it
  reafonable  that the  devil Juoeld  leaft on the flower
  and  prime of your yo, th and ftrength, and your Cre-
  ator have no other  but the fragments  of the devils's
  tabic?  When the dregs of your umc me come,  your
  flrenoth gone, yorr  fenfes faded,  y o, r tuideritanding
  and memory weak,  your affections fpent upon the
  creature, yea, when you are goad for nothing elfe;
   will ye be fo bafeas dimfky  you  are then good eae>: gh 
2.6o        Afflicted dJun's Companion.

for God, and for fiftvation-work, which requires all
your ftrength and might? But remember, if you be
fo bafe as refer vc the dregs of your time for God, you
may expect he  will be io jt.lt as referve the dregs of
his wrath for you,  accordiug to that word, Mai. 1.
14. '■'• Curfed  be the deceiver,  which  hath  in  his
flock a male, facrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt
thing."  Your  youth,  ftrength, health, gifts,  and
talents, are the males of the hock;  if you give thefe
to the devil, and referve the weaknefs of ficknefs and
old age for God, you draw  down his  curfe upon
your heads ; and how long will you be  able to bear
up under the weight of God's curfe ? Now, O delay-
ing finners, why ihould you be fo ungrateful to God,
and injurious to yourfelves?  God had early thoughts
of mercy to you; and well you have nothing but fate
thoughts of duty to him ? Chrift did  not oefor his
dying for us till he  was old; and fliall we defer  liv-
ing  to  him, till we be  old?  Oh,  we do not deal
with God  as we would  have him to  deal with  us.
When we need heiphi trouble, we cry, as Pfal. cii.
2. '•  Lord, hear me: in the day when 1 call, anfwer
me fpeediiy; To day we  itill make  tiie feafon of
mercy, but  to-morrow the feafon for duty,  when
mercy is delayed, we impatiently cry.   How long?
How long? We will not wait  God's  holy iedtre
But alas! we would have God to wait our ffofol lei-
fi.re.   Oh, let us  be chncuned  of fuch  difingeuu-
ous dealings with oar creator.
  idly, Death may get a commiflion to take you off
fuddenly, without giving yon any  time to repent.
You are not fire  to fee the cveningftaroffickueis, be-
fore the night of death overtake you, or that yoa will
have any warning given you before the fatal itroke.
For how many  are there who project long fives, aud
look for time before tkath to repei t, that get a itr-
priiing tail-to flit from the  earthly  tabernacle, and
ha. e not one minute  to  provide another  lodging?
How  many  are  drowned by a ihdden  ftorm at fea?
And how many  killed b_  outward accidciiis at land? 
         Afflicted  Man's Companion.          261

  Some drop down fuddenly in the ftreets  ; fome die
  fitting in  their chairs ; fome go well to bed at night
  and never fee the morning ; lome die as  qniekly by
  a Mt of an eplkp.fy, orapoplexy, as if fhot with a gun.
  Thus thoufands are hurried into eternity^ and pre-
  fented before  a  tribunal, without being  allowed fo
  much time as to think one ferious thought, or fpeak
  one word ? not one moment to confider where they
  are going, or to cry   to God for mercy.  And how
  know you but this may be your cafe at death? Muft
  it not be the greateft folly then to delay your repent-
 ance to a dying time,  when it may not be one minute
 long ?
   p/Uy.  Though you may have fome time to lie on
 fick-beds,  how know ye but your ficknefs  may be
 fuch as ihall incapacitate you  for fpiritual work  ?
 Some we fee are. fo oppreifed with continual  {lum-
 bering and  fleeping,  even  when death is  nenreit,
 that they are in no cafe to think  or fpeak of thefe
 things that belong to their eternal  ftate.  Others, in
 high fevors,  are troubled with rovings ; and have
 no ufe of their reafon, fo that they are not capable to
 fetile their worldly affairs; and how much  lefs are
 they fit to foeure their foul's eternal  concerns, at
 that time : Some again are fo racked with pains and
 agonies,  impatient  frettings, and  bitter uneafinefs,
 that they cannot get one iettled thought about their
 foul's prefent or future ftate.  Others are fo filled
 wdth terror and amazement at the view of approach-
 ing, death  and eternity, that they cannot  compofe
 their thoughts to examine themfelves, confefs their
 fins, act faith in a Saviour, or follow any direction
 that is given them ; but go off the ftage in a confu-
 fion, being incapable to do any thing to purpofe for
 their fouls.  Some their diftemper  is fuch. that they
 are 1 untight to a  great  ftrait betwixt the word of
 God and the phyfician.  The word of  God and his
minifters tell  them if they do not  mourn for their
finis and wreilie i'or mercy, they cannot be  faved:
but faith  the phyfimmi, if you trouble yourfelf with 
20 z       Afflicted Man's  Companion.

fad and mcdancholy thoughts,  you prejudice  yoilf
body and hazard your  life.   On 1  is this a fit time
then to begin your preparation for another world?
  Afthly, The fpirit  of God being long refuted and
vexed by many in the day of health, he is provoked
to leave them on death-beds to the hardnefs of their
own hearts: And fo they  remain like  flocks  and
ftones, -dead and ftupid to the lait.
   pytldy,  The devil, that was bufy  all your forcs to
keep you from repentance, will not be idle at this
time; nay  he will be  more active than ever  to
ruin yon,  either by cauling you to fpiit on the rock
of  prefumption  or  of defpair.   Sometimes he  will
tell finners then, " You need not trouble yourfelves
about  your fouls:  God is more merciful  than to
damn  you; the repentance  you have already will
ferve the  turn,"   But if this will, not quiet  them,
he will ftudy to drive them to defpair, by telling
them, u They have loft the feafon of repentance and
clofing with  Chrift; and  now  there  is no  remedy,
no hope for  them, and it is in  vain to ufe any fur-
ther means."   O then,  do not harken to Satan now,
when he tempts you co delay your repantance.
   6thly, Whatever appearance  of repentance fome
dying  perfons may  have,  let that be  no  encourage-
ment to put off till that  time. \Y by, there lieth a juft
fufpicion upon a late repentance,  that it is feldom
found  and  fincere. It is no found work,  that ariu di
more from fears of hed than from any  rtai  hatred
of  fin ; more from  love to felf, than  love to God.
And it is to be feared,  that  death-bed repentance is
moftly of  this fort, feeing ordinariy it ctmhftcih
more in  grief and fear, prayers and  promifes,  than
in a hearty loathing of fin, love to holinefs or willing-
nefs to accept of Jefos Chriit: for have we not feen
many of thefe penitents who, in the  view of death,
have profeiled great forrow for their  wicked lives,
and  made folemn  promifes  of  amendment; yet
when they have happened to recover, all their righ-
teoufnefs hath vauiihed, and they luce returned to 
            sipp.icrea man s companion-         263

their former fins as greedily as ever ? And, O delay-
ing finner, what ground have you to think that your
death-ded repentance wed beany better than theirs?
Be  wife  then in time, fet heartily about falvation
work in theciay of your heeddn, and do not leave the
weightieft work to the weakefttime.
  Object. I. *■'• But hath not God promifed mercy to
them that repent of their fins at  any time?"
  Anfw.  Yes, to them that repent truly and fincere-
ly : but do not  think that it is in your power to re-
pent fo, at any  time you pleafe ; no, it is impolfible
you can do it without the influence and ailiftance  of
the fpirit of God.  And God hath no were promifeel
this to thefe who put off their repentance to a death-
bed.  There is  a  great difference  betwixt a fick
man's  howling upon his bed, and fincere gofpel re?
pending.   I grant, true repentance  isnever too late ;
but O | late repentance isfeldom  true.   True re-
pentance is that which  hath  a  care to  walk holiiy,
or hath works meet for repentance joined with it.
Henoe repentance is not only called met an 01 a, a
change of mind ; but alfo  met a me lei a.,  an  after
care,  Now for a death-bed repentance,  that hath no
fuch holy care or good works; I know no promife
in the Bible that annexeth falvation unto it.
  Object. II. "  Do not we  readiu Chrift's parable of
the labourers, Matth. xx. that fome were hired and
brought into the vineyard at the eleventh hour, and
got the fame reward with  thofe that were hired at-
the third and iixth hour ?"
  Anfw.  i.  Thefe than were brought  in fo  late,
could fay for themfelves verfe 6. u that no man had
hired them," or had offer eh to  hire them before ;
they did no fooner here  the gofpel-call, and offers of
falvation through Chrift tendered to them.  But O 1
this will ftand you in no itead, who have had many a
call and offer made you at the third, fixth,  andninth
hour,  and have refilled and refuted them: you will.
not have it to fay at the eleventh hour as thefe had,
" No man hath hired us," 
264        Afflicted Man's  Companion.

   idly, Thefe men, though they came in but at the
eleventh hour,  and not being 'boner hired, yet they
ware labourers in the vineyard:  aid  wrought  one
hour therein faithfully, in obedceuce to their Lord's
command, and fo brought forth fome fruits meet for
repentance, and were accepted.   But this is  no en-
couragement to any to expect to be brought in at
the twelfth  hour, when there is  no time to work,
nor bring forth any  fruits to  tectify the lincerity of
their repentance ; we have no promife of acceptance
made to fuch.
   Object. III. u The penitent thief on the crofsfought
mercy from Chriit at the laft hour and got it."
   A,ifw. That is a lingular  inftance,  and gives no
encouragement to delaying finners.   The fcripturcs
contain a hiitory of more than fore thoufand years,
and yet during all the time we have but one exam-
ple of amen that truly andiincerely repented when he
came  to die.   And in this man's cafe  there  was
fuch an extraordinary conjunction of circtun dances, as
never happened brfore, and can  never fall out again
to the  end of the world .  This man had the happi-.
nefs to die cioi'e by the newly pierced and bleeding
wounds of  a crucifyed Jefus,  when he was lifted up
from the earth in the height of his love, drawnig fin-
ners to falvation ; which was a juncture that  can
never have a parallel.  Again, the man never  hud
any offer of Chrift nor clay of grace before, now; he
furrendered himfelf upon the very firit call: and his
faith in Chrift at this time  was truly lingular  and
miraculous.  He was deiigned by heaven to be made
a rare monument of the power of Chrift's grace, and
a fpecial  trophy of his victory  over the devils  and
wicked men, at a time when  they feemed to triumph
over him, as one crucifyed through weaknefs.
   From all  which we may  fee,  that  this example
was extraordinary, and affords no ground for the
prefumption of delaying finners.   You may  as  well
caft your felves into the fea in hopes of prefervation
by  a whale, from  the example of Jonah,; as defer
f 
         Afflicted ista.ds  Companion.          265

repentnnce now,  in hopes of repenting on a death.-
fod, from  the  example  of  the theif on the crofi.
Befides, your way of finning diners vcdlly from his.
He was not guilty of prefumption,  as  yon are; he
did not flight Chrift's calls aim offers in the day  of
his health, and delay his repenting and  clofing with
Chrift, in hopes of an opportunity for  them at the
.hour of death,  as you do.   Do you know what God
determines concerning prefumptuous finning ? You
may fee it, Numb. xv. c8, 30, ge. '" And thepriefts
fhall make an atonement  for  the foul  that finneth
ignorantly, dm.  But the foul that cloth ought pre-
fiunptuoufty, (whether he be born in the land, or a
ftranger) the fame reproacheth the Lord : and that
foil final 1 be cut off from among his people ; becaufe
he  hath difpifed  the word of the Lord."  O pre-'
fmnpruous  delaying tinner, let this word of the Lord
awaken you to a foeedya nd prefent refolution  to
obey his voice.  " Return ye now every one from his
evil way.  and  make your ways and  your doings
good," jer. xvdi.  11. Now is the accepted time: if
ye  will hear his  voice it muft be to day.   Lord,
fave us from hardening our hearts.   Amen.

           #■*-&-$ z s-;;.'**■»*• *-** *•##•■# *■##■* ■:-." •*-

Some Dying VAordof thelate Rev. Mr. John JVilli-
  floen,  to his iVife and Children, found among his pa-
  pers  after his  death, dated  the  10th of Nov.
   1749.
                 TO M Y  WIFE.
         My dear,
      MY diftrefs calls me to think of pertaking  with
       you ;  the will of the Lord be done.  I thank
voci  for  your  tender care of  me: may the Lord
bleld, and reward you for it, and fanctify your o.vn
tendernefs, aud fi.p^ort you under it.   As you  have
not died to live a foe of faith  and prayer all  your
days, fo I hope and believe you will continue to the 
i 06
L-nd.   Ie all  \oer difficulties and fears encourage
xo.afdi  hi  the  Lord  your  God.   Commit  your
ways to him ; truft him that is faithful and trie.  I
reifonvou, my dear, to the Husband of hufbanels,
our'dcce-eft Lord jefus Chrift.
               TO MY CHILDREN.
     DE A It children, your earthly father muft leave
      you ; your heavenly Father is immortal.   O!
cleave fait to him.  Trifle not about  your fouls con-
cerns in time of health ; in hud thefe things as the one
thiuo- needful  ; this you  will  not repent  cf when
vou come v. ithin a ne# view of (kenh, and endlefs
eternity.   O  Sirs ! prefsfor clear views of your in-
tereft in Chriit, the only Surety  and  Saviour of fin-
ners.   Amen' other evidences of it,  live by faith on
1dm.  and ftudy holineis in heart and  life.  Dear Sirs,
think how  you will  be able  to  ftand before Chrift
your judge at the laft day, unlefs you have Chrift's
image on°you, and be made new  creatures.  Lord
make you all fuch, and blefs you with his heft  blef-
fing ! My bleiiing be upon you'all.—What means
God  gave  me, I have bellowed them on you, or
left  then to  you.  Be  kind and -careful of  your
mother while you have  her. And let none of you
forofct.  that ihuvyh I go before you to the duft, you
muft all quickly follow me.   O !  that we may all
meet toe ether at die right hand of our blefl'ed  Re-
deemer,0 to fee  his face, and ling his praife.  The
time is ue:r,  be ye therefore ado ready.
   Now my hear wife and children,  remember what
is above'as'tne veords of your affectionate huiband
run lov fog id deer, whobeiug dead, yet hereby fpeak-
etii  to you for  your eternal  good and happinefs;
may they ih'-k into your heart 1  So prayeth,  .

                               John Wjllison 
          CONTENTS.

77;? Introduction,                               25
Cha p. I. Containing general dire A ions to all fami-
   lies and perfons vifii ed wiih ficknefs.            27
Direct. I. Diligently enquire into the ends and de-
  fig ns for which a A ally God fiends ficknefs an J
   affliction upon per fons,                        ibid.
Direct. II.  Let all who are vifited with ficknefs
   and diftrefs, flearce for the Ac ban in the camp,
   and inquire diligently, what is the caufe  aud
    grounds of God's controverfy with then,       32
Direct. III. IVhen any fit of ficknefs attacks you,
   think ferioufly upon  death,  and make  diligent
   preparation for it,                             36
 Direct. IV. Be not anxious for recovery to health,
   but leave the if flue of the prefent ficknefs to  the
   will and pleafure of the infinitely wife God,    ao
Direct. V. Bind yourfielf with holy purpqfes and
   nf'Julions,  in Chrifl's ftrength, to  be more
   watchful againfl fin, more diligent in duty, anal
   to improve the  time of  health  better,  if  God
  ftjall be pleafed to reflore it again to you.       42
Direct. VI. Set  your houfe in order by making
  your latter wills, and fettling your dome file and
  fecular affairs, while you have freedom and ca-
  pacity for doing it,                            ^
Chap. II.  Containing fome particular directions
   tot lofe who  arefi:arpdy afflicted with ficknefs
   and long trouble,                               .-
Direct. L  Jflftify God in  the greateft  afflictions
   which befal yoa,                             pip:\
Direct. II.  Labour ftill to be fcnfible of God's Land
   under affliction, card beware offtupidity orad un-
   concernednefs under it,                        rQ
Direct. III. Beware of mificonftruAing God's deal-
   ings towards) ::', and ofchargig him fioliffhly.  rei


                       y'V 
tc8      CONTENTS.

Direct. IV. Under jore trouble and dfh\fls,labour
   to cr.ei Afe a ftrong and lively faith,            5.4
Direct. V/Labour fo bear wiih patience whatever
   had of iroulle the Lo; d appoints for you,        56
Direct. VI. Beware of e;nyi:g wicked men, when
   you fee them in health and pi ofperity,          60
Direct. VII. Guard againfl repining complaints and
   difcontented murmurings agairfl ihe providence
   of Gcd, under beany ficknefs and affliction.,      62
Chat. III. Containing fipecial directions  to the
   children of Cod,when under ficknefs or any other
   aypilction,                                    70
Direct. I, I<et believers efpecially guard agairfl
   faleeiir?  or defiponding under God's afflict lug
   hand,                                        70
Direct; II.  Let all the children of God be exem-
   pt ar-e in  patience and fiubmifflon to God under
   their affliction,                              79
Direct. III. Let believers be  much  employed in
   the praifes cf God, while they are under af-
   fiicAionfby ficknefs  or otherwife,               85
Direct. IV. Let the children of God, when vifited
   with ficknefs fet about actual preparation fur
   death and eternity,                            90
Direct. V. Let believers ia time of ficknefs endea-
   vour all they  can to glorify God, and edify thofe
   that are about them, by their fpeech aa.d beha-
   viour,                                       97
Direct.  VI. Let God's children, when fick or dy-
   ino-, be expreffing a great concern for the ad-
   vancement of ihe kingdom of Chrifl, and of true
   rellaion in tie rifiaag generation,               103
Direct!  V'H. Let the children  of  God  labour to
   fortify tie em felves what the can agaieft all Sa-
   tan's temptations and a(fruits.wAch they may
   expect to meet with in time of ficknefs and af-
   fliction,                          m           105
Chap. IV. Containing fanefipecicd  directions to
   uam aent rale.perfo. is, when afflictedby ficknefs
   or otherwife,                                  "O 
            CONTENTS.     269

  Direct. I. Take a ferious view of the miferable
    condition of a Cb reft lefs perfon under ficknefs or
    heavy  affliction,                             Udd.
  Direct. II. Let  mvegenerate perfons carefully
    improve their ficiufs and affliction, as means
    to further their converfion ;  and pray that God
    may blefs it for that end,                     112
  Direct, lj.1. Be careful to obey God's voice in the
    rod and beware of flighting it,                11^
  Direct. IV. Caft back your  eyes upon the fins of
   your by paft life,  and labour to be deeply hum-
    bled for them  before the Lord,                nr
  Direct. V. Fleye prefently to  flefes  Chrift by a
    true faith, and clofe wiih  him as offered to you
    in the gofpel,      '                           1I?
  Direct. V1. Call for the elders of the church that
   th ey may pray over you in your ficknefis,       118
  Chap. V. Containing directions  to the people of
    God, when the Lord is pleafed to recover them
   from ficknefs and diftrefs,                  ,  II0/
 Direct. I. dt is very proper both  under ficknefs
   and  after it,  to  examine  if the affliction be
   fanctified to you,  and hath come from the love
   °fi God,                                     ibid.
 Direct. II. Make confcience of offering to God the
   facrifice of thankfgiving, upon  his  recovering
   thee from ficknefit  or any diftrefs,           '  121
 Direct. III. JVhen the Lord is pleafed to  grant
   thee  any fignal mercy or deliverance from
   trouble, beware of forgetting the Lord's kind-
   nefs towards thee,                            12>r
 Direct. IV. Inquire after th, fiefruits ofrighteouf-
   nefs, which are the genuine effects of  afflic-
   tion in ihe children of Cod, who  are duly exer-
   cifedthereey,                                l26
 Direjet. V.  Be careful to perform theje reflati-
   ons, engagements, or vows, you  h.rae ronie  .a-
   der in the time offickaefs; and walk fuitably
   to them,                                     I2„
.Chap,,  V'I.Containing directions to the unregene- 
276      CONTENTS.

   rate, when they are recovered from ficknefs,
   andreflored to health,                        132
Direct, t. Seeing the affli't'eons of ihe wicked are
   unfianctified, it is neceff'ary you examine what
   fori  of affliction yours hath been, and what
   fruits it  hath produced in you,               ibid. ,
 Direct. II. Confider the great danger of not be-
   ing bettered  by ficknefs, and  of not complying
   with the voice of God's rod,                  134
 Direct. III. Wonder at the patience rf God in
   fparing fuch  hell-defierving finners as you are,
   and be t/Hinkful for it.                       136
 Direct. IV. Study to improve the fparing mercy
   and goodnefs of God to you in a right and fuitable
   manner.                                     138
 Chap. VII.  Containing directions to thofe fick
   perfons who are apparently in a dying  conditi-
    on, and draveing near to another world.       142
 Direct. L  Confider when death flares  you in
    the face, that now is  the time  if ever to ex-
    ert the utmofle activity  in preparing to meet
    with it,                                    H3
 Direct. II. Continue  to the lafl in the  exercife
   of true repentance and humiliation for fin,     146
 Direct. III. Be mindful of all acts ofjuflice and
    charity, which  may be incumbent upon you at
    this time.                                    l<$
 Direct. IV.  Labor what you can to  overcome
    ihe love of life,  and fears of death :  that you
 may attain to  willingnefs to die,  and leave the
 world when God calleth you to  it,               150
 Direct. V.  Study to imitate the ancient worthies,
    by dying in faith,                            *59
 Direct.  VI. Set  the  examples cf other dying
   flints  before you,  and ftudy in like  manner
    to fhine  in grace, heavenly  difcourfe, and be
    exemplary in piety,  and for the glory of God,
   and good of fouls, when you  are going off the
   Me,             rt                        l(f*
 Many c'.oicefiayings of dvim faints*             16 ■:
** 
                                       S.     271

Direct.VII. Let dying perfons be much in pray-
  er and ejaculations io God,                   2.02
Some meditations and ejaculations pi oper for fick
  and dying perfons,  and cffeciully for a dying
believer.                                      203
Souie meditations  for drooping  believers,  xohen
  death is near,                              . 210
An addition offioae further Meditations proper
  for any fick perfon in the view of death,       114.
Chap. VIII. CoutaiAna  ddrcdlio.es  to the friends
   and neighbours of the fick,who are themfelves
   in health for the time,                       222
Direct. I. Be thankful to God for the great mercy
   of health  and flrength and improve  it to his
  glory,    ^                  ^              ibid.
Direct. II.  dvlake confcience of vifiting your fick
    friends and neighbours, believing  that it is
  your duty and hit ere fl fib to do,                lia^
DireA. 111. Let the friends of the fick, and ihofie
   who vifit the m,  deal faithfully with them about
   their fouls,                                 116
Direct. IV. Be earnefl in prayer to God for your
  friends when fick  or  dying.  Fray  with them
   and for them,                              232
Petition for the fick.                         233
Direct. V. Be careful to furnifh  your friends
   with fuitable company, and fpiritual converfe,
  when they  are fick or dying,                236
Direct. VI. Be Hkewife fuitably  concerned for
   the bodies cf yours friends, when  they are fick, 238
Direct. VII, iflhen the ficknefis of your relations
   or neighbours dothflfflue in death,fludy a chrif-
   tian and fuitable behaviour  under fuch a dif-
  peufation,                                   ibid.
Direct.  VIII. Let the ficknefis anal death of others
   be a warning to you in time of health, to make
  due preparation for the time of fick,afis and dy-
   ir.g, which  is before your hands,             245 
272      C  O  N   T   E   N  T   S.


Direct. IX. L -t th-Ae wko are in heal eh, fet about
   the work of repentance, and turning'to Gob in
   Chrifl tineoufly and quickly ; aA beware  of
   aeLying thisw:rk  until  the  time  of yd! r<°s
   and ofd-.ie-r-,                           " v
   [\d                                      K'S
     i \ 
 

A

N 
Afflicted Man's Companion.
Willison, John
Wilmington: 1796.
National Library of Medicine
Bethesda, MD

CONDITION ON RECEIPT
The full leather binding was worn and deteriorated. Parts
of the leather were missing from the spine and boards.
The front  board was  detached.  The back joint and
internal hinge were broken.  The binding was stained.
The leather had been oiled or  waxed.  The endleaves
were very discolored.  The sewing was intact. Most of
the pages were dirty, discolored, acidic, foxed, and water
stained.  A few pages had small tears at the edges.  A
provenance notation in manuscript ink appeared on the
front  flyleaf.   Other pages were marked with graphite
pencil, stamp inks,  and a perforating stamp.  An  Army
Medical  Library bookplate was adhered to the front
pastedown.

TREATMENT PROVIDED:
Treatment was  documented with color slides.  The pH
was recorded before and after treatment: before 4.5, after
7.0.  The volume was collated and disbound. The inks
were tested for solubility.  The head, tail, and pages were
dry cleaned where necessary; the pages were washed and
then alkalized  (deacidified) with calcium  hydroxide.
Tears were mended and folds guarded where necessary
with Japanese kozo paper  and wheat starch paste.  The
volume was  sewn  on  linen  tapes  with linen thread.
Handmade  paper  endsheets  with  linen hinges  were
attached.   The  volume  was  bound  in a handmade
papercase  paper using a  limp  case structure.   Title
information was stamped  in gold onto the  spine. The
bookplate, and a second one underneath it  were  lifted
from the original board and adhered to the new case.
Northeast Document Conservation Center
May 2003
DW/AK