Fruitful and Comfortable Exhortation in Death

A FRVITFVLL AND comfortable Exhortatioun anent Death.

T His sentence was sounded from the Heavens, in the hearing of JOHN the beloved Apostle of Christ, confirmed be the asseveration of the Spirit, and commanded to be registrat in writ: that it might the mair grauelie be considered and imprented in the hearts of all the faithful children of God, for strenthning of their faith, and framing of their willes to the obedience of the calling of God be death, with cheerful contentment, being assured it sall turn to their everlasting life ane weilfare.

Anent death, there is twa things even amongst Christians to be marueyled at; First, that many lives sa secure and dissolutelie, as though they suld never die, whilk is a wonder, in respect that nature it self teachis all, that they man die: and daily experience tries, that we man leave the things of the world, and they us, with how great a lust and pleasure soever we be carried after them.

The other is, that when death approaches, we are sa greatly troubled; & when it befalls, we mourn and lament, whilk also is strange among professed Christians, seeing holy Scripture preachis sa highly the profit of death; the godly Fathers sa pleasandlie hes died before us; the Saints oftentimes wished for death; and that whilk is grievous of all, seeing this is the chief point of our Christian faith, that JESUS CHRIST our Lord and Savior hath for us be death triumphed over death, nether is there any other way to life and immortal felicity, but be the death to triumph and be victorious partakers with him of his crown and kingdom.

For remedy of the first, let us always remember the penalty, inflicted to us all in person of our first Father for his transgression; Thou shalt die the death, (says the Lord) Thou was taken of the earth, & to the earth thou sall return. Remember the fragility of our nature be the saying of JOB; Man that is borne of a woman is of short life, repleat with miseries: as the flower of the field how soon it is sprung up, it is cut down. And that of the 144. Psal. preatilie paraphrased be the Prince of Christian Poets.

Let us then ever think, we have that dette of nature to pay, when it likes the author of nature to crave it: and that we can neither tell when, where, nor how. The heavens daily reclayming the saule wherefra it descended, and the earth the body, whereof it was taken; On this condition wer we borne that we suld die, and to this ende our maker continuis the use of this life, that we sulde learn rightly to die.

Death is called the way of all the earth, 1. Reg. 2. and that way is wonderful, for as sailing on the Sea, whither we sleep or wake, we hasten to the Haven; And that whilk is stranger, we can na ways errs from the course: for whither so ever we direct, we tend towards death. In this way entered ADAM first, and continued 930. years, and yet died: So did METHVSALEM, and continued 969. years, and yet died: And so did the rest of the Fathers of the first age, everyone many hundredth years & yet died. And so in all ages after to this hour, neither have they passed another way, neither yet can any nor that way of death. One Generatioun cometh, (saith the Preacher) and another goeth, but the Earth standeth still: even as a skaffold or stage whereon every man hes his part to play for a short space, & so to lay of his mask and leaving the vanities of this warlde, retire him self to his dust.

We suld never theirfore be under the common and danger of time: saying, wald to God I had yet ane year, ane oulke, ane day or ane hour to live, for wishing heir will not avail: but at all times be in readiness to do that, whilk anes thou man do, weil thou wald do, and when least thou wald do, mayest may be urged to do.

Weil hath ane counseled and said: He wha every day putis ane end to his life, hes no neid of time: therefore, think to live but for ane day, and esteem every day a new life: For there is nothing lyker the course of our life, than the daily course of the Sun rising in the morning, ascending to the noon, and declining to the evening. No like thing to the grave then our bedds, to the winding-sheit, then the shiets to the worms, nor the punneasses or flees to the sound of the Archangels trumpet, nor the Cock or morning wackner. Theresore, let us every hour of the day remember sa mekel of our life to be spent, every evening remember death, every night go to bed as we wald to grave: lap us in our sheits as in our winding- sheits and rest, attending for that wackner that sal summound us to judgment.

We have no permanent City, heritage, nor dwelling house heir, we sit on an other man's ground, and occupies ane other man's house, without few-ferme, yea, without ane hours tack: therefore we suld be ever ready to flit, seeing flit man we of necessity, whensoever that officiar death warns us, chopping at the door of this house of mud: or rather claiming wherein the saul for a season is enclosed; Of nothing then, sa often and sa mekil suld we think of, as of the time, place and manner of our death, and migration from this life: in such sort, that gif it were possible, the whole moments that we pass of the life, suld be no other thing, but a learning or reckoning over some new lesson of death.

This moved JOSEPH of Arimathea that noble and honest Counselor, and faithful Disciple of Christ, to prepare for him a Sepulcher in a Garden, after the ancient custom of the people of God; at the whilk daily he might meditate of death. The whilk had the honor to ressaue the body of the victorious Dantoner of death.

This moved the noble men of AEthiopia (after as appears) they had received the Gospel, be the ministry of Queen Candaces Eunuch, to keep this custom, that whensoever they went forth to the field for pourmeneying them selves: they caused carry before them a golden Basen full of earth, togeither with the sign of the Cross, to remember them that they were earth, and suld turn to earth: and that only in the death of Christ Crucified, they had comfort against death, ane assured hope of life. This moved PHILLIP of Macedon, to command his chalmer child every morning oft times to cry thrice in his ear; remember Ppillip that thou art but a mortal man. This moved also the ancient Egyptians at all their banquets, to have placed in a clew and open place: right in the sight of all their banketters, the Image and picture of death, to make them in the midst of their pleasure to remember their ende, and sa to moderate themselves from falling in such vices, that easily ariseth of intemperance of banketting.

And finally, this same moved the godly Father Jerome, whether he eat or drank, or whatsoever he was occupied about, strongly to imagine the hearing of the sound of that Trumpet summonning to judgment.

And therefore that warning that the wise man gevis to the youth, that thinks their lusty age will never be spent: and therefore gives thame selves to all licentious sensuality:ought to be well remembered of all: for, For all these things (says the Preacher, Eccles. 12.) God will bring thee to Judgment. Remember thy Creator (says he) in the days of thy youth, whiles the evil days are not come, &c. The years whairin thou sall say, I have na pleasure in them, whiles the Sun is not darkened, nor the Light, nor the Moon, nor the Stars, &c. And after a long figurative and very artificious description of the decripped, weak, and sicklie auld age, he comes to this remembrance of death, whereabout we are in these words: Whiles the silver cord is not lengthened, nor the golden round broken, nor the pitcher broken at the well, nor the wheel broken at the Cistern, & dust return to earth as it was, and the Spirit to God that gave it.

But let us above all, give heid to the wholesome warninges of our Master Christ, and imagine with Jerome the samin to be always sounding in our ears. Matth. 24. Watch (says he) for zee know not what hour zour Master will come: Of this be sure, that gif the Gude-man of the house knew at what watch the Thief wald cum, he wald surely watch, and not suffer his house to be digged throw. Therefore, be ye ready always, for in the hour that ye think not, the Sun of man will cum: Take heed therefore (says he again) to yourselves, lest that at any time, zour hearts be oppressed with surfeit, or drunkenness and cares of this life, lest that day cum upon you at unawares, for it sall cum as a snare: watch therefore, and pray continually, that ye may be counted worthy to escape, so that ye may stand before the Son of man. Luc 21. To this same effect serves the Parables of the Talents, and ten Virgins: for that whilk is insisted into be our Master anent this point of watching for his coming, hes the same use and weight for every ane in particular, when Christ sall call them to their several judgment, as it hes for all in general, when he sall appeir to the common and last.

Now in this continual meditation of death, we suld remember, that it is the wages of sin (as says the Apostle) and therefore the meditation thereof, suld strike our heart with a terror of sin, make us earnestly to repent all our sins, and redeem the time that God spares us, with a richt amendment of our life, and gredelie to gripe at the remeid, the mercies of God plentifully offered in the merits and death of the Lord Jesus; lest that after the death temporal, we die and perish eternally.

Next, this vile brickle weak estate of our life is to be weighed, to make us eschew pride, ambition, lecherie, drunkenness, gluttony, delicate feeding, pampering, and decking of this filthy claye, and such other vices of the flesh.

Thirdly, in that as we brought nothing with us into this life, so we are to carry nothing away with us at our death; but as we cam naked from our Mothers womb, so ar we naked to be laid again in our common mothers belly. Let us learn to eschew avarice, greediness of lands and gear, usury, oppression, and all other unlawful means customablie used, for attaining to riches and honors in this world; but as the Apostle counsels, having meat and raiment be content, and so pass throw thir things temporal, that by them we tyne not the things eternal. It is easy (says one) to that man, to contemn all the things of this life, wha settledly thinks that he must die.

Fourthly, let us lay as it were before our eyes, a dead carkesse putrefied, and worm eaten, and of the foul smell and ugly sicht of every ane of the members, Let us learn to eschew the vices, whairof they are commonly instruments: as to refrain the tongue and lips from blasphemy, swearing, lying, flattering, and filthy talk: the eyes from wantonness, and unchaste looks; the whole face from f • rding and false shows: the hands from blood-shed, oppression, theft: and finally, the feet and whole body from entering, going fordward, and continuing in evil ways, against God, our neighbor, and our selves; without remorse and true repentance; lest a mair horrible spiritual spectacle be seen on the miserable saul, demayned in the hells be these spiritual Adders and Snakes, the Devils.

And last, in sa far as death, with equal fute choppes as well at the gates of Princelie palaces, as at the doors of puir cottages; & takes pleasure to wound as well the flurishing youth, as the hairy languishing age: shuiting his darts continually, and never missing be Land, be Sea; be day, be night; at home, or a field: Let all estates at all times, in every place, learn to be ready. And this meikill for remeid of forgetfulness of death & louse-living.

Now followis for comfort aganis the fear and force of death when he strikes. For this purpose, we have often and weightilie to consider, what a change and cosse we sall make, when we sall exchange this miserable and painful pilgrimage, with that pleasand and happy habitation. For sen God first for the sin of ADAM, enjoined to him his penalty in these terms. The Earth sall be cursed for thy cause, with sorrow sall thou eat thy bread all the days of thy life, & with the sweat of thy brow sall thou feed, till thou return to the Earth. Behold the estate of this brickle body heir, a booth of all sicknesses and diseases: so that no Apothecary hes his shop so pleasant with drugs, vnguents, and salves; as the body of man is with dregs, corrupt humors, vennoms and sares, subject to all injuries of fortune; that is, of such miseries and mischiefs, as God by his providence sends and sows athort the warlde for sin whose death the whole Elements he • dight, and to whose destruction and cutting off, innumerable enemies hes conspired: howe many wild beasts? how • many creeping Serpents? howe many fleeing wasps? howe many sowmin • monsters? yea, how many men and women in shape and name, but indeed fo • cruelty, Tigers; for craftiness, Foxes; fo • malitiousnes under a flattering fashion, Crocodiles; for vennome, Vipers; and finally, for all mischief against their own kind, the greatest monsters in nature: and yet the most dangerous enemy of all against thyself, is thyself; be thy follies, thy fantasies, thy vanities, thy surfettings & excess, thy lusts, thy anger, and the rest of thy affections, whereof within thy breist, thou fosters a Forest full: as of all kind of vndantoned and raging beasts, ravenous fowls, and venomous Adders; justly thereby procuring at the hand of God and man, the wrack of the miserable body.

Syne see whereabout this life is occupied: how vainly, how dangerously, howe painfully, howe grievouslie, in what company: as DAVID often complained in his days, of Lions, of Dragons, of Dogs, of Swine, hungry Foxes, Asps, and Scorpions, devouring us, deceiving us, incensing us, traducing us, biting, scratching, barking, and pudling us in such sort, that oftentimes there is greater security, and ease to be found among these evil beasts, nor amongst many men, with whom we must live in thi • world.

And what estate I pray thee can thy puir saul lie intill, in the midst of such bale full business of the body, within th • whilk, it is enclosed as ane Addercop, it the midst of her web; set a floght with the smallest twitch thereof: as a Mous • trapped in a fall, with the whilk the children takes their pastime, or rather as DANIEL in the den of Lions, SIDRACH MESACH in the fiery Oven, or IONAH groaning in the Whales belly, overgone with the waves and surges o • the raging Sea; sobbing like a Dove chattering as a Crane, and mourning a • ane bewailing his Mother: What fear • what care, what grief, what sadness, wha • sorrow, what indignation, what vexation, and wanrest? No, it is in vain to press to express the infinite cogitations and commotions of the mind, in respect of that, whilk daily experience may make us to conceive.

Now, the only rest and relief from all this, is in and be death: whereby we sall change these diseases in health; these dangers, in safety; these pains, in pleasures; this fighting and labor amongst deadly enemies, in singing and honor among heavenly Angels: And finally, this wicked & evil company, with that most happy society of the glorious and blessed God of the holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Spirit, of the whole triumphant Kirks, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, and of the sweet fellowship of all these perfected spirits of the just and faithful that hes gone before us, even of such as was most near and deer to us in the Lord Jesus in this life: the want whereof, may move us to like the worse of this world, and the mair earnestly to desire to be dissolved, and to be with them in the Heavens: Therefore was it, that from thir heavens as it were, the noise and sounding of this blessed company, that that voice came down, whilk the beloved Apostle of Christ heard, saying: Blessed are they whilk dies in the Lord, for that rest from their labors.

But go to mair particularly, and run throw the ages and occupations of this life, whilk when the Philosophers had done, they thought it worthier of the name of Death than Life: and so hath a godly learned mā uttered after the sense and feeling of his soul.

This life to me is death, but death to me is life but blame:

This life to me in bannishment, but death returns me hame.

Howe soon the Infant comes into the world he greets, and bewails his cace: when he comes to barn-head, he is under whips and rods of Schoolmaisters and craftis-men: In his youth-heid driven in a hundred conceits, by his unsettled brain, raging in his lust and riotous excess, ready to cast himself blind-fold every day in a new sort of danger and shame; wherein he is not able to be ruled, but be such rigorous, masters of fools; as poverty, imprisonement, sickness, and such other.

Means he to tread the way of virtue? it is rough stay, painful and sweatie; he man pass the mercy of the stormy sea, of the sword of enemies, of the fire, and of the water, and of a thousand sortes of dangers; yea, of very deaths: or he can taste of the sweet fruit thereof in any honor or ease? through the whilk, gif he fall happen to escape and come to man-heid, then is he moved to marriage, esteemed of all at the first, merry age, but soon after, myred age, and at last clean marred: for then vnbesets at once squadrons of cares for house, for moyen of life, for wife, for children, for honesty in the world: thereabout are pleyis, feides, quarrels, contentions, running, ryding, sailing, fighting, flyting without ease or end: whereby dolorous deaths, murders, burnings, heirships, shipwrecks, pilleries; and such like falls out every day: wherewith the perfect age of man is consumed in vanity, vexation, mourning, and mischief; till heavy and burdensome age overtake him, wherein he can have pleasure of nothing, wherein the puir conscience is bitten & pyned with remembrance and remorse of the bypast sins, and all the stresses and surfeits of his bypast travels, with the lead of degenering humors to corruption, so vnbesettis the carkas, that there is nothing but hosting in the bowels, yaking in the bones, ytch in the flesh, gout, gravel, paralise, and infinite maladies, as so many scourges & Burreaues tormenting him, till the miserable life in end be pyned away and expelled.

SOLOMON sought out carefully whatsoever seemed profitable, pleasant, or might bring any comfort or contentment to the mind of man in this life: so that none culled be able sensyne to match him, to let be to go beyound him, in that inquisition, in respect of his moyen and wisdom incomparable, whereby he searched out, not only the three great continents of the world Asia, Africa, and Europe: but also these falsely supposed to be new fund lands, to the whilk his ships passed from three year to three: for sa long was the voyage; and brought Gold, Apes, Papingoes, Spyces, Odours and all other precious things in great abundance, and yet he found nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit.

What vanity, vexation, pain and fasherie is in every estate of life, trade and occupation, by this ane thing is most evident, that none is content with their awin estate: but everyone esteems his neighbors better: because he knawis it not so weil as his awin, and confers ay the fasherie and bitterness of his, with the pleasures and commodities of his neighbors; so that the only ignorance of things of the world, makes the estimatiō of them: but when they are proven by experience as SOLOMON assayed, they are found to be nothing less, than they were supposed: so that how meikil the mair men lusted after them, so meikil the sooner do they loath them, and man confess in the ende, all to be but vanity, labor and grief.

Therefore hath experience plainly painted forth the miseries of this life by diverse similitudes, and the happiness of the exchange thereof, with the blessed death in the Lord, the whilk addeth on ( In the Lord ) is always to be remembered, for who doubts, but it is better to live in the most painesull estate of life: that is, than to burn in Hel fire forever: only than take heed, that thou die in the Lord: that is, in the mercy and favor of thy God through JESUS CHRIST, steadfastly believing according to the truth of the word of God; that death is swallowed up, and devoured by the death of CHRIST, who therefore by the mouth of his Prophet, insults over death, saying O death, I shall be thy death. For seeing the sting of death is sin, and the force of sin (as speaks the Apostle) is the law; certainly CHRIST fulfilling the law for us, and satisfieng by his suffering for all the transgressions theirof, he hes so now plucked away that sting, that it can no ways hurt us: as also he hes broken the force of sin, that it can have no power to condemn us. And how be it, the decree of God be, that all man die and turn to the dust, yet properly to speak; this death in the Lord Jesus, is not to be termed death; but as the Scripture calleth it, a sleep. And as Christ said to his Disciples, that LAZARVS sleeped: And the Apostle speaking of them that were departed this life, used this form, Concerning them (says he) that are a sleep, &c. This ground then being laid, that thou die in the Lord be certain, then thou hes made a happy change, from misery temporal, to everlasting felicity.

For in this mortallife, we are always in Prison and bands, with the stinck and filth whereof, we are infected and defiled, pyned with hunger and thirst, dammished with darkness, and demayned with dolours: but by death the bands are loosed, the prison made patent, wherout of freely we fly unto Heavens, wherein we are received, clean and pure washen by the laver of that Lambs blood: and being cled with his white garment of jnnocencie, we are filled with delights, and finds the fruition of the light inaccessable. The consideration whereof, made the Apostle PAVLL to exclayme; O miserable man that I am, who sall deliver me from this body of death. Rom. 7. And earnestly desire to be loosed, and be with Christ. In like manner DAVID, in the difficulties of this prison, uttered these voices; As the heart brayes for the streams of Water: so doeth my soul breath for thee ô God: my saul thirsteth for thee ô God, even for the living God: O when sall I go and appeir in the sight of God! Psal. 42. But again, Psal. 17. he sweitlie comforts him self in the ende of ane other Psalm, with an assurance of the jnjoying of the blessed light, as our Poet hes expressed the sam in these verses.

The whilks, for their pleasand comfort, are maire largelie paraphrased in this Dixiane following.

This life is but a bannishment, and we are strangers and Pilgrims therein, as testifieth DAVID Psal. 39.

Heaven is our true Country, and dead the returning thereto; for our sauls send from the Heavens, are put in these earthly Tabernacles & tents, to sojourn heir for a season, and syne, to return when this messenger death is sent to call them hame to that heavenly Tabernacle, made without hands. This is very plane and full of consolation: the 2. Cor. 5 For we know (says the Apostle,) that gif the earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed, we have a building given of God: an house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens: for therefore we sigh, desiring to be clothed with our house whilk is in heaven, because that gif we be clothed, we sall not be found naked. But indeid, we that are in this Tabernacle, sigh and are burdened, because we walde not be unclothed, but wald be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life: And he that hath created us for this thing is GOD, wha hes given us the earnest of the spirit: wherefore we are always bold, thoght we know that while we are hame at in the body, we are absēt from the Lord: for we walk by faith, and not by sight: Nevertheless we are bold, and love rather to remove out of the body, and to dwell with the Lord: Wherefore also we covet, that both dwelling at hame, and r • moving from hame, we may be acceptable to him. And that to the Hebrews 13. We have not a permanent City heir, but look for ane to come. The whilk effect also the same our godly Poet, hes moste pleasandlie and sweitlie sung to the glory of God, and comfort of all the faithful, in these verses.

Translated thus to the tune of the CX. Psalm.

We are plying in this life ane dangerous voyage, sailing throw a stormy and tempestuous sea, in ane vntight barge, evell accoutred, ever fearing shalds, craigs, or sum fore-land, where we may make shipwreck: in continual peril of Pirates, the devil, the world & sin, ever occupied, ether rowing or pumping, spycing or skayring, wynding or howing sail, weighing or letting anker fall: with intolerable travel and danger. But death is the calm and chiereful herberie, the relief of all these labors and pains, and holy city of the Saints, settled in safety and ease. There is nothing but pleasure rest and merrines.

We wander heir in a wearisome way, throw wood and wilderness, moss and mire, throw rough craigs and burning sand, ever in danger of limmers and wild beasts, pined with hot and called, hunger and thirst, creazed, crucked, bruised and tired, will-some, in mist and darkness, ether gald and mangeid, like Mules with the weight and burden of the pelf and dirt of this earth, or then stressed with the want of things neidfull for the necessity of our life. But be death we put end to our jouruey, and rest from our travel: entering in the house of our heavenly Father, where there is many mansions, weil prepared and furnished in all things, according to the promise of our CHRIST.

This life is a perrelous and painful weirfare, wherein we have many sore combats; not only carnal fighting with men, and striving with the world, & the fasheries of this life: but spiritual, with 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 principalities, powers, Lord's of the world, rulers of darkness and spiritual evils; from high places, as witnesseth the Apostle; meaning against Beelzebub & legions of his unclean spirits, most frequent, forceable, crafty and walk-riffe enemies. The whilks the surest haldes, and best fortified places cannot hald out. And from whose assaults and invasions, no place nor time is free: Seeing we carry the most dangerous friends of them, to wit, our affections about with us in our bosoms, so long as we are in this body of sin, by that we find them before us wheresoever we go, and whatsoever about we be occupied; with these are we daily wounded, chaste, trawheld, overthrawne, and led away captives: But by death reporting the last victory in Jesus Christ, we honourablie triumph over all, and obtains the fruition of that peace of God that passeth all understanding forever.

And finally, this world is a man-mil, a stane barrowe, a place of fair labor under rigorous masters of wark, constraining us daily to pay ane unpardonable exaction of task: even as in Egypt, where the people of God were compelled by that spiritual Pharaoh, to work tyle in great quantity and number, and yet to gather straw and stubble themselves, or then to be scourged & demayned, till we sigh and cry unto God, and he send this death and his Moses for our deliverance: whereby, bringing us out of the house of labor and bondage, he sets us down in the liberty of his kingdom, even in that promised Canaā with Joshua and Caleb, to feed with these on the plenteous fatness thereof, overflowing with milk and honey.

Now then, by recapitulation to abridge the comparisons of the exchange of this life, with that other whilk is effectuate by death; we may well say with Solomon, Better is the Daie of our Death, then the day of our birth: For man is borne of a woman in travel, to live in misery, but he dieth through Christ in ease to live in foelicitie; incontinent after he comes in the world, with cries he uttereth his miserable estate: incontinent after his departure, with songs he praiseth God forever. He is yet scarselie in his cradell, when a number of deadly enemies assailes him: after his death, no enemy can annoy him: while he is here he displeaseth God: when he is dead, he pleaseth him perfitlie: In this life, he dieth through sin: in that to come, he liveth through righteousness: Be many tribulations here he mortifieth sin: with infinite joys there he lives in holiness: here he dieth every hour, there he liveth continually: here is hatred, there is love: here pain, there pleasure: here mourning, there melody: here corruption, there immortality: here time, there aeternitie: here misery, there felicity: and finally, here can we see nothing but vanity, but there sall we see the Majesty of our God: with triumphand and unspeakable joy and glory everlasting.

Is death then to be detested? suld it be abhorred? or suld men immoderatelie mourn for it? or rather suld it not be embraced, welcommed and kissed? Sall we lament without let, when God calls our nearest and dearest by death to his life? or contrariwise, have we not occasion as the Thracians, with feasting and gladness to congratulate. For gif any evil be befalling therein, it is to us, and not to them: But so it is, as ane Ethnic well reasons, to bewail our incommodities, and to be heavilie grieved for any evil betyding to us, it is self-love, and not the love of a friend: and so to be sad for the safety of a friend, it is rather the parte of ane enuyous person, than of a Brother or favorer: and gif so the Ethnics hes ressoned, what suld become us, Christians? Sall we contravene that rule of Christian duty, lamenting for them that laughs, & mourning for them that singes: fasting for them that feasts: hurt our health, for them that are perfitelie whole: wear the black doole for them, wha clothed in white garments does accompany the Lamb with joy wheresoever he goes? For them, who are always singing with the Angels. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts: Sall we with impatient clamours and plaintes repyne against the will of God? And finally, for such as hes the blessed fruition of the company of the Father, Son, and holy Ghost; of the holy Angels, Patriarchs, Prophets, Evangelists, Apostles, Martyrs, and of all the just and righteous, who hes been gathered before to that triumphant Kirk: Sall we run like warwolfes to solitary holes and corners, flying the society of the faithful, and comfort with the congregatiō of God's people, whilk they have in their holy meetings; namely, for spiritual exercises of godliness, hearing of the word of consolation, and presenting of prayers & praises unto God, whilk sort of exercise and conversation, approaches nearest to the holy occupation of them that are gone before us to the heavens? Na God forbid. But rather, howbeit by the example of Abraham and vthers, something be granted unto nature to satisfy the weakness, and bewail the frailty thereof: showing, that we are not stocks nor stanes, but touched with a feeling of the common misery of mankind: namely, because vtherwise we are so hard hearted, that we cannot so earnestly as we ought be commoued for our sins: we may well finding our hearts mollified at such occasions, entertain that constitution for the exercise of unfeigned repentance. Yet nevertheless, we ought therewithal to rejoice, and praise God with gladness of spreit; wha hes vouchsafed in mercy happily and well to direct the course of such persons lives, and give them ane happy end; praying him instantly of his inestimable grace, so to deal with us also, that following the gude example of such as hes tread that path before us; we may go fordward rightly and constantly, till we be gathered with them to that rest, where all together in end, we may glorify our God and Father eternally.

Now it rests to satisfy such, who fears their great loss and hurt by death; and first them who heavily regrates the want of their Parents, husbands, wives, children, brethren, sisters, special friends, and such vthers: Let such first consider that whilk hes been clearly declared; that they have no cause to lament for them, that are taken so to their rest in respect of their estate; unless they wald show them selves envious of their weilfare, and to prefer our pleasure to their so great profit, or to make mair of doing of our turns here, nor of their termeles felicity there; it were to show us altogether addicted to the love of our selves, without consideration of the weilfare of them to whom we wish most well unto. Wald thou desire for thy cause, and it were to effectuate never so good a turn to thee; that ane whom thou lovest best suld lie in Prison, live in banishment, enter in a barrowis, in a perrelous voyage, in a dangerous journey, in a pyneful thralldom, and shameful slavery? Nay, thou dare not say it, lest thou wald bewray thyself-love, and testify that thou caredst not what became of him, so that thy turn were done. Or gif thou wilt say, I wish him no worse nor myself; there is yet no token of love: For gif thou thyself were in misery and continual danger, or in worse estate than ill enough, wald thou so show thy affection, by wishing thy friend partaker thereof? gif such be thy affection, very few wald be fain of it. Love wisheth the well, and not the woe of the person beloved: yea, gif it be in sorrow, it finds the samin doubled, to see thy friend involved in the samin estate with it.

But now I pray thee, wha hes done this to thee? Is it not God that works and dost all this? Yes certainly, be whatsoever Instrument he works the samin. Dois thou not daily pray, that his will be done? Why art thou than grieved because thou hes obtained thy prayer? Or thinks thou indeed that he is thy Father to whom thou hes prayed? and yet hes done thee that hurt and wrong? Then man he be in thy judgment ane unnatural and unloving Father. Or esteems thou thyself, to wit better what is gude for thee, nor he dost that hes made and redeemed thee? Oh believes thou him not to be all-sufficient, that can be to thee in steed of all, and furnish thee whatsoever thou wants? Or suspects thou his fidelity and honesty in keeping his promises? Certainly ane or all of thir man be, or than thou art not in thy right wit, but is transported with ignorance, infidelity, folly, and blind affections; like unto a beast, a babe, a fool, or a phrenetick. Therefore, learn to take up and amend thyself, and turn again unto the faithful tread; enter into the Lord's Sanctuary, cast up the buke of wisdom, learn thereof and be wise; and thou sall cleirlie see the Almighty hes wrought it and rightly: he hes done his good will, and for thy well: he hes played the Father in great favor: he hes wrought wisely, and thou art fond wha cannot persaue it, in taking from thee thy leaning stocks that withheld thee fra him, that thou may lean to him allanerlie, and find in him whatsoever thou wants: he hes taken on him to be a Father to the fatherless, the husband to the widow, the friend to the faithful, the brother & sister of them that hears his word and dost it: Father and mother may leave thee, but he will not leave thee, he will not forsake thee: The mother may forget the fruit of her womb, the husband the wife, the Father the son, the brother the sister; but the Lord will never forget his awin: either sall he stir up means for thy comfort, and make of fremd men, fathers and friends, and vnkend women, mothers, wives, sisters, &c. gif thou be faithful and patient; or then sall he work, and perfect the work of his mercy in thee, and make thy saule with full contentment to say, Thou finds thyself satisfied by his all-sufficiency, so that thou wald wish na mair, no nor never could have looked for sa meikill.

Now the doubt whilk remains behind, dost furnish us the greatest consolation of all. It wald appear, that not without cause suld we fear, for the dissolving of nature; and separation of the saul from the body, and justly lament the loss of our bodies; whilk by death seems to be destroyed and brought to naught: and thereby either to be made meat to the worms of the earth, food to the fishes of the Sea, and fowls of the air; ar turned by the fearful fire, in ashes and smokie air. Let us then consider the loss, but meikle mair, estima • and view the commodity and comfor • that redownd; to us thereby.

Certainelie, gif we look rightly to the matter, we sall find na loss at all, unless thou wald esteem the loss of thine enemy to be loss: for indeed, that old man of sin by death is destroyed, and alluterlie mortified and undone. That poison is put away, & that canker consumed, whereof fainest thou wald have been free, gif thou be the free child o • Cod; and for the whilk cause, inspecial death ought to be embraced as thy best friend, and dearelie esteemed of, for defacing and slaying of thy deadly enemy. Of whom, by no other means thou can be clean quite but by death: for Christ our king, by the death overcome and dantoned death, and made our greatest enemy, to become our special friend; even as the fire to eat out the fire of the scalded hand: The Scorpion to heal the Scorpions sting, & the Theryack made of the flesh of the Viper, to abolish the deadly venom thereof: What loss is there in the ure cast in the furnace, when be the fire out of the moules of the earth thou gathers silver and gold? What loss in the casting of the seed in the ground and scattering in abroad, when for ane thou resaues ten? The same loss, is in the laying off of this mortal body in the grave: wherefra, again be the virtue of Christ's resurrection, we sall resaue it immortal, clean, and free from the seed of sin, and so from all sorrow, meet to be joined with the immortal saules, to have the fruition of the face and light of the countenance of the God of immortality.

Then let us repose upon thir twa chief grounds of consolation against the fear of death; to wit, the immortality of the soul, and resurrection of the bodies, warranted to our faith, be the most clear and comfortable passages of the Scriptures of God. As touching the immortality of the saule, the Philosophers, Ethnics, yea, the very American Cannibals this day doubts nothing off. But lo, we have a stronger consolation, in the blessed hope of the resurrection of our bodies, and joining of them with the saule in a glorious immortal, and perfect estate, to the steadfast standing of that wark of grace, in our whole man, body and saule forever. Anent the whilk, we man speak at mair length; because of the large and accomplished comfort arising thereupon.

Of innumerable things in nature, the reparation of the body of man in the resurrection may be easily believed: for any may easily observe, how of the auld and dead grasshopper, be shaking off of her slouch, the young dost lowpe out fresh and able: of the swear and decrepit call-worm enclosed all the winter in a sort of shell, to fly out a fair painted Butterfly in the Summer. Or as the learned observes, of nature hath left in writ: of the seary Emmets, become winged flies: of the carrion of a Calf, the honey Bees: the silk worms lies dead all the winter, and quickens again in the spring time: the Phoenix reviving out of her own ashes. Quha is he that espies not the pleasant Spring-time, and the gracious vicissitude of the returning new year: wherein all herbs, trees, birds, and beasts, begins to show a new force of nature; and brings forth such new lusty and goodly shapes, as no natural wit can give the reason thereof. Seeing then, that nature produces daily so many things, whereof the mind of man can conceive no cause: wha can deny, but the workman of the whole world may raise up again the bodies of men, in a mair bewtiful form, nor ever they were in: seeing his hand that made nature, works the like dailye, in nurishing and drawing out the putrefied and corrupt seed, and making the samin to grow up in a pleasant herb, or a fair and great try; and such like the seed of man and beast; liquid and hin in it self to grow in flesh, blood, hyde, hair; yea, in hard sennowes and bones.

And so Cyprian dost illustrate the truth of the Resurrection, be the Apostles Example of the seed. 1. Corinth. 15. Gif any (says he) wald mixe together divers sortes of seeds, and syne sow or scatter them on the Earth: dost not every seed in a competent time, according to the kind of the awin nature, bring forth the blade, flour, and fruit thereof, for the reparation of the whole substance and beauty of that body that perished of before: So also, the substance of the flesh of man, albeit it be diverslie dejected; when it sall please God, it sall be brought again to life; in that same shape, whilk death defaced; so that every saule, sall have restored to it, not 〈◊〉 confused, sought out, or strange body, but the very awin self body in substance whilk it had before, only far altered for the better in qualities. Wherefore, the Apostle could not choose a mair fit and near figure to represent the resurrection, than the similitude of the seed sown in the furrows of the Land: For as in nature the seed is cast in the furrows; so in Christian burials, is the body laid in the grave: and as the seed after it is corrupt and rotten, begins again to sprout and grow up in a stalk, or Tree, flourishing and bringing forth fruit: so dost the body fresh and vigorious rise again from corruption to life: a body subject to putrefaction is laid in the grave; but raised again, free from all frailty: it is laid down, expond to wrack and destruction; but it is raised again, cheerful, quick, lively; clean & pure, fyned from all dross of earthly or elemental alteration: a little assay whereof, may be ordinarlie remarked in sickness; whilk is the fore-runner, and messenger of death: for when with a fever, ane is heavilie vexed, his color grows pale, his body is heavy, his strength is gone; and of an able man, is turned in a lazy lump of clay; liker to a carrion, than a living creature: but in some process of time, by help of nature, means of medicine, and restorative food, he reviues, and becomes lusty, gude-like, and maire pleasant and able, than before his sickness. So in the Resurrection, the same body arises again; but so purged, so fyned, so strengthened and trimmed, that no blemish nor wamb of the auld corruption or weakness may be espied.

So then, this separation for a time is no loss at all; but be the contrary, to the great gude of both the partes of man: for the body is laid at rest, free from all danger; not only of sin and all miseries arising thereupon; but also from all temptations, peaceable sleeping in the grave, till that pleasant morning of the joyful Resurrection. For howbeit, it appear void of life, in so far as the saule being separate, carries with it all sense and moving; so that at last, it is putrefied and turned to dust: yet notwithstanding, for s • meikle as the power and spirit of God that quickens all things, leaves it not, i • cannot be esteemed altogether separate from life; but as the Apostle speaks, Rom 8. Gif the spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised Christ from the dead, sall quicken your mortal bodies, by the spirit that dwells in you: As also in the former similitude of the seed is evident; the whilk howbeit it appear to be dead, yet hath it life in it self before thou sow it, and being sown, it seems to be slain and buried; but it comes contrary wise to pass: for out of very rottenness, it springs up mair pleasant than it was: so that it is certain, it had life in it, both before it was sown, and in the midst of the corruption thereof. And when the Lord in his Law, calls himself the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; saying, he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: as our Master uses the samin against the Sadducees for the Resurrection: he means not only of the sauls of these his servants that wer living with him in the heavens, but also of their bodies, whilk the Lord had laid up in the earth, with the awin sort of life furnished thereto, by his power that quickens all creatures, even as the seed lying under the furrows.

Mairover, we being by faith joined & coupled with Christ as these fathers, not only in saule for the life and safety thereof; but also in body, that quickening force of his life, whereby he raised our nature from the death, never leaveth the bodies of the faithful, but with a hid, fectful efficacy, lurks for a while, as the seed under the clod, till it spring out in the awin time. And this is the grace of God that ever accompanies it, even in the midst of corruption, be the virtue of that everlasting covenant, whilk is as a certain spring and vain of life, not to the saules only, but to the bodies also in the midst of the very grave: For according to that ground of our text, They that dies in the Lord, are pronounced blessed: Now, the saule is not properly esteemed to die, but the body; so that this blessing man be on the body: but so it is, that no blessing can be without life, it follows then of necessity, that the body is not destitute alluterlie of life, but hes in it, the awin sort and condition of life, even in the midst of death: and although through the corruption, it shows no token of life; yet retains it thereof a certain seed and virtue, whilk in the day of the Resurrection it shawis forth, when the spirit of God sall put out his infinite power, to quicken these bodies, and raise them from the dust, to be decored with that glory promised to his elect.

Death then affrayes the godly, but as a bowgle that fears bairnes: as a mother that wald put on a Maske to fear her child; the child behalding her so disguised, cries and flies away: but how soon the mask is removed, and the mother shewis her self as she is: then turns the child again with joy, and embraces and kisses her. So is it indeed with the death, whilk in respect of the new life it brings, may be called our mother, as JOB said to the grave: Thou art my father, and to corruption, thou art my mother: when we look on it, as it is masked with the law and rigor of God's justice and wrath, for the transgression theirof, then is it most terrible and fearful; But when that mask is shaken off, and it presence the self unto us, as it is becum to be in very deed in Christ: than may we run to it and meet it, and embrace it as our mother, to be brought out thereby unto the estate of a blessed life: sa that there is no loss by it, but great gain: for like as on that ane part, we can never be free of the thralldom and vexation of sin, but by death, so are we never thoroughly put in possession of the rich graces of Christ; but be ye samin, for we live heir under hope: and that whilk is seen, is • ot hoped for: but that whilk we look to see and enjoy, when by death we depart from this vale of misery, unto that Paradise of all pleasure: Namelie, after the joyful resurrection of the just, when that work of God's grace in us is fully perfected: We are heir under tutorie, but there sal be free inheritors: here as Prentises and scholars, but then sall be free men and masters; And as the damsel under the discipline of her dame, reioyces meikle, & whē she hears of the treaty of her marriage: but mair when she is contracted, and most of all, in the day of her marriage, when she beginns to have the full enjoying of all, whilk she langed for: so we in this life, be the Gospel preached, hears of that marriage, & believing of the samin, ar firmly hand-fasted; But the full fruition sall we not have, till be death we be turned to dust, and be the glorious resurrection, renewed again, and presented to our husband in the heavens, perfect and comely in body and saul: at whilk time our marriage is solemnized in the sight of God, his Angels, and all the glorified Saints, with whom we sall enter in the wedding chamber, to enjoy the perfection of unspeakable pleasures forever: our beautiful bridegroom inviting us with these words. Arise my love, my fair one; Behold the winter is past, the rain is changed and gone away, the flowers appeir in the earth, the time of the singing of Birds is cum, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land: the Fig-tree hath brought forth her young figs, and the vynes with their small grapes hath cast a savor. Arise my love, my fair one, and come away &c. Cant. 2. Then sall be accomplished the prophecy of the spirit; They who sawis in sorrow, sal shear with joy; he wha carrying his happer went mourning, sall return carrying his sheaves with dancing.

Let us then steadfastly repose on Christ Jesus, who in nothing did show forth the powe and glory of his God-head, fo meikel as in rising again from the dead; and tryvmphing over the power of the grave: for the same without question, is to be effectuat in all his members, any of the whilk, gif he suld leave vnperfited, be that resurrection, he could not be a perfect Christ and Savior. Let us therefore certaiuelie believe the Apostle, Phil. 3. and look for the coming of our Savior from the Heavens at the last day: at whilk time, he sall transform our humble and mortal bodies, and mak them conform to his glorious body, be that power, whereby he is able to subdue all things: and let us mark the exhortation and consolation of the same Apostle. 1. Thes. 4. I will not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them whilk are a sleep: that ye be not sorrowful, as those who hes no hope. For gif we believe that Jesus is dead and risen again, even so them whilk sleep iu Jesus, will God bring with him; for this say we unto you by the word of the Lord, that they whilk live and are remaining in the cumming of the Lord, sal not prevent them whilk sleep: for the Lord himself sal descend from heaven, with a shout & with the voice of the Archangel, & with the Trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ sall rise first. Then sall they whilk live and remain, be caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and sall be ever with the Lord: wherefore, comfort yourself (says the Apostle) one ane other with these words.

The reason then, wherefore they that sleeps in the Lord, suld not be immoderatlie lamented, is, because they ar to be raised again, (be the word of God,) to have the fruitiō of the ages that ends never: As Christ himself hes assured: John. 5. The hour sall cum, when they that are in the graves, sall heir his voice, and they sall cum forth: they that hes done gude to the resurrection of life: but they that hes done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. Now this gude doing, is believing in him, & showing of the fruits theirof, in love and obedience: as he himself answered to the Jews, in the saxt Chapter theirafter, when they asked him▪ What sal we do, that we may work the works of God? This is the work of God, (says or Master) that ye believe in him whom he hes sent. This is the will of the Father that sent me, that none of those that he hath given me should perish: But that I suld raise them up in the last day; This is the will of him that sent me, that whosoever knowis the Son, and beleeuis in him, sall have eternal life, and I sall raise him up at the latter day. Whereby our sweet Savior brings solid consolation, unto all his elect and faithful: to save them from succumbing in these heavy temptations: wherewith Satan seeks by distrust and infidelity, grievously to afflict & deject the minds of God's children. Like as he left nothing vnassayd against JOB the pattern of patience: and that in the midst of all the righteous servands of God, strenthened be his spirit: comforted him self in the assured hope of this resurrection, saying: O that my words wer now written, ô that they were written even in a buike, and graven with an Iron pen, in Lead or in stone forever: for I am sure that my redeemer liveth, and he sall stand the last on the earth, and thoght after my skin, worms destroy the body; yet sall I see God in my flesh, whom I myself sall see, and mine eyes sal behold, and none other for me, though my reins be consumed within me. Seeing then that all the hope and assurance of salvation, and all consolation, in the utter extremity, is in this belief, of the blessed resurrection: let us specially open this vn • o all the assaults and terrors, whereby Satan and his foul spirits, seeks to subvert our minds, dash us with distrust, and cast us in most dangerous despair: and let us have ane fixed faith, and unshaken hope in him, wha is the author and purchaser to us of this last & greatest benefit, whilk crowns and perfytes all the rest, the resurrection of our bodies, to the life everlasting.

Now, gif we wald know farther anent the surety and manner of the resurrection, & what sort of bodies sal be brought thereby from the dust, meet and able to jnioy that spiritual kingdom of glory: Let us for the assurance of our faith, and full instruction and comfort hear it out of the plain words of the Apostle, out of the fifteenth Chapter, of the first Epistle to the Corinthians.

But some men will say, how are the dead raised up? and with what body, cum they forth? O fool, that whilk thou sawest is not quickened except it die: and that whilk thou sawest, thou sawest not that body whilk sall be, but bare corn: As it falleth of wheat or of some other; but God giveth it a body at his pleasure, even to every seed his awin body. All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one flesh of of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of fishes, and another of birds, there are also heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies: but the glory of the heavenly is one, and of the earthly another. Ther is another glory of the Sun, and another of the Moon, and another of the Starrs: and ane star differeth from another in glory; Sa also is the resurrection of the dead: the body is sawin in corruption, & is raised in incorruptiō, it is sawin in dishonor and raised in glory, it is sawin in weakness and raised in power: It is sawin an natural body, and raised ane spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body: as it it also written. The first man ADAM, was made a living saul: & the last ADAM was made quickening Spirit: how be it, that was not first, whilk is spiritual, but that whilk is natural: and afterward that whilk is spiritual. The first man is of the earth earthly: the second man, is of the Lord from heven: as is the earthly, such are they that are earthly, and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the Image of the earthly, so sall we bear the Image of the heavenly. This say I brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nether doth corruption, inherit incorruption. Behold I show you a secret thing: we sall not all sleep, but we sal all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet sall blow, and the dead sal be raised up incorruptible, & we sal be changed: for this corruptible, must put on incorruption: and this mortal, must put on immortality. So when this corruptible, hes put on incorruption, and this mortal, hes put on immortality, then sal this saying, that is written be brought to pass, Death is swallowed up in victory, ô death where is thy sting! ô grave where is thy victory! The sting of deatb is sin, and the strength of sin is the law: but thanks be to God, who hes given victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and unmovable, abound always in the work of the Lord: for as meikle as ye know, that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Then to conclude, the verity of this resurrection of Christ hes wrought this far, that thereby the victory and triumph obtained, over death, in the very dark and strongest dungeon theirof, the grave; no Christian suld doubt of perfect salvation of body and soul; but may have a firm and unshaken hope, that all sall be perfected in him, whilk are expressed and done by his Christ, for his sake. So here is the stay and solid foundation of our faith, grounded upon the death & resurrection of our Lord Jesus: whereby he hath destroyed the force of death, and plucked away the sting thereof: whilk turned us away from God, and cast us away from utter danger of wrack & destruction. Sen we have therefore obtained so great and so sure felicity, be the death and resurrection of our Savior. Let us not suffer our selves to be carried away with any doubting, or wandering error: but let us with all our main press, to enjoy the use and fruits of so great a gude: and let us fixe the eyes of our faith upon hie, wha hes promised us all this in Christ: wha is loving, true, eternal, and almighty: and therefore, neither can nor will disappoint us, seeing that of his singular favor & mercy, be his Christ, raised from the dead: he hes regenerated us in a lively hope, & hes restored us to a life, free from all danger of death, and hath consigned to us an inheritance immortal: forgiving us all our sins; and blotting away all handwrits and obligatories theirof, that was against us.

The remembrance theirof, suld always walk before the eyes of our minds; namely, when we are to enter into this last conflict & battle: wherein detesting all the sins of our by-past life: Let us open to Satan, death, sin, and hell, the infinite mercy of God the Father, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: whereby salvation certainly prepared, is set before us with stretched out arms, to meet & embrace us. So this faith and assurance of the promised mercy and life: infused in our hearts, be the holy spirit, is to be cherished and stirred up in us be all means, that throw the merit of the perfect mediator, we may confidently call upon him, Abba deer Father. Feeling that spirit of adoption, always assuring our spirit, that he is our Father in Christ, and we are his dearly redeemed Children, be that ransom of his precious blood: and that this our father hes given us to his Christ, s • that no power is able to take us out of his hand, or stop us from entering into his rest: persuading us, that neither life nor death, principality nor power: heigh, nor low, thing present, nor to come: nor na other, is able to separate us from the love of our gracious father in Jesus: So this spirit, is the earnest of our inheritance, putting us even presently in possession thereof: be an assured & unshaken hope: thereby, lifting us up, and conforting us, he removes all trembling and terror from our conscience, & makes us to embrace the favor and merciful presence of our God, for the certain receiving of that redemption & reconciliatiō, offered always be him unto us in Christ Jesus; whom he hes proponed, a sure propitiation and atonement be faith in his blood: whereby, being justified, we find rest and a pacified conscience; a quiet and secure mind, in such sort, that all diffidence and desperation being shaken off, we conceive an assured hope of the resurrection, and glorious immortality: And doubting nothing of that perfect joy and salvation purchased, we gladly resolve, and are weil contented to remove and flit from this misery, to that felicity everlasting, and earnestly desire with all our hearts, to change this wandering Pilgrimage: with that heavenly and eternal habitation, where we sall find the unchangeable fruition of euerstanding pleasures: in the glorious kingdom of our Christ, who hes prepared it for us, gone and tane possession theirof in our name and nature before us, and sall send his blessed Angels, to transport and take us thereto. Come Lord Jesus; Even cum Lord Jesus, hasten Lord and tarry not.

COME LORD JESUS.

THE MANNER OF THE sickness and departure, of IEAN D' ALBRET Queen of NAVARR, wherein every Christian may see and learn the practice of the former doctrine, that is, the plain and pleasant passage, from this misery to the life everlasting.

Translated out of French in Scettes.

I N the year of God, 1572. The peace the third time being sworn and concluded between Charles the nynt, King of France, and the Protestants, for the mair sure confirmation thereof, that bluddie marriage was appointed to be, betwixt the Kings sister, and the King of Navarre. After the peace sworn, and all agreed upon concerning the marriage: In the beginning of May, King Charles prayed Iean D' Albret Queen of Navarre, and mother to the young King that was to be married to come to Paris, to advise and provide for such things, as were necessary for the marriage, according to the dignity and greatness of the matter: The whilk she yielded unto, and taking journey about the sixth of May, she arrived at Paris the 15. of the same Moneth, and began to make divers walks to and fro, throughout the City, to the houses and booths of the Merchants and craftismen, to find out such things as were meet for the day of the solemnity; als weil concerning the wedding garments, and such things as she purposed to propyne, as other things proper and needful.

The Queen, Mother of FRANCE, KATHERINE de Medices, seeing a great fish fanged in her net, wald not slip the occasioun: She hated extremely the Queen of Navarre, for she had known long before her notable spirit, and what a Mother she had been among the Protestants: so she thought gif, she suld let her live, after that all the rest were massacred, she could not eschew a new hinder of her interprise; and to slay her among the rest that were to be murdered thereafter, under pretence of the quarrel betwixt the house of Guise and Chastillion, she saw not a sufficient cause to lay the fault on the Guisians, wha had no thing to do with the Queen of Navarre: Also she was out of all hope to make the King of Navar her son in law, so long as his Mother lived: wha being wise & of a gude spirit culled perceive her craft, and make all to turn in smoke: wherefore she hes recourse to ane Master Renney, her entertained poysoner, upon set pension and wages; wha had anes of before presented to the vmwhile Prince of Condie, a perfumed empoisoned apple, whilk was discovered to be so, be the experience proven of a dog, and be the danger that the Princes Surgeon was into, be smelling of the apple over neir. This Renney, selling his drugs and perfumed colors, and other wares to the Queen of Navarre; fand the moyen, finely to impoyson her be a pair of perfumed gloves, whilk the Queen caught for her awin present use, So manifest it was, that the same Renney vaunted himself thereafter of his vassaledge, and durst very well say, that he held the same Pageant to play to three or four mo, that feared little such fashions. So then on wednesday, the 4. of June, she falls down sick in her bed of a continual fever; the cause whereof, as Mediciners meined it, was a corruption in her pulmons, whereof be process of time, a postume had sprung; the whilks being moved and irritat be the great heat that then was, and extraordinary travel that she took, kendled up in her that fever, whereof in five days thereafter she died, to the great regrate of them of the Religion, and joy of the secret bludy counsel: yet in very deed, the cause of her deadly disease was in her beane, wrought by the force of the poison, drawn in by her smelling. Now because that in her sickness and death, she declared by what spirit she was guided; we have thought good to set down a short discourse thereof, whilk may be a pattern and example to all good Christians to follow; that they may happelie ende this miserable pilgrimage, and enter into that heavenly habitation.

So then the said Queen of Navarre, finding her self pressed with the evil, & that so meikle the mair as the Mediciners were diligent to relieve her, with the whilks, the Queen mother wanted not her secret dealing: she perceived that it behooved her to go into another Cuntrie; and therefore she prepared her self to receive glaidly at the hands of God, what it pleased him to dispone, & so resolved her self constantly to die, craving ever instantly, that she suld not be left destitute of that, whilk all her life time she had esteemed most precious; to wit, the consolatiō of the word of God, with continual prayer; conform to that whilk James commands, that the sick suld call for the Elders of the Kirk, to the end, they might pray to God for them; seeing the prayer of the just is of great force and effect.

Following this advertisement, they ceased not thereafter to solist her, to take good courage; and to put inteirlie her trust & assurance in God, as in him wha was the author of her life, and had power to preserve the samin. But namely, on a certain day, the minister whilk cam to comfort her, declared to her, be many testimonies of scripture, that it behooved Christians in all things to conform themselves to the will of God; because he is the Father of the faithful: and for that cause, crosses and chastisements suld be suffered patiently; seeing they ar laid on by their Father for their well and salvation: howbeit, at sometimes, the rigor of afflictions, appeareth to the flesh to be such; that we imagine na other thing, but God to be enarmed against us in wrath utterly to destroy us: yet we man consider, that as he is just, he dost nothing in that but justly: and being our Father, he hes special respect to our weilfare: that he is nothing like the Tyrants, that takes pleasure in tormenting and troubling their subjects without reason; but makes all to serve for the comfort and edification of his Elect: whereunto she answered, that she took all things from the hand of God, whom she acknowledged to be her Father; declaring mairover, that she never feared the dead, so far was she from murmuring or grudging against God: notwithstanding the pains whilk she endured, knowing that he dost nothing but that whilk is good and right; so that she was certainly persuaded, that all suld work for her weil and comfort.

The Minister continuing his purpose, adjoined; that it behooved to search out the cause of sickness some other way than the Mediciners are accustomed to do; whilk ever respects, either the corruption of the humors, the hurt or offense of the noble partes of the body, or some other natural cause: for albeit the ordinary grounds of sicknesses be there, and such be the second causes of them; yet we man go fordward to the first cause, even toward God, wha dispones upon his creatures according to his good pleasure; wha by striking makes the wound, and syne applies the plaster thereto: Therefore it was, he to whom she suld address her self by prayer to find relief of her sickness and perfect deliverance, to whom it were an easy matter to restore her to health again, gif so it were his good pleasure.

To this she made answer, that she depended on nothing, save on his only providence, and that she knew very well, that it appertained to him allanerlie, to dispose on all things; and therefore she earnestly desired his Majesty, that he wald grant her sa far as he knew to be good and necessary for her, as well anent her bodily health, as her salvation: and nevertheless says she, This present life for just causes, is very noisome to me; for the miseries that I have sustained in it sen my young age, and namely, because I live not without offending my dear Father daily, with whom I wish to be with all my heart.

The minister replied, that the Pagans had taken consolation in death, in that it was a moyen to be delivered from the evils of this world, but Christians ought to go farther: to wit, in consideration that by death, we are not only exemed from thir present miseries, but also that thereby, we begin to enter in possession of a better life, whilk is the life eternal; where God hes prepared for us ane unspeakable felicity, by Jesus Christ, his Son: even as he himself had taught saying: That it is the will of the Father, that whosoever believes in the Son, suld have eternal life: and nevertheless, lang life for as miserable as it is, ceases not to be a blessing of God, seeing he had promised it as a testimony of his favor, to the keepers of his law, and maireover, in sa far as we serve in this life, to his glory: it suld be a singular honor, and taken of his gude will, to have it continued: as in him, whom a Prince wald a lang time employ in his service: because he had fund him faithful, not for a day or twa, but for many yers. For this cause, she suld pray him instantly, that gif it were his will to employ her farther in this life, for the furtherance and increase of his truth: and it wald please him to accompany her with health and good disposition; to the end, that recovering new forces, she might encourage her self to go forward to the end in her course, meikle mair vertuouslie then ever of before.

Where upon she protested, that her life was of small avayll in her eyes, for any particular respect of hir awin: in so far as she ceased not continvallie to offend God in this flesh: But she regarded chiefly the comforts, weilfare, of the Kirk of God upon earth: Wherevnto gif hir life may serve, she wald esteem it some-what worth the lasting. Also, that she had some regard unto the tender age of her children, whilk God had given unto her; fearing to see them want her presence, in their so base age: yet nevertheless (says she,) I am assured that God will steir up gude instruments, for the weil and comfort of his kirke: and will also be a father & protector to my Children, as he hes been unto me in my greatest afflictions; in such sort, that I remit it wholly to his providence to see thereunto.

The Minister said unto her, that he praised God to see her so assured and resolved in his providence; praying her to continue therein, as a thing whilk was a good and assured mark of her faith, and that the good Patriarchs in times past had done so, leaving the special care of their posterity in the hands of God, as might be seen in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the blessing whilk they wished to their awin: always it was very requisite that she suld choose some persons of good life and doctrine, whilk might continue in these young Princes, the seed of Piety, whilk she had sawin in them with so great travel and cares, hoping that her faith and constancy in the true service of God, suld be unto them an example of perpetual recommendation, to follow and imitate all the days of their life: like as also it was not liklie, yea almost incredible, but that they suld ever have a feeling remembrance of these good and holy instructions, whilk they had so often heard, as well of her awin mouth, as of these whom she had employed to fashion and accustom them to follow honesty and virtue.

And because that thereafter she declared that she had na fear of death; saying, it was a passage, through the whilk all flesh suld resolve themselves to go. The Minister proposed unto her, that so far suld it be from Christians to fear death, that they suld be assured never to die, in respect of the saying of Christ, Whosoever believeth in me sall live eternally. In sa meikle as death, is not properly a death unto the faithful, but a sleep; as it is often times sa termed in Scripture. Seeing Jesus Christ for them hes conquessed it, and led it in triumph, so that we may cry out with Saint P A V L, O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? She was also often admonished by him, to acknowledge and confess her faults before God; telling her, that sickness was the way to death, and death was the reward of sin: therefore this chastisement suld teach her in earnest, howe far she was detfull to God's justice; not only by the fall of the first man, in the whilk she was involved with vthers; but also by her own proper of sin, seeing the best in the world is but a pure miserable sinner; and that gif God wald punish us according to our sins, we culled look for nothing but death and everlasting condemnation.

At this purpose, she began to lift up her hands, join them together, & look steadfastly with her eyes toward the Heaven: saying, she confessed in very truth, that she had committed offenses without number; yea, and moe then ane culled express; but she hoped that God suld be merciful to her, through her Savior Jesus Christ, wha had suffered for her sins, and risen again for her justification; in whom she had reposed her whole confidence for salvation.

This gave occasion to the Minister, to discourse at greater length, upon the assurance whilk she suld have to obtain the effect of the mercy of God, seeing that Jesus Christ had come in the world to save such, as acknowledge themselves sinners, as he himself had sufficiently protested; saying, that he did as the mediciners, wha goes not to visit the whole, as not having need of his help, but the sick and diseased: and in like manner, that he was presented and offered with all his goodness and benefits to them, that acknowledged themselves empty & void of all goodness: of the whilk thing, she suld sa meikle the mair be assured, as she had ane inward testimony of the spirit in her conscience, causing her to cry Abba, deir Father; as also her faith was no other thing, but ane assurance of the favor and good will of God, manifested to her in his Son Jesus Christ; so that she might say with the Apostle, I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor Angels, principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heigh, nor deep, nor na other creature, suld be able to separate us from the love of God, whilk is in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Now because, that after this, the Minister keeped silence, fearing to annoy her with over long discourse, because the Mediciners had not thoght it good that she suld speak meikle; she on the contrary, prayed him earnestly to insist in talking to her of salvation and the life eternal, adding thereunto, that sen she came to Paris, she had been negligent enough of her duty, in hearing of the word of God, for the whilk she was grieved: yet for the present, says she, I find myself greatly eased & comforted be the same, in this great extremity.

Upon the whilk desire, the Minister set forth the felicity of these happy people, wha in the hevens enjoyed the presence of their God, and of all good everlasting: the whilk was so greatly excellent, that the Scripture willing to painte it forth unto us, saith: That the eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, neither could it enter into the heart of man, to consider what God hath laid up for his own. There he added thereunto this similitude, that even as a potent and magnifick rich King, willing to honor gretly some stranger, he shows him his Court, his Princes, his Estates, his store-houses, and his most precious Jewels, he intertaines him delicately, he feeds his eyes with pleasant spectacles, his ears with sweet music, his taste and smelling with fragrant odors, &c. Even so, God wald some day display and lay open his Glory and Majesty; yea, even all his treasures unto his Elect and Faithful: even then, when he sall retire them from this misery unto himself, in his heuenlie Kingdom of glory; where he sall highly honor them, and decore them with Light, incorruption, and immortality. Wherefore, seeing that such was the felicity of the happy and glorified, she suld not greatly care to quite the world, in sa far, as for ane earthly Realm, whilk she left, she suld inherit the Kingdom of Heaven: and for goods and riches corruptible, she suld enjoye forever such, as culled not wither nor pass away: & thereafter he addressed himself particularly to her, demanding of her, gif she believed that Jesus Christ was her Savior, wha had by his bluid made a purgation for all her sins.

To the whilk she answered; Yes verily, I certainly believe, that he is my only Savior and Mediator, and hopes for help nowhere else, but only by him: knowing that he hes satisfied for my sins abundantlie; and I am assured, that God will be merciful unto me, for my Christ his sake, according to his promises.

Behold a pairt of the good and holy purposes, whilk she did use a three or four days of her sickness: the whilk also both before and thereafter, she ceased not continually to utter; sometimes with great sighs and sobbes, in a most affectionate and moving manner; testifying the great desire and hope that she had to go to the Lord: saying oftentimes these words, O my God and Father, deliver me from this body of sin, and from the miseries of this life, that I offend thee no mair; and that I may enjoy the felicity whilk thou hes promised.

Now not only did she daily declare the godliness of her heart, be sa gude purposes: but also therewithal, did show a face and countenance, resolved, assured, and joyful, according as the rigor of her sickness might suffer, whilk testified sufficiently, that the fear of death did no wise shake or brangill the firmness of her faith. At the ende of all the conferences for consolation, they were ever accustomed to make a Prayer to God, that it walde please his Majesty to accompany him with a constant patience, and to show his mercy and truth upon her; of the whilk prayer, it is not by purpose to insert, heir the sum.

O Lord our Cod, we acknowledge before thy face, that we are unworthy of thy great mercy, because of our jniquities: and yet we merit not only not to be heard, but also to be cast away from thy face in utter confusion: nevertheless, seeing thou hes promised to hear us: we humbly beseech thee to forgive us freely all our sins, & to clothe us with the obedience and justice of thy Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that in him, we may be acceptable in thy sight. O Lord, we acknowledge, that all our afflictions cum fra thine hand, wha art a righteous Judge, and whom we have continvallie provoked to wrath, by infinite vices, and rebellious, whilk ar in us: whose life answers nawise to the perfect obedience, whilk thou requires of us, be the right of the law, the whilk, alas we cease not always to transgress: And this is it, whilk makes us to caste down our selves at this present, to be humbled before thy majesty, and to acknowledge in earnest, from the very bottom of our hearts, our perverse misery: and that all the evil, whilk we endure in this vale of sorrow, proceeds of this spring; that we have not given unto thee a right and true obedience: but hes gone astray from thy paths; Yet so it is Lord, that there is mercy with thee, seeing thou art our father: and that thou wilt not the death of a sinner: but that he suld turn to thee and live. This is the cause, why we present our selves, before the throne of thy grace: with confidence to obtain this great mercy: whereof, thou hes at all times made promise to our fathers, that it may please thee to accept the merit of Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, for entire and perfect satisfaction of our iniquities: and thou thereby, being appeased, we may find some relief of our evils. The whilk request, as thou art God of all mercy and compassion, we make specially, for them that are under the correction of thy wand, assaulted with diverse calamities; and namely, for the Queen here present, stricken with a very great Maladie: to the intent, that as it hes pleased thee to afflict hir justly for her faults, as she dost acknowledge with us: sa it wald please thee, in forgiueing the same to her, for the love of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ: to make this chastisement profitable for her amendment and ours: Above all, to give unto her a taste and certain assurance of these heavenly gudis: to the end she may mair easily bear and endure the bitterness of that cup, whilk thou hes poured out to her: and that we only desire thy presence may swallow up all the torments of this misery: and make her to forget all the greatness and magnificence of the world: knowing that they are nothing in respect of these, whilk thou hes prepared for her. In the mean time, give hir patience in her sickness, in sa far as thou knowis: that howbeit, the spirit be ready, yet the flesh is heavy, fragill, and full of incredulity, to the end, that she receiving it, as from the hand of her Father, she may the mair cherafullie, conform her self to thy holy will. And for sameikle, Lord, as thou hes used hir hither-tils, for the advancement of thy glory, and for the defense of thy pure people, we earnestly beseik thee to restore her again to her former health: to the intent, that by this default, the warke, that thou hes sa excellently begun be her, remain not vnperfited: but that this deliverance may make hir hereafter to take new courage, & employ her self in the samin better, especially, for the education and instruction of the Children, whilk thou hes given hir. But Lord, gif so it sal please thee to call upon her, we will not repine against thy holy will: but we pray thee to confirm her mair and mair, in the knowledge and profession of thy holy Evangel: and of the assurance of that salvation, whilk thou hes given her, be faith in Jesus Christ, showing the samin be the in-calling and sanctifying of thy holy name, unto her last birth. And as to us that ar hear about hir in health, make us to understand the shortness and incertude of this life: to the end, we may look as becomes us, in this mirror: and see how the greatest in this world, are subject to the same calamities, that the pure-anis ar to the end, that hereafter we may bestow the rest of our days, on nothing else, but on thy honor & service: knawing that nothing remains steadfast save only that, & the recompense whilk thou in mercy hes bestowed thereupon: and that through the only merits, death, & Passion of thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Advocate and Mediator. Amen.

Now, this is almost the sum of the Prayer: the time whereof, while it was directed to God, she ceased not to lift up her eyes firmelie to the heavens: joining sometimes her hands togeither, and oftentimes sighing: Namely, when mension made of the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, shown to poor sinners; in such sort, that there was none present, but might perceive plainly, that she followed in her heart, the words whilk wear pronounced in her hearing. And sa did constantly continue in this resolution, to go to God all the time that she lay bedfast: taking great pleasure in the holy and Christian declaration, whilk was ordinarily made before her, be many godly men, whilk came to visit her, giving a manifest and solemn testification of the assurance to come, and hope whilk she had to be saved: and that be the gude & holy purposes, whilk she did often hald and interteine, whilk for shortness sake are omitted.

And albeit, the dolours whilk she felt were vehement: yet so was it, that none ever heard an impatient word escape out of her mouth: yea, not sa meikle, as be the manner of a complaint: like as, beside and attowre her domestickes, the Queen mother her self, the Monsieur, and Madame, the brother and sister of the King, whilk came sometime to visit her, can bear witness.

Now, gif God in the midst of her greatest travels & pains, had made her to feel an new life: as there is no malady so cruel, whilk hes not some intermission and vexation: she gave plainly to understand, that she was not unwilling to recover her former health, gif it wald please God to grant it. Refused nothing that the mediciners appointed hir to take for that effect: and again, when her sickness did increase, she brake no thing off of her courage, but shown her self to be armed with an invincible constancy, to sustain the proof of the last combat, in preparing her self joyfullie to the death.

And when she saw her women, and and maiden-servants weiping about her bed, she rebuked them incontinent, showing them that they suld not mourn nor lament for her, but thank God, wha was calling her to a better life: & to that heaven of health and salvation, whereunto she had contended: only regarding that she had no time to recompense them, & many others of her domestikes, that had awayted faithfully, and weil on her service: excusing her self at their hands thereanent, that it was not for lack of gude will, but for want of time, being taken from them in that Maladie, yet nevertheless, she sulde take the best order therewith, that she might.

As to the rest, it were lang to recite, all the good & holy advertisemēts, instructions, & admonitions, whilk she gave to her Dame of honor, Governor to Madam the Princesse: that she suld repeat the samin again to hir, and hald her in remembrance thereof, when she suld come to age, exhorting her by the said Dame of honor, to show her self firm and constant, in the true service of God; and that she suld insist with her incessantly for the samin effect, taking heed to the gude Counsel of Monsieur the Prince of Navarre hir brother, as also of the woman whilk she had appointed for her governor: And to follow the gude examples and instructions, whilk had been given her in time bypast, committing, & resigning her over in the protection of God: with many informations whilk needs not be extēded any farther

In the ende, feeling her self grown weak, she caused make her last testament and latter will: in the whilk, she recommended above all things unto her Children, the fear and honor of God, exhorting them to persevere constantly in the profession of the Evangel, in the whilk they were instructed from their birth. Appointing namely, that Madame the Princes hir daughter, suld be ever nurished and instructed in the samin: by the four Dames whilk she had appointed hir for this effect; And that into the Country of Bearne, till she cumming to age; God suld raise up some Prince of the samin Religion, to take her in Marriage, and that be the Counsel and conduct of Monsieur, the Cardinal of Bourbone,& Monsieur GASPAR Count of Colignie, Admiral of France: the whilk she nominated & established executors of hir said testament, This Testament received by the notars, and red over twice before her, on Sunday the 8. of June, whilk was the day before her death; a little after she caused the Minister be called to her, and having mair viuely apprehended the feeling of death, then of before, she commanded him to speak at length, of the temptations, be the whilk Satan is accustomed to assault the faith of the chosen of God, at the extremity of death. So then the Minister began & show, that in very deed, that was the hour in the whilk Satan the adversary of man's salvation, layis to the moste rude and vehement assaults: but even then, and at that time, inspecial dost the Lord increse and redouble the virtue and force of his Spirit in his awin, to mak thē victorious in that combat: and as to the temptations whereby he preases to bring them in despair, he lays before their eyes the innumerable multitude of their sins committed, and presents the samin discovered before them, that they may see the turpitude, filthiness and pollution whilk is therein. And on the other part, he sets the justice of God, before the whilk na thing can stand that is spoted or unclean; whereof he infers, that there is nothing to be looked for be the sinner, but a horrible judgment and condemnation, but thereunto she suld oppone in the first part, even as DAVID dost in the 51. Psal. In the multitude of God's mercies and compassions, whilk in number exceeds far the multitude of our sins. And howbeit, in respect of his justice, and the rygorous trial of the samin: we confess that no Creature defiled with sin, can suffer the samin, gif he sall be called to an account; Yet he knows, that God will not enter into judgment with them whilk beleues in his Son: but imputes and allows unto them the justice and obedience, perfected and accomplished be him, the whilk only is able to answer to his justice-Court: therefore also, in the samin only, his elect hopes to stand before his face: and not be their awin dignity or merit; For gif they sulde compeir before the throne of God, to receive the judgment deserved, they suld have no occasiō, but wholilie to be swallowed up in despair, so oft as they looked to the justice of God: but when they cast their eye on him, wha being the eternal Son of God, took the nature of man upon him: and the same buir the pain whilk was due to us: and to discharge and free us therefra; then the justice of God not only affrayes us nothing, but rather comforts and assures us; by this certain reason, that seeing God is just, he will not receive nor crave the pains of an debt twice: wherefore having received a perfect satisfaction of him, wha became our cautioner and debtor, and wha hes made full payment for all our faults: he can no-wise of his justice require the samin fra us of new again; and for the strenthening of her faith therein, she suld remember thir sentences▪ Esa. 53. That Christ's hes borne our sickness and dolours, that the correction of our peace was laid on him, that by his wounds, we have health: we have erred & failed: but the Lord hes laid on him the iniquity of us all. That he hes paid that whilk he took not: that he is our peace and appointment towards God: that he is that Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world. And many other sentences whilk the Ministers added here unto; continving the purpose lang enough, for satisfying of the said victorious Princesse demand, & craving strength against the temptation of Satan, whereby he preasses in time of extremity to bring & turn upside-down the faith of the faithful: and in the end he concluded, that the justice of God suld no wise be fearful, to such to whom Christ is made be God, justice, sanctification and redemption, & wha acknowledges the same Jesus Christ, wha knew no sin, was made sin: that is to say, an oblation for sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in him.

He added thereunto, that these things were not spoken of all men jndifferently, but of them only wha believed in the Son of God, wha reposes themselves wholly on the merit of his death, unto whom the merit is sufficient, for all the mean of their salvation; And wha contented them selves with that only. And upon that he asked her, gif she had altogether her confidence reposed on Jesus Christ, Crucified for her sins, & raised again for her justification. To the whilk, the Princesse having answered, that she looked not for health, justice or life, by any other way or mean: but allanerlie, by her savior Jesus Christ: and was assured that his merit was aboundantlie sufficient for the satisfaction and ransom of her sins: although they were innumerable. The Minister there assured her that she could not enter in condemnation: but was already passed from death to life; and took occasion thereof, to enter again on that purpose, that she had no cause now to fear the throne of of God's justice, whilk was become to her a throne of grace and mercy: & that the hour of death suld be greatumly wissed and desired be her, seeing in culled be no other thing unto her, but an entresse of a better life: and the hour wherein the Lord stretching out his arms, suld embrace her with the samin, that she suld continually meditate this excellent saying. Blessed are they that dies in the Lord, so says the spirit, for they rest from their labors That that was the hour whereunto she suld enjoy the visible society of Christ her spouse, and suld be in company with the Angels & heavenly spirits: with the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, with our godly brethren, friends, and acquayntance: with whom she had comfort and joy in her life time, to posses with them the same felicity & glory.

Yet the Minister going forward, and willing yet to sound nearer, gif she was willing to leave this life without grudge or regrate: He spake thir words unto her, weil then Madame, gif it sall please God to put an end by this siknesse, unto your earthly Pilgrimage, and call you unto himself, as there is great appearance, wald ye not gladly go to him. To the whilk, this excellent Princesse, with great courage and magnanimity: but any astonishment, answered; yea that I assure you: The Minister then said, look up then Madame, with the eyes of faith, on Jesus Christ, the great Savior, that sitting at the right hand of the Father, stretching forth his arm to receive you thither: Will you not go unto him? Yes I assure you (says she) with a very gude will: and a far better then ever I remained in the world; wherein I have seen nothing but vanity. The Minister continued, not that purpose any langer, but demanded on that, if she wald that prayer suld be made, that many good folks whilk were there, might conjoin their Prayers with hers: She answered, do so, & God strēthen me to continue in prayer with you to the last breath. The Minister then continved the Prayer lang enough: all the whilk space, this Noble godly Princesse, declared a burning & vehement affection & service in calling to God.

Wherefore, the Minister after the prayer, said unto her; that seeing in her so many good and sure testimonies of Repentance and displeasure, whilk she had of the offenses committed by her against God, together with the assurance she had of his mercy in Christ Jesus: he as Minister of the Evangel, and Ambassador of the Son of God, in the name and authority of him, wha had put in his mouth the word of reconciliation, assured her, that her sins were forgiven by God, that she had obtained free pardon of them all from him, and that they suld never come again in count and reckoning before his judgment seat; whereof she needed na mair to doubt, then gif the Son of God present in his awin person said unto her, Daughter thy sins are forgiven thee: And for to rander in this case, the puir affrayed conscience mair assured, Christ had given to the Ministers of his word that authority, that unto all them to whom they suld forgive sins in the Earth, they suld be forgiven in the Heavens; and where they suld lowse heir below, it suld be lowsed above; and that because the word whereby they utter the samin, is not the word of man, but of God; having the same force, as if he had pronounced it himself: for so Christ had said, They who hears you, hears me: whereupon he demanded the Princesse, gif she resaved gladly this so gracious a message of remission of all her sins, and perfect reconciliation whilk he brought unto her from God? Yea, says she, with all my heart and soul I assure you; so that I find na hink nor doubt thereof in my conscience, my gracious father be thanked wha sa hes wrought in me by his gude spirit. A little after these exhortations, the Admiral being come to visit her, and with him ane other Minister, she heard also this other a space lang enough, the Exhortation whereof, tended to the same mark with the former, who also at the end of his Exhortation joined a prayer, the whilk also she heard with great zeal and affection, and requested the said twa Ministers to remain with her all that night in the Chamber, and not to go away from her. The greatest part of that night was spent in comfortable remembrances, encouragements, and consolations, whilk was made be these twa Ministers ane after ane other: after the whilk, she commanded to read unto her some good and comfortable places of Scripture: Ane of the twa Ministers read unto her, from the 14. Chapter of JOHN, to the 18. That being done, the prayer was made; after the whilk, the Queen desired to repose a little, but incontinēt thereafter, she commanded again to read. So the other Minister red the 8. to the Romans. 1. Cor. 15. 2. Cor. 4. chap. verse. 16. to the 11. verse of the 5. Chapter, and Psalms, 3. 16. 17. 18. 23. 25. 31. 39. 143. and last, 142. with other comfortable, & ardent prayers, meet for the affliction wherein the Princesse was: And having at last red the 31. Psalm, where DAVID commended his spirit in the hands of God, protesting the assurance whilk he had, to be redeemed by the most true God; she commanded upon that to make the prayer; and so she passed as is said, the greatest part of the night: during all the whilk time, and purposes, there culled none perceive, that she had any regrate of this life: And that whilk is mair, howbeit some days before she fell sick, she had been very earnest to prepare some pomps and magnificences to the Marriage of the King of Navarre her son, such as she esteemed meet and proper for the greatness of that alliance, whereinto she was entering: yet nevertheless, (whilk is a thing marvelous) fra the time that she fell sick, unto the hour of her death; God made her so to forget such things, that she never appeared anes to mean and declare any thought or care of such matters. This night being sa employed and spent, by this godly Princesse; on the Morne, having always persevered to show and utter notable signs of godliness and ardent faith, she passed from this misery to the life eternal; randring most sweetlie her spirit in the hand of the Lord Jesus, betwixt aucht and nine hours in the morning, the 9. of June, the year. 1572. In the 44. year of her age, the 6. day after she took sickness: She spake very intelligiblie to the utter hour of her death, and shown not only in these things whilk concerned the salvation of her soul, but also in all other affairs, a spirit and courage as whole as ever she had in her life time.

The xxiij. Psalm to the tune of Solsequium.

The Cxxi. Psalm paraphrased.

A Sonnet sounding a warning to die well.