I Am come to see how you do , good neighbour , hearing of your extreme sicknesse : that if it please God , to take you out of this life , I may set you right in the way to heauen , as I haue endeuored to do hitherto , since I came to be your Pastor . How do you man ? how feele you your selfe ?

I thanke you good Sir for this your great loue and kindenes , and also for all the conforts I haue had by you since your first coming hither . I thanke God , I am wel in soule through the washing and purging by the bloud of my sauiour Iesus Christ , which through Gods superabundant mercie , cleanseth me from all my sinne : but sicke in body , I am so sicke as that I suppose my death & dissolution is neere , to the finishing of this life , of misery , and the entring and establishing of me in the blessed life of glory : which Lord I beseech thee to hasten for thy Christs sake , Amen . And now I am most glad that you are come now to helpe me , and direct me to the right end of my iourney , desiring your assistance by Gods word in euery duty yet to be performed by me , both to God and man : And then with ioy I will bid the world farewell , for I feele death aproach . I beseech you therefore to be as briefe as you may , and by Gods word direct me first for the disposing of my worldly goods , lands , and other things : for that it is vndone .

Should all my children be present at my last Will or testament making ?

Yea surely for these causes principally , first , that all of them might haue your blessing with incouragement in all good and Christian duties , wherin they haue walked ; and reprehension with admonition , for their euils . Secondly , for the auoiding of strife , and the establishing of peace and loue amongst them ; which is a thing much to be respected amongst all , much more of a father amongst his children . Thirdly , all that a father shall say at that time to his children in reproouing and rebuking of sin , & allowing and commending of vertue , shall be the more deeply imprinted in the hearts of his children , being so solemnly done , and the last words , as it were , of their father , vpon his death-bed : yea we see often that they which are farre from being godly disposed , do by the light of nature , much respect the things giuen them in charge by their father vpon his death-bed . Therefore it is meete that all your children should be present , and all this must be performed , by you with fatherly wisedome and iudgement without partiality : not punishing a small fault , with a great punishment , nor a great fault with a small punishment , but proportionable to the offence must the punishment be ; for so doth God alwaies deale with his children , and so must earthly fathers with their children . A notable president of all this we haue , in that holy Patriarch Iacob and his sonnes , wherewith I know you are well acquainted . Gen. 49.

But what if some children be so euill disposed , that for that cause they should be thought not fit to be present at their fathers Will ?

That any be so , is one principall reason that they should rather be there , than the other better disposed : for that , as before is said , they should be bettered , by their fathers last sharp reprehension , if any thing will preuaile with them . And this doth that former instance of Iacobs sonnes , plainely set forth ; for Ruben was present , though he had a curse , for lying with his fathers concubine ; Symeon and Leui , though the like for their cruell murthering the Sichemites ; all the ten sonnes of Iacob , beside Ioseph and Beniamin : though treacherously they had dealt concerning Ioseph , and sold him . Therefore they must be there the rather .

But what if distance of place do let that some cannot be present ?

Such necessity then must be considered , and those absent the more carefully , not the lesse respected .

Your eldest sonne , for he is the beginning of your strength , and your first borne . Deut. 21.15.16.17 .

What if he be an euill and disobedient child , and likely to sell it ?

You may tye him in some couenants best to preuent that . But if he be so dissolute , you may quite depriue him .

Is there any warrant of that in Gods word ?

Yea plaine : Ruben before mentioned , and Adoniah , whom Dauid his father did disinherite , and made godly Salomon his heire ; whose words to Adoniah his elder brother , are words to be written with the pen of a Diamond in the heart of euery father , that he may so giue warning to his children : If thou wilt shew thy selfe a worthy man , there shall not a haire fall from thy head , but if wickednesse be found in thee , thou shalt surely die . But this must be carefully looked vnto , that so great a punishment , as the depriuation of an inheritance , be not inflicted for too small offences , especially if the party offending be one that truly and vprightly feareth God , and those offences haue bene but slips of infirmitie . He that for a small fault in this kind will disinherit his heire , may looke himselfe to be by his heauenly Father disinherited of the kingdome of heauen . Mat. 6.15 . & Chap. 18.35 . And this is most fearefull against those fathers , which do least esteeme , or rather hate any child that shall incline himselfe truly to feare the Lord ; and euery slip or small fault of theirs shall be esteemed great , and great offences indeede in others shall be counted nothing : yea those that are best disposed , many times haue that which is due to them , giuen to those that are meerely carnall .

What is to be done with the rest , besides the heire ?

All being alike godly and dutifull euery way , and of like estate in wealth or want , to haue like portions giuen them .

What if some be in good estate to liue already , & others poore , yet not through any default of theirs ?

The poorest must accordingly be holpen , and the richer must haue the lesse ; for God commandeth all to pittie and relieue the poore , and there shall be iudgement mercilesse to him that is not mercifull : Iam. 2.13 . to those that are distressed any manner of way , especially mercy and charity must be extended , to those that are neare of kin . 1 Tim. 5.4.16 . And fearefull is it for any child to couet that , which belongeth to another ; for Gods curse , not his blessing shall be sure to go with that . And most vnnaturall were that father that would procure a curse vpon his child with his gift of some worldly thing , which by right according to Gods word and will , belongeth to some other : yet is it too common , that many children care not , so they may haue all , or the most part , though some other farre better & godlier then they do want , and are ready to beg with pouertie : and they therewith get the fearefull curse of God vpon themselues , and all that they haue , yea , and their posterity also .

This were very fearefull , for any fathers , or children indeede . But now for children that haue had stockes already , as daughters to their mariage , or sonnes for lawfull and honest vses in their trades , or the like , they hauing had portions already are to rest satisfied .

All this is rightly to be considered and they all in some proportionable measure to be equalled at the last , as their estate with the other circumstances , as is before mentioned , do require . But for daughters if any part remaine vnpaid of that portion promised to their mariage , it must be satisfied . For in that , aswell as in all other things , no wrong must be done , nor any , neither neere nor farre off , defrauded ; 1 Thess. 4.6 . for the Lord is an auenger of all such things . And they that regard not to deale vprightly with all , much more with those neere vnto them , do come within the compasse of those wrong doers , and promise breakers , that shall not inherite the kingdome of heauen . Psalm. 15.

May one sinne then , in disposing of his owne lands or goods , so haynously that he may by God in his iustice , be therefore depriued of heauen , and consequently be cast downe to hell to be tormented euermore ? Me thinks that seemeth very harsh .

Yet so it is most certainly ; for first we know , that euery sinne deserueth the same in it selfe , as saith the Apostle , the wages of sinne is death . Rom. 6.23 . But in this , one may sin most haynously , as many do in giuing their goods , lands , or monie , to their lewde harlots , or bastard children ; hauing liued most damnably in their former life , and leauing their owne lawfull wife and children vtterly destitute . Also those that make foolish and ridiculous Willes , disposing some to this prophane vse , and some to that ; all being wanted by some neere vnto them , 1 Tim. 5.4 . to whom of right it doth belong . Also all those that do in disposing of it deale partially , without such iudgement as God requireth therein , so that those which are best loued of God , shall be sure to haue least , and such as are not religious , but meere carnall , or else open prophane , to haue most : or depriuing the heire of his inheritance , because he is more godly then he would haue him ; or for some small fault , and passing ouer grosse offences in others . Finally he that loueth not as God loueth , and hateth not as God hateth , being mercifull to the poorest , louing to the godliest , sharpe to the wickedst , and comfortable to the distressedst , iust & vpright to all without carnall respects or partialitie ; is culpable in this kind , and liable to the wrath and condemnation of the Almighty , euen for this last sinne .

If this matter be of so great weight and moment , then me thinkes it is not to be taken in hand rashly , without the aduice , and assistance of some who are able to counsell in all things , according to Gods word , and to iudge thereby aright of euery offence committed , with the circumstances , increasing or lessening the fault : also the punishment , by Gods word proportionable to the offence , as before you haue declared : but this rule is little regarded . Nay my selfe , though ( I thanke God for his mercy ) I haue learned something out of Gods word in all my dayes , little considered the weight of this poynt , as now I do see plainely by your godly instructions . And well I perceiue , that they which headily further their friends in making their Willes , without such as can thus instruct them , do most dangerously further them in the way to hell , as much as in them lyeth . I would not for a thousand poundes but haue had this your happie and blessed counsell and instruction in this my last action , as it were , or will making : for litle thought I of taking such rules or warrants in euery thing from Gods word about this .

It is indeede too much neglected , neither do any almost teach it , or write it effectually , that so it might be learned by all as it ought . But one thing is yet behinde , whereof I haue not yet aduised you from the Lord , and that is this , namely your remembring the poore members of Iesus Christ ( your poore neighbours : ) for all that you shall do vnto such , Mat. 25. our Lord Iesus Christ doth esteeme it , as done vnto himselfe , yea if one be able to giue but a cup of cold water , and hauing bene charitable , as euery true member of Christ is , and must be , in your life ; you shall do well to testifie at the end , when you are going to giue vp your account to God , that you are not lesse louing , and pittifull to the poore , than you haue bene before . For they that haue not , for the loue of Christ onely , done any such good to his poore members , to them that cannot be said in the last and euerlasting blessing : Mat. 25. When I was hungry ye fed me , when I was thirsty , ye gaue me drinke , I was a stranger and ye lodged me , naked , and ye clothed me , &c. But that shall be said to all , that go into life eternall : Therefore they that haue done no such good to the poore , shall neuer enter into life eternall .

This poynt also I neuer was so effectually taught in before , as now you haue shewed it : and well I perceiue that they which regard not with pittie and compassion , to giue to Christ in his poore members , can iustly looke for no part of that blessing of Christ which you mentioned before . And most wofull is this , me thinkes , against all those , who haue little or no feeling of their poore distressed brethren . And alas , this is the most common charity now a daies , euen that which Saint Iames reproueth so sharpely : Go warme your selues , Iam. 2.15.16 . and fill your bellies , but they giue them neither of that they want : so we vse to say in these daies , Alas poore wretches , God helpe you , and comfort you ; and this is all . But here is one thing doubtfull , some are very wicked , and vngodly of the poore , and should they be pittied , as the godly and Christian should ?

We must do good vnto all , but especially to them that are of the houshold of faith : but those that are not yet called we must loue , as our selues , for they are our neighbours , euen all men and women : as the example of the Samaritan doth notably set forth ; and therfore in distresse ought to be relieued . And who knoweth whether our kindnesse , and good example , as also Christian admonition , may not be an occasion to win them to Christ ? Therefore what you will giue that way , commit the distribution thereof to some Christian neighbour , with generall direction from you , and in particular , if you know any poore Christians that haue more neede then other ; or to whom by any speciall band , you are more neere then to other , them in particular you may nominate your selfe : and you may also referre the like disposing of some , to your Christian friends or ouerseeers , vnto such particular distressed Christians as they know stand in neede , besides the generall .

I will be your assistant in what I can , as God by his grace shall enable me .