Rule and Exercises of Holy Dying by Jeremy Taylor is a thought-provoking and deeply spiritual guide to preparing for death. Written in the 17th century, Taylor's insights into the importance of living a virtuous life and engaging in religious practices are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published.

Taylor offers practical advice on how to face death with grace and dignity, emphasizing the need to repent for past sins and make amends with others before passing into the next life. His emphasis on the importance of prayer, fasting, and meditation as means of preparing the soul for death is both inspiring and challenging.

While some of Taylor's language may be a bit archaic for modern readers, the core message of the book remains clear and powerful. Throughout the text, Taylor reminds readers of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living in a way that honors God and prepares us for eternity.

Overall, Rule and Exercises of Holy Dying is a timeless classic that offers valuable insights into how to approach death in a way that is both spiritually fulfilling and emotionally satisfying. It is a must-read for anyone seeking guidance on how to live a more meaningful and impactful life, both in this world and the next.

Book Description:
Written by a Church of England clergyman in the time of Cromwell, this work is praised for both its style and content. Taylor's work was much admired by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, for its devotional quality; and by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Thomas de Quincey, and Edmund Gosse for its literary qualities.

Holy Dying is meant to instruct the reader in the "means and instruments" of preparing for a blessed death, written in a time when death was a constant companion to life and not to be encountered without being ready for it. It assumes illness and a death-bed, with recommended meditations and prayers for the sick, the family, and the clergyman attending to the dying one.