there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust 1 Cor. 15.53 This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 2 Cor. 4.14 We know that he that raised up the Lord Jesuss Phil. 3.20 21. shall raise us up also by Jesus Our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself 1 Thes 4.14 If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Rev. 20.12 13. John saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them These sayings of Scripture writ as it were with the sun-beam are seconded by strong reasons For so the Apostle concludes If Christ be risen 1 Cor. 15.12 Tert. de carne p. 33. we shall al so rise again teaching us that the resurrection of Christ is the key of our graves and the example of our hope 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ was made the first-fruits of them that sleep Therefore as by God's appointment the harvest followed the offering of the first-fruits Exod. 23.19 Lev. 23.20 so shall the harvest of the universal resurrection follow the first-fruits of our Lord's resurrection Christ is our head Aug. 20. de trinit c. 17. what went before in the head shall follow in the members and thence the Apostle confidently affirms Eph. 2.6 that we are raised up together with Christ and placed in the glory of the heavenly paradise Maxim in Serm. de res For the flesh blood and portion of every one of us is in Christ-man Where therefore our portion reigneth there we believe to reign where our blood ruleth we perceive our selves to rule and where our flesh is glorified we know that we are glorious 1 Cor. 15.21 22. Moreover as by one man namely the first Adam came death so by one man namely the second Adam came the resurrection As in Adam we dye so in Christ we rise again Adam's fall was available to bring in death shall not Christ's resurrection be able to obtain our rising again unto life Christ in his glorious resurrection shew'd himself a conquerour of all his enemies then surely of death also which at length he shall utterly abolish Christ is the eternal King surely therefore he will raise from death the citizens of his kingdom that they may live for ever with him Christ freed not our foul only but our body also from the yoke of sin and ordain'd it to an inheritance of eternal life therefore it shall be raised out of the dust that it may go to the possession of this life obtained for it by Christ Theodor. in 1 Cor. 15. tom 2. p. 77. From all which it clearly appears that Christ is as it were the surety and pledge of our resurrection 1 Cor. 3.16 Moreover our bodies are the temples and tabernacles of the holy Ghost he will not let this his temple lie hid in dust and rubbish but he will build it again and hereafter will make it far more illustrious than it was in this life Even as the latter temple of Jerusalem had greater glory than the former Hag. 2.4 In Solomon's temple there were unfading palm-trees 1 K. 6.32 so the bodies of the godly shall not be liable to eternal corruption seeing they are the dwellings of the eternal Spirit Nay seeing our bodies are sanctified by the body and blood of Christ Iren. lib. 4. cap. 34. in the salutary use of the Lords supper how can they abide in the grave How shall that flesh be said to come into corruption and not to partake of life which is fed by the body and blood of Christ As that bread which is of the earth after consecration is no longer common bread but the Eucharist consisting of two things an earthly and an heavenly so our bodies also partaking of this Eucharist are not corruptible having hope of a resurrection Christ's flesh is enlivening meat Joh. 6.54 whoso therefore eateth this flesh hath eternal life Lactant. lib. 4. instit c. 48. and Christ will raise him up at the last day Moreover seeing the soul in this life works by the body and with the body whether good or bad whilst it is in the body therefore divine justice requireth that those that are joyned in the work should be also joyned in the wages those which are joyned i◠the fault should be joyned also in the punishment thence and therefore we shall all be made to appear before the judgement sea◠of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 that every one may receive the things done in his body whether they be good or evil Tert. in Apolog. c. 45. p. 337. Tert. de re sur p. 44. Lact. 6. div instit c. 18. The soul did not deserve without the body in which it did all Lastly besides these strong arguments there are the examples of those that have been raised whom Christ by his own power the Prophets and Apostles by a divine power have recalled to life for a testimony of the future resurrection which as Candidates of immortality and eternity they give to us who by faith and confession are joyned to them The incredibility of the resurrection Tempted The Article of the resurrection is very much against the nature of our bodies and humane reason whence the hope of the resurrection also is sometimes not a little weakened with the storms of various cogitations in my heart Comforter The foundation of our faith are the oracles of the holy Spirit not the dictates of our reason We believe the resurrection of the dead 2 Cor. 10.5 to the obedience of this faith we ought to bring all reason into captivity Eph. 3.20 God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think * Philo. lib. de decal p. 477. If therefore thou find God doth promise thou shalt find he will perform whatever God saith they are not words but works Let us suppose that God can do any thing which we confess we cannot tell how it can be done and therein the whole reason of the work is the power of him that sayes he will do it †Aug. ep 3. Bern. serm 4. de nativ col 43. It will be easie for him by whom his mother her self lost not incorruption of flesh by bringing forth to cause that this corruptible should put on incorruption by rising again Nay in Nature there are set forth divers resemblances of the resurrection 1 Cor.
repeated as oft as men sin but because by it once given there is obtained pardon unto the faithful of all the sins committed not only before but also after Confess therefore and grieve for thy sins but yet renounce not nor forget the covenant of grace that was enter'd into with thee at thy Baptism but though thou fall a thousand times yet return again Return unto me Jer. 3.12 Psal 27. thou backsliding soul saith the Lord and I will not turn away my face from you because I am merciful saith the Lord and keep not anger for ever Let thy heart present this word to God and he will have mercy on thee being mindful of his promise 2 Tim. 2.13 for he cannot deny himself nor his word The uncertain reception into the covenant of Baptism Tempted But whence can I be sure that I am again received by God into the covenant of Baptism I wish my heart could be perswaded by some certain seal I wish there were some sacrament by partaking whereof the promise of grace might be ratified to me Comforter Yea there is such an one namely the holy sacrament of the Lords supper wherein thou receivest that body Christ gave to death for thee and drinkest of that blood which Christ poured forth for thy sins on the altar of the Cross Wherefore seeing thou receivest in that holy supper the most holy price of thy Redemption namely the body and blood of Christ thou maist be sure that thou truly partakest of all those things which Christ hath merited on the altar of the Cross by giving up his body and pouring out his blood viz. the grace of God the remission of sins righteousness life and eternal salvation When thou drinkest that blood by the pouring out whereof the covenant of grace was established and confirmed how canst thou doubt whether thou art truly received again into that covenant What is more near to God than his only-begotten Son as one that is in his bosom Joh. 1.18.14.10.10.30 that is in the Father and the Father in him that is one with the Father Again what is nearer to the son of God than his flesh and blood or the humane Nature assumed as that which he hath joyned to himself in a personal and indissoluble league Therefore by eating Christ's flesh and drinking his blood thou art most closely joyned to God These being eaten and drunk do cause that Christ abideth in thee and thou in him Hilar. S. de Trin. p. 141. What is nearer to us than what we eat and drink as that which is either turned into the substance of our flesh as natural and elementary meats are or does as it were change and turn us into it self as that spiritual meat of the Lords body and blood which we eat indeed but we change not him into us but we are changed into him Therefore by eating the quickning flesh of Christ thou receivest spiritual life from it by drinking the precious blood of Christ thou comest to the well of life Christ assumed humane nature from us in it he condemned sin he destroyed death he repaired life and replenished it also with fulness of grace and heavenly good things That very nature assumed from us and repaired in him doth he return thee again in the Lords supper sanctified and filled with heavenly treasures that thou maist be sure that that truly belongs to thee which he hath deposited therein as in a rich storehouse He implants as it were thy depraved nature in his most holy and quickning flesh that from him thou mightst draw the juice of life and an antidote to remedy that spiritual poison that lies hid in thy flesh He is the vine Joh. 15.5 we are the branches he that abideth in Him and He in him the same beareth much fruit The impurity of thy nature is overshadowed as it were and covered with that most holy body of Christ that thou receivest and that most precious blood that thou drinkest that it appears not before the tribunal and in the sight of God They are taken by thee for an acceptable apology and earnest of eternal life Liturg. … ter Damas 4. fid Orthod cap. 14. for the confirmation and defence of the soul and the body for the remission of sins and for eternal life Moreover in the holy supper there is given a wholsome viaticum in that therein are exhibited to thee the symbols of a future resurrection Can. Nicaen whereby is confirmed to thee a title of acquaintance and entertainment to be expected in a heavenly country Joh. 6.54 He that eateth my flesh saith Christ and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Therefore it cannot be I say it cannot be that thy body should abide in the grave Iren. lib. 4. c. 34. when it hath been nourished with the body and blood of our Lord namely with that meat that is the * Ignat. ep 11. ad Ephes medicine of immortality the antidote against death and a powerful remedy that we may live in God through Christ By this meat thy weakness shall be strengthened that thou maist arrive at the mountain of the Lord with Elias 2 Kings 13.21 The bones of Elisha being now dead did enliven him that was to be buried in the same tomb how much rather shall the flesh of Christ now living and quickening being received by faith quicken thee to eternal life The unworthy receiving of the Lords supper Tempted I confess that in the true and salutary use of the Lord's supper the godly are made partakers of these benefits but that troubles me not a little which the Apostle affirmeth 1 Cor. 11.27 That they that eat this bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily become guilty of the body and blood of Christ I am afraid therefore lest I also be an unworthy guest at that heavenly banquet Conforter By acknowledging and lamenting thine unworthiness thou maist avoid the imputation of an unworthy guest for the Apostle calleth those unworthy not who are weak in faith seeing this sacrament was instituted for the strengthening of faith and comforting of the weak 1 Cor. 11.28 29. but those who examine not themselves nor discern the Lord's body that is those who without true repentance and a lively faith who without hatred of sin and a firm purpose of amendment of life come to the holy supper as to a common feast who difference not this heavenly banquet from other common meats that they might acknowledge its true excellency and duly prepare their hearts Such unworthy guests at this banquet sin no less by unworthy eating and drinking the flesh and blood of Christ than the Jews did in crucifying him But far be it from thy piety far be it I say that thou shouldest be in their number For thou acknowledgest the filth of thy sin thou lamentest the uncleanness of thy nature thou breathest after Christ the physician
of the Spirit Luk. 11.13 2 Tim. 1.6 for the Lord will give the Spirit to them that ask him Stir up the gift of the holy Spirit that is in thee namely by praying seeking knocking meditating on the word and resisting naughty desires There is no perfection here but a continued way to perfection Besides this inward sealing and witnessing of the holy Spirit God hath given thee the sacraments which are the seals of his promises the conveyers of the benefits of Christ and the means to beget feed and strengthen thy faith that thou maist be assured that the benefits of Christ belong to thee in particular By Baptism thou art received into the covenant of Gods grace in the holy supper thou art fed with the body and blood of Christ in private Absolution thou art pronounced free from the chains of sins Cypr. serm de mort pag. 209. Being confirmed with these seals certainly and undoubtedly believe the word of the Gospel Why dost thou doubt and waver this is not to eat thy Saviour at all this is to offend Christ the Master of believers with the sin of unbelief this is for one that is placed in the Church not to have faith in the house of faith Attend moreover unto the infallibleness of the audience promised thee God hath promised even with his oath added that he will hear our prayers and give unto us whatever we ask according to his will Joh. 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you saith Christ Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you Mat. 18.19 If two of you agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done unto them of my Father which is in heaven 1 Joh. 5.14 This is the confidence that we have in God if we ask any thing according to his will we shall obtain it He that hath promised us hearing hath bid us ask remission of sins what place therefore can there be left to doubt of remission of sins How would Christ have bid us to add the word Amen unto our prayer if he would have us doubt of audience Attend therefore lastly unto the property of true faith as by which we have access into that grace wherein we stand and boast of the hope of glory promised by God Heb. 4.16 by which with confidence we come to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace by which through the power of God we are kept unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 by which we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Joh. 3.14 by which we are most firmly perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels Rom. 8.38 nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come vers 39. nor height nor depth nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Considering all these things let thy weakness encourage it self Aug. in Psal 148. let it not despair let it not chafe it self let it not avert it self Christ hath promised thee that thou shalt be there where he is What hath God promised thee O mortal man that thou shalt live for ever Believest thou not believe believe that is more which he hath done already than that which he hath promised what hath he done he hath died for thee what hath he promised that thou shalt live with him It is more incredible that he who was eternal should dye than that a mortal should live eternally Now that thou art sure of that which is more incredible why dost thou doubt of the other God hath promised thee heaven he hath given thee his Son who is a greater gift than heaven and earth Doubting of perseverance Tempted I no wise doubt but that an access unto God lieth open unto me by Christ the Mediator I trust I am in the grace of God in the mean time I am made to doubt of perseverance I know that perseverance alone is crowned I hear that only they that persevere to the end shall be saved Mat. 10.22.24.46 Aug. Serm. 8. ad fratr in Eremo It is vertue not to have begun but to have perfected nor is the beginning but the end required in Christians Hieron in Epist ad Furiam Judas begun well but ended ill Paul begun ill but ended well Without perseverance neither he that fighteth obtaineth the victory Theol. myst Harph. c. 34 nor he that conquereth the palm I hear our Master of combats crying Rev. 3.11 Hold fast what thou hast lest another receive thy crown I hear and fear I fear and doubt I doubt and throw away trust of heart Comforter Consider three things wherein all thy hope consists the dearness of adoption Bern. serm 3. de sep frag miser col 183. the truth of the promise the power of performance Let thy foolish cogitation murmur now as much as it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merits dost thou hope to obtain it and do thou confidently answer I know whom I have believed and I am sure he hath adopted me in great tenderness that he is true in his promises that he is powerful in his performance This is a threefold cord that is hardly broken which being let down unto thee out of our country into this prison lay firm hold on it I pray thee that it may raise thee up that it may draw thee to the view of the glory of the great God This is a most firm anchor of thy hope these are those three pillars whereby thou maist bear against the waves and storms of doubtings namely the good-will of God adopting the certain faithfulness of the promiser and the immense power of fulfilling the promises The good God hath promised good things he hath begun to work that which is good in thee he that hath begun Phil. 2.13 will also perfect according to his good pleasure The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is faithful and true he will not suffer thee to be tempted above thy strength 1 Cor. 10.13 but with the temptation will give an issue that thou maist be able to bear it 2 Tim. 1.12 The good God hath promised good things he that hath promised is able to fulfil his promises Be thou confident therefore that he can keep his pledge until the day of judgement Joh. 10.28 29. None shall take Christ's sheep out of his hands The heavenly Father that hath given them to the Son is greater than all and none can take them out of the Father's hands Christ the only high Priest of the new Testament hath prayed for all that by the word were to believe in him that they may be with him Joh. 17.20 and may behold the glory that is given him by the heavenly Father Wherefore seeing thou also believest in Christ thou hast the witness of God in thy self 1
the doors of thine ears shut never so much Isai 61.1 Luk. 4.18 The spirit of the Lord is upon him the Lord hath anointed him to preach glad tidings unto the poor he hath sent him to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound The Lord hath given him the tongue of the learned Isa 50.4 that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Cleave to him with a firm trust of heart commit thy self unto him by holy prayers he will comfort thee in season he will raise thy heart with the word of the Gospel when the darts of death are fastned in it he will bind up thy heart when it is wounded by death he will preach liberty to thy heart when thou art led captive by death as a prey he will preach opening to thy heart when thou art thrown into the prison of death The seeming unprofitableness of Redemption Tempted If Christ hath redeemed us from death why must we dye yet How was death conquered by Christ seeing it can shew daily preys as the trophees of its victory Comforter As Christ saved his people from their sins Mat. 11.21 not as if sin should no longer dwell in their flesh seeing in this life they remain sold under sin but that it should not condemn for ever those that are born again and believe so he hath redeemed us from death not as if we should no longer be liable to temporal death for our body is dead or subject to death because of sin Rom. 8.10 but that we might be at liberty from the chains of eternal death The death of the soul is true death Christ hath redeemed us from this enduring the pangs of hell in his soul The most sweet Jesus hath also made our temporal death it self sweet so that 't is only death in name but indeed it is a sleep yea the end of death and the beginning of true life The truly godly because of those daily calamities whereby they are oppressed in this life 1 Cor. 15.31 dye daily therefore their death is the end of death and by the gate of death they pass to a quiet and eternal life therefore death is the beginning of a true life Christ's death is the poyson of our death Hos 13.14 therefore although this poison hath not yet altogether killed our death whence it as yet moves its self and fastens its dart in our heel yet this poyson hath reached the heart of death therefore at last it shall dye by its virtue 1 Cor. 15.26 Death is the last enemy which Christ will utterly destroy at the last day and a stronger coming on this strong man armed shall powerfully take from him all his spoils Luk. 11.22 Death is to be beheld with spiritual eyes and its anger as being now captivated and overcome by Christ shall appear to be vain without strength It lays in wait for the lives of the godly and lo it bringeth them to true life It attempts to kill their soul and body with its darts and lo the soul being unhurt with any wound of death the body is only wounded which it self also shall hereafter be snatched out of the jaws of death It endeavours to deliver the godly to eternal death and lo it delivers them to eternal life The horrour of dust Tempted Be it what it will I see I must be laid in the ground and be reduced to dust A bed will be made for my body in the grave therefore I have said to corruption Job 17.14 Thou art my father and to the worms Ye are my mother and sister Comforter Mind not that whereinto thou art to be reduced ashes and dust but mind that future resurrection out of ashes and dust which we expect If thou hast said with Job to corruption that it is thy father say with the same person Job 19.25 that thy redeemer liveth who in the last day shall raise thee again from the earth he shall encompass thee with skin that in thy flesh thou maist see God The sayings of Scripture the strength of arguments the examples of those that have been raised do all prove this blessed resurrection of our bodies The sayings of Scripture in the old and New Testament are numerous at hand such as are most weighty and clear The blood of Abel cryeth unto the Lord Gen. 4.10.25.8.35.29.49.33 Exod. 3.6 in whose eyes he yet liveth The Patriarchs by death are gathered unto their people therefore by death they cease not to be the living people of the living God God is the God of Abraham Mat. 22.31 Isaac and Jacob now God is not the God of the dead but of the living so that Abraham Isaac and Jacob live before God they live I say in their better part and their bodies hereafter shall be recalled to life nay are already called in that when Christ rose again they * Mat. 27.53 rose together with him I know saith Job that my redeemer liveth Job 19.25 and at the last day I shall be raised from the earth Thy dead shall live saith Isaias my slain shall arise Isai 26.19 Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust Isai 66.14 for thy dew is as the dew of herbs Your bones shall flourish like an herb Ezech. 37.5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones Behold I will cause breath to enter into you and ye shall live I will lay sinews upon you and will bring up flesh upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and ye shall live and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Many of them saith Daniel Dan. 12 4â— that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life some to everlasting shame and contempt The great King of the world 2 Mac. 7.9 say the seven Maccabean Martyrs will raise us up which dye for his Laws in the resurrection of everlasting life The hour cometh saith the Truth Joh. 5.28.29 in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man And shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Joh. 6.39 This is the Father's will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day And this is the will of my Father that sent me 40.44.54 that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 11.25 26. I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die I have hope towards God saith S. Act. 24.15 Paul and expect that
thee that Christ thy treasure liveth Let the frame of heaven and earth perish flee pass away thou hast the most faithful promises of a new heaven and a new earth Isai 65.17 2 Pet. 3.12 Behold I create new heavens and a new earth saith the Lord in which shall dwell righteousness so that none any longer remembreth the former Rev. 21.1 Let the tabernacle of thy pilgrimage fall the mansion of the heavenly countrey abideth ever Nor is there any reason thou shouldst fear the accusation either of Satan or the Law or thy sins thy sins are thrown into the depth of the Sea namely into the abyss of Gods mercy God hath thrown them behind his back Mic. 7.19 Isai 38.17 Ezech. 18.24 so that he will remember them no more hereafter Satan believe me shall not fetch thy sins up out of the sea nor shall dare to bring them into the sight of the Judge Thy sins are * Psal 32.1 Psal 51.1 forgiven covered blotted out they shall not be brought again into judgement The Devil will in vain accuse the godly because the blotting out the hand-writing by the blood of Christ shall be turned to him Col. 2.14 His accusation for sin shall be to no purpose because the forgiveness made through Christ shall be alledged against him Vain shall be the accusation of the Law because in this life there preceded reconciliation with God through faith Lastly thou hast no reason to fear Christ's sudden coming again to judgment for though the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night 1 Thes 5.2 yet God hath not appointed us to wrath 9. but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ Who died for us 10. that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him The judgment day is not to be feared by them for whom the heavenly kingdom was prepared from the beginning Mat. 25.34 Eph. 1.4 who were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Commit therefore into the faithful hands of God the precious pledge of thy soul he will keep it in death and in judgement and he will introduce it being joyned to the body into the palace of heaven to everlasting glory A Prayer in Sickness HEar me O God thou giver and restorer of life in whose hands life and death health and sickness are Hear me not according to the desire of my will but according to the good pleasure of thine own will If thou wilt thou canst heal me say but one word and I shall be whole Thou art the length of my dayes in thy hands my lots are but if now thou call me to the heavenly country by the way of death first mortifie in me all inordinate love of this life give me strength of spirit that I may overcome the pangs of death and in the midst of the darkness of my dimm eyes kindle and encrease in me light of heart with thee is the well of true life and in thy light shall I see light Thy death O good Jesus is the remedy of my death and the merit of eternal life I embrace thy word with a faithful heart therefore I am sure that thou dwellest in my heart by faith I will not let thee go out of my heart until thou bless me and chear me with thy enlivening consolation Thou hast said He that believeth in me shall never die my heart presents this thy word before thee and with this faith I come to the throne of grace thou wilt not cast out nor reject him that cometh unto thee Let thy precious blood wash me from my sins let thy wounds hide me from the anger of God and the rigour of judgment I will die in thee thou shalt live in me I will abide in thee thou shalt abide in me thou wilt not leave me in death and dust but wilt raise me to the resurrection of life Thou hast fought and overcome for me fight now and overcome in me let thy strength be perfected in my weakness My soul cleaveth to thee I will not suffer my self to be plucked from thee Let thy peace that passeth all understanding keep my heart and senses into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me thou God of truth Take my poor soul which thou hast created redeemed wash it from sins in thy blood sealed with the earnest of thy holy Spirit and fed with thy body and blood thine it is thou gavest it me take what is thine and remit the guilt of my sins wherewith I have stained it Let not the fruit of thy passion perish in me nor let thy precious blood be unfruitful in me O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded Amen FINIS THE Christians TRIUMPH Over DEATH With some Divine Contemplations Soliloquies and Poems thereupon LONDON Printed by Margaret White for Nath. Crouch 1679. THE Christians TRIUMPH Over DEATH CONTEMPLATIONS On 1 Cor. 15.55 Oh Death where is thy sting UPright Adam was made Immortal but sinful Adam begot all his sons mortal even as he had made himself Adam therefore is dead and all the sons of Adam do but live to die the sentence of death past upon us all in him we are born to see this sentence executed upon our selves and as Adam himself dyed the same day he sinned that is brought himself into a necessity of dying though as to the time of his death he was reprieved for nine hundred and thirty years after that day So we in Adam came under the same necessity though it be some thousands of years after before the sentence be executed upon us As a Malefactor is a dead man in Law at that instant when the sentence is pronounced against him though his execution be respited for some few days after So according to Gods law and decree we are all dead in Adams doom though it please God to prolong these days of ours wherein we must live to die according to his irrevocable doom A Malefactor is not executed sometimes one two three four five or six days after judgment past so likewise we were all adjudged to die before we were born but God with whom a thousand years is but as one day hath appointed the first second third fourth fifth or sixth thousand year of the world to be the day of our execution There is more necessity of our dying than of our being born It is not so necessary that he who is not should be as that he that now lives should once die the former may be supposed but the latter is fully expressed It is appointed for all men once to dye Heb. 9.27 There is alwayes a greater necessity of the end than the means death is the end of life not only in the execution of it but in the intention Morti nati sumus we are born to dye and we dye from the time we are born The day of our birth what is it but the beginning of the day