ever have or shall sleep in the Dust of the Earth hereby it may be certainly gathered that he will both say something unto them and also do something for them And what is that Even to raise up their Bones again from thence and to perform that in a Literal Sence of all the Generations and Persons of Mankind of all Countreys which he hath said in the Thirty-seventh Chapter of Ezekiel from the fourth to the fourâ—eâ—nth Verse for when all the Men and Women of all Generations from the beginning of the World unto the end thereof and of all Countreys and places throughout the habitable parts of the Earth shall be raised up again all together and as they shall live and stand upon their feet even those very same feet which they had gathered up into the Bed when they severally yielded up the Ghost they will make an exceeding Great Army as it is there said in vers 10. And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your Graves O my People and brought you out of your Graves and shall put my Spirit in you and ye shall live and I shall place you in your own Land the meaning of which last Speech is That as Judas went unto his own place so God will make but two distinctions and place them severally in their own Land even in the good Land as there is of both sorts of these beyond the Grave as well as on this side of it according as their own Works or Deeds done in the Body have been good or evil Then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it and performed it saith the Lord Ezek. 37. 13 14. This again confirms what was aforesaid for this speaking and performing both is surely visiting according to the true nature and end thereof And such of ye who shall hear or read these lines who also shall be ranked in amongst that exceeding great Army are my Witnesses and some of ye perhaps may remember when ye shall indeed see it performed before your Eyes as the Lord hath spoken that in this Book or Treatise of mine according to the Knowledge and Understanding which God had given and opened unto me his Creature I did rightly and according to Truth explain even in the most large and comprehensive sence as afore-mentioned those words of dying Joseph God shall surely visit you Seeing then that these Bones it is a certain truth which we now carry about us in the Body and shall be laâ—d in the Grave and God himself shall carry or rather raise them up fâ—om thence as also this whole Body of ours shall be raised incorruptible and set in order again after that Death hath disordered it The inference from all this is natural and necessary that there must be also some Act of our own according to the Ability and Power put into our Hand to answer this Act of God's namely that we set this House of our Body in order before for we shall die and be raised again Remember it for a constant Rule as there is expected our working together with the Grace of God so still and all along there must be some Act of our own according to the Grace he hath already given us and according to the Power and Ability put into our Hands to answer with God's Act on us Creatures As when Jesus saith I go to prepare a place for you John 14. 2. to this we must endeavour by the Grace given us to prepare our selves in the mean while for that place even that we may be meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Even so it is here in our present matter though it hath been here declared God will set our Bodies in order in the Resurrection and future State as he did set them in order in his first Creation and Workmanship of them For this Body was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth that is in our Mothers Womb thine Eyes did see my Substance yet bâ—ing uâ—peâ—fect and in thy Book all my Members were written which in continuanâ—e were fashioned Observe here is an Orderly Work and Procedure by that God who is the Goâ— of Order and not of Confusion so I say again to this first and last Act of God's oâ—â— these Bodies of ours if we would indeed obtain and have part in the blâ—ssed Resurrection it is required and expected of us that accâ—rding to what lieth in our power though we cannot make one hair white or black nor yet add one Cubâ—t to our Stature we should also in the mean while sâ—t our Bodies in order also even that we may keep â—â—em from Filth and Pollution from Unruliness and Disoâ—der But some will say how must we keep or set these Bodies in order This the Scripture teacheth For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honour 1 Thes 4. 3. By Vessel is meant his Body according to that other Scripture for we have this Treasure in Earthen Vâ—ssels But here it is said Possess his Vessel Perhaps it is not in our Trade nor yet in our Power to make Vessels for that belongeth to the Potter neither can he make them unless he hath Clay brought ready to his hand for Creation is the incommunicable Attribute of the Deity and all Mens making is only fashioning changing or altering by bringing it into such a Form or Figure for they must have some pre-existent matter to work upon and there is no such thing as simple making in all the labour under the Sun which is done by the Children of Men but in this instance of possessing our Vessel though we do not know how to make it yet we may know how to keep this our Vessel sweet and clean And so we may know how to keep and set these Bodies of ours in such order like as we put Clothes on to Preserve them from cold and as we put Victuals in them to keep them from hunger and famishing Even so may any one resrain any longer from yielding his Mâ—mbers Servants to Vncleanness and to Iniquity unto Iniquity But that henceforth they yield their Members to Righâ—â—ousness unto Holiness Rom. 6. 19. The Apostle goes on to add in vers 22. But now being made free from sin and become the Servants of God ye have your fruit unto Holiness and your end everlasting life From hence we learn that to set these Bodies of ours in order is to keep and preserve them from sin for hereby we shall with them serve God And what is the blessed consequent of all Ye have your fruit unto Holiness and the â—nd everlasting life This teaches and instructs in two things First That this doing and thus setting them in order is the way for God to set them in order in the Resurrection in the day of Judgment and the future Eternal State
Scripture way of writing is not so much liked of and received by the Wise and Disputer of this World or by those who would be thought â—earned according to Mode and Fashion Yet all other Books and Sermons whether they steal every Man his word from his Neighbour and borrow it from other Mens Writings or if it be the meer Product of their own Wit and Knowledge if it doth not arise from and is bottomed on this Pillar and Ground of Truth it is all but as so much Chaff in comparison to the Wheat I have more Vnderstanding than all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my Meditation I understand more than the Antients because I keep thy Precepts Many People think that they have the least need of Books of any thing in the World but they must necessarily have Food and Raiment for the Body or Physick against or in the time of Sickness But if such had Faith and Knowledge they would apprehend that when the Commandment of God is Buy the Truth and sell it not also Wisdom and Instruction and Vnderstanding Prov. 23. 23. It was equally and alike necessary to buy such Books which contain Propositions of Truth and Wisdom and Instruction and Vnderstanding as to buy Food and Raiment for the Body or the things which Minister unto sensual Pleasure For the Incorruptible Seed of the Word doth all one feed up the Soul unto Eternal Life and is as necessary for her unto this end as Meat and Drink doth feed and nourish the Body and preserve it in Temporal Life The Word and Truth of God being that Bread which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World So that it is the best way of laying out our Money for that which is Bread indeed As so it will appear when People must give account for every Talent received and how they used and expended the same Hereby also may be justified the Wisdom of our Nation in giving a settled and established Maintenance to such as Preach Sermons and also herein the Labourer is worthy of his Hire Luk. 10. 7. If they did divide the Word of Truth aright giving to every Man his Portion Tho' here again is need of a distinguishing Judgment which can separate between the Precious and the Vile But he that is Spiritual Judgeth all things To know and discern between what Books are really Good to the Use of Edifying and what are not so as to receive the one and reject the other He that hath my Word let him speak my Word faithfully What is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23. 28. As all Scripture is profitable so all Divine Truth is profitable and such Books as contain most of this sort and affect the Heart and Conscience Instructing and Exhorting the Soul to the Things which belong to her Peace and how to make her Calling and Election sure these are to be preferred before all others and accordingly those People do think so who are renewed in the Spirit of their Mind and take delight in the Things of God I had rather be faithful to him that appointed yea and employed me in the Ministration of his Word as Moses was faithful in all his House As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing Men the but God who trieth the Hearts although for this cause my Books should be rejected by the Multitude of this Hypocritical and Corrupt World for the Time is now come when they will not endure sound Doctrine Then seek to please Men for if I yet pleased Men I should not be the Servant of Christ and so have my Writings received and approved off by them But I do not altogether so much Regard the Censure of Men for surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God Isa 49. 4. which Work may be nevertheless Good and Right and Acceptable in his sight although as to the outward and visible success thereof I have seemed to labour in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain It is one thing to be worldly wise but another to be wise unto Salvation As Balaam said Behold I have received Commandment to Bless and he hath blessed and I cannâ—t reverse it So we ought to assert the Commandments and Sayings of God in the very same manner as they stand Recorded in his Statute Book the Bible and not otherwise However too many do corrupt and handle the Word of God deceitfully by their Prophesying not right Things but smooth Things and Deceits Yet stiâ—l they cannot Revâ—rse it So as to alter the Truth and Signification thereof nor yet to make one titâ—le of the Law to fail T is not so much what true Prophets or Writers preach or make known not yet at all what false Prophets or Writers preach or pretend to make known but whom the Word of God who is judge himself Psal 50. 6. Blesseth they are Blessed and he or they whom the Word of God Curseth they are Cursed THE CONTENTS The Contents of the First Sermon ALL People in the midst of Health and Age are Sick unto Death Page 3. The true and right preparation for Death is by a constant course of Righteousness and Holiness all the Days of our Life p. 7. From that Branch of the Text Isaiah the Prophet the Son of Amos came unto him and said It is discoursed against the Non-hearers or Rejecters of the Word of God p. 12. Grace and Holiness are Principles of Immortality and Eternal Life abiding in us whilst we are in this dying Body p. 19. The Vse and Application of this Sermon is If we have served God a little in the foregoing part of our Life to serve him much towards the close and period thereof p. 21. The Contents of the Second Sermon To set our House in Order doth denote to set our Outward Estate in Order to set our Body in Order but chiefly to set our Soul in Order p. 25. The Resurrection clearly proved from those words of dying Joseph God shall surely visit you p. 29. To set the Body in Order is to have it ordered according to God's Word which requires directs and enables that it become free from sin and that Holiness be engrafted into it p. 36. A Digression wherein is shewed the very Reason why God Almighty is so often stiled the Lord of Hosts in the Old Testament especially The Greatness of God and of his Works of Creation is somewhat described p. 42 43. To set the Soul in an Order is that it be in a readiness and that nothing be wanting in her p. 46. The Contents of the Third Sermon Throughout which is Discoursed of that Principal and Essential Thing wanting in the Souls of Men that they do not lay aside every Weight and the Sin that doth so easily beset them and that they do not Resist unto Blood striving against Sin And that they do not strip themselves off from
Self-righteousness and be clothed with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ p. 50 65. Of Mixt Holiness P. 63. The Contents of the Fourth Sermon Herein is shewed how it is with us from our first Conception and Birth until our Death p. 81. The manner whereof is shewed and may be most clearly conceived from those several Words whereby it is expressed in Scripture of Dying Deceasing Departing Yielding up the Ghost Gathering to his Fathers Falling asleep p. 83. Of seeing Death p. 88. In which there is nothing dreadful to such as are indeed the Children of God P. 96. The Contents of the Fifth Sermon Of seeing the Lord 's Christ or rather of having Christ formed within us and that not in part only but wholly and throughout before we see Death p. 98. How to order our Good Works or Alms-giving that they may be acceptable with God p. 119. What may be thought of the different Sorts and Sects of Religion now in the World and concerning the Salvation of such of the Heathen as are indeed Good and Vertuous p. 124 125. The Contents of the Sixth Sermon Herein is shewed what mighty Force Reasoning and Exhortation is in this Consideration Thou shalt die and not live to set our Body and Soul in Order p. 132. Some Brief Remarks concerning Rich People p. 141. The whole is concluded with Two Practical Vses and Inferences p. 148 153. God hath at this Day Three Ways of Speaking Manifesting and Revealing himself unto Mankind viz. by his Written Word by his Spirit in the Heart and Conscience of each Person and by his Ministers Here also a difference is shewed between the true and false and what God will at length do as to the latter sort p. 154 155. The End of all the Parts and Ordinances of Religion and of all Books and Sermons if they be managed and composed aright is to set the Soul in Order against the time it shall go out of the Body p. 158. ERRATA PAge 24. line 4. for Charity read Chastity P. 54. L â— for summoned r. summed p. 53. l. 4. r. They know not I. 32. for Minstry r. Ministry p. 101. l. 33. for Mal. 3. 8. r. Mal. 3. 5. ibidem l. 24. r. To be obeyed p. 35. l. 33. r. We shall with them the better serve God SERMON I. Isaiah 38. 1. In those Days was Hezekiah sick unto Death and Isaiah the Prophet the Son of Amos came unto him and said unto him Thus saith the Lord Set thine House in Order for thou shalt die and not live A Serious and thorough Consideration concerning Death and Immortality was the principal Inducement which did first bring me acquainted with the Ways of God for I have thought much thereon from my Tender Years And now as I approach Day after Day nearer in Time towards it so I ought to have it yet much more in Remembrance with continued Thought and Searching of Heart how I may grapple with that last Enemy how either to pluck out or blunt the Edge of the Sting of Death that the Grave may not have the Victory over me that is so far overcome me as to consign me over unto the Second Death I would not therefore by mine own good will Preach one Sermon nor yet make one Prayer unto God wherein I did not mention somewhat or other of this Wisdom as the Holy Ghost calleth it that we may understand this that we would consider our latter end Deut. 32. 29. For indeed this is the Will of God and of Christ concerning us dying Creatures as also it doth teach and instruct us what Mind and Temper we should be in now we are for a very little while Breathing as yet on this Earth Let your Loins be girded about and your Lamps burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord observe that when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching And so we should every one of us wait and watch for the coming of the Lord our God and especially for his Haâ—binger Death which he sends before for to bring our Souls unto himself the God unto whom shall all flesh come Psal 65. 2. or rather what inhabits in Flesh shall come At the Death or Departure of each Person the Body or Dust returns to the Earth as it was and the Spirit to God that gave it Saith the Apostle Whatsoever things were written asoretime were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scripture might have hope Rom. 15. 4. And so this great place of Isa 38. 1. which was written three or four Thousand Years ago is written for our Learning who live almost Seventeen Hunâ—dred Years after Christ Yea as Christ himself saiâ— upon another occasion This Day is this Scripture fuâ— filled in your Ears so I testifie unto all that shall heâ— or read these Lines This Day is this Scripture mean this very Text of Isa 38. 1. fulfilled in youâ— Ears for instead of what is there said In those Daâ— waâ— Hezekiah sick unto Death now it may be read 〈◊〉 this wise In these Days are such an one and such a one naming the several People by their respective Names and so it is of all the Dwellers in England yeâ— and of all the Habitable Parts of the Earth They are all sick unto Death For though indeed it was thus originally said upon the account of an extraordinary Ulcer or Disease which was then upon Hezekiah and by that phrase in the Gospel This sickness is not unto Death John 11. 4. we must distinguish between health and sickness and again between that kind of sickness which is Recoverable and Curable and that sickness which indeed is Mortal or a sickness unto Death how then can it be here truly said when many are in Health Youth Vigour Lusty and Strong that they are all sick unto Death Nevertheless I will prove and make out what I afore-affirmed Common Reason sheweth that a growing Tree is equally alive in the midst of Winter although it doth seem as a barren dead and dry Tree because then it doth not run in Sap nor shoot forth in green Leaves even so by the very same similitude by supposing it contrariwise it may be conceived that in the midst of Youth Health Life and Vigour which are the Spring and Summer of our Age we are all the while sick unto Death or as it is appositely and properly expressed in the Office of Burial In the midst of Life we are in Death because that we do all along carry about us in our Body the Seeds of this sickness unto Death or the Seeds of Mortality According as it is expressed in the Book of Job The Root of the matter is in you so as soon as we are Born the Root of sickness which is the usual forerâ—nner thereof the Root of Death is in
to be Though hereby it may be perceived I had almost said seen that there is a Devil and Satan who deceiveth the whole World and turneth even them aside who would seem more wise and knowing than the common sort from the things that belong to their Peace or otherwise they would not as now they do only because forsooth they are waxen fat they are grown thick they are covered with fatness then Oh horrible degeneracy and ingratitude to forsake God which made them and lightly esteem the Rock of their Salvation Deut. 32. 15. nor yet would they lightly esteem the Word of God's Ministry by whomsoever or wheresoever it is faithfully and truly used and held forth the only drift and design whereof is to set forward the common Salvation of Mankind A third observable Scripture which is to confirm and establish the Truth and Reasoning of our whole present Discourse as indeed it all comes to one and the same thing even to be provided of a well-being elsewhere as soon and immediately after we are deprived of a Being at all as to this Life and on this Earth This Scripture is contained in all these three Verses put together Put not your trust in Princes nor in the Son of Man in whom there is no help His Breath goeth forth he returneth to his Earth in that very day his Thoughts perish And then it immediately succeeds Happy is He that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose Hope is in the Lord his God Psalm 146. 3 4 5. To say absolutely that there was no help in Man would seem false and untrue for many times Man our Fellow-Creature is helpful unto us in several instances He that giveth an Alms is helpful and instrumental to preserve Life But as the Spirit speaketh elsewhere Her Merchandize shall be for them that dwell before the Lord to eat sufficiently and for durable cloathing Isa 23. 18. so as to help sufficiently and proportionably to its need and for durable help in this sence there is no help in Man For in the Case here put when the Time comes that his Breath must go forth can all the Men or Physicians in the World help or hinder it I trow not Can all the Kings of the Earth with all their Armies protect any one whatever from a Mortal and inward Disease In no sort And then the help of Man is not durable He may help now and then for a Time but he cannot help always Now seeing that we have within us an enduring substance a Soul which may and will be happy or miserable which will be saved or damned after it is dislodged from the Body here if she should cry out as thâ— Woman of Tekoah did help O King or as another Woman cried unto the King of Israel saying Help my Lord O King and He said if the Lord do not help whence shall I help Or as it is said in the Book of Job to which of the Saints wilt thou turn thee And so if the Soul cry out for help to the Ministers or Saints of the Lord neither Rulers nor Ministers nor Saints can afford sufficient and durable help to the saving of the Soul See Psalm 47. 7 8. They can no more save her after she is gone out of the Body then they could preserve her from going out of the Body when the appointed and set Time is come Then Happy is He that hath the God of Jacob for his help In him alone is our help in him alone is our Salvation and whose Hope is in the Lord his God or who hath Hope well-grounded that God will save her to whom God will prove helpful and the Object of his Desire or Hope and not a punishing Judge or a Terrour to us in the Day of Evil. The short of the Matter is this and herein is the Happiness of the Mortal Creature if at the instant when his Breath goeth forth his Spirit is committed into thy Hands O God who art ever-living And if when his Thoughts perish as to this World his Soul is lodged in Abrahams Bosom the Father of the faithful from whose Loins we descended For assuredly the God of Abraham here called the God of Jacâ—b for both live â—nto him and are happy in him at this Day though to our thinking Abraham is dead and Jacob is dead will be that unto his Creatures Souls for all Souls are his both by Creation and Redemption what a Breast or Bosom is to a cold Infant newly come out of his Mothers Womb. The sum of all our Exhortation is to this Effâ—ct Sceing that we must all Dye and not Live I have had many a shrug at the lively apprehension thereof and at the sence of the near approach thereof both immediately after my Nights Sleep and my Noon-days Slumber and then we shall Live again and not Dye it is as reasonable and natural to desire to be Happy after Death all one as we desire to see good in these days of our Flesh and to pass through here as comfortably and as pleasantly as we may Is there any one that doth not desire to live comfortably and pleasantly in this World No every Mothers Son doth desire this If we would receive into our Minds the Knowledge and Faith thereof God hath implanted into every Man and Woman the same earnest desire after Heaven as now He or She hath after Life and Happiness For seeing that by the Decree of God and from the very order and establishment of Things we must live for ever for we shall always remain in Being although we must go through the valley and shadow of Death or through the Postern-Door or Gate of Death I say again it is altogether as natural and reasonable to desire to be Happy after Death all one as it is sensibly desired to be Happy before Death And as in order to this it is requisite to use such and such means so to be Happy after Death It is absolutely necessary to go in the way and to do all those things which God hath chalked out and shewed in his written Word and there is alike and greater Reason yea ten thousand times more as that is as much longer and of greater concern that we should comply with and do thereafter As the hungry craves after Food the ambitious Honour the sensualist Pleasure and every one desires Rest and Satisfaction and they will also use the common means in their Power towards having of them So there is a desire implanted in Man after those good things God hath promised And it is but reasonable that He should do so much towards the obtaining of them I say infinitely more as the Children of this World do for the things of this World or otherwise they will never be Children of Light and Heirs of Life and Immortality But they will come short of the future great and good things of God for these also are set forth by the very same things in a greater degree than