Names shall be written in the Earth they will not be found written in the Book of Life nor in Heaven but their Names shall be blotted out from under Heaven and noted down with a black Coal here on this Earth So that of Necessity they shall be cast into the Lake of Fire and be burnt up they being the Chaff of the Creation of God with unquenchable Fire As saith the Wise man Envy thou not the Glory of a Sinner for thou knowest not what shall be hiâ— end So I now preach unto ye do not envy the Riches fine Estate or Plenty of a Man of this World or a Man of this Earth who makes the World and the good things of the Earth his main End and principal Business for it appears from the Scriptures of Truth what will be their End namely when the Earth and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up themselves whose Names shall be written in the Earth Many of whom now call their Lands after their own Names Psalm 89. 11. shall be burnt up also together with it with unquenchable Fire For my â—art I had rather have my Name written in the Book of â—he Living and be written with the Righteous though by Persecution and Oppression I should be stripped of all than to have my Name written in the Earth although I might be Lord Proprietor and Owner of several thousand Acres of good Land And so would ye also if ye have a true Faith and Knowledge in the revealed Decrees and Dispensations of God and in the Things pertaining to his Kingdom Though withal it is to be understood as the same may be truly gathered from out of the same Scriptures of Truth none will be condemned at the last day meerly or only because He was Rich in this World and so it is contrariwise none will be saved meerly or only because He was Poor in this World But People will be saved or condemned according as they have done Good or Evil and according as their Deeds done in the Body were Righteous or Unrighteous Just or Unjust Equal or Unequal True or False Acts of Duty and Obedience or Acts of Sin or according as they do most set their Heart and Affections upon God or the Things of this World I have heard a Man speaking on this Wise As long as my Possessions Goods and Estate will serve my Time it is well enough Which seems to be a fit Expression for one who hath his Portion in this Life And truly this is the mistake the Men of the World go upon for this makes them so eager and desirous in compassing and obtaining them whether by lawful or unlawful means whether by right or wrong Omission of Duty or Commission of Sin For they imagine and say that the good things of this Life will serve for their Time But in this they do greatly err for as aforesaid themselves have immortal Souls and immortal Spirits which exist and live the very first hour after they are dislodged from the Body And seeing that the World passeth away and the Lust and Fashion thereof It is hence manifest and clear that they do not neither will they serve their Time For our Time or the Time of our selves which is our Souls is to last as long as God himself and to run parallel with the longest Line of Eternity even until Time shall be no more but we are thence launched forth into the vast and infinite Ocean of forever and ever Tell them therefore thus saith the Lord God I will make this Proverb to cease and they shall no more use it as a Proverb in Israel but say unto them the days are at hand and the Effect of every Vision Ezek. 12. 23. So when the Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord which also includes the Knowledge of the Things pertaining to his Kingdom as the Waters cover the Sea there shall be no more used this kind of saying in the Mouths of People that the things of the Earth or the things of this World will serve their Time so as to last as long as themselves shall last and endure for the one are perishing and corruptible but themselves that is their Souls are Immortal and Incorruptible Indeed in this Sence they might and should serve their Time by using and receiving them to the Glory of God and according to the Bounds Rules and Directions of his Law that they might be for the Benefit and not hurt of the owners as the Wise Man intimates and according to this Counsel and Command of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Make to your selves Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into Everlasting Habitations Rich People should most of all much consider of this so that themselves may be hereby influenced and perswaded for to do accordingly For these sensibly know what a Comfort and Conveniency it is to have an Affluence and Plenty of the good things of the Earth ready to their hand without their being forced to drudge and labour for them They should herein Eye the Providence and Dispensation of God as also apprehand how that they are herein liable to higher and stricter accounts to make unto him for more Talents and Priviledges received from him But then chiefly they should lay deeply to Heart that though they now have such an advantage of Worldly Prosperity As they find the Comfort and acceptable Relish thereof is it not then desirable to continue so And therefore they should take Care and give Diligence that against this fails for Rich People must dye and when they die they can carry nothing away with them the forty-ninth Psalm is apposite and pertinent to them to be provided of an Happiness in the highest Heavens for evermore Aristotle an Heathen could say whose saying herein will rise up in Judgment against them Rich People have the most Reason to serve God of any because God hath been so good and bountiful unto them This is an Argument which the Holy Ghost makes use of in Scripture from God's Kindness and Love that they should keep in the way of his Commandments and not turn aside from them But contrariwise is it not seen that Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked that the Rich and Substantial and Chief of the People are the greatest despisers of God because they are full and lack nothing Do they not blaspheme that worthy Name by the which ye are called Do they not make a Mock and Jest and Light of the Power of Godliness and Serious Religion Though themselves partly for Fashion sake and partly for Conscience-sake may just observe the form and out-side thereof Do we not perceive them to be ashamed of the Words of Christ and of the Gospel in this adulterous and sinful Generation Yea they are ashamed and do disdain to come into thâ— Place where God's Word is preached in the plainness simplicity and meanness thereof My Brethren these things ought not so
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
there is implanted an Instinct Self-Preservation and Abhorrence of Dissolution From whence it appears on one hand how God our invisible Creator who during all our Infancy doth bind up and strengthen our Arms though too many know it not for it is not the Nurse or Mother but God only who gives that care and compassion to the Nurse or Mother in administring of help and doing of benefits God acts through the Creatures and even he acts through them whilst they are doing of it As he is Excellâ—nt in Counsel and Wonderful in working even so his Works are by little and little slow and gradual in succession of time and by degrees And as we could not hinder out life in its first beginning neither can we avoid the laying it down after the time appointed by our Father and Creator for we have received it of him for such a time Said Jesus Christ the Son of God the Image of the invisible God the first-born of every Creature for so Paul calls him by the Spirit who in all things hath the preheminence and who shall declare his Generation whereby is denoted the unconceivableness thereof No Man taketh my life from me I have Power to lay it down and I have Power to take it up again this I have received of the Father And so indeed no Maâ— can take our life from any of us let Men threaten oâ— say what they will as I my self have been sufficiently threatened but I have not feared them upon this consideration While they took Counsel together against me they devised â—o take away my life But I trusted in thee O Lord I said thou art my God my times are in thy hand Psal 31. 13 14 15. so thâ—t Men cannot so much as kill the Body unless God doth first suffer it for without his Will a Sparrow doth not so much as fall to the ground But none of have power of laying down our lives unless it be in a way of Duty and the Service of God in which it hath been sometimes suffered thus far Luke 22. 51. as to be taken away by the hands of wicked and violent Men Until the time that God sends for and Requires Luke 12. 20. this life of ours by Sickness outward Accident Old Age or such like But further as to any Power received by us of taking up our Life again here we must leave Jesus Christ for as to that we cannot follow him nor pretend to it none of us having received so much from the Father And therefore the Sâ—ripture doth so distinctly express it concerning him Declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness whereby is shewn forth that Holiness did help and contribute towards it by the Resurrection from the dead Sometimes is said that God raised him up having loosed the pains of death Because it was not possible that he should be holden by it and sometimes it is so expressed that Jesus raised himself up Destroy this Temple and I will build it up in three days Observe by this Particle I that he would do it by his own Person and by his own Power which yet himself acknowledged to have received from the Father which he accordingly fulfilled in the Temple of his Body It is a wonderful yea a pleasant thing to consider throughly how that the invisible God our Creator doth deal with us his Creatâ—res and to observe the whole Order and Method thereof from the first â—eginning to the very last And call no Man your Father upon the Earth for one is your Father which is in Heaven Matth. 23. 9. Have we not all one Father Hath not one God Created us Mal. 2. 10. Thou O Lord art our Father we are the Clay and thou the Potter and we are all the work of thine hand Isa 64. 8. Hast thou not poured me out as Milk and crudled me like Cheese Thou hast clothed me with Skin and Flesh and hast fenced me with Bones and Sinews Job 10. 10. 11. And indeed without an Almighty Power who worketh and we see him not that Ordereth it could never be that so Noble and Excellent a Creature should proceed from such a mean beginning The Fathers according to the Flesh do nothing at all towards the infusion of the Soul which is pure and only the Creation of God and as for the viler part the Body they do no more towards it by the act of Generation than the Husband-man doth to make the Corn grow by his scattering the Grain in the Earth They are but Instruments in the hands of God and by the meanness of them if the blinded World can see so much he doth the more magnifie his own Power He might have Created all Mankind as he did the first immediately out of the Earth in fulness of Stature or to grow up as Trees and Vegetables But by the same Wisdom whereby he made the Heavens he hath ordained this only way of coming into the World How it is with us in the Womb from the Conception unto the day of our Birth it is thus Written For thou hast possessed my Reins Thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb. I will Praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvelous are thy works and that my Soul knoweth right well My Substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth Thine Eye did see my Substance yet being unperfect and in thy Book all my Members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them Psal 139. 13 14 15 16. How it is with us in the very same day that we are born we may learn from what is written And as for thy Nativity in the day that thou was born thy Navel was not cut neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee thou wast not salted at all nor swadled at all none Eye pitied thee to do any of these unto thee to have compassion unto thee but thou wert cast out in the open Field to the loathing of thy Person in the day that thou wast born And when I passed by thes and saw thee polluted in thy own Blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood live yea I said when thou wast in thy Blood live Ezek. 16. 4 5 6. Behold the goodness of God herein And then how it is afterwards during and throughout those six Stages and Periods of life which we are to run through before we enter into Rest Infancy Childhood Youth Manhood Declining Years and old Age how we grow up by little and little and then waste and wither away by littlle and little For we all do fade as a leaf Isa 64. 6. All this we see and know we experience and feel so that there is no need to describe it farther But first 〈◊〉 after all we are created and made up as a Building oâ— a Tent to be set up for such a time
the open Air and clear Sun-shine than they who only peep or look through the Grate or little Window of a dark Prison Yes they do in both instances Even so the Soul when she was in the Prison of the Body bring my Soul out of Prison Psal 142. 7. saith the Psalmist it only then looks through two little holes under the Eye-lids But when this Soul is brought out of Prison as it is by Death and Dissolution of the Body when the Chains and Fetters of Flesh are knocked off then the Soul is sight all over and throughout and nothing at all hinders her sight as from the place of her Habitation At present it looks through the two Windows or Casements of the Body like the Mother of Sisera looking out at a window Judges 5. 28. for as when we look through a Perspective-Glass the Perspective-Glass of it self is blind and sees nothiâ—g at all Even so the Eye sees nothing at all but only the Soul sees through the Eye Again when the Perspective-Glass is spoiled we can see nothing through it Even so when the Optick Nerves are out of order the Soul doth not sâ—e outward things through it but is like a light shut up in a dark Lanthorn From whence that fleshly part of us called the Eye may be properly stiled the Perspective-Glass of the Soul But at best here in the Body it only looks through a hole or two and then it sees only the surface and outside of things But after it is gone from the Body it is all sight and all light and then it will see through and into each Object Now we see through a Glass darkly For so is at present all the material and visible Creation of God in comparison to the immateâ—ial and invisible Creation For as it is written Vpon all the Glory shall be a defence Isa 4. 5. In the Margent it is a covering The Holy Ghost here alludes that where things are very Fine Beautiful Comely Costly Clean here it is usual to put something over them for a Defence or Covering to preserve the Glory thereof from sullying as the custom is at this day to do over very fine Clothes Beds Tapistry Hangings rich Velvet Chairs or such like So I have several times thought and I do really believe for so much may be gathered from the Scriptures of Truth that we shall indeed sâ—e and find it so that all this outward visible Creation though indeed it doth seem very Beautiful and Glorious is but as a Defence or Covering cast over the much yet greater Glory of the inward invisible immaâ—erial Creation of God And furthermore all the Glory of this present Creation is to be done away to usher in and make room for the yet much greater Glory of the future Creation of God And then it shall be truly returned and said Even that which was made Glorious as so is the present visible Creation We may in the Spring time observe the exceeding Beauty of Blossoms and Flowers Why Solomon in all his Glory was not arrayed likeone of these had no Glory in this by reason of the Gloâ—y that excelleth For if that â—hich was done away is Glorious as indeed it was much more that which remaineth is Glorious 2 Cor. 3. 10 11. For behold I create new Heavens and new Earth and the former shall not â—e remembered nor come into mind Isa 65. 17. For these new Heavens and new Earth shall be so exceedingly more Glorâ—ous that the present Heavens and the present Earth have no Glory he would tell a falshood that should say so for they are indeed Glorious in this respect by reason of the Glory that excelleth And so as much as future Glory doth exceed present Gâ—ory so even now the inward Glory The King's Daughter is all Glorious within doth exceed ouâ—ward Glory Nothing but such an inward thing as the Soulâ— can see discern or apprehend what inward Glory is Which again she cannot so much see know and apprehend whilst she is in the Body as she will when she is out of the Body then she will see Face to Face And inasmuch as seeing Face to Face is more than seeing through a Glass darkly by certain and necessary consequence the Soul will see more in her separated state in the invisible World than now she doth whilst she is in the Body here on Earth So that marvel no more at what was aforesaid we shall see much more when these Eyes of ours are sunk into our Heads than ever we did when we had even the best and clearest use of them I will open my Mouth in a Parable I will utter dark sayings of old one whereof hath been here explained We shall see much yea infinitely more when dead than ever we did whilst living Yea and we shall see Death it self What kind of sight is this Now we commonly behold Death Paintâ—d or Pictured upon the Walls of Churches or upon the side of Tomb-stones like a Skeleton of dry Bones with a Glass and Spade in his Hand Whereby we living are taught and instructed that the Glass of our Time is always running and that the Sexton will dig a Grave for us as he hath done for others But away with these Pictures for as they have been properly called ignorant and unlearned Mens Books so if People abide in them and go no further they are likely to remain ignorant and unlearned still not knowing of things throughly as they ought and may be known for they do teach and inâ—truct but only in half and in the outside of a thing That Picture or Representation of Death aforemenâ—ioned doth only shew and set forth the Alterations Changes and whâ—t will befal the Body which is only the Shell or Husk of the Man But to see such a Piâ—â—â—â—e or to conceive thereof in our mind and go no further is not a seeing Death as it was appointed that old Simeon should see it For to see the thing it self when it approaches nigh and is actually come is no more than only this as if you should see one go out of an House to another Place or as we see and feel our selves when we are upon going and moving from one place to another Even so Death is no more than a going or moving from out of this World into another World or rather in more Propriety and Truth of Expression into another room of the same House For it is not another World but another part of this World the Earth being but the least even not so much as the ten thousandth part of the Creation of God We can better understand than we can see what I am now going to speak of For when the Breath of Man goeth forth in his Death 't is not so visible as smoke that ascendeth up Nay as long as it sends forth Breath it lives It rather seems to sink into and perish in the Body as may be perceived after those struggles and endeavours to fetch Breath or
admission into Heaven And by what follows in the next verse Except your Righteousness shall exceed the Rightâ—ousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven From hence there is real grounds of fear for it may be truly understood and gathered that such who break one of the least Commaâ—dments of Christ and teach Men so shall not only be called lâ—ast in the Kingdom of Heaven but they shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven because that the Righteousness of this kind of People doth not exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees inasmuch as these also do exactly the very same as the Scribes and Pharisees did viz. break some of the Commandments of God and teach Men so Only with this somewhat better diversity for the Pharisees did Tythe Anise Mint and Cummin but neglected the weighter matters of the Law Mercy Judgment Faith and the Love of God these ought they to have done and not to leave the other undone But several of the better sort of those called Christians may perhaps observe the weightier matters of the Law and neglect some of the lesser Commandments whereas indeed and in truth from the like Reasoning of Christ it may be understood that these ought to be done and observed also as weâ—â— as the others I take God to Record this day who is greater than our Hearts and knoweth all things that all along throughout my Preaching and Writing in all my Books and Sermons as himself will witness herein for me at the last day of Judgment I have taught and affirmed constantly and so I do again repeat and confirm it this day That all the Commandments of God and of Christ ought to obeyed and observed and not one â—ay not the least of them ought in any wise to be broken Far be it from me to teach Men so nor yet to intimate or allow or give the least way unto it See Mark 7. 9 10 11 12 13. Though for this very things sake because I have declared and testified the Will and Commandment of God to be on that wise as he saith by his Prophâ—t I will be a swift Witness against false Swearers and against them that turn aside the Stranger from his Right Mal. 3. 8. For this cause my Books and Ministry hath been rejected by the Corrupt and Igâ—orant Multitude of this World As it is written He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still Rev. 22. 11. So if they go on still in their refusal to hear or receive that part of God's Word which is committed to my Ministration and in their other Stubbornness and Reproaches for their Lips have spoken lies their Tongue hath muttered Perversness Isa 59. 13. I shall sooner convince them out of the Law take it in the whole together and not by piece-meal only to be Sinners and Transgressors herein then they can convince me of having dealt falfly in God's Covenant neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant neither have our steps declined from thy way Psal 44. 17. The very nature of a Covenant stands on this wise to observe all the several sorts thereof Suppose we enter into a Bond to perform Covenants and there are for instance six Covenants mentioned in an Indenture If one of them is broken and not performed and the Bond is put in suit thereupon it will be in no wise a good Plâ—a in Law for the Covenanter to say and alledge that â—e hath observed the oâ—her five And so when God comes to enter into Judgment and to call People to an Account when he shall call to the Heavens above and to the Earth that he may judge his People Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice Psal 5. 6. How they have kept his Ten Commandments from their Youth up or all the days and years they were on this Eâ—rth for so far his Judgment will examine and reach back as his â—oregoing Statutes Laws and Judgments did enjoyn Deut. 12. 1. Luke 1. 74 75. Then God will not accept of it as sufficient if some should say Lord I have kept nine of them others eight others six others perhaps obeyed none at all from the Heart And so it is of all the other Commandments of God which are written any where else in the Bible whether of the Old oâ— New Testament they ought to be observed all one iâ— being God's Sâ—atute Book whereby he governs over the Nations of the Earth all one as the Acts of Parliament of this Nation are kept and done accordingly Now as when one is Arraign'd for Murder Felony or any other Capital Crime it will not avail and save him if he should plead and say for himself that he had obeyed and kept all the Laws of England besides The same holds true as to the present Account and future Judgment of God For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all For he that said do not not commit Aduâ—tery said also do not Kill now if thou commit no Adultery yet if thou Kill thou art become a Transgressor against the Law So he that sâ—id do not worship Idols nor graven Images said also do not swear vainly or falsly He said also do not Covet and do no Wrong So that if a Man swears vainly or falsly or if he Covets and doth Wrong although he doth not worship Idols nor graven Images he is become a Transgressor of the Law So it may be reasoned concerning the keeping of some and neglecting or transgressing of others run them changeably throughout all the Ten Commandments The Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews especially in the eight and ninth Chapters Reasons very much from the nature of Covenants and Testaments Which as himself Pâ—raseth it serveth â—nto the example and shadow of Heavenly things and it is else where expresly said as pertaining to this That though it be another Man's Covenant yet no Man addeth nor diminisheth from it Even so it is as to God's Covenant unto Man If we would indeed have the Benefit and precious Promises belonging to the Covenant we must not in the performing and fulfilling the same on our parts we are to add nothing to it nor yet should we diminish or take any thing from it The Covenant of God is the Word and Law of God for so it is called in sundry places of Scripture and the Word and Law of God is God himself and Christ himself â—o that herein the saying is true Take all or take none Is Christ divided 1 Cor. 3 13. Or can God be divided It is impossible as to both Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Although many foolish deceived People and outward Worshippers who serve divers Lusts and Pleasures would vainly imagine and think to divide their service one half for God and another half for the World or
And so the Lord Guides and Commands the Ministry of his Word Comfort ye comfort ye my People saith your God speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem To be Sons of Consolation to some and to be Sons of Thunder unto others To speak such a suitable word to all the several and promisâ—uous Hearers that all may learn and all may be comforted Some may be convinced some converted some strengthened and builded up according to the several needs of his People and according to the several great ends for which he in Wisdom appointed the Ministry and Preaching of the Word As the Apostle Paul saith to the Thessalonians But aâ— touching Brotherly Love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another So I need not draw any more Practical Uses and Inferences from Isa 38. 1. because that as Isaiah the Son of Amos came unto Hezekiah and said unto him Thus saiâ—h the Lord Thou shalt die and not live So the same God the Creator of all Generations and Persons of Mankind speaketh unto them in his written Word in his Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences and by his Ministers for by all these ways they are taught of God to set their Souls in Order against the time they shall go out of the Body Which will time after time opportunity after opportunity morning after morning morning after morning he wakeneâ—h me and all this will furnish ye with Practical Uses and Inferences enough on this Subject For all these ways God will teach you what shall be profitable for ye to know and give an inferring what ye have to do And so I have done with this Text telling ye withal that all your remaining business throughout your Life here on Earth and whatever other Sermons or Word of Exhortation and Instruction ye may ever hear or read if it is managed aright it is all to the same end and purpose that ye may set your Souls in Order for ye shall die that is they shall go out of the Body Do ye therefore so live and set your whole Body Soul and Spirit in Order that when ye die ye may live again in Happiness and Bliss and not in Misery and Punishment even that your Spirits may be severally saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Amen saith my Soul come Lord Jesus come quickly FINIS Practical Books Written and Published by Richard Stafford OF Happiness Wherein it is fully and particularly manifested That the greatest Happiness of this Life consisteth in the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments in oppoâ—â—tion to the Pleasures of Sin or the pretended conveniency of Disobedience Rules and Directions for the prevention of and Recovery out of Sickness A Discourse against Partial Obedience Or that dangerous Deceit so universal amongst them who call themselves Christians of keeping some of the Commandments of God and neglecting others Some Thoughts of the Life to Come With a brief account of the state of Religion as it is now in the World The great Benefits of Christ to all that Believe on and Obey him Being a Treatise on Hebrews 2. 15. Wherein it is shewed and made known how People may be freed and delivered from that slavish fear of Death whereby they are subject to Bondage throughout their Life-time And also how they may be saved and preserved from the Evil and Danger of Death when it shall approach nigh and come actually upon them An earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to Turn immediately to the Lord their God An Exhortation unto all Dissenters however they are distinguished or named to return into the Communion of the Châ—â—ch of England Six several Seâ—mons Preached on Isaiah 38. 1. wherein that great Duty of setting our Body and Soul in order for we shall die is at large opened and explained
such-like good reasons As also because we are here troubled in the Flesh as Paul speaketh For indeed Carnal things will not give Rest and as for Spiritual things which is indeed Life and Peace and would give Rest these now we have only in part and in imperfect measure and we apprehend them by Faith Therefore seeing that we cannot have Rest on this Earth the Exhortation speaks on this wise let us seek diligently and endeavour earnestly to get to Heaven for there we shall be sure of Rest Concerning which dyiâ—g Jaâ—ob spoke sweetly and he saw that Rest was good and the Land that it was pleasant Hereby it may be kâ—own that Rest is good and pleasant by the irksomness of its contrary restlesness To this purport our Saviour Jesus Christ speaks advises and directs which I intend as the second great Scripture to confirm the aforesaid Reasoning Observation and Truth And I say unto you make unto your selves Friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness that when you fail they may receive you into everlasting Habitations Luke 16. 9 The whole eight verses immediately foregoing are worthy to be read out at length and from that Epiphonema which is added at the summing up of and conclusion of this Parable or Rehearsal for probably it was a real and true story The Children of this World are in their Generation wiser than the Children of Light I have often thought from these very words that if People would do as much for Heaven as we evidently see they do for the World none would ever miss thereof Or at least such would not miss thereof who do but as much towards it as Worldlings now usually and commonly do for the things of this World and it is reckoned their Wisdom Carefulness and Commendation so to do Which indeed it is if they do not set their Heaâ—t and Affection too much upon it And chiefly if in their Prosecution and Acquisition thereof they make use only of those means and things which are lawful and right and no others As the Heavens are bigger and higher than the Earth which is more than ten thousand fold in both instances again as Eternity is longer than time which is more in comparison than the whole computation of Man's life at Seventy years is more than the twinkling of an Eye so much is Heaven of more worth than the Earth And proportionably there is so much the more Reason why People should seek after Heaven than Earth and do more for Heaven than any do now for the Things of this World Besides the abundant and forcible Exhortation which flows from all this yet this other unanswerable Argument lies against all the Ungodly and Unbelievers Ignorant and Slothful Persons in the World they must all unavoidably go off from this Earth and whither they will or refuse be taken off utterly from tne things of this Earth and then whose will be the things which they have provided If they answer their Children and Executors But then I would put them in mind further that they have immortal Souls and returning Bodies Souls which do live the very next moment after that their Breath goes out of their Body which also must be raised again after they have been corrupted in the Dust of the Earth And what Care and Provision is taken beforehand as to both of these Did they whilst they had them make to themselves Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness that when they themselves failed or against the Time when themselves should fail these might receive them into Everlasting Habitations But the most Men and Women will be found not to have done so much But rather it will be fulfilled as to the Multitude and the much greater part of the several Generations and Countreys what God speaks by the Prophet They that depart from me shall be written in the Earth Jer. 17. 13. which is a sad Story as will appear when we come to open the meaning and significancy thereof Though perhaps several Muck-worms and Earthly-minded Men think that it will not be ill with them if this only shall be their doom because that they love the Earth so well that they could be contented and not fear to have their Names written in it I have read the Relation of a very Warlike and Victorious King in his Time who after many Battels and Conquests and being very prosperous and successful therein from this Example judge none Happy or Safe before their end but consider the Proverb All is well that ends well And make no Judgment or Conclusion concerning Providence until the whole train course and upshot thereof is over He at length goes to make War with Tomyris Queen of the Eastern Countrey and like that great Captain Sisera who fell by the hands of a Woman according to the doubtful and uncertain Events of War He was overthrown and slain by her and her Army And after he was killed she commanded his Head to be cut off and to be cast into a large Vessel full of Blood for the dead Head to swim therein with uttering this apposite saying thereon Now Cyrus satisfie thy self with Blood which thou hast so long thirsted after Not much unlike those sayings in Scripture He that taketh the Sword shall perish with the Sword As their Sword hath shed Blood so give them Blood to drink But that aforementioned was a sore Proverb and a severe taunting Expression to be used to a Dead-mans Head swimming in a Vessel of Blood Note hence by the way how that the Judgments and Threatnings of God are herein fulfillâ—d Thou shalt become an Astonishment a Proverb and a By-word and an Hissing Deut. 28. 37. and Jer. 24. 9. and 25. 9 for Tomyris spake this according to the Knowledge which God had given unto her as his Creature In like manner God may at the last day of Judgment use a like kind of saying to the Men of this World and to the Men of this Earth in your Life-time heretofore ye did Love Thirst after and greedily desire the Things of this Earth and now ye shall have enough of the Earth and make your most of it for your Names shall be written in the Earth There seems to be no great matter in this for where is the Hurt Inconvenience Pain or Loss in all this I will soon tell ye from ouâ— of the Scriptures of Truth as also I do hereby give warning hear this and tremble all ye covetous Persons Muck-worms and Earthly-minded Men we read expresly in 2 Pet. 3. 10. The Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up then by Consequence all those People whose Names shall be found written in the Earth shall be burnt up also together with the Earth and the Works that are therein as indeed another Scripture doth come in and confirm and give Attestation unto the same And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire Now again it is certain that whose