of death as it is said of the world 1. John 5.4 5. Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith who is he that overcometh but he that believeth c. For greater is he that is in us then he that is in the world 1 John 4.4 The believing Soul foreseeing the day when Death shall be swallowed up in Victory may sing beforehand the triumphing song O Death where is thy sting O grave where is thy Victory 1 Cor. 15.54 55. For this cause we faint not though our outward man perish our inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction though it reach to death which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding eternall weight of glory while we look not at the things that are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporall and therefore not worthy to be looked at but the things that are not seen are eternal and therefore more prevalent with a believing Soul then either the enticing pleasures of sin for a season or the light and short afflictions or the death that standeth in our way 2 Cor. 5.16 17 18. Heb. 11.24 25 26. 2. A second Antidote against the Enmity of Death that is given us at the time of our Conversion is The Pardon of our sins and Justification of our persons by the blood and merits of Jesus Christ When once we are forgiven we are out of the reach of the greatest terror being saved from the second death Though we must feel the killing stroke we are delivered from the damning stroke Yea more then so it shall save us by dâ—stroying us It shall let us into the glorious presence of our Lord by taking us from the presence of our mortal friends It shall help us into Eternity by cutting off our Time For in the hour that we were justified and made the Adopted sâ—ns of God we were also made the Heirs of Heaven even Coheirs with Christ and shall be glorified with him when we have suffered with him Rom. 8.17 As Death was promoting the Life of the world when it was killing the Lord of Life himself So is it hastening the deliverance of believers when it seems to be undoing them No wonder if Death be that mans terror that must be conveyed by it into Hell or that imagineth that he shall perish as the beast But to him that knows it will be his passage into Rest and that Angels shall convey his Soul to Christ what an Antidote is there ready for his faith to use against the enmity and excess of fears Hence faith proceedeth in its triumph 1 Cor. 15.56 57. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God that giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Let him inordinately fear death that is loth to be with Christ or that is yet the heir of death eternall Let him fear that is yet in the bondage of his sin and in the power of the prince of darkness and is not by Justification delivered from the curse But joy and holy triumph are more seemly for the Justified 3. A third Antidote against the Enmity of death is the Holiness of the soul By this the Power of sin is mortified and therefore the fears of death cannot actuate and use it as in others they may do By this the Interest of the flesh is cast aside as nothing and the flesh it self is crucified with Christ and therefore the destruction of the flesh will seem the more tolerable and the fears of it will be a less temptation to the Soul By this we are already crucified to the world and the world to us and therefore we can more easily leave the world We now live by another Life then we did before being dead in our selves our life is hid with Christ in God and being crucified with Christ we now so Live as that it is not we but Christ Liveth in us the life which we Live in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God that hath loved us Gal. 2.20 The things that made this life too dear to us are now as it were annihilated to us and when we see they are Nothing they can do nothing with us Sanctification also maketh us so weary of sin as being our hated enemy that we are the more willing to die that it may die that causeth us to die And especially the Holy Ghost which we then receive is in us a Divine and heavenly Nature and so inclineth us to God and Heaven This Nature principally consisteth in the superlative Love of God And Love carryeth out the soul to the beloved As the Nature of a prisoner in a dungeon carryeth him to desire Liberty and light so the Nature of a holy Soul in flesh inclineth it to desire to be with Christ As Love maketh husband and wife and dearest friends to think the time long while they are asunder so doth the Love of the Soul to God How fain would the holy loving Soul behold the pleased face of God and be glorified in the beholding of his glory and live under the fullest influences of his Love This is our conquest over the Enmity of death As strong as Death is Love is stronger Eccles 8.6 7. Love is strong as death the coales thereof are coales of fire a most vehement flame which will not by the terrible face of death be hindered from ascending up to God Many waters cannot quench Love neither can the floods drown it if a man would give all the substance of his house for Love that is to bribe it and divert it from its object it would utterly be contemned If the Love of David could carry Jonathan to hazzard his life and deny a Kingdom for him and the Love of David to Absalom made him wish that he had dyed for him and the Love of friends yea lustfull love hath carryed many to cast away their lives no wonder if the Love of God in his Saints prevail against the fear of death The power of holy Love made Moses say Else let my name be blotted out of the book of life And it made Paul say that he could wish that he were accursed from Christ for his brethren and kindred according to the flesh Rom. 9.3 And doubtless he felt the fire burning in his breast when he broke out into that triumphant challenge Rom. 8.35 36. to the end Who shall separate us from the love of God Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword As it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as Sheep to the slaughter Nay in all this we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to
still answâ—red that he had enough and minded not removing without necessity so was she ever of the same mind and still seconded and confirmed him in such resolutions even to follow Gods work while they had a competency of their own and to mind no more 4. Her very speech and behaviour did so manifest meekâ—ess and humility that in a little converse with her it might eâ—sily be discerned 5. She thought nothing too mean for her that belâ—nged to her in her family and râ—lation no employment food c. saying often that What God had made her duty was not too low a work for her And indeed when we knâ—w â—nce that it is a work that God sets us upon it signifieth much forgetfulness of him and our selves if we think it too base or think our sâ—lves too good to stoop to it 6. No neighbour did seem too mean or poor for her familiar converse if they were but willing 7. She had a true esteem and cheerfull love for the meanâ—st of her husbands Relations and much rejoyced in her comfort in his kindred recording it among her experienced mercies 2. She was very constant and diligent in doing her part of family duties teaching all the inferiours of her family â—nd labouring to season them wiâ—h principles of holiness and admonishing them of their sin and danger never failing on the Lâ—rds day at night to hear them read the Scriptures and recite their Catechisms when publike duty and all other family duty was ended and in her Husbands absence praying with them How much the imitation of such examples would conduce to the sanctifying of families is easie to be apprehended 3. In secret duty she was very constant and lived much in those two great soul-advancing works Meditation and Prayer in which she would not admit of interruptions This inward holy diligence was it that maintained spirituall life within which is the spring â—f outward acceptable works When communion with God and daily labour upon our own hearts is laid aâ—ide or negligently and remisly followed grace languisheth first within and then unfruitfulness if not disorders and scandalls appear without 4. Her Love to the Lord Jesus was evidenced by her great affection to his Ordinances and wayes and serâ—ants A very hearty Love she manifested to those on whom the Image of God did appear even the poorest and meanest as well as the rich or eminent in the world Nor did a difference in lesser matters or any tolerable mistakes alienate her affections from them 5. She was a Christian of much plainness simplicity and singleness of heart far from a subtile crafty dissembling frame and also from loquacity or ostentation And the world was very low in her eyes to which she was long crucified â—nd on which she looked as a lifelesâ— thing Sensuality and pampering the flesh she much loathed Wheâ— she was invited to feasts she wâ—uld oft complain that they occasioned a difficulty in maintaining a sense of the presence of God whose company in all her company she preferred 6. She was a very carefull esteemer and redeemer of her time At home in her family the works of her generall and particular calling took her up When necessary business and greater duties gave way she was seldom without a Book in her hand or some edifying discâ—urse in her mouth if there were opportunity And abroad she was very weary of barren company that spent the time in common chatt and dry discourses 7. She used good company practically and profitably making use of what she heard for her own spirituall advantage When I understood out of her Diary that she wrote down some of my familiar discourses with serious application to her self it struck exceeding deep to my heart how much I have sinned all my dayes since I undertook the person of a Minister of Christ by the slightness and unprofitableness of my discourse and how exceeding carefull Ministers should be of thâ—ir words and how deliberately wisely and seriously they should speak abâ—ut the things of God and how diligently they should take all fit opportunities to that end when we know not how silent â—earers are affected with what we say For ought we know there may be some that will write down what we say in their Books or hearts or both And God an conscience write down all 8. In her course of Reading she was still laying in for use and practice Her course was when she read the Scriptures to gather out passages and sort and refer them to their several uses as some that were fit subjects for her Meditations Some for encouragement to prayer and other duties Promises suited to various conditions and wants as her papers shew And for other Books she would meddle with none but the sound and practicall and had no itch after the empty Books which make ostentation of Novelty and which Opinionists are now so taken with not did she like writing or preaching in envy and strife And of good Books she chose to read but few and those very often over that all might be well digested Which is a course for prâ—vate Christians that tends to avoid luxuriancy and make them sincere and solid and established 9 She had the great blessing of a tender conscience She did not slightly pass over small sins without penitent observation Her Diary records her trouble when causelesly she had neglected any Ordinance â—r was hindered by rain or small occasions or if she had overslept her self and lost a morning-exercise in London or came to late â—r if she were distracted in secret duty And if she mist of a Fast through misinformation disappointments and fâ—und not her heart duly sâ—nsible of the loss that also she recorded So did she her stirrings of anger and her very angry lookâ— resâ—lving to take more heed against them Though all ought not to spend so much time in writing down their failings yet all should watch and renew repentance 10. She was very solicitous for the souls of her friends As for instance hâ—r Brothers in Law over whom she exercised a motherly care instructing them and watching â—ver them and telling them of miscâ—rriaâ—es â—nd counselling them Causing them to keep a constant course of reading the holy Scriptures and meditating on it as far as she could Causing them to learn many Chapters without Book and to read other good Books in season Eâ—rnestly praying for them in particular Much desiring one or both should be Ministers And when her Father-in-law appointed the eldest to go to France she was much troubled for fear of his miscarriage among strangers especially those of the Romish Way 11. She was a serious Mourner for the sins of the time and place she lived in 12. In summ for strict close watchfull holy walking with God â—ven her Huâ—band professeth that she was a pâ—ttern to him As I hiâ—ted before she kept a daily account in writing which is now to be seeâ— from the beginning of the year 1654. especially of these
would see examples of iniquity may look abroad in the world and find enough I need not be the accuser of the Saints to furnish them And I think if they enquire here of any thing â—etable they will be hard put to it to find enoâ—gh to cover the accâ—sers shame 6. It is the honour of Christ and grace in his members more theâ— the honour of his servant that I seek 7. And I would not speak that in commendation of the living which I do of the dead who are out of the reach of all temptations of being lifted up with pride thereby Vnless it be such whose reputation the interest of Christ and the Gospel commandeth me to vindicate 8. Lastly I am so far from lifting up one above the rest of the members of Christ by these commendations and from abasing others whose names I mention not that I intend the honour of all in One and think that in the substance I describe all Saints in describing one I am not about a Popish work of making a wonder of a Saint as of a Phaenix or some rare unusual thing Saints with them must bâ— Canonized and their names put in the Calendar and yet their blind malice tells the world that there are no such things as Saints among us But I rejoyce in the many that I have communion with and the many that have lately stept before me into Heaven and are safe there out of the reach of malice and of sin and all the enemies of their peace and have left me mourning and yet rejoycing fearing and yet hoping and with some desires looking after them here behind And the faster Christ calls away his chosen ones whose graces were amiable in mine eyes the more willing he maketh me to follow them and to leave this world of darkness confusion wickedness danger vanity and vexation and to meet these precious souls in Life where we shall rejoyce that we are past this howling wilderness and shall for ever be with the Lord. FINIS Baxters Treatise of DEATH A Catalogue of Books written and published by the same Author These next following are to be sold by Nevil Simmons Bookseller in Kederminster 1 True Christiantiy or Christs Absolute dominion and mans necessary self-resignation and Subjection in two Assize Sermons preacht at Worcester in 12o. 2 A Sermon of Judgement preached at Pauls before the Honorable Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London Decem. 17. 1654. and now enlarged in 12o. 3 Making light of Christ and Salvation too oft the Issue of Gospel Invitations manifest in a Sermon preached at Lawrence Jury in London in 8o. 4 The Agreement of divers Ministers of Christ in the County of Worcester for Catechizing or personal Instructing all in their several Parishes that will Consent thereunto containing 1. The Articles of our Agreement 2. An Exhortation to the people to submit to this necessary work 3. The Profession of Faith and Catechism in 8o. 5 Guildas Salvianus The Reformed Pastor shewing the nature of the Pastoral work especially in private instruction and Catechizing in 8o. 6 Certain Disputations of Right to Sacraments and the True Nature of Visible Christianity in 4o. 7 Of Justification four Disputations clearing and amicably defending the Truth against the unnecessary Oppositions of divers Learned and Reverend Brethren in 4o. 8 A Treatise of Conversion preached and now published for the use of those that are strangers to a true Conversion especially the grosly Ignorant and Ungodly in 4o. 9 One sheet for the Ministry against the Malignants of all sorts 10 A Winding-sheet for Popery 11 One sheet against the Quakers 12 A second sheet for the Ministry Justifying our Calling against Quakers Seekers and Papists and all that deny us to be tâ—e Ministers of Christ 13 Dâ—rections to Justices of Peace especially in Corporations to the discharge of their duty to God written at the request of a Magistrate and Published for the use of others â—hat need it An open street 14 The Crucifying of the world by the Cross of Christ With a Preface to the Nobles Gentlemen and all the Rich directing them how they may be Richer in 4o. 15 A Call to the Unconverted to Turn and Live and accept of mercy while mercy may be had as ever they would find mercy in the day of their extremity From the Living God To be read in Families where any are unconverted in 12o. 16 Of Saving Faith That it is not only gradually but specifically distinct from all Common Faith The Agreement of Richard Baxter with that very Learned consenting Adversary that hath maintained his Assertion by a pretended Confutation in the end of Serjeant Shepherds Book of Sincerity and Hypocrisie With the Reasons of his Dissent in some passages that came in on the by in 4o. 17 Directions and Perswasions to a sound conversion For Prevention of that Deceit and Damnation of Souls and of those Scandals Heresies and desperate Apostasies that are the Consequents of a Counterfeit or Superficial Change in 8o. 18 The Grotian Religion Discovered At the invitation of Mr. Thomas Pierce in his Vindication With a Preface vindicating the Synod of Dort from the calumnies of the new Tilenus and David Peter c. and the Puritans and Sequestrations c. from the censures of Mr. Pierce in 8o. Confirmation and Restauration the necessary means of Reformation and Reconcilâ—ation for the Healing of the Corruptions and Divisions of the Churches Submissively but earnestly tendered tâ— the Consideration of the Soverâ—ign Powers Magistrates Ministers and People that they may awake and be up and doing in the Execution of so much as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ his Church and Gospel and to their own and others Souls and to the Peace and Welfare of â—he Nations and as they will answer the neglect to Christ at their Peril in 8o. 19 Five Disputations of Church-Government in 4o. 20 A Key for Caâ—holicks To open the Jugling of the Jesuites and satisfie all that are but truly willing to understand whether the Cause of the Roman or Reformed Churches be of God and to leave the Reader utterly unexcusable that after this will be a Papist The first Part Containing some Arguments by which the meanest may see the Vanity of Popery and 40. Detections of their Fraud with Directions and Materials sufficient for the Confutation of their Voluminous Deceits particularly refelling Bâ—verius Richlieu H. T. Manual some Manuscripts c. with some Proposals for a hopeless Peace The Second Part sheweth especially against the French and Grotians that the Catholick Church is not United in any meerly Humane Head either Pope or Council in 4o. 21 A Treatise of Self-deniaâ— in 4o. These Books following are to be sold by Thomas Underhill at the Bible and Anchor in Pauls Church-yard and by Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleetstreet 22 THe Saints Everlasting Rest Or A Treatise of the blâ—ssed State of the Saints in their enjoyment of God in Glory in 4o. 23 His Apology against the Exceptions of Mr. Blake And the digression of Mr. Kendall Animadversions on a late dissertation of Ludiomaeus Colvinus alias Ludovicus Molinaâ—us An admonition to Mr. Eyres with Mr. Crandâ—ns Anatomy in 4o. 24 The unreasonableness of Infidelity in four parts 1. The Spirits intrinsick witness to the truth of Christianity with a determination of this question Whether the miracles of Christ and his Apostles do oblige those to believe who never saw them 2. The Spirits internal Witness of the truth of Christianity 3. A Treatise of the sin against the Holy Ghost 4. The Arrogancy of Reason against divine Revelation repressed in 8o. 25 The Worcestershire Petition to the Parliament for the Ministry of England defended c. in 4o. 26 His Holy Common-wealth Or Political Aphorisms opening the true Principles of Government c. in 8o. 27 The right Method for a setled Peace of Conscience and Spiritual comfort in thirty two Directions in 8o. 28 His Confession of Faith Especially concerning the Interest of Repentance and siâ—cere Obedience to Christ in our Justification and Salvation in 4o. 29 Christian Concord or the Agreement of the Associated Pastors and Churches of Worcestershire with his Explication and desence of it and his Exhortation to Unity in 4o. 30 His humble advice Or the heads of those things which were offered to many Honourable members of Parliament in 4o. 31 The Quakers Catechism or the Quakers questioned Their questions answered and both published for the sake of those of them that have not sinned unto death And of those ungrounded Novices that are most in danger of their seduction in 4o. 32 An account of his present Thoughts concerning the Controversies about the perseverance of the Saints in 4o. 33 His Letter to Mr. Drury for Pacification in 4o. 34 Plain Scripture proof of Infant Church-membership and Baptism being the Arguments prepared for and partly managed in the publike dispute with Mr. Tombes at Bewdly Jan. 1. 1649 c. in 4o. 35 The Saâ—e Religion or three Disputations for the Reformed Catholick Religion against Popery Proving that Popery is against the Holy Scriptures the Unity of the Catholick Church the consent of the ancient Doctors the plainest Reason and common judgement of sense it self in 8o. 36 Catholick Unity Or the only way to bring us all to be of one Religion To be read by such as are offended at the differences in Religion and are willing to do their part to heal them in 12o. 37 The true Catholick and Catholick Church described And the vanity of the Papists and all other Schismaticks that confine the Catholick Church to their Sect discovered and shamed With an Apologetical Postcript against the factious Principles and Writings of Mr. T. Malpas Mr. T. Pierce Philo-Tilenus and such others in 12o. Besides his Aphorisms of Justifitation suspended