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
they have no Benefit or Interest in him they being not within the Covenant and they have no Share nor Lot in this matter Even after Death hath destroyed the Body Christ will destroy that Now to destroy the Destroyer that is Salvation indeed Which again will be effected after it hath seized and done its worst and utmost upon us I will Ransom them from the power of the Grave whereby it may be understood that the Prince of Life will as it were force and command it so for God is greater in Power and Might I will Ransom them from Death As he first brought us into Life for it was the Word of God that Created us and the Wâ—rd of God is Christ and Christ is the Word of God and made us liable unto Dying and Death so he will rescue and bring us up from it again O Death I will be thy Plagues O Grave I will be thy Destruction Death hath been heretofore a Plague unto us and the Grave hath destroyed and crumbled our Body into dust when before it was safe and entire Flesh and Blood But God and Christ will in this sence Repent himself for his Servants and he will Plague this Plague and Destroy this Destroyer So that it shall be returned upon him and said O thou Enemy Destructions are come to a perpetual end Psal 9. 6. That is when the very same things which seem to be destroyed and come to nothing are raised up into Life and Being again never more to turn into Corruption nor yet to be subject unto Destruction All this stands ratified and confirmed with this kind of Speech Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Hos 13. 14. whereby is shewn forth the Immutability and â—â—â—edfastness of God's Councel and Determination hereiâ— For it is as much as if God should say I am resolved upon it I will never Repent nor alter from this my Decree and Purpose And when all these things shall so be then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 24. which very words are quoted out of Isa 25. 8. He will swallow up Death in Victory and the Lord God shall wipe away all Tears from all Faces for the Lord hath spoken it Then also those words of Isa 38. 1. will be changed reversed read rung or rather they will be sung backwards For instead of Thou shalt die and not live then it will be returned and said to the unspeakable rejoycing and exultation of us Creatures Thou shalt live and not die After Hezekiah had heard those words from Isaiah Thou shalt die and not live he turned his Face to the wall and wept sore But it was just now quoted from another place of Isaiah the Lord God shall wipe away all Tears from off all Faces So that the same God who did see Hezekiah's Tears Isa 38. 5. will wipe them away in a particular eminent and visible manner and so of all his Saints and Servants By the way it is much better and greater Honour to have ones Name Registred and Recorded in the Book of the Lord or the Book of Life than to be Chronicled or to be had in the greatest Esteem by the World I do the more willingly make known and rehearse these things unto ye both because they do flow from that Foâ—ntain or Well of Truth which lies in our Text as alsâ— to beget in ye lovely apprehensions of God Truly he is a good God whom we serve And this is the besâ— Argument and Persuasion with Ingenious and Grateful Minds to serve him yet more and more To serve him yet more earâ—estly and continually yea and instantly If ye hope and expect to receive those future good things from 〈◊〉 hands of God furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesuâ— that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and please God so you would abound in it more and more 1 Thes 4. 1. Truly God is good to Israel even to such as are of a clean Heart Psal 73. 1. He is good to all Mankind indifferently and in the general but the mixt Multitude do not altogether so much discern his goodness For if they did they would never carry themselves so Evil Rebellious and Despising towards him as now they do But in an especial manner God is good to such as are of a clean Heart or clean of Heart And here reciprocally again those who are of a clean Heart do behold and know the Goodness of God more than the common sort of People do For whereas on the other worse side one sin retained and dwelling in a Man is the Root that beareth Gall and Wormwood and is the cause of all that Alienation from and Enmity towards God none being Enemies to him but through their own wicked works So again on the other hand this cleanness of heart is like the pulling or rubbing of filth filmn or scales from our Eyes in order to help our Eye-sight or in order that we may see clearly For as aforesaid every like loves its like An Holy God loves and accepts of an Holy Soul So here again it is there being a proportionableness and suitableness herein a clean Heart knows this proposition better than others God is good A clean Heart sees farther than another kind of Heart for it can see God through the Cloud It can see the goodness of God not only in the Land of the Living but also when it walks through the Valley of the shadow of Death I will fear no Evil why so for thou art with me Psal 23. 4. A clean Heart doth see a good God yea and a sweet God even through the darkness and bitterness of Death I have read it as a saying of those whom they call the Wittier sort of Atheists that People in the general are afraid of Death as Children are afraid to walk in the dark for fear to meet Hobgoblings which we Men know there is no such thing and from thence they would ground their Imaginations or Dictates of Unbelief But in their Answers there remaineth falshood and miserable Comforters are they all For as sure as we now live and fear several things in the World there is somewhat real also to be feared after Death for as there are other parts of the World besides this Earth as Rivers Seas and we may look up and behold the Stars in their Courses So in like manner it may be evidenced and demonstrated that there is an immortal Spirit in Man as well as a dying Body But so far I will make use of that saying of theirs That to the Children of God to the Heirs of Life and Immortality although they are partakers of Flesh and Blood and 't is this only which Death can hurt yet to the main and in the utmost Death is but as a Hobgoblin Phantasm or Apparition There is little reality in it for it is not properly a thing 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
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
more clearly answered all these Imaginations and Devices of Men in that Gospel Command and Direction As He which hath called you is Holy so be ye Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15. Be sure to take in here the Particle As and then as to this Point we will pursue the same Reasoning which the Apostles uses in the following Verses forasmuch then as ye know that God is Holy without the least mixture or tincture of Sin or evil As Christ the Lamb was without Blemish and without Spot verse 19. it must follow of consequence that none is Holy as He which hath called you is Holy if there be a mixture or tincture of Sin therein and as the same Holy God our Father who without respect of Persons judgeth of every Mans Works it follows of necessity also that He will never accept of such a kind of Holiness in any Man or Woman whatever where Sin or Evil make up any part thereof Though here also if in our Holiness there should not be any tincture or savour of Sin or Evil which also will be washed away in the Blood of the Lamb without spot and blemish before it is right and meet for the acceptance of God we may be indeed amazed and afraid and ask the Question who then will be saved Remember this I bâ—seech the Reader Sin must in no wise make a part or ingredient in that kind of Holiness without which no Man shall see the Lord. Or if a Man or Womans Holiness at the best hath a tincture smell or taste of Sin Corruption or Evil here He or She are to hate even the Garment spotted by the Flesh They are to wish it were otherwise though of themselves they cannot quite rinse and wash it out but here pray unto God Wash me throughly from my Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin Psalm 51. 2. And though something may be done towards that here on this Earth by their working together with the Grace of God which He gives unto them till they in a manner empty all the Lees and Sedement out of the Vessels But as to the taste smell and scent of the Cask here with Reverence be it spoken Christ must give his own immediate helping hand that the Soul may appear before God cloathed in the Righteousness of his Son And be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after Phil. 3. 9 12. And so in the Name of God Let us go on to Perfection Heb. 6. 1. â—et us attain as far as ever we can in this Life and on this Earth and follow afâ—er whatever we can apprehend more Wherefore we labour that whither present or absent we may be accepted of him 2 Cor. 5. 9. Resolving still to do our Duty in all things and to fulfil all Righteousness and whatsoever we can conceive or think off confirming all the Words of his Law and Gospel by our doing of them that we may have the favour and acceptance the Peace and Reconciliation of our God Vnto which Promise our Twelve Tribes instantly serving God Day and Night hope to come Acts 26. 7. And where in any other places of Scripture we read of the more strict Rules Directions and Precepts there to Copy them out by our own Example Am I such an one or do I thus and thus as is there wriâ—ten As for instance when we find Paul speaking in this wiâ—e I know nothing by my self yet I am not hereby justified Can we say this of our particular selves also And so when David makes his appeal unto God Search me O God and know my Heart try me and know my Thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way Everlasting Psalm 119. 23 24. What earnestness of Expression is here as much as if He should have said do thou discover to me any Sin or Errour in me and I will resolve to get out of it So fain would I to be in the way Everlasting As thou hearest or readest this commune with thy self and examine thy self Whâ—â—her the same Mind Desire and earnest Endeavour be in thee also And so when wâ— read that Paul trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9. 6. This carries Instruction to thee also to be in the fear of the Lord all the day long with a great awe and dâ—ead of him continually upon thy Heart and to wait upon him in thy Spirit to know and receive from him what the Invisible God our Creator and Governour would have thee O Man or Woman to do And where He answers and makes known unto thee there always from time to time to instantly and forthwith set upon doing the â—ame And so on of whatever thou canst apprehend more for as long as thou dost this there will be nothing wanting in thee which indeed is to set the Soul in Order before we die It is a great thing and well-pleasing and acceptable unto the Lord to answer all his requirings in thy Heart and Conscience and to make this return The Lord opened my Ears and I was not Râ—bellious Where He speaks in the still Voice of his Word and Spirit there to obey and do accordingly And so indeed we might run through all Scripture the Book oâ— Life which is given to make us wise unto Salvaâ—ion â—o apply all the sayings therein to our selveâ— and to ask our own Souls How they peâ—form or do the same To return back to that aforementioned Let us lay aside every weight and the Sin that doth so easily beset us Ye have not resisted unto Blood striving against Sin Here commune with thy self prove and examine thy self O Man Doth thy Soul or my Soul imitate the practice and usage of Footmen and Racers as to lay aside every weight of Sin Guilt and Corruption yea the very Motions Inclinations and Liableness to Sin For these last also are some weights which do hinder and retard the moving of our Souls and their making towards God They are as some clippings of her wings and entanglements and prâ—ssings down as she would fly and lift up her self towards Heaven the Habitation of the Father of Spirits The Footmen and Racers will sometimes strain so hard for to obtain the Prize and win the Wager especially when they come near to the end of the Race that is set before them that they will break or burst a Vein till they spit Blood or it gushes forth All this Carries Instruction and Exhortation that we should do as much and the same for to obtain an Incorruptible Crown which they do to obtain a Corruptible Crown even to resist unto Blood striving against Sin Which is to part even with our Hearts Blood which is the very best and choicest of
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
or as a Garment which will wax old and wear away or like a Watch oâ— any other Motion only to continue so long and no longer even whilst the Pulse beats and whilst the Springs and Wheels of Life within do continue in Motion and Circulation I have often thought and admired within my self how the ever-living God unto whom all Flesh shall come doth summon and call for us severally through thâ— Postern-door and Gate of Death And when I have enquired and my Heart hath searched diligently out of the Scriptures of Truth what will become of us when we come to die searching what or what manner of thing it is to die truly the best and most intelligible account that I can give of it is this I find in the â—criptures that it is always expressed by these five or six manner of words Dying Deceasing Departing Yielding up the Ghost Gathering to his Fathers Falling asleep All which tend to one and near the same signification and so it doth if there be any other Phrase or Form of speech to express Death by And it came to pass as her Soul was in departing for she died Gen. 35. 8. which was spoken of Rachel And so when Elijah was to raise the Widows dead Son He streched himself upon the Child three times and cried unto the Lord and said O Lord my God I pray thee let this Child's Soul come into him again 1 Kings 17. 21. In the Margent there it is into his inward parts Besides these two plain and express Scriptures which do prove and confirm the matter in hand to this give all the Prophets and Scripture witness That Death is nothing else but a going out or departue of the Soul from the Body When the Soul or Ghost or Spirit is yielded up and committed and returns to that God who gave it And when the Holy Ghost Phraseth it by falling asleep thereby it would set forth that little pain or difficulty which is therein For they die in like manner and make no more of it than when we take our ordinary rest by sleep in our Beds This is commonly the Portion and distinguishing Character of the Godly and Righteous that they go out of this Body with Peace of Conscience and Peace towards God in which same sence that saying of the Disciples is true Lord if he sleepeth he shall do well Which will be so as to the future State if it be real Sleep and perfect Peace and not the Slumberings only of false Presumption But then as in Sleep we do not speak or act as when we are awake nor yet do we think clearly for Dreaming is but a kind of confused Imagination inasmuch as Death also doth take away the use of those faculties which in sleep are only suspended for a time therefore because that in this respect and for this reason it hath some resemblance and likeness to sleep the Spirit of God doth sometimes so compare and call it In Death the Soul is actually gone out of the Body but in sleep it seemeth only to lie a little more still Again the Body is as the House or Tenement but the Soul is the Inhabitant or Tenant thereof and as when that leaves it there is nothing seen but bare Walls and not any thing that hath life within So the Body is evidently seen to be but a meer Trunk Carcase or Lump of Clay when the Soul which is the life and did give it Beauty and ruddy colour which also doth vanish with it is gone out and departed from it Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word Luke 2. 29. This one Scripture sâ—ews forth and confirms all those two or three Truths â—fore-spoken of The blessedness and desirableness of â—eparting in Peace that is Peace towards God Hereby again Death is shewn to be and is properly called a departure According to thy Word Hereby is shewn foâ—th and gathered that the Soul is only Tenant at Will to the Great Landlord of Heaven and Earth whâ—n she inhabits here in one of his little Houses or Cottages viz. the Body here on Earth And it is as much as if God should say to her at first Soul I allow thee to inhabit such an exact time in that little Tenement of Clay and when that time is expired thou must come out of it again But now The Sâ—cret of the Lord is with them that fear him Psal 25. 14. It sometimes happens that the Godly and Righteous do perceive and guess about the time God will have them to live here on this Earth It was revealed by the Holy Ghost to Simeon that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lord's Christ And so besides â—he example of Jacob Moses and Aaron and others Registred in the Book of the Lord I have read and heard of several of the Saints and Servants of God who have had it revealed unto them a considerable time before in their foregoing life near about what time and at what year of life they should die which hath accordingly so came to pass I my self have had a forebode for several years past that I should die about the three and thirtieth or the three and thirtieth year and an half of my life God knows whether it will be so And when the time draws nigh that Israel and so they that are of Israel must die they do with a willing mind resign and offer up their Soul unto God as in a readiness a little before that time comes Which is a thing plâ—asing and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour the God of the Spirits of all Flesh as we see by the example and good temper of this Simeon who was Just and Devout waiting for the Consolation of Israel And so we should wait beforehand for the Consolation which God will give unto his Servants if we do indeed serve him after that we are passed through this Vale of Tears and World of Misery It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death It is very proper and pertinent to the matter in hand to open and explain this manner of Speech of seeing Death The Infidel Ungodly Igâ—orant or Brutish Person may at first look upon it as a nonsensical and false kind of saying to see Death For Death closes and destroys the Eye sight that it can see nothing at all But to answer him Thou Fool that which thoâ— sowest is not quickened except it die Thou Ignorant Person I do here say and affirm then it is that we see most of all when Death hath destroyed all our Opticks and power of seeing and our Eyes are sunk into our Head I will prove and demonstrate it from this very Similitude of Things Do not we see more when we have the full and whole sight of a thing than when we look at or upon it only through a Crevice Hole or Chink Do not they see more who are at full liberty in
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
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
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