〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doubtlesse my head shall still bee annointed with oyle doubtlesse my cup shall still run ouer or doubtlesse my prosperitie shall neuer decay For that was a speech of infirmitie as he himselfe afterwards confessed I sayd in my prosperitie I shall neuer bee mooued but had miserable experience of that his weaknesse for the Lord turned away his face and then hee was sore troubled h Ps 30. 6 7 8. yea to omit all the great miseries and straits that he sustained before he came to the Crowne through the hot and long persecution of Saul after he was annointed King and as it seemeth penned this Psalme in thankefull remembrance of Gods mercie towards him Yet sometimes his cup did not runne ouer as when he was readie to faint for thirst and so greedily longed but for a cup of water of the Well of Bethlehem by the gate i 2. Sa. 23. 15. and also when for that great sinne in causing the people to bee numbred the Lord sent Gad vnto him and put it to his choice whether hee would haue seauen yeeres famine to come vpon him in his Land or slye three moneths before his enemies or three daies pestilence Whereupon Dauid himselfe confesseth hee was in a wonderfull strait k 2. Sa. 24. 13 14 c. but yet Dauid by the assurance of faith cleaueth fast to this hold that doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie would follow him q. d. Let what chaunge or alteration soeuer befall me in regard of mine outward estate and condition yet am I sure Gods kindnesse and mercie shall neuer bee taken away from me Doctrine Hence then we haue a verie comfortable lesson taught vs Confirmation viz That howsoeuer it pleaseth God for our sinnes to alter our outward estate to giue vs stormie and gloomie weather as well as faire and Sun-shine daies sometimes to make vs glad and sometimes to giue vs plentie of teares to drinke l Psa 42. 3. and 80. 6. yet is God no changling that he should breake off the course of his fauour and loue towards his elect but whome hee loueth he loueth to the end m Ioh. 13. 1 * Vsque ad mortem continuauit post mortem etiam perseuerat Tollet in Ioh. Tom. 2. fol. 20. and whom hee embraceth it is with an euerlasting compassion n Esay 54. 8. his mercie and loue doth aswell appeare if God open our eies in Aduersitie as in prosperitie in fatherly chasticements and corrections as in giuing vs our hearts desire And therfore howsoeuer Sathan is exceeding subtill to perswade and thorough our weaknesse we are readie inough for to apprehend the same that if God lay neuer so little sickenesse trouble or losse vppon vs by and by we thinke and say Oh God loueth me not if he did he would not deale thus and thus with me or this and that should not befall mee Vse Let vs take heed we be not deceiued this is no other temptation than Christ Iesus himselfe was acquainted with who no sooner was an hungred but by and by Sathan was at his elbow to perswade him that he was not the Son of God o Mat. 4. 3 Let vs therefore follow the example of our Captaine and draw forth the sword of the spirit and say auoid Sathan for howsoeuer God take away my health wealth peace and libertie yet his mercie and louing kindnesse he will neuer take away from mee but rather by these thinges doth seale the assurance thereof vnto mee for it is written as many as I loue I rebuke and chasten p Reu. 3. 19 and God correcteth euerie child that hee receiueth as the father doth the child in whome delighteth q Pro. 3. 11 Heb. 12. 5. But of this wee haue sufficiently heard and spoken before But how shall Dauid receiue this kindnesse and mercie Shall follow me 2. part This is a word of singuler comfort and teacheth vs Doctrine that God will not onely shew vs kindnesse and fauour when we doe earnestly sue and seek for it Confirmation which is our dutie to doe but euen when through weakenesse we shall as it were forsake God and flie from him then will he follow pursue and ouertake vs with his mercie so the Lord hath promised not onely to bee nigh to them that call vpon him faithfully r Psal 145. 18 but before wee call he hath promised to answere heere I am ſ Esa 65. 24 So hee followed Adam with his mercie when he had sinned and hid himselfe amongst the trees of the Garden Adam where art thou t Gene. 3. 9. So hee followed Ionah when he fled post-hast from the presence of the Lord and sent forth a great wind and a mightie tempest to fetch him home againe u Iona. 1. 3 4. and so he followed Dauid when he made such great speed towardes hell committing one sinne and then a greater to couer it withall and by the ministrie of Nathan brought him to the sight of his sinne and repentance that he might bee saued w 2. Sa. 12 13 wherin appeareth the great difference betwixt Gods dealing and mans for men follow after them that they are to receiue any thing off but God followeth them to whome he may giue his mercie * Homines magis persequuntur eos a quibus accipiant quam quibus dent Musc in Ps Yea so proane is God to doe good that he doth good both to the wicked x Mat. 5. 45 and to beasts y Ps 36. 6. Yea the Lord delighteth to doe his people good as hee himselfe hath sayd in Ieremie z Ier. 32. 41 And this is the ground of our perseuerance and continuance in the state of grace to the end that howsoeuer we bee weake and froward readie to start aside like a broken bow and to turne our backes vppon the Lord and flye from him as hee complaineth by his Prophet a Ier. 32. 33 yet God will not leaue vs but follow and ouertake vs with his blessings For so hee hath promised I will make an euerlasting couenant with them that I will neuer turne away from them to doe them good but I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart away from mee b Ie. 32. 40 Secondly Christ who was heard in all things c Iohn 11. 42. hath thus prayed for his Saints Holy Father keepe them in thy name d Ioh. 17. 11 By vertue of which prayer and Gods promise wee are sure wee shall stand and continue in the state of grace to the end and that hee will prosecute vs with his mercie notwithstanding our great weaknesse and frowardnesse But how long doth Dauid assure himselfe to enioy this mercie All the daies of my life ◠part Such is the great inconstancie of man in that which is good that without any cause to morrow he will persecute with hatred him whome to day
hee prosecuteth with all kindnesse and be as readie to hurt as euer to helpe him But GOD is no such changeling hee is neuer wearie but still delighteth to doe his Saints good though for a moment in his anger hee turne away his face from them yet with euerlasting compassion doth hee embrace them e Esay 54. 8 hee hath sayd it and will not alter the thing that is gone out of his lippes I will not faile thee nor forsake thee all the dayes of thy life f Iosh 1. 5. he that is our God in our youth strength wealth and life will bee our God in old age in our weakenesse pouertie and death to goe thorough the valley thereof with vs. But what will Dauid doe for all this mercie continued I shall dwell a long season in the house of the Lord. 2 part of the verse A most notable example of one rightly vsing his riches honor to the glorie of God by promoting the seruice and worship of God both in himselfe and others hee sayeth not as that wicked rich man in the Gospell when he had pulled downe his old barnes and builded new and filled them with corne Soule bee merrie eate drinke and take thine ease g Lu. 12. 19 But rather he sayth Oh my soule God hath aduaunced thee The summe of these words in despight of all thine enemies and therefore now forget not Gods benefits but be thankfull and deuote thy selfe to his seruice and worship and aduaunce Gods honour in his holy Temple Oh that men could thus vse their wealth and honour as helps to further and not as pul-backes to hinder them in the way of saluation it was Dauids greatest ioy when he might freely ioyne with the people of God in the publick exercises of Religion for so hee hath confessed I was glad when they said wee will goe into the house of the Lord h Psa 122. 1. and it was his greatest griefe in his persecution and troubles to bee depriued of this blessing as he sheweth saying As the Hart doth bray for the riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee oh God my soule thirsteth after God euen after the liuing God when shall I come and appeare before the presence of God i Ps 42. 1 2 And of all other this was his most earnest request vnto God saying One thing haue I desired of God which I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life k Psa 27. 4 Many things hee wanted but because his felicitie consisted in the feare and seruice of God therefore in comparison thereof he cared for no other thing The Lord giue the like desire to Prince and Subiect pastor and people and then will the Lord God of Israel bee the God of England hee will delight to doe vs good and in despight of all our enemies continue a happie gouernment ouer vs still And now to draw towards an end Conclusion with application I am to publish vnto you both full ioyous tidings and full heauie newes both of them I perswade my selfe newes not heard of of many of you before it hath pleased God to take to himselfe from among vs our dread Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth and these are heauie newes that wee haue lost her who not onely cloathed vs with Purple and Scarlet pleasures and costly iewels and all the delights of the children of men as Dauid sayd of Saul to the daughters of Israel l 2. Sam. 1. 24 but as a tender nursing mother m Esay 49. 23 fedde our soules with the hidden Mannah n Reu. 2. 17 and bread of life o Ioh. 6. 35 vnder whome many of vs haue beene borne into the world and by the ministerie of the Gospel which she hath maintained begotten and borne vnto God p Gal. 4. 19. in whose dayes nothing but peace plentie haue beene seene q Psal 147. 14. whereas other our neighbour Countries haue beene wasted and consumed with warres Ephraim eating vp Manasses and Manasses Ephraim and both of them deuouring Iudah as the Lord hath threatned r Esay 9. 21 their goodly Cities and townes being ransacked and destroyed grasse brambles and nettles growing in their streetes pallaces and Temples for want of passengers as Ieremie lamenteth Å¿ Lam. 5. 1â— their walles and windowes inhabited by Owles and Battes mens hearts fayling for feare of the continuall sounding of Trumpets thundring of Drummes neyghing of horses ratling of Armor and roaring of Cannons so neare some of our borders that our windowes and houses haue trembled with the report thereof * At the loosing of Calice Yea their streates haue runne with streames of blood their houses set on flaming fire their wiues and daughters abused and children dashed against the stones in their sight whereas we haue sate for more then foure and fortie yeares euerie man vnder his vine and figge-tree enioying the fruit of our labours and reuenues of our lands without either hostile inuasion or ciuil dissension our speares are worm-eaten and our swords turned into mattockes and sithes instruments of husbandrie as the Prophet speaketh t Esay 2. 4 or rusty in their scabberds the noyse of the Cart and Whippe are heard in our streetes our townes full of children playing and old men leaning vpon their staues as the Prophet Zacharie speaketh u Zacha. 8. 4. 5 Man goeth foorth to his labour in the morning and returneth not vntill the euening w Psa 104. 23 When hee goeth from home hee is not feared by any ambush of enemies when he lieth downe he is not wakened with sound of Alarm Oh happie wee that haue liued such golden dayes But behold the instrument of this our glorious happinesse is now taken away and this is the cause of our sorrow yea time of mourning come wherein we haue euerie one cause to goe heauily as hee that mourneth for his Mother as Dauid sayth x Ps 35. 14 Yea if the Lord had not dealt more graciously with vs then either wee haue deserued or could expect this had beene to vs all that mournfull day whereof the Lord by his Prophet Amos speaketh I will turne your feasts into mourning and your songs into lamentation and I will bring sackcloth on all loynes and baldnesse on euerie head and I will make it as the mourning of an only sonne and the end thereof as a bitter day y Amos. 8. 20 Yea when all the orders and companies of this Realme from the honourable Counseller to him that draweth water from the reuerent Iudge that sitteth vpon the Bench to the abiect begger that sitteth in the ashes from the man of gray haires to the sucking childe should haue mourned in euerie corner of the land complained in euerie street and cried in euerie house Alas for the day alas for the day of the Lord it is come it is come z Zacha. 12 12 And
DAVIDS Pastorall Poeme OR Sheepeheards Song SEVEN SERmons on the 23. Psalme of Dauid whereof the last was preached at Ashford in Kent the day whereon our gracious King was there proclaimed By THOMAS IACKSON Preacher of Gods word at Wie in Kent LONDON Printed by Thomas Purfoot and are to bee sold by Edmund Weauer at his shop at the great North doore of Paules Church 1603. To the right worshipful Robert Honnywood Esquire of Hoggesdon neare London and to the vertuous and zealous Gentlewoman Elizabeth Honnywood his wife my Christian deare friends in the Lord Thomas Iackson Preacher of Christes Gospell wisheth an happie increase of all spirituall graces with health and prosperitie in this life and eternall happinesse in the life to come SIr it hath pleased God that for some certaine yeares there hath bin a Lecture holden by fiue others of my reuerend brethrē and my selfe euerie Saturday being the Market day at Ashford in Kent where wee haue a worshipfull and Christian auditorie where as my turne came about I haue handled diuerse portions of Scripture and now lastly in seuen Sermons gone ouer the 23. Psalme of Dauid and by Gods prouidence it so came to passe that my course was to teach on Saturday the 26. of March 1603. for which I had also prepared my selfe but hauing certaine intelligence ouer night both of the death of her Maiestie and also that the high and mightie Prince Iames was proclaimed for our king with generall applause in London whom God in mercy long preserue The consideration of these sudden and great accidents and also hearing what a great auditorie there would be both of Knights and Gentlemen to proclaime the king there and also of others desirous to heare and see did somewhat astonish me But cōsidering first gods merciful dealing towards this land in this euill day which wee haue so long feared making our comfort suddenly to appeare as a flash of lightning which breaketh out of a darke cloude and secondly his prouidence towards me who calling mee on the sudden to so great and waightie a dutie yet eased me of halfe the paines by fitting it so as my ordinarie text and premeditations with some small chaunge of phrases or stile did better agree with the present occasion then many others which might haue beene purposely and curiously chosen I was much encouraged and by Gods mercie to the comfort of my selfe and others discharged that dutie his name for euer bee praised who is alwayes at the right hand of his vnworthie seruants to helpe them in time of neede since which time I haue beene very earnestly solicited by diuerse worshipfull and Christian good friends to publish those my Lectures in print that the benefite thereof redounding vnto many by many thankes might bee giuen vnto God whose request for a time I verie resolutely gainsayd as meeting with many and those verie waightie discouragements Solet acceptior esse sermo viuus quam scriptus Ber. epi. 66. first the great difference betwixt preaching and reading euen the same matter whereof one saith verie well The liuely voyce is more acceptable than written wordes * Habet nescio quid latentis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viua vox And another saith Liuely voice hath a kinde of secret force and powrefull sound And Aschines when he had read the oration which Demosthenes had made against him and perceiued the people to wonder at the excellencie of it he answered What would you haue thought if you had heard him pronounce it himselfe Quid si ipsum audissetis sua verba resonantem And therefore I was loath to chaunge my tongue into a penne and laying aside the gesture and countenance of a liuing man to burie my selfe in a dead letter of farre lesse effectuall perswasion Secondly the wise Preacher hath long since said There is none end of making of bookes and much reading is a wearines of the flesh Eccles 12. 12. which is most true in this bookish age wherein as one saith It would require a mans whole life Vix tota vita indices but to read ouer the titles or inscriptions for now is the old Poets saying verified Scribimus indocti doctique Poemata passim Learned and vnlearned euerie one setteth pen to Paper And hereby it commeth to passe that the world is ouerladen and the Presses oppressed with an innumerable companie of friuolous Pamphlets the fruits of idle braines sauouring of nothing but vngodlinesse and carnall vanitie and tend to none other end but the nourishment of all maner vice and prophanesse oh that there were amongst vs some zealous Ephesians that bookes of so great vanitie might be burned vp Acts. 19 29. Yea there are many verie excellent Bookes Treatises Sermons and Catechismes but if there wanted any there are many both in regard of their abilitie and leasure farre fitter to employ themselues this way then my selfe Thirdly I feared both the graue and wise censure of the godly learned diuines to whom my spirit is subiect And also the curious reprehensions of those Momi and malignant sinister spirits who say they would haue nothing printed if diuinitie but that which wadeth into the depth thereof and containeth the marrow and quintessence of learning such as doe profoundly handle deepe poynts and subtill quiddities of controuersies publishing that which was neuer heard or knowne before And if humanitie then nothing but that which is excellent for wit singular for learning rare for knowledge and pollished with all the ornaments of eloquence but in truth there can be nothing so well learnedly or godly done in either but these men as it were pining away with enuie at other mens good doe either bitterly backebite reproachfully slaunder vndeseruedly reproue or maliciously defame What is it then to publish any thing in print but for a man to make himselfe a common by-word a But for euery man to shoot his arrow at euen bitter words yea to offer himselfe to bee stung and torne with the sharpe and venemous teeth and tongue of euerie reproachfull slaunderer Lastly it is no small discouragement to consider the vanitie of Readers in these dayes which is not the least cause of so many idle and vaine bookes who as if they were possessed with the Athenian humour Poscimus indocti doctique to delight in nothing but either to tell Act. 17. 21 Quid noui or heare some newes the first question at euery Stacioners shoppe is what new thing and if it smell of the presse and haue a goodly title be the matter neuer so base and vnprofitable it is a booke for the nonce but be it neuer so good if once the Calender be chaunged that it beare the date of the former yeare it is neuer enquired after it may serue for couers to euerie immodest Poeme girding Satyre or ridiculous fable and thus most men esteem of vaine books more then of those that are profitable but none almost esteeme of the best but as
he might be found in Christ not hauing his owne righteousnesse which is of the law but the righteousnesse which is of God through faith p Phil. 3. 9. And this may bee called the righteousnesse of imputation for as Christ was made sinne for vs not by infusion of sinne into his person but by imputation of our sinnes vnto him q 2. Cor. 5. 21 Delicta nostra sua delicta fecit vt iustitiam suam nostraÌ„ iustitiam faceret so are wee made righteuos before God not by infusion of righteousnesse into our persons for that serueth for many other vses but by imputation of Christ his righteousnesse vnto vs VVhatsoeuer he did for vs if we beleeue being made ours August in Psal 21. as if we had performed the same in our owne persons r 1. Cor. 1. 30 Secondly there is a righteousnesse of sanctification VVhat is the righteousnes of sanctificatioÌ„ and the vse thereof which followeth as a fruit vpon the former when as by the sanctifying spirit of God the minde is inlightned the heart mollified the will rectified and the whole course of the life reformed no more to loue and liue in sinne but to hate and abhorre it and to delight in godlines and vertue whereof Saint Paul speaketh saying this is the will of God euen our sanctification Å¿ 1. Thes 4. 3 And vnto Titus he sayth The grace of God which bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world t Tit. 2. 11. Sobrie quo ad nos iuste quo ad proximum pie quo ad deuÌ„ And Saint Iohn sayth He that doth righteousnes is righteous but he that committeth sinne is of the Diuell u 1. Iohn 3 7. 8. The vses whereof are manifold but specially it serueth for to iustifie vs before meÌ„ and to make faith which is hidden in the hart seen of God to become visible apparaÌ„t vnto men Wherof S. Iames speaketh saying Abraham Rahab were iustified by their works w Iam. 2. 21. 25 Now the Lord leadeth his sheepe into the pathes of both those Righteousnesses giuing vs a true and liuely faith whereby wee are ingraffed into Christ and made partakers of all his benefits x Rom. 6. 5 6 7 also sanctifying vs through out with his holy spirit y 1. Thes 5. 23 to become new creatures z 2. Cor. 5. 17 and to offer vp our selues a liuing holy and acceptable sacrifice vnto him a Ro. 12. 1 But of the latter the Prophet in this place most properly speaketh and therefore our lesson is That all those sheepe whose saluation the great shepheard hath bought purchased with his blood they shall in time be called b Ro. 8. 30 Doctrine from walking in the sinfull pathes of vncleane Goates to walke in the pathes of righteousnesse and holinesse they shal cease to walke as the Gentiles in vanitie of mind c Eph. 4. 17 and blind hypocrisie and shall become followers of God as deare children d Ephe. 5. 1 striuing to bee holy as he is holy in all manner of conuersation e 1. Pet. 1. 15 In these pathes the Lord hath led all the flockes of his sheepe as the Author to the Hebrews hath traced many of them out by their steppes f Heb. 11. 4 5. 6. 7 which paths are straite narrow rugged and vnpleasant to daintie and tender flesh and blood g Mat. 7. 13. as requiring so soone as euer wee set foote therein How blessed and gainfull a thing it is to follow Christ in the pathes of righteousnesse a deniall of our selues and continuall taking vp of the crosse h Mat. 16. 24 but most pleasant and ioyfull to the inner man as Ieremie declareth saying Stand and enquire for the old way which is the good way and walke therein and you shall finde rest vnto your soules i Iere. 6. 16 The truth whereof we and all the Saints of God that euer walked therein haue experienced that as agreed Dauid as foreman may say for vs I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies as in all maner of riches k Ps 119. 14 And yet is not this al for besides the inward and spiritual ioy of the soule the Lord will also bestow all good things vpon them yea so gainfull is godlinesse that it hath a promise both of this life and that which is to come l 1. Tim. 6. 6 they shall want nothing that is good m Ps 34. 10 they shall eate their bread in plenteousnesse be fed with the fat of the graine of wheate and pure liquor of the Grape he will bow downe the backes of their enemies they shall lend and not borrow be the head and not the taile n Deut. 28. 12. 13. Now I beseech you let vs make application of these things vnto our selues ApplicationÌ„ The true cause of all the miseries that haue fallen vpon vs or are further threatned there is nothing more common then to heare men euerie where complaine of the great dearth wee haue sustained or the pestilence botch of Egypt hot burning feauers consumptions and grieuous diseases of the bodie wet and vnseasonable weather and so forth and some lay the cause here and some there some complaine of this and others of that but few see or regard the true cause indeed to set to hand to remoue it the verie cause of all euils is for that we haue not hearkned to the voice and whistle of our shepherd calling vs to follow him in the pathes of righteousnesse but rather wee haue troden the pathes of death and our footesteâ—ppes haue caught holde of hell as if we were at a league and couenant with both o Esa 28. 15 wee haue added drunkennesse vnto thirst p Deut. 29. 19 we haue not zealously and fruitfully entertained his word For if we had marke what God saith Oh that Israell had walked in my wayes I would soone haue humbled their enemies and haue fed them with the flower of weate and honie out of the rocke q Psa 81. 13 14 What is the reason then I pray you of all these euils and farre greater if we repent not who is so blind that seeth not VVe haue refused to bee taught and instructed in Gods word r Iere. 9. 6. despised his wholesome counsels and admonitions abused his patience and long sufferance to presumption which should haue led vs to repentance Å¿ Rom. 2. 4 the more he hath corrected vs for our amendment the more haue we fallen away from him t Esay 1. 5. hardning our faces as Brasse against his feare u Iere. 5. 3. and dealing most frowardly with him in his couenaunt that neuer might hee more iustly complaine of the Iewes than of vs All
to the spirits of iust and perfect men * Vbi tot gaudia quo◠socios faelicitatis Aug. de spirit anima and to Iesus the Mediator of the new testament c Heb. 12. 22 23 24. If then by death we be freed from these yea from all euils then surely there is great reason that with Dauid we should feare no euill to go through it c. And this is the first Argument Now because it is not inough vnto perfect felicitie The cōsideratiō of those inestimable and incomprehensible ioyes into the possessi◠whereof we enter by death a notable means to giue vs courage against it to be deliuered from all miserie and euill therfore the second Argument which may serue to giue vs great courage against death may be the consideration of those in estimable and vnconceiueable good things into the possession and fruition whereof we enter by death which is one of those great respects in regard whereof Salomon hath pronounced That the day of death is better then the day that one is borne d Eccle. 7. 3 for by our birth we enter into a world of sinne and iniquitie but by death we enter into the presence of God where are the fulnesse of ioyes e Psa 16. 11 Oh then consider this thing so soone as euer death hath closed our eies our bodies rest from labour and toyle and go vnto the graue as a bed of rest f Esay 57. 2 where it shall more soundly sleepe then euer in this life vpon a bedde of Downe Illa domus laetitiae haec militiae illa laudis haec orationis illa requiaei haec laboris vntill it be awakened by the sound of a trūpet and the soule immediately returneth vnto God that gaue it for euer to abide in the presence of the liuing God of Christ and of all the Angels and Saints in heauen the greatnesse whereof cannot be conceiued with heart Bern. or expressed with tongue for if Saint Paul say of the misteries of the Gospel and first fruits of the graces of Gods spirit that they are such as eie hath not seene eare heard nor heart of man can conceiue g 1. Co. 2. 9 signified by the white stone wherein is written a new name which no man knoweth but he that receiueth it h Reu. 2. 17 What shall then the haruest be And if in this shadowie valley where we see God but darkly as it were through spectacles and know but in part i 1. Cor. 13 12. yet the sweetnesse of the remission of our sinnes iustification sanctification peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost doe passe all vnderstanding no man knoweth but he that receiueth them oh how infinitely shall they bee powred vpon vs when wee shall come to the mountaine of Gods holinesse to see him face to face * Visio dei beatifici sola summū bonum est Aug lib de Trin. ca. 13. know him as he is k 1. Cor. 13 12 Surely if the Queen of the South seeing but the glorie of an earthly king his house meate order of seruants and their apparell yet proclaimed Oh happie are these thy seruants because they might euer stand before him and heare his wisdom l 1. Ki. 10. 8 Then 1000. times more happie they that shall euer be in the presence of the euerliuing god king of kings where is mirth without mourning ioy without sorrow health without sicknesse and life without end in comparison of whose glorie riches and wisdom Salomons was but vanitie beggerlinesse and folly And if so be that Moses was thought so happie and in all ages renowmed for that God vouchsafed him so great fauour as to see his hinder parts as he passed by m Exod. 33 23 then how much more happie shall they be Videbis posteriora mea that are admitted into the presence of God to see his face for euer Now though no man either for the ending of present miseries or preuenting of future calamities or for the desire to enioy these good things must shorten their dayes as Saul Achitophel Iudas or that foolish martyr of Philosophie * Cleombrotus tales stulta Philosophia habet Martyres who reading Platoes booke of the immortalitie of the soule is reported to cast himself headlong from a wall that so he might haue experimentall knowledge of that which he read Hieron ad Marcell yet what mā or woman with spirituall vnderstanding duly considering what miseries by death wee leaue behinde vs and with the eyes of faith beholdeth what inestimable good things by death we are put in possession of but shall most willingly die when God calleth yea sing with the Swanne when death approacheth and say with old father Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace n Lu. 2. 2 9. A sanctified and holy life a notable meanes to procure a couragious and comfortable death The third maine ground of true Christian valour and resolution and effectuall meanes for the repressing of the immoderate feare of death is to leade a Christian an and conscionable life what a comfort was it to Ezekiah when he receiued from the Lord the message of death 3. Argument by the hands of the Prophet Esay that he could appeale vnto God and say Oh Lord remember how I haue walked before thee in trueth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight o Esay 38. 3 For although it be a most hereticall doctrine taught and maintained in the Church of Rome that God giueth euerlasting life and glorie to men for and according to their good workes as hee giueth damnation for the contrarie * Rhem. in Rom. 2. 2. Sect. 1. Co. 3. sect 2. and therefore wee renounce it and say with the Apostle Eternall life is the gift of God through Iesus Christ our Lord p Ro. 6. vlt. And though a reward shall be giuen vs according to our workes q Rom. 2. 6 yet not for our works * Rhem. in Rom. 2. 2. Sect. 1. Co. 3. sect 2. Yet seeing good workes though they bee no cause of raigning yet are the way to Gods Kingdome * Secuudum opera sed non propter Greg. in Psal 140. Therefore as it must needes bee a great comfort in our liues so much more at our deathes to remember that we haue walked in the way that leadeth to Gods kingdom * Non causa regnandi sed via ad regnum Aug. Wherefore if we Ministers desire a comfortable death let vs be diligent in season and out of season r 2. Ti. 4. 2 to feede the flocke of God ſ 1. Pet. 5. 2 whereof the holy Ghost hath made vs ouer seers t Act. 20. 28 that wee may bee able to protest in some measure with the Apostle and say I haue kept back nothing that was profitable but haue shewed you all the councell of