that to this end To shew the Generality of the Condition All naturally are dead dead in sin To shew the Certainty of it We may believe it and are not to be unbelieving about it To shew the Corruptibility of our Nature Though we are dead yea dead in sin yet it is connatural unto us to be unwilling to take notice of it There is an eternal Death Is the first Death so amazing so amusing what is the second Death then Is the first Death The King of terrours to a Christless Soul who then is able to say what the second Death is to this Soul There is the second Death as well as the first Death He or She that overcometh shall not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 2.11 not so the Greek be hurt of the second Death There is a twofold Death both of the Body and of the Soul The first Death of the Body is the Separation of the Soul the second Death of the Body is the Torment of Eternity There is also a twofold Death of the Soul 1 Separatio Animae The first Death of the Soul is Sin the second Death of the Soul is a casting out from the Face of God 2 Cruciatus aeterni and that for an Eternity Hell as some fancy is not Mount Aetna 1 Peccatum nor yet Purgatory according to the conceit of the blind and bloody Papist Hell must needs be a dismal place 2 Profectio à facie Dei in aeternum a Dungeon of Darkness for the Sun-shine of Gods presence never comes there To the damned saith one the Loss of Heaven is more grievous than the Torment of Hell Heaven and Hell are the greatest Opposites Estius Matth. 11.23 or remotest Extreams And thou Capernaum that art lifted up to Heaven shalt be thrown down to Hell The second Death is Hell and the punishment thereof the punishment of Sense and of Loss There is a corporal or natural Death Moses my servant Josh 1.2 is dead How great soever and good soever Moses was he is dead now he is gone off the Stage now he is gathered to his Fathers now he is gone into an Eternity now Moses is dead and God preach his Funeral Sermon Joh. 11.32 Moses my servant is dead Lord said Mary if thou hadst been here my Brother had not died This is natural or corporal Death which is the following Subject SECTION II. What this Natural or Corporal Death is which is the Circumference of the Vniverse BUT what is Natural Quest Sol. or Corporal Death I shall not pretend to a Definition which relate to the Nature and Essence but present a Description which relate to the Properties and Effects Natural Death Descriptio is the Deprivation of natural Life Death is no Essence nor Substance but Privation Death is the Disunion between the Soul and the Body A man then dies when the Body for a time and but for a time is separated from the Soul or the Soul takes leave of the Body Death is but departed Death from lifened Dust Thou hidest thy face they are troubled Psal 104.29 Mors a morsu which our first Parents tasted Isa 2.22 Mors a mora which yet tarrieth for us All. Gen. 35.18 Omne Ens est Bounm omne Ronum est Ens. thou takest away their breath they die and return unto their dust When our Breath goes out our Life goes out when we cease breathing we cease living our Breath going our Life goeth our Life is but a Breath but a Blast Mans Breath is in his nostrils God breathed into mans nostrils the breath of life Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of Unless Breath goeth forth we die and Death is nothing else but a going forth of the Breath Life is a going forth of the Breath by Respiration and Death is a going forth of the Breath by Expiration It is said of Rachel And it came to pass as her soul was in departing for she died that she called his name Ben-oni that is The Son of my sorrow but his Father called him Benjamin that is The Son of the right hand God that made all things saw that all things which he made were very good Every Being is good and every Good is a Being therefore Lord saith one seeing thou hast not made Death suffer not that which thou hast not made to reign over that which thou hast made Death is a Fall August Omnes eramus ille unus Hemo Rom. 5.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which came by a Fall Adam sinning fell he falling all his posterity fell in him and with him It was not Man but Man-kind that fell By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men in whom so the Greek all have sinned Nature when she was young caught a fall as Mephihosheth did whereof she hath halted ever since Breath departing is dying and departed Breath is Death Death is not a Creature but the Grave of Creatures Jam. 1.15 Who ever was the Father of Death Sin was the Mother of Death if the Apostle may be credited Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death The first and the second Death are the products of sin Sin Lex naturae Tributurn mortalium Plato Visibile Verbum is that unhappy Womb that have been productive of the first and second Death Death as one calls it is the Law of Nature and Tribute of Mortals It is the municipal Law of the Earth to die once of Heaven to live for ever of Hell to die for ever We may call Death a Visible Word I am writing of natural Death it is as natural to die as to live yet when we say a man dies naturally we seem to speak improperly for a Man dies not as a Beast dies through the Annihilation of Nature but from the Appointment of God It is once appointed unto man to die Heb. 9.27 and after death the Judgment The word once say some is not to be referred to die as if there were some suspition that man could die twice but the word once is referred to appoint it was once appointed and that once shall stand It is enough that God hath once appointed Death but after this the Judgment Some understand this of a particular Judgment which God passeth upon the Soul immediately after death but if I mistake not we may with once interpret it of the general Judgment Estius Pool in loc which will be a solemn Promulgation and total Execution of the Sentence Once for All. SECTION III. Whether Natural or Corporal Death be the Circumference of the Vniverse DEath is the Circumference of the Vniverse Death's Motto is Nulli cedo and every mans Line meet in this Circumference To be a Man is to be mortal for to be a Man is to be a Sinner To be unwilling to die is to
delight and desire Pag. 184. 1. Christ is the Object of thy delight Delight is unlawful and lawful 1. Vnlawful 'T is then unlawful when 't is 1. Sinful 2. Hypocritical 3. Treacherous 2. Lawful This is 1 Natural 2 Spiritual Thus 1. In the People of God 2. In the Commandments of God 3. In God himself Quest What manner of delight is this delight Pag. 186. Sol. 1. A Strong 2. A Holy 3. A cordial 4. A constant delight 2. Christ is the Object of thy desire This desire is 1 Natural 2 Spiritual That Christ is a Person without compare in a Christians eye and the Object of a Christians desire will appear by a reflection 1. Of his Person 1. As Man 2. As God-Man Pag. 188. 2. Of his Affection 1. In the freeness of it 2. In the fulness of it 3. In the firmness of it To this is superadded that Christ is the Churches 1. Mercy 2. Merit 3. Mine 4. Mirror Quest But what manner of desires are cordial desires Pag. 193. Sol. 1. Good 2. Lawful 3. Working 4. Constant 5. Holy 6. Hard. 7. Acquiescing Unto which three things are added 1. Whether cordial desires shall be answered 2. Why cordial desires shall be answered Because 1. Imposed 2. Promised 3. Encouraged There 's encouragement 1. Unto these desires 2. After these desires 3. How cordial desires shall be answered 1. In kind 2. In effect Cordial 10. Christ is the Physician of greatest value Quest But what manner of Physiician is Christ Pag. 200. Sol. 1. Choice 2. Costly 3. Cheap 4. Appointed 5. Approved 6. Loving 7. Living 8. Valuable 9. Sadden 10. Seasonable 11. Sutable 12. Incomparable Cordial 11. Art actually Christs Be joyous also for the Death of Him is the Death of His. Pag. 206. 1. Christ disarms the first Death 2. Christ prevents the second Death 1. He will be thy Guide unto Death 2. He will be thy Guide thorough Death THE DEATH of CHRIST THE DEATH of DEATH Section I. Whether there be a Natural or Corporal Death the Circumference of the Universe THE word Death is capable of a various Acceptation in the Sacred Scripture There is an Vniversal Death But of the tree of knowledg of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat Gen. 2.17 Moriendo morieris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Obnoxius eris morti tum Corporis tum Animae Joh. 14.6 for in the day thou eatest thereof dying thou shalt die So the Hebrew and Junius Thou shalt surely and suddenly die so Ainsworth Thou shalt die the Death so the Septuagint Now this is if I mistake not both the first and the second Death so Pool in his Synopsis It is temporal and eternal Death together with the Causes Signs Antecedentes Consequents and Effects of it whatsoever so that all Dangers Difficulties and Deaths are implied in this Judgment threatned for Disobedience Dying thou shalt die That is thou shalt Die this way that way every way if Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life interpose not between Thee and Death There is a Judicial Death He that believeth not is condemned already Joh. 3.18 because he believeth not in the Name of the only begotten Son of God The Man is under the Judgment before the Judgment the Man is already cast the Sentence is past 12 Verse of Judes Epistle only there is a suspension of the Execution We read in Jude of those who are Twice dead Dead spiritually for want of a principle of Life and dead judicially under the Wrath of God They were obnoxious to the first death by original corruption and obnoxious to the second death by actual transgression They were dead say one in respect of their natural Condition Jenkins in â—lo pool in loc Piscator and dead in respect of their final Declension Twice dead altogether dead They were obnoxious to the first Death by Nature and to the second Death by Sin These men were alive naturally Quest. though dead spiritually how then were they twice dead They were judged twice dead Sol. either Because a spiritual Death is so great a Death that it may well go for two Deaths One spiritual Death is worse than a thousand natural Deaths Or They are said to be twice dead because they were dead both in regard of an internal Habit of Grace Caryl in loc p. 553. and in regard of an external Act of Grace There is a spiritua Death This Death looks two waies To the Saint to the Sinner To the Saint Now the Saint is dead To the Law Thus he is dead To the Ceremonial Law If ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiments or Elements of the world Col. 2.20 A majore ad minus why as though living in the world are ye subject to Ordinances It is an Argument from the greater to the less Ye are freed from the Rites which God himself prescribed freed from worldly Philosophy or Judaical Ceremonies Pool in loc therefore freed from new Rites by men invented or from old Rites by humane Authority revoked as one saith upon the place To the Moral Law I through the Law am dead to the Law Gal. 2.19 that I might live to God I have no Commerce with the Law I through the Law of Faith am dead to the Law of Works I through the Law of Christ am dead to the Law of Moses That I might live to God that I might live according to the Precept of Christ live according to the Gospel of Christ The Saint is dead to the world God forbid that I should glory Gal. 6.14 Contemptus est a me save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and Romanus Fervor Furor I unto the world The Apostle here speaks of the World as Luther did of Rome I contemn the Heat and Fury of Rome Thus did the Apostle I contemn the world and the things thereof the world and the things therein The Saint is dead to Sin As to be dead in sin is the worst death so to be dead to sin is the best Death How shall we that are dead to sin Rom. 6.2 live any longer therein To be dead to sin is to be freed from the servitude of sin to have the Force and Power of sin killed It is a metaphor taken from Death because Death is the privation of Life and of Actions To the Sinner Now the Sinner is dead in sin As the Saint or Soul in Christ is dead to sin so the Sinner or Soul out of Christ is dead in sin And you who were dead in trespases and sins Ephes 2.1.5 Hath he quickened these words are not in the Greek The sense here is imperfect but this is supplied in a verse following Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ made alive together with Christ so the Greek What he had touched upon in the first verse he repeats in the fifth verse and
be unwilling to be a Man for to be a Man is to be mortal Luther Cedo nulli As one said in the matters of God and Faith I give place to none so saith Death I give place to none As it is true what Man is he that liveth and sinneth not Eccles 7.20 Ps 89.48 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homo There is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not It is as true what man is he that liveth and dieth not What man is he that liveth and shall not see death that is shall not die What Man What Man or Woman The Greek and the Latine words for Man comprehend both Sexes What Man so the English and Junius What strong Man so Ainsworth and the Hebrew Mi Geber Mi Geber Geber a Man so called from his power and strength A strong man or a man in his strength It is properly one who is neither a Boy nor an old Man What strong man or man in his strength is he that shall not see death that shall not die Shall he deliver his soul or Life from the hand or power of the grave From this long Text there is this short meditation That man is mortal Every man and woman is mortal and not a match for Death All men and women may die yea must die What man is he that liveth and shall not die what man that is no man Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect Rom. 8.33 34. That is none shall Who is he that condemneth That is not one Thus here what man what strong man That is no man no strong man Not Caesar nor Pompey though the one could not endure a Superiour nor the other an Equal Not Sampson or Scaliger though persons of strength not Gustavus or Huniades though persons of conduct and courage Not Alexander or Ajax though persons of Terror Not Gideon or David though persons of valour Not Peter or Paul though the one the Doctor of the Jews and the other the Doctor of the Gentiles All the Apostles died yea all the Apostles save John who had such intimacy with Jesus died violent deaths and laid down their Blood on this side the Grave concerning which Luther was so troubled that he did not Death is the way of all flesh the way of all men the way of all the world Death is a Tribute due to Nature and every man must pay this Debt what Debts soever he leave unpaid Death is the way of all men This way Gen. 47.28 31. Gen. 35.29 Jacob went He bowed himself upon the Beds-head that is he died This common way did Isaac go He gave up the Ghost died and was gathered unto his people being old and full of daies Though Isaac was old and full of daies yet he died This common way Abraham went He gave up the Ghost Gen. 25.8 and died in a good old age an old man and full of years and was gathered unto his people Though Abraham lived to a good old age yet he died He died in a good old age an old man and full The Hebrew goes no farther He died full Full of what Our Translators to fill up the sense add by way of Explication full of years This way Methuselah also went Gen. 52.7 His daies were nine hundred sixty and nine years and he died This man was long-lifted indeed would not a man living in his time have thought that he had been immortal But he was mortal Though he lived to be very gray yet he died at last If the Majesty of Heaven call him upon the stage this is the last Act wherewith the Commedy ends Et mortuus est And he died Methuselah is his name which is by Interpretation He dieth And He died is the Epitaph for every Individual Death periods the daies of a long-lifed Methuselah And He died Though he had lived so long yet he died at last Though he had lived so many daies yet there came a time when he had not a day longer to live Though he had lived so long in the world yet there came a day when his Time went into Eternity And He died All Object have not died All have not been graved All have not had a Pillow of Dust for their Head All have not passed under the first Death All Solu have died or been translated All shall die or be changed To these distinctly All that have lived have died or been translated I read but of two men who made a leap over the Grave and did not see Death Now these two were Enoch and Elijah Enoch Enoch taught as the word signifies walked with God Gen. 5.24 and was not for God took him Enoch was so little like the world that his stay was little in the world Enoch was so like God himself that God takes Enoch unto himself He was not for God took him Not that there was an Annihilation of him but a Translation of him he was personally translated Soul and Body were translated to Heaven Enoch walked with God and he was not And not He so the Hebrew He was saith one translated from the society of men Junius This is a difficult Scripture but the Apostle gives a full Heb. 11.5 and unerring Comment upon it By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and he was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God Here is One that never went to the house of the Grave As God had before translated him out of a State of Sin into a State of Grace so Enoch was such a proficient in Grace that God translated him from Grace to Glory without so much as looking into the Grave Gen. 4.17 Jude ep v. 14. There was an Enoch in the Hebrew Chanoch who was the third from Adam and who was the immediate Son of cursed Cain But this Enoch or Chanoch was according to Jude the seventh from Adam And Enoch also the seventh from Adam Enoch was so the seventh from Adam as that both Adam and Himself must be computed to be Two of that Number Enoch was not so the seventh from as to be the seventh after or the seventh that came of Adam The like expression there is in Matthew Mat. 1.17 All the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations Into which Abraham and David themselves must be taken to make them up fourteen Enoch also was not so the seventh person from Adam as that there were no more than seven persons begotten from the time of Adam to Enoch for all those six Patriarchs mentioned before Enoch are said to beget Sons and Daughters but Jenkin in loc Enoch is called the seventh from Adam because he was exactly in that particular direct Line the seventh from Adam to Him Ainsworth This Enoch after saith one he had lived so many years upon the Earth as
there be daies in the Year of the Sun was translated from Earth to Heaven next after Adams death seven Patriarchs remaining Witnesses of his Translation Elijah Elijah a strong Lord as the word signifies called also Elias who in prayer Jam. 5.17 18. 2 King 2.11 12. prayed so the Greek that it might not rain and it did not rain that it might rain and it did rain This Elijah had his Rapture and his Rapture was a Type of Christ's Ascension He went up by a whirlwind into Heaven Elisha seeing it cryed my Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof All that do live shall die or be changed Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep That is 1 Cor. 15.51 52. we shall not all die Now that by sleep he means Death the whole Discourse of that Chapter makes evident What shall become of us then This is answered in the words following but we shall be changed There shall be a corporeal and numerical Resurrection if Job may be credited Though worms destroy his body Job 19.26 27. yet in the flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me Every man shall have a Resurection out of his own Dust The dead in Christ 1 Thes 4.16 1 Câ—â—â—5 53 54. shall rise first These shall be raised into a state of Incorruption This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality Now those then living having Christ for their Life shall not die but be changed into the same state of Incorruption Col. 3.4 and Immortality of those that shall have a numerical Resurrection given them by the power of God and the God of power SECT IV. Why Natural or Corporal Death is the Circumference of the Vniverse THat Man is Mortal and not a match for Death hath appeared why Man is mortal and not a match for Death will appear by these following Reasons Reasons Man hath sinned therefore man is mortal and must die Sin is that wretched womb wherein Death lay Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death All sorts and kinds of Death whether violent natural spiritual or eternal they are the stipend of sin Sin is the most mischievous thing in the world for it begins in turning the Heart from God and ends in turning God from the Heart Psal 9.17 now is not this man like to be turned into Hell Sin is that unhappy womb that have been productive of all the penal Judgments that have been in the world the first and the second Death Fire and Famine Poverty and Prison Plague and Pestilence the Rack and the Stake binding and banishing bleeding and burning they are the products of sin Oh my soul Nil nisi peccata timeo Chrysostom So Anselm all thy cares and crosses all thy fears and frowns all thy sorrows and sufferings all thy tears and troubles all thy tryals and travels they are the monstrous and prodigious Births and Effects of sin Wonder not that one said I fear nothing but sin Sin is the Mother Death is the Daughter Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men in whom all have sinned Sin is like Pandora's box which being opened was full of all evils filling the Earth with Diseases and all other Calamities What is said of War Bellum est malum complexum may be said of Sin it is a complex and complicated Evil. Sin is Evil only Evil all Evil alway Evil altogether Evil. We cannot speak worse of Sin than it is nor of Man being a Sinner than he is As God is that Good in whom is all Good Bonum in quo omnia sunt bona and no Evil so Sin is that Evil wherein is all Evil and no Good Death is the product of Sin Let the great Doctor of the Gentiles speak who had a great command of Oratory 1 Cor. 15.21 Vorstius By Man Adam the first came death That is by the Sin of Man came the Death of man by the Sin of man came the first and the second death upon man By man came death Not only Mortality as one saith but also eternal Death When the Jews are under a severe stroke they say This is part of the Golden-Calf That is this suffering is for our sin The Mother of Nero concerning him and from our sin Is it not pity that any man should say of his sin as she did of her Son Let me die so He may live Dost thou say let my sin live though I die and be damned then I say thou seemest to me to be within a step of Death within a step of Damnation Dost thou say to thy sin as God did to Joshua I will not fail Thee Josh 1.5 nor forsake thee Then I say thou art in danger of Hell fire and it is mercy to a wonder yea mercy above wonder that thou art out of Hell All men that live must die and all that die are bound for the grave that is the next stage When sin came into the world and that came in by cating Death came in with it Well may we cry Ah Sin Sin Sin thou hast digged all the graves and made all the funerals that have been in the world It was once said of the goodly Buildings of Rome that the sins of the Germans meaning the money got by the Popes Factors for sin-pardons granted the Germans have built these Thus when we see those goodly Buildings the bodies of men cast unto the ground yea cast into the ground we may truly say the sins of men have unbuilt have pulled down their Bodies Man Reas 2. is formed out of the dust therefore man is mortal and must die As our Bodies dwell in houses of clay Job 4.19 the foundations whereof are laid in the dust so our Bodies are but Clay-builts and they cannot stand long We were reared at first our of the dust and we are making to our Center every moment Bodies are but Clay-builts though some be painted and decked and beautified more than others yet all are dust and that makes to its Center Soul as thy Original was so shall thy Conclusion be as thy beginning was so shall thy endiâ— be Though Man now seem to be somewhaâ— better than dust yet to dust shall he return Bodie alive are but living dust Man is dust while he lives returns to the Dust when he dies and 〈◊〉 turned into dust after Death It was said to Adam and in him to all Mankind not only as a curse but also as a command Gen. 3.19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread until thou returnest to the ground that is until thou diest for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return Phil. 3.21 As thy Alpha was so shall thy Omega
shall dye in your sins except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish If ye come not to me and close not with me upon Gospel-terms ye will live in your wounds and lie in your wounds and die in your wounds and be damned for your wounds How freely did Christ deal with the woman John 4.16 17 18. He said unto her Go call thy Husband and come hither The woman answered and said I have no Husband Jesus answered and said unto her Thou hast well said I have no Husband for thou hast had five Husbands and he whom thou now hast is not thy Husband in that didst thou say truly A good Physician must also have a Ladies hand A Physician must use the Patient gently and carry it towards the Patient tenderly Herein Christ also is incomparably qualified How tenderly did Christ carry it towards the Adulteress Woman not Adulteress John 8.10 11. Woman not Harlot Woman not Whore Woman Where are those thine Accusers Hath no man condemned thee She said No man Lord. And Jesus said unto her Neither do I condemn thee Go and sin no more Art actually in Christ Cordial XI M. Knox. In Adamo primo potuimus non mori in Adamo secundo non possimus mori Be joyous at last for the death of Him is the death of death unto His. Blessed saith one is their death who have part in the death of Jesus In Adam the first there was a possibility of living in Adam the second there is an impossibility of dying I have read of One who pretended that he had a Salve for every Sore a Medicine for every Malady and could cure all diseases but death Death the Mistress of Mortals was such a disease that he could not cure Death the Emperess of the Vniverse was such a disease that he could not cure But now the death of Christ will make a cure of death it will make a cure of a twofold death of the first and the second death The death of Christ disarms the first death Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. where is thy victory The sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God that giveth us the victory thorough our Lord Jesus Christ The death of Christ is the death of this death unto a person actually in Christ it is to Him a stingless death it is to Him not a Foe but a Friend this person may look this death in the face and laugh Oh Death where is thy sting As if an honest man being set upon by an High-way man should disarm him and then say Where is thy Sword now Where is thy Pistol now The death of Christ prevents the second death Oh! what is the first to the second death The second death is eternal death Rev. 2.11 Who can dwell with devouring fire who can dwell with everlasting burnings Now those actually in Christ and overcoming thorough Christ shall not be hurt of the second death He or She that overcometh shall not not so the Greek be hurt of the second death But Soul art actually in Christ that thy Soul then may be filled with joy and peace like the water-pots of Galilee up to the very brim thorough believing be in a reflection of these two concluding words Art actually in Christ Then He will be thy Guide unto death For this God is our God but how long until Sin rise or Satan rage until there be a sliding foot or a backsliding heart until I be a Captive to Temptation without or Corruption within and I fear no longer mark the words For this God is our God for ever Psal 48.14 and ever he will be our Guide even unto death Art actually in Christ Then He will be thy Guide thorough death Luk. 23.43 To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Was Socrates glad when his death approached because as he thought he should go to Homer Hesiod and other learned men whom he thought he should meet with in the other world How much more should they who live and dye in a Christ be filled with joy and peace that they shall go unto God and Christ that they shall go unto Angels and Apostles Drink now of the Brook by the way and lift up thy head for the death of Christ is the death of death Haec tria perpetuò meditare Adverbia Pauli Tit. 2.11 12. Haec tria sint Vitae regula sancta tuae HALE-LU-JAH POEMA MORTUALE OR AN ELEGY UPON DEATH THE LAW of NATURE AND TRIBUTE of MORTALS By R. M. No Poet nor the Son of a Poet. Dust Bodies are and unto Dust return Souls locked are not in a sable URN In Christo vixi morior vivamque perennè Gratia Christe mihi Gloria Christe Tibi Anno Praedicto 1679. I. The Prologue The Vale of the Author to the Reader AS with Hortensius 't is not with Me Unapt to write but apt to speak was He Nor do I with ALBERICUS compare Unapt to speak but apt to write his share For words or works their Genius rarely lay But haltingly do I go either way Death subject is a Cup full to the Brim An Ocean where Elephants may swim In POETRY I 'm learning but to spell Are Deeps exhausted with a Muscle-shell One was a Mute wise Cato being there Give fancy Vent Du-Bartas was not here This Poem now takes air our mortal Fate As to CONDOLE so to Congratulate Dost live to dye this shews a doleful state Dost dye to live this Dolour antiquate Is Truth the White let that Man never speed Who from the Issue censures of the Deed. Man may attempt all Men to please as soon As He that made a Vestment for the Moon To suit each interchange ah jugling Ape Dayes scarcely two She keepeth in a Shape Prose Poems too meet with a critick woùnd Some Faults will find besides Faults to be found Wing Momus then this Book is not for Thee And Zoilus take thy Flight as far as He. Art Notional 't was no Prophetick Brain Art Critical 't is no Poetick Strain But art Celestial here lies the STRESS Most lovely Truth shews in her native Dress Now Reader take taste eat but also wish 'T is Lordly Fare though in an earthen Dish II. The Description PAle Death the Subject is but what is Death From lifened dust but a departed Breath But is not Death so worthy Meditation An Essence No nor Substance but Privation There Beings are but Death no Being have No Creature 't is for Creatures 't is a Grave Death 's but a Fall which by a Fall invaded This Microcosm whereby he was degraded Some Persens are for Debts in PRISON laid This Debt pays Man though Man be left unpaid Man mortal is this Microcosmus must Strike Sail to Death and graved be in dust Life 's but a breathing Death a Tale that 's told He doth but live that liveth to be old A Vapor is man's
Life a Taper burning 'T is like the wind that passeth not returning Ah! what is Life a Flood and Ebb and Man Sails then into a timeless OCEAN Ah puzling Theme was Austin at a loss What Life to call let not my Gold be Dross Mans Nostril is a passage for his Breath 'T is then a dying Life or living Death Life 's but a dying Death our Bodies are But living Graves the longest Liver share But in a span of days Death homeward sends A CIRCLE 't is beginning where it ends Ah daring Death the Tribute due to Nature The Law of Mortals not reflecting Stature And of the Universe the Emperess That visit Mortals in a various dress III. The Assertion THE Hebrew Proverb travels very far In Golgotha Skulls of all Sizes are Death 's not a bie but beaten path for All Here Croesus Codrus stumble may and fall One shoots the Gulf yet grounds upon a Shelf A Manuscript deceiveth DEATH it self No distance doth this Law of Nature know But Mortals reap according as they sow Death to the Grave is path for any Foot This common Gulf the mean and mighty shoot They blessed are much more let this take Air In Peter's Chain than He in Peter's Chair Ah Miscreant to refuge in a Lye Ah Monster-Man I see as I pass by Thy Triple-Crown begins to stand awry Down Dagon-like let this fall from on high Break Crown Head Neck this is the common Cry Thus wished 't is that thou may'st ever dye Popes dyed have without a doleful Song Unless it were because they lived long Where 's Adam Abram Isa'c Jacob Where Inventi non sunt they SEPULCRED were What proto-Proto-Adam Yea He was a Man Red-earth I find when that his name I scan This Proto-Man finds Death on Nature enter Thus earth to earth returns as to its Center What Abraham 't is strange 't is true he dies And in the CAVE of Mackpelah he lies What Isa'c too a TYPE so eminent Types Shadows are Death pitched hath his Tent With Abraham Ah when his Days were spenâ— He like a Son unto his FATHER went WHat Jacob too Esau supplanted He One named right for Name and Act agree Ah but Supplanters may supylanted be Him daring Death transplanted have I see Mortality whatever Men suggest Antiquity hath for her native Crest Did not Death reign from ADAM unto MOSES Wher 's Matthew Mark Paul Peter James and Joses Our Fathers where are They the greatest Sage Is slily passing going off the STAGE Well stiled then is Death most aged King Who led the Van and up the Rear does bring Ah read Death's Motto in a Ladies Line My lot's to Day to morrow may be thine And wondâ—r not at that true Celled-sense Amongst these Skulls I find no difference But where 's Methuselah of all most gray Scan but his name the word the man bewray Years lived he Nine hundred sixty nine But dyed then no longer was his Line Though many now on Beds of IVORY Do stretch themselves yet these must also lie In Beds of Earth this Tribute pay they must And for their Heads a Pillow have of Dust The great Mogul erects his Nest on high But liveth he that shall not also dye All dyed have that lived have or have Translated been and so deceiv'd the Grave Thus dye shall All that live or changed be From ADAM all derive their Pedigree Now Reasons take from one so low in Stature Why Death should be a Tribute due to Nature IV. The Reasons 1. The Decree of God DEath seizeth All for this is God's Decree She seizeth but will not surrender Thee Death Heavens Statute is in Scripture-sense Each mans line meets in this Circumference Earth Heaven Hell their Laws are different If writing thus be not impertinent Earths Law municipal is once to dye But Heavens is to live eternally Hell also hath a LAW to dye for ever Take prospect here of three Once alway never 2. The Matter of the Body ADd nextly now the Matter of the Man This Fabrick then Eternize if ye can Ah mortal Man made up of Elements Earth Air Fire Water are Ingredients For Man to dye to me appeareth just Who at the first was reared out of dust The Breath of God the Soul I find to be The Work of God the Body seems to me The Building 's Clay the Basis also Dust The Creature to the Center dying must 3. The Merit of Sin ALl sinned have and therefore All must dye This must be true or Truth must be a Lye The Soul dyes not 't is an immortal Spirit The Body dyes 't is Sins undoubted Merit Sins venial and mortal Papists make But this distinction is a gross mistake As Adam's bounds were set and Soul endued So breaking these a double Death ensued 'T is better thus infernal Sophistry To naus'ate than a double Death to dye V. The Uses THree Uses now of daring Death be making High Prudence 't is right Measures to be taking I. Of Trial. TRy mortal Man come to the Test and try Stage Persons also Things yet Man must dye Can any PERSON Or can any THING That Persons deck match Death this timely bring I. Of Beauty CAN Beauty that 's a Snare from Death's Arrest Bail MORTALS No as Ages do attest Can Beauty so admired by the Tall No mortal Man for Nature caught a Fall When she was young as did a petty Prince Which caused hath her halting ever since She 's courted painted spotted yet I see 'T is native Beauty without sports to be Some try to mend but while they mend they marr For Beauty-spects the SPOTS of Beauty are Fade Beauty will like Flowers of the Field Not shot-free girded with an Ajax's Shield She fades faints falls and running of her Race Hath for her Soutch'on but a wrinkled Face Where 's Sarah that the Court of Pharaoh charm This daring Death this Beauty doth alor'm Where 's Absalom the Beauty of his Age He acts his part and gooth off the Stage From Head to Fóót no Blemish could be found But Beauty dyes Death marching is her Round This Tribute due to Nature payed He The Halter was his Hair upon a Tree Here Isr'el's Mirror had his mortal Stroak Will others now call this the Royal Oak II. Of Men and Means CAn Men or Means each Creature in its Station From Natures instinct plot its Conservation What Drug by Galen could prescribed be Or could Hippocrates by DOSES free His Pat'ents No they differ as to Stature Yet payment make of Tribute due to Nature For Spirits Chymists are Phlebotomy A Monster seems in that extracting eye They breathe no Veins rare Spirits they apply But salved is not DEATH by Chymistry Two wayes there are Diseases for to cure But neither can face-paling Death allure Is Sympathy the way the Arrow 's wide For Digby that admired Artist dy'd Or is A NTIP ATHY ah but undarted Is still the White beloved Luke's departed Speak Borgius that I may hear the sound Who
that an ENOSH is deterred From dying Thoughts for Bildad hath averred That Death the King of Terrors is to thee If Christless dying and thus unto me Lend but an Ear to what the Romists say Rome unto Heaven is the onely way Ah but my Soul go not so far about A Papal-Toe may sometimes have the Gout Rome's Monster goeth wrong and will not suffer A going right this Candle wants a Snuffer Yea an Extinguisher that lighted may A better be and light a better way Ah needs must Hell a dismal Dung'on be Where Heavens Sun shall never shine to thee Sin hath no Mean but not at all to be Sin is the Means for to endanger thee Prepare for Death let this appear to thee Certain uncertain is the Time to me Death if no Children did a Rachel cry Ah crying be a Christ or else I dye Doth Death arrest and find thee without Grace With Judas then go to thy proper place If true Grace here shall not implanted be Then Woe Woe Woe hereafter unto thee III. Of Triumph A Scend my Soul on Mount Gerizim stand A taking Prospect is the Holy LAND 〈◊〉 joyous Saint no Corrosive to thee â—f stingless Death can a Memento be â—ot fuller is of light the Worlds bright eye â—or yet the Sea with water never dry â—i en that mans Heart with joy who truly see â—he Death of Christ the Death of Death to be â—ad Heaven Sin thus Anselm speaks about it â—uch rather would He be in Hell without it 〈◊〉 drop of Sin doth unto Mortals bring â—ore evil than a Sea of Suffering â—here may be Sorrow without Sin but can â—n without Sorrow be unto the man â—eath's an Eclipse to man this happen may 〈◊〉 in a clear so on a cloudy day â—one until Dearth were blest in Solon's eye â—hey blessed are that in a JESUS dye 〈◊〉 moment Man be winged like a Dove â—nd restless too till Arked with thy Love â—lace thy self with Loves If Christ be thine â—ALL into Honey WATER into Wine â—nverted are Now Marah tasteth sweet â—nd lovely will appear a winding sheet â—ake Death familiar this welcome thus â—ome Life come Death with good Ignatius â—he presence of all Good is Heaven and â—he absence of all Evil Here 's a Land 〈◊〉 then my Soul suck sweetly here and crave it 〈◊〉 Heaven 't is to hope it what to have it â—hus Time 's a Space lent from Eternity Globe that rolls with slie Celerity 〈◊〉 it is true Alpha it is that lends it 〈◊〉 is as true Omega 't is that ends it VI. The Epilogue FAith thorough Grace make now of Sacred Truth Must NESTOR dye so may the Shumem-Youth T is true Life is the Triumph of each Stature T is true Death is the Tribute due to Nature All Ages Statures Sexes Sifes must This payment make and bedded be in dust And he dyed this Epitaph must have Each individual upon his Grave Death ingress had by Sin this sadly woundeth Sin egress hath by Death this gladly soundeth Reader the Bodies-death doth perfectly From Deaths-body the Saint indempnifie Death a Dilemma is non-plust are All Who enter Lists and so resign the Wall The Fear of Deáth the Soul with Terror fill Death killeth once but Fear doth often kill A Creature with the Ephemera may Be as to Life a Creature of a Day Tears unto One the God of Nature gives Another not a Day in Nature lives View Nature now and in this Glass descry Art a Day old then old enough to dye The best of Men they are but Men at best The worst of Men dye sooner than the rest In hearing hear in saying also say In trying try in praying also pray In doing do in giving also give In living dye in dying also live Are grace-ful Veins found running thorough Thee All Glory then be given unto THREE FINIS
An Influence upon the Father 3. Would ye prepare for Death Then thorough Christ imbitter Sin Page 45. To this end take these Considerations 1. Sin had not a Being from God 2. Sin hath not a Being with God 3. Sin striketh at the Being of God The more to imbitter Sin 1. Look upon it as a cursed Inmate 2. Look upon it as a cursed Make-bate 1. Between God and Man 2. Between Man and Man 3. Between Man and Himself 4. Would ye prepare for Death Be then endearing Grace and Glory Page 47. 1. Endear thorough Christ Grace 2. Endear thorough Christ Glory Quest But what manner of Inheritance is Heaven Page 49. Heaven is 1. A free 2. A full 3. A living 4. A lasting Inheritance There are six things that cannot be finally lost 1. The Soul 2. The Saviour 3. The Grace of Christ 4. The Spirit of Christ 5. Interest in Christ 6. Inheritance with Christ 5. Would ye prepare for Death Be then in the Reflection of Eternity Page 52. 6. Would ye prepare for Death Be then in the improving of the Spirit It is 1. An enlivening 2. An enlightning 3. A bearing 4. A witnessing 5. A sanctifying 6. A sealing Spirit Page 53. 7. Would ye prepare for Death Look then unto Christ and lay the stress of Obedience upon him Page 55. This Obedience is twofold 1. Active 2. Passive True Obedience may be known by 1. The Sincerity 2. The Vniversality 3. The Constancy of it Now this Christ is for those actually his 1. All from the Father 2. All unto the Father 3. All with the Father DIRECT II. Page 58. Direct 2. Study thorough Christ the Art of dying well Quest But what shall we do that we may dye well Sol. 1. Would ye dye well Then thorough Christ live well 2. Would ye dye well Then thorough Christ dye daily Quest But unto what are we to dye Sol. Unto Self and unto the World 1. Unto Self Thus there must be a dying Unto 1. Sinful 2. Lawful 3. Natural 4. Moral 5. Relative 6. Religious Self 2. Unto the World Thus a dying unto The Worship Wisdom Mode Manners Pleasures Profits of the World Page 61. DIRECT III. Direct 3. Be not surprized with a panick Fear concerning the Arrests of the first Death To this end consider that Christ is thine and being thine will be to thee 1. A Father Quest But what manner of Father is Christ Sol. Take the properties of a natural Father towards a natural Child A natural Father 1. Pitieth 2. Provideth 3. Teaeheth 4. Leadeth 5. Counselleth 6. Heareth 7. Loveth 8. Correcteth 9. Preferreth 10. Pardoneth the Child Page 63. 2. A Friend Quest But what manner of Friend is Christ Page 65. Sol. A 1. Rich 2. Righteous 3. Real 4. Ready 5. Strong 6. Loving 7. Lasting Friend 3. A Foundation Quest But what manner of Foundation is Christ Page 67. Sol. 1. An ancient 2. A perfect 3. A sutable 4. A safe 5. A lovely 6. A precious 7. A living 8. A lasting 9. A tryed 10. The sole Foundation 4. A Fountain Page 68. Quest But what manner of Fountain is Christ Sol. 1. A living 2. A loving 3. A lighting 4. A pure 5. A peaceable 6. A free 7. A full 8. An invisible 9. An immutable 10. An incomparable 11. An inexhaustible Fountain 5. A God That Christ is God is evinced Page 70. 1. From plain and positive Texts and Truths 2. From gracious and glorious Appellations and Titles 1. Christ is called I Am. 2. The chiefest among ten thousand 3. A great God 4. The true God 5. God over All. 6. A mighty God 7. The onely wise God 8. The End of the Law for righteousness 9. The Image of the invisible God 10. The Desire of Nations 11. The Saviour of the world 12. The King of Saints 13. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords 14. The Father of Eternity 15. The Bread of Life 16. The Water of Life 17. The Rock of Ages 18. Emmanuel 19. Jesus 20. Jehovah 3. From probable and promising Arguments and Reasons Page 73. 1. He from whom Salvation is must be God 2. He who is the Object of Faith must be God 3. He who is the Life of His must be God 4. He who is Life to Himself must be God 5. He who can turn Water into Wine and heal with a word must be God 6. He that was before all things must be God 7. He that is God's Fellow must be God 8. He who gave a Resurrection to Himself must be God 9. He who can give a Resurrection to others must be God 10. He that made all things must be God 11. He unto whom divine Adoration is due must be God Page 76. 12. He who is omniscient must be God 13. He who is omnipotent must be God 14. He who is omnipresent must be God 15. He who is All in All must be God 16. He that shall come from Heaven waited by Angels and whose voice shall raise the dead must be God 17. He who is all Eye must be God 18. He who is all Ear must be God 19. He that can forgive Sin must be God 20. He that shall judge the world must be God 6. A Guide Page 78. Quest But what manner of Guide is Christ Sol. 1. An incomparable 2. A careful 3. A gracious 4. A gentle 5. A peaceable 6. A prositable 7. A desirable 8. A delectable 9. A prudential 10. A gradual 11. A regular 12. A continual Guide 7. A Guard Page 81. Quest 1. But how is Christ a Guard Sol. 1. In respect of his Justice 2. In respect of his Mercy Quest 2. But why is Christ a Guard Sol. 1. Because it is his pleasure so to be 2. Because it is his promise so to be 3. Because His are Jeweis 4. The Relation between Christ and his Church call for this and carry the reason of it 5. The Appellations of Christ and his Church call for this c. 1. The Church is Christ's Love and Christ is the Churches Beloved 2. Christ is the Head the Church is Body 3. Christ is Foundation the Church is Fabrick 4. Christ is Husband the Church is Spouse 8. A Good Page 85. Quest But what manner of Good is Christ Sol. 1. A substantial 2. An essential 3. An impartinl 4. An universal 5. An unchangeable 6. A sutable 7. A seasonable 8. A satisfying 9. An incomparable 10. An eternal Good 1. Eternity is his Mansion 2. Eternity is his Measure 9. A Rock Page 90. Quest But what manner of Rock is Christ Sol. 1. Christ is a high Rock He is 1. Higher than fallen Souls 2. Higher than unfallen Spirits 2. Christ is a strong Rock Christ strengthens 1. Against Sin 2. Unto Service Thus 1 Unto Action 2 Unto Passion 3. Christ is a firm Rock He was firm 1. In Doing 2. In Dying 4. Christ is an ancient Rock This appears 1. In respect of Generation 2. In respect of Regeneration 5. Christ is an accommodating Rock He
accommodates Page 93. 1. Freâ—y 2. Fuâ—y 6. Christ is an advantaging Rock He is All 1. Between God and Them 2. Between Them ond God 7. Christ is a secure Rock He secures 1. Under Danger 2. From Danger 8. Christ is a daraâ—â—e Rock Thus 1. As to his Life 2. As to his Love 10. A Portion Page 95. Quest But what manner of Portion is Christ Sol. 1. Christ is a necessary Portion Thus 1. To suffer all for Thee 2. To do all in Thee 2. A Soul Portion Thus He is 1. The Meat of the Soul 2. The Medicine of the Soul 3. A satisfying Portion Thus in respect Page 98. Of the 1. Susableness of the Object Page 98. Of the 2. Sufficiency of the Object 4. A durable Portion Thus Christ is 1. In respect of his Life 2. In respect of his Love 5. A seasonabâ—â— Portion Thus He is Page 100. 1. In reference to the Work 2. To the Wagâ—s 6. An incomparable Portion Thus Christ is 1. As to his Person 2. As to his personal excellency Now here take a Prospect or Taste of his 1. Love 2. Life 3. Kindness 4. Obedience 5. Humility 6. Sympathy 7. Mercifulness 8. Muteness 9. Meekness 10. Mindfulness DIRECT IV. Direct 4. Get thorough Grace Assarance of another Life after Death for there câ—n be no Assurance of this Life against Death Pag. 104. Quest 1. Is Assurance attainable in this Life Quest 2. What is this Assurance which is attainable in this Life Pag. 105. Quest 3. But why is Assurance attainable in this Life Pag. 108. Sol. In respect of 1. Precept 2. President 3. Promise Quest 4. But unto what is Assurance attributed which is attainable in this Life Pag. 109. Quest 5. But what course shall I steer for this Assurance which is attainable in this Life Pag. 110. Sol. 1. Be much in private Prayer 2. Watch at Wisdoms Gates 3. Study a greater Conformity to Christ 4. Make Christ the Object of thy Trust and live upon Grace in him 5. Converse those that are assured 6. Look unto the Spirit for Assarance Quest 6. But what Motives are there to endeavor this Assurance which is attainable in this Life Pag. 111. Sol. 1. Would ye not be staggering at the Promise 2. Would ye face Death under the severest complexion 3. Would ye be eminently spirited for the eminentest service 4. Would ye be ready and rigged for an eternity 5. Would ye find every bitter Cup sweetned 6. Would ye dwell in the Suburos of Heaven DIRECT V. Direct 5. Reflect those things that thorough Christ may sweeten the thoughts of Death Pag. 113. To this end reflect Death and the Promise 1. Death No Terror in it c. because 1. 'T is stingless 2. It cannot break the Covenant 3. Called a Sleep 4. A going to the Fathers 5. A Rest 6. It cannot break Vnion 2. The Promise as to its greatness and preciousness A threefold Promise 1. Civil 2. Religious 3. Divine Pag. 116. Divine Promises are greater than a Believers 1. Expressions 2. Conceptions 3. Wants 4. Weaknesses 5. Fears 6. Faith 7. Corruptions 8. As great as divine Commands 9. Greater than divine Threatnings 10. Like unto God himself What is great in God is laid under Promise Pag. 125. 1. His Power 2. His Presence 3. His Pardon 4. His Providence 5. His Spirit 6. Goodness 7. Faithfulness 8. Counsel 9. Conduct 10. Himself DIRECT VI. Direct 6. Drink of the Brook by the way and lift up thy head Pag. 132. Cordial 1. Thou shalt be no Loser but a Gainer by Death Death will be 1. An Out-let to Sin 2. An In-let to Glory Cordial 2. Death will scrip thee of thy Rags of Mortality Pag. 136 Cordial 3. Whether living or dying thou art Christs Cordia 4. Death will arrive and aâ—â—hor thee in a desirable and delectable 〈◊〉 and Haven Cordial 5. Death will and that at once gâ—ave aliâ—ny 1. Cares 2. Snares 3. Fears 4. Tears 5. Temptations 6. Tribulations Pag. 141. Cordial 6. Art actually in Christ Then thou art an Heir Pag. 143. Quest 1. But who are those that are Christs Sol. 1. Those who are so by eternal Douation 2. Those who are so by effectual Vocation Quest 2. But are those who are Christs Heirs Quest 3. But of what are these Heirs Sol. 1. They are Heirs of things present Pag. 145. Quest But what are these things present Heirs 1. Of Christ 2. Of the Grace of Christ 3. Of the Spirit of Christ 4. Of the Ministery of Christ As 1. Of Men. Pag. 148. 2. Of Angels Wherein 1. Their Nature 2. Qualities 3. Number 4. Place 5. Degrees 6. Office 5. Of the Righteousness of Christ Pag. 150. 6. Of God 7. Of Gospel-Priviledges As 1. Of Access 2. Audience 3. Assistance 4. Acceptance 8. Of Gospel-Promises Pag. 153 Quest What are the things laid under promise 1. Eternal Life 2. Pardon of Sin 3. Power against Sin 4. Purity of Soul 5. Peace of Conscience 6. Growth in Grace Pag. 155. 7. Perseverance in Grace 8. Supporting Grace 9. Supplying Grace Quest But what are these times of need Pag. 158. Sol. A time of 1. Poverty 2. Plenty 3. Debauchery 4. Tribulation 5. Temptation 6. Declension 7. Death 8. Danger 9. Dissertion 10. Duty Pag. 161. Thus whether ye respect 1. The Duty to be performed Or Pag. 164. 2. I differency of Spirit to perform the Duty Duty not be disputed For 1. Thy Safety is in a way of Duty 2. Thy Mercy is in a way of Duty Supply of Grace is laid under promise 1. For a time of action Pag. 165. 2. For a time of pâ—ssion Sol. 2. They are Heirs of things to come Quest But what are these things to come Sol. These shall be indulged hereafter 1. Perfect Knowledge 2. Perfect Vnity 3. Perfect Grace 4. Perfect Peace 5. Perfect Vision 1. Without Amission 2. Without Intermission 6. Perfect Freedom Thus Pag. 166. 170. 1. From Satanical Suggestion 2. From sinful Commanion 3. From sinful Corruption Cordial 7. Art actually in Christ Thou art on the best side On this side are 1. Holy Saints 2. Holy Angels 3. A holy God 4. A holy Christ. Pag. 173. 1. The strongest side 2. The soundest side 3. A prudent 4. A prevailing A fourfold Conquest hath Christ made 1. Over Sin 2. Satan 3. The Earth 4. Heaven Cordial 8. An interest in the Blood of Christ Pag. 175. Quest What manner of Blood is Christs Sol. 1. Precious 2. Pure 3. Purifying 4. Purchasing 5. Pardoning 6. Pleading 7. Procuring 8. Pacifying 9. Conquering 10. Crucifying 11. Softening 12. Qâ—ickening 13. Justiâ—ying 14. Invaluable His Blood is invaluable for he is the Pearl Quest But what manner of Pearl is Christ Pag. 182. Sol. 1. A necessary earl 2. A rare Pearl 3. A taking Pearl 4. A making Pearl For 1. He pays thy debts 2. He bears thy charges 5. An inestimable Pearl 6. An unlosable Pearl Cordial 9. Art actually in Christ Be joyous then for he is the object of thy
death of his Saints If a Christian of Christs making goes bleeding to Heaven or burning to Heaven if he lays down his Blood on this side the Grave this goes near the heart of God Art out of Christ Direct 3. tremble then for in a moment thou mayest die and be damned too They spend their time in mirth Job 21.13 Anxius vixi dubius morior Oh ens entium miserere mihi Sed c. Arist Job 18.14 Caryl in loc and in a momeut go down to the grave Death by the Philosopher is called of all formidable things the most terrible These were some of the last words of that great Philosopher I have lived anxiously I die doubtfully Oh Being of Beings have mercy upon me but now it is too late for me to call for mercy Death is called by Bildad the King of Terrors This is a very strange Title We have read of many Titles which have been given the Kings of the Earth as most Serene most Christian most Sacred c. but if at all rarely of such a Title as this King of Terrors For a man to be brought to the King of Terrors is for a man to be brought to death or to his last end The Philosopher in this sense called Death the King of Terrors when he called it the most terrible of terrible things Death is terrible upon a threefold consideration Antecedents Nature Consequents Death is terrible if we consider the Antecedents of it 2 King 4.18 19 20. The Forerunners or Harbingers of Death are Pains Diseases Sicknesses and these are terrible The Shunamites Son was taken sick when he was with the Reapers crying to his Father My Head my Head being carried home he sate on his Mothers knees until noon and then died Death is terrible if we consider the Nature of it Death Mors Sceptra Ligonibus aequa is a Disunion All Disunions are troublesom but some are terrible Death according to the Poet is the greatest Leveller in the world Death levels Scepters and Plow-shares it makes all alike The Disunion that Death makes between Husband and Wife is terrible but Death makes a Disunion between them that are nearer than Husband and Wife even between Soul and Body Eccl. 12.7 Husband and Wife are one flesh but Soul and Body are one person Then shall the Dust the Body return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit the Soul unto God Death is terrible if we reflect the consequents of it I have said to corruption thou art my Father Job 17.14 Nativitas mala Vita pejor mors pessima and to the Worm thou art my Mother and my Sister Now soul art out of Christ what is thy Death then like to be It may be said of a person living and dying out of Christ that his Birth is bad his Life is worse his Death is worst of all Some are so sick that they cannot live and yet so sinful that they cannot die their Cry is Oh Lord we cannot die Oh Lord we must not die O Lord we dare not die Oh Lord we will not die Rev. 9.6 We read of some that shall seek death but shall not find it and shall desire to die and death shall flee from them Others there are that Death seek but they would not be found and that Death desire to have but they flee from it A great person hearing the Verdict which the Physicians brought in against him that he must die cryed out Let me live though it be the Life of a Toad under a Threshold Art out of Christ tremble then and realize a state of Death Do not only read of Death but also realize Death Do not look upon Death as a Physical Notion and a Mathematical Conclusion be much in the reflection of this Text and Truth Luk. 16.22 23. It came to pass that the Beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom the Rich man also died and was buried and in Hell he lifted up his eyes being in torment Here is Death and Damnation too Thou mayest die and be damned too Art out of Christ go then to Christ Direct 4. in whose Death is the Death of Death To be Christless is to be Godless to be Graceless to be Gloryless go then to Christ Art in a state of Sin go then to Christ for Grace Art in a state of Darkness go then to Christ for Light Art in a state of Death go then to Christ for Life Art in a state of Damnation go then to Christ for Salvation Isa 53.3 Encline your ear and come unto me hear and your souls shall live Paul was a great Orator a great part of his Oratory was to perswade men to come to Christ and be saved He that winneth souls is wise Art Christless and Godless Graceless and Spiritless May not I say to thee with the Alteration of a word Acts 13.36 as was said to the stock of Abraham To thee is the word of this salvation sent But there is a Lion in the way an Adder in the path But what is this comming to Christ Quest 1. this going to Christ A comming Sol. Joh. 6.40 or going to Christ is a believing in Christ As Faith is the Souls Eye He that seeth the Son and believeth on him hath eternal life And as Faith is the Souls mouth Joh. 6.54 Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life And as Faith is the Souls Ear Joh. 5.24 He that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me And as Faith is the Souls Hand Joh. 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave he priviledge to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name So Faith is the Souls Foot Joh. 6.35 He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst But Quest 2. is there an indispensible Necessity of going to Christ for Salvation Can Salvation be had no where else Is he not only a Saviour but also the Saviour That Christ is a Saviour Sol. Luk. 2.11 is evident Vnto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. That Christ also is the Saviour is as evident Now we believe not because of thy words Joh. 4.42 for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world I remember the time when if I could have gone to Heaven by my Education Civility Forms of Prayer of mine own making or by my Fathers Copy I would not have made use of Christ but at last I found that there was Salvation in no other Act. 4.12 Isa 51.12 and sailing by the gates of Hell in my apprehension I also found that no Voice but the Voice of Christ would still the Voice of Desperation There is no Paradise without this Tree no Light without this Sun no God no
Tecelius the first part of Clark's Eccl. Hist p. 227. and a plural mercy It was Christ that said to the Palsical man Thy sins are forginen thee The Popes pardon is not worth a penny whatsoever that John thought who bringing Indulgences into Germany to be sold said that he had so large a Commission from the Pope that though a man had deflowred the blessed Virgin yet for money he could pardon his sin The pardon of sin is a great thing what would not a condemned Malefactor give for a pardon No voice but the voice of Christ will still the voice of Desperation It was Christ that said to the City-Sinner Thy sins are forgiven Luk. 7.48 The barbarous and murderous Papists say that a doubting of the pardon of sin is not an Infirmity but a Vertue But hath not doubting cost the soul dear Now Christ in a fourfold respect pardons sin Christ pardons sin in respect of his Deity Christ is God Mark 2.7 and therefore pardoneth Who can forgive sins but God only Christ pardons sin in respect of his Dignity Christ is exalted and therefore pardoneth Him hath God exalted with his right hand Act. 5.31 to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins There have been many Princes besides Christ but never was there a Saviour besides Christ that could give repentance and remission of sin Christ pardons sin in respect of his Mercy Men are doubting and drooping Prov. 18.14 desponding and despairing therefore Christ pardoneth A wounded spirit is an intollerable burden A wounded spirit who can bear Suffer Spira to speak The hand of God is out against me not for Correction but for Condemnation Let Bilney and Glover also speak if Desertion be not a Hell within Christ pardons sin in respect of his Merit He did yea died therefore pardoneth Make no mixtures of the blood of Hales and Becket with the blood of Christ though they by Italy were canonized for Saints Every forgiven soul may say my Merit is the Mercy of my God The Apostle speaking of Christ saith Rom. 6.10 11. D. Mocr upon the 7 Epist to the 7 Churches p. 129. In that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Likewise reckon ye your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The payment of popish Merits is not current but copper Coin which will not go in Heaven but will certainly be turned back to Hell again The Sacerdotal Absolution saith one among the Papists is the most hideous the most dangerous and the most perfidious Cheat of Rome that ever she could light on in order to the damning of poor credulous souls that thus superstitiously depend upon the vain Breath of their Priests for the security of their salvation There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Light A dark state is a dismal state Mal. 4.2 a dungeon state is a dreadfull state If Christ the Sun of Righteousness do not shine in our Horizon we are in the dark yea we are darkness 〈◊〉 self in the very Abstract For ye sometimes were darkness Eph. 5.8 but now are ye light in the Lord walk as children of light There was darkness upon the face of the whole earth until God said Let there be light Gen. 1.3 Now that the Habit should come out of the Privation Light out of Darkness Life out of Death Joy out of Sorrow Peace out of Trouble these are the wonderful works of God Christ calls himself the Light of Life Joh. 8.12 He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life As the firmamental Sun is the worlds light so Christ is the Churches light As the Eye is the light of the Body so Christ is the light of the Soul Oh Soul under all thy doubts and darkness Isa 50.10 when there is the greatest Film upon thine eye when thou art in darkness and hast no light then thou hast a Christ to go unto in whom there is a fulness of light for His. Did a Job say I was eyes to the blind feet was I also to the lame What may a Jesus then say There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Love The Love of Christ that is a sweet Monosyllable indeed that is a sweet morsel indeed 2 Cor. 5.21 Love that is a sweet Dish indeed Did I say a Dish indeed I may say a Feast indeed Did ever one live as Christ lived for he lived and sinned not Did ever any one love as Christ loved for he loved Rev. 1.5 and washed from sin in the blood of himself Christ loved His as he loved Himself yea he seemed to love His above Himself for he loved them and out of love gave himself to death for them Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Christs feet were washed with Marys tears such was her love to Him but Marys heart was washed with Christs blood such was his love to Her Who loved us and washed us from our sins in the blood of himself Gen 44.30 2 Sam. 18.33 2 Sam. 1.26 There have been great Lovers in the world what a love had Jacob for Benjamin Kill the Son and the same grave may serve for the Father What a love had David for Absalom The Father would have a pillow of Lust that the Son might have a pillow of Down What a love had Jonathan for David Thy love to me was wonderful passing the love of women But what 〈◊〉 a Feather to a Mountain what is a Spark to the Furnace what is a Drop to the Ocean such is the love of Man to the love of God-man Christ infinitely out-bids all Psal 30.5 Chajim Psal 63.3 out-vies all In his favour is life yea lifes so the Hebrew Because thy loving-kindness is better than life than lifes so the Hebrew Christs Looks were Loves his Life was a life of Love Was he not born into the world rather to love than to live There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Wisdom Satan is subtle The children of this world are wiser in their generation Luk. 16.8 2 Sam. 15.31 than the children of light but Christ is â—iser than all wisest of all He can turn their wisdom into folly and out-shoot them in their own Bow The Wisdom that man hath is a poor pittance a poor moity but in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2.3 1 King 4.31 2 Sam. 14.20 1 Cor. 1.24 Châ—chmot Prov. 9.1 Soloman was a Sage in his day He was wisâ—r than all men David according to the womans judgment was wise as an Angel of God But Chrâ—st is wise as God yea he is the Wisdom of God yea he is the God of Wisdom Wisdom Wisdoms so the Hebrew hath builded her house Christ the supream
Wisdom the Wisdom of God yea the God of Wisdom hath builded her house prepared him a Church he hath hewn out his seven pillars Patriarchs Prophets Seers Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teaâ—hers or by seven may be understood the manifold gifts of the Spirit for it is ordinary in Scripture to take seven for a perfect number Pro. 8.14 for a number of perfection Is not that a lofty as well as a lovely strain when Christ thus speaks of himself Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom I am Vnderstanding I have strength Oh Soul though the best and wisest of men have too little of that wisdom from above which is first pure Jam. 3.17 and then peaceable yet there is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Wisdom There is in Christ for those that are Christs a fulness of Righteousness He is stiled Jesus Christ the righteous Little children 1 Joh. 2.1 I write unto you that ye sin not Whatsoever ye do or suffer do not sin ye had better be sick than sinning better be suffering than sinning better be dying than sinning better be dying for a Christ or dying in a Christ than sinning against a Christ Little children I write unto you that ye sin not but if any one sin so the Greek whether Jew or Gentile whether man or woman Tis. We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous Christ is not only righteous but also Righteousness Jer. 23.6 In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our righteousness There is in Christ a twofold Righteousness imputed and imparted an imputed righteousness in order to Justification an imparted righteousness in order to Sanctification Both these are together legible Who is made of God unto us wisdom 1 Cor. 1.30 righteousness sanctification and redemption That there is a fulness of righteousness in Christ is evident because he fully answèred what the Law could challenge of those that are His now the Law required of these a threefold righteousness habitual practical passive Habitual that is a Conformity of our Natures to the Holiness of the Law Now this was found in Christ in whom there is a fulness for his 1 Pet. 1.19 He was a Lamb without blemish and without spot Christ was free from all sin without blemish and spot without original and actual sin he was sound within and without Practical a Conformity of our Wills to the Edicts of the Law This also was found in Christ. There was not the least Aberration in his works words Joh. 14.30 or thoughts The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me Christ had no Corruption that might be sewel to his Temptation though tempted unto sin yet was he not tempted into sin Passive a Conformity of our sufferings to the Threats and Curses of the Law This also was found in Christ in whom there is a fulness for His. But what did the Law threaten Quest. Sol. The Law threatned a privation of Comfort and an instiction of Torment A privation of Comfort This answers to our omission of good Time was when Christ was deprived of that Comfort and Influence Mark 15.34 which at other times he had from the Deity so far as to cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me An infliction of Torment This answers to our commission of evil Luke 22.44 This also was found in Christ in whom there is a sulness for His. Time was when Christ lay under torment and sense of wrath which caused him to sweat water and blood Thus is the Law exactly answered by the fulness of Christs righteousness CHAP. II. To the Soul in Christ. ART in Christ prepare then through Christ for the first Death Directions It is a solemn work to die we had need therefore prepare to do that work well which is but once to be done In this world we pray often and preach often and hear often in this world we meditate and mourn often discourse and dispute often yea which is worse than all in this world we sin often but we shall die but once Caesar Borgia I have read of one who being sick unto death said when I lived I prepared for every thing but Death now I must die and am unprepared for Death It is our prudence to die well because we can die but once A man had need to do that wisely which he can do but once An error in Death is like an error in War ye cannot commit it twice All the time we live is but a passage unto Death and therefore should be a preparation for Death It is said of David 1 Chron. 22.5 that before his death he prepared abundantly for the house of the Lord. It is the Duty and Dignity the Prudence and Property of those who are actually Christs before their death to prepare abundantly for their death What is true of Judgment is true of Death Amos 4.12 Not Vi Armis but this is true of Judgment Prepare to meet thy God oh Israel The Israel of God is to meet the God of Israel in the way of his righteous Judgments by Prayers and Tears not by Sword and Spears Heart-work is hard work and yet this is imposed 1 Sam. 7.3 Prepare your hearts unto the Lord and he will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines Ezek. 18.31 Ezek. 36.26 God impose upon man the making of a new heart and he might as well have imposed upon him the making of a new Heaven but what God impose upon man in one place he promise to do for man in another place Make ye a new heart Pro. 16.1 A new heart will I give them God impose upon man the preparation of the heart when the preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. But what course shall I now steer Quest. and by what compass shall I now sail that I may prepare for Death Make through Christ Mortality thy Meditation Sol. 1. Meditate death Bern. be much in the Meditation of Mortality Nothing saith one so revokes from sin as a daily Meditation of Death The Heathen could say that the whole life of man should be nothing else but a Meditation of Death One presented Antipater King of Macedon with a Book treating of Happiness but his answer was I have no leisure to read it Days of Grace have their Dates take heed therefore of saying to morrouâ— to morrow As a man must not say to Christ so a man must not say to Death as a penurious and parcimonious man say to an indigent person come to morrow Sine mora Heb. 4.7 Diem perdidi Vespatian Mané I am not at leisure now Without delay was the Motto of Alexander the Great To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts The present time
a way of mercy and thus it had in a way of Judgment Thus it had in a way of Mercy Elijah prayed and the Fire of the Lord fell 1 King 18.37 38. and consumed the burnt-sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench Thus also it had 〈◊〉 way of Judgment Elijah also prayed and fire came down from Heaven 2 King 1.10 11 12. consuming the two first Captains of fifties with their fifties Over the Earth Moses prayed and the earth opened swallowing up Korath Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.31 32. with all that appertained unto them Over the Water Moses also prayed and the Sea divided The Sea was made dry land Exod. 14.16 21. and the waters were divided Thus to the Elements Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the Prision Acts 12.4 5.7.10 When Peter was immured within Prison walls prayer without ceasing was made by the Church unto God for him so that his chains fell off and the Iron Gate opened of its own accord Prayer through Christ had an Influence and Command over the great Luminaries the Sun Josh 10.12 13. and the Moon Joshua prayed Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon and they did so Prayer had an Influence upon Christ The Centurions prayer engaged Christ to heal his Servant Mat. 8.6 7 8 13. I will come and heal him But the Centurions faith occasioned Christs staying to heal his Servant without going Speak the word only and my Servant shall be healed Thou art God and needest not to go do but send yea do but speak speak the word only A word from a God will reach him and raise him Jesus said unto the Centurion go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee and his Servant was healed in the self same hour Gen. 32.28 What an Influence upon Christ had the prayer of Jacob Thy name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel why for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed Jacob had power with God for he had power with Christ who is the Angel here and who is God manifested in the flesh He had also power with men for he had power with his Uncle Laban and his Brother Esau Prayer through Christ hath an Influence upon God himself the God of Gods Pure prayer will as it were fetch a God out of Heaven Act. 7.34 I have Jeen I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Aegypt and I have heard thâ—â—â— groaning and am come down to deliver them I have seen I have seen i. e. I have surely seen But what had God to see nothing but their Affliction Gospel-prayer hath as it were a shadow of Omnipotency instamped upon it Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons Isa 45.11 and concerning the work of my hands command ye me Though men cannot command the least thing of God yet upon the Entreaty of his people he is as ready to do as if he were at their command Command ye me If ye come unto me under this Notion that ye are my Sons and the work of my hands there is a Law upon me I cannot deny you Command ye me Oh what infinite Condescension is here As if God had said No Servant shall be so ready to serve his Master or Son to serve his Father as I will be ready to serve you it is but asking and having Command ye me Would ye prepare for Death Then through Christ imbitter sin Sin is a bitter thing and it will be bitterness in the End Ier. 2.19 Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord they God and that his fear is not in thee Evil and bitter evil in it self and bitter in its Issue Though sin should seem sweet in the palate stollen waters are sweet yet it is bitter in its Issue yea bitterness in the End May not I write concerning Sin 2 Sam. 2.26 as Abner spake to Joab concerning the Sword Shall the Sword devour for ever Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end Iniquity is grown from a Mist to a Mystery from Ignorance to Arrogance from Nescience to Negligence as if too much light had made men blind Sin is a Cup of poison drink not of this Cup. Look upon Sin as a Monster as a Mountebank look upon it as Deformity it self as Defilement it self I believe that Monk was very much out Isidore who vaunted that he had felt in himself no motion to sin forty years together If this be true then Sin and his Heart were great Strangers But I rather think that he was a great Seranger to his own Heart If ye would prepare for Death ye must through Christ imbitter Sin Pro. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Then God remembers Sin against a Person or against a People when he leaves that Person or that People without the remembrance of Sin Ah! what is yea what is not that Sin which had not a Being from God which cannot have a Being with God which also striketh at the Being of God But candidly suffer a distinct discussion of these things Sin had not a Being from God Sin is a mans own his own Birth his own Babe his own Brat Psa 94.23 He shall bring upon them their own iniquity and shall cut them off in their own wickedness Though Satan be the Father of Temptation yet the Heart is the Mother of Corruption Jam. 1.14 Posse peccare posse nòn peccare non posse non peccare Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and entised As there is Original Sin so there is the Original of Sin which may be a Possibility of Sinning a Potentiality to Sin There was a Possibility of Sinning and this was in a Paradisical state The woman gave unto me and I did eat There is a Possibilty of not Sinning and this is in a Spiritual state In all this Job sinned not Gen. 3.12 Job 1.22 There is an Impossibility of sinning and this is in a Coelestial state Those arrived at Heaven are arrived at perfection The Sprits of just men made perfect Every Man Heb. 12.23 and Woman may say to his or her Sin thou art mine and shall not this be imbittered Sin cannot have a Being with God There is no Sinner in Heaven no Sinning in Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 no Sin in Heaven The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God The unrighteous as unrighteous the ünrighttous in a state of unrighteousness shall not inher it the Kingdom of God Heaven is sinless and all there are sinless As is the Place so are the People as is the City so are the Citizens sinless Sin also striketh
at the Being of God Sin would not only un-saint a Saint Psa 137.7 but also unchrist a Christ if it were possible Remember Oh Lord the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said rase it rase it even to the Foundation thereof As it is true in a Physical so in a Metaphysical sense what would not Sinners do against the Fabrick and the Foundation too against the Christian and Christ too Sin would un-god a God if it were possible Is not this the Dialect of Sinners Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us Isa 30.11 If now we would prepare for death we must then imbitter Sin and if we would imbitter Sin we must then look upon Sin as a cursed Inmate and as a cursed Makebate Would ye imbitter Sin Look then upon Sin as a cursed Inmate Rom. 7.17 20. Reliquiae peccati Though Sin had not a Being from God yet it hath a Being in Man But Sin that dwelleth in me Though Sin for a Believer be perfectly covered yet Sin in a Believer is not perfectly cured there are still the remainders of Sin within which must be mourned over and turned from Would ye imbitter Sin Look also upon Sin as a cursed Makebate It is so between God and Man between Man and Man between Man and Himself Sin is a Makebate between God and Man God and Man at first were One but Sin hath made these Two Sin hath set God at an infinite distance from Man and Man at an infinite distance from God Isa 59.2 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear Sin is a Makebate between Man and Man There was War between Jeroboam and Rehoboam all their daies From whence come all those animosities differences discords and distances among Men come they not from their Sin As Sin is the Makebate between the Men of the World Benhadad and Ahab were two 1 Kings 20.1 2. 1 Joh. 3.12 And as Sin is the Makebate between the Wicked and the Righteous Cain rose up against his brother Abel and slew him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous So Sin is the Makebate between the righteous themselves From whence come Wars and fightings among you Jam. 4.1 come they not hence even of your lusts which war in your members Sin is a Makebate between Man and Himself None can Sin at a cheap rate How dear do the dead who died out of Christ pay for Sin The damned pay dear for Sin How dear have Sin cost the living Yea those who had Christ for their Life witness Bilney Glover and Spira who for a time upon Earth were like living men in Hell Psal 6.6 Margent May David though dead speak I am weary of my groaning all the night or every night make I my bed to swim I water my couch with my teares Oh the fears and tears that Sin hath cost Psal 38.3 I have no soundness in my flesh why because of thine anger neither have I any peace for my bones why because of my Sin Oh the sorrows and sufferings the Tryals and Troubles that Sin hath cost Oh the wearisome Daies and Nights the Pains of Body and Pangs of Soul that Sin hath cost If now we would prepare for death we must imbitter this Sin which is such an Inmate and Makebate Would ye prepare for Death Endear then Grace and Glory Eternal life is made up of Grace and Glory but to these distinctly Endear through Christ Grace Grace is not a Pebble but a Pearl Oh set a greater Estimate upon Grace Lay up and lock up this Pearl in thy Cabinet for it is of great price The Toyaz of Ethiopia and the Riches of both the Indies are but a Pebble to this Pearl Grace in God Yea Grace from God is a Pearl Grace entitles Glory Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12.14 Joh. 4.14 Grace entails Glory The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life One dram of Grace is worth a world a thousand worlds tenthousand worlds if there were so many Grace is of such worth as that it cannot be valued to its worth Grace will go into Glory when Time goes into Eternity and is not this to be endeared If there be any Discourse in Heaven as there is upon Earth it is a discourse of free-grace not of free-will The two Poles will as soon meet as free-will and free-grace in the justification of a Sinner before God Grace is so pure that there is no sin in it As there is no Grace in Sin so there is no Sin in Grace The Heart that is the Soil Grace 1 Pet. 1.23 that is the Seed and this is incorruptible And as Grace from God is so pure that there is no Sin in it so Grace in God is so precious that the stress of salvation is laid upon it By grace ye are saved Is not this a blessed Parenthesis without which we cannot be blessed The whole Alphabet of Salvation from the Alpha to the Omega thereof is legible in free-grace By grace ye are saved The bottom-stone Gratia nòn est gratia ullo modo nisi sit gratuita omni modo Aug. 1 Cor. 15.10 coner-stone and top-stone of Salvation they are all laid in free-grace It is Grace saith one no way unless free every way Every step in Salvation from the Cell of Nature to the Chair in Glory is of free-grace now shall not this grace be endeared By the grace of God I am that I am By Sin I was what I was but by Grace I am that I am I am what I am May it not now be the wonder of the world if those who are gracious should not be found endearing of Grace Endear through Christ Glory As the more ye endear Grace so the more ye endear Glory the more ye prepare for Death The Life of Glory is the grace of Life Greenham There is saith one a huge and heavy weight of Glory Glory from God is the Object of Hope and Glory with God is the Object of Hope Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began As the Person of Christ is the Object of Faith Rom. 3.26 Col. 1.4 That he might be just and the justifier of him that believ thin Jesus And as persons in Christ are the Objects of Love Since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the Saints Rom. 5.2 So Heaven is the Object of Hope And rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God In hope of eternal life now eternal life is made up of Grace and Glory Life would be little better than Hell were it not for the hopes of Heaven I had rather saith one enjoy Christ in a Chimney-corner Bernard than to be in
able to secure his for an eternity Those that thou hast given me have I kept and none of them are lost Christ the Rock of His secures two waies Vnder Danger Peter was in great danger of drowning but Christ secured him and kept his Head above water Dan. 6.22 Daniel was in great Danger when cast into the Den of Lions to take up his Quarters but Christ secured him there stopping the mouths of the Lions From Danger To be delivered in the Fire is a mercy but to be delivered from the Fire looks like a greater mercy Psa 59.10 To be delivered when down of the Plague is a mercy but to be delivered from falling down of the Plague looks like a greater mercy The God of my mercy shall prevent me Christ is a durable Rock Material Rocks they are durable Job 19.24 Rom. 6.9 Job wisheth that his words were graven with an Iron Pen and Lead in the Rock for ever Thus Christ the Rock of His is a durable Rock Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him Now Christ is a durable Rock in respect of his Life and Love In respect of his Life Once dying he ever died In that he died Rom. 6.10 he died unto Sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God In respect of his Love As once dying he ever liveth Joh. 13.1 So once loving he ever loveth Having loved his own which were in the World he loved them unto the End Fear not Death for Christ is Thine and he is a Portion Christ is the Portion of a Christan that Jehovah is is evident that Christ is Jehovah is as evident That Jehovah is the Portion of a Christian is evident Thou art my Portion Jehovah Psa 119.57 I have said that I would keep thy words Jehovah is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him The Gold and Silver which I had in my House Lam. 3.24 are gone into Captivity but my Gold and Silver in Heaven are not gone into Captivity Jehovah is my Portion still They who have Jehovah for their Gold and Silver are happier and richer than Good and Silver can make them Jehovah is my Portion saith my Soul That Christ is Jehovah is as evident Jehovah is my Shepherd I shall not want Psa 23.1 Shall the Sheep want so long as the Shepherd hath it In his daies Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely Jer. 23.6 and this is the name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness Christ is Jehovah and so the Portion of a Christian But what manner of Portion is Christ Quest Sol. Though this be a good Task yet this is a great Task a Task too great for me but though I cannot sound this Bottom yet suffer me to let down my Line Christ is a necessary Portion Martha say Christ One thing is needful But what is this One thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the written Word So Ambrose Calvin Chrysistom But what is the Word without the Spirit Luke 10.42 without Christ it is but as the Instrument without the Hand If this one thing be not Christ I am sure it is not without Christ But what of this one thing It is needful There is Need or Necessity of one thing So the Greek Not benè esse but esse There is One thing not onely needful and useful but also needful above all things useful above all things and that not only to the well-being but also to the very Being of a Christian A Man or a Woman cannot be a Christian without it be satisfied without it be sanctified without it be saved without it Are there not many things without which a person may be and yet live well and do well die well but if this person be without Christ and the Grace of Christ and the Spirit of Christ and the Gospel of Christ he cannot live well and do well and die well but perisheth for ever is undone for ever is damned for ever Tria sunt omnia Vnum est necessarium It hath been said Three things are All things but here One thing is All things There is a necessity of One thing God at first gave ten Commandments but lest these should be too many for Mans Memory Christ reduces them to Two Love to God and our neighbour Yea here All is reduced to One There is a Necessity of One thing 1 John 5.11 Christ perfectly knew mans Memory to be predigiously treacherous and therefore reduceth All to One There is need of One thing Now certainly if this One thing be not Christ yet it cannot be without him For this is the record c. and this life is in his Son There is an indispensible Necessity of him as a portion in a two-fold respect to suffer All for Thee to do All in Thee To suffer All for Thee Oh says the Soul I cannot satisfie Divine Justice God is angry with sinners every day I cannot appease Divine Wrath What are thousands of Rams and ten thousands of Rivers of Oil Can I give my first-born for mine iniquity or the seed of my Body for the sin of my Soul No Soul thou canst not satisfie for one Sin but Christ can satisfie for All hath satisfied for All He hath paid thy Debt if thou beest his and not left thee a penny to pay in a way of merit John 19.30 but in a way of duty It was Christ that said it and God heard him when he spake it It is finished As Christ is a Christians Lord and Law-giver so he is a Christians Soveraign and Surety To do All in Thee Oh says the Soul as I am nothing so I can do nothing Oh I cannot serve Christ as I should serve Christ as I would Oh I cannot Ark in a Christ as I should nor Anchor upon a Christ as I would The Velle as well as the posse what though I have the Habit of Grace what shall I do for the Act of Grace Soul Christ is Actor as well as Author of Grace When the Apostle imposed a working out of Salvation he might as well have imposed the making a new Heaven and a new Earth Phil. 2.12 13. but this is subjoyned It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do Christ is God Now the Desire as well as the Deed is from Christ Christ is a Soul-portion The Body is but as the Cabinet the Soul is the Jewel What is the Body without the Soul it is loveless and lifeless What is the Body without the Soul it is at best but an imbalmed Carcass that no Spectator is taken with Now as the Soul is the Life of the Body for the Body without the Soul is dead so Christ Jam. 2.26 is the Life of the Soul Because I live ye shall live also The Life of Saints is not in their private
nothing yea so poor that he had bankrupted himself and was worse than nothing then Christ became his Portion When man by his sin had stripped himself naked and to cover his nakedness had Fig-leaves upon his Loins then Christ became his Portion Rom. 5.6 8. In due time Christ died for the ungodly While we were yet sinners Christ died for us Ah! what a poor pittance a Christless soul hath though he hath a Kingdom before him an Empire before him Who for the most part have been the Princes and Petentates of the warld the Dons and Emperours of the world but the Nero's and Nebuchadnezzars of the world the Pharoahs and Pilates of the world Had a man as many Kingdoms yea could a man have as many worlds Esth 1.1 as Ahasuerus had Provinces who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 Provinces yet if without Christ he would be but a Beggar be but a Bankrupt Is not Christ then a seasonable Portion But consider the season of this Portion under a two-fold notion in reference to the work and in reference to the wages In reference to the work Sin was the work now this was a desperate work a dangerous work a damnable work Sin is a darkning of the Glory of God a defacing of the Image of God a murdering of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God and a wronging of the Soul of man Is not Christ now a seasonable Portion Adam says God hast thou eaten of the Tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat Gen. 3.11.12 And then the man said the woman which thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the Tree and I did eat Here is the work and that is sin now sinful work is sad work In reference to the wages Sin was the work Death was the wages In the day thou eatest thereof Rom. 6◠23 dying thou shalt dye The wages of sin is death All manner of deaths the first and the second death Sin pays all its servants in black money Christ is an incomparable Portion To whom will ye liken Christ Is he not without compare Was Absalom a Beauty without compare among the Sons of David Certainly Christ is among the Sons of God Absalom was a Beauty in Body but a Black in Soul Christ was a Beauty without a Spot a Substance without a Shadow an Ocean of Sweet without a Drop of Gall. Jer. 10.16 The portion of Jacob is not like them Was it ever said of any one but that only One Christ Jesus that he was all Desires But so Can. 5.16 Ainsworth Psa 86.8 Christ is His palate sweetnesses yea he is all Desires Among the Gods there are none like unto thee Jehovah neither are there any Works like unto thy works Take now a prospect of the Incomparableness of Christ in a twofold respect his Person and his personal Excellency Christ is an incomparable portion in respect of his person Christ was God and Man and herein he was without compare Now this person of his as God-man is the Object of Faith Joh. 8.24 If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins If ye believe not that I am God as well as man ye shall die in your sins and be damned for your sins Christ is an incomparable Portion in respect of his personal Excellency As the person of Christ is the Object of Faith so the personal Excellency of Christ is the Object of Love Soul do but look upon Christ and thou canst not but love him such are his personal Excellencies Suffer a Tast by way of Instance Reflect his Love Did ever any one love as Christ loved He loved his enemies 1 Pet. 3.18 and for those was bled to Death by whom he was bled to Death He suffered for sins the just for the unjust Inspect his Life His Life was a mirrour of Holiness As he is a principle in His so he is a president for His. Heb. 4.15 No blot in his Scutcheon Sin in his Soul In all points tempted like us yet without sin Though Christ was tempted unto sin not into sin Reflect his Kindness Was ever any one so kind as Christ was Luke 8.26 27. he sets sail for the City of Gadara to dispossess one man at most two men possessed with Devils and that dwelt in Tombs Luke mentions but one man Mat. 8.28 and Matthew mentions two men possessed with Devils coming out of the Tombs Inspect his Obedience He fulfilled to a punctilio the whole will of God Jon. 17.4 I have finished the work which thou gavest me t◠do Christ fulfilleth the Righteousness of the Law for His and fulfilleth the Righteousness of the Gospel in His. Reflect his Humility Was every any one so humble as Christ was Joh. 13.5 He left his Fathers bosom for his Mothers womb a Throne for a Manger Heaven for Earth Quericus Leigh in Loc. He washed his Disciples feet not their head but their feét One upon a consideration of this example cried thou hast overcome me oh Lord thou hast overcome my pride this example hath mastered me Inspect his Sympathy How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah Hos 11.8 how shall I set thee as Zeboim mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together When Christ strikes His every stroak goes as it were to his own Heart when he is about to strike he is as it were unresolved whether he shall strike or no and when he hath stricken he doth as it were repent that ever he did strike Do not all these motions of Gods Heart appear in the highest strains of passionate Rhetorick Reflect his Mercifulness Was ever any one so merciful as Christ Luke 10.30 31 32 c. witness the man that sell among Thieves between Jericho and Jerusalem the Priest and the Levite passed by but the Samaritan had mercy Inspect his Muteness Was ever any one so mute as Christ was Isa 53.7 He was brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before the Shearers is dumb so opened he not his mouth Reflect his Meekness Moses was not to compare with Christ for Meekness Say we not well Joh. 8.48 49. that thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devil Jesus answered I have not a Devil but I honour my Father and ye do dishonour me Is not his Meekness a Mirror Inspect his Mindfulness Was every any one so mindful as Christ was Go tell the Disciples Mar. 16.7 and Peter Be sure ye tell Peter Peter hath been sining and may now be unbelieving tell the Disciples and Peter Peter hath been denying and now may be doubting be sure therefore ye tell Peter Peter hath been denying before the Crucifixion and may now be hesitating about the Resurrection Go tell the Disciples and Peter DIRECT IV. ART actually in Christ Direct 4. get
but also for ever gone I am left by a God and it is better to be left by all the world than to be left by God But Soul there is that laid and lodged in the Promise that will weigh down this Fear Is there such another Promise which according to the Greek for there are five Negatives in it may be read thus For he hath said I will not Heb. 13.5 not leave thee I will never not not forsake thee May not now the preciousness of the Promise be read in the geatness of it Divine Promises they are greater than a Believers Faith Faith if I may so write is mighty and can do mighty things What cannot Faith do Faith can do more than Force As it is true to believe is very difficult it is as true unto him that believeth all things are possible Heb. 11.30 33 34 35 36 37. Read but that Scriptural Martyrology which is the Book Martyrs epitomized and there you may find the noble Acts of Faith It is Faith that overcometh the world This is the victory that overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5.4 even our Faith Yea it is Faith that maketh a Conquest upon the God of this world Resist the Devil Jam. 4.7 and he will flee from you But how shall he be resisted In the Faith Whom resist stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.9 Oh the mighty power of Faith But I dare assert that you are not to take the Act of Faith without Christ the Object of Faith What can the Instrument do without the Hand Indeed the Faith of Believers can do much but Faith can do nothing unless it be laid in the Bosom and Bowels of the Promise Abrahams Faith was exceeding great He was very gray and so was his Consort but what made his Faith so strong He had the promise of a strong God and this gave strength to his Faith He staggered not at the promiso through unbelief Rom. 4.19 20 21. but was strong in Faith giving glory to God And being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform Is there not now a greatness in the Promise and is not the preciousness of it legible in the greatness of it Divine Promises they are greater than a Believers Corruptions Consider the evil of Sin and that will appear to be exceeding great Sin hath Evil all Evil and nothing but Evil in it Sin is only evil altogether evil alway evil Rom. 7.13 That sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinful or that Sin by the Commandment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might become hyperbolically sinful or that Sin by the Commandment might become a Sinner to a wonder a Sinner above wonder beyond comparison Sin is a darkening of the Glory of God a defacing of the Image of God a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God and a wroâ—ging of the Soul of man There is Evil enough in Sin to undo all the world Is not Sin the cry of the damned in Hell and should not Sin be the cry of the dead upon Earth Is there not a world of Sin within Thee and within Me yea a world of Sin within Thee and within Me not yet seen by Thee and by Me Now though Sin be so great an Evil that nothing is so great yet the Greatness and Goodness of God wrapped up in the Promise Isa 1.18 is greater than Sin Though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be white as Snow and though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll This Promise is great and precious as well as great Divine Promises they are as great as divine Commands The Commands of God are great exceeding great Acts 16.31 Is not Faith a great Command Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Spira sound it so who said Ye call upon me to believe I tell you I cannot believe Oh! how fain would I believe but I cannot It is as possible to keep the Moral Law as to believe for it is natural to work for Life but supernatural to believe for Life Faith is a great work Joh. 6.29 but now he that wills it works it This is the work of God that ye believe in him whom he hath sent Faith is the work the work that God esteemeth in stead of all works But Faith is not only a work so esteemed by God Col. 2.12 but it is also the work of God It is called a Faith of the Operation of God God commands the making of a new heart and a new spirit and might he not as well have commanded the making of a new Heaven Ezek. 18.31 and a new Earth Make ye a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die oh house of Israel But what God commands his to do in one place he promiseth to do for his in another place Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them I will give you Legs and lead you too I will habituate the Soul with Grace and actuate Grace in the Soul and for the Soul As the Habit so the Act of Grace shall be from me May not now the preciousness of the Promise be read in the greatness of it Divine Promises are as great if not greater than Divine Threatnings Hath God threatned the Vnbeliever with Darkness and Death He hath promised to the Believer light and life Rom. 5.21 Hath God threatned the Vnbeliever with Damnation he hath promised unto the Believer Salvation Doth Sin reign unto Death the second Death Grace reigns thorough righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Is the wages of Sin Death the first and the second Death all manner of Deaths the portion of a Christless Soul is nothing else but Death Rom. 6.23 Exod. 20.5 6. his whole estate lies in the valley of the shadow of death But now though the stipend of sin be death yet the gift of God is eternal life thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Hath God visited Iniquity to the third and fourth Generation He sheweth mercy unto thousands of Generations May not now the preciousness of the Promise be read in the greatness of it Jer. 10.6 Divine Promises they are like unto God Himself God is great exceeding great There is none like unto thee Jehovah thou art great and thy name is great in might Now whatever is great in God he hath made it over by promise unto Believers Take a Taste His Power The Lord can do whatsoever he will though he will not dâ— whatsoever he can His Power hath no Patent but â—s Pleasure Power belongeth to God God is as much acted in making a Flie as in making an Elephant The Power of God is greater than the power of Sin Nah. 1.3 than the power of Men than the power
lay down their Blood on this side the Grave But I rather understand it with others which dye in the Lord in the Faith of the Lord Jesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 11.13 for the One is blessed as well as the Other All these dyed in Faith According to Faith so the Greek that is these dyed in the Faith of the Person of Christ that was to come but Believers now dye in the Faith of the Person of Christ that did come that had his Veins breathed and his Vitals let out upon the Cross The Blessing pronounced upon these described persons Those that dye in the Faith of Christ are blessed The timing of this pronounced Blessing upon these described persons From henceforth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From this time so the Greek The Soul of a person living and dying in a Christ goeth not to Purgatory but to Glory when Time goes in to Eternity Luk. 23.43 To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise and that Paradise the Heaven of Heavens The infallible Testimony concerning the blessedness pronounced upon these described persons From this time yea saith the Spirit The Amplification of it That they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Now this Amplification falls under a twofold Notion Rest and Reward to these distinctly Rest That they may rest from their labours That they may rest from the labour of their particular Callings from their Afflictions and Persecutions from their Sins and Sorrows from their Temptations and Tribulations from their Distresses and Desertions The Grave is the House and Bed of the Body to all that dye Heaven is the Rest and House of the Soul to all those who dye in the Lord. Psal 19.11 Saints here have a Rest in their labours in the keeping of them there is great reward but Saints hereafter shall have a Rest from their labours that they may rest from their labours Reward And their works do follow them Not in a way of Debt but in a way of Grace not in a way of Merit but in a way of Mercy Their works follow them go with them for the words saith one well weighed sound so Leigh in loc Works here are put metonimically for the wages and reward of their works which reward is not in a way of merit but in a way of mercy Every one shall receive according to what he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 They shall follow their works no more who are followed by their works And their works do follow them Not in kind the very same individual works which they have done here follow them not for they are transient Acts and have no subsistency but the Blessing which lie in the promise for such works when Believers die their works follow them thorough free-grace in glorious rewards when Vnbelievers dye their works follow them thorough divine Justice in everlasting torments Mariners carry Glasses of Spirits along with them in their dangerous and difficult Voyages Art actually in Christ Then the Cross is the way to the Crown and the Wilderness is the way to Canaan thou art for ought I see going back into the Wilderness take therefore these comfortable Cordials along with thee in thy progress to the Holy Land Art astually in Christ Cordial I. Phi. 1.21 Triumph then for thou shalt be no loser but a gainer by Death To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain A Soul in Christ is a great gainer by Death but a Soul out of Christ is a great loser by Death he loseth these lesser and lower things we brought nothing into this world and it is as certain we can carry nothing out this man loseth his company a carnal and a cursed crew a drinking and a damning crew this man takes leave of all his Relations at once Father and Mother Wife and Children yea this man living and dying out of Christ loseth his Soul Matth. 16.26 and that is a considerable loss an universal loss an irreparable loss a kind of an infinite loss for it is the loss of an infinite God and this God a God of infinite love Saul dying lost his Kingdom and I fear his Soul too Hered dying lost his Crown and I fear his Soul too But now a Soul living and dying in Christ is a greater Gainer than Loser by Death for Death will be an Out-let to Sin and an In-let to Glory Art actually in Christ Then Death will be an Out-let to Sin Sin is a fatal Monosyllable As Grace is the best so Sin is the worst Monosyllable as Love is the best so Lust is the worst Monosyllable now will it be any loss but a gain to lose sin where is the Soul that would keep it who knows that every thing less than Hell is less than Sin A Soul living and dying in Christ leaves his Bags Rom. 6.7 and his Barns his Friends and Relations but he leaves his Sins also which is a greater Gain than the other a Loss Death gives a Bill of Divorce to Sin He that is dead is freed from Sin The Body sins not without the Soul Here every Soul in Christ cries out of one Sin or another Oh the pride of my Heart saith one and the passion of my Heart saith another Oh the darkness of my Heart saith one and the deadness of mine saith another Oh the treaâ—hery of my Soul saith one and the tympany of mine saith another Oh the wantonness of my Spirit saith one and the worldliness of mine saith another But there will be no complaining in the Grave when thy Head hath a pillow of Dust As there will be no working in the Grave so there will be no sinning in the Grave when the Soul takes leave of the Body then Sin takes leave of the Soul and of the Body too and that for ever Art actually in Christ Then Death will be an In-let to Glory If Christ be thine and thou beest Christs then Death to thee will be the beginning of life Thou layest down one life to take up another and that which thou takest up is far better than that which thou layest down Phi. 1.23 Lend an ear to the Apostle I am in a straight between two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is far better For I am in a strait the word is very significant and a metaphor not onely from the straitning of the Body by diseases but also of the coangustation or straitning of a City on every side besieged a metaphor taken from the straitness of places where we are intercepted by an enemy Leigh Cri. sac in loc shut up not finding an issue Yea it signifieth also the straitning and perplexity of the mind when one knoweth not what to do and whither to turn him As if the Apostle had said I am drawn divers ways this way with the desire of Christ that way with the
love of the Brethren for whom my life in the flesh is necessary I am in a strait having a desire a vehement earnest and continued desire Having a desire to depart to dye and to be with Christ Death of it self should not be desired because this desire crosseth nature the grand desire to dye should not be to be out of the world but to be with Christ which may confute the error of those who dream that the Soul separated from the Body does sleep Which is far better It is very significant in the Original far much better or much more better Art actually in Christ Cordial II. Triumph then for Death will strip thee of thy Rags of Mortality Queen Esther appears before King Ahasuerus in her Royal Apparel If Joshuah appears before an Angel he must have change of rayment Could not he appear before an Angel in his own Rags How then shall a Soul appear before God without Christ's Robes There is no appearing before God in the Rags of Mortality nor in the Rags of Morality Self-righteousness is a Rag yea a menstruous Cloth Morality is but old Adam in another Dress Phi. 3.7 8 9. What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod canibus exponitur and do count them but dung Dogs-meat so the Greek that I may win Christ And be found in him in him here and in him hereafter not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is thorough the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Death is a putting off the Rags of Mortality and Morality that the Soul may be decked and diessed with the Robes of Glory Art actually in Christ Cordial III. Triumph also whether living or dying thou art Christs Blessed are they that live in the Lord and blessed are they that dye in the Lord. There are many that live not in the Lord and dye not in the Lord that living and dying are not the Lords but while thou livest and when thou dyest thou art the Lords for thou art Christs Rom. 14.7 8. None of us liveth to himself and no man dyeth to himself for whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Now to have a Christ in Life and a Christ at Death is not this a comfortable Cordial Art the Lords in Life and the Lords at Death Go then from a Reflection of this Truth as Hannah did from Eli and let thy countenance be no more sad at the thoughts of Death Do men say the Nations are angry they are consulting conspiring and confederating against Christ and those that are Christs and thou mayst go bleeding out of the world or burning out of the world true saith the Soul but Christ is mine while I live and will be mine when I dye Does Conscience say Winter is coming a Storm is at Hand we may be near a showre of blood the winds are like to rise and be prodigious the waves are like to roar and be impetuous true saith the Soul but Christ is mine while I live and will be mine when I dye Does Satan say thy Life is uncertain and thy Death is certain Man is mortal and not a match for Death true saith the Soul but whether I live or dye I am the Lords It is said in the Life and Death of a worthy Minister Mr. Jessey That he passed unto Glory triumphing rejoycing under the very stroke of Death Art actually in Christ Cordial IV. Triumph also for Death will arrive and anchor thee in a desirable and delectable Harbor and Haven Ah poor Soul it may be thou hast as it were been at Sea ever since thy new Birth thy second Birth and hast met with winds and waves there with storms and tempests there it may be thou hast been without Sun-light there without Moon-light there yea without Star-light there but when Death arrests thy Body it will arrive thy Soul at a desirable and delectable Harbor and Haven yea at a Harbor and Haven of desire and delight The Navigator meets with hard things at Sea there is often nothing but difficulty in view danger in view yea Death in view but he forgets these when he comes within sight of the Harbor within sight of the Haven But Soul what Harbor like unto Heaven what Haven like unto Heaven when thou art landed at this Port at this Paradise thou wilt then forget thy Tryals and Troubles and Travels thy Sicknesses and Solitudes and Sufferings Luk. 23.43 And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise This Text is like a bundle of myrrh and being so sweetly-sweet I shall touch upon the Meditations flowing from it That unto the worst hath Christ shewed mercy at last Meditat. Thou Thee Verily I say unto Thee Thou This man had been very bad for he had been a Thief and Theft is a great Sin for it is the breach of the great Command of the greatest God This man had sinned and this man was to suffer for his sin yea to suffer death for his sin and yet Christ had mercy upon him Though this man had lived to his last day and possibly to a little part of that day yet Christ said unto him To day It is very emphatical Mat. 20.9 To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise The Saviour promiseth more than the Sinner asketh He that came into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour had his penny had his pay That Christ was God manifested in the flesh Shalt Thou shalt This Text and Truth prove the Deity and Divinity of Christ Thou shalt Had not Christ been God he would not have spoken thus and had not Christ been God he could not have thus spoken 1 Tim. 3.16 Thou shalt Great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh That words of Assurance are Christ's words No Soul hath a word of Assurance for Heaven until Christ speaks it John 6.63 68. The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life To day shalt thou be If Christ be a Mute the Soul is in doubt I that speak unto thee am he If Christ be a Mute the Soul is in a maze If Christ be silent the Soul is sad A word of Assurance is from Christ Whither should we ge but unto thee thou hast the words of eternal life No voice but the voice of Christ will still the voice of Desperation If the Soul be comforted Isa 51.12 and assured Christ must be the Text and the Preacher too I even I am he that comforteth thee Not I with another not I or
another but I and no other That Paradise is under promise for Converts Thou shalt be in Paradise Glory is entailed upon Grace Happiness is entailed upon Holiness and the Crown is appointed for the Converts Head Thou That this person was convinced appears in the Context Luke 23.40 41 42 Doest not thou fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnation And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss And he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom That this person also was converted appears in the Text or Christ would not have laid Paradise under promise 1 Cor. 6.9 for Paradise is for none but Converts of his own making Thou shalt be in Paradise The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God The unrighteous as unrighteous and in a state of unrighteousness Mat. 18.3 shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not not so the Greek enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Persons must be converted as well as convinced and changed as well as called or they cannot be passed thorough the Gates into the City Ye shall not not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Not not two Negatives strengthen an Affirmative That which makes Paradise a Paradise indeed is to be with Christ there With me Thou shalt be with me in Paradise What would a Paradise be without Christ What would Heaven be though Angels be there and the Spirits of just men made perfect be there if Christ were not there Whom have I in Heaven but thee As if the Psalmist had said Heaven would not be a Heaven to me were it not for thee Christ's being with the Soul here makes a Heaven here and the Souls being with Christ hereafter makes a Heaven hereafter Would not Heaven be a Baca a valley of tears A Bochim a house of mourning if the Soul were not to find Christ there John 14.1 2 3. Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me in my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also That the Soul of a Convert is a Blossom of Eternity and hath a Stamp of Immortality As the Mortality of the Body so the Immortality of the Soul is legible in this Text and Truth Thou shalt be with me and that in Paradise Though thy Body dye yet thy Soul shall live yea live with me Fear not them which kill the Body Mat. 10.28 but are not able to kill the Soul Though the Body dyes the Soul lives That when Time goes into Eternity then the Converts Soul shall go into Glory To day Thou art upon earth to day and thou shalt be in Heaven to day Thy Body is upon a piece of timber this morning but thy Soul shall be in a place of Triumph before night To day To be in Paradise is much but to day to be there is more The time accents the mercy For Christ to speak in the Future Tense to a graceless Soul is not so amazing and amusing as for Christ to speak in the Present Tense For Christ to say He that believeth not shall be damned is sad but to say Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee this is sadder For Christ to say He that believeth shall have everlasting life is much but for Christ to say To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise is much more Though thou hast been sinning to this day yet after this day thou shalt never more sin All persons are bound for Hell or for Heaven for there is no Purgatory but what is in the foolish fancy of the blind and bloody of the barbarous and butchering Papists This cruel Crew cast all men into three Ranks Some are Apostles and Martyrs persons eminently godly these they say go immediately to Heaven Some are Apostates and Persecuters of the Faith these they say go immediately to Hell There is a middle sort of ordinary sinners that immediately after death go neither to Heaven nor to Hell but to Purgatory where they say they must bear the punishment of their sins until they be prayed out Luk. 16.22 23. But all Souls are bound for Heaven or Hell The poor man dying arrived at Heaven the rich man dying arrived at Hell The Soul of this Convert was to be where the Soul of Christ was to be and did not his Soul go into Glory Ought not Christ to have suffered these things Luk. 24.26 and to enter into his Glory Was not the Soul of this Convert in Heaven before his Body was in the Grave Stephen dyed in this Faith that the Soul of a Convert goes into Glory when his Time goes into Eternity or he would not have prayed Acts 7.59 Lord Jesus receive my Spirit They stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Art actually in Christ Cordial V. Triumph also for Death will grave and that at once all thy Cares and Snares all thy Fears and Tears all thy Temptations and Tribulations Art actually in Christ Death then will grave all thy Cares Martha was careful and troubled about many things As it is said Luk. 10.40 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 10.41 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She was cumbred about much serving cumbred The Greek word to cumber or be cumbred signifies to be drawn or wried round and round about so it is said Martha Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things Martha Martha she is named twice and the name signifieth Bitter as if Christ had said Bitter Bitter 1. Bitter to her self in making her self a Drudge and neglecting the Word 2. To her Sister in chiding and accusing her Thou art careful The word signifies excessive and sinful Care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Solicitude And troubled The word seems to signifie anxiously to be wreathed with the difficulty of a thing to be accomplished Martha was excessively and forbiddenly careful and thoughtful yea anxiously wreathed she had too much Care and Trouble when she was upon earth but she hath no care upon her now she is in Heaven Is not this the cry here Bread for the day Bread by the way Is not this the Cry here Bread for me and Bread for mine A little meal in my Barrel Eccl. 9.10 and a little Oil in my Cruse Oh says the Widow I am going to bake this Cake for me and my Son and then to dye But now Soul Death will grave all thy Cares for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest This life is a day of working but death is a night of resting This life is
Eternity then Grace shall go into Glory There is a twofold Perfection a Perfection of the Truth of Grace and a Perfection of the Growth of Grace but suffer a distinct discussion of these There is a Perfection of the Truth of Grace The wise Virgins Mat. 25.4 took oil in their vessels with their lamps Oil onely in the Lamp is onely aâ— blaze of Profession Oil in the Vessel is Truth oâ— Grace in the Heart This is a Perfection of parts Since the day ye heard it and knew the Grace of God in truth Col. 1.6 Thus a Child is a perfect Child having all the parts of a man The Soul which hath the Truth of Grace hath something of every Grace There is a Perfection of the Growth of Grace Till we all come into the unity of the faith Eph. 4.13 and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. This is a Perfection of degrees when Grace is swailowed up in Glory Heb. 12.23 To the spirits of just men made perfect Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Peace Pax Bello potior Nomen Pacis desiderabile Esto bellando pacisicus Aug. Greg. Nyssen Peace is better than War yea the very name of Peace is desirable Peace is a confluence of all good things the Jews therefore when they wish a man well salute him thus Peace be unto thee The effect of War is waste It is said of the Turkish-War that where the Grand Seigniors Horse sets his foot no more Grass will grow he makes havock of all Every Seat of War becomes a Seat of Wrath an Ire-land In War saith One seek Peace Another saith Both the name and nature of Peace is sweet Outward Peace is the chiefest of outward Blessings inward Peace is the chiefest of inward Blessings Peace upon Earth is imperfect but Peace in Heaven shall be perfect Heaven is called the Joy of the Lord Mat. 25.21 23. because there is Joy and nothing but Joy is there Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Vision Potter 's Compendious View p. 54. Vision on Earth is imperfect but Vision in Heaven is perfect In the most Northern part of Tartaria they have Day for six months together and Night also for the other six months together It is thus with some Souls if they have Day the shines of God for a considerable time they also have Night the Frowns 〈◊〉 God for a considerable time A Christian is â—â—ke the Marigold that opens with the shining and â—â—uts with the setting of the Sun God often leaves â—â—e brightest men in an Eclipse to shew That they â—rrow their light from his Reflection It is said Clark's Mirror p. 190. â—hat over the top of the mountain of Potosi there â—ways hangs a Cloud even in the clearest day Unâ—er the greatest Calm thou may'st be near a Storm â—nder the greatest Vision be near Desertion Aug. It was â—â—e desire of One to see three things 1. Rome in â—s Flower 2. Paul in the Pulpit 3. Christ in â—he Flesh Did Alexander lay up Homers Iliads in 〈◊〉 Cabinet embroidered with Gold and Pearls Certainly then a deserted Soul will lay up reciâ—us Promises in the Cabinet of his heart as choice Treasure The Saints on Earth cry out of Deâ—artures Eclipses c. but in Heaven there shall â—e Vision without Amission and Intermission In Heaven there shall be Vision without Amission There will be no loss of Vision in Heaven Here â—he Cry is Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Can. 3.3 Do you â—ee him for my part I have lost sight of him but â—o such Cry in Heaven as the loss of Vision In Heaven there shall be Vision without Intermission As it is the felicity of a Person upon Earth that God always beholds him so it is the felicity of this Person in Heaven that he always beholds God Upon Earth the Sun goes down upon thee and it is often Night to thy Soni but in Heaven it shall never go down upon thee but shall be always Day to thy Soul If once arrived at Heaven thou shalt never more lose sight of the Tree of Life when once there no Cloud will at any time interpose beeween thy Soul and thy Saviour Blessed Mat. 5.8 are the pure in heart for they shall see God The pure in heart here see God and then lose sight of him but the pure in heart hereafter shall so see God as never more to lose sight of him Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter perfect Freedom A threefold Freedom shall these have Those actually Christs shall be indulged here after a perfect Freedom from Satanical Suggestion Now Satan rages ranges roars for his time is short Who is able to enumerate now the temptations of those who are Christs Satan always goes about like a Lyon to devour or like a Serpent to deceive and delude Are not the best tempted most But Satan being once cast out of Heaven shall never come there more he is confined to the Aireal part Eph. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is the Prince of the Power of the Air. He tempted in the terrestial but he cannot tempt in the celestial Paradise yea under the Personality of Christs Reign upon Earth the thousand years Rev. 20.3 according to the Greek Satan shall be chained up Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter a perfect Freedom from sinful Communion The Cry of a Christian here is Wo to me that I live in Mesech Ps 120.5 with a barbarous People and dwell in the tents of Kedar with the Sons of Ishmael The Cry of Christians in this world may be like the complaint of the Prophet The Princes of the Nations are like the Princes of Sodom and the People of the Nations like the People of Gomorrah but there are no Nero's and Nebuchadnezzars in Heaven no Pharachs and Pilates in Heaven no Cains and Caligula's in Heaven no person living 1 Cor. 6.9 Heb. 12.22 23 24. and dying in his sin shall inherit the kingdom of God There is in Heaven a holy God and a holy Christ there are in Heaven holy Angels and holy Saints but not an unholy Soul there Those actually Christs shall be indulged hereafter a perfect Freedom from sinful Corruption I know none save those that are perfect strangers to their own hearts but complain of Sin some of one Sin some of another Oh how fain would the Soul which is actually Christs lay down this body of Sin and Death Oh says the Soul when shall I go home when shall I go to my Fathers house where I shall never sin more He that is dead is freed from sin Rom. 5.12 Death came in by Sin and Sin goeth out by Death the Death of the Body freeth us from the Body of Death Art actually in Christ Cordial VII
Christ can But with the precious Blood of Christ. There is the positive part What Silver and Gold cannot do the Blood of Christ can do for that is precious Christs Blood is pure Blood Though to be sinless cannot be asserted of man yet it may be asserted of God-man Heb. 4.15 In all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Though Christ was tempted to sin yet not into sin 1 Pet. 1.19 Christ is called a Lamb and so he is for harmlesness for meekness for silence for sacrifice He is a Lamb without blemish and without spot Aquinas Free saith one from all sin original and actual He is without blemish sound within and without spot right without The Apostle here alludes to the Paschal Lamb and to the Lamb for the daily sacrifice both which were to be without blemish and without spot The Paschal Lamb. Your Lamb shall be without blemish Ex. 12.5 Joh. 1.29 a male of the first year Now this Lamb was a Type of Christ Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world The Lamb for the daily Sacrifice This is the offering made by fire Num. 28.3 which ye shall offer unto the Lord two Lambs of the first year without spot day by day for a continual burnt-offering This Lamb also was a Type of Christ Purge out therefore the old leaven 1 Cor. 5.7 that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened For even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Was it thus with the Type then it was thus with the Antitype Christs Blood is purifying Blood It is the Blood of Jesus Heb. 9.14 that purgeth the conscience from dead works It is Christs Blood that purgeth from dead works in a state of death and from liveless works in a state of life Joh. 13.8 Rev. 1.5 It is Christ must wash If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me Yea it is Christ must wash from sin in his own blood As the merit of Christs Blood Balnaeum coeleste doth pacifie God so the virtue of Christs Blood doth purifie man Christs Blood is the Bath of the King of Heaven Christs Blood is a Laver to wash in it washeth a crimson-sinner milk-white The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin The word of Christ is a Looking-Glass to shew us our sins the blood of Christ is a Fountain to wash them away Christ's blood is purchasing blood Christ hath bought his out of the hands of Justice of Sin of Satan Ye are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.19 20. be ye not the servants of men Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price There was little paid for the Saviour there was much paid for the Sinner Christ was sold did not Covetousness set him to sale But for what was he sold for 30 pieces of silver the price that a Slave was valued at The Prophet stands as it were amazed and amused at this price A goodly price Zech. 11.13 that I was prized at of them And I took the 30 pieces of silver and cast them to the Potter in the house of the Lord. There was little paid for the Saviour but there was much paid for the Sinner The Saviour was bought with silver but the Sinner is bought with blood yea with the blood of Christ. Feed the Church of God Acts 20.28 which he hath purchased with his own blood Christ's blood is pardoning blood It is by the blood of Christ that we have a lasting yea an everlasting pardon of all our sins If Christ had never dyed Sin had never been pardoned Heb. 9.22 for without shedding of blood there is no remission Art a believing Soul then thou art a pardoned Soul Christ doth not onely give Pardon to him that believeth but also giveth Faith to believe that Pardon Art a repenting Soul then thou art a pardoned Soul Christ doth not onely give remission of sin to those that repent but also repentance for remission of sin and gives them repentance of the sins remitted Art in the Church and in Christ too thou art then a pardoned Soul though the tears of Repentance stand in thine eyes that thou canst not read thy Pardon Luther Lord saith One now do what thou wilt with me for thou hast pardoned me The pardon of sin is such a mercy that a man cannot be happy hereafter nor yet happy here without it Though a Soul may have Grace yet he cannot have Peace that is without a sight and sense of Pardon Now Pardon of sin is an effect of Christs blood Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption thorough his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Pardon of sin is a complicated mercy Christ's blood is pleading blood Satan the Law and Conscience plead against us cry to God against us and as it were say this man and woman have commiteed multiplied forbidden Iniquities and omitted multiplied imposed Duties these Persons have so many vain Thoughts so many dead Prayers have neglected so many precious Ordinances sinned after so many signal deliverances c. But no sooner can these Indictments be put in against those who are Christs but they are cast out of the Court of Heaven by Christ for his blood is pleading blood The Cry of Sin is a loud Cry grievous Sins make great Cryes Jehovah said because the cry of Sodom Gen. 18.20 21. and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is grievous I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto me and if not I will know There is a loud voice in the Cry of Sin but there is a louder voice in the Cry of Blood And to the blood of sprinkling Heb. 12.24 which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel It is called the blood of sprinkling in allusion to the Passeover where the bloods saith One of the Paschal Lamb was sprinkled on the posts of the door M. Hildersam to save the house from the stroke of the revenging Angel The blood of Abel did plead against the Offender but the blood of Christ doth plead for the Believer Abel's blood cryed for vengeance Christ's blood cryeth for mercy Christ's blood is procuring blood The holy place the holy of holiest and the holiest of all are one and the same Into the holy place was the High-Priest only to go and that not without blood Aaron Lev. 16.3 was to come into the holy place with a young Bullock for a sin-offering and with a Ram for a burnt-offering Into the second Tabernacle went the High Priest alone once a year not without blood which he offered for himself and for the errors of the People Now the holy place and the holy of holiest were a Type of Heaven and the blood the High-Priest went with was a Type of Christs blood Christs blood was Christs way to
Heaven and must be the way for his also By his own blood Heb. 9.12 he once entered into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us The spurious spawn of the Papists are under a prodigious mistake who say That Heaven is not that place where the Man Christ is above or beyond the visible Skies but the happiness they have within them If Israel according to the flesh passed thorough the Red Sea unto Canaan as Type so Israel according to the Spirit must pass thorough the Red Sea of Christs blood Heb. 10.19 unto Heaven the Antitype Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest but how by the blood of Jesus Our Sins did shut Heaven but Christs blood is the Key that opens the Gate of Paradise for us Christ's blood is pacifying blood Christs bleeding was Gods pacifying Christ's blood Col. 1.21 22. is the blood of Atonement You hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh thorough death Christ's blood is not onely a Sacrifice but also a Propitiation denoting a bringing us into favour with God It is one thing for a Traytor to be pardoned and another thing for this Traytor to be brought into favour Mans sin rent him from God but Christ's blood Rom. 5.10 cements him to God Reconciled to God but how by the death of his Son Had we as much Grace as the Angels had we offered up millions of Sacrifices had we wept Rivers of Tears we could never have appeased an angry Deity It is the blood of a Christ that ingratiates us into the favour of God and causeth him to look upon us with a smiling Aspect When Christ dyed the vail of the Temple was rent This was not without a mystery shewing that thorough Christ's blood the vail of our sins is rent which did interpose between God and us One Theodoret. calls the Cross the Tree of Salvation because the blood which trickled down the Cross distilleth Salvation It is the blood of Christ that pacifies Christ's blood is conquering blood After the Combat and the Conflict is the Conquest Nay in all these things Rom. 8.37 we are more than Conquerors thorough Christ that loved us These things but what things were these There were seven Dishes and each Dish enough for the strongest Palate Tribulation Distress Rom. 8.35 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Persecution Famine Nakedness Peril Sword yet in all these things we are more than Conquerors We over-overcome so the Greek We are more than Conquerors in them because we are Conquerors by them But how is this thorough Christ. Though Christians may be killed yet they cannot be conquered for though they die in the Combat yet like Sampson they shall have the Conquest The Conquest that the Christian hath is thorough Christ's blood They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb Rev. 12.11 and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Conquest is thorough Christ Christ's blood is crucifying blood A Christ bleeding to death will bleed sin to death They that are Christs Gal. 5.24 have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts As that Physick saves a mans life which removes his sickness so that which is life to the soul is death to the sin We must look upon our sin as that which was the death of our Lord and we must look upon the death of our Lord as that which will be the death of our sin Our old man is crucified with him Rom. 6.6 that the body of sin might be destroyed Sin drew out the life-blood of Christ and faith in Christ's blood will draw out the life-blood of sin Christ's blood is softening blood Though the heart of man be the hardest thing in the world yet the blood of Christ God-man can soften the heart of man Oh says one my heart is like the nether milstone and what can soften that Oh says another my heart is like an Adamant and what can soften an Adamant Is there any thing in the world that can soften an Adamant Yea Soul blood will soften an Adamant The blood of Christ if applied will soften the most Adamantine heart The blood of Christ if applied can dissolve the most stony heart and break the hardest sinner The Jews who are hardened to a Proverb for one saith Dost thou think that I am a hard-hearted Jew these Jews shall have the Rock of their Hearts turned into a Fountain of Tears Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn as one for his onely Son and be in bitterness as one for his first-born God himself hath laid himself under Promise to take away the stony heart and to give an heart of flesh Ezek. 11.19 There is nothing so hard but it may be softened if it lay a steeping in this blood Water will soften the earth but it will not soften a stone the blood of Christ if applied will soften a stone yea an heart of stone This blood turns a flint into a spring The Jaylors heart was dissolved Christ's blood is quickning blood The life of a thing is in the blood The life of the flesh Lev. 17.11 is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the Altar to make an atonement for your sins for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul The blood is called life because the seat of life is in the blood and this was a figure of Christ a Type of Christ's life whose flesh is meat indeed and whose blood is drink indeed The life of our soul Sanguis Christi Clavis Coeli Luther is in the blood of Christ Christ's blood is Heaven's Key One little drop saith One of Christ's blood is more worth than Heaven and Earth What is the blood of a Grape yea what is the blood of a Son though an onely Son to the blood of a Saviour Can we give our first-born for our iniquity the seed of our body for the sin of our soul It is the blood of Christ that quickeneth John 6.53 54. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Christ's blood puts vivacity into us Christ's blood is justifying blood Justification â—s a great thing to be acquitted from sin and death the wages thereof and to be accounted righteous unto life and Glory the Reward thereof is not this a great thing and yet this is by Christs blood The moving cause of Justification is the free Grace of God but the meritorious cause of Justification is the blood of Christ Being justified freely by his Grace Rom. 3.24 thorough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus The justification of one sinner is more than the creation of all the world There are many not onely in Italy but also in England who
shall desire The Mother therefore and the Sons joined together in this work But what follows Grant that these my two Sons may sit the one at thy right hand and the other at thy left in thy Kingdom She might mean his kingdom on Earth To sit on the King 's right hand signifies the next place to the King and to sit on his left hand signifieth the third place in the Kingdom for the greater any one is in a Kingdom the nearer doth he sit to the King But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask The like Check he gives to James and John Luke 9.54 55. Shal we command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them as Elias did But Christ rebuked them saying Ye know not of what spirits ye are Ye know not what Spirit acts you Ye think ye are acted by such a Spirit as Elias of old but ye erre Ye have a zeal but not according to knowledge This is not a divine motion 't is at most and at best but a humane Affection Our desires are unlawful if we do not desire things that are lawful In order therefore to the constituting of Desire that it may be right we must desire things that are lawful Cordial desires are working desires Endeavour is added unto Desire There must be Works as well as Words and doing as well as desiring True Endeavour is ever a Concomitant of true Desire The man that had been infirm thirty and eight years John 5.5 6 7 8. could not goe into the Pool but he could lay at the Pool yea did lay at the Pool Though he could not cure himself yet he could wait there to be cured and was cured in waiting there He that is nothing but Desires shall have nothing that he desires but he that addeth good Endeavours unto good Desires can ask nothing that is good if for his good but he may have it There must not onely be desiring but also doing or they are not desires from the heart and will not be granted Psal 27.4 Lend an ear unto what the Psalmist speaketh One thing have I desired of the Lord One thing among many things one thing above many things One thing have I desired of the Lord Here is desiring but is here all No here is doing as well as desiring here is seeking as well as desiring One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after But what is it That I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life It seems that a great Estimate was set upon Church-communion then though there be too little Veneration for this now Here he would dwell 'till he died here he would dwell 'till he had upon earth no longer to dwell But what was in his Eye Were not Loaves No was it not a Name amongst Men No Two things were in his eye and should be in thine too in mine too greater sight and greater light Greater sight to behold the beauty of Jehovah i. e. to behold the face of Jehovah for Beauty sits in the face and the face is the Seat of Beauty And as greater sight so greater light to enquire in his Temple Cordial desires are constant desires Jehu was soon out of Breath Ye did run well who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth Gal. 5.7 The desires of an Hypocrite are not desires from the heart for he looks one way and rows another pretends one thing and intends another he hath Jacobs voice and Esau's hands You must do by an Hypocrite as we do by Hebrew read it backward An Hypocrite must be read backward The Desires of an Hypocrite are by Fits and Starts therefore not cordial desires but now cordial desires are constant desires they will captivate denyal The Begger at the gate knocks and continues knocking he takes no denyal Thus the Woman of Canaan cryed unto Christ Mat. 25.22 23. but Christ answered her not a word Christ was a Mute and yet she cryed For the Disciples said send her away she cryeth after us Christ answered I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel He seemed before to neglect her but here he seemeth to deny her She cries still Lord help me As her Daughter was her own so her Daughters case was as her own Lord help me She meets now with another repulse It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and to cast it to Dogs Was not here enough to seal up her lips As Christ was a Mute at first is not She a Mute at last No but she answers by an ingenious inversion Truth Lord yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Masters Table If I be a Dog I am thy Dog Crumbs belong to Dogs give me therefore the portion of a Dog She had indeed this property of a dog to hold fast If I be a Dog indulge me the place and portion of a Dog let me have the Room of a Dog and the Fare of a Dog Christ now if I may write it with a holy reverence is as it were in a holy captivity to her cordial and constant desire This appears by what follows Oh Wonan great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her daughter was made whole from that very hour Cordial desires are holy desires If the Heart be at work then Holiness is in the Eye Though perfection be not in a Christians hand yet 't is in a Christians eye the beat bent and byass of his Soul is after perfection That is a desire from the heart 2 Cor. 7.1 which is a desire to be perfecting holiness 'till the Soul be perfectly holy and perfect in heliness When desires are from the heart they are desires after more holiness after more grace The Disciples said unto the Lord Luk. 17.5 Increase our faith Those who had most grace desired more grace When the Desire is from the Heart 't is a Desire more for Grace than for Peace more for Conformity than for Communion more for Holiness than for Happiness more for Purity and Perfection than for Pleasure and for Pardon Phil. 1.23 May the Apostle speak I am in a strait between two having a desire to depart to die and to be with Christ which is far far better or which is best of all I cannot think that this holy and happy Man desired only to be perfectly happy but also to be perfectly holy I cannot think that he only desired Death for full Communion with Christ but also for full Conformity unto Christ I cannot think that he only desired a death to come upon the life of his Body but also a death to come upon the Sin of his Soul Cordial desires are hard desires Desires from the Heart and the Desires of the Heart are not weak and feeble but hard and strong desires As the Cry of a Christ was so the cry of a Christian is but the
as he loves himself yea he seems to love them above himself for he loves them and lays down his life for them Who loved us Ezek. 18.31 32. and washed us from our sins in his own blood Why will ye dye O house of Israel For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith Jehovah God Why will ye dye will ye not onely kill your selves but also me Let me dye that ye may live let me have a Cross that ye may have a Crown let me be betrayed that ye may be blessed let me be buffeted that ye may be beautified let me be crucified that ye may be crowned let me be sacrificed that ye may be sanctified and saved Thus Joh. 13.1 a Christ loveth and who but a Christ thus loveth His are loved rather than Himself if not above Himself And having once loved he ever loveth Christ is a living yea ever-living Physician Physicians below may dye must dye yea Rom. 6.10 often dye before the Cure is made but Christ having once dyed dyeth no more but lives for evermore The Physician of the Body is mortal as well as the Patient and may dye before the Patient but Christ the Physician of the Soul having once dyed no more dyeth death Joh. 5.26 hath no more domiaion over him As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself Christ is a valuable Physician Job speaking of his Visicors calls them Job 13.4 Physicians of no value but Christ is of value of great value of greatest value Col. 2.9 In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead personally Christ is rarely skilled infinitely qualified he knoweth every Cause to him therefore is easie every Cure Nullus effectus dature sine causa effectus sequitur virtutem causae Causa est prior essecto Faelix qui â—otuit rerum cognoscere causas 1 Kings 4.32 33. Prov. 8.14 Effects cannot be produced without Causes It is a Maxim That where sufficient Causes are in Act there of necessity the Effect must follow The Effect cannot be existent before its Cause Effects must depend upon their Cause as their Base and Principle It is an approved Aphorism That the Cause precedes the Effect in order of Nature and Time and Both every thing resolves into its principle It is usually said They are happy who know the causes of things And in respect of corporal diseases they say That a disease is half cured when the cause of it is discovered Christ knows the cause and therefore can make a cure Solomon was a great Philosopher his Parables prove his divine wisdom He was prodigiously parted greatly read in Trees and Pants in Beasts and Birds in creeping things and Fishes which manifest his humane wisdom But a greater than Solomon is here under discussion One that is not onely understanding in all things but also understanding it self I am understanding Christ is a sudden Physician Some Physicians of the Body are long in curing As some persons are long diseased palsical Eneas kept his Bed eight years The woman whom Christ called a daughter of Abraham had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years There lay also at the Pool of Bethesda a man which had an infirmity thirty and eight years Now as some persons have been long diseased so some Physicians are long in curing such diseases They are long in curing if there be money coming Their Cures are like Chancery-Suits depending several years Isai 107.20 but Christ is quick at curing He sent his word and healed them It is enough to the Centurion if he can but get a word from Christ Speak the word onely Matth. 8.8 13. and my Servant shall be healed And Jesus said unto the Centurion Go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee And his Servant was healed in the self-same hour Christ is a seasonable Physician The season of a mercy does greatly accent the mercy For a person to be sinking in the Thames and for another to rescue him from those merciless waves is not this in season Mark 5.23 24 c. For the daughter of Jairus who was at the point of death and the woman with her issue of blood of twelve years time to be both healed was not this in season For a person to be arrived near the Gates of Hell by his Sin and for Christ to give him check by his Grace is not this in season Zech. 3.1.2 For Joshua to stand before the Angel of the Lord for Satan also to stand at his right hand to resist him to be his Adversary margent and for God to rescue Joshua being a Brand plucked out of the Fire is not this in season Christ is a sutable Physician All Cures they say are by Sympathy or by Antipathy Both these ways Christ cureth Christ cureth by Sympathy In all their afflictions he was afflicted An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth Isa 63.9 1 Cor. 15.21 for a Tooth Blood for Blood By man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Christ cureth by Antipathy There is Good for Evil Light for Darkness Life for Death Heaven for Hell God hath not appointed us unto wrath 1 Thess 5.9 Non cur atur pars nisi curetur totum 2 Pet. 3.18 but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ Physicians say If ye would cure any unsound part ye must cleanse the whole Body Christ cures by Sympathy and by Antipathy he must needs universally cure that every way cures Christ hath once suffered the just for the unjust A Physician asking a Lacedemonian How he did answered The better that 〈◊〉 meddle not with Thee nor take of thy Physick Certainly no Soul unto whom Christ hath been a Physician will say so of his Physick Christ is an incomparable Physician Christ is incomparably qualified and under an incomparable qualification It is said of a good Chyrurgion or Physician that he must have an Eagles Eye a Lyons Heart and a Ladies Hand Christ with the greatest Reverence be it written hath all these A good Physician must have an Eagles Eye He that is good at healing had need be good at seeing that he may discover where the fault and the failing is Thus Christ is incomparably qualified He is excellent at seeing excelling in seeing so good at seeing Joh. 9.6 7 that he gave sight unto one that was born blind A good Physician must have a Lyons heart He that is a Physician must be strong and stout-hearted for if the Physician fail how will the Patient bear up his courage A Physician must deal freely and plainly with the Patient telling him the disease and the danger if he take not this or that he is a dead man c. Thus Christ deals freely and plainly with the souls of men and women telling them If ye believe not that I am he ye
Remedies for all Diseases found But Death He dyes and dying did assure No Drug or Dose of Death could make a Cure Let Nature now most fortifie that can Health's highest sphere a Crisis proves to Man One way to come into the World had all But to go out a thousand and to fall A Nail kills Sisera but by a Stone Goliah falls for he would stand alone This Giant now meets with a mortal Blow Right goes an Arrow out of Heavens Bow One wound Goliah kills but twenty three Great Caesar had and then departed he Strong Samson enters now of whom 't is said He Rubbish made and under Rubbish laid Thus Men and Means disputing Con and Pro Do act their Parts and off the Stage do go III. Of Honour and Policy CAN Honour No the tallest Pines are shaken By smallest winds and may not this awaken Sure footing Soul hath not Magnificence This may be in the Preterperfect Tense This Bucket-like now up now down is She But down the mot'on swiftest seems to me Could I prefer such have Preferment should Not that would Places but that Places would All worldly Grandeur in the Dust is laid As Caesar took so Caesar Tribute paid Thus ROMAN Honour passeth as a Blast Though Pompey slew slain Pompey was at last High Haman staged is making uproar Next to the King does now this Abject soar As to Design in Jewish blood he wallows As to Desert ascendeth He the Gallows CAN Policy No MAZIRINI may Strike Sail to Death and go this common way Ah where 's Pythagoras with prudent Cato Where 's Seneca with Socrates and Plato Where 's Cicero with Athen's Legislators And where 's Apollo with the Commentators But where is that admired Aristotle Yet Euripus would not into his Bottle So often ebb and flow this Deep that He Unsatisfied would the Bottom see But where 's Achitophel accursed may Such Policy be to the latter Day An ORACLE was He within his Age But hangs himself and falleth off the Stage Where 's Solomon more wise than any other That côuld detect the true from feigned Mother Ah turbid Death He was a mortal Sage And being mortal goeth off the STAGE IV. Of Wealth CAN Riches No or Truth is made a Lye But Wealth 's a gilded lying VANITY The World saith One to Man is God's Epistle But often proves to Man a vexing Thistle The World 's a Labyrinth my Soul beware And Michal-like is given as a Snare Ah bitter-sweet and that but for an hour Sweet is the Promise but the Payment sowre The World 's a Cheat the things thereof decay And Laban-like for Rachel Leah pay A Syrens Song and unto Whoredom pander Which causeth many Dinah-like to wander Ah England mourn and grow into a Passion The Spanish Mode is now an English Fashion Most vainly Mortals worldly things aspire These are not Food but Fewel to Desire Shall Hearts be set on that where onely Feet Should standing be hence bearing but a Sheet Job staged is and not for Wealth the least But greater than the greatest of the East His Substance winged is the Blow was such But Jah Jehovah gives him twice as much No Object for the Eye is Wealth and can This Object be unto the Heart of Man But worldly Men make for themselves a Rod Below a Soul is all below a GOD. Where 's Crassus Croesus Crates Aristippus Or Cyrus Xerzes Dives and Philippus Left by the World are they where living find them And dying they do leave the World behind them Where 's He that had so vast a Territory Who Ruler was according to the Story Of Provinces an Hundred twenty seven The Man is dead and gone to Hell or Heaven V. Of Fortitude CAn Fortitude This Mortals rarely deck A rare but rich Gem 't is about the neck Of Potentates refute it if ye can Son unto Caesar Valor makes a Man Great Alexander would immortal be Unwounded wounded mortal proved he Where 's little David yet hath little Fear Who killed both the Lyon and the Bear Philistine-foreskins hanged up may be As signal Trophies for a Saul to see Yea Gath-Goliah dreadful in his motion Had native Blood prescribed for a Potion Ah but he dyes as Scripture hath averred And in the Royal City was interred Stout Hannibal Rome's Terror where is He Or those stout Scipio's that would not flee Where 's Saladine that Oriental Victor Or where should I dig for puissant Hector Huniades doth next ascend the STAGE Who all his Race did war with Turcists wage In Battels many stoutly he engage And thorough Valor Turky did enrage To this vast Empire dreadful was his name Their crying Babes were stilled with the same Jobs iron Pen take to engrave his Fame My Narrative defective is and lame That to Posterity transmitted may His Valor and his Conquest be I say Where 's Scanderbeg who was so valorous And with his Valor so victoricus In more than twenty Battels he engage Proud Saracens whose right Arm did presage His Valor and his Conquest in his Age This matchless Valor goeth off the Stage VI. Of Learning CAn Learning This to Tully doth allye Knots-Gordian this thorough Art untye Which one no way but by his Sword espie But did not Tully and his Nephew dye Keep Learning in her native Orb and thus Shall due Respect be for Philologus Wher 's Homer Horace Zeno and Prochorus Or Xenophon Tertullus Theodorus Wher 's Plato Plautus Plutarch Theophrastus Or Memucan Alvarez and Erastus Wher 's Austin with his Tract of Recantation Or Ambrose modest in his Meditation Though Ignorance to Learning giveth check Yet surely this the Sons of Adam deck Thus Learning in a Lord as was of old Assimilates a DIAMOND in Gold Wher 's Origen so full of Allegories Or Moderators in the Consistories Wher 's Jewel who the Truth defended well Or Bolton on Death Judgment Heaven Hell Wher 's Chrysippus his Study might have bled him For ought I see had not Melissa fed him Wher 's Hilary for Stile so greatly eyed Or Gregory that was so mortified Wher 's Basil Beda too so preaching then If one speaks Truth the stones did cry Amen Where are those prying Ones of Issachar And wher 's Erasmus learnings morning Star Wher 's CYPRIAN so worthy Martyrdom With very many more but here 's no room Wher 's Moses mighty both in Words and Deeds Death unto Death the man in Moab bleeds Wher 's Cranmer Ridley Lambert and the rest Ah dead are these and dying are the best II. Of Terror ART out of Christ On Ebal stand I must And Lectures now not onely read of Dust But also Wrath that 's blown into a flame Almighty Breath is kindler of the same To Souls in Christ Death is most amiable Most terrible of all things formidable To Christless Ones yea this appears to me Of HELL the very Suburbs for to be Ah mortal Man If I may speak my Sense Infernal Dregs are in the future Tense 'T is pity