practice of the contrary duty will be more excellent and have a proportionable reward All Gods Precepts Jam. 2. 10 11. 1 Cor. 12. 8. are linked together But as in the Gifts of God a Man hath the common measure of all yet one is more eminent for this So in Obedience and Christian Graces one is obliged to all but then a single one shall shine forth more then the reâ—t and to such besides the common reward a more especial blessing is promised This is not a needless digression for the Doctrine and Practice of Universal Obedience is necessary against the Fear and Danger of Death as we learn from Ezek. 18. 31. 1 Cor. 15. 56. That gives title to all the promises who complies therewith is sure and none besides Righteousness delivereth from Evil Prov. 11. 4. From the Fear whilst he lives and the Danger when it approaches â—igh The body will a little tremble at its dissolution for that is natural But Christ came to deliver them who through Fear of Death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 15. And this beâ—â—fit he hath procured to his Servants for they believe the Scriptures to be true which are fulfilled in them so they are assured no evil can happen unto them after Death and therefore are not â—â—â—mented with the apprehensions of it They do not 〈◊〉 or drive it out of mind for there is much advantage from the Meditation thereof It is a great help to right and good actions What will this signifie and avail when I come to die It quickens to do whatever his hand finds to do with all his might for there is no Labour nor Work in the Grave There is but one of Tryal the days pass away are accountable for and do not return this puts upon doing every thing to the utmost to have the favour and acceptance of Almighty God. The World judging by themselves look upon those as Melancholy who are so wise to consider their latter end But is there no difference between the Righteous and Wicked There is much in their manner of Conversation all the life long and so is at their death There is difference in Prisoners between the innocent and guilty as to their looking for the day of Assizes and shall the last Judge of the comfortable expectation of the other by his own Fears and Dread Because some are afraid to appear before Christ are they also who have the certain promise of Being with him The one doth not live like the other they are contrary in their Thoughts Words and Actions before their manner of Dissolution that vast and endless parting they must make one from another It is the greatest Happiness to the one and misery to the other and therefore it may be well supposed to administer different thoughts to them It is impossible to obviate all the sayings of Men for they are endless and most are so trivial that they do not deserve any answer but yet may be judged of by this one Observation viz. There is nothing so good and true but something may be said against it Nothing so evil and false but something may be said for it But in every proposition let it seem never so true or strange at first sight examine the Arguments of both sides without prejudice or partiality and then that side which hath most reason and probability may determine our assent This doth make for the honour and reality of Truth that the reasons whereby inferring one thing from another we come to know it are clear deep and convincing Truth must prevail where it can be manifested Which is of such a Divine and excellent Nature that the whole doth not come forth on a sudden but hath been strugling in the Womb some thousands of Years There is great opposition to it by the powers of Darkness and their Sophistry as may be seen for the Objections against it are Dark Perplex Contradictory Slight and deceiving It is reciprocally so with falshood though it hath passed current and been a long time received This may be applied to innumerable instances But to our purpose The noble Martyrs of Old did not decline Death in its most terrible shape when they might glorifie God and avoid sin they were called Melancholly Sullen Obstinate Foolish haters of Mankind and such like When they were in the very prime of Age of excellent natural disposition of a vain conversation before and that changed by Christianity into a more happy manner of living when they were wise and understood what they did as well as ever Men did and did shew themselves as sincere and affectionate to one another The Devil is never wanting to set himself against the doings of God to whisper into the hearts of Men to hinder their Faith and returning unto him but then they run away with that and will not consider what can be said on the other side this is one cause of unbelief the many objections and prejudices they have against the truth They are resolved to take up therewith and not hear from themselves or others a full satisfactory answer Is the least thing muttered against God Their ears are open immediately it is forthwith unanswerable But if spoken out for him then like the deaf Adder they stop their Ears and refuse to hear the voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely They think it can never be wise that makes for Religion as all things are which make against it Whilst they are willing Satan should hold them at this catch it may be here applied Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. They might consider which was most safe as well as most reasonable to believe In the likeliest probability when such multitudes of Men Women more fearful by nature and young Men who may rush upon Death in a heat of passion or out of Gallantry and Honour not with a deliberate advised mind When it was esteemed infamous and foolish by the World yet still to embrace it rather then sin against God and deny the Faith this must be the power of his Grace which did arm their mind against all Fear of Death both in its natural dreadfulness and also heigthened by the malice and cruelty of Men. That was an extraordinary Case but what is it to the Fear of Death now a days Very much for though Men do not continue in the World by reason of Death yet that still continues It reigned as an evil from Adam unto Christ But now he hath taken away the sting and frightful nature from it When he made his Soul an offering for sin and took upon him the person of the Wicked he drunk of the Cup of Gods Wrath Was there any such love that he by the
whom they have provoked and offended throughout their foregoing days This they were warned of all along by Gods Word and Ministers their own Conscience but having continually resisted them all these Scriptures are fulfilled in them Isa 6. 9 10. 29. 10 11. Rom. 1. 24 26 28. Talk to an old Man who hath hitherto lived in disobedience and never left his lusts till they left him concerning Religion and exhort him to repent it is the same as if you did to a bruit Beast His ear is deaf and stupid to those things he understands as little of them as a Child Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray Hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth not Hos 7. 9. There hath been some exhortation used to those in the state of Manhood for if they are unconverted they have the spirit of slumber so they are more easily awakened but the spirit of deep sleep is poured out upon old hardened Sinners and it is to be feared some of them will not be throughly rouzed till they feel the flames of Hell about their Ears This Age is not usually bettered by reproof Who are unjust will be unjust still and who are filthy will be filthy still However they may know otherwise they shall feel that God shall wound the head of his Enemies and the Hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses Ps 68. 21. Let all people take heed how they put off their turning unto the Lord till this time for it is an unworthy thing after the body hath served divers lusts and pleasures and worn out in them and disabled any longer then to offer it up unto him Is it then a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God Is this a reasonable service No he disowns the Blind the Lame and Sick for Sacrifice Mal. 1. 8. Is it meet that the Church of God should be like the pool of Bethesda to be frequented by a number of impotent Folks of Blind Halt and Withered Neither let any presume too much on those who were called at the eleventh hour into the Vineyard but the reason is there given they were not hired before and they came as soon as called But here in a Christian Country all are called to serve the Lord in their Youth if they refuse because they think the day too long and they fancy it well enough if they go a little before Sun setting will the great Housholder thank them for it and so be imposed upon In no wise for which of you will be so served If your own workmen should not come or loyter all the day and do nothing till the time they should leave of Work would you reward such base and negligent Fellows who thus despise and put a trick on you God will be no more mocked or slighted by his Creatures then they will be by those under them He is jealous of his Honour and hates to have his commands disregarded with him is Power Sovereignty and Wisdom Men must not think to give him an answer when they will at some time hereafter for now they have other business to do or with Felix put him off to a more convenient season Let them deal thus with their Prince and see how he will resent it God is not beholden to the Work of his hands neither doth he receive any benefit by them it is alone his infinite Goodness and Love that he makes unto us any offer of Happiness and not our desert who do all we can to provoke the Author of our being He hath not dealt with us after our sins Psal 103. 10. He commands to turn from them and be healed it is meet and right the distance being infinite of him over us to answer him at the first call which he doth again and waits that he may be gracious but he doth not for ever Pharoahs heart was hardened after he had refused Gods message ten times and there are but few old Men in this Nation who have hitherto continued in an unregenerate condition but have more often resisted Gods Ambassadors commanding them in his name to turn and live and therefore equally deserve hardness of heart But God who can raise the Dead can raise these also out of the Lethargy and Death of sin he can pluck these brands out of the Fire Zech. 32. Yet there being so few sincere and hearty converts of this nature Oh my Soul trust not thou upon such uncertainties to day while it is called to day harden not thy heart but hearken unto Gods Voice forsake thy sins immediately and then thou art sure Defer not till old Age to be justified for then a thousand to one if ever thou be The hoary head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of Righteousness â—rov 16. 31. It hath a resemblance to the Antient of Days and is a sign of that Eternity God shall endue him withal for the time is at hand let him that is Righteous be Righteous still Rev. 22. 10 11. Let your Loines be girded about and your Lights burning for the Bridegroom is near go ye out to Meet him that you go in with him to the Marriage be thou faithfull unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Thus have we run through all the Ages of Man which are visible Of the Body Sences and sensual Pleasure in the increase change and alteration they make in his body Let none flatter himself as if he should certainly pass through them all nor defer the doing of those things which ought to be done presently for we are not sure of a Day or a Week forward For besides the many instances of sudden Death Sickness is most commonly so which in three or four days may hurry us hence to give Account for the Deeds done in the Body so uncertain a thing is life that by outward appearance none knows whither it will be long or short The breath in our Nostrils hangs upon such slender threads from within and is subject to so many Casualties from without that if it were not for Gods providence who holds our Souls in life we should rather admire that any live so long as die so soon Upon this frail thing depends our everlasting Happiness or Misery it being the space to try how we will behave our selves towards God and accordingly we are to receive from him Bâ—hold thou hast made my Days as an hand breâ—dth and mine Age is nothing before Thee Ps 39. 5. By reason of the Evil and Vanity which enclose us on every side it is irksom and tedious which makes it seem somewhat longer but when our days are passed away they are the same as a tale that is told Ps 90. 3. So it appears upon a Death-bed yea in the time of Health and Vigour the Years that are past may be all measured in a thought and the same as if they had not been How soon is the Morning of
event of Folly. The pleasures of Sin are but for a season and after the several times are over the melancholick fit returns as bad rather worse then ever If they would suffer themselves to be admonished how they neither make use of the right remedy nor apply it to the distempered part for instead of taking away they feed the Disease and use stupifying Medicines which only take away the sence but not prevent Death The Sinner that labours under remorse will drink heartily for sorrow is dry so endeavouring to drown the spirit within him which though it sink at night will rise again in the morning and because it tells him the truth it is thought his Enemy for disturbing him And therefore he will try again to drive that unwelcome Guest out of his house which cannot be done Then continual Business Recreation or Company shall divert its whispers Otherwise by gross Ignorance or stupid inconsideration he willingly becomes as bruit Beasts whom he observes to be disturbed from nothing within Thus he dreams of relief as if he should not die and puts of what would do no other harm then lead him to Repentance till it is hid from his Eyes It is truly said of the Wisdom that is from above Her wayes are ways of pleasantness and all her pathes are Peace Pro. 3. 17. Under that Word is comprized all Happiness and this throughout the whole Scripture is promised to keeping of the Commandments of God. O that thou had hearkened to my Commandment then had thy Peace been as a River and thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea Isa 48. 18. There is a constant serenity and calmness of mind The sincere Penitent when he is habituated to the way of Godliness finds more Pleasure then ever he did in the course of Sin. He iâ— more comforted in singing Praises and making spiritual melody in his Hâ—art then heretofore in drunken Songs or lacivious tunes More satisfaction arises to him in meditating on God's Law then who devise mischief or let their thoughts run after all manner of filthiness This is the constant felicity of God's chosen but they have greater things then these the antepasts of Heaven the earnest and first fruits of the Spirit that joy of the inward Man which far exceeds the most exquisite delights of Sence All these are without allay or mixture there is no Condemnation or Fear no Repentance or Vexation among them It is a true and sensible satisfaction though it may seem mystery and foolishness to carnal Men. Any one may have it upon the terms of the Gospel who observes all things whatsoever the Author thereof hath Mat. 28. 20. commanded for want of which so many miss of it The Covetous doth avoid Gluttony Drunkenness or such chargeable Sins and will be apt to cry out with the Pharisee God be thanked I am none of these But he doth not take heed and beware of Covetousness Luke 12 15. so he is not happy here For through the love of Money he pierceth himself through with many Sorrows nor will be hereafter for such shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1. Cor. 6. 10. He whose God is his Belly is perhaps no Mans enemy but his own and therefore may expect the peaceable fruits of Righteousness but in vain for he hath not here any lasting joy it arises only from the Meat and Drink that perisheth neither will he attain to the fulness thereof His end being Destruction from the presence of God Phil. 3. 18. They do somewhat towards obtaining Happiness but the other evil deprives thereof One accursed thing troubles Israel here below and shall never approach so near as to disturb the rest of the People of God. However the enemies to their own good would have it yet it is necessary to that of the present time to avoid every evil way for otherwise there can be no true Peace of mind no freedom from fear and regret In the day of Prosperity be joyful but in the time of Adversity consider God also hath set the one over against the other to the end that Man should find nothing after him Eecles 7. 14. Look into them both throughly and they are little each passeth away and it is the same thing afterwards So they are not to be admired or feared but the one cautiously used and the other submitted unto that they may help forward to eternal Happiness for that is happiness indeed and the principal concern when all temporal things slip away like a Dream which affects a little for the instant but afterwards is not minded But good Men can better bear Affliction then others having joy and gladness within when the Body is weak and languishing They have quietness and assurance of mind when the Flesh is wasted with pain or sickness This is so manifest that even the Wicked if they have courage to stand by and observe will secretly ejaculate Let me die such a Death and let my latter end be like his Mark the Perfect Man and behold the Vpright for the end of that Man is Peace Psal 37. 37. when others are attended with Horror Amazement or Stupidity and Inconsideration All acknowledge those more happy in their Sickness and Death but the great doubt and inquiry will be whether they are so in their Life for if that can be brought forth and made to appear in the Light of the living it would be no small argument for the Conversion of Sinners from the error of their way The reason why theâ— follow after the Lusts of the flesh and commit sins most in Fashion is because they think it is for their present Happiness their Honour and Reputation which is one part thereof Now were they fully convinced that could equally yea more be had in obedience to Gods Commandment these would live according to that unless they are the greatest Fools that can be imagined considering the disproportion of the rewards of the one and sad Punishments that are to the other way If the God of this World hath not blinded their eyes and they are not altogether become Carnal who cannot discover any thing within they may consider the great difference of things set before us Life and Good Death and Evil that they may choose the better and avoid the worse Evil hath a thin appearance of Good and therefore is catched at and embraced so Good hath an outward shew of Evil and is abhorred and despised At first sight sin and iniquity seem to further the Happiness of mankind but in truth is the Cause of Misery so righteousness and obedience looked slightly on appear to bring in convenience and disturbance Sin hath a shew of Wisdom and Briskness when in the Act it is folly afterwards Tribulation and Anguish of Soul the other at a transitory glance is foolish and dull but upon full Tryal is the greatest Prudence perfect Peace and Satisfaction to the mind of Man. The delusion and mistake is Men do not see throughly
was real now he discovers it to be empty and vain and therefore concludes the like of what is more told him Not throughly considering this is a strong evidence of the truth of God's Word which before acquainted as he did hear somewhat of the Vanity Deceitfulness Unfruitfulness of those things And then he would not believe but now that is found true by his own experience Why then may it not be supposed to be true when it speaks further of the continuance greatness and substance of things hoped for If it is fulfilled in the less why shall it not also be in the greater If in things present why not in things to come If I have told you Earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of Heavenly things John 3. 12. But it is experienced by all what the Word speaks of the fiction and falshood of some things so it is reasonable to give regard when it declares the truth and reality of others It is to be feared and he is in time to be forewarned thereof least he be found a Fool in this as in former things to know them only by after wit and experience As he discerns not the Vanity and Delusion of Youth till that is over so not to learn the things proper for a Man till that is past nor the things of eternity till he is let into it which is sad for an error here is without remedy It is foolishness in an old Man to say O that I had done thus and thus in times of Youth or Manhood when he might have done them then and now they are past and irrecoverable It is just the very same as to those things also unto which through the Grace of God we endeavour to perswade Men. And therefore suffer your selves to be put in mind you are come to perfect understanding judge of what is said It is a deceivable and lying consequence with which the Devil doth tempt people to unbelief towards their declining years that all things whatever are Vanity because they find it so of the things before them Every temptation if throughly considered makes against him for this confirms that all things indeed are so as affirmed in Scripture So they are not to be taken up as a reserve but to be surely believed they are not to be looked upon as conjectural notions of happiness but to be most faithful and true worthy to be trusted unto if we had ten thousand lives to be ventured upon them or so much hope and desire proportionable to them The inspiration of God makes known the deceitfulness of all fansied good here That speaks of every thing according to its very nature either in express words or just consequence which belong to mankind from the greatest to the least except what may be known from our selves and the most common observation The more we know of the things of this World we less esteem them and thence it is that we every day more disrelish sensusual pleasures for they tiâ—e and the same hath been had before life grow tedious and irksome for the same returns over and over again and it is not satisfactory Even good fellowship is every day less admired and people grow more seâ—fish and shut up within themselves As for Money the Heathen Cicerâ— did reckon Covetousness in old Men an unaccountable thing to get the more provision the less journey they have to go but he did not so fully think of that this was cleaved unto as in the Prophets phrase the refuge of lies Isa 28. 17. the last of all Vanities Mens affections must be carried after something and where they apprehend all to be so they fix upon that which is only more substantial because they suppose less subject to Vanity but even here after they have laboured for it they are not satisfied When in any pain or troubled or towards the close of their days to reflect upon their Gold and Silver will not yield the least comfort it will rather enhance present misery because that cannot case them in time of need which they have faithfully served all their life before It would be sad if amidst so much Evil and Vanity such lies and delusion there was nothing to be found good and real truth and certainty But there is The Grass withereth the Flower fadeth but the Word of God shall stand for â—ver Isa 40. 8. That as aforementioned speaketh exactly of all things as they are which is a demonstration that what it saith further is true And then the work of righteousness is real and eternal To you of full Age the Word of Exhortation comes Exhortation Be not afraid to be happy here and hereafter Do not with regret flee from the wrath to come you are now warned And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep for Rom. 13. now is our Salvation nearer then when we believed You are nearer to Death and Immortality then ever you were yet The night is far spent the day is at hand A great deal of your life is gone and your dying day approacheth You are called upon to leave of your sins and disobedience least they deliver you over to the damnation of Hell. Will you not endeavour to avoid that who will do any thing to shun a temporal calamity You are not but God knows how soon you may if you continue in an hard impenitent heart cast down into the everlasting Dungeon the place of utter Darkness Is it irksome to read these lines It will be much more intolerable to suffer the truth of them and they are only laid before you that you may be put in mind and so escape The Father of Spirits calls upon you Turn and live for why will you die God would have you all to be saved you are adjured in his name to leave of walking in the way to destruction despise not his loving invitation O that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways Ps 81. 13. When they are râ—bellious and disobedient it goes against him to punish them How shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel How shall I make thee as Admah my heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together Hos 11. 8. This same God who is here described as if he did earn with bowels of Compassion yet if People set at naught his Counsel and will have none of his Reproof he speaks to them in another manner When your fear cometh as desolation when Destruction and Anguish cometh upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they sball seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1. 27 28. Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your Hearts Hâ—b 3. 7 8. Is he not worthy of a present Answer All People must grant that but the Thoughts of some in the depth of their
before he is sent for he thinks it Duty to wait till he is called He being but a Potsherd of the Earth dares not be thus rude with his Maker as to go before for this would be the way to be excluded from his Presence for evermore We are to use all honest Care to preserve our Life as long as we can for Death is no such trivial thing as some seem to make of it through ignorance and unmindfulness The Servant of God hath no reason to fear for unto him it is an entrance into a Blessed Eternity yet he would be rightly provided What is to be done but once all Wisdom and Caution are to be had that it be done well and sure If by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the Dead not as though I had already attained or were already perfect Phil. 3. 11 12. Or if that were done yet he is to tarry the Lords seisure What if he hath stood without his Fathers House the Spring Summer and Autumn yet there was no great Hardship in them if there was it signifies not now it is all past and gone The worst is behind the Winter and that may be shortned none knoweth how soon but for the present it is somewhat irksome to endure the Frost and Cold to have our head Hoary and our joynts Tremble This doth make him more desire Come Lord Jesus come quickly and it will be a greater happiness when he doth come but in the mean while he is not angry if not heard see Heb. 10. 36 37 38. If the body be waxed Old the Mind suffers no decay the Seed sown in Spring cultivated in the time of strength yields a plentiful Crop which doth good service in this time of need They shall still bring forth Fruit in old Age they shall be fat and flourishing to shew that the Lord is upright Psal 92. 14 15. The flower falleth and the beauty thereof is vanished before the Fruit come but this is better So it is of the flourishing and loveliness of Youth that is gone before good and worthy Actions are performed but when they are done the remembrance of them and a well spent life is a mighty comfort to fading and decrepit years If he cannot now enjoy the pleasures of the World that can be no vexation unto him whose mind is fixed upon better Objects God and Christ He being throughly convinced both by reason and experience of the vanity of all things here below doth indeed pity and not the least envy those who greedily hunt after them Having the Wisdom from above which is gentle and easie to be entreated he hath no peevishness of humour and therefore he is not wearisome nor hated like others of the same age The Grace of God changes the whole nature much more a single circumstance thereof He is not in continual dread of the approach of Death for that is the thing expected and desired The sting of it is sin but he hath made it his business throughout his life past to pluck that out now he can lie down in peace knowing assuredly that day which others so much fear will be unto him the Birth day of Immortality Neither is he afraid to consider thereof before hand for it doth not appear terrible to him who is reconciled with God and hath laid up a Foundation by good Works which are ready to follow him Having cleaved unto God in life and health he will not cast him away in time of Age nor forsake him when his strength faileth He that is his God will be his Guide unto Death with this firm assurance he is blessed But the sinner being an hundred Years Old shall be accursed Isa 65. 20. and therefore is extreamly afraid to receive it That studied unmindfulness of his latter end when Death dogs him at the heels and is ready to gnaw on him yet he puts of the looking thereon and thence foolishly thinks all is well enough An horrible dread and fearful expectation hovers over him which he drives away as long as he can some make a shew off much Mirth and Briskness all for pleasure and company still this is but a forced Joviality However they pretend to have a Youthful mind in a withered Body in vain Pastimes to skip like young Lambs this they are the more obliged unto for to stifle inward Sorrow and fear It is an easie matter especially by aid of Company and Sensuality to make an outward appearance of what is contrary within to laugh or make a noise when there is Vexation of Spirit 'T is not only Age nor Constitution whatever worldly and unbelievers talk is the cause of Misery but it is principally occasioned by Sin and Guilt which others again are freed from by Innocency and Gospel Righteousness Some are such deceivers of themselves that they will rather think any thing a cause of trouble then their sins The way of the wicked is as Darkness they know not at what they stumble Prov. 4. 19. Natural weakness is common to all as to which they are tormented and others comforted but they are further subject to horrour and misery from which the Righteous are altogether freed If the eyes of the ungodly are waxed dim so that they cannot longer behold vanity it is grievous to be bereaved of what they placed good in especially there being no Light within them but their body is full of Darkness If they are not able to fulfill their lusts in which was their chiefest delight how wretched must they be When the affection and desire towards them doth still remain but the Members and Sences have lost their power and relish Those which knew no other Happiness but outward sensual pleasures and they have yet an hankering what shall be done when those are vanished and they have no other comfort or satisfaction instead thereof They wish they had never been Life is a burthen which they would surrender up presently if they could be certain the Spirit would turn into soft air and the body ever remain insensible as the Earth out of which it was taken but they sadly fear it will be otherwise The oldest men if remaining in Irreligion and Wickedness still do desire and endeavour after a further continuance of their life though it be a succession of miseries linked one upon another and they have sucked out even to loathing all Worldly pleasures and now cannot enjoy them They are weary of life and afraid to die for they expect no good from it but evil That punishment which attends for them till out of the body frightens when they are in and the remedy they use is not to think thereof If they cast a transient glance towards the Grave as sometimes they are forced they do not look beyond unto Eternity and future Judgment for that raises trouble and anguish of mind There is an inward apprehension which hath been stifled as much as it could they are indeed afraid to appear before that God
Pretence of more Freedom and being their own Men for not so much Original corruption as their own added Transgression hath inthralled them While they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in Bondage 2 Pet. 2. 19. Every one is thus who is led away by sinful Inclinations which is the worst sort of Slavery If they be fulfilled he is thirsty after more and if not he is discontented when they did obtain it was great trouble before the thing when had doth not satisfie and still Desires are let out after something more All of us are miserable and enslaved in our natural State but Gods Grace doth help and bring us out The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to Preach deliverance 〈◊〉 the Capâ—ives and recovering sight of the Blind and to set at liberty â—hâ—m that are bruised Luk. 4. 18. To free those that are the Servants of â—in Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his sâ—rvants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto Death or of obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6. 16. If Men will not yield subjection unto God they do to something else they are servants of Sin and Evil and as much under the suggestions of them as the obedient Soul is bound to live according to his Word Gods service is perfect freedom in comparison of serving divers Lusts and Pleasures yet these â—tand in competition with that so one would think Men were in love with Destruction or they would not suffer so much to â—all into it for less trouble rightly bestowed would carry them to Heaven His Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. Which cannot be said of the dictates of a sensual appetite neither is so much difficulty in keeping them as making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof The way of Man is not in himself it is not in Man that walketh to direct his steps Jer. 10. 23. It is not in his own power to make himself happy and seeing he fain would be so let him make the wisest choice The Lord commanded us to do all these Statutes to fear the Lord our God for our good always Deut. 6. 24. And who would not be confined to the things which are for his welfare and happiness It is for the safety of the Ship that it be steered Mans goings are of the Lord how can a Man then understand his own way Prov. 20. 24. That way is not good which is after his own thoughts Isa 65. 2. And then unto whom can he stand better beholden then that the Lord shall guide thee continually Isa 58. 11. The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Psal 37. 23. It is the property of the Creator alone and not any Creature to have his own will Angels do comply therewith much more should the Sons of Men especially when it is so reasonable and excellent It restrains from nothing but what would do hurt and make us miserable Self will which is an Enemy to Righteousness and Peace must be pulled down This is the first thing to be done If any Man will come after Me let him deny himself Mat. 16. 24. saith our Saviour which is no such hard saying as carnal Reason may Judge for it is a greater satisfaction to resist corrupt inclinations then to yield unto them the less they are given way unto the less strength they have the understanding part rejoyces to get Masterdom over the Will for that is naturally contrary to the Law of God so Command must be had over it or no Obedience will be performed Some have subdued Countries triumphed over mighty Kings led them and their people into Captivity yet themselves have been holden under the invisible Chains of imperious lust and desire They are troubled with stirs and commotions in their new conquests but the greatest are within their own breast which cannot be appeased though the others may by outward force Those Wars and Fightings come from their lusts which War in their Members and cannot be suppressed with all the gallant Troops of Horsemen or brave Legions Though they have got Cities and strong Holds yet still they lust and have not enough If they kill never so many Enemies to possess their Lands yet they desire to have and cannot obtain as much as they wish for they Fight and War yet have not what they would And the reason of all is because they know not God who is the only proper and commensurate object for Mans vast desires There is no other way to Contentment but to apply our selves unto the infinite One above that he would be pleased to moderate our desire after the things here and turn the whole stream thereof unto himself If we could cease reaching after outward things more then what is necessary we should be more happy then those who have greatest abundance the not having is no torment where is no desire We are imperfect and wanting so must covet after somewhat more this leadeth our desire to the end â—or which it was put in that is taketh off from the Creature which cannot satisfie to fix upon the great Creator in whom all fulness dwells As the Heart panteth after the Water-Brooks so panteâ—h my Soul after thee O God. My Soul thirsteth for God for the living â—od when shall I come and appear before God Psal 42. 1 2. Whom have â—in Heaven but Thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire dâ—sire besides Thee Psal 73. 25. If ye be risen with Christ seek those things above Col. 3. 1. These are equal to our boundless desires and even the contemplation do some what fill much more will the enjoyment hereafter Whereas these here being subject to vanity leave the mind craving and empty What can be a greatâ—r Torment then earnest desire after those things which are not to be obtained by all that would and if had to be disappointed of that satisfaction expected from them Inordinate Affection evil Concupisence Covetousness have a present punishment besides the wrath of God which cometh on the Children of Disobedience To prevent these direction is given in the words foregoing Mortifie there â—re your Members which are upon the Earth Col. 3. 5 6. â—f this be done and the body is dead unto the Worlâ— there can be no â—â—â—re after things therein Our Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins thâ—â— he might deliver us from this present evil World according to the will of God and our Father Gal. 1. 3. 4 Christians are obliged by their profession not to love it nor to walk according to it 1 John 2. 15 16 17. Eph. 2. 2 3. Let none think these harsh Doctrines which make mans life miserable when they do the contrary In the World is trouble who mind it are perplexed with cares loss and disappointment If any
the most mighty Lord of all Psal 2. 11. Psal 89. 6 7. things and a poor Worm so it is requisite to preserve a reverence for his awful Majesty and not to think or speak of him as an equal It is the constant stile of the Old Testament and also a Gospel precept Fear God Luke 12. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 7. We are likewise obliged to be somewhat fearful concerning our own Salvation Heb. 4. 1. Rom. 11. 20. Phil. 2. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 17. To do this is not Tormenting but stirs up carefulness and puts upon all things to secure it Happy is the Man that feareth always Prov. 28. 14. From which proceedeth a good Life thence a good Conscience and then is no fear none that is Slavish or hath Torment A third Passion is Joy which word denotes Happiness and is often Of Joy. enjoyned in Scripture for thou commandest all things which may do good O thou Lover of Souls Let the Righteous be glad let them rejoyce before the Lord yea let them exceedingly rejoyce Psal 68. 3. Behold my servants shall rejoyce Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart Isa 65. 13. Thou shalt rejoyce before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hand unto Deut. 12. 18. This joy is not taken away but increased under the Gospel The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads Isa 35. 10. This the Prophet who saw his coming foretold and so it was at the first appearing of Christ our Lord Luke 2. 10 11. He having now accomplished the work for which he was sent into the World there is sufficient matter of gladness Many righteous Men have desired to see these days The whole Gospel by which is established a better Covenant imports what the Apostle doth repeat in his exhortation as if it could never be pressed enough Rejoycing in the Lord always and again say rejoyce Phil. 4. 4. This is the Lord we have waited for we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25. 9. Which is the happiness of Heaven the clear manifestation thereof to the World and the possibility we are put in to partake of it As then it will be a delight to remember how we came through this dark and troublesome Vale so whilst we are here we should lift up our hearts with expectation thereof Accordingly the good Men of old time did who had but the Glimmering whereof we have the fuller Light If the heir of a Kingdom or a good Estate is so transported with conceits and fancies of future good it cannot be thought absurd that who have the evidence and hope of such an exceeding eternal blessedness which will be one day revealed should be proportionably pleased with the foresight and John 16. 22. Gal. 3. 22. assurance thereof Accordingly that Christian who hath a real interest hath also a sensible rejoycing therein which doth exceed all the pleasures and imaginations here What results from gross and sensual things is not worthy to be compared with pure and spiritual yet God as a most Bountiful Master to his Servants hath given them many things here for recreation and delight He doth deny nothing which is good and convenient for us We are all to admire and comply with the Riches of his Mercy and Love who hath placed into our frame this affection of joy and hath provided things proper for it and hath done as much as lieth on his part to compleat the great end of our being happy How then came Sorrow in God made it not neither hath he pleasure in the grief of the living but it came in through Sin and Of Sorrow Transgression Gen. 3. 15 16. It was the effect of mans own disobedience and was justly inflicted on him as a Punishment so it is continued of every sin besides As such God ordained it but in the beginning when he made Male and Female he did not implant it into our nature we now come into the World crying for we fell and were corrupted with our fore-father Sin is interwoven into our very flesh and as the necessary consequent thereof sorrow also The Conception and Birth of our Lord was different from ours in him was no sin yet when he came into the World to make his Soul an offering for sin He was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity Isa 53. Mark 14. 34 of us all yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief so great that he poured out his Soul unto Death and bore the sins of many But now since he hath borne our grief and carried our Sorrows O astonishing goodness of the Son of God we are so far from sinking under them that these also I speak Mysteries tend to our Happiness Whilst we look on him whom we have Pierced and Mourn for him as one Mourneth for his only Son Zec. 12. 10 Isa 63. 9. 1 Thes 1. 10. even then considering how in his love and in his pity he hath redeemed us and hath delivered us from the wrath to come an holy joy will arise When we reflect that he who did drink of the Brook in the Way hath now lifted up his head above Angels Principalities and Powers Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him Phil. 2. 9. a Name which is above every Name Our Sorrow is turned into Joy for the exceeding and glorious condition Jesus whom our Soul Heb. 12. 1. loveth is in at this time If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I Cant. 1. 6. said I go unto the Father This he said before his bitter Death John 14. 28. and Passion and now may seem to speak to all the World what he did once to the Daughters of Jerusalem Weep not for me but for your selves Are you troubled at those cruel sufferings I have undergone My Fathers indignation is past they are all over and the remembrance is not in the least grievous now I am crowned with Glory and Honour But weep for your selves who are in the Wilderness for the tribulation in the World and more especially weep for those sins which occasioned what I did suffer forsake them and come to me If ye pretend to be sorry for me and this doth not follow that is to cry out Hail King of the Jews and crucifie him afresh and put him to open Shame He hath instituted an holy Feast for the continual remembrance of his Passion the reasons thereof are to stir up our love towards him and the hatred of our own Sins God hath manifested his displeasure against them by the Death of his own beloved Son who came out of his Bosome yet when he took sin upon him had the full Vials of wrath poured forth as is evident by his Agony and bloody Sweat by the pains he endured on the Cross His sufferings were so exceeding that
establish among us The whole course of nature is a Lecture on this Subject of Government so those which would have none must turn the World up-side down Who dâ—â—es such a strange attempt But as there have been unusual and prodigious Comets which have blazed for a while and threatned destruction so there have not been wanting incendiaries here below who endeavoured to set the Earth on a Combustion but themselves at last were consumed in flame they kindled There have been some Enemies to all Government but very few All Mankind of every Country Nation and Language who have not extinguished their reason nor been transformed into the Satyrs of the Wilderness have alwaâ—s had among them some kind or other when they have pulled down one Form they have set up another There is no living amongst Men without any But this sort of alteration is commonly long before accomplished and there are in the mean while violent contentions among the people some crying for this and another for that and perhaps none know wherefore Then the word is drawn against our own Country Men One is dashed against another even the Jer. 13. 14. Fathers and the Sons together Neighbours and Kinsfoâ—ks pursuing one another to death for every battle of the Warriour is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood We may see goodly personages wallowing in their own gore trodden under foot and no Isa 9. 5. Man to regard them we may hear the cruel instruments of death bellowing forth wo and destruction the skreeks and groans of dying Men. There is a multitude of slain and a great number of carcases they stumble upon their coâ—psâ—s a real landskip of misery occaâ—oned by their own sin and folly They thought it at first a Nahum 3. 3. fine and gainful thing to be disturbers of a quiet state and it is to be feared further on for seditions exclude Men out of the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. 20 21. So they hinder future happiness and also the present both as to others and themselves such have an inward â—ret and are tormented at as they think the ill administration of publick affairs Like sick stomachs which turn sweet into bitter so their fancy doth misrepresent even the good and just actions of those in Authority They have a strange art of interpretâ—â—â— all things to the worse so when they come to consider and chew the cud they relish nothing but biâ—terness they spend their days in Sorrow which is wholly their own fault and their life becomes uneasie to them If they have some natural courage which in proper acceptation is not for they cannot bear the present evil and run blindly into the other they conclude death is rather to be chosen When this principle is once taken up then through instigation of the Devil who is never wanting when he hath opportunity of suggesting mischief they form desperate designs not caring for their own they will attempt anothers life and him they lay in wait for whom they vainly and falsly think the Author of all their misery reasoning within themselves If their wicked imaginations should take effect then they shall be eased of all their grief but if they should miscarry they would be freed from a wretched life which before was so grievous that they can as willingly endure it to be taken away by the hands of an Executioner as their own And indeed if it was not for the succeeding Eternity these Sons of Belial these accursed Traytors were wise in their undertaking but they are blinded or holden up by Wine and Pride as not to consider of this or otherwise they would never by such steps ascend up to this high crime The Law is good if a Man use it lawfully knowing this that the 1 Tim. 8. 9 10 11. Law is not made for a righteous Man but for the lawless and disobedient for those that despise dominion speak evil of dignities and do those things which are contrary to sound Doctrine the peace of their Country and themselves Who will be neither convinced by Scripture nor Reason nor Self-love must be concluded under the number of those obstinate Souls with whom nothing prevails The Spirit that lusts to Rebellion is too far ingrafted in them but surely none is come to such a degree of evil Principles for then it would be as vain to say any thing more to such as to wash the Ethiopian White And it would be equally absurd to compare these with the Loyal and Obedient who are more happy in this life as to confer bitter with sweet for these have that acquiescence of mind which was once in the Israelites who were so for a Novelty which they were always obliged to be in duty Whatsoever the King did pleased all the People 2 Sam. 3. 36. But it may be surmised What if our Rights and Liberties should be invaded and those in Authority should take too much upon them as to become Arbitrary Unjust and Tyrannical This is the reasoning of flesh and blood against the Commandments of the Gospel and in like manner against forgiving Injuries We are not to go according to the dictates of Fleshly Wisdom or of natural and present preservation to inherit the Kingdom of God To submit to a light inconvenience for that is very consistent with true prudence But this is an Argument from an abuse which may happen and if that were sufficient to condemn or surcease a thing we might do so as to all for nothing is so excellent in its own Nature but may be corrupted Not one obligation or duty to God or Man but a seeming mischief may ensue upon it He hath been pleased to try our obedience in such kinds of relation if we do our parts we may expect the good and recompence thereof others are to perform theirs at their peril or encouragement Against a King there is no rising up Prov. 30. 31. Where the Word of a King is there is Power and who may say unto him what dost thou Eccles 8. 4. Against thee thee only have I sinned Psal 51. 4. Said David in his confession to God for the Murther of Vriah which shews he was accountable to him only for that wicked Action In the New Testament is a positive command of Christ Mat. 5. 39. But I say unto you that ye resist not evil which extends to what is done by those who have dominion over us and an injury offered by a private person Yet I will not be afraid to speak out if either should take advantage over Passive Obedience or the forgiving temper as to domineer or affront the more it is baseness in the mean while and it will be determined who acts best they who go according to the dictates of corrupted nature which is Proud and Cruel or who have it corrected by the Wisdom from above which makes it pure peaceable gentle and easy to be intreated Jam. 3. 17. Let them be never so great in their own Opinion
for that also was once to come and we see it hath already been The day of death with us living is to come and though it be so none can be foolish to deny but that will as certainly be as was the day of our Birth All this great business which is cryed up to be so much at a distance is only till then for albeit the perfect consummation of bliss and misery will be after the general Judgment and how it shall be with us immediately after Death there is no plain Revelation yet from John 9. 4. Heb. 9. 27. and alike places it appears As the Tree falls so it lies As Death leaves one so Judgment finds him What therefore doth it signifie if the General Day be afar off when the Day of our particular Death may be next Week to Morrow this very Night God may require our Soul The body remains insensible in the Sleeping-House of the Grave yet it will be awaked from thence by the Trump of the Arch-Angel A Man would not go to sleep very securely if he knew before hand he Mat. 25. 6. should be rouzed by his House burning about his ears and of this we are assured that after our earthly Tabernacle is laid down it riseth up no more till the day of the Lord comes as a Thief in the Night 1 Thes 5. 2. In the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up If we would be safe in that great day we must before we go hence consider and do well that we may be worthy to escape and stand the only strength is innocence Seeing then these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved 2 Pet 3. 10 11 14. We daily approach nearer to morrow then to day and thus continually make towards it Whether we Eat or Drink Sleep or Play our time passeth and whether we think of it or not we are always going to that state in which time shall be no more How soon we may be there we know not but most certainly we shall be there at last Take ye heed Watch and Pray for ye know not when the time is Mark 13. 33. Who will not obey this Commandment but be unmindful go to sleep and take their rest yet their Damnation slumbereth not and if they put the evil day far from them yet still their condemnation lingereth not and that will come do what they can In the days of Sodom they did Marry and were given in Marriage did not at all consider the things which should come upon them nevertheless the Lord rained down Fire and Brimstone What are now become of all those in the Generation with Amos who would put the evil day far from them Yet it is long since come and they could not stave it off Those of the same mind in the time of our Amos 6. Fathers are all gone and their carelesness could not preserve them from the Pit of Destruction They thought the very like what some do now the things of another World were at a great distance and they need not mind them yet they fell in unawares We can no more think their misery less then who wilfully shut their Eyes and drop into a bottomless Gulph whereas if they had kept them open they might have seen and passed by it Like the evil Servant who said in his heart My Lord delayeth his coming Mat. 24. 48. They had time enough and to spare on the Earth therefore they would smite and oppress their Neighbours eat and drink with the drunken But the Lord came in a day when they looked not for him and they are reserved unto his just Judgment if they might rise from the dead again and have another day of grace and for bearance they would be other kind of Men They would take heed and not be surprized on a sudden But the decrees of Almighty God like himself are unchangeable they were told of this before and they might have accepted the good counsel of the Lord Jesus and therefore he is Righteous in his dealings towards Men. Who dyed in their sins have no more place for repentance for he gave them a space to repent and they repented not Rev. 2. 21. But the living may as we are at this day yet not better then our Fathers we must shortly dye in like manner and are to stand or fall to our own Master We shall see another representation of things then is now before us one which openeth into the eternal Countrys either new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. Or a Land of Darkness of the shadow of Death a place of Dragons and Scorpions the inhabitation of Sin and Misery Yet a little while and we shall be removed out of this place and then we shall find that the things here spoken of though they may at present seem as idle tales Luke 24. 11. will be real and no fictions Whosoever believeth that God is true and that those things are so which he hath spoken by his holy Prophets Son and Apostles cannot otherwise then be convinced of the certainty of them even now If so nothing can be more effectual to perswade Men futurity will be no more an argument against them then now it is against Mens going a Voyage to a Foreign Country where it is several Months before they can reap any profit The shortness of the time before at least by Death the infallibility of that the exceeding greatness of the concern should take away all other disadvantages If we had but faith as a grain of Mustard-seed we should remove Mountains which now hinder us to behold the Land that is very far off Isa 33. 17. And for all the distance it would more affect us because of its exceeding pleasantness then that our feet now tread on if it doth not it cometh to pass because of unbelief Nevertheless if we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. He hath provided a rest for his people and to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not Heb. 3. 18. They shall not only be deprived of that but shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev. 21. 8. Which they may as soon avoid by saying they do not believe any such thing as now they may a temporal evil by fancying strongly it shall not come upon them If they could make themselves immortal by having a lively Faith that they shall â—ot die or if they were fast bound to a Stake and a pile of Faggoâ—s kindled close round about and they could be preserved from
Lord Jer. 17. 5. He gives even unto them all that they have and can do thy self more good then all the Men of the World. Though this is as it were hidden for Tryal whether they will draw off from him and others would run unto them Indeed the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14. 17. but things as will better satisfie then they do now For you eat and drink and hunger and thirst again But if you would seek after that in the mean time you would be quieted with the hopes and Faith thereof till you come actually to sit down at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. A Supper to which all the Dainties of the World are as stinking Carrion It doth infinitely exceed both in Delight and Continuance all the most pleasant things here What would you not do at present if you could get such an Estate as some of thy rich Neighbours have you would think nothing too hard many a Sleepless Night and laborious Day you would suffer with all your Heart if you might attain it But thou seest no way or possibility if thou wouldst never so much desire to do it Well be contented nevertheless and assure thy self that if thou art not slothful but come unto him who will meet thee in the way of Righteousness and then follow hard after him thou shalt undoubtedly come to Heaven when the Great Ones if wicked and disobedient shall be thrust down with Shame and Confusion Or if they fear God do thou endeavour to exceed them in Graces and Well-doing and so be more had in Honour by him who rewards every Man according to his work not so Luke 16. 10. much for what Rank and Degree he was in the World. If thou dost obey the Lord thou wouldst with Patience and Quietness of Spirit endure whatever low Condition thou art in and be rather the more thankful because thereby quickned and stirred up to a Godly Life Sometimes to hunger Prompts to strive the more earnestly to come to that place where you shall be filled You have the less Temptation to take up a Rest here but should more seek after that which is to come It is an hard Case indeed never to do any thing but to take Pains to be like the Ox or Ass to live to no other end but that of Labour but it is not so with you for God hath provided better things if you would accept them He hath ordained a Rest and a Promise is left us of entring Heb. 2. 8. 3. into it And we are Commanded to fear least any of us should come short of it Some we read of Who could not enter in because of unbelief And this same is an hindrance to Men now adays for what makes them who do nothing but toil and yet are unmindful of this true Rest unless it is because they do not believe any such thing But if Men are unbelievers whilst they live they shall not be so when they die for there will succeed a certain fearful Expectation of Judgment and Condemnation The unbelievers shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Saith the same Divine Witness I heard a voice from Heaven Saying unto me Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do follow them Rev. 14. 13. All do not so but only those who die in the Lord. That Saying so common in the mouth of Country People When such an one is dead he is happy because freed from the Pains and Miseries of Life is false when applyed to all indifferently good and bad for this Blessing belongs only to those who have led a Godly Life By Death we fall into the hands of the living God and then he may deal with us as seemeth good in his sight however being a God of Truth he will do so with all of us as is declared in his Word which is Truth And therefore it will be so with us according as we order our Conversation in this present World by the words written in that Book Seeing the Case is thus it must be the more excellent way to fit our selves accordingly We often provide for those things which never happen and if they should are but of small moment Shall we not much more prepare against that which will certainly come and is of greater Concern to every one of us then any thing now in the World is All our Care now is to keep Life for the present and shall no Care be had to live for ever We can never do too much to preserve Health and keep of sullen Death as long as we can And shall not we do the same to escape the second Death that wretched Condition in which Men shall seek for Death and it shall flee from them With all our Pains we cannot hold of temporal Death and yet we would we may by the Grace of God preserve our selves from eternal Death and there we will not Oh strange madness O unspeakable Folly O ye Sons of Men who hath bewitched you to Act so Preposterously Death in it self is not more grievous then Pain or Sickness now is nay not so much for as in Health we fall asleep when we do not perceive it so then those violent Pangs destroy the Sence and Feeling but that which comes to the wicked after renders it exceeding terrible and that should be most dreaded which would not be in vain because it would make us flee from the wrath to come Would we take as great heed least we die after Death as now we do to save our selves from Death then Death should have no Dominion over us it shall not bring Evil but Good unto us The sting of Death is sin but Command is given to pluck that out Cast away from you all your Transgressions whereby ye have Transgressed and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel for I have no Pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord God. Wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 31 32. Here you are taught and also enjoyned how though you die you may live again Look a little further then this present Life It is of few days and full of trouble Who would place his Confidence in that which is uneasie and must an end Time hasteneth away Death is coming on Every Man must at length close with it He must either lye down in Peace which is the Portion of the righteous or dye as the wicked do in Horrour and Anguish of mind or in a stupid Condition as is the Case of most However some admire this sort of Death for they say he dies liâ—â— a Lamb yet there is no Peace saith my God to the wicked Isa 57. 21. Such a Death is like a drunken Mans falling down a steep Rock his Sottishness hath cast him
did not take up our rest there for we believed God had provided better things We fully trusted unto what some did only make a reserve of and therefore would make sure of the Wordly happiness O wonderful wise in their own Opinion and accordingly did run after every trifle snatch at every thing goodly to behold did tear their flesh with thornes and briers walked through deserts and wandred out of the way and so missed of the place to which those who had faith are arrived Deut. 32. 20. It will be more Happiness to the blessed Spirits in Heaven to remember that they came thither with more ease and less trouble then those accursed Souls did find in the way which led to Hell which consideration will be a greater degree of torment to them This is true of all sorts and conditions of Men from the highest to the lowest whatever rank they stand in the World it is their greatest happiness to fear God and keep his Commandments then which what more forcible Exhortation can be desired to perswade Men For the very same doth prevail as to all other things CHAP. VI. A Survey in General of those sins which hinder the Happiness of Mankind as contrary to Scripture and from the very nature of Things HItherto hath been shewed out of Gods Word what is required of Man in every state and condition and what is most for his own Happiness Nothing can be done too much to further this great end and therefore it is necessary to proceed unto the discovery of those things which promise and make a shew of Happiness but in truth hinder from obtaining Every single person proposes to himself some Felicity which is the end of his Actions Now the mistake is wherein this Happiness of Man is placed Whether in obedience to Gods Commandments or taking the full of the things of this World following his own inclinations and humours God hath given Laws to his Creatures the transgression of which is Sin. As soon as the World was peopled the Wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the Earth Gen. 6. 5 12. Evil hath interwoven it self into every particle of his Nature he is become strangely in love therewith not knowing or rather not minding that like a sweet Poyson causes Sickness and Death so this brings Misery and Ruine The fault is wholly in himself for he will be ignorant Love is blind according to the Proverb and also it prejudices The resolution is not to part with and so shuts the Eyes stops the Ears not suffering himself to be perswaded of its Deformity and Mischief Sin hath stole away the hearts of the Men of this World it kisses and flatters insinuating what a deal of good it will do them what pleasure it affords By one Man sin entred into the World Rom. 5. 12. It prevailed upon him after such a colloguing and creeping manner We may blame our Fore-Father for putting the Seeds of evil in but yet by the assistance given us we may stop the growth thereof Sin hath this Advantage that it hath taken Root and hath one part even our dear flesh to side with it Which as so much dung and soil makes it shoot forth abundantly yet still as it appears above ground we may cut it off And if we alwayes keep it thus short it may indeed and will somewhat trouble us as long as we remain in this sinful Earth but it will not overcome or triumph over us Let not sin reign in your Mortal Body Rom. 6. 12. The Apostle well knew what â—e said in calling it a Mortal Body If absolutely without sin it could not be Mortal for Death is by reason of Sin But he further explains himself verse 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 'T is the Dominion and Power of sin which is really and finally hurtful from that any one may be freed who will come unto Christ Without me ye can do nothing John 15. 5. And again We can do all things through Christ that strengthneth us Phil. 4. 13. Men are naturally apt to give back yea and corruption hath so weakned them that they cannot go unto him No Man can come unto me except the Father which sent me draw him John 6. 44. And if any will seek unto God for this purpose he will powerfully move and incline them to be followers after Christ When one is brought over to a thing with great striving and unwillingness it is a common saying that he is compelled though at last he yields to it freely compare Mat. 22. with Luke 14. 23. And so God doth work by his Spirit upon the untoward hearts of Men He gives Grace and corruption is there also and these struggle together within the Man. Though corruption hath the start of being there before and doth influence yet Grace sollows close at the heel hath power with God and with Men and will prevail But the Question is with which the Man will side and take part whether he will work together with the Grace of 2 Cor. 6. 1. God or yield to his own corruptions and so receive that in vain He cannot be neuâ—er or unconcerned for the War is within him and it is here as between the house of David and Saul the one grows stronger and stronger the other weaker and weaker according to the single Victories one hath over the other To him that hath shall be given who useth well shall have more but who doth not from him shall be taken away that which he hath An old hardned Sinner bred up in ungodliness from his Youth is as awkward to Prayer or good Duties as a stone to flie upwards yet in his life time past had Disposition and Power to do those things unto which now he is averse So he who hath little and few good motions yet if he doth cherish and comply with these from time to time he will have them greater and more impulsive The Spirit of God is a delicate thing and cannot endure to be vexed who rebell against its dictates and thwart its desires do provoke him to with-draw What passionate intreaties doth Isa 63. 10. he make to reclaim sinners O! that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes Psal 81. 13. Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee Jer. 31. 3. Some are moved by this and others are of such base nature as to resist it And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is Athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Rev. 22. 17. Here is Conscience Christ his Ministers the want and desire of good and comprehensively all other motives which invite but none is forced for all
all which doth seem to shew that great happiness doth arise from this sin notwithstanding it is here endeavoured to be lessened To the first instance let it be considered The greatest Torment and pain after it is over is the very same as if it had not been at all The anguish is forgotten and nothing remains but a saint Memory which is rather pleasant and therefore when this is laid in the Ballance it will not weigh down the seeming pleasure of a present Temptation which herein hath the advantage and thus prevails over Men The inviting good is at hand whereas the evil and inconveniencies are either past and then they are as nothing Or else to come and that is not already or may not be so it stands upon the same yea more unequal ground then the other did Hence what is present is preferred before what may be hereafter It is a thing only possible or contingent and so may not happen And therefore it is said the lustâ—ul person will venture again for if he knew the like event would come upon him he would as certainly refrain The burnt Child dreads the Fire himself also is more cautious and circumspective ever after If he doth greatly suspect he will decline so that the evil in his own judgment is greater then the good for he will lose the certain enjoyment of a present Object for fear only oâ— the uncertain consequence of the other This is his Opinion in time of ease and delivery from former pain but when he was smarting under it then might be heard his true judgment of this matter That cursing and indignation those real and then hearty resolutions of never committing the like again do sufficiently evidence the pain exceeds all the pleasure If he doth follow it again it is because that is vanished and gone but the other stands before him and solicites for entertainment It is difficult for flesh to resist the charms of what seems amiable especially if it look only upon the first outward appearance as the sensual Man looks no further it doth asâ—ent The delusion and mistake is he casts half and a partial Eye There being in this and every Sin A mixture of seeming Good and real Evil The first Being open and visible the last somewhat more within not discovered but by a discerning sight he just sees what is lovely and will mind no more but how to attain that yea having a desire after it he is afraid to peep further least he should find out something to discourage from the other Poor foolish Creature Thou art afraid of losing a Lust which is a very little Good consequently missing thereof must be no great unhappiness and yet blindly darest upon a great Evil which will make miserable Thou choosest Sin for that little and present advantage but knowest not or dost not consider the sad end thereof And thus thou actest like ignorant Boys who in Play and Sport pull down the Prop of Building which falls and crusheth them to Death It is not prudent Choice but haâ—ty inconsiderate doing for if when tempted to this Sin thou wouldst stand still and pause upon the manifold Evil consequeâ—ts thereof in this Life and that to come thou wouldst no more yield to it then make a mortal Wound in thy Body to drink thine own Blood which is said to be sweet but the other will bring Pain and Death Let none judge from the foolish Actings of Men but from the reason of things And though some which should have more understanding because of length of days and experience yet have a mighty esteem of these sins who are so far from coming to repentance that they more harden themselves and boast in Iniquity They should forsake when they cannot sin longer but we see by them this is not such repentance as God will accept for in Truth it is none at all A change of Mind doth not follow from Disability to Sin nay there is only a ceasing from the outward Act for the heart and tongue which were filthy are filthy still By such a long and continued course they are hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin The Author to the Hebrews applies the Word to all indifferently Heb. 3. but this in a more especial manner may be said to be deceitful above all sins There is a strange bewitching Nature in it a Man is led from one sinful Act to another the next time he is promised more sweetness from a different Object if he is sometimes struck with the fear of Gods Vengeance and he thinks of his sin in order to Repent then the Devil is not wanting to raise thoughts of former delight and instead of recollecting them with horrour and detestation he is well pleased with what he hath done and cannot seriously repent of them if he would Thence he concludes it impossible and so goes on with hope to be excused seeing he hath tryed to repent though he is neither heartily Sorry for what he hath done nor leaves it of When formerly he might have refrained from the several Acts and so by degrees have came to perfect Abhorrency and true Contrition And now he might keep his Tongue from every filthy and idle Word confess in the bitterness of his Soul instead of Glorying in his Shame endeavour all ways to disswade others rather then allure them on But commonly they are still held Captive and few do recover out of an habit of Lust And I find more bitter then death the Woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her but the sinner shall be taken by her Eccles 7. 26. They cling and hamper so fast and the Man likes them that there is seldom any escaping when he hath been long holden under them As at beginning of this Iniquity they climb up from step to another till they come to the height so they will continue there as long as they can And when they must let go one or two rounds they will hold fast to the rest When Strength decays and Age comes on they still commit as much of the Sin as ever they can Through these Mens Obduration and foolishness others conceive abundance of Happiness must flow from this muddy and stinking Fountain But shall they be Judges who are given over to vile Affections Who can no more know the true happiness of Man then Brute Beasts if these dumb Creatures could speak with Mans Voice they might as well be called to give their Opinion and then no question the Hart or Goat would give a large commendation thereof Who know nothing better and whose capacities once exalted and honourable are sunk into low and base lusts have a mighty Valuation for them this being the utmost and greatest excellency they can attain unto They likewise who are now fallen into the midst of these sins know of the things here spoken of let them make all speed to Repent of the Vncleanness and Fornication and
Lascivionsness which they have committed 2 Cor. 12. 21. The Lord Jesus will not condemn them if they go and sin no more John 8. 11. Was not Rahab the Harlot justified And from the Examples of Lot David we may be assured God hath Mercy on such Sinners if they do not abuse his goodness but leave off their Transgression and do Works acceptable and holy in his sight This full and plain manner of Writing was necessary to manifest the very Truth let none suck Poison out of that which was designed for an Antidote nor presume to sin yet more from what God knows was only intended to lead to Repentance The temptation which leads Men over to these lusts is that they think they shall be happy in so doing here it is discovered to be a delusion only and Men would be more happy as to this present time if they had nothing to do with them or make use of the lawful remedy there is the same invitation offered to leave of as before was to follow them So much of lust in the General now briefly run over the particulars Every one knoweth what Adultery is Stolen Waters are said to be sweet and it is matter of sport to beguile the poor Husband Of Adultery Yet O Man shalt thou boast for ever Knowest thou not it will be bitterness in the end Yea there is Trouble and Vexation Fear and Guilt all along By the Jewish Law which wâ—s of Divine Appointment the Adulterer and Adulteress shall be sâ—râ—ly put to death Lev. 20. 10. And so it is at this day in several Nations of the World Christian Mahometan and Heathen but here it is rather fashionable and of plaufible report Whatever credit Adulterers or Adulteresses get it is only among the Children of Disobedience but the Righteous have them in Abomination in this life they labour under continual Disquiet Tribulation and Anguish everlasting Shame and Contempt wait for them in that which is to come The injustice and wrong is somewhat less in Fornication but Of Fornication it is a provoking sin and offensive unto God. If any Man dâ—files the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is Holy which Temple ye are 1 Cor. 3. 17. Flee Fornication every sin that a Man doth is without the body but he that committeth Fornication sinneth against his own Body 1 Cor. 6. 17. A great part of the Chapter is against this particular so that any thing may as well be denyed to be a Sin as Fornication If the Spiâ—it of God saith it is a sin and wicked Men say it is none whose Words shall stand his or theirs Jer. 44. 28 29. And by whose Judgment must they abide When he punisheth for the same let them dispute away the Smart of it if they can Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them giving themselves over unto Fornication and going after strange Flesh are set forth for an Example suffering the Vengeance of Eternal Fire Jude 7. The end of being set forth for an Example is that others should take heed for the like will happen to them if they do the same things There doth too often go along with this an abomination of iniquity as Murder in the Womb those preventives of getting with Child and wicked means to cause Abortion or Miscarrying Moreover there is killing of Infants to hide their shame from the World a manifest proof how tormenting this is that they dare upon such Sinful and Barbarous Actions to concâ—al it If they are not so unnatural and desperately wicked as to stifle the poor Infant then it remains a Witness of the Parents Transgression But if made away that is a double sin and shall rise up an evidence against them at the Bar of the General Judgment to their Eternal shame and confusion before God Angels and Men. There are several other evils too many to be recited but may be known by observation which do sufficiently shew that it is best for Mankind to comply with the VVill of God even your sanctification that you should abstain from Fornication 1 Thes 4. 3. There are several sorts of uncleanness as if a Man lie with Mankind as he lieth with a VVoman both of them have committed Abomination Of Uncleanness they shall be surely put to death And if a man lie with a Beast he shall be surely put to death and ye shall slay the Beast Lev. 20. 13. 15. so that described Rom. 1. 26. 27. There is another kind by self pollution If there be among you any Man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by Night Deut. 23. 10. Which is no great fault because it is matter of infirmity contingency and not wilfullness but how much worse is he who of set purpose forceth himself to be thus unclean It is detestable to think or speak of much more it is to act such things But Fornication and all Vncleanness let it not be once named among you as becometh Saints Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks for this know that no VVhoremonger nor unclean Person hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph. 5 3 4. 5. Lasciviousness imports Light and wanton Actions Dalliances Of Lasciviousness and rude Gestures lustful Thoughts immodest glances of the Eye curious inspection upon the faces of Women Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Mat. 5. 28. Said Christ who came to interpret some Laws give others and finally is to be the judge of all Those several Inclinations and Tendencies to unlawful lust are comprehended under this Word VVhen lust hath conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Jam. 1. 15. It suggesting pleasing thoughts will be apt to procure a consent which makes the sin and therefore should be stifled in its first rise The way of avoiding Lust is to eschew all occasion and provocations thereof The great design of the Gospel is to prepare and bring People to Heaven and then they must be pure and spiritual to fit them for the Holy of Holies to qualifie them for the promise Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Mat. 5. 8. Now lust and filthiness is an hindrance to this and therefore must be taken away before we are made meet for the Celestial Happiness To refrain from the aforementioned things would be to destroy the Briskness and refined Breeding of the World the principal whereof is to make complemental Addresses to young Women What Mirth and Laughter do they stir up amongst Promisâ—uous Company of both Sexes So the use thereof may appear not only agreeable to right Education but also it conduces to divertisement and happiness It must be acknowledged that here and in other things Christianity is directly opposite to the present Fashion God and the
and what doth the short respite avail them if not employed to the foresaid use Those who are so over careful of their Health if not of their Salvation also as these things have been too often put asunder do notwithstanding go away at last as to the first they were cumbred in vain but the other Labour would not have been so 1 Cor. 15. 58. for perhapâ— they might prevent Death a little time but yet still it comes and will be more terrible if the only thing needful be not as much minded Let the wicked World search after all the Policies that can be had do all things to pacifie for satisfie they cannot their minds yet they have no Preservation against the Fear and Danger of Death There is more help to be had in Faith and Obedience then all their Stratagems However they Brave it out in time of Health and Vigour yet the wickedness of the wicked will come to an Numb 32. 13 14. end The Generations of them have been and are in Rebellion but the single Persons fall away day by day Now goeth one and then another An Evil as only Evil behold is come an end is come it watcheth for thee behold it is come The morning is come upon thee O thou that dwellest in the Land the time is come the day of trouble is neer and not the sounding again of the Mountains Ezek. 7. 5 6 7. The time of last Sickness and Death hath already came upon many Millions of wicked Men several at this instant lie strugling and those who now walk so disdainfully and do not value any sort of Sin in a short time themselves will come to be in the same Condition And then if they are the least sensible or apprehensive What Fear and Horror are they in What dreadful Thoughts do arise in their minds They having not given Glory unto God but on the contrary dishonoured him must be horribly surprized about their Feet stumbling upon the dark Mountains as their Souls do look over into the other World they shrink back and would fain stay where they are Now a flashing of Thunder makes them startle Hell opens a little as ready to receive them and they leap back then a sad presage doth discompose and trouble them If they would but at the last give Glory to God discover the utmost they suffer to warn By-standers to acknowledge Gods Justice and their own Sinfulness Who knows how kindâ—y he may take it from them see Jer. 3. 12 13. But some as they were disobedient in their life time are sullen in their Death or ashamed and not willing to take discredit upon themselves for Pride goes out last with the body of sin Otherwise they might own as much as indeed some have done and it was never the worse for them And who have strove to conceal yet sudden words drop forth and other signs manifest their sad Condition All their sinful Pleasures are vanished away like smoke and leave this blackness behind If never so much hath been done to please Men that signifies nothing for they cannot support him they are under the same Law and shall not be able to deliver themselves The World and all things therein are passed away what he hath done as to them stands in no stead that was the Enemy which beguiled now shrinks away and leaves him in this foreâ—orn Condition His body is to descend into the Bars of the Pit which till the Resurrection will be no more then a Stone or any other lump of Clay under the Earth but where the Soul shall be received is the Anguish and Vexation If sin was a thing of naught as we are apt to Imagine God who is good and his Judgments are Righteous altogether would never inflict such â—â—nishments for the same as we see he doth when his Wrath is kindled but a little when he begins to execute Sin receives its aggravation from the Person of him against whom it is committed The end is come it watcheth for thee Ezek. 7. 6. It is strange that the living will not take warning by what they see hath happened to others Hast thou known or heard of any one that hath died in his sins All the pleasure of them is gone and the same thing with him as if it had not been at all as to the delightful Nature Was he in an Agony or Stupid at the last Dost not thou think it would have been better for that same person if he had lived in Holiness and Righteousness instead of Sin and Iniquity For the fancied trouble but the real delight of the former would have been past and gone as the clamorous and outward Pleasures but the silent and inward Vexation of the latter now is Then he would have had something to trust unto but now he hath not If thou continuest in sin which God forbid just the same will be thy Case Whether thou mindest it or not the day will come when thou shalt be like him The Scripture testifies sufficiently unto all that they do not those things the end of which is Death Rom. 6. 21. To be wretched in this life and afterwards also is a sad thing What can be done too much to prevent either but especially the last The first may be somewhat eased the latter may be wholly taken away And the only means to do it is by Submission and Obedience unto Almighty God That in this time which he hath given to prove us we may be such as he would have us be All reasonable Creatures are either obedient Subjects or Enemies He holds all our breath in for a space he takes it away and we die The Wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the Righteous hath hope in his Death Prov. 14. 32. Now that relies upon the promises of God which are as sure The condition of good Men in their Death as the Foundations of the Earth He upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. And also he doth support the Faith of his Servants by the Word of his Truth Innumerable are the places of Holy Scripture to give them the most perfect assurance that it shall be well with them after Death as Mat. 25. 34 40 46. John 8. 51. John 3. 16. John 6. 33. John 12. 26. John 14. 2 3 19. John 20. 17. Rev. 14. 13. Phil. 1. 21 22. Col. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 1 2 3 4. Rom. 8. 1 15 16 17. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Eph. 1. 13 14. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Rom. 2. 7. Tit. 1. 2. I might transcribe the whole Gospel for it hath relation to this purpose to promote a conversation according to it whilst we live and the Happiness we shall be partakers of after we die as sure as God hath spoken to us by his Son all this shall be fulfilled The Lord Christ must be a deceiver if these things be not so rather then which in the least to think I would say in good earnest and upon
Grace of God should taste Death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. Taking away that exceeding bitterness in it for all those who will comply with the ends of his death Who can withstand such goodness The full Cup was taken off it matters not if a drop or two is left behind that we may just relish how exceeding bitter it was to him Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the VVorld John 1. 29. Even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1. 10. Saith David of Old Yea though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death I will Fear no Evil Psal 23. 4. He speaks a little doubtfully as may be observed by the Particle â—ea though Heb. 12. 27. He is apt to believe he should not he hopes so As one to whom Immortality Resurrection and Eternal Life was not clearly revealed see Psal 6. 5. Psal 88. 10. Isa 38 18. They lived under that dispensation which gendred Bondage but now we know what is written Heb. 2. 14 15. Rev. 14. 13. It is said from henceforth which hath been accordingly fulfilled Immediately after Christ had suffered how did the Saints grapple with Death Notwithstanding that fury and rage of his Enemies we find not Stephen in the least surprized nothing that betrayed any Fear He prays for his Murderers and when he had said this he fell asleep Acts 7. 60. Observe the phrase of the Holy Ghost it was no more trouble or concern to him then an ordinary taking rest by night Paul triumphs over it in behalf of all Christians 1 Cor. 15. 54 55 56. 2 Cor. 5. 4 8. and for himself declares Phil. 1. 21 22. Tertullian describing the Happiness of Christians in his time after he had reckoned up many parts thereof brings up as the most considerable of all That they have no Fear of Death He speaks generally of all not limiting it only to the Martyrs Tert. de spect though indeed it did appear more in them Our Fathers have told us what great things God did in this Nation in those who suffered for his Truth and the Testimony of a good Conscience in the time of Queen Mary The Promise is certain and applicable to all God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble Psal 46. 1. Amongst all the Extremities which befal poor Mortals that seems the sharpest which denominates them such The last Enemy is Death and all other Evils are the more feared because they may bring on that So we may be bold to say God is obliged by Promise to succour his Servants at that time and may humbly intreat him to make good his Word which he doth accordingly The continuance of his Spirit that it hath been now is and ever shall be is plainly asserted Hag. 2. 5. Isa 59. 21. John 14. 16. Whatever is requisite now adays to turn the Hearts of the Fathers unto the Children and the disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just to make ready a People prepared for the Lord Luke 1. 17. there is the same Reason it should and it doth still abide among us as our Fore-fathers God will have a Church in the World to the end of time so all along his Promises do extend and he doth provide things Convenient for the building up Stablishment and Comfort thereof The Spirit is called the Comforter not that he doth deliver from Evils but support under them And it cannot be thoâ—ght whose business is to this very end that this should not assist in the last of all In the time of common Sickness and Death many good People go out of the World at this day with Peace and as it were rejoycing Nay when the Horror of Death approacheth we may see the shew of a Smile in their Countenance how they do insult over this Enemy for do its worst it can do them no harm It is not thus always for several things may stop the exerting forth of this Cheerfulness yet what the Apostle saith is Peremptory and true If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom 8. 9. And that will yield some Comfort it doth shine in the Heart though it may be darkned and over clouded I would in no wise discourage any one who hath sincerity and the true Fear of God who are willing to please him in all things though their beginnings may be imperfect For who hath despised the day of small things Zech. 4. 10. and yet are taken away God will Judge according to the real Intentions for this is accepted if it would indeed come forth into Act as may be learned by comparing Heb. 11. 17. with Gen. 22. 10 12. And so if they should not live to perfect the good Work He who knows the very secrets of the Heart accepts of the Will for the Deed and will deal with them as he knows their Obedience would be if they should live longer these may be in doubt and uncertainty yet go off safely But there is a vast number of Hypocrites and almost Christians who hinder from discerning the Truth for it is more judged of by these Examples then the written Word of God. Whereas they do confirm it the more There is a difference between seeming and reality those who make goodly appearances may be full of Rottenness within and again those who boast they keep all the Commandments may yet want one thing which is necessary to give them Title to Heaven They live in some reserved Sin not discovered to the World or Omâ—ssion of Duty which makes them horribly afraid There is a way shewed that the Scriptures may be fulfilled in Mens Persons Let them do what is therein required and the Promise of good things doth belong unto them None can with just reason conceive the least unfaithfulness in God or Falshood in his Word if himself doth not wholly conform to it Whether Men will or not that remains the same The Scripture cannot be broken John 10. 35. If it is not fulfilled by their obâ—dience unto Happiness it will be notwithstanding in their wickedness by acquainting them what they shall experimentally find Destruction and Misery are in their ways and the way of Peace they have not known Rom. 3 16 17. As the Salvation of the righteous and Condemnation of the wicked will at last tend to Gods Glory so even at this present time they do set forth and manifest his Truth If one finds no Comfort or benefit by the Word it is a sad Sign that it is taken from him and he is yet in his Sins It is because he doth not order his Stâ—ps in Gods VVord but some iniquity hath Dominion over him Psal 119. 133. for we must Sincerely endeavonr the things we pray for Mark the perfect Man and behold the upright for the end of that Man is Peace Psal 37. 37. Not Stupidity or Senselessness for he that hath truly served God in his Life-time doth not go away after
warning against the presumptuous Sinner who turns the Grace of Rom. 2. 4. God into Wantonness who trifles with that which should lead him to Repentance who deceives himself with a slight Remoâ—se and Sorrow but continues impenitent And also to affâ—ighten malicious Transgressors who sin yet more upon the fore sight of future Repentance To make the Professor of Christianity look about himself who doth this or that deliberate Sin as opposing Gods Truth and Servants of set purpose to comply with the humour of the World and thinks to come off afterwards upon a general Repentance or secretly asking Pardon or the like and upon this he did trust before I say to make all these throughly consider what they do and not to be deceived in a matter of so great Concern it is necessary to explain the true Nature of it more fully When the mind is now to do such a thing upon through Consideration Mat. 23. 30. how can they say afterwards they would not have done it or else to trick with the Almighty by not giving way to that because he hopes to have this excuse for his Sin to be willingly ignorant and to do a thing hastily with that reserve this is to disobey that God who twice Commands to consider our ways Hag. 1. 5 7. to endeavour to out-wit him who is all-wise or seek to hide their Counsel from the Lord Isa 29 15. Shall not God search this out For he knoweth the secrets of the Heart Psal 44. 21. And hence may be observed a great difference between the Worâ—s of the Flesh and Perversities of the Spirit The former being through infirmity of the Flesh transient Acts and of sudden surprizal may be more easily repented of because through their Deceitfulness and Temptation the Man may be beguiled or overtaken and when he comes to be convinced of their true Nature and recover out of them he may Act Indignation and Revenge upon himself for the same But for the latter sort when they are resolved on and all the 2 Cor. 7. 11. Circumstances fully known when neither surprizal nor ignorance but what was wilful can be pretended for it this makes the Sin of a very deep dye And when the mind is now to do it and either doth or may foresee the reality thereof with its Consequents How can such an one expect that if it were to do again upon the like Circumstances he would not when now he doth the very same I mean advised continued Acts of Sin as that Spirit of Stubbornness and Perverseness opposing the known Truth Persecution for which Paul gives the Reason why He obtained Mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief 1 Tim. 1. 13. which implies that if it had been knowingly done it would not have been so easily Pardoned Think upon the Case of Persecutors and Hereticks who have persisted so after a full Conviction that they were in the wrong and how many of them have you heard to have came to Repentance What they have done in secret it may be a Question whether that will be accepted for as their offences have been done openly so should their Recantation be likewise if they would have it avail It is necessary not only to be sorry or secretly to bewail but further to undo the fault as much as it can be And as God was dishonoured publickly in like manner to regain his Favour they should acknowledge their Error before Ezra 10. 2 3. Lev. 26. 40. Josh 7. 19. Ezra 10. 10 11. Mark 1. 5. Acts 19. 18. all To speak after the manner of Men That God should have repair for his hurt Majesty have Glory given unto him by Confessing their own Shame We must do as much to reconcile our selves unto an offended God as the Great Ones of the Earth require from all that displease them And this iâ— the end of Confessior those things done in private may be there acknowledged unto Almighty God but in other things the acknowledgment must be as publick as the Sin was Of all that mischief done to the Church of God by Error or Violence smiting with the Tongue of Fist there have been but few instances left on Record of Penitents of this Nature Do not those who have Acted cruelly die suâ—lenly And in those fierce Disputes where one side must be convinced to be in the wrong by the Power and clearness of the Arguments of the other side yet out of Pride Oâ—â—tinacy or Interest they will go on and seek for Eâ—asions where they cannot Answer but how few will openly declare themselves to have been in an Error Where it is purely a defect of Understanding and a mind willing to be informed we have some Reâ—raâ—tations but when the perverse Spirit is once mingled with them it is seldom that they come to Repentance We who are short-sighted and know little but what we gather by Reason and Experience which requires Succession of time are admitted unto Repentance which may supply these Defects and space and Liberty is left unto us of a full advised Choice of Good or Evil Life or Death Now when there is a through and firm perswasion of the Vanity and Vexation of Sin when he doth not barely commit it once twice or so often as to know what it is but still continue in vâ—miting not to be contented to lye only but to Wallow in the Mire is a Sign that he hath 2 Pet. 2. 20 22. made that his Choice Again when God calls by his Word his Spirit by his methods of Judgment and Mercy the Sinner to be reconciled unto him yet he stands out continually surely then he doth not Choose the Fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 29. But is Rebellious Disobedient refusing that reverence and subjection he owes unto his Maker And if at length when he finds he shall be punished for the same then he will make a pretended submission Or stood out so long of set purpose think to pacifie him with a slight Sorrow and going softly for a time by a partial and imperfect Amendment of Life God will judge of this Repentance is never too late if Fruits meet for Repentance are brought forth afterwards if there doth succeed the Christian Life in all Godliness and Honesty But if the â—icled will turn from all his Sins that he hath commited and keep all my Statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not die Ezek. 18. 21. God is sometimes pleased to bring home his Servants by Affliction and Sickness and therefore if in that which proves unto Death there is a true turning of the Soul unto God and he knows the Man would really order his Conversation according to the Gospel and for sake all his former Sins this Man hath good grounds of Hope for Mercy and Forgiveness But for him who puts it off all his Life-time before who thought it soon enough to make his Peace with God in Sickness and Old Age who
into such a Sleep that he knows not whether he is tumbling notwithstanding he comes to a fearful end One dead in Trespasses and Sins perceives not whether he tends when he is just dropping into the Fire yet as soon as he is there he is sensible to a Witness and so will remain for evermore Whatever gnorant By-standers may think such a sort of Death must be a sad sight to all knowing Christians for who can approve of what is occasioned by unbelief gross Ignorance or habitual Wickedness All which Seal men up to the Day of Destruction There is a great difference between this and the end of the Righteous for the one is Senceless and Calls not upon God but in a general way as Lord have mercy upon me or the like which any one may do if he be never so ungodly But the other can express his Peaceable Condition and shew forth good Grounds of hope and call upon God his Saviour with that feelingness which no Stranger to the Covenant of Grace can Righteousness delivereth from Death Prov. 11. 4. It preserves from all the dreadfulness thereof which nothing besides doth Wickedness shall not deliver those who are given unto it but is the cause of all that Misery which this binds Men over unto Let them ruffle and sport themselves never so much their End is coming They must sicken and go away to Account for all their Frolick and Madness There is set before thee a good and evil Death one you must have and therefore be sure to choose the best Be good and do Good and thou shalt never die amiss When thou art wearied with Labour all the days of thy Life this will set thee at Rest but if thou art not willing and obedient thou mayest drudge on still without any hope for after toil here will succeed endless pains according as now thou behavest thy self thou shalt fare well or ill hereafter So will it be with Thee and Me. For we must all appear before the judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. When the Sun shall become black as a Sackcloth of Hair and the Moon become as Blood and the Heavens shall depart as a Reâ— 6. scroll roled together The trump of the Arch-Angels shall sound and the Dead shall hear and leap out of their Graves like frighted Men. Neither greatness nor smallness shall excuse from coming forth The mighty Men and every bond Man and every free Man hid themselves This will be more dreadful then a blazing Comet or the greatest Thunder and Lightning It may be we have no business at those Assizes which are holden twice a Year but at this general Grave-delivery which is kept once for all our dead bodies shall arise and every one of us shall give account of himself to God Rom. 14. 12. Mens hearts will fail them for fear and if conscious to themselves of evil will wish that they might return into this World again to live over their past life for then they would be better provided But when the Prisoner comes to be tried is he let go free only upon his bare saying he will not Steal nor commit Murder any more No he must answer for what he hath done We know it before hand that when it shall come we may have no excuse or plea that of this and every day of our life after years of Discretion we are in danger to be called to account Although at present we make a mock of sin we follow it with Greediness and Merriment valuing it as a matter of naught yet when God enters into Judgment what was formerly so light in Opinion will â—â—nk them down into the bottomless Pit. There is no other way to escape this but now even now to judge our selves that we be not judged nor condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. God now commandeth all Men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained Acts 17. 30. 31. The good have no reason to fear because they are to be judged by him who is now their advocate with the Father and the propitiation for their sins 1 John 2. 1 2. They may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are they in this World 1 John 4. 17. But as for those who by continued doing the Works of the Devil in as much as in them lies build up that which he came to destroy shall receive from his Mouth that terrible Sentence Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels When the Words are gone forth these shall go away into everlasting Punishment Mat. 25. 46. Did we see this doleful herd as they are going we should fear What God hath said by his Son must come to pass so it will be as certainly as if we now saw it with our eyes What can be more forcible to make us take the utmost heed that our selves be not among them To whom the Summers heat seems so grievous and every little spark that falls upon the body so painful How can they abide to lye down in everlasting fire Who now think it so irksome to tarry a few and evil days here on Earth though they have several good ones intermingled How can they endure to be in Hell for thousands and millions of Years without an hour of comfort or the least freedom from Misery Let me ask thee O Man suppose thou â—awest a Fiery Furnace and there thou mightest continue alive for a thousand Years how much of the Worlds pleasure wouldst thou require to undergo the torment thereof for that time I am confident thou wouldst not take all the delights under the Sun all thy life long And why then wilt thou for the pleasures of sin for a season bring upon thy Body and Soul those Eternal Plagues The damned are set forth in Scripture suffering all those evils which are now accounted greatest in the World. What is all this for But to make the more hast to escape from the Stormy Wind and Tempest By the same reason that we flee from the face of a Serpent the Sword of a devouring Enemy to save our selves from Fire or Water or any thing which would hurt We are also obliged to avoid the damnation of Hell for this will more torment then all those things pâ—t together That is to be done by fearing the Lord our God and keeping his Commandments for he hath prepared those things only for the wicked and disobedient that none should be so As the Punishments are severe enough to frighten from Transgression so is the Reward sufficient to encourage any Soul to Obedience It is described by those things which are now most apt to raise our desires and stir up our industry towards obtaining of