insubsistence of words pag. 43 Falling from the covenant of Baptism pag. 48 The uncertain reception into the covenant of Baptism pag. 52 The unworthy receiving of the Lords Supper pag. 57 Weakness of faith pag. 59 The not perceiving of faith pag. 62 An inability to believe pag. 65 The small number of good works pag. 67 Want of merits pag. 70 The accusation of the Law pag. 73 The accusing of conscience pag. 76 Late repentance pag. 78 Doubting of the grace of God pag. 81 Want of due preparation pag. 86 Doubting of the indwelling of the Spirit pag. 89 Doubting of perseverance pag. 94 Satans wiles and strength pag. 98 The falling away of many pag. 101 Doubting of being written in the book of life pag. 104 The fear of death pag. 107 The sting of death pag. 111 The pains of death pag. 117 Untimely death pag. 119 Services farther owing to the Church pag. 122 Short life brought upon ones self pag. 124 The love of this life pag. 127 Separation from wife children kindred pag. 131 Stopping of the ears in death pag. 134 The seeming unprofitableness of Redemption pag. 137 The horrour of dust pag. 139 The incredibility of the resurrection pag. 147 The flames of Purgatory pag. 153 The rigour of the last judgement pag. 156 A prayer in sickness pag. 164 To these are added The Christians Triumph over Death pag. 169 Divine Contemplations and Soliloquies upon Death and Eternity pag. 198 Divine Poems upon death pag. 217 Divine CONSOLATIONS Against the FEAR OF DEATH And the TEMPTATIONS befalling them that draw near thereto The forerunners of Death The Tempted I Am opprest with sickness 2 Cor. 1.9 the forerunner of Death and have received the sentence of death in my self I see I must leave this life than which nothing is more pleasant this world than which nothing is more adorned the house of this body than which nothing is more dear The Comforter Thou wast not created for this miserable and momentany but for a blessed and eternal life Wisd 2.23 for God made our first Parent without corruption to immortality Nor wast thou redeemed by Christ for this fading and toilsom but for that everlasting and most happy life in the heavens for it is a certain and undoubted saying That Jesus Christ came into the world 1 Tim. 1.15 to save sinners Neither wast thou called of the holy Spirit by the word to the kingdom of Christ that thou mightst live here a little while but that thou mightst pass from the kingdom of grace to the kingdom of glory from the Church Militant to that Triumphant from a valley of tears into a field of joy for if in this life only we believed in Christ and had hope 1 Cor. 15.19 we were of all men most miserable Wherefore seeing thou must be brought through the gate of death to that life for which thou wert created of the Father redeemed of the Son and for which thou hast been sanctified by the Spirit reject not I pray thee Luk. 7.30 the gracious counsel of God against thy self but readily obey God that calls upon thee Deaths Trident. Tempted The thoughts of Death affright me the dreadful shape of that enemy disturbs my mind it shows me its sting 1 Cor. 15.55 which is death it threatens me with its cruel three-pointed weapon while it presents to my eyes and heart the Anger of God the accusation of the Law and the cruelty of my sins Rom. 6.23 in that death is the wages of sin and by sin death hath invaded me Rom. 5.18 as it has done all the world Comforter But I advise thee that being seriously and heartily sorry for the sins thou hast committed thou look to him that died for thee on the altar of the Cross that thou mightest not be liable to eternal death Turn thine eyes from the outward shew of death and turn them to Christ who by his death hath destroyed him that had the power of death Heb. 2.14 that is v. 15. the Devil And hath delivered us who through fear of death were all our life-time subject to bondage He is death unto our death Hos 13.14 he is a sting unto the hell we had deserved Joh. 11.25 He is the resurrection and the life he that believeth in him though he were dead v. 26. yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall never die 1. Cor. 15.22 So that as in Adam that is because of sin derived from Adam upon us and of actual sins added thereto we are all liable to death and at length must die even so in Christ the captain of life and conqueror of death through faith are we all made alive Which that our Captain of life confirms with a solemn and serious oath Verily verily I say unto you Joh. 5.24 He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life And again Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you If a man keep my saying he shall never see death Therefore believe Christ who is the truth Joh. 14.6 believe him promising believe him swearing Luk. 21.33 Heaven and earth shall pass away but the words of Christ shall not pass away The anguish of sin Tempted I begin to remember my sins Psal 51.7 for I was not only begot conceived and born in sin but I have increased this sum of original and hereditary debt with manifold and most grievous actual sins all my life long how therefore can I hope God will be merciful to me whom I have so oft offended how shall I conceive any comfort in death seeing death is the due reward to my sins and a beginning of a second and eternal death to them that are not reconciled to God Comforter Look unto Christ hanging on the altar of the Cross and pouring out the price of thy redemption even his precious blood for thy sins 1 Joh. 1.8 The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth thee from all sin He is the propitiation for thy sins 1 Joh. 2.2 and for the sins of the whole world For he came not into the world to be ministred unto Mat. 20.28 but to minister and to give his life a ransom and price for the sins of many And that thou mightst not at all doubt of this matter therefore from heaven which is the throne of truth by an Angel which is the spirit of truth was brought that most sweet and comfortable name of Jesus and given to this our Mediator before he was conceived for what is Jesus but a Saviour Luk. 1.31 Mat. 1.21 Joh. 1.29 For therefore was this name given to Christ because he saves his people from their sins This is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world 1 Tim. 1.15 This is that Jesus Christ that came into
of the Lord as thou gatherest in the vessel of trust For faith lays hold of Christ and in Christ of a merciful God of remission of sins and life eternal Of this hear the words of eternal and immoveable truth Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him may not perish but have eternal life v. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned but hath eternal life Joh. 1.12 for to as many as received him hath he given power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name This sonship comprehends all things which are necessary for us to eternal life For if we are the sons of God we are also born of God Tertul. in Apolog. c. 17. For not a carnal generation but a spiritual regeneration makes sons of God If we are the sons of God God is full of pity to us for does not a father pity his children Psal 103.13 If we are the sons of God then he hath also given his Spirit to us for so the Apostle As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God Rom. 8.14 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father Gal. 4.6 And again Because ye are sons God hath sent the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father Rom. 8.13 Lastly If we are the sons of God then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ For what true son is there without an inheritance All these so precious so plentiful so various benefits befal us in Christ and by Christ who dwelleth in our hearts Eph. 3.17 and is born in us spiritually by faith which therefore the Scripture doth so often declare and recommend to us Verily Joh. 5.24 verily I say unto you saith Christ he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath eternal life and cometh not into condemnation but is passed from death to life Joh. 11.25 26. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me Joh. 7.38 39. shall never die He that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water which our Saviour spake of the spirit which they that believe on him do receive Whosoever believeth in me Joh. 12.46 abideth not in darkness namely in the darkness of ignorance in the darkness of sin in the darkness of eternal death but by the light of faith is brought to the light of saving knowledge to the light of true righteousness to the light of eternal life Joh. 20.31 Moreover the Apostle witnesseth expresly that whatsoever is written in the Gospels of the words deeds and sufferings of Christ were therefore written that we might have life through his name That God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his son 1 Joh. 5.11 He that hath the Son hath life 12. Thence know we that we have eternal life 13. because we believe on the name of the son of God Nor do the Apostles and Evangelists only but all the Prophets also give witness unto Christ Act. 10.43 that through his name whosoever believeth in him receiveth remission of sins What therefore Paul and Silas once said to the keeper of the prison at Philippi Act. 16.31 that say I to thee Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved The false perswasion of Faith Tempted But I have observed many to entertain a vain perswasion of Faith and deceive themselves with a false boasting thereof and what if I should be of their number Whence can I be sure that my faith is true and saving and not an empty and dead image of it Comforter Examine and try thy self whether thou be in the faith 2 Cor. 13.5 prove thine own self knowest thou not thy self that Jesus Christ is in thee There are not wanting firm and infallible instructions whereby true and saving faith may be tryed known and distinguished from a vain boast of faith And first this is the nature of true faith Act. 15.9 that it purifieth the heart and desires that that may be cleansed from the filth of sins For seeing faith is solicitous and desirous of remission of sins he that truly believeth will also perceive a grief for the sins he has committed The Gospel is preached to the poor Mat. 11.6 Mat. 5.6 namely to those that are poor in spirit that hunger and thirst after righteousness Psa 51. â—7 that bring and offer to God a contâ—ite heart and a broken spirit Look therefore in the glass of the Law and thou wilt see the deformity of thy sins Look unto the shining face of Moses and it will appear that because of the works of darkness which thou hast followed thou canst not endure that light Behold thy self how grievously sickness hath affrighted thee which is the just punishment of thy sins the scourge of a revenging God and the due reward of a life spent in transgression He that sins against his maker Ecclus 38.15 falls into the hands of the Physician We have therefore lost our health Aug. de verb. Apost Serm. 4. Bern. Serm. 43. de modo bene viv because we have offended our Creator They that follow the flesh are scourged in the flesh In that they complain in which they have sinned The sentence of punishment is in that in which was the cause of sin In how many thoughts words and deeds hast thou offended God how especially feeble hast thou been in the fear and love of God how remiss in prayers and other exercises of piety how barren of good works How ost hast thou followed the persuasion of Satan the seduction of the flesh and the deceiving of the world Those members which thou hast often yielded to be instruments of iniquity and unrighteousness are now by the just judgement of God afflicted with pain and weakness Confess this and be sorry for if there be a true and serious acknowledgement of sin in thy heart trouble of conscience and hatred of sin will immediately follow it God is in good earnest angry at thy sins therefore from a hearty sense of Gods anger bewail thy sin God punisheth sin severely therefore by a just grief punish that in thy self which thou observest thou hast committed against God Acknowledge God's judgement to be upright Psal 119.137 and humble thy self under his mighty hand And regard not only thy outward sins but acknowledge the fountain of all evils the contagion of original sin That is hid indeed but God sets it in the light of his countenance Psal 90.9 By it all the powers of thy soul and body are so tainted that of thy self and by thy self thou canst begin nothing that is good much less
death by the help of thine heavenly Father thou maist raise upthy self so as to say with Job Job 13.15 Although the Lord kill me yet will I trust in him Ps 91.15 16. I am with him in trouble saith the Lord I will deliver him and honour him With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my salvation Rom. 3.39 Neither life nor death nor any creature can separate or pull us from this love of God seeing it is in Christ Jesus who is our eternal King and Saviour for ever The accusation of the Law the deformity of sin and the temptation of eternal casting off maketh the shew of death terrible seeing the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law 1 Cor. 15.55 but call to mind the consolation that was before opposed to these monsters and that outward shew of death that is terrible to look upon will vanish and will be changed into a most pleasant sleep The sting of death Tempted By sin death entred into the world and is the due wages of sin how then should I not dread death Comforter Truly in and of it self death is the wages of sin and the revenging scourge of an angry God but to those that believe in Christ it is changed into a most sweet sleep For although those that are born again and believe in Christ as yet carry about remainders of sin in their flesh Rom. 8.10 whence also their body is dead that is obnoxious to death because of sin dwelling therein yet the Spirit is life because of righteousness that is because by true faith in Christ they are justified from sins and by the Spirit resist the lusts of the flesh therefore that sin as yet remaining in the flesh is not imputed to them but is covered with the shield of divine grace Greg. Nyss in orat de morte Therefore by death the true and spiritual life of the soul doth not end in them but rather begins whereto death is made to be as it were the midwife Thence flow those sweet appellations whereby the holy Spirit who is the Spirit of truth doth describe the death of the godly For those who in the eyes of fools seem and are said by them to dye those the holy Spirit says are gathered or congregated unto their people Gen. 25.8.35.29.49.33 that is into the company of the blessed and triumphant Church in heaven where they come to those that died before or rather went before That which we call death is a travelling Tertul. lib. de patient p. 12. Cypr. de mortal p. 214. Chrysost hom 45. in Gen. col 375. Hilar. in Psal 140. it is not an exit but a transit not so much an emigration as a transmigration from worse to better an ablation of the soul and a certain most happy translocation not an abolition for the soul is requir'd again and translated into a place of rest not killed It is a transcension and ascension to true life Ambr. de bon mort c. 10. 2 Pet. 1.15 Joh. 5.24 It is an Exodus because by it the godly pass from the bondage of sin to true liberty even as the Israelites heretofore out of Egyptian bondage into the land of promise The godly are said by death to enter into peace Isai 57.2 and to rest in their beds namely because they come from that daily warfare upon earth to a place of peace from the troublous sea of this life unto the haven from the toilsom prison of this world to a place of rest They are said to be dissolved and to come to Christ Phil. 1.23 because they are brought out of the Inn as it were of this present life to an heavenly country and from a crew of wicked men to the blessed company of Christ in heaven by death they are loosed from their bodily bands for as oxen having laboured all the day are let out of their yoaks at length towards evening and as prisoners are loosed from their chains so the godly are by death freed of the sad yoke of the labours and pains of this life and from the dark dungeon of sin and by a sweet change are translated to a better life They are said to pass out of the land of their pilgâ—image by the dissolution of their earthly tabernacle Heb. 11.5 2 Cor. 5.8 and to be present with the Lord namely because they come from the ruinous cottage of the world to an heavenly palace from an house of clay to a city not made with hands eternal in the heavens from the tabernacle of an earthly body to the heavenly Jerusalem and the blessed company of Christ inhabiting it Cypr. serm de mortal pag. 208. It is his part to fear death that is unwilling to go to Christ It is his part to be unwilling to go to Christ that believes not to begin to reign with Christ They are said to rest from their labours Rev. 14. Ambr. de Bono mortis c. 2. for not the godly man but his misery dieth If this life be full of burden surely its end is ease now ease is good and death is the end therefore death is good 1 Cor. 15.38 They are said to be sown in the ground or the field of the Lord by death and buryal in that the bodies of the godly like precious granes of wheat shall spring up hereafter again to life That crop which from deceased Stigelius bodies springs Immortal glory to the body brings As under clods the wither'd granes do lie Which you would think were clearly cast away Yet in a while sprung up you may espy And unperceiv'd grow taller every day Even so our bodies that entombed were First raised then in glory shall excell What death had swallow'd up shall trophees bear And in eternal light with God shall dwell The bones of the godly shall flourish and wax green Isai 66.14 2 Sam. 7.12 Isai 26.20 Dan. 12.2 Mat. 9.24 when the spring of everlasting life shall come Lastly they are said to fall asleep For as in sleep we rest from our labour regain our wasted strength our soul in the mean time performing her operations so by death being brought from all the labours and dolours of this life to rest we gather new strength of mind and body the more readily and perfectly to perform those works for which we were created in the beginning and redeemed by Christ the soul in the mean while living and rejoicing in heaven As in our sleep we mind not what is done about us nor are troubled with the crowds of humane businesses so those that die in the Lord rest without all care and anxiety and are no longer subject to the evils of this life As again we are awaked out of sleep so death will not be a perpetual sleep but the time will come in which we shall hear the voice of Christ calling us out of the grave we shall again go forth
unto life None so easily raiseth one lying in bed Aug. serm 44. de verb. dom as Christ the dead out of the grave From all which things it plainly appears how truly the blessed Apostle called the death of the godly gain Phil. 1.21 for 't is gain to have escaped the increase of sin 't is gain to have passed from worse and to have arrived at better Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and it is good to them because of rest better because of security best because of blessedness Pains of Death Tempted I fear not death but its pains for I have often seen the eyes of dying persons growing dim their ears waxing deaf their tongue faultering I have seen the sweat and anguish the horrour and nakedness of dying persons I have often heard the groans and complaints of the soul compell'd to go out of the tabernacle of the body Comforter Those that believe in Christ are preserved from those pains of death or at least their pains are mitigated Christ hath taken upon him what was most bitter in death namely the sense of God's wrath Ex. 15.25 Let us cast the tree of the cross into our death on which Christ died for us and it shall become a pleasant sleep Verily Joh. 5.51 verily I say unto you saith Christ if any man keep my saying he shall never see death that is he shall not only not see everlasting death but neither that ghastly and horrible shape of temporal death And if a very little taste of bitterness be in the cup of death we are to drink yet what and how little is it in respect of that brook whereof Christ drank in the way of this life for us Psal 110.7 how little is that little draught to be esteem'd in comparison of that cup which our heavenly Father gave him to drink off in our stead Matt. 26.42 Asaying of Methodius Our death is like a medicinal purge of our soul and body and seeing by it the poison of sin is as it were purged out of our flesh what wonder if some Aloes be mixt in this purge Our death is the midwife to life eternal what wonder if the same happen to us as to an infant born into the world out of the narrowness of its mothers womb by whom the pains of the birth are in part endured There is no birth without all pain That Fit will last but a moment and lo the day of our death will be the birth-day of eternal life Strait is that gate that leadeth us unto life what wonder if we feel something of straitness in its passage Christ is our Captain and breaker up Mic. 2.13 he opens the way before us we must cleave to him with a true faith that we may pass with him through the gate of death and may come to the path of eternal life that is known to him Psal 16.11 Sin yet dwelleth in our flesh what wonder if through the remainders of sin it be made to feel some straits of death Rom. 5.1 In the mean time our conscience hath peace in Christ who is our true peace Eph. 2.14 who rising from the dead brought the gift of peace to us Death hath nosting left whereby it can wound our soul it fasteneth its teeth in our heel but its poison is taken from it by Christ that it cannot infuse it into us when it fastens its teeth Untimely death Tempted I seem to be called out of this life too soon God snatcheth me away in the midst of my days Psal 55.23 therefore I fear lest this be a sign of God's anger seeing it is written Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days Comforter There is nothing untimely which God hath timed Long life indeed is God's gift but yet short life is not always a sign of God's anger seeing sometimes God commands even the godly and those that are beloved by him to pass betimes out of the habitation of this world that being freed from the dangers of sinning they may be translated into a security of not sinning and may not be made to undergo publick calamities that are often more sad than death it self God's people go and enter into their chambers Isai 26.20 and shall shut the doors upon them they shall hide themselves as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Isai 57.1 The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart the merciful men are taken away and none considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace he shall rest in his bed walking in his uprighteness Wisd 4.7 Though the righteous be prevented with death yet shall he be in rest For the honourable age is not that which is of long time 〈◊〉 neither that which is measured by the number of years But wisdom is the gray hair 〈◊〉 and an undefiled life is the old age He pleased God and was beloved of him 10 so that whereas he lived among sinners he translated him 11 He was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understanding or deceit beguile his mind 12 For wickedness by bewitching obscureth the things that are good and the unstedfastness of concupiscence perverteth the simple mind Though he was soon dead 13 yet fulfilled he much time 14. For his soul pleased God therefore hasted he to take him away from wickedness Though we cut down those trees that do not bring forth and let those stand that do yet God does otherwise The godly dies most happily whether he die in a good old age Sph. Philos c. 36. p. 411. or in the very flower of his youth Quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aliud nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nisi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is What is life but violence what is the body but a grave what but a chain what our birth but a passing to the grave Wilt thou take it ill to be freed betimes from these evils and chains The earlier the heavenly Emperour recalleth thee from the station of this life the sooner he putteth thee in a place of rest peace and victory The services further owing to the Church Tempted I might in my place hereafter further profit the Church of God by my labour in some kind to this end therefore I could wish a space of longer life were granted to me Comforter All this is to be committed to God's disposal namely how long God will have thee to live for the service of his Church Therefore say with that ancient Doctor of the Church and most deserving Bishop Ambroses dying words recorded by Posidon in the life of Augusti◠c. 27. I have not so
the doors of thine ears shut never so much Isai 61.1 Luk. 4.18 The spirit of the Lord is upon him the Lord hath anointed him to preach glad tidings unto the poor he hath sent him to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound The Lord hath given him the tongue of the learned Isa 50.4 that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Cleave to him with a firm trust of heart commit thy self unto him by holy prayers he will comfort thee in season he will raise thy heart with the word of the Gospel when the darts of death are fastned in it he will bind up thy heart when it is wounded by death he will preach liberty to thy heart when thou art led captive by death as a prey he will preach opening to thy heart when thou art thrown into the prison of death The seeming unprofitableness of Redemption Tempted If Christ hath redeemed us from death why must we dye yet How was death conquered by Christ seeing it can shew daily preys as the trophees of its victory Comforter As Christ saved his people from their sins Mat. 11.21 not as if sin should no longer dwell in their flesh seeing in this life they remain sold under sin but that it should not condemn for ever those that are born again and believe so he hath redeemed us from death not as if we should no longer be liable to temporal death for our body is dead or subject to death because of sin Rom. 8.10 but that we might be at liberty from the chains of eternal death The death of the soul is true death Christ hath redeemed us from this enduring the pangs of hell in his soul The most sweet Jesus hath also made our temporal death it self sweet so that 't is only death in name but indeed it is a sleep yea the end of death and the beginning of true life The truly godly because of those daily calamities whereby they are oppressed in this life 1 Cor. 15.31 dye daily therefore their death is the end of death and by the gate of death they pass to a quiet and eternal life therefore death is the beginning of a true life Christ's death is the poyson of our death Hos 13.14 therefore although this poison hath not yet altogether killed our death whence it as yet moves its self and fastens its dart in our heel yet this poyson hath reached the heart of death therefore at last it shall dye by its virtue 1 Cor. 15.26 Death is the last enemy which Christ will utterly destroy at the last day and a stronger coming on this strong man armed shall powerfully take from him all his spoils Luk. 11.22 Death is to be beheld with spiritual eyes and its anger as being now captivated and overcome by Christ shall appear to be vain without strength It lays in wait for the lives of the godly and lo it bringeth them to true life It attempts to kill their soul and body with its darts and lo the soul being unhurt with any wound of death the body is only wounded which it self also shall hereafter be snatched out of the jaws of death It endeavours to deliver the godly to eternal death and lo it delivers them to eternal life The horrour of dust Tempted Be it what it will I see I must be laid in the ground and be reduced to dust A bed will be made for my body in the grave therefore I have said to corruption Job 17.14 Thou art my father and to the worms Ye are my mother and sister Comforter Mind not that whereinto thou art to be reduced ashes and dust but mind that future resurrection out of ashes and dust which we expect If thou hast said with Job to corruption that it is thy father say with the same person Job 19.25 that thy redeemer liveth who in the last day shall raise thee again from the earth he shall encompass thee with skin that in thy flesh thou maist see God The sayings of Scripture the strength of arguments the examples of those that have been raised do all prove this blessed resurrection of our bodies The sayings of Scripture in the old and New Testament are numerous at hand such as are most weighty and clear The blood of Abel cryeth unto the Lord Gen. 4.10.25.8.35.29.49.33 Exod. 3.6 in whose eyes he yet liveth The Patriarchs by death are gathered unto their people therefore by death they cease not to be the living people of the living God God is the God of Abraham Mat. 22.31 Isaac and Jacob now God is not the God of the dead but of the living so that Abraham Isaac and Jacob live before God they live I say in their better part and their bodies hereafter shall be recalled to life nay are already called in that when Christ rose again they * Mat. 27.53 rose together with him I know saith Job that my redeemer liveth Job 19.25 and at the last day I shall be raised from the earth Thy dead shall live saith Isaias my slain shall arise Isai 26.19 Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust Isai 66.14 for thy dew is as the dew of herbs Your bones shall flourish like an herb Ezech. 37.5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones Behold I will cause breath to enter into you and ye shall live I will lay sinews upon you and will bring up flesh upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you and ye shall live and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Many of them saith Daniel Dan. 12 4â— that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life some to everlasting shame and contempt The great King of the world 2 Mac. 7.9 say the seven Maccabean Martyrs will raise us up which dye for his Laws in the resurrection of everlasting life The hour cometh saith the Truth Joh. 5.28.29 in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of man And shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Joh. 6.39 This is the Father's will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day And this is the will of my Father that sent me 40.44.54 that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 11.25 26. I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die I have hope towards God saith S. Act. 24.15 Paul and expect that
thee that Christ thy treasure liveth Let the frame of heaven and earth perish flee pass away thou hast the most faithful promises of a new heaven and a new earth Isai 65.17 2 Pet. 3.12 Behold I create new heavens and a new earth saith the Lord in which shall dwell righteousness so that none any longer remembreth the former Rev. 21.1 Let the tabernacle of thy pilgrimage fall the mansion of the heavenly countrey abideth ever Nor is there any reason thou shouldst fear the accusation either of Satan or the Law or thy sins thy sins are thrown into the depth of the Sea namely into the abyss of Gods mercy God hath thrown them behind his back Mic. 7.19 Isai 38.17 Ezech. 18.24 so that he will remember them no more hereafter Satan believe me shall not fetch thy sins up out of the sea nor shall dare to bring them into the sight of the Judge Thy sins are * Psal 32.1 Psal 51.1 forgiven covered blotted out they shall not be brought again into judgement The Devil will in vain accuse the godly because the blotting out the hand-writing by the blood of Christ shall be turned to him Col. 2.14 His accusation for sin shall be to no purpose because the forgiveness made through Christ shall be alledged against him Vain shall be the accusation of the Law because in this life there preceded reconciliation with God through faith Lastly thou hast no reason to fear Christ's sudden coming again to judgment for though the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night 1 Thes 5.2 yet God hath not appointed us to wrath 9. but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ Who died for us 10. that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him The judgment day is not to be feared by them for whom the heavenly kingdom was prepared from the beginning Mat. 25.34 Eph. 1.4 who were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Commit therefore into the faithful hands of God the precious pledge of thy soul he will keep it in death and in judgement and he will introduce it being joyned to the body into the palace of heaven to everlasting glory A Prayer in Sickness HEar me O God thou giver and restorer of life in whose hands life and death health and sickness are Hear me not according to the desire of my will but according to the good pleasure of thine own will If thou wilt thou canst heal me say but one word and I shall be whole Thou art the length of my dayes in thy hands my lots are but if now thou call me to the heavenly country by the way of death first mortifie in me all inordinate love of this life give me strength of spirit that I may overcome the pangs of death and in the midst of the darkness of my dimm eyes kindle and encrease in me light of heart with thee is the well of true life and in thy light shall I see light Thy death O good Jesus is the remedy of my death and the merit of eternal life I embrace thy word with a faithful heart therefore I am sure that thou dwellest in my heart by faith I will not let thee go out of my heart until thou bless me and chear me with thy enlivening consolation Thou hast said He that believeth in me shall never die my heart presents this thy word before thee and with this faith I come to the throne of grace thou wilt not cast out nor reject him that cometh unto thee Let thy precious blood wash me from my sins let thy wounds hide me from the anger of God and the rigour of judgment I will die in thee thou shalt live in me I will abide in thee thou shalt abide in me thou wilt not leave me in death and dust but wilt raise me to the resurrection of life Thou hast fought and overcome for me fight now and overcome in me let thy strength be perfected in my weakness My soul cleaveth to thee I will not suffer my self to be plucked from thee Let thy peace that passeth all understanding keep my heart and senses into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me thou God of truth Take my poor soul which thou hast created redeemed wash it from sins in thy blood sealed with the earnest of thy holy Spirit and fed with thy body and blood thine it is thou gavest it me take what is thine and remit the guilt of my sins wherewith I have stained it Let not the fruit of thy passion perish in me nor let thy precious blood be unfruitful in me O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded Amen FINIS THE Christians TRIUMPH Over DEATH With some Divine Contemplations Soliloquies and Poems thereupon LONDON Printed by Margaret White for Nath. Crouch 1679. THE Christians TRIUMPH Over DEATH CONTEMPLATIONS On 1 Cor. 15.55 Oh Death where is thy sting UPright Adam was made Immortal but sinful Adam begot all his sons mortal even as he had made himself Adam therefore is dead and all the sons of Adam do but live to die the sentence of death past upon us all in him we are born to see this sentence executed upon our selves and as Adam himself dyed the same day he sinned that is brought himself into a necessity of dying though as to the time of his death he was reprieved for nine hundred and thirty years after that day So we in Adam came under the same necessity though it be some thousands of years after before the sentence be executed upon us As a Malefactor is a dead man in Law at that instant when the sentence is pronounced against him though his execution be respited for some few days after So according to Gods law and decree we are all dead in Adams doom though it please God to prolong these days of ours wherein we must live to die according to his irrevocable doom A Malefactor is not executed sometimes one two three four five or six days after judgment past so likewise we were all adjudged to die before we were born but God with whom a thousand years is but as one day hath appointed the first second third fourth fifth or sixth thousand year of the world to be the day of our execution There is more necessity of our dying than of our being born It is not so necessary that he who is not should be as that he that now lives should once die the former may be supposed but the latter is fully expressed It is appointed for all men once to dye Heb. 9.27 There is alwayes a greater necessity of the end than the means death is the end of life not only in the execution of it but in the intention Morti nati sumus we are born to dye and we dye from the time we are born The day of our birth what is it but the beginning of the day
of our death and the day of our death but the end of our birth-day our birth-day precedes the day of our death but the day of our death is preferr'd before that of our birth by the wise Solomon Eccl. 7.3 The day of death is better than the day one is born And did we rightly consider this our birthday is indeed a purishment and the day of our death in comparison thereof a reward for death only is the remedy against the miseries of life and to dye is but to rest from those labours and to be free from those sorrows whereunto we are born What a plague and punishment were the day of our birth into a sinful miserable world did not the day of our death give an end to all such evils both of sin sorrows and pains Now since as I have said our birth-day is but the beginning of our death and the day of our death but the end of our birth-day we seem to speak improperly to call the day of our departure only the day of our death On our last day indeed we cease to live but from our first day we begin to dye our last day is not the cause of our death but the consummation of it it doth rather finish than begin our death it is not the last and utmost minute of our life which brings death upon us it doth rather manifest and declare that death was always with us As the Prophet speaking of persecution says we are killed all the day long Psal 44.22 and the Apostle St. Paul concerning his own sufferings I dye daily 1 Cor. 15.31 So that though no violence or injury were offered to us yet even through natures frailty we dye daily and by fatal Mortality are killed all the day long we dye daily from the time we first begin to live the first day of our life is our longest day and every day afterward takes away one day from our lives and the longer we have lived the less time we have to live Quotidie morimur c. sayes Seneca we dye daily and every day takes away part of our life and while we are yet growing up our life decreases the very day that we now live we do divide it with death As by the time we spend in eating sleeping working and playing so by the moments which pass away in reading speaking writing our lives are shortened We dye daily our times dye daily our actions dye daily our Persons dye daily our times dye daily the time past is dead to the time present the time present is dying to the time to come yester-day is dead to this day and this day is dying to the morrow our actions dye daily what is done and past is dead to what we are now doing and what we now do is dying to what we shall do hereafter we hardly remember what we have nor conceive what we have done nor delight in what we have done so do our actions dye daily to our memories our understanding our Affections Our persons dye daily our infancy dies to our childhood our childhood to our youth our youth to our manhood our manhood to our old Age and our old Age dies into our death A man is in a continual Consumption of himself his days waste him as well as he spends his days one part or other of him languisheth perisheth or corrupts every day we dye by piece-meal not all at once saith Seneca There is not one day but wherein our spirits do in some measure waste our blood cools our moisture dries our stomach fails our liver corrupts our Lungs consume our bowels yearn our hearts faint or our head akes Every day either some vein stops some sinew shrinks some bone breaks some skin is withered some flesh bruised or at least some parts or member decayed The eyes grow dimmer of sight the ears more dull of hearing or the palate more unsavory of tasting every day than other Thus the several parts dye by little and little and thus at last the whole becomes dead As the Candle consumes from the time it first begins to burn so doth the Oyl and marrow of mans life waste from the very time he begins to live Man is like a candle that either consumes himself in the Candlestick of this world or else he is smothered under the Bushel of his mothers Womb. An hour-glass runs constantly from the very time it is turned up man is like this hour glass he is but running sand or moving dust and as the sand in the hour-glass falls by degrees one sand after another till the whole be run out so a man drops away by little and little till the whole is extinguished A traveller goes forward many days towards his journeys end man is a Traveller his life is the way he goes and death is the end of his journey and is it then a strange thing for us to dye when our whole life is but the way and path that leads to death Do we think we shall never arrive to that which we are continually going toward sayes Seneca There is no way on earth to which there is not an end the most intricate Labyrinth hath a way out of it at last We are continually walking towards death how can we then chuse but meet with it at last we dye daily how can it then be avoided but at last we must come to be dead Wretched man then that thou art why dost thou not daily dispose and prepare thy self for death since thou diest daily sayes St. Bernard Imagine thy self to be dead since thou must of necessity dye Wo unto us wretched creatures that all of us are so near death and yet most of us put this day so far from us Death is ready to take us by the hand in the natural execution of its office before we are willing to take it to heart by our Christian Meditation We go toward the grave with our faces turned backward so that our feet are just ready to fall into the pit before our eyes do once look upon it There are many who feel death before they know what it is and do wofully hazard and experience it before they could be perswaded either wisely to consider or conceive thereof for though we daily see death seizing upon others yet we can hardly be perswaded to believe our selves concerned as a learned Author says men behold nothing more familiarly than death and yet they forget and neglect nothing more Death then is a mighty King the great Conquerour of mankind to whom all the Glorys of this world must submit and yet our blessed Apostle exultingly cryes out Oh death where is thy sting Let us then consider St. Pauls Appellation or his summons to death Oh death what art thou a Chimera a fable a bugbear a dream a shadow a nothing Oh death thou art none of Gods creature the Wise man saith God made not death neither hath he pleasure in destruction Wisd 1.13 God is the God of
yet when he shall hear that terrible sound Arise ye dead and come to judgment how will his heart even melt and his bowels quiver within him when he shall have his severe Judge above him and hell beneath him and his worm within him and fire round about him Oh then my soul dye unto thy sins and to thy pleasures here that thou maist live to God hereafter XIII Death is the ending of our days not of our life for when our day shall close and our time shall be no more then shall our death conduct us to a life which will last to all eternity for we dye not here to dye but to live for ever therefore the best guide of our life is the consideration of our death and he alone leads a life answerable to his Christian profession who daily expects to leave it It is very strange that we should be so industriously carefull to avoid death and so carelesly improvident of the life to come whereas nothing makes death bad but that estate which follows it but the reason is we are spirtually blind and see not nor know in this our day the things that belong to our peace We have naturally neither sight nor feeling of the joyes to come But when God shall enlighten the darkness of our minds and reveal his son in us when once the day dawneth and the day-star ariseth in our hearts Oh then our death will be our joy and the rejoycing of our hearts then shall we infinitely desire to be dissolved to be with Christ Let us therefore with unwearied endeavours labour to bring Christ home to our hearts and to keep him there Let us dye to our sins and our lusts here that so in the world to come we may everlastingly live unto Christ and in him Divine Poems Man that is born of a Woman is of few days and full of Trouble Job 14.1 I. OUr time 's still flying and we all make hast To live our last We come into the world to see 't and then Go out again We are born crying and we spend our breath In sighs till death Our life is but a Toil ere we can try What course of life is best 't is time to dye II. The Merchant wasts himself with fretting cares With hopes and fears And when his bags are fill'd his last day comes He leaves his sums When he would joy in what his pains hath got Straight he is not By all the care wherein his life is spent Perhaps he gets a costly Monument III. The Scholar bends his curious thoughts to find What is the mind He studies to know good but seldom does The good he knows Some winding up their Wit to an high strain Have crackt their brain He that 's most learned only comes to this To know at last how Ignorant he is IV. The ranting Gallant wears out time and cloths To learn new Oaths He scorns to take affronts but thinks it brave To be Hells slave The countrey Farmour's thinking night and day Of Corn and Hay But Hawks and Hounds are for the better sort Who lose their time in seeking of their sport V. In every Action whatsoe're it is Something 's amiss We ne'er observe a mean we run and sweat Or can't get heat Some bitterness still interrupts our joyes Or too much cloys Our choicest Comforts are inlaid with fears And all our pleasures sprinkled o're with tears VI. Amidst this Trouble here 's my hope that I Shall shortly dye Our time o'recast with sorrow soon decays Like winter days W' are Pilgrims here on earth This is our way No place of stay The way 's unpleasant come Death be my friend And bring me quickly to my Journies end Vpon the death of Christ I. THis day prest with our sins the most high fell Lest he should feed on us Christ satiates Death With his own blood quenching the Flames of Hell Enkindled by the fire of 's Fathers wrath To make atonement for our sins God dyes Our Jesus is God Priest and sacrifice II. Lo how the hasty Jews cry Crucify Lo how they judge the Holy one to death Whose atribute is Immortality Lo how they murther him who gave them breath The King of glory suffers shame and he That made the world is hang'd upon a Tree III. Lo how they nail unto the Cross his hands Who spans the Heavens how his feet they pierce Who over hell and Death Triumphant stands Whose boundless presence fills the Universe How every Varlet the Almighty scorns Lo he by whom Kings reign is crown'd with Thorns IV. And now the souldier with his cruel spear Dares pierce the side of the Blest Prince of peace His torments are so great as man can bear The angry Godhead will not make them less When God himself withdrew grief fill'd his heart Curst sin for which God and Christ seem'd to part V. He bow'd his head on which so heavy lay The sins of Adam and all Adams seed Which by his death he did revive this day To Heal our wounded souls his Limbs did bleed Lord I believe let me partaker be Of thy Deaths power that I may live to thee Vpon the Resurrection of Christ I. Our Lord is risen and the powerful Grave Holds him no longer He hath made his way Even through the Gates of Death that he might save His heavenly flesh from turning into Clay The Grave knew not whom he had taken when He saw who 't was he let him out agen II. Upon this day the Suns Creator rose And the Eternal life came from the dead He that made ours did his blest eye unclose And saw the place where his own Corps were lay'd Death Conquer'd thus he laid his grave-cloths by As Trophees of his signal victory III. I know not whether may more strange be thought For God to dye or man to rise again Our holy Jesus made both true he fought The Lyon Death even in the Grave his den And thus he entred the strong bounds of Fate Not as led Captive but to captivate IV. The King of terrors now has lost his power And is become a servant unto all Who will but imitate their Saviour Who made a triumph of his Funeral And now he 's up me thinks I hear him say To all that dye in him Rise come away Vpon the Ascension of Christ I. WHo on the water walkt now climbs the Air And without dying thus he goes to heaven Although his habitation now be there Yet we on earth are not of him bereaven He 's like those lights which in the skies appear Though there his Body be his Rays are here II. Now he 's ascended up on high Lo he Gives us his hand that we may get up too By him our strength we walk our light we see He makes us able shews us what to do To heaven he 's gone for us there to provide Blest man whose God 's his Harbinger and guide III. Look up my Soul and with blest Stephen see Thy
and manifested his will in his word that we might certainly know his will Wherefore God hath not only delivered legal promises which have annexed a condition of perfect obedience and are therefore made unprofitable to us but also Gospel promises which are free that we might rely on them with firm trust of heart Therefore it is of faith by grace saith the Apostle Rom. 4.16 that the promise might be sure Mens promises are uncertain and doubtful because all men are liars Psal 116.11 but the promises of God are sure and unmovable because God is truth it self As God is true in threatning so also in promising As out of Christ certain damnation abideth all unbelievers and impenitent persons so in Christ certain salvation is promised to all that turn to God and believe Cypr. serm 4. de mortal pag. 209. Dost thou doubt whether those things shall be that God hath promised who is true whose saying is eternal and firm to them that believe If a grave and laudable man should promise something thou wouldst believe him nor wouldst thou think thou shouldst be deceived by him whom thou knewest to stand to his word and be firm in his actings Now God speaketh with thee and dost thou unbelievingly fluctuate with a distrustful mind Observe moreover the firmness of Gods oath As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner Ezech. 33.11 but that he should turn and live Verily verily I say unto you Joh. 5.25 saith Christ hethat heareth my saying and believeth in him that sent me hath eternal life and shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death to life Joh. 8.51 Verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my saying he shall never see death Aug. in Psalm 88. God hath said this he hath promised this if that be not enough he hath sworn it Therefore happy we for whose sake God swears Tertul. l. de poenit but most wretched we if we believe not God when he swears Acknowledge therefore the admirable and never enough praised mercy of God who willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability and immovableness of his counsel Heb. 6.17 vers 18. confirmed it by an oath That by two immutable things seeing it is impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us Want of due preparation Tempted All these things easily perswade me not to doubt of the firmness of Gods promises in themselves in the mean it is as yet uncertain whether they be so firm and immovable to me and whether I be in the number of them to whom God promises and offers so great things Comforter Yes because God pomiseth these things to all that truly repent and fly to Christ by faith 2 Cor. 4.13 therefore he hath also promised to thee seeing thou also believest in Christ Attend therefore further to the inward sealing of the holy Spirit For the Spirit witnesseth not only outward ly in the word but also inwardly in thy heart Rom. 8.16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with thy spirit that thou art the child 1 Cor. 2.12 yea and heir of God Thou hast received the Spirit which is of God that thou maist know the things that are freely given thee of God He that confirms and strengthens thee with all the truly Godly in Christ and he who hath anointed thee is God who hath sealed thee and given thee the earnest of the Spirit in thy heart Gal. 4.6 Because thou art the son of God therefore hath God sent forth the spirit of his son into thy heart crying Abba Father Believing the word of truth and the Gospel of salvation thou art sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 which is the earnest of thine inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession chap. 4.30 whereby thou art sealed unto the day of redemption As the Bridegroom who hath promised his spouse marriage giveth her some token for a pledge of their future marriage so God hath betrothed thee to him in faith he hath betrothed thee in mercy Hos 2.19 Rev. 19.7 but the marriage of the Lamb is not yet celebrated therefore he giveth thee the earnest of his Spirit to assure thee of the fulfilling of the promises and a future introducing of thee to the heavenly nuptials This is the spirit of adoption because he witnesseth thou art adopted to be a son of God this is that seal whereby the promises of God are sealed in thy heart this is the earnest by which the word of truth is confirmed to thee 1 Joh. 4.13 By this thou knowest that thou dwellest in God and God in thee because he hath given thee of his Spirit Doubting of the indwelling of the Spirit Tempted But whence can I be sure that my heart is the temple and dwelling of the holy Ghost The blots of sin stick to me and I perceive that in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing how then will the holy Spirit who is holiness and purity it self dwell in me Comforter We receive only the first-fruits of the Spirit in this life Rom. 8.23 we expect the full measure and compleat tenths at length in eternal life there remains in this life a striving of the flesh and spirit Rom. 7.14 we are yet in part carnal and sold under sin yet never the less by means of regeneration and renovation begun we are the temples of the holy Ghost Moreover that the Spirit of God dwelleth in thee thou maist know by this that thou lamentest and abhorrest thy sins Wisd 1.4 because the holy Spirit dwelleth not in a body enslaved to sins because thou believest in Christ and lovest him for he is the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 Zach. 13.9 because with serious groanings thou callest upon God and the most bountiful Father for he is the spirit of grace and of prayers and cryeth in the hearts of the faithful Gal. 4.6 Abba Father because thou art led with a desire of all good for they that are the temples of the holy Spirit are led by him Rom. 8.14 namely unto good because thou oft perceivest a foretast of eternal life in thy heart and the kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14.17 but righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost Wherefore if thy soul hath felt at any time in the secret of its conscience the Spirit of the son crying Bern. in Cant. serm 8. col 509. Abba Father let it presume it is loved with a fatherly affection seeing it feels it self moved with the same Spirit wherewith the Son is In the Spirit of the son it knows it self the daughter of the Father and the Bride and sister of the son But though all these are sometimes weak and languid yet be not cast down but beg increase
life appears a precious nut outwardly but if it be opened with the knife of truth nothing will be found within but vanity and emptiness If there be good in this life that is eminently yea incomparably better in the other Aug. tract ult in Joh. That is in faith this in view That in time of Pilgrimage this in an eternity of mansion that in labour this in rest that in the way this in the country That in the work of action this in the wages of contemplation That declines from evil doth good this hath no evil from which to decline and hath a great good to enjoy That fights with theenemy this reigns without enemy That is stout in adversity this feeleth nothing of adversity That bridleth fleshly lusts this is spent in heavenly delights That is solicitous with a care of overcoming this is secure with the peace of victory That is helped in temptations this is rejoyced in the helper himself without any temptation That succoureth the needy this is there where it finds none needy This pardons other mens trespasses that its trespasses may be pardoned this suffers nothing which it may forgive nor does it any thing which it should desire to be forgiven it That is scourged with adversity that it may not be exalted in prosperity this wants all evil with such a fulness of grace that without any temption it cleaves unto the chiefest good That discerns good and evil things this sees only those things that are good Chuse that life therefore which is to be preferred Lay aside the inordinate desire of a flitting life that thou lose not the inheritance of a permanent one So possess the things of this world as that thou be not possess'd by them let what thou hast be under the dominion of thy mind lest whilst thy mind is overcome with the love of earthly things it self be more possessed of its injoyments Cypr. serm de mortal Why hastenest thou not to better things Heavenly things succeed earthly great things little and eternal things transitory Separation from wife children kindred Tempted I must leave my sweet children I must leave my loyal wife I must leave my pleasant kindred who shall provide for my wife and children who shall be their righter and patron Comforter God it is that calleth himself a father of the fatherless and a judge of widows Pal. 68.6 commit them to his protection and defence It is God that is thy God and who will be the God of thy seed also Gen. 17.7 Thy children are not thine only but God's also yea rather God's than thine seeing he hath bestowed more upon them canst thou doubt then of God's Fatherly care of them The Prophet of the Lord saith he had been young and now was old Psal 37.25 yet had he not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread The generation of the upright shall be blessed Ps 112.2 God hath promised thy children heavenly treasures he will not suffer them believe me to perish with hunger He hath given them life he will not deny the sustenance of life he hath given a body that which he hath wonderfully formed he will also bountifully sustain But take heed thou be not so solicitous about the bodily welfare of thy wife and children as in the mean time to neglect the care of thy soul Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me saith Christ and hateth not his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters yea and his own life he cannot be my disciple which he explains in another place Mat. 10.37 Whosoever loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me Behold God calleth thee by death see thou love not thy wife and children so as therefore to refuse with a ready heart to follow God calling of thee Ambr. in cap. 12. Lucae p. 111. The love of the heavenly Father is to be preferred before the love of children the love of Christ the bridegroom before that of thy wife the benefit ought not to be loved above the benefactor What should I speak of kindred if thou lose them that are dear unto thee Bern serm 26. in Cant. col 569. Aug. Epist 6. ad vid. hereafter thou shalt receive them more dear For we hope on a most true promise that from this life from whence being about to pass we have not lost those of our friends that have already passed but sent them before we shall come to that life in which by how much they will be the better known to us so much the dearer and more amiable without fear of any dissension will they be If thy kindred are dear to thee let Christ be more dear to thee who is thy brother If it be pleasant to thee here to converse with thy kindred let it be more pleasant Heb. 12.22 23. that thou goest to mount Sion and the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels To the Church of the first-born which are written in heaven to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect Stopping of the ears in death Tempted I am afraid lest my ears waxing deaf in the agony of death I be deprived of all comfort of heart and too much dismayed with the terrors of Satan Comforter The inward consolation of the holy Spirit is more effectual than all outward consolations Rom. 8.16 The holy Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God the same Spirit raiseth our spirits when we begin to struggle with death Joh. 15.26 and be straitned in heart for he is the true and highest Comforter When thy eyes grow dim in death the holy Spirit will give the illumination of heart when thy ears wax deaf in death he will bestow on thee quickning comfort of soul Where humane consolation will end there will divine begin Behold the examples of the Martyrs how ready and prepared they were for the most exquisite torments Wheels did seem unto them Roses flames of fire spiritual bracelets iron chains golden crowns torments ornaments two-edged swords beams of heavenly light who wrought this in their hearts who comforted them in their griefs but the holy Spirit His consolation is more effectual than the accusation of the whole world yea or of the Prince of the world Thinkest thou that the holy Spirit does only chear our hearts in the course of this world and is idle in the agony of death thinkest thou the dwelling of the holy Spirit is destroyed when the tabernacle of thy body is destroyed Gal. 2.20 Eph. 3.2 Psal 45.9 Christ liveth in thee and dwelleth in thy heart by faith grace is poured into his lips the fragrancy of this grace will chear thy heart if thy hearing be lost never so much his speech will reach thy heart be
there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust 1 Cor. 15.53 This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 2 Cor. 4.14 We know that he that raised up the Lord Jesuss Phil. 3.20 21. shall raise us up also by Jesus Our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself 1 Thes 4.14 If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Rev. 20.12 13. John saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them These sayings of Scripture writ as it were with the sun-beam are seconded by strong reasons For so the Apostle concludes If Christ be risen 1 Cor. 15.12 Tert. de carne p. 33. we shall al so rise again teaching us that the resurrection of Christ is the key of our graves and the example of our hope 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ was made the first-fruits of them that sleep Therefore as by God's appointment the harvest followed the offering of the first-fruits Exod. 23.19 Lev. 23.20 so shall the harvest of the universal resurrection follow the first-fruits of our Lord's resurrection Christ is our head Aug. 20. de trinit c. 17. what went before in the head shall follow in the members and thence the Apostle confidently affirms Eph. 2.6 that we are raised up together with Christ and placed in the glory of the heavenly paradise Maxim in Serm. de res For the flesh blood and portion of every one of us is in Christ-man Where therefore our portion reigneth there we believe to reign where our blood ruleth we perceive our selves to rule and where our flesh is glorified we know that we are glorious 1 Cor. 15.21 22. Moreover as by one man namely the first Adam came death so by one man namely the second Adam came the resurrection As in Adam we dye so in Christ we rise again Adam's fall was available to bring in death shall not Christ's resurrection be able to obtain our rising again unto life Christ in his glorious resurrection shew'd himself a conquerour of all his enemies then surely of death also which at length he shall utterly abolish Christ is the eternal King surely therefore he will raise from death the citizens of his kingdom that they may live for ever with him Christ freed not our foul only but our body also from the yoke of sin and ordain'd it to an inheritance of eternal life therefore it shall be raised out of the dust that it may go to the possession of this life obtained for it by Christ Theodor. in 1 Cor. 15. tom 2. p. 77. From all which it clearly appears that Christ is as it were the surety and pledge of our resurrection 1 Cor. 3.16 Moreover our bodies are the temples and tabernacles of the holy Ghost he will not let this his temple lie hid in dust and rubbish but he will build it again and hereafter will make it far more illustrious than it was in this life Even as the latter temple of Jerusalem had greater glory than the former Hag. 2.4 In Solomon's temple there were unfading palm-trees 1 K. 6.32 so the bodies of the godly shall not be liable to eternal corruption seeing they are the dwellings of the eternal Spirit Nay seeing our bodies are sanctified by the body and blood of Christ Iren. lib. 4. cap. 34. in the salutary use of the Lords supper how can they abide in the grave How shall that flesh be said to come into corruption and not to partake of life which is fed by the body and blood of Christ As that bread which is of the earth after consecration is no longer common bread but the Eucharist consisting of two things an earthly and an heavenly so our bodies also partaking of this Eucharist are not corruptible having hope of a resurrection Christ's flesh is enlivening meat Joh. 6.54 whoso therefore eateth this flesh hath eternal life Lactant. lib. 4. instit c. 48. and Christ will raise him up at the last day Moreover seeing the soul in this life works by the body and with the body whether good or bad whilst it is in the body therefore divine justice requireth that those that are joyned in the work should be also joyned in the wages those which are joyned i◠the fault should be joyned also in the punishment thence and therefore we shall all be made to appear before the judgement sea◠of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 that every one may receive the things done in his body whether they be good or evil Tert. in Apolog. c. 45. p. 337. Tert. de re sur p. 44. Lact. 6. div instit c. 18. The soul did not deserve without the body in which it did all Lastly besides these strong arguments there are the examples of those that have been raised whom Christ by his own power the Prophets and Apostles by a divine power have recalled to life for a testimony of the future resurrection which as Candidates of immortality and eternity they give to us who by faith and confession are joyned to them The incredibility of the resurrection Tempted The Article of the resurrection is very much against the nature of our bodies and humane reason whence the hope of the resurrection also is sometimes not a little weakened with the storms of various cogitations in my heart Comforter The foundation of our faith are the oracles of the holy Spirit not the dictates of our reason We believe the resurrection of the dead 2 Cor. 10.5 to the obedience of this faith we ought to bring all reason into captivity Eph. 3.20 God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think * Philo. lib. de decal p. 477. If therefore thou find God doth promise thou shalt find he will perform whatever God saith they are not words but works Let us suppose that God can do any thing which we confess we cannot tell how it can be done and therein the whole reason of the work is the power of him that sayes he will do it †Aug. ep 3. Bern. serm 4. de nativ col 43. It will be easie for him by whom his mother her self lost not incorruption of flesh by bringing forth to cause that this corruptible should put on incorruption by rising again Nay in Nature there are set forth divers resemblances of the resurrection 1 Cor.
our life and being and he delights not in our destruction death was never intended against us but against our sin we were therefore made mortal that our sins might not be immortal we must dye once that sin may not always live Oh death what dost thou Thou dissolvest the rarest composition of heaven and earth thou dividest our spirits from our clay thou dost separate soul and body sharper art thou than any two-edged sword and entrest to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit yea thou dividest between the marrow and the bone Thou makest our dust return to the earth and our Spirit to God that gave it Oh death Thou makest our spirit to vanish our breath to stop our blood to cool our colour to change our beauty to fade and our strength to fail thou as Solomon saith Eccles 12.2 makest the keepers of the house our hands to tremble and the strong men our feet to bow themselves thou makest the grinders our Teeth to cease and them that look out at the windows our eyes to wax dim thou shuttest the dores of our lips and stoppest our windpipes the Daughters of Musick Thou cuttest short the silver Cord of our Marrow and breakest the golden bowl of our brain pan thou breakest the pitcher of our veins at the fountain of our liver at the cistorn of our heart there breakest thou the wheel of our head Oh death Thou art ordained for us all It is appointed for all men once to die we must all walk in this way all-tread this same path we must all sleep the same sleep our last sleep and the dark night of death will at last overtake us all our fathers are dead saith the Father our friends are dead and we our selves must die also Some are gone before us some do accompany us and some will come after us as wave after wave dashes against the Rock so shall we all one after another dash against this hard and cold Rock of death And thus sooner or later we all must die at last We are born with that condition that we must die we do therefore put on the Garment of our body that we may again put it off Death is the Law of Nature and to dye is but to pay a Tribute due to Nature it is as natural for us to live and then to die as it is for us to wake and sleep Oh death Thou wilt certainly come yet it is most uncertain when nothing is more certain than death but than the hour of death there is nothing more uncertain of that day and hour knoweth no man Matt. 24.36 that is of the day of judgement and the hour of death Death comes as a thief in the night both certainly suddenly and violently it takes one upon the house top another in the field one working in the Vineyard another grinding at the Mill one upon the house top of honours another in the field of pleasures one labouring in the Vineyard of a Christian calling another grinding at the Mill of worldly cares and troubles a man knoweth not his time Eccl. 9.12 that is the time of his death God will not discover to us the time when death shall come upon us because he would have us think it to be ever near us he will not let us know our last day because he would have us imagine and expect every day to be our last This one hour the hour of death is hidden from us that all the hours of our life might be the better improved by us saith St. Augustine Oh Death Thou art impartial and indifferent to all thou callest equally and as soon at the gate of the Palace as at the door of the Cottage thou makest the skull of the King and begger alike and between the dust of either thou knowest no difference thou hast neither pity upon the poor nor respect unto the rich thou neither scornest the foolish nor dost thou reverence the wise How dieth the wise man says Solomon even as the fool Eccl. 2.16 Thou dost long threaten the old man and soon betrayest and sruprizest the young thou never sparest any for their Age Sex degree or wealth we can by no power or force resist thee nor by any diligence avoid thee no tears can move thee no money bribe thee no art nor Eloquence can perswade thee Oh Death Thou hast manifold appearances and comest to us in several forms and shapes toward the old man thou approachest pale and lean toward the young bloody and boysterous to the bad man thou appearest as black as Hell it self and terrible to every man Thou comest to us sometimes by the hands of men sometimes by the Teeth of beasts sometimes by Fire and sometimes by water sometimes by a cold blast of wind sometimes by the slipping of a foot and sometimes by the falling of a tyle or stone sometimes in our cloths and sometimes in our meat and drink We dye several ways and by divers means some dye in War and some in peace some by sea and some by land some in the field and some in their beds some by their own neglects and intemperance others by a sudden wound or a languishing disease and thus by a Thousand ways of dying one death or other at last destroys us all Oh Death How bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions Oh Death how acceptable is thy judgement to the needy saith the Wise man Ecclus 41.1 2. Oh death thou art indeed like a shadow thou fliest those that follow thee and followest those that flye from thee thou hastnest toward us when we desire to avoid thee and when we would imbrace thee thou then delayest us Death is the rich mans fear the poor mans desire Thou art often called upon in adversity seldom or never thought on in Prosperity In prosperity we complain and cry with Hezekiah Isai 38. to have further time added to our days but in adversity we are apt every one to wish with Elijah It is enough now O Lord take away my soul for I am no better than my Fathers 1 Kings 19.4 Oh Death How dreadful a thing art thou to flesh and blood how do we abhor to think that the Grave should be our house and that we should make our bed in darkness to say to corruption thou art my father and to the worm thou art my sister and my mother How hateful is it to inherite serpents and worms to be separated from our selves and return to our dust How terrible is death to us not only from our own experience but from the example of others as often as we see or hear that another is dead we are concerned to think that we must dye also and when we are sick and think that death is coming upon our selves how are we troubled not well knowing what we shall do or whither we must go we are afraid to dye even we who have good hope of a better life after
death we who look for an house not made with hands are notwithstanding unwilling to leave this house of clay we who have the promise of a kingdom are yet unwilling to forsake our prison we are afraid to be dissolved though we desire to be with Christ we dread the passage though we rejoyce to approach to our home and habitation in the Heavens Notwithstanding what hath been said yet let us encourage our selves against the fear of death and by the example and in the words of St. Paul let us ask Oh Death where is thy sting For death truly considered is but a shadow a meer bugbear which children only ought to fear death is nothing and we are afraid of we know not what death only separates between soul and body why do we fear that it should thus dissolve us and not rather rejoyce that it cannot destroy us Let us not fear what may separate us from our selves but let us rather imbrace what will convey us to our Christ and our God Death is appointed for us all why then are we afraid of what we cannot possibly avoid Our willingness to dye is the only means to take away the terribleness thereof Let us therefore offer our lives to God freely which he will otherwise require from us as a due debt says Chrysostom The coming of death is uncertain and shall any thing that is uncertain cause in us a certain fear But rather since it is uncertain at what time or in what place death will overtake us let us therefore at all times and in all places expect and look for it says Seneca Besides death deals equally and impartially to all and this also should make us less afraid of it Who can reasonably complain says Seneca that he is in the same condition wherein all men else are Who can expect that death should spare any since it is indispensible to all when there is a general ruin threatened to the whole world who can think himself alone should escape The equality of death is some comfort against the cruelty thereof there are several ways of dying and why should that make us afraid of death 't is no great matter which way we dye since we can be but dead at last since we must dye let us not much regard by what means but let us take care whither we must go after death says St. Austin To conclude death is a thing that is indeed fearful to flesh and blood and yet all this should not make us afraid of death for it is not death it self but the fear of it that is so terrible and this also proceeds more from our ignorance than from the thing it self did we but know death we would not so much fear it says St. Chrysostome The fear of death is the punishment of our ignorance and negligence which makes us apprehend things to be new and strange which really are not so The only way therefore to free us from the fear of death is by daily meditation thereof to make it familiar to us to acquaint our selves with it before it comes that we may the less dread its appearance Thus shall we find that by learning not to fear death we shall at last come like our blessed Apostle to triumph over it and to say O death where is thy sting Death is not yet destroyed for St. Paul says the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death 1 Cor. 15.26 But yet it is disarmed already Oh death where is thy sting This seems to be an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Captains song of victory and the Souldiers song of deliverance they look like the words of a mighty conqueror bravely triumphing over a base and wretched enemy and who is this conqueror but Christ Jesus the Lord of Life it was he who spoke the words in the Prophet Hosea 13.14 O death I will be thy death And it is in the power of Christ that the Apostle speaks thus O death where is thy sting Jesus Christ did once subdue death for us and said O death I will be thy death and we may now triumph over death in the strength of Christ and say with our Apostle O death where is thy sting Jesus Christ overcame death by dying nay more by death he destroyed not death only but him also who had power over death the Devil Heb. 7.14 Our captain hath conquered our enemy at his own weapon he hath caught this Mighty Hunter in his own snare he yielded only to death to take advantage against death yea therefore laid he down his life that death might no longer live therefore says St. Chrysostom we do not believe that Christ is dead in death but we believe that death is dead in Christ Death that greedy whale durst venture to devour Christ Jesus our Jonas who was cast into the sea of the world that the storms and Tempests of the Devil and sin might cease but yet he was preserved alive in the fishes belly in the belly of Hell in the jaws of death that he might preach repentance to the Ninive of the Church This great whale Death swallowed the bait of Christs humanity but the hook of his Divinity intangled her and made her vomit up her bowels bait and all Death designed to have swallowed Christ and left him in darkness and obscurity but death it self was swallowed up in victory The serpent death was bold to sting our Saviour but he made him lose his sting for his labour so that in his name we may now chearfully ask Oh Death where is thy sting The sting of death is sin 1 Cor. 15.56 Christ the Lamb of God hath taken away the sins of the world John 1.29 In Christ Jesus therefore we may joyfully say Oh death where is thy sting Job asketh this question concerning man Man dieth and where is he Job 14.10 but we may ask the same question of Death man dieth and where is death yea we ask the same of the worst part of death which is its sting Oh death where is thy sting Jacob bewailed the death of Joseph saying Joseph is dead Joseph is not Gen. 42. and Rachel wept for her children and would not be comforted because they were not Mat. 2. because death had seized upon them they thought their children to be quite gone But to speak properly death does only convey us where we ought to be but death it self is indeed no where O death where is thy sting Death is utterly destroyed by the Cross of Christ When death first entered into the world it was like the waters of Marah exceeding bitter Exo. 15. but since the Tree of the Cross of Christ it is now made sweet and pleasant to us we might once have cryed out with the children of the Prophets Death is in the pot death is in the pot 2 Kings 4. but since our blessed Saviour hath declared This Cup is the new Testament of my blood we may now say with the blessed Saints of God This is
the Cup of Salvation Salvation is in the cup death is now no more since the Lord of life destroyed death his death hath quickened our life and hath sweetned and taken away the sting of death from us Our Apostle does not ask Oh death what is thy sting though the words which follow seem to be an answer to such a question the sting of death is sin it seems then that death is not the sting of sin but sin is the sting of death for says Anselm we do indeed dye for sinning but we do not sin for dying And as those words following answer to a Question which they ask not so the former words ask a question to which those following answer not Oh death where is thy sting Now not to tell you where it is is as much as to say it is no where death hath now no sting let us all rejoyce and be glad this serpent may hiss at us this wasp may buz about us but it can now neither bite not sting us the sting of death is gone and nothing remains but the name nay the name too is gone to them that are in Christ Jesus the death of the godly man is not to be called a death but a sleep a resting from their labours a delivery out of prison a laying down their burden a flying to their desired home death now hath lost her sting it is not now a punishment but a happy passage not so much an end of this life as an entrance into a better not a destruction but a dissolution only a separation of the soul and body for a short time that so they might be joyned together to enjoy heaven and happiness with Christ our Lord and life to all eternity Thus have we asked this one question of death Oh death where is thy sting now let us ask another of our selves why are we so desperately and despairingly afraid of death since we have heard and do certainly know that death hath lost her sting Oh faithless and faint-hearted man why dost thou tremble O Christian to encounter with thy last enemy since its weapon is now taken from it why dost thou shrink at the coldness of the serpent when thou knowest her poyson and sting are quite taken away Oh faithless and faint-hearted soul to be so afraid of a shadow Alas why do we so dreadfully fear death since our souls are not lost but sent before it is for those only to tremble at death that pass from one death to another from the death of the body on earth to the death of the body and soul in hell for ever it is for those only to fear a temporal death so terribly who are either ignorant or do despair of eternal life who go from their Prison in this world to the place of their execution world without end But as for those that are in Christ Jesus they pass from a prison to a Palace from a dungeon to a Throne from a crazy and miserable Tabernacle here to an eternal habitation in the heavens It is for them says Cyprian to fear to be dissolved who have no hope to be with Christ A despairing fear of death is but a despair of eternal life after death Men naturally chuse rather to suffer a great deal of pain and live than to endure a small pain in dying which demonstrates that it is something after death and not death it self which we so much dread Let those only desire to linger in the miseries of this present life who hope thereby to delay a while the torments and miseries of the life to come But as for us Christians we that are in Christ Jesus why are we afraid to arrive at our haven of rest after so many dangers storms and shipwracks which we have suffered in this world having fought a good fight and finished our course why do we doubt or delay to go and receive our Crown of glory having run our race why seem we so unwilling to receive the prize let us not fear the threats of a Temporal death but rather let us rejoyce in the promises of eternal life For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we dye we dye unto the Lord therefore whether we live or dye we are the Lords Let not our lives be so wicked and prophane as that we should be therefore ashamed to live neither let us be so negligent and ignorant of death as to be therefore afraid to dye But at the instant of our departure let us every one say as that dying Saint did which Hierom mentions go forth my soul go forth what dost thou fear Let every soul of us learn to say sincerely and chearfully at his last passage from his earthly Pilgrimage What though I dye I know that my Redeemer liveth though my body be dissolved yet shall my Spirit be conjoyned with Christ my Saviour Lye down then O my body and return unto thy dust mount aloft O my soul and meet thy Saviour in the Air my body shall be earth and worms meat for a short time but my soul I am assured shall be a companion with Saints and Angels for ever and ever Amen Divine Contemplations and Soliloquies upon Death and Eternity I. AS all the creatures O God were made by thy wisdom so they may be useful for our instruction to teach us to dye my garments that wax old may put me in mind that I my self shall wax old like a Garment and that as a Vesture I shall be changed Let me not therefore love the shadow and leave the substance let me not change heaven for earth things temporal for things eternal and since my life is but as a day let me so live by thy Divine assistance this day as if I were certain to dye to morrow and since my life is but as a watch in the night my soul shall wait for thee O Lord before the morning watch I will wait for thee in zealous Affections in unwearied patience in undoubted confidence and expectation of the joy that will come in the morning wherein thou wilt appear for my deliverance out of this transitory life and with my lamp prepared I will be in readiness to meet my Bridegroom at his coming II. Whilest I behold the heavens the works of thy hands O Lord and the Sun and Moon which thou hast ordained which shall all pass away as a tempest I will look for a new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness the heaven of heavens the City of the ever-living God the celestial Jerusalem the place where thy honour dwells therefore while I am on earth let me consider that I am but earth let me always remember that I am but dust an house of clay a body of corruption let me not be earthly-minded like those whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame and whose end is destruction who mind earthly things While I look upon the water-flouds let me say this is mine
that Christ thy Lord obtaineth it on a double account both by being the heir of the Father and by the merit of his passion he is content with the first the latter he bestoweth on thee from whose gift challenge it for thy self and thou shalt not be confounded The temptation of despair Tempted The Devil solicits me to despair Comforter I would have thee despair namely of thy self and in thy self because thou art a sinner but despair not in God whose grace aboundeth over thy sin Rom. 5.21 Chrysost hom 3. de poenit For no more is the malice of man to the clemency of God than a spark of fire is to the sea The sea although it be great yet it admits of measure but the mercy of God is unmeasurable Neither despair of Christ and in Christ 1 Tim. 1.15 who came into the world to save sinners whose blood avails more to reconcile God than the sins of all the world to offend him Although thy sins be great and diverse and often repeated yet they are not greater nor more grievous than thou maist obtain pardon and forgiveness for in that the goodness of God is greater than the iniquity of all men Sins as it were set with the sun but the grace of God riseth with it Sins are the works of the Devil and of man To have pity to spare and to forgive are the works of God By how much therefore God is more powerful than the Devil and man by so much is his mercy above our malice The Lord is merciful and gracious Ps 103.8 slow to anger and plenteous in mercy v. 9. He doth not always chide neither doth he keep his anger for ever v. 10. He dealeth not with us after our sins nor rewardeth us according to our iniquities v. 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him v. 12. As far as the East is from the West so far removeth he our transgressions Heaven is incomparably greater than the earth which is but like a very little point in comparison with heaven but so is the mercy of the heavenly Father incomparably greater than all sins Bern. Serm. 11. in Cant. col 518. Be far then from saying Mine iniquity is greater than the pity of a merciful God Thou shalt find God more bountiful than thou art faulty Gerson de remed contra pusillan So great is God's mercy that if thou hadst all the sins of the world upon thee and wert sorry that thou hadst proudly offended so good a God by thy sins and didst firmly purpose for the future to refrain therefrom God would never condemn thee Dost thou so forget the satisfaction made by Christ that thou wilt prefer thy sins before the merit of Christ that is thy self before God Thou seest the greatness of the disease Aug. in Psal 55. and seest thou not the power of the physician Thy sins are great Christ is far greater that satisfied for thy sins Thy sins are diverse but Christ also suffered diverse things for thee God is an infinite good whom thou hast offended by thy sins but Christ is an infinite person who hath reconciled thee to God Sigh therefore unto the heavenly Father and pray in the name of the Son thy Saviour If thou O eternal God Ansh de redempt gen hum fol. 96. despisest me for mine iniquity as I deserve however for the dearness of thy beloved Son look upon me with pity Observe in thy Son what thou maist atone in thy servant Behold the Sacrament of his flesh and remit the guilt of my flesh remember what â—â—y good Son has suffered and forget what thy bad servant hath done The Temptation of Blasphemy Tempted I must needs confess I am not only solicited to despair but am also sometimes tempted with the spirit of Blasphemy for there arise such thoughts in my heart as are injurious against God himself my Creator and my Saviour I would choose to die a thousand times to be freed from this temptation Comforter These thoughts are not the actions of thine heart but rather its bitter passions seeing thou art not delighted with them but thy grief from them is more bitter than death it self They are the scourges of Satan whereby he afflicts and torments thee they will not be reckoned for sin unto thee by the Lord. And though thou have the greatest impatience of spirit from the infirmity of thy flesh yet the Lord knows thy groans and thy sighs The weight of temptations did force hard words even from Job and Jeremy which yet the most bountiful God did fatherly forgive them Thou seest by them how altogether no strength unto good thou hast from thy self that thou maist cleave unto God alone with full trust of heart This is the top and highest degree of thy fight against Satan see that thou despond not here the greatest champion will be with thee and will not leave thee destitute of his help Wait patiently and humbly till thou art freed of these fiery darts of Satan Eph. 6.16 in the mean time let the grace of God be sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 It is the flesh which so striveth against the spirit and is so ready and obedient to receive the darts of Satan the sin that dwells in thy flesh shall not be imputed unto thee if through the spirit thou mortifie the deeds of the flesh and consent not to those blasphemous thoughts Those fiery darts of Satan shall be quenched in the blood of Christ turn towards him the shield of faith and as soon as thou perceivest any blasphemous thought to arise betake thy self to prayer and so thou maist kill it as it were in the bud The particularness of the premises Tempted I perceive some comfort of the Spirit in my heart I observe some trust in my mind that keeps me from despair when I behold the mercy of God abounding over my sins and the merit of Christ which is of infinite price and value But I doubt whether the Evangelical promises of the mercy of God and merit of Christ belong to me For God is not only merciful but he is also a most just and severe punisher of sins and alas experience sheweth that all are not partakers of the benefits of Christ Comforter But look thou give not way to those seducing thoughts of the particularness of the Evangelical promises God calleth all to him desireth all will come unto him he offereth the word of the Gospel and in it the benefits of Christ unto all and that not feignedly but sincerely not hypocritically but with a mind to bestow Ezek. 18.31 32. ch 33.11 As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner but that he should turn and live Here thou hast the solemn oath of Divine truth thou seest their conversion is expected and desired by God that by their own fault die in their sins
repeated as oft as men sin but because by it once given there is obtained pardon unto the faithful of all the sins committed not only before but also after Confess therefore and grieve for thy sins but yet renounce not nor forget the covenant of grace that was enter'd into with thee at thy Baptism but though thou fall a thousand times yet return again Return unto me Jer. 3.12 Psal 27. thou backsliding soul saith the Lord and I will not turn away my face from you because I am merciful saith the Lord and keep not anger for ever Let thy heart present this word to God and he will have mercy on thee being mindful of his promise 2 Tim. 2.13 for he cannot deny himself nor his word The uncertain reception into the covenant of Baptism Tempted But whence can I be sure that I am again received by God into the covenant of Baptism I wish my heart could be perswaded by some certain seal I wish there were some sacrament by partaking whereof the promise of grace might be ratified to me Comforter Yea there is such an one namely the holy sacrament of the Lords supper wherein thou receivest that body Christ gave to death for thee and drinkest of that blood which Christ poured forth for thy sins on the altar of the Cross Wherefore seeing thou receivest in that holy supper the most holy price of thy Redemption namely the body and blood of Christ thou maist be sure that thou truly partakest of all those things which Christ hath merited on the altar of the Cross by giving up his body and pouring out his blood viz. the grace of God the remission of sins righteousness life and eternal salvation When thou drinkest that blood by the pouring out whereof the covenant of grace was established and confirmed how canst thou doubt whether thou art truly received again into that covenant What is more near to God than his only-begotten Son as one that is in his bosom Joh. 1.18.14.10.10.30 that is in the Father and the Father in him that is one with the Father Again what is nearer to the son of God than his flesh and blood or the humane Nature assumed as that which he hath joyned to himself in a personal and indissoluble league Therefore by eating Christ's flesh and drinking his blood thou art most closely joyned to God These being eaten and drunk do cause that Christ abideth in thee and thou in him Hilar. S. de Trin. p. 141. What is nearer to us than what we eat and drink as that which is either turned into the substance of our flesh as natural and elementary meats are or does as it were change and turn us into it self as that spiritual meat of the Lords body and blood which we eat indeed but we change not him into us but we are changed into him Therefore by eating the quickning flesh of Christ thou receivest spiritual life from it by drinking the precious blood of Christ thou comest to the well of life Christ assumed humane nature from us in it he condemned sin he destroyed death he repaired life and replenished it also with fulness of grace and heavenly good things That very nature assumed from us and repaired in him doth he return thee again in the Lords supper sanctified and filled with heavenly treasures that thou maist be sure that that truly belongs to thee which he hath deposited therein as in a rich storehouse He implants as it were thy depraved nature in his most holy and quickning flesh that from him thou mightst draw the juice of life and an antidote to remedy that spiritual poison that lies hid in thy flesh He is the vine Joh. 15.5 we are the branches he that abideth in Him and He in him the same beareth much fruit The impurity of thy nature is overshadowed as it were and covered with that most holy body of Christ that thou receivest and that most precious blood that thou drinkest that it appears not before the tribunal and in the sight of God They are taken by thee for an acceptable apology and earnest of eternal life Liturg. … ter Damas 4. fid Orthod cap. 14. for the confirmation and defence of the soul and the body for the remission of sins and for eternal life Moreover in the holy supper there is given a wholsome viaticum in that therein are exhibited to thee the symbols of a future resurrection Can. Nicaen whereby is confirmed to thee a title of acquaintance and entertainment to be expected in a heavenly country Joh. 6.54 He that eateth my flesh saith Christ and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Therefore it cannot be I say it cannot be that thy body should abide in the grave Iren. lib. 4. c. 34. when it hath been nourished with the body and blood of our Lord namely with that meat that is the * Ignat. ep 11. ad Ephes medicine of immortality the antidote against death and a powerful remedy that we may live in God through Christ By this meat thy weakness shall be strengthened that thou maist arrive at the mountain of the Lord with Elias 2 Kings 13.21 The bones of Elisha being now dead did enliven him that was to be buried in the same tomb how much rather shall the flesh of Christ now living and quickening being received by faith quicken thee to eternal life The unworthy receiving of the Lords supper Tempted I confess that in the true and salutary use of the Lord's supper the godly are made partakers of these benefits but that troubles me not a little which the Apostle affirmeth 1 Cor. 11.27 That they that eat this bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily become guilty of the body and blood of Christ I am afraid therefore lest I also be an unworthy guest at that heavenly banquet Conforter By acknowledging and lamenting thine unworthiness thou maist avoid the imputation of an unworthy guest for the Apostle calleth those unworthy not who are weak in faith seeing this sacrament was instituted for the strengthening of faith and comforting of the weak 1 Cor. 11.28 29. but those who examine not themselves nor discern the Lord's body that is those who without true repentance and a lively faith who without hatred of sin and a firm purpose of amendment of life come to the holy supper as to a common feast who difference not this heavenly banquet from other common meats that they might acknowledge its true excellency and duly prepare their hearts Such unworthy guests at this banquet sin no less by unworthy eating and drinking the flesh and blood of Christ than the Jews did in crucifying him But far be it from thy piety far be it I say that thou shouldest be in their number For thou acknowledgest the filth of thy sin thou lamentest the uncleanness of thy nature thou breathest after Christ the physician
infirmity I am lighter than water that runneth away apace I beseech thee therefore O my God who sittest upon the floods of water and art a King for ever to send the heavenly dew of thy grace upon me who am part of thine inheritance to refresh my wearied soul Let every herb that I behold cause me to contemplate my own estate that I shall one day be cut off like the green herb and shall wither away like the grass let the Sun that shines over my head lift up my heart to the Son of righteousness to that light which lightens the Gentiles and the Glory of the people Israel Let the Moon that rules by night make me call upon thee the father of light to illuminate me while I sit in darkness and in the shadow of death in whom is no variableness nor change as there is in the Moon finally let the beasts the birds the fishes yea the very flies and insects which seem to be the very scorn of nature let them all by the shortness of their lives remind me of the brevity of my own and since it is thy blessed will O dear Saviour let me be contented and rejoyce therein for ever III. O Lord the life of my life and the God of the spirits of all flesh make me willing to dye since it is thy ordinance and appointment for all things serve thee let me not forget thee nor behave my self frowardly in thy Covenant make me willing to die and to say with old Sin can Lord now let thy servant depart in peace and with St. Paul I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ and because my spirit is willing and my flesh weak raise it and quicken it with thy free spirit by bringing to my remembrance thy promises and comforts to me on every side and since it is thy holy pleasure I should die and not live I am satisfied therewith for thy law is within my heart therefore make no long tarrying O Lord my God IV. How long O God shall I live to sin against thee for as long as I live in this earthly Tabernacle I can do nothing but sin to will is present with me but I find no strength nor ability to perform for I find a Law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind making me captive to the law of sin and death so that the good which I would do I do not but the evil which I would not do that do I. Deliver me therefore dear Lord from this body of death that I may enter the gates of life and go to the Angels and Saints and be one of them and continue with them to all Eternity my soul thirsteth for God even for the living God make hast therefore O Christ and deliver me V. Let my Conversation in this world O Lord be such that I may neither be ashamed to live nor afraid to die I know that to the natural man death is very fearful and terrible but let me be thine by thy grace strengthen me in my greatest weakness be present with me with thy consolations even to the last moment and compass me about with songs of deliverance and then though I walk through the vally of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy left hand is under my head and thy right hand doth embrace me why should I be afraid in the evil day or why should my soul be disquieted within me for death will then be to me advantage let me therefore sigh and groan in being desirous to be delivered from this burden of the flesh and to be thereby made partaker of immortality and of those unutterable joys and pleasures which thou O my blessed God and Saviour dost enjoy for ever let my faith O Lord scatter all my fears and let my soul long for thy salvation deliver my soul out of Prison and take me to thy everlasting mercy put an end to my sins by the end of this life that I may live with thee without end VI. Set a watch O Lord before the doors of my heart and so order my thoughts that I may always set thee before me and in the midst of life let me so remember death that when my days in this world are at an end I may return unto thee my rest let not the flight and departure of this my Spirit from my body be on the Sabbath day that is in the rest and tranquillity of my sins nor in the winter or frost of my hard heart nor in the midnight of my security when I least look for it let not this dangerous thief of carelesness and security break into my soul nor hinder me from a serious and continual meditation of death and of the heavenly habitations If I forget Jerusalem in my mirth let my right-hand forget her cunning those thoughts that are imployed about my death are my best teachers teach me therefore to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness Morning evening and at mid-day let me wait for the coming of my blessed Saviour who shall turn my night into day my darkness into light my heaviness into joy my labours into rest when death shall be swallowed up into victory where the serpent shall sting no more and where the second death shall never hurt me VII Guide thou O Lord my God the ship of my soul through the sea of this world by the direction of thy holy word wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust let me sayl so safely that by the winds and waves of temptations I may never be driven either upon the Rocks of Presumption or Despair but that I may happily arrive at the haven of the promised land of thy heavenly Kingdom While I behold thee O Lord in thy justice I am afraid and am ready to despair and while I look upon thee in thine infinite mercies I am subject to presume Let thy hand therefore so support me that I may be defended by thy fatherly goodness as with a shield that I may not be cut off by the course of thy severe justice as with a sword I must confess that in justice I have incurred thy wrath and deserve condemnation but through thy manifold mercies O Lord I long and look for thy salvation I am the workmanship of thy hands destroy not therefore that which thou hast made but bless it and bring it to a perfect end thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth and therefore I promise to my self that I cannot be lost if I sincerely put my trust in thee for then thou hast promised me salvation in thy word and thou hast bound this thy promise with an Oath and sealed it with the blood of thy Son and that before the best witnesses in heaven or earth thy holy spirit bearing witness with my spirit that I am a child of God Now upon such considerations as these I fix and ground my faith and am perswaded that after