to the lips in water yet they are slaine with thirst as the Poets in times past fabled of TANTALVS But though many and great be the troubles of the Righteous yet the Lord delivereth them out of all For the eyes of the Lord is over the Righteous and his Eare is open to theyr cry but the Face of the Lord is against them that do evill Psalm 3 4 to cut off theyr Remembrance from the Eatth Who would be unwilling then to suffer ignominies and scornings rather then with the wicked to injoy the pleasures of Sin for a season Revel 2â— God himselfe will wipe all teares from theyr eyes hee will give them Ioyes for theyr Sorrowes as hee sayth Blessed are yee that now Weepe for yee shall Rejoyce troubles in this life are badges of Gods Children Whom the Lord loveth Prov. 3. hee chastiseth and correcteth every Sonne that he chuseth with Patience Luke 21. Therefore possesse your Soules Iohn 15. and remember who it is that sayd You are not of the World as I am not of the World the world hateth you because it hated mee first if you were of the world the world would love you Oh blessed Sufferings that makes us like to God himselfe if wee had the Wisedome of SALOMON the Treasure of CRoeSVS and the long life of METHVSALEM and out of the favour and love of God our Wisedome were Foolishnesse for to know him is perfect wisedome our Riches were drosse for riches will not avayle in the day of Wrath and that life so long and wickedly led no better then a man that dreames hee is a King honoured of all and wanting nothing when waking hee findes himselfe hated of all and wanting all things III. Of the Peace of a good Conscience and the Ioyfull end of the Godly SALOMON having set himselfe to behold all things that were under the Sun having taken to himselfe all that could bee delightfull for what can he doe more that commeth after the King at last concludeth Eccles 2. That all the dayes of Man are sorrowes and his travailes griefe therefore sayth he I hated life for all is Vanity and vexation of Spirit and perceiving how apt men were to follow what delights this world could affoord them scoffes at theyr folly and by way of derision sayth Rejoyce O young man in thy Youth Eccles 11 let thy heart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes yet would hee not let them goe on thus but gives them an Jtem saying But know that for all these things God will bring thee to Iudgement for though sayth hee A Sinner doe evill an hundred times and his dayes bee prolonged yet surely I know that it shal be well with them that feare God These Caveats the godly man placeth before his remembrance least hee should fall into errors and making his life of no value to him hee despiseth all things onely ayming at that may make him happy which is a good Conscience for that will bring him peace at the last death being to a godly man the ending of Sorrowes and the beginning of Ioyes he doth then begin to live with God when hee dyes to the World Eccles â— as it is sayd in Ecclesiastes Who so feareth the Lord it shall goe well with him at the last and in the day of his Death hee shall be blessed And St. IOHN was commanded to Write Blessed are the Dead Revel 14. that dye in the Lord even so sayth the Spirit that they may rest from theyr labours their works follow them How can that man bee discouraged that heareth this of the Lord in the houre of his Death when he findeth himselfe hasting thither where hee shall receive that which he hath all his life-life-time desired And Saint AVGVSTINS speaking of the Death of a Good man sayth He that desireth to bee dissolved be with Christ dyeth not Patiently but liveth Patiently and dyeth delightsomely and it may be sayd That like a Swan he dyeth singing yeilding the glory to God which calleth him With what joy doth that Soule behold his end who hath all his Life-time possessed a good Conscience nothing fearefull can present it selfe before him he sees all his sinnes not of a Crimson die but White as wooll washed by the blood of Christ he beholds him not as his Iudge but his Sauiour and Mediatour his Iudge is his Brother God in Christ is become his Father hee hath no debts to pay Christ Iesus on the Crosse hath Cancelled the hand writing that was against him and hath not onely made him free but also an heyre of the Kingdome of Heaven The presence of Death is not terrible to him for he feareth not Death because hee feared GOD and hee that feareth him need feare none other hee feareth not Death because he feared Life but feare of Death are the effects of an evill Life hee feareth not Death because through all his life hee learned to dye and prepared himselfe to dye but a man prepared and provident need not feare his Enemy he feareth not Death because so long as he lived he sought for those things that might helpe him that is for Vertues and good Workes hee feareth not Death because to a Righteous man Death is not death but a sleepe it is not Death but an end of all labours it is not Death but away unto life and a Ladder unto Paradice for hee knoweth that Death hath lost all the bitternesse of Death after it hath passed through the veynes of Life and that it hath received the sweetnesse of life hee feareth not the presence of Divels because he hath CHRIST his defender and Captaine he feareth not the horror of the grave because he knoweth that his body is sowne a corrup tible body but shall rise againe in incorruptible body often boasting in the strength hee hath gained by Christ saying with cheerefulnesse of spirit O Death where is thy sting 2. Cor. 15. O Grave where is thy victory The strong man death comes not upon him unawares for hee hath layd up in store for himselfe a good foundation against this time 1. Tim. 6. which was to come that hee might lay hold on Eternall life Even the brest-plate of righteousnesse Ephes 5. the shield of Faith the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit having his loynes girt about with verity and his feete shod with the preparation of the Gospell of Peace what hope now hath his enemy of any advantage though helped by the weakenesse of his owne flesh Death was ever expected and therefore provided for he alwayes lived as in the presence of GOD having a strict eye over all his actions and though now Satan bend all his Forces against him because hee hath but a small time before his siege must bee raysed and therefore presents that before him which he dearest loued his Wife
wretched state The more he rues his fact but all too late Whereas he was created King of all The Creatures God on Earth created had His Glory bated is by this his Fall No creature now on Earth remaines so bad The sencelesse Beast the sence of this hath found And having Man possest with death doth wound The Earth disdaines to yeeld to him her strength But pricking Thornes and Brambles forth doth send Till with his sweat and labours she at length Onely for sustenance some food doth lend Thus he that was a heauenly Creature form'd By disobedience to a wretch is turn'd Of all the Trees that in the Garden grew He onely was forbidden that alone His Wife from that obedience soone him drew And taste thereof he did although but one O wretched man what hast thou lost hereby Wicked woman to cause thy husband dye T' is not saying the Serpent thee deceiu'd That can excuse the fault thou didst commit For of all Ioyes thou hast thy selfe bereau'd And by thy Conscience thou dost stand convict Thy husband not alone the fault must rue A punishment for sinne to thee is due For as thou now conceiues thy seed in sinne So in great sorrow thou must bring it foorth The gaine which thou by that same fruit didst winne Thou now dost find to bee but little worth Obedience to thy Husband yeeld thou must And both must Dye and turned be to Dust The Truth sometimes is vsed by the Divell When as he sayd Your eyes should opened bee And that you should discerne the good from euill When you the Fruit had tasted of that tree But hee told not your actions should be sinne And Death should be the good which you should winne For now your strength to weakenesse turned is You know the Good but have no powre to chuse't Your eyes is ope to see your owne amisse And to behold the blisse you have refus'd You see your nakednesse made vilde by Sinne And now seekes for a place to hide you in But O alas your deeds discover'd are You naked lye to those all-seeing eyes He viewes your actions and doth see you bare Bare of all Goodnesse vilde deformities And in your selves you have no power to mend For all your strength is sinne Sathan doth lend Now seizes on your sicknesse Griefes and Feares Which night and day with trouble will torment Your sweet Delights are turned all to teares And now what you haue done with woerepent Nothing but Griefes and Feares and sad annoyes You now possesse in stead of endlesse Ioyes You were immortall but are mortall made You were created pure but now are vilde Your splendant Glories turned all to shade Your Innocence the Deuill hath beguilde You were created Children of the Lord But now are loathsome Dung to be abhorr'd Which way can you recouer this your losse What friend have you that will this great debt pay Can you gaine pure gold from filthy drosse Or have you power to call againe that Day No you are in a laborinth of woe And endlesse is the maze in which you goe Yet courage Woman whose weake spirit 's dead GOD in his love a helpe for thee hath found Bee sure thy Seed shall bruise the Serpents head CHRIST by his Death shall Sathan deadly wound This Lyon of Iudea resist who can In him is blest the whole Off-spring of man This Promise in due time fulfill'd hath GOD Vnto the comfort of each mortall weight CHRIST payes our Debt hee 's beaten with that rod That doth belong vnto our Soules of right His Fathers wrath was powred vpon him Which doth belong as due to vs for Sinne. Hee dy'd vpon the Crosse and conquered Death That though wee dye yet live againe wee must He buried was and risen is from Earth And raignes with God in Heaven amongst the Iust With him our Soules and Bodies rais'd hath hee And from deaths thraldome now hath set vs free This causeth Sathan stir himselfe amaine To see if he can winne what he hath lost He strives to make our overthrow his gaine He stormeth now that he by CHRIST is crost And to his ayde he all his forces drawes That he may cause vs to obey his Lawes Whole Armies of his Furies forth he sends In shape transformed to delude our mindes And vnto them his greatest force he lends To seize where fittest for his turne he findes He marks to what men are by nature given And vnto that he turnes his Compasse euen Sathan's deceipts are covered all with smiles That sinne seemes pleasing which our Soules destroyes With quaint allurements hee man still beguiles With sweet delights he breeds Mans sad annoyes He imitates a Poyson rarely framed But once being taken all the life blood 's stained Old and craftie is our Enemy growne He knowes all Fish at one baite will not bite Hee 'l try a thousand wayes to gaine his owne He will not leave till he the marke hits right Some with Drunkennesse Murders Lust beside Others with Idlenesse exessive Pride BACCHVS that drunken God from Hell comes forth And reeling here and there few scapes his knockes Who shunnes his blowes esteem'd are of no worth One Drunkard at anothers weakenesse mockes What ISAIAH saith thereon they never thinke Woe bee to them are strong to pw'r in drinke GOD in his love form'd all things for mans vse That for his Comfort they might daily be But they prove poyson through mans vilde abuse Sinne changeth all into deformity PAVL for mans health to drinke Wine doth advise But through excesse both Soule and Body dyes Man by this Sinne more vile is than a Beast For but sufficient they will never take Mans sences fayles him sinnes are still increast He tracing vices doth all good forsake In Drunkennesse LOT doth to Incest fall NOAN in his Wine his secrets shewes to all Then Lust and Murther hands together take Like full fed Beasts they neigh at neighbours wife Stolne bread is sweet hid water theyr thirsts slake They fall to Murther through discord and strife For when mans reason fayles to guide his will He into mischiefe runneth headlong still Most people takes Idlenesse for no sinne Thus in Simplicitie Sathan deludes That precious time is lost that Grace might winne And want of action many sinnes includes That minde which vnto Idlenesse giues way Doth open lye to bee the Devils prey When DAVID vnto ease himselfe had giuen His eyes extravagantly looke about VRIAH's wife he spyeth in the Even He must and did enioy her without doubt Sathan by this his fall more strength doth gaine For DAVID bids VRIAH should be slaine Thus by one meanes or other Sathan snares Mans soule in Sinne and hudwinck'd tills him on His cup of Gold is filled vp with teares A bitter pittance to theyr sweetes belong Pride in it selfe doth beare a poyson'd breath No Sinne so small but punisht is with Death That sinn's thought least that 's spent in trimming fine That Carkasse vilde on which the Wormes
must prey They thinke not how theyr hungry Soule doth pine They count not of theyr reckoning at last day But time of Grace once lost is without call So headlong to destruction they doe fall Pride of all other sembleth most the Divell 'T was Pride threw Sathan downe from Heaven to Hell 'T was Pride that Author was of all mans euill 'T was Pride made EVE desire still to excell When Sathan said as Gods you then shall be Incontinent she tasted of that Tree This Lep'rous sinne infected so the bloud That through her off-spring it hath who ly runne Before the child can know the bad from good It straight is proud Nature this hure hath done A female sinne it counted was to be But now Hermaphrodite proved is shee Like IVDAS Sathan with each mortall deales His haile is Hate his flattering kisse is death He every where still watching creeping steales With armed troupes to stifle his soules breath His Syrens songs mans mortall Death intends And hee must Dye that thereto his care lends As a Physition with his Patient still Applyes his potion as he findes it fit Giuing to some more strong because theyr ill Disposed body oft requireth it Euen so doth Sathan with each Creature deale But his is meant for death and not to heale Nature and Sathan are sworne Brothers still For neyther of them moveth man to good By Nature we incline to all that 's ill Which runneth through our body with our blood And by our Nature oft he vs assailes And through our weaknesse he oft times prevailes He by our Nature sees to what we bend Whether to goodnesse or to mischiefes run And if he sind man ayme at the best end Then strives he for to marre all he hath done And by a pride of Goodnes makes him be Towards his God like the proud Pharisie The blessings God to man doth often giue As beautie health riches honours and fame That he in thankefulnes for them shouldst liue Still vsing them to glorifie his Name Sathan transeformeth all this vnto sinne Through vilde abuse or considence therein This thing the Scripture euidently showes By DAVIDs numbering of Israell Whereby he thought more trust for to repose In his great army this to sinne befell And drawing on Gods Iudgement for the same A heavy plague he on his Realine did gaine There is a sinne on which small count is made And that is Disobedience for which sinne SAMVEL the Prophet vnto SAVL once sayd From being King God had reiected him When as he AMELECK all should have slaine Sathan mov'd him to let the best remaine This sinne so great in Gods pure sight doth seeme As that the Prophet plainly doth him tell The Lord no better of it doth esteeme Then of vild Witchcraft which in Israel The Lord commanded banish'd quite to be This like to that and to Idolatrie This onely sinne on all Mankinde did draw Gods heavy wrath for this we suffer still By ADAMS breaking Gods commanded Law Sinne with a poysned dart our soules did kill For through the breach thereof there entred death For so 't was sentenced by Gods owne breath O this same sinne as an accusing one On all occasions still it guilty sayth Fulfill Gods Law who did nere yet was knowne But CHRIST who came for to appease Gods wrath Then by his Law we all convicted stand And howerly may looke for Gods wrath at hand Deferring off Repentance is a bayte So closely layd by that old Enemy That sew doth diue the depth of his deceit But vnprouided many men doe die He bids them on the good theefe their eyes cast Who neuer did repent him till the last O slye deceitfull cruell enemy How deadly is thy hatred to vs all Thou EHVD like hides that will cause vs dye And sith thou fell'st thou aym'st still at our fall In Paradice the Tree death did vs give But by the Tree in Golgotha we live From a decline in goodnesse let each Soule With heedfull care still study to beware Least in the end for it he doth condole When as his foote is fettered in the snare Who once his hand vpon the Plough doth lay Must by no meanes looke backe another way Easie it is to plunge our selues in sinne But O alas hard to get forth againe If by our faults our Soules be black with in We then shall finde all his delusions vaine His voyce of peace all peace doth from vs take Then shun that hearbe where vnder lyes the Snake Man ought at all times have a carefull eye For many are the Snares which Sathan layes When least he thinketh on to cause him dye He hides the bayte the which mans soule betrayes Of ease and pleasures he will alwayes tell But his smooth path the brode way is to Hell Who on this Panthers skinne doth gazing stand Had need beware who lyes in wayte to catch Who holdes a Woolfe by th' eares but with one hand Must with the other muzzell vp his chaps If better thou dost get leave not off so But of all meanes to hurt deprive thy Foe That man the which his Enemy foyl'd hath Must straight vnarme him least he gather strength BENHADADS servants after AHABS wrath With feyned words did come to him at length And from his kindnesse they advantage draw For he that fear'd to dye now made a Law By his Example let vs warned bee Gods Prophet vnto AHAB straight doth come And sayd Because from death thou didst him free Be sure thy life shall stand in his lifes roome Leave thou not Sathan till thou seest him dead And IABL like kill SISERA in the head He aymes not at thy slips but overthrow Small hurts content him not he life would spill With slight advantages he will not goe When thou securest art he waites to kill And IOAS like of thy health he 'll inquire But 't is not life but death he doth desire Can this old Serpent this deceiuing Divell Get in his head then follow shall his tayle If man but yeeld a little vnto evill Sinne will increase though creeping like a Snaile And if vnto a Custome it doth come He feeles it not his soule is now growne num All Sathan baites are glittering to the eye He leades man on in a delight some traine Till death arrests them saying thou must dye And then he lets them see all was but vaine Then in the vgli'st forme hee shewes them all That into Desperation man may fall Now having such a strong and powerfull foe What need hath Man with heedfull care to watch Least on a suddaine he from hence doe goe For Death as well doth lye in wayt to catch Who proves a welcome guest to a good man For vnprovided come he never can Deaths ghastly lookes to a gtod man seemes sweet Who still prepared hath for that his end As ESAY IACOB did embracing meet So doth he death accounting him his friend If teares doe fall they are not shed through feares For ioy he 's
come forceth from him those teares Can he expect Death Enemie to be Who by his Present hath his force alayd He sent before good workes much Charity Blessings of Orphants which for him have pray'd His sighs and teares appeased hath his King And this supposed Foe glad newes doth bring Death is our guide vnto Eternall blisse Portall of Heaven by which we enter must The Ladder reaching a true happinesse Which bringeth man to live amongst the Iust By him we come Gods glorious face to see From which by life deprin'd we still shall bee Our flesh a prison is vnto our soule Which doth deprive it of that heavenly light With spirituall groanes sighs it doth condole Till it attaine vnto that wished sight Death is the key vnlocks our misery Looseth our bonds and gives vs liberty Death's fangs are par'd his bitter potions sweet His edge abaited all his hurt is done A godly man most kindly he doth meete And of a Foe he is a Friend become His strooke is like the striking of a veine By which small smart sick men theyr health doe gaine Death is the ending of our dayes not life For having clos'd these eyes we wake to live Death having finisht once this mortall strife Our Faith in CHRIST new life to vs doth give Our Night is past our Day star doth appeare Our Cloud is vanish'd and our Morne shines cleare Now ends all sorrowes now all griefes are done Sinne takes his leave and weaknesse hath his end And now behold our Iubilee is come The Haruest of our labors we attend Death's potion onely bitter is in show The taste once past no operation so Mans Glasse once run his flower of Life once dead That vapor vanish'd and that span once grasp'd His breath once failing all his body's Lead In sencelesse coldnesse all his parts are clasp'd He came from earth earth house-roome now him gives His spirit from God with God for ever lives The carnall wicked worldly minded men Who in this life their whole content have plac'd Doth tremble when Death mention'd is to them Because by him all Ioyes from them are chased Their ease and pleasures changed quite will be All mirth is dash'd by present miserie The sight of him vnto their mindes doe bring Remembrance of their sinnes they slightly past The which with woe their soules doe sorely sting For that they see the count call'd on at last Which sure on earth a hell may deemed be When without mercy man his sinnes deth see Those men which onely to delights are given At the approach of death doth feare and quake What earth afforded they accounted heaven And now perforce they must those ioyes forsake Gods blessings they most vildly have abus'd And proffered time of Grace they have refus'd And now those words which ABRAHAM did say To DIVES when for water he did call He findes too true whose smarts without alay His Sorrowes farre more better are then gall His good things onely were upon this Earth But life and them are parted quite by death Terrors and feares must needs their soules affright When guilty Conscience showes Gods angry eye O how they tremble to approach that sight To whom their sinne will out for vengeance cry He who on earth to grieve they did not feare Will give a sentence which their Soules will teare O how mans sinnes that mild aspect doth change He which for man did bleed doth man condemne If by their sinnes from the right path they range Wanting their guide dangers approacheth them The Woolfe once seazing 't is in vaine to flye Theyr Shepheard heares not bootlesse 't is to cry Alas who would this world as ought esteeme If truely he consider every thing Those pleasures which to man most happy seeme Doth soonest fade and gone they leave a sting Man vpon Earth no sure abiding hath Then feare betime before thou feele Gods wrath BELSHAZAR when hee was carrousing set Amongst his Princes in his royall Throne A writing turnes those faire delights to Iet A hand then shew'd makes bone incounter bone He fearefull sits whilst thus it doth indite Thou' rt weigh'd in ballance and art found too light Mans life 's a sceane and tragic ke wo's succeed A Comet alwayes future harmes foretell The happiest life by death is made to bleed If vnprepar'd he dye he goes to hell The gate is shut and they must take their lot For 't will be answered loe I know you not Vnto a thorney field and barren land How fitly may mans life compared be What cares what feares what griefes are still at hand And for one Ioy ten discontents we see We alwayes walke as on a bridge of glasse And oft it crakes as ouer it we passe Still barren is this world of true content Fruitfull enough in procreating wees Thorny afflictions towards vs are bent But certaine Ioyes still backwards from vs goes Who thinkes to catch them doth a shadow chase And like IXION doth a cloud embrace Then why should man thus waste his precious time And triflingly let slip his golden dayes O! turne to God whilst thou art in thy prime And put not off repentance with delayes For when death comes it then will be too late By teares or vowes for to prorogue thy state Boast not of youth or honours wealth or strength Who trusts to them vpon a reede doth leane The which be sure deceiue thee will at length Then strive from these vaine thy selfe to weane And fill thy Lampe with oyle thoughts whil'st thou hast space Least afterward too late thou call for grace Breake off thy sinnes by true repentant teares And turne to God whilst it is call'd to day And rest assured he their prayers heares That vnto him vncessantly doe pray For to incourage thee he this did say Who comes to me I will not cast away Is not mans life compared vnto a flower And O how soone alas the same doth fade and dye Then let man liue prepar'd each day and houre Least vnawares the force of death he try And beare this saying alwayes in thy minde As death thee leaves so Iudgement will thee find And as the Flower in the chiefest prime Doth fade and dye when Sun his face doth hide For 't is not in the earth 's vast slippery clime An euer fading beeing to prouide No more can strength or skill preuaile at all To lengthen life when God by death doth call And as the spring the water forth doth put And by the earth drunke vp no more is seene So when by death our thrid of life is cut On earth we are as we had neuer beene Then whil'st we liue let 's striue to purchase Grace That after Death in Heaven we may have place Alas how many are the snares and bayts Which Sathan layes our poore soules to betray HIENA like he murthers by deceites Through false delights to cause us misse our way His Mermaides Songs are onely sweet in sound Approach them not lest Death thy life doth wound Therefore the safest way vnto our blisse Is meditation of our certaine Death And though we tread the steps of carefulnesse And all our life in sorrow draw our breath The guerdon of our paines our CHRIST will give In causing vs eternally to live Thus by a godly and an vpright life Man of a deadly foe may make a friend And by a wise provision stint that strife Which Sathan laid to bring vs to our end And though our flesh prove false our God is Iust By death our soule gaines heauen our body dust Be ever vigilant in all thy wayes And alwayes live as in the sight of God Performe good actions and vse no delayes Then feare not Death it brings with it no rod With care attend that sure vncertainety And live as euery howre thou shouldest dye This watchfull care wounds Sathan in the head For hee that thinkes of Death doth shun all Sinne By thought of this man to the world proves dead He counts all drosse and only CHRIST would win No earthly Ioyes can cause him life to love His Soule is fixt and nothing can him move Thus each weake Christian may this tyrant foyle For by CHRIST's Death man armed is with strength Though in this Combate he a while may toyle But Faith in CHRIST gives victory at length And with a courage hold man now may cry Death where 's thy sting Grave where 's thy victory What though we dye as dye we surely must Yet by this death we now are gainers made For when our bodyes are consum'd to dust We shall be rais'd from that Eternall shade Our mortall bodyes shall immortall be And with our Soules inioy Eternitie Our troubles in this life now changed are From tokens of his wrath vnto his love For though a while vpon the Earth me share Of griefes and troubles yet when God above Shall by death call vs from the vaile of sinne Wee shall inioy Eternall blisse with him Where all teares shall be wiped from our eyes All griefes and sorrowes then shall ended be We shall be freed from all clamarous cries No discontents nor troubles shall wee see But Peace and Ioyes and comforts shall be found And alwayes in our eares a heavenly sound Our Sences shall partake all of this Blisse Our Eyes shall evermore behold our King Our Hearing heavenly musicke shall possesse Our Tongues shall evermore his Praises sing Thus Smell and Taste thus hands and eares and sight Shall evermore inioy a full delight Vnto this Happinesse and place of Ioy In thy good time sweet Saviour Christ vs bring Where being freed from Sorrowes and annoy Wee evermore thy blessed Praise may sing Where we shall never cease but Night and Day Sing Praise and Glory vnto Thee alway FINIS
a Philosopher sayth Hee that seeketh for true Happines in this world followeth a shaddow which when hee thinketh hee is surest of vanisheth and is nothing and the Apostle PAVL sayth If in this life wee were onely happie wee were of all men most miserable Seeing then it is so Iob. 14. That man which is borne of a woman hath but a short time to liue and that few and euill are the dayes of his Pilgrimage pointed out but to Threescore and tenne and if Nature befriend him so farre as to affoord him life till Fourescore yet is it so full of infirmities that it becomes a burthen to him Life being a briitle and miserable fetter which chaineth the pure and everlasting soule to the vile sinfull and corruptible body Yet where is hee that takes the Wise mans counsell Eccles 12. To remember his Creator in the dayes of his Youth before the evill day comes and the time approach in the which he shall say I have no pleasure in them for if a man live many yeares and rejoyce in them all yet let him remember the dayes of Darknes for they are many the Sun sets and riseth againe but thou alas when thy glasse is run and the short gleame of thy Summers Sun is spent shall never returne againe How soone alas is thy span grasped thy minute wasted thy flower dead thy vapor of life gone without thought without dread eyther of sinnes past or accompts to come Where is there one that lookes into the estate of his Soule with a serious eye that examines his conscience unvayleth his heart and considereth his wayes and how that he is every day of his life a dayes journey nearer his end and nothing is wanting for the expiration thereof but the stroke of death which commeth in a moment and then thou art gone eyther to unexpressable end lesse Ioyes or caselesse and endlesse miseries For no sooner art thou borne to possesse this World but death issueth forth incontinently out of his Sepulcher to finde thy life neyther doth he alwayes send his harbinger before to acquaint thee with his comming but many times entreth unexpected unlooked for and yet darest thou rest in security me thinkes it should make thee tremble were not thy conscience seared to think of the divinenesse of that Iustice before whom thou art to stand being in the day of his Wrath and at the barre of his Iudgment canst thou thinke then to bee able to indure his angry eye whose sight will pierce to the very centure of thy heart and soule and rip up every festred corner of thy conscience O then bethinke thy selfe in time before that gloomy day comes that day of Cloudes and thicke darkenesse that day of desolation and confusion approach when all the Inhabitants of the Earth shall mourne and lament and all faces shall gather blacknesse Joel 2. Because the time of their Iudgment is come alas with what a fearefull hart and weeping eyes and sorrowfull countenance treÌ„bling loynes wilt thou at that last and great assize looke upon CHRIST IESVS when he shall most gloriously appeare with innumerable Angels in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know him not What a cold dampe will seaze upon thy soule when thou shalt behold him whom thou hast all thy life long reiected in his ordinances despised in his members and neglected in his love what horror and terror of spirit will possesse thee how wilt thou cry to the Rockes and Mountaines to fall upon thee and cover thee from the fiercenes of his Wrath when thou shalt behold the Heavens burning the Elements melting the Earth trembling the Sea roaring the Sunne turne into darknes and the Moone incobloud how will thy numberlesse sinnes in hideous formes appeare before thee every one of them bearing the Ensignes of Gods heavie displeasure dipped in a bloudy coloured dye and crying out for vengeance against thee alas if thy faultring tongue should go about to faine some seeming shew of a colourable excuse how soone would it be stopped all thy actions both for thoughts words and deeds being registred in a booke and kept within the Court of Heaven Oh remember how terrible his voyce was when he gave his Law to his chosen people and thinkest thou it will bee lesse terrible when he shall demand an account of that Law which thou hast so many times carelesly broken Oh then whether will his wrath carry thee where will the blast of his breath hurry thee it was thy sins that inflamed his wrath his wrath will inflame that fire which will never goe out Oh then alas whil'st thou hast time become thy own friend looke into thy selfe and by a serious examination prove the Pilot of thy owne Ship which now lyeth floating on the Seas of this troublesome World ballanc'd onely with cares and disquieting pleasures of this life and how thou sayl'st with a full course towards the haven of endlesse Happines yet one blast of unprepared death will turne thy sayles and plunge thee irrecoverably into that bottomlesse Guife where one houres torment will infinitely exceed all the pleasures thy whole life contained and wilt thou now standing upon the very brim of Hell melt in thy delights Alas slippery is thy footing and thy hold but by the thread of life which stretched to the length soone crackes yet how triflingly spendest thou thy pretious time tyring out thy spirits and robbing thine eyes of their beloved sleepe for those things to the which the time will come that the very remembrance of them will be bitter and to the which thou must bid an everlasting farewell Yet not considering these things how many are there that only spend their time in jollity and sodainly goe downe to the Grave they cry to themselves Peace peace when sodaine Destruction overtakes them not once thinking of IEREMIA'S lamentation for Jernsalem wherein hee complaines That shee remembred not her last end Lamen 1. Would they but consider that as the Tree falleth so it lyeth and as Death leaves them so shall Iudgement finde them they would not draw Iniquity with cords of vanity nor sinne as with cart-ropes did they thinke upon the reward of Sinne did they consider how full of griefe and misery how short and transitorious this present life is and the vaine Pleasures thereof how on every side theyr enemies compasse them and that Death lyeth in wayte against them every where catching them sodainly and unawares Did that saying often sound in theyr eares Arise and come to Judgement they would not deferre theyr Repentance to theyr last end or their old-age when it can not be sayd that they leave Sin but sinne them Shall they offer to the Divell the World and their owne flesh the flower and strength of theyr yeares and serve God with the lees and dregs â—al 1. when the Prophet MALACHY complayned of the peoples evill Offerings hee sayd Offer it now unto thy Governour will hee be pleased with
thee or accept thy person and can they thinke this great GOD will bee pleased with them King 18 If RABSHECHA and HOLOFERNES Iudith 5. but Messengers for theyr Lords tooke it so ill that the Iewes came not forth to make theyr peace with them that they threatned nothing should pacifie their furie but theyr Destruction How much more shall this King of Kings and Lord of Lords whose wrath is so kindled for theyr wickednesse condemne them into utter Darknesse where shall bee wayling and gnashing of teeth for no dead carrion so lothsomly stinketh in the nostrils of an earthly man as doth the wicked abhominable unrepentant man in the presence of God yet not considering this they goe on in a carelesse security heaping one sinne upon another till the burthen become unsupportable and the vials of Gods wrath ready to bee powred on them not once calling them to theyr remembrance or if they doe it is so farre from Contrition that it is rather a delight to them often glorying in the often cōmittings therof they neyther thinking of theyr account nor their end wherein yet they might haue some happines if death were the dissolving both of their body soule For being rid of their bodies they should also be rid of theyr Soules and Sinnes But forasmuch as it is evident that the Soule is immortall there is left no comfort for the wicked to trust in Therfore let such remember ESAV Who hauing once rejected the Blessing Gen. 27. could not after obtayne it though he sought it with teares when it is too late with the fiue Foolish Virgins they may cry Lord Math. 25 Lord open to vs but the gates of Mercy will bee shut and it will be answered I know you not Then woe bee to the sinfull wicked men that haue not power to turne from the filthy workes of this finfull and wretched World that hindereth them from the blissfull state and keepeth backe theyr Soules from the presence of God For when Gods Serjeant Death shall arrest them and they shall bee summon'd to appeare before the Tribunall of the Almighty with what terrible feare will that Soule be shaken and smitten and with how many speares of a piercing Conscience is hee gored and thrust through he will thē begin to thinke of the time past present and that to come the time past he may behold with astonishment to perceiue how fast it fleeted and the multitude of sinnes therein committed the which were accounted pleasures but are now terrors for every one of which he must answere for as saith a Philosopher An accusing Conscience is the secret most terrible thing that can bee at the approaching and cōming of Death and infinit vnspeakable are the feares and griefes it will bring with it for then hee will grieve that the time of Repentance hath beene so ill lewdly past he seeth the divine Cōmandements which he hath contemned he is aflicted because he seeth the inevitable houre approach of rendring an account of the divine just vengance he would tarry still but he is constrained to depart he would recover that is past but time is not granted if he looke behind him he seeth the course and race of his whole life led as a moment of time if he looke before he beholdeth the infinit space of Eternity which expecteth him he sorroweth and sobbeth because he hath lost the joy of euerlasting Eternity which hee might haue obtained in so short a time hee tormenteth himselfe because he hath lost the ineffable sweetnesse of perpetuall delight for one sensuall carnall and momentany pleasure he blusheth considering that for that substance which is Wormes-meat he hath dispised that which Angels prize so highly and weighing the glory of those immortall riches hee is confounded that he hath changed them for the basenesse and vildenesse of Temporall things but when he casteth his eyes upon things below and seeth the darke and obscure valley of this world and beholdeth above it the shining brightnesse of eternall Light then he confesseth that all that he loved in this world was blacke night and ugly darknesse To behold the time present is as ill for there hee can finde nothing but weakenesse and paines his friends eyther mourning by him or else not able to stay with him to see his torments which in this life God hath begun to let him taste having painefull Limbes darke Eyes a faultering Tongue hard browes short breath and a panting heart hasting to appeare before God whō he must behold not as his Father but a most feirce Iudge whose pure eyes beheld all his actions and that through all his life saw nothing but wickednesse no sorrowing teares to wash away those pollutions and therefore that leporous life must receiue a heauie condemnation there will not be any to speake for him neyther will he be able to answere one word for a thousand all those pleasures now stand up to accuse him and his owne Conscience giues in evidence against him saying to himselfe the words of SALOMON Pro. 5. How haue I hated instruction and my heart despised reproofe and I haue not obeyed the voyce of my teachers nor enclined mine eare to them that instructed me woe is me poore wretch into what a laborinth haue my sinnes led me how suddenly and thinking nothing lesse hath this houre intrapped me how hath it rushed vpon me I never dreamed of it what doe now my Honours profit me what doe now all my Dignities helpe me what doe all my friends for me what profit doe now my servants bring mee what fruit doe I now reape of all my riches and goods which I was wont to possesse for now a small piece of ground of seaven foot will containe me and I must be content with a dwelling in a narrow Coffin and with a lodging in a poore Winding sheet my riches shall remaine here behind mee which I scraped together with so great toyle and sweating others shall enjoy them and shall spend them on theyr pleasures onely my sinnes which I haue committed in gathering them wayte upon me that I may suffer deserved punishment for them what can I make now of all my Pleasures and Delights seeing they are all over-past onely theyr dregges are my Potion which are scruples and bytings of Conscience which like Thornes doe pierce me and runne thorough my miserable heart In what taking is this poore Soule if time were now againe with what an austere kinde of life would hee passe it how would hee shun all those alluring Syrens sower sauce findes he for his sweetes and for a minute of Pleasures must possesse a world of Woes nay woes without end soone ended those delights endlesse are those miseries O thou wretched man thou that didst chose rather to sit by the Flesh-pots of Aegypt then by induring a little wearisome travailes to enter into the promised Land which floweth with Milk and Honey See! O see now what a long chayne of
cleare and comfortable in it self and so is it to the eye that is sound yet to a sore eye it is very grieuous not through any default in the sunne but by the diseased disposition of the eye so albeit he in himselfe be perfectly good and doth nothing but good yet to an vnrepentant sinner he is grievous and terrible but if he returne to him by unfained repentance he soone inclineth to mercy as is euident in that wo man whom Christ so called upon her humiliation and acknowledging her selfe to be no better she receiueth this gracious answer Be it vnto the euen as thou wilt and againe in the Nenivites though his decree was gone out against them that yet forty dayes and Ninivie should be destroyed Ionah 3. upon their unfained repentance he also repented of that euill and with aboundance of mercy revoked that sentence For the eyes of the Lord ◠Chro. 16 beholds all the earth to strengthen them that with a perfect heart beleeve and hope in him and againe it is sayd O how good is the Lord unto them Lament 3 that put theyr trust in him and to the Soule that seeketh after him never was there any forsaken that put theyr trust in him and though the hand of your Faith be not strong enough to lay fast hold on him as IACOB did who sayd I will not let thee goe unlesse thou blesse mee Gen. 32. yet if hee perceiue thee creeping after him hee will imbrace thee for hee hath sayd The bruised Reede Math. 12. I will not breake and the smoaking Flaxe I will not quench that is hee will not reiect the desires of the heart though in weake measure if unfeyned and what he hath promised is Truth Hee loveth not as man loveth for they in prosperity will regard vs but if Afflictions or wants come they regard us not but so farre is our good God from this that his beloved Sonne CHRIST IESVS tooke our shape upon him suffering Hunger Cold Nakednesse Contempt and Scornings for his owne mouth testified That the Foxes had Holes and the Birds of the Ayre had Nests but the Sonne of Man had not whereon to lay his head showing thereby to us how farre hee was from contemning our Povertie or refusing us for our wants let us therefore flie to this God who will not fayle us nor forsake us let us cast our care upon him for hee careth for us and set us first seek the Kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof and all things else shall bee ministred unto us How many haue beene knowne which have gayned to themselves Riches or Honours by unlawfull meanes that have prospered but if for a time they have seemed to doe well their Posteritie have come to ruine and theyr owne ill-gathered treasure like a dilating Gangrene hath rotted theyr owne memory and consumed every part of theyr heyres possession seeming as it were a Curse and doome intayled with the land upon the successour and so proveth not a Blessing but the bane of him that Injoyed it They may for a time flourish like a Bay Tree but suddainely they fade and their place is no where to bee found Oh therefore that they would consider what great evils and how many inconveniences this small prosperity bringeth with it they should find this love of Riches more to afflict by desire then to delight by use for it inwrappeth the Soule in divers temptatiōs bindeth it in infinit cares it allureth it with sundry delights provoketh it to sinne and disturbeth the quiet no lesse of the body then of the Soule and that which is greater Riches are never gotten without troubles nor possessed without care nor lost without griefe but that which is worst they are seldome gathered without sinne and offence to GOD Why then should man bee so greedy of this Worlds pelfe life beeing so short and death following at our heeles What neede is there of so great Provision for so short a Iourney What would man doe with so great Riches especially seeing that the lesse he hath the more lightly and freely hee may walke and when hee shall come to the end of his Pilgrimage if he be poore his estate shall not be worser then rich mens who are loden with much gold the Grave shall both alike containe them as sayth IOB Iob. 3. The small and great are there and the Servant is free from his Master Nay it is better with the poore then with the rich for they shall feele lesse griefe in parting with this trash and pelfe of the World and a smaller accompt is to be rendred before GOD whereas on the other side Rich men leaves theyr Mountaines of Gold with great griefe of heart which they adored as GOD neyther are they without exceeding gerat hazard and danger in rendring an accompt for them Besides as hee came forth of his Mothers Wombe Eccles 5. so naked shall he returne to goe as hee came and shall take nothing of his labour which he may carry away in his hand Psalm 7. Therefore a little that a Righteous man hath is better then the Riches of many wicked I have seene sayth DAVID in the same Psalme The wicked in great power and spreading himselfe like a greene Bay tree yet hee passed away and loe hee was not I sought him but hee could not bee found the transgressours shall be destroyed together the end of the Wicked shall bee cut off but marke the upright man and behold the Iust for the end of that man is Peace Thrice blessed then is that man that feareth God and they whose God the Lord is and he that sots his feare alwayes before his eyes Iob. 5. For they shall bee delivered out of sixe troubles and in the seaventh no evils shall touch them in Famine he shall redeeme them from Death and in Warre from the power of the sword they shall come to the Grave in a full age like as a shocke of Corne commeth in in his season They may for a time bee bungry but they shall be filld for God himselfe will feed them with blessings from aboue and from beneath Even naturall reason will not suffer them to doubt for he that giveth meate in due season to Ants and Wormes of the Earth will he suffer Man to famish who night and day serve and obey him as CHRIST himselfe saith in MATTHEVV Math. 6. Behold the Fowles of the heaven for they sow not neyther reape nor cary into Barnes yet your heavenly Father feedeth them are yee not much better then they This happines moved DAVID to invite us to serve the Lord saying O feare the Lord yee that be his Saints Psalm 34 for they that feare the Lord lack nothing the Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that feeke the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good The ungodly man when he is full of wealth dyeth for hunger and when they sit even up
Children Father and Friends with his whole Estate Honour Riches Youth Health Strength and Life it selfe thereby thinking to shake his hold for this subtill enemy knoweth they are not lost without griefe which are possessed with Love yet fayles he of his purpose for it is certaine hee that in this life knoweth of fewest delights least of all other feareth Death so he having never prized them otherwayes then they were in themselves parteth from them with the lesse trouble yet weake nature strugling with him may a little dazle him but calling to minde the Words of his Saviour who sayth Mark 10. He that forsaketh Father Mother Wife Children house and lands for my sake shall receive an hundred fold hee gaines strength and with the greater joy his Soule answers Oh sweet IESVS I shall I not willingly forgoe all these who for my sake suffered the Viols of thy Fathers wrath due to me for sinne to be powred out upon thee and in thy body indured that which I deserved It was for my sake thou wast borne in a Stable and layd in a Cratch for me thou flying into Egypt livedst seaven yeares in banishment for me thou didst fast thou didst watch thou didst run hither thither thou didst sweate Water and Bloud thou didst Weepe and thou didst prove by experience those miseries which my sinnes deserved and yet thou wast without sinne neyther was there guile found in thy mouth neyther hadst thou offended but wast offended for me thou wast taken forsaken of thine denyed sold beaten with fists spet upon mocked whipped crowned with Thornes reviled with blasphemies hanged upon the Crosse Dead and Buried thou wert not onely forsaken of all externall things but also of the Divine comfort as thy owne Mouth testified when thou cryedst out My God my God Math. 27. why bast thou forsaken mee Oh the height of Loved Oh the depth of unmeasurable humility Oh the greatnesse of Mercy Oh the bottomlesse Pit of incomprehensible Goodnes Oh Lord if I be so greatly indebted to thee because thou hast redeemed mee what doe I not owe thee for the manner by which thou hast redeemed mee thou hast redeemed mee with most great dolours with contumelies and ignominies not to be borne insomuch that thou wast made a reproach of men and the scorne of the whole world through thy reproaches thou hast honoured me through thy accusations thou hast defended me through thy bloud thou hast washed me through thy death thou hast raysed me and through thy teares thou hast freed me from everlasting weeping and gnashing of teeth thine were the Wounds that healed my sores thine was the backe that bare my sorrowes thine was the prize that quit my scores thou assumedst my flesh to redeeme me here and thou raignest as King to crowne me hereafter Thus by those miserable Torments thou didst free me from all evill and shall I be unwilling to suffer the deprivation of a little happinesse and the induring of a few paines to come unto thee who hast thus dearely purchased me for thy selfe these Meditations so ravished his soule that with aint PAVL he thinkes himselfe in the third Heaven hee hath drunke so freely of the River of Paradice one drop of which is greater then the Ocean which alone is able to quench the thirst of the whole World that he loatheth these puddell Waters accounting all things but drosse and dung in respect of Christ all is to him in comparison no more then the light of a Candle is to the glorious beames of the Sunne he is now so farre from esteeming eyther them or life that he desires to be dissolved and be with Christ he longs for the day of his dissolution life being to him a Prison and with often groanes and sighes cryoth Come Lord Jesus come quickly and with DAVID hee sayth O how I long to appeare before GOD. If life were offered him with all the pleasures thereof hee would despise it for hee is fitted for God he is no man for the World his Soule hath too exactly looked into the worth of it to be deceived with all the glithering shewes thereof the which hee findes to bee vayne and fleeting and nothing permanent in this Life IIII. Of the deferring of Repentance how dangerous it is and of the deceiveablenesse of worldly Pleasures HAving now seen the quiet Happinesse and happie Blessednesse of the Godly at the houre of his Death mee thinkes it should incourage every man to prepare himselfe for his end in the time of Prosperity least when the time of changing shall come they bee found naked and bare and so lye open to all the assaults and batteries of Sathan many there bee to whom the Day of Iudgement seemes terrible not remembring the day of theyr Death which is the first Iudgement the which whosoever passeth on such the second shall have no power as Saint IOHN sayth in the Revelation The deferring of Repentance proves dangerous Yet some inreligious man will say When I am come to old Age I will runne to the remedy of Repentance Dare mans frailtie presume thus much of himselfe seeing hee hath not one day of all his Life in his owne power for though God hath promised Pardon to the Penitent yet he hath not promised to morrow to a sinner therefore whilst it is called to day Hebr. 5. heare his voyce and hearden not your hearts least you enter into temptation Follow the counsell of that Kingly Preacher make no tarrying to turne unto the Lord Eccles 5. and put not off from day to day for soda nly shall his wrath come and in the time of vengeance he shall destroy thee besides there is another evill sinne having no restraint but free liberty to runne on in his owne current how dangerous doth it proove and how hard is it to stop the course thereof being once growne to a custome Is it not usually knowne that hee that driveth a Nayle into a Post fasteneth it at the first stroke that he giveth it but more firmely at the second stroke but so fast at the third that it can hardly bee pulled out againe and the oftner he striketh it the faster it sticketh and is pulled out againe with the greater difficulty So in every one of mans wicked actions vice is driuen deepely into their soules as if it were with a Mallet and there it sticketh so fast that it can by no meanes be pulled foorth but by the bitter teares of Repentance which are seldome and very hardly found this same thing our Saviour shewed in the raysing of LAZARVS being foure dayes dead whom he called foorth Ioh. 1. with groaning of spirit whereas he raysed others that were dead with farre easier tokens of difficulty signifying to us thereby how great a myracle it is that God should convert one buried in the custome of sinning yet not considering these things how doth time passe on and what numberlesse sinnes are committed without feare to offend or care
to provoke him to anger through whose Gates thou must enter before whose feet thou must lye prostrate will thou nill thou whose mercy thou must sue and deplore Thou art piunged in the Gulfe of sinne he onely must rayse theee thou art wounded he onely can healt thee thou art sicke to the death hee onely can give thee life Oh then feare to offend him of whose helpe thou standest in need every moment Isa 30. tremble to provoke him to anger who hath for unrepentant sinness prepared a deepe and large pit the Piller thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone doth kindle it beware of going on in delights without remembring your end lest you be like the Fishes that sports themselves so long in the delightsome streames of the River Jordan that unawares they plunge themselves in Mare mertuum from whence there is no Redemption many are the baytes and snares which are layd for man in this life covered over with glittering wealth and delightsome Pleasures but bare these deceits and cause them to appeare in their own likenesse and thou shalt finde this World to bee a Casket of sorrowes and grievances a Schoole of Vanity a laborinth of Errors a dungeon of Darknesse a Market-place of Cousonages a way beset with Theeves a ditch full of mud and a Sea continually tost and troubled with stormes and Tempests what other thing is the world but a barren Land a field full of Thistles and Weeds a Wood full of Thornes a flourishing Garden but bringing forth no fruit a River of Teares a Fountaine of Cares a sweet poyson A Tragedy pleasantly framed a delightfull Phrenzie the Worlds rest hath labour the Security of it without ground the feare of it is without cause the Labour of it without fruit the Teares without purpose and the purposes without successe the Hope of it is vayne the joy feyned and the Sorrow true the Glory of this World is but the singing of Syrens sweet but a deadly Potion a Viper artificially painted without but within full of venemous poyson If the World fawne upon thee it doth it that it may deceive thee if it Exalt thee it doth it that thy fall may bee the greater if it 〈◊〉 thee merry it doth it that it afterwards with sorrow may breake thy heart it giveth all her goods with a mixture of incomparable heavinesse and griefes and that with the greatest usurie if a Sonne bee borne to thee and soone after dye thy sorrow will be seaven fold greater then was thy Ioy the thing lost more afflicteth then found joyeth Sicknesse more excruciateth then Health gladdeth Injury more tormenteth then Honour contenteth to conclude what good things are found in the World which are not counterfeit and what 〈◊〉 vill which are not 〈◊〉 deed If these things he so indeed as they are wherefore should man desire to stay any longer in this land of Aegypt to gather stubble who would not flye out of this Babilon who would not desire to be delivered from this fire of Sodome and Gomorrah seeing therefore that the World is beset with so many snares and that so many downfals and break-neckes are in the way and the flame of Vices doe so burne us who at any time can bee secure and safe as the Wise man sayth Prov. 6. Can a man take fire in his bosome and his cloathes not be burnt or can a man goe upon Coales Eccles 13. and his feet not burnt he that toucheth Pitch shall be defiled with the same estrange then thy minde from these ycie Vanities listen and thou shalt heare CHRIST who seeth the danger thou art falling into calling unto thee that hee may teach thee a way to prevent thy hurt and saying Behold I stand at the doore and knocke runne and open to this Physitian of thy Soule O refuse him not neyther delay his entrance for thou art sicke and he will give thee to drinke of the water of Life neyther for money nor by measure but freely and taking thy fill without limitation and freely too being of his owne Grace and Mercy Can you then knowing to whom you are to open stand with delayes as I cannot yet I will anon but this I cannot yet I will anon is deferred so long that this heavenly ghest goeth away without a Lodging by reason of which he will hardly bee brought againe without many teares Oh then I be ready at the first knock to open I meane the first good motion so shall you receive a ghest whose company is sweeter then the honey and the honey Combe On heart more hard then stone that can refuse him if considered who it is it is CHRIST the well-beloved Sonne of his Father it is hee in whom God the Father is so well pleased that all thy sinnes are forgiven being covered with the robe of his Righteousnesse it is he that suffered Rebukes Buffetings Scornings Spittings on and at the last death I and that the most cursedst death even the death of the Crosse as it is written Cursed are every one that hang on a Tree Galat. 3. These things being so have you not hearts harder then an Adamant thus to oppose his entrance Oh doe not deferre this purchase to the time to come for one minute of this time which now vainely slydeth from thee is more precious then the Treasure of the whole world Be like unto a wise Marchant Math. 13. that having found a precious Pearle goes and sels all he hath to purchase it what thing more precious then the Sonne of God which heere offereth himselfe unto thee why art thou so slacke in giving him entertainement thinkest thou him not worthy because thou beholdest him in his Humility poore and despised or doth thy flesh puffe thee up with a conceit beyond thy merites if it doe cast thy eyes upon thy selfe and consider what thou wast before thou wast borne what thou art now being borne and what thou shalt bee after Death before thou wast borne thou wast filthy and obsceane matter not worthy to be named now thou art dung covered over with snow and a while after thou shalt be meat for Wormes why then shouldest thou bee proud seeing thy Nativity is sinne thy Life misery and thy End putrifaction and corruption Having considered thus with thy selfe tell mee if thou hast not the greater reason to open with the more celerity Semel hee of himselfe being willing to passe by these thy Infirmities wouldest thou not account that man most heathenish who having a Friend that had indured seaven yeares imprisonment to keepe him from that bondage at the last payed his Ransome at so deare a rate as thereby his estate were for ever ruined otherwise hee himselfe to indure perpetuall Slavery if this man I say should come and knocke at the doore of his Friend desiring admittance and acquainting him with who it was and hee for this his love should seeme not to
know him but bid him be gone and barre the doore against him I know thou wouldest account him most inhumane and ungratefull Isa 5 3. and yet how farre short comes this of CHRIST'S love and bounty to thee for the chastisement of thy Peace was layd upon him and with his stripes thou wast healed O wretched Soule to loose such a Friend Oh unhappie man by this opposition to deprive thy selfe of all Happines for what greater Happinesse canst thou have then to injoy that Fatherly providence by which God preserveth his what sweeter Delights then the Divine Grace the Light of wisedome the consolations of the holy Ghost the Ioy and Peace of a good Conscience the good event of Hope the true liberty of the Soule the inward peace of the Heart to bee heard in Prayer to be helped in Tribulations to be provided for temporall necessities and to bee ayded and to taste of Heavenly Comforts in death whilst I seriously meditate upon these things my Soule is as in a Rapture me thinkes I see CHRIST IESVS comming in the Clouds with thousand of Angels about him the Heavens and Earth flying away at his presence millions of damned Soules yelling and crying to the Rocks and Mountaines to fall upon them and to cover them from the fiercenesse of his sight The Divels quaking and trembling expecting the denouncing of their Torments and the Ioyes the Godly have at that houre For as it is a day of horror and terror to the Wicked so is it a day of joy and gladnesse to the godly for as the body of the one rests in the earth without taste of those miseries it hath deserved even so the Righteous by this sleepe of Death is deprived of this blessednesse in their body untill corruption hath put on incorruption and mortality hath put on immortality and that they are wakened by the sound of the Trumpet which sūmoneth them to appeare before CHRIST when then their soules become againe reunited to their bodyes and both with Ioy beholds the face of God not as their Iudge for he is their Brother and therefore can expect from him nothing but mercy he hath purchased them for himselfe with no meaner a 〈◊〉 price then his owne precious bloud and there fore must needs bee to him acceptable this is theyr yeare of Iubilee this is the Marriage of the Lambe with him they enter Revel 21. and he is theyr God and they are his Sonnes they now behold his face and his Name is in theyr foreheads They now receive the fulnesse of theyr Ioy Revel 22. they now possesse that happinesse theyr Soules thirsted for they now injoy the reward of all theyr labours this blessednesse truly considered on affoordeth more pleasures then the tongue of Man can utter or his Soule remayning in the Prison of his flesh is able to receive without crying out with the Spouse in the Canticles Cant. 2. I am sicke of Love It is no marvell that the Church cryeth Come Lord IESVS come quickly for in this his comming consisteth all happinesse Here is the finall end of all miseries and sinnes it onely prooveth the waters of Mara to the ungodly it is terrible to none but the unrepentant even they who had their eyes sealed from beholding any other Happines then what tended to their pleasures They which tooke to them the Timbrell and the Harp and rejoyced in the sound of the Organs they spend theyr dayes in wealth and were of them that sayd Speake no more to us in the name of the Lord they sayd to God depart from us for wee desire not the knowledge of thy wayes What is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit shall wee haue if we pray unto him Now alas but too late they see theyr owne follyes now without hope of redresse they behold theyr owne miseries no marvell though the mentioning of the day of Iudgement be terrible to such a man who by his wickednesse deprives himselfe of all those Blessednesses for ill will it prove if the day of Death be not alwayes in his remembrance which is the first judgement and wherein he must stand eyther convicted or acquitted eyther condemned for his bad workes or justified for his good whereof he can have little hope unlesse hee meet his Iudge in the way and make his peace with him whilst he may be found yet there is time to furnish thy lamp with Oyle yet the Gates of Mercy are not shut yet thou mayest so cry as thou mayest bee satisfied with this gracious answer Come yee blessed of my Father Whereas if thou deferre thy Repentance from time to time putting farre from thee the evill day if thou doe not expect the comming of thy Lord but become drunken and fall to smiting thy fellow Servants if thou hide thy Talent in the Earth which God in his goodnesse hath bestowed on thee to better uses Thy Lord will come when he is not looked for Math. 21. and in a time when thou art not aware of and cast thee into utter Darknesse where shall bee wayling and gnashing of Teeth giving thee a just hyre for thy carelesse security It is not thy pleasures that can deferre thy calamities it is not the inlarging thy Barnes that can resist thy misery the greatnesse of Friends will not availe thy Iudge is blinde to Bribery and deafe to all but Iustice if his wrath be not appeased before he come to give sentence it will then be too late to expect mercy V. Comforts for the weake Christian and to beware of Backesliding OVR most subtle malicious Enemy retayning still the hatred hee bare our first Parents at the beginning seeketh to bring us into ever lasting Perdition and so to gaine us to himselfe by one meanes or other to a man nouzeled in Sinne hee useth no other wayes then the lulling him still the faster asleepe in worldly pleasures the Miser he perswadeth still to covet Riches thereby making his Gold his God by which meanes hee filleth up the measure of Wrath against the day of Iudgement the Adulterer hee draweth on more easily by the delightsomnesse of the sinne telling him that stolne bread is sweet Prov. 5. and hid waters pleasant the Proud man hee hath hud-wincked not to thinke of time but to account all loft but what is spent in decking and setting himselfe foorth in the Divels Feathers Thus all sinnes he lessens that so he may cause man to defer his repentance till the last then the which there is nothing more dangerous but when he meets a child in religion who is glad to suck milke from the sweet paps of Gods word him he so to sceth shaketh with telling him of his owne unworthines and the severity of Gods Iustice that the poore Soule is ready to leave his hold and to fall into desperation not daring scarce to looke up to Gods Mercy but if his weaknes become strength and he be raysed by Faith then hee strives