them I would say this that there are some who will have ten desires for death when they will not have one for the death of the body of death But it were good for thee who art such to be desiring the death of the body of death then shouldest thou be in a more suteable frame to desire to dye 3. Some will have hearty desires to dye and yet when death cometh they will be as unwilling to dye as any It hath been observed that some who have much desired to dye when death came have cryed out O spare a little that I may recover strength c. There is a great difference between a desire to dye and death it self It is an easy thing to desire to dye but it is a very great business to meet with death and to look it in the face when it cometh We think death ere it come near to us to be but childrens play but when we meet with it it maketh us change our thoughts for it is a great business to dye Quest. 2. Is it lawful for a Christian to desire to live when he is summoned to dye Answ In some cases is it lawful for a Christian to desire to live even when he is summoned to dye which is clear from the practise of David Psal 39.13 where he prayeth that the Lord will spare him a little it is also clear from the practise of good Hezekiah Isai 38.3 when he was commanded to set his house in order for he should dye and not live he cryed forth Remember now O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which was good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore Or as the word is in the Original he wept with great weeping but to guard this take these two Cautions Caution 1. Thy desires to live when thou art summoned to dye should not be peremptory but with submission to the will of God that if it be his pleasure to remove thee presently out of time thou shouldst be content to dye Caution 2. Thy desires to live should have gracious principles and also a very gracious end as is most clear from David Psalm 39.13 where he saith O spare me a little that I may recover my strength before I go from hence and be no more his desire to live was that he might have victory over his Idols as if he had said my desire to live is that I may have strength to wrestle with and overcome my idols and without all controversy Hezekiahs desire was a most precious and well-grounded desire However I would say this unto thee that thou shouldest examine thy desires to live as much if not more as thy desires to dye for we are ready to shun death if we could but he is that universal King unto whom all of us must be subject ere long Now in the words that are read unto you there are these six things which may be clearly observed from them First that it is a most true and infallible truth that all persons shal once see death as is clear in these words VVho is he that liveth and shal not see death Secondly that this truth that we shal once see death is not much believed or thought upon by many therefore it is that the Psalmist doubleth the assertion VVho is he that liveth and shal not see death Shal he deliver his soul that is his life from the hand that is from the power of the Grave Thirdly that sometimes a Christian may win to the solid Faith of this truth that once he must dye this the Psalmist wan unto as it is also clear in that word who VVho is he that liveth and shal not see death Fourthly that the certainty of this that once we shal dye should be kept in our mind therefore that note of attention Selah is put to it as if he had said Take heed that there is none living that shal not dye Fifthly that howbeit some persons put the evil day far away as if they were not to see death yet is the day coming when they shall see death and death shal take them by the hand Sixthly we shal take notice of this from the context that the Christian who is much in minding the brevity of his life will believe the certainty of his death The Psalmist was speaking of the shortness of his life in the preceeding verse and in this verse he speaketh of the certainty of death Now as for the first of these things observed viz. That it is certain and most sure that we must all once dye I hope there are none of you here who will deny it although I confess some few of you believe it yet said the woman of Tekoah 2 Sam. 14. VVe must all dye and be like water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again and God doth not accept the person of any And Job 30.13 I know thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living And it is very clear Eccles 8.8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit neither hath he any power in the day of death and there is no discharge in that war neither shal wickedness deliver those that are given to it It is also clear Heb 9.27 It is appointed unto all men once to die So it is most clear that we must dye I remember of one Philip King of Macedonia who had one substitute for this very end to cry at his chamber-door every morning Memento mori memento mori momento mori Remember thou art to dye And it is reported to have been the practise of the Nobles of Greece that in the day wherein their Emperor was crowned that they presented a marble stonâ— unto him and he was enquired after what fashion he would have his Tomb-stone made Which practise speak this unto us that although these were most destitute of the light of the Scriptures they were very mindful of death Believe me death may surprise us before we be aware for it is most certain that we must dye but there is nothing more uncertain then the way how and the time when we shal dye Death will surprise some as it did Abel in the open field Gen. 4.8 Death will surprise some as it did Eglon in his parlour Judges 3.21 And death will surprise some as it did Saul and Jonathan in the flight 1 Sam. 31. Now in speaking unto this point I shal first speak a little to those advantages which attend those that live within continual fight of death Secondly I shal give you some considerations to press you to prepare for death Thirdly I shal give you some directions to help you to prepare for death And then we shal proceed unto the second point of doctrine which we observed from the Text and shal speak a few things from it unto you and so come to a close for this time First then we conceive
put on and that is a crown of sin in stead of that crown of righteousness Would ye know your exercise O ye that are predestinate unto these everlasting pains would ye know your exercise It is this ye shal eternally blaspheme and curse the God that made you I am perswaded of this that the terrots of hell will afflict you more and doth then that of the sinning prepetually in hell You would think nothing many of you to be in hell if there were no pain there for the exercise of sin it would be your delight and life but be perswaded of it that when your conscience is awaked the exercise of sinning shal exceedingly aggravate your pain And there is this crown lastly that ye shal put on and that is the crown of shame The Prophet Isaiah maketh mention of a crown of pride but you that have put on that crown of pride you shal once put on that crown of everlasting confusion and shame when you shal not be able to lift up your eyes to him whom you have pierced I would fain desire you to know what would be your exercise at these three days what will be your exercise when death shal be summoning you to remove and you shal first be entered heirs unto those everlasting pains I am perswaded you will reflect much Will ye not reflect upon many Sermons that you have heard wherein you have been invited to partake of the sweet offers of salvation I remember of one that upon his death bed cryed forth A world for time a world for one inch of time Onethat perhaps did hold his head high and no doubt was greater then the greatest here His crown would not purchase one inch of time but dying with this Call time again call time again that petition was denyed and so shall it be I fear to the most part that are here I think it was a pretty Hieroglyphick of the Egyptians they painted Time with three heads the first head that painted out Time that was past was a greedy wolf gaping which imported this that our Time past was mispent there was nothing left but like a wolf to gape for it again And there was that second head of a roaring lyon round which imports the Time present and for this end was so painted that people might lay hold upon their present opportunities otherwise it would be the matter of their ruine and their eternal undoing And there was that last head which was of a deceitful dog fawning which signified that people they deceive themselves with the Time to come thinking they will be religious at their death and that they will overcome at their death But this is a flattery no better then the fawning of a mad dog I think we may learn much of this even to be provoked to lay hold upon our golden opportunities that we sell not our Time but that we buy it There are two things that a Christian must not sell that is sell not the Truth but buy it and sell not your Time but buy it I am perswaded of this that one moment of time is worth ten thousand worlds if improved And I would ask you What advantage shal you have of all things that you have tormented your selves about when Time shal be no more I suppose indeed this is an ordinary evil amongst the people of this age of which we have our own share and portion There are many that envy godliness and the godly the excellent ones that are in the earth and think it is pleasure to vent their malice against such I know that ordinary practice it is older by a thousand years then themselves that they presecute godliness under the name of hypocrisie They call godliness hypocrisie and upon that account they begin to speak maliciously against it Only I would ask you this question What will you say in that day when Christ will ask that question of you that Gideon asked of Zeba and Zalmunna Who are those that you killed with your tongue Must it not be answered Every one did resemble the person of a King O! will you not believe Will you not close with Christ I know it is ordinary that we run upon these two extreams sometimes we do not believe the threatnings of the Law sometimes we will believe the promises of the Gospel But I would only desire to know what if it had been so ordered in the infinite wisdom of God and that all the letters of this book should have been threatnings what should have been our lot if all the promises should have been scraped out of it But certainly this must be your lot all the promises of the book of this covenant shall be taken from you and all the curses thereof shall be a fleeing roll that shal enter within your houses and there shal eternally remain Know this O you that are enemies to Christ know it and think upon it Every battle of the warriour is with confused noise and with garments rowled in blood but that war which Christ shal have against the hypocrites in Zion and those that are ignorant of him and will not close with him it shal be with fewel of fire and eternal indignation O! what will be your thoughts suppose you when Christ shal come with that two-edged sword of the fury of the Lord to enter to fight with you It is no delightsome exercise O that you were not almost but altogether perswaded to be Christians and that once Christ might conquer you with that two-edged sword that proceedeth out of his mouth that so you might subject your selves to him and make him the object of your faith Now to him that hath engraven upon his vesture and on his thigh that he is the King 〈◊〉 Kings and the Lord of Lords we desire to give praise A SERMON Concerning the GREAT SALVATION Heb. 3.2 How shal we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him THis everlasting Gospel which is preached unto you is that glorious Star which must lead us to the place where blessed Christ dothâ—ly This Gospel and glad tydings of the great Salvation is come near unto you And Christ is standing at the everlasting doors of your hearts desiring that ye would open unto him There is that one great request which heaven this day hath to present unto you and it is that ye would at last embrace this great Salvation freely offered by him It is the thing for which ye are called to mourn this day that since the dayes of your fathers and since the beginning of your own dayes ye have stopped your ears from the sweet and chanting voice of this blessed Charmer Ye would never dance to Christ when be piped Neither would ye weep to him when he lamented But to come to the words which we have read unto you The Apostle in the former Chapter had been discovering most
â—nquire of you What would you think if death were approaching this night unto you Thinâ— you that Jesus Christ is gone up to prepare place for you even for you Surely I think wâ— are all near to eternity and there are some hearing me to day whom I defie the World to assure that ever they shal hear another Sermon Therefore I intreat you all to hear this preaching as iâ— it were the last preaching that ever you should hear and O that we could speak it as if it were the last Sermon that ever we would preach unto you Believe me Death is another thing then we take it to be Oh what will many of us do in the day of our visitation when desolation shâ—… come from afar Where will we flee for rest and where will we leave our glory Old rich men where will you flee when death assaults you Old poor men where will you flee wherâ— death assaults you Old women where will ye flee when death assaults you Young men where will you flee when death assaults you Young women where will you flee when death assaults you It was an ancient observation oâ— David Psalm 39 5. That God had made 〈◊〉 days as an hand-breadth which either may relate to the four-fold estate of man viz. his infancy his child-hood his man-hood and his old age Or it may relate to the four-fold time of his life viz. his morning his fore-noon his after-noon and his evening yet all our lifetime is but a day And O think you not that our day is near unto close Now before that I begin to speak to any thiâ—… from the words I shall speak a few things to these two questions which I conceive may not altogether be unprofitable Quest. 1. Whether it be lawful for any to desire to dye and to return unto their long and endless home Whether it be lawful for one to cry out O time time flee away and all my shadows let them be gone that so long eternity may come Answ I say it is lawful in some cases for one â—o desire to dye For it was Pauls desire Phil. 1. â—3 I am in a strait betwixt two having a defire to â—epart and to be with Christ which is far better And 2 Cor. 2.2 We groan earnestly defiring to â—e cloathed with our house which is from Heaven 〈◊〉 long greatly till the twentieth one year of my Age come when my minority shal be overpast â—hat I may be entred Heir of that matchless inheâ—itance But to clear in what cases it is lawful to â—esire to dye 1. I say it is lawful to desire to dye when it â—oweth from a desire of uninterrupted fellowship â—nd communion with Christ and conjunction â—ith him this is clear 2 Cor 5.6 Knowing â—at whilst we are present in the body we are abâ—nt from the Lord therefore verse 8. We are illing rather to be absent from the body and to be â—esent with the Lord. As also it is clear Phil. 1. â— I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to part and to be with Christ which is far betâ—… It was his great end to have near and unâ—ixed communion with Christ What aileth you Paul might one have said may you not 〈◊〉 content to stay a while here Nay saith Paul 〈◊〉 desire to be gone and to be with Christ. Waâ—… thou never with him here Paul I have beeâ— with him saith he but what is all my be inâ— with him here in comparison of my being with him above While I am present in the body I am but absent from the Lord. Therefore I will never be at rest saith he get what I will untill I get Christ untill I get those naked and immediatâ—… embracements of that noble plant of renownâ— the flower of the stalk of Jesse who is the light of the higher house the eternal admitation oâ— Angels 2. It is lawful to desire to die when it floweâ—… from the excellencies of Heaven and from a desire to partake of those excellent things that aâ— there this is clear 2 Cor. 5.4 We groan beinâ— burdened or as the word is We groan as they 〈◊〉 are pressed under a heavy burden that we may 〈◊〉 eloathed upon c. What aileth you to groan so Paul O! saith he I groan that mortality may 〈◊〉 swallowed up of life 3. It is lawful to desire to dye when it flowet from a desire to be freed from the body of Death and from those temptations that affault us aâ— from those oppressions whereunto we are maâ— subject by it Doubtless Paul desired to dye 〈◊〉 this account when he cryed out Rom. 7.24 〈◊〉 wretched man that I am Who shall deliver 〈◊〉 from this body of death He longed greatly for 〈◊〉 day wherein he should be made white like 〈◊〉 wings of a Dove covered with silver whose feaâ—ers are of a yellow gold O! Christ saith Paul 〈◊〉 am as one impatient till I be above where I shal be cloathed with those excellent and cleanly â—obes the righteousness of Christ Oh! saith Paul I think every day a year till I shal be possessed of that Kingdom where satan cannot tempt and the creatures cannot yield and where I shal â—e free from all my fears of sinning Now in all â—hese respects who would not desire to dye But â—o guard these I would give you these four Cauâ—ions 1. Caution Your desires to dye should not be peremptory but ye should desire to die with submission to the will of God so that although he would fill up fifteen years more to your life you should be content to live it out 2. Caution When your desires are hasty and off hand suspect them for some when they meet with any outward cross without all deliberation will cry out O to be gone O if I were dead But your desires to dye should be deliberate but not hasty or rash 3. Caution It is not lawful to desire to dye because of personal affliction Many when they meet with bitter afflictions will cry out O to be gone They long for death even upon that account such were Jobs desires Job 20.21.22 and chap. 6. vers 7.8 O that I might have my request even that it would please God to destroy me c. This desire was very unlawful 4. Caution It is not lawful to desire to dye when thy predominant idol is taken away froâ— thee yet such was Jonahs desire chap. 4.23 Jonâ— thought his credit and reputation which was hâ—… idol was gone and could never be regained therefore he wished to dye But I would say thâ—… to you that some will have ten desires for death when they have not one desire for Heaven And what moveth Christians to be desirous to dye It is not so much because of their hope as because of their anxiety it is not so much because of their confidence as because of their impatience But I say unto you when your desires of death are not accompanied with desires of Heaven suspect
God and of defection from him according to that word Heb. 3.12 Beware lest their be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief and there the fruit of it to depart from the living God And certainly it is no wonder that unbelief travels in birth till that cursed child of apostasie be brought forth not only because of this that an unbeliever looseth the thought of the excellency of Christ but also because he increaseth in his thoughts of love towards his Idols for Christ doth decrease in those who misbesieve and their Idols do increase in their love and in their desires and in their estimation 6. There is this sixth disadvantage in the sin of unbelief it hindereth the communication of many single workings and tokens of the love and favor of the most High according to that sad word that is in Matth. 13.58 at the close He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief Unbelief as it were laid a restraint on Christ that he could not effectuat those things which he was willing to perform And to shut up our discourse at this time I would only add these two aggravations which may somewhat enforce what we have spoken I say there are these two aggravations in the sin of unbelief even in his own who have a right also his call to believe 1. That after that Christ hath given most sensible discoveries of himself Wherein we have seen him as it were face to face yet ye will not believe This is clear from John 6.36 Though ye have seen me saith Christ yet ye do not belive in me There is not a manifestation of Christs presence but it iâ— a witness against you of your unbelief Woulâ— you hear the voyce of sense that is rectified It iâ— this believe on the Son of God 2. That notwithstanding of the signal demonstrations of the power of Christ yet though it were the mortifying of some lust and Idol within them yet they will not believe but upon new temptations will doubt of his love to them Christ preacheth Faith by his Word he preacheth Faith by his sufferings he preacheth Faith by his dispensations he preacheth Faith by his promises he preacheth Faith by his rods and if these five instruments will not ingage your hearts to believe who can move them Doth not his two wounds in his precious hands preach out this point of Faith Believe him Doth not that hole opened in his side preach this doctrine That we should believe in him And these two wounds that he received in his precious feet do they not preach this That we should believe on a crucified Saviour And we would only say this that sometimes it is the caâ—e of his own that after the convictions of this that it is their duty to believe and also after some desires to close with Christ yet they find inability to close with him Is it not certain that to will to believe is sometime present with you but how to perform you know not And I would have a Christian making this fourfold use of such a dispensation as that which is most ordinarily when convictions of our duty to believe and some desires to close with Christ is not followed with actual performances 1. To study to have your convictions more â—eeply rooted within you for it doth sometimes â—…llow that resolutions and mints to believe are â—ot blest with actual believing because the conâ—iction of our duty to believe is not deeply imâ—rinted upon our conscience 2. Be convinced of that desperate enmity and â—hat mystery of iniquity that is within you that â—e can have some will to do without ability to â—erform We confesse it is not an ordinary disâ—ase in these dayes to have such a contrariety betwixt a Christians will and his practice our will â—or the most part being no better than our prastice but somtimes it is which may make you â—ry forth O wretched man that I am who shall deâ—iver me from this body of death 3. That ye would be much in the imploying of Christ that as he hath given you to will so also he might make you to do Christ is about to convince his own in such a dispensation as that That Faith is the gift of God Faith is so noble a grace that it cannot be spinned out from our resolutions not from our endeavors Faith is such a divine plant as the Fathers right hand must plant in our souls 4. Let it convince you of the excllency of the grace of Faith for the difficulty of the attaining to any thing may speak out the excellency of that thing there is no sin but it may be easily win at there is an easinesse and facility to overtake the paths of our Idols but the graces of the Spirit are so excellent things that we must fighâ— before we attain them And you who are straâ—gers to Christ Jesus and have never know what it is to close with him we would requeâ— you in Christs name to be reconciled to him What know ye O men or rather Atheists be this shall be the last summons that ye shal get 〈◊〉 believe And that because ye disobey this precious summons there shal be one presented tâ— you that ye cannot sit I remember of one maâ— who looking upon many thousands that weâ—… under his command weeped over them wheâ— he considered how that within a few years all these should be laid in their graves and should be in eternity O but it were much of our concernment to be trying our selves how it is with us we are not afraid that it is a breach of charit to wish that but one of each ten that are within these doors were heirs of the grace of life and had the solide and spiritual expectation of heaven I think if Christ were to come presently to speak to us He might not only say to each twelve that are here One of you shal betray me but we are afraid that he should say to each twelve that are here Eleven of you shal betray me and but one only shall passe free O doth it not concern you to enquire where you shal rest at night when the long shadows of everlasting evening shal be stretched out upon you I think there are some that are so setled upon their lees that if they were one day in hell and saw all the torments that are there and were brought from it the next day to live on earth they would â—ot repent And more there are some that take â—hem up on day to see the joyes of Heaven and bring them back again they would not pursue after these blessed and everlasting enjoyments O is not Christ much undervalued by us But I must tell you this One wo is past but behold another wo is coming O the searchings of those spirits who are entered into their everlasting priâ—on house out of which their is no redemption What shal be your choise when Christ shall come in the clouds I am
for that end that it might be communicated unto all his members and so out of his fulness we shal receive and grace for grace But secondly the Text holdeth more partâ—cularly this excellent object of Faith to be tâ—… Name of his Son That ye believe in the Name 〈◊〉 his Son And here indeed we may be at a stand It is long since Agar did non plus all the woâ—… with that question What is his Name and whâ—… is his Sons Name if thou canst tell O how little a thing can be known of him And O how brutish is this generation that knoweth so much lesse then might be known of him in such a day of the Gospel But that we may speak a little according to our weak measure of Faith as closing with the Name of Christ His Name is his glorious attributes by which he revealeth so much of himself in the Scriptures as poor mortals can take up We did show you before that there was three of these that were the main pillars 〈◊〉 justifying Faith Faithfulness Omnipotency aâ—… his infinite Love and Mercy And how from theâ—… may be answered all the objections of sense oâ— carnal reason and of misbelief arising from convictions of unworthiness And certain it is thaâ— faith in all its conflicts maketh much use of thâ— Names of Christ And there is not an object thaâ— a poor tempted soul can make but faith can framâ— an answer to it out of some of these excelleâ—… Names of God or of his Son Christ It woulâ— be a more long-some work than I intend to leâ— you see this in all But I shall only instance thaâ— in One glorious Name of God by which he proclaimeth his glory Exod. 34. The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for â—…usands forgiving iniquity transgression and 〈◊〉 and that will by no means clear the guilty c. think there are seven ordinary objections which â—ay be answered from that place First it is an â—dinary objection which misbelievers do make â—hat they are under the strength of their corrupâ—ion that they are black as the Tents of Kedar and not beautiful as the Curtains of Solomon And doth not the first letter of that Name anâ—ner this that he is a merciful Lord the one imâ—orting his ability to save and to bring down every high imagination The other importing is infinite delight to help those that have no rength and are under the power of their adverâ—ries the power of God being of no larger exâ—nt then this love There is that second obâ—ection of misbelief that we have nothing to comâ—end us to Christ but all that we have to boast of are infirmities and imperfections and this â—s abundantly answered from that second letter 〈◊〉 his name that he is Gracious which imporâ—…th the freedom of the dispensations of his love â—hat he walketh not with us according to that â—…le of merit but according to that golden and exâ—ellent rule of love It is a great dispute whether Mercy or Grace be the greatest wonder whether â—he love of Christ or the freedom of it be the â—reatest mystery sure both these put together â—ake up a matchless wonder Thirdly misbelief will object that we have forsaken him dayes without number and that we cannot trace bâ—… our apostacy unto the first day of its rise and not that abundantly answered from that letter 〈◊〉 his Name that he is long-suffering This beâ—… that glorious attribute in God the glory of whâ—… he defireth to magnifie above all his Name Fourthly misbelief doth ordinarily propose this objection that we have multiplied our transgression and have committed whoordome under every grâ—… tree and have given gifts to our lovers even â—…ring our idols so that we may take up that 〈◊〉 mentation Is not our sin great and our transgresion infinite And is not this also answered 〈◊〉 that letter of his Name that he is abundant goodness That though sin abound in us yâ— grace doth much more superabound in him Wâ— confess indeed that there are some that may wâ—… under that condition that if they had no othâ—… exercise throughout eternity but to make confession they might confess and never maâ—… any needless repetition And truly in some 〈◊〉 spect it is a mercy that we are mysteries unto 〈◊〉 selves for if we did know compleatly the sevâ— abominations of our hearts and these mysteriâ—… actings of the body of death we would be in 〈◊〉 zard to choose strangling and death rather 〈◊〉 life Yet may not one glimpse of that abundaâ— goodness satisfie us and calm the storm Fiftâ—ty saith misbelief we know that we have brokâ— our vowes and covenants with God and that 〈◊〉 these things that we have taken on have beâ—… but as flax before the fire of temptation so tâ—… â—e have no hope that he will have mercy upon â—hose that have broken wedlock and have not seen stedfast in his covenant But is not that â—undantly answered from that letter of his Name That he is abundant in truth which speaâ—eth that That though we deny our selves yet he abideth faithful and doth not alter the words that hath gone out of his mouth It is the infiniâ—e blessedness of man that though he be changeable yet they have to do with one that is an unchangeable being Sixthly there is that objection That notwithstanding all these things are matters of encouragement to some yet they know â—ot whether or not the lot of everlasting love hath fallen upon them and whether their names â—e in the ancient records of heaven But this is answered from that letter of his Name He keeâ—eth mercy for thousands which showeth us that great number of those upon whom the lot of everâ—asting love shal fall And if there were no other â—entence in all the Scripture this might be a sufâ—icient matter of a song and might make us cry â—ut Who is like unto him whose compassions have â—o end And who desires to magnifie his mercy â—…ove all his works And lastly misbelief maketh his objection They have sinned not only against â—ight not only against vows not only after much â—njoyment of God but even after the application 〈◊〉 threatnings so that they conceive that their â—aker will not have mercy upon such Yet this is â—ally answered likewise from that letter of his Name He forgiveth transgression iniquity and sin which three words do abundantly speak forth that there is no transgression which he will noâ— pardon there being but one particular amongâ—… all that innumerable number of sins which loâ—geth in the heart of fallen men that he declared unpardonable and there is none of our disease 〈◊〉 that is above the infinite art of love and concerning which we can take up that complaint There is no balm in Gilead and there is no I hysician there And though providence may muster up many impossibilities yet let Faith take the promise in the one hand and impossibilities in the
that high estimation which the Sainâ—… have of it O what an high estimation have thâ— Saints of this Gospel-salvation There is no mercy which they think comparable to this all otheâ— mercies are but little Zoars in comparison of thâ— great mercy and Gospel-salvation IV. Fourthly it is called a great Salvation 〈◊〉 respect of those noble effects which this Salvation bringeth about and produceth Some of 〈◊〉 great effects of the Gospel David hath cleared Psal 19.7.8 9.10 Is not this a great effect 〈◊〉 this Gospel-Salvation to bring us out of nature into an estat of grace And that is an effect of this great Salvation Is not this a great effect to make us who were enemies become friends And that is an effect of this great Salvation Is not this a great effect to make us who were moving in the way to hell move in the way to heaven And that is an effect of this great Salvation Is not this a great effect to make us who were so far off to be now made near And yet that is an effect of this great Salvation And is not this a great effect to make us who were darkâ—ess become light in the Lord And that is the great effect of this Gospel-Salvation Yea I may â—…y time would fail me to tell of all the great effects of this great Salvation But O will ye come and see and that will best resolve the question unto you what the noble effects of this great Salvation are V. Fifthly it is called a great Salvation in respect of the great advantages which doth redound to the person who embraceth it First is not heaven a noble advantage And that is the gain which attendeth the embracers of this great Salvation Secondly is not Jesus Christ a notable â—dvantage And yet he is the advantage which â—ttendeth the embracers of this great Salvation Thirdly is not eternal communion with God a â—oble advantage And that advantage attendeth â—e embracers of this great Salvation Fourthly 〈◊〉 not eternal liberation from the body of death a reat advantage And that attendeth the embracers of this great salvation Fifthly is 〈◊〉 eternal singing in the enjoyment of God a greaâ— advantage And that attendeth the embracers oâ— this salvation Sixthly is not eternal seeing oâ— God as he is a great and noble advantage And yet this as all the former attendeth the embracers of this great salvation Yea would ye be rich O then embrace this great salvation Would ye be honorable Come and embrathis great salvation Would ye be eternall happy O come then and partake of this greâ—… salvation VI. Sixthly it is called a great salvation iâ— respect of all other salvations that ever were accomplished There was never a salvation or â—…ctory obtained by any General or Captain unâ— a land or people that could have the name great salvation in comparison of this VII Seventhly it is called a great salvatioâ— in respect of the authority of it We have spâ—ken of the greatness as to the meritorious causâ— of it and how great things it doth effectuate aâ— also in respect of the authority of it it is a grâ—… salvation Would you know who is the Authâ—… of this great salvation It is Christ Heb. 5. â— He became the author of eternal salvation to 〈◊〉 them that obey him And must not this salvatâ— be sutable to him who is the Author of it Tâ— is one of the most noble and irradiant beams the majesty of the Son of God the Mediator tâ—… he is the Author of this great salvation VIII Eightly it is called a great falvat◠〈◊〉 respect of the continuance and duration of it It is not a salvation which is but for a day but it is an eternal salvation Heb. 9.12 He obtained eternal redemption for us Now the second thing whereunto we shal speak for clearing of the words is this viz. How it is said that Christ was the first preacher of this eternal salvation We do not think that the words are to be understood that the Gospel and this great salvation was never preached before Christ came in the flesh but we think the meaâ—…ing of the words may be one of these three if â—ot all of them I. First that all the preaching of this great â—lvation under the Law did come very far short 〈◊〉 the point of fulness in comparison of Christs reaching of it therefore is Christ said to be the first preacher of this great salvation as if he had said I know Adam he preached of this great salvation and Enoch he preached of this great salâ—ation and the twelve Patriarchs they preached â—f this great salvation and all the Prophets who â—ent before Christ and are now in heaven they reached of this great salvation but all their reaching deserved not the name of preaching in â—…mparison of Christs for never man spake as he â—ike Thus Christ was the first great preacher 〈◊〉 this great salvation II. Secondly this may be the meaning of it at Christ was the first preacher of this great salâ—…tion in respect of his clear way of preaching 〈◊〉 it for he was the first preacher of it without types and shadows He was the first preacher 〈◊〉 it clearly and fully with so much demonstration and power of the Spirit III. Thirdly the meaning of this thâ—… Christ was the first preacher of this great salvation may relate to his appearing to Adam in Paradise when he became the first and great preacher of this salvation when he did speak that word unto him The seed of the woman shâ—… tread down the head of the serpent The first glorious preaching of this great salvation was whâ—… Christ preached to Adam in Paradise And thâ— was the first and glorious morning of this blessâ—… Gospel Now we shal speak a little to the first of theâ— six things which we have observed from theâ— words viz. That there are many within the â—…sible Church who are neglecters and slighters this great salvation Do ye not all take wâ—… it it is clear Matth. 23. towards the close 〈◊〉 chap. 22.5 where those persons being invited come to the marriage or feast of the Gospel it said of them they made light of it which are thâ— same words in our Text. And Luke 14 â— where they were invited to come it is said Thâ— all with one consent began to make their excâ—… And Isai 28.2 This is the rest wherewith ye sâ— make the weary to rest this is the refreshing 〈◊〉 they will not hear Now is there a person hâ— who dare deny this charge that he is a slighteâ— this great salvation I confess I am afraid 〈◊〉 you will not take with it therefore I shal propâ— these eight sorts of persons who are slighters of this great salvation and charge you as you will answer to God one day that you search your hearts whether you be amongst the number in the catalogue of the slighters of this greaâ— salvation I. The first sort of persons who are slighters of
Christ should tell this in Heaven of you to night I was preached to a pack of stones that none of them would love me Will ye not be feared that this report shall be carried back to Heaven of you For what report can Christ carry back but this Now is the cord of this great salvation let down unto you is there none of you that will take a grip of it Will ye flighter after it Will ye make this a rejoycing day in Heaven that is a fasting day unto you and the way to make it so is to embrace the great salvation Now what say ye to it old men Let me speak to you and ask your thoughts of the great salvation Gray hairs should be a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness Old men speak your minds that young men may not have your bad examples What say ye of this salvation Is it not a most glorious salvation Is it not a most excellent salvation that is in your offer I intreat you speak your minds tell Christ ye are content to take the great salvation otherwise whoever he be that will not partake of this Gospel-Salvation I in the Name and authority of Christ our Master denounce eternal and irrevocable war against him Put on your harness ye shal not boast when ye put it off again The wrath and fury of God shal come upon you to the uttermost if ye embrace not this great salvation Other wars are but for a time the greatest Captains that ever the earth did carry are now laid down in the sides of the pit and their swords broken under their head Armies of ten hundred thousand an hundred years time have laid them all in their graves and ended all their contests but there is no discharge of this war that shal be concluded betwixt Christ and you It shal become an eternal and most terrible war which shal be but beginning when time is ended Now peace or war which of them will ye choose Dare ye send a charge to Christ and say Ye will defie him I am afraid there will be two things that many of us will report to day First I am afraid there be many that will give Pharaohs report to the offer of the great salvation and say Who is the Lord that I should obey him I tell you who he is He is glorious in holiness fearfull in praises doing wonders O embrace him before he go hence and give not Pharaohs report lest ye be drowned in the sea of his wrath whence there shall be no recovery Secondly I fear there will be many here to day that will give Demas report to his precious offer I will go and forsake Christ and embrace this present World O bad exchange Cursed be he that shall make it will ye be of Demas humor I fear there hath been many of that humor of a long time but I intreat you once be wise before you dye I confess that Proverb Old fools are twice fools I think old men that will not embrace the great salvation I think ye are triple fools What wait ye for Is there any thing can afford you any satisfaction but this great salvation Now are ye convinced old men that Christ is waiting for your answer I intreat you before ye go hence speak your minds what ye think of the great Salvation Is it not a lovely Salvation Is it not lovely now What say ye to it I am to go away and the offer is to be taken up at this time and it is hard to say if ever ye shal have an offer again I would only say this to you and be sure of it though I should never be a partaker of this great salvation yet I shal be a witness against you that are not partakers of it I tell and declare unto you I shal be a witness against 〈◊〉 if ye embrace not the great Salvation Now old men are ye perswaded to embrace it Let me obtest you by the beauty of Christ come and partake of the great salvation ye that are travalling upon the borders of eternity Now if ye will give no more give this will ye go home and think upon it I shall not be uncharitable nor enter to judge your thoughts I fear there shal be many declared and found guilty amongst us tâ—… we have declared unto Heaven we will not câ—…brace the great Salvation but have troden tâ— blood of the Son of God under foot Now I iâ— treat you every one of you ask of your selves ye be the persons that will presume in your heaâ—… to do so Now I shal leave it with you let it bâ— witness against you I shal leave it with this 〈◊〉 come away old men young men old women aâ—… maids come and embrace this precious Gospeâ— Salvation Ye may say ye bid us come but wâ— cannot come I desire no more of you but wâ— come with this Lord I am content to come but cannot come Come once to that for if once 〈◊〉 be content to receive it it will not be long before ye be able to receive it Now shal Christ dâ— part and will none of you say ye are content 〈◊〉 take him Will ye charge your own consciencâ— with this am I content to take Christ and thâ— great Salvation O blest blest blest be he that 〈◊〉 the Author of this great Salvation and blest bâ— he that gets any of the ends of the cord of thâ— great Salvation that we sink not under the wraâ—… and fury of the Lord Come and embrace thâ— great Salvation and again I say come and 〈◊〉 brace it for what can ye have if ye want it And what can you want if you have it I shâ—… say no more but close with that word Isai 6â— verse 21. Behold the Lord hath proclaimed to 〈◊〉 ends of the World to those that are far off Wâ—… hath he proclaimed Say ye to the daughter Sion Behold thy salvation cometh behold it comâ—… I say to you that are the ends of the World Salvaâ—ion is brought near to you Stout-hearted and â—ar from righteousness the great Salvation is â—rought near unto you and will ye send it away Oh! consider what ye are doing And to him â—hat can perswade you to embrace the great Salvation we desire to give praise A SERMON Concerning DEATH Psal 86.48 What man is he that liveth and shall not see death c. IT is very hard to determine where all that are here shall be within thirty years for even â—ere that time come many if not all of us who are here shal have taken up our eternal â—odging And whether we shall take it up in the â—eternity of joy or the eternity of pain is also â—hard to determine Only this one thing I am sure of that all of us shal shortly be gone And â—ere long the shadows of death shall be fitting upon â—ur eye-lids and our eye strings shal begin to â—reak Therefore I would the more seriously
it to study saving wisdom this is clear Psalm 90.12 where David putteth up this request So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom As if he had said I will never think my self wise till I know that blessed piece of Aâ—ithmetick How to number my days I would desire every one of you all to think with your selves every morning when you arise Now we are an hour nearer unto eternity then we were before and at the end of every hour Now we are a day nearer unto eternity then we were before I say think often yea always thus We were never so near death as we are now for oh are we not all nearer to eternity to day then we were ye sterday The seventh advantage attending the faith of approaching death is this That it will make a Christian very careful in preparing for death it is impossible for one to believe really that death is approaching and not prepare for it Say what you will if you be not careful in preparing for death you have not the solide faith of this truth that you shal dye Believe me it is not every one that thinketh he believeth this truth that believeth it indeed And O how dreadful is it for an unprepared man to meet with death He desireth not to dye yea he would give a World for his life but dye he must whether he will or not for death will not be requested to spare a little when he cometh and therefore I say unto you Set your house in order for you shal surely dye Old men and women Set your house in order for surely ye must dye Young men and women Set your house in order for to morrow ye may dye and be cut off in the flower of your age Think not that there are any who can sell time for I say you shal never get time sold unto you Alace I feat the most part of persons that dye now death findeth them at unawares for indeed the persons that dye amongst us when we come to visite them we may give you a full account of them for we think they are all comprehended under these four sorts First when we go to visite some persons on their death bed they are like unto Nabal their heart is dying and sinking like unto a stone within them they are no more affected with death then if it were a fancy Alace for the great stupidity that hath overtaken many Therefore I intreat you delay not your repentance till death lest the Lord take away your wit so that you cannot then repent for your senslesness and stupide frame of spirit A second sort we find in a presumptuous frame saying They have had a good hope all their days and they will not quite it now they will go down to the grave with their hope in their right hand or rather they will go down to the grave with a lye in their right hand they live in a persumptuous frame and they dye in the same delusion for when we tell them that by all probability they are going down to hell they answer God forbid I was all my time a very honest man or woman But I love not that confession for there are many such honest men and women in hell this day The third sort we find have some convictions that they have been playing the fool all their days but we can get them no further I shal only say to such To go down to the Grave with convictions in their breast not making use of Christ is to go down to hell with a candle in their hand to let them see the way and truly the greater part that dye dye in this manner Fourthly there are some whom we find in a self-righteous frame trusting upon the covenant of works and their own merits and trusting by these to go to heaven yet neglecting the offer of Christs righteousness But alace we find not one of a thousand in this frame I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ that is best of all And scarcely do we find any in such a frame O wretched man that I am who shal deliver me from the body of this death Therefore I say unto you who are all here O will you mind death before it take hold on you Oh mind your work now for you will find that death shal be work enough for it self though you leave no work till then The eighth advantage that attendeth the Christian believing this truth that once he must dye is this Death will not be so terrible to him as it is to many when it cometh What think you maketh death a King of terrors What maketh many to shake like the leaf of a tree when they are summoned to appear before Gods Tribunal It is even because of this they have not been thinking on death before it came so as to prepare for it and I fear many in this place may be feared for death and that when it cometh to them they will say unto death as Achab said to Elijah Hast thou found me O mine enemy Surely death will take you and bring you to the Judgement-seat of Christ therefore study by all means to think ofren upon it and make ready for it for believe me death is a very big word for it will once make you stand with horror in your souls if your peace be not made up with God I know not a more dreadful dispensation then death and a guilty conscience meeting together The second thing that I shal speak unto from the first observation viz. That it is a most certain and infallible truth that all persons shal once see death shal be to give some good considerations for pressing you to prepare for death The first consideration is this that to dye well and in the Lord is a most difficult work therefore I intreat you prepare for death It is a difficult work to communicate aright it is a difficult work to pray aright and it is a difficult work to confer aright But I must tell you it is a more difficult work to dye aright then any of these it is true it is more difficult to communicate aright then to pray aright yet it is much more difficult to dye aright then to communicate aright for it is a most difficult work to dye in the Lord. Death will put the most accurate Christian that is here to a wonderful search and therefore I will tell you nine things that death will try in thee 1. Death will try both the reality and strength of thy faith it may be easy for thee to keep up faith under many difficulties but death shal put thy faith to the greatest stress that ever it did meet with Yea know this that the faith of the strongest believer may get and ordinarily doth get a set at death the like whereof it never got before therefore prepare for death 2. Death will try thy love to God some persons pretend much love to
him but death will propose this question to such a person Lovest thou him more then these Lovest thou him more then thy wife More then thy house More then thy friends But your unwillingness to dye giveth us much ground to fear that many have little love to Christ but much to the World and so dare not answer the question Lord thou knowest that I love thee 3. Death will try thy enjoyments some of you may be ready to think that you meet with many enjoyments so that you might reckon as you think to fourty enjoyments and sweet out-lettings but beware that death bring them not down to twenty I have known some who thought they had met fourty times with God but when death came it made them take down the count to the half therefore seeing death will try the reality of thine enjoyments O prepare for it 4. Death will try thy patience thou mayest seem to have much patience now but when death cometh thou art put to dye it will put thy patience to a great tryal therefore prepare for it 5. Death will try the reality of thy duties yea even those duties wherein thou hadst most satisfaction as thy communicating aright in such a place thou hopest that is sure thy reading the Scripture at such a time aright thou hopest that is sure thou prayedst at such a time aright and hopest that is sure thou meditatest in such a place aright and thou hopest that is sure But believe me death may make thee change thy thoughts for there are some persons who have communicated and prayed c. as right as any in this generation who for all that will not find six duties wherein they can find satisfaction at death 6. Death will exceedingly try thy sincerity when it cometh An hypocrite may go all along his whole way undiscovered yet death may bring him to light and make it appear what a man he is 7. Death will discover unto thee hid and secret sins of which thou never had a thought before yea albeit thou thoughtest these had been forgotten death will let thee see them standing between thee and the light of his countenance 8. Death will accurately try thy mortification Some think they have come a great length in mortification but believe me death will try it and put it to the touch-stone 9. Death will try thy hope whether it be real or not I shal only say this that all the other graces must low their sails to faith and so it is faith must carry us thorow being that last triumphing grace which must fit the field for us when all the other graces will faint and ly by It is faith that must enter us fairly within the borders of eternity It is faith must gainstand all the temptations of death yea all the other graces as it were stand by and see faith strike the last stroke in this war The second consideration to press you to mind death is this That ye are to dye but once O! labor to do that well which you are to do but once and the wrong doing of which can never be helped If ye pray not aright ye may get that mended and if ye communicate not aright ye may get that also mended but alace if ye dye not aright there is no mending of that Therefore O prepare for death that ye may dye well seeing ye are to dye but once The third consideration to press you to mind death is this That ye are pronounced blessed who dye in the Lord Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord. O let that provoke you to prepare for death that so ye may dye in the Lord that is the only way to make you eternally happy I confess it is a question difficult to determine whether it be more difficult to dye well or to live well I shal not answer it but rather desire you to study both The fourth consideration to press you to prepare for death is this viz. That though thou put all thy work by thy hand before death ye shalt thou find that death shal have work enough for it self yea as much as thou shalt get done It will then be much for thee to win to patience it will be much for thee to win to the sight of thy justification and it will then be much for thee to win to assurance O then is it not needful for thee to put all thy work by thy hand before thy latter end come Wherefore I may say to you as Moses said in his Song Deuter. 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end O that ye had this piece of divine wisdom I pray you consider that sad word Lam 1.19 She remembered not her last end and what of it Therefore she came down wonderfully So will the down-coming of many in this generation be wonderful who consider not their last end The fifth consideration for pressing you to prepare for death is this viz. That their labor shal end but their works shal not be forgotten as is clear from that fore-cited place Rev. 14.13 They rest from their labors and their works follow them and is not that a glorious advantage The sixth consideration to press you to prepare for death is this viz. That death may come upon you ere ye be aware ye know not but death may surprise you this night before ye go home to your houses and therefore let that press you to study a constant preparation for death The seventh consideration to press you to prepare for death is this viz. That as death leaveth you so will Judgement find you If death shal leave you strangers to Christ ye shal appear before his Judgement-seat strangers unto him therefore I intreat you all to prepare for it I think that noble practise of Paul exceeding worthy of imitation 1 Cor. 15.31 I dye daily which I think doth comprehend these three things 1. That Paul had death always in his sight 2. It comprehendeth this that he labored to keep such a frame as that every moment he should be ready to dye so that whensoever death should put the summonds in his hand he should be content to answer 3. It comprehendeth this that he labored to lay aside and remove all things out of the way that might detain him from laying down his tabernacle O saith Paul I labor so to clear my self of all hinderances as that when ever I shal be summoned to remove out of time I may willingly lay down my life Therefore I would ask you this question viz. When did you make your last testament I think it were suitable for us to be renewing our latter-will every day for in so doing Paul made an excellent testament the better of which none that died since have made 2 Tim. 4.7.8 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith these are very sweet articles and then he addeth Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness that the Lord the righteous Judge shal give me at that day And think ye not that very sweet that he would leave something unto you in Christs Name viz. And not for me only but for all them that wait for his appearance Now I come to the third thing proposed viz. To give some directions for helping you to prepare for death Direct 1. I intreat you be much in preparation for death every day for it is even a preparation for heaven to be taking a fight of your grave and latter end every day Direct 2. I intreat you be much in these duties First in self-examination that your compâ—… may be clear with God for many a ragged compt shal we have when death and we shal meet Secondly be much in the exercise of repentance that so ye may have every fault and corruption in you mourned for before death and you meet Thirdly be much in the exercise of faith making your calling and election sure Fourthly be much in the exercise of mortification and that will help you to keep a loose grip not only of the World but also of your other idols and if ye be much in these ye shall undoubtedly be prepared for death Direct 3. Be much in minding the excellent things of heaven a Christian that would be prepared for death should have all his thoughts and conversation there I think it would be an excellent help in preparation for death to take a sight of the crown every day Direct 4. Labor always to keep a good conscience void of offence toward God and man I say labor to keep thy conscience clear and that shal be a continual feast unto thee Direct 5. Slight not any known duty do not crucify any conviction neither break any resolution put these three together and that will exceedingly help you to prepare for death I say see that ye adventure not to slight any known duty see that ye adventure not to crucify any conviction and see that ye adventure not to break your resolutions Now we come to the second thing which we observed from the words viz. That this truth that we shal once see death is not much believed by many of us and to make this appear we shal only give some evidences unto you to prove that we are not as yet prepared for death 1. Evidence Doth not the unspeakable stupidity that hath overtaken many say that we are not people prepared for death Alace many of us would find our selves in a most stupid temper if we were presently to dye for many of us are no more moved with the threatnings and terrors of God then if they did not belong unto us and this saith We are not as yet prepared for death 2. Evid That we are not prepared for death in our pursuing so much after the vain and passing delights of a present World Many of us rise up early and go to bed late at night and eat the bread of sorrow all the day and load themselves with thick clay And I am sure that such a person being night and day taken up with the World is not prepared for death I remember a word recorded of such a wretched one who was exceeding rich said he I would give so many thousands of money if death would but give mâ— one day yet he got it not And O how suddenly will death surprise many of you as it did him 3. Evid Which speaketh forth our unpreparedness for death is our impatience under every petty cross that we meet with for the prepared Christian will be patient under very sharp crosses 4. Evid That we are not prepared is our not endeavouring to live within sight of our interest in God Oh if we were prepared for death durst we live in so much incertainty of our interest in God and of our assurance of heaven 5. Evid Some of us can let our idols lye in our breast six years without repentance and will never study to mortify them nor repent for them and surely such are not prepared for death Now I intreat you seriously to mind what hath been said and that ye may the more seriously think upon it I will tell you some material challenges that your conscience at death will present unto you therefore take heed that ye may know how ye will answer 1. Challenge Is the slighting of much precious time and sinning away the precious offers of grace O what will ye answer to that challenge when death shal present it to you Death will say or rather thine own conscience at death what ailed thee to sin so many hours without either praying reading or meditating Now have ye any thing to answer when death shal present this challenge to you I intreat you premeditate what ye will say I intreat you prevent death by presenting it first seriously to your selves 2. Challenge That death will present unto you will be for the killing of many precious convictions which ye have had What will each of you answer at death when your conscience proposeth this challenge unto you Thou metst with such a challenge at such a time and went home and crucified it And at another time thou metst with another challenge and went home and crucified it These challenges will be laid home to thy door therefore think on them 3. Challenge Death will charge you for a formal hypocritical way of going about duties I say your conscience will then tell you that ye went to such a communion with a selfish end and â— another time ye prayed hypocritically and formally And what will ye have to answer when ye meet with these challenges I confess I know not what ye can answer to these But I charge you be thinking what ye will answer for it may be that these convictions shall ly on your consciences that even this day you have heard two searching Sermons and did meet with some convictions but made no good use of them yea â—nd it may be ye did sleep all that time O! â—hat will ye answer when it will be said to you 〈◊〉 went to such a Sermon and sleeped all the one and ye went to such a Communion but had no other end before your eyes but to be seeâ— of men I intreat you consider presently whâ—… you will answer to these 4. Challenge Will be for your breaking many precious resolutions It will be said to some of you that at the Communion in this place ye took on vows and did break them I am sure yâ— connot question the Justice of this challenge therefore see what ye will answer 5. Challenge Ye slighted many precious offers of the Gospel O men and women in this City what will ye answer to this I was often exhorted to take Christ and yet would never take him What will conscience say to that when death shal table it before you I tell you what you must then answer O cursed I that ever refused Christ in the Gospel
And ye shal then bâ— confounded because this is your sin Believe me there was never an offer of this everlasting Gospel and of Christ in it made unto you that shal not at death before or after it be brought to your remembrance And O how sad and doleful will it be to you when Christ shal open the Book where your sins are written and begin with the sin of slighting the great Salvation Thus I invited you when you were twelve years old but ye would not come I invited you when you were thirty years old but ye would not come I invited you when you were sixty years old and ye would not come What will ye answer to this Have ye any thing to say Or must ye not stand speechless before your Judge when he shall put home this challenge unto you Therefore think seriously upon it how ye will answer to it 6. Challenge Will be for your sinning oftentimes against light And O how painful and sad a challenge will that be at the day of death when it will be said Thou sinned with a witness in thy bosom that thou wast doing wrong Thy conscience will say Oftentimes I did tell thee this is sinful yet wouldest thou not abstain from it And what will ye answer to this 7. Challenge Oftentimes ye sinned upon very small temptations and what will ye answer to that Must ye not then confess it and say Oh how often have I deserted Christ and embraced my idols upon a small temptation Now I intreat you be thinking what ye will answer to these seven most material challenges which certainly shal be presented to you at death I assure you ye must either answer all your challenges in Christ else ye will not get them well answered Therefore I would exhort you to embrace the Gospel and Christ in it that so let death propose never so many challenges unto you ye may answer them all as David did viz. God hath made with me an everlasting covenant And that will answer all your challenges Though my house be not so with God yet I have the everlasting covenant to â—ilâ— my salvation upon Now to press you to make use of Christ I shal give you these four considerations Consideration 1. If ye embrace not Christ now death will be very unpleasant to you O what else can comfort thee when going through the region of death but this I am Christs I am Christs Is there any other thing can comfortâ— thee in that day but only this I am Christs and he is mine Consideration 2. If ye embrace not Christ and the great Salvation now it will be an hundred to one if ever ye get time or liberty to do it when ye are going to dye For although many delay their closing with Christ till death yet scarcely one of a hundred getteth favor to grip Christ at death Therefore think on it for you will not get your mind so composed at death as ye imagine nor all things done as ye suppose therefore now embrace the great Salvation Consideration 3. If ye delay your closing with Christ till death seize upon you ye shal never be able to make up that loss For will the dead rise and praise God Or shal any one come from the Land of forgetfulness to take hold upon a crucified Savior Therefore O will ye take him for your Salvation Consideration 4. If ye will take Christ now he shal be your guide when ye are going thorow the valley and shadow of death And O how blessed is the person that can sing that word Psalm 48.14 This is my God he will be my guide even unto death If ye can sing that pleasant song O how may ye be comforted when your eye-strings shal begin to break O how happy is he who can say Though I walk thorow the shadow of death yet will I fear no ill for I know that the Lord is with me Now this is the acceptable day and the year of Salvation therefore do not delay but embrace Christ lest death surprise you ere ye be aware and so the acceptable day be lost But unto these who think they may delay till death I say surely there are many damned Atheists in hell that sometimes did think as ye think I will make all wrongs right when death and I shal meet I hope that three days repentance will satisfy for all my wrongs for I am sure there are many in hell who did never get three days to think upon their former wayes Therefore O come come and embrace Christ presently Now are ye all perswaded of this truth that ye shal once see death Then study a tender walking for believe me there are many of us that shal go thorow death with many bruised bones because of untender walking before God We know it is not the multitude of words can perswade you to embrace Christ for many of you never minded the thing but believe me death will preach these things unto you in a more terrible manner then we can do at this time Therefore I say to each of you O prepare to meet thy God for if death find you in an estranged estate from God I defie the Angels in Heaven to free you out of that estate and the day is coming wherein thou shalt cry out O slighter of the great Salvation that I am I would give ten thousand worlds for one Sermon again that I once heâ—… wherein Christ was freely offered to me when thâ— shalt be tormented without hope of remedy therefore while it is to day harden not your heartâ— for your late wishes shal not be granted when are gone if ye make not haste O therefore hasâ— haste in time and come out from the land of your câ—ptivity and from the house of your bondage aâ— take Christ for your Redeemer the guide of yoâ— youth and old age Now unto him who can leâ—… you thorow all these steps betwixt you and Heven be eternal praise Amen FINIS