troubled Sinner Bethink thy self Jesus Christ his sufferings [3] 1 John 22 are thy pardon Come unto him thou that art heavy laden [4] Mar. 11.28 Christ will ease thee Hate sin that Christ [5] Act. 26.18 may pardon it Did the Lord Christ suffer the death of his body and the fierce wrath of his own Father all to keep thee from Hell and wilt thou again pawn thy Soul unto the Devil [6] 1 Pet. 5.1 for some trifling sin Are fire and brimstone [7] Matth. 25.30 Jude 15. Esay 30.33 2.19 and everlasting darknesse such flea-bitings Are Peace and Glory and [8] Rev. 21.7 everlasting Joy so contemptible that whatsoever the Son of God hath suffered should not at all concern thy soul Cast off thy [9] Dan 4.27 Esay 30.22 sins thine unprofitable sins for for Thee Christ dyed Thy Thy Soul the Mercifull Jesus would pardon Thirst [10] Dan 55.1 Revel 22.17 thirst after Righteousnesse that Christ may impute it Jesus Christ hath [11] Isa 53.4 born thine iniquities and wilt thou pluck them from off His shoulders to again place them upon thine own Oh rather set thy face toward Heaven and look look up upon [12] Zech. 12 10 Him whom Thou hast pierced Let Christ but see once [13] Esay 53.11 of the travel of his Soul and He shall be satisfied and thou too The Son of God dyed and dyed to save thee from thy sins That is one Inducement to force [14] Foelix est periculum ad Deum consuge e. thine heart of unbelief to seek the Lord while he may be found 2. Circumstance Although this was or was near upon Circumstance the same night wherein he was betrayed from the beginning of Chap. 13. unto the end of Chap. 17. Christ taketh much thought not for his dying self but for his sinfull Disciples Sinner it will not repent him that He layed down his life for thy sake if where He hath layed it down there thou wouldest take it up for thy preservation he is solicitous for his own he was not 3. A third Circumstance Three other Evangelists Circumstance three other faithfull Pen-men Jesus Christ had of his most holy Gospel but such a subject as this This the turning of his bowels the unbosoming of his loving Kindnesses so choyce a portion of the Gospel as is this He peculiarly reserveth for his fittest Pen man His bosome Evangelist his beloved Disciple his darling JOHN shall be the Author of this Evangelical Scripture and this purposely that such a desperate Caitiffe as thou hast been may [1] John 20.31 believe and conceive hopes 4 Circumstance The tender compassion of Christ Jesus over the present troubles of these Disciples hearts Circumstance Sinner The heart which melteth to see a wound lanced will never have the power to see a Sword ripping up thine entrails What troubles these Disciples here met with were but only the troubles of this world yet see here the swooning of Christs bowels Tell me Would not Jesus Christ endure that these should perplex their hearts and will he take any pleasure in the eternal torments of thy lost Soul Believe it the merciful Jesus doth not willingly afflict To be gracious he waiteth at thy death he aimeth not Thy Spirit had long since failed before him had not He forborn to strike I tell thee Thy case thy state of unbelief is so desperate that God deferreth his just anger unto the very last minute He knoweth shouldest Thou to Hell once thou art then a lost man for ever After death no redemption Thy sins are so great that Christ would if possible forgive them although thou imaginest not so He would if thou wouldest assent heal all thy back-slidings lest otherwise thy Soul thy wretched Soul should unto all eternity be tormented miserably tormented in Hell in the nethermost Hell If the Disciples afflictions move Christ unto compassion know the vengeance due unto thy sins pierceth his heart Shouldest thou to Goale once thou wouldest be sure to be condemned and executed wherefore ere ever thou art questioned for thy life Thy Jesus would procure for thee the Kings pardon nay He hath procured it and willeth thee to accept it upon the Kings terms Sinner if thou hast grace to believe any one of these Circumstances these Circumstances will be unto thee Life from the dead Secondly Life of comfort for Believers For Believers First against all worldly distresses Against worldly distresses viz. Although the afflictions of the Righteous are [1] Psalm 34.19 many yet [2] 1 Pet. 4.12 think not that strange True as A Child of God in the anguish of her spirit [3] Mr. G. C. in his Epistle before his Sermon at the Funerals of Mrs. A. Childe of Northwick Worcestershire replyed unto her Minister A sharp Visitation seemeth to signifie displeasure but Let not your heart be troubled For First The very same afftictions are [1] Pet. 51 9 accomplished in your Brethren No temptation can take you but such as is [2] 1 Cor. 10.13 Bonus quicquid accidit ei aequo animo feret Sen. Epist 7. common unto men nay unto Saints Art thou afflicted Answ So were Christs chosen Disciples yea so was Jesus Christ Himself even in the compassions of this very Text His heart was troubled then when he said Let not your heart be troubled I say Secondly So kind a Master so loving a Brother is Jesus Christ that he is [1] Heb. 4.15 touched with a sense of our infirmities Who is afflicted and he [2] 2 Cor. 11.29 burneth not I say In all thine afflictions thy dearest Bridegroom is [3] Esay 63.9 afflicted with thee He in this Text forgat his own sufferings although so near at hand that he might [4] Dr. Sibs Sermon on John 14.1 comfort his Disciples in these their troubles Thirdly The same Redeemer who bringeth the trouble layeth this command Let not your heart be troubled Be ye sure now He who [1] John 14.1 Esay 54.5 7 8 40.1 2 Jerem. 31.20 Hos 11.8 9 will not give way that thy heart should be any whit troubled at all will in due time remove what He Himself dis-liketh If thy Plaister [2] Rom. 8.28 Phil. 3.21 hurt it shall be taken off and that quickly Or ever he find out a temptation for thee he will out a way for thy [3] 1 Cor. 10.13 temptations escape rather then thy heart should be over-much troubled What thou canst not [4] Heb. 7.25 Matth. 11.30 12.20 well bear shall never burden thy feeble shoulders Fourthly Suppose thy distresse burdensome I reckon that the sufferings of this [1] Rom. 8.18 present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us What yea what are these light afflictions which are but for a [2] 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domum apud Patiâ—â—n habéo camque vòbis
and much health be hardly found in one person Beloved I urge not these as complaints but as vindications the sincere Minister hath (5) Fhil 2.20 2 Cor. n. 28 29 Sancta laudabilis est in religionis negotio impatientia Jeron other cares wherewith to busy his thoughts then these low troubles his soul is too spiritual to be satisfied with any thing under the (6) Phil. 3.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Chrysost Master whom he serveth these earthly cloggs which the world calleth Mony Wealth Pleasure Honour c. He rather useth then desireth true without them live (7) paupertas ridiculos hommes facit Qui mirantur opes hi nulla exempla beati Pauperis esse putant he cannot he cannot without them so (8) Saepius emoliunt eleemosynarum dona quos non commovent concionū verba 1 Tim. 3.8 Tic. 1.8 live as becometh his vocation they are that oyle of the sanctuary which the wisdom of the all-sufficient God hath made necessary to preserve our light of life and consequently the light of the Gospel from extinguishing wherefore since a Minister can no more subsist without these then without the aire which he breathes in stoop he must to take them up for his livelyhood and seeing he must of necessity encumber himself with these requisite supplies very equal it is that what is his right be tendered unto him not only as his due but as his encouragement and (9) Philem. 14. Phil. 4.14 17 comfort If the over-watched Midwife be wearied and humbled with the loud cries dolefull complaints and fearfull pangs of a woman labouring and travailing as well for her own life as her infants your courtesie considereth not only this midwifes handinesse but her discomforts not only her dexterous skill but her irksome watchings In stead of enjoying the sweets of some pleasant garden the Chirurgeon tieth himself up unto his patients wound dresseth bruises deep and putrified sores enough one would think at once to affright and poison him in this Chirurgeon ye regard not only his art but his patience The Physician neglecteth his estate his home his ease his sleep his health to attend the groans of a dying man for these his self-denials the mercilesse souldier would not (1) Dr. Gauden Hieraspistes p. 490. grudge him his twenty shillings a day The (2) Pro. 18.20 Aestuat infalix angusto◠mine eloquent Lawyer who neglecteth his own estate to secure thine crowdeth sweateth and wearieth as well his whole body as his tongue thou wilt not for shame offer this Lawyer a single fee The infirm Judge though aged and crasie rideth his Circuit through ill ways and worse weather he afflicteth his weak body to relieve the oppressed sitteth all day long in much pain to ease his country of many vexations the King him-self will see this judge rewarded Beloved great are these inconveniences but no burden under that which crowneth his sacred Majesties royal vigilancies and Princely affections can equal those throws (3) Gal. 4.19 wherewith the Ministers of Jesus Christ travaile Who hath believed our Report is (4) Jonah 4.1 2. compared with Esay 53.1 an afflicting question Dear people we mourn in secret for your (5) Eccles 2.2 No indifferent gesture is so seldom without sin as laughing for it is commonly raised upon things to be pitied K. James flores regii Aphorisme 54. laughter we grieve because ye lay not your sins to heart so sad an accompt of the flocks to us entrusted so little fruite of our great labours of the souls for which Christ died so many posting to Hell forbear ye tears if ye can we I am sure cannot the names written upon our (6) Exod. 28.29 brest-plate stick too close upon our bosom to afford us any such ease Omitting then what we suffer in our name peace wealth and health is any revenue or honour a suitable requital for these our frequent alas our constant discomforts If ye Parents have in your hearts any bowels of pity over one childes ricated consumption anothers angry blaines a thirds bruised limbes a fourth burnt in your fire or other like calamities from which God forefend ye have then a little turning a little of the melting of our bowels a little taste of our inward bleedings ye will then see us in the same Positure as was the sister of that forlorn Moses Exod. 2 4 or as was Hagar when she had eys able to weep but not able to (7) Gen. 21.16 see the perishing of Ishmael yea in the same Positure as was Rachel then when she therefore wept for her Children because they (8) Jer. 31.15 were not Beloved He that could have with-held (9) Prov. 31.6 wine from either Hagar or Rachel deserved little himself either take from us these waters of affliction else mix with these waters some wine of gladness Lay ye aside the hardness of your hearts we will then be content to make Brick without Straw Affright us no more with frequent Symptomes of your everlasting death and then debar us of what worldly shelters our earthly Tabernacles may justly demand either preserve your precious souls from being lost or grudge not our bodies the melancholick comfort of a mourning weed But if our trembling hearts therefore die daily because ye daily neglect to escape death afford us we beseech you some of your weak Julips for Cordials ye can give us none Since we must suffer heaviness because some of you repent not of your unbelief allow us that liberty which was not denied unto the persons in my Text The person here speaking was a man (10) Compare Mat. 26.36 and Joh. 18.1 with Luke 22.39 of sorrows ye therefore sometimes find him in (11) Ibid. a Garden of pleasures Cause enough he (12) Compare Mat. 13.34.19.41 Mat. 23.37 had to weep over Jerusalem repine not if he (13) Compare Mat. 21.7 Luke 19.37 compared with Judg. 5.10 ride to it as (14) Ibid. honourably as he can Since the (15) Psal 69.9 Reproaches of his God fell so often upon him blame him not if he (16) Mat. 21.9 accept of Hosannas since he doth (17) Luke 22.15 not refuse to be crucified upon (18) Luke 23.33 one Mount grudge not to see him (19) Mat. 17.1 2. transfigured upon another if he disdain not a (20) Luke 2.12 Manger spare him your presents As for the Persons here spoken to they are likewise spoken to in the tenth Chapter of St. Mark where for what they suffer in verse 29 they receive a hundred fold in verse 30. 21 Mat. 2.11 I conclude then so long as the yerning of our bowels beggeth of you Believe in God believe in Christ In your Fathers house are many Mansions So long your Equity if not your Bounty will treat us Let not your heart be troubled 2. If our necessary Supplies part from you with an Evil Will we then address our selves unto you all not
First Shaketh This Scripture shaketh Unbelieuers from their vain Delusions Subterfuges and Shifts Thou who Iudas-like From their Shifts gaddest so much about to change thy way from bad to worse if worse may be Methinketh I know thy thoughts which come into thy mind every one of them but shall (1) Jer. 16.20 a man make gods unto himself and they are no gods or wilt thon (2) Jer. 51.26 25 24. hew unto thy self a stone for a corner or a stone for a foundation out of a burnt a destroying a Babylonish mountain Now that thou art within thine own view numbred among the enemies of Christ thou wouldest but they are but vain thoughts thou wouldest as one (3) Jer. 17.9 desperately wicked sear thy conscience with a hot Iron thou wouldest give thy self over unto thine own hearts lust one nay peradventure each of these three evils thou wilt flee unto who shall be sorry for thee thou wilt with the Adder stop thine ear against God or if thou give him the hearing thou wilt with the serpent open thy mouth against God or if thon bite in thy lips thou wilt with Lucifer exalt thy heart against God Lest they should tingle at the hearing of all those evils which menace thine unregenerate estate 1. Subterfuge shaken thou foolishly stopest thine ears like the Adder a vermine already like thy self sentenced (1) Gen. 3.14 to the dust and laden with curses I say lest thou shouldest see thine own loathsomness thou turnest away thine eyes thou dost (2) Andabatarum more Job 15.12 Mat. 13.15 wink and fight against God wicked thou hast been and to drown the clamour of thy conscience wicked wilt thou be even forcing thy self upon (3) Jer. 8.6 thine unwarrantable practices as the horse turning his course rusheth into battle but shalt thou (4) Psal 56.7 escape by thine iniquity No no rash soul this is nothing else but to leap from the checks of a frying conscience into the flames of everlasting burnings as the guilty soul of Judas did forlorn wretch Who (5) Job 9.4 hath hardened his heart against God and hath prospered Thereafter as a man feareth so is (6) Psal 90.11 Gods displeasure a heart that (7) Isa 66.5 trembleth moveth pity and the heart of (8) Ezek. 11.19 flesh may (9) Psal 51.17 receive a healing wound but where the heart continueth stony there Christ that (10) Dan. 2.34 mountanous stone falleth with his full weight he (11) Mat. 21.44 grindeth such a heart to mere pouder if thou set briers and thorns in (12) Isa 27.4 against him he will be unto thee a consuming fire I hope thou wilt take watning by Judas he (13) Mat. 26.24 John 6.70.13.21 27. neglected many a fair hint which Christ gave him Oh imitate not the stupidity of him the deafness of him whose (14) Prov. 28.9 end thou darest not think of do not (15) 1 Cor. 10.22 provoke the Lord to anger as he did If a servant if a slave spake unto thee thou wouldest vouchsafe an ear even unto him and darest thou (16) Jer. 5.22 stop thine ear darest thou (17) Jer. 32.33 turn thy back when the God of heaven calleth Be not another Judas give ear and hearken unto Christs words (18) Mat. 4.17 for the mouth of this Lord hath (19) Prov. 1.24 c. 2. Subterfuge shaken spoken 2. A meer (1) Marcus Aurelius heathen could pronounce it equal and just That who so is willingly led into sin should be against his will drawn unto punishment and Truth (2) 2 King 7.9 revealeth That every sin is a vengeance unto it self while one and the same word therefore signifieth the evil of punishment because it (3) Gen. 4.7.19.15 2 Sam. 12.13 Isa 6.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the evil of sin and fitly for as the disunion of the (4) James 2 26 soul from the body is the death of the body so the disunion of good from the soul is the (5) Gen. 2.17 death of the soul wherefore impossible it is that a reasonable Creature should (6) Pro 8.36.14.14 Gen. 20.3 Deut. 30 15. Numb 32.23 chuse sin and refuse death yet thou who (7) Joh. 8.24 1 Cor. 2.14 continuest a very natural fain thou wouldest lay the blame of thy unbelief not upon thine own unregenerate heart but upon the permission of the holy God even of that God who not only (8) Josh 24.15 leaveth thee unto thy free choice but doth also by way of (9) Prov. 8.1 c. prevention (10) Joh. 15.5 instruct nay (11) Neh 9.13 Psal 119.86 Hos 8.12 Act. 17.30 1 Tim 2.4 faithfully command thee for thy good Thou such is thine ignorance standest upon terms Who may say unto a King what dost thou yea no servant is allowed to (12) Tit. 2.9 gainsay his Master yet hast thou the face to (13) Rom. 9.20 reply against thy Lord the King thy King and thy God! whereas it is thy (14) Deut. 4.6 wisdom not to contest but to obey thou instead of fulfilling his good pleasure murmurest and disputest why sayst thou why (15) Rom. 9.19 doth he yet complain Unadvised wreth for shame leave the great God (16) Deut. 29.29 unto the counsel of his own will However know Caitiffe thou canst not ask Who hath resisted his Will for thou hast Rom. 3.23 The Will of God was (17) Gen. 2.17 that thou shouldest not destroy thy self by trying conclusions with the forbidden fruit but even (18) Gens humana ruit per vetitum nifas Rom 7.9 Psalm 58.3 Deut. 29.4 unto this day taste of it thou wilt God for his part (19) Ezek. 33.11 desireth not thy death but thou wo wo unto thee saith the Lord God thou hast (20) Isa 63 3 4 chosen death rather then life He earnesty endeavouring thy preservation vehemently calleth out Why (21) Ezek 18 31 wilt thou die for thy part answer (22) Rom 13 9 thou him if thou canst Judas was indeed a son of perdition but his (23) Hos 13 9 3 Subterfuge shaken perdition was from himself 3. Now that the worm gnawing thine evil conscience hath smitten this gourd also guilt seemeth to turn bank-rupt and so whispereth unto thee as if thy sinfulness were now so beyond all pardon that it were now to no purpose to serve the Lord Well I will not extenuate thy guilt for what (1) Joh 27 8 is the bope of the Hypocrite and what is tby strength that thou (2) Joh 6 11 9 2 3 shouldest hope yet say not thy sins are more then God can pardon but speak truth say thy sins are more then thou wilt part with When Israel (3) Jer 2 25 exclamed There is no hope God drew aside his Vizard and called unto him With-hold thy foot from being unshod and thy throat from thirst just so thou if
holy fear thy slumbering conscience is thorough mercie a little awakened hath at length a little feeling dreameth now at last what an evil thou cherishest by maintaining enmities against the great God for (1) Esa 59 18 he will repay fury to his adversaries and recompence to his enemies Possibly thou beginnest to perceive what a desperate presumption it hath been to make it thy sport to crucifie (2) Heb. 6 6 Christ for had (3) 2 Kings 9.31 Zimri peace who slew his Master Possibly a fore-sight of judgement to come hath affected thy soul with present horrour for the (4) James 2.19 Devils themselves beleeve and tremble Which if thou according to thy wonted impenitencie canst not doe be confounded and astonished at the sense of thy (5) Esa 1.2 Jude 15. crying guilt Except thou repent and believe loe vengeance is at hand lieth ready in store (6) Mat. 3 10 Esa 65.6 and will in an hour which thou art not aware of swallow thee up for ever and ever Alas thou hast foolishly and childishly (7) Jer. 4.22 5.21 25 like one stupid or Starke madd with all contempt and heedlesnesse in the most unthankfull manner that malice it self can suggest from thy youth up despised thy (8) 2 Sam. 12.9 Num. 25.31 1 Sam. 2.30 Lords pleasure and thine own peace No marvell then if wrath already smoaketh against thee alas (9) Deut. 29.19 20. it already breaketh out and as it flasheth first into thy (10) Rom. 2.15 1 John 3.20 conscience scorching that so it will hereafter flash upon thy soul (11) Gen. 2.17 Rom. 6.23 Ezek. 18.4 affrighting that from thy body and will in the end seize again upon thine unclean body (12) John 5.29 forcing that lump of sin to accompany thy lost soul as well in suffering torments as in contracting guilt Now if the Lord hath a mind to destroy thee (13) Esa 63.17 2 Chron. 25.20 Mat. 13.14 15. Deut. 29.4 he will go on to hide from thee these sore evils but possibly the power of the Word hath wrought upon thee possibly thou art afraid of Gods judgements I trust the Lord hath caused thee to tremble at his threats I hope thy heart smiteth thee I hope thou seekest for Jesus If so then but not until then be of good cheer The Master calleth thee I beseech thee therefore whosoever thou art ponder thy life past the hours dayes weeks moneths years which thou hast spent not in service to but in rebellion against a God patient indeed but just and (1) Nahum 1.2 jealous Consider again and again that thou canst not be at the same time in a state of unbelief and in the state of salvation too it will cost more then so to work out thy salvation wouldest thou know in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace thou wouldest what pains soever it shall cost thee watch and pray and strive and strive to make thy calling and election sure Hell flames are about thine ears wilt thou lye still and be burnt in thy bed Art thou so foolish a Coward that thou wilt wink while the Devil stabbeth thee Is it more tolerable to endure torments in hell then to exercise repentance upon earth Are unquenchable flames more to be desired then the Mansions in heaven Is it safer to continue a Judas then to approve thy self a sincere convert and a sound beleever Wilt thou still refuse eternal life rather then accept of it upon Gods terms I deal plainly with thee unless thou canst truly say I (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Milesius Thales am not I except thou canst say I my self was (2) Joh. 3.7 Tit. 3.3 such another Judas as is here secluded from these Disciples here spoken unto in this Text except thou canst say such (3) 1 Cor. 6.11 a one was I but I am washed but I am sanctified but I am justified Until thou canst say I was (4) Ephes 2.1.2.3 a child of disobedience I was dead in Trespasses and sin but am now quickned am now a (5) 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 6.15 new Creature except thou canst say (6) Rom. 7.25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord this stone of unbelief presseth thee for a mute if thou persist in this stubborness thy hard heart may well be called stony for it shall be nothing (7) Pro. 10.20 worth unless to make a fearful (8) Gen. 19.26 monument of inexcusable guilt and of ineffable Justice There is a (9) 1 Kin. 8.38 Plague in thy heart wilt thou not be made whole when (10) Si non modo quando shall it once be Jer. 13.27 Thou With Joy of whom I travail in birth until Christ be formed in thee the Prophet raised up (1) Deu. 18.15 like (2) Deu. 30.15 unto Moses hath set before thee this day Life and Death viz. Life that thou mayest escape death Death that thou mayest seek life I have heard of one in a Swoon who was mistaken for dead layed out for dead wrapped in a Winding sheet coffined A familiar but sad story related applyed and buried too for dead the same person awaking out of his Trance and finding himself coffined by struggling for life bruised his body to death Shall I apply this He when people thought him quite dead was alive thou O unbeliever hast a name that thou livest but art dead He when he found his body buried bruised it to death couldst thou complain that thou art dead there were hopes of thy life true thy body of sin hath indeed been hitherto merely a black Coffin for thy departed soul the worser Grave-stone of the two remaineth fixed on thy heart of unbelief as immoveably as ever the dust of death lay upon that interred friend nevertheless the good Angel in my Text can (3) Mat. 28.2 roll away this stone He who (4) Joh. 11.44 called Lazarus forth of his grave can speak to thee the dead (5) Joh. 5.25 have heard his voice and thou mayest the Author of this Gospel hath (6) 2 Tim. 1.10 abolished death and brought immortality and Life to light werefore he saith Awake (7) Eph. 5.14 thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life Set thy soul in order for thou mayest live and not dye Object Object I am fitted for destruction and therefore (1) Rom. 9.22 for ought that I know am a vessel of wrath Answ Answer Though thou art fitted for destruction thou art for ought that thou knowest (1) Eph. 1.4 chosen in Christ Object Object I have in me all the signs of a (1) 2 Cor. 13.5 Reprobate Answ Answer Thou hast the more need to (1) Phil. 2.12 work out thy salvation for God (2) 2 Pet. 3.9 would not have thee perish he would have thee (3) 1 Tim. 2.4 saved Object Object The (1)
or put up petitions any more If any Mercy can melt thy stony heart [41] Rom. 2 4 Gods forbearance will it will melt it into fervent duties The sincere Convert husbandeth hours unto the best advantage and maketh length of days life [42] Rom. 2.7 more abundant MOTIVE V. Motive V. Gods Sentence As sure as death in the grave there is as I just now told thee no Redemption when once sentence is passed [1] Eccle. 11.3 Mat. 25.46 upon examination had there is then no repealing so soon as ever thy farthing [2] Prov. 20.27 24 20 candle is burnt out thy soul if it savoureth not sweet in heaven it is cast into the fire of hell and all this in a moment in (3) 1 Cor. 15.52 the twinkling of an eye sooner then thou canst think of it At this very instant how immediately canst thou the image of Gods Omnipresence how immediately canst thou think of hell although hell be so great a distance off how immediately can thy thoughts ascend even the highest heavens Swift was that last thought of thine but thy souls flight shall be swifter then was thy last thought Man for want of consideration wasteth hours and minutes the (4) Dau. 7.9 ancient of days doth not so Unto him who inhabiteth eternity every little time is so precious that in less space then the space of one moment he dispatcheth the soul from this prison of flesh unto his high Court of Justice and again from his high Court of Justice unto the place of execution or of glory as Justice shall give sentence I say thy breath of life once expired thy winged soul is allowed no time at all to look back no it forthwith appeareth before the judgement (5) 2 Cor. 5.10 seat of God and from thence forthwith unto the joys or miseries by order appointed Thy flesh indeed that is dispensed with until the general (6) John 6.40 Assizes but her Proxie thy spirit that giveth her appearance upon the very first day of the Term. While thy breathless bosom is yet warm either for thee or against thee sentence is pronounced I therefore again exhort that thou wouldest make thy peace with thy God while life nay while health continueth for with thy dying body dyeth all hopes of future repentance When death is once come opportunity is gone Opportunity is therefore gone because Judgement is come Motive 6. MOTIVE VI. Death approaching it stealeth upon thee while thou sleepest Couldest thou return into thy first Infancy and thence begin (1) 1 Cor. 9.24 the race that is set before us thine advantage were little enough either for the running of a race so long or for the obtaining of a prize so high but alas a great part of thy life is already consumed and already consumed in vanity thou art almost out of breath before thou hast at all buckled (2) Luke 12.35 thy self to thy work The Affairs which thou in this thy pilgrimage must of necessity perform are exceeding great but exceeding (3) Gen. 47.9 small is that space of time wherein thou must disspach them although thy duties are not easily compassed thy life is quickly (4) Psal 39.5 spanned thy life is at longest but a winters day thine employment is the business of a whole age of this thine employment an accompt thou must give but how soon (5) Act. 1.7 it is not for thee to know Thou seest on every side many much younger then thy self called away to give up their accompts and of them none so unexpectedly as those who were the healthiest persons Such as least look for him meet their (6) Mat. 24.44 Lord first if ever he (7) Rev. 3.3 come upon thee as a thief it is then when time stealeth from thee to thy disprofit rather then death should overtake (8) 1 Thes 5.4 thee meet it die daily if thou wouldest live for ever if thou wouldest not forget thy self (9) Deut. 32.29 remember thy last end if at any time thou art more unprepared to give up thy last accompt then other at that time above all others look for and hasten unto the coming (10) 2 Pet. 3 12 of the day of thy God if in that day thou wouldest be found faithful in this thy day abide watchful persevere in well doing if thou wouldest endure unto the end redeem thy time if thou wouldest enjoy thy Redeemer and if thou wouldest not fear death fear God MOTIVE 7. Motive 7. A seventh Motive inviteing thy soul to hold fast that which is good is thy natural insufficiency At thy first Creation there was in thee the spirit (1) Gen. 1.26 of a God the light of that spirit Adam quenched and in Adam thou In baptism the same spirit entered into a Covenant with thee the same spirit thou hast again grieved and quenched none of all his mighty workings have prevailed upon thy heart carnally minded thou hast been spiritually minded thou wouldest not be Of all those graces which the holy Spirit of God may justy call for thou canst not produce one Consider now thou hast failed of (2) Furor est post omnia perdere naulum his saving gifts wilt thou render the common gifts of that bountiful spirit useless too the more ungrateful thou hast been in rejecting the one the more thankful thou shouldest be in making a benefit of the other the greater want thou findest of that sufficiency which thou mightest have had from God the greater reason thou hast to plow up the fallow ground of thy heart that thou mayest sow to the spirit if thou hast been so unfaithful that God would not adventure with thee his ten talents be so trusty that God may not repent him of that one talent now in thy hands or if thou hast embesled that Talent yet at least restore unto God his napkin having robbed thy Master of his moneys do not keep from him his purses too thou hast cut off thy (3) Jer. 10.23 legs therefore use (4) Psal 25.12 Hos 6.3 crutches the more thou hast dulled thine (5) Eccl. 10.10 axe the more pains thou must take in hewing thou hast blunted the edge of the spirit it concerneth thee to make the best use thou canst of thine affections thy memory and thine understanding the more graceless thou appearest the more thou art obliged to use all means of grace the Word of God is two-edged as I cannot hope for salvation without the help of Gods Spirit so neither can I (6) Pro. 1.23 Luke 11.13 Rom. 10.17 expect the help of Gods Spirit unless I wait for it in the use of means I (7) Luk 16.11 12 Mat. 25.23 28 must be faithful in my natural abilities if I would be entrusted with spiritual Beside God (8) Luk. 1.53.29 filleth the hungry with good things the more empty thy vessel the more capacious it is to receive the (9) 2 Kin. 4.6 ointment
paratam lo â—è toculentissimam ampâ—â—ssimam bonis omnibâ—â—â— instraâ—ctissimam Jac. Capellus Ostendit hoc nomine Apostolos Deo fiâ—ere debere quod in domo Patris sui variae sint paratae mansiones A transsugis sumpta Metaphora quibus magno solatio èst habere varia Asyla ad consugièndu quae promittit Christus sive praesentem vitam spectes sive futuram Zegerius moment if compared unto the 3 Mansions in my Fathers House Fifthly Imagine these afflictions I which for the present seen so grievous were worthy to be compared unto the Joyes that are set before us yet [1] Deur 4.29 believe in God God is [2] Psal 47.7 King of all the earth Again I say believe in God Faithfull are the [3] Prov. 27.6 3.11 Job 5.17 Heb. 12.6 Revel 3.19 wounds of a Friend I know O Lord that thy Judgements are true and that thou in 4 very faithfulnesse hast afflicted me Sixthly Believe also in Christ In Him thou mayest find peace He [1] John 14.29 foretelleth thee that he hath [2] John 16.33 overcome the world for thee He hath [3] John 13.15 given thee an Example of [4] Luke 21.29 possessing thy Soul in patience His peace he [5] John 14.27 giveth unto thee and what he giveth that he [6] ibid. leaveth with thee He putteth that into thine eye which will make thee see the better soweth that in thy [7] Psalm 126.5 Heb. 12.11 tears which will bring forth fruit to thine accompt even the peaceable fruits of Righteousnesse Once Jesus Christ doth in thy sufferings give thee the [8] Phil. 1.29.3.10 2 Cor. 4.11 Credit the Reputation the honour of having a fellowship in his sufferings A second Life of Comfort here is Against the death of our Friends namely [1] Videbat eos commotos antecedentibus de suâ morte Sermonibus it áque eos erigit Grotius in John 14.1 against the [2] 2 Sam. 1.26 18.33 John 11.3.33 Phil. 2.27 Death of our Friends Thou who art a follower of God art thou troubled on every side So were these Disciples Art thou disappointed of worldly hopes So were these Disciples Is some dear Friend deceased Loe these Disciples were [3] John 13.33 16.6 fain to part with their dearest Jesus What it was to be bereaved of so good a Master you have [4] viz. p. 235. already seen but This was not all When Jesus had escaped death was [5] Luke 24.21 beyond all hopes raised from the Grave was beyond all hopes restored unto them again for his Disciples then again to lose Him to lose Him whom [6] Cant. 3.4 their Soul had found Him who [7] Revel 1.18 was dead and is alive and behold he liveth for evermore This this is much very much One would think if at Christ his death his Disciples hearts were troubled they would have been at his [8] Acts 1.6,11 ascension troubled much more Did I not say unto my Lord [9] 2 Kings 4.28 Do not deceive me If when Christ dyed all their hopes [10] Luke 24.21 dyed with him then much more when he arose their hopes [11] Luke 33.34 Acts 1.11 revived also Consider now For Jesus after that he had overcome death to depart from his Disciples again to depart from them now no more by a necessity of death but during health and life to ascend from them [12] Luke 24.9 just then when they [13] Luke 24.6 expected the issue of his [14] Matth. 21.7 8 riding in triumph of his [15] Matth. v. 9 15 accumulated Hosanna's of his declaring and owning of himself to be the [16] Matth. 2.2 27.11 King of the Jewes the long expected [17] Matth. 21.15 Luke 2.11 Son of David yea the [18] Matth. 3.17 17.5 Rom. 1.4 Son the only Son of the great and only God Loe ye here a tryal yet see when this dear this potent friend thus unexpectedly ascended I say when the most loving Jesus most unexpectedly departed his Disciples which had formerly drooped were now so far from being at all troubled that they were [19] Luke 24.52 filled with great joy Consider consider my Beloved When the God of all flesh taketh away from us our best our nearest friends he can and if we trust in him he will leave a greater comfort [20] John 14.16 16.17 behind them This for the death of others Against our fear of death Is now thlne own death thy [1] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist terrour I say is the darknesse of the shadow of death thy discomfort Fear thou [2] Psal 23.4 none evil He who hath [3] Joh. 16.8.5.4 taught thee to live will [4] Phil. 4.13 help thee to dye Women bring forth in sorrow but it is to their comfort for their repeated pains in Child-bearing [5] 1 Tim. 2.15 teach that fearful Sex how to overlook a lesser pain namely that of death As when the Moon so when the soul is in the change she is then nearest unto the [6] Psalm 84.11 Sun When Christ came from Bozrah his dyed [7] Esay 63.1 Garments drew the [8] 1 Cor. 15.56 Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum Tertul. de carnis resur sting out of Death and as of the flesh of Adders are made Antidotes against poyson so of that sting is now made a Cordial for the deceasing Party The Grave seemeth to [9] Prov. 30.16 Rom. 3.13 gape like the red Sea mean while it maketh way for our more speedy coming unto the promised Rest Christ was placed within the Grave that we [10] 2 Cor. 4.10 Col. 3.4 See Bishop Reynolds his Churches Triumph over Death might step over it with ease The Believer now a dying is onely passing from death to life nay more from the death of sin unto him who is [11] John 14.6 1 John 3.2 Col. 3.3 4 The Life The Earth provideth a Rest for our Bodies the Heavens contain a Rest so our souls but Jesus Christ will be a Rest unto them both True Death [12] Rom. 5.12 passed upon all these Disciples This [13] John 21 19 spake Christ signifying by what death he should glorifie God viz. Peter was to put off his earthly Tabernacle [14] 2 Pet. 1.14 shortly As for St. James he was [15] Acts 12.2 killed with the Sword Great very great [16] Gal. 2.9 Matth. 19.28 were these Apostles but notwithstanding their greatnesse as (17) Psal 82.7 Princes so THEY must dye like men A Believers Comfort is [18] Job 30.23 not that he shall not dye but that he shall not dye the everlasting death of common men Of the beloved Disciple himself the Lord Jesus never said [19] John 21.23 he shall not dye but Unto him he said [20] John 14.2 In my Fathers House are many Mansions The least child of God can now [21] Revel 1.18 fetch a stride
quite over Hell There is now but a step [22] 1 Sam. 20.3 between us and Death and [23] 1 Thes 4.14 1 Cor. 15.52 1 John 3.14 not a step between Death and Heaven Death is swallowed up into [24] 1 Cor. 15.54 52 Victory that is as the phrase importeth into Eternity Could we not step beyond Death the foresight of Death would sting us unto the very heart but Jehovah [25] Judges 6.24 Shallom Faith vieweth every thing in the words of Jehovah who giveth being unto every Promise The mighty Jesus is ascended nor is it possible to [26] Christus etsi solus resurrexit tamen non totus Bernard detain the [27] John 6.39 54 56 11.25 26 14.19 20 17.23.24 redeemed from [28] Esay 43.1 49.24 their Redeemer a Christian from Christ his Lord a member on earth from [29] Esay 43.21 The Head in Heaven Wherefore unlesse thy heart be a heart of Vnbelief Let not thy heart be troubled Believe in God believe also in Christ Is thy desire toward thy Saviour thy Saviour reacheth forth his hand It shall be unto thee no trouble at all to [30] Rom. 7.24 compared with Job 19.27 passe from death which of an old enemy is made a new Friend unto life now no more mortal but everlasting Is thy [31] Matth. 25.6 24.44 midnight soul upon departure Let her go forth to meet him whom her soul loveth Behold her Bridegroom cometh yea rather is [32] John 14.8 already gone gone [33] John 14.3 to prepare a place for thee I say for thee In my Fathers house are many Mansions and because many one [34] Ibid. for Thee Verily there remaineth a [35] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Similitudo sumpta ab uno comitum qui in itinere praegressus ad diversorium ibi caeteris cubicula assignat efficitque ut venientibus parata sint v. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic ut c. 12.32 valet postquam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Continuatur similitudo nam solent qui primi in diversorium venerunt caeteris jam adventantibus obviam procedere eos inlroducere idem quod Christus Act. 1.11 redâ—â—â—s effecturus erit Grotius in Joan. 14.2 3 35. Heb. 4.9 See Mr. Baxter his Saints everlasting Rest. Rest for thy soul into thy Fathers bosome resign thy spirit 4. Thy greater trouble is Against the corruption of our sinful Nature not that thou shalt dye in the Lord but that thou dost live in the flesh I say not the shadow of death but the [1] Rom. 7.13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 23 body of sin dishearreneth a gracious soul Give me any death but the death of sin To do evil is to [2] Compare Isa 59 2. with Psalm 125.5 depart from God and this is indeed a [3] Compare Psal 28.3 with Luke 13.27 sad departure for this Let your heart be troubled provided your trouble be a sanctified trouble such a sorrow shall be turned into joy into a spiritual joy inasmuch as from this Gospel you who believe may [4] Isa 66.11 such strong consolations Thou broken and contrite heart as assuredly as thou mournest thou [5] Isa v. 2.57.15 Luke 6.20 21 shalt be comforted Watch over thine [6] Isa 21.36 Psalm 18.23 own sin Give thy self [7] 1 Thess 5.17 unto prayer Be ever [8] 2 Pet. 1.10 upon Duty Exercise thy self unto (9) 1 Tim. 4.7 godlinesse Giving all (10) 2 Pet. 1.5 3.18 diligence strive to grow in grace and in the delightfull knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord so doing Let not thy heart be dismayed Know Sin was a (11) Videbat eos commo'os de antccedentibus de abnegatione sermonibus Grotius in Joan. 14.1 chief trouble of these Disciples hearts To forsake Him who hath loved and chosen us To love our selves more then we do love him in whom the great God is so well-pleased This you will yield is a very great defection He (†) Luke 9.23 Mark 8.38 that taketh not up His Crosse his daily crosse neither followeth Christ crucified into whatsoever perils this his crucified Lord shall conduct him such a one is unworthy of so great so good a Master Whoso is ashamed of Jesus Christ of him Jesus Christ hath just reason to be more much more ashamed Meek he is yet the wrath of this Lamb hath as justly as mercifully threatened that Whosoever denyeth Him before (12) Matth. 10.33 2 Tim. 2.12 frail men here upon earth him will He deny before his dread Father in heaven In one word (13) Rev. 21.8 Hell is a portion for the fearfull and fearfull were these Disciples neverthelesse so far was Christ Jesus from not forgiving them their trespasses that he most compassionately preventeth them Let not your heart be troubled Wherefore all ye who (14) Ezek. 6.9 20.43 36.31 loath your selves for your iniquities loath your selves and them more and more Alas no (15) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Toad is so ugly in mans sight as mans venomous nature is in the holy eyes of the most pure God A sinfull condition is an (16) Psalm 51.5 Job 25.6 odious condition wicked deeds are shamefull deeds gracelesse practices are wretched practices practices better becoming the Devils who are accursed of God then the Disciples who were blessed of the Lord Mean while Give God the glory (17) Haec alia adduxerunt Gregorium ut clamaret O Faelix culpa quae talem meruit habere redemptorem Quae verba ego non facilè dicerem siquidem in illâ causâ nihil video quod non sit miserum flebile Pet. Martyr ubi infra 27. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save He can remove from us as well all our staines as all our guilt He who delivered us from so great a death could had he seen cause so to do have quite warded off the lesser wounds The Lord Christ could have strengthened his Disciples every whit as much before his Ascension as after his Ascension he did and would he so please He could since Adams fall make us every way as perfect as before that fall of Adam we were yea he is able to make us both as unspotted of sin and as gloriously gracious in this present evil world as we shall be in the next This he is able to do but he according to His wisdom seeth cause to the contrary this this alone may comfort us against our sinfull nature that God the infinite God is wise His wisdome is a Believers comfort And yet Why hast thou made us to err [1] Esay 63.17 from thy wayes Wretched men that we are whence is it that the sanctifying Spirit [2] Relictae quidem suat animi vires actiones verum destitutae suâ rectitudine atque idcirco pravae corruptae Pet. Martyr Lo. Com. Classis secnad cap. 1. sect 25. leaveth in our vile hearts the remainders the dregs
for it p. 80. 81 342 Self-denial tryeth the truth of graces p. 350 Sin why remainders of it in the elect p. 266-269 Spirit Sow to it p. 326. joy in it p. 431. 435 Talents may not be un-improved p. 317. 323 336 Tapers their use in Cathedrals not insignificant p. 122 Time an exceeding precious talent p. 96 Unbelievers in effect drudges for true believers p. 240. 331. shaken from their shifts p. 56-61 guilty of troubling their own hearts p. 62. of distrusting God and his Christ p. 62. 63 of despising heavenly mansions p. 63. of death spiritual p. 65-71 of death eternal p. 71 72. awakened to a holy fear p. 73 74. answered their manifold objections p. 76-80 called to the life of faith p. 80 84 253-257 to peace of conscience p. 85. 86. to perseverance p. 88. 89. by several motives p. 90-108 Unbelief a sin most inexcusable p. 319. most accursed p. 318. 320 Ungodlinesse aggravateth guilt p. 312. 313 Unthankfulnesse an argument of unbelief p. 320 White Vestments suit with a Gospel-purity p. 369 Worldly blessings accompany the peace of the Gospel p. 28. 397 406-413 and oblige us to glorifie our God ibid. Zeal why so strictly required in Believers p. 310. 311 314. MARK 16.4 And when they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away for it was great Imprimatur Ex. Aed Sab. Decemb. 20. 1662. Geo. Stradling S. T. P. Rev. in Christo Patri Gilb. Episc Lond. à S. Domest THE STONE ROLLED AWAY AND LIFE more ABVNDANT JOHN 14.1 2. Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions ROM 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing The Introduction I dare not therefore distrust your attention So your heavenly Redeemer prepare for each of you a Mansion in his Fathers house as ever ye believe that where His Gospel is preached there the Power of his Spirit is present to heal Even so Lord Jesus Time was when the (1) Deut. 32.8 Dew the (2) Pro. 16.21 Sweetness of (3) Pro. 10.32 thy blessed lips once (4) Can. 4.11 dropped once (5) Psal 45.2 graced as well this Text of mine as other thy Gospels Oh that now while it is called to day the Inspirations the Breathings of thy Holy Spirit would vouchsafe to sanctifie would vouchsafe to bless unto us as well this Discourse of mine as other thine Ordinances Beloved The Method that the Sun of Righteousness may at this time delight to arise upon us with healing in his wings it is at this time my Duty therefore to explain these words that I may profitably apply them First 1. The Explication of the Text. then Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions The manner how delivered Words all Gospel and all Epistle I mean full of Doctrines and full of Vses too Words full of Passion and as full of Compassion spoken to the heart yea and from the heart too unexpectedly ushered in and as abruptly uttered forth Let not your heart be troubled A Reproof smiting friendly a Reproof pouring out excellent (1) Psal 1â—1 5 Oyl though soft smooth yet fetcheth out the poyson which lieth in the stomack B. Reyâ—o'ds in his Rich Mans Charge p. 7. oyl Ye believe in God believe also in me An Exhortation cloathed with Instruction cloathed with Evangelical Instructions In my Fathers house are many Mansions A Consolation a strong consolation a strong consolation far fetched fetched even from the highest heavens Beloved The Party speaking ye may know the man from his manner of Communication Surely the Hand nay the Heart of Jesus is in all this It is so Compare this verse with that next above The same Jesus which answereth there Thou shalt deny me thrice the same Jesus answereth here Let not your heart be troubled The Party speaking we know Jesus we know The Persons spoken to but Who are ye your heart Answ Some Greek Copies prefix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He saith unto his Disciples Imagine that Varia lectio Apocryphal admit it not the Dictate of the Holy Ghost but the Annotation of some busie Transcriber Nevertheless more then manifest it is (1) c. 13.22 35. who The persons here spoken unto are They prove themselves to be Disciples Disciples of Christ the chief of the Disciples of Christ all twelve of them excepting (2) c. 13 30. Judas one not worthy the looking after The Disciples spoken to we see Jesus speaking The occasion of Christs speaking here we hear But Vpon what occasion speaketh he Answ S. Chrysostom and from him Theophylact they therefore repute these former words one Argument of Christs divine nature for that then when his Disciples here stood silent He of Himself perfectly knew the secret troubles of their heart But saving the esteem due unto so great Fathers that Jesus Christ was as well God as man the latter clause of this verse (1) Plscator in locum better proveth and that Jesus knew all things other Scriptures sufficiently declare we need not to discompose this Text. Were no other causes manifest yet one plain and visible reason wherefore the hearts of the Disciples should be the less troubled may be (2) Maldonat in locum derived from Christs approaching Resurrection or rather from his approaching Ascension That our Redeemer here looketh quite thorough his Resurrection unto the hour of his ascending I demonstrate from c. 13.33 from c. 13.1 and from this c. 14.1 2. 1. From 1 Proof from c. 13.33 Whether I go ye cannot come They could drink (1) Mat. 20.23 of Christs bitter cup could be baptized could be plunged into a (2) Phil. 3.10 fellowship of his sufferings but unto the Heavens whither he now went they could not now come neither their souls while they abode in the flesh nor their bodies until the general resurrection 2. 2 Proof from c. 13.1 The hour was come wherein Jesus should go not only out of the world but to the Father All Divines own a difference between that measure of joy which departed souls now receive and that consummation of bliss which they shall finally participate together with their glorified bodies But some very learned Interpreters critically distinguish between that (1) Vide sis Grotium in Lucae 23.43 part of Heaven wherein blessed souls do now abide and that whereunto say they the same souls shall at the time of the Restitution of all things be everlastingly exalted They tell us That S. Paul's (2) 2 Cor. 12.24 Paradise was inferiour to his third heaven they affirm That during Christs death Christs soul was only as the Jews call it in (3) Luke 23 43. Paradise and as others phrase it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (4) Fuit dives quidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed sait 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 etiam Lazarus nam
of the holy One and the poor in spirit wax rich in grace MOTIVE VIII Thy natural averseness There is no such Trewant as the natural man Motive 8. Judas will rather hang himself then delight in his Masters pleasure but first meer shame will reduce thee from this ingratitude no love for thy father nor love for thy Redeemer nor love for thy preserver fie fie for shame the oxe (1) Isa 1 3 knoweth his owner and the dog at thy heels his master Secondly Let thy heart alone and thou (2) 1 Cor. 2.14 wilt love thy God less next day then thou wilt to morrow and less to morrow then to day thou dost Thirdly Thou must not follow but (3) Col. 3.1 lead thine affections we force our selves to delight in such diets such exercises such employments as most suit not with our pleasure but with our real good Fourthly What thanks is it if we place our affections upon that whereunto we are of our selves addicted but herein we know that we love our God if we deny (4) Mat. 16.24 our selves that we may love him Lastly remove thine ignorance and thy dis-affection is removed once see the beauty of holiness (5) Exod. 15.11 and be out of love with it if thou canst thou wilt therefore love God because God is glorious in holiness thy Lord most holy MOTIVE IX Motive 9. A ninth Motive which may stir up thy mind to follow God fully is thy desperate guilt The whole need not the Physitian but thou dost such a sinner as thou art may well cry God mercy all the days of his life He that hath wallowed in so much mire as thou hast done hath great reason to wish (1) Ezek. 36.25 for clean waters who should thirst after sanctification if thine Aethiopian skin should not the Leopards spots are white to thine if the blood of the Lamb can make thy crimson sins whiter then snow surely thou hast cause sufficient to bath in that warm blood thou hast sinned so prodigally against heaven and against God that it is the best of thy skill to make benefit of Christ merits Then then the holy Angels will (2) Luk. 15.7 rejoyce indeed when they see such a lost creature as thou hast been take the kingdom of heaven by violence and main force MOTIVE Motive 10. X. A tenth particular which helpeth thine unwearied soul to take the kingdom of heaven by violence is the present evil world viz. unless it were better then it is thou wilt no more (1) Jam. 1.27 dirty thy self with it the cares thereof may choak such as love them but thee they drive unto (2) 1 Pet. 4.19 thy faithful Creator to him that endured temptations in the wilderness Canaan is sweet pleasures upon earth may ensnare fools they only mind thee of thy masters joys thou translatest the whole book of nature into a book of grace well knowing that the things which are seen are transitory but the things which are not seen are eternal MOTIVE XI Motive 11. The next particular serving to awaken thee unto righteousness is the corruption of thine old man For first while [1] Gal 5.17 thy flesh is contrary to thy spirit his thou [2] Rom. 6.16 art unto whom thou yieldest obedience and if it was thy [3] Rom. 8.6 death to be carnally minded to be spiritually minded is a sign of life Again sometimes a (4] 2 Cor. 12.7 buffet or two doth Saint Paul a kindnâ—ss [5] 2 Cor. 12.9 while the flesh (6) 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against thy soul thy soul is [7] Deut. 8.2 Judg. 2.21 22 3.2 kept upon her guard Rome is not secure so long as Carthage is standing nay opposition strengthneth the prevailing party as [8] 2 Sam. 3.1 Sauls rebellions established David in his Throne for infirmities of nature excite the power of grace Corruption is flesh and [9] Isa 31.3 not spirit MOTIVE XII Motive 12. The roaring lion at this instant seeking to devoure thee Among too too many Ministers who during our late detestable rebellions were most reproachfully tossed out of their livelyhoods one I knew who (1) Mr. Vade of Odington in Glocester-shire would full often with indignation enough boast himself a person more beholding unto Committee-men then unto all the kinred which be had his riddle was while he kept house in his Parsonage diseases cares and debts grew upon him but so soon as the Committee had once for ever sequestred from Him his Parsonage they from that time forward eased him of his debts by disposing his fifths for their payment they cured him of his disease while want of a horse made him walk away his Gout and withall they freed him from his cares for he had now no worldly thing to care for bear with me the condition is thine I may seriously affirme that next unto God himself this (2) Matt. 6.13 13.39 evil one is although full (3) Esa 10.7 sore against his will the very best friend whom thou hast in the world if thou hast but eyes of understanding in thy head this I will clear unto thee in three particulars The Devil (4) Eph. 6.12 1 Pet. 5.8 befriendeth thee first By deterring from sin Ah Sir this Bug-bear at the gate will make thee (5) 1 Tim. 3.6 7. keep within dores the saucer eyes of this spright will make thee look unto thy self espie once his cloven foot and adventure (6) Act. 24.16 abroad if thou darest Secondly By Temptations thou wilt not trust a reconciled enemy The Devil is so [7] Eph. 6.11 2 Cor. 2.11 well known that none of his chaff can catch old birds if he begin to tempt he will make thee glad to cling unto thy father Thy fear of this Pursevants Arrest [8] Heb. 4.16 will make thee take Sanctuary the more stratagems this subtle creature useth to (9) 2 Tim. 2.26 entice thee toward hell the more thy holy jealousies will draw thee toward heaven and all the while this Avenger lasheth thee [10] 1 Kin. 12.11 with Scorpions he [11] Gal. 3.24 schooleth thee unto Christ Thirdly [12] Ephes 6.11 by wrestlings carnal [13] 1 Pet. 2.11 lusts war against the soul but we wrestle not against flesh and blood alone these are no equal match for him that [14] Psal 23.4 27.12 undertaketh to be strong in the Lord that is a [15] Heb. 22.4 Sine periculo seiget ludus dull skirmish which hazardeth no blood Surely thou shalt see what thy servant can do saith the (16) 1 Sam. 28.2 Warriour As the Martyr Juliano kissed the step whereon he stood to suffer death so thou when valiant wilt kiss the turf whereon thou standest to fight thy Lords battel Glad is David if he may be but allowed to deal with (17) 1 Sam. 17.32 a Goliah if Jether (18) Judg. 8.20 fear Zebah and Zalmunna it is
their number receive their instructions The aged Believer is as full of Soliloquies (18) Psal 1.2 63.6.77.12.119.99 as of Solitudes While wearisome nights hold his eyes waking he communeth with his own heart upon his bed even then when his life is a bitternesse unto him then then (19) Psal 104.34 his meditations are sweet Death cannot come so fast towards his decrepid body (20) 2 Pet. 3.12 but he can hasten as fast to meet it in his desires a long while he hath desired to lay (21) 2 Pet. 1.14 aside his Tabernacle of flesh which were it not the (22) 1 Cor. 9 16 Temple of the holy Ghost would be the trouble of his heart he hath hitherto (23) Hos 12.9 Mic. 7.7 Hab 2.3 tarried the Lords leisure he will now give diligence to endure unto the end every day he is waiting [24] Matth. 10.22 and (25) Psal 42 1 84.1 2. longing to see those Mansions many years since prepared in his Fathers House he hath believed the suffering of his Redeemer he would (26) Col. 3.1.20 now behold him in his glorious exaltations and he knoweth so well in whom he hath believed that he thinketh the time long before his soul taketh wing to [27] 1 John 3 2 see him as he is Danger it self is (1) Ingens telum necessitas Exod. 14.10 Hos 2.7.5.15 the best remedy against danger nor is there any forrain means so prevalent to free our hearts from unprofitable troubles or to (2) Mat. 8.25 force us upon a faith in God or to drive (3) Deut. 30.15 us toward the mansions in our fathers house as unavoidable necessity is In other parts of our fraile life although we are so often called upon by (4) Mich. 6 9 Psal 119 15 1 Cor. 11.32 aches diseases and manifold afflictions allthough we are frequently foretold in [5] Mat. 24.42 44 the holy Scriptures that Christ will steal upon us unawares allthough our Church-yardes openly convince us of this truth while we weekely stumble over new graves yet our [6] Luk. 24.25 slow dull backsliding souls will not timely remember their dissolution at hand we design to make our calling and election sure but what we design that we delay Now the happinesse of the aged convert is that although other Christians most unwarrantably run the hazard of delayes He being so aged dareth not He wisely considereth that First As age groweth old so [1] Psal 119 36 Heb. 13.5 covetousness groweth young Usually Head and shoulders stoop not towards the ground faster then the heart it self doth Dust [2] Hab. 2.6 would to dust He considereth wherefore since he can carry nothing out of the world he bequeaths the love of the world [3] 1 John 2.15 James 4 4 unto such as will trouble themselves for it while his experienced [4] Psal 131.2 heart is weaned satisfied fixed He well knoweth that so long as he sought the world he never missed troubles but the wind in his face doth now [5] 1 Cor. 15.19 Mat. 6.19 20 Pro. 22.3 make him wise for his latter end Secondly James and John (1) Mat. 4.21 amended their netts Every neglect of duties is like a breach in those fishing netts (2) Eccles 9.10 the longer it continueth the wider it groweth delaies like over ripe cherries do one draw down another but as even reckonings keep us [3] 2 Cor. 1.12 long friends so [4] 2 Cor. 13.5 daily accompts keep even reckonings True He undertaketh a great work that worketh out his salvation yet nothing is [5] Mark 9.23 hard to him that setleth to it Thirdly Light burdens long born (1) Heb. 10.36 wax heavy and who so travaileth far hath (2) Eph. 6.12 many encounters viz. Our originall sin is so (3) Psal 51.5 bred in the bone that it will not out of the flesh the treacherous heart (4) Jer. 17.9 so conspireth with the flesh that it (5) 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against the soul the envious Devil so (6) 1 Thess 3.5 seduceth the soul that she full often starteth a side from her God therefore [7] Job 14.14 Luk. 18.1 all the dayes of his appointed time he will waite untill his change come He should not [8] Eph. 6.13 14 1 Pet. 5.8 sleep that watcheth an enemy suspicion [9] Psalm 39.1 18.23.119.11 is no vice where we are jealous of our selves and since in (10) Gen. 6.5 every house lives a Theif woe unto that house wherein (11) 2 Cor. 7.1 13.5 is no chideing for if Christ be out of doors there (12) John 15.5 is no body at home and if (13) Rom. 8.9 no body be at home the house is dead Fourthly The (1) James 1.14 15 Heb. 12.1 Eph. 4.27 Rom. 12.9 Esa 59.5 Cant. 2.15 death of a young wolfe never cometh too soon as Heresie so any other sin whatsoever is better suppressed at the first then it is afterwards removed Every wickednesse is at strife (2) Pro. 15.26 with God the begining hereof is as (3) Pro. 17.14 when one letteth out water it is best left off before it be medled with The resolved mind hath (4) Luk. 17.32 Exod. 16.3 no thoughts for Egypt no lingrings (5) Gen. 19.26 for Sodom An (6) Luk. 14.28 examined enterprize goeth far and since the idlenesse of unbeleif must be shaken off the sooner the better for the offender never pardoneth (7) Psal 51.3 himself if he be a Christian Fifthly At dinner (1) Job 1.9 my man commeth The hypocrite stalketh with religion (2) Ezck. 33.31 Hos 7.14 to shoot at worldly aimes But he that is holy is (3) Psalm 86.2 1 Tim. 4.8.6.6 holy for himself He (4) Gen. 12.4 Revel 21.7 17.1 Eph. 6.8 Mat. 16.24 commandeth enough who obeyeth a wise God Themistocles liked his banishment from Greece into Persia so well that he gave out he had been utterly lost if he had not perished and this we see had not the heart of (5) Job 9 25 these disciples been troubled they had been the lesse minded of their fathers house Old age bethinketh it self (6) 1 Cor. 1 5 19 of heavenly mansions Sixthly He that is thrown once would (1) Gen. 30.8 32.24 2 Pet. 2.19 ever wrestle When the news of the death of (2) Bonsin lib. 8. Cited by Camerarius Hist meditat l. 2. cap. 9. John Corven father of Matthias King of Hungary was brought unto Mahomet Sultan of the Turkes Mahomet vehemently casting down his eyes brake forth first into tears next into these words (3) Ibid. Never Never Prince since the beginning of the world had such cause to weep as I have for I am deprived of all means of avenging my self for that great shame which in winning so many battels from me John brought upon me My Fathers he that hath listed himself under the banner of Jesus
malum videri qaod naturae necessitas afferat Cicero de Senâ—ctute Christians you who have been at so much pains to obtain and at so much care to preserve Grace will not discontinue it in your last hour You will not lose the return of so many years prayers the [2] Conscientia bene actae vitae mullorumque benesactosum recordario jucundissima est ibid. comfort of all your former obediences the answer of your long expectations the recompence of our perpetual labours for want of a little pains taking now at the very last tryal Doubtlesse the longer ye have served your God the longer ye will [3] Qad enim est jucundius senâ—ctute stipatâ studiis juventut is ibid. delight to serve him you will follow the Captain of your Salvation whether soever he shall lead you In you aged Believers as natural strength decayeth so the Spirit of Grace [4] Ait senescere se multa indies addiscentem Solon ibid. getteth strength It is not with you as it is with Sathan the older the worse Your sensitive powers may dry and shrivel with their Organs your Souls not so much lesse the Spirit of your God Therefore since your day is far spent you will give the more diligence to finish your work Naturally the nearer the Centre the more violent the [1] viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—st de Coelo lib. 4. cap. 3 motion Let it never be said of a Believer as [2] 1 Kings 15.23 it was of King Asa that in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet Now that he kenneth Sion he [3] Psam 84.7 will amend his pace The worst is past he will [4] Cant. 2.10.11 now onward chearfully A wearisome Pilgrimage it would be were he to run over [5] Psalm 120.5 84.10 1 Cor. 15 19 the same steps again but now that he is [6] John 14.3 17.24 within view of the City built without hands now that he hath gotten a sight [7] 1 John 3.2 of these Mansions he will by no [8] Hodie si exclusus fuero nunquam desistam means desist He will strive and strive [9] Luke 13 24 vehemently to enter in at the straight Gate now that he hath gotten on foot upon [10] 2 Tim. 2.11 the Threshold The [11] Aate obitum nemo soelix Evening praiseth the Day and [12] Psalm 37.37 2 Tim. 4.7 8. the life of Faith doth crown the hour of Death Having known the fellowship of his sufferings and the power of his Resurrection he will likewise [13] Phil. 3.12 13 14. accompany Christ unto the Mount of Olives nay from the Mount of Olives I say he will wing [14] Psalm 84.2.42 1 2 his thirsty soul with a stedfast faith and will [15] Heb. 6.18.20 with Joy unspeakable ascend after his most glorious Forerunner fain he would be [16] 2 Cor. 5.4 8. absent from the body that he may now at length be present with the Lord Nothing troubleth him more then that he cannot be so thankfull in this earthly Tabernacle as he [17] Psalm 35.9 62 5 6 7. 63 1-8 66.8 9. 68 3 4. 81.1 Psalm 110 103.1-5 149.5 Esay 12.2 4 5. 61.10 is assured he shall be when anon he appeareth before Jesus Christ in his Fathers House Aged as he is he complaineth Lord I believe help mine unbelief but he thanketh his God through Jesus Christ his Lord. As no Quality so no Age is we see priviledged from troubles of heart To all Christians of what degree or age soever In the last place therefore we shall apply our selves unto all Christians unto high and low rich and poor young and old In general one with another Christians as ever we would not have our hearts troubled let one main trouble of our hearts be not so much the evil of our doings as the evil of our hearts Beloved If Jeroboam the son of Nebat cease (1) 1 Kings 14.20 to make Israel to sin Nadab (2) 1 Kings 15.25 beginneth Baasha may (3) 1 Kings 15.27 conspire against Nadab yea he may smite all in Jeroboams house (4) 1 Kings 15.29 that breath yet he himself may continue (5) 1 Kings 16.2 wicked Baasha still Elah may (6) 1 Kings 16.6 step into Baasha's Room Zimri may conspire against (7) 1 Kings 16.10 Elah Omri may (8) 1 Kings 16.16 be a note above him Tibni may (9) 1 Kings 16.22 justle Ahab may (10) 1 Kings 16.28 succeed Omri Jehu he may cut off both Ahab and Ahabs (11) 2 Kings 10.16 House yea he may boast his Zeal and yet over Jehu Ahab Tibni Omri Zimri Elah Baasha and Jeroboam one and the same spirit of Rebellion might and did Reigne It mattereth not much who is Vice roy so long as (12) Mala mens malus ammus the King of Babylon beareth the Rule Let the youth lay aside childishnesse the middle-aged flee youthfull lusts the aged cease to love the World yet if our naturall corruption can make any one sin finde (13) Prov. 8.13 Psalm 119.128 113.139 21 22 acceptance from us the heart necessarily either is or should be troubled A Dog hung up by the heels disgorgeth himself but still it is his nature to return (14) Prov. 26.15 to his vomit you may wash a Sow clean but neverthelesse she hath a property (15) Naturam expellas surcâ licet usque recurret which would fain be wallowing so a Christian may restrain many a wicked work word yea and thought too yet still there abideth an innate corruption within him and untill this corruption be the grief of his heart he hath not (16) Psalm 78.37 set his heart aright We may fight against small and great evils yet if we bend not (17) See The sinfulness of sin Animalis homo by Bishop Reynolds and p. 185. of The Natural mans blindnesse by Hen. Hurst our greatest strength against that originall pollution which staineth our purest actions while we slay the Amalekites we preserve Agag alive When the holy Spirit hath once rolled aside the stone of unbelief the more abundant our life of Faith is the more we grieve under the weight of that stone David was ashamed that he had committed Adultery the murder of Vriah wounded his very heart-blood but that which stuck more close unto him then even these crying sins was that he was shapen in iniquity and (18) Psalm 51.5 conceived in sin the evil of his doings made him sensible of the evil of his (19) Gen. 6.5 Matth. 15.19 20 heart Thou hast weaned thy self from swearing well but doest thou (20) Prov. 28.14 Eccles 9.2 fear an Oath thou fearest an Oath but is it for conscience towards God If it be thy heart mourneth and bleedeth for that it cannot not not half enough (21) Rom. 7.15.17 8.7 Gal. 5.17 sanctifie this thy God in thy heart Thou
14.32 sullen silence and edifying [79] Eph. 4.16 of Christs Church in love If otherwise It will be no [80] Luke 16.2 Heb. 13.17 sufficient answer at the great and last Day when [81] Mat. 10.36 the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed that we might [82] 1 Cor. 7.24 have abode in our holy Galling might have [83] 1 Cor. 9.16.22 won many of those Souls for whom [84] Act. 20.28 Christ dyed could have preached the Gospel could have traded [85] Mat. 25.28 with our ten Talents but we were so high-minded that we therefore would not because [86] James 3.16 we might not have forsooth our own wills and wayes Would we confesse a truth the [87] See Mr. Calamy upon this subject Percz Uzzi upon that Sermon of Mr. Calamies glory is not departed from Israel but we our selves are departed from the glory The garment [88] Isa 61.10 of Salvation is the same now which formerly it was but unthankfull we pick quarrels about the fringe if we would but touch the hem [89] Mat. 9.21 of our Saviours garment we might all of us be healed We have I say the [90] Ephes 4.4 5 6 same Lord still but the strife is [91] Luke 22.24 who among us shall be uppermost I had rather be [92] Psalm 84.10 a Door-keeper in the Tabernacles of my God then [93] Rom. 14.15 shut any of the Mansions in my Fathers House from any of the Disciples of Jesus Christ The Lord roll away from us his Ministers every stone of Offence the Lord preserve the Lord continue by us his Ministers abundance of life in the peace of his Gospel 2. Others there are of a long Robe too Unto some Lawyers who will not altogether escape reproof Wo unto you Lawyers if ye trouble your Clients hearts by rendring their defensive causes (1) Esay 1.17 58.6 burdensome and destructive Wo unto you Lawyers if ye plead so long for your Glients Mansions that ye your selves (2) Many a Lawyers house is built upon a foâ—ls bead get into their Fathers house I might add Wo unto you Lawyers if while ye gain Wealth by the Law ye lose the (3) Mat. 6.33 16.26.13.22 benefit of the Gospel I mean if ye covet so much the honours and profits of this world that ye allow (4) Luke 8.14 1 Tim. 6.17 nor leisure unto your neglected souls to effectually believe in God the righteous (5) Heb 12.23 judge of all men and in Jesus Christ your only (6) 1 Joh. 2.1 Mediator and Advocate The Trumpet soundeth (7) 1 Cor. 15.25 2 Cor. 5.10 in your eares Thirdly These words of my Text speak Reproof unto some Practitioners of Physick Unto some Physitians not for studying Galen or Hippocrates but for not studying the Word of Life viz. First The house of (1) Eccl. 7.2 mourning readeth frequent Divinity-Lectures especially against the flesh and the world Let Religio medici flatter her self how she pleaseth He is not far from an Atheist who while (2) Eccl. 7.4 he administreth Cordials unto dying bodies receiveth no experience for living Souls Secondly Although Theology be indeed no [1] Col. 3.16 part of the Physitians profession yet it is a very requisite accomplishment Be the other Ingredients what Physick shall see cause to direct godlinesse [2] 1 Tim. 4.8 should be ever be one of the prescriptions True it is not the Physitians errand to ease the heart from trouble but it [3] Heb 10.24 lyeth in his way though He hath a constant opportunity to shew some spiritual kindnesse unto persons sick at the very heart and having [4] Gal 9.10 opportunity he should do as [5] 1 Sam. 10. occasion shall serve he should lead his Patient from the chastisement [6] Heb. 12.11 of the body unto the comforts of the soul Thirdly It is not the Practitioner of Physick but the great God who disposeth of (1) 1 Chron. 16.12 King Asa the sick bed is a (2) Rev. 2.22 summons to Repentance We are chastened of the (3) 1 Cor 11.32 Lord that we may not dye in our sins the Herb can bring no healing Vertue which she doth not first (4) Mat. 4.4 borrow from her Creatour in short God is professedly the God both of our (5) Psalm 103 3 health and of (6) 1 Sam. 2.6 our life every of which particulars sufficiently convince us that the speediest mean to cure the body is to (7) 1 Sam. 41.4 Matth. 9 5. begin with the Soul so speedy so effectual a course is this that every one who is a good practitioner in Physick either is or should be like Saint Luke (8) Col. 4.14 not only a Physitian but an Evangelist To conclude By many Patients the Physitian (1) 2 Chron. 16.12 is sooner thought off then the Parson yea full often the Doctor of physick is admitted while the Doctor of Divinity (2) Jam. 5.14 is shut out Consider now a word spoken in season (3) Prov. 15.23 how good is it Pity pity it is that the heart of him who gaspeth for life should (4) Psalm 73.26 be almost spent through want of Balm from Gilead If the Minister cannot be may not be or is not in presence care (5) Jam. 5.15 must neverthelesse be timely had that for him who is just now giving up the ghost prayer and intercession be tendered unto the Father of Spirits Alas no Medicines (6) Psalm 94.19 116.8.119.81.42.1 2 84.1.62.5 are healing unto a Soul thus troubled There is no trusting unto Physick at any time a God a Jesus Christ may yea must be trusted in The merit of the person (7) 1 Joh. 2.1 here speaking in my Text drank off blood-warm transcendeth all other Receipts that can possibly be thought upon Where the Physitian feareth God there (8) Gen. 21.22 39.5 Psalm 1.3 God giveth a blessing for the Physitians sake Be it that the death of the Patient (9) Job 7.1 Psalm 31.15 seem to upbraid if not a want of skill yet a want of successe in the Artist yet O Death (10) 1 Cor. 15.55 where is thy sting the good Physitian findeth no reason at all why he should absent himself from his deceasing Patient he rather abideth and conducteth the departing soul toward the many Mansions in my Fathers House Fourthly The Mansions in my Fathers House a faith in God Unto Tradesmen and such as buy and sell yea and these troubles of heart do reprove innumerable followers not of Christ but of the world who most contentedly exchange godlinesse for gain In Queen Maries dayes so strong had nature made Sark-Island that [1] Sir Walter Raleighs History of the World lib. 4. cap. 2. sect 18. thirty Frenchmen could maintain it against all the Flemings in the world This stratagem was used Near unto the Isle with one ship
well knew the excellency of her gracious spirit that he aimeth to have our spirits like unto Hers His cost is your benefit His Liberal soul deviseth liberal things and by liberal things may He stand But may you and I glorifie our God [6] Gal. 1 24 in Him And as in Him so in his other Self whose untimely [7] Like Rachels Gen. 35.16 19. untimely not to her but unto us as Phil ip of Macedon spake of his friend Hipparchus Plutarch Apotheg death first gave life unto what you now read One especial matter which setteth forth the prayses of our God consisteth in [1] Psalm 66 16 Veritatem celare est aurum sepelire S. Aug. confess l. 12. what the Lord hath done for his chosen servants Our God is glorified in those divine Histories which tell us how great mercies the Lord poured upon Abraham Moses Joshua Samuel David Solomon c. He is glorified in such Scriptures as mention the prayses of Sarah Rebeccah Deborah Ruth Hannah Abigail and those other Matrons whose good examples are recorded for our learning There were that [2] Mat. 26.8 had indignation at Mary for pouring so precious ointment upon the Head of our Saviour neverthelesse it is the glory of our Saviour that Her prayse is [3] Mat. 26.13 in the Gospel May it likewise be interpreted unto the glory of our God if wheresoever this small Treatise shall finde acceptance there some of those blessings which the Lord vouchsafed unto this religious Gentlewoman be told for a memorial of her To the Right Worshipfull Sir JOHN HALES Baronet Encrease of favour with God and man SIR AMong those affectionate Kinsfolk so uncomfortably withheld from the solemn burial of your pious Aunt YOU her Dearest Nephew were a Chief Her embalmed Corps you did not see her spiced and perfumed Grave you could not attend I am bold therefore to place before you this Specimen of [1] [1] Illa quidem anima in societatem sidelium recepta landes nec curat nec quaerit humanas imitationem quaerit non laudem S. Aug. Epist 125. her Funerals A rough unpolished unhewn Tomb-stone it is a Stone worthy to be rolled away by the same hand which erecteth it Vouchsafe neverthelesse to approach unto it as [2] [2] Tumulum intuens pius esio unto her lively Monument For if the memory of this good Gentlewoman shall remain dear unto you you by delighting to imitate her vertues will partake of Her happinesse past and present You will during life obtain peace and after death life more abundant Dominae Dorotheae Rutter Vera Effigies Martij 21 mo 1661 2 Anno Aetatis suae ult et 31 mo Life more abundant in her lookes you see Picture her Soule a Heav'nly Saint is Shee Sir I willingly promise my self this blessing because it farreth with those good Christians who bury their Friends as it doth with us Ministers when we are crucified with Christ Espy us in the Town you see us in black mourning for the sinfulnesse of the World but meet us in the Temple you finde us in white rejoycing at the purity of the Gospel just so when good Christians have buried their dead if their thoughts reach no further then this World well may they cloath themselves in mourning but let their thoughts follow their dead unto their Fathers House and then their grief and sorrowes are swallowed up in Joy and Rejoycings From my Study April 3d. 1662. COnsider this dear and worthy Gentlewoman first as She was a part of this world next as She was a Member of the Church and thirdly as She is present with the Lord within the mansions in her Fathers House In every of these you will see plentiful matter layed before you for the prayses of Our God First In the things of this Life It is the glory of our God that while he [1] Psalm 17.14 giveth unto the wicked their portion only in this life He is also in the things of this life sometimes bountiful as well unto the [2] Matth. 5.45 just as unto the unjust thus he was unto [3] Gen. 13.2 6 Abraham and thus he was unto this [4] Gal. 3.7 Daughter of Abraham From the Cradle which first danced at the voyce of her cryes unto the grave which now bewaileth her silence little very little cause there was why Her heart should be troubled For instance The more loyal our affections be toward our most gracious Soveraign Lord the King the more honour we have for that Sexe which gave conception and birth unto his sacred Majesties sacred Person Adam he [1] Gen. 3.20 calleth his wives name Evah Why Answ Because she was the Grandmother of Christ in whom all are made alive Beloved Let not the community of a Blessing bury that Blessing in oblivion The Friend of whom we now speak was a Daughter in Israel to wit One of that Sexe which had both the Happinesse and the Honour to bring the Great Redeemer of all mankind into the World As for her lineage I am no Herald yet this I can say as by wedlock she matched into a [1] For she was married unto Michael Rutter of Burton on the Hill in the County of Glou. Esquire worthy Family a Family of a just esteem a Family of a good and [2] See page 117. of the Vale Royal of England viz. The County Palatine of Chester illustrated by Dan. King long descent so She her Self was no Filia terrae It is of God that while one Family is low and obscure another is superiour and exalted This Gentlewoman was of the later and superiour sort She was the branch the off-spring of a very Generous Stock I shall utter more then in other words I can so well expresse if I tell you she was a [3] Of which Family see Dugdals Surveigh of Warwicksh HALES a HALES no way over-reached by any specious pretences of hypocritical Rebels Whereas the honesty of some great Ones is rugged and the seed of their goodnesse unformed for want of an early education it was not so with this Friend she was highly civilized Indeed Her education was as well became Her Eminent birth very singular Furthermore it was as successeful-as exquisite Her wealth was suitable unto her birth The blessing of the Lord made her rich and he added no sorrow with it Her body that body which now sleepeth in Jesus was herein a picture of her soul upright and graceful In the natural endowments of her mind she surpassed many of her equals She had a tenacious memory an elegant fancy a piercing judgement and a deep understanding Her acquired parts were no lesse remarkable She read much and much unto her benefit witnesse her language alwayes apposite witnesse her habitual transcendent elocution and from that again the law of kindnesse which was ever in her lips together with that charity and that piety which so often perfumed her familiar Discourse Although she could not
20 deserved a Pillar much more doth Hers. That Rachel followed after [5] Gen. 31.35 35.2 Justly might Rachel be buried Esay 1.29 nader an Oak idol fancies this after true godlinesse after the God of holinesse she followed not after false Gods Seeing now her steps followed God her works follow her Her name is [6] Eccles 7.1 precious among us and as [7] Mrs. Rutters body was embalmed her body so her [8] Nee doleas quod talem amiseris sed gaudeas quòd talem habueris Hieron in Epitaph Nepotian page 23. Memory is embalmed She hath travailed [1] Qaid invidetis bonam mortem cui dare vitam non potestis Plin. lib. 2. Epist. 20. quite thorow all that this world can [2] Eccles 1.2 7.1 afford viz. Troubles of heart She went farre into the Kingdome of Grace viz. she believed in God she believed in Christ And hath already entred the Kingdome of Glory possessing mansions in her Fathers house While she abode on earth she delighted in Saints now with [3] Illum non emori sed emigrare mutare amicos non relinquere intelligeres Saints she abideth Complain not then that she departed hence in the midst of her age for a vertuous life is a [4] Wisdom 4 7 8 9 Placita erat Deo anima illius in brevi spatio multa complevit S. Hieron Fitaph Lucinij long life Untimely her death was but as the Father of Alexander said [5] Plutarch Apothig in Philippo of his Friend Hipparchus the untimelinesse was not unto her self but unto us Not unto her self for God [6] Gen. 5.24 took her no nor yet unto us for The [7] Matth. 6.20 Acts 21.24 good will of our God be done Life may by no meanes be neglected great is the blessing of long life especially there where it is found in [1] Whereas green fruit and a young man want their true taste Old age is the vessel of prudeace the way of wisdome Yet compare the long life of common persons with the short life of this singular Christian In looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God many a One is so dull so slow that after the irksome labours and sorrowes of fourscore yeares his unprepared soul beginneth to cry O spare me a little before I go hence But this Christian began early in the Morning and loe she hath finished her course betimes She [2] Nos dolendi magis qui quotidiè stamns in praetio peccatoruâ— vitiis sordidamis vulaera accipimus de â—â—oso verbo sumus reddituri ratâ—â—em Idem ib.d. found favour with the Lord in the [3] Esay 57.1 We may say coâ—ceming Mrs. Rutter as our said of S. Anselm Hoâ— tempus ci datum est ut majus boaum ci in aeternitate daretur midst of her age The Race which was set before her she run as well with good speed as with patience She ran and so ran that at the one half of her yeares she obtained mercy Call to mind her dayes which she hath passed you will acknowledge them [1] aetarem ultra putet L. Florus lib. 1. Prolog worthy your imitation yea and worthy your thanksgivings too Think upon her present life you will finde in it Life more abundant Life most worthy your more abundant thanks most worthy your more abundant rejoycings too True WE cannot roll away the Stone from her grave but in due time the good Angel in my Text [2] Hos 6.2 will Yea She her self being [1] 1 Cor. 15.32 dead yet [2] Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum Tertul. speaketh while her first Resurrection is an earnest of her second Wherefore Let not your heart be troubled Or if for a season troubled it be imitate Her for whom ye mourn As she did so do you Believe in God believe in Christ then as she doth so shall ye ye shall enjoy mansions in my Fathers House rather as she doth so shall ye ye shall glorifie your God as God Time it self [3] Rev. 10.6 must dye ye Death it self [4] Rev. 21.4 must dye but every soul which rejoyceth to glorifie God [5] Quamdiu hic moramur peregrinamur à Dommo Ad hoc anti sumus ut mâ—â—eamus aterni Hi ron ad Paul super Blesillae filae obitum Therefore as She in her Funeral Rings Posie saith I am not lost but gone before So we Non amâ—simus sed praemisimus August ad Iralicam viduam Epist 6. Non moeremus quod talem amisimus sed gratias agimus quòd habâ—â—mus imó quòd habemus Deo enim Matth. 22.32 vivuâ—t omtia quicquid revâ—titur ad Dominum in Eph. 3.15 Familiae numero computatur S. Hieron ad Eustoch in Epicaph Paul endureth for ever for which everlasting mercy and for every other mercy of his both to our bodies and to our souls ever for ever blessed be the Name of the Lord. Amen THE Jewes when they build a House are [1] J. G. out of Leon Moden digit Rili Hebraia Part. 1. bound to leave some part of it unfinished in remembrance of the destruction of Jerusalem By the same Rule in memory of this Friends dissolution I should break off here I should here leave my Discourse dying [2] John 11.16 at the Gentlewomans Grave unperfected Beloved compasse all that is before me I cannot yet neither am I inconstant unto [3] See the method proposed p. 272. my self neither dare I be forgetful of my God even of your God and mine viz. What prayses I bring I sacrifice not unto the dead but unto [4] Rev. 1.18 Him who is alive and liveth for evermore Wherefore By these few and slender instances which both I have newly given and you have patiently received I say by these few and slender instances of those many and large favours wherewith the Lord richly [1] That may be truly said of this Mrs. Dorothy Rutter which was said of Socrates Whosoever knew him loved him and honoured him and they that did not so it was because they did not know him enamelled the perfections of this One single short-lived Friend Judge I pray you between Our God and Us concerning the whole multitude of his mercies toward Vs toward Ours toward all believers from common mercies not excluding unbelievers and reprobates Concerning life past present future day by day hour by hour doth this God vouchsafe renew accumulate upon these sinful soules and bodies of ours mercies multifarious numberlesse unsearchable Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gifts Utter them we cannot Point toward them [1] Quia ipsa sibi obstat magnitudo rerumque diversitas aciem intentionis abrumpit faciam quòd solent qui terrarum situs piagunt in brevi quasi tabellà tolam ejus magnitudinem amplectar L. Florus l. 1. Prolog we may Revise a little those three great Kingdomes upon which we were entring having a little viewed them
an Oyster opened under our feet If heaven be a house it is a mansion-house a glorious house a holy house the house of my God and that I may speak home My Fathers house God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is (1) Exod. 15.11 glorious in holinesse Fearful in prayses What sort of (2) 1 Chron. 29.1 Palace What kind of Temple must that be which deserveth to be called (3) Esay 66.1 The House of God! And yet our rejoycing lyeth not so much in the fabrique as in the builder not so much in the builder as in the owner of this house The Owner of this House is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ This is My Fathers house First in regard of God the-Father Heaven is God the Fathers home He indeed (1) Jerem. 23.14 filleth all places but heaven is the (2) Luke 16.9 Esay 57 15 place of his habitation the (3) Palm 26.8 palace where his honour dwelleth the (4) 1 Chron. 29.1 palace where he keepeth his Court the (5) Esay 62.9 Court where he exalteth his Throne his power and his glory Next in regard of God the Son As to work out our Redemption he came down from heaven so having finished that work he ascended up on high Oh it was a (1) John 20.17 comfort to the son of man as man to go unto his Father for his Father is (2) John 14 28 greater then he Thirdly in regard of us Believers First We (1) Esay 64.1 fancy great matters might Jesus Christ here converse among us in the flesh Sirs God the father loveth Jesus Christ as his only Son Jesus Christ reciprocally loveth him as his dear Father If we love Jesus Christ more then we love our selves we (2) John 14.28 rejoyce because he is now at home with his own Father Fools may prate that Fathers are good friends but evil company it was never so with the Son of man For the (3) Acts 3.21 7.55 Humane nature of Jesus Christ there is no such company as the visible society of his eternal Father Shew him the father and (4) John 14.8 it sufficeth Secondly My Fathers house is (1) Matth. 6.9 Our Fathers house Doubtlesse thou art our Father was a high-strained faith even then when (2) Esay 63.16 derived from Gods creation at most from Gods protection of us But the person speaking in my Text hath now given us a nearer claime he can (3) John 20.17 send us word I go to my Father and your Father therefore your Father because my Father Thirdly Our Fathers house was never built for Spiders God doth not like some of our Gentry first build a great house and then ever after lay all hospitality aside No He (1) Esay 25.6 feasteth it he (2) Revel 19.9 ever feasteth it like (3) Revel 19.17 Esther 1 an Emperour In the house of my Father as none serve him (4) Revel 1.6 under Priests and Kings so all who serve him fare like (5) Revel 3.20 Princes Upon earth this is the infelicity of Kings that to maintain a requisite State they most what sit at Table alone whereas in heaven although Kings we are yet our meat doth us no good except we eat it (6) Heb. 12.22 23 with company In our Fathers house as our Supper is the (1) Revel 3.20 19.17 Supper of the Lord so our society is the (2) Heb. 12.22 communion of the Saints In heavenly places we shall sit (3) Ephes 2.6 together with Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Abel will there tell us what hard words and blowes he (4) Gen. 4.8 received from Cain We shall there see Job beholding his Redeemer with his (5) Job 19.27 own eyes Charles the (6) Of great Brittain France and Ireland King First the first since that hour wherein Jesus Christ was crucified that ever dyed and so dyed for the good of his people Him we shall finde among if not above the noble Army of Martyrs Yea we shall there converse with every glorified soul with every soul glorified in its own order in its own mansions joying and rejoycing with its own peculiar degree of glory The elect of God which here upon earth were unto us Neighbours Friends Kinred Brethren Sisters Children Parents Wives or Husbands with these we shall renew an acquaintance an acquaintance encreasing unto all eternity Scholars if ever you would save time in your studies if ever you would be exquisite Phisosophers great Historians or perfect (1) Hoc hâ—bet animus argumentum suae divinitatis quod illum divina delectent Seneca Divines make your (2) Bene oravisse est bene studuisse Luther Plus cogitando orando proficiunt quà m legendo audiendo August Epist 112. Origo sontium sluminum maâ—e virtutum scientiarum Christus Bern. in Cant. Serm. 13. calling and election sure get an everlasting fellowship in these mansions in heaven your knowledge shall be made perfect nor shall you sit like mutes but you shall speak of the goodnesse of your God with a fulnesse of delight joy and love How happy would some children acknowledge themselves were the place of their education adjoyning unto the place of their nativity How much of her Dowrye would many a Wife part with upon condition that her husbands estate lay not far from (1) Illa domus laetâ—tiae est ista militiae illa domus laudis ista orationis Idem Serm. 2. in dedic Eccles her Fathers house Beloved in my Fathers house are many mansions but all of them in one and the same House We are there all of us one Society one Family one Colledge one Houshold one Church one Body Forget thy (2) Psalm 45.10 Fathers house and thine own kinred taketh no place in these mansions Duty and Death separate the nearest relations here but in my Fathers house friends never part Dominions Principalities Powers Angels Arch-Angels c. about whom the Schoolmen have been so idly busied them and their (1) Delectat quâ—cquid est adm rabile Cicere Part. Oâ—at distinct orders we shall know and delight in Many a good Angel which unaware to us took of us an especial charge we shall know by name and by sight in these mansions The Holy Ghost who gave us life first natural then spiritual That good that (1) Neminâ—m unquam demisit tristem loving spirit which did doth and will continue our preserver sanctifier and comforter will in Heaven put life into us indeed when he once entertaineth us in my fathers house then we shall live The person speaking in my Text thorough whom the just God is so well pleased with us He who came down from heaven to bring us thither who underwent for us the reproaches of men and the curse of God who for our sakes spake and wrought and suffered wonders Him who passed by the fallen Angels and exalteth our nature above his elect