with looking after the Mat. 24. 12. things which are comming on the world yet iniquity doth abound and the whole Earth seemeth to be filled with Gen. 6. 11. violence and wickednes and most men live as if there were neither God nor Devil Heaven nor Hell It is true these things are continually sounding in our ears and is it not as true and wo and alas that it is so they do for the most part as soon passe through the ears of the hearer as from the mouth of the speakerâ— Whence Vox audita perit Amos 6. 3. else is it that wicked men approach to the seat of iniquity but that they put far from them the evill day Whence is it that they cry peace peace and sing a requiem to their Souls with the fool in the gospel but 1 Thess 5. 3. 2. that they forget that sudden destruction is at hand and Luk. 12. 19 20 this night their soules may bee taken from themâ— whence is it that good mens hearts shake so at the present Heb. â—2 27. â—8 shaking of things in the world but that they have forgotten the Kingdome that cannot be shakenâ— whence is it that the good and bad both slumber and watch not but that they have forgotten that the comming of the Lord is nigh and he will come as a Mat. 25. 1 2 3 c. Thief in the night And whence is it thaâ— there is such an overflowing of sin in the world but from hence that men think not enough of these things For the prevention and cure therefore of these epidemicall evils I have gathered and bound up together these heavenly truths as medicine made of many ingredients and give it you in writing And oh that now we could perswade you to turn aside from youâ—â—ageâ— Litera Scripta manet pursuit of earthly things and come and see what it is and try what it wiâ—l do And for this may we prevail with you to look into them and keep them as a signe upon your hands as fronâ—â—eâ—s between your eyes that you will write them on the posts of your houses and your gates or rather on the tables of your hearts that they being ever in your sight may be never out of Deut. 6. 6 7 8. your minde Remember and forget not that very shortly the grieâ—ly Serjeant Deaâ—h will aâ— rest you and clap you up in the Prison of the grave where you shal by and by heare the dreadfull voâ—ce of the last Tâ—umpâ— crying a wake ye dead and come to judgment look sometimes in at Hâ—ll gates and think of the wrath to come and at other times take a view of the Heavenly Canaan and walk a turn or two in the Paradice of God If the thought of one of these how much more shall the thought of them all make us apply our hearts to wisdome Thâ—se thoughts wâ—ll 〈◊〉 lesse much settle the hearts of Saint in this shaking time 1 Cor 15. 31. Psal 1. 1. 5. Mat. â— 15. Col. 1. 12. Deut 32. 39. make them active for God careful to 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 so that they may be alwayes ready to dye able to stand in the Judgment sure to escape the damnation of Hell and to be made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in heaven And oh that men were thus wise to understand this to consider their latter end Thy Christian friend W. S. Of the foure last and great things Death Judgement Heaven and Hell and the things that concern the same Of Death DOCTRINE All men must die or There is an unavoidable necessity of dying laid upon all men Hebr. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die Psal â—9 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death not a man Eccles 6. 6. Doe not all go to one place Job 30. 23. I know thou wiâ—â— bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living FOr the opening of this point we must say something to these three things First what this death whereof we speak is Secondly What necessity there is that all men must die this death Thirdly Wherefore this necessity is imposed upon mankinde and wherefore it is so For the first By death here we mean not the privation of our communion with God or the separation of soul and body from Gods favour in this world which is caused by sin and is called an alienation from the life of God or the second death or spirituall death Luke 1. 79. Ephes 2. 1 2 4. 18. or the separation of the whole man from Gods heavenly presence and glory to be punished with everlasting fire in Hell called eternall death or the perdition of soul and body in Hell or the second death And this is proper onely to wicked men and cannot touch the godly Rom. 6. 23. Revel 20. 6. 4. Rom. 8. 6. 2 Thess 1. 9. Matth. 10. 28. Rev. 2. 11. But by death in this place we intend the privation of the life of the body or the separation of the soul from the body for sin or the change of this mortall for an immortall life And this is called a bodily or worldly death or the first death And this death is common to all men good and bad Heb. 9. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 32. Gen. 5. 24. 35. This death is either naturall i. when a man liveth out his full daies and then dieth or violent i. when a mans death is hastened by some violent accident that a man doth kill himself or is killed by another Also it is said to be common and ordinary when it is by an ordinary or usual means or extraordinary when it is by some strange or unusuall mâ—ans Numb 16. 29. 〈◊〉 The necessity we here speak of is not absolute but limitâ—ed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For he may if he please dispense with his own Law and the penalty thereof and exempt some men from this common lot of mankind as once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is said to be translated that he did not 〈◊〉 death Hebr. 11. 5. Gen. 5. 24. so afterwards Eliâ—h 2 Kings 2. 11. and as again he will do with those which shall be a live at Christs comming to judgement 1 Thess 4. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 51. Wâ— shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed But in an ordinary way God hath appointed to all men once to die and to this law of the King of Kings must all men young and old rich and poor without difference of necessity submit For the third thing 1. That it is so and must be so that all men must die these reasons may be given for it 1 God in his eternall counsell hath decreed it Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to men once to die And his counsell standeth fast for ever and the thoughts of his heart unto all generations Psal 33. 11. Esay 46. 10. We read in â—say 28. 15. of some that had made a Covenant with death That it should not come â—igh
14. 7 8. 5. And we are then like the Swan to endeavour to sing sweetest by our devout prayers and praises to God and gratious speeches to men So Iacob Gen. 49. David 2 Sam. 23 Christ Luke 23. 34. Stephen Acts 〈◊〉 56. Isaac Heb. 11. 22. Iob. Iob. 1. 21. we shall say somewhat more to this pâ—â—nt in the next branch which we are now to descend unto 4. The fourth thing we are to be exhorted unto from this doctrine of the necessity of dying is to make a virtue of this necessity and not to fear death but when we see our time is come to die let us resolutely patiently and willingly undergo â—t A naturall and moderate fear of it as it is an Enemy to nature 〈◊〉 be chaâ—ged as an evill upon us being no other but what was in the 〈◊〉 hâ—â—rt of Christ Jesus but an immoderate afflicting distracting fear of it is to be avoyded of all Christians And for the Cure hereof and our further fitting for death let us be well instructed in the nature thereof to a beleever as it is set forth in the Gospell wherein we have these considerations 1. That there is a necessity of it and it cannot be avoyded Psal 49. 7. 2. It is sanctiâ—ed and sweetned by Christs death so as it is not now a curse but a blessing a passage a departure a change of roomes a going out of a worse place into a better 3. Assoon as the body goeth out of this world it goeth to a place of rest where it shall be troubled no more and then Gods Covenant of peace shall be made good to it And to speak properly the beleeving Christian doth not die he lyeth down to sleep in his bed for his death is but the bodies going to bed and to sleep after the many labours of the day of this life are ended out of which he shall awake after the night of death is past at the morning of the râ—surrection to everlasting life and no sâ—oner is the soule out of the body then it is in possession thereof Esay 57. 2 3. The righteous are taken away c. he shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds c. 2 King 32. 20. Thou shal s be gathered to thy fathers inâ—eace Matt. 9. 24. Acts 7. 60. He fell asleepe 4. The body by death is not reduced to nothing as the body of a beaâ—t is but it is only resolved to earth again where the â—otting of it is only to refine it that as the Corne which first diâ—â—h it may arise more glorious 1 Cor. 15. 36. Gen. 3. 19. So that death to the Saints is neither totall but of the body only nor perpetuall but for a time only Rom. 8. 10. 5. God is as much the God of the dead as of the living beleever Mat. 22. 34. God is not the God of the dead but of the living i. his Covenant is with them to make them happy in communicating to them grace life and glory and this Covenant is with the body as well as with the soul Rom. 14. 8. Whether we live or die we are the Lords 6. The body and soul of a beleever notwithstanding the death of the body is still a member of Christ Ephe. 5. 30. Rom. 14. 8. Death devides us not from God but brings us home to him 7. God hath the power of death and the grave and his providence doth dispose thereof and of everything therein and he will be with the beleever in this estate to support him under and deliver him out of it and to turn it to his good and he wâ—â— not leave him till he hath settled his soul and body in heaven Rev. 18. I have the Keyes of Hell and Death i. power to keep from or deliver to death Iude verse 9. Acts 4. 28. Psalm 16. 10. 11. Thou wiâ—â— not leave my Soule in grave nor suffer thiâ—â— holy one to see corruption Heb. 2. 14 15. Acts 2. 24. Psalm 116. 15. The death of his Saints is pretious to him 1. either God will preserve them from wicked hands or will sharply revenge their death on them that kill them Acts 20. 24. 2 Kings 1. 13. Psal 72. 14. 8. The death of the beleever cannot seperate his soul from Christs love to it or its love to Christ Iohn 11. 5. 20. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 38. 39. What shall sepâ—rate us from the love of Christ Shall death c. 9. Death reacheth to the body only and not to the soul Mat. 10. 28. Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the Soule c. 10. By death God requireth again of us that soul he â—â—usted us with and every honest man will willingly deliver up his trust when it is required Eocles 12. 12. 11. The sting of death is now taken away to the beleever that it cannot hurt him 1 Cor. 15. 55. Buzze it may snake whose sting â—â— pulled out 1â— The Angels will be ready to receive and carry the beleevers sould into the presence of the God of peace in Heaven Luke 16. 22. 23. Death shall be destroyed and it is the last Enemy that shall be destroyed â—evel 20 v. 14. â— Câ—rinâ—h 15. v. 26. Rev. 20. 14. 14. The body of the beleever shall be gloriously raised after death to die no more for then death shall be swallowed up into victory and body and soul united and placed in eternall felicity for the soul being loosed out of prison the body may not be kept in prison 2 Cor. â— 1. Rev. 21. 4. 20. 13. 1 Thes 4. 13. Psalm 49. 14 15 16. 8 9. 1 Cor. 15. 43. Iohn 6. 39. Rom. 8. 11. To say all in one word death to the beleever makes a happy change and doth infinitly better his condition for it â—reeth him from all evill and puts him in possession of all good It â—reeth him from the evill of sin and punâ—â—â—ment felt and feared present and to come and puts an end to all his cares fears teares labours griefs combats with sin the world and the Devill for in death he gets beyond and above them all It is a passage and going from Aegyt to Canaan out of an old rotten house wherein a man hath no estate at all into a glorious Mansion and Kingly pallace of his own inheritance the going out of a base prison to a glorious liberty the return from a banishment to his own Country and home the comming to the haven after a long and dangerous voyage by sea It is a going to bed after a man hath laboured hard all day and is â—yred and weary It is a going from corruption to incorruption from mortallity to immortallity from death to life from earth to heaven from a miserable to a happy life It is the putting off a mans old ragged Cloathes to put on princely robes It is a loosing from the shore and a lanching out into the main to take possession of a Kingdome It is the
very base and miserable condition 3. That there are degrees of this happines and misery And then last of all for the use of all this we shall shew how we may attain to the one and escape the other And for a foundation of all our structure we will first of all lay down this doctrinall proposition or point DOCTRINE That there is a Heaven and a Hell that this Heaven is a state of wonderfull happinesse And this Hell is a state of wonderfull miserie And there are degrees of this happinesse and misery These parts we shall take and handle asunder That there is a Heaven THat there is a heaven may appear by these things 1. Otherwise the condition of the best men will be worst for in this life they receive most evil things Luke 16. 25. If in this life onely we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. 2. How otherwise can God be just or appear to be just And shall not the judge of all the earth doe right If God proportion the worst â—staâ—â— to the best men he must at least seem to be unjust which cannot be 2 Thâ—â—salonians 1. 5 6 7. It is a righteous tâ—â—â—g with God 〈◊〉 to giâ—e you rest who are troubled It is a manifeâ—â— taken of the righteous judgements of God This time and state is therefore called The time of the reâ—â—lation of the righteous judgements of God Rom. 2. 5. 3. Otherwise theâ—e is no reward for the righteous for all the good works they have done And the reward of their works shall be given them Iâ—say 3. 10. 4. Otherwise the greatest part of the Scripture must be false and the promises of heaven to the righteous must be of no force for the Scripture saith there is a Heaven and God hath promised it to the righteous and it is purchased and prepared for them Matth. 2 5. 31 5 12 19 8 1â— 21. Coâ—oss 1. 5. Heb. 10. 34 5. It is begun here and men have a little taste of it in this life which is an evidence to them of the full fâ—uâ—tion thereof in the life to come Rom. 5. 2 8 23. Mark 9. 45 6. If there be a God there is a Kingdom of God But the first is true 7. There is a resurrection of good and bad and therefore a place for good and bad That there is a Hell THat there is a Hell may appear by these things 1. Otherwise the condition of the worst men will be best for in this life they for the most part receive good things Luke 16. 25. They are not afflicted as other men i The righteous for there are no other men but the righteous and the wicked Psal 78. 5. 2. Otherwise Gods justice is not seen in giving to every man according to his deeds as in that Rom. 2. 5 6. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you 2 Thess 1. 6 7. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire to take vengeance c. 3. Otherwise the sinner shall escape unpunâ—hed for his sin for many of them are not plagued at all for their sins here And yet the reward of his hands shall be given him Esay 3. 11. And every one muâ—â— receive according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. 4. Otherwise the word of God that doth assure us there is a Hell and all the threatnings of God against sinners that they shall be cast into bell c. are false Esay â—0 33. Topheâ— is prepared of old c. Psal 9. 13. The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the nations that forget God Matt 5. 22 10 28 18 9. 5. It is begun here and they have a taste of it in this present life for what else is it that doth cause that horrour of conscience in some men but the fear of lying for ever under Gods wrath in this place Iudas Matt. 27. 7. Acts 1. 25. Spirâ—t c. Belshassar Dan. 5. Herod Nero and others What Heaven is IN the opening of this point we shall shew first in generall what is either properly or figuratively and by way of resemblance and of it And 2 in some particulers wherein it doth consist Heaven is the blessed state and condition made and appointed by God for the eternall happinesse of the godly and elect after this life is ended with God and his blessed Angels above where the most lively visible and Comfortable discovery of Gods gracious presence is a little taste whereof we have here a greater when Soul and Body are seperated by death And the full fruition whereof we have when the Body shall be raised and Soul and Body united together As touching this place and condition we must first know that the excellency glory and sweetnesse thereof no mortall heart or created understanding can possibly conceive and comprehend to the life For S. Paul tells us 1 Cor. 2. 9. That neither eye hath seen nor eare heard nâ—â—ther heart of man conceived the incomprehensible height and glorious misteries of that heavenly wisdom and inutterable divine sweetnesse revealed in the Gospell How transcendently then unutterable and unconcewable is the fulfilling perfection the reall actuall and full fruition of all those evangellicall revelations accomplished to the height in the highest heavens through all eternitie But this is ceâ—tain that this state and place is a state and place of inconceivable happinesse and pleasure For if the Disciples of Christ in the Transfiguration were so taken and â—avished with a little glimpse of this glory that they desired they might for ever enjoy it Matt. 17. 2 3 4. What then will the full view thereof be and if the tast of it onely be a â—â—y that passetâ— all understanding Phil. 4. 7. a joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. Then the whole cup and full draught thereof must needs be an exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. There is a fulnesse of joy in it Psal 17. 15. The soul shall have so much that it shall desire no more it shall have so much that it can receive no more as a vessel that is full to the top It is a rich inheritance Ephes 1. 18. No man can know it in the extent but he that injoyeth it and all that can be said of it can but as he that drew out the whole body of Hercules by his foot frame unto us a conjecture of the matter that will comeâ—arâ—â— short of the thing it self The Scripture doth set it forth unto us by the most excellent and precious things that are in the world It is called a kingdom and crown which is the top and Crown of all earthly happinesse In this there is a confluence of all 〈◊〉 pleasures glory and what mans heart can with for outward welfare and felicity they that pâ—ssess this are said to be Kings and to
OF THE FOURE LAST AND GREATEST THINGS Death Iudgement Heaven and Hell The Description of the Happinesse of Heaven and misery of Hell by way of Antithesis WITH The way or means to passe through Death and Judgement into Heaven and to avoid Hell By VVILLIAM SHEPHEARD Esquire Revel 21. 7 8. Hee that overcometh shall inherite all things And I will be his God And he shall be my Sonne But the fearfull and unbelieving and abhominable Murderers Whoremongers Sorcerers Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death LONDON Printed by G. Dawson for Thomas Brewster and are to be sold at his Shop a little within Creed-lane neare the West end of Pauls at the signe of the three Bibles 1649. To the Right Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of PARLIAMENT Worthy Gentlemen WHen the World was shaken by Adams sin God secured it by the promise of his Son When Canaan was distressed by the Gen. 3. 15. Judg. 6. Midianites he sent his servant Gideon a Saviour to it Now England is distracted and her foundations out of course he hath raised you up the unwearied Worthies of our Nation to repair the breaches and settle the foundations thereof A work albeit very honourable yet as your selves have very well experimented very hardly accomplished For whaâ— from the rage of professed adversaries the inconstancy ingratitude ignorance and wilfulnes of seeming friends blinded with their own unruly passions whereby they have foolishly mistaken the men and their meaning Your selves have been somtimes by the mutinous distempers of the common multitude brought into great perill of destruction those whom you have saved who for your safety ought to have sacrificed themselves being willing to have you destroyed and sacâ—â—ficed But unsearchable providence hitherto your Sanctuary amidst these perils hath wheeled and driven on though in somwhat a dubious method your great Counsels through your adversaries attempts And it s often appearing for you and your Armies as from under a Cloud doth assure my self the many thousands that love and honour you that a work carryed on with so many hands and heaâ—ts so much prayer life and spirit so much faith and patience cannot by the rage of man which in all times hitherto hath praised Psal 76. 10. God be disappointed of its end And now Right honourable sith this providence hath given you in appearance some hope of a little breathing time I crave leave humbly to present you with this smal Treatise of the â—oâ—re last things Death Iudgement Hell and Heaven wherein are plainly but profitably handled things of highest concernment and therefore well becomming men of choisest imployments I know your wisdoms and piety need not be minded in whose presence you stand whose part in the managing of the weighty affairs of the Math. 12 16. Kingdom you act to what strength you are engaged for all your glorious and never to be forgotten deliverances Rom. 2. 6 and to whom ere long for the work you have done words you have spoken and ends you have had therein you must give an account You nâ—â—d not be minded that for every word you speak an account must be given by you who by speaking one word may make or mar a Kingdomâ— Wee need not tell you that it is a double crime which is committed under the sacred name of authority and greatnes that the sins of great ones in the pollitique are as dangerous as pestilent Feavers to the natural body Ps 82. 8. Shall we minde you Gods amongst men that you shall â—hâ—râ—v die like men and that impartiall Death knoweth no faces that Heaven is the reward of the righteous Tophet is prepared of old for Kings That you and we must all appear before â—he highest bar where all your judgments shall be rejudged your secrets discovered and your selves rendered responsable not onely for all the good you have not done but for the evill you have not hindred have we need to comfort you under your matchlesse labours and to tell you of Beds and rest at hand you know how to Esa 57. 2 arm your selves against Reproaches Censures and Slanders with the meditation of the day of Revelation when the Lord shall bring to light the hidden things of darknes Rom. 2. 5 1 Cor. 4. 5. Math. 10 â—â—â—â—6 and then shall every man that deserves it have praise of God And that there is nothing â—â—dâ— but shall bee then made knowâ— These generall truths and such like as these largely discuâ—â—ed in this Treatiâ—e albeit you do very well know already and are established in themâ— yet since the best of men to so easily forget them and are at some time or other to seek in them shall I beg leave in these few lines to become your remembrancer thereof The Lord hath many times Right Honourable remembred you in your low estate his people from all places are mindfull of you you have the blessing of many thousand prayers upon you you are engaged in as acceptable a service to God and good men as ever any Assembly was as great expectation there is from you as ever was from any Parliament of England and as likely you are to have opportunity to render your names renowned to succeeding generations as ever any Parliament of ours had There are still those amongst us that would again cast us into the Fire and Water Marke 9. 22. And we say to you our Masters help us save or else we perish If you can do any thing have compassion on this almost expired Kingdome the Lord grant you may keep back nothing from us that may do us good and that your own wayes ends wils and interests may be sâ—â—allowed up in that work you are called unto and that therein your motion may be like that of the Heavens intrinsical and from within swift with the primum mobile but slow with your own And if herein you may have any furtherance by these plain meditations it can be no dishonour to you but will be much honour and comfort to me who begging pardon for my boldnes and plainnes Pray that the God of Heaven will give you all such a spirit as is fearlesse of danger faithfull to your trust and succesfull in your great work Which will be the daily Prayer of Your most humble Servant WILLIAM SHEPHEARD To the Reader Christian Reader THou hast here presented to thy view a plain but profitable Treatise of the foure last things Death Judgement Hell and Heaven And these if they having respect to Saints or Sâ—nners wereever needfull and usefull then in this evil and peâ—ilous time wherein albeit the foundations of the world seem to shake and Heaven Luke â—â— â—â—â— 26. and Earth to bee passing away and alâ—eit there bee trouble â—mongst the Nations with perplexity the Sea and Waters roar insomuch as mens yea godly mens hearts faile for fear and
theâ— But God tels them v. 18. That he would disaâ—â—ull their Covenant for the Lord bringeth the counsell of the heathen to â—ought and maketh the devises of the people of none â—ffect 2. Mans sin hath deserved it Gen. 2. 17. In the day thou â—â—test thereof thou shalt surely die Rom. 5 12. As by one man sin â—ntred into the world and death by sin so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adâ—m all die i. sin and death came upon all men 3. Man in his nature is mortall and corruptable as the Trees as therefore these however some of them as Oaks and the like live longer then others yet do all of them in time by age wither and die and none of them live for ever because they are of a dying nature so it is with men though some of them live longer then others yet experience shews uâ— that they all dye at one time or other Eccles 6. 6. 7. Though â—e live a thousand year◠〈◊〉 Do not all go to one place 4. Unlesse the body die it cannot be capable of that state to which it is ordained For the wicked man must have such a body as is fitted everlastingly to burn without consumption and the godly man must have such a body as is capable of the everlasting enjoyment of the glory of heaven which the present body cannot doe As therefore the seed which is â—own is not quickened unlesse it die so unlesse these bodies of the Saints die they cannot have those new bodies prepared for them which are bodies with new qualities 1 Cor. 15. 37 39 40 c. It is â—own in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowâ— in dishonour raised in glory sown in weaknesse raised in power sown a naturall raised a spirituall bodie The bodies of the Saints shall be then sound and of a nature that cannot corrupt glorious and comâ—ly without any deformity powerfull that is able to continue without the humane helps of meat drink and cloths without which they cannot new be kept they must put off their old ragged cloths of mortality if ever they mean to put on the princely â—obes of immortality and life 2. And thus God will have it and his providence hath disposed of it for the manifestation of his own glory the glory of his Justice in the punishment of mans sin the glory of his Truth in making good his word and the glory of his power in the resurrection of the bodies of men Io. 9. 3. 11. 39 40. It is needfull that we answer one objection ere we go further If death be Object the wages of sin and Christ hath given satisfaction for the sins of his people how comes it to passe that they die To this we answer 1. This objection may be made against all the afflictions Answer of Gods people 2. Christ never promised by his Word nor intended by his Death to free his people from afflictions and so from death but fâ—om the evill and hurt thereof onely and so he doth free his people from death insomuch as it is not now a curse but a blessing a token of Gods love and means of mans good Christ as he took not away sin it self but the guilt thereof so he took not away death it self but the sting thereof Revel 14. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Hebr. 12. verse 8. 10. Revel 3. verse 19. 1 Corinth 15 〈◊〉 56. If any man shall ask now when he must die We must answer him that we know not when for as there is nothing in iuest Qâ—â— Answer the world more certain then death so there is nothing more uncertain then the time when men shall die this God hath kept in his owne hands This only is certain that at the longest it will not be long for mans age is but short Psal 9. 5. As a hand breadth and as nothing before God Iob 14. 1 2. Man that is borne of a woman is of â—ew dayes c. He commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe He fleeth also as a shaddow and continueth not Psal 102. 11. 03. 15. 144. 4. Psal 89 47. Remember how short my time is Iob 7. 6 7. 20. 16. 22. Iam. 4 14. Esay 48 6. All flesh is grasse Psal 90 10. Isa man liâ—â— to 〈◊〉 or by reason of strength to 80. yet is it soone cut of and we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how much of this in thy life is spent already But perhaps thou mayest not live out halfe thy dayes for men like sheep die of all ages Psalm 55. 23 and this doth commonly fall out that the longer men think to live the lesse while they have to live 1 Thes 5. 3. Luke 12. â— 20. This pâ—ynt being cleared let us now see what use may be made of it Vse 1 And first it may serve us for exhortation to divers things and this two wayes First as having reference to our owne death Secondly as having reference to the death of others As having reference to our owne death it doth serve to exhort and perswade us to these things First to beleeve it let us beleeve it that we must die and that of all this world of men women and children now alive there will not after a few yeares one be left Scarcely will a man beleeve that seeth a great apple-tree thick of clusters that ever these will fall one by one and yet being ripe how soone will they be all dropt downe and gone So it is of men one generation passeth and another commeth Eccles. 1. 4. Secondly to think of it let us meditate and consider of this that we must die For however it may be thought a vaine and needlesse perswasion to perswade men to beleeve and think they shall die and every man will be ready to say he doth beleeve this and it is never out of his thought and who doth not so Yet it is more then manifest by most mens lives that they doe not so For doth that man that taketh nothing about him to defend him against â—oule weather beleeve he shall meet with it in his journey Doth he that makes no provision for a new beleeve he shall shortly be put out of his old house Doth he beleeve he must shortly put of his old that makes no provision for new cloathes Doth the Thâ—â—fe or Murderer beleeve there is a Prison and Gallâ—wes for Theeâ—es and Murderers whilst he doth kill or steale Or doth that Servant while he wasteth or spoileth his Masters goods or abuseth his follow Servants thinke of his Masters comming to call him to an account Nor doth he that neglecteth all the care of provision for another life thinke of it that he must shortly goe out of this life Can it be that the profane Scorner cruell Oppressor licentious Epicure or sâ—â—â—re Libertine should be perswaded that he must shortly die and after death come to judgement Hath he not rather with them in Esay 28. 15. made
hath respect to two times First to all the time of amans life Secondly to the time a little before his death First all the time of a mans life Generally a man is to labour to be a new Creature by faith and repentance and to live a good life endeavouring to be better and better still and 〈◊〉 to be sure to do a good dayâ— work whilst he doth live for he that lives well cannot do amiâ—s and he that lives the life shall be sure to die the death of the righteous 2 Pet. 16. 7. 11 c. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Gal. 6. 6. More especially we must labour for First peace with God in Christ and peace in our own Consciences Rom. 5. 1. 2 Pet 3. 14. Secondly the saving knowledge of God in Christ Ioâ— 17. 3. 3. A life regulated by Gods spirit and word Rom. 8. 14. Phil. 4. 7. There are degrees of life eternall and it is begun here the resurrection out of sin to holynesse of life is the beginning of eternall life Rev. 20. 6. Col. 1. 13. Gal. 2. 20. More particularly let us doe these things First let us get unto Christ by faith and thereby make our peace with God and get an assurance of a better life when this is at an end Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord i. in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive i. As by Adam sin and death came over all so by Christ grace and life came to all beleevers 2 Pet. 3. 14. â—uke 2. 28 29. Now let thy â—ervant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy Salvation i. I doe willingly and chearfully leave this present life Heb. 11. 13. Ioh. 8. 24. He is the â—â—tter to leave his old when he knowes where to have a new and a beâ—â—r dwelling 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. c. Secondly let us pray continually that God will fit us for death say with Moses Psal 9. 12. Lord teach me to number my dayes so as to apply my heart to wisedome Thirdly let us labour to mortifie our sinnes daily for here in lyeth the strength of death 1 Cor. 15. 56. For this purpose let us confesse it be humbled for it cry to God for pâ—rdon of and power against it and effectually apply by faith the death of Christ against it so shall we be sure that God will redeeme our souls from the power of the grave and receive us Psal 19. 15. Fourthly let us enure our selves to die by little and little that is not only live every houre as if we were dying but by our afflictions as lesser deaths prepare for our great death 1 Cor. 15. 3â— I die daily i. I am not only in danger of death daily but I doe thereby enure and prepare myself to die daily By undergoing a lesser we shall be prepared to undergoe a greater burden so men that are to run a large race prepare themselves for it by the running of a shorter race For this cause did Bilney the Martyr oft times before his burning put his little finger in the candle thereby the better to be prepared to suffer the burning of his whole body 2 Cor. 11. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. Fifthly let us alwayes watch and wayt for Christs comming to us in particular by our death that is shaking of security as we would shake of sleep let us take great heed that we not overcome by sin or Satan and looking always for death be in a dying posture and live every houre as if it were our last houre Iob. 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time I will wait till my change come Luk. 2. 25. Motives 1. It will be very profitable for us so to watch 2. It will be very dangerous for us to neglect it See Mat. 24. 42. to the end of that chapter and Mat. 25. 1. to verse 14. Sixthly let us be able to looke beyond death into heaven and the glory thereof Heb. 11. 25. 2 Cor. 5. 1. He will not care much to be turned out of the house he dwels in when he knows where to have a better house at hand to goe into Seventhly let us keep our hearts from being glued by overmuch love to the world or any thing in it for by how much the more we love by so much the more we shall grieve when we leave it 2 Sam. 18. 33. Eightly let us get as much of the tast of heaven here as we can that the sweetnesse thereof may make us more to desire the full fruition of it The preparation to be made a little before and at the time of a mans death lyeth in these things First to God-wâ—â—d Secondly to man-ward To God-ward â— If sicknesse goe before death we are the◠〈◊〉 to looke upon it as Gods hand and that for our sin Lam. 3. 39. Ioh. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 20 21. and 30. 2. We are to labour to renew our saith and repentance and so to get a renewed assurance of Gods favour by an earnest seeking of him by prayer so David Psa 32. Psal 38. Psal 39. 2. To man-ward our selves and others when we be sick we are to call in help from the prayers and counsel of good people who are able to help us herein Mark 2. 4. Iam. 5. 14. Heb. 3. 1. 2. We are to use the best outward meanes we can for the recovery of our health 2 King 20. 7. Luk 1â— 3 4. Matt. 9. 12. 3. We are to set our house in order i. to make our will if it be not made before and give direction what we will have done after our death 2 Sam. 23. Gen. 25. 5 6. 4. We are as much as we may to endeavour to be reconciled to our Neighbours with whom we are at difference Matt. 5. 25. Rom. 12. 8. 5. We are to get and make use of all the comfortable meditations we can think of against the fear of death 6. If we be Magistrates or Ministers we are to do what we can to further the well ordering of the Common-wealth and Church after our death Deut. 32. 2. 1 Kings 2. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 5. In death it self or being about to die we are to give up our souls to God i. to his care and keeping being his by redemption Psal 31. 5. Luk. 23. 46. Acts 7. 59. And this we are to do 1. Beleevingly as Stephen Acts 7. â—6 59. died in the embracements of the Lord Jesus Christ and calling upon his name Iob. 13. 15 1 Sam. â—0 6. Heb. 11. 21. 22. 13. These 〈◊〉 in faith 2. Charitably so Stephen Acts. 7. 20. Lord â—ay not this sinne to their charge and Christ Luk. 23. 34. 〈◊〉 forgive them 3. Patiently 2 King 20. 2. Iam. 5. 7 8. 4. Obediently and submissively so Christ Matt. 26. 39. not as I will but as thou wilt Phil. 〈◊〉 defecta 〈◊〉 c. 2 8. Rom.
doore of Heaven the gaâ—e of Life the entrance into perfect peace and security the day break of eternall brightnesse It is the consummation of a mans victory the beginning of glory to be perfected at the day of Judgment Here the law of the fleâ—â— shall no more oppose the law of the mind Then shall be perfect rest settled peace a sure inheritance without any feeling of trouble or fear of lâ—sse Then shall be the buriall of all sinnes the raising of all virtues Then shall the soul fly out of the body as an Eagle above the Clouds where shall be neither nets nor snares to take it Who would fear or fly from this change Who would not be glad and desirous to embrace it 2 Cor. 5. 8. Esay 57. 1. 3. Ecâ—les 12. 7. The Spirit returneth to God that gave it being absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Rev. 14. 13. Blessed aâ—â— the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours c. Phil. 1. 23. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Phil. 3. 20 21. Our Conversation is in heaven from whence we looke for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto hiâ— glorious body and 1 Thes 4. 14. 17. Luke 16. 22. When Lazâ—â—â—â— died it is said the Angels carryed his soul into Abrahams bâ—some an allâ—sion as some would have it to the sweet delights and fellowship the Saints shall have with Abrham the father of the faithfull in Heaven as at a Feast whereat in the Eastern Countries they used to leane on one anothers breast Iohn 13. 23. others would have it a mâ—ta phâ—â— from Fathers who imbosome and hug their Children when wearied with long running about or have met with a knock and come crying to them By death the soul is marryed to Jesus Christ her dearest husband the which hath been here kept at a distance from him but then it shall be more neerly united to him and enjoy the beatificall vision of the Godhead the chiefest good and then is there but one step more and soul and body together shall have the compleat enjoyment thereof Then shall the beleever not only be brought into the bouse of his Father prepared from all eternity for him but he shall also there for ever have and enjoy the fellowship of all the blessed Saints and Angels and of his dearest frâ—inds who died in the Lord before him Heb. 6. 20. 1â— 23. 2 Sam. 12. 23. Who then would not be willing to die It is no maâ—â—ailâ— therefore iâ— Paul in the Contemplâ—tion or all these things desired to be dissolved Phil. 1. 23. and that the Saints desire to be uâ—clâ—thed of their house of clay 2 Cor. 5. 2. And that the wicked do so much desire to diâ— the death of the righteous Numb 23. 10. And that the Maityrs loved not their lives unto death Rev. 12. 11. Acts 20. 24. but refused deliverance from death when they might have had it Heb. 11. 35. they were as willing to die as to live Out of all this we may then conclude upon the beleevers death with Salomon Eccleâ—â— 7. 3. The â—a of death is better then the day of his birth But here it may be objected that death is a fruit of Gods curse the wages of â—â—n the destruction of nature and a bitter and dreadfull thing To which we answer thus It is bitter and dreadfull in it self but it is the way all flesh do go and Christ himself went into glory and the nature of it is now changed as we have already shewed the sting of it is gone and it cannot hurt us and it is sanctified and sweetned by the death of Christ who will be with us and enable us to endure it Esay 43. 2. Oh! but you will say I am affraid of a long and strong disease and a painfull death To this we say Perhaps it may be otherwise for some die with little some without any pain at all But if it be so either god will lessen the pain or greaten thy strength and comfort 2 Cor. 1. 5. 10. 13. And very long the disease cannot be It is but like one swallow of a bitter pill and be cuâ—ed of all diseases one thrust out at a narrow gate and we are out of prison it is but one wink and all is past 2 Cor. 4. 17. Oh! But some will say the grave which followes death at the heels is a dreadfull spectacle To this we answer That the grave shall be no other to the Saints but as a sweet bed wherein they shall sleep quietly and feel nothing Esay 57. 1. 3. And Christ the members of whose body they still continue to be will be there with them and bring them from thence into heaven Ephes. 5. 30. Psal 16. 9. 0. Fifthly The â—ifth thing to which we are to be perswaded is that since we must shortly die and by death be for ever seperated from our worldly enjoyments that we do not overmuch desire them before we have them not to much delight glory please and content our selves or trust in them when we have them nor much be grieved for them when we loose them Riches Honours Offices Authority Command Friends Pleasures and the rest what are they What can they do Matt. 6. 19 20. Lay not uâ— for your selves treasures on earth c. Jo 6. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth c. 1 Cor. 7. 29. Let them that have wives be as if they â—ad none 1 Tim. 6. 1â— Trust not in uncertain riches Psal 62. 10. If riches increase set not thine heart upon them Prov. 23. 4. Labour not to be rich But for the Cure of this consider these things 1. That all Silver Gold Pearls c. are but vile things Earth upon Earth Matth. 6. verse 19. Silver and Gold is but White and Yellow earth Pearls the guts and garbage of the Earth all of them but thick clay Hab. 2. 9. 2. Riches Honours and the rest reach no further then to this life Iob 17. 15 16. 3. They can do little for us while we have them they can procure us no spirituall or solid joy they cannot preserve or deliver us from any great evill Prov. 10. 2. Treasures of wickednesse profit nothing Prov. 11. 4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath Psal 49. 6 7. They that trust in their wealth c. none of them can by any means redeem his brother c. Luke 12. 15. 4. They are of a perishing vanishing nature they perish with the using they are but as heaps of Snow or Chasse they melt away between our singers as butter before the Sun and are gone we know not how they that lean upon and trust unto them are as men that trust to a hillâ—â—k of Yee or heap of Snow Psal 30. 6 7. Esay 40. 6. All flesh is grasse and the glory thereof as the flower
have already shewed and we are not to be much troubled at our own losse which is so much to their gain they are but gone to bed and in a sweet sleep a little before us 10. 11. 11. Ps 37. 7. Luke 16. 24. 10. They are not gone from but a little before us and we shall shortly go to them 2 Sam. 12. 23. 11. They shall rise again and we shall meet again and live together for ever in a far better condition then we are or can be in here 1 Thess 4. 3. 2. In the second place let this perswade us not to trust too much in friends Psal 146. 3. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the sonnes of men for there is no help in him his breath departeth he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish Esay 2. 22. Cease from man whose breath is in his â—ostrils for wherein is he to be esteemed 2. As to Enemies Let this perswade us not to live in fear of them be they never so mighty rich cruel c. able and willing to hurt us For first all their power can reach but to the bodie it cannot touch the soul Mat. 10. 28. 2. They can do no more to our bodies then God hath decreed and shall give them leave to do Acts 2. 23. Revel 2. 10. Luke 8. 3â— Iob 1. 4 5 6. 3. They must shortly die and then that power they have will be taken from them Matt. 2. 16. 19. Iob 3. 17. there i in the grave the wicked cease from troubling Thus we have done with the use of exhortation The next use we shall make of this point shall be for consolation and this Vse 3 is to the Saints under all their lesser deaths the troubles of this present life which they either feel or fear this great death will shortly come and put an end to them all Iob 3. 17. There the weary be 〈◊〉 c. they heare not the voice of the oppressor for being once dead they can die no more This very Use the Holy Ghost doth make of this point 〈◊〉 Rev. 14. 13. Esay 7. 1. for as it is a comfort to a man in a dark prison that he hath no light but through a little hole If looking through it he can see some pleasant object that doth delight him it will make his imprisonment seem shorter and lighter So doubtlesse will it comfort Gods people to contemplate this doore of hope shortly to be opened to them by which they shall be let out of all the troubles of this present life into a place and estate of perfect peace and liberty Vse 4 But here that we be not mistaken and to the end that the comforts before reached out and offered to the Saints be not catched hold of and assumed by the wicked that have nothing to do therewith we shall subjoyn a word or two of â—yall and examination If we be the persons to whom the comforts before heâ—â— forth do belong who shall have a happy change who shall be blessed in dâ—ath rest from their labours after death being dissolved shall be with Christ who shall have hope in death whose flesh shall rest in hope whose 〈◊〉 bodies shall be with Christ who shall have hope in death whose flesh shall rest in hope whose vile bodies shall be made like Christs glorious body who shall have peace who shall rest in our beds and be gathered to our graves in peace we must be able to give this Character of our selves That we are upright righteous persons perfect and mercifull men such as do studdy to approve our selves in all things towards God and men 2 Cor. 1. 12. 9 10. Prov. 14. 31. 32. Psal 37. 7. Esay 57. 1. 3. Numb 23. 10. That we are in Christ Jesus 1 engâ—aâ—â—ed into him by faith Rev. 14. 13. And if so then are we 1. New Creatures that is we have new qualyties of holinesse created in us Rom. 8. 38 39. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 2. We are dead to sin and alive to righteousnesse Rom. 6. 3 4. c. 3. We walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 10. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 5. 4. We have tender hearts and humble our selves before God his word and his judgments 2 Kings 22 19 20. We are also active and industrious for Gods glory and his peoples good Phil. 1. 1 2 c. 1 Pet 1. 12. Our conversation is heavenly Phil. 2â— 21. We are Saints and such as make the Lord â—uâ— portion Psal 16. 5 These are Gods people who have the Lord for their God and to whom the comforts of this poyâ—t belong Mat. 22. 32. What then have reprobate unregenerate unbeleeving 〈◊〉 unmercifull deceitfull carelesse hard-hearted proud 〈◊〉 wicked and impenitent persons to do with those comfortable promises and discoveries they have no part nor portion herein but their portion 〈◊〉 in the next use Vse 5 The next and last use to be made of this point of deathâ— certain and speedy approach is of very great terrour and discomfort to all wicked and ungodly persons such as we have before sâ—cluded from all the comfort of this point The licentious â—â—â—cure that sayth 1 Cor. 15. 32. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die Luke 12. 19. Psal 49. 18. The secure wordling that doth think his house shall continue for ever Psal 49. 11. and that he hath enough for many yeares Luk. 12. 19. The proud who trusteth in his goods and glorâ—eth in the multitude of his wealth Psal 49. 6. and all other sinners whatsoever that walk in the way of their own hearts and either mind not at all or put farre from them their dying day Eccles. 7. 9. Amoâ— 6. 3. All these are to know to their grief and astonishment that they must certainly and shortly die and that very suddenly and when they least of all expect it their souls will be required of them and return they must to God to give an account of all the things they have done in their flesh and from thence be sent packing to hell their bodies shall â—re long chop into the earth when they must leave all their worldly enjoyments they so much glory and rejoyce in and settle upon to others and be gone from hence to be seen no more A change they also shall make but not from a worse to a better estate but from a better to a worse estate they shall go from peace to trouble from liberty to bondage from life to death from their heaven to hell and from the enjoyment and the hope of all in this world which either is or they esteem to be good to all that is evill or if they do as some of them do go from a sad condition here they go into a worse out of the Frying-pan they gâ—â— to the Fiâ—e â—ut of Prison to the Gallowes they are lanching into an infinite ocean of scalding Lead and in it they must swim naked for ever In one word
things yet farther in some particulars As the misery of Hell so the happinesse of Heaven doth 〈◊〉 of two parts 1. in â—â—exemption and 〈◊〉 of all â—â—â—ll 2. In a fruition of all good The righteous in heaven shall be freed from all manner of evill from evill spirituall for they shall not they cannot sin that which makes the holy man here to cry out O wretched man that I am c. Rom. 7. 24. they shall be freed off the Conscience shall not be unquieted any more corporall for there shall be no more offence to the body by hunger thirst cold wearines heat â—â—ame sicknes death nothing shall annoy either soule or body it shall neither feel nor fear disturbance Otherice blessed condition that is so exceeding happy and whose happines is so infallibly secured Revel 21. 4. Esay 5. 8. It is said of this estate And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain c. And again Revel 7. 14 c. These are they which came out of great tribulation and they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heat For the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes And again Esay 57. 1 2. it is said The righteous are taken away from the evill to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds And in Matth. 11. 29. Come unto me all yee that are 〈◊〉 laden c. you shall finde rest to your Soules of this time and state it is that Christ speaks Mat. 22. 30. They neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heaven Hebr. 4. 9. There remaineth a rest for the People of God the which was signified by the rest the Jews had in the â—â—nd 〈◊〉 Canaan Psal 95. 11. This is that also the whol creation waâ—teth for Rom. 8. 22 23. For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together till now And not onely they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the spirit 〈◊〉 we ourselves grâ—â—n within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit for the Redemption of our body Nay then shall do 〈◊〉 self be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. So that the triumphant â—oulin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 our Lord Iesus 〈◊〉 So that here we see 〈◊〉 immunity and freedom from 〈◊〉 for Death and the 〈◊〉 shall be abolished and that last enemy shall be destroyed Coll. 3. 3. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law Christ hath taken away the sin satisfied the Law and obtained eternall freedom for his own They are never to return into bondage oâ— to feel evill any more They are no more to come into this place for they are to dwell on high where no evill can reach them The Devil shall be shut up in chains of darknes in the prison of Hell Rom. 16. 20. no wicked persoâ— or thing shall be in Heaven for there dwelled righteousneâ—â— there shall be therefore perfect freedom without any possibility of returning to bondage The second part of the happines of heaven is in the fruition of all good corporall and spirituall and albeit this doth consist of many particulars yet all these seem to be intended and contained in those three words in Rom. 2. 10. Glory Honour and Peace in opposition to the â—â—ame Contempt and Trouble by which the misery of Hell is described The glory oâ— the Saints in Heaven 〈◊〉 wherein a part of then happines shall consist shall be in these things 1. in their bodies which being glorified shall be most beautifull and excellent either as it springs out of the blessed beauty and excellency of the soule or as it is indâ—wed with an heavenly excellency originally implanted by God in it self For the Spirit of God and glory shall thou rest aboundantly upon them 1 Pet 4. 14. The body beâ—â—â—s the freedom that it shall have from all the evils thereof as lamenes mis-shapenesse sicknes hunger nakednes wearines cold and the like it shall be gloriously endâ—wed with many positive and wonderfull excellencies as 1. Immortality for it can never possibly die 1 Corinth 15. verse 54. but it shall live as long as God doth live so that herein their condition is a thousand times more happy thâ—n it was in the state of innocency in Paradise 2. Incorruptiblenes for every glorified body shall be for evâ—r utterly impossible with any corruptive quality action or alteration and cannot be subject to any inward decay or dissolution 1 Cor. 15. 42. 54. 3. Power when to the Souls native strength there shall be an addition of glorifying vigour and Gods mighty spirits more plentifull habitation and it shall also put on a body which brings with it besides his own inherent power an exact ablenes and readines fitted to the Souls highest abilities how incredible mighty may we conceive a Saint in Heaven to be 1 Cor. 15 43. 4. Spiritualnes 1 Cor. 15. 44. The glorified body shall be more of the nature of the Spirit i. more active not needing food c. and more subject to the Spirit and be more fully possessed with the Spirit 5. Beauty and a shining amiablenes 1 Cor. 15. 43. The glorified body shall have an exquisite feature and stature a welfavoured and comly proportion and mutuall correspondency of all the parts thereof a sweet and amiable colour and a bright shining splendor of celestiall glory and a chearfull lively lightsome aspect and all this preserved in perpetuall freshnes with new supply of heavenly activenesse by a more glorious Soul yea the very nakednesse now the shame thereof shall be then the glory of it Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious bodie A glimpse of which we have in Christs Transfiguration Matth. 17. 2 13 43 2 4 2. A second part of this glory shall be in the soul wherein 1. The understanding shall be abundantly and comfortably enlightened and enlarged to the uttermost that the creature can reach unto in all naturall things that may delight and especially in heavenly things as in Gods word the glorious misteries of the holy Trinity The union of Christs natures the union of his elect unto him Gods eternall councell in election and reprobation and the like 2. The will shall be conformable to Gods will 3. The memory shall still keep what it knowes 4. The affections shall be according to the perfect pattern And all this shall be in perfection 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. For when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away And it must nâ—eds be where there is so much grace there should 〈◊〉 to much Glorie
see as he is seen he shall have a most cleer beatifficall sweet and comfortable beholding of God by the understanding of the minde as far as the creature is capable And this sight of God shall be 1. True not imaginary and by delusions 2 It shall be perfect according to the capacity of the soul 3 It shall be immediate without the help of any other thing 4 It shall be joyfull as one that seeth his deerest friend and not terrible as one that seeth his Judge or Tormentour And this must needs be a blessed thing For 1. God is Light 2 He is joy 3 He is satisfying to the soul 4 There is participation of him by this means to the creatures 1 Io. 1. 5. Psal 16. 7. 171 Ioh. 3 2. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Cor. 13. 12. Iob 19. 5. I know that my Redeemer liveth and that I shall see him c. And faithfull shall also have a sweet and comfortable and certain knowledge of one another Mat. 27. 3. 4. From the perfect conformity of the whole man to Gods will for then the work of grace shall be perfect and entire 1 Cor. 13. 10. When that which is perfect iâ— come then that which is in part shall be done away then and there the faithfull shall not sin for they shall enjoy a perfect rest which cannot stand with sin and they shall doe Gods will perfectly as the Angels in heaven and as Christ him self Mat. 6. v. 10. 22 30. Psal 103 v. 21 22. 1 Jo. 3. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Wee shall all meet together c. unto a perfect man and the measure of the age of the 〈◊〉 of â—hrist Ephes 4. 13. The Church shall be glorious at last not having spot or wriâ—kle or any such thing Ephes 5. â—7 When he is manifest we shall be like him 1 Jo. 3. 2. Then shall the Saints be freed from that body of death under which they groan so much now then shall they be freed from that body of corruption under which they cry out so much O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me c. Rom. 7. 23 24 25. Rev. 〈◊〉 4. 1â— 5. From their fruition of what they have for they shall not onely have much but enjoy what they have they shall therefore know it that is theirs what it is and that they cannot lose it none can take it from them There are these things in fruition 1. there must be a propriety in the thing 2. a possession of the thing 3. an accommodation of it to the ends for which it is appointed 4. an asâ—urance that they shall not lose it all this is here for then he shall dwel on high and his defence shall be the munition of Rocks Esay 33. 16. compare then the happines and security of this estate together and we must needs say it is a very happy estate Iohn 10. 28. 6. From their contentment and satisfaction in it For then shall they not desire more or other then they have but God alone shall be their portion they shal desire none other with him or besides him then shalâ— it come passe that God shall be all in all 1 Corinthians 15. verse 28. 7. From their work and Imployment which shall be that and nothing but that wherein the regenerate man doth much delight Rom. 7. 21. They serve God night and day in his Temple and sing praises to him Revel 7. 15. Halleluia Salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God Revel 1. 1. And when those Beasts gave glory and honour and thanks to him that sate on the Throne who â—â—oâ—th for ever and ever the foure and twenty Eâ—â—ers fall down before him that sate on the Throne and worship him that liveth for ever and cast their Crowns before the Throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour aâ—d power for thou haâ—â— created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Revel 4. 9 10 11. And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred tongue and nation and people i. From the state of the wicked as the Israelites turned back on the Sea and saw the Egyptians drowned themselves delivered And as there shall be no evill person so there shall be no evill work there Revel 21. 27. 22. ◠〈◊〉 15. 2 Pet. 3. 13. All things that offend shall be removed Mat 13 41. 9. That nothing shall disturbe their happines or in the least measure lessen it and that there shall be no intermission of it but that it shall be night and day continued Great peace shall they have that keep thy Word and nothing shall offend them Psal 119. 165. Your joy shall no man take from you Io. 16. 22. Add we to all this the suâ—dennesse and â—nexpectednesse of them the place the company and the time wherein and with whom all this happines shall be enjoyed and we will see and say that there is indeed matter of wonderfull joy and delight in it 1. From the place in 3. particulars 1. It is above and on high it shall be very conspicuous and therefore more glorious it doth somewhat add to the glory of a building that it is a little mounted Jerusalem which is above Gal. 4. 6. Acts 1 9 10 11. 2. It is a place of unmeasurable greatnes and largenes it ads to the glory of a â—arm and the hapines of hiâ— that ows it that it is spacious to have 〈◊〉 that very good a fair 〈◊〉 it and â—ll in a sweet soile and faâ—â—ly â—â—â—tuated all this together is in this possession for the Heaven is the biggest of all created bodies and infinitely bigger then the Earth 2 Cor. 12. 2. and all this shining with exqâ—â—â—te glory and brightnes of purest light Men love stately houses built by curious workmen especially if â—hey be safe pleasant and delightfull hâ—â—â—tations Such is this Heb 11. 12. Jo. 14. 2. In my fathers house are many mansions It is called the great City Rev. 21. 10. and the City of the great and mighty King and Lord of Heaven and Earth made of purpose for the manifestation of his glory and the habitation and entertainment of his dearest friends 3. It is a place of incomparable and supercelestiall light of a perfect and constant light for there shall be no night there It is set out by a City whose wal is of Jaspar building of Gold Gates of Pearls and foundation of precious stones Iâ— needs not the light of the Sun and Moon For the glory of the Lord shall enlighten it and the Lambe shall be the light thereof And it must needs be infinitely shining and bright for God himself in his most â—â—â—nsparent glory shall there shine out most admirable the glorified body of Christ shall shine brighter then the firmanment and the splendor of many millions of
thaâ— follow There are also two parts of Hell as there are of Heaven 2 Thess 1. 9. 1. The pain of losse or an exemption from all good 2. The pain of sense or the enduring of all evill Matth. 8. 29. The damned in Hell are deprived of all good and means and hope of good Their Consciences shall have no more peace they can do nothing else but sin their bodies shall have no more ease nor rest but torments day and night 〈◊〉 14. 10. They shall hunger and have nothing to eat thirst and have nothing to drink be cold and have nothing to heat them hot and have nothing to cool them weary and cannot rest sick and dying and yet cannot be well nor yet dye And no marvell that they are deprived of all other good for they shall be deprived and for ever separated from that summâ—on bonum the chiefest good and well spring of all good they shall be for ever driven out of and excluded from the blessed sweet and comfortable presence of the most glorious God blessed for ever the Lord Iesus Christ the blessed Spirit and all the blessed ones and those that were their dearest friends who shall then justly abandon them with all loathing and scorn and forgetting all neernes and bonds of nature shall rejoyce in the justice of God in their everlasting condemnation So that no eye of God or man shall then pity them no prayers promises or means be then heard or prevail in their behalf or any one in heaven or earth be heard to speak for them The serious thinking of this losse will then more afflict the understanding Soul then all the extream sufferings of Sense to be shut out everlastingly and unrecoverablâ—ly and to be for ever banished of the blessed sight of God which had they ever had but a a taste of they would know to be an incomparable lâ—sse and greater then the lâ—osse of ten thousand worlds this renting of the Soule from God and the horrible sense of Gods forsaking and casting it of is incomparably more grievous then the renting of Soul and Body asunder And then withall they shall think of their shamefull negligence and wilfull folly in the neglect and refusall of the means of salvation how near they were to it how easily they might have had it how much they are deceived how these men are exalted that they thought fools and they proved fooles that thought themselves wise And in those and such like thoughts what then will be the gnawings of the never dying Worm what rage of their guilty Consciences what furious despair what horrour of minde what distractions and fears what bitter looking back upon their mispent time in this world what cursing of the day of their birth their Brethren in iniquity and even blaspheaming of God himself what tearing of the haire gnashing the teeth wayling and wringing the hands no tongue can tell no heart can think The second part of Hel is the pain of Sense or enduring of evill which though it doth comprehend many particulars yet perhaps also may be all intended and comprehended in the terms of Shame and Conteâ—pt in Dan. 12. 2 and thâ—â— implyed in Esay 57. 31. in opposition to that Glory Honour and Peace by which the felicity of Heaven is set forth The unhappines of the wicked in Hell we must needs conceive to be in the contrary 1 that there shall be an uglines and lothsomnes in them and in their bodies and souls both for they shall have nothing in or upon them nor shall they come near to any thing that may make them gloriâ—uâ— they are separated from God and all goodâ—â—â—s as farr as Hel from Heaven they shall then be perfectly wicked and therefore perfectly filâ—hy and unclean Rev. 10. 11. their fellowships is with unclean spirits Matt. 12. 43. and they 〈◊〉 like unto them Those therefore that are to be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone amongst the rest are said to be abominable Rev. 21. 8. And in Esay 66. â—4 They shall be an abhorring to all flesh Their bodies shall be immortall also but this shall be their death that they cannot die they shall be ever dying but never dye It is called therefore an everlasting destruction so that they shall be an everlasting abhorring they shall be alwayes corrupting but not corrupted alwayes decaying but not decayed Their bodies shall be powerfull also but alas for this power there shall be an addition of suffering-strength for God will make them able to endure what else were intollerable and he will give them strength to bear that burthen which otherwise were insupportable for they shall be able to live so as alwayes a dying but so shall dye as that they shall alwayes live they who torment shall never be weary they who are tormented shall never be killed They may have also more power to sin for they shall be given up thereunto without restraint there shall be no grace nor means of grace thre the naturall ability or capacity of receiving or doing good shall be lost And if the light in them be darknes how great is the darknes Their vile bodies shall be yet more vile and as vile as sin and misery together can make them And because the body hath sinned therefore is the body to be vexed with corporall pains The damned body shall be more spirituall also but wo worth this spiritualnes for it shall be now immortall like the soul but happy were it for it if it could die Their bodyes also will be then much more deformed and ugâ—y if sin or misery the fellowship of Devils in a smoackie filthy Dungeon can make a man filthy and ignominious the persons of the damned must needs be so Gods Spirit hath forsaken them and Satan hath filled their heart 2. The understanding and memory of the damned soul shall also then without doubt be much greater and shall be so far forth enlarged and confirmed as it may thereby be made more capable of miserie for as grace shall be perfect in heaven so shall perâ—â—bation in hell the mindes of those damned wretches shall be tormented with anger fury madnesse sorrow fear outcries and the like 1. With the sense of their sin which now they shall see in order before them Psal â—0 21. in quantity and in qualitie as it is in Gods eye and his words censure all which they shall now see and remember at once exactly 2. In the sense of the happinesse they have lost by the losse of Gods favour and presence the society of good Angels and men of the happinesse of which then they shall be doubtlesse far enlightened to see the extent for there shall be nothing wanting to make them perfectly miserable But they shall neither see nor remember any thing at all that may conduce to their ease or release theâ— of their miseâ—ie here they shall envy the happinesse of the Saints despair of help and mercie and be utterly destitute of all