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A08812 Meditations of death wherein a Christian is taught how to remember and prepare for his latter end: by the late able & faithfull minister of the Gospel, Iohn Paget. Paget, John, d. 1640.; Paget, Robert. 1639 (1639) STC 19099; ESTC S113906 110,470 273

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doth trouble disturbe the minde and disables it that it cannot orderly quietly dispose it selfe unto godly comfortable meditations but being overcome with impatiēce frets murmures is tossed up downe without fruit Therefore are these extremities of anguish compared to a cup of intoxicating wine making men as it were drunken with greefe Esa 51.17 21.22 Lam 4.21 and even mad with woe sorrow that they know not what to doe Deut. 28.34 Ier. 25.16 Eccles 7.7 And what folly is it then for men to be unprepared through forgetfulnes of their latter end to remaine drunken with security all their life till they be drowned in a gulfe of misery Perplexity extreme anguish may justly come as a snare upon them that abuse their present peace ease promising themselves liberty power to dispatch all that is needfull for their salvation in one moment of their last distresse g And commonly when death approcheth our adversary the devill that prince of darknes that hath gone about as a roaring lyon watching to devoure us at all opportunities before doth thē especially rage knowing that his time is short Rev. 12. 12. and withall seekes to take advantage by the present infirmitie of the sick persons insinuating himselfe into each of the former troubles adding fearfull dreames to their slumbers strong fancies to their distraction aggravating their paines with divers terrours Experience shewes what great temptatiōs many have undergone upon their death-bed And therfore the consideratiō of this last great combat should warne every one betimes to arme thēselves to gather strēgth every day against the last day to furnish thēselves with grace to seek truth righteousnes faith patience store of comfortable promises out of the word of God layd up in their hearts kept in readines to nourish themselves in hope to watch pray uncessantly that having concluded this last combat obtained the victory they may then be translated from a state militant to a state triumphant for ever h THese forewarnings are such as serve chiefly for the instruction of those that feele them on whose persons they are inflicted but beside these forewarnings the dead leave unto the living many after-warnings of their mortality which admonish the succeeding generation that they must follow their praedecessours And here first of all observe how it is ordered by divine providence that in death the soule body be separated one from the other In this separation the Soule is carried away invisibly no man knoweth how nor whither No humane sense cā discerne the spirit of man ascending Ecc. 3.21 The Lord in his unsearchable counsell would have the opening of the gates of the second world to be kept secret close from us If godly parents should see the soules of their children carried away to destruction in the clawes of an hellish dragon crying unto them with a lamentable and desperate voyce what horrour woe would this be unto them to make their dayes more uncomfortable so lōg as they should live on earth God in great mercy conceales it from them If wicked ungodly men should see their children or companions soules haled away by evill spirits after they were separated frō their bodies withall should heare thē shrike cry curse their cōpany what a stroke of terrour might this be unto them but God in justice hides these things from thē will not satisfy the curiosity of profane men that despise his Gospell and the means of life revealed therein This secret manner of translating the separated soules in carrying some close prisoners to Hell and transporting others in covered wagons invisible chariots unto Glory serves to warne and admonish us by the very forme thereof so much the more to remember the other evident monuments of our frailety When secret things are restrayned to the Lord the things revealed are immediately thereupon the more enforced upon us to observe the same Deut. 29.29 When the Spirit recordes how some persons men or angels have vanished out of the sight of those they had spoken withall we are to observe how they were occasioned thereby to thinke the more of that which they had seene heard from such and not to prye into that which was withdrawne from them Luke 24.31.32 Act. 8.39 Iudg. 6.21.22 c. Yea the Lord appointed that they should not be suffered to live which went about to talke with the dead soule or to rayse the spirits Levit. 20.27 1. Sam. 28.8 9. c. But by all this we are so much the more led to observe the common visible memorials of mortality shewed unto us in them that die before us i It is further to be observed that when the spirit is carried away presently to God that gave it yet the body remains behinde returnes to dust from whence it came Eccles 12.7 If God by death had taken away both the soule the body together at the same time if it had pleased God to take away all men as Henoch Elias were Heb. 11.5 Gen. 5.24 2. Kin. 2.11.17 or to bury all men so as Moses was Deut. 34.6 namely so that their bodies should be seene no more among men yet even then there were cause enough to remember that wonderfull great finall translation but now seing every man departing this life leaves a peece of himselfe among his friends on earth yea the one halfe of his person and that halfe which is the visible part even the body that was best knowne among men the Lord by this fragment of man that is left gives us occasion to thinke what is done with the rest and to keepe in memory the death past to prepare us for death to come As Elias ascending to heaven let his mantle fall for a remembrance so much care for our bodies as we doe for the soules according to this example of God who shewes more love respect to the soules taking them first into his heavenly Kingdome glory when as he suffers the body so long a time after to lodge in dishonour to remaine in the pit of corruption 1. Cor. 15.43 l The sequestration of the body from the place where the soule is and the corruption of it being separate are memorialles wrought immediately by Gods owne hand beside these there are other after-warnings of death effected by the providence of God mediately by the services of men that seeke the honour of the dead comfort of the living For honour of the dead holy men of old have shewed great care to provide sepulchers tombes monuments for them Such were the cave of Machpelah purchased by Abraham Gen. 40.30.31 and 23. the pillar on Rachels grave that Iaakob set up Gen. 35.20 that continued so many generations to Samuels time 1. Sam. 10.2 the title on the sepulcher of the man of God that prophesied of Iosias 2. Kin. 23.17.18 the sepulcher of David that continued twise fourteene generations from David to
raigned raged in those times In this last age of the world violēt bloody deathes seeme to have abounded more then ever before both on Iew Gētile Pagā Christiā What destruction massacre from the beginning of the world unto that time might be cōpared with that of the Iewes by the Romanes for the contempt of Christ his Gospell Mat. 24.21 How many rivers of Christiā blood have bene shed by Romane authority of Heathenish Emperours Antichristian Popes The Harlot drunkē with the blood of the Saints is still blood-thirsty Rev. 17.6 The Kings of the earth drunkē with the wine of her fornication do give their strength power unto her even to this day and are become her butchers to kill slay for her Rev. 17.2.13 Whereas there are foure beasts mentioned in Dan. 7.4.7 a lyon beare leopard monster with ten hornes the beast Rev. 13.1.2 is compounded of all foure so devoureth as many as all the former what should we speake of Turkes Tartares other Barbarous nations among whome by whome death reignes so strōgly Rev. 9.17 18. This all is well knowne but not well regarded In all this we have a cal frō God to remember our latter end But we have eyes see not eares yet heare not his call resist sinners by threatning death by executing death on malefactours Gen. 3.24 with Rom. 13.4 The Princes Iudges of the earth are as Angels of God set to keepe the garden watch the city of God to cut off the workers of wickednes Psal 101.8 and so become the messengers of death unto wicked men Prov. 16.14 Every Iudgmēt Hall is the Tabernacle of death there Death dwelles there he oft shewes his terrible countenance from thence utters his voyce roares as a Lyon There be the monuments of death in many already dead in others threatned Every such place is a pillar of remembrance whereon Deaths name is engraven And if in time of peace the house of Iustice be such a monument of Death much more is the Campe in time of War as Hazarmaveth the Court of Death There Death displayes his banner the sound of Drumme Trumpet are the proclamations of death the Mounts Bulwarkes Batteries are the scaffolds where Death actes his part the Trenches Approches Galleries Mines are the vallies of the shadow of death and all the weapons warlike Engines are so many darts of death whereby the dead are multiplyed And seing by divine providence besides the many armies marching abroad in other countries the Camp is now presētly so neere unto us in our borders by s' Hertogen-Bosch our duety is to observe this Alarum of death from thēce to hearken unto the speciall calling of God for remembrance of our latter end The Lords voyce cryes unto the City Heare the Rod who hath appointed it Mic. 6.9 and not onely to the City beseeged that it may shake off the yoke of Antichrist but unto us our cities that are within the soūd that we may walke more worthy of Christ his Gospell which we professe He that regards not this call of God shall beare his iniquity b In the calling of Ministers we have an other Memoriall of death that many wayes Ministers are called of God to call others to remember their latter end And this is noted as a maine worke of their calling Esa 40.6.7.8 A voyce sayd Cry And he sayd what shall I cry All flesh is grasse all the goodlines thereof is as the flovver of the field The grasse withereth the flovver fadeth because the spirit of the Lord blovveth upon it surely drawing out shaking that sword against the breast of sinners by making life or death to be evermore the foot or burden of their song and the effect of all is they are the savour of life or the savour of death to all that heare them 2. Cor. 2.16 c And this which hitherto we have heard of Angels Magistrates Ministers is spoken of the good come we now to speake of the evill The Lord calles us as lowd by them to remember our end that we may gather good out of evill Evill angels what are they els but professed murderers murderers from the beginning going about as roaring lyons seeking whome they may devoure Ioh. 8.44 1. Pet. 5.8 They have power of death Heb. 2.14 dayly bring thousands to death of body soule for ever Wicked Magistrates persecuting rulers that compell men to Idolatry false religion force men to take the marke of the beast as also the false teachers blinde guides that bring in damnable errours even both these are like the servāts that dance on the threshold fill their masters house with spoyle prey Zeph. 1 9. Both these are the blood-hounds of the Divell by which he hunteth soules Hos 5.1 Both these are as ranging beares ravenous woolves that wory yong old drive them into the slaughterhouse of Satan Prov. 28.15 Mat. 7.15 These help him dayly to thrust sinfull men into the ditch into the bottomles pit of Hell All these therefore are the Grand-champions standard-bearers of death have Death written in their foreheads The sight of these or the mention of them their enterprises should cause men with horrour to thinke of death And seing the world is full of these how many are the calles warnings that God by them gives us to thinke of death to stand upon our watch d As for the times severall also are the warnings which are thereby given us to remember our end sometimes by the red horse marching in our borders trotting galloping rushing into battell sometimes the pale horse ambling up downe in our streets Rev. 6.4.8 both warre pestilence bringing massacre upon massacre calamity upon calamity Ier. 9.21 Ezek. 7.25.26 are as so many proclamations of death in our eares sounding at some times more louder then other according as these judgments are more grievous universall Who doth not see the axe layd unto the root of the tree in these dayes both the bloody axe of warre black axe of pestilence in some times places continued in others threatned Besides time it selfe is a sythe an axe Night day are two axes at the root of our life when one is up the other is downe without rest every day a chip flyes away and every night a chip and so our bones ly scattered at the graves mouth as when one cutteth or heweth wood on the earth Psalm 141.7 Though every day giving us so manifold examples of death do thereby serve to put us in minde thereof yet in a speciall manner is the Sabbath-day set apart by the ordinance of God that on it we should consider the latter end of man That is the time especially when the voyce cryeth in the Congregation All flesh is grasse c. And therefore in the Psalme that is entitled
state of mans owne person calling and condition calles him by the sight of himselfe to remember his latter end And first the Lord having made man of the dust of the earth Gen. 2.7 and thereupon after his fall shewed him his readines to return to dust Gen. 3.19 Eccl. 12.7 doth yet further call us to consider our frailety by ordaining that this house of clay is to be held upright by a puffe of the ayre continually breathed in and out and that this being stopt the house must presently fall downe Hereby our life hangs as it were loose before us going in and out every moment therefore is it called the breath of life Gen. 2.7 7.15.22 our life being carried in out upon the breath depending upon it And as God tyed life to our body by such a slender weake thread so he calles us oft to mark it think on it to remember our mortall estate by the breath of our nostrils so easily departing Esa 2.22 Psa 146.4 104.29 a An other fraile band of life like unto our breathing is the pulse which ariseth from the heart the arteries or beating veines this by a double motion of contraction dilatation whereby they are drawne in out both for the expelling of noxious fumes through the insensible pores of the flesh for the drawing in of coole ayre to refresh the heart to feed the vitall spirits From the variety of the pulse are taken many signes of health sicknes life death it is the character of our strength or weaknes are we provoked to watchfulnes And as in the necessity of food so in the quality thereof is our corruptible estate made evident unto us Our food before it come into the body is diversly prepared and the principall fruits for nourishment of man comfort of his life as corne wine figges the like are ripened made to grow more abundantly by the dung and excrements of beasts cast upon them Luke 13.8 from the juyce of the dung is the fatnes and sweetnes of the fruits increased And from hence is the strength of our corruptible life hence we may say to corruption Thou art my father As once the meat of the miserable Iewes in their distresse was prepared with dung Ezek. 4.12 13.15 so is our food dayly in the growth of it as it were seasoned baked and concocted with dung The earth accursed for our sinne is brought to this base condition that the fattest increase thereof is from excrements and it yeeldeth fruit unto the mouth of mā from the tayle of the beasts After it is in the body a great part of it by the alteration there is turned into corruption and receyved into divers lothsome sinkes and channels within the body till it be againe expelled By this perishing food Ioh. 6.27 God doth admonish us of our perishing estate shewes unto us that meats are for the belly and the belly for meats that he wlll destroy both it them 1. Cor. 6.13 Thus the staffe of our strength the very pillars of our life do carry in them the remembrance of destruction corruption for our warning c But this is not all Our food is not onely of corruption but we feed even of death it selfe that by the allowance of God Gen. 9.3 in taking away the life of other creatures to maintaine our owne especially in these last times when he hath said unto us of them all Rise kill eat Act. 10.13 Whatsoever is sold in the shābles that eat asking no questiō for conscience sake 1 Cor. 10.25 herein we see death dayly presēted to us set before us on our tables This is seriously to be thought upō as a wonderfull work of God by the death of other creatures our life is preserved our living bodies are sustaind by their dead carcasses in their blood swimmes our life and from their pangs of death spring the pleasures of our life our feasts ordinary food As the savage Cāniballes eat the flesh of men so we eat the flesh of beasts that that which any creature may serve to be a witnesse of for convincing of sinners that doth the Lord declare to be their cry a denunciation of woe from them Habac. 2.11 Iob. 31.38 Iam. 5.2.3 and in like manner that misery which the creature enthralled by sinne doth endure for man that doth the Apostle expressely call their groaning and travelling together in paine vvith us c. Rom. 8.22 These groanes cryes are then especially to sound in our eares while we are eating of them as the Hare newly taken cries in the mouth of the greyhound so should we be affected as if the same cry were made when we eat thereof have their flesh betwixt our teeth The Gentleman that sits at his table above in his dining chamber and was not present in the kitchin or butchery to see the execution the convulsions of death the sprinting gasping of the slaughtered creatures is yet by remembrance to represent the same and to make it present againe in his eating for eating burying of them in our bellies is more then killing of them a further meanes to strike the heart with thought of death procured for the eater Our stupidity blockishnes must needs be very great if we consider not this fearfull wonderfull providence of God and we shall be worse then the beasts themselves if we hearken not unto the call which God by them gives us to awaken us out of our security to make us remember our fraile condition d An other helpe to preserve our fraile bodies is our rayment and apparell which God hath given to cover and defend the body without as food within And from hence we have a double or treble memoriall of Death considering that our apparell was then first given unto us when by our sinne we first came into the state of death not before Gen. 2.25 with c. 3.7 And then when God first gave our garments unto us he tooke them out of Deaths wardrobe they being made with the death of the creatures from whence they were taken God made coates of skinnes for Adam his wife his posterity Gen. 3.21 Heb. 11.37 The skins of the poore creatures were pluckt over their eares torne from their backes to cover the shame of our skinnes to hide the nakednes of our hydes And what was sayd of Ioab in another case are swifter then a post Iob. 9.25 that we ride post as on dromedaries that runne by the way in all hast to their journeyes end And the travell that men have by sea in the most swift ships is mentioned of God to represent the swiftnes of our time that carries us night and day sleeping or waking to the haven of death Iob 9.26 And according to this wisedome of God and his example should men make right use of other trades and their labours therein to set
their latter end continually before their eyes thereby f As labour toyle in the day so sleep rest from labour in the night season is also a necessary help to preserve this mortall life This sleep is a lively image of death For in sleep men ly downe as dead men without sense and motion ceassing from their workes and taking no knowledge of the things that are done by others and therefore the holy Ghost often describeth death by the name of sleep or lying downe to sleepe Genes 47.30 Deuter. 31.16 1. King 2.10 Iob. 3.13 and ch 14.12 Psalm 76.5 Matt. 27.52 Iohn 11.11 Actes 7.60 1. Corinth 11.30 1. Thessal 4.13 By this marvellous work of God in breaking off the course of life and making Sleepe like an Half-death to invade us continually to come upon us like an unresistable Giant every day and to throw us downe and then by his manner of speech in calling death a Sleepe he calleth us by consideration of our sleepe to consider our death by the sight of our bed to remember our grave to looke upon it as a Tombe or Sepulchre every night before we goe into it to labour for reconciliation with God at the end of the day to seeke new sense of his love in Christ as we would doe at the end of our life that so we may lie downe sleep safely Had any man some speciall disease as of the falling sicknes Apoplexie Palsie Lethargie or the like terrible passion whereby at a certaine time of the day he should duely fall downe like a dead man and ly snorting at the gates of death for an houre or two untill the malignant humour were discussed and the force of the fit were over would we not thinke that man warned of God thereby to remember his end 7.8.9 but with the faythfull there is another remembrance of death by occasion of sinnes as comfortable to them as the former is terrible to the wicked For in sight of sinnes that greeve them they call to minde what shall quite free them from those sins and what is that but death Thereupon they set death before their eyes and are taught of God so to doe longing for their redemption and desiring to remoove out of the body which is by death Rom. 8.23 2. Cor. 5.8 And how many wayes then is death propounded unto us which way can we looke on the right hand or on the left before us or behinde us but every way the memorialles of death are before us Transgressions past sins present feares of the wicked desires of the godly all lead to the thought of death and to the remembrance of our latter end h Againe the afflictions sicknesses dangers wherein death is threatned unto men are likewise meanes of death and by them also we are called of God to remember our latter end It pleaseth God for the warning of secure men to bring men to the gates of death before they enter Psal 19.13 and though he bring them back againe yet is this done of God for a memoriall of death God brings men into such extremity that they make full account to die they receive the sentence of death in themselves despaire of life 2. Cor. 1.8.9 and are free among the dead in their owne and others judgement Psal 88.4.5 and this many times they are in deaths often 2. Corint 11.23 and such things God worketh oftentimes that men might renounce the world Iob. 33 22-29 and set their house in order their heart in order to die that being delivered they might then remember what thoughts desires what prayers purposes they had in their soules and recall them often for their preparation against the time of their finall departure out of this world Esa 38.1.15 c. As Iehosaphat having cryed out in the danger of death 2. Chron. 18.31 was bound to remember that very cry and disposition of his heart afterward so forasmuch as there is almost no man which hath not seene the face of Death and his dart shaken against him in being pale withered and wrinckled the shadow of death sitting upon their eye-lids and some in divers degrees betwixt both and especially in the sight of friends long absent and changed in that time we are called to thinke how the fashion of this world passeth away As the face so the stature of man growing up as a plant according to the divers measures and degrees of his growth appointed of God Psalm 144. 12. Luk. 1.80 and 2.52 is another testimony of his changeable estate even from the childe of a span long unto those that have their full growth Lam. 2.20 Though some be of low stature as Zaccheus Luke 19.3 and some againe higher then the common sort by the head as was Saul 1. Sam. 10.23.24 yet even in these compared with themselves the proportion of their growth is an evidence of their age to such as know them Though men being come to their full stature stand at a stay and loose not their stature by such degrees as they attained unto it in their youth yet many times we see in experience that crooked old age bowing downe their heads more more to the earthward they doe hereby after a sort loose their stature by degrees grow into the ground againe And thus the wheele of mans age visibly sensibly turning about according to the variation of his stature is another admonition to remember the latter end approching k Beside the face stature the Lord hath set sundry other markes upon the bodies of young and old for memorials of their time passing away at the changes of their age The younger people have the time of love described of God by divers markes and tokens thereof Ezech. 16.7.8 but especially old age hath the tokens of neere-approching death imprinted upon them whereby they are warned of God to prepare for it The decay of strength the decay of sense the decay of health are all forerunners of death and summon them to their end Through decay of strength the armes and hands the keepers of the house beginne to tremble Ecclesi 12.3 and the legges that are as pillars thereof do bow themselves and the help of a staffe as a third legge to rest on is sought of the aged person Zach. 8.4 and with that woodden legge at every step he goes he strikes upon the earth raps at the gate of the grave untill it be opened unto him By this weaknes death comes puts his manicles upon their hands his shackels upon their legges for remembrance of their end This weaknes is further signifyed by the ceassing of the grinders in the mill Eccles 12.3 both the upper the nether milstone which are called the life of man Deut. 24.6 These teeth fayling life begins to fayle From this weaknes the doores of the lips are shut without the sound of the grinding is low the voyce hoarse and so whether the old persons worke with
the Apostles time Act. 2.29 having bene preserved in the time of the Babylonian captivity even then when both city temple were destroyed with many the like These monuments are in Scripture called Memorialles Mnemeia Matth. 23.29 Iohn 11.38 and 19.41 and 20 1. by which whatsoever others intended the godly are taught to remember their latter end The garnished tombes and the sumptuous sepulchers are but so many scaffolds stages theaters of humane frailety and so many pulpits out of which our mortality is preached and all the common graves of the people are the coffers of death the sight whereof should teach us to lay up our treasure in heaven And thus though the touch of a grave defiled the body with a ceremoniall pollution in the time of the Law Numb 19.16 yet the sight of a grave may serve to cleanse the soule by a spirituall consideration of our end even as the sight of the Leviathan raised up did bring men to purify themselves fearing lest the whale might be their grave Iob. 41.25 with Iob 3.8 m The grave being prepared for the dead corps then men proceed with their may obtaine n Having bene at the grave performed the last duety to the person of the dead we then returne come from the dead to the living to the friends of the dead to mourne with them to comfort them and as the kinred speciall friends of old used to eat drink with them give them the cup of consolation Rom. 12.15 Ier. 16.7.8 Gen. 37.35 1. Chro. 7.22 Ioh. 11.19 and in this action we have an other call to remember our end While we minister consolation to others we are to take an exhortation to our selves The house of mourning is the schoole of mortification and therefore better to enter into it then into the house of feasting for there is the end of all men which the living will lay unto his heart so be made better in his heart by the consideration of the dead by the sadnes of the countenances waiting on that consideration Eccles 7.2.3.4 o When the comforters of them that mourne are departed from the mourning house gone every one to his owne yet still the friends of the dead even while they live on earth so often as they misse their friends departed want the help benefit which they were wont to enjoy from them so often are they called to remember death that makes such separatiōs La. 4 18-20 The widowes orphanes desolate parents oppressed subjects scattered sheep that are deprived of their loving husbands parents children rulers pastours or any friend neighbour that misseth the company of an other are by this want called to remember both that death past which took away their friends that death to come which shall againe restore them bring them together 1. Thess 4.13.14 2. Sam. 12.23 And in this remembrance they are withal warned to make themselves ready for death not to be glewed unto this world from whence their comforts are taken away When the shepheard takes up the young lamb the ewe followes him of her selfe and needs no more calling or driving when the great shepheard of the sheep takes away the soules of young old of dearest friends from one another it is to make them runne after the Lord to long after his presence in whom they shall finde all more then all that ever they lost in this world So often as we thinke of a mother a father or other intire serve to make a deeper impressiō into the soule and to keep the memory of it self in the minde more then a thousand other memorials beside A strange thing it were if a man that were to be judged the next day of life death and to receive sentence eitheir of a most cruell shamefull death or of a rich honourable estate during his life if this man could not keep in minde the judgment approching untill the next morrow without tying stringes about his fingers for remembrance or writing some caveats upon the posts of the prison or procuring some watchmen to come every houre whispering in his eare to tell him of the danger imminent of life or death And as strange or more is it that these great maine matters of Eternall Salvation or Eternall Condemnation should not by their owne greatnes presse the heart of man with the weight thereof unto a continuall remembrance of them without other warnings when as we know not whether we shall have one dayes respite before they come a The last end of the godly is eternall life This life consists especially in fellowship with God the Saints By fellowship with God men come to see God Matt. 5.8 even to see him as he is 1. Ioh. 3.2 to see his face which living man was never able to see on earth Exo. 33.20 to see him before whom the glorious Seraphims doe cover their faces with their wings Esa 6.2 to see the holy Trinity the blessed Father Sonne H. Ghost clothed with the sacred robes of their severall beauty and majesty shining distinctly as the pure Iasper the carnation Sardine the greene Emerald Rev. 4.3 Then the Sonne will shew himselfe unto his elect Ioh. 14.21 and they shall see his glory Ioh. 17.24 and the Father shall be seene in him Ioh. 14.9.10 and with them both the seven Spirits which are before the throne even that one and the same Spirit enlightning with his sevenfold graces and gifts that bright sevenfold lamp of his Church Rev. 1.4 with 4.5 1. Cor. 12.11 With this vision shall the soule be satisfyed whē they awake Psal 17.15 The pleasure of this surmounts the joy of all pleasant things seene by any eye If all the pleasure that all the most ardent lovers receyved at any or at all times from all the most beauteous amiable countenances of their dearest spouses fairest loves in the like promises Therefore is that end ever to be remēbred longed after Thē especially shal it appeare how the elect remaine as lambs in the bosome of the Lord their shepheard Esa 40.11 Thē will it be further revealed how God dwelleth in thē they in him 1. Ioh. 4.15.16 therefore need not feare being kept far off as mē on earth that were kept from the bodily presence of Christ being in the house because of the thrōg at the doore Mar. 2.2.4 The incomprehensible Lord filling heaven earth Ier. 23.24 is himself a house where they shall dwel and they a mansiō wherein he will make his abode Ioh. 14.23 By this heavenly conjunction cohabitation with God shall the elect be one even as the Father the Sonne are one Christ in them and the Father in him that they may be perfect in one Ioh. 17.22.23 This thrise blessed most glorious union is that greene bed of Christ his Spouse Sol. song 1.16 an eternall paradise of comfort and garden of pure delights Oh
arts of hunting in divers kindes It is strange to heare see how the waterfoules in Freeseland Waterland and elswhere are taught to entise other wild foules bring them into the snare and then to give a watchword unto their master to sease upon them If thus farre they be subdued unto man evē after the fall what is that service which they should have performed before the fall when both man should have had more understanding to teach governe them they a more inclinable tractable disposition to have obeyed As Iehosaphat witnessed his fellowship with the kings of Israel when he professed My people are as thy people and my horses as thy horses 1. Kings 22.4 2. Kings 3.7 so hath the Lord hereby declared his communion with man by making his creatures our servants his horses our horses c. It cannot be conceived or knowne of us how great pleasure delight man should have had in this dignity communicated unto him of God The earth it selfe all the increase thereof was also subjected unto man Gen. 1.28 paradise all the pleasant fruits thereof Gen. 2.8.16 whereas otherwise every one might have bene as dangerous pernicious to be eaten tasted of as was the forbidden fruit the greene grasse diversifyed with sweet flowers of sundry colours shapes was spread as a pleasant carpet for man to tread upon and by a speciall providence the ground was greene a colour wholesomest for the eye-sight of man the firmament above beautifyed with so many spangles of shining starres was spread out as a canopie over the head of man where ever he goes Esa 40.22 more glorious then those carried over the heads of Popes or Emperours Even those heavenly bodies are communicated and distributed unto man for his benefit comfort Deu. 4.19 f And yet notwithstanding all this if we cast our eye into the world to come the glory thereof will be found far to surmount all this That which is now above our heads shall then be found to be under our feet The visible heavens that now are are not thought good enough nor pleasant enough for the elect but they shall passe away with a noise 2. Pet. 3.10 into singing Esa 44.23 the sea shall roare the floods clap their hands the field shall be joyfull all that is therein Psal 96.11.12 98.7.8 And yet all this is not enough if every twigge of all the trees in the world were a flute or sapwhistle if every stalk of corne in the field or reed by the waters side were all pipes blowne by the winde yet all would be too little to resound this incomprehensible glory And in the meane time untill this glory be revealed untill the sons of God be manifested they wait hold up their heads in exspectation they groane travell in paine longing for this blessed end Rom. 8.19.22 and so doe they that have the first fruits of the Spirit groane sigh within themselves waiting for the adoption the redemption of their bodies vers 23. This is the desired end which God calles us so oft to remember how can men thinke of it without desiring it how can they desire it aright without praying for it how can men thinke they pray aright for it unlesse they prepare themselves thereunto by denying the world What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation godlines whiles we looke for this end with what care diligence should we labour to be found of him in peace without spot blamelesse 2. Pet. 3.11.14 g BEsides the fellowship with God in the old world if we againe looke back into it we may behold an other happines of men in their mutuall fellowship one with another The first conjugation of humane society was that of mā wife by marriage this was the originall ground of all other societies from hence sprung the names estates of father mother with their sonnes and daughters out of this society in family sprung all the societies in Church common-wealth When God could have made men of new clods of the earth so as Adam was made at first Gen. 2.7 and so have multiplyed them abundantly according to the abundance of spirit that was in him Mal. 2.15 yet he thought it good to create not onely one woman for one man which he might have done in many couples of them but also to make onely one couple of them and from them to draw all the lines of consanguinity affinity which should be so many bandes of love to unite binde all mankinde new Cast we our eye that way againe behold how in the resurrection they neither marry nor give in marriage but are as the angels of God in heaven Matt. 22.30 All the comforts of marriage shall be as it were swallowed up overwhelmed of that heavenly glory vanish away in the sight of it There shall be more glorious bands of communion with Saints Angels then is the matrimoniall covenant sweeter knots of loving fellowship faster then the knot of marriage the bond of the Spirit uniting hearts mindes in one more then all the cords of consanguinity or affinity All the faithfull soules shall be presented unto Christ as pure virgines 2. Cor 11.2 they are shall be ever his loves his doves his undefiled Cant. 5.2 and he shall be their bridegroome Matt. 25.1 fayrer then the children of men Psal 45.2 white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand wholly delectable lovely Cant. 5.10 c. far above the first Adam The heavenly paradise shall be an eternall wedding-chamber and all the Angels of God shall rejoyce for them to whom such honour is vouchsafed Luke 15.10 What remaineth to be done of us untill we come to that immortall undefiled inheritance but that we aspire unto it dayly that we have this end before us as the loadstarre of our comfort direction that we be carried forward amaine toward this price of our heavenly calling one would thinke this should be a spurre sharp enough to make us runne the race of godlines set before us while we have such glory propounded the call of our Bridegroome inciting us i From Adam Evah come we to their children looke into the old world againe Had not sinne come into the world by the transgression of Adam had he his posterity continued untill this time in their uprightnes in the image of God wherein they were created what a glorious blessed communion should man have then enjoyed even upon the earth If sinne had bene kept out of the world then had not death entred Rom. 5.12 with Gen. 2.17 3.17.19 then might Adam Evah have bene alive to this day seene their childrens children not unto the third fourth but to the thirtieth fourtieth or hundredth generation all of them faire without blemish either of soule or body without any had thirty renowned sonnes that rode
to Adam to see how he would name them Ge. 2.19.20 so might Adam shew them to his childrē according to the wisedome given him at the first cōferre againe of their natures the reason of their names with those his childrē created in the same image of God with him taught of God that he might rejoyce in them also as they with him Though Solomon spake of trees from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssope on the wal also of beasts fouls creeping things fishes was wiser thē all the philosophers in the degenerate corrupt world 1. Kin. 4 29-34 yet was his wisedome but ignorance in comparison of that primitive estate the wisedome given to Adam at the first After this a multitude of other pleasures they might have returned loaden with blessings filled with comfort as much as their heart could hold And if at any time Adam Evah would in like manner have gone abroad on progresse to have visited their children what comfort should this have bene unto their children to have entertained that most royall honourable person above all others that right Catholick King or universal Monarch father of the whole world with Evah their Queene-mother therefore to have bene reverenced loved obeyed by all How would they have receyved him as an angel of God to the unspeakable joy both of him them mutually m And as the glory of this communion might thus be observed in the persons allyed in a right line both descendēt ascendent so also in the collaterall line extended on each side both farre neere to brethren sisters an hundred other degrees of kinred further off among all which if man had continued in his estate wherein the Lord placed him there should then have bene a most loving pleasant conversation more then can be imagined It had bene as easy for these to have travelled a thousand miles to embrace their friends as it is now for us to goe one small dayes-journey While there was no evill of sinne there should have bene no evill of paine or trouble in any of their labours And besides in the state of innocency great help comfort should have bene afforded unto man by the service of other creatures as hath bene shewed before Even in this corrupt degenerate estate of man beast all kinde 2. Cor. 6.18 behold my spouse my wife my bride Ioh. 3.29 Rev. 19.7 21.2 All the speciall bands of love union whether in the root of marriage or in the branches of kinred whether in the degrees ascending descending or any way extending themselves either in the right line or in the side line they are all found in Christ all meet together are combined in him He alone the new Adam is instead of all the fathers mothers brethren or sisters sonnes or daughters the comfort of all more fruits of love then all the kinred of the old world could have afforded unto us is to be enjoyed in the kingdome of Christ And looke how Christ esteemes of his elect so shall they be esteemed loved of all others there where his word requiring it must needs be performed Ioh. 13.34 15.12.13 And therefore looke how many Saints Angels there be in heaven so many sweet fountaines of loving communion there be for every soule to drinke at farre passing all the love of friends ever tasted in the lower world From every one shall flow rivers of water of life Ioh. 7.38 Christ Iesus being the headspring of all for then shall that all the rest of his promises be fullfilled in the highest degree It is matter of more joy even now to sit at the table of the Lord to receive the Sacrament of the New Testament then it was to pluck apples from the tree of life in paradise greater benefits are sealed even Christ is herein exhibited unto us a gift more excellent then all those that were confirmed unto Adam by the tree of life but then especially shall the difference appeare when the faythfull shall partake in the marriage supper of the Lambe in heaven when they shall be brought before the Lord the ancient of dayes the everlasting God before whom Adam though alive at this day should be as a child of yesterday a thousand yeares being but as one day in his sight when they shall heare him speake tell of his eternall love of us before the world in his decrees of election and predestination so often poynted at in Scripture and the like precious thoughts of his grace to us ward this shall be the fullnes of joy infinitely exceeding all the supposed delights of the old world As for the pleasant journeys motions we may not thinke that the godly shall be there as in a prison together in heavenly places in Christ Iesus Eph. 2.6 CHAP. VII Hovv God calleth men to remember the latter end of Reprobates The fearfulnes greevousnes of the second death set forth by a The deserving cause Sinne which is especially aggravated by the wisedome authority goodnes other attributes of God b The inflicting cause the wrath of God from which the whole misery all the circumstances of the second death have their denominations c compared unto fire yet different from common fire unquenchable most piercing largely extending it selfe taking hold on the greatest in the world d This fire the fiercenes of it made plaine by the observation of sundry fires already kindled in the bowels of the earth in vegetative sensitive creatures in the body of man in the aire firmament in the angels e but chiefly in the course of Gods just indignation against sinners seriously to be considered of all that desire to escape it f The effects dolefull cryes lamentations of the tormented of the Devils themselves yea even of our blessed Saviour in his sufferings g Particular manifestations of Gods wrath against particular sinnes transgressions of every commandement both of the first second table THe end of all flesh hath bene represented unto us of God by a basket of summer fruit ripe for the harvest ready to be gathered The blessed end of the godly hath bene shewed in the basket of good figs very good there remaines yet the basket of rotten figs very naught to be marked of us for that sight is also propounded unto us of God he calles us to remember the end of the wicked thereby whiles that basket was in vision also set before the Temple of the Lord. Ier. 24.1 It is an hideous fearefull sight to opē the graves where the greene carcases of dead men doe lye to behold the grieslines lothsomnes of death in them and who doth not flie from it But much more horrour it is to looke upon the dead soules in Hell their torment lothsome estate being an hundred times more worse to be endured then the sight of any rotten carcasses in the grave Yet
are we called of God to remember same offences of striking or cursing committed against others were not so though some childrē might happily have as much wisedome as their father mother yet their authority alone being despised brought such woe Now the authority of God the heavenly father over his creature being infinitely greater then the authority of any earthly father over his children the contempt thereof doth accordingly procure an infinite woe unto those that disobey God that reject his Law make their owne lust their law prefer the doing of their owne vile wills before the obedience of his holy heavenly will So in like manner the infinite evill of sinne appeareth distinctly in this that it is committed against the infinite goodnes mercy of God There are in creatures manifold degrees of love kindnes the love of one doth an hundred times exceed the love of some other both in tendernes of affection in multitude of benefits And in such case the treachery of such as deale falsely wickedly against their cheefest friends becomes an hundredfold greater evill then the sin of some others Now the Lord is love it selfe 1. Ioh. 4.8.16 herein is love not that we love God but that he loved us vers 10. his grace the gifts of his eternall free grace doe infinitely exceed all other love he gave himselfe to be our God portion his Sonne to be our ransome And therefore to sin against this high immeasurable grace to contēne this love to love that which is vanitie of vanities more then God doth make the sin of such to be out of measure sinfull deserveth an infinite hatred misery to ensue thereupon And thus the greevousnes of sinne is to be considered conceived in respect of the other divine attributes whereby we may see as it were ten infinites in one behold many windowes of contemplation opened before us through which we may have a huge vast prospect of the endles unsearchable woe of sinne that is to be felt in the second death Though there be many other aggravations of sinne yet this so farre exceeds the rest as if they all were nothing in comparison of this therefore doth the Spirit often urge this consideration upon men saying to the sinners Ye have lyed not unto men but unto God Act. 5.4 he that despiseth despiseth not man but God vvho hath also given us his holy Spirit 1. Thes and it containes more then a world of bookes can expresse c This fierce wrath of God is often in Scripture compared unto burning devouring fire Deut. 32.22 Ier. 15.14 17.4 Ezek. 21.31 22.21 36.5 Zeph. 1.18 accordingly is the tormēt in hell described unto us by the name of hellfire Matt. 5.22 18.9 The smarting paine caused by fire is well knowne by the common use thereof among us And yet above the nature of common fire which is made for the comfort of man to cheere him to make him laugh Esa 44.16 this dolefull fire of hell is propounded unto us of God by many strange descriptions It is a fire not like unto ours that may be quenched but an unquenchable fire Esa 66.24 Mark 9.44 Rev. 14.11 an everlasting fire Matt. 18.8 25.41 which so burnes the wicked as that it doth not consume them but keeps them alive in death that they may burne for ever and ever It is a fire that will not onely burne stones melt yron brasse but a subtile piercing fire that burnes even the spirits soules of men being a fire prepared for the devill his angels which are spirits Matt. 25.41 Rev. 20.10 and therefore farre more terrible then our fire by which tyrants burne the bodies of martyrs but cannot burne their soules Mat. 10.28 For the greatnes of it it is a bottomlesse pit Rev. 9.1.2 deep large Esa 30.33 a lake or sea of fire Rev. 20.14.15 for the names of lake or sea are sometimes in Scripture indifferently put one for another Matt. 8.24 with Luk. 8.23 and this burning sea is withall called a lake of brimstone Rev. 19.20 20.10 which makes the fire to burne more cruelly to choake strangle such as are plunged into this lake And for the forme of it it is sometimes compared to an oven or furnace of fire Mal. 4.1 Mat. 13.42.50 in which the fire being kept close strait may be made seven times more hote fierce then it was before Dan. 3.19 To make this fire yet more abhominable it is compared unto Tophet Esa 30.33 where children were burnt in horrible lothsome manner being sacrificed unto devils Ier. 7.31 with Psa 106.37 so more horrible would it be to see the soules sacrificed in Hell-fire Were there now but a witch to be burned at a stake how many thousands would flock together to behold the sight how many would loose a dayes work be content to misse their dinners rather then to misse the sight of it But if it were to see a King or an Emperour burnt to see a Pope or a Cardinall which having burnt many martyrs should at length have their owne flesh burnt with fire how many farre and neere would run and ride and spare no cost or labour to become spectatours of such a judgment how long how often how earnestly would men talke of it afterwards And yet this fire of the second death is for such by faith we see it faith makes us spectatours thereof if we beleeve the Scriptures which shew us how Tophet is prepared for kings Esa 30.33 how the beast and the false prophet the Popes are to be cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone Rev. 19.20 20.10 and with them the multitude of their idolaters and other abhominable persons Rev. 21.8 And how are men bewitched that they forget this latter end of sinners that they more regard the light and momentany judgments of men then the eternall and severe judgments of the everlasting God This lake of fire is so forgotten and contemned of many which stand dayly at the brink of the pit ready to sinke downe into it for their sinnes as if that fire were already quenched yea the very common knowledge and confession thereof by all sorts hath quenched the thought of it and extinguished the memory and mencion of it with many as if it were so well knowne that it needed no more to be spoken of And for this cause are many tumbled into it overwhelmed in the depth of it before they be aware of it d The power of Gods wrath in kindling this fire may further be perceived if we behold the great variety of strange fires which God in his works of creation providence hath already kindled and set before us to shew what he is able to doe In the bowels of the earth below the Lord hath as it were sowne the seeds of fire in the divers minerals thereof as in the
the outward borders of the holy land teturne we to the inward parts these on both sides of the river Iordan On this side above many other places Ierusalem the city of the great king offers it selfe to our consideration which though it were a type of heavē Gal. 4.26 Heb. 12.22 yet round about it there were signes set of the fearfull judgmēts of God of the last end of the wicked And first of all by the entry of the East-gate they had the vallie of Hinnom the high places of Tophet therein as it were a visible Hell Ier. 19.2 with Iosh 15.8 They there burned their children in the fire unto Baal Moloch with great impiety against God and cruelty to hornes their hoofes their haire well might that lake be this same pit As by the descent of an Angel into the poole of Bethesda those that first entred after the stirring of the waters were made whole of what disease soever they had Ioh. 5.4 so no wonder if after the stirring of these waters in Gadara by a legion of uncleane spirits together they were made unwholesome caused disease to those that drank thereof So often as men beheld or thought upon this devilish lake they had a spectacle of Hell before them they tooke the name of God in vaine if they did not learne hereby to watch fight against the wicked spirits to seeke the helpe of Christ that conquers them not to love their swine more then Christ nor to become as swine by wallowing in the mire of sinne 2. Pet. 2.22 left they also by the Devils should be carryed headlong into the lake of brimstone prepared for those that hearkē not unto the call of God e These were the markes tokens given to the Iewes but the Iewes themselves are given for signes warnings unto us for whē these many other memorials of the latter end were givē unto the Iewes despised of them then at last they themselves by the righteous judgment of God were made as signes and wonders unto the beleeving Gentiles called into their place to this day they remaine as memorials of Hell under the power of darknes their hearts being hardened their eyes darkened and covered with the spirit of slumber Rom. 11.7.8.10 Their state of rejection wherein they presently are is described in such phrase as the estate of those in Hell they are now in utter darknes while they are without Christ if they knew the misery of their estate then should they weep gnash their teeth Matt. 8.12 In this hell of utter darknes have they continued now these sixteen hundred yeares are scattered abroad among all nations for a warning unto them So often as we meet these obdurate Iewes in our streets consider how they are broken off from their olive the kingdome of God being taken from them given to others Matt. 21.43 so often are we to be mooved with compassion to thē as if they did weep howle before us as we are to pray for the day of their visitation so are we to worke the whole earth turning round about it continually even as the first flaming sword was about the garden of God in Eden This middle Zone though in comparison of Tophet it be an heaven yet in respect of other temperate Zones inhabited by us it is in many things like unto Hell As Hell is described by the burning heat that is therein Esa 30.33 Matt. 25.41 so in this Torrid Zone men are grievously afflicted tormented with heat men dwelling there under the Aequinoctiall line the climates on each side neere the same the Sunne burnes them by day and the beames thereof beating directly upon their heads doe strike them with a vehement heat round about the world even from the East unto the Westerne India in Aethiopia betwixt them both insomuch that some of them curse the Sunne every morning that it riseth As Hell is described by the blaknes of darknes that is there reserved for reprobates 2. Pet. 2.17 black being the colour of sorrow feare Psa 38.6 in the orig which make all faces to gather blacknes Ioel. 2.6 so under the hote Zone there dwell the black Moores the Aethiopians or burnt-faces as the word which the holy Ghost useth for them doth signify Act. 8.27 Their bodies visages are blacker then a coale some have bene frighted at the fight of them as if they had come out of Hell As in Hell men are under the vexation of the Devill that is called the prince of darknes Eph. 6.12 hath the power of death Heb. 2.14 so it is generally testifyed that the Indians both East West the Guineans betweene both in this hote Zone doe both worship the Devill that often appeares personally unto them are often beaten tormented by the immediate hand of the Devill in those visible apparitions with many other vexations to their unspeakable misery therefore in this regard there is not so much a shadow of Hell as a very Hell it selfe a kingdome of darknes As the state of those in Hell is described by a worme that torments them never dyeth Esa 66.24 Mark 9.44.46.48 so those that live in this Torrid Zone in Guinea have often ordinarily a worme of strange incredible length that breedeth in their flesh as those that travell thither have both seene and felt and in their flesh have brought home apparitions are imagined to ascend up out of the earth 1. Sam. 28.13 even so a man that should see these all-black naked impes come swarming up out of their holes from under ground each of them both at mouth nostrils breathing out the smoake of that Indian herb which is a part of their ordinary dyet it were no wonder if he thought the picture of Hell to be before him In fine as many for Māmon or riches doe sell themselves and loose their soules goe downe to Hell for ever 1. Kin. 21.20 even so many for the love of that treasure that is to be found in this hote Zone are content to adventure their lives in travelling thither in this journey there be multitudes that from time to time doe loose their mortall temporary lives and so in this regard also there is some consimilitude betwixt these two places And now if we doe well observe this strange work of God we shall therein perceive how unsearchable his judgements are his wayes past finding out in permitting this forlorne people that are so black in their bodies more black in their soules through their worship of the Devill to lye so long enthralled under the dominion of Satan that for so great a compasse round about the whole earth under the Aequinoctiall circle Seing the Lord hath made this visible Hell like a broad black belt or girdle to environ the very heart middle of the world how ought this to warne all the inhabitants
Six speciall degrees of mortification 1. In severall passions of the minde troubled at the apprehension of sinne 2. In resisting refraining of sinfull actions 3. of wicked purposes 4. tickling desires 5. wandring imaginations 6. habituall concupiscence b The sayd acts of mortification like so many battels in our spirituall warfare as many parts of that contrition which is acceptable unto God hath the promises c The example of David mortifying sinne in each of the particulars afore named d The chiefe evils of sinne that are to be mortifyed The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life e By these Satan workes his temptations by the mortifying of these he is conquered as it is shewed in the examples of Adam f Christ g Antichrist HAving heard of the love of God which is the spring of life of the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ who is the way unto that life it remaines that we seeke the communion of the H. Spirit as the conclusion of our comfort for the assurance of that life 2. Cor. 13.14 Hereby we know that we have fellowship with God that he abideth in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 1. Ioh. 3.24 shall be comforted Matt. 5.4 II. After this followes an other degree of Mortification whereby the faithfull according to the measure of grace given doe turne from the practise of sinne which they have bewayled They doe not live any longer therein Rom. 6.2 they cease to doe evill Esa 1.16 and eschew evill Iob 1.1.8 they forsake their owne wayes and courses and breake of their sinnes Esa 55.7 and refraine their feet from every evill way Psalm 119.101 By this resisting of wicked actions men are sayd to mortify or kill the deeds of the body and thereupon is life promised unto them Rom. 8.13 They therefore that love life everlasting must every day die this death also in casting off the workes of darkenes Though it be a death to the flesh to leave them yet must this death also be undergone els is there no hope of life no assurance that God dwelleth in us by his Spirit III. An other death of the old man is when not onely the outward act of sinne but the will and purpose of sinning is mortifyed The will of the flesh and the will of man is noted as a thing opposite to God and his Spirit procuring his wrath making men the children of wrath Ioh. 1.13 Eph. 2.3 1. Pet. 4. 2.3 and many that want the power to performe many evils doe not yet want the will thereunto and therefore this will is to be mortifyed If he that had no staine in his will could yet say unto his Father Not as I vvill but as thou vvilt Not my will but thy will be done Matt. 26.39 Luk. 22.42 and againe I seek not mine owne will but the will of him that sent me Iohn 5.30 6.38 how much more should we make it our dayly exercise to break our owne corrupt willes to cast away our owne purposes and to wait on God all the day long saying and praying continually Not my will but thy will be done At the first act of Pauls conversion so soone as Christ was made knowne unto him we see this mortification of his will which he renounced resigning himselfe to the will of God sayd Lord vvhat vvilt thou that I doe Act. 9.6 When the will is thus mortifyed though men doe sometimes the things that they would not yet then is this comfort afforded it is no more they that doe it but sinne that dwelleth in them Rom. 7 15.16.17.19-20 It shall not be imputed unto them IV. Besides this it comes to passe many times that when the will is subdued restrained from some evill yet the affections are not mortifyed though a sinner in the purpose of his will will not consent to the practise of some evill yet the heart is tickled with delight therein and could wish it were lawfull and it is a paine unto them that they may not consent to seek it This evill concupiscence lust of the heart these affections of the flesh are distinctly condemned we are commanded to mortify to avoyd such inordinate passions even as they are lusts though consent of the will be not with them Gal. 5.24 Coll. 3.5 Rom. 7.5 Exo. 20.17 In the killing abandoning of these lusts the faithfull endure many deathes from day to day the acts of Mortification are multiplyed according to the strength of the spirit ministred unto them V. Againe the minde of man is dayly annoyed pestred with evill thoughts wandring imaginations arising partly from the flesh partly from the suggestion of Satan and these though they neither be delighted in nor approoved of yet the very entertainment of them and their residence in the minde though for a short while doth pollute the soule with sinne For God requireth the whole soule and the whole minde with all the strength thereof Deut. 6.5 Luk. 10.27 he requireth a pure heart free from all stragling conceits Matt. 5.8 Our eyes should ever be towards the Lord his glory Psal 25.15 Lots wife for looking backward was smitten of God and turned into a pillar of salt Gen. 19.17.26 though more evill might be in her minde yet that very look alone being forbidden of God made her culpable and so for a side look unto vanity when the eye of the minde rolles up and downe we become guilty of condemnation These idle thoughts take up the place in the soule even the seat wherein God should sit and while they keepe out the thought of God though but for a moment they are in that respect condemnable And therefore these motions of the minde are to be resisted repelled mortifyed As Abraham hushed away the foules that came downe upon his sacrifice Gen. 15.11 so are these flying thoughts to be dispelled and driven away from our mindes God requireth that the wicked should forsake his imaginations Esa 55.7 God would have his children to cast downe imaginations and to bring every thought captive unto the obedience of Christ 2. Cor. 10.5 which cannot fully and perfectly be done without this mortification of them By mortification of them the heart is purged then the promise of mercy multiplyed Iam. 4.8 VI. Lastly the faithfull doe yet in a further degree die unto sinne when as that habituall concupiscence which is the seedplot and root of all other sinnes is mortifyed and subdued within them For besides all the motions affections and other fruits of sinne before noted there is in man a corrupt disposition whereby he is enclined to all evill This disposition pronenes to sinne considered apart from the fruits thereof is condemned in the Scripture is called the old man the body of sin the law of sin the law of the members Rom. 6.6 Eph. 4.22 Col. 3.2 Rom. 7.23 it is called the flesh which lusteth against the spirit
lover of the world and of these things of the world then is not the love of the Father in him 1. Ioh. 2.15.16 then is he made the enimy of God for his entertainment of these lusts and his amity with them Iam. 4.4 and consequently cannot looke for the fruits of that blessed friendship with God but for such remaineth a fearefull exspectation of judgment death in the day of Gods wrath Therefore men die for ever because they live after the flesh doe not die betimes to these sinfull lusts Rom. 8.13 e As the world so the Devill also by the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life both worketh his chief temptations by the mortifying of those he is cōquered by mens yeelding unto thē he overcommeth devoureth them This appeareth in three most memorable examples of Adam Christ and Antichrist At the temptation of our first parents the Devill used these three baites thereby ensnared them The forbidden tree by his suggestion appeared good for meat Gen. 3.6 to bring them to covetousnes not content with all the other trees of paradise as though there had not bene meat enough for thē without this also it appeared pleasant to the eyes to kindle the lust of false and vaine pleasure in them and by his suggestion it appeared as a tree desirable by which the Devill workes so effectually in him and in others by him are those three forenamed lusts for by these three is Antichrist often described In respect of the lust of the flesh the habitation and denne of Antichrist is a spiriruall Sodom Rev. 11.8 abounding with lusts of monstrous uncleannes the Romish city is compared to a great Harlot the mother of harlots having in her hand a great cup full of abominations filthinesse of her fornication Rev. 17.1.4.5 and living deliciously in pleasures Rev. 18.7 In respect of the lust of the eyes love of riches she is decked with gold precious stone pearles Rev. 17.4 18.16 and for increase maintenance of that wealth her servants ministers through covetousnes and with fained words doe make merchandise of men 2. Pet. 2.3 And as for the pride of life this man of sinne doth exalt himselfe above all that is called God shewes himselfe that he is God 2. Thes 2.4 and hath a mouth speaking great things blasphemies is wondred at worshipped throughout the world Rev. 13.3.4.5 And when he is crossed in any of his lusts then he makes warre with the Saints overcomes them is drunken with their blood Rev. 13.7 17.6 suffers them not to buy or sell that will not receive his marke Rev. 13.17 Hereby it appeares that the spirit of Antichrist and the breath of his life is lust these worldly lusts are as it were the bridle and saddle wherewith Satan rides upon him with the spurres of these lusts he drives him on to commit so great abhominations By lust is the greatest sinne wrought in the world and therefore is every one to be warned hereby to fight continually against these lusts that fight against the soule and make it a slave to Satan 1. Pet. 2.11 They must either mortify these lusts of the old man or els for ever be a spoyle prey unto the old serpent that worketh by them Holy Ghost they are againe taught upon the new consideratiō of this honour done unto them in reverence of this divine guest to proceed unto a further degree care of their mortification to cleanse themselves from all filthines of flesh and spirit to subdue the old man with his lusts affections lest they grieve this Spirit that is come to dwell with them 1. Cor. 6.19.20 2. Cor. 6.16 7.1 Eph. 4.30 a The manner how the Spirit doth mortify sinne is by bringing the sinner unto Christ by him unto the Father As the Father for communicating of life unto men hath sent his Sonne to merit life Ioh. 7.16 3.16 both the Father the Sonne have sent the Holy Spirit for our assurance of that life Ioh. 15.26 so the Spirit againe bringes us both to Christ to the Father and first teacheth us to embrace Christ he testifies of Christ and glorifies him takes of his shewes it unto us Ioh. 16.13.14.15 The manner how the Spirit bringes us unto Christ is by working in us the graces of Faith Hope Love of Christ These are the most sweet breathings of the Holy Ghost by each of these he workes mortification in them that are so brought unto him I. Faith in Christ serves to kill sinne in us many wayes First of all by the death of Christ there is merited for us not onely the pardon of our sinne but also a power of subduing sinne by his death he hath merited the gift of the spirit even of the spirit of sanctification Of this gift we are made partakers by faith which engraffes us into Christ into the fellowship of his death of all the merit thereof Therefore is it sayd that we are planted together with him into the likenes of his death and hereupon we know that the old man is crucifyed with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom. 6.5.6.7 8. Thus being by faith united to Christ the spirit of mortification as well as the gift of reconciliation is bestowed upon us in this regard should we the more earnestly seek that precious faith which procures so great grace unto us Therefore did Christ beare our sins in his body on the tree that we might become dead unto sinnes 1. Pet. 2.24 that by the merit of his death sinne might be mortifyed in us And hereupon we come to say with the Apostle that we are crucifyed with Christ Gal. 2.20 we may stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free Gal. 5.1 IV. Moreover as our Mortification depends upon that which Christ merited for us so that which Christ by his death obtained for himselfe doth further lead us thereunto For to this end Christ both dyed rose againe that he might be Lord both of the dead living Rom. 14.9 And as we beleeve that he is becom our Lord so we are to beleeve that we are become his servants being bought with a price to wit by his blood therefore are not our owne but his 1. Cor. 6..19.20 7.23 therefore may not doe our owne willes nor follow our owne affections lusts but are to mortify them that we may doe his will Thus the faith of Christs dominion over us purchased by his death doth serve for an help of our mortification while it apprehends that the redeemed of Christ are redeemed from the earth from among men to follow the Lambe being the first fruits unto God to the Lambe Rev. 14.3.4 V. Againe being in part mortifyed contrite for sinne by another act of faith we doe
the servants of my Lord 1. Sam. 25.41 David himselfe of his marriage with Sauls daughter Seemeth it to you to be a light thing to be a kings sonne in law seeing that I am a poore man and lightly esteemed 1. Sam. 18.23 then what may we say of our exaltation and of the divine benefits bestowed upon us All the mercies and blessings which we receive from God if we compare them with our sinfull nature are like so many coales of mortification coales of indignatiō heaped on our heads Rom. 12.20 and therefore doth God let us know how good he hath bene unto us even when we were his enimies that by that meanes we might be mortifyed and burne in just hatred and indignation against ourselves Rom. 5.10 with 2. Sam. 12.7.8 Esa 5.1.2 Deut. 32 6-15 And in summe even the least good done to us should make us thinke how little we are and ever lesse then the least of Gods mercies farre unworthy of them Gen. 32.10 so take occasion thereby of being humbled before the Lord. As all the good that by divine providence is done to us so all the good done by us should ever give us occasion of further mortification of abasing ourselves in the sight of God Thus it was with David in his free offerings for the Temple 1. Chron. 29.14 Solomon when the Temple was built 1. Kin. 8.27 Such is the greatnes of the Lord above our works that in respect of the infinite reward we may say as Barzillai to David Thy servant will goe a little way with the King why should the King recompense it me with such a reward 2. Sam. 19.36 All that we have and doe for God is of his owne that he hath first given us 1. Chron. 29.14.16 these gifts of his in our best use of them in the best workes we doe are still so polluted that we have ever cause to acknowledge with shame the filthines of our righteousnesses Esa 64.6 Phi. 3.8.9 ever have a gracious respect unto them that sigh cry for the abominations committed by other men Ezek. 9.4 This was observed by Lot 2. Pet. 2.7.8 by Moses Exod. 32 19-32 Num. 16.4 and others with him Num. 14.5.6 by David Psal 119.136.139.158 by Ezra chap. 9.2.3 by Nehemiah ch 13.7.8 by Paul Rom. 9.1.2.3 2. Cor. 11.29 12.21 by Christ Iesus Mark 3.5 Luk. 19.41.42 And the contrary is made a signe of a wicked man no man is truely greeved for his owne sinne that is not touched with greefe for the sins of others for seeing God is dishonoured our neighbour wounded thereby it must needes be a signe that such have neither love of God nor pity of their neighbour Ier. 36.23.24.25 Prov. 14.9 k Thus doe the evils of sinne call for greefe and sorrow besides these the evils of punishment the afflictions calamities tribulations in the world doe also lead unto mortification Thereby God breakes the pride of man withdraweth him from his evill course Iob 33.16.17 by his chastisements God humbles the heart of men makes them submit unto his yoke Ier. 31.18.19 thē is the case most miserable when they are least regarded Prov. 27.22 Men are warned of God to mortify sin not onely by greater afflictions but even by the lesser sort also for there are two kindes of them a light touch a heavy hand Esa 9.1 There is a wonderfull variety in Gods dealings this way sometimes the touch is so easy gentle that it is scarse felt men are scarse able to say whether there be a paine in it or no they have such light aches of the head the belly the bones such small reproches and losses that they are hardly sensible of them As a loving mothersmites her child sometimes so softly gently that it doth not appeare whether she be angry or not even so doth our most loving God deale oftentimes with his children Iob 33.14.15 with ch 7.14 Mat. 10.30 but though the stroke be most milde gentle yet they that are wise will make use of it Prov. 17.10 Though there be an hundred degrees of difference in Gods visitations some of them like a fillop onely or a lifting up of the hand yet no stroke a striking but yet no smart or easy to be borne as it were with a rod of rushes yet all of them are a push or thrusting with the finger for our admonition and at every such thrusting or pinching we are called unto the acts of pride of life Looke upon death see how it layes the heads of the proudest men in the world they that were before as starres the sonnes of the morning have then the wormes spread under thē over them become like broken vessels in the land of oblivion Esa 14.11.12 What availeth it to be praysed a while by the stinking breath of flatterers when afterwards their names shall rotte among men Pro. 10.7 like those bones of the great mē in Israel that should be for dung upon the face of the earth Ier. 8.1.2 or if they be praysed by men after their death in their writings chronicles what will this profit them when their sins are written with a pen of iron with the point of a diamond Ier. 17.1 when those bookes shall be opened in the secōd death Rev. 20.12 what though their sepulchers be paynted covered with golden letters when at the second death their soules shall be cast into the bottomlesse pit into the oven of hell where the proud they that doe wickedly shall be burned up consumed Mal. 4.1 CHAP. VI. Touching Vivification or quickening of the new man The nature necessity thereof in generall a Six degrees of vivification 1. A new disposition or habit of quickening grace 2. Motions of spirituall life in the understanding judgment memory 3. Affections of love joy desire c. 4. Renewing of the will 5. Workes of righteousnes true holines 6. Ioyful thanksgiving in the apprehension of all the former graces of life b The inward meanes of vivification The Spirit of God bringing us unto Christ working in us the graces of Faith Hope Love c The outward meanes The primary ordinances the Word Prayer Sacraments Discipline d The secondary a holy Feast and a holy Watch e Ordinances of a third degree Vowes and Covenants f The workes of Creation Providence FRom the Mortification of the old man come we now to the Vivification of the new man It is not possible that these two can be severed if any man be in Christ he must be a new creature 2. Cor. 5.17 Gal. 6.15 borne againe of the Spirit by this new birth made partaker of a new spirituall life Ioh. 3.3.5 The Lord that is rich in mercy through his great love wherewith he loveth his elect quickeneth them together in Christ Eph. 2.4.5 The feeling of this new life is a preparative unto death and a preservative against all the terrours thereof and
if we performe the like offices of love respect unto the poore servants of Christ we shal be fitter to goe with comfort into the society of Angels They that thus goe out of the world beforehand by leaving the fashions thereof become childrē againe shall have a more comfortable entrance into the kingdome of heaven Matt. 18.3 As new borne babes here on earth are first taken up by one then by another are delivered from one friends armes to another every one striving to have them in their armes to kisse them so the souls that are borne into heaven are translated by death first into the bosome of Angels carying thē then into the bosome of Abraham the Saints receiving them every one imbracing them with kisses of heavenly love above all into the bosome of the Lord of glory there to be satisfyed with his love in fulnesse of joy for evermore Esa 40.11 Psal 16. l. VI. Another work whereby men are prepared to die with comfort is the visitatiō of the sick others that are in misery For the promise is that he that considers the poore or visits the afflicted shall himself be preserved and delivered in time of trouble the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing he wil make all his bed in his sicknes Psal 41.1.2.3 By visiting the sick men both minister comfort unto others receive comfort themselves First they give comfort and minister a blessing unto those that are in distresse Thus to visit the fatherlesse the widowes in their affliction is pure religion undefiled before God and the Father Iam. 1.27 Onesiphorus is commēded for this Paul prayes heartily for him because he sought him out when he was in prison refreshed him ministred many things unto him 2. Tim. 1.16.17.18 Iob noteth the excellency of this whē he joineth him that cōforteth the mourners with a king even in the army when he useth greatest authority Iob 29.25 Whatsoever is done unto the least member of Christ in this kinde he takes it as done unto himself therefore such shall be remembred honoured by him at the last day Matt. 25 34-40 Secondly by visiting those that stand in need of comfort men doe also receive instruction comfort unto themselves Eccl. 7.2.3.4 2. Kin. 13.14.15 c. Though we may not inquire at the dead Deut. 18.11 yet at the dying we may learne many wholesome lessons as of repentance from their complaints of their sins bewailed of faith from their joyfull professions of their hope the examples of their constancy and of our owne mortality frailety from their strength languishing their pale countenances their dimme eyes their faltering tongue their ratling throat their panting heart their short breaths their painfull convulsions the last pangs sneckes of death all the symptomes of death are so many warnings unto the living to watch and prepare for their end Whosoever would be well prepared for death let them often repaire to such mourning houses let them so visit others in these cases that withall they see learne themselves that which God doth there so plainely teach them That which Elias sayd unto Elisha whē he had prayed for a double portion of his spirit If thou see me when I am taken from thee it shall be so unto thee 2. Kin. 2.9.10 may in some measure in another respect be sayd unto us whē seeing others taken away that very act with the circumstances of their departure is a meanes to increase the spirit in us yea to double our care comfort in looking for our end VII Lastly it is also a work preparatory unto death to have our testament Wil in readines that we need not be troubled therewith at last When the message of death was sent unto Hezekias he was called upon to set his house in order Esa 38.1 Abraham was carefull to settle the affaires of his house and family before his death as appeares by his disposing of Isaak in marriage Gen. 24.1.2 c. his giving gifts to the sonnes of Keturah his second wife sending them away Gen. 25.6 But the cheef part of testaments legacies are godly exhortations charges and blessings which parents give unto their children This was Isaaks care long before his death though he forgot the oracle that had assigned the blessing unto the younger Gen. 27 1-4 Isaak was then an hundred yeares old Gen. 25.26 with ch 26.34 he lived in all an hundred fourscore yeares Gen. 35.28 so that his testament his blessing was givē fourescore yeares before he dyed Iacob gave speciall charges blessings unto his sonnes before he died Gen. 47.29 48. 49. ch Thus did Moses with the children of Israel Deut. 33.1 c. and Ioshua Iosh 23. 24. ch Thus David also in a solemne assembly exhorteth the people especially his sonne Solomon to feare the Lord encourageth him unto the work that was to be done after him 1. Chron. 28.1.8.9.10 Solomon had also received instructions from his mother to the same purpose which he himself hath recorded Prov. 31. ch In speciall the more to affect children friends by exhortations promises and comforts I would commend unto fathers friends the example of Elijah the Prophet who in his life time made a writing which he procured to be delivered unto Iehoram after his death 2. Chron. 21 12-15 with 2. King 3.11 thus there may still be a prophesying after death though not by way of foretelling things to come yet by charges admonitions consolations which being left with executours or speciall friends together with other devises noted in the Scriptures together with the grounds thereof their faith hope love Simeon rejoyceth at the approch of his end Luk. 2.29.30 where we may observe the reasons before named mooving him thereunto his faith in having seen the salvation of the Lord which was grounded upō the word of promise produced peace of conscience his hope when he calleth death a departing or loosing frō bonds for it is the same word that elswhere signifyes to loose or release a prisoner Mat. 27.15.17 his love of God when he calles himself his servant Paul also had a desire to depart upon these three grounds his hope Phil. 1.23 his faith love 2. Tim. 4 6.7.8 And as these so other faithfull servants of Christ have also for the same causes earnestly desired to be absent from the body to be present with the Lord. 2. Cor. 5.1.2.8 2. Tim. 4.8 with Rev. 22.20.17 a Yet for the better understanding of this poynt somewhat must be further cōsidered to prevent a double danger both of some that seeme not to feare death of others that confesse they feare it The first sort are those that despise their life cast it away without being calld of God These deny the Lordship of Christ because that as no man should live to himself so none should die to himself but to the