Evil Things in this Life and their Good in the next Short Misery on Earth and long Felicity in Heaven Some live and die possest of a good Estate and in a State of Grace These have their Good Things here and better hereafter Now some Earnest then actual Possession It is better to live and die in the Depths of Poverty and have the Soul Everlastingly saved than in the Heigths of Prosperity and the Soul Eternally lost The worst Condition of a Child of God be it never so bad is better than the best Condition of a Wicked Man be it never so good In the Words of the Text Five Things may be observed 1. The Passage of a Believer to the Place of his Eternal Abode He is carried or transported to it 2. What of the Believer is carried to that Place or State And that is the Soul He was carried his Soul not then his Body His Soul was transported his Body was left behind The Soul is carried at his Dissolution the Body not till the Resurrection 3. Whither was the Soul carried what was the Place or State to which it was transported Into Abraham 's Bosom 4. When As soon as he died that Minute it was separated from the Body it began its Journey to its Eternal Home 5. By whom By the Angels he was carried into Abraham 's Bosom Not by one but many Angels Several great Articles of Faith affording great Support and Comfort to Believers are taught by Christ in these Words 1. Observation That the Soul doth exist after its Separation from the Body Otherwise it would not be capable to be carried to another State of Blessedness and Glory In Man's Mortal Body there is an Immortal Soul Death turns the Soul out of the Body and the Man out of this World Death deprives the Body of Life and leave it a Lump or Mass of Breathless Clay but in Death the Soul escapeth Death Death that conquereth all Mens Bodies kills no Man's Soul The Life and Being of the Soul cannot be destroyed either by Outward Violence by Inward Principles First Not by Outward Violence No Finite Power can make the Soul to cease to be The most Powerful Cruel and Enraged Persecutors who may torture kill or burn the Body cannot touch nor reach the Soul Mat. 10. 28. Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Tho' they had a Will to kill the Soul yet they want Power If they would they are not able They can neither kill it nor damn it Luke 12. 4. I say unto you my Friends be not afraid of them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do When they have taken away the Life of the Body they have done their worst their most their all so that there is no more that they can do for the Soul escapes their Fury and their malicious Rage And as Creatures cannot so we are assured that God will not cause the Soul to cease to be and this we know 1. From the Promises he hath made to sincere Believers to give to them Eternal Life Joh 3. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life That they shall be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. That they shall be Eternally Saved Heb. 5. 9. That they shall have a Crown incorruptible that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1. 4 5. If these Eternal Things shall be enjoyed by Believers then their Souls must exist to all Eternity for that which is nothing can enjoy nothing 2. From the Threatnings of God recorded in his Word of the Everlasting Punishment they shall be tormented with in the other World to all Eternity that leave this World in a State of Sin Rev. 14. 10. The same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without Mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and they shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the the Presence of the Holy Angels and in the Presence of the Lamb. V. 11. And the Smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest Day nor Night If Souls shall lie under the Punishment of Sense for ever they must exist for ever for that which is nothing by ceasing to be can have no Sense of Punishment Secondly The Soul cannot die or cease to be by any Internal Principles such as contrary Qualities in the Body which after Conflicts and one consumed by the other cause the Death of the Body as Fire in the Lamp licking up all the Oyl causeth the Lamp to go out or if too much Oyl be poured in and overflows the Fire it also is extinguished Neither can the Soul dye with old Age as the Body will for time is not the measure of the Duration of the Soul as it is of the Body but Eviternity and Beings measured thereby tho' they have a Beginning yet shall have no Ending Let this awaken all to provide a Lodging for their Souls against the Hour they shall be separated from their Bodies Now our Souls dwell in Houses of Clay and these have their Foundation in the Dust and will shortly fall and the Soul be dispossessed and turned out of this House in which it is a Tenant at Will of the great Landlord of all the World who might Seal a Lease of Ejectment at his Pleasure when you cannot remove from one House to another in the same Parish in the same City or in the same Nation no nor yet in the same World but will be such a Remove as never yet you made from one World to another Since then the Soul after Death will be in Being it must be some where for that which is no where is nothing but where shall it be There are but Two Places in the other World where Souls shall be Heaven or Hell Do you know in which Or do not you think nor care in which your Soul shall live and lodge for ever If in Hell your Lodging will be so uneasy that in it you cannot rest A Bed of Flames a Lodging in boiling Lead or Oyl or burning Brimstone will cause you to cry out I am uneasy I am uneasy in my Lodging I cannot rest upon this Bed I cannot take one wink of Sleep May I not change my Lodging I am weary of being here May I not go back again from whence I came I thought my sick Bed was uneasy but this is worse inconceivably worse beyond Expression more painful and uneasy But if I may not go back to my old Lodgings in that World from whence I came Let me seek a cooler Lodging where I am Let me rove from one side of Hell unto the other if I might find some easy Corner where I may a while be free from
THE Saints Convoy TO HEAVEN A DISCOURSE occasioned by and in Part Preacht upon THE DEATH and FUNERAL OF Mr. Benjamin Lindsey Who Deceased the 21st of February 1697. By THO. DOOLITTLE M. A. LONDON Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultry over against the Compter 1698. THE EPISTLE TO Mrs. Rebeccah Lindsey Mother Mr. Joseph Lindsey Brother Sisters Mrs. Abigal Shipton Mrs. Sarah Pike Kinsmen Mr. John Hinde Mr. Morgan Hinde Mr. Richard Hinde Mr. Robert Hinde to Mr. Benjamin Lindsey lately Deceased Dear Friends ACcording to the several Relations nearer or more remote wherein ye stood to Mr. Benjamin Lindsey when he was living with you Nature and Reason dictates that ye must be differently affected as to Degrees by his being by Death removed from you yet being so much beloved and respected by you all it is easy to determine that his Death was Matter of Sorrow to you all but the Religion ye all profess and the Christian Doctrine ye all do own must be instructive to you that ye sorrow not as those that have no Hope either that his Soul being so Pious was not carried by Angels into Abraham's Bosom or that his Body that ye carried and lodged in the Bosom of the Earth should not be raised again to a joyful Resurrection and be hereafter where the Soul at present is in Happiness and Glory Of which Two Things the believing Consideration should drie your weeping Eyes relieve your mourning Spirits and comfort your Sorrowful Hearts To the Mother I send this short following Advice 1. That you would not so much sorrow that your Son's Body is gone down to the Grave as rejoice that his Soul is gone up to Heaven Not so much mourn that he whom you did bear bring forth and bring up is taken from you as be comforted that God hath taken him to himself As knowing he is better pleased to be where he is and more Happy than if he had continued to be on Earth with you and that he would not be from thence to come again to you And let this make you the less Sorrowful in this World because his Soul is now triumphant in the other which is a better World for I suppose you loved your Son better than to grieve at his Preferment 2. That considering the Greatness of your Age you would clear your Evidences for Heaven and not have them to seek when you should have them to shew nor to get when you should have them to use for your more comfortable Departure that as you are sure your Body must go down to your Son's Body so you might be as sure that your Soul shall go up to his Soul that as he was where you are so you might be with God where he is 3. That you daily remember you are almost at your Journey 's End in a Course of Nature so near the Door of Eternity that you cannot be much longer in Time therefore when you cannot move so speedily in Natural Motion run more swiftly in your Spiritual Race that you might not fall short of the Joy and Crown that is set before you 4. That since your Son now gone from you hath made such competent Provision for you that you need not spend your Breath in asking What shall I eat or what shall I drink or wherewithal shall I be clothed Your Enquiries might be How shall I love God more please him better and be more prepared for my Eternal State Since now you need not cark for Earth take more Care for Heaven 5. That since you have more Benefit of your Sense of Seeing than of Hearing supply the Defect of Hearing by your diligent Reading and the less you can hear Men speak to you in Discoursing the more do you speak to God in Praying and the less Converse you can have with the Creature the more Communion do you desire get and maintain with God To the Rest of you let me be your Remembrancer that ye get a sanctified Improvement of this Breach by Death that God hath made amongst you that ye so mind Temporal as not to forget your Eternal Concerns to watch and be always ready because the Son of Man might come in an Hour that ye think not of to prepare to follow him and others that are gone before to keep up the Power of Godliness in your Hearts and to demonstrate it in your Lives Seriously and believingly to think of another world and every Day you live in this to stand in Time and look into Eternity To be Good and to do Good as he was and did that is taken from you whereof in Part ye have been Eye-witnesses To live Holily that ye might die not only Peacably but also Triumphantly as is his Prayer for you who desires it might be yours for him who is Affectionately Yours To his Power Tho. Doolittle Mugwel-Street April 8. 1698. THE Saints Convoy TO HEAVEN Luke XVI 22. And it came to pass that the Beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bosom SOME think it is not material whether the Discourse of our Lord Jesus concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar be taken as a Parable or an History or composed of both when it is confessed that under this Narration Christ describes the State of the Good and Bad in the other World and asserts the Existence of the Soul after its Separation from the Body and that it immediately passeth to Heaven or Hell before the Resurrection of the Body and general Judgment of the great Day Tho' there was a Disparity between Lazarus spoken of in the Text and our Friend whose Death is the Occasion of this Discourse upon it in regard of their outward Circumstances in this World yet if the latter be a Partaker of Felicity with the former in the other World I might easily be excused for choosing this as my Theme upon this sad but righteous Providence especially when there is no other so express to my Design as this is The Rich Man here spoken of was a voluptuous Sinner who while he lived did live in outward Pomp and when he died was buried in great State The Poor Man was full of Sores and Hungry while he lived and no mention is made of his Funeral when he died The one was Rich on Earth but now a Beggar in Hell The other a Beggar on Earth but now Rich in Heaven The Poor Man on Earth begged for some Crumbs at the Rich Man's Door but he could not obtain them The Rich Man in Hell begged for a Drop of Water but it was denied him Some live and die Poor and in a State of Sin These have their Evil Things here and hereafter too Misery on Earth and more in Hell Some live and die Rich and finally Impenitent These have their Good Things here and their Evil Things hereafter A short Heaven in this World and a long Hell in the next Some live and die Poor but in a State of Grace These have their
and often called Holy Angels Mat. 8. 28. and 25. 31. 2. They are Men of God assuming the Shape of Men when sent to Men by God Judg. 13. 6 9. 3. They are Sons of God having still the Likeness of God in which they were at first produced Job 1. 6. 4. They are stiled Gods not that God that is Jehovah but such Gods as are called Elohim Psal 8. 5. comp Psal 97. 7. 5. They are God's Host Gen. 32. 2. by these God doth protect his People 6. They are twice called Seraphims because of their burning Zeal for God's Glory in executing of his Commands Isa 6. 2 6. 7. They are called Cherubims Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers implying their Vigour Dignity Government under God over Things and Persons in this World and the Right they have to the Government they take upon them Who can tell the Greetings the Salutations betwixt these Glorious Angels and the Gracious Soul at their first Meeting after its Separation from the Body All Hail O Blessed Soul Hast thou fought a good Fight We are come to carry thee in Triumph Hast thou run thy Race We are appointed to fetch thee to thy incorruptible Crown Hast thou finished thy Course We are sent to conduct thee to thy Eternal Rest The Soul might be conceived to reply what Joy am I filled with at this your Salutation O ye Holy Ones how glad am I to see you ye Men of God ye Sons of God how do I rejoice to meet you Are the Gods the Host of God come to guard me on my way to Glory Are these Seraphims flaming with Zeal for God burning in Love to me come to take me newly separated from my Body to convey me to my Mansion in my Father's House Are these Cherubims Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers come to defend me from the Principalities and Powers of Hell and from the Spiritual Wickednesses in high Places through whose Territories I am to pass unto the Place and Happiness purchased promised and prepared for me O how glad am I of your Company in this long Journey I am to go How am I rejoiced I shall have your Conduct in this Way I never went before And Blessed for ever Blessed be my God that hath sent his Angels to be my Guide and Guard I must Praise him I must Praise him before I get to Heaven who hath sent such a glorious Train to lead me to it This is the Host of that God that I did love and serve and Trust and hope in This is the Army of that God of Heaven to whom I committed my self and resigned my self when I was parting with my Body on my dying Bed He hath not forgot me nor his Promises that he made unto me when my Father my Mother and all my Friends forsook me because they could go no further with me he hath sent his Angels to take me up O the Difference betwixt the Company that I have lest and this which I have found In the Body I was in Company with sinful Men which were my Grief out of the Body I am in Company with Holy Angels which is my Joy In the Body I did converse with imperfect Saints now out of the Body with pure spotless Angels In the Body I was with mourning Friends out of the Body with triumphing Angels In the Body I was with weak tho' loving Relations that would have helped me but they could not out of the Body I am with these Angels that both can and will In the Body on my dying Bed I was with a few that watched with me Night and Day till I had made them almost weary but now out of the Body I have many Holy ones sent from Heaven to watch me on my way unto that Place where they and I never shall be weary O Blessed Company O Blessed change of Company I never was on such a Journey before I never was in such Company on any Journey before I never found such Pleasure in any Way I went in any Company I was ever in before and sure the Place I am going to I shall find to be such as I was never in before Come put on II. The Safety of the separated Soul by the Convoy of Angels will increase its Joy on its Way to Glory It shall be presently freed from all Fears of Danger In the Body it was not without its Fears Fears from without and within from above and below many Fears it was filled with 1. From a Tempting Devil that on his dying Bed endeavoured to disturb his Peace suggesting evil Thoughts representing the Evil of his Sin multiplying and magnifying them by the Aggravations that did accompany them 2. From In-dwelling Sin there being the Remains of Sin abiding in his heart I fear what this hard unbelieving Heart will expose me to 3. From the Imperfection and Weakness of his Grace I fear I do not love God I fear God loves not me I fear I am not sincere I am afraid all my Duties have been done in Hypocrisy and that I have not walked before God with an Upright Heart 4. From approaching Death Possest with Fear about the Pains and Pangs of Death how to bear them and go thro' them about his readiness and preparedness for Death about his Meetness for a Participation of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light 5. And therefore from the Want of his Evidences of his Title to Heaven and Assurance of Salvation For which Cause the departing Soul was filled with trembling perceiving it could not continue much longer in the Body and yet afraid to leave it saying what if I should be deceived What if I should make an Error in my Death about my Eternal State What if while I am in the Body I should suppose that I have the Truth of Grace and when out of the Body find that I had none This makes me afraid to think of Heaven least I should miss of it or of Hell least I should be doomed to it But as soon as the Gracious Soul is separated from its Body and beholds the Chariot and Horses which God hath sent for him all his Doubts are immediately resolved and all his Fears presently expelled and the Clouds that intercepted the Light of God's Countenance from him are forthwith scattered and dispersed Now the Safety of the gracious separated Soul and its Freedom from all Fears of Danger on its Travil to Heaven by reason of this Angelical Convoy will appear by these Circumstances or rather Qualifications of the Messengers sent for it First Because the Soul is guarded with such powerful Angels Evil Angels that will endeavour to way lay the Soul are strong and powerful Spirits but the Holy Angels that are to defend it on its way are stronger and more powerful than they not only in themselves compared with the other but also because Evil Angels oppose the Soul in their own Strength by meer Permission without Assistance from God but Holy Angels act not only
diligently read them Also if any desired him to transcribe out of his Short Hand into Long any Sermon under which they were more than usually affected tho' he was fully imployed yet he would take time from his sleep and write it very fair and give them being ready to promote the Interest of Souls both by his Purse and Pains He was a singular Pattern of Dutifulness to Parents being very tender and careful of his very aged Mother both in respect to her Temporal and Spiritual State liberally assisting her as to both for tho' she was left a Widow in good Worldly Circumstances yet in her Old Age she enjoyed not that Plenty as before For Temporals she by his Care wanted nothing in Spirituals he was as forward to afford his Help for being Weak thro' Age and difficult in hearing could not attend as formerly upon Publick Ordinances to supply the Want whereof it was his constant Practice for many Years every Lord's Day in the Evening to go to her House and laying his Face near her Ear repeated the Sermons he had taken that Day to her and the rest in the Family He was not short in his Relation as a Brother to his Sisters Two that by Providence were brought from higher to lower Circumstances in their outward State he made comfortable Provisions for one of which being discomposed in her Head and not capable of caring for her self he like a loving Brother was exceeding kind unto her while he lived and hath left them what will be a good Stay and Support unto them now he is taken from his Mother and them He never was a talkative Man but the less he said the more he did not like many whose Tongues run faster in speaking Religiously than their Feet in walking Holily His Works did praise him more to the Observers of what he did than his Words did commend him to the Hearers of what he said tho' what he said was Savoury and his Words were weighty rather than many speaking but little tho' to good Purpose And as he was sparing in his Words when in Health so he spake not much when sick and on his dying Bed but told me he had good Hopes of his Spiritual and Eternal State and tho' he found Satan tempting to shake his Reliance on Christ yet there he placed his only Trust and Dependance for Salvation having consented to him and accepted of him in all his Offices as offered in the Gospel Concerning the last Sermon he heard which was about Love-sickness to Christ through the abundant Sense of Christ's Love to the Soul he said it was an excellent comfortable Frame of Spirit in such as have experience of it and this I thought he said from his own Experience as having found and felt how comfortable it was His Head being affected with his Distemper and much inclined to Sleep yet asked me to pray with him saying tho' I be drowsy yet will I not sleep while you pray but will join in the Prayers with you and when sick kept waking in his Bed during the time of Prayer when many in Health in Family and Congregation are sleeping when they should be praying and tho' he was so heavy yet would not be satisfied except the Duty were performed and striving against his Sleep that he might strive with God in Prayer said afterwards his Soul was refreshed and was the better for it Within the space of about Fifteen Days he was well and dead when Sickness did seize him Death made haste to remove him but tho' Death prevented him of longer Time he had prevented Death from hurrying him to Eternal Death by his timely spiritual Birth and Conversion unto God by his sound Repentance and unfeigned Faith in Christ which manifested it self by the Fruits thereof thro' the whole Course of his Life persevering therein to the End and when God gave Commission to Death to make such haste to have his Body carried to the Grave he gave Commission to his Angels to make as much speed to carry his Soul into Abrahams Bosom where it is in perfect Rest and Love and Joy and let us all prepare that our Remove by Death might be from Earth to Heaven Amen FINIS Luk. 16. 25 Gen. 2. 7. Eccl. 12. 7. Use Job 4. 19. Rom. 7. 17 33. 24. Psal 77. 7 8 9. Psal 16. 11. Mat. 6. 25. Rev. 7. 16. Mar. 9. 44. Heb. 11. 25. Mat. 16. 26 Luke 15. 16. Luke 16. 24 25. Heb. 10. 34. Mat. 26. 41. Rev. 4. 8. Job 31. 33. Deut. 13. 6 8. Psal 79. 12. Isa 65. 6 7. Prov. 19. 24 Mat. 11. 12. Gen. 18. 10. Judg. 13. 3 4 5. Luke 1. 11 13 to 18. Exod. 34. 28. 1 King 19. 8. Rom. 4. 23 24. Exod. 14. 9 28 29. Jude V. 9. Job 4. 14 15. Mat. 14. 26 Mar. 5. 9. Isay 6. 2. 6. Luke 16. 24 25 Psal 49. 7 8. Mat. 5. 25 26. Gen. 3. 24. Mat. 13. 41 42. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Mat. 25. 34 Jam. 1. 12. Col. 1. 12. John 14. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2 Cor. 4. 17. Mat. 28. 2 3 4. Luke 1. 12. Gen. 3. 24. Col. 1. 16. 2 Cor. 11. 3. 2 Cor. 2. 11. Eph. 6. 11. Isay 6. 2 6. Job 1. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 8. 2. King 6. 16. 17. Gen. 45. 27. Isay 6. 2. Dan. 9. 21. Psal 127. 1 Isa 37. 36. Act. 12. 23. Luke 2. 10 11. Act. 1. 10. 11. Mat. 6. 10. Psal 119. 11. Heb. 3. 7 8. Mat. 13. 19 1 Cor. 11. 10. Rev. 22. 8 9.
Pain and Torment But alas I cannot Wo is me I cannot Every Nook is Hot is Hot is exceeding Hot. The Justice of God pursues me wherever I go My enraged Conscience doth accompany me and tormenting Devils follow me and the Fire burns me to what Place soever I hasten and there is no Hope O Desperate Case there is no Hope either of Deliverance or Mitigation of my Misery Die I would but cannot cease to be I would but must not Cursed Caitiff that I am in this Extremity I must lie and lodge to all Eternity Secure then your Title to an House Above to Mansions in Heaven that when your Soul shall be turned out of this it may be received into that How comfortable would this Knowledge be on a dying Bed when you shall say This Tabernacle must be taken down this Earthly House is going to Ruins it can be repaired no more it can stand no longer Food I cannot eat to patch it up Medicines cannot remove that Sickness from me which will remove my Soul out of this Earthly House But I know blessed be God I know that I have a Building of God an House not made with Hands Eternal in the Heavens 2. Cor. 5. 1. II. Observation The Souls of Believers after Death are transported into an Eternal State of Blessedness The Body is carried and lodged in the Bosom of the Earth the Soul is carried and laid in the Bosom of Abraham This Figurative Expression denotes a Place of Love and dearest Affection Christ is God's dear Son or the Son of his Love Col. 1. 13. and said to be in the Bosom of the Father Joh. 1. 18. John the beloved of the Lord is found nearest Christ lying in his Bosom Joh. 13. 23. and There was leaning on Jesus his Bosom one of his Disciples whom Jesus loved The Bosom is also a Place of Ease and Rest and sweet Repose So God comforting and giving Rest unto his People is said to carry them in his Bosom Isay 40. 11. Thus Lazarus wearied with Affliction want and Poverty was received up to Everlasting Rest There are Conjectures why Abraham's Bosom is mentioned rather than the Bosom of Moses or David or any other that were in Heaven 1. Because he was on Earth given to Hospitality Gen. 18. he entertained Three Angels and the Angels carried the Soul of this Beggar who could not obtain the least Alms at the Rich Man's Gate into Abraham's Bosom where his Wants were all presently supplied The Rich Man was a Churl Abraham was Charitable The Poor Man was carried from the Churl 's Door to the Charitable Man's Bosom 2. Because he was the Father of the Faithful and the Father's Bosom is the Child's Place 3. Because the Promise of Canaan the Type of Heaven was made to him and his Seed for ever But I conceive the plain meaning is That he was carried into Heaven where the Faithful with Abraham the Father of all the Faithful shall be gathered sit down rest and be comforted for Ever as Mat. 8. 11. I say unto you that many shall come from the East and from the West and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven Saved Souls possest of their Mansions in Heaven shall have perfect and perpetual Rest from all Evils that afflict molest and burden them and cause them here in the Place of their Pilgrimage and Travel to their Eternal Home to sigh and sob to grieve and groan to weep and Mourn when lodg'd above they shall rest for ever 1. From the In-dwellings of Corruption While the Soul dwells here in the Body Sin will dwell in the Soul While the Believer is here a Sojourner Sin will be his constant disquieting molesting Inmate When Body and Soul do part then Sin and the Soul shall also part and tho' Body and Soul at length shall meet again yet they and Sin shall meet no more 2. From all Troubles arising from ungodly Men These shall persecute imprison disturb their Peace no more for ever 3. From all Temptations of Satan The Devil got into the Earthly Paradise and and by his Subtilty beguiled our first Parents but is cast down from Heaven to return and enter no more nor shall be a Tempter to any in the Celestial Paradise any more for ever He might follow his tempting Trade with us on Earth but must leave it off as to all in Heaven 4. From the Imperfection of their Graces Here our Faith is so feeble our Love to God and Christ so little our Delight so small our Knowledge so short our Desires so faint our Hope so wavering and all our Graces in such low Degrees that we often call all into Question doubt of our Sincerity fear Hipocrisy and think our Attainments great if we mourn the more because we love no more and have more Desires to desire more and sorrow the more because we delight in God and Christ and Fore-views of the glorious State Above no more And these make us more restless on our Sick Beds because our Souls are Sick as well as our Bodies and our inward Man as Weak as our outward Man is And too many instead of departing in Triumph with Assurance of Salvation breath out their Souls with mourning Complaints and Fears concerning their future Eternal State leaving the World with these piercing Questions Is God mine Is Christ mine Shall Heaven be mine I am going but I know not whither I must I must leave all my dearest Friends in this World but what will be my Company in the next But when these Holy Souls shall be carried into Heaven all these Mists shall be dispell'd these Clouds shall be scatter'd this dark and gloomy Day shall end in a bright and glorious Sun-shine for evermore For when they are come to that which is Perfect and that which is Perfect is come to them that which is in Part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. For all the Spirits of Just Men carried thither are made Perfect Heb. 12. 23. 5. From any Desertion from God The Children of God in that Light shall walk no more in Darkness Nor question the Love of God to them nor their Love to God any more than we can question whether it be Day when we see the Sun to shine in its greatest Brightness or whether Fire be hot when it warms our Hands Not one shall there say My Lord hath forsaken me or my God hath forgotten me No such Question there Will the Lord cast off for ever Will he be Favourable no more Is his Mercy clean gon for ever Doth his Promise fail for evermore Hath God forgotten to be Gracious Hath he in Anger shut up his tender Mercies When I was on Earth this was my Infirmity but now in Heaven I will meditate on all that blessed Work of God that hath brought me to this Glorious Place and resting in my Saviour's Bosom will talk with this Holy Company of all the Marvels and
Wonders of his Grace in bringing me to this happy State of Life and Light and Love and perfect Rest for Ever 6. From all Discords and Divisions that were amongst believers on their way on Earth to this State in Heaven There they are all of one Mind of one Heart and Way There is no Diversity of Judgment no Alienation of Affection no rash and uncharitable Censures but all filled with Love to God and one another 7. From all ensnaring Allurements of this World These too often did deaden their Affections towards God interrupt their Communion with him and by the World's Smiles were sometimes brought under God's Frowns and when it was best with their Bodies it was worst with their Souls and the more they enjoyed of the World the less their Conversation was in Heaven But there they have got above all worldly Profits all fleshly Pleasures all carnal Joys and shall bathe themselves in those Rivers of Pleasures and be delighted in that fulness of Joy which is in the Presence of their Lord and Saviour to all Eternity 8. From all distracting Cares and disquieting Fears about the want of things necessary to bear their Charges on their Journey while on Earth to the Bosom of their Lord. They shall have no more need of such Cautions Take no thought what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink or wherewithal ye shall be clothed For in that Place and State they shall be hungry no more nor thirst any more nor feel any Want of any such things but shall live without these as Angels in Heaven do 9. From all Troubles and Remorse and Stinging of Conscience Conscience that shall still remain in the Bosom of the Damned shall Eternally torment and gnaw upon them and for very Vexation shall cause them to cry out What Fools were we for short Pleasures of Time to run into these Everlasting Pains What Madness did possess us for small Profits of the World to lose the Enjoyments of all the Happiness of Heaven What Distraction did seize us to come to this filthy loathsom Dungeon to this dark and dismal Prison for the fading Honours of a short and Transitory Life Cursed Caitiffs that we are that did prefer the good Things of our corrupt Flesh before the things that were really good for Body or for Soul Miserable Hell-hounds for so now we are and must for ever be to keep our Sins and lose our Souls to gratify our Lusts and for them to be cast out from the comfortable Presence of the blessed Lord To sell Heaven for a Merrybout to come short of Eternal Joys for an Ale-bench Song and there to drink and swill like Hogs at a Trough and now to lie in tormenting Flames and cannot obtain one Drop of Water tho' a River would not be enough to cool our Tongues But the Saints in Abraham's or rather in their Saviour's Bosom shall have a quiet sedate and rejoicing Conscience in their own that shall refresh and comfort them that they did deny themselves to save themselves that they did venture or sustain the Loss of Life to obtain Eternal Life that they took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods that they might have in Heaven a better and more enduring Substance 10. From all irksom Weariness in Holy Exercises While they are in the Bosom of the Church Militant they are too often weary in doing their Duty when they are not weary of doing of it and the better they do it the more weary they are in doing of it and if they are weary of it it is because they do it no better They are weary of a dull and lazy slothful Heart they are weary of their unbelieving hard and unaffected Heart they are weary of their distracting Thoughts and wandring Minds and roving Affections But the more Life and Liveliness the more activity and exercise of Faith and Love Desire and Delight of Joy and Hope they perform them with the less weary they are of them Much labour seemeth light long time seemeth short and the greatest Pains are pleasant to them and in so doing they find the Spirit is willing when the Flesh is weak The Damned in the Bowels of Hell and in the Devil's Bosom are weary of their Torments of their Pain and Punishment such a Bosom is no Place of Love or Rest and the more they are embraced in the Devil's Arms the more uneasy still they are and wish that he could hug them into nothing and Lamenting say Have our Bosom Sins brought us to such an uneasy Bosom Have our embraced Sins brought us to the Embracements of such cruel and merciless Tormentors We never hug'd our Sins so much but the Devil huggeth us as close We never kept our Sins so fast but the Devil will keep us now as long We are weary we are weary of this Place and Pain more weary than we were of Prayers and Sermons and Sabbaths upon Earth we were weary of them and Death freed us from that Weariness but now we are weary of these Pains which we were weary in praying against and never must be freed from them But when the Soul is carried into Heaven it shall be no more weary of the Praise Delight and Love it shall be imployed in for ever and tho' it shall not rest Day or Night saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty yet it shall find sweet and pleasant Rest both Night and Day in sounding unwearied Hallelujahs to the Lord in the Saviour's Bosom Take some Corollaries from what hath been said 1. Let go your Bosom Sins as you would have your Souls carried into Abraham's Bosom Make no Sin your Bosom Friend neither hide it in your Bosom 1. by indulging and cherishing of it as a Mother the Child in her Bosom beware of that Sin which all other Sins are Servants to 2. By defending and pleading for it 3. By withstanding the Reproofs that are given to you for it 4. By pleasing your self in thinking of it 5. By not confessing of it to God who knows the most secret Things in your Bosom 2. Let no Bosom Friend draw you to sin not the Wife or Husband of your Bosom or any as dear to you as your own Soul lest when you are carried from them by Death you be not carried by Angels into Abraham's Bosom 3. Let Christ have a Room in your Bosom now that you might be received into his Bosom hereafter Christ should lie nearest your Heart He that is in the Bosom of the Father is most worthy of the chiefest and choicest Room in your Heart Say and do as the Spouse Cant. 1. 13. A Bundle of Myrrh is my Well beloved unto me he shall lie all Night betwixt my Breasts Some say Myrrh betwixt the Breasts is an excellent Cordial Christ in our Bosom is a reviving Cordial for it is a Pledge that we hereafter shall be in his 4. When the Souls that shall not be carried up
to Heaven shall be dragged down to Hell they shall have the Recompence of all their Wickedness pour'd into their Bosom and of all their Reproaches wherewith they have reproached the Lord. God now saith That then he will not keep Silence but will recompence into their Bosom and will measure their former Works into their Bosom 5. Whatsoever Soul would be carried up to Abraham's Bosom must be laborious in Religion while he is here He must neither hide his Sins nor his Hand in his Bosom not the one from parting from it nor the other from working with it The slothful Man that hideth his Hands in his Bosom and will not so much as bring it to his Mouth again must starve because he will neither work nor eat And he that hideth his Sin in his Bosom and will not so much as bring it to his Mouth Penitently and with Brokenness of Heart to confess his Sin shall be damned for his Sin Angels will carry no Idle Slothful Souls to Heaven Abraham's Bosom is no Place for Loiterers It is those that Fight and Run and Wrestle and Overcome that shall have Repose and Rest in Abraham's Bosom For The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the Violent take it by Force III. Observation A gracious Soul separated from the Body is presently carried by Angels into a State of Happiness in Heaven At Death it is not annihilated nor doth it sleep with the Body neither doth it stay in any other supposed Place but is instantly on its Journey to Glory and immediately passeth into the Celestial Paradise The sure Word of God doth assure us of this and if we believe the one we must grant the other since it is so express and full in the asserting of this Doctrine that is so comfortable to sanctified and prepared Souls Designing Brevity in this I shall only alledge a few Texts that do confirm it Luke 23. 43. Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Where note 1. The Asserter Jesus said unto him the penitent dying Thief 2. The Manner of his Assertion Verily I say unto thee A Word of Asseveration commonly used by Christ in Matters of great undoubted Certainty and Moment 3. The Thing Asserted To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Where observe 1. The Place spoken of That is Paradise that is the Third Heaven where God doth manifest his Glorious Presence Thus Paul speaking of a Man caught up to the Third Heaven presently subjoins He was caught up into Paradise by Two Words intending one and the same Place 2 Cor. 12. 2 4. 2. Who should be in that Place of Paradise Thou that art now a dying Man Thou that is thy Soul for of his Body it could not be understood 3. With whom the penitent Thief should be in Paradise With Christ Thou that art with me on the Cross shalt be with me in Heaven 4. When his Soul should be with him in Heaven To day To day thou shalt die and to day thou shalt have Eternal Life To day thou shalt expire on the Cross and to day thou shalt have a Crown of Glory in the Highest Heavens The different Pointing of the Words corrupting the Sense is such a bold Attempt that should it be admitted in other Places as the Opposers of the Soul 's immediate passing into Glory sawcily do in this it would be such a mangling of the Scripture that we should be at a Loss to know the Meaning of many plain Texts What need had Christ to speak the Words thus Verily I say unto thee to day Did not he know Christ then spake to him Did not he hear him And did he hear him that Day and could not he tell that Christ spake to him that day except Christ added to Day I say unto thee What need Christ add his asserting Verily to these Words I say unto thee to day Could not the Thief trust his own Ears that he then heard Christ say to him except Christ add Verily I do asâ—ure thee that it is to day that I say this to thee Which is greater Ground of Support and Comfort to a dying Penitent to acquaint him I say unto thee to Day thou shalt be with me in Paradise but I do not tell thee when nor how many Thousand Years hence this shall be thy Happiness or thus Verily I say to thee to day this very Day thou shalt be with me in Paradise It is but a Dream that the Soul shall sleep when a Man dies A Second Text is 2 Cor. 5. 6. Therefore we are always confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord Ver. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. Here note 1. While the Soul is in the Body we are in our Earthly Home 2. While the Soul is in its Earthly Home it is absent from its true Home which is in Heaven from the Vision and Fruition of God in Glory 3. When the Soul doth leave its Earthly Home it goeth to its Heavenly Home for when it is absent from the Body it shall be present with the Lord in the Glorious Enjoyment of him to all Eternity 4. The Opposition of these Two is immediate To be present in the Body is to be absent from the Lord To be absent from the Body is to be present with the Lord. 5. The Confidence of the Apostle that there is such a Glorious State which is the reason of our Willingness to leave the Body that from thenceforth we might be with the Lord in Heaven Deny the Souls immediate passing to God in Glory and you take away the Reason of the Choice rather to be absent from the Body than to be present in it The Third Text is Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a Straight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Note 1. The Apostle's Straight Two things were before him to live or die Reasons swaying him sometimes to the one sometimes to the other For the Good of God's Church it would be better for him to live than die Ver. 22. For his own Advantage it would be better for him to die than to live Ver. 21. This was his Straight 2. His own Inclination and vehement Desire in respect to himself that he would chuse rather to depart than to continue upon Earth 3. The Reason of his Desire and Wilingness to depart that he may be with Christ But there would be no Reason in this Reason if by departing he should be nothing the sooner with Christ 4. The Preference of one State before the other or the comparing of the one with the other It is better to die and be with Christ There is an excellent Gradation in the Text It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 better It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 far better It
is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 far better by much But if a Believer die and the Soul is not the sooner with Christ than if he had lived longer it would not have been better but worse for while the Apostle lived he had himself much Communion with God but if he departed and not with Christ he had none While he lived he was useful and profitable to the Church on Earth but after his Departure he could not While he lived he did glorify God on Earth but if he departed and went not to Christ he could not glorify him neither on Earth nor in Heaven While he lived he knew God and loved him and delighted in him and was sensible of God's Love to him but if he departed and went not to Christ he was capable of none of these and so still it was worse far worse far worse by much to depart than live This might be largely improved by way of use which I hope you will practically use in all your Ways though I cannot stay to speak what ye should and I hope you will do if you keep in Remembrance that a pious separated Soul is presently on his Journey to the highest Heavens and who shall be his Convoy thither Which was my first Design in chusing this Text to entertain your thinking Minds upon this Occasion IV. Observation The Holy Angels of God are the Bearers that carry the separated Souls of Believers into Heaven Men take care for the Bearers of the Body when dead God takes care for the Bearers of the Soul when departed Men are Bearers that carry the Body to the Grave Angels are the Bearers that carry the Soul to Glory Men mourning follow the Corpse to the House appointed for all the Living Angels triumphing go along with the Soul to the Mansions prepared for all the Believing The Ministration of Angels for the Good of Believers is asserted in general in Heb. 1. 14. Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be Heirs of Salvation Where may be noted 1. The Nature of Angels They are Spirits intellectual immaterial immortal and active Creatures the noblest and most refined Part of God's Creation more excellent than Man yet Servants to Christ their Lord. 2. Their Office They are Ministring Spirits 3. Their Number All of them are so if there be Degrees and Orders among them all and every one of them from the highest to the lowest are God's Servants waiting and attending upon him to go and come as he appoints for the Good of the People of God whose Fellow-servants they own themselves to be Rev. 19. 10. and 22. 9. 4. Their Commission Being sent before they go they must have their Warrant from God before they move Psal 103. 20. Bless the Lord ye his Angels that excell in Strength that do his Commandment hearkening to the Voice of his Word tho' they have Power to Act yet they must not nor do they stir without a Command from God 5. Their Execution They are sent and then they Minister They hearken to the Voice of his Word and then they do his Commands 6. The Object of their Ministration or the Persons they are charged with Such as shall be Heirs of Salvation Angel is a Word not so much to signify their Nature as their Office that is to say they are Messengers to go at the Command of their Sovereign Lord upon his Errands from Heaven to Earth and back again from Earth to Heaven Gen. 28. 12. And he dreamed and behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the Top of it reached to Heaven and behold the Angels of God ascending and descending on it The Ministration of Angels in the Behalf of those that shall be Heirs of Salvation from their Birth to their Death yea and sometimes before their Conception is copiously treated of in Scripture but from their Death to their Passage to Heaven and afterwards is more sparingly mentioned but one Saying of Christ as this concerning the Poor Man's Soul is sufficient Evidence of their conveying of them from the Place where they die to the Place where they shall live for ever It will be needful to more clear Procedings about the Angels conveying the Souls of Believers from their Death to the Place and State of Happiness to premise some Propositions which are 1. That God by his absolute Power is able to do those things which in the ordinary course of Providence he maketh use of second Causes to accomplish and bring to pass What he doth by Means he can do without any Means he hath tied us to the use of Means which he himself is not obliged thro' any need of them to make use of So by his Power he supported Moses and Elias Forty Days without Eating or Drinking yet in the ordinary Way of God's Appointment that we might live we must both Eat and Drink Therefore when we speak of the Conveyance of Souls by the Ministration of Angels to Abraham's Bosom it is not to be thought that he could not do it without them tho' he doth it by them 2. The Good Pleasure of God is the highest and most satisfying Reason why he that could safe-guard Souls to Heaven by his own Almighty Power will have them conveyed thither by the Ministry of his Holy Angels To the Querist that seeks for Reasons in the most sublime Mysteries of Religion as Election Special Redemption Effectual Vocation c. why one and not another is an Instance of God's Grace the Answer That it is God's good Pleasure is and ought to be satisfactory Mat. 11. 25 26. Eph. 1. 5 11. and this good Pleasure of God is extended to the Armies of Heaven as well as to the Inhabitants of the Earth Dan. 4. 35. 3. God's good Pleasure in his Government of Angels and Men is made known not only in his Word but also by the Events of his Providence In our present Case Christ relates it as a Matter of Fact done by the Angels that they did carry the Soul of Lazarus into Abraham's Bosom Now we know what Holy Angels do is God's Pleasure they should do for they do nothing but what doth please him That Angels should convey his Soul to Heaven was God's good Pleasure 4. As it is God's good Pleasure to give the Kingdom not to Men as Men but as believing sanctified Men and so to every one that is such to one as well as another So it is the good Pleasure of God that his Holy Angels should convey Souls to this Kingdom not as Souls but as believing sanctified Souls and so every Soul that is such one as well as another It might be thought by some that from this Particular Instance of Angels carrying Lazarus his Soul to Heaven an universal Conclusion cannot be gathered that they thus Minister to all other godly separared Souls But what may be spoken of one Individual under this Reduplication as such of any Kind may be spoken of every Individual
active in resisting the violent Assaults of Devils in Conjunction with the Holy Angels 3. God's Love to and Care of his People is manifested in the Ministration of Angels in that they are charged to be their Keepers in all their Ways Psal 91. 11 12. Now the Way of Believers is Two-fold and they are to keep them in both or else they do not keep them in all 1. In the Way of their commanded Duty in this Life 2. In the Way to their promised Reward and they are in this Way immediately after Death till they enter into Heaven Is it likely God should charge his Angels with them to keep them from Dangers while they keep in the way of Duty and give them a discharge from keeping them on their way to their Reward especially when they are in Danger of Devils not only in the way of their Duty but also passing thro' their Territories on their Way to their Reward passing from Earth to Heaven Do not the Angels of the Lord encamp round about them that fear him to deliver them Psal 34. 7. Do not separated Souls on their Passage fear God with an holy reverential Fear as well as when they were in their Bodies and much more and so have still the Qualification of such as are the Objects of Angels Ministration Do they now encamp round about them on every side to deliver them from Danger while they are liable thereunto and will they decamp from them on every side to deliver them no more tho' surrounded with Dangers after Death till their Souls enter into Heaven Especially when their dearest Friends that take care of the Burial of the Body can be no help to the separated Soul in its Travel to Heaven Their Friends and Relations that ministred to them when sick and on their dying Beds till the Moment they gave up the Ghost from that Instant have no more that they can do unto or for their Souls no not so much as by their Prayers for them And will Angels then forsake them also and afford them no more Help on their way to Heaven than their Friends whom they have left behind can do 4. Holy Angels promote and rejoice at the Conversion of God's Elect because then they have a Right and Title to Heaven Luke 15. 7 10. And will they not be as careful of their compleat Salvation in watching over them till they are put into the actual Possession of their Mansions in Heaven 5. Christ will use the Ministration of Angels for the Salvation of all the Elect as to their Bodies as well as their Souls united to them at his second Coming and will they neglect the Conveying of the separated Soul while the Body till then is left behind Angels shall be Christ's Servants then 1. In gathering together all the Elect Mat. 24. 31. 2. In separating between the Righteous and the Wicked and severing the one from the other Mat. 13. 49. 3. In catching them up to meet the Lord in the Air 1 Thes 4. 17. All the Elect that shall then be raised and found alive shall be caught up as in the Arms of Angels to such a Meeting with their Saviour as after it shall be no parting for they shall be with the Lord for ever Use I. Terrour Learn hence the woful Case of every impenitent Soul as soon as separated from the Body Every finally-unbelieving Sinner's dying Day will be a doleful dreadful dismal Day His expiring Moment will be the Beginning of such Horror as the Soul was never in before because that very Moment it shall be seized by Devils that stand waiting for it and shall lay hold on it as ravening Wolves as roaring Lions as enraged Tygers leap upon their Prey Luke 12. 20. God said unto him thou Fool this Night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that is Devils shall demand thy Soul of thee The word signifies to require ones own which is his due with Vehemency to call for it and to demand it from one tho' unwilling to give it yea as it were by Force and Violence to wrest it from another as owing to him This Fool sinned all Day and died at Night He served the Devil all Day and at Night the Devils came to reckon with him to pay him his Wages he took care where to lay his Goods and the Devils took care where to lodge his Soul at Night he reckoned of many Years but he had but that Day he was for taking of his Ease but the Devil took him and put him into Little ease yea carried him to a Place where he could have no Ease nor Rest to all Eternity he was for his Cups and Company and Mirth in both but at Night he had such a bitter Cup and frightful Company that spoiled his Mirth and turned it into Mourning If one Devil in some frightful visible Shape should appear to you in the deep and silent Night what Terrour would the sight thereof fill you with Would not such Fear and Trembling come upon you as would make all your Bones to shake and make the Hair of your Head stand up when your Heart and Courage would so fail you that you your self would be ready to fall down as when the Discipes saw Christ walking on the Sea they were troubled Saying it is a Spirit and they cried out for fear Oh then what Horror will the Sinful Soul be filled with next Moment after Death Oh What Fear What Trembling What Amazement shall possess it How may we imagine with what direful Shriekings it will cry out and say Who are all these What Black-Guard is this What is all this Host I am fallen into and am surrounded with I never saw such a sight as this I have often been in wicked Company but I never fell into such Company as this Oh! ye greedy Devils Ye furious Furies Ye hasty unclean Spirits What means your Rage Whither do ye hurry me Whither will ye carry me Carry thee First as Jaylors we will carry thee as our Prisoner to the Seat of Judgment to be Tried and being there condemned next as Executioners we will carry thee to the Place of Punishment Oh! My woful Case Oh! My remediless Misery Oh! My hopeless State Are these the Devils I did please Are these they I did so daily serve so readily yield unto They could not in my Body have forced me to Sin but now just out of the Body they do they do oh what shall I do they do force me to the Place of Torment to suffer for my Sin Wo is me Is there no Hope Alas for me Is there none to help Is there no escaping out of these Hands I am so suddenly fallen into Oh that Death had killed me as it hath my Body from whence now I am turned out Oh that I were without Life and Sense as now my Body is My earthly Friends are mourning weeping and groaning over my Breathless Carcass and these Hellish Fiends are rejoicing that I
am come from those to them My Friends are mourning because they have lost me and these tormenting Devils are glad that they have found me Men on Earth are not in such haste to carry my Body to the Grave as these Devils are to carry me to Hell Oh Cursed Caitiff that I am What Difference hath one Hour made What a miserable deceived Wretch was I when in the Body and how convinced of my Self-deceiving Flattery as soon as separated from my Body When in the Body I did think all would be well as soon as cut of the Body I am sure woe is me all will be woe When in the Body I was amongst my Friends as soon as out of the Body I am amongst mine Enemies When in the Body I did dream of being Happy as soon as out of the Body I saw it was but a Dream When in the Body I did hope and till I parted from my Body I would not I did not part from my Hope that I should be carried into Heaven but as soon as I parted from my Body I parted from my Hope and my Hope from me for these infernal Spirits are carrying me to Hell and I cannot fain I would but cannot any longer hope for Heaven When in the Body the Devil and Sin did blind mine Eyes that I could not see the sandy Foundation on which I built my Expectation of Happiness in the Highest Heavens but as soon as Death and Friends had closed the Eyes of my Body then the Eyes of my Mind were opened to see all my Building on that rotten Foundation is gone to Ruine and I am going in this Company to the Lowest Hell Such-like bitter Cries such self-lamenting Groans we may conceive the separated sinful Soul to utter as it is on its way in the Company of Devils to the Place of Outer-darkness where there shall be Weeping and Wailing for Ever Yet if we consider the Circumstances that will farther aggravate the Sorrow of the Soul in its Journey to the Lake of Brimstone arising from the Company of unclean Spirits that are dragging it along to the Place of Torment which the distressed unsanctified Soul shall be apprehensive and sensible of it will pass our Thoughts to conceive and our Words to express how great its Horror will be and what Fear and Trembling it will be filled with when it shall find these Carriers of it to Hell to be 1. Exceeding Powerful and Strong that the seized Soul is not able so to resist as to rescue it self out of their Hands Their Strength is signified by their Names being called Principalities and Powers Eph. 6. 12. and known by the Effects which they have done in such as have been possessed as we read of one Mar. 5. 3 4. That no Man could bind him no not with Chains because that he had been often bound with Fetters and Chains and the Chains had been plucked asunder by him and the Fetters broken in pieces Neither could any Man tame him How then will this add to the Misery of the Soul seized by them when tho' it struggle it cannot get free tho' it strive it is to no purpose tho' it resist it cannot prevail O Miserable Wretch that I am when I was in the Body I should have resisted their Temptations and might now I would their Power but cannot I should have withstood their enticing Persuasions but did not I could but would not now I would withstand their Force and Violence but I cannot fain I wou'd but woe is me I cannot I must along with these dragging Devils I would not but I must for they are stronger than I. 2. This will aggravate the Evil of his Passage in that the Company of Devils is so Numerous A Legion of unclean Spirits possessed one Man's Body Mar. 5. 9. and will not a Legion of them be as ready to seize one Soul Which when the separated Soul perceives enquires Why so many Why so many to one Why so many so strong to one so weak Are all of one Mind Are ye all agreed to hurry me to Hell Is there not one amongst you all will stand my Friend Not one to take my Part to be on my Side Alas for me Tho' they are many they are as one How strange is this that a Legion of Devils should be so unanimous in my Ruine that all are called by one Name as if many were one As the Devil that possessed a Man being asked what is thy Name he answered saying My Name is Legion for we are many Never was a poor Debter on Earth carried to Prison by the Joint-consent and One-will of many Serjeants as I poor Debter am carried to the Prison and Dungeon of Hell by the Joint-consent and One-will of many Devils 3. This will aggravate the Sorrow the Soul in its Passage to its long and doleful Home will be filled with That these Carriers are so swift and active in their Motion which will increase the Horror of the Soul in its way upon these Accounts First Because by flight it cannot escape from them When we cannot resist an Enemy by the Strength of our Arm yet we may escape by the Swiftness of our Feet When we cannot get the Victory by Fighting we might prevent our Captivity by Running But this will give no Relief to the separated sinful Soul because evil Spirits are such agile swift and active Creatures that move so fast that the Soul cannot be more speedy than they Tho' Holy Angels as they are stronger so they are swifter than Apostate Spirits being more able ready and speedy to protect and defend us than Fallen Angels are to hurt and destroy us and therefore the Good are said to have Wings which as I remember is not spoken of the Bad yet these Infernal Spirits are so much speedier in their Motion than the Soul that it can have no Hope of preventing their transporting of it from the dying Bed to its Lodging in the Flames of Hell Secondly Because by them it will be brought so soon to the Place of Torment Men on Earth sin so much swear so fast and run in the Ways of Wickedness as tho' they could not get to Hell sure enough nor soon enough But when they have done sinning upon Earth and are on their Way to their Eternal Miserable State they will think Devils put them on too fast and carry them with too much speed to that Place where their Entertainment will be so bad We may imagine the separated Soul in the Devil's Arms to lament it self saying What! Is my Journey like to be so short when my Journey 's End will be so bad Am I going whither I would not and yet do these Carriers make such haste must I thus be posted to such grievous Torments whence I shall never be delivered Tho' the Way be so uncomfortable yet the Place will be so much more when I come thither therefore let me move more slowly to it Tho' I have an
Hell within me on my way to Hell yet O that it might be a Thousand Years before I enter into it but I wish in vain for this swift Motion will quickly bring me to it 4. The Insultings of the Devils over their Prisoner will aggravate its Misery on the Way to Hell when as they carry it along shall reproach it to this purpose Here is the Fool we took captive at our Pleasure Here is the Soul that had no more Wit than to stop his Ears to the Calls of Mercy to the Offers of Grace to the Tenders of a Saviour to the Commands of God God called him to repent but he would not God commanded him to believe but he did not We persuaded him to sin and he did we enticed him and he consented we suggested and he yielded We have him we have him away with him away with him he is condemned make haste away with him to the Place of Execution We led him with a String we drew him with a single Thread when in the Body whither we listed but now we have him in Chains to drag him to the Place whither he is unwilling to go Come along Oh not so fast Come along make speed Oh! not so swift I shall be there too soon Too soon thou art expected thou art waited for make haste and come away 5. Moreover the Merciless Nature of the Devils will add to the Amazement of the Soul in his Passage to the Place where it shall find no Mercy As the Damn'd in Hell cry out for Mercy for a small Measure of Mercy as may be in a Drop of Water and no Mercy shall be shewn to them so the separated Soul on its Way thither tho' it cry to its Transporters for the least Favour shall find none Might not we suppose it to cry out and say What! Will nothing serve you but my Ruine will nothing please you but my Damnation Will nothing satisfy you but that I be made as miserable as your selves have Pity upon me if ye have any Pity in you have Pity upon me All I have I would give that I may find some Mercy from you Thou silly Soul Thou hast nothing left to offer unto us to spare thee or to shew any Kindness to thee that we should let thee go Death hath stripped thee of all and thou art fallen naked into our Hands But it was thy self and not thy Money we desired Thy Friends have got thy Money and did let thee go but we have gotten thee and will not let thee go Oh miserable Soul that I am Did I serve you so constantly so heartily so chearfully when in my Body and do ye serve me so cruelly so unkindly so unmercifully as soon as I am separated from my Body Is there none to whom I might look for a little Mercy Is there none in whom I might hope for help and Succour in this distressed Case that I am in Let me turn mine Eyes every way if I may see any hope of Help when this Company I am fallen into will afford me none First If I look back to those my Friends that loved me dearly that ministred to me constantly Night and Day while I was with them that parted with me with weeping Eyes with wringing Hands with sorrowful Hearts cannot they relieve me Cannot they give Assistance to me When I was with them they did Comfort me when I was Sick they gave me Cordials when I was in Pain they did turn me hoping I might have Ease when I was afraid to Die they spake Words of Comfort to me But now Woe is me being separated from my Body I am out of their reach I am past their Help I am no more capable of receiving nor they of affording any Benefit unto me They are in Time I am entred into Eternity they are in one World I am now in another and there is no Converse I can have with them and there is no Kindness they can shew to me Besides they might be ignorant of my Case they might not know what Company I am fallen into nor what is the way that I am going Nay they might be deceived thinking I am travelling to Heaven when alas I find I am posting to Hell Supposing the Holy Angels of God are carrying me to Glory and therefore say Our Loss is his Gain While we are left in Trouble he is going to his Eternal Rest and so they do not so much as pity my Case and tho' they are weeping over my dead Body yet they do not Mourn because of the Misery that I am in when they imagine I am on the Way to Happiness tho' I find I know I am sure I am on the Road that leadeth to Eternal Darkness Secondly Tho' these Devils of Hell that seized me are merciless Devils yet the God of Heaven is a merciful God may I look up to him and cry Most Merciful Lord behold my Misery behold my deep Distress behold me if ever now behold me and have Compassion on me See whither this Troop this Host of Internal Spirits are carrying me Stop them oh stop them in their Way or if they will and must to Hell let not me go with them Rescue O rescue me out of their Hands while on the Way for if I enter thro' the Gates of Hell and they be shut upon me there will be no coming back for Ever no Hope no Help for Ever But alas Woe is me I call in vain I Cry in vain my Petition is in vain Devils now can tell me and Conscience now doth tell me it is too late and as they do tell me so I find that now it is too late if I had begged sooner I might have speeded better Mercy once yea often begged of me and I would not accept of Mercy now I beg and cry and call for Mercy and the God of Mercy doth deny me Mercy Mercy hath done with me and Patience hath done with me and Grace will have no more to do with me but Wrath will and Vengeance will and Justice hath and will have to do with me for Ever God is now inexorable his Wrath is now implacable his Anger against me is never to be appeas'd The Adversaries have haled me to the Judge the Judge hath delivered me to these Officers that have their Commission from him to cast me into Prison to which I am now on my way from which I shall never return till I shall pay the uttermost Farthing which will never be The Merciful God hath sealed their Warrant to apprehend me and they have served it upon me and to carry me to the Place of Execution and I am with them upon my Way unto it without all Hope of Reprieve or Pardon Thirdly May I not with better hope look unto Christ that he that is the Way to Heaven might pity me and stop me in my Way to Hell It was he that came down from the highest Heaven to prevent Sinners going down
by that Power they are indued with from God but also by Commission and Assistance from him and therefore when we read of any Fight and Conflict between the Bad and Holy Angels the Good always overcame because Christ who is that Michael is the Lord General of the Heavenly Host and they fight under his Banner and he that is the Captain of our Salvation is the Captain Leader and Commander in Chief of this Heavenly Army Rev. 12. 7 8. And there was War in Heaven Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was there Place sound any more in Heaven 9. And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole World he was cast out into the Earth and his Angels were cast out with him Rev. 20. 1. I saw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the Bottomless Pit and a great Chain in his Hand 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan and bound him a Thousand Years 3. And cast him into the bottomless Pit and set a Seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more Thus the Holy Angels are celebrated for their Power being mighty Angels 2 Thes 1. 7. and do excel in Strength Psal 103. 20. Their Power under God is the Soul's Safety on its Way from Earth to Heaven Secondly The Soul by this Convoy is safe because conducted by such knowing Angels Evil Angels though they have lost all that Holiness they were at first created with yet they retain great Measures of Knowledge therefore we read of the Subtilty of the Stratagems and Devices of the Devil yet the Holy Holy Angels are more knowing than they for when Devils are cast out the good Angels do always behold the Face of God in Heaven Mat. 18. 10. So that God revealing his Will to them about any Matter Message or Person they readily know and as readily execute what he reveals to them to be his Will to be done by them As to our present Purpose by God's Revelation to them 1. They know those that are sincerely Holy for they rejoice at their Conversion 2. They know when any Believer is dissolved by Death and when his Soul is separated from his Body else how should they know when to come for it 3. They know where any Believer dies at home or abroad on his Bed or in the Field by Land or Sea else how should they know where to come for it 4. They know the Soul separated which is the Soul of a sanctified Man and which of one unholy else how should they know which to take and which to leave which to carry to Heaven and which to leave to Devils to be carried to Hell and here thro' Divine Revelation they never make any Mistake 5. They know the Way from any part of this World to the blessed World above by their often coming and going and never miss their Way All which laid together shews the Safety of Believers Souls wherever they live wherever they die whoever they be that there is no fear that they should not be found by the ministring Angels or that finding them at Death they should lose their Way to Heaven So that the separated Soul at the first Appearance of Angels to it will see the Love and Care of God concerning it and with admiring Thoughts thereof may say hath God made known to you the Place where I did leave my Body and the very Moment when I parted from it and that I was sincere in Heart to God and gave you charge to come and guide me in my Way unto his Glorious Presence how chearfully will I go with you knowing that by your Power under God I shall not be seized by evil Spirits and by your Skill I shall not lose my Way Thirdly The separated Soul by Angels Ministration is safe because convoyed by such faithful Angels that are always true to their Trust If a Man be on a Journey in Company that is able to protect him and skilful to direct him yet if any in the Company be unfaithful they may betray him but here can be no Danger nor Ground of Fear in respect of this Convoy 1. Else Holy Angels would not be faithful to God the Father in betraying any one Soul chosen by him to Eternal Life 2. Nor to God the Son in losing any whom he hath redeemed and purchased by his most precious Blood 3. Nor to the Holy Spirit of God by dropping any by the Way which by the special Operation of his powerful Grace he hath prepared and made meet for Glory and had given to them the Pledge and Earnest thereof 4. Nor to the Soul committed to their Charge to bring to Heaven for wherein could greater Unfaithfulness to it be shewn than in what concerns its Eternal State 5. Nor to their own Office or Commission to them without fail to conduct such an one to the Happiness of Heaven Such Unfaithfulness is inconsistent with the Perfection and spotless Purity of Holy Angels which being confirmed cannot at any time fall into the least Error or Miscarriage for then would they cease to be Holy Angels What Joy then is this to the separated Soul that hath such a Convoy sent for it as shall not indanger it by Weakness or want of Power by Ignorance or want of Skill in the Way or by Unfaithfulness or want of Fidelity to their Trust O how happy am I on my Way to Happiness How sure am I my Way will be prosperous How certain is it I shall get safely thither Fourthly The gracious separated Soul will be safe because transported by such zealous Angels therefore called Seraphims because they have a burning Zeal in executing all that God gives them a Charge to do Devils are furious envious and malicious and are bent to destroy devour and damn as many as they can by watching by walking to and fro throughout the Earth by tempting and at last by dragging Souls to Hell when separated from their Bodies The Holy Angels are more for God's Glory the Interest of Christ the Good of Souls than Devils are against them for I suppose the Holy Angels do more exceed in Goodness than evil Angels as bad as they are are filled with Wickedness For in Devils there is something Materially Good besides their Being tho' it may be Formally or Circumstantially Evil as much of their Knowledge but in Holy Angels there is nothing that is Materially or Circumstantially Evil. Therefore the Holy separated Soul received into the Company of Holy Angels on its Way to Heaven may delight it self and say While in the Body I was assaulted with Satans Temptations Devils did endeavour to persuade me to sin but whatsoever Violence they may now assault me with they shall no more with any Hopes entice me from my God and the good Company I
Angels in Heaven who are so ready to help us up to Heaven Should we love every one on Earth in whom we see the Holy Image and Likeness of God in smallest Measure and should not we love these Holy Angels that are like to God in highest Degrees Should we love the Ministers of God whose Preaching God hath made instrumental for our Conversion and Preparation for Heaven and should we not love these Messengers of God who are sent by him to fetch us to the Possession of our Mansions in Heaven Do we love the Company of good Men that travel with us upon Earth as they are Guides and Guards unto us on our Way and shall we not love these Holy Angels of God that will be our Companions in our Journey to Heaven If we are to love such as are our Enemies in Life surely we should love these that will be such Friends unto us after Death 2. By their Condescention in the carrying the Soul of the meanest Believer to Heaven we should learn Humility and to condescend to Men of low Estates for the Good and Welfare of their Souls What meer Creatures are more Noble and Excellent than the Holy Angels in Heaven And what Believer as to outward Circumstances was poorer and more loathsom than Lazarus Was he not a Beggar that wanted Bread Was he not a Cripple that could not go to but was laid at the Rich Man's Gate Was he not only sore but full of Sores that a nice and squeamish Person would have disdained to look upon him but much more to dress his Sores And yet the Angels of God did not disdain to carry this Poor Man's Soul into Abraham's Bosom Did they take him in their Arms whom the Rich Man would not take and lay in any of his Out-houses Are any of the Sons of Men more Excellent more Noble more Knowing and set higher in any Capacity above the Poorest and most Contemptible Believer upon Earth than the Angels in Heaven and yet are they ready to minister to the Meanest and shall any of us be so Great in our own Eyes and look upon our selves in such a Magnifying Glass as to refuse to help forward the Salvation of the Poorest Soul 3. Let the Ministration of Angels in carrying Souls to Heaven be a Pattern of our Obedience to God all the Days of our Life on Earth As they obey God in this as in all things else so let us write after their Copy to do the Will of God as by them in Heaven it is done Tho' we cannot do it equally in Degrees yet let it be our Holy Ambition to come as near to them as we can in these Particulars First They do not stir to fetch a Soul to Heaven without a Warrant from God they are sent before they Come So let us see what Warrant we have from God for what we do before we do it demanding of our selves hath God commanded this Hath he spoke the Word Will the Holy Scripture wherein God's Will and my Duty is revealed bear me out if I do this or that What a Multitude of Sins by this would be prevented Secondly Angels come and carry believing Souls to Heaven with greatest Alacrity and Cheerfulness As they joy in their Conversion so in carrying them to Eternal Salvation if they be sent never so often to fetch never so many they never grudge their Labour they have not the least Regret nor Repining but the more they are sent for the more they are pleased and do rejoice So we should serve the Lord with Gladness and and come before his Presence with Singing Psal 100. 2. We should pray to him with Delight hear from him and obey him with Cheerfulness and Joy Thirdly Angels having a Charge to fetch a Believer's Soul come speedily without delay they make haste to receive it that they may be present at the very Moment of its Separation They never come too late In like manner we should imitate their Obedience in ours Psal 119. 60. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments God commands you now to repent but you put it off till hereafter God enjoins you to Day whiles it is called to Day to hearken to his Voice but you stop your Ears to Day and so you will to morrow if you shall have the same hardness of Heart to Morrow as you have to Day Angels in conveying Souls do not so but when God gives the Word they obey speedily and fly swiftly Fourthly Angels in carrying Souls to Heaven are Faithful in their Service in fetching as many as God sends them for and no more and the very same Souls and no other they never mistake one for another and never drop or lose any by the Way committed to their Charge We in Imitation of them should be faithful in doing what God commands to every Person in what Capacity Station and Relation we stand to them to one as well as another and not only to one neglecting another when each are equally committed to our Charge Fifthly Holy Angels serve God in this Ministration with persevering Constancy They have been imployed in Transporting Souls for many Ages already past innumerable Souls have been conveyed from this World to that above and so they do still as oft as Believers die and so they will to the World's End till all the Souls ordained by God for Eternal Life are lodged in the Heavens To which Pattern we should conform our selves in our Obedience to God persevering therein to our Lives End Psal 119. 112. I have inclined my Heart to perform thy Statutes always even to the End 4. Let the Care of Angels in carrying Holy Souls to Heaven make us careful of our own Souls that they be such and so qualified with special Grace that they may be the Object of their Care when they shall be separated from our Bodies as you desire they and not Devils should have them when out of the Body do you make it your great Concern to have them Sanctified in the Body For Holy Angels will not touch an unholy separated Soul to defend it from the Devil 's seizing of it If the Soul be unholy while you live and leave the Body unholy when you die it will be unfit for the Glorious Presence of God for the Holy Place and Company Above and it will not be in their Commission to carry it thither neither will they do it 5. Grieve not nor offend the Holy Angels of God as you expect and hope they should carry your Souls to Heaven when you die Good and Evil Angels are your Spectators and Observers when you might think little of it When you do Evil bad Angels rejoice good Angels are offended when you please God Devils are displeased but good Angels are delighted at it Take heed in secret what you do for there may be more Devils and Holy Angels with you tho' not seen by you than you are aware of Be mindful how you behave
your self in the Publick Ordinances because of Angels good and bad for when you come to these good and bad Angels come also the Devil to catch the Word from you that you might not be saved but that he might catch and carry your Soul at Death to Hell Good Angels to promote your Conversion now that they may carry your Souls to Heaven hereafter Because of these Holy Angels in the Assembly watch your Carriage shall they see your Eyes rolling after sinful Objects Shall they see you sleeping under the Word or in time of Prayer Will you so grieve those that you hope shall be imployed in carrying your Soul to Heaven Blush more that Angels see you nodding in Duty than that Men see you IV. Tho' Angels shall be so careful of you to carry your separated Soul to Heaven yet be you careful that you now carry nothing to them that is due to God neither your Prayers nor any part of Religious Worship that properly belongs to God Worshipping of Angels is offensive to God and displeasing to them and they refuse to accept it Tho' you were upon your dying Bed you may not pray to them to come and guard you but you may pray to God that he would send them to defend you and carry you to Glory as in another Case Manoah did Judg. 13. 8. Manoah intreated the Lord and said O my Lord let the Man of God which thou didst send come again unto us 9. And God hearkened to the Voice of Manoah and the Angel of God came again 16. The Angel said If thou wilt offer a Burnt Offering thou must offer it to the Lord. V. This is great Encouragement to dying Believers When such an one perceives the approaching of Death that he must get up and ride upon that Pale Horse that will carry him into the other World he might say Farewell Dear Friends Farewell I am going my time is ended my Course is finished I shall be no more with you and when my Soul is departed there is no more that you can do for it Weep not neither be ye grieved I have those that will take care of me when ye cannot God will take Care of me and Christ will take Care of me and the Holy Angels of God will take Care of me I have God's Promise for my Security God's Power for my Protection God's Angels for my Guard The Angel of the Covenant will charge his Angels with me the Messenger of the Covenant will send his Messengers for me The Surety of the Covenant hath undertaken with God for me and for me with God and I shall reap the benefit of his Suretiship and the Blessings of the Covenant for Ever when carried up into Heaven Death will carry me into Eternity and Angels will carry me into a blessed Eternity of Life and Joy with Christ in Glory The Horsemen of Israel are a coming the Chariot is making ready and as Death hastens so do they and will certainly be here as soon as Death if not before Shall I be afraid of Death or Devils or Hell when Angels will meet me at Death's Door and carry me to Heaven's Gates and others let me in to take up my Lodging in Abraham's Bosom This is Ground of support to a Believer on his dying Bed when he must mount the Pale Horse of Death which will carry him into another World that God will charge his Angels to attend and to be read to receive his separated Soul and carry it into the State and Place of Eternal Happiness in the other World This also might alleviate the Grief of surviving Friends which often loads and burdens the Heart because of the Departure of such that while they lived were their Comfort and Delight when they consider the joyful Company of the Holy Angels they have to convoy them to their Eternal Blessed Home their joyful Entertainment there their happy Rest their holy Imployment their inconceivable Joys in the immediate Presence of their Glorious God and Exalted Redemer and the Eternal Spirit and that all this shall be their Happiness to all Eternity It is no blind Charity to conclude that the Soul of this deceased Friend is safely arrived at Heaven and hath his Mansion there when those that knew him best and conversed with him most and had the longest Acquaintance to observe his Conversation can and do affirm that his whole Life was very Exemplary suitable to his Profession and worthy of others Imitation When I was at his Funeral a grave solid and judicious Christian said to me I have known him from his Begining to his End and think that whatsoever migh be said of an Upright Man might be said concerning him He was very diligent in Redeeming his time Improving it in the Duties of his particular and general Calling cautious and watchful that he might not waste nor mispend the Hours of his Life for tho' he had a considerable Estate yet he was as laborious in his Station as if he had not Bread to eat till he had got it by his Hands not from a covetous Desire of Gain which was manifest in that the same Hands that worked for it were as ready to give it as the Necessities of others called for it For to my Knowledge he gave a considerable Allowance for many Years towards the Education of a poor Scholar whom when he heard preach before he died said to me he thought his Money well bestowed and was a Comfort to him that it had been so rightly placed and that he saw such Fruits of what he had therein done He was more than ordinarily ready to promote the Preaching of the Gospel amongst a People that by reason of their low Circumstances were not able to procure it one Instance I remember when a Friend of mine did but mention the Case of such a People in the Country tho' he did not ask him yet before they parted I saw him give several Pounds to be towards the Maintainance of a Preacher for that Year Another special Friend of mine of his intimate Acquaintance told me since his Death that once he desired some Assistance from him for the Relief of a very fit Object of Charity more than ordinary for which purpose he readily beyond his Expectation gave many Pounds After some considerable time intervening the same Person upon another extraordinary Occasion renewed his Request for his Help and he chearfully gave him upon that Account as much as he did for the other Whereupon my Friend told me that such a Free-giver spoiled him for a Beggar for others as to him for after that he could never prevail with himself to ask him any more who was so easily prevailed with to give so liberally He was an earnest desirer of the Welfare of the Souls of others for I know that he hath often bought many Dozens of Books of several Subjects and given them to Poor Persons and Families asking nothing but that they would take them and