appearing for a little while and then vanisheth away Man walks in a vain h shadow while he lives even the shadow of a vapor e Job 8.9 every wind puffs it away and man is not a short lived vapour that lives to be but lives no longer no sooner in being but it flies away and who can gather it what 's all time from the Suns first motion till he turns to sack-cloth but a perishing cut out of the bosome of Eternity scarce worth the name of a point or a moment to it And what then are the few and evill dayes of mans life upon earth like a spark gives a snap and perishes but when he dyes the shadows of a dark of a long a Jer. 6.4 evening are stretcht upon him How wholsome is it to meditate under these shadows By these things b Is 33.16 men live and in all these is the life of our spirit let 's catch these vapours by the hand of contemplation and distill some spiritual Cordials Is life so c Job 7.7 vain a meteor O vainer soul to build castles upon it here 's d Heb. 11.10 no City that hath foundations that 's in heaven men trade and buy and build and plant as if Noah's second flood of fire and brimstone would never come All former ages are wrapt up in the short breath of a history and yet most men live as if they thought their forefathers were by the Art of Magick stept aside in a mist and the story of death but a Poets fable But as e Dion Cass l. 53. p. V 34. Tiberius said of Scaurus that reviv'd an old Tragedy against the Emperor he himself should be Ajax Thou lookst upon Death only as the Tragicall Theam of some sickly over-studied Minister till thou become the Tragedy it self and be invelop't in eternall darknesse to which the shadow of death is but the shadow of missery What makes night but the shadow of the earth and what 's death but the shadow of the grave every night is the shadow of death and every sleep in the bed is next of kin to that in the dust and should raise up the holy seed of meditation to his brother While man lives he walks in a shadow and when he dies he lies down in it A carnall man dies once and rises to judgment but after that to a second death and never rises more A Saint indeed steps down into this first Valley but walks through it to glory The Vale of Kidron was also called the Valley of Tophet and the Valley of a Gehenna Ge-hennon the Valley of Hell From the Valley of the grave wicked men sink into the bottom of Hell But a Saint ascends from Kidron to Olivet Thirdly Death is a Saints walk in this shady Valley King David might but Saint David would fear no evill though he trod this dismall path Christ is gone before b Act. 2.29 the Patriarch and hath left behind him the lustre of his footsteps to inlighten Davids feet in the c Ps 16.11 path to life 'T was not his royall Diadem could dazle the eyes of Death and fright him attaching his Ermine Robes or guard him from appalement at the wan looks of Death Scepters as well as Sheephooks lye snapt in that Valley Purple and Sackcloth are a like begrim'd with the soil of the grave the Worms Table-cloth is spread with the fine Linnen of Egypt no less then the coursest Woollen not greatness but goodness not highness but holiness gains Letters of safe conduct through this Valley All passe through it but a Saint walks through it to the Mountains of Spices Fourthly Death is a night-walk through this shady Valley a Saint is to pass not to stay there 't is a night-walk and there he must walk till the bright morning springs So many Suns must rowl over his body till the Resurrection Then he that d Dan. 12.2 slept in the dust of the earth shall awake to everlasting life When his mouldring Clay being well digested in the Sepulchrall urn shall attain maturity it shall then shine forth a diaphanous splendid and glorious body The sleep of the ancient Heroe-Saints for some thousands of years shall seem but as the sleep of one night Wicked mens souls may be terrified with dreams and visions of horror in that dismall night but a Saint sleeps quiet and sound and with Christs dead body shal he arise he tosses e Ifay 26.19 he tumbles not in this bed of Roses 't is but one fast sleep to a labouring and resting Saint the worm shall suck the nerves of the wicked and feed f Job 25.20 sweetly on him but a Saint feeds sweetly on death 'T is but his refreshment from all the sorrows and toil of his heart hands that he found under the Sun and his works follow him to glory Saints indeed are noctam bulones night walkers in this Valley but 't is not the fruit of undigested Suppers on the worlds Dainties but as a happy pleasure in the bosome of Christ The separate Soul watches his lovely bed-fellow and sings a requiem an Epithalamium a Song of Love towards it Marriage-morning Nay Angels in shining garments sit at the head and feet of a Saints grave When holy David a Ps 8.3 considered Gods Heavens the work of his fingers the Moon and the Stars which he had ordained he considers Man too that God should remember him and the Son of Man that he should visit him what 's Man to a Star to the Sun to the Heavens yet a Saint's of more value to God then numerous Stars or the manifold Orbes of Heaven Was not David now on the Roof of his House by night gazing on that spangled Canopy and pondering on the greatness of the Stars their motion lustre and influence May not a Saint thus meditate upon the night-watches of the grave and look up to the b Gen. 15.5 Stars as so many promises c Ps 89.37 and faithfull witnesses in Heaven When he views the Zodiack he traces the course of the Sun of righteousness he looks upon the Milky Way as the future path of his glorified feet He counts what if each Saint shall have a Star for his Kingdome and yet that all the Stars are but the paintings of the out-houses of that eternal Palace wherein he shall dwell with God When his Fathers face shall visit him with the day-spring from on high and the bright morning Star shall glitter upon the Eastern-Mountains of the Resurrection and proclaim the Suns arising to an eternall Jubile CHAP. III. Of the persons walking in the Valley of Death IN this Valley of Kidron David and Jonathans little Lad must gather up the mortall arrows together Princes and Skullions must do their homage alike in Deaths Kitchin There 's the homely House the Straw Hovell appointed a Job 30. for all living There be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b Diodor. Sic. l.
in Innocency and round about the Throne in this Majesticall Temple-Session angelicall Cherubims full of eyes cry night and day f Rev. 4.8 Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty who was and is V. 5. and is to come and from out of the Throne proceed lightnings and thunderings and voices At so radiant and tremendous a Spectacle in such a glorious and orient Theatre how can the direfull persecutors of the Church look up O how they creep to the Rocks for some hole some cleft to pitty them O Nimrod Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezar O Nero Trojan and Dioclesian whither will ye run from the face of the Lamb that sits on the Throne who with his fulgent Eyes searches and pierces to the Center of the Universe O Pope of Rome and thy cursed Shavelings It s in vain now to stand poring on g Bern. de Consid ad Eugen f. 237. h. Bernards good monitions to thy stubborn Predecessor Eugenius O Bonner and Gardiner what will become of you and your â—ccessâ—râ— for pushing and goring and letting out the blood of Saints all in the Book of Martyrs Remember James Abbes and the a Fox Martyrs Vol. 3. p. 956 c. Ed. 1641. Sheriffs Servant at Bury who railing at that faithfull Martyr was strook with madnesse and cried out James Abbes is the Servant of God and is saved but I am damn'd and inveighed at the Priest that brought him the Hoste that he and such were the cause of his damnation Is it so terrible before hand in the presentiments and preaccusations of Conscience before that great and fearfull Day of the Lord come What will be the horror of execution when the blood which is dryed up in prisons as well as drawn forth by whips and flames shall be weighed to a drop and a grain in the ballance of this righteous Judg. So much b Rev. 18.7 torment and sorrow give them Then the Beast shall be taken and with him that false Prophet the Pope that wrought Miracles before him Both these shall be cast alive into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimstone Then they that c Rev. 14.10 c. worship the Beast and his Image and receiv'd his Mark in Hand or Forehead shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of the holy Angells and in the presence of the Lamb the smoak of their torment shall ascend for ever and ever They shall have no rest day nor night who ador'd the Beast or his Image or received the Mark of his Name And this brings me to the last Consideration and that 's Eternity The misery of Hell could I speak it properly were it to end but a moment on this side Eternity either in blisse or abatement of pain or compleat annihilation 't were a soveraign Cordiall The memory of it would be a cooling drop day by day upon the tongue of every Dives to keep it from blistering into blasphemy But to ponder upon this dreadfull Ever and to champ upon it to Eternity it s a thousand times more bitter then Wormwood Aloes or Coloquintida 'T is to swallow down the wine of astonishment and to pledg one another d Deut. 30.33 with the poyson of Dragons and the cruell venome of Aspes I dare any wicked man in the world to run on in their follies with any serious apprehensions of Eternity Clem Alexandr Strom. l. 1. p. 222. Edit Lug. B. or calm convictions of it upon their Spirits Poor Heathens have highly asserted the Souls immortally and common reason evinces that there can be no communion between God and Belial light and darkness can't associate If the Soul be immortall and its union to â—od be the life of the Soul must it not when God's absent absent for ever from all unholy persons lye down in Eternall death He that walketh in light 1 John 1.6 7 c. dwelleth and hath fellowship with the Father and with the Son But he that lives and dies in darkness can never come to or abide in Eternall Light But must be cast out into utter darkness where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth I know there be such in our daies or else I should not mention it who would fain tamper with the false doctrin of Origen and like his weak Disciples would perswade themselves that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebr. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek often note but a stated determination of time and therefore may be so understood in this case Poor wretches will they hazard their all upon a pittifull conjecture a jejune criticism in Grammar and run fool-hardy upon the pikes of divine vengeance and the thick bosses of his Bucklers under the thin covert of a words acceptation sometimes in that sense in Scripture when the nature of the matter and the force of the context obliges should you not rather deeply weigh and ponder upon those places where the damnation of the wicked is opposed to the eternall salvation b Dan. 12.2 Mat. 25.46 Jude 7 21 22. of the Godly Do you believe eternall life for the Saints and shall the wicked who come not into a life of grace shal they after a set race of years be raised to glory Such as never repent never close with Christ never fly to the promise while here and is there any repentance in the grave or remission of sins O fool twice dyed in grain that darest to venture thy Soul upon the punctilio of a word Nay is not that very word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used and applyed to the divine c Rom. 16.26 Heb. 9.24 Majesty who inhabits eternity and dwelleth in the inaccessible light Nay are there not other cogent expressions setting out the perpetuity of that estate in misery where their word is absent with which they play their lives at stake Is there not a dolefull d Mat. 5.26 Rev. 1.18 prison which no man can unlock or break through or be let forth till he pay the utmost farthing Is there not a place where the a Mark 9.44 46 48. worm of Conscience dies not and the fire shall never be quencht Are these but dry metaphors Take heed thy Soul be not the dreadfull fiery comment that thou sinck not into b Luk. 16.26 that great gulf c Riv. 20.3 that bottomless-pit If thou wilt be d Pro. 9.12 wise be wise for thy self and believe on the Son e Joh. 3.36 to everlasting life he that beliveth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him O Souls will you warm your thoughts and unfreeze your security at that fearfull fire will you open your eyes at the sight of that horrible darkness Fire that yields no light and flames that are thick with darkness O monstrous misery A cohabitation with Devills The Drum of the Ears even tingles and is broken in pieces with distracted roarings of men and devills and
Phil. 3.21 shall be changed and fashioned like his most glorious body then shall we ever follow the Lamb with agile spirits whereever he goes leading us to the living fountains of waters The Lord graciously make us all fit vessels for the Temple not made with hands by the imputation of his Sons righteousness that after a holy life we may sleep peaceably in Jesus and reign triumphantly with him Most honoured Sir I humbly commend you into the bosome of this blessed Lamb and Prince of Life to be presented a Ephes 5.27 without spot or wrinckle unto himself To this Lamb-like Shepheard of Zion that his crook and his staffe may comfort you That goodness and mercy may follow you all your daies and you may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever So prayes humbly and earnestly begging your fervent petitions and blessings from the fountain of Israel upon Your most obedient Son in all humble duty and sincere affection in our Lord Jesus Samuel Lee. July 30. 1669. Contemplations ON MORTALITY PSALM 23.4 Yea though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear evill for thou wilt be with me thy crook and thy staffe they shall comfort mee CHAP. I. Upon the words of the Psalmist KIng David from his Royal Palace in Mount Zion might feast his eyes with many delicious Prospects 1. The first and chiefest was the Tabernacle of the Lord of Hosts who a Ps 87.2 loved the gates of that mountain more then all the dwellings of Jacob. This holy Prince delighted in communion with God and therefore is styled a man after Gods own heart he b Ps 13.1 2 4 5. swore against the slumber of his eye-lids till he found a place for the Lord a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. And where did he fix the Tents of the holy One of Israel did he not bring up the Ark from the house of Obed-Edam into the c Sam. 6.12 City af David with gladness For d Ps 132.13 the Lord had chosen Zion he desired it for his habitation Thrice happy those Princes who entertain the pure worship of God within their Courts They shal e Ps 89.15 know the joyfull sound of Temple-musick they shall walk O Lord in the shining light of thy countenance A Second lovely Prospect with which David enamelled his eyes was the pleasant City of Jerusalem f Ps 122.3 a City Compact together g Ps 48.2 3. beautifull for scituation the joy of the whole earth God is known in her Palaces for a refuge A third Was the valley of Kidron a dark valley through shades and precipitious rocks It s name from Kedar obscurities and thick shadows environed with mountains and a swift torrent trilling along its caverns This gave a comely off-set to the neighboring hills here were the shady strokes of natures pencil the more to illustrate the bright pieces of this holy Land-skip Hence were redoubled the pleasant and warbling ecchoes of the silver Trumpets at new Moons and Sacrifices The fourth and last was the three-ridged mount of Olivet fruitfull healthfull and pleasant In the first of these Prospects he saw the holy One of Israel walking in his Sanctuary and enjoyed sweet fellowship with the divine Oracles From the second he took a view of the State of this vain life In the third he might raise Contemplations upon the house of all living In the fourth he beheld as in a glasse a glorious cast of the Resurrection a Zach. 14.4 the day of Judgment and Ascention to Heaven The sweet Singer of Israel had tuned in consort with his Harp many choice Meditations near the murmuring waters of Kidron and here in this Psalm he playes upon the valley it self Let 's descant on his Lesson in four parts 1. Here 's a comparison of the state of death to a walk in the shady valley of Kidron I know it is usuall to interpret the shadow of death by great and deep afflictions but I shal accept the phrase in this method In its first notion that darknesse which seizes upon persons ready to die is represented In a second the grave and death it self It s plain by the conferences of b Job 3.5 10.21 34.22 38.17 Job with his Arabian comforters 't was Eastern language In a third by a Metalepsi those horrors and terrors that attend the agonies of dying mortals yea any grievous calamities that paint the face of death to the life in the glasse of imagination Here under an elegant Allegory holy David prosecutes the divine shepheardy Gods gracious care and conduct The green pastures and the chrystal streams with which his soul was refresht Not doubting but goodness and mercy should follow him all the dayes of his life and although he should be lead through the valley of the grave the Lions and the Bears the Tygers and the Wolves of those fell bottomes should not scare him I will fear no evill for thou art with me Assuring himself that the great Shepheard of Israel had wisdome and power sufficient to guide him safely and at length to enclose this sheep of his Pasture in the Folds of his c Ps 23.6 house of glory for ever Other shepheards tremble at the yelling of the Lions and the print of their foot stamps horror much more to convey their Flocks under such dismall shadows be the slads never so verdant and the gliding brooks never so sweet and pleasant left they and their sheep prove sorry comforters to one another when they slide together into the Maws of such ravening Butchers But here 's a blessed and glorious shepheard a Muscul in Loc. qui sciens prudensque ducet in mortem ipsam who purposes and resolves to lead his Flock through the jaws of death So that David sings this Psalm in the warm feelings of the divine Presence I le fear no evil thy crook and thy staffe they shall comfort me Secondly Here 's the person that walks through this tremendous valley ruddy royal and holy David Thy sanguin complexion must now turn blanck and melancholy when Abishags arms shall be cold and feeble comforters and thy reall body must shrink into this grim b 1 Sam. 15 16. Michols bed That conquering Sword at whose brandishing Edam and Ammon trembled must be shaped into deaths Sithe to mow thee from the Land of the Living Thy holy heart must take Sanctuary in the divine Covenant c Ps 49 15 89.48 that God will one day redeem thy life from corruption and thy darling from the hand of the grave Thirdly We should muster up the formidable evils that put on their armor gird on their Swords and whet their glittering Spears for a fatall encounter in this valley Fourthly We must prepare the Cordialls the Balms and all the sustaining comforts and quickning promises to refresh the Soul and uphold the spirit from sinking that we may fear no evil since God is
1. c. 51 the e Camden in Glamorganshire eternales domus those smoaky and fulsome Huts about which the leves animae the separate Ghosts do keep their residence here the sprightly Satyrs tread their measures and paint green circles in the Elysian Fields till the blushing dawn of eternity d Ps 22.29 None can keep alive his soul from death nor ransome his e Job 13.6 lamp from darkness The martiall Commander creeps under his Bed f Sueton in Coleg c. 51. with Caligula at the râ—â—â—ing of this Thunderbolt no Marble Palaces cau dazle the eyes or daunt the approaches of Death no iron bars can repell his force his aquafortis burns all afunder he stands not agast at the pale and wan looks of quivering Princes but like a gyant fluster'd with the wine of blood looks terrible on the proud Nimrods of the World Kings Edicts that Death be not whispered in their Courts are sullied on waste Paper they but daub their Royall Parchments with fond flourishes Their strongest Towers are but the spinstry of Spider-webs Death's too great a Flesh-fly to be catcht in such Tiffany Walls hee 'l hum in their ears with hatefull buzzing will they nill they There 's no Canon or Decree against him can stand inviolable Should Medes and Persians twist Laws as strong as Cables this Sampson snaps them asunder like raw Flax or twined threads If all Justinians pandects were cramb'd with severe penalties that death presume not to touch an Emperor or be rude with his Lady or Children hee 'l send a Phocas to find them out and hale them to his Slaughter-house The Captains of their Guard with their Halberdiers fling down their Arms and cry craven This old Leviathan g Job 41.29 counts their Darts as Stubble and laughs to scorn the shaking of their Spears When this storm rises this furious blast be takes down the top-gallants and the Flags of Admirals he cuts their Masts by the Board the wisest Pilot he flings over-board no Anchor holds they run adrift and are shattered upon the Rocks The cunning Lawyer with all his shirks and querks and Writs of Error cant hook out a Habeas Corpus from this unbribed Barr. Death has too subtle a Pate to be overmatcht he has Presidents and rul'd Cases and Records as high as Adam There 's no Chancery refuge or Appeal from the Club-law of this Kings-Bench he 's Lord Chief-Justice and Jaylor he 's Sheriff and Executioner But what sayes Hipocrates with his Coan Aphorisms and Galen with his long winded Method Can't he open a Vein in the Arm of this raging Adversary that his Sword may fall and the Galenture of his fury abate against Mankind Is there no inchanted Potion nor amorous Cup can lull him asleep O Physitians Are there no Recipe's in all your Dispensatories against the crack of Heart-strings Must his deadly Ague shake both you and your Patients into the Grave Must his dropsie drown you his Feaver burn you to Ashes his Consumption emaciate and waste you to Skelitons and set up your Bones in his Anatomy School What is there no Antidote no Treacle against the needle-teeth of this black Adder No! he turns a deaf ear to all your Siren-Lectures This Serpent a Eccles. 10 11. will bite for all your inchantments Such bablers are no better But alas for this day of darkness b Irel. 2.2 this gloomy morning that 's spread upon the Mountains Can we track no comfort in this thick Fog of Ignorance Are there no Trees of Life to be found in Lebanon Alas is Eden lost Is that Tree free among the dead did the venemous breath of the old Serpent wither it did he hack it down did he pluck it up by the roots Are there no sprouts from its chips nor no healing atomes that flew from its wounds into other shrubs or plants Is there no drug in Arabia no balm in Gilead no Spice in India can revive a languishing mortal What no Etheriall Spirits nor irradiating Sulfurs nor Minerall tinctures nor Elixirs of Life to cure this stroke Won't potable Gold snatch back the flying Spirit and intreat that noble guest to stay a while within its old Cloister new plaistred and gilt with this restorative Won't the limpid Alcahest make the blood volatile and circulate it nimbly against the cold congealing blast of death Won't the great red-powder cure it Then farewell all their empty notions and unpracticable maximes their clogging Syrups ill digesting Powders their life-exhausting blood-lets and their cold mortal Juleps O vain man Nullis mors est medicabilis herbis No Plant in natures garden springs To heal or swage these deadly stings Use the Physitian that 's a duty trust not in him for that 's a sin Good Asa had this mournful title upon his a 2 Chron. 16.12 13. Tomb that he sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians and slept with his Fathers Though the skilfulst Physitian and the holiest Saint do meet together yet both should count upon a last day a last hour and a last moment that they cannot passe b Isay 3.2 The mighty man and man of war the Captain of Fifty the honourable the Counsellor the cunning Artificer and the eloquent Orator Death takes them all by the hand and leads them into this gloomy Valley He reverences not the gray hairs he rises not up to the milk-white brow of the grave and ancient nor layes down his crooked Sith at the foot of aged and hoary head he strains no courtesies with the weaker sex nor gives it the upper hand the pitifull cries of tender Infants pierce not his Adamantine breast This tearlesse Moloch hugs them mortally in his brazen arms he hath Urns proportion'd to all their Ashes and Graves of every size But what though riches and honour though sweet natures virtuous minds prevail for no reprivall Must holy bones also see corruption Can't Faith Prayer wrestle a fall with this mighty King of terrors No no though the wicked twice fall under the dint of this Goliahs Sword yet 't is appointed for all a Heb. 9.17 ence to dye and after that to Judgment For as by one man sin entred into the world b Ro. 5.12 and Death by sin So death passeth upon all men for that all have sinned Faithfull Abraham must lye down in the Cave of Machpeloh Patient Job after all his Arabian Tragedies must act one Scene more and say to Corruption c Job 17.14 thou art my Father to the Worm thou art my Mother and Sister Strong Sampson must fall by this Jaw-bone in the Vineyards of Zorah and meek Moses though he dye in a d Deut. 32.50 Mountain must walk down this deep e c. 34.6 Valley of Abarim Wise Solomon by all his prudent and pollitick maximes of Government can't tame and rule this ferocious Behemoth nor tye this wild Bull at his Figtree But his sage breath must out at the dore
sting of death its venome and poyson be pull'd out by the death of Christ yet our mortality is not abolished Although our Lord hath brought f 2 Tim. 1.10 life and immortality to light through the Gospel in its revelation and consignation to every believer yet not as to its compleat fruition till the day of Christ Then shall this mortall put on immortality and death shall be swallowed up in victory and then shall we render eternall thanks to the Father for giving us this victory g 1 Cor. 15.57 through our Lord Jesus Christ For reign he must till this last enemy also be put under his feet To conquer over death by rising brings more honour to God then to keep our foot from the grave or else Divine Wisdome would not run that course One's th' effect of powerfull manutenency But the other of creating omnipotency Hence as Christ the Naturall so shall Saints be declared the Adopted sons of God a Rom. 1.4 with power by the resurrection from the dead by reason of which union God will also raise them up like their glorious and mysticall head b Act. 2.24 by loosing the pains of death it being impossible for them likewise to be held by it For Christ being risen from the dead is become c 1 Cor. 15.20 the first fruits of them that sleep Our blessed Lord rose at the Passe-over and they shall rise at the day of Pentecost He rose as the head they as members all in their own order shall rise to glory Obj. But some may say Did not Enoch and Elias leap over this Valley of death into heaven Ans True but their translation moved upon the wheels of transmutation equivalent to death as they also who are found alive at the coming of Christ Though they passe not through the strainer of the grave yet they undergo the percolation of a change As the heavens shall d Ps 102.26 perish when they be changed and passe e 2 Pet. 3.10 away with a great noise and the Elements melt with fervent heat neverthelesse we look for new heavens and a new earth not in substance but in quality Even so Elijah though riding to heaven in a chariot of fire and the living f 2 Cor. 15.51 1 Thes 4.17 Saints at our Lords coming in a chariot of aire yet are all by a marvellous change 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 11.5 translated to the vision of God CHAP. VI. Of the Formidable evills in the Valley of Death AS in a Land-skip let us take a quick prospect of those fatall and tremendous evills which cock their Helmets and make bare their Gorgon faces at the entrance in the passage and the utmost end of this direfull Valley 1. At the Entrance when these brazen gates flee open The soul bewitching comforts to which we must bid a longum vale an eternal farewell and those wracking pains which must be felt not on a Palate of Ivory but a Bed of Iron in which this Gyant Procrustes tortures all he catches must needs shoot barbed arrows into the Livers of all impenitent sinners The Phylosopher teaches h Aristot Rhet. l. 7. c. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that change is the sweetest of all things It must be in things to the better or equall at least in goodness to precedent injoyments else 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the bitterest of all To have been fair strong healthfull rich and happy sharpness the edge of present misery cuts the deeper Is not this a dead fly in the box of oyntment a gourd in the pot a snake in the grasse that poysons the joy of all thy comforts Must the amorous smiles of all thy sinfull pleasures corrupt into doleful howlings Here 's the parting style when the sweet embraces of the dearest conjugall relations must surrender up to mortall gripings Here livid and fainty kisses must take leave of pretty children his own bowels pignora chara nepotes those choice pledges of a mans survivall unto himself The friend that 's nearer than a brother must now shake hands and look back to little purpose at this dolesome and dark good-night His fine houses and fair possessions his fruitfull orchards of his own planting and his pleasant gardens with all its rills and fishponds his flowry meadows and beautifull prospects his gamefull parks and woody forrests his dutifull and toiling tenants must all come to his bedside and shake their heads and with dry eyes bid good-even to their old foolish rent-wracking covetous Landlord Then all these flashy thorny joyes that made so great a crackling under his pot having shot some splinters in his eyes and more in 's heart will leave him in thick darkness Then all his false parasites and trencher-guests for a sorry ring else hardly will march with him to the pits side and forsake his memory when closed in a cold stone Besides 't will gawl him to the heart in that hour to think what a feather cap fool a Eccles. 2.19 he leaves for his heir that will turn upon his left heel and twit the miser when he sees his chests all lined with gold and sorrow for nothing but that he shall never more have so true a drudge Then out goes the young Ruffian with the fork upon his shoulder to France and Venice to learn carriage among Whores Banditos and riotous persons till penury forces his belly to fellow common with a Luk. 15.30 16. Swine and quatrell with hogs for their husks and at length can hardly crawl home to the Surgeons Shop Are not these sweet Flowers for his memory to smell to And a soveraign Cordiall against the assaults of Death But were this all 'T were no match for a Roman Spirit No no! proud worldlings before departure often conflict with fearfull torments Agags b 1 Sam. 15 32. bitternesse of death arrests their souls and make their Spirits stagger The c Ps 18.4 116.3 pains of Death and of Hell get hold upon them These deadly sorrows switch them with such smart lashes Ut se sentiant mori as to leave lingring pains with strong and biding Convulsions Like Tiherius that cruell Tyrant when tormenting of Asinius Gallus told him he was not yet reconciled and therefore would not permit him to dye d Dion .. Cass in Tiber p. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he might count life a punishment and death a great benefaction Like the stroke of these c Rev. 9.6 Scorpions when men shall seek death but not find it and shall desire to dye but Death shall flee from them So sharp and pungent are these invenomed shafts f Job 7.15 that the soul chooses Strangling and death rather then life They are called g Act. 2.24 12. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the pains of death the acute pains of a woman in travell when God shall h Job 33.19 chasten men with pains upon their Beds and the multitude of
19 12. secret faults or are purely cleansed from all the stains of hypocrisie But that the bent of the heart is to God that the constant pointing of the needle of our love is to heaven that we approve no sin not the least intumescence fermentation or rising of an evill thought without actuall combate or at least a serious inward habituall displicency of heart against it springing from that radicall hatred which is in us through grace against the least concupiscence Though when we b Rom. 7.22 would doe good evill be present with us yet there is a chrystall fountain of delight in the Law of God bubbling from the inward man that cleanses and carries away the very soil of our thoughts This holiness of heart conformity of will to the Law of God flowes from the grace that dwelleth in us Thou art with me saies David A holy God makes the heart holy the heart of a Saint by the light of holiness sees God a holy God to be with it In c Ps 36.9 thy light we doe see light the light of grace and we shal see light even the light of glory Many infirmities are and will lurk in the choicest of Saints The Ivy of sin will shoot its roots and fibres into the joints and cracks of our Mud-walls but when these fall that shall wither A Saint is alwaies hacking at the boughs of actual and stubbing at the root of originall sin His sincerity makes him to lay about him and though he can't appeal Lord I have no sin yet thus he can Lord be mercifull to me a sinner d Ps 51.9 Hide thy face from my sins the face of thy justice the face of thine anger and look upon the e Ps 84. â— face of thine anointed within the vail f Ps 55.1 hide not thy self from my supplications g Ps 119.19 hide not thy commandments from me O h Ps 69.17 hide not thy face from thy Servant I am i Ps 119.94 thine Lord save me for I have sought thy Precepts I have kept the waies of the Lord and have not k Ps 18.21 wickedly departed from my God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have not dealt so wickedly as to go away from God and his holy wayes through the tentation of any wickednesse Not as if there were any departure from God that were not wicked but I have not committed so great a wickednesse as to fall away from the wayes of God His Judgments a Ps 18.22 were before my face and I did not put away his Statutes from me Neither his Statutes in respect to purity of worship nor his judgments that is his judiciall Law in respect to morall obedience Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to the cleannesse of my hands in his b V. 24. eye sight To wash our hands in the Laver of the Sanctuary before his eyes because he sees them not because men see their impurity David would not rake in any foul dunghill of sin or pollute his fingers with the pitch of bribery or the sanies the ulcerous matter of any corruption because God saw him Nay I was upright c V. 23 before him and have kept my self from mine iniquity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have guarded watcht and strictly observed my self as to mine own iniquity whatever it were ambition lying or any fruits of a sanguine complexion Can'st thou thus appeal to God in Prayer that thou keepest thine eye upon God and that the eying of his face guards thy heart from sin Thou may'st then cheerfully infer that God is with thee that he will enlighten the lamp of thy Soul with the light of his love and thus lift up thy Soul with David The Lord my God will enlighten my darknesse and though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evill for thou wilt be my guid to glory Section 2. A second Appeal may flow from a retrospect a reflection on a well spent life He that hath faithfully appealed about the sincerity of his heart may doubtlesse reap his Sheaves with joy from the Harvest of a holy life For out of the abundance of the heart d Mat. 12.34 the mouth speaketh the hand worketh and the foot runneth In whose hearts are the a Ps 84.5 waies of them that passe through the Valley of Bacah up to the Temple of Beracah Such as have Gods holy waies in their hearts want not feet to walk and run in them when the heart is in the foot it runs nimbly like a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether They goe from strongth to strength till they all appear before him in Zion Thy law is in b Ps 40.7 8 my heart that 's the root of obedience and therefore lo I come to thee When the heart believes the c Rom. 10.10 mouth confesses unto Salvation when the heart is fixed settled and calmed from carnall fears then d Ps 57.7 108.1 the tongue praises the harp warbles and the ten-string'd Instruments of the Soul make the Temple-Marbles to ring aloud of his glory When the heart bubbles up with a good matter e Ps 45.1 then the tongue becomes the pen of a ready writer The body alas is but the f Rom. 6.13 weapon the organ and altar of the soul When some persons are impeacht of an ungodly life they retort let every one answer for himself their hearts are good and that they are no hypocrites But can hearts be good when lives be naught or can lives be unholy when hearts be gracious Such as the vein is such will the metall prove that 's melted from it as the fountain such is the stream as the root such the fruit like star like influence The Pleiades will soften with showres and Orion will bind with frost The cause and its effects are of the same blood and kindred Out g Pro. 4.23 of the heart are the issues of life naturall carnall and spirituall Whoever can look back on a well ordered conversation to him shall be shewn h â—s 50.23 the Salvation of God He that hath his Quiver full of holy works may shoot at this enemy Death in the gates The ungodly cannot i Ps 1.5 stand in Judgment but he that delights in the Law of the Lord whatever he doth shall prosper when holinesse hath taken root in the heart it blossomes and flowers in peace of conscience and joy of the Spirit and brings forth pleasant fruits in the conversation and goodly spices in the hour of death Like the Psalmist in his affliction so a Saint at death comforts himself with the holy Songs he had warbled in his youth The end of the wicked is to be cut off Ps 77.6 and a Prov. 14 32. he is driven away in his wickednesse but the righteous he that hath walkt uprightly hath hope in his death Mark the perfect and