Barabbas But oh what a hellish word is that Away with spotless Christ away with transcendent Christ and give us the world Now are there any here who will be so gross slighters of this great salvatio Will ye slight this great salvation and embrace your idols which shal once prove a crown of thorns unto you 4. There will be some of Felix humor found here to day that will say O Christ go away at this time and I will hear thee at a more convenient season But I say unto you who will not hear me to day nor embrance this great salvation I shal defy all the Ministers in Scotland to assure you that ye shal get another offer if ye send me away to day There is not one that can or dare engage that the great salvation shal be in your offer any more Therefore I say let none of Felix temper be here to day that will say They will hear Christ at a more convenient season 5. There wil be some of Balaams temper to day who will desire to die the death of the righteous and to have their last end like his yet they desire not to live the lise of the righteous But I say unto you ye shal never die the death of the righteous if ye live not the life of the righteous 5. There will be some of you here to day who I hope at least will be of Agrippas humor that will say Thou hast almost perswaded me to be a Christian I say unto thee O wilt thou quickly out with that word almost and put in that word altogether and say O precious Christ thou hast altogether perswaded me to be a Christian However if thou come no greater length I intreat thee come this length that so thou mayest cry out I am almost perswaded to embrace Christ the great Salvation and may be ere long ye will come further 7. There will be some of Judas temper here to day who will betray Christ for thirty pieces of silver yea some would sell Christ heaven their idols and all for less then thirty pieces of silver 8. I think there will be many of Esaus profine temper here to day who will sell their birth-â—ight for a mess of pottage Now will ye enquire at your selves Am I the person that will give my birth right for a mess of pottage Doth mine heart say I will sell my birth-right because I am hungred and ready to die What will it profit me give me a moss of pottage and I will quite my birth-right I know there are not a few such here to day therefore I intreat you enquire at your selves what is your humor Oh! shal the great Salvation that ye have slighted so long 〈◊〉 slighted this day also And shal there be none to embrace it Oh! enquire and stand in aw lest the wrath of the most High pursue you Now I shal give you these seven considerations which may provoke you not to slight but â—mbrace this great Salvation 1. The first consideration that the not embracing this great salvation is one of the greatest acts of folly that can be Jer. 8.9 They have rejected the word of the Lord and immeditatly it is subjoyned And what wisdom is in them And so Solomon doth assure you they cannot be wise who neglect this great Salvation Prov. 1.7 Fools despise wisdom and instruction Therefore may I not say unto you be ye who ye will though ye were the greatest heads of wit in all this place ye are but stark fools as long as ye neglect this But would you be wise indeed and wise unto eternal life Then I intreat you come and embrace this great Salvation 2. The second consideration to provoke you not to slight the great salvation is this that the ruine and destruction of the slighters of it is most certain and infallible Jer. 11.11 where speaking of slighting the covenant which is indeed the same great salvation there is a therefore put to the threatning Therefore thus saith the Lord I will bring evil upon them which they shal not he able to escape I defy you all who are the slighters of this great Salvation to find a back-door when Justice shal pursue you for there is no door to escape if ye embrace not this great Salvations but the earth will disclose your iniquity and heaven will declare your sin 3. Thirdly let this consideration provoke you not to slight this great Salvation that Christ is exceeding serious and earnest that ye should embrace it And I think that Isai 28.23 speaketh out his exceeding seriousness where soâ—… times he beggeth of his hearers that they would give ear and hear his voice saying Give ear and hear my voice hearken and hear my speech What needeth all these exhortations but that Christ is most serious that they would embrace the great Salvation And O that there were a person here to day as serious to the bargain as Christ is But be who ye will that slight this great Salvation believe me the day is coming wherein ye shal cry out Alace for my slighting of it Wilt thou therefore think presently with thy self O thou slighter of this great Salvation What wilt thou say of thy slighting it When the devil shal be leading thee in thorow these dark gates of hell O slighter of the Gospel how many alaces wilt thou cry when thou shalt be passing thorow these dark gates into thy everlasting prison Wilt thou not then cry out O me a slighter of the everlasting Salvation whether am I now going Alace now for my slighting of the Gospel And as thou passest thorow thou shalt meet with numbers of miserable comforters There is not one in that prison who can comfort thee but many dreadful alaces shalt thou then both cry and hear if thou embrace not this great Salvation 4. Fourthly let this provoke you not to slight the great Salvation that ye will get it for a very look O ye within this house to day ye will get this great Salvation for one look Isai 45.22 Look unto me and be saved all the ends of the earth For a very look ye will get this great Salvation and do ye ever think to get heaven at a lower rate 5. The fifth consideration to provoke you not to slight this great salvation any more is this There is not one of you who is a slighter of is but your slighting it shal increase your immortal bonds Man or woman be who thou wilt when thou art slighting this great Salvation thou art but platting a cord wherewith to bind thy soul eternally in these unquenchable flames Isai 28.22 Be ye not mockers lest your bonds be made strong I say therefore unto you old men mock not lest your bonds be made strong Old women near unto your graves mock not lest your bonds be made strong Young men be ye not mockers lest your bonds be made strong Young women who are in the flower of your time mock not lest your bonds
them I would say this that there are some who will have ten desires for death when they will not have one for the death of the body of death But it were good for thee who art such to be desiring the death of the body of death then shouldest thou be in a more suteable frame to desire to dye 3. Some will have hearty desires to dye and yet when death cometh they will be as unwilling to dye as any It hath been observed that some who have much desired to dye when death came have cryed out O spare a little that I may recover strength c. There is a great difference between a desire to dye and death it self It is an easy thing to desire to dye but it is a very great business to meet with death and to look it in the face when it cometh We think death ere it come near to us to be but childrens play but when we meet with it it maketh us change our thoughts for it is a great business to dye Quest. 2. Is it lawful for a Christian to desire to live when he is summoned to dye Answ In some cases is it lawful for a Christian to desire to live even when he is summoned to dye which is clear from the practise of David Psal 39.13 where he prayeth that the Lord will spare him a little it is also clear from the practise of good Hezekiah Isai 38.3 when he was commanded to set his house in order for he should dye and not live he cryed forth Remember now O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which was good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore Or as the word is in the Original he wept with great weeping but to guard this take these two Cautions Caution 1. Thy desires to live when thou art summoned to dye should not be peremptory but with submission to the will of God that if it be his pleasure to remove thee presently out of time thou shouldst be content to dye Caution 2. Thy desires to live should have gracious principles and also a very gracious end as is most clear from David Psalm 39.13 where he saith O spare me a little that I may recover my strength before I go from hence and be no more his desire to live was that he might have victory over his Idols as if he had said my desire to live is that I may have strength to wrestle with and overcome my idols and without all controversy Hezekiahs desire was a most precious and well-grounded desire However I would say this unto thee that thou shouldest examine thy desires to live as much if not more as thy desires to dye for we are ready to shun death if we could but he is that universal King unto whom all of us must be subject ere long Now in the words that are read unto you there are these six things which may be clearly observed from them First that it is a most true and infallible truth that all persons shal once see death as is clear in these words VVho is he that liveth and shal not see death Secondly that this truth that we shal once see death is not much believed or thought upon by many therefore it is that the Psalmist doubleth the assertion VVho is he that liveth and shal not see death Shal he deliver his soul that is his life from the hand that is from the power of the Grave Thirdly that sometimes a Christian may win to the solid Faith of this truth that once he must dye this the Psalmist wan unto as it is also clear in that word who VVho is he that liveth and shal not see death Fourthly that the certainty of this that once we shal dye should be kept in our mind therefore that note of attention Selah is put to it as if he had said Take heed that there is none living that shal not dye Fifthly that howbeit some persons put the evil day far away as if they were not to see death yet is the day coming when they shall see death and death shal take them by the hand Sixthly we shal take notice of this from the context that the Christian who is much in minding the brevity of his life will believe the certainty of his death The Psalmist was speaking of the shortness of his life in the preceeding verse and in this verse he speaketh of the certainty of death Now as for the first of these things observed viz. That it is certain and most sure that we must all once dye I hope there are none of you here who will deny it although I confess some few of you believe it yet said the woman of Tekoah 2 Sam. 14. VVe must all dye and be like water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again and God doth not accept the person of any And Job 30.13 I know thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living And it is very clear Eccles 8.8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit neither hath he any power in the day of death and there is no discharge in that war neither shal wickedness deliver those that are given to it It is also clear Heb 9.27 It is appointed unto all men once to die So it is most clear that we must dye I remember of one Philip King of Macedonia who had one substitute for this very end to cry at his chamber-door every morning Memento mori memento mori momento mori Remember thou art to dye And it is reported to have been the practise of the Nobles of Greece that in the day wherein their Emperor was crowned that they presented a marble stonâ— unto him and he was enquired after what fashion he would have his Tomb-stone made Which practise speak this unto us that although these were most destitute of the light of the Scriptures they were very mindful of death Believe me death may surprise us before we be aware for it is most certain that we must dye but there is nothing more uncertain then the way how and the time when we shal dye Death will surprise some as it did Abel in the open field Gen. 4.8 Death will surprise some as it did Eglon in his parlour Judges 3.21 And death will surprise some as it did Saul and Jonathan in the flight 1 Sam. 31. Now in speaking unto this point I shal first speak a little to those advantages which attend those that live within continual fight of death Secondly I shal give you some considerations to press you to prepare for death Thirdly I shal give you some directions to help you to prepare for death And then we shal proceed unto the second point of doctrine which we observed from the Text and shal speak a few things from it unto you and so come to a close for this time First then we conceive
there are these seven advantages which attend those who live within the continual sight of this truth that they must dye First the faith of approaching death will make a soul exceeding diligent in duty This was our blessed Lords Divinity John 9.4 I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day the night â—meth when no man can work That iâ— death is approaching therefore I must work It is clear also 2 Pet. 1.12 compared with verse 14. In the 12. verse Peter is exceeding diligent in his duty and the ground of his diligence is in the 14. verse Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle c. Yea it is even the Epicures argument Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shal dye And should not the Christian much more cry out Let me watch and pray for to morrow I may dye I say if the Epicures did make use of that notion to make them vigorous in the pursuit of their pleasures O how much more should a Christian improve it for making him vigorous in the pursuit of his duty Therefore I say unto you all O! be diligent for your night is drawing near O Christians and expectants of heaven are you not afraid lest you be nighted before you have walked the half of your journey For if you be nighted on your journey to Heaven before you come to the end of your race there is no retiring place whereunto you may turn aside to lodge therefore O work work work while it is day for behold death is approaching and then shal we all be called to an account 2. The faith of approaching death will make a Christian exceeding active in his duty he will not only be diligent but also exceeding serious and zealous in the exercise of his duty This is clear from that notable exhortation Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might and the reason is for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Wherefore O be active while you are alive for you shal never work any more after you are dead and if ye leave but one work undone there is no doing of it after death There is no work saith Solomon in the grave therefore O be active 3. The faith of this truth that we must all dye will help a Christian to be exceeding mortified to the things of a present World Oh covetous men and women would you shake hands with cold Death but once every morning I should defie you to pursue the World so much as you do Paul was much in the meditation of his change which made him 2 Cor. 4.18 to overlook those things that are temporary VVhile we look not saith he to the things that are seen which are temporal but to the things which are not seen which are eternal Therefore chap. 5.1 Knowing that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens therefore in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our house which is from Heaven What aileth you Paul might one have laid may you not take a look of the World No saith he for I know that if this earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved I have a house with God not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens That is I know that ere long the pins of my Tabernacle will be loosed and it will fall down about my ears therefore I must look for another dwelling house And 1 Cor. 7.24 The fashion of this world passeth away therefore saith he verse 32. I would have you without carefulness caring to please the Lord. And Phil. 4.2 Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand As if he had said death is approaching and at hand therefore I intreat you be sober But I think many of us will be found like Saul hid amongst the stuff that is we will be lying amongst the midst of the pleasures of this passing World But I say to thee who art such an one that death will break the strings of thy harp and thy musick will quickly cease O! but death will make thee have a low esteem of the World O! blessed is the person who hath those thoughts of the World all along his way which he shal have of it at his death Have not the most cursed wretches been forced to cry out Oh! I would give ten thousand worlds for Christ Have not some persons who have had the Moon upon their head and that have made their belly their God being forced to cry forth at death O cursed person that I am that ever I made the world my God! Alace that I contented my self with the World Therefore I say unto thee who art such an one O! stay thy pursuit after the World for death is approaching that will cause all thy worldly comforts to evanish 4. When a Christian believeth this truth that he must dye it will be an exceeding great restraint to keep him from sinning as is clear Job 31.13 compared with verse 14. where Job reckoning over many good deeds done by himself saith What then shal I do when God riseth up And when he visiteth what shal I answer him As if he had said Sirs mistake me not I am not boasting much of my self for I could not have done otherwise else what should I do when God riseth up How could I answer to God if I had done otherwise I think it were a notable practise for each of you when temptations begin to assault you to say O temptation what shal I answer to God when he riseth up to reprove me if I should yeeld unto thee Likewise Eccles 11.9 where Solomon disswading young men to pursue after vanity bringeth this as a reason Know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement Therefore I say unto thee who art often tempted to sin let death and reckoning with God be still in thy sight and I defie thee then to embrace half so many temptations as now thou dost I intreat you to answer all your temptations with that one word What shal I do when he riseth up And what shal I answer when he visiteth me 5. When a Christian liveth within the sight of this truth that he shal once see death it shal make him exceeding patient under every cross wherewith he meets Such a Christian will hardly meet with a cross but he will quiet himself with this Death will put me beyond this cross This is but a cloud that will quickly pass away And for this cause did David so composedly put up that desire Psalm 39.4 Lord make me to know mine end and the measure of my days He was sure that the knowledge of his end would put him in a sober and patient frame The sixth advantage is this The faith of approaching death will teach the person that hath
laid up for me a crown of righteousness that the Lord the righteous Judge shal give me at that day And think ye not that very sweet that he would leave something unto you in Christs Name viz. And not for me only but for all them that wait for his appearance Now I come to the third thing proposed viz. To give some directions for helping you to prepare for death Direct 1. I intreat you be much in preparation for death every day for it is even a preparation for heaven to be taking a fight of your grave and latter end every day Direct 2. I intreat you be much in these duties First in self-examination that your compâ—… may be clear with God for many a ragged compt shal we have when death and we shal meet Secondly be much in the exercise of repentance that so ye may have every fault and corruption in you mourned for before death and you meet Thirdly be much in the exercise of faith making your calling and election sure Fourthly be much in the exercise of mortification and that will help you to keep a loose grip not only of the World but also of your other idols and if ye be much in these ye shall undoubtedly be prepared for death Direct 3. Be much in minding the excellent things of heaven a Christian that would be prepared for death should have all his thoughts and conversation there I think it would be an excellent help in preparation for death to take a sight of the crown every day Direct 4. Labor always to keep a good conscience void of offence toward God and man I say labor to keep thy conscience clear and that shal be a continual feast unto thee Direct 5. Slight not any known duty do not crucify any conviction neither break any resolution put these three together and that will exceedingly help you to prepare for death I say see that ye adventure not to slight any known duty see that ye adventure not to crucify any conviction and see that ye adventure not to break your resolutions Now we come to the second thing which we observed from the words viz. That this truth that we shal once see death is not much believed by many of us and to make this appear we shal only give some evidences unto you to prove that we are not as yet prepared for death 1. Evidence Doth not the unspeakable stupidity that hath overtaken many say that we are not people prepared for death Alace many of us would find our selves in a most stupid temper if we were presently to dye for many of us are no more moved with the threatnings and terrors of God then if they did not belong unto us and this saith We are not as yet prepared for death 2. Evid That we are not prepared for death in our pursuing so much after the vain and passing delights of a present World Many of us rise up early and go to bed late at night and eat the bread of sorrow all the day and load themselves with thick clay And I am sure that such a person being night and day taken up with the World is not prepared for death I remember a word recorded of such a wretched one who was exceeding rich said he I would give so many thousands of money if death would but give mâ— one day yet he got it not And O how suddenly will death surprise many of you as it did him 3. Evid Which speaketh forth our unpreparedness for death is our impatience under every petty cross that we meet with for the prepared Christian will be patient under very sharp crosses 4. Evid That we are not prepared is our not endeavouring to live within sight of our interest in God Oh if we were prepared for death durst we live in so much incertainty of our interest in God and of our assurance of heaven 5. Evid Some of us can let our idols lye in our breast six years without repentance and will never study to mortify them nor repent for them and surely such are not prepared for death Now I intreat you seriously to mind what hath been said and that ye may the more seriously think upon it I will tell you some material challenges that your conscience at death will present unto you therefore take heed that ye may know how ye will answer 1. Challenge Is the slighting of much precious time and sinning away the precious offers of grace O what will ye answer to that challenge when death shal present it to you Death will say or rather thine own conscience at death what ailed thee to sin so many hours without either praying reading or meditating Now have ye any thing to answer when death shal present this challenge to you I intreat you premeditate what ye will say I intreat you prevent death by presenting it first seriously to your selves 2. Challenge That death will present unto you will be for the killing of many precious convictions which ye have had What will each of you answer at death when your conscience proposeth this challenge unto you Thou metst with such a challenge at such a time and went home and crucified it And at another time thou metst with another challenge and went home and crucified it These challenges will be laid home to thy door therefore think on them 3. Challenge Death will charge you for a formal hypocritical way of going about duties I say your conscience will then tell you that ye went to such a communion with a selfish end and â— another time ye prayed hypocritically and formally And what will ye have to answer when ye meet with these challenges I confess I know not what ye can answer to these But I charge you be thinking what ye will answer for it may be that these convictions shall ly on your consciences that even this day you have heard two searching Sermons and did meet with some convictions but made no good use of them yea â—nd it may be ye did sleep all that time O! â—hat will ye answer when it will be said to you 〈◊〉 went to such a Sermon and sleeped all the one and ye went to such a Communion but had no other end before your eyes but to be seeâ— of men I intreat you consider presently whâ—… you will answer to these 4. Challenge Will be for your breaking many precious resolutions It will be said to some of you that at the Communion in this place ye took on vows and did break them I am sure yâ— connot question the Justice of this challenge therefore see what ye will answer 5. Challenge Ye slighted many precious offers of the Gospel O men and women in this City what will ye answer to this I was often exhorted to take Christ and yet would never take him What will conscience say to that when death shal table it before you I tell you what you must then answer O cursed I that ever refused Christ in the Gospel
God and of defection from him according to that word Heb. 3.12 Beware lest their be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief and there the fruit of it to depart from the living God And certainly it is no wonder that unbelief travels in birth till that cursed child of apostasie be brought forth not only because of this that an unbeliever looseth the thought of the excellency of Christ but also because he increaseth in his thoughts of love towards his Idols for Christ doth decrease in those who misbesieve and their Idols do increase in their love and in their desires and in their estimation 6. There is this sixth disadvantage in the sin of unbelief it hindereth the communication of many single workings and tokens of the love and favor of the most High according to that sad word that is in Matth. 13.58 at the close He could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief Unbelief as it were laid a restraint on Christ that he could not effectuat those things which he was willing to perform And to shut up our discourse at this time I would only add these two aggravations which may somewhat enforce what we have spoken I say there are these two aggravations in the sin of unbelief even in his own who have a right also his call to believe 1. That after that Christ hath given most sensible discoveries of himself Wherein we have seen him as it were face to face yet ye will not believe This is clear from John 6.36 Though ye have seen me saith Christ yet ye do not belive in me There is not a manifestation of Christs presence but it iâ— a witness against you of your unbelief Woulâ— you hear the voyce of sense that is rectified It iâ— this believe on the Son of God 2. That notwithstanding of the signal demonstrations of the power of Christ yet though it were the mortifying of some lust and Idol within them yet they will not believe but upon new temptations will doubt of his love to them Christ preacheth Faith by his Word he preacheth Faith by his sufferings he preacheth Faith by his dispensations he preacheth Faith by his promises he preacheth Faith by his rods and if these five instruments will not ingage your hearts to believe who can move them Doth not his two wounds in his precious hands preach out this point of Faith Believe him Doth not that hole opened in his side preach this doctrine That we should believe in him And these two wounds that he received in his precious feet do they not preach this That we should believe on a crucified Saviour And we would only say this that sometimes it is the caâ—e of his own that after the convictions of this that it is their duty to believe and also after some desires to close with Christ yet they find inability to close with him Is it not certain that to will to believe is sometime present with you but how to perform you know not And I would have a Christian making this fourfold use of such a dispensation as that which is most ordinarily when convictions of our duty to believe and some desires to close with Christ is not followed with actual performances 1. To study to have your convictions more â—eeply rooted within you for it doth sometimes â—…llow that resolutions and mints to believe are â—ot blest with actual believing because the conâ—iction of our duty to believe is not deeply imâ—rinted upon our conscience 2. Be convinced of that desperate enmity and â—hat mystery of iniquity that is within you that â—e can have some will to do without ability to â—erform We confesse it is not an ordinary disâ—ase in these dayes to have such a contrariety betwixt a Christians will and his practice our will â—or the most part being no better than our prastice but somtimes it is which may make you â—ry forth O wretched man that I am who shall deâ—iver me from this body of death 3. That ye would be much in the imploying of Christ that as he hath given you to will so also he might make you to do Christ is about to convince his own in such a dispensation as that That Faith is the gift of God Faith is so noble a grace that it cannot be spinned out from our resolutions not from our endeavors Faith is such a divine plant as the Fathers right hand must plant in our souls 4. Let it convince you of the excllency of the grace of Faith for the difficulty of the attaining to any thing may speak out the excellency of that thing there is no sin but it may be easily win at there is an easinesse and facility to overtake the paths of our Idols but the graces of the Spirit are so excellent things that we must fighâ— before we attain them And you who are straâ—gers to Christ Jesus and have never know what it is to close with him we would requeâ— you in Christs name to be reconciled to him What know ye O men or rather Atheists be this shall be the last summons that ye shal get 〈◊〉 believe And that because ye disobey this precious summons there shal be one presented tâ— you that ye cannot sit I remember of one maâ— who looking upon many thousands that weâ—… under his command weeped over them wheâ— he considered how that within a few years all these should be laid in their graves and should be in eternity O but it were much of our concernment to be trying our selves how it is with us we are not afraid that it is a breach of charit to wish that but one of each ten that are within these doors were heirs of the grace of life and had the solide and spiritual expectation of heaven I think if Christ were to come presently to speak to us He might not only say to each twelve that are here One of you shal betray me but we are afraid that he should say to each twelve that are here Eleven of you shal betray me and but one only shall passe free O doth it not concern you to enquire where you shal rest at night when the long shadows of everlasting evening shal be stretched out upon you I think there are some that are so setled upon their lees that if they were one day in hell and saw all the torments that are there and were brought from it the next day to live on earth they would â—ot repent And more there are some that take â—hem up on day to see the joyes of Heaven and bring them back again they would not pursue after these blessed and everlasting enjoyments O is not Christ much undervalued by us But I must tell you this One wo is past but behold another wo is coming O the searchings of those spirits who are entered into their everlasting priâ—on house out of which their is no redemption What shal be your choise when Christ shall come in the clouds I am
preswaded there are many to whom at that day this Doctrine would be ravishing viz. That there were not a death that there were not a God and that there were not an eternity O! will you believe That the sword of the justice of God is bathed in heaven and shall come down to make a sacrifice not in the land of Idumea nor in the land of Bezra but he is to make a sacrifice amongst his people who seemed to make a Covenant with him by sacrifice Ah ah shall we say that if that argument were used to many that within fourty dayes they should be at their long and everlasting home they would yet spend thirty nine of those dayes in taking pleasure upon their lusts I am perswaded of this that there are many who think that the way betwixt heaven and earth is but one dayes journey they think they can believe in one day and triumphant night But O it shal be short triumphing that such Believers as those shal have Therefore O dy to close with a crucified Saviour rest on hiâ— by Faith delight your selves in him with loâ—… and let your souls be longing for the day wheâ— that voyce shall be heard in Heaven O hoâ— sweetly will it be sung Arise arise arise my lovâ— my dove my fair one and come away for behâ—… your Winter is past your everlasting Summer is comâ— and the time of the singing of the birds is neâ—… When Christ shall come over these Mountains 〈◊〉 Bether he shall cry Behold I come and the sow shall sweetly answer Come blessed Lord Jesuâ— come O what a life shall it be that with those two arms you should eternally incircle Christ anâ— hold him in your arms or rather be incircled by him Wait for him for he shall come and his reware is with him and he shal once take home the weâ—ried travellers of hope SERMON IV. JOHN 3.23 This is his Commandment that yâ— should believe on the Name of his Son Jesuâ— Christ c. THere are two great and excellent gistâ— which God in the depth of his boundlesse love hath bestowed on his own First there iâ— that infinite gift and royal donation his own beloved Son Jesus Christ which is called The gift of God John 4.10 And secondly there is that excellent gift of the grace of Faith which God hath bestowed upon his own which is also called The gift of God Ephes 2.8 Faith is the gift of God And is it not certain that these two gracious gifts ought to engage our souls and hearts much unto him Infinite Majesty could give no gift greater then his Son and infinite poverty could receive no other gift so sutable as Christ It was the most noble gift that Heaven could give and it is the greatest advantage for earth to receive it And we could wish that the most part of the study and practise of men that is spent in purfuit after these low and transient vanities might be once taken up in that precious pursuit after Christ We could wish that all the questions and debates of the time were turned over into a soul-concerning question What shal we do to be saved And that all the questions controversies and contensions of the times were turned over into that divine contention and heavenly debate Who should be most for Christ who should be most for the exalting of the noble and excellent plant of renown And that all our judgings and searchings of other mens practises and estats might â—e turned over into the useful search to prove and examine our selves whether we be in the faith or not And I would ask you this question What are your thoughts concerning precious Christ seeing he is that noble object of Faith We would only have you take along these things by which Christ may be much commended to your hearts First there was never any that with the eyes of Faith did behold the matchless beauty and transcendent worth of that crucified Saviour that returned his enemy There is soul-conquering vertue in the face of Christ and there is heaâ—… captivating and overcoming power in the beautyâ— Jesus Christ This first sight that ever persecution Saul got of Christ it brought him unto an endleâ—… captivity of love Secondly there is this that wâ— would say of precious Christ which may engagâ— our souls unto him that for all the wrongs believers do to Christ yet hath he never an ill word 〈◊〉 them to his Father but commends them which is clear from that of John 17.6 where Christ doâ—… commend the Disciples to the Father for the gracâ— of obedience They have kept thy word And for thâ— grace of Faith vers 8. They have believed that the didst send me And yet were not the Disciple most defective in obedience both in this The they did not take up their cross and follow Christ and also that they did not adhere to him in the daâ— that he was brought to Cajaphas Hall And weâ— they not most defective in the grace of Faith as 〈◊〉 clear from Matth. 17 17. and likewise from John 14.1 he is pressing them to believe iâ— him and yet he doth commend them to the Father as most perfect in those things Thirdly there is this that we would lastly say of him who iâ— the noble object of Faith look to the eminent depths of Christs condescendency and then you will be provoked to love him Was it not infinite love that made Christ to ly three dayes in the Grave that we might be through all the ages of eternity with him Was it not infinite condescendency that made his precious head wear a crown of Thorns that we might eternally wear a crown of glory Was it not infinite condesendency that made Christ wear a purple robe that so we might wear that precious robâ— of the righteousness of the Saints And was it not matchless condescendency that Christ who know no sin was made sin for us that so we might become like unto him and be made the righteousness of God in him But to come to that which we intend mainly to speak upon at this time which is that second thing that we proposed to speak of from these words and that is concerning the excellency of this grace of Faith which we cleared was holden out in that that Faith was called his commandment which is called by way of eminency and excellency There are many things in Scripture which may sweetly point out the precious excellency of this grace of Faith and we shal only speak to these things I. The first thing that speaketh out the excellency of Faith is this it exerciseth it self upon a most noble object to wit Jesus Christ Faith and Love being the two arms of the immortal soul by which we do imbrace a crucified Savior which is often pointed at in Scripture and we shal point at these three principal acts of Faith which it exerciseth on Jesus Christ as the object of it 1. The first is to make up an union
indeed that tree which if we cast into the waters of Marâ—h they will presently become sweet for is it not below the child of hope to be much anxious about these things that he meets with here when he sincerely knoweth that commandment shal come forth Lift up your heads for the day of your eternal redemption draweth near even the day when all the rivers of his sorrows shal sweetly run into the Ocean of everlasting delight 3. A Christian that is much in assurance he is much in communion and fellowship with God as is clear from the Song 1.13.14 and Song 2.3 where when once she cometh to that to be perswaded that Christ was her beloved then she sate down under his shadow and his fruit was pleasant unto here taste for the assured Christian doth taste of these crums that fall from that higher Table and no doubt those that have tasted of that old wine will not straightway desire the new because the old is better And then fourthly it is the way to keep you from apostasie and making defection from God Faith is that grace that will make you continue with Christ in all his temptations as is clear from 2. Pet. 1 10. where this is set down as a fruit of making our calling and election sure that if we do these things we shall never fail Faith maketh a Christian to live a dependent life For would you know the Motto of a Christian It is this self diffidence and Christ-dependence as is clear from that word in the Song 8.5 that while we are walking through this wilderness we are leaning upon our well-beloved 5. This assurance will help a Christian to overcome many temptations There are four sorts of temptations that assault the Christian There are temptations of desire temptations of love temptations of hope and temptations of anxiety all which a Christian through this noble grace of assurance may sweetly overcome He that hath once made Christ his own what can he desire but him As Psal 17.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord. What can he love more then Christ or love besides Christ all his love being drowned as it were in that Ocean of his excellencies and a sweet complacency found in the enjoyment of him And as to hope will not assurance make a Christian cry forth Now Lord what wait I for 〈◊〉 mine hope is in thee And when the heart is anxious doth not assurance make the Christian to hear the indignation of the Lord and partiently submit unto the cross since there is a sweet connexion between his cross and his Crown Rom. 8.35.36 If he suffer with him he shal also reign with him And lastly there is this argument to press you to assurance that it sweetneth the thoughts of death It maketh death unto a Christian not the King of terrors but the King of desires And it is upon these grounds that assurance maketh death refreshful unto a Christian 1. He knoweth that it is the funeral of all his miseries and the birth-day of all his blessed and eternal enjoyments 2. That it is the coronation day of a Christian and the day when he shall have that marriage betwixt Christ and him sweetly solemnized and that when he is to step that last step he knoweth that death will make him change his place but not his company And O that we could once win unto this to seal that conclusion without presumption My Beloved is mine and I am his We might without presumption sing one of the Songs of Sion even while we are in this strange land And taking Christ in our arms might sweetly cry forth Now lettest â—hou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Comfort your selves in this ' that all your clouds shall once pass away and that that truth shal once come to pass which was confirmed by the oath of an Angel with his hand lifted up towards heaven that time shal be no more Time shal once sweetly die out in eternitie and ye may be looking after new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness O! long to be with him for Christ longeth to have you with him SERMON III. JOHN 3.23 This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ c. THere are three most precious and cardinal graces which a Christian ought mainly to pursue there is that exalting grace of Faith that comforting grace of Hope and that aspiring grace of Love And if once a Christian did take up that heavenly difference that is betwixt these sister-graces he might be provoked to move after them most swiftly as the chariots of Aminadab And there is this difference between these graces Faith is a sober and silent grace Hope is a patient and submissive grace Love is an ambitious and impatient grace Faith cryeth out O my soul be silent unto God Hope cryeth out I will wait patiently for the Lord until the vision shal speak But Love it cryeth out How long art thou a coming And it is waiting to hear the sound of his feet coming over the mountains of separation That is the Motto of Hope Quod defertur non aufertur that which is delayed saith Hope is not altogether taken away and made void And that may be the divine embleme of the grace of Love It is Sight infolding Desire in 〈◊〉 arms and it is desire cloathed with wings treading upon Delay and Impediments There is this second difference between these graces the grace of Faith it embraceth the truth of the promises the grace of Hope it embraceth the goodness of the thing that is promised but that exalting grace of Love it imbraceth the Promiser Faith cryeth out Hath he spoken it he will also do it Hope cryeth out Good is the word of the Lord be it unto thy servant according to thy promise And Love it cryeth out in an higher note As is the apple tree amongst the trees of the wood so is my well-Beloved amongst the sons Thirdly there is that difference between these graces Faith it overcometh temptations Hope it overcometh difficulties but Love stayeth at home and divideth the spoil There is a sweet correspondence between those graces in this Faith it fighteth and conquereth and Hope it fighteth and conquereth but Love it doth enjoy the trophies of the victory And fourthly there is this difference the noble grace of Faith it shal once evanish into sight That noble grace of Hope it shall once vanish into possession and enjoyment but that constant grace of Love it shal be the eter 〈◊〉 companion of a Christian and shall walk in with him unto the streets of the New Jerusalem And I would ask you that question What a day shal it be when Faith shal cede to Sight What a day shal it be when Hope shal yeeld its place to Love and Love and Sight shal eternally fit down and solace themselves in these blessed mysteries these everlasting consolations of heaven
put on and that is a crown of sin in stead of that crown of righteousness Would ye know your exercise O ye that are predestinate unto these everlasting pains would ye know your exercise It is this ye shal eternally blaspheme and curse the God that made you I am perswaded of this that the terrots of hell will afflict you more and doth then that of the sinning prepetually in hell You would think nothing many of you to be in hell if there were no pain there for the exercise of sin it would be your delight and life but be perswaded of it that when your conscience is awaked the exercise of sinning shal exceedingly aggravate your pain And there is this crown lastly that ye shal put on and that is the crown of shame The Prophet Isaiah maketh mention of a crown of pride but you that have put on that crown of pride you shal once put on that crown of everlasting confusion and shame when you shal not be able to lift up your eyes to him whom you have pierced I would fain desire you to know what would be your exercise at these three days what will be your exercise when death shal be summoning you to remove and you shal first be entered heirs unto those everlasting pains I am perswaded you will reflect much Will ye not reflect upon many Sermons that you have heard wherein you have been invited to partake of the sweet offers of salvation I remember of one that upon his death bed cryed forth A world for time a world for one inch of time Onethat perhaps did hold his head high and no doubt was greater then the greatest here His crown would not purchase one inch of time but dying with this Call time again call time again that petition was denyed and so shall it be I fear to the most part that are here I think it was a pretty Hieroglyphick of the Egyptians they painted Time with three heads the first head that painted out Time that was past was a greedy wolf gaping which imported this that our Time past was mispent there was nothing left but like a wolf to gape for it again And there was that second head of a roaring lyon round which imports the Time present and for this end was so painted that people might lay hold upon their present opportunities otherwise it would be the matter of their ruine and their eternal undoing And there was that last head which was of a deceitful dog fawning which signified that people they deceive themselves with the Time to come thinking they will be religious at their death and that they will overcome at their death But this is a flattery no better then the fawning of a mad dog I think we may learn much of this even to be provoked to lay hold upon our golden opportunities that we sell not our Time but that we buy it There are two things that a Christian must not sell that is sell not the Truth but buy it and sell not your Time but buy it I am perswaded of this that one moment of time is worth ten thousand worlds if improved And I would ask you What advantage shal you have of all things that you have tormented your selves about when Time shal be no more I suppose indeed this is an ordinary evil amongst the people of this age of which we have our own share and portion There are many that envy godliness and the godly the excellent ones that are in the earth and think it is pleasure to vent their malice against such I know that ordinary practice it is older by a thousand years then themselves that they presecute godliness under the name of hypocrisie They call godliness hypocrisie and upon that account they begin to speak maliciously against it Only I would ask you this question What will you say in that day when Christ will ask that question of you that Gideon asked of Zeba and Zalmunna Who are those that you killed with your tongue Must it not be answered Every one did resemble the person of a King O! will you not believe Will you not close with Christ I know it is ordinary that we run upon these two extreams sometimes we do not believe the threatnings of the Law sometimes we will believe the promises of the Gospel But I would only desire to know what if it had been so ordered in the infinite wisdom of God and that all the letters of this book should have been threatnings what should have been our lot if all the promises should have been scraped out of it But certainly this must be your lot all the promises of the book of this covenant shall be taken from you and all the curses thereof shall be a fleeing roll that shal enter within your houses and there shal eternally remain Know this O you that are enemies to Christ know it and think upon it Every battle of the warriour is with confused noise and with garments rowled in blood but that war which Christ shal have against the hypocrites in Zion and those that are ignorant of him and will not close with him it shal be with fewel of fire and eternal indignation O! what will be your thoughts suppose you when Christ shal come with that two-edged sword of the fury of the Lord to enter to fight with you It is no delightsome exercise O that you were not almost but altogether perswaded to be Christians and that once Christ might conquer you with that two-edged sword that proceedeth out of his mouth that so you might subject your selves to him and make him the object of your faith Now to him that hath engraven upon his vesture and on his thigh that he is the King 〈◊〉 Kings and the Lord of Lords we desire to give praise A SERMON Concerning the GREAT SALVATION Heb. 3.2 How shal we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him THis everlasting Gospel which is preached unto you is that glorious Star which must lead us to the place where blessed Christ dothâ—ly This Gospel and glad tydings of the great Salvation is come near unto you And Christ is standing at the everlasting doors of your hearts desiring that ye would open unto him There is that one great request which heaven this day hath to present unto you and it is that ye would at last embrace this great Salvation freely offered by him It is the thing for which ye are called to mourn this day that since the dayes of your fathers and since the beginning of your own dayes ye have stopped your ears from the sweet and chanting voice of this blessed Charmer Ye would never dance to Christ when be piped Neither would ye weep to him when he lamented But to come to the words which we have read unto you The Apostle in the former Chapter had been discovering most
be made strong But now alace I will there for all this be a person here to day who will be a mocker of this great salvation 6. The sixth consideration to provoke you not to slight this great salvation any more is this Ye know not but that your days may be near unto a close I say you know not but the day of the preaching of this great salvation may be neat unto a close What knowest thou O man or woman but this shal be the last Sermon that ever thou shalt hear concerning this great salvation And yet for all this shall we be sent away without one consent to embrace or receive it O wil ye be perswaded to look to Christ and so to take him 7. The seventh consideration to provoke you not to slight the great salvation is this That there is a five fold salvation comprehended under this great salvation 1. The first is this Come and partake of this great salvation and thou shalt have salvation from thine idols And hereby I do proclaim liberty this day unto captives I am sent forth this day with the keyes of your prison house to open your prison doors unto you if ye will embrace this great salvation I say unto you O ye prisoners come forth and show your selves for the keyes of your prison-house are with us to open your prison-doors unto you therefore O come forth and embrace this great Salvation Will there be any shal I think here that will refuse to come forth O go forth and flee from the land of your captivity and from the house of your bondage 2. Thou shalt have salvation from thy darkness and from thine ignorance I say unto you who understand no more of God nor the stones of the wall I command you come forth and partake yet of this great salvation and unto you shal light arise even the day-spring from on high shal visite you 3. If ye will come and partake of this great Salvation ye shal have deliverance from all your fears Dost thou fear that thou shalt be poor Come and partake of this great salvation and â—hou shalt be delivered from it Art thou afraid of hell Come and partake of this great Salvation and thou shal be delivered from that fear Art thou afraid at the wrath of God Then come I say and partake of this great Salvation and thou shalt have redemption from that and all thy fears With him is plenteous redemption and he can make thee quyet from the fear of evil 4. If thou wilt come and partake of this Salvation thou shalt have deliverance from all thine anxieties and from all thy cares Ye are now careful and anxious about many things come and partake of this great Salvation and it will make you careful but only for the one thing necessary 5. If ye will come and embrace the great Salvation offered unto you this day ye shal be helped before ye go hence to sing that Song O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Now O will ye come and embrace this great Salvation And ye shal be more then conquerors thorow Christ who loveth you Are there therefore anie here to day that would have victorie over the devil and over their own heart Then come and embrace this great Salvation and then your victorie is certain But now to press home this great Salvation upon you a little further there are nine sorts oâ— persons who are invited to come and partake 〈◊〉 this great Salvation offered this day And 〈◊〉 charge you answer to your names when ye 〈◊〉 called and delay not to come 1. First I invite and call here to day all who are willing to come and embrace this great salntion Now are there anie of you here to day who are called willing Then I invite you to come and embrace this great salvation Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him come But oh are there none here to day who are named willing I intreat you if there be anie do not denie your name but come when you are called and embrace this great Salvation 2. Secondly those persons who thirst for it are invited to come and partake of this great salvation Rev. 22.17 Let him that is athirst come Now If there be any here who are named thirsty let them come and partake of this great salvation and they shall be satisfied 3. Thirdly are there any money-less folk here to day Let them come and partake of this great salvation Are there no money-less folk here to day I mean not that money or coin in your purses but want ye money That is want ye righteousness Then I pray you come and partake of this great salvation I say are you so poor that ye have nothing but the fear of hell Then I pray you come If there be any here who hath nothing to commend them to Christ but necessity I say unto all such O come come come and partake of this great salvation 4. Fourthly those persons are invited to come and I wish there were many such who are weary but oh Are there none here to day who are called weary Are you not weary in pursuit of your sins If there be any such here to day I say unto you O weary folk Come come come and partake of this great salvation and of this excellent Gospel-redemption that was purchased at so dear a raâ—e 5. Fifthly Those who are heavy loaden are invited to come and I think all of you may answer to this name are you heavy loaden O then come But are there none here who are heavy loaden with sin with misery and estrangement from God If there be any such here I say unto thee old men or young-man be who thou wilt O come and partake of this great salvation 6. Sixthly Are there any here to day who are called blind I say if there be any of you who think you want eyes to see the precious excellencies of Christ I invite you to come and partake of this great salvation 7. Seventhly Are there any who are called lame here to day I say unto such O come come come and partake of this great salvation for we are sent forth to day to call in the blind and the maimed and the lame that they may come and embrace this great salvation therefore are there none here to day who may be called such Aâ—… you neither blind nor lame I hope many of you will not deny that you are such therefore I say unto you O blind halt and maimed Come come and partake of this great salvation 8. The eighth sort of persons invited are those who are sick therefore if there be any sick folk here to day be who you will I say unto you O come and partake of this great salvation for the whole need not the Physitian but the sick 9. Ninthly Are there any here to day who snow not their name or their condition I say unto you O nameless folk come and partake
great salvation then ever ye did O that the Lord would keep these in the imaginations of the thoughts of your hearts forever But as for you who have no resolutions to embrace this great salvation O! wherewith shall I commend it unto you Do not your own necessities commend it But if nothing can perswade you to come away and embrace it then this place shal be a heap of witnesses against you for it hath heard all the words of the Law which he hath spoken unto you Josh 24. Oh! cast your eyes upon these pillars of the house and stones in the walls I take them as so manie witnesses that they may speak and testifie against you in the great day of the Lord if ye neglect this great salvation to day Therefore as ye go away be thinking upon it and whether or not ye mind to embrace it now while ye may have it This day I set life and death before you I have set before you both the great salvation and the great damnation And O that ye had understanding in all these things that ye being wise might be provoked at last to embrace this great salvation the which we do yet again entreat you to think upon Is not Heaven looking upon 〈◊〉 at this time to see what ye will do with this great offer of salvation which I have this day from thâ— Lord presented unto you Now to him that 〈◊〉 perswade you to embrace this great salvation this Gospel-redemption this blessed Mystâ—rie into which the Angels desire to pry Tâ— him who can bring you back from the pit aâ—… can enlighten you with the light of the living To him who hath the keys of your prison Who can open and none can shut and can shut and none can open To him who hath all power in Heaven and in earth communicate To him who can deliver you from the power of the grave and can set you free from all your enemies we desire to give praise SERMON II. Heb. 2.3 How shal we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him THere are two great and most ordinarie complaints in these days First there are many who complain that their estats and persons are in bondage and that they are sold for slaves to the hands of strangers But O that we could turn over the complaint to this that our souls are in bondage and that we are yet in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity that so we might be provoked to long for the great Salvation that is in our offer 2. There are many complaining and not without much cause that there is now such a toleration of errors But O wilt thou complain also of this that within thine heart there is a toleration of lusts is there not an act of toleration concluded in thy breast that the devil all his company may reign in thee â—t pleasure Oh! have ye not need of great salvation Shal I tell you that Christ is courting you to embrace it and that he putteth on all his most glorious robes and manifesteth himself unto you as a suiter making offer of himself and of his great salvation O! tell me have ye seen him Or do you think to see him this day What robes hath he on There are five glorious robes wherewith he cloaths himself when he condescendeth to manifest himself to his people First he cometh to his own with the garments of salvation according to that word Zach. 9.9 Rejoyce O daughter of Sion greatly shout O daughter of Jerusalem for behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having salvation Ay your King is come here to day and will ye not fall in love with him when he is cloathed with the garments of Salvation Can ye ever have a more conquering fight of Christ then when he is cloathed with such an excellent robe and offering you salvation Secondly he appeareth to his own sometimes in garments dyed in blood according to that word Isai 63. vers 1.2 Who is this that cometh up from Edom with dyed garments in blood as one that treadeth the wine fat And now I say to you 〈◊〉 will not look to Christ when he appears in the garments of salvation have ye a heart to refuse him who hath fought such a combat for you who hath trod the Wine-press alone and hath stained all his garments with the blood of thy enemies Or is there any here who dare refuse his salvation when they see how he treadeth his enemies in anger and trampleth them in his fury and thus sprinkleth their blood upon his garments O! tremble at this sight and seek quarter from him in time or he shal dye his garments with the blood of thine immortal foul Thirdly Christ appeareth unto his own being cloathed with these humble robes of condescendency when he came in the similitude of sinful flesh O! what a sight was that to behold the Prince of heaven cloathed with our nature What a sight was that to behold him that was cloathed with light as with a garment to be cloathed with our infitmities yet he condescended to cloath himself thus that we might have access unto him and be partakers of his gifts O! can we refuse him when love hath thus pressed him to put on the beggers weed that he might say to worms ye are my brethren and my sisters Fourthly Christ sometimes manifesteth himself being cloathed with the garments of beauty and ravishing majesty such was the sight that the Spouse got of Christ Song 2.3 As the Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood so is my Beloved amongst the sons And Song 5. when she saw him 〈◊〉 and ruddy and the standard-bearer of ten thousand And such was that joyful sight of him when his garments was as the light and white as the snow which he had at the Transfiguration when these glorified ones did come as it were Ambassadors from that higher House to make him a visit And fifthly Christ he sometimes appeareth to his own in robes of dreadful majesty and terrible highness and loftiness when the foul upon the first sight of him remains dead and there remaineth no more life in them such was the sight Daniel got in the tenth chapter and such was the sight that John got of Christ Rev. 1.17 And I would ask of all that are here What a sight have ye gotten of Christ to day In which of all these robes have ye seen him It is true we are not to look to the extraordinary sights of him but yet if ever thou hast seen him in any of his wooing robes sure he hath appeared matchless and how then shal ye then refuse him But now to come to the words I was speaking unto you of The first thing in the words to wit that there are many who live under the offer of this great Salvation that do slight it and do
â—nquire of you What would you think if death were approaching this night unto you Thinâ— you that Jesus Christ is gone up to prepare place for you even for you Surely I think wâ— are all near to eternity and there are some hearing me to day whom I defie the World to assure that ever they shal hear another Sermon Therefore I intreat you all to hear this preaching as iâ— it were the last preaching that ever you should hear and O that we could speak it as if it were the last Sermon that ever we would preach unto you Believe me Death is another thing then we take it to be Oh what will many of us do in the day of our visitation when desolation shâ—… come from afar Where will we flee for rest and where will we leave our glory Old rich men where will you flee when death assaults you Old poor men where will you flee wherâ— death assaults you Old women where will ye flee when death assaults you Young men where will you flee when death assaults you Young women where will you flee when death assaults you It was an ancient observation oâ— David Psalm 39 5. That God had made 〈◊〉 days as an hand-breadth which either may relate to the four-fold estate of man viz. his infancy his child-hood his man-hood and his old age Or it may relate to the four-fold time of his life viz. his morning his fore-noon his after-noon and his evening yet all our lifetime is but a day And O think you not that our day is near unto close Now before that I begin to speak to any thiâ—… from the words I shall speak a few things to these two questions which I conceive may not altogether be unprofitable Quest. 1. Whether it be lawful for any to desire to dye and to return unto their long and endless home Whether it be lawful for one to cry out O time time flee away and all my shadows let them be gone that so long eternity may come Answ I say it is lawful in some cases for one â—o desire to dye For it was Pauls desire Phil. 1. â—3 I am in a strait betwixt two having a defire to â—epart and to be with Christ which is far better And 2 Cor. 2.2 We groan earnestly defiring to â—e cloathed with our house which is from Heaven 〈◊〉 long greatly till the twentieth one year of my Age come when my minority shal be overpast â—hat I may be entred Heir of that matchless inheâ—itance But to clear in what cases it is lawful to â—esire to dye 1. I say it is lawful to desire to dye when it â—oweth from a desire of uninterrupted fellowship â—nd communion with Christ and conjunction â—ith him this is clear 2 Cor 5.6 Knowing â—at whilst we are present in the body we are abâ—nt from the Lord therefore verse 8. We are illing rather to be absent from the body and to be â—esent with the Lord. As also it is clear Phil. 1. â— I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to part and to be with Christ which is far betâ—… It was his great end to have near and unâ—ixed communion with Christ What aileth you Paul might one have said may you not 〈◊〉 content to stay a while here Nay saith Paul 〈◊〉 desire to be gone and to be with Christ. Waâ—… thou never with him here Paul I have beeâ— with him saith he but what is all my be inâ— with him here in comparison of my being with him above While I am present in the body I am but absent from the Lord. Therefore I will never be at rest saith he get what I will untill I get Christ untill I get those naked and immediatâ—… embracements of that noble plant of renownâ— the flower of the stalk of Jesse who is the light of the higher house the eternal admitation oâ— Angels 2. It is lawful to desire to die when it floweâ—… from the excellencies of Heaven and from a desire to partake of those excellent things that aâ— there this is clear 2 Cor. 5.4 We groan beinâ— burdened or as the word is We groan as they 〈◊〉 are pressed under a heavy burden that we may 〈◊〉 eloathed upon c. What aileth you to groan so Paul O! saith he I groan that mortality may 〈◊〉 swallowed up of life 3. It is lawful to desire to dye when it flowet from a desire to be freed from the body of Death and from those temptations that affault us aâ— from those oppressions whereunto we are maâ— subject by it Doubtless Paul desired to dye 〈◊〉 this account when he cryed out Rom. 7.24 〈◊〉 wretched man that I am Who shall deliver 〈◊〉 from this body of death He longed greatly for 〈◊〉 day wherein he should be made white like 〈◊〉 wings of a Dove covered with silver whose feaâ—ers are of a yellow gold O! Christ saith Paul 〈◊〉 am as one impatient till I be above where I shal be cloathed with those excellent and cleanly â—obes the righteousness of Christ Oh! saith Paul I think every day a year till I shal be possessed of that Kingdom where satan cannot tempt and the creatures cannot yield and where I shal â—e free from all my fears of sinning Now in all â—hese respects who would not desire to dye But â—o guard these I would give you these four Cauâ—ions 1. Caution Your desires to dye should not be peremptory but ye should desire to die with submission to the will of God so that although he would fill up fifteen years more to your life you should be content to live it out 2. Caution When your desires are hasty and off hand suspect them for some when they meet with any outward cross without all deliberation will cry out O to be gone O if I were dead But your desires to dye should be deliberate but not hasty or rash 3. Caution It is not lawful to desire to dye because of personal affliction Many when they meet with bitter afflictions will cry out O to be gone They long for death even upon that account such were Jobs desires Job 20.21.22 and chap. 6. vers 7.8 O that I might have my request even that it would please God to destroy me c. This desire was very unlawful 4. Caution It is not lawful to desire to dye when thy predominant idol is taken away froâ— thee yet such was Jonahs desire chap. 4.23 Jonâ— thought his credit and reputation which was hâ—… idol was gone and could never be regained therefore he wished to dye But I would say thâ—… to you that some will have ten desires for death when they have not one desire for Heaven And what moveth Christians to be desirous to dye It is not so much because of their hope as because of their anxiety it is not so much because of their confidence as because of their impatience But I say unto you when your desires of death are not accompanied with desires of Heaven suspect
it to study saving wisdom this is clear Psalm 90.12 where David putteth up this request So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom As if he had said I will never think my self wise till I know that blessed piece of Aâ—ithmetick How to number my days I would desire every one of you all to think with your selves every morning when you arise Now we are an hour nearer unto eternity then we were before and at the end of every hour Now we are a day nearer unto eternity then we were before I say think often yea always thus We were never so near death as we are now for oh are we not all nearer to eternity to day then we were ye sterday The seventh advantage attending the faith of approaching death is this That it will make a Christian very careful in preparing for death it is impossible for one to believe really that death is approaching and not prepare for it Say what you will if you be not careful in preparing for death you have not the solide faith of this truth that you shal dye Believe me it is not every one that thinketh he believeth this truth that believeth it indeed And O how dreadful is it for an unprepared man to meet with death He desireth not to dye yea he would give a World for his life but dye he must whether he will or not for death will not be requested to spare a little when he cometh and therefore I say unto you Set your house in order for you shal surely dye Old men and women Set your house in order for surely ye must dye Young men and women Set your house in order for to morrow ye may dye and be cut off in the flower of your age Think not that there are any who can sell time for I say you shal never get time sold unto you Alace I feat the most part of persons that dye now death findeth them at unawares for indeed the persons that dye amongst us when we come to visite them we may give you a full account of them for we think they are all comprehended under these four sorts First when we go to visite some persons on their death bed they are like unto Nabal their heart is dying and sinking like unto a stone within them they are no more affected with death then if it were a fancy Alace for the great stupidity that hath overtaken many Therefore I intreat you delay not your repentance till death lest the Lord take away your wit so that you cannot then repent for your senslesness and stupide frame of spirit A second sort we find in a presumptuous frame saying They have had a good hope all their days and they will not quite it now they will go down to the grave with their hope in their right hand or rather they will go down to the grave with a lye in their right hand they live in a persumptuous frame and they dye in the same delusion for when we tell them that by all probability they are going down to hell they answer God forbid I was all my time a very honest man or woman But I love not that confession for there are many such honest men and women in hell this day The third sort we find have some convictions that they have been playing the fool all their days but we can get them no further I shal only say to such To go down to the Grave with convictions in their breast not making use of Christ is to go down to hell with a candle in their hand to let them see the way and truly the greater part that dye dye in this manner Fourthly there are some whom we find in a self-righteous frame trusting upon the covenant of works and their own merits and trusting by these to go to heaven yet neglecting the offer of Christs righteousness But alace we find not one of a thousand in this frame I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ that is best of all And scarcely do we find any in such a frame O wretched man that I am who shal deliver me from the body of this death Therefore I say unto you who are all here O will you mind death before it take hold on you Oh mind your work now for you will find that death shal be work enough for it self though you leave no work till then The eighth advantage that attendeth the Christian believing this truth that once he must dye is this Death will not be so terrible to him as it is to many when it cometh What think you maketh death a King of terrors What maketh many to shake like the leaf of a tree when they are summoned to appear before Gods Tribunal It is even because of this they have not been thinking on death before it came so as to prepare for it and I fear many in this place may be feared for death and that when it cometh to them they will say unto death as Achab said to Elijah Hast thou found me O mine enemy Surely death will take you and bring you to the Judgement-seat of Christ therefore study by all means to think ofren upon it and make ready for it for believe me death is a very big word for it will once make you stand with horror in your souls if your peace be not made up with God I know not a more dreadful dispensation then death and a guilty conscience meeting together The second thing that I shal speak unto from the first observation viz. That it is a most certain and infallible truth that all persons shal once see death shal be to give some good considerations for pressing you to prepare for death The first consideration is this that to dye well and in the Lord is a most difficult work therefore I intreat you prepare for death It is a difficult work to communicate aright it is a difficult work to pray aright and it is a difficult work to confer aright But I must tell you it is a more difficult work to dye aright then any of these it is true it is more difficult to communicate aright then to pray aright yet it is much more difficult to dye aright then to communicate aright for it is a most difficult work to dye in the Lord. Death will put the most accurate Christian that is here to a wonderful search and therefore I will tell you nine things that death will try in thee 1. Death will try both the reality and strength of thy faith it may be easy for thee to keep up faith under many difficulties but death shal put thy faith to the greatest stress that ever it did meet with Yea know this that the faith of the strongest believer may get and ordinarily doth get a set at death the like whereof it never got before therefore prepare for death 2. Death will try thy love to God some persons pretend much love to
And ye shal then bâ— confounded because this is your sin Believe me there was never an offer of this everlasting Gospel and of Christ in it made unto you that shal not at death before or after it be brought to your remembrance And O how sad and doleful will it be to you when Christ shal open the Book where your sins are written and begin with the sin of slighting the great Salvation Thus I invited you when you were twelve years old but ye would not come I invited you when you were thirty years old but ye would not come I invited you when you were sixty years old and ye would not come What will ye answer to this Have ye any thing to say Or must ye not stand speechless before your Judge when he shall put home this challenge unto you Therefore think seriously upon it how ye will answer to it 6. Challenge Will be for your sinning oftentimes against light And O how painful and sad a challenge will that be at the day of death when it will be said Thou sinned with a witness in thy bosom that thou wast doing wrong Thy conscience will say Oftentimes I did tell thee this is sinful yet wouldest thou not abstain from it And what will ye answer to this 7. Challenge Oftentimes ye sinned upon very small temptations and what will ye answer to that Must ye not then confess it and say Oh how often have I deserted Christ and embraced my idols upon a small temptation Now I intreat you be thinking what ye will answer to these seven most material challenges which certainly shal be presented to you at death I assure you ye must either answer all your challenges in Christ else ye will not get them well answered Therefore I would exhort you to embrace the Gospel and Christ in it that so let death propose never so many challenges unto you ye may answer them all as David did viz. God hath made with me an everlasting covenant And that will answer all your challenges Though my house be not so with God yet I have the everlasting covenant to â—ilâ— my salvation upon Now to press you to make use of Christ I shal give you these four considerations Consideration 1. If ye embrace not Christ now death will be very unpleasant to you O what else can comfort thee when going through the region of death but this I am Christs I am Christs Is there any other thing can comfortâ— thee in that day but only this I am Christs and he is mine Consideration 2. If ye embrace not Christ and the great Salvation now it will be an hundred to one if ever ye get time or liberty to do it when ye are going to dye For although many delay their closing with Christ till death yet scarcely one of a hundred getteth favor to grip Christ at death Therefore think on it for you will not get your mind so composed at death as ye imagine nor all things done as ye suppose therefore now embrace the great Salvation Consideration 3. If ye delay your closing with Christ till death seize upon you ye shal never be able to make up that loss For will the dead rise and praise God Or shal any one come from the Land of forgetfulness to take hold upon a crucified Savior Therefore O will ye take him for your Salvation Consideration 4. If ye will take Christ now he shal be your guide when ye are going thorow the valley and shadow of death And O how blessed is the person that can sing that word Psalm 48.14 This is my God he will be my guide even unto death If ye can sing that pleasant song O how may ye be comforted when your eye-strings shal begin to break O how happy is he who can say Though I walk thorow the shadow of death yet will I fear no ill for I know that the Lord is with me Now this is the acceptable day and the year of Salvation therefore do not delay but embrace Christ lest death surprise you ere ye be aware and so the acceptable day be lost But unto these who think they may delay till death I say surely there are many damned Atheists in hell that sometimes did think as ye think I will make all wrongs right when death and I shal meet I hope that three days repentance will satisfy for all my wrongs for I am sure there are many in hell who did never get three days to think upon their former wayes Therefore O come come and embrace Christ presently Now are ye all perswaded of this truth that ye shal once see death Then study a tender walking for believe me there are many of us that shal go thorow death with many bruised bones because of untender walking before God We know it is not the multitude of words can perswade you to embrace Christ for many of you never minded the thing but believe me death will preach these things unto you in a more terrible manner then we can do at this time Therefore I say to each of you O prepare to meet thy God for if death find you in an estranged estate from God I defie the Angels in Heaven to free you out of that estate and the day is coming wherein thou shalt cry out O slighter of the great Salvation that I am I would give ten thousand worlds for one Sermon again that I once heâ—… wherein Christ was freely offered to me when thâ— shalt be tormented without hope of remedy therefore while it is to day harden not your heartâ— for your late wishes shal not be granted when are gone if ye make not haste O therefore hasâ— haste in time and come out from the land of your câ—ptivity and from the house of your bondage aâ— take Christ for your Redeemer the guide of yoâ— youth and old age Now unto him who can leâ—… you thorow all these steps betwixt you and Heven be eternal praise Amen FINIS