a Curious piece out of such indisposed mean materials The Woman was made of Man so of the same dust mould and model of a reasonable immortal Soul stampt with the same Image of God In the same Spiritual Condition Subject to the same Lord bound to the same Law Capable of the same Felicity and by Sin liable to the same Punishment The Happiness of his Estate consisted in his Being 1. Made after the Image and likeness of God in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness Enjoying uninterrupted Peace and Communion with him 2. In Paradise a Place of God's own planting So delightfull as is set out by it not only the pleasantest goodliest places on Earth tho' the whole Earth was Garden-like in Comparison of what it is now (z) Gen. 13.10 Isa 51.3 but Heaven it self (a) Luc. 23.43 Rev. 2.7 3. Made Ruler over all the Creatures (b) Gen. 1.26 Psal 8.6 who submitted to him to be Governed and Ruled by him at his pleasure (c) Ge. 2.19 20. In this Estate God Entered with him into a Covenant of Works i. e. God's gracious Agreement with Adam as the Head of and all his Posterity to give them Eternal Life and Happiness upon Condition of Personal Perfect Perpetual Obedience by that strength wherewith God had endowed Him in his Creation to which he left him This Covenant was 1 an Act of Condescension Grace and Favour not of Debt for God as Creator might have dealt with him only in a way of Soveraignty and required obedience without promising a Reward which Adam could not have expected by perfect obedience having but done his Duty 2. an Agreement with him that he should obey the Moral Law written in his Heart which was the general Rule of his obedience and the positive Law of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not Eat which was the special Trial of it 3. with all his posterity which appears from the miserable Event of Adam's breaking this Covenant both as to the guilt filth and punishment (d) Psal 51.5 John 3.5 c. Rom. 5.12 c. 1 Cor. 15.21 c. Eph. 2.3 And by God's usual way or course in all other Covenants i. e. To take in Head and Members Root and Branch The second Adam and his Posterity (e) Gen. 3.15 Noâ— ah (f) Gen. 9.9 Abraham (g) Gen. 17.7 8. David (h) 2 Sam. 7.16 Israel (i) Isa 59.21 Acts 2.39 Their Seed and their Seeds seed 4. To give them Eternal Life or the continuance of them in that good Estate under the Threatning of Death for Disobedience was promised Life for Obedience assured and confirmed by the Treâ— of Life The Tree of Knowledge was so called noâ— from the Nature of the Tree but fault of Eating In respect of 1 God's Command Things are therefore Good or Evil because he allows or forbids them 2. The Event oâ— Eating Thereby he should experimentally know to his sorrow Good by the loss of it and Evil by the feeling of it Eating of it self was not Morally or Intrinsecally Evil only in respect of God's prohibition which was for 1. Clearer Discovery of his Absolute Soveraignty over Man and Trial of his Obedience and Subjection Whether he would obey meerly because God commanded 2. Greater Aggravation of Man's Sin if he should offend in so small a matter so easie to be obey'd Especially having Liberty to Eat of all the Trees else So directly against God's Authority by doing that which was to be forborn meerly because He had forbidden it Of the Fall of Man OUR First Parents being left to the freedom of their own Will through the Temptation of Satan Sinned in Eating the Forbidden Fruit. And thereby lost their Innocency Paradise Communion with and the Favour of God brought a Curse upon the Earth became Slaves of Satan lay under the Curse of the Law Died the same day they sinned In their 1. Souls Dead spiritually to all good 2. Bodies In Respect of the Desert guilt sentence and inevitable Necessity of Dying Contracted Dead in Law as a Condemned man is before Execution They then became Mortal Dissolving by degrees Liable to the Symptoms and Harbingers of Death 3. Bodies and Souls being then under the Arrest of God's Justice Wrath and Curse liable to Eternal Death the Wages of Sin (k) Rom. 6.23 The Hainousness of the Sin appears by confidering 1. The Person that sinned Adam an Innocent Happy Publick Person 2. Against whom the great Creator and Soveraign of all the World 3. The Time when the same Day as supposed He was created and commanded 4. The Place where in Paradise where God familiarly conversed and entered into Covenant with him where no Sin Sorrow or Want was 5. The Penalty threatned upon the Breach and the Promise implied 6. The great Ease and Facility of keeping it In it was Incredulity Diffidence Pride Ambition vain Curiosity Ingratitude Idolatry Contempt of God's Word and Soveraignty Rebellion Murther Intemperance Theft Discontent with their present Condition assenting to false Witness unworthy Accusations against God the Transgression of the whole Law of Nature Adam being the Root Representative and Head of all Mankind being in his loins the Guilt Corruption and Defilement of this Sin is imputed and convey'd to all his Posterity descending from him by ordinary generation and is called Original Sin because 1. We have it from our first Parents the Original of all Mankind 2. 'T is in us from our Original as soon as we have a Being 3. 'T is the Original of all other Sins Of Man's Recovery ALL Mankind being fallen into an Estate of Sin and Misery by the Breach of the First Covenant and unable to help themselves God out of his meer Love Mercy and Compassion for recovering and restoring us to his Favour makes another Covenant with us through a Mediator wherein he promises us Grace Glory and all good things and obliges us to Repentance and Faith 1. Repentance i. e. A sincere Sorrow for and forsaking of all our Sins Or a thorough Change of our Mind and Purpose of Heart and Life from Evil to Good 2. Faith i. e. Such an unfeigned Belief of all that God hath revealed as engages us to a sincere Endeavour to do all that he hath commanded Firmly to rely on all his Promises and faithfully to obey all his Commands Or an Acceptance of our Mediator as he is offered unto us in the Gospel as our Priest Prophet and King not only to Satisfie and Intercede with God but to Teach and Guide Rule and Govern us This Mediator is the Second Person in the Trinity who being true God became true Man by taking upon him our Nature God and Man united in One Person That so having Interest in both he might be a a fit Mediator or middle Person to reconcile and bring together God to Man and Man to God whom Sin had separated The God-head did not assume a Humane Person for then
incur thereby The Purity and Holiness of Religion in the truly good is by the scurrilous Reflections and bitter Sarcasms of the profane made contemptible which is as foolish and malicious as if a Slave should reproach the Son of a King for being like his Father But oh how will these abject wretches be confounded they will chuse rather to be covered under the Ruins of the World then to be a Spectacle of Abhorrence and Scorn before that Vniversal glorious Confluence when the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with the holy Angels (h) Mark 8.38 Sin carries with it so much Shame and Horrour that many of the Poets believed there was no Fury like the Conscience of having done Evil To avoid the worm of which so insupportable many have found it as to cast themselves into the Fire that is not quenched And the Ease the obdurate gain by being delivered from the Remorse and Regrets the Reproaches and Rebukes of Conscience is far over-ballanced by the Loss that cannot be divided from it Namely the Loss of the Joys of Innocence and of the Sense of God's Favour and Hopes of a happy Futurity There 's not an eminent Man among the Grecians saith one of the Ancients that dies an Heathen or an Infidel though they lived so If there be Atheists in company there are none in Hell or alone They tremble at that in private and at Death which they laugh at among the Jovial Crew All sorts of men in all Ages that have gone before us into an Eternal State of all Conditions Perswasions Opinions Tempers Ages Dispositions upon Experience have found that whatsoever vain thoughts men in the Heat of their Youth and Lust entertain of Religion when they come to leave the World they give Testimony unto it They confess at last that it had been their Prudence and Interest to be good betimes and not to stay till Necessity or Experience force them to it And that a strict and serious Life is not the Humour of some conceited singular Persons but the opinion of all men when they are most impartial and serious That they are wise indeed who make hast and delay not to keep God's Commandments though they expect to save no more by it but their Souls Religion abridges us of nothing but sin which is Rank poison to our Souls and exchanges the momentary Pleasures of it for the perpetual peace of a good Conscience The Pleas sinners use for their vitious Lives are all such as any man who will be but faithfull to his own Soul may as easily answer as invent and see abundant Reason to be singular rather than sinfull and careless Ask them if they ever knew any carry the Comfort of his sins out of the World with him and what themselves will be like to think of their doings when they shall think them over at Death and in Eternity If the pleasures of sin for a season be worth the venturing endless Torments and if the number of sinners that run so great a hazard are well satisfied in their minds that it will moderate all their Sufferings to remember what they have enjoy'd That Hell is not so hot nor so lasting as to keep them out of it and to be preferr'd before the necessary means of their prevention which would bring them as near Immortal Joys as their next Heir is to their Earthly Inheritance and is the better Estate for being out of this World which is of so uncertain so short a continuance Did Heaven but stand in the same account with them now as it will when that great Gulph shall obstruct their passage they would pursue it with such vigorous and continued Endeavours as never proved unsuccesfull The difficulties of Religion are insuperable only to the slothfull the coward the inconsiderate who are not to be consulted with in our Christian warfare who have never made a thorough Trial of it nor duely considered its Reward who would attain the end without the means go to Heaven by descent without discomposing themselves in putting off Dispositions and Affections incompatible to that Holy place There is no Lion in the way to a resolved mind and if there were little David grappled with and slew both a Lion and a Bear and from thence was encouraged to enter the List with the Uncircumcised Philistin and overcame him 2. Beware of that infinite hazard of a Death-Bed-Repentance of venturing Eternity upon your last Breath Makè Religion your early your continual Business your Duty your Obligation which will administer a delightfull Reflection on your following years prove the truest Frugality and Improvement of Time the greatest ease quiet comfort and safety both of Life and Death Those that now load themselves with guilt under the delusion of Pleasure that gives them secret disquiet while they are laying it on treasure up shame and sorrow for the time to come horrour and despair for a dying-hour All men seek the Lord some time or other only wise men betimes while he may be found Old Age is the Lot but of a very few grievous and burthensome enough of it self but disconsolate and opprest indeed when men come to possess the Diseases and Infirmities of it together with the Iniquities of their Youth bitter if not fruitless Repentance for their mispending it Yet Death observes not the Course of Nature but the Determination of God Boast not thy self of to Morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth (i) Prov. 27.1 Possibly this day may bring forth thy Death how then shall to Morrow bring forth thy Repentance or make thee another Tender of this day 's rejected Salvation Every day puts a Period to many Lives as well secured as ours and who have had the same Reason of Hope with our selves No man ever miscarried because his life was short but bad 't was no loss to Gideon that he returned from Victory before the Sun was up (k) Jude 8.13 There 's no danger of being wise and good too soon but all the wisdom to be learnt in another World comes too late to remedy any final miscarriage in this We may be instantly surprized by Death or a Disease that incapacitates us to call for Mercy in general much more to make our selves meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in life Such as delay shall have more cause to repent hereafter but less power and will Preparation for Death which requires the whole of man in his best vigour is oh how sad and deplorable usually delay'd till the melancholy Evening of Age or Twilight of Death The Trifles of this World divert them from that main Business to which all others should be subordinate No man hath a lease of his life as Hezekiah had (l) Isa 38.5 In Golgotha are Sculls of all sorts and sizes We see few Hoary Heads most Children die before their Parents The old Cammel saith the Arabian Proverb carries the young Cammels skin to the
Market A Thousand Blossoms fall to the Ground for one Ripe fruit gathered into the Basket The Glass runs whilst we are idle The swiftest things in the World have been staid but the life of man that went a Days Journey forward while the Sun stood still (m) Jos 10.12 13. we ought therefore to be always ready else when we are most unready or least think of it our Lord may come (n) Matt 24.44 Righteous Abel is slain by his bloody Brother whilst friendly talking with him in the Field (o) Gen 4.8 Zimri and Cozbi died in the Act of Lust (p) Num. 25.8 suddain Death seases upon Eglon sitting in a Summer-Parler which he had for himself alone (q) Judges 3.15 c. Sampson dies upon a Theatre making sport and Thousands with him seeing it (r) Judges 16. Rebellious Absolon meets with his Gallows a Tree in the Forrest which heard not his Father's Caveat for his Life (s) 2 Sa. 18.8 9. Elah slain drinking himself drunk in his Steward's House by his Servant Zimri who finishes his own Royalty by Fire burning the House over his own head and dies (t) 1 K. 16.8 9.18 Job's Children give up the Ghost eating and drinking in their Elder Brother's House His Table became their snare (v) Job 18.19 In the Time of our Saviour's greatest Joy and Glory when the Fashion of his Countenance was altered and his Rayment white and glistering Moses and Elias appear and talk with him about his Decease (w) Lu. 9.29 Elijah walking with Elisha is taken up into Heaven (x) 2 Kin. 2.11 and St. Stephen while he 's preaching Jesus and calling upon God (y) Acts 7. Moses is called away whilst busie about what God had set him bringing the Children into Canaan (z) Deut. 32.49 John Baptist's Head is given away at a grand Festival (a) Matt. 14.6 The Ten Virgins are summon'd at Midnight when all was silent and at rest (b) Matt. 25.6 The Rich Fool 's Soul that Night was required of him when he dream'd of many Years and that nothing could prevent them but starving (c) L. 12.16 c. Herod while glutting his aspiring Humour with popular Applause gives up the Ghost in the Midst of his vain-glorious Harrange (d) Acts 12.21 Thou shalt be King over Israel and I shall be next unto thee said true hearted Jonathan to David not knowing he was to die in the next Battle (e) 1 Sam. 23.17 c. The great Arbitrer of all things needs not Death's usual Messenger Sickness to prepare his way who can thunder the proud Emperour under his Bed And write the great King at 3 or 4 Words into trembling (f) Dan. 5.5 c. send a Fly to fetch the Tripple-Crown before his Tribunal Make a small Scratch or Bone a Crum a Hair or the Kernel of a Grape or Raisin as mortal as Goliah's Spear Unspeak the whole World into nothing Blow down a great Bubble the stateliest Building with an easie Breath undress our Souls by unpinning one Pin. By withdrawing his Hand take away the Aiery difference between Sleep and Death And oh what a sad Appearance will the Face of Death have to those that have loitered unthriftily trifled away their Time that never knew the worth of it until their last hour and then have their Work to do Eternity at Hand gives value to all Holinesâ— and Sense of God in spite of the World and lessens all things else into less than nothing and Vanity imprints a ghastliness and horror upon wickedness and sensuality The Thirty pieces are nothing worth and the Innocent Blood above all value when Men suffer in the Agonies of Conscience and fears of the approaching Judge An House-full of Silver and Gold will not buy a Man to resist God when the Terrible Majesty appears to him nothing is so precious then that a man will not fling to the Bats and Moles When the Breath is going out of the Nostrils how precious is sincere Holiness to those that have slighted it as a thing of nought As if the great Truths of God's Word were never true till a day or two before we die But these things are always so rich and valuable True Wisdom is always so precious that it disdains to borrow Esteem from a Minute of Extremity And therefore it mostly falls out that those who would have none of its Counsel and despised all its Reproofs when they come to seek it now cannot find it but it laughs at their Calamity and their Misery confutes their Confidence A good Death is the natural consequence of a Holy Life else there 's no such thing in Nature nor Grace neither except by a Miracle of Grace The most profligate and obdurate cannot but think that they must repent and acknowledge the Prudence and Safety of the Religious whom they contemned They own their own folly and mistake when it 's too late to remedy They desire to die the Death of the Righteous and promise to live their life too if they recover from sickness And if a Holy life be then looked upon necessary to be lived it cannot be sufficient meerly to resolve it Religion never gave any a Dispensation to Sin that 's one thing We have entered into a Covenant with God to forsake the Devil and all his Works The Conditions of our Salvation are our giving up our selves Bodies and Souls not a dying but a living Sacrifice unto God (g) Rom. 12.1 To deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World (h) Tit. 2.11 12. The wicked must not only forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts return from all his wickedness that he hath committed unto the Lord but keep all his Statutes and do that which is right (i) Isa 55.7 Ez. 18.21 And 33.14 acquire and exercise the Habits of everlasting Grace as well as mortifie and overcome all corrupt Affections and vitious Inclinations Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good works (k) Tit. 2.14 He bare our Sins in his own Body upon the Tree that we being dead to Sin should live unto Righteousness (l) 1 Pet. 2.24 And is it reasonable that this should be wholly frustrate by those supposed to be redeemed by him we dishonour and endeavour to make void the purpose and design of his Sufferings and Redemption if we think them to be a shelter for our ungodly Living The Gospel the highest display of Mercy is not a Salvation of men in but from Sin and by Repentance means a Reformed course of life and only by very silent Intimations the Tract of which is hardly discerned leaves it possible that he should pluck some as brands out of the Fire by giving them Repentance at last whereas this is now become the only Repentance in use the
only the Person hâ— assumed had been the better for it But the Divine Person assumed to himself the Humane Nature So that the Manhood subsists in the Godhead and they are so inseparably united that the same Person which is God is also Man Thus as God he is Eternal born in Time as Man Creator as God a Creature as Man Invisible as God visible as Man Immortal as God Died as Man Had he not been God and Man in One Person the Sufferings of his Humane Nature could not have derived that Infinite Value and Merit from the Divine nor his Bloud been called the Bloud of God (l) Acts 20.28 i. e. It was the Bloud of that Man that was God He was 1. God That he might bear the Wrath of God without sinking under it Give Worth and Efficacy to his Sufferings Obedience and Intercession Satisfie Divine Justice Purchase his Favour and Eternal Happiness for his People Overcome Death and the Devil Be the Head of his Church Recommend Infinite Love in the Abasement of himself for us 2. Man that he might obey suffer and intercede for us in our Nature have a fellow-feeling of our Temptations Passions Infirmities that we might have Access to the Throne of Grace and receive the Adoption of Sons As Creatures we were bound to the Precepts of the Law which we had broken and were without strength unable to perform And as Transgressors under liable to the Curse of the Law the Wrath of God which we were unable to bear Christ by his Active and Passive Obedience of Infinite Merit fulfilled all Righteousness purchased for us Pardon Grace and Eternal Life satisfied Divine Justice paid our Debt wrought out our Redemption procur'd our Liberty by giving a satisfactory Ransome to the Justice of God for our Life and Deliverance from the Captivity of Sin Satan and Death according to the Covenant made between the Father and Him from Eternity Of the Sacraments THE Two standing Sacraments of the Church of God of Old were Circumcision and the Passover Under the Gospel we have Baptism and the Lord's Supper wherein by visible signs the Benefits of the New Covenant in Christ's Bloud is represented sealed and applied to those that are within the Covenant who partake of them as Pledges of his Love and profess themselves thereby bound to all thankfull Obedience Baptism confirms and signifies 1. Our publick Initiation Entrance or Admission into the visible Church and Covenant of Grace distinguishing us from those out of it 2. Our being sprinkled washed and cleansed by the Bloud and Spirit of Christ from the guilt and filth of Sin our Dying to it and rising again unto Righteousness 3. Our having taken upon us the Badge and Livery of our Christian Profession That we have listed our selves as Soldiers to fight under Christ's Banner against the World the Flesh and the Devil which we have hereby renounced and resigned up our selves to Him and his Government to become his faithfull Subjects and Servants unto our lives End By the Minister's baptizing us In or into or unto the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is meant his doing it by the Authority and Command of the Three Persons in the Divine Essence to be in and by this Rite publickly consigned devoted or consecrated unto the Faith Profession and Obedience of Them or separated unto their Service We ought to improve our Baptism in the whole Course of our Lives especially in the Time of Temptation and when we see others baptized by frequent Consideration of the Nature Use and Ends of it Institution Priviledges and Benefits sealed by it and our solemn Vow and Engagement made therein Endeavouring to live in newness of Life and brotherly Love as those that have given up their Names unto Christ and been baptized by the same Spirit into one Body The Lord's Supper Of that afterwards The Apostle's Creed SO called either because 1. Made by the Twelve Apostles every one an Article and the whole approved of by all of them before they separated themselves to Preach the Gospel Or 2. Agreeable to and a Summary of their Writings and collected out of them Article I. I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth I Believe in one Eternal most glorious Being infinite in all Perfections The Fountain Soveraign and Disposer Creator Sustainer and Governor of Heaven and Earth and all things therein II. And in Jesus Christ The Second Person of the Trinity Called 1. Jesus which signifies a Saviour or Salvation because he saves his People from the guilt defilement dominion and punishment of their Sins 2. Christ which signifies Anointed as of old were Priests Prophets and Kings when consecrated for those Offices which he took upon him was Anointed set apart unto fully furnished with all Authority and Ability As a Prophet he made known all things necessary for our Salvation by his Word and Spirit As a Priest he offered up himself a Sacrifice for our Sins and makes continual Intercession for us As a King he governs provides for rewards his People reduces them to his obedience rules in them by his Spirit restrains subdues or destroys their Enemies Jesus is a Hebrew Christ a Greek or Gentile Name or Appellation which Names he obtained by becoming the Saviouâ— of both i. e. the whole World Jesus point out and imports his Mediatorship Christ his Offices Jesus that he became our Saviour Christ which way i. e. by being our Priest Prophet and King His only Son By Eternal inconceivable Generation Begotten of the Father before all Time Our Lord By Right of Creation Preseâ—vation Dominion Purchase Redemption and particular Covenant III. Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary I believe that Hâ— came down from Heaven and was by thâ— Power of the Holy Ghost after a wonderfull manner conceived and made Man in the Sanctified Womb of a Virgin and born of her so being not begotten of the corrupted finfull Seed of Adam free from Original Sin and as foretold â—he Seed of the Woman (m) Gen. 3.15 of the Tribe of Judah (n) Heb. 9.14 of the House and Family of David (o) Luc. 1. 27. IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried He endured many Bitter Things in the whole Course of his Life but the Weight and Extremity of his Sufferings were immediately before and by his Crucifixion a painfull shamefull accursed Death to which he was adjudged by Pontius Pilate Governour of Judea under â—he Roman Emperour Tiberius to whom â—he Jews were then subject He died to â—edeem and ransome satisfie and make aâ—onement for us to take away Sin the sting â—nd fear of Death to take from us upon himself the Curse of the Law to confirm â—he Testament or Covenant of Grace for where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the Death of the Testator (p) Heb. 9.16 He was Bury'd â—s prefigured and foretold (q) Ps 16.9 10.
Isa 53.9 Matt. 12.40 â—o sanctifie our Burial to â—weeten and perfume the Grave to us that in the strong Holds and Fortress of Death He might overcome and loose the Sorrows and Bonds of Death (r) Acts 2.24 1 Cor. 15.55 c. V. He Descended into Hell the third Day hâ— Arose again from the Dead Christ so humbled Himself that he was deprived of his Natural Life in the Estate of the Dead and under the Power of Death for Three Days that it might appear he was truly Dead but no longer that his Body might not seâ— Corruption (s) Matt. 12.40 17.23 John 2.19 Acts 2.31 He arose the third Day being the First Day of the Week for our Justification and quickening iâ— Grace as our Head as a Pledge and Means of our Resurrection as an Evidence Divine Justice was fully satisfied the Deâ— paid in that the Judge released him out oâ— Prison VI. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty Having continued upon Earth forty Day after his Resurrection to assure his Disciple of it and instruct them in all things pertaining to their Preaching the Gospel Having finished his Work on Earth over come and Triumphed over His and our Enemies Before many Witnesses he was â—isibly taken up into Heaven where in â—ur Nature and as our Head he is Advanâ—ed by the Father to the Height of all Majesty Power Dominion Honour Digâ—ity and Glory next unto Himself Haâ—ing Authority to Rule as King over all â—â—ings in Heaven and Earth making Conâ—nual Intercession for us that for his Pleâ—ary Satisfaction all his Members Persons â—nd Services may be accepted of God who â—eing the Father Almighty is both Willing â—nd Able to grant the same VII From Thence He shall Come to Judge the â—ick and the Dead At the last Day He â—all Descend from Heaven in great Power â—â—d Glory when He shall sit upon his â—hrone and all then alive and that Dyed â—efore shall be summon'd and stand before â—im and be Judged by the Law of Nature â—d Covenant of Grace When Sentence â—all be pronounced of Absolution to the â—â—ghteous first then of Conâ—mnation upon the Wickâ— (t) Mat. 25.41 c. VIII I Believe in the Holy Ghost Or Holy â—irit who proceedeth or is as it were â—â—eathed forth from the Father and the Son Who Inspired the Prophets and Apâ— stles works in us and assists us in thâ— which is good IX The Holy Catholick Church the Communiâ— of Saints I Believe that Christ hath a Sâ—ctified People Dispersed through and â—â—parated from the Rest of the World stylâ— the Catholick General or Universal Churâ—â— Called out of an Estate of Sin and Miseâ—â— into an Estate of Grace and Salvation aâ—â— Engaged to Holiness in Heart and Lifâ— Being that Body whereof Christ is tâ— Head Militant on Earth Triumphant Heaven X. The Forgiveness of Sins I believe theâ— is Pardon to be obtained Reconciliatiâ— to an offended God and Satisfaction maâ— to a Just God a Discharge from the Gâ— of all Sin Acquittance from the Challeâ— of the Law and Constituting us Righted before God through the Undertaking aâ— Merits of our Redeemer for all who Râ—pent forsake their Sins Believe in him aâ— thankfully subject themselves to all the Pâ—cepts of the Gospel XI The Resurrection of the Body I Belieâ— that at the Day of Judgment there shâ—â— be a general Resurrection both of the Jâ— â—â—d Unjust Their Bodies raised up and united to their Souls 1. The Just the Spirit of Christ and by virtue of Resurrection their Union with him as â—â—eir Head and as their Merciful Saviour â—â—d Redeemer Their Bodies shall be raiâ—â— Spiritual Incorruptible and like unto 〈◊〉 Glorious Body out of their Beds of â—â—st with great Joy and Triumph to be â—own'd with Everlasting Glory and shall â—â—ne as the Sun in the Firmament 2. The â—dies of the Wicked shall be raised in dishoâ—ur by him as an offended Judge and all come forth as out of their Prisons â—th great Fear and Trembling Horrour â—â—d Astonishment as so many Malefactors 〈◊〉 Execution as so many ugly loathsom â—rcasses to look upon Their Faces gaâ—ering Blackness and Darkness They shall â—ise to Everlasting Shame and Confusion of â—â—ce as well as to Everlasting Condemnation â—â—d Torment XII And the Life Everlasting I Believe there a future State after this Life of Endless appiness or Misery according to mens â—â—oce here of Good or Evil Life or Death â—hich God hath set before them either to â—â—turn and live or go on and perish everâ—stingly Amen I thereby acknowledge and â—â—fess stedfastly to believe the undoubâ— Truth and Certainty of this Creed in â—â—neral and of every Article thereof in â—â—ticular and to live answerable to this â—â—lief The Ten Commandments THey are a perfect Platform Summaâ— or Abridgement of the Law of Natâ— or Moral Law at first writ on Man's Heaâ— expounded by the Prophets and Apostâ— and are divided into Two Tables The 1 â—â—spects our Duty immediately to God whâ—â— to be worshipped for the true God in wâ—â— manner how we are to use and honâ—â— his Name the set Time of his publick Wâ—â—ship The Summ of this Table is Thou shâ—â— love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart 〈◊〉 with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind I 2 respects our neighbour his Honour a Dignity Life Chastity Wealth good Naâ—â— Propriety The Summ of this is Thou shâ—â— love thy Neighbour as thy self or whatsoeâ—â—â— you would that Men should do you do you e ven so to them this is the Law and the â—â—phets (v) Matt. 7.12 and 22 37 39. For understanding Them we must â—â—serve 1 The Law is Spiritual read the Powers of the Soul as well as Action of the Body 2 Where any Duty is â—â—manded the contrary Sin is forbidden 〈◊〉 where any Sin is forbidden the contraâ—â— Duty is commanded 93. In all Duties â—â—manded and Sins forbdden all of the â—e kind together with all the Causes â—â—ans Occasions Appearances Provocatiâ—â— thereunto are also commanded and forâ—â—en 4 What 's forbidden and comâ—â—ded our selves we ought to endeavour â—ay be avoided and eprformed by others Thou is used in every PRecept shewâ—â— God speaks to All and to all alike to â—â—y one in particular as if he named him Name â—he Preface contains the Reasons of our â—â—ing them â—s 1. His Surpeam Soveraignty over I am the Lord so we owe him all â—â—dience as we are his Creatures and Subâ—â— His Interest and Propreity inus Thy 〈◊〉 particular Engagern ent and Enâ—â—ment In such a manner as to none â—â—rs by taking us into Covenant a â—â—al Relationto himvelf His redeeming and delivering us out â—â—hraldom Which brought thee out of â—â—nd of Egypt A Place h of Servitude 〈◊〉 by how much Sin is worse than Suffering the Devil and his Angels power aâ—â—malice surpasses Pharaoh's and his Taâ—â— masters everlasting Troments in Hell â—â—ceed Temproal pains in the Brick-kill Fâ—nace
young (q) Isa 40.11 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World (r) Matt. 25.34 God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (s) John 3.16 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast off (t) John 6.37 Say unto my Brethren I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God (u) Joh. 20.17 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall my servant be (w) Joh. 12.26 By him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses (x) Acts 13.39 I will be mercifull to their unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more (y) Heb. 8.12 There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the Right-hand of God who also maketh intercession for us c. (z) Rom. 8.1.33 c. Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their works do follow them (a) Rev. 14.13 And you that are about the Sick urge them betimes to make their Will if they have not Use your utmost Endeavours for their Ease and Recovery Be not weary of them but tender patient compassionate bearing with their Impatience Grudge not any trouble they put you to not knowing how soon 't will be your own Case Deal faithfully and prudently with them according to their state flatter them not with groundless Hopes of this or a better life Keep such from them as may hinder or annoy them with Impertinencies get such about them as will assist them in their passage to endless Best Let the Spectacle of Weakness Frailty and Mortality have a due Influence upon your selves See what they want which you would desire in their State and speedily supply them with it Pray with and for them and for your selves against that Hour Support for the Sick MOre particularly to direct and assist your Patience in Sickness Beware of a troublesome querrelous peevish Temper as to those about you The Lord heareth your murmuring which you murmur against him They may say unto you and what are we Are we the Cause of your Distemper and Pains Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord (b) Ex. 16.18 Shall the thing say to him that formed it why hast thou made me thus Liable to these Distempers and Diseases Impatient Complaining multiplies our Pains by adding Sin unto it and fruitless vexing our Souls for the Sufferings of our Body Encreases our own and other's Sorrows about us who are apt to sympathize with us in our Sufferings when by our calm Submission we should teach them Patience the only Remedy or Allay of those Evils which we cannot avoid or remove What Folly is it to vex or disturb our selves at that which we cannot help which Providence and the Frailty of our Nature hath made necessary for us to endure and which others do who are not assisted with the Result of a long Experience nor know how to turn Sickness into a Virtue and Pain into a Reward That raise not up their minds to the ever quiet Region of undisturbed Health and Ease That have the Wrath of an angry God to conflict with attoned and reconciled to us thorough the Merits of our Saviour's Sufferings How many without the Advantages of the Gospel have thought it mean and effeminate to lament or be dejecteed in pain Through Fortitude and Bravery of Spirit undergone wracking Tortures with Constancy and Sedateness for Praise Dignity Decency of Demeanour Stoutness of Resolution By presenting to their minds Noble precedents Taking heed of doing any thing to be repented of dishonourable low spirited unmanly unbecoming their Patience their Gallantry of Mind whereby they not only put a Check upon themselves and restrained their Spirits but even alleviated the very Pain it self Accounting nothing evil but what was base and vitious and him a wise couragious valliant Man who was constantly composed undervaluing all the Contingencies and Inconveniences of Humane Life But our Redeemer hath restored us to a more lively Hope That after we have undergone the Labours of a painfull Life our Troubles shall all end in greater Joy and Gladness as the escaped Marriner after a Ship-wrack A lively Apprehension of which will encourage us to endure Hardship as good Soldiers of Jesus Christ And not suffer us to think that he who designed us good by all our former Afflictions intends us otherwise by this or that he hath a greater Kindness for his most flagitious Enemies because he affords them the Ease he denies us Was God's Providence to Christ the more to be questioned because he was oppressed afflicted a Man of Sorrow Or his love less to him because he was acquainted with Grief An ill Habit of Body is a proper Season for the Acquisition and Exercise of many Graces A happy Impotency as to the most wasting Vices An excellent Monitor of our own Frailty and Mortality Every little Ach toles the Bell and every extreme pain is turning Dust to dust and Ashes to ashes A firm Constitution of Mind is often wrought from the Diseases of the Body And the Soul grows more active and refined by still working out its own Separation Whilst the Mortal part by a continual Succession of little Dissolutions is better prepared to drop with Ease and just Maturity into that final one of Death which rends strong robust Tempers with great Concussion and Violence It 's not much material how weak and ruinous our Prison is seeing we are to tarry in it but a very little while seeing we shall the sooner and easier obtain our Liberty and Freedom And though here a little Pain molests in the Grave whole Limbs fall off and crumble into Dust without disturbing that quiet Repose which buries all the Sorrows of this Life in a profound Oblivion and Insensibility Rouse up therefore from that Sluggishness of Temper and forgetfulness of your Profession to which you are inclin'd Remember in whose Hands you are who puts forth his Hand now and touches your Bone and your Flesh (c) Job 2.5 who cuts you off with pining Sickness (d) Isa 38.12 and is ordering all for your good Make the truth of your profession more apparent and illustrious Rejoyce that by this Trial is manifested the Victory of Faith the Omnipotency of Grace the Miracle of Patience Humility Resignation and Complacency under sufferings Bear up
and evidence the same unto his Soul give him seasonable Ease Rest and Sleep and patience under his Sufferings and let these light Afflictions that are but for a Moment work out for him a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory let the Lord Jesus be unto him both in Life and Death great Advantage Take him not out of this Life untill thou hast fitted him for a better Let not the Enemy have any Advantage over him or be able to shake his Faith and Confidence in thy Mercy through Jesus Christ to whom with thy Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Honour Glory and Praise now and evermore Amen Another WE prostrate our selves before thee O great Physitian of Soul and Body in a deep sense of our own vileness and unworthiness acknowledging it of thy free grace and mercy that thou hast not cut us off in the midst of our Sins without giving us space to beg thy Pardon and Mercy Beseeching thee for the sake of our All-sufficient Mediator to be reconciled unto us and at Peace with us Wash us throughly from our Iniquities and cleanse us from our Sins In particular be very gracious and mercifull to this thy Servant Thou hast all Distempers at thy Command if thou sayest go they go come they come unto God the Lord belong the Issues from Death O raise him up from his Bed of languishing Return O Lord deliver his Soul O save him for thy mercies sake for in Death there is no remembrance of thee in the Grave who shall give thee Thanks O let him live that he may bless thee and be instrumental for thy Glory But if his days are determined to end now prepare him for leaving the World Make him truly sensible of all his Offences and accept of the Death and Passion of thy beloved Son as an Expiation for them Let him sleep in Jesus die in the Lord and rest from his Labours Take away all sad disquieting discouraging perplexing thoughts Quiet compose support his Spirit Inable him to wait in an humble Submission for that peaceable joyfull Repose and Rest which thou hast prepared for thy Servants for his sake who subjected himself to Mortality who died for our Sins and rose again for our Justification and intercedes for us at thy Right-hand the Anchor of our Hope and Foundation of our Happiness in whose Holy Name and Words we further pray unto thee saying Our Father c. How to spend every Day well WAste not your precious Morning hours sluggishly in your Bed Allow your selves so much sleep only as is necessary for your Health Begin the day with God Offer up unto Him who giveth his Beloved sleep and careth for you when you cannot for your self the first of your Thoughts and Affections As soon as you awake lift up a Thankful Heart for your Comfortable Rest and Sleep and Preservation Let not the Continuance and Commonness of the Mercy make it seem less but Encrease your Thankfulness Beg of Him to preserve you from all Evil especially Sin To Protect direct assist and Bless you in all your lawful undertakings and ingage in none wherein you cannot expect it Resolve not to lose or mispend the Day before you which when gone you shall see again no more for ever Think what a Blessed Rest you shall have in the presence of his Angels and of the Happiness and Privilege of being in his Love and under his Protection Let the naked ness of your Body mind you to avoid Sin the Cause of Shame your Rising out of Bed of the general Resurrection at the last Day before the Judge of all the World The light of the Day of the Sun of Righteousness the several parts of your Cloaths of taking unto you the whole Armour of God c. This is the way to keep out vain Thoughts and your selves in a Better frame all the Day which is usually spent well or ill according as we set out in the beginning of it Let your Apparel be Modest Decent according to your Place Condition and Station and not Expensive of Time in putting on not to nourish Pride or occasion Lust It 's not enough to look to our own Thoughts except we beware also of provoking others Affectedness in any thing is Commendable in nothing Night and Morning Devotion keeps the fire of the Altar always alive Enter upon no Business until you have offered up your Morning Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving Recommend your self and your Affairs unto God by Solemn Prayer and Return him Thanks for his Care of you and goodness unto you the last Night and all your Days And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (b) Mat. 6.6 Call to mind and arm your selves against the Temptations and failings you are liable to by-Reason of your Company Imployment Inclinations and watch over them continually Look for Evils every day and cast all your Cares and Fears upon God Let your Carriage be such all the Day as those that must appear before him at Night In all Difficulties ascend to him for Counsel and Direction in all Troubles for Support in all your Undertakings for a Blessing Be still asking whose am I what do I here am I in my way Is this my last Day or do I look for another Entertain not vain Desires or worldly Lusts but resist reject them Turn and fix your Thoughts upon something that is good frequently lift up your Souls to God in mental Praises and Supplications Make a Covenant with your Eye and Ear the Inlets of Lust and Vanity Set the Lord always before you Do nothing that may Create sorrow at Night or Confusion at the great Day Resolve to spend the day as usefully as possible to God others your self to speak for God and his Glory what ever it cost you not to be terrified from or ashamed of him or his Service so as the Testimony of a good Conscience may be ground of your Rejoycing Your Heavenly work is to run a Race to fight a good fight to strive and wrestle which cannot be done without giving all Diligence Care and Watchfulness Follow your Earthly Imployment though Difficult with Chearfulness and a Heavenly Mind Be Industrious in your Business and Honest in your Dealings Take no Advantage of any oversight work not upon the Ignorance Unskilfulness Weakness or Necessity of others Do as you would have done to your selves or yours It 's better to suffer wrong than do it Use not many words and those understood by the Contractor All the Business of a Bargain is summed up in a few He that speaks least usually means fairest and He that deceives by speaking what is true in a sence not intended or understood by the other is a Liar and a Thief Avoid not only what is false but that also which deceives all Equivocating Intricate Crafty speeches speak the sence of your Mind a Bargain may be as unmerciful as a Robbery God still takes the weakest part and
am and have unto thee to be sanctified guided saved disposed of by thee Beseeching thee to make me willing and obedient patient and contented humble and submissive chearfull and believing stedfast and unmoveable in thy Service unto the End Let me approve my self actually reconciled unto thee by my Hatred of my Enmity with Sin which made the first Separation between thee and us and for which thy Son was made a Sacrifice and be afraid of offending thee not only because thou hast Power to punish but because of thy Love wherewith thou hast loved me And the Conditions of our Peace which are so reasonable so comfortable that we repent of and forsake our Crimes Receive thy Son as our Mediatour serve thee which are such desirable Priviledges our Happiness as well as our Duty O make good the gracious Promises of the Covenant unto me that thou wilt be my God forgive my Sins give me a new Heart sanctifie my Nature put thy fear within me that I shall never depart from thee that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me O free me from the listlesness and backwardness of my Will to give up my self wholly unto thee who so willingly gavest thy Son an offering for my Sins Let this Love make us more and more affectionate in our Attendance upon thee to approach thee with Alacrity and Delight that wa' st so solicitous and at so much Cost to be at Peace with us to combine all our Thoughts and Affections together to serve thee who hast done so much to reduce us honourably and successfully unto thy ever blessed self With great Thankfulness let me accept of the smartest Dispensation and be contented in every Condition now I am reconciled Meekly enduring the Chastisements of a Father since they are all for my Profit since I am not like to feel his Stroaks as a Judge Blessed is he whose Iniquities are pardoned unto whom the Lord imputeth not Sin Let me never more harbour any hard thoughts of thee after so signal a Discovery of thy self in thy Son If so willing and desirous to make Reconciliation by his Blood for our Sins when they lay before thee in their crimson Aggravations much more on a particular fall that we are truly humbled for How can we refuse Peace so tenderly and importunately offered by Thee who shuts out none that shut not out themselves Art more willing to receive us into favour to embrace us than we to go to thee to receive thee Extend thy Mercy O Father of Mercies to all Mankind Give Repentance unto Sinners increase of Grace and Strength to all thy Servants reduce those that are out of the way raise up those that are fallen confirm and strengthen those that stand relieve and comfort all that are in distress pity the Follies the Degeneracies of Mankind deliver them from their Sins and from their Miseries Hear the daily Prayers and Groans of thy Holy Catholick Church and every Member of the same enlighten those that are out of it with the Knowledge of thy Truth make us in these three Nations a Holy People a Habitation of Righteousness a Place where thy Honour dwells Reward and Recompence all our Friends grant Forgiveness and Charity to all our Enemies continue good Will among our Neighbours support the Sick in Faith and Patience be with those who are leaving the World fit them and us for a better receive the Souls which thou hast redeemed with thy Son 's most precious Blood to whom with thy blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be all Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen A Prayer after the Sacrament ALL possible Praise and Thanks be given unto thee most gracious God and mercifull Father for all the Instances of thy Goodness unto me for my Health Peace Safety Food and Rayment the Society Kindness and love of Friends Success of my Labours and good Endeavours after the things of this life and a better for all the Blessings I have enjoy'd for preserving me from those Evils I have deserved and escaped for the means of Grace the Assistances of thy Holy Spirit any Inclinations towards thee any care to please thee any fear of offending thee for the Fountain and Foundation of them all the Lord Jesus Christ for thy wonderfull Love in sending him to save us from Sin and Misery to reveal and lead us to Eternal Happiness and for giving me this Day the Pledges and Assurances of the same My highest Praises fall infinitely short of thy most Excellent Majesty and I am ashamed of the most affectionate Thanks I can render unto thee for those inestimable Benefits thou hast conferr'd upon me and so long continued unto me How much Cause then have I to be abased for my shamefull Disobedience forgetfulness of thee and Ingratitude to thee to whom I owe all I have in this World or hope for in the next I humbly implore thy tender Mercies in the forgiveness of all my sins for his sake who hath born the Burden of them and satisfied thy Justice for them Let me have such a lively sence of thy marvellous love and of my Redeemer's sufferings always possessing my Soul as may oblige me for ever unto thee Constrain me to love thee to obey thee to trust in thee to be always content with the Portion thy Wisdom and Love allots unto me and to rejoyce in the midst of all the Troubles of this Life now thou hast given me the Earnest the Pledges of my Eternal Salvation Preserve in me a constant sence of the great value of my Soul for which he hath paid so dear and a great Esteem of that Purity and Holiness for the restoring of which he was obedient to the Death of the Cross Let the same mind be in me that was in Christ Let that Lowliness and Humility Tenderness and Compassion Love and Meekness Heavenly-mindedness and Submission Holiness and Delight to do thy Will Patience and Forgiveness that shone in his Life and Sufferings appear also in mine That living in the Imitation of his Holy Example I may be made partaker of the Benefits of his Death and Passion his gracious undertakings for me Let me live in the daily Thoughts and Praise of his exceeding love Let it be the Care and Business of my life to serve please and enjoy thee for ever Let many be daily brought in to understand and partake of this great Salvation purchased by our Redeemer let him be made known and faithfully obey'd all the World over Enlarge reform unite thy Church more especially in these three Nations let every Member of it be sanctified supported and saved by thee Let all of us that have waited upon thee this Day at this solemn Ordinance be pardoned and accepted in the beloved be mindfull of the Vows and Engagements that are upon us Let us love one another as Christ hath loved us and given himself for us and live as thy Redeemed ones that have tasted how good the Lord is and
all their lives He assures us while we are feeding the meanest of his Brethren as such we have Himself our Guest are Treating Him whilst we Relieve the real Sufferer that asks it in his Name And who would not gladly pare off all the Superfluities of life that he might always have ready an Entertainment for so great a Personage as Him when he Craves an Alms If we have been kind compassionate and merciful to others we have the greater ground to hope we shall find him so to us who that he may Encourage us to Imitate his Love and Goodness Proportions his Dealings to us to ours with others forgive and ye shall be forgiven give and it shall be given unto you (m) Mar. 11.25.26 Luke 6.37 None have more reason to dread his Justice and Severity than those that shut up their Bowels of Compassion towards their Brethren for He shall have Judgment without Mercy that hath shewed no mercy (n) Jam. 2.13 I do not Remember saith St. Jerom to have read that ever any Charitâ—ble Person dy'd an Evil Death God will notreject him in his greatest Needs in his passionate Requests for God is Love and every degree of Charity that dwells in us is a participation of his Nature And therefore when on our Death-Bed we have many things to trouble us and our Friends have forsaken us or prove miserable Comforters to us we may call to mind the Alms we have given the Injuries we have forgiven how we have sought objects for our Charity imbraced and followed Peace with all Men and with the Eye of Faith look up to God coming to pronounce the last Sentence according to his mercy and ours I have been saith Cyrus the Persian on his Death-Bed a lover of Mankind and a friend and merciful and now I expect to Communicate in that great kindness which he shews that is the great God and Father of Men and Mercies IV. Die daily towards all Carnal Comforts and Delights disuse disingage your self from them deny your self in them wean your self from the World let your Heart grow strange unto it get right Apprehensions of it by diminishing its seeming Excellencies and considering its real Inconveniences Judge not of it by that Repute and Entertainment it finds amongst Men but ill it doth them how defiling dangerous unsutable unsatisfying commonly given to the worst transitory unusefull in our greatest Need. Present the Soul with that Bill of Divorce which Death will shortly give to all your indearing Enjoyments The serious thoughts of which will presently sweep down all Cob-web Designs and false Felicities precent Deceit and every thing which breeds the worm of Conscience Fix your Residence above you will then behold this Mole-hill of Ants this World's bustle and grandieur vanish and disappear Its Castles and Mountains become Warts and all the Provinces of it for which men swell and fight as the Cabins of an Honey-comb And it s Idoliz'd Silver and Gold Earth and useless Mettle uncurrent Coin in the other World where nothing passes but true Goodness When the Scepter and the Spade shall have one common Grave and Royal Dust be blended with the Beggar 's Ashes and the Righteous and the Wicked shall be separated by a vast Gulph and an amazing Difference Take it but for your Pilgrimage your passage to Life be as indifferent in these things as Travellers in the Affairs of a Foreign Countrey Receive with thankfulness what comes with a fair Providence upon Honest Endeavours but let your mind be upon your Home Contentedly suffer Losses and Inconveniences in your way to it He that hath unfeignedly made Heaven his End will readily pass to it on the hardest Terms and Comfortably think of laying down his Head in the Earth for every man is willing to obtain his End to receive his Reward to enter upon his Estate 'T is much for the sake of the Flesh that most Perish that Death is so unwelcom to us O could we subdue that and live above its Pleasures and Desires we should easily bear its Dissolution a Picture that hangs loose on the wall is easily taken down and removed but with much â—ending if fastned to it V. Live so as you may be always Ready to give an Account Be sure you be sincere was the dying Advice of my dear departed Friend E.G. Perform every Duty with all your might and as if it were your last Do every thing with Respect to an after Reckoning will this bear the Tryal turn to a good account at the great Day Would I do thus were I now going to stand before Christ's Tribunal The Consequences of all our Actions extends as far as another World The Apostle seems to be startled at such like Thoughts seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness (o) 2 Pet. 3.11.14 As if all were little enough to qualifie us for a Happy Eternity Have a special Regard to the Duties of your particular Calling be Diligent and Honest in it God judges of men by the general course and tenor of their lives rather than by any single or extraordinary Action which is best seen by their demeanour in that place and station his Providence hath set them in Take Heed of offering violence to your Conscience of doing any thing you know to be a Sin or neglecting any thing you know to be a necessary Duty for that 's to Sin deliberately to provoke God to give you up to hardness of Heart to withdraw his Grace and Spirit from you Have always a clear unspotted Conscience void of offence Behold I come as a Thief Blessed is He that watcheth and keepeth his Garments (p) Rev. 16.15 Beware of those things that will fright you in the Night of doing any thing now which will make Conscience flash in your face another day and reproach you with the Remembrance of what you was told would be bitterness in the latter End when no Sanctuary to shelter no Cordial to revive no bosom Friend to stand by and hearten you Then Spots will appear in their Breadth and Blackness Sin and Wrath another thing than in your Health and Ease Be not wicked in thy own sight was the good Counsel of an old Rabby Reverence thy self Do nothing but what you can review with Quiet and Content Conscience is a tender thing that always writes tho' it doth not speak and what we account small in our Health may make a dying Bed very uneasie to us Innumerable Actions which we thought innocent may appear to be Sin and what we made light of infinitely Evil. So black and deformed is that Shape wherein Sinners appear unto themselves upon a Review of their past Crimes that then they abhor their own Image much more those Sins that have deformed them Conscience speaks loudest when men grow speechless Whilst all seems calm and quiet without and their Flatterers fawn upon them their minds
Thoughts Inclinations Passions Words and Actions your behaviour in your several Duties Places Relations Take a strict Account of the miscarriages of the Day what Sins of Omission or Commission you have been guilty of and Confess them to God with an hearty sorrow and shame and a great Detestation of your self and firmly Resolve by his Grace and Assistance never to be guilty of the like again but to lead a new life A speedy present and particular Repentance is the way to keep your accounts even and to leave as little as may be upon the score to Trouble you when you are least able to bear it and have most need of Comfort and likelier to wipe out the guilt of your particular Sins than a general Repentance on a Death-Bed when you cannot but forget and omit many things which you can take no distinct notice of 'T is too much Presumption for any man to Conclude that his Sins will be forgiven him in a lump and that a general Confession and Acknowledgment of them will suffice when he comes to Dye Let no less Humiliation Repentance and Faith serve for the least Sin than you have good ground to conclude will carry you boldly from your Knees through Death to Judgment Thus get your Case rightly stated by leting Conscience have the full hearing of it in her private Sessions before you appear at the great Assize Make your Bed the Memorial of your Grave and your Evening Thoughts an Image of the Day of Judgment than which there 's no greater Instrument of Piety and Virtue in the world This will make us ashamed and afraid to neglect our Duty to commit any Sin when we know we must be accountable to our selves for it at Night and to God at the last Day By this means we shall be able to Correct the Errors of our past Lives to walk by a sure and steady Rule to make our Repentance particular to prevent Sin coming on us with an After-clap for if we would Judge our selves we should not be judged (u) 1 Cor. 11.31 Let Conscience speak as a Law a Witness a Judge now else it will be a Worm in Hell No wonder most are afraid of Death they are Strangers at Home and Justly Dread being called to account not knowing how things stand between God and Them Finally Often set before you the Condition of the wise and foolish Virgins when the Bridegroom cometh (w) Matt. 25.1 c. Behold the Judge standing before the Door (x) James 5.9 Fancy you see the Fire already kindled which e'er long will turn the whole Globe of Heaven and Earth into Flames The Heavens passing away with a hideous Noise and Clamour and the Works of Nature and Art which men so idolize and dote upon consuming and burning to a black Coal The Son of Man coming in Power and great Glory with his Holy Angels The Books opening the last Trump sounding the Dead starting out of their Graves the Wise with great Joy and Triumph to their expected Blessedness the Foolish in Horrour and Amazement looking for their fearfull Doom Think what a terrible thing this will be to the drowzy World what a Surprize to the Careless and Ungodly to be thus suddainly overtaken not knowing what to do or which way to turn The trembling multitude running up and down appaled astonished and confounded in so much despair of the abused mercy of God that instead of supplicating it they 'll call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb and find them as inexorable as God himself O the ghastly looks the shivering motions the distorted eyes and listning ears the distracted faces and trembling hands of the confident and daring sinners at that great and terrible Day when all the charming Companions and Associates shall like enraged Furies fly upon one another and the Fewel men feed their Lusts with shall be turned into Fewel for Hell-fire and stings of Conscience When every Vice shall have its proper Torment The secure Sinner be fill'd with Remorse and Anguish The Sensualist tormented with an insatiable Hunger and Thirst when a vexatious Fire shall burn Body and Soul The tenacious greedy worldling perish with want Confusion and Shame cover the Proud and Vain-glorious When the lascivious Wretch instead of gazing upon a fictitious Beauty and sporting in the Arms of his Dalilah shall have his sight blasted with the contagious Vision of deformed Spectors and be embraced by devouring Flames The amorous Smiles of all his sweetest mirth and jollity corrupted and surrendred up into dolefull Howlings and mortal Gripes How will the sensual Sinner then look when all his Terrene Pleasures shall be snatched away by those merciless Flames What will the Voluptuous Glutton do when he shall see all his curious delicious Dainties with which he so gratified his brutish Palate turn'd to Ashes Then they would fain vomit up their delicious morsels and abhor the remembrance of what they cannot forget They confess and bewaile their former Folly The things they eagerly pursued they sadly lament when all their Enjoyments are spent and nothing left but naked Sin and Conscience Where will the Costive Avaricious Earth-worm delve or scrape for Riches the Ambitious Climb for Honour when they see all Gold and Silver Crown and Scepter burnt up How soon then will Men's fond Presumptions and Self-flatteries vanish into smoak and vapour end in dreadfull despair when all shall appear in their own likeness nakedly as they are and there can be no varnishing or gilding over a rotten Heart When none shall deceive God as they did men with a disguise of Piety No Wolf in Sheep's Cloathing steal on his Right-hand With what Amazement and impotent Rage will they struggle What would they not give to change their place that they might change their doom How will men's borrowed Colours be then melted away What a number of painted Vizards and disguised Masks of false Hearts be thrown into the Fire What would the Man invited to the Marriage-Feast give for a Wedding Garment when he stands at the Door and receives a Repulse And the foolish Virgins for Oyl How will the Market of Grace rise with what Industry will they seek it when they hear the Rumour of the Bridegroom's approach When Rivers of Tears cannot wash away the Guilt of Conscience nor ten thousand Rivers of Oyl allay the Rage and Clamour of it But Christ's Followers shall be no losers He will consider them for their Time for their Expences for their Labour for their Sufferings None of them serve him for nought They shall certainly have their Hire that Work in his Vineyard The despised Ignorant Christian will then appear wiser than the craftiest Polititian The vilest Believer out-shine the Rich man's Scarlet and glittering Robe The Content of this World be of more value than all the Treasures of it The Penitent's Tears yield
more Comfort than all the Mirth and Jollity of the Earth A Holy Life give more satisfaction than all the licentious Humours of this Jovial Age. When God shall give Relaxation and Rest to his troubled Saints When all their Burthens of Persecution Temptation and Sin shall be removed All their bodily Diseases and Infirmities end in perfect Vigour Agility Spirituality Incorruption and Glory All their Ignorances in a perfect Intuition and Vision of God All their Troubles of Conscience in perfect Peace All their Distempers of Sin in perfect Subjection to the Will of God All their exorbitant Affections in a regular and harmonious Motion towards the Supream good All their Distractions and deadness in Duty in a vigorous Activity and uninterrupted Exercise of Grace All Church-Divisions in perfect Union and Communion of Saints When they shall have no misgiving Thoughts no remaining Depravity in their Nature or new contracted Guilt to eclipse the Face of God or deject theirs and make their Countenance fall before him Nothing taken from them but their Prison their Chain their Clog their Shame their Sting their Poyson their Burden their Misery The Consideration of Judgment to come is enough sure to perswade us to a strict and diligent Care of our Lives and Actions to cast a damp upon all youthfull Dalliances and Solaces to check them in their eager pursuit of their most delicious Pleasures (y) Ec. 11.9 To make the Judge upon the Bench tremble at a few words of a Prisoner at the Bar (z) Act. 24.25 The Drunkard to let fall his Cups and the Busie Worldling to stand at gaze the Prophane Atheist to hide his Head and the sleepy Sot to start up into Anxious Wonder to hush the loud Companions into Silence and the merry Droll into a carefull Look No Sinner knows how soon he may be reduc'd to the very last opportunity of making his peace with God and brought into those straits that no wise considerate man would be in for all the World Into such a Condition as to have nothing to save him from perishing but a sudden Repentance to have but this Plank left which is a Thousand to one whether ever it will bring him safe to shore Now he apprehends himself in danger he is infinitely troubled for his neglecting Preparation for that which he could not for his life but believe would come He thinks and it 's to be fear'd very right it 's somewhat too late to set about it to little purpose to gird up his Loins when he can do no Service to light his Lamp when all his Oil is spent He 's afraid he shall have no time to do any thing considerable in this work that God will not accept of any thing he doth at such a time he vainly wishes for some of those Hours he was sick of hung upon his Hand he foolishly wasted and mis spent and nothing hinders him now from setting about the Work with all his Might but that â—â—e hath neglected it so long and that it 's â—ow too late But is it not better to preâ—ent the occasion of it To take away the ground of such vain Wishes such sad Complaints Why should we not resolvedly do that now which so many when they come to die heartily wish they had done The Foundation of our Peace and Comfort at Death must be laid in our youth and health living in a continual Expectation and Preparation for it doing all things in order to it getting a stock of habitual Grace and keeping our Souls in a vigorous vigilant Posture Let your loins be girded about and your lights Burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately Blessed are those Servants Luke 12.35 36 37. whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching A Prayer for a Comfortable Death To be added to our daily Devotions ALmighty Creator and most mercifull Redeemer who hast made me as the Clay and wilt bring me to Dust again Have Mercy upon me now and at the Hour of my Death By a Holy Conversation and habitual Performance of my Duty let me be always ready for it Let it not be unprovided or untimely having in it nothing extraordinary but an extraordinary Piety and the Manifestation of a great and miraculous Mercy Hide thy Face from my Sins and blot out all mine Iniquities Let me pass through the Valley of the shadow of Death with safety and a well-grounded Peace a meek and quiet Spirit and a Sence of thy Love and Mercy let me then fear no Evil because thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff comforts me when my Flesh and my Heart faileth me be thou the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Give me a right use of â—â—y Sences and Understanding an unâ—â—gned Repentance a strong Faith and â—â—tience a firm Hope a sincere Love 〈◊〉 thee and all the World Be thou â—â—e Portion of all my Relations and â—â—iends and our exceeding great Reâ—â—rd When our Earthly House of this â—â—bernacle is dissolved let 's have a Builâ—â—g of God an House not made with â—â—nds Eternal in the Heavens while â—â—ive let me live unto thee when I 〈◊〉 let me die unto thee living or dyâ—â—â— let me be thine through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord. Amen Another O Judge of all the World and Father of Mercies In all Humility I â—strate my self before thee O Reâ—â—mber not against me the Sins of my â—â—th nor of my riper Years but acâ—â—â—ding to the Multitude of thy tender â—â—â—cies blot out all my Transgressions 〈◊〉 me not in a short life create to my 〈◊〉 Horror Amazement and Eternal Torment but be every day doing that which will be matter of Triumph and Rejoycing when I come to die All the days of my appointed Time let mâ— wait till my Change come Preservâ— me in thy Faith Fear and Love to my Life's End Cast me not away from thy Presence take not thy Holy Spirâ—â— from me Deliver me whom thou haâ— redeemed with thy most precious Blood from the Power and guilt of Sin from offending thee or others by an impatâ—â—ent uneasie Spirit from the Assaults 〈◊〉 Satan from an immoderate Fear 〈◊〉 Death from Eternal Damnation Thâ—â— when I have served thee in my Generâ—tion I may have an abundant Entranâ—â— into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savâ— our Jesus Christ to whom with thâ— Blessed Majesty and Holy Spirit be a Glory Honour and Praise now and eveâ— more Amen Another O Thou that art the Father of Mercies and God of all Consolation receive and keep me in thy Favour in the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Faith and Peace and in Righteousness of Life Make me always sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of my Life and of the suddainness and certainty of that Day when thou wilt bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether