Wouldest thou not do this this week it thou thoughtest thou shouldest dye the next but remember this day cannot bee too soon because to morrow may bee too late It was a good saying of a wise Rabbi It is every mans duty to repent one day before hee dyes and hee that knows not but that this day may bee his last had need begin to day and so make every day a continued act of repentance Do this to purpose now for since nothing makes enmity betwixt the holy God and us but sin practise this duty daily by surveying all thy life by continuing resolutions of obedience by holy watchfulness that when the hour of death comes thou mayest have this by thee as a never failing cordial And dost thou not know that thou wilt then need a strong beleef of this great truth That God hath mercy for a repenting sinner That the case of man is not desperate That wee have liberty for second thoughts by the New Covenant That there is a great glory hereafter and a certain resurrection to eternal life why is not this point studied by thee till thy soul bee fully confirmed in this great Article Or art thou ignorant that thou shalt be unwilling to dye if thy treasure be not laid up in heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plat. in Phaed. you may pull off a glove with ease but not the skin you may easily see a soul go hence that hath none on earth that it desires in comparison of God Whereas a soul immersed in body used to nothing but eating and drinking and the pleasures of the belly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sc that is bewitched by the body faln in love with it and imbraceth it Oh how willing it is to catch at and clasp about every thing that might make it stay in its beloved tabernacle Oh be sure to inure thy minde to things heavenly and spiritual for inordinate consent to the pleasures of our outward man do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the noble Philosopher speaks strangely unite our souls to our bodies that they cannot go from that which they count their happiness without infinite torment and vexation That day wherein the vanity of the world the emptinesse and dissatisfaction of all corporal delights are not so far studied as to preserve our love for God that day did nothing for our provision for death Reader all this thou art perswaded of practice it yet for thy comfort and quiet at the hour of death remember to familiarize death to thy thoughts in life a Mariner is not afraid in a storm at Sea when a childe or a timorous woman quakes for fear in a fair day on a shallow river Think thy Saviour the beloved Son of God died and lay in the grave remember if thou art Christs all things are thine life and death seriously read and duly consider Heb. 2.14.15 1 Cor. 3. last Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood hee also himself likewise took part of the same that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Did wee thus practice and thus anticipate death by thoughts wee should finde our childish fancies apt to converse with that grim visage which at the first they ran away from By this means wee should bee worthy that character of those valiant people Lucan Animaeque capaces Mortis Men not transported with the love of life nor inslaved with the fear of death Men fit to live fit to die men that could triumph and sing that glorious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh death w where is thy sting Oh grave where is thy victory Fifthly and lastly I speak here only of good men that make provision for death by a pious life Moses death chargeth you to bee satisfied quiet and contented when you die your selves when your friends when good Magistrates good Ministers die before you for sure wee and they may bee sick and die and yet bee beloved of God so was Moses Yea behold a greater than Moses Jesus Christ hee that heard the voice from Heaven this is my beloved Son hee felt the pains of death and lay three daies in a Sepulchre deaths face looks more lovely ever since and may bee beheld with less astonishment Now wee may chearfully say come let us go and dye also sure though the Bee humme and make a noise though the Serpent hiss yet the sting is gone Blessed bee God for the satisfaction wee have in this great case by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour when our pains are next to intollerable though wee should sweat as hee did drops like blood yea when wee feel the stroak of death and finde the face besmeared with a cold clammy moisture the eyes are dimme the hands stiffe the friends stand by and weep they speak but can receive no answer there is no liberty for a thought of any thing but pain and sadness grief and sorrow yet may a sober Christian now by this Gospel-knowledge of the death of Christ make this happy conclusion this may bee my case and yet I not bee hated but so far beloved of the holy God as that I may hereafter shine as the Sun in the firmament Mat. 13.43 and may for ever bee as the Angels beholding the face of my Father in Heaven Go then yee useful exemplary persons who speak much to the World when you say nothing who by good works Est aliquid quod a magno viro vel tacente proficias Seneca those unanswerable syllogismes those invincible demonstrations convince spectators who by the beauty of holinesse steal away the hearts of gainsayers and win their affections almost against their wills go lay yâ—â—r heads upon a cold stone or a soft turfe wee are satisfied if wee weep it shall bee for our selves not for you Our Saviour when he died charged his disciples they should not let their hearts bee troubled his death hath prevented the cause of trouble wee are no more Scepticks whether the grave bee the way to glory or not no more scrupulous whether it bee best for you to die Fine Apologiae or live It is not now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Socrates speaks a thing known only to God whether the Scales turn for the advantage oâ— the dead or living and since the Son of God and the best oâ— Gods servants ever since the creation have walked through this dark vault wee will never expect a better way foâ— our selves that is to be proud nor will we be amazed wheâ— wee come at it for after this Gospel knowledge it is to 〈◊〉 nothing but play the fool or to fear where no fear is And if ever I needed this understanding I do now for if ever I had reason to resent deeply the loss of any man I have reason now to bee affected at the losse
their Lord whom at his comming hee shall finde watching Verily I say unto you that hee shall girde himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Moses cryed out passionately Lord shew mee thy glory God will now answer that prayer Honorem illis novum habebit atque insolitum Grctius in loc but then his desire of life must be denyed for no man can see my face and live upon which words Saint Augustine meditating cryed out Moriar Domine ut te videam Let mee die Lord that I may see thee And indeed Paul told him that he must be dissolved if he would bee with Christ A soul that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 winged with divine love is like a poor bird in a cage sits often sad because imprisoned Chrysost In Acts 26. looks through the wires sings when the Sun comes at it but alass it sets by and by and a cloudy dismal night follows it The souls clear visions of God are too glorious for this state here it is rara hora brâ—vis mora as Bernard phraseth it the man whose piety is steddy and industry great sees here through a glass darkly there face to face and then hee shall know even as hee is known When you therefore wonder why good men die you forget too much the trouble of life and the glory after death Jacobs Motto agrees well with their experience Few and evil have been my daies So great are the exigencies and necessities of the present state that it requires the skill of the wisest man and most self-observing to give a catalogue of those imperfections which all persons feel and groan under the happinesse of infancy is that wee feel only the trouble of what is present and wrack not our selves with fears of what is future when we get up to understanding there are boisterous lusts like cruel Pyrates setting upon us that we cannot quietly sail to the Haven of peace and rest What it is to be wise and live in the enjoyment of God and a mans self-busy-passions scarce suffer the Juvenile age to make enquirry If a man come to old age hee is an Imperious Infant or a childe in authority If a man bee good the Devil sets on him Waspes are busie where the honey is If hee cannot bee hindred from doing good which is the Devils first design hee shall bee Fly-blown with pride which is the second and as dangerous Upon due thoughts it will bee found that for us to serve God here is our great wisdome for us to dye when God pleaseth is Gods great mercy Labour in the Lord shall not bee in vain but the reward of Labour in the Lord is when wee dye in the Lord For then wee rest from our labours Rev. 14.13 and our works follow us Hitherto our Discourse hath tended to give satisfaction to this enquiry why Moses dyed It remains that wee draw some Corollaries and so make application to all your consciences 1 The death of Moses speaks something to all that stand in the same relation to God that hee did viz. that are his servants publick instruments for the doing of his work 2 The death of Moses speaks something to all those who are in a capacity of losing persons so eminently usefull and beneficiall to them as Moses was to the Israelites I begin my Discourse with all those that are in publick imployment and are sincerely faithful to the trusts committed to them whether they be Magistrates or Ministers Two things are proper advice from all that wee have hitherto spoke upon this Text. Corol. 1. Promise not to your selves long life One would have thought if any man in the world might have bee confident of his life sure Moses might till hee had carried the people through the Wilderness and brought them into the Land of Canaan this business was that which God set him about It was the fulfilling of the ancient Promise made to Abraham Gods glory was ingaged to perfect it that his Name might not bee dishonoured by the heathen round about who had seen or heard of all his Miracles Moses knew the people and was much honoured by them and so one would imagine the fittest man in the world for it yet Moses dyeth Know therefore that when you are about the best work the most excellent design most honourable for God most usefull for others yet then death comes with commission the shadows of the evening stretch themselves upon you it is no longer day And when this night comes no man can work When first thou didst entice to thee my heart I thought the service brave See Herberts Poems Philosophers observe that a very great calmness usually goes before a mighty Earthquake Such folly and madness hath spread it self upon the hearts of men that generally they promise to themselves what God never promised them and promise not to themselves what hee hath promised them God never perswaded men to bee Christians by constant health by long life by applause and honour but hee hath told us of a providence about us that shall make all things work for good Wormwood wee may drink but it shall turn to health that wee shall not dye or that wee shall not dye at thirty as well as at threescore God hath not spoke one syllable but hee hath told us of a great glory hereafter and that our labour shall not bee in vain in the Lord. If ever a good man might have hoped for exemption from such sore calamities sure Job might then when they fell upon him Immensi praeconii est bonum eriam inter malos extitisse Gregor Mag. though hee lived not among the Jews but in the land of Uz yet hee was perfect and upright hee feared God and esehewed evill The Sun-shine of outward plenty put not out the fire of his devotion hee did but fear that his sons might sin It may bee that my sons have sinned vers 5. and hee must send for them and sanctifie them and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all Did not ' Job hope for a happy life from hence Yes When I looked for good Job 30.26 then evill came unto mee and when I waited for light then came darkness Was hee not one that acted the part of a good Magistrate Yes Hee was eyes to the blinde and feet to the lame hee was a father to the poor Job 29. and the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him But the conclusion which hee made did not follow from the premises Job 29.18 Then I said I shall dye in my nest and I shall multiply my dayes as the sand Long life and peace were things presumed but you will finde it a sad mistake if you peruse the next Chapter vers 15. Tâ—rrâ—urs are turned upon mee vers 23. Job Chap. 30. I know that thou wilt bring mee to death and to the house appointed for all living His
a few shall do that work Moses is too much admired Moses shall die that God may be more acknowledged and man lesse for it is our sin and folly to ascribe to Saul his thousands and to David his ten thousands but to God nothing at all Reas 2. Moses is dead That God may shew what an extreme hatred and antipathy hee hath to sin every where Psal 106.32 even in a Moses If this meek man be provoked and speak unadvisedly with his lips it shall go ill even with Moses Psal 106.32 33. If the good man be passionate and say I am not able to hear all this people alone it is too heavy for mee Numb 11.14 15. and if thou deal thus with mee kill mee I pray thee out of hand Moses shall know that God can take him at his word and another shall have the burden and the honour too yea though hee be afterward earnest for lite and beg importunately that hee may enter into the promised Land yet God will not be intreated Wee little think how much mischeif wee do our selves who may be any way publickly serviceable to be at any time weary of the imployment God hath charged us with especially if the discontent shew it self to others for then the divine providence is ingaged to make it manifest that hee can well enough be without such muttering servants and that it becomes us not to be too bold or presumptuous by the confidence we have in our former fidelity or present usefulnesse Let Jonah run away if he will but a storm shall follow him For God will have all the world take notice that hee hates sin because it is sin and not because such a person commits it If wee would observe wee might easily perceive how irreconcileable Gods hatred is to sin Adam was the prime peece of divine Art the glory and honour of the visible World if hee sin hee shall die and because the dishonour is great anâ— unavoidable necessity of death shall bee the fad condition of all his posterity Wee read of none excepted from the execution of this fatal sentence but Enoch and Elijah one would think that any considering minde that shall see the tears of them that are in misery hear the groans of them that lye on sick-beds observe the sighs of consuming persons who decay by little and little as a garment that is Moth-eaten or that shall surveigh the tossings of men in feavers who are never at rest God outs them off with pineing sicknesse and as a Lion hee breaks their bones I say one would think a very weak head that will but seriously consider might easily from those premises conclude that sin is a thing odious and abominable and though God bee good yet hee is not fond for the righteous Lord loveth righteousnesse Psal 11.7 If this convince thee not sufficiently come nearer and see how sin like a noisome carkasse infects the air and all that come near it suffer for it let a man bee openly wicked and do high acts of basenesse and his relations his children Exod. 20.5 yea his childrens children shall smart for it for God vâ—sits the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children to the third and fourth Generation Epiphanius tells us that for three thousand three hundred and thirty two years there is not one example in Scripture of a Son that died before his Father till Terahs time whom he conceives to be a notorious Idolater and of him it is said Gen. 11.28 That Haran died before his Father Terah in the Land of his nativity in Ur of the Chaldees hee could not forget Abel and therefore no question hee intended only that they of whom it might properly bee said They died not they who were killed should come within the reach of this observation Hee that is not a very carelesse reader of Scripture cannot but grant that if this Leprosie once break forth no man knows whither it will spread When Korah Dathan Numb 18.30 31. and Abiram sin the earth swallows them up and their little children two even all that appertained to them Yet we must remember that a temporal evil brought upon the childe as a punishment of the Father may be a mercy to the childe of which wee have a happy instance 1 King 14.13 that this childe came to the grave was the great grief of Jeroboam and yet the great blessing of the childe Adams sin made death certain and when sin grew greater than death which before crept like a Snail began to come faster till it had brought the life of man from a thousand years long to seventy and if any one was an open affronter of the Lawes of Heaven the poor family and the innocent infants found the thread of life cut asunder for the Parents crime Do you yet beleeve that God hates sin If you will see further behold the holy God is no respecter of persons and it David murder Uriah the sword shall follow him If Moses be angry and speak unadvisedly God is angry presently and Moses shall die in the Wilderness Reas 3. Moses is dead that hee may bee rewarded for the faithfull service he hath done already sin brought in death but God hath made death to bring in glory the dark room is an entry into the presence chamber It was a great riddle to flesh and blood but was perfectly discovered at Christs resurrection and ascension Out of the cater comes meat Had Moses lived hee would have found that in every day there was something of Autumn as well as Spring even in the face the most beautifull part of the body is the sink of the brain It is better to bee in the mount with God than to be troubled with the Idolatrous Israelites hee cannot forget Numb 12.1 that even Aaron and Miriam spake against him Meeknesse of spirit is one of the best Antidotes against such mischiefs from neer relations but no man knows what trouble hee may finde from those hee loves best and whom hee hath served most If Moses be blamelesse himself they will bee angry because of the Aethiopian Woman Thus one relation produceth trouble from another If his face shine when hee comes down from the mount the Israelites cannot bear it hee must put a veil on let the life bee carelesse and then hee scornes himself or others may quickly scorn him let it bee exemplary that a man shines as a light in the world holding forth the word of life it will be alwaies true that sore eyes cannot bear it It is better to be with Angels who alwaies-behold the face of God in Heaven All things are yours Life and Death 1 Cor. 3. ult in life good men do work after death they enter into joy yea into the joy of their Lord they are glorified together Rom. 8.17 Particeps est herilis gaudij Grot. in Mat. 25.23 Here they serve there they are served Luk. 12.37 Blessed are those servants which waited for
And indeed a right understanding in this point makes the service to bee such as it should bee For hee that looks upon God as a hard Master will either hide the Talent in a Napkin and do nothing or else that which is as good as nothing whilst hee hath better thoughts of sin and the pleasures of this world then hee hath of God and of the rewards which hee will give to them that observe him Gods Creation Preservation and Redemption give him a right to us and make our service necessary but the excellency of his nature the goodness of his worke the future happiness promised make the service cheerful The summe of all is Yee are servants And then your Justice your Ingenuity your Security your Compassion your Glory requires faithfulness I conclude this Consideration with Mr. Perkins Motto Minister Christies hoc age Thou art Christs servant minde thy work We have at length finished the first Consideration which should promote care in Gods service I shall briefly urge the second Consideration 2. Yee are not onely servants but dying servants and therefore do your work as well Dying servants and as fast as you can When Mr. Calvin grew sickly and some friends disswaded him from some imployments hee gave this answer Vultisne Christum me invenire â—tiosum Would you have Christ finde mee idle Shall death a Messenger that was never idle but alwayes did his errand finde us idle when Christ sends it there is a night coming when wee cannot work and it is very like our day is a Winter day not a Summer day Play the lesson God hath set you whilst the Instrument is in tune the weather will alter presently and then the strings will fall or break Per columbam simplicitas per ignem zelus judicatur In cap. 1. Job Gregory hath observed that the Spirit of God descended in two shapes the first was of a Dove the last of Fire the first shewed Innocency and Simplicity the last Zeal and Activity That wee must do no harm is certain let none but hellish slaves carry Plague-sores about them but that wee must do good bee fervent in spirit serving the Lord is as certain What good from an eye that is alwayes covered with its own lid or from fire that is alwayes buried in the ashes or a ship that alwayes lyes at anchor You must bee doing for God will ere long say Give an account of your stewardship you must bee no longer stewards The last words almost which were heard from that famously learned and pious Bishop of Armagh were Lord in special forgive my sins of omission yet hee was singularly industrious in writing reading exhorting instructing Sins of omission will at death go nearer our hearts than wee thought they would in life Bee as zealous for God all your life as you thought you should bee when you first entred on this publick imployment for God and as you resolved to bee when you last lay upon a bed of sickness But sad experience findes the common observation too true That bells strike thick while they are rising but stand still and give no sound at all when they are at full pitch Wee forget what wee were and what wee shall bee and consider not what a great account wee must suddenly make and therefore fall asleep and do not by deep meditation winde up those weights which must keep our souls in spiritual motion Wee finde in nature that stones the nearer the center move faster Wee finde the Devil raging because his time was short Hev 12.12 Shall not wee bee as industrious who have but little time for better work reprove sin to day as a man that may dye at night Nemo restituet annos nemo iterum te tibl reddet Seneca de Brevit vitâ—â— cap. 8. for when thou dyest the opportunity is lost then you know not how to beseech sinners to bee reconciled then it is too late to make Dives his motion Oh that my brethren were warned not to come into this flame The Stoick saith truly Maximum vivendi impedimentum est Idem cap. 9. expectatio qua pendet ex crastino The greatest impediment to a good life is hope of living to morrow They who please themselves with their own thoughts and company sometimes finde they are at their journies end before they thought that they had been near it Men that sleep securely wonder so much time should bee gone as they finde there is when they awake Whilst wee are imployed in things worldly and sensual our time is gone but our work is not done I read lately Chrysostomes third Homily upon the Acts wherein because I found many things which affected and awakened mee much I shall recommend them to your consideration I am perswaded saith hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That very few of them who are intrusted with the Gospel and the care of souls shall bee saved the far greater part is damned my reason is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sc This work requires a soul more than ordinary hee had need have a thousand eyes in his head and have them all awake The sin of a publick Minister gives more offence than of a private person God could better bear with the discontent of an ordinary Jew than hee could with the passion of Moses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which of us shews so much care of the flock of Christ as Jacob did of his Uncle Labans In the day the drought consumed mee and the frost by night and my sleep departed from mine eyes Gen. 31.40 I value saith hee nothing more than the light yet I could wish to bee blinde if by that means I might open the eyes of your mindes and convert your souls yea this I could wish a thousand times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I wish you may never further make experiment by your iniquity of the truth of this vastaffection When so great a calamity befalls mee as if any of you sin Let mee perish if I bee not like one paralytical or in an extasie that I can truly say with the Prophet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for the light of mine eyes it is gone from mee Psal 38.10 I hope this fire warms I would adde more force to these considerations of our relation as servants of our sudden discharge from that relation by death but that my charity forbids mee to suspect that others needs so much as myself to awaken constant diligence and to prevent that dull Lethargie which is apt to creep upon us Tanta sane diligentia subjectos sibi populos rexit omnia omnes quasi sua essent curaret De Antonio pio Julius Capitolinus God grant that all Christian Magistrates may minde the affairs of all particular persons under them as if they were their own And that all Ministers of the Gospel may sincerely endeavour to save themselves and them that hear them not preaching themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and
he makes it to set at night God sends forth men into the world to bee useful they are his servants hee calls them home they dye Let God every where bee acknowledged no manâ—dolized 2 Yet Moses his death chargeth you that they bee not sleighted Servants indeed they are but they are Gods servants they dye but it is God that calls them from you to himself that he may reward them Have you any good Magistrates thank God for them live quietly under them in all godliness and honesly Have you good Ministers that labour in the word and doctrine bless God for them they beseech you as in Gods stead that you would bee reconciled to him respect the Ambassador for his sake that sends him those whom you value not upon their own account value as they stand in relation to God I presume no man can easily bee so fond and ignorant as to imagine that hee is bound to think every one that hath the name and the garb of a Minister must bee looked on as Gods servant No it is too evident that many carrie Gods livery on their backs which do the Dâ—vils service with their hands Unto many of whom even men may say what God will when they talk of prophesying in Christs Name Yee are workers of iniquity wee know you not and if Korah Dathan and Abiram will offer strange fire the congregation must leave them But I now speak of those whose study and prayer is to save themselves and them that hear them who prayes to their people whilest they are spectators as well as whilest they are auditors they are would convert souls to righteousness let them bee respected for their works sake yea for their Masters sake let them bee reputed servants of the most high God The Devil found it would bee a good way to pine and starve the vitals of Christianity to make the feet lame Mr. Baxters learned and excellent Discourse to prove that over doing is undoing in his directions for peace of conscience and the hands feeble if hee made the head too bigge if hee put a Pope into St. Peters chair and then the design ever after should be more to maintain their own grandeur and greatness than the life and power of godliness If the Protestant Religion findes out this temptation then scorn vilifie down with Ministers and Ministry vilifie the persons and that will help to make the Doctrin vile I cannot forget how angry God was even with Aaron and Miriam Numb 12. For alas even they could speak against Moses Wherefore saith God were yee not afraid to speak against my servant Moses vers 8. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them Why what had they spoke see vers 2. Hath the Lord spoke only by Moses he married the Aethiopian a strange woman hee is not so much wiser than wee God will not bear any thing which manifests contempt of them that are imployed by him But the best way to shew respect to them that now consecrate themselves to Gods service is to accept of the Doctrine which they preach viz. the holy commands and promises of the Gospel What though some of them have not such parts such sagacious apprehensions such peircing expressions such lively representations of their thoughts remember that Isaiah was a noble man and nearly allyed to the King Amos was a Herds-man yet both were Prophets Jesus Christ dieth Mark 16. and sends out poor Fisher-men and they do more miracles and greater than ever hee did and convert more souls If God please the pulse the courser fare shall make Daniel look better than the rest though Moses must not bee idolized yet Joshun must not be despised I of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cophas sure yee are carnal are they not all the servants of Christ what is no sense nor reason spoke unless it bee adorned with such a degree of eloquence Is there no light unless there be noon-day glory this is just like a silly Country-man that counts him the King which hath most silver lace and can shew the biggest handfuls of gold the foolish sports of lacivious fancies grave and masculine plety looks on with a noble contempt though I love with all my heart to hear discourses wherein my understanding perceives learning and my affections feel piety yet I am far from thinking that one quarter of them is learned which the world reputes so where the words are starched and they are set together to make a few fine cadencies and they please an itching eare that affects trifles but cure no disease blow away no mist from the understanding leave no foundation for setled peace or sober godliness Hieronimus ad Pannachium Cito turgens spuma dilabitur this froth that looks white is presently wasted A tumor in the face that glisters and shines much is contrary to that healthful complexion which makes beauty I would have learning but it should be to convey truth better to the understandings of all that hear mee learning to make every thing plain not to make any thing obscure and difficult Mr. Meade used to say to preach so as people should not understand was like a Shooe-makers bringing home a handsome Shooe but with a Last in it it looked nearly but it was of no use as it was for no foot could bee put into it When I am in pain and a member gangrenes talk not to mee how the Chirurgeon looks but tell mee how fit hee is and how well skilled for the cure doth the Prince applaud the Ambassador that hath shewed hee could speak elegantly and had words at will but left out the potent reasons wherewith hee should have secured the business or else so buried them in his own phrases that they were not understood If any one ask why I speak all this I shall tell him no other reason but this I wish I had no more I would not have the water of life valued for the Vessel through which it runs nor Gods truth for the mans parts but them for truth and every one esteemed as hee is a member of Gods family and is more or less a faithful servant But if you will sleight them let mee tell you they shall not be troublesome to you very long for Moses shall die God sends them now to demand fruit and to charge you to prepare for eternity and to invite you to accept of great salvation it may be it is the last time that ever this Messenger shall bee sent to you welcome him now or never Think every time you see a godly Minister going into the Pulpit it may be I shall never hear this man more never hear him pray for my soul more never perceive him entring into my very heart and command my affections and raise my spirit by Gospel Arguments and allure mee by divine motives if not now never if not now nothing must speak to mee but his graâ—e until the day of judgement when hee who
loved my soul and asked mee why I would die must come in as a witnesse against mee and justifie God in my condemnation why should I slight Gods message or slight him who brings it Now hee is for ought I know entring into the joy of his Lord now God so values him as to reward him Surely this arguing is rational and might easily enter into any mans minde who observes but common experience though hee had nothing else to prompt him I hope all of you will reap this advantage from the present occasion to value the persons and the Sermons of all consciencious preachers better idolize them not was our first advice that is one way to lose them Gustavus the renowned King of Sweden prophesied truth when hee said God would take him off because men too much admired him yet scorn them not for Ambassadors are soon called home when it is desperate to prevail so far as to get fair audience but howsoever you deal with us do but practise godliness and we shall rejoyce for I question not but holy men can heartily present Pauls petition Now I pray to God that yee do no evil 2 Cor. 13.7 not that wee should appear approved but that yee should do that which is honest though wee bee as reprobatâ—â— Experience tell us that good thoughts of the Physitian facilitate the cure and the good health of a sickly patient brings credit enough to the Physitian 3 Moses his death Chargeth you not to be confident of long life your selves if Palaces crack and fall sure weak cottages must if Moses die aâ—private Israelite must not live alwaies All flesh is grass Isa 40.6 7 8. Homo cum sis id fac ut semper intelig as The Heliotrope may pride it self at the Suns presence the pretty flowers may open all their heads and welcome the salutes of the grand beauty of this visible world but the Sun will set and a night must be found every four and twenty hours in Summer but at length comes a cold Winter a tedious absence of the warm beams and then the leaves drop and the roots perish we are far nearer sickness and death than wee think wee are Soul take thine ease that the man said This night shall thy soul bee taken away from thee that God said Is not this great Babel that I have built for the honour of my name The great King hath no sooner said it but hee hears a voice that speaks something of a different nature like the noise of a thunder-clap that swallowes up the melody which his secure pride made him The Kingdome is departed A remarkable check you have to mens vain presumption of life in 1 King 16.8 9. Elah is drinking himself drunk and his servant Zimri comes in and kills him Well Zimri will bee King promiseth himself much happinesse in his royalty but it hastens his death Omri besiegeth him and when the City is taken 1 King 16.18 the poor King goes into the Palace burns the house over him with fire and dies The Israelites like not Mannah they must needs feed more delicioussy they shall but while the meat was in their mouthes the wrath of God fell upon them and slew the mightiest of them wee are blinde if wee see not that man groweth up as a flower and is cut down Job 14.2 hee fleeth as a shadow and continueth not Every thing in nature tells us of changes our very Table is but a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bier whereon every dish of meat stands as a dead corpse I could weep sometimes and drop my tears as the dew of the morning when I see a young man in the pride of his strength Quis pacturientem rosam papillacam corymbum anteqâ—â—m in calarnum fâ—andatur orbis totâ ruben ium foliorum unbitione immature demesium aequis oculis mai cessere videat Hieron ad Pammachiam super obit Paulinae uxoris in the acuteness of his parts in the blossome of his beauty whilst hee is the delight of friends and his society the ambition of spectators hee sits still and thinks no hurt when a rude passion stabs him or hee is innocently merry but his juvenile blood is inflamed hee is sick hee groans hee sighs hee dyes But I resolve to stop the flood-gates and blame my folly for it is folly to forget that it is as natural for the grass to wither and it is as ordinary for it to bee cut down as it is to creep out of the womb of the earth Bee as careful as wee can good fruit will perish because it is worm-eaten and that which eats it is bred within it Just when Pharaoh will have bricks made and build Pyramids leave Monuments of his greatness to posterity then is God about to break him and pluck down the plumes of Aegyptian pride And surely if an Israelite cannot presume that long life shall bee his portion an Aegyptian cannot if a Moses cannot then not an Israelite but this fond self-flattery this great disease of besotted humane nature whilst I perceive so much reason as a medicine proper for its cure and yet so little of it received makes mee sad and bewail the delirium that hath deprived us of all sober understanding And indeed who can think of Jonathans great integrity and read his great mistake without some degree of this passion 1 Sam. 23. hee said to David Thou shalt bee King over Israel and I shall bee next unto thee Alas good man who knew not that hee was to dye in the next battel and shall not the tares bee cut up when the wheat is Shall not the dust bee blown away when pearls are Whether I or you shall bee deaths portion next I know not but that wee shall all bee is certain for Moses is dead neither humility nor meekness power and greatness neither the love of God to him nor the love of Israel gives a dispensation from deaths claim 4 Moses his death Commands you to prepare for death nothing will secure from it therefore provide for it Art thou great or small in prosperity in adversity the way may differ it may bee fairer to thee fouler to another but the journies end is the same the debt is due the day of payment not expressed and therefore it may bee demanded presently What have you to say when death comes Will you speak to Time as Joshua to the Sun Stand still that I may bee avenged of all my adversaries that I may murder and crucifie those sins and lusts which have robbed mee of God and Heaven Alas you cannot Times Chariot runs post hee will not hear or is the grim visage of death and the thoughts of eternity and a day of judgement so little formidable that thou canst look steadily without amazement on them Alas thy heart fails thee at the thought of them What cordial then hast thou Moses my servant goes before Death comes after bee Gods servant and thou art well